Chapter Summaries

Mark defeated Flaming and his Pokémon in a dangerous battle that exposed weaknesses in his teamwork and combat readiness. With Flaming captured and the battlefield secured, Mark considered using Flaming and his subordinates for future training.

• Flaming tried to shoot Mark, but Mark crushed his hand and gun while their Pokémon fought across the battlefield.
• Mark used his Magnemite Arm and Aggregated Aura Railgun to defeat Mega Steelix, then knocked out Crobat with his own fists.
• Mark punched Flaming unconscious, broke his bones to stop him escaping, and left Ling Liushu to guard him before joining the battle.
• More than ten minutes later, Mega Beedrill fell, and Mark's Pokémon had defeated Flaming's entire team.
• Mark had his Pokémon arrange the unconscious Flaming and his Pokémon, then considered how the battle revealed problems and could help them grow.

Mi Yang traveled to Clear Stream Forest to retrieve abandoned Aura research materials, hoping they would help Aya attract Lucario sooner and avert a disaster. In Mark's spacetime, Aya tried to surprise Mark in his hotel room, but he was absent, and her Aura suddenly sensed something moving to the north.

• Mi Yang rode Shiny Gyarados through Clear Stream Forest toward Zhao Meisha's guarded Experiment Bases to search for Aura research materials.
• Mi Yang recalled his plan to give the materials to Aya in another spacetime so she could strengthen her Aura Power and draw Lucario earlier.
• Aya entered Mark's hotel room with Raichu, Squirtle, two Gyarados, and Charizard, but found Mark and his Pokemon were gone.
• Aya's Aura Power surged violently, then settled as she sensed something moving north and began searching Raichu's bag.

Mark interrogated the captured Flaming at Fallen Sky Mountain Base but failed to make him reveal his plans or fighting spirit. After Ling Liushu recovered his memories of taking Memory Potion, he treated Flaming as a future Clear Stream Gym member, leaving Flaming confused about Mark’s control over the others.

• Mark questioned Flaming about his schemes, subordinates, and fighting spirit, but Flaming stayed silent.
• Mark answered a call from someone whose Aura Power had sensed something far to the north and promised to investigate after his written test and interview.
• After Mark left the room, Flaming recognized him as Phantom and asked whether Milly had also been one of his forms.
• Ling Liushu’s memories returned, and Flaming tried to recruit him by claiming they were alike and asking for help.
• Ling Liushu told Flaming he might become Clear Stream Gym’s captain after combat training, then explained that Memory Potion helped the others train by letting them temporarily forget Mark.

Flaming realized his New Home Power had made Ling Liushu act affectionately and tried to use him to escape. After Ling Liushu left, Flaming revealed a hidden Alakazam, but Jirachi thwarted its attempts to teleport or break the cage, and Mark appeared before him.

• Flaming recognized that his New Home Power had affected Ling Liushu and asked him to bring cola, then cigarettes, to get him to leave.
• After Ling Liushu departed, Flaming spat out a false tooth that concealed a custom Capsule Pokemon Storage and released his Alakazam.
• Flaming ordered Alakazam to teleport them to safety, but its Teleport failed repeatedly.
• Alakazam tried to open the cage with Telekinesis, but that also failed because Jirachi was interfering.
• Jirachi revealed that it had watched Flaming and stopped his escape attempts, then Mark appeared in front of the cage.

Mark exposed Flaming’s schemes, defeated him repeatedly, and used Memory Potion to make him forget each encounter. Three years later, Flaming was working as Mark’s assistant at the base when he saw news that Pompeii had been selected and the Hia Royal Family had invoked Protocol 73.

• Mark knocked out Alakazam, offered Flaming cigarettes, and questioned him about his plans, subordinates, and resilient will.
• Ling Liushu gave Mark a silver gun, then poured Memory Potion into Flaming’s mouth, leaving Flaming’s consciousness blurred.
• Flaming repeatedly led attacks on Mark, forgetting each defeat; they fought nineteen times in one night before Mark left for the Emerald Foundation’s written exam.
• Three years later, Flaming worked alongside Ling Liushu at Fallen Sky Mountain Base while Mark took the exam.
• Flaming saw a news broadcast reporting Pompeii’s selection and Protocol 73, and exclaimed that the Hia Royal Family had gone insane.

