Chapter Summaries

As the Exhibition Match between Su Hao and Long Tianxing approached, Bai Du explained that Su Hao would fight with his second team but had included Diancie, then urged Long Tianxing to accept the defeat and let their grudge end. Long Tianxing remained in the lounge as Bai Du left to watch the match and embarrass him with photographs.

• The Dragon Tamer Clan elders failed to reach Su Hao, and Su Xu conveyed that Su Hao would not reconcile or hold back against Long Tianxing.
• Long Tianxing grew anxious in the Ho-Oh Arena lounge while smoking and thinking about how outmatched his Salamence was.
• Bai Du told Long Tianxing that Su Hao had registered mostly second-team Pokémon, but had added Diancie to fill the last slot.
• Bai Du said Su Hao intended to wipe away their past grievances after the match and warned Long Tianxing not to obstruct him or risk losing his Elite Four position.
• Bai Du left for the stands, joking that he would take embarrassing pictures of Long Tianxing for the Dragon Tamer Clan ancestral hall.

Su Hao debuted Zeraora against Long Tianxing’s Noivern in their public battle, surprising the audience with the Pokémon’s identity and low level. Zeraora broke through Noivern’s Boomburst and launched a powerful plasma attack, leaving the result of the clash unresolved.

• Su Hao and Long Tianxing entered the arena for their first public battle after receiving their new titles.
• Both trainers sent out their Pokémon, revealing Su Hao’s Zeraora and Long Tianxing’s Noivern.
• Long Tianxing ordered Noivern to use Boomburst, overwhelming Zeraora with sound waves.
• Su Hao had Zeraora use a magnetic field to fly through Boomburst and rush Noivern with Plasma Thunder Punch.
• Noivern dodged Zeraora’s punches with Acrobatics and used a gale to create distance.
• Su Hao had Zeraora condense its electricity into plasma and fire a powerful beam at Noivern.

Su Hao’s Zeraora defeated Long Tianxing’s Noivern with a devastating Charged Particle Cannon, then Su Hao sent out a seemingly weak Cyclizar against Kommo-o. Cyclizar revealed overwhelming strength by slamming Kommo-o into the arena floor.

• Zeraora’s Charged Particle Cannon engulfed Noivern in a thermal explosion and knocked it out instantly.
• Su Hao recalled the exhausted Zeraora, and Long Tianxing sent out his Early Elite Four Level Kommo-o.
• Su Hao sent out Cyclizar, whose displayed Energy Level was only Late Normal Level, angering Long Tianxing.
• Kommo-o charged and punched Cyclizar, but Cyclizar blocked the attack one-handed and made Kommo-o recoil.
• Cyclizar dodged Kommo-o’s next punch, grabbed its fist, threw it off balance, and slammed it into the arena floor.

Cycloze battled Long Tianxing’s Kommo-o, conserving its borrowed power while outmaneuvering the stronger Pokémon. When Kommo-o used Dragon Rage to draw on Cycloze’s Radiant Aura, Cycloze recognized the stolen power and prepared to retaliate.

• Cycloze’s Overhead Slam knocked Kommo-o into a crater, shocking Bai Du and the spectators.
• Long Tianxing ordered Kommo-o to use Close Combat, but Cycloze evaded its attacks using agile footwork it had learned from past defeats.
• Cycloze conserved its Terastal Energy because its strength would fade as the energy stored in its crystals ran out.
• Long Tianxing ordered Kommo-o to use Dragon Rage, which boosted its physical power and brought out a trace of Radiant Aura.
• Cycloze and Su Hao recognized that Kommo-o was using Cycloze’s Radiant Aura, and Cycloze grew angry at the imitation.

Cycloze unleashed a fraction of Groudon’s power through Radiant Aura and defeated Long Tianxing’s Kommo-o with Double-Edge, shocking the audience. Su Hao recalled Cycloze despite its energy being nearly spent, then sent out Ogerpon to face Long Tianxing’s Aerodactyl.

• Su Hao encouraged Cycloze to stop holding back, and Cycloze drew on its Terastal Energy to manifest a fraction of its past power.
• Cycloze used Full-Power Double-Edge to overwhelm Kommo-o and leave it unconscious.
• Bai Du and the Dragon Tamer Clan elders mistook Cycloze’s display for extraordinary Dragon God talent, while Long Tianxing worried about facing it again.
• Su Hao recalled the nearly exhausted Cycloze and released Ogerpon as his third Pokémon.
• Long Tianxing sent out Aerodactyl, which fixed its gaze on Ogerpon.

