Pokemon: Spiritual Master-Chapter 529: Professor Johan’s “Release”

The weather in April was noticeably warmer than in March.

It was another quiet evening.

Johan and the others had already left the Pokémon Sanctuary and arrived at a remote forest in central Unova.

Based on Nurse Joy's description and further research by Porygon-Z, they had finally pinpointed this place.

Beside a softly babbling lake nestled in the grassy clearing of the forest—

Johan, wearing an apron, was barbecuing in the open air.

Sizzling meat turned golden over the fire, fat dripping onto the coals with a hiss. As he sprinkled cumin and chili powder, the aroma filled the air.

Evening breezes danced across the lake, stirring the surface and releasing the fragrance of the Aorta Blossoms floating on the water—an aroma that made even Gengar drool.

The sun hadn't fully set, but the moon had already risen eagerly. One side of the sky glowed golden, while the other revealed a slice of the starry cosmos.

Cynthia sat elegantly at a table covered in white cloth, crossing her legs and sipping fruit juice through a straw with a soft smile.

Next to her, Caitlin looked rather awkward, fidgeting with her knees and stealing glances at Mewtwo—who also wore an apron, its expression that of deep existential regret.

The stronger a psychic user was, the more acutely they could feel the overwhelming presence radiating from Mewtwo.

It wasn't that Caitlin thought she was completely powerless against it—but she had never felt such a powerful psychic force before, and she wasn't sure what Mewtwo's intent was.

Even Cynthia's Garchomp had unconsciously tempered its presence after seeing Mewtwo.

Especially with Mewtwo currently looking like a ticking time bomb.

And whose fault was that? Johan's.

All because he wanted Mewtwo to "experience life," and forced it to wear a cute, pink Jigglypuff-themed apron.

Hence, the expression of eternal despair.

The Genesect also sensed the awkward tension.

But not Johan and his Pokémon, or Cynthia. They actually found it kind of cute.

"See? Doesn't it look nice? All soft and pink," Johan teased.

Mewtwo: "..."

Caitlin stared at Johan in disbelief.

How does he dare?!

But Johan wasn't reckless—he just knew that while Mewtwo might get annoyed, it wouldn't actually snap.

Mewtwo still struggled with its identity. Was it a Pokémon? A human? Something in between?

So why not help it experience things?

Even embarrassment was an emotion worth learning.

"Ka-kaah~~"

Gengar, also wearing an apron, cheerfully patted Mewtwo's shoulder, grinning ear to ear.

Just like me, pal. Let's be good little waiters together. Ka-kaah-ka-kaah~~

He proudly tugged on his custom Gengar apron, feeling fabulous.

Mewtwo shot him a side-eye. A calm thought echoed in Gengar's mind:

"One hundred Shadow Ball drills tonight."

Gengar: Σ(дlll)

Mewtwo smirked slightly—but quickly composed itself.

"Yoji~ Yoji~~"

Nearby, Larvitar was swinging on a swing made of Genesect silk.

It burst into laughter at the scene—then promptly fell off.

But it was tough, bounced up, and climbed right back on.

"Alright, food's ready!"

Johan clapped his hands and called the Genesect over.

"Once you eat, you'll be on your way."

Genesect Leader: Σ(дlll)

Wait—what do you mean "on our way"? Are you gonna kill us?

"Ahem. I mean, once you eat, you'll be homebound," Johan corrected with a cough.

This wasn't their original home—but like the Pokémon Sanctuary, it had Aorta Blossoms, the flowers they yearned for.

It was far from human civilization. As long as they didn't cause trouble, they could live here for hundreds of years in peace.

"Remember—no stirring up trouble. I'll be watching," Johan said to the Genesect Leader.

"Ka-kaah!"

Gengar made a "watching you" gesture.

The Leader didn't react—but the other four Genesect nodded rapidly behind it.

Genesect Leader: "..."

It looked up at a forty-five-degree angle, eyes misting over.

Why did it feel like Johan was their real leader?

They'd grown up together—it had always been the one in charge!

R𝑒ad latest chapt𝒆rs at freewebnovёl.ƈom Only.

Is this what they mean by "childhood friend loses to the new arrival"?

Still, with a home secured and Johan's earlier dreamscape still lingering in its mind, the Genesect Leader had no desire to stir trouble again.

"Xiao Bing, you've got my contact info. If anything comes up, get in touch."

"Gene, Gene!"

The Frost Drive Genesect nodded vigorously.

