Recaps

While waiting at Goldenrod Port, Roy read news about a crystalline Skeledirge in Paldea and realized Terastallization might be appearing in the world. A ship arrived before he could do anything about it, leaving his trip to Paldea a distant prospect.

• Roy read a news report about his Martial Arts Tournament victory reaching nearly a million views and anticipated earning Popularity Points.
• Roy saw a report of a crystallized Skeledirge with a Fairy-type crown in the Paldea Deep Crater and recognized it as a sign of Terastallization.
• Roy recalled how Terastallization changed a Pokémon’s type, moves, and battle strengths, and considered its advantages and limitations.
• Roy heard a ship’s horn and looked out to sea as the vessel arrived at Goldenrod Port.

Roy welcomed Cynthia and Professor Carolina to Goldenrod City and began escorting them to the Ruins of Alph. Cynthia struggled to speak with Roy after their reunion but offered him ice cream she had brought from Celestic Town.

• Roy spotted the Wind Rider arriving at Goldenrod City's harbor and waited for Cynthia and Professor Carolina to disembark.
• Cynthia pinched Roy's mouth shut before he could say anything embarrassing, then introduced him to Professor Carolina, who teased her about thinking of him.
• Spiritomb emerged from Cynthia's Poké Ball, greeted Roy, and happily accepted his Pokéblocks.
• Roy led Professor Carolina toward the Ruins of Alph while Cynthia followed quietly, unable to bring herself to share what she had wanted to tell him.
• Professor Carolina prompted Cynthia to offer Roy the ice cream she had brought, and Roy took a huge bite as Cynthia giggled at his reaction.

Roy took Cynthia and Professor Carolina by air toward the Ruins of Alph, where Professor Carolina studied ancient writing on Golurk. Two League Prosecutors waiting at Goldenrod City's harbor realized Professor Carolina had already left without them.

• Roy summoned Golurk and Dragapult, and Professor Carolina translated mysterious writing on Golurk's back.
• Roy gave Cynthia an ancient crown, which Professor Carolina examined before returning it to her.
• Professor Carolina rode Golurk while Cynthia sat in front of Roy on Dragapult, and they set off for the Ruins of Alph.
• Dragapult's sudden takeoff sent Cynthia falling into Roy's arms before she shifted away.
• Two League Prosecutors arrived at Goldenrod City's harbor to escort Professor Carolina, but she had already departed with Roy.

Roy brought Professor Carolina to the Ruins of Alph, where her expertise helped the professors identify the ruins as connected to an Ancient Sinnoh expedition from 1,558 years earlier. Professor Carolina and Professor Oak sent Cynthia and Roy out for the day, leaving them to stroll away from the research camp together.

• Roy arrived at the Ruins of Alph with Cynthia, Professor Carolina, Dragapult, and his revived Golurk, startling the researchers before revealing Golurk was his Pokémon.
• Roy reunited with Professor Oak and introduced Professor Carolina, who quickly joined the research into the murals.
• Professor Carolina dated the ruins to 1,558 years ago and connected their inhabitants to a group that had departed Ancient Sinnoh for other regions.
• Professor Oak showed Professor Carolina a well-preserved Gigaton Ball, which she recognized as a previously undiscovered kind of Poké Ball.
• Professor Carolina told Cynthia she had the day off, while Professor Oak sent Roy out of the ruins; Roy invited Cynthia for a stroll, and she went with him.

Roy and Cynthia spent time together at Sprout Tower, where Roy introduced her to his ghostly Mimikyu. Cynthia then asked Roy to battle, and he took her aboard Dragapult to find a suitable place.

• Roy carried Cynthia on Golurk to Sprout Tower and told her he had revived Golurk in ruins.
• Cynthia sat with Roy at Sprout Tower, where Mimikyu startled her by blowing on her neck.
• Roy explained Mimikyu’s origins at Moomoo Ranch, and Cynthia grew sympathetic toward her.
• Cynthia asked Roy to battle, and he agreed.
• Roy released Dragapult and flew with Cynthia toward a place where they could battle.

Roy brought Cynthia to Violet City and arranged to borrow Su Tian’s Gym arena so she could battle him. Cynthia chose a Double Battle and revealed her Garchomp and Lucario, while Roy sent out Dusclops and Golurk, leaving both trainers ready to begin.

