New Island was called New Island for a very simple reason, it had only recently been incorporated into regional territory.
The island had been purchased not long ago by an unknown individual. The buyer's identity remained a mystery.
Shortly after the transaction was completed, news of a Strongest Trainer Challenge spread across the region. Then, almost immediately afterward, the surrounding seas were engulfed by violent winds and torrential rain.
Everything about the situation felt strange, layer upon layer of coincidence, each more suspicious than the last.
Ash, Gary, and Brock rode atop Blastoise, cutting through the storm. Gale-force winds howled, rain poured from the sky like a curtain, and towering waves surged relentlessly.
Yet to Blastoise, who was born of the sea, this was nothing more than child's play.
The massive Pokémon adjusted its posture with ease, its movements steady and controlled as it rode the waves. As for the rain, Ash raised his hand slightly, forming an Aura barrier above them. The transparent shield perfectly deflected the downpour, leaving the trio completely dry.
In the midst of thunder and chaos, they looked as though they were on a leisurely cruise.
Misty's group was no less impressive.
Lorelei's Lapras, glided across the sea with absolute stability. With a soft hum, Lapras released a surge of cold, forming a translucent ice canopy above its body.
The frost barrier expanded outward, covering Lapras entirely, and naturally shielding both Misty and Lorelei as well. The occasional stray raindrop that slipped past posed no threat at all.
The two groups advanced side by side.
Despite the raging storm, they reached New Island in just over ten minutes.
And then, something extraordinary happened.
The moment they stepped onto the island, the storm vanished.
The torrential rain stopped instantly. The roaring wind disappeared without warning. The sea, which moments earlier had been violent enough to swallow massive cruise ships, became calm and glassy, as if nothing had ever happened.
Dark clouds still lingered overhead, but not a single drop of rain fell.
The sudden contrast was so stark that it left everyone momentarily stunned.
"What's going on?" Gary muttered, turning back toward the sea."The waves were insane just now. How did everything stop all at once?"
Even if the storm had been ending naturally, it shouldn't have ceased so abruptly.
Lorelei folded her arms, her expression grave.
"When we were crossing earlier, I felt something strange," she said slowly.
"The waves weren't random. Some of them were deliberately crashing toward us. The storm was clearly stronger in our immediate vicinity than elsewhere."
She paused, then added quietly,
"If my judgment is correct, this storm wasn't natural. It was artificially created."
The conclusion sounded unbelievable, even to her.
But after ruling out every other possibility, it was the only answer that made sense.
Ash had previously speculated that the mastermind was someone who had captured Mewtwo. At the time, it was only an inference based on the invitation letter, no concrete proof.
Now, however, this storm was strong supporting evidence.
"What exactly is that person trying to do?" Brock frowned, staring toward the island's interior.
"If they invited Trainers here, why create a storm to stop them?"
In the distance, a castle-like structure rose above the terrain. Whether it had existed before or was built after the island's purchase was unclear, but one thing was certain.
The host was inside.
"We'll find out once we go in," Ash said calmly.
"Let's go, Pikachu."
He broke into a run toward the castle.
"Hey Ash, wait!" Misty called, quickly following with Togepi in her arms.
Brock and Gary hurried after them.
Lorelei brought up the rear, moving more slowly than the others. Behind her rimless glasses, her sharp eyes continuously scanned the surroundings, her thoughts churning.
'This place… feels familiar.'
She was certain she had never been to New Island before.
And yet, something about it stirred a vague sense of déjà vu.
Ash soon reached the castle's main gate.
The massive doors were slightly ajar, open just wide enough for a single person to pass through.
One by one, they entered.
The interior was dimly lit. The first thing that greeted them was a long, massive table stretching across the hall. Beside it, a shallow pond flowed quietly, its surface reflecting the faint light above.
Already seated around the table were three people, two men and one woman, all appearing to be in their twenties.
"You are..."
Before Ash could finish, one of the men stood up and waved casually.
"Yo! New arrivals, huh?"
"Relax, we're not the host. Just Trainers who got here earlier."
He was tall and thin, with an easygoing smile.
"My name's Corey."
The young woman beside him propped her chin on her hands, her smile sweet and playful.
"So many people came this time~ Looks like the competition won't be boring," she said lightly.
"My name is Neesha. And don't underestimate me just because I'm a girl~"
"Hmph! What does it matter how many people come? I'm destined to win this battle for the title of Strongest Trainer anyway!"
The last man, broad-shouldered and muscular, jabbed a thumb at himself, his face brimming with arrogance.
"That's Fergus," Neesha said casually, exposing him without mercy. "He talks big, but he is a fairly well-known Trainer. What about you guys?"
"My name's Ash. This is Misty, Brock, Gary, and..."
Ash suddenly paused, then stepped aside.
The figure who had been standing at the very back finally came into view.
Lorelei.
Earlier, she had been wrapped in a cloak that concealed her entirely, but after being drenched by the storm, keeping it on would have been uncomfortable and impractical. While riding Lapras, she had already tossed the soaked cloak into the sea.
Now, she stood there in her usual attire.
