Chapter Summaries

Scizor made two more attempts to pass Muramasa’s trial but was repeatedly held back by groups of Scyther. After returning injured and frustrated, Scizor took a break with Beedrill trying to comfort it before an afternoon attempt.

• Scizor began its second attempt, fought through several Scyther, and was eventually pinned down by more than ten until Zong Zheng retrieved it when time ran out.
• Eichi healed Scizor, which immediately started a third attempt and tried to avoid fighting the Scyther along the way.
• Scizor reached the same three Scyther but became too irritated to stay calm, and it was still fighting them when the ten-minute limit expired.
• Eichi contacted Mr. Muramasa, who agreed to end the attempts for the morning and return in the afternoon.
• Scizor barely ate lunch, so Beedrill went to speak with it after Eichi prompted him.

After Beedrill helped Scizor recover from its failed morning trial, Scizor tried again that afternoon with a stealthier approach. It made it past the Scyther but was overwhelmed by Elite Class Scizor and failed once more.

• Scizor told Beedrill about its morning trial, and Beedrill's advice helped it feel better.
• Muramasa took Eichi and Scizor back to the colony, where Scizor began the fourth trial with a more cautious plan.
• Scizor avoided the main path and used Double Team to escape a group of pursuing Scyther.
• Near the halfway point, Elite Class Scizor ambushed Scizor and pinned it down with rapid attacks.
• A Scizor struck Scizor from behind and knocked it into a crater, and Muramasa stopped the stopwatch as Scizor failed the trial.

Scizor repeatedly attempted the clan’s trial, using Double Team to pass the Scyther but getting stopped by a veteran Scizor that choked it. On its fourth attempt, Scizor ignored the other attackers and launched a focused assault on the grappling Scizor it nicknamed Vegetable Bundle.

• Muramasa sent Zong Zheng to check Scizor’s progress, and Zong Zheng found it injured after it failed its first attempt.
• Eichi treated Scizor’s minor wounds, and Scizor used Double Team to confuse the Scyther and cross halfway on its second attempt.
• A veteran Scizor caught Scizor and choked it, causing the second attempt to fail; Scizor told Eichi about the unusual opponent.
• Scizor used Double Team again on its third attempt but was caught and choked by the same Scizor.
• On its fourth attempt, Scizor named the opponent Vegetable Bundle and attacked it with Bullet Punch and Fury Cutter.

Scizor fought through the Scizor territory during his trial, repeatedly beating Vegetable Bundle until it became too frightened to continue. After Eichi treated Scizor, he made one more attempt and advanced farther before returning to the Training Hall to rest.

• Scizor knocked Vegetable Bundle into a crater, and the other Scizor attacked him after revealing that Vegetable Bundle was their leader’s child.
• On his fifth trial attempt, Scizor used Protect, Double Team, and Substitute to reach Vegetable Bundle, then struck it with Bullet Punch while the elite-peak Scizor attacked his Substitute.
• Scizor and Vegetable Bundle were left in separate craters until Zong Zheng arrived, learned what had happened, and saw Vegetable Bundle flee from Scizor in fear.
• Eichi treated Scizor and refused to turn off the Weight Training Device, explaining that it would be more effective to disable it at the most critical moment.
• Scizor made another attempt without Vegetable Bundle interfering, advanced farther than before, and returned to the Training Hall, where Eichi recognized his improvement.

Scizor continued Muramasa’s trial, improving enough to reach the finish line once but missing the time limit by half a minute. On its final attempt, it concealed its strength until the course’s final stretch, where it used Swords Dance and Hidden Power while the pursuing Scizor closed in.

• Scizor repeatedly trained against the Scyther and Scizor, and Vegetable Bundle stopped returning after Scizor beat it again.
• Scizor reached the finish line during a trial attempt but exceeded the time limit by half a minute, impressing Muramasa and the Scizor leader.
• Eichi turned off Scizor’s Weight Training Device and advised it to hold back its strength until a critical moment.
• Scizor began its final attempt, evaded pursuers with Double Team, and reached the latter half of the course with seven minutes remaining.
• The Old Guy saw through Scizor’s copies and pursued it, so Scizor used Swords Dance and then Hidden Power to surround itself with flames.

