The Namikaze Family truly lived up to its reputation as a top-tier family. With ample manpower at its disposal, it took just one day to complete the task set by Liu Qing, its young master, and procure a Metal Coat. Moreover, this was a special evolution item from the family's collection with the properties of light metal. Even after evolving into Scizor, Scyther would not be hampered by the increase in weight and would still be able to fly. After being given the Metal Coat, Scyther successfully evolved into a red Scizor. The evolution even boosted its speed, making it almost as fast as a streak of red lightning.
A month passed in the blink of an eye. That day, Liu Qing was training his seven Pokémon at home as usual. But while he was directing a battle between Haunter and Exeggutor, a powerful gust suddenly swept in from the distance. The Pokémon instinctively stopped training and took wary stances toward an orange figure hurtling toward them. A large number of Flying-type Pokémon released by the guards at Liu Qing's home were pursuing it, but the orange figure was far too fast for them to catch. Only when it landed a short distance in front of Liu Qing did everyone realize it was a Dragonite. A brown shoulder bag hung from its body, making it clear that it belonged to a Trainer.
"Are post offices so fancy these days that they're using Dragonite as mail carriers?" Seeing Dragonite take a letter from its bag and hold it out, Liu Qing motioned for the guards gathering around to leave, then muttered to himself as he accepted the letter.
Inside the envelope was a small electronic disc. As Liu Qing took it out, a pillar of blue light rose from a Poké Ball-shaped area at its center, revealing the image of a woman dressed in a brown formal hat and gown. She curtsied, then spoke in an utterly unruffled voice. "Please forgive this unsolicited letter. You have been recognized as one of the most promising Pokémon Trainers, and we would therefore like to invite you to the party for the strongest Pokémon Trainers hosted by my master. The venue is Pokémon City on New Island!" As she spoke, the location of New Island appeared within the blue pillar. "If you wish to attend, please place a check mark on the postcard. This is an invitation from the strongest Pokémon Trainer. Please be sure to attend!" She curtsied again, then vanished as the blue light faded.
"Interesting. Although my memories of my previous life have begun to blur under some unknown influence since I came to this world, I still remember this major event clearly. This must be Mewtwo's invitation! I heard from my family earlier that a powerful, mysterious Pokémon had escaped from Giovanni at the Viridian Gym, and I thought I'd missed my chance to see Mewtwo. Hmm... I don't know how I caught Mewtwo's attention, but getting to witness a battle between Mewtwo and Mew—and perhaps even having a chance to test myself against Mewtwo—would be an incredibly rare experience for both me and my Pokémon!" Liu Qing took the postcard from the envelope, checked the box without hesitation, and handed it back to Dragonite. Watching its figure vanish into the sky like lightning, he curled his lips into a slight smile and murmured, "Besides, I'm curious how Ash came back to life after being hit by Mew and Mewtwo's combined attacks. I don't believe ordinary Pokémon tears could bring someone back from the dead! I'm really looking forward to this."
New Island, the venue named in Mewtwo's invitation, lay in the waters near Cinnabar Island and could be reached from Fuchsia City's harbor. By the time Liu Qing arrived at the port, thick black clouds already blanketed the sky. Before long, fierce winds sprang up, and a curtain of rain instantly veiled the entire world.
"What terrifying power!" After his reincarnation, Liu Qing had gained a wondrous ability, perhaps because his souls had overlapped. It had barely been noticeable when he first awoke, but after all his travels, it had improved considerably. Now he could vaguely sense an unnatural power being continuously poured into the dark clouds overhead, making the weather increasingly violent. That raging power also unsettled some of the weaker Pokémon, making them irritable. Not far from Liu Qing, a Raticate and a Kingler had been affected, and only their Trainers' efforts to soothe them barely kept a fight from breaking out.
"Attention, passengers. Attention, passengers. Due to the storm, ferry services to New Island have been temporarily canceled. Once again..." A little while later, Liu Qing saw three people run in from outside, drenched with rain. They were Ash, Misty, and Brock, whom he had met at the Grand Canyon. Just then, the announcement rang through the ferry terminal, instantly throwing it into an uproar. Almost every Trainer crowded around the woman making the announcement through a loudspeaker, demanding answers.
Faced with the Trainers' displeasure, Bo Yijia, the port official, introduced herself and explained how dangerous the storm was. But Trainers were adventurers by nature. How could a little wind and rain dampen their enthusiasm for a party for the strongest Pokémon Trainers? They flocked to the harbor. A black-haired man in red mounted his Pidgeot; a sturdily built man with brown hair and light blue clothes released a Gyarados; a woman with long brown hair and black clothes released a Fearow; and a woman with short brown hair and a Poké Ball around her neck released a Dewgong...
