Chapter Summaries

Luo Mu and his Pokémon watched Ash defeat Ye Yue to win the Silver Conference, with Ash’s Charizard overcoming Blaziken in the final battle. The victory inspired Zhen Si to stop holding back and work toward catching up with Ash.

• Luo Mu and his Pokémon watched Ash and Ye Yue trade victories until Ash’s Annihilape defeated Medicham, leaving Ye Yue with Blaziken as his final Pokémon.
• Ye Yue sent out Blaziken, which defeated Annihilape and forced Ash to choose his last Pokémon.
• Ash sent out Charizard, and the two Fire-type Pokémon fought fiercely until Charizard defeated Blaziken.
• Ash won the Silver Conference championship and received the trophy from Pokémon League Chairman Damelanqi; Luo Mu decided to give him the promised Celebration Armor.
• Botan, Shizuka, and Zhen Si celebrated Ash’s win, and Zhen Si resolved to stop sitting idle and catch up with him.

Luo Mu discovered Ogerpon’s hatred of Pecha Berries, collected Peat Blocks for Nemona and the others, and learned that a new Peat Block had formed near Bloodmoon Ursaluna’s burrow. He delivered the three blocks to Uva Academy, where his students greeted Moltres enthusiastically while Zhen Si stood shivering beside him.

• Luo Mu and Luxray found Ogerpon splitting a Pecha Berry and reluctantly eating it because it reminded Ogerpon of Pecharunt’s shell, so Luo Mu decided to warn the others about Pecha Berries.
• Luo Mu visited Bloodmoon Ursaluna, which had just lost a wrestling match to Roaring Thunder Drum, and asked it for three Peat Blocks to bring to Nemona and the others.
• Luo Mu counted twelve Peat Blocks instead of the eleven Oranguru had recorded, and the system explained that Bloodmoon Ursaluna’s wetland-like surroundings had caused another block to form.
• Luo Mu took three Peat Blocks, left the other nine with Bloodmoon Ursaluna, and flew to Uva Academy on Moltres that evening.
• Nemona, Arven, Pippa, Botan, and Shizuka rushed to greet Moltres and crowd around its warmth, leaving Luo Mu with only Zhen Si, who sneezed in the cold.

Luo Mu helped Nemona, Pippa, and Arven evolve their Ursaring into Ursaluna beneath the full moon, then accepted Nemona’s challenge to battle with his Bloodmoon Ursaluna. Their fight began with Nemona’s Ursaluna struggling against Bloodmoon Ursaluna’s overwhelming strength and attacks, and Luo Mu ordered a Hyper Beam as the battle continued.

• Luo Mu gave Nemona, Pippa, and Arven Peat Blocks and led them outside to evolve their Ursaring under the full moon.
• Luo Mu sent Moltres to clear the clouds, and Nemona, Pippa, and Arven’s Ursaring evolved into Ursaluna.
• Luo Mu introduced his Bloodmoon Ursaluna and agreed to Nemona’s request for a sparring match.
• Nemona opened the battle with Double-Edge, but Bloodmoon Ursaluna blocked the attack and blasted her Ursaluna back with Hyper Voice.
• Nemona’s Ursaluna countered with Swords Dance and Earthquake, while Bloodmoon Ursaluna canceled the quake and struck with Arm Hammer.
• Nemona warned her Ursaluna to guard against another Hyper Voice, but Luo Mu commanded Bloodmoon Ursaluna to use Hyper Beam.

Nemona challenged Luo Mu’s Bloodmoon Ursaluna and lost after her Ursaluna’s Ice Punch counter was answered by Blood Moon. The next day, Geeta told Luo Mu that Blueberry Academy would visit for a Friendship Exchange Tournament, then raised the prospect of inviting Xue Zhong, Shu Zi, Kieran, and Carmine to Paldea before delivering the bad news.

