Chapter Summaries

Pokémon: Black Fantasy
944 summaries

Ch. 701Lugia: Don't Look at Me, I Can't Do It

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Charizard awakens after receiving Ho-Oh’s power. Its tail flame has changed from deep blue to crimson-purple, and its Energy Level has risen dramatically.
  • Heiduo activates and raises Charizard’s newly acquired Sacred Fire ability. The sudden increase in power catches Charizard off guard, blasting it backward like a rocket. Charizard is annoyed that Heiduo failed to warn it.
  • Although Sacred Fire is a physical move and cannot benefit from Charizard X’s Tough Claws ability, Heiduo decides it can still serve as Charizard’s long-range attack. Charizard has now caught up with the strongest Pokémon in Heiduo’s team.
  • Arbok’s Energy Level has fallen in comparison, but Mega Evolution still ensures that Charizard possesses greater effective power and internal energy.
  • Heiduo asks Lugia, disguised as an Umbreon, to imitate Ho-Oh and grant power to Pokémon. Lugia refuses, explaining that Ho-Oh’s ability comes from its innate connection to resurrection and Reversal, while Lugia’s nature as the embodiment of ocean currents is fundamentally different.
  • Heiduo reflects on the true nature of Lugia and Ho-Oh: neither is an actual god, but each is a biological embodiment of a planetary natural system—oceanic heat exchange for Lugia and atmospheric heat exchange for Ho-Oh.
  • After spending two days on Mt. Silver, Heiduo learns that Gold and Red have arrived. Gold has gotten into a Pokémon battle with Fei Liu, a Ranger patrolling the mountain.
  • Fei Liu’s Gliscor defeats Gold’s Politoed with Thunder Fang after Politoed’s Whirlpool misses. Fei Liu warns Gold and Red that Mt. Silver is dangerous and urges them to leave.
  • The argument nearly escalates when Gold provokes Fei Liu, but Heiduo arrives and stops the confrontation.
  • Fei Liu reveals that a massive energy fluctuation recently flew toward Mt. Silver, causing Pokémon in the nearby preserve to become restless and attempt to leave their territories. Heiduo realizes this was likely caused by Ho-Oh’s arrival but conceals the truth.
  • Heiduo confirms that Red and Gold are trustworthy old friends and persuades Fei Liu to leave them alone. He then explains the difference between the Ranger Union and the Police: Rangers protect ecosystems, wild Pokémon, and human safety, while the Police maintain social order and fight crime.

Character Developments

  • Charizard becomes significantly stronger through Ho-Oh’s blessing, gaining Sacred Fire and a major increase in Energy Level. Its personality remains proud and slightly irritable, especially when Heiduo’s careless experimentation causes it to lose control.
  • Heiduo continues to act as both trainer and caretaker, analyzing Charizard’s new abilities while also joking with and disciplining his Pokémon and friends. He shows caution by hiding Ho-Oh’s involvement from Fei Liu.
  • Lugia demonstrates a practical understanding of its own limits. It refuses to imitate Ho-Oh, emphasizing that different legendary Pokémon possess fundamentally different powers.
  • Fei Liu is shown to have matured into a responsible Ranger. His difficult patrol work has earned him the trust of Mt. Silver’s Pokémon, and he takes his duties seriously.
  • Gold remains impulsive and playful, picking a fight because he misunderstands Fei Liu’s role. He becomes worried when he realizes Rangers might have treated him as a threat.
  • Red acts as the more restrained and responsible companion, attempting to prevent Gold and Fei Liu from escalating their dispute.

Significant Themes

  • The limits of individual abilities: Lugia cannot simply reproduce Ho-Oh’s power, reinforcing that strength and supernatural gifts are rooted in each legendary Pokémon’s essential nature.
  • Nature versus mythology: The chapter challenges the simplistic idea that Lugia and Ho-Oh are gods, presenting them instead as living manifestations of planetary natural processes.
  • Power and control: Charizard’s increased strength is valuable but dangerous until it learns to control Sacred Fire.
  • Responsible guardianship: Fei Liu’s work and the Ranger Union’s mission emphasize protecting both humans and Pokémon rather than merely policing them.
  • Knowledge and restraint: Heiduo’s understanding of Ho-Oh’s arrival gives him information others lack, but he chooses not to reveal it, showing discretion and awareness of possible consequences.

Character Interactions

  • Heiduo encourages Charizard to test Sacred Fire, then apologizes after the move unexpectedly launches it backward.
  • Heiduo pressures Lugia to grant power like Ho-Oh, while Lugia humorously and firmly explains why such a feat is impossible.
  • Gold and Fei Liu clash over Fei Liu’s attempt to drive the travelers away from Mt. Silver, leading to a Pokémon battle and nearly a physical confrontation.
  • Heiduo acts as mediator, correcting Gold’s behavior and explaining the Ranger Union’s purpose to both Gold and Red.
  • Fei Liu’s warm invitation for Heiduo to visit the preserve reveals their continuing friendship and mutual trust.
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Ch. 702Gym Leaders Are a Big Prize

Chapter Summary: “Gym Leaders Are a Big Prize”

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Red and Gold join Heiduo on Mt. Silver, initially planning to camp outdoors. Concerned that they will freeze, Heiduo builds them a Secret Base, though they must furnish it themselves.
  • Over the next month, Heiduo battles Gold repeatedly and defeats him easily, but Gold remains enthusiastic and keeps asking for rematches. The three Trainers also exchange battling techniques and learn from one another.
  • Their constant battles cause severe disruption among Mt. Silver’s wild Pokémon. After Heiduo and Red defeat the powerful Venusaur and Poliwrath, the mountain’s Pokémon begin fleeing from the trio. The Tyranitar leader eventually orders them to stop causing so much trouble.
  • Heiduo notices that Gold’s Pokémon have grown dramatically, rising from roughly Level 40 to above Level 55 in only a month. Even Togepi reaches Level 50 without evolving. Heiduo envies how quickly Gold’s and Red’s Pokémon develop compared with his own.
  • After another month, Red and Gold leave Mt. Silver to return home for winter. Heiduo is left alone again with Umbreon, though he deeply values the friendship he formed with both Trainers.
  • Heiduo finally receives news about the Gym Leader Assessment. Unlike the uncontested Viridian position, the vacant Mahogany Gym attracts thirty or forty strong competitors because Pryce is presumed absent and the Gym Leader position offers immense status, influence, and hereditary benefits.
  • The new assessment will resemble a Top Trainer tournament but use a direct elimination format focused primarily on battle strength. It will take place the following April, after the Silver Conference.
  • Heiduo watches the Silver Conference on television with Umbreon and Lugia. He believes few people in Johto can challenge him because Lugia makes him nearly unbeatable.
  • The Silver Conference proceeds despite the earlier terrorist chaos surrounding the Indigo Plateau. Its champion is an academy-trained Trainer from Olivine City specializing in Steel Pokémon, whose powerful Steelix becomes the tournament’s standout ace.

Character Developments

  • Heiduo remains overwhelmingly powerful, physically capable, practical, and somewhat arrogant. He is also shown to be generous and responsible: he provides shelter for Red and Gold and feeds the wild Pokémon after battles to repair the damage they cause. Despite his teasing and occasional pettiness, he genuinely enjoys having close friends.
  • Gold is revealed to be extremely determined and resilient. He accepts repeated defeats without resentment and continues seeking battles. His Pokémon progress at an astonishing rate, demonstrating his potential despite lacking formal academy training.
  • Red also develops rapidly and becomes an important training partner for both Heiduo and Gold. She shares Gold’s admiration for Heiduo’s strength and is comfortable enough with him to joke openly.
  • Umbreon acts as a skeptical but perceptive companion, questioning Heiduo’s confidence while recognizing that his strength is justified.
  • Lugia is portrayed as laid-back and uncomplicated. He avoids speculation but is always willing to battle when Heiduo commands him.
  • The wild Pokémon of Mt. Silver, especially the Tyranitar clan, shift from tolerating Heiduo to actively demanding that the trio stop disturbing the mountain.

Significant Themes

  • Friendship and mutual learning: Even though Heiduo is far stronger, Red and Gold still teach him new techniques and provide companionship. The chapter emphasizes that everyone has something to learn from others.
  • Rapid growth and exceptional talent: Gold’s and Red’s Pokémon level unusually quickly, reinforcing the idea that Pokédex Holders possess extraordinary potential.
  • Power and ambition: The Mahogany Gym Leader position attracts many powerful Trainers because it offers political influence, social status, wealth, and a hereditary legacy.
  • The consequences of strength: The trio’s battles are valuable for training but cause collateral disruption, showing that great power can create problems even when used casually.
  • Loneliness and attachment: Heiduo is accustomed to living alone, yet Red and Gold’s departure leaves him noticeably isolated. His appreciation for them reveals his growing need for meaningful relationships.
  • Everyone has weaknesses: Heiduo reflects that even powerful people such as Giovanni have vulnerabilities, suggesting that overwhelming strength does not make anyone invincible.

Important Character Interactions

  • Heiduo, Red, and Gold: Their friendship deepens through training, battles, shared meals, and mutual teasing. Gold and Red are exhausted by training while Heiduo remains almost unaffected, reinforcing the enormous gap in physical ability.
  • Heiduo and Gold: Heiduo repeatedly defeats Gold but respects his persistence and is impressed by the rapid growth of Gold’s Pokémon.
  • Heiduo and the wild Pokémon: By giving out Pokéblocks after battles, Heiduo maintains enough goodwill to avoid being completely ostracized from Mt. Silver.
  • Heiduo and Umbreon: Umbreon challenges Heiduo’s overconfidence regarding Giovanni, acting as a grounded counterpoint to his certainty.
  • Heiduo and Lugia: Their relationship is efficient and trusting. Heiduo directs Lugia into battle, while Lugia responds without hesitation or unnecessary discussion.
  • Heiduo and Red/Gold after their departure: Heiduo recognizes how rare and valuable their easygoing friendship is, even comparing their absence to the feeling that Silver and Green are missing from the group.
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Ch. 703A Visit to Professor Oak's Laboratory

Chapter Summary: A Visit to Professor Oak’s Laboratory

Plot Points and Events

  • Heiduo notices that the media has almost completely stopped mentioning him, despite his recent prominence. Instead, attention is focused on the new Silver Conference Champion, Zheng Qi.
  • Heiduo and Umbreon suspect Secretary-General Teng Jun may be suppressing coverage, though Heiduo ultimately considers the situation convenient because he dislikes fame and public scrutiny.
  • Heiduo assesses Zheng Qi’s abilities and concludes that, despite winning the Conference through a decisive Explosion strategy, he is not yet a serious threat or a Top Trainer.
  • Heiduo reflects on his own future prospects, particularly the possibility of becoming a Gym Leader Chief after passing the next year’s assessment.
  • At the end of the month, Heiduo travels to Pallet Town with Lugia to honor his agreement with Green.
  • He visits Professor Oak’s large laboratory and mountain reserve, which houses numerous Pokémon and specialized habitats, including Pokémon captured by Green, Red, and Blue.
  • He meets Daisy Oak, Professor Oak’s granddaughter and Green’s older sister, along with Professor Oak and Green.
  • The main purpose of the visit is for Professor Oak and Green to investigate Lugia and learn about its secrets, as well as study Mega Evolution.
  • Because much of Heiduo’s Pokémon team is of interest to Professor Oak, he agrees to remain at the laboratory for an extended period, potentially through the New Year.
  • Heiduo gives Daisy rare Kalos black tea, and the two bond over tea ceremony and Pokémon-related skills. Daisy’s assistance with cooking and household chores makes Heiduo’s stay comfortable.

