The shell split open completely!
A pair of curved wings adorned with exquisite patterns unfurled first, followed by a slender body, delicate antennae, and large compound eyes.
The white light faded away entirely.
Metapod had finally broken free of its cocoon and become a butterfly.
It had evolved into—Butterfree!
"Free~~"
Butterfree let out a soft, pleasant cry and slowly flapped its wings. Its pale blue wings were decorated with beautiful red, black, and yellow patterns that shimmered with a faint, scale-like luster under the sunlight.
At first, it seemed unaccustomed to its new body. It flapped its wings a few times and lifted off the ground somewhat unsteadily. But it quickly mastered the rhythm of flight. Its wingbeats became smooth and powerful.
Butterfree rose lightly into the air, circling once around Yuuto, Misty, and Delia before soaring higher with pure joy. Tiny scales scattered from its wings like sparkling rainbow dust in the sunlight.
"Wow!"
Misty couldn't help but exclaim, her eyes fixed on the beautiful butterfly Pokémon. At that moment, she felt no fear toward Bug-types at all. She was only afraid of crawling, squishy, multi-legged bugs; elegant and graceful ones like Butterfree actually fascinated her.
"So pretty…" Delia clasped her hands in front of her chest, her face glowing with a gentle smile. "You're truly beautiful, Butterfree."
Yuuto watched Butterfree freely enjoying its first flight and smiled softly.
At the same time, a system panel visible only to him appeared.
The information for Metapod had already updated to Butterfree.
[Pokémon: Butterfree]
[Type: Bug, Flying]
[Level: Lv10 (Novice Level)]
[Potential: Quasi-Elite Four Level]
[Ability: Compound Eyes — Increases move accuracy]
[Skills: Confusion, Gust, Stun Spore, Sleep Powder, etc.]
[Held Item: None]
[Special Enhancement: Primary Potential Enhancement Berry]
Before pupating, Caterpie had eaten voraciously and accumulated experience. Even without battling during the pupal stage, Butterfree had reached Lv10 upon emerging. Its ability had also changed from Shield Dust to the more suitable Compound Eyes.
For Butterfree, Yuuto believed Compound Eyes was far more valuable than the rare Tinted Lens. Butterfree's role centered on status effects and battlefield control. Using Compound Eyes to boost the accuracy of Stun Spore, Sleep Powder, or Poison Powder was far more practical than a situational power boost.
Damage output could be left to Pikachu's doubled electric power and Pidgeotto's Big Pecks.
Besides, Yuuto still had the Bug-type enhancement item—Silver Powder—ready for later.
After enjoying its freedom in the sky for a while, Butterfree flapped its wings gracefully and landed lightly beside Yuuto. It rubbed its head affectionately against his arm, its compound eyes blinking with clear feelings of reliance and joy.
"Good job," Yuuto said, gently stroking Butterfree's smooth head. "Congratulations on evolving, Butterfree."
"Free~"
Butterfree let out a contented cry.
"It seems to really like you, Yuuto," Misty said, leaning in closer and looking at Butterfree with curiosity. She wanted to reach out and touch its wings but hesitated.
"Want to try touching it?" Yuuto smiled. "Butterfree is very gentle."
"R-Really? Is it okay?" Misty carefully extended a finger and lightly brushed the edge of one wing.
It felt cool and smooth, with a faint powdery sensation.
"So soft…" Misty's eyes lit up. Growing bolder, she began gently stroking the wings.
Delia smiled and leaned in as well, joining in the petting.
Butterfree seemed to enjoy the attention; its wings trembled slightly with pleasure.
Yuuto watched the scene with a warm, pleasant feeling.
While Delia and Misty went to feed their own Pokémon, Yuuto quietly took out the item he had prepared long ago from his system inventory—the Super Flight Berry.
A plump berry glowing with a faint cyan luster appeared in his palm. A special, sweet fragrance immediately filled the air.
