Viridian City sat nestled in the western part of the Kanto region, a place where nature reigned supreme. Its name, meaning "eternal green," was fitting—surrounded by vast foothills and dense forests, the city was a gateway to one of the most legendary wilderness areas in the Pokémon world: Viridian Forest.
Unlike Cerulean City, which charmed tourists with its breathtaking waters and dazzling aquatic performances, or Aurelia City, bustling with commerce and the allure of its famed Psychic Queen, Viridian's allure was different. It was raw. Untamed. Dangerous.
What drew people to Viridian Forest wasn't just its boundless greenery but the treasures hidden within. Some sought fortune through legal means—gathering rare medicinal herbs with powerful healing properties. Others, however, were willing to risk breaking the law for a different kind of wealth: capturing rare Pokémon or stealing their eggs. Then there were the stories—whispers of lucky souls stumbling upon Miracle Seeds, relics capable of permanently enhancing a Pokémon's moves, turning ordinary trainers into overnight legends.
The forest, however, was unforgiving. Every year, it claimed lives—trainers who underestimated its perils, bounty hunters who miscalculated their odds. Here, survival wasn't just about strength; it was about knowing when to fight and when to run.
And right now, Tetsuya Tamaki was running for his life.
His brown hair was matted with sweat, his breaths came in ragged gasps, and yet, even as his muscles burned, a wild mix of exhilaration and terror twisted his handsome face into something almost feral. Behind him, shadows flickered through the trees—black and yellow blurs moving with relentless speed.
Beedrill.
A swarm of them, their wings creating a furious hum that sent shivers down his spine. Their needle-like appendages gleamed menacingly as they closed in, territorial rage fueling their pursuit.
Tetsuya knew better than to provoke them. He had spent years navigating Viridian's perils, learning its secrets. But today, fate had thrown a desperate rookie into his path—a fool who had attacked a Kakuna without realizing what would follow. Now, the Beedrill swarm was on a warpath, hunting down the culprit.
Most of the swarm had already diverted to chase the unfortunate rookie, leaving only three still fixated on Tetsuya. Three was still too many.
He spared a glance ahead. A shadow soared through the treetops, its sharp eyes locked onto him, waiting for his command.
"Pidgeot! Blow them away again!"
The bird Pokémon looped gracefully in the air, then suddenly flapped its wings with incredible force. A powerful gust of wind tore through the trees, slamming into the Beedrill. The insects faltered, their flight paths thrown into disarray. Tetsuya didn't slow down; instead, he pivoted sharply, his mind calculating the precise moment.
"Again! Stronger this time!"
Pidgeot, anticipating his strategy, doubled down. The wind intensified, morphing into a fierce gale. The Beedrill, built for swift aerial combat, were helpless against such raw force. They tumbled wildly, colliding with trees. One hit the ground hard and didn't move. The other two struggled to regain their balance.
Tetsuya's eyes narrowed.
"Finish them. Use Quick Attack."
Pidgeot shot forward like a bullet, its body glowing faintly as it struck the two Beedrill in rapid succession. The impact sent them crashing into the underbrush. They twitched once, then went still.
Tetsuya exhaled, his heartbeat gradually slowing.
"Good work," he called out, a small grin tugging at the corner of his lips.
Pidgeot chirped in response, gliding down to the forest floor. It ruffled its feathers, shaking off the battle's tension. Tetsuya walked over to the fallen Beedrill, reaching into his backpack. He pulled out thick gloves and carefully extracted their tail stingers—the most venomous part of their bodies. Though not worth a fortune, they still fetched a decent price on the market. Every little bit helped.
With practiced efficiency, he stored the venomous barbs and turned to his partner. "You okay?"
Pidgeot cooed, though its wings drooped slightly. The battle had taken its toll.
Tetsuya knelt beside it, pulling out a potion spray from his bag. As he treated the bird's wounds, he also fished out an Oran Berry, holding it out in his palm. Pidgeot accepted the offering, nibbling gratefully.
"We should head back soon," he muttered. A proper check-up at the Pokémon Center in Viridian City was still necessary.
After recalling Pidgeot into its Poké Ball, he surveyed the area one last time. The forest was already reclaiming its silence, the sounds of distant Pokémon echoing through the trees. The three fallen Beedrill remained motionless. Whether they would wake and recover or fall prey to scavengers, Tetsuya didn't know. Didn't care. The forest was cruel, but it had always been that way.
Adjusting the straps on his backpack, he turned and vanished into the green abyss, leaving the fallen behind.
In Viridian Forest, only the strong survived.
Tetsuya strolled leisurely down the forest path carved out by the Pokémon League. Few people ever took this route, and the gentle breeze against his face only brightened his already good mood.
It wasn't surprising that the road was empty. To ensure safe and smooth travel, the Pokémon League routinely issued missions to clear out wild Pokémon within two kilometers of the main routes. Over time, no Pokémon would venture near, making the roads barren of both danger and opportunity.
