Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: “Amplification Helmet!”

Vice Dean Xiao brings her students to the New Core Research Institute for an exchange visit and tour. While most of the students leave to observe other projects, Mu Yun chooses to remain in the laboratory because his Starmie, Patrick, is fascinated by a crude helmet-like device being studied by researcher Chen He and geneticist Gong Hong.
The device, temporarily named the Amplification Helmet, is designed for Psychic-type Pokémon. By using special resonance frequencies to stimulate specific genetic regions, it aims to strengthen and stabilize a Pokémon’s Confusion. Chen He explains that he asked Gong Hong for assistance because the device involves Pokémon genetics, although Gong points out that Chen He should learn to solve problems independently rather than constantly relying on others. Their exchange also reveals that Chen He’s wife, Su Xin, is a world-renowned geneticist and one of the discoverers of the Fairy type, but she is too busy to consult.
Mu Yun asks permission to examine the prototype. Rather than handling it himself, he allows Patrick to approach the workbench. Gong Hong is skeptical, believing that even intelligent Psychic-type Pokémon lack the accumulated knowledge and foundation necessary for advanced experimentation. Chen He is similarly doubtful, despite being intrigued by Patrick’s extraordinary intelligence and previous performance. Chen Li, however, defends Patrick by describing what she witnessed earlier.
As Patrick interacts with the device, the laboratory is suddenly filled with a buzzing sound. The helmet begins emitting a faint glow, indicating that it has activated successfully. Chen He is shocked and wonders what Patrick has done, leaving the chapter on a cliffhanger.

Character Developments and Interactions

• Mu Yun quietly demonstrates his confidence in Patrick by allowing him to inspect the prototype.
• Patrick is established as exceptionally intelligent and capable of interacting with advanced technology in ways that surprise experienced researchers.
• Chen He appears warm, open-minded, and curious, while also recognizing the limits of his own expertise.
• Gong Hong is intensely focused, blunt, and skeptical, emphasizing discipline, experience, and independent problem-solving.
• Chen Li acts as a bridge between the researchers and Mu Yun, apologizing for Gong Hong’s behavior and defending Patrick’s abilities.
• Chen He and Gong Hong have a familiar relationship marked by professional cooperation and mild disagreement.
• Chen Li and Gong Hong display a teacher-student dynamic, with Gong reprimanding her for depending too much on outside help.
• Chen Li’s interest in Mu Yun and Patrick is noticeable, and her father appears to take note of it.

Significant Themes

• The contrast between human scientific expertise and Pokémon intelligence.
• The importance of independent problem-solving versus relying on others.
• The potential for cooperation between Pokémon abilities and advanced technology.
• The gap between conventional assumptions and Patrick’s unusual, possibly unprecedented intelligence.
• Scientific experimentation, curiosity, and the excitement of an unexpected breakthrough.

Chapter Summary: “The Goal Is to Become the Strongest Pokémon Researcher!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Mu Yun and Patrick successfully activate the difficult Amplification Helmet through their communication setup.
• Mu Yun’s Starmie plays a crucial role, completing the activation in only a few minutes—far faster than the expected three to five days.
• Chen He and Gong Hong inspect the device and are astonished by the speed and precision of the activation. Chen He concludes that only the most difficult stage is finished, with fine-tuning and corrections still remaining.
• Impressed by Mu Yun’s ability, Chen He invites him to participate in a joint training arrangement at the prestigious New Core Research Institute.
• Vice Dean Xiao reveals that Mu Yun is not a Breeder Academy student but a Trainer and the National Top Scholar from the Pokémon Department.
• Chen He accepts Mu Yun’s dual talents, explaining that he himself was once a powerful Title Elite Four before becoming a renowned researcher.
• Rather than pressure Mu Yun to change career paths immediately, Chen He tells him that the institute will welcome him whenever he is ready.
• Mu Yun then receives a new permanent system mission: “The Goal Is to Become the Strongest Pokémon Researcher.” The mission requires him to become a Full Researcher and continue advancing through the research ranks.
• The mission’s ultimate reward is a Data Eye Ability Load Card, which will add a new function to his Data Eye.

Character Developments

• Mu Yun demonstrates that his abilities extend well beyond Pokémon battles. His knowledge, Starmie’s capabilities, and talent with advanced research equipment earn him the respect of elite researchers.
• Patrick is shown as a collaborator in Mu Yun’s successful activation of the helmet.
• Chen He shifts from evaluating Mu Yun as a promising outsider to recognizing him as an exceptional young talent. He sees similarities between Mu Yun and his own younger self.
• Gong Hong, initially dismissive of Mu Yun and Patrick, becomes shocked and impressed after witnessing their rapid success.
• Vice Dean Xiao realizes that Qu Zonghe’s supposedly troublesome “tourist” is actually an extraordinary prodigy.
• Chen Li is surprised to learn that the young man with advanced research ability is also a Trainer and the National Top Scholar.

Significant Themes

• The unity of battling and research: The chapter challenges the assumption that Trainers and researchers belong to separate worlds. Mu Yun proves that someone can possess both physical and intellectual talent.
• Recognition of hidden genius: Mu Yun is initially underestimated because of his background, but his results immediately force experienced researchers to reconsider him.
• Choosing one’s path: Chen He’s history illustrates that a person can change careers and excel in multiple fields, while his advice acknowledges that Mu Yun may need to pursue his own Trainer ambitions first.
• The pursuit of knowledge: The new mission expands Mu Yun’s goals from becoming strong as a Trainer to uncovering the world’s mysteries and becoming the strongest Pokémon researcher.
• Talent versus experience: Mu Yun achieves in minutes what experts expect to take days, emphasizing the extraordinary potential of innate ability combined with Pokémon expertise.

Character Interactions

• Mu Yun and Patrick: Work together through their communication channel to activate the Amplification Helmet.
• Mu Yun and Chen He: Chen He praises Mu Yun, offers him a position at the New Core Research Institute, and later gives him the freedom to decide when to accept.
• Chen He and Vice Dean Xiao: Their discussion reveals Mu Yun’s academic and Trainer achievements and leads Chen He to understand why Mu Yun’s background is unusual.
• Chen He and Gong Hong: Chen He’s confidence in Mu Yun contrasts with Gong Hong’s disbelief after seeing the results.
• Mu Yun and the system: Mu Yun discovers that the events surrounding Chen He’s invitation have triggered a new permanent mission, setting a broader long-term objective for his development.

Chapter Summary: “A Treasury Stocked with S-Class Papers!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Mu Yun learns that becoming a Full Pokémon Researcher requires publishing an original A-Class paper as the first author or independently, without being co-signed by a Full Researcher or above.
• Dr. Chen explains the research ranking system:

Trainee Researcher

Assistant Researcher

Full Researcher

Senior Researcher

Pokémon Professor

• Research papers are classified as B-, A-, S-, or X-Class, based on originality and importance. Discovering a new Pokémon evolution is generally enough for an S-Class paper, while groundbreaking discoveries such as the Fairy type or Rotom can qualify as X-Class.
• Chen offers Mu Yun first-author credit for the Amplification Helmet, which would allow him to qualify as a Full Researcher. Mu Yun respectfully refuses, wanting to earn his advancement through an achievement of his own.
• Mu Yun reveals his Pokémon, Youlan, a previously unknown evolution of Basculin. He names the species Basculegion, identifying it as a Ghost-type Pokémon.
• The researchers are astonished by the discovery. They realize that studying Basculegion’s abilities, moves, habitat, physiology, and potential could generate multiple S-Class papers and possibly provide Mu Yun with a path toward becoming a Pokémon Professor.

Character Development

• Mu Yun demonstrates ambition, independence, and confidence. Rather than accepting an easy qualification through Chen’s research, he insists on creating his own academic achievement.
• His revelation of Basculegion establishes him as far more than a talented assistant or researcher with connections. He is revealed to possess a discovery of exceptional scientific value.
• Dr. Chen shifts from viewing Mu Yun as a promising young talent to recognizing him as an extraordinary researcher capable of making major contributions to Pokémon science.
• Chen Li openly supports Mu Yun and argues that he deserves credit for the Amplification Helmet’s development.
• Gong Hong reinforces Mu Yun’s contribution, emphasizing that activating the helmet would have been impossible without him.
• Vice Dean Xiao changes her opinion of Mu Yun. She had initially regarded him as someone benefiting from connections, but now recognizes his exceptional research potential.
• Chen He remains humble despite his own prestigious accomplishments, showing genuine excitement at discovering a younger researcher who may surpass expectations.