Butterfree's compound eyes locked onto the berry at once. Its antennae wiggled eagerly.
Having gone without food for many days inside the pupa, it was starving.
"Here, this is your reward," Yuuto said, holding the berry out.
Butterfree grasped it with its forelegs and began nibbling in small, quick bites. Though hungry, its manners were far more refined than Pidgeotto's frantic eating style.
Soon the entire Super Flight Berry was gone.
The effect was immediate.
Butterfree's body glowed with a faint cyan light. Its antennae grew longer and more slender at a visible pace, the spheres at the tips becoming slightly larger. Its wings expanded noticeably, the wingspan widening while the patterns on them became even more vivid and clear.
Its overall body size didn't balloon like Pidgeotto's had. The Super Flight Berry's influence on Butterfree seemed focused mainly on lifespan and basic attributes.
After all, wild Butterfree had notoriously short lifespans—many reproduced once and then passed away shortly after emerging. Thanks to the berry, this Butterfree's lifespan had been greatly extended. It could now accompany Yuuto on a long journey and witness far more glory.
Yuuto nodded in satisfaction.
With the lifespan upgrade complete, he felt at ease giving Butterfree the Silver Powder later. Even though its main role was status control, a little extra power as the icing on the cake was always welcome.
In the early stages, Butterfree would still be one of his core battlers.
"Alright, everyone's had their fill." Yuuto clapped his hands and recalled Butterfree. "Let's continue our journey."
"Okay!" Misty and Delia replied in unison.
The three of them packed up and set off once more toward Cerulean City.
However, they hadn't gone far when a miserable scream suddenly rang out from ahead.
"Aaaaaah—!"
"No! Don't bite me!"
It was a man's terrified shout.
Immediately afterward, the familiar system notification sounded in Yuuto's mind.
[Ding! Quest triggered: Rescue Researcher Li Ke from trouble and help him identify the culprit behind the destruction of Mt. Moon.]
[Quest Reward: Aura — Friend of Nature: Increases affinity with wild Pokémon by 50%. Officer Jenny Family Favorability +10.]
Yuuto's eyes lit up.
He had just used two enhancement items and was already thinking about replenishing his stock. While this quest didn't give a direct item, a permanent aura-type buff was excellent.
Friend of Nature—a 50% increase in affinity with wild Pokémon!
That would make catching Pokémon, communicating with wild ones, and gaining benefits from them far easier in the future.
Plus, the +10 favorability with the Officer Jenny family would make asking for their help much more convenient later on.
"Let's go! Someone ahead is in trouble!" Yuuto said immediately, taking the lead and jogging toward the sound.
Misty and Delia quickly followed.
The three pushed through a small patch of bushes, and the scene before them left them stunned.
A man in a white lab coat and glasses—clearly a researcher—was surrounded by a swarm of Zubat!
The Zubat were either hanging upside down from nearby branches or circling low in the air, emitting sharp "squeak squeak" cries as they repeatedly dove at the man in the center.
The researcher held his head and dodged desperately, his lab coat already torn in several places.
"The ecology here is really good," Misty blinked her big eyes and suddenly blurted out, "You can even see Zubat dancing with humans in broad daylight."
Delia tilted her head and glanced at her, looking a little confused. "Huh? Misty, that looks like… the Zubat are attacking that gentleman, right?"
Yuuto almost laughed at Misty's airheaded comment.
"It's obviously an attack, Misty. What are you looking at? Pika—" Yuuto instinctively started to send Pikachu in, but then he saw Researcher Li Ke trapped in the middle.
If Pikachu used Thunder Shock, the researcher would get fried along with the Zubat. That might ruin the quest.
In the end, Yuuto decided to let the newly evolved Butterfree take the stage.
It was the perfect chance to test its current strength and the effectiveness of Compound Eyes paired with powder-type skills.
"Go, Butterfree!" Yuuto threw the Poké Ball. "Deal with those Zubat!"
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