After Liam called out Mewtwo's name, the entire area fell silent.
Mewtwo lowered its head without saying a word. Its pale purple body trembled slightly.
Seeing its reaction, Liam felt that his earlier words might have had some effect. Deciding to press his advantage, he continued speaking.
"Mewtwo, born from Mew yet surpassing Mew. You're already a living being now. From now on, you'll live in this world alongside other Pokémon. You'll have companions, you'll have friends. The fact that you protected those Munna earlier proves it—Mewtwo, you're kind. So... would you come back with me? I'll help you find a place where you can—"
If possible, Liam genuinely wanted to resolve Mewtwo's situation peacefully. That would be best for everyone.
But—
"Shut up!!"
Before Liam could finish speaking, Mewtwo suddenly raised its head!
An irritated shout exploded directly inside Liam's mind. At the same time, Mewtwo thrust out an arm, instantly launching a blue-white psychic sphere like a cannon shell straight toward him!
"GRAAAH!!"
As the psychic orb arrived in an instant, Garchomp—who had been on guard the entire time—let out a fierce growl. Dark claws of shadow rapidly formed around its forelimbs. Swinging its left claw, Garchomp slashed directly into the incoming sphere.
The psychic orb visibly distorted under the impact before being sent flying away!
BOOM!!
The deflected orb smashed into the wall of a ruined building. A massive explosion erupted, blasting a huge hole through the structure as thick black smoke billowed outward.
"GRAAAH!!"
After knocking away the attack, the enraged Garchomp roared and charged forward like a fighter jet diving toward its target. Its pair of Shadow Claws slashed viciously toward Mewtwo!
"Hmph!"
Garchomp's speed was incredible, but just as the attack was about to connect, Mewtwo's body became wrapped in blue light.
At the very instant the Shadow Claw descended, Mewtwo shot upward like a phantom, effortlessly avoiding the attack.
"GRAAH! GRAAH! GRAAAH!!"
Missing its target only made Garchomp angrier. It continued its relentless assault, repeatedly slashing with its elongated Shadow Claws, streaks of black light cutting through the air.
Yet Mewtwo floated effortlessly above, relying on its unbelievable speed to evade every attack.
So fast... Is this really Mewtwo's speed...?
Watching from below, Liam couldn't help but marvel.
Garchomp was already one of the fastest Pokémon he had ever seen, but compared to Mewtwo, it was still noticeably slower. Since the battle began, not a single attack had managed to touch Mewtwo.
"Garchomp! Sandstorm!"
"GRAAAH!!"
Seeing that Garchomp couldn't land a hit, Liam immediately changed tactics.
Upon hearing the command, Garchomp abandoned close combat. Its fins swung sharply, instantly generating a massive sandstorm tornado that roared toward Mewtwo.
But just as the tornado approached—
"Hmph. Foolish."
Mewtwo snorted coldly.
Blue light blazed in its eyes.
The approaching sandstorm was instantly seized by psychic power. Then, boosted by Mewtwo's telekinesis, the tornado reversed direction at even greater speed and came rushing back.
Before Garchomp could react, it was swallowed by its own sandstorm.
"Hmph. Now it's your turn."
After trapping Garchomp, Mewtwo shifted its gaze toward Liam.
"Uh... Mewtwo, I—holy shi—!"
The moment Mewtwo locked onto him, cold sweat ran down Liam's back.
He wanted to say something else, perhaps ease the tension, but before he could speak, Mewtwo vanished.
At the same instant, Liam heard a faint distortion sound beside him.
A terrible premonition surged through his mind.
Without thinking, he activated the Wind-Speed Shoes on his feet, unleashing a powerful burst of air as he leaped away.
BOOOOM!!!
"Ugh!"
CRASH!!
Just as Liam cleared the area, a violent explosion erupted where he had been standing.
A moment later, the shockwave caught up with him.
With a muffled groan, Liam was blasted through the air and hurled into a nearby pile of ruins.
But Mewtwo's attack wasn't over.
"Cough! Cough!"
Lying amid the rubble, Liam coughed violently, forcing the pressure from his chest.
Yet the instant he finished coughing—
Mewtwo appeared before him again like a phantom.
One arm was raised high. A blue-white psychic sphere gathered between its three fingers.
The next moment, Mewtwo slammed the orb straight toward Liam's face.
BOOOOM!!
Another deafening explosion erupted.
Layer upon layer of shockwaves spread outward, dispersing the smoke before it could even gather.
And at the center of it all—
"Cough... Heh. Deoxys, thanks."
Still lying among the ruins, Liam looked up at Deoxys.
Having transformed into its Defense Forme, Deoxys stood over him with a powerful psychic barrier deployed, completely blocking Mewtwo's attack.
"No need to thank me. How are your injuries?"
Without taking its eyes off Mewtwo, Deoxys spoke directly into Liam's mind.
After spending time adapting to life on Earth, Deoxys had learned to communicate telepathically at close range and no longer needed to use its tentacles as a medium.
"Cough... I'm not dead yet. But be careful, Deoxys. This opponent is strong. Its power is no less than Rayquaza's."
Supporting himself against a broken section of wall, Liam forced himself into a sitting position and smiled bitterly.
To his surprise, Deoxys's response carried a hint of excitement.
"Yes, I can feel that. But isn't this exactly what an adventure should feel like? I like this feeling."
"EUUS!!"
The moment its words ended, the defensive barrier in front of Deoxys erupted outward with tremendous force, pushing Mewtwo back.
Then Deoxys's body began to shift and ripple.
Returning to its Normal Forme, it merged its four tentacles together.
The next instant—
A brilliant pink stream of psychic energy condensed into a beam and shot straight toward Mewtwo like a blazing pillar of light!