"Everyone, thank you for coming today! Magikarp and Feebas have fought many consecutive battles—they're exhausted and can't continue anymore~"
Ash stood at the shoreline, smiling as he addressed the gathered wild Water-type Pokémon.
"I'll come back at this same time the day after tomorrow. If anyone still wants to challenge us, come then. And this—this is some Water-type Pokémon food I prepared for you all. I hope you won't mind."
With that, Ash pulled out a large sack of Water-type Pokémon food, tore it open, and scattered it generously across the sea's surface. The scent spread quickly, drawing delighted splashes from the surrounding Pokémon.
He didn't forget the two Gyarados who had come to keep order and protect him, personally tossing them a share as well.
Ever since his online shop had launched the "Magikarp + Tackle" move-learning service, Ash had been placing large orders every two days from the Pokémon supply shop in Viridian City—most of it Water-type Pokémon food.
After distributing the food, Ash called back Magikarp and Feebas and began walking upstream toward Pallet Town.
…
Both training and battle granted experience toward leveling up.
However, experience gained through training was slow and steady—a gradual accumulation like water seeping into soil. It strengthened a Pokémon's foundation without causing instability.
Battle experience, on the other hand, came in explosive bursts, instantly settling in large chunks after each match.
The former built depth.
The latter accelerated growth.
But battle-earned strength, if left unchecked, could become superficial—powerful yet unstable.
That was why alternating training and battle was the optimal path for developing a Pokémon's strength.
Now that Magikarp and Feebas had gained five levels in one morning, Ash decided to dedicate the next two days to intensive reinforcement training. Only after solidifying their foundation and fully mastering their surged strength would he bring them back to the estuary for more wild battles.
…
As he walked, notifications from the Ascension Trainer System chimed repeatedly in his mind:
[Ding! Skill "Light Screen" trained once. Proficiency +1]
[Ding! Skill "Reflect" trained once. Proficiency +1]
[Ding! Skill "Haze" trained once. Proficiency +1]
[Ding! Skill "U-turn" trained once. Proficiency +1]
[Ding! Skill "Hurricane" trained once. Proficiency +1]
[Ding! Skill "Hyper Beam" trained once. Proficiency +1]
[Ding! Skill "Quick Attack" trained once. Proficiency +1]
[Ding! Skill "Agility" trained once. Proficiency +1]
[Ding! Skill "Double Team" trained once. Proficiency +1]
By the time Ash returned from the estuary, Pikachu and the others were still training vigorously on the gravel riverbank outside Pallet Town.
Especially Pidgeotto.
It knew it was close to evolving into its final form, Pidgeot. And that morning, Ash had helped it learn two powerful moves—Hurricane and Hyper Beam.
Its already blazing enthusiasm had soared even higher.
Hurricane, a devastating Flying-type technique, could be considered the ultimate evolution of Gust. However, as a wide-area attack, its base power began at 110.
Hyper Beam, a Normal-type super move, was a single-target technique with a massive base power of 150. Its drawback? After firing, the user's body would stiffen momentarily, unable to move.
But Ash wasn't worried.
He didn't need to put Pidgeotto through special resistance training to counter that drawback.
As proficiency increased through training, the Pokémon naturally gained deeper mastery over its moves. Over time, they learned how to minimize—or even eliminate—negative side effects like recoil or post-move rigidity.
"Move proficiency" might sound simple, but it encompassed far more than repetition.
With higher proficiency came smoother control: shorter charging time, faster execution, reduced energy consumption. Even the stiffness following Hyper Beam would gradually fade as mastery deepened.
To a Pokémon, a move was both weapon and technique.
When one lacked strength, using such power came at a heavy cost—fatigue, backlash, strain.
But as strength and understanding increased, what once seemed like flaws were resolved naturally.
So Ash never worried about Hyper Beam's aftereffects.
With time and training, Pidgeotto would overcome it on its own.
…
Clap, clap.
"Alright, that's enough for this morning. It's almost noon—everyone, take a break."
Ash clapped his hands, signaling the end of training.
"Pika—!"
"Gua!"
"Pidgeotto!"
"Gya—!"
Seeing Ash return with Magikarp and Feebas from their wild battle leveling, the Pokémon eagerly gathered around.
On the other side, Gary Oak also halted the training of his three Pokémon and walked over.
"Ash, how did the leveling go this morning? Smooth?" Gary slung an arm around Ash's shoulder with a grin.
"Pretty good," Ash replied casually. "Valor and Lumina have both reached LV.10. I'll wait a day before taking them back for more wild battles."
Gary froze.
"Wait—weren't they LV.5 this morning? Five levels in a single morning?! You're insane."
Ash laughed. "They did most of the work themselves. I didn't even command during the battles."
It was true.
But what Gary didn't know was that thanks to the Ascension Trainer System, the experience Ash gained from each battle was far higher than that of ordinary Trainers.
That was why Magikarp and Feebas could soar five levels in a single morning.
It was also why, back when they'd trained together in the tall grass and later fought in the city arena, Ash's strongest Pokémon—Pikachu—had already reached LV.36…
…while Gary's strongest, Wartortle, was only LV.19.
The difference in leveling efficiency was unmistakable.
"Oh, right," Ash said suddenly as they began heading back toward town. "After lunch, I'm heading to Viridian City. If you're not coming to my house first, just meet me directly at the Viridian City Battle Arena. Same time as usual."
"Viridian City right after lunch?" Gary asked curiously. "What's going on?"
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