Inside a small farmhouse on the edge of Pallet Town, the warm glow of a single lamp filled the quiet room.
Raj stepped through the door, mud still clinging to his boots. On the sofa sat his father, Kenji, calmly sipping a cup of hot milk while watching TV.
Without even turning his head, Kenji asked, "You're back. So—did you catch your first Pokémon?"
Raj nodded slightly. "Yeah. I caught one."
Kenji finally turned to look at him, his sharp eyes softening for a moment. "Oh? What kind of Pokémon?"
Raj didn't answer right away. He pulled a Poké Ball from his belt, pressed the release, and a dark mist filled the air.
With a low hum, Gastly emerged—its eerie form swirling under the dim light, its eyes glowing mischievously.
Kenji's gaze lingered on the Gastly for a few seconds, and a rare hint of approval crossed his face. "A Gastly, huh? Not bad at all. That's a bold choice."
He set down his cup. "You've proven you've got guts. Get some rest tonight—you'll start your journey tomorrow. The world out there is a lot more exciting than you think."
Kenji stood up, walked to an old cabinet, and pulled out a small wooden box and a travel backpack.
"In here are five empty Poké Balls and a Pokédex. The backpack's got everything you'll need to get started. Take it."
He handed them to Raj, then sat back down with his milk and turned his eyes to the TV again.
"I plan to sleep in tomorrow," Kenji added casually. "So don't bother saying goodbye. Just go."
Raj gave a quiet nod. "Got it."
The Next Morning
Before sunrise, Raj was already awake. He ate a simple breakfast, slung the backpack over his shoulder, and slipped quietly out the door.
Upstairs, Kenji—who had appeared to be sleeping—rose from bed and went to the window. He watched silently as his son's figure disappeared down the dirt road.
"Raj…" he murmured. "I've hidden here for ten years, just so you could grow up in peace. Now that you're ready, it's time I deal with the ghosts of my past."
A smirk formed on his lips. "You have your mother's kindness—and my reckless arrogance.
That's why you choose a Gastly for your starter instead of a safe, common starter. Hah… not bad. You really are my son."
Kenji looked around the humble farmhouse that had been his disguise for a decade.
"It's been long enough."
He grabbed a Poké Ball from his belt and tossed it into the air. With a burst of light, a massive Fearow spread its wings, filling the small space with a gust of wind.
"Old friend," Kenji said, stepping onto its back. "Take me to the hidden headquarters."
With a powerful flap, Fearow soared into the dawn sky. In moments, both vanished beyond the clouds.
Meanwhile, in Pallet Forest
Raj walked through the forest path just beyond town, the morning light filtering through the trees.
According to the map, once he crossed this forest, he'd reach Viridian City—his first real stop.
Viridian City… the place of legends.
He knew the stories: the official Pokémon League Gym there was led by Giovanni, the supposed boss of Team Rocket.
But Raj knew better. His father had told him once that Giovanni was only a front—a public face to hide the organization's true power.
If Kenji was the real leader, then why was he pretending to be a farmer?
And why was Giovanni hiding too?
Raj frowned. "What are they both afraid of? The League? Or something even bigger?"
He shook his head. "Doesn't matter. I'm not strong enough to think about that yet. I need to train Gastly first."
He tossed his Poké Ball into the air. "Come out, Gastly!"
The ghost materialized with a delighted cackle, spinning in place. This part of the forest was quiet—perfect for training without being seen.
If anyone discovered Gastly's Devour ability too soon, it would draw unwanted attention.
"Alright," Raj muttered. "Time to hunt."
System Notifications
[Ding! Gastly successfully devoured Caterpie. Combat Power +1.]
[Ding! Gastly successfully devoured Weedle. Combat Power +1.]
Raj watched with satisfaction as his partner grew stronger, its aura darkening slightly each time it consumed another Pokémon.
Still, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of frustration. "No new moves? Come on…"
Days passed as Raj trained relentlessly. By the third day, he had bypassed Viridian City entirely and entered the vast Viridian Forest. He planned to make Gastly stronger before facing anyone in town.
[Ding! Gastly successfully devoured Weedle. Combat Power +1.]
[Ding! Gastly successfully devoured Oddish. Combat Power +2.]
Raj folded his arms. "Figures. The weaker ones barely add anything now. If I want real gains, I'll need to target evolved Pokémon—Beedrill, Butterfree, something like that."
But he hesitated. "Still… taking on evolved Pokémon this early is risky. One mistake and we're toast."
Then a thought struck him. "Wait. Don't I have access to the Points Shop?"
Opening the System Shop
Raj focused his mind, and a translucent interface appeared before him—filled with glowing categories:
Technology / Pokémon / Breeding
He browsed through each.
In Technology, there were gadgets—capture drones, nets, even aerial ships.
In Pokémon, dozens of Eggs shimmered, each worth absurd amounts of points.
And in Breeding, there were foods and items that boosted loyalty and happiness.
Raj whistled low. "Damn, these prices are insane. Some of those eggs cost hundreds of thousands of points, and I've only got a thousand."
He sighed. "Guess I'll be window-shopping for a while."
[Ding! System recommendation available: for current balance, items suited to early capture and safety are suggested—such as a Butterfree Capture Net or an Electric Shock Trap for Beedrill.]
Raj's eyes lit up. "An electric net for Beedrill? Now that's interesting. If I can trap one of those, I'll get a massive power boost."
He grinned. "Buy one."
[Ding! Purchase successful. 700 points deducted. Electric Shock Net stored in backpack space.]
Raj blinked. "Wait—you're telling me the backpack has its own space storage?!"
He laughed. "That's awesome! I should've dumped all my junk in there from the start!"
Stuffing his hands into his jacket pockets, Raj looked around the forest, a sly grin spreading across his face.
"Alright, Gastly… looks like the hunt's just getting started."