The boy murmured to himself as he looked at the screen before him.
According to the information that had just appeared in his mind,
the world he was in now was no longer the world he belonged to,
but another parallel world! Here, there was likewise Mt. Silver,
likewise an Elite Four,
but… the people here were somewhat different from those of his world.
As for exactly what was different, he still was not sure.
That would only become clear after he explored this world himself.
As for how to return to his original world…
"I only need to battle the version of me who has grown up in this world, and I'll be able to go back? Interesting…"
The boy had always been one who loved adventure. Later, when he felt there was no one left in the world worth battling,
he went into seclusion on Mt. Silver to train.
But this brand new world… might contain someone capable of defeating him!
But, back to the point… what was this screen?
This was not among the information that had appeared in his mind!
Also… he needed to confirm his Pokémon first.
'Mewtwo, are you there?'
'I am, Red. What is this place?'
'An interesting place… What about my partners?'
'Only the six you carry on you are here. The rest… I cannot sense them.'
'It's fine. Six is enough.'
After Red finished communicating telepathically with Mewtwo,
The screen in front of him began to display an image.
A boy wearing a red-and-white cap and a red-and-black short-sleeved jacket appeared on the screen!
Red's expression froze.
That was… himself?
…
As the video began, a boy named Red appeared inside a small house.
Under his mother's nagging, Red packed up his belongings
and prepared to head to Professor Oak's Lab in town to receive his first Pokémon!
At that moment, a line of text appeared on the screen:
[Inventory — The Battler: The Legendary Path of Red!]
The Battler — Red!
This was the protagonist of this inventory, and also the name of the boy who had appeared in the opening of the footage!
However, viewers around the world felt something strange.
Why did this Red give off a vaguely familiar feeling…
It was almost like— the same feeling as Ash!
In the footage—
On the way to Professor Oak's lab, Red encountered his rival, Green!
The two bickered their way into the lab,
and after some chatter, each chose their starter Pokémon.
Red chose Charmander; Green, after confirming Red's choice,
immediately chose the Squirtle that countered Charmander's type!
Then… both of them began their journey!
Although the footage had only shown the beginning, even this opening alone had already caused an uproar around the world!
[Lance: Professor Oak, this person named Green… isn't he your grandson, Gary? He even calls you grandpa in the footage! When did your grandson change his name?]
[Gary: I never changed my name! And I don't know any Red either!]
[Prof. Oak: The Green in the footage certainly looks exactly like my grandson… but I have no recollection of any boy named Red!]
[Prof. Oak: Among the rookie trainers who left on their journey together with Gary, there was never anyone named Red!]
[Ash: I feel like that Red kind of looks like me!]
[Cynthia: Could it be… a parallel world?!]
[Steven: Parallel world? What's that?]
[Kukui: I've done some research. It's similar to a world on the other side of an Ultra Wormhole!]
[Kukui: The world beyond the Ultra Wormhole is also a Pokémon world, but it is a completely different existence from ours!]
[Cynthia: Yes. A parallel world is the same concept. For example, in another world, I might not be the Sinnoh Champion, but instead a Pokémon archaeologist.]
[Cynthia: And that would create a completely different timeline! That is the existence of parallel worlds!]
[Cynthia: In parallel worlds, some individuals may share our appearance, even our positions, but their personalities and actions may be completely different!]
[Cynthia: The world shown in this footage should be events occurring in another world!]
[Cynthia: It's just that… in that world, people who look like Gary and Professor Oak also exist! But they only share appearances; their personalities may be completely different!]
After Cynthia's explanation, everyone finally understood.
In short… what was happening in the footage had nothing to do with their own world!
It was something that happened in another world!
No wonder they had never heard of a legendary trainer named Red!
He did not exist in their world at all!
[Red: ...]
[Lance: ???]
[Steven: ???]
[Kukui: ???]
[Cynthia: ???]
[Wallace: …Cynthia, didn't you just say this was a parallel world? Then what is this "Red" popping up in our chat!?]
