Chapter Summaries

Su Hao left Ho-Oh Institute after learning how Incineroar had improved through training with Reshiram. As the Pokémon World Championship approached, the Masters Eight rules were announced, and the Elimination Tournament began.

• Su Hao gave the abbot a heat-resistant kasaya before leaving Ho-Oh Institute with Incineroar and Reshiram.
• Reshiram told Su Hao that Incineroar’s physique, Magnetic Field Manipulation, and flames had improved, bringing its combat strength close to Champion Level.
• Regions around the world organized events to support their Masters Eight representatives, while Cerulean City held a small event for Su Hao.
• The committee announced that the Masters Eight Elimination Tournament would take place at Spikemuth Arena over three days, with one-on-one, three-on-three, and six-on-six battles.
• The tournament began as fans debated the contenders, with Dande receiving nearly half of the public support.

On the day of the Pokémon World Championship, Team Rocket’s Musashi, Kojiro, and Meowth sold food in Hammerlocke before heading into Spikemuth Arena. Su Hao joined the other Masters Eight members, and they prepared to rise into the arena for the opening ceremony.

• Musashi, Kojiro, and Meowth ran a busy fried-bread stall, hoping to earn money and eventually find Boss Sakaki.
• As customers dwindled, the trio packed up and entered Spikemuth Arena to sell boxed lunches and drinks, reflecting on Ash’s rise to the Masters Eight.
• Su Hao arrived at the exclusive lounge after helping Hisuian Braviary and Zeraora stabilize their new levels.
• Ash, Iris, Lance, Steven, Cynthia, and Dande greeted Su Hao eagerly, while Caronne felt left out among the familiar faces.
• The eight Masters Eight members followed staff to platforms beneath the arena and waited as the machinery began to lift them.

The eight Masters Eight Trainers were introduced at the Pokémon World Championship opening ceremony, and Dande declared that he would defeat them all. The tournament bracket was drawn, leaving Ash set to face Caronne in the first elimination match.

• Ash took the stage as the eighth-ranked Masters Eight member and greeted the friends, family, and fans who had come to support him.
• Iris and Su Hao appeared, followed by Caronne, Lance, Steven, Cynthia, and Dande.
• Dande addressed his opponents and vowed that he and his Pokémon would defeat everyone before them.
• The host announced the bracket: Ash versus Caronne, Iris versus Lance, Dande versus Steven, and Cynthia versus Su Hao.
• The Masters Eight returned to their lounges as the schedule was set, with the first-round upper-bracket matches due to begin that morning.
• The crowd discussed Ash's upcoming one-on-one battle against Caronne and wondered which Pokémon he would send out against her Gardevoir.

Ash and Caronne began their upper-bracket Masters Eight match, renewing their unfinished battle with Greninja and Gardevoir as their aces. In the backstage lounge, Su Hao refused Cynthia’s unspoken challenge and promised his ace would satisfy her, while the opening exchange between the Pokémon began.

• Ash and Caronne entered the arena and recalled Ash’s earlier defeat against the Kalos Champion, then clasped hands and agreed to continue their unfinished battle.
• The chapter outlined the tournament’s no-second-chance format: one-on-one quarterfinals, three-on-three semifinals, and six-on-six finals.
• Cynthia approached Su Hao in the tense backstage lounge, but he told her to watch the match and refused the all-out battle he sensed she wanted.
• Ash sent out Greninja while Caronne chose Gardevoir, and Greninja opened with Water Shuriken against Gardevoir’s Shadow Ball.
• After their attacks collided in an explosion, Greninja dashed through the smoke and charged Gardevoir with Night Slash.

Ash and Greninja battled Caronne and Gardevoir, whose Mega Evolution made them formidable opponents. After a fierce contest, Ash and Greninja's bond-powered Golden Flying Water Shuriken defeated Mega Gardevoir, ending the battle.

• Gardevoir evaded Greninja's Night Slash attacks and struck him with Dazzling Gleam.
• Caronne Mega Evolved Gardevoir while Ash and Greninja activated their Bond Transformation.
• Mega Gardevoir and Ash-Greninja exchanged powerful attacks in a battle that lasted ten minutes and left both sides injured.
• Ash and Greninja formed a Golden Flying Water Shuriken and clashed with Mega Gardevoir's Psychic.
• The Golden Flying Water Shuriken overwhelmed Mega Gardevoir and ended the contest.

