Chapter Text
Harry gritted his teeth and desperately tried to keep his balance.
This was ridiculous.
He had woken up in the middle of an endless ocean, standing—or rather, crouching—on a single rotten wooden plank.
Not a boat.
Not a raft.
A plank.
Dark clouds were gathering overhead, turning the distant horizon an ugly grey, and the wind had steadily grown stronger since he'd awakened. Every wave made his miserable little plank rock beneath him, forcing Harry to throw out his arms to keep from tumbling into the sea.
"This isn't fair!" Harry growled.
He had already checked the Regional Chat.
Everyone else had rafts.
Actual rafts.
Some were small, admittedly, but they were still rafts. They could sit down without immediately getting soaked. They could move around. Some people had even mentioned having enough room to lie down.
Harry had a plank.
"Rafts are much sturdier than this!"
The ocean, predictably, didn't care.
A wave rolled beneath him.
"Whoa—!"
Harry windmilled his arms and somehow managed not to fall.
He glared down at the plank.
The plank remained unapologetic.
Upon waking, Harry had been informed that he had been transported into something called the Pokémon Survival Game. Apparently, Pokémon were strange creatures that inhabited this world. Some were small. Some were enormous. Some could breathe fire, manipulate electricity, control water, fly, and perform all manner of impossible feats.
Harry had decided fairly quickly that Pokémon sounded suspiciously like magical creatures.
The Game had also told him that this was currently an Ocean Survival Region.
Currently being the part Harry found particularly concerning.
Unfortunately, it hadn't elaborated.
For now, Harry had more immediate problems.
He needed food.
He needed drinking water.
He needed shelter before the approaching storm arrived.
Most importantly, he needed to get off this bloody plank.
Fortunately, the ocean wasn't completely empty.
Debris regularly drifted past him. Pieces of plastic, scraps of wood, bits of rubbish—anything Harry could reach without falling off his plank went straight into his Inventory.
His Inventory wasn't particularly impressive either.
Five slots.
That was it.
Apparently, the Game had decided that giving Harry a single plank wasn't enough of a disadvantage.
At the moment, though, Harry was focused on something considerably more valuable than rubbish.
A chest.
It bobbed on the waves several meters away.
Harry lay flat on his stomach across the plank, wrapped his legs around it as best he could, and began paddling with his arms.
It was exhausting.
The plank wasn't designed to move like this. Every wave pushed him sideways, and several times Harry had to stop paddling entirely just to keep himself from rolling into the water.
Still, slowly—painfully slowly—he got closer.
"Come on..."
His fingers finally brushed wood.
"Got you!"
Harry grabbed the handle of the chest and immediately regretted it when its weight nearly dragged him off his plank.
"Bloody hell!"
He scrambled, kicking wildly beneath the water until he managed to steady himself. Panting, Harry pulled the chest alongside him and opened it.
A notification appeared.
Supply Chest Opened!
Obtained:
Wood ×10
Rope ×10
Water Bottle ×2
Bap ×2
Poké Ball ×6
Pokédex System Update ×1
Harry's eyes immediately locked onto one item.
"Poké Balls!"
He knew what those were.
Well, vaguely.
The introductory tutorial had explained that Poké Balls allowed humans to capture Pokémon and form partnerships with them. Pokémon could help players fight, gather resources, travel, defend their homes and, most importantly in Harry's current situation, survive.
The chest dissolved into motes of light.
Harry was still examining one of the strange red-and-white balls when he heard a familiar sound behind him.
Water bubbled.
Harry looked over his shoulder.
"Oh. Hello again."
A large, round head rose from the ocean.
The Pokémon had visited him several times already.
She was enormous—far larger than Harry—and mostly purple, with a pale underside. She looked somewhat like a round whale, although Harry had never seen a whale quite like this.
Until now, he hadn't known what she was.
His newly installed Pokédex immediately reacted.
A translucent screen appeared.
Scanning...
