Chapter 69: First Encounter with Team Rocket, Second Encounter with Mewtwo. In
the rest area on the second floor, standing before the floor-to-ceiling windows gazing at the sea, Xia Mu felt a sense of oppression. His
lack of confidence was inevitable.
After all, without witnessing it firsthand, it was difficult to imagine Mewtwo's weather control abilities.
This was a legendary Pokémon from the anime world; its abilities far surpassed those of ordinary Pokémon. He
wondered about Mewtwo's true level.
As a legendary Pokémon, was its strength merely what its level indicated?
If it was level 70 like in the games, how much difference would there be between a level 70 Pokémon and Mewtwo's level 70?
In short, witnessing firsthand the power to control nature had left Xia Mu trembling.
At the very least, this ability was far beyond what his own Pokémon could match.
Take Gyarados's Rain Dance, for example. Xia Mu had used it when it was around level 40 or 50, and it only caused rain in a small area.
Even now at level 70, it couldn't cover such a large area, and even if Rain Dance could cover such a large area, it certainly couldn't create a storm.
Time passed slowly.
Sonia, bored, sat on the sofa playing with her phone, chatting with whoever she was talking to.
The original plan was to reach the new island smoothly, but now that the ships weren't even going out to sea, and with such a huge storm raging, she assumed no one would leave.
Initially, she had been somewhat hopeful, thinking Xia Mu's words made sense; so much time had passed without any disturbance, and the scene outside looked terrifying. She didn't believe anyone would risk their lives to cross the sea using Pokémon.
Her thinking was indeed sound, and it was the opinion of most ordinary people.
But often, it's at times like these that unexpected things happen.
As time went on, Officer Jenny and Boydja felt no one would cause trouble anymore and lowered their guard.
Not only them, but the police officers also relaxed their initial vigilance and began chatting and laughing.
As a result, without paying attention, some restless trainers seized the opportunity and ran out of the passenger terminal.
Xia Mu heard the screams from downstairs, and from his position, he could see what was happening outside.
The first thing that caught the eye was Kong Nan summoning a Pidgeotto, arrogantly riding it across the sea.
Then Hai Nan summoned his Gyarados, helping him traverse the ocean.
With these two leading the way, the others became even bolder.
Some used Kingler, intending to emulate Hai Nan's Gyarados-based crossing, others imitated Kong Nan using a Pidgeotto, and some even used Scyther – truly, there were all sorts of reckless individuals.
Xia Mu also saw Xiao Tian and A Li. Xiao Tian summoned a Dewprik, fearlessly navigating the waves, truly a sight to behold.
A Li, on the other hand, used Poliwag, his only Water-type Poliwag. It was easy to imagine that the reason he wasn't in the original story was because his Poliwag wasn't strong enough to carry him across the ocean.
[Many of these people, I wonder what will become of them. As the acting Gym Leader, I can't just stand by and watch them perish.] Thinking this to himself, Xia Mu suddenly felt a fragrant breeze beside him.
Undoubtedly, it was a disbelieving Sonia peering over.
Her expression was so obvious, it was saying, "Xia Mu, how could you have guessed everything correctly?"
Xia Mu didn't speak to her immediately because he saw Ash and his friends run to the shore, and vaguely saw them board a very small boat.
He wondered how they dared to get on. How could such a small boat withstand a storm?
If it wasn't how it was developed in the original story, he would think it was absurd.
He had to admit, Team Rocket and Meowth were pretty awesome to do something so daring.
"Let's go, we should go out and take a look, otherwise, I'll really be useless!" Xia Mu stopped paying attention and turned to walk downstairs.
Now was the time for him to step in, especially since it was a task Blaine had given him—to ensure everyone's safety as much as possible.
Sonia immediately followed.
Although it was dangerous outside, and the storm was still raging, she was also excited by this unexpected event.
A special feeling seemed to be driving her to cross the sea as well.
Of course, while it was impulsive, she still had her head.
That's the difference between an adult and a child.
...
At the harbor shore.
Unable to stop them in time, Officer Jenny and Boijia could only dejectedly watch the trainers' retreating figures.
A total of twenty-odd people chose to cross the sea. Although this was a small number compared to the hundreds or thousands in the passenger terminal, it was still impossible to stop them all.
"As expected, there was no way to stop them. After all, these people are true adventurers," Boijia said. She understood these trainers' fearless journey.
