Pokemon: The Scientist’s Rebirth

**** Authors Message *****

Sorry for the delay in updates—some health stuff had me tied up. I'll try to make up for the missed chapters by uploading one chapter every day for now, then go back to the usual schedule of a chapter every two days. Can't promise anything just yet since I'm still recovering, but thanks for being patient!

***** Onto the chapter*****

A week, a mere blink in the grand scheme of things, had passed since Ethan's official promotion was set in motion. The intervening days were a blur of meticulous paperwork, bureaucratic procedures, and the final, decisive examination that solidified his new status. His diligent study, coupled with his innate understanding of scientific principles, made the test a mere formality. The results came swiftly, accompanied by the endorsements from both Professor Oak and Master Cedric Oakheart. The news spread like wildfire through Oak Coral and beyond: Ethan, at the astonishing age of fifteen, was officially promoted to Tier E Research Assistant. This unprecedented achievement etched his name into the annals of Pokémon research, establishing a new record for the youngest individual to ever hold such a position.

The congratulations were a constant stream—a tide of well-wishes and impressed murmurs flowing around Ethan. Among the first to offer his felicitations was Jacob, his face beaming with genuine enthusiasm.

"Ethan, congratulations! You're officially a Research Assistant now. That means we're at the same rank!" Jacob declared, clapping a friendly hand on Ethan's shoulder.

Ethan tilted his head slightly, a faint smile playing on his lips. Jacob was someone he was fond of—the person who had first helped him navigate Oak Coral's labyrinthine ways. But the comparison, to put it mildly, was inaccurate. "You're a Tier D Junior Breeder, and I'm a Tier E Research Assistant," Ethan pointed out gently. "You're a whole tier above me. How exactly are we at the same rank?"

Jacob chuckled, his grin widening. "Well, I'm only a Tier E 'Research Assistant,' just like you," he countered, clearly amused. "It's just that my Breeder ranking is one tier higher. So, technically, in the research hierarchy, we're equals now, right?"

Ethan raised an eyebrow, his amusement deepening. "I suppose that logic tracks—barely."

"And let's not forget," Jacob added, leaning in conspiratorially, "you've already published a paper in the Indigo Science Journal as the lead author. I haven't even managed that yet. That's the one thing holding me back from ranking up to Junior Researcher. Meanwhile, you're barely 16 and already checking off requirements left and right. Ranking up to Tier D is just around the corner for you."

Ethan shook his head, his expression a mix of wry amusement and modest frustration. "Publishing isn't enough. Unless I can secure endorsements from three S-tier Professionals, I'll still have to wait until I'm 18 and pass the ICAT."

Jacob's grin faltered as the enormity of Ethan's ambition hit him. His tone softened, carrying a mix of admiration and disbelief. "You're serious about becoming a Junior Researcher before you're even 18?" he asked, his voice tinged with awe. "That's... incredible. I'm almost 25 and still struggling to secure Tier D in the research hierarchy. Do you even realize how rare that is?"

Ethan didn't reply, offering only a kind smile in return.

Jacob shook his head, exhaling sharply. "Well, you did manage to get recommendations from Professor Oak and Master Cedric, right? That's already two S-tier endorsements. You just need one more. Who knows? You might get lucky."

"Like that's going to be easy," Ethan said, his voice tinged with skepticism. "Where am I supposed to find another S-tier Professional? There's no one else in Pallet Town. I doubt I'll even meet another S-tier before I turn 18, let alone secure their endorsement."

"If I'm being honest," Jacob said, shrugging, "your chances aren't great. The fact that you got two S-tier endorsements already is mind-boggling. You're lucky to be in Pallet Town. Hosting two S-tier Professionals in one place is practically unheard of. Even major cities barely have one."

Ethan nodded. "Yeah, I did get lucky."

Jacob narrowed his eyes playfully. "Oh, I don't think it was just luck. It's got to be Arceus's will or something. How else did you convince that old coot Cedric to endorse you? I mean, the man's a notorious stickler for rules and barely listens to anyone. What kind of magic did you work on him? Seriously, spill the secret—I could use it to make my life as his subordinate much less frustrating."

Ethan let out a small laugh, raising his hands in mock surrender. "If it was magic, it was a one-time deal. I doubt it'll happen again."

Jacob mulled this over, his brow furrowing. After a moment, his expression softened into a determined smile. "You know what? Don't lose hope just yet. Sometimes, S-tier folks visit Oak Coral for League duties or official business. If you're lucky, one of them might show up before you turn 18. And who knows? You could impress them."

