Chapter 199: Chapter 199: Bug-Catching Contest

Chapter 199: Bug-Catching Contest

After saying goodbye to his mother and Oak, Ash’s group set off on their journey through the Johto region again.

After passing through the Green Grassland, the group arrived at a National Park.

Looking at the bustling crowd at the park entrance, Brock said, "It seems like there is some kind of event going on ahead!"

"That’s the National Park. They must be holding an event related to catching Pokemon, maybe a Bug-Catching Contest or something," Ash said.

"Bug? Bugs?"

Misty’s expression changed instantly. She grabbed Ash’s hand, intending to bypass the National Park. "Ash, I think we should go this way instead!"

"Uh..."

Ash looked at Brock with some helplessness.

Understanding, Brock took out the map and studied it. "If Misty wants to go to Yuanzhu City, going straight ahead is the fastest way. This National Park is huge; going around it would take at least 7 days, and we wouldn’t pass through any towns, plus our supplies aren’t very abundant."

"How could this be!"

Misty was instantly devastated; she was terrified of bugs.

"Misty, it might not necessarily be a Bug-Catching Contest ahead; it could be something else..."

Before Ash could finish, a staff member in uniform walked up. "You must be Pokemon Trainers! The National Park is currently holding its routine Bug-Catching Contest. Are the three of you interested in participating? If you win, you can receive a Sun Stone, and those who perform well can keep the bug Pokemon they catch!"

"Ash, let’s not participate in this kind of competition, okay?" Misty whispered.

"Misty, the bug Pokemon in this National Park are quite good. It would be a shame to miss it."

If Ash remembered correctly, there was a good Scyther in this National Park, as well as a Shiny Weedle. That was just the outer perimeter; he didn’t know if there were even rarer ones deeper inside, but he definitely wanted a Scyther.

Then, Ash pulled Misty along to queue up for registration.

As soon as the two joined the line, Casey from the queue ran over with her Chikorita. "Mr. Ash, Misty, you’re both here too?"

"Casey, long time no see!" Ash said.

"Mr. Ash, Misty, you’re also going to participate in the Bug-Catching Contest, right? Me too!"

"So that means we’re opponents again?"

"I won’t lose this time. After we parted last time, I did a lot of special training with Chikorita, and we’ve been winning every battle along the way!" Casey said proudly.

"Oh, that’s really great! Casey, how many badges have you collected?"

Ash could see that Casey’s Chikorita was on the verge of evolving; it just needed the right opportunity to evolve into a Bayleef.

"Already three! What about you, Mr. Ash?"

"Same as you, three."

"Yay! I’ve caught up to Mr. Ash’s progress. Chikorita, let’s Sing a song to celebrate!"

Hearing that Casey was going to Sing, Ash and Misty’s expressions stiffened, and it was too late to stop her. Most of the people queuing for registration turned to look.

Casey was clearly not socially anxious; she wasn’t shy at all and sang even louder under everyone’s gaze.

After listening, Ash and Misty lowered their heads and silently distanced themselves a little from Casey. Casey was a bit of a scatterbrain and didn’t notice at all that Ash and Misty were intentionally distancing themselves from her, and she enthusiastically leaned in again.

Not long after the three of them finished registering, the staff announced the rules of the competition.

Each person could only use one Pokemon, and catching bug Pokemon required using the Park Balls provided by the organizers. The final winner would not be determined by battle, but by the judges evaluating the scores of the bug Pokemon caught.

After the rules were announced, the contest officially began.

Ash said, "Casey, good luck."

"Mm, Mr. Ash, I will do my best!"

Casey confidently set off with her Chikorita.

Ash brought Cyndaquil, and Misty brought Psyduck.

Misty, who was afraid of bugs, didn’t dare to enter the forest alone and stuck closely by Ash’s side.

"Misty, bug Pokemon are quite cute, aren’t they? There’s really no need to be afraid."

"Cute is one thing, but they are fuzzy and sticky, and it makes me sick just looking at them!"

The two didn’t walk far before they saw a yellow Weedle.

Ash hurriedly instructed Misty to catch it. "Misty, look at that Weedle ahead; its potential is quite good."

He already had a Shiny Beedrill, and its strength was already close to the Elite level, so he didn’t intend to catch this one in front of him.

"Huh? A Weedle? Maybe let’s just forget it!"

Misty really didn’t like caterpillar types; if it were a Scyther or Heracross, she wouldn’t even hesitate.

On the other side, Casey had encountered a nest of Pineco. After an intense battle, although she caught a Pineco, her Chikorita’s stamina was almost at its limit, and she hadn’t noticed this.

After passing on the Shiny Weedle, Ash and Misty continued walking deeper inside.

They didn’t go far before they ran into Casey again.

They saw Casey’s Chikorita confronting a Scyther.

[Pokémon: Scyther]

[Type: Bug + Flying]

[Gender: Male]

[Level: Advanced Excellent]

[Ability: Swarm (When HP is reduced, the power of Bug-type moves increases)]

[Potential: Elite]

[Moves: Omitted...]

Seeing Ash and Misty arrive, Casey eagerly wanted to show off the results of her special training, ignoring Chikorita’s stamina depletion. "Chikorita, use Razor Leaf!"

Misty watched Chikorita struggling with Scyther, her brows slightly furrowed. "Ash, Casey’s Chikorita seems to have used up a lot of stamina."

Ash nodded. "It probably went through a big battle earlier, but Casey doesn’t seem to realize this issue."

With its stamina bottoming out, Chikorita was knocked down by Scyther after only a few moves.

Ash instructed Cyndaquil to block the path between Scyther and Chikorita. "Misty, I’ll leave Casey to you. I’ve got my eye on this Scyther."

"Mm." 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Misty walked up to Casey with a stern face. "Casey, do you think the competition is more important, or is your Pokémon more important?"

Casey blurted out, "Of course it’s the Pokémon!"

"Since you know that, why didn’t you notice Chikorita’s condition? If you were in the wild and no one was there to help you, what do you think would happen to Chikorita in a situation like that?" Misty continued to question her.

"I..." Casey wasn’t stupid; she understood almost immediately. "Misty, I’m sorry!"

"You shouldn’t be apologizing to me; you should be apologizing to Chikorita," Misty reminded her.

"Mm." Casey picked up the fallen Chikorita and said earnestly, "Chikorita, I’m sorry. I’m not a qualified Trainer. I wanted to show off in front of Mr. Ash too much and neglected you. I’m really sorry!"

"Chikorita!"

Chikorita extended two Vine Whips to wipe away the tears from the corners of Casey’s eyes, and then its whole body lit up with the light of evolution.

At this moment, Ash had also finished catching the Scyther and walked over.

After catching the Scyther, Ash obtained the corresponding Super Evolution Stone for Scizor.

Seeing the Bayleef, Ash exclaimed, "It has already evolved! Not bad, Casey!"