The moment her refined features entered Corey's and the others' field of vision, all three froze.
As native Kanto Trainers who had traveled for years, there was no way they wouldn't recognize her.
The instant Fergus realized who she was, his mind went completely blank.
I'm dead.
What had he just said?
Winning the title of Strongest Trainer?
Against Elite Four Lorelei?!
He would be crushed without mercy!
The reason Fergus had been so confident wasn't because he was truly top-tier, but because he knew that real powerhouses rarely bothered with unofficial competitions like this.
Did he seriously believe that slapping the title "Strongest Trainer" onto an event would attract the world's elites?
Ridiculous.
That was precisely why the Indigo Plateau Conference, and larger international tournaments, had strict qualifications, official backing, and tangible prestige. Winning those only granted regional fame at best.
Titles like "World's Strongest Trainer" could only be earned through global tournaments jointly organized by all Leagues. Only by defeating thousands of competitors under official oversight could such a title carry weight.
Otherwise, what would stop someone from hosting a backyard match, calling it the "World's Strongest Trainer Battle," and claiming the title after beating two random passersby?
No one would acknowledge it.
The New Island competition fell squarely into that category.
For powerful Trainers, participating at all was already an act of generosity. Not coming was perfectly reasonable.
With Fergus' level of strength, he was considered impressive among ordinary Trainers. Combined with Ash and the others' young appearances, that was why he'd spoken so arrogantly earlier.
But now, a Kanto Elite had shown up.
"Hello, everyone. I'm Lorelei."
She smiled gently at Fergus. "You're Fergus, right? Please go easy on me during our match later, okay?"
"No, no, no! Ms. Lorelei!"
Fergus panicked instantly, his arrogance evaporating. "I was just talking nonsense earlier! Please don't take it seriously! It would be my greatest honor to battle you. I sincerely hope you'll offer me guidance!"
Lorelei's presence alone completely crushed the atmosphere.
After Fergus, Corey, and Neesha also hurried to greet her, speaking one after another. In the blink of an eye, Lorelei became the unquestioned center of attention within the castle.
Ash raised a finger, wanting to say something… then stopped.
'Hey. I'm famous too, you know.'
He had just battled Lorelei not long ago!
They recognized her, so why didn't anyone recognize him?
After chatting with Lorelei for a while, discussing Pokémon techniques, battle theory, and questions they had never been able to resolve, a dazzling pillar of light suddenly erupted from the floor of the massive castle.
The beam surged upward near the far end of the long table, its brilliance piercing the dim hall.
From within the light, a figure draped in a black cloak slowly floated upward before descending and landing gracefully on the stone floor.
The moment the cloaked figure appeared, everyone's attention snapped toward her.
They all understood instinctively, this was the true master of the castle.
"Congratulations," the cloaked figure said coldly.
"You have passed the first trial and arrived on New Island."
Her voice was calm… and unmistakably female.
"Next comes the final stage: the battle to determine the strongest Trainer. You may release your Pokémon and attack me freely. As long as you defeat me, you will earn the title of the Strongest Trainer."
A woman… behind all of this?
Before anyone could react, Ash's Aura surged outward, sweeping through the castle like an invisible tide.
His expression changed instantly, confusion, disbelief, and suspicion flashing across his face.
He scanned again. And then again.
There was no mistake.
Ash stepped forward, positioning himself in front of everyone.
"Mewtwo," he said calmly, voice steady but sharp.
"You're behind this, aren't you? Come out. I've already found you."
Fergus, Corey, and Neesha exchanged confused looks.
"Mew… who?" Fergus muttered.
"That doesn't sound like a Trainer's name."
Before anyone could question further, the pillar of light flared once more.
Another figure slowly rose into the air.
Tall. Slender.
Hovering effortlessly.
A pale, humanoid Pokémon with a long tail and eyes colder than ice.
"This… is that a Pokémon?" Corey said under his breath, eyes wide.
At that moment, Mewtwo's voice echoed directly into everyone's minds.
'You found me again… Ash. But with your power, it would be stranger if you hadn't.'
As Mewtwo spoke, the cloaked figure suddenly went limp, collapsing forward.
Lorelei's eyes narrowed.
Without hesitation, she released a Poké Ball.
"Dewgong!"
The Pokémon glided across the floor in a flash of light, catching the falling figure before she hit the ground.
As the hood slipped back, the figure's face was revealed;
Nurse Joy.
Shock rippled through the hall.
"What?!"
"Nurse Joy?!"
"How could she be here?!"
"That's not right," Corey said quickly. "Look at her, she's unconscious. She was being controlled."
Realization struck everyone at once.
She was merely a puppet.
All eyes turned back to Mewtwo.
Ash clenched his fists, his expression dark.
"Why?" he demanded.
"You finally escaped Giovanni. You were free. You could've lived however you wanted. So why are you doing this?!"
Mewtwo's gaze swept over them all.
'I know exactly what I am doing.'
Her voice dropped, resonating with chilling certainty.
'I seek revolution.'
A cold silence fell over the castle.
Revolution.
No matter how you looked at it, that word promised nothing peaceful.
...
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