In the dimly lit room, Caster was fast asleep, drool soaking into his pillow printed with a Gardevoir design.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
A dull thumping sound rang out.
Caster's brow furrowed as he mumbled, "Who is it? Disturbing someone's sleep so early in the morning!"
Opening his bleary eyes, Caster looked toward the source of the noise.
There he saw a large red fish with two long whiskers, its dorsal and ventral fins shaped like a crown, ramming against the glass fish tank with obvious agitation.
"Magikarp?"
Caster froze, utterly confused. "What the hell? Am I still half asleep?"
Why would a Magikarp from the Pokémon world be right in front of him?
"Ugh, my head's killing me!"
Caster rubbed his temples.
He had originally been a fishing channel content creator on a small video platform. Because he never caught anything impressive, his fans jokingly nicknamed him "Emperor of Empty Hands." Some also called him "The Chum Sage" because while he lived frugally in every other aspect of his life, he was always generous when it came to chumming the water for fishing.
"I remember yesterday I was traveling through Texas, and my luck exploded when I hooked a ten-pound whiskered fish. I even started a livestream to celebrate."
Caster tried hard to recall. "When I was making fish soup, some viewer claiming to be a Texas local suggested I add those white mushrooms growing nearby to enhance the flavor, swearing it'd be fine. So I did."
"Right after eating, I started seeing colors that were both vivid and pitch black at the same time, then I felt like I'd achieved unity with the universe..."
Thinking back on it, Caster couldn't help but grit his teeth. "That 'local' viewer had zero manners!"
"Wait! Why does my head suddenly feel so itchy?"
Suddenly, a flood of memories that didn't belong to Caster came rushing in.
As the memories merged, the confusion on Caster's face vanished, replaced by delight. "I transmigrated into the Pokémon world, the biggest IP from my previous life?!"
Besides fishing, Caster's other great passion was Pokémon.
He'd been watching Pokémon anime and playing Pokémon games since elementary school. He knew the attributes, moves, and evolution paths of all kinds of Pokémon like the back of his hand.
And because his name was "Caster" (meaning "summer rain"), his favorite team comp was the Rain Team, with Kyogre as his signature Pokémon.
Caster had always dreamed of riding Kyogre across the open ocean, racing through the waves at will.
And now that he'd transmigrated into the Pokémon world, maybe there was a sliver of hope his dream could come true?
But after the initial excitement wore off, Caster's brow furrowed again as he murmured, "Kanto region? Orphan? Magikarp?"
According to his memories, his name was still Caster, and he was currently in Cerulean City in the Kanto region.
The original owner of this body was an orphan who'd grown up in an orphanage but dreamed of becoming a Pokémon trainer.
So after coming of age and leaving the orphanage, the original owner worked grueling jobs for half a year and finally scraped together enough money to buy a starter Pokémon from the official breeding house.
But on his way to the breeding house, the original owner ran into some old man selling Magikarp.
Having grown up in an orphanage with zero real-world experience, the original owner got scammed out of all his savings by this Magikarp salesman and ended up with a "lively and energetic" Magikarp.
"So my starter Pokémon is this Magikarp?"
Walking up to the glass tank, Caster's mouth twitched. "A Magikarp that can't do anything except Splash?"
Caster remembered the Pokédex entry about Magikarp: weak body, slow mind, practically useless in every way, hence also known as "the world's weakest Pokémon."
Sure, its evolved form Gyarados was strong and cool, but while Magikarp were everywhere, Gyarados were rare. Only one in ten thousand actually evolved.
Without the "evolutionary kick," who could guarantee a Magikarp would definitely evolve?
So starting with a Magikarp was basically a catastrophic beginning!
"Karp! Karp!"
As if sensing the disdain, the moment Caster finished speaking, the Magikarp in the tank leaped out of the water, its tail swinging out like a paddle.
Smack! Smack! Smack!
After a series of crisp slaps, Caster's cheeks turned bright red and he nearly blacked out.
Meanwhile, the Magikarp dropped back into the tank, eyes gleaming with cunning as it swam leisurely.