Ethan's eyes lit up briefly, though he kept his response pragmatic. "If you hear about any S-tier visitors, let me know immediately."

Jacob nodded firmly. "I promise I will."

As the two parted ways, Ethan made his way to the Pokéforge—the state-of-the-art laboratory dedicated to advanced device manufacturing and testing.

The Pokéforge Lab at Oak Coral was a marvel of modern technology, its name conjuring images of mythical blacksmiths forging legendary artifacts. In truth, it was a cutting-edge facility dedicated to advanced device manufacturing and experimentation.

Ethan stepped through the automated doors, his shoes tapping lightly against the polished floor. The lab buzzed with energy, its sleek metallic interiors alive with the hum of machinery, the soft glow of holographic displays, and the subdued chatter of researchers engrossed in their work. The faint scent of ozone lingered in the air—a telltale sign of ongoing electrical experiments.

For many, the Pokéforge was an overwhelming labyrinth of high-tech equipment and intricate systems. But for Ethan, it was a sanctuary. Its sterile yet charged atmosphere bore an uncanny resemblance to the labs was accustomed to in his old life. Every detail—from the hum of the machinery to the sterile, charged air—felt like home. Here, he was in his element.

What had brought Ethan to this lab was the NovaDex Project—a ongoing research project he got to know about through his determined quest to fulfil Master Cedric's demand. Driven by Cedric's challenge – the demand to further showcase his exceptional talent with another significant research contribution – Ethan had been meticulously searching for a field ripe with potential, one where he could make a substantial impact in a relatively short timeframe. He knew he needed to find a project that offered a clear path to demonstrable results in a short amount of time. It was during this focused search that he stumbled upon the NovaDex project, a cutting-edge project underway at Oak Lab or more specifically the Pokéforge.

The NovaDex was conceived as a direct successor to the Digital Pokedex, the iconic device originally conceived and developed by Professor Oak himself. The original Pokedex, a marvel of its time, was a relatively simple piece of technology by modern standards. It essentially functioned as an electronic encyclopedia with a built-in camera. When pointed at a Pokémon, the device's rudimentary computer vision system would analyze the image, identifying the creature based on a basic clustering of visual data. Once a match was found, the Pokedex would display the Pokémon's name and recite pre-programmed information about the species, drawn from a static database. While revolutionary for its time, its capabilities were limited to basic identification and information retrieval. It lacked the nuanced understanding of individual Pokémon and their unique characteristics.

However, the world of technology, even in the Pokémon universe, was constantly evolving. Recent breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, particularly in the realm of machine learning, had opened up exciting new possibilities. These advancements were now being channeled into the NovaDex project, transforming it from a simple identification tool into a sophisticated analysis platform. The goal was ambitious: to create a Pokedex that not only identified a Pokémon's species but also estimated the specific moves an individual Pokémon was likely to possess. This leap in functionality represented a paradigm shift, moving from static information to dynamic analysis.

Ethan recognized the immense potential of this project almost immediately. His past life experiences, particularly his early career as a mechatronics engineer specializing in machine learning and AI, made him uniquely qualified to contribute. Before branching out into other scientific disciplines, Ethan had dedicated himself to mastering the intricacies of artificial intelligence, developing a deep understanding of algorithms, neural networks, and data analysis. He could confidently assert that no one in this world –possessed the same breadth and depth of knowledge in AI technologies as he did. The Pokémon world, while advanced in many areas, seemed to lag behind his previous world in this specific field.

The moment Ethan discovered that an AI-based project is ongoing at Oak Lab, he jumped at it like a hungry hyena. This was precisely the opportunity he had been searching for. He saw a clear path to making significant contributions, quickly demonstrating his abilities, and fulfilling Master Cedric's unspoken challenge in as short a time as possible. He immediately set about trying to become involved in the project, pushing to be accepted as an assistant.

Initially, Professor Oak was hesitant. He expressed concerns about Ethan's lack of demonstrable experience with computer systems within the context of the Pokémon world. While Ethan's general scientific aptitude was undeniable, Oak worried that he might struggle with the specific hardware and software used in the NovaDex project. However, Ethan's unwavering enthusiasm, coupled with his persistent begging, eventually wore down the Professor's resistance. Oak, ever the champion of scientific curiosity and exploration, finally relented, allowing Ethan to join the team.

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