Chapter Summaries

Key plot points and events

• In Mahogany Gym, Roy shares matcha-flavored Rage Candy Bars with Froslass, Little Absol, and the upset Marshadow. Marshadow is still offended that Pryce mistook him for Ancient Gengar.
• Froslass longs to become as powerful and imposing as the golden Avalugg she saw on the glacier. Roy reassures her that reaching Pseudo-Elite Four strength at just two years old is already remarkable.
• The next morning, Froslass explores the Gym while Roy rests. She finds Pryce coaching Swinub and Delibird in a snow-filled training room, where Icy Rocks keep the snowfall going.
• Pryce explains that Delibird’s apparently Blizzard-like attack is actually Powder Snow, strengthened by blending it with the falling snow. He invites Froslass to practice and has Delibird demonstrate the technique.

Character developments and interactions

• Froslass remains ambitious and somewhat insecure about her strength, but her curiosity and eagerness to improve lead her to seek out training.
• Roy comforts Froslass and supports her interest in the Gym’s icy environment.
• Pryce shifts from evaluating Froslass to informally mentoring her, explaining the training room and identifying inefficiencies in her technique.
• Delibird patiently teaches Froslass how to combine Powder Snow with ambient snowfall; Froslass tries to imitate him but has not yet mastered it.
• Marshadow vents his hurt and anger over Pryce’s earlier mistake, while Roy tries to soothe him with food.

Significant themes

• Growth takes time: Froslass’s youth puts her strength in perspective, even as she strives for more.
• Learning through observation and mentorship: Froslass watches, practices, and receives guidance from Pryce and Delibird.
• Technique over raw power: Delibird’s control and use of the environment let a weaker move rival Blizzard.
• Emotional support: Roy responds to both Froslass’s insecurity and Marshadow’s wounded pride with reassurance and care.

Key plot points and events

• Froslass watches Delibird demonstrate a simplified Blizzard, created by combining Powder Snow with the snowfall in the training room. After many attempts, she learns to reproduce it in only two hours, astonishing Pryce.
• Delibird continues teaching Froslass how to control Blizzard’s strength and use Ice-type energy efficiently. Misdreavus joins the lesson, and Froslass’s practice quickly becomes faster and less tiring.
• Roy arrives late after sleeping through the morning. Pryce scolds him, then criticizes his lack of specialized training for Froslass’s Ice-type abilities.
• Pryce offers to let Froslass stay at Mahogany Gym and train with Delibird and Swinub, believing her Ice-type talent—and future Mega Evolution potential—deserves to be developed.
• Roy agrees to ask Froslass what she wants rather than decide for her. Froslass chooses to stay, hoping to become strong enough to protect him.

Character developments and interactions

• Froslass reveals exceptional talent and a deep instinct for understanding Ice-type energy. She improves dramatically under Delibird’s guidance and willingly considers separation from Roy for the sake of becoming stronger.
• Roy is affectionate toward Froslass and respects her independence, but Pryce’s criticism exposes that he has not developed her Ice-type potential. He recognizes the value of expert training.
• Pryce is recovering some movement in his legs after Ho-Oh’s healing flames. His frustration with Roy’s casual approach contrasts with his genuine concern for Froslass and excitement about her potential.
• Delibird acts as a patient mentor, teaching Froslass and Misdreavus through demonstrations and corrections. Misdreavus’s participation highlights Froslass’s growing confidence and willingness to share what she learns.

Significant themes

• Talent and mentorship: Froslass’s natural ability flourishes when guided by an experienced teacher.
• Love expressed through sacrifice: Froslass chooses to stay not because she loves Roy less, but because she hopes greater strength will let her protect him.
• Respect for a Pokémon’s agency: Roy leaves the decision about training with Froslass herself.
• Potential versus preparation: Pryce stresses that exceptional talent can be wasted without appropriate training.

Key plot points and events

• Roy agrees to let Froslass stay with Pryce so she can train with Delibird and Swinub and grow strong enough to support him in major battles. Roy’s one condition is that Pryce make sure she eats the Pokéblocks Roy prepares.
• Roy and Froslass share an emotional farewell. She comforts him but remains determined to train; Pryce promises she can visit Roy and that her strength will improve greatly.
• Froslass begins training alongside Misdreavus and Delibird. Pryce recognizes how deeply Roy cares for his Pokémon and trusts that their bond is unusually strong.
• Roy and Pryce discuss Mega Evolution and Dynamax. Pryce asks about building a Dynamax Arena in Mahogany Town, and Roy explains Dynamax mechanics and arena requirements while Pryce carefully takes notes.
• A Gym apprentice reports that a young Trainer has come to challenge Pryce despite having only one Pokémon at Beginner King level, with the rest at Pseudo-Elite Four level. Roy is astonished by the challenger’s apparent overconfidence.

