After stepping out of the cabin, Aoki finally saw the outside world for the first time.
Team Rocket's ship had stopped within what appeared to be a massive natural gateway.
The deck led through two different areas.
When Aoki first stepped out, he was met with the boundless ocean. Other than a cave just large enough to accommodate the ship's bow, the rest of the surroundings consisted of calm, open water.
But as he reached the bow, a vast island loomed on the horizon.
Even though the island was still tens of miles away, the ship had come to a halt.
At the bow stood a group of black-robed figures—Team Rocket's Psychic Squad.
Just as he had experienced during the Trial Island challenge, the squad members were gathering to form a temporary teleportation array, preparing to send people randomly onto the island.
Wouldn't it be more efficient to explore the island together?
Aoki thought about it briefly and quickly understood.
This wasn't meant for exploration—it was for battle.
If everyone were scattered, the island's vast territory could be covered more effectively.
Under their signal, Aoki stepped into the teleportation array.
The Psychic Squad members immediately sensed the psychic energy fluctuations within him.
Similar?
Aoki was a bit surprised at the psychic Pokémon assisting them.
The leader this time was someone unfamiliar—not the same person he encountered on Trial Island.
However, for Aoki, who was also a psychic, their reaction was simply one of surprise.
Soon, the teleportation array activated, and Aoki was transported to the island by their combined psychic power and that of their Pokémon.
As soon as he felt himself stabilize, he quickly threw a Pokéball, summoning Honchkrow.
Luckily, he hadn't been dropped into a group of wild Pokémon. Honchkrow scanned the surroundings with sharp eyes and found no immediate threats.
With a moment to breathe, Aoki took in his surroundings.
Perhaps due to his psychic affinity, his teleportation spot wasn't too bad—or maybe he was just lucky.
A mere two meters behind him lay a sheer cliffside dropping into the sea, while in front of him stretched an ancient forest, its towering trees densely packed and vastly older than those on Trial Island.
An untouched land, thick with vegetation and immense trees, filled with unknown resources—and hidden dangers.
After a brief pause, Aoki released Slowking.
He ordered it to set up a psychic coordinate here, ensuring he had a safe return point in case of trouble.
Team Rocket hadn't provided any specific details on their objective.
From what he had gathered from Regis, the island's center contained ancient ruins and a colossal tree.
How large was this tree? Even from his current position at the island's edge, peering through gaps in the dense canopy, Aoki could make out its immense outline.
He gave it a fitting name—The Ancient Tree of Life.
His initial suspicions became absolute confirmation the moment he set foot on the island.
Neverland.
The place where Mew had once resided in ancient times.
That massive tree—it must be the Ancient Tree of Life that grew alongside Mew, and the ruins at the island's center might have once been its dwelling place.
It was from this very place that Team Rocket had obtained a mythical Pokémon's genetic material.
Years of research, immeasurable investments, and the relentless efforts of their top scientists had culminated in the pinnacle of scientific achievement in the Pokémon world—
Mewtwo.
The first human-created Pokémon of legendary status, second only to the God of Creation.
And it was precisely because of the colossal resources funneled into Mewtwo's creation that Team Rocket had lain dormant for years, allowing the League to strengthen its hold over other regions.
Of course, if they could maintain control over Mewtwo, then all of it would be worth it.
But could they truly control such a being?
A first-tier Legendary Pokémon, perhaps initially vulnerable due to its infancy, but in time...
Aoki had his doubts.
In the animated world he once knew, Mewtwo had broken free.
But this was reality, and having lived a second life here, he couldn't rely on anime or comics to predict what might happen.
Regardless, for now, this had little to do with him.
Team Rocket's high-level decisions weren't something he could influence just yet.
For now, he would familiarize himself with the environment and train his Pokémon.
However...
If the events he foresaw did unfold, if Mewtwo one day escaped Sakagi's grasp, it would undoubtedly return here.
Both Team Rocket and the League would refocus their attention on this island. While no one cared now, Aoki could seize this opportunity to explore, gather resources, and gain an advantage.
If he managed to locate the Mew gene within the ruins, Sakagi's recognition of him would skyrocket. The rewards he would receive would far surpass what he had earned during the final trial.
Further solidifying Sakagi's trust in him would allow him to move even more freely between the League and Team Rocket.
With Rocket support behind the scenes and his own connections within the League, even a position among the Elite Four wasn't out of reach.
Wasn't that how Koga secured his Poison-type Elite position?
After Slowking set up the psychic coordinates, Aoki, alongside Honchkrow and Slowking, advanced toward the island's depths.
A land untouched by humans meant the Pokémon here had never encountered trainers before.
With their fragile human bodies, trainers would be the first targets for any aggressive wild Pokémon.
Aoki had to stay alert.
After cautiously making his way through a small patch of woods, he encountered no hostility.
So far, so good.
But he couldn't relax just yet.
The absence of Pokémon likely meant they were in the territory of a dominant species or a powerful individual.
Without encountering any Pokémon, he had no data on their levels or strength, which made things even more unpredictable.
Then, after passing through the woods, Aoki and his team faced their first attack.
They had stepped into a bamboo forest.