"I'm sorry, Metapod."
After Alex's scolding, the Samurai Boy finally realized his mistake. He dropped to his knees, eyes fixed on his Metapod, and slowly reached out to stroke its hard shell.
He had never bothered to learn the basics about his own Pokémon. All he cared about was battling other Trainers, chasing victories, and treating Metapod like nothing more than a tool. His arrogance had nearly gotten the poor creature seriously hurt.
Metapod blinked, then gently shifted its body closer to him.
"You're not just weak—you're arrogant," Alex said sternly. "Your Metapod almost paid the price for it. Remember this: once you catch a Pokémon, you're responsible for it. You care for it. You don't treat it like a disposable battle toy. Understand?"
The Samurai Boy stayed silent, his face burning red—half from the beating Alex had given him, half from pure shame.
"Alright… I'm sorry about earlier," he mumbled.
His whole view of Alex had flipped. Now he saw Alex as the strongest Trainer in Pallet Town—not just in battles, but in real Pokémon knowledge and responsibility. Respect filled his eyes. Thanks to Alex's lecture, he felt genuinely lucky. If he had kept acting the same way and run into any other Trainer, Metapod could have been badly injured.
"From now on, be a proper Bug Catcher," Alex said with a nod. He glanced at the katana still strapped to the boy's side. "And stop waving that sword around. For your own safety, it's a good thing you ran into me. Anyone else would've beaten you a lot worse."
*You hit the hardest…* the Samurai Boy thought bitterly. He just wanted to crawl back to camp and nurse his bruises. He nodded quickly. "Okay, I understand!"
He recalled Metapod, picked up his katana, and limped away from the clearing, hoping he would never see Alex again.
**Task completed:** Defeat the brat in the way he is best at, make him realize his mistake, and sincerely apologize!
**Task Reward:** Host's physical combat skills enhanced by 50%.
The system notification rang in Alex's head. A powerful electric current surged through his body. He shivered hard, letting out an involuntary groan as a wave of pure comfort followed. Every muscle, every tendon, felt stronger, sharper, more alive.
"Alex, what are you yelling about?" Misty leaned in, eyes wide with curiosity as she looked him up and down. "What's wrong with you?"
"I didn't yell," Alex muttered, looking a little awkward.
He cleared his throat. "Everything's settled. Let's go."
They continued training in Viridian Forest. After several hours of steady battling, Alex finally raised Pidgey to level 18. In a bright flash of light, it evolved into Pidgeotto.
By the time they reached the riverside it was already noon. As a dedicated Water-type Trainer, Misty immediately set up her fishing rod. Alex started preparing lunch while Pikachu sat beside him, hugging a bottle of ketchup and staring eagerly at the big pot bubbling over the fire.
"Pikachu, Pidgeotto—you two keep an eye on the fire," Alex instructed before walking over to check on Misty's catch. *She can't seriously be pulling nothing but Magikarp again, right?*
He glanced into her bucket. Two Magikarp.
"Want me to give it a try?" he offered.
"No need!" Misty declared, proudly lifting her chin. "I have a good feeling about this one. It's definitely going to be a big catch!"
She was right—the water rippled violently as something took the bait. Misty reeled it in with smooth confidence… only for another Magikarp to break the surface. This one was noticeably larger and far more energetic.
*Is this entire river just full of Magikarp?* Alex wondered. He was half-tempted to catch one himself when—
**SLAP! SLAP! SLAP!**
The oversized Magikarp thrashed wildly, spraying water everywhere and soaking Misty's clothes. The dislodged hook snagged on her top.
Alex, standing right beside her, couldn't help but notice how more than half of her shirt was now drenched and clinging to her skin.
Misty turned to him, eyes sparkling with triumph. "Alex, look! This is the first time I've ever caught such a feisty Magikarp!"
She had wanted to show off—the huge fish was clearly special, splashing like crazy in the river. But the moment she looked at Alex, she saw the strange, intense look in his eyes. That gaze wasn't on the Magikarp anymore. It was locked straight on her.
Her heart skipped. Following his line of sight, she looked down.
"Ahh!"
Her face exploded into a deep crimson. The Magikarp she was still gripping had been pressed right against her chest in the most embarrassing position, and the hook had caught the fabric of her top. Panicking, she shook her hands frantically and hurled the Magikarp back into the lake.
**PLUNK!**
It vanished beneath the water with a huge splash.
Misty stumbled backward like a startled deer. The hook stayed tangled in her clothes. As she retreated, it yanked hard. Whether the shirt was too thin or the hook too sharp, the fabric gave way with a loud **RIP**.
The tear ran straight down the front of her top, exposing smooth skin and the edge of her bra.
Alex stood perfectly still, his eyes tracing the scene with calm precision. He took in the size of the Magikarp, then Misty's disheveled, flushed appearance. The corner of his mouth twitched upward. He fought hard to keep the grin off his face.
Misty caught him still staring. She slapped both hands over her chest, cheeks burning hotter than ever, and shouted, "Are you still looking?! Turn around right now!"
Alex spun away instantly, like a kid caught sneaking cookies. "Not looking, not looking!"
He heard her footsteps racing toward the tent. Only after she disappeared inside did he let out a quiet chuckle. It really wasn't his fault—he had just been standing there watching her fish. Who could have predicted the universe would hand him a scene like that?