Recaps

After hearing that Moltres had appeared on Mt. Pyre, Zhang Cheng rushed there hoping to catch the Legendary Pokémon. He found two R Organization members attacking Liu Jin and watched as they forced the injured Trainer to offer to lead them to Moltres.

• Zhang Cheng spent months training in Modu and waiting for news of a Legendary Pokémon.
• Zhang Cheng learned that Moltres had appeared on Mt. Pyre and flew there on Pidgeot.
• Zhang Cheng reached the deserted mountain first and headed toward the volcano's depths.
• Zhang Cheng found Wu Gang and Wu Tie of the R Organization battling Liu Jin, but hid nearby instead of intervening.
• Wu Gang and Wu Tie knocked Swellow down and cornered Liu Jin.
• Liu Jin offered to reveal Moltres's location in exchange for his life, and the R Organization members ordered him to lead them there.

Zhang Cheng followed Liu Jin and the two R Organization members to Moltres’s volcanic cave, where Wu Gang and Wu Tie tried to capture the powerful legendary Pokémon. Liu Jin escaped as Moltres emerged, and the battle began with both sides exchanging attacks.

• Liu Jin led Wu Gang and Wu Tie to Moltres’s cave while Zhang Cheng secretly followed them.
• Wu Gang and Wu Tie forced Liu Jin to use his injured Swellow as bait, and Moltres emerged and knocked Swellow toward the magma with Flamethrower.
• After recalling Swellow, Liu Jin released Rapidash and escaped while Wu Tie protested.
• Wu Gang and Wu Tie sent Steelix and Ekans to fight Moltres, whose Flamethrower badly burned Ekans while Steelix’s Rock Slide damaged her.
• Wu Gang ordered the two men’s remaining Pokémon into battle so they could defeat Moltres quickly.

Wu Gang and Wu Tie attacked Moltres with their Pokémon, wearing it down despite injuries and its Fire Spin. After a coordinated assault while Moltres recovered from Brave Bird, they defeated it, leaving it unconscious and easier to capture.

• Wu Gang and Wu Tie ordered Crawdaunt, Mightyena, Ekans, and Steelix to attack Moltres, and Crawdaunt’s Hydro Pump dealt heavy damage.
• Moltres trapped the remaining Pokémon in Fire Spin, while its Flamethrower knocked Ekans out of battle.
• Mightyena used Snarl to lower Moltres’s Special Attack, prompting Moltres to strike it with Brave Bird.
• Wu Gang and Wu Tie seized Moltres’s recovery after Brave Bird and coordinated attacks from Mightyena, Steelix, and Crawdaunt.
• Mightyena’s Crunch depleted Moltres’s remaining HP, leaving it unconscious and easier to capture.

Zhang Cheng interrupted Wu Gang and Wu Tie’s attempt to capture Moltres and quickly turned the battle against them. After defeating Mightyena and Crawdaunt, he ordered Swampert and Poliwrath to attack Steelix, leaving the outcome of the fight imminent.

• Wu Gang’s Poké Ball was knocked away, and Zhang Cheng ambushed the group by having Poliwrath defeat Mightyena.
• Zhang Cheng sent Poliwrath and Swampert against Crawdaunt and Steelix, while Wu Gang ordered Wu Tie to capture Moltres.
• Zhang Cheng released Togekiss, Ampharos, and Pidgeot to stop Wu Tie and help overwhelm Crawdaunt.
• Crawdaunt was defeated by Zhang Cheng’s combined attacks, and Wu Gang secretly signaled another R Organization Champion-level Trainer for help.
• Zhang Cheng ordered Swampert and Poliwrath to attack Steelix with Water-type moves.

Zhang Cheng caught Moltres after dozens of attempts, defeated Wu Gang and Wu Tie, and fled Mt. Pyre when another R Organization member confronted him. The muscular man pursued Zhang Cheng by air, while Zhang Cheng weighed the risks of fighting before other Trainers arrived.

• Zhang Cheng caught Moltres with his sixty-sixth Poké Ball after the first sixty-five attempts failed.
• Poliwrath knocked out Steelix, and Zhang Cheng ordered Ampharos to kill Wu Gang and Wu Tie as they fled.
• A muscular R Organization member demanded Moltres, but Zhang Cheng refused and ordered Togekiss to attack his Solrock.
• Zhang Cheng used the opening after Togekiss broke Solrock's Protect to escape on Pidgeot.
• The muscular man pursued Zhang Cheng on Fearow, but Swampert's Wide Guard blocked Solrock and Lunatone's Confusion attacks, letting Pidgeot pull ahead.
• Zhang Cheng considered fighting his pursuer but worried that other Trainers would arrive and claim the spoils.

