Chapter Summaries

Eichi’s Heracross defeated Xuan Xin’s Vulpix after a fierce exchange of powerful attacks. Xuan Xin sent out Espeon as Eichi replaced his exhausted Heracross with Scizor, and their final matchup began.

• Heracross and Vulpix traded powerful attacks, with their clash ending in an explosion that sent both Pokémon flying.
• Eichi ordered Heracross to combine MegaHorn and Swords Dance, and it broke through Vulpix’s Fire Blast to strike it into a crater.
• Xuan Xin’s Vulpix fainted, leaving her with only Espeon.
• Eichi recalled his tired Heracross and sent out Scizor against Xuan Xin’s Espeon.
• Eichi ordered Scizor to use Bullet Punch, and Xuan Xin commanded Espeon to use Psybeam.

Eichi's Scizor and Xuan Xin's Espeon exchanged attacks, with Espeon exploiting Psybeam to slow Scizor and briefly gain the advantage. Scizor resisted Espeon's tactics and countered with Hidden Power, leaving their battle ongoing.

• Espeon dodged Scizor's repeated pincer strikes, but Scizor landed Bullet Punch and Pin Missile, leaving Espeon badly hurt.
• Xuan Xin told Espeon to use Protect, and it blocked Scizor's follow-up attacks before striking back with Psybeam.
• Espeon's Psybeam hit Scizor repeatedly and dispersed its Double Team copies, leaving Scizor collapsed and dazed.
• Eichi ordered Scizor to use Protect, and Xuan Xin's Charm failed because Scizor was female.
• Scizor used Hidden Power to send a sweeping pillar of flame after Espeon as it dodged around the field.

Eichi defeated Xuan Xin’s Espeon with Scizor, then began battling Du Cang’s Nidoking with Golisopod. Golisopod hurt Nidoking with Shadow Claw and a combined Water Cannon and Thunderbolt, and the battle continued as they exchanged powerful attacks.

• Espeon and Scizor knocked each other out after Espeon crushed Scizor with layers of Confusion.
• Xuan Xin warned Du Cang that he might not match Eichi, and Du Cang challenged Eichi to battle.
• Du Cang sent out Nidoking, while Eichi chose Golisopod to face it.
• Golisopod dodged Nidoking’s Thunderbolt with Double Team and sent Nidoking sliding back with Shadow Claw.
• Golisopod used Protect against Nidoking’s arena-wide Thunderbolt, then combined Water Cannon with the currents to injure Nidoking.
• Golisopod drew its water katana and slashed as Nidoking fired Hyper Beam.

Eichi's Golisopod defeated Du Cang's Nidoking after surviving its strongest attacks. Du Cang then sent out his ace, Blastoise, and Golisopod charged in with Shadow Claw as their battle continued.

• Golisopod dodged Nidoking's Hyper Beam and struck it with its blades, leaving it badly wounded.
• Eichi ordered Golisopod to hit Nidoking with Water Cannon, but Nidoking endured the attack and countered with Earthquake.
• Golisopod jumped over the Earthquake and overcame Nidoking's final Hyper Beam with its own Water Cannon, knocking Nidoking out.
• Du Cang recalled Nidoking and sent out Blastoise, whose power made Golisopod wary.
• Golisopod and Blastoise clashed with Water Cannon attacks, then Golisopod rushed forward and prepared Shadow Claw.

Eichi’s Golisopod and Du Cang’s Blastoise fought an evenly matched battle, with Golisopod exploiting openings in Blastoise’s shell to land a sustained barrage. Blastoise countered with Rocket Headbutt and sent Golisopod flying, leaving the battle unresolved.

• Golisopod struck Blastoise with Shadow Claw and Metal Claw, but Blastoise endured the blows with Iron Defense and its shell.
• Eichi ordered Golisopod to retreat after using Swords Dance, while Blastoise charged with Rocket Headbutt; Golisopod slowed it with Water Tornado, and both Pokémon were knocked down.
• Golisopod dodged Blastoise’s Water Cannon shells, then accelerated its Shadow Claw and hit Blastoise before it could fully withdraw into its shell.
• Eichi directed Golisopod to fire Pin Missile through the shell’s openings, and the barrage injured Blastoise until it launched a sudden Rocket Headbutt.
• Blastoise’s Rocket Headbutt sent Golisopod flying and left its body aching as though it had been struck by a truck.

