Recaps

Roy arrived at Blackthorn Gym and was forced into a battle with Acting Gym Leader Clair before he could challenge her grandfather, the Gym Leader. Clair’s Dragonite fought Roy’s Dusclops, but Dusclops endured its attacks and slammed it to the ground with Vital Throw.

• Roy found Clair waiting outside Blackthorn Gym, and she dragged him inside and demanded a battle.
• Roy learned Clair was the Acting Gym Leader and agreed to fight her before challenging her grandfather, while accepting the ban on his Misdreavus.
• Clair sent out her level 64 Dragonite, and Roy chose Dusclops, the Pokémon that had defeated Dragonite before.
• Dusclops used Gravity Field to interrupt Dragonite’s Dragon Dance and force it to the ground.
• Dragonite charged with Extreme Speed and attacked Dusclops with Brutal Swing, but Dusclops shrugged off the blows.
• Dusclops caught Dragonite’s tail and used Vital Throw to slam him to the ground.

Roy defeated Clair’s Dragonite with Dusclops and followed Clair into Dragon Village, the hidden heart of Blackthorn City. Clair revealed that Roy still had to pass her grandfather’s test before he could challenge the Blackthorn Gym Leader.

• Roy’s Dusclops used Trick Room and a series of Ice and Fire attacks to defeat Clair’s Dragonite.
• The referee declared Roy the winner, and Roy asked Clair to let him challenge the Gym Leader.
• Clair led Roy deep into the Gym and through a small door into Dragon Village, where powerful Dragon Pokémon lived.
• Clair explained that the previous battle had only been her test as acting Gym Leader and that Roy had to pass her grandfather’s test.

Roy waited in Dragon Village while Clair went to battle another challenger, then passed the time fishing with Annihilape and Little Absol. The chapter left Roy’s Pokémon hauling a huge fish from the river as a stunned old man watched.

• Clair left Roy near an ancestral hall after an apprentice summoned her to battle a challenger who had an appointment.
• Dragapult emerged from its Poké Ball, but Roy told it not to fly off and race with Noivern and Salamence.
• Roy joined an old man fishing by the river and let Annihilape use a fishing rod; Annihilape quickly caught several fish, including a Barboach with Dragon Dance.
• Little Absol asked to fish, and Annihilape handed over the rod while Roy watched.
• Little Absol’s Super Luck activated, and it pulled a fish nearly a meter long from the river.

Roy’s fishing bait helped Annihilape catch a bucketful of fish, impressing the old man fishing nearby. Clair returned and revealed that the old man was her grandfather, the Blackthorn Gym Leader, who invited Roy to lunch and said they would discuss his Gym challenge afterward.

• Little Absol caught a huge fish, and Annihilape caught more while the old man failed to get a bite.
• The old man realized Annihilape was using a Pokéblock as bait, and Roy let him inspect the fishing-bait Pokéblocks.
• Clair found Roy by the river and called the old man Grandpa, revealing that he was the Blackthorn Gym Leader.
• Roy noticed the old man had put his bucket in the wrong place and passed him the bucket full of fish, letting him save face.
• The old man invited Roy to lunch and postponed discussing the Gym challenge until afterward, while Clair hurried after them for fish.

Roy visited Clair's home, where her grandparents welcomed him and the old man drew him into another fishing trip instead of battling. Dragapult joined the village’s sky race, then met Clair’s much stronger Salamence, while the old man hinted at his hidden strength and Roy ended the chapter helping him land a big fish.

• Clair brought Roy to her grandparents’ home, where her grandmother recognized his name from Lance and the old man served Roy a fish banquet.
• After lunch, the old man took Roy fishing again and encouraged Dragapult to fly with Salamence, Noivern, and Flygon.
• Dragapult overtook the three racers, but Clair’s grandfather’s near-Champion-level Salamence easily passed him and invited him to play.
• Roy asked why the old man had never pursued a place in the Elite Four, and the old man questioned why he would want one.
• The old man’s fishing rod shook, and he called for Roy to bring the landing net for a big fish.

