Recaps

Wang Lu’s Emolga was defeated by Zhang Cheng’s Swampert, leaving her with Froslass as her final Pokémon. Swampert attacked Froslass with Rock Slide, and the chapter ended as Froslass’s Protect barrier began to tremble under the barrage.

• Wang Lu ordered Emolga to use Acrobatics, and its attack took a third of Swampert’s HP.
• Zhang Cheng had Swampert strike Emolga with Rock Slide, leaving it with less than a third of its HP.
• Emolga charged with Aerial Ace, but Swampert’s second Rock Slide defeated it.
• Wang Lu sent out her final Pokémon, Froslass, while Zhang Cheng decided not to use Poliwrath because Froslass was immune to Fighting-type moves.
• Swampert launched Rock Slide at Froslass, who used Protect; the barrier began to tremble under the continuing barrage.

Wang Lu’s Froslass poisoned Swampert with Will-O-Wisp and tried to break through its defenses with Hex and Blizzard. Zhang Cheng kept Swampert on the defensive, relying on Toxic to wear Froslass down, while Blizzard finally broke through Protect and struck Swampert with a mass of snow.

• Froslass’s Will-O-Wisp burned Swampert, while Swampert’s Toxic poisoned Froslass.
• Wang Lu ordered Froslass to use Hex, but Zhang Cheng had Swampert block it with Wide Guard.
• As Toxic began draining Froslass’s HP, Wang Lu ordered Blizzard, and Zhang Cheng had Swampert use Protect.
• Blizzard shattered Swampert’s Protect barrier, and a mass of powerful snowflakes fell onto Swampert.

Zhang Cheng defeated Wang Lu after Swampert stalled out Froslass with Toxic, advancing to the top twenty-five. The next day, the tournament introduced a new elimination format, and the contestants began drawing opponents.

• Zhang Cheng had Swampert defend with Wide Guard while Toxic steadily drained Froslass's HP.
• Wang Lu ordered Froslass to attack with Hex, but Swampert's barrier survived and Froslass took more poison damage.
• Wang Lu conceded, and Zhang Cheng won the match to advance to the top twenty-five.
• Zhang Cheng had his Pokémon healed, ate, and rested before returning to the tournament the next day.
• The head referee announced the new format for reducing the field from twenty-five contestants to twenty, then drew the first-round matchups.

Zhang Cheng faced Chen Dian, whose powerful Kingdra opened their match against Poliwrath. After trading heavy blows, Kingdra was left confused, while both Pokémon had lost significant HP.

• Zhang Cheng learned that his opponent Chen Dian had a Pupitar and spent the hours before his afternoon match walking his Pokémon and feeding them.
• Chen Dian taunted Zhang Cheng before the Referee started their match, and Chen sent out Kingdra while Zhang chose Poliwrath.
• Zhang Cheng used the Detection System to assess Kingdra and realized Poliwrath would need to rely on Fighting-type attacks against his Water- and Dragon-type opponent.
• Chen ordered Kingdra to use Twister, and the attack took two-fifths of Poliwrath's HP before Poliwrath broke through it.
• Poliwrath struck Kingdra with Dynamic Punch, sending him to the edge of the battlefield, taking a third of his HP, and leaving him confused.

Zhang Cheng used Poliwrath’s Protect and Mind Reader to endure Kingdra’s Outrage and set up a counterattack. Poliwrath put Kingdra to sleep, weakened it with Endeavor, and defeated it with Submission.

• Chen Dian ordered Kingdra to use Outrage, and Poliwrath blocked the first strike with Protect.
• Zhang Cheng had Poliwrath use Mind Reader before Kingdra’s second Outrage attack left Poliwrath with less than a fifth of its HP.
• Kingdra exhausted its Dragon-type energy, succumbed to confusion, and began attacking itself.
• Poliwrath used Mind Reader-assisted Hypnosis to put Kingdra to sleep, then used Bulk Up and Endeavor to bring Kingdra’s HP down to its own.
• Zhang Cheng ordered Submission, and Poliwrath defeated Kingdra.

After Chen Dian’s Kingdra lost, his Pupitar entered the battle and traded attacks with Zhang Cheng’s badly injured Poliwrath, knocking it out but losing half its HP. Zhang Cheng sent out Swampert to exploit Pupitar’s Water weakness, and the battle continued with Swampert taking a quarter of its HP from Stone Edge before unleashing Muddy Water.

