Chapter 228: Battle Against Mewtwo (Part 4)
Behind the Rocket formation was a vehicle that resembled a rover.
"Is that the reason—a device designed specifically to counter Mewtwo?" Rio guessed.
Just then, Mewtwo was hit again. After being struck by Beedrill’s Poison Jab, it tried to use Teleport to create distance—but the moment it reappeared, another Thunderbolt struck it dead-on. Beedrill’s attack followed immediately, along with attacks from other Rocket Pokémon. Mewtwo let out another pained cry, even worse than before.
"No way—I can’t let Team Rocket fight this smoothly, or Mewtwo will be theirs for sure," Rio said, a little panicked.
I fought Mewtwo fair and square—real battle, real skill. But you guys are using dirty tech tricks? Not happening.
He came to watch Team Rocket get beaten, not to watch them beat Mewtwo.
"Raikou—Thunder! Destroy that vehicle!"
A thunderbolt crashed down toward the rover behind Lt. Surge—but just before it hit, a protective barrier appeared above it, absorbing the attack completely.
"Huh?" Rio’s pupils contracted. His move had drawn Giovanni’s attention. Giovanni looked at Rio and smirked, as if to say: I expected that.
Rio narrowed his eyes. Underestimated, huh?
"Charizard—Sacred Fire! Raikou—Zap Cannon! Articuno—Hyper Beam! I don’t believe the three of you together can’t break that thing!"
"Roaar~"
"ROAR!!!"
"Fuu~"
Three attacks struck simultaneously. Five seconds later, the rover exploded. Giovanni’s smirk vanished—and reappeared on Rio’s face.
The moment the rover was destroyed, the battle against Mewtwo shifted dramatically. Without being able to track Mewtwo’s Teleport, Mewtwo sent Beedrill flying into the sea with a single Psystrike. Then, burning with hatred, it charged at the Rockets. A wave of Psychic swept the ground—and over a dozen Pokémon were lifted into the air. Mewtwo clenched its fist, and the psychic pressure knocked them all out midair.
It then traded Aura Sphere with Zapdos’s Zap Cannon, ending in a draw—but Mewtwo’s Aura Sphere was faster. One after another, it blasted Zapdos into a cliff face.
Then, under Giovanni’s command, the remaining hundred or so Rocket Pokémon attacked Mewtwo simultaneously. Mewtwo hovered in the sky, roaring as it used its immense psychic power to stop all attacks within two meters of its body. With a raise of its right hand, another dozen Rocket Pokémon were lifted—and with a light clench of its fist, they fell limp.
The Rockets, who had been winning just moments ago, were suddenly overwhelmed.
"Trying to play dirty again?" Rio noticed another piece of high-tech equipment being wheeled out by two Machoke—shaped like a cannon, though he didn’t recognize it. The barrel was aimed at Mewtwo.
"Charizard, Raikou, Articuno—destroy that thing!" Without hesitation, Rio gave the order. Seconds later, the cannon-like device was obliterated by his Pokémon’s attacks.
Giovanni shot Rio an angry look. Rio responded with a smug gesture, as if to say, Come and get me if you can.
Giovanni narrowed his eyes, then called out to Mewtwo: "Mewtwo—have you forgotten about him? Don’t forget, he’s after you too." Giovanni pointed at Rio. "Do you really want to fight me to a standstill and let him take advantage?"
Mewtwo, who had been thrashing Team Rocket’s Pokémon, paused. It turned to look at the Pokémon beside Rio, recalling its earlier battle with Charizard, Raikou, and Articuno. Its mind cleared.
Compared to Team Rocket—except for Giovanni’s Beedrill—Mewtwo realized that Rio’s Pokémon were actually stronger overall. If it went all out against Giovanni, it might very well fall into Rio’s trap.
Damn you, Giovanni—always running your mouth... Rio felt Mewtwo’s gaze turn cold. He quickly said: "Mewtwo, don’t listen to him! I’m on your side! Think about it—just now, when Giovanni was using all that tech against you, I destroyed those devices to give you a fair fight!"
"All of you humans are deceitful and treacherous!" Mewtwo raised its right hand and fired an Aura Sphere—clashing with Raikou’s Zap Cannon.
"Charizard—hit them!" Rio, now under attack from Mewtwo, turned his anger toward Giovanni. Fine—Mewtwo hits me, so I hit you. Everyone gets hit—no one sits this one out.
Soon, the three-way battle erupted—everyone attacking everyone else, no one allowed to sit back and watch.
"This won’t work—it’s too chaotic. Who knows how this will end?" Rio thought mid-battle. "I need to take Team Rocket out of the fight so I can focus all my strength on Mewtwo."
His gaze fell on the three Regis in his bag. Should I just release them and have them wipe out Team Rocket?
No—Giovanni knows what happened at the Indigo Plateau. If the Regis come out of my hands, that lie falls apart. As an actor, the most important thing is keeping your cover—not breaking the audience’s illusion.
The Regis can’t be seen coming from me.
With that decision made, Rio turned his gaze to his shadow. "Gengar—I have a task for you."
"What task?" Gengar’s head emerged from the shadow.
"A task to make your Gus shine," Rio said with a smirk.