Chapter Summaries

Key plot points and events

• Over several days, Mu Yun makes large quantities of Basic and Intermediate Energy Cubes, gaining substantial skill experience. He spends League Coins on berries to conserve points and plans to use his remaining supplies after returning from the Secret Realm.
• Before bed, he checks on Little Gold and Second Carp in the Pokémon Space. Little Gold is growing rapidly and nearly finishes his fifth horn bone; Second Carp is also unusually large but absorbs bones more slowly.
• Mu Yun discovers that Second Carp has earned a limit-breaking point through his progress with Splash. He examines the possible ability enhancements for Magikarp.
• The most notable options are Dragon Might, which can weaken frightened opponents, and Dragon General, a complex ability tied to Second Carp’s ambition to command water-type Pokémon.
• Dragon General can develop into Dragon King, granting powerful effects against non-dragonkind and allowing defeated dragonkind Pokémon to become Dragon Guards. With ten or more guards, Second Carp gains Aid the King, which lets him redistribute damage and share or draw on strength.
• Seeing the thirty-one Magikarp already in the Pokémon Space, Mu Yun realizes Second Carp has a ready-made group of potential Dragon Guards. He wonders whether Little Gold’s future enhancement can compete.

Character development

• Mu Yun continues refining his Energy Cube-making skill and shows growing interest in developing his Pokémon strategically. He is surprised and impressed by Second Carp’s unexpectedly ambitious potential.
• Little Gold is growing exceptionally quickly, suggesting he may become enormous after evolving.
• Second Carp proves to have more than simple strength: his unique ability path reveals an ambition to lead other water-type Pokémon, potentially making him a commander and future “Dragon King.”

Significant themes

• Growth through effort: Mu Yun’s practice improves his crafting skill, while the Pokémon’s feeding and training produce physical and ability growth.
• Hidden potential and ambition: Second Carp’s unassuming nature conceals an unusually grand leadership-oriented ability.
• Strategy and teamwork: Dragon General’s power depends on followers, and Aid the King makes the strength and number of Dragon Guards central to Second Carp’s combat role.
• The value of preparation: Mu Yun’s existing group of Magikarp may allow Second Carp to develop an ability that would otherwise be difficult to use fully.

Character interactions

• Mu Yun checks on and cares for Little Gold and Second Carp, supplying Little Gold with another horn bone.
• He examines Second Carp’s status and considers which enhancement best suits him, weighing Dragon Might against the more elaborate Dragon General.
• Mu Yun connects Second Carp’s potential followers to the sleeping Magikarp nearby and humorously compares the prospect of his future team to an impressive battle squad.

Chapter Summary: “Departure! Arrival in Deer City! Battle Secret Realm!”

Plot and Major Events

• Mu Yun checks on his Pokémon and finds that none have yet mastered any Limit-Breaking moves, largely because he has been too busy to train them or provide experience-boosting support.
• The next day, Mu Yun and the other selected students travel by chartered plane from the Northeast Region to Deer City in South Sea Province.
• After arriving, they are welcomed by Xia Rongquan, the Southern Region’s third-seat Elite Four and an Electric-type specialist. The students settle into a resort hotel and later attend an official briefing.
• Xia explains that the expedition’s destination is a newly identified Battle Secret Realm, a unique space where entrants are immediately matched against Pokémon opponents in isolated battle arenas.
• The Secret Realm only accepts participants under twenty years old. Defeating Pokémon grants points and rewards, while losing ejects the participant. Each person receives only one chance to enter.
• The event will serve as the first Special College Entrance Examination. Rankings depend on the number of Pokémon defeated, with time spent inside the Secret Realm used as a tiebreaker.
• Mu Yun becomes curious about the Secret Realm’s unusual nature and notices that his system has not issued a mission related to the examination.
• The following day, the students travel by ship to the isolated island where the Secret Realm is located.
• During the voyage, Mu Yun meets Qin Yilin and Zhu Mingze from the Imperial City. Zhu jokingly challenges Mu Yun to punch him, claiming to possess powerful healing abilities.
• Before Mu Yun can respond, a gigantic Wailord suddenly erupts from the sea, ending the chapter on an impending crisis.

Character Development

• Mu Yun: Remains calm and analytical throughout the journey. He carefully evaluates the Secret Realm’s rules and suspects there may be more to the event than a normal examination. His reputation is reinforced when others learn that he can send an Ursaluna flying.
• Chi Duoduo: Displays childlike excitement about airplanes, sea travel, and the upcoming battles, though she quickly becomes bored during the voyage. She continues to admire and depend on Mu Yun, confidently predicting that he will win first place.
• Lü Jiayi and Ling Ruijie: Their conversation reveals that Ling Ruijie’s older sister, despite being a strong university student, was not allowed to participate. This raises questions about whether influential families know something unusual about the Secret Realm.
• Xia Rongquan: Acts as the expedition leader and explains the Secret Realm’s rules. Though friendly and approachable, he also appears authoritative and experienced.
• Qin Yilin: Introduces herself as a practical, observant student from the Imperial City. She is curious about Mu Yun and Chi Duoduo’s abilities.
• Zhu Mingze: Is portrayed as flamboyant and humorous, pretending to drink red wine when he is actually drinking grape juice. His healing ability makes him unusually reckless and eager to test Mu Yun’s strength.
• Fajar and his followers: A hostile subplot reveals their plan to invade or interfere with the Secret Realm. They worship a Sea God and believe the island is divine land that should belong only to true believers.

Significant Themes

• Competition and selection: The Battle Secret Realm functions as both a trial and a ranking system, selecting talented young Trainers through combat.
• Mystery and hidden danger: The Secret Realm’s apparent “programmed” intelligence, age restriction, rewards, and one-attempt rule suggest that its true purpose may be more complicated than the authorities understand.
• Faith versus power: Fajar’s religious fanaticism contrasts with the Yanhuang League’s secular authority, setting up a conflict involving divine claims, political control, and territorial invasion.
• Youth and elite talent: The event gathers gifted students from powerful families and regions, highlighting the pressure placed on the younger generation to prove themselves.
• Comedic camaraderie amid danger: Lighthearted interactions—such as Chi Duoduo’s excitement and Zhu Mingze’s eccentric challenge—balance the serious examination and looming threat.