Flaming predicted that the Hia Kingdom would face nationwide unrest if it withdrew from the World Pokemon Alliance, and began planning to move resources and seize power. Ling Liushu reminded him that they were only lab assistants, leaving Flaming startled by his own forgotten identity.

• Flaming explained that Pompeii supported the Hia Royal Family and had authored Protocol 73, which the kingdom appeared ready to implement.
• Flaming studied a map of Hia and considered relocating resources from Fallen Sky Mountain to a more prosperous city before unrest began.
• Flaming told Ling Liushu that the Hia Royal Family might withdraw from the World Pokemon Alliance, prompting provinces and local Gyms to resist.
• Flaming imagined conquering Hia, building a stronger system, and eventually ruling the world.
• Ling Liushu pointed out that they were merely lab assistants, and Flaming reacted in surprise.

Flaming recovered memories of Mark’s brutal Combat Training and realized the Memory Potion was meant to make him attack Mark. He considered escaping or using Mark to advance his ambitions, but Mark returned and fed him Memory Potion before he could speak.

• Flaming recalled that Mark had repeatedly broken his bones, treated him, and erased his memories with Memory Potion during nineteen rounds of Combat Training.
• Flaming realized Ling Liushu had willingly taken Memory Potion and understood that it was intended to make them dare to attack Mark.
• Flaming explored Fallen Sky Mountain Base, considered assassinating Mark, and decided he could not escape and might instead exploit Mark to advance his plans.
• Flaming gave Johnny advice on Incineroar’s DD Golden Hook Arm, then returned to the base rather than fleeing.
• Mark returned from the Emerald Archipelago and poured Memory Potion down Flaming’s throat before Flaming could speak.

Mark reflected on Flaming and Beedrill’s Bond Evolution after their battle, while Caterpie brooded over his inability to overpower the newly evolved Beedrill. The chapter left Mark considering whether Flaming’s New Home Power had also enabled their transformation.

• Aya tried to discuss her Aura Power with Mark, but he stayed distracted by information about Bond Evolution on his Rotom Phone.
• Aya explained that Aura Power might help deepen a Trainer’s bond with a Pokemon enough to achieve Bond Evolution.
• Mark recalled Flaming’s Beedrill transforming during their earlier battle and gaining greater speed and the ability to predict its opponent’s actions.
• Caterpie traded injuries with Beedrill and won through his superior defense and recovery, but he felt gloomy because he could not defeat Beedrill head-on.
• Mark suspected Flaming and Beedrill’s strong bond, Flaming’s intense emotions, and possibly Flaming’s New Home Power had enabled Bond Evolution.

Mark suspected that powers besides Aura could trigger Bond Evolution and invited Aya to help him investigate. He revealed that his Mimikyu was actually Jirachi, and Aya recognized it as the legendary Wish Star.

• Mark noticed that Beedrill’s Bond Evolution had been triggered by Forest Power and wondered whether Clear Stream Power or Aura Sphere could also enable Bond Evolution.
• Mark saw Aya control her Rotom Phone with Aura Power and invited her to train with him while he researched Bond Evolution; she agreed.
• Mark told Aya that his Mimikyu was not really Mimikyu, and Jirachi removed its costume and introduced itself.
• Aya tried to hug Jirachi but missed, then asked whether she could catch another one.
• Mark showed Aya legends and encyclopedia entries about Jirachi, and she realized it was the Thousand-Year Wish Star that awakened for seven days every thousand years.

Mark explained that Aya’s Aura disturbance meant a Pokemon with an Aura frequency identical to hers had appeared, and Aya decided she wanted to find it. After learning Dean Cao had authorized Mark to take her along, Mark planned to search for the Pokemon immediately before his upcoming commitments.

• Jirachi revealed that it was the legendary Mythical Pokemon Jirachi and explained why it and Mark had to stay hidden, while Aya kept trying to catch it.
• Mark explained that Aya’s Aura Power disturbance indicated a Pokemon with an Aura frequency perfectly matching hers had appeared.
• Aya said she wanted to find the Pokemon but worried that the Academy Cup and Dean Cao’s instructions would prevent her from leaving.
• Aya told Mark that Dean Cao had authorized him to take her away because of Mark’s performance in Assistant Gu Dan’s Crisis Test.
• Mark recalled defeating Gu Dan during the Crisis Test and proposed that he and Aya find the Pokemon immediately, then return to Clear Stream Forest to train.

