["You... who are you? Human? Pokémon? Weapon... what are these?"]
The vessel created by humans could not contain the monster's consciousness. The technology they prided themselves on was utterly incapable of detecting the subtle psychic waves emitted by the weapon they had forged.
When wtwo's head twitched slightly, a voice abruptly echoed in Ryuuske's mind.
wtwo's psychic power pierced straight into the deepest recesses of his brain, leaving no room for refusal or resistance. In an inexplicable sensation, the minds of the two beings connected. Ryuuske's body stiffened, his expression turning vacant.
Even the pupils of his eyes, once clear and distinct, flickered with a faint purple light. This was the human body's instinctive reaction—when the consciousness was invaded, it instinctively retreated, temporarily rendering itself vegetative, even though it knew escape was impossible.
But at that mont, the skin and muscles on Ryuuske's left arm rippled like living waves. His vision cleared as his consciousness returned, though the psychic link in his mind remained.
["I feel... sothing for you... like? Who are you? Who am I? Human? Pokémon? Or a weapon?"]
Only now did Ryuuske begin to process this sudden voice. His gaze shifted toward the demonic pillar-like container in the lab where wtwo resided. He knew the voice belonged to this artificial Pokémon.
Contrary to his expectations, he had assud wtwo would be genderless, but now it seed more accurate to say its gender was indeterminate. The voice echoing in his mind wasn't the deep, masculine tone he had imagined. Instead, it was crisp and ethereal—like a compassionate sage, yet also like a cold, rciless machine. It wasn't exactly a soft, feminine voice, but it certainly leaned toward a feminine tone.
The fact that it had hesitated before using the word "like" suggested its grasp of human language was still limited.
"Ryuuske?! Ryuuske?!"
Professor Oak and Blaine imdiately shook Ryuuske's shoulders. They had noticed the faint purple light in his eyes earlier. As leading experts on Pokémon—one a renowned researcher, the other a Gym Leader—they recognized it as the signature of a Psychic-type Pokémon's ability. And in this place, the only one capable of using such powers undetected was wtwo.
"Ryuuske, snap out of it! Don't let your consciousness connect with wtwo's—its psychic power will corrupt you!" Blaine warned urgently. As the creator of this ultimate weapon, no one understood wtwo's capabilities better than him. History was filled with records of humans whose minds had been eroded or controlled by Psychic-type Pokémon.
"I'm fine, Blaine..."
Ryuuske's reassuring tone cald the two n. Blaine's eyes behind his sunglasses flickered with surprise. Even without actual combat data, the sheer magnitude of wtwo's psychic power, as recorded by their instrunts, was terrifying. Under normal circumstances, no human should have been able to resist its control.
But the most horrifying realization was that the specially designed containnt vessel seed utterly incapable of blocking wtwo's psychic waves. The blueprint for wtwo's creation had accounted for this—the container was specifically engineered to prevent its psychic abilities from running rampant. Yet now it was clear that both Blaine and Team Rocket's other scientists had severely underestimated their creation.
"I can sense that wtwo ans no harm. If anything, it seems more like a newborn child—lost and confused. By the way, Blaine, can wtwo... learn?"
Ryuuske's gaze burned with intensity as he stared at Blaine. The mont his mind had connected with wtwo's, he hadn't felt pain or discomfort. Instead, it was like a parched lake suddenly flooded with cool water—an indescribable comfort.
The instinctive sense of closeness between them was stronger than the bond between parent and child, as if this connection had been etched into their very DNA. wtwo, too, seed to share this feeling, which was why, out of all the humans in the lab, it had chosen him for its first attempt at communication.
His eyes drifted to the bandaged left arm, where a faint sting had pulsed earlier. Ryuuske knew this was the source of their inexplicable bond—his cells and w's had rged to create wtwo, and in turn, wtwo's cells had invaded his body.
From Professor Oak's earlier words, he even gathered that these cells had once infiltrated his brain. A normal human would have died long ago. No—the original "Ryuuske" had indeed died. Only his consciousness and soul had been replaced.
"Learn? You an... like a human?" Blaine mused. "Most Pokémon couldn't, but wtwo absolutely can. From the very beginning, Team Rocket intended to implant it with pre-programd concepts to ensure control.
wtwo's brain functions more like a supercomputer—capable of absorbing vast amounts of knowledge. Emotionally, however, its capacity is no different from a human's. Its range of feelings doesn't exceed ours."
As Blaine explained, his gaze lingered on wtwo. His bushy eyebrows twitched slightly. The wtwo Project, now nearing completion, had spiraled beyond their control. He hadn't anticipated that wtwo's psychic power could breach the containnt unit. This ant that before Team Rocket could indoctrinate the newborn wtwo, it could independently acquire its own understanding—rendering their plans obsolete.
A Pokémon under human control was far less dangerous, as humans could negotiate and reason. But if a being as powerful as wtwo went rogue, the resulting catastrophe could surpass even the worst-case scenario of it remaining in Team Rocket's hands. The fundantal differences between species could lead to fatal misunderstandings.
But if it was this boy... perhaps—
Blaine had a bold idea. However, to put it into action, he would need to make certain preparations. Otherwise, the consequences might haunt his conscience even more.
["You heard what he said, didn't you, wtwo? No—you can probably hear everyone in this lab. What I want to say is this: my body carries a part of you, and yours carries a part of . We are one. Inseparable. We are the sa. You've just been born into this world, so everything must seem new and strange to you. I think you should try to understand what 'family' ans. What 'friendship' is. What it ans to have loved ones... and companions."]
["Family... friendship... loved ones... companions..."]
wtwo's ethereal voice echoed intermittently in Ryuuske's mind, filled with confusion and hesitation. But gradually, its will solidified. The sensation of their connected consciousness faded as wtwo withdrew its psychic presence.
At this mont, Ryuuske harbored no grand ambitions or twisted desires. He bore no malice toward wtwo—nor did he seek to control it. His actions were driven purely by human survival instinct, an attempt to imprint his own colors onto wtwo's blank slate of a mind. The will to survive was humanity's most primal and potent desire, the very essence of its refusal to surrender.
From the tone of Professor Oak and Blaine's words, from their expressions of anguish and regret, Ryuuske could guess the kind of inhuman experints this body had endured. His frail physique and gaunt appearance were testant to the previous owner's suffering—a life worse than death.
The initial relief of his transmigration had vanished. Team Rocket was no codic organization. They might have their own "noble cause," their own twisted version of justice they fought for—but if that justice required Ryuuske to sacrifice his life and freedom, he wanted no part in it.
This wasn't so children's cartoon world where a Thunderbolt couldn't kill, where Trainers walked away unscathed no matter how many Pokémon attacks they endured. The thought almost made him laugh. If humans were truly immune to Pokémon abilities, why even rely on them? They might as well fight barehanded!
Ryuuske didn't want to die. His survival instinct scread that wtwo was his only chance at freedom—his only hope of living.
Battles between Pokémon were no joke.
To be continued…
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