Important Character Interactions

• Mu Yun reassures Chi Duoduo during the flight and voyage, reinforcing their close, supportive relationship.
• Liao Ding and Xia Rongquan exchange formal greetings, establishing cooperation between regional authorities.
• Lü Jiayi questions Ling Ruijie about his sister’s absence, hinting at possible secrets surrounding the Secret Realm.
• Chi Duoduo praises Mu Yun’s strength when Qin Yilin and Zhu Mingze ask about her ability to defeat an Ursaluna, increasing their interest in him.
• Zhu Mingze attempts to provoke Mu Yun into a physical test, but the sudden appearance of the enormous Wailord interrupts the encounter.
• Meanwhile, Fajar’s group plots an attack, believing the local protector will be absent and unable to stop them.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Mu Yun and the others encounter a colossal Champion-Level male Wailord in the ocean.
• Wailord possesses an extraordinary combination of abilities and bonuses, including Champion Specialty, Water Type Specialization, Champion Descendant energy, Awakening Powers, Natural Power, and Power of the Sea. In the ocean, it can recover rapidly and strengthen its Water-type attacks.
• Qin Yilin identifies Wailord as belonging to the rebels of the Mihaiya Grand League. The Pokémon is believed to be connected to Fajar Salim, the former high priest of the Mihaiya Sect.
• Fajar was a fanatic who worshipped the Sea God, opposed the newly formed Mihaiya Grand League, attempted to incite rebellion and assassinate its president, and was subsequently branded a traitor.
• The group realizes that Fajar’s appearance in Yanhuang waters could have serious consequences, especially because he was once powerful enough to rival a Regional Champion.
• Mu Yun, Qin Yilin, and Zhu Mingze prepare for the possibility that Wailord may attack them. Chi Duoduo becomes frightened, while Mu Yun reassures her and considers using his Pokémon Space as a last resort.
• Regional Elite Four member Xia Rongquan confronts the intruder and sends out his ace, a Champion-Level Electivire.
• Electivire is newly advanced to the Champion level and benefits from Electric-type advantages against Wailord, but Wailord is more experienced, stronger, and possesses superior Water-type bonuses.
• The chapter ends with an imminent battle. The sea itself favors Wailord, while damage to the ship could severely disadvantage Electivire and the people aboard it.

Character Developments

• Mu Yun: Experiences genuine pressure upon seeing a powerful Champion-Level Pokémon, but remains composed enough to protect Chi Duoduo and think strategically. He recognizes the danger while retaining a possible escape plan through his Pokémon Space.
• Qin Yilin: Demonstrates knowledge of the Mihaiya Grand League’s political and religious history. Her attitude shifts from uncertainty to serious caution once she identifies Wailord’s connection to Fajar Salim.
• Zhu Mingze: Abandons his earlier interest in testing Mu Yun’s strength and becomes visibly anxious when the group faces a possible high-level criminal attack.
• Chi Duoduo: Shows fear in the face of the overwhelming Wailord, relying on Mu Yun for reassurance.
• Xia Rongquan: Acts decisively to defend Yanhuang waters and confronts the intruder personally. His status as a Regional Elite Four member is emphasized, though the battle may test the limits of his newly Champion-Level ace.
• Fajar Salim: Does not appear directly, but is established as the likely enemy behind Wailord—a dangerous former religious leader and political rebel with possible Regional Champion-level strength.

Significant Themes

• Overwhelming power and hierarchy: The detailed abilities of Wailord and Electivire highlight the vast difference between ordinary high-level Pokémon and true Champion-Level combatants.
• Experience versus potential: Electivire has reached Champion level but is inexperienced there, whereas Wailord is an established and highly optimized Champion-level fighter.
• Environmental advantage: The ocean is not merely a setting; it actively empowers Wailord, allowing it to recover energy and enhance its Water-type attacks.
• Political instability and rebellion: The conflict reflects the fragile unification of the Mihaiya Grand League and the threat posed by defeated factions and religious extremists.
• Protection under crisis: Mu Yun’s reassurance of Chi Duoduo and Xia Rongquan’s immediate defense of the ship show characters responding to danger by protecting others despite their own fear.
• Strategic limitations: Even with type advantage, Electivire must fight while protecting the ship, making the battlefield and collateral damage as important as raw strength.

Character Interactions

• Qin Yilin explains Wailord’s identity and Fajar Salim’s history to Mu Yun and Zhu Mingze, shaping their understanding of the threat.
• Zhu Mingze turns to Qin Yilin for guidance, while she urges everyone to prepare for the worst.
• Chi Duoduo clings to Mu Yun in fear, and he comforts her while privately considering an emergency escape.
• Xia Rongquan directly challenges the rebel and positions Electivire against Wailord, turning the tense encounter into an impending confrontation.
• The group’s fear contrasts with Xia Rongquan’s defiance, setting up a battle between Electivire’s Electric-type advantage and Wailord’s superior experience and ocean-enhanced power.

Plot points and events

• Fajar, a Sea God devotee, stalls Xia Rongquan’s group with grandiose claims that all oceans belong to his god. Mu Yun suspects Fajar is buying time and notes that the Pearl of the Sea could let him teleport away.
• Xia Rongquan learns from Ma Yue that the Battle Secret Realm is secure and Champion Cang Linyu is approaching. He orders Electivire to attack.
• Electivire’s Thunderbolt collides with Wailord’s enormous water attack, creating a vast storm of electrified rain. Mu Yun and the others witness the destructive scale of Champion-level Pokémon.
• Cang Linyu arrives on Salamence. Fajar immediately recognizes the danger and orders Wailord to teleport away.
• A tall figure leaps from Salamence and strikes the sea with immense force, raising a colossal wave. Mu Yun identifies the Pokémon as a level-89 Tsareena—at the peak of Champion Level.

Character developments

• Mu Yun reflects on the strategic value of the Pearl of the Sea and gains a new appreciation for Champion-level power, comparing it to a mobile nuclear weapon.
• Xia Rongquan shifts from wary verbal sparring to decisive action once he learns reinforcements are coming.
• Fajar remains composed while delaying the group, but becomes alarmed when Cang Linyu arrives and escapes immediately.
• Qin Yilin is initially anxious about the danger, then excited to see the famous Champion Cang.

Character interactions

• Fajar and Xia Rongquan trade insults while each gauges the other’s intentions.
• Ma Yue updates Xia Rongquan through his earpiece, prompting the attack.
• Cang Linyu confronts Fajar upon arrival, while her Tsareena’s attack forces his retreat.
• Mu Yun protects Chi Duoduo from the violent waves as the group watches the battle.

