When Logan Cross woke up, he discovered that the whole world had changed.
Earth was still Earth, but there were some differences.
In this world, the Pokémon anime did not exist.
Here, otaku boys and girls left their rooms and rushed to Pokémon Centers, preparing to receive their devices.
Pokémon GO, a game that would usher in a new era; a game to catch Pokémon on Earth; a game jointly created by several countries.
Simply by putting on an AR wristband, one could see, layered over their normal vision, a world different from what ordinary people perceived.
“Logan, it’s your turn,” said Jason Brooks, his best friend, nudging him on the shoulder.
“Oh.” Logan accepted the AR wristband.
The moment he put it on, he saw Nurse Joy smiling at him from his side.
It was like the difference between the visible world and the hidden one.
Perhaps Nurse Joy had always been standing there watching Logan.
It was just that, without wearing the AR wristband, Logan had been unable to see her.
“Identity synchronization complete.
Player Logan Cross, 23 years old, citizen of Arcaia City, Daleron.
Registration complete.
Five minutes remain until the start of the public test.
Please wait patiently.” Logan smiled back at Nurse Joy, secretly astonished.
“No wonder this is top-tier AR technology.
This Nurse Joy looks completely real.
The transition between the second and third dimensions is simply perfect,” Logan thought.
“And such advanced technology is being distributed for free all over the world?” Logan did not know the inside story.
The only thing he knew was that Pokémon GO was his chance to change his destiny.
Because in this world, the Pokémon anime did not exist.
The advantage he possessed was enormous.
Perhaps, thanks to that, he could reach the very top among all players.
“Logan, want to team up and grind monsters?” Jason asked.
“No.
And remember, they’re Pokémon, not monsters,” Logan replied, turning down the offer.
Unlike Logan, Jason was the young heir to the Brooks Group, a family with considerable influence.
Logan was deeply grateful that Jason had always treated him as his best friend.
But Logan had no intention of forming a team.
Now that he held such a tremendous advantage, he naturally had to grow stronger in silence.
“So, which starter Pokémon are you going to choose?” Jason asked casually.
“Hawlucha,” Logan answered.
“I recommend you choose Heracross.” “Why?” Jason asked, confused.
“There are hundreds of starter Pokémon in Pokémon GO.
Why those two specifically?” The starter lineup was enormous.
It ranged from Weedle, with a base stat total of 195, all the way to Hawlucha and Heracross, each with a base stat total of 500.
Of course, this was something Logan had figured out on his own.
The official information did not reveal the strength of the starter Pokémon.
Under those circumstances, how could Logan be so certain?
For a moment, Jason felt that the Logan standing before him had become somewhat unfathomable.
He still had no idea that Logan was playing an incredibly long game.
Hawlucha was a Fighting/Flying-type, while Heracross was a Bug/Fighting-type.
Although their base stats were identical, Hawlucha’s Flying type had a quadruple type advantage against Heracross.
Jason, the guy who loved bullying others, was destined to be crushed by Logan like a dog.
In reality, there was no practical reason behind it.
It was simply the competitive spirit and the desire not to lose between best friends.
Logan knew very well that Jason would undoubtedly provide him with tremendous help in the future.
That was why Logan also wanted to help him however he could.
“Just trust me,” Logan said.
“Alright,” Jason replied.
He trusted that Logan would never steer him wrong.
“The closed beta has ended!
Pokémon GO officially begins its public test!
Players, choose your starter Pokémon and begin your journey toward becoming Pokémon Masters!” A 3D projection suddenly appeared before Logan’s eyes without the slightest sense of artificiality.
The glowing screen displayed densely packed projections of Pokémon.
Logan quickly found Hawlucha among the crowd.
Without the slightest hesitation, he pressed Confirm.
Some rare and powerful starter Pokémon were unique.
The fastest players obtained them; the slower ones missed their chance.
Hawlucha was an exceptionally powerful Pokémon throughout the middle and late stages of the game.
Unlike the unevolved forms of many powerful Pokémon, which started off extremely weak and struggled to level up, Hawlucha was strong from the very beginning.
Used properly, crushing other players’ starter Pokémon would be no problem at all.
