Chapter Summaries

Xiao Zhen revisited Blaine, teased him with the answers to old riddles, and questioned him about his secret research and possible ties to Team Rocket. Ash reached Viridian City for his final badge and found Gary lying outside the Gym.

• Ash lost to Blaine when his Charizard refused to obey, but Charizard later volunteered to battle and earned Ash Blaine's respect and a badge.
• Xiao Zhen arrived at Blaine's inn and revealed that he was the young man who had given Blaine riddles ten years earlier.
• Xiao Zhen answered Blaine's two lingering riddles, then asked about Blaine's research with Team Rocket.
• Blaine denied any connection to Team Rocket, while Xiao Zhen warned him to take care of himself and vanished.
• Blaine worried Xiao Zhen might expose him and considered preparing escape routes in case the League came after him.
• Ash and his companions reached Viridian City for the final badge, where Ash found Gary lying outside the Gym.

Giovanni reflected on Gary’s battle, his plans for Mewtwo and Caterpie, and his hopes of one day raising a Caterpie into Rayquaza. Ash challenged him at the Viridian City Gym and defeated two of Giovanni’s Pokémon with Pidgeotto and Pikachu both falling in battle.

• Giovanni recalled Gary’s promising Pokémon and considered the danger of targeting Professor Oak’s grandson, then checked on the armored Mewtwo he hoped to control.
• Giovanni’s Caterpie evolved into Metapod, but he ordered a Team Rocket member to send it away and bring him another Caterpie.
• Ash arrived at Viridian City Gym, where Jessie, James, and Meowth spotted Pikachu but abandoned their plan to catch it after realizing they could anger Giovanni.
• Giovanni began a three-on-three battle against Ash, and Beedrill poisoned and defeated Pidgeotto before Pikachu defeated Beedrill with Thunder.
• Pikachu overcame Giovanni’s Persian with Thunderbolt, then collapsed from its injuries as Giovanni prepared to continue the battle.

Ash challenged Giovanni’s Gym, but Mewtwo defeated his Pokémon before breaking free of its armor and confronting the hidden Mew. Mew told Ash to leave with his friends, while Giovanni became fixated on capturing Mew.

• Giovanni sent out Mewtwo and challenged Ash to defeat it for the Badge; Mewtwo swiftly defeated Bulbasaur and overpowered Charizard.
• Mew’s power disrupted Mewtwo’s Confusion, and Mewtwo sensed the familiar aura of the Pokémon whose genes had been used to create it.
• Mewtwo shattered its armor, destroyed part of the Gym roof, and demanded that Mew reveal itself.
• Mew appeared and spoke with Mewtwo, while Ash’s Pokédex failed to identify it.
• Mew warned Ash not to reveal what he knew and told him to leave with Misty and Brock Jr.; Giovanni focused on Mew instead.

Ash, Misty, and Brock Jr. were caught in Team Rocket’s net as the Viridian City Gym collapsed around them, while Mew and Mewtwo fought fiercely enough to draw the Pokémon League’s attention. Mew defeated Mewtwo again and disappeared as Lance arrived, leaving Mewtwo amid the ruins.

• Ash accidentally revealed that he knew the small pink Pokémon, but avoided Misty and Brock Jr.’s questions before Team Rocket trapped the three children in a net.
• The Gym began collapsing and an explosion blasted Team Rocket away; Xiao Zhen secretly broke Ash’s net, allowing the children to escape.
• Mewtwo knocked down Team Rocket’s Pokémon with Confusion, then Mew sent Mewtwo flying when he tried to show off his strength.
• The battle shook Viridian City, and Pokémon League Champions identified one combatant as the legendary Mew while taking notice of the similar-looking Mewtwo.
• Giovanni abandoned plans to recapture Mewtwo and ordered Team Rocket to retreat before League investigators arrived.
• Mew pinned Mewtwo down again, warned him that Lance was approaching on Dragonite, and vanished from the ruins.