"Dig in!"

Johan brought over the grilled meat.

Whoosh—

Suddenly, the cute pink apron fluttered to the ground.

Mewtwo, having fulfilled its "mission," vanished instantly.

"Shy little thing," Cynthia chuckled, taking a bite of lamb skewer.

"It's fine," Johan waved.

It wasn't just embarrassment.

Mewtwo still didn't quite know how to interact with others—whether Pokémon or human.

And the missing plate of grilled meat on the table was proof enough.

"Seems lonely," Cynthia commented.

That's also why she didn't fear Mewtwo losing control.

Lonely beings often looked aloof or annoyed—but inside...

Johan stirred his juice quietly and said, "It's lost a lot of companions."

He looked up at the sky in the direction Mewtwo flew off.

"But I'll help it find more."

Caitlin, seeing it fly off, asked, "Will it lose companions again?"

"It's strong..."

"No one has smooth sailing forever," Johan replied.

Cynthia and Caitlin exchanged looks—then nodded.

True.

"Anyway." Caitlin changed the heavy topic. "This is the first time I've seen—or even heard—of it."

The name Mewtwo, plus its appearance, made it hard not to think of Mew.

"Its origin..."

Johan didn't finish the sentence. He changed the subject.

"No need to talk about that. Come on—eat up! I put a lot of love into this BBQ!"

—

Meanwhile—Unova, Nacrene City.

A city transformed from hundred-year-old warehouses—now full of historic charm and modern flair.

Its pride: the Nacrene Museum.

Visitors seeking Unova's history always stopped there.

But today—

Even though it was nearly closing time, the museum was packed.

Until—

BOOM!!!

A massive explosion rocked the museum, shaking all of Nacrene City.

Officer Jenny, long prepared, led her squad into action.

Lenora, Gym Leader and historian, stepped from a hidden chamber.

Inside the museum—

Masked, uniformed individuals ransacked the exhibits.

They summoned their Pokémon but didn't attack—waiting.

Team Plasma.

"Damn it! It's not here!"

"No meteorite!"

"We've been duped!"

Their goal: a mysterious meteorite said to influence or control Pokémon.

But Officer Jenny had already hidden it in advance—having received intel about the heist.

"Don't panic!" barked a Team Plasma commander.

They finally noticed Jenny and Lenora—but didn't look worried.

Instead, the commander smirked.

"They must know where it is."

"Surrender now!" Jenny shouted, her Arcanine poised.

"No—you surrender!" Plasma's commander sneered.

Footsteps echoed.

Jenny and Lenora's faces changed.

They'd been baited.

More Plasma grunts outside.

So many...

For just a meteorite?

Or...

Was it all a diversion?

Jenny and Lenora alerted the Unova League immediately.

Hearing the news, League members mobilized across Unova.

Team Plasma wouldn't escape.

—

"Team Plasma's attacking Nacrene? For a meteorite?"

Johan and the group, having just "released" the Genesect, also got word.

Do I have the right to "release" now? Johan mused.

"What meteorite?" Cynthia asked.

"One that can influence a Pokémon's heart."

Johan remembered it—Team Plasma and Team Rocket once fought over it in the original story.

Sure, it was useful—but...

"Is this really worth all the noise?"

Others might not know—but Johan did.

The meteorite wasn't that important to Colress's research.

Unless—

They already had Kyurem.

That would explain it.

But... to bait the League just to ambush them?

That's bold—even for Colress.

If Giovanni were the leader, sure. But Ghetsis?

A man too cowardly to even show his face—pushing his foster son N to the front.

He was a schemer—not a warlord.

"It's far..."

Caitlin checked her phone. "Do we go?"

Even if they rushed, they'd probably be late.

Unless—

Mewtwo could be the key.

Should they call the Genesect back?

They might still make it.

Johan sighed—traveling like that again...

Then—

A thought struck him.

What if the meteorite wasn't even the real target?

What if it was all a distraction?

What did Team Plasma really want?

Zekrom and Reshiram.

But those dragons couldn't be captured so easily.

Unless—

Johan suddenly looked north.

Opelucid City. The DNA Splicers.

Decoy tactics?

It all fit.

Maybe Nacrene was a smokescreen.

Their real target—

The DNA Splicers.

—

At the same time, in the shadows of night—

A massive battleship approached Opelucid.

Inside the control room, Colress pushed his glasses up.

The excitement in his eyes—barely contained.

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Powerstones?

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