Chapter Summaries

With Dark Night Gym’s opening two days away, Sato learned that several dangerous killers and Team Rocket Star Hunters had arrived in Dark Night Town. He arranged for Lance and others to help confront them, then assigned preparations to protect the town and Gym.

• Sato welcomed early visitors, including the Joys and West, and reviewed the opening ceremony schedule with Uncle An.
• Mark gave Sato a letter and photographs from the Dark Night Intelligence Agency warning that suspicious strangers had appeared in town.
• Sato identified Kalo and Jarvis as killers and Boa, Leng Feng, and Tenzoji as Team Rocket Star Hunters.
• Sato ordered Uncle An to guard the base camp and said he would deal with the killers while Lance and others joined the fight.
• George warned that the photographs might not show every enemy, and Sato explained the responsibilities Gym Leaders faced in defending their cities.
• Sato assigned further tasks and told everyone to rest before the opening ceremony preparations intensified.

Sato confronted Kalo and Jarvis at their hideout after they tried to sabotage his opening ceremony, and his Pokémon quickly overwhelmed the assassins. When Kalo and Jarvis tried to flee, Ralts’s Psychic Cage trapped them inside.

• Sato found Kalo and Jarvis in their hideout and foiled their ambush with Protect and his Pokémon.
• Zoroark and Weavile used Dark Power Amplification to defeat Scyther and Crobat, while Sato’s team also took down Sudowoodo.
• Sato reminded Kalo that Kalo had helped him obtain Gastly and offered him a chance to work for him.
• Sato used Dark Power Extension Ability Infusion to punch Mismagius, then his Pokémon defeated it and continued overpowering Kalo and Jarvis’s team.
• Kalo and Jarvis tried to escape through separate windows, but Ralts trapped them inside with Psychic Cage.

Sato joined Lance’s operation against Team Rocket in the forest near Dark Night Town, where League Trainers and Rocket Star Hunters clashed. Sato left Mark to face Boa while he withdrew, secretly leaving Gengar behind to protect him.

• Sato defeated Kalo and Jarvis, then teleported to Lance’s forest staging area with Mark.
• Lance launched the operation, and Athena learned of the attack before sending Boa, Leng Feng, and Tenzoji to intercept the League forces.
• George confronted Tenzoji, whose Pokémon included several capable of using Explosion.
• Sato brought Mark to face Boa, who sent out Ninetales, Rapidash, and Charizard as the two sides began battling.
• Sato left Gengar behind to watch over Mark because he worried Boa might trick him.

Sato defeated Ice Star Hunter Leng Feng and had him captured as his spoils of war. He then went with Kirlia to confront the Dark Night Intelligence Agency Boss, seeking an explanation for the man’s role in the Ghost Ship Organization’s trap.

• Leng Feng challenged Sato, but Sato Mega Evolved Houndoom and quickly overwhelmed Leng Feng’s Pokémon with powerful fire attacks.
• Leng Feng tried to escape on Skarmory, but Cacturne’s Cotton Spore slowed him down, and Sato’s attacks left him unconscious.
• Sato ordered Pokémon League Trainers to tie Leng Feng up and take him to the Gym, then had Cacturne escort them back.
• Sato and Kirlia teleported to the Dark Night Intelligence Agency after Kirlia located its Boss.

Sato confronted the Dark Night Intelligence Agency's Boss, Yusheng, and discovered that the man was an impostor working with the attackers. After Kirlia defeated the impostor's Pokémon, Sato returned to the Pokémon Center and learned that Athena had rescued Boa and Tenzoji.

• Sato questioned Yusheng about Ghost Ship, then exposed contradictions in his story about being threatened by the organization.
• The impostor Yusheng attacked Sato with a hidden needle and ordered Gengar and Beedrill to strike, but Kirlia restrained and defeated them.
• Sato unmasked the impostor, had Kirlia kill him, and took the four Poké Balls before leaving the Intelligence Agency.
• Sato teleported to the Pokémon Center, where Mark said he had injured Boa but Athena had rescued her.
• George told Sato that Athena had also rescued Tenzoji, and Sato checked whether Mark and George could continue.

Dark Night Town celebrated as its long-awaited Gym Leader, Moyan, finally took office, while residents and visitors gathered for the Gym’s opening. Ryoko met Akane and Nagamura in the crowd and agreed to guide them to the Gym, where they hoped to find Moyan.