Character Developments

  • Heiduo: Demonstrates growing maturity and self-awareness. He is relieved rather than offended by the loss of media attention and continues focusing on gradual improvement and future advancement within the Pokémon Association. His willingness to honor his promise to Green also shows reliability.
  • Umbreon: Remains perceptive and suspicious, immediately recognizing that the media’s silence about Heiduo is abnormal. It also carefully hides its extraordinary intelligence from Professor Oak.
  • Zheng Qi: Is introduced as the new Silver Conference Champion. Although praised publicly, he is portrayed as a promising but limited young Trainer whose victory relied heavily on an advantageous Explosion tactic.
  • Green: Continues to show strong interest in rare Pokémon and unusual phenomena. He has invited Heiduo specifically to help investigate Lugia and Mega Evolution.
  • Professor Oak: Appears highly enthusiastic and curious about Heiduo’s Pokémon, especially Lugia. His scientific excitement borders on obsession when faced with something unfamiliar.
  • Daisy Oak: Is established as highly talented despite lacking battle ability. She is a former Pokémon Contest Champion, masseuse, doctor, researcher’s assistant, and skilled caretaker. Her kindness and practical abilities make Heiduo’s stay much easier.

Significant Themes

  • The instability of fame: Heiduo recognizes that public attention is driven by profit and can disappear suddenly, emphasizing the temporary and manufactured nature of celebrity.
  • Media manipulation and hidden influence: The lack of coverage suggests that powerful figures may control public narratives, reinforcing the chapter’s broader theme of unseen political or institutional forces.
  • Progress versus reputation: Heiduo values actual strength and long-term development more than public praise, contrasting his measured self-improvement with Zheng Qi’s sudden fame.
  • Science, curiosity, and discovery: Lugia and Mega Evolution represent mysteries that even Professor Oak has not fully understood, highlighting the continuing expansion of Pokémon knowledge.
  • Hospitality and domestic comfort: Heiduo’s stay at Professor Oak’s home reveals how much he values shared responsibilities and companionship after years of handling everything alone.
  • The importance of relationships and promises: Heiduo’s visit is driven by his commitment to Green, while his interactions with Daisy show how small gestures—such as sharing tea—can build trust and warmth.

Character Interactions

  • Heiduo and Umbreon discuss the suspicious lack of media coverage and speculate about Teng Jun’s possible involvement.
  • Heiduo evaluates Zheng Qi from a distance, comparing the new champion’s reputation with his actual battle strength.
  • Heiduo greets Daisy after arriving at the laboratory and quickly establishes rapport by discussing tea and giving her rare tea leaves.
  • Professor Oak and Green eagerly welcome Heiduo and focus on examining Lugia and learning about Mega Evolution.
  • Daisy apologizes for Oak and Green’s intense curiosity, then supports Heiduo by providing tea, household help, and conversation.
  • Heiduo and Umbreon discuss the possibility of spending the New Year at the laboratory, with Heiduo appreciating the relief of having others share daily chores.
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Ch. 704New Year in the Pokémon World

Chapter Summary: “New Year in the Pokémon World”

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Heiduo finishes his short research visit at Professor Oak’s laboratory, where he had brought Lugia for study. The main discoveries are Lugia’s tremendous psychic power and its unusually large Energy Level capacity.
  • Because Lugia is an exceptionally valuable research subject, Professor Oak feels indebted to Heiduo. He gives him a personally customized Pokédex, which functions mainly as a Pokémon information and Energy Level scanner. Heiduo values it less for its practical use than as a symbol of his connection to the Oak family and a favor that may benefit him in the future.
  • While leaving Pallet Town, Heiduo unexpectedly encounters Blue and Silver at Blue’s house. Blue explains that she remembered the location of her childhood home after returning from captivity, although her parents are still away searching for her.
  • Heiduo reveals that he plans to return to Mt. Silver, but Blue and Silver invite him to stay with them through the winter. He accepts, partly because he has no pressing obligations before the Gym Leader Assessment.
  • Umbreon and Lugia protest the prospect of being separated from their computer and entertainment. Heiduo reassures them through his developing Aura-based mental communication and promises access to a computer at Blue’s house.
  • Heiduo spends the entire winter with Blue and Silver, celebrating New Year’s Eve with them. He prepares hot pot, stir-fried dishes, and vegetarian “meatballs,” since ordinary meat is unavailable in their world. The meal is warmly received.
  • During the New Year celebration, Blue and Silver wish to find their families. They drink a small amount of alcohol, become tipsy, and create a humorous scene before eventually falling asleep.
  • Heiduo reflects peacefully on his third New Year in the Pokémon world. Though he still misses his original home, he increasingly feels attached to Johto and to the life he has built there.

Character Developments

  • Heiduo demonstrates increasing social and emotional attachment to the Pokémon world. He is no longer simply passing through or treating it as an adventure; he regards Johto as a genuine home and values his relationships with Blue, Silver, Professor Oak, and his Pokémon.
  • Heiduo also shows growing responsibility and affection toward Blue and Silver, taking care of them during the New Year celebration and preparing food for the household.
  • Professor Oak is portrayed as honorable and grateful. He recognizes the importance of Heiduo’s contribution and repays him with a unique Pokédex, strengthening their relationship.
  • Blue appears more settled and independent after returning to her childhood home, but she still longs for her parents and hopes they will return. She actively invites Heiduo into her household, suggesting that she trusts and values his companionship.
  • Silver remains outwardly tough but is revealed to be emotionally insecure. He seems anxious about Blue’s parents returning and potentially disrupting his place in her life, making him especially eager for Heiduo to stay.
  • Umbreon and Lugia are given more personality through their protests about losing access to computers and entertainment. Despite their powerful or unusual natures, they behave like spoiled companions who depend on Heiduo’s care.

Significant Themes

  • Favors, trust, and long-term relationships: Professor Oak’s gift emphasizes that personal debts and connections can be more valuable than immediate material rewards.
  • Belonging and chosen family: Blue, Silver, and Heiduo form a temporary household, supporting one another despite their complicated family situations.
  • Childhood insecurity and fear of abandonment: Silver’s concern about Blue’s parents returning reflects his fear of losing his place, while Blue’s New Year wish shows her continuing desire for family reunification.
  • Cultural adaptation: Heiduo adapts New Year customs from his former life to the Pokémon world, creating a celebration that feels familiar while remaining distinct.
  • Home and emotional roots: Heiduo’s quiet reflection shows that, although he still remembers his previous world, his emotional ties to Johto are becoming deeper.
  • Peace amid uncertainty: The chapter temporarily moves away from major battles and research, focusing instead on food, companionship, humor, and the hope that the future will improve.

Character Interactions

  • Heiduo and Professor Oak: Their relationship becomes more mutually respectful. Oak’s customized Pokédex symbolizes gratitude and an enduring connection.
  • Heiduo and Blue: Blue invites him to live with her, and he accepts with playful confidence. Their interaction is comfortable and increasingly familial.
  • Heiduo and Silver: Heiduo notices Silver’s hidden anxiety and understands his awkwardness regarding Blue’s parents, showing empathy toward him.
  • Blue and Silver: They function as a close but teasing pair. Both share the wish to find their families, while their drunken New Year exchange provides much of the chapter’s humor.
  • Heiduo and his Pokémon: Heiduo mediates Umbreon and Lugia’s complaints through Aura-based communication, treating them affectionately as companions rather than merely as Pokémon.
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Ch. 705Gym Site Selection

Chapter Summary: Gym Site Selection

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Blue wakes up after getting drunk the previous night and discovers that Heiduo safely put her to bed. Embarrassed and annoyed that her planned drunken “test” of Heiduo’s reactions failed, she confronts him over breakfast.
  • Heiduo misunderstands her anger, assuming she is upset about his comments on alcohol tolerance. He casually explains that she drank too much and that Silver’s Ursaring carried her back to her room.
  • The chapter reveals that Blue had continued drinking after initially passing out, tried to force alcohol on Silver, and eventually turned her attention to Heiduo before becoming completely unconscious. Silver, once sober, helped return her to bed.
  • Over the following weeks, Heiduo, Blue, and Silver live together. Their household is lively and filled with frequent teasing and arguments.
  • Blue works on strange inventions in her basement, including a Silph Scope capable of observing Deoxys. Umbreon and Lugia secretly use Heiduo’s computer, while Blue and Silver politely ignore the secret.
  • As winter ends, Blue leaves to continue searching for her missing parents, while Silver departs to pursue clues about his own family, his only lead being a spotless white handkerchief.
  • Heiduo returns to Mt. Silver, but soon receives a summons from Yujian and Teng Jun at the Pokémon Association. He travels rapidly using Gardevoir’s Teleport and Charizard.
  • At the Association, Teng Jun and Yujian discuss Heiduo’s expected success in the Gym Leader Assessment. Since they believe he will win, they ask him to choose where his new Gym should be built.
  • Several possible locations are presented, including Mahogany Town, New Bark Town, East Gate Town, Jihua City, Millennium Town, Marion Town, and several islands.
  • Millennium Town is the most prosperous and commercially developed option, but it is far from Mt. Silver. Marion Town is much closer, though it is currently only a small forest village despite its more developed appearance in the anime. Heiduo has not yet made his final choice.

Character Developments

  • Blue: Reveals a mischievous and experimentally minded personality. Her failed attempt to test Heiduo while drunk leaves her embarrassed and frustrated, though she remains too proud to admit it. Her inventions demonstrate her intelligence and technical ability.
  • Heiduo: Continues acting as the practical center of the household, calmly caring for everyone and remaining largely unaffected by Blue’s drunken antics. His growing strength and mobility make him a serious candidate for Gym Leader.
  • Silver: Shows increasing maturity and dedication to training. He successfully avoids Blue’s drunken harassment, helps care for her afterward, and continues searching for his family despite having very little evidence.
  • Yujian and Teng Jun: Treat Heiduo as a highly promising candidate and begin involving him in the practical responsibilities of becoming a Gym Leader.