• Chen Dian sent out Pupitar after Kingdra’s defeat, and Zhang Cheng checked Pupitar’s stats.
• Zhang Cheng ordered Poliwrath to use Waterfall while Chen Dian countered with Dark Pulse; both attacks landed, knocking Poliwrath out and taking half of Pupitar’s HP.
• Zhang Cheng recalled Poliwrath and sent out Swampert, whose fierce appearance initially frightened Pupitar.
• Chen Dian ordered Pupitar to use Stone Edge, which damaged Swampert for a quarter of its HP.
• Zhang Cheng ordered Swampert to use Muddy Water, and the stream of muddy water surged toward Pupitar.

Zhang Cheng defeated Chen Dian’s Pupitar and sent Ampharos out against Chen Dian’s final Pokémon, Blastoise. Blastoise’s Skull Bash broke through Ampharos’s Protect, leaving Ampharos with three-quarters of its HP as the battle continued.

• Swampert’s Waterfall defeated Chen Dian’s Pupitar before it could use Thrash, leaving Chen Dian despairing over Zhang Cheng’s advantage.
• Chen Dian sent out his lower-level Blastoise, whose Mystic Water and Torrent ability strengthened its Water-type attacks.
• Zhang Cheng recalled Swampert and sent out Ampharos, whose Electric typing gave it an advantage against Blastoise.
• Chen Dian ordered Blastoise to use Skull Bash, and Zhang Cheng had Ampharos use Protect.
• Blastoise shattered Ampharos’s barrier with Skull Bash, but the weakened attack cost Ampharos only a quarter of its HP.

Zhang Cheng defeated Chen Dian and his Blastoise, advancing to the top twenty. After resting the next day, he went to Modu University's Pokémon Shop to buy items for his Pokémon before the battle for the top ten.

• Zhang Cheng ordered Ampharos to use Thunderbolt, and Blastoise countered with Dragon Pulse.
• Zhang Cheng had Ampharos use Thunder, while Chen Dian ordered Blastoise to attack with Ice Beam.
• Zhang Cheng finished Blastoise with Thunder Shock, and Chen Dian recalled his unconscious Pokémon and left the arena.
• Zhang Cheng registered his victory, advanced to the top twenty, and took his injured Pokémon to the Treatment Room before resting in his dorm.
• Zhang Cheng spent the next day resting, then went to Modu University's Pokémon Shop to buy items for his Pokémon.

Zhang Cheng bought held items for his Pokémon and prepared them for the Freshman Competition. He reached the first elimination match of the top-twenty round, where he and Duan Hong opened with Pidgeot and Staraptor.

• Zhang Cheng bought a Black Belt, Magnet, Sharp Beak, Mystic Water, and Soothe Bell for his five Pokémon.
• Zhang Cheng gave Diancie the Soothe Bell, fed his Pokémon, and told them to rest before the match.
• Zhang Cheng arrived at the venue, drew Duan Hong as his opponent, and learned they would compete in one-on-one elimination matches for a place in the top ten.
• Zhang Cheng and Duan Hong sent out Pidgeot and Staraptor, respectively, surprising spectators who had expected different Pokémon.

Zhang Cheng and Duan Hong’s Pidgeot-versus-Staraptor battle turned on Staraptor’s powerful Hyper Beam, which badly injured Pidgeot but left Staraptor unable to move. Pidgeot seized the opening with Brave Bird, leaving Staraptor with only one-fifth of her HP.

• Zhang Cheng used the Detection System to assess Duan Hong’s Staraptor and noted her Reckless ability, Mirror Move, and Endeavor, but found that she had not learned Brave Bird.
• Duan Hong ordered Staraptor to use Take Down, and Zhang Cheng countered with Pidgeot’s Brave Bird; both Pokémon took damage, though Pidgeot gained a slight advantage.
• Duan Hong commanded Staraptor to fire Hyper Beam, and Pidgeot’s Protect barrier broke, leaving Pidgeot with about one-sixth of its HP.
• While Staraptor recovered from Hyper Beam, Zhang Cheng ordered another Brave Bird, which struck Staraptor and reduced her HP to one-fifth.