• Nemona’s Ursaluna blocked Bloodmoon Ursaluna’s Hyper Beam with Protect, then froze it with Ice Punch while it was recovering.
• Bloodmoon Ursaluna broke free of the ice and used Blood Moon against Ursaluna’s Ultimate Impact, leaving Nemona’s Pokémon unable to battle.
• Luo Mu restored the damaged academy grounds and observed Nemona, Pippa, Arven, Botan, Zhen Si, and Shizuka’s teams sparring.
• Geeta and Clavell told Luo Mu that Blueberry Academy would arrive early next month for a Friendship Exchange Tournament, and Geeta said his students would compete while he watched from the sidelines.
• Luo Mu told Geeta about Xue Zhong, Shu Zi, Kieran, and Carmine; Geeta expressed interest in inviting them and deferred her answer until after the students competed for tournament places.
• Geeta announced that she would now explain the bad news.

Geeta persuaded Luo Mu to guard Professor Sada and Professor Turo’s Time Machine test in Area Zero, and Luo Mu agreed to take Arven along despite his missing Gym Badges. He also advised Nemona to challenge the Battle Frontier, then learned that wild Applin had appeared near Rampage Waterfall as winter approached.

• Geeta offered Luo Mu a Master Ball as payment for suppressing any Paradox Pokémon released during the professors’ Time Machine test, and Luo Mu accepted the mission for three or four days.
• At a housewarming dinner, Alcremie borrowed Nemona’s Ribombee to prepare desserts with Pollen Puffs.
• Luo Mu told Arven he could accompany him to Area Zero if he felt ready to protect himself, and Arven said he wanted to meet his parents face-to-face.
• Luo Mu advised Nemona to seek stronger opponents, and Nemona chose to challenge the Battle Frontier rather than travel to Galar.
• Sean told Luo Mu he planned to take a winter break with his family and mentioned that wild Applin had recently appeared in a fruit-tree area near Rampage Waterfall.

Luo Mu watched Tinkatink begin forging under Calyrex’s tutelage and learned that Ceruledge had been challenged to a final duel by Iron Warrior. After agreeing to accompany Ceruledge, Luo Mu took Tinkatink’s desire for revenge seriously, and Tinkatink began intense training before their trip to the bamboo forest.

• Luo Mu arrived at the Artisan Forge and watched Tinkatink finish and quench its first hammer.
• Calyrex praised Tinkatink’s craftsmanship but warned it was far from able to reforge the Rusted Sword and the Rusted Shield, then accepted it as a disciple.
• Ogerpon revealed that Ceruledge planned to answer Iron Warrior’s final duel challenge near the mine outside Alfornada, and Luo Mu agreed to accompany it.
• Luo Mu asked Tinkatink whether it wanted revenge, and Tinkatink agreed to train for a counterattack against the group that stole its old hammer.
• Tinkatink practiced with Ogerpon and smashed a boulder with its new hammer.

Luo Mu traveled toward Rampage Waterfall with his Pokémon and learned that a Bisharp group led by a powerful Commander was blocking the route and robbing visitors. He discovered that the Commander had stolen Tinkatink’s hammer, leaving him poised to confront the group.

• Luo Mu packed supplies and Pokémon for the trip, and Tinkatink gave him and Dragonite matching goggles before they flew to northern Paldea.
• Near a waterfall, Luo Mu noticed signs of the sealed Gu Yu Fish but left the stakes untouched and continued toward the Bamboo Forest.
• Rod and Phil warned Luo Mu that a Commander and its Bisharp were blocking the Bamboo Forest, then explained how the leader had defeated its rivals and evolved.
• Luo Mu introduced himself as a retired Champion-level Trainer and Uva Academy Battle Studies director, then asked Rod and Phil for details about the Bisharp group.
• Luo Mu asked Tinkatink whether its stolen hammer was involved, and Tinkatink confirmed that the Bisharp had taken it.

Luo Mu, Tinkatink, Ogerpon, and Larvesta fought their way through the Bamboo Forest to confront the Kingambit that had stolen Tinkatink’s hammer. As Ogerpon battled Kingambit and Tinkatink and Larvesta cleared its Pawniard and Bisharp, a milky-white light appeared around Tinkatink.