Dragapult chased Salamence into the Dragon Cave, a forbidden resting place for Dragon-type Pokémon, while Roy, Clair, and an old man headed after him. The chapter left Dragapult deep inside the cave, where he encountered a familiar Pokémon with a triangular head.

• Dragapult used the green dragon phantom to catch up with Salamence, and the two raced toward the ground.
• Salamence stopped at the Dragon Cave entrance, but Dragapult sped past Haxorus and flew into the cavern.
• Clair told Roy that Dragapult had entered the Dragon Cave, and an old man reassured Roy before leading them there.
• The old man explained that the cave held the remains of Pokémon who had fought alongside their ancestors and revealed that he had scared Clair away with ghost stories.
• Dragapult stopped in the darkness and called out to a familiar Pokémon with a triangular head.

Roy and the others searched the Dragon Cave for Dragapult, where Roy noticed a seemingly living Giant Dragonite skeleton. Dragapult returned unharmed with a Shiny Dreepy, whom Roy offered food as the group prepared to leave.

• Clair complained that Lance had taken the Dragon Tamers assigned to guard the cave, and the old man led her and Roy inside to search for Dragapult.
• Roy saw a gigantic Dragonite skeleton whose skull seemed to turn toward him, but he sensed no malice and continued into the cave.
• The old man sent Roy and Clair down separate passages, and Roy called for Dragapult while using his Ghost Power to draw him out.
• Dragapult appeared unharmed and revealed a level 29 female Shiny Dreepy he had found inside the cave.
• Roy offered Dragapult some Pokéblock and considered that the Shiny Dreepy needed only basic or intermediate food.

Roy befriended and caught a Shiny Dreepy in the Dragon Cave for Phoebe, then returned with the old man and began his Gym challenge. The old man sent out Haxorus, and Roy recognized it as the Pokémon that had guarded the cave entrance.

• Roy fed Shiny Dreepy Pokéblocks and persuaded it to leave the Dragon Cave for a Trainer who would care for it.
• Shiny Dreepy chose Roy’s Luxury Ball, and Roy discovered it could not enter Dragapult’s head openings but could ride on Little Absol instead.
• Roy recalled Shiny Dreepy and returned to the old man and Clair, then left the cave with them after checking the Dragonite skeleton.
• The old man agreed to Roy’s Gym challenge and entered the arena, where the apprentices and referee gathered for the battle.
• The old man sent out Haxorus, and Roy realized it was the Pokémon that had guarded the Dragon Cave entrance.

Roy challenged the old man's Haxorus for the Rising Badge and used Bond Evolution to transform Misdreavus into Speed Forme Flutter Mane. Flutter Mane's speed and aerial attacks gave her the advantage, but Haxorus remained in the battle.

• The old man set his intermediate King-level Haxorus as the final test for Roy to earn the Rising Badge.
• Roy accidentally released Mimikyu alongside Misdreavus, then recalled Mimikyu and began a Bond Evolution.
• Roy transformed Misdreavus into Speed Forme Flutter Mane, and the old man recognized her from her earlier victory over the Meteor People's Dragon-type team.
• Haxorus used Rock Slide to interrupt Nasty Plot, but Flutter Mane dodged the rocks and attacked with Dazzling Gleam.
• Haxorus used Dig to evade Dazzling Gleam, but Flutter Mane struck him underground with Disarming Voice and continued attacking from the air.

Roy’s Misdreavus (Flutter Mane) and the old man’s Haxorus traded boosts and attacks as Haxorus used clever tactics to break through Protect. Roy then tricked Haxorus into diving underground, where it was caught by Disarming Voice.

• The old man ordered Haxorus to use Dragon Dance, but Roy’s Misdreavus (Flutter Mane) attacked with Icy Wind and slowed it.
• Haxorus endured the wind, completed two Dragon Dances, and used Dig to approach Misdreavus (Flutter Mane) from behind.
• Haxorus combined Rock Tomb and Night Slash, leaping from its own rocks to attack Misdreavus (Flutter Mane)’s Protect barrier.
• Haxorus broke through Protect with its falling rocks and struck Misdreavus (Flutter Mane), leaving it slower than Haxorus.
• Roy ordered Dazzling Gleam, but Misdreavus (Flutter Mane) released Disarming Voice as Haxorus ducked into its tunnel.

