N/a: Hello everyone, before you start reading, I'd like to give a few warnings in case you want to pay attention, hahaha. As you'll soon notice, I'm just a novice starting out in publishing stories on Fanfiction, so my writing and editing might not be the best, especially since English is not my native language. Nevertheless, I decided to publish this story to practice and to reach a larger community of readers.

Now, my story will be the typical system story set in the Pokémon world. It might sound like a bit of a mess, but I want to give it a try, hahaha. If you don't like protagonists with lots of advantages or tricks, it's probably best not to read. Although I'm not entirely sure how I'll handle the story, I hope you enjoy it.

…

Chapter 1

"I didn't expect Lum Berry to also have the effect of enhancing healing. I hadn't realized it before, but it could be useful in the future." Ren reflected for a moment and decided to jot this down in his notebook. A good memory is better than a loose pen. Over the years, he had read many books in Celadon City's library, but without his own Pokémon to train, much of the knowledge was slipping away from him.

Fortunately, Ren had finally turned 13, reaching the age allowed by the League to have his own Pokémon. Thinking about this, even the always calm Ren couldn't help but feel excited.

"Thirteen years..." He looked at the mirror above his desk and saw a young boy with short brown hair and light brown eyes, wearing a gray and white long-sleeved linen shirt that revealed a somewhat slim body. Since his soul had traveled to this world, he had had enough time to learn. He knew that this knowledge would be the foundation for becoming an excellent trainer, so he had put a lot of effort into his studies.

"Brother... brother, dad's back." His sister's voice from downstairs brought him back to reality. Today, his father had asked for a day off at the construction site in Pewter City to take him to catch his first Pokémon.

"Okay, I'm coming." He left his book "Encyclopedia of Berries and Herbs" on the desk, rolled up his sleeves, and put on his sports watch. Of course, he didn't forget the Poké Ball.

His family was an ordinary one in Celadon City, a major city in Kanto. His parents were common citizens with modest incomes and couldn't afford to pay the tax for an initial Pokémon provided by the League. Therefore, Ren's first Pokémon would have to be caught in the wild. Fortunately, his father's Machoke was quite strong, and helping him catch a Pokémon wouldn't be a big problem. Compared to other children in more difficult situations, Ren considered himself lucky.

"Brother, why don't you ask dad to help you catch a Pikachu? They're so cute." As he descended the stairs, his sister Mina ran to him, hugging his arm and shaking it.

"Pikachu is cute, but it's not suitable for me as a starter Pokémon." Ren rejected the idea without hesitation. He wasn't a pampered kid from a wealthy family, and having a Pikachu seemed odd to him. Plus, Pikachu is naturally shy, and its abilities don't stand out. Training it to become a powerful fighter would be very difficult. Although, in theory, any Pokémon can become strong with the right training method, overcoming species limitations requires a lot of resources, and the result isn't always guaranteed.

Ren knew he wasn't a prodigy or the protagonist of a story; he was just an ordinary kid from a normal family in Celadon City, without extraordinary talents. His good looks were thanks to his beautiful and kind mother. The vast knowledge about Pokémon in his mind was the result of years of effort. Aware of his own normality, Ren was very careful in everything he did, especially in choosing his starter Pokémon. He couldn't afford to make mistakes.

"Don't you like Pikachu? How about Magnemite or Electabuzz? They're pretty cool," Mina suggested persistently.

"Alright, little one, stop bothering. Next year, when you graduate from Celadon City's primary school, I'll help you catch a Pikachu, okay?" Ren knew his sister well. Apart from sneaking off to Celadon City's arcade, she was obsessed with Electric-type Pokémon.

Next year, when Mina graduated from Celadon City's primary school and turned 13, the minimum age to own a Pokémon according to the League, he would already be an experienced trainer and could help her catch a good starter Pokémon.

"Okay, I guess," Mina responded, resigned.

"Ren, are you ready? It's time to go," called his father from the yard.

"Yes, dad, I'm coming." Ren responded, his arm still caught by Mina, as they both headed outside.

