Is this… a cheat code?
That was Ethan's first thought as he felt a subtle shift in his mind. He quickly recalled the typical setup for transmigrators and silently asked:
"System, what are your functions?"
"Ding! System activated!
Appraisal Function: Check Pokémon attributes, level, nature, ability, and move set.
Training Value Function: Gain training points through battle and practice to increase move proficiency and accelerate mastery!"
Ethan nodded with understanding.
"The appraisal function is easy to grasp—it's like a Pokédex. But that training value mechanic… that's really useful!"
A wave of quiet satisfaction settled over him.
Nearby, Troy Stone smiled as he saw his son's obvious happiness. He glanced at his two Onix, eyes softening as if recalling his own first journey.
"You've captured your Onix. From here on, you need to take good care of it."
"Don't worry, Dad. Onix—I promise I'll train it well!"
Ethan spoke seriously, addressing both his father and the two massive Onix standing nearby. Then he turned to the other Pokémon surrounding them.
"Well then… I'm off!"
"Go," Troy said with a proud smile. "A man should explore the world."
"Remember," he added, "your mom and I are always behind you. First, head to Littleroot Town and find Professor Birch."
"I got it. Goodbye, everyone!"
With a wave, Ethan set off along the eastern trail leading to Dewford Town. He needed to reach the port and board a ship to Petalburg City.
Legend has it that the Hoenn region was shaped by two mighty Pokémon—Groudon and Kyogre. Groudon raised the continents, creating the land. Kyogre filled the oceans, shaping the seas. Their clash sculpted the Hoenn region as it exists today.
Hoenn is a land of striking contrasts. From tropical rainforests to vast deserts, its most defining feature is its expansive water coverage. The water area nearly equals the landmass, a rarity among all known regions. Dozens of islands surround the mainland—some large, some small—many accessible only by sea. Some areas are even submerged at high tide. The rich vegetation and warm climate distinguish Hoenn from most other regions.
The interior is covered in forests and mountains, while most major cities are situated along the coast. Inland villages, however, endure tougher living conditions—for example, the residents of Fortree City dwell in treehouses.
In the far southwest lies Littleroot Town, the canonical starting point of the Hoenn journey in the games of Ethan's past life. The only exit from the town is Route 101, which leads north to Oldale Town.
At the southern end of Littleroot is Professor Birch's Laboratory, where Trainers embarking on their journey can receive their first Pokémon: Treecko, Torchic, or Mudkip.
To reach Littleroot Town from Dewford, Ethan would need to take a passenger ship from Dewford Port to the southwestern ferry dock of Petalburg City, pass through the city, and then travel south.
At this moment, Ethan sat on a ship bound for Petalburg City, staring out at the waves. It was his first time leaving home—his first time truly traveling through this magical world. Everything felt exciting and new.
Although his Onix wasn't fully grown, it already measured 6 meters long and weighed over 160 kilograms! Adult Onix could reach up to 8.8 meters, so releasing it on the ship was out of the question.
"System, scan!"
"Pokémon: OnixLevel: 18Species: Rock Snake PokémonDescription: When digging, it causes tremors that shake the ground. It can tunnel underground at 80 km/h!Type: Rock + GroundNature: AdamantAbility: Sturdy – Prevents fainting from one-hit KO moves; unaffected by recoil.Affection: 100
Moves:– Quick Attack (Beginner)– Screech (Beginner)– Bind (Beginner)– Dig (Proficient)– Return (Beginner)– Harden (Beginner)– Rock Slide (Beginner)
Egg Moves:– Dragon Tail (Beginner)– Iron Tail (Beginner)– Double-Edge (Beginner)
TMs: None"
"Not bad… I didn't expect it to inherit Iron Tail and Dragon Tail. The proficiency is still low though… except for Dig, which seems pretty solid."
Ethan analyzed the data carefully.
"For Onix, I should prioritize boosting its defense—improving physical hardness—and follow that up with raw attack power. Maybe even condition it with water exposure to resist Water-type moves better. At least I don't want it getting one-shot by something like Water Gun."
"Its coverage is too narrow, so I need to broaden the move pool. Hidden Power, definitely. Protect is a must. Earthquake goes without saying. I think it can even learn Dragon Pulse, which I can later evolve into Dragon Breath. Gotta include Rock Smash too."
He scratched his head with a wry grin. As a future Rock and Ground Pokémon Master, he knew his path wouldn't be easy. After all, Onix had 4x weakness to Water and Grass, and 2x weakness to Ground, Fighting, Ice, and Steel.
This is going to be tough… but what's life without a challenge?
He leaned back against the railing, relaxing as he watched the open sea. Mantine occasionally leapt through the waves, schools of Magikarp darted beneath the surface, and Staryu glimmered in the depths.
First goal: boost Onix's water resistance!
After a long journey, the ship finally docked at the coast of Petalburg City. The moment his feet touched solid ground, Ethan felt a wave of comfort.
Ahh, solid ground. Much better.
He fought his way through the bustling crowd, located the right signpost, and started walking toward the city center.