Significant Themes

• Achievement versus recognition: Mu Yun refuses an easy path to promotion because he values genuine accomplishment over status.
• The importance of original research: The chapter emphasizes that Pokémon research depends on discoveries, innovation, and long-term academic contribution rather than simply practical skill.
• Talent and luck: Mu Yun reflects that major research breakthroughs require not only ability but also luck. His discovery of Basculegion demonstrates how fortune can combine with preparation and talent.
• Mentorship and generational change: Chen He’s response highlights the passing of knowledge and prestige from established researchers to an emerging generation.
• The immense value of discovery: A single new Pokémon evolution can become an entire field of study, illustrating how scientific breakthroughs create many opportunities for further research.

Character Interactions

• Mu Yun and Dr. Chen: Chen explains the researcher-ranking system and offers Mu Yun credit for the Amplification Helmet. Mu Yun politely declines, earning Chen’s respect.
• Mu Yun and Chen Li: Chen Li defends Mu Yun’s right to share credit for the helmet and supports his research ambitions.
• Mu Yun and Gong Hong: Gong Hong confirms that Mu Yun played a crucial role in activating the helmet.
• Mu Yun and Vice Dean Xiao: Xiao’s attitude changes from skepticism to admiration after witnessing Basculegion.
• Mu Yun and Youlan: Youlan affectionately swims through the air around Mu Yun, showing their close bond and confirming her Ghost-type abilities.
• The research group and Basculegion: Chen He, Gong Hong, Chen Li, and Xiao are all shocked by the Pokémon’s appearance and significance, realizing that Mu Yun has unveiled an exceptionally valuable discovery.

Chapter Summary: “Rotom’s Birth Conditions!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Mu Yun reveals his second Basculin evolution, the red-striped Basculegion Manzi, following the earlier introduction of the blue-striped Basculegion Youlan.
• The discovery amazes the researchers. Since discovering even one new evolution is extremely difficult, Mu Yun’s two discoveries greatly strengthen his reputation and future prospects as a researcher.
• Chen He tells Mu Yun that his official research title can be granted once his papers are verified, while promotion to Advanced Level researcher will likely wait until the next annual conference.
• Chen He invites Mu Yun to witness the birth of Rotom, a process considered one of the New Core Research Institute’s highest secrets.
• Mu Yun, Chen He, and Gong Hong travel to the New Core Research Institute. Chen Li and Vice Dean Xiao remain behind to supervise the students.
• After passing through several security doors, they enter a secret underground laboratory containing a huge incubator connected to both the physical world and the Data World.
• Chen He demonstrates Rotom’s abilities using a coffee machine inhabited by Rotom, which produces coffee for the group.
• He explains Rotom’s nature and reveals the basic conditions required to artificially create one.

Character Development

• Mu Yun continues to rise rapidly in status. His creation of both Youlan and Manzi establishes him as an exceptional researcher with enormous potential.
• Despite his achievements, Mu Yun remains modest, crediting earlier researchers—including Chen He—for laying the groundwork that made his discoveries possible.
• Chen He becomes increasingly supportive and trusting of Mu Yun. By allowing him to witness Rotom’s birth, he gives Mu Yun access to highly restricted research.
• Gong Hong is cautious about Mu Yun’s involvement, questioning whether an additional observation slot can be authorized, but ultimately accompanies him.
• Chen Li and Vice Dean Xiao show responsibility by remaining behind to care for the students rather than joining the secret visit.

Significant Themes

• Scientific achievement and recognition: Mu Yun’s discoveries demonstrate how breakthroughs can rapidly transform a researcher’s career.
• Humility and cooperation: Mu Yun acknowledges that his success depends on the accumulated knowledge of previous researchers.
• Secrecy and trust in research: Rotom’s creation is tightly controlled, and Mu Yun’s invitation signals Chen He’s growing confidence in him.
• Digital life and immortality: The Data World introduces the possibility of a separate digital reality, while Rotom’s potentially eternal lifespan raises questions about artificial life and immortality.
• The relationship between technology and life: Rotom exists through the interaction of data, energy, devices, and life information, blurring the boundary between Pokémon biology and advanced technology.

Character Interactions

• Chen He praises Mu Yun’s achievements and discusses his promising future.
• Mu Yun responds modestly, emphasizing the contributions of established researchers.
• Chen He unexpectedly invites Mu Yun to observe Rotom’s creation, surprising both Mu Yun and Gong Hong.
• At the laboratory, Chen He acts as Mu Yun’s guide, explaining the Data World, Rotom’s properties, and the institute’s technology.
• Gong Hong’s questions reflect both concern over security and respect for the importance of the experiment.

Chapter Summary: “Exclusive Rotom! Drawing Blood!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen He explains the four components needed to create Rotom:
  • Data streams construct Rotom’s body in the Data World.
  • Culture medium forms its body in the physical world.
  • Conduits connect the Data World and the physical world.
  • Life data acts like biological cells, allowing Rotom to grow by absorbing and processing data.
• He clarifies that he did not truly create Rotom, but rediscovered an existing form of life.
• Chen He introduces the concept of Exclusive Rotom, which can develop special abilities based on the bloodline and traits of the person who contributes blood during its creation.
• He reveals his own Exclusive Rotom, which transforms from a mechanical wristwatch into a Steel/Electric Rotom.
• Unlike ordinary Rotom, Chen He’s Rotom can possess mechanical and non-electronic devices, gaining enhanced transformation abilities, stronger stats, and extended compatibility.
• Mu Yun agrees to create his own Exclusive Rotom by contributing blood.
• The first syringe cannot pierce Mu Yun’s skin because of his defensive talent. He eventually uses his abilities to force the syringe through.
• During the creation process, Mu Yun’s blood reacts unusually strongly with the culture medium. The machine’s energy consumption rises far beyond normal levels, nearing overload.
• The culture vessel begins to crack because of the intense reaction. Chen He summons Bronzong to protect everyone from the highly corrosive culture liquid.
• The vessel survives, and a new Rotom is successfully born, though its abilities and nature are not yet revealed.

Character Developments

• Mu Yun demonstrates that his defensive talent is exceptionally powerful, even resisting a syringe designed to pierce Elite Four-level Pokémon. His blood appears to trigger an extraordinary reaction, suggesting that his future Exclusive Rotom may possess remarkable abilities.
• Chen He is established as a knowledgeable researcher and inventor who understands Rotom’s unusual biology and creation process. His surprise at Mu Yun’s reaction shows that Mu Yun’s case is unprecedented, even to him.
• Gong Hong witnesses Mu Yun’s unusual durability and reacts with Chen He to the unexpected developments.
• Chen He’s Rotom is revealed to be highly advanced, reflecting Chen He’s mechanical bloodline traits and serving as an example of what an Exclusive Rotom can become.

Significant Themes

• Life and artificial creation: The chapter explores whether Rotom are manufactured, discovered, or truly born, presenting life data as an artificial equivalent of biological cells.
• Inheritance and individuality: Exclusive Rotom inherit traits from their human contributors, linking bloodline, talent, and identity to Pokémon development.
• Human–Pokémon connection: Even without special abilities, a Rotom created from someone’s blood naturally becomes emotionally close to that person.
• Scientific discovery and unpredictability: Mu Yun’s creation exceeds all expected energy requirements, showing that experimentation can produce results beyond established knowledge.
• Power and potential: Mu Yun’s abnormal defense and the intense reaction from his blood hint that his Exclusive Rotom may be unusually powerful.

Character Interactions

• Chen He educates Mu Yun about Rotom’s origins and the distinction between ordinary and Exclusive Rotom.
• Mu Yun questions the meaning of “life data” and becomes curious about the possibility of creating a Rotom tied to his own abilities.
• Chen He offers Mu Yun the syringe and guides him through the creation process.
• Mu Yun’s failed attempt to draw blood surprises both Chen He and Gong Hong, creating a moment of humor and disbelief.
• Chen He and Gong Hong observe the increasingly dangerous creation process, while Chen He acts quickly by summoning Bronzong when the culture vessel begins to crack.
• The chapter ends with the successful birth of Mu Yun’s new Rotom, setting up the reveal of its unique powers in the next chapter.

Chapter Summary: “Infinite Rotom! (Five Updates!)”

