Rain pelted against the window of Kai's small apartment, creating a soothing rhythm that contrasted with the occasional flash of lightning and rumble of thunder. His college textbooks lay forgotten on his desk, pushed aside to make room for his laptop and gaming setup. Tonight was Kai's one night off from both classes and his part-time job, and he intended to make the most of it.
"Come on, come on," Kai muttered, fingers hovering over his keyboard as the familiar Genshin Impact loading screen appeared. "Just one more pull and I'll have enough for Zhongli."
The storm outside was growing more intense. Weather alerts had been pinging his phone all evening, but Kai had silenced them hours ago. Nothing was going to interrupt his gaming session tonight—not when he was this close to pulling one of his favorite characters.
His room briefly illuminated with a flash of lightning, followed almost immediately by a deafening crack of thunder that shook the entire building.
"Whoa, that was close," Kai said to himself, glancing briefly toward the window before returning his attention to the screen. The familiar melody of Liyue's soundtrack filled his room as he navigated to the wish screen. His primogems, saved up over weeks of careful play, were finally enough for a guaranteed five-star character.
Another flash of lightning, brighter than before, and the lights in his apartment flickered. His laptop screen stuttered for a moment but stabilized. Kai leaned forward, eyes fixed on the screen as he initiated the wish.
"Please be Zhongli, please be Zhongli," he chanted as the familiar golden shooting star animation played across his screen.
The power in his building surged dramatically. His laptop screen grew unnaturally bright, the colors more vivid than should be possible. The single golden star on his screen seemed to expand, filling his vision.
"What the—?" Kai barely had time to push back from his desk when a strange sensation overcame him—like he was being pulled forward, not just mentally but physically, toward his screen. The room around him began to spin, the walls of his apartment blurring into streaks of color.
There was a deafening crack—whether from thunder or something else, he couldn't tell—and then everything went dark.
When Kai regained consciousness, the first thing he noticed was the smell of salt water and spices—unfamiliar, yet somehow recognizable. His head throbbed as he tried to open his eyes, the bright sunlight forcing him to squint.
"What happened?" he groaned, pushing himself up from what felt like stone pavement. As his vision cleared, his surroundings came into focus, and his heart nearly stopped.
Stone buildings with sloping tile roofs lined a harbor waterfront. People in clothing straight out of ancient China moved about, carrying goods or conversing in small groups. In the distance, massive stone pillars rose from the water, and mountains framed the horizon in a way that was hauntingly familiar.
"This... this isn't possible," Kai whispered, shakily getting to his feet. But it was undeniable—he was standing in what appeared to be Liyue Harbor. Not the digital version he'd explored countless times on his laptop, but a real, physical place with sounds, smells, and textures his gaming experience had never captured.
A few passersby glanced at him curiously but continued on their way. Kai looked down at himself and was surprised to find he was wearing unfamiliar clothing—a tailored outfit that combined elements of traditional Liyue fashion with more practical, modern-looking elements. His body felt different too—taller, more muscular than his average college student physique.
When he caught his reflection in a shop window, he barely recognized himself. His formerly short, unkempt hair was now tied back in a medium-length style. His face seemed more defined, almost model-like, and his build resembled that of an athlete rather than a sleep-deprived student.
"What's happening to me?" he muttered, touching his face in disbelief.
A strange warmth suddenly flooded his consciousness, accompanied by an unfamiliar voice in his mind.
[Pokemon House System initializing...]
[Welcome, Shinzō Tatsunaga, to Teyvat]
"Shinzō... Tatsunaga?" he repeated, the name feeling both foreign and strangely right on his tongue.
[System functionality unlocked: Basic Commerce Module, Pokemon Starter Package, Facility Construction Permissions]
[Congratulations! You have been selected as the first Pokemon Distributor in Teyvat]
The voice continued, explaining rules and procedures that Kai—or Shinzō, as he apparently was now—struggled to comprehend. Something about selling creatures called Pokemon to the people of this world, maintaining certain standards of care, and facing dire consequences should he break the established rules.
"This can't be real," Shinzō said, drawing more curious glances from passersby. "I must have hit my head when the power surged. Maybe there was a fire in my apartment building. I'm probably in a hospital bed right now, hallucinating."