Lance defeated Iris in the second upper-bracket match of the Masters Eight tournament, earning a semifinal battle against Ash. After the loss, Iris met Ash in the tunnel and broke down, wishing she were stronger.

• After Ash's victory, Caronne praised both him and herself in an interview, winning Kalos citizens' goodwill and bringing Ash more supporters.
• Geeta considered inviting Ash to become a battle instructor at Naranja Academy or Uva Academy after the tournament.
• Lance and Iris entered the second upper-bracket match, each sending out Dragonite and Haxorus as their aces.
• Iris used her bond with Dragon-type Pokémon and Haxorus's strength to challenge Lance, but his experience and Dragonite's Flying-type techniques overcame them.
• Lance defeated Iris and advanced to face Ash for a place in the finals.
• Ash waited for Iris in the contestants' tunnel, where she cried and lamented that she was not stronger.

Dande and Steven faced off in the first lower-bracket battle, with Charizard burning Steven’s Metagross before both Trainers powered up their Pokémon. The match continued with Gigantamax Charizard and Mega Metagross clashing as Steven tried to reverse the advantage before the burn took its toll.

• Dande and Steven sent out Charizard and Shiny Metagross for their highly anticipated battle.
• Lance warned Su Hao and Cynthia that Dande studied opponents and used targeted tactics.
• Dande’s Charizard broke through Metagross’s Psychic and inflicted a burn with Will-O-Wisp.
• Dande activated Special Gigantamax while Steven Mega Evolved Metagross.
• Dande’s G-Max Dive collided with Steven’s Meteor Mash as Steven sought to turn the battle around quickly.

Dande defeated Steven when Gigantamax Charizard overpowered Mega Metagross with a second G-Max Wildfire. After the arena was repaired, the next lower-bracket battle began with Cynthia facing Su Hao.

• Steven's burned Mega Metagross broke through Dande's G-Max Dive and struck Gigantamax Charizard with Meteor Mash.
• Dande ordered G-Max Wildfire, and Steven used Mega Metagross's Psychic to redirect the firebird toward Charizard.
• Dande commanded Charizard to unleash another G-Max Wildfire, which shattered Steven's attack and defeated Mega Metagross.
• Dande was declared the winner as the crowd cheered, while Cynthia prepared to face Su Hao.
• After the damaged arena was repaired, Cynthia and Su Hao entered the Battle Arena for their lower-bracket match.

Su Hao and Cynthia faced each other in a World Championship battle, with Su Hao sending out Diancie against Cynthia’s Garchomp. Cynthia opened with a Dragon Pulse that struck the ground and raised a Sandstorm, concealing Garchomp’s sudden disappearance.

• Ash realized that even if he reached the lower bracket, he could battle only one of Su Hao, Cynthia, or Dande.
• Su Hao and Cynthia exchanged teasing remarks before taking their positions and sending out Diancie and Garchomp.
• The host introduced Diancie as a Mythical Pokémon and the princess of the Mineral Kingdom, drawing attention from the crowd and Steven.
• Cynthia ordered Garchomp to use Dragon Pulse, and it blasted the ground beside Diancie to create a Sandstorm.
• Diancie blocked the flying debris with Confusion, while Garchomp vanished from view inside the Sandstorm.

Su Hao and Diancie fought Cynthia and Garchomp in a devastating battle, with Garchomp gaining a slight edge in their direct clash. Cynthia Mega Evolved Garchomp, and Su Hao answered by calling for Diancie’s Ultra Burst as the chapter ended.

• Su Hao spotted Garchomp’s feint and warned Diancie, which evaded Slash with an unexplained technique and countered with Power Gem.
• Garchomp cut through Diancie’s Power Gem with Dragon Claw, then launched Ultimate Impact as Cynthia pressed her attack.
• Su Hao and Diancie met Garchomp head-on with Dazzling Gleam, and the collision devastated the arena while leaving both Pokémon injured, with Garchomp slightly ahead.
• Cynthia synchronized her Aura with Garchomp’s and used her Key Stone to Mega Evolve it.
• Su Hao called for Diancie to use Ultra Burst, unleashing its held-back Radiant Power.

Su Hao and Diancie battled Cynthia and Mega Garchomp, whose Lustrous Orb power let it tear through space and wound Diancie. Su Hao and Diancie answered with the Z-Move Dawn Break, which defeated Garchomp and left Spikemuth Arena nearly hollowed out.