After Eichi and Du Cang’s Pokémon both lost the ability to battle, Du Cang sent out Corviknight to face Eichi’s powerful Beedrill. Their high-speed clash left Beedrill confronting Corviknight’s Dazzling Gleam.

• Eichi and Du Cang recalled Blastoise and Golisopod after both Pokémon lost the ability to battle, making the round a draw.
• Du Cang sent out his Corviknight, and Eichi answered with Beedrill.
• Corviknight used Body Lightness and Metal Claw as Beedrill met its charge with Twin Needles.
• Corviknight and Beedrill traded rapid attacks, including Pin Missile and Air Slash, while Corviknight defended itself with its wings.
• After Beedrill shattered Corviknight’s Air Slashes, Corviknight fired Dazzling Gleam at it.

Eichi’s Beedrill battled Du Cang’s Corviknight, using electricity and speed to challenge its strong defenses while searching for a vital point. After Corviknight increased its speed and charged with Steel Wing, Beedrill met it head-on with Brick Break.

• Beedrill used Double Team and Pin Missile against Corviknight, but Corviknight defended itself with its wings.
• Eichi ordered Beedrill to attack with Hidden Power, and Corviknight dodged with Double Team before being struck by the lightning.
• Beedrill emerged from the smoke and pierced Corviknight’s back with Twin Needles, but Eichi could not find its vital point.
• Eichi had Beedrill use Focus Energy while Corviknight attacked with Air Slash and increased its speed with Automotize.
• Corviknight charged at Beedrill with Steel Wing, and Eichi ordered Beedrill to counter with Brick Break.

Eichi’s Beedrill defeated Du Cang’s Corviknight after discovering and striking its hidden weak point. Du Cang conceded the battle and congratulated Eichi on his victory.

• Beedrill and Corviknight exchanged rapid attacks while Eichi and Du Cang struggled to find an opening.
• Eichi noticed Corviknight’s weak point beneath its right wing when it spread its wings to use Agility.
• Beedrill’s Mega Pin Missile pierced Corviknight’s Air Slash and injured its left wing, slowing it down.
• Beedrill struck Corviknight’s exposed weak point with Twin Needles, knocking it unconscious.
• Du Cang recalled Corviknight, admitted defeat, and praised Eichi’s Beedrill.

After defeating Du Cang and Xuan Xin, Eichi treated them to lunch, where they asked how he had joined Inspector Academy and invited him to join their Inspector Squads after graduation. Xuan Xin explained how Inspector Squads fit into the Inspector circle, leaving Eichi still learning about his options.

• Eichi invited Du Cang and Xuan Xin to lunch after beating them in battle.
• Eichi explained that he had nearly finished learning everything at Silver Academy when Director Zhi Guan recruited him to Inspector Academy.
• Xuan Xin and Du Cang each invited Eichi to join their Inspector Squad after graduation.
• Eichi asked Xuan Xin to explain the Inspector circle instead of choosing a squad.
• Xuan Xin explained that Inspectors often formed squads for missions and said her squad was among the best.

Eichi learned more about Inspector Squads over a meal with Xuan Xin and Du Cang, who both tried to recruit him. He returned to his dormitory to record what he had learned and consider whether to join the Blaze Squad.

• Xuan Xin and Du Cang described their top-ten Inspector Squads and asked Eichi to join, but he declined to decide before graduation.
• Eichi learned that Inspectors could work alone or team up for difficult missions, and heard that the Blaze Squad had ten members and a famous captain.
• Eichi, Xuan Xin, and Du Cang exchanged phone numbers and parted ways after their meal.
• In the car, Xuan Xin told a curious pink-haired squadmate that Eichi had defeated both her and Du Cang and had refused their invitation.
• Eichi returned to his dormitory, wrote down what he had learned, reviewed his battles, and wondered whether to join the Blaze Squad.

