Chapter Summaries

Jing He gathered with the competitors and their Pokémon in Nimbasa City before the Youth Master World Championship Tournament, reminding his team to prioritize their safety. The opening ceremony ended with Champion Alder officially declaring the tournament underway.

• Jing He discussed the tournament’s powerful lineup with Watari and spotted Shiba buying Angry Mantou from Team Rocket’s trio.
• Jing He called Mato, who said Team Rocket had come to Unova after an invitation from Pokéstar Studios and promised to explain more in person.
• Leon arrived with Kibana and reunited with Sonia, who complained that Leon had gotten lost while flying over the sea.
• Jing He told his Pokémon to protect themselves during the tournament, and Cynthia asked whether they had ever battled each other.
• Marshal announced the tournament rules and introduced the contestants at the opening ceremony, where Alder declared the Youth Master World Championship Tournament officially begun.

At the World Championship Tournament, Jing He met Klara and the exceptionally young Master Poppy, who asked to transfer to his school because she wanted to study. Jing He agreed to discuss it after the tournament, then began his first match against Lacey.

• Jing He watched the swamp-field preliminaries alongside Volkner and Aaron, then recognized Klara and Poppy when they approached.
• Volkner and Aaron mistakenly called Klara a boy and were shocked to learn that Poppy was a Master.
• Klara explained that Geeta and Clavell had recommended Jing He as a teacher for Poppy, who wanted to go to school.
• Jing He agreed to talk about Poppy's transfer after the tournament, while Klara and Poppy decided to make an impression in battle.
• Volkner defeated his opponent, and Jing He began his first match against the pink-haired Lacey.

Jing He faced Blueberry Academy Elite Four member Lacey in the tournament’s first round, where his Tinkaton overcame her Tailwind strategy and defeated Excadrill with overwhelming hammer blows. Lacey was forced to choose her next Pokémon as the damaged arena left the crowd stunned.

• Jing He and Lacey began their battle with Tinkaton and Whimsicott, while Poppy watched alongside her own Tinkaton.
• Lacey ordered Whimsicott to set up Tailwind, but Jing He had Tinkaton use Fake Out to flinch it before Lacey recalled it.
• Lacey sent out Excadrill, and Tinkaton struck it with Rock Smash, cracking its drill and forcing it to use Dig.
• Jing He told Tinkaton to do what it did best, and Tinkaton slammed its Gigaton Hammer into the ground, collapsing the arena and blasting Excadrill out of its tunnel.
• Tinkaton struck Excadrill again and knocked it out, prompting the referee to tell Lacey to send out another Pokémon.

Jing He and Tinkaton defeated all three of Lacey’s Pokémon in the Masters Tournament, using precise tactics alongside overwhelming strength. After the match, Lacey invited Jing He to lecture at Blueberry Academy, where his interest in Terastallization left open questions about how it might interact with Mega Evolution.

• Lacey sent out Primarina, which used Hot Water, but Tinkaton blocked it with Stone Edge and then protected itself from Hyper Voice.
• Tinkaton smashed through Primarina’s Hot Water with Ice Hammer and struck it with Gigaton Hammer, prompting Lacey to recall it and send Whimsicott onto the field.
• Whimsicott tried to set Tailwind, but Tinkaton hit it with a thrown stone and then knocked it out with Gigaton Hammer.
• Jing He’s Tinkaton defeated Lacey’s final Pokémon, giving Jing He the victory after all three of Lacey’s Pokémon lost their ability to battle.
• Lacey invited Jing He to give a public lecture at Blueberry Academy, and he expressed interest in learning about Terastallization and its possible interaction with Mega Evolution.

Jing He let Meloetta choose to stay with him after her guardian Larry came to take her back. He also discovered that Tinkaton and Gengar had been salvaging the Plasma Frigate in the Destroyed World for metal, leaving him to consider whether its records had survived.

• Jing He watched Cynthia, Steven Stone, and Wataru win their battles in the Nimbasa City competition.
• Larry arrived at Jing He's residence and asked to take Meloetta back to her tribe, but Meloetta refused to leave.
• Jing He and Volkner persuaded Larry to respect Meloetta's choice, and Larry left while Meloetta stayed with Jing He.
• Jing He learned that Gengar and Tinkaton had traded Energy Cubes to Giratina for permission to salvage metal from the wrecked Plasma Frigate.
• Jing He encouraged Tinkaton to keep forging and wondered whether the frigate's information and records had survived.

