Chapter Summaries

Over the past month, Blake trained Dhelmise and cared for Dreepy while Lulina passed her Trainer assessment. He advised her to choose Mudkip and explained how it could become the centerpiece of a rain team; the chapter ends with Lulina showing him a message that her friend, the Little Yamper, was finally coming to Hulbury.

• Blake caught Dreepy and spent the following month caring for it while helping Dhelmise learn new moves.
• Lulina passed the beginner Trainer assessment, and Lady Haisewai offered to help her obtain a Water-type starter of her choice.
• Blake recommended Mudkip for Lulina and described how Mega Swampert could work with her Wingull in a rain team.
• Blake warned Lulina that the team depended on maintaining control of the weather.
• Lulina told Blake that her friend, the Little Yamper, was on the way to Hulbury after getting lost during the journey.

Leon and Sonia arrived in Hulbury but got lost while trying to find the Pokémon Center and were swept into the Great Fishing Festival. Leon met Gym Leader Haisewai and arranged a battle for the day after tomorrow, then lost Sonia again and was led by Charmeleon to Lulina’s hut.

• Sonia and Leon reached Hulbury, but after Sonia messaged her online friend about the festival, Leon disappeared into the crowd.
• Leon was carried to a hut near the main stage, where he encountered Gym Leader Haisewai and challenged her to a battle.
• Haisewai explained that Gym battles were forbidden during the festival and scheduled Leon’s challenge for the day after tomorrow.
• Leon and Charmeleon recognized Haisewai’s Kingler as powerful, then realized Leon had gotten lost again.
• Charmeleon knocked on the hut’s door, and Lulina opened it.

Leon and Sonia met Blake at Hulbury’s Great Fishing Festival, where Blake served as the family’s priest and performed the ceremony. Afterward, Blake and Lulina went to show the visitors around, and Leon agreed to battle Blake the next day before challenging his teacher.

• Leon introduced himself to Blake, who explained that he was presiding over the festival because his father had left to explore ruins.
• Leon and Blake agreed to battle the next day, since battles were forbidden during the festival.
• Blake led the ceremony, tossing the talismans and chants into the sea with help from a Flying-type Pokémon’s Tailwind.
• After the ceremony, Blake removed his heavy outfit and left with Lulina to find Leon and Sonia.
• Hulbury’s elderly mayor told the helpers to pack up and joked that Blake would outgrow his ceremonial outfit.

Blake, Lulina, Leon, and Sonia discussed the origins of Hulbury’s Great Fishing Festival, then shared a seafood meal. After learning Leon and Sonia had not booked a room, Blake offered them guest rooms at his home and planned to check the Pokémon Center first.

• Sonia asked about the Great Fishing Festival, and Blake and Lulina told her its frightening legend before explaining it was a recent cautionary tale about overfishing.
• Leon’s stomach rumbled, so Lulina and Blake took the group to a local seafood restaurant, where they enjoyed Veluza and other dishes.
• Lulina asked whether Leon and Sonia had booked rooms, and Sonia realized they had not registered at the Pokémon Center.
• Blake offered Leon and Sonia guest rooms at his home and mentioned his courtyard battle field and something he wanted Leon’s help with.
• Lulina chose to accompany Blake and the others because her Gym was closed for the next couple of days.

Blake hosted Leon and Sonia after the crowded Pokémon Center left them without a room, and Leon met Blake’s Pokémon over breakfast. Leon showed Blake his team and discussed training patiently, before Blake asked for help with a hungry Dreepy.

• Blake served breakfast and introduced Leon to his Dhelmise, which emerged from its aquarium to collect food.
• Leon released Thwackey, Galarian Mr. Mime, and Axew, and Blake praised their training.
• Leon explained that he had delayed Charmeleon and Thwackey’s evolution to strengthen their foundations, and Blake agreed with his approach.
• Blake sensed Dreepy approaching, then stopped it from eating a fried egg by flicking it on the forehead.

