Chapter Summaries

Ryoko defeated Haitong to claim the final Top 4 spot, completing a sweep by newly promoted Trainers. As the tournament's results spread, Sato considered Zweilous's evolution, George contemplated returning to face his past, and Drake challenged Norman to train with him.

• Haitong sent out Hydreigon, and Sato calmed his eager Zweilous while thinking about a way for it to evolve without devouring its partner.
• Hydreigon defeated Ryoko's Haxorus, then Ryoko's Sceptile incapacitated Hydreigon with Leech Seed before falling in battle.
• Ryoko Mega Evolved her final Pokémon, Mawile, which used Play Rough to defeat Hydreigon and secure her place in the Top 4.
• Sato's victory had already raised his standing among the Dark Night Gym apprentices, while George worried about the dangers Sato might face and considered returning to help him.
• Norman felt disappointed as Ryoko advanced, but Agatha encouraged him, and Drake challenged him to a battle so he could train.

Sato prepared for the Pseudo-Elite Four Tournament semifinal against Ryoko, then opened the 6v6 battle with their Water-type Pokemon. Sharpedo and Swampert traded attacks evenly, while Ryoko worried that Sharpedo’s Speed Boost would make it stronger as the match continued.

• Sato trained with his six planned Pokemon and Pikachu before the semifinals, where the draw paired him with Ryoko and Wallace with Phoebe.
• Sato received encouragement from Nurse Joy Lixiang and arrived at the arena, where Damalanchi began the semifinal matches.
• Sato and Ryoko sent out Sharpedo and Swampert for their 6v6 battle.
• Sharpedo dodged Swampert’s Muddy Water and Brick Break, then clashed with Swampert’s Aqua Tail using Hydro Pump.
• Ryoko recognized that Sharpedo’s Speed Boost could give it an increasing advantage as the battle went on.

Ryoko used Swampert as bait to wear down Sato’s Sharpedo and conceal a swamp-setting strategy, then turned the battle with Slowking and Trick Room. Sato sent out Honchkrow, but Slowking’s attacks and Yawn put it in danger as the match continued.

• Sharpedo’s speed overwhelmed Swampert despite its ability to track Sharpedo, and Sharpedo eventually incapacitated it.
• Ryoko sent out Slowking, whose Trick Room let it strike Sharpedo with Focus Blast and knock it out.
• Sato realized Ryoko had used Swampert’s apparent helplessness to make him careless, while the battlefield had become a swamp.
• Sato sent out Honchkrow, and Slowking used Power Gem that curved around Honchkrow’s Steel Wing and hit it.
• Slowking used Yawn as Sato ordered Honchkrow to attack with Brave Bird before it could fall asleep in the swamp.

Sato's Honchkrow defeated Slowking with a critical Sucker Punch, then forced Ryoko's Torkoal off the field before being knocked out by Eruption. Sato sent out Cacturne against Ryoko's Mega Mawile and began exploiting Trick Room as their battle continued.

• Honchkrow escaped Slowking's swamp trap with Sleep Talk and Aerial Ace, then used a critical Sucker Punch to defeat Slowking as Trick Room returned.
• Ryoko sent out Torkoal, whose Eruption engulfed Honchkrow, but Honchkrow's Whirlwind blew Torkoal back into its Poké Ball before Honchkrow fell.
• Sato recalled Honchkrow and sent out Cacturne while Ryoko chose to keep Mawile in the battle.
• Ryoko Mega Evolved Mawile as Sato had Cacturne use Swords Dance during the transformation.
• Cacturne used Leech Seed against Mega Mawile, which countered with Fire Fang.

Sato's Cacturne defeated Ryoko's Mega Mawile by exploiting Trick Room and Leech Seed, giving Sato a 3–0 lead before halftime. In the second half, Sato's Houndoom faced Ryoko's Sceptile, and their fierce close-range clash ended in an explosion with the outcome not yet confirmed.

• Cacturne dodged Mega Mawile's Play Rough and landed repeated Drain Punches while Leech Seed drained Mawile's stamina.
• Cacturne trapped Mawile with Cotton Spore as Trick Room ended, then defeated it with Drain Punch, giving Sato his third win.
• During halftime, Ryoko reviewed her strategy and returned determined to keep Sato from defeating her easily.
• Sato sent out Houndoom against Ryoko's Sceptile, whose choice had been based on her predictions about his remaining Pokemon.
• Sceptile boosted its speed with Agility and tried Rock Tomb, but Houndoom interrupted with Sucker Punch; Sceptile countered with Leaf Blade, and Houndoom answered with Inferno, engulfing both Pokemon in an explosion.