Mark took Aya to meet a Riolu that had sensed a connection to her, and Riolu agreed to stay by her side. After learning that Riolu had lost its memories, Mark planned to seek help from specialists while beginning Aya’s training.

• Mark took Aya in the Vikavolt Multi-Magnemite Aircraft to Yago Forest National Park to find a Riolu.
• Aya approached Riolu, petted it, and asked it to stay with her; Riolu agreed because their Aura frequencies matched.
• Riolu told Aya it could not remember its past, and Butterfree’s hypnosis failed to restore its memories.
• Mark said George's Gengar might explore Riolu’s memories through dreams and planned to consult Doctor Locke when he returned.
• Mark prepared to train Aya in combat, meditation, and Bond Evolution, while Riolu joined them eagerly.

Aya returned to Fallen Sky Mountain Base with Mark and Riolu, where she detected a bad person and expected Mark to need her warning. Mark instead gave Flaming another dose of Memory Potion, leaving Aya and Riolu confused.

• Riolu shared its Aura with Aya during the flight, and Mark said he would focus on training Riolu's Aura abilities.
• Mark brought Aya and Riolu to Fallen Sky Mountain Base, where Aya became distracted by the Magnet Pokemon.
• Aya and Riolu sensed that Flaming was a bad person, but Flaming rushed to Mark and claimed he had something important to say.
• Ling Liushu explained Flaming's strange behavior, and Mark suspected the Memory Potion or a disrupted hypnosis had caused his memories to become disordered.
• Flaming remembered his plan just as Mark forced him to drink the Memory Potion again, and Aya and Riolu stared in confusion.

Mark began Aya’s Combat Training by hypnotizing Flaming into acting as her opponent, but Flaming broke through the setup and nearly killed her. Aya endured ten hours of repeated battles, gradually recovering from her tears and showing the makings of a natural warrior.

• Mark explained that Ling Liushu could stop taking Memory Potions and would remain his experimental assistant.
• Aya asked Mark to make Flaming her subordinate for Combat Training, and Mark began the first round with Flaming leading her team.
• Flaming sensed that something was wrong and had his Beedrill stab Aya in the throat, forcing Mark and Jirachi to revive and heal her.
• Mark hypnotized Flaming into having Aya as a crying subordinate, and Flaming used her as leverage to escape in the next rounds.
• Aya kept asking to continue Combat Training and developed an ambush plan, enduring ten hours of battles until she recovered from her tears more quickly.

Leafeon restored the Clear Stream Forest battlefield, then found and healed an injured, unresponsive Riolu by the lake. As Leafeon told Riolu it could avoid Combat Training if it was bad at fighting, Riolu began to question whether that was true and its aura flared to life.

• Leafeon used its new power from Xerneas to restore the damaged forest and make the plants wither back into winter dormancy.
• Leafeon found an injured Riolu staring blankly by the lakeshore and healed its wounds with green energy.
• Leafeon fed Riolu half of a healing fruit, using Vine Whip to help it chew and swallow.
• Leafeon told Riolu that Mark would not force it to fight if it said it was bad at fighting.
• Riolu recalled Leafeon's strength and rejected the idea that it was bad at fighting as white aura flames ignited in its eyes.

Riolu struggled with the trauma of its brutal Combat Training, but Aya reassured it that it would eventually get used to the pain and brought it back to Fallen Sky Mountain Base. There, Aya sensed Flaming’s hostile intent and struck first, then Gyarados knocked him into the wall.

• Riolu’s memories stirred as it watched Aya happily greet a Leafeon that turned out to be a leaf.
• Aya explained that she believed Mark’s Combat Training would help them grow stronger, and Riolu mechanically accepted her reassurance.
• Aya recalled Squirtle to its Pokeball and carried Riolu on Charizard toward Fallen Sky Mountain Base.
• Flaming, who had recovered some memories, decided to ambush Aya and escape on her Charizard.
• Aya sensed Flaming’s hostility and hit him with an Aura-powered punch, then Gyarados blasted him into the corridor wall.

After Hack Pokemon Academy's documentary shoot stretched into a third day, Mark brooded over his failed Emerald Foundation interview but decided to pursue research elsewhere and focus on strength. The Spirit Control Panel finally came back online.

