The last thing Kian remembered was the blinding glare of headlights, the screech of tires, and the sickening crunch of metal on bone. He was thirty-five, drunk out of his mind, and dying as a pathetic, middle-aged virgin on the cold asphalt of Earth.
Then, there was nothing.
Until his eyes snapped open.
Kian shot up in bed, his chest heaving, sweat clinging to his forehead. He patted his chest, then his face. No blood. No pain. He looked down at his hands—they weren't the rough, callous hands of a miserable office worker. They were smooth, youthful, and strong.
He threw the covers off and scrambled to a mirror hanging on the wall of the unfamiliar, sunlit room. The reflection staring back wasn't him. Or rather, it was him, but better. Younger. Sharper jawline. Lean muscle. He looked like a protagonist.
"What the fuck is this?" he muttered, his voice sounding deeper, richer.
[Ding!]
A semi-transparent blue screen materialized in front of his face.
[Welcome, Host. Transmigration Successful.][Current World: Pokémon (Kanto Region)][Identity: Kian (Orphan / Independent Trainer)]
Kian stared at the floating text, his brain short-circuiting for a second before the realization hit him like a lightning bolt.
"Is this... is this what I think it is?"
He looked around the room. Posters of Charizard and Blastoise adorned the walls. A red backpack sat in the corner. Through the window, he saw a Pidgey fluttering by.
"I'm in the Pokémon world?" A wide, feral grin stretched across his face. "Fuck yes!"
The memories of his trash life on Earth—the debt, the loneliness, the endless grind—evaporated. He was free. He was young. And he was in a world where power was tangible.
"Wait," Kian said, narrowing his eyes at the blue screen. "I've read enough Webnovels to know how this works. If I'm here, I must have a cheat, right? Show me the System."
[Affirmative. You have been granted the "Primal Domination System."]
"Primal Domination?" Kian laughed. "Sounds edgy. What does it do?"
[Unique System Trait: Anthropomorphic Evolution.][Description: Any Pokémon owned by the Host acts as a normal Pokémon to the outside world. However, in the presence of the Host, they can manifest human-like sexual characteristics (Breasts, Genitalia, Vocal Cords) while retaining their Pokémon abilities. They are fully compatible for breeding and sexual intercourse.]
Kian's jaw dropped. "Holy shit. You mean they can talk? And... fuck?"
[Correct. They are designed to be your perfect partners. In every sense.]
"And it's just Pokémon?" Kian asked, his mind racing with the possibilities. "I mean, I've played the games, I know the lore. We can only catch monsters."
[Correction. The System provides access to a Unique Item: The Subjugation Ball.][Description: A special Pokéball capable of capturing human targets. Once captured, the human is bound to the Host similar to a Pokémon.]
"Humans too?" Kian's eyes widened, a dark thrill shooting through his veins. He thought of the Gym Leaders. Misty. Sabrina. Lorelei. "So I can just catch anyone?"
[Affirmative. However, Subjugation Balls are not sold in marts. The Host must earn them.]
"Give me one right now," Kian demanded, stepping forward. "If I'm the only one with this System, I need that ball."
[Negative. Reward locked. The Host must complete a Quest to obtain the first Subjugation Ball.]
"Tch. Typical," Kian scoffed, though his excitement didn't wane. "Fine. I have to grind for it. I can do that."
He looked around the room again. "So, if I'm a trainer... I must have a starter, right?"
As if on cue, a red-and-white sphere sitting on the wooden desk began to rattle.
Shake. Shake.
[System Notification: Pokémon in Party detected.]
The ball burst open in a flash of white light. The light coalesced, taking form in the middle of the bedroom. It wasn't a Charmander or a Squirtle.
Standing there, with elegant white curves and green hair that looked like a sleek bob cut, was a Gardevoir. She looked at Kian, her red eyes glowing softly.
[Status Window][Name: Gardevoir][Level: 21][Bond: Inherited (High)][System Trait: Active]
She blinked, tilting her head.