Thinking of the system's abilities—specifically, its capacity to view Pokémon information—Aaron felt a stir of excitement. He immediately activated the system and focused his gaze on a pale-blue Pokémon that vaguely resembled a mouse: Nidoran.
[Name: Nidoran]
[Gender: Female]
[Nature: Cheerful]
[Type: Poison]
[Ability: Poison Point]
[Base Stats Total: 275]
[Level: Newbie (Early-Stage) ]
[Pokémon Potential: Elite-level]
[Known Moves: Poison Sting (Beginner), Growl (Beginner)]
[Description: Nidoran, a Poison Pin Pokémon. Gentle by nature and dislikes combat, yet its small horn contains astonishingly potent venom.]
...
"Hiss—"
Aaron sucked in a sharp breath.
As expected, the system displayed every crucial piece of information about the Pokémon. Most importantly, it even revealed Pokémon potential.
So-called Pokémon potential referred to the peak level a Pokémon could reach once fully developed. Without special opportunities or fortuitous encounters, a Pokémon's strength would never exceed the level dictated by its potential.
Because of that, in this world, Pokémon potential was incomparably important.
As for skills, every Pokémon move was divided into levels based on proficiency. From lowest to highest, they were:
Beginner, Proficient, Mastery, Perfect, Ultimate.
Each level drastically altered a skill's power.
Take Nidoran♀'s Poison Sting, for example. Its base power was 15.
At the Beginner level, the move could only unleash 80% of its power.
15 × 0.8 = 12.
That meant a total power of 12.
Proficient level allowed 100% of the base power.
Mastery level boosted it to 120%.
Perfect level raised it to 150%.
Ultimate level doubled it to 200%, while also granting the move a special trait that significantly enhanced its effects.
Because of this system, Pokémon Skill Training Clubs had emerged everywhere in the world. These organizations specialized in improving Pokémon skill proficiency, allowing trainers to upgrade their Pokémon's moves and greatly increase their overall combat strength.
...
Aaron forcefully suppressed the excitement surging through him.
"This is insane… Being able to see Pokémon potential is basically letting me scoop up hidden treasures for free."
With that thought, he eagerly began "scanning" other Pokémon in the shop.
[Name: Rattata]
[Gender: Male]
[Nature: Timid]
[Type: Normal]
[Ability: Run Away]
[Base Stats Total: 253]
[Level: Newbie (Early-Stage)]
[Pokémon Potential: Intermediate-level]
[Known Moves: Tackle (Beginner), Tail Whip (Beginner)]
[Description: Rattata, a rodent Pokémon with two sharp front teeth—if it sees it, it bites it!]
...
[Name: Ponyta]
[Gender: Female]
[Nature: Timid]
[Type: Fire]
[Ability: Flash Fire]
[Base Stats Total: 410]
[Level: Newbie (Early-Stage)]
[Pokémon Potential: Advanced-level]
[Known Moves: Tackle (Beginner), Growl (Beginner)]
[Description: Ponyta, a Fire Horse Pokémon. Its body burns with fierce flames, yet it never scorches those it recognizes and trusts…]
...
After scanning every Pokémon in the shop, Aaron discovered that the highest potential among them only reached Elite level.
That realization left him deeply disappointed.
"Aaron, Aaron—look at that Ponyta! It's so cool!" Yuri exclaimed excitedly from the side. "Once it evolves into Rapidash, riding it would be amazing! Your turn rate would be a hundred percent!"
"And that Cubone looks awesome too!"
"Oh, and that Rhyhorn—"
"Ugh, this is driving me crazy! Which Pokémon should I choose?!"
Yuri was brimming with excitement, his eyes darting between the Pokémon as he chattered endlessly.
Aaron curled his lips slightly.
The ones Fishball was pointing out all had Pokémon potential capped at Elite level.
He was a cheater, after all. How could his very first Pokémon have such unremarkable potential?
Wouldn't that be embarrassing for every transmigrator out there?
"Hello," a gentle voice suddenly spoke up. "Have you found any Pokémon you like?"
"Our Champion Pokémon Shop guarantees premium quality across the board."
"You can buy with complete confidence, and we even offer three free Pokémon maintenance services."
A young woman dressed in professional attire approached them, smiling warmly as she spoke.
Aaron was momentarily speechless.
Wasn't that slogan supposed to belong to the system?
How did the shop steal it?
System: "Lawyer… is the lawyer available…?"
"Miss," Yuri asked eagerly, pointing at three Pokémon, "how much are that Ponyta, Cubone, and Rhyhorn?"
"You have excellent taste," the saleswoman replied sweetly, her smile growing brighter. "Those are all popular Pokémon. The price is 200,000."
"Two hundred thousand…?"
Yuri froze.
His family situation was similar to Aaron's. His father had only given him 100,000.
There was no way he could afford Pokémon at that price.
"Is that everything you have here?" Aaron asked. "Do you have anything else?"
"Well…" The saleswoman hesitated briefly. "All the Pokémon we have are on display here. However, we did just receive a batch of Pokémon eggs today."
"Would you like to try your luck with them?"
"Egg gambling?"
Aaron's eyes immediately lit up.
This world did indeed have an egg-gambling business, similar to loot boxes in his previous world.
No one knew what Pokémon an egg would hatch into, what its potential might be, whether it had congenital defects, or even if it was a dead egg.
Everything was unknown.
Pokémon eggs in this world weren't uniform—eggs of the same species didn't share a fixed color or appearance. That uncertainty was precisely what gave rise to egg gambling.
Some people spent only a few thousand to buy an egg and ended up hatching a Pokémon with extraordinarily high base stats, rising overnight.
Others spent millions, only to hatch a Rattata and lose everything.
But for Aaron…
Was that even a risk?
He was someone with cheats.
A faint smile appeared at the corner of his lips.
"Please take us there," Aaron said politely. "We're very interested."
"Of course. Please follow me."
...
PS: In these early chapters, the protagonist mainly encounters high school students—young, impulsive, and prone to face-slapping moments.
But trust me.
Every one of them will become important later on.
Once the college entrance exams begin, the real story truly starts.
And from that point on, things will only get more exciting.