Pixelated 8‑bit words glowed on an opaque screen that floated in midair, their blocky letters flickering as if in a retro video game. Kai's crimson eyes were fixed on the words, his mind churning with calculations and wonder as they read:
"CONGRATULATIONS TO HOST, YOUR RIOLU HAS RECEIVED THE BLESSINGS OF AN ANCIENT NINETALES."
"BLESSINGS RECEIVED:"
"AMBERCLAD AURA"
"EYES OF THE VULPINE SAGE"
"OATH OF THE EVER‑BURNING"
His inner voice echoed in his head, laden with confusion, "What is this?" Just then, a soft feminine voice called out, "Kai?" pulling him from his trance. Startled, he lifted his head toward the sound—and in that instant, the opaque screen vanished as if it had never been there.
Meeting Charlotte's crimson eyes, Kai stammered, "Oh, um, I was just shocked to see something like this for the first time."
Charlotte smiled gently. "Kai, why don't you use the Poké Ball now?" Her tone was both encouraging and maternal. Kai's gaze shifted to the custom partner ball he held in his hand. Slowly, deliberately, he raised it. Then, turning his attention to Riolu, he asked with a slight grin, "You ready?"
Riolu responded with an enthusiastic bark that resonated like a joyful melody, "Riioo~luuu~!"
In a swift, practiced motion, Kai tossed the Poké Ball toward Riolu. The ball arced gracefully through the air, spinning as it rolled, until—with a soft thud—the capture button clicked and gently struck Riolu's forehead. A thin, laser-like red beam lanced out from the ball, connecting to Riolu with a low-frequency hum. The beam vibrated through the air like a mirage of heat, freezing Riolu mid-movement as its outline glowed in neon‑red light.
Slowly, as if in slow motion, Riolu's physical form began to deconstruct into swirling particles—a million motes of crimson and gold, reminiscent of a living nebula unraveling before his eyes. Its damp, steel‑blue fur dissolved into glowing fractals that danced in the air, leaving behind only a faint, ephemeral afterimage. The tiny particles spiraled into the Poké Ball's open core, drawn in by an invisible vortex. The ambient air crackled with static; thin strands of bluish aura, like electric tendrils, snapped briefly before being absorbed. With a resonant CLACK, the ball snapped shut. Its surface now glowed faintly from the contained energy, pulsating with rhythmic pulses of red light around the golden capture button. The atmosphere was thick with the warm, sharp scent of ozone—a reminder of raw, untamed energy being neatly stored away.
For a long, breathless moment, Kai, Charlotte, and Celeste all fixed their eyes on the Poké Ball. The tension was palpable, each second stretching into an eternity as they awaited the ball's final verdict. Then, as suddenly as it had begun, the ball stilled. A sharp, metallic DING rang out, and a brilliant white starburst flare exploded from the capture button. The glow faded, leaving the Poké Ball inert but humming faintly, like a sleeping heartbeat.
A collective sigh of relief escaped them. Kai's face lit up with a wide, triumphant smile as he stepped toward the Poké Ball—his very first Pokémon. Lifting it carefully, his crimson eyes sparkled with wonder as he murmured, "Mom… I did it."
Charlotte's smile deepened, her soft voice warming the air, "Congratulations, Kai." Celeste added her gentle, approving growl, "Whroooo~."
Turning toward Charlotte with a genuine smile, Kai said, "Thank you, Mom." The words filled her heart with quiet pride and tenderness. Then, his gaze shifted to the graceful nine‑tailed Pokémon standing nearby. Drawing closer, he approached Celeste; his eyes locked with her amber ones as he paused just a few centimeters away. Lifting his free hand, he reached out to pet her head, his voice soft and sincere, "Thank you to you too, Celeste, for keeping Riolu safe in his egg throughout our journey, and for blessing him. I'll never forget it."
For a brief moment, Celeste seemed to melt into his touch, her eyes closing in quiet appreciation. Yet, as if uncertain or shy, she withdrew her head and turned away, leaving Kai startled. "Eh?" he managed to utter, his voice laced with surprise.
