Vermilion City
Vermilion — the name evokes a dazzling crimson radiance.
Not long after completing his challenge at the Battle Dome, Paul arrived near the city. After contacting Reggie, he was ready to carry out something monumental—a traversal through time and space.
Ever since acquiring the Arc Phone, Paul had never undertaken a full-fledged interdimensional journey.
Even when the phone had fully charged in the past, various circumstances had kept him from attempting a leap across space-time. But now... things had changed.
Paul's team had grown significantly stronger. Electivire, Ursaluna, Torterra, Ninetales, Hisuian Samurott, Garchomp, and Drapion—all of them had broken through to the Elite Four tier.
With such power, he felt confident that even in the vast multiverse of Pokémon worlds, he'd be able to protect himself if nothing else.
It was finally time to begin his journey through the dimensions.
Out of the seven Pokémon who had reached this level, Paul thought it over carefully and decided to leave Ursaluna behind and take the other six with him on this trip.
The reason for not bringing Ursaluna was simple. Besides its strategic role and specific uses, two major factors stood out:
First, Ursaluna differed significantly in appearance and origin from its pre-evolution Teddiursa. To avoid unnecessary complications in the destination world, he chose to leave it. Although Hisuian Samurott was different from the standard variant as well, that could be passed off as a mutation.
Second and more importantly, Paul had discovered that Ursaluna had potential to master something extraordinary: the Bloodline Awakening Mode.
This mode tapped into a Pokémon's latent ancestral power. In theory, any Pokémon could access this mode if the right method was used.
Even Ghost-types could potentially achieve it if approached correctly.
After some consideration, Paul sent Ursaluna back to the Day Care, where it could train and study alongside Aggron to develop a version of the bloodline mode that didn't rely on Dragon Dance or Outrage techniques.
Once Paul had stocked up on supplies in Vermilion City and made his way to the countryside, he took out his Rotom Phone and spoke:
"Rotom, initiate dimensional travel."
"Roto~ Please remain calm, Trainer. Hold your phone securely. Initializing program… Please stand by…"
Rotom's voice gradually turned cold and mechanical.
Paul could feel space around him twisting and warping unnaturally. Then, he was enveloped in a mysterious swirl of white and golden energy, and the world around him faded into darkness.
In Paul's perception, about three minutes passed.
The endless darkness around him finally began to show faint hints of color.
Twisted, mystical colors of violet and crimson clawed at the light-gold barrier of energy protecting him, as if trying to tear it apart at every corner of the warped space.
Unconsciously, Paul clutching his phone tightly had closed his eyes and drifted into sleep.
The golden orb of light that carried him began to float in a particular direction, ultimately drifting into a unique "bubble" suspended in the void.
Pokémon World – Kanto Region – An Unknown Wilderness
"Where… am I?"
When Paul opened his eyes, he found himself leaning against the base of a large tree.
Around him, Nidoran scurried through the tall grass. A Butterfree fluttered gently above a patch of flowers, collecting nectar. Overhead, a Fearow led a flock of Spearow soaring off into the distance.
There wasn't enough information to determine what kind of world he had crossed into or where exactly he now existed within it.
At best, he could only guess that this might be somewhere in the Kanto region.
"Trainer, dimensional transfer complete. You may remain in this world for up to three days. You can return to your original world at any time during this period."
Paul's Rotom Phone floated before him, its screen displaying a set of system messages.
"Three days, huh? That's manageable."
It wasn't a lot of time, but compared to his last trip at Hisui when he had barely a single day, this was a huge improvement.
"Rotom, connect to this world's network. Pull up any key information and summarize it."
With Rotom at his side, a veritable all-purpose tool Pokémon—Paul didn't need to wander around asking for directions or digging through records. As long as the world had internet access, Rotom could compile everything he needed. That saved a ton of time.
"Working on it, Roto!"
Roughly ten seconds later, the screen lit up displaying an array of data about this new world.
"Kanto Region… Elite Four members: Lance, Lorelei, Bruno, Agatha… The Champion position is currently vacant…"
"Professor Oak has a grandson named Gary… but there's no sign of Blue or Red, for that matter…"
"The current strongest Trainer in the world is Leon… Only around 20 species capable of Mega Evolution have been discovered…"
"Saffron Gym… most feared location… Sabrina… utterly emotionless and ruthless… and her Kadabra…"
"Only three known Eeveelutions have been discovered…"
Paul quickly scanned through the more unusual entries.
From what he could gather, this world didn't differ too much from the one he came from except that the timeline seemed behind in terms of development. More importantly, there were no records of key figures like Red or Blue.
After reviewing the data, Paul came to a single logical conclusion:
"The more I look… the more this feels like the anime world."
If this was indeed the Pokémon anime world or at least a close parallel to it, then regardless of the version, very few beings here would pose a real threat to someone like him—someone with six Elite-level Pokémon at his disposal.
