Pokémon: Charmander
Level: Lv.5
Type: Fire
Category: Lizard Pokémon
Gender: Male
Ability: Blaze (Boosts the power of Fire-type moves when HP is low)
Known Moves: Scratch, Growl
Held Item: None
The battle interface popped up in the upper-left corner of the screen.
The battle officially began.
"Charmander! Use Growl as you approach, then follow up with Scratch!"
Red flipped the brim of his cap down with one hand. His eyes burned with fighting spirit as he issued his command passionately into the microphone.
On the screen, Charmander opened its tiny mouth and cried out, "Cha—!"
It raised its faintly glowing claws and waddled forward on its short legs toward Squirtle.
Low-level battles really weren't very spectacular.
The scene was almost comical.
Green, however, paid less attention to the fight itself and more to the information panel.
From it, he could infer quite a lot.
"Using levels to quantify training progress… and it even marks Abilities and Moves?"
He recalled Rei Akagi's handsome face—always carrying that slightly lazy, salted-fish expression—and couldn't help but complain.
"And he still refuses to admit he's an experienced Pokémon Breeder… Seriously… I almost let him fool me."
Just then—
Something unexpected happened.
Green calmly issued an order.
"Green: Squirtle, Tackle!"
Squirtle's attack struck Charmander directly, and a bold prompt popped up on the screen.
"A Critical Hit!"
Charmander's HP bar instantly dropped to the brink.
"Hey! What the heck?!"
Red immediately exploded in frustration, raging helplessly at the screen.
"Tsk."
Green crossed his arms, looking utterly disdainful.
"A classic remake. Anyway, you didn't win the first battle against me either."
Red didn't have time to respond. His brain raced to think of a countermeasure.
His fingers slid unconsciously across the Pokédex interface.
Suddenly he realized—
His command perspective could move freely.
He could even continue controlling Red's character!
In the heat of the moment, he didn't think any further and started pressing buttons wildly.
Red's character suddenly dashed forward, seemingly trying to block Squirtle's next attack with his body.
But then—
He rushed straight in front of Green.
His fist cut through the air—
And landed squarely on Green's face with a solid punch!
BAM!
Green collapsed instantly.
Little cartoon stars spun above his head, indicating stun.
"..."
Inside the research institute, silence fell.
The game continued.
Seeing its Trainer knocked out with a single punch, Squirtle panicked and ran around in confusion.
Charmander seized the opportunity.
Staggering forward, it stretched out one of its short legs at just the right moment.
Thump!
Squirtle tripped and fell to the ground.
"Squirtle fainted!"
"Charmander gained 60 EXP!"
"Charmander grew to Lv.6!"
"Charmander learned the move Ember!"
"Red defeated Rival Green!"
The battle ended.
Professor Oak strolled over leisurely.
"Professor Oak: It seems you've won the battle. You must be a talented Pokémon Trainer!"
Green staggered back to his feet.
With a very obvious black eye, he angrily recalled Squirtle and turned away with a huff.
"Green: Hmph! I'll defeat you next time!"
"Red: …"
An exclamation mark popped above Professor Oak's head.
"Professor Oak: Oh, right! I have a request for both of you."
Professor Oak pulled two red-and-white devices from his lab coat and handed them to the boys.
"Professor Oak: This is the Pokédex I invented! It automatically records data on Pokémon you've seen or formed bonds with."
"Red received the Pokédex from Professor Oak!"
"Red placed the Pokédex in the Key Items Pocket."
"Professor Oak: However, simply seeing Pokémon won't record detailed data. I need you to help complete the Pokédex through battles!"
Oak then produced several Poké Balls as if by magic.
"Red received 5 Poké Balls."
"Red placed the Poké Balls in the Poké Ball Pocket."
"Professor Oak: Trainers have limited energy, so they usually care for only six Pokémon at a time. If it becomes difficult, you can send Pokémon to me. The ranch behind my lab is large—I'll take care of them for you. Of course, you can call them back to your team anytime."
"Green: Leave it to me!"
"Red: …"
"Professor Oak: Haha! I'm counting on you both. If you want to challenge the Pokémon League, remember to collect eight Gym Badges! Now then—off you go!"
Green snorted and brushed past Red, hurrying out of the laboratory.
Professor Oak smiled, placing the remaining Poké Ball on the research table before turning away to continue his work.
"Um… sorry about that…"
Only after the scene finished did Red dare sneak a glance at Green beside him and stammer out an apology.
"We're in the main storyline now. Let's go."
Green's expression was blank as he slightly raised his chin, signaling Red to continue.
This time, Red listened.
He checked Charmander's status with the Pokédex, used a Potion, and guided Red's character out of the laboratory.
But as he passed the entrance, his sharp eyes noticed a suspicious figure dart past the corner of the wall.
Outside the door, Red ran into the Researcher Bafrom earlier.
"Handsome Researcher: You'll definitely become a legendary Trainer someday! Here's my contact information—reach out if you run into any problems."
After the interaction, the researcher walked straight into the lab.
"That's exactly what Brother Rei Akagi said to me back then! So nostalgic—"
Red was just about to leave Pallet Town when Yellow suddenly spoke.
"W-wait! Something feels off… Shouldn't there be another protagonist? Corresponding to the last Poké Ball Professor Oak had."
"Hmm…"
Green frowned, recalling the details from earlier.
Suddenly, inspiration struck.
"That's right! There's hidden content! That suspicious figure just now! Hurry back to the lab—check the place where the last Poké Ball was!"
"No—!"
Blue abruptly shot to her feet, her voice so sharp it cracked.
When the other three turned to stare at her, her momentum instantly deflated. Her voice dropped to a barely audible mumble.
"Ahem… W-what hidden content? Let's just leave Pallet Town and explore outside, okay? The outside world must be more fun…"
Her eyes darted around as she tried desperately to hide something.
Red looked at her suspiciously.
Then decisively ignored her suggestion.
He turned Red's character around and rushed back into the laboratory, heading straight for the research table where Professor Oak had placed the Bulbasaur Poké Ball.
The moment he approached—
A cutscene triggered.
"Just as expected… hidden content."
A knowing smile curled on Green's lips.
The camera zoomed out.
The Researcher Bawho had just spoken with Red was now gripping a struggling beautiful girl by the collar as easily as if he were holding a chick.
Hanging from the girl's waist—
Was the last Poké Ball, along with a crudely made, uncolored Pokédex prototype.
They recognized the girl immediately.
She was the very same girl from the character selection screen at the beginning—
The one wearing the wide round sun hat.