Chapter Summaries

Sui Yan explained the tournament brackets to Fugui, who learned he would have to face Mewtwo and then drew him in the next round. The match began with Fugui sending out Tyranitar, but the Pokémon emerging from Mewtwo’s Poké Ball left Fugui and Sui Yan stunned.

• Sui Yan told Fugui that the tournament had separate upper and lower brackets and that Fugui would have to get past Mewtwo.
• The second round opened with Fugui matched against Mewtwo, and Fugui lamented his bad luck.
• Fugui followed Mewtwo onto the field before the referee directed him to his side.
• Fugui sent out Tyranitar, and Mewtwo threw a Poké Ball belonging to "Lu Ze."
• Fugui and Sui Yan froze when the Pokémon appeared, and Sui Yan wondered whether Zorua had grabbed the wrong Poké Ball.

Mewtwo, directing Lu Ze’s team, defeated Fugui in their championship showdown, while Fugui forfeited after Crawdaunt fell and Charizard entered the field. Lu Ze and Sui Yan advanced through the tournament rounds, leaving five contestants to compete for the remaining places as they prepared for their next matches.

• Shuckle used Power Split and Rock Tomb to frustrate Tyranitar, while Toxic weakened Gastrodon before Sirfetch’d defeated it with Leaf Blade.
• Sirfetch’d sent Tyranitar flying with Retaliate but succumbed to the Sandstorm, and Crawdaunt then defeated Tyranitar with Aqua Jet and Crabhammer.
• Excadrill defeated Crawdaunt after a fierce exchange, and Fugui forfeited when Charizard entered the field; Wang Xingqiu noticed a humanoid Pokémon directing the battle, and a seed inside him began to crack.
• Fugui told Sui Yan that his family had found him a Bagon Pokémon Egg and that he planned to ask his master about his remaining team choices.
• Sui Yan quickly won his afternoon match, and Lu Ze and Sui Yan both advanced through the third round while Fugui was eliminated.
• The five remaining contestants recognized that Lu Ze and Sui Yan were favorites for Champion and runner-up, and focused their efforts on claiming third place.

Sui Yan and Mewtwo’s disguised “Lu Ze” advanced to the final after their opponents conceded, and Sui Yan battled through Mewtwo’s team with a Stealth Rock strategy. By the chapter’s end, Mega Charizard Y had defeated Sirfetch’d, and Mewtwo sent out another Pokémon to face it.

• The other contestants conceded their matches, leaving Sui Yan and “Lu Ze” to fight for the championship while the rest competed for third place.
• Sui Yan led with Torkoal, which poisoned Crawdaunt with Smog and set Stealth Rock before fainting; Arcanine then defeated Crawdaunt and Electivire.
• Mewtwo sent out Charizard, which fainted after clashing with Arcanine, while Arcanine also collapsed from the damage.
• Sui Yan Mega Evolved Charizard into Mega Charizard Y, which knocked out Sirfetch’d with Heat Wave.
• As the referee prepared to issue a third warning, “Lu Ze” sent out another Pokémon, but the chapter ended before it was revealed.

Crobat defeated Sui Yan’s Mega Charizard Y in a one-sided battle, showing off her speed and control of the weather. After Sui Yan surrendered, Lu Ze received the Champion’s prize while Sui Yan accepted the runner-up reward.

• Crobat persuaded Mewtwo to let her battle Charizard, then entered the field despite taking damage from Stealth Rock.
• Crobat used Rain Dance and evaded Charizard’s attacks while her Air Slash broke through Swift and struck Charizard.
• Crobat outmaneuvered Charizard’s charge and hit him with Air Slash, then finished the battle with Hurricane.
• Sui Yan recalled Charizard and surrendered, making Crobat the winner.
• At the awards ceremony, Sui Yan eyed the Muscle Feather in Lu Ze’s hand and noted that the runner-up reward was acceptable.

Mewtwo revealed that he had taken Lu Ze’s Pokémon to compete in the Temple Fair Tournament and earned eight hundred thousand yuan, leading to a dispute over how the prize money should be divided. Lu Ze then ordered a pink Space Backpack as a New Year’s gift for Snorlax, and Mewtwo asked for one too.

• Lu Ze learned that Mewtwo had taken his Pokémon to the Temple Fair Tournament and won eight hundred thousand yuan.
• Lu Ze transferred four hundred thousand yuan to Mewtwo as payment for the Pokémon who had battled, and Mewtwo flew off with the cash.
• After Deoxys caught up with them, Mewtwo kept half the money and paid Lu Ze the other half, insisting the arrangement was fair.
• Lu Ze visited a shop introduced by Wang Quan and ordered a pink Space Backpack for Snorlax as a New Year’s gift.
• Mewtwo asked the shop owner to make him a backpack like Lu Ze’s and offered to pay by scanning the code.

