The evening of the third day arrived under a shroud of anticipation. Two days of relentless, high-decibel promotion had made Pokémon a household name across the Xianzhou Luofu. Even those who usually ignored animation found themselves curious—if the government was backing it this hard, it was worth at least a glance.
Julian hadn't just relied on billboards. He'd leaned into the digital age. Every major streamer on the Luofu had been tasked with a "watch-along" event. While the promotion across the rest of the galaxy was significant, it paled in comparison to the saturation on the flagship. Within the Luofu, it was a revolution; outside, it was a growing curiosity.
"Alright, fans! Today we've got a special mission," Guinaifen shouted into her camera, her orange hair bouncing as she gestured to the glowing ad behind her. "You've seen the posters. Tonight, we're watching Pokémon together to see if it's actually a masterpiece or just a lot of hot air!"
As an outdoor acrobat and top-tier streamer, Guinaifen's audience was massive. Her Luofu fans watched for the local flavor, while her off-world viewers watched for a glimpse into the mysterious Alliance.
"I saw the ad on the IPC channel too," one comment scrolled by.
"The trailer looked insane. I'm here for the yellow rat."
"Anime is for kids. Broadcast some fire-eating already!"
"Shut up, let's just watch. The music is already starting!"
Guinaifen laughed, keeping the peace as the screen flickered.
The opening notes hit—a driving, rhythmic anthem. One Pokémon after another flashed across the screen in high-definition brilliance.
"Oh, that yellow one is adorable," Guinaifen chirped. "Pikachu, right? And that red dragon! Does he match my aesthetic or what?"
The quality was undeniable. The Xianzhou's rendering tech had turned the simple 2D roots into a cinematic experience. But the real test was the story.
The audience watched as Ash Ketchum, late and desperate, received an uncooperative Pikachu. They laughed at the initial shocks, but the room went quiet when the Spearow flock appeared. The tension shifted as a wounded Pikachu lay in the mud under a torrential downpour.
Ash stood, not with a weapon, but with a shield. He placed the Poké Ball down. "Pikachu, get inside. You'll be safe there."
He turned to face the hundreds of descending birds, his eyes burning with a sudden, sharp intensity.
"Who do you think I am!" Ash roared, the rain slicking his hair. "I am Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town! I'm going to be the world's greatest Pokémon Master! I won't lose to the likes of you! I'll catch every single one of you!"
The flock dove. At the last second, Pikachu leaped. It didn't go into the ball; it climbed Ash's shoulder and launched into the sky.
"PIKA—CHU!"
A massive Thunderbolt erupted, the screen whitening in a violent, beautiful explosion of sparks. The crisis vanished. The clouds parted, and a soft, golden light bathed the scorched earth.
Ash woke to see Pikachu licking his cheek. On the horizon, a shimmering, phoenix-like bird streaked across a rainbow, dropping a single glowing feather. Julian had insisted on the Ho-Oh redesign—making it a true celestial creature rather than the vaguely bird-like silhouette of the original.
"Wow," Guinaifen whispered, her usual bravado gone. "I thought this was just going to be a comedy... but that actually got to me. The bond is real."
The chat exploded.
"I need a Pikachu. Right now."
"That bird was legendary. What was that?!"
"I came to hate-watch and now I'm crying. Help."
Julian released six episodes for the premiere, taking the audience through the Pewter Gym battle. By the time Ash, Misty, and Brock set off for Cerulean City, the entire Luofu was hooked.
The ripples spread instantly. On the Herta Space Station, Asta watched the stream, her eyes gleaming as she searched the web for a high-end, bionic Pikachu replica. Finding nothing, she frowned. "How does the IPC not have merch for this yet? They're missing a fortune."
On the Astral Express, March 7th was practically glued to her phone. "Pikachu is the cutest thing in the universe! Dan Heng, look! Why can't we find one of these on our trailblazing missions?"
The next morning, Pokémon didn't just trend; it dominated the front page of every entertainment news outlet in the sector. The gamble had worked. The "classic" soul of the series had survived the jump to a new world.
Julian stood in his studio, looking at the soaring engagement numbers. He felt the weight of the library lifting off his shoulders.
"The foundation is laid," he told the team. "Start the servers. It's time to let them play."