[Negative. Transfer complete and irreversible. Identity integration at 97%]
"What does that even mean?" he hissed, trying to keep his voice down as he moved toward a less crowded area near the harbor.
[As compensation for your displacement, you will receive your first Pokemon partner]
A soft red glow emanated from Shinzō's hand. When the light faded, a small red and white sphere sat in his palm—a Pokéball, he realized with growing astonishment.
[Your first Pokemon has been selected based on personality compatibility]
Almost instinctively, Shinzō knew what to do. He tossed the ball forward, keeping his arm low to avoid drawing too much attention. The ball opened with a soft flash of light, and a tall, bipedal creature materialized before him—a Blaziken, its wrists flickering with flames that quickly dimmed as it took in its surroundings.
The Blaziken turned to Shinzō, studying him with intelligent eyes. After a moment, it nodded in recognition and gave a soft, chirping call.
"This is... you're real," Shinzō whispered, cautiously reaching out to touch the Pokemon's arm. The feathers were warm and solid under his fingers. "You're actually real."
[Congratulations on bonding with your first Pokemon: Blaziken (Level 81)]
[Note: This Blaziken possesses a special bond with you, similar to the phenomenon known as "Bond Phenomenon"]
[System Notice: A property has been purchased in your name in Liyue Harbor's market district]
[You have 48 hours to establish "The Pokemon House" before full system activation]
Shinzō's mind raced with questions, but one thing was clear—this was no dream or hallucination. Somehow, impossibly, he had been transported into the world of Teyvat, given a new identity, and tasked with introducing Pokemon to this world.
"Okay," he said, taking a deep breath to steady himself. "If this is real, and I can't go back, then I need to adapt. First things first." He turned to Blaziken, who watched him attentively. "We need to find this property and figure out our next steps without causing a panic. Can you go back in the ball for now?"
Blaziken nodded and tapped the button on the Pokéball Shinzō held out. In a flash of red light, the Pokemon was gone, leaving Shinzō alone with his thoughts.
He patted his pockets and found what seemed to be a wallet containing some unfamiliar currency—Mora, he realized—and a small parchment with an address written on it. Orienting himself based on his knowledge of Liyue Harbor's layout from the game, he began making his way through the streets.
As he walked, the reality of his situation began to sink in. He was no longer Kai the college student but Shinzō Tatsunaga, apparent businessman and soon-to-be Pokemon distributor in a world that had never seen such creatures before.
"The Pokemon House," he murmured to himself, the name bringing a strange sense of purpose. If this was to be his new life, he would need to approach it with the same dedication and focus he'd applied to his studies back on Earth.
The address led him to a moderately sized building on the edge of the market district—a two-story structure with a small courtyard in the back. The architecture was typical Liyue style, with stone foundations and wooden upper levels, though something about it seemed oddly malleable, as if waiting for him to define its purpose.
As he approached the front door, a key materialized in his hand.
[Property recognized. System beginning spatial modifications]
The moment Shinzō inserted the key into the lock, a subtle wave of energy pulsed outward. The building seemed to shimmer for a moment before settling, now sporting subtle design elements that reminded him of Pokemon Centers from the games—nothing too obvious, but enough to make it stand out from neighboring businesses.
Inside, the once-empty space had transformed. Counters, shelves, and display cases filled the main floor, while a staircase led to what appeared to be living quarters above. Most notably, at the center of the back wall was what looked like a doorway filled with swirling energy—a portal, he realized, likely leading to the "backyard" mentioned in the system's rules.
"So this is really happening," Shinzō said, taking in his new domain. He released Blaziken again, who immediately began exploring the space with curious eyes.
"Welcome to The Pokemon House," Shinzō told his partner, a small smile forming despite the overwhelming nature of the day's events. "I guess we're about to change this world forever."
Blaziken nodded, standing tall beside him as they surveyed what would soon become the first—and only—Pokemon shop in all of Teyvat.
[System Notice: The Pokemon House will officially open in 48 hours]
[Pokemon and supplies will be delivered periodically]
[Good luck, Shinzō Tatsunaga]
As the sun began to set over Liyue Harbor, casting long shadows through the windows of his new establishment, Shinzō took a deep breath and made his first decisive action in this new world.
"Let's get to work."