Chapter 3 - System Interface
The screen shimmered, and a message appeared:
Welcome, Alex Trent!
The screen shifted, displaying more information:
[User Profile]
Name: Alex Trent
Age: 16
Gender: Male
Trainer Class: Beginner
Hometown: Not selected
Level: 1
EXP: 4/100
Sixteen? I'm sixteen again? The last time I was sixteen… It was a mess of foster homes and bad decisions. Another family dinner with people who didn't really care. Another forced smile. Another night sleeping on a lumpy couch. A wave of bittersweet nostalgia washed over me. But this time… this time it's different. This… this was a second chance. A chance to do things differently.
My gaze drifted to the "Hometown" entry. Not selected. Why isn't there anything specified? Should I choose one? Is it even possible for me to choose it? If I could, should I choose Pallet Town? It's where Oak is, but… would they be suspicious of a stranger suddenly showing up?
Maybe feigning amnesia is the best bet.
Nah, too cliché. Or is it?
Another shimmer, another message:
[System Tutorial]
Think of a keyword to access features. Available features:
• System Interface
• Status
• Skills
Think of a keyword? This was getting weirder by the second. I focused my thoughts on the word "Status."
The screen changed:
[Status]
HP: 100/100
MP: N/A
STR: 6
END: 8
DEX: 7
INT: 11
CHA: 9
LUC: 20
RPG stats? I thought, a mix of amusement and disbelief swirling within me. This is actually happening. And my luck is pretty high compared to the rest. Guess I was lucky to survive that lightning strike.
A shiver ran down my spine as I thought about the alternatives. Speaking of which…
"Skills," I muttered, testing the keyword system.
[Skills]
Observe (Passive) Lv. 1/15: Allows the user to see basic information about a target.
• Lv. 1 - Basic Information:
- For Pokémon: Provides name, species, and level.
- For Humans: Displays name, age, and profession.
NB: More information can be obtained as the skill levels up.
Observe? I focused on the Pidgey hopping nearby.
___________________________
[Pidgey]
[Level]: 2
[HP]: 10/10
___________________________
"So that's how I saw that," I murmured. Useful.
"System Interface," I thought, returning to the main menu. There were some tabs which are still locked, one labeled "Shop" and the other "Relationships". Relationships? I shrugged. Probably just for tracking friendships. Hopefully. And, 'Shop'. This is getting eerily similar to those RPG games that were popular on Earth. Though, why would they be locked? Am I going through some sort of tutorial phase?
Then I noticed a message:
Further features are unlocked upon reaching Trainer Level 5.
Leveling up?
A game… that was real. A wave of dizziness washed over me. This was too much to take in.
I needed to find Emma.
I reached into my pocket and fingered the small, silver hair clip – the one she always wore. The one she wore when we were kids… My heart sank. She had to be here somewhere.
I looked around, taking in my surroundings. The trees thinned out slightly, and I could see rolling hills in the distance. The path wound its way through a field of tall grass, the stalks brushing against my legs. The air was thick with the scent of wildflowers, and I could hear the buzzing of insects. In the distance, I saw a cluster of buildings nestled amongst the trees. Pallet Town. Oak. He might know what to do.
As I started walking toward Pallet Town, a rustling in the tall grass beside the path made me jump. A small, furry creature with big, round eyes peeked out at me. A… a Cottonee? I thought, recognizing it from countless hours of gameplay. It was real. But why was a Cottonee here in Kanto? And that too near Pallet Town? Is this world different from the one I know from the anime and games?
I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart.
"Observe," I muttered, focusing on the Cottonee.
The screen shimmered:
___________________________
[Cottonee]
[Level]: 3
[HP]: 12/12
___________________________
I blinked. So it works. The System's interface hovered in the corner of my vision, crisp and clear. No glitches, no static—just cold, game-like facts. The Cottonee tilted its head, fluffy white body swaying like dandelion fluff in the breeze. Its fur looked… softer, somehow, than the pixelated sprites I was used to. And the way it moved, the slight rustle of leaves as it hopped – it was all so much more… alive than any animation I'd ever seen. Its eyes sparkled with curiosity, not malice.
Level 3. Grass-type.
No moves listed yet—guess Observe needs to be upgraded to show more details.
The Cottonee hopped closer, its movements light and playful. It chirped, a sound that was both familiar and… different. It was like the game's sound effect, but with an added layer of… organic complexity, a subtle vibrato I'd never noticed before. For a wild Pokémon, it seemed oddly… friendly. Or maybe naive.
But why was a Cottonee here near Pallet Town? If I remembered correctly, which I usually do, ahem, Cottonee is usually found in Unova.
"Hey there," I said softly, crouching to its level. "You're a long way from your home aren't ya?"
It trilled, a sound like wind chimes, and bobbed its head.
Definitely not attacking. Maybe it's used to humans?
The Cottonee drifted closer, hovering just out of arm's reach. For a moment, I considered reaching out—then stopped myself. No Poké Balls. No supplies. And I'm not even a real trainer yet. And what if it does know a move? My game knowledge might be useless here.
"Sorry, little guy," I said, standing slowly. "Maybe next time."
It chirped, almost disappointed, before floating back into the tall grass.
I reached into my pocket and pulled out my phone. The map app was still open, guiding me towards Pallet Town. As I walked, I thought about Emma. Where was she? Was she okay? The hair clip in my pocket felt like a tangible connection to her, a promise that I wouldn't give up.
The path sloped downwards, leading me towards the town. As I got closer, I could see a signpost, old and weathered, its paint peeling. Someone had spray-painted a crude Pikachu on it, along with the words 'Welcome to Pallet Town, Trainers!'
Trainers… The word echoed in my mind. Was I really a trainer now? Was I ready for this?
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Chapter End