• Cynthia Mega Evolved Garchomp while Diancie completed its Ultimate Burst, revealing a radiant form that weakened Mega Garchomp with its aura.
• Mega Garchomp used Earthquake and Earth Power, but Diancie countered with Gravity and a beam of light, then repelled its Hyper Beam and Swords Dance charge with Dazzling Gleam.
• Mega Garchomp survived the clash and used the power of the Lustrous Orb to slice through space with Dragon Claw, wounding Diancie despite its Fairy-type advantage.
• Su Hao activated Diancie Z, and he and Diancie unleashed the Z-Move Dawn Break against Cynthia and Mega Garchomp's Dragon Rush.
• Dawn Break devastated Spikemuth Arena, and Garchomp was left wounded and forced out of its Mega form.

Su Hao defeated Cynthia in the Pokémon World Championship quarterfinals, leaving Dande wary of their upcoming match and Cynthia eager to face Diancie again. The first day ended with Ash and Lance set to meet in the semifinals, while fans anticipated Su Hao’s battle against Dande.

• Su Hao and Diancie defeated Cynthia’s Garchomp with the Z-Move Dawn Break, stunning spectators and making Dande consider how to prepare for Su Hao.
• Cynthia congratulated Su Hao, resolved to train Garchomp in Shelter, and declared that she would defeat Diancie before challenging Reshiram.
• Lance urged Steven to leave the lounge, then called him an obsessive stone maniac after realizing Steven had been staring at Diancie.
• The first day of the Pokémon World Championship ended, with Ash set to face Lance and Su Hao scheduled to battle Dande the next afternoon.
• Fans debated the upcoming matches, and Black Market betting tables offered odds on Su Hao defeating Dande, including bets based on Su Hao sending out Reshiram or Ho-Oh.

Ash and Lance began the first Masters Eight semifinal, with their Dragonite and Hydreigon battling at Champion Level. As Lance’s Hydreigon pressed Ash’s Dragonite into defense, Ash ordered it to use a surprising new attack, Dragonite Meteor Swarm.

• Su Hao watched the tournament from a private lounge with Mewtwo, who said it would battle in the afternoon’s match.
• Ash and Lance entered the first semifinal at Spikemuth Arena, each sending out a Dragon-type Pokémon.
• Ash’s Dragonite and Lance’s Hydreigon opened with Dragon Pulse and escalated their clash.
• Lance’s Hydreigon used Tri Attack, Triple Dragon Pulse, and Triple Dark Pulse to force Dragonite onto the defensive.
• Ash ordered Dragonite to use the unfamiliar move Dragonite Meteor Swarm.

Ash and Lance battled in the Masters Eight semifinals, with Ash’s Dragonite and Mega Charizard Y each defeating one of Lance’s Pokémon before falling to his Mega Charizard X and Dragonite. The morning’s final battle began with Lance’s Dragonite facing Ash’s Pikachu.

• Ash’s Dragonite and Lance’s Hydreigon knocked each other down, but Dragonite rose first and won the battle.
• Lance sent out Charizard and Mega Evolved it into Mega Charizard X, which defeated Ash’s Dragonite.
• Ash’s Mega Charizard Y fought Lance’s Mega Charizard X and defeated it with Seismic Toss Blitz Acceleration.
• Lance sent out his ace Dragonite, which defeated Ash’s Mega Charizard Y.
• Ash sent out Pikachu to face Lance’s Dragonite in the final battle of the morning.

Ash and Pikachu unleashed 10,000,000 Volt Thunderbolt against Lance's Gigantamax Dragonite in the Spikemuth Arena battle. The Z-Move overwhelmed Dragonite, leaving Ash victorious as Su Hao considered how to counter Pikachu in a possible final.

• Gigantamax Dragonite's attack left Pikachu battered in a crater, but Pikachu refused to give up.
• Ash called for 10,000,000 Volt Thunderbolt, while Lance ordered Dragonite to use one final Gigantamax Dragapult.
• Pikachu's seven-colored Z-Move overpowered Dragonite's dragon storm as Su Hao watched and told Zeraora to study the lightning.
• Dragonite fell and could not get back up, giving Ash and Pikachu the victory.
• Su Hao decided he would need to keep Pikachu from being sent out last and prevent it from using 10,000,000 Volt Thunderbolt.

