When Green saw Ryuuske plummeting from the sky, she gasped and covered her mouth. He was falling dangerously close to her, and the proximity made her hesitate for a split second.
Even with the residual psychic barrier from Mewtwo cushioning his fall, a drop from that height wouldn't kill him—but it would leave him severely injured.
"Dammit, fine! Jigglypuff, catch him!"
Without giving herself time to second-guess, Green instinctively hurled a Poké Ball. Jigglypuff emerged, took a deep breath, and instantly inflated like a giant, plush balloon.
Ryuuske, wracked with pain, couldn't even summon Gabite to break his fall. As the ground rushed toward him, he braced for impact—expecting shattered bones and ruptured organs. But instead of hard concrete, he landed on something soft.
"This is… Jigglypuff?"
He weakly patted the squishy surface beneath him, recognizing it just as a familiar figure rushed into view.
"Green?!"
Ryuuske stared in shock at the beautiful face hovering above him. His focus during the battle with Mew had been absolute—he hadn't noticed her presence at all. Before he could speak, his expression twisted in alarm. With a sudden yank, he grabbed Green's wrist and pulled her down, shielding her body with his own.
"Wha—?!"
Green's mind blanked as strong arms wrapped around her. Before she could process the indignity of being manhandled—after risking her life to save him, no less!—a deafening explosion tore through the air above them.
BOOM—!!
Debris rained down, but none of it reached her. When Ryuuske finally rolled off, she saw why—Mewtwo stood a few meters ahead, its Protect barrier flickering from the blast. Without it, both of them would have been vaporized.
"Mewtwo… it's up to you now…"
Ryuuske's voice was strained. Mewtwo hesitated, then nodded and shot back into the sky.
"Hey! Are—are you okay?!"
Green finally got a proper look at Ryuuske—and nearly recoiled in horror. Blood trickled from his nose and ears. His clothes were shredded, his skin littered with cuts. His eyes had turned completely violet, his veins bulging grotesquely beneath pallid skin.
Worst of all was his left arm. The twisted, pulsating flesh—once mistaken for tattoos—now writhed like a living thing, creeping toward his shoulder.
"What the hell is happening to you?!"
Swallowing her fear, Green recalled Jigglypuff and, with Wartortle's help, dragged Ryuuske into a more sheltered spot. His breathing was ragged, his lips bloodless.
"Controlling Mewtwo… comes at a price."
Every nerve in Ryuuske's body screamed. It felt like molten needles were being driven into his bones—yet his mind remained cruelly clear. He knew the pain would kill him once it reached his brain.
And yet, he could still speak coherently.
Since when did I get this strong? he wondered. Since when did I stop fearing death?
Green understood now. A weapon like Mewtwo demanded sacrifice—but this was extreme.
"How do we fix this?!"
She didn't know why she cared. They weren't friends. He'd threatened her, humiliated her. By all rights, she should've let him die.
Yet here she was.
"Only… if Mewtwo stops fighting… and returns to its ball."
His trembling hand lifted the Master Ball.
"Then call it back! You'll die at this rate!"
Why am I panicking? I've watched people die before.
Maybe it was because—in ten years of isolation—he was the first person who'd truly engaged with her. The first who hadn't been just a mark or a means to survival.
"No… if Mewtwo retreats now… an enraged Mew won't spare us."
Ryuuske chuckled weakly, as if death meant nothing. To him, this world was just a game.
"You were so sharp earlier—what happened to that genius brain of yours, Green?" His voice was laced with mocking amusement. "I told you to run. You could've stayed hidden. Mew would've never found you. But no—you had to play hero. Now you'll die with me. Who knew you were this stupid? If I'd realized, I wouldn't have bothered bullying you. No fun in tormenting idiots."
Green's face burned with fury. Even on death's door, he still had to be an asshole!
"You're the idiot!" she snapped, gripping his shoulders. "You knew this fight couldn't be won quickly—why pick it at all?! You're not like me! You didn't grow up knowing how terrifying Mew is!"
Ryuuske fell silent.
Finally, he murmured, "...It's Mewtwo's will. From the moment I came to this world, our bond became inseparable. Its purpose is mine."
He trailed off, leaving something unsaid—a secret he'd never shared. Something about this world that wasn't right.
Green bit her lip hard enough to draw blood. Then, in a sudden burst of resolve, she snatched the Master Ball from his hand and sprinted off.
"Hey! Where the hell are you going?!"
"To get Mewtwo back for you!"
"Are you insane?! You'll get yourself killed!"
To be continued…
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