The Hextech System, but Pokémon

In Shanghai, the line between late autumn and early winter was blurred.

Leaning by the classroom window, Xia Chi twirled his pen and gazed at the bleak scenery outside, bored out of his mind.

Leaves drifted from a towering, thick-trunked century-old tree, leaving only a grayish-brown bird's nest perched conspicuously among its branches.

Several newly hatched Rookidee huddled together, chirping as they tilted their round little bodies upward and waited for their Corvisquire mother to feed them.

In his ears droned the trademark lecture voice of a middle-aged teacher: measured and punctuated, yet almost devoid of emotion.

"Modern historians believe that the Sinnoh Region during the medieval period held a pivotal position in world history. The oldest statue of Arceus discovered to date was found at... Xia Chi, you answer."

Unsurprised by the teacher's special attention, Xia Chi kept twirling his pen and answered immediately, "The ruins of Shenhe Temple at the foot of Mt. Coronet."

Teacher Zhou, who taught Pokémon Mythology, softened his tone slightly. "Very good. Now, aside from Arceus, what other important Legendary Pokémon appear in Sinnoh mythology?"

Xia Chi replied, "Aside from the three Lake Guardians-Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf-there are Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina."

"Wrong again!"

Teacher Zhou abruptly raised his voice. "I don't know where you learned that, but what on earth is this Giratina? Those of us who study history must maintain a rigorous attitude. Spend less time reading dubious histories and pay attention in class, understood?"

Xia Chi nodded without arguing, but inwardly, he couldn't help marveling.

Calling Giratina, Arceus's number-one rebellious child, 'what on earth'? Teacher Zhou, you're something else.

Still, three years had passed since he'd transmigrated to this world inhabited by Pokémon, and he still couldn't forget the knowledge he'd brought from another world.

In his previous life, Xia Chi had been an ordinary corporate drone. Aside from watching Pokémon anime, playing Pokémon games, and playing Pokémon cards in his spare time, he had no other bad habits.

In other words, Xia Chi had been a hardcore Pokémon nerd.

So after getting hit by a truck, he had quickly accepted being reincarnated into this world where Pokémon and reality had merged.

Three straight Hydro Pump misses in my previous life, Cursed Body disabling my own move, never finding a shiny no matter how long I hunted...

By the law of conservation of luck, I've earned all this!

Unfortunately, gaining something inevitably meant losing something else.

The Xia Chi of this world was an orphan.

His parents had died in a plane crash before he arrived, and the Pokémon traveling with them had likewise perished at sea.

All they had left Xia Chi was a home and a modest amount of savings, enough only to put him through university.

I figured every loss had to come with a gain. With my negative buffs maxed out, surely I'd at least get a system or something?

But there was nothing.

Although this Pokémon world was rich in resources and almost utopian, his disastrous starting circumstances hardly seemed enough to support his becoming a professional Pokémon Trainer.

Giving up his childhood dream of becoming a Pokémon Master was bound to leave some regrets, but Xia Chi had always found happiness in being content.

Once I've saved enough money, I can buy a little house with a yard, raise three or five Pokémon I like, and enjoy a leisurely everyday life. Wouldn't that be wonderful?

And so, once Xia Chi had settled on his goal, he threw himself into studying.

After three years of hard work, he finally gained admission to Shanghai University, the most prestigious university in the Donghuang Region, to study history.

He had chosen this rather obscure major after careful consideration.

The people of this world held some seriously mistaken ideas about many Legendary Pokémon-for instance, Giratina, whose existence Teacher Zhou had just denied.

With information gaps like these to rely on, there's bound to be a place for me, Xia Chi, in the world of mythology research!

Fresh from Teacher Zhou's criticism, Xia Chi was making grand vows to himself along the lines of Fortunes change; just you wait.

An unfamiliar voice sounded in his mind.

At the same time, a line of pale blue, transparent text appeared out of thin air before his eyes.

[Hextech system restarting. Your current world has been detected. Integration in progress...]

Hextech system?

After a moment of bewilderment, Xia Chi immediately caught on.

My cheat has finally arrived!

"System bro, aren't you a little late? I've been in this world for three years already."

Xia Chi grumbled inwardly, half wounded and half resentful.

What hadn't he suffered over those three years?

While others his age cuddled their adorable Eevee, Xia Chi buried himself in his studies.

While others his age set off on journeys with their Starter Pokémon, Xia Chi buried himself in his studies.

While others his age worked up a sweat on the battlefield, Xia Chi buried himself in his studies.

If he hadn't been able to see the utterly different world outside, he might even have thought he hadn't transmigrated at all, but had simply been reborn at the start of high school to suffer through it all again.

Still, three years of mundane life had tempered Xia Chi's disposition somewhat. Even with the system activating now, he could remain reasonably calm.

"Wasn't the Hextech system a feature in some popular game before I transmigrated?"

As a social game as well known as those king, peace, and egg games, Golden Spatula had been something Xia Chi played while dating his girlfriend. He had even reached Master rank.

Though Master rank in that game was like King rank in another social mobile game: it didn't mean much.

