Chapter Summaries

Summary

Plot and events: After Starmie Patrick evolves, Mu Yun receives five choices for his Ability Enhancement: improve Super Brain, improve Natural Cure or Illuminate, or add a second Ability through one of two blank-slot options. Mu Yun considers giving Patrick Multi-Core Heavy Body, an Ability associated with another Psychic-type Pokémon, but decides Patrick can do without it for now. He rejects the recovery and charm-related options as less useful and chooses Super Brain +1.
The enhancement succeeds, and Patrick unexpectedly learns Round, reaching Limit-Breaking +3 proficiency with the move. He also gains three Limit-Breaking Points and reaches level 72, Elite Four level. While Patrick’s chest gem flashes and his Aura surges, Mu Yun waits beside him late into the night. Eventually, swirling currents and multicolored lights gather around Patrick. The system announces that Patrick has advanced Hidden Power proficiency for all fifteen types, from untrained to competent.
Character developments and interactions: Mu Yun weighs each enhancement strategically, judging Patrick’s role as the team’s intellectual center and comparing the options against resources and abilities already available to the team. He considers Patrick’s connection to Little Silver, who might lend him computing power, and trusts Xiao Wen to handle injuries and status conditions. Patrick’s enhancement reveals an extraordinary capacity for insight: his unusually clever brain unlocks a broad range of Hidden Power types at once. Mu Yun stays with him through the long, unsettling process, then reacts with wonder and humor.
Significant themes: The chapter emphasizes strategic specialization—choosing an Ability that fits a Pokémon’s role rather than simply selecting the most dramatic option—and the surprising, expansive potential of intelligence and accumulated insight. It also pairs system-style progression with an evolving mystery: Super Brain +1’s cryptic description seems to hint at a much greater effect than Mu Yun anticipated.

Chapter Summary: “Mending Heaven!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After absorbing the multicolored motes of light, Patrick’s ruby core stops flashing and his Aura stabilizes.
• Patrick reports that his understanding has dramatically expanded. He has instantly mastered every aspect of Awakening Power, something that would normally take Pokémon years to achieve.
• He reveals that he can now sense the ability granted by the third layer of his core.
• Patrick explains that his gemstone core contains his genes and memories, allowing him to regenerate completely as long as the core survives and receives enough energy.
• He names the true third-layer ability Gene Repair, comparing its deeper function to Nuwa’s “Mending Heaven.”
• Gene Repair allows Patrick to incorporate the genes of other Pokémon into himself. This can:
  • Increase his Base Stats
  • Store genetic information
  • Allow him to learn other Pokémon’s moves
  • Potentially grant him access to their abilities
• Because Patrick can master new moves through meditation rather than prolonged training or Limit-Breaking Points, the ability may remove a major restriction on his future growth.
• Mu Yun realizes that Patrick could become extraordinarily powerful by acquiring abilities such as Xiao Du’s Critical Hit +1 or Xiao Xin’s Freeform Transformation.
• Patrick says he can now begin unlocking the third layer, though doing so will still take approximately three to four years.
• Mu Yun considers whether advanced computer hardware could accelerate the process and plans to investigate suitable technology at the New Capital research institute.

Character Developments

• Patrick undergoes a major power and intellectual breakthrough. His enhanced mind grants him instant mastery of Awakening Power and access to the potential of his third core layer.
• Patrick’s personality shows unusual excitement and enthusiasm, reflecting how significant Gene Repair is even to him.
• He shifts from being a powerful but specialized Pokémon into a potential “monster” capable of accumulating moves, genes, and abilities from many species.
• Mu Yun gains a deeper appreciation of Patrick’s potential and begins thinking strategically about how to support his development through technology and future resources.

Significant Themes

• Limitless evolution and potential: Patrick’s genetic structure allows him to transcend ordinary Pokémon limitations.
• Knowledge as power: His enhanced mental capacity lets him master abilities almost instantly, demonstrating the value of understanding over conventional training.
• Inheritance and adaptation: Gene Repair turns the strengths of other Pokémon into resources Patrick can incorporate into himself.
• Science and mythology: Patrick’s biological ability is framed through the myth of Nuwa mending heaven, blending advanced genetic technology with ancient cultural imagery.
• Long-term growth: Although Patrick’s potential is enormous, unlocking it still requires time, patience, and technological support.

Character Interactions

• Mu Yun questions Patrick about his new abilities and carefully evaluates their implications.
• Patrick explains the structure of his core and the functions of Gene Repair, correcting Mu Yun’s initial assumption that it is merely a healing ability.
• Mu Yun reacts with growing astonishment as he understands that Patrick may learn virtually any move and store other Pokémon’s abilities.
• Their discussion ends with Mu Yun offering practical support: he plans to search for advanced hardware that could shorten Patrick’s three-to-four-year unlocking period.

Summary: “Clubs and the School Team!”

After Patrick begins working on breaking through the third layer of a core, Mu Yun leaves the Pokémon Space. Rather than resting, he prepares a quick meal and heads to Black River University’s central plaza, where students are recruiting members for various clubs during the two-day break before freshman classes begin.
The plaza is crowded with clubs organized largely around Pokémon types, including the Fighting, Swimming, Electric Technology, and Ice Appreciation Clubs. Although clubs are supposedly based on shared interests, most students join them to earn academic credits. Mu Yun is uninterested because participating in official Pokémon competitions can earn him far more credits, which he hopes to exchange for Pokémon Eggs. He is briefly amused by the unusual Human Bumpy-Patchwork Manga Research Club, whose provocative recruitment display catches his attention.
Mu Yun encounters his friend Qu Qi, who reveals that he founded the manga club. Qu Qi also informs him that the school team will hold its selection at ten the next morning, choosing six official competitors. Since Mu Yun has no interest in the ongoing club recruitment competition, he agrees to accompany Qu Qi to Battle Arena No. 1.
At the arena, they meet Liu Yizhong, a tall, muscular fourth-year student and current official member of the school team. Liu jokingly calls Qu Qi “Cookie,” irritating him, though Qu Qi tolerates it because Liu is stronger. Qu Qi introduces Mu Yun as the freshman with the highest entrance score. Mu Yun is surprised by Liu’s powerful, athletic appearance because he knows the Evergreen Liu Family is generally associated with pale, slender, refined-looking members. Qu Qi explains that Liu’s physique is the result of his innate ability, suggesting that unusual innate abilities may also explain other family members’ distinctive appearances.
The three enter the school team’s conference room, where Mu Yun immediately senses an unnatural, intense cold. The chill is strong enough to penetrate his Low-Temperature Resistance, yet Qu Qi and Liu Yizhong appear unaffected. This raises the possibility that the cold is deliberately directed at Mu Yun—or that he alone is capable of detecting it—creating a mysterious tension as the chapter ends.

Character Development and Interactions

• Mu Yun: Demonstrates practical priorities and confidence by rejecting clubs in favor of pursuing competition-based credits. His heightened sensitivity and Low-Temperature Resistance become important when he detects the strange cold in the conference room.
• Qu Qi: Appears sociable and energetic, proudly promoting the club he founded. He also acts as Mu Yun’s guide and keeps him informed about the school team selection.
• Liu Yizhong: Introduced as a powerful, teasing senior and official school-team member. His appearance contrasts with the usual image of the Evergreen Liu Family, hinting at the influence of his innate ability.
• Mu Yun and Qu Qi: Their friendly relationship is shown through Qu Qi’s casual familiarity and invitation to the school team.
• Qu Qi and Liu Yizhong: Their banter reveals an established senior-junior relationship in which Liu teases Qu Qi and Qu Qi resents—but cannot challenge—the stronger senior.

Significant Themes

• Practical ambition versus superficial involvement: Mu Yun values meaningful achievements and long-term rewards over joining clubs merely for minor credits.
• University competition and hierarchy: Clubs and the school team reflect different levels of student competition, status, and opportunity.
• Innate ability and individuality: Liu Yizhong’s unusual appearance suggests that innate abilities can strongly shape a person’s physical traits and identity.
• Foreshadowing and mystery: The unexplained cold in the conference room hints at a hidden power, confrontation, or special connection involving Mu Yun.