Lu Ze and his family celebrated New Year's Eve with their Pokémon, while Mewtwo hosted a festive feast for the Pokémon at the Breeding Garden. As midnight arrived, Lu Ze, Charizard, and Victini lit the fireworks together.

• Lu Ze's family and their Pokémon shared a New Year's Eve dinner while Mewtwo hosted a lavish celebration for the Pokémon at the Breeding Garden.
• After dinner, Lu Ze and his family watched the Spring Festival Gala and waited for midnight together.
• Lu Ze took Electivire outside to help move the fireworks and firecrackers into the yard.
• Lu Ze taught Charizard and Victini how to light the fuses, then gave the signal as the New Year began.
• Charizard and Victini ignited the fireworks and firecrackers, filling the yard with bursts and crackles.

Lu Ze and the Pokémon welcomed the New Year with fireworks, then Lu Ze handed out gifts to the Pokémon around him. He left Rhydon with a Protector and told it to visit Lu Xingguo for a surprise.

• Firecrackers startled Victini and Lu Ze’s Pokémon, but they soon watched the fireworks lighting up Upper Capital City.
• Mewtwo waited with the Breeding Garden Pokémon until Flareon, Magby, and Litwick stepped in and set off the fireworks and firecrackers.
• After the fireworks ended, Lu Ze and Snorlax brought out a box of New Year’s gifts while Lu Xingguo and Liu Xiangjun watched.
• Lu Ze gave Snorlax a pink backpack, Crobat a Sharp Beak, and Rhydon a Protector, telling Rhydon to show it to Lu Xingguo in a few days.
• Lu Ze gave Bewear a black crossbody bag, and Bewear hugged him and smugly showed it off to Snorlax.

Lu Ze gave his Pokémon New Year's gifts, including a Mega Stone for Latios and a Comet Shard for Deoxys. Latios could not Mega Evolve yet, while Deoxys grew strong enough that Rayquaza would have a harder time defeating him.

• Lu Ze gave Latios a Mega Stone, but Latios failed to Mega Evolve and thought he still needed to work harder.
• Lu Ze handed out gifts to his Pokémon, and Tsareena eagerly kissed him before Lilligant pulled her away.
• Lu Ze gave Espeon and Umbreon matching scarves, Daddy Milotic and Mama Milotic matching tail ornaments, and Goodra a small crown.
• Lu Ze gave Charizard a Shuckle Bag with a miniature bed for Shuckle, who settled inside it comfortably.
• Lu Ze gave Deoxys a Comet Shard, which Deoxys absorbed, strengthening its aura.
• Deoxys said Rayquaza might still beat him, but would no longer defeat him easily, and Latios translated his words for Lu Ze.

Lu Ze celebrated New Year by giving his Pokémon gifts and festive outfits, then woke them early the next morning to join the household’s celebrations. As they headed downstairs after Liu Xiangjun called them, someone rang the doorbell.

• Lu Ze received Arceus’s Dread Plate from Zhuge Zijing and gave it to Crawdaunt as a New Year’s gift.
• Lu Ze gave Victini a portable video-calling device and handed out customized gifts to his other Pokémon.
• Lu Ze distributed bright red New Year outfits tailored to his Pokémon and told them to wear them the next morning.
• Lu Ze sent the Pokémon to rest after the fireworks and firecrackers died down.
• Liu Xiangjun cooked dumplings and called Lu Ze and the Pokémon to get up early on New Year’s morning.
• Lu Ze led the sleepy Pokémon downstairs and wondered who was ringing the doorbell.

Lu Zhengjie visited Lu Ze’s family for New Year and told Lu Ze how he had accidentally caught Slakoth. Crawdaunt challenged Zhengjie’s Machamp to train, defeated it quickly, and left Zhengjie wondering how strong Crawdaunt had become.

• Lu Zhengjie arrived with New Year gifts and exchanged greetings and red envelopes with Lu Ze’s family.
• Lu Zhengjie told Lu Ze that Slakoth had been caught when a Poké Ball accidentally rolled into it and it did not bother to move.
• Lu Ze explained that Crawdaunt had also been caught by chance after entering a Luxury Ball out of curiosity.
• Crawdaunt summoned Machamp and dragged it outside to train, then returned after defeating it and leaving it injured.
• Lu Zhengjie treated Machamp and remarked that Crawdaunt’s energy suggested it had reached a high-level Pokémon’s strength.

Lu Zhengjie revealed that his Aura let him sense Pokémon’s normal-state strength, prompting Lu Ze and Lu Ba to explain how it differed from measured energy levels. The group began testing Lu Zhengjie’s ability on Lilligant, but the chapter ended before he shared what he sensed.

