Chapter Summaries

Plot points and events

• The tournament’s ten finalists begin a points-based round robin, with each Trainer scheduled to face the other nine.
• Zhang Cheng opens with three straight wins, including a quick victory over schoolmate Xiao Mu’s Bulbasaur using Pidgey’s Flying-type advantage. Pidgey reaches level 15.
• Ye Tian defeats Jiang Tao, the mayor’s son, in a tense battle. Axew’s Dragon Rage badly injures Butterfree, but Axew is poisoned by Butterfree’s Poison Powder. After Sleep Powder and Protect help Butterfree survive, Axew’s poison and exhaustion leave him unable to battle.
• Zhang Cheng wins both of his afternoon matches with Poliwag and Pidgey. Ye Tian also wins, defeating Hao Chenggong’s Tepig through a series of dirty tricks.
• At day’s end, Zhang Cheng and Ye Tian are tied at five wins and five points. Jiang Tao has four points. The following day’s matches will include Zhang Cheng against both Jiang Tao and Ye Tian.
• Zhang Cheng spends the evening caring for his Pokémon and checking for news about Evolution Stones, but finds little useful information.

Character development and interactions

• Jiang Tao takes his defeat in stride and confidently vows to surpass Ye Tian. Ye Tian dismisses the boast, but Zhang Cheng cautions him not to let one win make him underestimate Dragon-types. Ye Tian reflects and recognizes the need to stay humble.
• Zhang Cheng and Ye Tian look forward to their upcoming match and agree to battle seriously.
• Zhang Cheng’s attentive care—Pokéblocks and massages—shows how much he values his Pokémon’s comfort and recovery.

Significant themes

• Strategy and endurance: Ye Tian wins through status effects and defensive timing, while Axew’s poison and fatigue prove decisive.
• Humility and respect: Zhang Cheng reminds Ye Tian that one victory does not justify dismissing an entire Pokémon type.
• Preparation and priorities: Both Trainers rest their Pokémon before the next day, while Zhang Cheng keeps his focus on gaining strength despite slow progress in Mega Evolution research.

Key plot points and events

• On the second day of the finals, Zhang Cheng defeats Hao Chenggong’s Tepig. Poliwag dodges Body Slam, uses Mind Reader to ensure Hypnosis lands, then wins with a restrained Water Gun after Tepig shows remarkable persistence.
• Hao promises he will keep training until he can beat Zhang. Zhang accepts the challenge.
• Zhang wins his next two morning matches easily, then takes his Pokémon to recover before the afternoon’s tougher battles.
• Over lunch, Zhang and Ye Tian acknowledge they may face each other that afternoon and agree to give their best.
• Zhang’s first afternoon opponent is Jiang Tao. Jiang sends out Axew; Zhang checks its stats, learning it is a Level 15 Dragon-type with the Rivalry ability and a Razor Fang. Their battle is about to begin.

Character developments

• Hao Chenggong has trained Tepig to be faster, but still loses. His determination—and his care for Tepig—are clear; he treats the defeat as motivation rather than a reason to quit.
• Zhang Cheng remains confident and composed. He adapts his tactics during the battle and chooses a less powerful finishing move to avoid seriously harming Tepig.
• Jiang Tao comes across as prepared and competitive, having researched Zhang before the tournament.
• Ye Tian and Zhang show mutual respect and resolve ahead of their potential match.

Significant themes

• Persistence and improvement: Hao and Tepig keep fighting despite a difficult matchup, while Hao commits to improving.
• Restraint and sportsmanship: Zhang prioritizes Tepig’s safety when choosing how to finish the battle.
• Preparation and competition: Zhang checks Axew’s abilities, and the finalists anticipate the challenges ahead.

Character interactions

• Hao challenges Zhang enthusiastically, then praises Tepig and vows to face Zhang again; Zhang responds that he will be waiting.
• Zhang and Ye share a calm, encouraging conversation before the afternoon matches.
• Jiang compliments Zhang’s reputation and signals his eagerness to test him; Zhang keeps the exchange brief and focuses on starting the battle.

Key plot points and events

• Before the match, Zhang Cheng learns that Jiang Tao’s Axew carries a Razor Fang, a valuable held item. He also notes that his own Thief move and X-Ray Vision could let him take opponents’ items.
• Zhang Cheng’s Poliwag opens with Rain Dance. The rain activates its Swift Swim ability, letting it evade Axew’s Dragon Rage and use moves quickly.
• Poliwag’s Hypnosis puts Axew to sleep, allowing a Bubble Beam hit. Once awake, Axew misses with Dual Chop, and Poliwag lands a humiliating Double Slap.
• When the rain ends, Jiang Tao takes control: Axew hits Poliwag with Dragon Rage and Dual Chop, leaving it badly injured. A later exchange—Axew enduring Bubble Beam and countering with another Dragon Rage—puts Poliwag on the brink of defeat.
• Jiang Tao urges Zhang Cheng to surrender, but Zhang remains confident. The chapter ends before the match’s outcome is revealed.

Character developments and interactions

• Zhang Cheng shows sharp tactical awareness, exploiting Poliwag’s speed and Hypnosis to disrupt Jiang Tao’s plans. Even when Poliwag is nearly beaten, he refuses to concede.
• Jiang Tao is strategic and composed at first, trying to boost Axew before attacking. He later grows confident as Axew’s power turns the battle around, and tries to pressure Zhang into giving up.
• Poliwag and Axew develop a heated rivalry during the fight: Poliwag’s slaps provoke Axew, while Axew’s heavy attacks steadily shift the momentum.
• Spectators debate the battle, with some expecting Zhang’s defeat and others suspecting he may still have a way to recover.

