Chapter Summaries

Luo Mu arrived in Jubilife City with Shaymin and Calyrex, then planned to visit the man who had entrusted him with Arcanine's Egg before traveling to White Poplar Town. He left the city with Arcanine, intending to learn more about its origins and follow up on a promise to Sha Li.

• On the flight to Sinnoh, Shaymin protested Luo Mu's suggestion that it reunite with its kind, then fell asleep in his arms.
• Luo Mu remembered defeating Shiny Rayquaza with Luxray and resolved to keep training for their next battle.
• Luo Mu landed in Jubilife City on May 1 and explored the bustling city with Calyrex, who wore a Piplup hoodie to stay inconspicuous.
• Luo Mu told Calyrex they would visit someone in Jubilife City before heading to White Poplar Town for the Dessert Competition.
• Luo Mu released Arcanine and explained that he planned to visit the son of Grandma Juzi, who had entrusted him with Arcanine's Egg, to learn about Arcanine's origins.

Luo Mu arrived in Jubilife City with Shaymin and Calyrex, then planned to visit the son of the woman who had entrusted him with Arcanine’s Egg before continuing to White Poplar Town. He set out to learn more about Arcanine’s origins and follow through on his promise to Sha Li.

• During the flight, Luo Mu teased Shaymin about rejoining its kind, but Shaymin insisted it would leave only when it chose and then fell asleep in his arms.
• Luo Mu recalled how he and Luxray had defeated Shiny Rayquaza and resolved to keep training for their future rematch.
• Luo Mu landed in Jubilife City on May 1 and explored its busy streets with Shaymin and Calyrex, who wore a Piplup hoodie to stay inconspicuous.
• Luo Mu told Calyrex that he planned to visit Arcanine’s former owner’s son near Jubilife City before traveling to White Poplar Town for the Dessert Competition.
• Luo Mu released Arcanine and explained that he would ask the man about Arcanine’s origins, partly to satisfy his curiosity and fulfill his promise to Sha Li.

Jumu recounted how a mysterious woman saved him and Tinkaton from a blizzard, then entrusted him with a Pokémon Egg and sent him back to Sinnoh. After learning the Egg hatched and reached Luo Mu, Luo Mu suspected the woman was Mew and that the pink board was Arceus’s Fairy Plate.

• Jumu remembered surviving a near-fatal blizzard on Mt. Coronet and waking in the mysterious woman’s Secluded Place.
• The woman gave Jumu tea, asked him to take a Pokémon Egg, and said fate would guide it to the person meant to raise it.
• Jumu and Tinkaton woke in a Pokémon Center, and Jumu later left the unhatched Egg with his mother at her seed shop.
• Jumu told Luo Mu that the Egg had hatched, while Calyrex watched Luo Mu’s reaction.
• Luo Mu connected the woman to Mew, the Egg’s destined caretaker to Sinnoh, and the pink cutting board to Arceus’s Fairy Plate.

Luo Mu left the Oreburgh Mine after meeting Jumu and Arcanine, then encountered Looker, who had come to question him about his visit to Sinnoh. Looker asked whether Luo Mu intended to pursue the escaped Hunter J.

• Jumu and Tinkaton reunited with Arcanine, and Luo Mu spoke with Calyrex about Jumu's strange encounter and the possibility of Mew.
• Luo Mu recalled Arcanine, said farewell to Jumu and Tinkaton, and rode the mine cart back to the surface with Calyrex and Shaymin.
• At the mine exit, Luo Mu and his companions encountered Roark and Looker, who recognized Luo Mu as a Champion-Level Trainer from Paldea.
• Looker took Luo Mu to Roark's office for a private conversation and asked why he had come to Sinnoh.
• Luo Mu said he had come for the Dessert Competition, and Looker asked whether he also intended to deal with the escaped Hunter J.

Lucian visited Luo Mu to confirm he would not interfere in the Sinnoh League’s pursuit of Hunter J, but Luo Mu instead challenged him to a Pokémon battle. At Black City Gym, the two sent out Gallade and Mimikyu to begin their one-on-one match.

• Lucian asked Luo Mu about Hunter J, and Luo Mu said he had no intention of catching her.
• Relieved, Lucian offered Luo Mu his business card, but Luo Mu asked him for a Pokémon battle.
• Roark let Luo Mu and Lucian use Black City Gym’s battlefield and volunteered to referee.
• Luo Mu decided to battle so Victini could feed on the Victory Wave from a win, while Lucian accepted to defend his pride and the Sinnoh League’s honor.
• Roark announced a one-on-one match, and Lucian sent out Gallade as Luo Mu chose Mimikyu.

