After two hours of "wandering" meditation training, Ash rode Pidgeot back through the second-floor window and returned to his room. Calling out to the Pokémon that were still chatting and playing together, he climbed into bed for the night.
...
The night passed quietly until the first light of dawn began to illuminate the eastern horizon.
As usual, Ash woke up promptly at 6:00 AM. After washing up and getting dressed, he headed out with all of his Pokémon for their morning training session outside Pallet Town.
After maintaining such disciplined habits for so long, both Ash and his Pokémon had gradually become accustomed to this lifestyle. Not only did they never find it dull or monotonous, but it also gave them an incomparable sense of peace and fulfillment.
As they walked along the dirt path leading out of town, Ash began assigning everyone's training tasks for the day.
"Pikachu, if I remember correctly, your Surf is still just a little short of reaching the Grandmaster level. Today's training will be the same as usual—continue practicing Surf in the sea downstream from the river."
"Pidgeot and Fearow, the two of you will continue your usual high-altitude training. Fly at an altitude of one thousand meters, race against one another, attack each other with your moves, and freely evade incoming attacks. This provides extremely comprehensive training for your Speed, Attack, Evasion, Stamina, and overall combat abilities."
"Gyarados, Avalanche is still the only move in your counterattack battle style that hasn't reached the Mastered level yet, so keep working hard."
"Milotic, although you're a pure Water-type Pokémon, the Milotic species possesses considerable Dragon-type power hidden within its bloodline. Dragon-type moves have extraordinarily broad offensive coverage, so I want you to learn as many Dragon-type moves as possible."
"Later, I'll teach you Dragon Dance and Dragon Pulse—two exceptionally practical Dragon-type moves. Make sure to train them diligently."
"Venusaur, you've now evolved into your final form. Your body has become much larger than before, and your weight has increased nearly tenfold. Your movement speed has slowed considerably, and even moving around now consumes much more stamina than it used to."
"From this point onward, your battle style should gradually transition from being proactive to being more reactive. We've already discussed the specifics last night—now it's time to put them into practice."
"To deal with opponents that possess a type advantage over you, I'll teach you the Ground-type move Earthquake and the Fighting-type move Rock Smash. I hope you'll master both of them and apply them effectively in battle as soon as possible."
By the time they arrived at their usual training grounds—the gravel riverbank outside Pallet Town—Ash had finished assigning everyone's respective training tasks.
"Pika!"
"Pidgeot!"
"Fearow!"
"..."
"..."
After listening to Ash's instructions, all of the Pokémon responded enthusiastically. The brothers-in-arms, Pidgeot and Fearow, immediately spread their wings and shot toward the thousand-meter-high skies like two arrows released from a bow.
Although official competitions imposed altitude restrictions upon Flying-type Pokémon, the Pokémon world consisted of far more than just fair and regulated official battles.
There were also countless battles without rules—battles where opponents would stop at nothing to defeat or even kill one another. Ash was certain he would encounter such situations after officially beginning his journey in the future.
Furthermore, atmospheric pressure at an altitude of one thousand meters differed significantly from that at ground level. Training at such heights produced far better results than training in low-altitude environments.
Pidgeot and Fearow impatiently departed to begin their training. Pikachu glanced at Greninja, who had yet to receive any training assignments from Ash, before leaping into the river.
Riding upon a cresting wave created by Surf, Pikachu led Gyarados and Milotic downstream toward the sea.
Just as Ash had said the previous night, although Greninja obtaining the power of Bond Evolution had undoubtedly placed tremendous pressure upon everyone else, Bond Evolution training would also consume a considerable amount of Greninja's time and effort.
For those Pokémon whose own opportunities had yet to arrive, wasn't this also a chance for them to overtake Greninja in terms of levels and strength?
"Venu..." After Ash taught it Earthquake and Rock Smash, Venusaur slowly turned around and made its way toward the vast grasslands beyond the gravel riverbank.
The grasslands were expansive and sparsely populated by wild Pokémon. After simply clearing the surrounding area, Venusaur could practice Earthquake without worrying about causing excessive destruction or disturbing others.
Before long, all of the Pokémon had departed to carry out their respective training regimens.
Only Ash, Greninja, and Rotom—currently possessing his smartphone and floating quietly in midair—remained upon the gravel riverbank.
"Let's get started, Greninja. It's time for our Bond Evolution training."
Ash retrieved two sports wristbands from his system storage backpack—special devices he had purchased specifically for Bond Evolution training. He handed one to Greninja before fastening the other around his own wrist.
"Gren!" Greninja nodded as it accepted and put on the wristband.
"For this morning's training session, we'll start by throwing shuriken at the same target together and try our best to synchronize our intentions and thoughts. Once we begin our formal training later this morning, we'll move on to battle training."
Ash had already thoroughly planned every step of their Bond Evolution training—from where they would begin to how they would gradually progress—so he wasn't approaching this blindly or recklessly.
"Gren!" Greninja nodded once more. Although it still knew very little about Bond Evolution itself, it possessed absolute confidence in Ash as its Trainer.
"Good. Greninja, bring over that driftwood log over there and we'll use it as our target."
"Rotom, monitor and record the changes in both my heart rate data and Greninja's throughout the training process."
After showing Rotom the sports wristband fastened around his wrist, Ash carefully instructed it once again.
"Okay, Rotom!" Rotom cheerfully replied.
After all, Ash had already explained its responsibilities the previous night, so it naturally understood how it was supposed to assist them.
Thud!
"Then let's begin."
Seeing Greninja carry over the large piece of driftwood that had been washed onto the riverbank, Ash stepped forward as he spoke.
Aura began gathering within his hand.
In the next instant, a slender willow leaf-shaped blade formed entirely from pale-blue Aura energy materialized in his grasp.
This was the Blade—the energy weapon Ash had developed specifically for practicing Aura Laijutsu.
Holding the Aura blade in his hand, Ash slashed twice across the driftwood log, carving a cross-shaped bullseye into its surface.
Afterward, he retreated ten meters and stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Greninja.
The two of them quietly faced the wooden target before them, preparing to begin the very first step of their Bond Evolution training—
Shuriken practice.