Even the Legendary Pokémon here wouldn't be unstoppable. Excluding the so-called Tier One Legendaries and a few exceptionally powerful Tier Two or Three Legendaries, he figured most of them were beatable or at the very least, escapable.
After all, outside of the raw power shown in the early Indigo League arc, the anime's portrayal of battle strength tended to be relatively "shallow" compared to his own world—
In his world, even an average Legendary Pokémon would rank at Honor-Class strength, while the stronger ones could easily surpass Elite Four level. The truly powerful were either Champion-level or higher, with no clear ceiling.
Here in the anime world, Paul's strength especially with his team of battle-hardened Pokémon would place him at minimum, among the top tier of Trainers.
"If this really is the anime world… what can I do in three days?"
The question emerged in Paul's mind.
According to the data supplied by Rotom, at this point in time, Professor Oak's ten-year-old grandson Gary, had just received his starter Pokémon and was already off on a road trip with a car full of girlfriends.
In other words, this was the very beginning of the journey — the moment when all the key events and legendary encounters of the anime timeline had yet to unfold.
Rare Pokémon that typically stayed in one place, like the Crystal Onix would almost certainly still be in their original locations. If he wanted to capture one, the odds were still quite favorable.
But... was it even worth the effort?
Take the Crystal Onix for example. While certainly rare, Paul had little interest in it. If he ever did catch one, it would likely be just to hand it off to Reggie to help him practice his breeding skills. Paul himself couldn't be bothered to raise a Rock-type that feared Fire and might not even be able to evolve.
Other unique Pokémon like the Shiny Noctowl or region-specific mutants were either of no practical use to him or too time-consuming to hunt down.
After this round of analysis, it was almost certain: unless a non-Mythical, non-Legendary Pokémon had absolutely extraordinary potential, Paul wouldn't bother going after it.
As for the Legendary and Mythical Pokémon…
His memories were a bit hazy. He'd need time to think. Even if he could remember which ones appeared in fixed locations in the anime, could he really find them?
That would take a longer-term plan. First, he had to determine his current location.
"What's the nearest city to this place?"
Paul asked calmly.
"Littleroot Town, Rotom!" Rotom chirped.
It projected the relevant data on the screen for Paul to review.
He skimmed over the information casually until his gaze stopped at a certain detail.
It was a recent news bulletin from Littleroot:
"The Battle Pyramid has temporarily landed near Littleroot Town. The Frontier Brain, Brandon, is said to possess overwhelming strength. Trainers who believe themselves to be strong are welcome to challenge him."
The Battle Pyramid… Brandon…
Those two names instantly brought a sharp glint to Paul's eyes. His expression turned cold, and his hands which had been resting naturally at his sides, clenched into fists.
Perhaps this wasn't the same world. He wasn't exactly like the Paul from the anime who bore deep resentment and was obsessed with becoming stronger, establishing his own style and battlefield, all just to defeat Brandon in the end.
But that didn't mean he didn't care.
In his own timeline, the true reason he had come to Kanto to challenge the Battle Frontier was to defeat Brandon, to resolve the regrets of the "other version" of himself from a different world. Only then could he find peace of mind.
He never expected to one day awaken in the anime world and to end up right near the Battle Pyramid.
Talk about fate handing you the perfect opportunity on a silver platter.
"Heh… interesting. Very interesting."
After pondering for a moment, Paul suddenly let out a chuckle. Checking his position on the map, he headed straight for the Battle Pyramid.
The Battle Pyramid was colossal in size, and it had landed on a wide expanse of barren land—no humans, no Pokémon in sight.
When Paul arrived, the doors to the pyramid were tightly shut.
"Ding-dong~"
"Hello. I'm a challenger here to battle Pyramid King Brandon."
Paul pressed the doorbell and got straight to the point.
"At present, Mr. Brandon is engaged in a battle with another challenger. You may proceed straight down the corridor, turn right at the end, and enter the battle hall's spectator gallery."
A male voice promptly echoed through the intercom.
With a mechanical click, the doors opened revealing a metallic corridor with a faintly sci-fi aesthetic.
Without hesitation, Paul stepped inside and followed the passage as directed, eventually reaching the entrance to the spectator gallery and slipping in quietly.
The interior was much like any standard stadium: a central battlefield down below, surrounded by elevated spectator seating.
The massive hall was mostly empty. Besides Paul, only four individuals were present. Brandon, of course was on the field, locked in combat. But what truly caught Paul's attention was the challenger currently battling Brandon, and the young spectator who bore a striking resemblance to him.
Brandon was commanding a Regirock in battle. His opponent: a sharp-looking young man with violet hair, commanding a Bibarel. The resemblance was strange.
Next to the battlefield stood a young boy, also with purple hair, watching intently while holding a Turtwig in his arms. The boy looked like a younger version of the challenger… and eerily similar to Paul himself.
There was no doubt, this world's version of Paul was just a boy. And that older challenger could only be this dimension's version of Reggie, Paul's older brother.
"This just keeps getting more and more interesting."
