Chapter Summaries

Su Hao traveled with Feng into Kartana Forest to face its strongest Kartana in a swordsmanship Trial. Feng explained that the Kartana had risen from a weak, untalented outsider through relentless practice, and Su Hao prepared to enter its secluded valley alone.

• Su Hao told Feng he would personally attempt the Trial and would bring a partner skilled in swordsmanship.
• Feng led Su Hao and the God Paper Users through Kartana Forest toward the strongest Kartana’s secluded valley.
• Feng revealed that his own Kartana had once lived in the valley before the strongest Kartana defeated every Kartana in the forest and claimed it.
• Feng explained that the strongest Kartana had started out weak and untalented but had honed its Sword Path through constant effort.
• Su Hao agreed to enter the valley alone, while Feng and the others withdrew.

Su Hao brought Leafeon to meet the strongest Kartana in Kartana Forest, whose swordsmanship stunned Leafeon. The Kartana immediately targeted them and prepared to attack, leaving Su Hao ready to channel Z Power.

• Feng asked Su Hao to let him and his Kartana meet Su Hao's partner, and Su Hao sent out Leafeon.
• Su Hao left Feng and led Leafeon deeper into the valley, where they found a Kartana practicing sword slashes on a massive rock formation.
• Leafeon recognized the Kartana's technique as far beyond that of the Elite Four Level Kartana it had fought before.
• After its final slash, Kartana turned toward Su Hao and Leafeon, locked onto them, and took a stance to attack.
• Su Hao prepared his Z-Ring and Z-Crystal to channel Z Power into Leafeon.

Su Hao and Leafeon challenged Kartana’s sword strike and earned a chance to speak with it, but Kartana rejected their request after learning how recently Leafeon had begun training. It drew a boundary between them and flew back toward the artificial mountain, leaving Su Hao and Leafeon unable to approach.

• Su Hao and Leafeon used Green-Leaf Sword Shadow, Cloud-Cleaving to clash with Kartana’s iaijutsu strike.
• Kartana recognized their strength and asked why they had come, so Su Hao requested a favor.
• Kartana said their sword technique was not impressive enough and asked how long Leafeon had trained in the Sword Path.
• Leafeon answered that it had trained for less than a year, and Kartana erupted with sharp intent before declaring that it did not help geniuses.
• Kartana flew toward the artificial mountain after carving a boundary in the ground with Sword Qi, warning Su Hao and Leafeon not to cross it.

Leafeon studied Kartana’s swordsmanship in Ultra Forest, driven to surpass the Master Level Ultra Beast despite its dismissal. On the eleventh day, Leafeon realized Kartana’s quick-draw technique relied on sword speed beyond what its eyes could follow.

• Leafeon ignored Kartana’s disparagement and watched its sword movements, while Su Hao realized its determination came from its hard-won resilience.
• Su Hao set up camp outside Kartana’s valley and released his other Pokémon, warning them not to cross Kartana’s boundary.
• For three days, Leafeon watched Kartana train, while Kartana grew agitated and fearful under Leafeon’s unwavering gaze.
• On Su Hao’s tenth day in Ultra Forest, Milotic and Dragapult advanced to Late Elite Four Level, while Diancie remained stalled without enough light to reach Champion Level.
• On the eleventh day, Leafeon stood up and understood that Kartana’s quick-draw technique worked because its sword moved faster than Leafeon’s eyes could track.

Leafeon trained for a month to understand Kartana’s seemingly unreactable sword technique, with Su Hao supporting it and his other Pokémon growing stronger in the Ultra Forest. Leafeon finally engraved its own finishing move onto the line of Kartana’s slash, leaving Kartana feeling that it had been surpassed again.

• Su Hao realized Kartana’s slashes were too fast for Aura to detect and helped Leafeon train by replenishing its stamina with Tokiwa Power.
• Over the next month, Su Hao’s Pokémon trained in the Ultra Forest, and several of them advanced or neared new strength thresholds.
• Leafeon studied Kartana’s movements and continuously refined its posture, energy flow, angles, and timing.
• Near exhaustion, Leafeon entered a state in which the world seemed to slow and unleashed a rapid slash along the line Kartana had cut.
• Kartana stopped swinging its sword and recognized that Leafeon had transformed the technique into a finishing move of its own.

Leafeon survived its strike, and Kartana acknowledged that Leafeon had met its requirements before opening an Ultra Wormhole for Su Hao. The wormhole led to the Pokémon world, where its arrival triggered an alert in Alola and caught Cynthia’s attention above Poni Canyon.