• Luo Mu pieced together how a Bisharp had eaten Tinkatink’s hammer, evolved into Kingambit, and taken control of the Bamboo Forest, then led his Pokémon inside to stop it.
• Luo Mu’s group defeated the first three Bisharp they encountered, with Ogerpon overpowering their captain and Tinkatink and Larvesta beating the others.
• Luo Mu and his Pokémon pushed through the forest’s Pawniard and Bisharp until Kingambit appeared and recognized Tinkatink as the hammer’s former owner.
• Luo Mu sent Ogerpon to battle Kingambit while Tinkatink and Larvesta fought its underlings, whose defeats strengthened Kingambit through its Supreme Overlord Ability.
• Tinkatink struck a String Shot-bound Bisharp with its hammer, and a rich milky-white light suddenly bloomed around it.

Luo Mu helped Tinkatink gather Bisharp armor so she could forge her own hammer before evolving into Tinkatuff. After Bisharp tried a surprise attack, Tinkatuff knocked it unconscious, and the defeated Bisharp clan abandoned the Bamboo Forest, where the tale of the Twin Fiends Sisters became a shared taboo.

• Luo Mu realized Tinkatink was delaying her evolution to find materials for a new hammer, so Larvesta gathered armor from defeated Bisharp.
• Luo Mu Terastallized Ogerpon, who overwhelmed the empowered Bisharp and left it vulnerable for Larvesta to strip its armor.
• Tinkatink used Bisharp's armor to forge a larger hammer with help from Larvesta and Ogerpon, then evolved into Tinkatuff.
• Bisharp got up, pretended to beg for mercy, and launched a surprise Kowtow Cleave at Ogerpon, but her Terastallized Hearthflame Mask blocked it.
• Tinkatuff struck Bisharp with her new hammer and knocked it unconscious, after which the Bisharp clan fled the Bamboo Forest and its Pokémon spread the legend of the Twin Fiends Sisters.

After defeating Bisharp, Luo Mu shared a meal with Rod and Phil, then returned to the orchard near Rampage Waterfall to recruit Applin for his farm. Fourteen Applin agreed to go with him, while Iron Warrior continued waiting for Ceruledge elsewhere.

• Bisharp led its clan away after Luo Mu defeated it, allowing the bamboo forest’s Wild Pokémon to return.
• Luo Mu introduced Flapple to Rod and Phil, explained how Applin helped fruit trees, and invited the pair to lunch.
• Luo Mu served Rod, Phil, and the Pokémon a hot meal, then contacted old Mr. Terun to ask him to help the travelers if they got into trouble near Frost Smear Mountain.
• Luo Mu gave apples to Psyduck at Rampage Waterfall, and the Psyduck tried to catch them on their heads before eating them.
• Luo Mu and Flapple gathered Applin in the orchard and asked whether they wanted to join his farm.
• Fourteen Applin agreed to leave with Luo Mu: eight had Ripen, five had Gluttony, and one had the Hidden Ability Bulletproof.

Luo Mu visited Hanzawa at Miltank Home, bringing news that the mysterious hero Hanzawa had been searching for might be a Paradox Pokémon. After discussing the farm’s unexpected Miltank Eggs and Iron Warrior and Ceruledge’s planned battle, Hanzawa asked to watch the fight that night.

• Luo Mu brought fourteen Applin back to his farm, then traveled to Alfornada and got a ride into town in an excavator.
• Luo Mu reached Miltank Home, reunited with Hanzawa, and helped him serve customers before joining him for a meal prepared by Emboar.
• Ceruledge grew wary of Emboar’s cooking skills, then went to practice in the pasture to prepare for its upcoming battle with Iron Warrior.
• Luo Mu told Hanzawa about the five Miltank producing eleven Pokémon Eggs and explained the planned battle between Iron Warrior and Ceruledge.
• Hanzawa realized the hero he had sought might be a Paradox Pokémon, thanked Luo Mu for the news, and asked to accompany him to the battle.

Luo Mu brought Hanzawa to witness Ceruledge’s final battle with Iron Warrior, where Iron Warrior pushed Ceruledge to improve before deliberately losing. The duel ended with Iron Warrior declaring itself at Ceruledge’s disposal, leaving Ceruledge confused and upset by the outcome.

