Since its release on October 16, Pokémon LEGENDS Z-A has drawn countless players into its brand-new world, offering not just a captivating story but also unique gameplay mechanics that set it apart from previous mainline titles.
Recently, a Japanese game streamer on X (formerly Twitter) declared a wild challenge for their Pokémon LEGENDS Z-A playthrough: "Walk one kilometer for every level gained." What started as a seemingly simple rule quickly spiraled into an epic, unexpected turn of events! Their challenge results have since gone viral, with netizens hilariously calling it a "total trap lol," turning the streamer into an overnight sensation.
The streamer in question is Masa (@masa1225kami), who runs a YouTube channel famous for its "custom rule" challenges that often involve mind-bending, self-imposed restrictions. Previous stunts include a bizarre rule in another Pokémon game where he had to "plant a sunflower every time a Sunkern fainted," or crafting an incredibly detailed Rayquaza doll out of felt. These antics have earned him a loyal following online.
For his latest adventure in Pokémon LEGENDS Z-A, Masa laid down the "walk one kilometer for every level gained" gauntlet. Even then, some netizens joked that he'd better prepare for some serious walking, but Masa committed to his self-imposed rule.
As players progress through the story, a mode called "ZA Ascent Battle" unlocks, where trainers face off against others to raise their "rank" – starting from Z and climbing all the way to A. It's a new feature that seamlessly integrates the battle system into the main storyline.
As the plot advanced, Masa dove into the ZA Ascent Battle. After defeating a particularly tough opponent, something unexpected happened: the game triggered a special event, and he was suddenly boosted by a whopping 16 levels at once (from V to F)!
What he thought would be a minor challenge instantly transformed into a "hellish ordeal" – a guaranteed 16-kilometer walk! Faced with this sudden "punishment," he hilariously posted, "Things have gotten out of hand..."
The post quickly blew up, with comments flooding in: "Well, you're definitely getting your exercise now!" "That trap is brutal lol, nobody told you it would do that!" "Looks like you're ready to join the self-defense forces; they march ten kilometers every day lol!"
In the end, Masa actually followed through with the challenge – he walked for nearly three hours, covering an actual distance of 17.12 kilometers, successfully completing his self-imposed rule.
You gotta hand it to streamers: turning a seemingly happy event like leveling up into a self-inflicted torture session, all for the laughs and attention of countless netizens. Guess that's a win... right? XD