Chapter Summaries

Summary

• Xu Mu sends the two Mewtwo, Chaofan and Chaoqun, to defeat every teacher’s and student’s Pokémon at the school. Though they do not understand the point of the challenge, they follow his orders and fight publicly for the first time.
• The Mewtwo hold back but still defeat every opponent without killing anyone. The most humiliating loss falls to Dean Li Lun: all six of his strongest Pokémon are beaten without landing a hit. Xu Mu mockingly trades stiff pleasantries with Li Lun, who accepts that he has been outmatched.
• A livestream of the half-hour battle reports nearly 60,000 Pokémon defeated, astonishing viewers worldwide. People speculate that Xu Mu may have surpassed his father, Xu Feng, and wonder where the unknown Mewtwo came from. Xu Mu keeps their origins secret, enjoying the attention. He then tells the new students that no one earned a young pseudo-legendary Pokémon and orders military training to resume.
• That night, Xu Mu reflects on the newly unlocked Battle Soul Interface, which he still does not understand. The system announces a special mission: survive three days of revenge from Unown and Sanshengyun to earn one Battle Soul Awakening.
• Xu Mu recognizes his old enemies and resolves to defeat them again. Before he can prepare, Sanshengyun crashes through his roof, appearing armored in purple crystals and announcing that they are alive and back for revenge.

Character developments and interactions

• Xu Mu demonstrates his confidence and showmanship, using the Mewtwo battle to impress the public while withholding information for the attention it generates. His bravado is tested when his old enemies arrive unexpectedly.
• Chaofan and Chaoqun make their first public appearance and reveal overwhelming power, despite their confusion about why they were asked to fight.
• Li Lun is forced to acknowledge Xu Mu’s superiority, though their exchange remains sarcastic and antagonistic.
• The students, staff, and online audience react with amazement to the Mewtwo’s unprecedented strength; the new students, however, are dismayed that their military training continues.
• Sanshengyun and Unown have joined forces to retaliate against Xu Mu, setting up the chapter’s next conflict.

Significant themes

• The gap between overwhelming power and ordinary opponents is highlighted by the Mewtwo’s effortless victory.
• Public spectacle, reputation, and online attention matter: Xu Mu turns the battle into a source of fame while keeping the Mewtwo’s origins mysterious.
• Past conflicts return unresolved, as the revenge mission shifts the story from a triumph at school to an imminent personal threat.

Plot points and events

• The Sanshengyun—Tornadus, Thundurus, and Landorus—survive Xu Mu’s earlier defeat of them. The Unown revive them through an unusual fusion that gives them Unown armor.
• Seeking revenge, the three confront Xu Mu, who recognizes that the Unown have been watching him and welcomes the chance to face them.
• Xu Mu sends out Chaoyue and Chaofan, two Mewtwo. The Sanshengyun underestimate them, but both Mewtwo are at demigod strength.
• Chaofan holds the three opponents at close range while Chaoyue attacks from a distance. The Sanshengyun are overwhelmed before they can land a blow.
• The Unown abandon the battle and begin shutting down their consciousnesses to avoid Xu Mu’s retaliation. One advises the Sanshengyun that surrendering to Xu Mu may be their best option.

Character developments and interactions

• Xu Mu remains confident and sarcastic, privately mocking the System’s recycled-resurrection scenario. He also demonstrates thoughtful Trainer skill by tailoring tactics to each Mewtwo’s strengths.
• The Sanshengyun show little growth: despite having been defeated once, they trust the Unown again, charge rashly, and are quickly beaten.
• The Unown’s loyalty proves fragile. Their fear of Xu Mu outweighs their commitment to the Sanshengyun, though one shows a moment of conscience by offering the three advice.
• Chaoyue and Chaofan fight as a coordinated pair, with complementary ranged and frontline roles. Their decisive victory reinforces their strength and their rapport with Xu Mu.

Significant themes

• Recklessness and manipulation: The Sanshengyun repeat their mistake of letting others lead them into conflict.
• Loyalty under pressure: The Unown’s alliance collapses as soon as the fight turns against them.
• Trainer and Pokémon partnership: At this level, the Pokémon act largely independently, while Xu Mu supports them with strategies suited to their individual abilities.

Key plot points and events

• The Sanshengyun realize they have been deceived about Mewtwo’s power and are badly outmatched.
• Chaoyue decides to test his newly learned Dazzling Gleam while Chaofan holds the trio down. Chaoyue’s uncontrolled attack blasts Landorus, Tornadus, and Thundurus across the battlefield.
• The beating continues: Chaofan uses the Sanshengyun as practice partners for grappling, while Chaoyue experiments with Aura Sphere. Landorus repeatedly tries to surrender, but the Mewtwo pretend not to hear him and carry on.
• Xu Mu watches the chaos, half-amused and half-concerned that the Pokémon might accidentally kill their opponents. Unown, who had urged surrender before dying, is relieved to have escaped the ordeal.

Character developments

• Chaoyue is eager to test unfamiliar moves, but his immense, suddenly acquired power remains difficult to control.
• Chaofan has become fascinated with human technology and martial arts, especially grappling. He treats combat as a chance to practise and improve.
• Landorus abandons his pride and attempts to surrender, but the continued assault leaves him desperate for mercy.
• Xu Mu remains a largely passive observer, jokingly distancing himself from the violence despite recognizing how dangerous it is.

