Chapter Summaries

Plot points and events

• Xingye’s Meowscarada defeats Cynthia’s Gastrodon with the powerful Great Calamity, but is quickly knocked out by Togekiss. Cynthia’s Togekiss uses its Super Luck Ability to repel Meowscarada’s calamity attacks, then lands two critical super-effective hits.
• Xingye sends out Gholdengo against Lucario. Using Aura to locate the real Lucario among its doubles, Gholdengo traps it inside a coin-built pot and defeats it with a concealed, point-blank Flash Cannon followed by Shadow Ball.
• Cynthia brings out Garchomp earlier than expected, insisting she will use her strongest Pokémon when the battle calls for it. Garchomp defeats Gholdengo after surviving its final counterattack.
• Xingye then sends out Cyclizar, determined that it—not one of his other Pokémon—must defeat Garchomp. Their clash draws the attention of the Champions, who recognize the emotional weight of the matchup.
• Cyclizar initially matches Garchomp and even gains an edge with Dragon Rush. Cynthia Mega Evolves Garchomp, which uses its renewed Sandstorm and overwhelming strength to put Cyclizar under pressure.
• Instead of using the Z-Move the crowd expects, Xingye Terastalizes Cyclizar into a Dragon type using a newly developed Tera Orb. The unprecedented feat shocks spectators and Paldean researchers alike.
• Cyclizar uses Tera Blast to push Garchomp back and Sunny Day to disperse the Sandstorm. In their final Dragon Rush clash, Cyclizar’s latent power—associated with both Koraidon and Miraidon—amplifies its Tera energy. Cyclizar breaks through Garchomp’s counterattack and wins, ending Garchomp’s Mega Evolution.

Character development

• Xingye demonstrates tactical adaptability, staying composed after unexpected setbacks and deliberately waiting for the right moment to reveal Terastalization. His commitment to having Cyclizar defeat Garchomp shows that personal recognition matters to him beyond winning the overall match.
• Cynthia remains confident and resourceful, quickly identifying and countering Meowscarada’s ability. She respects the battle enough to use Garchomp as soon as needed and responds to Cyclizar’s challenge with enthusiasm rather than resentment.
• Cyclizar grows from an underdog struggling against Mega Garchomp into a Pokémon able to draw on its own hidden strength and win a direct clash.
• Meowscarada shows formidable power but also the physical cost of controlling Calamity Power and its vulnerability to heavy damage.
• The spectators and other trainers move from excitement to astonishment as Xingye unveils Terastalization beyond Paldea for the first time.

Themes

• Adaptation and innovation: Xingye fights according to the region and situation, introducing Paldean Terastalization into a battle where everyone expects a Z-Move.
• Preparation and deception: Both trainers conceal information and set traps, from Cynthia’s Super Luck counter to Xingye’s carefully timed Tera reveal.
• Recognition and personal stakes: Cyclizar’s fight is not merely about the score; Xingye wants it to earn Cynthia’s acknowledgment.
• Hidden potential: Cyclizar’s final power is revealed as something it already possessed, brought out through Terastalization and the pressure of battle.
• Respectful competition: Cynthia and Xingye push each other to fight fully, treating the match as a genuine test rather than a performance.

Character interactions

• Cynthia counters Xingye’s strategies without losing her composure, while Xingye answers each reversal with a new approach.
• Gholdengo and Lucario engage in a clever contest of misdirection and Aura before Gholdengo wins through coordinated defense and surprise.
• Cynthia’s Garchomp and Xingye’s Cyclizar share a highly personal, hard-fought rivalry; both trainers let their Pokémon meet force with force, culminating in a decisive clash.
• Lillie, Dawn, Iono, and the Paldean trainers react from the stands, with Lillie especially anxious about the safety of the experimental Tera Orb.

Chapter Summary:

Kabukicho’s Anomaly, the Semifinals Begin

Plot Points and Major Events

• Xingye defeats Cynthia in the Masters Tournament quarterfinals. After Garchomp falls from Mega Evolution, his Terastallized Cyclizar overwhelms Cynthia’s remaining Glaceon and Milotic. Cyclizar’s Tera Jewel shatters after Milotic’s defeat, but it remains conscious and celebrates the victory.
• Cynthia accepts the loss graciously, praising Xingye and suggesting that her generation may be ready to retire. Xingye reveals that he secretly developed Terastalization and plans to release it officially after further testing.
• Red defeats Steven in the final match of the first round. The semifinal matchups are announced:
  • Leon vs. the Mysterious Fox Monster
  • Xingye vs. Red
• Xingye becomes overwhelmed by fans but reunites with Lillie, Dawn, Nemona, and the others. Lillie and Xingye share an affectionate moment, while Nemona becomes intensely excited about Terastalization. Colress later provides her with a Tera Orb for testing.
• Detective Pikachu contacts Xingye after being unable to enter Kabukicho because its teleportation routes have been closed. Xingye arranges for Marshadow to bring him through the Spirit World.
• Xingye learns that Team Rainbow Rocket is preparing to attack the Tree of Beginning. The International Police, led by Lance and supported by Anabel and Looker, are stationed at Lushang Motel, while Aether Foundation forces prepare to fight alongside them.
• Kabukicho has sealed itself off because two members of its ancient Elite Four have returned. These Pokémon intend to destroy Odd Jobs and all humans who have exposed their hidden Pokémon-only world.
• A bizarre crimson anomaly suddenly begins spreading through Kabukicho, distorting buildings, streets, and underground areas. Calyrex and Zygarde witness it but flee in fear.
• The Tree of Beginning begins causing tremors across Melemele Island. Wild Pokémon flee, and several powerful beings—including Buzzwole Hero, Tapu Koko, and a mysterious creature on Mahalo Mountain—sense that a major crisis is approaching.
• As the semifinals begin, Akari watches the Tree of Beginning’s movements, dons the Cursed Fox Mask, and prepares to face Leon.

Character Developments and Interactions

• Xingye demonstrates that he has surpassed Cynthia and has become one of the tournament’s strongest contenders. His mastery of Terastalization marks a major advancement in his abilities.
• Cynthia responds to defeat with maturity and satisfaction rather than bitterness, acknowledging Xingye as part of a new generation of trainers.
• Red remains quiet but visibly excited after witnessing Xingye’s victory, suggesting that he is eager for their upcoming semifinal battle.
• Lillie continues to support Xingye emotionally, playfully reminding him not to become distracted by fame. Their romantic relationship is openly affectionate.
• Dawn remains Xingye’s enthusiastic supporter but reacts humorously to his affection with Lillie. She also becomes concerned with his continued success.
• Nemona displays her characteristic battle enthusiasm and eagerly seeks to experiment with Terastalization.
• Blue and Green, accompanied by Riley, enter the Drifter District in search of Mew and the Tree of Beginning but fail to reach the underground Kabukicho during the daytime.
• Detective Pikachu provides information about the closed teleportation passages and is eager to attend the semifinals.
• Team Rainbow Rocket, the International Police, and the Aether Foundation are converging on the Tree of Beginning, setting up a large-scale conflict between humans and Pokémon factions.

Significant Themes

• The rise of a new generation: Cynthia’s defeat symbolizes the transition from legendary veteran trainers to younger figures such as Xingye and Red.
• Victory and mutual respect: Cynthia and Xingye’s interaction emphasizes that competition can end in admiration rather than resentment.
• Hidden worlds being exposed: Kabukicho’s Pokémon-only society is threatened because Odd Jobs and outside events have revealed its existence to humans.
• Unity against a greater threat: Formerly separate human and Pokémon groups are preparing to cooperate against Team Rainbow Rocket.
• Mystery and impending disaster: The crimson anomaly, the Tree of Beginning’s tremors, and the awakening of powerful entities suggest that the tournament is about to be overshadowed by a much larger crisis.
• Technology and experimentation: Terastalization is introduced as a developing technology whose future applications may significantly affect battles and the wider Pokémon world.

Ending

The tournament semifinals officially begin. Akari, disguised as the Mysterious Fox Monster, prepares to challenge Leon while the Tree of Beginning and Kabukicho move toward an unexplained catastrophe.

Chapter Summary: Akari’s Terrifying Strength, Leon’s Shutout Disaster

Key Plot Points and Events

• Red notices a mysterious woman in the stands who resembles the dangerous Volo described by Blue. He remains worried because Blue, Green, and the others have disappeared while investigating the Tree of Beginning.
• The tournament match between Leon and Akari begins. Leon, now head of Macro Cosmos rather than Rose’s subordinate, enters as the celebrated former Champion. Akari appears in a new outfit but continues to wear her mask.
• Akari receives only limited support from the crowd, mainly from Lillie and Dawn, while Leon is cheered by Galar’s Trainers and his established fanbase.
• Akari reveals three powerful Hisuian Pokémon:
  • Hisuian Samurott defeats Inteleon and Aegislash.
  • Hisuian Decidueye defeats Rillaboom and Dragapult.
  • Hisuian Typhlosion defeats Cinderace and Leon’s Dynamaxed Charizard.
• Akari’s team overwhelms Leon’s lineup so completely that he suffers a six-Pokémon shutout. The stadium is repeatedly left in stunned silence.
• Typhlosion reveals an especially overwhelming ability: Fire- and Ghost-type moves are completely ineffective against it. It absorbs Charizard’s G-Max Wildfire, destabilizes Charizard’s Dynamax, and finishes it with ease.
• After the match, Akari leaves largely unaffected by the attention, intending to retire anyway. Leon, despite his humiliating defeat, becomes more excited rather than discouraged. He realizes that Trainers can reach a far higher level than he had imagined and abandons his plan to retire.
• Red suspects Akari’s identity. From the highest stands, Xingye identifies her Pokémon as Noble Pokémon that survived from the Hisuian era and recognizes them as the team that defeated an avatar of Almighty Sinnoh. He becomes eager to face Akari, though he must first win his own upcoming match.

Character Developments

• Akari: Demonstrates her full strength without holding back. Her centuries-old experience and bond with her Hisuian Pokémon make her an overwhelmingly dominant Trainer. Despite becoming the focus of fear and speculation, she remains calm, detached, and uninterested in public opinion.
• Leon: Suffers his first major defeat as a Trainer, but responds with exhilaration rather than despair. His competitive spirit is reignited, and he resolves to continue training instead of retiring.
• Red: Continues investigating Akari’s identity and remains concerned about the disappearance of Blue, Green, and the others.
• Dawn: Feels an inexplicable familiarity and affection toward Akari, even without knowing who she is. She enthusiastically admires Akari’s strength.
• Lillie: Recognizes Akari and quietly supports her, becoming increasingly excited about the tournament.
• Xingye: Gains a clearer understanding of Akari’s historical significance and Pokémon but is not intimidated by her strength. He views her as a thrilling future opponent.

