” [Pokémon: Charmander] [Level: Lv.5] [Type: Fire] [Category: Lizard Pokémon] [Gender: Male] [Ability: Blaze (When HP is low, the power of Fire-type moves increases)] [Known Moves: Scratch, Growl] [Held Item: None] The battle information panel appeared in the upper-left corner of the screen.
The battle officially began!
“Charmander!
Use Growl while getting closer, then follow up with Scratch!” Red lowered the brim of his cap with one hand.
His eyes blazed with fighting spirit as he shouted commands passionately into the microphone.
Inside the game, Charmander let out a cute cry.
“Chaar!” It opened its tiny mouth, raised its faintly glowing claws, and charged forward on its short, wobbly little legs toward Squirtle.
Low-level battles were not exactly spectacular.
In fact, the scene was somewhat comical.
Compared to the battle itself, Blue found the information panel far more interesting.
There was a lot hidden in those few lines of data.
“Using levels to quantify training progress…” “And even listing Abilities and moves?” Blue narrowed his eyes.
“Brother Gray’s Pokémon knowledge…” He recalled Gray’s handsome face, which always seemed to carry the expression of a lazy retired man.
Then he could not help but complain.
“And he still refuses to admit he’s an expert breeder.” “Seriously…” “I almost got fooled by him.” At that very moment, however, the situation suddenly changed.
Little Blue calmly issued a command.
[Blue: Squirtle, Tackle!] Squirtle slammed directly into Charmander.
A bright notification instantly appeared on the screen.
[Critical Hit!] Charmander’s HP bar dropped straight to the bottom.
“What?!” Red instantly exploded.
“How is that fair?!” He stared at the screen in furious disbelief.
“Tch.” Blue crossed his arms and looked at him with utter disdain.
“A faithful recreation.” “You never beat me in our first battle anyway.” Red had no time to argue.
His brain was already working at full speed, desperately trying to find a solution.
As he fumbled with the Pokédex, his finger accidentally slid across the controls.
Then he noticed something.
His command perspective could move freely!
Not only that.
He could still control Little Red during the battle!
Caught off guard, he did not think much about it.
He simply started pressing buttons wildly.
On the screen, Little Red suddenly rushed forward.
At first, it looked as though he intended to shield Charmander from Squirtle’s next attack.
Instead— He charged straight at Little Blue.
His fist cut through the air.
Then— BAM!
A perfectly delivered punch landed squarely on Little Blue’s face.
Little Blue immediately collapsed.
A cartoon-like dizzy-star effect appeared above his head.
“…” (TN: Lmaooo!) The research laboratory fell silent.
No one said a word.
The game, however, continued as if nothing unusual had happened.
Seeing its trainer get knocked unconscious with a single punch, Squirtle instantly panicked.
It completely lost its composure and hurried back toward its fallen trainer.
Charmander seized the opportunity.
Stumbling slightly, it stretched out one tiny leg.
Trip.
Squirtle fell flat on its face.
[Squirtle fainted!] [Charmander gained 60 Experience Points!] [Charmander reached Level 6!] [Charmander learned Ember!] [Red defeated Rival Blue!] The battle ended.
Professor Oak leisurely walked over.
[Oak: It seems you’ve won the battle.] [Oak: You must be a genius Pokémon Trainer!] Little Blue staggered to his feet.
A massive black eye decorated his face.
He angrily recalled Squirtle and turned away with a huff.
[Blue: Hmph!
I’ll defeat you someday!] [Red: …] A large exclamation mark appeared above Professor Oak’s head.
[Oak: Oh, right!] [Oak: I have a favor to ask of you two.] Professor Oak pulled two red-and-white devices from inside his lab coat and handed them over.
[Oak: This is the Pokédex I invented!] [Oak: It automatically records information about Pokémon you’ve seen or formed bonds with.] [Red received the Pokédex from Professor Oak!] [Red placed the Pokédex into the Key Items Pocket.] [Oak: However, merely seeing a Pokémon isn’t enough to gather complete data.] [Oak: I need you two to help me improve the Pokédex by battling and collecting information!] Then, as though performing another magic trick, Professor Oak produced several Poké Balls.