• Dark Night Town residents filled the streets to celebrate the opening of the Dark Night Gym and the arrival of Gym Leader Moyan.
• Akane defended Moyan when locals speculated about him, and Nagamura recognized the attention gathering around them.
• Ryoko used Cacturne’s Bug Buzz to quiet the crowd and help Nagamura keep Akane close.
• Akane introduced herself to Ryoko, who revealed that she and Moyan had once traveled together and that she had received an invitation.
• Nagamura and Akane argued over getting lost on their journey, then asked Ryoko to guide them to the Gym.
• Ryoko led Akane and Nagamura away, mentioning that they might have much in common with Mark.

Dark Night Gym opened amid intense public interest after reports of Sato’s achievements and victories against Team Rocket’s attackers spread. Anbo introduced Sato’s accomplishments, while guests and onlookers began entering the Gym.

• Residents discussed Mark’s return and questioned how he had become involved with the Gym as crowds gathered outside its gates.
• At seven thirty, Anbo opened the ceremony and introduced Sato as the League’s youngest Gym Leader, listing his major achievements.
• When visitors rushed toward the entrance, Anbo ordered them to stay orderly, and Houndoom and Umbreon used their Elite Level presence to deter the crowd.
• Guests with invitation letters entered, including Nurse Joys, Officer Jennys, Master Yasumura, and Lance with White, Itsuki, and Nurse Joy Lixiang.
• A young monk entered with an invitation letter, blushing as the crowd admired him.

Sato welcomed Elite Four Agatha and his teacher, Drake, to the Dark Night Gym’s opening ceremony, where Agatha presented him with the Gym Badge. The ceremony ended with Sato and Lance preparing to begin their exhibition match.

• Agatha arrived at the Gym on Crobat, followed by Drake on Salamence, and both entered after Sato came out to greet them.
• Agatha quelled the crowd with her Elite Four aura, and Sato reassured the townspeople before Uncle An admitted as many guests as the packed venue could hold.
• Sian hosted the opening ceremony and invited Agatha to present Sato with the Zorua-themed Dark Night Badge.
• Sian announced a one-on-one exhibition match between Sato and Lance, and Sosuke and Little Ming cleared the platform.
• Sato sent out Houndoom, while Lance chose Dragonite and warned Sato that he would not go easy.

Sato and Lance battled to a draw in an exhibition match between Mega Houndoom and Dragonite. Both Pokémon were incapacitated after their strongest attacks collided, and the crowd celebrated the result.

• Lance sent out Dragonite, and Sato Mega Evolved Houndoom before Sian began the match.
• Houndoom traded attacks with Dragonite, landed Inferno, and burned Dragonite while the two Pokémon fought at close range.
• Dragonite’s Hurricane and Houndoom’s Heat Wave collided, damaging both Pokémon and severely injuring Dragonite’s left wing.
• Sato and Lance ordered their Pokémon to use Blast Burn and Draco Meteor, and both attacks hit.
• Sian declared the match a draw after Houndoom and Dragonite were both incapacitated, and the crowd cheered.

Sato drew with Lance at Dark Night Gym’s opening, attracting attention from Trainers eager to challenge him. Lihua arrived as the Gym assessor and began a 3v3 battle against Sato, whose Murkrow gained the upper hand against her Sneasel before she adjusted her strategy.

• The crowd celebrated after Sato’s draw with Lance, and Sian introduced the Gym Assessment Match to test whether Sato upheld Dark Night Gym’s teaching core of willpower.
• Lance recognized Lihua as the assessor, and she said she had volunteered to meet the Johto Trainer known for Dark-type Pokémon.
• Sian announced the 3v3 consecutive-battle rules, and Sato sent out Murkrow while Lihua chose Sneasel.
• Lihua had Sneasel use Ice Shard, but Sato’s Murkrow used Tailwind to evade the attacks and then clashed with Sneasel’s Sucker Punch using Foul Play.
• Lihua shifted to Pursuit to regain the advantage, but Sato’s Murkrow used Taunt to interrupt the move and flew higher to regroup.