Significant themes

• Power and deterrence: Champion-level Pokémon possess force capable of devastating large areas, making them comparable to strategic weapons.
• Stalling and escape: Fajar’s apparent bravado masks a calculated effort to delay the group until he can flee.
• Regional security: The arrival of a Champion shows the importance of coordinated defenders within League territory.

Plot points and events

• Champion Cang Linyu’s Tsareena unleashes a devastating attack against the Mihaiya Sect’s archbishop. He escapes using a secret treasure, but his operatives in the Battle Secret Realm have been killed or captured, leaving him without support and making him less likely to reappear soon.
• Cang orders the group to continue to the Battle Secret Realm. An hour later, their ship reaches the island, where signs of additional fighting show that other clashes have taken place.
• Ma Yue, the southern region’s second-ranked Elite Four member, meets the group. Worried the archbishop might retaliate in Deer City, he leaves on his powerful Lapras to protect the city. Xia Rongquan is left in charge of the island, and he directs everyone to follow him.

Character developments and interactions

• Mu Yun is astonished by Tsareena’s extraordinary Champion-level abilities and recognizes the vast gulf between high-level Pokémon. The display strengthens his resolve to train seriously.
• He plans to register as a Professional Trainer at eighteen, challenge Gyms over the summer, and enter the Silver Conference—hoping to gain experience and possibly earn mission Points.
• Qin Yilin doubts the archbishop was killed, while Zhu Mingze initially celebrates the apparent victory. Their exchange establishes that the enemy’s escape was expected given his status and resources.
• Cang remains confident and focused on the mission despite the escape. Xia Rongquan carries out her instructions, while Ma Yue prioritizes Deer City’s safety.

Significant themes

• The scale of power: Tsareena’s overwhelming strength reveals how enormous the gap is between Champion-level Pokémon and lower ranks.
• Resolve and growth: Mu Yun turns awe into a concrete commitment to train and advance.
• Threats persist despite victory: The archbishop survives, and Ma Yue’s precaution shows that the danger remains even as the group proceeds.

Plot points and events

• Xia Rongquan leads Mu Yun’s group to a temporary camp outside the Battle Secret Realm and says the trial will begin in an hour. Contestants enter five at a time, and their time inside depends on how long they survive.
• While waiting, Mu Yun hears that most contestants last only two or three minutes; the record is just over six. Ling Ruijie and Zhu Mingze have lasted the longest so far. Mu Yun is also surprised when Liu Hesheng is eliminated after a little over four minutes.
• Mu Yun enters with Chi Duoduo’s Pokémon, Xiao Du, and Namikaze, carrying two Space Isolation Shields to protect their Poké Balls.
• On entering, he receives a system notice: the realm is the Sacred Ruins, and he has triggered a permanent quest—the Sacred Fire God’s Guard Selection Trial. Its guardians are phantom Pokémon formed from Unown and divine power. Defeating them earns points; defeating nine unlocks a choice between a blessing tied to the Sacred Fire God and a separate Divine Baptism.

Character developments and interactions

• Mu Yun is intrigued by the trial’s rewards and hopes he might be able to fight repeatedly, earn prizes, and help his companions level up.
• His initial assumption that Zhu Mingze is merely a show-off is challenged by Zhu’s strong performance.
• Mu Yun follows the organizers’ instructions and prepares carefully, bringing only his two strongest Pokémon.

Significant themes

• Competition and endurance: Contestants are measured by how long they can withstand the realm’s challenges.
• Ambition and preparation: Mu Yun studies the trial’s rewards and plans how best to use his limited entry slots.
• Divine power and choice: The quest offers a powerful blessing that may draw the Sacred Fire God’s attention, or a more independent alternative that forgoes that connection.

Summary

• Mu Yun receives a permanent quest: defeat nine Phantom Pokémon created from Unown and Divine Power before the Secret Realm collapses. Each victory grants 10,000 Points; defeating all nine offers a choice between Sacred Fire God’s Blessing and Divine Baptism.
• The first reward provides powerful combat benefits but appears tied to the Sacred Fire God. The second is a comparable, allegiance-free blessing whose increased base stats can be inherited for three generations. Unsure what obligations the first might carry, Mu Yun leans toward caution.
• Strange Unown voices announce battle rules: matches are one-on-one, a loser may switch Pokémon once, and items are forbidden. Mu Yun’s Namikaze cannot leave its Poké Ball, so Xiao Du is his only available Pokémon.
• A Phantom Beedrill appears, matching Xiao Du’s level, moves, and other traits but lacking his training and advantages. Xiao Du swiftly defeats it with a Double X-Scissor, earning Mu Yun 10,000 Points.

Character developments and interactions

Mu Yun remains analytical and wary: he recognizes the rewards’ potential but refuses to commit to an unknown Legendary Pokémon without understanding the consequences. He also trusts Xiao Du’s ability enough to let him fight without instructions. Xiao Du immediately takes the initiative and wins decisively. The Unown act as quirky, rule-obsessed referees, giving the ominous trial an unexpectedly playful atmosphere.

Significant themes

• Power versus obligation: The strongest reward may carry a cost, while the safer option offers independence.
• Preparation and earned skill: Xiao Du’s training makes the near-identical Phantom an easy opponent.
• Mystery and impending change: The Secret Realm’s possible collapse and the Unown’s connection to Divine Power suggest that the trial involves forces not yet understood.

Chapter Summary: “Can’t Take a Loss?”

Key plot points and events

• Mu Yun and Xiao Du continue the trial, facing successive shadow Beedrill opponents. Each defeat earns Mu Yun another 10,000 Points.
• The Unown running the challenge react to each loss with increasingly loud complaints and sobs. New Beedrill opponents gain progressively stronger bonuses, including enhanced energy, stronger contact moves, and eventually Champion- and Master-level descendant traits.
• The Unown impose a special rule that disables held items. The system offers to lift it for 10,000 Energy Points, but Mu Yun declines: Xiao Du needs no items, and Mu Yun does not want to attract the Sacred Fire God’s attention.
• Xiao Du defeats all eight shadow Beedrill quickly, despite their escalating enhancements.
• For the ninth battle, the opponent is not another Beedrill but a Ceruledge: a level 48 Pokémon whose sealed level is 99. Its formidable traits include extreme Fire and Ghost specialties, a Fire God’s Blessing, and powerful ancestral abilities.

