"Dr... Doctor."
Inside the laboratory, a researcher in a white lab coat called out, his voice trembling.
"Panicking like that, what's going on?"
Frowning, Dr. Fuji glanced up, displeased. He had still been trying to figure out how Elias had managed to deduce Mew's genetic sequence not long ago.
"L-Look at the data monitor!"
The researcher pointed shakily at the electronic screen in front of him, cold sweat beading on his forehead.
"Hmm?"
At the sound, Dr. Fuji turned to look.
But when he saw the indicators on the monitor—all of them skyrocketing—his heart lurched violently.
Did I stand up too fast? Am I hallucinating?
The data that had been perfectly stable just moments ago—how had it suddenly gone haywire?
Before he could think any further, the lab's alarms blared at that exact moment.
It meant that Mewtwo's vitals had reached dangerous levels—at any moment, it could break free from the cultivation tank.
"Quick, sedative! Three—no, five standard doses!"
Dr. Fuji barked orders frantically at the dazed staff nearby.
But before his words had even fully left his mouth, the sound of shattering glass rang out from the direction of the tank.
Crack—!
At the crisp sound, Dr. Fuji looked over again.
All that remained was an empty tank, a gaping hole where the glass had been smashed through, cultivation fluid spilling everywhere.
The specially reinforced tank he'd had so much confidence in offered no resistance whatsoever against a fully healed Mewtwo.
"Quick, notify Giovanni."
Swallowing dryly, Dr. Fuji issued the order, his voice hoarse.
---
Meanwhile—
Just as Giovanni returned to his temporary residence on the island, he received the emergency alert.
"Unknown powerful Pokémon attack detected."
"Mewtwo has escaped?"
Reading the two messages flashing on his phone, even someone as composed as Giovanni found his heart sinking.
Everything had been progressing so smoothly just moments ago—how had it all unraveled so suddenly?
The joy of recruiting Elias into Team Rocket shattered in an instant. Taking a deep breath, he quickly sent Elias a message.
The boy was also on the island. If something strange had happened, he should have sensed it too.
Giovanni couldn't understand it. Why would Mewtwo choose to violate the agreement with Elias and flee at a time like this?
But soon, the answer came.
—Elias had been attacked.
Rubbing his temples as he stared at the Mew and the purple blob that suddenly appeared before him, Giovanni sighed.
He realized Mew had practically developed a habit by now.
Whenever Elias wasn't around—and something urgent happened—Mew's first instinct was always to shamelessly drag Team Rocket into it as free labor.
"Talk. What happened?"
Noticing the anxious look on the Pokémon's face, Giovanni didn't waste time. He cut straight to the point.
For Elias's sake, he decided to help one more time.
While things moved rapidly in the real world—
---
In the Distortion World, where they had been dragged, Gardevoir and Elias had narrowly evaded Giratina's pursuit.
The moment they entered, Gardevoir had blasted Giratina away with a [Moonblast], then hurriedly carried Elias to hide on a floating island.
"Gardevoir, can you try contacting Tis and the others?"
Elias squeezed Gardevoir's soft little hand gently, speaking in a low voice.
"Garde~"
Hearing this, Gardevoir shook her head obediently.
Not because she wanted to savor this rare moment of alone time with Elias—
But because the Distortion World was, by nature, a completely separate space-time from the real world. Even she couldn't communicate across the divide.
If they wanted to escape, she believed the breakthrough would have to involve Giratina itself.
Seeing her reaction, Elias wasn't surprised.
In modern times, barely any ancient texts even mentioned the Distortion World or Giratina.
That alone was proof of how difficult it was to enter—or leave—this place.
"It's fine. No rush."
Worried Gardevoir might feel anxious, Elias reassured her warmly.
Although it didn't look like they could leave anytime soon, the Distortion World, at least, seemed relatively safe.
And honestly... the scenery here was pretty fascinating.
Lifting his gaze, Elias took in their surroundings.
Everywhere he looked, there were floating islands suspended midair—many of them upside down, true to the world's name.
Inverted waterfalls, trees, flowers, even mountains, all hanging impossibly above.
Such a bizarre, otherworldly sight was something no place in the real world could ever replicate.
"If nobody had to live here permanently like Giratina, this place could actually make a great tourist destination," Elias said with a laugh.
"Garde~!"
Gardevoir chirped softly in agreement.
Despite the lighthearted moment, Elias's mind was already at work, seriously considering their escape options.
The most effective—and safest—solution would be to get Giratina to willingly send them back.
But convincing the temperamental Renegade Pokémon to cooperate... wouldn't be easy.
"Gardevoir, in your [Mega Evolution] form, do you think you could defeat Giratina?"
After a brief pause, Elias turned and asked her seriously.
At his words, Gardevoir hesitated.
She desperately wanted to be someone Elias could rely on completely—but she also understood this wasn't the time for reckless bravado.
Thinking of Giratina's enormous, heavily armored body, she eventually shook her head in frustration.
She could probably protect Elias—but defeating Giratina, or forcing it to submit, was another matter entirely.
Seeing her response, Elias merely nodded, unsurprised.
Giratina was a Pokémon that had dared to defy Arceus itself. It made sense that it wouldn't be easily subdued.
Which meant...
If they wanted to turn the tables, there was only one path Elias could think of:
A Simulation.
"System, can I run a simulation while inside the Distortion World?"
He asked the system in his mind.
[You can!]
The system practically replied instantly.
After watching helplessly as Elias was dragged into the Distortion World by Giratina, the system had been in full-on panic mode.
She had barely finished celebrating the fact that no major disasters had happened recently—only for reality to smack her right across the face.
The shock had almost made her burst into tears.
Hearing the system's confirmation, Elias nodded slightly, then turned to Gardevoir.
"Gardevoir, I... might have to sleep for a bit."
"During that time, I'll be counting on you to keep us safe."
Because he would be unconscious during the simulation, Elias decided to explain everything clearly in advance to ease her worries.
At his words, Gardevoir's large eyes narrowed slightly.
Her instincts told her that Elias wasn't just going to sleep—this must have something to do with the secrets he carried.
But given their current situation—and her deep trust in him—Gardevoir simply nodded.
"Garde~ (I understand.)"
Besides... she was curious.
Curious what kind of "surprise" Elias would bring her this time.
---
T/N: ERRR sorry for such an unstable upload schedule! to be honest... im currently translating 31 fanfics! yeah they are all in my patreon, and soon they'll start being public but the first one i released the blue eyes white one got blocked not even a full day in :sob: but ill try webnovel for it once more before moving it to scribble hub! if you are interested in just checking out the future fanfics u might see here go check out my patreon!
[patreon.com/WiseTL]
or maybe u just wanna see me talk to myself
[discord.gg/wisetl]