Jing He dealt with Team Rocket Trio’s unauthorized contestant merchandise and arranged to protect them from arrest while taking most of their profits. The chapter ended as Jing He and Nezu began their second-round match, with Nezu sending out Malamar first.

• A Pokémon League report described Jing He’s battle style as dragging opponents down to a baby’s level and beating them with teaching experience, and the tournament announced the round-of-64 matchups.
• Jing He learned that he would face Nezu, the powerful Spikemuth Gym Leader who did not rely on Gigantamax.
• Jing He found Team Rocket Trio selling contestant posters and postcards, then promised to handle authorization and keep the Pokémon League from arresting them in exchange for seventy percent of their earnings.
• After Officer Jenny prepared to arrest vendors selling pirated merchandise, Jing He used his International Police connections to help Team Rocket Trio escape trouble.
• Jing He and Nezu took their positions in the arena, exchanged formal greetings, and Nezu sent out Malamar to begin the match.

Jing He countered Nezu’s Malamar and Scrafty boost strategy by switching to Gengar, which stole Scrafty’s stat boosts and used physical attacks to dominate the field. Gengar knocked out Malamar, while Scrafty remained available to battle.

• Nezu sent out Malamar and used Trick Room, while Jing He opened with Urshifu and ordered Surging Strikes.
• Malamar used Superpower repeatedly, raising its Attack and Defense through Contrary, but Urshifu’s attacks pushed it to its limit.
• Nezu used Baton Pass to give Malamar’s boosts to Scrafty, while Jing He recalled Urshifu and sent out Gengar.
• Gengar used Gimme Dat to steal Scrafty’s boosts, then stopped Scrafty’s Crunch with Brick Break.
• Nezu recalled Scrafty and sent Malamar back to use Topsy-Turvy, but Gengar avoided the move with Phantom Force and knocked Malamar out.

Jing He defeated Nezu in their tournament battle, using Urshifu to overcome Obstagoon and Scrafty after Gengar’s tricks helped turn the match. The referee declared Jing He the winner, advancing him to the top thirty-two.

• Nezu sent out Obstagoon, whose Flame Orb and Guts strengthened its Double-Edge as Jing He switched Gengar out for Urshifu.
• Urshifu stopped Obstagoon’s charge with Double Team and returned its force with Single Strike Style, knocking Obstagoon out despite Nezu’s attempt to counter with Double Team.
• Nezu sent out his last Pokémon, Scrafty, which used Fake Out and began Dragon Dance, but Urshifu recovered from Flinch and struck it down with Surging Strikes.
• The referee announced Jing He as the winner, and Jing He advanced to the top thirty-two.

Jing He spent time with his friends while preparing for the tournament, and N reached Dragonspiral Tower, where Zekrom acknowledged his ideal and revealed that it feared Jing He would not acknowledge it. As the top 32 began, Jing He learned that his afternoon opponent was Alola’s Molayne.

• Jing He barbecued with Steven and the others while Wataru fled from Lorelei, who chased him after he escaped on Dragonite.
• N reached Dragonspiral Tower, declared that his ideal was for every Pokémon to live the life it wanted, and earned Zekrom’s acknowledgment.
• N asked Zekrom about Jing He, and Zekrom explained that it had met him but feared Jing He would not acknowledge it.
• The tournament moved to Nimbasa City’s main arena, where top 32 matches used a six-select-three format and allowed power-up options.
• Jing He learned that he would face Steel-type specialist Molayne in the afternoon and went to watch Volkner and the others compete first.
• Molayne’s Alolan friends discussed Jing He and anticipated his match, while Molayne hoped to avoid battling Jing He’s Gengar.

Jing He faced Molayne in the Masters Tournament, where Molayne opened with an entry-hazard strategy and Jing He’s Ceruledge countered with a surprise attack. The battle remained underway as Jing He prepared to have Ceruledge Transform.

• Molayne and Jing He greeted each other before selecting their Pokémon for the battle.
• Molayne sent out Skarmory, while Jing He chose Ceruledge on the rocky arena.
• Skarmory set Stealth Rock and Spikes as Ceruledge waited without appearing to move.
• Jing He ordered Flare Blitz, revealing Ceruledge had used Shadow Sneak to appear behind Skarmory and strike it from the air.
• Skarmory avoided further damage with Roost, then Molayne recalled it after its entry hazards were set.
• Jing He prepared to have Ceruledge Transform as the audience joked about banning him.

