Chapter 141: So You Have The Divine Authority, Giovanni. You’re Not Even Human, Are You?

Bang!

A Pikachu was blasted back, slamming hard against the wall.

“Pikachu!”

Ash quickly rushed forward and caught it in his arms.

“Wh-what kind of Pokémon is that? Why does it end every battle with just one move?!”

From outside the field, Gary’s unwilling voice rang out.

He had already been defeated before Ash.

“What is that thing? It’s terrifying—like some man-made monster from a movie.” Misty shuddered, clutching Togepi tightly.

The entire Viridian Gym was filled with an oppressive sense of helplessness.

“Hmph, it’s because you’re all too weak.”

At the far end, Giovanni sat high above, backlit so his expression couldn’t be seen, looking down on everyone with disdain.

“Tch, it’s only because your Pokémon is too strong.” Gary snapped back.

“Strong? No, I wouldn’t say that.”

Giovanni lazily swirled the wine in his glass, the two rings on his fingers gleaming brilliantly.

One was engraved with a bold R, while the other held an emerald, within which seemed to be the image of a pine tree.

“What’s that supposed to mean? You’re a Gym Leader, using a Pokémon like this to test challengers—this is dereliction of duty!”

Misty’s indignant voice rose.

“This only proves your training isn’t good enough. I award badges based on performance.” Giovanni replied coolly.

“Then since I wasn’t beaten instantly like Gary, does that mean I get a badge?”

Ash asked curiously, pointing at himself—he had at least lasted several rounds.

“No.” Giovanni glanced at Pikachu’s tail and shook his head.

“He’s just keeping up appearances. Ash, go up there and punch him.”

Natsume’s voice cut in. At the same time, a high-powered flashlight shone directly at Giovanni.

In an instant, the backlighting flipped—Giovanni was fully exposed to the glaring beam.

The blinding light forced two grunts at his side to shield him.

“What’s this? You here to challenge me too?”

Giovanni waved his men back and squinted toward Natsume.

Unfortunately, the light was too harsh—he couldn’t make out the young man’s face.

“You all go on ahead.”

Natsume waved to the others.

“Why?”

Gary wanted to protest, but Ash pulled him away.

Giselle, Misty, Brock, and the rest didn’t hesitate—they turned and left without a word.

When Natsume told you to leave first, you didn’t question it, and you certainly didn’t hesitate.

That was the kind of lesson they had learned on their journey.

“Oh?”

Giovanni watched the scene below with amusement.

Click

The flashlight snapped off, and Giovanni finally saw Natsume’s face clearly.

A youthful, delicate-looking man, someone who seemed approachable.

“You’re… Professor Oak’s student, aren’t you?” Giovanni found him somewhat familiar.

The rollout of Dynamax in Kanto was tied closely to this man.

“Interested in joining Team Rocket?” Giovanni asked casually.

“Sure. Transfer fifty percent of the shares to me.” Natsume agreed cheerfully.

“Heh.” Giovanni’s smile didn’t reach his eyes.

He clapped his hands, and the wall below split open like a massive door.

Crrrack

The sound of grinding machinery echoed as a humanoid Pokémon stepped out.

It wore a dark-purple exoskeleton, red energy restraints embedded at its joints, its surface etched all over with reversed, arcane Unknown runes.

The Pokémon seemed fitted with a spinal restraint, a hydraulic column running from the back of its neck to its tail vertebrae, each vertebra glowing with blue signal lights.

Transparent black goggles obscured its eyes, showing faint purple cracks only when its emotions surged, and a respiratory control valve extended from its jaw.

Click Mewtwo stepped forward, its restriction armor trembling with each motion.

“Go, Great ball Rotom!”

A Rotom appeared on the field, blue top with white body, golden inverted-triangle eyes.

“A new form of Rotom… I wonder how it compares to Mewtwo?”

Giovanni’s amused voice echoed.

“Battle Arena, activate!” Natsume didn’t hesitate, deploying a battle domain.

Exciting battle music began to play.

“What is this?!”

In a flash, Giovanni sprang to his feet, staring at Natsume.

“Boss!” The two grunts flinched—they had never seen their boss so rattled.

“Divine Authority…” Giovanni muttered, then sat back down.

Natsume didn’t know why Giovanni was distracted, but he sensed another moment of inattention would come soon.

> Pokéball Rotom used Doom Ball on Armored Mewtwo.
> Ineffective against Pokémon with special status!

A familiar voice sounded, sending a chill through Natsume.

Beep beep beep

Behind Armored Mewtwo, the signal lights turned red, and a shrill alarm blared.

Countless researchers in white coats emerged, pushing various instruments, but due to the battle field, they couldn’t approach even an inch.

“Don’t worry about them, record first.”

Giovanni’s voice commanded.

Record, huh?

Natsume froze, feeling as if he had just hit the jackpot.

A massive radar-like device was pushed forward and powered on.

Whoosh!

A pink-purple light descended from above.

It was a beautiful crystal, shaped like a spiraling ladder.

After a moment, Natsume realized it wasn’t a ladder—it was a double-helix DNA structure, only half-formed, which made it look like a ladder.

The massive crystal drilled straight into Mewtwo’s body.

> Battle opponent changed to Divine Authority Legendary Pokémon. Current battle is now a group battle.

The system voice sounded. Natsume stared blankly, and Mewtwo raised its hand.

> Mewtwo used Psystrike, hitting Great ball Rotom!
> Due to Divine Authority, Mewtwo ignored Great ball Rotom’s defense. Great ball Rotom collapsed!

In an instant, Rotom transformed into a red light and returned to its Pokéball.

Natsume froze, feeling as if he were back in the battle against the giant Dragonite—but this was a different era entirely!

> Trainer Natsume sent out Pikaremon!

Pika! Midchu glanced at the imposing steel monster ahead, then looked back at Natsume.

You want me to fight this?

“It just gained Divine Authority.”

That simple statement sent Midchu’s spirits soaring.

Pika! Midchu fixed his gaze on Mewtwo’s head.

He would knock down this purple-skinned humanoid and absorb his Divine Authority!

Up until now, Midchu had firmly believed that lying on a Pokémon with Divine Authority would let that power enter its own body.

Thinking this, Midchu drifted into a deep sleep.

> Pikaremon fell asleep. Realm of Eternal SLeep has activated!

Mewtwo tilted its head in confusion.

It could feel that the moment the pink-purple crystal entered its body, its armor no longer restrained it.

But Mewtwo didn’t want to break free.

Break free, and then what?

Who am I? Where am I? What am I supposed to do?

Mewtwo didn’t know any of it.

Yet before it was a creature resembling Pikachu, carrying something inside akin to itself.

So it sent a soul-level question to Midchu:

Who are you? Where are you? What will you do?

Midchu froze in shock, almost thinking Natsume had linked in again.