Chapter 4: The First Foundation
The sun had begun its slow descent when Nathan finally returned to Springvale. His boots crunched against the dirt path, every step heavy from the long jog from Mondstadt. Sweat clung to his neck, his breaths came uneven, yet when his gaze fell upon the wide stretch of land before him, a proud smile crossed his face.
"Finally…" he murmured, bending forward with his hands on his knees. "My own land."
Straightening up, he wiped the sweat from his brow. A soft breeze swept past, carrying the scent of wildflowers and fresh grass, brushing against his skin as though congratulating him. His chest swelled with excitement, eyes gleaming.
"Alright then—time to build my Pokémon shop!"
That excitement, however, lasted all of five seconds.
Nathan blinked at the empty field in front of him. No tools. No lumber. No foundation. Just a vast, open patch of grass swaying gently in the wind.
"...Wait," he muttered, scratching the back of his head. "How am I supposed to *build* a Pokémon shop with nothing?"
He stood there in silence for a moment, feeling just a little ridiculous. A nearby bird chirped mockingly, as if laughing at his poor planning.
Then, a familiar chime echoed in his mind, followed by the soft glow of a blue screen materializing before his eyes. In its center was a golden chest icon, pulsing gently with light. Below it, a single button glowed invitingly: **[Open]**.
Nathan tilted his head. "Guess that's my cue."
He tapped the button.
A burst of radiant light exploded outward, forcing him to shield his eyes. When it faded, something metallic and small landed in his palm—a cube no larger than a Rubik's cube, humming softly with prismatic light. Faint rainbow veins pulsed through its smooth surface like living energy.
Nathan turned it over curiously. "A cube? That's... not what I was expecting."
Before he could think further, his eyes began to glow faint blue. A wave of information rushed through his mind as instinct took over—his new **Appraisal Skill** activating automatically. He no longer even questioned it; at this point, surprises from the system had become almost routine.
Moments later, glowing text appeared before his vision.
---
**( Building Cube )**
**Class:** A
**Description:** A special device capable of constructing infrastructure or buildings according to the blueprint encoded within it.
---
Nathan's eyes widened. "Wait… this thing can *build* entire structures?" A slow grin spread across his face. "Now we're talking."
The cube floated from his hand, humming louder as streams of multicolored light spiraled outward. Lines of energy traced through the air, sketching glowing outlines—walls, windows, beams, and a roof taking shape as if an invisible architect drew them from nothing. Then, the light solidified.
In mere seconds, the glow faded, revealing a complete structure standing proudly before him.
Wooden frames intertwined with sleek metal panels, glass walls glimmering with soft azure light. The building perfectly blended Mondstadt's rustic charm with futuristic design. Above the entrance, golden letters shimmered into existence:
**Pokémon Emporium – Trainer's Hub**
Nathan stood speechless, awe written across his face. "It's… perfect."
Before he could take another step, the system chimed again.
> **[ System ]**
> "Task Complete: Build the First Pokémon Shop in Teyvat."
> "Rewards: +10,000 Credit Points and (1) Ten-Pull Ticket."
> "Congratulations!"
Nathan let out a low whistle. "Ten thousand credits and a ten-pull ticket, huh? You really know how to keep a guy motivated."
The golden chest icon reappeared, swirling with radiant energy.
> **[ System ]**
> "Gacha System Unlocked."
> "Pull Options: 1 Ticket or 10,000 Credits for 10 Pulls."
> "Reward Tiers: Rainbow = SSS, Gold = S, Silver = A, Bronze = B and below."
Nathan grinned, eyes gleaming with mischief. "Ah, the gacha system… my old friend. Let's see if my luck still holds up."
He selected **[Use Ticket]**, and the chest began to shake violently. A flash of blinding light erupted, sending ten glowing cards spiraling into the air—five silver, two gold, and three shimmering in rainbow hues.
"Whoa!" Nathan laughed, spinning in delight. "Three rainbows? My gacha luck's still alive!"
Excitement surged through him as he decided to go all in. Without hesitation, he burned through all 10,000 credits for another ten-pull. The chest cracked open once more—four silver, four gold, and two rainbow cards flew out in a dazzling display.
Nathan folded his arms, grinning smugly. "Nine silver, six gold, and five rainbow cards total. Jackpot."
