Six months had passed since the sky cracked, and the world was fractured.
Entire cities lay in ruins, some rebuilt with barricades and checkpoints. Military forces controlled the safe zones. Outside those safe zones, Pokémon roamed freely, wild, untamed, and dangerous. Civilians who tried to explore without protection rarely returned.
Over the past months, the world had learned the hard way that bullets didn't always work, fire didn't always burn, and water could be both a shield and a weapon. Pokémon had rewritten the rules of survival.
Despite the destruction, casualties were relatively low. Most people had evacuated when warnings sounded, leaving the streets littered with overturned cars, scorched buildings, and shattered glass. The real damage was to the city itself, not its residents.
I stood on my apartment balcony, Charmander padding at my side, tail flickering with curiosity. His soft glow illuminated the cracked concrete below.
Six months ago, I had captured him with a Pokéball that had a 100% capture rate.
But capture didn't mean control.
That was something the System never explained.
At first, Charmander didn't trust me. He would glare, keep his distance, and once even tried to scorch my curtains when he felt cornered. The Pokéball ensured he stayed, but it didn't command loyalty.
Trust had to be earned.
Food helped.
Consistency helped more.
Now, he nudged my leg with his snout, letting out a soft, impatient "Char."
I glanced down at him. "You're hungry again already?"
He puffed a tiny ember in response.
I crouched and pulled a small container from my bag, carefully prepared protein strips I'd learned to cook to his preference. Not too dry. Slightly warm.
His eyes lit up instantly.
"Easy," I warned as he tried to snatch it.
He froze mid-reach, blinking.
"Sit."
There was a brief pause. A flicker of pride in his eyes.
Then he sat.
Progress.
I handed him the food, and he munched happily, tail flame burning steadier, brighter. Not wild. Not unstable.
The city hummed with activity, scavengers, survivors, and military convoys all trying to live within the fragile borders of the safe zones. I watched from above, scanning for potential threats, or opportunities.
I tapped my wrist and pulled up the System.
[System Menu Opened] Current Objectives: - Teach humans Pokémon knowledge - Record all newly discovered species - Monitor Pokémon activity outside safe zones
[Side Objectives] - Teach at least 6 Pokémon to humans Reward: 200 System Points + 1 Special Pokéball (50% Capture Rate)
[Side Objectives] - Teach at least 20 Pokémon to humans Reward: 500 System Points + 3 Special Pokéball (50% Capture Rate)
....
I frowned. Teaching humans wasn't going to be easy. The events of six months ago were still fresh in their minds. Humans had harbored intense wariness ever since Pokémon first appeared, after incidents where they had injured, or even killed, people. And they were… partially right. But Pokémon were intelligent, capable of strategy, and much more than mindless beasts.
To wipe them all, as some suggest nowadays? That's a joke. With humanity's current arsenal, I'd be surprised if they even posed a real threat. Not to mention the legendary Pokémon that haven't appeared yet. If all Pokémon truly emerged, even those myths might make humanity look small.
I had to show people the truth. To teach them that Pokémon weren't monsters to be feared, but allies, companions, and partners. This was the only way for humans to survive, and even thrive, in a world now reshaped by Pokémon.
Still, six months of chaos had given me something rare: a platform. I had prepared everything I needed to livestream, record, and teach the world about pokemon.
I'd spent days getting ready, not just packing my gear for the forest, but setting up my channel too. About an hour before going live, I posted a quick announcement:
"Heading into the forest to observe Pokémon in their natural habitat. No tricks, no safety net, watch live at 10:00 AM. Remember, stay back, these creatures are wild."
Comments flooded in immediately:["Are you seriously going into the forest?? 😱"]
["Dude, I've been following you for months, I do hope you're just joking"
["Me too! Don't be a fooool!]
["We've been waiting months for someone like you!"]
["Do NOT die, please 😭"]
["Finally… real Pokémon footage!"]
I knelt and looked at Charmander. "Charmander, I need to recall you first to the Pokéball. Now's not the best time for people to see you."
Charmander's large eyes blinked up at me, and he let out a soft, "Chaar…" —half protest, half curiosity. His tail flicked nervously, flames dancing brighter for a moment.
"I know, I know… just for now," I said, pressing the Pokéball against him.
The ball clicked shut, and a soft glow faded as he was safely contained. For a moment, I could almost hear him sigh.
I slung my camera bag over my shoulder and slipped quietly into the forest at the edge of the city. Shadows stretched between the trees, and the air smelled of wet earth and pine. Away from the eyes of the safe zones, I finally had a moment to breathe.
I set up my camera on a tripod, angled to keep myself fully in view. Nothing else, no Pokémon, no forest dangers. The livestream viewers would see only me, my reactions, and my explanations.
Then I pressed the Pokéball button. A faint shimmer appeared, and Charmander stepped out cautiously, flames on his tail flickering gently. He blinked at the camera, head tilting curiously.
