The sun gradually descended toward the horizon, and the fiery red hues of the sunset slowly faded into the evening sky.
The tide began to settle.
Pidgeot landed beside Tetsuya, its feathers drenched and its chest rising and falling rapidly with exhaustion.
Tetsuya patted its powerful wings with satisfaction, then pulled out a towel to wipe it down.
Over two hours of training had led to visible improvement in Pidgeot's control over Brave Bird. At first, it could barely break through the waves, often losing its balance upon emerging. Every time it faltered, Tetsuya's heart clenched with worry. This wasn't like training in a controlled gym environment—here, the force of nature itself was an unpredictable opponent.
By the end, however, Pidgeot had progressed. It no longer crashed through the waves haphazardly; instead, the energy from Brave Bird created a clean opening in the center of the wave, allowing it to burst through with control and stability.
Still, Tetsuya knew this was only the beginning. Compared to the mastery of other high-level Pidgeot, this was just the foundation. The next step? To have Pidgeot use Brave Bird to completely break apart an entire wave, like the Magneton had done earlier.
And beyond that—compressing Brave Bird's energy to the point where it could smash through at least three waves in rapid succession. This step would require not just energy control but also expert precision in balance, speed, and timing.
Tetsuya hoped that within a month and a half, Pidgeot would reach a new level.
Yes, he had decided—he would stay here for a while.
Evolving into a Boldore in a short time was unrealistic, not to mention the future preparations needed for its eventual evolution into a Gigalith.
And then there was Combusken. It was just a few levels away from evolving, but evolution wasn't something that could be rushed—it required structured training beyond just gaining experience. Preparing for its final form in advance was crucial.
Judging by Pidgeot's pace of evolution, it would take about a month for Combusken.
Financially, things weren't as bad as they could have been. Tetsuya still had about 6.9 million in cash, but if he simply trained without earning anything, he'd be in debt by at least one or two million by the end of the month.
Being a serious trainer was expensive—there was no way around it. If it weren't for the 50% discount at Pewter Gym and the efficient training plans he and Zero had developed, the costs would have been astronomical.
Tetsuya estimated that if an average trainer wanted to match his efficiency, they would need at least 60 million. And those who wasted 20 million without making real progress? That was just throwing money into the wind.
Of course, he also had a backup plan. While checking the Bounty Hunter Guild's mission board earlier, he noticed that because of the high concentration of trainers in this area, many people posted high-reward missions here. It was a good chance to earn while he trained.
As for gym challenges and earning badges for the tournament—there was no rush.
With his skill level, he could challenge a gym as soon as he arrived in any city. Including travel, scheduling, and rest, he could secure a badge in just three or four days. If everything went smoothly, he could collect the remaining seven badges in a month.
Before, he had planned to take his time, staying in each city to earn money through missions. But now that he could both train and make money here, there was no need to hurry.
While running through his plans, Tetsuya focused on cleaning Pidgeot's feathers.
Around him, other trainers were doing the same, tending to their Pokémon with care and diligence.
There were bad people in this world, of course, but even among the worst, most held a deep bond with their Pokémon. That was why someone like Raiji, who had voiced harsh truths back on the boat, had been immediately rebuked.
The world had its problems, but in this way, its people were… endearing.
Tetsuya smiled as he worked. He had been here long enough to settle in, and despite the differences from his past life, this world felt vivid and real. He had no regrets about coming here.
Well… maybe he missed certain things sometimes.
Pidgeot let out a satisfied chirp, pressing its large head against Tetsuya's chest.
He chuckled, stroking its smooth, beautiful feathers before gently pushing it away.
"Enough, we're still working," he warned with a look.
Pidgeot ruffled its feathers, then obediently bent down and stayed still.
After what felt like ages, Tetsuya clapped his hands, exhaling deeply. "Finally done."
Taking care of Pidgeot wasn't just about cleanliness. It required careful attention—checking for feather density, monitoring claw sharpness for battle effectiveness, making small adjustments. Every detail mattered.
More than just hygiene, this was an important bonding ritual.
Of course, not everything needed to be done daily. Some tasks were handled in small portions each day, but today, Tetsuya had taken extra time for a full cleaning session.
Compared to Pidgeot, the nearby Gyarados trainer was still struggling, barely halfway through their own cleaning routine.
Watching the other trainer's sweaty, exhausted face, Tetsuya couldn't help but imagine himself in the future—caring for even larger Pokémon.
He chuckled to himself, shaking his head.
Nope. Not thinking about that yet. Future Tetsuya could deal with that nightmare.
Right now, he had to hurry back and prepare food for his three Pokémon. He wouldn't let them go hungry.
And no, he definitely wasn't running away from the thought of cleaning a giant Gigalith.
The Gyarados trainer looked up just as Tetsuya turned to leave, surprised by his hurried departure. He had wanted to talk, but before he could say anything, Tetsuya was already gone.
The first rays of sunlight in the early morning emerged from the horizon, and Tetsuya and Combusken kept running along the beach.
"Pay attention to your breathing. Running on the sand will wear you out faster. Focus on your glutes, hamstrings, hip flexors, and legs.
Be mindful of the different angles when turning and adjust your body accordingly."
Tetsuya reminded Combusken.
Although Pokémon can naturally adapt to physical exercise over time, the process is slow and not always efficient. A trainer's role is to help them adjust as quickly as possible to ensure effective training and warm-up sessions.