As the port manager, she had seen too much in her life, and she too had once possessed an adventurous spirit, but as she grew older, she became more conservative.
"In the end, it still turned out like this. If we hadn't let our guard down for a moment, this wouldn't have happened," Officer Jenny said from the side.
Actually, it was too late to say anything now.
"You don't need to worry too much. After all, as Pokémon trainers, their confidence in crossing the sea means they believe their Pokémon have enough strength. Even if they ultimately fail to cross, I think they have the ability to return on their own," Natsuki said, walking up behind them to the shore.
His words attracted Boijia and Officer Jenny's attention.
The two women turned to look at Xia Mu, momentarily at a loss for words.
In truth, as the acting Gym Leader, Xia Mu should have been assisting them from the beginning in preventing the trainers from crossing the sea.
Yet, he had only appeared now.
"If you had arrived earlier, perhaps you could have stopped some people. With such a huge storm, and they're still just children, how could we not be worried?" Officer Jenny's tone carried a hint of reproach.
Xia Mu, however, didn't care about such accusations. He stepped forward and explained, "Without experiencing storms, setbacks, and failures, they won't easily give up. Just as Miss Boijia said, they are true adventurers. Moreover, even with a more stringent defense, there will always be loopholes. Ultimately, it's a matter of persuasion. Because we haven't properly made them understand the dangers of crossing the sea, we've only resorted to intimidation. Naturally, this might scare most people, but a small group, after experiencing it more, won't be so easily deterred."
As soon as he finished speaking, Xia Mu, disregarding Officer Jenny's potential objections, gazed out at the distant sea.
Several figures could be vaguely seen.
Sonia stood beside Xia Mu, remaining silent throughout, simply watching.
Officer Jenny remained silent, while Boijia, standing nearby, looked at Xia Mu with newfound respect.
Knowing Xia Mu's identity, she had initially assumed he was just a rich young man seeking prestige, but it turned out he was indeed no ordinary person.
"Mr. Xia Mu is right. We failed to properly advise them, focusing solely on restricting the trainers' movements; oversights were inevitable."
Boijia's expression darkened as she finished speaking, clearly reflecting on her mistakes.
"So, what should we do next?" Officer Jenny asked Boijia and Xia Mu for their opinions.
The deed was done; a solution was needed.
They couldn't simply stand by and watch; after all, these were over twenty lives.
"Your responsibility is to manage the port and prevent any accidents. As for these trainers crossing the sea, leave them to me. However, I'll still need Officer Jenny to arrange for some police officers to be on duty so that we can provide immediate assistance to any trainers who can't withstand the storm and return home," Xia Mu said.
"You're going out to sea?!" Officer Jenny exclaimed in surprise.
Boijia, standing beside her, also looked shocked.
This was no joke.
Sonia, on the other hand, wasn't surprised at all, because Xia Mu had already mentioned it to her.
Moreover, Xia Mu's red Gyarados was no ordinary creature; its strength was extraordinary.
"Going out to sea to check out the new island is a must. That's the purpose of my visit. Before that, I will try my best to bring back any trainers who are lost at sea, so some cooperation is needed." With that, Xia Mu directly pulled out a Great Ball for his red Gyarados.
"Come out, Gyarados!" With Xia Mu's shout, the Ultra Ball opened, flashing a dazzling white light, and the massive body of a red Gyarados appeared before them.
Officer Jenny and Boijia were shocked.
Not only was it a red Gyarados, but its size was unlike anything they had ever seen.
Before the two could say anything, Xia Mu leaped onto the red Gyarados's body. Because it was so large, there was plenty of space even for Xia Mu to stand on.
Seeing Xia Mu's intention to move, Sonia became anxious: "What will I do if you leave?"
Xia Mu, of course, hadn't forgotten her, and said, "You stay here and wait for me for now. I'll deal with those trainers first, and then I'll take you with me."
If he left her behind, she would definitely hold a grudge.
Even if later in the story, Mewtwo and Mew would combine their powers to erase all traces of existence, Xia Mu was still worried that some memories wouldn't disappear.
Since he had promised to take her with him, he couldn't go back on his word.
Xia Mu rode the red Gyarados away.
The three girls stood on the shore, staring blankly, unable to recover for a long time.