Petalburg City was renowned for its vast greenery and its treasure: Petalburg Woods. Its coastal suburbs stretched out toward the ocean, where salty sea breezes blew gently through the trees. It earned the nickname: "The city where humans and nature coexist."
As a major city in Hoenn, it was also home to the Normal-type Gym, led by Norman, a man known for his relentless pursuit of strength. His ace Pokémon, Slaking, was infamous for its overwhelming power.
The Norman family had originally lived in Johto, but had moved to Hoenn so Norman could fulfill his role as Gym Leader. People often said:
"He was born for Pokémon."
In Ethan's past life, Norman was a popular character in the anime, and even considered a candidate for Hoenn's Elite Four—a testament to his strength. His daughter, May, had once been one of Ash's companions.
Of course, Ethan had no illusions about his current strength.
Challenge Norman's Gym? Yeah right. That'd just get me flattened.
After glancing up at the impressive Petalburg Gym, Ethan turned and walked straight toward the city's department store.
"Welcome! How can I help you today?"
The clerk greeted him warmly, and Ethan felt a little awkward. Dewford Town didn't have a department store—residents there relied entirely on sea transport to receive supplies from Slateport City.
"Hi, I'd like to buy some Pokémon food… and also Rock-type and Ground-type Energy Blocks. Oh—and a tent, some Antidotes, Potions…"
"Certainly! That comes to 300,000 PokéCoins. Thank you for your patronage!"
Ethan winced slightly as he made the payment. Even though his mom had given him a generous sum of money, spending 300,000—roughly a third of it—still hurt. He knew he'd need to tighten his belt from now on and spend wisely, prioritizing his Pokémon's needs.
Trying to reassure himself, Ethan exited the store.
Not far from the department store, a large red-roofed building stood prominently by the road—it was the Pokémon Center.
However, Ethan wasn't yet officially registered with the Pokémon League. Before he could access the Center's services or receive League benefits, he had to first visit Littleroot Town, register as a new Trainer under the Alliance, and obtain his Pokédex. Only then could he enroll in this year's Hoenn League Rookie Tournament.
Unlike in the anime, each regional starting town had an official League Professor. These Professors weren't just researchers—they were also formidable Trainers, ranked above Gym Leaders and just below the Elite Four. Some were even rumored to have Champion-tier strength.
In his past life, Pallet Town was nicknamed "Champion Town" by fans—home to the legendary Professor Oak, who was said to be strong enough to challenge Champions himself.
Kanto, huh… I'll definitely go there someday.
Ethan reminisced about the anime plotlines. Although he wasn't sure what the timeline was in this world, it didn't matter. He was going to forge his own path. As for Ash Ketchum—if fate allowed, their paths might cross one day.
Continuing east along Route 102, he gradually left the outskirts of Petalburg City.
"Alright, come on out, Onix!"
He tossed the Poké Ball, releasing his partner who had been cooped up for a while.
"Roooaaar!"
Onix lowered its head and affectionately rubbed against Ethan.
"You've been in that Poké Ball a long time. Time for a good stretch, Onix!"
Patting Onix's stony body, Ethan turned his gaze toward the bushy path ahead.
"Always be ready for battle!"
"Roar!"
"Good! Let's move out!"
Just like when he was a child, Ethan climbed up onto Onix's neck and settled into place with practiced ease. He clapped his hands.
"Let's go, Onix!"
"Roar!"
Onix obeyed, crawling forward along the path with Ethan guiding from above. Though not particularly fast, it was still far quicker than walking on foot.
Even at just Level 18, Onix's sheer size and presence were intimidating. As they traveled, no low-level wild Pokémon dared to pop out unexpectedly.
That, however, was a problem.
Ugh, at this rate, I won't find any battles…
With a sigh, Ethan reluctantly returned Onix to its Poké Ball.
Sure enough, after walking solo for a short while, a wild Pokémon suddenly appeared—ready to challenge him.
"Finally!"
Standing in the path ahead was a Pokémon that looked like a kappa—a turtle-like creature with a lily pad on its head. It blocked his way.
"A Water/Grass dual-type… that's a tough match-up!"
"System, scan!"
"Pokémon: LombreLevel: 17Species: The Jolly PokémonEvolution: Evolved form of LotadDescription: From a distance, it's often mistaken for a human child.
Type: Water + GrassNature: HastyAbility: Rain Dish – Restores 1/16 of its HP at the end of each turn during rainy weather.
Affection: 0
Known Moves:– Water Gun (Beginner)– Mist (Beginner)– Growl (Beginner)– Absorb (Beginner)– Growth (Beginner)
Egg Moves: NoneTMs: None"
Lombre.
Level 17, huh? Ethan narrowed his eyes, noting that it must have evolved from a Lotad some time ago.
After a quick moment of thought, he pulled out a Poké Ball.
"Let's go, Onix—your first real battle! This one's a worthy opponent!"
With a flick of his wrist, he tossed the ball. In a burst of white light, the massive Onix landed with a heavy thud that shook the earth beneath it.
"Roooaaar!"
Onix let out a thunderous roar, locking eyes with its opponent. Its long, rocky body coiled steadily on the ground, tense with anticipation. Though calm on the surface, it had clearly been waiting a long time for this moment.