Rain fell quietly over the narrow city alley.
The boy sat on the cold steps of an orphanage, knees drawn to his chest, staring at the dark sky. He had no memories of his parents—only a single story told by the caretaker again and again.
"They were trainers," she would say. "Strong ones."
What she never said was how they died.
Tonight, the boy turned sixteen.
As the clock struck midnight, the air behind him grew warm.
A deep, steady breath echoed.
He turned—and froze.
Two towering figures stood behind him, their orange scales glowing softly under the streetlight. One male. One female. Their wings folded respectfully, flames at their tails burning calm and controlled.
Charizard.
Gym-level strength radiated from them like a storm held in check.
The female Charizard stepped forward and lowered her head. Between her claws lay a Poké Ball—old, scratched, but intact.
Inside it, something stirred.
The male Charizard rumbled softly, eyes filled not with rage—but farewell.
A voice echoed inside the boy's mind.
We protected this flame… until you were ready.
The Poké Ball clicked open.
A small, black-scaled Pokémon stepped out.
Blue fire danced at the tip of its tail.
A shiny Charmander looked up at him and smiled.
Chapter 2 – Parallel Awakening
The moment his fingers touched the Poké Ball, the world shifted.
Time slowed.
Light fractured.
A translucent screen appeared before his eyes.
Parallel Sync System Initialized
User: Unregistered
World Type: Urban Pokémon – Peaceful (85%)
Dungeon Risk: Low
Hidden Ability Detected
Numbers flowed across his vision—not just stats, but meaning.
Charmander – Potential: SS
Growth Curve: Uncapped
IV Clarity: Perfectly Visible
EV Pathways: Multiple Optimal Routes
He could see it.
Not guesses. Not estimates.
Truth.
The system settled, shrinking into a palm-sized handheld device resting in his hand—simple, gray, almost old-fashioned.
Like a Game Boy.
Red and Blue icons blinked softly.
Behind him, the two Charizard stepped back.
The female pressed her forehead gently against his.
Live… and become strong.
Then they vanished into light.
Leaving him alone.
But not empty.
Chapter 3 – A Girl Who Sees Too Much
Across the city, in a high-rise apartment filled with plants and sunlight, a girl stared at her own hands in shock.
She had just finished helping a neighbor's Pidgey heal.
Yet numbers still floated before her eyes.
Pidgey – Potential: C
Ceiling: Low
Emotional Bond Modifier: +12%
She blinked.
The numbers stayed.
Her handheld device lay on the table, humming quietly.
Unlike the boy, she wasn't an orphan. But she had always felt out of place—like the world moved one step slower around her.
A soft chime sounded.
Parallel User Detected
Distance: 2.4 km
Compatibility: Extremely High
Her starter Pokémon tugged at her sleeve.
A shiny Charmander.
Blue flame.
She swallowed.
"So… I'm not alone."