Character developments and interactions

• Roy shows how much he regards Froslass as family, struggling to part with her while ultimately supporting her goal. His worry about her food and his joking claim that Pryce cannot understand a father’s feelings add humor to the farewell.
• Froslass reveals her determination to become strong enough to protect Roy and contribute in battle. Though she briefly feels tempted to change her mind when she sees his tears, she chooses to stay and train.
• Pryce displays unexpected warmth and humility: he respects Roy’s bond with Froslass, offers reassurance, and eagerly learns from Roy despite his own experience.
• Roy and Pryce move from the emotional discussion of Froslass’s training to a cooperative exchange about Dynamax. Their rapport contrasts with Pryce’s normally stern manner, which surprises the Gym apprentice.

Significant themes

• Trust and family bonds: Roy’s care for Froslass, and her willingness to train for his sake, reflect a relationship built on mutual devotion.
• Growth through separation and effort: Froslass accepts temporary distance from Roy because becoming stronger will let her stand beside him in future battles.
• Humility and respect: Pryce is willing to learn from a younger Trainer, while Roy freely shares what he knows.
• Overconfidence: The chapter ends by framing the challenger’s decision to face Pryce as recklessly beyond their ability.

Plot points and events

• Pryce initially wants to turn away a weak challenger, but agrees to take him to the Arena after seeing Froslass with Roy.
• The challenger, Eusine, arrives from Celadon City seeking the Gym’s highest-difficulty challenge. Roy recognizes him as a figure from the Pokémon stories, famous for pursuing Suicune and Ho-Oh.
• Eusine sends out his Level 61 Alakazam. Pryce considers it far too weak to challenge him and orders Roy to battle instead, directing him to use Mega Froslass.
• Roy protests that he is not a Gym employee, but Pryce’s implied threat with his ice cane persuades him to take the opposing position.
• Confused, Eusine looks to the referee for an explanation. The referee cannot overrule Pryce, whose extraordinary strength and independence have led the Pokémon League to tolerate his behavior. The referee is also secretly a League inspector assigned to monitor Pryce.

Character developments

• Roy remains wry and outspoken, but ultimately gives in to Pryce. His knowledge of Eusine’s history leads him to judge the character more sympathetically than the official portrayals suggest.
• Pryce shows his impatience with weak challengers and his authority over the Gym, casually assigning Roy to fight in his place.
• Eusine is introduced as proud and self-assured, though his eagerness to challenge Pryce contrasts with the modest strength of his Alakazam.
• The referee appears caught between Gym procedure and Pryce’s power, while his inspector role reveals that the League distrusts Pryce enough to keep him under observation.

Significant themes

• Power and authority: Pryce’s strength lets him bend the usual Gym rules, while the League manages him through accommodation rather than direct control.
• Ambition and obsession: Eusine’s long pursuit of Suicune makes him compelling to Roy, even though Roy recalls how that pursuit can become selfish.
• Appearances versus reality: Eusine’s grand manner is at odds with his Pokémon’s comparatively low level, and Roy’s recollection complicates the story’s negative view of him.

Character interactions

• Pryce teases Roy as “stubborn,” then uses his authority—and the threat of his cane—to make him battle.
• Roy silently questions Pryce’s motives and reflects on Eusine’s fixation on Suicune.
• Eusine ignores Roy at first, then becomes confused when Roy takes Pryce’s place.
• The referee is forced to defer to Pryce despite recognizing that the arrangement is irregular.

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

• At Mahogany Gym, Eusine learns he must first pass Gym Leader Pryce’s “assessment”: defeating Pryce’s apprentice, Roy. Eusine agrees, assuming Roy will be an easy opponent.
• Before the match, Eusine asks to livestream it. Pryce permits this despite the Gym’s usual ban on filming challenges. Roy also starts a livestream, drawing a large audience—many of whom recognize him from his earlier battles and Pokémon broadcasts.
• Roy chooses Mega Froslass for the assessment, as Pryce instructed. Because Eusine’s Alakazam is ten levels stronger, Roy immediately uses his Key Stone to Mega Evolve Froslass.
• Mega Froslass appears in a dramatic snowfall, stunning Eusine and the viewers.
• Meanwhile, in Kalos, Professor Sycamore is discussing Lysandre’s Mega-capable Pyroar. When Sycamore’s researchers show him Roy’s livestream, he recognizes Roy and becomes eager to study Mega Froslass. Lysandre also recognizes Roy, prompting the two men to ask each other how they know him.

Character developments

• Roy displays confidence and showmanship by livestreaming the match and dramatically Mega Evolving Froslass, while remaining aware of the level gap and the need to take the battle seriously.
• Eusine begins the chapter dismissing Roy as a weak apprentice, but Mega Froslass’s appearance abruptly challenges that assumption.
• Pryce shows his authority and impatience with rigid rules by allowing the livestream without hesitation.
• Professor Sycamore is excited by the discovery of another unrecorded Mega Evolution and renews his interest in Roy.
• Lysandre reveals that he already knows Roy, though the chapter does not yet explain their connection.

Significant themes

• Appearances versus ability: Eusine underestimates Roy, while Mega Froslass’s transformation reveals that Roy is no ordinary apprentice.
• Tradition versus authority: The Gym’s strict streaming rule is quickly set aside because Pryce’s authority overrides procedure.
• Discovery and scientific curiosity: Mega Froslass expands the known range of Mega Evolution and draws Sycamore’s immediate attention.
• Public spectacle: Livestreaming turns a private Gym assessment into a widely watched event, shaping audience expectations and reactions.

