Just as Leaf was getting excited about that mysterious figure...
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for successfully capturing the Shiny Butterfree!]
[First-time Shiny Pokémon capture reward unlocked: Cocoon of Fate!]
[Cocoon of Fate: The next Pokémon Egg the host hatches will definitely be a Shiny Pokémon.]
Inside Ash's mind, the reward for catching his first shiny Pokémon was processed.
"A guaranteed shiny for the next egg I hatch?"
"Then I'd better figure out a way to get my hands on a pseudo-legendary egg..."
Ash's thoughts were racing.
A Shiny Butterfree was rare, sure, but maybe not such a big deal for a top-tier trainer.
Its symbolic value likely outweighed its actual battle strength.
But if he could hatch a Shiny pseudo-legendary...
That would be on another level entirely!
Steven dominated the Steel-type world for years with just one Shiny Metagross, and he's still holding onto his Champion title in Hoenn.
A carefully raised, Shiny pseudo-legendary Pokémon...
That's the kind of power that could form the foundation of an Elite Four—Or even a Champion!
This reward was way more valuable than the Butterfree itself.
"Ash! Ash!"
While he was lost in thought about where to get an egg, Leaf was clinging to his arm, shaking it eagerly.
As she bounced beside him, she blurted out, "Did you see that?"
"See what?" Ash looked at her, feeling the soft press of her arm, confused.
"Bulbasaur!""There's actually still wild Kanto starters out here..."
Leaf looked downright thrilled.
In this world where reality and Pokémon coexist, wild Kanto starters had long since vanished from the wild.
These days, the starter Pokémon used by new trainers were all the result of years of conservation and breeding efforts from top research labs—like Professor Oak's.
Otherwise, you'd have to spend a fortune to buy one on the open market.
"No way..." Yumi furrowed her brows at Leaf's excitement.
As a frequent visitor to Viridian Forest and a seasoned high-ranking trainer, she was instinctively skeptical.
"I train and scout the forest's inner zones almost every week. I know the area like the back of my hand."
"By all accounts, there shouldn't be any wild Bulbasaur left here."
Her voice was calm but laced with the seriousness of a pro.
"But I saw it with my own eyes!" Leaf puffed up in frustration, cheeks puffed out.
Neither girl was willing to back down.
In the end, it wasn't reason or compromise that ended their standoff—It was their growling stomachs.
After a long morning of hiking, battling wild Pokémon, and getting worked up, their energy had already run dry.
Guuuuuuurrrgle… The sudden rumble killed the tense mood in an instant.
Leaf's face flushed red, and Yumi coughed awkwardly.
"Ahem..." Yumi quickly regained her composure and looked at Ash.
"Whatever it was you saw earlier, it's clearly gone now."
"What we need right now is food and rest. Let's get to the Pokémon Center first—there's plenty of time to come back and search again this afternoon."
Whether that glimpse had really been a Bulbasaur or not, there was no way to confirm it anymore.
Though Leaf was reluctant, she glanced longingly in the direction where the figure had disappeared.
But hunger and common sense told her Yumi was right.
She sighed and nodded reluctantly.
"...Fine."
"Bulbasaur, wait for me!" "I'm definitely coming back for you this afternoon!"
And so, the five-person temporary trainer team headed for the Pokémon Center on the outskirts of Viridian City.
...
Another half-hour of hiking passed.
When the familiar red-domed building finally appeared at the edge of their vision, everyone let out a collective breath of relief.
The giant Poké Ball symbol atop the center gleamed in the noonday sun, bringing with it a deep sense of reassurance.
To all trainers wandering in the wild and fighting in the field,this place—was a safe harbor for their weary spirits.
At that moment, the open plaza outside the Pokémon Center was more crowded than usual.
Trainers gathered in groups, some chatting excitedly, others looking disappointed.
The air was tinged with the scent of disinfectant, mixed with the aroma of Pokémon food.
"We made it." "There are so many people here~"
Leaf let out a sigh as she gazed at the bustling scene.
These were the trainers who had come to explore Viridian Forest after hearing rumors about the shiny Pokémon.
Now that word had spread that the shiny had already been caught, everyone had retreated to the Center to recover.
Among them were plenty of rookie trainers.
Their Pokémon had suffered varying degrees of injury during the expedition.
Nurse Joy was tending to them one by one.
For a moment, the Pokémon Center was livelier than ever.
"There are only two Pokémon Centers in all of Viridian City."
"This one is on the outskirts, and usually doesn't get nearly as much traffic as the one in the city center."
"But today... this place feels like the qualifier site for the Pokémon League!"
Even Yumi couldn't help but be amazed.
It was the first time she'd ever seen this remote Center so packed.
The draw of a shiny Pokémon was just that powerful.
And when Ash's group finally arrived, it was like tossing a drop of water into a boiling oil pan.
"Look! It's that kid in the cap!"
Someone in the crowd shouted—and it was like lighting a fuse.
[End of Chapter]