Recaps

Xinhai and Ishii Kyosuke began six-on-six sparring matches against Rustboro Gym instructors Tanigawa and Kinoshita. Xinhai’s opening battle against Tanigawa started with Blaziken facing Sudowoodo, and both Pokémon launched their first moves.

• Xinhai chose Blaziken, Gardevoir, Eevee, Mightyena, Krookodile, and Sceptile for the battle while the other six Pokémon continued training.
• Xinhai and Ishii Kyosuke met at the Main Training Ground, where Instructor Tanigawa and Instructor Kinoshita explained the match rules.
• Instructor Tanigawa sent out Sudowoodo, and Xinhai sent out Blaziken to begin their six-on-six battle.
• Xinhai ordered Blaziken to use Flamethrower, while Tanigawa commanded Sudowoodo to use Rock Tomb.

Xinhai's Blaziken battled Instructor Tanigawa's Sudowoodo, trading powerful attacks across the rocky arena. Sudowoodo blocked Blaziken's Vacuum Wave with Rock Tomb, leaving the clash unresolved.

• Sudowoodo raised a rock wall to stop Blaziken's Flamethrower, and Xinhai sent Blaziken charging with Flame Charge.
• Sudowoodo used Rock Slide, but Blaziken protected itself with Protect and closed the distance.
• Sudowoodo's Earthquake made Blaziken leap into the air, where Sudowoodo hurled a boulder with Smack Down.
• Blaziken dodged the boulder with Brave Bird and struck Sudowoodo with a powerful Jump Kick, but Sudowoodo hardened and countered with its body.
• The collision sent both Pokémon flying apart, and Sudowoodo rose with scorch marks before beginning Rock Polish.
• Xinhai ordered Vacuum Wave, but Sudowoodo blocked both waves with a rock wall using Rock Tomb.

Xinhai and Blaziken battled Instructor Tanigawa and Sudowoodo in a fierce arena match. Blaziken broke through Sudowoodo’s defenses and injured it, but Sudowoodo countered with Rock Slide as Blaziken charged in again.

• Sudowoodo hurled shattered rubble at Blaziken, which used Quick Attack to dodge through it and followed with a Blaze Kick that Protect blocked.
• Blaziken used Double Team to surround Sudowoodo, but Sudowoodo’s Stone Edge destroyed most of the doubles before Rollout struck one of the remaining images.
• Blaziken circled behind Sudowoodo and attacked with Rock Smash and Brick Break, while Sudowoodo countered with Hammer Arm.
• Blaziken redirected Sudowoodo’s attack, knocked it off balance, and struck its chest with a Fighting-type punch, sending it crashing across the arena.
• Instructor Tanigawa ordered the injured Sudowoodo to use Rock Slide, and Sudowoodo summoned rocks overhead as Blaziken approached.

Xinhai lost a six-to-four Gym battle against Instructor Tanigawa, and his Pokémon were treated while he reviewed their performances. After recalling his healed partners, he prepared to continue improving before another match that afternoon.

• Blaziken defeated Sudowoodo with a combined Quick Attack and Flare Blitz, but Xinhai recalled it after it showed fatigue and an injured shoulder.
• Sceptile lost to Steelix, while Gardevoir defeated Steelix before tying with Lunatone; Mightyena, Krookodile, Eevee, and Blaziken then battled Tanigawa's remaining Pokémon, bringing the final score to four to six.
• Xinhai thanked Instructor Tanigawa, who advised him to review his Pokémon's inexperience and battle mistakes before the afternoon match.
• Xinhai analyzed each Pokémon's strengths and weaknesses while the Healing Machine treated his partners, then collected their Poké Balls.

After two increasingly difficult losses at Rustboro Gym, Xinhai reviewed his partners’ mistakes and encouraged them to treat the defeats as opportunities to improve. He led them through afternoon battle analysis and basic training, then ended the session so they could rest before tomorrow.

• Xinhai checked his partners after the morning battle, reviewed their mistakes, massaged the exhausted Pokémon, and prepared lunch for them.
• Xinhai and Ishii Kyosuke ate together and discussed training, the Pokémon Transfer System, and the Ever Grande Conference.
• Xinhai’s partners lost four to six against Instructor Kinoshita, leaving them discouraged after two defeats in one day.
• Xinhai reminded his partners that special training was meant to reveal problems and that their losses had come down to fixable details.
• Xinhai reviewed the afternoon battle with his partners, then led them through more than three hours of basic training.
• Xinhai stopped training shortly after six and said they would buy ingredients and make a nice dinner.

