Late autumn and early winter in Shanghai blurred quietly into each other.
Leaning against the classroom window, Aarav spun his pen between his fingers, bored, his gaze drifting toward the bleak scenery outside.
The leaves of a towering century-old tree had long since fallen, leaving only a gray-brown bird's nest hanging awkwardly from its bare branches.
Several newly hatched sparrows huddled together, chirping softly, their round little bodies tilted upward as they waited for their mother to return with food.
In his ears echoed the familiar voice of a middle-aged teacher—measured, monotonous, and devoid of emotional fluctuation.
"Modern historiography believes that during the medieval era, the Sinnoh region occupied a pivotal position in world history. The oldest known statue of Arceus was discovered in—Aarav, you answer."
Aarav was not surprised by the teacher's special attention. Without stopping the pen in his hand, he replied smoothly,
"The ruins of the Shin'ei Monastery at the foothills of Mount Coronet."
The teacher of Pokémon Mythology, Professor Zhou, slightly softened his tone.
"Very good. Then in Sinnoh mythology, aside from Arceus, which other legendary Pokémon are considered significant?"
Aarav answered,
"Besides the Lake Guardians—Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf—there are also Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina."
"Wrong again!"
Professor Zhou's voice suddenly rose.
"I don't know where you learned that nonsense. What even is 'Giratina'? As historians, we must maintain a rigorous academic attitude. Stop reading unofficial sources and pay attention in class, understood?"
Aarav nodded without arguing, but inwardly he sighed.
So the Renegade Pokémon, the so-called "banished child of Arceus," was apparently "nonsense" now.
Professor Zhou, you really have no idea.
That aside, it had already been three years since Aarav transmigrated into this world where Pokémon existed. Yet the knowledge from his previous life refused to fade.
In his past life, Aarav had been nothing more than an ordinary office worker. Aside from watching Pokémon anime, playing Pokémon games, and occasionally battling with Pokémon cards, he had no other unhealthy hobbies.
In other words, he was a hardcore Pokémon fan.
So when he met an untimely accident and reincarnated into a world where Pokémon and reality coexisted, he accepted it surprisingly quickly.
Hydro Pump missing three times in a row.
Cursed Body disabling his own moves.
Never encountering a shiny Pokémon.
According to the law of conservation of luck, all of this was what he deserved!
Unfortunately, gaining something always meant losing something else.
In this world, Aarav was an orphan.
His parents had died in a plane crash before his transmigration. The Pokémon traveling with them had also perished in the ocean.
What they left behind was only an apartment and a modest savings account—barely enough to support him through university.
He had thought that with all his negative buffs stacked to the limit, a system or some kind of cheat ability would surely appear.
But nothing came.
Although this Pokémon world was rich in resources and close to a utopia, his disastrous starting conditions made it difficult for him to become a professional Pokémon Trainer.
Giving up his childhood dream of becoming a Pokémon Master was inevitably regretful, but Aarav had always been someone who knew how to be content.
If he could save enough money, buy a small house with a yard, raise three to five Pokémon he liked, and live a leisurely life—wouldn't that be perfect?
So after setting his goal, Aarav studied like his life depended on it.
After three years of hard work, he was finally admitted to the most prestigious university in the Donghuang region, majoring in History.
It was a relatively niche major, but one he had chosen after careful consideration.
People in this world had many misunderstandings about legendary Pokémon—just like Professor Zhou's denial of Giratina.
Relying on such gaps in knowledge, the future academic field of Pokémon mythology would surely have a place for him!
As Professor Zhou's criticism still echoed in his ears, Aarav was silently making a vow not unlike "Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river."
At that moment, a strange voice suddenly rang in his mind.
At the same time, pale blue translucent text appeared before his eyes.
[Hextech System rebooting. Detecting current world... integrating.]
Hextech System?
After a brief moment of shock, Aarav immediately understood.
My cheat ability has finally arrived!
"System bro, don't you think you came a bit late? I've been in this world for three years already..."
Half bitter, half resentful, Aarav complained silently.
These three years had been tough.
While his peers hugged adorable Eevee, Aarav buried himself in textbooks.
While his peers traveled with their starter Pokémon, Aarav buried himself in textbooks.
While his peers battled in arenas, Aarav buried himself in textbooks.
If not for glimpses of the outside world, he might have believed he hadn't transmigrated at all—just relived high school suffering again.
But three years of ordinary life had tempered his mindset. Even now, with the system activated, he remained relatively calm.
"The Hextech System... wasn't that from some popular game I played before transmigrating?"
As a social game on par with other mainstream titles, Aarav had played Teamfight Tactics during his relationship with his ex-girlfriend. He had even reached the Master rank.