• Lu Ze questioned whether Pokémon energy tests accurately reflected strength and recalled Lu Xingguo’s lesson that a Trainer’s command and a Pokémon’s training mattered more than its energy classification.
• Lu Zhengjie used his Aura to assess Tsareena and estimated her strength at advanced Elite Four level, startling Lu Ze.
• Lu Ba explained that Lu Zhengjie’s Aura appeared to reveal a Pokémon’s normal-state strength rather than its energy level.
• Lu Ze called Lilligant over to verify Lu Zhengjie’s ability, and Lu Zhengjie activated his Aura and began assessing her.

Lu Ze took Lu Zhengjie to the research institute to show him that battle outcomes depended on more than a Pokémon’s baseline strength. He introduced him to Mewtwo, whose overwhelming strength left Lu Zhengjie fearing Lu Ze planned to make them battle.

• Lu Zhengjie discovered that his Aura could reveal a Pokémon’s baseline strength, while Lu Ze and Lu Ba envied his ability.
• Lu Zhengjie proposed a battle with Lu Ze but backed down after comparing their Pokémon’s strengths.
• Lu Ze told Lu Zhengjie that a trainer’s choices mattered alongside a Pokémon’s strength, then invited him to bring all his Pokémon.
• Lu Ze led Lu Zhengjie to the research institute’s Breeding Garden and greeted Mewtwo, who wore festive red clothes.
• Lu Zhengjie used his Aura to assess Mewtwo, was stunned by his strength, and asked Lu Ze if he intended to have them battle.

Lu Ze introduced Mewtwo and Lu Zhengjie to a Pokémon battle game, then challenged Mewtwo to a match. Lu Ze gained the upper hand with a strategy built around Trick Room and Snorlax, but Mewtwo’s frustration ended with Lu Ze floating in the air.

• Lu Ze took Mewtwo and Lu Zhengjie to his office and showed them the Pokémon battle game he had prepared.
• Lu Ze explained the six-three format and selected a team while Mewtwo chose Charizard, Blastoise, Venusaur, Caterpie, Metapod, and Butterfree.
• Lu Ze used Alakazam’s Trick Room and Machamp’s Stone Edge to defeat Mewtwo’s Charizard, explaining why the slower Machamp attacked first.
• Lu Ze sent out Snorlax, whose Belly Drum and High Horsepower defeated Mewtwo’s Blastoise and Venusaur.
• Lu Ze taunted Mewtwo that he could not win, and Mewtwo’s next action left Lu Ze floating in the air.

Lu Ze defeated Mewtwo again in their Pokémon battle, prompting Mewtwo to storm off and challenge Rayquaza to vent his frustration. Lu Zhengjie watched the two Legendary Pokémon begin fighting and was shocked to see Rayquaza.

• Mewtwo copied much of Lu Ze’s lineup, but Lu Ze’s Gengar and Venomoth defeated Alakazam, Machamp, and Snorlax.
• Mewtwo slammed the door and Teleported to Rayquaza, while Lu Ze began teaching Lu Zhengjie how to play.
• Rayquaza eagerly accepted Mewtwo’s challenge and led him to the battle arena.
• Mewtwo attacked Rayquaza with a barrage of Shadow Balls as the arena’s cameras broadcast the battle.
• Lu Ze and Lu Zhengjie watched the feed, and Lu Zhengjie was stunned to see a black Rayquaza.

Rayquaza and Mewtwo fought fiercely, with Rayquaza eventually overpowering Mewtwo after becoming serious. Mewtwo lay exhausted while Rayquaza celebrated, and Mewtwo wondered whether he should trust Lu Ze again.

• Lu Ze explained to Lu Zhengjie that Rayquaza was a battle maniac and might enjoy fighting Mewtwo.
• Rayquaza and Mewtwo traded attacks until Mewtwo's hidden Future Sight struck Rayquaza and made him lose patience.
• Rayquaza used Dragon Dance and Outrage to overwhelm Mewtwo, who escaped the first blow with Substitute.
• Mewtwo fought Rayquaza again with Barrier, Psyshock, and Giga Impact, and their collision turned the viewers' screen white.
• Lu Zhengjie and the others could not see who won, but Mewtwo knew he had lost and lay panting as Rayquaza celebrated.
• Mewtwo recalled Lu Ze's words and wondered whether he should trust Lu Ze again.

Mewtwo returned to the laboratory after his battle with Rayquaza and watched Lu Ze use a modified Geodude to defeat Lu Zhengjie. Mewtwo realized the strategy had been prepared for him, but he had already figured out how to counter it.