Wailmer
Gender: Female
Level: 1
Type: Water
Known Moves: Splash
The Wailmer gave a happy cry and swam directly toward him.
"Wailmer," Harry read.
Apparently pleased that he'd finally figured out what she was, Wailmer bumped affectionately against his leg.
Unfortunately, Harry was still balanced on one plank.
"Whoa!"
He nearly went straight into the sea.
"Wailmer!"
She froze.
Harry clung to the plank.
"I like you too," he assured her quickly. "Really, I do. But could you back up for just a minute? I need to do something, and if you knock me off this thing, I'm going to have a problem."
Wailmer stared at him.
Harry wasn't sure how much she'd understood.
Then she slowly backed away.
Harry blinked.
"You understood me?"
Wailmer chirped.
"Huh."
That was useful.
"Don't go anywhere, though," Harry added. "You can come right back afterward."
Wailmer remained nearby, patiently bobbing in the water.
Harry turned his attention back to his System.
"Crafting."
A new screen opened.
"Raft upgrades."
There.
Starter Raft Upgrade
Requirements Met.
Harry didn't even bother reading the rest.
"Do it!"
His plank began to glow.
Harry yelped and grabbed hold as the wood beneath him shifted.
The plank widened.
More boards appeared, fitting themselves together beneath him. Rope wound around the edges and between the boards, securing everything together.
Seconds later, the light faded.
Harry stared.
He was sitting on a square wooden raft measuring two meters by two meters.
Four square meters of glorious, wonderful, reasonably stable deck.
Harry could have kissed it.
Instead, he immediately sprawled flat on his back.
"Oh, thank Merlin."
He wasn't going to fall into the ocean every time he moved.
This was luxury.
Admittedly, it was an extremely low standard for luxury.
Harry sat back up.
"Wailmer! You can come back now!"
She didn't need to be told twice.
Wailmer swam over and rested her head against the edge of his new raft.
Harry laughed and rubbed the top of her head.
"Thank you for waiting."
Wailmer made a pleased sound.
"It's not much," Harry admitted, looking around his tiny two-by-two-meter home, "but it's much safer than what I had before."
Wailmer chirped.
For some strange reason, Harry knew she agreed with him.
He frowned.
That was odd.
He didn't just think she'd agreed.
He knew.
Harry pushed the thought aside for the moment.
His stomach growled.
"Wish I could feed you," he muttered. "I can't even feed myself properly right now."
Wailmer pulled away.
"What's wrong?"
She swam several meters from the raft.
Then—
Splash!
Wailmer threw her entire body upward before crashing back into the sea.
A tremendous spray of water exploded around her.
Harry covered his face.
"Merlin!"
Something smacked against the raft.
Then another.
And another.
Harry slowly lowered his arms.
Several ordinary fish were flopping helplessly across his deck.
Harry stared at them.
Then at Wailmer.
Then at the fish again.
Wailmer swam proudly back to him.
"You did that for me?"
She chirped.
Harry's face broke into a grin.
"Good job, Wailmer! Good girl!"
Wailmer practically vibrated with happiness.
"You're such a smart girl!"
That earned him another delighted noise.
Harry laughed.
She had been visiting him ever since he'd appeared here. She hadn't attacked him. She hadn't demanded anything from him. She'd simply seemed curious about the strange human stranded on a plank.
Now she'd brought him food.
Harry looked down at the Poké Ball still in his hand.
An idea occurred to him.
"Hey, Wailmer?"
She looked at him.
Harry held up the ball.
"The Game told me what these do."
Wailmer studied it.
"You seem to like me," Harry continued, "and I like you."
He hesitated.
Harry knew almost nothing about Pokémon. Maybe there were rules for this. Perhaps he was supposed to battle her first.
But attacking someone who had just brought him dinner seemed rather rude.
"So... would you like to be my Pokémon?"
Wailmer went very still.
Harry hurried on.
"You don't have to! I mean, if you'd rather stay wild, that's fine. You can still visit. I just thought..."