Zhang Cheng stopped to confront the R Organization muscleman and led his Pokémon in a fight against Solrock, Lunatone, and Fearow. Solrock was knocked out and Fearow was recalled, while Pidgeot began recovering with Roost.

• Zhang Cheng landed on the plains and waited for the muscleman to catch up before ordering his Pokémon to attack.
• Poliwrath and Swampert broke through Solrock’s Protect with Hydro Pump and Mud Bomb, while Pidgeot trapped Fearow in a Hurricane.
• Lunatone struck Pidgeot with Psyshock, allowing Fearow to escape the Hurricane, and Zhang Cheng ordered his Pokémon to focus their attacks on Solrock.
• Solrock and the muscleman’s other Pokémon attacked Pidgeot as Zhang Cheng’s team overwhelmed Solrock, knocking it out.
• Zhang Cheng had Swampert and Poliwrath drive Fearow away from Pidgeot, and the muscleman recalled the badly injured Fearow.
• Pidgeot began using Roost to recover as the battle continued.

Zhang Cheng and his Pokémon defeated the muscular R Organization Trainer and his team, with Mega Diancie’s Light of Ruin wiping them out. Afterward, Mega Diancie pleaded to remain Mega Evolved, and Zhang Cheng agreed on the condition that it revert if its stamina ran low.

• The muscular man sent out his remaining Pokémon, and Zhang Cheng Mega Evolved Diancie before both Trainers launched their teams into battle.
• Ampharos paralyzed Mega Houndoom with Thunder Wave, allowing Poliwrath and Swampert to land powerful Waterfall attacks.
• Togekiss blocked Crobat’s ambush, and Zhang Cheng ordered Mega Diancie to use Light of Ruin against the muscular man’s Pokémon.
• Light of Ruin incapacitated all four Pokémon and struck the muscular man, leaving no trace of him.
• Zhang Cheng prepared to end Mega Evolution, but Mega Diancie begged to stay in that form, so he agreed as long as it reverted before its stamina ran low.

After returning to Modu, Zhang Cheng left his injured Pokémon at the Pokémon Center and bought snacks for Mega Diancie. The center’s director, Fang Lin, hired Zhang Cheng to help it pass an assessment in exchange for fifty million Pokémon Coins, and Zhang Cheng agreed to return in a week.

• Zhang Cheng arrived in Modu and sent Moltres and his other injured Pokémon to the Pokémon Center for treatment.
• Zhang Cheng took hungry Mega Diancie to the Pokémon Shop, where she chose a large pile of snacks.
• Fang Lin summoned Zhang Cheng and asked him to help the Modu Pokémon Center pass its annual assessment.
• Zhang Cheng negotiated a fixed reward of fifty million Pokémon Coins, and Fang Lin accepted the deal.
• Fang Lin told Zhang Cheng the assessment would take place in a week, and Zhang Cheng agreed to attend.

Zhang Cheng trained his newly caught Moltres for several days, teaching her a broad range of moves before seeking a battle to test her strength. He began a six-on-six match against Champion-level Trainer Du Ling, with Moltres facing Du Ling’s Arcanine.

• Zhang Cheng replaced Pidgeot with Moltres and bought Technical Machines for her at a cost of nearly two million Pokémon Coins.
• Zhang Cheng brought Moltres to the training facility, where she met his other Pokémon and warmly greeted Diancie.
• Zhang Cheng trained Moltres at the facility over the next three days until she had mastered a wide variety of moves.
• Zhang Cheng asked the staff for a Champion-level Trainer to battle and was introduced to Du Ling.
• Zhang Cheng and Du Ling began a six-on-six battle, sending out Moltres and Arcanine respectively.

Zhang Cheng’s Moltres defeated Du Ling’s Arcanine in their first battle, overcoming its attacks with Protect and powerful Flying-type moves. Du Ling sent out Golduck to challenge Moltres, and Zhang Cheng examined the Pokémon with his Detection System.

• Du Ling ordered Arcanine to attack Moltres with Extreme Speed, but Zhang Cheng had Moltres block it with Protect.
• Zhang Cheng sent Moltres charging through Arcanine’s Fire Blast with Brave Bird, then followed up with Air Slash that critically injured Arcanine.
• Du Ling ordered Arcanine to use Hyper Beam, but Moltres avoided it with Fly and dived back down to knock Arcanine out.
• Du Ling recalled Arcanine and sent out his level 72 Golduck to counter Moltres.
• Zhang Cheng used the Detection System to inspect Golduck’s moves, ability, and held item.