Character developments

• Mu Yun remains calm and confident throughout the battles, treating the opponents’ escalating bonuses as little threat to Xiao Du. He finds the Unown’s tantrums amusing at first, though their crying eventually irritates him.
• Xiao Du demonstrates overwhelming strength and efficiency, repeatedly defeating enhanced opponents before they can mount a meaningful attack.
• The Unown come across as childlike and sore losers. Their frustration grows with each defeat, and they keep raising the stakes rather than accepting the losses.

Significant themes

• Escalation and resilience: The trial continually strengthens its opponents, testing whether Mu Yun and Xiao Du can keep winning.
• Power versus preparation: Xiao Du’s strength makes the held-item restriction and the Beedrill enhancements largely irrelevant.
• Childlike competition: The Unown’s exaggerated reactions provide comic contrast to the increasingly serious challenge.
• An abrupt shift in danger: The ninth opponent’s extraordinary power signals that the trial may finally have produced a genuine threat.

Character interactions

• Mu Yun watches and interprets each opponent’s status, while Xiao Du handles the fighting with little need for instruction.
• The Unown complain, cry, and announce their turns after each defeat; Mu Yun silently endures their reactions while continuing to collect Points.
• The chapter ends with Mu Yun’s surprise at the trial’s Ceruledge opponent, leaving the outcome of the next battle unresolved.

Key plot points and events

• Ceruledge appears before Mu Yun and the Pokémon in the Phantom Realm, speaking Yanhuang Language and clarifying that she is not the trial’s guardian. She introduces herself as Aunt Flame, a personal guard of the Sacred Fire God and guardian of the realm.
• As a welcome gift, Ceruledge gives Mu Yun a Top Level Burning Orb, a powerful treasure that boosts Fire-type growth, move mastery, status effects, and attack power.
• Ceruledge offers more treasures if Mu Yun will help her with a task. She admires his Beedrill, then asks to see his other Pokémon. When Mu Yun releases Namikaze, she has him destroy Shadow Beedrill Number Nine with Air Slash, confirming what she suspected.
• Ceruledge asks Mu Yun’s opinion of Ghost-type Pokémon. His respectful, open-minded answer pleases her.
• She recounts the history of a Ceruledge warrior who defended her clan, was revived through the Sacred Fire God’s mercy, and later entered the god’s Divine Kingdom with her people. When the god vanished, war consumed the kingdom. The warrior and the Charcadet clan managed to preserve a remaining sacred place while waiting for the god’s return.
• Ceruledge reveals that the Divine Kingdom cannot endure without its god and asks Mu Yun for help. A hidden altar appears, bearing a radiant orb and a fiery-red Pokémon Egg.

Character developments

• Mu Yun remains cautious despite his excitement over the Burning Orb, checking that he can retreat before trusting Ceruledge. He shows both practical judgment and sincere respect for Ghost-type Pokémon.
• Ceruledge/Aunt Flame is introduced as a gentle, generous figure, but her story reveals profound grief, loyalty, and centuries of steadfast duty. Her hope of the Sacred Fire God’s return now depends on seeking help from Mu Yun.
• Namikaze demonstrates his strength by instantly dispersing the shadow Beedrill, satisfying Ceruledge’s test.

Significant themes

• Loyalty and devotion: Ceruledge and her clan remain faithful to their vanished god and protect his sacred domain.
• Loss and perseverance: Despite the Divine Kingdom’s fall and the god’s disappearance, Ceruledge continues her vigil.
• Trust and responsibility: Mu Yun’s caution contrasts with Ceruledge’s offer of a valuable reward, while her request suggests a duty larger than personal gain.
• Respect for Pokémon: Mu Yun rejects prejudice against Ghost types, treating them as loyal Pokémon like any others.

Character interactions

• The young Pokémon’s cheers for Aunt Flame give way to silence as Ceruledge addresses Mu Yun directly.
• Ceruledge offers Mu Yun a gift, then asks for his cooperation; he responds politely but carefully asks what the task entails.
• She praises Beedrill and tests Namikaze, then uses Mu Yun’s answer about Ghost types to judge his attitude.
• After sharing her painful history, Ceruledge appeals to Mu Yun for help and reveals the altar—and the mysterious egg—as the next focus of their encounter.

Key plot points and events

• Mu Yun examines a radiant orb using his Data Eye and learns it contains the Sacred Fire God’s Blessing, a divine power that raises base stats, greatly amplifies move power, reduces non-divine attacks, and blocks lesser negative effects. Only one use remains.
• Ceruledge explains that the blessing can make its recipient a Sacred Fire God’s Guard, then points Mu Yun toward a nearby Pokémon Egg: her only child.
• Mu Yun scans the egg and discovers it contains a male Charcadet with extraordinary abilities, powerful Fire-type moves, and exceptional potential.
• The egg’s most striking treasure is Ceruledge Divine Armor: Ceruledge sacrificed her body and divine soul to become armor that protects and accelerates her son’s growth. It grants powerful benefits at successive milestones and can eventually help him gain Sacred Fire.
• Mu Yun realizes Ceruledge’s request for help likely means asking him to care for her child. He also worries that the blessing’s single remaining use—and the quest’s warning about the secret realm collapsing—may signal an impending problem.

Character developments and interactions

• Mu Yun is astonished by Charcadet’s advantages and reflects on how privilege and powerful lineage can shape a Pokémon’s future. He shifts from appraising the egg’s value to considering the responsibility of raising Ceruledge’s son.
• Ceruledge reveals her maternal devotion. Her expression and voice soften when she speaks of her child, and the armor’s description confirms the immense sacrifice she made to protect him.
• Mu Yun and Ceruledge share a moment of understanding: she presents her child and his safeguards, while Mu Yun begins to infer the purpose behind her plea for assistance.

Significant themes

• Parental love and sacrifice: Ceruledge gave up her body and soul to remain beside and protect her son.
• Inherited privilege and destiny: Charcadet’s lineage, divine gifts, and armor give him exceptional advantages and a path toward greatness.
• Power and responsibility: Mu Yun’s discovery suggests that receiving the blessing—or taking responsibility for Charcadet—will carry consequences.
• Fragile legacies: The blessing’s dwindling power and the Divine Kingdom’s ruin underline that even divine protection can be finite.