Su Hao’s Ogerpon battled Long Tianxing’s Aerodactyl in Ho-Oh Arena, revealing how its masks changed its fighting style and defenses. Ogerpon smashed Aerodactyl’s Hyper Beam with Wood Hammer and sent it flying like a baseball.

• Ogerpon dodged Aerodactyl’s Rock Slide by using the falling boulders as footholds to leap toward it.
• Ogerpon blocked Aerodactyl’s Fire Fang with a spiked shield, then switched to the Foundation Stone Mask to withstand Fire Blast.
• Ogerpon smashed Aerodactyl’s next Rock Slide with its Thorn Whip Stick as Long Tianxing ordered Hyper Beam.
• Ogerpon met Aerodactyl’s Hyper Beam with Wood Hammer, overpowered it, and struck Aerodactyl into the sky like a home run.

Ogerpon defeated Long Tianxing’s Aerodactyl with a relentless barrage of Thorn Whip Stick throws, putting Su Hao ahead three to zero. Su Hao sent out Metagross to face Long Tianxing’s Garchomp, and their battle began in a sandstorm.

• Ogerpon shattered Aerodactyl’s Hyper Beam and struck it hard enough to leave it dazed.
• Ogerpon repeatedly threw spinning, water-wrapped Thorn Whip Sticks until one hit Aerodactyl and knocked it out.
• The host announced that Su Hao led Long Tianxing three to zero, and Su Hao sent out Metagross.
• Long Tianxing sent out Garchomp, whose Sandstorm swept across the arena without scratching Metagross.
• Long Tianxing commanded Dragon Claw, and Su Hao answered with Meteor Mash as Metagross charged through the sandstorm.

Metagross fought Garchomp and used its Destruction Gene to Mega Evolve without an item, reaching Elite Four Level. Mega Metagross defeated Garchomp, leaving Su Hao as the victor.

• Garchomp broke through Metagross's Meteor Mash and struck it with a materialized Psycho Cut.
• Metagross restrained Garchomp's Dragon Pulse with Psychic, but lacked the power to destroy it.
• Su Hao answered Metagross through Psychic, allowing it to use the Destruction Gene and Mega Evolve without an item.
• Mega Metagross tore apart Dragon Pulse and clashed with Garchomp's Earth Power and cross-shaped attack.
• Mega Metagross overpowered Garchomp and held the injured Pokémon helpless in a crater, deciding the battle.

Su Hao sent out Leafeon against Long Tianxing’s Tyrrantrum, and Leafeon’s sword-based Leaf Blade revealed power that could cut through the ancient Dragon-type’s defenses. As Tyrrantrum charged under Dragon Dance, Leafeon unleashed a vast net of Sword Qi, leaving the attack’s outcome unresolved.

• After Mega Metagross defeated Garchomp, Su Hao recalled it and sent out Leafeon as his fifth Pokémon.
• Long Tianxing sent out his Elite Four Level Mid-stage Tyrrantrum, which was slightly stronger than Leafeon.
• Tyrrantrum attacked with Fire Fang, but Leafeon countered with Leaf Blade and cut through its scales with Sword Qi.
• Long Tianxing believed Tyrrantrum could disperse Leafeon’s flying slashes with its own energy, so he ordered Dragon Dance followed by Hyper Beam.
• Leafeon saw the lines across Tyrrantrum’s body and unleashed hundreds or thousands of slashes in a dense net of Sword Qi.

Leafeon defeated Garchomp with a powerful Sword Qi attack, leaving Long Tianxing to send out his ace, Mega Salamence. As Mega Salamence battered Leafeon with wind and fire, she began using Swords Dance to build her strength and approach the level of her past battle-winning sword strike.

