May 3rd, 9:00 AM.
Pokémon launched on the ORAS platform right on schedule.
Many of Devon Corporation's overtime staff had specifically requested time off.
Just so they could clear a full day to go home and enjoy the game properly.
Built on Pokémon Company's reputation and featuring guest appearances by Professor Oak, Red, and Blue Oak, the game had maximized its hype to the extreme.
The pre-release buzz rivaled even that of a certain high-profile cyberpunk title.
Of course, what would ultimately determine the game's lifespan was its own quality.
This was the moment of truth—could a company known for single-player experiences hold its own in the market?
Many fans who had already pre-ordered were shocked to find:
"It didn't get delayed?!"
"My entire holiday break just got saved by Pokémon."
"Buy early, play early… then refund!"
ORAS had a full refund policy in place, and freeloaders were already planning to "enjoy and refund."
Hoenn Region, Mauville City
Old Man Wattson, a veteran freeloader and cheat enthusiast, bought the game immediately.
"Can't crack it?"
Wattson scratched his head. "Did they use Rotom-level encryption…?"
Still, that didn't stop him from enjoying the game the other way.
"Game start!" he bellowed, slamming the controller button.
The first thing on screen was Pokémon Company's logo—a shooting star streaking across, followed by an opening cinematic.
Gengar and Nidorino faced off in high-definition battle animation, Gengar grinning wildly.
"Natsume really made Gengar the company mascot, huh?"
Wattson chuckled, then frowned. "But what's with the Nidorino…?"
Skipping ahead, the game properly began.
Professor Oak's stern face appeared on screen, clearing his throat with exaggerated seriousness.
"For those meeting me for the first time, allow me to introduce myself."
Wattson muttered, "We've met like five times already."
"I am a researcher of Pokémon, known to the world as Professor Oak—"
A Poké Ball in his hand opened, releasing a Charmander straight from the original FireRed version.
"In our world, Pokémon live alongside us. One hundred, two hundred, three hundred…"
"Countless Pokémon remain undiscovered, waiting to be caught, battled, and explored!"
Even though this was all common knowledge…
The nostalgic timbre of Professor Oak's voice, the weight behind his words—
Somehow, Wattson found himself pulled in, feeling a long-lost surge of excitement.
This feeling… it was like holding his first starter Pokémon, about to set off on a journey!
And he wasn't the only one.
Many players shared the same emotions.
They might never become real Trainers.
But in this game, they could experience the magic of Pokémon—the bonds and emotions that went beyond mere gameplay.
Professor Oak smiled.
"Now, tell me your name—"
The default protagonist appeared on screen. Wattson blinked.
"Isn't that just Red?"
Players immediately reacted:
"Now this is immersion!"
"Hell yeah, that's me—the strongest Trainer!"
"So this is where the Legendary Trainer's story begins!"
New Island, Secret Base
A man in a suit sat in a dimly lit room, stroking the Persian at his side.
A faint smirk curled on Giovanni's lips.
"How… interesting."
Selecting the default name, the game began.
"So, Red it is—"
Professor Oak laughed heartily. "And this is my grandson—your friend and rival. His name is—"
Blue Oak appeared on screen, hands in his pockets, looking smug.
Players lost it.
"HAHAHA, Blue getting exposed!"
"If you're from Kanto, you should have a Kanto name—"
"Wait, we can name the rival? I CHOOSE YOU… Oak Chrysanthemum!"
In the group chat, Blue Oak's cool demeanor cracked slightly as he read the logs.
Gold: "HAHAHA, this is gold! Look what I named him!"
[Professor Oak points at his grandson.] "His name is… 'Gold's Dad is So Handsome'?"
Blue Oak: "?"
Lance: "LMAOOOO."
Silver: "Pfft!"
[Group member 'Gold' has been muted by admin 'Blue Oak' for 24 hours.]
Game Start
Red's character model shrank down, appearing in a small, simple room.
A bed, a handheld console, a computer, and a TV—that was it.
New players, curious about everything, immediately started checking every corner, as if items were hidden everywhere.
When Wattson examined the TV, a line of text appeared:
[The TV is showing a movie. Four boys are walking on train tracks… Maybe I should start my journey too!]
The journey begins—ours, and Pokémon's.
"I'm not crying, you are."
