Chapter Summaries

It All Starts with Helping Pokémon
473 summaries

Ch. 321The Clash of Mythical Pokémon, Giratina Appears!

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

  • The Space-Time Rift expands over Hisui, threatening to destroy the entire region. Cyrus reveals that he deliberately used the Red Chain to summon Dialga and Palkia before completing his preparations.
  • Dialga and Palkia descend from the Rift. Adaman and Irida learn that the two Pokémon are not the true Almighty Sinnoh, but beings created to govern time and space.
  • Akari uses a Red Chain to control Dialga, while Cyrus controls Palkia with another. The two mythical Pokémon clash, devastating the Temple of Sinnoh and intensifying the spacetime imbalance.
  • Cyrus uses the Lustrous Globe to transform Palkia into its powerful Origin Forme, giving it overwhelming control over space. The heroes struggle to affect it, though attacks empowered by the Plates can bypass its spatial defenses.
  • Kamado reveals that he secretly possesses the Fist Plate and gives it to Akari, admitting that he had been manipulated by Cyrus and asking her to save Hisui.
  • Xingye confronts Darkrai and persuades it to abandon Cyrus. Darkrai reveals that it has always felt isolated and hated because of its nightmare powers. Xingye offers friendship, and Darkrai joins the heroes, recovering the Plates it had stolen from Cyrus.
  • Akari summons the Noble Pokémon with the Celestica Flute. Their ancestral mission and the bonds they share with humanity create a powerful combined attack that breaks Palkia’s Red Chain and destroys the Lustrous Globe.
  • Palkia and Cyrus are defeated. The Noble Pokémon complete their final mission and disappear, apparently ending the age of the Noble Pokémon.
  • Volo explains that all eighteen Plates and the Celestica Flute are needed to restore the damaged dimensions. He unexpectedly produces the Spooky Plate, allowing Akari to gather all eighteen.
  • Akari plays the empowered Celestial Flute, calming Dialga and Palkia and beginning to repair the Space-Time Rifts.
  • Volo suddenly betrays the group, seizes Akari and the Celestial Flute, and reveals that he created the Space-Time Rifts, brought Akari from another universe, and manipulated events so she would become Almighty Sinnoh’s messenger.
  • Cynthia confronts Volo after secretly observing him. Volo reveals his identity as one of the surviving Ancient Sinnoh People, changes into their traditional clothing, and summons Giratina, ruler of the Spirit World.

Character Developments

  • Akari grows into a decisive leader, coordinating the battle and accepting responsibility for saving both humans and Pokémon. Her trust in Volo is shattered by his betrayal.
  • Cyrus comes closer to achieving his goal of creating a flawless new world, but his control over Palkia is broken by the combined strength of the heroes, the Plates, and the Noble Pokémon.
  • Darkrai undergoes the chapter’s major emotional transformation. It moves from isolation and despair to accepting friendship and choosing to protect the world alongside others.
  • Xingye demonstrates empathy and leadership by treating Darkrai as a misunderstood individual rather than an inherently evil Pokémon.
  • Kamado recognizes that Cyrus manipulated him and sacrifices his pride by kneeling before Akari to offer the hidden Fist Plate.
  • Adaman and Irida confront the collapse of their religious assumptions but remain composed and support Akari. Their rivalry briefly gives way to mutual concern when Irida nearly collapses.
  • Cynthia becomes suspicious of Volo and quietly investigates him, ultimately positioning herself to protect Akari.
  • Volo is exposed as the true mastermind behind the Space-Time Rifts. His helpful, innocent merchant persona is revealed to have been an elaborate deception.

Significant Themes

  • Bonds and cooperation versus emotionless perfection: Cyrus’s ideal world would eliminate conflict by removing emotions, but the heroes’ bonds, love, loyalty, and determination are precisely what defeat Palkia.
  • Friendship and acceptance: Darkrai’s struggle shows how isolation can make someone despair, while Xingye’s acceptance gives it a reason to fight for others.
  • Faith versus truth: Adaman and Irida learn that the beings worshipped as Almighty Sinnoh are only creations of a higher power, forcing them to reconsider the foundations of their clans.
  • Inherited duty and sacrifice: The Noble Pokémon pass on their generations-long mission in one final attack, surrendering their status to protect humanity.
  • Manipulation and hidden motives: Cyrus manipulates Kamado, while Volo manipulates nearly everyone, including Akari, turning apparent guidance into a long-term scheme.
  • Power beyond mortals: Dialga and Palkia demonstrate the terrifying scale of time- and space-based power, requiring cooperation between humans, Pokémon, Plates, and ancient forces to overcome them.

Important Character Interactions

  • Akari and Dialga: Akari apologizes for controlling Dialga and promises to restore its freedom after the crisis.
  • Akari, Adaman, and Irida: She confirms the truth about Dialga and Palkia, helping the clan leaders face the collapse of their shared religious beliefs.
  • Xingye and Darkrai: Xingye challenges Darkrai’s belief that it is inherently harmful and offers to become its first friend. Darkrai accepts and joins the fight.
  • Kamado and Akari: Kamado admits his mistakes and entrusts Akari with the Fist Plate, asking her to save the region.
  • Cyrus and Palkia: Cyrus treats Palkia as a weapon for remaking the world, believing control over a god makes him superior to ordinary people.
  • Cynthia and Volo: Cynthia reveals that she has been monitoring Volo and confronts him at the moment of his betrayal.
  • Volo and Akari: Volo admits that their entire journey was engineered for his purposes, leaving Akari devastated and setting up the confrontation with Giratina.
Read chapter

Ch. 322Origin Creation Power, Koraidon vs. the Origin Myth!

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

  • At the shattered Temple of Sinnoh, Volo reveals that he manipulated Akari for years, using her as the chosen messenger who could obtain the Celestial Flute and reach Almighty Sinnoh. He also reveals his alliance with Giratina and his plan to seize creation’s power.
  • Cynthia confronts Volo, discovering that he is likely her distant ancestor. She condemns him as a disgrace and battles him with Lucario and later Mega Garchomp.
  • Volo’s darkness immobilizes nearly everyone. Giratina emerges from the Spirit World in its Origin Form and defeats both Dialga and Palkia in a single attack, shattering the Red Chain.
  • Volo explains the history of Giratina, the Ancient Sinnoh People, and his thousand-year partnership with the antimatter Pokémon. He claims that humans and Pokémon forming bonds are the key to challenging Almighty Sinnoh.
  • Akari initially appears ready to surrender the Celestial Flute, but reveals that she has already prepared a counterattack. Regigigas emerges from beneath Mt. Coronet, seizes the Plates, and breaks Volo’s restraints.
  • Regigigas battles Giratina, allowing Akari and the others to move. Akari confronts Volo directly, striking him with the Celestial Flute after Marshadow binds his shadow. She rejects his manipulation and declares that Almighty Sinnoh chose her, not him.
  • Cyrus returns with a second Red Chain and an Indigo Diamond, restoring Dialga as Origin Dialga. He uses its power to reverse time, reducing people and Pokémon to their earliest forms and threatening to reset the entire world.
  • Volo’s attempt to use the Celestial Flute fails because he was never chosen by Almighty Sinnoh. He breaks down after realizing that his millennia-long mission has ended in failure.
  • Xingye survives by hiding within Giratina’s antimatter and returns with Marshadow’s help. He joins Miraidon in opposing Cyrus while Volo briefly protects them from Roar of Time.
  • Xingye uses Cynthia’s Origin Ore and Herba Mystica to transform Miraidon into Koraidon. The power of creation, existing before the concept of time, allows Koraidon to resist Dialga’s temporal control.
  • Koraidon’s final collision defeats Origin Dialga, destroys the Red Chain and Adamant Orb, and restores the world and everyone affected by Cyrus’s time reversal. Cyrus is defeated, while Dialga returns to its normal form.
  • The chapter ends with Xingye telling Cyrus that the world, not any individual faction, won the final battle.

Character Developments

  • Akari moves from shock and hurt over Volo’s betrayal to controlled determination. Rather than collapsing under the truth, she accepts the good his actions indirectly brought into her life while firmly rejecting his manipulation. She becomes the person who corrects and defeats him.
  • Volo is exposed as a centuries-old manipulator driven by obsession with Almighty Sinnoh. His confidence collapses when Akari refuses to behave as his disposable tool and when the Celestial Flute fails to answer him. Despite his crimes, he finally shows remorse by risking himself to protect Akari and the others.
  • Cynthia learns that Volo is probably her ancestor, but refuses to let bloodline determine her values. She emphasizes the difference between genuine Trainers and exploitative tamers.
  • Xingye recognizes his own limitations after Volo defeats him effortlessly. He then grows through hope and adaptability, choosing Origin Ore over the more obvious power of the Plates and ultimately becoming the key figure in stopping Cyrus.
  • Giratina shifts from a destructive, manipulative force into a more complex ally. Its long partnership with Volo has changed it, and it ultimately protects Xingye and even supports Volo’s final sacrifice.
  • Cyrus gains immense power but remains incapable of understanding bonds, hope, or creation. His attempt to create a world without conflict becomes another act of domination and is defeated by the very bonds he rejects.
  • Miraidon demonstrates loyalty to Xingye and the group. Its transformation into Koraidon symbolizes the union of future potential with the ancient power of creation.

Significant Themes

  • Bonds versus control: The chapter contrasts Trainers, whose power comes from trust with Pokémon, against tamers such as Volo and Cyrus, who treat Pokémon as tools.
  • Hope and decisive choice: Victory comes from accepting an uncertain possibility. Xingye’s choice to use the Origin Ore succeeds because he is willing to trust hope rather than rely only on established powers.
  • Creation versus time: Dialga represents control over the timeline, while Origin Ore and Koraidon embody the power that existed before time itself. Creation proves older and more fundamental than temporal authority.
  • The danger of obsession: Volo and Cyrus both pursue grand ideological goals while sacrificing individuals. Their attempts to control the world ultimately fail because they cannot understand compassion or mutual trust.
  • Growth through betrayal: Akari’s pain does not destroy her kindness; instead, it strengthens her judgment and independence.
  • The past, present, and future: Miraidon represents the future, Koraidon the ancient past, and their connection with Xingye suggests that cooperation across time is stronger than any single era.

Important Character Interactions

  • Cynthia and Volo: Their battle becomes both a physical confrontation and a rejection of inherited ideology. Cynthia refuses to identify with her ancestor.
  • Volo and Akari: Volo views Akari as a tool, while Akari understands that he unintentionally helped her find purpose. Her gratitude does not excuse him; it gives her the strength to oppose him.
  • Akari and Marshadow: Marshadow binds Volo through his shadow to protect Xingye and the group, demonstrating its loyalty to its companions.
  • Xingye and Volo: Volo’s effortless defeat of Xingye exposes the gap between them, but Xingye later rejects Volo’s worldview and calls him a “broken Clown.” Their conflict ends with Xingye choosing to save rather than abandon him.
  • Xingye and Miraidon/Koraidon: Their bond enables Miraidon’s transformation and allows them to defeat Dialga. The relationship proves that strength comes from partnership rather than domination.
  • Cyrus and Dialga: Cyrus controls Dialga through the Red Chain, repeating the same exploitative pattern seen in Volo’s relationship with his Pokémon.
  • Giratina and Regigigas: Their clash represents antimatter against primordial giant power. Although both are ancient beings, neither can overcome the other without suffering severe damage.
Read chapter

Ch. 323Leaving Hisui and Closing the Historical Loop, Meeting Arceus

Chapter Summary: Leaving Hisui and Closing the Historical Loop, Meeting Arceus

Key Plot Points and Events

  • After Dialga’s defeat and the restoration of time, everyone in the Temple of Sinnoh awakens with only fragmented memories. They believe Cyrus appeared, controlled Dialga with the Red Chain, and unleashed its Origin Power, while the deeper events involving the end of time and Arceus’s power remain unclear.
  • Xingye returns safely with Cyclizar, though Cyclizar has mysteriously reverted from Miraidon. Cyrus survives but remains unconscious, while Volo abandons the Temple after recognizing that his schemes cannot force Almighty Sinnoh to choose him.
  • Akari confronts Volo, slapping him for manipulating her and challenging him to a future Pokémon battle. She intends to defeat him before playing the Celestial Flute and meeting Almighty Sinnoh.
  • The Space-Time Rift closes, the sky over Hisui clears, and the crisis ends. Regigigas returns to Snowpoint Temple, while Giratina returns to the Spirit World after revealing that Darkrai is recovering there.
  • The group returns to Jubilife Village, where Kamado apologizes publicly to Akari and plans to resign as Team Galactic’s leader. He becomes Professor Laventon’s student, and Cyllene succeeds him as leader.
  • Akari is welcomed back into Team Galactic, and public opinion gradually changes as people learn that she helped save Hisui. A village-wide feast celebrates the end of the disaster, and the future travelers take a commemorative group photograph.
  • Cogita explains that Xingye, Lillie, Cynthia, and the other future travelers have formed a closed historical loop. Their actions altered history, but their traces will eventually be erased or incorporated into the future they came from.
  • Xingye must leave Zorua behind because Pokémon and objects native to Hisui cannot be taken into the future. He reluctantly entrusts Zorua to Cogita, claiming that he “died saving the world” so the Pokémon will not feel abandoned.
  • The future travelers begin disappearing as time reasserts itself. Akari remains behind, determined to defeat Volo, meet Almighty Sinnoh, and build a better world.
  • An epilogue explains how Hisui becomes the Sinnoh Region and how the travelers’ influence shapes later history, including Team Galactic, Snowpoint City, Verdanturf Town, Chansey’s role in hospitals, Rotom technology, Sinnoh’s starter Pokémon, and other traditions.
  • Back in his own era—or an otherworldly space connected to it—Xingye meets Arceus. Arceus reveals that his journey was a trial and asks what he felt after coming from another universe and experiencing Hisui.
  • Xingye answers that he learned much, gained friends and family, and genuinely loves the Pokémon world. Arceus thanks him for loving its world, and Xingye awakens holding the clear version of the historical group photograph.

