Recaps

Xinhai restarted his partners’ Energy Conversion Technique training with a focus on stable rhythm, gradually progressing through increasingly difficult stages. Over several days of battles and targeted practice, Blaziken and the others mastered uninterrupted energy conversion with a single move.

• Xinhai explained the three stages of Energy Conversion Technique training and instructed his partners to reserve thirty percent of their strength for defense.
• The partners practiced repeated moves in the Gravity Training Zone while Xinhai observed and corrected their technique.
• After a short break, the Pokémon moved to specialized training areas to reinforce their energy control in familiar environments.
• Xinhai recorded his observations and used them to plan further adjustments to each partner’s training.
• Over the following days, the partners fought two six-on-six battles each morning and trained on problems revealed in combat.
• On the fifth day, Blaziken and the others completed uninterrupted energy conversion using the same move.

On the seventh day of special training, Xinhai and his partners defeated Instructor Sasaki in a six-on-six battle, winning six to four with two Pokémon still able to fight. Sasaki told Xinhai that defeating an instructor six to three would mark his true entry onto the trainer’s path.

• Instructor Sasaki challenged Xinhai to a full six-on-six battle with no restrictions.
• Blaziken defeated Ursaring with a precise Rock Smash Kick after using its improved combat rhythm to gain the advantage.
• Gardevoir defeated Persian, Mightyena lost to Kangaskhan after wearing it down, and Krookodile then narrowly defeated Kangaskhan.
• Sceptile defeated Exploud by alternating ranged and close-range attacks before landing Dark Pulse.
• Eevee defeated Zangoose with Spiral Shadow Ball, giving Xinhai a six-to-four victory with two Pokémon still able to battle.
• Instructor Sasaki praised Xinhai and said that winning six to three against an instructor would mean he had truly entered the trainer’s path.

After his battle with Instructor Sasaki, Xinhai reflected on his team’s progress and realized they still had far to go. May visited him at the training field, shared snacks, and listened to his story about Axew before leaving to meet Norman.

• Xinhai’s Pokémon received treatment after their battle, and he reviewed how Blaziken, Gardevoir, and Eevee had improved.
• May joined Xinhai, offered him dried Berries, and asked about the Beautifly he had encountered in Petalburg Woods.
• Xinhai told May that the flower field had withered and the Beautifly had left, then offered to tell her how he caught Axew at Meteor Falls.
• May condemned Axew’s parents for abandoning it because it looked different, and Xinhai explained that shiny Pokémon were sometimes rejected by wild groups.
• Xinhai and May agreed that Axew was happy with its new companions, and May gave Xinhai the last of her snacks before leaving to meet Norman.

After completing two weeks of intensive training at Petalburg Gym, Xinhai said goodbye to May and left Petalburg City by ship. He arrived in Dewford Town at dusk and set off by bicycle with Eevee.

• Xinhai finished two weeks of battles and skill-switching practice, improving his partners' coordination.
• Xinhai promised May he would return after the Ever Grande Conference, and Eevee comforted her before they said goodbye.
• Xinhai packed his supplies and training notes, then departed Petalburg City aboard the Blue Wave.
• After most of a day at sea, Xinhai reached Dewford Town at dusk.
• Xinhai unfolded his bicycle, let Eevee settle into its basket, and rode away from the harbor.

Xinhai returned to Dewford Town, settled into the Pokémon Center, and rested with his partners before resuming his training routine the next morning. He prepared to report to the Dewford Gym for special training.

• Xinhai arrived at the Pokémon Center, where Nurse Joy recognized him and arranged a room.
• Xinhai unpacked his equipment and partners, then messaged Brawly, who told him to come directly to the Gym the next day.
• Xinhai rested, washed up, and shared dinner with his partners before giving them relaxing massages and going to sleep.
• Xinhai woke to Wingull cries, completed his morning exercises, and found his Dewford Twelve Forms and Tai Chi's Closing Form had improved.
• After breakfast, Xinhai checked his partners' Poké Balls and prepared to leave for the Dewford Gym.