Chapter Summary: “Messenger Bird! Eternal Freeze Gaze!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Mu Yun enters Black River University’s school-team meeting room and is immediately struck by its unusual silence and intense cold atmosphere.
• The normally lively Liu Yizhong, along with the other team members, behaves with extreme seriousness and avoids speaking, using their phones, or making unnecessary movements.
• Qu Qi introduces Mu Yun to the school-team captain, Ling Qingying, a legendary sophomore who leads the team despite her young age.
• Ling Qingying is portrayed as exceptionally cold, dignified, and intimidating, earning Mu Yun’s impression of her as “a block of ice.”
• Several other team members arrive, including Mu Yun’s acquaintance Ling Ruijie. Even Ling Ruijie, despite being the direct grandson of the Ling Family, acts cautiously and silently in Ling Qingying’s presence.
• Once everyone is seated, Ling Qingying releases her Pokémon: a Shiny Delibird.
• Mu Yun uses his Data Eye to inspect the Delibird and discovers that it is far more powerful than its appearance suggests:
  • Level 75, equivalent to an Elite Four-level Pokémon.
  • Master-level potential.
  • Enhanced pseudo-legendary-level base stats.
  • Numerous powerful abilities and special bonuses.
  • The blessing of the “Eternal Freeze,” which dramatically strengthens Ice-type abilities and can freeze both the body and soul.
• Mu Yun is shocked that Ling Qingying has chosen to raise a Delibird rather than a traditionally powerful Ice-type Pokémon such as Baxcalibur.
• The Delibird’s presence appears to slightly lessen the oppressive chill in the room. After cheerfully greeting everyone, it rummages through its jeweled bag and pulls out a small stool.

Character Developments

• Mu Yun: Demonstrates his analytical ability through the Data Eye and becomes increasingly astonished by Ling Qingying’s strength and the unusual nature of her Pokémon. He also recognizes that the school team’s atmosphere is shaped by fear and respect for its captain.
• Ling Qingying: Makes a powerful first impression as an emotionless, aristocratic, and highly intimidating captain. Her strength is revealed indirectly through her extraordinary Delibird and its connection to the Eternal Freeze.
• Qu Qi: Acts as Mu Yun’s guide and introduces him to Ling Qingying. Although generally cheerful and outgoing, he becomes serious and obedient in the captain’s presence.
• Ling Ruijie: Despite his prestigious family background, he shows clear restraint and respect toward Ling Qingying, suggesting her authority surpasses even that of other elite team members.
• Ling Qingying’s Delibird: Contrasts sharply with its trainer. While Ling Qingying is cold and imposing, the Delibird is cheerful, energetic, and somewhat comical, creating a humorous contrast.

Significant Themes

• Power hidden beneath appearances: Delibird is normally viewed as a weak or comedic Pokémon, but Ling Qingying’s partner possesses overwhelming strength and rare enhancements.
• Authority and intimidation: The silent meeting room and the team members’ careful behavior show the immense pressure Ling Qingying exerts without needing to speak or threaten anyone.
• The contrast between coldness and warmth: The icy atmosphere reflects Ling Qingying’s personality and power, while Delibird’s cheerful behavior slightly softens the room’s oppressive mood.
• Chosen destiny and supernatural power: The references to the “Chosen One” and the Eternal Freeze suggest that Ling Qingying’s strength is tied to a mysterious, possibly divine inheritance.
• Breaking conventional expectations: Ling Qingying’s choice of Delibird challenges the assumption that elite trainers must use traditionally powerful or prestigious Pokémon.

Character Interactions

• Qu Qi warmly brings Mu Yun into the meeting and introduces him to Ling Qingying.
• Ling Qingying responds with only a brief, distant acknowledgment, reinforcing her detached personality.
• Qu Qi silently signals Mu Yun to behave properly, showing that even he recognizes the need to respect the captain’s authority.
• Mu Yun observes Ling Ruijie and the other members adapting their behavior around Ling Qingying, revealing the captain’s dominant position within the team.
• Ling Qingying and her Delibird provide a striking contrast: she remains silent and motionless while the Pokémon cheerfully appears and searches for a stool, adding a light comedic note to the otherwise tense scene.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Delibird presents the school team’s selection process using ice props, photographs, magnetic clips, and exaggerated gestures. Despite her comedic appearance, she is revealed to be a mid-stage Elite Four-level Pokémon.
• The selection system is explained:
  • Students first battle others in the same grade.
  • Six strongest students from each grade advance.
  • A second round of random matches reduces the group to six finalists.
  • Eliminated students may continue challenging the finalists if they believe they are strong enough.
• Ling Qingying abruptly leaves after Delibird’s presentation, leaving Mu Yun confused by her unusual leadership style.
• Qu Qi and Ling Ruijie explain that Ling Qingying has always behaved this way, including at home, and that her personality may be connected to her innate ability, Eternal Freeze Gaze.
• The group admits that they did not understand Delibird’s explanation because they cannot understand Pokémon speech. They decide to establish their own practical battle rules while respecting Ling Qingying’s overall arrangement.
• Mu Yun learns that Delibird was Ling Qingying’s first Pokémon, though not her officially registered Starter Pokémon. This explains why Delibird has reached such a high level despite her humorous appearance.
• While the others discuss the rules, Mu Yun remains quiet, believing that actual strength—not formal arrangements or seniority—will ultimately determine the results.
• Ling Ruijie privately asks Mu Yun what he thinks of Ling Qingying mentally. He reveals that their grandfather believes she has Congenital Emotional Deficiency Syndrome, meaning she lacks normal emotional responses and may require intense stimulation to change.
• Ling Ruijie suggests that battling Mu Yun might be the kind of powerful stimulus Ling Qingying needs, and asks whether Mu Yun would be willing to challenge her.

Character Developments

• Mu Yun: Continues to observe rather than participate, demonstrating his confidence in his own strength and his skepticism toward overly formal procedures. He also begins connecting Ling Qingying’s strange behavior and abilities to the legendary Kyurem.
• Ling Qingying: Is portrayed as extremely powerful, emotionally detached, and unconventional. Although she behaves erratically and communicates little, she is still regarded as responsible and capable of organizing the school team.
• Ling Ruijie: Shows concern for his sister and provides insight into her condition and family background. He also recognizes Mu Yun as someone who might genuinely challenge her.
• Qu Qi: Acts as a practical mediator, reassuring Mu Yun that Ling Qingying’s odd behavior is normal and helping organize a more understandable version of the selection rules.
• Delibird: Serves as the lively presenter of the selection system. Her playful behavior contrasts sharply with her remarkable Elite Four-level strength and close relationship with Ling Qingying.

Significant Themes

• Strength over formal structure: The chapter emphasizes that battle ability matters more than age, seniority, or the exact competition format.
• The contrast between appearance and power: Delibird looks comical and harmless but is exceptionally strong, while Ling Qingying’s strange behavior exists alongside extraordinary talent.
• Emotional isolation and abnormality: Ling Qingying’s emotional deficiency raises questions about whether strength and talent can compensate for an inability to connect normally with others.
• Family and hidden potential: Ling Ruijie’s explanation suggests that Ling Qingying’s condition, innate ability, and connection to Kyurem may be part of a larger family mystery.
• Challenge as emotional stimulation: Battle is presented not only as competition but also as a possible way to provoke growth or change in Ling Qingying.

Character Interactions

• Delibird humorously “presents” the selection rules while the human students silently struggle to understand her.
• Ling Qingying’s silent departure highlights her detached personality and leaves Mu Yun and the others bewildered.
• Qu Qi and Ling Ruijie reassure Mu Yun that her behavior is normal for her, revealing how accustomed they are to her unusual nature.
• Mu Yun privately analyzes Ling Qingying’s possible connection to Kyurem and her innate ability.
• Ling Ruijie confides in Mu Yun about his sister’s emotional condition and directly proposes a battle between them, setting up a potential future confrontation.

Chapter Summary: “Ability Blank Slot!”