Plot points and events

• Ceruledge reveals that the Pokémon Egg contains her only child and the last surviving member of the Ceruledge Tribe. The tribe died when its Divine Kingdom fell, and Ceruledge—now a spirit-like remnant—has spent ages preserving the Egg and waiting for someone who could take it away.
• Before entrusting the Egg to Mu Yun, Ceruledge explains that reaching the ninth floor qualifies him to receive the Sacred Fire God’s blessing and become the god’s personal guard. Mu Yun firmly refuses.
• Ceruledge initially responds with a crushing master domain, pinning Mu Yun and his Pokémon in place. Mu Yun remains calm, trusting that Ceruledge needs his help and that he can retreat if necessary. Ceruledge soon withdraws the domain and thanks him.
• Mu Yun takes the Egg from the altar. Ceruledge gives him thirteen top-level Pokémon Treasures and a rare Domain Core, a material that can help a Champion-level Pokémon develop and strengthen a master domain.
• As Mu Yun and the Egg are sent away, Ceruledge tells him to care for the child. Left behind with the Unown, she breaks the orb of light sustaining the mist-bound realm, releasing the Unown and preparing to reunite with her god. The Phantom Pokémon fighting the others begin to disappear as the realm collapses.

Character developments and interactions

• Ceruledge shifts between grieving mother and stern divine guard. Her duty makes her test Mu Yun, but her central concern is her child’s future. After entrusting the Egg, she chooses to end the remnant realm and herself.
• Mu Yun shows firm independence by rejecting divine power, relying instead on his own path. He also reassures his Pokémon, accepts the responsibility of caring for the Egg, and recognizes the value of Ceruledge’s gifts.
• The Unown have kept Ceruledge company for ages and respond affectionately to her sadness. Their farewells underscore the bond formed during their long isolation.
• Mu Yun’s Pokémon, Xiao Du and Namikaze, try to protect him when Ceruledge exerts her domain, but are immobilized by its pressure.

Significant themes

• Sacrifice and parental love: Ceruledge endures centuries of isolation to give her child a chance to live.
• Duty versus self-determination: Ceruledge honors her role as a guard, while Mu Yun refuses a destiny chosen for him.
• Loss, release, and reunion: The ruined Divine Kingdom’s survivors finally leave their confinement, as Ceruledge accepts her own end.
• Legacy and responsibility: The Egg carries the future of a vanished tribe, now entrusted to Mu Yun.

Chapter Summary: “Little Du’s Divine Baptism!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After Mu Yun and the other members of the twenty-third challenger group are expelled from the Battle Secret Realm, the realm’s portal begins buzzing violently and behaving abnormally.
• Xia Rongquan orders everyone to retreat several hundred meters and stops the remaining challenger groups from entering, fearing the Secret Realm is collapsing.
• None of the returned challengers knows what caused the disturbance. Mu Yun suspects it may be connected to Ceruledge and the Pokémon egg he obtained, though he cannot determine why the realm would collapse.
• The system confirms that Mu Yun has completed the Sacred Fire God’s Guard Selection Trial by defeating nine guardian phantom Pokémon. He receives 90,000 Points and is allowed to choose an additional reward.
• Mu Yun selects Divine Baptism for Little Du, his Beedrill, hoping to compensate for Little Du’s having missed the chance to use Evolution Essence before reaching his final evolutionary form.
• Divine Baptism dramatically improves Little Du’s body, energy, stats, and defensive abilities.
• Just as Mu Yun finishes examining Little Du’s strengthened status, the Secret Realm portal flashes wildly and finally cracks open, apparently signaling the realm’s destruction.
• Xia Rongquan panics, realizing that the collapse may ruin the Special College Entrance Examination and threaten his own future.

Character Developments

• Mu Yun: Demonstrates his attachment to Little Du by choosing the Divine Baptism specifically for him. He also reveals a pragmatic, ambitious plan to use powerful treasures as resources for his own growth, believing that becoming stronger will better support his Pokémon.
• Little Du/Dugu: Receives a major power-up. His base stats rise from 505 to 710, with especially impressive Attack and Speed. His energy quality increases enormously, his damage output becomes vastly stronger, and he gains significant defensive resistance.
• Xia Rongquan: Changes from a calm administrator into a highly anxious figure as the Secret Realm destabilizes. He fears both the loss of the examination site and the consequences for his career.
• Mu Yun’s other companions: They are equally confused by the portal’s instability and instinctively retreat when Xia Rongquan orders an evacuation.

Little Du’s New Strengths

• Base stats increase to 710, with 225 Attack and 195 Speed.
• His Critical Hit ability causes all attacks to deal critical-hit damage.
• Divine Baptism grants:
  • A 300% increase in energy quality, greatly amplifying move power.
  • A 90% reduction in damage from attacks lacking Divine Power.
  • Immunity to negative status effects below Divine Power.
  • A direct bloodline base-stat foundation of 600.
• Combined with his existing abilities and critical-hit effects, Little Du’s offensive power increases dramatically, while his new damage reduction makes him far more durable.

Significant Themes

• Growth through sacrifice and investment: Mu Yun prioritizes strengthening himself and his Pokémon rather than hoarding rare treasures.
• Loyalty and compensation: His choice of Divine Baptism reflects his desire to reward Little Du and make up for opportunities the Pokémon missed.
• The unpredictable nature of power: The Secret Realm’s sudden collapse suggests that Mu Yun’s actions may have triggered consequences beyond his understanding.
• Responsibility and protection: Mu Yun believes his own strength is essential to protecting and supporting his Pokémon in future battles.
• Comedic crisis amid rising stakes: The chapter balances Little Du’s triumphant enhancement with Xia Rongquan’s increasingly frantic reaction to the collapsing examination site.

Character Interactions

• Xia Rongquan orders Mu Yun and the others to retreat and suspends further entry into the Secret Realm.
• The returned challengers exchange confused responses, confirming that none of them understands what happened inside.
• Mu Yun communicates with Little Du through the Pokémon space, reassuring him during the Divine Baptism and instructing him to move away from the egg to avoid damaging it.
• Mu Yun evaluates Little Du’s improvements and mentally considers how far future training could take him.
• Xia Rongquan’s final panic contrasts with Mu Yun’s calm satisfaction, as the administrator realizes the portal—and possibly the entire examination plan—is about to collapse.