You dare say I "can't do anything"?
How's that face feeling now?
"Ow, my face hurts!"
Clutching his swollen cheeks, Caster felt his head buzzing.
He'd just been slapped by his own Pokémon!
"You little...!"
After recovering from the shock, Caster exploded in fury. "You dare hit your trainer? I'm telling you, your career is over!"
"Karp!"
The Magikarp's eyes flashed as it made to leap out again.
Caster's eyelid twitched and he quickly raised the door in front of himself as a shield.
Seeing this, the Magikarp decided not to attack again, but continued ramming its head against the glass tank, its eyes repeatedly gesturing toward a box on a nearby table.
"Oh, I forgot to feed you. My bad, my bad!"
Caster seemed to remember something and quickly opened the box on the table, taking out cube-shaped snacks that looked like chocolates (these were pokéblocks, specialized Pokémon food).
"Karp! Karp!"
The moment the pokéblocks hit the water, the Magikarp eagerly gulped them down, its agitation greatly subsiding.
Taking advantage of this moment, Caster walked to the bathroom.
"Huh? I'm actually pretty good-looking?"
But after looking more carefully and seeing "himself" standing tall with handsome features, Caster said cheerfully, "With this face, even if I don't work I should be able to get by, right?"
But thinking of the saying about pretty boys, Caster immediately changed his mind, solemnly telling his reflection, "A man must rely on himself!"
Buzz buzz buzz!
Just then, his phone vibrated several times.
Caster opened it to find several private messages.
"Streamer, your Magikarp doesn't even have any attack moves, and you're talking about becoming a Pokémon Master? Do you have some kind of misunderstanding about what 'Pokémon Master' means? I suggest you change your username to 'Pipe Dreamer.'"
"Old Fish, why haven't you been uploading videos lately? Without you, I've got nothing entertaining to watch!"
"Fish Boy, don't stop posting! Life's already tough enough. Without you at the bottom, I can barely hang in there."
"Tell the chef I'm craving fish!"
...
Caster raised an eyebrow, only now remembering that after getting the Magikarp, the original owner had registered as a video blogger on this world's biggest entertainment site, "PokéTube," with the username "Magikarp Dreamer." He'd been uploading daily vlogs about living with and training his Magikarp.
His bio was pretty inspirational too: "A trainer from the orphanage, partnering with Magikarp to become a Pokémon Master."
Unfortunately, the ideal was plump but reality was skeletal.
The original owner came from an orphanage with no money and no resources, severely lacking in Pokémon knowledge, and on top of that, Magikarp was so useless...
So he kept losing Pokémon battles, wanted to work hard but couldn't find the right direction, and when he posted his inspirational videos online, he just got mocked and treated like a joke...
Under wave after wave of setbacks, the original owner's spirit completely shattered.
"This really is brutal!"
Caster continued scrolling through the messages and found that viewers basically didn't believe in the original owner, treating him and his Magikarp as entertainment, like a digital pet.
Of course, there were occasionally a few heartwarming messages.
"Streamer, if you really can't afford a starter Pokémon, I suggest you take a bug net into the forest and catch a Caterpie. Caterpie are low-maintenance but grow extremely fast. In a month or two it can evolve into Butterfree with decent battle capability. Way better than Magikarp."
"The guy above is right! I'm a Bug Catcher from Viridian Forest, also from the bottom rung of society. Streamer, if you need help catching Bug-type Pokémon, feel free to leave me a message."
Reading this, Caster felt a stirring in his heart.
While he loved Rain Teams most, training a Caterpie as a transitional Pokémon could work.
Besides that, some people suggested Caster face reality, give up on being a trainer, and get a regular job instead. At least he could make ends meet that way.
"Getting a regular job? Not happening..."
Caster scoffed and shook his head. "I didn't have a job before transmigrating, and now I'm supposed to get one after? That would mean I not only wasted this transmigration, but I'd actually be going backward in life."