Significant themes

• Strategy versus raw strength: Poliwag’s speed, status moves, and timing initially counter Axew’s power, but Axew’s strong attacks become decisive once the rain ends.
• Momentum and timing: The weather’s end creates a turning point, showing how battlefield conditions can change a match.
• Confidence under pressure: Zhang’s refusal to surrender sets up the possibility of a comeback, despite Poliwag’s dire condition.

Key plot points and events

• Jiang Tao orders Axew to use Dragon Rage, confident it will defeat Zhang Cheng’s injured Poliwag before Hypnosis can take effect.
• Poliwag quickly lands Hypnosis, which Zhang Cheng had strengthened with Mind Reader. Jiang Tao dismisses the danger, believing Poliwag lacks the power to finish Axew.
• Zhang Cheng reveals Poliwag’s surprise weapon: Endeavor. With Axew asleep, Poliwag lands the move and reduces Axew to nearly fainting.
• Axew wakes and begins preparing Dual Chop, but Poliwag’s follow-up Water Gun knocks it out. Zhang Cheng wins, stunning Jiang Tao and the crowd.
• The victory sets up the championship-deciding match between Zhang Cheng and Ye Tian, both of whom have nine consecutive wins.
• In the final, Zhang Cheng uses Pidgey against Ye Tian’s Butterfree, exploiting the type matchup. Their opening attacks—Gust and Air Slash—cancel out without either Pokémon taking significant damage.

Character developments

• Zhang Cheng demonstrates patience, tactical planning, and confidence. He turns Poliwag’s apparent weakness into an advantage and later enters the final eager to face Ye Tian.
• Jiang Tao is overconfident in Axew’s advantage and is caught off guard by Zhang Cheng’s strategy. Zhang Cheng’s parting advice—“It’s better to stay humble”—underscores the lesson.
• Ye Tian appears distracted and subdued before the final, though he agrees to compete. In battle, he recognizes that Zhang Cheng has anticipated his usual tactics.
• Poliwag and Pidgey show their value as Zhang Cheng’s strategically chosen Pokémon: Poliwag wins through a carefully timed combination, while Pidgey’s type advantage gives Zhang Cheng an early edge.

Significant themes

• Preparation and strategy: Zhang Cheng wins by anticipating his opponent and combining Mind Reader, Hypnosis, Endeavor, and Water Gun.
• Humility versus arrogance: Jiang Tao’s certainty that Axew would win blinds him to Poliwag’s hidden threat.
• Competition and pressure: The final match carries high stakes, deciding the champion and runner-up.
• Reading an opponent: Zhang Cheng counters Ye Tian’s familiar use of Gust to conceal Sleep Powder by attacking through it rather than retreating.

Character interactions

• Zhang Cheng and Jiang Tao exchange confident challenges, but the battle ends with Jiang Tao silent and Zhang Cheng offering a blunt lesson in humility.
• Zhang Cheng checks on Ye Tian when he notices his distraction, then gives him encouragement before the final.
• The crowd reacts with surprise and excitement after Poliwag’s upset victory, and attention shifts to Zhang Cheng and Ye Tian’s decisive match.
• In the final’s opening exchange, each Trainer tests the other; Ye Tian realizes Zhang Cheng has anticipated his usual strategy.

Key plot points and events

• Zhang Cheng’s Pidgey battles Ye Tian’s Butterfree. Butterfree first uses Confusion to knock Pidgey down, but Pidgey blows away Sleep Powder with Gust and returns to the air.
• Pidgey interrupts another Confusion with Quick Attack, then uses Thief to steal Butterfree’s Pecha Berry. Butterfree immediately counters with Bug Bite, eating the Berry and poisoning Pidgey with Poison Powder-coated teeth.
• Zhang Cheng tries to press the attack with Air Slash, but Ye Tian has Butterfree use Protect and Confusion to block or weaken Pidgey’s strikes. The poison steadily drains Pidgey’s strength, and spectators begin to expect Ye Tian to win.
• Zhang Cheng reveals his hidden plan: Pidgey evolves into Pidgeotto. Ye Tian’s Gust cannot disrupt the evolution.
• Though Butterfree is still confident of its advantage, Pidgeotto takes to the sky and unleashes a powerful Dragon-type-energy whirlwind at it. The chapter ends as the attack lands.

Character developments

• Zhang Cheng remains composed despite Pidgey’s worsening condition, relying on patience and a carefully saved evolution to turn the battle around.
• Ye Tian demonstrates calm, tactical command, exploiting poison and Protect to stall. His confidence is tested when Pidgey evolves.
• Pidgey shows resilience and quick reactions, enduring poison and pain before reaching its long-awaited evolution into Pidgeotto.
• Butterfree follows Ye Tian’s tactics effectively, using status moves and defensive timing, but is visibly intimidated by Pidgeotto’s new presence.

Significant themes

• Strategy and timing: Ye Tian uses stalling tactics while Zhang Cheng saves Pidgey’s evolution for the decisive moment.
• Resilience and transformation: Pidgey’s perseverance through poison culminates in a dramatic evolution.
• Battle ethics and perception: Spectators debate whether Butterfree’s concealed poison tactics are “dirty” or simply effective strategy.