Significant Themes

• The contrast between modern and ancient strength: Akari’s Hisuian Pokémon possess abilities and combat instincts shaped by nearly two centuries of survival and training, making them vastly different from their modern counterparts.
• The limits of conventional strategy: Leon is famous for studying opponents and constructing counterteams, but Akari is too mysterious and powerful for him to predict or counter effectively.
• Defeat as motivation: Leon’s crushing loss does not break him; instead, it reveals a new level of possibility and renews his ambition.
• Hidden identities and forgotten history: Akari’s masked presence, Red’s suspicions, and the survival of Noble Pokémon connect the tournament to unresolved mysteries involving the past, the Tree of Beginning, and divine or legendary forces.
• Power beyond comprehension: The audience’s shift from excitement to fear emphasizes how far Akari’s strength exceeds ordinary competitive standards.

Important Character Interactions

• Akari and Leon exchange confident challenges before the battle, with Leon treating her as an exciting unknown opponent.
• Leon repeatedly attempts to adapt to Akari’s Pokémon, but Samurott, Decidueye, Typhlosion, and their unusual abilities overcome every strategy.
• Dawn and Lillie discuss their strong feelings toward Akari. Dawn admits she feels familiar affection for her despite not knowing her identity and jokingly says she wants both Akari and Cynthia.
• Red silently observes Akari from the stands, while she notices him and responds with a knowing smile.
• Xingye discusses Akari’s Pokémon with Sprigatito, recognizing their connection to the Noble Pokémon and the ancient battle against Almighty Sinnoh.

Chapter Summary: “Xingye vs. Red, Full Firepower!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The second match begins after a short intermission, pitting Xingye against the World Champion Red.
• Both Trainers immediately throw their Poké Balls before the official countdown ends, signaling an instinctive, aggressive battle style.

First round: Gengar vs. Snorlax

• Gengar and Snorlax initially clash through physical attacks.
• Red exploits Gengar’s supposed weakness to fire and water, using Flamethrower and Surf.
• Xingye reveals that Gengar has overcome its water weakness and uses an Ice Punch to freeze Snorlax.
• Gengar then pulls a toy gun from the pocket in its belly and destroys the frozen Snorlax, giving Xingye the first victory.
• Snorlax survives long enough to restore itself with a Sitrus Berry, but Gengar ultimately defeats it by using Substitute and striking with a decisive Drain Punch.

Second round: Finizen vs. Arcanine

• Finizen gains power through Speaker Cricket Hero’s ability and uses Waterfall to exploit its type advantage.
• Xingye recalls Finizen to avoid Thunder Fang and sends out Sprigatito.
• Sprigatito’s Calamity ability fails against Arcanine’s innate ability to ward off evil, and Arcanine defeats it with Fire Fang.
• Xingye recognizes his tactical mistake and apologizes for carelessly sacrificing Sprigatito.

Third round: Cyclizar vs. Arcanine/Lapras

• Cyclizar overwhelms Arcanine with Dragon Pulse and Dragon Claw.
• Red sends out Lapras, which uses Perish Song while Cyclizar attacks with Dragon Rush.
• Xingye attempts to recall Cyclizar, but Lapras intercepts the Poké Ball with Ice Beam.
• Perish Song defeats both Cyclizar and Lapras, eliminating them simultaneously.
• Iono and Red point out the irony of Xingye being punished by the same surprise-switch tactics he had used earlier.
• During the midpoint of the battle, Xingye and Red acknowledge the similarities between their true battle styles: both are willing to fight without restraint when protecting something important.
• Xingye declares that Trainers should battle wholeheartedly and express both their own and their Pokémon’s individuality.
• Dolphin Hero vs. Poliwrath begins as the chapter ends. Red reveals that Poliwrath was his first Pokémon, caught before his official journey began, giving the match personal significance.

Character Developments

• Xingye demonstrates creativity, unpredictability, and a willingness to use unconventional items and tactics. However, his mistake with Sprigatito shows that overconfidence and incomplete knowledge of an opponent’s abilities can cost him dearly.
• He accepts responsibility for Sprigatito’s defeat rather than blaming circumstances, showing greater tactical self-awareness.
• Xingye also reveals that he values unrestricted, authentic battling more than maintaining a polished public image.
• Red is shown to be calm, observant, and highly adaptable. He has carefully studied Xingye’s Pokémon and counters their known weaknesses effectively.
• Beneath his quiet Champion persona, Red retains the aggressive and decisive battle style forged through dangerous past experiences.
• Red’s use of Poliwrath reveals a more personal side, as the Pokémon accompanied him before his journey even began.
• Lillie openly supports Xingye but also remains embarrassed by his reckless public behavior, reinforcing their familiar, teasing relationship.
• Cynthia recognizes the unspoken communication between Xingye and Red and understands that their immediate start reflects their shared personalities.

Significant Themes

• Adaptation and information warfare: Both Trainers research each other, but hidden abilities and unexpected tactics create decisive information gaps.
• The consequences of overconfidence: Xingye’s failure to remember Arcanine’s protective nature leads directly to Sprigatito’s defeat.
• “What goes around comes around”: Xingye’s item-based surprise attack and recall tactics are later countered by Red using similar methods.
• Authentic battle style versus public expectations: Red suppresses his harsher instincts because of his responsibilities as Champion, while Xingye refuses to be constrained by reputation.
• Mutual recognition and respect: Although they compete fiercely, Xingye and Red recognize that they have similar histories and motivations.
• Partnership and emotional bonds: Red’s Poliwrath represents his earliest connection to Pokémon, while Xingye’s concern for Sprigatito shows his growing responsibility toward his team.

Important Character Interactions

• Lillie cheers loudly for Xingye and jokes that losing would force him to make her breakfast forever; Selene teases her emotional investment.
• Xingye and Red communicate mostly through their actions, beginning the battle without words and repeatedly matching each other’s tactics.
• Red calmly calls Xingye’s hidden weapon strategy a surprise attack, while Xingye proudly defends Gengar’s versatility.
• Iono humorously reminds Xingye that he is suffering from the same tactics he introduced.
• Xingye and Red openly discuss their shared battle philosophy, deepening their mutual understanding.
• The chapter closes with both Trainers and their Pokémon charging simultaneously, setting up a highly personal clash between Dolphin Hero and Red’s original companion, Poliwrath.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• The semifinal battle between Red and Xingye reaches a decisive stage with Red’s Poliwrath fighting Xingye’s Dolphin Hero.
• Poliwrath initially dominates by using Mind Reader-like prediction, Superpower, Darkest Lariat, and Dynamic Punch to anticipate Dolphin Hero’s movements and prevent it from counterattacking.
• Dolphin Hero survives the assault by catching Poliwrath’s fist and relying on its extreme durability and battle-hardened body.
• Dolphin Hero reverses the momentum, throws Poliwrath across the arena, and activates Duel Mode, greatly increasing its strength and speed at the cost of rapidly draining its stamina.
• Both Pokémon unleash their strongest attacks: Poliwrath uses a powerful Reckless Low Spin Kick, while Dolphin Hero uses a full-power Axe Kick. Dolphin Hero wins the clash, leaving Poliwrath unable to battle.
• Xingye recalls the exhausted Dolphin Hero, and both trainers send out their final Pokémon: Xingye’s Marshadow and Red’s Charizard.
• Red Mega Evolves Charizard into Mega Charizard X, while Marshadow transforms into Full-Power Marshadow, igniting its battle spirit.
• Mega Charizard X initially gains the upper hand with Dragon Claw, Flare Blitz, Iron Tail, Flamethrower, and Blast Burn.
• Marshadow survives by using a shadow double, allowing its real body to hide within the shadow and avoid the worst of Charizard’s attacks.
• Using Spectral Thief, Marshadow emerges from Charizard’s shadow and lands a devastating surprise attack while Charizard is still weakened by Blast Burn’s recovery period.
• The two Pokémon exchange final attacks, but Marshadow’s burning battle spirit overcomes Charizard’s Flare Blitz. It knocks Charizard down with a finishing blow, ending Mega Evolution and leaving Charizard unable to battle.

Character Developments

• Dolphin Hero demonstrates extraordinary endurance and determination. Its injuries sharpen its focus rather than weakening its resolve, and Duel Mode reveals its willingness to risk complete exhaustion for victory.
• Poliwrath is shown to be an exceptionally powerful and skilled fighter. Its predictive ability and mastery of physical techniques allow it to dominate early, while Bulk Up and its final attack show Red’s deep training and preparation.
• Xingye remains confident even when Dolphin Hero appears overwhelmed, trusting in its toughness and fighting spirit rather than relying solely on tactical tricks.
• Red remains calm and appreciative of the battle, viewing Poliwrath’s defeat as a fulfilling challenge rather than a disappointment. He is also visibly excited by Marshadow’s appearance and the intensity of the final match.
• Marshadow evolves from a mysterious final Pokémon into a fierce, highly adaptive combatant. Its ability to imitate techniques, manipulate shadows, and burn its own fighting spirit allows it to overcome Mega Charizard X.
• Mega Charizard X displays immense offensive power and resilience, continuing to fight after suffering severe damage, but ultimately falls to Marshadow’s deception and relentless close-range assault.

Significant Themes

• Endurance versus prediction: Poliwrath’s ability to read attacks gives it control of the battle, but Dolphin Hero proves that prediction means little if its defenses and determination cannot be broken.
• The cost of power: Duel Mode and Full-Power Marshadow both provide dramatic increases in strength, but each demands enormous stamina and places the user at risk of collapse.
• Adaptability and deception: Marshadow wins not through overwhelming force alone, but by using its shadow double to deceive Charizard and exploit the brief paralysis after Blast Burn.
• Fighting spirit and perseverance: Both battles emphasize continuing despite pain, exhaustion, and seemingly impossible odds.
• Mutual respect between rivals: Red and Xingye treat the battle as a meaningful test rather than a personal conflict, and Red appreciates the intensity even in defeat.