Character Developments

  • Xingye is recognized as one of the central heroes of the Hisui crisis, though he rejects sole credit and emphasizes everyone’s combined efforts. His farewell to Zorua reveals his compassion and his painful acceptance that people and Pokémon from different eras cannot remain together. His meeting with Arceus confirms that his love for the Pokémon world, rather than ambition or power, was the true measure of his character.
  • Lillie continues to support Xingye emotionally, especially when he struggles to part with Zorua. She also helps Hisui develop through her medical knowledge and remains deeply affected by the friendships formed in the past.
  • Akari grows from an accused outsider into a respected hero and future leader. She refuses to let Volo continue misusing his talents and commits herself to defeating him, meeting Arceus, and creating harmony between humans and Pokémon.
  • Volo accepts that his manipulation and schemes have failed, but he does not abandon his ambition. He leaves to pursue his goal over decades or centuries, setting up a future battle with Akari.
  • Kamado undergoes a major transformation. Having witnessed humans and Pokémon cooperating to save the world, he abandons his rigid leadership and anti-Pokémon assumptions, becoming a researcher instead.
  • Cyllene becomes Team Galactic’s new leader and promises to preserve its achievements while guiding it toward cooperation and harmony.
  • Cynthia gains answers about the ancient Temple and the origins of Sinnoh’s myths. She also realizes that her own historical research was made possible by the travelers’ interventions.
  • Arceus appears not as a distant deity to be conquered, but as a judge and observer testing Xingye’s understanding of the world. Its final acknowledgment validates the travelers’ journey.

Significant Themes

  • The creation and preservation of history: The chapter presents a closed time loop in which the future influences the past, and the past creates the future the travelers already know.
  • Friendship and memory: Even when records are erased, the bonds formed in Hisui endure through personal memory, photographs, descendants, and cultural changes.
  • Human–Pokémon harmony: The crisis convinces Kamado and Team Galactic that cooperation, rather than control or fear, should define the new era.
  • Letting go: Xingye’s separation from Zorua and the travelers’ departure from Akari show that love sometimes requires accepting that two lives cannot continue together.
  • Legacy and renewal: The old Hisui conflicts, including the Diamond and Pearl Clans’ feud, gradually give way to the Sinnoh Region’s new identity and a more unified society.
  • The meaning of heroism: Xingye rejects the idea of being a solitary savior. The chapter emphasizes that the world was saved through collective effort, courage, and trust.
  • Love for the Pokémon world: Arceus’s final question frames the entire journey as a test of genuine affection and respect for Pokémon, rather than a quest for power or recognition.

Important Character Interactions

  • Xingye and Lillie: Their mutual care is emphasized through Lillie’s concern after the battle, her comfort when Xingye gives up Zorua, and their quiet farewell before returning to the future.
  • Akari and Volo: Their confrontation transforms their relationship from manipulation and dependence into a direct moral and Trainer rivalry. Akari insists that Volo use his power to help the world rather than serve the dead ideals of the Ancient Sinnoh People.
  • Kamado and Akari: Kamado publicly apologizes for condemning her and invites her back into Team Galactic, marking his acceptance of her innocence and heroism.
  • Kamado and Cyllene: Kamado entrusts Cyllene with Team Galactic’s future, symbolizing the transfer from an old, authoritarian order to a more progressive one.
  • Xingye and Zorua: Their farewell is one of the chapter’s most emotional moments. Xingye chooses separation rather than forcing Zorua into an era where it does not belong.
  • Akari and the future travelers: Their friendship gives Akari hope for the future and strengthens her resolve to continue their ideals after they are gone.
  • Xingye and Arceus: Their final conversation closes the story’s spiritual and historical loop. Arceus recognizes Xingye’s love for the world, while Xingye responds with gratitude for the existence of Pokémon.
Read chapter

Ch. 324Taming Zoroark, Lillie's Promise to Xingye

Chapter Summary: Taming Zoroark, Lillie’s Promise to Xingye

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Xingye and the others return from the Hisui Region to modern Sinnoh, discovering that more than two months have passed in the present. Cynthia worries about explaining her long absence and dealing with her Champion responsibilities.
  • Team Galactic has bombed all three great lakes—Valor, Acuity, and Verity—to obtain the Lake Trio’s power and create the Red Chain. Cyrus is wanted, Team Galactic Headquarters has been sealed, and its former partners, including the Aether Foundation, have cut ties.
  • Cynthia and Dawn travel to Veilstone City to deal with Team Galactic, while the others return to the archaeological camp.
  • Xingye encounters the Zoroark that has repeatedly attacked him. Rather than immediately fighting, he realizes it wants a battle to prove how much it has grown.
  • During the battle, Cyclizar unexpectedly transforms into Koraidon, later demonstrating that it can freely switch between Cyclizar, Koraidon, and Miraidon forms.
  • Xingye stops Koraidon’s final attack and recognizes that Zoroark is actually the Zorua he left behind in Hisui. Zoroark has survived and waited more than a century for Xingye and the others to return.
  • Xingye apologizes, embraces Zoroark, and promises never to abandon it again. Zoroark joins Odd Jobs willingly, completing their long-awaited reunion.
  • Zoroark recounts its century of survival: escaping the Ancient Retreat, defeating the Alpha Froslass that had wronged it, visiting the Spirit World, surviving pursuit by its enforcers, and eventually remaining on Mt. Coronet after learning that Xingye had supposedly died.
  • Sprigatito and Gholdengo are revealed to have become Noble Pokémon—the Kitty King and Golden King—possibly as a gift from Arceus.
  • Cyrus is arrested after voluntarily accepting responsibility for Team Galactic’s crimes. Cynthia explains that the organization will likely never recover, although its original ideals ultimately helped create a better relationship between humans and Pokémon.
  • Xingye and Lillie spend several days enjoying modern Veilstone City with their Pokémon. They visit Paradise, watch Detective Pikachu 2, eat at dessert shops, and help Milcery evolve into a Rainbow Swirl Alcremie.
  • During a moonlit date, Xingye and Lillie discuss returning to Alola and resuming their work with Odd Jobs. Lillie promises that, when she is ready, she will give Xingye “the most important thing” she has, signaling a deeper commitment to their relationship.

Character Developments

  • Xingye: Confronts his guilt over leaving Zorua behind and accepts responsibility for the century of loneliness it endured. His reunion with Zoroark shows his emotional growth and willingness to repair past failures. He also becomes more openly affectionate and protective toward Lillie.
  • Zoroark: Evolves from the timid Zorua into a powerful but lonely Pokémon shaped by grief, revenge, and patience. Despite believing its reunion might be an illusion, it finally accepts that Xingye and the others have truly returned and chooses to join them again.
  • Lillie: Becomes more confident and emotionally open. She protects Xingye from Zoroark at first, then warmly accepts Zoroark as the old companion they had lost. Her promise to Xingye shows that she is seriously considering a deeper romantic relationship, even while valuing their current purity and restraint.
  • Cynthia: Returns to her responsibilities as Champion, takes charge of the Team Galactic crisis, and helps bring Cyrus to justice despite feeling guilty about her absence.
  • Cyrus: Is arrested after taking responsibility for Team Galactic’s actions. His brief interaction with the restaurant owner suggests that his personality may be more complex and humane than his public image implies.
  • Cyclizar/Koraidon/Miraidon: Reveals a major new ability, freely changing between its different forms. Its true origins and nature remain unexplained.
  • Sprigatito and Gholdengo: Gain Noble Pokémon status, greatly expanding their importance and power.

Significant Themes

  • The consequences of abandonment: Zoroark’s century-long wait emphasizes how deeply separation and broken promises can affect a person or Pokémon.
  • Reunion and forgiveness: Xingye’s apology and Zoroark’s acceptance allow both sides to move beyond pain and resentment.
  • The passage of time: Xingye experiences only a short separation, while Zoroark lives through more than a hundred years, highlighting the emotional imbalance caused by time travel.
  • Progress and coexistence: Modern Sinnoh is portrayed as a society where humans and Pokémon live together more peacefully, contrasting with Zoroark’s harsher past.
  • Responsibility and ideals: Team Galactic’s downfall shows how noble public ideals can be corrupted, yet the organization’s broader goal of improving human-Pokémon relations still leaves a positive legacy.
  • Romantic trust and readiness: Xingye and Lillie’s relationship develops through patience, mutual respect, and emotional honesty rather than pressure.

Important Character Interactions

  • Cynthia and Dawn coordinate the response to Team Galactic’s crimes.
  • Xingye’s Pokémon initially distrust Zoroark, but accept it once they realize it is the former Zorua they loved.
  • Xingye and Zoroark share an emotional embrace and renew their bond.
  • Lillie initially shields Xingye from Zoroark, then becomes deeply moved by its century-long devotion.
  • Xingye and Lillie enjoy an increasingly intimate date, discussing their future, their work in Alola, and the possibility of taking their relationship further.
  • Zoroark begins adapting to modern life with help from Xingye, Lillie, and the Odd Jobs Pokémon, symbolizing its return to a family it believed was lost forever.
Read chapter

Ch. 325Gladion's News, Heading to the Kalos Region!

Chapter Summary: “Gladion’s News, Heading to the Kalos Region!”

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Xingye and Lillie spend their final week in Sinnoh challenging Veilstone Gym. Lillie easily defeats Maylene with Scream Tail, while Xingye wins a difficult three-on-three battle by using Gholdengo’s Z-Move against Mega Lucario.
  • After sightseeing and shopping, their Shiny Hisuian Zoroark attracts local attention and even draws Cynthia to investigate.
  • Returning to Alola, Xingye and Lillie reunite with Lusamine, who warmly welcomes them and becomes emotional after hearing about their dangerous journey through ancient Hisui. She also comically questions whether anything romantic happened between them during their year apart.
  • Back at Aether Paradise and the Odd Jobs Website, the Pokémon settle back into their normal routines. Xingye and Lillie clean their home, display photographs from Hisui, and reopen the Odd Jobs Website after a three-month break.
  • The business becomes very busy, handling more than twenty requests daily until the end of summer. Zoroark gradually adapts to its new life and begins enjoying helping others.
  • Lillie learns from her online friends that Detective Pikachu’s popularity and detective career have collapsed. Curious about what happened, she and Xingye decide to travel to Kalos.
  • Gladion contacts the Odd Jobs Website for information about Team Rocket. He reveals that the International Police has discovered evidence of a secret Team Rocket experiment conducted in Kanto twenty years earlier, possibly connected to Giovanni’s disappearance.
  • Gladion’s investigation has led him to Kalos, giving Xingye and Lillie another reason to go there. They plan to help Gladion, investigate Team Rocket, and look into Detective Pikachu’s troubles.
  • After preparing for a week, they depart Alola and arrive in Lumiose City. Their first experience is chaotic: both witness thefts, and Lillie’s Rotom Phone is stolen before Xingye recovers it.
  • The pair visits Rouge Plaza, the center of Lumiose’s detective agencies, hoping to find Detective Pikachu. Instead, they first discover Looker’s detective agency and enter to wait for him.
  • Gladion unexpectedly appears inside the agency and immediately attacks Xingye, apparently furious about Xingye’s teasing suggestion that he ask his “brother-in-law” for help. The chapter ends with the two fighting while Lillie calmly recognizes Gladion.

Character Developments

  • Xingye remains capable, confident, and mischievous. He wins another Gym battle, manages the Odd Jobs Website responsibly, and continues teasing Lillie and Gladion. He also shows concern for Lillie’s safety and encourages her to learn self-defense.
  • Lillie becomes more confident in managing the Odd Jobs Website and takes her work seriously despite enjoying online conversations. Her curiosity about Detective Pikachu and concern for Gladion motivate the journey to Kalos. She also begins considering physical training after the robbery.
  • Zoroark makes significant progress adapting to civilized life. Because Xingye and Lillie supported it during its lowest point, it begins to value helping others and socializing rather than remaining consumed by resentment.
  • Sprigatito secretly establishes itself as the “queen” of the Stray Meowths in Hau’oli City, pursuing its old ambition of ruling the local alley cats.
  • Gladion is shown to be actively working with the International Police and investigating Team Rocket’s hidden history. His intense and confrontational reaction to Xingye highlights their antagonistic but familiar relationship.
  • Lusamine continues to act as an affectionate, overprotective mother, while also supporting Xingye and Lillie’s travels.
  • Ceruledge and Zoroark remain wary of each other. Ceruledge’s intimidating presence reminds Zoroark of dangerous wild Pokémon, while Delphox quietly begins monitoring the situation.

Significant Themes

  • Homecoming and belonging: Returning to Alola allows the characters and Pokémon to reconnect with their familiar home and community after the trauma of Hisui.
  • Healing through companionship: Zoroark’s recovery shows how unconditional care and friendship can help someone overcome loneliness, fear, and resentment.
  • Adventure and renewed purpose: After a peaceful period in Alola, Xingye and Lillie seek new challenges in Kalos rather than remaining idle.
  • Family and affection: Lusamine’s emotional welcome and Lillie’s concern for Gladion emphasize the strength—and occasional awkwardness—of family bonds.
  • Justice and unresolved history: Gladion’s investigation introduces a larger mystery involving Giovanni, Team Rocket, and a secret experiment hidden from official records.
  • Public image and fame: The discussions about Iono, Sabrina, and Detective Pikachu explore how quickly celebrity status and public support can rise or collapse.
  • Urban disorder versus professionalism: Lumiose’s size and crime problem contrast with the many detective agencies competing to solve cases, setting up a likely investigation-focused arc.