Scizor passed Muramasa’s trial by reaching the finish line in 9 minutes and 28 seconds, then said goodbye to the Scyther and Scizor who had challenged it. Eichi prepared to leave the Training Hall for school the next day.

• Scizor used Substitute to escape the pursuing Scizor and reached the finish line with 32 seconds to spare.
• Muramasa stopped the stopwatch at 9 minutes and 28 seconds and announced that Scizor had passed the trial.
• Eichi arrived, congratulated Scizor, and watched as Scizor thanked and said goodbye to the gathered Pokémon.
• Eichi and Muramasa shared Pokémon food and Pokéblocks with everyone before leaving for the Training Hall.
• Muramasa asked when Eichi would leave, and Eichi said he planned to depart the next day.

Eichi passed Muramasa’s final training and prepared to leave the Training Hall the next day. At a farewell dinner and a final tea with Muramasa, Eichi received a letter for Liu Shengho, while Zong Zheng took Scizor away for one last lesson.

• A Zheng and A Jin realized Eichi had likely completed his final training and would soon leave.
• Muramasa told the disciples Eichi was leaving the next day, so they prepared a lavish farewell dinner.
• Eichi joined the disciples for the dinner, where they celebrated, shared their dreams, and helped him settle everyone afterward.
• Muramasa gave Eichi a letter to deliver to Liu Shengho and praised his talent and self-reliance.
• Zong Zheng spoke with Scizor and took it away to teach it something before Eichi departed.
• Eichi returned to his room and looked at the bright, round moon.

After leaving the Training Hall, Eichi traveled through Johto, helped a young Trainer, and arrived in Yoshino City. There, a cracked Poké Ball released a rampaging Gyarados, and Eichi recognized it as another out-of-control Pokémon.

• Eichi left the Training Hall, reunited with Scizor, and continued traveling with Beedrill and Heracross.
• Eichi met Shimura Yuki, who asked to be called Xiao Xi, and guided him as they traveled toward Kikyo City before parting ways.
• In an underground base beneath Lake of Rage, a black-uniformed man reprimanded staff for failing to control Thunder Wave, while the Poké Ball holding the Pokémon developed a crack.
• Eichi traveled from Kikyo City to Yoshino City and bought a train ticket to Blackthorn City.
• A Poké Ball carried by an ordinary-looking man cracked and exploded, releasing an elite-level Gyarados that destroyed a building and sent the crowd fleeing.
• Eichi recognized Gyarados as another out-of-control Pokémon, while the man who had carried its Poké Ball ran away.

Eichi stopped a rampaging Gyarados with Scizor, then went with You Yi to the police station to give a statement. Officer Jenny recognized Eichi from an earlier rescue and asked him to help identify Gyarados’s missing owner; the chapter ended with Eichi asking what had caused the Pokémon to lose control.

• Eichi sent Scizor to stop Gyarados from firing Hyper Beam, and Scizor defeated it with Bullet Punch and Cross Cut.
• You Yi thanked Eichi and introduced himself as a trainer from Vermilion City collecting badges for the Silver Tournament.
• Officer Jenny arrived, learned Eichi had subdued Gyarados, and took Eichi and You Yi to the police station for statements.
• Officer Jenny recognized Eichi from the incident in Blackthorn City, when he had stopped two out-of-control Pokémon, and said they would commend him.
• Eichi drew a sketch of Gyarados’s owner for Officer Jenny, who sent officers to search for the man.
• Eichi asked Officer Jenny what had caused Gyarados to lose control.

After helping stop a rampaging Gyarados, Eichi received commendations, battled You Yi, and learned that Team Rocket was behind the incident. He returned to Silver Academy, where Director Liu told him that Muramasa’s letter praised his talent and asked the school to nurture him.

• Officer Jenny questioned Eichi about the Gyarados rampage, and the police station awarded him a banner and thirty thousand dollars.
• Eichi battled You Yi’s Elite-level Crobat with Scizor and won after a difficult fight.
• At the underground base beneath Lake of Rage, the man in black reprimanded the underling who had lost the test subject and ordered future subjects transported in special Poké Balls.
• Eichi said goodbye to You Yi, received another commendation and one hundred thousand dollars in Blackthorn City, then returned to Silver Academy.
• Eichi gave Director Liu a letter from Muramasa, who praised his talent and asked the director to nurture him.

