Chapter Summaries

Eichi completed the qualifying round with nineteen consecutive victories, leaving him first in the standings ahead of Jing Wu. With the next stage of the Elite Four Selection Match set for two months later, Eichi considered how to spend the break.

• Saito and Tian Cheng recognized Eichi's strength after his battle with Jing Wu, while Namo said he would challenge him.
• Over two months, Eichi won ten battles and defeated both Namo and Tian Cheng, while Saito earned only four points.
• Director Liu left Indigo Plateau and praised Eichi before returning to the academy.
• Eichi defeated his opponent's Nidoqueen with Dragonite's Hyper Beam, earning his nineteenth point and completing the qualifying round.
• The host announced a two-month rest before the Elite Four Selection Match continued, and Eichi wondered how to spend the break.

Eichi returned to Inspector Academy, where Director Zhi Guan learned of his success in the Elite Four Selection Match and let him focus on preparing for it. After training his Pokémon, Eichi’s story left off as Elite Four members Bruno and Lorelei arrived to watch the latest selection battles.

• Eichi returned to Inspector Academy, cleaned his dormitory with his Pokémon, and met with Director Zhi Guan.
• Eichi resumed classes and training, while Director Zhi Guan praised his nineteen points in the Elite Four Selection Match and told him to prepare for the next challenge.
• Eichi reviewed his Pokémon’s progress, noting that Scizor had reached Champion level, and pushed the team to train harder.
• Bruno and Lorelei watched the audience gather for the Elite Four Selection Match and discussed whether it might produce a new Elite Four member.

Eichi fought through a grueling first battle in the Elite Four Selection Match, then faced a Psychic specialist whose final Pokémon was Champion-level. The chapter ended with Pinsir entering its first battle against the opponent's Alakazam.

• Lorelei recognized Eichi as the Five School League champion, and Bruno said Eichi had defeated him in a three-on-three battle.
• Eichi defeated his first opponent after Joltik, Dragonite, Volcarona, Armaldo, and Heracross were taken out and Scizor barely secured the win.
• Lorelei and Bruno discussed Eichi's strength and noted that most of his Pokémon were Bug-type.
• The next day, Eichi's Pokémon struggled against a Psychic specialist, and Heracross and Scizor helped defeat her powerful Venusaur.
• After Scizor exhausted itself defeating two Peak Elite Four Pokémon, Eichi sent out Pinsir against the woman's Early Champion Alakazam and ordered it to use Pin Missile.

Eichi's Pinsir battled a powerful Alakazam, whose rapid psychic attacks, Protect, Recover, and Calm Mind made it difficult to defeat. After a prolonged exchange, Pinsir outlasted Alakazam and won the match.

• Pinsir rushed Alakazam with Harden and Double Strike, but Alakazam slowed it with Confusion and surrounded it with Double Team.
• Alakazam lifted Pinsir with Telekinesis and struck it with Psycho Cut, but Pinsir endured the attack and got back up.
• Pinsir used Brick Break to drive Alakazam into the ground, but Alakazam instinctively protected itself and recovered while boosting its power with Calm Mind.
• Pinsir and Alakazam traded attacks across the battered arena until their Hyper Beam and Psycho Cut clash sent both crashing down.
• Pinsir struggled back to its feet while Alakazam remained down and lost the ability to battle.

Eichi continued his run in the Elite Four Selection Match while preparing for early graduation from Inspector Academy, earning several points against increasingly strong opponents. After his first defeat to an elderly Trainer’s Intermediate Champion Dragonite, he remained determined to improve before facing him again.

