Evolved?

ROAR! (No one dares to take my blood! Make a move, and I will kill you!)

"Why resist? As if your blood is that really rare. You think too highly of yourself. We only wish to experiment with it. We've already taken a sample of your blood yesterday; we just need more today. It's not particularly rare," Floyd remarked with a look of disgust as he regarded the Gyarados.

ROAR! (You really pissed me off! You really pissed me off! I'm going to kill you!)

"Here it comes again," Floyd sighed, watching helplessly as the Gyarados charged at him. "This guy never gives up."

Bang!

Gyarados was struck by a Hydro Pump!

"I can trade it for food that I've specially made for both of you. Isn't that enough to exchange for your blood?" Floyd proposed.

The younger Gyarados was tempted; he really wanted to indulge in Floyd's delicious Pokéblock. Considering their situation as captives, why not indulge in the humans' offerings? The prospect of delicious food made this place seem like paradise to the young Gyarados, who didn't wish to leave. But the decision rested with his father.

ROAR! (Son, you must help me fight them! We cannot let them trample our dignity!)

What worthless dignity! Can you eat it? The young Gyarados raged inwardly.

Nonetheless, he resignedly joined the fight against Floyd.

"Fraxure, be ready," Floyd instructed.

Blastoise also readied itself.

Then the battle commenced.

After a few minutes, the two Gyarados lay collapsed on the ground.

Floyd began to collect their blood, and moments later, handed it over to Nakamura and Aizawa, who were overseeing Yuuki.

Yuuki, on the other hand, looked at Floyd with admiration; if this were an animation, his eyes would be sparkling as he watched his hero.

"Gaijin-onii-san, you're sugoi!" Yuuki exclaimed with excitement.

Floyd didn't understand what Yuuki was saying, but the boy's excited expression and tone seemed to be words of praise. Unsure of what else to say, Floyd simply patted Yuuki on the head and responded, "Arigatou."

Then, the young Gyarados's tail moved unconsciously, alerting everyone, but nothing happened. Floyd noticed two bags appear before him; he recognized them as the ones he had used to carry the Pokéblocks.

Floyd looked at the young Gyarados pretending to be unconscious and felt amused. He understood the gesture—the blood he had taken was the agreed exchange for food.

Finding the situation humorous, that the young Gyarados was too shy to express his desire directly, Floyd filled two bags with an intermediate-grade custom Pokéblock and presented them.

"Here's your transaction, for both of you," Floyd said.

The young Gyarados remained motionless, continuing to feign unconsciousness.

Horsea~ (The big fish is just pretending.)

Horsea commented, glancing at his older sibling.

The young Gyarados, embarrassed, imagined giving Horsea a telling-off in his mind. If there were a hole nearby, he would have gladly hidden in it out of shame. Yet, he stayed still, continuing his act.

Floyd approached Kanraku with a question. "Who are these kids? Why are they here?"

"They were captured by the Wartortles and Squirtles running around in the safe zone. I'm surprised they weren't attacked by the wild beasts; otherwise, they would surely be dead," Kanraku recounted, accepting the blood from Nakamura and passing it to Yamada, who began processing it for research.

"Almost killed them again, the security was really lax for me," Kanraku was helpless.

It seemed to Floyd that the demeanor of the wild beasts had somewhat shifted. He was relieved that no mishap had occurred.

"Should we send them back?" Floyd inquired.

"They don't want to return, especially the one who followed you. He says they want to train beasts," Kanraku explained with a cheerful tone, pleased that someone from the villages was taking the initiative.

"I feel that he genuinely likes you. How about you train them?" Kanraku suggested.

"They don't understand me," Floyd admitted, feeling somewhat interested despite the language barrier that hindered them.

"You're right, but it's okay. I'll have Suzuki-san take care of them for now. Speak of the devil, here they are," Kanraku said, glancing at Suzuki and Ryota, who were followed by a Wartortle, Squirtle, Ekans, Teddiursa, and Cherubi.

Ryota was running in a panic, clutching a Metapod tightly in his arms.

"Shishou, help me! Something's happened to Metapod," Ryota cried out as he ran towards Kanraku.

"What's the matter?" Kanraku asked, examining the sickly Metapod, then realizing, "Oh, it's going to evolve."

"Evolve?" The excitement was evident in the voices of Kanraku's disciples as they focused on the Metapod in Ryota's arms.

Floyd didn't understand their conversation but could tell from his own knowledge that the Metapod was about to evolve, given the situation.

Quickly, Floyd retrieved a suitable Pokéblock from his backpack and crushed it into powder with his hands.

(Backpack: Doraemon?)

"Let me help," Floyd said as he rushed towards the Metapod, applying the crushed Pokéblock to its body. He then took out an Energy Powder and did the same.

The Metapod relaxed, closing its eyes, and its body began to shine brightly.

The six children watching were initially scared upon seeing the Ekans but were now captivated by the radiant Metapod.

"What's that? What's happening to it?" Yuuki's eyes sparkled with anticipation as he and his friends observed the transformation.

Metapod's shell started to split, glowing from within. The green exterior cracked open, revealing the delicate form of a Butterfree. Its new wings, painted in hues of lavender and indigo, unfurled gently, drying in the ambient light. With a flutter, Butterfree tested its wings, floating above Ryota's head for the first time.

"Free~" Butterfree fluttered as it began to fly.

"Wow, you turned into a butterfly!" Ryota's joy was unmistakable as he reached out to the Butterfree with both hands.

"Free~"

Butterfree drew close, allowing Ryota to embrace him.

"Squirtle," Squirtle applauded, celebrating his friend's evolution while feeling a twinge of envy, wondering when he would evolve into a Wartortle.

"Ekans~"

"Teddiursa~"

"Cherubi~"

Ekans and the other Pokémon expressed their happiness, joining in the celebration for Butterfree.

"Okay, let's celebrate with your friends," Ryota said, releasing Butterfree to join its companions.

"Free~"

The Butterfree nodded joyfully and fluttered towards its friends.

All who watched were touched by the scene, feeling a warmth at the sight.

"It's so beautiful," a girl remarked, eyeing Butterfree with envy, wishing she could have it.

Meanwhile, a little girl tugged at her brother's hand.

"Huh, Rio-chan?" The bespectacled boy felt his sister's tug and looked down.

"Onii-san, I want that bear," Rio pointed towards Teddiursa.

"This," her brother's face fell, uncertain of what to say.

"Can't you?" Rio's disappointment was evident as she hugged her torn teddy bear.

"This... Ah, well, not right now. But when you get bigger, I promise I'll get you one, okay?" Her brother tried to console her.

"Really? Then you have to promise to give me one when I'm big," Rio extended her pinky finger expectantly.

Her brother hesitated but couldn't bear to disappoint her, linking his pinky with hers. "Promise," he affirmed.

"That was really beautiful. Should we get one? And look at that kid; he actually has many friends. And that little beast, look," Yuuki said, pointing at Squirtle, "That's the descendant of that giant turtle. He actually has one."