In the black world—
Ash had originally planned to use his own Charizard against Mewtwo's cloned Charizard.
But before he could say anything, Gary stepped forward.
"I've had a grudge against that thing for a long time!"
He turned to Ash with a sharp look.
"Hey, your Blastoise didn't use much energy just now, right? In that case, if I challenge that Blastoise, it doesn't count as ganging up on you, does it?"
It didn't really matter to Ash either way. One way or another, the battle had to end.
"Hmph. You'll pay for underestimating me!" Gary snapped, then looked back at Ash more seriously.
"Let me go first. I'm afraid that if you beat them all, I won't get a chance to fight at all."
He was being honest.
Gary genuinely believed Ash alone could beat all three of Mewtwo's cloned starters.
In the month after earning his last badge, Ash had spent almost all his time training at Professor Oak's lab.
And in order to prepare for the future Quartz Conference and analyze his "enemy,"Gary had secretly watched Ash's training and studied his team in detail.
His conclusion?
It was infuriating.
If they fought six-on-six with Ash using his strongest lineup,Gary could maybe go even with Ash's Blastoise and Arcanine.
As for the rest of Ash's team…
Let's just say the odds didn't look good.
That was why Gary had rushed to grab this chance.
If he left it to Ash, he'd just lose the only opportunity to get revenge.
Ash didn't argue. He just patted Gary's shoulder once, then walked back down from the arena.
I'm counting on you.
That was what his eyes seemed to say.
To Mewtwo, Gary stepping up didn't stir any emotion at all.If anything, Gary was easier to deal with than Ash.
He at least had some sense of Ash's strength.
As for Gary… to be blunt, Mewtwo didn't remember him at all.
He'd helped Giovanni crush so many challengers.Not every random Trainer was worth remembering.
This battle was Blastoise versus Blastoise.
Gary's Blastoise was his very first partner, and also his strongest.
He'd caught plenty of other Pokémon over time and rotated them in and out to train them.
But Blastoise was the one that had always stayed by his side.
It was on a completely different level from his other Pokémon.
This was the source of Gary's confidence.
The battle started, and the two Blastoise began trading Water-type blows.
One fired Hydro Pump. The other tucked into its shell to reduce damage.One launched a Skull Bash. The other countered with Rapid Spin.
Back and forth they went, neither side giving an inch.
Neesha and Corey could only watch in silence.
They'd both collected eight badges, and they considered themselves tough Trainers.
But compared to Gary…
The gap was painfully obvious.
In the end, after a clash of Hydro Pumps, both Blastoise collapsed at the same time—
They were unable to battle.
It was a double knockout.
Gary let out a quiet sigh and recalled his Blastoise.
Strictly speaking, his Blastoise had a slight edge in raw strength.
But somehow, every time he attacked, the clone always seemed to have predicted it in advance.
Like it knew what he was going to do.
Tiny disadvantages had piled up,And they'd ended in a draw instead of a clean win.
...
[Gary: Seriously? A draw… Mewtwo's cloned Pokémon are way too strong! I was clearly stronger in that video, but that Blastoise clone's already about as strong as my Blastoise is now!]
[Professor Oak: That makes sense. Mewtwo's clones should be considered among the strongest of the Gym Leader tier. Their level is quite high—but they haven't reached Elite level yet.]
[Cynthia: Even so, they're still incredibly powerful. Those cloned Pokémon have enormous potential. With a bit of training, they could absolutely grow into terrifying forces.]
[Leon: Exactly. Whether cloned or not, a Pokémon is a living being from the moment it's "born." If someone discriminates against cloned Pokémon, I'd say that person doesn't deserve to be called human—much less a Trainer.]
[Ash: That's right! See, Mewtwo? No one here is saying cloned Pokémon are wrong. As long as a Pokémon is born into this world—whether it's cloned or hatched—it's a life with meaning.]
[Mewtwo: I understand that now. I've already let go of that confusion. But in the video, I'm still at a stage of stubbornness and obsession. Even so… I believe the "you" in that world will pull me back.]
[Steven: Sounds like you and Ash eventually formed a solid bond afterward. You both believe in each other's future. …Giovanni, just give up your ambitions already.]
[Giovanni: Hmph.]
Convince him?
Not happening.
No matter what they said, Giovanni's obsession with Mewtwo would not fade.
Even having his memory erased—and then restored by such bizarre means—proved something to him:
He and Mewtwo were bound together.
Inseparable.
Giovanni felt strangely pleased by that thought.
...
In the black world—
After Gary's battle with the Blastoise clone ended in a draw,He trudged down from the arena, shoulders slumped.
"Sorry, Ash. I couldn't win."
"It's fine," Ash said with a grin. "Leave the rest to me."
He lifted his hand and shared a quick high-five with Gary.
