Pokemon system: strongest champion

Pokémon—short for Pocket Monsters—are extraordinary creatures that inhabit the world alongside humans. There are 100, 200, maybe even over 1,000 different species, each with their own unique traits and powers.

Pokémon and humans often live and work together as friends and partners. But at times, they clash—whether in friendly battles or more serious conflicts. These incredible beings exist in every corner of the world.

And now, the story of Mason's journey begins here.

…

Time passed quietly. Over the past three years, Mason and Beedrill had grown stronger together. They also developed a close bond with the Mew they had met by chance. That friendship became a precious part of Mason's life.

Before he knew it, three years had flown by. Mason turned ten—an important milestone in this world.

At the age of ten, children can officially begin their journey as Pokémon Trainers. They can receive their very first starter Pokémon—known as the Earl Dervish Pokémon—and obtain a Pokédex from the Pokémon Alliance.

However, this opportunity isn't free.

To get the Alliance's official starter Pokémon and Pokédex, one must pay a ten-year Trainer fee in advance and receive a recommendation from a certified Pokémon Professor.

That was why Mason started working as an assistant at Professor Oak's Laboratory at such a young age. His mother, Delia, had to support both Mason and his younger brother, Ash, so Mason took it upon himself to ease the burden.

But working as an assistant also came with benefits.

Professor Oak covered the training costs for both Mason and Ash. As a leading authority in Pokémon research, Oak didn't mind such small expenses and even hoped that Mason wouldn't sacrifice his future because of financial difficulties.

"Good morning, Mom!" Mason greeted cheerfully as he came downstairs, fresh and ready.

Because his fees were covered, Mason's daily meals were hearty and nutritious. His strong, athletic build stood out among his peers, thanks to a well-balanced diet and intense training.

"Mason, where's Ash?" Delia asked, looking around the kitchen.

"He said he wanted to sleep for five more minutes," Mason replied, trying to sound casual.

In truth, Mason could have woken Ash up. But he didn't. He didn't want to interfere with Ash's destined encounter with Pikachu. That moment was important, and Mason respected it. So he simply asked Delia not to disturb Ash.

After finishing breakfast, Mason headed straight to Professor Oak's Laboratory.

Those who paid close attention would notice something special on Mason's belt—a Poké Ball embedded firmly in its holder.

That Poké Ball belonged to Beedrill.

Over the last three years, Mason and Beedrill had trained in secret. Their sparring partner? None other than the mythical Pokémon, Mew. Thanks to Mew's help and the stacking of dual abilities, Beedrill had grown incredibly powerful.

At this point, few Trainers below the Elite level could even compete with Beedrill—let alone defeat him.

As Mason approached Professor Oak's Laboratory, he noticed a crowd gathered outside. The townspeople waved and cheered as they saw him. In Pallet Town, every new Rookie Trainer was a source of pride.

After exchanging greetings, Mason entered the lab and found Gary and a girl already waiting.

The girl had a sweet and gentle appearance. Her brown hair was tied under a white hat with red stripes. She wore a light blue off-shoulder top paired with a red skirt and carried a pale yellow crossbody bag.

Her name was Leaf.

Leaf and Mason had met three years earlier at a summer camp when they were both seven. They'd become close friends since then.

"I didn't expect you to show up late, Mason~" Leaf said playfully as he walked in.

"There was a small delay," Mason replied with a light smile.

Before arriving, he'd taken a detour to the forest to train one last time with Beedrill—and to say goodbye to Mew. Mew had rubbed affectionately against his cheek, clearly reluctant to part. But upon learning that Mason was starting his own journey, the playful creature understood and disappeared into the forest.

"Ahem… About that," Professor Oak began, scratching his head with a sheepish expression. "There was a little… incident with the Charmander I prepared for you."

"Huh? What do you mean?" Mason asked in surprise.

After all, weren't the three starters officially granted by the Alliance? How could anything happen to them?

"You'll understand once you see for yourself." Professor Oak activated the machine, and three Poké Balls rose from the platform. Well—two and an empty space, to be precise. Mason already knew that the center position actually held a Poké Ball containing a Pikachu, thanks to his knowledge from a past life.

"Mason, sorry—but since you picked Charmander…" Gary stepped up and grabbed the Poké Ball containing Squirtle. "I've had my eye on this little guy for a while."

Mason smiled faintly. Gary liked Squirtle not only for its personality but also for its elemental advantage over Charmander. As his rival, Gary naturally seized the opportunity to gain the upper hand.

"Then I'll choose Bulbasaur!" Leaf said, picking up her Poké Ball. Mason noticed a subtle look of relief cross her face—she was clearly happy that no one else had taken Bulbasaur.

After watching Gary and Leaf claim their starters, Mason picked up the remaining Poké Ball, still puzzled about the "incident."

"Come out, Charmander."

He tossed the ball, but instead of a friendly welcome, a stream of flames shot toward him—Charmander had used Flamethrower!

"Be careful!" Leaf cried out in alarm.

"It's fine. That kind of flame won't hurt Mason," Gary said calmly.

Sure enough, a shimmering aura shield formed in front of Mason, blocking the attack effortlessly. As the fire faded, a tall, fierce-looking Charmander with red eyes and a menacing aura stood before them.

"Professor Oak… what's up with this Charmander's bloodline?" Mason asked, narrowing his eyes.

"Well, uh…" Oak began, looking slightly awkward. "This particular Charmander's father is a pure-blood Quasi-God Dragon-type Pokémon. It inherited that powerful lineage—but also its wild temperament."

He sighed and continued, "It ended up injuring the original Charmander I had prepared. So… I had no choice but to assign this one to you."

Oak kept a close eye on Mason's expression, expecting concern—but instead saw a quiet smile.

Mason seemed pleased.

"Whew… good thing I didn't choose Charmander!" Gary muttered. Even he could feel the hostility from the powerful Charmander. If not for Mason's presence, Charmander might have turned his flames on Gary next.

"I'm quite satisfied with you," Mason said to the fierce Charmander. "But now's not the time to tame you."

Using his psychic abilities, Mason calmly returned Charmander to its Poké Ball.

"Why not let everyone release their Pokémon to start building bonds?" Professor Oak suggested.

Gary didn't hesitate—he sent out Squirtle immediately. The little turtle was shy at first, but after receiving a warm hug from Gary, it jumped happily into his arms. Oak nodded with satisfaction, proud of his grandson.

Leaf hesitated for a moment before releasing Bulbasaur. Charmander's earlier aggression had left a bad impression, and she was worried Bulbasaur might be the same.

"Don't worry, Mason's Charmander is an exception," Oak reassured her.

As expected, Bulbasaur was gentle and calm. Sensing Leaf's nervousness, it extended its Vine Whip to gently shake her hand. Leaf quickly hugged it in relief, apologizing for her earlier doubts. Bulbasaur accepted her gladly, closing its eyes contentedly.

Now that all three Trainers had received their first Pokémon, Professor Oak gathered them for one final briefing.

He carefully explained the functions of Poké Balls and Pokédexes, as well as important safety tips for traveling. Leaf listened intently, even taking notes in a small notebook.

Gary and Mason, on the other hand, were a bit more relaxed. They had both grown up in the lab and were already familiar with most of the information.

Finally, Professor Oak handed out the Pokédexes and Poké Balls.

"These are for your journey. Use them wisely—and good luck realizing your dreams."

Mason's Pokédex stood out from the others. It was a special version—one he had helped Professor Oak develop. Only Mason had access to this enhanced model.

With their Pokémon by their side and the road ahead wide open, Mason, Gary, and Leaf stood at the edge of a new adventure.

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