Chapter Summaries

Ash and Su Hao unexpectedly triggered Greninja’s Bond Transformation, linking their senses before they canceled it. Little Soft then explained that Diancie had absorbed the Giant Sundial, an ownerless source of power that could help her reach legend status.

• Ash suddenly shared Greninja’s senses when Su Hao’s presence helped activate Bond Transformation in the forest.
• Ash’s Greninja conveyed its wish to end the transformation, and Ash agreed, leaving Su Hao and Greninja awkwardly staring at each other.
• Su Hao returned to Diancie and Hisuian Braviary, where a green figure arrived and revealed itself as Little Soft, a Zygarde Core.
• Little Soft apologized for Z2’s hostility and said its battle with Z2 had ended when they both withdrew.
• Little Soft explained that the Giant Sundial was a blank divine spark that could let Diancie reach legend status.

Su Hao and Little Soft struck a deal: Little Soft would train Diancie’s and Incineroar’s auras if Su Hao helped Greninja clear the remaining giant plants beneath Kalos. The chapter ended with Little Soft agreeing to the arrangement.

• Little Soft used the power of order to stabilize Diancie and told Su Hao to leave Kalos once Diancie recovered because Z2 might attack again.
• After Greninja explained Su Hao’s ability to trigger its Bond Phenomenon, Little Soft reconsidered its plans for clearing the remaining giant plants.
• Little Soft offered to strengthen Diancie’s aura in exchange for Su Hao helping Greninja clear the plants.
• Su Hao asked for extra payment and showed Little Soft Incineroar’s Evil Aura.
• Little Soft used Aura Break to destroy Incineroar’s Evil Aura, then agreed to train both Diancie’s and Incineroar’s auras if Su Hao helped Greninja.

After Diancie recovered from the Giant Sundial, Little Soft explained that Diancie and Incineroar could strengthen their auras by having them shattered and rebuilt. The chapter ended with Little Soft agreeing to help Incineroar activate its Dread Plate Fragment as part of the process.

• Diancie woke with fully restored mental energy and newfound strength after the Giant Sundial, and Little Soft said it could eventually connect to the Law of Light.
• Su Hao explained his world’s situation with Yveltal and Xerneas, and Little Soft warned that Aura Break could threaten them and their auras.
• Little Soft proposed repeatedly shattering Diancie and Incineroar’s auras with Aura Break, then helping them rebuild the auras with the Power of Order.
• Diancie and Incineroar agreed to endure the painful aura-strengthening process.
• Su Hao showed Little Soft Incineroar’s Dread Plate Fragment and explained that it came from Reshiram World, where Arceus remained safe.
• Little Soft promised to help Incineroar activate the Dread Plate Fragment and said it would persuade its other half to stop targeting Su Hao.

Little Soft began reconstructing Incineroar and Diancie’s Auras while Su Hao and Greninja cleared giant plants across Kalos. Su Hao accepted a Championship battle invitation against Opal, then learned from Ash that Goh had been hospitalized after an encounter with Zapdos.

• Little Soft shattered Incineroar and Diancie’s Auras and guided them as they began reconstructing them, with Incineroar progressing faster.
• Su Hao left Little Soft to continue the Aura reconstruction and went with Greninja to clear the remaining giant plants, while Z2 agreed not to interfere.
• Three days later, Su Hao received an invitation to battle Opal in Ballonlea and accepted it.
• Su Hao and Ash-Greninja destroyed a giant plant, and Su Hao spoke with Ash by phone.
• Ash told Su Hao that Goh had gone alone to investigate Zapdos, been injured by its attack, and was hospitalized.

Su Hao and Greninja cleared hidden giant plants across Kalos, then Greninja challenged Milotic and lost. Back in the Nameless Forest, Su Hao found Little Soft helping Incineroar refine its Evil Aura, and Diancie greeted him excitedly.

• Su Hao told the injured Ash to come to Kalos in a week and urged him to raise his ranking for the Masters Eight; Ash burst into flames and announced he needed special training.
• Su Hao and Greninja spent four days clearing giant plants across Kalos and captured a Malamar that had hypnotized a town.
• Greninja challenged Milotic but lost, and its respect for Su Hao grew after seeing him and his Pokémon fight the giant plants.
• In the Nameless Forest, Little Soft finished helping Incineroar integrate its Dread Plate ability into its Evil Aura.
• Diancie flew into Su Hao’s arms while Little Soft escaped Incineroar’s embrace.