Character Interactions

• Poliwrath and Dolphin Hero fight as near-equals, mirroring each other’s physical, close-range style. Their battle becomes a contest of strength, durability, and willpower.
• Xingye and Red exchange calm smiles before sending out their final Pokémon, highlighting their mutual respect and excitement.
• Red reveals his personal history with Marshadow, explaining that he once pursued but failed to catch one, making its appearance feel like a fateful encounter.
• Mega Charizard X and Marshadow engage in a rapidly shifting battle of direct power versus stealth and trickery. Charizard repeatedly presses the attack, while Marshadow uses shadows, movement, and copied techniques to create openings.
• The spectators—including Lillie, Dawn, Penny, Nemona, and Detective Pikachu—react emotionally to the dramatic reversal in the Poliwrath battle and celebrate Dolphin Hero’s victory before witnessing Marshadow’s decisive win.

Plot points and events

• Xingye’s Marshadow defeats Red’s Charizard, leaving Red with only Pikachu while Xingye still has several Pokémon.
• Red’s Pikachu reveals powerful partner moves, defeating Marshadow. Xingye sends out Gholdengo, which uses reflected sunlight and clever defenses to counter Pikachu’s speed.
• Pikachu and Gholdengo trade powerful attacks. Gholdengo ultimately overcomes Pikachu’s Thunder with a storm of coins, but their clash with Pikachu’s ultimate partner move, Splishy Spark, knocks Gholdengo out. Pikachu survives, badly hurt.
• Xingye sends in Gengar and pretends it can Mega Evolve, baiting Red into launching Pikachu’s strongest attack. The bluff gives Xingye an opening to use Decidueye Z and unleash Gengar’s Z-Move, Obstructing Shadow Arrows.
• As Pikachu’s Origin Volt Tackle gains the upper hand, Gengar’s Mega Stone and Xingye’s Key Stone shatter. Gengar’s arrows turn pink and become powerful enough to suppress Pikachu’s attack. The resulting explosion knocks out Pikachu and decides the match in Xingye’s favor.
• The battle devastates the stadium, injuring spectators and knocking out the protective Aegislash and broadcast equipment. As Red and Xingye meet after the match, a massive tsunami approaches Manalo Stadium. Red suspects Team Rainbow Rocket has arrived.

Character developments and interactions

• Red embraces the challenge despite being at a numerical disadvantage. His deep, instinctive synchronization with Pikachu lets them coordinate without words, and he accepts defeat without regret after a battle he truly enjoyed.
• Xingye remains resourceful, using Gholdengo’s strengths strategically and winning a psychological advantage through his Mega Evolution bluff. His understanding of Gengar’s feelings helps unlock its hidden power.
• Gengar moves from feeling overlooked and unable to grow stronger to expressing its bond with Xingye through its own distinctive ability. Their shared history and mutual understanding become central to the final attack.
• Pikachu displays extraordinary power, agility, and a bond with Red strong enough to produce devastating partner moves. It fights on despite severe injuries and loses only after a final, immense clash.

Significant themes

• Willpower and bonds: The battle repeatedly contrasts spectacular techniques with the strength of trust and emotional connection.
• Individual identity and growth: Gengar’s power emerges not from imitating Mega Evolution but from embracing what makes it unique.
• Strategy and resolve: Both Trainers adapt under pressure, and psychological tactics prove as important as raw strength.
• Victory interrupted by crisis: The triumphant match gives way abruptly to a threat, beginning Alola’s larger crisis.

Plot points and events

• A massive tsunami and earthquake strike Melemele Island during the Alola tournament. Trainers freeze and shatter the wave, while League officials evacuate the stadium and communications across Alola fail.
• People and Pokémon across the region respond to the disaster: Aether Paradise raises its defenses, Manaphy redirects dangerous currents, and Buzzwole Hero, Delibird, and other Pokémon rescue those in danger.
• Akari arrives on Enamorus and calls upon Regigigas, which halts the earthquake and tsunami. The crisis eases, though the cause remains unclear.
• Xingye reveals that the Tree of Beginning lies beneath Melemele Island and that the hidden Pokémon district of Kabukicho is the route to it. Red suspects Blue and Green have already gone there.
• Lillie, Nemona, Selene, Lusamine, Mohn, and Aether Foundation personnel head into Kabukicho. The International Police follow, led by Anabel and Gladion.
• Kabukicho has been stained dark red, and Team Rainbow Rocket invades through space-time rifts. Its members attack the Pokémon district and use Master Balls to capture Pokémon. The acting Elite Four—Kingambit, Arcanine, and Sirfetch’d—lead the defense.
• Blue, Green, and Riley hide nearby. Riley warns that the Tree of Beginning’s Defense Protocol may soon activate and threaten everyone, but the resulting confusion might give them a chance to reach the Tree.
• Lillie senses that Kabukicho’s Pokémon are losing badly. Faba appears before her group, revealing that he is aligned with Team Rainbow Rocket and recognizing Lusamine, Mohn, and Lillie.

Character developments and interactions

• Akari acts in defense of Alola, framing her intervention as support for the hopeful future created by humans and Pokémon working together. She leaves the remaining fight to the others.
• Xingye shifts from withholding information to sharing what he knows, recognizing that the League and allied forces are needed against Team Rainbow Rocket.
• Lillie takes responsibility for helping protect Kabukicho and leads the group below. Her urgency sharpens when she discovers the Pokémon are being captured.
• Nemona and the other allies volunteer to help rather than leave the world’s safety to others.
• Blue refuses to retreat, while Green admits she is tempted to run. Riley provides the warning and strategy that may let them exploit the Tree’s defense response.
• Lusamine and Faba confront one another with a history-laden recognition; Faba’s taunting also draws Mohn and Lillie into the encounter.
• Calyrex and Zygarde watch the fighting from relative safety, treating it as only the beginning of the conflict.

Significant themes

• Cooperation and solidarity: Humans and Pokémon rescue one another during the disaster and unite to defend Alola.
• Responsibility and hope: Akari, Lillie, and the others choose to act rather than rely on someone else to protect their home or world.
• Invasion and exploitation: Team Rainbow Rocket’s attempt to conquer Kabukicho and capture its Pokémon contrasts with the community’s protective bond.
• Nature’s power and risk: The Tree of Beginning’s possible Defense Protocol may threaten allies and enemies indiscriminately, making the environment itself a major force in the conflict.

Chapter Summary: “A Feast of Legendary Pokémon, the Villains’ Dance”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Faba is revealed to be a version from another universe and a member of Team Rainbow Rocket. In his world, he caused an Ultra Space accident that killed Lusamine and Mohn, leaving Lillie and Gladion orphaned, then seized control of the Aether Foundation.
• Faba intends to conquer this world’s Aether Foundation as well. He attacks Lusamine’s family with a Shiny Guzzlord and a large force of Ultra Beasts, including Nihilego, Pheromosa, Xurkitree, Blacephalon, and Naganadel.
• The International Police arrive after following Xingye’s information. Gladion offers to handle the Ultra Beasts, while Lillie insists on personally confronting Faba. Lusamine, Mohn, Gladion, and Lillie unite to fight him.
• Kabukicho is revealed to be under widespread attack. Thousands of Team Rainbow Rocket members are using mass-produced Master Balls to capture powerful Pokémon and overwhelm the city. The defenders split up to delay the invasion, rescue Pokémon, and search for Giovanni.
• Selene, Acerola, Hau, and other Alolan Trainers fight Team Rainbow Rocket grunts. The four Island Guardians—Tapu Koko, Tapu Lele, Tapu Bulu, and Tapu Fini—arrive and inspire the defenders.
• Their confidence is shattered when a mysterious black Lugia defeats all four Tapus instantly with a dark vortex. Its teal-haired Trainer attempts to capture them, but Selene and the others destroy the Master Balls and resist.
• Elsewhere, Dawn and Sinnoh’s Elite Four, Gym Leaders, and Frontier Brains easily defeat numerous grunts. Their advance abruptly stops when Dialga and Palkia appear and freeze the battlefield in time.
• Dawn recognizes the seemingly emotionless man controlling them as Cyrus, a villain she believed had already been defeated or killed. The chapter ends with their ominous reunion.

Character Developments

• Lillie displays major growth and independence. Rather than relying on Gladion or her family, she insists on confronting Faba herself because of the suffering he caused in his alternate world.
• Gladion recognizes that Lillie has become a capable Trainer and respects her decision, showing a shift from overprotective brother to supportive equal.
• Lusamine and Mohn are forced to confront a monstrous alternate version of Faba and join their children in defending their family and the Aether Foundation.
• Faba is portrayed as a ruthless opportunist whose ambition led him to destroy an entire family and take over the Aether Foundation. His encounter with the current Lusamine family reveals his arrogance and sadistic confidence.
• Anabel takes command of the broader defense effort, using Salamence and Drone Rotom to survey the battlefield, assess the enemy’s numbers, and coordinate the division of forces.
• Selene and the Alolan Trainers show courage despite being badly outmatched. Selene especially refuses to retreat permanently, defending Alola even after witnessing the Island Guardians’ defeat.
• Dawn’s confidence initially borders on overconfidence as Sinnoh’s forces push through the grunts, but she immediately recognizes the danger when Dialga, Palkia, and Cyrus appear.

Significant Themes

• Alternate-world consequences: Faba and Cyrus demonstrate how different circumstances can produce radically different versions of familiar characters.
• Ambition and corruption: Faba’s actions show how unchecked ambition can destroy families and institutions, while Team Rainbow Rocket’s leaders seek power across entire universes.
• Family and collective resistance: The Aether family’s united stand against Faba emphasizes reconciliation, loyalty, and the strength gained by confronting trauma together.
• Courage against overwhelming odds: The defenders cannot match Team Rainbow Rocket’s numbers or resources, but continue fighting to protect their world and Pokémon.
• The danger of power without restraint: Master Balls, Ultra Beasts, and legendary Pokémon are treated as tools of conquest, highlighting the threat posed by Team Rainbow Rocket’s ability to weaponize overwhelming power.
• False confidence and sudden vulnerability: The defenders repeatedly believe they have gained momentum, only to face enemies capable of defeating even the Island Guardians or controlling time and space.