It was a simple gesture—but something between them had clearly shifted.
As Ash stepped into the arena,Mewtwo's cold voice echoed directly into everyone's minds.
You are the last one. Give up this pointless struggle.
"Sorry," Ash said, "but I've never backed down from a battle before it even starts. How would I know the result without fighting? Besides…"
His eyes narrowed.
"You just cheated using your psychic power, didn't you?"
"In terms of reading the battlefield and setting up tactics, Gary is actually much stronger than you think. But you used your psychic power to foresee all of his Blastoise's actions, then countered them in advance."
"Am I wrong, Mewtwo?"
Watching from the sidelines, Gary's expression went black.
So that's why it felt like I was stepping in mud the whole time!
No matter what move he called, the clone had always been one move ahead.
It was like fighting someone who was constantly reading his mind.
Turns out, Mewtwo was cheating with psychic power.
I want my match back!
[Mewtwo (telepathy): Psychic power is also part of a Trainer's ability. How is that "cheating"?]
[Mewtwo: Isn't a battle supposed to be Trainer and Pokémon fighting together? In that case, what's wrong with using my own abilities as a "Trainer"?]
Ash hummed thoughtfully.
This rebuttal sounded weirdly familiar.
It was exactly what Sabrina had said before.
Maybe Sabrina and Mewtwo would actually get along.
Still, this wasn't the time to think about that.
"You're right," Ash said. "Psychic power is also a kind of Trainer ability. So, in that case… I guess I should be honest too. I'm also a psychic."
"I'm not holding back in this one. Let's go—Charizard!"
"Roooar!"
Ash's Charizard burst onto the field, spreading its wings and roaring up at the sky.
When Mewtwo heard that Ash also wielded psychic power,The coldness in his eyes finally wavered a little.
But he didn't reply.
He simply gestured with one hand,And the cloned Charizard floating beside him flew down onto the battlefield.
At the same time, Mewtwo used his psychic power to float the exhausted Blastoise clone away,Letting the machines pull it back into the underground lab for treatment.
In that laboratory, three flustered scientists stared at their monitors,Hands flying over the controls in panic.
Back on the battlefield, the two Charizard faced each other.
Same species. Same intense, wild gaze.
The air between them practically burned.
Fire-type duels were always hotter than the rest.
The second the battle began, Ash didn't hesitate.
He activated Aura Fusion.
A deep blue glow rose around his body—And Mewtwo instantly understood that Ash hadn't been bluffing earlier.
He really did possess a power beyond normal humans.
Under Mewtwo's psychic perception, though,Ash's power felt… a little different from his own.
On the side, Corey and Neesha were completely shell-shocked.
So this is what "strongest Trainer" means now?
Did you have to be superhuman to even qualify?
"Charizard—Flamethrower!"
Dodge, then use Slash.
The moment Ash gave his command, Mewtwo had already foreseen it.
With his power, he knew he couldn't take that blow head-on.
The gap between the two sides this time was even wider than in the Blastoise battle.
The cloned Charizard flared its wings and vanished from its spot,Dodging the incoming flames by a hair.
The searing fire grazed its scales and blasted into the ceiling of the arena,Leaving a massive black scorch mark.
In that instant, the cloned Charizard dove,Silver-white claws glowing with light as it swooped down.
Normal Fire-type attacks wouldn't be very effective, but physical Normal-type moves like Slash hit for neutral damage.
Mewtwo at least understood basic type matchups.
He was aiming to win through clean, overwhelming offense.
Ash didn't flinch.
"Dragon Claw!"
With Aura Fusion active, his own body movements started to sync with Charizard's.
Charizard crossed its arms in front of its chest—
Then suddenly spread them wide.
Emerald energy exploded around its claws.
Compared to Slash, Dragon Claw had a wider range and hit much harder.
The cloned Charizard swept in, claws raised to rip Ash's Charizard apart—
But Ash's Charizard met it head-on.
Its glowing green claws caught both of the clone's Slashes, parrying them with a screech of steel.
Then, with its free hand, it raked another Dragon Claw straight across the clone's head.
"Whooosh!"
"BOOM!"
The impact rang out like grinding metal.
Deep claw marks tore across the clone's skull,And it was smashed down into the arena floor with a thunderous crash.
"It's over," Ash said. "Flamethrower."
Charizard pressed one heavy foot down on the clone's throat.
Fire gathered rapidly in its mouth—
Then it opened wide.
A torrent of searing flames erupted point-blank.
The entire arena became a sea of fire.
When the flames finally died down,Ash's Charizard lifted its foot and stepped back.
The cloned Charizard lay there motionless.
Two exchanges.
That was all it had taken for Ash's Charizard to win.
The result left everyone stunned.
Even Brock and Misty, who knew Ash best, hadn't expected it.
Ash had won faster and cleaner than anyone imagined.
