Sssss...
Inside the Viridian City Gym, Green's expression was unreadably complicated as he stared at the live stream.
"Seriously, this guy... hmph."
Watching Ai Xia and his monstrously buff Caterpie, Green felt like his brain was about to short-circuit.
No doubt, Ai Xia's Caterpie was exceptionally well-trained.
Its glossy, flexible scales, its powerful legs that left no doubt about its speed and strength, even the slightly comical pink antennae on its head radiated unusual vitality—and then there was its utterly ridiculous size.
It was downright terrifying.
One glance was all it took for Green to realize: even if this Caterpie had top-tier genetics, the real reason it had grown to such an absurd degree was its trainer's meticulous care.
"Not just its body. Its move execution is flawless too."
Red, who had been silently observing, finally spoke up, nodding toward the corner of the screen where two Paras lay motionless, cocooned in pristine white silk.
Hmm...
Green noticed faint scorch marks on the unconscious Paras.
"Probably used String Shot to immobilize them first, then finished them off with Electroweb... a one-shot KO."
The two exchanged glances, confirming each other's thoughts.
This Caterpie was definitely not just for show.
And yet, Ai Xia couldn't have had it for long...
Which was exactly why Green couldn't help but grimace.
"Okay, but—this guy clearly has the skills to raise anything into a monster. So why, in the name of Arceus, would he choose to hyper-train a Caterpie? Isn't that just insane?"
He threw his hands up, venting his frustration at Red.
"If you gave him a Dratini, would he raise it into a friggin' Giant Dragonite just to bully Lance out of his Champion seat?"
"...No. He must have a deeper reason for focusing on Caterpie."
Red frowned, recalling Ai Xia's words from the night before:
"There's no such thing as a 'weak' Pokémon—only trainers who fail to bring out their potential."
Tch.
Green scratched his spiky hair, conceding the point.
"Alright, fine. Maybe I'm the one with a narrow perspective here."
He smirked.
"Now that I think about it, if this guy's doing what other top trainers won't, that just proves he's the real deal. Not chasing after high-BST Pokémon? That's exactly the kind of unorthodox thinking I respect."
Besides, for someone with his level of skill, the species hardly mattered.
"...And I swear there's more to this Caterpie than meets the eye."
Suddenly, Green grabbed Red's shoulders, eyes blazing with excitement.
"Bro. You have to introduce me to this guy!"
"...I was already planning to."
--+--
Ai Xia's fanbase was the type to enjoy anything he streamed.
So even when he temporarily ditched online battles to grind wild Pokémon in the middle of nowhere, they were more than happy to feast their eyes on his ahem visuals—both his own and his Caterpie's impressively toned physique.
Besides, a high-level trainer's wilderness survival stream? That was premium content.
Who wouldn't want to live vicariously through a pro?
Especially since most elite trainers avoided the spotlight, and weaker ones didn't dare risk their lives streaming in the wild. Ai Xia's live training sessions had become a rare commodity.
Before long, his viewers were voluntarily promoting his channel.
Newcomers flooded in, boosting his popularity even further.
"Alright, folks. For now, I'm putting online battles on hold. Since I'm a new trainer entering the 'Rookie Cup,' my Caterpie needs some emergency combat training."
Ai Xia wasn't great at small talk, so he kept his explanation straightforward.
But the moment he said "Rookie Cup," the chat exploded.
[Ai-sensei, PLEASE have mercy.]
[Hold up. YOU—with THIS Caterpie—are entering the Rookie tournament? When it evolves into a Butterfree, it'll be, like, two meters long—]
[Oh no. He's not even a Gym Leader yet, and he's already terrorizing baby leagues. What's next? Smashing the Elite Four with a Magikarp?]
[This man lives for stomping noobs.]
[CRAP. I signed up too. Is it too late to drop out??]
The chat descended into chaos.
Many viewers were fellow rookies who'd registered for the tournament. Hearing Ai Xia's announcement, they nearly fainted on the spot.
You're joining the Rookie Cup?
What are WE supposed to do?!
The replay of Ai Xia's Butterfree soloing Misty's entire team was still pinned on his channel.
Just imagining his already one-meter-long Caterpie evolving and spamming Sleep Powder like some kind of eldritch horror sent shivers down their spines.
Tch.
Ai Xia scowled at the chat.
"I am a new trainer! I just graduated high school! Why does no one believe me?!"
The chat fired back instantly.
[If you're a rookie, I'll eat my Geodude!]
[Hoenn rep here—I'll munch a Nosepass!]
[Unova checking in—sacrificing a Roggenrola!]
[I'll down a Grimer!]
[Yo, chill! BRO, CHILL—]
As the chat spiraled into madness, Ai Xia ignored it, focusing instead on the drone's smooth footage.
Man, Silph Co.'s tech is insane.
This compact little drone was ridiculously stable, with crystal-clear transmission—zero interference with his stream.
"Worth every penny."
After some casual banter, Ai Xia sharpened his focus.
They were in the wild, after all.
Time to get serious.
Just then—a distinct scent hit his nose.
Hm?
His eyes narrowed.
In an instant, he pinpointed the source—a suspiciously shifting flower in the grass ahead.
Got you.
"Caterpie, String Shot on that Gloom. Follow up with Electroweb, then close in for Bug Bite."
His voice was calm, commanding.
"Mii!"
The Caterpie surged forward, its legs propelling it with shocking speed. A thick, sticky thread shot from its maw, precisely wrapping around the flower before the Gloom could react.
The wild Pokémon barely had time to panic before a crackling Electroweb surged down the silk, zapping it into sluggishness.
Then—WHOOSH!
The Caterpie lunged, its massive body moving with terrifying agility. Its mandibles glowed green as Bug Bite crunched down—
THUD.
By the time the camera adjusted, the Gloom was already out cold in the grass.
"Wilderness survival 101: always stay alert. Unusual smells, sounds, footprints—never ignore them."
After confirming the Gloom wasn't critically injured, Ai Xia turned away, disinterested.
"If you spot a wild Pokémon, strike first. But remember—in the wild, enemies never come alone. Learn to ambush... and to expect ambushes."
As if on cue—
SWISH!
Ai Xia dodged—
WHOMPH!
His Caterpie rocketed past his head, slamming into something behind him with a solid THUD and a pained screech.
"...Like this."
The drone panned to reveal a very dazed Pidgey, half-buried in the dirt beneath the Caterpie's bulk.
"Of course, I recommend bringing multiple Pokémon for full coverage. With just one, you'll always have blind spots—"
RUSTLE.
Ai Xia's head snapped toward the trees.
The drone followed—just in time to capture a flock of very angry Spearows diving straight for him.
He leaped back.
Caterpie lunged forward.
"Electroweb."
CRACKLE—ZZZT!
A blazing gold net of electricity erupted into existence, swallowing the Spearows mid-dive.
SCREEEECH—!
Their shrieks echoed through the forest.
--+--
T/N: Bros lowkey aura farming.