Chapter Summaries

Sato chose to compete in Elite Four Gouming’s group, while the other contestants made their selections and Dragon Tamer Yang joined Elite Four Ryu’s group to target second place. With all twelve choices complete, Sato saw that Charlotte and Xinyuan Hai had ended up in his group.

• Sato chose Elite Four Gouming, taking advantage of the Psychic-type specialist’s weakness to Dark types.
• Shu Du chose Elite Four Sen, and Edward and the fourth-place contestant chose Lance.
• Dragon Tamer Yang passed Lance and declared that he had come to help shoulder his burden, then chose Elite Four Ryu, drawing attention to the Dragon Tamer Family’s rivalry over Lance’s position.
• Sixth- and seventh-place contestants also chose Ryu’s group, making it harder for Dragon Tamer Yang to secure second place there.
• After all twelve contestants had chosen, Sato saw that Charlotte and Xinyuan Hai were in Gouming’s group, though Xinyuan Hai did not seem particularly nervous.

Sato faced Elite Four Gouming in the first match of the finals’ first round, a 4V4 doubles consecutive battle. Sato’s sandstorm and wind tactics pressured Gouming’s team, but Gallade dodged Tyranitar’s first surprise strike as Sato prepared to overwhelm it with repeated attacks.

• Sato drew the same letter as Gouming and realized Xinyuan Hai had arranged to face whoever survived their match.
• Sato and Gouming sent out Tyranitar and Honchkrow, and Gallade and Slowbro, respectively.
• Gouming ordered Gallade to attack Tyranitar with Brick Break while Slowbro used Surf.
• Sato commanded Tyranitar to summon a Sandstorm and Honchkrow to create Tailwind, disrupting Gouming’s attacks and obscuring Tyranitar’s position.
• Tyranitar struck at Gallade with an earthen blade, but Gallade sensed danger and dodged.
• Sato ordered Tyranitar to attack Gallade repeatedly.

Sato’s Tyranitar overwhelmed Gouming’s team with sand-based attacks, while Honchkrow caught Slowbro and Gallade was buried and nearly trapped. Gouming sent out Alakazam and empowered it with Psychic energy before revealing his Key Stone, leaving the battle poised for a stronger counterattack.

• Tyranitar unleashed Sand Crystal Edges at Gallade while Honchkrow seized Slowbro and carried it into the air.
• Gouming ordered Gallade to rescue Slowbro, but Tyranitar’s Earthquake dropped Gallade into a pit and Parting Shot interrupted its Teleport.
• Gouming recalled Slowbro after it lost battle awareness, and Gallade escaped the sand burial.
• Gouming sent out Alakazam, which used Miracle Eye to help counterattack and recover ground against Tyranitar.
• Gouming infused Alakazam with Psychic energy and took out the Key Stone on his Spoon Necklace.

Gouming Mega Evolved Alakazam and overwhelmed Sato’s Honchkrow, forcing Sato to bring out Umbreon against Alakazam and Tyranitar. Sato’s team survived a coordinated attack and turned Umbreon into a heavily fortified wall, leaving the battle poised to continue.

• Gouming used Psychic Amplification and Mega Evolution to empower Alakazam, whose attack incapacitated Honchkrow as it fell toward the spectators.
• Sato sent out Umbreon, which used Light Screen to protect itself and Tyranitar from Alakazam’s immense Psychic attack.
• Gallade teleported behind Umbreon and attempted Feint, but Sato ordered Tyranitar to use Earthquake, disrupting the attack and saving Umbreon.
• Umbreon repeatedly stacked Light Screens while Gouming ordered Alakazam to use Guard Swap and Sato had Tyranitar use Taunt.
• Sato ordered Tyranitar to use Parting Shot and Umbreon to use Toxic, positioning Umbreon as a fortified defensive wall beside Tyranitar.

Umbreon and Gallade knocked each other out in a drawn-out clash, leaving Sato and Gouming with two Pokémon apiece for the decisive doubles battle. Sato gained a type advantage with Starmie and Cacturne, but Gouming Mega Evolved Tyranitar as the match continued and Alakazam prepared a desperate finishing move.

• Gallade used Focus Energy Cutter to knock out Umbreon, then succumbed to Toxic and fell unconscious as well.
• Sato and Gouming sent out Starmie and Cacturne, respectively, for the final stage of the match.
• Gouming Mega Evolved Tyranitar and ordered it to create a Sandstorm while Cacturne attacked Starmie with Drain Punch.
• Sato had Starmie use Agility and Cacturne pressure Starmie, while Alakazam's Recover was stopped by Taunt.
• Alakazam merged its spirit, energy, and vitality into one as Gouming watched with a troubled expression.