• Mu Yun successfully creates a unique crimson Rotom using his blood and Primordial Data Life. The Pokémon, named Infinite Rotom, possesses a noble golden aura and extraordinary potential.
• Infinite Rotom’s status reveals several exceptional traits:
  • Level 19, with a pseudo-legendary total of 600 base stats.
  • Fusion, allowing it to merge with electronic devices and gain temporary attributes.
  • Levitate, granting flight.
  • Boundless Infinity, enabling it to grow by consuming data and modify fused objects.
  • Additional bonuses from its divine blood and artificial/natural origins make it highly resistant to ordinary attacks and negative effects.
• Unlike normal Rotom, which quickly needs to possess an object because maintaining plasma form drains stamina, Infinite Rotom remains energetic and freely flies around the laboratory.
• Because Mu Yun provided the blood used in its creation, Infinite Rotom immediately becomes attached to him, happily circling him after emerging from its cultivation tank.
• Chen He gives Mu Yun a USB drive containing basic data intended to help Rotom understand the world. Instead of possessing a computer first, Infinite Rotom unexpectedly eats the USB drive directly in plasma form.
• This reveals that Infinite Rotom’s special growth method is literal data consumption. After eating the first data pack, its level rapidly rises from 19 to 29.
• Chen He tests the ability with multiple identical USB drives. Infinite Rotom reaches level 37, but repeated copies become ineffective, indicating that it gains little or nothing from duplicate data.
• Chen He then provides hard drives containing varied experimental information. Infinite Rotom devours hundreds of them, rapidly climbing from level 38 all the way to level 60.
• The experience demonstrates that Boundless Infinity is far more powerful than Mu Yun expected, allowing Infinite Rotom to grow at an astonishing rate by consuming unique information.
• When the ordinary experimental data is exhausted, Chen He retrieves a much more valuable hard drive from a safe. It contains records from his exploration of the Data World, including the location where he discovered Life Data.
• The chapter ends with Infinite Rotom about to consume this rare and potentially important information.

Character Development and Interactions

• Mu Yun becomes Infinite Rotom’s first trusted companion and recognizes that its growth ability may rival or surpass his previous enhancements of Xiao Yan and A Ren.
• Infinite Rotom is established as lively, affectionate, unusually durable, highly intelligent in its own way, and voraciously curious about data.
• Chen He shifts from creator and observer to active experimenter, repeatedly supplying different forms of data to determine the limits of Rotom’s ability. He is repeatedly shocked by Rotom’s unprecedented behavior.
• Their interaction combines scientific investigation with a playful discovery: Chen He tries to explain proper feeding procedures, only for Rotom to casually eat the USB drive itself.

Significant Themes

• Evolution through information: Data functions as nourishment and power, making knowledge itself a resource for growth.
• Artificial and natural life: Infinite Rotom blurs the boundaries between engineered creation, divine inheritance, and living Pokémon.
• The limits of scientific understanding: Even Chen He, an expert on Rotom, encounters behavior that existing knowledge cannot explain.
• Potential and escalation: Infinite Rotom’s rapid rise to level 60 suggests that its abilities may become overwhelmingly powerful, especially once it consumes rare Data World information.

Chapter Summary: “The Taste of Home!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Mu Yun feeds an oversized hard drive containing life data to his crimson Rotom, hoping to discover whether it can gain new abilities or information.
• Unlike his previous Rotom, the crimson Rotom hesitates and says the hard drive “smells like home,” suggesting that it recognizes a connection to the place where its original life data was created.
• After consuming the hard drive, Rotom triggers Boundless Infinity, absorbs the data, and rapidly increases to Level 68. It soon reaches Level 69, officially entering the Gym Leader level.
• The data grants Rotom a new ability called Homecoming. By following the scent preserved in its memories, Rotom can return to the world where its life data was born. The farther away it is, the more energy the journey requires.
• Chen He becomes excited by the possibility of testing Homecoming, especially because the laboratory possesses nutrient solutions and data streams that could potentially provide the required energy.
• Gong Hong warns Chen He not to begin immediately because the culture vessel used to create Rotom has developed cracks. They decide to repair it over the next three days before conducting further experiments.
• During the repair period, Mu Yun is invited to work on his research paper and use Chen He’s laboratory equipment.
• Mu Yun moves into a luxurious guest apartment near the institute, then enters his personal Pokémon Space.
• He instructs Patrick to find a suitable location for a newly purchased supercomputer. Patrick selects the bottom of Magikarp Lake because it is spacious, quiet, and naturally cooled by the surrounding water.
• Mu Yun spends 100,000 points to purchase the supercomputer and leaves Patrick to study and install it.
• Mu Yun then summons the crimson Rotom from his phone and formally reveals its status. He names it Xiao Wu, inspired by the concept of infinity.

Character Developments

• Mu Yun becomes increasingly aware that the crimson Rotom is fundamentally different from ordinary Rotom. He begins to consider its origins, its connection to the data world, and its potential importance in creating new artificial Pokémon.
• Crimson Rotom/Xiao Wu gains a major new ability, Homecoming, and grows to Level 69. Its reaction to the hard drive reveals that it possesses memories or instincts connected to its birthplace.
• Chen He shifts from researcher to eager experimenter, immediately recognizing the scientific importance of Homecoming and planning how to test it.
• Gong Hong acts as the cautious voice of reason, reminding Chen He that the damaged culture vessel could make immediate experimentation dangerous.
• Patrick demonstrates practical intelligence by planning the ideal environment for the supercomputer and considering space, disturbance, and heat management.

Significant Themes

• Origins and belonging: The idea of something “smelling like home” suggests that even artificially created life can possess a sense of origin, memory, and emotional connection.
• Artificial life and identity: Xiao Wu’s abilities raise questions about where its true self began—whether in the Pokémon world, the data world, or the unknown place where its life data was first created.
• Scientific discovery versus caution: Chen He is eager to explore the breakthrough, while Gong Hong emphasizes the risks of proceeding before the equipment is repaired.
• Growth through accumulated data: Rotom’s dramatic level increase shows how powerful life data can be and hints at the possibility of producing more Rotom or entirely new artificial Pokémon.
• Preparation for expansion: The acquisition of the supercomputer and Xiao Wu’s Homecoming ability both suggest that Mu Yun is building the infrastructure needed for larger discoveries in the data world.

Character Interactions

• Mu Yun questions Rotom when it hesitates before eating the hard drive, leading to the discovery of its connection to “home.”
• Chen He eagerly asks whether Rotom gained anything and becomes excited when Mu Yun explains Homecoming.
• Gong Hong interrupts Chen He’s plans and persuades him to wait until the cracked culture vessel is repaired.
• Chen He offers Mu Yun access to his laboratory and assistance with his research paper.
• Mu Yun works with Patrick to choose a location for the supercomputer, trusting Patrick’s judgment.
• Mu Yun later summons Rotom from his phone, names it Xiao Wu, and examines its newly improved status.

Chapter Summary: “Fusion Transformation!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Mu Yun discovers that Xiao Wu, despite being only a few hours old, has gained Limit-Breaking Points because his move proficiencies increased during the data-feeding process.
• Xiao Wu’s basic moves—Double Team, Astonish, and Thunder Shock—reach Limit-Breaking +1, granting him enough points for his first Ability Enhancement.
• The System presents four possible enhancements:
  • Fusion +1
  • Fusion Transformation
  • Levitate +1
  • Electronic Levitation
• Mu Yun rejects the cheaper upgrades and Electronic Levitation, believing Xiao Wu’s existing data-form ability makes it unnecessary. He selects Fusion Transformation, which allows Xiao Wu to merge with any inanimate object and modify it based on his understanding of that object.
• The enhancement also grants Xiao Wu:
  • The Electric-type move Electro Ball, with Mastered proficiency
  • A level increase to Level 69, identified as Peak Gym Leader Level
  • Access to the Special Power Point Allocation function, which will eventually help him comprehend different types of Awakening Power.
• Xiao Wu demonstrates his enhanced ability by merging with Mu Yun’s phone. The phone transforms into a small mechanical humanoid, allowing Xiao Wu to fight at full strength.
• Xiao Wu’s upgraded form has Electric/Steel typing, 660 total Base Stats, and improved physical capabilities, though some Special Attack and Speed are reduced.
• Mu Yun then tests Fusion Transformation on a wooden chair. Xiao Wu turns it into a mobile wooden puppet with Electric/Grass typing and Grass-type moves such as Bullet Seed and Branch Poke.
• The chair form is significantly weaker, reaching only Early Totem Level with 580 total Base Stats, showing that the quality of the fused object still limits Xiao Wu’s power.
• Impressed by the ability’s potential, Mu Yun decides to test Xiao Wu with the supercomputer beneath Magikarp Lake.

Character Developments

• Xiao Wu undergoes a major evolution in combat potential. His enhanced ability removes the previous restriction that he could only fuse with electronic or mechanical objects.
• He gains a more versatile combat style, capable of adapting to different vessels and acquiring temporary attributes, moves, and abilities from them.
• Xiao Wu also reaches Level 69 and gains Electro Ball, marking a substantial increase in his strength and technical mastery.
• Mu Yun demonstrates his strategic thinking by choosing the most powerful long-term enhancement rather than settling for cheaper improvements. He immediately begins considering how stronger objects, such as supercomputers, might maximize Xiao Wu’s abilities.

