Chapter Summaries

Mark returned to Clear Stream Village with Caterpie and more than two hundred peaceful Caterpie selected for the breeding base, while continuing to develop their skills and stabilize the territory. On the way, Caterpie decided it wanted a Great Ball and proposed selling more of its subjects to pay for it.

• Mark and Caterpie spent three days preparing the Kakuna settlement, helping the Caterpie Group function while Caterpie was away, and practicing the Nature Dance with Butterfree and Wimpod.
• Wimpod hid and trembled when a Rattata startled it at camp, then resumed eating after the rat disappeared.
• Mark brought more than two hundred peaceful Caterpie back toward Clear Stream Village to sell to the breeding base and considered which Pokémon to raise after obtaining a transportation Pokémon.
• Caterpie found a store flyer advertising a 29,800-yuan Great Ball and told Mark it wanted to keep its current Pokeball while alternating between the two.
• Caterpie proposed selling a few hundred more Caterpie to Old Man Qian to afford the Great Ball, and Mark noticed the Caterpie nearby seemed happy about being sold.

Mark corrected Caterpie’s understanding of its responsibilities as Caterpie King and established a fair system for allocating Points. Meanwhile, Mark returned to Clear Stream Village with many Caterpie, and Old Man Qian tried to hide from him.

• Mark explained that selling too many Caterpie could make the Caterpie Territory disappear and taught Caterpie that a king must protect its tribe.
• Caterpie gave up its plan to ask for a Great Ball, but Mark promised to buy one after it learned advanced mathematics.
• Mark announced that future Points would be allocated according to experience contributions, with Pokémon’s wishes considered.
• Mark led Caterpie, Electric Motor, and Wimpod back toward the village.
• At the Caterpie Breeding Base, Old Man Qian argued with Niu Xin until Li Lei announced that Mark had returned with many Caterpie.
• Old Man Qian broke his Sweetness Tester and ordered Lin Erniu to lock the base and his house.

Old Man Qian worried about Mark’s disappearance and reacted to news that he had returned with over two hundred Caterpie. In Clear Stream Village, Mark drew admiration and a lucrative offer from Niu Xin, but he refused to sell outside the village breeding base as Old Man Qian arrived angrily.

• Li Lei told Old Man Qian that his Wimpod Egg had shaken, and Old Man Qian said it should hatch within five days.
• Old Man Qian learned Mark had brought back over two hundred Caterpie and hurried after Niu Xin, but found the breeding base gate locked.
• Villagers praised Mark, told him about a famed Bug-type Trainer from two hundred years earlier, and urged him to enter the Bug-Catching Contest.
• Niu Xin offered Mark two hundred yuan per Caterpie, then raised his offer to two hundred and ten yuan each.
• Mark refused to sell his Caterpie to Niu Xin and insisted he would sell only to Clear Stream Village's Caterpie Breeding Base.
• Old Man Qian shouted at Mark not to sell the Caterpie to the unscrupulous merchant.

Old Man Qian drove Niu Xin away and explained why Mark had refused to sell the Caterpie, since preserving the population could establish a breeding base and protect the village’s silk prices. After Zhao Meisha invited Mark to work at the future Pokemon Center, Old Man Qian learned that Wimpod had hatched and realized Mark could gather obedient wild Caterpie again.

• Old Man Qian chased Niu Xin from the village and demanded ten thousand yuan in compensation before scolding the villagers for considering selling Mark’s Caterpie.
• Mark explained that the Caterpie had formed a stable community that might return to breed after evolving, potentially creating another breeding base and lowering the village’s silk prices.
• Zhao Meisha praised Mark’s rapport with Pokemon and invited him to take a part-time job at the Pokemon Center once it opened.
• Old Man Qian confronted Mark about disappearing, then learned that Wimpod had hatched three days earlier and watched it hide fearfully in Mark’s clothes.
• Mark said he might catch Caterpie in the same way several more times, and Old Man Qian noticed the wild Caterpie calmly obeying Mark’s calls.

Mark sensed natural veins linking Clear Stream Village to Clear Stream Forest and realized the village might be brought into harmony with the forest. At the Caterpie Breeding Base, he explained that the forest’s faint blessing improved Caterpie silk and proposed planting trees and grass to restore it, while Old Man Qian recalled a cryptic memory of his grandfather.

• Old Man Qian watched Mark lead the Caterpie and suspected he had a special affinity like Maps, the village’s legendary Bug-type Master Trainer.
• Mark stopped at a vegetable plot after sensing natural veins connected to Clear Stream Forest, then continued guiding the Caterpie to the breeding base.
• Mark told Old Man Qian that the forest’s blessing improved Caterpie silk and the appearance of Butterfree, and that the blessing faded at the breeding base.
• Old Man Qian remembered his grandfather asking whether Clear Stream Forest blessed its Pokemon and mentioning a cave to the west.
• Mark suggested planting more than a hundred trees at specific locations, along with grass, to help reconnect the village with the forest.

