(Foreword)
(Transmigrated as Shinji. The basic character setting remains unchanged, but I've modified it to make Shinji less obsessive. So, there will definitely be sharp-tongued and scheming plots, including releasing Pokémon. If you feel uncomfortable, please stop reading immediately.)
(Also, this book will have slight Ash-bashing. Ash fans, stay away!!!)
(If nothing goes wrong, the single female lead of this book should be Dawn. Shinji x Dawn fans, assemble!!!!)
(Additionally, the name translations in this book are mainly based on the anime version to give it that anime feel.)
(Brain storage area: No matter what you read, it's always right to check your brain in first. Don't forget to take it back after reading. If lost, please solve it yourself.)
The noon sun pierced through the dense canopy, sifting fine golden circles of light onto the green grass underfoot; the branches overhead trembled from time to time.
Perhaps an Aipom was nimbly climbing and snapping branches to pick Berries, or a Starly was flapping its gray wings, perching on a branch to preen its feathers.
In the nearby bushes, the blade-like forearms of a Kricketune were vibrating out a crisp and melodious improvised melody, adding a touch of liveliness to the silence.
Following the lively sound deep into the forest, a dark green peak stood quietly, with a crystal-clear pond lying at the foot of the mountain.
A silver ribbon of a waterfall hung from the top of the mountain, crashing heavily onto the water's surface, splashing fine water droplets everywhere. The roaring sound of the water echoed in the ears, yet it didn't feel noisy at all.
The side of the pond away from the waterfall was exceptionally peaceful. A few Bidoof were bowing their heads to drink, their fluffy tails gently sweeping across the ground. In the water, a Poliwhirl with its round belly and a Quagsire were soaking comfortably together, occasionally paddling the water with their limbs, creating ripples.
The waterfall crashed down. Directly below the misty vapor was a smooth giant rock, where two figures were particularly striking in the rapid current.
They sat cross-legged against the falling current. The cold water, carrying the momentum of the fall, crashed heavily onto them, splashing fine mist, yet the two remained motionless like statues Ingrain in the rock.
This was their way of honing themselves—using the majestic force of the water falling from a height to temper their bodies and strengthen their bones.
At the same time, the deafening roar of the water's Tackle sound could isolate external distractions, allowing them to clearly examine their inner hearts.
Looking closely, it was a young man and an Elekid.
The boy's purple hair had long been soaked by the current, sticking greasily to his scalp and cheeks. The water merged into streams along the ends of his hair, sliding down his jawline and condensing into droplets at his chin.
He had fair skin and a well-defined face. Even with his eyes closed, his whole body exuded a cold and hard aura that kept people at a distance.
His bare upper body didn't have exaggerated, explosive muscles, but rather smooth and tight lines. The contours of his chest and abdominal muscles became clearer under the washing of the water, every inch of muscle texture revealing a restrained sense of power rather than deliberately carved beauty.
Suddenly, the boy's eyelashes trembled slightly, and his narrow dark purple eyes snapped open. The corners of his eyes tilted slightly, the ends sharp as a blade, and a sharp glint flashed through his eyes, so fierce that one dared not look directly at him.
His gaze swept over the Elekid beside him, who was already somewhat unable to hold on, its body swaying slightly. His cold voice came through, muffled by the roar of the water, without a hint of warmth: "Can't you go on? You useless fellow."
As soon as he finished speaking, the boy closed his eyes again, and his aura condensed once more, as if merging with the rapid current, quietly enduring every Tackle.
The somewhat restless Elekid beside him stiffened upon hearing this, instantly suppressing all movement and sitting upright again.
It tensed its body, gritted its teeth, and struggled to resist the Tackle of the water, not daring to relax in the slightest.
...
Focused time always slips away unknowingly. By the time he came to his senses, the setting sun had already slanted toward the mountain range, and the afterglow poured over the pond, dyeing the ripples into fine golden light.
The forest, which was originally so quiet that only the sound of the wind remained, finally woke up at this moment. The rustling sounds of Pokemon foraging echoed everywhere, interspersed with the crisp melody improvised by the Kricketune, like a prelude to the twilight.