"Natsume-sensei gets Pokémon."
"This hit me hard… Life has its limits, but at least in this game, I can live the dream."
Following the game's flow, the next step was to visit Professor Oak and pick a starter—
Bulbasaur, Squirtle, or Charmander.
Younger players didn't realize this was secretly a difficulty selector.
Going by Red's canon path, Bulbasaur was the easiest choice.
But picking Charmander?
That was Hell Mode—Brock and Misty would crush your soul.
Natsume-sensei had conveniently placed Charmander in the middle.
Players responded with enthusiasm.
"Real men pick the one that becomes Charizard!"
"Always loved Charmander. Dreams do come true—thanks, Natsume-sensei!"
Gold also picked Charmander, then glanced at Silver playing on his handheld.
"Which one did you take?"
Silver frowned. "Why can't I just steal all three?"
Gold: "…"
First Battle
After choosing a starter, Blue Oak swaggered forward, hands in his pockets, and challenged the player to a battle.
Players rubbed their hands together, eager.
"Watch my Charmander wreck Squirtle!"
Exciting battle music kicked in—the first Pokémon battle had begun.
But when the fight actually started, players collectively froze.
"WHAT THE—SQUIRTLE IS THIS STRONG?!"
"THE AI ACTUALLY USES WITHDRAW?!"
"NO, NO, STOP—DON'T DO THIS TO ME!!"
Charmander players immediately felt the developers' cruelty.
As Gold's Charmander got steamrolled by Squirtle…
Giovanni, the man who knew Red best, had already cleared Pewter Gym—using Bulbasaur.
Watching Ivysaur evolve in a flash of white light, the boss smirked.
"So… this was his path?"
A faint smile lingered on his lips.
"Fascinating."
...
Time flew by.
Players immersed themselves in the game, enjoying the joy of growing alongside their Pokémon.
Wattson finally cleared the second Gym, wiping sweat from his brow with a satisfied grin.
"Oh no!" Wattson suddenly gasped. "I forgot to refund it!"
This was the mark of a truly high-quality game—one so engaging that even refund-seekers would lose track of time.
Every detail, every storyline, showcased Pokémon Company's dedication.
Of course, for those who had chosen Charmander, the journey was filled with thorns and suffering—
And perhaps… just a little masochistic pleasure?
On gaming forums, Pokémon skyrocketed to the top, with reviews showering it in high praise.
[Story and gameplay? Perfect. Soundtrack? Stunning. Though Lavender Town's BGM is kinda creepy…]
[10/10! Natsume-sensei never disappoints!]
[A masterpiece, no question. Side note—Diantha moonlights as an actress, Wallace as a Contest Master, and this guy? A game developer. What even is this Champion's resume?]
Many critics believed Natsume-sensei's new title had a shot at ORAS's Game of the Year award.
Meanwhile, a bombshell tweet reignited discussions across social media.
[Leon: A Champion-tier single-player experience. Natsume-sensei's magnum opus.]
Leon's massive fanbase drew in waves of new players who had never heard of the game before.
His followers flooded the replies.
"Why can't my Charmander even beat a Squirtle?!"
"Using Galar's Champion's Charizard to stomp Kanto? Someone's flexing hard!"
"No one understands sponsored content better than Galar's Champion!"
At the same time, Nico Dou exploded with Pokémon-related content.
Speedruns, guides, even meme edits—every category was flooded.
[World Record Speedrun! This Is the Best Starter Pick!]
[In-Depth Guide: Pewter Gym Strategy & Counter Tactics]
Natsume browsed the videos, chuckling to himself.
"The fans are full of talent!"
He never expected memes to emerge in this world, yet someone had already edited their Charmander getting crushed by Squirtle—complete with voiceovers.
"Wanna have a thrilling Pokémon battle?"
"C'mon, I'm tough as nails!"
"Let me see how strong this Charmander is… Oh my~!"
Soon, Squirtle was nicknamed "Big Bro" among players, spreading like wildfire.
The speedrun video dethroned Natsume-sensei's "Rain Perish Song Team," claiming the top spot in the gaming section.
"They cleared it in a single day?"
Natsume raised an eyebrow, clicking the video.
According to the creator, they were a seasoned Trainer in real life
And Natsume-sensei's strategy videos had been the ultimate guide for speedrunners.