Jing He defeated Molayne in the Masters Tournament after Ceruledge endured Alolan Dugtrio and Metagross, then transformed into Armarouge and unleashed a devastating cannon blast. Jing He advanced to the round of sixteen, while several champions grew eager to battle him.

• Molayne sent out Alolan Dugtrio, which used Earthquake and Tangling Hair to wear Ceruledge down, but Ceruledge shattered the battlefield with Solar Blade and defeated it.
• Molayne brought out his ace Metagross and used a Steel-type Z-Move, but Ceruledge survived with Protect and continued fighting.
• Jing He had Ceruledge transform into Armarouge, which combined Armor Cannon with Aura and psychic power to knock Metagross out with one blast.
• Jing He recalled the exhausted Armarouge, and his remaining Tinkaton faced Molayne's weakened Skarmory as the referee declared Jing He the winner.
• Jing He advanced to the round of sixteen, while Kiawe, Volkner, Cynthia, Wataru, and Steven Stone showed interest in battling him.

Jing He discussed Ceruledge and Armarouge’s form-switching, prepared to repair Ceruledge’s armor, and weighed Larvitar’s growth and evolution. After the Youth Master World Championship Tournament’s top sixteen were decided, Jing He learned he would face Kibana while Cynthia drew Watari.

• Jing He told a Pokémon League interviewer that Ceruledge and Armarouge’s form-switching might eventually be popularized, then discussed the day’s matches and upcoming battles.
• Steven Stone offered Jing He metal and Carbink-made diamonds, while Jing He decided to keep Larvitar from evolving for now and cautioned Steven about Poppy’s Terastallization.
• Cynthia defeated Aaron, and Steven Stone defeated Poppy after the two chatted about Jing He throughout their battle.
• The top sixteen draw matched Jing He against Kibana and Cynthia against Watari, while Volkner drew Klara.

Jing He became a paid commentator for the Top Eight matches, where Cynthia defeated Watari and three other contestants advanced. As he prepared for his own match against Kibana, Larvitar revealed it had absorbed part of an Earth Plate Fragment, and Jing He considered letting it battle.

• A tournament organizer asked Jing He to commentate, and he accepted after learning the position was paid.
• Cynthia defeated Watari after her Garchomp tore through Bronzong’s Trick Room without either trainer using Mega Evolution.
• Leon, Caitlin, and Steven Stone won their matches against Wan Long, Acerola, and Pachira, respectively.
• Jing He learned that Larvitar had bitten and absorbed part of an Earth Plate Fragment, then praised it and considered entering it against Kibana.
• The next day, the second half of the Top Eight battle began.

Wataru defeated Lance, Volkner beat Klara after her first tournament Terastallization, and Diantha advanced over Lorelei. Jing He then began his Top Eight battle against Kibana, whose weather-focused team faced Jing He’s unexpected Larvitar as the chapter ended.

• Wataru defeated Lance, and Cynthia praised his greater battle experience.
• Volkner defeated Klara after her Terastallized Clodsire fell to Infernape in its Blaze state.
• Diantha advanced to the Top Eight by defeating Lorelei with Mega Gardevoir.
• Jing He inspected Kibana’s weather-focused team before their rotating single battle began on a Grass Field.
• Kibana sent out Torkoal to set harsh sunlight, while Jing He surprised the audience by choosing Larvitar.
• Cynthia and Kibana recognized that Jing He’s Larvitar was unusually strong as the battle was about to begin.

Jing He’s Larvitar seized control of the weather from Kibana’s Torkoal and used the Sandstorm to drive the battle. Larvitar heavily damaged Torkoal, then bit into its shell before Kibana recalled it.

• Kibana opened the battle by ordering Torkoal to use Solar Beam, but Larvitar countered by starting a Sandstorm.
• Torkoal tried to reclaim the weather with Sunny Day, but Larvitar’s Sandstorm overwhelmed it and restored the battle’s momentum to Jing He.
• Jing He had Larvitar use Dragon Dance and then Bulldoze, which missed as Torkoal hid in a Smokescreen.
• Larvitar dispersed the smoke with Sandstorm, and its Stomping Tantrum struck Torkoal as it charged with Body Press.
• Larvitar bit down on Torkoal’s shell, prompting Kibana to recall Torkoal before it lost its shell.

Jing He and Kibana’s Masters Tournament battle continued as Dragonite used Goodra’s rain to gain an advantage and defeat it, while Larvitar helped take down Torkoal. Kibana sent out Flygon to face Larvitar amid the returning Sandstorm.