Important Character Interactions

• Faba taunts Lusamine and Mohn by revealing that his actions killed their alternate counterparts and ruined Lillie and Gladion’s lives.
• Lillie directly challenges Faba, while Gladion agrees to fight alongside her instead of shielding her.
• Lusamine’s family reunites in battle, turning the conflict with Faba into a deeply personal confrontation over the Aether Foundation.
• Anabel coordinates with the assembled Trainers and International Police, organizing them into separate teams to manage the citywide invasion.
• Selene, Acerola, and Hau oppose Team Rainbow Rocket’s grunts and receive a morale boost from the arrival of the four Tapus.
• The Alolan defenders then face the teal-haired Trainer and his black Lugia, suffering a devastating defeat when the Pokémon’s dark vortex overwhelms both them and the Island Guardians.
• Dawn encounters Cyrus after Dialga and Palkia halt Sinnoh’s advance, setting up a direct confrontation between the former adversaries.

Plot points and events

• Cyrus arrives with Dialga and Palkia, freezing everyone around him except Dawn. He reveals that in his own world he defeated Dawn, controlled the Legendary Pokémon with the Red Chain, and created a world without emotion.
• Dawn refuses to flee and challenges him with Cresselia and Darkrai. Cynthia joins her, and the two prepare to stop Cyrus, but their Pokémon and then the trainers are defeated.
• Elsewhere, Yveltal’s attack turns trainers and Pokémon into stone. Xerneas restores fallen Team Rainbow Rocket members, while Diantha rallies the remaining Kalos trainers to protect the statues. Lysandre dismisses their resistance as futile.
• Nemona, Penny, and Iono head toward Kabukicho’s tallest building, hoping to find Team Rainbow Rocket’s leader. Raifort intercepts them with Iron Leaves and Walking Wake, intending to capture them as hostages for Xingye. Nemona welcomes the battle; Iono panics.
• Kabukicho’s defenders watch the crisis worsen but cannot act until Giovanni and Xingye appear, according to the Tree of Beginning’s rules.
• Team Rainbow Rocket overwhelms the regional teams. Alola, Sinnoh, Kalos, Hoenn, Galar, Unova, Kanto, and Johto suffer heavy losses; the invaders begin collecting captured Pokémon.
• Just as Dialga is about to finish off Dawn and Cynthia, an unidentified voice mocks the situation and hints that someone is finally stepping in.

Character developments and interactions

• Dawn moves from fear to resolve, choosing to confront Cyrus even after learning that her counterpart failed.
• Cyrus remains committed to his idea of perfection: a world without hearts. His reunion with Dawn and Cynthia underscores how unchanged his convictions are.
• Cynthia backs Dawn and rejects Cyrus’s plan, but both are ultimately defeated.
• Diantha takes command of the remaining Kalos fighters, emphasizing the need to protect those turned to stone.
• Nemona is eager to battle powerful opponents; Penny is alarmed by the danger, while Iono protests that she was dragged into the fight.
• Raifort treats the group as potential leverage against Xingye and deploys a force of futuristic Pokémon.
• Kabukicho’s Pokémon defenders are angry and eager to fight, but constrained by the Tree of Beginning’s rules.

Significant themes

• Hope against overwhelming odds: Characters continue resisting even as Team Rainbow Rocket’s forces gain the upper hand.
• The danger of imposed “perfection”: Cyrus’s heartless world presents order without emotion as a destructive ideal.
• Power and exploitation: Team Rainbow Rocket uses Legendary Pokémon and captures others as resources.
• Duty versus compassion: Kabukicho’s defenders must follow their rules even while watching people suffer.

Plot points and events

• Volo arrives to help Cynthia and Dawn against Cyrus, summoning Giratina to fight alongside Dialga and Palkia. The others are moved to safety as the three Legendary Pokémon clash.
• Across the battlefield, alternate-universe versions of Maxie and Archie resume their rivalry, directing Groudon and Kyogre against each other. Zinnia intervenes with Rayquaza, having earned its recognition through her own efforts.
• Zygarde reveals its Complete Forme and attacks Lysandre, suppressing even the combined power of Xerneas and Yveltal.
• Ho-Oh appears to heal the wounded. Red confronts Apollo, a Team Rainbow Rocket executive, and presses him for Giovanni’s location. Red says Xingye is the key to winning the fight.
• Aboveground, Xingye learns from Colress that a device to send Team Rainbow Rocket through a Space-Time Rift will be ready within half a day. He agrees to hold off the invaders.
• Xingye harvests the Herba Mystica, which has grown into glowing, flowering plants with a unified fragrance that retains hints of all five flavors. He feeds some to Miraidon, triggering a brief vision of Terastal crystals and the Great Crater of Paldea.
• Xingye and Miraidon burst into the battlefield. As the final major players gather, the Residents’ Committee area collapses and immense power rises from beneath it. Xingye recognizes the Tree of Beginning’s power and launches an electric attack, turning the confrontation into a declaration of war against the Kabukicho Elite Four.

Character developments and interactions

• Volo unexpectedly fights on the heroes’ side, teasing Cynthia as her older brother while confronting Cyrus and entrusting the battle’s next stage to Xingye.
• Zinnia has moved beyond the fanaticism and guilt that once defined her. Now hopeful, she fights alongside Rayquaza, which she earned the right to command through her own efforts.
• Zygarde abandons its usual idleness to defend its territory, while Calyrex is startled by Zygarde’s strength and flees.
• Red takes charge of the Alola group’s recovery and seeks answers from Apollo. He trusts that Xingye will arrive and believes him essential to victory.
• Xingye remains focused and composed despite the devastation, accepts responsibility for buying Colress time, and returns to the fight with renewed confidence in Miraidon.

Significant themes

• Unexpected alliances: Former enemies and unlikely allies unite against the invading forces.
• Redemption and self-earned recognition: Zinnia’s growth and bond with Rayquaza reflect her effort to make amends and build a better future.
• Responsibility and belonging: Zygarde defends its territory, while Xingye fights to protect Kabukicho and the people who call it home.
• Escalation and impending conflict: The chapter’s scattered Legendary battles converge around Xingye’s arrival, setting up a larger war with the Elite Four.

Chapter Summary: “Settling Old Scores, Odd Jobs No Longer Weak”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xingye and Miraidon land in Kabukicho after Team Rainbow Rocket’s attack exposes a passage toward the Tree of Beginning. Xingye realizes the invaders have deliberately disrupted the area to locate and invade the Tree.
• Kabukicho’s Pokémon launch a counterattack. They had initially appeared weak because they were luring Team Rainbow Rocket into a trap. The invaders are brutally killed or defeated, and the Pokémon captured with Master Balls are freed.
• Xingye discovers that Kabukicho’s major factions have gathered specifically to ambush Odd Jobs, intending to settle the score from their past defeat of the team.
• Kingambit, Alolan Persian, Gothitelle, and many other Pokémon attack Xingye and his companions. Xingye’s Aura allows him to detect hidden attacks, while Miraidon, Meowscarada, Marshadow, and Kitty defend him.
• The enemy factions attempt to overwhelm Odd Jobs through sheer numbers and the Tree of Beginning’s power. Xingye and Miraidon respond by unleashing their full strength. Miraidon activates Hadron Engine, spreads Electric Terrain, and uses Herba Mystica-powered lightning to annihilate hundreds of attackers in a single strike.
• Zoroark decisively defeats Kingambit, brutally overpowering and injuring it despite the healing and authority granted by the Tree of Beginning.
• Sirfetch’d attempts to attack Meowscarada, but Chien-Pao blocks him. Dolphin Hero then intervenes, challenging Sirfetch’d because he believes Sirfetch’d has abandoned his former sense of justice.
• Xingye prepares to ride Miraidon toward the Tree of Beginning after realizing Giovanni and Kabukicho’s true Elite Four are likely there. However, Ogerpon senses trouble elsewhere, prompting Xingye to change direction.
• On another street, Nemona, Penny, and Pawmot are overwhelmed by Raifort, Okidogi, Iron Leaves, Walking Wake, and the other members of the Loyal Three. Okidogi is being controlled as a Dark Pokémon.
• Raifort boasts that the group cannot escape and plans to keep them as hostages. Penny and Iono attempt a coordinated ambush, but Fezandipiti blocks Iono’s Thunder and Munkidori knocks her from the sky.
• Iono feigns unconsciousness and uses a hidden Substitute disguised as her hair accessory to smash Raifort in the face before collapsing for real.
• Just as Raifort is about to retaliate, Xingye arrives from an alley, throwing someone into Fezandipiti and knocking both Fezandipiti and Raifort down. He declares that he has found them and will not let them escape.

Character Developments and Interactions

• Xingye demonstrates increased confidence and combat ability. Unlike in the past, he no longer depends entirely on his Pokémon for protection and can personally catch Kingambit’s blade and fight at close range. He also acts decisively, prioritizing both the Tree of Beginning and the rescue of his allies.
• Odd Jobs has clearly evolved from the weak, cornered group it once was. Xingye, Miraidon, Zoroark, Meowscarada, Marshadow, Kitty, Ogerpon, and the others now work together with overwhelming coordination and strength.
• Miraidon becomes the decisive force in the battle, using its transformed power and Herba Mystica-enhanced lightning to erase the enemy army. Its bond with Xingye is emphasized through their shared confidence and synchronized actions.
• Zoroark fully abandons restraint and unleashes her destructive instincts against Kingambit. Her attack reflects both her personal ferocity and Odd Jobs’ desire for revenge.
• Meowscarada fights alongside Xingye and protects him from ambushes. She is frustrated when Dolphin Hero takes over her confrontation with Sirfetch’d, revealing a humorous but competitive side.
• Dolphin Hero confronts Sirfetch’d out of disappointment. He recognizes that Sirfetch’d once possessed a sense of justice but has now compromised it by working with criminals and attacking the wrong targets.
• Kingambit suffers a major loss of pride. It had believed the Tree of Beginning made it untouchable, but Zoroark and Miraidon expose the limits of its borrowed authority and power.
• Nemona, Penny, and Iono demonstrate teamwork despite being outmatched. Penny provides tactical planning, while Iono uses deception and improvisation to land a surprise attack on Raifort.
• Raifort grows increasingly furious and humiliated after nearly being outmaneuvered by the younger group. Her contempt for Iono’s celebrity persona reveals her arrogance and disdain for people she considers lacking in genuine power.
• Xingye and Raifort are positioned for a direct confrontation at the chapter’s end, with Xingye arriving just as Raifort is about to harm Iono.