Eichi returned to class, learned that Matsumoto and Ishida had been humiliating students with a winning streak, and accepted Matsumoto’s challenge. In the Battle Arena, Ishida stepped up first and sent out his Scizor against Eichi’s Scizor, leaving their battle about to begin.

• Eichi returned to class and told Tetsu and the other students that training with Mr. Muramasa had greatly improved his Scizor.
• The students told Eichi that Matsumoto and Ishida had challenged every class, defeated Xiao Ye, Tetsu, Hirota, and others, and humiliated Tetsu.
• Matsumoto arrived with Ishida, identified Eichi as the grade’s top student and Newcomer Cup champion, and challenged him to a Pokémon battle.
• Eichi accepted, and students from several classes crowded into the nearby Battle Arena to watch.
• Ishida persuaded Matsumoto to let him battle first, and both he and Eichi sent out their Scizor.

Eichi's Scizor defeated Ishida's Scizor in four minutes, and Eichi challenged Matsumoto to fight next. Matsumoto sent out an Elite Class Magmar, beginning a dangerous matchup for Eichi's Scizor.

• Ishida and Eichi ordered their Scizor to clash with Bullet Punch, while Eichi's Scizor concealed its greater strength.
• Ishida's Scizor used Swords Dance and Double Team, but Eichi's Scizor found the real one and struck it with Bullet Punch.
• Eichi's Scizor overwhelmed Ishida's Scizor with repeated attacks, and Tetsu declared Eichi the winner.
• Eichi challenged Matsumoto, who sent out an Elite Class Magmar; Tetsu began their battle as Magmar used Flamethrower and Scizor used Bullet Punch.

Eichi’s Scizor battled Matsumoto’s Magmar, using its sharp senses to turn the tables after Magmar concealed the field with Smokescreen. Magmar trapped Scizor in Fire Spin and attacked with Flamethrower, but Scizor deflected the flames with Swords Dance.

• Magmar opened with Flamethrower, but Scizor dodged and closed in to trade rapid blows with it.
• Matsumoto ordered Magmar to use Smokescreen and attack Scizor through the haze with Flamethrower.
• Scizor sensed and dodged the attack, then found Magmar and struck it repeatedly until it was thrown from the smoke.
• Magmar blocked Scizor’s next charge with Protect, then trapped it in Fire Spin.
• Matsumoto ordered another Flamethrower, and Eichi told Scizor to use Swords Dance to deflect the flames.

Eichi defeated Matsumoto’s Magmar with Scizor’s powerful Cross Chop, impressing the students and leaving Matsumoto stunned. After class, Eichi learned that Sato and Kona had taken leave together, then received a call from Amelie.

• Eichi ordered Scizor to finish the battle within a minute, and Scizor’s Cross Wind Blade sliced through Magmar’s Fire Blast and knocked Magmar out.
• Tetsu declared Scizor the winner, and Eichi reminded Matsumoto that he had fulfilled his one-minute promise.
• Eichi recalled Scizor, high-fived Tetsu, and headed to class while Matsumoto struggled to accept his defeat.
• Teacher Xiao Lin arrived for class and was upset that Eichi had not gone to see her first, though she did not punish the students for being late.
• Tetsu told Eichi that Sato and Kona had taken a week off at the same time, and Eichi said they would ask them about it when they returned.
• Eichi answered a call from Amelie, who greeted him.

Eichi returned to campus and secured permission to take the Basic Breeder Assessment next week. He continued preparing for it and told Tetsu he would leave again soon.

• After learning the assessment was next Wednesday, Eichi visited Professor Kanter and asked about taking it.
• Professor Kanter explained the assessment arrangements and promised to ask Director Liu for permission.
• Eichi studied breeding more intensively, reviewing the assessment’s written, practical, Pokémon food preparation, and Pokéblock production sections.
• Professor Kanter told Director Liu that Eichi was ready for the assessment, and Director Liu agreed to grant him leave.
• Eichi told Tetsu to remain class monitor because he would be going out again in a few days.

