Chapter 1: Back Again
Mi Yuelang was vast, an endless expanse of sea. On the horizon, a solitary island rose from the waves, its dense forests casting dark shadows under the bright moon. The air was thick with mystery, and the island, isolated as it was, seemed untouched by time.
A thin-skinned boy sat alone on the beach, his body frail, almost malnourished. His clothes were ragged, barely clinging to his frame, but there was no mistaking the boy's age—around fifteen. His skin, pale from hunger, seemed to tell the story of hardship and survival.
His eyes were fixed on a small, strange creature at his feet. The creature, barely reaching the boy's knee, was covered in dark feathers, each one shining faintly under the moonlight. If it weren't for the soft glow of the moon, the creature would have been nearly impossible to see.
The boy's hand moved toward the creature slowly, almost hesitantly. Just before touching it, he paused, uncertainty flooding his mind. But then, as if making up his mind, he exhaled deeply, pushing aside his doubt. He reached out, his hand trembling, and gently touched the dark crow's back.
"I didn't think I'd ever be back here," the boy murmured softly, his voice tinged with a mix of nostalgia and sorrow.
His name was Aoki, and as the words left his lips, everything around him seemed to come alive with memories.
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Aoki's mind was flooded with memories of his previous life, memories that felt too real to be mere dreams.
Once a powerful trainer with the strength of a "Zhun Tianwang" (near Heavenly King), Aoki had risen through the ranks of Team Rocket, gaining respect in both the criminal underworld and the Pokémon world. His skills had earned him recognition, but his success was a double-edged sword. His overconfidence had led to a series of mistakes, and in a climactic battle, he had been trapped by his rivals within Team Rocket.
Aoki had thought that his position, his hard-earned strength, could save him. But he had underestimated the power of his enemies. A siege was launched by the League, and two Heavenly King trainers were sent after him. His Pokémon fought bravely, but in the end, the odds were too great. Aoki and his partners were buried under the weight of their failure.
When he opened his eyes again, he found himself in a familiar place—the island, the start of the trial that had once marked the beginning of his downfall.
Aoki stared at his hands in the moonlight. They were young, unscarred, and free from the years of battle that had marked his previous life. His malnourished hands, pale and weak, showed the veins running beneath his skin, a stark contrast to the body he had known.
He clenched his fists tightly, feeling the bite of his nails digging into his palms. His body was frail, but the memories of strength, of power, surged through him.
"Ga..." The dark crow let out a soft cry, looking up at Aoki with wide, curious eyes.
Aoki heard the crow's call and felt a warmth in his chest. He tried to smile, but the muscles in his face seemed to have forgotten how. It was as if his previous life had drained him of the ability to express joy.
He slowly reached out, brushing the dark crow's feathers, which were rough and uneven, much like his own condition.
"Dark Crow, it's good to be with you again," Aoki whispered, his voice low and thick with emotion.
The dark crow, sensing Aoki's feelings, chirped again, as if in understanding.
In his previous life, the dark crow had been his first Pokémon—his closest companion. Unlike the others, who were either captured through force or purchased through wealth, the dark crow had chosen him, remaining by his side through every trial. Even at the end, when everyone else had abandoned him, the dark crow had stayed, offering its loyalty until the very last moment.
But Aoki had failed the dark crow. He had not recognized its potential, had not nurtured it properly. And when the time came to rely on it, he had already squandered its true power.
This time, Aoki swore things would be different. "I won't fail you again," he promised, his voice shaking with emotion.
"Ga!" The dark crow responded with a sharp call, as though acknowledging the promise.
Aoki's memories of the trials he had faced returned to him in full detail. The island was a place where only the strongest could survive. Team Rocket had orchestrated brutal trials, where each participant was assigned a wild Pokémon to tame. These creatures were not the friendly, loyal Pokémon one might imagine—they were wild, untamed, and often violent. Many trainers died in the first moments of their trials, either killed by the creatures or fleeing in fear.
The first trial was one of survival. Of the 300 who began, only half would make it past the first level. The rest would perish. It was a brutal process, one that Aoki had barely survived in his previous life.
Aoki remembered how long it had taken him to fully understand the nature of the Pokémon, how much time had been wasted as he stumbled through his first encounters. He had been forced to rely on the raw talent of the dark crow to carry him through the trials, but even then, he had failed to properly train the crow, to bring out its true strength.
Standing up slowly, Aoki brushed the dust from his clothes. His body was weak, but his mind was clear. If his memories were correct,, there was something special that had helped him survive in his previous life—a power that had guided him through the darkest moments. That ability, something more than just luck or skill, had been the key to his success and survival. And now, there was a chance—just a faint glimmer—that this power had reincarnated with him, following him into this new life.
Closing his eyes, a shiver of anticipation ran through him. He had no way of knowing for sure, but the thought of it stirred something deep within his chest.
"System, Start."
For a moment, there was nothing—only silence. His heart pounded in his chest, and just as he was about to give up, a sound, cold and mechanical, suddenly pierced the stillness, filling his mind.
"… System initializing…"
Aoki smiled, a sense of excitement growing within him. This was his second chance and he wasn't about to let it go to waste.
"Let's begin," he whispered, his eyes burning with resolve.
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