Ryoko sent Haxorus against Sato’s Houndoom, which fought desperately before Guillotine knocked it out. Sato sent out Weavile and opened with Blizzard, leaving Haxorus chilled and weakened.

• After recalling Sceptile, Ryoko told Sato she had chased after him for a long time, declared she would stop publicly competing after this battle, and vowed to give the match everything she had.
• Ryoko sent out Haxorus, which used Aqua Tail, Earthquake, and Rock Tomb to overwhelm Houndoom despite its Substitute and Agility.
• Houndoom charged through the falling boulders and hit Haxorus with Inferno, but Haxorus used Guillotine to knock it out.
• Sato recalled Houndoom and sent out Weavile, which immediately used Blizzard to chill Haxorus.

Ryoko’s Torkoal outlasted Sato’s Weavile with a series of carefully timed moves, leaving Sato with only two Pokémon. Sato sent out Tyranitar as his next opponent.

• Ryoko sent out Torkoal, but Weavile burst from underground and struck its vulnerable belly twice with Dig and Sucker Punch.
• Torkoal countered Weavile’s approach with a close-range Heat Wave, while Weavile answered with Blizzard and the two attacks filled the field with steam.
• Ryoko ordered Torkoal to use Earthquake, but Sato outplayed her and Weavile landed another attack before Torkoal used Rapid Spin to evade.
• Torkoal blocked Weavile’s Sucker Punch with its shell and then knocked it out with Gyro Ball.
• Sato recalled Weavile and sent out Tyranitar, one of his strongest aces.

Sato’s Tyranitar defeated Ryoko’s Torkoal and Burn-weakened Haxorus, winning the match and advancing. Afterward, the competitors congratulated each other, and Tyranitar and Haxorus exchanged a friendly gesture.

• Tyranitar stopped Torkoal’s Gyro Ball with its bare hands and smashed it into the ground, incapacitating it.
• Ryoko sent out her final Pokémon, Haxorus, which was already suffering from the Burn Status caused by Houndoom.
• Tyranitar trapped Haxorus with Stone Edge and Rock Tomb, then struck the battlefield with Earthquake.
• Sato’s Tyranitar moved the fallen rocks aside and revealed an incapacitated Haxorus, securing Sato’s victory over Ryoko.
• Sato and Ryoko congratulated each other, and Tyranitar and Haxorus touched claws.

After Sato and Ryoko finished their match, Ryoko revealed her plans to train Alliance Investigators, while Wallace and Phoebe prepared for their afternoon battle. Elsewhere, Drake changed course after learning Sato had reached the finals, and George prepared to leave Dark Night Gym, entrusting Si'an with its Pokémon training duties.

• Ryoko told Sato she planned to become an instructor for Alliance Investigators, and she encouraged him to become Champion before they rejoined Wallace and Phoebe.
• Drake saw in the newspaper that Sato had reached the finals and ordered his ship to head for the nearest supply point so he could watch the championship.
• George told Si'an he was leaving Dark Night Gym and handed him detailed training records for the Gym's Pokémon.
• George told Si'an to wait until he had left before reading the letters he had prepared for everyone at Dark Night Gym.

Moyan and Wallace began the Pseudo-Elite Four Tournament finals, with Wallace's Drizzle Pelipper setting rain and the trainers trading quick tactical switches. Moyan sent out Gengar to use Trick Room as the downpour intensified.

• Wallace teased Moyan in the Waiting Room, while viewers and League officials watched the finalists prepare for battle.
• Moyan and Wallace took their places on the Command Platforms and sent out Zoroark and Pelipper as rain began to fall.
• Moyan used Zoroark's Illusion to make Pelipper's U-turn appear successful, then struck it with a double-powered Pursuit as it retreated.
• Wallace sent out Gorebyss, which dodged Zoroark's U-turn before Zoroark used its practiced technique to return safely to its Poké Ball.
• Moyan sent out Gengar and ordered it to use Trick Room as the rain grew heavier.

Sato realized Gorebyss had used Supersonic to heighten his caution, while Wallace built up Gorebyss and gained the advantage. After Sato recovered his focus, Gengar endured Gorebyss's attacks with Substitute and used Pain Split to even out their remaining stamina.

