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"You seem very afraid of me?"
Mewtwo sounded somewhat depressed. "I told you, that power acted on its own—"
Even if Li Xiang's expression didn't change, that didn't mean Mewtwo couldn't sense his emotions.
Ever since it had broken free from the crystal, Li Xiang had remained on guard. He had never stepped outside Cloyster's protective circle.
Otherwise, Mewtwo wouldn't have asked right away if he was its friend or not.
"It's not related to that thing... Well, it is, to some extent."
Li Xiang responded honestly. "It's mainly because I'm too weak. I can't establish a trusting relationship with you as equals, so I feel insecure.
"I can't rely on your goodwill for my life, because I'm very afraid of death."
There were too many things he cared about here, so he absolutely didn't want to, and wouldn't dare to, die.
All his bold actions were based on absolute safety.
"Insecure..."
Mewtwo fell silent. That was something it really couldn't solve for Li Xiang.
It could control the weather, move objects from a distance, create terrifying natural disasters, but it couldn't give a person who feared it a sense of security. This made Mewtwo, whose mental age wasn't very high, feel quite bad.
But being intelligent, it very considerately kept its distance.
Seeing this, Li Xiang said, "You don't really need to worry about it too much. It's normal for fragile humans to be afraid of wild Pokémon.
"Caution is the privilege of the weak. As long as you remain kind, a trusting relationship can be established sooner or later. Besides, not everyone is necessarily like me."
There were always people who weren't afraid of death.
Mewtwo nodded, but in its heart, it suddenly felt a bit of regret about coming out because just a moment ago, it had been able to chat with Li Xiang, but now, there were many things it couldn't bring itself to say.
Li Xiang's attitude made it somewhat uncomfortable.
Its heart felt incredibly bitter and sour, as if someone was squeezing it.
Why was this?
It was an experience it had never had before, and it instinctively wanted to ask Li Xiang, but remembering how he had told it to think for itself, it fell silent again.
The platform was completely silent. Both sides felt very awkward.
Li Xiang looked at its expression. Somehow, he got the feeling of a neighbor's kid happily coming to play with him, only to realize he wasn't willing, and then having to leave disappointed.
It was also like an abandoned kitten, alone in the whole world.
"...Alright, I'm sorry."
Li Xiang gritted his teeth, walked out from behind Cloyster, calmed the two Pokémon that were trying to dissuade him, and headed toward Mewtwo.
Mewtwo was a bit surprised by his attitude—first saying he didn't dare, then walking up right after—as well as the guilt in his heart.
"Why are you apologizing?"
It asked instinctively.
"Because I made my friend feel lonely."
Li Xiang stood less than two meters away from Mewtwo, his heart beating very fast.
Pokémon like Mewtwo could control others' thoughts, modify their memories, and even create Poké Balls capable of capturing already-captured Pokémon.
In terms of lore, it was also called the most brutal Pokémon, lacking a gentle heart.
It could be called the enemy of humanity.
But Li Xiang felt that as a trainer, he couldn't just look at what someone could do, but at what someone would do. Just because it had that kind of power didn't mean it should be labeled a terrorist.
Furthermore, from what Mewtwo had said earlier, its desire was clear. For a Pokémon yearning for friendship, opening your heart meant you wouldn't be attacked.
Li Xiang firmly believed that Pokémon were kind—at least in the world he lived in, Pokémon were kind.
So he extended his hand.
"Loneliness, is this..."
Mewtwo was stunned, not quite understanding what he meant.
"A handshake is a symbol of friendship."
Li Xiang showed a smile. "We're friends, so let's start with the basics. By maintaining kindness toward each other, we can build a trusting relationship, right?"
It was true that after sensing Li Xiang's attitude, Mewtwo had felt lonely. Its blood-related brother treated it poorly, and its new friend feared its power.
Having lost its sense of belonging again, Mewtwo was beginning to feel world-weary.
But just as that feeling started to emerge, it was nipped in the bud by the courageous Li Xiang.
"Yes."
Mewtwo nodded. Joy welled up in its heart again, along with another emotion it had never felt before—a tingly feeling that made its eyes sting slightly.
It couldn't help but extend its three-fingered hand and shake Li Xiang's.
The texture was quite unique.
At first, Li Xiang thought it would feel like human skin, but then he realized it felt more like gel. It felt different from any other Pokémon he had touched before.
"How does it feel?"
Li Xiang asked.
"It's okay."
Mewtwo nodded, but judging by the way the tip of its tail was swishing back and forth, "okay" might have been an understatement.
It definitely had some cat genes.
The relationship was repaired. The two began talking again, finding a place to sit down. Li Xiang taught it to view each living being with an independent mindset.
"You absolutely cannot equate two people, even if they are the same species. Just because one human hurt you doesn't mean all humans have hurt you. That was that individual's action, regardless of what banner they carry."
