"Pachirisu, use Sweet Kiss!" On the other side, Luna seized the opportunity to have Pachirisu inflict negative status effects on Butterfree..
Pachirisu leaped high into the air, conjuring a pink heart-shaped energy orb in front of it, which then shot toward Butterfree.
Butterfree was just getting up from the ground when Dragonite swung its fist which was wreathed in scorching flames, and struck the exact spot where Thunder had landed earlier.
Bug-types were doubly weak to Fire.
The tremendous impact, combined with the type advantage, sent Butterfree crashing back to the ground with this single punch. Its wings suffered secondary damage, and the pain elicited a sharp screech from the Pokémon.
The piercing sound was like an arrow. High-frequency sound waves penetrated all barriers and stabbed straight into Caleb and Luna's brains.
Luna furrowed her delicate brows, clutching her ears in agony as she gritted her teeth and ordered, "Pachirisu, use Thunder Wave!"
Compared to Luna, Caleb's endurance was clearly much stronger. He calmly continued his command, "Keep using Fire Punch!"
A seemingly weak electric current shot out from Pachirisu's cheeks, while Dragonite's fist once again ignited with blazing flames. The two attacks came from left and right, simultaneously targeting Butterfree.
Butterfree's crimson eyes showed no trace of reason. It flapped its wings, and glowing green scales began swirling around its body.
'It's preparing a super move!'
Caleb's gaze sharpened, and he immediately barked an order at Dragonite: "Get out of there, now!"
But it was already too late...
The next second, a semicircular green energy orb expanded outward from Butterfree at terrifying speed.
Green butterfly silhouettes fluttered wildly as the dazzling magnificent light enveloped Dragonite and Pachirisu.
That was Gigantamax Butterfree's exclusive G-Max move: G-Max Befuddle!
Before the blinding green light had even faded, Caleb received battle updates from the system panel:
[Gigantamax Butterfree used G-Max Befuddle! Dragonite has fallen asleep!]
- G-Max Befuddle: an attack that damaged all opponents while also inflicting poison, paralysis, or sleep on every enemy.
Caleb frowned and, without hesitation, immediately recalled Dragonite into its Poké Ball. Then, scooping up Riolu, he turned and ran without looking back.
Luna followed close behind, her face pale as she sprinted madly and gasped, "Holy shit! How are we supposed to fight this thing?! My Pachirisu got one-shot!"
As they spoke, Butterfree had already taken to the air behind them, its wings beating furiously.
Its crimson compound eyes locked onto the two fleeing humans below. White air currents intertwined and surged before it, condensing into a terrifying Max Airstream like a colossal silver serpent that crashed violently toward the ground.
Caleb glanced back and shouted, "Split up left and right! Regroup at the camp!"
With that, he hugged Riolu tightly and dashed sharply to the right. The next second, a roaring whirlwind tore through the space between him and Luna, instantly carving out a lifeless vacuum zone in its wake.
Butterfree's gaze flickered before it abruptly turned, its compound eyes locking onto Caleb as he weaved through the ruined forest to the right.
Emerald-green butterfly silhouettes once again erupted wildly from its body.
'Sh*t! This is bad!'
Caleb internally cursed and pushed his legs to move even faster.
Riolu, cradled in his arms, lay against his shoulder and could clearly see the green light surging toward them.
It struggled free, planted its paws on Caleb's shoulder, and used the momentum to launch itself into the air, interposing itself between Caleb and the incoming G-Max Befuddle.
Riolu moved too quickly for Caleb to react. The green light exploded behind him, butterfly silhouettes scattering like fragments of an ethereal painting.
And just at that moment, the first rays of morning sunlight pierced through the thick clouds and shone down from the sky.
Gigantamax Butterfree rapidly shrank in size and vanished from Caleb's sight...
"Damn it!" Caleb paid no attention to Butterfree now.
He scooped up Riolu, who was once again on the brink of collapse, and channeled his Viridian Power without restraint.
Moments later, Riolu's eyelids twitched.
Caleb exhaled in relief, then he scowled, "Are you stupid? G-Max Befuddle isn't a single-target attack. How could you possibly block it? Don't ever do something like this again, understand?"
Riolu pressed its lips together. Though it didn't speak, the look in its eyes told Caleb it would absolutely do it again...
Caleb took a deep breath and continued, "Even if you do, I have to be right beside you!"
He possessed the Viridian Power and could heal Riolu immediately. Without it, and with no Pokémon Center on this island, a Pokémon in critical condition would inevitably perish without treatment.
Only then did Riolu obediently nod...
Caleb then released Dragonite and used the Viridian Power to restore its stamina.
Once he confirmed both Pokémon were out of danger, he led them back to Luna's camp and used the Viridian Power to heal her Pachirisu as well.
Seeing Pachirisu open its eyes, Luna finally relaxed, slumping to the ground in exhaustion before rummaging through a corner and pulling out a pile of Berries to distribute to everyone.
She the asked, "What do we do now?"
Caleb licked his dry lips, took a bite of a Berry, and said, "We can leave Butterfree alone for now. First, we need to gather intel on the Dynamax/Gigantamax Pokémon in the remaining two zones."
This Butterfree was too powerful. Its G-Max Befuddle not only dealt devastating damage, but also inflicted sleep, poison, or paralysis as debuffs.
Unless Dragonite reached Lv. 90 or higher, it wouldn't survive a single G-Max Befuddle.
But the higher a Pokémon's level, the more EXP it needed to level up. Combined with the fact that most wild Pokémon on this island were low-level, there was no way Dragonite could jump 34 levels in a short time.
High-level Pokémon defeating low-level opponents yielded pitiful amounts of EXP.
Luna: "Do you want me to come with you?"
Caleb shook his head, "Stay here. I need to go back and find some allies first."
"Allies?" Luna frowned slightly, "You mean those idiots? They probably won't cooperate with us."
"Of course not. Why would you think that?" Caleb gave her a strange look.
There was no way he'd go looking for Drake and the others. He was referring to the high-level Pokémon living in the eastern zone.
For example, that Scyther which was Lv. 51 and the Ursaring at Lv. 50...
Besides those two, Caleb had also spotted several Pokémon there with levels as high as Lv. 60.
He wasn't sure how much their friendship had increased after liberating the eastern zone, but at the very least, Ursaring's affection had to meet the threshold for assistance...