Recaps

Xinhai and Combusken won their tenth consecutive battle after defeating Primeape, then Xinhai took his exhausted Pokémon home and brought all three Pokémon to the Pokémon Center for treatment. A silver-haired woman watched the battle and remarked on Xinhai’s potential, while the chapter ended with the Center calling for Trainer Bai Mu to collect his Pokémon.

• Combusken overwhelmed Primeape with a final Rock Smash Kick, securing Xinhai’s tenth consecutive victory before both Pokémon collapsed from exhaustion.
• Xinhai declined an interview, gathered Combusken, and left the arena as the crowd celebrated.
• A silver-haired woman watched the footage of Xinhai and Combusken, praised Xinhai’s potential to Xiao Luo, and wondered how far he would go.
• Xinhai reunited with Eevee and Ralts, ended their training early, and took them with Combusken to the Pokémon Center for treatment.
• After reviewing his notes in the waiting area, Xinhai received a Pokédex notification, and the lobby announced that Trainer Bai Mu should collect his Pokémon.

After recovering their Pokémon from Nurse Joy, Xinhai fed and supervised their training before telling them they would challenge a Gym the next day. Ralts was disappointed that she could not participate, so Xinhai promised with a pinky hook that she would battle in the next Gym challenge, leaving Combusken and Eevee to prepare for tomorrow.

• Nurse Joy told Xinhai that Combusken's leg needed rest, while Ralts and Eevee were only tired.
• Xinhai prepared a nourishing meal for the three Pokémon, and they ate before training in the room.
• Xinhai announced that they would challenge a Gym the next day, and Combusken and Eevee asked to participate.
• Xinhai told Ralts she was too small for this battle but promised she could join the next one.
• Xinhai and Ralts sealed the promise with a pinky hook, and he asked Combusken and Eevee to handle tomorrow's battle.

Xinhai booked a Rustboro Gym Battle for the following afternoon, while Trainer Morisaki informed Roxanne that her father wanted her to assess him as a potential investment. Roxanne’s silence suggested she resisted her father arranging her future again.

• Xinhai reserved a Rustboro Gym Battle for 15:00 the next day and planned training and rest for Combusken and Eevee.
• Combusken and Eevee eagerly accepted the challenge while Ralts meditated nearby.
• Trainer Morisaki saw Xinhai Bai Mu’s reservation and recognized him as a tournament top-eight Trainer backed by the Joy family.
• Morisaki called Roxanne and explained that Rock Dragon Rock wanted her to assess Xinhai as a potential investment.
• Roxanne asked whether the plan came from her father, then fell silent as Morisaki recognized her unspoken refusal.

Roxanne reluctantly agreed to act as Gym Leader for a battle and faced Xinhai at Rustboro Gym. Their two-on-two match began with Roxanne’s Geodude against Xinhai’s Eevee, leaving Eevee preparing to counter Geodude’s defense.

• Trainer Morisaki persuaded Roxanne to return to the Gym the next day and take part in a battle.
• Roxanne reflected on wishing she could live as an ordinary person after seeing students enjoy themselves at school.
• Xinhai arrived at Rustboro Gym for his scheduled battle and was surprised to find Roxanne serving as Acting Gym Leader.
• Roxanne and Xinhai began their two-on-two battle with Geodude and Eevee as their first Pokémon.
• Geodude used Rock Throw and began preparing Rollout, while Eevee’s Quick Attack struck it without breaking its defense.
• Xinhai had Eevee use Double Team and Work Up, creating five copies as its strength began to rise.

Xinhai used Eevee’s Yawn and Baton Pass to give Combusken Eevee’s Work Up boost while Geodude fell asleep. Combusken defeated Geodude with a powerful Flame Charge and kick, leaving Roxanne’s team down a Pokémon.

• Roxanne ordered Geodude to use Rock Slide, but Eevee hid behind a boulder and emerged unharmed after the attack cleared the field in dust.
• Xinhai had Eevee use Yawn, then Quick Attack and Swift to dodge Geodude’s Rock Tomb and counter it.
• As Geodude prepared Stealth Rock, Xinhai used Baton Pass to switch Eevee for Combusken and transfer Eevee’s Work Up boost.
• Geodude scattered Stealth Rock across Xinhai’s side of the field, then fell asleep from Yawn while Combusken used Bulk Up.
• Xinhai ordered Combusken to charge through the Stealth Rock with Flame Charge and kick Geodude, knocking it out and winning the battle.