Blake hosted Leon, Sonia, and Lulina for breakfast before agreeing to battle Leon. The battle began with Leon’s Thwackey facing Blake’s Dhelmise, which withstood a super-effective Acrobatics after using Iron Defense.

• Dreepy startled Leon by darting toward the fried eggs, and Blake restrained the mischievous Pokémon.
• Leon decided he wanted a Dreepy for his future Ghost-type team and eagerly asked Blake for a battle.
• Blake insisted they eat breakfast first, and Sonia and Lulina joined him and Leon at the table.
• Lulina refereed the three-on-three non-standard battle as Leon sent out Thwackey and Blake chose Dhelmise.
• Leon ordered Thwackey to use Acrobatics, while Blake had Dhelmise use Iron Defense to withstand the attack.

Leon and Blake’s battle continued as Thwackey and Dhelmise traded attacks before Leon switched in Mr. Mime. Mr. Mime defeated Dhelmise with Blizzard, but Dhelmise managed to end the Hail with Sunny Day before collapsing.

• Leon used Thwackey’s Double-Edge to evade Dhelmise’s Bind and break free without taking recoil damage.
• Dhelmise overpowered Thwackey in a head-on clash, then tied with its Protect using Gyro Ball after Thwackey knocked away its Spell Tag.
• Leon used U-turn to recall Thwackey and send out Mr. Mime.
• Blake ordered Dhelmise to interrupt Mr. Mime’s Hail, but Mr. Mime set up the weather and was struck by Iron Head.
• Mr. Mime hit Dhelmise with Blizzard, and Dhelmise used Sunny Day before fainting; Mr. Mime won the exchange.

Blake and Leon continued their battle as Blake’s Haunter used status moves to trap and weaken Leon’s Charmeleon. The chapter ended with Charmeleon preparing a full-power Flamethrower while Haunter tried to evade it and use Hypnosis.

• Blake recalled Dhelmise, and Leon recalled Mr. Mime after the two Trainers praised each other’s Pokémon.
• Blake sent out Haunter, and Leon chose Charmeleon as his next Pokémon.
• Haunter evaded Charmeleon’s Flamethrower by diving into the shadows, then poisoned Charmeleon with Toxic.
• Haunter used Substitute to escape Charmeleon’s Crunch, then weakened it with Curse after Leon told Charmeleon to close its eyes against Confuse Ray.
• Blake used Mean Look to prevent Leon from recalling Charmeleon, and Leon ordered Charmeleon to unleash a full-power Flamethrower.
• Blake ordered Haunter to dodge the Flamethrower and use Hypnosis.

Leon’s Charmeleon evolved into Charizard during his battle with Blake’s Haunter, and Leon conceded the match after Charizard was poisoned and cursed. Blake then sent Dreepy into his first battle against Thwackey, where Dreepy was immediately knocked down.

• Blake ordered Haunter to use Hex on the drowsy, poisoned, and cursed Charmeleon, who broke free of Hypnosis and answered with Overheat.
• Charmeleon and Haunter pushed their attacks to the limit until Charmeleon began evolving, and Haunter redirected Hex to avoid harming him.
• Charmeleon evolved into a towering Charizard, but Toxic weakened him; Blake treated the Toxic and removed the lingering Curse.
• Leon admitted defeat, and Blake proposed a final battle to teach Dreepy about his shortcomings.
• Leon sent Thwackey out against Dreepy, whose delayed Double Team failed to stop Knock Off from knocking him to the ground.

Blake used his battle with Leon to teach Dreepy to follow commands, but Thwackey defeated it after a brief comeback. Leon won the match and asked Blake about Haunter’s tactics.

• Dreepy ignored Blake’s commands and was struck repeatedly by Thwackey, so Blake recalled it and explained why it needed training.
• Dreepy chose to continue battling, and Blake sent it back out with instructions to follow his commands.
• Dreepy landed a Sucker Punch on Thwackey and dodged one attack, but it became overconfident and was knocked down.
• Thwackey defeated Dreepy, and Blake and Leon agreed that Leon had won the match three to two.
• Leon asked Blake about Haunter’s tactics, and Blake agreed to answer.