Significant Themes

• Adaptability and evolution: Xiao Wu’s strength depends on his ability to adapt to different objects, making Fusion Transformation a major step beyond his original Fusion ability.
• Potential versus limitations: Although Xiao Wu can now merge with anything inanimate, the quality and nature of the object still determine his final level and Base Stats.
• Technology and power: The phone and supercomputer represent increasingly powerful vessels, suggesting that technological advancement may directly expand Xiao Wu’s combat capabilities.
• Strategic growth: Mu Yun’s careful evaluation of the System’s options highlights the importance of long-term planning and maximizing resources.
• Transformation and identity: Xiao Wu’s constantly changing forms raise the idea that his true strength lies not in one body, but in the ability to redefine himself through different vessels.

Character Interactions

• Mu Yun physically activates Xiao Wu’s enhancement by placing his hand on Xiao Wu’s head, taking care to avoid the sharp point on top.
• He speaks directly to Xiao Wu and guides his experiments, ordering him to return to the phone after the wooden-chair test.
• Xiao Wu cooperates with Mu Yun’s instructions, shifting between the phone, mechanical humanoid, and wooden puppet forms.
• Their interaction reflects a developing partnership: Mu Yun provides direction and experimentation, while Xiao Wu demonstrates the flexibility and power of his newly enhanced ability.

Chapter Summary: “Supercomputer Xiao Wu!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Beneath Magikarp Lake, Mu Yun visits Patrick, who is using the supercomputer to crack his core. The process originally would have taken about six months, nearly four times faster than Patrick working alone.
• Mu Yun introduces Xiao Wu’s fusion ability. By merging with the supercomputer, Xiao Wu can temporarily modify and optimize its structure without permanently altering it.
• Xiao Wu fuses with the massive supercomputer, shrinking it and transforming it into a giant mecha-like Rotom.
• Its upgraded status reveals dramatically increased Base Stats, rising from 600 to 980. Xiao Wu also gains powerful abilities, including:
  • Supercomputer Precognition, allowing it to predict an opponent’s actions three seconds ahead.
  • Giant Object, granting immunity to physical attacks from Pokémon below Champion Level and doubling the power of its physical moves.
  • Shared, allowing it to fight alongside certain Steel-type Pokémon while sharing abilities.
  • Restricted, indicating that Xiao Wu’s power will continue increasing as its level rises.
• Mu Yun orders Xiao Wu to prioritize helping Patrick crack his core. With Xiao Wu’s assistance, the estimated completion time drops from six months to only three.
• Before leaving, Mu Yun asks Patrick to write two research papers about Basculin’s evolutionary form. Patrick rapidly produces ten flawless bilingual papers in under half an hour.
• Mu Yun pretends to work on the papers while waiting for Chen He to prepare culture dishes. He sends Chen He one paper, earning praise for its speed and quality.
• On the fourth day, Chen He confirms that the culture dishes are ready and asks Mu Yun to bring Xiao Wu. Mu Yun sets out, marking the official beginning of his search for his family.

Character Developments

• Mu Yun remains focused on long-term goals rather than immediate displays of power. Although impressed by Xiao Wu’s mecha form and enormous potential, he prioritizes helping Patrick crack his core and pursuing his own physical cultivation.
• Patrick demonstrates exceptional intelligence and efficiency. He recognizes how Xiao Wu can solve the supercomputer’s structural problems and quickly adapts to working with it. His ability to produce high-quality scientific papers further emphasizes his extraordinary intellect.
• Xiao Wu evolves from a newly born Rotom into a highly advanced supercomputer-mecha with enormous combat potential. Despite its childlike personality, it possesses vast theoretical knowledge and obediently follows Mu Yun’s instructions.
• Chen He becomes increasingly impressed by Mu Yun’s supposed research abilities, unknowingly attributing Patrick’s work to Mu Yun.

Significant Themes

• The fusion of technology and Pokémon power: Xiao Wu’s integration with the supercomputer creates a unique artificial-mechanical combat form.
• Untapped potential and growth: Xiao Wu’s “Restricted” ability emphasizes that its current strength is only the beginning.
• Intelligence as power: Patrick and Xiao Wu show that computational ability can rival or surpass conventional physical strength.
• Prioritizing long-term goals: Mu Yun refuses to be distracted by Xiao Wu’s impressive combat capabilities, keeping his attention on Patrick’s core and the search for his family.
• Secrecy and deception: Mu Yun allows Chen He to believe that he personally wrote the research papers, concealing Patrick’s existence and abilities.

Important Character Interactions

• Mu Yun and Patrick discuss the supercomputer’s role in cracking Patrick’s core.
• Mu Yun instructs Xiao Wu to fuse with and optimize the supercomputer.
• Patrick and Xiao Wu begin cooperating, reducing the core-cracking timeline to three months.
• Mu Yun asks Patrick to produce research papers, revealing Patrick’s ability to generate professional scientific work almost instantly.
• Chen He praises Mu Yun’s papers and later informs him that the culture dishes are ready, enabling the next stage of Mu Yun’s family-search experiment.

Chapter Summary: “New Primordial Life Data!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Mu Yun enters the New Core Research Institute’s Rotom training room using the access card prepared by Chen He. Gong Hong is absent due to an emergency, leaving Mu Yun and Chen He to conduct the experiment alone.
• Chen He introduces a newly upgraded nutrient chamber designed to withstand the energy demands of Xiao Wu’s use of Homecoming. The chamber is larger and has twice as many energy-transmission lines as the previous one.
• Xiao Wu, Mu Yun’s Rotom, enters the nutrient fluid through the chamber’s wiring. Chen He’s powerful Pokémon assistants—including Rotom, Alakazam, and a Peak Elite Four-level Metagross—help calibrate the equipment.
• When Xiao Wu activates Homecoming, the energy rapidly exceeds the chamber’s capacity. Data streams become distorted, monitors display garbled code, and the chamber begins to crack.
• Despite Chen He’s precautions, the nutrient chamber explodes. Corrosive, electrically charged fluid floods the laboratory, damaging books, furniture, and equipment. Metagross protects Chen He and Mu Yun, while Alakazam shields the main computer and Xiao Wu preserves the data.
• The laboratory’s automatic cleanup system removes most of the leaking fluid. Chen He checks on Mu Yun before worrying about the damage, demonstrating his concern for Mu Yun’s safety and value as a researcher.
• Xiao Wu discovers a semi-transparent, pale-white sphere hidden amid the wreckage. Chen He identifies it as Primordial Life Data, proving that the experiment succeeded despite the destruction of the chamber.

Character Developments

• Mu Yun remains calm during the experiment and uses Aura to monitor Xiao Wu’s condition. His curiosity is evident when he considers touching the corrosive fluid to test whether he might gain a resistance ability.
• Xiao Wu demonstrates greater control and initiative. Rather than being frightened by the accident, it actively searches the laboratory and discovers the Primordial Life Data.
• Chen He is shown as both an enthusiastic scientist and a protective mentor. He is excited by the possibility of exploring the Data World, reacts quickly during the overload, and prioritizes Mu Yun’s safety over the laboratory.
• Chen He’s considerable resources and strength are emphasized through his high-level experimental Pokémon, especially the Champion-potential Metagross.

Significant Themes

• Scientific discovery and risk: The experiment advances knowledge but causes a dangerous laboratory accident, highlighting the unpredictable costs of pioneering research.
• Technology and life: The chapter explores the boundary between data and living beings, presenting Life Data as a digital equivalent of a life-generating core.
• Failure leading to success: Although the nutrient chamber is destroyed, the experiment produces a far more valuable result than expected.
• Trust and cooperation: Mu Yun, Chen He, Xiao Wu, and the assisting Pokémon work together, combining scientific expertise, technological ability, and battle strength.
• The origins and replication of life: Primordial Life Data is introduced as an original source capable of producing countless clusters of Life Data when supplied with sufficient energy and information.

Character Interactions

• Chen He warmly welcomes Mu Yun and guides him through the experiment.
• Mu Yun communicates with Xiao Wu and coordinates its activation of Homecoming.
• Chen He directs Metagross, Alakazam, and the other Pokémon during the crisis, while they protect both the researchers and the laboratory’s critical systems.
• After the accident, Chen He reassures himself that Mu Yun is unharmed, reinforcing their mentor-like relationship.
• Xiao Wu’s discovery of the pale-white sphere shifts the interaction from concern over failure to excitement over a major scientific breakthrough.