Luo Mu’s Mimikyu defeated Looker’s Gallade after Gallade’s extraordinary Teleport and blade attacks pushed it into a corner. Looker conceded, and Luo Mu explained that Mimikyu’s unusual talent was its weak presence, leaving Looker curious about what else the Pokémon could do.

• Looker sent out Gallade instead of Bronzong, and Gallade opened with Sacred Sword against Mimikyu.
• Mimikyu’s Ghost typing let Sacred Sword pass through it, and its boosted Play Rough struck Gallade with Fairy-type force.
• Gallade used its exceptional Teleport talent to interrupt Mimikyu’s Swords Dance and overwhelm it with repeated Mental Blade attacks.
• Mimikyu used Phantom Force, then appeared unnoticed behind Gallade and knocked it unconscious with Shadow Claw.
• Looker conceded defeat, and Luo Mu said Mimikyu’s unusual innate talent was its weak presence.

Luo Mu explained how Mimikyu had learned to control and strengthen its faint presence, then left Hokulani City with Calyrex and the others to reach White Poplar Town before the Dessert Competition deadline. In the wilderness, a strange campsite-like area kept appearing no matter which way they tried to detour.

• Luo Mu told Looker that Mimikyu used spirit power to make its presence nearly undetectable after losing an opponent's Lock-On with Phantom Force.
• Luo Mu left Black City Gym after learning that the sightseeing line to White Poplar Town was damaged and planned to travel there by Pokémon instead.
• Luo Mu explained to Calyrex that Mega Evolution would replace Gallade's Sharpness Ability with Inner Focus, so he had advised Looker against it.
• Calyrex noticed a stream, grassland, unknown plants, and a man-made tent appear ahead in the wilderness, and Luo Mu chose to avoid the area.
• Luo Mu repeatedly tried to detour, but the strange campsite-like scene kept appearing in front of them.

Luo Mu and Calyrex entered the Secluded Place of Old, where Mew revealed that hatching the Pokémon Egg had placed a duty upon Luo Mu and offered him the Arceus Plate as a temporary reward. After Luo Mu released Arcanine and Moltres, Mew declared that Arcanine was qualified to inherit its father’s throne.

• Unable to avoid the Secluded Place of Old, Luo Mu and Calyrex entered with Glastrier, Spectrier, Shaymin, and Victini.
• Mew greeted Luo Mu and Calyrex, while Tornadus served them tea on an Arceus Plate.
• Mew offered to lend Luo Mu the Plate and said hatching the Pokémon Egg had placed a duty and mission upon him, but she could not explain what it was.
• At Mew’s request, Luo Mu released Arcanine and then Moltres from their Poké Balls.
• Mew praised Luo Mu for raising Arcanine and said it was qualified to inherit its father’s throne.

Mew sent Luo Mu, Calyrex, and their Pokémon thousands of years into the past, to the Hisui Region, where they had to fulfill a mysterious mission before returning to their own era. Near the Pearl Settlement, Luo Mu met Pearly and claimed to be a messenger from Great Lord Sinnoh.

• Mew revealed that Luo Mu and Arcanine's egg were bound to a mission, transported them to Hisui, and promised they could return after fulfilling their duty.
• Calyrex explained that avoiding the mission might disrupt history and agreed to stay by Luo Mu's side.
• Calyrex sensed someone approaching, and Luo Mu prepared for a meeting before a Glaceon led Pearly through the blizzard.
• Pearly suspected Luo Mu might be a Diamond Clan spy and challenged him about wandering near the Pearl Settlement with so many Pokémon.
• Luo Mu recognized Pearly as the Pearl Clan leader and claimed he was a messenger from Great Lord Sinnoh.

Luo Mu and his Pokémon took shelter from a blizzard at the Pearl Settlement, where Pearly welcomed them and let them stay in her tent. The next morning, Pearly apologized and said she needed Luo Mu to catch Pokémon.

• Pearly dismissed Luo Mu's claim about Mew but took him to the Pearl Settlement to protect him from the blizzard and hunters.
• Pearly explained that the storm might last several days and offered Luo Mu her warm tent, where Flareon tended the fireplace.
• Luo Mu and Calyrex agreed to keep a low profile, and Luo Mu read the settlement's ancient books while the snowstorm continued.
• Pearl Clan members remarked that Luo Mu resembled Warden Sazanami, while Calyrex sensed an argument in Pearly's tent that night.
• Pearly brought Luo Mu breakfast the next morning and told him that the plans had changed and she needed him to catch Pokémon.

Pearly took Luo Mu to the Alabaster Icelands to teach him how to catch Pokémon for the Pearl Settlement. She caught a lone Machop with a sticky ball and a Poké Ball while Luo Mu photographed her demonstration.