Significant Themes

• Growth and redemption through strength: The chapter emphasizes that Odd Jobs is no longer the vulnerable group it once was. Past humiliation has become motivation for growth.
• Settling old scores: The confrontation with Kabukicho’s factions is driven by unresolved resentment from the previous battle in which Odd Jobs was nearly destroyed.
• True strength versus borrowed authority: Kingambit relies on the Tree of Beginning’s blessing and political status, while Xingye’s group relies on training, teamwork, and earned power. The chapter argues that authority cannot replace actual strength.
• Justice and corruption: Sirfetch’d’s conflict with Dolphin Hero highlights the difference between protecting a place and genuinely acting justly. Sirfetch’d has become aligned with oppressive forces despite his former ideals.
• Teamwork and tactical ingenuity: The heroes survive through Aura detection, coordinated attacks, deception, and mutual support rather than relying only on raw power.
• Revenge and moral harshness: Kabukicho’s Pokémon respond to invasion with extreme violence, and the chapter treats their brutality as a defining feature of the city. Xingye accepts this harshness while remaining focused on protecting his companions.
• The contrast between appearance and capability: Iono is dismissed as a superficial celebrity, but she proves resourceful through her Substitute trick. Likewise, Xingye’s human status does not make him helpless anymore.

Chapter Summary: “Reclaiming the Crystal, Opening the Path to the Tree of Beginning!”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Xingye arrives on Miraidon while Raifort and the corrupted Loyal Three—Okidogi, Munkidori, and Fezandipiti—are battling Nemona and the others. Miraidon’s lightning forces the Loyal Three to retreat, protecting Xingye’s allies.
• Xingye quickly defeats and restrains Raifort, refusing her attempt to bargain for her freedom with the stolen Crystal. Ogerpon uses its connection to the Teal Mask to locate the Crystal in Raifort’s pocket.
• Raifort manipulates the Loyal Three into attacking the Teal Mask. Okidogi steals it and puts it on, hoping to gain overwhelming power, but Miraidon effortlessly defeats it before the transformation can fully take effect.
• Ogerpon chooses not to seek revenge on the Loyal Three. Instead, it uses the Teal Mask and Pure Tera Infinity Energy to cleanse the darkness controlling them and restore them to normal.
• The Loyal Three regain their minds, realize the harm they caused while controlled, and apologize to and thank Ogerpon. Although Ogerpon still instinctively fears them, it accepts their remorse and demonstrates that it has moved beyond its old hatred.
• Raifort admits defeat and reveals that Giovanni has already entered the Tree of Beginning through an underground passage she discovered. She warns Xingye that Giovanni’s abilities extend far beyond inter-universal travel.
• Xingye recovers the stolen Crystal. Once reunited with the Teal Mask pendant, the Crystal restores the missing portion of the artifact and opens the path to the Hidden Treasure of Area Zero.
• Xingye decides to confront Team Rainbow Rocket and Giovanni before pursuing the treasure. Nemona and the others remain behind to assist in the wider battle, while Xingye, Miraidon, Ogerpon, Ceruledge, and the other Pokémon depart toward the Tree of Beginning.

2. Character Developments

• Xingye displays confidence, decisiveness, and compassion. He defeats Raifort without hesitation but chooses not to kill her, leaving her fate to the law. He also supports Ogerpon’s decision to save the Loyal Three rather than punish them.
• Ogerpon undergoes the chapter’s most important emotional growth. It overcomes its desire for revenge and uses the Teal Mask to heal the Pokémon who once imprisoned and abandoned it. Its ability to forgive shows that it is no longer defined by loneliness, fear, or past resentment.
• The Loyal Three are freed from Raifort’s control and forced to confront the consequences of their actions. Their apologies to Ogerpon suggest genuine remorse and a renewed commitment to protecting Kitakami.
• Raifort loses her confidence after Xingye defeats her. Even in defeat, she remains fascinated by power and history, but her inability to understand Ogerpon’s compassion highlights the limits of her worldview.
• Miraidon continues to demonstrate immense power and loyalty, effortlessly stopping Okidogi’s attempted transformation and protecting Xingye’s group.
• Nemona, Penny, and the others accept Xingye’s leadership and show their willingness to support him without recklessly interfering. Nemona’s group takes responsibility for the remaining battlefield.

3. Significant Themes

• Forgiveness versus revenge: Ogerpon’s decision to purify the Loyal Three instead of retaliating emphasizes that healing and forgiveness can break cycles of hatred.
• The true meaning of heroism: The Loyal Three were originally protectors, but manipulation corrupted their purpose. Ogerpon ultimately becomes the more genuine hero by rescuing them despite their past betrayal.
• Power and its intended use: Raifort views rare Pokémon and legendary forces as objects to collect and study, while Xingye and Ogerpon use extraordinary power to protect and restore others.
• Growth beyond the past: Ogerpon’s changed relationship with the Teal Mask represents emotional maturity. It no longer needs the mask as a source of false strength or identity.
• Trust and companionship: Xingye’s allies trust him to lead the next stage of the mission, while he trusts them to defend the battlefield in his absence.
• The beginning of a final confrontation: Recovering the Crystal and opening the path to the Tree of Beginning marks a major transition from the Kitakami conflict to the impending confrontation with Giovanni and Team Rainbow Rocket.

4. Important Character Interactions

• Xingye reassures Nemona and the others while warning them to stay away from the dangerous battle.
• Xingye and Raifort clash verbally and physically, with Raifort attempting to bargain before being decisively subdued.
• Raifort exploits the Loyal Three’s connection to Ogerpon and the Teal Mask, causing Okidogi to attack it.
• Ogerpon and the Loyal Three confront their shared history: despite their past conflict, Ogerpon chooses to save them, and they later apologize and express gratitude.
• Xingye comforts Ogerpon after the purification, reassuring it that it is safe despite its lingering fear of the Loyal Three.
• Raifort reveals Giovanni’s location and warns Xingye not to underestimate him.
• Nemona and the other companions encourage Xingye as he leaves, promising to support him while he advances toward the Tree of Beginning.

Chapter Summary: Giovanni’s True Objective and the Tree of Beginning’s Collapse

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xingye and Miraidon descend into the Tree of Beginning, discovering an enormous underground ecosystem made of crystal-like rock and powered by Infinity Energy. The area contains mountains, rivers, vegetation, and Pokémon descended from those brought from Kanto centuries earlier.
• The fossil Pokémon awakening throughout the Tree are peaceful and innocent, contrasting sharply with the violent human factions above. This reinforces Xingye’s mission of repairing the relationship between humans and Pokémon through Odd Jobs.
• Xingye discovers that the Tree’s crystalline leaves contain restorative Infinity Energy. By using Aura, he senses the flow of energy through the Tree and determines the location of its central area, which he believes is Giovanni’s target.
• Inside the Tree, Xingye encounters one of the Regi guardians. A powerful Regice attacks, but Miraidon easily outruns it. Later, Miraidon accidentally knocks Registeel aside, revealing that battles have already taken place.
• Elsewhere, Mewtwo defeats Green’s Mega Tyranitar with overwhelming psychic power and immobilizes Green, Riley, and Yabai. Giovanni recognizes all three from their past opposition to Team Rocket and treats them as spectators in his “performance.”
• Pikachu, hidden under optical camouflage, witnesses Giovanni and Mewtwo’s terrifying strength. Despite its fear, Detective Pikachu decides to follow them and investigate further.
• Xingye reaches the central area and confronts Giovanni. Blue, Green, Riley, and Yabai are suspended helplessly nearby by Mewtwo’s psychic power.
• Giovanni reveals that his true purpose is not simply to capture Mew or rule the world. After traveling between parallel universes and witnessing countless versions of himself, he became bored and dissatisfied with the insignificance of his former ambitions.
• For entertainment, Giovanni plans to make every Pokémon in this world disappear, leaving humanity to face the consequences. He specifically chose Xingye as the “protagonist” because destroying Pokémon would invalidate Odd Jobs’ ideals and shatter Xingye’s bonds and accomplishments.
• Before the confrontation can begin, Giovanni announces that the Tree of Beginning’s collapse has already started. The Tree begins shaking as its blue crystals become corrupted by dark red energy, causing its ecological program to fail.

Character Developments

• Xingye: His commitment to human-Pokémon coexistence is strengthened by witnessing the Tree’s peaceful Pokémon. Giovanni’s plan deeply enrages him because it directly targets Odd Jobs’ ideals and everything he has worked to build. He resolves to stop Giovanni and dismantle Team Rainbow Rocket.
• Giovanni: His motives are revealed as nihilistic and entertainment-driven rather than ideological. Having observed countless alternate versions of himself across universes, he has become detached from ordinary ambition and now treats entire worlds and lives as props in a personal spectacle.
• Miraidon: Displays curiosity and practical instincts by eating the Tree’s Infinity Energy-rich leaves, then demonstrates its superior speed by evading Regice and charging toward the central area.
• Green: Remains defiant despite being completely overpowered, though she attempts to hide her identity and past actions from Giovanni.
• Blue: Reacts angrily to Giovanni’s mockery of his strength, refusing to submit despite his helpless condition.
• Riley: Is identified as a descendant of the Aura Guardians, linking him to the Tree’s ancient history and making him another significant observer of the conflict.
• Pikachu: Shows fear in the face of Giovanni and Mewtwo but continues pursuing them out of courage and investigative determination.
• Mewtwo: Is established as overwhelmingly powerful, defeating Mega Tyranitar effortlessly and restraining several strong characters without difficulty.

Significant Themes

• Human-Pokémon coexistence: The Tree represents a natural world where Pokémon live peacefully, contrasting with both Pokémon exploitation and anti-human extremism.
• Ideals versus nihilism: Xingye fights to create understanding and cooperation, while Giovanni dismisses all ideals as meaningless and destroys things merely to relieve boredom.
• The consequences of power: Giovanni’s ability to cross universes has made him detached from ordinary values, while Mewtwo’s immense strength places others completely at his mercy.
• Identity and alternate possibilities: Giovanni’s encounters with alternate versions of himself demonstrate how different choices can lead to radically different lives and moral outcomes.
• Performance and spectatorship: Giovanni frames the crisis as entertainment, casting Xingye as the protagonist and the captured heroes as an audience. This dehumanizes the conflict and emphasizes his cruelty.
• Collapse of nature and balance: The corruption of the Tree’s ecological program symbolizes the imminent destruction of the Pokémon world and the threatened failure of Xingye’s mission.