Important Character Interactions

  • Maylene challenges Xingye specifically to witness a Z-Move, leading to a fierce battle and mutual recognition of his strength.
  • Lusamine affectionately embraces Xingye and Lillie, worries over their Hisui experiences, and embarrasses Lillie by asking about their romantic progress.
  • Boss Slowking teases Xingye with a recording from one of his drunken statements, prompting Lillie to forbid him from drinking.
  • Lillie and Xingye work together to maintain their home and the Odd Jobs Website, showing their comfortable domestic partnership.
  • Lillie and her online friends discuss Sabrina, Iono, Detective Pikachu, and the collapse of Pikachu’s reputation.
  • Lillie persuades Xingye to visit Kalos partly to help Gladion and partly to investigate Detective Pikachu.
  • Xingye jokingly calls himself Gladion’s “brother-in-law,” provoking Gladion’s anger.
  • In Lumiose City, Xingye protects Lillie from thieves and urges her to learn self-defense; their teasing conversation also reinforces their romantic closeness.
  • At Looker’s agency, Gladion attacks Xingye on sight, turning their reunion into a comedic brawl that Lillie witnesses with surprising calm.
Read chapter

Ch. 326Acquiring the Detective Pikachu Agency, a New Mystery

Chapter Summary: Acquiring the Detective Pikachu Agency, a New Mystery

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Inside Looker’s Detective Agency, Xingye and Gladion stop fighting after Lillie scolds them. Their rivalry remains intense, but Lillie’s presence prevents another confrontation.
  • Gladion hints that he and Looker are investigating Team Rocket-related matters in Kalos. Xingye pretends that he and Lillie are only searching for Detective Pikachu.
  • Maqi Aier, Looker’s assistant and ward, is introduced. She was rescued from gang members as a child by Looker, who later became her legal guardian after discovering that her deceased mother had been his former International Police colleague.
  • Maqi dreams of becoming a Pokémon researcher. She and Lillie quickly become friendly, while their Pokémon, Espurr and Sprigatito, play together.
  • Looker explains that Lumiose City has recently developed a serious gang problem, especially among minors. He is investigating the cause while secretly working undercover among the gangs.
  • Detective Pikachu’s agency across the street has been abandoned and vandalized. Pikachu, once a famous and highly capable detective, disappeared after being chased and beaten by gang-affiliated people.
  • After lunch, Xingye and Lillie investigate the agency. They find recent Pikachu footprints, then are attacked by two Mightyena apparently sent by Pikachu’s pursuers.
  • Xingye defeats the Mightyena, while Sprigatito locates Pikachu hiding inside the building’s pipes. Pikachu is unable to use its electrical powers or fight properly, suggesting that something has happened to it.
  • Xingye discovers that Pikachu has lost its memories and possibly its combat instincts. He also concludes that Pikachu’s agency was deliberately left as bait by the people hunting it.
  • To protect Pikachu, Xingye forcibly purchases the building for one yuan. He uses the Odd Jobs Website to prove that he and Lillie intend to help rather than capture it.
  • Pikachu explains that it returned to the agency instinctively after losing its memories. It believes something important remains hidden there.
  • Meanwhile, the people behind the attacks discuss Pikachu and Xingye. Their leader decides not to pursue Pikachu because Xingye is too influential, but he becomes interested in investigating Xingye himself.
  • After searching the ruined agency, Lillie discovers a hidden compartment behind an old Detective Pikachu poster. Inside are Pikachu’s detective coat, hat, magnifying glass, and a small phone.
  • Wearing the equipment restores Pikachu’s familiar detective persona, though it still cannot remember its past. Xingye officially accepts the task of helping Pikachu recover its memories.

Character Developments

  • Xingye remains playful, provocative, and willing to use unconventional or forceful methods, but he shows strong compassion toward Pokémon being exploited or bullied. He immediately takes responsibility for protecting Pikachu.
  • Lillie acts as the mediator between Xingye and Gladion and demonstrates increasing confidence and observational skill. She notices the footprints, helps interpret the situation, and ultimately discovers the hidden compartment.
  • Gladion remains hostile toward Xingye but restrains himself for Lillie’s sake. His involvement with International Police investigations and Team Rocket becomes clearer.
  • Maqi Aier is shown as cheerful, hardworking, loyal to Looker, and determined to pursue an education despite her traumatic childhood.
  • Looker is portrayed as both a protective guardian and a skilled undercover intelligence officer. His investigation into Lumiose’s gangs gives the chapter a broader mystery beyond Pikachu’s disappearance.
  • Detective Pikachu is revealed to be vulnerable and amnesiac, with its former confidence and abilities diminished. Recovering its detective clothing briefly reconnects it with its old identity.

Significant Themes

  • Found family and guardianship: Looker’s relationship with Maqi resembles that of a genuine father and daughter, while Xingye and Lillie begin offering Pikachu a new support system.
  • Protection of the vulnerable: The chapter criticizes gangs that exploit children, Pokémon, and public figures for profit.
  • Identity and memory: Pikachu has lost both its memories and essential abilities, raising questions about who it is without its past.
  • Justice outside official systems: Because local authorities are unable to control Lumiose’s gangs, Looker works undercover and Xingye intervenes independently.
  • Trust and loyalty: Pikachu is understandably suspicious, while Xingye must prove that the Odd Jobs’ unusual methods are intended to help.
  • Hidden corruption: The abandoned agency, destroyed evidence, gang activity, and the mysterious use of Psyshock suggest a larger conspiracy.

Character Interactions

  • Lillie mediates between the constantly antagonistic Xingye and Gladion, forcing them to stop fighting.
  • Lillie and Maqi bond over cooking, school, and their shared concern for others.
  • Xingye deliberately provokes Gladion, especially regarding his relationship with Lillie, though Gladion ultimately leaves rather than fight.
  • Looker and Maqi interact warmly, reinforcing their father-daughter-like relationship.
  • Xingye and Looker exchange information about Lumiose’s gangs and Pikachu’s disappearance while concealing their own knowledge of International Police operations.
  • Lillie comforts and encourages Pikachu, while Xingye protects it physically and offers it a permanent safe place.
  • Sprigatito repeatedly bullies and restrains Pikachu but also helps locate it and expose its hiding place.
  • Miraidon’s electrical “therapy” confirms that Pikachu can absorb electricity but cannot properly discharge or use its powers.
  • The chapter ends with Xingye, Lillie, and Pikachu beginning a joint investigation into the mystery of Pikachu’s lost memories and the forces that hunted it.
Read chapter

Ch. 327Diantha Pays a Visit and a Champion's Commission

Chapter Summary: “Diantha Pays a Visit and a Champion’s Commission”

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Xingye and Lillie finish renovating the Detective Pikachu Agency, which Xingye has purchased through Odd Jobs. They install new furniture, repair the storefront, and establish heavy security to protect Pikachu from the people pursuing it.
  • Gladion notices the agency and gets into a childish argument with Xingye. The confrontation escalates when Gladion throws hot coffee at Xingye and Sprigatito, leading to both boys being scolded by Lillie and Looker.
  • The next morning, reporters gather outside the agency after news spreads that the Aether Foundation chairman has bought Detective Pikachu’s office. Xingye pretends to be an unserious, inexperienced fan who is merely playing detective.
  • Among the reporters is Lairte, deputy chief editor of Lumiose Press. Pikachu notices that Lairte behaves suspiciously. Xingye concludes that the media gathering was likely arranged by the organization hunting Pikachu to test whether he poses a threat.
  • Xingye and Lillie decide to investigate Lumiose City covertly rather than advertise the agency as a normal detective service. They adopt matching detective outfits and begin treating the agency as a base for uncovering the city’s hidden criminal network.
  • Malva publicly advertises the agency on television, attracting tourists and curious spectators rather than legitimate clients.
  • Diantha, the Kalos Pokémon League Champion, secretly visits the agency to escape her manager. She recognizes Xingye’s reputation through Cynthia and enjoys Lillie’s homemade desserts.
  • During their conversation, Diantha reveals that she has known about Lumiose City’s growing criminal activity for roughly two years. Investigators Serena and others failed to uncover the truth, while Professor Sycamore’s assistants, Sina and Dexio, disappeared after beginning their own investigation.
  • Diantha formally commissions the Detective Pikachu Agency to investigate the hidden forces operating in Lumiose City. She offers her protection and contact information if the investigation creates problems.
  • After Diantha leaves, Xingye and Lillie theorize that a powerful organization may have influence throughout Kalos and may be monitoring Diantha’s movements.
  • Pikachu produces a phone it found earlier. Xingye realizes it may contain vital clues about Pikachu’s erased memories and past investigation, but the phone is password-protected, leaving them at a frustrating dead end.

Character Developments

  • Xingye presents himself publicly as a foolish, wealthy amateur, but privately demonstrates sharp deduction and strategic awareness. He recognizes the reporters’ visit as an organized test and chooses to investigate carefully rather than act recklessly.
  • Lillie becomes increasingly confident and determined. Unlike her former self, she is no longer intimidated by danger after surviving the Hisui crisis. She actively supports Xingye’s investigation and embraces the detective role enthusiastically.
  • Pikachu remains distrustful and frustrated by its amnesia, but its detective instincts are still intact. It notices suspicious behavior among the reporters and supplies the phone that may unlock its past.
  • Diantha is portrayed as intelligent and compassionate but constrained by her celebrity status, demanding schedule, and public visibility. She has tried to address Lumiose’s problems but lacks the freedom to investigate effectively.
  • Gladion continues his antagonistic, immature rivalry with Xingye, though their conflict is largely comedic rather than genuinely hostile.
  • Sprigatito remains uninterested in the group’s detective role-play and prefers more exciting trouble, reinforcing its mischievous personality.

Significant Themes

  • Hidden corruption beneath a civilized society: Lumiose City appears orderly, but crime, missing persons, child gangs, and powerful conspiracies operate beneath the surface.
  • Appearances versus reality: Xingye deliberately acts incompetent to mislead enemies, while Lairte dismisses him based on his performance and public reputation.
  • The limits of power and status: Even a Champion like Diantha cannot freely investigate because her celebrity and schedule make her easy to monitor.
  • Memory and identity: Pikachu’s erased memories may be directly connected to the Lumiose investigation. Its phone represents a possible link to its former self.
  • Lawful investigation versus direct force: Xingye recognizes that this society requires evidence, procedure, and careful manipulation rather than simply overpowering enemies.
  • Found family and protection: Odd Jobs treats Pikachu as one of their own and builds extensive defenses around it, despite Pikachu’s continuing distrust.

Character Interactions

  • Xingye and Lillie work as partners, balancing his tactical deception with her emotional support and growing confidence.
  • Xingye and Gladion engage in a comedic rivalry that resembles a trainer battle more than a serious argument.
  • Pikachu begins observing Xingye and Lillie closely, gradually recognizing that they may be its best chance of recovering its memories.
  • Xingye and Lairte exchange superficially polite but strategically deceptive words. Lairte underestimates Xingye, while Xingye identifies him as a possible intermediary rather than the true leader.
  • Diantha bonds with Lillie over desserts and speaks openly with Xingye about Lumiose’s criminal problems.
  • Diantha’s trust in Xingye, based partly on Cynthia’s recommendation, leads directly to the agency’s first major commission: uncovering the truth behind Lumiose City’s hidden criminal forces and the disappearances connected to them.
Read chapter

Ch. 328Pikachu's Strange Friend, Challenging Lumiose Gym

Chapter Summary: Pikachu’s Strange Friend, Challenging Lumiose Gym

Key Plot Points and Events

  • The group is unable to unlock Pikachu’s mysterious phone. Iron Bundle discovers that the device is protected not only by a password but also by an unstable internal mechanism that could cause it to explode if forcibly opened.
  • Lillie notices a Voltage Badge symbol on the phone. Xingye realizes that the phone may have been created by Clemont, Lumiose Gym’s inventor Gym Leader, connecting it to rumors that Pikachu once challenged the Gym alone.
  • Because Clemont is difficult to meet without an appointment, Xingye and Lillie schedule Lumiose Gym challenges for the following morning.
  • During the night, Sprigatito secretly leaves the agency to search for a Pokémon-only passage to underground Kabukicho. Zoroark catches it but agrees to keep its excursion secret. A mysterious pair of monitor-like eyes watches from the darkness afterward.
  • The next morning, Bonnie and Maqi Aier visit the agency. Bonnie recognizes Pikachu and reveals that they have known one another for five or six years, while Maqi Aier also used to visit and help at the agency.
  • Bonnie commissions the agency to investigate a Furfrou abandoned at Lumiose Station. The Pokémon has waited there for years, refusing to leave because it still expects its Trainer to return.
  • Bonnie and Maqi Aier turn out to be involved with Lumiose Gym: Maqi Aier works there as a referee, while Bonnie interviews challengers during school holidays.
  • Lillie passes the Gym interview and defeats Clemont with Magearna’s Z-Move, All-Out Pummeling, earning the Voltage Badge.
  • Xingye then battles Clemont. Iron Bundle defeats Luxray and Wash Rotom through superior speed, tactics, and adaptability, though Clemont’s modified washing machine Rotom briefly turns Iron Bundle’s Hydro Pump into electricity.
  • Clemont Mega Evolves Manectric and nearly defeats Iron Bundle by exploiting the long activation time of Xingye’s Water Z-Move. Iron Bundle falls before it can use the attack.
  • Xingye sends out Marshadow, which uses a darkness field and shadow-based movement to ambush Manectric repeatedly. Clemont cannot counter the tactic, and Marshadow defeats Mega Manectric.
  • Clemont awards Xingye the Voltage Badge and admits that he learned a great deal from the battle. He then asks Xingye for a favor, while Xingye reveals that he also needs Clemont’s help with Pikachu’s phone.

