Chapter 2: The Awakening
Why am I talking right now? Why do I still feel... aware? I must be in a coma or something.
There's no vision, no sound, just this endless void.
Wait.
Why does it suddenly feel like I'm lying on grass?
The soft blades tickled my skin, a cool, earthy scent mingling with the fresh breeze. It was as if the earth itself was breathing around me, each inhalation carrying the whisper of leaves rustling gently overhead.
Ow. Something's pecking at me. Ow, ow, ow!
I jolted awake, blinking at the clear blue sky. A small, brown creature stared back, tilting its head. The sun warmed my face, and I squinted against its bright light.
A... bird?
No... a Pidgey?
I stared at it in disbelief, the gentle flap of its wings rustling the air as it hovered.
And then, out of nowhere, a blue translucent screen appeared in the corner of my vision, flickering with information.
---
[Pokémon]: Pidgey
[Gender]: Male
[Level]: 2
---
"A PIDGEY?!" I screamed at it.
The Pidgey chirped in alarm, its wings slicing through the air with a sharp flutter as it took off, leaving a faint breeze in its wake.
"OW!" I groaned, rubbing my forehead where its beak had jabbed. "Freaking Pidgey..."
Wait... What?
What is a Pidgey doing here? Where... where the hell am I?
I sat up, my hands sinking into the soft, springy grass. My fingers brushed against the rough texture of leaves, their veins like tiny maps leading nowhere. I noticed my hands—smaller, with fewer calluses. My fingers seemed shorter, and my wrists appeared thinner. My clothes felt baggy but familiar—a worn-out hoodie and faded jeans that smelled faintly of detergent and home.
I looked down at my body, taking in the changes. My legs seemed shorter, my feet smaller. I must have shrunk!
Panic set in as I scrambled to my feet. What's happening to me?
What happened to Emma?
The forest around me was alive with the chorus of hidden creatures, the rustle of leaves and distant bird calls echoing through the trees. On the ground beneath me was some kind of weird, charred symbol—a summoning circle. The patterns were dark and scorched into the earth, intricate yet foreboding as if they held a secret language.
I felt an inexplicable pull towards it, a sense of foreboding mixed with curiosity. The air around it seemed to vibrate subtly, sending shivers down my spine.
Was I... summoned?
The blue screen disappeared when the Pidgey flew out of sight, leaving only the rustle of the forest and my hurried breaths.
I noticed my phone—still in my pocket, completely fine. No burns, no damage, even though I'd just been hit by lightning. Shouldn't this thing be fried?
I pressed the power button, and the screen lit up with a soft glow. Only two apps were there—Map and Trainer ID.
"Wait... Trainer ID? Hmm. Let's first check where I am."
I opened the Map app. It displayed a familiar layout, the names and shapes evoking memories long buried.
Pallet Town.
I'm in Kanto.
Holy shit. I'm in Pokémon.
My mind raced. Could this be happening?
Ding.
---
[Quest Completed]:
• Open Map App.
- Reward: XP Gained: +2
---
Another blue screen appeared, followed by a few more.
Ding.
---
[New Quest(s)]:
1. Open the Trainer ID App.
2. Open System Interface.
---
Okay, this has to be a joke. Quests? A system?
With a deep breath, the scent of pine and earth grounding me, I opened the Trainer ID app.
---
Name: [ ]
Age: [ ]
Hometown: [ ]
₽: 0
---
Ding.
---
[Quest Completed]:
• Open Trainer ID App.
- Reward: XP Gained: +2
---
I stood there, staring at the screen, my mind spinning with the possibilities and impossibilities.
Ding.
---
[New Quest(s)]:
1. Unlock System Interface.
---
I stared at the screen, my mind spinning.
What... what even is this?
Haah. Fine. No use standing around gawking.
First things first—Pallet Town. Professor Oak should be there, right? He might be able to explain what's going on.
I started walking, the map guiding me on the path beneath my feet cushioned by fallen leaves and soft earth. Along the way, I thought back to the bolt of lightning.
What about Emma? She was right there with me when it hit us. Is she here too? Somewhere else? Or... in another world entirely?
Man, I hope she's okay, wherever she is.
As I walked, a new thought popped into my head.
Unlock System Interface.
Ding.
---
[System Interface Unlocked]:
Welcome, Alex Riziero!
Please wait until the System Integration is completed.
System Integration: Complete.
---
Well, I guess it's official.
I've been isekai'd into the Pokémon world.
***
End of Chapter 2