Zhang Cheng's Pidgeot defeated Duan Hong's Staraptor but fell to Blaziken's Flamethrower, leaving Poliwrath to face Blaziken. Poliwrath gained the upper hand with Waterfall, and Zhang Cheng had it summon rain to strengthen its attacks.

• Pidgeot struck Staraptor with Hurricane before its Protect barrier formed, knocking it out.
• Duan Hong sent out Blaziken, and Zhang Cheng used his Detection System to learn that it had Speed Boost and a Black Belt.
• Pidgeot's Air Slash failed to break Blaziken's Protect, and Blaziken's Flamethrower knocked Pidgeot out.
• Zhang Cheng sent out Poliwrath, which traded Double Kick and Waterfall with Blaziken, dealing heavier damage thanks to its type advantage.
• Zhang Cheng ordered Poliwrath to use Rain Dance.

Zhang Cheng’s Poliwrath used Rain Dance and Swift Swim to overwhelm Duan Hong’s Blaziken with Waterfall, leaving Duan Hong to send out Espeon. Espeon began setting up Future Sight, and the chapter ended with Zhang Cheng questioning whether she could survive until it struck.

• Poliwrath summoned rain, and Duan Hong ordered Blaziken to attack with Brick Break and Double Kick.
• Zhang Cheng revealed that Poliwrath had Swift Swim and ordered it to use Waterfall before Blaziken could attack.
• Poliwrath’s rain-boosted Waterfall knocked Blaziken out, and Duan Hong recalled it.
• Duan Hong sent out his level 42 Espeon and ordered her to use Future Sight.
• Espeon launched Future Sight at Poliwrath, while Zhang Cheng questioned whether she could withstand Poliwrath’s attacks until the move took effect.

Zhang Cheng’s Poliwrath and Duan Hong’s Espeon traded attacks until Psychic and Future Sight defeated Poliwrath, though Espeon was left badly weakened. Zhang Cheng sent out Swampert, while Duan Hong healed Espeon with Morning Sun; Swampert then charged in with Waterfall.

• Zhang Cheng’s Poliwrath struck Espeon with Scald, burning it, then attacked with Waterfall as Espeon used Protect.
• Duan Hong ordered Espeon to use Psychic, and Zhang Cheng answered with Poliwrath’s Water Pulse; both attacks hit before Future Sight also struck Poliwrath.
• Poliwrath succumbed to Espeon’s Psychic and Future Sight, while burn damage left Espeon with less than a third of its HP.
• Zhang Cheng sent out Swampert, and Duan Hong used Espeon’s Morning Sun to restore its HP to half.
• Zhang Cheng ordered Swampert to use Waterfall, and Swampert charged toward Espeon.

Zhang Cheng defeated Duan Hong to secure a place in the top ten, then prepared for the next round of the competition. His match against Li Han began with Poliwrath facing her Azumarill, which had a strong type advantage.

• Swampert knocked out Duan Hong's Espeon with Waterfall, deciding their battle for a place in the top ten.
• Duan Hong conceded defeat and exchanged respectful words with Zhang Cheng before Zhang Cheng registered his win.
• Zhang Cheng's Pokémon recovered at the Treatment Room, and he spent the rest of the day resting before returning to the arena the next morning.
• The Referees drew the matchups for the round of ten, pairing Zhang Cheng against Li Han.
• Zhang Cheng sent out Poliwrath while Li Han chose Azumarill, and Zhang Cheng checked Azumarill's stats with the Detection System.

Li Han’s Azumarill battled Zhang Cheng’s Poliwrath, whose repeated Bulk Ups set up a sudden counterattack. Poliwrath’s Dynamic Punch broke through Azumarill’s Protect and sent it crashing to the edge of the battlefield.

• Li Han ordered Azumarill to use Play Rough, and the super-effective attack took two-fifths of Poliwrath’s HP despite its first Bulk Up.
• Zhang Cheng had Poliwrath use Bulk Up twice more while Azumarill’s next Play Rough attacks reduced Poliwrath to one-fifth HP.
• Zhang Cheng ordered Poliwrath to use Endeavor, dropping Azumarill from full HP to one-fifth.
• Li Han told Azumarill to use Protect against Poliwrath’s Dynamic Punch, but the attack shattered the barrier and slammed Azumarill into the edge of the battlefield.

