"Did you hear? Tomorrow's the day we finally get our starter Pokemon. I can't wait to find out what mine will be!"
"I know, right? But it's all luck of the draw. Though I heard the school really went all out this time—apparently they're handing out several starter-tier Pokemon!"
"No way! Starters cost tens of thousands of Pokedollars each. Barely anyone at our school could afford that. If they had that kind of money, they'd just go to a Pokemon shop and buy a high-potential Pokemon instead!"
...
The familiar voices drifted past Basil's ears.
When he opened his eyes, he found himself staring at a familiar classroom—and at the bright red words scrawled across the blackboard: "30 Days Until Graduation Exam." Relief washed over him.
"You two are insane, you know that? We've got thirty days left before exams, and you're going on about Pokemon? What, did you play too much Pokemon and lose your minds? You should be studying!"
But when those two heard Basil's words, they just laughed—like they were looking at an idiot.
"Basil, did you sleep so hard you scrambled your brain? What else would the exam test besides Pokemon? Tomorrow we get our starter Pokemon! Just thinking about it gets me pumped!"
After saying that, one of them pointed out the window.
"Look—those are Pidgey and Pidgeotto! Man, I'd love to have one. But the high-potential Pokemon at the shops are way too expensive. Guess I'm stuck with whatever the school hands out for free!"
When Basil heard that, confusion still clouded his face. He turned his gaze toward the window—and froze.
A flock of about ten birds had just flown past, but they weren't the ordinary birds from his memories. These had gray-brown feathers with white bellies and wing tips.
Those were Pidgey. No question about it.
Leading them was a Pidgeotto—a Pidgey's evolved form—guiding its flock right past Basil's school.
Panicking, Basil immediately grabbed the book on his desk and flipped it open. The first thing he saw: "Pokemon Encyclopedia" written in bold letters.
He sat there, completely stunned.
Then he swore.
"Holy shit!"
...
It took a while for Basil to accept the reality of the world he now found himself in. He pulled out his phone and discovered he was still himself—same parents, same sister, same friends and family.
But this world? It had changed into something almost unrecognizable.
Opening his phone, he saw today's trending news:
Kanto Rising Stars Ash and Gary to Travel to Lumoria, Competing in National Championship in Two Years to Foster International Friendship!
Shocking! Newly Crowned Lumoria Champion Cynthia to Face Ice-Type Elite Four Lorelei in Exhibition Match at Kyushu Island—Tickets Sold Out Instantly!
Legendary Pokemon Tornadus Appears Over Kalos Skies, Triggers Thunderstorms—California Cities Damaged, Elite Four from Multiple Nations Attempt Capture, Pokemon Escapes!
...
(PS: Lumoria is an original region where the main story takes place!)
...
Staring at those headlines, it took Basil a long time to process. He'd arrived in a new world—one where Pokemon and reality had merged.
In this world, Pokemon were mainstream. Just like in the original games, becoming a Pokemon Master was everyone's ultimate dream.
Because that position brought endless status, power, and yes—even women.
But the people here were a fusion of the Pokemon world and the modern world. Otherwise, he wouldn't be seeing familiar names like Cynthia and Lorelei.
He was currently living in Lumoria, and the conflicts between nations had shifted from weapons and ammunition to battles between Pokemon trainers.
The strongest among them? They were each nation's ultimate trump cards.
Because of this, every nation established a Pokemon League. Every four years, a World Championship was held to determine international standing and privileges.
So every country went all out training their domestic trainers—fighting for greater benefits on the international stage.
And right now, Basil stood at a crossroads.
In Lumoria, once you turned eighteen, you received your starter Pokemon during the final month before graduation exams.
The first twelve years were spent learning Pokemon theory. This last month? Practical combat testing.
Finally, just like the exams in his previous life, rankings were decided—and students chose which Pokemon university to attend.
Of course, you could also skip university and travel instead.
But wild Pokemon were usually high-leveled and fierce. Sending an inexperienced rookie into the wilderness was a death sentence.
Plus, six months after graduation came Lumoria's annual City-Level Tournament. The entire nation welcomed countless elite trainers competing in cities nationwide.
Only the winners of city-level tournaments could advance to regional tournaments—and eventually, the National Championship.
...
As someone who'd absolutely loved Pokemon in his previous life, Basil naturally felt drawn to these incredible creatures.
So what would his starter Pokemon be?
Just then, a voice suddenly rang out inside his head.
[Ding! Good Fortune System binding to host. Issuing Beginner Gift Package. Congratulations—host has received Divine Luck Card (Trial Version) and Master Ball ×1!]
[Ding! Divine Luck Card trial version activating immediately. Effect duration: 24 hours!]
[Ding! System Storage unlocked. Host may store Pokemon and items. No one else can access or detect this space!]
Hearing the system's voice in his mind, Basil's heart raced with excitement. With his knowledge of Pokemon from his past life plus this system? He could definitely become a Pokemon Master!
Elite Four, Champion—those would be within reach!
And a Master Ball? That thing could catch Legendary Pokemon! If the opportunity arose, he could become a Legendary trainer himself!
...
After school, Basil headed home brimming with excitement, ready to think carefully about which starter Pokemon to choose.
These days, rookie trainers had two options for obtaining a starter—either randomly select one from school, or buy one from a League-affiliated Pokemon shop.
But purchasing a high-potential starter cost tens of thousands of Pokedollars. Basil's family couldn't afford that.
Yet the Pokemon distributed by schools didn't have the same quality or potential as shop Pokemon.
Wealthy families naturally prepared premium Pokemon for their children. Top-tier families? They provided exceptional starters and pseudo-legendary Pokemon.
So those families didn't even bother with school distributions. But students who couldn't afford quality Pokemon had no choice but to rely on what the school handed out.
Tomorrow was the day his school distributed Pokemon. The Divine Luck Card's effect would last until then!
Still, even with the Divine Luck Card active, Basil didn't feel any different.
"I feel like this system is kind of sketchy. It doesn't seem to do anything. Do I really have to wait until tomorrow when they hand out Pokemon to see results?"
Lost in thought, Basil walked along the road home—when suddenly, a box fell from the sky and landed steadily right in front of him!
"What the hell! That could've killed me! Good thing I dodged fast!"
Muttering to himself, Basil picked up the box and looked inside. His face lit up with wild excitement.
Inside the box was what looked like a Pokemon egg—mostly green with several golden patterns around it!
Most importantly? This egg had fallen from such a height—and it hadn't cracked!
--
Drop some powerstones~~