Character interactions

• Zhang Cheng and Ye Tian repeatedly counter each other’s commands, with Zhang Cheng pushing attacks and Ye Tian managing distance and defense.
• Pidgey and Butterfree trade close-range blows, including Thief and Bug Bite, before the battle shifts with Pidgey’s evolution.
• The crowd’s predictions and arguments heighten the tension, but Zhang Cheng stays focused on the unresolved fight.

Chapter summary: “Claiming the championship”

• Key events: In the tournament final, Zhang Cheng’s Pidgeotto unexpectedly uses the Dragon-type move Twister, startling the crowd and giving Zhang the opening to attack. Twister makes Ye Tian’s Butterfree flinch, allowing Pidgeotto to land a super-effective Air Slash. Butterfree rallies, protects itself from Quick Attack, and attempts Bug Bite, but Pidgeotto’s faster Twister knocks it out. The referee declares Zhang the winner and champion. After the remaining matches conclude, the officials hold the awards ceremony and formally close the Intercollegiate League.
• Character development: Zhang is relieved by the hard-fought win and promptly treats Pidgeotto’s poisoning with Pecha Berries. He also notices Ye Tian seems unusually withdrawn. Ye Tian recalls Butterfree and leaves without speaking, later skipping dinner; Zhang suspects the loss is difficult for him because he has never been defeated before. Zhang, meanwhile, takes time to recover after the tournament and reads the online reaction to his victory.
• Character interactions: Zhang praises Pidgeotto and thanks it for its effort, while Ye Tian similarly acknowledges Butterfree before recalling it. Zhang tries to check on Ye Tian, but Ye Tian does not respond, so Zhang gives him space. Later, Zhang exchanges messages with Bai Yuling, who congratulates him and asks when he will return to school; Zhang jokingly asks whether she misses him.
• Themes: The chapter highlights perseverance and resilience through the back-and-forth final, as well as the pressure of competition and the difficulty of accepting defeat. It also emphasizes the bond between Trainers and Pokémon, and the way public recognition—through the ceremony and online comments—follows sporting achievement.

Plot points and events

• After checking unsuccessfully for Ye Tian at the training ground, Zhang Cheng visits the school finance office to claim his Intercollegiate League reward.
• He chooses a Water Stone and learns that, as champion, he will also receive 100,000 Pokémon Coins—enough to buy Technical Machines for his team.
• He receives a League card that lets him claim a Starter Pokémon at the Day Care.
• Bai Yuling joins him on the way. She uses her Gardevoir’s Teleport to take them there almost instantly.
• Zhang Cheng looks for a Mudkip, hoping to build a Rain Team and address his team’s vulnerability to Electric-type Pokémon.
• After rejecting several Mudkip with lower potential, he finds a level-seven male with A-grade potential and the Egg Moves Mirror Coat, Mud Bomb, Counter, and Wide Guard. He asks the staff to register it for him.
• Zhang Cheng plans to pair Wide Guard with Protect and Toxic, using defense and poison to wear down opponents.

Character development and interactions

• Zhang is focused and strategic: he uses his prize money to support his team, selects a Starter to address a specific weakness, and evaluates the available Mudkip before choosing.
• Bai Yuling is playful and friendly, teasing Zhang before accompanying him. She also recognizes his Rain Team plan and shares her preference for Popplio, whose final evolution, Primarina, is on her own team.
• Gardevoir’s Teleport impresses Zhang with its speed and convenience.

Significant themes

• Strategic team-building: Zhang chooses Pokémon and moves to complement his existing team and counter its weaknesses.
• Opportunity and potential: The League reward gives Zhang access to a Starter, and he seeks the strongest suitable candidate rather than settling for the first available option.
• Patience and endurance in battle: Zhang’s proposed Wide Guard–Protect–Toxic approach relies on outlasting opponents rather than dealing damage quickly.

Key plot points and events

• Zhang Cheng chooses to buy a high-potential Mudkip priced at 1.5 million Pokémon Coins, despite a staff member’s skeptical attempts to dissuade him.
• He then buys three Protect Technical Machines, a broadly useful move that Bai Yuling says is common among experienced Trainers.
• At checkout, Zhang Cheng learns that his League-issued Gold Card lets him claim one Starter Pokémon for free. A promotion also makes the Technical Machines free, so he leaves with both at no cost.
• Afterward, Bai Yuling delays returning to school and takes Zhang Cheng shopping. He spends several hours carrying her purchases as she buys more than ten items of clothing.

Character developments

• Zhang Cheng shows confidence and practical judgment: he recognizes Mudkip’s price as reasonable, selects a useful move for his team, and uses his Gold Card effectively.
• Bai Yuling praises his foresight, then reveals a carefree, extravagant side through her shopping habits.
• The first staff member’s dismissive attitude contrasts with the Technical Machine clerk’s helpful service.

Character interactions

• Zhang Cheng pushes back against the first staff member’s condescension and later jokes with Bai Yuling about it.
• Bai Yuling approves of his choice to buy Protect TMs and teases him before recruiting him as her shopping companion.
• Cashiers discuss Zhang Cheng’s Gold Card after he leaves, explaining that it grants him one free Starter Pokémon.

