Chapter Summaries

Eichi discovered Ascension Stones that could improve Pokémon’s potential and took half of the stones with Pinsir’s permission. Pinsir also gave him its Key Stone, and Eichi explained that Mega Evolution required a strong bond between them.

• Eichi sensed powerful vitality in six unknown stones and learned from Pinsir that they had strengthened Pokémon that drank water steeped with them.
• Eichi named the unknown stones Ascension Stones, decided they could raise Pokémon’s potential, and packed half of them away.
• Pinsir gave Eichi a Key Stone it had found and kept because it felt drawn to it.
• Eichi identified the Key Stone as Pinsir’s and explained that Mega Evolution required a strong bond between Pokémon and Trainer.
• Pinsir accepted that building their bond would take time, and Eichi put the Key Stone in his backpack before joining the Pokémon outside.

After four months of training, Eichi’s Pokémon had grown stronger, and Larvesta finally evolved into Volcarona. Volcarona emerged at Early Elite Four level and eagerly looked for a battle.

• Pinsir said goodbye to its Pokémon companions and left with Eichi, confident that their strong group could protect itself.
• Eichi spent four months training in Viridian Forest, where most of his Pokémon gained levels and Beedrill, Golisopod, and Pinsir reached Champion level.
• Larvesta reached the limit of its stored energy, and Eichi told it to stop enduring and evolve.
• Eichi poured Bug Force into Larvesta as it transformed into Volcarona.
• Volcarona reached Early Elite Four level and flew into the air, eager to battle.

Eichi trained Volcarona in battles after its evolution, then returned to Silver Town to compete for a slot at Silver Academy. At the academy entrance, he reunited with Tetsu, who had not yet introduced the person he was speaking with.

• Eichi congratulated Volcarona on evolving and sent it to battle Joltik.
• Volcarona defeated Joltik with Flamethrower, and Eichi treated Joltik afterward.
• Volcarona battled Armaldo for ten minutes before exhaustion forced it to stop.
• Eichi prepared to compete for a slot at Silver Academy and noted that Flygon and Dragonair were still away.
• Seven days later, Eichi arrived at Silver Academy and reunited with Tetsu.
• Tetsu asked who Eichi was, and Tetsu began to introduce the person he had been speaking with.

Eichi returned to the Academy to compete for a place in the Elite Four Selection Match and caught up with Tetsu about their acquaintances. He learned that 256 Trainers had registered for the selection, three times as many as last time.

• Tetsu introduced Eichi to Yicun, who was also competing for a spot and smugly promised not to let Eichi lose too badly if they faced each other.
• Tetsu told Eichi how their acquaintances had progressed, and Eichi asked him to invite everyone to dinner.
• Eichi booked a room at the guesthouse, where he noticed many mature-looking Trainers had arrived for the selection.
• Eichi visited Director Liu and asked how many people were participating; Director Liu said 256 had registered.

Eichi returned to Silver Town, caught up with old acquaintances, and impressed his former teachers with his Bug-type breeding skills. The Elite Four spot selection began with 256 contestants, and Eichi checked the draw to find his opponent.

• Director Liu explained to Eichi that the selection drew many applicants and that only graduates could usually compete.
• Eichi reunited with Tetsu, Sato, and others, sharing Pokémon knowledge and learning about League affairs.
• Eichi visited Professor Jiang Ben, Professor Kanter, and Mochizuki, who discovered that Eichi had surpassed Mochizuki in Bug-type breeding and could create effective Bug-type Pokéblocks.
• The selection began at the expanded Battle Hall, where Director Liu announced the rules and the contestants were divided into eight sections of thirty-two people each.

Eichi entered the Zone B waiting room for the quota selection and learned that many powerful former students, including Namo and Tsurugen, were competing. After an encounter with Yicun, the first Zone B battle began, leaving Eichi to assess the opening matchup between Kudo's Pidgeot and Heiji's Sandslash.

