What Nathan couldn't understand was how that Frankenstein Mewtwo transformed into the current Shadow Mewtwo. And it looked utterly bizarre.
Nathan did know about Shadow Mewtwo's origin: Mewtwo's life had once been absorbed by the Darkness Resonance Stone. Forced into that state, Mewtwo had to fight constantly, chasing resonance energy just to survive.
But that energy had never come. And yet—this became the result?
Or perhaps the crystal inserted into its chest wasn't actually the Darkness Resonance Stone?
Chiyou's boss was dead—silently erased by Shadow Mewtwo. After tormenting Frankenstein Mewtwo for so long, the creature finally ended his life.
After eliminating the man behind his suffering, Shadow Mewtwo turned his gaze toward Nathan.
The sound of footsteps—ta‑ta‑ta‑ta—echoed through the ruins as Shadow Mewtwo strode forward. Volcarona and the others tense‑up behind Nathan, shielding him.
Yet Shadow Mewtwo seemed oblivious to them—continuing its calm, steady advance.
Pangoro, watching Shadow Mewtwo draw closer, could no longer hold back. He charged forward, fist crackling with electric energy—Thunder Punch!
But Shadow Mewtwo didn't dodge. He let the punch connect—then froze Pangoro in place with a thought. Pangoro's body trembled violently, struggling—but Shadow Mewtwo flicked his wrist and sent him flying aside with telekinetic force.
Other Pokémon leapt to intercept, but Shadow Mewtwo simply extended a hand—and every Pokémon froze stone‑still. Then, with a single fist, he slammed them away.
Without his Pokémon's intervention, Nathan stood exposed—just thirty meters from the abyssal force approaching him.
If Shadow Mewtwo struck, Nathan might follow the same fate as Chiyou's boss: become nothing but a corpse.
Every step it took forward felt like a blow to Nathan's resolve. The ta‑ta‑ta was the grimest of death marches. Nathan could only watch, frozen in place, as the looming danger closed in…
--------------
Time stretched and compressed at once.
Volcarona and the others prepared to toss themselves into the fray again—but a bright light flared from Shadow Mewtwo's embedded crystal. Once again, Shadow Mewtwo's psychic force pinned them to the ground—unable to move.
Now, he was only two paces away from Nathan.
Suddenly—a glow emanated from Nathan's backpack.
Mewtwo had shattered free of his Poké Ball.
Though injured, Mewtwo appeared as though summoned, rising like a wall before Nathan, battered but determined—the same one who had sacrificed himself to save his trainer.
"Mewtwo…"
It wasn't just his name, but a silent message:
He stood to protect Nathan.
Nathan had paid dearly to save Mewtwo before.
Now, Mewtwo's repayment came again.
This was the bond between Trainer and Pokémon.
Nathan looked upward. Mewtwo faced Shadow Mewtwo, as if speaking. But Nathan heard nothing—only sensed. Shadow Mewtwo responded.
After a minute, Mewtwo re‑entered the Poké Ball.
Shadow Mewtwo glanced once over at Nathan—and smiled, thoughtfully, cryptically.
Then he soared upward…and departed.
Once he left, Nathan felt the oppressive fear lift—but his body trembled. Cold sweat coated his spine.
The Frankenstein Mewtwo was never particularly strong. But fused with that crystal, Shadow Mewtwo was on an entirely different level.
As for how strong he is, Nathan is sure that even if Entei, Raikou, and Suicune appear in front of him.
Nathan wouldn't feel that much pressure either.
Shadow Mewtwo's power…
Nathan didn't know why it left.
He didn't know what Mewtwo and Shadow Mewtwo had exchanged.
Nathan knelt and retrieved the Poké Ball, attempting to release Mewtwo again. But despite repeated tries, nothing happened. Mewtwo seemed unconscious—deep in sleep from injury.
Volcarona and the others returned, mewing softly, distressed—but Nathan couldn't respond. He sat silently, lost in thought.
With a ding-dong sound, just as Nathan was lost in thought, the system's voice rang out.
[A new mission has appeared!]
[In one year, Shadow Mewtwo will return to claim your Mewtwo's body.]
[Host, please protect Mewtwo from being taken away by Shadow Mewtwo one year later, and defeat Shadow Mewtwo.]
[Task Reward: ???]
Reading that, Nathan's chest tightened. His eyes stung.
Now he finally understood what Mewtwo had whispered to Shadow Mewtwo.
Mewtwo was willing to sacrifice its body—for him.
To be worthy of that trust…
"One year, huh? Mewtwo… this is the time you gave us?"
He stared at the Poké Ball gripped in his hand, moved to tears.
-----------------------------
Moments later, some of the agents who had helped purge Chiyouarrived.
They'd seen the black beam in the sky. But when they approached, they found Nathan blankly staring at his Poké Ball—his Pokémon listless beside him.
"Can you… book a ticket home for me?"
Hollow, weary.
They sensed how deeply shaken he was. Unable to say more, they quietly arranged flights.
Although Chiyou had been completely eradicated—some dead, some captured—Valar's authorities hadn't hindered them. It was as though an unspoken pact existed.
Meanwhile, the photo of the black beam had gone viral.
People across Pacific saw it—so stark and unnatural. Furious reactions flooded online.
Back home, Kelly was thrilled to welcome Nathan. He'd just received confirmation that the Chiyou's boss and key members were arrested or killed.
Soon, a nationwide clampdown began—news that delighted many.
Yet when Kelly finally saw Nathan, that joy evaporated.
That was not the driven Nathan he knew—the one who had fought for the world championship across hundreds of battles. That Nathan had burned with determination.
Now? Depressed. Withdrawn. It broke Kelly's heart.
Without a word, he drove Nathan for sixteen long hours until he reached Nathan's own home.
Only when Nathan spotted his parents and Lily did his eyes soften—light returned after two painful days.
He had come out of the darkness.
And in that clarity, he realized:
He had let Shadow Mewtwo influence him.
Yes—he had been moved by Mewtwo's devotion. Yes—it made him sad.
But he should not be this devastated.
No matter what, he could not let one failure defeat him.
But those two days—those two long days—opened his eyes to Shadow Mewtwo's terrifying power.
A single glance from that creature—and Nathan felt despair clinging to him for almost three days.
That alone was beyond any ordinary Pokémon.
Now, seeing the system's new mission—
Nathan couldn't help but worry.
Could he cultivate enough strength—enough skill—to defeat Shadow Mewtwo in one year?
But once he steeled himself, he refused to stay idle.
He packed his bags again—and departed once more.
(End of Chapter)