Significant themes

• Privilege and opportunity: Zhang Cheng’s League-issued card gives him access to a valuable Pokémon without cost.
• Practical preparation: His decision to buy Protect reflects forward-thinking Trainer strategy.
• Social contrast: Staff attitudes differ sharply, while Bai Yuling’s costly, impulsive shopping suggests wealth and privilege.

Key plot points and events

• After dining together, Bai Yuling asks Zhang Cheng whether he has ambitions beyond life in Jiangcheng. He says he wants to become a Trainer stronger than a Champion.
• Bai explains that Modu offers better training resources and that powerful families dominate the path to the highest levels. She invites Zhang Cheng to study there and offers to help him.
• Zhang Cheng accepts, though he wonders why she is helping him. Bai reveals that she belongs to the powerful Bai Family of Modu, specialists in Fairy-type Pokémon and rivals of Kyoto’s Long Family.
• Bai gives Zhang Cheng a black card containing two million Pokémon Coins. He is surprised, then accepts it and follows her back to school via Gardevoir’s Teleport.
• Later, Zhang checks on Ye Tian, who says he has recovered from the disappointment of losing his tournament match. Zhang mentions a Pokémon Day Care promotion offering a free Technical Machine with a starter Pokémon; Ye Tian decides to go the next day.

Character developments

• Zhang Cheng openly commits to an ambitious goal and agrees to leave Jiangcheng for better opportunities. His suspicion of Bai’s generosity gives way to accepting her help, though he remains unsure of her motives.
• Bai Yuling reveals her privileged family background and takes a practical role in supporting Zhang’s growth, while privately questioning whether she is doing the right thing.
• Ye Tian has recovered emotionally from his tournament defeat and shows renewed enthusiasm when he hears about the Day Care promotion.

Character interactions

• Bai guides Zhang toward broader opportunities, while Zhang challenges her motives and asks about her family.
• Their banter—including Bai calling him “little brother” and Zhang joking about having a “sugar mommy”—makes their relationship feel playful but somewhat unequal because of her wealth and influence.
• Zhang’s visit to Ye Tian shows their concern for one another; Ye Tian reassures him, and Zhang’s Pokémon Day Care tip lifts his spirits.

Significant themes

• Ambition and opportunity: Zhang’s dream requires him to seek resources beyond his hometown.
• Privilege and inequality: Powerful families control resources that make elite-level training difficult for ordinary people.
• Trust and generosity: Bai offers substantial help without explaining her full motivation, leaving Zhang uncertain but willing to accept.
• Recovery after failure: Ye Tian’s response to defeat emphasizes resilience and renewed enthusiasm.

Key plot points and events

• Zhang Cheng agrees to accompany Ye Tian to the Pokémon Day Care the next morning so Ye Tian can choose a Starter Pokémon.
• Back in his room, Zhang Cheng feeds Mudkip Pokéblocks, welcomes it as his Pokémon, and introduces it to Poliwag, Pidgeotto, and Mareep. The Pokémon quickly get along, and Zhang Cheng gives each one a massage.
• Zhang Cheng asks Bai Yuling for permission to miss the next morning’s classes. She approves after learning he is accompanying Ye Tian.
• The next day, Zhang Cheng and Ye Tian take a taxi to the Day Care. Ye Tian’s preferred choice, Litten, is unavailable, so he considers the other starters.
• Zhang Cheng scans three Treecko and identifies one with the best potential: A-, with useful inherited moves including Dragon Breath and Leaf Storm. Ye Tian chooses it and completes the registration.
• The two then head to the Technical Machine sales area. Ye Tian asks to see options for Butterfree costing less than 100,000.

Character developments and interactions

• Zhang Cheng settles into his role as Mudkip’s Trainer, promising to provide plenty of food and care. His playful thought of using Pokéblocks to keep Mudkip in line highlights his affectionate, practical approach.
• Mudkip is established as food-loving and quickly grows comfortable with Zhang Cheng, especially after being fed and pampered.
• Ye Tian shows disappointment that he cannot get his preferred Litten, but makes a considered alternative choice by selecting the strongest Treecko available.
• Zhang Cheng and Ye Tian cooperate throughout the trip: Zhang Cheng offers advice and uses his scanning ability to help Ye Tian choose, while Ye Tian relies on Zhang Cheng’s familiarity with the Day Care.
• Bai Yuling acts as Zhang Cheng’s mentor and approves his leave after hearing the reason.

Significant themes

• Trainer–Pokémon bonding: Feeding, gentle reassurance, introductions, and massages help establish trust and affection.
• Thoughtful Pokémon selection: Ye Tian’s choice balances his original preference with the Treecko’s demonstrated potential and inherited moves.
• Care and companionship: Zhang Cheng’s concern for his Pokémon and willingness to support Ye Tian emphasize the importance of nurturing relationships alongside becoming stronger.

