The digital chime of the System was starting to sound less like a notification and more like a mocking laugh. Leo stood on the mahogany balcony of the Ashford Villa, leaning his elbows against the railing as the cool morning mist of Four Island began to burn off under a rising sun.
[System: Ding! Integration Complete. Rewards processed for the "Heroic Awakening" mission!] [Reward 1: 200 Hero Points (Current Balance: 200 HP)] [Reward 2: One Tub of "Apex" Tier Pokémon Nutrient Blend (System-Guaranteed: Better than 99% of Market Brands!)]
Leo sighed, his fingers tracing the invisible interface that only he could see. The Big Hero System wasn't just a voice in his head; it was a comprehensive, if somewhat sadistic, toolkit for world domination—or world salvation, depending on whether he survived the week.
He flicked his wrist, navigating through the four primary sub-menus that had governed his secret life for the past five years:
The Quest Log: The source of his current headaches. It churned out "Heroic" tasks that ranged from saving the world from ancient deities to—as he had just experienced—awkwardly kissing his adoptive sister.
The Oracle Probe: A data-thief's dream. It allowed him to see the hidden stats, potential, and movesets of any Pokémon he looked at. In a world where a Pokémon's "Individual Values" were a closely guarded secret of the elite, this was practically a cheat code.
The Emporium Mall: A digital marketplace that sold everything from Rare Candies and specialized Evolutionary Stones to Technical Machines (TMs) that hadn't been seen in the Kanto region for decades. The prices, however, were astronomical. A single Ice Beam TM cost enough points to bankrupt a small city.
The Destiny Draw: A high-stakes lottery. For a hefty sum of Hero Points, he could spin a cosmic wheel for a chance to win anything from a Master Ball to a hidden ability, or even a Pokémon egg from a distant region.
"Twenty-four hundred points for a Dratini egg?" Leo muttered, eyeing the Emporium. "At this rate, I'll have to kiss Lorelei every morning for the next three years just to afford the deposit."
He shook his head, clearing the screen. He had more pressing matters, like surviving breakfast.
He looked out over the Ashford estate, and despite his grievances with the System, he couldn't deny the beauty of his home. The villa wasn't just a house; it was a sanctuary. The backyard stretched for acres, a meticulously designed ecosystem that transitioned from a lush, temperate forest to a jagged, snow-capped miniature mountain range that fed into a crystal-clear lake.
Below him, a group of Seel barked happily as they slid into the water, while a Shellder clamped shut on a rock, soaking up the morning rays. This was the work of Eleanor Ashford, a woman whose reputation as a Master Breeder was whispered with reverence from Pewter City to the Indigo Plateau.
In this world, being a Breeder wasn't just about feeding and grooming; it was about being an architect of life. Eleanor could look at a sickly Oddish and, within a month, turn it into a Vileplume that could choke out a Charizard.
Leo's thoughts darkened momentarily as he looked toward the distant horizon. The Ashford family legacy was one of ice and steel. Lorelei's father, the man whose name Leo now bore, had been a Titan of the Elite Four—a hero who had perished during a brutal crackdown on a massive Pokémon poaching ring in the northern wastes. Leo had never met him, but his shadow loomed large over the villa.
Then there was "The Admiral"—Lorelei's grandfather. A man who held a seat of immense power within the Global Pokémon League. He didn't visit often, but when he did, the temperature in the house seemed to drop ten degrees. He was a man of cold logic and colder expectations, a man who viewed Pokémon as assets and Trainers as soldiers.
"Five years," Leo whispered to the wind. "Five years of waiting for my own journey to start."
In this reality, the League had long ago abolished the suicidal practice of letting ten-year-olds wander into the wilderness. To be a licensed Trainer, you had to be fifteen. It was a rule born of blood and common sense.
A ten-year-old in the wild wasn't an adventurer; they were prey. Without the physical stamina to hike miles of rugged terrain or the mental fortitude to command a powerful creature in the heat of a life-or-death struggle, most children wouldn't last a week.
Leo didn't mind the wait. He had spent the time studying under Eleanor, learning the nuances of Pokémon nutrition and habitat management. He was ready. He was more than ready.
The sound of footsteps behind him broke his reverie. Lorelei had finished her morning routine. She had swapped her nightgown for her professional attire—a sleek, dark ensemble that screamed "Elite Four," complete with her signature glasses pushed firmly up the bridge of her nose.
"Stop daydreaming, Leo," she said, her voice regaining its usual authoritative clip. "Mom's got breakfast ready, and if we're late, she'll make us help with the Miltank grooming. And you know how much you hate the smell of hay."
Leo suppressed a shudder. "Coming, Lorelei."
They descended the grand staircase to the first floor. The dining room was filled with the intoxicating aroma of sizzling bacon, sourdough toast, and freshly pressed Oran Berry juice.
Coming out of the kitchen was a woman who looked less like a mother of a nineteen-year-old and more like an older sister. Eleanor Ashford was a vision of vibrant energy. Her long, emerald-green hair was pulled back into a practical ponytail, and her brown eyes sparkled with a mischievous warmth. Despite the floral apron she wore over a simple sundress, there was an air of immense competence about her.
"Good morning, my darlings!" Eleanor beamed, placing a tray of poached eggs on the table.
"Morning, Mom," Lorelei said, pulling out a chair.
"Morning, Eleanor," Leo added, moving to sit down.
He was halfway to his seat when the world froze. The familiar, dreaded Ding! echoed in his skull, and the air turned cold with the scent of impending social disaster.
[System: Ding! Destiny is a fickle mistress, and she demands a sacrifice of dignity! Choose your path, Young Hero!]
Leo's heart plummeted into his stomach.
[A: 'The Devoted Son'—Walk up to Eleanor and demand a 'Good Morning' kiss on the cheek, proclaiming her the most beautiful woman in the Sevii Islands!]
[B: 'The Eternal Child'—Refuse to eat your breakfast like an adult. Insist that Eleanor must spoon-feed you every bite while making 'pidgey noises'!]
[C: Refusal Penalty—The Host's voice will be transformed into the high-pitched squeak of a Jigglypuff for the next 48 hours. Every word spoken will be a melody that puts listeners to sleep.]
Leo stared at the screen in absolute horror. Option B? Spoon-fed like a baby? In front of Lorelei? He would rather jump into a pit of hungry Carvanha. Lorelei would never let him hear the end of it; she'd probably record it and play it at his wedding.
But Option A... Option A was embarrassing, but Eleanor was an affectionate person. She might just find it sweet. Lorelei would roll her eyes, but it wouldn't involve "pidgey noises."
And Option C? If he started singing every time he tried to talk, he'd never be able to hold a conversation again. He'd be a walking tranquilizer.
"I'm going to find the person who programmed this system and I'm going to throw them into the Distortion World," Leo vowed.
Eleanor noticed his hesitation. "Leo? Is something wrong? Is the bacon too crispy?"