Charlotte chuckled softly at the tender scene. "She's weak to these kinds of things, Kai. Leave her be. Someday she'll definitely accept you too." Kai could only reply with a simple, "Oh…" His tone was both amused and reflective.
With a playful glimmer in her eyes, Charlotte continued, "Kai, why don't you give Riolu a nickname, hm?"
Kai's eyes widened with excitement. "Ah, yes! Riolu, come out!" he called. A laser-like beam projected from the golden capture button as the Poké Ball opened. In a flash of light, Riolu materialized into his physical form with a soft bark, "Riuuu~."
An ethereal hum of azure aura settled in the atmosphere as Kai's crimson eyes met Riolu's newly reformed cerulean ones. After a few charged seconds of silent connection, Kai spoke up with a wide grin, "Your name… it'll be Caiden. Do you…like it?", for a brief moment, Kai held his breath as he asked.
With a shrill, joyful bark that resonated with approval, Riolu cried, "Riooo~luuu~!!!"
Kai beamed, "Glad you like it, buddy." Charlotte nodded approvingly, "Caiden… that's a nice name." Celeste let out another soft, approving growl, "Whhrooow~."
A mischievous grin then played across Kai's face as he suddenly dashed toward the stairs. "Now…" he shouted, his voice trailing off as he sprinted. "Let's race to the Viridian Forest, Caiden!!"
Almost instantly, Caiden—now freshly nicknamed—took off in a burst of energy, his tiny legs pumping furiously as he sprinted after his trainer, barking his own joyful cry, "Rioo~luu~!!"
Charlotte, watching the pair, called after them with a mix of exasperation and affection, "Be careful!!…Sigh… what should I do with this kid?" She shook her head with a bemused smile, while Celeste trotted along silently.
Outside, the new trainer and his Pokémon raced along the dirt path leading to Viridian Forest. The afternoon sun above the head, a cool summer breeze blowing, contrasting the hot temperature of the mid-day. The sound of their laughter, barks, and running footsteps mingled with the rustle of leaves and the distant chirping of wild Pokémon, setting the stage for countless adventures yet to come.
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Kai huffed in exhaustion, his chest rising and falling rapidly as beads of sweat trickled down his temples. His breath came in ragged gasps, his lungs burning from the intense sprint. His legs, trembling with fatigue, barely supported him as he staggered forward, the towering canopy of Viridian Forest looming ahead like a gateway to the unknown.
The scent of damp earth and pine filled the air as he stumbled into the embrace of the lush greenery. With a final, exhausted sigh, he dropped onto his knees before collapsing onto his back in the soft patch of grass beneath the shade of an ancient tree. His body sank into the cool earth, the blades of grass tickling his skin as a gentle breeze caressed his damp face. Above him, sunlight filtered through the thick web of branches and leaves, casting dappled golden patterns that flickered with the movement of the swaying canopy. A lone Pidgey cooed somewhere in the distance, its call harmonizing with the rustling leaves.
A nearby bush rustled, its emerald leaves trembling ever so slightly. Then, with a sudden burst of energy, Caiden leaped out, his cerulean eyes gleaming mischievously as he landed gracefully in the grass with a soft thud. "Riuu~!" he chirped, his tail wagging in excitement. The little Riolu sprinted toward Kai before flopping down beside him with a content sigh, stretching his limbs lazily as if he hadn't just raced like a whirlwind.
Kai, still struggling to catch his breath, turned his head slightly, his crimson eyes peering at his partner through half-lidded exhaustion. "Huff… Caiden… it's no fair… Huff… you run too fast…!" His voice came out breathy and uneven, his muscles burning from exertion.
In response, Caiden tilted his head and let out a soft snicker, his playful nature shining through as his short tail flicked behind him. His small, fur-covered chest puffed up slightly, as if proud of his speed.
Just then, the air shimmered faintly, and without warning, the opaque, floating screen materialized once again before Kai's eyes. The blocky 8-bit letters flickered onto the screen in bold, pixelated font, the words forming one by one as if typed by an unseen force:
"THE HOST NEEDS TO TRAIN HARDER TO KEEP UP WITH CAIDEN."