Xinhai treated his partners to a meal, reviewed their battle plans, and led them through a series of training battles that showed their progress. After five days of intensive practice, Sceptile and Krookodile had developed sharper skills and more effective battle rhythms.

• Xinhai cooked a meal for his partners, then wrote their improvements in his battle-review notebook.
• Xinhai and his partners returned to the Main Training Ground, where Blaziken, Sceptile, Gardevoir, and Eevee each won battles against Tanigawa's Pokémon.
• Xinhai praised his partners after they won, and they continued training twice a day over the next five days.
• Sceptile refined its Seed Bomb, approach, and Leaf Blade combination through repeated battles.
• Krookodile learned to use Ground-type moves and terrain changes to control the battlefield against defensive opponents.

Xinhai gained battle experience through matches at Rustboro Gym, then faced Roxanne in his first true battle against her and lost six to five. Roxanne praised his performance and suggested he had a chance at the Ever Grande Conference main event, but Xinhai remained concerned that none of his Pokémon had reached Gym level; she beckoned him to follow her.

• Xinhai battled several Rustboro Gym instructors and arranged daily practice matches for Charmeleon, Fraxure, and Beedrill as more Gym disciples returned.
• Charmeleon improved its flame control under Blaziken's guidance, while Fraxure strengthened its close combat and Beedrill practiced at a manageable pace.
• Roxanne returned to Rustboro Gym, watched Xinhai battle, and challenged him to a match the next day.
• Xinhai and Roxanne battled in the Main Training Ground, where her tactical control and Rock-type strategies gave her the advantage.
• Roxanne won six to five with one Pokémon barely depleted, and she told Xinhai he had a chance at the Ever Grande Conference main event.
• Xinhai said his Pokémon still had not reached Gym level, and Roxanne turned toward the edge of the field and beckoned him to follow.

Roxanne showed Xinhai that his Pokémon had already met most Gym-level requirements and helped him recognize that his martial arts training could point him toward their individual paths. Xinhai returned to the Main Training Ground with a clearer direction, where Ishii Kyosuke teased him about his relationship with Roxanne.

• Roxanne presented data showing that Trainers usually traveled for years before qualifying for the Ever Grande Conference, while Xinhai had already reached an exceptional level in just over half a year.
• Roxanne explained that Xinhai's Blaziken, Gardevoir, and Eevee met the physical, energy-control, and skill-proficiency standards for Gym level, leaving them to find their own paths.
• Xinhai connected his experiences with the Dewford Twelve Forms, Tai Chi, the Three Gates, and Pokémon training, and said Roxanne had pointed him in a direction.
• Roxanne told Xinhai she looked forward to seeing his progress at the Ever Grande Conference in four months, and he remained alone in the analysis room to reflect.
• Xinhai returned to the Main Training Ground, where Ishii Kyosuke teased him about his long conversation with Roxanne, and Xinhai denied that their relationship was anything beyond dojo heir and challenger.

Xinhai discussed new training directions with his Pokémon after Roxanne said Blaziken, Gardevoir, and Eevee were ready to advance to Gym level. He outlined paths for Blaziken and Gardevoir, leaving the discussion of the remaining partners unfinished.

• Ishii Kyosuke teased Xinhai about his relationship with someone before returning to train.
• Xinhai collected Blaziken, Gardevoir, Eevee, Mightyena, Krookodile, and Sceptile after their recovery treatment and brought them to Independent Training Room Six.
• Xinhai told his partners that Roxanne considered Blaziken, Gardevoir, and Eevee ready for Gym-level advancement, but they still needed to find their own paths.
• Xinhai proposed laser reaction training for Blaziken to make his close-combat attacks cleaner and more instinctive.
• Xinhai urged Gardevoir to train defensive counters into instinct and expand her Psychic Field to control opponents’ movements across the battlefield.

Xinhai set training goals for his six Pokémon and oversaw two weeks of focused practice at Rustboro Gym. After leaving the Main Training Ground, he was met by Scott and Roxanne, who had come to see him off.