He activated the cards one by one, each dissolving into light and materializing their rewards around him.
---
**Silver Rewards:**
• 5× Empty Building Cubes
• 4× Blueprint Memory Cards
**Gold Rewards:**
• 4× P-Bot Units
• 1× P-Bot Blueprint Memory Card
• 1× Mystery Pokéball
**Rainbow Rewards:**
• 1× Mystery Pokéball
• 1× Ecological Seed Pack
• 1× Pokémon Skill Injector
• 1× Aegislash Mega Evolution Stone
• 1× Dynamax Band
---
Nathan crouched down, inspecting the array of treasures laid out before him. His expression brightened. "Building cubes and blueprints—perfect for upgrades. P-Bots… assistants, maybe? And these Mystery Pokéballs…"
Curiosity won out. He picked up one of the Pokéballs, pressing the central button.
A burst of crimson light struck the ground, coalescing into a floating, blade-like figure. Its single, glowing blue eye met his own. A long cloth-like arm swayed behind it.
Nathan's breath hitched. "No way… a *Honedge*?!"
The steel ghost hovered silently, its presence both eerie and majestic.
"Hey there, buddy," Nathan said softly, crouching to meet its gaze. "You look incredible. Mind if I give you a name?"
Honedge tilted its blade slightly, its eye glimmering with curiosity.
Nathan smiled. "How about… *Muramasa*?"
The sword twirled in midair, its eye flashing in approval.
Nathan chuckled. "Muramasa it is."
The blade floated closer, offering its hilt. Nathan hesitated. "Wait… aren't you supposed to drain people's life force when they touch you?"
Muramasa's eye glowed warmly—a quiet reassurance.
Taking a breath, Nathan reached out and wrapped his fingers around the hilt. Instead of coldness or pain, a comforting warmth spread through his arm. It wasn't the grasp of a cursed weapon—it was like shaking hands with an old friend.
A wave of nostalgia washed over him.
Memories of his past life flashed by: fencing practice, tournament cheers, the thrill of a perfect strike. He smiled faintly, eyes distant.
Muramasa gently tapped his shoulder, sensing his thoughts.
Nathan chuckled, patting the blade's hilt. "Thanks, Muramasa. I'm glad you're here."
After a heartfelt moment, Nathan turned back to his remaining rewards. Another **Mystery Pokéball** hovered nearby, glowing faintly with rainbow light.
He picked it up. "Another one, huh? Let's see who's inside."
He pressed the button, releasing a brilliant beam of light. The air rippled as a tall, regal figure emerged—its form cloaked in golden armor and a shield shaped like a crest. A deep, metallic hum filled the air.
Nathan's eyes widened. "A-Aegislash?! That's the final form of Honedge!"
The sword-like Pokémon floated gracefully before him, its shield gleaming under the sunlight.
"Wow… another sword-type Pokémon. Hello there, buddy—wanna be friends?"
Aegislash emitted a warm, resonant hum, its eye glowing gently. Nathan's cheerful aura and genuine excitement seemed to earn its instant trust.
"Great! Then your name will be… *Masamune*."
Aegislash let out a content hum, spinning once in approval. The two Pokémon—Muramasa and Masamune—circled Nathan playfully, filling the air with bright, rhythmic energy. Nathan laughed, his heart swelling with joy.
Then, something caught his attention. Embedded in the center of Masamune's shield was a faintly glowing gemstone—an evolution stone unlike any he'd ever seen.
"Wait… is that a Mega Evolution Stone?" Nathan blinked. "Masamune, can you *mega evolve*?"
Aegislash responded with a proud hum, lifting its shield slightly to show off the gem. Muramasa floated beside it, curious and impressed.
Nathan crossed his arms thoughtfully. "So that's why the system gave me a Mega Evolution Stone… but then—why the Dynamax Band?" His gaze shifted toward Muramasa. "Is that meant for you?"
Muramasa's eye gleamed softly, as if answering *maybe.*
Nathan laughed quietly, the setting sun painting the shop's walls in amber hues. "Heh. Guess I'll find out soon enough."
The wind carried his laughter across the field, mingling with the metallic hums of his new companions.
In that moment, standing between two legendary blades and the first Pokémon shop in Teyvat, Nathan felt it—
the *true beginning* of his adventure.