Chapter Summary: “Generous Terms! Back to School!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Mu Yun examines a newly discovered sphere of Primordial Life Data held by Xiao Wu. Although it resembles the data previously found in Rotom, Mu Yun senses subtle differences he cannot yet identify.
• Chen He is thrilled by the discovery because another sample will greatly expand the possibilities for scientific research. He offers Mu Yun generous terms for joint research, including:
  • A share of the profits from Rotom sales
  • A high-specification personal laboratory
  • Access to expensive research equipment and procurement resources
• Mu Yun accepts the partnership, though he does not intend to devote all his time to the project. A new building will be constructed near the New Core Research Institute, with space for both Primordial Life Data samples and an entire floor reserved for Mu Yun’s independent laboratory.
• The laboratory is expected to be completed in about a month because the second sample requires greater energy and space than the existing facilities can provide.
• Chen He remarks that Mu Yun might have become the youngest Pokémon Professor if they had discovered a new data Pokémon species instead of only Primordial Life Data. Mu Yun remains confident that he will eventually earn the title.
• The ten-day academic exchange ends, and Mu Yun returns to Black River University in October. Only a few people know that he has already secured an independent laboratory despite not even being an assistant researcher.
• During the National Day holiday, Mu Yun visits Battle Arena No. 1 and finds the school team training intensely for the upcoming Black Dragon Cup.
• He notices that Lai Guanting has a badly bruised eye, though Lai dismisses it as an accident during training.
• Mu Yun learns that most team members train from morning until night under excellent conditions, while Ling Qingying attends only when free and allows her Pokémon to train independently.
• Instead of merely checking on their progress, Mu Yun announces that he will personally battle each team member to evaluate their training. He promises to cook for them afterward if they perform well, exciting the entire team.

Character Developments

• Mu Yun: Gains greater recognition as a researcher and is entrusted with major resources despite his youth and lack of formal rank. He accepts Chen He’s offer but intends to balance research with other ambitions, including becoming a Pokémon Professor. He also continues to act as a supportive captain to the school team.
• Chen He: Demonstrates his generosity and willingness to invest in talented younger researchers. He offers Mu Yun substantial benefits without demanding ownership of the Primordial Life Data, seeking only joint research rights.
• Lai Guanting: Continues acting as the responsible representative of the team, reporting on everyone’s training. His exaggerated excitement over Mu Yun’s cooking provides comic relief.
• Ling Qingying: Remains detached and unconventional in her training habits. She often stares into space while her Pokémon train on their own, yet her strength—and Cetitan’s ability to intimidate instructors—prevents others from criticizing her.
• Chen Li: Is astonished and mildly envious that Mu Yun has received a laboratory superior to anything available to her, despite her being Chen He’s actual daughter and an official researcher.

Significant Themes

• Generosity and mentorship: Chen He’s offer shows the importance of experienced figures supporting promising newcomers.
• Scientific opportunity and ambition: The second Primordial Life Data sample opens new research possibilities, while Mu Yun remains focused on uncovering further discoveries and advancing toward professorship.
• Hard work and preparation: The school team continues training throughout the holiday in preparation for the Black Dragon Cup, emphasizing the value of discipline and sacrifice.
• Recognition based on ability: Although Mu Yun lacks formal credentials, his talent earns him exceptional resources and trust.
• Balance between work and personal bonds: Mu Yun combines scientific advancement with leadership, motivating the team through battles and the promise of a home-cooked meal.

Character Interactions

• Mu Yun and Chen He discuss the new Primordial Life Data and negotiate a joint research arrangement, establishing a relationship built on trust and mutual benefit.
• Chen He and Chen Li are indirectly contrasted: Mu Yun receives a better laboratory than Chen Li, prompting her humorous suspicion that he might be her father’s illegitimate son.
• Mu Yun questions Lai Guanting about his bruised eye, but chooses not to press him after Lai gives an unconvincing explanation.
• Mu Yun’s promise to personally battle the team initially disappoints Lai, who mistakenly thinks Mu Yun is about to cook. The later promise of food restores the team’s enthusiasm.

Chapter Summary: National Pokémon University Tournament!

• Mu Yun’s Pokémon demonstrate overwhelming strength. During practice battles against Black River University’s team, Aggron defeats Ampharos despite being lower-level, completing Permanent Quest 1 and earning Mu Yun Points while gaining a growth boost. Aggron soon reaches level 51, while Golisopod and Pidgeot also defeat members of the school team with ease. The team is especially intimidated by Pidgeot’s speed, Alolan Ninetales’s wide move coverage, Meowscarada’s quick reactions, Aggron’s defense, and Golisopod’s berserker-like fighting style. Mu Yun does not even need to use Beedrill.
• The team’s frustration turns into admiration. After the battles, the students complain that none of them can defeat even one of Mu Yun’s Pokémon. Lai Guanting calms them by announcing that Mu Yun will cook dinner. Their frustration immediately disappears, and they enthusiastically praise their captain, joking that his cooking must be the secret behind his Pokémon’s strength.
• Mu Yun’s personal life continues alongside his training. After preparing an extravagant meal, Mu Yun returns to his villa, where a petite woman eagerly welcomes him. Her familiar lavender scent makes it clear that he and this companion will spend an intimate evening together. Throughout the remainder of the National Day holiday, Mu Yun divides his time among the battle arena, his villa, the city, and a visit to the Black Serpent Gang’s territory.
• The Black Dragon Cup approaches. The holiday passes quickly, and attention shifts to the upcoming National Pokémon University Tournament, commonly called the Black Dragon Cup. The competition includes Trainer students from universities throughout the Yanhuang League. Because of limited venues and the televised later rounds, only sixty-four teams can enter the main offline tournament. Universities outside the national top ten must compete in qualifiers, while the top ten—including Black River University—advance automatically.
• The system assigns Mu Yun a major new quest. On the final day of the holiday, after the tournament schedule is released, Mu Yun receives Short-Term Quest 17: participate in the National Pokémon University Tournament and strive to win the championship. During the tournament, defeating opposing Pokémon will grant additional Points based on their levels, and the rewards from Permanent Quest 1 will be doubled.
• The tournament rewards motivate Mu Yun intensely. Advancement in both the team and individual events offers increasingly valuable prizes, including Points, storage-space expansion cards, move-learning memories, energy cube recipes, ability blank slots, and opportunities to enhance Pokémon abilities. Winning either championship provides especially powerful rewards, including a directed ability slot and a second ability-enhancement chance. Since the team and individual rewards are calculated separately, Mu Yun realizes he can potentially obtain the championship rewards twice.
• Character development and themes: Mu Yun is shown as a highly capable Trainer whose Pokémon have become exceptionally strong through continuous effort and training. He also acts as a supportive captain and skilled cook, strengthening his bond with his teammates. The chapter emphasizes preparation, competitive ambition, the value of steady growth, and the importance of both teamwork and personal achievement. It ends with Mu Yun seriously considering which Pokémon he should enter into the tournament.

Chapter Summary: “The Second Match, I’m In!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qu Ning introduces herself as the university team’s supervising teacher. She will manage logistics and daily needs, while the students themselves handle battle tactics.
• Three additional teachers accompany the team:
  • A Secretariat teacher assists with administration.
  • A Breeder Academy teacher manages Pokémon food.
  • A Trainer Academy teacher compiles intelligence on rival teams.
• The team receives information on the sixty-four Black Dragon Cup participants, divided into three strength tiers:
  1. The Ten Great Universities, which dominate the competition.
  2. Strong first-rate universities such as Evergreen University.
  3. Ordinary universities, which usually rely on luck to reach the tournament.
• On October 8, Mu Yun and the Black River University team travel to Magic City for the offline competition.
• Mu Yun admires Magic City’s spectacular mixture of Eastern and Western architecture and considers visiting Flower Capital after the tournament.
• The tournament format is explained:
  • The first two rounds use three-person, three-Pokémon gauntlet matches.
  • From the quarterfinals onward, matches become six-person, three-Pokémon battles and are broadcast nationwide.
  • The semifinals and finals use a six-person, six-Pokémon format, placing greater emphasis on endurance and recovery.
• Black River University’s first opponent is Northwest University, whose team primarily uses Rock- and Ground-type Pokémon.
• During the team meeting, Mu Yun assigns battle positions. He deliberately gives each teammate an opportunity to fight before taking over the later matches himself.

Character Developments

• Mu Yun demonstrates both strategic awareness and confidence in his own strength. Rather than monopolizing the opening battles, he allows his teammates to experience the competition and fight without fear of carrying the entire team.
• Wei Yang, considered the weakest official member, is surprised when Mu Yun chooses him to lead the first match. His selection shows Mu Yun’s trust in him and gives him an important chance to prove himself.
• Lai Guanting, Liu Yizhong, Yin Peng, and Wei Yang gain confidence from Mu Yun’s plan. They understand that they can fight at full strength because Mu Yun will shoulder the later matches if necessary.
• Ling Qingying, the former captain, initially remains quiet and detached but ultimately accepts Mu Yun’s leadership. Her agreement marks her recognition of his authority as the new captain.
• Qu Ning establishes herself as a practical, responsible supervisor who understands the limits of her expertise and leaves tactical decisions to the students.

