Chapter 159:
Lightning ran rampant, apocalyptic bolts shooting straight up through the hall's ceiling, startling Mew, who was hiding above.
The lightning pierced the sky, blasting through the gloom and even calming the surrounding storms.
Mew quickly enveloped the humans it had just rescued in protective bubbles to protect them from the lightning.
It decided this "game" wasn't fun at all.
And it seemed Mewtwo had only dragged it here to help save people, without letting anyone else notice.
Back in the hall, the overflowing electricity scattered like chaotic neon lights, one bolt accidentally striking Salamence.
Instantly, the once mighty Salamence was charred black and lay motionless on the ground.
Witnessing this, Mewtwo found it even more unbelievable.
What kind of power was this?
How could Pikachu's strength increase so dramatically in an instant?
No way...
The Trainer broke through my restraints... and now this Pikachu one-shots a peak Elite Four-level Salamence?
Seeing the lightning everywhere, Mewtwo felt that even it would be injured if struck?
This was incredible...
Was this the power of bonds?
Mewtwo suddenly recalled a term often heard during its travels. Some Trainers loved to chant it, shouting about "our bond" while sending their Pokémon into battle.
Under such cheers, a Pokémon's strength would increase, but the boost was usually manageable.
Nothing like this—breaking through to such a level instantly?
Dodging a lightning bolt casually, Mewtwo couldn't help but think of Hayashi Kaede again.
Did this Pikachu's Trainer possess the same power as him?
Below, Pikachu cried helplessly, tears streaming down its cheeks. It held the hat like a child, feeling as if its world had collapsed.
Amidst these sobs, the lightning gradually faded.
Ash's other Pokémon, seeing this, also shed sad tears. Unable to bear watching Pikachu like this, they lowered their heads.
But the next moment, Bubbles began to drift down from the ceiling Pikachu had shattered. Inside the bubbles were the humans who had seemingly been obliterated earlier, including the chubby Trainer.
Everyone was stunned.
Mewtwo also paused because, in its "game," it wasn't time for Mew to release these humans yet.
As the bubbles descended, the "bubble" containing Ash, who should have vanished, finally landed before Pikachu.
Then, Mew slowly floated down.
"Pika?"
Pikachu looked at the hat, then at Ash before it. Tears flowed even more fiercely as it stared bewildered at the bubble.
Mew looked at Pikachu with a pained expression. "Mew!" (Stop crying. Your Trainer is fine; he's just asleep.)
It couldn't bear to watch Pikachu's tears from above anymore, so it released Ash in advance, cutting the "game" short.
It poked the bubble, which immediately popped. Ash, who had been sleeping peacefully inside, slowly opened his eyes, holding his head as if it ached. "Pikachu?"
Ash's memory was still stuck at the moment he had shielded Pikachu.
But when he looked around and saw Salamence defeated, he exclaimed in surprise, "You beat Salamence?"
"Pika?!"
But Pikachu, overwhelmed with emotion upon seeing Ash's joyful expression, couldn't speak. In the end, it could only give him a Thunder Shock to prove it had indeed defeated Salamence.
Even though it itself didn't know how it had managed it.
"Ahhh, I'm... paralyzed..."
With Ash's cry of "paralyzed," Pikachu finally wiped its tears, smiled, and leaped into his arms.
Above, seeing Pikachu's aura rapidly diminishing again, Mewtwo began communicating with Dragonite psychically.
Mew flew to its side, giving Mewtwo a look that said "you're so boring." "Mew!" (Not fun at all...)
It found no enjoyment in this game whatsoever.
It was less fun than playing "hide and seek" at Hayashi Kaede's place.
And it almost got electrocuted.
Mewtwo replied calmly, "Then we won't play anymore."
The "game" had reached a point where it had made its own decision.
Hayashi Kaede was right.
If humans and Pokémon could coexist in this way, there must be a reason for it.
Mewtwo recalled the fainted Salamence. Looking at the remaining Trainers still watching it with fear, its eyes flickered slightly. Psychic power surged, and within a minute, all the Trainers and their Pokémon slumped to the ground, dazed.
It erased the memories of all humans and Pokémon except Pikachu and its Trainer.
It then summoned the injured Golduck, Charizard, and Gyarados and turned to Mew. "Help me heal them."
"Mew?"
Mew's eyes widened in disbelief at Mewtwo.
Seriously? Treating it like cheap labor?
But seeing the severe injuries of the three Pokémon, and remembering it still needed to go to Hayashi Kaede's place with Mewtwo, it still cast Heal Pulse on them.
At its level of power, Heal Pulse rapidly restored the three Pokémon's injuries.
Once they were fully healed, Mewtwo recalled them and placed them next to the chubby Trainer and Ash.
Just then, Dragonite flew over carrying a bag. Seeing the messy hall, it smiled because it knew Mewtwo had finished its task, and it could soon return to the breeding house.
"Alright, Dragonite, now I need you to take them all back."
Dragonite nodded, grabbing one person in each hand, and swiftly flew toward the human settlements.
Seeing the "game" seemed to be over, Mew shyly looked at Mewtwo. "Mew?" (Are you going to the breeding house?)
Mewtwo: "Yes, I need to return Dragonite."
"Mew~!" (Then take me with you~!)
"Huh? You can go whenever you want. Why do you need me to take you?" Mewtwo looked strangely at Mew.
It could tell Hayashi Kaede quite liked Mew. Otherwise, with Hayashi Kaede's insight, he should have seen through Mew's identity long ago.
But Hayashi Kaede hadn't exposed it; instead, he played along with that "hide and seek" game.
This already showed Hayashi Kaede accepted it.
"..."
Mew fell silent.
Pouting.
It didn't know how to explain to Mewtwo that it felt it had fallen out with Hayashi Kaede...
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