"Venusaur, are you alright?"
Hearing Venusaur's painful groan, Robert couldn't help but worry.
"Venu...saur..." Venusaur shook its head. Though Pidgeot's Aerial Ace had been powerful and caused significant pain, it wasn't enough to knock it down in a single strike.
"That's good. In that case, it's our turn to fight back. Since Vine Whip can't reach Pidgeot, let's use Razor Leaf!"
Reassured that Venusaur could still fight, Robert pointed at the Pidgeot flapping its wings high in the air and shouted his next command.
"Venu...saur!" Venusaur swayed its bulky body, and countless razor-sharp leaves emerged from the bud on its back before shooting toward Pidgeot like flying daggers.
"Pidgeot, use Gust! Blow those leaves away, then charge in with Quick Attack!"
"Pidgeot!" Pidgeot called out as it flapped its large wings forcefully, generating a powerful gust of wind. The swirling wind repelled the approaching Razor Leaf attack with ease. Without hesitation, Pidgeot flapped its wings again and launched forward at an incredible speed, leaving behind a faint blur.
"Venusaur, counter with Energy Ball!"
"Venu...!" Venusaur opened its mouth and rapidly fired glowing green Energy Balls toward the incoming Pidgeot, attempting to halt its advance.
Robert smirked. "Trying to stop Pidgeot's charge? A good plan, but unfortunately, my Pidgeot is as fast as Pikachu—maybe even faster."
"Pidgeot, use Agility to increase speed, then strike with Steel Wing!"
"Pidgeooot!" Pidgeot flapped its wings even faster, its movements becoming erratic and unpredictable as it weaved effortlessly through the Energy Ball barrage. In a blink, Pidgeot appeared right in front of Venusaur. Its wings shimmered with a metallic glow as it swung them forward with immense force.
BAM!
"Venu...saur!" Venusaur cried out in pain. The impact from Steel Wing was like getting slammed by solid steel, sending Venusaur skidding across the battlefield, leaving a deep trail in the dirt before finally coming to a stop.
"Venusaur!" Robert shouted in concern.
Across the field, Red saw an opportunity. "This is our chance! Pidgeot, finish it with Hyper Beam!"
"Pidgeooot!" Pidgeot nodded, opening its beak wide. An intense sphere of golden energy began forming at the tip of its mouth, pulsating with immense power.
Robert's eyes widened in shock. "What?! Pidgeot can use Hyper Beam?! Oh no! If Venusaur gets hit—!"
Realizing the imminent danger, Robert quickly shouted, "Venusaur, use Solar Beam!"
"Venu...saur!" Though Venusaur was clearly injured, it responded immediately. The bud on its back glowed brightly as it absorbed the abundant sunlight.
Normally, Solar Beam required a charging period, but due to the bright sunlight bathing the battlefield, Venusaur could charge it almost instantly.
Red crossed his arms and grinned. "Going for Solar Beam? A solid strategy, but with Venusaur's current condition, it won't be able to outmatch Pidgeot's Hyper Beam."
Instead of interrupting Venusaur's charge-up, Red allowed both attacks to reach their peak.
In mere seconds, both Pokémon had fully charged their respective attacks.
"Pidgeot, fire Hyper Beam!"
"Venusaur, launch Solar Beam!"
Both trainers shouted their commands simultaneously.
A brilliant golden beam erupted from Pidgeot's beak, surging forward with devastating force. At the same moment, Venusaur unleashed a blazing Solar Beam from its flower, sending a concentrated blast of pure solar energy.
BOOOOM!
The two attacks collided in the center of the battlefield, creating a massive explosion that shook the ground. Dust and debris flew in all directions as the sheer force of the impact sent shockwaves rippling across the field.
The beams struggled against each other in a fierce tug-of-war. For a moment, it seemed like an even match. However, Red wasn't done yet.
"Pidgeot, push harder! Increase power output!"
"Pidgeooot!" Pidgeot screeched as it poured every last ounce of strength into its Hyper Beam. The golden energy swelled, rapidly overwhelming Venusaur's Solar Beam.
Robert's face fell. "No...!"
Within seconds, the overpowering Hyper Beam tore through Solar Beam and slammed directly into Venusaur.
BOOOOM!
"Venu...saur...!" Venusaur let out a final groan as the explosion sent it flying backward. Its massive body crashed into the ground, motionless.
Silence filled the battlefield as the dust began to settle.
Robert clenched his fists, his voice barely above a whisper. "Venusaur..."
Then, the referee raised his hand. "Venusaur is unable to battle! Pidgeot wins!"
Red smirked. "Good job, Pidgeot."
"Pidgeooot!" Pidgeot let out a victorious cry. But before it could bask in its triumph, something unexpected happened.
A brilliant white light engulfed Pidgeot's body.
"This... this is evolution!" Robert gasped.
Red's expression turned to one of excitement. "It's finally happening! Pidgeot is evolving!"
Everyone watched in awe as Pidgeot's form began to shift within the glowing light. Its body grew larger, its wings expanded, and its features became more pronounced. The transformation lasted only a few moments before the light faded, revealing Pidgeot's new form.
The newly evolved Pokémon was magnificent. Standing at around 1.8 to 1.9 meters tall, its wingspan stretched to an impressive 3 to 4 meters. Its once butter-colored belly feathers had turned pure white, while the feathers on its back were now a mix of brown and golden hues. Its tail feathers fanned out elegantly in vibrant red, adding to its regal appearance.
Its eyes, once soft and round, now gleamed with fierce determination. Its talons remained sharp and strong, ready to strike at any moment. But the most striking feature was the crest on its head—three long, dazzling red feathers extending from a golden base, with the center feather being the longest, almost the length of its entire body.
Red's eyes shone with pride. "Pidgeot... You're incredible!"
"Pidgeooot!" The newly evolved Pidgeot spread its wings wide and let out a powerful cry that echoed through the battlefield.
Robert sighed but smiled. "That was an amazing battle. I didn't expect Pidgeot to be this strong, but you fought well, Venusaur."
Venusaur, though exhausted, managed a weak but proud growl.
Red stepped forward and extended his hand to Robert. "That was a great match. You pushed me to the limit."
Robert chuckled and shook his hand. "Yeah, same here. Your Pidgeot is something else. I'll have to train even harder."
The crowd erupted into applause, celebrating the intense battle between the two trainers. As the cheers continued, Red looked up at his newly evolved Pidgeot, knowing that their journey was far from over.
This was just the beginning.
---
With this, Pidgeot had officially evolved, marking a new chapter in Red's adventure. What new challenges awaited them? Only time would tell.