“Haaawlluuuchaa!” Hawlucha appeared before him, glanced at Logan once, then arrogantly turned its head away, as though it were highly dissatisfied with Logan as its Trainer.
Logan did not mind.
The reason he had chosen Hawlucha was because Pokémon like Absol were already incredibly popular even before players could select them.
Meanwhile, Hawlucha, despite being just as powerful, seemed to be largely overlooked.
To guarantee himself a strong Pokémon instead of ending up forced to choose an ordinary Raticate or Caterpie, Logan settled for the second-best option and picked Hawlucha.
That proud Hawlucha still had no idea that it was only Logan’s Plan B.
Pokémon: Hawlucha Level: 1 Types: Fighting / Flying Ability: Limber Held Item: None Moves: Detect, Tackle, Hone Claws Quality: High Attack: Dark Yellow Defense: Dark Yellow Speed: Dark Green Base Combat Power: 50 In Pokémon GO, potential was divided into seven colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, and black.
The higher the color, the greater the potential.
For a starter Pokémon, having Dark Yellow Attack and Defense potential already placed it among the stronger ones.
Its Dark Green Speed potential was more than enough to overwhelm other starter Pokémon.
Having 50 base Combat Power at Level 1 was also extremely impressive.
When the other players saw Hawlucha, they were filled with envy.
They immediately stopped hesitating and hurried to choose their own Pokémon.
Very soon, however, they looked as though they were about to cry.
Many of the coolest-looking Pokémon had been snatched away in an instant.
All of those were available only in limited numbers.
In the end, they could only choose Pokémon such as Rattata, Spearow, and Weedle.
Of course, every starter Pokémon possessed High potential, so even a Rattata was worth training, though not by much.
Jason also walked over with his Heracross.
Looking at the little Hawlucha, he pretended to be touched.
“Logan, you gave me Heracross and chose this little guy for yourself.
If I were a woman, I’d have fallen in love with you.” “Herrraacross!” Heracross stood 1.7 meters tall.
Its massive body radiated an overwhelming sense of pressure.
Its sheer physique alone was enough to make Pokémon like Rattata, Diglett, and Mankey feel inferior.
“You say that as if you were a woman,” Logan replied, raising an eyebrow slightly as he gently patted Hawlucha on the shoulder.
“Haaawlluuuchaa!” Hawlucha waved its claws, warning Jason and Heracross not to start any trouble.
Heracross instinctively took a small step backward, as though it felt a trace of fear.
The type advantage had already taken effect.
Only then did Jason realize that Logan had tricked him.
All he could do was silently accept it.
If that information had been posted on the forums before the game’s release, countless wealthy young players would undoubtedly have been willing to pay handsomely for it.
When it came to gaining an advantage in a game, the rich were never stingy with money.
Logan was, without question, just an ordinary person, yet he had given up such an opportunity.
The fact that Logan had shared information about such a powerful Pokémon with him genuinely moved Jason.
The sincerity of a friendship is not measured by small favors.
Logan had been willing to tell him something worth many times his entire fortune, and Jason had already decided that becoming Logan’s friend had been one of the best decisions he had ever made.
The two walked out of the Pokémon Center shoulder to shoulder.
The Pokémon Center was a special facility in Pokémon GO, serving as the central hub for player interactions.
Besides that, there were also Local, Regional, National, and World Pokémon Gyms.
All of those facilities had been built by the nations of the world.
The Earth was now governed by the Pokémon League!
Inside the Pokémon Center, many players were still dumbfounded.
None of them had expected the towering Heracross to actually be afraid of the tiny Hawlucha.
“So there was only one Heracross, and Hawlucha was unique too!” “Does that mean Logan participated in the closed beta?
Is that why he picked two unique and powerful Pokémon so precisely?” “No way he was a beta tester.
From what I’ve heard, that beta took place in another world!” “And that’s not all.
They say the story of that beta is already being adapted into an anime.
Bravaria is also rushing to produce a live-action version!” …
Logan could not be bothered paying attention to what the other players were doing.
He was already thinking about how to fill the six Poké Balls in his backpack, sell them for a good price, and create value for his life.
(End of Chapter) PKGO-En