Mark revealed his Forest's Blessing to Old Man Qian and offered to teach him how to cultivate it, prompting Old Man Qian to bring Mark to a hidden underground room. There, Mark discovered Evolution Stones, Berry-processing machines, and a Black Disc that he recognized as a Move Tutor.

• Mark showed Old Man Qian the emerald glow of his Forest's Blessing and explained that practicing a dance in the forest could help others acquire the power.
• Old Man Qian recalled his grandpa's similar green glow and reacted with disbelief when Mark said he could help him learn the power.
• Mark described a possible learning period of six to eighteen months, while Old Man Qian urged him to stop talking openly and put away his Natural Power.
• Mark demonstrated that the Wimpod could sense nearby strangers, but Old Man Qian warned him not to rely too heavily on Pokemon abilities.
• Old Man Qian took Mark to settle the Caterpie, then led him through a hidden kitchen passage into a high-tech underground room.
• Old Man Qian explained the Berry-processing machines and tossed Mark a Black Disc, which Mark identified as a Move Tutor.

Old Man Qian gave Mark a rare Teleport Move Tutor and discovered that Caterpie had broken through its Genetic Limit, warning Mark not to rush its development. Mark then explained his plan to apply to Hack City Pokemon Academy and asked Old Man Qian to help him find a suitable Flying Pokemon, leaving the older man struggling to respond to the many flaws in his plan.

• Old Man Qian gave Mark a Teleport Move Tutor and cautioned him that mastering a move depended on training, not merely learning it.
• Old Man Qian examined Mark's enlarged Caterpie and realized its appearance showed it had broken through its Genetic Limit.
• Old Man Qian withheld a fuller explanation and advised Mark to build Caterpie's foundation before evolving it into Butterfree.
• Mark told Old Man Qian he planned to apply to Hack City Pokemon Academy, attend as a day student, and commute from Clear Stream Village with a Flying Pokemon.
• Old Man Qian silently picked apart Mark's assumptions about admission, daily long-distance flights, and finding a Pokemon strong enough to carry him in time.

Lei Meng arrived at the Thunderclap Gang’s temporary base and planned an operation to seize equipment bound for Clear Stream Village. In Old Man Qian’s basement, Mark persuaded him to use Doctor Locke’s connections to find a Flying Pokemon and help Mark prepare for Pokemon Academy.

• Lei Meng met A Yuan, shocked him for losing the yellow armband marker, and entered the gang’s Camp Capsule base.
• A Yuan reported that gang members had infiltrated Clear Stream Village and that Zhao Meisha was staying there intermittently.
• Lei Meng ordered A Hai to contact the family of the child with Psychic ability and planned to act after the Pokemon Recovery Device arrived and its escorts and Zhao Meisha left.
• Old Man Qian questioned Mark about his studies and concluded that he had a strong chance of entering Hack Pokemon Academy.
• Mark convinced Old Man Qian that a Flying Pokemon could train by carrying him over long distances, and Old Man Qian agreed to seek Doctor Locke’s help.

Mark and Old Man Qian discussed Mark’s plans for the future while preparing to plant trees in Clear Stream Village. Mark planned to expand Clear Stream Forest rather than travel widely, and Old Man Qian was pleased that Mark would help if needed.

• Mark woke Old Man Qian and reminded him they had agreed to plant trees with Lin Erniu and the plant Pokemon.
• Old Man Qian complained about the exhausting Nature Dance, then gave Moomoo Milk to Caterpie and told Mark to share the rest with Wimpod and the village children.
• Old Man Qian told Mark that three Miltank, a Chansey, and a Blissey had arrived for the Pokemon Center and Breeding House.
• Old Man Qian asked when Mark planned to travel, and Mark said he wanted to expand Clear Stream Forest and might make only short trips.
• Mark offered to help Old Man Qian if he opened a gym, and Old Man Qian happily led him to plant trees.

Lei Meng and the Thunderclap Gang prepared to seize Clear Stream Village’s Pokemon Recovery Device while Mark and Old Man Qian expanded the forest by planting trees. The gang attacked the village, and Caterpie struck down one of Wang Hai’s Raichu as the confrontation began.

• Lei Meng learned that Zhao Meisha planned to leave for Hack City and that Sun Ting, a fellow Riel Pokemon Academy graduate, taught at the village school, but he ordered the Thunderclap Gang’s plan to proceed.
• Mark and Old Man Qian planted thirty-seven trees, and Mark sensed that expanding Clear Stream Forest strengthened his Clear Stream Power and shared the forest’s blessing with Caterpie and others.
• Mark told Old Man Qian that the village’s southwestern edge was beginning to join the forest and that the breeding-base Caterpie’s silk would improve as the trees grew.
• Caterpie and Wimpod reacted uneasily before explosions sounded around Clear Stream Village and blue-violet lightning spread across the sky.
• Wang Hai appeared with Raichu, Magnemite, and Magneton, revealed his Thunderclap Gang allegiance, and demanded one million from Old Man Qian.
• Caterpie launched itself into a Raichu and smashed it through a brick wall before Old Man Qian could stop it.