Roy defeated the old man's Haxorus and earned the Rising Badge, then spent the afternoon battling Clair until she finally believed she had won against Dusclops. The old man invited Roy to stay overnight in Dragon Village, and Roy accepted.

• Roy and Misdreavus (Flutter Mane) defeated the old man's Haxorus with a final point-blank Dazzling Gleam, and the referee declared Roy the winner.
• The old man awarded Roy the Rising Badge, while Clair stared in disbelief at Misdreavus (Flutter Mane)'s victory.
• Clair repeatedly challenged Roy, and Dusclops defeated her Dragonite and other Pokémon until Roy arranged for Dusclops to fake a loss and let Clair celebrate a win.
• Roy prepared to leave the Rising Dragon Gym, but the old man invited him to stay the night in Dragon Village, and Roy accepted.

Roy learned of ancient ruins near Violet City that contained a Golurk, giving him a lead on the Pokémon connected to his Mega Stone. He met the old man's champion-level Shiny Haxorus and discovered that Haxorus was eating Pokéblocks Roy had made.

• Roy read a newspaper report about ancient ruins southwest of Violet City and recognized the pictured Pokémon as Golurk.
• Roy identified the ruins as the Ruins of Alph and decided to explore them to find Golurk.
• The old man introduced Roy to his level 91 Shiny Haxorus, whose strength and intimidating presence shocked Roy.
• Roy recognized the old man's Pokéblocks as ones he had made for the Joy family and kept that fact to himself as the old man complained about their declining quality.
• Roy returned to his room and found Little Absol directing Shiny Dreepy to practice Dragon Darts.

Roy investigated a mysterious dark shape that entered the Dragon Cave, then left the Dragon Village and headed for the Ruins of Alph. Blocked from entering the ruins by League Prosecutors, he sent Ancient Gengar to lure them away so he could slip inside.

• Roy chased a dark shape to the Dragon Cave, where Haxorus stopped him from entering, and Marshadow later reported that the shape had vanished inside.
• Shiny Dreepy recalled that the giant Dragonite skeleton had once disappeared and reappeared, while Mimikyu said the dark shape resembled the Pokémon that had battled Dusclops.
• Roy gave the old man five boxes of bait Pokéblocks, received Dragon-type training materials, and left the Dragon Village with Dragapult as Salamence, Flygon, and Noivern saw them off.
• Near the Ruins of Alph, two League Prosecutors checked Roy's identification and told him to take a detour because researchers were excavating the site.
• Roy landed outside the ruins and sent Ancient Gengar to provoke the prosecutors, who chased after it.

Roy tried to reach the Golurk in the Ruins of Alph but found the site heavily guarded. He reunited with Professor Shuli, who confirmed the Golurk was lifeless and helped Roy enter the ruins disguised as a researcher.

• Roy spotted a powerful Arcanine and numerous League guards protecting the Ruins of Alph, so he turned toward the researchers' camp instead of entering directly.
• Roy found Professor Shuli, who was at the ruins to study and translate the Unown messages.
• Professor Shuli confirmed that a Golurk was inside the ruins, but its chest seal had already been broken and it had no life force.
• Professor Shuli agreed to let Roy see the Golurk and gave him a lab coat to disguise himself.
• Professor Shuli led Roy past the wary guards and into the ruins.

Roy entered the Ruins of Alph with Professor Shuli and found the enormous Golurk they had come to investigate. A scan identified it as inactivated, leaving Roy uncertain about its condition and how to awaken it.

• Officer Jenny questioned Roy at the chamber entrance, then let him pass after Professor Shuli explained he worked at Professor Oak's lab.
• Roy and Professor Shuli entered a battle-scarred chamber where ancient human and Pokémon remains lay around an altar.
• Professor Shuli led Roy up to the altar, where they found a Golurk more than six meters tall.
• Roy scanned the Golurk and found that the system classified it as inactivated, though its level and other details remained unknown.

Roy discovered that Golurk had lost its vitality after the seal on its chest was opened, and his ghost power was absorbed without reviving it. He asked to take Golurk, and Professor Shuli advised him to wait for Professor Oak to arrive and help make the request.

