**A Caterpie's Survival Strategy**
Bell quickly ascended the towering oak. His slow crawling pace meant he didn't reach it until dusk, but he'd already scouted a concealed thicket nearby for temporary shelter.
No way I'm risking the forest at night. He'd bunk here until morning.
**Next Day**
Bell knew the early Caterpie gets caught by Pidgey, so he slept in.
*Growl~*
His protesting stomach woke him. Begrudgingly, he uncurled.
"I'm tiny... but eat like a Snorlax."
Munching stored eggshells, Bell studied the tree.
Location Considerations:
- Too high? Pidgey spotting risk ↑
- Too low? Pokemon like Rattata would harass him
"Solution: A tree hollow."
As a Bug-type, chewing through bark was trivial—just time-consuming. But with stocked food and safety secured, time was a luxury he had.
"Let's dig in!"
After breakfast, Bell scaled the trunk. The perfect spot awaited mid-canopy: shielded by branches, invisible from above or below.
**Three Hours Later**
A serviceable hollow took shape—just big enough to squeeze inside.
"Now for interior decorating!"
Bell admired his work. The entrance hid perfectly under leafy cover—near-undetectable unless you knew where to look.
**Another Three Hours**
His first home was complete:
- Bedding: Chewed tree resin
- Pantry: Silk-wrapped eggshell bundles
All his worldly possessions.
"Seems training lets me learn moves early..."
Status:
Host: Caterpie (Bell)
Type: Bug
Potential: Red
Level: Lv. 4
Ability: Shield Dust
Moves: String Shot, Tackle, Bug Bite
His goal crystallized: Survive. This hollow was his fortress—safe, stocked, and hidden.
Bug-types had rapid life cycles. He'd evolve into Metapod soon, then Butterfree. Then, maybe, find a swarm of his own kind.
"Caterpie evolve at Lv. 7, Butterfree at Lv. 10... I'm close."*
His body had been signaling impending change—ravenous hunger, restless energy.
**[Ding! Level Up! Current Level: Lv. 5]**
A surge of warmth interrupted his thoughts.
"Lying around leveling up? Nice."
But he knew why:
1. Bug-type growth: Naturally fast
2. Premium diet: Eggshells packed more nutrients than leaves. The calcium accelerated his development—so much that his hollow now felt cramped.
"Gotta widen this..."
A concerning realization struck: "I'm getting slower. A plump Caterpie is basically a Pidgey buffet."
**Solution: Exercise**
Bell flopped onto his back in the hollow.
"Humans did sit-ups. Time to adapt."
Goal: 100 daily.
**Reality:**
*Huff... puff...*
After 2.5 minutes and 9 pathetic attempts, he lay exhausted.
"Pathetic. But quitting means death."
Gritting his mandibles, he resumed.
'Why Not Train Outside?'
Simple: *"I like living."* Until he could defend himself, this hollow was his dojo.
**Three Days Later**
Progress! His body felt leaner, stronger. And—
**[Ding! Level Up! Current Level: Lv. 6]**
Status:
Host: Caterpie (Bell)
Type: Bug
Potential: Red
Level: Lv. 6
Ability: Shield Dust
Moves: String Shot, Tackle, Bug Bite
"Evolution's coming..."
His cells thrummed with restless energy. Then—a craving.
Outside, a yellowing fruit glowed on a distant branch. His body *ached* for it.
Item: Evergreen Berry
Effect: Corrects evolutionary defects. May boost Red-potential Pokémon.
Two revelations:
1. **Location Confirmed:** Viridian Forest, Kanto.
2. **Opportunity:** This berry could patch his genetic shortcomings.
"I need it."
Then—shadow overhead.
Pokémon: Pidgeotto
Type: Normal/Flying
Potential: Red
Level: Lv. 17
Ability: Tangled Feet
Moves: Tackle, Sand Attack, Quick Attack, Gust, Whirlwind
Bell ducked deeper into his hollow. "Nope. Not worth dying over."
But as he retreated, his system highlighted another threat:
Pokémon: Rattata
Type:Normal
Potential: Red
Level: Lv. 18
Ability: Guts
Moves: Tackle, Tail Whip, Quick Attack, Focus Energy, Bite, Hone Claws, Slam
Camouflaged in bushes, it stared hungrily at the same berry.
Bell's mandibles twitched.
"Of course. The forest's full of schemers."
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