Chapter 761: No Matter What, We Support You
The birth of Mewtwo.
Was an event that occurred more than a decade ago.
At that time, Team Rocket went near the Tree of Beginning to besiege the three Regis.
They ended up not finding the Regis, but accidentally discovered some shed fur left behind by Mew.
This discovery brought Team Rocket sheer ecstasy.
Because the genes of a Demon God corrupted by shadow energy could not be utilized; that would only create a monster innately capable of generating shadow energy.
This was a conclusion they had already reached through past experiments.
So, upon discovering the shed fur of an uncorrupted Mew, Team Rocket was incomparably thrilled.
This meant they could replicate the feat from a hundred and fifty years ago—artificially creating a Legendary Pokémon known as "the Strongest".
And this Legendary Pokémon would become the hope of all humanity, all Pokémon, and the entire world.
Personally creating the seed of hope for humanity.
How could this not excite Team Rocket, who wanted to save the world?
Thus.
Team Rocket dug up the secret research materials from a hundred and fifty years ago, spent a massive amount of time on research and updates, and created "Mewtwo Number Two".
However.
The Mewtwo at that time only had a physical body and lacked consciousness.
It was essentially equivalent to an unhatched Legendary Pokémon, or one could say, equivalent to a deceased Legendary Pokémon.
In short.
For this reason.
Mewtwo did not emit the aura that attracted Demon Gods, so He remained safe and sound for several years.
Until a year ago.
When Mewtwo had gained self-consciousness for less than ten days.
A black fireball radiating rainbow colors smashed down, and the corrupted Ho-Oh descended from the sky.
Team Rocket's entire underground base exploded violently. The entire organization was thrown into chaos, and Mewtwo fled on instinct at the time.
In the end, Team Rocket paid a heavy price to repel Ho-Oh.
But by then, Mewtwo was long gone.
He wandered aimlessly.
Roaming the Kanto region in confusion for a long time.
Finally, following the gradually awakening memories in His genes, He found His way to the Tree of Beginning.
It had been a year since then.
During this year.
Occasionally, other Demon Gods would come knocking.
But there were basically only two outcomes.
One was that Mewtwo used Agility and Teleport to run away, hid outside for a few days, and then returned.
And the other.
Was that the invading magical beast would be repelled by Team Rocket members who rushed over upon hearing the news.
It had to be said.
While Team Rocket vainly attempted to control Mewtwo, they were also doing everything in their power to protect Him—protecting this hope that, in their eyes, could save the world.
Their resolve was not as simple as casually shouting slogans.
But these things.
Mewtwo did not care about.
He had no good feelings toward Team Rocket, who treated Him as a tool, nor did He harbor intense hatred like the previous Mewtwo.
He merely wanted to seek out the voice coming from within His heart.
Mewtwo didn't know how much longer He would stay at the Tree of Beginning.
He instinctively felt that He couldn't leave.
He still had an important mission unfulfilled, a mission even He Himself didn't understand.
Coincidentally.
He Himself didn't know where else He could go if He left the Tree of Beginning, so He simply continued to stay.
Up until now.
Kazuya's arrival stimulated the genes within Mewtwo, further awakening important memories.
He finally understood His mission:
[Wait for Kazuya].
"Wait for me?"
Kazuya frowned, pinching his chin in deep thought.
He was thinking.
Did Mew anticipate that Team Rocket would use its fur to create Mewtwo, and therefore left this kind of suggestion for Mewtwo in its own memories?
Were these hairs even plucked and left there by Mew itself?
As a Psychic-type Mythical Pokémon.
Kazuya did not doubt that Mew possessed the ability to foresee the future.
It was just that...
These actions really didn't seem like something that little blockhead could pull off.
The Tree of Beginning was a possibility.
But he felt the higher probability was that Mew itself was waiting for him, and this desire to wait for him was incredibly strong.
That was why its memories were able to influence Mewtwo.
Causing Mewtwo to feel that this was a mission He absolutely had to complete.
"Yes, exactly."
Mewtwo nodded, standing up and gesturing for Kazuya to follow.
Kazuya did not hesitate.
He immediately followed.
Lucario and Scizor exchanged a glance and also followed behind.
Halfway there.
Kazuya realized this was the path leading to the heart of the Tree of Beginning.
Sure enough.
Five minutes later, they followed Mewtwo into the "Heart Chamber" of the Tree of Beginning.
The massive azure crystal, once translucent and glittering.
Had now lost all its light, turning into a semi-transparent grayish-white crystal.
"Instinct told me to bring you here, but I don't know what to do after bringing you here. Perhaps you can guess yourself."
Mewtwo stood still, turning to look at Kazuya.
His words were direct and straightforward, without the slightest hint of falsehood, nor was He teasing Kazuya.
