Recaps

Chu Qing's Meganium and Zhang Cheng's Poliwrath knocked each other out, and Zhang Cheng sent out Kingdra against Chu Qing's badly injured Furret. Furret used Trick to take Kingdra's Dragon Fang before Kingdra defeated it, leaving Chu Qing pleased with the item swap.

• Meganium recovered with Synthesis, but its Leaf Storm and Poliwrath's Ice Beam knocked out both Pokémon.
• Zhang Cheng and Chu Qing simultaneously sent out Kingdra and the badly injured Furret.
• Zhang Cheng ordered Kingdra to attack Furret with Dragon Pulse, while Chu Qing had Furret use Trick.
• Furret swapped its Relaxed Incense for Kingdra's Dragon Fang before Dragon Pulse knocked it out.

Chu Qing sent Weavile to battle Zhang Cheng’s Kingdra, and the two Pokémon exchanged attacks as Kingdra used Rain Dance to gain a speed advantage. The fight remained unresolved as Weavile boosted his attack with Swords Dance and prepared to counter Kingdra’s Hydro Pump with Throat Chop.

• Chu Qing sent out Weavile, and Zhang Cheng used the Detection System to check its stats and moves.
• Zhang Cheng had Kingdra use Rain Dance, activating Swift Swim and making it faster than Weavile.
• Weavile hit Kingdra with Ice Punch, but Kingdra retaliated with a rain-boosted Surf that overwhelmed Weavile’s Night Slash.
• Weavile and Kingdra clashed with Dark Pulse and Water Pulse, and neither attack gained an advantage.
• Chu Qing ordered Weavile to use Swords Dance, and Zhang Cheng responded with Hydro Pump.
• Chu Qing commanded Weavile to meet Hydro Pump with Throat Chop.

Zhang Cheng’s Kingdra defeated Chu Qing’s Weavile after Scald burned it and weakened its physical attacks. Chu Qing sent out Haxorus, leaving Zhang Cheng to face his strongest opponent yet as he fought for a place in the national top twenty.

• Weavile broke through Kingdra’s Hydro Pump and slashed it, but Kingdra burned Weavile with Scald.
• Zhang Cheng ordered Kingdra to use Surf, which overwhelmed Weavile despite Chu Qing’s order to attack with Ice Punch.
• Kingdra finished Weavile with Bubble Beam, and Chu Qing recalled it.
• Chu Qing sent out Haxorus, and Zhang Cheng used the Detection System to inspect its powerful stats and moves.

Chu Qing’s Haxorus battled Zhang Cheng’s Kingdra and Diancie, dealing damage to Kingdra before Diancie’s defenses and Fairy-type attacks overwhelmed it. The chapter ended with Haxorus trying to withstand Diancie’s Moonblast behind Protect.

• Chu Qing boosted Haxorus’s Attack with Swords Dance, but Zhang Cheng’s Kingdra erased the boost with Clear Smog.
• Haxorus struck Kingdra with Dragon Claw after Kingdra’s Outrage wounded it, knocking Kingdra out.
• Zhang Cheng sent out Diancie, whose Fairy-type shield stopped Haxorus’s Dragon Claw.
• Chu Qing ordered Haxorus to use Guillotine, but Diancie’s special power sent it flying before the move could connect.
• Diancie attacked with Moonblast, and Haxorus formed a Protect barrier to defend itself.

Zhang Cheng defeated Chu Qing after Diancie quickly knocked out Haxorus, then saw the final twenty contestants and encountered Su Qian, who warned him not to face him in the next round. Zhang Cheng dismissed Su Qian’s threat and later recalled their earlier battle, confident he could beat him again.

• Diancie struck Haxorus with Moonblast and Dazzling Gleam, knocking it out, and Chu Qing conceded the match to Zhang Cheng.
• Zhang Cheng watched the Top Forty round conclude and saw that Ye Tian and Liao Wu had advanced to the top twenty.
• Zhang Cheng noticed that nearly every contestant in the top twenty had a pseudo-Legendary Pokémon.
• Su Qian confronted Zhang Cheng and threatened him ahead of the next round, but Zhang Cheng mocked him and walked away.
• At the hotel, Zhang Cheng remembered facing Su Qian in a high-school two-on-two battle and remained confident he could defeat him.

Zhang Cheng faced Su Qian in the National Tournament’s round of twenty, and both Trainers entered the match determined to defeat the other. Su Qian’s Leafeon put Zhang Cheng’s Pidgeot to sleep and began boosting its attack, leaving the battle unresolved.