• Pearly explained that Luo Mu needed to catch Pokémon to contribute to the Pearl Settlement and gave him an ancient Poké Ball.
• Pearly chose a mission to catch one to three Machop or Machoke and promised to accompany Luo Mu.
• Pearly led Luo Mu through the Alabaster Icelands, and Calyrex helped them avoid trouble on the way to the Pokémon habitat.
• Pearly spotted a lone Machop near the Machoke group and warned Luo Mu not to attract the Alpha Machoke's attention.
• Pearly struck Machop with a sticky ball and captured it with a Poké Ball while Luo Mu took a photo of her success.

Luo Mu caught a Machop with Pearly’s field tools, then challenged the clan’s Alpha Machop and defeated it with a single enhanced punch. He captured the Alpha Machop and walked away as the intimidated clan watched.

• Pearly taught Luo Mu how Mud Balls, Sticky Globs, Honey Lure Balls, and Smoke Balls helped catch or evade Pokémon.
• Luo Mu lured a Machop with a Honey Lure Ball, trapped it in smoke, hit it with a Sticky Glob, and captured it with a Poké Ball.
• After escaping the angry Machoke clan, Luo Mu ignored Pearly’s warning and entered their territory to target the Alpha Machop.
• The Alpha Machop charged Luo Mu, who dodged its attacks and knocked it unconscious with a punch enhanced by Victini’s V-create.
• Luo Mu captured the Alpha Machop and returned to Pearly while the clan backed away in fear.

On the way back to Pearl Settlement, Pearly reconsidered Luo Mu’s potential while he discussed the ancient era and his mission with Calyrex. That night, Luo Mu released his Pokémon and brought out the three captured Machop, but Alpha Machop immediately tried to challenge him again.

• Pearly decided to observe Luo Mu closely and planned to introduce him to the Pearl Clan members the next morning.
• Luo Mu asked Calyrex to investigate the region, but Calyrex warned against releasing too much power and advised him not to impose modern values on the ancient era.
• Luo Mu focused on reaching the Cobalt Coastlands and finding the Island King, whom Mew had identified as a possible clue connected to Arcanine.
• After Pearly left, Luo Mu let Spectrier and Glastrier run outside, then released his other Pokémon inside the tent.
• Luo Mu released the two Machop and Alpha Machop from their Hisuian Poké Balls, and Alpha Machop marched toward him to reclaim its pride.
• Swampert and Serperior blocked Alpha Machop, which roared that it would beat anyone who stood in its way.

Luo Mu subdued Alpha Machop and promised to help it evolve into Machamp, then met the Pearl Settlement’s people with Pearly. After asking to meet Manager Guana about Arcanine, he agreed to wait while Pearly arranged a visit to the Crimson Mirelands, as the Time-Space Rift appeared over Mt. Coronet.

• Luo Mu offered Alpha Machop food, work with the settlement, and help evolving into Machamp, securing its cooperation and that of the two Machop.
• Luo Mu explained to Calyrex that a Link Cable could enable Machoke’s evolution and planned to look for one at the Ginkgo Guild in Jubilife Village.
• Pearly led Luo Mu to meet the Pearl Settlement’s members, then asked what he planned to do next.
• Luo Mu released Arcanine and asked to meet Manager Guana; Pearly said the area she oversaw was under lockdown but offered to negotiate access.
• Pearly arranged for Luo Mu to visit Elder YuPu in the Crimson Mirelands, and Luo Mu agreed to wait for her negotiations.
• As the snow receded, Luo Mu saw the Time-Space Rift appear above Mt. Coronet.

Luo Mu traveled to Wasteland Base on Hisuian Braviary to seek Elder YuPu’s permission to meet Land Forme Ursaluna. YuPu offered him a chance to prove his skill with medicinal herbs, after which she would take him to Lake Acuity for a trial.

• Luo Mu and Calyrex saw a Time-Space Rift near Mt. Coronet, and Luo Mu decided to find out whether the Time-Lost Wanderer was present in Hisui.
• Pearly warned Luo Mu about YuPu’s dislike of Poké Balls and lent him the Sacred Flute, which summoned Hisuian Braviary.
• Luo Mu rode Hisuian Braviary with Calyrex and Shaymin to Wasteland Base, where Pearl Clan members recognized the bird as Pearly’s personal mount.
• Luo Mu met YuPu, who agreed to let him meet Land Forme Ursaluna because Alpha Machop had cooperated with him and Pearly had vouched for him.
• YuPu challenged Luo Mu to help treat injured Pokémon and Pearl Clan members with medicinal herbs, promising to take him to Lake Acuity for a trial if he proved his ability.