Character interactions

• The referee struggles to enforce Gym rules but ultimately yields to Pryce’s decision and the challengers’ wishes.
• Eusine treats Roy as an insignificant obstacle, while Roy prepares carefully to face the stronger Alakazam.
• Roy greets his viewers and briefly explains Froslass’s lore before focusing on the battle.
• Sycamore and Lysandre discuss Mega Evolution, then discover they both recognize Roy when his livestream appears.

Plot points

• Lysandre and Professor Sycamore recognize that Roy’s ruthlessness is striking, though they know him from very different contexts. Lysandre associates him with a world-destroying boy; Sycamore knows him as a Rustboro Academy student.
• In Roy’s battle with Eusine, Mega Froslass opens by creating snow and setting up Aurora Veil, while Alakazam uses Calm Mind.
• Froslass uses the snow to turn Powder Snow into a surprise blizzard, interrupting Alakazam’s preparation and freezing his hands—crucial because he relies on his spoons to focus many moves.
• Roy’s Shadow Ball hits Alakazam before he can thaw himself. Though it also breaks the ice, Froslass’s defensive setup helps her withstand Alakazam’s counterattack.
• Froslass tracks Alakazam through the falling snow, blocks much of his Psyshock with a shield and Aurora Veil, then overwhelms him with repeated Shadow Balls. Alakazam’s attempts to recover and retaliate are repeatedly thwarted, leaving him badly weakened while Froslass remains in strong condition.

Character developments and interactions

• Roy shows tactical quickness, exploiting the weather and Alakazam’s dependence on his spoons rather than relying on raw power alone.
• Eusine begins overconfident, hoping for a decisive victory that will impress viewers and Pryce, but the early exchange forces him to take Roy and Froslass seriously.
• Mega Froslass demonstrates composure and ingenuity, using the snowfall both defensively and to sense Alakazam’s position.
• Lysandre and Sycamore react to Roy’s apparent capacity for ruthlessness, though their contrasting impressions underline how surprising his behavior seems to them.

Significant themes

• Strategy over strength: Froslass compensates for Alakazam’s apparent advantage through preparation, timing, and layered defenses.
• Adaptation and battlefield awareness: Snow is not just scenery; Roy and Froslass turn it into a tool for offense, defense, and tracking.
• Overconfidence and misjudgment: Eusine expects an easy win but underestimates Roy and the effectiveness of Froslass’s tactics.

Key plot points and events

• Mega Froslass unleashes a full Blizzard that engulfs Alakazam. Unable to dodge, Alakazam endures the storm long enough to complete Future Sight.
• The delayed attack appears from nowhere and strikes Froslass, ending her Mega Evolution. Alakazam collapses soon afterward.
• Though both Pokémon appear defeated, Froslass shakily rises first. The referee declares her the winner, but she collapses as soon as the announcement is over. The match is effectively a double knockout, with Froslass winning by standing last.
• Eusine leaves the Gym in a daze, having lost despite Alakazam’s higher level. Viewers praise Froslass and mock Eusine’s earlier arrogance.
• Agatha orders Roy to end his livestream. Roy also answers inquiries from Professors Sycamore and Rowan about Mega Froslass, while selectively altering the stat information he shares.
• Roy takes Froslass to the Pokémon Center, then resumes gathering golden flame with Chandelure and Delibird, staying at the Gym an extra day to collect more.

Character developments and interactions

• Froslass proves her resilience and power, defeating a stronger opponent but suffering severe injuries.
• Alakazam shows determination by completing Future Sight while being battered by Blizzard, then loses consciousness after seeing it land.
• Eusine is stunned by the defeat; the battle exposes the cost of his arrogance.
• Roy is proud of Froslass and lightly teases Pryce, who credits Froslass’s strength and Delibird’s training rather than Roy.
• Agatha intervenes abruptly, while Lysandre continues sending Roy moral advice out of concern that Roy might turn to world-destroying schemes.

Plot points and events

• On Roy’s third day in Mahogany Town, Pryce wakes him before dawn and takes him to scout a site for a Dynamax Arena. Roy concludes that neither Mahogany Town nor the wooded Lake of Rage is suitable.
• At the lake, Pryce explains that he once drove off Team Rocket members who wanted to exploit its Magikarp and Gyarados, freezing them and their Pokémon into ice sculptures and dumping them in the water.
• A level-61 Gyarados emerges from the lake, but recognizes Pryce and retreats with an almost comically fawning smile. Roy identifies it as the lake’s leader because it carries a “Leader’s Aura.”
• Pryce remembers another location: a hidden, enormous cavern at the end of the Ice Path on Route 44. Its open roof lets sunlight into the cavern, and its broad ice floor appears suitable for an arena.
• Roy tests the space by Dynamaxing Gengar. Gigantamax Gengar rises through the roof opening, demonstrating that the cavern is large enough.

