The ground shuddered under the violent impact of draconic energy. The resulting shockwave was so powerful it sent the hovering Unown crashing to the ground, unconscious once more. Magma began to seep through the floor's fissures, while seawater thundered into the ruins from above. It was a scene of total apocalypse.
"That move was incredible," Mewtwo said to Feng Che. "I just used my telepathy to scan the depths. That blast pierced the crust and hit the magma layer. If I hadn't used my psychic power to plug the gaps, this entire ruin would have been vaporized."
Togekiss had grabbed Alolan Ninetales at the last second, carrying her into the air to avoid the rising lava. Below them, Regidrago stood exhausted. Having unleashed the full extent of its Dragon Energy, its crystalline body had dimmed significantly, its scales losing their luster.
"It's your turn! Ninetales, Togekiss, counterattack!" Feng Che shouted. "Combine Moonblast and Dazzling Gleam!"
In an instant, it was as if two silver moons had risen within the dark chamber. They erupted with a blinding, iridescent light that bathed Regidrago. The Titan let out a pained cry as the Fairy energy seared its draconic frame like white-hot iron. The brilliant flash turned the pitch-black ruins into day, shredding the Dragon-type armor. Regidrago's physical form began to destabilize, and the excess dragon energy leaking from its body was being siphoned away by Feng Che's own aura.
Regidrago: Impossible... This cannot be... My perfect form... defeated...
With a heavy thud, Regidrago collapsed, unconscious and charred. The three Original Unown drifted out of its body. Suddenly, a force erupted from the back of Feng Che's hand, drawing the three Ancestors into his skin. Feng Che felt a massive surge in his mental capacity; with the addition of the three Original Unown, his psychic aura flared to a terrifying degree.
Attracted by this surge, every single Unown in the ruins was pulled into Feng Che's body. His internal energy channels felt stretched to the limit, and it was only thanks to Mewtwo's stabilizing influence that he didn't explode from the influx of power. When the light faded, Feng Che realized he had unlocked a personal Psychic Dimension—a space of nearly a hundred square meters.
"Congratulations, Feng Che," Mewtwo noted. "You've opened a pocket dimension. Unlike standard storage items, this space can sustain living beings."
The Mimicry
Suddenly, Ditto burst from its Poké Ball. It looked at the scattered Psychic Crystals on the ground with greedy eyes. Its body began to ripple and expand as its cells devoured the crystals. Feng Che watched in awe as Ditto transformed, growing into a familiar, sleek silhouette—a Shadow Mewtwo.
"Finally," Mewtwo said with a nod of approval. "Ditto's Mimicry state."
"Mewtwo, what exactly is this form?" Feng Che asked, eyeing the dark replica.
"Ditto was created using Mew's DNA. Dr. Fuji's research divided Mew's genetic code into the X-gene and the Y-gene. The X-gene governs the ability to transform into any species, which is what Ditto usually displays. The Y-gene is the blueprint for my destructive form. After absorbing those crystals, Ditto finally activated its dormant Y-gene. In this 'Mimicry' state, its combat power is nearly identical to mine. However, the drawback is clear: once it exhausts that stored psychic energy, it will revert to its original form."
The Cleanup
Rumble...
The ruins began to cave in as the Unown's presence, which had held the dimension together, vanished.
"This place is collapsing," Mewtwo warned. "The storm and whirlpools outside were generated by the energy of this ruin. Once it's gone, the weather surrounding the island will return to normal."
"Good. Mewtwo, wipe Alivia and Lewis's memories. Make them believe we scouted the lake ruins and simply turned back when we found nothing. Delete the photos on their communicators, too."
Mewtwo's eyes glowed purple as it rewrote the specialists' memories. "Done. Now, what about the big guy?" Mewtwo gestured toward the fainted Regidrago.
"We're taking it," Feng Che said, tossing a Heavy Ball. "It may have lost its Mind Core and its other elemental skills are weak, but it's still a Titan. As long as it isn't facing a Fairy-type, it's the most powerful Dragon-type below the rank of a true God."
With the capture successful, Feng Che looked toward the horizon. "Let's clear the rest of this island quickly. I need to get to Hoenn."
"I'll finish the Magma Team undercover mission and then head to Mt. Pyre. My team has too many issues right now—Genesect's soul is fractured, Darkrai needs negative energy to hatch, and Regidrago is mindless. I need to bolster my strength before the real players show up. Groudon, Kyogre, Rayquaza... the Tao Trio of Unova... none of them are pushovers. If I want to rule, I have to seize the momentum, become a Champion, and eventually build an organization that can stand against the Global Federation itself."
Feng Che's eyes were full of resolve. Team Rocket and the League were merely stepping stones. Soon, he would create his own legend.