He truly didn't know why He brought Kazuya to this place.
Before Kazuya could respond.
The Lucario beside him stepped forward and pulled his shoulder instead: "Lord Kazuya."
"Hm?"
"The Time Flower."
Lucario pointed at a small, fragile blue flower leaning against the crystal.
There was a hint of shock in his eyes as well.
It had been a long, long time since he last saw a Time Flower.
After all, the essence of a Time Flower was still a plant; it needed sunlight to sustain its life. In fact, Time Flowers were even more special; they needed not only sunlight but also moonlight.
But how could one see the sun or moon in this world today?
So Time Flowers should have gone extinct long ago.
At least, up until this second.
That was what Lucario believed in his heart.
"Oh~ The Time Flower, it's been a long time since I've seen one. I knew it. They would definitely leave some information and intelligence for me."
Kazuya bent down with a touch of nostalgia.
Time Flowers did not exist in the other world.
Kazuya hadn't understood why before.
Looking at it now, it might be because of the Tree of Beginning.
He skillfully gathered a wisp of Aura at his fingertips, then gently tapped the bud of the Time Flower.
The next moment.
The bud slowly blossomed.
Along with the opening of the petals, a simple projection of light and shadow appeared before the eyes of the four Pokémon.
It was still this very space.
Only, a small white cat—Mew—had appeared before them.
The Mewtwo beside them couldn't help but widen His eyes upon seeing this. This was His first time seeing Mew's appearance so clearly.
In the projection.
"Myu~"
Mew was still its usual cheerful self.
It flew back and forth in front of Kazuya, smiling and waving its small hands and tail, seemingly greeting the Kazuya on the other side.
It had many, many things it wanted to ask Kazuya.
Like how he had been these past few years, where he had gone to play, if he had found Meowscarada...
Unfortunately.
It couldn't hear Kazuya's answers.
"Long time no see."
Kazuya smiled, raising a hand and waving casually.
Before he could listen to more of Mew's chattering.
The main event quickly arrived.
Mew was seen landing on the heart of the Tree of Beginning, then slowly closing its eyes.
When it opened its eyes again.
Its pupils had turned entirely azure.
"By the time you activate this Time Flower, Mew and I will likely have already met with misfortune. Otherwise, you wouldn't need to activate the Time Flower; you could just ask us directly."
A mature male voice rang out.
It was the voice of the Tree of Beginning, one Kazuya was very familiar with.
It seemed that even the events happening today were within the Tree of Beginning's expectations.
It was normal, really.
The Tree of Beginning's eyes were spread all over the world.
It was the existence that understood the changes in this world best, so foreseeing what the future would become wasn't difficult.
Unfortunately...
Seeing his former friends now only able to leave a message through a Time Flower.
Kazuya couldn't bring himself to be happy no matter what.
"Don't be too sad. I know the occurrence of some events might deal you quite a blow, but I also believe you won't be crushed that easily."
"Though I don't know how long it's been since we lost consciousness by the time you activate this Time Flower."
"But that's not important, as long as our words reach your ears, that's enough."
The voice paused abruptly here.
A few seconds later.
The Tree of Beginning's voice rang out again: "Kazuya, with your personality, you most likely won't just stand by and do nothing about this world, right?"
"To be honest, from a friend's perspective, neither Mew nor I want you to get involved in this. It's too dangerous. A danger with a ten-to-zero chance of survival. Even for you, something might go wrong."
"But, as a part of this world, I hope someone can save it. And among all the creatures I know, besides you, there seems to be no one else capable of facing this situation."
"Actually, after saying all this, our meaning is very simple..."
"No matter what you choose, Mew and I support you."
Looking at the phantom projection before him.
Kazuya stood silently in place.
The gazes of the other three Pokémon all landed on the back of his head at this moment, seemingly waiting for a definitive answer.
After a long while.
"Leave it to me."
Kazuya patted his chest, revealing a confident smile.
Just when he thought the Time Flower's projection ended there.
The Mew possessed by the consciousness of the Tree of Beginning grinned: "If nothing unexpected happens, you've still decided to do it, right?"
"..."
Kazuya also grinned, nodding gently.
"As expected. So, what follows are the words I truly need to tell you. Memorize them well."
"This is a long battle, do not be overly hasty. You know the principle that haste makes waste. There's no shame in hiding when you're weak."
"You must go visit the places where your former friends lived. There should be some unexpected gains, and it's even possible you might see them again."
"In short."
"We entrust this world to you, our final hope."
As these words fell.
The projection of this Time Flower finally drew to a close with a wave of Mew's hand.
Originally, Kazuya thought he would figure out his next plan after visiting the Tree of Beginning.
As a result, the Tree of Beginning had arranged it for him directly.
Go visit the places where my former friends lived...
That was quite a massive scope.
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