Significant Themes

  • Family and temporary companionship: Heiduo, Blue, and Silver form a temporary household despite each having separate personal goals and unresolved family issues.
  • Growth and independence: The three characters must eventually leave their comfortable arrangement to pursue their own paths.
  • Responsibility and strength: Silver’s training, Heiduo’s preparation for leadership, and the need to establish a Gym all emphasize that power must be matched by responsibility.
  • Home and belonging: The choice of Gym location reflects Heiduo’s competing desires for prosperity, influence, and closeness to Mt. Silver.
  • Secrets and mutual respect: Blue and Silver notice Heiduo’s unusual secrets but deliberately avoid questioning him, showing trust and consideration within the household.

Character Interactions

  • Blue confronts Heiduo over the previous night, but his literal and casual responses leave her even more embarrassed.
  • Blue attempts to involve Silver in drinking, forcing him to retreat behind Heiduo for safety.
  • The household’s teasing often targets Silver, whose embarrassment causes him to lose his temper before eventually calming down.
  • Blue and Silver discover Umbreon and Lugia using Heiduo’s computer but choose not to expose them.
  • Yujian and Teng Jun interact with Heiduo as both mentor and administrators, praising his abilities while requiring him to make an important decision about his future Gym.
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Ch. 706Tyranitar: I'd Almost Forgotten If You Hadn't Mentioned It

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Heiduo and Teng Jun discuss where Heiduo should establish his future Gym. Marion Town is attractive because Association investment and a new Gym could eventually transform it into a major city, while Jihua City is already prosperous and well connected by air and rail.
  • Heiduo ultimately chooses Millennium Town, despite Teng Jun’s warning that it is a crowded commercial center with many foreign Trainers and potentially numerous Gym challengers.
  • Heiduo’s decision is influenced by more than convenience. Millennium Town’s mountains and distance from Mt. Silver make it ideal for Elder Tyranitar’s plan to expand its lineage and establish descendants elsewhere. Heiduo can still return instantly using Teleport.
  • Teng Jun agrees to begin coordinating with Millennium Town and the Association. The Gym must be constructed quickly because the Association is handling several major projects, including the Battle Tower, the Pokémon All-Around Arena Dome, and the second phase of the Battle Frontier.
  • As Heiduo prepares to leave, Zheng Qi, the former Steel-type specialist tournament Champion, enters with his Scizor and aggressively pressures Teng Jun about starting the Champion League.
  • Teng Jun tells Zheng Qi that the League will not begin for at least two years and dismisses his repeated visits as publicity-seeking. After Zheng Qi leaves, Teng Jun explains that Zheng Qi is deliberately creating media attention while secretly hoping the tournament will be delayed so he has more time to grow stronger.
  • The chapter ends by highlighting Yujian’s continuing strength. His Mega Houndoom is already level seventy-seven, and his other Pokémon are also exceptionally powerful, making him a potentially formidable rival if he participates in the Gym Leader Assessment.

Character Developments

  • Heiduo demonstrates decisiveness and a willingness to accept future responsibility. He chooses the most strategically meaningful location rather than the easiest one, prioritizing Tyranitar’s long-term breeding plans.
  • He remains somewhat lazy and unconcerned about the administrative burden of being a Gym Leader, trusting Yujian and Teng Jun to handle the difficult arrangements.
  • Teng Jun is shown as practical, politically experienced, and patient. He evaluates towns based on infrastructure, population, economics, and challenger traffic, while also seeing through Zheng Qi’s public posturing.
  • Zheng Qi is portrayed as arrogant, impolite, fame-hungry, and insecure about his actual strength. His confident public behavior masks an awareness that he is not yet ready to challenge the Elite Four.
  • Yujian is revealed to have grown considerably stronger during Heiduo’s absence. His refusal to become an Elite Four member appears to stem from personal choice rather than lack of ability.

Significant Themes

  • Long-term development versus immediate convenience: Millennium Town is not the easiest choice, but it offers the best future prospects for Heiduo and Tyranitar.
  • Infrastructure and institutional power: The Association’s decisions—building Gyms, railways, arenas, and the Battle Frontier—are presented as forces capable of transforming entire towns and regions.
  • Public image versus reality: Zheng Qi’s apparent eagerness to compete is actually a calculated performance designed to preserve his fame while buying time to improve.
  • Support and privilege: Heiduo can focus on his own goals because influential figures such as Yujian and Teng Jun manage the political and logistical work behind him.
  • Ambition and preparedness: The chapter contrasts Zheng Qi’s inflated reputation with Yujian’s quietly demonstrated strength, suggesting that true power is built through consistent improvement rather than publicity.

Character Interactions

  • Teng Jun carefully advises Heiduo about the advantages and disadvantages of several possible Gym locations, while Heiduo remains firm once he settles on Millennium Town.
  • Heiduo and Teng Jun’s discussion also reveals their mutual trust: Teng Jun warns him honestly, but ultimately respects his decision.
  • Zheng Qi behaves rudely toward Heiduo and Yujian while demanding information from Teng Jun. Teng Jun responds calmly and refuses to be pressured.
  • After Zheng Qi leaves, Teng Jun explains his motives to Heiduo, allowing Heiduo to see the political and media strategy behind Zheng Qi’s behavior.
  • Yujian adds a final judgment on Zheng Qi and other young Trainers, while his own strength provides a stark contrast to their boastfulness.
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Ch. 707The Beginning of the Ruby and Sapphire arc

Chapter Summary: The Beginning of the Ruby and Sapphire Arc

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Zheng Qi’s arrival prompts a discussion about Will and Karen, who are attending Goldenrod Cultural School because their education is severely lacking.
  • Teng Jun explains that Will and Karen were orphanage children who voluntarily ran away with Pokémon and money. Their parents were not abusive; the orphanage was well-funded and responsibly managed by the previous generation of Heiduo’s allies.
  • Heiduo contrasts their situation with Blue and her younger brother’s troubled past. Unlike Blue and her brother, who were forced into hardship by circumstances, Will and Karen abandoned a stable support system by choice. Because they are now in school, Heiduo decides not to pursue them.
  • The Gym Leader Assessment is scheduled for the following month. Thirty contestants will compete in a draw-based elimination tournament:
    • The first three rounds use three-on-three battles.
    • The final two rounds use six-on-six battles.
    • Battles follow Johto’s competitive format rather than Kanto’s more practical combat style.
  • Heiduo reviews the contestants and finds most to be older, highly experienced Trainers. Because his possession of Lugia is widely known, many competitors regard him as the tournament’s “final boss” and obsessively study his battles for weaknesses.
  • The assessment is kept largely private because the Pokémon Association wants to avoid publicity after the scandal surrounding Pryce and the Masked Man.
  • Red and Gold continue training with Heiduo on Mt. Silver. Heiduo asks them to consider their futures:
    • Red is encouraged to become Champion after failing to receive the Gym Leader position, which went to Green.
    • Gold initially dislikes the idea of becoming Champion because he sees it as restrictive, but Heiduo persuades him by appealing to his sense of responsibility toward Johto.
  • By late March, Ruby informs Heiduo that he is moving to Hoenn and intends to earn every Pokémon Contest ribbon. His departure signals the beginning of the Ruby and Sapphire arc.
  • Team Aqua and Team Magma are beginning to become active in Hoenn. Their original goals of advancing humanity gradually become distorted, eventually driving their leaders toward madness and contributing to the deaths of otherwise positive characters.

Character Developments

  • Heiduo becomes more aware of the differences between Will and Karen’s choices and Blue and her brother’s forced circumstances. He also demonstrates a protective, pragmatic attitude toward younger Trainers by trying to guide Red and Gold toward meaningful futures.
  • Will and Karen are portrayed as immature and poorly educated despite being nearly adults. Their decision to abandon the orphanage reflects poor judgment rather than victimization.
  • Teng Jun acts as a responsible mentor figure, sending Will and Karen to school so they can develop basic literacy and social maturity before pursuing elite Trainer careers.
  • Red is receptive to the possibility of becoming Champion after losing the opportunity to become a Gym Leader.
  • Gold initially resists the Champion role, seeing it as a burden, but Heiduo’s argument plants the idea that he should accept responsibility for Johto’s future.
  • Heiduo’s Pokémon, especially the non-Lugia members, want opportunities to battle and display their abilities after Garchomp dominated previous competitions.
  • Ruby begins his transition into the Hoenn storyline, committing himself to Pokémon Contests and a new life away from Johto.

Significant Themes

  • Personal responsibility versus circumstance: Will and Karen chose to reject support, while Blue and her brother were deprived of meaningful choices. The chapter emphasizes that wrongdoing is judged partly by the opportunities a person had.
  • Education and maturity: Becoming a powerful Trainer is not enough; Will and Karen must first learn basic literacy and how to function responsibly in society.
  • Leadership and duty: Heiduo pushes Red and Gold to consider broader responsibilities beyond battling, particularly the role of Champion as a public servant.
  • Experience versus overwhelming power: Veteran Trainers believe their knowledge may overcome Heiduo’s Legendary Pokémon, but the chapter suggests that experience cannot always compensate for an enormous power gap.
  • Institutional image and public perception: The Pokémon Association suppresses coverage of the Gym Leader Assessment to repair its reputation after Pryce’s scandal.
  • The cost of heroism: The closing discussion foreshadows the extreme sacrifices made by the leaders of the Ruby and Sapphire arc, suggesting that even admirable characters may destroy themselves through relentless effort.

Character Interactions

  • Heiduo and Teng Jun discuss Will and Karen’s background, with Teng Jun providing the truth about their orphanage history.
  • Heiduo and Umbreon jokingly consider having Lugia overwhelm the entire Gym Leader Assessment, but Lugia rejects the idea as too tiring.
  • Heiduo and Red and Gold spar together before Heiduo challenges them to think about their careers. He encourages Red to pursue the Champion position and pressures Gold to accept responsibility for Johto.
  • Gold and Red are caught off guard by Heiduo’s proposal and jointly protest, though Gold is especially affected by the suggestion.
  • Heiduo and Ruby remain connected despite Ruby’s move to Hoenn, with Ruby promising to pursue every Contest ribbon and marking the transition into the next major arc.
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Ch. 708Assessment Begins

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Heiduo spends several peaceful months training with Red, Gold, and Green on Mt. Silver. A fourth young man has apparently joined them, though the chapter focuses mainly on the original trio.
  • Green studies Mt. Silver’s environment and compares its quality favorably to the area around Pallet Town. She regularly sends her findings to Professor Oak.
  • Red, Gold, and Green become interested in Heiduo’s extraordinary physical strength. Since he cannot reveal the system or teach them the secret Imperial Style, Heiduo obtains Longxing’s publicly teachable Extreme Fighting Style training methods for them.
  • Professor Oak’s environmental research receives support from the Ranger Union. His goal is to use Mt. Silver’s healthy ecosystem as a model for improving Kanto’s damaged wilderness.
  • By mid-April, the Gym Leader Assessment begins at the Pokémon Association headquarters in Goldenrod City. The Association uses a massive battle arena with multiple terrains to withstand high-level Pokémon battles.
  • Heiduo arrives at the preparation area and immediately draws attention from the other competitors, many of whom seem wary or hostile toward him.
  • The competitors draw numbers to determine the schedule. Heiduo draws number thirteen, placing his three-on-three match on the morning of the final day of the first round.
  • Believing the other competitors’ Pokémon are not strong enough to offer useful information, Heiduo leaves instead of watching the matches. He teleports back to Mt. Silver and resumes training with Red, Gold, and Green.