Xinhai returned to Dewford Gym for special training with Brawly and Instructor Iwashita. After arranging independent training for his other Pokémon, he prepared to begin a practical battle.

• Xinhai arrived at Dewford Gym and greeted Karin, who directed him to the training grounds.
• Brawly and Instructor Iwashita welcomed Xinhai, and Iwashita praised the progress he had made with his daily practice.
• Iwashita told Xinhai to arrange training for his other Pokémon before beginning a practical battle.
• Xinhai sent Charmeleon, Fraxure, Beedrill, Milotic, Linoone, and Alolan Golem to train independently.
• Xinhai returned to the Main Training Ground, where a teenage Trainer's Machamp was battling Instructor Ino's Medicham.

Xinhai faced Mentor Gaoshan in a morning Pokémon battle, where Sceptile and Hitmonchan traded rapid attacks. Sceptile created distance and ate a Sand Scale Fruit as Hitmonchan's battle rhythm continued to accelerate.

• Brawly introduced Mentor Gaoshan as Xinhai's opponent, and the two began their battle with Sceptile and Hitmonchan.
• Hitmonchan used Vacuum Wave and Fire Punch to close in, but Sceptile dodged and countered with Bullet Seed.
• Sceptile used Quick Attack and more Bullet Seed to disrupt Hitmonchan before attacking with Leaf Blade.
• Hitmonchan blocked Sceptile's Leaf Blades with Mach Punch, and the two exchanged a fast series of attacks as Hitmonchan's rhythm accelerated.
• Xinhai ordered Sceptile to open the distance, and Sceptile retreated and ate a Sand Scale Fruit.

Xinhai Bai Mu’s team faced Mentor Gaoshan’s Pokémon in a full match, with Sceptile defeating Hitmonchan and Medicham ultimately wearing Sceptile down. Eevee beat Heracross to secure Xinhai’s 6–4 victory, and Mentor Gaoshan praised his progress before leaving.

• Xinhai’s Sceptile used its boosted speed to overwhelm Hitmonchan, but Medicham defeated the exhausted Sceptile after a prolonged battle.
• Blaziken knocked down Hariyama with a Rock Smash Kick, then Xinhai recalled Blaziken to rest.
• Mightyena gained the advantage over Poliwrath with speed and footwork but lost after Poliwrath landed a Brick Break.
• Eevee avoided Heracross’s charges and defeated it with Protect and Spiral Shadow Ball, giving Xinhai the match by a score of 6–4.
• Mentor Gaoshan praised Xinhai’s progress, and Xinhai promised to keep training before Gaoshan left.

After two weeks of special training, Xinhai’s Linoone and Milotic reached Elite level, while his other Pokémon came close. He began evolving Charmeleon with rare resources, and Charmeleon’s transformation was still underway as the chapter ended.

• Xinhai finished reviewing his battle with Mentor Gaoshan and headed to Independent Training Room Six.
• After fourteen days of special training, Linoone and Milotic reached Level 40, while Charmeleon, Fraxure, Beedrill, and the others reached Level 39.
• After a day of rest, Xinhai met Brawly, and they brought evolution materials into the Independent Training Room.
• Xinhai offered Charmeleon a Fire Stone, a Dragon Crystal, a Flying Crystal, and an Elite-level Charizard’s Dragon Fang to begin its evolution.
• Charmeleon absorbed energy from the Dragon Fang, Flying Crystal, and Dragon Crystal, grew wings, and was engulfed by brilliant Evolution Light.

Charmeleon evolved into Charizard after Xinhai used a Fire Stone, and the newly evolved Pokémon showed its trust in him. Xinhai then began Fraxure’s evolution with an Elite-level Haxorus Dragon Scale and a Dragon Crystal, leaving the transformation underway.

• Charmeleon activated the Fire Stone and evolved into a Charizard over four meters tall.
• Xinhai and Brawly admired Charizard’s new form, and Charizard gently nuzzled Xinhai to show its happiness and trust.
• Xinhai checked that Charizard was adjusting well, then invited Fraxure to take its turn.
• Fraxure grasped an Elite-level Haxorus Dragon Scale, triggering its evolution and changes to its body and tusks.
• Fraxure grabbed the Dragon Crystal, sending deep purple energy into its body and intensifying the Evolution Light.