• Varsity team selection rules: Mu Yun learns that Ling Qingying will not participate in the selection battles because, as the current captain, she automatically occupies one of the team’s competition slots. Her younger brother, Ling Ruijie, explains that the team historically selects members through battles, with stronger Trainers advancing and weaker ones being eliminated. First- and fourth-year students are exempt from battling: fourth-years are usually already the strongest members, while first-years are generally considered too inexperienced to compete.
• Arrival at the battle arena: The students move to the varsity team’s dedicated battle hall. Ling Qingying sits alone at the judges’ table, quietly observing the field and seemingly detached from her surroundings. Mu Yun finds her lack of interest in electronic devices unusual. Ling Ruijie explains that she rarely uses technology and spends her free time raising Pokémon or meditating. Through Aura Vision, Mu Yun realizes she is actually lost in thought rather than attentively watching the arena.
• Team leadership: The selection is organized by Lai Guanting, the fourth-year vice-captain and an Electric-type specialist. He is reputed to be powerful and was once expected to become captain, but Ling Qingying’s sudden emergence pushed him into the vice-captain role. Because Ling Qingying is quiet and detached, Lai handles most of the team’s administrative duties.
• Mu Yun’s quest: After sitting in the first-year rest area, Mu Yun receives a new system quest requiring him to complete the tournament and join the varsity team. The rewards increase depending on his achievement:
  • Becoming a reserve member grants Points.
  • Becoming an official competitor grants more Points and an Ability Blank Slot.
  • Becoming captain grants a large number of Points and a Directed Ability Blank Slot.
• Ability Blank Slot rewards: The Ability Blank Slot allows one of Mu Yun’s battling Pokémon to gain a second Ability selected from its genetic potential. The Directed Ability Blank Slot is even more flexible, allowing the user to choose an Ability possessed by another Pokémon of the same type. However, both rewards can only be used on Pokémon that actually battle in the tournament. Mu Yun becomes highly motivated by these rewards, especially the possibility of strengthening Xiao Du.
• Mu Yun’s ambitions: Mu Yun realizes that obtaining the Directed Ability Blank Slot would require him to become captain, a difficult goal for a first-year who has not yet even secured reserve status. Since Ling Qingying is exempt from the tournament, he briefly considers challenging her directly so that his Pokémon might qualify for the reward.
• Interaction with Ling Qingying: While thinking about this possibility, Mu Yun stares toward Ling Qingying. She senses his gaze and looks back. Ling Qingying notices an unusual black-and-white aura around him and watches him intently, apparently intrigued because she has never seen anything like it. Their prolonged eye contact confuses Ling Ruijie, who jokingly worries that Mu Yun may have misunderstood his earlier comment about “battling”—despite the fact that he meant Pokémon battles.

Character Development and Themes

• Mu Yun becomes increasingly ambitious and focused on maximizing his Pokémon’s potential. The system rewards make the varsity team selection more than a competition: it becomes an opportunity to obtain rare abilities and advance his long-term goals.
• Ling Qingying remains mysterious, detached, and difficult to read, but her reaction to Mu Yun’s aura suggests that she possesses unusual perception or knowledge. Her curiosity toward him marks the beginning of a potentially important connection.
• Ling Ruijie continues serving as a lighthearted intermediary, explaining his sister’s behavior and providing comic relief.
• Lai Guanting is established as the practical organizer and a powerful senior whose position reflects the tension between formal leadership and the exceptional talent of Ling Qingying.
• Major themes include strength-based selection, ambition and competition, hidden potential, and the contrast between Mu Yun’s energetic opportunism and Ling Qingying’s quiet, enigmatic composure.

Chapter Summary: “Selection Match: First Battle!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The school team selection tournament progresses to the battles between students from different years.
• Twenty-two students remain, and they draw numbers to determine the first-round matchups. Mu Yun draws number 22, placing him in the final match, while Ling Ruijie draws number 1.
• The first-year students generally struggle against more experienced opponents. Ling Ruijie is defeated by fourth-year student Liu Yizhong, whose Peak Totem Level Annihilape defeats all three of Ling’s Pokémon.
• Liu Yizhong explains that Mu Yun is especially unlucky because he has been matched against Lai Guanting, one of the strongest students in the selection tournament.
• Mu Yun and Lai Guanting begin the final battle of the round. The match follows a three-on-three format, with each side allowed one Pokémon switch.
• Lai Guanting sends out his Peak Totem Level Kilowattrel and intends to hold back so he will not crush the confidence of his first-year opponent.
• Mu Yun sends out his ace Pokémon, Xiao Du, a Beedrill. His goal is to win decisively and use the victory to challenge Ling Qingying for the captaincy.
• Lai Guanting commands Kilowattrel to use Discharge, but Xiao Du instantly closes the distance and strikes with its Bee Needle. Kilowattrel is knocked out in a single blow, leaving Lai Guanting stunned.

Character Developments

• Mu Yun demonstrates strong ambition and strategic confidence. Rather than use the match to train another Pokémon, he chooses Xiao Du because he wants a swift victory and plans to challenge Ling Qingying for the captain position.
• Ling Ruijie suffers a predictable defeat but remains composed. Although losing disappoints him, he recognizes that his limited training experience makes defeat against a fourth-year student reasonable.
• Liu Yizhong is established as an experienced and powerful fourth-year Trainer. He easily defeats Ling Ruijie and claims that even he would have difficulty defeating Lai Guanting.
• Lai Guanting is portrayed as considerate and restrained. He intends to limit Kilowattrel’s speed and power so Mu Yun will not lose confidence, but he severely underestimates Mu Yun and Xiao Du.
• Xiao Du, previously viewed by Lai Guanting as merely an unusual Beedrill, reveals overwhelming offensive power and speed by defeating Kilowattrel instantly.

Significant Themes

• Experience versus talent: The older students generally possess stronger teams because they have trained for several more years, but Mu Yun challenges this assumption through Xiao Du’s extraordinary strength.
• Underestimation and hidden ability: Lai Guanting assumes Mu Yun will be outmatched because he is a first-year student using a Beedrill. The battle’s sudden reversal shows that appearances and age do not determine true strength.
• Ambition and leadership: Mu Yun’s decision to use his ace reflects his determination to rise quickly and claim the captaincy rather than remain a passive participant.
• Competitive growth: The selection tournament serves as a way for students to measure themselves against stronger opponents, gain experience, and establish their standing within the school team.

Character Interactions

• Ling Ruijie and Liu Yizhong discuss their defeats and compare Lai Guanting’s strength with that of the team captain, Ling Qingying.
• Qu Qi teases Liu Yizhong about his claim that Lai Guanting could defeat him easily, creating a lighthearted contrast to the serious competition.
• Lai Guanting internally treats Mu Yun gently as a junior, intending to end the match quickly and avoid damaging his confidence.
• Mu Yun silently pursues a larger objective: defeating Lai Guanting, then challenging Ling Qingying for leadership.
• The chapter ends with Lai Guanting’s shock after Xiao Du knocks out Kilowattrel before it can even launch its attack.

Key plot points and events

• Freshman Mu Yun’s Beedrill defeats fourth-year varsity vice-captain Lai Guanting’s Kilowattrel with a single attack, stunning the referee and onlookers.
• Lai, realizing he underestimated Mu Yun, sends out Magnezone as a counter. Beedrill knocks it out before Lai can finish giving his commands.
• Lai’s final Pokémon, a well-trained Ampharos that has reached Gym Leader Level, also falls to Beedrill. Mu Yun wins the match 3–0.
• As Mu Yun remains on the platform, team captain Ling Qingying approaches Lai and announces that she will face Mu Yun in the next match.

Character developments

• Mu Yun establishes himself as an extraordinary freshman whose Beedrill can defeat much higher-level opponents with ease. The system rewards Beedrill with points and slight growth increases after each win.
• Lai Guanting moves from confidence to shock and then reluctant respect. He recognizes that he misjudged Mu Yun and accepts that he has encountered a remarkable talent.
• Ling Qingying shifts from quietly observing to directly challenging Mu Yun, signaling strong interest in testing him.
• Ling Ruijie’s smug expression disappears as Mu Yun’s performance undermines his sense of superiority.

