Chapter Summaries

The Painter left his hiding place to find Maki, but she condemned him for abandoning the fight. He died shielding her from falling ice, while Kyogre and Palkia unleashed another devastating clash that sent a tiny pink gemstone flying toward his bloodstained painting.

• The Painter admitted his cowardice and asked Smeargle to help him find Maki, while Sato reunited with Gengar and confirmed that its Shadow Ball could affect the surroundings.
• The Painter found Maki on deck and offered her the finished painting, but she angrily confronted him for hiding while others fought.
• When a falling ice shard threatened Maki, the Painter pushed her aside and took the shard through his painting and into his chest.
• The Painter confessed his love to Maki and died, leaving her kneeling beside him as the other Monster Apostles watched.
• Kyogre and Palkia, both badly injured, launched Origin Pulse and Spacial Rend at the same time; Gengar protected Sato as a small pink gemstone flew toward the bloodstained painting.

After Kyogre and Palkia vanished, Maki grieved Painter while the survivors struggled to repair their ship and escape the melting ice. When rescue ships arrived, Maki disappeared, leaving the others unable to find her.

• Maki saw that the Red-haired Uncle, Dragonite, and Painter had died, and the acting leader organized the survivors and collected the dead.
• Sato followed Maki and realized the pink gemstone fragment was Palkia's, while Maki returned to her room with Painter's painting.
• Maki discovered that the painting was undamaged and spent the following days quietly watching it as the ship's crew repaired their vessel.
• Sato heard that Kyogre attacked in revenge for the Indigo Orb and that Arceus's slumber had freed the Primal Pokemon from restraint.
• The survivors repaired the ship, contacted the outside world, and were rescued by sailing ships ten days after the battle ended.
• Maki disappeared just as the rescue ships arrived, and the others searched for her without success.

Sato broke the space trapping Maki, allowing her to die and freeing himself from the painting. Back on the Ghost Ship, Gengar absorbed the painting’s energy as a horde of Ghost-type Pokemon attacked, and Sato prepared to fight.

• Sato realized he and Maki were inside the painting, then learned she wanted him to destroy the space so she could die.
• Sato used his Dark Power to punch through the space, while Maki refused to leave and disappeared as it collapsed.
• Sato returned to the Ghost Ship as the painting vanished and Gengar absorbed its pink energy.
• Ghost-type Pokemon stormed the room, so Sato released Zoroark, Sharpedo, Umbreon, Cacturne, and Ariados to face them.

Sato’s Pokemon fought off a large force of Ghost-type Pokemon while Gengar absorbed the energy from a wall painting. After the painting vanished, Gengar’s Ghost-type talent broke through to Elite Four level and continued to rise.

• Sato sent out his Pokemon, amplified Zoroark with Dark Power, and had Sharpedo Mega Evolve to hold back Sableye, Gengar, Mismagius, and the other Ghost-type Pokemon.
• Zoroark and Sharpedo drew the three powerful opponents away while Umbreon guarded Gengar and Cacturne and Ariados blocked the Elite Level attackers.
• Ralts stayed beside Sato, worried about the energy conflict within itself, and privately insisted it would never become his partner.
• Zoroark’s Dark Pulse severely damaged Mismagius, and Sharpedo finished it with Crunch.
• Gengar absorbed the remaining energy as the wall painting disappeared, then opened its golden eyes with Ghost-type talent that had reached Elite Four level and was still increasing.

Sato and his Pokémon left the Ghost Ship after Gengar absorbed Palkia's special energy, then traveled to Sootopolis City. Lance arrived with Tyranitar's Mega Evolution Stone, and Sato offered him a choice between two pieces of information.

• The Ghost Ship's Pokémon stopped fighting after the painting disappeared, and Sato returned to the ferry with Zoroark and Gengar.
• Gengar voluntarily returned to its Poké Ball to digest the energy it had gained, and Sato and his companions sailed for Sootopolis City.
• Sato, George, and Mark reached Sootopolis City and checked into a Pokémon Center suite.
• Lance visited Sato on vacation and presented Tyranitar's Mega Evolution Stone.
• Sato told Lance he had two pieces of information, one for Lance's family and one for Lance, and refused to let him choose both.