Character developments and interactions

• Roy grumbles about Pryce’s harsh early-morning wake-up, but works with him throughout the search and evaluates the possible sites. He remains cautious about Pryce’s frightening reputation and uses his Dynamax ability to confirm the cavern’s suitability.
• Pryce is revealed as both an experienced guide and an exceptionally dangerous trainer: Team Rocket once attacked him and was swiftly dealt with. His calm manner contrasts with the fear he commands from both criminals and Pokémon.
• The Gyarados leader behaves boldly until it notices Pryce, then quickly retreats, showing the respect and fear Pryce inspires.
• Pryce and Roy cooperate closely: Pryce leads the search and offers the hidden cavern, while Roy assesses the space and performs the Dynamax test.

Significant themes

• Power and reputation: Pryce’s strength is established through others’ reactions rather than boasting.
• Practical ambition: Building a Dynamax Arena requires adapting plans to the landscape; the hidden cavern offers a solution after two sites fail.
• Humor and contrast: Roy’s sleepy irritation and the Gyarados’s ingratiating retreat lighten the chapter’s displays of Pryce’s power.
• Human exploitation of nature: Team Rocket’s plan to capture Pokémon for experiments underscores the threat posed by their criminal activity.

Key plot points and events

• Roy tests Gigantamax Gengar’s Max Guard against Pryce’s Swinub’s Blizzard. The shield weakens and disappears, but absorbs roughly 70 percent of the attack—an impressive result by Pryce’s standards.
• Roy asks how Swinub became so powerful despite not evolving. Pryce hints that Pokémon—and trainers—can have secrets, pointing to Roy’s Chandelure as an example.
• Roy designs a Dynamax battle field for Mahogany Town. Pryce approves and plans to obtain a Dynamax Band and build a transfer point linked to Galar, with the Pokémon League covering the expense.
• After more training at the Gym, Roy prepares to leave. Froslass has been practicing with Delibird, and Misdreavus has learned to charge Blizzard faster, though it lacks Froslass’s Ice-type control.
• Froslass stays behind to train, despite wanting to travel with Roy. Roy gives her affectionate advice and jokes that he will dismantle Pryce’s wheelchair if anyone mistreats her.
• Little Absol tries to pull Froslass along, not understanding why she is staying. Froslass gently stops it and recognizes her former dependence on Roy in the young Pokémon.
• Before leaving, Roy asks Pryce about a horned demon mask. Pryce reacts by chasing him with an ice cane. Roy flees, while Pryce privately wonders how Roy knew about the mask he had considered making.

Character developments and interactions

• Roy and Pryce work together on the Dynamax field, while their conversation about Swinub’s strength shows mutual awareness that each has secrets. Their parting exchange turns into playful antagonism.
• Froslass shows maturity and independence by choosing training over traveling with Roy. She also sees herself in Little Absol and takes on a more protective, older-sibling role.
• Misdreavus makes progress through Delibird’s coaching, demonstrating that Roy’s Pokémon are continuing to develop even as they prepare to leave.
• Pryce is impressed by Roy’s work and appreciates his concern for Froslass, despite pretending to be irritated. His recovering legs give him renewed hope of walking again.

Significant themes

• Strength and potential: Swinub’s exceptional power challenges assumptions about what a Pokémon’s species or evolution should allow.
• Growth through separation: Froslass’s decision to remain behind reflects her transition from relying on Roy to becoming stronger and protecting him.
• Care expressed through humor: Roy’s overprotective warnings and Pryce’s mock chase conceal genuine affection and concern.
• Secrets and unexpected insight: Pryce recognizes that Roy has noticed something private about him, reinforcing the chapter’s recurring suggestion that people and Pokémon may have more to them than appearances reveal.

Chapter 550: Enemies on a Narrow Road

Key plot points and events

• Roy leaves Mahogany Gym after irritating Pryce. Pryce throws him two boxes containing the stakes he lost: a Rage Candy Bar and Moomoo Ice. Roy grumbles about being chased out but appreciates that Pryce honors his losses.
• Froslass watches Roy leave and vows to become stronger before they meet again.
• Pryce reveals he knows the Gym referee is League inspector Aleph. He asks Aleph to arrange a teleportation point between Mahogany Town and Galar, offering the League a favor in return. Aleph agrees to report the request.
• Unsure whether to travel toward Olivine or Blackthorn, Roy lets Little Absol choose by flicking a barbecue skewer. It points toward Route 44, so Roy heads for Blackthorn City.
• Roy checks the Blackthorn Gym Leader’s profile and learns the leader is a powerful Trainer with a high-level Elite Four-tier Haxorus. He messages Clair to let her know he is coming.
• Clair, still bitter about losing to Roy aboard the S.S. Anne, has recurring nightmares of her Dragonair being defeated by Roy’s Dusclops. Now that the Dragonair has evolved into Dragonite, she eagerly prepares to face Roy and prove herself.
• In Blackthorn’s marketplace, Roy casually feeds food to a Pokémon hidden in his shadow, startling a skewer vendor, who mistakes the sight for a ghost and flees.
• Roy finds Blackthorn more modern than he expected. Morty messages him that Steven’s construction crew has arrived to assess the site for Ghost Castle, sending an eerie photo of Morty, Palossand, and its Ghost-type residents. Roy saves it as potential promotional art.