The three girls only reacted when the rain suddenly intensified.
Officer Jenny and Boydja sprang into action, while Sonia, at their suggestion, temporarily took shelter in a small guard post to escape the storm.
To alleviate the loneliness and fear brought on by the oppressive dark clouds and raging storm, Sonia summoned Yamper for company, seeking a small sense of security.
...
On the high seas.
The gale-force winds, accompanied by torrential rain, swept wildly across the land.
The waves surged and churned relentlessly. Before, standing on the shore, one could only observe, unable to fully grasp the terrifying power of the ocean.
Now, experiencing it firsthand, Xia Mu realized how much it tested the limits of the human body, and of course, the greatest test was the strength of the Pokémon.
The red Gyarados, however, was completely unaffected by the storm and giant waves, like a sea overlord, moving through the ocean as if it were flat land.
Xia Mu could stand at first, but later could only cling to the Gyarados's dorsal fin for safety.
It should be said that it was because the people of this world had sufficiently good physical abilities; otherwise, how could they withstand it?
Not long after they started traveling, Xia Mu faintly heard cries for help coming from a certain direction.
Using his Aura to probe the area, he located the target and immediately ordered his red Gyarados to go and rescue the two trainers who had failed to cross the sea.
One of them was the one who had used Scyther to cross the sea, and the other's identity was unknown, but it was certain that he hadn't used a Water-type, otherwise, if he had, he would have sent one out already.
Instead of immediately sending them back to the port, Xia Mu briefly calmed them down and then continued with Gyarados.
Because of its large size, it had enough space to carry two more people, but he needed to be careful not to throw them off.
The two trainers who had escaped death were clearly terrified, and Xia Mu worried that they might develop a fear of the sea and be afraid to take risks again.
"Your spirit is commendable. Although you failed, your courage surpasses that of most people." Xia Mu praised them appropriately, genuinely admiring their bravery.
The two trainers' eyes lit up, clearly overjoyed by this recognition.
After rescuing two more trainers in the same area, Xia Mu finally sent the red Gyarados back to the port.
Along the way, they encountered four trainers using Water-type Pokémon to return to port, including Ali.
It has to be said, the difficulty was immense; without sufficient strength and luck, one simply couldn't survive.
Xia Mu didn't encounter Ash and his group.
It's unknown whether they escaped unscathed like in the original story.
And Team Rocket too
…
Back at the port, there were not only more than ten police officers on the shore, but also six trainers returning from the storm.
These were trainers who hadn't even survived a few waves, possessing a strong spirit of exploration, yet unable to overcome the power of nature.
With Xia Mu's return, the trainers who returned with him received comfort and care.
Officer Jenny and Boijia, having received help from other trainers, rushed out, but before they could even speak with Xia Mu, they saw him riding the red Gyarados back out to sea.
Only fourteen trainers returned, but twenty-six crossed the sea.
Twelve people were still adrift at sea.
Xia Mu's plan was to bring back all the trainers from outside the original story safely, and then take Sonia to the new island.
After searching, Xia Mu's aura power was limited, so he had to call on Lucario for help.
With Lucario's aura power, they finally found the remaining six trainers.
After rescuing these trainers one by one, Xia Mu commanded his red Gyarados to return to port.
Having had these experiences, Xia Mu was already used to riding Gyarados across the sea.
"There are no trainers in this area according to Lucario's aura scan, so I suspect they have already landed on the island. You can rest assured, after finding them, I will do my best to ensure their safety, and some of them are my friends."
Xia Mu made his statement without hesitation, despite Officer Jenny and Boydrea's objections.
Then, he took Sonia and set sail again for the new island.
In fact, everyone couldn't understand why he had to bring Sonia along, since such an action was inherently dangerous.
However, Xia Mu had already established his prestige by rescuing people one after another, and everyone chose to believe in him.
...
The storm on the sea grew stronger, especially as they approached the new island, with lightning frequently striking from the sky.
Although it didn't strike the sea, the mere sight of it flashing overhead was enough to terrify most people.
Although Xia Mu was a transmigrator, he had only awakened the power of Aura and didn't possess any superhuman strength, so he was just as afraid.
Fortunately, Lucario was on guard the whole time, providing enough sense of security.
In short, Xia Mu was alright and could control his fear.
But Sonia was already pale with fright.
