**Pokémon Calendar, Year XX**
This year was an eventful one for all Trainers of the Pokémon League!
In the World League competition, the eight strongest Trainers emerged. After a thrilling knockout tournament, these elite Trainers crowned the world-class Champion, Leon!
From this year onwards, Leon's reign left no doubt about the strongest Trainer in the world. Trainers everywhere set their sights on Leon as their ultimate goal and began quests of their own.
Among them, in Pallet Town of the Kanto League, a young boy was gearing up for his own adventure...
...
"Waaah!! I'm going to be late!! Mom, why didn't you wake me up?!" A boy in pajamas, marked with Z-shaped lines on his cheeks, burst out of his room, frantically searching for his clothes.
"Hmm? Ash, you're already fifteen. It's time you woke up on your own," his mom replied gently while tidying the living room. But before she finished, Ash had already dashed out.
Ash was nearly an hour late. With no time to change, he sprinted out in pajamas and slippers.
Oak's Research Institute was two kilometers away, but Ash covered the distance in less than five minutes. To the townspeople, he was just a blur, a gust of wind.
Just as Ash reached the Institute, he was suddenly overcome by intense pain, clutching his head, his face contorted.
He was flooded with bewildering messages: Chat group… Parallel selves… Ability inheritance… What was this?!
'Congratulations on joining the Myriad Heavens Chat Group. Everyone here is a parallel version of you. Communicate well with 'yourself' and aim to become the ultimate Trainer.'
'This chat group includes an ability inheritance feature. Major real-world achievements like earning Gym Badges, capturing special Pokémon, or becoming an Elite Champion trigger lottery draws for abilities from chat group members. For details, enter the chat group.'
Amidst the chaos, Ash struggled to comprehend this "chat group" or the idea of parallel selves. Yet he felt a point in his mind, urging him to focus. When he did, he would access the chat group mentioned by the mysterious voice.
The bizarre occurrence unsettled the fifteen-year-old Ash. Was he possessed?
Still, his youthful impulsiveness and courage prevailed. After some thought, he reached out with his consciousness.
Suddenly, Ash felt his awareness leave his body, floating in a vast, ethereal space. There, he saw a giant screen.
"This… What is this?!"
**[Champion Ash: Yo, a newcomer? Which world's me is it this time?]**
This message startled Ash!
Champion Ash? What in the world?!
**[Aura Guardian Ash: Another big shot from a top domain has arrived. Group status minus one.]**
**[Breeder Ash: I wonder if this new one is me with breeding achievements. Most here are battle-focused; it's hard to find a breeding specialist.]**
**[…]**
Ash was even more confused by these floating messages. Champion Ash was one thing, but what were Aura Guardian and Breeder?
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**[Ash: How do I send messages on this thing?]**
**[Ash: Uh, it just sent?]**
**[Ash: Who are you all? Why do you have my name? What's with the titles in front?]**
Ash tried to communicate, unsure how to send messages. But with a thought, his words appeared on the screen.
To send messages, he just needed to think.
**[Champion Ash: It's normal for a newcomer to be confused. Let me explain.]**
**[Champion Ash: Everyone here, the group members, are you. The world contains parallel universes. When you choose left or right, two parallel universes emerge.]**
**[Champion Ash: Everyone here is us, excelling in various fields. For example, I became a world Champion through battles.]**
**[Champion Ash: Aura Guardian Ash didn't become Champion with Pokémon but became a mythical beast-like being through innate Aura talent. In Pokémon skills, I'm superior, but in physical prowess, he surpasses me.]**
**[Champion Ash: Breeder Ash focuses on breeding and isn't battle-experienced, but he's world-class, perhaps the best, in breeding.]**
**[Champion Ash: So, newcomer, in which field do you excel?]**
Champion Ash's explanation clarified the group for Ash.
Despite being clumsy with knowledge, Ash understood the thorough explanation. If not, he'd be no better than a pig!
In short, this chat group consisted of his different world versions, each excelling in various fields. Champion Ash excelled in battles, Breeder Ash in breeding, Aura Guardian Ash in physical prowess...
Communicating with his alternate selves was miraculous, yet Ash faced an awkward truth...
While others reached the pinnacle in their fields, he was about to start his journey, hadn't received his first Pokémon, and was already late.
Compared to the group, he was just a beginner!
**[Ash: Um, I don't know my specialty. I'm about to get my first Pokémon, and I'm late.]**
**[Champion Ash: Hmm?! Just starting out?! Really? The Ashs here usually excel in a field. A pure newcomer hasn't joined until now.]**
As a seasoned member, Champion Ash was surprised. A pure newcomer had truly joined?
In internet slang, the Ashs were 'finished accounts,' but now a 'starter account' appeared… What was going on?