• Xinhai advised Eevee to develop her selected moves and Anticipation, and told Mightyena and Krookodile to learn from each other's fighting styles.
• Xinhai told Sceptile to strengthen his foundations before pursuing Gym level, then sent all six Pokémon to train.
• Blaziken, Gardevoir, and Eevee practiced reacting to lasers, while Mightyena and Krookodile took turns learning each other's techniques.
• Sceptile repeatedly practiced his basic movements and moves as two weeks passed.
• Xinhai left the Main Training Ground at Rustboro Gym, where Scott and Roxanne were waiting to see him off.

Xinhai spent his last evening in Rustboro City with Scott and Roxanne before packing up and leaving early the next morning. With Eevee in the bicycle basket, he rode southeast out of the city toward Petalburg City.

• Scott and Roxanne took Xinhai to Rock Slab BBQ Restaurant for a farewell meal, where Scott said the first six episodes of Super Beast Force were complete and nearing a television deal.
• Scott paid for dinner, and Roxanne asked Xinhai to message her when he arrived in Petalburg City before they dropped him at the Pokémon Center.
• Xinhai packed his Spatial Backpack, showered, and told Eevee they would leave early the next morning.
• Xinhai checked out with Joy Ya, thanked her, and left the Pokémon Center with Eevee riding in his bicycle basket.
• Xinhai rode southeast along Granite Road, leaving Rustboro City as the surrounding buildings gave way to fields and woods.

Xinhai and his Pokémon returned to Petalburg Woods to visit the Beautifly’s flower sea, only to find the flowers withered and the Beautifly gone. They continued toward Petalburg City and stopped to eat, with Xinhai hoping to revisit the colony after the tournament.

• Xinhai entered Petalburg Woods with Eevee, Gardevoir, and Beedrill and headed for the flower sea in the eastern middle forest.
• Xinhai found the flower sea withered and the Beautifly gone, likely having migrated to a new habitat.
• Xinhai comforted Eevee and said they could return after the tournament to see whether the Beautifly had come back.
• Xinhai and his Pokémon followed the forest route toward Petalburg City and stopped in a clearing to rest and eat.

Xinhai traveled from Petalburg Woods to Petalburg City, then rode to Orange East Village to visit A-Cheng and A-Dou. A-Dou greeted him excitedly and explained that A-Cheng was training with Raticate and Beedrill at the secret base.

• Xinhai camped in Petalburg Woods, then continued traveling until he reached Petalburg City.
• Xinhai checked into a Pokémon Center room and rested with his companions.
• Xinhai rode from Petalburg City to Orange East Village and arrived at A-Cheng's house.
• A-Dou welcomed Xinhai and told him that A-Cheng had gone to train with Raticate and Beedrill at the secret base.

Xinhai visited A-Cheng at his hidden training base near Orange East Village and saw how much Raticate and Beedrill had improved. He praised their training, and A-Cheng modestly credited his daily practice.

• A-Dou offered to lead Xinhai to A-Cheng's secret training base, and A-Cheng's mother welcomed Xinhai and let them go.
• A-Dou guided Xinhai along a hidden path through the woods while proudly describing his brother's Pokémon.
• Xinhai and A-Dou watched A-Cheng train Raticate and Beedrill in a forest clearing, where Xinhai noticed their speed and precise movements.
• A-Cheng spotted Xinhai, stopped the training, and greeted him with surprise and delight.
• Xinhai praised Raticate and Beedrill's refined skills and Intermediate-level strength, and A-Cheng said he had improved through daily training.

Xinhai agreed to guide A-Cheng with friendly one-on-one battles, and their Beedrill match showed the gap between their Pokémon. A-Cheng’s Beedrill tried to use speed to gain an advantage, but Xinhai’s Beedrill fired Pin Missile to block its likely routes.

• Xinhai told A-Cheng he was ready to challenge Gyms, but A-Cheng asked him for guidance instead.
• Xinhai brought out Eevee and his much larger Beedrill for two friendly one-on-one matches against A-Cheng’s Raticate and Beedrill.
• A-Cheng calmed his Beedrill after it was intimidated by Xinhai’s Beedrill, then ordered it to attack with Twineedle.
• Xinhai’s Beedrill deflected the attack with a precise Twineedle maneuver, disrupting A-Cheng’s Beedrill’s rhythm.
• A-Cheng ordered Beedrill to use Agility, and Xinhai responded with Pin Missile to seal off its likely turns.