• Gengar set up Trick Room, but Gorebyss raised its defenses with Amnesia and its stats with Coil while Sato used Toxic and Mean Look.
• Gorebyss used Aqua Ring as Pelipper's rain ended, then struck Gengar with Aqua Tail and cleared Toxic with Refresh.
• Gengar's Supersonic broke through Sato's distorted emotions, revealing that Gorebyss had been influencing his caution since the battle began.
• Wallace ordered Surf and Hydro Pump, while Gengar used Substitute twice to absorb the attacks without turning around.
• Gengar used Pain Split to combine its and Gorebyss's remaining stamina and divide it equally.

Gengar defeated Wallace’s Gorebyss with a strange Buddhist-sounding vocal attack, then faced Wallace’s Starmie, whose camouflage let it hide from Gengar. The chapter ended with Starmie revealing itself while intercepting Gengar’s Thunder, as Sato recognized its advanced Camouflage.

• Gengar struck Gorebyss with Thunderbolt, then used a chanting attack that left Gorebyss unable to fight and secured the win.
• Master Mingguang watched Gengar’s performance at New Bell Tower and declared that Buddha Ghost had mastered Direct Buddhist Speech, prompting the monks to prepare to act.
• Wallace sent out Starmie, which clashed with Gengar’s Dark Pulse before vanishing and using Rain Dance.
• Sato had Gengar use Mean Look, but Starmie remained hidden and then attacked with a Blizzard that froze raindrops into Ice Needles.
• Gengar answered with Thunder across the field, and Sato recognized Starmie’s advanced Camouflage when it appeared while intercepting a bolt of lightning.

Sato’s Gengar used Destiny Bond to take Wallace’s Starmie down with it, giving Sato a two-Pokémon advantage. Wallace’s Vaporeon then hid in the puddles and overwhelmed Cacturne with repeated Ice-type attacks, leaving Cacturne frozen under another barrage.

• Sato ordered Gengar to use Pain Split and Curse as Wallace’s Starmie attacked with Hydro Pump.
• Gengar used Destiny Bond as it fell, and the move incapacitated Starmie as well.
• Wallace sent out Vaporeon, while Sato chose Cacturne for the next battle.
• Cacturne created a Sandstorm, but Vaporeon dissolved into the puddles and struck it with Aurora Beam and Ice Beam.
• Sato ordered Cacturne to spread Leech Seed, then to use Brick Break on the ground; the puddles expanded and launched a barrage of Ice-type attacks.
• Cacturne used Spiky Shield to protect itself from the attacks, but another Ice-type Skill Rain began falling.

Sato’s Ariados defeated Wallace’s Vaporeon by poisoning the waterlogged battlefield and striking from the puddles. After the mid-match break, the finals resumed with Wallace sending Pelipper against Sato’s Dark Kirlia.

• Wallace used Scald to thaw Cacturne, which remained incapacitated, and Sato sent out Ariados.
• Ariados spread Toxic across the battlefield, then used Electroweb and Venoshock to paralyze and poison Vaporeon.
• Sato had Ariados use Sucker Punch to strike Vaporeon as it emerged from a puddle, then finished it with Venoshock.
• The referee declared Ariados the winner, and the match paused for a ten-minute break after Wallace lost his third Pokémon.
• Sato noticed that Starmie had hollowed out the original battlefield and filled it with water, while staff replaced the field during the break.
• The second half began with Wallace sending Pelipper back out and Sato sending out Dark Kirlia; Pelipper activated Drizzle and charged with U-turn.

Sato’s Kirlia defeated Wallace’s Pelipper, but Wallace’s half-step Elite Four Crawdaunt quickly knocked out Ariados. The battle stood at 4:3 as Sato sent out Zoroark and recognized Crawdaunt’s hidden Ability, Adaptability.

• Kirlia stopped playing with Pelipper, put it to sleep with Hypnosis, and knocked it out with a close-range Thunderbolt after it attacked through Sleep Talk.
• Lance and Damalanchi praised Kirlia’s strength, with Damalanchi judging it to have Elite Four-level combat power.
• Wallace sent out Crawdaunt, which Sato recognized as stronger than Pseudo-Elite Four Peak, and Sato recalled Kirlia to send out Ariados.
• Crawdaunt ignored Ariados’s Toxic and knocked it out with a powerful Crabhammer, then taunted Sato.
• Sato sent out Zoroark as Wallace ordered Crawdaunt to attack the ground with its eyes closed, and Sato realized Crawdaunt had the hidden Ability Adaptability.