Fraxure evolved into a four-and-a-half-meter Shiny Haxorus, and Xinhai admired its new armored form alongside Charizard and Brawly. After Brawly left, Xinhai began checking his partners’ post-evolution data, starting with Charizard.

• Fraxure completed its evolution into a towering Shiny Haxorus with dark golden scales and black-and-red tusks.
• Xinhai praised Haxorus’s size, and Haxorus gently bumped his shoulder in response.
• Brawly admired Haxorus and thanked Xinhai for letting him witness the evolution before leaving the training room.
• Charizard inspected Haxorus’s new scales, and the two Pokémon exchanged friendly roars.
• Xinhai brought out his Pokédex and began scanning Charizard to check its post-evolution data.

After Charizard and Haxorus evolved, Xinhai checked their new stats and moves, then began training them to adapt to their stronger bodies. Haxorus trained under triple Gravity while Charizard practiced hovering and low-altitude movement in the Wind Chamber.

• Xinhai scanned Charizard and found it had reached level 43, learned eight new moves, and entered the Elite level.
• Xinhai scanned Haxorus and found it had reached level 42 and learned five new moves.
• Xinhai sent Haxorus to adapt to its body in the triple-Gravity zone.
• Xinhai took Charizard to the Wind Chamber and had it practice hovering in increasingly strong winds.
• Charizard gradually improved its balance and control despite being knocked off course by a sudden side wind.

Xinhai trained Charizard and Haxorus at Dewford Gym, helping them adapt to their newly evolved bodies and refine their abilities. After two weeks in Dewford Town, he left by taking flight on Charizard with Eevee tucked into his jacket.

• Xinhai recorded Charizard's wind training and Haxorus's gravity training before resting with Eevee.
• Over the next two days, Charizard improved its control in level-four winds and learned to balance in level-six winds, while Haxorus refined its moves and developed Return.
• On the third morning, Xinhai packed his belongings, checked out of the Pokémon Center, and went to the pier.
• Xinhai released Charizard, climbed onto its back, and tucked Eevee inside his jacket.
• Charizard spread its wings and lifted Xinhai and Eevee into the sky.

Xinhai and Charizard flew from Dewford Town to Lavaridge Town, where Charizard rested after the long journey. Xinhai explored the town, sampled its hot spring steamed buns, bought ingredients, and arrived at the Pokémon Center.

• Xinhai rode Charizard northeast from Dewford Town, and Eevee enjoyed watching the sea from his pocket.
• Charizard flew over the coast, Verdanturf Town, and the Mt. Chimney Range before landing near Lavaridge Town.
• Xinhai thanked Charizard for the flight and recalled it to its Poké Ball to rest.
• Xinhai bought hot spring steamed buns from an elderly shopkeeper and shared some with Eevee as he walked through town.
• Xinhai bought fresh vegetables, meat, and Berries, then entered the Pokémon Center.

Xinhai arrived in Lavaridge Town and reunited with Flannery at her Gym, where he showed her his evolved Charizard. Flannery asked how his special training was going and whether he felt confident about the Ever Grande Conference.

• Xinhai checked into a Pokémon Center room and shared lunch with his partners.
• Xinhai promised Charizard they would visit Lavaridge Gym, then messaged Flannery and arranged to meet her.
• Xinhai went to the Gym with Eevee and Gardevoir and greeted Flannery outside.
• Xinhai told Flannery that he had finished training at Dewford Gym and that Charizard and Haxorus had evolved.
• Flannery admired Charizard and greeted him before asking Xinhai about his training and confidence for the Ever Grande Conference.

Flannery took Xinhai to the Lavaridge Gym’s underground breeding base, where she showed him the Charizard clan and introduced its elders. She asked him to release his Charizard, leaving their reunion about to begin.

