Ekans

Serea saw that she could not persuade Heiduo and nodded regretfully. She was not good with words and rarely spoke to people in daily life. If she had not wanted to avoid being forcibly assigned a useless teammate, she would never have come looking for Heiduo.

"Why don't you let out the Pokémon in your Poké Ball?" Serea awkwardly changed the subject, pointing at the Poké Ball in Heiduo's hand.

"Oh, I wanted to let it out after returning to the dorm. There's too much space here, and I might not have the stamina to chase down a snake that uses Run Away." Heiduo pointed at the people still chasing after their Pokémon. Fortunately, these Pokémon were not directly attacking humans like in certain dark Pokémon stories, or he would have been even less willing to release it.

As soon as he finished speaking, he saw a Rattata viciously bite down on someone's arm, blood instantly spilling out.

Heiduo's body trembled slightly. Embarrassing as it was to admit, he found the scene terrifying.

The guy began howling in pain, while the people around him hurriedly grabbed the Rattata, trying to pull the human and Pokémon apart.

A minute later, the Rattata finally released its bite because someone had knocked it unconscious. Heiduo craned his neck to look at the injury on the man's arm.

Logically, with Rattata's teeth, a bite that deep should have left a wound at least five centimeters long. Yet Heiduo was astonished to discover that it had only broken the skin.

Then why the hell were you squealing like a pig being slaughtered?

The people in the Pokémon world were way too tough!

No wonder people could survive taking to the Flying type and falling from the sky in this world!

Heiduo shook his head in amazement. Humans could live alongside Pokémon in this world and even hold the dominant position; this superhuman constitution was probably one of the reasons.

Millions of years ago, there had been no such thing as Poké Balls. People had relied on other ancient technologies instead.

Serea watched the scene without changing her expression and said to Heiduo, "As long as you sincerely treat Pokémon well, they will definitely listen to you. Look, isn't my Zubat very obedient?"

Yours was a special case!

Heiduo turned to Serea with a dark expression. "Then how do you explain them? You're the only one who has managed to control your Pokémon."

"That's because their motives were impure from the start! If you want to get along with Pokémon, you must understand that they are not tools. They are friends." Serea spoke with perfect conviction, then patted Zubat's belly. "Could you please fly up and draw a circle?"

Zubat immediately screeched and took to the Flying type sky, drawing a circle, then a figure eight.

Why were you so practiced at this... Did you have to flatter her so comfortably?

Heiduo stared speechlessly at Zubat in the sky, feeling a little envious of how obedient it was.

Perhaps... perhaps his Ekans was like that too?

No, no, no. Heiduo hurriedly shattered his unrealistic fantasy. Other people were other people; he was himself. The two were different.

Zubat came down from the Flying type sky and landed on Serea's shoulder.

"Good job!" Serea stroked Zubat's head, and Zubat bounced happily.

Serea looked at Heiduo. "What do you think? Personally, I still recommend letting it out here. If you encounter danger, there are more people around who can help you, just like earlier."

Right!

Heiduo suddenly understood, as though a great bell had rung directly inside his head.

The dorm room might have been smaller, but single dorms were rather enclosed. It would be one thing if Ekans bit him, but if it used Poison, wouldn't he be dead?

It seemed that not everyone in that crowd was an idiot. There were probably quite a few smart people among them.

Heiduo's expression changed as he looked at them, becoming solemn.

That was true. There were countless smart people in the world. Who did he think he was?

If everyone in the Pokémon world were idiots, how could they have built that kind of aerial platform?

"You're right!" Heiduo nodded at Serea, his gaze somewhat grateful. "Thank you for telling me."

Serea had no idea about the turmoil in Heiduo's heart and was somewhat startled by his change in attitude. After remaining silent for a moment, she said, "Actually... if you end up in the same situation as them, I can help you."

Holy shit!

Heiduo clapped his hands together. How had he not thought of that?

"Then I'll gladly accept, Miss Serea. Sorry to trouble you." A smile appeared on Heiduo's face. At that moment, was his posture any different from Zubat's?

"...Just call me Serea."

"Alright, Serea. No time to waste, let's begin!"

"...Okay."

Having received a definite reply, Heiduo took out the Poké Ball he had placed in his pocket.

He had actually wanted to release Ekans for a long time. After all, it was his first Pokémon. It carried so much symbolic meaning!

Bang!

A flash of white light appeared, and a panicked Ekans sprang out, suddenly lunging into Heiduo's arms.

"Fuck!"

Heiduo cried out in pain and was knocked to the ground. Squinting at Ekans in his arms, he immediately spotted the vulnerable spot seven inches below its head.

He hurriedly reached out, gripping its body, which was as thick as a bowl, with both hands.

Ekans immediately stiffened after being grabbed at its weak point. Seeing its reaction, Heiduo knew that even Pokémon possessed the weaknesses of their animal counterparts.

"Hisss!"