Significant themes

• Underestimating opponents: Lai’s initial assumptions about Mu Yun prove disastrous; taking an opponent seriously matters regardless of age or status.
• Exceptional talent and disruption: Mu Yun’s success challenges expectations about freshmen and leaves the university’s older students questioning the usual hierarchy.
• Competition as recognition: Mu Yun’s sweeping victory draws the captain’s attention and raises the stakes for the next match.

Character interactions

• The stunned referee and surrounding students react with disbelief to Beedrill’s consecutive one-hit victories.
• Lai attempts to adapt by choosing Pokémon suited to counter Beedrill, but Mu Yun’s dominance prevents him from executing his strategy.
• Ling Qingying speaks to Lai but keeps her attention fixed on Mu Yun, making clear that she intends to challenge him herself.

Chapter Summary: “Battle Against Ling Qingying!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Mu Yun finishes his previous battle and is immediately approached by Ling Qingying, who challenges him before he can initiate the match.
• Ling Qingying’s intimidating presence causes the referee to order Lai Guanting off the command platform. Lai leaves resentfully, feeling bullied.
• The audience reacts with surprise and concern. Ling Ruijie had wanted Mu Yun to fight his sister eventually, but believes the timing is unfavorable.
• Qu Qi eagerly anticipates the battle because he has personally witnessed the terrifying strength of Mu Yun’s Beedrill, Xiao Du.
• Mu Yun and Ling Qingying release their Pokémon:
  • Mu Yun sends out Xiao Du, his powerful Beedrill.
  • Ling Qingying sends out a level-62 Vanilluxe with Gym Leader-level strength, Champion-level potential, an Ice Gem, and several powerful ice-related abilities.
• Vanilluxe’s Snow Warning ability immediately creates hail energy, while Xiao Du launches into action without waiting for a command.
• The battle begins with Xiao Du rapidly closing the distance between itself and Vanilluxe.
• Ling Qingying remains silent and emotionless, appearing to focus more on observing Mu Yun than on directing her Pokémon.

Character Developments

• Mu Yun: Remains calm and confident, revealing that his previous match did not exhaust him because he intentionally held back. He carefully evaluates Ling Qingying and her unusual emotional detachment.
• Ling Qingying: Demonstrates her extreme composure and lack of emotional expression. She appears to trust Vanilluxe to act independently and may be more interested in studying Mu Yun than simply winning the battle.
• Lai Guanting: Is removed from the command platform after the match and leaves with comic resentment, believing everyone is mistreating him.
• Ling Ruijie: Becomes anxious about the battle but secretly hopes Mu Yun can defeat his overwhelmingly strong older sister.
• Qu Qi: Shows increased excitement and respect for Mu Yun after recalling Xiao Du’s ability to defeat powerful Pokémon with a single attack.

Significant Themes

• Hidden strength and underestimated opponents: Mu Yun has not yet displayed Xiao Du’s full power, causing others to underestimate him.
• Emotional detachment: Ling Qingying’s lack of emotion affects her relationships, her Pokémon training, and her battle style.
• Natural talent versus deliberate effort: Even Vanilluxe, which Ling Qingying allegedly raised casually, has reached a level far beyond what most trainers can achieve.
• Observation and psychological tension: The battle is framed not only as a contest of Pokémon strength but also as a quiet confrontation between Mu Yun and Ling Qingying.

Character Interactions

• Mu Yun and Ling Qingying exchange only a few words, but their brief interaction establishes mutual readiness and tension.
• Ling Qingying’s glance makes the referee immediately straighten and act more seriously.
• The audience members interpret the battle differently: Liu Yizhong is shocked, Ling Ruijie is worried, and Qu Qi is eager because he knows Mu Yun’s true capabilities.
• Ling Qingying does not issue verbal commands, suggesting a highly autonomous relationship with Vanilluxe.
• The chapter ends as Xiao Du rushes toward Vanilluxe while Ling Qingying silently watches Mu Yun, leaving the outcome unresolved.

Key plot points and events

• Xiao Du (Beedrill) dodges Vanilluxe’s Icy Wind and defeats it with one strike, completing a quest and earning Mu Yun points and a slight boost to Beedrill’s growth.
• The crowd is stunned by the one-hit victory, especially since Vanilluxe was considered strong enough to challenge a City Gym.
• Ling Qingying calmly recalls Vanilluxe, then sends out her carefully raised Cetitan.
• Cetitan is revealed to be a formidable level-65 Ice-type with transformed stats, powerful defensive traits, immunity to lesser status effects, and a special mirror that reflects some damage back at attackers.

Character developments and interactions

• Mu Yun remains composed and studies Cetitan, curious how Ling Qingying will respond after Vanilluxe’s defeat.
• Ling Qingying shows no visible disappointment or anger. Her calm, deliberate choice of Cetitan suggests she is now taking the battle seriously.
• Ling Ruijie explains that Cetitan is far stronger than Vanilluxe and can contend with Pokémon above its level, but Xiao Du’s victory leaves him unsure who will prevail.
• Lai Guanting and the other spectators are shocked by Beedrill’s rapid growth and overwhelming strength. Qu Qi, by contrast, confidently expected Mu Yun to dominate and takes pride in the result.

Significant themes

• Hidden strength and rapid growth: Xiao Du has become far more powerful than those who remember him from months earlier can comprehend.
• Composure under pressure: Ling Qingying responds to a humiliating loss without outward emotion, shifting straight to her strongest battle Pokémon.
• Escalating stakes: Cetitan’s extraordinary abilities make clear that the next fight will be more challenging than the first.

Chapter Summary: “Cracked!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Mu Yun examines Ling Qingying’s Cetitan and is shocked by its extraordinary strength. It has:
  • Gym Leader-level mid-stage strength.
  • An enhanced Super Thick Fat Ability that halves damage from all moves.
  • The Reflecting Mirror, which returns damage based on the user’s Base Stats.
  • A massive 620 Base Stat total.
  • Blessing and Eternal Freeze Power enhancements.
  • Ice-Scaled Armor, allowing it to freeze attackers and trigger soul-damaging Extreme Ice Erosion.
• Mu Yun realizes that Cetitan’s abilities make it extremely difficult to defeat through normal attacks. However, his Beedrill, Xiao Du, counters it because Divine Baptism protects him from negative statuses and his high stats prevent the Reflecting Mirror from being effective.
• As the match resumes, Cetitan uses the remaining hail to create Dragon Scale-like ice armor through Ice Spinner, combining it with Double-Edge for a powerful charge.
• Xiao Du remains completely calm and activates a dual-move X-Scissor, striking Cetitan from above with overwhelming force.
• His attack shatters Cetitan’s ice armor, cracks the battlefield, and damages the arena so severely that its reinforced alloy foundation becomes visible.
• Beedrill defeats Cetitan instantly. Mu Yun completes two quests and earns a total of 715 points, along with increases to Beedrill’s growth.
• Mu Yun admits that Xiao Du’s attack was stronger than intended. He had to redirect much of the force into the ground to prevent Cetitan from being fatally injured.

Character Developments

• Mu Yun: Demonstrates his analytical ability by quickly identifying Cetitan’s strengths and Xiao Du’s natural advantages against them. He remains cautious about Xiao Du’s destructive power and shows concern for Ling Qingying and Cetitan’s safety.
• Xiao Du/Beedrill: Displays absolute confidence, calmness, and overwhelming combat strength. Despite his small size, he possesses greater pressure and presence than the enormous Cetitan. His mastery of dual-move techniques and energy control has advanced considerably.
• Ling Qingying: Her powerful Cetitan confirms her exceptional talent and the effectiveness of her training, though her lack of emotional expression contrasts with Xiao Du’s calm confidence.
• Cetitan: Revealed to be one of the most mechanically powerful Pokémon Mu Yun has encountered, combining defense, reflected damage, freezing effects, and soul damage. Despite this, it is completely outmatched by Xiao Du’s counters and superior stats.

Significant Themes

• Strength versus overwhelming mechanics: Cetitan appears nearly unbeatable because of its layered Abilities, items, and status effects, but raw power and a proper counter can overcome even complex defensive strategies.
• Size versus true power: The enormous Cetitan looks like a tank, while the tiny Beedrill seems fragile, yet Xiao Du’s aura and destructive strength vastly surpass hers.
• Control and restraint: Xiao Du’s power is so great that Mu Yun must actively limit and redirect his attacks to avoid killing opponents or destroying the arena.
• Growth and talent: The battle emphasizes the extraordinary progress Pokémon can make through rare powers, special resources, and advanced techniques.