Character Developments

  • Heiduo remains secretive about the true source of his abilities but shows generosity by helping the others learn a legitimate martial art. He is increasingly confident and unconcerned about the hostility of rival Trainers.
  • Red is adapting to Heiduo’s demanding physical training and continues developing as a battle-focused Trainer. He also gives Gold advice during battles.
  • Gold struggles physically but benefits from training alongside Heiduo and receiving Red’s instruction. His fortunate circumstances give him access to powerful mentors and opponents.
  • Green displays strong scientific curiosity and environmental awareness. Her observations of Mt. Silver support Professor Oak’s ecological research.
  • Professor Oak is portrayed as committed to restoring Kanto’s damaged environment and protecting the relationship between humans and Pokémon.
  • Teng Jun acts as Heiduo’s friendly contact and guide during the assessment, explaining the drawing process and schedule.

Significant Themes

  • Training and self-improvement: Physical conditioning is presented as an essential foundation for a Trainer’s strength, not merely an accessory to Pokémon battles.
  • Knowledge and secrecy: Heiduo must balance helping others with protecting the secrets behind his own abilities, choosing to share only a legitimate and teachable martial art.
  • Environmental preservation: Professor Oak’s work and the Ranger Union’s involvement emphasize cooperation between humans and Pokémon and the need to restore damaged ecosystems.
  • Isolation and reputation: Heiduo’s unusual strength has made him conspicuous among the Top Trainers, creating suspicion and hostility despite his lack of personal conflict with them.
  • Confidence versus complacency: Heiduo is confident enough to dismiss the assessment’s early battles as uninformative, showing both his strength and his tendency to underestimate potential value in observing others.

Character Interactions

  • Green comments on Mt. Silver’s superior environment while Gold complains about his exhaustion. Heiduo teases Gold about drinking untreated water and advises him to boil it.
  • Red, Gold, and Green ask Heiduo how he developed his physique, leading him to arrange instruction in the Extreme Fighting Style.
  • Professor Oak communicates with Green while she surveys Mt. Silver. Heiduo supports their research because he also sympathizes with endangered or poorly treated wild Pokémon.
  • Teng Jun greets Heiduo at the assessment, jokes about his popularity, and explains the upcoming schedule.
  • The other Top Trainers silently react to Heiduo’s arrival, revealing their unease and possible hostility.
  • After returning to Mt. Silver, Heiduo finds Gold battling Green’s Rhydon while Red observes and offers advice, reinforcing the group’s ongoing cycle of training and mentorship.
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Ch. 709Do Steel-type Pokémon Really Have This Much Firepower?

Chapter Summary: “Do Steel-type Pokémon Really Have This Much Firepower?”

Key Plot Points and Events

  • The Gym Leader Assessment begins after a period of secrecy and leaked betting information. Many people gamble on Heiduo despite his low odds, while Umbreon confidently bets on him.
  • Heiduo’s first match attracts numerous spectators, including other contestants, Top Trainers Yujian and Teng Jun, and Association chairman Damaranchi, who are eager to assess his strength.
  • Heiduo faces a middle-aged Grass-type specialist whose team consists entirely of Grass Pokémon: Venusaur, Exeggutor, and Breloom.
  • Heiduo sends out Lucario, which immediately Mega Evolves. Its Ability changes to Adaptability, greatly increasing the power of its Fighting- and Steel-type attacks.
  • Mega Lucario defeats Venusaur with Extreme Speed, two Power-Up Punches, a Meteor Mash, and a follow-up attack. Venusaur is unable to recover after being flipped onto its back and knocked unconscious.
  • Exeggutor suffers a similar fate. Mega Lucario combines Extreme Speed and Meteor Mash with an unexpected Blaze Kick, shocking the spectators because of its immense power despite Lucario being Steel-type.
  • Breloom attempts to compete with Lucario through Mach Punch, but Lucario’s greater speed and strength allow it to counter immediately. Blaze Kick and Ice Punch finish the battle before Breloom can use Spore.
  • Heiduo wins the match with overwhelming ease, barely allowing his opponent to launch any effective attacks.

Character Developments

  • Heiduo remains calm and analytical, treating the match as routine. His confidence comes from extensive preparation and familiarity with Grass-type Pokémon.
  • Mega Lucario demonstrates major growth after months of intensive training with Red and the others. Its Mega Evolution, Adaptability, Instant Burst technique, and powerful mixed moveset reveal that it is far stronger than many spectators expected.
  • Umbreon continues its comic role as a gambler and self-proclaimed “Charitable Gambling King.” It bets on Heiduo while joking about the match and his overwhelming luck.
  • Lugia and Heiduo communicate silently, showing their close understanding and teamwork.
  • The other Top Trainers revise their evaluation of Heiduo. They had mainly feared Lugia, but now recognize that his entire team may possess exceptional strength.
  • Heiduo’s opponent is portrayed as inexperienced or too slow to react under pressure, especially when he fails to exploit openings during Lucario’s Mega Evolution.

Significant Themes

  • Hidden strength and underestimation: The assessment participants initially focus on Lugia, but Mega Lucario proves that Heiduo’s non-Legendary Pokémon are also formidable.
  • Preparation versus complacency: Lucario’s disciplined training and practiced Instant Burst overwhelm an opponent who hesitates at critical moments.
  • Adaptability and unconventional tactics: Lucario’s Steel-type Blaze Kick surprises everyone and shows how unpredictable Heiduo’s team can be.
  • The value of strong rivals: Heiduo reflects that training alongside powerful opponents such as Red produced greater growth than training alone.
  • Luck and confidence: Umbreon’s faith in Heiduo and Heiduo’s extraordinary luck—particularly Meteor Mash’s Attack boost—reinforce the chapter’s recurring humor surrounding his fortune.
  • Spectacle and reputation: The match serves not only as a victory but also as a public demonstration that significantly changes how the other contestants view Heiduo.

Important Character Interactions

  • Umbreon and Lugia discuss gambling, with Umbreon defending its betting habits and secret savings.
  • Lugia and Heiduo exchange silent thoughts, demonstrating their mutual understanding.
  • Umbreon watches the battle from the sidelines and openly enjoys the spectators’ shock.
  • Damaranchi expresses amusement and anticipation at seeing Heiduo’s Pokémon reveal their true capabilities.
  • Heiduo’s battle style contrasts sharply with his opponent’s hesitation, turning the match into a one-sided demonstration rather than a contest.
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Ch. 710Mega Tyranitar: Dragon Dance!!!

Chapter Summary: “Mega Tyranitar: Dragon Dance!!!”

Key Plot Points and Events

  • The spectators and Top Trainers react with unease to Heiduo’s overwhelming strength. Many consider withdrawing to avoid humiliation, but pride prevents them from doing so.
  • Teng Jun and Yujian discuss Heiduo’s rapid growth, noting his connections to powerful young Trainers and Champions, including Red, Green, and Gold.
  • The chairman of the Pokémon Association observes Heiduo and reflects on the political influence of Teng Jun’s family within the Johto Association. He considers eventually handing control of Indigo Plateau to Teng Jun.
  • The chapter explains the Association’s political structure, including the decision council, Champion veto power, and the limited status of Top Trainers.
  • After the first round, the remaining competitors begin worrying about drawing Heiduo. In the second-round lottery, Heiduo receives a bye, apparently through suspiciously convenient luck.
  • Heiduo and Umbreon mock the complacency of many older Top Trainers, contrasting them with ambitious young prodigies such as Red and Green.
  • Heiduo reflects on the social purpose of the Top Trainer system. The Association uses salaries, status, and regulation to control powerful Trainers, prevent crime and war, and preserve social stability. However, this comfort causes many Top Trainers to lose their ambition.
  • In the third round, Heiduo faces a highly ranked middle-aged Flying-type specialist and former Silver Conference runner-up. She leads with her level-73 Togekiss.
  • Heiduo sends out his newly evolved Tyranitar, its first major public appearance. Tyranitar begins with Snarl, creating a Sandstorm and lowering Togekiss’s Special Attack.
  • Tyranitar withstands Togekiss’s Air Slash, uses the Sandstorm’s Special Defense benefit, then Mega Evolves.
  • The spectators are shocked that yet another of Heiduo’s Pokémon can Mega Evolve. Heiduo immediately uses Dragon Dance, making his opponent realize that the battle is effectively hopeless.

Character Developments

  • Heiduo continues to establish himself as overwhelmingly stronger than the other Top Trainers. His confidence and willingness to reveal another Mega Evolution show that he no longer needs to conceal much of his power.
  • Tyranitar receives a major introduction as Heiduo’s newest publicly revealed powerhouse. Its excitement, roar, Sandstorm, Mega Evolution, and Dragon Dance establish it as both intimidating and battle-ready.
  • Umbreon becomes increasingly dismissive of the older Top Trainers, especially after comparing them with the energetic young geniuses Heiduo associates with.
  • Teng Jun is impressed and increasingly incredulous at Heiduo’s collection of Mega-capable Pokémon. His reaction also highlights the political and personal interest he has in Heiduo.
  • Yujian remains calm and informed, acting as Teng Jun’s source of information about Heiduo’s training and connections.
  • The chairman develops a more serious interest in Heiduo while also considering the transfer of political power to Teng Jun.
  • Heiduo’s opponent shifts from professional confidence to frustration and despair as every stage of Heiduo’s strategy proves impossible to counter.

Significant Themes

  • Overwhelming talent versus stagnation: Heiduo and the younger prodigies represent relentless growth, while many established Top Trainers have become complacent through age, comfort, and institutional rewards.
  • Institutional control of power: The Association’s Top Trainer system is portrayed as a tool for stabilizing society by rewarding and regulating dangerous individuals with powerful Pokémon.
  • Ambition and comfort: Financial security and social status reduce the Top Trainers’ motivation, suggesting that success can gradually weaken the drive that created it.
  • Political influence and succession: The chairman’s thoughts reveal the extent of the Teng family’s control over the Johto Association and foreshadow Teng Jun’s eventual rise to greater authority.
  • Unfair disparity in strength: Heiduo’s repeated use of Mega Evolution turns the tournament into an almost absurd mismatch. The other Trainers feel that ordinary strategy and preparation cannot compensate for his advantages.
  • Public spectacle and reputation: The older Trainers refuse to withdraw because of their reputations, even when they recognize that continuing may only expose their inferiority.