Su Hao saw how Incineroar and Diancie had improved after a week of training with Little Soft. Incineroar had strengthened its Evil Aura, while Diancie’s Luminous Aura had learned to withstand Zygarde’s Aura Break, leaving both Pokémon much closer to the strongest levels.

• Little Soft told Su Hao that Incineroar and Diancie had changed greatly during their special training.
• Incineroar showed Su Hao its Evil Aura, which now incorporated traits of Yveltal’s Dark Aura and had grown stronger after Incineroar reached Late Elite Four Level.
• Diancie expanded its Luminous Aura across the forest, then contracted it to a one-kilometer radius to maximize its effects.
• Little Soft transformed into its 10% Dog Form and used Aura Break against Diancie’s Luminous Aura, which endured the attack after a week of repeated reconstruction.
• Su Hao judged that Incineroar could now stand alongside Milotic and Dragapult, while Champion Level Diancie could face powerful Pokémon such as Cynthia’s Garchomp and Steven’s Metagross.

Su Hao received Little Soft’s warning about the growing threat beneath Galar but remained confident as he set off for the region. In Ballonlea, Opal prepared to battle him, while Rose warned her that Su Hao had rapidly risen through the World Championship rankings.

• Little Soft warned Su Hao that a dangerous power beneath Galar was growing stronger and might soon wreak havoc.
• Su Hao decided the threat would not stop him, bid farewell to Little Soft and Greninja, and flew toward an airport to travel to Galar.
• In Ballonlea, Rose and Oleana visited Opal, who had accepted a battle against the Trainer selected by Kalos so her successor could gain experience.
• Opal refused Rose’s offer of information about her opponent and warned him that the power underground and the Wild Area’s Dynamax dens had become more active.
• Rose told Opal that Su Hao had climbed from beyond rank 200,000 to the top two hundred of the Great Ball Tier in less than a week and advised her to take him seriously.

Rose and Oleana dismissed Su Hao as a threat to Galar while he traveled through Misty Forest toward Ballonlea with Zeraora and Lucario. After agreeing to let both Pokémon battle Opal, Su Hao found a faintly conscious man beneath a logo-covered cape.

• Rose read Su Hao’s sparse dossier, and Oleana said Kalos was trying to pass him to Galar.
• Su Hao and Lucario defeated the prank-playing Impidimp and Grimmsnarl in Misty Forest.
• Su Hao told Zeraora and Lucario that both could participate in his three-on-three battle against Opal.
• Su Hao followed his Rotom Phone’s map toward Ballonlea with Zeraora and Lucario.
• Lucario noticed a cape in the grass, and Su Hao sensed a weak human Aura beneath it.
• Zeraora and Lucario uncovered a purple-haired, bearded man who murmured for water.

Su Hao rescued Dande after the Galar Champion got lost near Ballonlea, then accompanied him into town and exchanged contact information. Su Hao headed to prepare for his tournament battle as Ballonlea Stadium filled with spectators.

• Su Hao gave water to a dehydrated man stranded near Ballonlea and learned that he was Dande.
• Dande praised Su Hao’s Lucario and Zeraora and learned that Su Hao had come to compete.
• Su Hao and Dande reached Ballonlea, where fans crowded around Dande for autographs and photos.
• Su Hao and Dande exchanged contact information, then parted ways after Dande said he would wait for Charizard.
• Su Hao planned to eat before his battle, while Ballonlea Stadium filled with spectators eager to watch the Dynamax matches.

Bede remained trapped in Opal’s pink-focused Gym training as he watched her face Su Hao in an unrestricted ranked battle. Su Hao’s Zeraora opened the match by racing across the arena and attacking Opal’s Mawile before it could use Swords Dance.

• Opal continued instructing Bede in her ideals of pink, while Bede watched the live battle broadcast and expected Su Hao to lose.
• The commentator introduced Opal and Su Hao, whose rapid rise to rank 199 had made him a celebrated newcomer.
• Dande watched the match in disguise, hoping to witness Su Hao’s strength.
• The referee announced a three-on-three Singles Battle with switching unrestricted and each special battle mechanic limited to one use.
• Opal sent out Mawile, and Su Hao sent out Zeraora; Opal judged Zeraora to be a manageable opponent for her Pokémon.
• Opal ordered Mawile to use Swords Dance, but Su Hao told Zeraora to use Fire Punch, and Zeraora struck before Mawile could react.

