The digital interface of the Big Hero System flickered against the backdrop of the clear blue sky, displaying a set of statistics that would make any professional scout from the Indigo Plateau weep with envy. Leo leaned back against the cool marble of the gazebo, watching his greatest partner—his first true friend in this life—ascend toward the sun.
[Species: Salamence (Shiny Variant — 'The Golden Shadow')]
[Ability: Intimidate — Opponents are physically shaken by its presence, their offensive output diminished.]
[Hidden Ability: Moxie — The 'Apex Predator's High.' Every victory fuels its bloodlust, exponentially increasing its physical striking power.]
[Current Combat Tier: Elite (High)]
[Growth Potential: Champion (Ascendant)]
"System masterpiece," the text read at the bottom of the screen, almost sounding smug. "Produced by the System; Guaranteed to be a Paragon of its Kind."
Leo couldn't help but smirk. This beast, a titan of black scales and golden wings, hadn't been caught in a Poké Ball or found in the wild. It had hatched five years ago from a "Newbie Starter Crate"—the only time the System had ever been genuinely generous without a catch. Back then, it was just a tiny, bumbling Bagon that tried to headbutt the furniture. Now, it was twice the size of a standard Salamence, a literal "King of the Heavens" whose roar could be heard across the entire island.
But the System hadn't stopped at just giving him a dragon. It had fundamentally altered Leo's own biology through two "Starter Skills" that had defined his last five years: Psychic Potential and The Heart of the Wild.
The Psychic Potential wasn't just for moving spoons or lifting rocks; it was a mental tether, a way to sharpen his reflexes and perceive the flow of energy during a battle. It was a buzzing beneath his skull, a sixth sense that whispered when a move was coming before the opponent even opened their mouth.
And The Heart of the Wild? That was both a blessing and a curse. It allowed him to hear the intent behind every growl, chirp, and hiss. He didn't just hear "Pidgey-pidgey"; he heard "The wind is shifting toward the north, and I think I found a particularly juicy worm near the oak tree." It also made him unnervingly charismatic to Pokémon. He didn't just train them; he understood their grievances, their fears, and their pride.
In this world, strength was measured by a strict hierarchy—a ladder that Leo intended to climb until there were no rungs left.
The Hierarchy of the Legend:
Trainer Tiers: Novice (Beginners) → Professional (The Backbone) → Ace (The Elite-In-Training) → Quasi-Elite → Elite (Lorelei's current rank) → Champion.
Pokémon Tiers: Wild/Pet → Combatant → Veteran → Commander → Elite Rank (Where Salamence currently sat) → Champion Rank → Legendary Class → Primordial Titans (The Gods of the World).
Salamence landed with a thud that shook the gazebo, its massive head dipping low to nudge Leo's chest. The dragon's golden eyes were soft, a stark contrast to the terrifying "Intimidate" aura it projected toward everything else.
"I know, I know," Leo laughed, reaching up to scratch the sensitive area beneath the dragon's jaw. The black scales felt like warm steel. "You want to spend all day in the clouds. But Lorelei is watching, and if she sees you terrifying the local Pidgey population again, she'll make us both run laps."
The dragon let out a low, vibrating rumble—a draconic laugh—and gave Leo one last affectionate nudge before kicking off again. With a single beat of those golden wings, it was a kilometer away, a black streak against the horizon. It had yearned for the sky since the day it hatched, and Leo wasn't about to ground it now.
With the dragon safely in the air, Leo turned his attention toward the denser thicket of the estate's forest. This part of the garden was Eleanor's "rehabilitation zone," a place for Pokémon that didn't quite fit in elsewhere.
He walked past the berry bushes, his "Heart of the Wild" picking up the chatter of the local fauna. He reached the edge of a sun-dappled clearing and let out a sharp, rhythmic whistle.
"Lunchtime for the misunderstood!" he called out. "Come on, I know you're lurking in the shade."
For a moment, there was only the sound of rustling leaves. Then, a low, rasping Chaba... echoed from the undergrowth.
