Darkness.
That was the first thing that enveloped Cedric's mind—a thick, viscous blackness that felt as absolute as the bottom of a deep ocean. There was no sound, no sensation, just a stretch of nothingness that seemed to drag on for an eternity. But then, like a single ripple disturbing a perfectly still lake, consciousness began to seep back in.
First came the sensation of gravity. He felt his body growing heavy, anchoring him down as if he were buried under layers of heavy sediment. Every muscle fiber hummed with a dull, aching exhaustion. Next came the sense of touch. The fabric beneath his back was soft but unfamiliar; the air he breathed didn't carry the musty, stale scent of his old life. Instead, the atmosphere here was artificial, almost aggressively clean, smelling faintly of antiseptic and a generic citrus air freshener.
Cedric shifted slightly. He tried to open his eyes, but his eyelids felt as though they had been glued shut. It took a long moment, requiring a concerted effort of both will and muscle, before he could force them apart.
Light flooded in.
It wasn't the warmth of sunlight, but the cold, clinical white glow of a square ceiling light. Cedric didn't squint or wince; he simply stared, his pupils contracting painfully to adjust to the sudden brightness without a single change in expression. He drew in a sharp, deep breath, the cool air filling his lungs and jumpstarting the dormant neurons in his brain.
He was awake.
Slowly, he pushed himself up into a sitting position. A wave of vertigo washed over him, forcing him to pause, but instead of clutching his head, he just sat motionless, waiting for the world to stop spinning. As the dizziness subsided, Cedric finally began to observe his surroundings.
It was a room... a terribly boring room. That was the only way to describe it. The four walls were painted a sterile off-white, devoid of any cracks, stains, or even a single picture frame to break the monotony. The floor was covered in pale, synthetic wood laminate that looked slippery and cold. The furniture was minimal to the point of being austere: the single bed he was sitting on, a small wardrobe in the corner, and a simple study desk placed next to a window covered by heavy blackout curtains.
There was no personal touch. No warmth of life. This room felt like a display model in a furniture store, or perhaps a high-end cell for a white-collar criminal.
"A strange ceiling." Cedric murmured flatly. His voice sounded raspy, foreign even to his own ears, but devoid of confusion.
He swung his legs over the side of the bed, intending to check the window, when suddenly, the space directly in front of him rippled.
Zzzzzt...
A soft electronic static noise buzzed in the air, reminiscent of an old television losing signal. Right before Cedric's eyes, suspended in mid-air, blue pixels began to congregate. They danced, aligned, and fused together with dizzying speed, gradually forming a semi-transparent rectangular interface.
Cedric didn't flinch. He didn't scramble backward. He simply leaned his head against the headboard, watching the phenomenon with dull, half-lidded eyes as if watching paint dry. On the holographic screen, a loading bar was progressing at a steady, rhythmic pace.
[INITIALIZING SYSTEM...]
[SYNCHRONIZING SOUL DATA...]
[DOWNLOADING WORLD ASSETS...]
[100%. COMPLETE.]
Ding!
A crisp chime rang out, and the screen flared with a brilliant light before settling into a sleek, neon-green and black interface.
A voice—mechanical, yet possessing a surprisingly flexible intonation—echoed directly inside Cedric's skull.
[Welcome, Host Cedric. The Pokemon Trainer System has been successfully activated.]
Text scrolled across the screen, matching the voice in his head.
[Welcome to New Eridu – Humanity's Last Bastion.]
"System," Cedric repeated, the word tasting bland on his tongue. "You're loud."
[...I will adjust my volume.] The System replied, ignoring the lack of enthusiasm.
[Currently, you are located in the world of Zenless Zone Zero (ZZZ). This is a post-apocalyptic reality where the old civilization was decimated by a supernatural disaster known as the "Hollows." New Eridu is the sole remaining safe haven.]
Cedric stared at the wall, processing the information. Post-apocalyptic. Monsters. Strange energy. It sounded like a lot of effort. He let out a sigh.
"Monsters. Okay." he mumbled, his dark purple eyes casting downward. "Troublesome. So... who is this body?"
[Please refer to your Personal Status Panel.]
The holographic screen shifted. A 3D miniature projection of Cedric appeared on the left, flanked by rows of detailed statistics.
Cedric stood up—his legs slightly wobbly—and walked toward the full-length mirror attached to the wardrobe door.
Reflected in the glass was a stranger.