Kai shot back, "Oh, wow, you just appear out of nowhere. So, Gameboy, what's your deal? You didn't show up when I caught Caiden in his Pokéball."
The floating screen flickered for a moment before new pixelated text formed:
"DESIGNATION 'GAMEBOY' HAS BEEN REGISTERED. ACCEPTABLE. IN RESPONSE TO THE HOST'S INQUIRY: THIS SYSTEM DOES NOT FUNCTION AS A STANDARDIZED MANHWA/MANGA SYSTEM INTERFACE, NOR DOES IT PROVIDE UNBALANCED AUGMENTATIONS OR CHEAT-LIKE ENHANCEMENTS."
Kai narrowed his eyes and deadpanned, "Then what the hell are you, Gameboy?"
A brief pause preceded the next response as the words rearranged on the opaque display:
"I HAVE BEEN WITH YOU FOR A LONG TIME."
Kai's expression remained indifferent. He sighed and muttered, "Thought so, my old PS GBA console."
His tone then shifted, turning serious. "So… what's the reason I'm in this world?"
Seconds passed, but Gameboy's interface remained blank. As Kai's patience thinned—though his stoic expression betrayed no frustration—he prepared to speak again. However, before he could, new text materialized:
"INFORMATION CLASSIFIED."
Kai's forehead slightly creased as he shot back, "What?"
Before he could continue, another response appeared:
"ACCESS TO REQUESTED DATA IS LOCKED. CONDITION TO UNLOCK: ACHIEVEMENT OF CHAMPION STATUS IN ALL KNOWN REGIONS. THIS IS THE HOST'S PRIMARY OBJECTIVE."
Kai's initial irritation faded, replaced by a smirk. "Ultimate quest, huh? Well, that's what I was planning to do all along anyway. So, what can you actually do for me, Gameboy?"
Immediately, a structured list formed on the screen:
"SYSTEM FUNCTIONALITY:
→ REAL-TIME PERFORMANCE TRACKING OF THE HOST.
→ DATA ANALYSIS AND INSIGHT ON CAPTURED POKÉMON."
Kai grimaced. "Whaaaat? That's it?"
Gameboy instantly responded:
"AS STATED PREVIOUSLY, THIS SYSTEM DOES NOT OPERATE AS AN OMNIPOTENT ASSISTIVE INTERFACE FROM GENERIC MANHWA/MANGA ARCHETYPES."
Rolling his eyes, Kai replied flatly, "Okay, fine. Show me Caiden's move set… and the blessings he got from Celeste."
Immediately, Gameboy's screen shifted, displaying detailed data:
"POKÉMON: CAIDEN (RIOLU)
BATTLE-CAPABLE MOVES:
→ [FORCE PALM]
→ [COUNTER]
→ [VACUUM WAVE]
→ [AGILITY]
INHERENT CAPABILITIES:
→ AURA PERCEPTION
→ COMBAT INSTINCTS
→ AURA CHANNELING
→ EMOTIONAL SYNCHRONIZATION
→ SUPERIOR REFLEXES & AGILITY
→ ENHANCED PHYSICAL STRENGTH & ENDURANCE
BLESSINGS:
→ 'AMBERCLAD AURA' (ACTIVE)
→ 'EYES OF THE VULPINE SAGE' (LOCKED)
→ 'OATH OF THE EVER-BURNING' (LOCKED)
BLESSINGS WILL GRADUALLY UNLOCK AS THE HOST AND CAIDEN INCREASE BATTLE PROFICIENCY AND STRENGTHEN THEIR BOND. CURRENTLY, 'AMBERCLAD AURA' IS IN ITS INITIAL STAGE, WITH PROGRESSIVE UNLOCKABLE POTENTIAL."
Kai's crimson eyes scanned through the information, his mind already processing calculations in the background. After a brief silence, a single word left his lips.
"Damn…"
A smirk tugged at his lips as he turned toward Caiden, who lay beside him. "Caiden, you're so aweso— eh?"
His eyes widened as he realized the spot beside him was empty.