Significant themes

• Power without control: Chaoyue and Chaofan are exceptionally strong, yet their abrupt rise in power makes new techniques unpredictable.
• Comedy through mismatched expectations: The Sanshengyun expect negotiation and respect, but the Mewtwo treat their surrender as an interruption to training.
• The gap between intention and responsibility: Xu Mu insists he is not causing the mayhem, even as his Pokémon’s actions make him part of it.

Character interactions

• The Sanshengyun’s attempts to reason with Chaofan and surrender to the Mewtwo are repeatedly ignored or mistaken for resistance.
• Chaofan and Chaoyue coordinate their attacks, then exchange Telepathic remarks before deliberately continuing the beating.
• Xu Mu observes the Mewtwo’s behavior and reflects on the suffering of their opponents, while Unown’s fate provides a darkly comic contrast: dying early spared him from the same punishment.

Key plot points and events

• After Celebi heals them, the Three Sacred Clouds agree to submit to Xu Mu. Xu Mu tests their sincerity and catches Landorus trying to limit their service to Xu Mu’s lifetime and to themselves alone.
• Xu Mu rejects the attempted loophole and lets the two Mewtwo, Chaoyue and Chaofan, continue beating the trio. He then has them follow Blaziken, learn the area, and repair the damage they caused.
• The system announces that Xu Mu has caught the Three Sacred Clouds and resolved the Revenge crisis, then asks him to choose a Pokémon to receive the battle soul.
• Xu Mu takes Greninja aside for a quiet conversation about the increasingly powerful opponents they will face. Greninja decides to accept Xu Mu’s mysterious power, despite his discomfort, and compensate by training hard.

Character developments

• Xu Mu remains firm and perceptive, seeing through Landorus’s carefully worded attempt to bargain for a limited submission.
• Landorus reveals his scheming side, but backs down when Xu Mu exposes his trick.
• Greninja confronts the conflict between his pride in growing stronger through his own effort and his need to keep pace with future threats. He chooses to accept help for Xu Mu’s sake.

Significant themes

• Trust and accountability: The Three Sacred Clouds must answer for the harm they caused rather than escape responsibility through wordplay.
• Pride versus necessity: Greninja struggles to accept an advantage he considers unfair, but recognizes that refusing it could leave him unable to protect his bond with Xu Mu.
• Strength and teamwork: The chapter suggests that relying on others can be compatible with personal discipline and hard work.

Character interactions

• Xu Mu challenges Landorus’s terms, while the two Mewtwo enforce Xu Mu’s decision with another beating.
• Celebi heals the trio and receives an Oran Berry from Xu Mu after the effort.
• In a more intimate scene, Xu Mu speaks candidly with Greninja, and Greninja responds by explaining his values and resolve.

Key events

• Xu Mu and Greninja reflect on how much they have changed since Greninja left the Borderlands. Greninja has grown enormously—surpassing his father in just a year—but feels uneasy about wielding power he did not earn through his own training.
• Xu Mu worries that Greninja’s growing inability to influence his battles could eventually push the proud Pokémon to leave. Determined not to let his first partner be left behind, he decides to give Greninja a share of the system’s power.
• The system awakens Greninja’s Battle Soul, cautioning that it expands a Pokémon’s innate character and potential rather than making it instantly unbeatable.
• During the awakening, Greninja enters a vast cosmic vision. A blue planet reveals a progression from Bronze Saint: Draco to Gold Saint: Aquarius and finally Divine Realm: Poseidon.
• Greninja then witnesses an Azure Dragon perform Rozan Rising Dragon. A mysterious voice explains that Greninja’s true strength is his protective spirit—his “Cosmo”—and urges him to trust himself when danger comes.

Character development and interactions

• Greninja moves from nervousness about his borrowed strength toward accepting the power as a way to fulfill his own purpose. His defining motivation remains protecting Xu Mu.
• Xu Mu shows how deeply he values Greninja, fearing not merely their separation but the possibility that his partner will lose his place beside him. He chooses to invest in Greninja rather than let him fall behind.
• Their quiet exchange of resolve reinforces their mutual commitment: Xu Mu initiates the awakening, and Greninja accepts it.

Significant themes

• Growth and self-belief: Power alone is not enough; Greninja must trust and develop what he already has.
• Partnership and fear of loss: Both characters want their bond to endure despite change and unequal progress.
• Protection as purpose: Greninja’s strength is rooted in his desire to safeguard those he loves, especially Xu Mu.
• Potential versus instant power: The Battle Soul offers a path to grow, not an immediate victory.

Plot points

• Greninja awakens his Battle Soul: a Saint-inspired power centered on protecting Xu Mu. Its potential is effectively limitless and grows with the strength of their bond.
• After absorbing the energy from the awakening, Greninja feels great and eagerly anticipates trying out the Rozan Rising Dragon technique. Xu Mu is relieved that the awakening went safely.
• Returning home, Xu Mu discovers that his villa—and Cynthia’s—has been reduced to rubble, apparently during the earlier confrontation. He realizes the academy may be responsible for covering the damage.
• Xu Mu calls Dean Li Lun and offers the academy a chance to study the three captured Sanshengyun. When Li Lun pretends to have a bad signal, Xu Mu threatens to take the opportunity to his aunt’s Xianyang Academy instead.
• Li Lun quickly calls back, admits he wants the research opportunity, and promises that Magic City Academy will fully compensate Xu Mu for his losses.

