"I should be stronger than Dream now, shouldn't I?"
Mewtwo took the two items calmly, seemingly indifferent.
At the moment, just understanding Mega Evolution was enough for it to study for a while. As for the Wedge of Gene, well, that can wait until it had free time.
What it really wanted to know was the exact difference in strength between itself and Dream after it had mastered Mega Evolution.
Dream in the World Tree wasn't weak. Before coming to the Pokémon World, Mewtwo was very aware that it couldn't defeat Dream at that time.
But if it was now…
"You're strong…" Fang Yuan said without even thinking, speaking directly.
"However, do you think Dream would accept the challenge?"
"It didn't before, and now, the likelihood of it accepting is close to zero."
Mewtwo's heart sank. Indeed, that was the case… But beating any Legendary Pokémon was less important to it than personally defeating Dream.
It was an obsession.
"Do you have a way?"
Seeing Fang Yuan's mischievous expression, Mewtwo furrowed its brow.
"There's nothing in the world that's difficult for me to handle."
"'One may be unyielding, but must comply out of gratefulness for past help.' Ever heard of that?"
"If tough methods don't work, let's try the gentle approach."
"Think about it, since you arrived in the Pokémon World, on your quest to help Dream find the Tablets, you've had your share of merits and hard work, haven't you?"
"When we go back, we'll add oil and vinegar to the story. Exaggerate your contribution to the Tablet collection, and if you're merely requesting a battle, Dream surely won't feel good about declining."
Mewtwo pondered; this did make some sense. It could understand these emotions.
"I don't like lies." But the straightforward Mewtwo still spoke seriously in rebuttal. While it had indeed been helpful, its efforts were trivial compared to the gigantic number of Tablets.
"Oh man, you're impossible. I'll create another opportunity for you," Fang Yuan offered.
"At the championship, there's still one Tablet to be won. Join me in the fight, and if we win the Tablet together, that should do it, right?"
Mewtwo: …???
I might not be human, but you're the real dog!!!
"Hey, think about it, this seems like a good plan that kills two birds with one stone," Fang Yuan continued.
"Last time, we absorbed Team Magma, Team Aqua, and this time we're preparing to absorb Team Plasma. Our Rainbow Rocket Team is bound to be exposed to the various alliances, and you, Boss, staying hidden isn't good. Just come out during the championship and square things with the Alliance."
"In ancient times, Spirit Crown King unified the Galar Region, and now you, Mewtwo, have established the Rainbow Rocket Team. Standing in opposition to the Alliance to monitor world order is totally fine!"
"A rainbow should be exposed under the blue sky. After all, you're now a hero."
"I've got your back. Wait until the knockout rounds of the championship, and let's crush all the Champions together. Let every region's Alliance know how formidable you, Mewtwo, are!!"
"People don't have much of an idea of Thundurus's prowess, but the Champions are the strongest trainers in the world. Crushing them will make you the strongest."
"More importantly, this counts as assisting Dream in collecting the Tablets. Once Dream finds out, it will surely be grateful and agree to battle you when you return."
"Wow, this plan is just brilliant, all thought out by me."
Mewtwo pondered and was silent, sensing something wasn't quite right, yet it felt like it made sense.
At this moment, a smart Eevee walked past, a look of disdain in its eyes as it glanced at Fang Yuan.
You just want to give commands to Mewtwo once more because it tickled your fancy—how foolish you are, Trainer, and how foolish you are, Mewtwo!
......
"Wah~!!!"
Below Dragon Spiral Tower at this moment.
Monferno finally found out what its teammates had sneaked off to do just now.
The Thundurus drive-out battle—
Though only Mewtwo was actually participating in the fight, while other Pokémon were just spectating or slacking off, still...
It also wanted to watch the battle live so badly.
Now, Monferno could only satisfy its craving by watching various recordings on its Rotom phone.
But the more it watched, the more numb it became.
"Wah?!"
Mewtwo succeeded in breaking through? It achieved MEGA Evolution?
And it could switch freely between two MEGA Forms?
One was a Psychic Type Form that went beyond normal limits, and the other was a Fighting... coexistence?
Is this even possible? Monferno was silenced.
Why could Mewtwo with its little frame even have anything to do with the Fighting Type?
Monferno suspected it was due to its own efforts, but it had no evidence.
It felt like crying but had no tears—what was next, Darkrai? And after that, who?
Boom! Monferno exploded.
The Thunder Flame Power burst within Monferno, causing it to self-destruct with severe, life-threatening injuries.
It had to complete its training quickly; it could not delay any longer!
"Monferno is really diligent," Fang Yuan observed from afar.
This kind of lethal training method would be too much for most Pokémon, but Monferno dared to push itself to the brink of death several times a day.
Even Nigihayami Kohakunushi and Ho-Oh noted Monferno's determination.
At this time, Monferno had been practicing Overfrequency Drive Mode for two days already.
Each time it was gravely injured and nearly dead, Holy Ash would slowly heal its wounds. This process was very beneficial, both for mastering control over Thunder Flame Power and for learning to manipulate Life Power.
"It looks like we can leave it to practice on its own now," Fang Yuan mused.
"We don't have much else to teach."
"It's becoming too skilled, more and more so," Nigihayami Kohakunushi said to Fang Yuan, looking down from the sky above Dragon Spiral Tower.