This woman appeared brave on the surface, but she was actually very timid and terrified of thunder.
Every time thunder rumbled and lightning flashed, she would involuntarily tighten her grip on Xia Mu's arm, seeking protection.
At first, the feeling of their bodies touching was indeed pleasant, but as Sonia's strength increased, Xia Mu felt as if his arm was about to break, yet he couldn't say anything.
It wasn't until they crossed the storm zone and entered the new island's territory that they finally escaped the thunderstorm.
...
"This is the new island? It feels so oppressive."
The island's strange shape, coupled with the gloomy and heavy atmosphere, gave it an eerie and terrifying feel.
Having already experienced the storm, their emotions hadn't fully calmed down, and this scene only amplified their fear.
"If the map is correct, this is the new island." Xia Mu was certain it was here, but he couldn't be too direct.
After all, he knew the original story; he had seen the new island before, even though the real world and the anime world differed, Xia Mu had seen photos of it.
He let the red Gyarados move forward quietly and slowly, not wanting to attract attention.
He just didn't know if their arrival could escape Mewtwo's psychic powers.
"How do we get up there?" Sonia asked, huddled close to Xia Mu, as they closely observed the new island's entirety.
The reef pillars surrounding the island, like the claws of a demon, appeared even more sinister under the atmosphere.
"There must be an entrance ahead; we'll find out once we go in," Xia Mu remembered that Ash and his friends had entered from there in the original story.
However, without light, the dark cave entrance seemed like a path to an abyss, chilling to the bone.
Xia Mu could feel Sonia trembling slightly, and in that situation, he naturally pulled her into his arms, trying to calm her down.
This action wouldn't be noticed by Sonia; they had already taken advantage of the situation while sailing the seas.
Entering the cave, turning a corner, and walking a few hundred meters further, Xia Mu and Sonia finally saw lights.
Unsurprisingly, this was where Ash and his friends were greeted in the original story.
However, clearly no one was there to greet him.
They must have already arrived, and the original story was already unfolding above.
Without his intervention, the plot would likely continue as it was.
For him, this was perfect.
"There must be some secret hidden on this new island, so you must follow my instructions from now on. If you act recklessly, you might cause trouble. Remember to stay close to me and Lucario, and don't make a sound."
Once ashore, Xia Mu released Sonia and spoke to her.
"I…I understand. So we're going to gather intelligence from the shadows?" With the light on, Sonia was noticeably less timid.
Xia Mu nodded, thanked the red Gyarados for its hard work, and then put it into its Ultra Ball.
He and Lucario exchanged a knowing glance, nodded, and then led Sonia up the stone steps.
As they walked, Xia Mu used his Aura to scan a small area.
During this process, he had Lucario conceal its Aura to avoid detection.
After all, Lucario's strength was undeniable; if Mewtwo detected its Aura, hiding would be pointless.
Fortunately, there were no surveillance cameras, so their every move went unnoticed.
Reaching the middle level, Xia Mu suddenly stopped, his gaze fixed on a drainpipe.
He remembered that Team Rocket had entered the island's laboratory through a drainpipe in the original story.
"Xia Mu, you're not planning to go this way, are you?" Sonia looked up at the top of the stone steps, not far from the exit, and then at the dark sewers, showing some reluctance.
"I told you before, Lucario and I both possess Aura abilities. Just now, I discovered that the island's interior is completely hollow, so going through here might yield unexpected discoveries." Xia Mu said, stepping into the drainpipe.
The damp environment and the nauseating stench...
Sonia, helpless, could only cover her mouth and nose and follow closely behind Xia Mu, hoping he was right.
After walking about four or five hundred meters, the narrow drain suddenly branched into two paths. Without the power of aura to navigate, it would be quite troublesome.
After scanning the area with the aura, Xia Mu finally found the correct path and chose the left branch.
At this moment, Xia Mu felt a little excited.
He was about
This situation was chilling, and what was most shocking was how quickly this cloning could be completed.
Watching the anime hadn't seemed so horrifying.
Now, seeing it with his own eyes, it was a completely different experience.
"What's that?" Suddenly, Xia Mu was drawn to something on the cabinet in front of him.
Several rows, hundreds of special black Poké Balls.
These were Poké Balls created by Mewtwo, capable of ignoring the rules to capture all Pokémon, even those already trapped inside.
(End of Chapter