The sun crept higher as the tide receded, leaving a glittering sheen over the black sand. Alex remained crouched near Poliwag, watching the faint rise and fall of its body. The small Water-type dozed fitfully, exhausted but alive. Every now and then its tail twitched or its round body shifted in discomfort, but it no longer panicked when he moved.
He wasn't its ally.He wasn't its trainer.He was simply the least dangerous thing around.
The volcano rumbled again—deeper, like a growl from beneath the earth. Poliwag's eyes snapped open. Alex placed a calming hand on the rock beside him, speaking softly:
"Easy. It's just noise."
But he wasn't sure it was just noise. The tremors felt too rhythmic, too steady, as if something within the mountain moved deliberately. The thought made his skin crawl.
Before he followed that trail of fear, the system flickered awake in his mind.
A soft, crisp tone replaced the earlier static:
[STATUS UPDATE AVAILABLE]
"Open it," Alex murmured aloud.
A translucent window—felt more than seen—unfolded in his consciousness.
[HOST LEVEL: 4][EXP: 0/10][NOTES: Human physical potential equates to approximately 40 Power Level units.10 Power Level = 1 Pokémon Level, therefore HOST ≈ Level 4.]
Alex exhaled slowly.
"So I'm… Level 4."
Now it made sense why even an average adult Pokémon could tear him apart. Wild Pokémon outside cities typically reached Level 7 to Level 10—dangerous, experienced animals hardened by survival.
A Level 4 human was little more than prey.
He continued reading.
[KI CIRCULATION: BASELINE][MARTIAL ARTS ARCHIVE: ACCESS GRANTED – PHYSICAL LIMITATION AT 3%][DAILY SENZU BEAN AVAILABLE]
He hesitated.The senzu bean in his pocket weighed heavily on his mind—not physically, but symbolically. In the Dragon Ball world, it meant instant recovery. But here, it was a priceless asset. A trump card. Eating it casually would be foolish.
Alex closed the interface and looked at Poliwag again.The Water-type shifted restlessly.
It needed water. Fresh water—not saltwater—and protection from predators.
And he needed strength.
The coastline wouldn't provide either.
He stood up, brushing sand from his torn clothes.
"Let's move," he whispered—not to Poliwag, but to himself.
Still, he hesitated a moment longer before lifting one of the flat, smooth stones beside him and setting it near the edge of the tide pool. If Poliwag chose to follow him, the marks might help it see the path. It wasn't much, but it was something.
He stepped away from the rocks and toward the narrow break in the cliffs that led inland.
The jungle.
Dark. Green. Pulsing with life none of it tame.
He swallowed his nerves and entered.
The First Lesson
The world changed immediately.
Gone was the open heat of the shore. In its place came thick, humid air that clung to his skin. Tall trees interlocked their branches, letting only fractured streams of sunlight through. Pokémon sounds drifted from every direction—the rustling of leaves, distant chattering, a low call he couldn't identify.
Alex kept his movements slow, silent.He wasn't strong enough to fight anything larger than a Pidgey—not yet.
The path narrowed and dipped, leading to a shallow stream trickling through volcanic stone. Clear water. Exactly what Poliwag needed.
The system chimed again, nudging him:
[TRAINING RECOMMENDED: LOW-RISK ENVIRONMENT DETECTED]
"Low-risk?" Alex muttered. "Are you sure about that?"
But he understood what it meant—the area was quiet. No predators sensed him yet.
He crouched beside the stream and inhaled deeply.
The martial arts knowledge in his mind pulsed, whispering stances and breathing methods. Not as memories, but as instincts presently sealed by a weak body. He could feel the potential locked behind the barrier.
"Show me what I can actually do," he said softly.
The system obliged.
[BEGINNER TRAINING AVAILABLE]– Stance Stability– Ki Breathing Patterns (Lv. 1)– Basic Striking Form[WARNING: Overexertion may result in injury due to host age and condition.]
He chose Ki Breathing Patterns (Lv. 1).
Immediately, instructions flowed through him:
Feet apart. Knees soft. Back straight. Shoulders relaxed. Breathe in through the nose—slow, controlled. Let the breath sink into the stomach, not the chest. Exhale as if releasing weight from your limbs.
He obeyed.
At first, nothing happened. The air tasted the same. His heartbeat unchanged.