Character development and interactions

• Roy remains irreverent and opportunistic: he jokes about Pryce, relies on Absol’s luck to choose his route, and treats the hidden Pokémon in his shadow as part of ordinary life.
• Pryce shows a practical side by honoring his bet and seeking a strategic connection to Galar through the League. His request also hints that he is willing to cooperate when the terms suit him.
• Froslass turns her frustration at Roy into motivation to improve.
• Clair is still haunted by her earlier defeat and channels her resentment into training. She sees Roy’s arrival as a chance for a rematch.
• Aleph shifts from pretending to be an ordinary referee to openly handling Pryce’s request once his identity is exposed.
• Roy’s exchanges with Absol and Morty reinforce his casual, trusting relationships with his Pokémon and allies.

Significant themes

• Rivalry and unresolved grudges: Froslass and Clair both respond to Roy’s departure or return with renewed determination.
• Strength and growth: Clair’s Dragonair has evolved, while Froslass resolves to improve before their next encounter.
• Bargaining and cooperation: Pryce’s proposed favor-for-teleportation arrangement shows powerful figures negotiating with the League on their own terms.
• The supernatural as everyday life: Roy’s shadow Pokémon frightens an ordinary vendor, while Roy himself barely notices the strangeness.

• Plot and battle: Roy arrives at Blackthorn Gym intending to challenge its Gym Leader, but Clair—now the Acting Gym Leader and the Leader’s granddaughter—insists he battle her first. Roy agrees on the condition that he can challenge the real Gym Leader afterward. Clair bans his Misdreavus, so Roy chooses Dusclops instead; Clair sends out her level-64 Dragonite, formerly the Dragonair Roy defeated a year earlier. The battle begins with Dusclops using Gravity Field to interrupt Dragonite’s Dragon Dance and force him to the ground. Dragonite charges with Extreme Speed, which passes harmlessly through the Ghost-type Dusclops, then lands repeated super-effective Brutal Swing attacks. Dusclops barely reacts, catches Dragonite’s tail, and hurls him down with Vital Throw.
• Character developments: Clair has spent the past year training Dragonite and preparing specifically to overcome Roy’s Dusclops. Dragonite initially looks intimidated by his former opponent, but Clair’s encouragement restores his resolve. Roy recognizes the effort behind Clair’s strategy, though he remains confident in Dusclops’s durability.
• Interactions: Clair eagerly confronts Roy and pulls him into the Gym, treating their rematch as a personal mission. She motivates Dragonite by invoking his training, his desire for revenge, and the danger of living in Dusclops’s shadow. Roy is baffled by her dramatic framing, while the referee reluctantly allows the battle because Clair is both Acting Gym Leader and the Gym Leader’s granddaughter.
• Themes: The chapter centers on rematches, perseverance, and preparation: Clair and Dragonite have trained to overcome a humiliating past defeat. It also highlights the contrast between clever countermeasures and overwhelming toughness—Clair brings a targeted Dark-type move, but Dusclops’s defenses blunt its impact.

Plot points and events

• Roy’s Dusclops uses Trick Room to reverse the speed advantage and repeatedly pummels Clair’s Dragonite with Ice Punch, Fire Punch, and a finishing Body Slam.
• Clair’s Dragonite briefly counters with Dragon Pulse, but Dusclops endures it and knocks Dragonite out. Roy wins their match.
• Roy asks to challenge the Gym Leader. Clair, still irritated by the familiar defeat, leads him through the Gym to a secluded village instead.
• The village, marked by a stone tablet reading “Dragon Village,” is revealed to be Blackthorn City’s old, traditional heart. Roy sees powerful Dragon Pokémon there, including Salamence, Noivern, Rampardos, and Tyrantrum.
• Clair explains that to challenge her grandfather—the true Gym Leader—Roy must first pass his test. Her battle was only her own test of Roy as acting Gym Leader.

Character developments and interactions

• Roy demonstrates confidence in Dusclops’s strength but remains wary of Clair, even imagining she might ambush him. His blunt request to challenge the Gym Leader further irritates her.
• Dusclops shows how much stronger and tougher he has become since his earlier battle with Clair, and takes mischievous satisfaction in repeating his signature finishing move.
• Clair is frustrated by losing to Roy in the same manner as before, yet accepts the result and takes him to Dragon Village. She is protective of the Gym’s proper challenge process, insisting that beating her does not qualify Roy to face her grandfather.
• The chapter’s main interaction is the tense, competitive exchange between Roy and Clair, contrasted with Dusclops’s gleeful dominance over Dragonite.

Significant themes

• Growth through repetition: Dusclops’s familiar tactics now come with greater strength, turning a past defeat into a decisive win.
• Tests and earned recognition: Roy must clear more than one challenge before reaching the true Gym Leader.
• Tradition and hidden identity: Dragon Village reveals that Blackthorn’s modern city conceals an older community closely tied to Dragon Pokémon and the Gym’s legacy.