Character Developments

  • Pikachu: Its past becomes increasingly mysterious. It learns that it once defeated all six of Clemont’s Pokémon in a one-on-six battle and commissioned the strange phone afterward, yet it cannot remember any of this. Its confusion about its own identity deepens.
  • Xingye: He investigates the connection between Pikachu and Clemont while taking greater responsibility for the agency. He displays strong tactical insight during his Gym battle and becomes interested in learning more about Pikachu’s former abilities and life.
  • Lillie: She takes initiative by booking the Gym challenges and accepts the Furfrou case on the agency’s behalf. Her determination to protect abandoned Pokémon is clear. She wins her battle through persistence and a well-timed Z-Move.
  • Clemont: He is shown as socially awkward but highly intelligent, inventive, and eager to learn. His modified Wash Rotom demonstrates his creativity, while his ability to identify and exploit weaknesses shows his growth as a Gym Leader.
  • Bonnie: She remains energetic, affectionate, and intensely enthusiastic about Pokémon. Her attachment to Pikachu reveals their longstanding friendship, while her anger toward irresponsible Trainers motivates the Furfrou investigation.
  • Maqi Aier: Her connection to Pikachu is clarified. She once helped around the agency and now works part-time as a Gym referee, though her association with Looker remains somewhat complicated.
  • Zoroark and Sprigatito: Zoroark’s vigilance and survival instincts are emphasized, while Sprigatito’s secretive curiosity and connection to Kabukicho continue to develop.
  • Iron Bundle and Marshadow: Iron Bundle demonstrates speed, computational ability, and tactical learning, while Marshadow reveals a powerful shadow-based combat style inspired by Giratina and Lunala.

Significant Themes

  • Memory and identity: Pikachu’s forgotten achievements and relationships raise questions about what happened during its amnesia and whether its former self was radically different from its current personality.
  • Science and invention: Clemont’s devices, Pikachu’s phone, Iron Bundle, and the modified Wash Rotom all highlight the relationship between Pokémon, technology, and human ingenuity.
  • Loyalty and abandonment: The Furfrou case emphasizes the pain caused when Trainers abandon Pokémon, contrasting with the loyalty of characters such as Bonnie and Maqi Aier toward Pikachu.
  • Learning through competition: Both Xingye and Clemont treat battling as a way to discover weaknesses, develop new strategies, and improve rather than merely prove superiority.
  • Trust and friendship: Zoroark trusts Sprigatito, Bonnie remains attached to Pikachu despite its amnesia, and the agency’s growing group works together to solve problems.
  • Unpredictable tactics: The Gym battles stress creativity, adaptation, and exploiting an opponent’s assumptions, particularly through Iron Bundle’s Substitute and Marshadow’s shadow ambushes.

Important Character Interactions

  • Lillie identifies the Voltage Badge symbol and helps Xingye connect Pikachu’s phone to Clemont.
  • Zoroark confronts Sprigatito but ultimately agrees to protect its secret nighttime mission.
  • Bonnie excitedly embraces Pikachu and several of the agency’s Pokémon, while Lillie prevents her from approaching Zoroark recklessly.
  • Bonnie explains Pikachu’s history with Clemont, including the original one-versus-six battle and the creation of its phone.
  • Xingye and Lillie discuss the injustice of Pokémon abandonment and accept Bonnie’s Furfrou commission.
  • Lillie and Clemont exchange strong attacks in battle, with Lillie’s Z-Move securing her victory.
  • Xingye and Clemont respect one another as Trainers, each recognizing the other’s creativity and tactical skill.
  • The chapter ends with both men poised to exchange information: Clemont wants to study Iron Bundle, while Xingye hopes Clemont can unlock Pikachu’s phone and recover clues about its past.
Read chapter

Ch. 329Mewtwo and the Client's Clues, the Investigation Officially Begins!

Chapter Summary: Mewtwo and the Client’s Clues, the Investigation Officially Begins!

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Clemont successfully unlocks Pikachu’s phone with his “Clemont Engine,” though he reveals that the device contains a miniature bomb powerful enough to destroy the laboratory.
  • Clemont asks to study Iron Bundle, believing the futuristic Pokémon may help him overcome the limits of science. Xingye leaves Iron Bundle with him temporarily.
  • The group investigates the abandoned Furfrou at Lumiose Station. Furfrou has waited there every day for ten years, expecting its Trainer to return.
  • Furfrou is revealed to be extremely old and near death. Despite its frail condition, it still drags itself to the station every afternoon at 5:30.
  • Zoroark secretly follows a university student who has been repairing Furfrou’s shelter. A photograph found in her room reveals that she is the granddaughter of Furfrou’s former human companion.
  • The truth is uncovered: the man in the photograph was not Furfrou’s original Trainer, but a homeless young man who once rescued and befriended Furfrou. They supported each other for years until the man became successful, married, and later developed a terminal illness.
  • The old man hid his illness, telling Furfrou that he was leaving for work so it would not grieve. Furfrou continued waiting for him for years, and the family maintained the deception because the hope of reunion was keeping Furfrou alive.
  • Xingye, Zoroark, and the others create a final illusion for Furfrou. During the illusion, the station returns to its past appearance, and Furfrou sees its old friend leaving work. It joyfully reunites with him and passes away peacefully.
  • Afterward, Xingye and the others return home, emotionally affected but comforted that Furfrou was able to fulfill its final wish.
  • Later, Pikachu’s diary is examined. It reveals that Pikachu once discovered Pokémon Village and met a powerful, lonely Pokémon named Mewtwo.
  • The diary also records Pikachu’s investigation into mysterious events in Lumiose City, including a missing child and a case involving Mega Evolution. Pikachu’s memory loss began during this period.
  • Pikachu’s former client, Flamel, is identified as the editor-in-chief of Lumiose Press. Since Flamel has apparently disappeared, Xingye suspects that her case may be connected to the larger conspiracy in Lumiose City.
  • The chapter ends with the investigation officially beginning, as Xingye recognizes that Pikachu’s diary contains important clues linking Mewtwo, Mega Evolution, Flamel, and the hidden dangers in the city.

Character Developments

  • Xingye becomes more compassionate and reflective. Furfrou’s devotion reminds him of Zoroark’s own century-long wait for him, allowing him to better understand both Furfrou’s behavior and Zoroark’s feelings.
  • Pikachu displays deep distrust of humans because of his past persecution, initially viewing Furfrou’s loyalty as foolishness. By the end, witnessing Furfrou’s final reunion causes him to reconsider his harsh view of human-Pokémon relationships.
  • Lillie acts as a thoughtful and emotionally sensitive observer. She challenges Pikachu’s cynical assumptions and helps Xingye consider the moral difficulty of revealing the truth to Furfrou.
  • Zoroark quietly takes an active role in the investigation and uses its Illusion ability to give Furfrou a peaceful final moment. Its actions also reflect its own history of waiting for Xingye.
  • Bonnie shows strong concern for Furfrou and becomes emotionally attached to the abandoned Pokémon.
  • Clemont is energized by Iron Bundle and regains confidence that scientific progress still has unexplored possibilities.
  • Furfrou is portrayed as loyal, loving, and emotionally resilient, choosing to preserve its bond rather than abandon hope.

Significant Themes

  • Loyalty and love: Furfrou’s endless wait demonstrates the depth of Pokémon-human bonds and challenges the idea that such devotion is merely stupidity.
  • Grief and mercy: The characters debate whether Furfrou should learn the truth. The final illusion suggests that compassion sometimes means allowing someone to preserve a comforting belief until the end.
  • Memory and identity: Pikachu’s diary preserves memories that he himself has lost, making it a crucial record of his past investigations.
  • Human distrust and moral complexity: Pikachu’s negative experiences with humans contrast with the old man’s selfless bond with Furfrou, showing that humans can be both cruel and deeply loving.
  • Science and the unknown: Clemont’s interest in Iron Bundle and Pikachu’s discovery of Mewtwo emphasize the tension between scientific limits, advanced technology, and mysteries that resemble the supernatural.
  • Hidden corruption: The disappearance of Flamel and Pikachu’s unfinished investigation suggest that Lumiose City contains a broader conspiracy involving Mega Evolution and possibly powerful organizations.

Important Character Interactions

  • Clemont and Xingye/Iron Bundle: Clemont asks to learn from Iron Bundle, while Iron Bundle willingly agrees to act as his temporary mentor.
  • Xingye and Pikachu: They argue over whether Furfrou was foolish or genuinely devoted, reflecting their differing views of humans and emotional attachment.
  • Xingye and Zoroark: Furfrou’s story brings Xingye closer to understanding Zoroark’s long wait. He also relies on Zoroark to investigate the student and later asks for its help with the illusion.
  • Lillie and Pikachu: Lillie challenges Pikachu’s cynical beliefs but respects the painful experiences behind them.
  • Xingye and the student: Xingye confronts the girl about her connection to Furfrou, uncovering the truth behind the old photograph and the family’s secret.
  • Furfrou and its former companion: Their final illusory reunion provides emotional closure, allowing Furfrou to die peacefully believing that its friend has returned.
  • Xingye and the wider mystery: The diary’s references to Mewtwo and Flamel transform the group’s efforts from scattered detective work into an official investigation of the hidden events affecting Lumiose City.
Read chapter

Ch. 330Carbink with a Dream, Go Become an Aura Guardian!

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

  • At the Detective Agency, Lillie organizes the clues from the diary concerning Mega Evolution and the hidden darkness in Lumiose City. Xingye worries that the International Police officer Looker may already be compromised, since previous investigators have disappeared or failed.
  • The team decides to investigate Flamel, Pikachu’s last client, and complete the unfinished investigation into Mega Evolution. Xingye visits Lumiose Press and speaks with reporter Alexa, learning that Flamel disappeared nearly a year earlier after repeatedly traveling to Santalune City.
  • Lillie connects Santalune City with the Tower of Mastery, the historic birthplace of Kalosian Mega Evolution. Xingye and Lillie immediately travel there, intending to investigate the tower and challenge its associated Gym Leader, Korrina.
  • That night, they infiltrate the Tower of Mastery using Zoroark’s Illusion. They discover the enormous Mega Lucario statue but are detected by Gurkinn, the tower’s guardian and an Aura Guardian.
  • Gurkinn’s Mega Lucario battles Zoroark. The fight escalates when Gurkinn assumes they intend to steal the tower’s secrets, but Xingye eventually stops the battle after Zoroark overwhelms Lucario. Lillie saves a frightened Carbink that falls from the staircase during the struggle.
  • After hearing their explanation, Gurkinn realizes he misjudged them. He invites Lillie to learn his family’s alternative method of becoming an Aura user, provided she defeats his granddaughter Korrina at the Shalour Gym.
  • Xingye and the others are forced to repair the damage caused to the Tower of Mastery. Lillie comforts the rescued Carbink, who reveals that it came from the Diamond Domain and wants to restore its declining kingdom and rescue its captured queen.

Character Developments

  • Xingye becomes more cautious and strategic about the Lumiose investigation, hiding information from Looker and deciding to pursue Flamel’s connection to Mega Evolution. He also displays his usual boldness by infiltrating the tower, though he accepts responsibility by helping repair it.
  • Lillie takes an increasingly active investigative role, organizing the clues and recognizing the significance of Santalune City. Her spontaneous rescue of Carbink reveals her compassion, which Gurkinn interprets through her aura. She eagerly accepts the challenge to become an Aura user, motivated partly by a desire to become stronger and lessen Xingye’s concern for her.
  • Pikachu supports completing Flamel’s abandoned commission but is frequently left out of the group’s decisions. Its lost memories and connection to Flamel remain central mysteries.
  • Gurkinn is introduced as a powerful, suspicious, and short-tempered guardian of the Tower of Mastery. Despite initially attacking the group, he proves perceptive and principled, recognizing Lillie’s kindness and offering her a chance to learn Aura.
  • Zoroark demonstrates unusual strength through Bitter Malice, matching Mega Lucario and nearly defeating it. It remains frustrated that their battle ends before a decisive conclusion.
  • Carbink is revealed to be a determined outsider with a major goal: reviving the Diamond Domain and saving its imprisoned queen.

Significant Themes

  • Truth hidden beneath appearances: The group investigates Flamel’s disappearance and the secrets surrounding Mega Evolution, while Gurkinn initially mistakes their infiltration for criminal intent.
  • Kindness and moral character: Lillie’s instinctive rescue of Carbink causes Gurkinn to judge her as genuinely good. The chapter suggests that compassion is a meaningful measure of a person’s character.
  • Strength and responsibility: Power is repeatedly connected with accountability. Xingye and Zoroark can overpower Gurkinn’s Lucario, but they must repair the tower afterward and confront the consequences of their actions.
  • Legacy and lost history: The Tower of Mastery, the origins of Aura, Yabai’s past influence, and the competing Mega Evolution histories of Kalos and Hoenn all emphasize how the past continues to shape the present.
  • Hidden crises: Flamel’s disappearance, Pikachu’s lost memory, the mysterious darkness in Lumiose City, and Carbink’s endangered Diamond Domain expand the story into several interconnected mysteries.

Character Interactions

  • Xingye and Lillie work closely together, developing strong mutual understanding while teasing each other about their increasingly reckless investigative methods.
  • Xingye questions whether Looker can be trusted, showing distrust even toward potential allies.
  • Alexa admires Flamel and provides the crucial clue about her trips to Santalune City.
  • Gurkinn clashes with Xingye over the unauthorized infiltration but is impressed by Lillie’s compassion. He labels Xingye and several of his Pokémon morally suspicious, creating a humorous contrast with Lillie’s favorable evaluation.
  • Lillie forms an immediate bond with Carbink by reassuring it that she will not harm it.
  • Zoroark and Mega Lucario engage in a fierce battle that establishes their rivalry, while their Trainers argue over the tower’s safety and the reason for the intrusion.
Read chapter

Ch. 331Challenging the Shalour Gym, the Value of Xingye Handcrafting an Aura Sphere

Chapter Summary

1. Key Plot Points and Events

  • Xingye repairs the damage from his nighttime battle with Gurkinn’s Lucario, allowing the group to leave the Tower of Mastery without revealing their investigation.
  • Lillie explains Carbink’s request: its underground Diamond Domain was invaded by criminals who stole the Tree of Life—actually Xerneas in its sleeping form—and captured the Carbink queen. Without them, the Diamond Domain’s crystals are losing their power and the nation is slowly dying.
  • Xingye and Lillie agree to help Carbink, while recognizing that the Tree of Life may be connected to the larger mysteries surrounding Kalos.
  • The group travels to Shalour Gym to challenge Korrina. Xingye battles first, using Gholdengo against Machamp, Medicham, and Mega Lucario. Gholdengo defeats all three, with Xingye finishing the battle using a Z-Move and earning the Gym Badge.
  • Lillie then challenges Korrina. Her Sylveon, Scream Tail, and Magearna defeat Mienshao, Hawlucha, and Gallade. Lillie uses clever tactics such as Thrash and Perish Song, while Magearna survives a critical Sacred Sword and defeats Gallade with Twinkle Tackle and Fleur Cannon.
  • Gurkinn appears after the battle, praises Lillie’s strength and compassion, and teaches her how to sense and use aura through her bond with Magearna.
  • Xingye secretly follows the lesson and unexpectedly creates an Aura Sphere within minutes. His aura is revealed to be exceptionally pure, shocking Gurkinn. Sprigatito also quickly imitates the technique.