Plot points and events

• At a Pokémon Day Care, Ye Tian uses his school-issued credit to get Treecko and an Energy Ball Technical Machine for free. He chooses the Grass-type move to broaden Butterfree’s coverage while using the full value of his hundred-thousand-coin promotion.
• Zhang Cheng buys Thunder and Hurricane Technical Machines for 500,000 Pokémon Coins. When Ye Tian questions how he can afford them, Zhang claims he earned money from training jobs and received help from his family, concealing that his mentor gave him the funds.
• The two agree to spar with their newly acquired Starter Pokémon, Treecko and Mudkip, once they return to school. They eat lunch, skip returning to class, and head to the training grounds.
• After helping Treecko and Mudkip practice their moves, Zhang and Ye Tian battle with their main Pokémon, Poliwag and Butterfree.
• Poliwag opens with Bubble Beam, then uses Rain Dance. The rain activates its Swift Swim ability, letting it fire Bubble Beam rapidly. Ye Tian counters with Gust—but secretly combines it with Sleep Powder. Poliwag falls asleep just as its attack hits Butterfree.
• Rather than capitalize immediately, Ye Tian tells Butterfree to hold position and wait, leaving Zhang and even Ye Tian himself anticipating an unexpected turn.

Character developments and interactions

• Ye Tian is practical and strategic: he chooses a useful move that costs exactly the value of his promotion and carefully disguises Sleep Powder within Gust.
• Zhang is increasingly resourceful and financially secure, but keeps the source of his money secret from Ye Tian. The two remain friendly, teasing one another and readily agreeing to train together.
• Their sparring shows growing familiarity with each other’s habits: Zhang expects Ye Tian to stall with Sleep Powder, and Ye Tian anticipates that expectation to deceive him.
• Both trainers guide their Pokémon patiently before battling, showing a focus on practice rather than rushing into an uneven match.

Significant themes

• Strategy and deception: Reading an opponent’s expectations—and exploiting them—can matter as much as raw power.
• Preparation and versatility: Technical Machines expand Pokémon’s abilities and improve their tactical options.
• Trust and friendship: The trainers cooperate and spar together, though Zhang’s hidden explanation about his money adds a small note of secrecy.

Key plot points and events

• Zhang Cheng’s Poliwag remains asleep while Ye Tian’s Butterfree waits out the rain, which weakens Butterfree.
• Once the rain stops, Butterfree attacks with Bug Bite, waking Poliwag. Poliwag counters with Double Slap, but Butterfree has poisoned him with Poison Powder.
• Zhang Cheng tries to set up Mind Reader so Poliwag can land Hypnosis and exploit Endeavor, but Butterfree interrupts with Confusion while poison steadily drains Poliwag’s health.
• Just as Ye Tian doubts Poliwag can recover, Poliwag evolves into Poliwhirl at level 16 and learns Body Slam.
• Poliwhirl’s first Hypnosis misses, but Zhang Cheng uses Mind Reader to make the next one hit. Butterfree falls asleep.
• Poliwhirl summons rain with Rain Dance, gains speed through Swift Swim, and strikes with Bubble Beam. Zhang Cheng then orders Body Slam, but Ye Tian concedes before the attack lands.
• Zhang Cheng tells Poliwhirl to spare Butterfree. The trainers exchange jokes about both of Zhang’s Pokémon evolving during battles, then agree that Zhang will buy dinner.

Character developments

• Zhang Cheng stays calm and looks for a way to turn the fight around despite Poliwag’s poisoning and dwindling health. His confidence returns when Poliwag evolves, and he ends the match without letting Poliwhirl harm Butterfree further.
• Ye Tian uses patience and timely attacks to exploit the weather and disrupt Zhang’s strategy. He is confident until Poliwhirl evolves, then accepts defeat and jokes about Zhang’s improbable luck.
• Poliwag/Poliwhirl endures a difficult opening, then evolves and quickly shows greater strength and versatility, combining Mind Reader, Hypnosis, Rain Dance, and Bubble Beam to secure the win.

Significant themes

• Persistence and sudden transformation: Poliwag’s evolution turns an almost-lost battle into a decisive victory.
• Strategy and timing: The fight hinges on weather, poison, interrupting moves, and the setup needed to land Hypnosis.
• Sportsmanship and friendship: Zhang stops the finishing blow, and the rivals end the match with teasing rather than resentment.

Character interactions

• Zhang and Ye Tian trade tactical commands throughout the battle, each anticipating the other’s plans.
• After the match, Ye Tian complains that Zhang’s Pokémon keep evolving against him; Zhang offers a lighthearted explanation and dinner, which Ye Tian eagerly accepts.

Plot points and events

• Zhang Cheng accepts Zhang Cheng’s promised dinner? No—Zhang Cheng treats Ye Tian to dinner, ordering generously now that he feels financially secure.
• After drinking, Zhang Cheng falls asleep and realizes the next morning that he forgot to feed his Pokémon. He quickly gives them Pokéblocks before class.
• During practical training, he decides not to spar because his classmates’ Pokémon are too weak to challenge his team. Instead, he uses three Protect TMs to teach the move to Poliwhirl, Pidgeotto, and Mareep; Mudkip continues practicing its existing moves.
• The three Pokémon learn Protect quickly by sharing what they discover. By the end of the day, Mudkip has also become proficient with Water Gun and Mud-Slap.
• Zhang Cheng plans to teach Mudkip Protect and Toxic after it masters its Egg Moves, envisioning a strategy built around poisoning, defense, and its Counter and Mirror Coat.
• Reflecting on his goals—including uncovering what happened to his father—Zhang Cheng decides he needs experience beyond school. The next day, he asks Bai Yuling for leave to train outside, arguing that school is not helping his Pokémon progress and that he needs to improve to have a chance at Modu University.