After the Cross-Country Race, Eichi postponed choosing between Blaze Squad, Orange Sky Squad, and Norton Squad while his Pokémon recovered and advanced through training. He trained Dragonair with new academy equipment, then left the hall as students greeted him for his growing fame.

• Eichi considered the invitations from Blaze Squad, Xuan Xin's Orange Sky Squad, and Du Cang's Norton Squad, then decided to wait before choosing.
• Over the following week, Beedrill, Golisopod, Scizor, Heracross, Armaldo, Joltik, and Dragonair improved after the race and their battles, while Larvesta continued lazing around.
• Eichi trained Dragonair's Water Gun on a machine donated by a businessman whose missing Pokémon had been found by Inspector Academy teachers after a Poaching Gang took it.
• Eichi told Dragonair to rest, ended the day's training, and headed back as students greeted him for becoming the Cross-Country Race champion.

Eichi overheard a conversation about Xiao Duo and went shopping for Pokémon supplies after eating ramen. Xiao Duo set out to catch her first Pokémon, but three wealthy schoolmates confronted and mocked her before she could reach the forest.

• Eichi ate at his usual ramen shop and heard the owner and chef discuss Xiao Duo's plan to catch a Pokémon herself.
• Eichi bought supplies for his Pokémon and recalled turning down several Intermediate Breeder judges' invitations.
• Xiao Duo, unable to afford a high-potential Pokémon, used her father's money to buy Poké Balls and equipment for a forest trip.
• Three classmates who had bullied Xiao Duo confronted her and showed off their Nidoran, Meowth, and Poliwag.
• The red-haired boy mocked Xiao Duo's family, and she retorted that there were no trash Pokémon, only trash Trainers.

Xiao Duo challenged three wealthy classmates to a Pokémon battle after they mocked her and her family’s lack of resources. She spent the day trying to catch Pokémon in the forest but failed, and Eichi decided it was time to intervene.

• Xiao Duo rejected the red-haired boy and his friends’ claims that poor Trainers could not raise strong Pokémon, and promised to defeat them with Pokémon she caught.
• After the three boys left, Eichi watched Xiao Duo and admired her determination, then followed her into the forest.
• Xiao Duo set traps and threw Poké Balls at Caterpie, Weedle, Pidgey, Venonat, and Paras, but none of her attempts caught a Pokémon.
• Eichi watched Xiao Duo through the morning, left, and later used Bug Force to find her again in the forest.
• Xiao Duo struck the ground in frustration after failing to catch a Pokémon all afternoon, and Eichi decided to step in.

Eichi helped Xiao Duo realize she needed to borrow a Pokémon and battle wild Pokémon before trying to catch them. After she ran home to borrow her father’s Oddish, Eichi trained his Pokémon in the forest, where Joltik defeated a Fearow and Dragonair overwhelmed a Scyther.

• Xiao Duo told Eichi she had failed to catch Pokémon by throwing Poké Balls at them without weakening them first.
• Eichi prompted Xiao Duo to think through how other people caught Pokémon, and she realized she needed to battle them.
• Xiao Duo remembered her father’s Oddish and hurried home to borrow it so she could try to catch Caterpie, Weedle, and Paras.
• Eichi stayed in the forest to train Joltik and his other Pokémon, and Joltik struck down an exhausted Fearow with Thunderbolt.
• Dragonair blasted a newly hatched Scyther away with Water Gun while Eichi’s Pokémon continued their training.

Eichi defeated Vileplume and marked the unconscious Scyther with Bug Force before leaving. The next day, Xiao Duo caught Caterpie and Pidgey, then encountered Scyther and sent Pidgey into battle after Scyther knocked Caterpie out in one hit.

• Joltik defeated Vileplume, and Eichi marked the unconscious Scyther with Bug Force before treating the fallen Pokémon and leaving.
• Xiao Duo trained his father's Oddish, then caught Caterpie after Oddish helped it defeat a Caterpie in battle.
• Xiao Duo and Oddish caught a strong Pidgey after Oddish put it to sleep with Sleep Powder.
• Xiao Duo encountered Scyther and sent Caterpie to attack with String Shot.
• Scyther cut apart Caterpie's String Shot, struck it down in one hit, and Xiao Duo sent out Pidgey.