Important Character Interactions

  • Teng Jun and Yujian discuss Heiduo’s growth, his powerful acquaintances, and the likelihood that the other Trainers cannot compete with him.
  • Teng Jun and the chairman are connected through the chairman’s observations of Teng Jun’s growing political dominance.
  • Heiduo and Umbreon share a cynical perspective on the older Top Trainers and their lack of ambition.
  • Teng Jun and Yujian react with disbelief when Tyranitar Mega Evolves, emphasizing how extraordinary Heiduo’s team has become.
  • Heiduo and the Flying-type specialist have a dramatically one-sided battle. Her Togekiss attempts to rely on Air Slash and Fairy Wind, but Tyranitar counters her strategy through Snarl, Sandstorm, Mega Evolution, and Dragon Dance, leaving her furious and humiliated.
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Ch. 711Sorry My Imagination Is So Lacking!

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Mega Tyranitar overwhelms the Flying-type specialist’s ace, Togekiss. Despite Togekiss’s ability to fly and use Fairy Wind to deflect rocks, Mega Tyranitar’s superior energy, stamina, and control of the rocky battlefield eventually exhaust it.
  • Tyranitar traps Togekiss with a massive stone spike. Heiduo deliberately blunts the attack, sparing Togekiss’s life while still rendering it unable to battle.
  • The opponent sends out Crobat, intending to exploit its extreme speed and Agility to keep Mega Tyranitar occupied from a distance.
  • Heiduo counters with Planetary Devastation, an advanced technique based on Ancient Power. It animates the scattered battlefield rocks and forms an asteroid-like ring around Tyranitar, eventually trapping Crobat inside a huge stone sphere.
  • Crobat is defeated, removing the opponent’s best strategy. The middle-aged trainer then sends out Xatu, apparently with little hope of continuing the fight.
  • After the battle, Teng Jun refuses to let Heiduo skip the remaining tournament rounds, though he notes that the other contestants appear demoralized and unlikely to pose much difficulty.
  • Teng Jun and Heiduo discuss the construction of Heiduo’s future Gym in Millennium Town. The Gym is being built on a large coastal, mountainous site and is expected to be completed in roughly nine months.
  • Heiduo reviews the blueprints, discovering that the Gym will include ecological areas such as streams, forests, rocky terrain, deserts, and several battlefields—including an enormous outdoor field suitable for very large Pokémon.
  • Teng Jun explains that the Gym will require twenty staff members to maintain its facilities, infrastructure, and daily operations.
  • Heiduo considers eventually inviting the homeless children he helped in Kalos to work or live at the Gym, but decides they are currently too young and should first receive more education and training.

Character Developments

  • Heiduo demonstrates growing mastery over Mega Tyranitar and develops a powerful, highly specialized battlefield technique in Planetary Devastation. He also shows restraint by preventing Togekiss from being killed.
  • Heiduo’s practical side emerges as he worries about the Gym’s scale, construction speed, maintenance, and staffing rather than simply enjoying its grandeur.
  • His sense of responsibility toward the children from Kalos becomes clearer. He wants to offer them opportunities but recognizes that forcing them into a new environment too early would be irresponsible.
  • The Flying-type specialist loses confidence after Crobat, her fastest and most strategically important Pokémon, is defeated. Her release of Xatu suggests that she has largely accepted the match is over.
  • Teng Jun continues to act as both an advisor and teasing authority figure. He helps Heiduo understand the tournament schedule and the practical requirements of running a Gym.
  • Yunsheng is established as an extremely generous and capable supporter, providing an elite construction team and offering to arrange the Gym’s staff.

Significant Themes

  • Overwhelming power versus tactical speed: Crobat’s speed initially represents Mega Tyranitar’s greatest weakness, but preparation and battlefield control allow Heiduo to neutralize it.
  • Preparation and adaptation: Heiduo anticipated the opponent’s Crobat and prepared a countermeasure in advance, showing that victory depends not only on strength but also on planning.
  • Restraint and responsibility: Although Mega Tyranitar could have killed Togekiss, Heiduo deliberately avoids lethal force, emphasizing control over brutality.
  • The burdens of success: Building a massive Gym is not merely a reward; it creates responsibilities involving employees, facilities, finances, and management.
  • Found family and future mentorship: Heiduo’s thoughts about the Kalos children suggest that his future Gym may become a place where vulnerable young people can find education, work, and stability.
  • World-building through Gyms: The chapter presents Gyms as large organizations requiring staff and specialized facilities, rather than simple battle arenas run by a single trainer.

Character Interactions

  • Heiduo and the Flying-type specialist: Their battle centers on the clash between Mega Tyranitar’s overwhelming power and the opponent’s aerial mobility. Heiduo respects the threat posed by Crobat but defeats it through preparation.
  • Heiduo and Teng Jun: Their conversation mixes humor with practical planning. Teng Jun teases Heiduo about wanting to skip the tournament while guiding him through the Gym’s design and staffing needs.
  • Heiduo and Yunsheng: Though Yunsheng does not appear directly, his support is central to the Gym project. His construction company is handling the site and even offers to provide staff.
  • Heiduo and the Kalos children: Their interaction is not shown directly, but Heiduo’s reflections reveal his concern for their welfare and his desire to give them choices rather than impose a future on them.
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Ch. 712Tch! Water Absorb Charizard X Is Trash—Wait, It's Awesome!

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

  • The chapter takes place during the semifinals of the Goldenrod City tournament. Heiduo is increasingly bored by lengthy real-world battles, though he continues to respect every opponent and fight seriously.
  • Spectators speculate about how many Pokémon Heiduo will need and whether he will reveal another Mega Evolution. They recognize his collection of known Mega Evolutions but remain amazed that he possesses so many.
  • Heiduo faces the tournament’s strongest remaining contestant, a refined middle-aged Trainer specializing in Electric- and Ice-type Pokémon.
  • The opponent opens with a massive, mutant Voltorb possessing the Hidden Ability Aftermath. Despite the type disadvantage, Heiduo sends out Charizard because he wants to test it rather than rely on Garchomp or Electivire.
  • Charizard Mega Evolves into Mega Charizard X, changing into a black, Dragon-and-Fire-type form. This transformation invalidates the opponent’s plan to weaken Charizard’s Special Attack, since Mega Charizard X is primarily using physical attacks.
  • Mega Charizard X defeats Voltorb with Flare Blitz, surviving its explosive counterattack and then finishing it from a distance with Sacred Fire. Its overwhelming flames even consume the fire it created, demonstrating its unusual ability to control and reclaim the flames.
  • The opponent sends out Raichu and attempts to establish rain with Rain Dance, but Mega Charizard X’s Dragon typing makes Electric attacks far less effective. Raichu manages to summon rain but is immediately incapacitated by a single powerful Outrage.
  • The opponent’s confidence collapses as he realizes he has no effective way to fight Mega Charizard X.

Character Developments

  • Heiduo remains calm, pragmatic, and confident. Although he is tired of drawn-out battles, he still gives his underused Pokémon opportunities to perform instead of always choosing the safest option.
  • Heiduo demonstrates strong tactical awareness by anticipating his opponent’s attempt to counter Charizard through Special Attack reduction and by exploiting Mega Charizard X’s physical power and new typing.
  • Mega Charizard X is established as an exceptionally powerful close-range fighter. Its physical strength, fire control, Dragon typing, and modified Outrage make it dramatically different from ordinary Charizard.
  • The middle-aged opponent begins as an experienced, confident strategist but becomes increasingly rattled after his carefully prepared counters fail. His final reaction shows that he is psychologically overwhelmed as much as tactically defeated.
  • The tournament spectators’ attitude shifts from curiosity and admiration to shock and disbelief as they witness Mega Charizard X’s destructive power.

Significant Themes

  • The gap between game logic and real battles: Heiduo reflects on how real Pokémon battles are slower and more exhausting than game battles, emphasizing endurance, uncertainty, and the opponent’s refusal to give up.
  • Adaptability and hidden advantages: The opponent prepares for ordinary Charizard, but Mega Evolution changes Charizard’s typing, combat style, and capabilities, making his strategy obsolete.
  • Overwhelming power versus preparation: Even a strong Trainer with specialized Electric-type counters cannot respond effectively when Heiduo’s Pokémon possesses an unexpected advantage.
  • Mega Evolution as a rare symbol of status: The spectators view Key Stones and Mega Evolution as extraordinary achievements associated with the highest levels of training and social prestige.
  • Confidence collapsing under impossible odds: The opponent’s gradual loss of composure illustrates how quickly a battle can become hopeless when every planned counter fails.

Character Interactions

  • The Top Trainers in the stands discuss Heiduo’s reputation, his known Mega Evolutions, and the rarity of obtaining a Key Stone.
  • Heiduo and his opponent engage in a tactical exchange: the opponent tries to weaken Charizard with Confuse Ray, then uses Voltorb’s speed and Raichu’s Rain Dance, while Heiduo counters with Mega Evolution, physical attacks, prediction, and superior power.
  • The audience reacts collectively to Mega Charizard X’s transformation and devastating Flare Blitz, falling into stunned silence before erupting in disbelief.
  • The opponent’s increasingly desperate decisions contrast with Heiduo’s composure, culminating in the opponent’s silent realization that battling Mega Charizard X may be impossible.
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Ch. 713Dora Gengar Portal!

Chapter Summary: “Dora Gengar Portal!”

Key Plot Points and Events

  • The battle against Ke Fo continues after Voltorb and Raichu are defeated by Mega Charizard X. Although both Pokémon demonstrate impressive speed, endurance, and tactical ability, Mega Charizard X overwhelms them while using only part of its power.
  • Ke Fo sends out Cloyster, hoping its enormous physical defense and the lingering Rain will counter Mega Charizard X’s powerful physical attacks.
  • Cloyster uses Withdraw and Protect to stall Mega Charizard X’s Outrage, intending to exploit the Confusion that normally follows the move. Its defensive strategy initially works, and the audience believes Ke Fo has found a way to defeat the “Demon King.”
  • Heiduo reveals a new use of Aura Power: through Resonance, he clears Mega Charizard X’s post-Outrage confusion and maintains its ability to fight normally.
  • Mega Charizard X uses Seismic Toss, which inflicts fixed damage and bypasses Cloyster’s extraordinary defense. It repeatedly slams Cloyster into the ground, ultimately defeating it despite taking three Rock Blast attacks.
  • Before the referee officially ends the battle, Mega Charizard X uses Roost and restores the stamina it lost, leaving the spectators and officials stunned.
  • Heiduo unexpectedly switches out Mega Charizard X for the second half of the battle, sending out Gengar instead. This causes the spectators and Moro—his next opponent—to realize how overwhelming Heiduo’s team is.
  • Ke Fo’s next Pokémon is Glalie, a level-74 Pokémon with the unpredictable Moody Ability. Glalie’s stats begin changing, but Mega Gengar immediately prevents it from gaining momentum.
  • Mega Gengar uses Haze, Mega Evolves, and then launches Phantom Force. It attacks Glalie from multiple black portals with ghostly claws and a powerful Energy Ball, ending the chapter with a massive explosion.