Luo Mu treated injured people and Pokémon at the Wasteland Base, impressing Elder YuPu with his medical skills. He agreed to accompany her to Lake Acuity, and as they set out, the Diamond Clan leader arrived too late to meet him.

• Luo Mu treated Luxray's injured leg and reassured its Pearl Clan handler that it would recover within a week.
• Elder YuPu watched Luo Mu treat patients, learned from his methods, and asked where he had gained his medical skills.
• YuPu offered to take Luo Mu to the arena, but he asked to hear more about Lake Acuity and agreed to travel there with her the next day.
• At dawn, YuPu brought two Ursaluna to carry them, and she and Luo Mu set off for Lake Acuity.
• The Diamond Clan leader arrived at the Wasteland Base and saw Luo Mu's party departing, realizing he had missed his chance to meet him.

Luo Mu and YuPu crossed Lake Acuity to a hidden shrine, where Azelf chose him for a trial. Azelf showed him a vision of a frightened Pokémon rejected by its kind and tasked him with teaching it will and courage, promising a portion of its heart if he succeeded.

• YuPu fed Sparkling Honey to Big Bear and Luo Mu fed Bear Two before they rode summoned Basculegion across Lake Acuity.
• YuPu recognized Shaymin as the Gratitude Pokémon and recalled stories about it while Calyrex subdued Shaymin's tantrum.
• Luo Mu and YuPu reached a small rocky island and found a shrine where YuPu offered prayers to the God of Will.
• Azelf appeared from an overlapping space and sent Luo Mu visions of a trembling purple Pokémon rejected by a large steel-shelled Pokémon and its kind.
• Azelf told Luo Mu to teach the Pokémon will and courage, promising him a portion of its heart if he passed the trial and completed the mission.

Luo Mu learned that the Lake Guardians were testing people to find someone who could address the danger posed by the Time-Space Rift, and Azelf’s trial pointed him toward a Hisuian Goodra’s clan. At the Wasteland Base, the Diamond Clan Leader revealed that Luo Mu’s target was a rejected Goomy known as the “Incompetent Goomy.”

• YuPu explained that the Lake Guardians had awakened after the sky split over Mt. Coronet and were giving trials to search for a hero, though nobody had passed one.
• YuPu identified Luo Mu’s trial target as an Alpha Goodra that led a clan in the Crimson Mirelands, and Luo Mu recalled Azelf’s image of a trembling Goomy shunned by its kind.
• YuPu warned that trials could fail if left unfinished and said she would seek permission from the Diamond Clan for Luo Mu to enter its territory.
• The Diamond Clan Leader arrived at the Wasteland Base, introduced himself to Luo Mu, and invited him to join the clan, but Luo Mu declined.
• The Diamond Clan Leader confirmed that Luo Mu’s target was a Goomy rejected by the Alpha Goodra’s clan and said failed trial-takers called it the “Incompetent Goomy.”

Luo Mu traveled with the Diamond Clan Leader to the wetlands to meet the isolated Goomy and begin his trial. After seeing it, he stunned the leader by declaring he was confident he could make it evolve within three days.

• Luo Mu objected to the Diamond Clan calling the Goomy incompetent, and the Diamond Clan Leader approved his request to visit its habitat.
• YuPu gave Luo Mu Nourishing Mushrooms and Bait Ball Ingredients, which he made into Mushroom Bait Balls before leaving for the wetlands.
• The Diamond Clan Leader took Luo Mu there on Sneasler and explained that he and Pearly avoided the Lake Guardians' trials.
• At the wetlands, the Diamond Clan Leader pointed out the oversized Goomy isolated at the edge of the Goodra colony.
• Luo Mu said he was confident he could make the Goomy evolve within three days, leaving the Diamond Clan Leader stunned.

Luo Mu began his three-day attempt to help the isolated Goomy evolve, earning its trust with food and identifying the causes of its stalled growth. He concluded that Goomy needed to become the group’s Alpha, leaving it to consider his bold proposal.

• Diamond Clan Leader warned Luo Mu that the oversized Goomy had never used a move or progressed toward evolving, but Luo Mu insisted on trying for three days.
• Diamond Clan Leader left supplies at the wetland and departed, while Luo Mu observed that the other Pokémon excluded the Goomy.
• Luo Mu offered the hungry Goomy an Energy Cube and a Mushroom Bait Ball, and it cautiously accepted both.
• Luo Mu recognized Goomy’s insecurity and asked whether it wanted to become stronger, but Goomy doubted its own potential.
• Using information from Calyrex, Luo Mu explained that Goomy’s Everstone and accumulated trauma had hindered its development, while its father’s Alpha status blocked its path.
• When Goomy asked what it should do, Luo Mu told it to become the boss.