Plot points and events

• Roy enters Dragon Village with Clair, whose ancient buildings and customs make it feel like a secluded world from another era. Villagers and Dragon Tamers initially watch Roy warily, but relax when they see him with Clair.
• Before Clair can explain the Blackthorn Gym’s trial, an apprentice summons her to battle a scheduled challenger. Clair tells Roy to wait and not wander, then leaves.
• Roy stays nearby, declining to enter the ancestral hall or let Dragapult join the Pokémon racing overhead.
• He asks a taciturn old man for permission to fish by the river. Annihilape joins him and catches fish with remarkable speed, astonishing the old man, who has fished all morning without success.
• Annihilape catches a Barboach with Dragon Dance among its moves, amusing Roy. After Annihilape knocks it out, it tosses it back into the river.
• Little Absol wants to try fishing. Its Super Luck Ability appears to help it hook a fish nearly a meter long, leaving the old man even more stunned.

Character developments and interactions

• Roy is considerate of Dragon Village’s customs and Clair’s instructions, but makes his own low-key entertainment while waiting. He shares the fishing activity with his Pokémon.
• Clair is casual and trusting enough to leave Roy in the village, though she gives him clear limits.
• Annihilape shows unexpected fishing skill and readily lets Little Absol take a turn.
• Little Absol is curious and playful; its luck turns a clumsy attempt into an impressive catch.
• The old man remains silent and stoic at first, but his confidence in his fishing is repeatedly undermined by the Pokémon’s extraordinary results.

Significant themes

• Respect for tradition and boundaries: Roy avoids disturbing the village or its sacred spaces while Clair is away.
• The extraordinary in everyday life: A quiet fishing break becomes a showcase for Pokémon abilities and the village’s unusual Pokémon.
• Luck versus skill: Annihilape’s repeated catches appear skillful, while Little Absol’s spectacular catch highlights the power of luck.

Key plot points and events

• Little Absol catches an enormous fish with Annihilape’s fishing rod, then quickly loses interest and runs off after a Butterfree. Annihilape continues fishing, and Roy’s bucket soon fills while the old man’s remains empty.
• The old man first blames luck, then suspects Roy’s equipment. He realizes the secret is Roy’s homemade fishing-bait Pokéblocks, which attract fish in large numbers. Roy lets him examine the bait and offers him some to try.
• Clair returns from the Gym after defeating a challenger and finds Roy by the river with the old man. She calls the old man “Grandpa,” revealing that he is the Blackthorn Gym Leader.
• Roy is surprised because the man’s appearance differs from the Gym Leader photo on his Communicator. The old man explains that the image shows him when he was younger; Clair complains that he refuses to update it.
• When Clair teases her grandfather about catching nothing, Roy tactfully hands him the full bucket and pretends it is the old man’s. The old man plays along and appreciates Roy’s discretion.
• After learning Roy has come to challenge the Gym and has already beaten Clair, the old man postpones the challenge discussion until the afternoon and invites Roy to lunch, promising to cook fish. Roy accepts, and Clair hurries after them, wanting some too.

Character developments and interactions

• Roy is considerate and socially perceptive: he shares his bait, treats the old man respectfully, and helps him save face about his empty bucket.
• The old man/Gym Leader is proud and stubborn, refusing to admit his fishing skills have failed him. His curiosity about Roy’s bait softens his aloof act, and he quickly warms to Roy.
• Clair is still frustrated by her defeat to Roy, but has regained confidence after beating another challenger. She teases and complains to her grandfather, while feeling slightly left out when he and Roy seem to bond.
• Annihilape handles the fishing efficiently, while Little Absol is easily distracted once it has caught a fish.

Significant themes

• Humility and pride: The old man repeatedly invents explanations for his lack of success rather than admitting he may be at fault.
• Kindness and tact: Roy’s small act of returning the bucket protects the old man’s dignity and helps build trust.
• Unexpected connections: A shared interest in fishing turns Roy and the Gym Leader from strangers into companions, setting a warm tone for the upcoming Gym challenge.

Plot and events

• Roy visits Clair’s home, where her elderly grandmother tends the garden alongside a level-75 Charizard. Clair’s grandparents are the village elders.
• Clair’s grandfather returns with a bucket of fish Roy helped catch. The family enjoys a fish feast, and Roy eats enthusiastically while Clair glares at him.
• Roy expects to battle the old man after lunch, but instead gets pulled back to the river for another fishing trip.
• The old man encourages Roy to let Dragapult join the airborne Pokémon race. Dragapult quickly overtakes Salamence, Noivern, and Flygon, only to be passed by Clair’s grandfather’s much stronger Salamence, who wants to play rather than fight.
• Roy realizes the grandfather may also possess a Champion-level Haxorus. He asks why such a powerful Trainer never sought a place in the Elite Four.
• The old man questions the value of that status. As a fish bites his line, he calls Roy over to help land it.

Character developments and interactions

• Roy shows his usual enthusiasm for food and Pokémon challenges, but his conversation with Clair’s grandfather makes him reconsider what power and prestige mean.
• Clair is affectionate toward her family but openly irritated by Roy’s appetite and her grandfather’s exaggerated gratitude for the fish.
• Clair’s grandfather is revealed as a formidable but unassuming Trainer. He values a quiet life, fishing, and companionship over public recognition.
• Dragapult’s confidence and competitive streak emerge as he eagerly challenges the faster Pokémon in the sky. The two Dreepy join in by taunting the others.
• The grandmother recognizes Roy’s name from Lance but has no chance to ask about the connection before lunch begins.

