Chapter 113: Pika Pika! Pikachu! (Second part)
Controlling the weather—something said to be a power only legendary Pokémon possess—was nothing special to the owner of this finger.
"Not everyone is qualified to enter the castle."
"What I want is the strongest. The strongest trainer."
"Those who cannot pass the trial shall be eliminated."
That voice declared as such.
A week later, an unprecedented and terrifying storm swept over the port, and the only ship leading to the new island ceased operations.
Most people, upon witnessing the violent storm and turbulent waves outside the port authority, either gave up or decided to wait until the weather calmed before setting off. However, a large number of confident trainers still chose to brave the storm.
After all, the invitation stated that only the strongest trainers were being summoned.
In the pursuit of becoming the strongest, what was a mere storm?
Every trainer is an adventurer, and every adventure comes with the risk of death.
Even when Officer Jenny tried to stop them, the trainers still released their Water-type or Flying-type Pokémon and began to cross the sea.
"Let's go too, Metagross."
With a flash of white light, a giant blue Pokémon that resembled a UFO floated above the sea. Two cloaked figures stood on its body, which also served as its head.
Soon, a transparent barrier rose from Metagross' body, shielding them from the storm and rain. Then, it shot forward at high speed, leaving a long wave in its wake and quickly overtaking the trainers who had departed earlier.
"So fast..."
This act undoubtedly sparked the competitive spirit of many surrounding trainers, who commanded their Pokémon to try and catch up with the Metagross.
Elsewhere, a seemingly fragile wooden boat docked at the port and took aboard a young boy dreaming of becoming a Pokémon Master and his companions.
The gears of fate began to turn. The only difference this time was the addition of two extra people.
No one knew how much time had passed, but the terrifying storm eventually cleared, and bright moonlight took its place.
"We're here."
At the center of New Island was the eye of the storm—a calm sea as still as death, in stark contrast to the raging waves not far away. It was like a hidden paradise, cut off from the world.
A giant castle came into view, covering the entire island. The castle's architecture was bizarre, mixing futuristic technology with ancient medieval style, like a patchwork of mismatched elements.
Before entering the castle, one of the mysterious figures looked up toward a certain point above and murmured:
"Compared to before, the presence is even stronger."
"I wonder if you've found the meaning of your existence."
With that, they followed a servant and entered the castle.
Some time later, more trainers began to arrive, having crossed the storm—though their numbers were minuscule compared to those who had attempted the journey.
Excluding the two mysterious figures who arrived first, only six trainers made it.
A pink Pokémon descended from the sky, hovering above the castle. It treated the entire castle like a playground, using the massive wind turbines as slides and the windows as hiding spots in a game of hide-and-seek. It was having a blast.
That was until a trio—a man, a woman, and a talking cat—arrived. The pink Pokémon's attention immediately shifted to them.
It seemed particularly interested in the red-haired woman named Jessie.
It kept circling around her, as if sensing a familiar aura from her.
Perhaps because Jessie's mother had once pursued this Pokémon, it gave off a sense of familiarity.
Though the trio's strength was mediocre, their luck was extraordinary. By sheer accident, they stumbled into the castle's core laboratory.
Inside the castle, bathed in a column of blue light, Mewtwo—the so-called strongest trainer—descended from the sky.
At that moment, all Pokémon in the area turned their gaze to him, some even bristling with tension.
Powerful. Dominant.
That was everyone's first impression of Mewtwo.
"That's right. He is both the strongest trainer and the strongest Pokémon."
The female attendant guiding the group spoke.
"What kind of joke is this? A Pokémon is a trainer?!"
This immediately drew the protest of one of the trainers.
"Why not? I'm stronger than you. I make the rules."
With a casual wave of his hand, the trainer was instantly thrown into a nearby pool. Though unharmed, he was drenched and utterly humiliated.
And there was only one way for a trainer to regain their dignity.
A Pokémon battle!
"Gyarados, use Hyper Beam!"
"If the strong make the rules, then since I'm stronger than you, your rules will change for me."
"If you're a Pokémon, then I'll defeat you and capture you."
In later generations of the Pokémon games, Hyper Beam is a Special move, best used by Pokémon with high Special Attack. But in the first generation, moves weren't divided into Physical or Special categories. Gyarados, with its immense strength combined with Hyper Beam's raw power, was essentially a weapon of mass destruction.
Unfortunately, he picked the wrong opponent.
"Stronger than me? You mean this?"
Mewtwo simply waved his hand, and the terrifying beam of light instantly rebounded, leaving the mighty Gyarados on the brink of death.
Gyarados evolved from Magikarp, the weakest Pokémon of the first generation. But just like the tale of the carp leaping over the dragon gate, once it evolves, Magikarp becomes incredibly powerful—one of the most formidable Pokémon across all generations, including the ninth.
"Too weak."
Mewtwo's tone was as indifferent as if he had crushed an ant beneath his foot:
"Are you really here to challenge the strongest trainer?"
His overwhelming presence and terrifying display of power left the surrounding trainers frozen in place.
"You… are useless now."
With a snap of his fingers, the female attendant's dull eyes regained clarity, but she was so weak she collapsed on the spot.
"See? You humans are such weak and fragile beings. I only need to lift a finger to turn you into broken puppets."
"And yet, Pokémon are countless times stronger than you. Why should we be your slaves?"
"Pika Pika! Pika Pika!"
(End of Chapter)