Kanto Region.
Pallet Town, the place where everything began.
"Gary, why did you get up so early today?" Professor Oak looked at Gary, who had risen unusually early, and couldn't help feeling puzzled. There was still an hour before the new trainers were due to report in.
"Of course I'm up early. Today's the day we choose our starter Pokémon," said the handsome boy with reddish-brown hair.
"I think you got up this early because you're worried the Pokémon you like might get picked by one of the other rookies first." Professor Oak saw through Gary's thoughts at a glance.
Professor Oak was responsible for training the new trainers of Pallet Town and overseeing the selection of starter Pokémon. As Professor Oak's grandson, Gary naturally had the home-field advantage. He'd been able to interact with the starter Pokémon earlier than the other rookies and knew which of them had the higher potential.
"Hehe."
Gary smiled slightly and didn't deny it.
What he wouldn't say out loud was that he'd actually come this early to activate the system.
Gary—whose real name was Qin Mao—was a transmigrator who had crossed over into the Pokémon world.
When Qin Mao learned he had been reborn into the Pokémon world as Professor Oak's grandson, he was thrilled.
He might not be the protagonist Ash, but as Professor Oak's grandson, he was a top-tier second-generation heir of a renowned researcher—a perfect starting point.
And since he had become Gary, he intended to make up for the original Gary's regrets.
The original Gary had placed 32nd in the Indigo Plateau Conference and 16th in the Silver Conference, and in the end he had given up his dream of becoming a Pokémon Master, abandoning the competitive path to become a Pokémon researcher.
Now that he had been reborn, Gary would never quit halfway again. Even if he did want to become a Pokémon researcher someday, that would only happen after he won the Pokémon World Championship.
The reason Gary had come to Professor Oak's Laboratory so early wasn't just to be the first to choose a starter Pokémon—it was because the system would only activate after he selected one.
Just last night, the system had suddenly awakened and assigned Gary a task.
[Current Mission: Obtain the starter Pokémon Squirtle / Mission Reward: Deluxe Gift Pack x1.]
According to the original story, Gary had indeed chosen Squirtle as his starter.
Squirtle was an excellent Pokémon, and its final evolution, Blastoise, was quite powerful as well. After all, it had both a Mega Evolution and a unique Gigantamax form, so it was more than qualified to serve as a main partner.
Gary had already been planning to choose Squirtle from this batch of starters anyway. After caring for them for a while, he could tell that Squirtle was the best of the three starters this time around—at the very least, it had Elite-level potential.
An hour later...
Professor Oak's Laboratory was packed with people, though most of them were family members of this batch of rookie trainers. Only two of them were actually there to choose Pokémon.
Professor Oak welcomed the two rookie trainers inside. Gary looked them over—one boy and one girl. The boy was named Orange, and the girl was named Yellow. Like Ash and Gary, they had both grown up in Pallet Town.
"Gary, I didn't expect you to get here so early. Looks like you've already decided which Pokémon you're picking. After you choose, let's have a battle." Orange's tone was full of provocation.
Yellow seemed like a quiet, well-behaved girl. She didn't dare say anything and just silently watched Gary and Orange.
Gary was about to refuse the pointless battle, but then...
[Ding! Temporary Mission Released: Defeat the challenger Orange / Mission Reward: Low-grade Rare Candy x3 (for Pokémon below level 30; raises level by 1.)]
"Fine. Then let me give you a taste of your first defeat as a trainer," Gary said arrogantly.
"What! You're the one who's going to taste defeat!" Orange shot back, refusing to yield.
"We'll see about that." Gary had no interest in arguing with a ten-year-old kid.
Gary didn't take Orange or Yellow seriously at all. After becoming trainers, these two would have a smooth ride early on, but they'd hit a wall midway through and eventually give up on their dreams of being trainers altogether.
How could Gary possibly take someone seriously who would never even compete in a Pokémon Conference?
Professor Oak watched the two boys squaring off and sighed helplessly, but he didn't try to talk them out of it.
Trainers were bound to have some fire in them.
Pokémon battles between trainers were perfectly normal.
"Then you two can have your battle in the backyard afterward." Ever considerate, Professor Oak provided them with a venue.
"Alright, follow me." Professor Oak led Gary and the other two over to the nearby examination table, took three Poké Balls from the inner pocket of his white coat, and opened them.
Flash!
"Bulba!"
"Char!"
"Squirtle!"
The classic first-generation starter trio appeared.
The moment Orange and Yellow saw the three Pokémon, their eyes filled with stars.
Even though Gary had already spent time caring for these three little ones, he still felt a rush of excitement.
"Alright, these are the starter Pokémon prepared for you. Going by order of arrival—Gary, you choose first," Professor Oak said.
"Then I won't be polite." Gary walked forward without hesitation.
Orange and Yellow instantly grew nervous. They each had a favorite Pokémon in mind and were worried Gary would take it.
Gary walked straight toward Squirtle, reached out his hand, and said, "Squirtle, come with me. I'll take you to the top of the world."
"Squirtle."
Squirtle nodded eagerly with its round head. It was clearly delighted to follow Gary and immediately hugged his arm.
"Hehe, you're my very first Pokémon." Gary affectionately rubbed Squirtle's head.
"Squirtle! Squirtle!"
Squirtle squinted its eyes, thoroughly enjoying the attention.
[Ding! Mission complete. Rewards have been delivered to the space backpack.]
The sudden system notification snapped Gary back to his senses.
He was very curious about what was inside the Deluxe Gift Pack, but now wasn't a good time to open it. He'd have to wait.
"Alright, you're next, Yellow," Professor Oak said.
"Okay!" Yellow nodded, walked straight over to Bulbasaur, crouched down, and said, "Bulbasaur, come with me."
"Bulba!"
Bulbasaur didn't hesitate at all. It stretched out its Vine Whips from both sides and started playing with Yellow.
"Great! Then Charmander is mine!" Orange said excitedly.
Orange's favorite Pokémon was Charmander. Just moments ago, he'd been worried that Gary or Yellow would snatch it away.
And so, all three of them ended up with the Pokémon they wanted.
"Gary, let's battle!" The moment Orange got Charmander, he immediately challenged Gary.
Gary didn't even know what to say to him.
Are you blind?
Did you not see that the Pokémon I chose was Squirtle?
Water beats Fire, you know?
It seemed this Orange kid didn't know much about Pokémon fundamentals—he was about on par with Ash. No wonder he'd give up on being a trainer later.