A-Cheng's Beedrill improved its battle technique under Xinhai's guidance, learning to conserve strength and fight with a steadier rhythm. Xinhai then started a match between A-Cheng's Raticate and Eevee, leaving Eevee calmly facing Raticate's Quick Attack.

• A-Cheng's Beedrill's Poison Jab failed against Xinhai's Beedrill's Protect, and Xinhai explained that it needed to conserve strength for follow-up actions.
• A-Cheng told Beedrill to prioritize stability over force, and Beedrill launched a more measured Twineedle attack.
• Xinhai's Beedrill guided A-Cheng's Beedrill through several exchanges, helping it improve its control and movement before Xinhai ended the round.
• A-Cheng recognized the value of practical combat and confirmed that Beedrill had remembered the lessons.
• Xinhai invited Raticate to battle Eevee, and A-Cheng's Raticate charged with Quick Attack as Eevee stood its ground.

Xinhai held a training battle between Eevee and A-Cheng’s Raticate, pointing out flaws in Raticate’s attacks and offering A-Cheng advice for improving as a Trainer. A-Cheng took notes and was left with a clearer plan to build experience through real battles and prepare tactics in advance.

• Eevee dodged Raticate’s repeated attacks, and Xinhai explained that it relied on instinct while identifying Raticate’s tell before it sprinted.
• A-Cheng corrected Raticate’s foot-tapping habit, then continued the training battle as both Pokémon traded attacks and learned from each other.
• Xinhai stopped the battle, and A-Dou praised him while A-Cheng thanked him for revealing problems in his training.
• Xinhai assessed A-Cheng’s Raticate and Beedrill, noting their solid fundamentals but limited standout strengths.
• Xinhai advised A-Cheng to seek more real battles and plan simple tactics, and A-Cheng began writing the advice in his notebook.

Xinhai shared training advice with A-Cheng, then joined his family for lunch in Orange East Village. As they talked afterward, A-Cheng asked for advice about catching a Flying-type Pokémon, and Xinhai began helping him weigh his options.

• Xinhai explained techniques and low-cost training methods for A-Cheng's Pokémon, and A-Cheng invited him home for lunch.
• Xinhai ate with A-Cheng and his family, sharing stories from his travels.
• A-Cheng asked how long Xinhai would stay in Petalburg City, and Xinhai explained he would train at Petalburg Gym for two weeks before the Ever Grande Conference.
• A-Cheng said he wanted to catch a Flying-type Pokémon, and Xinhai suggested considering Pidgey based on A-Cheng's resources and training conditions.
• When A-Cheng worried that Pidgey would take years to evolve into Pidgeot, Xinhai asked whether he wanted a Pokémon that could fly or one that could carry him while flying.

Xinhai advised A-Cheng to raise a Pidgey patiently, then traveled to Petalburg Gym to begin arranging his special training. Instructor Toyokawa welcomed him and said the training would officially start the next morning.

• Xinhai explained why Pidgey's size and steady development made it a better choice for carrying A-Cheng than Swellow or Wingull, and A-Cheng decided to catch one.
• Xinhai shared basic Flying-type training advice with A-Cheng and answered his questions before leaving for Petalburg City.
• Xinhai arrived at Petalburg Gym and told the receptionist that Dewford Gym had arranged his special training.
• Instructor Toyokawa confirmed Xinhai's details, welcomed him, and offered to show him the training areas before training began the next morning.

Xinhai toured Petalburg Gym’s training facilities with Mentor Toyokawa and learned that his Pokémon would be matched with suitable sparring partners. He met Norman’s young daughter May, who became excited about his Eevee, and she asked if she could visit it every day during his two-week stay.

• Mentor Toyokawa showed Xinhai Petalburg Gym’s training rooms and equipment, then said a mentor would arrange his special training and sparring opponents.
• Xinhai told Mentor Toyokawa that Blaziken, Gardevoir, and Eevee were close to Gym level, while his other main partners were at Elite level or still building their foundations.
• May ran into the entrance hall while Norman was on the phone and spotted Xinhai’s Eevee.
• Xinhai let May pet Eevee, and she praised how soft and well-behaved it was compared with Norman’s Linoone.
• Mentor Toyokawa introduced Xinhai and explained that he would stay at the Gym for two weeks, prompting May to ask if she could visit Eevee every day.