Ren's family consisted of five members. His father, Yito, worked on a construction site in Pewter City, and his mother, Ryoko, worked at a small Pokémon daycare in the center of Celadon City. His older brother, five years older than him, attended the advanced Pokémon Trainer School. Ren was the second of the three siblings, and Mina, the youngest, was only a year younger than him. Although she wasn't the little sister he used to imagine, he adored his sister.

"Ren, are you sure you want me to help you catch your starter Pokémon? Why don't we call your brother Tao to get you a good Pokémon?" They lived in the northern part of Celadon City, near the outskirts. His father, who worked in Pewter City, usually only returned once a week, but today he had requested a day off specifically to help Ren catch his starter Pokémon.

"No, thanks. I don't want a Grimer or a Jynx as a starter Pokémon." Knowing his older brother's character, Ren was sure he would send him a horrible Pokémon just to annoy him.

"Haha... alright!" His father, Yito, laughed. He knew his children well and knew that his youngest son was smart and determined. As a father, he just had to do his best to help him. After all, there were many wild Pokémon in the forests north of Celadon City.

Indeed, Ren had no problem with catching his starter Pokémon in the wild. Although the three Kanto starters (Charmander, Squirtle, and Bulbasaur) were good, there were also many good options in the wild. Pokémon with three evolutionary stages and potential for Mega Evolution weren't so rare, and there were many he liked a lot.

"Where's mom?" He asked as he put on a thick jacket, as winter mornings were cold.

"Mom went to buy food." Mina adjusted her scarf as she replied.

"I see. Dad, then let's go."

…

"Pum~!

Riding in his father's old Jeep, they were heading to the forest on the outskirts of northern Celadon City, a place known for hosting numerous wild Pokémon. Ren was convinced that catching a starter Pokémon in the wild was not a bad idea; on the contrary, it offered a greater variety of options.

Although the Kanto region is located in the southeast of the Pokémon world, it is not lacking in resources. Its complex and varied environment is home to numerous Pokémon, such as Nidoran and Nidorina, which are quite common and have three stages of evolution. Although the prized Moon Stone is needed to evolve into Nidoqueen and Nidoking, in their final form, they are very powerful.

Vulpix and Ponyta, although they only have two stages of evolution, can become exceptional Pokémon if properly bred; Onix, Abra, Gastly, Kangaskhan, Slowpoke, Pinsir, Heracross, Scyther, Magikarp, Beedrill, and Pidgeotto can also Mega Evolve in later stages. Many of these Pokémon are not rare in their initial form in Kanto, capturing and training one would be excellent.

It's not that Ren dismissed the three starter Pokémon from Kanto, like Charmander, Bulbasaur, and Squirtle. At each stage of their evolution, these Pokémon are excellent in their type. However, the tax on starter Pokémon is very high, and his family couldn't afford it. Catching a wild Pokémon has its advantages: starters bred by the League are closer to trainers, making it easier for novices.

In contrast, wild Pokémon are difficult to tame and can attack their trainer, especially the aggressive ones. For a novice trainer, taming a wild Pokémon, although it may take a long time, would facilitate the experience of taming other Pokémon caught on the journey. That's why, in common families, if a child wants to be a professional trainer, although they may try to save up to pay the tax for a starter Pokémon, they mostly end up capturing a wild one.

"Ren, do you have any starter Pokémon in mind?" his father asked.

Although his family wasn't poor, they had three children and needed to be fair. "For my first Pokémon, I want to catch a Pidgey," Ren replied.

They lived on the outskirts of Celadon City, and the asphalt road leading from their house led to the countryside. It was midwinter, the trees along the road had lost many leaves, and the old Jeep kicked up dry leaves as it moved forward. Looking out the window, Ren noticed that, at nine-thirty in the morning, the distant forest still had some morning mist, and the golden sunlight made the forest seem mysterious. His expression softened.