Sato's Zoroark exploited its close-combat agility to badly injure Wallace's Crawdaunt, forcing Wallace to recall it and send out Milotic. Milotic used Attract against Zoroark, and Sato ordered a Dark Burst as Wallace moved in with Iron Tail.

• Wallace's Crawdaunt used Swift to find Zoroark through its Illusion, then charged it after Zoroark countered with Dark Pulse.
• Sato ordered Zoroark to fight up close, and it dodged Crawdaunt's attacks before striking and severely damaging its tail with Aerial Ace.
• Wallace recalled Crawdaunt as Zoroark used Low Sweep, then sent out his final Pokémon, Milotic.
• Wallace ordered Milotic to use Attract, and Sato told Zoroark to close its eyes.
• Wallace sent Milotic in with Iron Tail, while Sato commanded Zoroark to use Dark Burst.

Sato’s Zoroark was distracted by Milotic’s beauty, so Sato recalled it and sent out Tyranitar. Tyranitar defeated Wallace’s Crawdaunt, leaving Wallace with only Milotic against Sato’s team at match point.

• Zoroark’s Dark Burst struck Milotic, but Milotic’s charm distracted Zoroark, and Sato recalled it.
• Sato sent out Tyranitar, while Wallace recalled Milotic and chose Crawdaunt to battle.
• Tyranitar used Rock Slide and Rock Tomb to bury and restrict Crawdaunt, then used Earthquake to damage it further.
• Crawdaunt emerged with Crabhammer, but Tyranitar dodged its attack and met it in several head-on clashes.
• Tyranitar struck Crawdaunt with its tail and incapacitated it, giving Sato a 3:1 lead with Wallace’s Milotic as his final Pokémon.

Sato’s Tyranitar defeated Crawdaunt and battled Wallace’s Milotic, overcoming its Surf and narrowly escaping its Twister before Milotic used Recover. Sato realized that stopping Milotic from healing would be difficult, leaving Tyranitar to seek an opening to finish the battle.

• Tyranitar exploited Crawdaunt’s reckless attack, wore it down with Stone Edge, and defeated it.
• Wallace sent Milotic into battle, and Sato used Tyranitar’s Taunt to stop it from trying to charm its opponent.
• Tyranitar blocked Milotic’s Surf with Stone Edge and dodged its Dragon Tail before biting it with Thunder Fang.
• Milotic escaped Tyranitar’s jaws with Twister and used Recover to heal its wounds.
• Sato considered ways to counter Milotic’s Recover but concluded he would need to interrupt its next attempt with Taunt and defeat it quickly.

Wallace’s Milotic battled Sato’s Tyranitar, overcoming a Taunt and a powerful Payback after both Pokémon suffered heavy damage. As Milotic rallied to keep fighting for Wallace, its aura surged to Elite Four level, leaving the battle unresolved.

• Wallace ordered Milotic to bombard Tyranitar with Hydro Pump and Blizzard while Tyranitar used Rock Slide to defend and counterattack.
• Sato timed Tyranitar’s Taunt to interrupt Milotic’s Recover, then had Tyranitar strike with Rock Slide as Milotic retreated.
• Milotic used the water on the battlefield to surprise Tyranitar with a Compressed Hydro Pump, then attacked again at close range after Tyranitar’s Protect faded.
• Sato ordered Payback, and Tyranitar endured Milotic’s attack to strike its abdomen and send it crashing into a boulder.
• As the referee prepared to announce the result, Milotic recalled Wallace’s promise to make it the strongest Pokémon and rose with an Elite Four-level aura.

Sato had Mega Tyranitar challenge Wallace’s newly Elite Four-level Milotic, using a prepared field and a risky Giga Impact to overcome their strength gap. Milotic remained standing after the clash, leaving Tyranitar’s defeat apparent as the battle continued.

• Lance confirmed that Wallace’s Milotic had broken through to Elite Four level, while the VIP spectators discussed Sato and his teacher, Genji.
• Tyranitar chose to keep fighting despite the odds, and Sato Mega Evolved him.
• Milotic overwhelmed Mega Tyranitar’s Sandstorm Tornado with Twister and recovered, while Tyranitar’s Taunt failed to interrupt her.
• Sato had Tyranitar flatten the battlefield with repeated Stomping Tantrum, then slide aside to dodge Milotic’s close-range Hydro Pump.
• Sato ordered Giga Impact, and Mega Tyranitar slammed Milotic into the ground in an explosion.
• Milotic cried out after the smoke cleared, showing that she had not fallen, while Sato stood silent.