George arranged for Agatha to commentate on Sato and Lihua’s Assessment Match, which ended with Murkrow and Sneasel knocking each other out. Sato and Lihua sent out Weavile and Absol, and their fast-paced battle continued amid mutual attacks.

• George arranged for Agatha to explain the battle, and her commentary won over the audience.
• Sato’s Murkrow used Heat Wave to wear down Lihua’s Sneasel, but Sneasel used Swagger to force Murkrow into a close-range clash.
• Murkrow struck Sneasel with Steel Wing as Sneasel landed its attack, and both Pokemon lost their combat capability.
• Sato sent out Weavile, and Lihua answered with Absol.
• Absol and Weavile boosted their strength, then traded attacks that blasted apart Absol’s Rock Tomb enclosure and injured them both.

Sato passed Lihua’s Gym assessment with Weavile, but Lihua challenged him to a 1V1 exhibition match. Sato’s Mega Gengar and Lihua’s Umbreon exchanged attacks before both fell asleep, leaving the battle unresolved.

• Weavile’s Hail-boosted Blizzards overwhelmed Absol, and Lihua recalled it, declaring that Sato had passed the Gym assessment.
• Sato accepted Lihua’s request for a 1V1 exhibition match, and Sian announced the change to the crowd.
• Sato Mega Evolved Gengar while Lihua sent out her Pseudo-Elite Four Intermediate Umbreon.
• Gengar and Umbreon traded attacks, and Gengar inflicted Toxic on Umbreon.
• Lihua ordered Umbreon to Rest, but Gengar used Hypnosis to put it to sleep; Gengar then fell asleep as well.

Sato defeated Lihua’s Umbreon with Gengar, then spent a month managing Dark Night Gym while West stabilized the Dark Night Intelligence Agency. With Uncle An ready to take over the agency, Sato began discussing its future operations with West.

• Gengar defeated Lihua’s Umbreon after Toxic took effect, giving Sato the victory.
• A month later, Sato visited West at the Dark Night Intelligence Agency with Uncle An, who was prepared to take charge.
• West reported that the agency had stabilized and said its future expansion depended on Sato.
• Sato reflected on taking control of the agency after Yusheng turned against him and on the heavy workload caused by Dark Night Gym’s popularity.
• Sato asked West whether the agency should continue operating under its old model.

Sato began cleaning up the Dark Night Intelligence Agency before returning to the Gym, where he reunited with Zhuzhen, who had defeated Little Ming and wanted Sato’s recognition. After lunch, Sato invited Zhuzhen to train with him.

• Sato assigned Uncle An to reform the Dark Night Intelligence Agency and remove people exploiting its unreliable information network.
• Sosuke told Sato that Little Ming had lost to a challenger, so Sato used Ralts’s Teleport to return to the Gym.
• Sato recognized Zhuzhen, who had earned four Badges and defeated Little Ming, and Zhuzhen asked to battle him.
• Sato learned Zhuzhen had no full team ready for another battle, so he invited him to lunch and offered to treat his Pokémon.
• Zhuzhen introduced his Pokémon to Sato, and Sato invited him to join the Gym’s training after lunch.

Sato guided Zhuzhen through a one-on-one battle between Cacturne and Jumpluff, demonstrating how Cacturne countered Jumpluff’s tactics with Sandstorm and its enhanced range perception. After Cacturne won, Sato and Little Ming helped Zhuzhen identify ways to improve his strategy.

• Zhuzhen sent out Jumpluff to challenge Sato, who chose Cacturne for the guidance match.
• Jumpluff tried to establish Sunny Day, but Cacturne replaced it with Sandstorm and gained an evasion advantage.
• Jumpluff used Cotton Guard and Poison Powder, but Cacturne reversed the Sandstorm and sent the powder back at it.
• Jumpluff disrupted Cacturne’s range perception with Cotton Spore and landed Aerial Ace, but Cacturne struck back with Venoshock and incapacitated it.
• George stopped Zhuzhen from treating Jumpluff himself, and Sato reassured him that the Gym would care for his partner.
• Little Ming suggested that Jumpluff could have flown above the Sandstorm and avoided Cotton Guard’s burden, so Sato assigned him three additional real-combat training sessions each day.

Zhuzhen received the Dark Night Badge from Sato, who later trained Cacturne in the Dark Night Forest and refined its evasion technique. After the training, Murkrow led Sato toward a Wild Pokemon to deal with, while Ralts watched Umbreon from inside the backpack.