Xinhai and Combusken faced Roxanne’s Nosepass after defeating Geodude, and the battle escalated under Nosepass’s powerful Gravity. Combusken broke through Nosepass’s defenses and landed a devastating Double Rock Smash Kick, leaving the outcome of the strike unresolved.

• Roxanne recalled her defeated Geodude and sent out Nosepass, whose magnetic presence put Combusken under pressure.
• Roxanne used Gravity, but Combusken charged through the field with Flame Charge.
• Nosepass used Double-Edge, but Combusken evaded it with Bounce and attacked with Quick Attack.
• Nosepass created another Gravity field and used Magnitude, while Combusken broke through and leapt into a Double Rock Smash Kick.
• Combusken shattered Nosepass’s Protect shield and struck its head with the second kick.

Xinhai defeated Roxanne’s Nosepass in a Gym Battle and received Rustboro Gym’s Rock Badge. Changfeng Morisaki revealed that the battle had also been an assessment for Gym investment, while Nosepass began treatment and Xinhai took his Pokémon to the Pokémon Center.

• Combusken defeated Nosepass with a powerful combination of Rock Smash and Double Kick, and Changfeng declared Xinhai the winner.
• Roxanne recalled Nosepass and ran to the treatment room, while Changfeng congratulated Xinhai and awarded him the Rock Badge.
• Xinhai shared the victory with Combusken, Eevee, and Ralts, then exchanged Pokédex contacts with Changfeng.
• Changfeng told Xinhai that Rustboro Gym planned to invest in him and said Roxanne would discuss the details after Nosepass recovered.
• Roxanne learned from Rika that Nosepass’s life was not in danger and that it would recover after treatment and two days of rest.
• Xinhai took his Pokémon to the Pokémon Center for treatment and waited with Ralts.

Xinhai learned that Rustboro Gym had approved a Level Two investment and arranged to sign the contract with Roxanne. The next morning, he arrived at the Gym and followed her toward the reception room.

• Xinhai received Rustboro Gym's investment details from Roxanne and learned that his strength and potential qualified him for Level Two funding.
• Roxanne explained the three investment levels and why the Joy family had previously invested in Xinhai despite his limited prospects at the time.
• Xinhai finished reviewing the materials and arranged to visit Rustboro Gym at ten the next morning to sign the contract.
• Excited by the new investment, Xinhai celebrated with Ralts and Eevee while Combusken continued training.
• The next morning, Xinhai arrived at Rustboro Gym, greeted Roxanne, and followed her toward the reception room.

Xinhai signed Rustboro Gym’s investment contract with Roxanne, then visited the Gym’s Pokémon habitat to choose a new partner. A powerful Tyranitar startled Xinhai and Ralts before Roxanne explained that the Pokémon guarded the young Pokémon, and they continued onward.

• Xinhai reviewed and signed the investment contract with Roxanne, and she returned one copy to him.
• Roxanne led Xinhai and Ralts through a secured passage into the Gym’s expansive rocky habitat.
• Tyranitar appeared and overwhelmed Xinhai and Ralts with their intimidating Presence.
• Roxanne calmed Tyranitar and explained that they guarded the habitat and belonged to her great-grandfather.
• Roxanne apologized to Xinhai and Ralts, then continued helping Xinhai select a Pokémon.

Roxanne showed Xinhai and Ralts the Rustboro Gym’s Pokémon habitats and led Xinhai to a secluded incubation annex filled with rare Eggs eligible for his investment authority. The chapter left Xinhai searching among forty Eggs for the Pokémon he had already chosen.

