The dusty path of Route 1 stretched out before Alex, winding through patches of tall grass and wildflowers. Bulbasaur, feeling quite pleased with itself after its skirmishes, trotted a little ahead, occasionally turning to give Alex a proud "Bulba!" He gently rubbed the bulb on its back. He was off. The world of Pokémon, finally his to explore.
Alex paused, looking at his starter.
Alex's Current Pokémon :
Bulbasaur
* Species: The Seed Pokémon.
* Type: Grass/Poison.
* Level Tier: Beginner's (Lvl 9)
* Known Moves:
* Tackle
* Growl
* Leech Seed
* Vine Whip
* Growth
Dragonite
* Species: The Dragon Pokémon.
* Type: Dragon/Flying.
* Level Tier: Elite Four Conqueror (Lvl 55)
* Known Moves:
* Extreme Speed
* Fire Punch
* Hurricane
* Leer
* Roost
* Thunder Punch
* Thunder Wave
* Twister
* Wing Attack
* Wrap
* Dragon Tail
* Agility
* Slam
* Aqua Tail
* Dragon Rush
* Outrage
* Safeguard
* Rain Dance
* Dragon Dance
* Hyper Beam
---
(Ash's Pov)
Meanwhile, a short while earlier, a very different journey was unfolding on the same route.
Ash Ketchum practically burst from Professor Oak's lab, a triumphant grin plastered across his face. He finally had his Pokémon! "Alright, Pikachu! Let's go!"
His new partner, a yellow mouse Pokémon with red cheeks, merely eyed him with a disdainful "Pika." It refused to ride on his shoulder, opting instead to drag its feet behind him, an aura of utter disinterest hanging around it.
"Come on, Pikachu! We're starting our adventure! We're gonna catch lots of Pokémon!" Ash exclaimed, pointing dramatically at a passing Pidgey. He hurled a Poké Ball, only for it to bounce harmlessly off the Pidgey's head. The Pidgey, looking mildly annoyed, simply flew away.
Pikachu snickered.
"Hey! No laughing!" Ash pouted, retrieving the empty ball. His spirits, initially soaring, were taking a beating. Every attempt to catch a Pokémon – a Rattata, a Caterpie – ended in failure, often compounded by Pikachu's stubborn refusal to battle.
Frustrated, Ash spotted a wild Spearow perched on a tree branch. "Alright, you little menace!" he muttered, picking up a small rock. "Take this!" He wound up and threw the stone. It struck the Spearow squarely on the head.
The Spearow let out an enraged screech, its beady eyes narrowing into furious slits. It immediately flew towards Ash, its sharp beak snapping.
"Whoa! That's not how you battle!" Ash yelped, scrambling back.
But it wasn't just one Spearow. The single Spearow's cries had drawn its friends. From the trees, from the sky, a whole flock of Spearow erupted, a dark, squawking cloud descending upon Ash and Pikachu. Their angry cries filled the air, and they began to dive-bomb the two, pecking and scratching.
"Run, Pikachu! They're coming for us!" Ash screamed, scooping up his reluctant partner and sprinting down the path, the furious flock hot on their heels.
As they ran, the sky, which had only moments before been clear, began to darken ominously. A cold wind whipped through the trees, and the first fat drops of rain began to fall, quickly turning into a downpour that blurred their desperate escape. The Spearow, however, showed no signs of letting up.
---
Back on Route 1, Alex was making steady progress. He knew he'd been fortunate, with his innate understanding and his powerful family connections. He couldn't help but wonder how Ash was doing. That kid had a good heart, but a rough start with Pikachu.
As Alex continued his journey, the sky ahead began to darken, and the first drops of rain started to fall. Soon, it was a full-fledged downpour. He spotted a flash of brilliant yellow lightning in the distance, followed by an incredibly loud crack of thunder. His psychic senses flared with an intense surge of raw electrical power, far beyond what a typical Pikachu should be capable of at the start of its journey.
Intrigued and slightly concerned, Alex broke into a run, Bulbasaur keeping pace beside him. He headed towards the source of the powerful energy signature. As he rounded a bend in the path, the scene before him was chaotic. Rain lashed down, and a large flock of angry Spearow swarmed a soaked and disheveled Ash, who was desperately trying to shield a clearly exhausted Pikachu in his arms.
Suddenly, Pikachu, despite its weakened state, unleashed a massive, uncontrolled surge of electricity. Bolts of pure yellow energy erupted from its body, far exceeding a normal Thundershock. The Spearow shrieked in pain and surprise as the raw power of what felt like 100,000 Volts blasted through their ranks, scattering them and leaving several stunned or fainted on the ground. The display of power was breathtaking, and Alex felt a jolt of surprise himself.
As the Spearow retreated, momentarily stunned by the unexpected force, the intense electrical energy dissipated. Ash, wide-eyed and covered in soot, looked down at Pikachu in disbelief.
"Pikachu... you..." he stammered.