Lance investigated the ruins of Viridian City Gym, where evidence implicated Team Rocket and Giovanni, while Xiao Zhen and Mew prepared to test Ash in Viridian Forest. The chapter left Ash facing Xiao Zhen in disguise, who challenged him to a Pokémon battle.

• Lance battled the wounded Mewtwo, which escaped, then recovered Team Rocket evidence and contraband from the Gym ruins.
• The League pursued Giovanni and Team Rocket, and news outlets reported that everyone associated with Viridian City Gym had become a wanted criminal.
• Xiao Zhen reunited with Mew, gave her pills, and asked her to help stage a challenge for Ash using a Badge taken from the ruins.
• Ash, Brock Jr., and Misty traveled through Viridian Forest, and Ash explained that he had seven Badges and planned to go home because Giovanni's Gym was unavailable.
• Xiao Zhen appeared in disguise and challenged Ash and his companions to a Pokémon battle.

Ash battled a disguised Xiao Zhen and lost with Bulbasaur and Squirtle before Pikachu landed a hit that exposed his father. Xiao Zhen revealed Mew, transported the group to Pallet Town, and gave Ash a Badge as he encouraged him to train for the Indigo Plateau Conference.

• Xiao Zhen provoked Ash into battling, and Rattata dodged Bulbasaur's Vine Whip before defeating it with Hyper Fang.
• Ash sent out Squirtle, but Rattata evaded its Water Gun attacks and defeated it with Tackle.
• Ash and Pikachu struck Rattata with Thunderbolt, prompting Ash to identify the disguised Xiao Zhen as his father.
• Xiao Zhen revealed himself and Mew, then explained that he had met Brock Jr. when he challenged Pewter Gym years earlier.
• Xiao Zhen transported everyone to the forest entrance outside Pallet Town and gave Ash a Badge, urging him to train for the Conference.

Ash began training for the Indigo Plateau Conference at Oak's Laboratory, where his disobedient Charizard challenged his father's far stronger Big Charizard. Golduck stopped Big Charizard from killing Ash's Charizard and revealed through telepathy that, despite Ash's assumption, he was a Water-type Pokémon.

• Ash trained with his Pokémon at Oak's Laboratory while his Charizard slept instead of joining in.
• Big Charizard arrived to protect Ash from Charizard's flames, and Ash's Charizard challenged him out of jealousy.
• Big Charizard repeatedly overpowered Ash's Charizard, but the younger Pokémon kept getting up and fighting.
• Big Charizard nearly struck Ash's Charizard with a lethal Flamethrower before Golduck blocked the attack and put Charizard to sleep.
• Ash recalled Charizard, and Golduck used telepathy to explain that he was a Water-type Pokémon who had only used Psychic-type moves around Ash.

Ash’s Charizard sought out Big Charizard to become his student, and Big Charizard began training him while Ash watched. Xiao Zhen prepared to return to the Dou Qi Continent, then welcomed two randomly recruited Chat Group members: Busujima Saeko and Qiao Feng.

• Ash learned that his Charizard had left the Pokémon Center and went to Oak's ecological park, where he found Charizard training under Big Charizard.
• Big Charizard agreed to teach Ash's Charizard after learning that the younger Pokémon admired his strength and wanted to grow stronger.
• Xiao Zhen gave Mew pills for Ash's Pokémon and planned to return to the Dou Qi Continent while Mew joined the Chat Group.
• Busujima Saeko joined the Chat Group and changed her name from Perverted Female Swordswoman after the members urged her to use her real name.
• Xiao Zhen asked the quiet new member to introduce himself, and Qiao Feng identified himself as the fifteenth-generation Beggar Gang Leader.

Xiao Zhen revealed to Qiao Feng that Kang Min had killed Ma Dayuan and shared a file about Qiao Feng’s future, prompting him to reconsider his identity and fate. Meanwhile, Minato resolved to confront Danzo and the Third Hokage, and Busujima Saeko asked the group for help against an impending zombie outbreak.

