"Stop biting me, sis! At least don't bite there!"
Axel jolted awake from his dream, panting heavily.
He stared blankly at the Pikachu telephone in front of him for a long time, still unable to recover from the scene of being bitten to death by the sweet and cold beauty.
Since crossing over, this was already the ninth time he'd had this dream.
In that dream, he found himself in a small town and every time, he would encounter a sweet and cold beauty in a room.
Things up to this point weren't too strange.
After all, he had crossed into a world where Pokémon and reality had merged.
Dreaming of Pokémon was also quite normal.
But the problem lay with that sweet and cold beauty.
Aside from Pokémon skills, that sweet and cold beauty also carried a tag called "Queen's Wrath."
Under the influence of this tag, Axel seemed to have an uncontrollable fear toward her.
Every time they met, he couldn't help but lie motionless on the ground, allowing her to trample and torment him.
Axel swore, he absolutely wasn't willing.
At least not the last eight times.
*Pika~ Pika~ Pikachu~*
While Axel was dazed, the Pikachu on the phone chirped cutely.
At the same time, the Pidgeotto alarm clock in the room and the Switch-style TV on the desk started flashing.
Axel quickly answered the phone, and on the TV screen appeared a Nurse Joy with pink hair.
["Is this student Axel? This year it's your turn to receive your Pokémon. The location is the Emberpine Town Pokémon Center.
Remember to bring your college entrance exam transcript and your ID card."]
"Okay, thank you," Axel excitedly hung up the phone, a bit of color returning to his pale face.
Since he crossed over, this counted as one of the few good pieces of news.
In the world of Pokémon, naturally, everyone would receive a Pokémon.
However, this world was somewhat different from the original Pokémon world; in addition to the major regions, a new one called the Aurient League had emerged.
Compared to the term 'crossing over,' Axel preferred to call it world fusion.
All of Axel's interpersonal relationships hadn't changed.
The little sister next door who secretly liked him still occasionally came to offer warmth, Uncle Graham next door still worked in transportation, and homeroom teacher Ms. Tina still wore dazzling shiny silk stockings every day. His parents, just like in his past life, had disappeared during an archaeological operation and had yet to return.
The only difference was that these people had grown up with the worldview of Pokémon from childhood.
The Terracotta Army Center had a towering black Rayquaza pillar, and each terracotta warrior held a Poochyena.
Of course, this unofficial history wasn't guaranteed to be true, only guaranteed to be unofficial.
Also, besides the Aurient League, the world had incorporated the nine leagues from the Pokémon worldview, altogether forming today's Blue Star.
Unlike the travel system in other regions, Aurient still retained the college entrance exam system.
Under this system, students with excellent scores could be the first to choose a free starter Pokémon, providing ordinary people a certain degree of upward mobility.
Of course, compared to scores, family background and opportunities were still more important.
Unfortunately, Axel had neither good grades nor family background.
Since kindergarten, his parents had gone missing in a secret realm discovered during archaeology, leaving him only a house.
As for the exam...
Axel originally thought he could get a good score with his knowledge of Pokémon.
But when he saw questions like what Asher's six Pokémon were, and the levels of June's partner Pokémon, his world collapsed.
In the entire history section, Axel only scored some points on the question about the Three Lake Trio' habits and locations. [T/N: Three Lake Trio: Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf]
'Damn it, can't you test more about TV pokémon stuff?'
But luckily, the score didn't hugely affect the Pokémon selection.
At the very least, there wouldn't be a situation where the top scorer got a starter trio, while the last place got a Caterpie.
Even the worst performers could choose a slightly unique rookie Pokémon.
Thinking of this, the corners of Axel's mouth couldn't help but rise slightly.
If he had a Pokémon, maybe tonight he could finally rise up and sing as a free man.
'Sweet and cold beauty, huh?'
'This bro won't submit!'
Having made up his mind, Axel hummed a little tune as he walked to the bathroom, planning to wash up thoroughly before heading out.
The selection between trainer and Pokémon was a mutual endeavor. It wasn't just about the trainer's willingness, it also depended on the Pokémon's choice.
For some Pokémon, the trainer's image was also an important selection criterion.
After washing his face, Axel dried it with a towel and looked at the mirror, suddenly freezing.
'If he I am not drunk, why the top of my head is green?'
'Damn it, I don't even have a girlfriend yet!'
Axel blinked hard, but the green glow still existed, even becoming clearer, eventually forming into a tag.
[Favored by the Opposite Sex]
As Axel focused his consciousness on it, an explanation appeared after those four words.
[Favored by the Opposite Sex (Green): Creatures of the opposite gender will develop a liking for you and will take care of your life to some extent.]
'What the hell, a pretty boy?'
Axel's expression instantly turned greener than the tag.
But thinking carefully, ever since his parents disappeared, his life hadn't changed much, probably thanks to this tag.
Auntie Stacy next door often helped him wash clothes and cook, Teacher Tina often drove him home after evening classes and occasionally came up for a glass of milk. Even the cafeteria aunt gave him more food than the principal.
'Thinking this way... maybe being a pretty boy isn't so bad?'
[System fusion complete. Congratulations on unlocking the Tag System.]
[All creatures carry tags. However, those without the Tag System can only utilize up to 30% of their potential. The host and their Pokémon can utilize 100%.]
[Tag levels are: Gray, White, Green, Blue, Purple, Red, Gold, Supreme]
[Current Tags: Favored by the Opposite Sex (Green), Both Parents Dead (Gray) (Hidden)]
[To help the host survive better, a system gift pack is now being issued. You may upgrade one existing tag to the highest level. Please choose yourself.]
After these words, the system disappeared, leaving only a panel for tag upgrade and fusion.
Axel didn't have much of a reaction. After all, after experiencing world fusion and those strange dreams, having a system appear seemed perfectly normal.
His gaze fell on his two tags, and he unhesitatingly chose the latter.
Since it was a hidden tag, that meant his parents hadn't actually died yet. Just trapped in some kind of danger.
Axel had a feeling that upgrading this tag might change the tragedy surrounding his parents.
It might even bring them back.
The moment he made the choice, the gray-white [Both Parents Dead] tag immediately bloomed with dazzling, multicolored light.
When the light faded, an incomparably noble Supreme tag appeared above Axel's head.
[[Both Parents Kings]: Through your efforts, your parents have finally acknowledged their identity as invincible powerhouses.
Now, wherever you go, you can proudly say, "My father is Adam!"]
"That's it?", Seeing the change in the tag, Axel couldn't help feeling a little disappointed.
He had thought that upgrading it would instantly bring his parents back to stand before him.
Then he could go with them, like everyone else, to the Breeding House to pick out a Pokémon.
And after returning at noon, enjoy a nice pork rib meal cooked by his mom.
"But not bad either," Axel perked up. At least, according to the tag introduction from the system, he had changed the fate of his parents being dead.
His parents being alive was already the greatest wish of the little him from countless days and nights.
Just as he let go of his emotions, a colorful vortex suddenly appeared in front of the sink.
A thick envelope and a Poké Ball dropped out, landing steadily in front of Axel.
On it were written four large characters, [To my dear son].
[T/N: Should I stop adding notes between chapters, Like that Lake Trio, in the future? Or should I add them for some of you? Also let me know if the chapter was good overall]
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