Reincarnated Into a Pokémon World and Can See Their Hidden Potential?!

Two weeks.

That was all that remained before the biggest event of Ray's young life: the Intermediate Trainer Tournament. And yet, even with everything he had accomplished so far, something gnawed at him.

It wasn't nerves.

It wasn't fear.

It was Pidgeotto.

Sitting on the veranda behind his family home in Glendale, Ray stared silently at the floating holographic interface of his Statsight system. The sunlight warmed his skin, but his mind was miles away—buried in numbers, graphs, and colored aptitude tags.

A single thought weighed heavy in his chest:

Why hasn't he broken through yet…?

With a flick of his fingers, he pulled up the profile for each of his Pokémon, starting with Dratini.

[ Pokémon Profile – Dratini ]• Name: Dratini• Aptitude: Light Purple• Combat Level: 27• Status: Healthy, Active• Traits: Swift Learner, Loyal Temperament• Growth Forecast: Rapid Development

Ray smiled faintly. Dratini had grown fast. Faster than expected. Though young and still somewhat timid, he had embraced training with heart and discipline. Ray had made sure to keep his sessions light, but focused—respecting the mental toll of recent trauma and allowing time for emotional bonding.

Next, he pulled up Charmander's profile.

[ Pokémon Profile – Charmander ]• Name: Charmander• Aptitude: Deep Purple• Combat Level: 26• Status: Healthy, High Morale• Traits: High Energy, Strong Bond Formation• Origin: Descendant of Professor Oak's Charizard and a Draconic Lineage

That little flame-tail had been a surprise. Hatched from Oak's precious egg, Charmander had quickly proven himself a force of nature. Though still a handful at times, his potential was undeniable. There was a fire in his eyes—raw and burning.

Ray couldn't wait to see what heights he'd reach.

But then came the one that made his heart tighten—the profile of his very first Pokémon.

[ Pokémon Profile – Pidgeotto ]• Name: Pidgeotto• Aptitude: Blue• Combat Level: 39• Status: Plateaued• Traits: Veteran Experience, Fierce Loyalty• Notes: Combat efficiency has stagnated. Requires new stimuli or breakthrough battle scenario to advance.

Ray stared at the last line. He'd seen it every morning for the past two weeks.

"Plateaued…"

Pidgeotto had been with him through everything—from early childhood training to life-threatening battles. He had evolved, grown in aptitude, and been Ray's most reliable partner through the Academy and beyond.

And now… they were stuck.

No amount of drills, strategy sessions, or mock battles helped. His stats were solid. His technique was flawless. But his level wouldn't budge from 39.

Ray sighed deeply, running a hand through his dark hair.

Maybe we're just missing the right kind of pressure…

That evening, over dinner, he brought it up to his parents.

"Mom, Dad… I think I need to go back into the forest," he said.

His mother paused mid-bite. "What for?"

Ray placed his utensils down. "To help Pidgeotto. He's at a wall, and I think a real battle might be the push he needs. Something that tests him—and me."

The room went quiet. His father set down his glass of water, his face thoughtful.

"You're talking about the outer zone, right? Not too far?"

"Just the perimeter," Ray confirmed. "I won't go near the deeper sections. I promise."

His mother's expression was pained. "Ray, you know what happened last time. That forest holds real dangers."

Ray's voice was steady. "I remember. That's why I'll be cautious. But I'm not that same boy anymore."

His father studied him for a long moment. Then, with a slow nod, he replied, "You're right… you're stronger than I was at your age. Stronger than I am now."

Ray blinked in surprise.

"We trust you," his mother added, albeit reluctantly. "Just… please, be careful. Come back before dark."

"I will."

They helped him pack—an emergency medkit, PokéSnax, a flare beacon, and a reinforced jacket. Ray added a few specialized training tools and a compact tent just in case.

As dawn painted the sky in shades of gold and crimson, Ray stood at the edge of the forest trail. Pidgeotto landed on his arm, sensing the change in atmosphere.

"This is it," Ray whispered. "Let's find our breakthrough."