But then—A warmth gathered faintly at the base of his spine, traveling upward in a slow, deliberate pulse. Ki. Weak, but real. His body responded like a rusted machine beginning to turn for the first time in years.
He continued breathing, adjusting with the guidance.
The warmth spread to his arms and legs, sharpening his awareness. His balance shifted. His perception of the jungle grew clearer—the rustling leaves, the faint splash of fish in the stream, the subtle vibrations on the ground from distant movement.
And then something else—
A presence.
Not dangerous.Small.Approaching from behind.
Alex slowly turned.
Poliwag stood at the edge of the trees, wobbling slightly as it followed his scent trail. Its belly marking pulsed faintly, less erratic than earlier. It must have rested enough to move.
"You're awake," Alex whispered.
Poliwag tilted its head, large eyes blinking as it studied him. It sniffed the air, then the water, and cautiously slipped into the shallow stream. Its entire body relaxed instantly, tail waving naturally as the cool current washed over its skin.
The Water-type wasn't "grateful."It simply followed the path to survival.
But today, that path led to him.
Alex felt something tighten in his chest—an unexpected sense of responsibility.
He resumed training.
The Wild Pokémon Attack
After several minutes of controlled breathing, he shifted into the next beginner technique: Basic Stance Stability. His arms moved slowly, guiding invisible weight. His legs bent, distributing mass evenly.
Each motion was deliberate—simple, but foundational.
The system spoke softly:
[HOST HAS GAINED 0.3 Levels]
His body felt stronger—barely noticeable, but real.
Then the bushes behind him exploded.
A sharp, snarling hiss cut the air. Poliwag squealed, tail splashing wildly. Alex whipped around—
A Rattata, but far larger than the city-dwelling variety, lunged from the undergrowth. Its fur was darker, eyes fiercer. Wild. Hungry.
Level 6, the system whispered.
Alex was Level 4.This was a dangerous match.
Rattata darted toward Poliwag, jaws wide.
Alex moved.
Not with skill—his body wasn't ready—but with instinct amplified by ki. He leapt between them, arms raised in a defensive cross.
The Rattata slammed into him.
Pain shot through his forearms. He staggered back, barely keeping his footing.
The rodent circled, snarling, its movements sharp and practiced. This wasn't a pet. It was a predator.
Alex inhaled, steadying himself. His limbs trembled, but his stance held.A small vibration of ki moved through his muscles.
Rattata lunged again.
Alex pivoted—badly, imperfectly—but enough. He redirected the rodent with his forearm, pushing its momentum away. It skidded across wet stone, regained its footing, and glared, tail whipping in agitation.
The system chimed:
[BEGINNER PARRY MASTERED: +0.2 Level]
Not the time.
Rattata charged a third time—faster.
Alex ducked low and swept his foot outward. The motion was sloppy, unbalanced, but his ki reinforced the movement just enough. His leg struck Rattata's paws, sending the creature tumbling sideways.
It scrambled upright, now cautious.
Alex gathered himself, chest heaving. He didn't want to kill it. He wasn't sure if he even could. But he had to scare it off.
He stepped forward sharply, releasing a burst of air from his lungs—the beginning of a martial shout, not powerful but intimidating.
Rattata froze.Then fled into the brush, disappearing into the shadows.
Alex dropped to one knee, gasping. Sweat dripped from his brow. Every muscle screamed.
The system chimed again:
[HOST LEVEL: 4.6 → 5][LEVEL UP: You are now approximately equal to a weak Level 5 Pokémon.][NEW ABILITY UNLOCKED: Ki Reinforcement (Minor)]
He laughed weakly.
"One fight… and I'm already a wreck."
Poliwag swam nervously around his feet, watching him. Not out of affection—out of instinct. The larger creature had defended it. That was enough.
Alex reached into the shallow water and splashed his face, wincing at the sting on his arms.
The jungle fell quiet again.
He stared into the dense foliage, realizing how fragile he still was.
But also how capable he could become.
Slowly, he stood.
"Okay…" he whispered, voice steadying. "If I'm really going to survive this place… I need to train. Really train."
Poliwag chirped softly.
Alex smiled tiredly.
"Then let's find somewhere safer than this stream. We're not staying out in the open."
For the first time since waking on the black sand beach, he felt the faint spark of something that wasn't fear or confusion.
Purpose.
He stepped forward.Poliwag followed.
And the jungle watchfully closed around them as they moved deeper into the island—toward danger, toward answers, and toward strength.