Sato’s Tyranitar and Cacturne battled Gouming’s Starmie, whose ability to split into multiple bodies overwhelmed the weakened Tyranitar. Tyranitar fell after helping Cacturne destroy one Starmie, leaving Cacturne to face three, while Ryu predicted Gouming would lose.

• Sato had Tyranitar expose four Starmie with Parting Shot while Cacturne attacked their positions with tracking Pin Missiles.
• Gouming’s Starmie used Light Screen to block the missiles, then attacked the badly weakened Tyranitar with Hydro Pump.
• Tyranitar created a Sandstorm that disrupted the Starmie, allowing Cacturne to strike and shatter one split-off body with Drain Punch.
• Another Hydro Pump hit Tyranitar, which fell after entrusting the remaining battle to Cacturne.
• Tsubaki worried that Sato would lose with only Cacturne left, while Ryu predicted Gouming would be defeated.

Sato defeated Gouming by using Cacturne’s healing, endurance, and trapping moves to counter Starmie’s splitting technique. After the match, President Damalanchi summoned Sato, and George and Mark suspected the victory had earned him a major opportunity.

• Sato used Cacturne’s Ingrain, Synthesis, Grass Knot, and Pin Missile to wear down Gouming’s Starmie and force him to surrender.
• Gouming congratulated Sato and said he hoped Sato could shoulder great responsibility like Lance.
• Xinyuan Hai defeated Charlotte after sending out Tyranitar and Dragonite, leaving Sato and Xinyuan Hai each with one victory.
• Lance told Sato that President Damalanchi wanted to see him, then hurried him away to meet the President.
• George and Mark guessed that the President’s summons followed from Sato’s victory over Gouming.

At Mt. Silver, Damalanchi assessed Sato as a candidate for Johto's Elite Four and asked whether he wanted the position. Sato accepted, and Gouming explained that he was retiring because his Pokémon partners had grown old, assuring Sato that he was worthy of taking his place.

• Lance brought Sato to a hidden conference room, where Damalanchi, Beiyuan Xin, and Johto's Elite Four applauded him for defeating Gouming.
• Damalanchi explained that becoming an Elite Four member required more than strength and asked Sato whether he truly wanted the role.
• Munna tried to reveal Sato's inner thoughts with Hypnosis, but Sato sensed the Psychic power and exposed the attempt.
• Sato said he wanted to become one of the Elite Four, and Lance and the others applauded his decision.
• Gouming told Sato that his Espeon had died of old age and that he planned to retire so his aging partners could rest; he encouraged Sato to take his place.

Sato defeated Xinyuan Hai in the Elite Four Ranking Match finals, winning his second match in a row and strengthening expectations that he would join the Elite Four. After the battle, Sato realized that Champion Shiping’s support was his biggest reliance in the eyes of others.

• Weavile and Sharpedo defeated Xinyuan Hai’s Dragonite and Tyranitar, but Xinyuan Hai sent out Metagross and Salamence as his next pair.
• Damalanchi rejected Beiyuan Xin’s offer to reassign the Pokémon and ordered him to prepare a purge of the Underground Forces, with Xinyuan Hai assigned as its vanguard.
• Sato’s Weavile and Sharpedo were incapacitated, but Tyranitar and Hydreigon entered the field and secured victory over Xinyuan Hai.
• Sato’s win over Xinyuan Hai left him with two consecutive victories and made his advancement to the top eight seem nearly certain.
• News of Gouming’s imminent retirement spread without an official denial, and factions began preparing for Sato’s likely rise in the Elite Four.
• While waiting for Nurse Joy to restore his Pokémon, Sato realized that Champion Shiping’s backing was his biggest reliance in others’ eyes.

Sato advanced undefeated to the Elite Four Ranking Match’s top eight and was paired against Shu Du for a six-on-six battle. As Sato faced Jidu in the opening match of the Eight-to-Four stage, friends and notable trainers gathered to watch, and his fighting spirit surged after he spotted Cynthia.

• Sato defeated Gouming, Xinyuan Hai, and Charlotte to advance alongside Gouming from their group.
• Ryu, Sen, and Lance advanced undefeated, while Shu Du, Edward, and Dragon Tamer Yang claimed the other second-place spots and completed the top eight.
• The League announced six-on-six matches: Sato versus Shu Du, Ryu versus Gouming, Lance versus Dragon Tamer Yang, and Sen versus Edward.
• Norman, Drake, Flint, Volkner, the Dark Night Gym members, the Dragon Quest Team, Cynthia, and Shiping gathered or tuned in to watch Sato’s match; Shiping arrived with Celebi.
• Sato noticed Cynthia in the stands, then faced Jidu as both trainers sent out Zoroark and Mienshao to begin the battle.

