While Caster stood there in a daze, a data panel materialized before his eyes.
[Pokémon: Magikarp]
[Type: Water]
[Ability: Rattled (When hit by Bug, Ghost, or Dark-type moves, Speed increases due to being startled)]
[Moves: Splash (Learned)]
"I've got it! I've activated my cheat!"
After confirming everything before him was real and not an illusion, Caster couldn't help but burst into laughter. "The Fishing Master has arrived!"
As someone who'd transmigrated, Caster was naturally familiar with the concept of cheat abilities.
At the same time, Caster experienced a sudden clarity of understanding and finally grasped how his cheat worked.
The panel's function was to intuitively display data on caught Pokémon, including attributes, abilities, and moves.
And whenever Caster caught a Pokémon through fishing, the cheat would grant rewards based on factors like the Pokémon's species, strength, moves, and quality.
The rewards were diverse, including but not limited to Energy Orbs, TMs (Technical Machines), and various items.
On top of that, catching a new species of Pokémon for the first time would earn bonus rewards.
As for the Fishing Space, it was a completely independent, unique space existing within Caster's mind. Its function was to store the rewards dispensed by the cheat.
"Woo-hoo! Time to blast off!"
The smile on Caster's face grew even brighter.
So what if he was an orphan?
So what if his starter Pokémon was a Magikarp?
With this cheat helping him, becoming a Pokémon Master in the future would be a piece of cake!
"Karp! Karp!"
Watching the wildly ambitious Caster, the Magikarp floating on the water's surface couldn't help but feel worried.
It sensed that its trainer's mental state didn't seem entirely stable!
Playing along with your act is one thing, but how did you get so caught up in your own performance?
You only caught "me," what's there to be so cocky about?
And it was fake!
Caster had no idea what the Magikarp was thinking. He just excitedly projected his consciousness into the Fishing Space. "These are the rewards the cheat just gave me..."
Inside the space, a white speck of light and a disc floated about.
[Technical Machine: A miraculous item that allows Pokémon to quickly master moves, provided the Pokémon can learn said move.]
[Chilling Water: The user attacks the target by showering it with water that's so cold it saps the target's power. This also lowers the target's Attack stat.]
When Caster focused on the TM, its detailed description immediately appeared.
Although he'd already had some suspicions upon seeing the name, Caster was still deeply shocked.
Because TMs were items from the Pokémon games and shouldn't exist in the real world.
But now, these miraculous items from the game had been brought into reality by his cheat.
And right now, his Magikarp desperately needed moves!
"But Chilling Water... Magikarp doesn't seem able to learn it."
However, after thinking it over, Caster was greatly disappointed. "Though it could master it after evolving into Gyarados."
As far as Caster knew, Magikarp could learn very few moves. Besides Splash, there were only Tackle, and Flail. It couldn't learn any other moves.
Unwilling to give up, Caster tried teaching "Chilling Water" to his Magikarp, but predictably, it failed.
[Please use on a Pokémon capable of learning "Chilling Water"!]
"This is tough!"
After sighing, Caster turned his attention to the small cluster of light, thinking to himself, "Energy Orb? What is this thing? I don't think this existed in the games either!"
[Energy Orb: A cluster of light containing pure energy. When absorbed by Pokémon, it accelerates their growth.]
"It can accelerate Pokémon growth?"
Caster's face lit up with wild joy.
As everyone knew, a Pokémon's strength was comprised of multiple factors, such as level, base stats, moves, ability, type, and resistances...
But the two most important aspects were undoubtedly level and moves.
Of course, the real world didn't use the concept of levels. Instead, it was replaced by a Pokémon's energy intensity.
This perfectly corresponded to the two rewards he'd received: "TMs" and "Energy Orbs." One could help Pokémon quickly learn numerous moves, while the other could help Pokémon rapidly grow stronger.
And all Caster needed to do was fish to continuously harvest rewards.
"I can get stronger just by fishing?"
Thinking of this, Caster said excitedly, "This is seriously awesome!"
"Magikarp, come here! I've got something good for you!"
Caster smiled as he beckoned to the Magikarp at the shore.
"Karp!"
The Magikarp didn't understand but obediently approached.
Its eyes were large and round, but its pupils were only the size of rice grains, making it look quite "intelligent."
"Here goes!"
As Caster focused his mind, the Energy Orb in the Fishing Space slowly drifted out, transforming into specks of light that merged into the Magikarp's body.
"Karp? Karp!"
The moment the Energy Orb fused with it, the Magikarp's body jolted violently, its eyes filled with disbelief.
Because it clearly felt a strange energy that didn't belong to it suddenly appear within its body.
"Karp!"
The Magikarp glared at Caster.
What the hell did you do to me, kid?
However, the Magikarp's anger didn't last long. It was replaced by comfort and intoxication.
Under the nourishment of the Energy Orb, the Magikarp's body began to grow rapidly on a small scale, feeling tingly and itchy all over.
"Karp! Karp!"
An expression of bliss unconsciously appeared on the Magikarp's face, accompanied by involuntary moans.
It could feel itself rapidly getting stronger!
Unfortunately, the energy contained in a cluster the size of a light speck was ultimately quite limited.
The moment the energy was depleted, the Magikarp's enjoyment came to an abrupt halt!
"Karp! Karp!"
When the pleasure vanished, the Magikarp opened its eyes in dissatisfaction and called out to Caster repeatedly, its gaze full of longing.
Huh???
Why did it stop?
I want more!!
"Whoa, the effect of this Energy Orb is actually this powerful?"
Seeing the Magikarp's unsatisfied, deeply addicted appearance, Caster sucked in a sharp breath.