However, this body wasn't frail. It was surprisingly healthy. His skin had a healthy elasticity and a rosy hue, completely unlike the pale, sickly complexion of his previous life. He looked filled out and robust, radiating an air of well-maintained vitality.
His hair was jet black, long, and untamed, with thick, messy bangs covering almost the entire upper half of his face. Cedric reached up, brushing the hair aside. The eyes revealed underneath were a deep, bruised purple. They were beautiful, but they held a profound, abyssal emptiness. Not sadness, just a lack of interest.
Cedric stared at the mirror, his expression completely unreadable.
He continued to stare at the mirror, tilting his head to the side, a faint crease appearing between his brows.
"This is not me. I'm not this… healthy." Cedric whispered, his breath clouding the glass.
[Your previous physique was aesthetically unacceptable.] the System replied bluntly.
[You were malnourished, scrawny, and looked like a dried twig. I rejected that reality. This body is healthy. It has reserves.]
"And the hair?" Cedric pulled a long strand of black hair that went past his chin. "I look like a mop. "
[That's because this body has technically existed for sixteen years. But the consciousness inside was basically asleep. It didn't care about haircuts or attention. It just grew in the shadows. You can cut it later if you want, but for now, deal with it.] System explained.
Cedric didn't argue. He only studied the eyes—a deep, bruised purple that held a profound, abyssal emptiness. Those, at least, were familiar.
His eyes drifted back to the number on the holographic screen.
Height: 156 cm.
He looked down at his legs in the mirror. They looked short. Too short.
Then he looked up at the ceiling, addressing the voice directly.
"Why am I tiny. Why am I so… vulnerable?"
There was a long, heavy pause. The screen flickered slightly, as if avoiding eye contact.
[The size is optimal for evasion and stealth.]
Cedric sighed. He felt like he had been scammed, but he didn't have the energy to argue. He looked back at the screen.
Name: Cedric
Age: 16
Gender: Male
Height: 156 cm
Weight: 50 kg
Occupation: High School Student (Year 1) - New Eridu High School.
Status: Stable (Slightly Lethargic).
Cedric stared at the text. He blinked once then twice.
"System." he said, his voice flat.
"There is a data error."
[The System does not make errors, dear.]
"I was twenty." Cedric stated plainly. "I was an adult. Why am I sixteen? And why..." he pointed a soft finger at the word Occupation "...student? "
[It is not an error. It is a correction.]
The System's voice took on a strangely sentimental, almost preaching tone.
[In your previous life, did you actually live? No. You worked. You slept. You stared at screens until your eyes burned. You were an old man in a young body. You never had a youth. You never went to school festivals, never had teenage drama, never ate bad cafeteria food.]
Cedric stared blankly at the air. "I liked sleeping. Sleeping was good."
[Wrong answer! You wasted your time! So, this reincarnation comes with a mandatory refund. You are sixteen again. You are going to experience youth properly this time, whether you like it or not.]
"I don't want a refund." Cedric said, walking back to the bed and sitting down heavily. "School is loud and homework is pointless.".
[It is non-negotiable. You will go to school. You will make friends. You will have a vibrant, annoying youth in this post-apocalyptic world. End of discussion.]
"Can't I just fight monsters?" Cedric asked, lying back down. "Fighting seems faster than algebra."
[You are not ready to fight! Look at you. You are soft. You are a small meat bag. If you go into a Hollow now, you will be killed in five seconds.]
Cedric touched his stomach. It was indeed soft. "Fair enough."
[So: School. Education. Socialization. Mandatory.]
Cedric let out a long, suffering sigh. "Fine. If I have to. But I'm going to sleep in class."
[We will work on that attitude.] The System sounded like it was rubbing its temples.
[However... given your current state of... absolute social unpreparedness... there is a grace period.]
[The First Semester does not begin until exactly one month from today.]
Cedric's ears perked up slightly. "One month?"
[Yes. One month to prepare.]
"Oh." Cedric said, his body relaxing back into the mattress. "So I can sleep for a month?"
[No sleeping! You have a month to prepare! Now, speaking of preparation... I almost forgot the most important part because you were complaining.]
The blue holographic screen in front of Cedric suddenly shrank and vanished. In its place, the space in the center of the room began to warp. Rays of golden light, that far more dazzling and luxurious than the startup blue, began to spill out from the void.
A triumphant fanfare—Da-da-da-daa!—played enthusiastically.
[Exclusive Starter Gift Pack for Host Cedric!]