"Salamence, I'm counting on you!" Upon reaching the harbor, Liu Qing also threw out Salamence's Poké Ball and leaped onto its back. With a powerful roar, Salamence pierced the curtain of rain and headed straight for New Island.
Salamence was extremely fast. Fierce as the storm was, it could not stop Salamence, and Liu Qing soon overtook all the other Trainers heading for New Island. After passing through the storm, he entered an area without wind or waves, with a brilliant starry sky overhead. Looking back, he could see thick black clouds swirling around this region. At its very center lay their destination—New Island. A magnificent building stood upon it, presumably the Pokémon City Mewtwo had built.
Seemingly sensing the immense pressure emanating from the island, Salamence hesitated to advance. Liu Qing could also faintly sense an extraordinarily powerful energy entrenched at the highest point of Pokémon City. Realizing it must be Mewtwo, he could not help feeling a stir of excitement. He soothed Salamence and guided it toward New Island's landing area, where they touched down.
"Welcome! Please let me see your invitation." Liu Qing had spotted the woman standing there as soon as he passed through the storm. Now, seeing her up close, he realized she was none other than the Nurse Joy pictured on the missing-person notice at the harbor. Her eyes were vacant, however. Clearly, she was being controlled.
"Of course!" Liu Qing nodded and took the disc from his travel bag. Blue light immediately bloomed, revealing Nurse Joy's image. Her voice remained utterly flat. "This person is indeed one of the Trainers we invited!"
"Confirmed. Please, this way. The other Trainers with invitations will be arriving soon!" Holding an oil lamp, Nurse Joy turned and headed inside. Liu Qing recalled Salamence and quickly followed her.
After passing through a long rock tunnel, Liu Qing followed Nurse Joy to a set of large doors. They opened automatically, revealing an immensely spacious interior, with small bridges spanning flowing water and brilliant lights illuminating the hall.
"You are the first Trainer to arrive. Please wait here for now. Other Trainers who have passed through the storm will arrive shortly, and my master will appear then as well!" Nurse Joy extinguished the oil lamp as she spoke. After a pause, she turned her head, fixing her vacant eyes on Liu Qing. "Please release your Pokémon from their Poké Balls before taking your seat. You are a chosen Trainer!"
"Haunter, come out and have some fun!" Liu Qing threw a Poké Ball, and Haunter materialized in a burst of black light. For once, Haunter did not give an eerie chuckle. Instead, looking puzzled, Haunter circled Nurse Joy, then propped a hand under its chin in thought, muttering incessantly, "Strange, strange..."
"All right, stop puzzling over it!" Liu Qing could not help admiring Haunter. As expected of an old ghost that had lived for over a thousand years, Haunter had actually noticed something wrong with Nurse Joy. Although Haunter's abilities fell short of Mewtwo's and could not identify exactly what was strange, that was still impressive. At Liu Qing's words, Haunter abandoned the investigation. Nurse Joy seemed to receive an order just then as well. After gesturing for him to make himself comfortable, she returned the way she had come.
Looks like another Trainer is about to arrive. Mewtwo's perception really is terrifying! Liu Qing walked over to a stone table, pulled out a chair, and sat down, while Haunter picked up some fruit from the table and began eating.
Soon, Nurse Joy led in the Trainer who had ridden Pidgeot. After hearing her instructions, he released all his Pokémon. Including Pidgeot, there were six: Venusaur, Rhyhorn, Sandslash, Hitmonlee, and Scyther.
Next came the male and female Trainers who had ridden Gyarados and Dewgong. The man released Vaporeon, Tentacruel, Seadra, Golduck, and Nidoqueen, while the woman released Ninetales, Rapidash, Blastoise, Wigglytuff, and Vileplume.
The last to arrive were Ash and his two companions. Besides Pikachu and Togepi, they brought out Bulbasaur, Squirtle, Vulpix, and Psyduck.
"Um... didn't we meet at the Grand Canyon?" After Ash and the other three Trainers finished introducing themselves, Ash looked at Liu Qing and asked uncertainly.
"That's right. I remember you were trapped under a rock back then, weren't you?" Liu Qing nodded slightly in greeting. Just as Ash was about to continue the conversation, every light in the hall suddenly went out. A pillar of blue light descended into the center of the spiral staircase directly ahead of them.
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