Character developments and interactions

• Greninja’s new identity is clarified: beneath his playful exterior, he is a devoted protector whose power is tied to his bond with Xu Mu.
• Xu Mu shows relief and affection toward Greninja, then shifts into a shrewd negotiator when dealing with Li Lun.
• Li Lun initially tries to evade Xu Mu but drops the act as soon as he fears losing access to the rare Sanshengyun research. Their exchange is playful and mutually knowing, with Xu Mu exploiting the dean’s scholarly ambition.

Significant themes

• Loyalty and protection: Greninja’s strength comes from his commitment to Xu Mu.
• Potential and perseverance: Saint-like fighters keep overcoming defeat, with their power growing through conviction and bonds.
• Pragmatism and opportunism: Xu Mu turns a costly disaster into leverage, while Li Lun willingly abandons appearances to secure a valuable research opportunity.

Key plot points and events

• Xu Mu asks Li Lun to rebuild his damaged house and make the battlefield larger. Eager to associate the academy with Xu Mu’s Pokémon research, Li Lun agrees to send Architecture Major students within an hour.
• Xu Mu books a luxury hotel for himself and Cynthia, deciding to treat the day as the anniversary of their meeting.
• Seeing the three Sanshengyun looking dejected, Xu Mu assigns them as sparring partners for Greninja and Blaziken. Celebi will heal them afterward, and she willingly agrees to help.
• Later, Xu Mu receives a call from his grandfather, Xiao Yuyang. He learns that his mother, Xiao Yue, is safe, but something has happened to his father, Xu Feng.
• The Borderlands have been temporarily sealed by the Secret Realm’s protection mechanism, apparently because both sides committed so much fighting strength that the realm can no longer withstand it. The chapter ends before Xu Mu learns Xu Feng’s exact situation.

Character developments

• Xu Mu remains practical and opportunistic: he turns the Sanshengyun into training opponents and quickly makes plans to ensure Cynthia is comfortable after the house is damaged. His lighthearted mood gives way to urgent concern when he hears about his father.
• Li Lun shows how much he values the academy’s reputation, readily offering resources in hopes of gaining access to Xu Mu’s research.
• Celebi demonstrates loyalty and growing confidence, volunteering to heal the Pokémon and seeing the work as a chance to develop her own strength.
• The Sanshengyun are frustrated at being treated like hired sparring partners, but keep quiet because they fear Mewtwo and remember the consequences of upsetting the other Pokémon.
• Xiao Yuyang struggles to deliver the news clearly, while revealing that Xiao Yue acted quickly to protect herself.

Significant themes

• Practicality and resourcefulness: Xu Mu finds uses for the Pokémon he has captured, while the academy mobilizes students to repair his house.
• Power and status: The Sanshengyun’s legendary standing earns them little respect under Xu Mu’s training plan, and fear of Mewtwo keeps them compliant.
• Loyalty and mutual support: Celebi willingly helps Xu Mu, and Xiao Yue’s quick action ensures her safety.
• Escalating danger: The Secret Realm’s inability to withstand the forces gathered there signals that events in the Borderlands have grown dangerously intense.

Character interactions

• Xu Mu negotiates with Li Lun over rebuilding the house and expanding its battlefield.
• Xu Mu assigns Greninja and Blaziken to spar with the Sanshengyun, with Celebi responsible for healing them.
• Xu Mu quietly cares for Cynthia, moving to another room so he will not wake her.
• During his call with Xiao Yuyang, Xu Mu first demands news of his mother, then presses his grandfather for details about the crisis affecting his father.

Plot points and events

• Xiao Yuyang tells Xu Mu that a Secret Realm in the Borderlands is becoming unstable. Destroying it isn’t an option: it serves as a buffer and defensive barrier against the world beyond, so the authorities are monitoring it instead. Xu Mu’s father, Xiaofeng, and the Six Divine Birds remain inside and are believed able to hold out for now.
• The next morning, Dragonite arrives to join Xu Mu. The system announces that Charizard has completed the Zhurong Inheritance and awakened, so Xu Mu and Dragonite head to Charizard Valley to bring him home.
• Charizard erupts from the magma, newly empowered by the inheritance. The Valley’s fire gathers around him, marking him as its recognized lord; weaker Charizard and Charmander bow, while even the powerful onlookers are astonished.
• After celebrating with a huge Flamethrower, Charizard spots Xu Mu and excitedly grabs him in an embrace, lifting him off Dragonite.

Character developments and interactions

• Xu Mu worries about his father but accepts that he cannot intervene without compromising the Borderlands’ defenses. He trusts Xiao Yuyang to keep watch.
• Dragonite returns cheerfully, uses a phone to report his safe arrival, and eagerly agrees to accompany Xu Mu.
• Charizard’s inheritance makes him dramatically stronger and establishes his dominance in the Valley. His reunion with Xu Mu shows his affection and exuberance.
• Venusaur and Snorlax, who guarded Charizard during his month-long seclusion, admire his new strength. The Scarred Charizard and other Valley residents also witness his rise.

Significant themes

• Duty and restraint: Protecting the wider world means resisting the tempting but dangerous option of destroying the unstable Secret Realm.
• Growth and belonging: Charizard’s transformation confirms his hard-won power and place as the Valley’s leader, while his reunion with Xu Mu reconnects him to the home where he was raised.
• Loyalty and family: Xu Mu relies on Xiao Yuyang’s support, and his bond with Charizard is expressed through their enthusiastic reunion.