After running back and forth seven or eight times to complete his warm-up, Tetsuya waved his hand, signaling Combusken to continue on its own while he returned to Rockruff.
With a burst of energy, Combusken dug into the sand and dashed off, leaving a small cloud of dust in its wake.
As Tetsuya stepped into Rockruff's Gravity field, he immediately felt the familiar pressure. Every inch of his body, including his internal organs, was being compressed slightly.
After taking a moment to assess the effects, he nodded in approval. Rockruff's Gravity had improved significantly. If it kept this up, it wouldn't be long before it could move on to the second stage of Gravity training.
He instructed Rockruff to practice controlling its Gravity for 30 minutes before taking a break. Then, he laid out the next phase of its training.
Rockruff didn't respond outwardly, but Tetsuya, who knew it well, understood that it had taken in his instructions. Confident in his Pokémon, he began his own workout nearby.
More than half an hour later, when Pidgeot and Ninetales finished their warm-ups and returned to the beach, Tetsuya paused and laid out the day's training plans.
"Pidgeot, your task this morning is to refine a combination move. Fly close to the ocean's surface and use Steel Wing or Wing Attack. The wind pressure from your speed should part the water, creating artificial waves. Then, use Hurricane to spin the water into a vortex before slicing it apart with Air Slash.
If you come across naturally high waves, break through them with Brave Bird like we practiced yesterday.
Also, we need to work on the difference between Double Team and Mirror Move—you need to…
Rockruff, after you rest, try to use your Sand Rush ability to sense the flow and properties of sand. Sand is essentially a type of rock. Use Sand Tomb to control a portion of it and enhance your abilities. We also need to work on Stealth Rock...
Combusken, today's focus is explosive power training. It's the same as usual, but now you'll be doing it on sand.
The key points are the same as during your warm-up: don't overexert yourself, be mindful of your body, and control your strength.
You also need to improve the concentration of your Flamethrower and Fire Blast. Specifically...
Later, Pidgeot will help you with Heat Wave training. Make sure to focus on the accuracy of the area of effect and temperature control..."
After listing off the morning's training in one go, Tetsuya's throat was dry.
He gestured for Pidgeot to train a little farther down the beach, then pulled out a water bottle from his backpack and took a deep drink.
Combusken obediently strapped on the weighted training gear and began sprinting across the sand again and again. Tetsuya observed closely, correcting a few small mistakes. Before long, Combusken's movements became smoother, its power output more precise. From there, it was just a matter of repeating the drill over and over.
Satisfied, Tetsuya changed into swimwear and jogged to a calmer section of the sea, diving in for a swim.
Swimming was an ideal exercise—it relaxed the muscles, improved circulation, and provided a full-body workout without putting strain on the joints. It was also a great way to clear the mind.
As the sun climbed higher, more trainers arrived at the beach, each carving out their own training space. The once-quiet shoreline filled with the sounds of commands and the cries of Pokémon.
Training styles varied. Some trainers, like Tetsuya, preferred to assign tasks and let their Pokémon train independently. Others stayed by their Pokémon's side, guiding them through each step.
The morning passed quickly. It felt like no time at all before the sun was hanging high in the sky, radiating heat. Even though it was spring, the temperature was already warm.
After his swim, Tetsuya dried off and pulled supplies from his backpack to prepare lunch for his Pokémon. The afternoon training would be just as grueling, if not more.
A trainer's duties didn't stop at instruction—they had to take care of their Pokémon in every aspect, including nutrition and recovery.
On the beach, the scent of food grew stronger as trainers and Pokémon ate together, replenishing their energy. Proper nutrition and rest were just as important as training in the pursuit of strength.
As the sun set and the waves rolled in, Tetsuya called Rockruff and Combusken back to his side.
Some trainers began packing up, knowing their Pokémon weren't yet strong enough to handle the evening's rougher conditions. Others, too stubborn to listen to advice, stayed behind—only to be swept away by the tide, carried off into the unknown.
This part of training wasn't meant for Chinchou or Tropius, but Poké Balls couldn't be used in these conditions. They had to watch as Pidgeot took on the raging sea.
This was important. Watching Pidgeot fight against nature itself would fuel their determination. The desire for strength often came from an innate survival instinct, but a trainer had to cultivate it into a clear goal.
One day, when they had fully evolved, Tetsuya believed they would be just as powerful as Pidgeot.
Sure enough, as Pidgeot soared through the stormy skies, Combusken's eyes gleamed with admiration. Even the usually stoic Rockruff let out an eager cry.
In Tetsuya's team, Pidgeot was the strongest and the oldest. It naturally took on the role of an older sibling, looking after the others.
With a smile, Tetsuya said to them, "You feel it, don't you? One day, you'll be this strong—no, even stronger."
Both Pokémon let out cries filled with excitement and determination.
After an exhausting day, Tetsuya brought his team back to the Pokémon Center, handing them over to Nurse Joy for healing.
As he waited, he finally had a moment to catch his breath. Sitting nearby were other trainers in the same exhausted state.
The life of a real Pokémon trainer was nothing like the glamorous stories people imagined. It was grueling, relentless, and full of sacrifices.
But seeing the bonds between trainer and Pokémon—the mutual trust, the shared struggle—made it all worth it.