Recaps

Eichi exposed Takiyama’s bullying, won the Breeding Major competition, and left Sinnoh Academy for a summer trip. Takiyama then set out to ambush him, but Eichi prepared his Pokémon for the pursuit.

• The Fatty exposed A Tian as the student who leaked the story of Eichi’s fight with Takiyama, and Eichi chose not to fight A Tian in class.
• Teacher Kurakura and Teacher Ami presented evidence of Takiyama’s attacks and threats, while Director Nakamura helped expose Takiji’s attempt to frame Eichi.
• Takiyama was arrested over missing-person cases, Takiji was removed from the board, and the academy expelled Takiyama and his lackeys.
• Eichi entered the Breeding Major competition and won first place with his unusually effective Bug-type Advanced Pokéblocks.
• After finishing exams at the top of his class, Eichi trained with his Pokémon, said goodbye to Teacher Ami, and began his summer journey.
• Takiyama persuaded Takiji to let him pursue Eichi, while Takiji assigned two newcomers to act against Eichi and test their strength.
• Takiyama and two men tracked Eichi out of town, and Eichi hid Beedrill, Scizor, Golisopod, and Flygon along their route to prepare for the pursuers.

Eichi survived repeated attacks, saved Misdreavus by helping it evolve, and crossed paths with Asen while Sakaki’s attempt to have Asen killed unfolded. The arc ended with Eichi intervening in the battle and killing Komo, leaving Asen wondering who had saved him.

• Eichi defeated Takiyama’s escorts and later killed another group of men sent after him, while Takiyama returned home poisoned and Takiji resolved to eliminate Eichi.
• Eichi pursued Latios through a storm and took shelter in a castle, where Ghost Pokémon attacked the travelers.
• Eichi and Golisopod helped defeat the Ghost Trio, and Eichi evolved the injured Misdreavus into Mismagius with a Dark Stone.
• Eichi flew the critically weakened Keduo to a Pokémon Center, then said goodbye to Xiao Li and Xiao Yi.
• Asen returned to Team Rocket’s base, trained his Pokémon, and learned that Sakaki had hired Komo to kill him.
• Asen fled his pursuers to Castelia City, where Eichi recognized him and followed him into the forest as Lava Team attacked.
• Komo joined the fight and trapped Asen’s Pokémon, while Eichi prepared to intervene from nearby.
• Eichi ordered Flygon to break Spoink’s barrier and Beedrill to attack, killing Spoink and Komo as Asen wondered who had saved him.

Asen killed Sakaki after luring him into a trap, while Eichi’s Pokémon grew stronger and Eichi earned access to a research institute. The arc ended with Eichi and Asen’s evolved Pokémon drawing their battle and Eichi continuing his breeding research before leaving Sinnoh Academy.

• Eichi and Asen defeated Komo’s Pokémon, and Asen found Mew Evolution Liquid among Komo’s belongings.
• Asen borrowed Eichi’s Beedrill and Flygon, destroyed a Lava Team base, then lured Sakaki into an ambush and killed him.
• Jielan witnessed the aftermath and agreed to conceal Asen’s crime in exchange for a future favor.
• Beedrill told Eichi how it had protected their group in the battle, and Eichi judged that it had reached the peak of Gym Leader level.
• Beedrill, Scizor, and Golisopod fought in training, while Eichi later helped the Fighting Club defeat the Taekwondo Club in a three-on-three contest.
• Director Bro offered Eichi access to the research institute as a tournament reward, and Eichi studied its methods and equipment over four months.
• Eichi and Asen’s Lileep and Armaldo evolved into Cradily and Armaldo, then fought to a draw after both Pokémon fell.
• Eichi learned that Professor Morey’s revised Dustox Pokéblocks had improved in effectiveness and joined researchers collecting data on Bug-type Pokémon.

Eichi returned to Kanto, reunited with family and friends, and accepted responsibility for restoring a dormant Volcarona egg. As Sinnoh Academy prepared for the Five School League, Eichi entered the selection competition and began his first battle.

• Professor Jiang Ben left for Johto with the Volcarona stone egg, believing Eichi might be able to restore it.
• Eichi defeated Sato in a battle, finished his exams, and said farewell to his classmates and colleagues before returning to Kanto.
• Eichi reunited with Mr. Yoshino, met the Growlithe he and Xiao Yu had taken in, and caught up with Amelie and Xiao Yu.
• Eichi learned that Xiao Yu’s Pokémon had joined her without battles, while Sato and Kona continued proving their strength in battles at home.
• Ninjask and Shedinja helped the Ariados Colony repel Crobat and Arbok attackers, then mourned their fallen companions.
• Jiang Ben discovered that faint energy stirred inside the Volcarona egg after Eichi returned, and Eichi agreed to care for it after his Bug Force reached the egg.
• Sinnoh Academy announced its Five School League selection, and Eichi resolved to compete despite Director Liu’s warning about the advantages older students had.
• Eichi’s class filled its five selection slots, and Eichi began the academy trials by ordering Armaldo to use Harden against Vileplume’s Razor Leaf.