"Alright, let's leave it at that. I have a student here. I can risk it today."The man spoke in a steady tone, but the meaning behind those words was anything but light. If their Ace Pokémon were truly to take the field, he knew very well that neither side could guarantee the other's safety. Battles at that level were never clean.
"For the first time… I might have to agree with you."Oak smiled faintly, his gaze moving across Ash, Yellow, and Misty in turn. There was a calm wisdom in his eyes, but also restraint. "I'll leave it here."
Simon turned his head slightly, already noticing a small group of men lingering near the edge of the clearing, pretending not to watch while clearly doing exactly that."You guys, disperse. I'll leave later."His voice carried authority, and the men shifted uncomfortably before stepping back.
Simon's eyes returned to Ash, and after a brief pause, he spoke again, his tone carrying a hint of amusement."Why not let our student fight?"He lifted his hand and pointed toward a boy leaning casually near a forest tree. "My student."
Oak followed his gesture. The boy—Lint—stood with his back half-resting against the trunk, arms relaxed, and posture loose, yet his eyes were sharp."My student is just a rookie. Started barely a month ago," Oak replied calmly. "Let him train. We'll let them battle later."
"Let's not make excuses, Old Oak."A twisted smile crept onto Simon's face. "It'll just be a small match."
Oak let out a quiet sigh. His gaze shifted to Ash, who already looked battle-ready, shoulders squared and eyes focused. He knew he shouldn't interfere now. This was no longer a matter of authority—it was pride, experience, and belief in one's student.
Misty opened her mouth, wanting to interrupt. She understood better than anyone that Oak couldn't step in anymore. And if things escalated… she might have to. With Simon busy holding Oak here, there would be no challenge in dealing with the lackeys using her Gyarados.
Before she could speak—
"Yo! Don't be in a rush, beauty."
A lazy voice rang out from the side.
A boy appeared from behind a thick forest tree, sitting casually on a low branch as if this were some idle gathering instead of a tense standoff. Beside him hovered a Gengar, its red eyes fixed forward, its grin cold and unsettling.
Ash turned his head slightly, studying the newcomer. 'Another one, huh,' he thought.'Lint…' He didn't think the boy had any real chance against him. Even if the opponent's Pokémon were higher level, Ash trusted his team. Not blindly—he trusted their training, their bond, and their experience.
"I don't mind it," Ash said calmly.
Oak sighed again, but this time there was a trace of resignation mixed with trust. After this, he truly wouldn't be able to interfere. Still… 'It's Ash.'
He knew what Ash is like. It was just a thought, but he could tell that Ash was confident.
Oak placed a firm hand on Ash's shoulder."Go beat that boy, Ash." Since he could defuse Ash's action, he wanted to encourage him.
Ash smiled."Good, that's the spirit."
Simon laughed openly this time, turning his head toward Lint. The boy straightened slightly and took out a Poké Ball, rolling it once between his fingers before throwing it forward.
"Come out, Nidoqueen."
Light burst forth, and a massive figure slammed onto the ground. The earth trembled slightly under its weight. Thick armour-like scales glinted under the filtered sunlight, and its heavy breathing alone carried pressure.
Ash observed it silently for a second. Then, without hesitation, he recalled Pidgeotto and Riolu. Both had already fought earlier, and he could feel their fatigue.
"I choose you, Butterfree."
A Poké Ball flew forward, light spilling out as a butterfly-shaped Pokémon emerged, wings shimmering softly as it took to the air.
Lint's eyes narrowed. A sneer crept across his face. "Don't look down on me." The words were simple, but the intent was clear—Butterfree was no match for his Pokémon.
Ash let out a short laugh, his gaze turning cold as it locked onto Lint. "That's my line. Don't underestimate my Butterfree." There was no anger in Ash's voice—just certainty. After all, he was talking about this Butterfree with abnormal Sp Attack.
Behind Lint, the Gengar trainer chuckled faintly, wearing the same dismissive smile."I guess it's already fixed then."
Only Misty smiled at that remark.She hadn't seen Butterfree battle yet—but she remembered clearly.A Caterpie.Bruno's Machop.Complete destruction.
Seeing her reaction, the Gengar trainer went silent, his eyes narrowing as he studied Butterfree more carefully. "Free~"
Sensing Ash's emotions, Butterfree fluttered its wings more rapidly, radiating energy. Its compound eyes locked onto Nidoqueen, its posture sharp and eager.
"Hmph." Lint jerked his chin upward. "Use Hyper Beam." Before the command could fully settle—"Energy Ball." Ash's voice cut through the air like a blade.
Butterfree moved instantly. The green energy condensed almost the moment Ash finished speaking. Training done day after day paid off—casting time reduced to nearly nothing.
A dense, glowing green orb shot forward at blistering speed.
