Chapter 241: Challenging Concepts

"No! You're wrong!" Ash's voice cut through the tense atmosphere, challenging Mewtwo's beliefs.

"It's not about Pokémon being dominated by humans, nor Pokémon dominating humans. It's about coexistence, mutual help, and support!" Ash declared, his gaze unwavering as he looked at the Pokémon surrounding him.

"Only those recognized by Pokémon can become Trainers. If you merely seek to control them, you cannot communicate or be recognized by them!"

"Pika-pika!" Pikachu affirmed Ash's words, leaping forward. It was Ash who treated it as a friend, partner, and family member, and it would always stand by his side, facing any danger without hesitation.

"Char!" Charizard also stepped forward, standing beside Ash. The other Pokémon followed suit, joining Ash and facing Mewtwo with an air of defiance.

Misty, Brock, Luna, Yusho, and even Hiroshi's Pokémon aligned themselves behind their Trainers, expressing their agreement with Ash's words through their actions.

Witnessing this scene, Mewtwo's eyes narrowed. Memories of its own experiences resurfaced, and a surge of anger and resentment welled up within it.

"Your togetherness is a mistake!" Mewtwo, consumed by fury, unleashed its Psychic powers. Invisible waves enveloped everyone present, attempting to force them to submit to its will.

"Pikachu, Thunderbolt! Charizard, Flamethrower!" Ash commanded, prompting the two Pokémon to attack Mewtwo.

Against a Pokémon like Mewtwo, only Pikachu and Charizard, with their divine genes, stood a chance of inflicting any damage.

"Pika!"

"Roar!"

Pikachu and Charizard unleashed their attacks, a surge of Electric and Fire energy converging into a blast of thunder and flames, hurtling towards Mewtwo.

Unfazed, Mewtwo raised its hand, conjuring a Psychic barrier that effortlessly deflected the attacks.

"Incredible... so strong..." The onlookers were awestruck, especially Brock and Misty, who were well aware of Pikachu and Charizard's power. Yet, Mewtwo had effortlessly repelled their attacks.

However, Mewtwo was also surprised. It had intended to redirect their attacks, turning them against themselves, but it discovered, to its astonishment, that the attacks contained a power it couldn't manipulate, only block.

"Intriguing... your strength is quite intriguing!" Mewtwo addressed Pikachu and Charizard, extending an invitation, "Since you possess such power, why align yourselves with humans?"

"Pika! Pika-pika!"

"Char!"

Pikachu and Charizard exchanged glances, then answered Mewtwo's question simultaneously. Why had they chosen Ash? The answer was simple: because he was their friend, companion, and family.

"Humans merely use Pokémon, capturing and treating them as tools, commanding them to fight. Do you truly believe they see you as family?" Mewtwo retorted, its voice filled with anger.

Its experiences with Team Rocket and its observations afterward had convinced it that humans only viewed Pokémon as tools, never as family.

"From the moment I was born, while still ignorant, I was used as a tool by humans. Is this how one treats friends, companions, and family?"

The more Mewtwo thought about it, the more it believed the coexistence of humans and Pokémon was a mistake.

"Pika! Pikachu!" Pikachu countered Mewtwo. If it didn't consider Ash family, it would never have helped him pursue his dreams.

It was precisely because it recognized Ash as family that it wanted to contribute and help him reach the pinnacle of the world.

Mewtwo was taken aback by Pikachu's words but quickly regained its composure. It believed Pikachu and the other Pokémon had been under human influence for too long, blindly believing their words.

"It seems reasoning with you is futile. I thought you were worthy of standing beside me, but I was mistaken."

Mewtwo shook its head in disappointment, abandoning any further attempts at persuasion. It was ready to exert its control over everyone and the Pokémon, initiating the cloning process.

"I don't care what kind of Pokémon you are. As long as you're a Pokémon, I can capture you!" Yusho declared, stepping forward and commanding his Pokémon to attack. "Rhyhorn, use Drill Run!"

Rhyhorn charged towards Mewtwo, Ground-type energy swirling around its horn, forming a powerful drill.

But with a mere thought, Mewtwo activated its Psychic powers, effortlessly controlling Rhyhorn and sending it flying back, crashing into the banquet hall wall.

"What... what happened!?" Yusho was dumbfounded. Although Rhyhorn wasn't his strongest Pokémon, it was still a formidable member of his team, yet it had been defeated so effortlessly.

"It's useless. From the moment I was born, I was the world's most powerful Pokémon, unmatched and unstoppable," Mewtwo said calmly.

"No! Although you are indeed very strong, you will definitely not be a rival to the gods!" Although Hiroshi was afraid of Mewtwo's strength, he still refuted its remarks aloud.

"Gods... you mean... Mew?!" Mewtwo's composure was shattered as he thought of Mew and himself, created from Mew's genes. He couldn't help but feel angry.

"That's right! Mew has the genes of all Pokémon in the world. Even you, Mewtwo, must have inherited some of its genes. You will definitely not be Mew's rival!" Hiroshi, unaware of Mewtwo's background, spoke boldly.

But Ash was worried, because he knew very well how much Mewtwo hated Mew's existence at this time. Green's words only added fuel to the fire!

As expected, Mewtwo's expression remained unchanged upon hearing Green's words, but everyone felt the space around them grow heavy, as if they were trapped in a quagmire.

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