As Xia Chi organized his thoughts, the screen before his eyes continued to flicker.

[Integration complete. Your first selected Hextech augment has been detected as [Give Up!]. A Prismatic Orb compatible with this world's rules is being issued!]

"Hold on. When did I choose my first Hextech augment?"

Unable to help interrupting the system, Xia Chi voiced his confusion inwardly.

[Three years ago.]

The system kept it brief, leaving Xia Chi lost in thought.

Wasn't three years ago when I first transmigrated here?

I think, after sorting through my memories of this world, I shouted 'I give up!' in despair?

"Come on, how is that the same thing?"

Unwilling to accept it, Xia Chi was utterly speechless. So a single frustrated outburst had decided his all-important starting augment?

Isn't that a little too hasty?

And you never warned me, system bro!

System bro said nothing, remaining stubbornly silent.

Xia Chi could only accept reality and continue asking, "So it was this [Give Up] Hextech augment that made you wait three years before restarting?"

[Yes. The effect of [Give Up!] is as follows: skip the host's first three rounds, then issue an exceptionally rare Prismatic Orb as a reward!]

"Wait, don't say anything yet. Let me ask you something."

Xia Chi suddenly noticed a blind spot. "Those three rounds you skipped included my parents in this world, didn't they?"

If that's really the case, wouldn't that make me horribly guilty...?

[Events involving the host's original family were unrelated to the system.]

System bro's emotionless words were quite convincing, and Xia Chi soon stopped dwelling on the question.

"Understood. Then please issue the rewards."

[Prismatic Orb opened. Congratulations, host. You have received the following rewards: Artifact Forge ×1, Chosen Badge ×1, Basic Equipment Forge ×2.]

Jackpot!

Looking at the three icons on the transparent screen before him, Xia Chi felt a surge of delight.

He knew what an Artifact Forge was. Opening one let you choose from three powerful artifacts.

The strength of artifacts spoke for itself. In Golden Spatula, equipping certain units with specific artifacts could completely transform them.

Xia Chi was less familiar with the Chosen Badge, but it sounded related to the [Chosen] mechanic, so it had to be valuable too.

"Riiing-"

The bell signaling the end of class interrupted Xia Chi's thoughts.

"All right, that's all for today. Class dismissed!"

Teacher Zhou might have been old-fashioned and stern, but he never kept students past the bell.

The moment it rang, he picked up his lesson plans and walked out of the classroom without any fuss.

Xia Chi was still sitting there savoring the surprise system bro had brought him when a sudden weight landed on his right shoulder.

"Stop thinking about that stupid Gira-whatever-tina of yours. Come on, let's eat!"

The newcomer was Chen Zhenze, Xia Chi's classmate and roommate.

Both were from Sun'an, and they usually got along well.

So, just over two months into the semester, they had already grown close enough to want the other to acknowledge him as his father.

Still preoccupied with system bro, Xia Chi declined. "I've got something to do, so I'm heading back to the dorm first. Bring me some braised chicken and a Berry salad, would you? Oh, and get the salad tossed with Moomoo Cream Cheese Sauce."

Picking up on the key phrase "bring me food," Chen Zhenze flashed a wicked grin. "Bringing you food is no problem. I could even pay for it. But what will you give me in return?"

Faced with his buddy's utterly undisguised hint, Xia Chi glanced at him and chuckled.

"You're stuck on your Great Ball promotion match, right? How about I play on your account during my stream today?"

Indeed, to make his dream of a relaxed, laid-back life come true sooner, Xia Chi had plunged into the booming world of independent online content creation after his college entrance exams.

Or, in plain language, he made videos and livestreamed games.

His reason for choosing this line of work was simple: a low barrier to entry and high potential.

Professional Trainers were a minority in this world, after all, and the elite capable of setting foot on the Victory Road under everyone's gaze were rarer still.

Virtual battles in games had therefore become an outlet for people who loved Pokémon battles but lacked the strength to compete themselves.

Released by the Devon Corporation two years earlier, Pokémon: Champion's Path had become the hottest game around thanks to its cutting-edge interactive technology.

Quite a few professional Trainers, and even famous Gym Leaders, occasionally played it to relax or research tactics.

As everyone knew, the more popular a field was, the fiercer its competition.

Well versed in the art of livestreaming, Xia Chi understood that deeply.

With unconventional gimmick teams, game knowledge ahead of the meta, and good looks as the icing on the cake, he had found his edge.

Less than half a year after starting his streams, Xia Chi had already become a gaming streamer with a modest following.

A mere Great Ball promotion match was naturally a piece of cake.

Hearing Xia Chi's reply, Chen Zhenze changed expressions as quickly as a Sichuan opera performer and offered a fawning smile. "Deal, bro! Consider that food delivered!"

Xia Chi stroked his chin. "One meal in exchange for a crucial promotion match. Does that sound right to you, son?"

Chen Zhenze fell silent for two seconds. Ultimately unable to resist the temptation of winning his promotion match, he forced out through the pain, "Dad, your son's promotion match is in your hands!"

Having achieved his goal, Xia Chi waved a hand. "No trouble at all."