• Xiao Zhen told Qiao Feng that Kang Min, not Murong Fu, had killed Ma Dayuan and sent him the file Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils.
• After reading the file, Qiao Feng reflected on his future, while Minato considered the threats inside Konoha and decided to remove Danzo and the Third Hokage from power.
• Qiao Feng changed his group name to Xiao Feng after learning that his biological father was alive and that his identity would soon be exposed.
• Busujima Saeko warned the group that a zombie crisis was about to erupt in her world and asked for help.
• Tony Stark offered to study a virus sample, while Hiratsuka Shizuka questioned how weak zombies could bring down human civilization.

After absorbing the Nihility Devouring Flame, Xiao Zhen traveled to Indigo Plateau for the conference and reunited with Hanako, discussing their family’s future. As the tournament began, Ash advanced through the early rounds while Gary was eliminated in the round of sixteen.

• Xiao Zhen reached the second-turn Dou Zun realm, gained a late Ling realm soul, and traveled to the Pokémon World after learning the Indigo Plateau Conference was near.
• Xiao Zhen reunited with Hanako, explained how the black Heavenly Flame had changed his appearance, and said he wanted to have more children with his family.
• The Indigo Plateau Conference began, and Xiao Zhen watched as Ash won his early matches and teased Gary after each victory.
• Gary’s Blastoise lost to a formidable older trainer in the round of sixteen, and Professor Oak said the defeat might help Gary mature.

The Elite Four discussed Ash’s prospects in the tournament and learned that he was the son of the trainer who had defeated Lance years earlier. Ash won his match with Charizard, then sought his father’s approval and was told he still had much to improve.

• Agatha asked about the Hoenn trainer, and Lorelei explained his background before Agatha voiced her hope that a Kanto trainer would win.
• Bruno praised Ash as a promising dark horse, while Lance recalled being badly injured by Mewtwo after searching for Giovanni.
• Lance argued that Pokémon in their initial stages could still be strong, prompting the others to recall his old loss to a trainer using basic Pokémon.
• Bruno revealed that Ash was the son of Lance’s former opponent, and Lance recognized the resemblance as he watched Ash battle.
• Ash defeated A Hong, whose Charmander was quickly overwhelmed by Charizard, and said he had won using only four Pokémon.
• Xiao Zhen dismissed Ash’s performance as inadequate and recalled that he had once used his family elders’ Pokémon in tournaments, a practice later banned.

Ash advanced through the tournament to take second place after Charizard defeated three opposing Pokémon and Ash won a difficult semifinal. At the awards ceremony, Lance challenged Xiao Zhen to a battle, while Lorelei greeted him and Agatha approached Professor Oak.

• Ash sent Charizard against his opponent's Dragonite, and Charizard got up first after their midair collision and knocked Dragonite out.
• Charizard defeated two more of Ash's opponent's Pokémon before Ash won the match with his remaining team.
• Ash defeated his semifinal opponent's trump card but lost the final to a skilled contestant from Hoenn, taking second place.
• Xiao Zhen teased Professor Oak about Gary's early elimination, then recognized the injured Lance among the arriving Elite Four members.
• Lance challenged Xiao Zhen to a Pokémon battle, but Xiao Zhen refused because he had no Pokémon with him.
• Lorelei greeted Xiao Zhen, Hanako reacted jealously, and Agatha turned her attention to Professor Oak.

Xiao Zhen accepted Lance’s challenge to a six-on-six Pokémon battle, with Ash and the others watching. Xiao Zhen’s Nidoking defeated Lance’s Charizard in the opening match, but Lance’s skill impressed him.

