Chapter 70

Director Goodshow: "Twenty years ago, Team Rocket was still just doing poacher work, still in the small-time phase."

Director Goodshow felt some regret; he should have crushed Team Rocket early back then, destroying the seeds of evil in their infancy.

Bruno: "Twenty years ago, I hadn't even received my starter Pokémon. The thing I looked forward to most back then was just having one Pokémon. Those were truly nostalgic times."

Agatha: "Twenty years ago? Truly annoying times."

Professor Oak: "Ahem."

While everyone in the chat room reminisced about the past, the video continued.

【"Back then, my mother, the previous head of Team Rocket, didn't take the Mew eyelash fossil seriously. She only took it out when reminiscing about an old friend."】

【"It was I, Giovanni, who discovered the true purpose of Mew's eyelash!"】

【"I sought out Fuji, the greatest genetic engineering doctor in Kanto, and perhaps the world. With his help, Mewtwo was born."】

【Giovanni stopped his speech and looked with a smile at Ash and the Mew on his shoulder. "By the way, I also have to thank you and Mew. If it weren't for you, the Mewtwo project wouldn't have progressed so easily."】

【The genes contained in a single eyelash fossil were simply too few. Upon learning that the Pokémon by Ash's side was Mew, Giovanni dispatched a large number of Team Rocket members to search for traces left by Mew in places Ash had stayed.】

【Although a massive amount of manpower and resources were spent, it was all worth it; Mewtwo was born ahead of schedule.】

【"I think Mew must have come to New Island because it sensed Mewtwo's existence. Even a good-tempered Mew probably couldn't tolerate its 'territory' being intruded upon by an unknown Pokémon."】

【"Then what is your goal? Giovanni." Ash asked calmly.】

【"Mew. Mewtwo can become even more perfect. As long as it can absorb all of Mew's genes, it will be the only god in this world." A madness appeared in Giovanni's eyes for the first time.】

【Things have reached this point, so there's nothing left to say. Ash and Pikachu exchanged a look, and Pikachu understood.】

【"Pika Pika."】

【"Then I'll leave Misty and Brock to you, Pikachu." Ash then handed the Poké Balls for Charizard and Venusaur to Misty and Brock.】

【"Leave the rest to me." Ash said firmly.】

【"You must win, Ash." Misty gave Ash a firm hug and turned to leave.】

【"Come back safely, Ash." Brock said with concern.】

【"Don't worry."】

【As Misty and Brock gradually disappeared into the night, Ash looked at Giovanni and asked in confusion, "Why didn't you stop them?"】

【Giovanni laughed loudly, "Who do you think I am? I wouldn't do such a classless thing."】

【"No." Ash shook his head, "You think you've already won."】

【"Perhaps." Giovanni didn't explain further. He turned around, patted Mewtwo on the shoulder, and said slowly, "Go, wreak havoc, Mewtwo."】

【After receiving Giovanni's command, Mewtwo slowly ascended. During the ascent, its armor slowly fell away. Once it reached a certain height, the decorations had disappeared, and Mewtwo revealed its true form to Ash and Mew for the first time.】

【Its body was silvery-white, and from a distance, it looked like a standing giant cat. Like Mew, it also had a long tail.】

【Looking closely, one could still see the similarities between Mewtwo and Mew, but the biggest difference between the two was their temperament.】

【Mewtwo was more like a hissing, sinister giant cat, while Mew was a cute little kitten that meowed.】

【In the sky, Mewtwo was already waiting. After Mew gave Ash a reassuring look, it also began to rise.】

【The sky was the battlefield that belonged to it and Mewtwo.】

【"Then, you and I should also settle things." Putting aside his worry for Mew, Ash looked at Giovanni with murderous intent.】

【He would never let off anyone who dared to target his companions.】

【"Hey, hey, hey, no way. This isn't the Gym Leader from before; you don't think you can still beat me, do you?" Giovanni gave a cold smile.】

【Ash didn't respond, but his eyes told Giovanni that he did think so.】

【"I've been underestimated." To think he still wants to win even when his strongest Pikachu isn't by his side—it's simply ridiculous.】

【"Go, Persian. Go, Ursaring."】

【Persian, who had always been by Giovanni's side, presented the image of a well-behaved, obedient, cute giant cat to outsiders. But if you really treated it as just a pet, you wouldn't be far from death.】

【Persian didn't show any mercy just because Ash had no Pokémon by his side. With murderous intent, Persian rushed toward Ash without hesitation. Yes, that's right, it doesn't matter if there's no Pokémon; there's still the Trainer as a target anyway.】

【Sharp claws shone with a cold white light under the moonlight.】

【Fake Out.】

【Persian was like a hunter in the jungle; it went for the kill as soon as it attacked. Its claws were aimed specifically at Ash's neck.】

【Neither surprised nor panicked, Ash took a step back and successfully dodged Persian's claw attack.】

【"Come out, Lucario, Bullet Punch."】

【Ash used his own body as bait, all to make Persian reveal an opening.】

【How could Lucario waste the golden opportunity found by its Trainer risking his own life?】

【The fist struck Persian's waist like a bullet, sending it flying five meters away with a single punch.】

Sidney: "Good, that's it, take down one of the opponent's Pokémon first."

