Chapter Summaries

Eichi returned to Tokiwa City and visited the Beautiful Nursery, catching up with Amelie and inspecting its Dragonite. As he headed back through the forest, a Magneton attacked him with lightning.

• Eichi visited the Beautiful Nursery and greeted Nanako, Aunt Keiko, and the staff before meeting Amelie.
• Eichi showed Amelie his Basic Breeder Certificate and told her that Professor Kanter had become his teacher; Amelie shared how difficult the Advanced Breeder assessment was.
• Eichi examined the nursery's Dragonite with Bug King Eye and saw that it had Peak Elite Four strength and third-stage exceptional potential, with a faint golden tip to its flame.
• Eichi left the nursery and walked along a forest trail, where a Magneton appeared behind him and unleashed bolts of lightning.

Eichi battled Teacher Arno’s Magneton with Beedrill and discovered that his teacher was testing his strength. Teacher Arno stopped the fight, and Eichi explained how he had guessed who was behind the attack.

• Eichi dodged Magneton’s lightning and sent out Beedrill to fight it.
• Beedrill struck Magneton with Twin Needles but was paralyzed by its electric currents.
• Eichi sensed a hidden person nearby and recognized the attacker as Teacher Arno.
• Beedrill and Magneton exchanged powerful attacks, leaving both Pokémon injured.
• Teacher Arno emerged from the woods and stopped Magneton, and Eichi told him he had suspected his involvement.

Teacher Arno tested Eichi’s strength and sense of crisis, then warned that Eichi’s future was dangerous. Meanwhile, a Team Rocket executive learned that Eichi had returned, chose not to approach him yet, and prepared to expand Team Rocket into Hoenn.

• Teacher Arno praised Beedrill’s strength and said Eichi had passed his test of strength and awareness of danger.
• Eichi visited Teacher Arno’s home, described winning the Newcomer Cup and his time at Silver Academy, and heard that the Pokémon League might soon expand its influence into Hoenn and Sinnoh.
• After Eichi left, Teacher Arno watched him go and privately warned that his future was full of danger.
• A Team Rocket grunt told an executive that Eichi had returned, and the executive considered recruiting him until he learned Ano had forbidden contact.
• The executive postponed approaching Eichi and took a grunt by helicopter to pursue his plan to establish a Team Rocket branch in Hoenn.

Eichi returned to the Beedrill colony to trade Pokémon food and Pokéblocks for honey and took the colony’s most talented young Beedrill with him for training. After Beedrill defeated the colony in a group battle, Eichi brought the young Beedrill home and recorded his measurements.

• Eichi reached the Beedrill colony and saw that its numbers and strength had grown since his last visit.
• Eichi exchanged the colony’s stored honey for Pokémon food and Pokéblocks.
• The Beedrill leader selected its talented son, a newly evolved Beedrill with a black stripe by his eye, to train with Eichi.
• Beedrill fought the colony’s Beedrill alone and defeated them all, while Black Stripe Beedrill joined the battle.
• Eichi took Black Stripe Beedrill home and measured his height and weight.

Eichi revised Black Stripe Beedrill's training plan and introduced it to his nightly Bug Force practice. The next morning, Black Stripe began training with Eichi's Pokémon, and its first flight endurance test showed how far it lagged behind Beedrill's early training data.

• Eichi revised Beedrill's original training plan for Black Stripe Beedrill, while Black Stripe watched the other Pokémon in the room.
• Eichi massaged the Pokémon, then circulated Bug Force as they slept; Black Stripe felt the energy and drifted off comfortably.
• The next morning, Eichi fed the five Pokémon and took them to the training ground in the Small Woods.
• Beedrill, Scizor, and Heracross led Black Stripe through twenty flying laps, pushing it to chase them at near its top speed.
• Eichi ran five laps with Wimpod, then stopped the stopwatch as the others returned and recorded Black Stripe's training data, which fell well behind Beedrill's early results.

Eichi put Black Stripe through a full day of training, and the exhausted Beedrill came to admire Beedrill after seeing it defeat Scizor and Heracross together. Two days later, Eichi left home to challenge the Viridian Gym.

