"Pidgey, you've finally evolved."
"No, I should call you Pidgeotto now."
Under the warm sun, a tall teenager smiled at the Pidgeotto before him.
The young man's name was Zhang Tian, a transmigrator who had arrived two years ago. This world was almost identical to his original one, with a single, crucial difference: the existence of creatures known as Pokémon.
At first, Zhang hadn't realized he'd transmigrated. His parents, his school, and even the town he lived in were all exactly the same as he remembered. It wasn't until he saw a teacher at school accompanied by a Beedrill that the reality of his situation finally sank in.
Zhang Tian was a diehard Pokémon fan. He had played every game and watched every season of the anime, always yearning for a world with Pokémon. Therefore, upon discovering he had transmigrated, he immediately resolved to become a Pokémon trainer.
"There's only a month left until high school graduation. Evolving Pidgeotto into a Pidgeot in that time is nearly impossible."
"Fortunately, I have this. There might still be a chance."
"I hope I can find something in that world to make Pidgeotto stronger quickly. Otherwise, I'll have to give up on traveling and just enroll in the Pokémon Academy."
With a slight blink, a translucent screen visible only to him appeared.
Pidgeotto
Type: Normal/Flying
Ability: Keen Eye
Level: 18 (Entry-tier)
Held Item: None
Skills: (Expandable)
Zhang blinked again, and the information on the screen changed.
Traversable World: Monster Hunter World
Status: Ready to Traverse
"I've been preparing for two years, and so has Pidgeotto. It's time to go to the Monster Hunter world," Zhang thought to himself.
Two years ago, on the same day he got his Pidgey, Zhang had awakened his "goldfinger" a system that allowed him to travel to the world of Monster Hunter. However, he hadn't rushed into it. The Monster Hunter world was notoriously dangerous, filled with powerful monsters that could easily devour a human.
To be safe, Zhang began a strict physical training regimen to strengthen his own body while simultaneously training Pidgeotto, planning to venture into the other world only when they were both strong enough.
The "traveling" Zhang mentioned referred to becoming a traveling trainer, one who could journey across the land challenging Pokémon Gyms. In the Daxia region, becoming a traveling trainer required reaching elite-tier strength Level 30 before graduating high school.
Zhang was determined to become a traveling trainer for three major benefits.
One: You get to choose one of the Starter Pokémon from the Pokémon Research Institute.
Two: You receive free treatment, lodging, and meals at all Pokémon Centers.
Three: All your travel fares are covered during your journey.
Leaving the latter two aside, the chance to obtain a Starter Pokémon was priceless. In the real world, the "starter trio" were both incredibly valuable and powerful. If not for that, why would Zhang have chosen a Pidgey as his first Pokémon?
That afternoon, Zhang returned to his family's old home in the countryside. Traversing from his apartment in the city was too risky; with his parents coming and going, they would surely notice his sudden disappearance. The old country house, on the other hand, was uninhabited and spacious, making it the perfect place to cross over. He had told his parents he was going there for some intensive training with Pidgeotto.
"Nothing has changed," he murmured. Pushing open the gate, he looked at the small courtyard from his memories, his eyes filled with nostalgia.
"Pidgeo!" Pidgeotto looked around at Zhang Tian's old home with curiosity, tilting its head.
"Haha, Pidgeotto, our real journey starts now. Let's head toward a brighter future!"
"Let's go!"
Zhang affectionately stroked Pidgeotto's head before striding into the house.
Click. Clack.
Adjusting the bracers on his wrists, Zhang checked his reflection in a dusty mirror. He was dressed in a durable green hiking suit, a matching green backpack on his shoulders. Six Poké Balls hung from his belt, and Pidgeotto was perched on his shoulder.
"Monster Hunter World, here I come."
Zhang took a deep breath, sprayed himself with a scent-masking potion, and activated the system. He vanished in an instant.
Many monsters in the Monster Hunter world had an acute sense of smell, so masking his scent was essential. The last thing he wanted was to be attacked and chased by monsters the moment he arrived.
Zhang materialized inside an abandoned building. He immediately surveyed his surroundings, signaling for Pidgeotto to remain silent.
"This is the Shrine Ruins..."
Peeking through a window at the dilapidated structures outside, Zhang recognized the location. It was the Shrine Ruins area from the game Monster Hunter Rise a very dangerous place teeming with large monsters.
"System!"
Instead of acting rashly, Zhang opened his system interface.
Traversable World: Pokémon World
Status: Ready to Traverse
"I can cross back anytime. Even if I run into danger, I can leave immediately. That's a good safety net."
Zhang nodded to himself and, with his body crouched low, began to carefully make his way into the next room.
"!"
The moment he reached the doorway, his pupils contracted.
There, sleeping in the room, was a two-meter-long Izuchi. It was a creature resembling a velociraptor, with yellowish-white fur and a large, sickle-like claw on its tail.
"Info," Zhang thought. He blinked, and the Izuchi's details appeared before him.
Izuchi
Level: 23 (Normal-tier)
Held Item: None
Skills: (Expandable)
"Normal-tier?"
"Even a mob that you could kill in a few hits in the game is this strong?"
Seeing the Izuchi's stats, Zhang Tian's brow furrowed. Pidgeotto was only at the entry-tier; it probably wouldn't be a match for the Izuchi. Moreover, this wasn't a Pokémon battle; the Izuchi would attack him directly, and he would only end up holding Pidgeotto back.
"I hope this tranquilizer dart works!"
"If it doesn't, I'll have to retreat immediately."
With that thought, Zhang cautiously backed away into the room he had first appeared in. He carefully opened his backpack and took out a black crossbow. After assembling it, he loaded a projectile the thickness of a finger.
The projectile wasn't a traditional arrow but a large syringe the very tranquilizer dart Zhang had spent a fortune on. According to the seller, the solution contained not only powerful chemicals but also hypnotic powder from a normal-grade Pokémon.
"I hope that guy wasn't just bragging about the Pokémon hypnotic powder..."
Zhang aimed the black crossbow at the Izuchi. Without a moment's hesitation, he pulled the trigger.
Thwump!
The tranquilizer dart embedded itself in the Izuchi's body. The creature twitched a few times but didn't wake up. Instead, it fell into an even deeper sleep.
"Looks like that swindler didn't lie to me," Zhang breathed a sigh of relief. He raised his hand and threw a Poké Ball.
The reason he had prepared the tranquilizer dart was, of course, to sedate the monsters of this world and then capture them with Poké Balls. Pokémon were incredibly expensive, far beyond what Zhang could afford. That was why he had set his sights on the creatures of the Monster Hunter world.