• Leafeon collapsed after its strike, and Su Hao had Milotic use Aqua Ring to help it recover.
• Kartana admitted it had misjudged Su Hao and praised Leafeon for adapting its sword technique into its own strength.
• Su Hao asked Kartana to open an Ultra Wormhole to Metagross’s original world, and Kartana opened one with ease.
• Su Hao, Leafeon, and their companions entered the wormhole, while Kartana watched them leave and wondered how Leafeon would develop its ultimate technique.
• In Alola, the Ultra Guardians base detected an Ultra Wormhole and notified Kiawe, Lana, Mallow, and Sophocles.
• Above Poni Canyon, Cynthia and Milotic noticed the Ultra Wormhole while facing Totem Kommo-o.

Su Hao emerged from an Ultra Wormhole into the Pokémon world and encountered Cynthia in Alola. Their surprise grew when Kiawe and the others arrived in their tokusatsu squad uniforms, leaving everyone puzzled by the unexpected meeting.

• Su Hao rode Metagross through the long Ultra Wormhole passage and recovered his strength, resolving to find Mewtwo and confront Team Rocket and Lance.
• Su Hao emerged above a tropical sea and used his Aura to scan the islands and approaching presences.
• Cynthia flew toward the Ultra Wormhole on Garchomp, expecting an Ultra Beast, but instead saw Su Hao riding a Shiny Metagross.
• Su Hao and Cynthia froze in surprise as they recognized one another's unusual arrival.
• Kiawe, the blue-haired girl, the green-haired girl, and the blond boy arrived riding their Pokémon in tokusatsu squad uniforms, while Wicke watched in disbelief.

Su Hao emerged from an Ultra Wormhole in Alola and introduced himself to Kiawe, Sophocles, Lana, and Mallow, who soon learned he knew Ash. As they compared notes on Ash’s altered journey, Su Hao revealed that he had saved Aaron’s Lucario and was an Aura Wielder.

• Sophocles admired Su Hao’s Shiny Metagross, and Kiawe asked Su Hao to identify himself.
• Su Hao introduced himself as a Kanto resident and said Steven had entrusted Metagross to him.
• Cynthia and the Ultra Guardians shared how Ash’s journey had changed: he won several regional leagues, reached Champion Leagues, and became Alola’s first League Champion.
• The group learned Ash had settled temporarily in Vermilion City while pursuing a greater peak.
• Su Hao said he had helped Aaron’s Lucario when it was nearly out of Aura and wanted to sacrifice itself.
• Su Hao demonstrated his Wave Power by forming an Aura Bullet and revealed that he was an Aura Wielder.

Su Hao and Cynthia learned that Cynthia had angered a Kommo-o clan by catching its leader’s offspring, while Professor Kukui invited them to meet Ash when he returned to Alola. Su Hao agreed and identified the timeline as shortly after Ash entered the Pokémon World Championships, leaving Ash’s arrival and the whereabouts of Riolu and Lucario uncertain.

• Su Hao formed and dispersed an Aura Bullet in his palm, astonishing Cynthia and the others, then asked whether anyone had angered the Kommo-o below.
• Cynthia explained that the Kommo-o clan wanted to battle her because she had caught the leader’s offspring and left them behind to investigate an Ultra Wormhole.
• Professor Kukui contacted the group, told the Ultra Guardians to return to class, and invited Su Hao and Cynthia to meet Ash when he came to Alola with a friend.
• Kiawe excitedly headed to Wela Volcano to train, while Lana, Sophocles, and Mallow discussed preparing a surprise for Ash; Cynthia asked to join their reunion.
• Su Hao agreed to meet Ash and worked out that the story was set shortly after Ash entered the Pokémon World Championships, though he did not know whether Ash had Lucario or where Riolu was.

Cynthia challenged Su Hao to a Pokémon Battle after sensing the strength of his partnership with Metagross, and he accepted. While waiting for their battle and Ash’s arrival, Su Hao decided to vacation on Ula'ula Island.

• Cynthia asked Su Hao to battle her, explaining that she wanted to test herself against a Trainer whose Metagross had been trained by Steven.
• Su Hao accepted Cynthia’s challenge, and they exchanged contact information before she left with Garchomp.
• Su Hao checked his communicator and saw 99+ messages from Drake and Steven, prompting him to consider revealing his origins.
• After learning Ash would arrive in a few days, Su Hao chose to vacation at Ula'ula Island’s Mount Lanakila and Ula'ula Beach.