• Roy asked Marshadow about Golurk’s aura and learned that a powerful aura’s trace remained in the ruins, but it did not come from Golurk.
• Professor Shuli explained that researchers believed Golurk had lost its energy after power leaked through its opened chest seal.
• An exclamation-mark-shaped Unown emerged from Golurk’s chest, and Roy handed it to Professor Shuli before pouring ghost power into Golurk.
• Golurk absorbed all of Roy’s ghost power without showing any sign of revival.
• Roy asked to catch Golurk, and Professor Shuli suggested asking the arriving Professor Oak to help secure permission.
• Roy left the ruins with Professor Shuli and waited at the Research Camp for Professor Oak.

Roy reunited with Professor Oak at the ruins and asked about his research into Primeape evolving into Annihilape. He then revealed that he wanted the Golurk inside the ruins, leaving Professor Oak surprised.

• Roy apologized after Ancient Gengar startled Professor Shuli, then waited for Professor Oak to arrive.
• Officer Jenny thanked Roy for helping Qi in Ecruteak City and asked him what he had found inside the ruin.
• Professor Oak arrived on Dragonite, and Roy greeted him while promising to help with his research.
• Professor Oak explained that the Primeape leader had briefly evolved into Annihilape, gone berserk, and reverted to Primeape after Musharna dispelled his rage.
• Roy asked Professor Oak about the Annihilape research, then admitted that he wanted the Golurk inside the ruin.

Roy and Professor Oak explored the ruins, uncovering ancient Hisui items and a scroll that raised questions about a connection between Hisui and Johto. They then examined the enormous Golurk on the altar, which appeared lifeless and had opened the seal on its own chest.

• Professor Oak found an Ancient Space Ring on a skeleton, and Roy used his Ghost Power to unlock it.
• Professor Oak and Roy discovered ancient Hisui Poké Balls, including a Gigaton Ball, along with Jubilife Berries and Mud Balls inside the ring.
• Roy identified the items as belonging to Hisui and found a scroll whose writing he and Professor Oak could not read; the ruins blocked his Communicator signal.
• Professor Oak put the artifacts away and examined the enormous Golurk on the altar, which appeared to have exhausted its energy.
• Professor Oak concluded that Golurk had opened the smooth, undamaged seal on its own chest.

Roy asked Professor Oak to secure the dormant Golurk from the Ruins of Alph, and Johto’s researchers agreed to let him exchange Trainer contribution points for it. After Officer Jenny revealed Roy had 5,060,000 points, he spent 500,000 to obtain Golurk.

• Professor Oak promised to request Johto’s approval for Roy to take Golurk and agreed after Roy claimed he could restore him.
• Professor Iwaizumi arrived with Johto’s research team and let Professor Oak continue leading the exploration.
• Professor Oak told the researchers Roy wanted Golurk, and Professor Iwaizumi agreed after learning Roy had previously donated ancient artifacts for free.
• Researcher Elm suggested Roy exchange Trainer contribution points for Golurk, and Officer Jenny found 5,060,000 points on Roy’s ID Card.
• The researchers priced Golurk at 500,000 points, and Roy had Officer Jenny deduct the amount to obtain him.

Roy caught the inactive Ancient Golurk and left the Ruins of Alph, then tried to restore it with ghost power. After the Golurk Mega Stone was pulled into Golurk’s chest, Marshadow stepped in and began channeling Ghost-type energy into it.

• Roy caught the motionless Golurk with a Luxury Ball and left the Ruins of Alph after lending Chandelure to Professor Oak.
• Two prosecutors accused Roy of sneaking into the ruins, but Officer Jenny stopped them from attacking him.
• Roy teased the prosecutors by admitting he had entered the ruins and taken an artifact, then left the entrance.
• Roy tried to activate the Imprison seal on Golurk but exhausted his ghost power without affecting it.
• Golurk absorbed the Golurk Mega Stone from Roy’s wooden box, and Marshadow began injecting Ghost-type energy into Golurk’s chest.