• Roxanne led Xinhai and Ralts through the Rock Park, where young Rock and Ground type Pokémon played and trained.
• Roxanne showed Xinhai the Gym’s main Incubation Room and explained that his Level Two Investment authority qualified him for an Egg with three Egg Moves.
• Roxanne revealed a hidden passage with Secret Power and took Xinhai into the Leyline Core Incubation Annex.
• Roxanne agreed that Xinhai could freely choose an Egg from the annex, then held Ralts while he examined the forty Eggs on six lotus pedestals.
• Xinhai began searching for the Pokémon he had decided to choose the day before.

Xinhai inspected the Pokémon Eggs in Rustboro Gym’s Leyline Core Incubation Room and chose a Sandile Egg with a likely Moxie Ability. Roxanne revealed that the egg might also inherit Dragon Dance, leaving Xinhai eager to raise it alongside his team.

• Xinhai examined the eggs and identified a brownish-black, crimson-striped egg as a Sandile’s, but continued inspecting the other choices before deciding.
• Xinhai returned to the Sandile Egg, lifted it from its pedestal, and told Roxanne he had chosen it.
• Roxanne explained that the egg came from her father’s Krookodile and had over a ninety percent chance of hatching with Moxie.
• Roxanne revealed that the egg’s Sandaconda father knew Dragon Dance, making it likely the Sandile had inherited the move.
• Xinhai thanked Roxanne and promised to raise the Sandile well.

Xinhai received a Sandile Egg from Roxanne and placed it in Rustboro Gym’s Core Milk Incubation Fluid, with the egg expected to hatch in about a week. After he left the Gym, Joy Ya recognized the Gym’s investment in him and decided to raise the Joy family’s own investment to Level Two.

• Roxanne gave Xinhai a special incubator filled with Core Milk Incubation Fluid, and he placed the Sandile Egg inside while Ralts greeted it.
• Roxanne told Xinhai the egg should hatch in about a week and asked him to return every three days to replenish the fluid and receive Sandile’s training resources.
• Roxanne escorted Xinhai out of the leyline core area and reminded him to return in three days; Xinhai thanked her and headed for the Pokémon Center.
• Joy Ya recognized the Core Milk Incubation Fluid and Sandile Egg as signs that Rustboro Gym had given Xinhai a Level Two Investment.
• Joy Ya inferred that Xinhai’s Combusken might have mastered a combination move, then notified Joy Luo and the family that she would raise their investment in Xinhai to Level Two.

Xinhai introduced the Pokémon Egg containing Sandile to Eevee, Combusken, and Ralts, and they welcomed the future team member. After lunch, Xinhai planned his next month of training and errands, leaving Combusken set to learn Mirror Move at Rustboro Gym the next day.

• Xinhai brought the incubator to his room and introduced the egg to Eevee, Combusken, and Ralts as their future companion, Sandile.
• Sandile responded through Telepathy with a desire to grow stronger, and Xinhai and the Pokémon encouraged him to rest and hatch safely.
• Xinhai prepared lunch while Combusken and Ralts trained and Eevee eagerly awaited her food.
• After lunch, Xinhai wrote a plan in his Trainer's notebook, including taking Combusken to Rustboro Gym to learn Mirror Move the next day.
• Xinhai planned to return to Rustboro Gym in three days to replenish Sandile's Core Milk Incubation Fluid and collect the breeding manual and initial resources.

Xinhai brought Combusken to Devon Corporation’s Battle Building to learn Mirror Move from Chatot, Teacher Glib Tongue. Under Chatot’s instruction, Combusken began learning to imitate Quick Attack’s energy flow, and its first attempts grew more stable.

• Xinhai trained Combusken, Ralts, and Eevee at Rustboro Gym in the morning, and Eevee learned Agility using Copycat.
• Xinhai brought his Pokémon and the incubating Sandile to the Advanced Skill Training Room No. 3 at Devon Corporation’s Battle Building.
• Chatot arrived and agreed to teach Combusken Mirror Move, then explained the lesson through its cries.
• Chatot asked Eevee to demonstrate Quick Attack and showed Combusken how to copy the move’s energy flow with Flying type energy.
• Combusken practiced repeatedly, gradually keeping the white glow on its legs for longer.

Combusken learned to use Mirror Move by imitating Quick Attack’s energy transformation under Chatot’s instruction. After intensive practice, Xinhai and the Pokémon celebrated their progress, while the Sandile egg’s life fluctuations grew more active.

