Transcendence

The Showdown part 2: Guess who didn't learn their lesson?

The cavern cracked with thunderous bursts of energy as the fight between Alex and Mewtwo escalated to brutal new heights. The giant, gleaming psychic spoon spun with elegance and menace in Mewtwo's telekinetic grasp, shifting in midair like an extension of its will. One moment it was a blade, slicing through Alex's aura shields with terrifying precision; the next, it was a shield, deflecting Shadow Claw strikes and absorbing waves of aura like they were nothing but wind.

Mewtwo hovered just above the stone floor, graceful, untouched.

"Honestly," it mused, "all this effort, all this drama, for what? To bark like a Houndoom. It's adorable-truly-but tragically futile."

Alex darted through the air, barely dodging a swipe from the spoon. His body glowed with aura flares, his paws crackling with energy as he launched a Force Palm from above. Mewtwo casually raised the spoon like an umbrella, the golden glow flaring as it absorbed the hit and twisted sideways with a flick, flinging Alex away like a ragdoll.

Alex rebounded off the cave wall and flipped midair, breathing hard but refusing to falter. "You talk a lot for someone hiding behind a kitchen utensil!"

Mewtwo gave a breathy laugh, full of mockery. "Ohohoho, this 'kitchen utensil' just sent you flying. You're embarrassing yourself, insect."

Alex growled and surged forward again. His Shadow Claw extended unnaturally far thanks to aura manipulation-he struck from a distance, slashing around the spoon's reach. One of the swipes landed! Mewtwo snarled as the edge of the claw burned against its side. But in retaliation, the psychic spoon spun in a brutal arc, slamming into Alex's left shoulder and launching him against a stalagmite with a loud crack.

Alex wheezed. His aura shimmered erratically. Still, he rose.

Mewtwo descended, eyes glowing icily now. It lifted a hand and snapped its fingers. Blizzard.

A freezing wind howled from behind it, swirling with psychic frost that flash-froze the ground under Alex's feet. Alex barely threw up an Aura Shield in time, the frost skimming over his skin like icy claws.

Then, from behind the icy mist, a Shadow Ball burst through.

Alex ducked, sidestepped-and was already moving forward, channeling Force Palm again, then twisting and transforming the technique into a raw blast of aura energy. He hurled it at Mewtwo.

But the spoon was already in place, catching the full brunt with a loud BOOM. The psychic steel quivered-but didn't break.

Mewtwo emerged from the smoke with a sneer, not even dirty.

"Cute. But futile. You're nothing but a peasant playing war."

Mewtwo raised its hand slowly-mockingly-like a maestro leading an orchestra.

"Allow me to show you true technique..."

A pulse of energy spiraled from its body, gathering into its palm. The cave trembled as Mewtwo floated higher, eyes burning violet.

"Psystrike."

Alex's eyes widened. He summoned his aura-too late.

The beam hit with a deafening shock, piercing through his rushed Aura Shield like paper. The attack slammed into his chest, sending violent psychic force deep into his very essence. His body was lifted clean off the ground and hurled backward, crashing through stone and skidding across the floor in a trail of sparks and gravel.

Silence.

Alex coughed, every breath burning. He tried to stand-his limbs trembled. No strength. Not even in his reserves. He had burned through everything-even the final flickers of aura Mew taught him to hide for emergencies.