New text flickered onto Gameboy's screen:
"CAIDEN DEPARTED INTO THE FOREST DURING OUR PREVIOUS CONVERSATION."
Kai muttered as he pushed himself up from the ground, "No wonder it was quiet for so long… Looks like he got bored. Let's go find him."
As he started walking, Gameboy's floating screen followed beside him. The towering canopy of Viridian Forest stretched before him, sunlight filtering through the leaves in scattered beams, illuminating the dirt path below.
His crimson eyes scanned the surroundings as he murmured, "Well, well… we're back here again." His mind drifted back to the adventure he had with that wild Pichu a month ago.
A thought surfaced in his mind, prompting him to speak up. "Hey, Gameboy, do I have the potential to become an Aura Guardian?"
Gameboy processed the query for a few seconds before text materialized:
"ASSESSING HOST'S AURA AFFINITY… ANALYSIS COMPLETE.
→ DETECTED POTENTIAL: 0%."
Kai's steps halted. He stared blankly at the screen.
Before he could respond, new text formed rapidly:
"ADVISORY: HOST SHOULD REFRAIN FROM STARING IN AN INEFFICIENT MANNER. HOST'S LACK OF TALENT IN THIS AREA SHOULD BE BLAMED."
A single vein popped on Kai's forehead. With a deadpan tone, he muttered, "I thought you were blind until now."
Gameboy instantly countered:
"QUITE OPPOSITE TO WHY I WAS AWARE OF CAIDEN'S DEPARTURE INTO THE FOREST—UNLIKE THE HOST."
A second vein popped on Kai's forehead. Jaw clenched, he muttered with a sarcastic smirk, "I've always cherished you as a console… but it seems now you're looking for a beating."
Another instant counter from Gameboy: "HOST BE ADVISED, THIS SYSTEM DOESN'T POSSESS ANY PHYSICAL FORM"
Third vein pulsed on Kai's forehead as he sharply retorted, "You-!"
His words were abruptly cut off as the bushes ahead rustled violently. Caiden burst forth, sprinting toward him with urgency, his voice sharp with alarm.
"Rioo~luu!!!"
Kai's crimson eyes widened as he met Caiden's distressed cerulean gaze. "Where did you run off to, Caiden?"
But Caiden's hurried movements and anxious expression made it clear—there was no time for questions. Without hesitation, the young Riolu grabbed his trainer's arm, tugging him forward while barking insistently, "Riuu~! Rioo~luu!"
Kai's expression returned to his usual stoic demeanor, yet deep down, he could already feel it—the same concern rippling through Caiden's aura, an unspoken urgency transmitting between them.
This was proof of their already-formed bond. They could sense each other's emotions as though they were their own.
Kai exhaled through his nose and spoke in a composed tone. "Calm down, buddy. I understand."
Like a perfectly synchronized machine, Caiden immediately ceased his frantic motions. His breathing steadied, his panic dissipating—mirroring Kai's emotional control.
Kai smirked. "Lead the way."
Caiden nodded firmly before dashing forward, Kai sprinting right behind him. This time, Gameboy's opaque screen flickered and vanished into thin air.
As they ran, Kai's brows furrowed slightly. He could feel faint tremors vibrating through his body.
The deeper they went, the stronger the vibrations became.
Then, after a few seconds, Caiden came to an abrupt halt. Kai skidded to a stop as well, his gaze snapping forward.
His eyes widened at the sight before him.
"What the hell is that doing here in the middle of the forest again?!"
Before them lay a trail of destruction—splintered branches, uprooted trees, patches of grassland reduced to scorched dirt. Wild Pokémon scattered in terror—Pidgeys, Rattatas, and Oddish fleeing in every direction.
A pair of Pichus and an Ekans disappeared into the underbrush as the ground quaked violently.
Amidst the chaos, a lone Pidgeotto flapped its wings furiously mid-air, its sharp eyes locked onto the colossal figure at the heart of the devastation.
Its massive form loomed over the ruined forest floor, stomping its foot heavily, sending another tremor through the earth. It was a Rhydon.
The same one that Kai had barely escaped from a month ago.