Gary hummed a cheerful tune as he rode his bike down the forest path, leaving Pallet Town behind. His destination was Viridian City, the first stop on his journey toward Nibi City. Between Pallet Town and Viridian City lay a small forest, home to wild Pokémon ideal for novice Trainers looking to train and level up.
The leveling system for Pokémon in this world was similar to the games. Battles provided the fastest growth, but effective training in skills and performance could also improve a Pokémon's level. However, training alone had its drawbacks. Pokémon that only trained in isolation often lacked the battle experience necessary to adapt to real combat situations.
For instance, a Ground-type Pokémon might struggle to counter a Flying-type opponent unless it had encountered one before. To succeed in future battles, Pokémon needed to develop diverse strategies and fighting techniques, which could only be achieved through actual battles.
Suddenly, the sound of rustling grass caught Gary's attention.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
He stopped his bike and turned toward the source of the noise. Moments later, a purple Rattata leapt out of the dense foliage. The Pokémon seemed unbothered by Gary's presence, casually walking past him.
At that moment, a familiar notification rang in Gary's mind.
[Ding! Task issued: Capture your first Pokémon. Objective: Capture any wild Pokémon. Reward: 5 Rare Candies.]
"Whoa!" Gary exclaimed, startled. "A task already? And for five Rare Candies?"
This surprised him, as he had only received three Rare Candies for defeating Little Orange in a battle earlier. Could it be that capturing a wild Pokémon was considered more challenging than battling a rival?
Gary used the Eye of Insight, a system tool, to examine the Rattata. A small screen displayed the information:
[LV6 Rattata ♀ / Type: Normal]
"Not bad," Gary muttered. "The level, gender, and potential are all visible. This Eye of Insight will make capturing strong Pokémon much easier."
Gary knew that most wild Pokémon in the world had limited potential, often capping out below the Gym Leader level. However, the system's task only required catching any Pokémon. Yet, Gary wasn't interested in capturing Pokémon that he had no plans to use.
He remembered the original story where his counterpart, also named Gary, had collected over 200 Pokémon. Despite that impressive number, most of them were left at Professor Oak's lab, unused. This scatterbrained approach had ultimately cost him, resulting in a top-36 finish in the Indigo Plateau Conference.
Gary resolved to be different. His strategy was to capture only rare or high-potential Pokémon and focus on building a strong, balanced team.
As he continued down the path, Gary decided on his first target: Pidgey.
Pidgey, a common Flying-type Pokémon, was an excellent choice for a beginner. With two evolutions, it could grow into a Pidgeotto and eventually a Pidgeot. Though its base stats weren't spectacular, its mobility and versatility made it a valuable companion. Furthermore, Pidgeot could undergo Mega Evolution, adding even more potential to its utility.
"Let's find a Pidgey worth training," Gary said to himself.
---
The search for a high-potential Pidgey was easier said than done. While Pidgey were plentiful in the area, most of them had below-average potential. Occasionally, Gary encountered a Pidgey with "Gym" potential, but none of them met his standards.
Gary also let his Squirtle battle the weaker Pidgey they encountered. By defeating them, Squirtle gradually grew stronger, leveling up from Level 8 to Level 9. After its latest battle, Squirtle even learned a new move: Rapid Spin.
"Still no luck," Gary sighed after hours of searching.
The sun began to dip below the horizon. It was nearing 5 PM, and the forest was starting to darken. Realizing it was unsafe to stay out too late, Gary decided to head back to Viridian City.
"Let's call it a day," Gary said to Squirtle, who nodded in agreement.
---
As they walked, Gary noticed something unusual. A patch of grass to the left of the path rustled ever so slightly, even though there was no wind.
"Huh? That's odd," Gary muttered, stopping in his tracks.
"Squirtle?" his Pokémon questioned, tilting its head curiously.
Gary cautiously approached the moving grass. Whatever was hiding there might just be the high-potential Pokémon he had been searching for.
"Alright, get ready, Squirtle!"
Squirtle stepped forward, prepared to battle.
Gary pushed the grass aside to reveal a small, bird-like Pokémon with brown feathers and a cream-colored underside. Its round body and distinctive markings made it instantly recognizable.
"Finally! A Pidgey!" Gary exclaimed.
Using the Eye of Insight, he quickly scanned the Pokémon.
[LV7 Pidgey ♂ / Type: Normal, Flying / Potential: Elite]
"An Elite potential Pidgey!" Gary could hardly believe his luck. Pidgey with this level of potential were extremely rare in the wild.
"Alright, this one's worth capturing. Squirtle, it's time to battle!"
Squirtle leapt into action, ready to fight.
---
Battle Start!
"Squirtle, use Tackle!" Gary commanded.
Squirtle charged at the Pidgey, striking it with a solid hit. The wild Pidgey staggered but quickly retaliated with Gust, sending a small whirlwind toward Squirtle.
"Dodge it!" Gary shouted.
Squirtle rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the attack.
"Now, use Rapid Spin!"
Squirtle tucked into its shell and spun rapidly, closing the distance between it and Pidgey. The spinning attack hit Pidgey directly, knocking it to the ground.
The wild Pokémon struggled to get back up, clearly weakened but not defeated.
"Perfect. This is our chance!" Gary reached for a Poké Ball.
"Poké Ball, go!"
He threw the ball with precision, and it struck the Pidgey. The Pokémon was enveloped in red light before disappearing into the ball.
The Poké Ball shook once.
Twice.
Three times.
Click!
The ball stopped moving, signaling a successful capture.
"Yes! I did it!" Gary cheered, holding the Poké Ball triumphantly.
---
[Ding! Task complete: Capture your first Pokémon. Reward: 5 Rare Candies.]
Gary felt a wave of satisfaction as the system notified him of his success. Not only had he completed the task, but he had also added a valuable Pokémon to his team.
Looking at the Poké Ball containing his new companion, Gary smiled. "Welcome to the team, Pidgey. You'll be a great addition."
Squirtle clapped its hands in celebration, happy for its Trainer's accomplishment.
---
As Gary continued toward Viridian City, he thought about his next steps. With both Squirtle and Pidgey in his team, he was off to a strong start. His goal was to train them both into formidable fighters, capable of taking on Gym Leaders and rival Trainers alike.
Gary looked at the horizon, where the lights of Viridian City were just starting to appear. His journey had only just begun, but he was ready for whatever challenges lay ahead.
"Let's keep moving, Squirtle. Our adventure is just getting started."
With his loyal Squirtle by his side and a new Pidgey in his Poké Ball, Gary pressed on, eager to face the trials ahead.
---
This marked the beginning of Gary's path toward becoming a Pokémon Master—a journey filled with battles, discoveries, and unforgettable moments.
---
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