Three days passed.
Ash and his two companions finally arrived at the seaside.
Facing the endless blue horizon, the three of them decided to take a well-earned rest here.
For some reason, this beach was completely deserted.
It was quiet, peaceful, and all theirs to enjoy.
Misty and Serena changed into their swimsuits,
Their fair skin shone under the sunlight.
Even with sunglasses on, Ash couldn't help but notice how radiant they looked.
If he told anyone these girls were only ten years old, no one would believe it!
All their Pokémon were released except for the three who stayed back.
The Squirtle Squad, Frogadier, and several water-type Pokémon frolicked around happily.
With so many capable water Pokémon nearby, Misty and Serena could safely play in the waves without worry.
If anything unexpected happened, help was just a splash away.
Ash leaned back lazily on a lounge chair, watching the two girls splashing water at each other in the surf.
Their laughter echoed across the empty beach, full of energy and warmth.
Even though they were still young,
The sight of them enjoying the sunlight and sea breeze was captivating in its own way.
Ash exhaled deeply, closing his eyes with a smile.
This was what traveling was all about.
For the first time in a while, he felt completely at peace.
But happy moments always passed too quickly.
Before he knew it, the morning had slipped away.
By noon, Ash had already set up a barbecue stand and was preparing lunch.
With his "Cooking Master" entry, even simple grilled food looked irresistible.
The rich aroma of roasting meat and vegetables spread across the shore,
Making Misty and Serena, who had played all morning, nearly drool before the food was ready.
Each bite was so good it felt like their tongues would melt.
At that moment, a small Krabby crawled over to Ash's feet.
It stared longingly at the grill, unable to reach it, bubbles forming at the corners of its mouth.
Ash chuckled, then picked up a skewer and set it down in front of the tiny crab.
Pokémon were omnivores after all, and while special Pokémon food was best for their growth,
A bit of cooked food wouldn't hurt.
Krabby looked up gratefully, then clamped the skewer and began eating with enthusiasm.
"This Krabby is so small, Ash! I've never seen one this tiny before!"
Misty, who was chewing on her barbecue, leaned closer curiously.
Though Krabby wasn't exactly cute,
It was still a water-type Pokémon—and that alone caught her interest.
If its condition wasn't bad, maybe she could even capture one herself.
Looking closer, she realized something unusual.
"This Krabby's half the normal size! A regular one's around forty centimeters, but this one looks barely twenty!"
Ash hadn't thought much of it at first,
After all, he hadn't planned on catching it.
It was just a small crab who'd wandered over for food.
But after hearing Misty's observation, curiosity sparked in his mind.
What if being small didn't mean weakness—but hidden potential?
He decided to check with his system.
[Name: Krabby]
[Gender: Male]
Trainer: None
[Attribute: Water]
[Level: Ordinary Elementary]
Ability: Hyper Cutter
[Moves: Water Gun, Bubble, Harden, Metal Claw, Leer...]
[Talent: Gym]
Special Move: None
[Entries: Late Bloomer (Red), Giant Claw Decapitation (Orange)]
[Late Bloomer (Red): Appears undersized and stunted compared to peers, but has a higher growth ceiling. Final size increases by 1.5×, and maximum potential is also 1.5× that of ordinary Pokémon.]
[Giant Claw Decapitation (Orange): Increases the hit rate of one-hit-KO moves by 50%.]
Ash blinked.
"...Huh?"
He wasn't confused because he didn't understand—he was shocked because it made no sense!
This little crab looked so weak, yet it had gym-level talent?
And red and orange entries on top of that?
That was outrageous!
If not for the system's scan, no one would ever believe such a runt-sized Krabby could possess this kind of potential.
Wild Pokémon with gym-level qualifications were nearly unheard of.
Even finding one with elite talent in the wild was close to impossible.
The fact that Ash had already met four Pokémon of such caliber on this trip was beyond incredible.
And now, just while barbecuing at the beach, he'd stumbled upon another gym-tier Pokémon!
Ash stared at the grill thoughtfully.
Could it be that his "Cooking Master" entry had some hidden ability?
Like attracting high-potential Pokémon through the scent of food?
Because this wasn't the first time powerful Pokémon had been drawn to his cooking!
He couldn't help but smile.
Whatever the reason, he wasn't about to pass this chance up.
A gym-tier Krabby with dual red and orange entries—how could he not catch it?
With the crab's trust already won through food,
It didn't resist when Ash gently tossed a Poké Ball.
The capture was instant.
Misty and Serena stood there, still trying to process what happened.
How did Ash manage to capture such a strong Krabby so easily?
On this journey, Ash had fought hundreds of wild Pokémon,
But very few ever joined his team.
If it weren't for the Squirtle Squad earlier, he would still only have six Pokémon.
And now, somehow, he'd caught a Krabby that looked weak but wasn't.
"This isn't normal..." Serena murmured.
Ash smiled faintly. "Don't be fooled by appearances. That Krabby has more power than it seems. You'll see soon enough."
Misty and Serena exchanged a look, then nodded.
At this point, they'd learned to trust Ash's instincts completely.
After all, he hadn't been wrong even once.
And if he said that Krabby was special, then it definitely was.
(End of Chapter 38)