• Roy rode Dragapult with Cynthia to Violet City and asked Su Tian to let them use the Gym’s battle arena.
• Su Tian agreed to lend them the arena on the condition that he referee, and Roy accepted.
• Roy learned that Falkner had left the Gym to travel around the Kanto Region.
• Cynthia asked Roy not to use Misdreavus and requested a Double Battle, then sent out Garchomp and Lucario.
• Roy sent out Dusclops and Golurk, and Cynthia prepared to face his team.

Cynthia and Roy’s teams battled as Cynthia Mega Evolved Garchomp, while Golurk protected Dusclops long enough for it to set up Trick Room. Roy then Mega Evolved Golurk, giving him a decisive advantage as Lucario struggled to reach Dusclops.

• Cynthia Mega Evolved Garchomp and ordered Lucario to attack Dusclops while Garchomp supported her with Helping Hand.
• Golurk blocked Lucario’s Dark Pulse and stopped Mega Garchomp and Lucario from interrupting Dusclops, which completed Trick Room.
• Mega Garchomp created a Sandstorm and used Brutal Swing to damage Golurk.
• Roy Mega Evolved Golurk, whose increased strength let him catch Garchomp’s scythes and fling her away.
• Lucario got past Mega Golurk and chased Dusclops, but Trick Room made Dusclops fast enough to evade her attacks.

Roy’s Mega Golurk and Dusclops pressured Cynthia’s Mega Garchomp and Lucario in Trick Room, disrupting Garchomp’s attempt to power up and forcing Lucario to attack alone. Mega Golurk broke through Garchomp’s barrier with an Ice Punch and sent him flying, leaving Cynthia to face the battle’s worsening turn.

• Mega Garchomp struck Mega Golurk with Rock Tomb, but Trick Room made Golurk faster and he caught Garchomp’s blades before repelling him.
• Cynthia ordered Lucario to use Double Team while Garchomp used Swords Dance, but Roy had Dusclops taunt Garchomp as Mega Golurk protected it and cleared Lucario’s copies.
• Dusclops’s taunts angered Mega Garchomp, who abandoned his unfinished Swords Dance and charged at Dusclops; Mega Golurk intercepted him with Ice Punch.
• Lucario struck Dusclops with Dark Pulse while dodging its Will-O-Wisp, and Mega Garchomp broke free from Golurk but found his retreat blocked by the flames.
• Mega Garchomp raised an energy barrier against Mega Golurk’s Ice Punch, but Golurk’s fist passed through it and hurled Garchomp across the arena.

Roy’s Mega Golurk and Dusclops defeated Cynthia’s Mega Garchomp and Lucario through powerful attacks and teamwork, leaving both of Cynthia’s Pokémon unable to battle. After the match, Roy discovered that Dusclops had reached Intermediate King level, and Cynthia pressed him to explain how Golurk had bypassed Protect.

• Lucario tried to help Mega Garchomp, but Dusclops kept him occupied with Will-O-Wisps until Lucario struck Dusclops with Dark Pulse.
• Mega Golurk used Precipice Blades to send Lucario flying, then followed up with a flame-coated punch that knocked him out.
• Mega Garchomp emerged beside Lucario but could not withstand simultaneous Ice Punches from Dusclops and Mega Golurk, ending Cynthia’s battle.
• Su Tian announced Roy’s victory, and Roy discovered that Dusclops had reached Intermediate King level.
• After leaving the Gym, Cynthia asked how Mega Golurk had punched through Protect, then bit Roy’s shoulder until he agreed to explain.

Roy and Cynthia recovered their Pokémon at the Violet City Pokémon Center, where Chansey showed off her newfound love of boxing after watching Roy and Annihilape win the Martial Arts Tournament. After leaving the Center, Roy invited Cynthia to get ice cream while she continued thinking about how to counter his Mega Golurk.

• Roy reassured Cynthia after their battle and led her to the Violet City Pokémon Center.
• Chansey showed Roy boxing moves and a newspaper photo of his Martial Arts Tournament victory, then admired Annihilape’s Gold Belt.
• Nurse Joy told Roy that Chansey wanted to compete in the next Martial Arts Tournament, and Annihilape let Chansey wear his belt.
• Cynthia congratulated Annihilape on achieving his dream, and he asked to battle Garchomp again after it recovered.
• Roy and Cynthia left the Pokémon Center, and Roy asked whether she wanted ice cream.

Cynthia and Roy stopped at an ice cream truck, where Cynthia ordered several flavors and complained that Mega Evolution slowed her Garchomp down. Roy teased her by saying the speed loss was useful in Trick Room, then ran as Cynthia chased him through the park.