Wailmer suddenly bumped the Poké Ball with her nose.
Harry nearly dropped it.
Light enveloped her.
Wailmer disappeared into the ball.
It shook.
Once.
Click.
Harry stared.
A notification exploded across his vision.
Congratulations!
You have captured Wailmer!
Before Harry could properly react, another announcement appeared.
REGIONAL ANNOUNCEMENT
Congratulations to Player Harry Potter for capturing the first Pokémon in the Region!
Achievement Reward Granted!
The announcement repeated three times.
"What?"
Another appeared immediately afterward.
WORLD ANNOUNCEMENT
Congratulations to Player Harry Potter for capturing the first Pokémon in the World!
Achievement Reward Granted!
That one repeated three times too.
Harry stared blankly at the System.
"The first in the world?"
The Poké Ball moved in his hand.
"Oh!"
Harry quickly released Wailmer.
She reappeared beside the raft in a burst of light and immediately began celebrating, splashing happily around him.
Harry laughed.
"Apparently you're famous now!"
Wailmer chirped.
"Guess not all Pokémon are as friendly as you."
Wailmer agreed enthusiastically.
Two treasure chests materialized on Harry's tiny raft.
At the same time, the Regional and World Chats practically exploded.
Everyone wanted to know what Harry had caught.
Harry opened Wailmer's expanded Pokédex page.
Wailmer
Variant: Shiny
Gender: Female
Type: Water
Nature: Modest
Level: 1
Height: 7'11"
Weight: 20.47 stone
Ability: Water Veil
Hidden Ability: Pressure — Locked
Moves: Splash
Harry blinked.
"Shiny?"
He selected the word.
Shiny Pokémon possess an extremely rare alternate coloration from others of their species.
Harry looked at his enormous purple friend.
"You're rare."
Wailmer looked extremely pleased with herself.
Harry smiled and shared her Pokédex entry and picture with both chats.
WORLD/REGIONAL CHAT
Harry Potter: Isn't she cute? It says she's something called a Shiny, which apparently means she's a different colour than normal Wailmer. We're already friends!
Harry left the chats to lose their collective minds.
He had treasure to open.
The first chest vanished in a burst of light.
Stone ×10
Beach Ball ×1
Plastic ×10
Iron Nails ×10
The second followed.
Seawater Purifier ×1
Inventory Upgrade Card ×3
Poké Harness ×1
EV/IV Checker System Update ×1
"Inventory cards!"
Harry used those immediately.
Inventory Capacity Increased!
5 → 10
10 → 15
15 → 20
"Much better."
Twenty slots still wasn't enormous, but compared with five, it felt practically limitless.
Next came the Poké Harness.
According to its description, the harness could be fitted comfortably to compatible Pokémon. Depending on the Pokémon, it could assist with riding, hauling cargo, towing boats and other forms of transportation.
Harry slowly looked at Wailmer.
Wailmer looked back.
"We are definitely trying that later."
She chirped.
Finally, Harry installed the EV/IV Checker.
He regretted it almost immediately.
Numbers filled his vision.
Stats.
Base stats.
Individual Values.
Effort Values.
Natures.
Stat modifiers.
Growth rates.
Training recommendations.
Harry's eyes crossed.
"What in Merlin's name..."
The tutorial continued.
Harry lasted approximately thirty seconds before skipping to the simplified explanation.
That was much better.
Apparently Pokémon became stronger naturally by gaining experience and increasing their levels.
But training against particular Pokémon could also improve specific attributes.
The System called these Effort Values, or EVs.
Harry still didn't entirely understand it.
Fortunately, the System offered recommended builds.
Two appeared for Wailmer.
RECOMMENDED BUILD: JUGGERNAUT TANK
Primary Training: Defense
Secondary Training: Special Defense
Minor Investment: Special Attack
Suggested Final Distribution:
Defense: 252 EV
Special Defense: 252 EV
Special Attack: 4 EV
Purpose: Compensates for Wailmer's naturally low defensive statistics while taking advantage of her exceptionally high HP. Designed to endure prolonged combat and protect allies.
