Chapter Summaries

After returning from the desert, Sato received two Alliance invitations and chose to enter the Gym Leader Qualification Tournament while declining the Pokemon Investigator Selection Competition. He began planning for the tournament next June, but only three of his Pokemon were currently eligible to compete.

• Sato sent Ariados to Nurse Joy Lixiang for an antidote and a venom toxicity assessment, then found many messages waiting for him, including invitations from Master Nagamura and Wulong.
• Sato reviewed the Gym Leader and Pokemon Investigator invitations, considered the dangers of becoming an investigator, and decided that the Gym Leader path suited him better.
• Sato entered the Gym Leader Qualification Tournament and learned it would take place next June, require six Pokemon sharing one attribute, and assess more than battle results.
• Sato identified gaps in his knowledge of city protection, ideology and politics, and Gym teaching, while assessing which Pokemon could be ready for the tournament.
• Sato concluded that only Zoroark, Houndoom, and Sharpedo were currently qualified to compete.

Sato chose Sneasel as his best candidate for a new partner and rushed from Hoenn toward Seafoam Islands in Kanto. Three Blue Rank Killers pursued him, while their leader suspected that Sato had once secretly helped him.

• Sato compared Dark-type Pokemon and circled Sneasel as his most reliable choice, deciding to search for one at Seafoam Islands.
• Sato trained Cacturne and Eevee as he traveled to Mauville City, then flew to Kanto.
• A Natu informed three Blue Rank Killers that Sato had left for Kanto, so their leader decided to follow him.
• The female killer grew uneasy about the delays, while the leader recalled his battle with Sato and suspected Sato had deliberately helped him escape the League's pursuit.
• Sato continued toward Seafoam Islands, unaware that he was about to meet his Master again.

Sato traveled to Seafoam Islands to catch a Sneasel after Nurse Joy Liyia arranged tutors and discussed the Nurse Joy Clan’s support for him. At the cave entrance, three Blue Rank Killers ambushed him, and Sato exposed their hidden third attacker and began fighting back.

• Sato told Nurse Joy Liyia he would return in half a month, and she explained that the Nurse Joy Clan considered him a promising Trainer and had arranged tutors for him.
• Sato traveled by train and ferry to Seafoam Islands, then headed directly into its cavern network with Eevee and Sharpedo.
• Sato sensed an incoming Electric-type attack and had Sharpedo block it with Protect as Zoroark and Houndoom joined the fight.
• A muscular man and a thin woman attacked Sato with Persian and Electabuzz, while Sato suspected a third Killer was hiding nearby.
• Sato identified the concealed Mismagius with Gengar’s Mean Look and ordered Gengar to use Psychic and Zoroark to use Sucker Punch.

Sato evaded another Ghost Ship Organization assassination attempt and confronted Dead Fish Eyes, who let him go. He continued searching Seafoam Islands for a suitable Sneasel, then decided to search Outer Mountain.

• Sato escaped Zoroark and the assassins by entering a cave, then used misleading tracks to split up the pursuers.
• Dead Fish Eyes found Sato alone and asked why he had saved him before; Sato denied it, and Dead Fish Eyes warned him not to spare assassins before leaving.
• Sato avoided the other two assassins and continued deeper into the caves to search for Sneasel.
• After a week of finding no suitable Sneasel, Sato decided to search Outer Mountain despite its gales and blizzards.

Sato and his Pokémon searched the outer Snow Mountain for an Elite Advanced Weavile with Pseudo-Elite Four-level Dark Type talent, but it escaped their first encounter. Weavile returned at night to attack Sato in his ice cave, where Gengar trapped it with Mean Look, and the chapter ended as Weavile launched Ice Shard at Gengar.

• Sato and Houndoom encountered an Elite Advanced Piloswine and backed away without fighting.
• Weavile ambushed Sato with Ice Beam, but Gengar blocked the attack, and Weavile escaped into the blizzard.
• Sato, Houndoom, and Gengar searched for Weavile but found no trace of it before nightfall.
• Sato sheltered in an ice cave, where Dark Power alerted him and Gengar to Weavile approaching in the early morning.
• Weavile cut through the cave roof to attack, but Gengar used Mean Look to prevent its escape.
• Weavile struck a Substitute with Sucker Punch, then launched Ice Shard at Gengar.