• After Pinsir defeated Alakazam, Eichi reached twenty-one points, and Lorelei and Bruno praised his battle while discussing his Elite Four prospects.
• Eichi began preparing for early graduation, then followed a routine of studying, training, and battling in the forest while awaiting his graduation assessment.
• Over three consecutive days, Eichi defeated a Ground- and Rock-type specialist, a Dark-type tactician, and a powerful elderly Trainer, claiming three points and extending his lead.
• Two months later, Eichi defeated Gym Leaders Lt. Surge, Natsume, and Koga, raising his score to twenty-eight and watching several competitors close in on the lower-ranked leaders.
• After another half year and six matches, Eichi lost for the first time when an elderly Trainer’s Intermediate Champion Dragonite defeated his Beedrill, but he resolved to grow stronger for a rematch.

Eichi took the written and physical fitness assessments for early graduation, finishing the written test ahead of the other applicants and breaking Inspector Academy records in all three physical events. The practical combat assessment was scheduled for the next day at the Battle Hall.

• Eichi recalled learning from Director Zhi Guan about Grandpa Fujimoto, the veteran Trainer who had defeated him and repeatedly placed among the top ten in Elite Four Selection Matches.
• Director Zhi Guan gathered fourteen early-graduation applicants and explained that their assessments included a written test, a physical fitness test, and a practical combat assessment.
• Eichi completed the written test with ten minutes to spare, and Director Zhi Guan told the applicants to return that afternoon for the physical fitness test.
• Eichi threw the medicine ball 62.3 meters, breaking the Inspector Academy record, then also broke the records in the obstacle course and ten-thousand-meter run.
• Director Zhi Guan ended the physical assessment and told the applicants to meet at the Battle Hall entrance the next day for the practical combat assessment.

Eichi passed the practical assessment and graduated early with first place in all three assessments, then stayed at the academy to train while competing in the Elite Four Selection Match. A year later, he still led the rankings with 43 points, just ahead of Flint, whose hidden strength made him the strongest competitor.

• Eichi defeated a staff member’s Early Gym Leader Fearow with Joltik’s Thunderbolt in three minutes.
• The assessment results showed that thirteen of the fourteen candidates passed, and Eichi graduated early in first place across all three assessments.
• Eichi stayed at the academy to use its training equipment while preparing for the Elite Four Selection Match.
• A year later, Eichi led the selection rankings with 43 points after losing a battle to Flint of Cinnabar Island.
• Director Zhi Guan explained that Flint had 42 points, three Champion-level Pokémon, and a history of placing first or second despite forfeiting battles.

Eichi topped the Elite Four Selection Match rankings and prepared for the final battle that would determine whether he joined the Elite Four. At the arena, Director Liu brought him to meet the Elite Four and his opponent.

• Eichi defeated his opponent's Blastoise with Golisopod, reaching 1st place with fifty-seven points.
• A Pokémon League official told Eichi that he had reached the final stage and would battle the Elite Four two months later.
• Eichi avoided invitations from people hoping to curry favor with him by leaving to train in the forest.
• On the eve of the battle, Eichi returned to Indigo Plateau, cared for his Pokémon, and tried to rest.
• Eichi arrived at the solemnly guarded arena, where the Elite Four and his former opponents had gathered.
• Director Liu approached Eichi and offered to introduce him to the Elite Four and his opponent.

Eichi faced Lorelei in the final battle of the Elite Four Selection Match, hoping to earn a place among the Elite Four. Their six-on-six match began with Armaldo and Sneasel trading blows, and Eichi ordered an Earthquake as Lorelei’s Sneasel froze the ground to counter it.

• Director Liu introduced Eichi to the Elite Four, whose intimidating auras nearly overwhelmed him before Bug Force steadied him.
• Lance, Bruno, Kikuko, and Lorelei encouraged Eichi, and he learned that Lorelei would be his opponent.
• Eichi greeted Tetsu, Sato, Kona, and Xiao Ye in the stands before taking the arena against Lorelei.
• Eichi sent out Armaldo, while Lorelei chose Sneasel; Eichi scanned both Pokémon and saw that Armaldo had a slight level advantage.
• Armaldo and Sneasel clashed with Rock Slide, Quick Attack, Fury Cutter, and Surprise Attack, wounding each other in a rapid exchange.
• Eichi commanded Armaldo to use Earthquake, and Lorelei told Sneasel to freeze the ground with Ice Beam.