Character Interactions

• Mu Yun studies Cetitan’s abilities and mentally compares her to Xiao Du, concluding that Beedrill directly counters her.
• Cetitan charges confidently, but Xiao Du’s gaze briefly intimidates and stiffens her.
• Xiao Du overwhelms Cetitan with a devastating X-Scissor, turning the battle into an immediate display of superiority.
• The referee reacts with disbelief when the supposedly durable arena cracks under the impact, highlighting the extraordinary level of the battle.

Chapter Summary: “Eiscue!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ling Qingying remains completely expressionless after Cetitan is defeated instantly for the second consecutive time. Her emotional detachment surprises Mu Yun, who has never seen a Trainer so unaffected by victory or defeat.
• Before the referee can have the damaged battlefield repaired, Ling Qingying sends out her third Pokémon: Eiscue.
• Eiscue is revealed to be a Level 59 Totem Pokémon with the Ice Face ability and a powerful Ice Gem. However, unlike Ling Qingying’s previous Pokémon, Eiscue possesses only Gym Leader-level potential.
• Ling Ruijie explains that Eiscue is not a trained combat Pokémon but a pet and Coordinator Pokémon intended for acrobatic performances.
• Eiscue is confused and frightened by the ruined battlefield and Xiao Du’s intimidating presence, but she decides to fight anyway. She plans to use hail and Blizzard to defeat Mu Yun’s Beedrill.
• As soon as the battle begins, Beedrill moves too quickly for Eiscue to react and strikes her with a powerful Bee Needle, defeating her instantly.
• Mu Yun’s victory completes one of his quests, earning him Points and slightly increasing Beedrill’s growth. He also receives an additional reward because Eiscue was a target of the team-selection quest.
• Eiscue resolves that battling is not for her and that she will focus on being a performing Coordinator Pokémon instead.
• The spectators are shocked by how easily all three of Ling Qingying’s Pokémon were defeated. Qu Qi proudly celebrates Mu Yun’s victory, while Liu Yizhong mocks his exaggerated pride.

Character Developments

• Mu Yun: Continues to demonstrate overwhelming strength and composure. His victory over Eiscue completes important system quests and further advances Beedrill’s growth.
• Ling Qingying: Her strange emotional neutrality becomes more noticeable. Even after repeated one-sided defeats, she shows no frustration, sadness, or surprise.
• Eiscue: Introduced as a non-combat pet rather than a serious battler. Despite briefly trying to summon courage and fight, she is immediately defeated and decides to abandon battling.
• Beedrill/Xiao Du: Beedrill’s speed and power are emphasized again, allowing him to defeat an opponent before she can even launch her planned attack.
• Ling Ruijie: Reveals his confusion about Ling Qingying’s decision to use Eiscue, since he knows she was never trained for actual combat.
• Qu Qi: Shows enthusiastic admiration for Mu Yun and behaves as though he personally contributed to the victory.

Significant Themes

• Overwhelming power and decisive victory: Mu Yun’s battles are so one-sided that opponents cannot meaningfully resist, highlighting the gap between him and the varsity team.
• Strength versus specialization: Eiscue’s failure shows that not every Pokémon is meant for combat; her abilities are better suited to performance and coordination.
• Emotional detachment: Ling Qingying’s lack of reaction to repeated defeats creates an unsettling mystery around her personality and motivations.
• Humor amid tension: The ruined arena and seemingly serious final battle are undercut by Eiscue’s confusion, her instant defeat, and her decision to quit battling.
• Jealousy and admiration: The spectators resent Mu Yun’s combination of appearance, talent, and strength, while others openly admire and support him.

Character Interactions

• Mu Yun observes and analyzes Ling Qingying’s unnaturally calm demeanor.
• Ling Qingying silently sends out Eiscue without explaining her choice, leaving both Eiscue and the spectators confused.
• Eiscue attempts to interpret the battle situation and mentally prepares to challenge Beedrill, but Beedrill defeats her before she can act.
• Ling Ruijie explains Eiscue’s background to Lai Guanting and Liu Yizhong, emphasizing that she is merely a pet and performer.
• The spectators react with disbelief to the anticlimactic battle, while Qu Qi boasts about Mu Yun’s success and Liu Yizhong sarcastically challenges his claim.

Chapter Summary: “Captain!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Mu Yun defeats Ling Qingying’s Eiscue, ending the first match of the twelve-to-six selection round.
• After the battle, Ling Qingying unexpectedly approaches Mu Yun, shakes his hand with surprising strength and speed, and simply tells him that she will remember him before leaving.
• The remaining selection matches conclude, followed by challenge matches to determine the final university team roster.
• Ling Qingying challenges a fourth-year student and effortlessly defeats all three of his Pokémon using only Cetitan, further emphasizing her overwhelming strength.
• Lai Guanting and several others successfully challenge for positions, while Mu Yun and Ling Qingying remain unchallenged.
• The six official competitors are finalized: Lai Guanting, Liu Yizhong, Yin Peng, Wei Yang, Ling Qingying, and Mu Yun.
• Ling Qingying suddenly transfers the captaincy to Mu Yun, a first-year student. Her authority and Mu Yun’s proven strength prevent anyone from objecting.
• Mu Yun receives a system reward for becoming captain: 30,000 points and a directed blank slot for Beedrill, Xiao Du.
• Mu Yun accepts the position but delegates practical team management to Lai Guanting.
• Lai Guanting suggests holding an intensive training camp before the Black Dragon Cup, which will begin in the middle of the following month.

Character Developments

• Mu Yun: Becomes the university team captain despite being a first-year student. He is pleased by the status and system reward but has no interest in handling administrative work, preferring to let Lai Guanting manage the team.
• Ling Qingying: Maintains her emotionless, aloof demeanor even after losing. Her sudden interaction with Mu Yun suggests a personal interest or recognition of his strength. Her effortless victory over a fourth-year student reinforces her extraordinary power. By giving Mu Yun the captaincy, she demonstrates confidence in him.
• Lai Guanting: Retains the vice-captain position and continues managing the team’s affairs. He readily accepts Mu Yun’s leadership because Mu Yun is strong and unlikely to interfere unnecessarily.
• The university team: Accepts Mu Yun’s promotion without resistance, largely because both Ling Qingying and Mu Yun have earned considerable respect through their strength.

Significant Themes

• Strength determines authority: The team accepts Mu Yun’s promotion because power, rather than seniority, is the decisive measure of leadership among Trainers.
• Unpredictability and hidden motives: Ling Qingying’s emotionless behavior, sacrificial use of Eiscue, unexpected handshake, and sudden transfer of the captaincy leave Mu Yun uncertain about her intentions.
• Delegated leadership: Mu Yun gains the title and authority of captain while allowing Lai Guanting to handle day-to-day responsibilities, showing a practical division between symbolic leadership and administration.
• Recognition between powerful individuals: Ling Qingying appears to recognize Mu Yun as someone worth remembering, hinting at a developing connection or rivalry.

Character Interactions

• Mu Yun and Ling Qingying share a strange, one-sided introduction after the match. Her icy touch and abrupt statement leave him confused.
• Ling Qingying’s dominance in the challenge match strengthens Mu Yun’s impression that she is an exceptionally powerful and unusual person.
• Ling Qingying publicly names Mu Yun as captain, creating a dramatic shift in their relationship and in the team’s hierarchy.
• Mu Yun and Lai Guanting establish their working arrangement: Mu Yun serves as captain, while Lai Guanting continues handling operations and proposes pre-tournament training.