As for how to make a living going forward, Caster had already figured it out: go back to his old trade and continue being a content creator.
Because according to his memories, he knew that short videos and livestreaming had only just emerged in the Pokémon world, with very little market competition. It was a completely untapped blue ocean.
Currently, the creators with any real fame were basically top-tier Pokémon trainers from various regions.
Either cutesy types like Elesa from Unova's Nimbasa Gym or Brassius from Paldea's Artazon Gym, or world-class trainers like Red, Leon, and Lance.
While Caster had nothing right now, he had rich experience as a content creator. He knew how to build a persona, how to create hooks and entertaining moments in videos, and how to engage with audiences.
In the "pristine and primitive" Pokémon world, wouldn't he just dominate?
Nobody understands content creation better than me!!!
"I need to make money within a month, or I'm getting kicked out by my landlord."
Thinking about how all his savings had been scammed away, Caster immediately felt a sense of crisis.
"But what's done is done. For now, let's go fishing!"
Speaking of fishing, this fishing enthusiast immediately perked up.
The waters of the Pokémon world were home to all kinds of Water-type Pokémon. With his Level 8 Fishing Saint skills, hooking a few shouldn't be too hard.
With this thought, Caster took out a Poké Ball and recalled his Magikarp, then borrowed an old fishing rod from his landlord and hurried out the door.
Walking through the streets of Cerulean City, Caster found everything fascinating.
There were quite a few shops lining the streets, and besides various daily necessities, they displayed all sorts of Pokémon-related merchandise. Every so often he'd see trainers passing by with their Pokémon.
There were the common house sparrows Pidgey, the fluffy and adorable Eevee, the bald little turtle Squirtle, and even Nidoran with their poison horns on their heads...
"Oh? A Pikachu?"
When he spotted the yellow mouse, Caster exclaimed in surprise.
This was Pokémon's mascot character!
But remembering that Pikachu were as common as stray dogs in the Kanto region, Caster relaxed.
After all, not every Pikachu was "Pika-god."
Full of anticipation, Caster arrived at a small river. The water was clear, with lush water plants growing along the banks.
"Pockets in the grass hold hidden treasures, monsters lurk by the reeds."
Caster grinned. "This perfect fishing spot is definitely going to get me a full catch!"
He wasn't hoping to hook a Slowpoke from this little river, but landing a Poliwag should be no problem.
Caster first released his Magikarp, letting it go play by itself, then baited his homemade lure and cast it with all his might. "Here goes nothing!"
Plop!
The hook drew a graceful arc through the air and splashed into the water with a small ripple.
Caster's eyes locked onto the water's surface, his whole body tense, as if a monster would bite any second.
But unfortunately, the bobber seemed frozen in place by a Gengar's Disable, completely motionless.
Two hours later.
"Getting skunked on my first try?"
Caster's face darkened as he muttered, "Is my 'Emperor of Empty Hands' title going to follow me into the Pokémon world? No way!!!"
To avoid getting skunked, Caster called over his Magikarp and ordered, "Magikarp, go bite my lure so I can feel what it's like to hook a big one in the Pokémon world."
"Karp???"
The Magikarp in the water first looked bewildered, then gave him a look of utter contempt.
Trainer, you're even lying to yourself?
"Karp! Karp!"
But for the sake of getting tasty pokéblocks every day, the Magikarp compromised. With a splash, it dove underwater and swallowed the bland, flavorless bait in one bite.
Sigh, just doing the trainer's bidding!
At the same time, the bobber on the surface suddenly sank.
"I've got a bite! I've got a bite!"
Seeing this, Caster quickly gripped the rod tight and pulled up with all his strength.
Soon, the Magikarp was hauled out of the water.
Then, three notifications appeared before Caster's eyes.
[Caught "Magikarp." Reward: 1 Energy Orb.]
[First time catching "Magikarp." Bonus reward: 1 Chilling Water TM (Technical Machine).]
[Fishing Space has been unlocked!]
"Huh???"
Caster rubbed his eyes, uncertain. "Did I just... activate a cheat?"