Phoebe: "Dark Ash is still impressive. Giovanni probably never dreamed that Dark Ash would dare to use himself as bait."

Steven: "It's going too smoothly. If this continues, Dark Ash will be able to finish off Giovanni in a few rounds, and maybe even go help Mew."

Lance: "It won't be that easy. Don't underestimate Giovanni."

Bruno: "Even though his character isn't great, he still has some real skills."

Cynthia: "By the way, who do you think is stronger, Mewtwo or Mew?"

Drayden: "Mew, I suppose. After all, in a sense, Mew is Mewtwo's father, or mother."

Gardenia: "No, no, I think Mew is even more powerful. Didn't you hear Giovanni? Mewtwo is Team Rocket's most perfect masterpiece, a natural fighting machine; it's a Pokémon born for battle. Mew, which naturally loves peace, will definitely be at a disadvantage against Mewtwo."

【"Meow."】

【It shook its head, climbed up from the ground, and then threw itself back into the battle as if nothing had happened.】

【This guy is too resistant to damage!】

【Ash didn't expect Lucario's punch to take down Persian, but at least it should have severely wounded the opponent. But the result now is that Persian doesn't look like it took much damage at all; at most, it's just a minor injury. How could Ash not be shocked?】

【On the other side, Ursaring has also clashed with Ash's Venusaur. You have to know that after absorbing the energy of all the Miracle Seeds, Venusaur's level is already quite high, but even so, it can only defend passively against Giovanni's Ursaring.】

【Ash looked up at the sky. Mew in the sky is also at a disadvantage under Mewtwo's barrage. In that case, they are all being suppressed on all three battlefields?】

【This won't do; he has to bring out some real skills.】

【Ash gave Venusaur a look, and Venusaur understood. It slowly began to condense toxins, preparing to initiate the Toxic-Stall tactic.】

【On Lucario's side, Ash began to release Aura from his entire body, channeling it into Lucario. The opponent is the head of Team Rocket, so he doesn't need to follow the rules. Just get it done.】

【With the addition of Ash's Aura, Lucario immediately seized the initiative in the battle. Aura Spheres began to be hurled at Persian like they were free. Persian is quite tough, but if you're hit with ten Aura Spheres in a row, no matter how tough a Pokémon is, it can't withstand such an offensive!】

Lance: "Giovanni must have been stunned by Dark Ash's move. He's lived this long and probably never seen a ten-shot Aura Sphere."

Bruno: "Can't blame Giovanni for his lack of experience. Who would have thought a human could use Aura? Even more terrifying is that his Aura is even stronger than Lucario's."

Lorelei: "Dark Ash + Lucario, no one can stop them!"

【"Are you a Psychic?" Giovanni frowned deeply.】

【Giovanni, who didn't get an answer from Ash, sighed, "Sigh, I wasn't planning on taking advantage of you, but now there's no other way."】

【Persian was knocked unconscious by Lucario's Aura Spheres, and Ursaring was being driven to the brink of madness by Venusaur's cheap tactics. There was no other way; he had to be shameless.】

【"Come out, Nidoking, Nidoqueen, Dugtrio, Rhyperior, Gliscor, Golem."】

【Giovanni threw out six more Pokémon in one breath.】

Lance: "Shameless, truly not a shred of dignity left!!!"

Bullying the small is one thing, but now he's even using human-wave tactics. Adding the Persian and Lucario from just now, how many Pokémon does that add up to?】

That's eight already!

Lorelei: "Is this your first time knowing Giovanni is shameless? I can only say it's fortunate Ash sent Misty and Brock away; otherwise, Giovanni would definitely have ambushed the two of them to threaten Ash."

Steven: "That's a given. When victory is in his grasp, he certainly won't use underhanded means, but once he's at a disadvantage, he'll do anything. That's Giovanni for you. Those who know, know."

【"I'm a Ground-type Gym Leader; it's only natural to carry a few Ground-type Pokémon, right?" Giovanni said with a smile.】

【It's clear that Giovanni thinks he has victory in his grasp at this moment.】

【Six Elite-level Pokémon ganging up on a child who isn't even 10 years old and just starting out—if he still can't win, why would he even run Team Rocket? He might as well go home early and inherit the family business.】

【Oh, wait, Team Rocket is the family business he inherited.】

【"Fine, playing that game with me, are you? Then don't blame me for being impolite."】

【Don't think Giovanni is the only one who made preparations; Ash also came prepared. It only took 5 days from the village where he received the letter to the port of New Island, but he took 8 days to arrive. You don't think he was walking slowly, do you?】

【Today, let him give Giovanni a surprise.】

【"Come out, Dragonite!!!" Ash gave a sinister smile. He was ready to slaughter the field.】

Lance: "When did Ash's Dragonair evolve into Dragonite?"

Lorelei: "That's not right. Even if it's just one Dragonite, there's no way to deal with so many of Giovanni's Pokémon. If Dragonite were really that powerful, Lance would have been the League Champion long ago."