• Leafeon cut through Garchomp's Hyper Beam and defenses with Sword Qi, knocking him out just before he reached her.
• Bai Du photographed Long Tianxing's shocked reaction as Su Hao reflected on Leafeon's talent and cautious nature.
• Long Tianxing sent out Salamence and Mega Evolved him into Mega Salamence.
• Mega Salamence's violent winds and flames wounded Leafeon, exploiting her difficulty reaching airborne enemies and resisting wide-area attacks.
• Su Hao ordered Swords Dance, and Leafeon's Sword Qi tore through Mega Salamence's attacks as her power grew.

Su Hao’s Leafeon unleashed Green-Leaf Sword Shadow, Cloud-Cleaving, defeating Long Tianxing’s Mega Salamence and splitting the clouds over the Imperial City. After the succession ceremony, the Divine Land Alliance announced its new Elite Four rankings, and Su Hao left for Dragon Cave.

• Long Tianxing sent Mega Salamence to stop Leafeon, but Su Hao activated a Z-Move without using a Z-Pose.
• Su Hao commanded Leafeon to use Green-Leaf Sword Shadow, Cloud-Cleaving, and its enormous emerald blade cut through Mega Salamence’s power and split the clouds.
• Long Tianxing watched his Salamence fall from the sky and regretted having tripped Su Hao up half a year earlier.
• The Divine Land Alliance announced Wang Anquan, Cheng Wu, Shi Wei, and Long Tianxing as the new Elite Four, with Su Hao as Champion.
• On July 5, Su Hao set off for Dragon Cave in the desert outside the Imperial City.

Su Hao returned to Dragon Cave after securing the Dragon Tamer Clan’s approval to enter its restricted zone and help Cycloze reclaim its power. Bai Du warned him about the pressure near Sky Tower, but Su Hao continued toward the tower’s lower levels.

• Su Hao followed a Flygon leader to Dragon Cave’s entrance and met Bai Du, who confirmed that the clan had approved his application.
• Bai Du explained that the clan had allowed Su Hao into the restricted zone because he had not interfered with Long Tianxing’s Elite Four succession and had spared him.
• Su Hao warned Bai Du that the aftermath might cause a major commotion, then entered the Space Channel to Dragon Cave.
• Su Hao and Bai Du arrived at Dragon Cave, where Su Hao recalled that Sky Tower was built by humans at Rayquaza’s command and that Cycloze’s former self, Groudon, had been sealed beneath it.
• Bai Du warned Su Hao that the Dragon God’s pressure intensified near Sky Tower, but Su Hao planned to reach its lower levels to help Cycloze reclaim its tail.

Su Hao entered a Gym Level Sceptile’s territory in Dragon Cave, where the Sceptile recognized him as the Trainer who had once taken its Berries and attacked him. Su Hao dodged its Leaf Blade and knocked it unconscious with an Aura-enhanced elbow strike.

• Two Dragon Tamer Clan guards spotted someone entering the Sceptile’s territory and recognized him as the new League Champion, Su Hao.
• Su Hao entered the forest with Reshiram and sensed the Sceptile whose territory he had entered before.
• Sceptile remembered Su Hao’s earlier Berry theft and rushed through the trees to attack him with Leaf Blade.
• Su Hao dodged the strike and drove an Aura Bullet-wreathed elbow into Sceptile’s chest, knocking it unconscious.

After healing Sceptile and feeding it curry, Su Hao asked it to lead him to its Berry orchard. There, he used Grass-type power to ripen the orchard’s flowers into Berries and gave the entire harvest to Sceptile.

• Sceptile woke to find Su Hao sharpening a knife, but learned it had been healed and was not in danger.
• Su Hao served Sceptile and Cycloze vegetarian Berry curry, and Sceptile eagerly ate its meal.
• Su Hao asked Sceptile to lead him to its Berry orchard, and Sceptile reluctantly agreed.
• Su Hao sent emerald motes into the blooming trees, instantly ripening their flowers into Berries.
• Su Hao told the astonished Sceptile that the entire harvest was its to keep.

Su Hao reached the edge of Sky Tower’s restricted zone and prepared to test whether he could conceal Cyclizar from Rayquaza. He stepped into the zone with Reshiram and backup ready, leaving the outcome of his plan unknown.

