After receiving their training instructions, Gyarados and Milotic slipped into the river outside town and swam toward the estuary where the river met the sea.
That place had become their favorite training ground.
"Bulbasaur, warm up on your own for now."
"Once I've finished treating the Pokémon at the two clinics, I'll train with you."
Ash crouched down and patted Bulbasaur's head.
"Bulba Bulba"
Bulbasaur nodded obediently before trotting off to begin its warm-up exercises.
Meanwhile, Ash headed toward the Stone Bridge Clinic and the Dashiwan Valley Clinic to provide treatment for the wild Pokémon gathered there.
A few minutes later, he returned.
"Bulbasaur, let's go."
"We're heading to the estuary for training."
"Bulba Bulba!"
Bulbasaur immediately perked up.
It ran over with cheerful little hops and rubbed its head affectionately against Ash's leg.
Just like many Pokémon when they first joined his team, Bulbasaur was currently very attached to him.
And Ash didn't dislike that at all.
Quite the opposite.
He genuinely enjoyed being close to his Pokémon.
He stretched out his arm, allowing Bulbasaur to wrap a Vine Whip around his wrist.
Then trainer and Pokémon walked side by side along the riverbank toward the sea.
The reason Ash chose the estuary wasn't because it was particularly suitable for Bulbasaur's training.
At this stage, Bulbasaur's basic exercises could be done almost anywhere.
The real reason was much simpler.
Gyarados and Milotic trained there.
Ash wanted to spend more time with them.
Both Pokémon had evolved recently.
This was the period when their strength would increase the fastest.
It was also the period when they required the greatest investment of time and attention.
Just because Gyarados and Milotic were easy to train didn't mean Ash could ignore them.
Even simply standing nearby and watching could provide tremendous encouragement.
Compared to Pokémon like Pikachu, Greninja, and the other first-echelon veterans—Pokémon that had already matured mentally and could stand on their own—Gyarados and Milotic still had much stronger emotional needs.
Of course, the Pokémon that needed companionship most was Bulbasaur.
Ever since Bulbasaur joined the team, some of the attention that had once belonged exclusively to Gyarados and Milotic had naturally shifted toward the newcomer.
Bringing Bulbasaur here allowed Ash to accompany all three at the same time.
There was another reason as well.
Ash's Aura combat training needed privacy.
Specifically—
He needed to avoid Gary and Green.
It wasn't a matter of distrust.
Ash trusted them completely.
The issue was principle.
And caution.
Although his current status within the League was already quite high, and although his relationship with Team Rocket had entered a relatively peaceful honeymoon period where neither side interfered with the other, Ash understood one thing clearly.
Until he was fully grown and powerful enough to protect himself...
He needed to stay low-profile.
Even now, based solely on the Trainer talent he had publicly displayed, people were already calling him:
The Light of Kanto.
The Future Champion of the Indigo League.
If he suddenly revealed that he was a psychic—
And not merely a support-type psychic capable of healing injuries and helping Pokémon learn moves...
But someone who possessed genuine combat capabilities...
The reaction would be completely different.
Some people would fear him.
Others would envy him.
Even if Team Rocket wouldn't harm him.
Even if the Kanto League protected him.
The Pokémon world contained far more than a single criminal organization.
And far more than a single Pokémon League.
Team Rocket might have agreed not to target him.
That didn't mean organizations like:
The Aqua Team.
The Magma Team.
Team Plasma.
Team Galactic.
Team Flare.
Or countless other groups scattered across the world would show the same restraint.
Likewise, the Indigo League might be willing to protect him.
But other regional Leagues had no such obligation.
Although the various Pokémon Leagues cooperated with one another, there was still competition between regions.
Politics existed everywhere.
Until he became strong enough to survive any scheme directed against him, Ash refused to reveal all of his cards.
Psychic powers were already the sort of thing that attracted envy and suspicion.
If people only knew about his healing abilities and his talent for helping Pokémon learn moves, they would admire him.
Perhaps even be jealous.
But not truly fear him.
However—
If they learned that his psychic powers could be used offensively...
That he could fight...
That he possessed real combat power...
The attitude of many people would undoubtedly change.
As far as Ash was concerned, his Aura combat abilities had to remain secret.
For now.
And perhaps forever.
Even after becoming powerful enough to stand on his own, he still intended to keep those abilities hidden whenever possible.
And certainly never flaunt them publicly.
The same applied to Will Empowerment, the Viridian Power ability that temporarily boosted a Pokémon's combat strength.
And as for Source Cleansing—
The Viridian Power ability capable of improving a Pokémon's talent and potential—
Ash intended to take that secret to the grave.
A power capable of increasing a Pokémon's natural talent was simply too shocking.
Too valuable.
Too dangerous.
...
"Valor, keep working hard."
"Master Endure and Whirlpool as quickly as possible."
"There's still a long list of moves waiting for you afterward."
After arriving at the estuary, Ash looked toward the vigorously training Gyarados and Milotic and called out encouragingly.
Unlike Milotic, whose combat framework was already approaching completion, Gyarados still had numerous gaps that needed filling.
For example, in terms of defensive counterattack moves, it currently only possessed Endure.
The problem was that Endure only generated maximum value after suffering status conditions.
What Gyarados truly needed was a move capable of immediately retaliating after taking damage.
If Gyarados had possessed such a move during last night's battle against Machamp, it would have had no reason to fear the opponent's direct charge.
Unfortunately, it didn't.
"ROOOAR~!"
Gyarados let out a happy cry.
Ash's encouragement clearly lifted its spirits.
"Lumina, you too."
"Keep working hard."
"I'll be right here with you."
"Miiii~"
On the surface of the sea, Milotic raised its elegant head and released a long, melodious cry.
Seeing their responses, Ash smiled.
Then he turned his attention toward Bulbasaur.
At Bulbasaur's current stage, training remained straightforward.
Its daily routine consisted mainly of foundational exercises.
Improving one of its six core attributes.
Practicing Tackle.
Practicing Vine Whip.
That was about it.
The training itself wasn't complicated.
The reason Ash personally accompanied it wasn't because the exercises required supervision.
It was because Bulbasaur needed his presence.
After arranging Bulbasaur's training routine, Ash finally turned toward his own objective.
His Aura combat training.
The path he had chosen.
The martial art he had inherited from his previous life.
Jujutsu.
For the first time since arriving in this world, Ash was about to begin training himself as seriously as he trained his Pokémon.