Sato captured an exceptionally strong Weavile after a difficult battle, then left the Seafoam Islands and traveled to Joy Town in Johto. He arrived at the Nurse Joy Clan’s base, where his Pokémon had been sent.

• Weavile overwhelmed Gengar with Ice Shard and Sucker Punch, but Houndoom and Gengar worked together to defeat it with Blast Burn.
• Sato captured Weavile, treated its injuries and Gengar’s, then slept while Zoroark kept watch.
• The next morning, Sato found that Weavile’s Dark and Ice types were both at Pseudo-Elite Four Level and traveled down the mountain to a Pokémon Center.
• Sato recovered his Pokémon, left most of his team in storage, and secretly sailed away from the Seafoam Islands.
• After three days of travel, Sato arrived in Joy Town and began touring the Nurse Joy Clan’s Johto base with a young Joy.

Sato settled into his new home in Joy Town and gathered all nine of his Pokemon for the first time. He challenged Weavile to a one-on-one battle to settle whether it would accept him as its trainer, and the fight was underway when the chapter ended.

• Joy Lilan showed Sato the house prepared for him and explained his class schedule and the Pokemon Teleportation Device.
• Sato inspected the training rooms, then used the device to bring Pupitar, Eevee, and Cacturne to the house.
• Sato released all nine of his Pokemon together, and Weavile drew their attention before retreating to a tree.
• Sato offered to return Weavile to Seafoam Islands if it won their battle, and Weavile agreed after accepting food.
• Zoroark and Weavile began fighting in the backyard arena, and Zoroark used Dark Burst to try to create distance.

Sato and Zoroark defeated Weavile, which accepted their invitation to join the team. With the team reunited, Sato planned training for his eight Pokémon in Joy Town, including how to develop Cacturne’s unusual ability and improve Weavile’s defensive fighting style.

• Zoroark used Focus Blast’s explosion to injure Weavile, then deliberately curved its Flamethrower away and offered Weavile a hand.
• Weavile stood on its own, acknowledged Sato, and officially joined the team as their companions cheered.
• Sato arranged training plans for Zoroark, Gengar, Pupitar, Ariados, Houndoom, and Sharpedo.
• Sato decided to train Eevee after realizing it longed to become stronger.
• Sato identified Cacturne’s Water Siphon ability and considered how to develop it alongside Sand Veil.
• Sato recognized that Weavile needed to improve its weak defense and overcome its all-or-nothing fighting habits.

Sato reclaimed his parents’ inheritance in Cerulean City and pressured three tenants to pay overdue rent while investigating the people who might have profited from his father’s death. He left the company’s directors believing he was an ignorant child as New Year approached.

• Officer Jenny transferred Mohua’s assets and inheritance documents to Sato.
• Sato investigated the three tenants who owed rent and forced them to pay, using Ariados to intimidate the restaurant owner and Game Corner managers.
• Sato had Gengar follow the Game Corner’s suited associate, but Gengar found nothing unusual.
• Sato visited his father’s company, learned that the directors had redistributed profits after Mohua’s death, and told them to preserve his share while he investigated.
• The directors saw Sato off while privately underestimating him, and he watched snowy Cerulean City from a luxury car as New Year neared.

Sato spent New Year reconnecting with his neighbors, then exposed the two company directors who had plotted against his family and uncovered their role in his parents’ deaths. He sold his father’s failing company and returned to Joy Town, where he continued preparing for the Gym Leader Qualification Tournament.

• Sato accepted his neighbor grandma’s invitation and spent New Year’s Eve with her family, letting the children meet Eevee.
• After the New Year, Gengar helped Sato catch two directors plotting to steal money from the company, and Sato gathered evidence of their crimes.
• Sato had the directors arrested and learned that they had hired Cerulean City’s Underground Forces to attack his family, leading to his parents’ deaths and his own sale to the Ghost Ship Organization.
• Sato liquidated and sold his father’s failing company, then returned to Joy Town to resume his classes and training.
• Nearly half a year later, Sato reviewed his notes one month before the Gym Leader Qualification Tournament as Umbreon played with his companions and his Shiny Cacturne stood in the garden.