• Kibana sent out Goodra, and Jing He recalled Larvitar and replaced it with Dragonite.
• Goodra summoned rain and used Hydro Pump, but Dragonite exploited the weather with Hurricane and Thunder before the two Pokémon traded Dragon Rush and Draco Meteor.
• Dragonite used Extreme Speed to break through Goodra’s Muddy Water and knock it out.
• Kibana brought back his weakened Torkoal, whose Drought restored Sunny Day, while Jing He switched Dragonite for Larvitar.
• Torkoal’s Overheat and Larvitar’s Stomping Tantrum defeated each other, and Kibana sent out Flygon as Sandstorm swirled around the field.

Jing He defeated Kibana in the Masters Tournament, using Ice Ninetales to overpower Flygon before Tinkaton took down Archaludon. He advanced to the Top Eight, where his next opponents would likely be future Champions.

• Jing He recalled Larvitar after it defeated Kibana's Torkoal, then sent out Ice Ninetales to replace Flygon's Sandstorm with snow.
• Kibana had Flygon challenge Ice Ninetales for weather control, but her Blizzard overwhelmed it and froze it in place.
• Kibana sent out Archaludon, which broke through Ice Ninetales's Aurora Veil and forced Jing He to switch her out for Tinkaton.
• Tinkaton battered Archaludon with its hammer and blocked its Steel Beam, using the impact to forge its hammer further.
• Jing He ordered Tinkaton to finish Archaludon with Gigaton Hammer, winning the battle and advancing to the Top Eight.

After the Top Eight roster was finalized, Jing He spent the rest day training his Pokémon and helping Kibana’s Torkoal and Archaludon recover from their battle. The next day’s first match was announced: Jing He would face Leon, while the other quarterfinal matchups were also revealed.

• Jing He gave Larvitar an Everstone so it could keep eating and growing before evolving, and Steven Stone supplied diamonds for it to eat.
• Kibana brought Torkoal and Archaludon to Jing He for help with their slight psychological barriers, and Jing He used Meloetta’s song and Ice Ninetales’s Hypnosis to put them to sleep for treatment.
• Jing He advised Kibana to master one weather strategy rather than spread his team across too many kinds of weather.
• Sonia announced that Jing He would face Leon in the first Top Eight match the following day, while Wataru faced Caitlin, Steven Stone faced Diantha, and Cynthia faced Volkner.

Jing He prepared to face Leon in the Youth Master World Championship Tournament’s Top Four, while the Team Rocket Trio secured more work and Red, Green, and Professor Oak headed for Nimbasa City. The chapter ended with Leon arriving dramatically by Charizard after getting lost, just as the battle was about to begin.

• The Team Rocket Trio counted their tournament earnings and accepted the supervisor’s offer to work at Eindoak Town’s upcoming celebration.
• Volkner vowed to challenge Cynthia again, while Cynthia and the others discussed the tournament’s Sinnoh matchups and Aaron noted that Jing He could eliminate every Galar seed.
• Professor Oak sailed toward Nimbasa City with Red and Green, discovered Red had been scammed with paper tickets, and called Alder for help.
• Jing He’s Pokémon ate their pre-match meal in the contestant lounge, with Gengar devouring ice cream and Larvitar mistaking part of a plate for food.
• Jing He entered the arena to loud cheers, but Leon failed to appear in the tunnel and was expected to have gotten lost again.
• Leon flew into the arena on Charizard, struck his signature pose, and shouted that it was battle time.

Jing He and Leon began their tournament battle, with Ceruledge overcoming Cinderace’s Libero tactics before Gengar overwhelmed Inteleon with a barrage of Shadow Balls. The battle remained underway as Inteleon was caught in Gengar’s attack.

• Gengar briefly interrupted the match by firing a black-mist assault rifle, then the referee began the battle between Jing He and Leon.
• Leon sent out Cinderace, while Jing He answered with Ceruledge, and Cinderace used Libero to turn Dark-type and strike first with Sucker Punch.
• Ceruledge endured Cinderace’s attack, countered with Close Combat, and blocked a second Sucker Punch with Jing He’s Aura guiding its reaction.
• Leon recalled Cinderace and sent out Inteleon, while Jing He switched to Gengar.
• Inteleon fired two Dark Pulses, but Gengar answered with multiple Shadow Balls and surrounded Inteleon with copies that launched a massive barrage.