It had been a full day since that night.
Ash noticed that neither Elsa nor Yellow acted outright strange afterward.
If anything, Yellow seemed even gentler than usual, occasionally going out of her way to make small sweets during breaks, her movements natural, as if nothing had happened. Elsa, on the other hand, remained calm and composed, treating Ash no differently on the surface.
But Ash himself had changed.
With his thoughts now firmly set on his first gym battle, his focus sharpened noticeably. He spent more time observing his Pokémon and more time thinking and calculating. Even Yellow noticed it—how his gaze would drift into the distance while walking, how his replies became shorter when his mind was elsewhere.
Elsa noticed it too.
She never interrupted him unnecessarily. When Ash became too absorbed, she would simply remind him to eat or quietly point out his surroundings when he walked too far ahead. Small things. Thoughtful things. Ash appreciated it more than he said.
From the gathered information, three key points stood out.
First, the gym system had changed. Trainers could now challenge three different tiers. Based on his current strength, Ash knew he could only aim for the basic tier—Tier One.
Second, while the Gym Leader was Flint, it was common knowledge that basic-tier challengers were usually handled by Brock, the intermediate Gym Leader.
And third—this was the most important part.
The average strength of Brock's Pokémon would be far beyond what Pikachu had faced when Ash first left Pallet Town. Ash estimated their levels to be somewhere between 22 and 25.
He frowned slightly as he looked at Froakie and Riolu training nearby.
Riolu was at level 13.
Froakie was at level 18.
Even with type advantages, the gap was real. And Brock wasn't some anime caricature who would lose to clever tricks alone. His matches were solid, disciplined, and well-structured.
Ash crossed his arms.
"Level 20 is my target then," he muttered quietly.
His eyes shifted toward Metapod.
After some thought, Ash made a decision. Froakie and Riolu would sit this one out for now. Instead, he would place his bet on Metapod.
Pokémon often experienced growth spurts right after evolution. Metapod was already level 18, and its progress had been astonishing. Constant mock battles against Pikachu and Riolu had pushed its growth rapidly—Riolu had gained two levels from those exchanges, Pikachu one.
Metapod was absorbing everything.
Still, Ash didn't rush around challenging every wild Pokémon he saw. He chose carefully. After all, he couldn't help but wonder what happened to all those reckless trainers who rushed headfirst into every fight—his thoughts were cut short.
A figure suddenly jumped out in front of them.
All three girls froze.
The man stood in an odd outfit, traditional armour mixed with worn cloth, a katana gleaming in his hand. He pointed the blade directly at Ash. "I challenge you to a duel." Ash blinked once. Then calmly reached for his Poké Ball.
"I accept your duel."
"Good!"
With a sharp motion, the strange samurai sheathed his sword and pulled out his own Poké Ball, a grin spreading across his face. Only then did the girls relax—though their glares toward the strange man were anything but friendly.
"I call you out—Pinsir!" A massive bug-type Pokémon emerged with a roar. Ash wasn't surprised. He had seen this coming.
"Are you from Pallet Town?" the samurai asked suddenly. "The one called Ash?" That caught Ash off guard. The other guy simply knew his name, not that he was that famous or anything.
"Yes. I'm Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town," he replied after a moment.
"Hm." The samurai nodded. "Gary spoke of you. You said you were strong. The fact that you didn't flinch when I drew my sword proves you're no ordinary trainer." Ash felt a faint headache forming.
'That idiot…' He could already imagine Gary bragging and name-dropping him everywhere. Still, he couldn't deny the result. A free bundle of experience had practically delivered itself to him. "Alright," Ash said, steadying himself. "Let's do this. Come out, Metapod." Metapod appeared in a flash of light.
The samurai's eyes narrowed slightly, but his stance didn't waver. He assumed Ash had a plan.
Before anyone could react, "Metapod, Harden." Metapod's body stiffened.
"Harden again." Its shell thickened further.
"Harden." Three times in a row.
The samurai raised an eyebrow. Then Ash's voice cut through sharply. "String Shot". Metapod fired silk toward Pinsir's side—not directly at it, but enough to limit movement.
