The volcanic crater

Ye Qing vaguely remembered an email icon appearing in the bottom-right corner of the screen after he swiped the keycard. Things had been tense at the time, though, so he had never gotten a chance to check it.

He unlocked the keycard interface and took a closer look. Sure enough, the email was still there. Rather than opening it immediately, Ye Qing first checked his surroundings. Only after confirming there were no surveillance systems in the room did he open it.

Information on some of Team R's members?

Ye Qing slowly scrolled down and found that each member's information consisted of two parts.

The first contained their photograph and position, while the second listed their Pokémon. Presumably, this was the intelligence Li Zhiyong had gathered earlier.

At the very top was the Trainer who used Hydreigon. Only now did Ye Qing learn his codename.

Yanlang-Team R senior executive. Signature Pokémon: Hydreigon.

Mad Scientist-Team R senior scientist. Signature Pokémon: Magnezone.

Blood Hand-Team R special operations captain. Signature Pokémon: Mightyena, Fearow, Ursaring.

Ye Qing examined the list carefully. Aside from those three, the rest were minor players, some without even a codename listed.

Beyond the personnel files, Ye Qing also found other information, but when he tried to open it, he discovered it required another password.

So they don't consider me one of their own!

Ye Qing shook his head and carefully memorized the personnel information. He lay on the bed, his thoughts wandering for a long time before he finally drifted off to sleep.

An unknown amount of time later, the transport aircraft shuddered gently, and its various noises quickly faded. It seemed to have landed somewhere.

Who am I? Why did you create me? Who gave you the right?!

Am I human or Pokémon?

Inside an empty room aboard the transport, Mewtwo sat high on a throne, murmuring alone.

"Everyone, assemble!"

A shout rang out from the communicator in the room. Ye Qing's expression grew grave, and he quickly gathered his things and hurried outside.

When Ye Qing emerged from the cabin, he found the captain already standing there with his hands behind his back. The other nine squad members had also arrived.

The captain glanced at Ye Qing without comment. Once everyone was present, he shouted, "Our objective on this mission is to prevent wild Pokémon from entering the experimental area. Our squad has the privilege of guarding the camp. Remember, every one of you must hold your assigned position!"

"Yes, sir!"

Everyone answered in unison.

The captain nodded in satisfaction and led the squad outside.

The instant Ye Qing stepped out of the transport, a wave of heat struck him in the face. The dry air and extreme temperature were intensely uncomfortable.

A volcano?

Ye Qing surveyed his surroundings and realized he was atop a volcano a thousand meters tall.

Rock-type and Fire-type Pokémon were everywhere, staring in confusion at the massive aircraft.

Looking into the distance, he saw that this was an island formed by a volcano, surrounded on all sides by an endless sea.

Team R's transports had landed along the edge of the crater. Behind them lay a steep, treacherous slope, while the steaming crater yawned ahead. Between the two was a ring-shaped path less than ten meters wide.

Team R's members rushed out of the transports. Aside from Ye Qing's squad, which stayed to guard the landing site, everyone released their Pokémon and began driving the surrounding wild Pokémon down the mountain.

"Come out, Arcanine."

Watching the others, Ye Qing took out a Poké Ball and released the large, imposing Arcanine.

After several hours of rest and treatment inside the Poké Ball, Arcanine's injuries had almost completely healed. He held his head high, his bright eyes fixed on the people around him.

In his mind, these people shared the blame for his Trainer's death. If not for them, he would still have been living happily with his Trainer. Now, death had separated them forever.

Noticing Arcanine's unusual behavior, Ye Qing reached out and gently stroked his flank. "Bear with it for now. Just bear with it. These people will get what they deserve sooner or later!"

"Woof."

Arcanine nodded slightly and suppressed his murderous intent.

Only then did Ye Qing breathe a sigh of relief. He wiped away his sweat and joined the others in watching the largest transport.

Arcanine gave his fur a slight shake, and the surging heat rushed toward his body. Ye Qing instantly felt much cooler.

Giving Arcanine a grateful look, Ye Qing took advantage of the pause to step forward and peer into the crater.

The crater looked like a bottomless abyss. At its deepest point, magma churned and bubbled, with bursts of flame rising from its surface every so often.

The others did not have to wait long before the transport's hatch opened. Ye Qing hurriedly looked over. The first to descend was the senior executive codenamed Yanlang, followed closely by a group of researchers. At their head was none other than the Mad Scientist.

Behind them, six or seven Team R grunts followed, carrying various instruments.

Once the instruments had been set on the ground, the Mad Scientist approached a smaller red machine and began operating it, his hands flying across the controls.

What are they planning?

Their actions left Ye Qing baffled. Surely they weren't planning to use Mewtwo to catch a Pokémon inside this volcano?

But what Pokémon could live in a volcano like this-or even in magma-and be worth such an enormous operation by Team R?

Heatran? Volcanion? Or Moltres and Reshiram?

Thinking of Mewtwo aboard the transport, Ye Qing felt a chill. The corners of his mouth twitched. Surely it couldn't be Ho-Oh or Groudon...

Yanlang stood at the crater's edge with his hands behind his back. Without turning, he asked, "How is Lord Mewtwo?"

A researcher beside the Mad Scientist immediately stepped forward to report. "Its memories have been erased. So far, there don't appear to be any problems. However..."

"However, what?"

There was no shift in Yanlang's tone. His voice was as still as an undisturbed lake.

Even so, the researcher broke into a cold sweat. He had already rehearsed his explanation in his mind, but now he could not force the words past his lips.

The other researchers trembled as well. People in the organization called this leader the Smiling Yama. The calmer he was and the more he smiled, the more terrifying he became. They could already imagine what awaited their colleague.

Ye Qing was standing close enough to hear their entire conversation clearly.

Unable to bear the pressure, the researcher dropped to his knees with a thud and stammered, "Mewtwo-Lord Mewtwo's psychic power is too strong. Even though we tried everything we could, some traces inevitably remained. This may also be the last time we can wipe its memories."

"Then do you have another solution?"

Yanlang smiled faintly and asked softly.

"N-no."

"Is that so? Then what use are you?"

Yama seized his collar with his right hand and shoved him hard, sending him plunging into the crater.

"Aaaah!"

The researcher's screams echoed in Ye Qing's ears. He could hardly bear to watch, but the sight also made him realize how precious and fragile life was.

Yanlang looked down at the magma inside the crater, took out a Poké Ball, and shouted, "Hydreigon, use Draco Meteor!"