Key plot points and events

• Alain and his Charizard are transported from a rocky desert to the Charizard Valley Secret Realm, apparently without warning. Alain follows his Pokémon when it senses another powerful Charizard.
• Xu Mu is being carried by his Charizard when Alain’s Charizard appears and fires a Flamethrower as a customary challenge. Xu Mu is thrown clear and caught by Dragonite; his Charizard is unharmed.
• Alain’s Charizard eagerly asks for a fight. After seeing how protective Xu Mu’s Charizard is of his Trainer, it apologizes for choosing such a dangerous moment.
• Alain also apologizes. Xu Mu accepts the challenge, though he is privately angry at the scare.
• Xu Mu recognizes Alain and learns from the system that Alain came to the realm on his own, unlike the usual accidental arrivals.
• Xu Mu and his Charizard prepare to battle Alain’s Charizard. Xu Mu tells his partner not to hold back.

Character developments

• Xu Mu stays outwardly gracious but reveals a vengeful streak: he intends to use the battle to vent his anger. He also shows trust in his Charizard and interest in testing its recent growth.
• Xu Mu’s Charizard prioritizes its Trainer’s safety, reacting quickly to save him and becoming angry at the reckless challenge. It ultimately accepts the match.
• Alain is initially disoriented and anxious in the unfamiliar realm, but remains loyal to his Charizard and behaves courteously when he arrives.
• Alain’s Charizard is bold and battle-hungry, but capable of apologizing once it recognizes its mistake.

Significant themes

• Loyalty and protection: Xu Mu’s Charizard risks the battle to keep its Trainer safe.
• Respect and accountability: Both Alain and his Charizard acknowledge their fault rather than deny it.
• Rivalry and strength: The Charizards’ fiery greeting reflects their custom of demonstrating power, and their encounter quickly becomes a formal challenge.
• Comedic contrast: Xu Mu’s polite words mask his irritation, while his inner commentary and the system’s explanation undercut the dramatic setup.

Character interactions

• Xu Mu’s Charizard confronts Alain’s Charizard over endangering Xu Mu; Alain’s Charizard apologizes but remains eager to fight.
• Alain bows and apologizes to Xu Mu, who accepts the challenge with apparent warmth and concealed annoyance.
• Xu Mu and his Charizard share an understanding: Xu Mu signals that he wants a serious fight, and Charizard agrees to give his all.

Plot points and events

• Alain challenges Xu Mu to a Charizard battle, unaware that Xu Mu’s Charizard is vastly more powerful.
• Alain’s Charizard activates Blaze at full health, combining it with Solar Power for an early boost.
• Xu Mu’s Charizard responds by gathering volcanic magma and Fire energy into a protective coating he calls “Flame Dragon Armor.”
• Both Trainers Mega Evolve their Charizards. Xu Mu’s Charizard keeps his armor after evolving.
• Their Flamethrowers collide, and Xu Mu’s Charizard overwhelms Alain’s attack, forcing Alain to order a dodge.
• Xu Mu’s Charizard follows up with Evil Flame Dragon. A sudden roar startles Alain’s Charizard, preventing him from evading; the attack lands, followed by a relentless barrage.

Character developments

• Xu Mu remains amused and confident, but recognizes the enormous gap between the Charizards and lets his own fight seriously.
• Xu Mu’s Charizard is powerful and cautious, though also boastful about his newly named armor. He sees the battle as a lesson for an inexperienced opponent.
• Alain is enthusiastic and eager to show off his Charizard’s abilities, but quickly realizes his opponent is far stronger.
• Alain’s Charizard is hot-blooded and initially confident, then becomes startled and overwhelmed.

Character interactions

• Xu Mu and his Charizard share a comfortable rapport: Xu Mu jokes about the armor’s name, while Charizard insists it sounds impressive.
• The Charizards are contrasted as veteran and junior: Xu Mu’s Charizard silently prepares and judges Alain’s Charizard’s noisy displays, while Alain’s Charizard reacts impulsively.
• Both Trainers issue matching orders and Mega Evolve their Pokémon, but Xu Mu and his Charizard quickly seize control of the battle.

Significant themes

• Experience versus raw enthusiasm: special abilities and dramatic displays cannot make up for a major difference in strength and skill.
• Confidence and restraint: Xu Mu’s Charizard mocks his opponent’s showiness while favoring quiet preparation.
• Humor amid combat: the chapter treats the battle with exaggerated jokes, from the “Flame Dragon Armor” name to the supposed ultimate commands: “dodge it,” “get up,” and “don’t stop.”

Key plot points and events

• Alain and his Charizard suffer a swift, overwhelming defeat to Xu Mu and Old Charizard. Alain is shocked by how little his commands matter in a battle decided so quickly.
• Xu Mu stops the fight once Alain’s Charizard is down, then has Celebi heal it. Alain thanks him.
• Xu Mu explains that Alain has crossed into another world and probably cannot return for now. He offers to arrange a place for Alain to stay and mentions two other girls in the same situation, whom Alain may meet.
• Alain accepts Xu Mu’s help and agrees to follow his lead for the time being. Xu Mu makes clear that he will help Alain settle in but will not manage his life.
• Alain learns Xu Mu is only seventeen, younger than himself, and is astonished that someone his age could be so powerful. Xu Mu calls himself ordinary and lucky.
• Xu Mu suggests leaving the Charizard Valley Secret Realm, hoping to visit it again later.