• Xinhai told Flannery that his Pokémon’s special training was progressing well and that he felt more confident about the Ever Grande Conference.
• Flannery led Xinhai through the Gym and into the vast breeding base beneath the back mountain.
• Xinhai saw the base’s Pokémon and learned that Lavaridge Gym had cultivated the underground habitat over generations.
• Flannery introduced Old Fire, a Peak Elite-level Charizard, and his mate Little Fire, an Elite-level Charizard whose child was Crimson Flame.
• Flannery asked Xinhai to release his Charizard, and he took out its Poké Ball.

Xinhai brought Charizard and Blaziken to Flannery’s underground training grounds, where each met an Elite-level Pokémon who would guide its special training. Charizard began learning from Old Fire, while Blaziken met the group leader Flame Feather.

• Xinhai’s Charizard met Old Fire, who welcomed the newly evolved Pokémon with a gentle greeting.
• Flannery told Xinhai that Old Fire would teach Charizard for two weeks and that Blaziken could train with its own group to recover ancestral knowledge.
• Flannery explained that her grandfather, Gym Leader Mura, had arranged the special training, and Xinhai said he would thank him in person.
• Flannery led Xinhai to the Blaziken group and introduced its Elite-level leader, Flame Feather.
• Xinhai released his Elite-level Blaziken, and Blaziken stood firm under Flame Feather’s pressure and returned his approving greeting.

Xinhai left Blaziken and Charizard with Flame Feather and Old Fire for two weeks of special training in Lavaridge Town. After Flannery arranged a training room and welcomed him to dinner, they discussed his travel plans and how his Pokémon could grow stronger.

• Flame Feather and Xinhai's Blaziken acknowledged each other, and Blaziken followed Flame Feather into the territory for training.
• Xinhai told Charizard to train with Old Fire for two weeks, and Charizard promised to work hard.
• Flannery registered Xinhai for Independent Training Room No. 3 and took him to dinner at the Hot Spring House.
• Xinhai told Flannery he planned to train at each Gym for two weeks before traveling through Mauville City, Fortree City, the coastal cities, and Sootopolis City.
• Flannery said Blaziken might reach Gym level and advised Xinhai to prepare low- and mid-quality Evolution Stones for his Pokémon.

Xinhai discussed ways to improve his Pokémon’s growth and recovery with Flannery over dinner in Lavaridge Town. He arranged for Roxanne to supply Evolution Stones and ended the night at the Pokémon Center, ready for special training the next morning.

• Flannery explained that Pokémon could gradually absorb energy by carrying Evolution Stones, and Xinhai decided to obtain some for his team.
• Flannery recommended using Lavaridge’s hot springs to help Xinhai’s Pokémon recover during special training.
• Xinhai and Flannery shared dinner and discussed training, his travels, the Ever Grande Conference, and League developments.
• After parting from Flannery, Xinhai messaged Roxanne and ordered five each of Fire Stones, Leaf Stones, Thunder Stones, and Water Stones.
• Roxanne arranged to send the stones through League Express, and Xinhai went to bed with Eevee beside his pillow.

Xinhai began his morning without Blaziken and Charizard, then went to Lavaridge Gym for a battle with Flannery, who had volunteered as his sparring partner. The battle began with Flannery sending out a massive Torkoal, while Xinhai prepared to release his first Pokémon.

• Xinhai noticed Blaziken and Charizard were away training at the underground breeding base, and told Gardevoir they would visit them that afternoon.
• Xinhai arrived at Lavaridge Gym and learned that Flannery would be his battle instructor that morning.
• Xinhai arranged training for Beedrill, Linoone, and Alolan Golem before returning to the Main Training Ground.
• The referee started the battle, and Flannery sent out her exceptionally large Torkoal.
• Xinhai recognized Torkoal and pressed the release button on a Poké Ball at his waist.

Xinhai's Krookodile and Flannery's Torkoal battled amid Sunny Day and Sandstorm, trading powerful attacks while the scorching weather and dust filled the field. The chapter ended with their Earthquakes colliding, shattering the ground and intensifying the Sandstorm.