• Eichi found his assignment to Zone B, checked in at the waiting room, and watched the Battle Arena on a large screen.
• Tetsu, Sato, Kona, and Xiao Ye discussed the many contestants and worried that Eichi faced strong competition, while Sato believed Eichi could win a quota.
• Yicun recognized Eichi, mocked his place in the selection, and left resentfully after Eichi ignored him.
• Host Nana announced the 6vs6 battle format and began the matching process for Zone B's thirty-two contestants.
• Kudo and Heiji were matched, released Pidgeot and Sandslash, and began their battle as Eichi assessed their levels and aptitude.

Eichi faced Yicun in the selection tournament and quickly defeated his Feraligatr with Joltik. Yicun sent out Sudowoodo next, leaving their battle ongoing.

• Four tournament rounds passed before the screen matched Yoshino Eishi against Yicun.
• Tetsu recognized Yicun as a former classmate of his brother and hoped Eichi would beat him.
• Eichi sent out Joltik, while Yicun chose his mid-Gym Leader-level Feraligatr.
• Joltik overwhelmed Feraligatr with Thunderbolt, paralyzed it with Electroweb, and knocked it out with Thunder.
• Yicun blamed his loss on luck and sent out Sudowoodo.

Eichi decisively defeated Yicun in the first-round trials, then advanced to the second round with sixteen other contestants. As the next round began, the formidable senior student Saito approached Eichi to introduce himself and suggest they exchange pointers.

• Eichi defeated Yicun's six Pokémon with Joltik and Volcarona, leaving Yicun stunned by his loss.
• Eichi watched the afternoon matches with Tetsu and the others, and they discussed the growing gap between strong and weak Trainers.
• The first round concluded the next morning, with sixteen contestants advancing to the second round.
• The second round began, and Saito sat beside Eichi and introduced himself as a senior student who wanted to get acquainted and exchange pointers.

Eichi won his second selection battle with Joltik and Volcarona, then learned that Saito was one of the strongest competitors in Zone B. As the selection advanced, Tetsu gathered files on Eichi’s rivals, while Saito obtained information about Eichi and began reading it.

• Saito tried to get Eichi to predict the outcome of a battle, but Eichi said the evenly matched Trainers’ hidden strategies made the winner impossible to judge.
• Eichi’s portrait appeared for his match, and Joltik and Volcarona defeated his opponent without difficulty.
• At lunch, Eichi asked about Saito, and Xiao Ye and Tetsu explained that Saito had consistently ranked first and was a major threat in Zone B.
• The afternoon selection battles grew tougher, and Eichi suspected he would face Saito in the final round.
• Tetsu gave Eichi files on his opponents and warned that competitors were gathering information on him.
• A chubby man delivered information about Eichi to Saito, who paid him and began reading the documents.

Eichi advanced through the selection and reached the Region B final, where he faced Seed Player Saito for the region’s sole slot. The battle began with Eichi’s Volcarona facing Saito’s higher-level Vileplume.

• Eichi told Tetsu that no one, including Saito, could take the slot from him.
• Eichi used Heracross and his other Pokémon to defeat his third-round opponent and advance to the final.
• Saito defeated his opponent and recognized Eichi as his most formidable challenger.
• Eichi and Saito met in the waiting room and agreed to battle without holding back.
• Eichi and Saito sent out Volcarona and Vileplume, and Saito ordered Vileplume to use Paralysis Powder.

Eichi’s Pokémon defeated most of Saito’s team, leaving Saito’s ace Vileplume to face Scizor in the final round. Scizor struck first, but Vileplume counterattacked, and Grovyle entered the fight with Reflect and Magical Leaf.

• Heracross defeated Saito’s first Vileplume, then beat Magcargo before Mismagius finally defeated it.
• Volcarona defeated Mismagius, and the match advanced to its final round with Saito down to one Pokémon and Eichi still fielding Scizor.
• Saito sent out his ace, a level 70 Vileplume, against Scizor.
• Scizor hit Vileplume with Bullet Punch, but Vileplume countered with Vine Whip and endured Scizor’s Light Needles.
• Grovyle raised Reflect and used the tracking attack Magical Leaf against Scizor.

