Chapter 2: The System Has Arrived After All
Just as Kevin was deep in thought, unconsciously watching the Metapod on the tree, a light screen suddenly appeared before his eyes. The light screen floated magically, and it would automatically move as Kevin turned his head.
"Hmm? What's this?"
Various symbols constantly changed on the light screen like a waterfall, finally settling on an image with three panels:
In order: [Status][Backpack][Pokédex]
Kevin was pleased; the rule that transmigrators always get a system had come into effect.
Skipping over the [Status] and [Backpack] options, Kevin focused his attention on the [Pokédex] option.
In no time, the light screen flickered, and the following information appeared:
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[Pokédex]
Encounter Progress: 1/5
Battle Progress: 0/5
[Real-time Analysis]
Pokémon: Normal - Metapod (Male) x4
Level: lv8
Type: Bug
Ability: Shed Skin (Has a chance to shed its skin to cure its own status conditions, except fainting)
Moves: Harden (lv0)
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Kevin understood. The function of this [Pokédex] was just like the Pokédex in the manga or anime; it could display information and moves of the current Pokémon. However, he didn't know if it was because he himself was now a Pokémon, so the original function of the Pokédex displaying collection progress had been replaced by the somewhat inexplicable "Encounter Progress" and "Battle Progress."
"Since I can see the Pokémon's information, can I see my own?"
Shifting his gaze from the Metapod, Kevin looked down at himself.
Unexpectedly, as his gaze focused on himself, the [Pokédex] information on the light screen disappeared and was replaced by the [Status] information.
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[Status]
Pokémon: Elite - Riolu (Male)
Level: lv5
Type: Fighting
Ability: Inner Focus (Prevents flinching)
HP: 27
Attack: 20
Defense: 12
Sp. Atk: 11
Sp. Def: 10
Speed: 17
Special: ??
Moves: Quick Attack (lv0), Detect (lv0), ?? (??)
Evaluation: Swift as a startled rabbit, a valiant and battle-skilled Fighting Pokémon, also possessing unknown immense potential.
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"As expected of a Fighting-type Pokémon famous for physical attack and speed, these Attack and Speed stats are indeed impressive. But what the heck are those question marks? And what does unknown immense potential mean?"
The Riolu, on its first day of birth, had its little head filled with various questions.
"Is this all there is to the system?"
Kevin clicked all over the place – up, down, left, right, A, B, A, B – but the light screen stubbornly displayed only these three options.
"Something like a negative energy lottery system, or a Goh-style one-ball catch system would have been nice too. With only these functions, what's the difference from a game's system interface?"
"Forget it."
After racking his brains for a moment, Kevin decided to give up on figuring it out. He shook his head, putting all the questions to the back of his mind.
Standing up from the grass, the corner of his eye caught a glimpse of the verdant green pupae hanging on the tree in a daze. Kevin couldn't hold back his excitement and greeted the Metapods, "Hi, how are you all?"
"…"
The Metapod stared with their dead-fish eyes and paid him no attention.
Even so, Kevin's heart was still full of excitement.
He looked up towards the depths of the forest, feeling his powerful yet light body, and took a deep breath.
Suddenly, he remembered something.
"Since this is a new life, then let's start this new journey with a new name."
"Riolu, Riolu, Lucario, Lucario, Kevin…"
"I've decided, my new name will be Rio."
Kevin, no, Rio raised his right paw, like a sailboat raising its sail, and dashed towards the unknown new life.
…
Becoming a Pokémon was a brand new experience for Rio.
In the Pokémon world, there were huge differences in the body sizes of various Pokémon species. Some were as small as flower petals, while others were colossal enough to shake the heavens and earth.
An ordinary Riolu is about 0.7 meters tall, equivalent to the height of a 1-year-old human child. Rio had roughly measured himself to be about 0.8 meters tall, and his overall physique was much sturdier than the Riolu he had imagined.
When humans are 1 year old, their brains are not fully developed, making it impossible to clearly observe their surroundings. Although Rio was also a newborn Pokémon, he possessed a mature adult soul within his body. Due to his lower line of sight, various objects appeared larger in Rio's eyes. Therefore, he felt a strange sense of disparity when looking at everything around him: for example, grass that would have only reached an adult's knees in his previous life now almost submerged his entire Pokémon body; and those fruit trees that were already quite stout and tall appeared as behemoths in Rio's vision, bringing an overwhelming visual impact.
Besides the visual differences, in terms of physical structure, Riolu had two rather slender but explosive legs, and a tail dragged behind for balance. This bodily structure, different from his human form in his previous life, took Rio quite some time to get used to.
"So, what should I do now?"
A small, dog-shaped Pokémon stood in the grass, contemplating life, its tail wagging behind it.
It seemed he didn't have any deep-seated grudges with enemies, no imminent crises, and certainly no fiancée coming to break off an engagement…
Wait, does the concept of marriage even exist in the Pokémon world?
But regardless, Rio felt it would be better to have a goal.
As for what that was, images of those majestic, dignified, or cool and dashing figures surfaced in his mind.
"Mewtwo, Mew, Lugia, Ho-Oh, Kyogre, Groudon, Rayquaza, Dialga, Palkia… even Arceus!"
A longing suddenly arose in him; he wanted to witness all the legends at the very top of the Pokémon world.
"If I want to see them, first I must become stronger!"
Legendary Pokémon all possessed world-shaping power; weak Pokémon didn't even have the qualification to get close.
Therefore, Rio decided to first raise his level and strength, only then could he go to see the scenery at the mountain's peak.
"But how do I do that?"
His small head had big worries.
"Grrrrumble…"
At this moment, the rumbling sound from his stomach reminded Rio that it was time to find food to fill his belly.
Rio twitched his nose; a fresh fragrance wafted from not far away. He followed the scent through a large patch of forest, and the fruit tree that appeared before him made his eyes light up.
Numerous fragrant Berries hung heavily on the branches of the fruit tree, each as large as a basketball. Some ripe Berries even dripped fragrant, sweet juice from a slight crack in their skin.
"Smells so good…"
Rio drooled looking at these sweet Berries. He immediately used his hands and feet, nimbly climbed the tree, picked a Berry larger than his head, wiped it hastily, and took a bite.
"Awooo~"
The crisp texture, rich juice, and sweet flesh were so delicious that Rio narrowed his eyes in delight, and even his tail wagged happily unconsciously.
It was unclear whether it was the delicious taste of the Berry or if Rio was truly famished, but such a large Berry was devoured by Rio in an instant. After finishing one, he still felt unsatisfied, so Rio stretched out his paw, wanting to pick another.