Li Han’s Azumarill fell to confusion after Poliwrath’s Dynamic Punch, but her Medicham defeated Poliwrath with Brick Break. Zhang Cheng sent out Pidgeot, and the battle continued as Medicham raised Reflect against Pidgeot’s Hurricane.

• Azumarill’s confusion made it strike itself with Fairy-type Energy, knocking it out before its Play Rough could land.
• Li Han sent out Medicham, and Zhang Cheng scanned its stats, discovering its Pure Power ability and Psychic-boosting Twisted Spoon.
• Poliwrath tried to use Endeavor on Medicham, but Medicham dodged with Detect and defeated Poliwrath with Brick Break.
• Zhang Cheng sent out Pidgeot, and Li Han had Medicham use Reflect to reduce incoming physical damage.
• Zhang Cheng ordered Pidgeot to attack Medicham with Hurricane.

Zhang Cheng’s Pidgeot gained the upper hand against Li Han’s Medicham, forcing Li Han to switch in Delphox. Pidgeot’s Brave Bird collided with Delphox’s Flamethrower, leaving Pidgeot with only one-quarter of its HP.

• Pidgeot hit Medicham with Hurricane, and the two Pokémon traded attacks that left Medicham with one-third of its HP and Pidgeot with two-thirds.
• Pidgeot launched another Hurricane, but Medicham used Detect to evade it.
• Li Han recalled Medicham and sent out her Delphox, whose hidden ability Magician could steal an opponent’s held item when she hit it with a move.
• Zhang Cheng ordered Pidgeot to use Brave Bird, while Li Han had Delphox counter with Flamethrower.
• Pidgeot charged through Delphox’s flames, which reduced its HP to one-quarter.

Zhang Cheng and Li Han traded attacks as Pidgeot and Delphox weakened each other, leaving Zhang Cheng’s Swampert to face Li Han’s injured Delphox. Swampert blocked Delphox’s Hypnosis and began a ranged attack, leaving the battle unresolved.

• Pidgeot and Delphox exchanged Brave Bird and Heat Wave, knocking each other out of the battle.
• Zhang Cheng sent out his healthy Swampert against Li Han’s weakened Delphox and ordered Waterfall.
• Delphox blocked Waterfall with Protect, then used Hypnosis at close range.
• Swampert blocked the Hypnosis Waves with Protect and avoided the status attack.
• Zhang Cheng ordered Swampert to create distance and attack with Water Pulse.

Zhang Cheng defeated Li Han in a close battle after Swampert and Medicham knocked each other back, leaving Swampert as the last Pokémon able to fight. He reviewed the risks of the match, had his Pokémon treated, and returned to the dormitory.

• Swampert defeated Li Han's Delphox with Mud Shot, and Li Han sent out Medicham as her final Pokémon.
• Swampert and Medicham collided with Waterfall and High Jump Kick; Medicham fainted while Swampert survived with less than one-sixth of its HP.
• Zhang Cheng won the match, recalled Swampert, and registered the result with the referee.
• Zhang Cheng considered how a tie could have forced both competitors to send out a fourth Pokémon, creating uncertainty about Li Han's remaining team.
• Zhang Cheng ate lunch, left his injured Pokémon at the Pokémon Treatment Room, and returned to the dormitory after they recovered.

Zhang Cheng began the five-Trainer round-robin tournament and faced Ke Jing's Electrode with Poliwrath. After Electrode paralyzed Poliwrath, Zhang Cheng chose to stay in and attack with Mud Bomb, leaving the match unresolved.

• Referee announced the round-robin rules and posted the schedule, assigning Zhang Cheng to battle Ke Jing first.
• Zhang Cheng sent out Poliwrath, while Ke Jing chose Electrode instead of his Serperior to gain a type advantage against Zhang Cheng's usual Pokémon.
• Poliwrath hit Electrode with Dynamic Punch, damaging him and leaving him confused, but Electrode blocked Submission with Protect.
• Electrode paralyzed Poliwrath with Thunder Wave, and Zhang Cheng decided against switching Pokémon because of the threat of Ke Jing's Serperior.
• Zhang Cheng ordered Poliwrath to use Mud Bomb, the Ground-type move Electrode was weak against.

Zhang Cheng’s Poliwrath knocked out Ke Jing’s Electrode after Electrode became confused and struck itself. Ke Jing sent out Mismagius, whose Mean Look trapped the weakened Poliwrath, and the battle continued as Mismagius used Phantom Force against its Water Pulse.