Eichi’s Scizor defeated Saito’s Grovyle in a hard-fought battle, securing Eichi a spot in Zone B. Saito accepted the loss and vowed to meet Eichi again in the Elite Four Selection Match.

• Scizor struck Grovyle with Brick Break, but Grovyle endured the hit and continued attacking with Razor Leaf.
• Scizor used Agility to evade Grovyle’s Magical Leaf while the two Pokémon traded attacks for several minutes.
• Eichi ordered Scizor to use Whirlwind Blade as Saito sent Grovyle’s Solar Beam against it, and the collision caused a massive explosion.
• The referee declared Grovyle unable to battle and awarded the victory and Zone B spot to Eichi.
• Saito congratulated Eichi and said they would meet again in the Elite Four Selection Match, while Eichi wished him luck in the remaining competition.

Eichi learned that earning a qualification spot was only the start of the Elite Four selection process, with two more rounds ahead before contestants could challenge for the Elite Four. As he prepared to stay at the academy for two months, he planned to train his Pokémon in Silver Mountain before the next matches.

• Eichi watched the Area C finals and judged that he was likely the strongest contestant, with Namo as the main exception.
• Eichi visited Director Liu, who explained that the ten qualifiers would compete for twenty places in the sixty-battle Elite Four Selection Match.
• Eichi agreed to stay at the academy until the selection began in two months and travel with the others to Indigo Plateau.
• The qualification selection ended, and Saito secured one of the final spots after two difficult battles.
• Eichi reflected on his Pokémon's progress and planned two months of practical combat training in Silver Mountain.

After two months of training at Silver Academy, Eichi traveled with Director Liu and Saito to Indigo Plateau for the Elite Four Selection Match. He arrived several days early and learned the qualifiers might be delayed by two days.

• Director Liu gathered the five Trainers who had remained at the academy and told them to assemble for the trip to Indigo Plateau.
• Eichi shared a farewell meal with Tetsu and the others before leaving with Director Liu and Saito.
• During the drive, Saito warned Eichi that Jing Wu, Tian Cheng, and Miho were formidable competitors, and said Jing Wu had easily defeated him.
• Eichi, Saito, and Director Liu talked during the journey and stopped overnight at a Pokémon Center before reaching Indigo Plateau several days later.
• Director Liu gave the group room cards at their hotel and told Eichi that the qualifiers might be delayed by two days; Eichi went to sleep.

After Dragonair evolved into Dragonite, Professor Oak told Eichi that it would need several months of training before rejoining his team. Eichi arrived at the qualifiers, where 120 contestants competed for 20 places, and the rules were announced.

• Director Liu told the group that the qualifiers had been postponed by three days, and Eichi spent the time shopping and preparing his Pokémon.
• At Professor Oak's Laboratory, Dragonair evolved into Dragonite, and Professor Oak noted its rapid increase in level.
• Professor Oak showed Eichi the newly evolved Dragonite and said it would likely need a few months of training before it could return to Eichi's team.
• On the first day of the qualifiers, Director Liu led Eichi and the others to Indigo Arena and warned them that 120 contestants were competing for 20 places.
• Eichi recognized Jing Wu, Tian Cheng, and Miho among the contestants, and Long Tian announced the drawing-and-battle rules, including a repechage for the final five spots.

Eichi defeated Hideyoshi in the qualifying tournament, winning with four Pokémon. After the battle, Director Liu agreed to bet a Glass Bead against an Outstanding Pokémon Egg with a middle-aged man who said Kalos researchers had made a discovery about the beads.

