Team Rocket’s Second-in-Command!

Since becoming one of Kanto's Elite Four, Bruno had never encountered such a hopeless situation.

Should he retreat?

Others could run, but he could not!

Behind him were his subordinates, all relying on him for protection.

By now, several League trainers had regained consciousness and were anxiously watching the battle unfold.

"Machamp!"

Bruno looked at his Machamp, recalling the first time he'd encountered it, back when it was a small Machop being bullied by a Nidoking in the forest.

"Ma-champ!"

Machamp met Bruno's gaze, defiant as ever, with that same fiery determination.

As a Fighting-type Pokémon, Machamp's unyielding will to face fear head-on was what had made it Bruno's primary partner.

"One final strike!" Bruno said, enunciating each word.

Machamp turned toward Mewtwo, its four fists clenched, muscles bulging beneath the scars covering its body.

A powerful aura began to build around it.

Watching Machamp's aura surge, Luo Yuan raised an eyebrow.

"Bulk Up?"

Luo Yuan's tone was questioning, yet he already knew what Bruno and Machamp were planning.

"Trying to stack buffs with Bulk Up to go all-out against Mewtwo?"

Bulk Up could enhance both defense and attack. But against Mewtwo, defense wouldn't hold up for long. It was clear that Bruno and Machamp intended to go all-in.

Luo Yuan had already guessed Bruno's strategy.

But he wasn't about to give them the chance.

"Mewtwo, end this with Aura Sphere!"

Fighting-type Pokémon had a major shortcoming: a lack of long-range attacks. To cause any damage, they had to close the distance.

As long as Mewtwo stayed back and kept flinging Aura Spheres, they couldn't touch him.

A blue, swirling Aura Sphere formed in Mewtwo's hand, seeming to draw in all the surrounding light before it hurled it straight at Machamp.

Machamp's expression didn't change in the slightest. Ignoring the oncoming Aura Sphere, it focused entirely on powering up with Bulk Up.

Only when the Aura Sphere was mere inches away did Machamp halt, dropping out of its Bulk Up stance.

For a split second, Luo Yuan thought he saw a strange gleam in Machamp's eyes.

As the Aura Sphere closed in, Bruno barked out his command:

"Brick Break!"

Without hesitation, Machamp raised its hand and swung down toward the Aura Sphere with a powerful chop.

Against a standard Pokémon's Aura Sphere, Machamp's Brick Break would likely have smashed it to pieces.

But its opponent was Mewtwo.

Boom!

The Aura Sphere exploded.

Half of Machamp's body was engulfed in the blast.

Though the explosion forced a pained expression from Machamp, its gaze remained locked onto Mewtwo in the sky.

Rather than recoiling from the explosion to ease the impact, Machamp grit its teeth and powered through, pushing itself out of the flames.

Whoosh!

With a forceful step, Machamp shot forward, becoming a gray blur.

But Luo Yuan, keeping a psychic lock on Machamp, could see clearly: the arm Machamp had used to deflect the Aura Sphere was twisted and mangled.

Its side, the one that had taken the explosion, was charred black.

Yet Machamp charged on, seemingly oblivious to the damage, closing in on Mewtwo.

"Give it everything we've got, Machamp! Use Superpower!" Bruno shouted.

At his command, Machamp's already bulging muscles tensed and swelled even further, glistening with a determined sheen.

The mighty Machamp raised its remaining three good fists, slamming them all down toward Mewtwo.

Each punch was fierce and relentless.

Watching Machamp's display, Luo Yuan spared a glance at Bruno. Finally, Machamp was fighting in a way that matched his expectations for the Elite Four's Fighting-type master.

Maybe it was the unfamiliarity with Mewtwo's abilities, or the overwhelming power Mewtwo wielded, that had thrown Bruno off his game.

But expectations were one thing; reality was another.

Machamp wasn't Pikachu—no amount of sheer determination could bridge the vast gap between it and Mewtwo.

As Machamp's punches came down, Mewtwo calmly formed a spherical psychic shield around itself with a simple wave of its hand.

Bang!

Machamp's first punch struck the shield, causing it to shimmer, but no cracks appeared.

Bang!

The second punch!

The shield pulsed under the impact, but Machamp's momentum began to wane.

The third punch!

A faint cracking sound rang out as small fissures formed in the shield, yet Machamp's aura had already faded back to what it was before using Bulk Up.

The power-draining effect of Superpower was taking its toll.

Three punches had drained Machamp's energy and weakened its fighting spirit.

"Don't give up! Keep pushing!" Bruno urged.

At that moment, Bruno felt as though he was one with Machamp.

Summoning every ounce of strength left, Machamp's eyes shone with a fierce resolve. It raised a fist for one final blow.

"Dynamic Punch!"

Putting everything it had into the punch, Machamp struck the shield.

Crack!

At last, the energy shield shattered under the impact of Machamp's punch.

But… Machamp, too, had reached its limit.

With a last surge of strength, it tried to swing at Mewtwo.

But in the end, Machamp's fist fell short, stopping mere inches from Mewtwo before dropping limply to the ground.

Its fist, just ten centimeters away from Mewtwo, might as well have been an impassable chasm.

Throughout the entire attack, Mewtwo hadn't moved a muscle, only relying on its psychic shield.

"... I lost." Bruno's clenched fists went slack, falling to his sides.

Behind him, the watching League trainers looked on in shock and disbelief.

Bruno, a member of the Elite Four, had lost—and in such a devastating way!

Their shock was irrelevant to Mewtwo.

It was gazing down at the unconscious, defeated Machamp, a hint of confusion flickering in its eyes.

Machamp may have been weak in its view.

Yet even Machamp had something it was fighting for… but what about it?

Mewtwo drifted into thought. Having maintained a telepathic link with Mewtwo, Luo Yuan immediately sensed the shift in Mewtwo's emotions.

Just as he was about to say something,

Roar!

From the horizon, a fierce cry rang out.

Luo Yuan looked over to see a Charizard soaring in, flames blazing as it shot a Flamethrower straight at Mewtwo!

"...?" Luo Yuan's expression turned to one of puzzlement, but he reacted quickly, instructing Mewtwo to raise a Light Screen.

The Light Screen intercepted the Flamethrower.

But something felt off to Luo Yuan.

The power of that Flamethrower seemed far stronger than normal, and… there was something familiar about this Charizard.

At that moment, True Bird's voice crackled through his earpiece.

"Luo Yuan, I've got bad news: Lance and Agatha are both headed your way. I've also found out where the captured Team Rocket members are held, so you can pull out now."

Luo Yuan: "..."

---

T/N: SHADOW BALLLLL (WWHERES MY SPEEDFORCE? I CANT RUN BACK IN TIME TO CHANGE THINGS)

Reader, your presence signifies commitment.

To walk this path is to contribute to the pursuit of eternity.

Should you wish to further fortify our resolve, step forward: [patreon.com/WiseTL].

Each action contributes to the unyielding foundation of our creation. Together, we etch a mark that transcends the fleeting nature of time.

For those who aspire to push the limits further, offering one 'Burger' will unlock an additional 5 chapters: [ko-fi.com/wisetl]. Specify which story your donation pertains to; this offer applies exclusively to stories available on Scribble Hub.

— Raiden Shogun