Character developments and interactions

• Zhang Cheng is increasingly ambitious and focused on rapid growth. He accepts help and resources without hesitation, takes pride in Mudkip’s progress, and remains determined to investigate his father’s past. He also shows concern for his Pokémon’s training and care, though his missed feeding reminds him that he can be careless.
• Bai Yuling is reluctant to let Zhang Cheng leave because she fears for his safety. Zhang Cheng suspects she wants him to attend Modu University and uses that goal to support his case for training outside school.
• Ye Tian and Zhang Cheng share dinner and later lunch; their friendship remains casual and supportive.

Significant themes

• Strength through experience and effort: Zhang Cheng believes school alone cannot make his team strong enough, so he seeks training in the wider world.
• Responsibility and growth: He balances caring for his Pokémon with increasingly demanding training.
• Ambition and purpose: His desire to enter Modu University and learn the truth about his father motivates his push to become stronger.
• The value of teamwork and potential: The Pokémon learn Protect quickly by exchanging experience, while the narration emphasizes that high potential speeds up learning.

Plot and events

• Zhang Cheng leaves school for wilderness training, buying Pokéblocks, healing sprays, and Antidotes before traveling to Yellow Sand Town near the Yellow Sand Mountains.
• He chooses the mountains because their higher-level Rock- and Ground-type Pokémon will provide tougher training, while his Water-types have a type advantage.
• After checking into an inn, he visits the Pokémon Center and accepts a Gold Rank mission to catch an Onix for 250,000 Pokémon Coins. He plans to enter the mountains the next day.
• He spends the afternoon gathering a map and information about local Pokémon, then rests and feeds his team.
• In the evening, he visits the Pokémon Market and buys four Technical Machines: Waterfall for Poliwhirl, Roost for Pidgeotto, Thunderbolt for Mareep, and Toxic for Mudkip.

Character development

Zhang Cheng is practical and increasingly strategic as a Trainer. He prepares carefully for wilderness risks, chooses a challenging training ground that suits his team’s strengths, and takes a lucrative mission. He also spends his money with specific goals in mind, matching each Technical Machine to a Pokémon’s current needs.

Character interactions

• The taxi driver warns Zhang Cheng that the mountains are dangerous; Zhang Cheng reassures him that he is a trained student with battle-capable Pokémon.
• At the market, Zhang Cheng deals with a calm, straightforward merchant whose prices are lower than those at the official Pokémon Day Care.
• Zhang Cheng’s interactions with his Pokémon are chiefly practical: he feeds them and invests in moves intended to improve their performance.

Significant themes

• Preparation and self-reliance: Supplies, maps, and local information are essential before entering the wilderness.
• Strategic growth: Zhang Cheng selects challenges and moves that fit his team’s strengths and individual development.
• Risk balanced with opportunity: The dangerous mountains offer valuable training and the chance to earn a substantial reward.
• Resource management: Money is treated as a tool for strengthening the team rather than something to hoard.

Chapter Summary: “Yellow Sand Mountains”

Key plot points and events

• Zhang Cheng spends heavily on Technical Machines, buying Thunderbolt, Waterfall, Roost, and Toxic. With an additional discount, the four cost 410,000 Pokémon Coins, bringing his total TM spending to 950,000.
• He plans his team’s training: Pidgeotto will learn Hurricane and Roost, Mareep will wait to learn Thunder until it evolves, and the team will train in the Yellow Sand Mountains through battles and move practice.
• The next morning, Zhang Cheng enters the mountains equipped for sandstorms. He consults his map and postpones searching for Onix until the following day, using the first day to scout the route.
• Near the mountains’ center, he finds stronger wild Pokémon suitable for training. Mudkip defeats a level 9 Geodude with two Water Guns, exploiting Geodude’s fourfold weakness to Water.
• Mudkip continues battling and reaches level 8, learning Foresight. Meanwhile, Poliwhirl and Pidgeotto practice Waterfall and Hurricane, and Mareep works on Thunderbolt.
• After a lunch break, training resumes. Poliwhirl and Pidgeotto are comfortable with Protect but still need practice with their newer moves.

Character developments

• Zhang Cheng shows increasingly deliberate management of his money, Pokémon, and training schedule, balancing battles with move practice and rest.
• Mudkip gains confidence through its first battles, improves its Water Gun, and grows to level 8.
• Geodude’s defeat highlights Mudkip’s strength against Rock- and Ground-type opponents, and may leave Geodude wary of Water-type attacks.
• Poliwhirl and Pidgeotto make progress with Protect while continuing to develop their new moves; Mareep begins working on Thunderbolt despite the prevalence of Ground types.

Character interactions

• Zhang Cheng directs Mudkip’s fight with Geodude, recognizing its type disadvantage and ordering a second Water Gun to finish the encounter.
• He assigns different training to each Pokémon: Mudkip fights wild opponents, Poliwhirl and Pidgeotto practice moves nearby, and Mareep trains selectively because most local opponents are immune to Electric attacks.
• Zhang Cheng supports the team’s stamina by stopping for lunch and letting them recover before afternoon training.

Significant themes

• Preparation and strategy: Zhang Cheng scouts unfamiliar terrain before pursuing Onix and matches opponents to his Pokémon’s abilities.
• Training and growth: Battles, repeated move practice, and recovery all contribute to the team’s development.
• The cost of ambition: High-quality TMs and Pokémon training require substantial financial investment.
• Type matchups: Mudkip’s victory demonstrates how exploiting a major elemental weakness can outweigh an opponent’s level advantage.

