Thanks to his fifty-thousand-plus followers, even though Caster had only uploaded the video ten minutes ago, the view count had already broken a thousand.
His fanbase was quite active.
The video opened with footage of Caster catching Seaking. The massive fish had an imposing presence and looked like serious trouble.
"Guys, dinner's served!"
"Old Fish really is an fisher. No wonder his ID is Fishing Dreamer."
"That Seaking's pretty big. Must be strong. Did Old Fish catch it? But can Magikarp even beat that Seaking?"
Just from the opening, many fans left comments.
They were all curious whether Caster had caught that Seaking.
After the opening, the video shifted to a normal narrative pace, showing Caster sitting on the shore continuously reeling in fish, but without exception, they were all Magikarp.
"Old Fish, you're terrible at this! Why are they all Magikarp?"
"The guy above is right! Magikarp? Even dogs wouldn't bother!"
"Magikarp: Outrage warning!!!"
"Why does Old Fish look so happy though? Looks like Old Fish and Magikarp are true love."
Viewers cheerfully commented away.
But they only saw Caster catching Magikarp on the surface. They didn't see the generous rewards his cheat ability was harvesting.
The video continued, followed by Misty coming to challenge him.
When viewers learned Misty was the youngest of the Sensational Sisters, the comment section instantly flooded with reactions, mostly question marks.
"The Sensational Sisters have four members? How did I not know this?"
"Impossible! Absolutely impossible! This little girl is short, flat as a board, has a bad temper, and has zero feminine charm. She's just some brat. How could she be part of the Sensational Sisters?"
"Where'd this ugly duckling come from? Don't attach yourself to my goddess squad. Get lost!"
...
Viewers were up in arms, making Caster's eyelids twitch.
He could already imagine how angry Misty would be when she saw this video and these comments.
Next came footage of Caster fishing with Ash and the others. When they saw Caster catch both Goldeen and Seaking without capturing either, viewers were deeply disappointed.
When they saw Ash get slapped in the face by Magikarp, viewers went wild with laughter.
"Hahaha! That kid's head must be spinning!"
"Who goes fishing without a helmet?"
"Fishing really is dangerous! Good thing the kid only caught a Magikarp this time. Last time I reeled up a Gyarados and ate a Hyper Beam. I was bedridden for a whole month."
"Strongly recommend wearing a hard hat. The results speak for themselves. Try it and see!"
...
As for the battle between Magikarp and Butterfree, Caster didn't include it in the video.
Because Bounce was Magikarp's trump card. If he exposed it now, how would he generate hype later?
"A fan told me Celadon City is holding the first-ever 'Magikarp High Jump Competition' soon and suggested I enter.
After thinking it over, I've decided to take Magikarp and compete. If we can win, there's decent prize money too," Caster said with a smile, revealing his upcoming plans.
"Magikarp High Jump Competition? Oh my god! How can such a boring competition exist?"
"If it's limited to just Magikarp competing, then the streamer's Magikarp has a pretty good shot at winning. Go Fish-kun!"
"Streamer, streamer! I happen to live in Celadon City. Want to meet up? (Female Machamp winking seductively.JPG)"
...
Viewers' comments were all over the place, though that female Machamp emoji was particularly eye-searing.
At the end of the video, Caster dropped another bombshell.
In the video, Caster turned the camera on himself and smiled.
"Also, since I'll be in Celadon City anyway, I'll challenge Celadon Gym while I'm there to test the results of Magikarp's and my training! If I can get the badge, I'll be one big step closer to the Indigo League."
"????"
As soon as he finished speaking, the screen filled with question marks.
"Magikarp: Huh? I'm challenging a gym again?"
"Streamer, have you lost your mind? I'll admit your Magikarp is strong, but the problem is Magikarp can only battle in water.
From what I know, Celadon Gym is a Grass-type gym with battles on land. How's Magikarp supposed to fight?"
"Exactly! Once Magikarp's on land, isn't it just a useless flopping fish?"
"Old Fish, I suggest you train a few more Pokémon before challenging gyms! You only have one Magikarp. It's not gonna work."
"Fish-kun! Sure, they're all gyms, but there are differences between gyms. Celadon Gym and Cerulean Gym are two completely different concepts."
"I think they're pretty similar. The trainers at both gyms are my wives, hehe!"
"What's wrong with the guy above, someone beat him."
...
Comments flooded in, some offering advice, others straight-up mocking, but none were optimistic about Caster.
After all, challenging a gym on land with Magikarp was truly absurd.
However, once photos of Celadon Gym Leader Erika appeared, the tone of the comments and barrage shifted again.
"So that's what Miss Erika looks like in real life. She actually does look better than her anime version, and her aura is more striking too."
Looking at the kimono-clad Erika in the photos, Caster couldn't help but "critique" them himself.
By the time he'd finished critiquing all the photos and gifs, the sky had already darkened.
"Damn it! How did time pass so fast?" Caster glanced at the time on his phone and said seriously, "Looks like I really need to quit reading comments next time. Women only slow down my fishing speed!"
Caster recalled Magikarp to its Poké Ball, then picked up his fishing gear and returned to his lodgings.
The setting sun stretched his shadow endlessly long.
...
Time flew by, and several days passed in the blink of an eye.
Cerulean City.
At the edge of some obscure pond, Caster was fishing, eyes fixed intently on the bobber.
Underwater, his robust Magikarp acted like a bodyguard, constantly circling the bait.
Having obtained Misty's bait formula, Caster's bait had been upgraded and was now far more attractive to Water-type Pokémon.
But correspondingly, the bait's cost wasn't cheap, since it contained many valuable items like Water Stone powder, Cheri Berries, and Luminous Moss.
Good thing Caster had cashed out some funds. Otherwise, even with the formula, he couldn't afford to make the bait.
In ordinary ponds, the most numerous and widespread Pokémon were undoubtedly Magikarp.
But the problem was that catching Magikarp now yielded no cheat ability rewards for Caster.
So the former sweetheart had become yesterday's news.
To prevent wild Magikarp from biting the bait and wasting precious materials, Caster's Magikarp was stationed underwater on guard duty.
"Karp~ Karp~"
Underwater, Caster's bait constantly emitted an enticing aroma, already attracting several wild Magikarp from nearby.
But intimidated by Caster's Magikarp's size, those wild Magikarp eventually swam away cursing.
You could tell they were cursing pretty foul!
"Karp~"
Magikarp looked helpless.
It's all just the trainer's orders!
Before, it was told to invite wild Magikarp to bite the hook. Now it was told to block wild Magikarp from biting. This damn trainer really didn't treat it like a proper Magikarp!
Either way, Magikarp's reputation among its own kind was already completely ruined.
"Poli~"
Just then, a Poliwag smelled the scent and swam over, its tail swaying back and forth, absolutely adorable.
Seeing this, Magikarp immediately retreated into the nearby aquatic plants to hide.
"Poli~"
Poliwag swam up to the bait and, without overthinking, swallowed it in one gulp.
The next second, the little tadpole's mouth felt a sharp tug as it was violently yanked upward.
"It's a Poliwag!" Caster was overjoyed on shore.
As Poliwag was pulled from the water, the cheat ability's reward notification appeared immediately.
[Caught 'Poliwag', reward: 1 Energy Orb.]
[First time catching 'Poliwag', bonus reward: 1 TM for 'Rain Dance'.]