Chapter Summaries

Sato reviewed the Pokémon League’s decision to dismiss Yamaya Daisuke and seal Azalea Gym, then set plans in motion to prevent similar problems and support the Gym apprentices. He traveled with Si'nan and Sosuke to Goldenrod City to attend George’s Breeder Professional Ranking Competition, which began the next morning.

• Sato learned that Yamaya Daisuke would be dismissed as Azalea Gym Leader and the Gym temporarily sealed, and he questioned what would happen to the apprentices.
• Sato told Mark to return after pursuing the top Elite Four Reserve position, and asked Si'nan and Sosuke to decide which would review League missions and which would stay with him.
• Mark departed for Pokémon League headquarters, while Sato, Si'nan, and Sosuke set off for their next mission city; Sato said he would give Bugsy a chance to reclaim Azalea Gym.
• Sato’s group arrived in Goldenrod City, where George welcomed them and asked Sato to judge the Breeder Professional Ranking Competition from a Trainer’s perspective.
• Sato, George, Master Yasumura, and Nurse Joy took their seats, and the fourth Breeder Professional Ranking Competition officially began.

Xiaoxue’s Vulpix earned unanimous praise and raised her breeder rank, while the judges rejected several contestants for neglecting their Pokémon’s health. Yamaguchi Yasunori then used his Elite Four-level Magmar to create a dangerous explosion onstage, prompting George to condemn his disregard for the competition’s safety.

• Xiaoxue showcased Vulpix with Sunny Day and received unanimous approval, advancing to Level 4 Breeder.
• George, Nagamura, Nurse Joy, and Sato rejected several contestants for problems including unsuitable perfume, poor feather care, an injury, and a weak Flamethrower.
• Sato noticed that contestant Yamaguchi Yasunori’s Magmar was Elite Four level as Yamaguchi demonstrated Blast Burn.
• Yamaguchi ordered Magmar to shatter Blast Burn into an explosion that triggered the judges’ Guard Energy Shield.
• George challenged Yamaguchi for knowingly letting Magmar’s attack endanger the judges and audience.

After Yamaguchi Yasunori turned his apology into an attack on the competition’s safety measures, George challenged him to settle the dispute in battle. Sato enclosed the arena in a Space Barrier, and George ordered Gallade to attack as Yamaguchi and Magmar prepared to fight back.

• Yamaguchi Yasunori apologized for Magmar’s attack, then offered to fund better safety measures and blamed the competition organizers.
• George summoned Comfey from the stands to confirm everyone was safe, then told Yamaguchi he was unworthy of understanding Breeders.
• George brought out Gallade and challenged Yamaguchi, whose Magmar was only at Elite Four Beginner level.
• Yamaguchi objected that the stage could not withstand Elite Four power, but Sato had Gengar create a Space Barrier around the fighters.
• Yamaguchi ordered Magmar to go all out, and George commanded Gallade to use Close Combat as Magmar attempted to block with Fire Punch.

George defeated Yamaguchi’s Magmar and made Yamaguchi apologize to the spectators endangered by the battle. After Sato’s group left Goldenrod Farm, they headed to Mahogany Town, where Sosuke committed to guarding Sato’s rear during the Elite Four Ranking Match.

• George’s Gallade defeated Yamaguchi’s Magmar, and George demanded that Yamaguchi apologize to the affected spectators.
• Yamaguchi bowed to the spectators and apologized, while Master Yasumura later explained on television why the venue’s protections had been insufficient.
• At Goldenrod Farm, Sato’s Pikachu defeated Akane’s Miltank in a friendly battle, and Akane accepted the loss.
• Sato’s group left Goldenrod City and flew to Mahogany Town, where Sosuke gave Sato records of Elite Four Sen’s battles.
• Sosuke told Sato he would go to Pokémon League headquarters and guard the rear, and Sato gave him a prepared present.

Sato gave Sosuke a Deino before Sosuke left to report for duty, then faced Elite Four Sen in an Elite Four Ranking Match. Sen’s Meganium and Sato’s Weavile traded attacks, and the battle was left with Weavile threatened by Meganium’s Frenzy Plant.

• Sato gave Sosuke a Deino, which accepted Sosuke as its Trainer.
• Sosuke departed for the Johto Alliance, while Sato, George, and Si'nan prepared for the ranking match against Sen.
• Sato and Sen began their 6v6 battle with Meganium and Weavile, using Sunny Day and Blizzard respectively.
• Sen’s Meganium fired six Solar Beams, but Weavile appeared beneath it and struck with Sucker Punch.
• Sen ordered Frenzy Plant, and Meganium filled the arena with vegetation and sent roots stabbing toward Weavile.

