Before Ryuuske could speak, Misty leaned in curiously, eyeing the Poké Ball in his hand. Even as the Gym Leader of Cerulean City, she had never seen such a legendary item before.
"It's not as exaggerated as it sounds," Professor Oak chimed in, stepping forward. "The principle behind Poké Balls capturing Pokémon is that the Pokémon's stamina must first be weakened as much as possible before throwing the Ball.
Only then can the Ball successfully hit and prevent the Pokémon from breaking free. Wild Pokémon follow the laws of natural selection—once defeated and captured, they generally obey the victor's commands. However, a newly caught Pokémon will only follow orders superficially. To truly synchronize with a Pokémon, you must build a deep bond with it."
As one of the world's foremost authorities on Pokémon, Professor Oak's explanation immediately piqued everyone's interest. Blaine, as a scientist, primarily researched genetics and heredity, so his understanding of Pokémon behavior wasn't as comprehensive as Oak's.
"...This Master Ball, created by Silph Co., is made from extremely rare materials. It's incredibly durable, and due to the difficulty of its production, very few exist in the world. I've only seen one before, during an academic seminar hosted by Silph Co.
Thanks to its unique craftsmanship and materials, once a Pokémon is captured inside, it's impossible for them to shatter the Ball and escape—no matter how powerful they are. As for whether it can capture legendary Pokémon, I don't know, since there's no precedent."
"Even if you could capture a legendary Pokémon, getting them to obey would be nearly impossible. Historical records show that these Pokémon possess extremely strong wills, immense intelligence, and some even embody the laws of nature itself. Unless you use special methods, the only way to earn their loyalty is through genuine emotional bonds."
Professor Oak chuckled warmly. He clearly enjoyed sharing knowledge—perhaps it was the instinct of a scholar and teacher. After all, Oak had mentored countless students, earning him his esteemed reputation.
"So, does that mean legendary Pokémon are fundamentally uncatchable?"
Ryuuske frowned, feeling a mix of frustration and fascination. In the games, he had always used Master Balls to capture the strongest legendary Pokémon of each generation. After witnessing Mewtwo's terrifying power, anyone would covet the strength of legendary Pokémon.
Based on Mewtwo's displayed abilities alone, Ryuuske was convinced that even as a half-baked Trainer, if he returned to his original world with Mewtwo, annihilating the U.S. Pacific Fleet(The strongest fleet apparently) would be child's play. Even an aircraft carrier—the behemoth of the seas—would be nothing more than scrap metal under Mewtwo's psychic powers. Human weapons like missiles, while devastating, would struggle to hit a target as agile as Mewtwo. And even if they did, Mewtwo's array of defensive psychic abilities would likely render conventional weaponry useless.
When Blaine had earlier claimed that Mewtwo could destroy the world, Ryuuske had been skeptical. Now, he fully believed it. Mewtwo might not be able to obliterate the planet physically, but eradicating human civilization? Absolutely.
A single attack could reduce a city to ruins before moving on to the next target. With proper tactics, neither this world nor his original one could resist Mewtwo's power.
Among all legendary Pokémon, Mewtwo might not be the strongest in raw power, but its abilities were undoubtedly the most versatile and complex. In terms of overall combat prowess, it stood firmly among the very best.
"Pokémon's wild instincts have also been one of my research topics," Professor Oak continued. "Why do Pokémon with Trainers differ so drastically from wild ones? I once studied this extensively and found that wild Pokémon rely purely on instinct in battle. While this grants them strength, it also limits their ability to learn from experience."
"Pokémon captured by humans gradually lose their wild instincts over time. When battling alongside Trainers, they combine their own 'power' with the Trainer's 'intelligence.' This represents the different evolutionary paths of humans and Pokémon. Freed from the constraints of instinct, trained Pokémon gain the ability to learn from experience, making them far stronger."
"...But this isn't without drawbacks. Having lost their wild instincts, trained Pokémon become lost without their Trainer's commands. In this state, Pokémon and Trainers become inseparable."
