Viridian forest
Bright sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground. A gentle breeze rustled the branches, carrying the fresh scent of grass and trees.
At that moment, a drifting spirit slowly opened its eyes.
"Where am I?"
"Didn't I die? How am I still conscious?"
"Could it be… I've been isekai'd?"
[Ding! The Infinite Reincarnation System has detected a host. Would you like to bind?]
hearing the voice, Bell was confused. "A System?"
"What did you do to me?"
"I remember getting hit by a car… then everything went black."
The thought made Bell's heart ache. He was still young, with so many dreams unfulfilled. Dying like this—it was too unfair.
[Ding! Host's soul is dissipating. Enforcing emergency measures…]
"What? My soul is fading?!"
[Ding! Binding complete. Reincarnation initiated.]
With a powerful pull, Bell's soul vanished from the spot.
---
**Viridian Forest—a habitat for wild Pokémon, where the law of the jungle reigns supreme.**
At the bottom of the food chain, Caterpie lived simple lives, munching on leaves day after day.
When Bell opened his eyes again, everything was dark, and his body felt sticky and cramped.
"This is so uncomfortable… and so tight!"
"Why does my body feel so weird?"
He wriggled weakly, trying to break free. Then—
*Crack!*
A sharp sound echoed as fissures spread before him. Light seeped through.
"Hah… I can get out!"
Determined to escape the cramped darkness, Bell pushed harder until—
*CRACK!*
The shell shattered. Sunlight flooded in, forcing Bell to squint. As his vision adjusted, a vibrant world greeted him.
"Whoa… those are huge bugs. And the trees are massive!"
Around him, other Caterpie were hatching. Then, slowly, Bell looked down at himself.
One second. Two seconds…
"I'm… a Caterpie?!"
*Growl~*
His stomach rumbled. The remaining eggshell at his feet looked oddly appetizing.
"Maybe… I should try it."
He nibbled experimentally.
"Huh… not bad."
Soon, he devoured the entire shell.
"Burp~ Full."
As he lay there digesting, a familiar chime echoed in his mind.
**[Level Up! Current Level: Lv. 1]**
"Oh right—I have a System!"
Focusing inward, Bell summoned his status screen (visible only to him).
Host: Caterpie (Bell)
Type: Bug
Potential: Red (Red > Orange > Yellow > Green > Blue > Indigo > Violet)
Level: Lv. 1
Ability: Shield Dust
Moves: Tackle, String Shot
Though hard to believe, the screen confirmed it—he had reincarnated into the Pokémon world… as the weakest Bug-type.
"Well… if this is my new life, I'll make the most of it."*]
As a former Pokémon fan, Bell had regrets, but now that he was here, he'd survive—
*SCREECH!*
A bird's cry shattered the peace. Instinctively, Bell trembled as the other Caterpie scattered in panic.
Spotting a bush, he dove inside just as—
*THUD!*
A unlucky Caterpie was pinned under sharp talons. A yellow bird—a Pidgey—pecked mercilessly until only green scraps remained.
Bell's pupils shrank. He stayed frozen, not daring to make a sound.
The Pidgey preened, unsatisfied.
"A Pidgey…"
His System displayed its info:
Pokémon: Pidgey
Type: Normal / Flying
Level: Lv. 9
Potential: Red
Ability: Keen Eye
Moves: Tackle, Sand Attack, Gust
Then—
*FWOOSH!*
A purple serpent struck from the shadows, fangs sinking into Pidgey's flesh.
*SCREEE—!*
The Pidgey's shrieks mirrored the Caterpie's earlier fate. The snake—an Ekans—coiled tightly, suffocating its prey despite desperate struggles.
Soon, Pidgey went limp.
Bell watched, realizing: *This world is brutal. Survival is everything.*
*"But this is the Pokémon world. Even a Caterpie can grow stronger!"*
As Ekans swallowed its meal and slithered away, Bell marked the area as *"DANGER—AVOID."*
Pokémon: Ekans
Type: Poison
Level: Lv. 15
Potential: Red
Ability: Shed Skin
Moves: Wrap, Leer, Poison Sting, Glare
Only when the coast was clear did Bell emerge, stomach growling again.
"What should I eat…?"
His eyes landed on leftover eggshells.
An idea sparked.