Sato set out for the Gym Leader Qualifying Tournament with six Pokémon, leaving Gengar, Ariados, and others at home. On the journey from Goldenrod City toward the Indigo Plateau, Umbreon encountered two Rhyhorn, and a fight began.

• Sato told his Pokémon that he would bring six Dark-types on the tournament journey and persuaded Gengar and Ariados to stay home.
• Sato traveled from Goldenrod City to Saffron City and began heading west toward the Indigo Plateau with Umbreon.
• Sato noticed that wild Pokémon near Kanto’s cities seemed weaker because many powerful Pokémon had already been caught by Trainers.
• A large Rhyhorn charged toward Umbreon with a second, injured Rhyhorn, which identified Umbreon as the one that had hit it.
• The large Rhyhorn swung a sandbag-sized fist at Umbreon.

Sato and Umbreon defeated a powerful Rhyhorn in the wilderness, and Umbreon used Heal Bell to save it from the battle’s aftermath. After resting, Sato set out with Cacturne and used Sweet Honey to draw out its appetite.

• Umbreon used Confuse Ray and Toxic against Rhyhorn, then protected itself from Rhyhorn’s Hyper Beam until the battle ended.
• Umbreon used Heal Bell to clear Rhyhorn’s confusion and poison, leaving it alive but unable to stand.
• Sato continued toward Indigo Plateau with Umbreon, whose mood had settled after the battle.
• After lunch, Sato recalled Umbreon and released Cacturne, who quietly joined him on the journey.
• Sato opened a jar of Sweet Honey and offered Cacturne a spoonful, prompting Cacturne to eagerly reach for it.

Sato and Cacturne used Sweet Honey to draw in wild Pokémon, defeating a group of Lickitung and then battling a larger group of Pinsir. Cacturne showed off its strength but ended the fight mentally exhausted, so Umbreon helped it recover.

• Cacturne used Payback and Spiky Shield to repel the Lickitung that attacked Sato and drove the group away with Pin Missile.
• Sato kept the Sweet Honey out, attracting a group of Pinsir, and sent out Umbreon to support Cacturne.
• Cacturne halted the Pinsir with Pin Missile, then struck them with Drain Punch and Spiky Shield while Umbreon guarded Sato.
• Cacturne defeated the last Pinsir but became dizzy from mental exhaustion, so Umbreon used Heal Bell and Wish to help it recover.

After Cacturne defeated a group of Pinsir, a clever Meowth stole Silver Powder from the battlefield and followed Sato’s party. It later tricked Houndoom into flinching and stole its Flame Orb, prompting Sato and his Pokémon to search the forest for the thief.

• Cacturne overwhelmed the Pinsir while Umbreon protected Sato, and Sato recalled Cacturne before leaving the battlefield.
• Meowth scavenged the defeated Pinsir, ate some Berries, and took their Silver Powder.
• Sato camped in the forest, where Umbreon slept in his arms while Houndoom guarded the tent.
• Meowth used Fake Out to make Houndoom flinch, then stole its Flame Orb and fled.
• Sato released his Pokémon to search for Meowth and chased after it with Houndoom.

Meowth stole a Flame Orb and Silver Powder, but Houndoom and Sato tracked it down and recovered the stolen goods. Sato found a Mega Evolution stone in Meowth’s stash, though neither Houndoom nor Sharpedo could sense a connection to it, leaving him hoping it would suit Tyranitar.

• Meowth was burned by the Flame Orb it had stolen and threw it away as it fled into a cave.
• Houndoom recovered the Flame Orb, and Sato realized Meowth had likely stolen it before ordering Houndoom to track Meowth down.
• Houndoom found Meowth hiding in a tree and knocked it out with a boosted Flamethrower after Meowth leaped down to attack.
• Sato searched Meowth’s tree hole and found Silver Powder, several valuables, and a Mega Evolution stone that stirred the Dark Power within him.
• Back at camp, Sato tested the stone with Houndoom and Sharpedo, but neither reacted, so he hoped it was compatible with Tyranitar.