• Roy and Cynthia arrived at the park still holding hands, then ordered ice cream from a clerk watching a Galar Trial Tower livestream with her Alcremie.
• Cynthia ordered several ice cream flavors and released Glaceon, who chose matcha; Roy bought enough ice cream for them and their Pokémon.
• Cynthia sampled her ice cream and passed the unfinished portions to Roy, while Glaceon ate neatly beside her.
• Cynthia complained that Mega Evolution made her Garchomp slower, and Roy distracted her by feeding ice cream to Little Absol.
• Roy told Cynthia that Mega Garchomp was faster in Trick Room, then fled with Little Absol as Cynthia angrily chased him and Glaceon stayed on the bench.

Cynthia confronted Roy over his teasing about Garchomp, but the two soon shared a barbecue and discussed a possible alternate Mega Evolution. The chapter ended with Cynthia riding behind Roy on Dragapult, her arms around his waist and her hands deliberately roaming over his abdomen.

• Cynthia pinned Roy down and punched him for mocking Garchomp, then made him apologize before resuming her sulk when he admitted he would do it again.
• Roy offered to make barbecue, and Cynthia put off ending their friendship to eat with him; she watched him cook while Glaceon eventually played with Little Absol.
• Roy described a hypothetical Mega Garchomp that gained speed but lost its Ground type, and Cynthia worried about the trade-offs while asking whether it could learn Dragon Dance.
• At evening, Roy prepared to take Cynthia back to the Ruins of Alph on Dragapult, and Cynthia asked to sit behind him.
• Cynthia wrapped her arms around Roy's waist and felt around his abdomen, moving her hands even more after he asked her to behave.

Roy and Cynthia returned to the Ruins of Alph, where Professor Carolina deciphered murals revealing that Ancient Sinnoh immigrants helped found the Alforf Kingdom and built the Sinjoh Ruins in northern Johto. The ruins were said to hold an Arceus statue, but Johto's prosecutors had found no trace of them beneath the vast, ancient snowfields.

• Roy and Cynthia returned to the Ruins of Alph, and Officer Jenny explained that Roy had left two prosecutors waiting all day at Goldenrod City port when he picked up Professor Carolina without telling them.
• Professor Shuli told Roy that Professor Oak had gone back to his lab in Pallet Town after researchers repeatedly questioned him about reviving Golurk.
• Cynthia changed into a lab coat and glasses, then asked Professor Carolina what she had discovered in the murals.
• Professor Carolina revealed that Ancient Sinnoh immigrants helped establish the Alforf Kingdom and later built the Sinjoh Ruins in northern Johto, where Arceus had appeared and a grand statue had been erected.
• Professor Carolina and Professor Iwaizumi explained that Johto's prosecutors could not locate the Sinjoh Ruins because northern Johto's enormous, year-round snowfields might have buried them for at least 1,500 years.
• Cynthia asked whether the Sinjoh Ruins would therefore never be found.

Roy proposed that the passage to the Sinjoh Ruins was a Space-Time Rift, and Golurk's memories revealed that he had been created as a key. The Ruins of Alph's runes activated when Golurk stood on the Altar, and a group of Unown rushed toward him.

• Professor Carolina explained that she had found no ordinary passage in the Ruins of Alph, and Roy suggested it might be a Space-Time Rift.
• Professor Carolina appealed to Roy by saying she wanted someone reliable for Cynthia, and Roy agreed to help find the entrance.
• Roy released Golurk and asked him about the ruins; Golurk remembered his creator calling him a key.
• Roy placed Golurk atop the Altar, causing runes to glow and form a pentagram that included the Ancient Sinnoh word for “Sinjoh.”
• Professor Shuli called after a group of Unown as they rushed into the chamber and flew toward Golurk, while Cynthia released Garchomp and Togetic to stop them.
• Roy watched the Unown and suddenly came up with a new idea.

Roy and the others opened a Space-Time Rift that might lead to the Sinjoh Ruins, but they hesitated to enter when its destination and safety remained uncertain. In the universe, Arceus sensed the call and Giratina’s presence and decided to investigate the human world himself.

• Roy stopped Cynthia from attacking the Unown, which circled Golurk and helped him tear open a Space-Time Rift.
• Professor Shuli recorded the Unown’s arrangement, while Professor Carolina and the others questioned whether the rift still led to the Sinjoh Ruins and whether anyone could return.
• A blast of icy wind and snow came through the rift, and Professor Iwaizumi recognized it as coming from Johto’s northern snowfields.
• Professor Carolina moved toward the rift, but Cynthia grabbed her hand to stop her from taking the risk.
• Arceus sensed a call from the human world alongside Giratina’s presence and saw Giratina happily watching an image of Arceus beating Dialga.
• Arceus suspected Giratina was hiding something and decided to visit the human world to investigate.