Pokémon and humans are different beings, but over time they have developed an inseparable relationship. The rapid development of the world is largely due to the power of Pokémon. As a person born into the Pokémon world, having a Pokémon is essential, even if you're not a trainer.

"Pidgey, yes, it's a good choice for a novice trainer," nodded his father, Yito, exhaling with a sigh. "Unlike the three starters bred by the League, wild Pokémon are very aggressive. Pidgey has a docile nature and three stages of evolution, making it ideal for a novice trainer."

Ren was a quiet and studious boy, with curly brown hair and large brown eyes that always seemed to be thinking. At thirteen, he had a youthful appearance and an unusual maturity for his age.

Yito felt relieved to hear that Ren wanted a Pidgey. Although they were going to the north of Celadon City to catch a starter Pokémon, they couldn't choose any wild Pokémon due to the limitations of their strength.

Normally, Machop evolves into Machoke at level 28, but in this world, that's not an absolute rule. Some Pokémon can evolve earlier due to various factors, both positive and negative. In Yito's Machop's case, it had evolved at level 18, leaving it somewhat weak. Now, Machoke could only assist in construction.

"We've arrived," announced Yito.

Father and son parked the Jeep by the roadside. Looking at the lush forest, Ren felt excited. Finally, he would have his own Pokémon.

"Machoke, we need you," said Yito, releasing his Poké Ball. A sturdy Machoke appeared in front of Ren. With its humanoid structure, if it weren't for its purple skin and reptilian snout, it could pass for a human bodybuilder.

"Machoke..." Ren smiled at seeing it. He had watched it grow alongside his brother and sister. In the blink of an eye, Ren had grown up, but his affection for Machoke hadn't changed. Although Machoke wasn't strong, Ren considered it great for helping his siblings catch their starter Pokémon. To him, Machoke was like another family member.

"Let's go," said Yito.

Ren, following his father, ventured into the forest with Machoke leading the way. The morning air in the forest was fresh, and the sounds of wild Pokémon replaced the hustle and bustle of the city. Crossing a thicket, a Rattata washing its face with dew quickly scampered away upon seeing Machoke and the humans, disappearing into its burrow.

"Wild Pokémon living in nature have to face predators, that's why they are more aggressive and alert than those raised in the city," Yito explained patiently. Although Yito seemed rough, he was very kind to his children, something Ren appreciated as reincarnated in this world, recognizing him as a good father.

…

In the forest north of Celadon City, Pidgey isn't a rare Pokémon. In fact, anywhere in the Kanto region, Pidgey is quite common.

Father and son cautiously trailed behind Machoke, searching everywhere. Although the forest north of Celadon City is unnamed, it spans the major cities of Pewter, Cerulean, and Celadon, and harbors many dangerous wild Pokémon. Yuto knew his limitations well, so he didn't venture deep into the forest. Along with Machoke, he searched the outskirts. Along the way, they saw several Pokémon such as Rattata, Caterpie, Weedle, and Oddish, but Ren decided not to capture any.

As his first Pokémon, although he had already decided to catch a Pidgey, he wasn't going to settle for just any specimen. Even among Pidgey, there are differences in talent, and he was quite demanding.

Father and son searched the forest outskirts for over half an hour. Pidgey is common in this forest, and they found several solitary Pidgey, but none met Ren's expectations. It's not that his standards were too high; he wanted his first Pokémon to be special. Ren had researched how to evaluate the quality of a Pidgey based on its appearance.

"Son, how about that one?" Yuto said suddenly, stopping and parting the leaves of a bush so Ren could see down the forest path. On the path was a solitary Pidgey. Unable to evaluate the quality of the Pidgey himself, Yuto let Ren make the decision.

Pidgey is a mostly peaceful Pokémon that avoids fights. If it encounters an enemy, it would try to escape by creating a dust cloud.

"In terms of physical development, this Pidgey isn't outstanding, but its gaze is very lively. It seems very intelligent. It's rare to find a solitary Pidgey. Decided, it will be him," Ren said, observing the Pidgey pecking at something among the fallen leaves.