Sato’s Weavile shattered Meganium’s Frenzy Plant and defeated it by stealing its Synthesis, revealing Sato’s strategy against Elite Four Sen. Sen then sent out Ferrothorn as his next Pokémon.

• Champion Shiping told Sato that Weavile’s special-attack focus did not suit its species, while Weavile sparred with Shiping’s Weavile and was knocked down.
• In battle, Sato’s Weavile stopped Meganium’s Frenzy Plant with Ice Punch and shattered it with Focus Punch.
• Sato resolved to help Weavile develop new finishing moves because Blizzard had become less effective against Elite Four-level opponents.
• Weavile struck Meganium with Sucker Punch, then used Snatch to steal its Synthesis and prevent it from recovering.
• Meganium fell, and Sen acknowledged that Sato had studied him before sending out Ferrothorn.

Elite Four Sen’s Ferrothorn defeated Sato’s Weavile after setting up Stealth Rock and Spikes, then fell to Hydreigon’s combined Blast Burn. Sen sent out Sceptile, which struck Hydreigon with Agility and Dragon Claw, but Sato’s prepared counterattack caught it with Dragon Breath.

• Sen’s Ferrothorn trapped and defeated Sato’s Weavile with Gyro Ball, while Weavile managed to leave frostbite on it.
• Sato sent out Hydreigon, which took damage from Stealth Rock as Sen used Gravity to pull it down.
• Hydreigon’s three heads combined their Blast Burns to knock out Ferrothorn and burn away Meganium’s Grassy Terrain.
• Sen sent out Sceptile, which used Agility and Dragon Claw to close in on Hydreigon.
• Sato revealed that Hydreigon had prepared for Sceptile’s opening attack, and Little Three struck it with Dragon Breath.

Sato's Hydreigon battled Elite Four Sen's Sceptile, clearing the battlefield hazards before unleashing its powerful Meteor Shower of Fire and Rain. Sceptile survived and knocked Hydreigon out with a final clash, leaving Sen with far fewer Pokémon than Moyan.

• Sceptile broke through Hydreigon's opening attacks, but Hydreigon endured Bullet Seed while Little Three destroyed the battlefield hazards with Rock Tomb.
• Sato's Hydreigon used Blast Burn, Heat Wave, and Draco Meteor to create Meteor Shower of Fire and Rain, which devastated the battlefield.
• Sceptile survived by using Foresight and its speed to avoid most of the fiery meteor attacks, though it was badly injured.
• Sceptile activated Overgrow and attacked with Frenzy Plant while Hydreigon charged with Dragon Rush, and both Pokémon fell incapacitated.
• The referee called a mutual defeat, and the big screen showed that Moyan had lost only two Pokémon while Sen had lost more than half.

Sato and Sen resumed their Elite Four Ranking Match with Umbreon and Shaymin Sky Forme, whose clash ended in a mutual knockout. Shaymin’s Healing Wish restored Sen’s injured Ferrothorn, leaving Sato’s advantage gone as the battle continued.

• Sato and Sen sent out Umbreon and Shaymin Sky Forme, and Shaymin’s Seed Flare and speed forced Umbreon onto the defensive.
• Umbreon poisoned Shaymin with Toxic, while Sato used Taunt and a Substitute to counter Sen’s attempts to protect Shaymin and attack.
• Shaymin and Umbreon traded Facade and Payback until both lost their combat capability, and Shaymin left behind a Healing Wish.
• Sen sent Ferrothorn back onto the field, and Shaymin’s Healing Wish healed its injuries and restored its stamina.

Sato’s Ariados trapped and weakened Sen’s revived Ferrothorn with webs, Disable, and a boosted X-Scissor, but Sen ordered Self-Destruct to break the trap and leave both Pokémon near defeat. They recalled their Pokémon and sent out their fifth battlers to continue the match.

• Sen sent out Ferrothorn again, and Sato matched it with Ariados as both Pokémon laid entry hazards across the field.
• Ariados spun a web across the battlefield, then used Disable to stop Ferrothorn from cutting through it with Gyro Ball.
• Ferrothorn used Rollout and Aerial Ace to break through the web, but Ariados repaired the gap and trapped it with Spider Web.
• Ariados used Swords Dance and X-Scissor while Disable kept Ferrothorn from escaping with Gyro Ball.
• Sen ordered Ferrothorn to use Self-Destruct, destroying the hazards and leaving both Ferrothorn and Ariados badly injured.
• Sen and Sato recalled their Pokémon, then each sent out a fifth Pokémon.