Ash and Pikachu defeated Lance’s team to advance to the Pokémon World Championship finals, while Su Hao prepared to face Dande that afternoon. Dande grew increasingly wary of Su Hao’s strength, and the Galar Gym Leaders learned that Mustard had come to the venue, raising concerns about a possible confrontation with Opal.

• Ash and Pikachu defeated Lance’s Dragonite and advanced to the finals, prompting Lance to consider passing the Champion baton to the younger generation.
• Su Hao told Mewtwo that he would battle Dande’s first two Pokémon and leave Gigantamax Charizard for Mewtwo to face.
• Cynthia and Steven reflected on Pikachu’s powerful 10,000,000 Volt Thunderbolt, while Dande resolved to study Su Hao’s battles and prepare a strategy.
• Su Hao entered the venue in disguise through the spectators’ line, then followed a staff member to a restricted area before his match.
• Raihan told the Galar Gym Leaders that he could not meet Dande and revealed that Mustard had also been turned away.
• Opal reacted with surprise when she learned Mustard was at the venue, and the Gym Leaders worried that the two might cause trouble if they met.

Dande overcame the pressure of defending his undefeated Champion title and prepared to face Su Hao with the resolve to give everything in the semifinal. The two Trainers began their match by sending out Dragapult.

• Dande reassured Mustard and Honey that he had stopped searching for a way to counter Su Hao and would focus on battling at his full strength.
• Mustard said Dande needed to experience defeat to break free of the burden of being the strongest and grow into a battle legend.
• Dande and Su Hao entered the arena as the semifinalists competing for a place in the final against Ash.
• Dande told Su Hao he wanted to enjoy their ultimate battle and claim victory, and Su Hao agreed to fight without regrets.
• Dande and Su Hao threw their Poké Balls and both sent out Dragapult.

Su Hao and Dande began a Dragapult mirror match, and Su Hao revealed that his Shiny Dragapult and its siblings had reached Champion Level. The battle turned sharply in Su Hao’s favor when his trio’s coordinated attacks brought down Dande’s two Dragapult siblings.

• Dande sent out his Dragapult, and the crowd noticed that Su Hao’s Dragapult was Shiny, as were the two siblings it cared for.
• Dande ordered Dragon Pulse, but Su Hao’s Dragapult used Wide Guard to split and destroy the attack, revealing its Champion Level strength.
• Su Hao’s Dragapult fired a Shadow Ball, then all three of his Dragapults performed Dragon Dance together and rapidly increased their power.
• Dande sent his Dragapult siblings after Su Hao’s pair while his own Dragapult used Phantom Force to wait for an opening.
• Su Hao’s Dragapult siblings launched Draco Meteor as Dragapult vanished through a Space Channel, and Dande’s two siblings fell trailing black smoke.

Su Hao's Dragapult and the three Dragalge siblings overwhelmed Dande's Dragapult, earning Su Hao the first point. Dande sent out Aegislash, and Su Hao chose Ogerpon to face it, leaving the battle poised for their next clash.

• Su Hao's Dragapult used the Reverse World to force Dande's Dragapult out of the Different Dimension and join the Dragalge siblings' assault.
• The three Dragalge siblings blocked Dande from recalling Dragapult, and their combined Draco Meteor knocked it out alongside the two Dragapult that had already fallen.
• The referee awarded the first point to Su Hao, stunning Dande's fans.
• Dande recalled his Dragapult and sent out his mid-Champion Level Aegislash.
• Su Hao recalled his Dragon Dance-boosted Dragapult and sent out Ogerpon to battle Aegislash.

Su Hao’s Ogerpon clashed with Dande’s Aegislash, using Perpetual Sword Dance and its Hearth Mask to trade powerful blows and turn Aegislash’s Sacred Sword back against it. The battered Aegislash launched a Shadow Ball at Ogerpon as the battle continued.

• Dande ordered Aegislash to use Swords Dance, while Su Hao had Ogerpon charge with Perpetual Sword Dance.
• Ogerpon donned its red mask and struck Aegislash’s King’s Shield with a fiery Thorn Whip Stick, cracking the barrier but suffering King’s Shield’s Attack-lowering effect.
• Su Hao told Ogerpon to retreat, and Dande sent Aegislash after it with Sacred Sword.
• Ogerpon blocked Sacred Sword with Spiky Shield and blasted Aegislash away with the counterforce.
• Dande ordered the battered Aegislash to fire a Shadow Ball at Ogerpon.