Eichi’s Armaldo defeated Lorelei’s Sneasel, but fell to Swinub before Heracross won in its place. Lorelei then sent out her powerful Lapras, which kept Heracross from landing an attack and left Eichi struggling to respond.

• Eichi’s Armaldo caught Sneasel with Groundbreaker and defeated it with Hyper Beam after identifying its real body among its Double Team clones.
• Lorelei sent out Swinub, which dominated Armaldo and defeated it.
• Eichi’s Heracross overcame Swinub with Close Combat, prompting Lorelei to reveal Lapras and become serious.
• Lorelei’s Lapras attacked Heracross with rapid Ice Beams, repeatedly preventing it from closing in and leaving it badly pressured.

Eichi revealed Mega Evolution during his battle against Lorelei, turning the match into a close exchange of powerful Pokémon. After Mega Heracross and Mega Scizor both fell, the score was tied at three Pokémon each, and Lorelei sent out Dewgong as Eichi sent out Pinsir.

• Eichi Mega Evolved Heracross, which struck Lapras hard but was defeated by its Absolute Zero.
• Eichi sent out Scizor and Mega Evolved it while spectators and League officials recognized the value of Key Stones and Mega Stones.
• Mega Scizor fought Lapras for fifteen minutes before both Pokémon fell in a final clash between Absolute Zero and Cross Chop.
• With both trainers down three Pokémon, Lorelei sent out Dewgong and Eichi sent out Pinsir.

Eichi's Pinsir defeated Lorelei's Dewgong after Mega Evolving, but Lorelei's Cloyster immediately knocked Pinsir out with one Ice Beam. Eichi sent out Beedrill to face Cloyster, while keeping Golisopod in reserve.

• Eichi's Pinsir and Lorelei's Dewgong exchanged attacks, and Dewgong's Headbutt badly injured Pinsir.
• Eichi Mega Evolved Pinsir, which eventually defeated Dewgong with Hyper Beam.
• Lorelei sent out her Late Champion Cloyster, and its Ice Beam overwhelmed Pinsir's Hyper Beam and knocked Pinsir out.
• Eichi recalled Pinsir and sent out Beedrill, choosing not to risk Golisopod against Cloyster.

Eichi sent Mega Beedrill against Lorelei's Cloyster, and the two Pokémon fought through a prolonged exchange of attacks. The battle ended with Eichi baiting Cloyster into using Absolute Zero as Mega Beedrill launched its strongest combination.

• Eichi Mega Evolved Beedrill and ordered it to use Agility against Cloyster's Ice Beam and Hail.
• Mega Beedrill countered Cloyster's attacks with Pin Missile and Twin Needles, eventually piercing Cloyster's shell before their close-range attacks caused an explosion.
• Mega Beedrill and Cloyster traded Mega Pin Missile and Water Cannon, then entered a stalemate as Cloyster's defense and Beedrill's speed kept either Pokémon from landing a decisive blow.
• Eichi deliberately exposed an opening, and Cloyster took the bait by using Absolute Zero.
• Mega Beedrill began its strongest combination of Mega Pin Missile, Swords Dance, and Poison Jab, sending a massive Light Cone and Twister toward Cloyster.

Eichi defeated Lorelei in the final battle of his Elite Four assessment and became Kanto’s Bug Elite Four. Mega Evolution spread through the Pokémon League, and four years later Eichi became Champion.

• Beedrill defeated Lorelei’s Cloyster, and Lorelei sent out her final Pokémon, Jynx.
• Eichi recalled the exhausted Beedrill and sent out Golisopod to face Jynx.
• Golisopod overcame Jynx in a close battle, giving Eichi victory in the assessment and the title of Bug Elite Four.
• Two days later, the Pokémon League announced Eichi’s appointment, while research and training in Mega Evolution accelerated.
• Four years later, Eichi defeated the Elite Four at Indigo Plateau and became Champion.