Chapter Summary: “Assault Training Camp! Ability Selection!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Mu Yun learns about the university’s annual half-month assault training camp for official school-team members and substitutes. The camp is intended to improve battle readiness, teamwork, and mental condition before competitions.
• He asks how students will handle their regular classes. Lai Guanting explains that team members can take temporary leave and receive individual tutoring afterward.
• The camp is normally run jointly by the Trainer Academy and Breeder Academy. Trainers conduct frequent battles and post-battle analysis, while Breeders manage nutrition and physical conditioning.
• Mu Yun decides to follow the traditional arrangement but also invites reserve and non-official team members. He believes the additional battles will help strengthen his Pokémon, though he privately views the stronger team members as useful “experience” for his own Pokémon.
• When Lai Guanting worries that younger students may struggle to obtain leave, Mu Yun takes responsibility and promises to speak directly with the principal.
• Back at Villa No. 101, Mu Yun releases his longtime partner, Xiao Du—Beedrill, also known as Dugu.
• Mu Yun activates the System’s Directed Blank Slot, allowing him to choose an Ability for Beedrill from the Abilities of Pokémon sharing the relevant Bug or Poison typing.
• The System displays hundreds of possible Abilities, including Shed Skin, Technician, Mold Breaker, Moxie, Beast Boost, Protosynthesis, Download, and Quark Drive.
• Although the enormous selection briefly overwhelms him, Mu Yun already has a specific Ability in mind. The chapter ends just before he makes the final selection.

Character Developments

• Mu Yun demonstrates strong leadership by organizing the training camp, accommodating reserve members, and accepting responsibility for securing their leave.
• He also reveals his practical and ambitious approach to training: he wants the camp to benefit the entire team while simultaneously helping his own Pokémon grow.
• His confidence continues to increase. He considers the school team’s powerful Pokémon valuable training targets and believes he can personally guide or evaluate the team.
• Lai Guanting acts as the responsible organizer, raising practical concerns about scheduling and student attendance. He appears reassured by Mu Yun’s willingness to handle difficulties personally.
• Xiao Du/Dugu is shown to have a close, intuitive bond with Mu Yun. The Pokémon immediately understands Mu Yun’s intention and cooperates without needing verbal instructions.

Significant Themes

• Leadership and responsibility: Mu Yun does not merely issue orders; he promises to resolve administrative obstacles himself.
• Training as preparation and competition: The camp combines battle practice, analysis, physical conditioning, and nutrition, emphasizing that Trainers function much like professional athletes.
• Growth through opportunity: Even reserve members are invited so that everyone can improve, reflecting Mu Yun’s belief that every battle has value.
• Strategic power development: The Ability-selection system introduces a major avenue for customizing and strengthening Pokémon.
• Partnership and trust: The silent interaction between Mu Yun and Xiao Du highlights their established teamwork and mutual understanding.

Character Interactions

• Mu Yun and Lai Guanting discuss the camp’s purpose, academic arrangements, traditional structure, and participant eligibility.
• Mu Yun reassures Lai Guanting that he will handle leave arrangements, strengthening Lai’s confidence in him as captain.
• Mu Yun and Xiao Du share a quiet but meaningful moment in which Xiao Du responds immediately to Mu Yun’s intention.
• Mu Yun then consults the System and examines the extensive Ability list, setting up the next major decision: which Ability to grant Xiao Du.

Chapter Summary: “Break All Laws!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Mu Yun decides to give Beedrill, nicknamed Xiao Du, a second ability. He selects Mold Breaker, which allows a Pokémon to ignore opponents’ abilities.
• Xiao Du’s existing ability, Critical Hit +1, makes all his attacks critical hits with damage increased to 750% of normal power, already enabling devastating one-hit kills.
• Using seven Limit-Breaking Points, Mu Yun enhances Mold Breaker and chooses the more powerful evolution, Break All Laws, spending five points.
• Break All Laws can:
  • Nullify opponents’ abilities
  • Suppress status buffs
  • Seal held items
  • Ignore defensive moves and strike directly
  • Increase Xiao Du’s move power by 25% each time one of these effects activates, up to a 100% bonus
• The enhancement also causes Xiao Du to:
  • Learn

Hyper Beam

• Raise his Focus Energy proficiency to Mastered
• Level up from 70 to 71
• Mu Yun takes Xiao Du to the Pokémon Space to test the new ability with Patrick.
• Xiao Du’s suppression wave significantly interferes with Patrick’s abilities, reducing his processing power by 30% even after Patrick’s second brain enhancement.
• Patrick concludes that weaker Pokémon might be unable to release moves or even mobilize energy under Xiao Du’s suppression.
• Mu Yun realizes the ability could completely overwhelm weaker enemies and largely disable abilities, items, buffs, and defenses even in opponents of comparable strength. He considers testing it against the stronger Pokémon Urshifu.

Character Developments

• Mu Yun: Demonstrates his strategic focus on maximizing Xiao Du’s combat potential. He recognizes that Break All Laws’ utility is more valuable than a simple increase in offensive power and begins assessing its limits.
• Xiao Du/Beedrill: Gains a second ability that transforms him from a powerful critical-hit attacker into a Pokémon capable of dismantling an opponent’s entire battle system. He also reaches Level 71, learns Hyper Beam, and masters Focus Energy.
• Patrick: Acts as the first test subject for the new ability. Despite his enhanced mental capabilities, he struggles against Xiao Du’s suppression, revealing the ability’s considerable strength and helping clarify how it functions.

Significant Themes

• Overwhelming power through ability combinations: Xiao Du’s critical-hit ability becomes even more dangerous when paired with Break All Laws.
• Breaking established rules: The new ability embodies the chapter’s title by bypassing abilities, items, status effects, and defensive techniques.
• The value of versatility over raw strength: Mu Yun prioritizes an ability that disables opponents rather than simply increasing damage.
• Testing and discovery: The exact nature of Break All Laws is not fully known from its description; experimentation reveals that it can also suppress energy and reduce mental or processing capabilities.

Character Interactions

• Mu Yun personally grants and enhances Xiao Du’s abilities, then asks him how the transformation feels.
• Mu Yun and Xiao Du travel to the Pokémon Space, where Patrick welcomes them and agrees to help test the ability.
• Xiao Du’s suppression wave affects Patrick, who resists it but suffers a 30% reduction in processing power.
• Patrick explains the ability’s broader effects to Mu Yun, comparing it to his own Brain Control Wave but emphasizing that Xiao Du’s suppression is much stronger.
• The chapter ends with Mu Yun eager to continue testing Xiao Du’s power, potentially against a stronger opponent.

Chapter Summary: “Aggron!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• In the woods, Mu Yun finds Urshifu watching a battle-themed video on a tablet. He asks Urshifu to help test Xiao Du’s newly enhanced ability, Break All Laws.
• The ability weakens Urshifu only slightly:
  • Energy circulation efficiency decreases by 5%.
  • Energy conversion speed decreases by 10%.
  • Move activation becomes somewhat slower.
  • Attack power is largely unaffected.
• Mu Yun concludes that Break All Laws has a much weaker effect on Urshifu than it did on Patrick, likely because Urshifu is a Legendary Pokémon, though his higher level may also contribute. He plans to conduct more tests later.
• Mu Yun informs Patrick that the Breeder program will soon visit the New Capital Research Institute for a ten-day exchange involving several major research institutes. Patrick is excited to learn from top researchers.
• After military training ends, the school’s training camp is organized at Battle Arena No. 1. Mu Yun gains exemption from regular training after challenging and learning from the instructors, then joins the teaching staff instead.
• Mu Yun trains the students by battling them with several of his Pokémon, including Xiao Du, Bingbing, Xiao Xin, Aron, and Bold. He also continues using the Black Serpent Gang as a source of battle experience and training. Their Pokémon grow stronger under the pressure, with two additional Totem Level Pokémon appearing among them.
• When the time comes for Mu Yun to leave for New Capital, he participates in another battle at the arena. Ling Ruijie, also known as Jerry, challenges him again—this time facing Mu Yun’s newly evolved Aggron.