Zhang Cheng kept Moltres in its battle against Du Ling’s type-advantaged Golduck and used Sunny Day to weaken Water attacks and power up Solar Beam. After Golduck put Moltres to sleep and prepared a boosted Hydro Pump, Moltres woke early and fired another Solar Beam, leaving the battle unresolved.

• Zhang Cheng had Moltres use Sunny Day, weakening Golduck’s Surf while Moltres took damage.
• Moltres used Solar Beam to break through Golduck’s Protect and reduce Golduck’s HP to two-fifths.
• Du Ling ordered Golduck to use Hypnosis, putting Moltres to sleep, then had Golduck boost itself with Calm Mind.
• Golduck began preparing a boosted Hydro Pump, but Moltres woke up before it could attack.
• Zhang Cheng ordered Moltres to use Solar Beam, and Moltres fired it at Golduck.

Zhang Cheng and Du Ling’s Golduck and Moltres knocked each other out, then Poliwrath and Girafarig entered the battle. Zhang Cheng confused Girafarig with Dynamic Punch and followed up with Hydro Pump as Du Ling ordered Psychic Fangs.

• Golduck’s Psyshock and Moltres’s Air Slash struck at the same time, leaving both Pokémon unable to battle.
• Zhang Cheng sent out Poliwrath, while Du Ling sent out Girafarig.
• Du Ling had Girafarig establish Reflect to weaken Poliwrath’s physical attacks.
• Poliwrath’s Dynamic Punch hit Girafarig through Reflect and left her confused.
• Zhang Cheng ordered Hydro Pump, and Du Ling told Girafarig to stay clearheaded and use Psychic Fangs.

Zhang Cheng's Poliwrath defeated Du Ling's Girafarig with a rain-boosted Hydro Cannon, and Du Ling sent out his starter Seismitoad to continue the battle. The chapter ended as Du Ling ordered Seismitoad to attack Poliwrath with Hydro Pump.

• Zhang Cheng had Poliwrath use Rain Dance while Girafarig's confusion caused its attempted Thunderbolt to backfire.
• Zhang Cheng ordered Poliwrath to use Hydro Cannon, knocking Girafarig unconscious despite Du Ling's command to use Protect.
• Du Ling recalled Girafarig, praised Poliwrath, and sent out his starter Pokémon, Seismitoad.
• Zhang Cheng checked Seismitoad's data and saw that it was a powerful level 73 Water- and Ground-type with Swift Swim.
• Du Ling ordered Seismitoad to attack Poliwrath with Hydro Pump.

Zhang Cheng and Du Ling battled with Poliwrath and Seismitoad in the rain, trading attacks as Zhang Cheng tried to exploit Poliwrath’s advantage and Du Ling used poison to wear it down. After Seismitoad survived Poliwrath’s Hydro Cannon and landed Venoshock, Poliwrath prepared another Waterfall to try to finish the weakened Seismitoad.

• Zhang Cheng had Poliwrath copy Seismitoad’s Hydro Pump, and both Pokémon were hit, though Poliwrath took less damage.
• Du Ling had Seismitoad use Supersonic to draw out Poliwrath’s Protect, then attacked with Toxic while Protect was unavailable.
• Zhang Cheng ordered Poliwrath to charge through the poison with Waterfall, badly damaging Seismitoad but leaving Poliwrath badly poisoned.
• Poliwrath fired Hydro Cannon through Seismitoad’s Protect barrier, leaving Seismitoad with less than a fifth of its HP before becoming temporarily immobilized.
• Du Ling used Seismitoad’s Venoshock to exploit Poliwrath’s poisoned state, and Zhang Cheng then ordered Poliwrath to attack with Waterfall again.

Zhang Cheng gained an overwhelming lead after Poliwrath and Seismitoad knocked each other out, then faced Du Ling’s Mawile with Ampharos. Du Ling immediately Mega Evolved Mawile, leaving the battle poised to begin between Mega Mawile and Ampharos.