Significant themes

• Power without recognition: The chapter suggests that some of the strongest Trainers avoid public rankings and fame.
• Contentment and personal priorities: The grandfather’s peaceful village life matters more to him than status or wealth.
• Trust and freedom: Roy lets Dragapult fly after the grandfather assures him it is safe.
• Playful rivalry: The aerial race highlights the Pokémon’s competitive personalities while remaining friendly.

Plot points and events

• Dragapult and Salamence race through the sky. Whenever Dragapult catches up, Salamence speeds away, but Dragapult summons a huge green-dragon phantom and manages to keep pursuing him.
• Salamence dives toward the ground, accidentally leading Dragapult to the entrance of the Dragon Cave. The cave’s guardian, Haxorus, roars at the unfamiliar Pokémon. Dragapult panics, accelerates past him, and flies deep inside.
• Salamence stops Haxorus from chasing Dragapult, explains that they were only racing, then follows Dragapult’s scent into the cave.
• Inside, Dragapult finds the darkness strangely familiar and comforting, reminding him of the Meteor Cave. He hears a call and spots a Pokémon with a triangular head.
• Clair rushes to tell Roy that Dragapult has entered the cave. Roy’s elderly fishing companion reassures him and explains that the forbidden cave is a resting place for the bones of Dragon-type Pokémon who fought beside the village’s ancestors—not a haunt of undead creatures.
• The old man admits he invented ghost stories to keep Clair from playing among the bones. The three reach the entrance, where Haxorus remains, looking innocent after Dragapult’s unexpected flight past him.

Character developments and interactions

• Dragapult shows determination and impressive speed, drawing on the green-dragon phantom to keep up with Salamence. His comfort in the cave suggests a connection to places where Dragon-types rest.
• Salamence begins the race playfully, but realizes his game has accidentally sent Dragapult into a forbidden area. He calms Haxorus and follows Dragapult inside.
• Clair is alarmed for Dragapult and confronts the old man about the frightening stories he told her as a child.
• Roy is initially ready to act, but the old man’s confidence and strength persuade him to wait and follow.
• The old man reveals the real purpose of the Dragon Cave and the origins of its frightening reputation. His protective intent has also preserved a distorted rumor.
• Haxorus, acting as guardian, mistakes Dragapult’s approach for a threat; the misunderstanding is quickly defused by Salamence.

Significant themes

• Respect for the past: The Dragon Cave is a resting place for Pokémon who served the ancestors, and its restriction is meant to protect their remains.
• Misunderstanding and rumor: The cave’s reputation as a place of ghosts grew from the old man’s invented scare stories and later distortions.
• Challenge and connection: The race reveals Dragapult’s resolve and hints at a deep affinity between him and the Dragon Cave.

Key plot points and events

• Clair complains that Lance borrowed the Dragon Cave’s two guards for the League Prosecutors and never returned them. The old man explains that Lance is short on staff of his own.
• The old man, Clair, and Roy enter the Dragon Cave respectfully. Salamence stays outside because it cannot move through the narrow passages without damaging the remains.
• Roy sees a colossal Dragonite skeleton. Ancient Gengar notices its skull turn toward Roy, though Marshadow senses no hostility. Roy cannot identify it with his System Scan and moves on.
• The group splits up to search for Dragapult. Roy eventually finds Dragapult, unharmed, who leads him to a female Shiny Dreepy, level 29, whom he discovered in the cave.
• Roy offers the Dreepy some Pokéblock, carefully adjusting the amount for her much lower level than Dragapult’s.

Character developments and interactions

• Clair is blunt about the burden Lance’s choices have placed on the Dragon Village, while the old man responds with understanding of Lance’s staffing problems.
• Roy shows respect for the cave’s dead and concern for Dragapult’s safety. He also remains alert to the mysterious Dragonite skeleton.
• Dragapult demonstrates initiative by exploring the cave and finding the rare Shiny Dreepy. He appears eager to introduce her to Roy.
• Roy treats the newly found Dreepy with care, recognizing that she needs less food than his powerful Dragapult.

Significant themes

• Respect for the past: The visitors bow before entering, and Salamence avoids harming the ancestors’ remains.
• Duty and scarcity: Lance’s staffing needs leave the Dragon Cave without guards, creating tension between obligations to the League and the village.
• Mystery and discovery: The seemingly animated Giant Dragonite skeleton and the unexpected Shiny Dreepy reveal that the cave holds more than the search party anticipated.

Plot points

• Roy wins over a wary Shiny Dreepy with specially made Pokéblocks. Learning it has lived alone in the Dragon Cave, he offers to find it a caring Trainer—Phoebe, who had asked him to catch a Dreepy.
• Shiny Dreepy agrees to leave and is captured easily in a Luxury Ball. Roy says it could one day evolve into Dragapult if it trains hard, though he cannot promise it will match Dragapult’s exceptional strength.
• Dreepy discovers it cannot occupy either of Dragapult’s head openings, apparently reserved for Dragapult’s longtime companions. Instead, it settles on Little Absol’s head and happily acts as Absol’s flying companion.
• The old man finds Roy and leads him out of the cave. With his fishing plans abandoned, he agrees to battle Roy at the Gym.
• The old man sends out Haxorus. Roy initially fears he is facing an overwhelming ace, then recognizes it as the Pokémon that had guarded the cave entrance and wonders whether it can really be the old man’s ace.

