"Ash: I haven't gotten my first Pokémon yet. By the way, what was my first Pokémon in other worlds? Was it Squirtle?"
At this moment, Ash had completely forgotten that he was late and hadn't received any other Pokémon. His heart was filled with curiosity about his starter Pokémon in other worlds.
"Champion Ash: Mine was Pikachu."
"Bo Dao Yong Zhe Xiao Zhi: +1"
"Breeder Ash: +10086"
"…"
Following Ash's question, Ash from various fields in the group all popped up, and without exception, their starter Pokémon were all Pikachu.
Ash looked at the messages in the group, stunned. It seemed that although his counterparts in other worlds had different achievements in various fields, their starter Pokémon were all the same. However...
"Ash: Asking for a friend, what kind of Pokémon is Pikachu?"
As soon as these words came out, the entire group fell silent. Ash waited for more than half a minute, but no one replied. For a moment, he even thought the chat group might be malfunctioning.
"Tactician Ash: I can only say it's very difficult for me to answer such a question. Why don't you go get your starter Pokémon first? Then you'll know what kind of Pokémon Pikachu is."
"Ash: You're right! I still need to get my starter Pokémon! How do I get out of this place?!"
Tactician Ash's reminder made Ash suddenly realize that he still needed to go get his starter Pokémon! He didn't have time to linger in this chat group now!
"Champion Ash: It's simple. Just mentally say 'exit' and you can leave. Once you've received your starter Pokémon, we'll slowly tell you about this chat group and its useful functions for you."
"Ash: Okay!"
Ash hurriedly replied, then quickly mentally said 'exit'.
His consciousness wavered, and he returned from that chaotic space to the real world.
At this moment, he was half-crouching on the ground, one hand covering his head. Not far in front of him was Oaks Research Institute.
From there, he could even see a crowd of people gathered at the entrance of Oaks Research Institute, seemingly seeing someone off.
Ash, having recovered, quickly rushed into the crowd, desperately pushing his way to the very front, and then his eyes met with a young boy who was surrounded by the crowd, like a star surrounded by the moon.
Professor Oak's grandson, Gary!
He was also starting his journey on the same day as Ash, and it looked like he had already received his Pokémon.
"Oh, isn't this the blockhead Ash, who's useless except for his strength?" Gary said with a sarcastic look as he watched Ash suddenly rush in.
"Stinky Gary! Who are you calling useless?!" Ash waved his fist, shouting angrily.
In every City of each region, the Alliance dispatches lecturers to teach and popularize Pokémon knowledge to the future stars who are still children.
And in Pallet Town, the one who held this responsibility was Professor Oak. Professor Oak's academic level, let alone teaching ordinary children, would have no problem even serving as a Gym Leader's lecturer.
Under Professor Oak's guidance, Pallet Town had indeed produced many well-known Trainers, but there hadn't been a single Trainer who could reach the Elite position or higher.
Ash and Gary were both students taught by Professor Oak, and they had been competing with each other since childhood. In terms of knowledge, Ash was no match for Gary, and could even be said to be at the bottom of Professor Oak's students.
But in terms of physical fitness, ten Garys were no match for Ash.
It was also fortunate that Ash wasn't the kind of child who would casually beat people up or liked to cause trouble, otherwise, with Gary's provocative personality, he probably would have been beaten by Ash more than a hundred times since childhood.
However, even so, Ash was still given the title of simple-minded and strong-bodied by Gary.
"You can even be late on such an important day for receiving a Pokémon. You're really carefree. With your brain, don't get eaten by a Gyarados on your first day of travel." Gary mocked with a sarcastic smile.
Ash gritted his teeth, clenching his fists, but he had nothing to retort.
For any fifteen-year-old boy in the Pokémon Alliance, upon reaching fifteen, they could apply to receive a Pokémon from the Alliance's special envoy in their City on a day designated by the Alliance.
This day was set by the Alliance as the eighth of every month. If one missed it, they would have to wait until the next month to receive a Pokémon.
Therefore, boys would absolutely not miss the eighth of the first month after turning fifteen. Missing it would mean their day to receive a Pokémon would be delayed by a month, which many people could not accept, including Ash.
"You've already gotten your Pokémon?"
"Nonsense, I'm already preparing to depart, how could I not have gotten a Pokémon? As for you, if you don't go in soon, you'll probably really have to wait until next month." Gary's sarcasm was mixed with a hint of warning.
Ash heard this and quickly stepped past Gary, rushing into Oaks Research Institute.
Gary took a deep look at Ash, then continued to tell the folks about his grand ambitions, stating that he was ready to embark on his journey.
...
Upon arriving at Oaks Research Institute, Ash immediately saw Professor Oak, who was studying something with a microscope. He quickly ran up to Professor Oak, and excitedly shouted, "Professor Oak, I'm here! Where's my Pokémon?"
Professor Oak, immersed in his research, was startled. He turned around and realized Ash was already in front of him.
"You scared me, it's Ash. I'm not scolding you, but how could you be late on such an important day? If you were any later..."
"Stop, stop, stop! I know I was wrong, Professor Oak, so where's my Pokémon?" Ash quickly stopped Professor Oak's nagging. If he kept talking, who knew when he would get his Pokémon.
"Here, over there." Professor Oak pointed to a lonely Poké Ball placed on a stand. On the Poké Ball, there was also a yellow lightning bolt symbol.
It was only natural that those who were late had no choice.
In fact, it was already very lucky that there were still Pokémon left, at least Ash wouldn't have to wait until next month.
"No choice is no choice, as long as there's one left. I wonder if this Pokémon will be the one called Pikachu, as 'I' said..." Ash mumbled as he walked to the Poké Ball and picked up the one with the lightning bolt symbol.
Then, without hesitation, he threw it out: "Come out! My starter Pokémon!"
The Poké Ball was thrown, opening in mid-air. A flash of light appeared, and then, a small yellow Pokémon appeared on the ground.
Yellow fur, two brown stripes on its back, a tail shaped like a jagged lightning bolt, two red electric sacs on its cheeks, and long ears with black tips—this Pokémon was the well-known electric mouse of Kanto—Pikachu!
"Is this Pikachu?" Ash blinked, as if to engrave Pikachu's appearance deeply into his mind.