NOVEL NEXT Chapter 2: 2
Ye Yinchuan stared at the panel displayed before him.
[Gluttonous Pokémon: Munchlax]
[Level: 3]
[Type: Normal]
[Gender: Male]
[Base Stats: B-rank (390)]
[Individual Value: D-rank (30)]
[Ability: Pickup]
[Nature: Lonely]
[Moves: Tackle, Lick]
[Status: Hungry]
[Evolution Path: Snorlax]
Seeing the detailed breakdown, Ye Yinchuan clicked his tongue.
"So the reason Munchlax sticks around despite starving is because of its lonely nature?"
Every Pokémon had a unique nature, but in this world, there wasn't a precise way to determine it. Normally, trainers could only infer a Pokémon's personality through interactions.
A Pokémon's nature played a significant role in its value.
Good-tempered Pokémon were more desirable, while those with poor temperaments were harder to sell.
It was similar to how pets worked before Ye Yinchuan transmigrated—affectionate pets sold for a high price, while aggressive ones were difficult to rehome.
But a Pokémon's nature was even more complex, affecting both battles and daily life.
"Still, these base stats aren't bad. If I remember correctly, the starter Pokémon only have a base stat of 380. But those can evolve twice, while Munchlax can only evolve once…"
"The individual value, though, is garbage."
Ye Yinchuan sighed.
Base stats determined the overall potential of a Pokémon species.
Individual values measured the quality of a specific Pokémon within that species.
Both were ranked from D to S, with higher being better.
To put it in simple terms, base stats were like a school's overall ranking, while individual values were like the students within that school.
Some schools were elite, while others were mediocre. And even within a good school, some students excelled while others barely passed.
Munchlax's base stats were B-rank, which was decent.
But its individual value was only D-rank, the lowest possible tier—bottom of the barrel.
"Its ability is average at best."
Every Pokémon had an ability, though even within the same species, abilities could vary. Some Pokémon even had hidden abilities that were yet to be discovered.
Munchlax was known to have two standard abilities—Pickup and Thick Fat. Most individuals possessed one of these.
A Munchlax with Pickup had the habit of gathering random items. Sometimes, trainers would find unexpected surprises from it, especially in the wild or within secret zones.
Thick Fat, on the other hand, was more suited for battle.
It reduced damage from Fire- and Ice-type attacks. Additionally, physical attacks were generally less effective against Pokémon with Thick Fat.
Ye Yinchuan couldn't help but mutter, "Why does it reduce fire damage? Aren't fat creatures supposed to be afraid of heat?"
Munchlax's moves weren't bad—it already knew two.
Most low-level Pokémon only had one move when first caught.
Of course, exceptionally talented ones could have three or four, or even more!
Moves determined a Pokémon's combat abilities, allowing them to unleash powerful attacks or trigger special effects.
"As expected, my Munchlax isn't suited for battle. Becoming a professional trainer with it? Not gonna happen."
The moment Ye Yinchuan finished speaking, he noticed Munchlax staring at him blankly. Its ears twitched twice, and its expression looked a bit… downcast.
He reached out and rubbed its chubby cheeks. "Don't worry. I'm not interested in being a professional trainer. I just want to focus on streaming, making money, and feeding you until you're big and round."
Munchlax let out a delighted sound, stretching its short arms toward him for a hug.
Ye Yinchuan chuckled and embraced it. It was warm, fluffy—like hugging a giant plush toy.
If Munchlax ever got properly fed, he figured the experience would be even better.
"Alright, Munchlax, time to start the stream and make some money!"
Munchlax nodded, somewhat understanding, and sat beside Ye Yinchuan just as it always did when he streamed.
Outside, the sky had darkened, and a light drizzle had begun to fall.
The rhythmic patter of rain filled the air.
Inside the worn-down rental apartment, a man and his Pokémon found a quiet sense of comfort and belonging.
"I will become a top streamer!"
Ye Yinchuan's eyes burned with determination. Even without the system, he firmly believed that as long as he never gave up, he would succeed one day.
But now that he had the system, wasn't his rise to the top practically guaranteed?
Streaming wasn't exactly profitable, but he was already used to the process.
After registering a new account and filling in his banking and identity information, he hesitated for a moment before entering his new streaming ID—
KabiAppraiser.
Munchlax was his first Pokémon, so he wanted a name that honored it. More importantly, it symbolized his commitment to making money to provide for it.
For the room title, he typed:
New Streamer First Broadcast! Free Pokémon Appraisals! Bring Your Pokémon and Let's Go!
New streamers had no reputation, but the platform provided a small boost for their first stream. Whether or not he could retain viewers was crucial.
If he could keep them engaged and even convert them into regular followers, the platform's algorithm would see his content as valuable and continue recommending him to more viewers.
Soon, his first batch of viewers entered the stream.
[BigMuscles: "KabiAppraiser? Does the 'Kabi' mean your internet lags a lot? Hahaha!"]
[CarrotLady: "Oh, a new streamer. Looks good. Not going for a face-cam gimmick but doing Pokémon appraisals instead?"]
There were about ten people watching, but only two were chatting.
Ye Yinchuan cleared his throat and responded to the interaction.
"Big… uh, big friend, my internet does not lag. 'Kabi' refers to my Pokémon, Munchlax."
As he spoke, he reached out to pet Munchlax, showing it to the camera.
The little Pokémon sat obediently, allowing him to pat it however he pleased.
"And CarrotLady, I specialize in Pokémon appraisals. As a new streamer, I won't be accepting donations. Stick around and see for yourself!"
[BigMuscles: "Dude, your Munchlax looks malnourished! Shouldn't you take it to a vet instead of streaming?"]
[CarrotLady: "How can you appraise anything through a screen? Do you have a certification as a Pokémon breeder or appraiser?"]
Ye Yinchuan sighed inwardly. These internet people were tough to handle.
It was hard to earn their trust in the beginning.
With no major content yet, viewers were already leaving.
Ten… nine… eight…
He knew that if he didn't do something fast, his audience would disappear, and his stream would flop.
"I need to pull off something impressive!"
Despite his frustration, he forced a confident smile and said, "Big friend, don't worry about my Munchlax. If I'm not mistaken, your Pokémon should be a Machop, right?"
The moment Ye Yinchuan finished speaking—
[BigMuscles: "Bro, you're a freaking psychic! How did you know?! My Pokémon is a Machop!"]
[CarrotLady: "No way. You can tell just like that? Then what about mine? Guess mine too!"]
Seeing their reactions, Ye Yinchuan quietly exhaled in relief. He had them hooked.
"Of course, I can identify Pokémon just by looking. It's my specialty!"
The viewer count stabilized at seven. There was still a chance.
"However, I'll appraise Big friend's Pokémon first. Then, I'll get to yours. What do you say? It's free!"
BigMuscles, seeing that someone else was also interested, immediately responded.
"Appraise away! I want to see if you're actually legit! Here, connecting to the stream now!"