Su Hao and his Pokémon spent a relaxing day vacationing at Ula'ula Beach. After hearing about a public performance of The Sea's Hero, Su Hao decided to take everyone to watch, while a divine stone in his mind stirred as though its master was nearing awakening.

• Su Hao swam in the sea with Milotic, then returned to the beach and let her swim farther out.
• Su Hao reunited with Diancie and Leafeon under a beach umbrella and learned that Incineroar, Dragapult and the Dragapult siblings, Lucario, Metagross, Zeraora, and Ogerpon were playing beach volleyball.
• Su Hao rested beneath the umbrella and accidentally fell asleep as the afternoon passed.
• Teenagers announced that the Ula'ula Troupe would perform The Sea's Hero, featuring a Primarina solo.
• Su Hao asked his Pokémon if they wanted to see the performance, and they eagerly agreed as the divine stone in his mind stirred.

Su Hao enjoyed the Ula'ula Troupe’s performance before unexpectedly meeting Steven, who had searched for him for two years. After showing Steven that Beldum had evolved into Metagross, Su Hao watched it Mega Evolve without a Key Stone, leaving Steven stunned.

• Su Hao watched the Ula'ula Troupe perform The Sea's Hero and listened to a Primarina sing on the floating stage.
• After the show, Su Hao left the beach with Diancie and encountered Steven, who had been looking for him for two years.
• Steven invited Su Hao to talk on a private beach, where Su Hao said he had been busy and revealed that Beldum had evolved into Metagross.
• Metagross recognized Steven as its former meal ticket and approached him happily.
• Metagross activated its Destruction Gene and Mega Evolved without a visible Metagrossite, freezing Steven's smile in surprise.

Su Hao invited Steven to watch his agreed spar with Cynthia, and Steven joined them at Poni Canyon the next day. The battle began with Su Hao sending out Metagross and Cynthia choosing Gastrodon, whose strength exceeded Metagross’s current level.

• Mega Metagross scratched its head before ending its Mega Evolution, and Steven concluded that Su Hao had raised it exceptionally well.
• Su Hao invited Steven to watch his spar with Cynthia, and Steven agreed after joking about his own strength.
• Su Hao and Steven took a photo with Diancie before Su Hao returned to the hotel and went to sleep.
• At Poni Canyon, the Gible, Fraxure, and Kommo-o gave Cynthia and Su Hao room to battle, and Steven arrived on Skarmory to watch.
• Cynthia sent out her Elite Four-level Gastrodon, while Su Hao sent out Metagross, and Steven anticipated an unexpected result.

Cynthia’s Shellos used rain and Water Absorb to withstand Metagross and strike back, but Su Hao had Metagross Mega Evolve and launch a powerful assault. As Shellos defended against Meteor Mash with Acid Armor, Su Hao ordered Mega Metagross to finish it with Psychic.

• Cynthia had Shellos summon rain, then used its body and Water Absorb to blunt Metagross’s Bullet Punch and land Earth Power.
• Su Hao had Metagross Mega Evolve and fire Flash Cannon, which Shellos met with Hydro Pump.
• Su Hao directed Mega Metagross to charge with Meteor Mash, while Cynthia had Shellos use Acid Armor to resist the physical attack.
• After Shellos absorbed much of Meteor Mash’s force, Su Hao ordered Mega Metagross to crush it with Psychic.

Su Hao's Mega Metagross overwhelmed Cynthia's Shellos by controlling the psychic energy across the Rain Dance field and defeated it with Flash Cannon. Steven rushed to ask how Metagross had developed its power, and Cynthia invited Su Hao to pursue a future in the Sinnoh League.

• Cynthia ordered Shellos to use Earth Power, but Mega Metagross unleashed its restrained Mental Power and suppressed the attack.
• Mega Metagross controlled the psychic energy throughout the Rain Dance field, immobilized Shellos, and destroyed its Earth Power.
• Shellos could not use Muddy Water, and Su Hao ordered Mega Metagross to finish the battle with Flash Cannon.
• Cynthia recalled Shellos and praised it, while Steven hurried over to ask Su Hao how he had trained Mega Metagross.
• Steven apologized for pressing Su Hao, who kept Mewtwo and the Destruction Gene secret, and Cynthia invited him to develop his career in the Sinnoh League.