Just then, the rain seemed to lessen slightly, and the clouds overhead parted for a fleeting moment. In the brief break in the downpour, a magnificent, rainbow-feathered Pokémon soared through the clearing sky, its majestic wings catching the light. It was Ho-Oh, a legendary being of immense power and beauty. Its appearance was fleeting, but both Alex, who had just arrived on the scene, and Ash, still reeling from Pikachu's outburst, saw it clearly. An aura of otherworldly grace surrounded it as it disappeared behind the clouds.
Both boys were left in stunned silence, gazing at the sky where the legendary Pokémon had been. The sheer power of Pikachu's attack, followed by the mythical Ho-Oh's appearance, left an indelible mark on them both.
"Did... did you see that?" Ash breathed, turning to Alex, who was standing nearby, equally awestruck.
"Ho-Oh," Alex confirmed, his voice hushed with reverence. "A legendary Pokémon... and that power, Pikachu..."
Realizing the immediate need for recovery, Alex said, "We need to get your Pikachu to a Pokémon Center, Ash. That was an incredible display, but it looked draining."
Ash nodded, concern etched on his face. "Right. Viridian City isn't far."
Together, the two boys, along with Bulbasaur and the still slightly sparking Pikachu, made their way towards Viridian City.
---
Upon reaching Viridian City, the first thing they did was rush into the Pokémon Center. Nurse Joy greeted them with a kind smile, quickly taking Pikachu to be healed. Ash paced anxiously in the waiting area, while Alex kept a more composed but equally concerned vigil.
A short while later, the doors to the examination room slid open, and Nurse Joy emerged, holding a now-resting Pikachu. "He'll be fine," she assured them. "He just used up a lot of energy. A good rest will do him wonders."
Relief washed over Ash. "Thank goodness."
Just then, the Pokémon Center doors swung open again, and a young girl with fiery orange hair tied in a side ponytail stormed in, her face a mask of fury. Her eyes immediately locked onto Ash.
"You!" she yelled, pointing an accusing finger. "You're the one who stole my bike!"
Ash blinked, looking utterly bewildered. "Your bike? I... I don't think so?"
The girl marched right up to him, her hands on her hips. "Don't lie to me! A twerp like you is exactly the kind of person who would do something like that! My beautiful bike! You're going to pay for this!"
Alex stepped forward slightly, a neutral expression on his face. He recognized her instantly. Misty, the Cerulean City Gym Leader's sister.
---
Here's the Pokémon level division information presented in neatly organized paragraphs while maintaining all original content:
### Pokémon Level Division System
1. Beginner's Tier (Levels 1-12)
This tier represents newly obtained Pokémon with basic movesets and low stats. These Pokémon are just starting their journey, focusing on learning battle basics and handling initial exploration encounters. Typical examples include starter Pokémon at levels 5-10, along with common early-route Pokémon like Pidgey, Rattata, Caterpie, Weedle, and Zigzagoon. Trainers at this stage concentrate on fundamental gameplay mechanics and simple battles.
2. Advance Tier (Levels 13-25)
Pokémon in this range begin showing significant growth, often reaching their first evolutionary stages and gaining more diverse movesets. They become capable of handling early-to-mid game challenges, particularly the first 2-3 Gym battles where understanding type matchups becomes crucial. Characteristic Pokémon include first-stage evolutions of starters (like Charmeleon), along with evolved early-game species such as Butterfree, Beedrill, Pidgeotto, and Raticate.
3. Gym Challenger Tier (Levels 26-40)
This tier features Pokémon that have often reached their final evolutions, boasting solid stats and powerful moves. They form the core team for mid-to-late game Gym battles and main story progression. Typical representatives include fully evolved starters (Charizard, Blastoise, etc.), along with other strong species like Arcanine, Gengar, Alakazam, Machamp, and Lapras that can hold their own against most in-game challenges.
4. Elite Four Conqueror Tier (Levels 41-55)
Pokémon in this bracket demonstrate highly refined battle capabilities with optimized movesets, specifically trained to take on the Elite Four and regional Champion challenges. These include a trainer's primary Elite Four team members and powerful late-game Pokémon like Dragonite, Tyranitar, and Metagross (in their main story versions). They represent the culmination of a standard playthrough's team development.
5. Championship & Post-Game Master Tier (Levels 56-75)
This advanced tier consists of proven battle veterans ready for post-game content and battle facilities. These Pokémon feature top-tier stats with attention to competitive elements like Natures, IVs, and EVs. They typically include refined Championship team members and newly acquired legendary Pokémon caught at these levels, bridging the gap between story completion and competitive play.
6. Legendary Tier (Levels 76-100)
The pinnacle of Pokémon power, this tier comprises most legendary and mythical Pokémon along with those trained to absolute maximum potential for competitive play. It includes godlike Pokémon such as Arceus, Rayquaza, Mewtwo, Kyogre, Groudon, and Zacian, as well as any Level 100 Pokémon optimized for serious competitive battles. These represent the absolute strongest creatures in the Pokémon universe.