Sato revealed to Lance that Ralts and several other Pokémon families were immune to Dragon-type moves, and Lance verified the claim with Dratini. After Lance left to report the discovery to his family, Sato warned George to keep Florges from using Fairy-type moves in public.

• Sato told Lance that some Pokémon were immune to Dragon-type moves, and Lance released Dratini to test the claim on Ralts.
• Ralts shrugged off Dratini's Dragon Tail and Dragon Rage, confirming the immunity.
• Sato named the Clefairy, Jigglypuff, Snubbull, and Togepi families as other likely Dragon-immune Pokémon, and Lance agreed to investigate whether the trait marked a new type.
• Lance left with Camerupt's Mega Evolution Stone after Sato insisted he keep it, intending to trade it for something useful to Sato.
• After Lance departed, Sato told George to keep Florges from using Fairy-type moves around others, startling George.

Sato, George, and Mark explored Sootopolis City and entered Juan’s Water-type Pokemon Free Competition. Mark’s first-round match began with his opponents already hostile toward him after he mocked them.

• Sato and George understood that they both kept secrets, while Sato recognized Florges as a Fairy-type Pokemon.
• The trio watched Juan perform with Milotic at Fountain Square, then Mark and Sato registered for the Water-type Pokemon Free Competition.
• Sato learned the event used chaotic free-for-all matches, with winners advancing to a final.
• Mark was drawn into the first group and entered the competition with Lapras.
• Mark’s taunts spread among the contestants, leaving him facing a hostile crowd as his match began.

Mark's Lapras fought through a ten-Pokémon Water-type free-for-all in Sootopolis City's fountain pool, adapting as the battle shifted from underwater chaos to a shrinking arena. It defeated the remaining opponents and advanced to the finals.

• Lapras dodged attacks from the other Pokémon and eliminated Luvdisc with Ice Beam.
• Tentacool attacked Magikarp, triggering a free-for-all that left five Pokémon hiding in the pool.
• Juan lowered the pool's water level, forcing the remaining Pokémon toward the center.
• Lapras used Thunderbolt to defeat Staryu and Tentacool, while Lotad eliminated Golduck.
• Lapras defeated Lotad with Signal Beam and advanced to the finals.

Sato’s Sharpedo overwhelmed its opponents in the eleventh preliminary match, sending Sato into the finals. As the thirteen finalists began their battle, several trainers immediately targeted Sharpedo and Lapras.

• Lapras and several other powerful Pokémon advanced through the preliminary rounds before Sato’s name appeared in the eleventh match.
• Sato released Sharpedo, which instantly defeated Lanturn and Croconaw before the audience could clearly see it.
• Sharpedo overcame Poliwrath and swiftly eliminated the rest of its opponents, earning Sato a place among the finalists.
• Sato agreed to Mark’s suggestion that they settle their rivalry at the end of the finals, while Octillery and Vaporeon won the last preliminary matches.
• All thirteen finalists entered the pool, and Gyarados, Cloyster, Blastoise, Octillery, and Swampert’s trainers ordered their Pokémon to attack Sharpedo and Lapras.

Sato and Mark’s Pokémon survived a coordinated ambush, then Sharpedo and Lapras began eliminating the attackers. The remaining opponents regrouped against them, leaving Sato and Mark facing a stronger alliance of Blastoise, Cloyster, and Swampert.

• Five Pokémon attacked Sharpedo and Lapras at the start, but Sharpedo dodged their moves and knocked Mantine out of the air with Crunch.
• Lapras struggled to escape Swampert and Octillery, so Sato ordered Sharpedo to help it while Mark had Lapras use Water Pulse to stop Swampert.
• Sharpedo defeated Octillery with a second Crunch, and Mantine was eliminated after falling into the water.
• Sharpedo herded Gyarados toward Lapras, whose Thunderbolt struck it twice and knocked it into the pool.
• Blastoise, Cloyster, and Swampert joined forces against Sato and Mark’s Pokémon.

