The morning sun filtered through the window, waking Kenji from a restful sleep. He stretched his arms and yawned, feeling his muscles relaxed after a day of intense training in the Forbidden Forest. He opened his eyes and looked around, recognizing the familiar room where he had spent the last ten years of his life. Ten years in a world that, until recently, was completely foreign to him. Ten years of an ordinary life that, suddenly, had transformed into an extraordinary adventure.
He got out of bed and headed to the bathroom to freshen up. He washed his face, brushed his teeth, and looked at himself in the mirror. His reflection stared back at him: a normal kid, with nothing special to distinguish him from the rest. At least, that's what people believed. A simple YouTuber with a passion for video games, reincarnated into a world of beasts and warriors.
Kenji smiled to himself. He knew he was different, that he possessed a power that no one else in this world had. The Pokémon System was his secret, his secret weapon. And he was determined to use it to the fullest, not only to survive, but also to thrive and prove his worth.
He returned to his room and opened the Pokémon System on his phone. The interface lit up, displaying his personal information, his inventory, his Pokédex, and the list of daily missions. It was his compass, his guide, and his source of information in this new world.
Kenji focused on the daily missions. He knew that completing these tasks was essential to accumulate system points and strengthen Charmander. The first mission was simple, but necessary: Defeat 5 Low-Level Monsters. He had already completed 2 out of 5, thanks to his encounters with the Minimole and the Treant in previous days.
The second mission was more intriguing and sparked his curiosity: Explore a new area of the Forbidden Forest. The Pokémon System provided him with a detailed map of the forest with a point marked in an area he had not yet visited. The map interface was intuitive and easy to use, almost like an open-world exploration game. "What's there?" Kenji wondered, feeling a mixture of excitement and apprehension. "A new Pokémon waiting to be discovered? A valuable object that can help me on my way? Or just a danger lurking in the dark? I'll have to find out."
He closed the application and went to the kitchen, where his parents were already having breakfast. He greeted them with a smile and sat at the table. The aroma of fresh coffee and toast filled the air, creating a warm and familiar atmosphere.
"What plans do you have for today, son?" his mother asked, with a worried look in her eyes. Since his failure in the invocation test, his parents looked at him with a mixture of pity and hope. They wanted him to find his place in this world, but they didn't know how to help him. They felt powerless in the face of his situation, and Kenji noticed it in each of their glances.
"I'm going out for a while," Kenji replied, avoiding her gaze. He didn't want to worry them with his plans to train in the dangerous Forbidden Forest. "I need to clear my head."
"Are you going back to the Forbidden Forest?" his father asked, frowning. His voice reflected his concern and his desire to protect his son. "Don't you think it's too dangerous for you, Kenji? You should look for a job, something safe and stable. You could work at Mr. Tanaka's store, or even help me on the farm. There are many options, son, you don't have to risk your life like that."
Kenji sighed. He knew that his parents only wanted the best for him, but they didn't understand his situation. They couldn't comprehend the need he felt to explore his power, to challenge his limits. They couldn't understand that, for him, sitting at home was worse than facing the dangers of the forest.
"I'll be fine," he said, trying to reassure them with a smile. "I know how to take care of myself, Dad."
His parents exchanged dubious glances, but they didn't insist. They knew that Kenji was stubborn and that he wouldn't change his mind easily. They had already tried to convince him to seek a safer path, but he had refused to listen to them.
He finished his breakfast in silence, feeling the tension in the atmosphere. He got up from the table, said goodbye to his parents, and left the house, taking a deep breath of the fresh morning air. He needed to escape from that oppressive atmosphere and find his own path.
He headed to the Forbidden Forest, feeling the excitement grow inside him. He knew that today would be a day full of challenges and surprises. He was ready to face them, ready to test his skills and discover the secrets that the forest held.