Chapter Summary: “The Amazing Rotom!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Secret Realm portal suddenly shatters and disappears completely, leaving Xia Rongquan worried that he will be blamed for the disaster.
• Champion Cang Linyu investigates with Tsareena, who confirms that the portal is truly gone. Cang is puzzled because the location was believed to be a Divine Ruins, which should not collapse so easily.
• Cang orders Xia Rongquan to seal the island and surrounding waters while she evacuates the students. She then contacts “Sister Lin,” asking her to consult the shrine’s ancestors about the possible legendary Pokémon connected to the Secret Realm.
• Mu Yun and the other students are safely escorted back to their ship. The ship begins returning to land while the authorities deal with the sealed-off island.
• On the ship, the group discusses the lack of phone signal at sea and the mysterious destruction of satellites. Qin Yilin suggests that an unknown force prevents humanity from venturing beyond the land, possibly implying the existence of Rayquaza.
• Zhu Mingze introduces Rotom, a rare artificial Pokémon capable of inhabiting electronic devices and transmitting signals over enormous distances.

Character Developments

• Cang Linyu: Demonstrates calm authority and responsibility during the crisis. Although normally indifferent, she shows irritation and concern over the collapse of the Divine Ruins and quickly organizes the response.
• Xia Rongquan: Initially panics at being caught after the portal’s destruction, but regains confidence once Cang gives him clear orders.
• Mu Yun: Learns that legendary Pokémon may exist in this world after all, particularly through the hints about the force destroying satellites. His curiosity is also piqued by Rotom.
• Chi Duoduo: Displays a dependent and easily frightened side, clinging to Mu Yun when Qin Yilin describes the mysterious force surrounding the world.
• Qin Yilin: Provides much of the chapter’s technical and historical information, explaining both the satellite problem and Rotom’s nature.
• Zhu Mingze: Acts as a skeptical, boastful counterpoint to Qin Yilin. He dismisses the satellite conspiracy and enthusiastically promotes Rotom’s capabilities, despite lacking complete knowledge.

Significant Themes

• The unknown nature of legendary Pokémon: The collapse of the Secret Realm and the destruction of satellites suggest that powerful legendary Pokémon exert hidden influence over the world.
• Technology versus Pokémon power: Human communication and satellite technology are shown to be primitive compared with the abilities of powerful Pokémon such as Rotom.
• Authority and crisis management: Cang Linyu’s quick decisions contrast with Xia Rongquan’s initial panic, emphasizing the importance of leadership during emergencies.
• Mystery and foreshadowing: The vanished Divine Ruins, the possible involvement of a legendary Pokémon, and the satellite attacks create broader mysteries that may become important later.
• The boundary between life and technology: Rotom’s origin as a Pokémon formed from a deceased Electric-type Pokémon’s soul inhabiting a database highlights the unusual fusion of spirits, machines, and Pokémon evolution.

Character Interactions

• Cang Linyu questions Xia Rongquan about the vanished portal and directs him to secure the island.
• She communicates with Tsareena through brief gestures and signals, relying on the Pokémon to investigate the portal’s remains.
• Cang contacts Sister Lin for assistance, suggesting an established relationship and access to shrine elders or ancient authorities.
• On the ship, Chi Duoduo complains to Mu Yun about the lack of signal, prompting Qin Yilin’s explanation of the world’s weak satellite technology.
• Qin Yilin’s ominous description of the satellite attacks frightens Chi Duoduo, who instinctively clings to Mu Yun.
• Zhu Mingze challenges Qin Yilin’s explanation and then joins her in explaining Rotom, creating a lighthearted contrast between his confidence and her more careful, qualified account.

Plot points and events

• After the ship docks, students speculate about whether the special College Entrance Examination will continue and who might become the Pokémon Department’s first national top scholar.
• Ma Yue announces that problems with the Secret Realm have forced the remaining assessments to move to the resort. The top prize—national top-scholar status—remains unchanged.
• Mu Yun receives a new system quest tied to the revised exam. Its rewards increase with placement, and the champion earns an especially valuable chance to enhance one Pokémon’s Ability a second time.
• The battle roster is restricted to 64 students: 30 from the latest batches and 34 of the fastest from earlier batches. Ma Yue invites eliminated students to watch or seek reimbursement for their trip home.
• The tournament uses a straightforward bracket: students are paired in numbered order. Battles begin across the resort’s eight reserved fields.
• Mu Yun watches the opening matches and learns more about the powerful families represented among the contestants, just as Qin Yilin sends out her Pokémon.

Character developments and interactions

• Mu Yun is chiefly motivated by the chance to obtain the Pseudo-Legendary prize, but the system’s second-Ability-enhancement reward sharply raises his interest. Confident in his team, he expects to win while acknowledging that an unexpectedly powerful opponent could defeat him.
• Ma Yue, a respected Southern District Elite Four member, takes charge of the revised exam and lays down the roster and tournament rules without drawing objections.
• Zhu Mingze is eager to challenge Mu Yun and Ling Ruijie directly, preferring battles as a clear measure of strength.
• Qin Yilin recognizes Mu Yun as an unusual competitor. She wonders whether his physique and connection to Chi Duoduo suggest something exceptional, especially since the Secret Realm’s behavior around him seems unexplained.
• Lü Jiayi explains the backgrounds of the Imperial City’s Qin, Zhou, and Zhu families to Mu Yun: the Qin and Zhou families are prominent Dragon-type lineages, while the Zhu family specializes in Fire-types and has longstanding marriage ties with the Qin family.
• Mu Yun and Chi Duoduo remain together among the spectators, while Mu Yun’s conversations with Lü Jiayi reveal his curiosity about the contestants’ family alliances.

Significant themes

• Competition and recognition: The tournament offers a historic title and pits students against one another in direct battles.
• Power, status, and family influence: Elite trainers and prominent Pokémon-specialist families shape the competitive landscape.
• Ambition and uncertainty: Mu Yun is confident, but the possibility of facing an exceptional opponent leaves room for genuine risk.
• Opportunity amid disruption: The Secret Realm failure changes the exam, yet creates a new route for contestants—and Mu Yun—to pursue major rewards.

Key plot points and events

• Qin Yilin advances to the round of thirty-two with her Level 39 Charizard, whose Champion-level potential makes her a formidable competitor. Mu Yun finds her training bonuses respectable but not exceptional by his standards.
• The next group of contestants is called. Mu Yun, contestant forty-seven, heads to battlefield eight to face Guan Ke, a Dark-type specialist from a prominent Imperial City family.
• Guan Ke sends out his Level 38 Pangoro. Mu Yun chooses Beedrill, his longtime partner, to test Beedrill’s latest transformation.
• At the start of the battle, Beedrill strikes so quickly that Pangoro is knocked out before Guan Ke can finish his first command. The referee declares Beedrill the winner.
• The system rewards Mu Yun for completing a quest and reports that Beedrill has risen to Level 49.