Significant Themes

• Leadership through trust: Mu Yun leads by giving his teammates meaningful opportunities rather than simply relying on his overwhelming strength.
• Security and responsibility: His teammates view Mu Yun as a dependable “mountain” who can protect the team if their own matches go poorly.
• Personal ambition versus team support: While the tournament may be only one stage in Mu Yun’s broader life, it represents a major opportunity for his teammates to distinguish themselves.
• Preparation and knowing one’s opponents: The team studies the tournament field and Northwest University’s battle style, emphasizing the importance of intelligence alongside raw power.
• Growth through competition: The tournament is presented not only as a contest but also as a chance for less prominent students and universities to gain experience, recognition, and confidence.

Character Interactions

• Qu Ning explains her role and establishes a professional relationship with the team.
• The intelligence teacher provides Mu Yun with extensive tournament data, which Mu Yun reads out of respect and in the spirit of preparation.
• During the strategy meeting, Lai Guanting asks Mu Yun how the team should arrange its lineup.
• Mu Yun assigns Wei Yang to the opening match, himself to the second match, and schedules Yin Peng, Liu Yizhong, and Ling Qingying for later rounds according to a rotating plan.
• The team members initially react with surprise but quickly accept the plan, expressing strong morale and absolute trust in Mu Yun.
• Ling Qingying’s final statement—“I’ll listen to you, Captain”—confirms the team’s acceptance of Mu Yun as their leader.

Chapter Summary: “Black Dragon Cup, Opening!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The 2026 National Pokémon University Tournament opens at the packed Magic City International Battle Arena.
• Host Aqi and a Togekiss entertain the audience with performances and gift-drops before the tournament officially begins.
• Because of the large number of competitors, the first-round matches are distributed among multiple side venues. The main venue broadcasts the battles and commentary on giant screens.
• Mu Yun leads Black River University’s team to Side Venue No. 6 for their opening match against Northwest University.
• Before the battle, Mu Yun encourages Wei Yang, who is both excited and nervous about competing before thousands of spectators.
• Professional commentators Liuliu and Nini introduce the match. Nini, a Northwest University graduate, jokingly hopes her former school can achieve a “three-for-two trade” against Black River.
• Northwest University analyzes Black River’s lineup and develops a strategy:
  • Their endurance-focused fighter, Brother Tu, will go first.
  • Their captain will go second and attempt to defeat Black River’s weakened first competitor and their presumed weak second competitor.
  • Their final competitor, A Cun, will use a Pokémon called Iteration Slate if the match reaches the fifth battle.
• Northwest expects Black River to follow its usual pattern of using experienced veterans and placing a first-year student in the second slot.
• The first battle is revealed: Northwest sends out fourth-year vice-captain Tian Yao, while Black River unexpectedly sends out third-year Wei Yang.
• Tian Yao is surprised because Wei Yang does not fit the lineup pattern he anticipated, but he believes he has a strong advantage. Tian specializes in Ground-type Pokémon, while Wei Yang specializes in Fire types, and Tian has an additional year of experience.
• Confident in victory, Tian begins imagining that he might defeat two Black River competitors in succession, especially if Black River sends out its first-year student next.

Character Developments

• Mu Yun demonstrates strong leadership by encouraging Wei Yang and maintaining team morale before the battle.
• Wei Yang is eager but visibly nervous, showing the emotional pressure of competing on a national stage. His willingness to fight despite that anxiety suggests determination.
• Tian Yao is introduced as Northwest University’s steady, reliable vice-captain. His confidence grows after learning that Wei Yang is his opponent, though this confidence may also reveal a tendency to underestimate him.
• Brother Tu establishes himself as a tactician who carefully studies opponents and plans around endurance-based battles.
• Northwest University’s captain is portrayed as one of the team’s strongest members and an important part of their planned route to victory.
• A Cun is treated as the team’s decisive final weapon, particularly because of his Pokémon, Iteration Slate.
• Liuliu and Nini provide energetic, entertainment-focused commentary, helping establish the tournament’s lively public atmosphere.

Significant Themes

• Competition and pressure: The national tournament’s scale, crowds, and professional production emphasize the pressure placed on university competitors.
• Preparation versus uncertainty: Northwest University relies heavily on scouting and predicted formations, but Black River immediately disrupts those assumptions by sending out Wei Yang first.
• Experience versus potential: Northwest assumes its older students will easily overcome Black River’s younger members, particularly the first-year national top scholar. The chapter sets up the question of whether experience is truly enough.
• Teamwork and strategy: Both teams organize their competitors carefully, treating each battle as part of a larger sequence rather than an isolated match.
• Confidence and underestimation: Tian Yao and Northwest University become increasingly confident based on their analysis, creating dramatic tension because their assumptions may be wrong.

Character Interactions

• Mu Yun reassures Wei Yang before the match, reinforcing their captain-and-teammate relationship.
• Liuliu and Nini engage in playful commentary, with Nini openly supporting her alma mater.
• Northwest’s players debate whether defeating two of Black River’s competitors is realistic, revealing both their ambition and their uncertainty.
• Brother Tu explains his battle plan to the team, earning their trust and motivating them to challenge a Top Ten university.
• Tian Yao reacts internally to Wei Yang’s unexpected appearance and begins to view the match as an opportunity for an easy opening victory.

Overall Significance

The chapter establishes the tournament’s grand scale and introduces the first major confrontation. Northwest University believes its experience, scouting, and carefully planned lineup will let it defeat Black River University, but Black River’s unexpected choice of Wei Yang disrupts those expectations. The opening battle is positioned as an early test of whether Northwest’s analysis—and its confidence—is justified.

Chapter Summary: “There Are Freshmen Too?”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Black River University’s Wei Yang faces Tian Yao from Northwest University, whose team specializes in Sandstorm strategies and prolonged battles.
• Tian Yao’s Hippowdon activates Sand Stream, creating a damaging sandstorm and giving his team a weather advantage.
• Despite this disadvantage, Wei Yang defeats all three of Tian Yao’s Pokémon, though he struggles against the Sandstorm team’s defensive tactics.
• Tian Yao accepts the loss and believes his plan has partly succeeded, since he has forced Black River’s captain to enter the match.
• Northwest University’s captain, Jia Shuo, replaces Tian Yao and sends out a Peak Totem-level Flygon against Wei Yang’s already-weakened Blaziken.
• Flygon’s superior level, full stamina, Fire resistance, Ground-type attacks, and aerial mobility give it a decisive advantage.
• Wei Yang manages to defeat three of Jia Shuo’s Pokémon, exceeding expectations, but ultimately loses.
• Black River’s captain, Mu Yun, enters the competition as the team’s next contestant—and shocks everyone by being a first-year student.
• The audience and Northwest University players question why a freshman is captain, though Mu Yun’s credentials as the previous year’s top Pokémon Department scorer and National Top Scholar are revealed.
• Tian Yao senses that Mu Yun is unusually composed and intimidating, despite his young age, but convinces himself that a freshman cannot be exceptionally strong.

Character Developments

• Wei Yang: Proves himself as a capable junior team member. He defeats Tian Yao’s entire lineup and performs impressively against Jia Shuo, earning Mu Yun’s praise despite his eventual defeat.
• Tian Yao: Shows strategic awareness and a willingness to use attrition tactics. His confidence is shaken by Wei Yang’s strength, and he becomes uneasy when Mu Yun appears, sensing that the freshman may be far more formidable than expected.
• Jia Shuo: Establishes himself as an elite university captain by defeating Wei Yang with Flygon’s level, typing, stamina, and flying advantage. His victory also forces Mu Yun into the battle.
• Mu Yun: Remains calm and confident throughout the matches. His role as both a freshman and team captain creates widespread surprise, while his composure hints at significant hidden strength.
• Commentators and Audience: Their surprise emphasizes how unusual Mu Yun’s position is and builds anticipation for his battle.

Significant Themes

• Strength beyond age and seniority: Mu Yun’s status challenges the assumption that freshmen are inexperienced or weak.
• Preparation versus raw power: Wei Yang has stronger Pokémon on paper, but weather, typing, stamina, tactics, and battlefield positioning determine the results.
• Team strategy and sacrifice: Tian Yao’s battle appears designed partly to wear down Black River’s members and force the captain to reveal himself.
• Reputation and expectations: Mu Yun’s academic achievements and unusual appointment as captain provoke skepticism, but also suggest that conventional rankings may not reflect true ability.
• Composure as a sign of power: Mu Yun’s calm demeanor contrasts sharply with the audience’s excitement and the opponents’ uncertainty, making him appear almost unnervingly mature.