Sato’s Zoroark defeated Shu Du’s Mienshao by combining illusions, Hypnosis, and Dark Burst, giving Sato the first knockout of the Elite Four Ranking Match finals. Shu Du sent out Vigoroth next, a Pokémon apparently prepared to counter Gengar, as Sato ordered Zoroark to attack.

• Sato and Shu Du opened the first match with Zoroark and Mienshao, and Zoroark’s Dark Burst seriously injured Mienshao.
• Zoroark used illusions and Aerial Ace to attack Mienshao from several directions, while Shu Du recognized that something was wrong.
• Shu Du ordered Mienshao to use Wake-Up Slap on itself, freeing it from Zoroark’s Hypnosis and revealing which Zoroark was real.
• Zoroark and Mienshao unleashed Dark Burst and Aura Sphere at the same time, and the resulting explosion left Mienshao incapacitated.
• Shu Du sent out Vigoroth, which was immune to Hypnosis, and Sato immediately commanded Zoroark to use Dark Burst.

Shu Du and Sato traded Pokémon in a brutal battle that left Vigoroth and Ariados incapacitated. Sato sent out Gardevoir, whose peak Elite Four level threatened Shu Du’s Lopunny.

• After Zoroark was withdrawn by Roar, Ariados entered the field and battled Vigoroth with Poison Jab and Focus Energy Slash.
• Ariados poisoned Vigoroth with Toxic, but Vigoroth used Facade to strike back, while Eviolite helped it endure Ariados’s attacks.
• Ariados and Vigoroth continued trading Venoshock and Facade until Toxic incapacitated Vigoroth, giving Ariados the win.
• Shu Du sent out Lopunny, whose Quick Attack knocked out Ariados as Ariados used Toxic Spikes to poison the battlefield on Shu Du’s side.
• Sato recalled Ariados and sent out Gardevoir, whose peak Elite Four level stunned the spectators.

Shu Du’s Mega Lopunny and Sato’s Gardevoir became locked in a dangerous psychic struggle that threatened to tear open space. Shiping and Sato’s Pokemon intervened, and a violent explosion in the sky left the match’s outcome unclear.

• Shu Du Mega Evolved Lopunny, bringing it to peak Elite Four strength to face Gardevoir.
• Gardevoir restrained Lopunny with Psychic, and Shu Du ordered Lopunny to use Mirror Coat as a desperate counter.
• The two Pokemon remained locked in place for over ten minutes, with Gardevoir maintaining control while Lopunny’s Mirror Coat continued to build.
• Golden-Eyed Gengar warned Sato, and expanding Space Rifts appeared around Lopunny.
• Shiping sent Froslass to freeze the arena while Gengar used Space Barrier to lift Gardevoir and Lopunny into the sky.
• A tremendous explosion erupted overhead, annihilating a cloud and sending a powerful current of air down over the venue.

Sato's Gengar used its Spatial Power to defeat Shu Du's Scizor without letting it breach a Space Barrier. Shu Du sent out Typhlosion, and Sato answered with Sharpedo as Gengar withdrew from the battle.

• Sato recalled the exhausted Gardevoir and sent Gengar to face Shu Du's Scizor.
• Gengar blocked Scizor's attacks with a Space Barrier and overwhelmed it with repeated Shadow Ball: Chain Explosion attacks.
• Champion Shiping recognized Gengar's defense as Spatial Power and reflected that Scizor lacked the strength to break through it.
• Shu Du sent out Typhlosion after Scizor fell, while Gengar withdrew and Sato chose Sharpedo to fight next.

Sato defeated Brother Shudu to secure an Elite Four position and advance to the top four of the ranking match. After Elite Four Liu defended his position against Elite Four Gouming, Sato relaxed with his friends while the remaining matches awaited.

• Brother Shudu sent out his starter Crobat, which defeated Sato's exhausted Sharpedo before falling to Sato's Tyranitar.
• Sato defeated all six of Brother Shudu's Pokémon and became the first contestant to advance to the top four of the Elite Four Ranking Match.
• Cynthia congratulated Sato, while Mark and George resolved to work harder after seeing how far he had advanced.
• Elite Four Liu defeated Elite Four Gouming with Swinub, Delibird, Lapras, and Jynx, successfully defending his position.
• Sato rested with Mark and the others, knowing the final ranking matches would be closed to the public, when a phone began ringing.

Team Rocket launched an early assault on Violet City, and Sato and Lance rushed there after learning that the city had fallen into a dire state. The chapter ended with them realizing they were the only Elite Four-level combatants available to face Team Rocket’s powerful forces.