Su Hao revealed Diancie as his ace after Cynthia and Steven questioned him, and Cynthia invited him to compete in the Pokémon World Championship. He initially refused, but changed his mind when she revealed the winner could receive an ancient stone tablet fragment.

• Su Hao released Diancie and confirmed that it was his ace, impressing Cynthia and Steven with the Mythical Pokémon’s presence.
• Steven identified Diancie as the Diamond Princess, a Mythical Pokémon recorded in the Kalos region.
• Cynthia challenged Su Hao’s interest in the Pokémon World Championship and invited him to compete.
• Cynthia and Steven explained the Championship’s ranking system, but Su Hao refused to enter because he had no interest in competing for a title alone.
• Cynthia revealed that the winner would receive an ancient stone tablet fragment, and Su Hao immediately asked how to register.

Su Hao registered for the Pokémon World Championship after learning that its Plate prizes might help him investigate Plate Fragments, and received a Rotom Phone to enter. After discovering his low starting rank, he and Diancie looked for a faster way to climb through tournaments held by the Pokémon Battle Commission.

• Cynthia recommended that Su Hao get a Rotom Phone, and Steven arranged for one to be delivered to him.
• Cynthia explained that most Rotom Phones used copied Rotom programs rather than containing an actual Rotom, then demonstrated the phone’s features.
• Su Hao installed his communicator chip, learned the Rotom Phone’s functions, and registered for the Pokémon World Championship Qualifying Tournament.
• The registration listed Su Hao as a Cerulean City Trainer ranked 252,525th in Poké Ball Tier, prompting him to realize he would have to grind through many matches.
• After parting with Steven and Cynthia, Su Hao and Diancie studied the championship app and chose to pursue tournaments for a faster climb.

Su Hao planned to enter the Anistar Conference to bypass the Pokémon World Championship’s slow ranking climb and considered how he might eventually defeat the strongest Champions. The next day, he and Cynthia arrived at the Pokémon School on Melemele Island, where an angry voice declared that its speaker was not Ash’s rival.

• Su Hao chose the Anistar Conference as his route to face high-ranking Trainers and noted that Alain would also participate.
• Su Hao posted about officially challenging the Pokémon World Championship, and Steven and Cynthia welcomed him to the Master Ball Tier.
• Su Hao considered how he could defeat Steven, Cynthia, and Dande, and wondered whether Reshiram or Mewtwo could help him win the Plate Fragment.
• A Search Officer commented on Su Hao’s private post, prompting Su Hao to recognize the account.
• Su Hao and Cynthia traveled to Melemele Island to meet Ash and his friends at the Pokémon School.
• At the school, an angry speaker insisted they were not Ash’s rival and that their own future depended on their own efforts.

Su Hao and Cynthia arrived at the Pokémon School and found Kiawe battling Goh, whose confidence exceeded Raboot’s strength. After Kiawe’s attack nearly overwhelmed them, Ash greeted Cynthia and Su Hao, leaving Goh behind as the visitors reunited with the others.

• Cynthia told Su Hao how Ash and Paul’s rivalry had become a bond and said she hoped to battle Ash someday.
• Su Hao and Cynthia arrived at the Pokémon School as Kiawe and Goh argued over Goh’s insistence that he was not Ash’s rival.
• Kiawe used Turtonator’s Inferno Overdrive against Goh and Raboot, but Kiawe’s Marowak rescued them before they were hit.
• Ash spotted Cynthia and Su Hao and excitedly joined the others in greeting them, while Goh remained beneath a tree in a sorry state.
• Su Hao inspected Pikachu’s status and saw that its power fluctuated from Novice Level to mid-Champion Level.

Su Hao reunited with Ash and Lucario at the Alola gathering, then challenged Goh over his dream of catching every Pokémon and Mew. Goh was left speechless as Su Hao compared his attitude to that of a Pokémon Hunter.

• Ash released Lucario, Gengar, Dragonite, and Galarian Farfetch'd, and Lucario greeted Su Hao with a knight's salute.
• Professor Kukui brought Ash's Alola companions and their Pokémon to join the gathering.
• Su Hao learned that Ash had not sensed the Riolu Egg in Vermilion City and wondered whether it was connected to Lucario.
• Sophocles asked Goh about his dream, and Goh said he wanted to catch every Pokémon and then catch Mew.
• Cynthia questioned Goh's reasoning, and Su Hao pressed him about how he would care for the Pokémon he caught.
• Su Hao accused Goh of treating Pokémon as stepping stones and asked what made him different from a Pokémon Hunter.