Trainers didn't come to Viridian Forest to take the easy way. They came to train, to challenge themselves, to earn a living. And no real trainer would waste time on the main road.
After all, there was an old saying in the Pokémon world: "A true trainer is one who carves their own path through the wilderness."
But none of that mattered to Tetsuya. As the golden hues of the setting sun painted the sky, he adjusted his space backpack and quickened his pace toward Viridian City.
Viridian City Pokémon Center
The familiar chime of the Pokémon Center's healing station rang out.
Tetsuya stepped up to the counter, handing over his Trainer ID to Nurse Joy.
"Hello, Trainer Tamaki. Your Pidgeot has made a full recovery. Please take your Poké Ball."
After verifying his identity, Nurse Joy handed the Poké Ball back with a professional smile.
Tetsuya accepted it with a polite nod and a sincere, "Thank you."
It wasn't just courtesy. He was genuinely grateful for the work of the Pokémon Center staff. And besides, no trainer in their right mind would ever offend the Joy family.
Most Nurse Joys were kind and forgiving, but if one ever decided you were unworthy of being a trainer… well, congratulations. You'd lose access to every Pokémon Center in the entire League. No healing, no missions, no tournament registrations, no official trades. You'd be a ghost in the system.
Of course, it had only happened a handful of times in history. But the possibility was enough to keep every trainer in check.
Tetsuya walked alone through the bustling streets, his footsteps lost in the hum of city life. No matter how lively his surroundings, the loneliness never quite faded.
Sixteen years. That's how long he had been in this world.
In his past life, he was just an ordinary person. One day, he woke up here—this vibrant, impossible world that had once been nothing more than an animated series to him.
And he was a baby. Just another orphan left at the doorstep of a care home, like something out of a cliché novel.
But luck had been on his side. The world of Pokémon wasn't just advanced in its technology; its welfare system was surprisingly robust. Orphans weren't abandoned to fate. By the age of three, the League provided them with basic education. Once they mastered literacy, they could enroll in school and take the first steps toward independence.
Passing the basic knowledge test meant access to advanced education. The League even subsidized costs for talented individuals, allowing them to study up to three subjects for a mere 1,000 Pokédollars per course—an absolute fortune to an orphaned child.
Tetsuya had been exceptional. Or perhaps, his reincarnated soul had given him an unnatural edge. In his previous life, he was no genius. But here? Here, he possessed a near-photographic memory.
Because of that, he breezed through literacy and basic knowledge at seven—three years ahead of schedule. His test scores were so outstanding that the League fully covered his tuition, a gesture that saved him 3,000 Pokédollars and changed the course of his life.
He had chosen three fields of study: Pokémon Ecology, Pharmacology, and Berry Cultivation. Not the most glamorous subjects, but practical.
At twelve, he left the orphanage. From then on, he survived in Viridian Forest, relying on his knowledge of Pokémon and medicine to make a living.
Some of his old teachers had suggested he become a Pokémon researcher, but he knew better. Without backing, an orphan-turned-scholar would struggle for years with no results, no funding, and no future. He needed something more immediate—something that paid.
That's why he was here.
Tetsuya stopped in front of a familiar building, looking up at the bold lettering above the entrance.
Bounty Hunter Center.
A grin tugged at the corner of his lips as he stepped inside.
Trading Counter No. 2
The line was short. Within minutes, it was his turn.
The staff member barely glanced at him before reciting the standard procedure. "Please place your items on the table."
Tetsuya was already ahead of him, unloading his backpack before the sentence was even finished.
The staff member methodically examined each item. "Five Beedrill stingers, 2,000 Pokédollars each… 10,000 total. An Arbok shed skin… not a Seviper's, unfortunately. 50 Pokédollars per gram… 620 grams, so 31,000 total."
Then he paused, raising an eyebrow. "You actually have Beedrill honey? You must be either incredibly brave or incredibly lucky. 1,000 per gram… 421 grams…"
The man whistled. "That alone nets you 421,000 Pokédollars. Altogether, your total comes to 462,000."
Even though Tetsuya had estimated the numbers himself, hearing them aloud still made his heart race.
That was a serious profit.
Once the transaction was complete, he took his ID card, left a positive review, and exited the trading hall.
The mission board loomed ahead.
Tetsuya approached a machine adorned with the iconic red-and-white Poké Ball symbol and inserted his ID card.
A screen lit up, displaying his profile. His bounty hunter codename: Mercenary.
He spoke clearly. "Codename: Mercenary. Submitting mission. Task number 573677400."
A red light scanned him before the machine responded.
"Identity confirmed. Codename: Mercenary. Mission number: 573677400. Please deposit the requested items."
Tetsuya pulled a large bundle of herbs from his bag—Stargrass, a plant that thrived in areas densely populated by Grass-type Pokémon. It wasn't difficult to harvest, but gathering the required amount took time.
He placed the bundle into the designated slot. The machine's lid sealed shut.
"Testing…"
Tetsuya exhaled, rolling his shoulders. Another mission complete. Another step forward.
And soon, he'd take the next one.