Key plot points and events

• Zhang Cheng completes a safe route through the Yellow Sand Mountains to Onix’s habitat, then returns to town before nightfall.
• He treats himself to dinner, feeds his tired Pokémon Pokéblocks, and prepares to return early the next morning.
• After finding a vast cave, Zhang Cheng enters and is confronted by a level-17 male Onix with C- potential and the Rock Head ability.
• Zhang Cheng orders Poliwhirl to attack with Waterfall. Onix takes damage after ducking behind a rock, then counters with Rock Tomb.
• Poliwhirl blocks Rock Tomb with Protect. Onix charges with Rage, but Zhang Cheng knows attacking during the move would strengthen it, so he waits. Poliwhirl withstands the hit with only minor injury.
• Zhang Cheng then has Poliwhirl use Rain Dance, improving the conditions for its Water-type attacks. The chapter ends as the battle continues.

Character developments

• Zhang Cheng becomes more deliberate as a trainer: he scouts routes in advance, plans his team’s matchups, and adjusts his tactics to Onix’s moves.
• Poliwhirl and Pidgeotto have begun learning their moves, while Zhang Cheng expects the whole team’s strength to rise sharply after their first evolutions.
• Poliwhirl shows growing skill and resilience by using Protect effectively and enduring Onix’s attack.

Significant themes

• Preparation and strategy: Zhang Cheng prioritizes scouting, supplies, and understanding opponents rather than relying on strength alone.
• Growth through training: His Pokémon are steadily learning moves and building toward future evolutions.
• The risks of wilderness exploration: Zhang Cheng avoids staying outdoors after dark and recognizes the dangers of entering a wild Pokémon’s territory.

Character interactions

• Zhang Cheng cares for his Pokémon by rewarding them with food, making sure they rest, and planning their training.
• In battle, he directs Poliwhirl carefully, while Poliwhirl responds to his commands against Onix.
• Onix reacts defensively to Zhang Cheng’s intrusion, treating him and Poliwhirl as threats to its territory.

Key plot points and events

• Zhang Cheng defeats and catches the badly injured Onix by exploiting its weakness to Water-type attacks. In rainy weather, Poliwhirl uses Waterfall to weaken Onix, then Mind Reader and Hypnosis to stop it escaping and put it to sleep.
• Zhang Cheng returns to Yellow Sand Town and turns Onix in at the Mission Center, completing the mission and earning 250,000 Pokémon Coins.
• Instead of going back to the mountains, he spends the afternoon checking his Pokémon’s progress and directing a training session.

Character and team development

• Poliwhirl (level 16) is Zhang Cheng’s main battler. He already knows many moves and will focus on mastering Waterfall and Protect before learning Ice-type attacks to broaden his coverage.
• Pidgeotto (level 16) needs to improve Hurricane and Protect, and practice Roost. Zhang Cheng hopes she will eventually learn Brave Bird.
• Mareep (level 10) has grown stronger through recent battles. She will practice Thunderbolt and Protect, with Zhang Cheng expecting her eventual evolution into Flaaffy to boost her battling potential.
• Mudkip (level 8) is still new to combat. Zhang Cheng wants him to become comfortable with his existing moves before teaching him anything new.
• Zhang Cheng decides to prevent large level gaps across the team: Mudkip and Mareep should gain experience, while Poliwhirl and Pidgeotto focus on move practice.

Character interactions

Zhang Cheng directs Poliwhirl through the capture battle, then rewards the team’s progress with a structured training plan. His careful review of each Pokémon’s strengths and needs shows a measured, attentive approach to raising them.

Significant themes

• Strategy and preparation: Zhang Cheng wins by exploiting Onix’s type weakness and using status moves to secure the capture.
• Balanced growth: He aims to keep his team’s levels even while tailoring training to each Pokémon.
• Patience and individualized care: He prioritizes building confidence and mastery before pushing newer or less experienced Pokémon into harder challenges.

Plot and key events

• Zhang Cheng ends a day of training, feeds his Pokémon Pokéblocks, and takes them to the hotel to rest.
• The next morning, he trains in the Yellow Sand Mountains. Mudkip battles Ground-type Pokémon, while Mareep handles pure Rock types; Mudkip wins several fights and becomes more proficient with its moves.
• Hoping to challenge Mudkip, Zhang ventures toward the area near the Onix habitat, where wild Pokémon are generally around levels 12–15. Mudkip, only level 8, faces a level 13 Geodude because its Rock/Ground typing makes it especially vulnerable to Water attacks.
• Mudkip’s first Water Gun deals heavy damage. Geodude responds with Magnitude, but the weak tremor barely hurts Mudkip. A faster second Water Gun interrupts Geodude’s next attempt and sends it flying. Geodude flees, and Zhang eventually calls off the chase rather than risk the more dangerous depths of the mountains.
• On the way back, Zhang discovers a small cave. Inside, he finds a fossil identified by his system as a Lileep (Root Fossil). After hesitating to touch it himself, he has Poliwhirl pick it up. When nothing goes wrong, he checks the cave and leaves with the fossil.

Character developments and interactions

• Zhang shows pride and affection toward his Pokémon, treating them almost like his children. He is also a cautious Trainer: he seeks tougher training for Mudkip but recognizes the danger of pursuing Geodude or exploring deeper into the mountains.
• Mudkip displays growing skill and discipline, using a quick follow-up Water Gun to disrupt Geodude rather than simply repeating its strongest attack.
• Geodude shifts from confidence to retreat once it realizes Mudkip’s Water attacks are too powerful.
• Poliwhirl readily follows Zhang’s request to retrieve the fossil, while Zhang watches anxiously before confirming it is safe.