...
[Gary: Holy crap, Black Ash is insane! Mewtwo's Charizard and Blastoise clones should be the same level, right? I struggled so hard just to pull off a draw, and he one-rounds the Charizard clone??]
[Professor Oak: I think Mewtwo underestimated Black Ash…]
[Professor Oak: Just now, Black Ash pointed out that Mewtwo was using psychic power to foresee his Pokémon's actions. So when Mewtwo was facing Ash's Charizard, he must've been doing the same thing.]
[Professor Oak: That's why Mewtwo had his cloned Charizard rush in so aggressively. Ash had already warned him he was also a psychic.]
[Professor Oak: Mewtwo just assumed his psychic power outclassed Ash's, so he didn't take Ash's claim seriously.]
[Professor Oak: He didn't realize Ash's "psychic power" is actually Aura. Once Aura Fusion activates, Charizard's dynamic vision and reaction speed exceed even Mewtwo's clairvoyant predictions.]
[Cynthia: So he misjudged from the start. One wrong assumption, and everything fell apart. Mewtwo believed he could guide the clone with his foresight to dodge all of Ash's attacks, but…]
[Raihan: But Aura ended up being even stronger than psychic power in that moment, huh? Training a partner with that kind of ability is truly unfair! If I had Aura like that, I'd totally stomp Leon!]
[Leon: It's okay, Raihan. Even if you don't have Aura, Ash does. You can always entrust your "lifelong dream" of defeating me to him.]
[Raihan: ???]
[Raihan: I'm not dead, you know! What "lifelong dream"? Do you really think I'll never beat you? Just give me some time! Once I come back from special training, I'll definitely knock you off that throne!]
[Leon: Hahaha, poor wording on my part. I'll be waiting for your challenge.]
Mewtwo read the analysis scrolling past in the feed and fell silent.
Aura… is even more powerful than I imagined.
He could use Aura too.
He just hadn't bothered to explore it.
To him, psychic power was his core strength.
Aura was just… something he could throw around when needed.Enough to fire off some long-range blasts, nothing more.
But now, watching this video,Ash's use of Aura seemed to open an entirely new door.
So Aura can be used like that…
As for whether Professor Oak's guesses were correct—
…Probably.
Back then, he really had been arrogant.
Looking down on Ash was only natural, in that state.
Still, watching his past self get trounced like this,He had no desire to speak up.
Having your dark history replayed in public and then being asked to comment on it—
That was just cruel.
...
In the black world—
After Ash's Charizard flattened the clone,Mewtwo's focus sharpened.
He'd known Ash was strong.
Their battle here was on par with Ash's battle against Giovanni.
But that battle had relied on Pikachu.
Why was Charizard this strong?
He had clearly used his psychic power to foresee Charizard's movements.
And yet, even after dodging, the clone still took a Dragon Claw full-on.
Could it be… that boy's predictive power is stronger than mine?
Impossible.
He was human.
And Mewtwo—
Was a created being, the strongest Pokémon in the world.
How could he possibly lose to a human in terms of psychic ability?
"Alright, Mewtwo," Ash said. "You lost. That makes one win, one loss, and one draw. So… do you want to send out your Venusaur to fight my Venusaur for a tiebreaker? I brought mine too."
To attend this so-called banquet of the strongest Trainers,Ash had brought his six strongest Pokémon:
Venusaur, Pikachu, Charizard, Blastoise, Aerodactyl,And Pidgeotto, who was on the verge of evolving.
[Mewtwo (telepathy): …You, and the one called Gary, may leave. The rest will hand over their Pokémon.]
Corey: "?"
Neesha: "?"
Excuse me? That's favoritism!
"Why do we have to hand over our Pokémon while they get to leave?" Corey protested. "It's a tie right now! If anything, there should be one more match!"
I said that if you defeat my Pokémon, I will let you go.Whoever wins goes free.
The one who drew goes free as well. The two of you do not qualify.
Corey and Neesha were left speechless.
So that's how you're playing it…
That wasn't what any sane person would call a "normal" victory condition.
"I'm not going anywhere," Ash said firmly. "I can't just watch you take everyone's Pokémon. And more importantly… I can't just ignore you, Mewtwo."
Ignore me? Don't be ridiculous. What part of this situation requires your help?
"It does."
Ash clenched his fist and pressed his thumb to his chest.
"Your heart needs saving."
Mewtwo froze.
His telepathic voice shook.
What did you say?
Are you telling me… that taking revenge on humanity is wrong?
"It's not just revenge on humans that's the problem," Ash said. "Revenge itself is wrong."
Don't you dare… lecture me!!
Mewtwo's voice cracked like a whip.
A brilliant blue light flashed in his eyes.
All around him, countless black Poké Balls materialized—
And then shot outward in all directions.
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