After their battle, Blake and Leon spent hours discussing Pokémon tactics before Lulina interrupted them for lunch. Meanwhile, Haunter gave Charizard a powerful piece of Charcoal, and Blake revealed his family had a large supply of the rare held item.

• Blake restored his Pokémon and discussed battle tactics with Leon, crediting other trainers' ideas and explaining strategies he had adapted.
• Leon and Blake talked for over three hours until Lulina shouted at them to come eat lunch.
• Haunter gave Charizard a piece of Charcoal, and Charizard released a pillar of flame as its power surged through him.
• Leon recognized the Charcoal as a rare held item and asked Blake about it.
• Blake told Leon his family's Pokémon could make Charcoal and that their warehouse held plenty, even offering him a log.

Leon excitedly handled the Charcoal Blake had given him, and the group discussed Pokémon strength, Blake’s father, and Leon and Sonia’s delayed journey. Leon then confirmed he was ready to face tomorrow’s Gym challenge under high-standard rules.

• Leon got charcoal dust on himself while admiring the Charcoal, then washed up before joining Blake, Sonia, and Lulina for dinner.
• Leon asked why the Charcoal seemed better than others, and Blake explained that its quality could depend on the strength of the Pokémon that made it and the energy it retained.
• Leon became eager to battle an Elite Four-level Pokémon, while Blake said his father was stronger against wild Pokémon than in official battles.
• Lulina asked when Blake’s father would return, and Blake described his uncertain work investigating supernatural incidents and his family’s distance from a similar family in Kanto.
• Leon admitted he and Sonia had only reached the second Gym after a month, and Sonia blamed his poor sense of direction before they argued about her dangerous driving.
• Lulina said Leon’s match was ready for the next day, and Leon accepted the high-standard challenge because Charizard had reached its third stage.

Leon got lost in the Hulbury Gym maze for two hours before winning his high-standard Gym Challenge and earning his second Badge. Afterward, Haisewai praised his potential and discussed Blake’s talent, while Blake, Lulina, and Sonia left to celebrate.

• Leon wandered through the Hulbury Gym maze until staff found him after two hours, having passed the main entrance three times.
• Leon’s Thwackey defeated Haisewai’s Poliwhirl and Slowbro before falling, and his Mr. Mime forced her Dynamaxed Kingler out of its Dynamax state.
• Leon’s Gigantamax Charizard defeated Kingler, earning Leon his second Badge in the high-standard challenge.
• Haisewai congratulated Leon, and Leon admitted that Blake had previously defeated his Charmeleon with Haunter.
• Haisewai decided to speak with James about Blake’s skills, while Lulina insisted Blake carry her and Sonia followed them out after Leon left to change.

Blake and Lulina said goodbye to Leon and Sonia, who gave Blake two possible Fish Fossils before leaving Hulbury. Blake then learned that his parents, James and Louise, had returned to Galar, and rushed to the station to meet them.

• Blake gave Leon and Sonia a PokéNav as a farewell gift.
• Leon and Sonia presented Blake with two ancient stones they had found in the Wild Area, which Blake recognized as possible Fish Fossils.
• Blake and Lulina escorted Leon and Sonia beyond Hulbury, where the friends exchanged farewells and Leon set off hoping to catch a Water-type Pokémon.
• Blake received a call from his father, James, learned that James and Louise had returned to Galar, and hurried with Lulina to Hulbury Station.

Blake reunited with his parents, James and Louise, at Hulbury Station. James explained that Blake would join the team on a ruin expedition in a week, leaving Blake eager to prepare for his first exploration.