Su Hao’s Zeraora defeated Opal’s Mawile with a devastating Charged Particle Cannon after overwhelming it with speed and close-range attacks. Opal acknowledged she had underestimated Su Hao and prepared to continue the battle with her next Pokémon.

• Zeraora struck Mawile with Plasma Bolt Punch, and Mawile survived by using Protect.
• Zeraora accelerated and repeatedly attacked Mawile, while Opal had it build up its defenses with Iron Defense.
• Su Hao slowed Zeraora, and Opal ordered Mawile to charge with Play Rough.
• Su Hao commanded Zeraora to fire Charged Particle Cannon, and the plasma blast knocked Mawile out.
• Opal admitted she had underestimated Su Hao, then chose another Poké Ball to continue the battle.

Su Hao’s Mega Lucario overwhelmed Opal’s Togekiss, but Opal sent out her final Pokémon, Gigantamax Alcremie, whose aura approached Champion Level. Su Hao recalled Lucario and called on Diancie to face it.

• Su Hao Mega Evolved Lucario and used Teleport to evade Togekiss’s attacks while landing powerful Steel-type strikes.
• Opal had Togekiss trade blows with Lucario, but Lucario adapted and defeated it with a massive Aura Bullet.
• Opal sent out her final Pokémon, Alcremie, and used her Dynamax Band to trigger its special Gigantamax transformation.
• Su Hao recalled Mega Lucario and sent out Diancie to challenge Gigantamax Alcremie.

Su Hao sent out Diancie, whose Champion-level power overwhelmed Opal’s Gigantamax Alcremie and brought Opal’s old ambitions rushing back. As Alcremie prepared Hyper Beam under Opal’s desperate command, its aura suddenly broke through toward Champion Level.

• Su Hao summoned Diancie, and its Dazzling Gleam destroyed Alcremie’s Max Overgrowth and badly damaged the Gigantamax Pokémon.
• Opal recognized Diancie’s strength as Champion Level and saw it as the Ultimate Pink she had long pursued.
• Alcremie used G-Max Finale to recover, but Diancie’s Moonblast broke through its cream barrier and struck it heavily again.
• Opal mistook Diancie’s Diamond Storm for Urshifu’s Wicked Blow and ordered Alcremie to use Hyper Beam.
• Alcremie’s emotions surged as it gathered energy, and its aura broke through its limits in a battle breakthrough.

Gigantamax Alcremie lost to Diancie, and Opal realized she had been clinging to the past. After visiting Opal at Ballonlea Gym, Su Hao accepted Dande’s request for a private battle.

• Gigantamax Alcremie’s Champion-level attack clashed with Diancie’s Diamond Storm, but Diancie defeated Alcremie after its Gigantamax Energy ran out.
• Opal admitted she had been too stubborn and thanked Su Hao for helping her let go of the past, while Dande praised Su Hao and Diancie.
• Su Hao’s ranking rose from 199th to 99th after the battle, and Bede invited him to meet Opal at Ballonlea Gym.
• Opal thanked Su Hao, gave him cake, and told him Alcremie had reached Champion Level, making it Galar’s third active Champion-level Pokémon Trainer.
• Dande challenged Su Hao to a private battle, offering to use Iron Hands because Charizard was resting, and Su Hao chose Incineroar.

Su Hao challenged Dande to test Incineroar against Dande’s Iron Hands, and the battle began at Ballonlea Stadium. Incineroar landed an opening combo, but Iron Hands evaded its powerful follow-up and set up Grassy Terrain, leaving Dande ready to counterattack.

• Su Hao accepted Dande’s challenge because he wanted to test Incineroar’s strength after its special training with Little Soft.
• Opal led Su Hao, Dande, and Bede to the repaired Ballonlea Stadium, where Su Hao’s Incineroar faced Dande’s early Champion Level Iron Hands.
• Opal predicted Iron Hands had the advantage but wondered what made Su Hao choose Incineroar over Diancie.
• Su Hao ordered Fake Out, and Incineroar flinched Iron Hands and lowered its physical attack with Intimidate.
• Su Hao followed with Explosion Blaze, but Dande ordered Acrobatics and Iron Hands dodged the attack.
• Dande had Iron Hands set up Grassy Terrain, healing the damage from Fake Out, then ordered Grassy Glide.

