The trail to Pallet Town was shorter than expected, and Charmander padded along beside me, its blocky tail swaying in rhythmic flicks. Or at least, blocky to me. I passed a young woman walking with a Meowth. She waved, gave my Charmander a curious glance, then smiled like everything was normal.
So it was confirmed: I was the only one seeing Pokémon like this. And apparently, only I could see the floating UI windows and menus hovering in the air.
[New Location Unlocked: Pallet Town]
[NPCs detected: 12]
[Point of Interest: Professor Oak's Laboratory]
The system fed me data as I entered the village. It was rustic but cozy flower gardens, wooden fences, and thatched rooftops lined the narrow lanes. But at the top of the hill stood a more modern-looking building with a familiar red dome.
"Let's go meet the legend himself," I muttered to Charmander.
"Char!" it chirped, clearly excited.
As we approached the lab, the door slid open automatically. I stepped inside and was greeted by a tall, older man in a white lab coat, flipping through notes on a holopad. His presence was calm but powerful.
"You must be a new Trainer," he said without looking up. "Hmm… you've already got your starter, I see. From the wild? Or..."
I froze. This was it. Time to bluff.
"Uh, yeah. I found an injured Charmander and bonded with it. Figured I'd check in."
Professor Oak finally looked up, his eyes sharp with curiosity.
"Interesting. There was no record of a new Trainer registration today. But your Charmander looks healthy… You must have done something right." He studied it for a moment and smiled. "Would you mind a quick test battle? I have someone you should meet."
I nodded cautiously. Charmander stretched, ready.
A moment later, a girl with short red hair walked in. She looked about my age and wore a Poké Ball belt slung low like a gunslinger.
"This is Leaf," Oak said. "She's one of our top local Trainers. Think of this as your formal evaluation."
Leaf grinned. "Hope you're ready."
She tossed a Poké Ball in the air. "Go, Eevee!"
The tiny foxlike creature emerged with a sparkle.
I raised my hand, willing the Cobblemon UI to open.
Charmander [Lv. 5]
Moves: Scratch, Growl
Environment Bonus: Neutral
Tactic Suggestion: Aggressive Opener
"Charmander, use Scratch!"
"Eevee, dodge and counter with Quick Attack!"
The battle was fast. Charmander lunged, and to my surprise, the UI glowed as I received a tiny popup:
Timing Bonus!
+5% Damage Applied
"Nice," I muttered.
Even in this real world, the system rewarded precision.
Eevee tackled Charmander, but my partner endured, standing up with a growl. I felt my instincts syncing with the rhythm almost like I could feel the code underneath reality.
"Charmander, go in again! Full force!"
With one final swipe, Charmander landed the hit that made Eevee stumble and fall. Leaf recalled her partner, smiling despite the loss.
"Not bad. You're better than I expected."
Professor Oak nodded. "You've got something unique, that much is clear."
I forced a smile. You have no idea.
As we left the lab with a small care package of potions and Poké Balls, my UI buzzed again.
[System Quest: Begin Your Journey]
Objectives: Visit Viridian City. Locate Materials for First Craft.
Optional: Scan Wild Pokémon for Crafting Components.
My path was clear now. I had a system no one else could see. Tools no one else could use.
And a whole world to explore.