Professor Oak winked at Ryuuske and added mysteriously, "...Legendary Pokémon are still Pokémon. They follow the same behavioral patterns. Aside from special methods of capture or emotional bonds, you can also defeat them repeatedly with overwhelming strength—until they submit completely."
His words drew laughter from the group. If legendary Pokémon were that easy to defeat, humanity wouldn't have taken the path of harmonious coexistence with nature. It was precisely because of their overwhelming power—and humanity's past defeats in war against them—that this world had developed as it did. Only the absolute strongest Trainers in the world could hope to achieve what Oak described.
Ryuuske couldn't help but feel sympathy for humanity in this world. If Mewtwo was already this terrifying, imagining the handful of Pokémon on par with it—plus the many slightly weaker ones—their combined power could annihilate human civilization multiple times over. No wonder ancient human civilizations had risen and fallen so many times.
"These aren't concerns for you yet, Ryuuske," Blaine interjected, cutting off Professor Oak's lecture. "...I anticipated this situation earlier. When escaping the lab, I stole the Master Ball belonging to Team Rocket. The liquid inside is the same genetic stabilization fluid from Mewtwo's incubation tank.
As long as Mewtwo remains submerged in it, its genetic adjustments will gradually complete. I can't say exactly how long it'll take, but it shouldn't be too long. Until then, Mewtwo's battle time will be strictly limited. Exceeding it will cause your body to deteriorate."
Blaine frowned, stroking his chin. "...Initially, I thought the Master Ball's durability would be enough. But after seeing Mewtwo tear through Silph Steel in the lab, I'll prepare more stabilization fluid and inject it into a few Ultra Balls for backup. Just in case the Master Ball is ever destroyed, Mewtwo won't be left without a home."
Hearing this, Ryuuske felt reassured. Though Blaine had once been consumed by ambition and made grave mistakes, he wasn't evil at heart. As a scientist, he was meticulous, preparing for every possible contingency.
"Why did Team Rocket have a Master Ball?"
Ryuuske lifted the Ball. All Poké Balls were made of special materials—only when held up close could you see that half of it was transparent, allowing a clear view of the Pokémon inside. From a distance, however, it appeared opaque to prevent opponents from anticipating your next move.
Inside, Mewtwo sat in the genetic stabilization fluid as if resting. When Ryuuske's gaze fell upon it, Mewtwo opened its eyes and smiled at him.
"You're sharp, Ryuuske. The Pokémon League has long suspected Team Rocket's ties to Silph Co. Team Rocket has existed for at least thirty years. Initially, it was just a small criminal organization—operating illegally but within controllable limits.
In its early days, Team Rocket primarily handled shady dealings for Silph Co. Given that Silph Co. is the largest manufacturer in Kanto and a corporate giant within the League, with cutting-edge technology, the League turned a blind eye to Team Rocket's existence."
Blaine shook his head, as if displeased with the League's past appeasement policies. "...No one expected Team Rocket to grow this rapidly. Now, even the League finds them troublesome. Silph Co. has likely lost control over them long ago. The mastermind behind Team Rocket is truly formidable—remaining hidden all these years while expanding the organization to this scale."
"Ryuuske, you must be careful. After ruining Team Rocket's most important project and taking their completed creation, they won't let you off easily. I can tell you want to become a Pokémon Trainer. You'll likely travel across Kanto and beyond for training—giving Team Rocket plenty of opportunities to strike."
Professor Oak placed a firm hand on Ryuuske's shoulder, his grip surprisingly strong for an old man. "...Don't rely too much on Mewtwo. It'll hinder your growth as a Trainer. But when facing real danger, don't hesitate to use it. No matter what, your life comes first."
His words were grave, but the deep concern behind them warmed Ryuuske's heart. Nodding firmly, Ryuuske said gratefully, "...I understand, Professor Oak. Don't worry."
"Good. I could tell from the lab that you're different from other kids. You're far more mature than most. I trust you'll find the right balance."
Misty had remained silent throughout, her expression darkening whenever Team Rocket was mentioned. Each time, she seemed on the verge of speaking but held back.
