Recaps

Xinhai completed two weeks of special training at the Sootopolis Gym, where Eevee and Beedrill advanced to Gym level and his partners improved through battles and focused lessons. He recorded each Pokémon’s progress and planned to rest in Sootopolis City for two days before heading home, with just over twenty days remaining until the Ever Grande Conference.

• Xinhai continued daily six-on-six battles and individualized training at the Sootopolis Gym, while Wallace's Milotic taught Xinhai's Milotic to control and compress water.
• Eevee advanced to Gym level on the sixth day after defeating Wallace's Ludicolo, and Beedrill advanced on the twelfth day.
• On the fourteenth evening, Xinhai and his Milotic said goodbye to Wallace's Milotic at the Water-type Training Annex.
• Xinhai returned to the Pokémon Center, fed and cared for his partners, then wrote a detailed summary of their training and remaining weaknesses.
• Xinhai noted that the Ever Grande Conference was just over twenty days away and decided to rest in Sootopolis City for two days before going home.

Xinhai spent two days resting with his Pokémon in Sootopolis City before flying home to Verdanturf Town. He arrived in the late afternoon and told Eevee they were home.

• Xinhai gave his Pokémon relaxing massages, took them to Sootopolis City's night market, and cooked them a lavish dinner.
• Xinhai visited the harbor market and seaside park with his companions, then shared a beach picnic as night fell.
• Xinhai checked out of the Pokémon Center on the third morning and flew northeast from Sootopolis City on Charizard.
• Xinhai and his companions stopped for lunch on an island before continuing their flight to Verdanturf Town.
• Xinhai landed outside Verdanturf Town, walked toward home, and greeted a townsfolk who recognized him from the Ever Grande Conference.

Xinhai returned home after two months of special training and reunited with Nami and his father over a welcoming dinner. He assessed his chances at the Ever Grande Conference as poor, saying that reaching the top eight would be difficult with his current team.

• Xinhai arrived home and was welcomed by Nami, while Eevee greeted her affectionately.
• Xinhai and Gardevoir helped Nami prepare dinner as he told her about his training and battles.
• Xinhai's father returned with groceries and Linoone, and the family prepared a large dinner together.
• During dinner, Xinhai told his father that he lacked confidence about the Ever Grande Conference.
• Xinhai explained that Blaziken and Alolan Golem had only recently established themselves at Gym level, while Gardevoir and Eevee had just advanced and his other Pokémon remained at level 49.
• Xinhai concluded that making the Ever Grande Conference's top eight would be difficult with his current strength.

After resting at home with his parents, Xinhai traveled with them from Verdanturf Town to Slateport City as they set out for Ever Grande City to watch the conference. He saw them board their ship and remained in Slateport City to prepare for the competition.

• Xinhai reassured Dad that he would do his best at the Ever Grande Conference, and Dad and Nami said they planned to attend.
• Xinhai spent two days resting at home with his parents and his partners before leaving with them for Slateport City.
• Xinhai and his parents rode a bus from Verdanturf Town to Slateport City, where they ate before heading to the harbor.
• Xinhai told Nami he could manage training and meals alone in Slateport City, and Dad reminded him to battle well.
• Xinhai watched Dad and Nami board a passenger ship bound for Ever Grande City.

Xinhai spent ten days in Slateport City testing his Pokémon and addressing their weaknesses while taking time to relax with them. He then flew to Ever Grande City, where he arrived as Trainers gathered for the Ever Grande Conference.

• Xinhai outlined a ten-day training plan focused on measuring each partner’s abilities and correcting their weaknesses.
• Xinhai and his Pokémon trained for half a day and explored Slateport City during their free time.
• Xinhai departed Slateport City with Charizard and flew toward Ever Grande City with Eevee riding in his shirt pocket.
• Xinhai landed on Ever Grande City’s island, registered at the public landing area, and rode his bicycle into the city.
• Xinhai spotted the enormous stadium where the Ever Grande Conference would be held.

Xinhai registered for the Ever Grande Conference, checked into room E404, and studied the tournament rules while Eevee rested. After learning the schedule and battle formats, he arranged to meet his parents for dinner and left the Pokémon Center.

• Xinhai presented his Pokédex and eight Gym Badges to Nurse Joy, completed registration, and received the key to room E404.
• Xinhai settled into his room, let Eevee rest on the bed, and read the handbook's schedule for the qualifying rounds, elimination rounds, and finals.
• Xinhai messaged his mother Nami, who invited him to join her and his father for dinner, and he also updated Roxanne and Flannery that he had arrived.
• Xinhai collected Eevee and his key card, locked his room, and left the Pokémon Center to meet his parents.