• Lance offered Xiao Zhen a Dratini for Ash if Xiao Zhen battled him, and Xiao Zhen accepted the challenge.
• Xiao Zhen transferred Charizard, Scyther, Haunter, Nidoking, Golduck, and Mew from Oak's Laboratory for the battle.
• Xiao Zhen sent out Nidoking against Lance’s Charizard, and the referee began the six-on-six match with special abilities prohibited.
• Lance’s Charizard used Fly and Heat Wave to pressure Nidoking, while Xiao Zhen ordered Nidoking to use Thunder and bring it down.
• Nidoking struck Charizard with Mega Punch and knocked it out of the arena, while Charizard’s Flare Blitz burned and injured Nidoking.

Xiao Zhen defeated Lance in all six matches and gave Ash the Dratini he had won, while Lance vowed to challenge him again. Ash set off for the southern island chain, and Xiao Zhen returned to refining Nihility Devouring Flame.

• Lance sent out Aerodactyl, but Scyther dodged its attacks and defeated it after it left an opening.
• Xiao Zhen's Haunter, Golduck, Charizard, and Mew defeated Lance's remaining Pokémon in succession, with Mew knocking out Dragonite as Raichu.
• Lance gave Xiao Zhen the promised Poké Ball, and Xiao Zhen passed it to a delighted Ash, who found a baby Dratini inside.
• Lance promised to grow stronger and challenge Xiao Zhen again, while Ash soon departed for the southern island chain to retrieve a special Poké Ball for Professor Oak.
• After trying unsuccessfully to conceive a child with Hanako, Xiao Zhen left the Pokémon world to refine Nihility Devouring Flame and considered meeting Zhu Kun.

Xiao Zhen learned that a Dou Sheng expert from the clan behind Xun'er had visited the Xiao Clan, then helped resurrect Yao Chen and agreed to travel with him to the Central Plains after he recovered. A month later Xiao Zhen had reached Nine-Revolving Dou Zun, while Esdeath reported that the empire and Revolutionary Army had united against her as she approached the Imperial Capital.

• Yao Chen told Xiao Zhen that a Dou Sheng-level expert had swept the Xiao Clan residence with Soul Power and had likely come from the clan behind Xun'er.
• Yao Tianhuo presented Mo Tianxing's corpse, explaining that he had baited the Black Emperor Sect into attacking him and killed its sect master.
• Xiao Zhen refined a resurrection pill for Yao Chen, who revived and planned to recover before seeking refuge at the Pill Tower; Xiao Zhen agreed to travel with him to the Central Plains.
• Over the next month, Xiao Zhen absorbed Nihility Devouring Flame and advanced to Nine-Revolving Dou Zun, while Yao Chen recovered to high-level Dou Zun.
• Esdeath told Xiao Zhen that she had captured most of the empire, defeated Bude, and attacked the Revolutionary Army after rejecting its offer to recruit her.
• Esdeath explained that the empire and Revolutionary Army had joined forces after she destroyed several Revolutionary Army strongholds and killed around a hundred thousand enemies.

Xiao Zhen arrived at Esdeath’s camp, learned that Imperial and Revolutionary forces were trapped inside the capital, and helped identify a captured youth as Tatsumi. Esdeath showed no interest in Tatsumi and said she would kill him if he became their enemy.

• Xiao Zhen arrived at Esdeath’s camp and heard from Liver that nearly two hundred thousand enemies occupied the capital while Esdeath’s army had one hundred and ten thousand troops.
• Nyau explained that the Imperial Army and Revolutionary Army inside the city distrusted and sabotaged one another, despite their alliance.
• A soldier reported capturing a suspected enemy scout, and Xiao Zhen stopped Esdeath from ordering the youth’s execution.
• Xiao Zhen freed the captive and recognized him as Tatsumi, who revealed he had come to join the Imperial Army and save his impoverished village.
• Xiao Zhen asked Esdeath what she thought of Tatsumi, and she said he was too weak and that she would deal with him if he became their enemy.