Arceus created a death-infused duplicate and sent it into the universe while Roy and Cynthia prepared to enter the unstable Space-Time Rift at the Ruins of Alph. Roy joined Cynthia to investigate the ruins, and Professor Iwaizumi gave them a locator so the others could track them.

• Giratina sensed that something was watching him in the Distortion World, then dismissed the feeling as an illusion.
• Arceus used the dark purple Plate to transform an identical duplicate into a death-aura form and sent it into the universe.
• As the Space-Time Rift at the Ruins of Alph began to close, Professor Carolina tried to enter it, but Cynthia stopped her.
• Cynthia offered to investigate the rift herself, and Roy stepped forward to accompany her.
• Professor Carolina accepted Roy's offer, and Professor Iwaizumi gave Roy a locator to use when they found the ruins.

Roy and Cynthia emerged from the unstable Space-Time Rift into a dark, freezing enclosure and suspected they had reached the Sinjoh Ruins. They remained trapped behind indestructible snow walls, with no way to contact anyone, while Roy kept Giratina as a last resort.

• Roy and Cynthia entered the Space-Time Rift together as Golurk and the Unown collapsed from exhaustion.
• Roy pulled Cynthia through the rift’s exit, but they fell into darkness until Dragapult caught them.
• Roy used Chandelure to light their surroundings and found enormous snow walls enclosing them on all four sides.
• Roy and Cynthia released their Pokémon to search for an exit, but Roy’s locator and Communicator could not reach anyone.
• Dragapult reported that the only openings above the walls led to endless snow, and Roy suspected they had reached the Sinjoh Ruins in northern Johto.
• Roy’s Pokémon tried fire and physical attacks on the snow walls without effect, so Roy ordered them to conserve their strength and held Giratina in reserve.

Roy and Cynthia explored the Sinjoh Ruins and discovered a statue of Arceus, who manifested as a Ghost-type avatar and confronted Roy about his connection to Giratina. The chapter ended with Roy finally able to move again, struggling to explain himself to Arceus.

• Roy and Cynthia explored the Sinjoh Ruins, recognized their links to the Spear Pillar and the Ruins of Alph, and found bite marks resembling those in the Ruins of Alph.
• Roy searched for an exit while Cynthia photographed the ruins, but she soon called him to the center, where a gigantic statue of Arceus had appeared.
• Cynthia fainted as Arceus's power immobilized Roy and their Pokémon, then Arceus emerged from the statue as a Ghost-type avatar carrying the Ghost Slate.
• The Ghost Slate fragment flew from Roy's Spatial Bracelet to Arceus, who sensed both the fragment and Giratina's aura on Roy and demanded to know their relationship.
• Arceus released his hold on Roy, who began to address him but still did not know how to explain his connection to Giratina.

Roy revealed to Arceus that his Ghost Power had strengthened Giratina, and Arceus summoned Giratina to verify the connection. As Arceus remained puzzled by Roy’s unexplained ability, Giratina suggested it might empower Arceus too, leaving the creator reconsidering the possibility.

• Roy told Arceus that he could boost Ghost-type moves and showed him Giratina’s Scale as proof of his connection to Giratina.
• Arceus opened a Space-Time Rift and pulled Giratina from the Distortion World to confront him.
• Giratina admitted that Roy had helped him break through Dialga’s Roar of Time, and Arceus scolded him for keeping it secret.
• Seeing Arceus focus on Roy, Giratina suggested that Roy’s power might boost Arceus as well.
• Arceus dismissed the idea, then began to consider what it would mean if Roy’s energy could empower him.

Roy spent most of his saved Popularity Points raising his Ghost Power and used it to empower Giratina, demonstrating the strength of his boost to Arceus. Arceus tested Giratina’s boosted Shadow Ball in the Distortion World and reinforced his barrier just before it gave way.

• Arceus decided to let Roy empower him but first had Giratina test Roy’s power.
• Roy spent 30.72 million Popularity Points to raise his Ghost Power from level 10 to level 12.
• Roy empowered Giratina, whose attempt to form a Shadow Ball near Arceus’s statue was interrupted to prevent damage.
• Arceus transported Roy and Giratina to the Distortion World and challenged Giratina to attack his energy barrier.
• Giratina launched a gigantic Roy-boosted Shadow Ball, and Arceus reinforced his shaking barrier until it stopped the attack.