• Eichi recorded Black Stripe’s data, had it run laps, and tested its moves while Beedrill, Scizor, Heracross, and Wimpod trained.
• Eichi brought his Pokémon home for lunch, where Xiao Yu visited and chatted with him; he noticed that his Pokémon were drawn to her strong affinity.
• Eichi continued training the Pokémon through the afternoon, and Black Stripe kept going despite its exhaustion.
• That night, Black Stripe recalled Beedrill defeating Scizor and Heracross together and resolved to grow as strong as its leader.
• After two more days of training, Eichi left home to challenge the Viridian Gym.

Eichi traveled to the Viridian Gym and began a three-on-three battle against Acting Gym Leader Tsukamoto, who sent out Golem. The chapter ended as Heracross stopped Golem’s charging Tackle with Strong Push.

• Eichi left home and traveled through the woods to the Viridian Gym, where challengers had to battle one at a time.
• Eichi met Shimura Yuki, who entered the Gym with Raticate, Butterfree, and Pidgeotto but returned ten minutes later after losing.
• Eichi entered the Gym and met Tsukamoto, the Acting Gym Leader, who announced a three-on-three match with no switching.
• Tsukamoto sent out Golem, and Eichi assessed its level before choosing Heracross.
• Golem charged with Tackle, but Heracross used Strong Push to stop it and force it out of its curled-up form.

Heracross defeated Tsukamoto’s Golem, then faced Kingler and traded powerful blows with it. As Kingler’s Bubble Beam failed to stop Heracross’s Double Team, Heracross gathered energy for a Horn Attack, leaving the battle unresolved.

• Golem’s Rock Slide and Heavy Slam failed to overcome Heracross, whose Horn Attack sent Golem crashing onto the platform and fainting.
• Tsukamoto recalled Golem and sent out Kingler, which opened the next match with Crabhammer.
• Kingler and Heracross struck each other at the same time, both sustaining head injuries, though Heracross was knocked back less.
• Kingler fired Bubble Beam as Heracross used Double Team, but the clones continued charging after several were hit.
• Heracross’s clones gathered energy into their horns for a Horn Attack, and Kingler sensed the attack could be fatal.

Eichi's Heracross defeated Tsukamoto's Kingler, leaving Tsukamoto to send out Machamp for the Green Badge battle. Heracross and Machamp traded powerful close-range attacks, then Machamp charged through Heracross's Pin Missile after using Explosion Punch.

• Kingler used Bubble Beam to clear Heracross's clones, but the real Heracross struck it and knocked it out.
• Tsukamoto recalled Kingler and sent out his Late Veteran-stage Machamp, offering Eichi the Green Badge if he won.
• Machamp and Heracross exchanged Karate Chop and Brick Break attacks, dodging and blocking before both landed heavy blows.
• Tsukamoto ordered Explosion Punch while Eichi called for Pin Missile; Machamp endured the needles and charged at Heracross.

Eichi defeated Tsukamoto at the Viridian Gym and earned the Green Badge, then realized Team Rocket had taken an interest in him. After returning home, he agreed to take Xiao Yu and her Eevee to Viridian Forest.

• Eichi's Heracross endured Machamp's attack and knocked it out with a powerful counterattack, winning the Gym battle.
• Tsukamoto gave Eichi the Green Badge and later said he hoped Eichi would join Team Rocket.
• Eichi added the badge to his collection at the Pokémon Center and grew wary after realizing Team Rocket knew about him.
• Eichi returned home, met Xiao Yu and her Eevee, and agreed to go play with them in Viridian Forest.

Eichi took Xiao Yu to Viridian Forest, where she befriended several Pokémon, then discussed his upcoming departure with Mr. Yoshino. That afternoon, Eichi resumed training his Pokémon and saw Black Stripe improve its warm-up time.