Xinhai toured Ever Grande City with his parents, Nami and Yantai, before the tournament. As more Trainers arrived, he returned his focus to preparing for the preliminary rounds and told his parents he would skip further sightseeing.

• Xinhai met Nami and Yantai, then took them to a seafood street for dinner, where they encouraged him to focus on his battles and do his best.
• Xinhai accompanied his parents back to the Sea Breeze Hotel and returned to his own lodging with a sleepy Eevee.
• The next morning, Xinhai warmed up with his companions before riding to the harbor to meet his parents for lunch.
• Xinhai toured Wetland Park and the Coastal Promenade with Nami and Yantai, who took photos with him near Ever Grande Stadium.
• As Trainers filled the Pokémon Center ahead of the tournament, Xinhai told Nami he would spend the next two days preparing; she replied that she and Yantai would attend the opening ceremony.

Xinhai attended the Ever Grande Conference opening ceremony with Eevee and watched President Damaranch light the Sacred Fire. The ceremony continued with the contestants’ oath and an exhibition match between Poni and Drake.

• Xinhai traveled through the crowded streets to Ever Grande Stadium and entered through the contestants’ passage with Eevee.
• The Sacred Fire runner arrived with a Blaziken as the packed stadium cheered.
• President Damaranch welcomed the crowd, spoke about the Sacred Fire, and lit the cauldron with the runner’s torch.
• President Damaranch led the Trainers in reciting the oath.
• Poni’s Ice-type Pokémon battled Drake’s Dragon-type Pokémon in an exhibition match as the spectators cheered.

After the opening ceremony, Xinhai spent the evening with his parents and prepared for the tournament. The next morning, he learned that his first east-division match would be against Fujiwara Takuma and headed to battlefield three.

• Xinhai met his parents, Nami and Yantai, outside the stadium after the exhibition matches, and they encouraged him before parting ways.
• Xinhai returned to the Pokémon Center, made dinner for himself and his Pokémon, and went to bed early.
• The next morning, Xinhai and Eevee went to Ever Grande Stadium, where Xinhai was assigned to the east division.
• Xinhai checked the draw and learned he would face Fujiwara Takuma in round seven at battlefield three.
• When his match appeared on the schedule, Xinhai left the waiting area and headed to battlefield three with Eevee.

Xinhai defeated Fujiwara Takuma’s Crawdaunt in the first round of the preliminaries, then learned that his second-round opponent would be Hayase Misaki. He watched other battles while waiting for his match.

• Fujiwara Takuma sent out Crawdaunt, and Xinhai answered with Blaziken as their preliminary battle began.
• Crawdaunt attacked with Aqua Jet and Crabhammer, but Blaziken dodged and defeated it with Rock Smash Kick.
• The referee declared Xinhai the winner, and both Trainers recalled their Pokémon before Xinhai returned to the waiting area.
• Xinhai saw the second-round draw pairing him against Hayase Misaki in Arena Three.
• Xinhai watched Hayase and several competitors, observing their tactics as Magneton defeated Linoone with Thunder Wave and Zap Cannon.

Xinhai and Blaziken defeated Hayase Misaki’s Swampert in two attacks, then won consecutive matches against a Probopass and a Sceptile. Xinhai advanced through the tournament as the chapter ended after Blaziken’s victory over Sceptile.

• Xinhai sent out Blaziken against Hayase Misaki’s Swampert, and Blaziken split Swampert’s Surf with Quick Attack before knocking it out with High Jump Kick.
• Hayase Misaki recalled Swampert and left the field, while Xinhai and Eevee returned to rest before the next draw.
• Xinhai defeated his next opponent’s Elite-level Probopass with Blaziken’s Jump Kick and Rock Smash.
• Xinhai faced a Sceptile, and Blaziken pierced its Dragon Pulse with Flamethrower before knocking it out with two close-range strikes.

Xinhai advanced to the knockout rounds after Blaziken defeated a Pidgeot, then researched the strongest competitors and assessed his chances. The chapter ended with Xinhai replying to Ryosuke Onodera, who had congratulated him on advancing.

• Xinhai won his fifth, sixth, and seventh matches with little effort as Blaziken outclassed his opponents.
• Xinhai had Blaziken use Rock Slide to force Pidgeot into a predictable path, then finish it with Jump Kick and advance to the knockout rounds.
• Xinhai returned to the Pokémon Center and studied the profiles of the 256 knockout-round competitors on the tournament website.
• Xinhai reviewed the eight top-ranked contenders and judged that their deeper rosters of Gym-level Pokémon made them difficult opponents.
• Ryosuke Onodera messaged Xinhai to congratulate him, and Xinhai asked whether Ryosuke had advanced as well.