2. Character Developments

  • Lillie becomes more confident as a Trainer and demonstrates strong tactical judgment against an Aura Guardian. Her desire to become an Aura Guardian is strengthened by the battle, and Gurkinn accepts her as a worthy student because of her kindness, determination, and bond with Magearna.
  • Xingye continues investigating Kalos’s hidden secrets while balancing multiple urgent problems. He proves that his strength is not limited to Pokémon battles, displaying extraordinary natural talent for aura despite Gurkinn’s negative opinion of him.
  • Carbink becomes increasingly determined to grow stronger and rescue its queen. It admires Gholdengo’s wealth and power but is initially too intimidated to approach it, beginning to learn that strength can come from new relationships rather than its clan’s traditional status system.
  • Gholdengo is shown to be overwhelmingly powerful and earns Carbink’s respect as a “Noble Pokémon.” Its battle also highlights its unusual resistance to attacks and unpredictable coin-based techniques.
  • Korrina is energetic and enthusiastic but is shown to have weaker aura mastery than her grandfather. Though defeated, she learns from the battles and remains eager to improve.
  • Gurkinn remains suspicious and critical of Xingye because of the Tower of Mastery incident, but he recognizes Lillie’s potential. Xingye’s effortless aura mastery completely unsettles his understanding of talent and training.
  • Magearna reveals immense durability and power through its Soul-Heart and gold-forged body, strengthening Lillie’s confidence in their partnership.

3. Significant Themes

  • Kindness as a source of strength: Gurkinn emphasizes that a pure and compassionate heart is central to mastering aura. Lillie’s willingness to help Carbink and protect others reflects this principle.
  • Bonds and cooperation: Aura is learned through connection between Trainer and Pokémon, while Magearna’s strength comes from the bonds formed with the entire Odd Jobs group.
  • Traditional beliefs versus new perspectives: Carbink’s society values diamonds and status, but its admiration for Gholdengo encourages it to reconsider what nobility and strength mean.
  • Hidden powers beneath ordinary appearances: The Tree of Life is revealed to be the sleeping Xerneas, while Magearna and Xingye possess abilities far beyond what others initially expect.
  • Talent versus discipline: Lillie must train and gradually develop her aura, whereas Xingye manifests it almost instantly, highlighting his extraordinary innate ability.
  • Comedy amid serious mysteries: The threat to the Diamond Domain and the secrets of Kalos are grave, but the chapter balances them with rivalry, Korrina’s enthusiasm, Gurkinn’s grudge against Xingye, and the absurdity of Xingye casually handcrafting an Aura Sphere.

4. Character Interactions

  • Lillie comforts Carbink and promises that Odd Jobs will help save its queen and homeland.
  • Carbink admires Gholdengo but is too nervous to speak to it; Xingye and Lillie encourage it to overcome its fear.
  • Korrina warmly welcomes Lillie but becomes excited upon recognizing Xingye, creating a brief awkward moment when she grabs his hand and Lillie reacts jealously.
  • Xingye advises Lillie to maintain a normal mindset rather than being intimidated by Korrina’s aura abilities.
  • Korrina’s aura helps her read attacks and dodge several of Lillie’s moves, but Lillie counters with improvised tactics and decisive Z-Move usage.
  • Gurkinn praises Lillie while criticizing Korrina’s lack of discipline, prompting Lillie to defend Korrina.
  • Xingye mocks Gurkinn by casually demonstrating aura mastery, leading to Gurkinn’s shocked demand to know who he really is.
Read chapter

Ch. 332Clues and Key Stones Secured, an Invitation from a Paldea Companion

Chapter Summary: Clues and Key Stones Secured, an Invitation from a Paldea Companion

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Xingye reveals that he has become an Aura Guardian after being recognized by a descendant of the legendary Aura Hero. Gurkinn is shocked, having previously assumed Xingye lacked Aura talent.
  • Gurkinn allows Xingye and Lillie to enter the Tower of Mastery openly. He explains that the tower stores hundreds of Key Stones and Evolution Stones collected by his family over generations.
  • The tower has been secretly robbed for years. More than half of its stones have disappeared, and the thieves have repeatedly infiltrated the tower, taking only small amounts at a time. Gurkinn suspects their careful strategy was meant to avoid attracting the Pokémon League’s attention.
  • Xingye connects the thefts to the larger mysterious faction responsible for disorder in Lumiose City, missing investigators, the kidnapping of the Diamond Domain’s queen, the Tree of Life incident, and other crimes. He suspects the League may contain informants or collaborators.
  • Lillie asks Gurkinn about Flamel, the missing editor-in-chief of Lumiose Publishing. Gurkinn remembers that Flamel studied Mega Evolution with him and was particularly interested in whether it could occur without a Trainer-Pokémon bond.
  • Gurkinn reveals that Flamel claimed to live in the Azoth Kingdom near Nebel Plateau, a dangerous wilderness located between Kalos and Paldea. Xingye and Lillie decide to investigate the area.
  • As an apology for mistaking Xingye for a thief, Gurkinn gives Xingye and Lillie two Key Stones. Xingye reciprocates by giving Gurkinn a Z-Ring, which Gurkinn intends to pass on to Korrina.
  • After returning to their hotel, Lillie continues training in Aura but becomes discouraged when Finizen quickly learns Aura Sphere while she makes no progress. Xingye encourages her not to rush.
  • On the train back to Lumiose City, Lillie and Xingye learn that Penny has defeated the Lurking Steel Titan Orthworm in Paldea and obtained Salty Herba Mystica.
  • Penny invites them to a celebration in Kitakami. Xingye realizes Kitakami is conveniently close to Nebel Plateau, allowing them to combine the feast with their investigation.
  • Back in Lumiose City, Xingye and Lillie inspect their detective office for signs of intrusion. Finding none, they discuss asking trusted companions from Paldea for help. They plan to travel to Kitakami the next day.

Character Developments

  • Xingye: Gains official recognition as an exceptionally talented Aura Guardian and begins sensing his Pokémon through Aura. He becomes more serious about confronting the mysterious faction, while remaining protective of his allies and cautious about involving others. His confidence also hints at a mysterious connection to having saved the world in the past.
  • Lillie: Feels insecure about falling behind Xingye, especially after failing to learn Aura while Finizen succeeds quickly. However, she shows determination to improve and strongly reaffirms her commitment to protecting the peaceful human-Pokémon era.
  • Gurkinn: Moves from suspicion and hostility toward trust and respect for Xingye and Lillie. He reveals the Tower of Mastery’s secrets, gives them Key Stones, and acknowledges their good intentions.
  • Pikachu: Continues recovering its memories and questioning why its former self pursued dangerous investigations. Lillie and Xingye help it understand that the investigation is motivated by a desire to protect the current world.
  • Carbink: Gains confidence after Xingye’s encouragement and becomes Gholdengo’s apprentice, pursuing its goal of proving that it is more than an ordinary member of its species.
  • Gholdengo: Shows enthusiasm for teaching Carbink, reinforcing its cheerful, generous personality.
  • Finizen: Demonstrates surprising talent by learning Aura Sphere through observation, briefly undermining Lillie’s confidence.

Significant Themes

  • Trust and judgment: Gurkinn learns that appearances can be misleading, while Xingye and Lillie must decide whom they can safely trust amid widespread infiltration.
  • Talent versus perseverance: Xingye’s natural Aura ability contrasts with Lillie’s slower progress, while Lillie’s determination emphasizes that effort remains valuable even without immediate results.
  • Protecting a peaceful society: The protagonists are motivated not merely by solving a case, but by preventing the mysterious faction from destroying cooperation between humans and Pokémon.
  • Legacy and interpretation: The discussion of the Aura Hero and Rayquaza’s transformation highlights disputes over history, tradition, and who has the authority to define phenomena such as Mega Evolution.
  • Ordinary individuals proving their worth: Carbink’s desire to escape its ordinary status parallels Lillie’s fear of becoming a bystander and supports the chapter’s emphasis on growth and self-belief.
  • Isolation versus companionship: The investigation has left Xingye and Lillie isolated, but Penny’s invitation and the possibility of involving their Paldean friends provide emotional relief and practical support.

Important Character Interactions

  • Gurkinn and Xingye shift from mutual suspicion to cooperation, culminating in an exchange of Key Stones and a Z-Ring.
  • Xingye reassures Lillie when she feels inferior, emphasizing that she has taught him valuable lessons too.
  • Lillie and Xingye work together to question Gurkinn about Flamel while concealing the full truth about their investigation.
  • Xingye explains to Pikachu why their detective work matters, while Lillie stresses their shared responsibility as “Odd Jobs.”
  • Gholdengo accepts Carbink as an apprentice without hesitation and begins evaluating how to train it.
  • Penny’s invitation reconnects Xingye and Lillie with their Paldean companions, turning their route to Nebel Plateau into a joint social and investigative journey.
Read chapter

Ch. 333The Heroic Legend of Kitakami, Students of Naranja-Uva Academy

Chapter Summary

1. Key Plot Points and Events

  • Xingye and Lillie travel from Lumiose City to Kitakami after hearing that their Paldean friends are holding a feast to celebrate defeating the Lurking Steel Titan. Their larger goal is to reach Nebel Plateau and locate the hidden Azoth Kingdom in their search for the missing Fleuramel.
  • Returning to Paldea restores Xingye’s ability to use the Tera Orb. He and Lillie briefly discuss whether Terastalization might someday be adapted for use outside Paldea.
  • They arrive in Kitakami, a secluded rural region with a long history of isolation, self-governance, and cooperation between its villagers and Pokémon. The region is currently hosting a summer camp for students from multiple academies.
  • While traveling through Kitakami, Miraidon senses an unknown presence watching it from the central mountain. A mysterious black shadow is briefly seen there, suggesting a future threat or mystery.
  • At the inn, Xingye and Lillie reunite with Nemona, Iono, Penny, the Team Star leaders, Arven, and other friends. Team Star has become a popular student challenge facility, while Penny has grown more confident and socially comfortable.
  • Penny recounts his painful childhood experience with the original Miraidon and Koraidon, who once attacked wild Pokémon and accidentally injured him. His parents, Professors Sada and Turo, subsequently took the Pokémon to Area Zero and disappeared from Penny’s life.
  • Xingye encourages Penny to revisit Area Zero with all their friends once Mabosstiff recovers, helping Penny regain hope that he can face the past without being alone.
  • Iono reveals that she came to Kitakami to investigate the local legend of three heroic Pokémon who defeated a masked demon during the region’s five-hundredth-anniversary celebration. Xingye refuses to help because he and Lillie must prioritize their mission to Nebel Plateau.
  • Nemona returns from battling students from other schools and introduces Kitakami natives Carmine and Kieran, students from Blueberry Academy. Carmine reacts coldly to Xingye’s dismissive comment about the academy, creating brief tension.
  • The chapter ends with Nemona dragging Lillie away to battle while assigning Xingye and Arven to help prepare the feast.

2. Character Developments

  • Xingye remains focused on the search for Fleuramel and the Azoth Kingdom, but he also shows interest in improving the Tera Orb. He acts as a supportive leader, particularly when comforting Penny and promising to help him confront Area Zero.
  • Lillie is more relaxed upon returning to Paldea and continues to serve as a calm, empathetic influence. She helps defuse the tension between Xingye and Carmine.
  • Miraidon is shown to be affectionate, playful, and highly different from the dangerous Miraidon of Penny’s memories. Its strange reaction to the Kitakami mountain hints at a deeper connection to the region or an approaching danger.
  • Penny has become more confident and socially connected through Team Star, but still carries resentment and grief over her parents’ disappearance. Xingye’s support helps her see that she has a family and allies of her own.
  • Iono remains energetic, shameless, and determined to pursue mysteries for content. Her rivalry with Penny continues, especially over livestreaming and freeloading.
  • Nemona is unchanged in her boundless enthusiasm for battling. Her reunion with Xingye and Lillie is affectionate, but she quickly prioritizes finding someone to battle.
  • Team Star has transformed from an isolated delinquent group into a respected and popular challenge organization within the academy.
  • Carmine and Kieran are introduced as talented but contrasting siblings: Carmine is confident and sharp-tongued, while Kieran is quiet, timid, and easily overshadowed by her.

3. Significant Themes

  • Homecoming and nostalgia: Kitakami’s peaceful, old-fashioned atmosphere evokes memories of Hisui and contrasts with the modern cities Xingye and Lillie have recently inhabited.
  • Chosen family and companionship: Penny’s story emphasizes that family is not limited to blood relatives. Team Star and the other students have become his support network.
  • Confronting the past: Penny’s unresolved anger toward Miraidon and his missing parents foreshadows a future journey into Area Zero.
  • Tradition versus modernity: Kitakami preserves ancient customs and local autonomy while cautiously opening itself to tourism, schools, and modern transportation.
  • Legends and hidden truths: The mysterious watcher, the hero legend, and the search for the Azoth Kingdom all reinforce the chapter’s focus on buried histories and unexplained phenomena.
  • Freedom and personal choice: Penny’s uncertainty about whether to work for the Paldea League or return to Galar reflects the importance of choosing one’s own future rather than following family expectations.