• Du Ling ordered Seismitoad to defend against Poliwrath’s Waterfall, but Poliwrath broke through Protect and knocked Seismitoad out before Toxic also caused Poliwrath to faint.
• Zhang Cheng praised Poliwrath and noted that he still had four Pokémon while Du Ling had only two; the Trainers discussed Zhang Cheng’s progress before continuing their battle.
• Du Ling sent out Mawile, and Zhang Cheng chose Ampharos as his next Pokémon.
• Zhang Cheng used the Detection System to inspect Mawile and recognized that Du Ling would rely on her Mega Evolution and Huge Power.
• Du Ling used Mawile’s Evolution Crystal to Mega Evolve her, boosting her stats and setting up the next clash with Ampharos.

Zhang Cheng Mega Evolved Ampharos to face Du Ling’s powerful Mega Mawile, but Mega Mawile’s Play Rough badly weakened it. The two Pokémon prepared to trade attacks head-on, with Mega Mawile aiming to knock Ampharos out in one blow.

• Zhang Cheng Mega Evolved Ampharos and opened the battle with Thunder, which overwhelmed Mega Mawile’s Iron Head and gave Ampharos a slight advantage.
• Du Ling switched Mega Mawile to the Fairy-type move Play Rough, exploiting Mega Ampharos’s Dragon typing.
• Mega Ampharos used Protect, but Mega Mawile shattered the barrier and reduced Ampharos’s HP to two-fifths with Play Rough.
• Zhang Cheng ordered Mega Ampharos to fire Zap Cannon, while Du Ling urged Mega Mawile to use Play Rough again.
• Mega Mawile waited until Zap Cannon was about to hit, then launched its gathered Fairy-type energy in a direct attempt to knock Ampharos out.

Zhang Cheng defeated Mega Ampharos with Mega Mawile, then sent out Swampert to exploit Mega Mawile’s weakness to Ground-type attacks and wear it down. Mega Mawile struck Swampert hard, but Ampharos’s earlier paralysis stopped its attempt to finish Swampert off.

• Mega Mawile defeated Mega Ampharos with Play Rough, but Zap Cannon left it badly damaged and paralyzed.
• Zhang Cheng sent out Swampert, while Du Ling ordered Mega Mawile to use Swords Dance to raise its physical attack.
• Zhang Cheng told Swampert to repeatedly use Mud Shot, steadily reducing Mega Mawile’s HP.
• Du Ling ordered Mega Mawile to use Iron Tail, and the boosted attack took four-fifths of Swampert’s HP.
• Swampert continued firing Mud Shot, but Mega Mawile’s paralysis activated as it tried to use Play Rough, preventing it from moving.

Zhang Cheng’s Kingdra defeated Du Ling’s Mega Mawile after a clash of powerful attacks, leaving both trainers with one Pokémon still available. Du Ling sent out Slaking as his final Pokémon, and Zhang Cheng used the Detection System to inspect it.

• Zhang Cheng’s Swampert defeated Mega Mawile with Metal Claw, but Swampert also collapsed from its injuries.
• Zhang Cheng sent out Kingdra, and Du Ling used Mega Mawile’s Protect to withstand Kingdra’s Surf.
• Kingdra’s Water Spout collided with Mega Mawile’s Play Rough, and the resulting explosion knocked out Mega Mawile and injured Kingdra.
• Du Ling recalled Mawile and sent out his final Pokémon, Slaking.
• Zhang Cheng activated the Detection System and learned Slaking’s moves, Focus Lens, and Truant Ability.

Du Ling’s Slaking endured Kingdra’s Water Spouts, then nearly defeated it with a devastating Giga Impact. With Slaking resting after its attack and Kingdra badly injured, Zhang Cheng ordered one final counterattack.

• Du Ling opened the battle by having Slaking use Amnesia to sharply raise its Special Defense.
• Zhang Cheng had Kingdra strike Slaking twice with Water Spout, leaving Slaking with about two-thirds of its HP.
• Du Ling ordered Slaking to use Giga Impact, and it shattered Kingdra’s Protect barrier and reduced Kingdra’s HP to less than a tenth.
• Slaking began resting after its attack, and Zhang Cheng told Kingdra to use Outrage while it had the chance.
• Kingdra, still determined to fight despite its injuries, launched its final assault.

Zhang Cheng sent Diancie against Du Ling’s Slaking after Kingdra was defeated, and used Toxic and Diamond Storm to exploit Slaking’s Truant Ability. The battle continued with Slaking badly poisoned and Diancie preparing to endure its attacks.

• Kingdra’s Outrage failed to hit Slaking, and Slaking defeated Kingdra with Feint Attack as Kingdra’s uncontrolled energy also backlashed.
• Zhang Cheng recalled Kingdra and sent out Diancie to face Du Ling’s Slaking.
• Du Ling ordered Slaking to use Slack Off, restoring its HP to over ninety percent.
• Zhang Cheng had Diancie poison Slaking with Toxic while Slaking rested.
• Diancie struck Slaking with Diamond Storm, reducing its HP to roughly three-quarters as the poison continued to take effect.