• Zhuzhen vowed to win the Silver Conference, and Sato gave him a Dark Night Badge and recommended missions from the Dark Night Intelligence Agency.
• Sato entered the Dark Night Forest with several Pokemon and reunited with Murkrow, who preferred the forest to the noisy Gym.
• Sato tested Cacturne's Domain Control as Murkrow and his companions attacked, and Cacturne dodged nearly every strike using information from Cotton Spore.
• Sato stopped the training after Cacturne showed fatigue and noted that Domain Control consumed too much stamina.
• Murkrow protested that Sato only sought him out for training, then led Sato toward a Wild Pokemon he wanted to deal with.
• Umbreon privately claimed Sato as his own, while Ralts noticed him from the backpack and quietly closed her eyes.

Sato and Murkrow challenged a pair of Ampharos, hoping Murkrow could reclaim its honor. Murkrow was badly hurt by Male Ampharos’s Discharge, and Sato treated it while Female Ampharos scolded her husband.

• Murkrow led Sato to a group of Mareep, Flaaffy, and two Ampharos, apologizing to Female Ampharos before Male Ampharos challenged it.
• Sato offered Male Ampharos free injury treatment and three bottles of Sweet Milk to persuade him to fight Murkrow again.
• Murkrow used Air Cutter and Tailwind, but Male Ampharos countered with Iron Tail and Thunder Wave.
• Murkrow taunted Male Ampharos from above, provoking him to unleash a Discharge that scorched the surrounding trees.
• Umbreon protected Sato from the Discharge, while Murkrow was struck and returned to Sato injured; Female Ampharos then slapped and scolded Male Ampharos as Sato treated Murkrow.

After Murkrow lost to Ampharos, Sato left Dark Night Forest planning special training before a rematch. Back at the Gym, he accepted a hard-difficulty challenge from a Trainer with eight badges and quickly defeated the challenger’s Pinsir with Zoroark.

• Female Ampharos stopped Male Ampharos from pursuing Sato, then shared Sweet Milk with him after feeding the Mareep.
• Sato watched Murkrow return the milk and promised it three days of special training before their rematch with Ampharos.
• Sato returned to the Gym, where Sosuke reported that a Trainer with eight badges had come to challenge him.
• Sato offered the challenger a choice of difficulty, and the beach-dressed Trainer chose hard mode despite Sato’s warning.
• Sato and the challenger began a 6v6 All-out Battle, and Zoroark incapacitated Pinsir with Aerial Ace.

Sato and his Zoroark defeated Beach Guy’s team of six in an All-out Battle, leaving Sato to advise him that he needed much more training before the Alliance Tournament. Beach Guy decided to stay in Dark Night Town for special training and challenge the Gym again, despite Sato clarifying that this was not what he meant.

• Beach Guy sent out Sudowoodo, but Zoroark dodged its attacks, broke through Rock Tomb with Dark Burst, and knocked it out with Focus Blast.
• Beach Guy sent out Typhlosion, which Zoroark outmaneuvered with Agility and defeated with Extrasensory and Surprise Attack.
• Sian declared Typhlosion incapacitated, while the spectators watched Sato’s Zoroark take its third consecutive win.
• Beach Guy sent out Donphan and continued through his remaining Pokémon, but Zoroark defeated his final Bellossom with Flamethrower.
• Sato advised Beach Guy that he needed more strength to place well in the Alliance Tournament, and Beach Guy resolved to train in Dark Night Town and challenge the Gym again.

Sato reflected on the Gym's trainees, set plans to establish rules and rewards for the growing organization, and spent a rainy day with Umbreon and Pichu. Mark then found a rain-dependent passage to the Reverse World, and Sato went with him to investigate.

• Sato reviewed how the Gym's young Trainers and their Pokémon had progressed through months of training, while allowing Little Ming to pursue his interest in data research.
• Sato refused Sinan's request for high-aptitude Pokémon and began planning rules and systems for the Dark Night Gym, including rewards for merit.
• Umbreon reluctantly cared for Pichu while Sato joked about their closeness, and Mark arrived with news that he had found the passage to the Reverse World.
• Sato left the training ground with Mark, who explained that the passage was a puddle that appeared only when it rained.