Harry read the second.
RECOMMENDED BUILD: APEX PREDATOR
Primary Training: Special Attack
Secondary Training: Speed
Purpose: Focuses on aggressive offensive pressure and mobility.
Harry stared at both.
"I understood about half of that."
Wailmer nudged the raft.
"Apparently you have loads of... HP."
Wailmer stared.
"Health," Harry translated.
She chirped.
"But your Defense isn't very good."
Wailmer looked offended.
"That's what this says, not me!"
She huffed.
Harry fought down a laugh.
"The first one would make you much harder to hurt. The second one would make you faster and help you hit harder."
Wailmer considered that.
Then Harry suddenly understood her response.
Not approximately.
Not from her expression.
He actually understood her.
She wanted the first one.
Wailmer wanted to be difficult to hurt.
She wanted to become big and strong enough that nobody could push her around anymore.
Harry's smile disappeared.
"Someone pushed you around?"
Wailmer answered.
Her brothers and sisters had teased her because she had been born purple instead of blue.
Different.
Strange.
They'd picked on her for it.
Harry's hand tightened around the edge of the raft.
He understood that rather better than he wanted to.
Wailmer continued.
She wanted to become strong enough that nobody could bully her again.
And now that Harry was hers, she wanted to be strong enough to protect him too.
Harry stared at her.
"You don't have to protect me just because we're friends."
Wailmer disagreed.
Very strongly.
Harry laughed softly.
"All right. Fine."
He reached down and rubbed her head.
"We'll protect each other."
Wailmer gave a happy cry.
"Juggernaut Tank it is."
Training Plan Selected: JUGGERNAUT TANK
Defense EV: 0/252
Special Defense EV: 0/252
Special Attack EV: 0/4
Total EV: 0/510
Harry stared at the numbers.
"Two hundred and fifty-two?"
Wailmer looked at him.
"Twice?"
She continued staring.
"This is going to take a while."
Wailmer didn't seem bothered.
Harry supposed she had a point.
They weren't going anywhere.
A new notification appeared.
Nearby Recommended Training Targets Available.
Harry opened it.
The System began searching the surrounding ocean for Pokémon capable of providing the EVs Wailmer needed.
Harry looked over her information again.
His attention caught on something else.
Ability: Water Veil
Hidden Ability: Pressure — Locked
"Hidden Ability?"
Another screen appeared.
Compatible Talent Detected.
Harry frowned.
"Talent?"
He hadn't checked that yet.
Before he could, his stomach growled again.
"Right. Food first. Mysterious magical Talent second."
Wailmer approved.
With the stone from his reward chest and materials he'd collected earlier, Harry crafted a small firepit.
The System assured him that its base was insulated and safe for use on his wooden raft provided he followed the instructions and didn't behave like an idiot.
Harry considered that reasonable.
He processed the fish Wailmer had caught.
The moment he did, another surprise appeared.
Fish Processed!
Fish Meat obtained.
Poké obtained.
"Poké?"
Poké is a recognized currency within the Pokémon Survival Game.
"Huh."
Apparently even murdering dinner paid him.
Harry cooked enough fish for himself while Wailmer happily hunted her own meal alongside the raft.
That was another enormous relief.
Wailmer could feed herself.
Harry ate while watching her swim.
Something continued bothering him.
He understood her.
Not merely her tone or body language.
When Wailmer spoke, Harry somehow knew exactly what she meant.
Eventually, curiosity won.
"Status."
His Status Panel opened.
Harry found the Talent section.
Then he stopped chewing.
TALENT: ARCEUS' BLESSING
1. Divine Subjugation
When deliberately invoked, standard capture requirements may be bypassed. Allows the user to forcibly establish a capture bond with otherwise incompatible, hostile, Alpha, or Legendary Pokémon.
Harry's expression immediately soured.
"Forcibly?"