• Luo Mu learned from Hanzawa how Miltank Eggs could hatch into either Miltank or Tauros and what affected a Tauros’s form.
• Luo Mu took Hanzawa to the mountains on Dragonite, and Ceruledge called out to Iron Warrior from a summit.
• Hanzawa recognized Iron Warrior as the Pokémon that had saved him as a child, but Luo Mu stopped him from approaching.
• Ceruledge and Iron Warrior fought a fierce sword duel as Iron Warrior’s improved techniques put Ceruledge under pressure.
• Iron Warrior gradually slowed its attacks and let Ceruledge disarm it, then declared that Ceruledge had won and that it would serve it.
• Ceruledge protested that the duel had not been genuine, while Iron Warrior continued repeating its response in a mechanical voice.

Luo Mu discovered that Iron Warrior had shut down because it had exhausted its Booster Energy, and he brought its body back to the farm while promising Hanzawa they would seek a way to revive it. Back at the farm, he settled the returning Pokémon and placed Iron Warrior in the living room, where Houndoom witnessed him stopping Arcanine from biting it.

• Luo Mu realized Iron Warrior had run out of Booster Energy after Dragonite's repeated Thunderbolts failed to restart it, then explained his theory to Hanzawa and Ceruledge.
• Luo Mu brought Iron Warrior to Hanzawa's ranch, where Hanzawa stroked its dormant body and said he would stay in Alfornada rather than return to Johto.
• On October 28, Luo Mu returned to the farm with Tinkatuff, fourteen Applin, and Iron Warrior, and he arranged for Flapple, Tropius, and the Shuckle siblings to help the Applin settle into New Orchard.
• Luo Mu placed Iron Warrior in a meditation pose in the living room and caught Arcanine by the muzzle when it tried to bite the dormant Pokémon.
• Houndoom saw Luo Mu restrain Arcanine and wondered whether it had misjudged him.

Luo Mu tested the durability and power of Tinkatuff’s new hammer with Arven and Zhen Si, where Tinkatuff accidentally learned Ice Hammer and knocked Torterra unconscious. Two days later, Luo Mu brought Arven to the Paldea Great Pit and descended into Area Zero with him on Dragonite.

• Luo Mu tested Tinkatuff’s hammer against Mabosstiff’s fangs and powerful Snarl, which dented the hammer and sent Tinkatuff flying.
• Tinkatuff learned Ice Hammer during a test against Torterra and froze it solid with one blow, so Luo Mu thawed and treated it.
• Snover battled Zhen Si’s Fuecoco, then Luo Mu told Arven to prepare for their trip to the Paldea Great Pit two days later.
• Luo Mu prepared for the journey while overseeing the New Orchard project, then took Arven to Medali on October 30.
• Aoki authenticated their entry at the Area Zero Gate, and Luo Mu and Arven descended through the clouds on Dragonite.

Luo Mu escorted Arven through Area Zero to the research lab, where Arven reunited with Professor Sada and Professor Turo. After reaching the lab, Luo Mu agreed to help activate the prototype Time Machine that night, and he waited to see which Paradox Pokémon would arrive.

• Luo Mu led Arven through Area Zero, where Dragonite defeated an ambushing Roaring Moon and Swampert protected them from attacking Pokémon.
• At Observation Station 1, Luo Mu repaired the communication module, allowing Arven to speak with Professor Sada and Professor Turo.
• Luo Mu and Arven crossed the middle and lower layers of Area Zero, reaching Observation Station 3 and later the Area Zero Research Lab.
• Arven reunited emotionally with Professor Sada and Professor Turo, while Moru reminded them that the Time Machine inspection was approaching.
• Luo Mu agreed to join the professors for the prototype Time Machine's first activation, and he and Arven went to the device's deepest-level chamber.

Luo Mu and the researchers activated the Prototype Time Machine, which transported Terapagos from a catastrophe in the ancient past. The machine left behind a mysterious crystal, while Luo Mu and the others prepared for whatever might come next.