Arceus tested Giratina’s boosted strength, then agreed to be caught by Roy so he could receive the same Ghost Power boost. After Roy caught and released him with a Luxury Ball, the boost awakened Arceus’s dormant power, and he prepared to try out a skill.

• Arceus created a Time Disc, but Giratina’s Origin Forme attack—strengthened by Roy’s Ghost Power—nearly broke through before Arceus suppressed him.
• Arceus asked Roy to boost him, and Roy explained that a Pokémon had to belong to him first, meaning he needed to catch Arceus.
• Roy and Giratina persuaded Arceus that entering a Poké Ball was necessary, and Arceus agreed to let Roy catch him.
• Roy caught Arceus in a Luxury Ball, then released him without the ball being damaged.
• Roy’s Ghost Power entered Arceus and awakened his constrained energy, leaving Arceus eager to test a skill.

Arceus tested Roy’s power by unleashing Judgment and Spacial Rend in the Distortion World, then restored the damage and accepted that Roy could boost him. He left Giratina responsible for protecting Roy, but refused Giratina’s request to grant Roy Divine Authority because Roy’s body could not withstand it and the rules did not allow it.

• Giratina refused to serve as Arceus’s target, so Arceus fired Judgment into the Distortion World while Giratina sheltered Roy inside his body.
• Arceus used Roy’s boost to strengthen Spacial Rend, tearing open more than a dozen Space-Time Rifts in the Distortion World.
• Arceus repaired the Distortion World with Ghost-type energy and brought Giratina and Roy back to the Sinjoh Ruins.
• Arceus praised Roy, decided the human’s power could benefit him, and ordered Giratina to protect Roy without reporting his passage through Space-Time Rifts.
• Giratina asked Arceus to give Roy a Divine Authority, but Arceus refused because Roy’s human body could not withstand it and the universe’s rules forbade it.

Roy asked Arceus to turn Mimikyu from a ghost into a Pokémon, and Arceus used the Ghost Slate to transform her. After Mimikyu celebrated her new abilities, Arceus returned to his statue and gave Roy back the half Ghost Slate and Giratina's Scale.

• Roy explained Mimikyu's situation to Arceus and brought her out of her Poké Ball.
• Arceus used the Ghost Slate's power and Mimikyu's Reaper Cloth to transform her into a Pokémon.
• Roy scanned Mimikyu and found that she was a level 22 Pokémon with the Disguise ability and several moves.
• Mimikyu tried Double Team, and Roy identified the real one among her two crude copies.
• Arceus warned Roy and Mimikyu not to tell anyone he had appeared, then returned to his statue and restored Roy's half Ghost Slate and Giratina's Scale.

After Arceus and Giratina left the Sinjoh Ruins, Roy and Cynthia explored the site and found a way out through a gap in the snow wall. The ruins vanished behind them, leaving them stranded on an unknown northern snowfield as they tried to find their way back.

• Giratina returned to the Distortion World, and Cynthia woke with no memory of Arceus’s visit; Roy told her she had fainted after passing through the Space-Time Rift.
• Cynthia photographed the Arceus statue and prayed, then she and Roy documented the ruins before finding no other way out.
• Dragapult spotted a gap in the snow wall, and Roy and Cynthia rode through it onto a vast, unfamiliar snowfield.
• The snow wall and the Sinjoh Ruins vanished, and Roy comforted Cynthia as they realized they were stranded without a working Communicator, locator, or compass.
• Roy directed Dragapult to fly across the snowfield and shifted Cynthia behind him to shield her from the bitter wind.

Roy and Cynthia struggled to cross the northern snowfield after Dragapult succumbed to the freezing weather, with Chandelure clearing their way. When they became lost and Cynthia injured her ankle, Roy carried her and eventually stopped to make shelter and eat.

• Dragapult developed frostbite in the air, so Roy landed and treated him before sending him back to his Poké Ball.
• Roy and Cynthia continued on foot through Chandelure's cleared path, and Roy shielded Cynthia from the wind.
• Cynthia sprained her ankle, so Roy treated it with Healing Spray and Chandelure's Sacred Fire, then carried her.
• When Cynthia worried they might die, Roy teased her by comparing her weight to Dusclops, lifting her spirits.
• Roy and Cynthia realized they had walked in a circle, then made a sheltered space with Glaceon and Chandelure and ate Pokéblocks.