Character Interactions

• Xingye and Miraidon explore the Tree together, with Miraidon’s behavior providing moments of humor and companionship.
• Xingye uses Aura to interpret the Tree’s energy and guide Miraidon toward Giovanni.
• Mewtwo defeats Green’s Mega Tyranitar and captures Green, Blue, Riley, and Yabai, while Giovanni taunts them about their previous opposition to Team Rocket.
• Pikachu secretly observes Giovanni, Mewtwo, and the captured group before choosing to continue following them.
• Giovanni confronts Xingye directly and explains that he intends to destroy Pokémon specifically to undermine Xingye’s beliefs, turning their conflict into a personal attack.
• The chapter ends with Giovanni’s announcement that the Tree of Beginning is collapsing, forcing the characters toward an imminent decisive battle.

Chapter Summary: Xingye vs. Giovanni, Mewtwo’s Immortal Body

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Tree of Beginning begins collapsing after Giovanni triggers a catastrophic “program failure.” The collapse destroys parts of the tree, Kabukicho, and the surrounding environment, threatening Hau’oli City and potentially all of Melemele Island.
• Fossil Pokémon, civilians, Legendary Pokémon, and combatants are caught in the destruction. Many fall into the collapsing depths, while others attempt rescues.
• Zinnia uses Rayquaza to catch falling people, Zygarde tries to preserve the balance of the Tree of Beginning, and Red, Apollo, and others descend to stop the disaster.
• Lusamine orders the Aether Foundation to prioritize evacuations and rescue efforts. Lillie flies toward the central crisis alone, believing that additional people would only obstruct Xingye.
• Giovanni explains that he deliberately caused Legendary Pokémon from different universes to appear together. Because the Tree of Beginning’s “programming” cannot process multiple Pokémon with overlapping roles—such as two Groudons—the system becomes corrupted.
• The collapse threatens the survival of all Pokémon. If the Tree of Beginning or Mew dies, the ecosystem will fail, and Pokémon may gradually disappear from the world entirely.
• Xingye realizes that returning the foreign Legendary Pokémon to their original universes could solve the problem. However, Giovanni unleashes an extraordinarily powerful Mewtwo.
• Mewtwo possesses an immortal body because it originated in a destroyed universe and now exists outside the rules of every world. Its body can regenerate even after suffering total annihilation.
• Mewtwo transforms into Mega Mewtwo Y and overwhelms Xingye, Miraidon, and Marshadow. Xingye’s attacks prove almost useless, leaving him uncertain how to fight back.
• A second Mewtwo appears and attacks Giovanni’s immortal Mewtwo. This Mewtwo is the one created by Team Rocket in the current world and has developed its own conscience and emotional bonds.
• The two Mewtwo discuss their opposing origins. Giovanni views the local Mewtwo as a failed weapon because it developed free will, while Mewtwo insists that its bond with humans is what makes it different.
• The local Mewtwo reveals a possible solution: because both Mewtwo occupy the same classification, the immortal Mewtwo can replace it and become subject to this universe’s rules.
• Mewtwo sacrifices itself by embracing the other Mewtwo and releasing all its energy, attempting to destroy it and force it into the Tree of Beginning’s system. The chapter ends with a massive explosion, leaving Pikachu stunned and Xingye unable to comprehend what has happened.

Character Developments

• Xingye: Initially confident that the crisis can be solved by sending foreign Pokémon home, he becomes increasingly shaken by Mewtwo’s overwhelming strength. Despite being injured, he continues searching for a solution rather than surrendering.
• Giovanni: Revealed as the mastermind behind the Tree of Beginning’s collapse. He treats the extinction of Pokémon as an elaborate performance designed to punish humanity and particularly torment Xingye. His confidence finally falters when the local Mewtwo attempts its sacrificial plan.
• Mewtwo from the destroyed universe: Presented as an almost invincible being outside universal laws. It is Giovanni’s ultimate weapon and embodies overwhelming power, immortality, and detachment from ordinary rules.
• The local Mewtwo: Demonstrates compassion, responsibility, and self-sacrifice. It has rejected its intended role as a mindless weapon and chooses to protect both humans and Pokémon, even though it believes Mew may not accept it as a true Pokémon.
• Pikachu: Shows a strong emotional attachment to the local Mewtwo, recognizing it as a trusted companion and reacting desperately to its decision to sacrifice itself.
• Lillie and Lusamine: Display increased maturity and leadership by prioritizing evacuation and rescue over immediately joining the battle.
• Other Legendary Pokémon and trainers: Their involvement highlights the scale of the disaster, with several shifting from combat to rescue and preservation.

Significant Themes

• The value of free will: Giovanni believes Pokémon should function as controllable weapons, while the local Mewtwo argues that emotion, choice, and bonds are what give Pokémon true identity.
• Sacrifice and responsibility: Mewtwo willingly gives up its life to protect the world, fulfilling the duty it believes it inherited from Mew.
• Nature versus artificial control: The Tree of Beginning represents the natural order of Pokémon life, while Giovanni attempts to exploit and corrupt it through artificial manipulation of universal rules.
• Identity and belonging: The two Mewtwo raise questions about what makes a Pokémon legitimate—its origin, its genetic classification, its world, or its relationships.
• The danger of treating life as entertainment: Giovanni’s scheme is driven by his desire to stage a “performance,” demonstrating the destructive consequences of viewing living beings and entire ecosystems as pieces in a game.
• Hope amid extinction: Even as Pokémon face possible disappearance, several characters choose cooperation, rescue, and self-sacrifice rather than despair.

Important Character Interactions

• Xingye and Giovanni: Their confrontation centers on opposing philosophies. Xingye seeks to preserve Pokémon and restore balance, while Giovanni intentionally engineers their destruction.
• Xingye and Mewtwo: Xingye attacks the immortal Mewtwo with Miraidon and Marshadow but is forced into defensive desperation by its overwhelming power.
• Giovanni and the local Mewtwo: Their exchange reveals their creator-creation relationship. Giovanni sees Mewtwo as an imperfect weapon, whereas Mewtwo rejects his control and affirms its emotional independence.
• Pikachu and the local Mewtwo: Pikachu treats Mewtwo as a close ally and desperately tries to prevent its sacrifice.
• Lusamine and Lillie: Their conversation demonstrates mutual trust, with Lusamine allowing Lillie to act while entrusting the wider evacuation to the Aether Foundation.
• The two Mewtwo: Their encounter forms the chapter’s climax. Their overlapping identities and abilities create the only apparent weakness in the immortal Mewtwo, leading to the local Mewtwo’s final sacrifice.

Chapter summary

Key plot points and events

• Giovanni’s replacement Mewtwo is badly weakened when the original Mewtwo sacrifices herself to restore the world’s rules around him. Xingye then uses Herba Mystica to empower Miraidon, whose lightning further damages Mewtwo.
• Mewtwo shifts into Mega X to recover and resumes fighting. As Koraidon and Odd Jobs battle him, Ceruledge attacks Giovanni. Detective Pikachu identifies the source of Giovanni’s spatial-vanishing ability: a Master Ball at his waist. Ceruledge destroys it, leaving Giovanni unable to teleport.
• The destroyed Master Ball releases a Bewear plush doll, hinting that the real Bewear is nearby. Before anyone can investigate, the Kabukicho Elite Four arrive with defeated Odd Jobs members and other powerful Pokémon—including the mysterious Magikarp, Psyduck, and Marshtomp.
• Xingye declares war on the Elite Four, but they are overwhelmingly powerful within the Tree of Beginning. Magikarp easily defeats Koraidon, and the Elite Four activate the Tree’s final defense protocol: red crystals become Mud Monsters that consume outsiders as nourishment.
• The catastrophe spreads through Kabukicho, swallowing Pokémon and people—including members of Team Rainbow Rocket and their opponents. Meanwhile, Xingye’s group is sheltered from the monsters because the Elite Four intend to eliminate them personally.
• The conflict becomes a three-sided struggle: Odd Jobs seeks to stop the destruction, Giovanni wants Pokémon eradicated, and the Elite Four want to destroy everyone who threatens their world. Xingye refuses to choose between two evils and vows to fight both.
• The Elite Four’s allies counter Odd Jobs’ abilities. Meowscarada is badly injured, and Gholdengo, Iron Bundle, and Ceruledge are also defeated. Gengar tries to rescue the unconscious Bewear but is struck down.
• Cyclizar rises again and refuses Magikarp’s offer to join the Elite Four. Magikarp nearly kills him. Xingye rushes in to protect his friend, and a huge pink-padded fist joins his attack—ending the chapter on a cliffhanger.

Character developments

• Xingye remains determined to protect both people and Pokémon, even when every faction is hostile. His refusal to accept a “lesser evil” defines his resolve.
• Mewtwo makes a decisive sacrifice, weakening Giovanni’s Mewtwo and enabling the heroes to fight back.
• Pikachu proves his detective skill by spotting the hidden mechanism behind Giovanni’s ability, contributing directly to its destruction.
• Cyclizar shows renewed purpose and loyalty to Xingye and Odd Jobs, refusing power and survival in exchange for abandoning his friends.
• Giovanni is forced onto the defensive when his teleportation device is destroyed, but he tries to exploit the Elite Four’s attack by urging Xingye to ally with him.
• The Elite Four are revealed as ancient creations of Mew and powerful defenders of the Tree’s order. Their supposed protection of Pokémon is shown to involve indiscriminate slaughter.

Significant themes

• Sacrifice and loyalty: Mewtwo gives herself to protect Pikachu, while Cyclizar risks death rather than betray his companions.
• Moral complexity: The heroes face two threats with opposing aims, yet Xingye refuses to accept that he must side with either.
• Order versus life: The Elite Four claim to defend a Pokémon world, but their defense protocol destroys all outsiders and treats living beings as fuel.
• Perseverance and friendship: Odd Jobs continues fighting despite overwhelming odds, relying on trust and shared purpose.

Character interactions

• Pikachu’s discovery is trusted immediately by Xingye, who relays it to Ceruledge through Aura.
• The Elite Four taunt and challenge Xingye, while Psyduck explains the Tree’s powers and its final defense protocol.
• Giovanni attempts to recruit Xingye against the Elite Four, but Xingye rejects the offer and commits to fighting both sides.
• Magikarp tries to recruit Cyclizar after recognizing his resilience; Cyclizar refuses, and Xingye intervenes to defend him.
• Gengar’s attempt to protect Bewear is interrupted by Magikarp, while Arcanine—once an ally—fights against Odd Jobs, leaving Gengar confused.