• Electrode’s Thunderbolt weakened Poliwrath, but Poliwrath used Protect and then Dynamic Punch after confusion made Electrode hurt itself.
• Poliwrath’s Dynamic Punch knocked out Electrode before Ke Jing could use Self-Destruct.
• Ke Jing chose Mismagius instead of Serperior, while Zhang Cheng checked Mismagius’s stats and recognized the challenge it posed.
• Mismagius used Mean Look to prevent Poliwrath from returning to its Poké Ball.
• Poliwrath attacked with Water Pulse, and Ke Jing ordered Mismagius to use Phantom Force.

Zhang Cheng battled Ke Jing’s Mismagius, losing Poliwrath before Ampharos gained the upper hand with powerful Electric-type attacks. The fight continued with both Pokémon badly weakened as Ampharos prepared another Thunder.

• Mismagius used Phantom Force to bypass Poliwrath’s Protect and knock Poliwrath out, so Zhang Cheng recalled it.
• Zhang Cheng sent out Ampharos, which blocked Mismagius’s Confuse Ray with Protect and answered with Thunder.
• Mismagius’s Shadow Ball hit Ampharos as Thunder struck Mismagius, leaving Mismagius with half its HP and Ampharos with about two-thirds.
• Mismagius vanished with Phantom Force, then reappeared behind Ampharos and struck as Ampharos landed Thunderbolt, leaving both Pokémon badly weakened.
• Zhang Cheng ordered Ampharos to use Thunder again, and Ampharos gathered Electric-type energy into a Thunder Dragon.

Ke Jing’s Mismagius used Destiny Bond to take Zhang Cheng’s Ampharos down with it, leaving both trainers to send out their final Pokémon. Zhang Cheng’s Pidgeot gained the advantage over Ke Jing’s Serperior, and the chapter ended after Pidgeot broke through Serperior’s Protect with Brave Bird and injured him.

• Ke Jing ordered Mismagius to use Destiny Bond, and Ampharos’s Thunder knocked Mismagius out before Destiny Bond caused Ampharos to faint as well.
• Ke Jing sent out Serperior while Zhang Cheng sent out Pidgeot, and Zhang Cheng inspected Serperior’s abilities and moves.
• Ke Jing ordered Serperior to use Glare, but Pidgeot blocked it with Protect.
• Zhang Cheng ordered Pidgeot to attack with Brave Bird, and Serperior used Protect to defend.
• Pidgeot’s Brave Bird shattered Serperior’s barrier and struck him, inflicting considerable injuries.

Zhang Cheng’s Pidgeot defeated Ke Jing’s Serperior in their first tournament match. After registering the result, Zhang Cheng had his injured Pokémon treated and waited for them to recover before his second match.

• Ke Jing ordered Serperior to attack Pidgeot with Dragon Tail, while Zhang Cheng answered with Hurricane, leaving Serperior badly weakened and damaging Pidgeot.
• Ke Jing used Serperior’s Overgrow boost to launch Leaf Blade, and Zhang Cheng protected Pidgeot; the critical hit still cost Pidgeot a third of its HP.
• Zhang Cheng ordered Pidgeot to use Brave Bird, and Serperior could not raise Protect in time, so the attack knocked it out.
• Ke Jing recalled Serperior, and Zhang Cheng praised Pidgeot before recalling it to rest.
• Zhang Cheng registered the result, took his injured Pokémon to the Pokémon Treatment Room, ate lunch, and returned to wait for their recovery before his 5 p.m. match.

Zhang Cheng faced Bai Lu, a Fairy-type specialist from the Bai Family, in the second round of the competition. Poliwrath gained the advantage over Bai Lu’s Wigglytuff with Rain Dance and Waterfall, and Bai Lu recalled Wigglytuff.

• Zhang Cheng learned that Bai Lu was his second-round opponent and met her at the battlefield.
• Zhang Cheng sent out Poliwrath while Bai Lu sent out Wigglytuff.
• Poliwrath blocked Wigglytuff’s Sing with Protect, then used Rain Dance to activate Swift Swim.
• Bai Lu’s Toxic and Sweet Kiss missed as Poliwrath dodged at high speed.
• Poliwrath struck Wigglytuff with a rain-boosted Waterfall, and Bai Lu recalled her.