Sato decided to search for more Mega Evolution Stones through cooperation and asked Joy Meiqing to help. After learning that the Nurse Joy family already had three such stones, he arranged to collect them and contacted Lance to search for more, leaving to retrieve the stones first.

• Sato realized Mega Evolution Stones might exist beyond the one he had found and decided to seek help rather than search alone.
• Sato showed his stone to Joy Meiqing, who called Joy Lily to identify it as a Mega Evolution Stone mentioned in an ancient book.
• Joy Lily explained that three similar stones in the Nurse Joy warehouse had failed to produce any results when tested on Pokémon.
• Sato told Joy Meiqing that the stone resonated with his special ability, and she ordered Joy Lily to send him the three stones and have the logistics team secretly collect more.
• Sato contacted Lance to ask the Dragon Clan to search for similar stones, then decided to collect the stones in Celadon City before contacting anyone else.

Sato kept a Key Stone from the Nurse Joy Family and continued toward Indigo Plateau through Viridian Forest, where a swarm of Beedrill drove him deep into the woods. After Weavile led him to an unconscious blond boy, Sato and his Pokemon hurried to help.

• Sato discovered a Key Stone in the box, kept it by claiming it resonated with his ability, and returned the two other stones to Joy Lily.
• Sato entered Viridian Forest with Houndoom instead of Umbreon and was chased by a swarm of three hundred Beedrill.
• Sato and Houndoom escaped the Beedrill but became lost in the dim, damp depths of the forest.
• That night, Sato's Pokemon kept wild Pokemon at bay while Umbreon smugly watched from the camp.
• Weavile led Sato, Houndoom, Sharpedo, and Umbreon to an unconscious blond boy, and Sato promised to save him.

Sato rescued George, a Pokémon Breeder who could understand Pokémon, and helped him reunite with Gogoat. George explained that he had lost his other partners after fleeing Beedrill in Viridian Forest, and Sato suspected the attack was connected to Houndoom.

• Sato brought the feverish George to camp, where Weavile, Umbreon, and the other Pokémon watched over him.
• George woke up, thanked Sato, and explained that he could understand what Pokémon were saying; Sato sensed unusual energy within him.
• George told Sato that his Pokémon partners were missing, and Sato agreed to help search for them.
• Sato took George to where he had collapsed, and George reunited with Gogoat, who did not know where Wigglytuff and the others were.
• George said he was from Lumiose City in Kalos and had been heading for Indigo Plateau after arriving in Hoenn; Sato suspected the Beedrill that separated him from his partners had been connected to Houndoom.

Sato explained Viridian Power to George, who awakened the ability while healing Kirlia and collapsed from overuse. By dusk, Zoroark returned to camp with a dishevelled Flower-type Pokémon.

• Sato told George that Celebi was rumored to grant Viridian Power, which could help him understand and heal Pokémon, and suspected George had received it.
• George tried to use Viridian Power to restore Gogoat, but he could not activate it before Houndoom returned carrying a badly injured Kirlia.
• George's grief over Kirlia awakened Viridian Power, and he healed its wounds completely.
• George collapsed after overusing the power, and Sato reassured Kirlia that George would recover after resting.
• Umbreon and Sharpedo returned without finding anything, and Umbreon used Heal Bell to help George recover his Mental Power.
• At dusk, Zoroark returned with a dishevelled Flower-type Pokémon, keeping its distance from it.

After Florges reunited with George’s group, it thanked Sato and helped care for the camp before joining the search for Wigglytuff. Three days later, Sato and George reached the edge of Viridian Forest without finding Wigglytuff, so they went to Viridian City to rest and replenish supplies.

• Florges, Kirlia, and Gogoat thanked Sato, and Florges used Grassy Terrain while Gogoat prepared Grassy Goat Milk for the group.
• After Sato went to his tent, the exhausted Florges cared for George and settled down to rest.
• The next morning, George cooked breakfast, and he and Sato set out toward Viridian City while their Pokemon searched for Wigglytuff.
• After three days of searching without finding Wigglytuff, Sato persuaded the dejected George to go to Viridian City and offered to lend him Ariados and Gengar.
• Sato and George arrived at the Viridian City Pokemon Center to restore their Pokemon, where someone heard a voice ask, “Wiggly?”