Kanto Region.
Pallet Town.
The place where it all began.
"Gary, why did you get up so early today?"
Professor Oak looked at Gary, who had already risen before sunrise, and couldn't help but feel puzzled. There was still an hour left before the new Trainers were supposed to report.
Gary, a handsome boy with reddish-brown hair, answered matter-of-factly.
"Of course I got up early. Today is the day starter Pokémon are chosen. Naturally, I need to be here in advance."
Professor Oak gave him a knowing look and smiled.
"I think you're just worried the Pokémon you want might be picked by someone else."
Gary didn't deny it.
As the person in charge of the starter Pokémon selection in Pallet Town, Professor Oak's laboratory was the closest source available. As Oak's grandson, Gary had an obvious advantage: he'd been around the starter Pokémon long before the other new Trainers arrived, and he knew which ones had greater potential.
"Hehe."
Gary smiled faintly.
What he didn't say was that he had come so early in order to activate the system.
Gary Oak was a time traveler who had crossed into the Pokémon world. When he realized where he had ended up—and that he had become Professor Oak's grandson—he had been genuinely excited.
He wasn't Ash, the so-called chosen one.
But being Professor Oak's grandson was already an excellent starting point. For someone who had grown up with knowledge of the Pokémon world, it was practically a dream beginning.
And since he had become Gary, he intended to make up for the regrets of the original.
In the original timeline, Gary had been talented, but his path had been far from perfect. He had finished 32nd in the Indigo Plateau Conference, and later 16th in the Silver Conference. In the end, he had given up his dream of becoming a Pokémon Master and turned toward research instead.
But now that he had been reborn, Gary would not give up halfway again.
Even if he eventually chose to become a Pokémon researcher, that would only be after he had stood at the top of the world—after winning the Pokémon World Championship.
The reason he had come to Professor Oak's laboratory so early was not only to choose the best starter first.
It was also because the system was supposed to activate only after he selected his starter Pokémon.
Just last night, the system had suddenly awakened and given him a task.
> [Current Task: Obtain the starter Pokémon Squirtle]
> [Reward: Deluxe Gift Pack ×1]
According to the original story, Gary had indeed chosen Squirtle as his starter.
And he had no intention of changing that.
Squirtle was an excellent Pokémon. Its final evolution, Blastoise, was also extremely powerful. Not only did it have Mega Evolution, but it also possessed a unique Gigantamax form. It was more than qualified to become a main partner.
More importantly, among the three starter Pokémon selected for this batch of new Trainers, the Squirtle was definitely not weak. At the very least, it had Elite-level potential.
Gary had already made his choice.
He intended to pick Squirtle.
After spending time observing them, he was certain Squirtle was the best of the three this time.
—
An hour later.
Professor Oak's laboratory was crowded.
Most of the people present were family members who had come to see off the new Trainers. Only two of them were actually there to choose Pokémon.
Professor Oak welcomed the two new Trainers into the room.
Gary looked at them briefly.
One was a boy. The other was a girl.
The boy's name was Orange, and the girl's name was Yellow. Like Ash and Gary, they had grown up in Pallet Town.
"Gary, I didn't expect you to come so early."
Orange's tone was full of challenge.
"It looks like you've already decided which Pokémon you want. After you pick yours, let's have a battle."
Yellow stood quietly beside him, looking like a well-behaved girl. She didn't dare interrupt and only watched Gary and Orange in silence.
Gary had no interest in wasting time on this meaningless fight.
But then—
> [Ding! Temporary Mission Released: Defeat challenger Orange]
> [Reward: Low-level Rare Candy ×3]
> [(For Pokémon below level 30, each Rare Candy increases level by 1.)]
Gary's eyes narrowed slightly.
Then he smiled.
"Fine. I'll let you experience your first defeat as a Trainer."
"What did you say?" Orange bristled immediately. "The one who's going to taste defeat is you!"
"Then we'll see."
Gary couldn't be bothered to argue with a ten-year-old.
He didn't take Orange or Yellow seriously at all.
They were just ordinary kids who had not yet proven anything. Even if they became Trainers, their early progress might be smooth, but most people like that would eventually hit a wall. In the end, only a few would keep going.
How could Gary possibly treat someone who hadn't even participated in a proper Pokémon Conference as a real opponent?
Professor Oak looked at the two boys confronting each other and sighed helplessly, but he didn't stop them.
After all, clashes between Trainers were normal.
A little competitiveness was healthy.
"Then you can battle in the backyard later," Professor Oak said thoughtfully, giving them a venue to settle it.
"Okay. Follow me."
He led Gary and the other two into the test area nearby, then took three Poké Balls from his lab coat and opened them.
A burst of light filled the room.
"Bulbasaur!"
"Charmander!"
"Squirtle!"
The classic first-generation starter trio appeared one after another.
Orange and Yellow's eyes immediately lit up.
Even though Gary had already spent time taking care of these little guys, he still felt a surge of excitement.
"Alright," Professor Oak said, "these are the starter Pokémon prepared for you. According to the order of first come, first served, Gary, you choose first."
"Then I won't be polite."
Gary walked forward confidently.
Orange and Yellow instantly became nervous. Both of them had their favorite Pokémon in mind, and both were afraid Gary would take it first.
Gary went straight to Squirtle, crouched slightly, and extended his hand.
"Squirtle, come with me. I'll make sure you stand at the top of the world."
"Squirtle!"
Squirtle nodded repeatedly with its round head. It was clearly very happy to follow Gary, and immediately hugged Gary's arm.
"Heh. You're my first Pokémon," Gary said, gently patting its head.
"Squirtle! Squirtle!"
Squirtle squinted its eyes and leaned into the touch, looking completely satisfied.
> [Ding! Mission completed. Rewards have been stored in the space backpack.]
The sudden system notification brought Gary back to his senses.
He was now very curious about what was inside the deluxe gift pack.
But this wasn't the right place to open it, so he could only wait.
"Alright, Yellow, it's your turn," Professor Oak said.
"Yes!"
Yellow nodded and walked directly to Bulbasaur. She lowered herself slightly and said softly, "Bulbasaur, come with me."
"Bulbasaur!"
Bulbasaur didn't hesitate at all. It stretched out both Vine Whips and immediately began playing with Yellow.
"Great! Then Charmander is mine!" Orange said excitedly.
Charmander was his favorite Pokémon, and just now he had been worried Gary or Yellow might choose it first.
Now that the three of them had all selected the Pokémon they wanted, the atmosphere relaxed a little.
"Gary, let's battle!" Orange challenged immediately after taking Charmander.
Gary didn't even know how to respond to him.
Are you blind?
Didn't you see that I chose Squirtle?
Water-type beats Fire-type, okay?
This Orange didn't seem to know much about Pokémon battle fundamentals. He was almost as clueless as Ash.
No wonder he gave up on becoming a Trainer later.