Character developments

• Alain goes from stunned and disoriented after his defeat to respectful and pragmatic. Recognizing his dependence on Xu Mu, he chooses not to challenge the explanation or act independently.
• Xu Mu shows restraint after winning, arranging healing for Alain’s Pokémon and offering practical help. He is also wary of taking on responsibility for another newcomer, so he sets boundaries early.
• Old Charizard is eager to keep fighting but stops when Xu Mu tells him to; afterward, he feels sheepish about how badly he overwhelmed Alain’s young Charizard.

Character interactions

• Xu Mu’s decisive victory unsettles Alain, but Xu Mu’s care for his injured Pokémon softens the encounter.
• Xu Mu explains the one-way nature of travel between worlds, while Alain listens respectfully and tries to judge how best to rely on him.
• A misunderstanding briefly embarrasses Alain when he blushes at Xu Mu’s mention of introducing him to two girls. Xu Mu quickly clarifies that he only means they could support one another or potentially return home together.
• Xu Mu’s modest claim that he is “ordinary” contrasts with Alain’s astonishment at his strength.

Significant themes

• Power and expectations: Alain’s confidence in conventional Trainer-commanded battles collapses when faced with Xu Mu’s overwhelming strength.
• Displacement and dependence: Alain must adapt to being stranded in an unfamiliar world and rely on someone else while he seeks a way home.
• Kindness with boundaries: Xu Mu helps Alain, but makes clear that support does not mean taking charge of his entire life.
• Humor and humility: The mistaken romantic interpretation and Xu Mu’s deadpan self-description lighten an otherwise disorienting situation.

Plot points and events

• Xu Mu and Alain fly into Charizard Valley on their Charizards. Xu Mu reunites warmly with Scarred Charizard, an old rival whose past grudge has faded.
• Alain’s Charizard senses Scarred Charizard’s strength and respectfully treats him as the valley’s king. Alain, misreading the situation, assumes Scarred Charizard is the major threat.
• Xu Mu asks whether Scarred Charizard has come to challenge Old Charizard. Scarred Charizard panics and clarifies that he has come to pay respects: Old Charizard’s recent advancement has made him the new ruler of the valley.
• Alain realizes that Xu Mu’s Old Charizard—not Scarred Charizard—is the new king, presiding over thousands of Pokémon. When Alain starts to speak, his Charizard blasts him with Flamethrower to stop him from making things worse.
• The valley’s Charizards welcome Old Charizard by firing Flamethrowers into the sky. Impressed and embarrassed by his earlier mistake, Alain apologizes to Xu Mu and asks to become his apprentice.

Character developments and interactions

• Xu Mu and Scarred Charizard meet as friendly former opponents, showing that their old rivalry has given way to mutual respect.
• Old Charizard is formally recognized as Charizard Valley’s new king after becoming powerful enough to rule.
• Alain shifts from confident Trainer to a humbled admirer who wants to learn from Xu Mu. His tendency to misread situations creates much of the comedy.
• Alain’s Charizard is cautious and deferential toward the stronger Pokémon, and even resorts to roasting Alain to prevent him from provoking the valley.
• The valley’s Charizards collectively honor Old Charizard, turning his arrival into a dramatic coronation.

Significant themes

• Strength and earned authority: In Charizard Valley, the strongest Pokémon becomes king.
• Respect replacing rivalry: Old conflicts can be set aside when former opponents meet again.
• Humility and learning: Alain recognizes that skill matters more than age or pride.
• Comic miscommunication: Alain repeatedly misunderstands the situation, while his Charizard’s actions make the truth unmistakable.

Key plot points and events

• Old Charizard is crowned king of Charizard Valley after the valley’s Charizards salute him with a spectacular volley of Flamethrowers. Though deeply impressed, he keeps a dignified front and leaves with Xu Mu and Alain.
• Xu Mu, Alain, and their Charizards return to Magic City Academy. Alain and his Charizard arrive exhausted after struggling to keep pace with Xu Mu’s Charizard.
• Cynthia greets Xu Mu and is gently scolded for eating ice cream. Xu Mu introduces Alain, explaining that he came from the same world as Cynthia but appears to have arrived by different means.
• Xu Mu proposes a battle between Alain and Cynthia. Cynthia eagerly agrees; Alain accepts despite privately underestimating her.
• At the Battlefield, a crowd gathers. Cynthia sends out Lucario, while Alain sends out Charizard. After Charizard displays his power, Lucario rushes in with a powerful Aura Sphere as the battle begins.

Character developments

• Old Charizard becomes king of Charizard Valley and reveals how much the coronation spectacle means to him, even while maintaining a proud exterior.
• Alain gains respect for Xu Mu after experiencing his strength firsthand, but his exhaustion and assumption that Cynthia is weak leave him overconfident about the upcoming match.
• Cynthia remains playful and affectionate with Xu Mu, but becomes enthusiastic and focused when offered a battle.
• Lucario appears confident and amused by Charizard’s display, suggesting it sees the opponent as inexperienced.

Significant themes

• Respect earned through strength: Alain’s view of Xu Mu changes after witnessing his abilities.
• Pride and hidden emotion: Old Charizard conceals his excitement behind a kingly façade.
• Appearances can mislead: Alain judges Cynthia by her appearance, while the crowd already expects him to be outmatched.