• Xinhai had Eevee explain Copycat to Combusken and Ralts, hoping the lesson would help them understand moves that imitate others.
• Chatot guided Combusken through repeated attempts to sense and transform energy until Combusken successfully used Mirror Move to imitate Quick Attack.
• Chatot praised Combusken’s breakthrough and explained that Mirror Move required practice with many different moves and battles.
• Combusken continued practicing under Chatot’s precise corrections, improving his success rate and the fluidity of his Mirror Move.
• When the lesson ended, Xinhai praised Combusken, Eevee, and Ralts for their efforts, and the Sandile egg’s life fluctuations became more active.

After training, Xinhai took his Pokémon to the Pokémon Center, then returned to his room to feed them and help Combusken practice Mirror Move. Combusken managed to imitate a weak Growl-like energy wave, while the Sandile egg continued to stir in its incubator; the evening ended when Joy Luo messaged Xinhai.

• Xinhai ended training, had Combusken treated at the Pokémon Center, and brought his Pokémon back to his room.
• Eevee and Ralts asked for food, and Xinhai instructed them to help Combusken practice Mirror Move without using attacking moves.
• Eevee demonstrated Growl, and Ralts explained how its sound and intent could disrupt an opponent's will.
• Combusken imitated Growl's weakening energy and produced a faint, short-range wave while practicing Mirror Move with Eevee and Ralts.
• Xinhai served dinner, and his Pokémon ate before Joy Luo sent him a message.

Xinhai learned that the Joy family had upgraded his investment to Level Two and increased its funding by thirty million League Coins. Joy Luo visited the next morning with the new contract, and Xinhai began reviewing its expanded benefits.

• Joy Luo told Xinhai that his investment had been upgraded to Level Two, adding thirty million League Coins in funding.
• Xinhai shared the good news with Ralts, Combusken, and Eevee, who celebrated with him.
• The next morning, Xinhai prepared for Joy Luo's visit while caring for his Pokémon and the Pokémon Egg, which Joy Luo later estimated would hatch within three to five days.
• Joy Luo brought Xinhai the Level Two contract, which included access to the Joy family's Resource Network and upgraded Pokémon Center priority.
• Xinhai thanked Joy Luo and began reviewing the contract while she played with Eevee and Ralts.

Xinhai signed a generous contract with Joy Luo that gave him access to the Joy family's vast Resource Network, then continued training with his Pokémon. Six days after Combusken began learning Mirror Move, the Pokémon Egg in Xinhai's incubator started to hatch.

• Xinhai learned that the Joy family's Resource Network contained extensive Pokémon breeding information and a vast library of other knowledge.
• Xinhai reviewed and signed the contract, accepting thirty million League Coins in resources and access to the Joy family's Resource Network.
• Joy Luo told Xinhai that his Pokédex access would be updated and encouraged him to prepare for next year's Ever Grande Conference.
• Xinhai returned to training, and Combusken learned the basics of Mirror Move after four days of practice.
• On the sixth day of Combusken's Mirror Move training, Xinhai noticed the Pokémon Egg glowing and carefully lifted it from the incubator as his Pokémon gathered to watch.

Xinhai and his Pokémon welcomed Sandile as it hatched, then cleaned and cared for the newborn. The chapter ended with Eevee happily helping Xinhai brush Sandile and feeling grateful to have met him.

• Sandile hatched from its egg as Xinhai, Eevee, Ralts, and Combusken watched.
• Xinhai placed Sandile in a basin of fine sand and cleaned the egg fluid from its body.
• Ralts brushed Sandile's belly while Sandile enjoyed the attention.
• Eevee wanted to brush Sandile but became upset when it thought its paws meant it had no hands.
• Xinhai held Eevee's paws and helped it brush Sandile, making Eevee happy.

Xinhai welcomed Sandile into his Pokémon family, fed it Premium Moomoo Milk, and caught it as his new partner. Sandile fell asleep among its new companions while Xinhai returned to planning Ralts’s training.