"In that case, leave it to me." As Ren mentioned, although Pidgey is a common Pokémon in Kanto and usually flies in flocks, capturing one is still difficult. Even having chosen the morning when Pidgey are seeking food, finding a solitary and high-quality one depended on luck. Fortunately, this Pidgey met Ren's expectations. Yuto and his son approached, and Machoke threw a clod of dirt at the Pidgey to prevent it from escaping.

"Coo!" To Ren's surprise, the Pidgey skillfully dodged the clod before being hit. It looked at the two humans and Machoke emerging from the bushes without showing surprise.

"Did it detect us beforehand? This Pidgey seems even more intelligent than I thought," Ren said, satisfied. He preferred to capture an intelligent and lively Pidgey rather than one that was physically developed.

"If that's the case, let's attack directly, Machoke, use Taunt!"

Pidgey had already taken flight but didn't flee. It looked at Machoke, which was clearly stronger, and Ren saw a spark of determination in the Pidgey's eyes.

"It's not common to see such a combative Pidgey," he thought, increasingly satisfied. With its flying advantage, if the fight became complicated, it could always flee.

"Coo... coo!" Machoke used Taunt, and Pidgey, furious, began to glow with a white light and shot like an arrow toward Machoke.

"Machoke, Karate Chop!"

"Mach... bam!"

The Pidgey, though small, struck Machoke with its sharp beak, causing it pain.

"Coo, coo...!" However, the Machoke, trained in physical labor, reacted quickly. It moved its muscular arm and delivered a blow, sending the Pidgey crashing into a trunk. Pidgey suffered more damage in the first exchange.

"Don't let it escape, use Taunt again!" Fighting-type Pokémon like Machoke have great attack strength but are weak in ranged attacks. Without attacks like Aura Sphere, Machoke couldn't attack from a distance, and it was unlikely that a Machoke of its level knew advanced attacks like that. Worried that the Pidgey might flee, Yuto ordered Machoke to use Taunt again.

"Coo...!" The Pidgey, ready to flee, stopped upon seeing Machoke's provocative gaze. Filled with anger, the Pidgey attacked again.

"Bree... bree...!" Instead of using Quick Attack, the Pidgey used Whirlwind, lifting leaves and dry branches that flew toward Machoke. Flying-type attacks are very effective against Fighting-type Pokémon, and although this Pidgey wasn't very strong, its Whirlwind caused problems for Machoke.

"Bang...!" Suddenly, Machoke picked up a fist-sized stone and, squinting, threw it at the Pidgey.

"Does this work too?" Ren was surprised by the effectiveness of the attack. Machoke's aim was precise, and the stone hit the Pidgey, causing it to fall to the ground.

"The construction sites in Pewter City also have a lot of dust. Machoke is already used to it," Yuto said, thinking Ren was surprised by Machoke's aim.

"I see..." Ren said, smiling. He thought that although Pidgey's Whirlwind attack was effective against Machoke, Machoke's stone throwing could be considered a Rock-type attack, which disadvantaged the Pidgey.

"Ren, capture it quickly!" Although they were on the outskirts of the forest, they were not exempt from encountering other dangerous wild Pokémon. If they were unlucky, they could find themselves in danger.

"Currently, even though human civilization has reached great development, the outside world remains the paradise of wild Pokémon. For ordinary people, the outdoors remain a forbidden zone unless they have a team of powerful Pokémon.

"Well, let's go, Poké Ball!"

Coming out of his pocket, he took out a Poké Ball he had prepared in advance. With practiced movements countless times, Ren threw it towards an unconscious Pidgey on the forest path.

"Whew!"

Exhaling deeply, Ren, who always appeared mature and stable in front of his parents, now showed a nervous expression.

"Don't worry, the success rate for capturing wild Pokémon that have lost the ability to fight is quite high."

Stroking Ren's curly brown hair, his father, Yito, smiled calmly to console him. He remembered that, since he was little, Ren had always been a quiet and responsible child.

