As expected, Blastoise spun like a gyroscope and surged forward through the air, deflecting every grain of powder in its path. Then, with unstoppable momentum, it rammed straight into Butterfree!

"Freee!!"

Butterfree, caught mid-flight while scattering its spores, couldn't dodge in time. It was slammed by the spinning Blastoise and sent spiraling down to the ground, hitting the dirt with a rough thud.

"That's it!" Tenmei shouted, her voice brimming with confidence.

"Butterfree!" Naoki called out with concern, narrowing his eyes. This Tenmei… she wasn't just flashy, she was clever too.

"Freee…" Butterfree trembled for a moment, then beat its wings and rose back into the air, wobbling but determined. It looked back at Naoki with resolve, signaling that it could still keep going.

"Butterfree is back in the air!" the commentator shouted excitedly. "But the battle isn't looking good! Blastoise has completely neutralized its powder-based techniques, and now Butterfree is clearly at a disadvantage!"

In the audience, Leon watching intently, bit his lip with worry.

He knew Butterfree wasn't one of Naoki's battle aces. It lived a peaceful life back at the ranch, rarely entering real matches. Could a Pokémon like that truly stand up to a trained Blastoise?

"Let's finish this!" Tenmei declared boldly, sensing her opponent's struggle. "Blastoise, Water Gun!"

The twin cannons on Blastoise's shell angled forward, and a jet of water blasted out with force, aimed directly at the airborne Butterfree.

Naoki's eyes sharpened.

"Butterfree, dodge—now!" he ordered.

Butterfree responded immediately, weaving through the air and just narrowly avoiding the stream of water.

'This isn't going to work,' Naoki thought calmly. 'If we keep dodging and dragging this out, we'll eventually lose.'

Even though Butterfree had been gently raised at the ranch and regularly drank Life Goat Milk, making it far more durable than a typical Butterfree, that wouldn't be enough to win this battle. At best, it could survive a few more direct hits.

With status moves like Sleep Powder, Stun Spore, and Poison Powder neutralized by Rapid Spin, their main tools were off the table.

Naoki quickly reviewed the remaining options.

Butterfree still had moves like Gust, Psychic, Electroweb, Silver Wind, Supersonic, Bug Buzz, and Quiver Dance.

Electroweb was the only one with a type advantage against Water-types, but even that wouldn't deal significant damage against a defensive tank like Blastoise. It would take multiple hits, and Butterfree would have to survive long enough to land them.

As Naoki considered his strategy, another Water Gun blasted toward Butterfree.

"Freee!" Butterfree twisted midair, dodging it again by a slim margin.

But it was clear, Butterfree could feel the gap in strength.

Its opponent was simply on another level.

Even so, Butterfree didn't want to give up so easily!

Back then, it had arrived at Naoki's ranch as a tiny Caterpie, determined to grow stronger. And even though life had become peaceful after it evolved into Butterfree, now, standing in this grand arena, it longed to rise to the top alongside its Trainer, just like the other Pokémon it admired.

A blazing fire of determination filled Butterfree's heart.

Right then, Naoki spotted an opening, a chance to turn the tide.

"Butterfree, use Supersonic!" he called out decisively.

"Fuu-yi!"

A strange, high-pitched buzzing sound burst from Butterfree's mouth, echoing across the battlefield. Blastoise prepared to unleash another Water Gun, but the next moment, the chaotic sound waves struck its ears, shaking its focus.

Blastoise froze, its eyes flickering. Its mind reeled under the confusion.

"Supersonic?" Tenmei's expression darkened. "Blastoise, stay sharp!"

"Don't let up, Butterfree! Use Sleep Powder, now!" Naoki commanded, hoping Blastoise's confusion would keep it from countering in time.

"Blastoise, use Rapid Spin!" Tenmei shouted, trying to rely on the same tactic as before to dispel the incoming powder.

The entire stadium fell silent, spectators held their breath, eyes locked on the battlefield.

One second passed… then another… then a third…

But Blastoise didn't move.

Instead, it groaned, clutching its head as if trying to shake off the chaotic noise swirling in its brain. Then, in a moment that left everyone stunned, Blastoise balled up one of its fists… and smacked itself on the head!

"Blastoise!" Tenmei called, her voice strained with concern.

The impact snapped Blastoise out of the confusion for a brief moment, but by then, the Sleep Powder had already taken effect.

A heavy yawn escaped its mouth.

Its knees buckled.

Then… Blastoise collapsed on the battlefield, fast asleep.

"Oh my Arceus! What a reversal!" the commentator cried. "Supersonic, a move often overlooked, completely turned the tables in this battle! That was absolutely brilliant!"

"But now comes the real challenge…" he continued. "Blastoise is known for its thick shell and incredible endurance. If Butterfree can't land a knockout while it's asleep, it'll wake up, and next time, this trick won't work again!"

The crowd sat in total silence, watching intently.

Yet to everyone's surprise, Naoki didn't attack.

"Butterfree, use Quiver Dance!" he ordered calmly.

Unknown to most, Butterfree had already used Quiver Dance once earlier while dodging Blastoise's spin.

If it could stack the move a few more times, its Special Attack, Speed, and Special Defense would all reach their peak.