By the time I activated my stream, hundreds of viewers were already logged in, refreshing anxiously to see the first glimpse of what I would show. My channel had grown slowly over the months, sharing small tips, observations, and recorded encounters. The pre-stream announcement had ensured that anyone curious or bold enough to watch would be there from the start.
From the Viewer's Perspective
"Wait, is he seriously in the forest?" whispered Jason, leaning closer to his monitor as he randomly watched the streamer. The streamer's image flickered across the screen, showing only the treetops and the faint glow of something shimmering briefly near him.
He shook his head, partly in disbelief, partly in awe. Half a year ago, all kinds of creatures had appeared when the sky cracked. Rivers, oceans, forests, caves, grasslands, and the skies themselves were teeming with monsters. Look carefully, and one could find these beings everywhere.
"Sometime I really don't understand what these people are thinking," Jason muttered. "Those monsters are dangerous and vicious. Even the military had trouble dealing with them. Yet these streamers… risking everything for a show. If it weren't for the entertainment value, I wouldn't even watch."
Thinking about the recent events around the world, Jason couldn't help but sigh at humanity's audacity. The devastation had mostly destroyed homes, roads, and infrastructure, leaving cities in ruins. Humanity had suffered, yes, but casualties were surprisingly low. monsters had rewritten the rules of survival, and humans were only beginning to catch up.
Somewhere in another apartment, another streamer, Rain, scrolled through the livestream platform while her own broadcast ran. Her chat bubbled with messages, laughing emojis and reactions from viewers.
"Hey chat, who should we watch next?" she asked, leaning back in her chair.
[Hey Rain, I think we should watch again some streamers daring to go into the forest.]
[No!! Last time we watched something like it, someone almost died. Luckily, an officer arrived in time.]
[Yeah, these damn beasts! Because of them, half the city is still in ruins!]
[Seriously, who in their right mind goes into a forest full of wild monsters?]
[Whatever you like, my wifey. 😘]
Rain smirked, fingers hovering over the keyboard. "Alright, let's see… is there anyone still daring enough to go into the forest?"
"Oh how about this one" The camera flickered to show a lone figure in the forest, framed by trees and shadows, the faint shimmer of something hidden nearby catching the light.
Her viewers gasped. "Is he seriously out there? Another fool acting brave!"
Rain leaned closer, squinting at the screen. "Yeah, yeah… I know, but it's kind of fascinating. I mean, look at him, just standing there, talking like it's all normal. Half a year after the sky cracked, and this is what people are doing. Humans really are something else."
Her chat exploded with reactions, warnings, and excited comments. She chuckled. "Okay, okay… let's watch and learn. But please, don't die on me, mystery forest guy."
...
I took a deep breath and looked at Charmander. The chat was blowing up, people warning me, begging me to turn back, some just excited. Honestly, I couldn't go back now. I just had to show them what Pokémon really were and maybe help people understand a little better.
Charmander's tail flickered nervously. "Charrr," he murmured, close enough for only me to hear.
I gave him a small nod. "Okay… let's do this. Just stay behind me, keep quiet."
I straightened my shoulders and forced a casual smile, speaking to the camera. "Hey everyone, my name's Asher. You might've seen me post clips before, little things I noticed while exploring outside the city, but today, I'm going deeper. Into the forest."
I let my gaze sweep the shadows around me. "Now, I know most of you probably think the creatures out there are… dangerous. Unpredictable. Maybe even deadly. And, well… you wouldn't be wrong."
I looked again at charmander below me who is nto visible to camera yet. I kept my voice calm, steady. "But there's more to them than most people think. They move with purpose… they react to each other, to us. They aren't mindless."
The chat exploded
["Yeah right… just wait till one eats him 😭"]
["Nope, I'm out. This is a death trap!"]["Bro, they're just animals… chill."]
["OMG, I KNEW someone had to do this! Finally, real footage!"]
["You're gonna get yourself killed, genius."]
I let their reactions scroll past as I looked at Charmander. "I know it seems a bit scary," I said to the camera. "But I've learned they're not mindless… and they can actually be helpful."
I crouched slightly, adjusting the camera so everyone could see him clearly. "The reason I know this," I said, nodding at Charmander, "is because I have a partner. Someone I met during the first outbreak of these… creatures."
Charmander shifted, tail flickering, as if sensing the attention of hundreds of viewers. I smiled. "Everyone… meet Charmander."
Charmander blinked at the camera, tail flickering nervously, then let out a small puff of smoke. He stepped closer to me, eyes bright, as if asking, "Is this okay?"
I smiled, ruffling his head gently. "Yeah, yeah, show off."
...
The chat instantly erupted:
["Is that real?! 😭"]
["Brooo get away"]
["No way… that tail 🔥"]
["Asher, I think you need to leave him, you might get eaten."]
["He's so cute! can I have him?"]
["My uncle was injured by one of these monsters, can't believe he's patting one."]