Pinsir snarled, irritated. Before its trainer could give another command, Metapod launched itself forward. Like a cannonball.
"Pinsir, dodge it!" The samurai barked.
Too late.
Metapod slammed into Pinsir with overwhelming momentum, its hardened body crashing into the Bug-type and sending it tumbling backward as dust exploded into the air. Ash didn't hesitate.
"Don't stop. Energy Ball." Metapod reacted instantly.
Green light gathered rapidly, condensing into a dense sphere of energy. Ash watched closely. After reaching level 18, Metapod could now fire at least three Energy Balls in a single battle.
That wasn't just impressive. That was abnormal. And it perfectly showcased Metapod's unusually high Special Attack.
And within the blast. Pinsir, which was trying to stand, was completely hit off guard, knocking it out in that instant. The samurai guy was silent, the smoke got cleared up, and Pinsir's defeated body was shown. "Pinsir is unable to battle." Misty announced, clearly expecting something like this.
The moment Metapod landed on the ground, its body began to glow.
At first, it was faint—just a soft shimmer along its hardened shell. Then the light intensified, growing brighter and brighter, until a beautiful, dazzling gleam completely wrapped around its form.
"It's evolving," Misty whispered.
"Ash—" she called instinctively.
Ash was already moving. He rushed to Metapod's side without hesitation, kneeling close, his eyes fixed on the glowing figure. Pikachu leaped down from his shoulder and stood right in front of Metapod, its cheeks faintly sparking as it watched silently, alert and protective.
"That's amazing, Ash," the samurai challenger said, stepping back respectfully. He knew battle etiquette well and made no move to interfere, his attention fully captured by the evolution unfolding before him.
Yellow felt it too.
Something stirred deep within her chest.
Her Viridian power reacted sharply, sensing a presence forming inside the radiant cocoon of light. She swallowed softly, her gaze never leaving Metapod. Ash felt it as well—subtle, but unmistakable.
He knew why.
Among all his Pokémon, Metapod had been the one most deeply nourished by Viridian essence. It couldn't consume Pokéblocks or restorative items properly, so Ash had instinctively relied on Viridian recovery to support it again and again. Over time, that energy had seeped into Metapod's body.
Now, during evolution, the strongest and most familiar energies it could sense were Ash's aura and the dense Viridian essence filling the forest itself.
Without knowing it, Metapod began absorbing it.
Its evolution carried a natural, almost primal forest vibe.
This was exactly what Maddoc had once warned him about—Viridian essence had a tendency to attract attention, especially during moments of transformation.
"Pika… wiga." Pikachu stiffened. Its posture shifted instantly into alert mode. Ash felt it too. His aura sense flared, drawing his gaze sharply to the side. From the underbrush, something crawled closer.
A small Weedle emerged, inching toward the glowing Metapod as if drawn by instinct alone.
Ash's eyes lit up. 'That one… isn't normal.' The Weedle was clearly reacting to the Viridian essence. Its movements were focused and purposeful. After a brief glance, Ash smiled to himself.
'Alright. Decision made.'
"Okay, little champ," Ash said quietly. "We're catching it. Pikachu—Quick Attack."
"Pika!" Pikachu vanished in a blur. The next instant, the Weedle was sent flying backward without even realising what hit it.
"Wee—!" Ash didn't waste a second. His Poké Ball flew smoothly through the air, clicking shut as it captured the stunned bug-type.
'Eh… he's doing it again,' Yellow thought, stunned. She quickly moved closer to Metapod, calling Bulbasaur to stand beside her as a precaution.
Then—Crack.
A sharp, echoing sound rang out.
Everyone turned. The hardened shell shattered apart, fragments dissolving into light as a majestic figure emerged from within.
A Butterfree.
But not just any Butterfree.
It was larger—easily forty to fifty per cent bigger than a normal one. Its wings shimmered like stained glass, reflecting the firelight and moonlight together. Its body carried a soft, natural glow, elegant and powerful all at once.