And once that happened, Electroweb wouldn't just slow Blastoise down, it would become a powerful offensive strike capable of deciding the match in one blow.

By then, Blastoise wouldn't be able to claim victory so easily.

On the battlefield, Butterfree flapped its wings and spun into a graceful, mesmerizing dance. Glimmering crystal scales floated around it like drifting stars. A mysterious energy rippled outward as the Quiver Dance continued.

"Unbelievable!" the commentator exclaimed. "Naoki is letting Butterfree stack its power again! Is he planning to sweep Blastoise in one devastating strike? Can they pull it off?"

Tenmei also noticed Butterfree's continued movement and shouted urgently, "Blastoise, wake up! Get up!"

After completing the second Quiver Dance, Naoki gave his next command calmly. "Again, Quiver Dance!"

"Freeee!"

Butterfree continued to dance, more radiant than ever.

The arena had become its stage.

At that moment, Blastoise twitched. Its thick, muscular arms stirred.

Seeing the movement, Tenmei's expression lit up. "Blastoise! That's it, come on!"

Blastoise's fingers curled. It was starting to wake up.

But just as it stirred, Butterfree finished its third Quiver Dance.

Naoki seized the moment. "One more time! Quiver Dance!"

The crowd gasped.

Butterfree's power had reached an incredible level, its speed, special attack, and special defense were soaring to their limits.

"Blastoise!" Tenmei called again.

Blastoise's eyes snapped open.

"Blastoise is awake!" the commentator cried out.

Without wasting a second, Tenmei shouted, "Hydro Cannon!"

Blastoise didn't hesitate. It glared at Butterfree, fury flashing in its eyes after being put to sleep for so long.

With a loud bang, its water cannon raised high. Torrents of swirling water gathered inside the barrels, building massive pressure.

Butterfree was still in motion, just beginning its fourth Quiver Dance.

A powerful blast of water erupted from the cannons.

It shot straight toward Butterfree like a roaring tidal column.

A heartbeat before the attack struck, Butterfree completed its fourth dance.

BOOM!

The Hydro Cannon struck Butterfree head-on, blasting it across the battlefield. It slammed hard into the energy barrier at the edge of the arena, the impact leaving the audience in stunned silence.

"Was that too greedy…?" Naoki whispered, brows furrowed. "Butterfree!"

"Oh my goodness!" the commentator cried out, voice shaking with excitement. "Butterfree took a direct Hydro Cannon blast at full force! Can it still get up?"

All eyes locked on the fallen butterfly Pokémon, waiting to see if it would rise again.

Everyone knew one thing, Butterfree wasn't built for endurance. A regular Butterfree, even at the same level, would be unable to stand after taking a full-power Water Gun and Hydro Cannon from a strong Blastoise.

And this wasn't even a fair matchup.

Tenmei's Blastoise clearly outclassed Naoki's Butterfree in both strength and battle experience.

The referee kept his eyes fixed on the battlefield, ready to declare the match the moment Butterfree stayed down.

One second… two seconds… three…

Just then, Butterfree's mind stirred with memories.

It thought back to the very first time it met Naoki, when it was still a small, trembling Caterpie hiding in the grass. Naoki had reached out a gentle hand, fed it delicious berries, and promised to help it grow strong.

It wasn't the strongest on the ranch. But to Butterfree, Naoki was the most important person in the world.

And so… it would not give up. Not now.

Not ever.

With trembling wings, Butterfree slowly lifted itself from the ground.

Then, to the shock of everyone watching, it rose into the air once more.

The crowd roared.

"Unbelievable!" the commentator shouted, voice cracking with emotion. "Butterfree is still standing! After taking a direct Hydro Cannon from Blastoise, it's still able to fly!"

Naoki's eyes widened briefly, then softened.

"…Butterfree…" he murmured. He could feel its heart. Its will.

A warm smile spread across his face. "I understand. I understand your determination, Butterfree."

Then let's finish this together.

Across the field, Tenmei's eyes burned with determination. "So you're still standing? But this is the end! Blastoise, Water Gun!"

Naoki raised his voice. "Butterfree, use Electro web!"

Blastoise lifted its twin cannons, locking in on Butterfree and unleashing a fierce, high-pressure stream of water.

But Butterfree didn't attack right away.

Its compound eyes gleamed with precision as it tracked the exact trajectory of the Water Gun.

Then, in a split-second blur, Butterfree tilted its wings and veered off.

The jet of water passed through the space it had just occupied, missing completely.

It dodged it!

The crowd erupted.

But that wasn't the end.

In the very next moment, Butterfree's body crackled with energy, electric sparks surged from its wings, growing brighter, fiercer, wilder.

A brilliant yellow light enveloped it.

"What...what is that?!" the commentator gasped. "Is that electricity?! Butterfree knows an Electric-type move?!"

The glow peaked.

From the center of the sky, Butterfree unleashed a massive Electroweb, far larger than any the audience had seen before.

It expanded outward like a glowing net of lightning, covering the battlefield and descending upon Blastoise with blinding force.

In the audience, Leon stood up in awe, fists clenched in excitement.

Just as he expected.

Naoki wouldn't disappoint him.

"That move... it's Electroweb!"