4. Character Interactions

  • Xingye and Lillie travel together comfortably, discussing Pokémon abilities, regional differences, and their shared mission.
  • Iono and Penny continue their antagonistic but familiar relationship, trading insults and competing over control of Iono’s livestream.
  • Xingye reassures Penny after hearing about his childhood trauma, while the group applauds and supports Penny’s renewed determination.
  • Miraidon’s friendly behavior toward Iono and Penny contrasts sharply with Penny’s memories, gradually weakening his hostility toward the species.
  • Nemona reunites enthusiastically with Xingye and Lillie, immediately attempting to battle Lillie despite the group’s preparations for the feast.
  • Carmine’s abrasive exchange with Xingye creates an initial rivalry, though Lillie prevents the disagreement from escalating.
  • The chapter closes on the group’s familiar chaotic dynamic: Nemona pursues battles, Iono and Penny argue, and the others try to organize the feast and prepare for the Kitakami festival.
Read chapter

Ch. 334The Eerie Mask Pokémon and the Approaching Crisis

Chapter Summary: The Eerie Mask Pokémon and the Approaching Crisis

Key Plot Points and Events

  • After finishing their Herba Mystica meal, Penny gives Xingye the remaining Salty Herba Mystica. Penny plans to search Asado Desert for evidence of the Quaking Earth Titan.
  • Xingye discusses Lillie’s progress with Nemona. Lillie has become a capable Trainer but still lacks her sixth Pokémon, as Little Nebula is away fulfilling its duty. She is also considering asking Carbink to join her team.
  • Xingye explains the dangerous investigation he and Lillie are conducting in Kalos through their Detective Agency. They are searching for a mysterious organization connected to instability in the Kalos Region.
  • Iono reveals legends about the Azoth Kingdom, an ancient technologically advanced nation that supposedly lifted itself from Paldea and relocated to Nebel Plateau to avoid annexation by the Paldean Empire.
  • Because the Kalos League contains a mole, the group decides not to involve Geeta or the Paldea League until they have concrete evidence. They plan to investigate Nebel Plateau, locate the Azoth Kingdom, and eventually infiltrate Lumiose City.
  • Nemona enthusiastically joins the mission and arranges leave from the Academy. Penny offers Team Star’s assistance, including hacking Lumiose City’s network, while Giacomo is left in charge of the student council.
  • Before beginning the operation, the group attends a Kitakami festival. Xingye and Lillie dress in matching festival kimono and enjoy the stalls, food, games, and shrine.
  • Sprigatito spectacularly wins the goldfish-scooping game, catching every Goldeen and even the Shiny Magikarp, earning a giant Clefairy plushie.
  • Lillie buys an Alolan Vulpix mask, while Xingye chooses a Hisuian Zoroark “Cursed Fox” mask. Zoroark, initially hiding under Illusion, reluctantly reveals itself and takes several Hisuian Zorua to enjoy the festival.
  • Near the shrine, Xingye and Lillie discover the supposedly extinct Hisuian Zorua. Zoroark protects them, while Xingye and Lillie allow them to enjoy the festival safely.
  • A mysterious dark-green figure with a cross-shaped crystal glow appears in the forest, strongly suggesting that the legendary “demon” associated with Kitakami’s masks is real.
  • Pikachu notices suspicious outsiders observing the shrine’s three hero statues. While investigating, it is brutally attacked and kicked into the forest.
  • Finizen protects Pikachu with Jet Punch, sending the attackers flying. The attackers are overheard discussing their mission and the restoration of the Azoth Kingdom, proving that the mysterious organization has already infiltrated Paldea.
  • After Pikachu recovers, Xingye concludes that the strangers may be targeting Kitakami’s legendary heroes or the shrine itself. The group postpones the Nebel Plateau expedition to investigate and capture the infiltrators.

Character Developments

  • Xingye continues to act as the group’s organizer and protector. He is supportive of Lillie’s growth, attentive to the Pokémon around him, and increasingly determined to confront the Kalos-linked conspiracy.
  • Lillie shows substantial confidence and independence as a Trainer. She is willing to participate in dangerous investigations, stands up for the mission, and becomes more assertive when Xingye acts impulsively.
  • Nemona demonstrates loyalty and responsibility by immediately volunteering to help and recognizing that the Kalos crisis could threaten Paldea.
  • Penny expands her role beyond technical support, offering Team Star’s resources and planning to compromise Lumiose City’s network.
  • Iono provides crucial historical information about the Azoth Kingdom and remains energetic and publicity-minded, though Xingye warns her not to expose the investigation prematurely.
  • Pikachu begins to display genuine detective instincts, identifying suspicious behavior despite lacking confidence in its own strength. Its injury deepens its frustration over not matching the powerful Pikachu described in its diary.
  • Finizen reveals a strong sense of justice by immediately defending Pikachu. Its actions may also have attracted the attention or approval of Kitakami’s legendary heroes.
  • Zoroark remains wary of humans because of the persecution associated with the Cursed Fox legend, but it begins reconnecting with its protective instincts by caring for the young Hisuian Zorua.

Significant Themes

  • Cooperation across regions: The crisis in Kalos is shown to be an international threat, bringing together Trainers from Paldea, Kalos, and elsewhere.
  • Trust and evidence: Because of political boundaries and a mole within the Kalos League, the heroes must gather proof before asking outside authorities to intervene.
  • Legends becoming reality: The Azoth Kingdom, Kitakami’s legendary heroes, the Hisuian Zorua, and the masked demon all blur the boundary between myth and historical truth.
  • Protection and found family: Zoroark protects the Zorua, Finizen protects Pikachu, and Xingye continually looks after both people and Pokémon.
  • Identity and prejudice: Zoroark’s fear reflects the discrimination once directed at Hisuian Pokémon, while the attackers’ treatment of Pikachu reveals their cruelty and disregard for Pokémon.
  • The approaching crisis: The enemy organization is no longer confined to Kalos. Its agents are already operating in Paldea and may be seeking legendary Pokémon or ancient powers.

Important Character Interactions

  • Xingye reassures Lillie about her progress and supports her interest in recruiting Carbink.
  • Nemona and Penny commit themselves to the investigation, while Giacomo unexpectedly inherits responsibility for Team Star.
  • Xingye and Lillie share a lighthearted festival date, teasing each other while wearing matching fox-themed masks.
  • Xingye prevents Lillie from touching the frightened Hisuian Zorua, explaining that their parents might attack anyone carrying a human scent.
  • Pikachu investigates the suspicious visitors alone, but Finizen intervenes after seeing it attacked.
  • Xingye comforts Pikachu after its injury and promises retaliation, while Lillie supports the decision to prioritize capturing the infiltrators.
  • The chapter ends with Xingye declaring that the pursuit has become a “game of cat and mouse,” as the group prepares to hunt the enemy within Kitakami.
Read chapter

Ch. 335Rumors of The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero, Teal Mask Ogerpon

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Lillie informs Nemona and the others that the mysterious force previously encountered in Kalos may also be active in Kitakami. The group disguises their investigation as ordinary festival activities while Team Star searches for suspicious outsiders.
  • Xingye and Pikachu identify a suspicious, heavily scarred man observing the Ogre Mask. Xingye lures him into the woods, where the man attacks with Medicham, Manectric, and Heracross.
  • The man’s Pokémon unexpectedly Mega Evolve without visible Key Stones or Mega Stones. Marshadow and Koraidon defeat them, and Xingye captures the man, Doka.
  • Penny identifies Doka as a former mercenary, Pokémon hunter, Team Rocket associate, and long-missing international fugitive.
  • Using Marshadow’s dream manipulation and Gengar’s Hypnosis, the group interrogates Doka. He reveals that he works for Jarvis, a minister of the Azoth Kingdom.
  • Jarvis secretly controls the Azoth Kingdom, manipulated the royal succession, and is searching for the activation keys to the kingdom’s enormous spaceship. The ship is powered by a substitute for the stolen Soul-Heart: the energy of Key Stones.
  • Jarvis plans to use the spaceship and Mega Evolution technology to conquer Paldea. He is also cooperating with an unknown force from Kalos, likely connected to the theft at the Tower of Mastery.
  • Doka reveals that Flamel is the princess’s childhood friend and secretary. She was captured while helping the princess escape, and the princess is currently hiding in Nebel Plateau.
  • The group learns that Jarvis’s technology forces Pokémon to Mega Evolve through transmitted signals, but the process can make them berserk. A receiver found on Doka may allow Penny to reverse or interfere with the signal.
  • Doka’s remaining associates are identified as a group of twenty dangerous criminals searching Kitakami for clues about the Hidden Treasure of Area Zero. Penny confirms that many are wanted fugitives, former hunters, or murderers.
  • Nemona explains the legend of the Hidden Treasure of Area Zero: an ancient treasure supposedly capable of making fantasies reality and even granting world domination. Xingye speculates that refugees from Paldea may have secretly brought related clues to Kitakami.
  • While the group searches the festival for the remaining criminals, Ogerpon encounters Zoroark in the woods. Ogerpon appears friendly at first but uses the Teal Mask to manipulate Zoroark’s memories and awaken its violent instincts, convincing it to attack the festival and shrine.
  • Xingye and Lillie capture more criminals, but they are ambushed by Yisha, Doka’s former partner. Yisha shoots Xingye with a poisonous arrow and attacks with six accomplices whose Pokémon Mega Evolve through the same unnatural technology.
  • Just as Yisha prepares to fire at Lillie, an explosion and panic erupt from the direction of the festival, presumably caused by Zoroark’s manipulation. The chapter ends on this cliffhanger.

Character Developments

  • Xingye becomes more decisive and ruthless in dealing with the enemy, immediately pursuing suspects and prioritizing capture over caution. He also begins connecting the Azoth Kingdom, Mega Evolution technology, Flamel, Kalos, and the Hidden Treasure.
  • Nemona struggles to hide her reaction to the threat but becomes increasingly protective and eager to confront the criminals. Her anger intensifies after learning that the enemy abuses Pokémon.
  • Lillie acts as a calm and thoughtful investigator but shows strong concern for Xingye after he is poisoned. She also directly condemns the criminals and remains determined to fight.
  • Penny demonstrates her technical skill by identifying fugitives, analyzing the Mega Evolution receiver, and considering ways to hijack the control signal. The revelations also expose her to the harsher realities of the wider world.
  • Kieran quietly observes Nemona and seems to suspect that she is hiding something, suggesting growing awareness and perceptiveness.
  • Zoroark is shown to retain deep trauma over its mother’s death and past life in Hisui. Ogerpon exploits those feelings, turning its grief and instincts against the festival.
  • Ogerpon is portrayed as playful and seemingly innocent but also unsettling and dangerous, using the Teal Mask and Tera Energy to manipulate others.
  • Doka shifts from dangerous attacker to frightened source of information. His testimony reveals that he is more of a hired operative than a true decision-maker.
  • Yisha is established as a cruel, vain, and highly dangerous criminal who uses poison and threatens civilians without hesitation.

Significant Themes

  • Hidden truths and buried history: The chapter connects the Azoth Kingdom, Area Zero, Magearna’s Soul-Heart, Kalosian technology, and the Hidden Treasure into a larger mystery.
  • Abuse of power and technology: Jarvis weaponizes Mega Evolution and treats Pokémon as disposable tools, contrasting with the protagonists’ concern for Pokémon welfare.
  • Manipulation and trauma: Ogerpon exploits Zoroark’s grief, while Jarvis manipulates the prince and uses Flamel and the princess as bait.
  • The past affecting the present: Ancient migrations, lost technology, old legends, and Zoroark’s memories all directly influence current events.
  • Justice versus vengeance: The heroes want to stop criminals and protect society, but Nemona and Xingye repeatedly struggle with the temptation to respond violently.
  • Legends versus reality: Stories about heroic Pokémon, the Ogre, and the Hidden Treasure may contain genuine historical clues rather than being mere folklore.

Important Character Interactions

  • Nemona conceals the investigation from Carmine while redirecting their conversation toward Kitakami’s hero legends; Kieran silently studies her behavior.
  • Xingye and Pikachu work closely to identify Doka, with Pikachu’s alertness leading to the initial confrontation.
  • Xingye uses Marshadow and Gengar together to force Doka to reveal his secrets.
  • Penny and Nemona clash mildly over how to handle the captured criminal, with Penny preventing Nemona from attacking him and later claiming the Mega Evolution receiver for study.
  • Lillie tries to calm Nemona’s anger and later protects and supports Xingye after he is shot.
  • Doka’s revelations cause the group to reassess the danger posed by Jarvis and the Azoth Kingdom.
  • Ogerpon befriends, then psychologically corrupts, Zoroark by using its memories of its mother and the Teal Mask.
  • Yisha directly threatens Lillie and Xingye, creating the chapter’s final confrontation just as chaos breaks out at the festival.
Read chapter

Ch. 336The Legendary Pokémon Protecting Kitakami

Chapter Summary: The Legendary Pokémon Protecting Kitakami

1. Key Plot Points and Events

  • The Kitakami festival is devastated when a Hisuian Zoroark wearing the Teal Mask suddenly runs wild, destroying stalls, releasing festival Pokémon, and stealing food. Iono and Peppy observe it and discover that the crystals on the mask are unusually pure Tera Energy.
  • Elsewhere, Xingye, Lillie, and Miraidon defeat a group of terrorists using technology to force Pokémon into Mega Evolution. Xingye survives a supposedly fatal injury, defeats their leader Yisha, and helps capture the remaining criminals.
  • After receiving Peppy’s warning about the masked Zoroark, Xingye and Lillie hurry to the ruined festival. The Zoroark heads toward the shrine containing Kitakami’s legendary statues.
  • Nemona attempts to stop it with Pawmot, but Zoroark uses illusions, grudge energy, and the power of the Teal Mask to block attacks and cancel Terastalization. It also defeats several returning terrorists before continuing toward the shrine.
  • Xingye confronts the Pokémon, but the entity controlling the mask subdues Sprigatito and Miraidon as well. The group discovers that the masked creature can manipulate Tera Energy and create powerful crystal barriers.
  • Lillie and Nemona suggest using a Z-Move to counter the Tera Energy. Gengar’s Obstructing Shadow Arrows clashes with a massive Tera Jewel shield, causing a huge explosion that destroys the shrine and disperses the surrounding Tera Energy.
  • Dolphin Hero arrives and contains the explosion, then battles Zoroark. Despite its heroic efforts, it is defeated by vines and illusions.
  • Xingye realizes that the Teal Mask is controlling Zoroark and uses Aura to enter its mind. He finds Zoroark trapped in a snowy illusion involving the memory of its deceased mother and the mysterious entity behind the mask.
  • Xingye helps Zoroark choose its present bonds over the false comfort of the past. Zoroark breaks free, removes the controlling force from its fur, and attacks it with Grudge Energy.
  • The true creature behind the mask reveals itself as Ogerpon, a powerful Legendary Pokémon that grows enormous and attacks the group with vines, Tera Energy, and Tera Blasts.
  • Ogerpon nearly overwhelms everyone, but Okidogi suddenly appears and reflects a Tera Blast. Munkidori and Fezandipiti soon join it, revealing themselves as the three legendary heroes who traditionally protect Kitakami.
  • Confronted by the three heroes, Ogerpon retreats into the woods after threatening to continue stealing their offerings. The immediate crisis ends, though the festival and shrine are left heavily damaged.
  • Afterward, Kieran and Carmine secretly identify the Teal Mask as the key to locating the Hidden Treasure of Area Zero, establishing a new source of conflict.