• Eichi released Beedrill to guard Xiao Yu and used Bug Force to sense the Pokémon around them in Viridian Forest.
• Xiao Yu befriended a Rattata and a Butterfree, then waded in the river while Eichi had Heracross and Scizor accompany her.
• Eichi brought Xiao Yu home, and she told Keiko that she had enjoyed playing with him and wanted to visit Keiko's workplace.
• Eichi told Mr. Yoshino that he planned to leave within a few days and return in about four months.
• Eichi trained his five Pokémon in the Small Woods, where Black Stripe completed twenty warm-up laps faster than usual before practicing its skills.

Kōta returned to his hometown with Zeren and told him about Eichi, a local genius whose achievements surprised Zeren. They found Eichi outside his house, where Zeren felt an overwhelming pressure from him.

• Kōta introduced Zeren to his father, Yamamoto, and explained that they had six Gym badges and planned to challenge the Viridian and Vermilion Gyms.
• Kōta and Zeren strolled through town, where Zeren looked down on the small town and asked whether Kōta was its most talented Trainer.
• Kōta told Zeren that Eichi had earned the top entrance score at Silver Academy and defeated a Poaching Gang in Viridian Forest at age ten.
• Zeren recognized Eichi's name from his younger brother's account of the Inter-Academy Exchange Match and questioned whether Eichi came from an ordinary family.
• Kōta pointed out Eichi outside his house, and Zeren felt crushing pressure when Eichi turned to look at them.

Eichi left home to travel and compete in the Indigo League, then boarded a ship and followed a crowd to a Pokémon battle event. Meanwhile, Ano went to a secret Team Rocket base and entered an office where a powerful, androgynous figure waited.

• Eichi reunited with Kōta and met Zeren, then told them he was leaving to travel and enter the Indigo League.
• Eichi departed while his father and the townspeople wished him well, and Kōta and Zeren discussed how strong he might be.
• Eichi boarded a ship and went to the hall after hearing that a Pokémon battle competition offered prizes and cash rewards.
• Ano left the school, flew to a concealed Team Rocket base, and entered an office occupied by an imposing figure.

Teacher Arno confronted a Team Rocket executive over her attempt to recruit Eichi, while Eichi arrived in Vermilion City with his new friend Sakamoto Ryuichi. Eichi began his challenge against Lt. Surge, sending Heracross out against Pikachu as the battle opened.

• Teacher Arno warned a female executive not to try recruiting Eichi for Team Rocket again, and she vowed to retaliate if she found dirt on him.
• Eichi arrived in Vermilion City with Sakamoto Ryuichi, whom he had befriended after defeating him in a shipboard tournament and placing second overall.
• Eichi and Ryuichi rested at the Pokémon Center, then went to the Vermilion Gym and watched Lt. Surge defeat most of the challengers ahead of them.
• Eichi chose to challenge Lt. Surge first, and Lt. Surge sent out his Peak Senior Pikachu against Eichi's Heracross.
• Lt. Surge ordered Pikachu to use Thunderbolt, while Eichi commanded Heracross to use Double Team.

Eichi's Heracross battled Lt. Surge's Pikachu and overcame its powerful Electric-type attacks. Heracross won, leaving Lt. Surge's Pikachu unable to battle.

• Pikachu opened with Thunderbolt, but Heracross evaded it with Double Team and struck back with Bullet Seed.
• Pikachu used Quick Attack and Iron Tail, but Heracross blocked the blow with Brick Break and hit Pikachu twice, seriously injuring him.
• Lt. Surge ordered Pikachu to use Double Team and Thunder, but Heracross sensed the real Pikachu and charged through the lightning to strike him.
• Heracross fired Pin Missile at the injured Pikachu, who collapsed and was declared unable to battle.

Eichi and Ryuichi defeated Lt. Surge to earn Orange Badges, then planned to head to Celadon City. Back in Tokiwa Town, Xiao Yu missed Eichi, while Sato learned that Eichi planned to enter the Indigo League and left with Kona the next day.

