Zzzt!
Trapped beneath the electrified net, Swellow let out an agonized cry.
If the electric current from the earlier silk web had felt like a mild shock, this [Electroweb] was undeniably high-voltage.
Its intensity rivaled even the lightning that periodically scorched the skies overhead.
After all, Weedle hadn't eaten all those years' worth of Thunderstruck Wood for nothing. The electric charge within her body had already grown comparable to that of many Electric-type Pokémon.
However, perhaps due to the increased electric current, this new net lacked the durability of the earlier silk web. Before long, Swellow had torn several large holes in it with desperate struggles.
But to Weedle, this posed only a minor inconvenience.
She promptly sprayed out countless layers of white silk threads, wrapping Swellow in a thick cocoon until it was completely immobilized.
Having finished, Weedle casually glanced toward Guo Yi and Su Qingxue in the distance, then swung gracefully away like a tiny acrobat on her silk thread.
As for human trainers, Weedle had long grown used to their occasional presence. Typically, trainers came here seeking powerful Electric-types—she doubted they'd pay much attention to a seemingly insignificant Pokémon like her.
Therefore, she didn't concern herself with their presence at all.
"So cool!"
Watching Weedle's impressive display, Su Qingxue's eyes sparkled with admiration.
If her teacher hadn't stopped her earlier, she would've insisted on catching this Weedle immediately.
With such incredible agility, extensive combat experience, and impressive potential, who cared if it was "only" a Weedle?
"Alright, enough daydreaming," Guo Yi said, chuckling gently at his student's obvious excitement. "This Weedle still has one last transformation ahead."
"For now, let's find a suitable place to set up camp."
Though Su Qingxue didn't fully understand what her teacher meant by Weedle's "last transformation," she had absolute trust in his judgment and nodded earnestly.
---
Meanwhile, while Guo Yi and Su Qingxue searched for their campsite, Weedle quietly arrived alone at a towering cliffside.
Using her silk threads, she swung up to a small cave nestled high upon the cliff, slipping inside without hesitation.
Deep within this cavern—
A half-finished silk cocoon, roughly as tall as Weedle herself, flickered faintly with small arcs of electricity.
Weedle waddled forward on her tiny legs and began meticulously reinforcing the cocoon with new threads.
These threads were far stronger than the ones she had used against Swellow—extremely durable, and containing powerful electrical charges, on par with her [Electroweb].
However, producing threads of such quality drained Weedle considerably. It had already taken her more than half a year to create just this incomplete cocoon.
Still, no matter the cost, she absolutely had to finish it today.
Because tomorrow, this cocoon would be her greatest weapon against the lightning tribulation.
Over the years, Weedle had gradually figured out why she couldn't evolve like others of her kind. It was entirely due to the crystal shard she had swallowed three years prior.
If not for that shard embedded inside her, she would've evolved long ago.
The reason she painstakingly crafted this cocoon was precisely to absorb and fully digest that shard.
These past three years—
She hadn't consumed Thunderstruck Wood merely to ease her pain. The residual electricity also accelerated the shard's integration into her body.
Under ordinary circumstances, continuing like this would eventually allow her to completely assimilate it.
However, Weedle no longer had the luxury of waiting.
Typically, Bug-type Pokémon had very short lifespans.
Most Weedle evolved extremely quickly—not just to become stronger, but also simply to survive.
A Weedle that failed to evolve typically wouldn't survive more than six months to a year.
After all, Weedle reproduced rapidly. If their lifespan were longer, the forests would quickly overflow, crowded with Beedrill and little else.
Though this Weedle's lifespan and potential had both increased dramatically after ingesting the [Lightning Crystal] shard, three years was already approaching her limit.
While her body hadn't yet grown decrepit like an elderly Pokémon's, she instinctively sensed that she wouldn't live another half-year unless she did something drastic.
Thus, Weedle had chosen to take an enormous risk—
She would endure the annual thunderstorm of Thunder Valley, attempting to use it to fully digest the shard.
Of course, with her current physique, directly withstanding the lightning would certainly be fatal.
That's why Weedle had dedicated so much time and effort to this silk cocoon—to lessen the lightning's destructive force upon her tiny body.
Woooh…
After laboring relentlessly for hours, she finally completed her silk cocoon.
Outwardly, it looked similar to a normal cocoon, but Weedle had deliberately left an opening at the base for entry. Once she crawled inside, she could then seal it completely from within.
Exhausted, Weedle curled up beside her creation, falling into a deep sleep as she awaited tomorrow's fateful storm.
---
The next day—
A heavy, oppressive atmosphere enveloped the valley. Black storm clouds densely blanketed the sky.
"Teacher, something's wrong with this weather…"
Peering out from their tent, Su Qingxue's expression grew solemn at the increasingly menacing sky.
Guo Yi, however, appeared contemplative.
"No wonder Weedle chose today for her lightning tribulation."
"Today's storm must be especially intense, even by Thunder Valley's standards."
Previously, he'd wondered why Weedle had chosen this specific day. Now, observing the ominous storm clouds, everything became clear.
Without further hesitation, Guo Yi quickly packed up the tent, handing Su Qingxue one of the insulated suits from his backpack.
Even though they had anticipated the valley's lightning hazards, protective gear remained essential.
Yet, when they finally returned to the valley, the scene before them was astonishing—
"So many Electric-type Pokémon!"
Su Qingxue gasped in surprise.
Crowding the valley were numerous Electric-type Pokémon. Familiar faces included Pikachu, Raichu, and Magnemite. Rarer species like Electabuzz and Manectric appeared as well, and Guo Yi even spotted a Jolteon among them.
The sheer number was truly staggering.
"It seems most Electric-types from Thunder Valley have gathered here."
Good thing we arrived early, Guo Yi thought gratefully. Otherwise, getting here now would have been impossible.
He glanced uneasily toward the far end of the valley, where a net of visible lightning formed a barrier encasing the area. Non-Electric-types would struggle immensely to pass through such a barrier, and lightning strikes were now several times more frequent and powerful outside.
"Teacher!"
Just then, Su Qingxue's startled cry abruptly pulled Guo Yi from his thoughts.