The Gengar trainer's eyes widened."So fast—!"
Lint's expression faltered. He opened his mouth, instinctively wanting to cancel the command—
Too late.
The [Energy Ball] struck first.
"Nido~!"
Nidoqueen cried out as her body jolted violently. The Hyper Beam she had been charging collapsed mid-formation, the energy dispersing chaotically as the [Energy Ball] slammed straight into her torso. The impact was heavy, deep, and explosive—far beyond what anyone present had expected.
This wasn't a normal [Energy Ball].
Ash's Viridian Energy flowed quietly through Butterfree, enhancing the move's density and stability. Within the forest environment, the natural energy resonance pushed the move even further. [Energy Ball] received a near absurd amplification—almost a sixty percent spike in raw power.
At that moment, Butterfree's attack wasn't just strong.
It was a compact, high-speed cannon.
The shockwave scattered leaves and dust, forcing several onlookers to instinctively step back.
"Tailwind…"
"Rock Throw!"
Lint barked his command sharply, frustration creeping into his voice. A barrage of jagged stones tore through the air, slicing toward Butterfree at lethal angles.
But Butterfree was already moving.
Wrapped in Tailwind, his wings beat with terrifying efficiency. His compound eyes tracked every trajectory, every shift in air pressure. With sharp, minimal movements, he dodged—tilting, accelerating, slipping past the stones with inches to spare.
This wasn't luck.
This was training.
Something Butterfree had drilled relentlessly ever since evolving.
'Quick…' Simon narrowed his eyes, genuinely surprised.
If Ash had truly trained this Pokémon to this degree in barely a month… then his ability as a trainer was far higher than Simon had initially judged.
"Use Gust," Ash commanded calmly.
Butterfree surged upward, spinning mid-air as a second Tailwind formed beneath him. The airflow stacked, compressed, and detonated outward as Gust followed immediately after.
The sudden pressure shift stunned the crowd.
Leaves were ripped from trees. Dust blurred vision. Even Nidoqueen staggered, her footing destabilised as the wind distorted her perception. Her massive form struggled to orient itself.
Before she could say, "Sticky Thread!" Ash commanded. Lint finally snapped, irritation breaking through his composure.
"Use Focus Punch to crush them!" Nidoqueen roared, her fist slamming forward. The webbing burst against her arm—only to cling stubbornly, stretching yet refusing to break. The adhesive wrapped around her forearm, tightening.
"Continue." Ash didn't hesitate.
Sticky Web after Sticky Web.
Butterfree's casting speed was relentless. Threads layered over one another, flying in rapid succession. Nidoqueen smashed them apart repeatedly, but there was no pause, no breathing room. Every punch wasted time. Every second dragged her deeper into control.
'Who said they're slow…' Lint cursed inwardly. Facing it directly, he finally understood. This wasn't a passive support Pokémon. This was battlefield suppression taken to an extreme.
Terrifying.
'That kid… is a monster.' Even Simon felt a chill. Oak's expression twitched slightly. Even he hadn't expected this level of dominance. What kind of trainer fought like this—methodical, oppressive, surgical?
For the first time, Simon seriously considered calling the match off.
By the end of it, Nidoqueen stood wrapped in layers of [Sticky Web]. Her sheer brute strength still allowed movement, and seeing that, Lint grinned sharply.
"Rip them off, Nidoqueen." But Ash had already spoken. "Confusion."
Butterfree spun in place, psychic energy erupting outward in a twisting wave. The invisible force slammed directly into Nidoqueen's mind, sending her reeling. Her body shook violently as she cried out in pain.
"Get up, Nidoqueen!" Lint's eyes burnt with anger. He had assumed Ash only had Bug- and Grass-type pressure.
This—
This was different. Psychic-type energy was poison to a Poison-type. 'He was using me like a whetstone…'
The realisation hit hard. Every move, every exchange—Ash had been testing, sharpening, dismantling. The anger that followed had nowhere to go except toward Ash himself.
And Ash… was smiling. "Nido~!"
With incredible tenacity, Nidoqueen tried to push herself upright, growling through the pain.
"Checkmate," Ash said calmly.
"Use Psychic." The psychic shockwave detonated.
Nidoqueen's massive body was lifted clean off the ground and thrown backward like a ragdoll, crashing heavily into the dirt. The ground shook once—then went still.
She didn't move again.
Silence fell.
Lint stood frozen, glaring viciously at Ash, his fists clenched tight. "Wow… Ash. That's awesome."
Yellow thought it quietly—then realised she'd said it out loud. She flushed slightly, but Oak only chuckled, amused as he glanced at her.
Far away, inside the lab, Daisy watched the recorded battle with widening eyes.
Ash's Butterfree…
Was far beyond anything she had imagined.