• Eichi defeated Lt. Surge and received an Orange Badge, then Ryuichi challenged the Gym with his Beldum.
• Ryuichi's Beldum wore down Lt. Surge's Electabuzz over twenty minutes, earning Ryuichi an Orange Badge.
• Eichi and Ryuichi ate at a Vermilion City restaurant and agreed to leave for Celadon City the next day.
• Xiao Yu told Yoshino that she missed Eichi, and Yoshino assured her that Eichi would return soon.
• Sato asked Tetsu about Eichi's leave and learned that Eichi was traveling in Kanto and planned to enter the Indigo League.
• The next day, Tetsu heard that Sato and Kona had taken leave.

Tetsu visited Sato and learned that he and Kona were leaving to travel and enter the Silver Tournament. While traveling, Eichi reunited with Xiao Mu, battled her Blaziken with Scizor, and found that she had left before he could invite her to travel with him.

• Tetsu asked Sato why he had not answered his calls, and Sato explained that he had been training with his phone off.
• Sato told Tetsu that he and Kona planned to travel like Eichi and compete in the Silver Tournament, and that Director Liu had approved their leave.
• Eichi stopped by a river to make lunch and reunited with Xiao Mu, who asked where Ryuichi was; Eichi explained that Ryuichi had gone to Vermilion City after hearing Zapdos had been spotted there.
• Xiao Mu asked to battle Eichi again, and her Blaziken lost to Scizor despite giving it more trouble than before.
• After Eichi woke from his nap, he found Xiao Mu's note saying she had left and wanted to battle him again next time; he regretted not inviting her to travel with him.

Eichi discovered a battle between Ariados and Spinarak and a flock of Zubat, Golbat, and Crobat, then sent his Pokémon to intervene. Beedrill saved Nincada from a lethal attack and struck down many of the airborne Pokémon, while Nincada watched in awe.

• Eichi entered a forest and found Ariados and Spinarak fighting a flock of Zubat, Golbat, and Crobat over a berry grove.
• Eichi identified the Crobat leader as Late Elite level and saw that the Ariados were losing the battle.
• Eichi spotted a young Nincada among the defenders, unable to protect itself or its companions from the stronger attackers.
• A Golbat launched wind blades at Nincada and nearby Spinarak, but Eichi sent Beedrill, Scizor, and Heracross to help.
• Beedrill blocked the attack and unleashed Light Needles, knocking numerous Zubat, Golbat, and Crobat from the sky as Nincada watched in awe.

Eichi and his Pokémon drove off the Crobat Leader’s forces, ending the attack on the Ariados. After seeing the casualties, Eichi responded to Nincada’s plea to save an elderly Ariados by releasing green energy that spread toward the injured Pokémon.

• Beedrill, Scizor, and Heracross attacked the Zubat and Golbat, turning the battle in the Ariados’ favor.
• Beedrill wounded the Crobat Leader, who fled after firing a Shadow Ball, and the other Zubat and Golbat retreated with their fallen comrades.
• Eichi emerged with Beedrill, Scizor, and Heracross, and the Ariados Leader thanked him for saving the colony.
• Nincada asked Eichi to save an elderly Ariados that was dying from its injuries.
• Eichi sensed the fading life flames among the Ariados and released green energy that formed ribbons of light.

Eichi healed the gravely injured Ariados and Spinarak after their battle, then helped bury the fallen Pokémon. He stayed overnight with the Ariados, accepted their gift of Berries, and shared soup with the old Ariados and Nincada.

• Eichi used Bug Force to heal the dying and seriously injured Ariados and Spinarak, including the Ariados Leader and Nincada’s old companion.
• The Ariados mourned and buried their fallen, while Eichi and his Pokémon buried the dead Zubat, Golbat, and Crobat; Wimpod returned to its Poké Ball by itself.
• Eichi decided to spend the night at the Ariados dwelling because the Pokémon Center was too far away, and the Ariados welcomed him.
• The Ariados Leader’s group thanked Eichi with a basket of Berries, which he stored and shared with his Pokémon.
• The old Ariados and Nincada visited Eichi, and he invited them to eat his soup; Nincada eagerly drank a bowl.