After passing through Viridian Forest, Ash and Misty were drawing closer to Pewter City.
Ash was currently preparing lunch for Misty.
He crouched in front of a makeshift stone stove, stir-frying ingredients in a cast-iron pan with a wooden spatula.
His love of food in his previous life had given him plenty of cooking experience, and those skills now came naturally to him.
“Wow!
You really made this with ingredients from the forest?”
Misty crouched beside the stream washing the dishes, her orange braid swaying as she moved.
“I never imagined berries and wild vegetables could smell this good!”
She held a ceramic bowl and leaned closer.
A few drops of water still clung to the tip of her nose, but all her attention was on the mixed rice bubbling in the pan.
Pikachu crouched beside the stove, rhythmically tapping its tail against the ground.
Eevee lay at Ash’s feet, watching the food expectantly.
“Five more minutes.”
Ash sprinkled a handful of ground spices into the pan as recipes and cooking techniques from his previous life came back to him.
On top of that, the system had enhanced his cooking skills.
By now, Ash could easily compete with a top chef.
This was a simple meal made with ingredients gathered from the forest.
Before long, the dish was ready.
“Try it!”
Ash handed Misty a pair of chopsticks.
Misty picked up a bite and put it into her mouth.
Her eyes widened so suddenly that she nearly bit her tongue.
“It’s…
it’s so good!”
In the clearing beside the stream, bowls of Pokémon food had been neatly lined up.
Ash crouched among them, holding a bowl of Pokémon food he had prepared himself.
Each portion had been adjusted according to the Pokémon’s type and preferences, with finely crushed Rare Candy mixed in.
As for their stats, Ash had already adjusted them using the system’s cheat function.
He had also farmed a full set of TMs and used them to teach his Pokémon the moves best suited to them.
“All right, little guys, time to eat!”
Ash clapped his hands.
Misty crouched on the other side, watching Feebas happily eat Ash’s special fish food and Energy Cubes.
Its once-dull scales now had a healthy shine beneath the sunlight.
The timid Feebas from before had also become much more confident, often swimming to the surface and splashing the water with its tail to get Misty’s attention.
The Pokémon Ash currently had with him were Pikachu, Eevee, Dratini, Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle, Caterpie, and Pidgey.
Misty had Goldeen, Staryu, Starmie, and Feebas.
“Keep working just a little harder, and soon you’ll evolve into Milotic!”
Misty poked Feebas on the head.
Suddenly, Caterpie began trembling.
Silver-white silk shot from its mouth and wrapped around its body layer by layer.
The threads quickly formed an oval cocoon, and dazzling light burst from within.
Ash and Misty raised their hands to shield their eyes.
“Pika!”
Pikachu cried out in surprise, while the other Pokémon stopped eating and gathered around.
The light gradually faded, revealing a green Metapod where Caterpie had been.
Metapod shifted its hard body slightly, producing a faint cracking sound.
“Caterpie evolved into Metapod!”
Ash beamed.
“Looks like your special food really helped a lot.”
Even as she said that, she quietly took several steps backward and leaned away from Metapod, keeping her distance.
Ash sighed.
Misty clearly still hadn’t gotten over her fear of Bug-type Pokémon.
“Looks like Misty still can’t handle Bug-types,” he thought.
“All right, let’s keep eating.”
Ash placed a hand on Metapod’s hard shell.
Metapod swayed slightly in response.
The smell of food still filled the air beside the stream, and everyone returned to their lunch.
Then a voice came from nearby.
“Are you also a Trainer from Pallet Town?”
Ash and Misty turned toward the voice and saw a Trainer dressed in samurai armor approaching them.
“That’s right.
What do you need?” Ash asked.
“I challenge you!”
Samurai stopped in front of Ash with his arms crossed over his chest, his armor making a faint clinking sound.
“Sure.
No problem.”
Ash immediately accepted.
There was no reason to turn down free battle experience, especially when it could help both him and his Pokémon improve.
Misty stood nearby and whispered, “Ash, be careful.”
Ash turned toward her and smiled.
“Don’t worry.
I’ll win.”
The two Trainers moved to an open area beside the stream and prepared for battle.
Samurai threw out his Poké Ball.
“Come out, Pinsir!”
A flash of red light appeared, and Pinsir materialized in front of them.
The massive pincers on its head opened and closed with loud cracking sounds.
“Pidgey, you’re up!”
Ash waved toward Pidgey, who had been eating nearby.
Pidgey flapped its wings and flew in front of Ash.
Samurai looked at it with a dismissive smile.
“Hmph.
You really think a Pidgey can beat my Pinsir?
Pinsir, grab it!”
Pinsir immediately charged, swinging its massive pincers.
“Pidgey, take to the air!” Ash shouted.
Pidgey beat its wings and climbed upward, slipping out of Pinsir’s reach.
Pinsir missed and skidded hard across the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.
“Pidgey, use Gust!”
Pidgey beat its wings, sending a powerful blast of wind toward Pinsir.
The Gust struck Pinsir and forced it backward, but it quickly regained its footing.
Pinsir roared and charged beneath Pidgey again, snapping its pincers upward in an attempt to reach it.
“Pidgey, Air Slash!”
Pidgey spread its wings and sent sharp blades of compressed air toward Pinsir.
Pinsir tried to withstand the attack with its tough shell, but Air Slash struck repeatedly, leaving wounds across its body.
The Flying-type attack was super effective against Pinsir.
Pinsir struggled to stay standing, but another wave of Air Slash hit it.
Finally, it fell to the ground with a thud, unable to battle.
“Pinsir!”
Samurai quickly recalled his Pokémon.
“Pidgey!”
At that moment, Pidgey let out a high-pitched cry.
Blue light suddenly spread across its body and enveloped it.
Inside the light, Pidgey’s body began to grow.
Its wings became larger and broader, while the feathers on its head lengthened and extended down its back.
“Pidgey evolved!”
Misty jumped up excitedly, clenching her fists.
“Pidgeotto!”
The light faded, revealing Pidgeotto.
It raised its head, spread its wings, and let out a clear cry.
“It evolved?”
Samurai stared at Pidgeotto in surprise.
Then he thought about the Pokémon he had planned to send out next—Metapod.
He paused.
“I admit defeat.”
Samurai straightened his back.
He clearly wasn’t happy about losing, but he accepted the result.
After saying that, he turned and left.
[Congratulations, host, on your victory.
You have obtained 10,000 points.]
Ash watched Samurai leave, then turned toward Pidgeotto.
He activated his Pokémon Data Scouter and checked its data.
[Pokémon: Pidgeotto]
[Gender: Male]
[Type: Normal, Flying]
[Introduction: The Bird Pokémon and the evolved form of Pidgey.
It has extraordinary stamina and a wide flying range, often flying far away in search of food.]
[Base Stat Total: 349]
[Ability: Keen Eye — Thanks to its sharp eyes, its accuracy cannot be lowered.]
[Hidden Ability: Big Pecks — Protects it from Defense-lowering effects.]
[Current Strength: Gym Level]
[Potential: Elite Four Level]
[Moves: Tackle; Sand Attack; Gust; Quick Attack; Whirlwind; Fly; Double Team; Protect; Rest; Air Slash; Wing Attack; Steel Wing; Brave Bird; Sky Attack]
[Status: Healthy]
“Congratulations, Pidgeotto.”
Ash stroked Pidgeotto’s head.
“Pidgeotto!”
It rubbed its head against Ash’s palm.
“Congratulations, Ash,” Misty said.
Everyone returned to the stream and continued eating lunch.