Eichi traveled with Silver Academy students and Professor Kanter to Goldenrod City for the Basic Breeder assessment. After arriving, the group checked into their hotel, and Eichi prepared to explore the busy city before the assessment.

• Eichi told Tetsu that he planned to take the Basic Breeder assessment, and Tetsu decided he needed to work harder too.
• Eichi met the other students at Silver Academy’s plaza, where a purple-haired student mistook him for a senior until Professor Kanter introduced him as his student.
• Professor Kanter led Eichi and the students by bus and train through Olivine City to Goldenrod City.
• Eichi saw Goldenrod City’s towering buildings and recalled that it was Johto’s largest city and Tetsu’s hometown.
• Professor Kanter led the students to their hotel, where they received individual rooms and heard the assessment precautions.
• That evening, the students went out to enjoy Goldenrod City, which was especially crowded with visitors for the assessment.

Eichi followed a skilled pickpocket through Goldenrod City and discovered that the thief and two accomplices had trapped a red-haired youth who had pursued them. The youth challenged them with his Cyndaquil, which was quickly injured by the thief’s Houndoom.

• Eichi toured National Park and the Giant Dome before noticing a thief steal his wallet in a crowded street.
• Eichi marked the thief with Bug Force and followed him, then saw the red-haired youth secretly pursue the same thief after he stole a little girl's wallet.
• The thief led the red-haired youth into an alley, where two accomplices joined him, and the three revealed they intended to silence their pursuer.
• The red-haired youth released Cyndaquil and ordered it to attack the thief’s Houndoom, while the accomplices discussed selling Cyndaquil.
• Houndoom bit Cyndaquil’s arm and flung it into a wall, but Cyndaquil struggled back to its feet as the red-haired youth encouraged it.

Eichi intervened when three thieves cornered a red-haired boy and his injured Cyndaquil, defeating their Pokémon and knocking the men unconscious. He recovered his stolen wallet and left the boy safe, though Cyndaquil had been badly hurt.

• The thieves' Houndoom defeated the red-haired boy's Cyndaquil, and the boy refused to surrender it despite being trapped.
• As Zubat attacked the boy, Eichi's Beedrill struck it and sent it crashing into a wall.
• Eichi ordered Beedrill to use Twin Needles, and it defeated the thieves' Arbok and Houndoom with single strikes.
• Eichi approached the thieves and demanded his stolen wallet, which one of them handed over while preparing to stab him.
• Eichi kicked the attacker into the fat thief, then knocked the tall thief down, leaving all three men unconscious.

Eichi left the red-haired boy, Ak, with the unconscious thieves and Pokémon, then returned to his hotel after arranging emergency help. The next day Officer Jenny brought him to the police station to question him about the injuries he had caused, where Ak was also present.

• Eichi defeated three thieves, returned the stolen wallet, and told Ak to explain what happened to the police.
• Officer Jenny arrived and took Ak to the Pokémon Center to give his account while the injured men and Pokémon received medical care.
• Eichi returned to his hotel and spent the next day there, but Officer Jenny came to bring him to the police station.
• Eichi met Professor Kanter before leaving with Officer Jenny, who told him that Ak had identified him as the person who injured the thieves and their Pokémon.
• Officer Jenny questioned Eichi about using excessive force and warned that the injured men and Pokémon might be permanently disabled.

Eichi explained to Officer Jenny that the thieves had tried to kill Ak and steal his Cyndaquil, and the police cleared him after reviewing his record. He returned to the hotel with Professor Kanter, while Officer Jenny later called a woman after rereading his file.

• Eichi told Officer Jenny that the thieves had discussed killing Ak and selling Cyndaquil, and that he had fought them in self-defense.
• Officer Jenny reviewed files about the murder case and Eichi’s commendations, then let him leave and awarded him and Ak commendations.
• Professor Kanter welcomed Eichi back to the hotel and warned him to leave dangerous situations to the police.
• Eichi briefly explained the incident to Professor Kanter, exchanged phone numbers with Ak, and returned to his room.
• Officer Jenny reread Eichi’s file, called a number, and reached a woman.