Cheng Tian

Biodata

Power Progression

Cheng Tian's documented growth consists of Trainer experience, team expansion, and his Pokémon's levels and move development.

Background / History

In his previous life, Cheng Tian was a programmer who worked in Kyoto. His enthusiasm for Pokémon continued through college and employment: he decorated his dormitory with posters, watched the anime after work, and attended each year's new Pokémon movie. His knowledge came mainly from the anime rather than deep experience with the games 1 50.

After spending ten consecutive vacation days unsuccessfully hunting a Shiny Gastly, he passed out. He awoke in his childhood bedroom as his sixteen-year-old self on September 10, 2055, League Calendar, in a world where Pokémon existed alongside humans. News that Pokémon studies would enter the college entrance examination prompted him to pursue the subject, with his father's financial support 1.

Appearance

Cheng Tian is described as handsome, with a slim build that allows him to enter a narrow opening during the mine rescue 14 40.

• Hair: Neat, short black hair 14 33.
• Skin: A healthy wheat-colored complexion 14.
• Eyes: Clear, dark eyes—his most striking feature. Su Han notices their clarity even when he is covered in dirt 13 14 20.
• Clothing: Wears a black-and-white school uniform; one casual outfit consists of a white T-shirt, black shorts, and a black face mask 1 33.
• Accessory: Wears the black cross necklace Su Han gives him 35 36.

Personality

Cheng Tian is an enthusiastic fan who treats living with Pokémon as the fulfillment of a lifelong wish. In his previous life, he chose to end a relationship rather than delete his Pokémon-related media. His excitement can become boastful, but he still reviews material before the Pokémon exam because he recognizes that knowledgeable classmates could beat him 1 2 16.

He is careful with money and reluctant to burden others. He refuses Bai Yun's offer to obtain an expensive starter through his father, spends his own savings on wilderness supplies, and takes a damaged punching bag home after paying compensation so that he can repair and reuse it 3 4 17 18.

His compassion repeatedly overrides his caution. He shelters an unconscious Rattata instead of leaving it exposed, steps in front of Froakie during an Ariados attack, and protects Aron from a falling beam. These actions help earn his Pokémon's trust, though his willingness to risk himself alarms his parents 6 9 11 40.

Outside Pokémon studies, he often oversleeps, falls asleep in class, and performs poorly in mathematics. He also misses Su Han's romantic interest: during the written exam, he interprets her attention as an attempt to copy his answers, and he repeatedly describes their relationship as ordinary friendship 15 21 26 35 50.

Abilities & Skills

System-Assisted Pokémon Analysis

Cheng Tian's system displays information panels for Pokémon he observes 1 3.

• Reveals species, sex, nature, Ability, level, and moves with their individual proficiency levels 3 9 25.
• Lets him assess potential partners, including Nidoran♂'s Hidden Ability Hustle and Froakie's unusual Mind Reader 8 9.
• Tracks newly learned moves and improvements, such as Double Team and Protect 19 45.
• Does not display a panel for the virtual opponent in Teacher Zhou's battle exercise 31.

Quest System

The system binds to Cheng Tian after his reincarnation and initially assigns Your first partner, requiring him to obtain his first Pokémon 1.

• Claiming the first quest's reward unlocks a backlog of completed and unfinished quests 33.
• Greenhorn, Our Bond, and Small-Minded recognize a battle victory, three hours of partner training, and an alternative move application; their rewards are verbal praise 33.
• Light of Miracles offers a random Type Gem for evolving his first Pokémon; it remains incomplete when shown 33.
• Second Bloom awards Sea Incense when he catches Aron 41.

Battle Strategy

Cheng Tian favors adapting to an opponent's strengths rather than forcing direct exchanges 16 31.

• Uses ranged Bubble attacks to keep Froakie away from Chimchar's Thunder Punch 16.
• Teaches Bai Yun to let Pokémon manage ordinary exchanges while the Trainer chooses moves at decisive moments 16.
• Wins Teacher Zhou's type-disadvantage challenge by assessing the opponent's Ability, avoiding close-range danger, interrupting attacks, and exploiting an opening 31.
• Coordinates Aron’s Rock Tomb to prevent a hostile pack from escaping while Froakie attacks the remaining Poochyena 48.

Training and Move Adaptation

He develops training around Froakie's ninja style and anime-inspired interests 16 17 28.

• Encourages controlled, gradual development of Rasengan-style Water Pulse rather than immediately attempting a full-sized attack 17 18.
• Combines treadmill work and adjustable leg weights to teach Double Team 18 19.
• Helps turn Whirlpool into a surrounding defensive barrier inspired by Naruto's Water Formation Wall; Froakie later redirects the vortex to trap an attacker 32 48.
• Uses purchased TMs to expand his Pokémon's options, but recognizes that learning attempts can fail 32 45.

First Aid and Survival

Cheng Tian carries medicines and treats injuries during wilderness travel and the mine rescue 4 10 40.

