Team Rocket’s Second-in-Command!

"Beedrill is unable to battle. The victory goes to Gengar!"

Matori, who had initially been worried for Luo Yuan, now wore an expression of disbelief as she watched his Gengar defeat Giovanni's Beedrill.

Beedrill was Giovanni's ace...

And it had lost?

It took Matori a few moments to process her surprise.

But for Giovanni, this loss was no cause for concern.

Facing two Pokémon with advantageous typings, defeating Dragapult and pushing Gengar this far, Beedrill had done its job and displayed its strength.

Besides, Beedrill had been with Giovanni through countless victories and defeats. This loss was just another chapter in their story, though perhaps a more unique one since it had come at the hands of one of his own team members.

"Well fought... Come back, Beedrill!"

Giovanni recalled Beedrill into its Poké Ball.

Luo Yuan signaled to Gengar, then turned to Giovanni. "Actually, I'm more excited about what's next!"

At this, Giovanni smiled.

Indeed, just as Luo Yuan suspected, he too was eager to see Mewtwo's performance.

Giovanni raised a hand, gesturing to Matori, who immediately took the cue.

Pulling a remote from her pocket, she pressed a button.

A whirring sound filled the room as four metal walls rose around the arena, each coated with a translucent shield.

"These super-alloy walls, coupled with the energy shield, will prevent any collateral damage from reaching the outside," Matori explained.

It appeared Giovanni had invested significantly in upgrading his gym.

Luo Yuan merely glanced at the alloy walls before focusing on a different direction behind Giovanni.

From beyond the walls emerged Mewtwo, clad in a sleek suit of armor bristling with tubes and wires, specially designed for it.

"Mewtwo, huh…"

Luo Yuan couldn't help but marvel at the sight.

After Rocket had poured billions into this project, Mewtwo had finally come to life.

The armored suit, known as the M2 Restraint, was engineered specifically for Mewtwo.

Perhaps because of this suit, Mewtwo's presence didn't feel as overwhelming as he'd expected.

"Deoxys."

Seeing Mewtwo, Luo Yuan called out his own ace.

The red-and-blue figure of Deoxys floated into the arena, hovering midair, its left arm shaped into a fist while its right arm took on a tendril form, maintaining its standard form for flexibility.

Ever since Luo Yuan had used his Viridian power to heal Deoxys and allowed it to absorb energy from a meteorite, it had learned to switch forms with minimal energy drain, so Deoxys typically remained in its standard form.

This way, it could handle unexpected situations and switch forms whenever necessary.

The moment Deoxys appeared, it locked onto Mewtwo.

Mewtwo, in turn, noticed Deoxys.

For legendary Pokémon, other legendary Pokémon were like beacons in the night—immediately recognizable.

To Mewtwo, this was a rare opportunity to face an opponent of "equal standing." While it wasn't the Mew it longed to encounter, this battle still held a certain thrill.

For Deoxys, however, there was something strange about its opponent.

It could sense a vast reservoir of psychic energy within Mewtwo, yet it was somehow contained by the peculiar armor covering its body.

Deoxys was puzzled. Was this some new way of using psychic power?

The two Pokémon faced off.

At first glance, the unrestrained Deoxys radiated a far stronger aura than Mewtwo.

And yet, despite standing across from Deoxys, Mewtwo's attention was more focused on Luo Yuan.

"A human I haven't met before... yet there's a strangely familiar feeling."

That was Mewtwo's first impression of Luo Yuan.

It was a unique sensation!

Mewtwo had felt something similar in the past.

Back before it was fully conscious, still dormant, there had been a certain bald-headed human who carried an aura that felt comforting to it.

But the feeling radiating from Luo Yuan was even more exhilarating, electrifying every cell in its body—something Mewtwo had never experienced before.

Then, before everyone's eyes, Mewtwo lifted its head and, using telepathy, spoke directly to Luo Yuan.

"Human, what is your name?"

"?"

Luo Yuan was briefly stunned by the question.

What do you do when your opponent's Pokémon asks for your name before the battle even starts?

This could easily be seen as crossing a line, especially in front of Giovanni.

Fortunately, Giovanni hadn't heard the exchange, or things could have gotten complicated.

As for Mewtwo's question, Luo Yuan opted for a straightforward response.

"My name is Luo Yuan."

Not wasting any time, and before Giovanni could notice anything unusual, Luo Yuan immediately issued a mental command to Deoxys.

"Attack!"

Upon receiving the command, Deoxys, known for its loyalty, acted without hesitation.

Switching to its Speed Form in a split second, Deoxys streaked across the arena, leaving only a faint afterimage as it vanished from Giovanni and Mewtwo's sight.

Giovanni had read reports on Deoxys' abilities after the Seven Island operation, so he knew of its form-switching and the incredible speed of its Speed Form.

But seeing it in action firsthand, Giovanni was taken aback by just how astounding Deoxys' speed truly was.

In the blink of an eye—or rather, before he could even blink—Deoxys had appeared behind Mewtwo.

What incredible speed.

"Psycho Boost!"

Deoxys' core glowed, and an overwhelming wave of psychic energy pressed down on Mewtwo.

If the opponent had been an ordinary Pokémon, this move would have rendered it unable to battle.

But the problem was… this opponent was Mewtwo!

Though the M2 Restraint suppressed Mewtwo's psychic power, the power itself was only contained—not diminished. It still belonged to Mewtwo.

"Mewtwo, defend!" Giovanni ordered.

Mewtwo's eyes glowed blue from within its helmet, and the M2 Restraint emitted a faint light as a portion of its psychic energy was released.

A torrent of psychic power erupted from Mewtwo, shattering Deoxys' psychic attack.

The energy surged around Mewtwo, effortlessly blocking Deoxys' move.

This initial test attack had failed to inflict any damage.

But Luo Yuan did take note of two key observations.

---

Greetings, esteemed reader.

Your presence throughout this chapter's journey is deeply appreciated. In Liyue, we hold that every tale, much like the enduring stone, gains strength through the appreciation of those who encounter it.

Should you wish to support WiseTL's dedicated endeavors in bringing these narratives to you, you may consider visiting:

[patreon.com/WiseTL].

Even the most modest contribution serves as a cornerstone, fortifying the foundation upon which future stories are built.

With sincere regards,

Zhongli