Cynthia, resting in a hotel near Wyndon Stadium, was stunned.
She had just said Red was from another world—
Yet Red had literally appeared in the chat seconds later!
Could the chat be connected to other worlds?!
Or… was her speculation wrong?
[Red: I am indeed someone from another world. However… this thing called Heaven's Inventory transported me into your world. If there is a chance, let's have a battle.]
Since training on Mt. Silver, Red basically only ever said "..."
Saying this many words all at once made him feel a bit unused to it.
It had… been too long since he last spoke to anyone!
[Prof. Oak: The Heaven's Inventory can even drag someone from a parallel world… terrifying!]
[Leon: Red, huh? After the Masters Eight Tournament ends, I'm coming to find you!]
[Red: No need to rush. I feel like… my battle with you hasn't come yet. Wait… wait for someone.]
Red politely declined Leon's challenge.
But he was right—now was not the time.
Leon was not disappointed. After all, he didn't yet know Red's true strength.
But someone called a "legend" surely wouldn't be weak!
In the footage—
After Red and Green set off on their journey,
the camera focused entirely on Red.
At the beginning, Red was a bit stronger than Ash,
at least knowing he had to battle wild Pokémon before catching them.
However, Red still did something ridiculous—
throwing Poké Balls at someone else's Pokémon!
And was promptly scolded by a Youngster in shorts.
…
'You were like this when you first left home?'
'…Youthful ignorance.'
Thinking back on his past, Red even felt a hint of nostalgia.
But… having it broadcast publicly like this—
That was outright black history.
If he remembered correctly, next would be…
In the footage—
After several days of travel, Red encountered Green again!
Mocked by Green, Red challenged him to a battle!
Charmander vs. Green's Squirtle!
Throughout the battle, Red was impatient and reckless, constantly attacking!
He completely ignored Charmander's condition, even when Charmander staggered from counterattacks,
he kept ordering assaults!
The result, of course, was easily defeated by Green!
The whole world was stunned.
Wasn't this supposed to be Red's legendary path?
Why was he getting crushed at the start?
His battle method was worse than that of a newbie!
…
"HAHAHA! Even in another world, I'm still amazing! See that, Ash? That's my strength!"
"Don't be ridiculous! That's not even you!"
"How is it not? I picked Squirtle, he picked Squirtle! We look the same! Do you not understand the value of 'Alternate Universe Gary suppressing Legendary Red'?!"
Ash was speechless, then turned back to the screen.
He really couldn't refute Gary right now—
Green in the footage was indeed stronger than Ash had been at the start!
Red, although stronger than Ash, was still extremely inexperienced.
No understanding of type matchups, basic strategies…
If Green was Gary's counterpart in that world,
then that Red might really be his counterpart!
'Come on, other-world me! Don't let this smug Gary keep bragging!'
After the crushing defeat, Red sat alone by a river, lost in thought.
At that moment, a squinty-eyed young man approached him
and explained why he had lost to Green.
"Ash, Ash! That's you!"
Ash pointed at the screen excitedly.
Brock nodded, equally excited.
The alternate-world Brock seemed just as reliable as the one here.
In the footage—
Guided by Brock, Red began to reflect on what Pokémon battles truly were.
Following Brock's instructions, he arrived at the first Gym—Pewter Gym!
Inside, Red saw Brock again.
Brock confirmed Red was a rookie without badges.
Then he deliberately chose two low-level Pokémon to battle him.
Just when everyone thought the rules were 2 vs 2—
Red kept sending out his 4th, 5th… even 6th Pokémon!
Against six Pokémon, Red barely managed to defeat Gym Leader Brock!
And through this battle, he understood the meaning of battling,
and realized… Pokémon were not tools, but partners—companions—family!
…
[Lt. Surge: Are Gym battles in parallel worlds different? You can fight 6 vs 2?]
[Blaine: Six against two, and barely winning… even after being given a handicap. No value at all!]
[Lt. Surge: These badges are practically freebies. Even rookie trainers could win 6 vs 2 if you pick weak Pokémon for them. They could win with their eyes closed!]