Character Developments

  • Heiduo demonstrates increasing mastery of Aura Power. He can now directly influence Mega Charizard X’s mental state and suppress the Confusion caused by Outrage, making one of the move’s major drawbacks almost irrelevant.
  • Heiduo remains calm, confident, and even bored during the battle. His casual attitude contrasts sharply with the desperation of his opponents and emphasizes the vast gap in strength.
  • Mega Charizard X is shown to be both overwhelmingly powerful and tactically versatile. It can endure heavy attacks, defeat a defensive Pokémon with fixed damage, and fully recover with Roost.
  • Ke Fo proves himself knowledgeable and strategically capable, correctly identifying Cloyster’s defensive advantages and attempting to stall out Outrage. However, Heiduo’s unusual abilities and Mega Charizard X’s strength completely invalidate his plan.
  • Moro becomes visibly discouraged after witnessing Ke Fo’s defeat. He needs support from his son and privately recognizes that he has little chance against Heiduo.
  • Teng Jun and Yujian are astonished by Heiduo’s Aura abilities and multiple Mega-capable Pokémon. Their uncertainty highlights how rare and poorly documented Heiduo’s techniques are.

Significant Themes

  • Power beyond conventional rules: Heiduo’s use of Aura changes the expected limitations of Pokémon moves, particularly by eliminating Outrage’s Confusion effect.
  • Adaptability versus specialization: Cloyster’s extreme defense appears ideal against Mega Charizard X, but Heiduo counters it with fixed damage rather than relying on ordinary physical attacks.
  • The limits of preparation: Ke Fo has a sensible strategy, but Heiduo repeatedly introduces unexpected abilities and tactics that render conventional counters ineffective.
  • Psychological dominance: Heiduo’s relaxed demeanor, his willingness to switch Pokémon after an easy victory, and the crowd’s growing fear create the image of an unstoppable “Demon King.”
  • Spectacle and public reaction: The audience, officials, and opposing trainers all react dramatically to Heiduo’s strength, turning the battle into both a competition and a public demonstration of his extraordinary abilities.

Character Interactions

  • Ke Fo attempts to outmaneuver Heiduo through Cloyster’s defensive stalling, but Heiduo counters by guiding Mega Charizard X with Aura and ordering Seismic Toss.
  • Teng Jun questions Yujian about the unexplained Aura technique; Yujian admits that even he does not understand the full extent of Heiduo’s powers.
  • Teng Jun expresses concern for Ke Fo because of their friendly relationship, while also joking that facing Heiduo could make someone consider retirement.
  • The spectators debate how Heiduo can Mega Evolve multiple Pokémon and speculate about his Key Stones, revealing their growing fascination and envy.
  • Ke Fo warns against Mega Gengar’s disappearance, but Mega Gengar attacks Glalie through several portals at once, demonstrating a frightening level of control over Phantom Force.
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Ch. 714I Have Some Good News... I Was Wrong, There Isn't Any

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Mega Gengar reveals the devastating effectiveness of its upgraded Phantom Force, creating invisible Black Hole-like entrances and exits that Glalie cannot perceive. It catches Glalie off guard and defeats it instantly with a super-effective Aura Sphere.
  • Mega Gengar proceeds to defeat Ke Fo’s remaining Pokémon:
    • Manectric is overwhelmed by repeated Shadow Balls and finished by Sludge Wave, despite boosting its Special Attack with residual electricity from Raichu’s earlier Rain Dance.
    • Eelektross proves much more difficult, using Levitate, evasive movement, and Electric-type attacks to survive Mega Gengar’s barrage. Mega Gengar eventually resorts to Curse, sacrificing health while slowly wearing Eelektross down.
  • Heiduo wins the semifinal decisively, with Mega Gengar defeating four Pokémon while suffering almost no damage. The audience leaves convinced the match is hopelessly one-sided.
  • Moro’s younger son, Heiduo’s opponent in the final, admires Heiduo’s strength and doubts that his father can defeat him. Moro quietly departs with his family.
  • Heiduo is then informed that Moro has withdrawn from the final. Heiduo becomes Gym Leader by default, in exchange for agreeing to train Moro’s younger son for two months after the Gym is built.
  • Teng Jun and Yujian reveal that Heiduo’s victories and connections have helped secure more than eighty percent support for Yujian’s admission to the League’s decision-making council. Several influential Top Trainers have also joined their faction.
  • Their broader goal is reaffirmed: achieving the harmonious coexistence of humans, Pokémon, and nature while eliminating suffering, discrimination, persecution, and environmental harm.
  • The next day, Heiduo formally assumes the vacant Gym Leader position. The ceremony is deliberately kept quiet because Pryce’s replacement is not meant to attract public attention, and the Association does not want the Masked Man’s identity publicized.

Character Developments

  • Mega Gengar demonstrates overwhelming power and sophisticated tactical potential, especially through its nearly invisible Phantom Force exits. However, its prolonged struggle against Eelektross exposes its lack of battle experience and mature combat judgment.
  • Heiduo recognizes that physical strength and training are not enough to replace experience accumulated through years of battle. He begins to understand Mega Gengar’s weaknesses more critically and recalls it after the match rather than treating its victory as flawless.
  • Heiduo initially resists the idea of taking disciples, viewing teaching as exhausting, but ultimately accepts the arrangement because it supports Teng Jun and Yujian’s larger cause.
  • Eelektross earns Heiduo’s respect through exceptional flexibility, defensive reactions, and battlefield awareness despite its mediocre Speed.
  • Moro recognizes that Heiduo is overwhelmingly stronger and withdraws rather than forcing a futile final battle.
  • Teng Jun and Yujian show increasing political success and gratitude toward Heiduo, acknowledging that his actions have advanced their long-term ambitions.

Significant Themes

  • Power versus experience: Mega Gengar’s immense strength allows it to dominate most opponents, but Eelektross proves that experience, timing, and tactical judgment can prolong a fight against a much faster and stronger Pokémon.
  • Invisible advantages and prediction: Phantom Force’s hidden landing points demonstrate how superior perception and preparation can make an attack nearly impossible to counter.
  • Influence and political alliances: Heiduo’s victories are valuable not only because they establish his strength but also because they shift the balance of power within the League.
  • Responsibility and sacrifice: Heiduo gives up time and freedom by agreeing to mentor Moro’s son, accepting the burden because it helps advance a more just society.
  • The ethical relationship between humans, Pokémon, and nature: Teng Jun and Yujian’s ideals connect Heiduo’s personal experiences with mistreated and impoverished wild Pokémon to their political mission.
  • Avoidance of fame: Heiduo dislikes public attention and is relieved that his Gym Leader appointment remains low-profile.

Character Interactions

  • Heiduo and Mega Gengar work together effectively, with Heiduo explaining the mechanics behind its Phantom Force and Mega Gengar eagerly encouraging the opponent to send out more Pokémon.
  • Heiduo carefully analyzes Eelektross’s tactics, admiring its veteran-level reactions while recognizing Mega Gengar’s inexperience.
  • Moro’s son openly praises Heiduo and asks Moro whether he can win, unintentionally undermining and embarrassing his father.
  • Teng Jun and Yujian tease Heiduo about taking disciples, then explain that the request is connected to their political network and growing influence.
  • Heiduo recalls his teacher Yujian’s earlier training and jokingly points out that Yujian did not initially teach him Pokémon battling, creating a brief humorous exchange.
  • Teng Jun and Yujian express sincere gratitude for Heiduo’s contributions, while Heiduo accepts their ideals and agrees that supporting them is worthwhile.
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Ch. 715Millennium Town! Your King Has Arrived!

Chapter Summary: “Millennium Town! Your King Has Arrived!”

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Nearly a month after Heiduo’s Gym Leader assessment, Teng Jun informs him that many Trainers have complained about Mahogany Gym remaining closed.
  • Pryce’s disappearance, retirement, and failure to provide Gym Challenges have left numerous Trainers unable to collect their final Badges before the next Silver Conference.
  • The Pokémon Association asks Heiduo to operate a temporary Gym to handle the backlog. Although he has not officially opened his own Gym yet, Heiduo accepts because the Trainers have already waited too long.
  • Around forty Trainers need challenges, meaning Heiduo will likely spend more than a month battling them if he conducts eight battles per week.
  • His temporary Gym will be located in Millennium Town, inside the Gym building that is still under construction. The basic battlefields and structure are complete enough for official matches.
  • Heiduo plans to borrow Pokémon from Mt. Silver rather than maintain large teams of identical Pokémon like many Gym Leaders do.
  • Heiduo and Umbreon visit Millennium Town, taking in its distinctive architecture, waterways, public battlefields, National Park, police presence, and modern urban atmosphere.
  • Before beginning his duties, Heiduo goes to the Millennium Town Police Station to introduce himself and register the Gym’s use of public battlefields.

Character Development

  • Heiduo demonstrates growing responsibility by accepting a difficult assignment that is technically not yet part of his official Gym duties. He recognizes the Trainers’ frustration because he once followed the same Badge-collecting path.
  • He continues thinking pragmatically about his future, including opening a specialty Pokémon-food shop as a legitimate excuse to reduce his workload while still fulfilling his Gym Leader obligations.
  • Heiduo’s status is expanding: he is not merely becoming a Gym Leader but is also positioned as a Gym Leader Chief who may inspect other Gyms.
  • Umbreon becomes emotionally attached to Millennium Town, viewing it as “their” city because Heiduo’s Gym will be located there.

Significant Themes

  • Duty versus personal convenience: Heiduo would prefer to avoid unnecessary work, but he accepts the temporary Gym because the challengers have been unfairly deprived of opportunities.
  • The changing role of Gym Leaders: Gym Leaders are no longer absolute rulers of their cities. They retain prestige, influence, and protective responsibilities, but modern institutions such as the Pokémon Association and police limit their political authority.
  • Modernization and bureaucracy: Gym Challenges require coordination with police, battlefield officials, and city authorities, showing that Pokémon society has developed formal systems around Trainer battles.
  • Legacy and precedent: Heiduo benefits from Green’s earlier success in establishing an all-around Gym, allowing him to use Pokémon of any type without facing the same resistance.
  • Urban development and social status: Cities with Gyms receive greater institutional support, making Gym Leaders important symbols of a city’s security and future prosperity.