2. Character Developments

  • Xingye demonstrates resilience, tactical awareness, and deep loyalty to his Pokémon. He repeatedly puts himself in danger to protect Lillie and his companions, ultimately freeing Zoroark through their emotional bond rather than brute force.
  • Zoroark changes from a seemingly destructive, mind-controlled attacker into a liberated companion. Its memories of its mother and its connection with Xingye allow it to overcome Ogerpon’s control.
  • Lillie shows concern for Xingye’s safety and contributes crucial knowledge about Z-Moves and their interaction with Tera Energy. She also supports him emotionally during the crisis.
  • Nemona acts decisively against the masked Zoroark and adapts when conventional battling and Terastalization fail. She helps identify alternative strategies for confronting Ogerpon.
  • Dolphin Hero continues to embody courage and justice, repeatedly challenging stronger opponents despite being defeated. Its admiration for Okidogi gives it a new heroic role model.
  • Iono and Peppy serve as observers and analysts, identifying the unusual Tera crystals and documenting the legendary Pokémon for public knowledge.
  • Ogerpon is initially portrayed as a terrifying, malicious “ogre,” but its behavior suggests loneliness and a desire for companionship. Its apparent jealousy toward Zoroark and Miraidon hints at more complicated motives.
  • Okidogi, Munkidori, and Fezandipiti awaken as Kitakami’s legendary protectors, embodying the region’s old heroic legends.

3. Significant Themes

  • The power of bonds: Xingye saves Zoroark by reminding it that present relationships can be stronger than grief and manipulation.
  • Grief and moving forward: Zoroark must choose between remaining with an illusion of its dead mother and accepting a new life with its companions.
  • Control versus free will: The Teal Mask suppresses Pokémon’s autonomy, while Xingye’s Aura restores Zoroark’s ability to choose for itself.
  • Legends versus reality: The traditional story of an evil ogre and three heroic protectors comes to life, but the truth appears more morally complicated than the old legend suggests.
  • Heroism and perseverance: Dolphin Hero and the three Kitakami protectors continue fighting despite overwhelming odds, emphasizing courage even in defeat.
  • Loneliness and misunderstood outsiders: Both Zoroark and Ogerpon appear connected by isolation and rejection, suggesting that the “evil” figures in Kitakami’s legends may have emotional motives beyond simple malice.
  • Power and imbalance: The chapter contrasts Tera Energy, Z-Power, Aura, and Legendary Pokémon abilities, showing that conventional battle techniques are inadequate against Ogerpon.

4. Important Character Interactions

  • Xingye and Lillie: Their close, protective relationship is highlighted when Lillie worries about Xingye’s injuries and he vows to shield her. She also helps him devise the Z-Move strategy.
  • Xingye and Zoroark: Their bond becomes the emotional center of the chapter. Through Aura, Xingye enters Zoroark’s mind, helps it confront its grief, and earns its renewed trust.
  • Zoroark and Ogerpon: Ogerpon uses the Teal Mask to control Zoroark, seemingly treating it as a companion or possession. After being freed, Zoroark resists Ogerpon and attacks it.
  • Xingye and Miraidon/Sprigatito: Ogerpon’s control of these Pokémon forces Xingye to fight against his own companions and later awaken them through Aura.
  • Dolphin Hero and Okidogi: Okidogi saves Dolphin Hero from Ogerpon’s Tera Blast and encourages it with a heroic gesture. The two immediately develop mutual admiration.
  • The three heroes and Ogerpon: Okidogi, Munkidori, and Fezandipiti confront Ogerpon as the legendary guardians of Kitakami, causing it to retreat without a final battle.
  • Kieran and Carmine: They secretly observe the aftermath and realize that the Teal Mask may lead to the Hidden Treasure of Area Zero, positioning them as potential future rivals.
Read chapter

Ch. 337Action Begins: Team Flare, the Mastermind Behind the Scenes, and the Ultimate Weapon

Chapter Summary

Plot Points and Major Events

  • After the chaotic festival incident in Kitakami, Xingye, Lillie, Nemona, Iono, Penny, and the others spend the night repairing the damage. Zoroark is blamed publicly for the destruction, while Xingye secretly arranges compensation through the academy to avoid exposing the group’s involvement.
  • The entire twenty-person squad connected to Doka is captured. The group decides to rest before traveling to Nebel Plateau, where the hidden Azoth Kingdom is located.
  • Xingye begins connecting the Teal Mask, its Tera Energy-like crystals, Area Zero, Ogerpon, and the origins of Miraidon. He suspects the mask and the Legendary Pokémon of Kitakami may be connected to the mysteries of Area Zero.
  • While everyone rests, Xingye and Lillie share a tender, domestic moment. He prepares breakfast, helps her fix her hair, and they openly discuss their affection and comfort with each other.
  • Xingye contacts Anabel of the International Police and tells her about the Azoth Kingdom, Jarvis, and the mysterious organization operating in Kalos. Anabel agrees to assist, contain the information, and arrive later with official support.
  • The group leaves for Nebel Plateau, leaving the captured criminals under Team Star’s guard. Penny prepares to hack the Azoth Kingdom’s optical camouflage and communications systems.
  • In Nebel Plateau, the group is attacked by Volcanion. Magearna calms it by offering a flower and using the Soul-Heart’s soothing power.
  • They meet Kimia, the injured princess of the Azoth Kingdom, who has been hiding with Volcanion and a group of Pokémon rescued from Jarvis’s experiments.
  • Kimia reveals that Jarvis has been capturing Pokémon for Mega Evolution experiments and that Team Flare, a supposedly charitable organization from Kalos, has been secretly assisting him.
  • She also reveals that Team Flare intends to dismantle the Ultimate Weapon, a device powerful enough to destroy the entire Kalos region. Xingye and the others are shocked and begin considering Team Flare’s true motives.

Character Development

  • Xingye takes responsibility for the festival’s destruction and demonstrates careful leadership by managing compensation, protecting the group’s identities, and planning their infiltration of the Azoth Kingdom. His deductions about the Teal Mask and Area Zero show his growing ability to connect wider mysteries. He also becomes more openly affectionate toward Lillie.
  • Lillie displays increasing confidence and protectiveness. She immediately shields Magearna when Kimia appears interested in its Soul-Heart and takes an active role in planning the operation. Her bond with Xingye becomes more intimate and emotionally comfortable.
  • Penny continues developing as the team’s technical specialist. She confidently prepares to break through the Azoth Kingdom’s camouflage and later proposes hacking Team Flare’s network for evidence.
  • Nemona remains energetic and battle-ready, but also proves dependable by helping with cleanup and compensation. She quickly supports the group’s mission to oppose Jarvis.
  • Iono remains curious and opportunistic, eager to investigate the Azoth Kingdom’s technology, though she understands the need for secrecy.
  • Anabel shifts from vacationer to active International Police operative, showing her trust in Xingye and willingness to protect the group.
  • Kimia is introduced as a determined but physically injured princess. Despite her helpless condition, she remains committed to saving her kingdom and the abused Pokémon.
  • Volcanion, despite claiming to hate humans, is revealed to be protective and compassionate. It rescued Kimia and shelters Pokémon victimized by humans.
  • Magearna demonstrates its gentle nature and ability to calm hostility through the Soul-Heart.

Character Interactions

  • Xingye and Lillie share a quiet, affectionate exchange while resting after the festival. He prepares food, helps comb her hair, and reassures her about her appearance; she offers to tell him a bedtime story and help him sleep.
  • Lillie encourages Carbink during its training with Gholdengo and considers making it her Pokémon partner.
  • Xingye and Anabel have a serious conversation about the threat posed by Jarvis and the Kalos organization, establishing cooperation between the group and the International Police.
  • Volcanion initially attacks the group, but Magearna’s peaceful approach and flower offering defuse the conflict.
  • Iono teases Volcanion for saving humans despite claiming to hate them.
  • Lillie confronts Kimia protectively when she notices her interest in Magearna’s Soul-Heart.
  • Kimia and the group quickly establish mutual trust after she learns that they oppose Jarvis. Nemona immediately respects Kimia’s determination.

Significant Themes

  • Hidden conspiracies and interconnected mysteries: The Teal Mask, Area Zero, Miraidon’s origins, the Azoth Kingdom, Team Flare, and the Ultimate Weapon appear to be connected to a larger unfolding plot.
  • Responsibility and leadership: Xingye accepts responsibility for the festival’s damage while balancing public cover stories, team safety, and the larger mission.
  • Trust versus prejudice: Volcanion’s hatred of humans is challenged by the group’s kindness, while Kimia’s faith in outsiders allows her to seek help despite years of betrayal.
  • Compassion toward Pokémon: Volcanion’s refuge for abused Pokémon and Kimia’s opposition to Jarvis’s experiments emphasize the moral cost of treating Pokémon as tools.
  • The danger of unchecked technology: Optical camouflage, Mega Evolution experiments, the Soul-Heart, the Ultimate Weapon, and advanced weaponry all reflect the risks of technological power being controlled by ambitious individuals.
  • Growing bonds and emotional intimacy: Xingye and Lillie’s relationship develops through small acts of care, while the broader group becomes increasingly united against Jarvis and Team Flare.
  • Public image versus hidden motives: Team Flare’s charitable reputation makes them difficult to oppose, highlighting the importance of evidence and the danger of organizations hiding criminal agendas behind philanthropy.
Read chapter

Ch. 338Lillie's Aura, Diancie vs. Diancie!

Chapter Summary: Lillie’s Aura, Diancie vs. Diancie!

Key Plot Points and Events

  • After hearing Kimia’s account, the group learns that Team Flare and traitors within the Azoth Kingdom are cooperating to exploit the kingdom and pursue the Hidden Treasure of Area Zero.
  • Lillie uses Magearna’s Soul-Heart to cure the poison affecting Kimia’s legs, allowing her to walk again after months of paralysis.
  • While resting and sharing food with the abused Pokémon in the garden, the group begins rebuilding their trust in humans.
  • The group plans an assault on the Azoth Kingdom:
    • Xingye and Nemona will draw off the military forces.
    • Penny will hack into the kingdom’s network through a main line.
    • Lillie, Kimia, Iono, and others will rescue Rakel and Flamel from the dungeon.
    • Volcanion joins the mission to save the imprisoned Pokémon.
  • Jarvis is revealed to be secretly cooperating with Team Flare while planning to betray them later. He seeks the Soul-Heart, the princess’s key, and the Hidden Treasure of Area Zero so he can rule the world.
  • Volcanion prematurely attacks the military camp, triggering a large battle and creating a diversion for the rescue team.
  • Penny infiltrates the kingdom’s systems, while Kimia’s group fights through guardian robots and soldiers. Kimia Mega Evolves Gardevoir and proves she is still a capable Trainer.
  • Rakel and Flamel are found imprisoned and poisoned. Magearna begins curing them, but the Soul-Heart’s presence alerts Jarvis.
  • Jarvis arrives with a massive force and reveals that he has captured Diancie, the Carbink queen. He uses electromagnetic technology to control Pokémon and force them into painful Mega Evolution.
  • Lillie attacks Jarvis, but his Shiny Mega Gengar ambushes her, defeats Scream Tail, and targets Magearna. Carbink shields Lillie and is badly injured.
  • Pikachu sacrifices itself to protect Lillie and the others. Its emotional connection to its companions awakens powerful aura from its past, which spreads through the kingdom and allows Lillie to sense and use aura.
  • Using Pikachu’s aura and Magearna’s Soul-Heart, Lillie awakens Diancie from Jarvis’s control. Diancie transfers its power to the injured Carbink, transforming it into a second Diancie.
  • Jarvis activates the kingdom’s machinery again, causing the original Diancie and other Pokémon to become berserk. The original Diancie is forced into a distorted Mega Evolution under his control.
  • The newly transformed Diancie fights alongside Lillie. Using aura, battle techniques learned from Gholdengo, and a Rockium Z, Lillie and Diancie unleash Continental Crush.
  • The attack defeats the controlled Mega Diancie, destroys Jarvis’s aircraft, and ends the battle.

Character Developments

  • Lillie becomes more independent and courageous. She realizes she cannot always rely on Xingye and develops aura during the battle, using it to protect others and awaken Diancie.
  • Kimia regains the use of her legs and abandons her passive role. She Mega Evolves Gardevoir and actively fights to rescue her brother and oppose Jarvis.
  • Pikachu overcomes its fear and instinct to flee. Its growing bonds with the group awaken remnants of its former aura power and motivate it to risk its life for its companions.
  • Carbink proves its loyalty to Diancie and evolves into a new Diancie after receiving the queen’s power. It accepts the responsibility of saving its queen and defeating Jarvis.
  • Volcanion shifts from anger and distrust toward humans to cooperating with them, joining the assault to rescue abused Pokémon.
  • Penny confidently demonstrates her hacking expertise and contributes directly to the infiltration.
  • Jarvis is exposed as arrogant, manipulative, and power-hungry. His obsession with control causes him to abuse Pokémon and ultimately contributes to his defeat.
  • Iono acts as a reporter throughout the crisis, preserving evidence of the kingdom’s abuses and the group’s actions.