Character developments

• Mu Yun is now accustomed to seeing powerful Pokémon and remains confident in Beedrill despite others’ surprise. He treats the match as an opportunity to test Beedrill’s strength.
• Beedrill demonstrates overwhelming speed and power, then gains another level after the victory.
• Qin Yilin watches Mu Yun with interest and recognizes that his Beedrill’s poison is dangerous.
• Zhu Mingze is surprised by Beedrill because he failed to read the information Qin Yilin had sent him.
• Guan Ke initially doubts Beedrill’s appearance but respects the possibility that Mu Yun has an unusual strength—only to be left stunned by the instant defeat.

Significant themes

• Appearance versus ability: Beedrill looks unimpressive to Guan Ke, but its performance decisively overturns his assumptions.
• Power and perspective: Mu Yun’s experience has shifted his sense of what counts as exceptional; strengths that might impress others seem ordinary beside the Pokémon he knows.
• Rapid growth: Beedrill’s victory and level increase underscore the steady progress behind Mu Yun’s success.

Character interactions

• Mu Yun questions Lü Jiayi about Qin Yilin’s Charizard and the Qin Family’s association with Dragon-type Pokémon; Lü explains that Dragon-types can be rare and not always practical Starter choices.
• Qin Yilin chastises Zhu Mingze for overlooking Mu Yun’s background, then urges him to watch Beedrill carefully.
• Guan Ke begins issuing an attack command, but Beedrill ends the match before he can finish.

Key plot points and events

• Beedrill overwhelms Pangoro with a single, astonishingly fast attack. Spectators—including Qin Yilin, Zhu Mingze, and Elite Four member Ma Yue—are stunned by its power and speculate that its training in the Secret Realm transformed it.
• Mu Yun recalls Beedrill, then comforts the excited Chi Duoduo. He spends the remaining matches talking with her and listening as Lü Jiayi shares information about the competitors and their families.
• Mu Yun advances through the round of sixteen and quarterfinals, winning the former in another one-second battle. Chi Duoduo, Lü Jiayi, and Qin Yilin are eliminated; Qin loses to strong contender Liu Hesheng.
• The semifinalists are Ling Ruijie, Liu Hesheng, Zhu Mingze, and Mu Yun. The first semifinal pits Ling against Zhu.
• Ling’s Weavile has reached Elite Level 40. Zhu’s Elite Level 41 Magmortar is even more formidable: its bonuses greatly strengthen its Fire-type attacks, and its Nirvana Phoenix Fire contract grants powerful recovery and a chance to revive after fatal injury.

Character developments

• Mu Yun remains calm amid growing attention, showing confidence in his abilities and ease with being admired.
• Beedrill’s display reveals just how extraordinary Mu Yun’s Pokémon has become, elevating Mu Yun’s reputation among spectators and powerful observers.
• Chi Duoduo openly celebrates Mu Yun’s victory and grows bashful after their affectionate embrace.
• Qin Yilin’s defeat and the elimination of Chi Duoduo and Lü Jiayi narrow the focus onto the tournament’s remaining contenders.

Character interactions

• Qin Yilin struggles to explain Beedrill’s unexpected strength to Zhu Mingze; Ma Yue also reacts with disbelief and wonders whether a Legendary Pokémon influenced it.
• Chi Duoduo rushes to congratulate Mu Yun, while Lü Jiayi keeps him informed about the other contestants.
• Mu Yun and Lü Jiayi agree that Ling versus Zhu will be a difficult matchup, though Mu Yun judges Zhu stronger and advantaged by type.

Significant themes

• The unexpected nature of talent: An ordinary, low-status Pokémon like Beedrill can surpass expectations and shock even experts.
• Rapid growth and preparation: Training and special advantages can produce dramatic changes in a short time.
• Spectacle and reputation: Mu Yun’s swift victories shift the tournament’s atmosphere and make him a central figure.
• Risk and renewal: Magmortar’s Phoenix Fire embodies survival through injury—and the possibility of rebirth at a cost.

Key plot points and events

• Zhu Mingze defeats Ling Ruijie in the first semifinal, as Mu Yun expected. Magmortar’s heat makes it difficult for Weavile to approach, and its rapid recovery helps it outlast its opponent.
• Mu Yun and Liu Hesheng meet in the second semifinal, renewing their rivalry from the Provincial Tournament. Liu’s Ceruledge attacks immediately with Bitter Blade, but Beedrill—nicknamed Xiao Du—strikes first with a powerful, doubled Brutal Swing.
• Ceruledge charges again with Flame Charge, only for Beedrill to meet him head-on with Assurance. The hit knocks Ceruledge unconscious, giving Mu Yun a decisive victory and sending him to the final.
• After a short break, Mu Yun and Zhu Mingze take the field for the championship match, with Magmortar facing Beedrill. The chapter ends as both trainers prepare for the battle.

Character developments

• Liu Hesheng’s determination to avenge Ceruledge’s earlier tournament loss is clear, and he has trained Ceruledge specifically to handle Beedrill. Their defeat is nevertheless far more one-sided than he expected, leaving him bewildered by how much the gap has grown.
• Mu Yun remains composed and confident, treating Beedrill’s overwhelming strength as unsurprising.
• Zhu Mingze is eager to challenge Mu Yun. Confident in Magmortar’s durability and ability to win battles of attrition, he believes he can prevail if he survives Beedrill’s initial attacks.
• Ceruledge’s fury and resolve to fight through the punishment show how personally he takes his previous defeat, but he is quickly overwhelmed.

Significant themes

• Training and the widening gap: Liu and Ceruledge have worked hard, yet Mu Yun and Beedrill have advanced even further.
• Rivalry and rematches: Ceruledge’s desire for revenge drives the semifinal, while Mu Yun and Zhu Mingze approach the final with mutual anticipation.
• Power versus endurance: Beedrill’s explosive attacks contrast with Magmortar’s heat and recovery, setting up a final that may hinge on whether Mu Yun can finish the fight quickly.

Character interactions

• Mu Yun’s calm, decisive battling contrasts with Liu Hesheng’s shock as Ceruledge is defeated.
• Beedrill and Ceruledge’s clash carries the history of their previous tournament encounter, especially for Ceruledge.
• Qin Yilin, having battled Liu herself, is startled by how easily Beedrill breaks through Ceruledge’s defense and wonders whether Magmortar can withstand the same attacks.
• Mu Yun and Zhu Mingze exchange friendly but determined words before the final, each eager to test the other.