Character interactions

• Xu Mu encourages Old Charizard after the coronation and later teases Alain about keeping up.
• Cynthia playfully tries to evade Xu Mu’s scolding, while Xu Mu introduces her to Alain as his fiancée.
• Alain mistakenly thinks Xu Mu’s advice to “go easy” is meant for him, then privately tells Charizard to hold back against Cynthia.
• The chapter ends with Lucario launching an Aura Sphere at Charizard, leaving the battle’s outcome unresolved.

Key plot points and events

• Alain battles Cynthia at Magic City Academy. He assumes Lucario’s opening Aura Sphere will do little damage and orders Charizard to set up with Dragon Dance.
• Lucario’s unusually powerful, rapid-fire Aura Spheres instead slam Charizard into a deep crater. Alain urges Charizard to get up, and the badly weakened Pokémon somehow does.
• Cynthia orders Lucario to use Bone Rush, but Charizard narrowly evades it after Alain simply shouts, “Dodge!” Alain and Charizard repeat this seemingly impossible evasive skill after both Pokémon Mega Evolve.
• Alain’s unconventional choices—including using Dragon Pulse against Lucario—leave the onlookers baffled. Cynthia counters effectively, and her relentless attacks eventually exhaust Charizard. Cynthia wins.
• Alain realizes Xu Mu’s earlier request to “go easy on him” was not meant for Alain’s benefit. Xu Mu assigns him to look after the academy library while he learns about the new world and improves his battling fundamentals.

Character developments

• Alain begins confident in his assumptions and battle plan, but is surprised by Lucario’s strength and Cynthia’s tactics. His trust in Charizard remains strong, and his simple commands lead to extraordinary dodges, though his battle fundamentals are shown to need work. After losing, he accepts Xu Mu’s guidance.
• Charizard shows remarkable resilience and agility, repeatedly recovering or evading attacks despite being nearly defeated.
• Cynthia fights decisively and without restraint, using coordinated Mega Evolution and sustained pressure to secure the win.
• Xu Mu remains composed and knowledgeable, then takes responsibility for helping Alain adjust to life at the academy.

Significant themes

• Experience versus assumptions: Alain misjudges Lucario’s power and relies on familiar expectations, while Cynthia adapts to the battle.
• Unusual talent and unpredictability: Charizard’s seemingly impossible dodges challenge what the spectators believe a Pokémon can do.
• Growth through defeat: Alain’s loss becomes an opportunity to learn both about his new surroundings and about his battling weaknesses.
• Care and responsibility: Xu Mu gives Alain a place at the academy and a practical path toward adapting.

Character interactions

• Alain and Charizard share a close, trusting bond: Alain encourages him throughout, and Charizard responds even when badly weakened.
• Cynthia treats Alain as a serious opponent and presses her advantage rather than holding back.
• Xu Mu’s cryptic remarks confuse the students, but his later conversation with Alain clarifies that he intends to mentor him and help him settle in.

Key plot points and events

• The academy’s twenty-one days of military training end with instructor Li Hong’s farewell speech. As the instructors march away, the freshmen are moved to tears—helped along by the unexpectedly familiar song “Blue Lotus.”
• Xu Mu shifts the students’ attention to the upcoming Freshman Competition. He explains that the demanding training and extra classes were intended to prepare them for dangerous first-year Secret Realm training and to help them compete for scarce resources.
• He announces the academy selection: squads of one hundred will each battle one of Xu Mu’s six Pokémon. Teachers and academy leaders will select five hundred strong performers; the remaining students will compete individually for one hundred more places. Those six hundred then fight in a second round, with the top hundred representing Magic City Academy.
• Selection is not final: students who miss out may challenge a selected competitor before the joint competition and take their place if they win.
• The first squad begins choosing an opponent. After debating which Pokémon might be easiest to face, they select Venusaur.

Character developments

• Li Hong gives a carefully prepared, sincere farewell, showing how much he valued his role as instructor and the time spent with the students.
• Xu Mu steps into the role of motivator and organizer. He reframes the freshmen’s complaints about exhausting training as preparation for survival and future competition.
• The freshmen have grown in strength, experience, and confidence over the training period. Their initial resentment gives way to understanding and eagerness to test themselves.
• The first squad shows emerging cohesion by relying on a classmate to make their opponent choice.

Significant themes

• Training as preparation for survival: Extra work is presented not as punishment but as protection for students facing dangerous battles.
• Competition and scarce resources: In troubled times, students must prove themselves to earn opportunities and resources.
• Growth through hardship: The freshmen are portrayed as markedly changed after twenty-one days of demanding training.
• Farewell and transition: The instructors’ departure marks the end of one stage of student life and the start of a more competitive one.

Character interactions

• Li Hong thanks the students and reminds them that their instructors’ lessons may save their lives; the students respond with a heartfelt goodbye.
• Xu Mu addresses the freshmen directly, first explaining the purpose of their training and then laying out the selection rules.
• The freshmen discuss the Pokémon choices among themselves, weighing apparent strength against the difficulty of facing an opponent as a group, before choosing Venusaur.
• Xu Mu sends Venusaur forward with a warning not to hit the students too hard, and Venusaur confidently agrees.

