Battling Butterfree

Name: Butterfree (level 10)

Gender: Female

Potential: C

Type: Flying, Bug

Held item: None

Basic moves: Tackle, Bug Bite, String Shot, Harden, Gust

Egg moves: None

Ability: Compound Eyes (Having compound eyes multiplies the Accuracy of all moves by 1.3.)

Notes: Butterfree, the Butterfly Pokémon, is the evolved form of Metapod. She can bounce across the surface of water using the powder on her wings.

Caterpie had no moves it could inherit, so even after this Caterpie evolved into Butterfree, her egg move entry remained empty.

Still, the information panel showed that this Butterfree was excellent, with C-grade Potential.

For a starter Pokémon, C-grade Potential was merely average, but for a Butterfree, it was outstanding.

Most Bug-types were relatively weak, and their Potential tended to be low. A Butterfree with C-grade Potential was very rare.

"Why don't you switch to your Poliwag instead? You only caught this Pidgey recently, right? It's just Level six. Are you sure you want to challenge a higher-level opponent?"

After checking Pidgey's Level with his Pokédex, Ye Tian spoke with confidence.

"Don't get too confident. Pidgey might not be very high-level, but it still has a type advantage over your Butterfree. Don't underestimate it so soon," Zhang Cheng kindly reminded him.

"Then bring it on. Let's see how you beat my higher-level Butterfree."

"Butterfree, we'll make the first move. Use Gust!"

At the command, Butterfree immediately beat her wings. Two small whirlwinds formed around them and flew toward Pidgey.

Despite his arrogant talk, Ye Tian did have some skill. Against the Flying-type Pidgey, he planned to attack with the only Flying-type move Butterfree currently knew. Any Bug-type moves would have their damage halved.

Ye Tian had done plenty of homework over the summer break, too, and had considerable battling experience.

"Pidgey, counter with your best move, Steel Wing!"

Although this was Pidgey's first real battle, it showed no signs of panic.

Facing Butterfree's Gust, Pidgey revealed its silver wings and charged toward the whirlwinds.

Its sharp steel wings cut straight through the whirlwinds, bringing it right up to Butterfree. Steel Wing landed, but breaking through Gust had greatly reduced the force of the blow.

As soon as Pidgey closed in, Butterfree unleashed Bug Bite. It was a powerful move, and even with its type advantage, Pidgey still took a painful hit.

The gap in Levels made up for the unfavorable type matchup.

Pidgey refused to back down after being hit. It unleashed Gust at point-blank range, striking Butterfree while also putting distance between them.

After two rounds of exchanges, both Pokémon had lost more than half their HP, and the battle began to reach fever pitch.

"Damn it, I underestimated you. I didn't expect a Level-six Pidgey to be such a threat. I refuse to believe my Level-ten Butterfree can't beat a Level-six Pidgey," Ye Tian said angrily.

Zhang Cheng said frankly, "With its type advantage, Pidgey's moves deal double damage. Butterfree's Level advantage has already been canceled out."

Seeing the defiant look on Ye Tian's face, Zhang Cheng thought of the legendary master of battling against type disadvantages.

Even though Ye Tian knew about the type matchup, he still felt absolutely certain he could beat Zhang Cheng. In a way, he really was a master of battling against type disadvantages.

"Butterfree, get close to Pidgey and use Bug Bite again!"

"Pidgey, use Gust to push Butterfree away!"

Both Pokémon unleashed their moves at the same time. Unfortunately, Butterfree's Bug Bite missed. Pidgey's Gust blew her away and dealt considerable damage.

"Butterfree, hang in there! Use Gust again!"

Hearing her Trainer's command, Butterfree immediately began gathering whirlwinds around her wings.

Zhang Cheng estimated that Butterfree's HP was nearly depleted, so he had Pidgey counter with Gust as well.

"Pidgey, we'll use Gust too. Let's settle this head-on!"

Both Pokémon began gathering whirlwinds around their wings. A fierce wind seemed to sweep across the entire Training Ground as their momentum reached its peak.

The two whirlwinds launched simultaneously, striking the opposing Pokémon. After taking the attacks, both Pidgey and Butterfree fell to the ground.

They struggled briefly on the ground before losing the ability to battle at the same time. The final result was a draw.

After the battle ended, Zhang Cheng called over a staff member to take the Pokémon away for treatment.

Neither of them had expected a draw. Ye Tian had thought Butterfree's level advantage would most likely secure him the victory.

At the last moment, Zhang Cheng had believed Butterfree's HP was nearly depleted and that Pidgey had more HP remaining, so he had let Pidgey take the opposing move head-on to trade damage.

I'll have to be more cautious from now on. I shouldn't try things lightly when I'm not sure they'll work.

Zhang Cheng had also underestimated his opponent in those final moments. He quietly committed the lesson from this battle to memory, determined not to make the same mistake again.

Through this battle, Ye Tian also realized that a gap in levels could be overcome through type advantages. Strength should not be judged by level alone.

Both novice Trainers gained a great deal from the battle. By accumulating experience through repeated battles, they would gradually grow stronger.

"I never expected a draw. You've got some skill, Zhang Cheng. I was too confident. So a type advantage really does make that much of a difference," Ye Tian said first.

"You're pretty good yourself. You managed to evolve Caterpie into Butterfree in such a short time. That honestly surprised me a little," Zhang Cheng replied.

"Battling each other really does teach us a lot. It's not just the Pokémon that improve. Trainers also gain experience giving commands through battles," Ye Tian said thoughtfully.

"That's true," Zhang Cheng said with feeling. "Theory alone is useless. A lot of things only become clear in a real battle. School starts soon, so let's work hard."

At the mention of school, Ye Tian's face immediately fell. "I heard we'll have to board at school in our final year, and we won't be allowed to leave freely. We might not be able to go home for months."

Ye Tian was deeply attached to home, and the thought of spending several months away clearly depressed him.

"It's only a few months. Once the college entrance exams are over, choose a university in Jiangcheng. Then you can go home every day." Seeing how miserable Ye Tian looked, Zhang Cheng quickly encouraged him.

"You're right. I'm old enough now. It really is time I learned to stand on my own. Let's work hard together once school starts," Ye Tian told Zhang Cheng, quickly regaining his spirits.

"Of course. It's getting late. Let's check how the Pokémon are recovering. Once they're better, we'll head home," Zhang Cheng said as he walked toward the Treatment Room.

Ye Tian followed close behind, and the two headed into the distance toward the setting sun.