Though everyone knew that "Master" in such games didn't really mean much.
As Aarav organized his thoughts, the light screen flickered again.
[Integration complete. Detecting that your first Hextech Augment choice was: "Take It Easy!" Initiating distribution of a Prism Orb in accordance with world rules.]
"Wait, when did I ever choose my first Hextech Augment?"
Aarav interrupted the system mentally.
[Three years ago.]
The system replied concisely, causing Aarav to fall into deep thought.
Three years ago... wasn't that when he had just transmigrated?
He vaguely remembered shouting "I give up!" in despair after sorting out this world's memories.
"Hold on—those two meanings are not the same!"
Aarav felt utterly speechless.
So his casual venting had determined a crucial starting choice?
Wasn't that a bit too reckless?
And you didn't even warn me, System bro!
The system remained silent.
Aarav could only accept reality and asked,
"So, because of this 'Take It Easy' Hextech Augment, you only restarted after three years?"
[Yes. The effect of "Take It Easy!" is: Skip the host's first three rounds, then grant an extremely rare Prism Orb reward.]
"Wait, before you continue, let me ask something."
Aarav suddenly realized something.
"Do the three skipped rounds include my parents in this world?"
If that were true, wouldn't he be unbearably guilty?
[Events in the host's original family are unrelated to the system.]
The system's emotionless response sounded convincing, and Aarav quickly stopped dwelling on the issue.
"I understand. Then please distribute the reward."
[Prism Orb opened. Congratulations, host, you have obtained:
Artifact Forge ×1, Chosen Emblem ×1, Basic Equipment Forge ×2.]
Jackpot!
Looking at the three icons on the translucent screen, Aarav felt a surge of excitement.
He knew the Artifact Forge—after activation, it allowed him to choose one out of three powerful artifacts.
Artifacts were notoriously strong. In Teamfight Tactics, certain units equipped with specific artifacts could undergo a complete transformation.
The Chosen Emblem was unfamiliar to him, but judging by its name, it was likely related to the "Chosen" mechanic—undoubtedly valuable.
"Ring—!"
The school bell interrupted Aarav's thoughts.
"Alright, that's all for today. Class dismissed!"
Professor Zhou, though strict and old-fashioned, never dragged out his classes. The moment the bell rang, he picked up his teaching materials and left without hesitation.
Aarav was still seated, savoring the system's surprise, when something suddenly pressed down on his right shoulder.
"Stop thinking about that 'Giratina' nonsense. Come on, let's go eat!"
The speaker was Aarav's classmate and roommate, Chen Zhenze.
Both of them were from the same hometown in Sunan, and they got along well. After just two months of university life, their relationship had already reached the level where they joked about becoming each other's family.
Still lost in his thoughts, Aarav replied,
"I have something to do, I'll go back to the dorm first. Help me bring back a braised chicken rice and a berry salad. Oh, and I want it mixed with Moomoo Cream Cheese Sauce."
Upon hearing the keyword "bringing food," Chen Zhenze's face lit up with a mischievous grin.
"No problem, I'll even treat you. But what's the price?"
Aarav glanced at him and chuckled.
"I remember you're stuck in the Great Ball promotion match, right? How about I stream and help you rank up tonight?"
Yes—after the college entrance exam, in order to achieve his dream of a relaxed life as soon as possible, Aarav had thrown himself into the booming world of content creation.
In simple terms: making videos and streaming games.
The reason was simple—low entry barrier and high potential.
Professional Pokémon Trainers were rare, and those who reached the championship stage were even rarer.
So virtual battles in games became the outlet for people who loved Pokémon battles but lacked the ability to pursue them in reality.
Two years ago, Devon Corporation released Pokémon: Champion's Path, which quickly became the most popular game thanks to its advanced interactive technology.
Many professional Trainers and even Gym Leaders occasionally played it to relax or study tactics.
Everyone knew: the more popular the field, the fiercer the competition.
Aarav understood this deeply.
Through unconventional team compositions, ahead-of-the-meta game knowledge, and a bonus buff of good looks, he had become a fairly well-known streamer in less than half a year.
A simple Great Ball promotion match was nothing to him.
Upon hearing Aarav's words, Chen Zhenze instantly changed expressions like a Sichuan opera performer.
"Deal! Brother Aarav, I'll definitely bring your food!"
Aarav stroked his chin.
"Trading one meal for a crucial promotion match—does that really make sense?"
Chen Zhenze fell silent for two seconds, then finally succumbed to temptation.
"Dad, my promotion match is in your hands!"
Having achieved his goal, Aarav waved his hand lightly.
"Just a small favor."
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