Mark’s Caterpie revealed that it had reached the Elite-level and defeated Wang Hai’s Raichu and Magneton in a flurry of specialized attacks. Mark then knocked Wang Hai down and teamed up with Caterpie to defeat Wang Hai’s second Raichu.

• Caterpie sent Wang Hai’s Raichu through a brick wall, shocking Wang Hai and Old Man Qian.
• Old Man Qian and Wang Hai realized Caterpie had reached the Elite-level and specialized its Tackle.
• Raichu recovered and attacked Caterpie while Wang Hai’s Magneton tried to trap it with Electroweb, but Caterpie dodged and struck Raichu again.
• Caterpie used rapid specialized Tackles to defeat Raichu and knock out Wang Hai’s Magnemite and Magneton.
• Mark punched Wang Hai and kicked his second Raichu, then Caterpie followed with a Power-Up Tackle that sent it crashing down and fainting.

Mark and Caterpie defeated the Thunderclap Gang’s Pokemon, and Old Man Qian began explaining Elite-level strength before an attack on the Pokemon Center interrupted them. They arrived to find Sun Ting pursuing stolen equipment while Old Man Qian prepared to defend the village.

• Mark bound the unconscious Tortoise Binding, took cash and empty Pokeballs, and gave Old Man Qian the captured Pokemon.
• Old Man Qian began explaining the two aspects of Elite-level strength, but an explosion from the Pokemon Center cut him off.
• Mark and Old Man Qian hurried to the Pokemon Center, where they found Thunderclap Gang members and over a hundred Electric-type Pokemon attacking it.
• Sun Ting told Old Man Qian that two gang members had stolen the Pokemon Recovery Device and other equipment, then teleported away with Alakazam to pursue them.
• Old Man Qian released all nine of his Pokemon as he faced the Thunderclap Gang.

Old Man Qian revealed his hidden strength as he and Mark confronted the Thunderclap Gang over the stolen Pokemon Recovery Device. The fight left Machamp’s true power exposed when it shattered powerful Electric-type attacks with a few punches.

• Li Seventeen revealed that he belonged to the Thunderclap Gang and tried to persuade Old Man Qian to let the gang leave with the Pokemon Recovery Device.
• Old Man Qian refused Li Seventeen’s offer and sent his Pokemon into battle while Machamp guarded him and Mark.
• Mark and Caterpie noticed that Machamp’s stance blended offense and defense in a way that resembled but surpassed Caterpie’s Adamant Penetrating Strike.
• Li Seventeen’s Ampharos launched a surprise Aggregate Charge Beam, while a Magnezone fired Thunderbolts at Machamp.
• Machamp shattered the Charge Beam and both Thunderbolts with precise punches, leaving Mark to recognize the technique as Return to Simplicity.

Mark and Caterpie studied Machamp’s specialized techniques during the battle, and Old Man Qian revealed that he was a Veteran-level Trainer. After showing Machamp’s strength, Old Man Qian sent Mark into the forest to check on Little Sun Teacher.

• Mark and Caterpie became absorbed in copying Machamp’s movements, but Old Man Qian interrupted them and explained that Machamp had combined Protect and Detect into a specialized technique.
• Machamp used Protect (Rebound) to send an Elite-level Ampharos’s electric orb back along its original path, leaving Mark to consider how its techniques related to Return to Simplicity.
• Old Man Qian told Mark to go into the forest and check on Little Sun Teacher, while Mark worried that Qian himself might be vulnerable to an ambush.
• Old Man Qian activated Machamp’s Veteran-level state, shocking the Thunderclap Gang members and revealing his own standing as a Veteran-level Trainer.
• Li Seventeen urged the gang not to retreat, but Machamp fired an Aura Sphere that knocked an already injured Ampharos unconscious.
• Old Man Qian reassured Mark and again sent him to find Little Sun Teacher, promising to explain Machamp’s techniques when he returned.

Mark attacked and captured Li Seventeen before leaving Old Man Qian to continue fighting the Thunderclap Gang. In Clear Stream Forest, Mark and Caterpie headed southwest, but an explosion and smoke to the northwest suggested Sun Ting had encountered a gang officer, so they changed course toward the clash.