Paul hadn't expected his journey across worlds to bring him to this moment, to witness this exact battle. It was as if the timing had been perfectly arranged.
Still, he remained silent, careful not to disturb the combatants. Hands in his pockets, he stood quietly at the highest row of seats, observing like a detached outsider.
Paul's expression was relaxed, but the scene unfolding on the battlefield was anything but hopeful.
Reggie was giving it his all. This was already his second time challenging Brandon, and yet he was still unable to overcome the Frontier Brain's formidable strength.
He could handle Brandon's standard Pokémon well enough, but the moment one of the Regis—Regirock or Registeel took the field, a deep sense of helplessness overwhelmed him.
It was like trying to breach a fortress with a toy hammer. No matter how hard Reggie and his Pokémon tried to press the offense, their efforts were effortlessly stonewalled by the sheer resilience of Regirock and Regice. Eventually, those unyielding Titans struck back with overwhelming force.
In the end, even in this rematch a full 3-on-3 battle, Reggie was utterly defeated. A clean sweep.
All three of his Pokémon were taken down by Regirock alone.
"I… lost…"
Reggie stared blankly at his defeated Drapion, disbelief and frustration etched across his face.
Standing off to the side, Brandon crossed his arms and addressed Reggie solemnly.
"Challenger, your battle was certainly well-executed, it fulfilled the expectations I hold. But in the end, your strategy was nothing more than a flawless combination of textbook elements. Where is your own strength? The strength that's uniquely yours?"
"Strength that's uniquely mine…"
Those words echoed as "Paul" the alternate version of Paul from another world stood quietly at the edge of the battlefield. He glanced down at his Turtwig, deep in thought.
"Turtwig!"
The little Grass-type, still stunned by the battle it had just witnessed, immediately perked up when it noticed its Trainer's gaze. Determination flared in its eyes, fighting spirit reignited.
"That was well said, don't you think?"
A calm and collected voice reached "Paul's" ears.
He and Turtwig turned their heads instinctively and froze.
With just one look, they both stood in stunned silence. With a second glance, their brains practically short-circuited.
Paul: Why the heck is there another me?!
Turtwig: Why the heck is there another Trainer?!
Turtwig's jaw dropped. It looked left at "Paul" and right at Paul, struggling to comprehend the scene before it.
Can… Trainers use Double Team too?!
The real Paul paid no attention to the pair's shock. He continued speaking as if nothing were out of the ordinary.
"Every Trainer who wants to become strong needs to develop a battle style that reflects who they are."
"Whether cautious or aggressive, fiery or composed—it all has to align with the Trainer's personality, the Pokémon's abilities, and their natural synergy. That's how you build a style that works. That's how you construct a system that grows stronger over time."
"That guy over there… clearly hasn't figured that out yet."
In Paul's native timeline, Reggie wasn't the strongest Trainer around, but thanks to Paul's influence, he'd at least carved out a clear style of battling—something distinctive. In fact, Reggie had grown into a fairly capable Trainer. If he'd seriously pursued that path, he might have even contended with Flint for a spot among Sinnoh's Elite Four.
But he hadn't. Instead, Reggie chose to focus on his career as a Breeder.
The Reggie standing here, however, this version was little more than an average Trainer. His only advantage lay in his high-level Pokémon. Beyond that, he lacked identity, lacked conviction. Even Brandon saw through him. Honestly, this Reggie wouldn't even pose a threat to Paul during his pre-Lily of the Valley Conference days.
He could be swept.
"To build a battle style based on yourself and your Pokémon's traits…"
"Paul" murmured the words again, falling deep into contemplation.
"Well, what else would it be?"
Paul raised an eyebrow and replied.
"If all you do is chase power, relying on type advantages to overpower your opponents, then what's the point? Isn't that kind of victory a foregone conclusion?"
"A true master wins not just with strength, but with strategy. A real Trainer doesn't settle for just being 'stronger.' They chase something more: total mastery, growth beyond limits."
"Paul" digested the words slowly. His brother had just suffered a crushing defeat, and he himself was at a crossroads—a moment of vulnerability, but also a rare openness to change.
Finally, he asked the question that had been building inside him.
"So… who are you?"
Paul answered with calm finality.
"Just another version of you—from a different world."
With that, he hopped over the edge of the battlefield and stepped forward to face Reggie.
Naturally, Reggie noticed his approach. Though clearly disheartened and shaken by his loss, he still forced himself to smile and greet him.
"Never expected there'd be another Paul out there."
"Nothing's impossible, big bro." Paul replied evenly.
"Yeah just this once, I'll call you that. After all, I've only ever had one big brother."
His voice carried an unusual sincerity.
To others, it may not have seemed like the two were especially close. But to this Paul, the only person he acknowledged as his true brother was the Reggie from his own world.
The rest, no matter how similar could never be the same.
(End of Chapter)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you want to access the advance 80 chapters, please visit: patreon.com / PMadz_23