Character Interactions

• Lai Guanting and Mu Yun: Lai worries that Wei Yang may struggle against Tian Yao, while Mu Yun calmly encourages him to trust Wei Yang’s abilities.
• Wei Yang and Tian Yao: Their battle establishes Wei Yang’s strength and demonstrates the difficulty of overcoming Tian Yao’s Sandstorm-based defensive strategy.
• Tian Yao and Jia Shuo: Jia Shuo reassures Tian Yao and takes over the battle after his loss, implying that their team plan depends on the captain finishing the weakened opponent.
• Mu Yun and Wei Yang: After Wei Yang’s defeat, Mu Yun comforts him and tells him he has already done enough, accepting responsibility for the remaining match.
• Tian Yao and A Cun: A Cun is excited by Mu Yun’s apparent inexperience, but Tian Yao remains uneasy, recognizing something unusual in Mu Yun’s calm presence.

Chapter Summary: “Golisopod, Enter the Fray!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jia Shuo is surprised to learn that Mu Yun, a freshman, has been appointed captain of Black River University’s team—an even more shocking decision than the university’s previous selection of a freshman team member.
• The Black Dragon Cup match begins with Jia Shuo sending out his level-59 Flygon and Mu Yun releasing Bold, a level-55 Totem-level Golisopod.
• Bold’s impressive statistics, Champion-level potential, extensive moveset, powerful held item, and unique ability, Endless Berserker, are revealed. The ability strengthens Bold’s Attack, Defense, and Speed as he attacks and accumulates Berserk layers.
• Jia Shuo is astonished that Mu Yun uses Golisopod, a Pokémon widely regarded as unreliable and unpopular because of its tendency to retreat from battle.
• Jia Shuo opens with Sand Tomb, attempting to trap and test Bold.
• Mu Yun remains calm and does not issue an immediate command. Instead, Bold breaks out of the Sand Tomb while executing a powerful combination: Swords Dance, Bulk Up, activation of Endless Berserker, and finally Waterfall.
• The chapter ends with Bold unleashing an enormous, arena-darkening Waterfall, creating a spectacular entrance that leaves a lasting impression on everyone present.

Character Developments

• Mu Yun is established as a composed and confident young captain. His calmness under pressure suggests that he trusts Bold completely and possesses a strategy far beyond what Jia Shuo expects from a freshman.
• Bold is presented as an extraordinary Golisopod who overturns the species’ reputation for cowardice and unreliability. His battle-hungry roar, immense physical power, and refusal to remain trapped demonstrate his aggressive temperament and exceptional training.
• Jia Shuo begins confidently but becomes increasingly cautious and uncertain. His surprise at Mu Yun’s age and choice of Pokémon causes him to question whether Mu Yun is merely a privileged novice, though Bold’s opening immediately challenges that assumption.

Significant Themes

• Defying expectations: Bold’s strength contradicts the common belief that Golisopod are poor battlers, while Mu Yun’s position as a freshman captain challenges conventional expectations about age and experience.
• Preparation and cultivation: Bold’s high level, enhanced potential, specialized moves, powerful ability, and held item reflect extensive investment and careful training.
• Calm versus aggression: Mu Yun’s quiet composure contrasts with Bold’s explosive, battle-hungry presence, showing how controlled strategy and overwhelming force work together.
• Reputation versus reality: Jia Shuo initially judges Bold based on the species’ infamous history, but Bold’s performance begins to dismantle those assumptions.

Character Interactions

• Jia Shuo observes and evaluates Mu Yun, initially treating him as an unexpected but potentially inexperienced freshman.
• Mu Yun does not verbally respond to Jia Shuo’s opening attack; instead, he allows Bold’s actions to communicate his confidence.
• Jia Shuo’s Sand Tomb tests Bold, but Bold’s violent escape and devastating counterattack immediately shifts the psychological balance of the match.
• The interaction between Mu Yun and Bold highlights their apparent trust: Mu Yun remains still and composed while Bold independently executes a powerful opening sequence.

Chapter Summary: “Astonishing the Entire Arena!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Mu Yun’s Golisopod unleashes a massive Waterfall attack, creating a tsunami-like wave dozens of meters high across the arena.
• Flygon is overwhelmed by the wave and briefly loses consciousness. Before it can recover, Golisopod cuts through the water and finishes it with Liquidation + X-Scissor.
• The system announces that Golisopod has defeated Flygon, completing a permanent quest and a tournament-related short-term quest. Mu Yun receives a large number of points, and Golisopod’s growth increases slightly.
• The arena is flooded so severely that it resembles a giant aquarium. The transparent thirty-meter containment walls prevent the wave from reaching the spectators, though spray still hits nearby command platforms.
• Jia Shuo is stunned by the attack and openly questions whether such a powerful Pokémon can truly belong to a freshman.
• After the water drains, Jia Shuo recalls the defeated Flygon and sends out his second Pokémon: a level 59 Steelix, also at Peak Totem Level.
• The chapter ends with Jia Shuo hoping Steelix’s massive body will be able to withstand Golisopod’s Waterfall.

Character Developments

• Golisopod demonstrates an astonishing level of power and battlefield control, decisively defeating Flygon despite being several levels lower.
• Mu Yun remains calm and confident throughout the battle, validating the confidence he showed before the match.
• Flygon is completely overwhelmed by Golisopod’s combination of Waterfall, Liquidation, and X-Scissor.
• Jia Shuo shifts from confidence to uncertainty. Although he possesses another powerful Pokémon, Golisopod’s display leaves him visibly shaken and unsure of his chances.
• Tian Yao and the Northwest University team are forced to acknowledge that Mu Yun’s strength is genuine rather than the result of using an illegally overaged Pokémon.
• Black River University’s team becomes even more enthusiastic about Mu Yun and Golisopod, openly celebrating their overwhelming performance.

Significant Themes

• Overwhelming power and spectacle: Golisopod’s Waterfall transforms a standard battle into a disaster-scale event, astonishing both competitors and spectators.
• Talent versus expectations: The audience struggles to reconcile such immense strength with Mu Yun’s status as a freshman, reinforcing the idea that extraordinary talent can defy conventional assumptions.
• Legitimacy and fair competition: The discussion of bone-age testing and tournament regulations emphasizes that Mu Yun’s strength is legitimate and not the result of cheating.
• Psychological dominance: Golisopod’s attack does more than defeat Flygon—it damages Jia Shuo’s confidence and changes the emotional balance of the match.
• Public reputation and recognition: The battle elevates Mu Yun’s reputation, while Jia Shuo’s reaction reflects how shocking the result is to the wider tournament audience.

Character Interactions

• Golisopod vs. Flygon: Their clash is brief but decisive, with Golisopod using the flooding battlefield to overpower Flygon and finish it at close range.
• Mu Yun and Jia Shuo: Though they do not directly speak much, their opposing attitudes are clear: Mu Yun’s composure contrasts with Jia Shuo’s growing disbelief and anxiety.
• Jia Shuo and the audience: Jia Shuo’s shocked outburst—questioning whether Golisopod is really a freshman’s Pokémon—is accepted rather than criticized because the attack has stunned everyone.
• Tian Yao and Northwest University’s team: Tian Yao reassures his teammates that Golisopod is not illegally overaged, ultimately attributing its strength to natural talent.
• Black River University’s team: Mu Yun’s teammates excitedly praise him and Golisopod while teasing one another about previous reactions to similarly astonishing battles.
• Jia Shuo and Steelix: Jia Shuo sends out Steelix as a countermeasure, but his uncertainty shows that even this powerful Pokémon may be entering the field at a disadvantage.

Chapter Summary: “True Damage!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Bold, having accumulated more than ten Berserk stacks from the previous battle against Flygon, activates Unceasing and enters the Endless Berserker state.
• Unceasing grants Bold immunity to status effects and control abilities while allowing it to consume all Berserk stacks for an attack that ignores the opponent’s Defense and defensive boosts.
• Jia Shuo orders Steelix to use its strongest move, Iron Tail, hoping its immense Physical Defense and Steel-type power will withstand Bold’s assault.
• Bold charges through surging water and collides with Steelix head-on. Its True Damage bypasses Steelix’s defensive advantages, and Bold defeats the heavily defensive Pokémon in a single blow.
• The victory completes both a permanent quest and a tournament-related short-term quest, awarding the protagonist a large number of points and increasing Bold’s growth level from 55 to 56.
• Because Steelix is defeated by the enhanced Unceasing attack, Bold regains all consumed Berserk stacks and fully restores its stamina and energy, effectively recovering more than it spent during the battle.
• Jia Shuo is stunned and sends out his final Pokémon: Rhyperior, a Level 60 Gym Leader-level Pokémon with Elite Four potential and a powerful held item, the Heavy Mud Plate.