• The draw paired Zhang Cheng with Su Qian, who vowed to beat him, while Chu Qing warned Su Qian not to underestimate his opponent.
• Zhang Cheng and Su Qian exchanged taunts before the referee started their match.
• Zhang Cheng chose Pidgeot to counter Su Qian’s Leafeon, and his Detection System revealed Leafeon’s stats and moves.
• Pidgeot hit Leafeon with Hurricane, but Leafeon’s Grass Whistle put Pidgeot to sleep.
• Su Qian ordered Leafeon to use Swords Dance twice, boosting its physical attack while Pidgeot remained asleep.

Zhang Cheng's Pidgeot defeated Su Qian's Leafeon after overcoming its boosted attacks and preventing it from recovering with Synthesis. Pidgeot took heavy damage from Leafeon's final Hyper Beam but remained able to fight.

• Zhang Cheng sent Pidgeot's Brave Bird against Leafeon's Leaf Blade, and Pidgeot knocked Leafeon to the edge of the battlefield.
• Su Qian tried Grass Whistle again, but Pidgeot blocked the sound with Protect and countered with Air Slash.
• Leafeon used Protect and attempted Synthesis, but Pidgeot shattered the barrier and interrupted the recovery with Air Slash.
• Su Qian ordered Leafeon to use Hyper Beam at close range, badly injuring Pidgeot.
• Zhang Cheng had Pidgeot finish Leafeon with Air Slash, and Leafeon fainted.

Su Qian sent out Gengar, who quickly knocked out Zhang Cheng’s weakened Pidgeot. Zhang Cheng brought in Poliwrath and used Rain Dance to boost its speed, and the chapter ended with its Hydro Pump overpowering Gengar’s Shadow Balls.

• Su Qian sent out his level 69 Gengar, and Zhang Cheng recognized the speedy Pokémon from their previous battle.
• Gengar struck Pidgeot with Dark Pulse, but Pidgeot blocked it with Protect and began gathering a Hurricane.
• Su Qian ordered Gengar to use Thunderbolt before Hurricane formed, knocking Pidgeot out.
• Zhang Cheng sent out Poliwrath and used Rain Dance to activate its Swift Swim speed boost.
• Gengar tried to burn Poliwrath with Will-O-Wisp, but Poliwrath dodged and fired Hydro Pump.
• Poliwrath’s rain-powered Hydro Pump shattered Gengar’s Shadow Balls in their midair clash.

Zhang Cheng’s Poliwrath overwhelmed Su Qian’s Gengar, but Gengar used Destiny Bond and Explosion to take Poliwrath down with it. Both Trainers had lost two Pokémon, and Zhang Cheng wondered whether Su Qian would send out Charizard next.

• Zhang Cheng ordered Poliwrath to chase down Gengar with Waterfall, badly injuring it despite Gengar’s attempts to dodge.
• Su Qian had Gengar use Protect to withstand another Waterfall, then Zhang Cheng ordered Poliwrath to attack with Brine.
• Su Qian activated Gengar’s Destiny Bond, but Zhang Cheng had Poliwrath disperse the Brine before Gengar could rush into it.
• Su Qian ordered Gengar to use Explosion, knocking Gengar out and triggering Destiny Bond to defeat Poliwrath as well.
• Zhang Cheng and Su Qian each lost two Pokémon, leaving a four-on-four battle as Zhang Cheng considered whether Su Qian would send out Charizard.

Zhang Cheng’s Swampert battled Su Qian’s Lapras, whose Water Absorb ability and Ice-type attacks made her a difficult opponent. Lapras healed from Swampert’s Waterfall and countered with Blizzard, leaving the battle unresolved.

• Zhang Cheng sent out Swampert, while Su Qian chose Lapras instead of his ace, Charizard.
• Lapras opened with Sheer Cold, but Swampert blocked it with Wide Guard.
• Swampert attacked with Mud Bomb, and its power broke through Lapras’s Ice Beam and struck her lightly.
• Zhang Cheng ordered Swampert to use Waterfall, but Lapras absorbed the Water-type attack and recovered some of her injuries.
• Lapras unleashed Blizzard, battering Swampert with icy winds and snow.