Significant themes

• Training through challenge: Zhang pushes Mudkip beyond easy victories while choosing opponents suited to its strengths.
• Care balanced with risk: He wants his Pokémon to improve but avoids unnecessary danger.
• Discovery and adventure: The cave and fossil introduce the possibility of reviving a rare Pokémon, opening a new opportunity for Zhang.

Plot points and events

• Zhang Cheng exits a cave carrying a Pokémon fossil and is confronted by two men who demand it.
• The men identify themselves as members of the R Organization, a criminal group known for trafficking Pokémon and conducting sinister experiments. They threaten Zhang Cheng and attack despite the League’s laws.
• Zhang Cheng checks their Pokémon’s stats and finds them less dangerous than he expected: the black-haired man’s Level 17 Zubat and the blond man’s Level 14 Corphish.
• He sends out Poliwhirl and Pidgeotto, using Rain Dance to support their attacks. Pidgeotto’s Twister is stopped by Zubat’s Wing Attack, but Poliwhirl overwhelms Corphish with Double Slap and Body Slam.
• Zubat uses Quick Attack to interrupt Poliwhirl, allowing Corphish to retreat. Poliwhirl then puts Zubat to sleep with Hypnosis in the rain.
• Zhang Cheng orders Pidgeotto to use Hurricane, setting up the next stage of the battle.

Character developments

• Zhang Cheng shifts from cautious concern to confidence once he assesses the opponents’ strength. He fights strategically, targeting Zubat first and using Rain Dance to strengthen his team’s position.
• Poliwhirl shows confidence and effectiveness in battle, quickly dominating Corphish and then incapacitating Zubat.
• Pidgeotto displays a more aggressive temperament since evolving from Pidgey and eagerly joins the fight, preparing to use Hurricane.
• The two R Organization members appear overconfident and ruthless, but their Pokémon struggle against Zhang Cheng’s team.

Significant themes

• Lawlessness and danger: The R Organization represents a threat that ignores the League’s rules and puts ordinary people at risk.
• Preparation and tactical thinking: Zhang Cheng’s use of Pokémon information, target prioritization, and weather support gives him an advantage.
• Growing strength: Pidgeotto’s evolution and the team’s practiced moves suggest ongoing progress in their abilities.

Character interactions

• The R Organization members threaten Zhang Cheng over the fossil and coordinate their Pokémon’s attacks.
• Zhang Cheng refuses to surrender and directs Poliwhirl and Pidgeotto through the battle.
• Poliwhirl and Corphish clash at close range, while Zubat intervenes to rescue Corphish.
• Zhang Cheng’s team then turns the tables: Poliwhirl disables Zubat, and Pidgeotto prepares to finish the attack with Hurricane.

Key plot points and events

• Pidgeotto’s Hurricane knocks out the black-haired man’s Zubat.
• The two R Organization members send out Sandshrew and Geodude, hoping to overwhelm Zhang Cheng. Poliwhirl badly injures Geodude with Waterfall, but Geodude’s Sturdy ability lets it survive with minimal HP.
• The black-haired man orders Geodude to use Self-Destruct. Geodude refuses, apparently traumatized by having been made to do so repeatedly, and its Trainer recalls it.
• Zhang Cheng’s Pokémon defeat Corphish and Sandshrew as well, leaving both criminals’ Pokémon unable to battle.
• When the men try to flee, Zhang Cheng blocks them and intends to hand them over to the League. Their superior arrives with a level-29 Hypno, shielding them with Barrier and threatening Zhang.
• Recognizing the danger and the poor condition of his team, Zhang Cheng prepares to use his Paired Pendant to summon Bai Yuling. Before he can, the League Security Force arrives and confronts the R Organization.

Character developments

• Zhang Cheng shows confidence and tactical skill in battle, but accurately recognizes when his exhausted team is outmatched by Hypno and prepares to call for help.
• Geodude refuses to use Self-Destruct after enduring the move repeatedly, revealing its fear and reluctance to harm itself.
• The two R Organization members are exposed as incompetent and cruel: they underestimate Zhang, and one tries to force Geodude into a potentially destructive attack.
• Their superior appears domineering, berating the pair while relying on Hypno to control the confrontation.

Character interactions

• Zhang mocks the blond man for being unable to command Geodude; the insult provokes him to order Corphish to attack Zhang.
• Zhang’s Poliwhirl and Pidgeotto work together to defeat the remaining opposing Pokémon.
• The two criminals try to intimidate Zhang by invoking their boss, but their boss soon arrives and takes charge.
• The arrival of the League Security Force interrupts the standoff and gives Zhang unexpected protection.

Significant themes

• Pokémon welfare and agency: Geodude’s refusal highlights the cost of forcing Pokémon to use dangerous moves against their will.
• Underestimating opponents: The criminals’ overconfidence leaves them defeated by Zhang’s coordinated team.
• Limits and responsibility: Zhang knows when the odds are no longer manageable and prepares to seek help rather than recklessly continue fighting.
• Law and protection: The League’s Security Force represents resistance to the R Organization’s attacks on Trainers and Pokémon.