• The tournament host announced the pairings, and Eichi learned he would face Hideyoshi on the afternoon of the third day.
• Eichi watched battles from the stands for two days while his Pokémon trained in the Training Room.
• Eichi defeated Hideyoshi with Joltik, Volcarona, Armaldo, and Heracross, though Heracross nearly lost the final battle.
• Director Liu and a middle-aged man discussed Eichi's performance, and the man offered an Outstanding Pokémon Egg as a wager.
• Director Liu accepted the bet, wagering one of his Glass Beads after hearing that Kalos researchers had made a discovery about them.

Eichi studied his rivals during the qualifying rounds and advanced to the second round, where he faced an anxious orange-haired opponent. Their battle began with Eichi’s Joltik overwhelming the opponent’s Rapidash.

• Director Liu and a middle-aged man wagered on how many points Eichi would earn in the next Selection Match, with Director Liu predicting thirty and the man predicting twenty.
• Eichi trained, watched match replays, studied Pokéblocks, and attended Jing Wu’s battle, where Jing Wu’s Late Elite Four Machamp secured his victory.
• Eichi watched Tian Cheng and Miho compete as the thirty-day first round ended, leaving sixty contestants, including six from Silver Academy.
• The second-round draw paired Eichi with an orange-haired fatty on the fourth day, making the opponent nervous because Eichi had won his first-round match with only four Pokémon.
• Eichi’s Joltik began the second-round battle by completely overwhelming the opponent’s Early Elite Four Rapidash.

Eichi qualified for the Elite Four Selection Match and learned that he would face the other nineteen competitors. As the tournament began, Professor Oak returned Dragonite from its special training, and Dragonite happily reunited with Eichi.

• Eichi defeated Orange-haired Fatty and later a Blue-haired beauty, earning one of the twenty qualifications for the Elite Four Selection Match.
• Five contestants won the remaining spots in the revival round, and the twenty qualifiers gathered a month later to begin the Selection Match.
• Nai Nai explained that each Trainer would battle the other nineteen competitors for points, and the schedule included Eichi's matches against Jing Wu, Tian Cheng, and Miho.
• Professor Oak called Eichi to say Dragonite had finished its special training and agreed to return.
• Eichi received Dragonite through the transfer machine, released it in his room, and welcomed it back to the team.

Eichi welcomed Dragonite back after its evolution and discovered it had reached Early Elite Four level. In its first battle, Dragonite defeated Aaron's Fearow, giving Eichi an early victory in the six-on-six match.

• Eichi examined Dragonite and found that it had reached level 62 after training with Professor Oak's Dragonite leader.
• Eichi chose Dragonite for his Elite Four title match against Aaron and let it sleep beside his bed the night before.
• Eichi and Aaron each sent out their first Pokémon, Dragonite and Fearow, and the battle began.
• Dragonite dodged Fearow's Wing Attack and struck it with Flamethrower and Thunder Punch, driving it into the ground.
• Dragonite used Twister to knock Fearow unconscious, then finished it with Hyper Beam.
• The referee declared Fearow unable to battle and awarded the first win to Dragonite.

Eichi defeated Jing Wu in a grueling six-on-six battle, with Scizor finally bringing down Jing Wu’s ace, Machamp. The contest left Eichi’s team battered but advanced him past one of the strongest remaining opponents.

• Eichi’s Dragonite defeated Jing Wu’s Ninetales after a prolonged battle, and Eichi later won the match against his previous opponent with Scizor defeating a Mid Elite Four Feraligatr.
• Back at the hotel, Eichi celebrated with his Pokémon and told Pinsir to prepare for the next battle.
• Three days later, Jing Wu asked Eichi to fight at full strength, and they began their match with Joltik facing Golem.
• Joltik defeated Golem through a decisive tactic before Eichi sent out Volcarona, which used its aerial advantage to defeat Machoke.
• Eichi’s Dragonite, Armaldo, Heracross, and Scizor fought Jing Wu’s remaining Pokémon, and Scizor defeated Jing Wu’s ace, Machamp.
• The referee declared Eichi the winner after all six of Jing Wu’s Pokémon lost their ability to battle.