Character Developments

• Mu Yun continues to grow as both a battler and an instructor. His strength is now enough to defeat or challenge the academy’s teachers, allowing him to take a leadership role in the training camp.
• Xiao Du’s Break All Laws is shown to be highly effective against ordinary powerful Pokémon but much less effective against Legendary Pokémon such as Urshifu.
• Patrick is eager to participate in the upcoming research exchange, showing his intellectual curiosity and desire to improve.
• Aron has evolved into Aggron less than two weeks earlier and has rapidly reached the peak of the Elite Level through Mu Yun’s intense training methods and battles against the Black Serpent Gang. His potential is now at the Champion Level.
• Ling Ruijie demonstrates persistence and courage by repeatedly challenging Mu Yun despite the large gap in strength. His position as second in his year reflects his determination and ability.

Significant Themes

• The relationship between strength and status: Mu Yun earns the respect of his classmates through overwhelming ability, reinforcing the idea that genuine strength commands recognition.
• Growth through pressure and conflict: Mu Yun’s training methods push both his Pokémon and the Black Serpent Gang’s Pokémon to improve rapidly. The chapter emphasizes pressure as a powerful motivation for advancement.
• Limits of power and ability: Break All Laws does not affect every opponent equally, suggesting that Legendary status, level, and inherent power can resist or reduce special abilities.
• Learning through experience: Mu Yun seeks guidance from teachers, joins the training staff, and prepares for the research exchange, highlighting the importance of learning from both battle and scholarship.
• Food and camaraderie: The students’ increased enthusiasm toward Mu Yun after he cooked for them adds humor and shows how shared meals strengthen social bonds.

Character Interactions

• Mu Yun and Urshifu cooperate in testing Xiao Du’s ability, with Urshifu carefully analyzing the effects and reporting his observations.
• Mu Yun encourages Patrick by informing him about the upcoming research institute exchange.
• Mu Yun interacts with the academy teachers by challenging them, gaining useful experience, and eventually working alongside them as a trainer.
• Mu Yun’s training battles with the students establish him as both a feared opponent and a respected captain.
• The students discuss Mu Yun admiringly from the spectators’ stands, while Ling Ruijie directly challenges him in battle.
• Ling Ruijie’s Weavile faces Mu Yun’s newly evolved Aggron, setting up the chapter’s concluding confrontation.

Chapter Summary: “Departure for New Capital!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Aggron defeats Ling Ruijie’s Weavile, completing Permanent Quest 1 and earning Mu Yun 49 points.
• The battle highlights Aggron’s overwhelming defensive abilities:
  • Its Physical Defense Base Stat has reached 265.
  • Its Absolute Defense trait rapidly strengthens its defenses after the battle begins.
  • The Reflecting Mirror returns incoming damage, potentially dealing double the original damage.
• Aggron reaches Level 50 after the battle.
• Ling Ruijie is astonished by Aggron’s enormous size and seemingly impenetrable armor. Mu Yun jokingly attributes its growth to eating, drinking, and battling—omitting the advantage of his cheats.
• Lai Guanting presents Mu Yun with a two-week training plan. Mu Yun approves it but announces that he will be away from school for ten days, leaving Lai in charge of supervising the others.
• Lai reacts dramatically because Mu Yun’s cooking has become one of his main sources of motivation.
• Mu Yun gives Lai a large backpack full of vacuum-sealed snacks, including candy, jelly, jerky, spicy strips, and Portuguese egg tarts, instructing him to distribute them as rewards for good performance.
• After Mu Yun leaves, Lai and Qu Qi nearly fight over the food, revealing how highly everyone values Mu Yun’s cooking.
• Mu Yun spends the night using his abilities to conquer multiple cities, then prepares breakfast for Chi Duoduo before departing.
• He joins the group traveling to New Capital, hoping the New Capital Research Institute can accelerate the process of cracking Patrick’s core.

Character Developments

• Aggron reaches Level 50 and is established as an almost invulnerable combatant capable of defeating stronger opponents through defense and reflected damage.
• Mu Yun demonstrates his continued growth as a trainer, mentor, cook, and leader. He trusts Lai with responsibility and prepares rewards to keep the team motivated during his absence.
• Lai Guanting has become one of Mu Yun’s most loyal assistants. His formerly serious personality has softened into exaggerated enthusiasm, especially regarding Mu Yun’s food.
• Ling Ruijie gains greater respect for Mu Yun after witnessing Aggron’s extraordinary strength.
• Ling Qingying, usually emotionally detached, shows a rare moment of visible emotion when tasting Mu Yun’s cooking.
• Qu Qi reveals a mischievous and opportunistic side when he discovers Lai’s hidden supply of snacks.

Significant Themes

• Overwhelming strength and strategic advantage: Aggron’s defense, special traits, and Reflecting Mirror make it nearly impossible to defeat through ordinary attacks.
• Leadership and trust: Mu Yun delegates responsibility to Lai and supports the team even while leaving.
• Food as a source of camaraderie and motivation: Mu Yun’s cooking helps win people’s loyalty and creates humorous bonds among the group.
• Hidden advantages and talent: Mu Yun’s casual explanation of Aggron’s growth conceals the supernatural assistance that truly makes its development possible.
• Progress toward larger goals: The departure for New Capital advances Mu Yun’s efforts to help Patrick and suggests a new stage in the broader plot.

Character Interactions

• Ling Ruijie congratulates and questions Mu Yun after Aggron defeats Weavile, expressing disbelief at its strength.
• Mu Yun approves Lai’s training plan and entrusts him with supervising the team.
• Lai’s emotional reaction to Mu Yun’s departure is softened when Mu Yun gives him snacks to distribute.
• Qu Qi catches Lai with the food, leading to a comedic confrontation over the Portuguese egg tarts and the rest of the backpack’s contents.
• Mu Yun’s final preparations—making breakfast for Chi Duoduo and setting out for New Capital—connect his personal responsibilities with the larger mission involving Patrick’s core.

Chapter Summary: “Three Research Institutes!”

Plot Points and Events

• Mu Yun meets Xiao Yu, the student assigned to coordinate with him for the research exchange trip to New Capital.
• He joins a group of high-achieving third-year students from the Breeder Academy, led by the academy’s stern elderly vice president.
• Xiao Yu gives Mu Yun information about three major research institutes:
  1. New Capital Pokémon Genetics Research Institute – studies Pokémon genes and works toward completing genetic maps for every species.
  2. New Capital Pokémon Intelligent Machinery Research Institute – develops Pokémon-related devices and equipment.
  3. New Core Research Institute – one of the Yanhuang League’s premier research institutes and the birthplace of Rotom, making it the most advanced of the three.
• Xiao Yu explains that every student may bring one Pokémon to participate in the exchange program. She recommends that Mu Yun bring a Psychic-type Pokémon.
• The group travels by plane from Heihe City to New Capital, where Mu Yun is impressed by the city’s enormous airport and its unusually efficient Alakazam receptionists.
• At the hotel, Mu Yun inspects the room before summoning Patrick and giving him the study schedule.
• Patrick is especially interested in genetics research and intelligent machinery, both of which could assist him in understanding his own abilities and deciphering the third layer of his mysterious core.
• The group will spend most of the ten-day program at the first two institutes, with only one day allocated to the New Core Research Institute because of its heavy workload.
• Mu Yun hopes Patrick will learn enough to help accelerate research into the third layer of his core once they return to Pokémon Space.

Character Developments

• Mu Yun is shown as cautious and responsible: he checks the hotel room before summoning Patrick and carefully explains the communication rules for the program.
• He also demonstrates long-term planning, recognizing that the exchange could provide Patrick with knowledge and equipment necessary for future research.
• Patrick displays strong curiosity and an academic mindset. His interest in both genetics and machinery reflects his desire to understand his own origin and abilities.
• Patrick also shows awareness of the importance of secrecy by agreeing to avoid speaking human language and instead use Pokémon language or telepathic communication.
• Xiao Yu is established as friendly, energetic, and helpful, despite her somewhat absent-minded appearance.
• The Breeder Academy students are presented as talented future researchers, while the vice president represents the academy’s strict, traditional authority.

Significant Themes

• Scientific progress and Pokémon research: The chapter emphasizes the advanced relationship between Pokémon and human technology, particularly in genetics, machinery, and artificial Pokémon creation.
• Self-discovery: Patrick’s interest in genetics is closely tied to his effort to understand himself and the mysterious core within him.
• Learning and opportunity: The exchange program is portrayed as a rare chance for both humans and Pokémon to gain knowledge from elite institutions.
• Human–Pokémon cooperation: Pokémon are not merely companions or battle partners; they also serve as researchers, receptionists, students, and technological collaborators.
• Secrecy and caution: Mu Yun’s instructions about communication suggest that Patrick’s unusual abilities and origins must remain concealed.