• Su Hao and Cyclizar traveled through Dragon Cave, overcoming the Dragon-type Pokémon in their way, and reached the restricted zone around Sky Tower.
• At the zone’s boundary, Cyclizar and Reshiram braced for Rayquaza’s attack, but Su Hao told them he would test a plan first.
• Su Hao recalled Cyclizar into its Luxury Ball and stored it in System Space to conceal its presence and aura from Rayquaza.
• Su Hao used Milotic’s Purifying Water and Leafeon’s scent to remove and mask any traces of Cyclizar’s aura on himself.
• Su Hao confirmed that Latios and Latias were ready to provide support, then stepped into the restricted zone.

Su Hao entered the restricted zone around Sky Tower without triggering Rayquaza and discovered that he could withstand pressure that overwhelmed powerful Pokémon. Reshiram suspected the Dragon Plate Fragment inside Su Hao was protecting him as he stood at the edge of the B-class area.

• Su Hao cautiously crossed into the D-class and then C-class areas, but Rayquaza did not awaken and the pressure did not affect him.
• Su Hao tested Milotic in the C-class area and learned that Milotic felt the mounting pressure even though he remained unaffected.
• Su Hao walked into the B-class area and reached within one hundred meters of Sky Tower, farther than Bai Du's Mega Salamence had managed.
• Reshiram suggested that the Dragon Plate Fragment inside Su Hao was the reason he could ignore the Dragon God's pressure.

Su Hao entered the Sky Tower without alerting Rayquaza, using Reshiram’s power to evade the surveillance particles in the clouds. Inside, Cycloze recognized the tower and led him underground to retrieve its abandoned tail, leaving Su Hao wondering about the human-built stairs and the Dragon Tamer Clan’s connection to the tower.

• Su Hao crossed into the A-rank zone and reached the Sky Tower without being stopped by Rayquaza or the pressure from Cycloze’s abandoned power.
• Reshiram identified Rayquaza’s spiral clouds as surveillance and cloaked Su Hao with its power so he could pass through them undetected.
• Su Hao entered the ancient Sky Tower and used a flashlight to illuminate its dark first floor.
• Cycloze recognized the Sky Tower and found a passage to its lower levels, where its abandoned tail lay.
• Su Hao followed Cycloze underground after noticing stairs that led upward and wondering whether the Dragon Tamer Clan knew the tower’s history.

Su Hao and Cycloze reached the sealed chamber beneath Sky Tower, where Cycloze’s severed tail lay inside an energy barrier. When Cycloze tried to retrieve it, the tail released a familiar energy and raised a crimson phantom.

• Su Hao and Cycloze descended the endless stairs while Reshiram explained how Su Hao had passed its Trial of Truth.
• Cycloze stopped at an ancient door, and Su Hao reassured it before it pushed the door open.
• Su Hao discovered that mysterious energy patterns filled the chamber and formed a seal around Cycloze’s Shed Tail.
• Cycloze entered the barrier and approached its tail, but a burst of familiar energy blasted it away and summoned a crimson phantom.

Cycloze confronted a crimson Groudon formed from the power it had shed to escape the Imprison seal, and learned that the being considered itself the true Groudon. As the new consciousness drove Cycloze toward despair, Su Hao decided to support it from outside rather than risk breaking the seal and attracting Rayquaza.

• A crimson Groudon appeared in the cavern and blasted Cycloze back with a surge of energy.
• Reshiram translated Groudon's roars, revealing that it was the pride and glory born from Cycloze's abandoned power and rejected Cycloze as a cowardly impostor.
• Su Hao realized the Imprison seal treated Cycloze and Groudon as separate beings and refused to break the seal, fearing Rayquaza would notice.
• Groudon berated Cycloze over abandoning its honor and power, causing Cycloze's confidence to crumble.
• Groudon intensified its assault on Cycloze's spirit and recalled that its consciousness had awakened when Cycloze escaped through Shed Tail.

Groudon tried to convince Cycloze to surrender its consciousness and let it claim their shared power, but Su Hao reminded Cycloze that the power belonged to it. Cycloze regained its resolve, unleashed the Wing King's power, and fought back against Groudon.

• Groudon decided to make Cycloze willingly fuse with it so it could become the true Groudon.
• Su Hao warned Cycloze that Groudon was trying to usurp its place and urged it to fight back.
• Cycloze rejected Groudon's claims, remembered that it had earned its power, and unleashed its scarlet Terastal Energy.
• Groudon attacked Cycloze with crimson dragon claws, and Cycloze calmly countered its moves.