[Lance: This "legendary" person… is way too weak at the start. How long until he becomes a legend? Ten years? Twenty?]
[Leon: Honestly, I didn't see anything special about him before. But after this battle… I sense something new in Red. Something the same as what Ash has!]
[Alder: Yes! Red has finally begun to love Pokémon truly. Before this, he was probably treating them like pets.]
[Cynthia: Ahh~ that's what youth is.]
…
'You were really this weak in the beginning?'
'Weak as I was, I still captured you.'
'...'
Mewtwo was emotionally destroyed.
…
The footage continued—
After Brock's lesson, Red suddenly awakened,
and afterwards, his growth was almost like cheating. From then on, he hardly ever lost a battle on the road!
He defeated Cerulean Gym's Misty despite the type disadvantage,
then stormed through Vermilion Gym to beat Lt. Surge!
Red's Charmander even evolved into Charmeleon!
Besides the first Gym Leader, Brock, who held back heavily,
the next two Gym Leaders had used several degrees of their real strength!
And yet Red still defeated them head-on! His rate of growth was astonishing!
Every Gym Leader he battled went from indifferent at first
to fired-up and passionate at the end!
As if Red possessed some mysterious power that could ignite fighting spirit in others.
After solid growth, Red arrived at Lavender Town.
In this town, rumors of ghosts drifted about.
…
"I know this! It's just Gengar and them! There are no real ghosts!"
Ash said confidently.
He had gone to Lavender Town once to prepare for the Saffron Gym challenge,
and knew firsthand there were no ghosts—just Gastly and Gengar playing pranks.
"You shouldn't be so absolute, Ash—this is a parallel world!"
Professor Oak sighed before continuing to watch.
In the footage—
When Red arrived at Lavender Town and tried to enter Pokémon Tower,
He was advised to visit Pokémon House first.
Confused, Red went there, where a girl named Reina greeted him.
"...Pokémon House was created to take in abandoned Pokémon. Grandpa Fuji is its founder."
"Abandoned?"
"Yes. Many humans in this world have never treated Pokémon as family or partners, only as tools or accessories for battle.
"When these 'tools' fall behind or weaken, such humans simply throw them away!"
"Grandpa Fuji founded this Pokémon House to care for these abandoned Pokémon!"
Red was stunned,
his heart mixed with emotions.
If not for Brock…
He would likely have been one of those people who treated Pokémon as tools.
Seeing Pokémon as friends, as family—
a simple truth…
Yet he had nearly missed it.
"Um… could you show me around?"
"Mm~"
Led by Reina, Red walked through Pokémon House.
There were many abandoned Pokémon here,
all small and weak.
But most looked cheerful—
proof that Fuji took good care of them.
However, one Pokémon was different…
In the furthest corner,
A Cubone sat gripping its bone tightly, watching Red and the others warily.
"What's wrong with that Pokémon?"
"This Cubone is different. He wasn't abandoned. Grandpa Fuji rescued him from Team Rocket!"
As Reina explained,
Red gradually understood the situation.
Cubone's skull was extremely valuable as a collectible item,
so this Cubone was targeted!
To protect Cubone, his mother stepped forward to block Team Rocket,
giving Grandpa Fuji time to rescue him.
Sadly, Cubone's mother—Marowak—was killed by Team Rocket…
Cubone had since developed deep trauma,
trusting no one except Grandpa Fuji.
Hearing this, Red fell silent. His hands gripping the railing tightened.
Something in his chest tugged sharply…
"Damn Team Rocket!"
Not only Red—everyone watching clenched their fists.
Outside of Kanto, many people only knew Team Rocket by name,
and thanks to the comedic trio, many didn't even dislike them that much.
However, judging from this inventory… whatever Team Rocket was like in this world,
the Team Rocket in Red's world…
was truly, utterly evil.
For money,
They would do anything.
If you want to read more, join my Patreon/kazama677
I will drop 1 bonus chapter for every 50 Power Stones