Character Interactions

  • Heiduo and Teng Jun: Teng Jun presents the temporary Gym assignment and urges Heiduo to sympathize with the frustrated Trainers. Their conversation balances Teng Jun’s official expectations with Heiduo’s reluctance.
  • Heiduo and the complaining Trainers: Though they do not meet directly in the chapter, Heiduo accepts responsibility for resolving their problem and providing the Badges they have been unable to obtain.
  • Heiduo and Umbreon: Umbreon reacts enthusiastically to Millennium Town and treats it as their territory, while Heiduo humorously ignores the exaggeration.
  • Heiduo and the local police: His visit to the police station establishes that Gym Leaders must cooperate with local authorities and formally coordinate the use and supervision of battlefields.
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Ch. 716The Possibility of Becoming a Child of Millennium

Chapter Summary: The Possibility of Becoming a Child of Millennium

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Heiduo visits the Millennium Town police station and meets Chief Officer Jenny Yang, one of the rare Jennys who has advanced into an administrative leadership role.
  • Heiduo signs official documents accepting joint responsibility with the police for any incidents occurring at his Gym. Because the Gym contains dangerous facilities that cannot be fully monitored by the police, both Heiduo and the authorities will share accountability.
  • Jenny, pleased by Heiduo’s cooperative attitude, assigns Officer Russell to drive him to the Gym and show him around town.
  • Heiduo sees Millennium Town’s outskirts, including the Trainer and Breeder Schools, farmland, ranches, and the coastline. His Gym is located on a large plain near the sea, though its exposed position makes it vulnerable to disasters such as tsunamis.
  • At the construction site, Heiduo meets Sayama, the engineer from the Rising Sun Group overseeing construction. He discovers that the Gym is far larger than expected: a castle-like, multi-story complex with an indoor Ecological Park, living quarters, and enough space for future apprentices and staff.
  • The Gym will require far more employees than originally planned—possibly three times the initial estimate—making Heiduo uneasy about the scale and cost of running it.
  • Rather than stay in a hotel, Heiduo decides to explore the nearby mountains, which he hopes will eventually become a habitat for breeding Tyranitar.
  • Heiduo travels into the forest with Umbreon, Lugia, and Sceptile. He chooses not to use Aura, instead approaching the area respectfully and attempting to earn the forest’s recognition.

Character Developments

  • Heiduo demonstrates responsibility and maturity by accepting the legal obligations of running a Gym and cooperating calmly with the police.
  • He is practical and cautious, considering the inconvenience of lacking a vehicle and planning to obtain a motorcycle license.
  • Heiduo is surprised and somewhat uncomfortable with the enormous, castle-like Gym, especially its implication that he may eventually house apprentices and maintain a large support staff.
  • He also reveals a respectful, almost spiritual attitude toward nature. He understands that forests and natural environments may possess mysterious collective powers and believes recognition must be earned rather than forced.
  • Officer Jenny Yang is presented as serious, professional, and administrative, but she becomes warmer after seeing that Heiduo is reasonable and cooperative.
  • Officer Russell initially seems reluctant to act as Heiduo’s driver, but his polite and approachable manner wins her over.
  • Sayama is enthusiastic about the ambitious construction project and treats the Gym’s enormous size as entirely reasonable.
  • Sceptile is shown as especially suited to forest environments, with the ability to revive and nurture trees.
  • Umbreon and Lugia are pleased by the Gym’s spacious, castle-like design and its proximity to the sea.

Significant Themes

  • Responsibility accompanying privilege: Becoming a Gym Leader grants Heiduo status and resources, but also legal, financial, and public obligations.
  • Growth and future legacy: The Gym is designed not merely for Heiduo’s present needs but for future apprentices, staff, and possibly descendants.
  • Humanity’s relationship with nature: Heiduo recognizes that nature is powerful and mysterious, and that humans must approach it with humility rather than domination.
  • Belonging and recognition: The idea of becoming a “Child of Millennium” suggests that true acceptance by the region or its forests may take generations of respectful coexistence.
  • Scale versus personal comfort: The grand construction reflects Heiduo’s rising position, but its size also clashes with his more practical and modest expectations.

Character Interactions

  • Heiduo and Jenny Yang exchange formal greetings before completing the Gym’s legal paperwork. Her attitude softens when he proves cooperative.
  • Russell transports Heiduo and explains Millennium Town’s geography and the Gym’s surroundings. Heiduo politely declines a full ride into the construction site.
  • Sayama gives Heiduo a tour and explains the Gym’s unusual design, including the Ecological Park, additional floors, living quarters, and increased staffing needs.
  • Heiduo’s Pokémon react differently to the new Gym: Umbreon and Lugia enjoy its castle-like spaciousness, while Heiduo remains skeptical.
  • In the mountains, Heiduo travels with Umbreon, Lugia, and Sceptile, relying on Sceptile’s natural affinity with forests and choosing to approach the wild Pokémon without using Aura.
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Ch. 717Done, the neighbors hated them the moment they arrived

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Heiduo explores the forest near Millennium Town, advancing only a short distance because he is traveling on foot. He observes that the nearby Pokémon mostly live alone or in small groups, while only aggressive species such as Beedrill and Ariados form larger clans.
  • A large Ariados group surrounds Heiduo after he enters their territory. Before they can attack, Sceptile moves so quickly that its green flash is barely visible, cutting the silk supporting the Ariados in the trees and knocking out their oversized leader.
  • With their leader defeated, the Ariados panic and retreat, carrying it away. Heiduo concludes that the nearby wild Pokémon are intelligent enough to recognize humans as dangerous.
  • Heiduo maps the area and decides to camp away from the Gym construction site, unaware that construction is proceeding day and night under orders from his father as a surprise coming-of-age gift.
  • The continuous construction noise disturbs nearby wild Pokémon, leading them to attack the site. Many Pokémon had already been captured or relocated before construction began, while others were sent to employees, Association staff, or the forest east of Goldenrod City.
  • Concerned that relocation may harm the Pokémon, Heiduo takes responsibility for the captured Pokémon and plans to keep them temporarily on Mt. Silver before releasing them after construction ends.
  • A group of young Trainers arrives to challenge Heiduo’s new Gym. Only five intend to battle, while the others are accompanying them. Their Trainer records and badge histories are compiled so Heiduo can select appropriate Pokémon for the challenges.

Character Developments

  • Heiduo becomes more thoughtful about the effects of human expansion on wild Pokémon. Rather than accepting their relocation as convenient, he intervenes and offers to shelter them until they can return.
  • He demonstrates practical judgment by observing Pokémon behavior, recognizing the Ariados’ intelligence, and preparing strategically for incoming Gym challengers using their battle records.
  • Sceptile is shown to be extremely fast and effective, defeating the Ariados leader almost instantly without needing direct instruction.
  • Heiduo’s father is revealed to be secretly overseeing the expensive, round-the-clock Gym construction as a gift, showing his investment in Heiduo’s future.
  • The wild Pokémon are portrayed as territorial but not mindless. They can assess danger, retreat when outmatched, and react strongly to environmental disruption.

Significant Themes

  • Human development versus nature: Building the Gym brings economic opportunity and personal advancement but disrupts Pokémon habitats and routines.
  • Adaptation and coexistence: Relocating Pokémon or finding them human homes is presented as a practical compromise, though Heiduo recognizes that displacement is still undesirable.
  • Intelligence and social order among Pokémon: The Ariados function as an organized community with a leader and collective decision-making, emphasizing that wild Pokémon have complex social behavior.
  • Responsibility and leadership: Heiduo’s response to the displaced Pokémon suggests that being a Gym Leader involves more than battling; it also requires managing the consequences of his presence.
  • Convenience and inequality: Pokémon are common to Trainers but valuable and difficult to obtain for ordinary city residents, explaining why company employees eagerly adopt relocated Pokémon.
  • The institutionalization of Pokémon battles: Gym Challenges are highly organized, with digital records, personal information safeguards, and flexible standards focused on a challenger’s growth rather than simple victory.

Character Interactions

  • Heiduo and Sceptile work together indirectly during the Ariados confrontation, with Sceptile protecting him through a swift, decisive attack.
  • Heiduo questions a worker about the wild Pokémon attacks, then asks Sayama for details about the relocated Pokémon.
  • Heiduo asserts authority over the construction team by taking custody of the displaced Pokémon.
  • Heiduo observes the arriving challengers from a distance and relies on official Gym records to prepare for their battles, though he does not meet them directly in this chapter.
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Ch. 718The Suffering Four of the Elite Four Take the Field!

Chapter Summary: “The Suffering Four of the Elite Four Take the Field!”

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Heiduo reviews the profiles of five upcoming Gym challengers: four men and one woman, all Johto natives. They possess between four and seven Badges.
  • He is particularly interested in the nineteen-year-old female challenger, who has attended a regular academic high school and has been a Trainer for eight years—an unusual background in a society where most Trainers have little formal education.
  • Heiduo considers how strong his Gym Pokémon should be. Although Gym Leader Pokémon are normally limited according to a challenger’s Badge count, he recognizes that the rules are flexible and intends to create a challenging but fair first Gym battle.
  • To prepare, Heiduo asks Lugia to summon suitable Pokémon from Mt. Silver. Many of his old Pokémon friends respond, including Kangaskhan, Braviary, Mightyena, Wobbuffet, Raichu’s family, Gengar and its Gastly, various bird Pokémon, Scizor, Gardevoir’s family, and several Tyranitar and other powerful Pokémon.
  • The gathering becomes enormous, resembling a festival. Heiduo is deeply touched by how many Pokémon are willing to help him, seeing their response as proof that his past kindness and relationships mattered.
  • After feeding everyone Pokéblocks, Heiduo selects fifteen Pokémon with appropriate Energy Levels and stores them in Poké Balls for convenient transport.
  • Fei Liu arrives after noticing the commotion and complains that Heiduo always causes a scene when he returns to Mt. Silver. Heiduo sends him away, confident that Fei Liu will clean up afterward.
  • Back in Millennium Town, Heiduo receives newly designed Gym Badges. Since his Gym has no single specialized type, the Badge depicts a cartoon-style version of the Gym itself, designed like a castle or museum.
  • Heiduo arranges for a temporary outdoor battle arena to be built beside the construction site. The first Gym battles will take place there rather than inside the unfinished Gym, allowing him to test the challengers under distracting real-world conditions.

