But then again, being praised by an outsider to this extent is enough to show that his usual efforts haven't been in vain. Thinking about possibly engaging in a great battle with other Charizards later, his body was almost boiling with excitement.
"Let's go, let's head inside first." Liza reluctantly moved her hand away from Charizard, then led Ash and the others into the Charicific Valley.
Upon entering the Charicific Valley, Ash and the others felt an even more intense heat. Ash and his companions, who were used to trekking through tough environments, were alright, but Serena, who hadn't experienced such harsh conditions much, found it quite unbearable.
Sweat slid down her fair cheeks, and even in short sleeves, her clothes were constantly soaked with sweat.
Ash glanced at Serena and then held her hand. In an instant, Serena's already rosy face turned three shades redder than an apple, her already overheated body felt like an erupting volcano, scorching with heat.
Before Serena could speak, she felt a coolness coming from Ash's palm. That coolness traveled through her body, quickly cooling down her burning sensation, causing a comfortable sigh to inadvertently escape her lips, prompting her to immediately cover her reddish lips with her other hand.
"How are you feeling, Serena, any better?"
"Better... much better, this is..."
"One of the effects of Aura Power. It seems magical, but it's just using Aura Power to dispel the body heat and creating a barrier on the skin with Aura Power to block external heat, so the body won't heat up," Ash said nonchalantly, then released Serena's hand.
Despite how easy he made it sound, it's something only achievable with a precise mastery of Aura Power. Though for Ash, it was indeed a breeze.
After all, his Aura Power could rival that of a deity; if he couldn't handle such a simple feat of heat insulation, he'd probably find a piece of tofu to knock himself out.
"What?! Aura Power can be used like that? I want it too, Ash! I'm so hot!" Misty hugged Ash's arm, whining.
"Hmm? This temperature shouldn't be much for someone like you, Misty, should it?"
"Idiot Ash! Between enduring harsh environments and enjoying comfort, which one would you choose? Just because I can withstand this heat doesn't mean I want to!" Misty rolled her eyes, her tone exasperated.
They were already dating, and yet his emotional intelligence hadn't improved much!
"Oh, I see. Brock, let me take care of you too. Miss Liza, would you like it as well?"
As Ash channeled Aura Power to each of them, they all felt like they stepped into a new world.
Many people have experienced the soothing comfort of entering an air-conditioned mall from the sweltering heat outside. Brock and the others were feeling exactly that.
Even Liza, who had completely adapted to the environment of Charicific Valley, found it hard to go back after experiencing such comfort.
She was merely accustomed to and adapting to the environment of Charicific Valley, not that she liked being in such conditions. If she weren't afraid of the heat, she wouldn't need to wear shorts and a crop top.
Throughout the tour of Charicific Valley, Liza marveled at the miracle of Ash's Aura Power. No wonder Ash could raise such a perfect Charizard; he himself wasn't an ordinary person — an obvious fact.
The Charicific Valley housed many facilities, not for humans, but for Charizards to train. Like sturdy giant rocks for strength training, special metals for measuring flame temperature, and unique lava rocks for restoring firepower...
Seeing such comprehensive facilities, Ash felt for the first time that there was more room for progress in training his Charizard. If Charizard could use those facilities to train, his progress might be even faster than it is now.
Apart from the training facilities, there was only one house in the Charicific Valley, where Liza resided. The house wasn't large and had only one floor, but it was more than enough for just Liza.
In the middle of the tour, Brock misbehaved slightly again, suggesting that Liza's house was too empty and she needed someone to keep her company, relieving loneliness. The person, needless to say, was Brock himself.
Seeing Brock flirt once more, Misty directly used her ultimate weapon — Dr. Nemu!
Upon hearing those four words, Brock instantly wilted like a frost-bitten eggplant.
Dr. Nemu was absolutely taboo for Brock; those four words worked better than pulling Brock's ear ten times.
Brock's antics did not interrupt Liza's introduction. In addition to lodging for Liza, her house also accommodated another "resident," not a person, but a Pokemon.
That Pokemon was Liza's Charizard — Little Liza.
It was a Charizard with a bow on its head, looking somewhat fragile. It sounded unbelievable to use the word "fragile" to describe a Charizard, yet Liza's Charizard indeed gave off that impression.
However, despite Little Liza's fragile appearance, she too lived in the Charicific Valley, proving her strength was not weak. Under Ash's Eye of Insight, Little Liza's level was already as high as Gym Level.
This level may just be average in the Charicific Valley, but in the outside world, a Gym Level Pokemon is undeniably advanced.
It shows how environment tremendously impacts Pokemon. According to Liza, Little Liza didn't enjoy fighting or training, yet under the influence of the Charicific Valley, her power surged upward.
Additionally, it's worth noting that upon seeing Little Liza, Ash's Charizard seemed to develop a peculiar affection. Among the Charizard group, Little Liza's appearance ranked as extremely beautiful.
Nevertheless, Ash's Charizard, having undergone rigorous training, despite being interested in Little Liza, didn't charge forward head-first like Brock. He believed that showcasing powerful strength would naturally capture Little Liza's attention.
...
"Alright, that's roughly the situation inside the Charicific Valley. Is there any particular place you'd like to see more closely?" After leading Ash and the others in a big circle, Liza brought them back to the gate of the Charicific Valley.
After two hours of touring, Liza had shown Ash and the others most of the spots within the Charicific Valley. Ultimately, this place was just a valley; finishing the tour in two hours was already considered taking it slow.
"That place seems like we haven't seen it yet?" Liza followed Ash's pointed direction, her beautiful green eyes shrinking slightly at the sight of that mountain's location.
"That area is not accessible; it is where the strongest Charizard of the Charicific Valley resides. Even for me to go there, I have to apply an hour in advance... It's not that he's that high and mighty, but the environment inside is of a different level compared to outside. Normal people entering would likely find their legs melting away instantly."
"Aside from the valley's strongest Charizard, no other Charizard can stay in such an environment. Whenever I go there, that strongest Charizard stops its training an hour ahead and walks out. If we were to go while it's training, the dispersed shock waves alone could probably send us straight to the hospital."
Liza's words prompted Ash and the others to exchange glances. To be honest, such a statement seemed exaggerated, but judging by Liza's expression, she didn't appear to be overstating.
How severe was the environment in there? How powerful must the Charizard capable of training in there be?
Both Ash and Charizard set their sights on that peak, an indomitable fighting spirit rising in both of their eyes.