Sato’s Houndoom and Sen’s Roserade fought in a damp, foggy arena, each turning the conditions against the other. Roserade struggled to counter Houndoom’s ambushes, and Sen ordered her to spread Cotton Spore across the entire field as the battle continued.

• Mark celebrated Ariados surviving, while George and Si'nan noted that Sen’s strongest Pokémon and Sato’s aces had yet to appear.
• Sen sent out Roserade against Sato’s Houndoom, and Roserade used Water Sport to weaken Houndoom’s Fire-type attacks before forming Water-type Weather Balls.
• Houndoom used repeated Inferno attacks to heat the damp arena, making Roserade uncomfortable, while Sato’s Dark Pulse canceled her Sludge Bomb and filled the field with smoke.
• Roserade scattered Cotton Spore to absorb moisture and sense attacks, but Houndoom struck her with Surprise Attack and escaped before she could land Giga Drain.
• Sen ordered Roserade to spread Cotton Spore across the entire field after realizing Houndoom had the advantage in the fog.

Sato’s Houndoom defeated Sen’s Roserade, leaving Sen with only his enormous Venusaur against Sato’s three Pokémon. Both trainers Mega Evolved their Pokémon and opened the final battle with powerful attacks.

• Houndoom charged through Roserade’s Grass Knot and used Snatch to steal its Synthesis, healing itself before knocking Roserade out with Blast Burn.
• Sen sent out his enormous Venusaur as his final Pokémon and Mega Evolved it, giving it Thick Fat to halve fire damage.
• Sato Mega Evolved Houndoom, and the referee resumed the battle.
• Venusaur attacked with Frenzy Plant while Houndoom charged forward with Inferno, and their clash stunned the audience.

Sato’s Houndoom fell to Elite Four Sen’s Venusaur, but Sato sent out Honchkrow and used its speed and powerful Air Slashes to overwhelm Venusaur. Honchkrow pinned Venusaur down with a second barrage, leaving the battle’s outcome unresolved.

• Houndoom used Super Fang to halve Venusaur’s stamina, but Venusaur trapped it with Vine Whip and slammed it into the ground with Power Whip and Slam.
• Venusaur used Earthquake to incapacitate Houndoom, and Sato recalled it and sent out Honchkrow.
• Honchkrow took to the air and raised its Special Attack with three Nasty Plots while Venusaur used Sweet Scent and Grassy Terrain.
• Honchkrow’s Air Slashes clashed with Venusaur’s Petal Dance until Honchkrow altered their angles and broke through Venusaur’s defense.
• Honchkrow unleashed another barrage of Air Slashes and pinned Venusaur down.

After defeating Sen, Sato recovered with Cynthia and learned about her new Morpeko, then faced mounting public attention ahead of his match with Lance. When rival fans caused a disturbance in Goldenrod City, Sato and Lance agreed on a plan to address it.

• Sato defeated Sen after a four-hour Elite Four Ranking Match, and the referee declared him the winner.
• Sato went looking for Cynthia after the battle, while George and Mark waited for him at the Pokemon Center.
• Sato and Cynthia wandered through Mahogany Town, where Cynthia explained Morpeko’s Hunger Switch Ability and Pikachu accidentally knocked Morpeko out with a Thunderbolt.
• Cynthia reassured Sato that Pokemon who rarely battled could still have their moment, and she compared their growth to letting hot Takoyaki cool before eating it.
• A week later, Lance told Sato that a public fight between their fans had caused a disturbance on Miltank Pedestrian Street in Goldenrod City.
• Sato proposed a plan to Lance, who agreed and said he would come find him.

Sato and Lance were sent to Tangyang Town on the same emergency mission, while officials within the Pokémon League maneuvered to exploit rumors of their private duel. After learning that Tangyang Gym had been breached and their mission location exposed, Lance said someone could use the leak to uncover the people behind it.

• Rumors spread that Elite Four Sato and Elite Four Lance would hold a private duel, prompting Johto officials to debate how to respond.
• Nagasa Ginakawa urged the ministers to confirm the rumor, while President Alder ordered his secretary to add fuel to the situation.
• Sato and Lance separately accepted a Red Emergency Mission to destroy a Team Rocket base in Tangyang Town and rescue undercover members.
• The Internal Affairs and Battle ministers each celebrated the mission, believing their rival department had helped set a trap for the Elite Four.
• Sato arrived in Tangyang Town and learned from Lance that Tangyang Gym had been breached and its Gym Leader, apprentices, and referees were missing.
• Lance told Sato that the rumor about their duel had exposed their location, and said someone could use the resulting actions to reveal the people responsible.