• Uses Antidotes and Potions to treat Barbaracle's poisoned wound 10.
• Treats his own bleeding shoulder and the three injured Machamp underground 40.
• Escapes stronger wild Pokémon through distraction and environmental manipulation rather than relying solely on battle 6 7 13.
• Has ordinary human limitations: his stamina is inferior to the pursuing Raticate, and a falling support beam renders him unconscious 7 40.

Pokémon

Equipment / Items

• Poké Balls and Great Ball — Initially buys ten ordinary Poké Balls and one Great Ball. Froakie is housed in the Great Ball; Aron voluntarily enters an ordinary Poké Ball 4 14 41.
• Travel supplies — Carries a backpack, medicines, Repellent, and camping equipment for the wilderness trip 4 10.
• Repaired punching bag — Takes home the bag destroyed during Water Pulse training and repairs it with his father for Froakie's exercises 17 18.
• Adjustable training weights — Uses leg weights, reduced to five kilograms when Froakie initially cannot move, to support speed training 19.
• Technical Machines — Purchases Whirlpool, Protect, Grass Knot, and Thunder Wave TMs 28 44.
• Sea Incense — Earned through Second Bloom; described as slightly increasing the power of a holder's Water-type moves 33 41.
• Black cross necklace — A friendship gift from Su Han that he continues wearing 35 36 42.
• Rescue equipment — Temporarily receives a headlamp-equipped hard hat, gas mask, fifteen-minute oxygen cylinder, and healing sprays before entering the collapsed mine 40.

Relationships

• Bai Yun — Childhood friend, training partner, and classmate. Helps fund and equip the wilderness trip, provides cover for Cheng Tian's absence, and frequently trades jokes with him 3 4 14 16 50.
• Lin Lin — Close friend and fellow Class 1 student. Trains Pachirisu and joins Cheng Tian's community-service team 3 18 26 44.
• Su Han — Classmate, seatmate, and friend with a clear interest in him. Helps him at the toll station, gives him a necklace, and spends a day at the mall with him; Cheng Tian carries her to her driver after she sprains her ankle but denies that they are dating 13 20 27 35.
• Mother — Supports his Pokémon studies but fears for his safety. Discovers his concealed wilderness trip and scolds him, then helps obtain treatment and supplies for Froakie 1 14.
• Father — A clerical employee at the outskirts mine who supports Cheng Tian's training expenses. Repairs the punching bag with him and reluctantly permits his participation in the mine rescue 1 18 26 37 40.
• Barbaracle — Froakie's master. Initially treats Cheng Tian as a threat, but comes to trust him after receiving medical treatment and witnessing his attempt to protect Froakie 10 11 12 13.
• Teacher Zhou — Practical battle instructor who praises Cheng Tian's tactical judgment and administers the class's community-service assignments 31 44.
• Uncle Ma — Mine safety supervisor and his father's colleague. Supervises Cheng Tian's visit and explains that taking Aron requires its consent 37 39 41.

Story Role / Major Arcs

First Partner Expedition

Unable to afford the starters at a Pokémon Day Care, Cheng Tian secretly enters the wilderness with Yamper. His first battles expose the gap between his theoretical knowledge and practical experience. After escaping a Raticate pack by provoking Beedrill, he meets Froakie, helps deliver berries to Barbaracle, and treats the master's injuries 3 4 5 7 9 10.

His attempt to shield Froakie from Ariados establishes their partnership. On the return journey, he escapes Raticate and Ariados by making their attacks collide, meets Su Han at the toll station, and returns to find that his mother has uncovered the trip 11 12 13 14.

Pokémon Track Admission

Cheng Tian spends two weeks studying and training with Bai Yun. Froakie defeats Chu Jiaojiao's Smoochum and a Machop in the battle assessment, while his unusual Mind Reader attracts the Principal and Director Yan's attention. Cheng Tian ranks twenty-eighth and enters Pokémon Class 1 alongside his friends and top-ranked Su Han 16 19 24 26.

Mine Rescue and Aron's Recruitment

While delivering documents to his father, Cheng Tian meets Aron and identifies it as a potential tank for his team. A mine collapse interrupts the visit, and he volunteers to search for trapped Machamp. Despite being injured while protecting Aron, he finds and treats the three Pokémon, then survives a second collapse under their Protect barriers 36 39 40.

Aron chooses to accompany him after he promises to support its growth and desire for revenge. Cheng Tian receives Sea Incense through the system and has his shoulder treated at the Pokémon Center 41 42.

Jingxi Road Community Service

Cheng Tian, Bai Yun, Su Han, and Lin Lin accept a school task to remove Poochyena from Jingxi Road, pooling 350 points. The mission information proves incomplete: a Mightyena leads the pack. Cheng Tian contributes Froakie's offensive and defensive techniques and Aron's battlefield control; the group captures the defeated Pokémon and delivers them to Bingzhou's Stray Pokémon Center 44 46 48 49.

Notable Quotes

“The Pokémon stream, of course! My dream is to become a Pokémon Master.” 2

“It's all right. We're partners, after all!” 12

“I'm leaving, Aron. Whatever you choose, follow your heart.” 41