My name is Li Qingfeng, and I am a fan of Pokémon games and anime.
As a game enthusiast, I once achieved a top 100 ranking in an official Pokémon Scarlet and Violet competition.
This proves I'm not just a casual player; I have some skill.
One day, as I was pushing for the master ball tier in the new season, a letter appeared on my Switch.
"Are you willing to follow your heart's desire, go to that mysterious and exciting world, witness a young man's glory, and ascend to the peak with him?"
"1. Yes" "2. No"
"A young man? Who could it be?"
"I... am willing."
I spoke my answer.
What followed was unconsciousness.
The moment before I passed out, I saw the figure of a Pokémon with a halo.
When I came to, I found myself in an unknown place, though there were an unusual number of trees here.
——————
Li Qingfeng looked around, muttering, "Did I really cross over? Is this the game world or the anime world?"
Li Qingfeng swayed, feeling light. He had turned into a ghost-like form, and he tried to move.
Soon, he completely mastered free movement.
A ray of light flashed, as if guiding Li Qingfeng towards its source.
Before Li Qingfeng had floated for long, a torrential downpour began, dark clouds covering the entire sky, and raindrops, like dense bullets, mercilessly struck the ground, creating a deafening sound.
The wind howled, as if responding to the heavy rain, and in an instant, mist filled the air, reducing visibility to mere steps.
A young man was cycling furiously, a Pikachu lying in his bike basket.
To make matters worse, a flock of Spearow was chasing him.
"Xiao Zhi and Pikachu?!" Li Qingfeng instantly understood what plot this was.
The beginning of Xiao Zhi's journey!
What happened next made Li Qingfeng break into a cold sweat: Xiao Zhi fell off his bike, and even Pikachu flew out of the basket.
Xiao Zhi anxiously cried, "Pikachu!"
He endured the pain, struggled to his feet, and stumbled to Pikachu, gently stroking Pikachu's body.
"Pikachu, come in here. I know you hate poké balls, but if you stay inside, you might be saved. Leave the rest to me!"
After speaking, Xiao Zhi turned to face the flock of Spearow circling in the sky, ready to attack.
The number of Spearow was so great that their presence made the sky dense and dark!
"Do you even know who I am?!"
"I am Xiao Zhi from Masara Town! I will become the world's greatest Pokémon Master!"
"I will never lose to you!"
Xiao Zhi shouted desperately. The flock of Spearow seemed enraged by Xiao Zhi's words and began to adjust their positions, attacking Xiao Zhi in unison!
Hundreds of Spearow folded their wings, each one diving towards Xiao Zhi!
Amidst thunder and lightning, Xiao Zhi's silhouette appeared in Pikachu's eyes.
Pikachu looked at the poké ball Xiao Zhi had placed beside him, then looked at Xiao Zhi, muttering softly:
"Pika..." (Xiao Zhi... why are you so good to me?)
Li Qingfeng: ?
Did I just understand a Pokémon's words?
The situation was critical. Even though he knew Xiao Zhi would be fine in the end, Li Qingfeng couldn't think that far ahead. Subconsciously, he and Pikachu simultaneously rushed forward, wanting to protect Xiao Zhi!
"Pi...ka...chu!"
Pikachu jumped into the air, using Xiao Zhi's shoulder. As if seeing Li Qingfeng, it made contact with him, and a crisp sound rang out. Li Qingfeng was used as a springboard by Pikachu to jump even higher!
Li Qingfeng, in his soul state, was actually kicked by Pikachu in front of Xiao Zhi. A powerful suction appeared, and Li Qingfeng fell unconscious once again.
Pikachu's body tensed, and it suddenly screamed, a sharp, hoarse sound coming from its throat.
As Pikachu's sharp, hoarse cry rang out, it extended its chest, and the electricity on its body rapidly gathered, condensing into a massive ball of light.
Pikachu's body began to tremble, as if enduring immense energy. Its body suddenly erupted with a deafening, powerful current, so strong that the air seemed to solidify.
The flock of Spearow simultaneously collided violently with the powerful lightning unleashed by Pikachu. Spearow continuously fell under the furious thunder, and the Spearow in the rear, seeing the dire situation, quickly fled.
——————
"Where... is this?" Li Qingfeng only felt a pitch blackness. He saw Xiao Zhi, also unconscious, and quickly walked over, gently patting his tender cheek: "Xiao Zhi, wake up!"
Xiao Zhi barely opened his eyes. He had been flashed by the lightning Pikachu unleashed and hadn't fully recovered yet.
He also saw Li Qingfeng and asked in confusion, "Who are you? How do you know my name? Where is this?"
Li Qingfeng thought for a moment, extended his hand, and said with a smile, "My name is Li Qingfeng. As for where this is, I guess it's your inner world. But never mind, now we know each other."
Xiao Zhi scratched his head, bewildered, then also extended his hand: "Hmm, nice to meet you, Li Qingfeng. My name is Xiao Zhi. If this really is my inner world, why are you in my mind?"
Li Qingfeng paused, and the figure of Arceus appeared in his mind, which gave him an idea:
"A Pokémon named Arceus transported me here. As for why... I guess it's to help you become a Pokémon Master. Well, at least in terms of battling, I can give you some pointers."
As he spoke, Xiao Zhi felt someone calling him and simply vanished.
———— Reality ————
The rain... stopped.
After the rain, the sky cleared, and a rainbow appeared.
Xiao Zhi barely opened his eyes and saw Pikachu, also lying on the ground.
"Pikachu..." Xiao Zhi hugged Pikachu. Pikachu stuck out its tongue and licked Xiao Zhi's face.
Xiao Zhi's voice was somewhat tearful as he and Pikachu looked into each other's eyes: "Choosing me... is it really alright?"
A cry of Ho-Oh sounded. Xiao Zhi, holding Pikachu, stood up and looked towards the sky.
Xiao Zhi couldn't help but exclaim, "What kind of Pokémon is that?"
'Ho-Oh, the rainbow Pokémon. It's a legendary Pokémon~' Li Qingfeng's voice came from Xiao Zhi's mind.
'Li Qingfeng?!' Xiao Zhi couldn't help but widen his eyes. So, this dream was real?!
Just now, Li Qingfeng heard Xiao Zhi's question and casually said something. He didn't expect that the awakened Xiao Zhi could also hear him speak. It seemed he had become something like an Old Grandpa on a ring.
A rainbow wing drifted down. Xiao Zhi extended his hands, and the rainbow wing landed steadily in Xiao Zhi's hand.
The feather glowed with seven colors. Xiao Zhi and Pikachu watched Ho-Oh's retreating figure as the rainbow appeared.
They exchanged a smile: "Pikachu, one day we'll go meet that guy."
"Pikachu..." (Yeah, definitely...)
'Xiao Zhi, by the way, why didn't you use your Pokédex to scan it?' Li Qingfeng asked. If he had a physical body, he'd probably be looking at him with a face full of black lines right now.
Li Qingfeng's words reminded Xiao Zhi, and he said like a deflated balloon: 'Huh? I forgot...'
"Never mind, there will be plenty of opportunities to see him later. Right, Pikachu?" Xiao Zhi stroked Pikachu's head, laughing heartily.
"Pika?" (Huh?)
—