Zhang Cheng poisoned Su Qian’s Lapras and forced Su Qian to switch in Garchomp, his powerful counter to Diancie. Garchomp badly weakened Swampert, blocked its second Toxic attempt, and faced Swampert’s Ice Beam as Su Qian ordered Dragon Claw to break it.

• Zhang Cheng used Toxic to poison Lapras, then ordered Swampert to attack from range as the poison steadily drained Lapras’s HP.
• Su Qian recalled Lapras and sent out his level 68 Garchomp, equipped with Soft Sand to strengthen Ground-type moves against Diancie.
• Su Qian ordered Garchomp to use Dragon Rush, and the attack shattered Swampert’s Protect barrier and left Swampert with dangerously low HP.
• Zhang Cheng tried to poison Garchomp with Toxic, but Garchomp blocked the venom with Protect.
• Zhang Cheng ordered Swampert to fire Ice Beam at Garchomp, and Su Qian commanded Garchomp to break it with Dragon Claw.

Su Qian Mega Evolved Garchomp and used its boosted Earthquake to defeat Zhang Cheng’s Swampert. Zhang Cheng sent out Diancie to face Mega Garchomp, while keeping Diancie’s own Mega Evolution secret.

• Swampert froze Garchomp with Ice Beam, but Su Qian activated an Evolution Crystal and Mega Evolved it.
• Mega Garchomp broke free of the ice and struck Swampert with Earthquake, breaking through Wide Guard and knocking Swampert unconscious.
• Zhang Cheng recalled Swampert as Trainers discussed Mega Garchomp’s power, while Ye Tian said Diancie would still defeat it.
• Su Qian challenged Zhang Cheng to send out Diancie, and Zhang Cheng accepted.
• Zhang Cheng sent out Diancie without Mega Evolving, choosing to keep its Mega Evolution stone and power hidden.

Zhang Cheng and Su Qian battled as Diancie and Mega Garchomp traded powerful attacks, with Mega Garchomp gaining the advantage through Sand Tomb, Sandstorm, and Earth Power. Diancie then used Floral Healing to recover completely, leaving Su Qian and the watching Trainers stunned.

• Zhang Cheng had Diancie use Moonblast while Su Qian ordered Mega Garchomp to trap it with Sand Tomb.
• Su Qian had Mega Garchomp summon Sandstorm, activating Sand Force and boosting its Rock-, Ground-, and Steel-type moves.
• Diancie struck Mega Garchomp with Dazzling Gleam, and Mega Garchomp retaliated with Earth Power alongside the continuing Sand Tomb, severely injuring Diancie.
• Zhang Cheng used Floral Healing to restore Diancie to full health, shocking Su Qian and the spectators.

Zhang Cheng’s Diancie defeated Su Qian’s Mega Garchomp with Light of Ruin and Diamond Storm, while Floral Healing restored Diancie’s injuries. Su Qian refused to surrender and sent out Charizard, prompting Zhang Cheng to recall Diancie and choose Ampharos for the next battle.

• Su Qian ordered Mega Garchomp to use Drill Run, but Zhang Cheng countered with Diancie’s Light of Ruin, which badly wounded Mega Garchomp and also injured Diancie.
• Zhang Cheng had Diancie use Floral Healing to recover, then ordered Diamond Storm to end Mega Garchomp’s battle.
• Su Qian recalled his defeated Garchomp after it lost consciousness and its Mega Evolution ended.
• Su Qian refused to surrender and sent out Charizard, his Starter Pokémon.
• Zhang Cheng checked Charizard’s data, recalled Diancie, and sent out Ampharos to give it battle experience.

Zhang Cheng mega evolved Ampharos and used its powerful Zap Cannon to overwhelm Su Qian’s Charizard. After Ampharos finished Charizard with Thunder, Su Qian surrendered, and Zhang Cheng advanced to the top ten.

• Su Qian ordered Charizard to attack Ampharos with Flamethrower, and Charizard’s fire overpowered Ampharos’s Thunderbolt.
• Zhang Cheng mega evolved Ampharos after it took the reduced force of Flamethrower.
• Su Qian sent Charizard’s Inferno against Mega Ampharos, but Zhang Cheng countered with Zap Cannon.
• Zap Cannon struck Charizard, leaving it badly injured and barely able to stand.
• Zhang Cheng had Mega Ampharos use Thunder to defeat Charizard, and Su Qian recalled it and conceded.
• The referee declared Zhang Cheng the winner and announced that he had advanced to the top ten.