Sato and Mark used Lapras’s Water Absorb ability to turn the opposing trainers’ attacks into an opening, defeating Swampert and Cloyster. As the pool drained, Sharpedo and Lapras held the center while the remaining Pokémon fought around them.

• Blastoise, Cloyster, and Swampert attacked Lapras, but Sharpedo shattered Cloyster’s Spike Cannon and positioned itself above Swampert.
• Sharpedo struck Swampert with Dark Pulse, and Sato’s Vaporeon finished it with Hydro Pump.
• Lapras absorbed Blastoise’s Hydro Pump, recovered stamina, and knocked Cloyster out with Thunderbolt.
• Blastoise retreated from Sharpedo as the pool’s water level dropped and the other Pokémon began fighting among themselves.
• Sharpedo and Lapras stayed in the pool’s center, with Sharpedo using Water Pulse to help Lapras recover while the other trainers watched.

The Water-type Pokemon Free Competition narrowed to four Pokemon as Lapras survived a series of attacks and Sharpedo eliminated Blastoise. Gorebyss and Tentacruel allied against Lapras again, and Lapras rose up to face them.

• The fountain jets blasted Lapras and Tentacruel into the air, and Gorebyss struck Lapras with Shadow Ball while Sharpedo and Blastoise began fighting.
• Lapras fell back into the pool and used Thunderbolt, badly injuring Vaporeon and paralyzing it; Gorebyss and Tentacruel then knocked Vaporeon out.
• Sharpedo poisoned Blastoise with Poison Fang, prompting Blastoise's trainer to forfeit and withdraw it from the competition.
• With four Pokemon left, Gorebyss and Tentacruel allied and swam toward Lapras, which rose up again to confront them.

Sharpedo helped Lapras and Mark win the Water-type Pokémon Free Competition, then yielded the final match to them. Mark and Lapras were announced as champions.

• Sharpedo defeated Gorebyss with a fast aerial maneuver, leaving Tentacruel as the last opponent.
• Mark asked Sato to let Lapras face Tentacruel, and Sharpedo retreated to the pool’s edge.
• Lapras defeated Tentacruel after Thunderbolt paralyzed it.
• Sharpedo refreshed the exhausted Lapras with Water Pulse, and Sato recalled Sharpedo before Mark could forfeit.
• Sato confirmed his forfeit, and Juan announced Mark and Lapras as the competition’s champions.

After winning the Free Competition, Mark and Sato visited Juan’s Gym, where Sato met Juan’s disciples, including the shy Wallace. Mark’s boastful stories led to a challenge from three of the disciples, and he won the opening battle with a surprise underwater attack.

• Juan awarded Mark the Mystic Water and invited Sato and his companions to visit his Gym the next day.
• Sato met Juan’s four disciples, including Wallace, and learned that they had never traveled outside before.
• Sato invited Wallace to battle, but Wallace hesitated because others did not accept his battle style.
• Mark accepted a challenge from Juan’s disciples, and George agreed to join the team’s battles.
• Mark sent out Arbok against the youngest disciple’s Crawdaunt and won after Arbok surprised its opponent by fighting in the water.

George’s Gogoat defeated the Second Senior Sister’s Pelipper, giving his side a second consecutive win. Sato then began his match against the Eldest Female Disciple, with Walrein and Cacturne trading attacks.

• Mark won the first match, and the Second Senior Sister stepped forward to challenge George.
• The Second Senior Sister’s Drizzle Pelipper used Hurricane, but Gogoat endured the attack and countered with Wild Charge and Seed Bomb.
• Gogoat seized Pelipper with Vine Whip and slammed it into the ground, earning George the victory.
• Sato faced the Eldest Female Disciple, and their Walrein and Cacturne entered the battlefield.
• Cacturne interrupted Walrein’s Blizzard with Sucker Punch, then clashed with Walrein’s Ice Fang using Spiky Shield as Juan watched.