Character Interactions

• Xiao Yu warmly welcomes Mu Yun, introduces him to the delegation, and explains the research institutes and exchange arrangements.
• She encourages Mu Yun to bring a Psychic-type Pokémon so it can benefit from the research environment.
• Mu Yun and Patrick discuss the schedule together, with Mu Yun guiding Patrick while encouraging him to make full use of the opportunity.
• Patrick expresses particular excitement about the New Core Research Institute, while Mu Yun remains focused on ensuring that the trip contributes to Patrick’s future development.

Chapter Summary: “Rotom (Spin)!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Mu Yun and his companions visit the New Capital Pokémon Genetics Research Institute as part of an exchange program with Black River University.
• At the entrance, they encounter Rotom possessing an electric fan. Rotom mischievously blows air at the visitors, abandons the fan, briefly reveals its original form, and then possesses a drone before flying away.
• Mu Yun examines Rotom’s unusual status. Its displayed level varies depending on the device it possesses: Level 33 in electric-fan form, compared with Level 46 in its natural form. Its strength and abilities are therefore strongly influenced by its equipment.
• The group meets Chen Li, an assistant researcher and the person guiding them through the institute. She explains that Rotom is an artificially synthesized Pokémon created by Dr. Chen He, capable of fusing with electrically powered devices and gaining temporary abilities and types.
• Chen Li introduces the institute’s research groups, including teams studying Wurmple differentiation genes and Eevee’s unstable genes.
• The visitors enter Group Seven’s laboratory, where they observe advanced genetic-research equipment. Patrick becomes interested in the machinery and asks Mu Yun for permission to use it.
• Chen Li allows Patrick to try the equipment, joking internally that Mu Yun might have to work at the institute if Patrick damages anything.

Character Developments

• Mu Yun: Displays strong curiosity and analytical thinking, particularly toward Rotom’s equipment-dependent power and unusual dual-level status. He remains observant despite not understanding the institute’s specialized genetic data.
• Rotom: Is established as playful, mischievous, and highly mobile. It casually switches between electric fan, natural, and drone forms, demonstrating its unique fusion ability and considerable independence.
• Chen Li: Acts as a capable but somewhat flustered guide. She is proud of Rotom and the institute’s achievements, though embarrassed by Rotom’s disruptive behavior. Her willingness to let Patrick use the equipment shows a practical and welcoming attitude.
• Patrick: Shows considerable intelligence and curiosity about scientific technology. His interest suggests that Pokémon may be able to interact meaningfully with advanced research equipment.
• Dr. Chen He and Dr. Gong Hong: Though absent, both are characterized as important figures in Pokémon genetic research. Chen He is credited with creating Rotom, while Gong Hong leads the exchange program and is a highly respected researcher.

Significant Themes

• Science and Pokémon creation: The chapter highlights the institute’s advanced genetic research and the possibility of artificially creating Pokémon.
• Adaptation through technology: Rotom’s power changes according to the devices it possesses, emphasizing the relationship between Pokémon abilities and human technology.
• Curiosity and discovery: Mu Yun and Patrick approach the institute as a place of learning, while the research environment encourages experimentation and investigation.
• Human–Pokémon cooperation: The institute demonstrates how Pokémon and humans can work together in scientific research, with Pokémon such as Rotom serving as both subjects and active participants.
• Contrast between discipline and mischief: The highly organized research institute is humorously disrupted by Rotom’s playful behavior.

Important Character Interactions

• Chen Li scolds Rotom for blowing air at the visitors and later apologizes to Mu Yun’s group for its behavior.
• Deputy Dean Xiao questions Chen Li about Rotom, prompting an explanation of its artificial origins and fusion abilities.
• Chen Li guides Mu Yun and the others through the institute, introducing various research teams and laboratories.
• Patrick communicates telepathically with Mu Yun to ask permission to use the research equipment.
• Mu Yun asks Chen Li on Patrick’s behalf, and she agrees after judging Patrick to be intelligent and harmless.

Chapter Summary: “Gene Analysis! Supercomputer”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Team Seven’s leader explains how difficult and time-consuming gene analysis is, boasting that he once classified a previously unknown gene set in only one week.
• His self-congratulation is interrupted when everyone gathers around a workstation occupied by Patrick, Mu Yun’s Starmie.
• Patrick analyzes genetic data at an astonishing speed—identifying genes almost once per second and completing entire sets in about a minute.
• The team leader initially doubts the results, but repeated checks confirm that Patrick’s findings are accurate, including genes the leader himself had failed to fully identify.
• Researchers speculate that Starmie, or Psychic-type Pokémon in general, may possess unusual talent for gene analysis. Mu Yun casually attributes Patrick’s ability to his Psychic typing.
• Xiao Yu becomes so impressed that she considers raising a Staryu to assist with her academic work.
• After gaining practical experience and deepening his understanding of genes, Patrick stops working because the crowd prevents him from using his full abilities.
• Chen Li continues the tour, showing the group the institute’s extensive departments and its enormous supercomputer, which stores genetic information on nearly every Pokémon known to humanity.
• Mu Yun immediately recognizes the supercomputer’s value to Patrick’s cultivation and purchases a copy through the Points Exchange Shop for 100,000 Points.
• The tour then reaches the laboratory of Gong Hong, Chen Li’s teacher and the institute’s deputy director.
• The chapter ends with Vice Dean Xiao recognizing Gong Hong’s companion as Dr. Chen He, co-founder of the New Core Research Institute and creator of Rotom.

Character Developments

• Patrick: Demonstrates extraordinary intelligence, memory, observation, and processing ability through his rapid gene analysis. His practical work also improves his understanding of genetics and reveals that the institute’s genetic database could greatly aid his future development.
• Mu Yun: Shows confidence in Patrick’s abilities and quickly identifies the strategic value of obtaining the institute’s supercomputer. His willingness to spend 100,000 Points reflects his growing resources and long-term planning.
• Team Seven’s leader: Begins as a proud expert boasting about his accomplishments, but is humbled when Patrick effortlessly surpasses his record and solves genes he could not fully analyze.
• Xiao Yu: Is deeply impressed by Patrick and humorously begins imagining how a Staryu could help her complete her research and academic career.
• Chen Li: Acts as the group’s guide and introduces them to the institute’s departments, facilities, and senior researchers.
• Chen He: Is introduced as an influential scientist, co-founder of the New Core Research Institute, and the creator of Rotom.

Significant Themes

• Pokémon intelligence and scientific potential: The chapter emphasizes that Pokémon can possess extraordinary intellectual and research abilities, not merely combat strength.
• Technology and cultivation: The supercomputer’s genetic database is presented as both a scientific resource and a tool that Patrick can use to improve himself.
• Human expertise versus Pokémon capability: Patrick’s performance challenges assumptions about human superiority in specialized scientific work.
• Humility and comic contrast: The team leader’s proud speech is immediately overshadowed by Patrick’s achievements, creating a humorous reminder that real ability matters more than reputation.
• Accumulated knowledge: The institute’s database represents humanity’s collective understanding of Pokémon genetics and hints at the importance of information in advancing research and power.

Character Interactions

• The team leader lectures the group about gene analysis, only to be ignored when the researchers become fascinated by Patrick’s performance.
• The surrounding researchers and students react with disbelief and excitement as Patrick rapidly processes data.
• The team leader pushes past the crowd, verifies Patrick’s results, and struggles to explain how a Starmie could work faster than even elite Psychic-type Pokémon such as Alakazam and Metagross.
• Xiao Yu praises Patrick and discusses raising a Staryu, while Mu Yun downplays Patrick’s achievement by calling it a natural consequence of being Psychic-type.
• Patrick later tells Mu Yun that he has learned enough from the experiment and leaves the workstation.
• Chen Li leads Mu Yun and the others through the institute before introducing them to Gong Hong and, unexpectedly, Chen He.