Zhang Cheng’s Diancie endured Slaking’s attacks while Toxic steadily weakened it, then healed itself and prepared a finishing Light of Ruin. The chapter ended as Diancie summoned an Eternal Flower and began gathering energy for the attack.

• Diancie used Wide Guard to blunt Slaking’s Giga Impact, then struck it with Diamond Storm and further raised its Physical Defense.
• Du Ling switched Slaking to Hyper Beam, but Diancie’s Protect reduced the damage while Toxic continued draining Slaking’s HP.
• Zhang Cheng had Diancie use Heal Pulse to restore its health instead of risking Light of Ruin.
• Slaking recovered with Slack Off, but Toxic quickly cut its HP back to half.
• Zhang Cheng ordered Diancie to finish Slaking with Light of Ruin, and Diancie summoned an Eternal Flower to gather energy.

Zhang Cheng defeated Du Ling in training and learned more about the demanding Modu Pokémon Center assessment. After a week of training, he arrived at the Pokémon Center to take it on its behalf, confident he could win.

• Diancie defeated Du Ling's Slaking with Light of Ruin followed by Toxic, and both Trainers recalled their Pokémon after the match.
• Du Ling told Zhang Cheng that the League would send a Champion-level examiner and require the Pokémon Center's representative to be under twenty-four; he encouraged Zhang Cheng to pursue the assessment.
• Zhang Cheng continued training with his Pokémon for a week, raising their average level to 74.
• Zhang Cheng arrived early at the Pokémon Center, where Fang Lin told him the examiner was a young Trainer who had recently reached Champion level.
• Zhang Cheng assured Fang Lin that he was completely confident in passing the assessment.

Zhang Cheng reunited with Yuwen Tian, an old teammate from their mission days, and learned that he would be the examiner for the Modu Pokémon Center assessment. They began a six-on-six battle, leaving the assessment match underway.

• Zhang Cheng met Yuwen Tian at the training ground and recalled how they and Zheng Hao had once defeated the R Organization to secure an Evolution Crystal.
• Yuwen Tian explained that the Evolution Crystal had helped him become a Champion-level Trainer and that he had left Jiangzhe University to travel and train.
• Zhang Cheng realized Yuwen Tian was the League examiner, and Fang Lin worried their friendship might affect the assessment; Zhang Cheng promised to give the battle his all.
• Wang Kun announced the six-on-six rules, and Zhang Cheng and Yuwen Tian sent out Politoed and Honchkrow to begin the match.

Zhang Cheng’s Politoed battled Yuwen Tian’s Honchkrow in heavy rain, resisting confusion long enough to avoid a Dark Pulse. The chapter left Politoed high in the air, beginning a momentum-driven attack on Honchkrow.

• Zhang Cheng used the Detection System to assess Yuwen Tian’s Honchkrow and his own Politoed.
• Politoed entered the battlefield, and its Drizzle ability intensified the rain, extended by its Damp Rock.
• Yuwen Tian ordered Honchkrow to use Confuse Ray, confusing Politoed.
• Zhang Cheng ordered Politoed to use Hydro Pump, but Honchkrow blocked most of the attack with Protect.
• Yuwen Tian sent Honchkrow’s Dark Pulse toward Politoed, but Politoed resisted confusion and used Bounce to evade it.
• Zhang Cheng told Politoed to dive down and attack Honchkrow with its momentum.

Politoed knocked out Yuwen Tian’s Honchkrow with a follow-up Body Slam, and Yuwen Tian sent out Kingler to continue the battle in the rain. Kingler boosted his attack and blocked Politoed’s Hypnosis, then prepared a heavily strengthened Crabhammer as the fight continued.

• Zhang Cheng ordered Politoed to hit the grounded Honchkrow with Body Slam, knocking him out before he could counterattack.
• Yuwen Tian recalled Honchkrow and sent out Kingler, whose rain-boosted Water moves were strengthened by Mystic Water and Sheer Force.
• Kingler used Swords Dance to sharply raise his physical attack while Politoed was confused.
• Zhang Cheng got Politoed to recover from confusion and ordered him to use Hypnosis, but Kingler blocked it with Wide Guard.
• Yuwen Tian ordered Kingler to attack with Crabhammer, combining its power with Kingler’s boosts and the rainy weather.