"Where am I?"
"Wasn't I just watching the latest Pokémon anime season?"
Alex Carter awoke on the bed, feeling weak. He remembered binge-watching a show, spilling soda on his computer, causing a short circuit... and then nothing.
Suddenly, fragmented memories flooded his mind.
"Wow, I've been reborn?"
"And I'm in the Pokémon world?"
Based on his memories, Alex was in Pallet Town, Kanto Region—Ash's hometown. He had lived there with his father since childhood. A few days ago, having just turned ten, his father gave him a Poké Ball, telling him to catch a Pokémon on his own, then leave Pallet Town to start his journey.
"This doesn't add up. Aren't ten-year-olds supposed to get a starter Pokémon from Professor Oak's lab? Why is my dad making me catch one on my own?"
The original Alex was quite a character. Catching a Pokémon with a Poké Ball wasn't impossible. Being a fan of the anime, he knew Ash caught a Caterpie and a Krabby with a stick. However, Alex had ventured to the outskirts, hoping to catch a strong Pokémon, only to provoke a swarm of Beedrill and get stung repeatedly, finally fainting from a mischievous Gastly. If his father hadn't saved him, he might not have survived.
Yet, this is how Alex was reborn.
"Ding, Host's identity has triggered the Strongest Villain System."
"Scanning now. Here's the Host's information:
Host: Alex Carter
Identity: Son of Team Rocket's Leader (Current Leader—Giovanni—is only a Substitute)
Pokémon Owned: 0
Points: 0"
Hearing the mechanical voice, Alex was bewildered.
"What's happening?"
"A system?"
"Is this the advantage of being reborn?"
After standing still for a moment, Alex began to understand. He was about to become powerful! With a system by his side, he felt confident in the Pokémon world.
He discovered something on his information panel.
"Son of Team Rocket's Leader?"
"Wow, this identity is shocking!"
"In the original story, Giovanni was Team Rocket's Leader, a cat-loving maniac. I never expected him to be just a Substitute, and the real big boss is my father?"
Understanding this, Alex realized why his father made him catch a Pokémon alone: his father was formidable and overbearing.
"Alex, you're awake?"
A middle-aged man entered Alex's room. His hair was greasy, his beard scruffy, and he wore a worn-out farm uniform. If Alex hadn't bound the system and received identity information, he would never have connected Team Rocket's big boss with his slovenly father.
Alex hesitated, then nodded, "Yeah, I'm awake."
"Ha, a little setback is nothing. The Poké Ball I gave you is still empty. Go catch a Pokémon... When I was your age, I'd already caught over twenty Pokémon on my adventures."
Lighting a cigarette, his father, John Carter, seemed to recall many things. However, when he looked at Alex, his gaze held expectation and care.
"Alright, I won't keep you. The fields need harvesting, and I have work to do... Catch a Pokémon you like and explore the world beyond this small town."
John Carter left, leaving Alex standing still. The original character had just been stung by Beedrill and hadn't fully recovered, yet he was told to go out again. Was this his real father? Alex seriously doubted it!
"Ding, Host has triggered a growth mission."
"As a new Villain, the Host must grow rapidly. First, catch a somewhat evil Pokémon. (Only this type of Pokémon can highlight the Host's Villain image. Complete the mission to earn 1,000 points.)"
Alex was puzzled. "This system is a bit much. Was my Villain identity decided so easily?"
In his past life, he was a good guy, even if he occasionally downloaded uncensored movies. But now, becoming a Villain seemed challenging.
"System, what does 'somewhat evil Pokémon' mean?"
"What are these points for?"
"There are many 'somewhat evil Pokémon,' like Ghost-type or Poison-type."
"Points are earned through missions. Once you have points, the point mall activates. You can exchange points for top technology, rare Pokémon eggs, or various items."
Hearing this, Alex knew Ghost and Poison-type Pokémon were not easy to raise early on. But he remembered the Gastly that scared him unconscious. Gastly, a Ghost and Poison-type, evolves into Haunter and then Gengar. Mischievous by nature, it enjoys scaring people.
Thinking this, Alex's lips curved into a smile.
"Alright, my first Pokémon will be this Gastly."