Character Development

  • Heiduo demonstrates growing responsibility and professionalism as a Gym Leader. He carefully studies the challengers, thinks about appropriate battle difficulty, and refuses to hand out Badges without proper evaluation.
  • His confidence and influence are also emphasized. Numerous Pokémon willingly gather to assist him, showing that he has earned genuine loyalty through past interactions and battles.
  • Heiduo’s emotional side becomes clearer when he is moved by the support of his old Pokémon friends. Beneath his casual and humorous behavior, he values the bonds he has formed.
  • Umbreon continues to tease Heiduo but also recognizes his popularity and influence among the Pokémon of Mt. Silver.
  • Fei Liu remains a comic, familiar presence who is comfortable criticizing Heiduo, while also trusting him enough to deal with the aftermath of his activities.
  • The gathered Pokémon—including Kangaskhan, Braviary, Mightyena, and Wobbuffet—are portrayed as loyal companions rather than merely battle resources.

Significant Themes

  • Friendship and reciprocity: The Pokémon’s willingness to help reflects the lasting value of kindness and mutual trust. Heiduo realizes that his relationships have produced meaningful loyalty.
  • Responsibility and fairness: Heiduo takes the Gym Challenge seriously. He wants to test each challenger properly rather than giving out Badges for convenience or sympathy.
  • Tradition versus modern society: The female challenger’s status as a traditional Trainer with a normal academic education highlights how unusual and socially distinctive traditional Trainers have become.
  • Personal influence: Heiduo’s ability to summon so many Pokémon demonstrates that leadership comes not only from formal authority but also from personal bonds.
  • Performance and spectacle: Heiduo wants his first battle as Gym Leader to be memorable, while the large Pokémon gathering and new Gym Badge contribute to the public image of his Gym.

Character Interactions

  • Umbreon jokingly suggests that Heiduo is interested in the female challenger, but he ignores the teasing and focuses on battle preparations.
  • Kangaskhan volunteers to help, while her Baby Kangaskhan plays on Heiduo’s shoulder, creating a warm and affectionate moment.
  • Braviary brings Mightyena to Heiduo. Braviary acts aloof but accepts Heiduo’s affection, while Mightyena enthusiastically licks him and causes a humorous reunion with its distant family.
  • Wobbuffet arrives as the final member of the “Suffering Four,” reinforcing its close, endearing relationship with Heiduo despite its inability to communicate well.
  • Umbreon comments on Heiduo’s popularity among Mt. Silver’s Pokémon, acknowledging that his friendships rival the influence of the mountain’s official master.
  • Fei Liu confronts Heiduo over the disruption but quickly leaves when told to do so, showing their familiar and comedic dynamic.
  • Heiduo communicates with Teng Jun about the new Badges and thanks Sayama for rapidly constructing the outdoor arena, demonstrating his growing cooperation with the people supporting his Gym.
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Ch. 719Everyone Was This Naive When They Were Young, Don't Worry

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Heiduo’s newly opened Gym attracts its first challengers, including several Trainers with four or seven Badges. A large group of Trainer Academy students also arrives to watch.
  • The spectators came because news of Heiduo’s Gym had spread through Millennium Town’s forums. Heiduo is already well known for winning a major battle tournament against elite academy-trained Trainers.
  • Rather than remove the crowd, Heiduo allows them to watch, viewing the spectators as an additional source of pressure for the challengers.
  • The first official challenger is Chong Jin, a teenage Trainer with a four-Badge qualification. The Gym’s rules are explained: battles are three-on-three, Heiduo may only switch when a Pokémon is defeated, and his Pokémon may be around Levels 40–45.
  • Heiduo opens with his Level 44 Weavile, a feral Pokémon from Orre that he has trained only lightly. Chong Jin sends out a Level 43 Hitmonlee, which has a major type advantage against Weavile.
  • Hitmonlee initially uses High Jump Kick, but Weavile evades it with Quick Attack, causing Hitmonlee to suffer recoil. Chong Jin uses Mind Reader to ensure the next High Jump Kick lands.
  • Although Weavile is struck by the super-effective attack, it survives through a combination of defensive technique and luck. It then uses Avalanche, whose power doubles after Weavile has taken damage, burying Hitmonlee in snow.
  • Chong Jin hesitates to recall Hitmonlee, believing it can still recover. Heiduo ends the battle with Weavile’s priority move, Ice Shard, defeating Hitmonlee before it can escape.
  • Heiduo criticizes Chong Jin for failing to assess the situation quickly or recall his Pokémon decisively. He then sends out his second Pokémon, a Level 45 Raichu from the Secret Base.

Character Developments

  • Heiduo: Demonstrates confidence, authority, and strong battlefield awareness. He remains calm despite the crowd and uses the public setting as part of the challenge. He also shows that he is willing to give challengers opportunities, but only until their indecision becomes strategically foolish.
  • Chong Jin: Begins nervous but attempts a reasonable strategy by exploiting Weavile’s weaknesses with Hitmonlee’s High Jump Kick and Mind Reader. However, he becomes overconfident after landing a hit and then fails to recognize that Hitmonlee is already defeated. His poor judgment and hesitation cost him the battle.
  • Weavile: Reveals its feral, intimidating personality and impressive agility. Though it has not received as much training as Heiduo’s other Pokémon, it uses speed, defensive technique, and powerful counterattacks effectively.
  • Raichu: Is introduced as Heiduo’s second Pokémon. Although strong by ordinary standards, it is considered mediocre compared with the powerful Pokémon living on Mt. Silver.

Significant Themes

  • Reputation and public expectations: Heiduo’s fame draws spectators and creates pressure around the Gym’s opening.
  • Experience versus raw type advantage: Hitmonlee possesses a major advantage over Weavile, but Heiduo’s tactics and Weavile’s battle instincts overcome it.
  • Decisiveness in battle: Chong Jin’s inability to recall Hitmonlee reflects a lack of battlefield judgment. The chapter emphasizes that recognizing when a battle is lost is as important as attacking.
  • Training and natural ability: Weavile is relatively undertrained compared with Heiduo’s main Pokémon, yet its instincts and combat experience allow it to perform exceptionally.
  • The unpredictability of combat: Luck, improvised defense, and the exact force of an attack matter just as much as statistics or type matchups.

Character Interactions

  • Heiduo permits the academy students to remain and observe, presenting himself as confident and in control.
  • The Gym staff support Heiduo by organizing the challengers and announcing the rules, while Heiduo personally directs the battles.
  • Heiduo and Chong Jin interact mainly through the battle: Heiduo gives tactical commands, while Chong Jin tries to exploit Weavile’s weakness.
  • After Hitmonlee is defeated, Heiduo directly questions Chong Jin’s decision not to recall it, turning the battle into a lesson about judgment and decisiveness.
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Ch. 720A Raichu That Can't Surf Isn't a Good Raichu

Chapter Summary: “A Raichu That Can't Surf Isn't a Good Raichu”

Key Plot Points and Events

  • Heiduo faces Chong Jin’s second Pokémon after defeating Hitmonlee. Chong Jin suspects Raichu may be one of Heiduo’s backup Pokémon, but Heiduo clarifies that Raichu is merely borrowed and largely untrained.
  • Chong Jin sends out Meganium, a Level 41 Grass-type with the Overgrow Ability. Although Meganium has four Badges’ worth of strength, Heiduo judges it weaker than Chong Jin’s defeated Hitmonlee.
  • Meganium opens with Sweet Scent, attempting to lower Raichu’s evasion and dull its focus. Heiduo counters with the unexpected command Surf.
  • Raichu rides a wave on its own tail, dispersing Sweet Scent, then follows with Iron Tail, striking Meganium while it is blinded by the water.
  • Chong Jin responds with Magical Leaf, using its unavoidable tracking ability to interrupt Raichu, then begins charging Solar Beam.
  • Heiduo orders Thunder to coincide with Solar Beam. The two attacks collide in a massive explosion, temporarily obscuring the battlefield.
  • Relying on experience rather than waiting to confirm Raichu’s condition, Heiduo immediately commands Volt Tackle. Raichu bursts from the smoke and defeats Meganium before Chong Jin can use Synthesis.
  • Raichu also suffers heavy damage from the explosion and Volt Tackle’s recoil, showing that the battle was close despite Heiduo’s victory.
  • The referee declares Raichu the winner. Spectators mock Chong Jin and praise or fear Heiduo’s strength, causing tension and disorder among the watching students.
  • Heiduo silences everyone through sheer intimidation, briefly using Garchomp’s presence to create an oppressive atmosphere. He then permits the students to continue watching as long as they remain quiet, recognizing the educational value of observing his battles.

Character Development

  • Heiduo demonstrates strategic confidence, battle experience, and strong command over unconventional tactics. His willingness to use Surf with Raichu highlights his creativity and ability to exploit unexpected possibilities.
  • Heiduo also shows that his judgment extends beyond issuing commands: he accurately gauges Raichu’s condition and the opponent’s attack strength without relying on direct confirmation.
  • Despite his intimidating presence, Heiduo proves considerate and practical by allowing the Trainer Academy students to keep observing. He understands that watching a skilled Gym Leader is valuable for developing Trainers.
  • Chong Jin initially panics after Hitmonlee’s defeat but gradually regains his composure, using Magical Leaf and Solar Beam intelligently. Nevertheless, his confidence collapses after Meganium’s defeat and the spectators’ criticism.
  • Raichu performs far beyond expectations despite being borrowed and only lightly trained. Its Surf, Iron Tail, Thunder, and Volt Tackle combination nearly defeats Meganium outright, though it also leaves Raichu badly worn down.
  • Meganium demonstrates solid defensive endurance and competent move selection but cannot withstand Heiduo’s coordinated offensive pressure.

Significant Themes

  • Experience versus raw power: Heiduo’s victory depends not only on Raichu’s strength but on his ability to judge timing, damage, and battlefield conditions through experience.
  • Unconventional strategy: Raichu’s use of Surf illustrates that Pokémon should not be limited by assumptions about their species or standard move sets.
  • Trainer responsibility: A skilled Trainer must understand the battle personally rather than blindly depending on the Pokémon to communicate its condition.
  • Mental composure: Chong Jin’s performance improves when he regains control, but public criticism and defeat expose how fragile his confidence remains.
  • The educational value of observation: Heiduo’s battles serve as lessons for developing Trainers, and he ultimately allows students to watch despite the disruption.
  • Authority and intimidation: Heiduo’s brief display of power instantly restores order, contrasting his fearsome authority with his later willingness to accommodate the students.

Character Interactions

  • Heiduo directly challenges Chong Jin’s assumptions about Raichu and pressures him to choose his next Pokémon quickly.
  • Chong Jin and Heiduo engage in a tactical exchange, with Chong Jin attempting to interrupt Raichu using Magical Leaf and charge Solar Beam while Heiduo times Thunder and Volt Tackle for maximum impact.
  • Spectators ridicule Chong Jin and overestimate Raichu’s level, worsening Chong Jin’s humiliation.
  • Chong Jin’s companions defend him and argue with the students, causing a disturbance that staff and police must control.
  • Heiduo reprimands the crowd, then reassures the dean and police officers that students may remain, provided they stay quiet. This establishes him as both a formidable authority figure and a mentor-like presence.
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