Character developments and interactions

• Roy balances his fondness for Shiny Dreepy with the practical limits of raising another Pokémon, arranging for it to join Phoebe instead. He remains intimidated by the old man’s reputation and powerful team.
• Shiny Dreepy moves from wariness and isolation to trust and excitement about a new life. It looks up to Dragapult and quickly bonds with Absol.
• Little Absol welcomes Dreepy and enjoys having a flying companion of its own.
• Dragapult helps introduce Roy to Dreepy and reassures it about Phoebe.
• The old man stops searching for Roy once he returns safely, then accepts the Gym challenge and takes the battle seriously.

Themes

• Trust and companionship can ease a major transition.
• A Pokémon’s potential depends on effort and support, but exceptional strength may also come from rare circumstances.
• The chapter contrasts Roy’s uncertainty against the old man’s formidable reputation, setting up the battle’s central question: how strong is the Haxorus really?

Plot points and events

• Roy reaches the highest-difficulty test for Blackthorn Gym: defeat an old man’s level-78 Haxorus to earn the Rising Badge. Though the old man insists he will not go easy, his choice of a less powerful Haxorus surprises Acting Gym Leader Clair, who considers it a generous handicap.
• Roy accidentally releases Mimikyu along with Misdreavus. After apologizing, he recalls Mimikyu and proceeds with Misdreavus alone.
• Roy uses Ghost Power to trigger Misdreavus’s Bond Evolution into Speed Forme Flutter Mane. The old man recognizes Roy as the trainer whose Flutter Mane once swept the Meteor People’s Dragon-type team.
• Haxorus interrupts Flutter Mane’s attempt to use Nasty Plot with Rock Slide, but she dodges every rock. She then attacks with Dazzling Gleam. Haxorus avoids the first blasts and digs underground to escape the next ones.
• Roy counters with Disarming Voice, whose sound waves reach Haxorus underground and force him back to the surface. Haxorus throws a rock, but Flutter Mane dodges and continues firing Dazzling Gleam from the air.
• By the end of the chapter, Flutter Mane has the advantage: she is faster, airborne, and able to attack at range, while Haxorus has few effective ways to reach her.

Character developments and interactions

• Roy remains confident but cautious, preparing for the battle immediately and using Bond Evolution to bring out Flutter Mane’s full speed.
• Clair’s scornful aside reveals her view that the old man is being far too lenient with Roy.
• The old man shifts from confidence to regret once he recognizes Roy and Flutter Mane, but still battles seriously, ordering Haxorus to interrupt and evade attacks.
• Haxorus shows agility and tactical training, while Flutter Mane’s speed and evasiveness make her difficult to hit. Mimikyu’s fear of Haxorus adds a brief, contrasting moment of comic relief.

Significant themes

• Skill over apparent odds: Haxorus is powerful and well-trained, but Roy’s preparation and Flutter Mane’s speed create a tactical advantage.
• Adaptation in battle: Roy and the old man repeatedly adjust their moves in response to each other.
• Reputation and recognition: Roy’s past victory over Dragon-types makes the old man realize who he is—and changes his confidence in the test.

Key plot points

• Haxorus withstands Misdreavus (Flutter Mane)’s Icy Wind and completes two Dragon Dances, boosting its attack and speed.
• While Flutter Mane uses Nasty Plot, Haxorus digs beneath the arena and launches a surprise combination: it uses the rocks from Rock Tomb as stepping stones to reach Flutter Mane and attack with Night Slash.
• Flutter Mane’s Protect absorbs the first assault, but the remaining rocks break through and strike it, leaving it slower than Haxorus. Roy recognizes the danger and admits he had underestimated the old Gym Leader.
• Roy orders Dazzling Gleam, but Haxorus dives into its tunnel to evade the expected attack. Instead, Flutter Mane releases Disarming Voice, catching Haxorus off guard with the familiar sound-wave attack.

Character developments and interactions

• Roy shifts from confidence to caution after the old man’s strategic play exposes the limits of relying on Flutter Mane’s superior stats. He responds with a feint, using their mind communication to change the intended move.
• The old Gym Leader proves resourceful and knowledgeable: he directs Haxorus to endure pain, build its strength, and exploit the arena’s tunnels and rocks.
• Haxorus shows exceptional determination, continuing Dragon Dance through freezing winds and executing an unusual midair attack sequence.
• Flutter Mane follows Roy’s commands under pressure, but takes a heavy hit and loses its speed advantage.

Significant themes

• Adaptation and strategy: Knowing an opponent’s strengths matters as much as raw power.
• Endurance and trust: Haxorus persists through pain in response to its Trainer’s commands.
• Deception and surprise: Roy’s final feint turns Haxorus’s attempt to evade one attack into exposure to another.