On the shore of the pond, the boy and the Elekid who had been training under the waterfall earlier had quietly come ashore at some point. They were carefully wiping the water droplets off their bodies with towels. Droplets slid down the boy's hair, tracing brief bright marks in the sunset before being quickly absorbed by the towel.
After drying his body, the boy raised his hands to put on his clothes: first, a navy blue vest that outlined his tight shoulder lines; then, deep purple straight-leg pants, with the cuffs neatly tucked into his shoes.
Next was a pair of high-top sneakers with a striking color-block design of blue-purple and deep turquoise. Finally, he zipped up his purple and deep turquoise long-sleeved jacket, sealing out the evening wind.
The boy, now fully dressed, had a cold and serious look in his eyes. Although he was handsome, this handsomeness was wrapped in a layer of faint arrogance. Even without frowning, he carried a natural sense of aloofness and authority.
After getting ready, the boy picked up the backpack beside him, unzipped it, took out the ingredients for Pokemon food, and began to skillfully mix them.
Before long, a portion of food specially customized for Electric-type Pokemon was ready. He also mixed in Energy Cubes that could quickly restore the stamina of Electric-type Pokemon.
"Elekid, come and eat," the boy called out, his voice still flat, showing no emotional fluctuations.
Although the boy's voice still lacked warmth, the call itself and the carefully prepared food faintly revealed that he wasn't entirely without feelings for his partner.
Elekid was still somewhat exhausted from the training, but the moment it heard the call, its eyes suddenly lit up, and a look of joy quickly appeared on its face. It ran over with light steps, unable to wait to get close to the food.
The moment it tasted the food, it squinted its eyes comfortably—the taste happened to suit its preference. More importantly, the warmth brought by the Energy Cubes was spreading down its throat, dispelling the soreness in its body.
It looked up at the boy, and in its gaze, besides reliance, there was a bit more genuine recognition and attachment.
The boy silently took in Elekid's reaction, and the corner of his mouth twitched almost imperceptibly, forming an extremely tiny arc that vanished in an instant.
Then, the boy took out a cold rice ball from his backpack and started eating it directly in the cool evening wind without heating it up. Compared to the exquisite feast he had prepared for Elekid, his own dinner seemed exceptionally simple and casual.
While chewing, he looked up at the setting sun on the horizon. The orange-red glow washed over his brows, and his thoughts involuntarily drifted far away.
Unknowingly, it had been two and a half days since he came to this world. From the initial strangeness to his current proficiency, he quickly adapted to this unfamiliar yet familiar identity.
Two and a half days ago, he was still re-watching the anime "Pokémon: Diamond and Pearl" in front of his computer, feeling regretful about Shinji's defeat at the Sinnoh League. The next second, everything went black, and when he woke up again, he was already in this unfamiliar forest.
According to the memories in his mind, he realized he had transmigrated as Shinji.
As a veteran Pokémon fan, he was all too familiar with the character of Shinji.
In the anime, Shinji was cold and obsessive, extremely strict with Pokémon, and only had strength and victory in his eyes. He was one of Ash's strongest rivals.
And he himself, because he appreciated Shinji's extreme persistence in becoming stronger, would repeatedly re-watch the plots related to him.
But after actually becoming Shinji, he realized that the portrayal in the anime was ultimately too one-sided.
This world was not as gentle as in the anime, but a real and dangerous world. The wilderness was full of highly aggressive wild Pokémon, unknown terrains hidden with countless dangers, and death was a real threat.
Precisely because of this, this world had clear regulations: only those who reached the age of eighteen could obtain the qualification to travel. The setting in the anime where one could set out on a journey at the age of ten simply did not exist.
After merging the memories of his original body, he had a clear understanding of his current situation.
The current Shinji was not the fledgling rookie trainer from the anime; he had extensive travel experience.
He had traveled to the Kanto, Johto, and Hoenn regions alone. Now, he had finished the Ever Grande Conference of the Hoenn League and was on his way back to Veilstone City.
And the Elekid following him was a Pokémon the original body had caught in the later stages of his journey in the Hoenn region.
This Elekid was exceptionally talented and had a resilient personality. Even when facing the original body's almost harsh training, it had never slacked off in the slightest.
So the current Shinji was also a veteran Pokémon trainer with two and a half years of travel experience and having been tempered by major competitions.