Xinhai settled into his evening routine at the Pokémon Center with his companions after meeting May and arranging for her to visit Eevee. The next morning, he completed his usual training and set out after breakfast.

• May promised to visit Eevee again the next day, and Xinhai and Mentor Toyokawa agreed that she could come by.
• Mentor Toyokawa told Xinhai to meet him at the Main Training Ground at eight the next morning, and Xinhai left the Gym.
• Xinhai returned to the Pokémon Center, fed his companions, and gave them relaxation massages before reading training guides with Eevee on his lap.
• Gardevoir quietly accompanied Xinhai as he fell asleep, then covered him with a blanket during the night.
• Xinhai completed his morning Dewford Twelve Forms and Tai Chi, ate breakfast, and headed out with his companions.

Xinhai began special training at Petalburg Gym with a six-on-six battle against Gym Instructor Sasaki. Blaziken defeated Sasaki’s Kangaskhan, and Xinhai recalled it to preserve its strength for the battles ahead.

• Xinhai arrived at Petalburg Gym’s Main Training Ground and met fellow Trainers Tetsuya Nomura and Hayato Akiyama.
• Instructor Toyokawa announced that each Trainer would face one Gym instructor in a standard six-on-six battle.
• Xinhai chose Instructor Sasaki as his opponent and sent Blaziken into battle against Sasaki’s Kangaskhan.
• Blaziken evaded Kangaskhan’s attacks and struck it with Flare Blitz, but Kangaskhan remained able to battle.
• Xinhai ordered Blaziken to use Brave Bird, and its head-on clash with Kangaskhan’s Hyper Beam left Kangaskhan unable to battle.
• Xinhai recalled Blaziken after its victory to save its stamina for the remaining battles.

Xinhai won his battle against Instructor Sasaki after a grueling match that left most of his Pokémon exhausted. Gym Leader Norman and May praised his strategy, and May urged him to get his Pokémon treated.

• Xinhai's Mightyena lost to Sasaki's Snorlax, but Blaziken defeated Snorlax with repeated high-speed attacks.
• Xinhai's Sceptile and Sasaki's Exploud knocked each other out, and Krookodile lost to Zangoose.
• Xinhai's Gardevoir used Teleport and Psychic to disorient Zangoose and win the match for Xinhai Bai Mu.
• May cheered for Xinhai, and Norman praised his command strategy and battle adjustments.
• May reminded Xinhai to get his injured Pokémon treated, then left with Norman so she would not disturb him.

After reviewing his sparring match with Instructor Sasaki, Xinhai noticed that Sasaki's Pokémon shifted between offense and defense more smoothly than his own partners. He planned to train his Pokémon to study that rhythm before their next match that afternoon.

• Xinhai placed his six Pokémon in the treatment machine to recover after the battle.
• While reviewing the match, Xinhai realized Sasaki's Pokémon moved between offense and defense with almost no interruption in their energy flow.
• Xinhai released Blaziken, Gardevoir, Eevee, Mightyena, Krookodile, and Sceptile and explained the gap in their transitions.
• Xinhai told his partners to rest and eat before training to observe, mimic, and adapt to Sasaki's transition rhythm ahead of the afternoon match.

After a crushing sparring defeat at Petalburg Gym, Xinhai studied how to improve his partners’ transitions between attacks and defenses by applying martial arts principles to energy control. The next day, he brought his twelve Pokémon to the Independent Training Room to continue practicing energy-transition techniques.

• Xinhai and his partners sparred against Mentor Kawasaki’s team, and Blaziken adapted to Ursaring’s offensive and defensive rhythm before winning its match.
• Xinhai’s team lost four to six, but Mentor Kawasaki praised Xinhai’s quick observations and encouraged him to keep learning.
• That evening, Xinhai researched energy-transition techniques and wrote a three-stage training plan based on martial arts, with the principle of reserving part of one’s strength to respond to an opponent.
• The next morning, Xinhai noticed his partners’ transitions had become smoother during another Gym sparring match.
• Xinhai gathered his twelve Pokémon in the Independent Training Room and announced that they would continue training energy-transition techniques.