Xiao Duo used Pidgey and Oddish to weaken Scyther and successfully caught it. Meanwhile, Eichi encountered Kry, a fifth-grade student who challenged him to a Pokémon battle.

• Scyther overwhelmed Pidgey in their exchange, but Xiao Duo sent Oddish to attack with Razor Leaf.
• Oddish covered Scyther with Sleep Powder while Pidgey distracted it, and Scyther knocked Pidgey out before succumbing to the powder.
• Xiao Duo caught the unconscious Scyther with her last Poké Ball and headed home, grateful to Eichi for his earlier advice.
• Kry introduced himself to Eichi at the training hall and insisted on challenging him to a Pokémon battle.

Eichi accepted Kry’s challenge after learning that Kry wanted to measure himself against a stronger opponent. Their battle began in the training hall, where Heracross knocked aside Persian’s Shadow Ball before Kry ordered Double Team.

• Eichi recognized Kry as a fifth-grade student and asked why he had challenged someone a grade below him.
• Kry explained that he wanted to face a stronger opponent and learn the gap between their strength, and Eichi accepted the challenge.
• Kry and Eichi entered the training hall’s Battle Arena with a crowd of students watching.
• Kry sent out Persian, and Eichi sent out Heracross, whose size and presence made Persian wary.
• Kry ordered Persian to use Shadow Ball, but Heracross deflected it with Horn Attack and kept charging.
• Kry ordered Persian to use Double Team, creating more than a dozen copies as it ran.

Eichi’s Heracross dominated Kry’s Persian, knocking it out before defeating Kry’s next Pokémon, Fearow. Heracross remained standing after their aerial clash, while Fearow recovered in the air despite falling behind.

• Kry ordered Persian to use Fury Swipes, but Heracross charged through the attack and sent Persian flying.
• Eichi had Heracross use Bullet Seed, which pierced Persian’s clones and battered its real body.
• Persian used Nasty Plot and then Power Gem, but Heracross pushed through the beam with its Energy Shield and knocked Persian out with Horn Attack.
• Kry sent out Fearow, which attacked Heracross with Hurricane as Heracross countered with Pin Missile.
• Fearow dived at Heracross with Steel Wing, and their collision sent both Pokémon flying; Fearow lost consciousness briefly while Heracross steadied itself.

Eichi defeated all six of Kry’s Pokémon in a one-sided battle, with Scizor overcoming Kry’s final Pokémon, Venusaur. After the match, Kry calmly apologized, and Eichi asked why he had challenged him.

• Kry’s Fearow lost to Eichi’s Heracross, and Kry’s Primeape, Gyarados, and Natu were also defeated.
• Eichi switched Heracross for Scizor, which easily defeated Kry’s next Pokémon.
• Kry sent out his final Pokémon, Venusaur, but Scizor dodged its Vine Whip and battered it with Bullet Punch and Hidden Power.
• Venusaur briefly used Protect, but Scizor knocked it down with Bullet Punch three minutes later, ending the battle.
• Kry recalled Venusaur and apologized to Eichi, who asked why Kry had challenged him.

Eichi explained his battle with Kry had helped Kry prepare for an important fight, then went out to buy supplies for a new Advanced Pokéblock. He visited Xiao Duo’s home, where he discovered her Pokémon included the Scyther he had defeated in the forest, and she asked him to teach her to train Pokémon.

• Kry told Eichi that he had challenged him to gauge his strength before an important battle in four months, then left after thanking him.
• Eichi went to buy supplies for an original Advanced Pokéblock and ran into Xiao Duo, who thanked him for helping her catch her first Pokémon.
• Xiao Duo invited Eichi to her family’s fruit shop, introduced him to her parents, and took him to see her Pokémon.
• Eichi recognized Xiao Duo’s Scyther as the Pokémon he had defeated in the forest and learned that his actions had helped her catch it.
• Xiao Duo asked Eichi to teach her Pokémon training, and after he said he might not have time, she hurried back into the house.