Chapter 3: System Interface
The screen shimmered, and a message appeared:
Welcome, Alex Trent!
The screen shifted, displaying more information:
[User Profile]
Name: Alex Trent
Age: 16
Gender: Male
Trainer Class: Beginner
Hometown: Not selected
Level: 1
EXP: 4/100
Sixteen? I'm sixteen again? The last time I was sixteen… it was a mess of foster homes and bad decisions. Another family dinner with people who didn't really care. Another forced smile. Another night sleeping on a lumpy couch. A wave of bittersweet nostalgia washed over me. But this time… this time it's different. This… this was a second chance. A chance to do things differently.
My gaze drifted to the "Hometown" entry. Not selected. Should I choose Pallet Town? It's where Oak is, but… would they be suspicious of a stranger suddenly showing up? Maybe feigning amnesia is the best bet. No, too cliché.
Another shimmer, another message:
[System Tutorial]
Think of a keyword to access features. Available features:
* System Interface
* Status
* Skills
Think of a keyword? This was getting weirder by the second. I focused my thoughts on the word "Status."
The screen changed:
[Status]
HP: 100/100
MP: N/A
STR: 6
END: 8
DEX: 7
INT: 11
CHA: 9
LUC: 20
RPG stats? I thought, a mix of amusement and disbelief swirling within me. This is actually happening. And my luck is pretty high compared to the rest. Guess I was lucky to survive that lightning strike.
A shiver ran down my spine as I thought about the alternatives. Speaking of which…
"Skills," I muttered, testing the keyword system.
[Skills]
Observe (Passive) Lv. 1: Allows the user to see basic information about a target. More information can be obtained as the skill levels up.
Observe? I focused on the Pidgey hopping nearby.
___________________________
[Pidgey]
[Level]: 2
[HP]: 10/10
___________________________
"So that's how I saw that," I murmured. Useful.
"System Interface," I thought, returning to the main menu. There was a locked icon labeled "Relationships." Relationships? I shrugged. Probably just for tracking friendships. Hopefully. Though, why would it be *locked*?
Then I noticed a message:
Further features, such as Relationships, are unlocked with Trainer Level 5.
Leveling up? This was just like a game. A game… that was real. A wave of dizziness washed over me. This was too much to take in.
I needed to find Emma.
I reached into my pocket and fingered the small, silver hair clip – the one she always wore. The one she wore when we were kids… My heart sank. She had to be here somewhere.
I looked around, taking in my surroundings. The trees thinned out slightly, and I could see rolling hills in the distance. A flash of blue caught my eye. It was a small, lizard-like creature darting through the undergrowth. A… Scraggy? I couldn't be sure from this distance. The path wound its way through a field of tall grass, the stalks brushing against my legs. The air was thick with the scent of wildflowers, and I could hear the buzzing of insects. In the distance, I saw a cluster of buildings nestled amongst the trees. Pallet Town. Oak. He might know what to do.
As I started walking toward Pallet Town, a rustling in the tall grass beside the path made me jump. A small, furry creature with big, round eyes peeked out at me. A… a Cottonee? I thought, recognizing it from countless hours of gameplay. It was real. They're all real. The realization hit me like a wave, a mix of awe and terror.
I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart. Okay, just like in the games… gotta be smart… gotta be prepared...
"Observe," I muttered, focusing on the Cottonee.
The screen shimmered:
___________________________
[Cottonee]
Level: 3
[HP]: 12/12
___________________________
I blinked. So it works. The System's interface hovered in the corner of my vision, crisp and clear. No glitches, no static—just cold, game-like facts. The Cottonee tilted its head, fluffy white body swaying like dandelion fluff in the breeze. Its fur looked… softer, somehow, than the pixelated sprites I was used to. And the way it moved, the slight rustle of leaves as it hopped – it was all so much more… *alive* than any animation I'd ever seen. Its eyes sparkled with curiosity, not malice.
Level 3. Basic Grass-type. No moves listed yet—guess Observe needs upgrading. And that's another thing… no move list. Is that normal? Or is this another way this world is different from the games?
The Cottonee hopped closer, its movements light and playful. It chirped, a sound that was both familiar and… different. It was like the game's sound effect, but with an added layer of… organic complexity, a subtle vibrato I'd never noticed before. For a wild Pokémon, it seemed oddly… friendly. Or maybe naive.
"Hey there," I said softly, crouching to its level. "You're not gonna zap me with a Grass Whistle or something, right?"
It trilled, a sound like wind chimes, and bobbed its head.
Definitely not attacking. Maybe it's used to humans?
The Cottonee drifted closer, hovering just out of arm's reach. For a moment, I considered reaching out—then stopped myself. No Poké Balls. No supplies. And I'm not even a real trainer yet. And what if it *does* know a move? My game knowledge might be useless here.
"Sorry, little guy," I said, standing slowly. "Maybe next time."
It chirped, almost disappointed, before floating back into the tall grass.
I reached into my pocket and pulled out my phone. The map app was still open, guiding me towards Pallet Town. As I walked, I thought about Emma. Where was she? Was she okay? The hair clip in my hand felt like a tangible connection to her, a promise that I wouldn't give up.
The path sloped downwards, leading me towards the town. As I got closer, I could see a signpost, old and weathered, its paint peeling. Someone had spray-painted a crude Pikachu on it, along with the words 'Welcome to Pallet Town, Trainers!' Trainers… The word echoed in my mind. Was I really a trainer now? Was I ready for this?
***
Chapter End