Character Developments

• Bold/Golisopod demonstrates a dramatic leap in combat power. Its accumulated Berserk stacks and Unceasing ability allow it to ignore Steelix’s greatest strength—its Defense—and deliver a devastating one-hit knockout.
• The protagonist’s strength is increasingly revealed as extraordinary, surpassing the expectations associated with a first-year student and earning comparisons to the formidable former freshman Ling Qingying.
• Jia Shuo shifts from confidence in Steelix’s defensive superiority to disbelief and desperation. After witnessing Steelix’s defeat, he stakes everything on Rhyperior, his strongest remaining Pokémon.
• The referee and spectators are similarly shaken, emphasizing how abnormal and overwhelming Bold’s victory appears.

Significant Themes

• True strength overcoming conventional advantages: Steelix’s renowned Physical Defense becomes meaningless when Bold’s attack ignores defensive stats and changes.
• Accumulation and payoff: Bold’s Berserk stacks, built up through earlier battles, culminate in a decisive attack that not only wins the match but also restores its spent resources.
• Overwhelming talent and rising reputation: The protagonist is portrayed as an unprecedented freshman whose Pokémon can crush opponents far above ordinary student standards.
• Battle-system optimization: Abilities, quests, levels, held items, and resource recovery combine to give the protagonist an increasingly overwhelming strategic advantage.

Character Interactions

• Jia Shuo attempts to counter Bold with Steelix’s Iron Tail, but Bold’s direct assault completely overturns his expectations.
• The referee officially declares Steelix unable to battle, though his shocked reaction reflects the extraordinary nature of the knockout.
• Jia Shuo verbally expresses disbelief and frustration, while the audience reacts with curses and astonishment.
• After losing Steelix, Jia Shuo introduces Rhyperior as his ace and final hope. Despite Rhyperior’s superior level, powerful defenses, and Heavy Mud Plate, the chapter strongly suggests that Bold may still be able to defeat it in a single strike.

Chapter Summary: “Curse and Curses!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Bold, Mu Yun’s Golisopod, defeats Jia Shuo’s level-60 Rhyperior in a single devastating attack by combining Berserk and Unceasing.
• The victory completes a permanent quest and a tournament-related short-term quest, rewarding Mu Yun with a large number of Points and significantly boosting Bold’s growth.
• Jia Shuo accepts defeat with numb relief rather than despair. His teammate A Cun takes his place, determined to avenge him—or at least defeat Bold and prove Northwest University’s strength.
• A Cun sends out Runerigus, a level-57 Ground/Ghost Pokémon equipped with the special Cursed Grudge Doll, which doubles the effects of Ghost-type moves such as Curse and Destiny Bond.
• Mu Yun realizes that A Cun intends to use Curse, possibly followed by Destiny Bond, to win through attrition rather than direct combat.
• The battle begins, and A Cun immediately orders Runerigus to use Curse. Bold charges forward without dodging, allowing the move to hit.
• Bold simultaneously lands a Liquidation attack on Runerigus, instantly defeating it and earning Mu Yun more Points and additional growth for Bold.
• A Cun is delighted despite Runerigus’s defeat because Curse successfully affected Bold. He plans to use Excadrill’s Dig to stall until the curse kills Bold, believing victory is now guaranteed.

Character Developments

• Mu Yun remains calm and analytical, quickly identifying Runerigus’s intended strategy and examining the implications of its abilities and held item.
• Bold demonstrates overwhelming offensive power, defeating Rhyperior and Runerigus almost instantly. Its Unceasing ability makes it immune to negative conditions and ability-based interference, though Mu Yun has not yet explicitly revealed this to A Cun.
• Jia Shuo experiences a subdued emotional collapse after losing his strongest Pokémon. He recognizes that A Cun’s promise of revenge is probably unrealistic but cannot bring himself to say so.
• A Cun shifts from wanting to defeat Black River University to focusing on defeating Mu Yun or Bold specifically. His confidence grows after Curse appears to succeed, showing that he relies on tactical schemes and delayed victory conditions.
• Runerigus is portrayed as a specialized support and attrition fighter rather than a direct attacker, built around Curse and Destiny Bond.

Significant Themes

• Overconfidence and misjudgment: A Cun believes Curse has secured victory without realizing that Bold is immune to negative conditions.
• Hidden abilities and information advantages: The battle highlights how knowledge of a Pokémon’s abilities can completely change the effectiveness of an opponent’s strategy.
• Power versus strategy: Bold wins through raw strength, while A Cun depends on status effects, stalling, and indirect damage.
• Psychological warfare: Even after losing Runerigus, A Cun maintains confidence because he believes his plan is still working.
• The danger of Ghost-type tactics: The chapter explains how Curse can become devastating over time, especially outside controlled battle arenas, establishing why Ghost-type Pokémon are difficult and dangerous opponents.

Character Interactions

• Jia Shuo admits defeat after Rhyperior is knocked out, while A Cun reassures him and vows to avenge him.
• Jia Shuo silently doubts A Cun’s chances, but he does not openly challenge his teammate’s confidence.
• Mu Yun and A Cun face off through contrasting battle philosophies: Mu Yun responds through observation and superior power, while A Cun immediately executes a carefully planned status strategy.
• Bold and Runerigus exchange attacks at close range: Runerigus successfully places Curse on Bold, but Bold defeats it with Liquidation before it can use Destiny Bond.
• The chapter ends with A Cun preparing to rely on Excadrill and Dig, unaware that Bold’s immunity renders his entire plan ineffective.

Chapter Summary: “Rock Smash? Earthquake?”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After Cofagrigus is defeated, A Cun sends out his late-stage Totem Level Excadrill and immediately orders it to use Dig.
• Northwest University believes this strategy will secure victory. Cofagrigus’s Curse has already damaged Golisopod, while Excadrill can remain underground and avoid direct attacks.
• Observers explain that Excadrill was specially trained to use Dig in arenas with drainage systems, allowing it to evade moves such as Waterfall and stall until Golisopod’s stamina declines.
• At Black River University, Chi Duoduo and Lü Jiayi watch the broadcast. Lü Jiayi understands that Curse and Dig give A Cun a strong tactical advantage, while Chi Duoduo remains confident that Mu Yun will win.
• Rather than chasing Excadrill, Mu Yun’s Golisopod, Bold, begins stacking enhancement moves: Swords Dance, Bulk Up, Defense Curl, and Iron Defense. Its Berserk stacks also continue increasing.
• Bold then uses Rollout, but instead of rolling across the ground, it repeatedly launches itself upward and crashes down, building speed and power with every impact.
• A Cun initially dismisses the attack because Excadrill is safely underground.
• Bold ultimately combines its accumulated Rollout power with Liquidation and Rock Smash, diving into the battlefield like a meteor.
• The resulting impact causes a massive tremor, cracks the arena floor, and nearly shakes the protective barriers. A Cun is stunned and begins questioning whether Excadrill survived.

Character Developments

• Mu Yun demonstrates exceptional composure and tactical creativity. He does not panic after Curse lands, instead using the situation to prepare an overwhelming counterattack.
• Bold/Golisopod shows remarkable endurance and ingenuity, transforming Rollout into a powerful aerial attack and exploiting its enhanced Rock Smash abilities.
• A Cun begins the battle confident in his carefully trained Excadrill and Dig-based strategy, but his confidence collapses once Bold’s attack proves far stronger than expected.
• Lü Jiayi acts as the knowledgeable analyst, recognizing the danger Curse poses and worrying that Golisopod may lose through attrition.
• Chi Duoduo remains unwaveringly loyal to Mu Yun, trusting his strength despite not fully understanding the battle mechanics.

Significant Themes

• Preparation versus adaptability: A Cun relies on specialized Dig training and battlefield conditions, while Mu Yun adapts by creating an unexpected attack that bypasses Excadrill’s evasion.
• Hidden strength and misdirection: Golisopod appears to be suffering from Curse, but Mu Yun uses the apparent disadvantage to build power safely.
• Confidence and surprise: A Cun’s certainty turns into shock when the scale of Bold’s attack exceeds normal expectations.
• Innovation in battle: Bold’s unusual interpretation of Rollout and its combination with Rock Smash show that powerful results come from creative use of familiar techniques.
• Loyalty and faith: Chi Duoduo’s absolute belief in Mu Yun contrasts with the more cautious analysis of the other spectators.

Character Interactions

• Northwest University’s spectators encourage A Cun and discuss how Curse and Dig should guarantee victory, though Tian Yao remains skeptical because Mu Yun has shown no concern.
• Lü Jiayi explains Cofagrigus’s Curse to Chi Duoduo and worries about Golisopod’s condition.
• Chi Duoduo cheers for Mu Yun and rejects the possibility of his defeat.
• During the match, A Cun silently mocks Bold’s seemingly useless attacks, but his confidence disappears when Bold unleashes the devastating Rollout–Liquidation–Rock Smash combination.
• The chapter ends on a cliffhanger, with the battlefield devastated and Excadrill’s condition unknown.