Significant Themes

  • Trust between humans and Pokémon: Sharing food and treating the abused Pokémon with kindness begins to heal their fear of humans.
  • Freedom versus control: Jarvis’s forced Mega Evolution represents the exploitation of Pokémon for power, contrasting with the voluntary bonds between Lillie and her Pokémon.
  • Courage and self-sacrifice: Pikachu, Carbink, Kimia, and Lillie all risk themselves to protect others.
  • Growth through friendship: Lillie’s aura awakening and Pikachu’s recovered power are triggered by their emotional bonds and shared experiences.
  • True strength versus artificial power: Jarvis believes technological control and forced Mega Evolution prove superiority, while the heroes demonstrate that trust, cooperation, and mutual respect create greater strength.
  • Hope and inheritance: Diancie passes her power to Carbink, ensuring that the kingdom’s hope survives even while she is incapacitated.

Important Character Interactions

  • Lillie and Kimia: Lillie heals Kimia and later works with her to rescue Rakel and Flamel.
  • The group and the garden Pokémon: Their shared meal reduces the Pokémon’s fear of humans and reinforces the chapter’s message of cooperation.
  • Kimia and Rakel: Kimia rescues and embraces her traumatized younger brother, restoring their family connection.
  • Lillie and Carbink: After Carbink protects her, Lillie promises to save its queen. Their partnership becomes central to defeating Jarvis.
  • Lillie, Magearna, and Pikachu: Their shared aura connection allows Lillie to gain her powers and overcome Gengar.
  • Lillie and Diancie: Lillie awakens the queen from Jarvis’s control, then battles alongside the newly transformed Diancie.
  • Jarvis and Diancie: Jarvis treats Diancie as a weapon, forcing it to Mega Evolve and causing it immense pain.
  • Pikachu and its companions: Pikachu’s willingness to protect the group shows that it has begun to value its new friends despite its lost memories.
Read chapter

Ch. 339Return to Lumiose City, Team Flare's Enhanced Human Experiments

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

  • The battle in the Azoth Kingdom concludes when Queen Diancie’s Z-Move destroys the rampaging Mega Pokémon. Penny hacks the control system and removes the signal causing them to lose control.
  • Team Flare’s soldiers attempt to escape, but Volcanion destroys their aircraft with Steam Eruption while Miraidon captures and paralyzes the falling soldiers.
  • Lillie collapses after overusing Aura and Z-Moves. Xingye catches her, tends to her injuries, and stays beside her until she recovers.
  • Jarvis survives the crash but is badly wounded. A Team Flare woman refuses to rescue him and instead reveals his location to the Pokémon he experimented on. A Gyarados blasts him away with Hyper Beam, apparently killing him.
  • The Azoth Kingdom begins recovering. Kimia takes charge, Rakel matures after the crisis, the controlled Pokémon are freed, the experimental equipment is dismantled, and the rescued Pokémon are returned to Nebel Plateau.
  • Flamel explains Team Flare’s broader plans: infiltrating Lumiose City through gangs, creating a chosen social order, and developing E-Battle Suits capable of enhancing battle ability and secretly controlling humans.
  • The group confirms that Team Flare worked with Jarvis, supplying him with Key Stones, Evolution Stones, scientists, and captured Pokémon in exchange for assistance with the Ultimate Weapon.
  • Anabel begins preparing an International Police response, while Xingye and Lillie return to Lumiose City to continue investigating Team Flare.
  • Lillie invites Diancie to become her Pokémon companion, and Diancie happily accepts.
  • Xingye and Lillie return stolen Key Stones and Evolution Stones to the Tower of Mastery, obtain a Gengarite, and then travel to the Diamond Domain so Diancie can restore the queen there.
  • Diancie brings the unconscious queen back to the Diamond Palace, while the Carbink of the domain gradually emerge to welcome her.

Character Developments

  • Lillie officially becomes an Aura Guardian, revealing unusually high aura purity and a mysterious connection to Pikachu. She learns the consequences of imitating Xingye’s reckless behavior and gains a deeper understanding of his usual worry for her.
  • Xingye becomes more protective and emotionally open toward Lillie, caring for her throughout her recovery. He also recognizes that Team Flare is now the central threat and commits to opposing them.
  • Pikachu may have unconsciously provided Lillie with Aura and released a massive aura wave, but it has no memory of doing so. Its mysterious power and unknown past become increasingly important.
  • Diancie grows from a frightened, isolated Pokémon into a confident companion. With Lillie’s encouragement, it accepts a place among her team while also fulfilling its responsibility to the queen.
  • Kimia takes responsibility for rebuilding the Azoth Kingdom and preparing it to reconnect with the outside world.
  • Rakel shows newfound maturity and expresses a desire to travel and become more like Xingye’s group.
  • Anabel shifts from vacation mode back into her International Police role, planning an investigation and operation against Team Flare.
  • Nemona, Penny, and Iono each contribute in their own ways: Penny handles hacking and dismantling technology, Nemona remains eager for battle, and Iono documents the Azoth Kingdom for the outside world.

Significant Themes

  • Consequences of reckless sacrifice: Lillie’s collapse mirrors Xingye’s past habit of endangering himself, forcing both characters to understand each other’s fear and concern.
  • Justice and retribution: Jarvis is destroyed by the Pokémon he abused, presenting a harsh form of justice outside official law.
  • Control versus freedom: Team Flare’s experiments, gangs, and E-Battle Suits reveal their goal of controlling both Pokémon and humans.
  • Trust and companionship: Diancie’s acceptance by Lillie and the rescued Pokémon’s return to Nebel Plateau emphasize the healing power of bonds.
  • The hidden reach of Team Flare: The threat expands from a local conspiracy involving Jarvis into a major international danger involving Lumiose City, human experimentation, and the Ultimate Weapon.
  • Recovery and rebuilding: The Azoth Kingdom and Diamond Domain begin recovering after their exploitation, though both remain damaged by Team Flare’s actions.

Important Character Interactions

  • Xingye catches and cares for Lillie after she collapses, and their exchange allows Lillie to show that she now understands how frightening Xingye’s injuries are for her.
  • The Team Flare woman dismisses Jarvis as useless, exposing the organization’s ruthless willingness to abandon former allies.
  • Flamel gives Xingye crucial intelligence about Team Flare’s infiltration of Lumiose City and human-control experiments.
  • Xingye confronts Pikachu about the Aura incident, but Pikachu’s confusion deepens the mystery surrounding its abilities.
  • Kimia and Rakel discuss rebuilding the kingdom, with Rakel asking to travel once circumstances stabilize.
  • Lillie asks Diancie to become her companion, and Diancie accepts warmly.
  • Xingye and Lillie discuss Diancie’s role as a queen, ending on a humorous speculation about Carbink’s transformation and gender.
Read chapter

Ch. 340Sprigatito's Mentality Collapsed, Xingye vs. Elite Four Malva

Chapter Summary: Sprigatito’s Mentality Collapsed, Xingye vs. Elite Four Malva

1. Key Plot Points and Events

  • Xingye and Lillie leave the declining Diamond Domain after escorting its queen back to the palace. Diancie departs separately to begin its new life.
  • During their return to Lumiose City, Xingye and Lillie discuss Diancie’s abilities and training. Xingye plans for Gholdengo to teach Diancie how to shape diamonds for battle and intends to test whether Diancie and Gengar can Mega Evolve.
  • Lillie tells Xingye that people online now view him as an Alolan “tycoon” who has neglected training. Xingye decides he must rebuild his reputation through strength before the Alola League.
  • Xingye begins investigating Team Flare’s E-Battle Suit experiments and possible connections to the Ultimate Weapon, the Tree of Life, the Cocoon of Destruction, Zygarde, and the concept of “order.”
  • Gengar repeatedly fails to Mega Evolve. Lillie suspects its unusual doll-like body may be responsible, so they postpone the matter until they can consult Boss Slowking.
  • Xingye uses Zoroark’s Illusion to investigate Team Flare’s external associates around Lumiose City. Meanwhile, Sprigatito secretly travels through the passage to Kabukicho, followed by Iron Bundle.
  • In Kabukicho, Sprigatito is confronted by an acting Elite Four member, Sirfetch’d, who sees its Calamity Energy as a threat to public order. The two battle fiercely. Sprigatito ultimately gains the upper hand by using its unusual abilities, including Jealousy Flame, Great Calamity, Flower Bombs, Leech Seed, and Aura Sphere.
  • Arcanine stops the battle before it escalates further. Sirfetch’d warns Sprigatito that it will monitor it, while Sprigatito angrily vows to deal with the acting Elite Four members someday.
  • Sprigatito returns to Odd Jobs intending to use its hidden savings to help Xingye, only to discover that Zygarde has stolen all its money and snacks. It collapses emotionally and spends the night searching unsuccessfully for the thief.
  • The following morning, Iron Bundle brings the exhausted Sprigatito back to the agency and explains what happened. Xingye comforts it, while the other Pokémon react with surprise and amusement.
  • Xingye and Lillie investigate Lysandre Café, a Team Flare-owned establishment. Xingye realizes their coffee has been drugged, and the pair leave while secretly being followed.
  • They lure their pursuer to an abandoned construction site, where Xingye identifies her as Malva, a Kalos Elite Four member and suspected Team Flare mole.
  • Malva claims she knows of the E-Battle Suit project but opposed it and believed it had been canceled. She denies knowing about experiments using ordinary people as enhanced-human test subjects.
  • Xingye refuses to let her leave, so Sprigatito volunteers to fight Malva’s Houndoom. It transforms directly into Meowscarada and overwhelms Houndoom with clever tactics, including feigned burns, underground movement, Night Slash, Quick Attack, and Aura Sphere.
  • Houndoom is decisively defeated before Malva can Mega Evolve it. However, Malva avoids capture by pointing out that her disappearance would immediately alert Team Flare and cause serious complications.
  • Malva leaves after agreeing not to interfere with the investigation, though she refuses to assist unless she confirms Team Flare is violating her principles. She also flirts with Xingye before departing.
  • The battle’s destruction causes nearby buildings to collapse, forcing Xingye, Lillie, and Sprigatito to flee the scene.

2. Character Developments

  • Xingye: Becomes more determined to restore his public reputation through battle and formally begins his counter-investigation against Team Flare. He shows caution and strategic thinking at Lysandre Café, but also confidence—bordering on overconfidence—in his and Sprigatito’s abilities.
  • Lillie: Acts as Xingye’s supportive partner and practical observer. She helps plan Diancie’s training, worries about Xingye’s reputation and safety, notices details during the café investigation, and becomes visibly jealous and irritated by Malva’s flirtation.
  • Sprigatito/Meowscarada: Demonstrates immense strength even before evolving, defeating Sirfetch’d temporarily and later crushing Malva’s Houndoom. Despite its power and pride, it is emotionally fragile when its treasured savings and snacks are stolen. Its desire to prove itself useful leads it to act independently.
  • Gengar: Is disappointed and confused by its repeated failure to Mega Evolve, highlighting the mystery surrounding its artificial or doll-like body.
  • Malva: Is presented as a morally conflicted Team Flare insider rather than a straightforward villain. She is confident, pragmatic, and willing to oppose Team Flare if it truly conducts the experiments Xingye describes.
  • Sirfetch’d and Arcanine: Sirfetch’d is portrayed as a strict defender of order who distrusts Sprigatito’s Calamity Energy. Arcanine is more measured, intervening only to prevent the fight from damaging Kabukicho.

3. Significant Themes

  • Power versus responsibility: Xingye’s strength, titles, and wealth are contrasted with his need to prove that he has not become complacent.
  • Suspicion and hidden agendas: Team Flare operates through businesses, associates, and infiltrators, forcing Xingye to investigate carefully rather than attack openly.
  • Order versus calamity: Sirfetch’d and Arcanine view Sprigatito as a potential destructive force, while Sprigatito sees itself as a protector and future authority figure.
  • Loyalty and independence: Sprigatito wants to help Xingye on its own terms, while Xingye and the other Pokémon worry about its reckless independence.
  • Comic relief amid danger: Gengar’s failed Mega Evolution, Zygarde’s theft of Sprigatito’s savings, and Malva’s flirtatious teasing offset the darker plot involving experimentation and Team Flare.
  • Moral ambiguity: Malva’s opposition to unethical experiments suggests that not everyone associated with Team Flare fully supports its actions.

4. Important Character Interactions

  • Xingye and Lillie: Discuss Pokémon training, Team Flare, Xingye’s reputation, and their investigative plans. Their partnership is cooperative and affectionate, though Lillie becomes annoyed by Malva’s advances.
  • Sprigatito and Sirfetch’d: Clash over the meaning of order and calamity. Sirfetch’d considers Sprigatito dangerous, while Sprigatito sees Sirfetch’d as an arrogant obstacle.
  • Sprigatito and Zygarde: Their comic conflict begins when Sprigatito discovers that Zygarde has taken its savings and food. Zygarde’s theft is the direct cause of Sprigatito’s emotional collapse.
  • Xingye and Sprigatito: Xingye comforts Sprigatito after its breakdown and later lets it fight Malva’s Houndoom, allowing it to vent its frustration and regain confidence.
  • Xingye and Malva: Their confrontation shifts from interrogation to battle and then to uneasy cooperation. Xingye distrusts her, while Malva is intrigued by him and hints that she may oppose Team Flare if its crimes are confirmed.
  • Lillie and Malva: Lillie immediately dislikes Malva’s flirtatious behavior toward Xingye, adding a personal tension to the otherwise strategic confrontation.
Read chapter
Show
Page 17 of 24