• At Team Rocket’s secret base, Boa ordered Ninetales to kill Electivire while Miyamoto and Athena watched the battle.
• Caesar announced that the Vice Leader had arrived, and Miyamoto hurried out to greet her as Athena and Caesar left the room.
• Lance told Sato that Team Rocket’s siege had begun early, and the two set off for Violet City while Gouming assigned the others to support the counteroffensive.
• George, Si'an, and Ponyo remained unassigned and decided to return to protect Dark Night City.
• Sato and Lance learned that Violet Gym had been breached, the City Guard had collapsed, and Team Rocket’s Twin Empresses, two executives, and four Star Hunters were in the city.
• Lance revealed that he and Sato were the only Elite Four-level combatants available, leaving Sato alarmed at the odds.

Team Rocket launched a counterattack across the region, and Sato and Lance arrived in Violet City to rescue hostages and confront the Rocket commanders. The chapter ended with both sides summoning more Pokémon as the battle escalated.

• Itsuki told Mark that Team Rocket had attacked first after learning the Pokémon League planned to purge the Underground Forces, and Mark grew excited about the chance to earn merit.
• Miyamoto joined Athena and Caesar at the Underground Base, where Giovanni's mother ordered them to eliminate Lance and Sato.
• Lance and Sato arrived in burning Violet City; Sato sent Gardevoir, Cacturne, and Gengar to locate and protect the hostages while Lance drew the enemy's attention.
• Lance fought Miyamoto, Athena, and Caesar's six Elite Four-level Pokémon while waiting for Sato, relying on Dragonite and Dragonair to evade their attacks.
• When Sato arrived, Team Rocket brought out four more Pokémon, Lance sent out Charizard, and Sato deployed Zoroark and Tyranitar against their ten Pokémon.

Sato and Lance turned the battle against Team Rocket by having Gengar split the melee into isolated matchups that favored their Pokemon. Mismagius ambushed and severely injured Gengar, collapsing the barriers and allowing Team Rocket to escape while the fight remained unresolved.

• Sato and Lance struggled to hold off Team Rocket as the three opponents regrouped around Miyamoto and focused their attacks on Tyranitar.
• Gengar arrived and used invisible Space Barriers to divide the battlefield, trapping Pokemon and separating the opponents into matchups favorable to Sato and Lance.
• Athena realized Gengar had split the space and saw that Alakazam had lost its right arm, while Miyamoto hesitated to send out more Pokemon.
• Sato ordered Gengar to merge Jolteon's battlefield with Tyranitar's, and Dragonite and Dragonair overwhelmed Jolteon as the other Pokemon battled their isolated opponents.
• Mismagius ambushed Gengar with Phantom Force, severely injuring it and causing all the Space Barriers to vanish.
• Team Rocket used explosions and smoke to flee, while Sato and Lance held back from pursuit and recognized that Gengar was badly injured.

Sato and Lance reached Violet City's Pokémon Center, where Lance confronted Gym Leader Takeuchi Koichi for failing to defend the city. Nurse Joy entrusted them with command, and Sato began organizing the response after learning Officer Jenny had died in battle.

• Gardevoir showed Sato a map of Violet City marked with numerous Team Rocket bases, while Lance reported that reinforcements were heading for the Pokémon Center.
• Sato and Lance arrived at the Pokémon Center and found Takeuchi Koichi urging its occupants to prepare a counterattack.
• Lance challenged Koichi over his absence during the city's fall and pointed out that Koichi had no real plan for a counterattack.
• Nurse Joy gave Sato and Lance command of Violet City and told them Officer Jenny had died in battle.
• Sato summoned Cacturne, which began scattering Cotton Spores through the Pokémon Center.

Sato and Lance lured Team Rocket’s senior executives out of hiding by spreading false news that Sato had left Violet City. The trap sprung in the forest when Sato’s allies emerged from Gengar’s Hidden Space, and the battle began with Team Rocket’s four executives separated among their opponents.

• Lance and Sato suspected Team Rocket had shifted its attacks to other cities and planned to lure its executives out by making Sato appear to leave Violet City.
• Sato’s supposed transfer caused suspicious people to slip away from the Pokemon Center, where Officer Jenny and Noctowl secretly identified them.
• Sato flew west from Violet City on Honchkrow, and Miyamoto, Athena, Caesar, and the Female Leader ambushed him.
• Sato revealed Lance and the rescued Elite Four Trainers from Gengar’s Hidden Space, showing that Team Rocket had fallen for their trap.
• Lance confronted the Female Leader, Zhihong and Kouke engaged Athena and Caesar, and Sato sent Tyranitar and Houndoom against Miyamoto.