Chapter Summary: The Power of a Super Alolan, Mew Appears

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xingye attacks Big Ferocious to protect Cyclizar, and Bewear suddenly arrives from Kabukicho, striking Big Ferocious and Kingambit. Bewear’s appearance seems to ignore the Tree of Beginning’s restrictions.
• Xingye uses Herba Mystica to heal Cyclizar, Gengar, and Bewear. The Legendary Plate in his backpack begins glowing again, hinting at its connection to his unusual power.
• Bewear furiously attacks Big Ferocious, while Marshtomp intervenes to defend him. Xingye then discovers that Arcanine has known Gengar since before Gengar met him.
• Arcanine reveals Gengar’s connection to a deceased human girl. Years earlier, Arcanine failed to prevent a bombing in Hau’oli City and vowed to care for the badly injured girl. Marshtomp secretly diverted her medical funds because of its hatred of humans, causing her death.
• The girl’s soul later attached itself to a Gengar doll, eventually becoming the Gengar known as Odd Jobs. Arcanine only discovered the truth after witnessing Odd Jobs’s character and investigating the past.
• Xingye realizes that Gengar’s connection to the girl explains why it reacted to a grave with dog paw prints in Hau’oli Cemetery, though the present Gengar is not consciously the same person.
• Xingye also learns that Bewear had previously been captured by Giovanni. Bewear’s ability to sense its child in Ultra Space may have enabled Giovanni’s interdimensional travel.
• Xingye attacks Marshtomp and discovers that his punches and kicks can damage Pokémon empowered by the Tree of Beginning. Because he carries Almighty Sinnoh’s plate, he represents humanity—something the Tree cannot fully “see through.” His health also continually recovers.
• Slowking arrives and challenges Marshtomp’s belief that the Elite Four can speak for all Pokémon. It reveals that it is both the izakaya’s Slowking and the mysterious fourth Elite Four member, though its true main body is the lazy Slowpoke at the counter.
• Slowking recounts the ancient war between humans and Pokémon around the Tree of Beginning. The four future Elite Four leaders fought against an Aura Guardian and Lucario, but the Tree ultimately allowed the human hero to enter and communicate with Mew.
• The Aura Guardian and Lucario sacrificed themselves to awaken Mew and heal the Tree. The Tree was later moved to Alola, where it remained hidden.
• The chapter ends with Mew appearing above Xingye, suggesting that the events in the Tree of Beginning—and Xingye’s role in them—are part of a much larger design.

Character Developments

• Xingye becomes more confident and aggressive in opposing the Elite Four. He embraces his role as a representative of humanity and uses his unexplained “Super Alolan” strength to confront Marshtomp directly.
• Bewear is revealed to be fiercely protective and emotionally connected to its child. Its rage stems from seeing Gengar harmed and possibly from sensing the presence of its child in Ultra Space.
• Arcanine is shown to carry deep guilt over failing to save a human girl. Its relationship with Odd Jobs helped restore its faith in humans and led it to reject the old anti-human ideology.
• Gengar/Odd Jobs gains a tragic backstory tied to a former human life, though its current identity remains distinct from the deceased girl.
• Marshtomp is exposed as an extremist who manipulates events to preserve its hatred of humans and Pokémon allied with them. Its arrogance collapses when Xingye defeats it physically.
• Slowking emerges as a hidden mediator and historian. Unlike Marshtomp and Big Ferocious, it rejects the idea that any Pokémon can claim to represent all Pokémon.
• Mew finally appears, positioning itself as the possible judge or key to resolving the conflict surrounding humanity, Pokémon, and the Tree of Beginning.

Significant Themes

• Human–Pokémon coexistence: The chapter contrasts hatred and supremacism with cooperation, friendship, and mutual understanding.
• Guilt and redemption: Arcanine’s failure to save the girl drives its choices, while Odd Jobs gives it a chance to reconsider humanity.
• Ideological extremism: Marshtomp and Big Ferocious treat their own hatred as representative of all Pokémon, but Slowking rejects this absolutism.
• Identity and reincarnation: Gengar’s connection to the dead girl raises questions about memory, souls, and whether a past life defines a person’s present identity.
• The limits of authority: The Elite Four’s ancient status does not give them the right to decide the future of all Pokémon.
• Human potential: Xingye’s ability to resist the Tree’s power suggests that humanity, through determination and divine connection, can stand alongside or even challenge ancient Pokémon forces.

Character Interactions

• Xingye and Bewear effectively fight together, with Bewear protecting Gengar and Xingye attacking Marshtomp.
• Xingye and Arcanine share a candid conversation about Gengar’s past, Marshtomp’s betrayal, and Arcanine’s loss of faith in humanity.
• Arcanine’s history with Marshtomp reveals a sharp ideological conflict: Arcanine sought to protect a human, while Marshtomp sabotaged that effort.
• Slowking confronts Marshtomp, accusing it of arrogance and reminding it that neither the Elite Four nor Mew can automatically speak for all Pokémon.
• Xingye’s confrontation with Marshtomp becomes symbolic: a human whom Marshtomp despises defeats a Pokémon empowered by the Tree of Beginning.
• Mew’s arrival brings the chapter’s competing perspectives—humanity, Pokémon supremacy, coexistence, and the Tree’s history—into direct contact.

Chapter Summary: “Team Rainbow Rocket’s Destruction, Origin Supernova Big Bang!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Mew’s appearance stops the conflict and reveals that the events in Kabukicho were part of a long-term test conducted by Mew and the Tree of Beginning.
• Slowking explains that Odd Jobs was originally created as an experiment after it heard Pokémon and Trainers complaining about their relationships. After seeing Xingye resolve Delphox’s crisis and witnessing Odd Jobs help many Pokémon, Slowking fully recognized its value.
• The Tree of Beginning’s will had accepted Odd Jobs and Xingye, but Big Ferocious and the other Pokémon supremacists opposed them. Big Ferocious deliberately allowed Team Rainbow Rocket and Odd Jobs to fight so that both sides could be destroyed.
• Giovanni gathers Team Rainbow Rocket’s Legendary Pokémon outside the Tree of Beginning and prepares to destroy it. Xingye arrives alone, but Red, Cynthia, Zinnia, Lillie, and many other Trainers and Pokémon soon join him.
• A massive battle breaks out:
  • Mega Rayquaza overwhelms Primal Groudon and Kyogre.
  • Giratina’s restored Origin power neutralizes Dialga and Palkia.
  • Zygarde destroys Lysandre’s Ultimate Weapon.
  • Ho-Oh, Red, Calyrex, and others fight Shadow Lugia, Apollo, and the remaining Legendary Pokémon.
• Xingye confronts Giovanni and Mewtwo directly. Giovanni believes Mewtwo’s overwhelming strength guarantees victory, but Mew unexpectedly appears.
• Mewtwo reveals its hatred and resentment toward Mew, declaring its intention to surpass and destroy its creator. It prepares its ultimate psychic attack.
• Xingye combines the Legendary Plate, the Radiant Deity’s power, Mew’s energy, and a Psychium Z to create a new Mew-based Z-Crystal.
• He unleashes Origin Supernova—Big Bang, a supreme Z-Move that recreates the birth of the Pokémon world. Mew’s Infinity Energy forms a DNA chain containing the genetic essence of all Pokémon present.
• The attack’s vision reveals the history of the world: Mew’s birth, the creation and evolution of Pokémon, humanity’s emergence, and the eventual development of a shared human-Pokémon civilization.
• Humans and Pokémon unite in rejecting Giovanni’s belief that the two sides must be separated. Their collective understanding strengthens Mew and the Tree of Beginning.
• Mewtwo, fighting alone, is overwhelmed by Mew and the united power behind Xingye. Origin Supernova destroys Mewtwo’s attack and engulfs Team Rainbow Rocket.

Character Developments

• Xingye matures from representing humanity alone to representing both humanity and Pokémon. He proves that cooperation and mutual understanding are the true solution to the conflict.
• Slowking is revealed as a quiet supporter of Odd Jobs and as an agent of the Tree of Beginning’s will. Its initial curiosity develops into genuine faith in Xingye and Odd Jobs.
• Big Ferocious is exposed as an extremist who believes it can decide the future of all Pokémon. Its actions are shown to contradict the broader will of the Tree of Beginning.
• Giovanni remains committed to domination, despair, and destruction. He treats the conflict as entertainment and cannot understand the bonds formed between humans and Pokémon.
• Mewtwo displays deep resentment and loneliness as Mew’s rejected clone. Its desire to surpass Mew comes from the pain of its creation and lack of acceptance, but its isolation ultimately leaves it weaker than Mew and the united Pokémon world.
• Mew shifts from a playful observer to an active participant, joining Xingye in the final attack and symbolizing the origin and continuity of all Pokémon.
• Lillie, Red, Cynthia, Zinnia, and the other allies demonstrate their commitment to Xingye and to cooperation between humans and Pokémon.
• Former enemies and Pokémon helped by Odd Jobs join the final stand, showing that Odd Jobs’s relationships were genuine and meaningful.

Significant Themes

• Cooperation versus extremism: The chapter rejects both human domination and Pokémon supremacy, arguing that neither side can thrive by eliminating the other.
• The power of bonds: Mewtwo’s isolation contrasts with the strength created by Xingye, Odd Jobs, Trainers, and Pokémon standing together.
• Acceptance and identity: Mewtwo’s tragedy comes from being created as a copy and denied recognition, while the final attack affirms that every Pokémon—including unusual and Paradox Pokémon—belongs to the world.
• Myth and history: Origin Supernova reveals the true ancient history of Pokémon and humanity, transforming myth into a shared memory of the world’s development.
• Choice and coexistence: The future of humans and Pokémon is presented as a mutual choice rather than a decision imposed by gods, villains, or extremists.
• Hope replacing conflict: The Tree of Beginning, once associated with ancient bloodshed, responds to the unity achieved in the present by halting its collapse and lifting its defensive systems.