Slowly, a serpent slithered out from the tall grass. It was a striking, haunting creature. Unlike the standard purple and yellow of its kin, this Ekans was a deep, midnight black. Its eyes, the rattle at the end of its tail, and the hood of its neck were a brilliant, shimmering gold. It looked more like a piece of cursed jewelry than a living creature.
[System: Ding! Target Identified.]
[Species: Ekans (Shiny Variant — 'The Onyx Serpent')]
[Type: Poison / Dark]
[Ability: Shed Skin — A 30% chance to shrug off any status ailment at the start of a turn.]
[Hidden Ability: Unnerve — A psychological pressure that causes opponents to lose focus, rendering their tactical items (Berries/Hold Items) useless.]
[Current Combat Tier: Professional] [Growth Potential: Elite (High)]
The Ekans stopped a few feet away, its tongue flicking out to taste the air. Leo could feel its hesitation through his psychic link. It was a lonely creature. Being a Shiny in the wild was a death sentence; you were either targeted by predators who could see your bright colors or ostracized by your own kind for being different. This Ekans had been a pariah until Eleanor had rescued it, and even here, it kept to itself.
"You smell like the big sky-lizard," the Ekans hissed, its voice a raspy whisper in Leo's mind. "And you bring the sweet-smelling powder. Why do you bother with the one who hides in the shadows?"
"Because the shadows are where the best hunters live," Leo said aloud, crouching down to the snake's level. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small glass vial filled with the "Apex Nutrient Paste" he had received from the System earlier.
The Ekans' golden eyes widened. The scent of the nutrient paste was intoxicating—a concentrated blend of Pecha berries, Sitrus nectar, and high-protein proteins.
Leo poured a generous portion onto a flat stone. The snake didn't hesitate this time, gliding forward and beginning to feed. As it ate, Leo reached out—slowly, telegraphing every movement—and rested his hand on the cool, black scales of its hood.
Through the contact, he projected a sense of calm and belonging.
"You aren't a mistake," Leo thought, directing the message straight into the serpent's consciousness. "You have the potential to reach the Elite rank. You just need someone who isn't afraid of the dark."
The Ekans paused, its golden tail giving a tiny, involuntary rattle of excitement. It had spent its whole life being the "wrong color," the "aggressive one," the "outcast." But in this boy's eyes, it saw something different. It saw an investment. It saw a future.
"We're leaving this island soon, Ekans," Leo whispered. "Going to a place where everyone is fighting to be the best. I'm going to need a partner who can strike from the shadows while the dragon handles the sky. What do you say? Ready to show the Kanto League what an 'outcast' can really do?"
The snake finished its meal and looked up at Leo. It didn't hiss. Instead, it coiled itself around Leo's forearm, its body heavy and cool. It squeezed gently—a serpent's version of a handshake.
[System: Ding! Affection Level with 'The Onyx Serpent' has increased significantly!] [New Quest Unlocked: 'The Poisoner's Path' — Help Ekans evolve into an Arbok that surpasses the limits of its species. Reward: Specialized Poison-Type TM.]
Leo stood up, the black-and-gold snake draped over his shoulders like a regal scarf. Between the "Golden Shadow" in the sky and the "Onyx Serpent" at his side, he was starting to look less like a ten-year-old boy and more like a budding Overlord.
He looked back toward the villa, where he could see Lorelei and Eleanor standing on the terrace, likely discussing the logistics of their move to the Indigo Plateau. They thought they were bringing a child along for the ride—a younger brother to protect and mentor.
Leo adjusted the snake on his shoulders and looked up at the circling silhouette of his Salamence.
"Let them think that for now," he thought, a confident grin spreading across his face. "The world thinks it's ready for the next Elite Four member. It has no idea it's actually about to meet its first true Hero."
He began the walk back to the house, his steps light and his mind racing with strategies. The prologue of his life was over. The first chapter of his legend was about to be written in the halls of the League, and he intended to use gold and black ink to write it.