Su Hao’s Incineroar overwhelmed Dande’s Iron Hands with a surprise Flare Blitz, forcing Dande to Gigantamax. Incineroar then unleashed its overloaded power, Evil Aura, and Z-Move against Gigantamax Iron Hands, leaving the battle at the moment of impact.

• Su Hao baited Iron Hands into attacking, then had Incineroar use Flare Blitz to knock it down.
• Su Hao urged Incineroar to go all out and told Dande to Gigantamax Iron Hands.
• Dande Gigantamaxed Iron Hands, which roared as Incineroar stood firm and prepared to fight.
• Incineroar activated Magnetic Field Manipulation: Lava Overload and surrounded the battlefield with its chilling Evil Aura.
• Dande ordered Max Quake, and Su Hao countered with Cruel Leap Crush as Incineroar leapt toward Iron Hands.
• Iron Hands used G-Max Drum Solo, but Incineroar shredded the roots and struck it like a meteor.

Su Hao’s Incineroar defeated Dande’s Gigantamax Iron Hands with a devastating Z-Move, ending their sparring match in a decisive loss for Dande. Dande accepted the defeat and challenged Su Hao to face him at the Masters Eight Elimination Tournament, where both promised to fight at full strength.

• Gigantamax Iron Hands formed Max Guard, but Incineroar’s Cruel Leap Crush shattered it and knocked Iron Hands unconscious.
• Su Hao recalled Incineroar, recognizing that its combined power had pushed its body beyond its limits and could cause backlash.
• Opal left Su Hao and Dande alone after arranging for Su Hao to stay at Ballonlea Gym.
• Dande accepted his loss and said he would meet Su Hao in the Masters Eight Elimination Tournament with Charizard at full strength.
• Su Hao agreed to show Dande his own full strength when they met again.

Opal gave Su Hao a Dynamax Band and told him she planned to challenge Mustard on the Isle of Armor. Meanwhile, Rose and Oleana decided to arrange a match for Su Hao against a Trainer from another region so he would leave Galar.

• Bede warned Su Hao that Opal was waiting for him at the arena, then hurried away.
• Opal gave Su Hao a Dynamax Band and said her Alcremie had reached Champion Level and she planned to visit the Isle of Armor.
• Su Hao said he wanted to visit Postwick and would let the Pokémon Battle Commission arrange his matches.
• Rose and Oleana discussed how Su Hao had defeated Opal and Dande, then agreed to arrange a match against a Trainer from another region to get him out of Galar.
• Rose worried about the increasingly frequent disturbances caused by Nihilego and the energy plant's restraints.

Su Hao learned that Ash was staying in Kanto for special training with Paul instead of coming to Galar, even as Reshiram warned that the power beneath the region was growing restless. Su Hao decided to investigate Slumbering Weald and accepted a million Alliance Coins from Cynthia for sending her photos of Ash and Paul.

• Ash told Su Hao he would remain in Kanto for special training with Greninja, and sent him photos of his Pokémon gathering at Professor Oak's laboratory.
• Su Hao noticed that several of Ash's Pokémon had evolved and learned that Paul was helping train them while visiting Professor Oak.
• Su Hao learned that the man he had asked about was already discharged from the hospital, then discussed Galar's restless energy with the awakened Reshiram.
• Reshiram suggested Su Hao's arrival may have changed the worldline, and Su Hao decided they would go to Slumbering Weald before considering how to bring Ash to Galar.
• Su Hao sent Cynthia a photo of Ash and Paul, and she transferred him one million Alliance Coins as travel expenses.

Su Hao traveled to the Slumbering Weald to investigate reports that Zacian and Zacian had suffered severe injuries, with Hop guiding him to the forest after losing a battle. He reached Hero’s Rest and found the Rusted Sword and Rusted Shield broken, then took them, insisting they were something he had picked up.

• Su Hao met Hop at a Postwick ranch and asked him for directions to the Slumbering Weald.
• Hop challenged Su Hao to battle his Wooloo, but Su Hao defeated it with an Aura Bullet and healed it with Tokiwa Power.
• Hop led Su Hao to a secluded path into the Slumbering Weald, then returned home as Su Hao entered the forest alone.
• Su Hao searched the forest for Zacian and Zacian, but could not sense them and asked Reshiram to guide him toward an unusual aura.
• Su Hao reached Hero’s Rest and found the Rusted Sword and Rusted Shield broken into pieces.
• Su Hao used Confusion to take the broken artifacts from their groove, and told Reshiram that he had simply picked them up.