Ekans let out a warning sound at Heiduo.

Uh...

Heiduo looked at its massive body and could not speak for a long while. A chill rose in his heart. It was instinctive fear; humans subconsciously feared snakes because their ancestors had suffered greatly at the fangs of snakes.

"Be friendly! Be friendly!"

Not knowing what Heiduo was hesitating over, Serea hurriedly reminded him.

Hearing Serea call out to him, Heiduo quickly came to his senses and carefully examined Ekans. It was still warning him.

But Heiduo could see fear in its eyes.

A giant python that feared humans?

Heiduo's feelings were complicated.

Pokémon truly were the creatures that understood humans best. Even the changes in their eyes were extremely similar to those of humans.

So, he placed Ekans on the ground and let go.

The moment it regained its freedom, Ekans wanted to Run Away, but Heiduo immediately blocked its path.

It raised its body and let out another warning hiss.

"Be friendly! You can do it!" Serea called softly from the side.

Heiduo gave Serea a bitter smile. He rubbed his cheeks and put on what he believed was a kind, approachable smile.

"Excuse me... Mr. Ekans... Miss Ekans? Please wait a moment."

Ekans ignored him, looking everywhere for a chance to escape. Then, suddenly, an instinctive warning of danger struck it.

Its body stiffened, and it looked toward the source of its unease.

It was a Zubat, "watching" it with ill intent. Its sharp teeth reflected a cold gleam, as though it were preparing to suck Ekans's blood.

"Ekans! Wait a moment!"

That human's voice sounded by its ear again, but this time, Ekans no longer felt impatient.

Compared to Zubat, that human was definitely safer.

It turned around and faced Heiduo directly, as though it wanted to hear what he had to say.

...Holy shit.

This Pokémon was practically sentient.

That was Heiduo's truest reaction, though it was not what he said aloud.

He said, "You can look around. This place is completely sealed off. You can't escape."

Upon hearing that, Ekans looked around. Sure enough, the gymnasium was surrounded by walls on all four sides, and the only door embedded in the wall was tightly shut.

"Hiss!"

Ekans revealed a terrified expression and became utterly flustered.

"Anyway, you can't escape. And you've already been captured; your Poké Ball is in my hand... How about you come with me? I'll raise you, alright? I'll take responsibility for the rest of your life, okay?" Heiduo truly had no idea what he should say. Trying to lecture a half-coerced creature with humanlike thoughts...

"Pfft!"

Heiduo suddenly heard someone stifling laughter. He turned his head and saw only Serea's indifferent face.

Did I hear that wrong?

Heiduo turned back and saw Ekans looking at him with a deeply moved expression.

Huh???

What was going on with you, little bro?

Heiduo was at a loss. He had merely turned his head for a moment, so why had Ekans's attitude changed so drastically?

"Serea, this..." Heiduo looked to Serea for help.

Serea looked cool and aloof as she nodded slightly. "I think it has accepted you."

Huh?

Heiduo opened his mouth wide. No way. Was there really such an easily fooled creature in the world?

Serea seemed to see through what Heiduo was thinking and said, "Don't be surprised. Pokémon are actually very innocent. If you truly want to treat it well, it can tell."

"...Really?" Heiduo looked at Serea uncertainly.

Serea said flatly, "You should be asking your Pokémon, not me!"

"Oh, right, right, right, right!" Heiduo came to his senses and turned to Ekans.

The human and snake stared straight at each other.

"...If you agree, could you nod?"

He truly did not dare believe that the wary Ekans from moments ago had been convinced by just a few of his words.

Ekans nodded furiously.

"...Want a hug?" Heiduo opened his arms to Ekans.

Ekans let out a hiss and pounced into Heiduo's embrace.

Heiduo landed on his backside again, but unlike before, when he had been somewhat panicked, he was not afraid this time.

For some reason, despite its icy body, Ekans felt somewhat warm in Heiduo's hands. Then he looked into its snake eyes.

...No, no, no.

"Sorry, you're just too beautiful..." Heiduo was still a little afraid, but he did not want to disappoint it.

Suddenly, a soft sound rang out beside Heiduo's ear, startling him.

[Ding! Pocket Pokémon System loading. Please wait...]

A line of semi-transparent text appeared before Heiduo's eyes.

A system!

Thank goodness, you finally arrived!

Having been exposed to countless novels, Heiduo instantly understood. He had not transmigrated for nothing after all; a system had descended upon him.

[Retrieving user list...]

[User: Heiduo]

[Trainer Level: None]

[Strength: 5]

[Agility: 5]

[Constitution: 5]

[Spirit: 5]

[Perception: 5]

[Overall Combat Power: 5]

[Attribute Points: 5]

[Pokémon Owned: Ekans]

What... was this?

Heiduo was somewhat stunned. Wasn't this supposed to be a system for improving Pokémon?

What were these attributes for? Was it going to make him fight Pokémon barehanded?