Professor Oak and Blaine were too focused on Ryuuske to notice Misty's unease. But Ryuuske, as a hormonally charged teenager, paid far more attention to the beautiful girl beside him than the two old men. Noticing her discomfort, he asked concernedly, "...What's wrong, Misty? Are you feeling unwell?"
Snapping out of her thoughts, Misty forced a bright smile. "...No, no. Just remembering something unpleasant... Oh, Ryuuske, are you planning to become a Trainer? Then we'll definitely meet again. When you come to Cerulean City to challenge my Gym, don't expect me to go easy on you."
Her playful tone lightened the mood.
"Hahaha, Ryuuske, you'd better watch out! Misty placed highly in the last Kanto Conference. Through relentless effort, she defeated countless challengers and successfully inherited Cerulean Gym," the two old men teased, their spirits lifted by the young girl's energy.
"Then maybe I should hope Misty goes easy on me after all," Ryuuske joked, shrugging with exaggerated fear.
He knew Gym Leaders in this world were formidable. Their status was equivalent to city mayors—just without the bureaucratic duties. They served as the pillars of their cities, working with other Trainers to ensure safety—essentially acting as the city's military.
Take Blaine, for instance. Though primarily a scientist, as the Gym Leader of Cinnabar Island, he could hold his own against hundreds of elite, militarized Team Rocket Grunts. If not for protecting Ryuuske and Professor Oak—non-combatants at the time—he could've defeated them all single-handedly with his six Pokémon, provided the terrain didn't limit him.
"Blaine, where will you go next?"
After some more casual conversation, as everyone regained their energy, it was clear their temporary gathering was coming to an end. Professor Oak looked at Blaine with concern.
"I'll return to Cinnabar Island. As they say, the most dangerous place is the safest. I have a secret lab beneath my Gym—no one knows it exists. I can hide there, though the Gym itself will have to remain closed for now..."
"...Team Rocket's entire plan has been ruined. All their research and materials were destroyed by Mewtwo. They won't let this go. Even if Mewtwo's creation relied heavily on luck, and even with more Mew genes and data, replicating it would be impossible. But Team Rocket won't give up—this was a twenty-year project. Their mastermind must be furious beyond reason. Oak, what will you do?"
"I'll return to my lab in Pallet Town," Professor Oak said matter-of-factly.
"Pallet Town? That's too obvious! You'd be handing yourself to Team Rocket!" Blaine exclaimed urgently.
"No, I must go back. I can abandon everything else, but not that place. It's my life's work—more important than my life itself... Once there, I'll rally Trainers and League members to launch another crackdown on Team Rocket. They'll likely lie low for a while."
Seeing Oak's determination, Blaine dropped the subject. Besides, he had always felt there was more to this old man than met the eye.
"What about you, Ryuuske? Will you come with me to Pallet Town? You were born in Viridian City, and Pallet Town is under its jurisdiction—it's your hometown too."
Professor Oak's tone was sincere.
"I..."
After only a brief hesitation, Ryuuske nodded. "...Alright. I'll go with you to Pallet Town. Honestly, I don't have anywhere else to go."
He smiled wryly. In this world, he knew no one—no family, no friends. Aside from Mewtwo in the Ball he held, the closest people to him were Blaine and Professor Oak. As for Misty, they had just met, with little interaction between them.
"Once we reach Pallet Town, treat it as your home and me as family... Misty, we'll rely on you now. Please use your Water-type Pokémon to take us to Pallet Town. It's not too far from here."
Professor Oak turned to Misty.
"No problem! Leave it to me!"
Misty thumped her chest confidently—though Ryuuske couldn't help but notice her chest was rather... small.
"Then I'll take my leave and return to Cinnabar Island! Ryuuske, I hope the next time we meet, you'll have become an outstanding Trainer!"
Blaine gave Ryuuske a thumbs-up, then tossed a Poké Ball and mounted his Charizard. With a roar, Charizard took off from the rocky outcrop, soaring southwest into the distance.
To be continued…