The top ten advancement round began, and Zhang Cheng drew Lu Luan while Liao Wu faced Ye Tian. As Liao Wu’s battle with Ye Tian unfolded, Ye Tian sent out a previously unseen Pokémon, leaving Zhang Cheng curious about the rest of his team.

• The top ten draw paired Zhang Cheng with Lu Luan and Liao Wu with Ye Tian.
• Zhang Cheng watched Liao Wu open against Ye Tian with Dragonite while Ye Tian chose Butterfree.
• Liao Wu used Safeguard to protect Dragonite from Butterfree’s status moves, forcing Ye Tian to recall Butterfree.
• Ye Tian sent out Rampardos, a Rock-type Pokémon Zhang Cheng had not known he owned.

Ye Tian used Rampardos to wear down Liao Wu’s Dragonite, then sent out Spiritomb to curse and burn it. The chapter ended with Spiritomb using Memento to weaken Dragonite further, while Dragonite was still fighting under the effects of Curse and burn.

• Ye Tian’s Rampardos used Head Smash against Dragonite, and both Pokémon were badly injured by the collision and recoil.
• Ye Tian ordered Rampardos to use a second Head Smash, and Liao Wu had Dragonite counter with Dragon Rush, knocking Rampardos out while leaving Dragonite at dangerously low HP.
• Liao Wu used Roost while Ye Tian switched Pokémon, allowing Dragonite to recover to over half its HP.
• Ye Tian sent out Spiritomb, which used Curse and then burned Dragonite with Will-O-Wisp after surviving Dragon Tail.
• Liao Wu had Dragonite use Roost again, and Ye Tian’s Spiritomb used Memento, knocking itself out as it sharply lowered Dragonite’s Physical Attack and Special Attack.

Ye Tian sent Lucario against Liao Wu's weakened Dragonite, forcing Liao Wu to switch to Houndoom. After the two Pokémon traded powerful attacks, Liao Wu burned Lucario, but Ye Tian answered by triggering Lucario's Mega Evolution.

• Ye Tian recalled his fainted Spiritomb and sent out Lucario, whose presence disrupted Liao Wu's strategy against Hydreigon.
• Liao Wu recalled his badly weakened Dragonite and sent Houndoom to face Lucario.
• Lucario and Houndoom traded Aura Sphere and Flamethrower, injuring each other.
• Ye Tian used Heal Pulse to restore Lucario, but Liao Wu had Houndoom inflict Burn, lowering Lucario's Physical Attack.
• Ye Tian used an Evolution Crystal to Mega Evolve Lucario, greatly increasing his Physical Attack, Special Attack, and Speed.

Ye Tian defeated Liao Wu in the tournament match after Mega Lucario overcame Mega Houndoom and several other Pokémon. The referee announced that Ye Tian advanced, while Lu Luan and Zhang Cheng turned their attention to their upcoming battle.

• Houndoom recovered with Rest, but Mega Lucario broke through its hastily raised Protect and damaged it with Focus Blast.
• Liao Wu Mega Evolved Houndoom, and Mega Houndoom and Mega Lucario exchanged attacks until both had lost much of their HP.
• Mega Houndoom used Overheat to damage Mega Lucario, but the move sharply lowered its Special Attack, allowing Mega Lucario to recover with Heal Pulse and defeat it.
• Mega Lucario defeated several of Liao Wu's Pokémon, and Ye Tian sent out Hydreigon to eliminate the rest of Liao Wu's team.
• The referee announced Ye Tian of Kyoto University had advanced, and Lu Luan told Zhang Cheng he looked forward to battling him.

Zhang Cheng and Lu Luan began their tournament match with Poliwrath facing Lu Luan’s powerful Greninja. Zhang Cheng inflicted confusion on Greninja and capitalized on it, leaving Greninja injured as the battle continued.

• Zhang Cheng and Lu Luan sent out Poliwrath and Greninja to begin their match.
• Zhang Cheng used the Detection System to learn that Lu Luan’s Greninja had high potential, the Protean Ability, and a Scope Lens.
• Poliwrath clashed with Greninja’s Aerial Ace, then Dynamic Punch left Greninja confused despite causing little damage.
• Greninja’s confusion prevented him from using Water Shuriken, allowing Poliwrath’s Waterfall to injure him.
• Zhang Cheng ordered Poliwrath to use Hypnosis, while Lu Luan urged Greninja to recover and use Protect.