Roy and Marshadow tried to restore the sealed Golurk, but its chest absorbed Ghost-type energy and then leaked it all away. Roy decided to seek Giratina’s help, while Mimikyu explored the motionless Golurk and Roy startled it.

• Marshadow poured Ghost-type energy into Golurk until its runes glowed, then exhausted himself and accepted Pokéblocks from Roy.
• Marshadow estimated he had supplied about a tenth of Golurk’s energy, but the power leaked through the hole in its chest and the runes dimmed.
• Marshadow suggested using his Divine Authority to provide enough energy, but Roy refused to risk Ho-Oh reclaiming him.
• Roy realized Giratina could supply the energy Golurk needed and prepared to summon it, warning his Pokémon to keep their distance.
• Mimikyu cautiously examined Golurk, and Roy startled it by shouting that there was a ghost, prompting Mimikyu to lash him with its tail.

Roy moved away from the Ruins of Alph so Giratina could safely open a rift and summon him. Dialga sensed Giratina’s unauthorized rift but stayed in his time domain, still brooding over his defeat.

• Giratina watched a memory of beating Dialga repeatedly until Roy’s call reached him, then noticed Arceus’s power near Roy and warned him to move away.
• Roy had Dragapult carry him away from the Ruins of Alph, and he tricked the secretly following Dragonite into turning back.
• Roy reached the outskirts of Violet City and activated Giratina’s Scale, allowing Giratina to open a rift and pull him into the Distortion World.
• Dialga sensed Giratina had opened another unauthorized rift, but refused to leave his time domain because he feared another beating.
• Palkia warned Dialga about Giratina’s appearance, but Dialga ignored him, and Palkia decided not to confront Giratina alone.

In the Distortion World, Giratina replenished Golurk’s energy and sealed the hole in his chest, restoring him. Roy then discovered that Golurk had learned Precipice Blades, leaving him wondering whether the Red Orb’s influence had taken effect.

• Giratina closed the Space-Time Rift and brought Roy into the Distortion World, where he offered him another reward after failing to grant him a Divine Authority.
• Roy asked Giratina to replenish Golurk’s energy and seal the black hole in his chest.
• Giratina filled Golurk with enough energy for centuries, then used the Griseous Orb’s power and a runic seal to close and protect the hole.
• Roy checked Golurk’s System Panel and found that he was level 78 with 30 Individual Values and knew Precipice Blades.
• Roy suspected the Red Orb’s influence had let Golurk learn Groudon’s move.

Roy learned that Golurk might need to be activated at the altar in the ruins, then returned from the Distortion World to find Annihilape and the others had killed a group of poachers. Inspectors arrived to collect the bodies and subdued Pokémon, including a wanted fugitive.

• Roy noticed Golurk's rune had changed to Ω and, after Giratina found it fully energized but still dormant, learned that an ancient restriction might be preventing it from waking.
• Marshadow recalled ancient humans activating Golurk and Golett at an altar, so Giratina sent Roy back to the ruins to try the same method.
• Giratina opened a temporal rift for Roy, and Dragapult caught him as he emerged from it.
• Roy found more than a dozen dead intruders beside Annihilape and Misdreavus and learned they had tried to reach the researchers' camp and loot the ruins.
• Mimikyu mistakenly claimed to have frightened a poacher to death, while Misdreavus explained that he had actually run into a tree after Annihilape scared him.
• Two inspectors arrived, identified one corpse as a wanted fugitive, and called police officers to remove the bodies and incapacitated Pokémon.

Roy returned to the Ruins of Alph to lift Golurk’s restriction, but the researchers inside prevented him from activating the ruins. He used Chandelure to make the chamber cold and dark until Professor Iwaizumi led everyone out, then prepared to free Golurk.

• Roy arrived at the ruins and realized the researchers were still working inside the Stone Chamber.
• Roy secretly asked Chandelure to dim his flames, causing the chamber to grow dark and cold.
• Professor Iwaizumi called off the research for the night, and Professor Oak helped Roy remain behind to finish things up.
• After everyone left, Roy thanked Chandelure and headed to the Altar to free Golurk.
• Roy sent Gengar to guard the chamber entrance while Misdreavus and Annihilape stood ready beside him.