Recaps

Xinhai chose Torchic, trained it with help from his father and Hatake Changlin, and welcomed Ralts after her egg hatched. After preparing their training plans and supplies, he left home with both Pokémon and began his journey through Rusturf Tunnel.

• Xinhai chose Torchic as his starter, received his League ID and travel supplies, and won his first battle against Yingnan’s Mudkip.
• Xinhai trained Torchic at Trainer School with Hatake Changlin, improving its speed, Flame Charge, and ability to endure demanding exercises.
• Yantai gave Xinhai a Ralts Egg and helped prepare specialized supplies and training guidance for both Pokémon.
• Ralts hatched with Calm Mind, Teleport, and Skill Swap as Egg Moves, and Xinhai began meditating and practicing Inner Focus with her.
• After more than ten days of training, Torchic reached Beginner level and Ralts left the infant stage, so Xinhai said goodbye and prepared to travel.
• Xinhai left town with Torchic and Ralts, entered Rusturf Tunnel, and accepted a battle against a middle-aged hiker near the exit.
• Torchic used Quick Attack to interrupt the hiker’s Sandshrew’s Rollout, and the hiker ordered Sandshrew to use Mud Shot.

Xinhai, Yingnan, and Shali competed through the Devon Corporation tournament, training and adapting their Pokémon as the rounds grew harder. The stretch left Xinhai’s Torchic still battling Trainer Matsumoto’s Swellow.

• Xinhai reached Rustboro City, registered for the Ever Grande Conference, and learned from Yingnan about the Devon Corporation tournament.
• Xinhai and Yingnan entered the tournament, watched an exhibition battle between Blaziken and Swampert end in a draw, and met Shali during the early matches.
• Xinhai, Yingnan, and Shali advanced through the first rounds as Torchic, Mudkip, and Eevee won battles against their opponents.
• Xinhai studied Rustboro Trainer School’s resources with Yingnan, then designed detailed martial-arts training plans for Torchic and Ralts.
• Shali defeated Yuta Matsumoto’s Torchic with Eevee after the group planned a strategy, and Yingnan beat Miura’s Meditite with Mudkip.
• Xinhai watched Suzuki Ai’s Ralts defeat a Shinx and met Suzuki Ai after their Ralts communicated.
• Xinhai sent Torchic against Trainer Matsumoto’s Swellow, and Torchic recovered from a hard fall before charging at Swellow with Quick Attack.

Xinhai and Yingnan advanced through the challenge tournament while Shali and other contestants were eliminated, and Xinhai’s victories came at the cost of repeated injuries to Torchic. The arc ended with the final four decided as Xinhai and Yingnan faced recovery after their latest battles.

• Xinhai defeated Swellow and prepared with Shali and Yingnan for their fifth-round matches, while Shali chose to face Suzuki Ai with Eevee.
• Suzuki Ai revealed her psychic abilities and overwhelmed Eevee, forcing Shali to surrender, while Xinhai defeated Chiba Taro’s Snivy.
• Xinhai and Yingnan recovered their Pokémon, renewed their resolve, and learned their main-tournament matchups.
• Xinhai defeated Jiro Hayama’s Murkrow and Kaito Yoshida’s Rhyhorn with Torchic, while Yingnan advanced by defeating Riko Matsuda’s Vulpix.
• Xinhai defeated Maruyama Takumi’s Growlithe, but Joy Luo warned him that Torchic’s injuries were serious and required rest and careful treatment.
• Yingnan defeated Kazu Sato’s Sneasel, while Panshijian’s Larvitar defeated Eguchi Enichi’s Mudkip and advanced to the top eight.
• Kato Yun’s Charmander defeated Xinhai’s Torchic, and Joy Luo ordered Torchic to rest for three days because its leg muscle damage had worsened.
• Panshijian’s Larvitar and Ruri’s Squirtle won their matches, Yingnan took Mudkip for treatment after losing, and the host announced the final four.

Xinhai accepted the Joy family’s investment, welcomed Eevee, and trained his three Pokémon as Combusken evolved and developed a new fighting technique. The arc left Xinhai and Combusken on an eight-win streak in the Battle Tower, with Combusken facing Primeape for a ninth victory.

• Xinhai met Joy Ya, accepted the Joy family’s investment, and chose an Anticipation Eevee along with supplies and a Fire Stone and Dawn Stone.
• Xinhai welcomed Eevee to his room, and Torchic and Ralts accepted it as their younger sibling.
• Xinhai took his Pokémon to the Devon Battle Tower, where Torchic evolved into Combusken after touching the Fire Stone.
• Xinhai trained Ralts and Eevee to use Skill Swap and improve their evasions, while Combusken developed its speed, strength, and Rock Smash kicks.
• Xinhai taught Combusken to use Tai Chi principles to redirect the recoil from its Rock Smash kicks and chain them into a second strike.
• Xinhai entered the Intermediate king-of-the-hill arena, where Combusken defeated Swellow and Hitmonchan with its new double-kick technique.
• Combusken defeated Sandslash, Breloom, and Graveler, giving Xinhai nine consecutive wins before it met Primeape’s Cross Chop with a full-power Rock Smash Kick.