He didn't particularly like the sound of that.
He looked at Wailmer.
He hadn't used it on her.
She had chosen him.
Harry continued reading.
2. Divine Bond
Pokémon that willingly establish a bond with the user gain maximum loyalty. Pokémon bonded through the user cannot be compelled to betray their Trainer. Friendship and emotional attachment remain dependent upon the individual Pokémon and the relationship formed with the user.
Harry relaxed slightly.
That sounded better.
3. Material Manifestation
Receive one Blind Box from Arceus every day.
Harry blinked.
"Free stuff?"
Excellent.
4. Genetics Purification
Once per day, the user may purify genetic imperfections within one Pokémon, increasing its Individual Values.
Harry still didn't completely understand IVs.
He'd deal with that later.
5. Hidden Ability Awakening
The user can perceive a Pokémon's Hidden Ability and awaken it if desired.
Harry's gaze immediately snapped toward Wailmer.
Hidden Ability: Pressure — Locked
"Oh."
That explained that.
He wasn't going to change anything without asking her first, though.
Then Harry reached the final ability.
6. Divine Speech
The user can understand all Pokémon. All Pokémon can understand the user regardless of species or language.
Harry slowly lowered the half-eaten fish in his hand.
"That's why."
Wailmer looked over.
"I can understand you because of this!"
Wailmer responded.
Harry stared at her.
Then he grinned.
"That's brilliant!"
Wailmer splashed happily.
Harry looked back at the Talent.
It was absurd.
Completely, ridiculously absurd.
"That's so broken," Harry whispered.
He wasn't entirely certain who Arceus was.
The name sounded important.
Possibly extremely important.
Harry glanced upward.
"Er... thank you, Arceus. Whoever you are."
He paused.
"Sorry I don't know who you are."
Somewhere, very far away, Harry had the strange feeling that something ancient was judging him.
He decided not to worry about it.
Not yet.
Harry finished eating.
The wind was getting stronger.
The storm was still approaching.
His home was four square meters of wood floating in an endless ocean.
His Inventory was tiny.
His supplies were limited.
He knew virtually nothing about Pokémon.
But Harry wasn't alone anymore.
Wailmer rested her enormous purple head against his raft.
Harry smiled and scratched her gently.
"Come on, then."
He picked up the Poké Harness.
"Let's figure out how this works."
Soon, the harness was comfortably secured around Wailmer, with the towline attached to Harry's raft.
Harry sat down and held tightly to the edge.
"Ready?"
Wailmer gave an enthusiastic cry.
"Let's find somewhere safer before that storm gets here."
Wailmer surged forward.
Harry's tiny raft jerked after her.
"WHOA!"
Wailmer accelerated.
"WAILMER!"
His shout disappeared beneath her delighted cry as the enormous purple Pokémon towed her new Trainer across the ocean.
Behind them, the Regional and World Chats were still exploding over the first Pokémon capture.
Ahead waited an endless ocean filled with Pokémon Harry had never seen, islands he'd never visited, resources he desperately needed, and hundreds of creatures he didn't even know existed.
Harry Potter had started the day with nothing but a rotten plank.
He ended it with a raft.
A Talent apparently bestowed upon him by some mysterious being called Arceus.
And, far more importantly, his first Pokémon.
His first friend in this strange world.
Wailmer.
AND SO HARRY POTTER'S FIRST DAY IN THE POKÉMON SURVIVAL GAME BEGINS!
WITH A FOUR-SQUARE-METER RAFT, SIX POKÉ BALLS—WELL, FIVE NOW—AND AN ENORMOUS PURPLE WHALE, OUR FIFTEEN-YEAR-OLD SURVIVOR SETS OFF ACROSS THE SEA.
HIS FIRST TRAINING GOAL? TURN WAILMER INTO A JUGGERNAUT.
THERE'S JUST ONE SMALL PROBLEM.
HARRY HAS ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA WHAT HE'S DOING.
STAY TUNED!