• Mark surprised Li Seventeen with a High Jump Kick, endured an electric attack, and dragged the unconscious strategist back to Old Man Qian.
• Mark bound Li Seventeen, then ran west with Caterpie while Old Man Qian and Machamp stayed to fight the Thunderclap Gang.
• Mark and Caterpie found an exhausted Magnemite in the forest and discussed training Caterpie's Shield Dust Ability.
• Mark saw an explosion and smoke to the northwest after the southwest electric flashes disappeared, guessed Sun Ting had engaged a Thunderclap Gang officer, and hurried toward the smoke with Caterpie.

Mark found Lei Meng threatening Sun Ting and Miss Gothitelle, but Lei Meng tried to recruit him into the Thunderclap Gang instead. Mark pretended to accept, then knocked Lei Meng unconscious and threatened Electivire, which answered with a massive lightning strike aimed at both of them.

• Mark arrived at the scorched forest and found Sun Ting unconscious while Miss Gothitelle shielded her from Lei Meng and Electivire.
• Lei Meng offered to recruit Mark into the Thunderclap Gang and promised to fund a Titan Caterpie Gene Modification serum for Caterpie.
• Mark accepted Lei Meng's invitation outwardly, then threw him to the ground and punched him unconscious as Caterpie attacked Electivire.
• Mark lifted Lei Meng and warned Electivire to stop attacking Caterpie, while Miss Gothitelle watched in shock.
• Electivire roared as storm clouds gathered and a barrel-thick bolt of lightning struck toward Mark and Lei Meng.

Caterpie fought Electivire while protecting Mark, who was struck by Thunder. Mark stopped Lei Meng’s electric resonance, and Electivire ceased resisting when Mark brought Lei Meng closer, leaving the battle unresolved but under Mark’s control.

• Electivire unleashed a powerful Thunder that struck Mark, while Caterpie evaded the lightning and continued fighting.
• Caterpie used Tackle Five-Shot Barrage and repeated targeted strikes to keep Electivire from standing and attacking Mark again.
• Caterpie noticed golden electricity linking Electivire and Lei Meng, and Mark ended the resonance by repeatedly punching Lei Meng until the current faded.
• Mark recovered, recognized Lei Meng as an Electric-type Special Ability User, and dragged him toward Electivire.
• Electivire stopped fighting when it saw Mark bringing Lei Meng closer, and Caterpie checked on Mark.

Mark subdued Lei Meng and Electivire, then tried to reassure Miss Gothitelle and treat the injured Sun Ting, but Miss Gothitelle remained wary and blocked him. After recovering the Thunderclap Gang’s equipment and Pokemon, Mark tied up Lei Meng and began combat training with Electivire again.

• Mark forced Electivire to submit after defeating Lei Meng, and Caterpie found another unconscious Thunderclap Gang member nearby.
• Miss Gothitelle recoiled from Mark and Caterpie, frightened by the blood on them, until Mark cleaned them up and explained who he was.
• Mark offered Oran Berries to Miss Gothitelle, but it swallowed one itself and continued guarding Sun Ting from him.
• Mark and Caterpie recovered the Pokemon Recovery Device, equipment, more than a hundred unconscious Magneton and Magnemite, and a Capsule Pokemon Storage containing Pokeballs.
• Mark bound Lei Meng with Tortoise Binding and resumed combat training with Electivire, instructing it to fight Caterpie and look for chances to distract him.

Electivire lost a grueling battle to Caterpie, and Mark explained how Electivire could improve its Combat Training. Mark planned to keep training with Electivire and Lei Meng, learn about the Titan Caterpie, and eventually let them go if they cooperated.

• Caterpie defeated Electivire after evading its attacks and exploiting its dwindling stamina.
• Mark told Electivire that it needed to use its full power while calm and remember to attack him to improve Caterpie's training.
• Electivire realized Mark intended to continue Combat Training with it after it recovered.
• Mark reassured Electivire that he would likely release it and Lei Meng if they cooperated, then left Oran Berries and asked Electivire to teach Electroweb to Caterpie.
• Mark left Electivire and walked toward Miss Gothitelle.

Mark secured Miss Gothitelle’s promise to hide his capture of Lei Meng and found a Charjabug that he planned to raise into a flying ride Pokémon. He left with Lei Meng and Electivire, aiming to transport them to Caterpie Territory before arranging Little Sun Teacher’s return to Clear Stream Village.

• Mark asked Miss Gothitelle to keep Lei Meng and Electivire’s capture secret, and she agreed to conceal it even from Sun Ting.
• Mark tied up an unconscious Thunderclap Gang thug, recalled the sleeping Electivire, and carried Lei Meng toward Caterpie Territory.
• Caterpie noticed a hidden Charjabug in the grass, and Mark opened its Pokeball and identified it as a Bug- and Electric-type Pokémon.
• Mark told Caterpie that Charjabug could evolve into Vikavolt and become a fast means of transportation.
• Mark checked the Pokemon Index and concluded that Charjabug could evolve quickly with enough electricity and a Thunder Stone.