As soon as he entered the forest, he heard a flutter nearby. The sound was sharp and fast, like the buzzing of a giant insect. He looked up and saw a flying creature approaching: an Alavisco – a species of giant insect with membranous wings of bright green, a segmented body, and a venomous stinger on its rear. Its flight was erratic and clumsy, as if it were drunk.
"Perfect," Kenji murmured, feeling a spark of excitement. "This counts as a low-level monster, and I need three more to complete my mission."
The Alavisco spotted him and dove towards him, with its stinger ready to attack. Kenji reacted quickly, narrowly dodging the attack.
"Charmander, use Ember!" Kenji shouted, giving the order to his partner.
Charmander, who was following closely behind, obeyed instantly. It opened its mouth and unleashed a burst of flame at the Alavisco.
The Embers hit the Alavisco head-on, burning its membranous wings and causing it to fall to the ground with a dull thud. The creature whimpered in pain and tried to get up, but it was too injured. Its wings were scorched, and its stinger, although still dangerous, no longer posed an immediate threat.
Kenji approached the Alavisco cautiously, observing its movements. He didn't want to be complacent and be surprised by an unexpected attack.
"Now, use Scratch!" Kenji ordered, delivering the killing blow.
Charmander ran towards the Alavisco and rammed it with all its strength, sending it flying through the air. The Alavisco fell to the ground, unconscious. The impact had been brutal, and the creature had no chance of recovering.
Daily Mission Updated! Defeat 5 Low-Level Monsters: 3/5.
Kenji smiled, feeling the satisfaction of having completed a part of his task. The battle had been quick and easy, but it had served to warm him up and to refine his strategies. Charmander was becoming increasingly powerful, and their connection grew stronger with each battle.
He stored the unconscious Alavisco in a Poké Ball, thinking about the system points he would get from exchanging it. Every point counted, and he couldn't afford to waste any opportunity.
He continued on his way towards the area marked on the Pokémon System map, venturing deeper and deeper into the heart of the Forbidden Forest. The air grew denser and darker as he advanced, and the sounds of the forest's wildlife intensified.
As he went further into the forest, the landscape became denser and darker. The trees were taller and sturdier, and the sunlight barely reached the ground. Kenji felt increasingly uneasy, as if he were being watched.
Suddenly, he heard a rustling of leaves nearby. He stopped dead in his tracks and stood guard, ready for whatever was about to befall him.
A few seconds later, a familiar creature emerged from among the bushes: a Minimole.
"Another one of these!" Kenji exclaimed with a smile. "This will make my mission even easier. I only need two more to complete the task."
However, this Minimole was different from the ones he had encountered before. It was larger and sturdier, with darker and dirtier fur. Its claws were sharper, and its eyes gleamed with an unusual intensity, as if it were possessed by an evil force.
The Minimole watched him for a few seconds with a piercing gaze. Then, with a guttural roar, it launched an attack, running towards him with its sharp claws and prominent teeth.
"Charmander, use Ember!" Kenji shouted, reacting quickly.
But this time, the Minimole was faster than he expected. With surprising agility, it managed to dodge the Embers and pounced on Charmander, biting it on the paw.
"Charmander!" Kenji shouted, worried about his partner.
Charmander whimpered in pain and moved away from the Minimole, limping slightly. Kenji saw that the wound was superficial, but he still felt guilty. He had underestimated his opponent, relying on his previous experience with other Minimoes.
"We have to be more careful," he said, looking at Charmander with determination. "This Minimole is stronger and more cunning than it seems. We can't afford to make any more mistakes."
The Minimole prepared to attack again, showing its sharp claws and prominent teeth. It was clear that this time the battle would be more difficult, and that Kenji and Charmander would have to give it their all to emerge victorious.
Kenji and Charmander braced themselves to face the Minimole, knowing that this time the battle would be more difficult and that exploring that new area in the forest would have to wait for now. The Forbidden Forest was a place full of surprises, and each encounter was a valuable lesson on his path to survival and mastery of his abilities.