• Flannery had Torkoal use Sunny Day while Xinhai ordered Krookodile to create a Sandstorm.
• Flannery's Torkoal attacked with Heat Wave, and Xinhai's Krookodile countered with Earthquake; Torkoal used Withdraw to deflect most of the damage.
• Xinhai had Krookodile use Rock Slide, which Torkoal blocked with Protect.
• With visibility obscured, Flannery had Torkoal use Earthquake, and Krookodile answered with its own Earthquake.
• The two attacks collided, cracking the stone slabs and sending more dust into the Sandstorm.

Xinhai’s Krookodile attacked Flannery’s Torkoal through the superheated sandstorm, while the arena’s rising temperature steadily wore Krookodile down. Torkoal endured Krookodile’s Earth Power and answered with Flamethrower, leaving the battle unresolved.

• Flannery ordered Torkoal to use Smog, intensifying the hot, sand-filled conditions to force Krookodile out of hiding.
• Xinhai directed Krookodile to strike with Stone Edge and Dragon Pulse, and Krookodile followed with Rock Tomb to bury Torkoal.
• Krookodile withdrew from the scorching sandstorm as the heat drained its stamina, and Xinhai recognized that the furnace-like arena threatened his other Pokémon.
• Xinhai ordered Earth Power, but Torkoal’s Earthquake could not stop the attack from striking and injuring it.
• Flannery commanded Torkoal to use Flamethrower, and Torkoal sent a blazing pillar of fire toward Krookodile.

Xinhai defeated Flannery’s Torkoal with Krookodile, then sent out Eevee to face Arcanine. The arena’s intense heat empowered Arcanine, and after Eevee was knocked out, Mightyena took its place against the still-dominant Fire-type Pokémon.

• Krookodile hid in the sandstorm, then burst out with Dragon Ascent and broke through Torkoal’s Blast Burn.
• Krookodile struck Torkoal into the arena’s Barrier and finished it with Dragon Pulse, and the referee declared Torkoal unable to battle.
• Xinhai recalled the exhausted Krookodile and sent out Eevee as Flannery brought out Arcanine.
• Arcanine used the overheated arena to overwhelm Eevee and knock it out with Extreme Speed.
• Xinhai sent out Mightyena, whose Dark-type attacks were weakened by the heat while Arcanine’s Fire-type moves grew fiercer.

Xinhai lost his battle against Flannery by a score of four to six, then accompanied her to the breeding base to watch Blaziken and Charizard train. He watched Blaziken learn under Flame Feather before heading with Flannery to see Charizard practice under Old Fire.

• Mightyena, Gardevoir, Milotic, Haxorus, and Krookodile battled Flannery's team in the extreme heat, but Xinhai's team lost the match four to six.
• Xinhai and Flannery exchanged congratulations and placed their Pokémon's Poké Balls in the healing machine.
• Flannery invited Xinhai to visit Blaziken and Charizard while their other Pokémon recovered, and he agreed.
• Xinhai watched Flame Feather teach his Blaziken close-combat technique and heard Flannery say it might reach Gym level within two weeks.
• Xinhai and Flannery went to the Charizard group, where Old Fire supervised Xinhai's Charizard as it practiced its moves.

Xinhai kept up an intense training routine at the Gym while his Blaziken refined its fighting style and advanced to Gym level. On the twelfth day, Blaziken demonstrated its progress in a sparring match with Flame Feather, which ended after Flame Feather judged that it had met the requirements.

• Xinhai visited Charizard during its training with Old Fire, then returned to the Gym with Flannery.
• After Flannery left, Xinhai trained Beedrill, Linoone, Alolan Golem, Eevee, and Gardevoir in the Independent Training Room.
• Xinhai followed a demanding routine of Gym battles, visits to Blaziken and Charizard, and focused training; on the third day, Roxanne sent him twenty Evolution Stones, which he distributed among his companions.
• On the twelfth afternoon, Xinhai and Flannery arrived at the Blaziken clan's rocky platform and found Flame Feather preparing to test Xinhai's Blaziken in combat.
• Flame Feather and Blaziken traded precise attacks as Xinhai observed how Blaziken had incorporated Flame Feather's techniques into its own style after advancing to Gym level.
• After dozens of exchanges, Flame Feather stopped attacking and nodded to show that Blaziken had met its requirements.