Only upon seeing Ren looking at the trembling Poké Ball with anxiety did Yito realize that his son was still a 13-year-old boy, sharing the same excitement and admiration for Pokémon as other children, perhaps even more.

"Pip! Pip! Ping!"

"Phew... I did it!"

The Poké Ball trembled strongly twice before emitting a clear and melodious sound. Ren put his hand to his chest, relieved that his heart had finally calmed down. From that moment on, he also had his own Pokémon.

"I've caught Pidgey!"

Picking up the Poké Ball from the ground, he felt that it was warmer than before, which reassured him. With a wide smile, Ren showed a sign of victory, feeling great satisfaction.

"Now that you've caught Pidgey, let's head home. I'm sure your mother has already returned from the market, and you'll need to take Pidgey to the Pokémon Center for Nurse Joy to heal its wounds," Yito said with a smile.

"Okay."

Perhaps due to the excitement of having caught Pidgey, the way back seemed easier. Guided by the sun through the treetops, father and son soon emerged from the forest, got into an old jeep, and headed south, back home.

"There are two months left until school starts. ¿Do you want me to take you to see the high school in Saffron City?" Yito asked as he lit a cigarette. In this beautiful and pure world, where the average lifespan exceeds a hundred years, the concept that smoking is harmful to health seemed nonexistent.

"No need, these two months I want to train Pidgey, and I've already found a part-time job."

Ren declined his father's offer. Celadon City is not far from Saffron City, and there is a high-speed train between them that takes just over twenty minutes. He had just graduated from elementary school in Celadon City, and now that he had his own Pokémon, he preferred to spend time strengthening his bond with Pidgey through basic training.

"Alright, as you say. You've always had your own ideas since you were little."

Yito exhaled a puff of smoke, glancing sideways at Ren with a slight sense of sadness. Although Ren had always been independent and sensible, his demeanor was rather cold. Unlike his other two children, who threw tantrums to get what they wanted, Ren rarely asked for anything, and when he did, it was usually to go to the library.

Even when Yito tried to provoke Ren by denying him something, he didn't cry or throw a tantrum. Simply, in the following days, his father would find his cigarettes in the trash.

The father, who wished for a closer relationship with his son, was frustrated by Ren's reserved nature, as if they were enemies in another life. If Ren knew what his father thought, he would probably say that they weren't enemies from a past life, but there was resentment in this life.

After all, his soul had reincarnated in his mother's womb, and when he was born, since he didn't cry and opened his eyes to look around, his father gave him a couple of smacks on the bottom. If that's not resentment, what is?

"Another part-time job? This time also as a librarian?" Yito asked, setting aside his thoughts as he drove.

"Yes," Ren replied.

"This kid! You've been reading books for years, haven't you finished with the ones at the Celadon City library yet?" Yito chuckled.

To hear Ren call him "dad," he had pampered him like a little king, taking him to the library every day since he was four years old. For someone who could barely read, the Celadon City library was like a prison, but he endured it to please Ren. Finally, the day when Ren was seven years old and was about to start elementary school, he called him "dad."

"There are too many books to read them all, and even if I read them, they're forgotten. Besides, they pay 15 coins an hour."

Both remembered those days spent in the library, Ren fondly and Yito resignedly.

"¡Mama, I'm home!"

The old jeep stopped in the yard. Ren called out loudly as they entered the two-story wooden and stone house with a spacious yard. On the outskirts of Celadon City, this home was a luxury they couldn't afford in the city center."

"Ren, how did it go? Did you get your starter Pokémon?"

As the car entered the yard, a beautiful woman in an apron emerged. Seeing his mother, whose elegance always evoked the fragrance of orchids, Ren couldn't help but reflect on his father's luck. Thanks to his mother's beauty, Ren, who had inherited her appearance, also possessed a good look.

"Yes, Dad helped me catch a Pokémon," Ren said, displaying the Poké Ball in his hand. Unlike other reincarnation stories he had seen on television in his previous life, where people woke up in an established body, Ren had been in this world for many years, fully integrating into his family and this world.