Tatsumi joined Esdeath’s Revolutionary Army, while a shapeshifting assassin infiltrated Xiao Zhen’s tent and tried to kill him. After capturing her, Xiao Zhen offered to help Tatsumi search for his friends in the Imperial Capital.

• Tatsumi broke free from his guards and persuaded Esdeath to spare him, then joined the Revolutionary Army.
• Tatsumi learned that Ieyasu and Sayo had gone ahead to the Imperial Capital and worried they might become his enemies.
• A young soldier asked Tatsumi where Xiao Zhen was staying, then transformed into a white cat and entered Xiao Zhen’s tent.
• The white cat tried to stab Xiao Zhen, but her needle broke against him and he immobilized her.
• Tatsumi warned Xiao Zhen about the suspicious soldier, and Xiao Zhen revealed that the intruder was an assassin.
• Xiao Zhen offered to speak to Esdeath so Tatsumi could change clothes and go look for his friends.

Xiao Zhen led Tatsumi into the Imperial Capital, where Tatsumi witnessed the city’s corruption and tried to defend an old man from abusive guards. After Najenda intervened, Xiao Zhen took Tatsumi to a wealthy estate, where he killed two guards who confronted them.

• Xiao Zhen brought Tatsumi into the Imperial Capital and told him that his two companions were in serious danger.
• Tatsumi confronted Imperial Capital Guard members who were beating an old man and demanding protection money.
• Najenda arrived, drove off the guards, and took the injured old man to a clinic, while Leone joined her after drinking at a tavern.
• Xiao Zhen led Tatsumi over a wall into a luxurious estate, and Tatsumi questioned whether they should have entered without permission.
• Xiao Zhen sliced apart two guards with battle qi as Tatsumi watched in shock.

Tatsumi found Ieyasu and Sayo tortured in a warehouse, and Xiao Zhen began treating them after they agreed to serve him. As guards approached, Tatsumi and then Ieyasu fought them while Xiao Zhen treated Sayo and confronted Chelsea, who revealed she was an assassin for the Revolutionary Army.

• Xiao Zhen led Tatsumi to a warehouse, where Tatsumi found Ieyasu imprisoned and Sayo hanging near death.
• Ieyasu warned Tatsumi that he might be contagious and told him where to find Sayo, whom Tatsumi discovered was still barely breathing.
• Xiao Zhen treated Sayo and offered to save both companions in exchange for the lives of Tatsumi, Ieyasu, and Sayo; Tatsumi and Ieyasu agreed.
• Xiao Zhen sent Tatsumi to fight approaching guards, and Ieyasu later joined him after Xiao Zhen gave him an antidote pill.
• Xiao Zhen gave Sayo an antidote pill and used his Soul Power to reveal Chelsea, who identified herself as an assassin affiliated with the Revolutionary Army.

Xiao Zhen rescued Sayo and the other victims from a noble family’s warehouse, then burned the estate and explained the Empire’s corruption to Tatsumi and Ieyasu. After Ieyasu decided to join the rebellion and Chelsea chose to side with Xiao Zhen, the group learned the innkeeper had gone to report them, but Xiao Zhen stayed untroubled.

• Xiao Zhen and Chelsea left the warehouse with Sayo, while Chelsea poisoned the noblewoman and Xiao Zhen ended the suffering of the remaining victims.
• Tatsumi and Ieyasu held off the guards until Xiao Zhen set the noble lord and several guards ablaze, then burned the warehouse and took the group away.
• At an inn, Sayo woke and Ieyasu apologized to her; Xiao Zhen gave her clothes and explained to Tatsumi that the Empire’s corruption had forced Night Raid to suspend its operations.
• Ieyasu vowed to fight the Empire, and Tatsumi told him he had joined Esdeath’s forces; Ieyasu insisted on joining too.
• Chelsea noticed the innkeeper sneaking away to report them and chose to break with the Revolutionary Army, while Xiao Zhen remained calm as she transformed into a white kitten.