Key plot points and events

• The first freshman formation challenges Xu Mu’s Venusaur with a coordinated strategy: status moves, canine disruptors, shield Pokémon, and airborne attackers.
• Xu Mu judges their plan promising but poorly executed. Venusaur counters with a Miracle Seed-boosted Sweet Scent, then uses Sleep Powder, Leech Seed, Stun Spore, and Poison Powder to disable the group.
• Venusaur defeats all one hundred students in about a minute without taking damage. Since no student stands out, the entire formation is assigned to an additional round.
• The second formation selects Blaziken. Its bald commander orders Ghost-types to use debuffs, Kadabra to create Trick Room, and everyone else to pile on status moves.
• Blaziken breaks Trick Room, rushes Kadabra, and knocks it out. A long-haired student then sends Fearow in with Aerial Ace, showing initiative. Xu Mu approves of the attempt but directs Blaziken to block and counter, while calling out further targets.

Character developments

• Xu Mu demonstrates his expertise as a trainer and instructor: he recognizes tactical potential, identifies mistakes, and uses battles to teach by example.
• The first formation’s commander shows basic coordination but lacks the experience to adapt or exploit the team’s numerical advantage.
• The bald second-formation commander proves more thoughtful, building a layered plan around Trick Room and status effects, though he underestimates the power gap.
• The long-haired student distinguishes himself by timing Fearow’s attack to strike while Blaziken is occupied.
• Venusaur appears overwhelmingly capable and relaxed, treating the first battle as effortless.

Significant themes

• Strategy versus execution: A sound battle concept can fail if its users lack timing, adaptation, and tactical knowledge.
• Numbers and resourcefulness: A large group can challenge a stronger opponent by combining status effects and control moves—but only if coordinated effectively.
• Experience and power gaps: Clever plans matter, but they may not overcome an enormous difference in strength.
• Teaching through competition: Xu Mu gives students room to demonstrate their abilities while exposing weaknesses they need to improve.

Character interactions

• Xu Mu evaluates the students’ tactics and guides Venusaur and Blaziken throughout the challenges.
• Venusaur’s decisive victory humbles the first formation and highlights the difference between their preparation and Xu Mu’s experience.
• The bald commander’s orders organize the second formation’s assault, while the long-haired student acts independently with Fearow’s Aerial Ace.
• Xu Mu acknowledges the students’ better ideas but remains firmly in control, directing Blaziken to neutralize their key Pokémon and counter their attacks.

Key plot points and events

• Xu Mu and his powerful Pokémon put the freshmen through the first assessment round, swiftly defeating the Second Formation and many others. Greninja’s hundred Shadow Clones prove especially frightening.
• Xu Mu announces that selected freshmen have made the top 100 and may rest before the next round; those not selected must return for an additional assessment. The students remain upbeat despite their losses.
• Xu Mu promises competition placements will earn rewards, pressuring Dean Li into publicly backing the offer. Li retaliates by reminding the students that Xu Mu may also be expected to provide resources.
• Xu Mu is barred from competing in the upcoming worldwide Joint Freshman Competition because he is already a Venerable, but he can attend as a team leader. He decides to train Cynthia’s Garchomp and Milotic instead.
• Xu Mu discovers that Hoopa has taken a large group of Pokémon—including two Mewtwo—to an amusement park, and worries about the expense. Irritated, he orders Greninja to spar with Sanshengyun, who are only allowed to dodge.
• Xu assigns Dragonite to train Milotic to Elite Four peak level within fifteen days, then warns him not to force a romantic relationship.

Character developments and interactions

• The freshmen show resilience: having already endured Xu Mu’s earlier overwhelming victories, they take the assessment’s defeats in stride.
• Xu continues to act as a demanding but supportive mentor, encouraging the freshmen with promised rewards while taking responsibility for training Pokémon for the competition.
• Dean Li and Xu engage in a comic struggle over who will pay for student rewards, each trapping the other with public promises while maintaining polite smiles.
• Xu’s protective, bossy side appears in his instructions to Dragonite. Dragonite is delighted to see Milotic again, while Xu insists that any romance must be mutual.
• Greninja remains a loyal enforcer, carrying out Xu’s orders against Sanshengyun.

Significant themes

• Resilience and growth: The freshmen’s repeated defeats do not extinguish their enthusiasm.
• Mentorship and competition: Xu cannot compete himself, so he supports the next generation by training their Pokémon.
• Power, responsibility, and resources: Promises of rewards motivate students but create comic financial pressure for the academy and Xu.
• Consent and boundaries: Xu explicitly tells Dragonite that Milotic’s relationship with him must be mutual.

Plot points and events

• Xu Mu sends Lucario to play with Blaziken, then assesses Cynthia’s Garchomp, whose exceptional talent and rare, pure bloodline stand out even among Xu Mu’s Pokémon.
• The chapter explains how Cynthia came to have Gible as her Starter Pokémon: she chose its card to face her childhood fear, while her father Kale mistakenly left before seeing her choice. His efforts to obtain Gible reflected how much he cared for Cynthia.
• Garchomp privately objects to Xu Mu calling its progress slow, pointing out that it is barely over a year old, already fully evolved, and near the peak of Semi-King level. Xu Mu uses Telepathy to reveal that he can hear its thoughts.
• Xu Mu argues that Garchomp’s training has overemphasized its arm fins, leaving the rest of its body comparatively underdeveloped. He demonstrates a more coordinated punching technique; Garchomp’s second punch makes a much larger crater, convincing it that Xu Mu’s advice works.
• Xu Mu orders Garchomp to fly 500 laps around Magic City Academy without food, apparently using the workout to punish it for criticizing him mentally.