Character Interactions

• Slowking explains Kabukicho’s hidden political divisions to Xingye and confirms that Odd Jobs has been accepted by the Tree of Beginning.
• Xingye challenges Big Ferocious’s ideology and later confronts Giovanni over his claim that friendship and cooperation are meaningless.
• Giovanni mocks Xingye for arriving alone, but Red, Cynthia, Zinnia, Lillie, and the others soon appear, transforming the confrontation into a united resistance.
• Mewtwo confronts Mew as both its creator and the symbol it has always sought to surpass.
• Xingye and Mew fight together, combining human strategy with Pokémon origin power.
• The final declaration by Xingye, Lillie, the Trainers, and the Pokémon confirms their shared belief that humans and Pokémon must live together.
• The allies’ unity directly empowers Mew and allows Origin Supernova—Big Bang to defeat Mewtwo and destroy Team Rainbow Rocket.

Chapter Summary: “Mew’s Friendship, Odd Jobs Takes Over Kabukicho”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After Xingye’s devastating Z-Move, Origin Supernova, Team Rainbow Rocket is defeated and the Tree of Beginning returns to a stable state.
• The Tree’s Defense Protocol releases the humans and Pokémon it had previously absorbed, including many Rainbow Rocket members. The surviving villains are captured and prepared for exile.
• Colress develops a method to return the Pokémon from other universes to their original worlds. The remaining Team Rainbow Rocket members are sentenced to the Space-Time Rift.
• Xingye discovers that Little Mewtwo survived. Its earlier self-destruction had weakened Giovanni’s Mewtwo, and Mew revived it as a juvenile within the Tree of Beginning.
• Xingye, Lillie, and the others regroup with the Kabukicho Elite Four. Bewear and its mysterious counterpart, Bear God, are reunited with the group.
• Slowking explains that Bear God was created by Mew as a guardian deity for Alola, modeled after Bewear and empowered beyond ordinary Pokémon.
• Mew appears before Xingye and grants him “Mew’s Friendship: Dream Dream,” giving him administrative authority over both the Tree of Beginning and Kabukicho.
• Because of this authority, Xingye decides that Kabukicho and Odd Jobs will not disappear. Instead, Kabukicho will be rebuilt and reformed as a Pokémon-centered settlement.
• Many legendary Pokémon and Trainers return to their worlds. Ho-Oh and Giratina help revive some of those who died during the battle.
• Giovanni and his Mewtwo are revealed to have survived. He had staged his apparent defeat and secretly observes the aftermath before departing to explore another universe.

Character Developments

• Xingye survives the ultimate trial and earns Mew’s recognition. He moves from defending Kabukicho to becoming its official authority and future leader.
• Lillie remains closely supportive of Xingye, accompanying him into the Tree of Beginning and showing affection toward Little Mewtwo.
• Mew acknowledges Xingye as an exceptional guest and entrusts him with the Tree and Kabukicho rather than allowing the settlement to vanish.
• Pikachu becomes the reluctant but genuinely caring guardian of Little Mewtwo. Despite complaining about being given “a job raising a kid,” it is relieved and happy that Mewtwo survived.
• Little Mewtwo is revived as a child, giving its earlier sacrifice a hopeful continuation.
• Riley fulfills the Aura Guardians’ ancient dream: humans and Pokémon cooperate to protect the Tree, meaning he does not have to repeat the self-sacrifice of his predecessor.
• Bewear is safely reunited with the group, while Bear God’s origin and immense strength are revealed.
• Giovanni shifts from defeated villain to wandering multiversal threat. His plan failed, but he is satisfied by Xingye’s talent and now seeks new universes to disrupt.
• Akari admires Xingye’s accomplishments and looks forward to battling him, while Volo remains eager to see Xingye defeated. Their playful conflict continues.

Significant Themes

• Mutual understanding between humans and Pokémon: The battle demonstrates that cooperation, rather than sacrifice or domination, is the proper way to protect the Tree of Beginning.
• Survival and second chances: Mewtwo is revived, many fallen fighters return to life, and even Kabukicho is given an opportunity to continue in a new form.
• Responsibility after victory: Defeating Team Rainbow Rocket is only the beginning. Xingye must now manage the consequences, rebuild Kabukicho, and establish a fair system of order.
• Belonging and chosen family: Pikachu’s bond with Little Mewtwo, Bewear’s reunion with its friends, and Odd Jobs’ continued existence emphasize that relationships matter as much as power.
• Fate and recognition: Mew’s gift confirms that Xingye’s ideals and actions have earned him a place of importance, even among legendary beings.

Character Interactions

• Lillie supports the exhausted Xingye and later accompanies him to meet Mew and the Kabukicho group.
• Pikachu refuses to surrender Little Mewtwo, revealing its protective attachment despite its constant complaints.
• Slowking explains Mewtwo’s connection to Mew and the origins of Bear God to Xingye and the others.
• Bewear embraces Xingye and Lillie so forcefully that they struggle to escape, while Gengar happily plays with it.
• Green wants to capture Mew, but Blue stops her to prevent provoking the legendary Pokémon.
• Akari, Cogita, and Volo discuss Xingye’s achievements and anticipate a future battle with him.
• Giovanni secretly watches the aftermath and praises Xingye before leaving with Mewtwo, setting up the possibility of future multiversal conflicts.

Key plot points and events

• The World Championships final is postponed after the Alola earthquake. The League reschedules it for January 10 at Manalo Stadium.
• Xingye remains in Kabukicho to oversee recovery. With help from the Odd Jobs’ connections, he organizes reconstruction, keeps the useful facilities, and removes the district’s criminal operations.
• On Christmas night, Akari thanks Xingye for helping save the Tree of Beginning. She lets him keep the Legendary Plate and says she wants their eventual battle to happen without anything going wrong.
• Back at the Odd Jobs, Xingye tells Lillie, Nemona, and two Pennys that he plans to travel to Paldea. The Tera pendant will let the group enter Area Zero and investigate its polluted Tera energy as Xingye’s final Treasure Hunt Course.
• The group celebrates New Year together at Aether Paradise, then travels through Kabukicho’s restored teleportation route to Porto Marinada.
• At the sealed Abyss in the Asado Desert, Larry warns them that the pollution has worsened: Terastalization no longer works nearby, and other battle systems could trigger an explosion. Xingye leads the group into the depths on Miraidon, dragging an unprepared Penny along with a burst of purple lightning.

Character developments and interactions

• Xingye takes responsibility for Kabukicho’s recovery and shows growing acceptance of the support and expectations surrounding him. Though he intends to face Akari in the final, he prioritizes resolving Area Zero’s danger first.
• Akari reinforces her respect for Xingye and their future rivalry, while allowing him to keep the Legendary Plate.
• Lillie trusts Xingye even when she suspects he has not shared his full reasoning. She also welcomes the others into the New Year celebrations.
• Nemona readily joins the expedition and continues her enthusiastic practice battles with Lillie and Xingye.
• Penny helps prepare for the trip but remains wary of danger; she is also the least comfortable with teleportation and Miraidon’s dramatic descent.
• Larry’s exhausted appearance and warning underscore how seriously the League views the growing pollution.

Significant themes

• Responsibility and recovery: Xingye shifts from battling to rebuilding and protecting a community.
• Trust and teamwork: The group follows Xingye into a dangerous mission, while Lillie’s faith in him remains strong.
• Balancing duty and ambition: Xingye must prepare for the championship final while choosing to address a looming threat first.
• Belonging and public support: The New Year’s cheers show how much Alola has come to embrace him.

Chapter Summary

Plot points and events

• Xingye and his companions descend into the Abyss beneath the Asado Desert and use the pendant to travel to Area Zero. They arrive on its upper level, where polluted Tera Crystals, abandoned research facilities, and dangerous Pokémon are widespread.
• At Penny’s suggestion, they head for the observation stations to collect data about Area Zero’s unusual defenses. Penny suspects the cloud barrier and other systems use technology beyond what their era can explain.
• At the first station, Lillie accidentally wakes a Brute Bonnet, a vicious Paradox Pokémon. Ceruledge knocks it away before it can harm her.
• Xingye reveals what Cyclizar’s recovered memories showed: the Hidden Treasure of Area Zero created Cyclizar to purify polluted Tera Energy. The Winged King and Iron Serpent saw it as a threat, attacked it, and stole its power. Professors Sada and Turo interrupted the attack, after which Cyclizar somehow ended up in Alola.
• The pollution has made Pokémon more aggressive. Tests in the Asado Abyss showed that even a short exposure can change their behavior; if the crisis is not resolved within six months, the contamination could spread across Paldea and potentially the world.
• Professor Sada contacts the group from Area Zero Lab, explaining that she and Professor Turo are trapped by its lockdown. A control panel in the observation stations can lift it, and the other Penny can bypass its identity check.
• Sada’s call ends before she speaks personally to her daughter, leaving Penny hurt and the others uneasy. Outside, Glimmora emerge from the polluted crystals and surround the station.

Character developments and interactions

• Xingye explains his mission: he intends to help Cyclizar fulfill its purpose and confront the two Guardian Dragons. His confidence and knowledge guide the group.
• Cyclizar is revealed to be a purposeful creation of the Hidden Treasure, rather than an ordinary Pokémon. Its recovered memories give Xingye a clearer reason to confront the crisis.
• Lillie remains curious about Area Zero and its Pokémon, but her encounter with Brute Bonnet reminds her that exploration is dangerous. Xingye protects and gently teases her, and she later presses him to explain why he came.
• Penny takes charge of the research-station investigation and successfully cracks its lock. Her reaction to hearing her mother’s voice—silence and clenched fists—reveals unresolved hurt.
• The other Penny contributes technical expertise, analyzing the defense system and preparing to bypass the lab’s security.
• Nemona suggests forcing the station door, but accepts Penny’s caution. She also notices Sada’s unusual lack of concern for Penny.
• Ceruledge stays alert and protects Lillie, while Miraidon carries the group through Area Zero and responds to threats.

Significant themes

• Responsibility and redemption: Cyclizar was created to repair damage caused by the Marijoa Empire, and Xingye chooses to help it complete that duty.
• The consequences of ambition and pollution: The empire’s malice corrupted Tera Energy, and the contamination now threatens both Pokémon and the wider world.
• Power and balance: The Winged King and Iron Serpent attacked Cyclizar because its role challenged their dominance.
• Family and emotional distance: Sada’s brief, impersonal contact with Penny highlights the gap between them and raises questions about their relationship.
• Discovery mixed with danger: Area Zero’s remarkable landscape and technology fascinate the group, but its altered Pokémon and spreading pollution make every step risky.