• Xinhai cleaned Sandile and told Eevee, Ralts, Combusken, and Sandile that they were family and should ask one another for help.
• Xinhai fed Sandile, Eevee, Ralts, and Combusken Premium Moomoo Milk.
• Xinhai invited Sandile to join his team and travel with them toward next year’s Ever Grande Conference, and Sandile accepted.
• Xinhai caught Sandile with a Great Ball, and Sandile came back out to meet Eevee, Ralts, and Combusken.
• Xinhai settled the sleepy Sandile into a nest, and the others resumed training carefully while he searched for Ralts’s training materials.

Xinhai welcomed Sandile into the family with a pair of Black Glasses that amplified Dark-type energy and helped him control it. Sandile happily tried on his gift, which resonated with his own power.

• Xinhai woke his Pokémon and helped Sandile wash up before preparing breakfast for everyone.
• After breakfast, Xinhai retrieved a gift box while Combusken, Eevee, and Ralts recognized it as a present.
• Xinhai presented Sandile with Black Glasses and explained how they would strengthen his Dark-type moves and help him control Dark-type energy.
• Xinhai fitted the glasses onto Sandile, and their energy resonated with his own as Sandile happily thanked him.

Xinhai took newborn Sandile for a checkup and planned to travel to Petalburg Woods after Combusken finished learning Mirror Move. After a final training session, he stocked up on supplies with his Pokémon, leaving ready for the journey the next day.

• Xinhai brought Sandile to Nurse Joy for a checkup and learned that it was healthy.
• Xinhai decided to skip catching a Rock-type Pokémon in Rusturf Tunnel and planned to visit Petalburg Woods instead.
• Chatot gave Combusken final advice about practicing Mirror Move before leaving its training session.
• Xinhai took Combusken, Eevee, and Ralts to Rustboro City's department store to buy food, medicine, and camping supplies.
• Eevee picked out Poffins and begged for extra treats while Xinhai finished shopping and paid the bill.

Xinhai visited the League Mission Hall to select work for his journey through Petalburg Woods. After the terminal confirmed his direct-line status and expanded mission access, he accepted four gathering missions and prepared to depart the next morning.

• Xinhai entered the League Mission Hall and used a private terminal to verify his identity as a direct-line Trainer.
• The terminal showed that Xinhai had D-rank mission access and Level Two authority after investments from two major powers.
• Xinhai searched for missions in Petalburg Woods and reviewed the tasks available to him.
• Xinhai avoided missions that involved capturing or killing Pokémon and accepted missions to gather Golden Leaf Grass, Beautifly and Dustox scale powder, and Tiny Mushrooms.
• Xinhai left the hall and planned to rest before beginning his journey the next morning.

Xinhai and his Pokémon left Rustboro City and traveled toward Petalburg Woods, where they prepared to explore for mushrooms and Golden Leaf Grass. After studying a detailed map, Xinhai chose a route through the Beautifly and Dustox activity area toward Giant Tree Valley.

• Xinhai packed his supplies, said goodbye to Joy Ya, and left Rustboro City with his Pokémon.
• Xinhai cycled toward Petalburg Woods as his Pokémon explored the forest scenery and Ralts practiced sensing her surroundings.
• Xinhai checked a detailed map showing Pokémon habitats and resource locations in Petalburg Woods.
• Xinhai chose to head through the Beautifly and Dustox activity area before continuing to Giant Tree Valley.

Xinhai’s group cautiously entered Petalburg Woods, where a wounded Wurmple fled into their path while Swellow pursued it. Swellow mistook them for rivals and attacked, so Xinhai ordered Combusken to meet him with Flamethrower.

• Xinhai led Combusken, Ralts, Eevee, and Sandile into Petalburg Woods in a guarded formation.
• Ralts detected a Swellow and Wurmple ahead, and Xinhai first chose to go around them.
• The injured Wurmple swung toward Xinhai’s group on silk as Swellow struck it with Quick Attack, sending it crashing to the ground.
• Swellow spotted Xinhai’s group beside the fallen Wurmple and charged at Combusken, believing they meant to steal his prey.
• Xinhai ordered Combusken to counter Swellow with a curtain of flames.