Bang!
The Super Great Needle Bee's Direct Charge Drill struck Darmanitan, undoubtedly causing it significant damage.
However.
As it was about to retreat after the attack, an unexpected turn of events occurred.
Amidst the dust, Darmanitan's thick arm reached out and tightly gripped the extended Long Needle of Beedrill.
Roar!
Flames rose from its palm.
Laughing widely, Darmanitan slowly stood up from the ground, its expression even more smug as it looked at the surprised Beedrill.
Since its accuracy had been lowered and it was unable to accurately lock onto the position of the Super Great Needle Bee using Shadow Clone, Darmanitan employed a rather extreme method.
Physical Attraction!
At the moment the Super Great Needle Bee's attack landed, while enduring the attack, it grabbed the Long Needle of the Super Great Needle Bee, locking onto its position.
One hand holding the Super Great Needle Bee, the other with a fist completely engulfed in flames.
Flame Fist!
"Sssrriing!" The Super Great Needle Bee struggled but couldn't escape Darmanitan's grasp in a short time.
This unexpected change was something neither the Super Great Needle Bee nor Natsuhiko anticipated.
Although this Darmanitan's strength was not as great as Turtonator, its battle experience and techniques far surpassed those of Turtonator.
Bam!
The blazing flame-wrapped fist struck the Super Great Needle Bee, directly smashing it away.
The Fire-type Technique Flame Fist paired with Forced Traits brought immense power, forcefully blasting the Super Great Needle Bee against the wall.
Enormous damage!
"Beedrill!" Natsuhiko couldn't help but shout out.
This was the first time in his memory that Beedrill had suffered such damage, especially in its Mega evolution state.
"Ying Treasure."
Cherrim immediately released Healing Fluctuation onto the Super Great Needle Bee that had fallen to the ground.
Togetic, Yujira, and Doublade all showed worried expressions.
"Sssrriing!"
The Super Great Needle Bee, supported by its four Long Needles, slowly crawled up from the ground, gasping for air thanks to Cherrim's Healing Fluctuation.
How painful.
With its scarlet composite eyes locked onto the "laughing" Darmanitan, its body clearly showed signs of scorching, the fire inflicting severe injuries on it, which couldn't be quickly healed by Cherrim's Healing Fluctuation.
It's only because it's in Mega evolution form, with enhanced abilities and stats, that if it were Beedrill in its normal state, such a punch would have knocked it down, unable to rise again.
"Sssrriing!!"
With another low growl, an invisible aura surged from its body, becoming more apparent and intense.
"Leader's Aura?"
As the Leader of a Pokemon Race, pride and dignity are their ultimate boundaries.
Beedrill, though not very talkative usually, had its own pride and persistence.
Since its Weedle days, it followed Natsuhiko, through their combined efforts, climbing up bit by bit from the depths of the mire. If any of Natsuhiko's Pokémon was most influenced by him, it was certainly Beedrill.
What kind of character does Natsuhiko have?
Vengeful!
Yes, the most prominent trait is his vengefulness.
Other traits like resilience, never giving up, putting interests first, strong self-esteem, etc., take a back seat.
Looking far back, Tom Rokicki schemed against him, used him, almost getting him killed. Even with the huge gap in strength, Natsuhiko bore a grudge and climbed up bit by bit through his own efforts, striving for a chance and the ability for revenge.
Looking more recently, Hoshino Ryosaki, as the grandson of the current Elite Four member, tried using Natsuhiko as bait to achieve his goals, but Natsuhiko eliminated him without hesitation, regardless of his identity or the backing of a veteran champion.
What about the Beedrill, whose character mirrors Natsuhiko the most?
Exactly the same!
The disparity in strength?
Then make it so there is no gap in strength!
ZZZZ—
Suddenly, the golden patterns and electric currents on the wings of Super Great Needle Bee began to wildly spread, possibly influenced by Beedrill's mindset, or perhaps stirred by the Leader's Aura.
The magnetic effect brought by the electricity caused the Super Great Needle Bee to slowly levitate from the ground, even without flapping its wings.
Like a golden bee bathed in Thunder.
"Sssrriing!"
The Super Great Needle Bee swung its Long Needle violently, and the surrounding electric currents quickly dissipated.
The wings resumed their vibration, yet with each flap, they seemed to resonate with faint thunderous rumbles.
Next to it, Natsuhiko looked on at this scene with burning eyes.
Originally, he thought the Pure Gold Feather Beedrill consumed had almost been digested, merely adding some electrical elements to its wings, producing sparks and lightning during flight, with not much practical enhancement.
Later, he discovered Beedrill could absorb the Leader's Aura from other Leader Pokémon, gradually realizing that perhaps the Pure Gold Feather's effects had not been fully excavated by Beedrill.
Until not long ago, atop Celestial Crown Mountain, they encountered Articuno.
Only then did Natsuhiko realize the uniqueness of the Pure Gold Feather, suspecting it might hold even greater secrets.
Finally.
At this moment, under Darmanitan's fierce attack, the Super Great Needle Bee felt the gap in strength, stirring its indomitable heart and awakening its hidden abilities and potential.
The most direct change was that it became even cooler.
Ahem.
Its speed increased.
The magnetic field brought by the electric current almost nullified the gravitational pull on Beedrill's body. Without the weight constraint, its speed would undoubtedly be higher.
Secondly...
Clack!
A muffled sound emitted from within the Super Great Needle Bee.
Its strength, dormant for a long time, after relentless training, high-intensity battles, accumulation through Special Level Energy Blocks, etc., once again advanced.
Without Mega evolution, Beedrill had already touched the threshold of Gym Leader Level.
In its Mega evolved state, the Super Great Needle Bee was now genuinely Gym Leader Level!
And it wasn't just barely entering Gym Leader Level, it existed at least at a mid-tier level within it!
The gap in strength with Darmanitan was nearly minimized.
Suddenly raising its head.
A gleam of golden lightning flickered across its scarlet composite eyes.
Again!
Bzz—
With a gentle flap of its wings, it shot out, leaving behind a residual shadow of electric currents in its original spot.
With acceleration of its wing flapping, faint golden electric currents intertwined with paler azure halos—High-speed Movement!
"Hoo hoo!" The smile on Darmanitan's face instantly vanished, clearly sensing that Beedrill was different.
Very strong!
Incredibly strong!
It must go all out to face it!
With a sudden clap of its arms against its chest, and then swinging out its fists, golden-red flames enveloped its fists.
Simultaneously, the Super Great Needle Bee, shooting like an electric light, neither dodged nor avoided. The earthy yellow glow once again covered the Long Needle, determined to rise from where it had fallen.
Direct Charge Drill!
This time, it was a direct collision between Flame Fist and Direct Charge Drill, a confrontation between Super Great Needle Bee and Darmanitan.
On the side, Natsuhiko grasping the Keystone, felt equally stirred.
Worth noting, in the Mega evolution state, the Trainer and Pokémon's minds are intertwined under the Super Evolution Energy.
At this moment, he could clearly perceive the inner journey and growth of the Beedrill, and most noticeably, he suddenly felt a true and complete connection with Beedrill's heart.
If someone were to use a device to test the affinity between Natsuhiko and Beedrill now, they would find their affinity reached 254!
Just 1 point shy of the full value.
The strength variation after a Pokémon undergoes Mega evolution is directly related to the affinity with the Trainer.
Under Natsuhiko's intense gaze, amidst Togetic's twinkling eyes, Yujira's somewhat admiring look, and Doublade's sigh...
Boom!!!
This battle has just begun!
```