Character developments and interactions

• Xu Mu comes across as perceptive and confident in his training expertise, but also teasing and vindictive. He turns Garchomp’s doubts into a practical lesson, then assigns a punishing workout.
• Garchomp shifts from indignation and skepticism to surprise and reluctant acceptance after seeing the improvement firsthand.
• Cynthia and Kale are characterized through the origin story: Kale is a devoted, anxious father, while young Cynthia shows courage by choosing the Pokémon that frightened her.
• Xu Mu directly coaches Garchomp, using demonstration rather than argument; Garchomp responds first with mental complaints, then obedience.

Significant themes

• Balanced development: Strength in one area is limited if the rest of a Pokémon’s body cannot support it.
• Facing fear: Cynthia’s choice of Gible represents a willingness to confront what once frightened her.
• Talent and effort: Exceptional potential alone does not ensure the best training or fastest progress.
• Humor and authority: Xu Mu’s useful instruction is mixed with playful intimidation and a comic desire to get even.

Chapter Summary

• Plot and training: Xu Mu begins seriously training Cynthia’s Garchomp, whose powerful fins are poorly balanced by weaker limbs. Over two punishing weeks, Garchomp flies laps, digs for hours, withstands Snorlax’s Earthquakes underground, and practices dodging attacks. Xu Mu explains that the drills build Garchomp’s overall physical strength and help cover Dig’s vulnerability to Earthquake. Garchomp is talented and resilient, but the training leaves him exhausted and injured.
• Other Pokémon: Lucario is also having a rough time, regularly sparring against Blaziken and Greninja. Dragonite and Milotic train together more comfortably, while Milotic seems especially happy under Dragonite’s instruction.
• Competition approaches: With the academies’ Freshman Competition drawing near, Xu Mu worries that Cynthia may face formidable opponents; some competitors reportedly have Elite Four-level aces. Cynthia’s Lucario is at that level and can reach Early Master after Mega Evolution, while Garchomp and Milotic have recently reached the early Elite Four level.
• Cynthia’s confidence: Cynthia reassures Xu Mu that she has strong support at her academy, including a student whose Alakazam is nearing Elite Four strength. She notes that he once had a Kadabra and has adopted a cautious battle style reminiscent of Xu Mu’s popular Charizard.

Character Developments and Interactions

Xu Mu proves himself as a hands-on trainer, pushing Garchomp through demanding, carefully targeted exercises. Garchomp’s suffering is played for comedy, especially when Cynthia mistakes his exhausting dodge practice for rest and he desperately tries to express his complaints. Cynthia offers him encouragement—but quickly becomes distracted by ice cream from Xu Mu. Their affectionate exchange contrasts with Xu Mu’s concern about the upcoming competition.

Themes

The chapter highlights disciplined training and correcting weaknesses, suggesting that talent alone is not enough to develop a balanced fighter. It also emphasizes competition and anxiety about the future, as Cynthia and Xu Mu assess the strength of their rivals, while using humor to offset the brutality of the training.

Plot and events

• Magic City Academy’s top 100 freshmen prepare to fly to Chang’an for the worldwide Freshman Competition. The contest will determine how resources are divided between the Eastern Lands and Western Europe, so academies have heavily invested in their students.
• Just as the group is about to board its airship, Xu Mu halts them and reveals a more dramatic plan: Alain has brought a hundred Charizard from Charizard Valley to carry the team.
• Scarred Charizard agrees to help because Xu Mu is regarded as the valley’s king. Xu Mu promises to arrange visits from Charizard Trainers in return.
• Xu Mu invites Alain, who helped organize the flight, to join the team. He then takes Cynthia aboard Lugia, while the freshmen mount the Charizard, and the whole group departs in spectacular fashion.
• Left behind, Dean Li Lun worries that Xu Mu may eventually take his position. Xu Lu reassures him that the Charizard cost the academy nothing and made it look good. Li Lun accepts this logic, though he remains vaguely suspicious.

Character developments and interactions

• Xu Mu displays confidence and showmanship, using his influence with Charizard Valley to give the academy a memorable entrance. He rewards Alain’s work by inviting him along.
• Alain proves dependable by carrying out Xu Mu’s request, and his careful manners in this world are noted.
• Scarred Charizard reinforces its loyalty to Xu Mu, presenting the Charizard’s assistance as service to their king.
• Li Lun shifts from surprise at Xu Mu’s stunt to concern about his own future as dean, then tries to convince himself the academy has benefited.
• Xu Lu gently steers Li Lun toward a reassuring interpretation, though his lingering unease suggests he may not fully trust the situation.
• Cynthia travels with Xu Mu on Lugia, while the freshmen enthusiastically take part in the Charizard flight.

Significant themes

• Competition and resource inequality: The freshman contest is presented as a way to distribute resources and give talented students—including those from humble backgrounds—a chance to rise.
• Talent supported by investment: The academies’ training resources have rapidly strengthened their students.
• Status and spectacle: Xu Mu’s unconventional entrance turns the journey into a public display of Magic City Academy’s confidence and prestige.
• Loyalty and influence: The Charizard’s cooperation shows the strength of Xu Mu’s bond and standing with Pokémon, while Li Lun’s thoughts add a comic undertone of rivalry and insecurity.