"Big brother! Which Pokémon did you catch?" asked Mina, who was playing video games and rushed down the stairs with anticipation in her eyes.

"It's a Pidgey," said Ren, lifting the Poké Ball.

"A flying Pokémon? It's weak against electric types!" exclaimed Mina, lighting up upon hearing he had caught a Pidgey.

"So what if it has disadvantages? Victories in Pokémon battles aren't determined solely by types," Ren responded challengingly, seeing the excitement on Mina's face. Perhaps due to her love for video games, his sister, who was only a year younger than him, always had a competitive spirit.

Although Ren had always been calm, it was because he didn't have a Pokémon. He knew that to be a good trainer, he needed deep knowledge about Pokémon, so he had dedicated his time to studying. Now that he finally had his own Pokémon, he felt energized.

"Come on, let it out so I can see," Mina said, unconcerned with her words, as she was still not old enough by league standards to have a Pokémon.

"We caught it recently, and it got knocked out by a Machoke. I need to take it to the Pokémon Center to get it healed," Ren said, refusing to release it without reason.

"Okay," accepted Mina, showing no disappointment. After all, Pidgey was a common Pokémon in the Kanto region. In Celadon City Elementary School, teachers often let their Pokémon out for students to interact with, and sometimes they invited trainers to showcase various Pokémon.

Mina had only a little interest in Ren's Pidgey. If it evolved into Pidgeot, then it would be interesting, as not all Pidgeys could evolve into Pidgeot. While Pidgey was a small, weak bird, Pidgeot was a majestic aerial predator, capable of flying at Mach 2 speeds.

"Mach 2 is twice the speed of sound, meaning Pidgeot can fly at 2469 kilometers per hour. This would be the limit of a common Pidgeot, but if trained specifically for flying, it could reach even greater speeds, plus Pidgeot can also mega-evolve," Ren mused. This was the main reason he chose Pidgey as his starter Pokémon.

Pokémon with two evolutionary stages were generally stronger initially than those with three. For example, Spearow was stronger than Pidgey in its early stages, but Liang Ren didn't choose Spearow because, once evolved into Fearow, it couldn't evolve further, unlike Pidgeot, which had a mega-evolution. Ren wanted a Pokémon with high potential to continue appreciating it in the future.

"I'm going to take Pidgey to the Pokémon Center," Ren announced, getting into his father's jeep. They headed to the Pokémon Center. His father would have to return to work at Pewter City in the afternoon, as he had only come back to help Ren catch his starter Pokémon. Normally, he only came home once a week.

His mother was also busy working at the Pokémon nursery, so Ren and his sister often had a lot of freedom. While he read books and searched for information in Celadon City's library, Mina stayed at home playing video games or in the playroom.

Now that he had a starter Pokémon, his routine would change. He planned to train his Pokémon in the mornings and work part-time at the library in the afternoons.

The Pokémon Center was in the center of Celadon City. As they approached, the environment became busier, with tall buildings and constant traffic. The city's fast pace was evident.

"Nurse Joy, please take care of my Pokémon," Ren requested upon arriving at the Pokémon Center. Ren and his father waited in the resting area.

"Leave it to me. It'll be back on its feet soon."

Nurse Joy, with her kind smile, made all worries disappear. Ren and his father waited in the resting area. In about five or six minutes, the speaker announced that his Pokémon was ready.

"It's all healed. Let's head back home," Ren said, and they drove back to their house on the outskirts. Ren checked his watch; it was 11:36, and the sun was already strong. Instead of helping his mother in the garden, he decided he needed to establish a good relationship with Pidgey, a crucial task for any trainer.

"Mina, come down and help Mom with the garden," his mother called from below as Ren climbed the stairs.

"I don't want to. Let my brother do it, I'm playing," Mina responded from her room next to Ren's.

"I'll count to three. If you don't come down, I'll tell your dad to take away your video games."

"Fine, fine..." Mina responded resignedly, making Ren smile to himself.