An illusionary gift box, decorated with intricate patterns and tied with a glowing red ribbon, materialized, floating in front of him.
Cedric watched the dazzling display, the noise overwhelming. He did not move to touch it. He only waited for it to be over.
[Well? Are you going to open it or stare at it all day? Go on.]
"If you want to."
Cedric reached out. The moment his finger brushed the illusionary ribbon, the box exploded into thousands of glittering motes of light.
Three items appeared, hovering in mid-air.
The first item, and the one that demanded the most attention, was a massive egg.
The egg stood about 40 centimeters tall, its shape smooth and rounded like any typical animal egg. Its shell was a pale, sandy cream that almost soft looking at first glance, but decorated with large, irregular patches of muted steel blue, a pattern reminiscent of scales. Despite the gentle colors, an unmistakable pressure radiated from it. Every so often, the surface gave a faint, subtle twitch—thump… thump…—a steady, powerful heartbeat that didn't match its harmless appearance.
-Image-
[Congratulations! You have received 1 random Pseudo-Legendary Pokemon Egg!]
Cedric stared at it. "A rock?"
[It is not a rock.] The System corrected quickly. [It is a Pokemon. A 'Pocket Monster'.]
"Pokemon?" Cedric murmured. "Strange name."
[Pokemon are extraordinary creatures from another dimension.] The System explained.
[They possess elemental powers and high intelligence. They are partners who fight by your side, grow with you, and protect you. In this dangerous world, this creature will be your sword and shield. This specific one is of Pseudo-Legendary lineage, possessing potential power far surpassing its peers.]
Cedric carefully accepted the egg into his arms. It was heavy, warm, and vibrantly alive. The sensation of holding a life waiting to be born didn't excite him, but the warmth felt nice against his chest.
"It's warm." Cedric noted, resting his chin on the top of the egg. "Like a heater. I'll keep it."
Next to the egg, the remaining two items were more modest but equally practical.
The second item was a drawstring spatial bag.
[Premium Starter Package]
10 Cases of High-Grade PokéBlocks (Mixed Flavor): Enhances stats and rapidly increases friendship.
01 Portable Egg Incubator: Maintains ideal temperature for the egg even during travel.
20 Sitrus Berries: Instant health recovery.
10 Lum Berries: Cures all negative status conditions.
And the final item, a sleek black card with gold metallic edging.
[Infinite Black Card (Spending Limit Applied): Pre-loaded with 500,000 Denny (New Eridu Currency) to cover living expenses and... buy snacks if you wish. These funds are legal, forged under the guise of an allowance from a distant relative.]
Cedric looked at the pile of gifts, then down at the warm rock-egg in his lap, and finally at his own reflection in the wardrobe mirror.
A sixteen years old boy— that short, gloomy, and soft—holding a monster egg and half a million Denny, with exactly one month to prepare for high school because he apparently didn't have enough fun in his last life.
"Okay." Cedric whispered, hugging the egg a little tighter. His expression remained mostly blank, but there was a hint of acceptance. "I'll keep the rock. And the money. School might be... tolerable if I have this."
[That is the spirit!] The System cheered. [Now, put the egg in the incubator and—Huh? What are you doing?]
Cedric had reached into the drawstring bag. He pulled out a small, colorful cube that smelled faintly of berries. His stomach, hollowed by years of neglect, automatically churned.
"Eat." Cedric mumbled, his stomach grumbling. "It says 'Premium Food'."
He opened his mouth and lifted the cube toward his lips. It was a reflex born from sheer, debilitating hunger and disorientation.
[STOP!] The System screamed, the volume spiking so high that Cedric actually flinched. [THAT IS NOT FOR YOU!]
Cedric froze, the cube hovering millimeters from his tongue. He blinked blankly.
"Huh?"
[It is a PokéBlock! It is highly concentrated nutrient blocks for POKEMON!] The System sounded panicked.
[Human digestion cannot handle that density! You will get a terrible stomach ache! Put it down!]
Cedric stared at the colorful cube with blank expression, then slowly lowered his hand.
"Why you gave me food that I can't eat." he muttered, tossing the block back into the bag.
[FIRST! They are for your future Pokemon. Second, I gave you the Black Card! Go buy human food!]
Cedric sighed, rubbing his stomach.
"Fine."
He stood up, hugging the egg with one arm and grabbing the card with the other.
"Shower first." he decided. "Then... I gonna get something to eat. "
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Note: I know some of you won't like the system much but... It's important to Cedric.