"Return, Nidorino!"
Since Nidorino had no long-range options, it was nearly impossible for him to pressure Butterfree. Yozora withdrew him decisively and sent out his true aerial fighter."Go, Pidgeotto!"
"Pidgeotto?!"
Ritchie's eyes widened in surprise.
He vividly remembered—the very first time he met Yozora, it had been because he wanted to catch that same Pidgeotto. Now, after more than a month, Pidgeotto looked far stronger and more majestic than before!
"Although I didn't manage to capture Pidgeotto back then, it doesn't matter. I already have a Flying-type of my own now."
He gave Butterfree a gentle smile, his heart full of pride for his partner."Go, Happy! Use Air Slash!"
In the arena, Butterfree's wings beat furiously, sending out crescent-shaped blades of wind that sliced through the air, tearing straight toward Pidgeotto.
Butterfree clearly specialized in special attacks, whereas Pidgeotto—at least Yozora's Pidgeotto—excelled more in physical power.
"Dodge it, Pidgeotto! Use Quick Attack!"
At Yozora's command, Pidgeotto darted away from the gusting blades, transforming into a streak of white lightning that shot directly toward Butterfree.
"Hmph! When it comes to speed, we won't lose to you!"
Ritchie grinned with confidence."Happy, climb—now!"
As Pidgeotto streaked forward like a thunderbolt, Butterfree's wings flared, carrying it rapidly skyward and barely evading the strike.
"Now—Stun Spore!" Ritchie commanded again.
Butterfree let out a cry, keeping steady in the air while scattering golden powder toward Pidgeotto's path.
Stun Spore—a move that could paralyze on contact. Once paralyzed, a Pokémon's speed would plummet, and often they wouldn't even be able to move!
"Pidgeotto, dive—fast!"
If you rise quickly, then I'll fall just as quickly.
Yozora's lips curved with equal confidence. Pidgeotto plummeted sharply, then banked hard, swooping back near Yozora's side for cover—completely avoiding the falling spore cloud.
"Happy, chase it! Keep spreading Stun Spore!"
Ritchie pressed his advantage from above, commanding Butterfree to pursue and blanket the field in golden powder.
Before long, Pidgeotto had nowhere left to retreat.
"Hurricane—blow it away!" Yozora barked.
"Fwoooosh!"
Pidgeotto unleashed an immense storm with a single mighty wingbeat. A roaring tornado erupted in an instant, sweeping every speck of powder from the sky.
"Yozora, you really are something else!" Ritchie's eyes shone with excitement. To face such a formidable opponent filled him with exhilaration.
That was the difference between protagonists and ordinary passersby—they never feared challenges. Against stronger foes, they only grew stronger!
"Likewise."
Yozora smiled faintly in return, before commanding again:"Charge, Pidgeotto—Quick Attack!"
"Happy, use Psychic!"
Pidgeotto was streaking forward at blinding speed when Ritchie suddenly gave the order.
Butterfree's compound eyes glowed an eerie blue, releasing a formless yet tangible force that seized Pidgeotto mid-flight, locking it in place.
"Psychic?!" The announcer cried out in shock. "Ritchie's Butterfree can actually use Psychic?!"
Butterfree was Bug and Flying-type—it didn't possess the Psychic typing.
Which meant for it to wield such a move was extraordinarily difficult.
"It must be inherited," Yozora thought, eyes narrowing. "So this Butterfree carries Elite-level potential. For a mere Butterfree to have that kind of potential… it must come from incredible genes."
Though Pidgeotto was restrained, Yozora showed no panic.
After all, Pidgeotto trained regularly with advanced restraints, practicing under suppression. That training wasn't for nothing.
"Break free, Pidgeotto! Use Lightning Blade!" Yozora commanded, his arm sweeping dramatically.
"Pidgeeeooootto!"
Roused by Yozora's passion, Pidgeotto let out a fierce cry. Its aura surged, its form blurring into a white storm of energy—a blade of light and wind combined. Like lightning, like a gale, it tore through Psychic's invisible chains and slashed Butterfree clean out of the sky!
One strike. A clean knockout.
But the toll was heavy—Pidgeotto collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath.
"Butterfree is unable to battle!"
"The match is over—Yozora is the winner!"
The crowd erupted in shock. That single move—Lightning Blade—was executed so fast that no one could react before it was over. Even as the referee declared the result, many were still frozen in disbelief.
"S-so powerful! Lightning Blade? What kind of move is that? Pidgeotto can really wield something that terrifying?!"
The announcer's voice quavered. Clearly, the power of Lightning Blade was beyond his comprehension.
It was obvious—
Combination techniques were the specialty of top-tier trainers. For most, they were nearly impossible to master.
Developing such techniques required not only immense skill but also a deep bond between trainer and Pokémon.
That was why they were considered both mysterious and overwhelmingly strong.
Of course, not every combination was so difficult. For example, Defense Curl plus Rollout was a relatively simple combo—using the boost from curling up to increase Rollout's speed and power, making it twice as strong, on par with Take Down.
And because Rollout struck repeatedly, the boosted damage rivaled top-tier moves like Giga Impact or Flare Blitz.
But Lightning Blade was different.
It wasn't just Quick Attack plus Wing Attack—it was a full fusion of the two.
This kind of advanced technique could be called a "Fusion Move," one where one plus one became greater than two.
Compared to Brave Bird, Lightning Blade might very well be even stronger.
Of course, its cost and risk were also greater.
For Pidgeotto at this stage, using Lightning Blade was a massive burden.
Even at full health, a single use would drain it completely, leaving it utterly exhausted, sprawled out like a worn-out mutt.
But Yozora believed this was only temporary.
In time, as Pidgeotto grew stronger and its body tougher, the move's drain would lessen. One day, its stamina would be great enough to wield Lightning Blade without faltering.
…
The battle concluded. Pidgeotto struggled to its feet, eyes shut, and began instinctively using Roost to recover its strength.
Yozora smiled softly.
Good thing this guy knew Roost. While developing Lightning Blade, Roost had been indispensable, restoring stamina after countless attempts. Without it, no matter Pidgeotto's talent, Yozora's methods, or their deep bond, they never could have mastered such a technique so quickly.
…
…
(End of Chapter)