• The Academy Cup documentary crew filmed Hack Pokemon Academy for three days and chose it as a seeded team with the theme Path of the Demon King.
• Li Kang directed Mark and Aya through repeated staged scenes, while Pu Lan suggested presenting Aya as an outwardly innocent but ruthless Witch.
• At lunch, Mark recalled being rejected by the Emerald Foundation despite meeting its research requirements and considered the corruption behind the interview.
• Jirachi and Victini proposed using Small Wish and hypnosis or a Memory Potion to get Mark admitted, but Mark rejected their unscrupulous plan.
• Mark decided he could study at Doctor Locke's Metamorphosis Laboratory, investigate the Emerald Archipelago regularly, and focus on becoming stronger.
• Mark sensed that the Spirit Control Panel had finally recovered.

Mark opened the Spirit Control Panel and discovered new information about Caterpie, Vikavolt Multi-Magnemite, and his teammates. After sensing a strange connection with Aya, he suspected he could teach her to become a Spirit Master and bring her into the Stat Point Dream World.

• Mark found that the Spirit Control Panel had lost its remaining point during its crash and identified Paradox Bug as Caterpie.
• Mark learned Caterpie had gained the Primeval Devour and Final End Laser moves, but Caterpie did not know how to use them.
• Mark checked Vikavolt Multi-Magnemite’s panel and saw that it could split apart and recombine, while Shiny Nihilego had not yet become his spirit.
• Mark discovered he could sense his teammates’ locations and lives through a strange connection.
• Mark grabbed Aya’s hand and felt that he might be able to teach her Spirit Master powers and bring her into the Stat Point Dream World.

Mark discovered that his Trainer Power could affect both humans and Pokémon, and that he could modify parts of his recovered Spirit Control Panel. After gaining new insight into how his training methods worked, he noticed the panel had changed but could not identify what was missing.

• Mark found that his class could be changed to Pokemon Trainer and that John, George, and Zhao Xiaoya appeared under a separate Spirit Control (1) section.
• Mark sensed Caterpie through the Spirit Control Panel and used his Trainer Power on it, realizing the power could help Pokémon as well as humans.
• Mark focused on the Tackle Training Method and gained a new understanding of how Spirit Master's power had formed it.
• Mark's panel replaced Spirit Control Talents with Talents, added Trainer Power, and removed the Spirit Control Skills section and its training methods.
• Aya stopped Director Li Kang from disturbing Mark, while Gu Dan suggested filming the other team members and mentioned Yan Yong's return.

Mark discovered that his new Analysis ability let him sense information about people and Pokémon, with more detail for those he knew well. He ended the chapter testing the ability on Caterpie and Jirachi, whose potential he could now perceive.

• Director Li Kang filmed Mark examining Pokémon and people with his Magnet Mechanical Arm, capturing an intense death-glare shot for the documentary.
• Aya suggested Mark return to Fallen Sky Mountain Base, where George and Ling Liushu had recaptured the escaping Flaming.
• Mark gave Flaming another dose of Memory Potion and left Ling Liushu to hypnotize him, while Aya asked to help.
• Mark examined the Gengar Zombies, George, John, Aya, and their Pokémon, sensing a strong bond with John, George, and Aya.
• Mark found the new Analysis ability on his Spirit Control Panel and realized it explained how he could read Pokémon information.
• Mark tested Analysis on Caterpie and Jirachi, sensing Jirachi’s Five-Dimensional Potential and its high attributes.

Mark assessed Victini and explained to his Pokémon that potential did not equal actual strength, then used his analysis ability to check how certain forms and moves affected their potential. The chapter left Mark planning to adjust their training based on those changes.

• Mark assessed Victini's Five-Dimensional Potential and found that its strength potential was S-ranked despite its lack of physical training.
• Mark explained that potential only made growth easier and told Victini to shift more of its training toward strength.
• Mark challenged Jirachi's belief that training had made it strong and noticed the Eye of Truth on its belly, which Jirachi revealed without knowing its purpose.
• Mark had Little Zapdos activate Ancient Power and found that its strength and constitution potential rose to A while its agility reached S-.
• Mark checked Caterpie in its Activated State and found that its potential varied across its different forms.