Chapter 10: Shiny Caterpie

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The morning sun cast warm rays over Viridian City as Kai prepared to leave. After a quick breakfast, he checked out of his hotel, hopped on his mountain bike, and began his journey toward Nibi City.

As Kai rode past the Pokémon Center, he noticed that the cordon had been removed, and workers were already repairing the shattered skylight. The wanted posters featuring Team Rocket had also been taken down.

"Looks like everything's back to normal," Kai muttered to himself before pedaling northward.

To reach Nibi City, Kai had to pass through the Viridian Forest, a dense, maze-like expanse known for confusing travelers in the past. Fortunately, an established path now allowed trainers to navigate the forest with ease—provided they didn't wander off into the wilderness.

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Hunting for Pokémon

Kai wasn't in a hurry to leave the forest. The Viridian Forest was home to various Bug- and Flying-Type Pokémon, and Kai had his sights set on catching a Pidgey with strong potential.

The early stages of the Green Champion Team often included Pidgeot, and this was one of the best places to find a high-potential Pidgey.

In addition to Pidgey, the forest was rumored to house rarer Pokémon like Scyther, Pinsir, and even Bulbasaur. Although he already had Exeggutor for Grass-Type coverage, Kai wouldn't pass up the opportunity to capture Bulbasaur. Its dual Grass- and Poison-Typing made it versatile, and its final form, Venusaur, was a powerhouse.

Most of all, Kai hoped to find a Scyther or Pinsir. Both Pokémon were exceptional Bug-Types that could Mega Evolve, making them invaluable in battles. A Mega Scizor, in particular, could dominate with its Technical Expert Ability, using moves like Swords Dance and Bullet Punch to sweep opponents.

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Exploring the Forest

At the entrance to Viridian Forest, Kai released Squirtle.

"Squirtle, scout the area for any Pokémon nearby," Kai instructed, placing the Water-Type on the handlebars of his mountain bike.

"Squirt! Squirtle!" the tiny turtle chirped eagerly, keeping a sharp eye out for any movement.

Kai rode slowly, spotting several Bug-Types along the way. Most were Caterpie, lazily crawling around or munching on leaves.

"These Caterpie really aren't afraid of people," Kai noted.

Caterpie was often the first choice for Bug Catcher trainers, and its evolution into Butterfree made it somewhat popular. However, Kai wasn't interested in raising one. While Butterfree had a Gigantamax form, its peak performance was short-lived.

Bug-Types generally have short lifespans, and Butterfree's prime years last only about five. After that, it begins to decline, making it an impractical choice for long-term training.

Longevity matters in Pokémon battles, Kai thought. Dragonite, for example, can live for centuries and remain powerful throughout its life.

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A Shiny Discovery

As Kai pondered his strategy, Squirtle suddenly cried out, "Squirt! Squirtle!"

"What is it?" Kai asked, following Squirtle's gaze.

Perched on a tree branch was a Caterpie, but something was different. This one had a distinct golden hue instead of the usual green.

Kai's eyes widened as a notification from his system appeared:

[Ding! Mission released: Capture your first Shiny Pokémon. Reward: Shiny Charm (increases Shiny encounter rate to 1/1000).]

"A Shiny Caterpie!" Kai exclaimed.

The golden Caterpie tried to hide, curling into a ball and using leaves to cover itself.

"Squirtle, use Water Gun!" Kai commanded.

Squirtle unleashed several small water balls, targeting the Shiny Caterpie. This modification to the Water Gun move reduced its power but allowed for multiple hits.

Pah! Pah! Pah!

The timid Caterpie didn't resist and was struck repeatedly. It lost its grip on the branch and tumbled down.

"Go, Poké Ball!" Kai shouted, throwing the red-and-white sphere.

The Poké Ball soared through the air in a perfect arc, hitting the Caterpie mid-fall. The ball snapped shut, wiggled three times, and then clicked, signaling a successful capture.

[Ding! Mission complete. Rewards have been distributed to your space backpack.]

[Ding! New mission released: Capture 10 Shiny Pokémon. Reward: Advanced Shiny Charm (increases Shiny encounter rate to 5/1000).]

Kai was pleasantly surprised by the follow-up mission. A 5/1000 chance was equivalent to encountering a Shiny Pokémon once in 200 battles—a significant improvement.

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Examining the Shiny Caterpie

Kai retrieved the Poké Ball and examined the new addition to his team.

[Pokémon: Caterpie (Shiny)]

Type: Bug

Level: 9

Potential: Gym

Ability: Scale Powder (Prevents additional effects from moves).

Moves: Tackle, String Shot, Bug Bite.

Intimacy: 100/255.

"Interesting ability," Kai murmured. "Once it evolves into Butterfree, it'll gain Compound Eyes, which could be useful for early battles."

Although Kai didn't plan to use Caterpie as a main battler, its Gym-level potential made it a valuable addition. He decided to train it for utility in battles against Psychic-Types, such as Sabrina's team in the Saffron Gym.

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Future Plans

Kai considered sending the Shiny Caterpie to Professor Oak's lab. His grandfather was fascinated by Shiny Pokémon, and this Caterpie would undoubtedly pique his interest.

Maybe I'll capture a few more Shiny Pokémon and build a small collection for research, Kai thought, already envisioning his next steps.

Satisfied with his progress, Kai pocketed the Poké Ball and hopped back on his bike, eager to explore more of Viridian Forest.

The journey to Nibi City is off to a great start.

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