Sato and Lance watched a convincing fake video that blamed them for destroying the coastline and harming Pokemon, while the scandal spread online and the Pokemon League failed to find evidence of editing. George called Sato and revealed that the video was an illusion.

• Sato and Lance left the collapsed Team Rocket base and left its captured members for the Tangyang Town guards.
• Mysterious people documented the damage and captured nearby Pokemon before leaving without a trace.
• A realistic video portraying Sato and Lance as destructive duelists spread across Johto, provoking public outrage and rumors.
• Sato, Lance, and President Alder repeatedly examined the video but found no sign of editing.
• George called Sato and told him the video was an illusion.

Sato used Zoroark’s illusion abilities to answer the rumors against him and Lance with a spectacular movie featuring Legendary Pokémon. The performance ended with Zoroark surrounded by the Legendary figures, poised as their “Lord of the Gods.”

• Alder told Sato to make a special-effects movie to counter the rumors, and Lance planned to use the scandal to remove troublesome elders from the Dragon Tamer Family.
• Sato explained the movie plan to Zoroark, persuading it to take part in a contest of illusion abilities.
• Zoroark created illusions of Groudon and Kyogre unleashing their signature moves on cliffs.
• Illusions of the Legendary Birds and Legendary Beasts appeared to battle before Ho-Oh and Lugia flew past together.
• The Legendary illusions vanished, then reappeared around Zoroark as it stood like the Lord of the Gods.

The Alliance exposed the fabricated accusations against Sato and Lance, revealing that they had destroyed a Team Rocket base and that Zoroark’s illusions explained the misleading footage. Mark and Luo Lan arrested the two ministers behind the smear campaign, but Alder discovered their planned second wave of attacks against Sato; the chapter ended with the next Elite Four Ranking matches scheduled for half a month later.

• An Alliance-certified video showed Zoroark and other Legendary Pokemon, and the Alliance explained that Sato and Lance had secretly destroyed Team Rocket’s base in Tangyang Town while the accusations against them were fabricated.
• The Minister of Battle and the Minister of Internal Affairs prepared a second wave of public opinion attacks, but Mark and the Elite Four Reserves arrested them, while Luo Lan took charge of the operation.
• Nagasa Ginakawa approved the ministers’ transfer to headquarters for interrogation under President Alder’s orders.
• Alder uncovered the ministers’ plan to undermine Sato by spreading rumors about Zoroark and Gengar, then ordered the related materials sealed away.
• Mark used luck and intuition to remove numerous people connected to the incident, and the next ranking matches were announced: Sato versus Ryu and Lance versus Sen.

On his day off, Sato searched for strong sparring partners for his Pokémon and followed Nicole to the Dark Night Retirement Home to meet powerful retired Trainers. After Nicole introduced him to Grandpa Yoki, Sato asked the old man for a battle.

• Sato watched Absol and Pikachu turn dodging practice into a fight, and Gardevoir stopped them before he promised to find them opponents.
• Sato struggled to find suitable sparring partners until Lota suggested he seek out the powerful retired Trainers living in Dark Night City.
• Sato went with Nicole to the Dark Night Retirement Home, bringing fruit supplements for the residents.
• Nicole introduced Sato to Grandpa Yoki, who welcomed her warmly and praised Dark Night City.
• Sato asked Grandpa Yoki, whose Lilligant and Mienshao were known to be strong, to battle him and provide guidance.

Sato battled Yoki’s Mienshao and Lilligant, using Pikachu and Drapion to win through coordinated attacks and status effects. He spent the night challenging Veteran Trainers at the retirement home, then saw Dark Night City announce plans to expand it.

• Sato sent Drapion and Pikachu against Yoki’s Mienshao and Lilligant in a doubles battle.
• Yoki’s Pokemon opened with Quiver Dance, Fake Out, and Teeter Dance, but Sato’s Thunder Wave interrupted Mienshao’s setup.
• Pikachu struck Lilligant with Iron Tail while Drapion poisoned Mienshao, and Sato’s Taunt prevented Heal Bell from curing it.
• Sato and his Pokemon defeated Yoki’s team, then Sato continued battling the retirement home’s Veteran Trainers for nearly six hours.
• Sato defeated the final Exploud with Absol and returned to the Gym with Nicole.
• The next day, Dark Night City’s mayor announced a plan to expand and upgrade the retirement home, which pleased Sato.