Li Xiang guided patiently. "Of course, humans can change dramatically as well. Maybe they were kind to you before.
"But after some time, their attitude toward you might change again due to certain events."
Mewtwo listened and nodded, and with Li Xiang's help, it even learned about Poké Balls and parts of human society's structure.
For example, regarding Pokémon trading.
"Blocking isn't as good as channeling. On this matter, blindly prohibiting things will only make illegal activities more rampant. By stepping in, the Association can strictly monitor human attitudes toward traded Pokémon."
Li Xiang had once been a firm believer in abolishing Pokémon trading, but after realizing the value of Pokémon Day Cares, he understood that the matter wasn't that simple.
"Setting aside monetary transactions, Day Cares allow Pokémon to enter countless households, making it easier for people living in cities to come into contact with Pokémon."
The result of human cities becoming larger and more urbanized was that it became difficult for some ordinary people to catch or come into contact with Pokémon.
The existence of Day Cares allowed them to avoid having to go into the wild to catch Pokémon themselves.
As for setting prices, that was due to being impacted by private trading.
The practice of buying low and selling high forced Day Cares to grade Pokémon into different tiers.
After all, you couldn't stop everyone from trading Pokémon with each other.
"I understand."
Mewtwo nodded, deeply realizing the complexity of humans and how much it still needed to learn.
"It would be great if you can understand that. Of course, you're also entitled to your own opinions."
Li Xiang showed a smile. He was more worried that after Mewtwo went out, it would attack Day Cares and Breeding Facilities.
Mutual understanding was the foundation of communication.
They continued talking.
Suddenly, Mewtwo stood up and frowned, looking at a certain spot.
Li Xiang followed its gaze. With a loud crash, the plant-covered rock wall suddenly exploded, and three Aerodactyl flew out.
Following them were Mew, its mental waves forming a pink sphere around it; the three legendary beasts of Johto; a Volcarona advancing through fire; and Mo Ye standing atop a Gyarados.
They launched a fierce attack on the three Aerodactyl.
One of them was hit, slammed into the rock wall, and its body suddenly exploded, turning into a pitch-black shadow.
'Void Shadow! It really was this thing!'
Li Xiang showed a surprised expression. Void Shadow was a subordinate of Dark Matter. Like Ditto, it could transform into any Pokémon.
Its own language ability was limited; only after transforming did it gain the ability to speak.
The one that invaded the World Tree together with Mewtwo was actually one of Dark Matter's minions? Had it come to rescue their boss?
But how was it connected to those otherworldly visitors? Could it be that the otherworldly visitors were all controlled by an otherworldly Dark Matter?
That didn't seem impossible.
Li Xiang felt that things had suddenly become more complicated. He was also a bit helpless—why did he always encounter problems he couldn't solve at the worst possible times?
"The energy inside me has become active because of seeing them."
Mewtwo's expression was serious. Dark spots appeared on its body, then disappeared again.
"Are you... are you okay?"
Li Xiang stood up and couldn't help but take two steps back.
"I'm fine."
Mewtwo shook its head and added, "Don't worry, it can't affect me."
"Really or not..."
Li Xiang replied instinctively, then closed his mouth somewhat awkwardly.
"Of course it's true. Even if I turn into that form again, it still can't replace me."
To prove itself, Mewtwo even transformed directly into its Dark form.
Golden fragments protruded from its shoulders.
It looked at Li Xiang and extended its blackened claws. "See? Nothing's wrong with me."
"...Impressive."
Li Xiang hesitated for two seconds and shook hands with Dark Mewtwo.
"It's alright. Letting power control your mind is very foolish. You taught me that."
Dark Mewtwo blinked at Li Xiang.
"I suppose so."
He laughed awkwardly. The battle in the distance had also ended.
Mew flew over and, upon seeing Dark Mewtwo, became instantly annoyed. "Change back right now! Seeing you like this makes me angry!"
"Whatever."
Dark Mewtwo changed back to its original form. "If you have any more questions, feel free to ask. If I know, I'll tell you."
"I only have one question right now. Can this black energy really not be completely drained?"
Mewtwo nodded. "Of course. If you don't believe me, drain it as much as you like. Even if you take it all, as long as I get angry, it will reappear."
"Really? I don't believe it."
Mew flicked its paw and summoned several thick tree roots, plunging them into Mewtwo's body.
Mewtwo's body stiffened for a moment, but it did nothing, allowing the black energy inside it to be continuously drained.
Soon enough, the tree roots withdrew. The hole in Mewtwo's chest automatically closed up.
"Try transforming again?" Mew flew in a circle around Mewtwo.
"Alright."
Mewtwo nodded and closed its eyes. When it opened them again, they were full of violence. Dark spots covered its body, quickly turning it into Dark Mewtwo.
"I have no reason to lie to you."
Dark Mewtwo said this.
Mew covered its head in frustration. "So that's how it is... What do we do now!"