"So do you get it now? If you catch a Caterpie, sure, it can give you a quick power boost early on. After that Bug-types barely make an impact—unless you specialize in them. Only Trainers who dedicate themselves completely to Bug-types can push their strength to the limit and keep them strong even later on."
Misty's tone was patient, almost pleading.
Bug-types weren't incapable of reaching the Peak. But unlike other Pokémon, getting them there meant a Trainer had to master every nuance of their typing—only then could their potential be fully drawn out, maybe even forced beyond its limits.
That's why, generally speaking, outside of Bug Catchers and a few rare Trainers, most who used Bug-types were specialists. Only by specializing could Bug-types climb to the Peak.
"I know. But this Caterpie's different. Besides, I need another Pokémon if I want to beat my first Gym. No matter what kind of Pokémon it is, I believe I can raise it into something really strong—really strong. Trust me, Misty."
Ash flashed her a confident smile, the kind that made Misty swallow back the words she was about to say.
Sure, Ash could be reckless, even childish sometimes. But when she saw that smile, for some reason, she couldn't help but want to believe him.
If Ash said this, if he chose this, then maybe… maybe he had his reasons.
Ash took slow steps toward the Caterpie, and in his eyes, data began to appear:
[Species: Caterpie]
[Gender: Male]
[Tier: Beginner—Intermediate]
[Ability: Shield Dust]
[Moves: XXXXX]
[Stats: Attack D (C), Sp. Atk C (B), Defence D (C), Sp. Def D (B), HP D (B), Speed D (A)]
This Caterpie's talent was plain as day—aside from Attack and Defence, all of its stats were at the B range. Its Speed was even at A.
On the way here, Ash had already come across over a dozen Caterpie. He hadn't caught a single one, because every last one of them only had E-rank potential.
If there'd been no choice, fine. But Viridian Forest was massive. Ash refused to believe he couldn't find one with at least D or maybe even C-rank potential.
And now this Caterpie proved waiting had been the right call.
For most Pokémon, C-rank talent was already considered good. B was one-in-a-thousand. A was one-in-ten-thousand—or rarer.
As for S-rank? Maybe one in a million. Legendary Pokémon didn't count.
After battling more than thirty Bug-types and encountering nearly a hundred, Ash had realized something else: Bug-types generally had lower stat ceilings compared to others. Maybe that was one reason why they were so hard to train long-term.
But this Caterpie not only had overall B-rank potential—it even had one stat, the most important one, at A-rank.
That was why Ash decided the instant he saw it: he was going to catch this Caterpie.
"Let's battle, Caterpie—this is a capture battle!" Ash clenched his fist and shouted.
Caterpie, still happily munching on its lunch, tilted its head at him in puzzlement… then went back to eating.
Ash: …
"Unbelievable. You're ignoring me?! Pikachu, use Thunder Shock!"
"Pika pika!" Pikachu leapt from Ash's shoulder, golden sparks bursting from its cheeks and crackling into the ground beside Caterpie.
The little bug jumped in fright, belatedly hopping to the side.
But Pikachu hadn't aimed to hit—it was just a warning, the opening declaration of battle.
Now, finally, Caterpie fixed its wide eyes on Ash and Pikachu. A flicker of fighting spirit stirred within them.
"That's more like it! If you want to eat, then become my Pokémon first and I'll let you eat your fill! Pikachu, Quick Attack!"
"Pika!" Pikachu blurred into a golden streak, racing at Caterpie. Caterpie countered, spitting a string of gleaming white silk—String Shot!
In mid-sprint, Pikachu dug in with his toes and dodged, slipping around to the side before lunging again, body-first into Caterpie.
Bang! The bug went flying. Ash pressed the attack immediately: "Now—Thunder Shock!"
"Pika… chuuuu!" Lightning ripped through the air, striking Caterpie dead-on. With a sharp cry, it collapsed to the ground, unable to move.
"Now! Go, Poké Ball!"
Ash hurled his first empty Poké Ball.
All those hours practicing his throws paid off—the ball struck Caterpie squarely, drawing it inside with a flash of red light.
One shake. Two. Three… click!
Ash had caught Caterpie.
His face lit up as he rushed over and scooped up the Poké Ball. "I caught Caterpie!"
"Pipika!" Pikachu cheered.
For Ash, catching his very first Pokémon was pure thrill. From the moment he'd set out on his journey, he'd dreamed of catching Pokémon—so many, every new one he laid eyes on.
But the veterans in the group chat had advised him to focus on Pikachu first and not rush into catching others. So he'd held back, waited until now, before finally throwing his very first Poké Ball.
Meanwhile Gary had probably already caught a dozen or more by now.
Misty's lips twitched, but she kept silent. Her protests against Bug-types had always come from one thing: she couldn't stand them.
But what was done was done. Now all she could do was try to cope—or walk a little farther away whenever Ash let Caterpie out.
It wasn't that she hated the Bug-type itself. She just hated Pokémon that looked like bugs. Once Caterpie evolved into Metapod, it shouldn't be a problem anymore. Until then, better to just avoid the creepy-crawlies.
Ash, meanwhile, turned the Poké Ball over in his hand, recalling the advice he'd gotten last night from one of the group's veterans—Tactics Master Ash.
[Tactics Master Ash: …Planning for the Pewter Gym? Best case, catch a Grass- or Water-type. Those'll crush Brock's Pokémon—they're 4x weak. Getting through Pewter Gym would be easy. But if you don't find one… then I recommend you catch… Caterpie.]