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After leaving Nugget Bridge, Kai followed the river westward. With the help of his Pokémon, he soon discovered a hidden cave nestled within a quiet Riverbend its entrance camouflaged by trees and rock formations.
Without hesitation, he stepped inside, Dragonair, Larvitar, and Scyther close behind.
The passage sloped downward into darkness. After several dozen meters, a faint blue glow began to appear. Once Kai's eyes adjusted, he realized the glow came from hundreds of scattered crystals, embedded in the walls. They pulsed with an ethereal, aquamarine light, enough to illuminate the cave without a flashlight.
He smiled slightly. This had to be the place. The place known only to a few—Cerulean Cave, sometimes called "The Unknown Dungeon."
Drip… drip…
Water echoed from above. The damp floor was slick and uneven, a stark contrast to the icy caverns Kai had explored before. It was warmer here, more humid—almost alive.
Geologically, the cave was carved from soluble rock and limestone. Its halls were lined with stalactites, stalagmites, and veins of raw quartz. It was a natural labyrinth—and a fitting lair for something extraordinary.
As Kai ventured deeper, a sudden flurry of wings burst overhead. A swarm of Golbat flew past, shrieking as they sped toward the exit. Dragonair and Scyther moved to shield Kai, but the bats weren't aggressive—just startled.
Once the echo faded, Kai pressed onward.
After several minutes, he came upon a large underground lake. Its waters churned violently, splitting the cave in two. There was no bridge, no obvious way across.
Just as Kai began weighing his options, something moved in the shadows.
Boom!
A hulking Graveler leaped from the darkness, landing hard. Its stony body cracked the ground beneath it. Easily over two meters tall, it growled, clearly enraged by the intruders.
Its roar echoed off the cave walls, nearly shaking dust from the ceiling.
Kai squinted. This Graveler wasn't just big—it was territorial and probably one of the stronger wild Pokémon that had risen to the top in this isolated ecosystem.
But diplomacy wasn't going to work.
Kai gave a sharp nod. "Take it down—fast!"
Dragonair, Larvitar, and Scyther charged in. Graveler's defenses were solid, and it held its ground with raw power, but it was also slow—clumsy, even. The trio struck from all sides, overwhelming it with speed and precision.
The battle was short but intense. The force of their attacks shook the cavern walls. Dust and loose stones rained from the ceiling, but the cave held firm.
Graveler let out a final groan as it toppled backward with a heavy crash.
Unconscious.
Kai didn't bother catching it. It wasn't what he came here for. With a glance at his team, he moved on.
The deeper they went, the quieter the cave became. Shadows lingered behind every rock, but no other Pokémon dared confront him—not after witnessing Graveler's defeat.
Eventually, the tunnel ended at a steep cliff edge. Kai walked to the edge and looked down.
Pitch black.
He picked up a rock and dropped it. It fell for a long time before the faint sound of water echoed back up.
"Another underground lake," he murmured.
Gengar emerged from his shadow. It peeked down the cliff and groaned. "We going down there? I hope you realize it's way easier going down than coming back up."
Kai grinned. "Good thing I've got you, huh? I'll let you fly me back."
"Glad to know I'm just a flying taxi now," Gengar muttered, rolling its eyes.
"…You sure Mewtwo even lives down there?"
Kai shook his head. "Nope. But I have a feeling we'll find out soon."
He recalled his other Pokémon and climbed onto Gengar's back. With a faint glow, they began their descent—flying slowly down into the abyss.
After what felt like two or three minutes, the cave opened up.
A massive underground lake stretched before them, its surface calm and mirrorlike. At the lake's center was a small island, bathed in a pillar of light.
On that island floated Mewtwo.
It sat cross-legged, eyes closed, protected by a shimmering energy sphere. Its psychic presence pulsed in the air like a storm ready to break.
Even though Kai had expected this… he was still amazed.
He found it. Mewtwo was really here.
Anyone else would've had no clue where to even begin. But because Kai remembered—because he had knowledge no one else did—he'd made it.
As he stepped onto the island, Mewtwo's eyes slowly opened.
"You…" it said, voice deep and calm. "The human from before."
Kai waved casually. "Yo. Been a while. Took me forever to find this place, by the way. You really picked the most out-of-the-way cave possible."
Mewtwo's eyes narrowed. "That was the point. I came here to distance myself from your kind. And you—why are you here? Do you intend to capture me?"
Kai raised his hands. "Whoa, easy. I just came to say hi."
Of course, while his mouth said that, his hands were already moving.
He pulled a Poké Ball from his belt—and with a flash of blue light, released Gardevoir.
The elegant Psychic-type stepped forward, locking eyes with Mewtwo.
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