"Is this how pros play?"
"A game's difficulty is defined by whether its creator can beat it."
"Natsume-sensei could probably solo the Elite Four with SubProtect Toxic… No way I'm pulling that off."
"Just grinding levels like a normal person—wait, why is Giovanni's team so overleveled?!"
The video reached Silph Co. Headquarters.
The creator sighed. "Silph Co. is, without a doubt, the hardest dungeon in this game."
"First, Boss Giovanni's team averages five levels above mine."
"I barely survived with potions and switches… but then his Nidoqueen landed a Horn Drill."
"I swear Natsume-sensei tweaked the accuracy… It one-shotted my Pokémon every time!"
"Or maybe I've watched too many of his videos and inherited his luck?"
The chat erupted in laughter and sympathy.
"Now that's a true veteran fan."
"As we all know, Natsume-sensei's luck defies all laws of probability."
Natsume blinked, then smirked.
I just set Giovanni's level appropriately.
As for bad luck? This guy's just making excuses!
He left a single "?" in the comments—instantly rocketing to the top.
"MASTER BALL COMMENT!"
"Natsume-sensei, pay this man for his suffering!"
"Official reply? LMAO!"
That evening, Pokémon climbed to the top of the Trending Online Leaderboard, and sales soared.
The profits far exceeded Natsume's expectations.
The good news was that the junior dinosaur's food expenses wouldn't be a problem anytime soon.
Though it didn't achieve his early retirement goal…
Letting more people experience the charm of Pokémon was Natsume's original intention.
"Larvitar~~(￣～￣)"
Inside the villa in Saffron City, Larvitar was chewing on a Smooth Rock.
It was a rare mineral bought from Steven… costing Natsume quite a bit of his personal savings.
But with the new game's excellent sales,
Natsume was feeling flush and declared he could afford to buy more of Steven's collection!
"Hey, Natsume-sensei?"
Gold's carefree voice came through the receiver.
"That Professor Hale guy contacted us."
"Said he'll wait until after the holiday rush dies down before heading to the Ancient Ruins for research!"
That was considerate. Natsume asked curiously:
"Is Silver still staying at your place?"
"Yeah, he's coming with me."
Gold glanced at the red-haired young man, completely absorbed, then lowered his voice:
"He seems even more obsessed than I am…"
Silver had always seen Giovanni as the one he needed to defeat.
Facing Giovanni—even in a game—might have been Silver's long-held wish.
Natsume paused. "How far has he gotten?"
"He followed that speedrun guide… he's almost at Silph Co. Headquarters."
Before Gold could finish, he looked over at Silver's stoic face.
Silver was gritting his teeth, gripping the controller tightly as the screen displayed the "Everything went black" prompt.
Gold's expression was complicated. "Hey… don't overdo it…"
Silver's eyes burned with determination, fixed on the black-coated man on the screen.
"Again!"
...
New Island, Team Rocket Base.
Giovanni had only dabbled in the game.
Clad in his black coat, he stood slowly, pulling the dark hood over his head.
The game's scenes overlapped with memories of the past.
But I am no longer the Giovanni of those days.
Now, there were more pressing matters demanding his attention.
A holographic projection flickered, revealing Matori's exhausted face as she reported:
"The data on the Ruins of Alph has been compiled…"
"Good work."
Giovanni gave a slight nod. "Activate the control system for that aerial fortress."
Matori hesitated, then bowed. "Understood."
In the world of Pokémon, advanced flight technology wasn't uncommon.
Giovanni, for instance, owned an airborne battleship—
the very same one where he had once battled Red.
The night wind howled as the base's hangar doors opened.
The massive warship vanished into the darkness, its engines growling like a beast in the night.
Giovanni pressed a hand to his hood, closing his eyes.
In his mind flashed the cold red-haired youth and the humble dark-haired Trainer.
Some things required his personal involvement.
Even if it meant standing before an ancient deity's revival, he had his reasons.
Because—
Giovanni's thoughts lingered on Silver.
His eyes snapped open, sharp and unyielding in the dark.
I am Giovanni of the Earth.
"Full speed ahead."
Standing on the deck, gazing at the sea of clouds, he commanded coldly:
"Destination—Ruins of Alph!"
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