Chapter 16: A New Day, A New Hunt

I stirred, rubbing my eyes as slivers of sunlight sliced through the cracked ceiling of Hotel Room 205. The air hung heavy, musty. Dust motes drifted lazily in the warm rays, a soft reminder of just how rundown this place really was. I groaned, pushing myself upright, my bare feet slapping against the cold, chipped tiles. The room reeked of neglect—an aroma I'd long since gotten used to.

Glancing at my black watch on the side table, I see. 10 𝘈𝘔. Not too early, not too late. I tossed the watch back onto the table, the clatter echoing in the otherwise silent room. The cold tiles sent a shiver through me as I made my way to the bathroom. 

The door creaked as I pushed it open, revealing walls lined with cracks like battle scars. I twisted the rusted faucet, splashing cold water onto my face. It snapped me out of the lingering remnants of sleep, and as I ran my hand through my hair, I made a lazy swipe into thin air, pulling out a brand-new toothbrush and toothpaste from my limitless storage. Brushing my teeth was the only sound.

After a quick shower under a weak stream of water, I summoned a towel, drying off before calling forth my clothes. A black shirt. Red jacket. Jeans. Sneakers. I caught a glance of myself in the cracked mirror. I didn't look like a normal ten-year-old, not by a long shot.

I glanced at the two Pokéballs resting on the cracked desk and release them from their pokeballs. Bulbasaur. Pidgy. They blinked into existence in flashes of white light, filling the dingy room with their presence. Bulbasaur let out a low growl, his cautious eyes scanning the decrepit surroundings. Pidgy flapped up to the headboard of the bed, wings stirring the stale air.

"Morning, guys," I said, stretching. Bulbasaur's vines twitched, and Pidgy ruffled his feathers. "We've got a lot to do today."

I pulled up my system interface with a thought, my vision swimming with data. A smile tugged at the corner of my lips as I scrolled through their progress. 𝘛𝘸𝘰 𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘶𝘯-𝘪𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘛𝘦𝘢𝘮 𝘙𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘵.

"Alright, let's see what we can upgrade."

I focused on Bulbasaur first. With a thought, I use my abilities to teach 𝘙𝘢𝘻𝘰𝘳 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘧. His vines shivered as they sharpened into lethal blades. Pidgy got 𝘘𝘶𝘪𝘤𝘬 𝘈𝘵𝘵𝘢𝘤𝘬, his wings becoming a blur for a brief moment, the power surging through him.

"You're both close to evolving," I mused aloud. "Let's handle that in the forest."

Bulbasaur's gaze sharpened, while Pidgy chirped eagerly. I could feel their excitement building. But first, we had other business.

I recalled them, their forms dissolving back into the Pokéballs. My fingers tapped the cracked desk. 𝘝𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘯 𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵 was our next destination, and there was a particular Pikachu I had my eye on. Evolving it into a Raichu would be laughably easy with my abilities. Almost too easy. But I wasn't one to turn down an advantage, no matter how effortless it seemed.

"Pikachu, huh?" I chuckled under my breath. "Let's see if luck's on our side today."

I grabbed my sling bag and slipped out of the room, the door groaning on its hinges as if it were protesting my departure. The stairwell was just as run-down as the rest of the hotel, each step echoing through the narrow space. 

As I entered the lobby, I put the room key onto the counter. The girl behind the desk barely glanced up, her face as bored as the Machoke looming beside her.

"Morning," I muttered to the Machoke.

The hulking Pokémon just blinked slowly, unimpressed. I stepped past him, ignoring the girl's disinterested look.

Outside, the sunlight hit me full force, making me squint as I raised a hand to block the blinding light. The city was already alive, people bustling through the streets, Pokémon darting between the shadows. I adjusted my sling bag, my mind already racing with plans.

First things first—breakfast. My stomach growled, making its demands known.

I scanned the street and spotted a high-end restaurant at the corner. A small smile crept across my face. The contrast between my shabby hotel and the polished floors of the place was too tempting to pass up.

"Five-star breakfast sounds good enough."

I pushed through the glass doors and was immediately greeted by a sharply dressed waiter. His eyes flicked over my casual clothes, but he didn't say a word as he led me to a plush seat near the window.

The menu was filled with dishes that screamed luxury, but one stood out. 𝘞𝘩𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘈𝘭𝘣𝘢 𝘛𝘳𝘶𝘧𝘧𝘭𝘦. It sounded as extravagant as it looked. I handed the menu back.

"I'll take the truffle," I said, my voice casual.

The waiter raised an eyebrow but nodded, disappearing to place the order. I leaned back in the chair, tapping my fingers idly on the table. Minutes passed before the waiter returned, setting the plate in front of me. The aroma hit me immediately—rich, earthy, and indulgent.

I dug in, savoring every bite. Even after two lives, there were still some things that made you feel... powerful. Not battling, not commanding Pokémon, but indulging in the luxuries that came from having it all.

After finishing, I casualy put 10,000 Pokédollars onto the table for the meal, throwing in an extra 2,000 for the tip. The waiter's eyes widened at the stack of money, but I didn't linger for a reaction. I brushed off my jacket and stepped out into the street, the warm sun hitting my face again.

As I started toward the Pokémon Center, my fingers tapped the Pokéballs on my belt. 𝘉𝘶𝘭𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘢𝘶𝘳'𝘴 𝘦𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯. 𝘗𝘪𝘥𝘨𝘺'𝘴 𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯. And now, the hunt for Pikachu. It was all coming together. And with my cheats, it wouldn't take long.

A smirk tugged at my lips as I strode forward. The adventure was just getting started.