Ash's physical condition had always been extraordinary, and after gaining S-tier Aura Power, even Trainers who specialized in body training couldn't compare to him.
Take Bruno, for example—widely recognized as the Trainer with the strongest physique in the world. Even in pure hand-to-hand combat, Ash might not necessarily lose to him… and that was without any real training on Ash's part.
So carrying Misty, who weighed under ninety pounds, felt no different than carrying a schoolbag.
Because Ash had Misty on his back, he handed his Backpack to Pikachu. The sight of the tiny mouse Pokémon trudging along with a bag nearly as big as its body was comical.
But size never defined a Pokémon's strength. Even the smallest of them could shatter a massive tree with a single punch or tail strike.
Pikachu was no different. At his current Advanced Beginner Tier, lifting a little bag—or even Misty herself—wasn't out of the question. But the image would've been way too weird, not to mention Pikachu couldn't maintain that kind of effort for long. Better to leave Misty on Ash's back.
Misty lay quietly against him, her arms looped around his shoulders. His warm palm rested on the bare skin of her thigh. If Ash turned his head just then, he'd see her face flushed as red as a tomato.
Her parents had died when she was young, and her memories of her father were faint. This was the first time in her life she'd ever been this close to a boy.
Earlier, Ash's "provocation" had made her jump onto his back without thinking. Now that she was up there, her brain had completely shut down. So this is what it feels like to be carried by a boy? Honestly… it felt pretty nice.
Ash carried Misty well into the afternoon before stopping for a break. Along the way, Misty had asked him countless times if he was tired. Each time, Ash insisted carrying her was no heavier than a bundle of cotton.
He wasn't exaggerating. The only inconvenience was not being able to free his hands, but fatigue? Not at all. He could even give commands to Pikachu and Caterpie while carrying her.
That morning, Caterpie had finally evolved into Metapod. Just one step away from Butterfree now, its strength had risen from Beginner to Normal. Before leaving Viridian Forest, it would almost certainly evolve again.
As for Misty—hearing Ash call her "light as cotton" had made her heart blossom with delight. Most girls over ten cared about their weight. Being told she was light was about as flattering as being called beautiful.
And now that Caterpie had evolved, Misty's feelings changed too. Metapod no longer had that wriggling, bug-like appearance, so she didn't mind it being nearby. Her fear wasn't of Bug-types—it was the creepy-crawly forms she couldn't stand.
"See, Misty? We've covered so much ground today. At this pace, we'll be out of Viridian Forest in three days. How are your feet holding up?"
Misty rubbed her toes, then smiled and shook her head. "Much better. I can walk on my own this afternoon."
"Really? If your feet get injured, that could cause big problems," Ash frowned, skeptical.
What really worried him was their schedule. If Misty's feet slowed them down, they'd lose time. He was itching to challenge the Pewter Gym.
Every night these past days, Misty went to bed early while Ash stayed up in the group chat, learning from the veterans.
Battling, raising Pokémon, capturing strategies, Pokémon knowledge—every field had its own Peak Ash to teach him.
Professor Oak was also a top expert, of course. But every time Oak lectured, Ash would nod off. He was passionate about Pokémon, yet in class he couldn't focus. The moment Oak started, he got drowsy; the moment class ended, he was wide awake. A purely physical reflex.
But that never happened in the chat. In just three days, Ash had learned more than he had in ten years.
That was why he was so eager to put their teachings into practice. Bug Catchers and Youngsters were too weak—no fun at all. He needed to face Gym Trainers!
That was why he didn't want Misty hurt—he wanted to reach Pewter Gym as soon as possible.
"Thanks for worrying, but I'll be fine. It's just past one. If we rest now and head out again after two, we'll reach tonight's stop in just a few hours. I can handle it." Misty smiled brightly.
She thought Ash was showing heartfelt concern for her health. If she'd known his real reason, she might've smacked him with a mallet.
"Alright then. Let's eat first. Come out, Metapod." Ash released Metapod and pulled some Pokémon Food from his bag.
On food, Breeder Ash had lectured him carefully. Pokémon were best off eating specially prepared meals.
Generic rations could fill them up and give some nutrition, but they were nothing compared to tailored blends.
Good Pokémon Food, given consistently, could speed up growth dramatically. And when a Trainer personally prepared meals, it deepened the bond between them and their Pokémon. That, too, was a path to greater strength.
At first Ash had wondered if Breeder Ash was just trying to rope him into becoming a breeder.
But the others backed up every word.
They said that if they hadn't already reached their Peaks in their own fields before joining the group, they would've studied breeding alongside him. Pokémon breeding was an incredibly deep craft, and Breeder Ash had practically mastered it all—one of the world's top experts.
For raising Pokémon, following his guidance was foolproof.
But the other Ashes had their own methods and their own pride. They didn't need to study breeding anymore.
Ash, though, was different. He was still a blank canvas—one that could be painted any color. In fact, more than one color.
The group had already discussed it: the possibility of training this new Ash to become something unprecedented—an all-rounder, a super multi-talented Champion.