"Professor, Gary, dinner's ready!"
A young, lively voice rang out. On one side of the room, Professor Oak was buried in his Pokémon research; on the other, Gary Oak was glued to the TV, watching a heated Pokémon battle. Both answered at the same time:
"Coming!"
"That battle was amazing!" Gary said between mouthfuls of food, his eyes still sparkling from the match. "The defending Indigo Plateau Champion's Pidgeot was unbelievably fast and powerful. It even had the type advantage over Koichi's Fighting-types. But Koichi still spotted an opening in no time—Hitmonchan landed a Lightning Punch right to the mark, and down went Pidgeot! The Elite Four really are on another level."
"Well, of course," Professor Oak chuckled, stroking his beard. "The Elite Four represent the very best of a region—aside from the Champion, there are few Trainers who can stand against them."
Gary turned his sharp eyes across the table toward another boy—a handsome youth with a calm presence. "By the way, Mark, our journey starts in just a few days. Have you made all your preparations? Don't forget, here in Pallet Town, I consider you my only true rival."
"Of course I'm ready. I've been waiting for this day for a long, long time."
Mark smiled as he answered, though in his heart he was thinking: Yes… a very, very long time. I never thought the dream I cherished in my past life would truly come to pass.
For Mark was not originally from this world. He had come from a distant place known as Aqua Star, where he was nothing more than an ordinary Pokémon fan. In his former life, he had just saved up enough to buy the latest game console to play the newest Pokémon title—when fate intervened. He was suddenly transported to Pallet Town, and, to his shock, found himself in the body of an eight-year-old child.
On his very first day in this unfamiliar world, lost and alone, he was fortunate to be discovered by Officer Jenny. A woman brimming with justice could hardly leave a helpless child without family to wander the streets. And Mark's appearance at the time—adorable, almost angelic—triggered her protective instincts. Jenny decided to take him in immediately, even recognizing him as her younger brother in all but blood.
Ever the optimist, Mark embraced the chance. After all, he had arrived in the very world he had always dreamed of—the world of Pokémon. He wasted no time. Claiming admiration for Professor Oak as his reason, he joined the Oak Research Lab as a junior research assistant. In truth, his encyclopedic Pokémon knowledge, carried from his past life, rivaled even that of the Professor. But he was wise enough not to show too much too soon. He knew the saying: The tallest tree is the first to be cut down. So he kept a low profile, presenting himself as a bright but diligent apprentice.
More than five years passed in this way. In this world, children didn't set off on their journeys at ten, like in the anime, but at fourteen. After all, this was reality—too young a child couldn't possibly be sent out alone. A year earlier, using his memory from his former life, Mark had authored a groundbreaking paper, On Pokémon with Special Evolutionary Conditions. It described how certain Pokémon—like Eevee's eight evolutions, Electivire, Rhydon, Slowking, and Kingdra—required unique items or methods to evolve. The work caused a sensation in the academic world. Trainers across the region confirmed his findings, successfully evolving their Pokémon thanks to his research.
Half a year later, Mark published another thesis, A Hypothesis on Hidden Abilities in Pokémon. This too sent shockwaves through the community, earning him the titles of "Little Professor" and "Rising Star of Pokémon Research." The Pokémon League itself recognized him with commendations and a generous reward. Mark shared part of it with his beloved "sister," Officer Jenny, while the rest he offered to the League to retroactively pay the fees required to register for a starter Pokémon.
For in this world, starter Pokémon were not free gifts—they required annual fees. With his prize money, Mark paid in full for all fourteen years, thereby qualifying, at last, to receive a starter of his own.
"Your only rival, Gary?" Mark teased with a grin, snapping back from his memories. "Don't forget about Ash."
"Hah! Ash? Don't make me laugh." Gary smirked smugly. "That guy won't even manage to earn a single Badge. You'll see—he'll come running back to Pallet Town crying in no time."
What a tsundere, Mark thought with amusement. Gary's obsession with Ash was obvious to anyone with eyes, though Gary himself would never admit it. And Ash? He was just the same. In the original tale, Ash arrived late on the day Trainers chose their Pokémon. By then, the other three had long since departed. Only Gary lingered—clearly waiting for Ash, though he hid it behind mockery and arrogance. Deep down, neither boy could let go of the rivalry.
"Well, about that…" Professor Oak interrupted with an uneasy expression. "This year, four new Trainers had paid their fees on time, so I prepared four starters—our traditional three from Pallet, plus an extra. But Mark, when you made your payment last month, the number rose to five. At the moment, I don't have another suitable starter to give. I can't just hand you some random wild Pokémon I caught by the roadside—that wouldn't be fair to you."
"You've got to be kidding me." Mark froze in disbelief. I didn't think of that. Starters were carefully bred for potential and temperament—perfect for beginners. Such Pokémon couldn't just be found overnight.
"Forget it," Mark said at last, though his tone remained firm. "If it comes to that, I'll accept whatever you can spare—even a common wild Pokémon. After all, I was the one who jumped in late. Taking one of the others' starters would be even more unfair. And with my ability, even the most ordinary Pokémon can rise to greatness."
"No, Mark." Professor Oak's voice was resolute. "You paid your fees in full, just like the others. And more than that—you're my most promising student. Your starting point must not be lower than anyone else's. Leave this to me. I'll contact the other regional Professors. If they have any extra starters this year, I'll do everything I can to secure one for you."
Over the years, Oak had come to see Mark not only as his apprentice but also as family, no different from his own grandson Gary.
"Grandpa's right," Gary added, with a huff. "Besides, if you don't start on equal footing, even if I beat you someday, it won't feel satisfying." His words were sharp, but the concern beneath them warmed Mark's heart.
Just then, a chime echoed in Mark's mind.
Ding-dong. System update complete. Host's Trainer journey imminent. Data loading in progress.
"Oh, so you're still alive, huh?" Mark rolled his eyes. For as long as he had been in this world, a mysterious "system" had accompanied him. But from the day of his arrival, it had remained in perpetual "updating" mode—like trying to download a hundred-gigabyte movie at one kilobyte per second. Only now, after more than five years, had it finally finished.
"What are your functions?" Mark asked. A transmigrator with a system—it was practically standard issue in stories like his. He couldn't help but feel excited.
Host, please be informed. This is the Master Trainer Support System. Current unlocked capacity: less than 10%. Available functions: one Beginner's Gift Pack and a Pokémon Aptitude Scanner. The Gift Pack will be distributed once the host officially becomes a Trainer. Additional features will unlock as the host conquers regional challenges and achieves victories.
"So I need to claim victories to unlock you?" Mark thought. That was fine. He didn't need the system to tell him—this had always been his goal.
Pokémon world… just wait. I will climb to the very peak.
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