• Luo Mu warned Arven to take his parents and escape once the machine started, then prepared Swampert, Dragonite, and Roaring Thunder Drum for battle.
• Professor Sada and Professor Turo used the Scarlet Book and Violet Book to activate the Prototype Time Machine for its first operation.
• The machine's energy connected to the ancient past, where Terapagos exhausted herself protecting her kind from a catastrophic shift in the earth.
• A mysterious call and a surge of Tera Energy rescued Terapagos, who transformed into a crystal and traveled through time toward the future.
• The machine's first operation ended with a small crystal on the floor, and Luo Mu asked what it was.

Luo Mu and the professors tested the prototype Time Machine, which produced a mysterious crystal and brought Koraidon and Miraidon into the present. The professors left with the two Pokémon, while Luo Mu and his companions prepared to head back up.

• Luo Mu picked up a hexagonal crystal that Professor Sada and Professor Turo suspected might be a dormant Terapagos, then agreed to keep it safe.
• Professor Sada activated the Time Machine again, and Koraidon appeared; Luo Mu and his Pokémon stayed ready but did not provoke it.
• Koraidon explored the facility and entered the elevator, so Professor Sada accompanied it upstairs while Arven stayed with the others.
• Professor Turo activated the Time Machine a third time, bringing Miraidon into the facility.
• Miraidon followed Professor Turo into the elevator, leaving Luo Mu to invite his Pokémon and the researchers to return upstairs.

Luo Mu rested at the Area Zero Research Lab before joining Professor Sada and Professor Turo on a walk with Koraidon and Miraidon. He realized the two Paradox Pokémon were hungry and offered to prepare food for them.

• Luo Mu brought the exhausted Arven to the bedroom, where Arven quickly fell asleep, and then rested himself.
• Luo Mu woke, left Arven sleeping, and met Moru, who admitted he had been awake for three days before remembering he needed to sleep.
• Luo Mu found Professor Sada and Professor Turo outside the lab with Koraidon and Miraidon, both in their restricted forms and behaving like curious pets.
• Professor Sada and Professor Turo explained that the two Pokémon's strength and energy exceeded expectations, though both still had room to grow.
• Koraidon and Miraidon stopped moving, and Luo Mu guessed they were hungry; he offered to make a meal using ingredients from the research lab.

Luo Mu prepared sandwiches for Koraidon and Miraidon, who eagerly ate them before entering a period of adaptation sleep. The professors identified Luo Mu’s crystal as a time-displaced Terapagos and entrusted it to him, then invited him to explore the Great Zero Hollow and meet the sleeping “Zero Treasure.”

• Luo Mu and Arven prepared several kinds of sandwiches for Koraidon and Miraidon, and both Paradox Pokémon eagerly ate them.
• Professor Sada and Professor Turo examined Koraidon and Miraidon after the meal and concluded that they were adapting to the modern environment by becoming drowsy.
• Luo Mu asked Professor Sada and Professor Turo to examine the crystal, and their scan identified it as a female Terapagos transported from two million years ago.
• Professor Sada and Professor Turo explained their findings and entrusted Terapagos to Luo Mu, who agreed to care for it.
• Olin and Futu invited Luo Mu to enter the Great Zero Hollow with them and see the sleeping “Zero Treasure” Terapagos and a special form of Terastallization.

Luo Mu accompanied Professor Turo into the Great Zero Hollow to investigate Stellarization and encountered a Stellarized Glimmora. Their battle let Professor Turo conclude that Stellarization preserved a Pokémon’s typing while boosting moves of different types, though the enhancement might be limited; Glimmora remained trapped in the wall but still Stellarized.

• Professor Sada and Professor Turo explained Stellarization to Luo Mu and showed him a Stellar Shard, prompting him to join Professor Turo’s trip to the Great Zero Hollow.
• Luo Mu released Mega Swampert in the humid hollow, and Professor Turo led him toward the Zero Treasure.
• A Stellarized Glimmora attacked the group with Earth Power, and Mega Swampert blocked the move while Professor Turo began recording data.
• Luo Mu tested Glimmora with Muddy Water and other attacks, then Mega Swampert struck it into a rock wall with High Horsepower.
• Professor Turo analyzed the battle and concluded that Stellarization left Glimmora’s Rock and Poison typing unchanged, added some physical resistance, and strengthened moves of multiple types, possibly for a limited number of uses.