• Mewtwo chose to leave after Rayquaza's dance annoyed him, and Rayquaza happily resumed dancing.
• Lu Ze wagered lunch that his Geodude could beat Lu Zhengjie's team and sent it into battle after Hippowdon fell to Dewgong's Surf.
• Lu Ze's Geodude used Sturdy and Endeavor, then Sandstorm damage and Shell Bell recovery to defeat Dewgong, Blastoise, and Kingdra.
• Lu Zhengjie complained that Geodude's strategy was disgusting, and Mewtwo agreed after revealing he had been watching.
• Mewtwo told Lu Ze he had already been back for a while and had figured out how to counter the strategy.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Ze attempts to use a strategy involving Aron and Sandstorm against Mewtwo, but Mewtwo sees through it.
• Lu Ze admits to planning the strategy, then leaves to check on his Pokémon.
• Mewtwo plays a game with Lu Zhengjie and wins all three matches, causing Lu Zhengjie to feel disheartened.
• Mewtwo dismisses Lu Zhengjie as "immature," comparing him to a child.
• Lu Ze feeds his Pokémon, causing little Eevee to panic and try to escape.

Character Developments

• Lu Ze shows his strategic thinking and adaptability but also his tendency to bluff and evade responsibility.
• Mewtwo demonstrates his intelligence and analytical skills, as well as his single-minded focus on his goals.
• Lu Zhengjie shows his competitive spirit but also his insecurities and tendency to be easily discouraged.
• Little Eevee displays her fear of Lu Ze's cooking and her protective instincts towards her friends.

Significant Themes

• The theme of competition and the desire to win at any cost, as seen in Lu Ze's strategy and Mewtwo's dismissive attitude towards Lu Zhengjie.
• The theme of growth and maturity, as Mewtwo compares Lu Zhengjie to a child.
• The theme of fear and avoidance, as little Eevee tries to escape from Lu Ze's cooking.

Character Interactions

• Lu Ze and Mewtwo have a tense exchange, with Mewtwo seeing through Lu Ze's strategy and Lu Ze admitting to it.
• Mewtwo and Lu Zhengjie have a one-sided competition, with Mewtwo winning all three matches and dismissing Lu Zhengjie's skills.
• Lu Ze interacts with his Pokémon, causing little Eevee to try to protect her friends from his cooking.

Lu Ze made Poffins as New Year gifts for the Pokémon at the Breeding Garden and packed favorite flavors for Hoopa, Darkrai, and Kyurem. After finishing near noon, he called Darkrai while the garden Pokémon gathered around to enjoy the treats.

• Companion Eevee dragged Little Eevee to Lu Ze, who gave them Poffins and gently stopped Companion Eevee from calling him her husband.
• Little Eevee feared Lu Ze was a demon testing them with poison, but the Poffin Companion Eevee fed her was so delicious that she forgot her fear and joined in eating.
• Glameow and the drifting Jumpluff, Eldegoss, and Whimsicott came over, and Lu Ze served them Poffins.
• Lu Ze counted the garden Pokémon and prepared and vacuum-sealed Poffins in Hoopa's, Darkrai's, and Kyurem's favorite flavors.
• Near noon, Lu Ze finished preparing the gifts, saw the Pokémon gathered around him enjoying Poffins, and called Darkrai.

Lu Ze, Snorlax, and Victini visited Hoopa to exchange New Year's gifts, and Hoopa summoned Kyurem. Snorlax and Kyurem made plans to share drinks before Lu Ze offered Snorlax fruit wine.

• Lu Ze invited Snorlax to visit Hoopa, and Snorlax eagerly prepared to bring Kyurem a gift.
• Lu Ze, Snorlax, and Victini entered Hoopa's Golden Ring while Darkrai stayed behind after taking Dratini's Poffin.
• Lu Ze explained the New Year to Hoopa and asked it to summon Kyurem for Snorlax's gift.
• Hoopa summoned Kyurem, who was startled to find Snorlax waiting behind him and offered to share liquor.
• Lu Ze said Snorlax could not drink liquor but offered it fruit wine to share with Kyurem.

Lu Ze gave Hoopa, Darkrai, and Kyurem gifts and new Lunar New Year outfits, then arranged snacks and barbecue for them. He left through Hoopa’s portal and recruited Lu Zhengjie and Mewtwo to join the gathering, tempting Mewtwo with the promise of a Pokémon as strong as Rayquaza.

• Lu Ze gave Hoopa a video communicator, Darkrai a music box, and Kyurem a wristband prepared by Snorlax.
• Lu Ze explained the New Year clothing tradition, and Hoopa, Kyurem, and Darkrai agreed to wear the red outfits he had prepared.
• Lu Ze admired the Pokémon in their new clothes and asked what snacks they wanted; Kyurem requested pork knuckle and pig trotters, while Darkrai asked for beef tripe.
• Lu Ze added roast chicken and barbecue to the order, then asked Hoopa to open a portal so he could arrange the food.
• Lu Ze brought Lu Zhengjie along and tried to entice Mewtwo to join the gathering by saying a Pokémon about as strong as Rayquaza would be there.