Key plot points and events

• At the start of the championship match, Zhu Mingze’s Magmortar uses Belly Drum, sacrificing stamina to maximize its physical attack. Its special Nirvana Phoenix Fire ability begins rapidly restoring its strength.
• Mu Yun chooses not to interrupt the setup. Wanting to avoid a drawn-out battle, he has Beedrill, Xiao Du, build up Focus Energy instead.
• After reaching five layers of Focus Energy, Xiao Du launches an X-Scissor with overwhelming speed and power. The strike fractures the battlefield and knocks Magmortar unconscious.
• Nirvana Phoenix Fire activates, but even its restoration cannot save Magmortar: the single attack appears to have defeated both of its “lives.” The referee declares Xiao Du the winner.
• Mu Yun completes a permanent quest and receives 41 points. His team also wins the championship, earning a much larger bundle of rewards, including 100,000 points, training resources, and an ability-enhancement opportunity.

Character developments

• Mu Yun demonstrates strategic patience: he lets Magmortar set up because Xiao Du’s plan is to prepare one decisive strike rather than trade attacks.
• Xiao Du reveals a dramatic increase in capability. Thanks to Divine Baptism, he can safely use five Focus Energy stacks and deliver a near-instant, battle-ending blow.
• Zhu Mingze goes from confidence in Magmortar’s durability and recovery to stunned disbelief when his Pokémon is defeated in one hit.
• The spectators and Ma Yue are shaken by the result, which challenges their assumptions about Beedrill and about the Zhu family’s famously tough Pokémon.

Significant themes

• Preparation over reaction: Mu Yun’s plan turns Magmortar’s setup time into an opportunity for Xiao Du to prepare his own decisive attack.
• Power beyond expectations: Xiao Du’s victory overturns conventional expectations about species, level, and endurance.
• Limits of recovery: Magmortar’s powerful revival ability proves useless against damage overwhelming enough to defeat it twice over.
• The cost of delay: Mu Yun’s desire to finish quickly—after a long day of travel and battles—shapes the match’s high-risk, all-or-nothing strategy.

Character interactions

• Mu Yun quietly directs Xiao Du to build Focus Energy instead of attacking immediately, while Zhu Mingze interprets the lack of interference as an opening for Magmortar.
• When Magmortar charges with Fire Punch, Xiao Du suddenly accelerates and strikes before it can respond.
• Zhu Mingze reacts with alarm and reaches for the railing as Magmortar falls; the crowd erupts afterward, and Ma Yue shares their disbelief.

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

• At the awards ceremony, Ma Yue names Mu Yun the first National Top Scholar of the Pokémon Department. His prize is the chance to obtain a Pseudo-Legendary Pokémon.
• Mu Yun chooses to travel and select the Pokémon himself, since arranging delivery through the association could take a long time. He settles on Metagross, valuing its Psychic- and Steel-type versatility, power, and intelligence.
• Liao Ding offers Mu Yun an additional university reward: a Pokémon with Champion-Level Potential. Black River University can provide options from Ice, Water, Ghost, and Fighting types.
• After weighing his preferences and the likely wait times, Mu Yun chooses Gastly. Gimmighoul is unavailable, while a Riolu would take several years to obtain. Liao Ding promises to check the timing and report back.
• Back in his quarters, Mu Yun reviews his rewards: 100,000 Points, an expanded 30-cubic-meter storage space, a Move Learning Memory, Energy Cube recipes, and a Secondary Ability Enhancement.
• He saves the Move Learning Memory for future Pokémon and selects recipes for several types. He now has recipes for seventeen types, with only Dragon Type still missing. The chapter ends as he prepares to use the Secondary Ability Enhancement.

Character developments

• Mu Yun shows that he plans strategically: he chooses rewards based on practicality, availability, and the needs of his growing team. He also looks ahead to future Pokémon when deciding how to use the Move Learning Memory.
• Liao Ding demonstrates strong support for Mu Yun, using his position to secure a choice of Champion-Level Pokémon and predicting a bright future for him and the university.
• Ma Yue formally recognizes Mu Yun’s achievement and helps arrange his Pseudo-Legendary reward.

Significant themes

• Ambition and recognition: Mu Yun’s academic achievement earns him rare rewards and raises expectations for his future.
• Strategic resource management: He considers delays, team needs, and the practical value of each Pokémon and item.
• Mentorship and institutional support: Liao Ding advocates for Mu Yun, while Black River University hopes to benefit from his growing success.

Character interactions

• Ma Yue explains the Pseudo-Legendary reward and confirms Mu Yun’s choice of Metagross.
• Liao Ding advises Mu Yun on the selection process, offers him a Champion-Level Pokémon, and discusses which species can realistically be obtained.
• Mu Yun asks Liao Ding for recommendations, then chooses Gastly after learning the limits and wait times.

Mu Yun discovers that only eight of his Pokémon have maximum friendship. He suspects Evolution Essence, his care for them, or both may have helped Little Gold and Second Carp reach the threshold. Since those two have not yet received a first Ability Enhancement, he rules them out, along with Bold, Aron, and Xiao Xin, whose Abilities are already strong. He chooses Xiao Du, his first Pokémon and longtime companion, believing the opportunity belongs to him.
The system presents five paths for Xiao Du’s second Ability Enhancement: a powerful upgrade to Critical Hit; enhanced versions of Butterfly Emergence and Escape Artist; or one of two new options, Blank Slot and Directed Blank Slot. Mu Yun dismisses the enhanced Abilities as too situational or redundant with Xiao Du’s existing protection against restrictions. Critical Hit +1 would greatly amplify Xiao Du’s damage, but the new options offer broader possibilities.
Blank Slot lets a Pokémon choose a second Ability from its own genetic sequence, while Directed Blank Slot lets it select an Ability belonging to any Pokémon of the same type. Mu Yun becomes fascinated by the combinations these slots could enable, imagining Pokémon overcoming weak Abilities or gaining extraordinary power—such as Slaking with Huge Power or Gyarados with Wishiwashi’s Schooling. He looks forward to future enhancement opportunities, especially for Second Carp.
Character development and interactions: Mu Yun’s choice reflects his loyalty and history with Xiao Du, while his careful comparison of the options shows his strategic approach. The chapter focuses on Mu Yun and the system; no other characters interact directly with him.
Themes: Friendship and earned rewards; loyalty to long-term companions; strategic choice; and the transformative potential of combining abilities.