Luffy's Devil Fruit awakening served as a welcome bit of seasoning during what had otherwise been a long and monotonous period of training for the Straw Hat crew.
However, once Luffy successfully awakened, everyone quickly returned to their routines.
Because they all understood one thing clearly…
As Luffy's strength skyrocketed, the enemies they would face next would inevitably become far more terrifying as well.
Even though, thanks to the relationship between the Straw Hat Grand Fleet and Usopp's specially engineered insect swarm, the time the crew spent entering the game world to grind levels had once again been drastically shortened—
Fortunately, by now, everyone possessed many other ways to improve themselves and grow stronger.
Everything soon returned to a steady rhythm.
…
…
BOOM!!!
Inside the game world—deep within the Cerulean Cave.
A thunderous explosion roared through the dim stone cavern, shaking the underground world to its core.
In the next instant, billowing clouds of dust surged like a tidal wave, flooding every tunnel and passage within the cave.
At that moment, the entire cavern seemed to tremble and wail.
Dust and smoke swallowed everything whole.
"Your move doesn't work on me anymore!"
Suddenly, a human male voice rang out sharply from within the haze.
At the same time, a brilliant white light flared to life—like a lighthouse ignited in a fog-shrouded world. Not dazzling, yet impossible to ignore.
"Gum-Gum… White · Great Hurricane!!!"
"Fwooo—!!!"
With a deafening roar like an industrial turbine, a violent storm erupted inside the sealed cavern, sweeping through it with explosive force. Just like the earlier blast, the raging winds instantly blew away all the dust and debris.
Moments later, three figures were revealed in the vast cave.
A boy wearing a red baseball cap, smiling calmly.
A gigantic human figure wreathed in white ribbon-like flames, his hair and clothing dyed completely white by the blazing aura.
And…
A bipedal, feline-like creature with a purple abdomen and tail.
"What kind of Pokémon is this?!"
As the strongest Pokémon in the Pokémon: Let's Go world, possessing intelligence rivaling that of humans, Mewtwo was immediately filled with confusion.
Each time it entered battle, its consciousness was reset…
Otherwise, if it remembered that the troublesome opponent before it had been effortlessly one-shot by it just days ago, who knew what kind of reaction it would have now?
"As expected of someone qualified to enter the ranks of Legendary Pokémon—your strength really lives up to the name!"
Red brushed the dust away with a wave of his hand, anticipation gleaming in his eyes as he stared unblinkingly at Mewtwo.
After all…
If Luffy could defeat Mewtwo, that would mean Red would eventually gain access to Mewtwo's power as well!
Even though he could already guess that, with Mewtwo's overwhelming strength, the energy consumption required to use a Mewtwo template would be astronomically high…
Red didn't care.
First, his current rate of energy acquisition had long since freed him from the poverty he suffered when he first set sail.
Second—and more importantly—Mewtwo's power was simply far too incredible!!!
Don't be fooled by the fact that it was only level 70, just slightly higher than Luffy.
At higher Pokémon levels, the gap in strength between each level grew exponentially.
And more crucially… Mewtwo's base stats were already at the very top of the Pokémon world. With the machine's enhancements in this world, it even possessed the ability to enter MEGA Evolution at any time!
Back then, when Luffy clashed head-on with Super Mewtwo Y in a raw energy exchange, he had been instantly obliterated by its terrifying power—without even a chance to show off his legendary endurance.
But…
Perhaps that devastating strike had the same effect as a Thunder Bagua—directly forcing Luffy's Devil Fruit awakening.
If Mewtwo could remember what happened days ago, what expression would it wear upon seeing Luffy now?
…
…
"You… who exactly are you?!"
Seeing that Luffy had taken its full-powered attack without a scratch—and was brimming with fighting spirit—Mewtwo couldn't hide its astonishment.
After all, in its memory, there was only one Pokémon in the world that could face it like this!
Just then, the opposing Pokémon's Trainer spoke up:
"Alright, Luffy."
"The testing phase is about over. Don't waste any more time."
"Now, show it your true power!"
"Hehehe~" Gear Fifth Luffy grinned broadly and replied with excitement,"Sorry, Red. I just got a little carried away."
"This power… it's just unbelievable!"
"Unbelievable!? Of course it is!" Red laughed. "This is the power the World Government chased for eight hundred years and never obtained."
"So, my captain—could you finish off that Mewtwo now?"
Red smiled faintly as he urged him on.
Though his words were a prompt, seeing that Luffy retained his own emotions even in Gear Fifth—rather than laughing mindlessly like in the anime—how could Red not feel thrilled?
"Shishishi~" Luffy laughed, clearly sensing Red's mood.
But their relaxed demeanor instantly infuriated Mewtwo.
"Damn it! Are you looking down on me?!"
Red and Luffy hadn't bothered to lower their voices. Mewtwo heard every word clearly.
The next second, a bulging vein throbbed on its forehead, rage blazing in its eyes.
"How arrogant!"
"Very well—let me show you what true power really is!"
Mewtwo abandoned any thought of toying with them.
Now, it would teach these two disrespectful bastards what cruelty meant.
Whoosh—
A brilliant white light suddenly enveloped Mewtwo's body completely.