Zhang Cheng's Poliwrath defeated Lu Luan's Greninja after a close exchange of attacks. Lu Luan sent out Flygon as his second Pokémon, and Zhang Cheng examined its data.

• Greninja used Water Shuriken and injured Poliwrath, but Poliwrath's Hydro Pump left Greninja in a dangerous state.
• Greninja changed to Psychic type and attacked with Extrasensory, but Poliwrath blocked it with Protect and struck back with Feint Attack.
• Greninja used Shadow Sneak to badly damage Poliwrath, but Zhang Cheng helped Poliwrath locate Greninja and hit it with Water Pulse.
• Zhang Cheng ordered Poliwrath to finish Greninja with Bubble Beam, and Lu Luan recalled the defeated Pokémon.
• Lu Luan sent out his second Pokémon, Flygon, and Zhang Cheng used the Detection System to inspect it.

Lu Luan’s Flygon defeated Zhang Cheng’s badly injured Poliwrath by using ranged attacks to avoid Endeavor. Zhang Cheng sent out his rare Togekiss to exploit Flygon’s Dragon-type weaknesses, and Lu Luan responded by summoning a sandstorm.

• Lu Luan ordered Flygon to use Dragon Breath, while Zhang Cheng had Poliwrath attempt Endeavor against it.
• Flygon used Mud Shot to knock out Poliwrath before it could reach Flygon, and Zhang Cheng recalled it.
• Zhang Cheng sent out Togekiss, a level 67 Fairy- and Flying-type Pokémon with Super Luck and a Scope Lens.
• Lu Luan adapted to Togekiss’s type advantage and ordered Flygon to use Sandstorm.

Zhang Cheng’s Togekiss battled Lu Luan’s Flygon and Gigalith, critically wounding Flygon before Lu Luan switched to a Rock-type Pokémon with a strong advantage. The chapter ended with Togekiss dodging the remnants of Gigalith’s Stone Edge after Protect shattered.

• Zhang Cheng ordered Togekiss to attack Flygon with Fairy Wind and Dazzling Gleam while Flygon’s Sandstorm and Earth Power injured Togekiss.
• Togekiss’s critical Dazzling Gleam dealt severe damage to Flygon, and Lu Luan recalled it.
• Lu Luan sent out Gigalith, while Zhang Cheng considered his opponent’s possible sandstorm team and examined Gigalith’s abilities and moves.
• Lu Luan ordered Gigalith to use Stone Edge, and Zhang Cheng had Togekiss use Protect against the boosted Rock-type attack.
• Gigalith’s Stone Edge shattered Togekiss’s Protect barrier, and Togekiss used its speed to dodge the remaining stones.

Zhang Cheng sent Kingdra against Lu Luan’s Gigalith, but Lu Luan kept the sandstorm active and made Kingdra fight through its damaging effects. Kingdra eventually overwhelmed Gigalith with Surf and Brine, interrupting its attempted Explosion and leaving it unable to battle.

• Zhang Cheng recalled Togekiss and sent out Kingdra, which tried to replace the sandstorm with Rain Dance, but Lu Luan had Gigalith summon another Sandstorm.
• Kingdra attacked with Hydro Pump, overcoming Gigalith’s Rock Slide and driving its HP below half, then used Brine, which Gigalith stopped with Protect.
• Gigalith attacked Kingdra with Stone Edge, but Kingdra’s Surf overpowered the stones and swept over Gigalith.
• Zhang Cheng ordered Kingdra to follow up with Brine, which struck before Gigalith could form another Protect barrier.
• Lu Luan ordered the badly injured Gigalith to use Explosion, but Kingdra kept spraying Brine until Gigalith collapsed and its attack was interrupted.

Zhang Cheng and Lu Luan continued their battle as Bisharp defeated Kingdra with Guillotine, leaving both trainers with two Pokémon unable to battle. Ampharos then struck Bisharp with Thunder, leaving the injured Pokémon badly hurt as the match continued.

• Lu Luan sent out Bisharp, and Zhang Cheng used Kingdra's Hydro Cannon against it.
• Bisharp broke through the water dragon with Iron Head and hit Kingdra while it was immobilized after Hydro Cannon.
• Lu Luan ordered Guillotine, and Bisharp defeated Kingdra with the attack.
• Zhang Cheng sent out Ampharos, and Bisharp attacked it with Dark Pulse.
• Ampharos's Thunder dealt a devastating blow to the already injured Bisharp.