[Red obtained 5 Poké Balls!] [Red placed the Poké Balls into the Poké Ball Pocket.] [Oak: A Trainer’s energy is limited.] [Oak: Normally, people only care for six Pokémon at a time.] [Oak: If things become difficult, send the Pokémon you can’t currently care for to me.] [Oak: The backyard of my laboratory is very large.] [Oak: I’ll help take care of them.] [Oak: Of course, you can call them back to your team whenever you wish.] [Blue: Leave it to me!] [Red: …] [Oak: Hahaha!] [Oak: I’m counting on you two.] [Oak: And if you want to challenge the Pokémon League, don’t forget to collect all eight Gym Badges!] [Oak: Now then, off you go!] Little Blue snorted.
Without another word, he hurried past Little Red and left the laboratory.
Professor Oak smiled.
He placed the remaining Poké Ball on a nearby research table before turning around and returning to his work.
“…Um.” “Sorry about that.” Only after the entire cutscene ended did Red dare glance cautiously toward Blue beside him.
His apology came out awkwardly.
“Let’s continue.” Blue’s face remained expressionless.
He simply lifted his chin slightly.
“The main story’s started.” This time, Red obediently listened.
He opened the Pokédex and checked Charmander’s status.
Then he used the Potion he had found earlier.
After healing Charmander, he guided Little Red out of the laboratory.
However, just as he passed the entrance, his sharp eyes caught something.
A suspicious figure flashed past the corner of the building.
Gone in an instant.
Outside the laboratory, Little Red encountered the handsome researcher from earlier.
[Handsome Researcher: Someday, you’ll become a legendary Trainer.] [Handsome Researcher: Here’s my contact information.] [Handsome Researcher: If you run into any problems, feel free to contact me.] After the interaction ended, the handsome researcher casually walked into the laboratory.
“That’s exactly what Brother Gray told me back then!” Red suddenly became nostalgic.
“So many memories…” Just as he was about to leave Pallet Town— “Wait!” Yellow suddenly spoke.
“I…
I think something’s wrong.” “There should still be another protagonist, right?” She looked thoughtful.
“Professor Oak still had one Poké Ball left at the end.” “Hmm…” Blue frowned.
He replayed the previous events in his mind.
Then his eyes lit up.
“That’s right!” “There’s a hidden event!” “That suspicious figure we saw earlier!” “Quick!
Go back to the laboratory!” “Check where Professor Oak left the final Poké Ball!” “Nooooo!” Green suddenly jumped to her feet.
Her voice rose so high that it nearly cracked.
The moment the other three turned to look at her, her momentum instantly collapsed.
Her voice shrank to the level of a mosquito.
“Ahem…” “I-I mean…” “What hidden event?” “We should leave Pallet Town and explore outside.” “The outside world is definitely more fun…” Her eyes darted around nervously.
She was obviously trying to hide something.
Red shot her a suspicious look.
Then he decisively ignored her suggestion.
Little Red immediately turned around and sprinted back toward the laboratory.
His destination was the research table where Professor Oak had left the final Poké Ball containing Bulbasaur.
The moment he approached— A cutscene triggered.
“As expected.” Blue smiled knowingly.
“There really is a hidden event.” The camera slowly pulled back.
The scene came into focus.
The handsome researcher who had spoken with Little Red earlier was now standing inside the laboratory.
One hand casually held a struggling girl off the ground as though she weighed nothing more than a small chicken.
The beautiful girl kicked and flailed desperately.
Hanging from her waist were two familiar items.
The final Poké Ball.
And an unpainted, unfinished Pokédex.
The four immediately recognized her.
It was the very same girl from the character selection screen.
The girl wearing the wide-brimmed round sun hat.
The female protagonist.
(End of Chapter)