Bathed in that radiance, its form began to change.
Its short legs elongated, arms swelling with explosive strength.
In moments, as the evolutionary light scattered like stardust, Mewtwo transformed from a humanoid feline into something far more human—
A muscular, combat-hardened warrior.
This was Mewtwo's MEGA Evolution!
BOOM!!!
A vast pressure burst forth, hurling gravel and rubble toward Luffy and Red.
"So it's X this time?! What a terrifying aura~"
Red immediately raised a psychic barrier, blocking all debris and shockwaves.
Since this wasn't a Trainer-versus-Trainer battle, he was free to assist Luffy.
That said, Red knew his own limits. His strength would hardly scratch Mewtwo.
So he remained at the battlefield's edge, using Mewtwo's subconscious recognition of him as a Trainer to ensure it didn't suddenly turn its attention toward him.
At the same time, he couldn't help but marvel.
Even though this wasn't his first time witnessing Mewtwo's MEGA Evolution…
The oppressive aura released by Super Mewtwo X still made his heart tremble.
There was no other reason—
This form was simply too powerful!
The suffocating pressure was even greater than what he'd felt when facing the Five Elders in Pangaea Castle!
In other words…
Mewtwo now possessed combat power on par with the Five Elders!
Which made sense.
In the games, even normal Mewtwo already had a monstrous base stat total of 680.
After MEGA Evolution, Super Mewtwo's stats shattered the standard limit, reaching a godlike 780—
Second only to Arceus itself!
So Red wasn't surprised that Luffy had once lost to it.
Even if it was only one level higher.
"Be careful, Luffy!"
Red quickly warned him, his thoughts flashing by in an instant.
"This time it chose X form—you can tell, right?"
"If Super Mewtwo Y crushed you with energy attacks before, then in X form, its close-combat ability is terrifying!"
"Don't underestimate its physical attacks!"
"Physical attacks, huh… Got it!"
Luffy nodded seriously—but then suddenly grinned again.
"But, Red…"
"Hm?" Red looked up in confusion.
In the next moment, the eight-meter-tall Luffy stepped forward, unleashing an overwhelming presence.
Surging Conqueror's Haki erupted like a flood, crackling into jet-black lightning as it slammed toward Super Mewtwo X!
Mewtwo roared back, releasing an immense wave of psychic power to counter it.
Though X form wasn't specialized in special attacks, that didn't mean its psychic power was weak.
In an instant, the entire cave shook violently.
Without the battle barrier and the machine's reinforced map, the clash of their auras alone would have obliterated Cerulean Cave—and possibly Cerulean City itself.
Suddenly, white flames soared upward, illuminating the dark cavern.
Despite the clash, the eight-meter Luffy remained unmoved. He stepped forward again, shaking the cave even harder.
Then—
Bo~!
As if something soft broke a boundary, the ground beneath Luffy began to ripple violently.
Not only did the shaking fail to stop—it intensified.
In the blink of an eye, the entire floor undulated like jelly, wave after wave.
"What?! What is this power?! An illusion?!"
Mewtwo froze, feeling the unnatural softness beneath its feet.
With its limited "life experience," it couldn't possibly comprehend the terror of Nika's power!
Before it could recover—
Luffy suddenly crouched into a sprinter's stance, lifting his head with blazing eyes.
"Don't forget!" he laughed confidently at Red."I'm terrifyingly strong too!!!"
Luffy, who rarely boasted, spoke with unrestrained brilliance.
Not because his personality had changed—
But because this was his truest feeling in that moment!
Whoosh!!!
Luffy's feet transformed into white flaming wheels. As they spun, his body shot forward toward Super Mewtwo X in a wildly exaggerated, almost cartoonish motion!
Before anyone could react—
He appeared directly in front of Mewtwo and slammed a massive white fist into the ground.
"Gum-Gum · White · Mole Gun!"
BOOM!!!
In Mewtwo's bewildered gaze, Luffy's fist plunged into the earth like it was soft cream.
Before mockery could even form in its mind, a surge of deadly danger exploded in its instincts.
But it was already too late.
BANG!!!
A gigantic fist formed from the ground itself burst upward, smashing into Mewtwo from below!
Its size, power, and shape were identical to the punch Luffy had driven into the ground!
"What is this?!"
Mewtwo was sent crashing into the cavern ceiling, disbelief flashing in its eyes.
It couldn't understand how Luffy's punch had passed through the earth to hit it—
There wasn't a Ground-type move like this!
BOOM!!!
Another thunderous impact echoed.
Thanks to its X-form durability, Mewtwo suffered only minor injuries.
But its confidence shattered almost immediately.
"Focus Punch!!!"
"White… Balloon!"
"Aura Sphere!!!"
"White · Burrow!"
"Kick It!!!"
"White · Shrink!"
"..."
"..."
If at first Mewtwo believed the Mole Gun was just Luffy stealing initiative—
Then as every one of its attacks was dodged by bizarre, incomprehensible methods—
Mewtwo finally realized something horrifying.
The being before it was not a Pokémon at all.
But a strange god—one capable of standing shoulder to shoulder with it…
Or even surpassing it!
(End of Chapter)