"…Wow," Misty breathed.
"So beautiful," Yellow murmured.
Even the samurai stood stunned, eyes wide. This was the first time he had ever witnessed such an evolution.
'So that's it,' he realised. 'That Metapod… was never normal.' Only a Pokémon like that could overpower his Pinsir so decisively—and now evolve into something so extraordinary. Ash stared, momentarily forgetting to breathe.
"So beautiful," he whispered.
"Wee~" The Butterfree let out a gentle, melodic cry and fluttered toward him, circling Ash happily as if dancing through the air.
"You did great," Ash said softly. He reached out carefully, brushing his fingers against the Butterfree's head. Its fur was soft and warm—and beneath that gentleness, Ash felt something powerful.
Strong.
And it wasn't the Viridian force.
His eyes flickered as the familiar system interface appeared.
[Status.]
Species: Butterfree.
Level: 14.
Type: Bug / Flying Type.
Talent: Compound Eyes / Insight.
Attack: B [A+]
Agility: B+ [S+]
Defence: C [B+]
Sp. Attack: A [S+]
Sp. Defence: B [S+]
Moves: Psychic [Lv. 1], Shadow Ball [Lv. 1], Gust [Lv. 1], String Shot [Lv. 2], Energy Ball [Lv. 1], Sticky Web [Lv. 2], Tackle [Lv. 2], etc.
Including all three status powders—Stun Spore, Sleep Powder, and Poison Powder—and even Confusion at level one. Psychic. Shadow Ball. Gust. Ash felt his breath hitch slightly.
'This…' This evolution had given him a complete arsenal. Support, control, offence—everything. It was like giving a tiger wings. A small smile formed on Ash's face. He wanted nothing more than to hug the Butterfree tightly—but he stopped himself, careful not to damage its thin, delicate wings. His little treasure box.
Ash's gaze lingered on the two psychic-type moves listed on the status screen. Psychic. Shadow Ball. Normally, Butterfree only learnt such techniques at much higher levels, after prolonged growth and mental development. But this one had already awakened them the moment it evolved.
That meant only one thing. This Butterfree's psychic potential had already reached a state close to its high-level form. Ash finally understood the unfamiliar force he had sensed earlier. It wasn't Viridian energy. It was psychic power.
And not a weak one.
'This is perfect,' Ash thought calmly.
At the moment, his team lacked a true psychic-type specialist. Pikachu covered speed and raw power, Riolu handled close combat, and Froakie provided tactical flexibility—but control, mental pressure, and battlefield dominance were still missing.
This Butterfree filled that gap beautifully.
With a Pokémon of this calibre, Ash would have an overwhelming advantage against many trainers at this stage of the journey. "Congratulations, Ash," Misty said with a genuine smile. Yellow nodded enthusiastically, eyes shining.
Elsa smiled softly as well.
None of them fully understood just how abnormal this Butterfree was—but they could all tell it was special. "Thanks," Ash replied, grinning back.
He turned his attention to the samurai trainer. "So", Ash said calmly, "shall we continue?" The samurai's lips curved into a wide grin.
"Of course we will." He reached for another Poké Ball, his movements deliberate. "This will be my last Pokémon." With a sharp flick of his wrist, he threw the ball into the air.
A flash of light erupted.
Out emerged a green, armoured Pokémon with twin scythe-like blades—its presence sharp and dangerous, its eyes focused and battle-hardened.
Scyther.
"Pika~!" Pikachu let out a surprised cry, ears twitching. Even he could feel the pressure coming off the opponent. Butterfree's wings fluttered once. Its eyes glowed faintly as fighting spirit surged within it.
This was its first battle after evolution—and it wanted to prove itself. "Wee~" It turned its head slightly, looking back at Ash.
Ash met its gaze and smiled. "Alright, Butterfree," he said, confidence ringing clearly in his voice. "Let's do it." He lifted his hand, pointing forward.
"It's showtime." The firelight reflected in his eyes, sharp and steady, as the newly evolved Butterfree hovered at his side—ready to unleash the full extent of its newfound power.