Sato's side swept Juan's three disciples, prompting Wallace to challenge Sato with Milotic. Milotic's elegant, unconventional techniques kept Sharpedo at bay, and the battle continued with Sato struggling to find a way through.

• Cacturne defeated the Eldest Female Disciple's Walrein, completing Sato's side's three-match sweep of Juan's disciples.
• Juan considered intervening to encourage his defeated disciples, but Wallace challenged Sato before he could step in.
• Wallace chose Milotic for their one-on-one battle, and Sato sent out Sharpedo.
• Milotic's underwater Twister formed a wave-shaped Water Tornado that redirected Sharpedo's Aqua Jet and forced it back.
• Milotic blocked Sharpedo's attempts to approach with successive Water Pulses and a Dragon Tail-Twister storm, while Mirror Coat and Self-Recovery countered its ranged attacks.

Sato defeated Wallace after Sharpedo overwhelmed Milotic with its speed, and Wallace gained Juan’s approval of his flashy battle style. Juan told Wallace it was time to leave the Sootopolis Gym and travel, marking the start of Wallace’s rise.

• Sharpedo’s Speed Boost let it rush behind Milotic and bite it before Wallace could give an order.
• Wallace ordered Milotic to use Iron Tail, but Sharpedo’s hit-and-run attacks overwhelmed it despite its Self-Recovery.
• Wallace surrendered, giving Sato’s group its fourth consecutive victory over Juan’s disciples.
• Wallace thanked Sato for the battle, and Sato invited him to a future Full Team Battle.
• Juan praised Wallace’s performance, withdrew his criticism of Wallace’s battle style, and told him to travel because he could learn no more at the Sootopolis Gym.

Juan reprimanded his disciples, then showed Sato and Wallace around the Sootopolis Gym and shared advice about becoming Gym Leaders. Back at the Pokemon Center, Ralts asked Sato to use his Dark Power to replace the Fairy-type energy in her body, and he agreed to help despite worrying that the process could kill her.

• Juan rebuked his three disciples for their pride and praised Wallace for finding his own path.
• Juan showed Sato and Wallace the Gym’s Water-type Mimicry Space and explained how a Gym could field Pokemon suited to challengers’ strengths.
• Sato recorded Juan’s advice and considered which Pokemon he could use for a fixed Gym lineup.
• Ralts asked George to translate her proposal, and George told Sato that she wanted his Dark Power to drive the Fairy-type energy out of her body.
• Sato agreed to help Ralts but questioned whether replacing her energy could be fatal, and Ralts firmly accepted the risk.

Sato helped Ralts evolve by enclosing it in Dark Power, forcing it to absorb that energy instead of Fairy-type energy. Ralts evolved into Kirlia and then Gardevoir, but the process left Gardevoir unconscious, so Sato could not yet tell whether it had suffered aftereffects.

• Sato entered a sealed operating room with Ralts and Gengar to carry out Ralts's plan to replace its Fairy-type energy with Dark Power.
• Sato wrapped Ralts in Dark Power, and Ralts evolved into Kirlia while absorbing it through the agony of evolution.
• Kirlia found that Fairy-type energy remained in its body and agreed to evolve again despite its fear of the pain.
• Sato enveloped Kirlia in a thick layer of Dark Power as Kirlia absorbed it at an increasing rate, forcing Sato to strain his hands to keep up.
• After the second evolution ended, Sato withdrew the Dark Power and found Gardevoir unconscious, with no Fairy-type energy remaining.

After waking from her transformation, Gardevoir accepted Sato’s help and explained her changed personality and why she had left the Underwater Cave. She could not return because she had sealed its entrance, and she wanted to explore the vast world beyond it.

• Sato and his family ate lunch while Gardevoir continued sleeping on the sofa.
• Gardevoir woke, and Sato helped her sit up and brought her the lunch George had prepared.
• Gardevoir thanked Sato and explained that her form influenced her personality, then apologized for her former teasing.
• Gardevoir told Sato she could not return to the Underwater Cave because she had sealed its entrance to protect it.
• Gardevoir said she had left because she wanted to see the world after living for hundreds or thousands of years in the cave.