But at the same time, this made Caster incredibly pleased.
Because it showed that the Energy Orb's effect was even better than he'd imagined!
"Magikarp, that attribute Energy Orb felt pretty good, didn't it?"
Caster crouched down, using his hand to play with the Magikarp's whiskers, his face showing a knowing smile.
"Karp!"
The Magikarp quickly nodded, allowing Caster to toy with its body.
Both comfortable and strength-enhancing – what Pokémon could resist such temptation?
Caster smiled and tempted it further. "If you want more, then you need to be obedient from now on."
"Karp! Karp!"
The Magikarp wiggled its body, swimming back and forth, appearing somewhat impatient.
Obedient! I'll be obedient!
Please give your orders freely, Trainer!
"Good! Magikarp, dive down into the water and find the nearby Water-type Pokémon."
After nodding with satisfaction, Caster pointed at the hook and bait with a grin. "Then tell them the League's relief supplies have arrived and they should come here immediately to eat. First come, first served."
"Karp!"
Though it didn't understand Caster's intention, the Magikarp still nodded.
This task didn't seem too difficult!
Seeing this, Caster added another instruction. "Especially powerful Pokémon like Gyarados, Blastoise, and Poliwrath – make sure you notify them properly. Understand?"
The quality of the cheat's rewards had an important relationship with a Pokémon's form and strength. Generally speaking, the stronger the caught Pokémon, the more generous the reward.
If he could catch a Gyarados, Blastoise, or Poliwrath, the rewards would undoubtedly be ten or a hundred times better than from Magikarp. That went without saying.
"Karp?"
Hearing this, the Magikarp showed a troubled expression.
What? You want ME to find Gyarados?
"What's with that look? I'm just asking you to notify them, not defeat them."
Caster patiently coaxed. "If you can handle this, there'll be plenty of benefits for you. Energy Orbs galore in the future..."
"Karp!"
Upon hearing this, the Magikarp nodded with a serious expression, then dove into the water with a "splash."
All for the Energy Orbs!
It couldn't help it – it desperately wanted to improve!
...
In the deep water, the Magikarp swam along, swaying its head and tail, constantly searching for targets.
Before long, it spotted a large fish whose body was mostly white with red at the connection points of its limbs, a sharp horn on its head, and a wavy tail.
It was a Goldeen!
"Karp! Karp!"
The Magikarp quickly swam over, then used its fin to point toward the riverbank where Caster was, informing the Goldeen that there was plenty of food over there.
"Gol-deen!"
The Goldeen looked confused but immediately followed along.
Soon, the Goldeen spotted the bait floating in the water.
"Gol-deen..."
But the Goldeen only approached to sniff the bait before disappointedly shaking its head and leaving, clearly unimpressed by such food.
"Karp..."
With no other choice, the Magikarp could only search for another target.
The second time, it found a huge Seaking, but Seaking couldn't be bothered with trash like Magikarp and was extremely haughty.
The third time, the Magikarp brought back a Pokémon whose body looked like a tadpole but had a spiral pattern on its belly.
It was a Poliwag!
"Poli!"
The Poliwag was cute and friendly without any attitude.
But like the Goldeen, the Poliwag also looked down on Caster's bait and eventually swam away, swishing its feather-like tail.
"Karp..."
Just as Caster's Magikarp was feeling disappointed, a wild Magikarp swam over.
That wild Magikarp blinked its eyes, its rice-grain-sized pupils reflecting the light of "intelligence."
Caster's Magikarp hadn't even had time to speak when the wild Magikarp independently discovered the bait.
It approached and sniffed – bland and tasteless.
It took a small taste – like chewing wax.
But it was edible!
And for weak Pokémon like Magikarp, having food to eat was already pretty good. What more could they ask for?
So the wild Magikarp didn't hesitate at all and swallowed the bait in one gulp.
But before the food could reach its stomach, it was pulled out of the water by the fishing line.
...
"Finally, another big one on the hook!"
On the shore, Caster gleefully pulled on the rod, enjoying the thrill of reeling in a big catch.
The moment its body emerged from the water, the wild Magikarp spat out the hook, and at the same time, the cheat's notification arrived as promised.
[Caught "Magikarp." Reward: 1 Energy Orb.]
"Another Magikarp?"
Caster first pouted in dissatisfaction, but seeing the reward was an Energy Orb, his discontent immediately vanished.
At the same time, this wild Magikarp's data panel also appeared before Caster's eyes.
Aside from its ability being "Swift Swim," all other data was identical to Caster's Magikarp, with only "Splash" as its move. A total weakling through and through.
Splash!
The wild Magikarp fell back into the water but still didn't realize the bait was a trap. Instead, it thought being pulled out of the water was fun.
"Karp! Karp!"
Watching the wild Magikarp swim away contentedly after eating its fill, Caster's Magikarp now understood what to do.
So it went back into action, constantly searching for companions.
Poliwrath and Blastoise were hard to find, but Magikarp? Weren't they everywhere?
The key point was that Magikarp weren't picky eaters. As long as there was something to eat, they were happy.
Before long, a group of large red fish swam to the shore.
"Karp!"
Caster's Magikarp pointed at the bait with its fin.
Bros, eat up!
"Karp! Karp!"
The wild Magikarp didn't suspect a thing and rushed forward to compete for the bait. The water even formed whirlpools and currents from their scrambling.
[Caught "Magikarp." Reward: 1 Splash TM.]
[Caught "Magikarp." Reward: 1 Energy Orb.] x3
[Caught "Magikarp." Reward: 1 Tackle TM.]