• Blake and Lulina met James and Louise at the crowded Hulbury Station, where Louise enthusiastically hugged them and Blake greeted his father.
• James told Blake that the Spell Tag was likely connected to ruins he had been researching and to smugglers who escaped by boat.
• James invited Blake to join the team on a ruin expedition so he could experience the wilderness, and Blake eagerly agreed.
• James explained that the team needed a week to regroup and League approval before the expedition could begin.
• James warned Blake to prepare and stay alert, then the family rode a Corviknight taxi home.

James examined Blake’s Spell Tag and revealed that it was likely made from material connected to Giratina. He told Blake that their next expedition would take them to a temple ruin related to Giratina, at least three thousand years old.

• Blake welcomed James home and told him about his new Pokémon, Dhelmise and Dreepy.
• James assessed Dhelmise and reassured Blake that Dreepy’s rapid growth and frequent shedding were signs of abundant energy.
• Haunter brought James the Spell Tag, whose powerful Ghost-type aura confirmed his suspicions about its ancient origins.
• James explained that the Spell Tag might be connected to Giratina, the legendary god of the Distortion World.
• James revealed that their next expedition would visit a temple ruin related to Giratina and dating back at least three thousand years.

Haunter reunited with Trevenant, Sableye, and Dhelmise, then asked Sableye to recount the group’s expedition. Sableye described a ruin that had been a human sacrificial site, and Trevenant’s interruptions revealed how badly the Pokémon had fought there; the argument ended with Trevenant warning Sableye to prepare for Blake joining the next exploration.

• Haunter greeted Trevenant and Sableye and introduced Dhelmise to them.
• Trevenant examined Dhelmise and judged him capable of protecting Blake.
• Haunter gave Sableye Ghost Gems and asked him to describe the outing.
• Sableye told Haunter and Dhelmise about a hidden ruin full of old corpses that the Trainers believed was a human sacrificial site.
• Sableye claimed the group had defeated the rude local Pokémon, while Trevenant reminded him that Sableye had fled and needed rescuing.
• Trevenant urged Sableye to train because Blake would join the next exploration, and Sableye snapped back at him.

Blake reunited with Sam and Anna for a lively family meal, where their parents teased them about their closeness. After the gathering, Blake told Lulina he was leaving with James and Louise to explore a ruin, and promised to take her to one someday.

• James and Blake welcomed Sam and Anna, who brought seafood dishes for the family meal.
• Louise and Anna teased Blake and Lulina about their growing closeness as the family ate together.
• After lunch, Blake told Lulina he would join James and Louise on a ruin expedition and did not know how long they would be away.
• Lulina asked Blake to take her to a ruin someday, and they sealed the promise with a pinky swear.

Blake prepared to leave with James for the Sinnoh Region to explore ruins, while his Pokémon trained and showed off their progress. Excited about the trip, Blake struggled to sleep until Haunter used Hypnosis on him.

• James checked Blake's packing list, removed unnecessary supplies, and told him to observe and learn during the trip to Sinnoh.
• Blake noticed that Dhelmise had learned Energy Ball from Trevenant, while Haunter still struggled to learn the move.
• Haunter revealed that Dreepy had tried to slack off during training, so Teacher Sableye had caught and disciplined him.
• Blake and his Pokémon celebrated their coming adventure, then returned to bed to rest before departure.
• Unable to sleep from excitement, Blake asked Haunter to use Hypnosis, and soon fell asleep.

Blake arrived in Hoenn with James but was overcome by airsickness after leaving the plane. Outside the airport, Professor Carolina and President Stone Mu Jin waited with their younger relatives to meet James's group.

• Blake vomited beside the airport until Haunter gave him water and James helped him recover with chocolate.
• James picked up the luggage and led Blake out of the airport, where a young man waited with President Stone Mu Jin.
• President Stone warned his son to follow instructions during the archaeological excavation and not act on his own.
• Professor Carolina chastised her granddaughter for lacking field experience and warned her not to rely on battling skills in ruins.
• Gible and Metang briefly confronted each other before their trainers called them off.
• Professor Carolina and President Stone recognized each other and realized they were waiting for Professor James's group.