Recaps

Wei Shi and An Feng replaced their weakened Graveler and Dugtrio with Gligar and Shuckle to counter Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei’s Water-type Pokémon. The battle continued with Gligar taking heavy damage from Bubble Beam while Shuckle’s Rock Blast barely hurt Poliwhirl.

• Dugtrio and Graveler took heavy damage from Cloyster and Poliwhirl, so Wei Shi and An Feng recalled them.
• Wei Shi sent out Gligar, and An Feng sent out Shuckle; Zhang Cheng inspected both Pokémon’s abilities and moves.
• Zhang Cheng decided to focus on Gligar and had Xiao Wei order Cloyster to use Water Pulse, which Gligar blocked with Protect.
• Zhang Cheng ordered Poliwhirl to use Bubble Beam while Gligar was vulnerable, and the attack took a third of Gligar’s HP.
• An Feng ordered Shuckle to use Rock Blast on Poliwhirl, but the four hits caused only minor damage.

Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei used Rainy Weather to strengthen Poliwhirl and Cloyster’s Water-type attacks, defeating Wei Shi’s Gligar and Graveler. An Feng’s Shuckle and Dugtrio also fell, leaving Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei with an overwhelming victory.

• Zhang Cheng had Poliwhirl summon Rainy Weather, and Cloyster’s boosted Water Pulse knocked out Wei Shi’s Gligar while Shuckle’s Acid only slightly damaged Cloyster.
• Wei Shi sent out Graveler, which used Self-Destruct against Poliwhirl and Cloyster, but the blast left both of Wei Shi’s Pokémon unable to battle.
• An Feng had Shuckle attack Poliwhirl, but Poliwhirl’s Bubble Beam and Cloyster’s Spike Cannon overwhelmed and knocked out Shuckle.
• An Feng sent out Dugtrio, and Poliwhirl’s Waterfall and Cloyster’s Water Pulse defeated it before it could attack.

After advancing to the semifinals, Zhang Cheng used a system reward to let Poliwhirl switch between its Politoed and Poliwrath forms. The new evolutions strengthened Zhang Cheng’s team ahead of the next day’s match, while Mega Evolution remained unavailable.

• After Dugtrio was defeated, Zhang Cheng met An Feng and Wei Shi through Xiao Wei, and the four watched matches and shared a meal.
• Back at the Inn, Zhang Cheng worried that his Pokémon needed to grow stronger before the semifinals and considered evolving Poliwhirl with a Water Stone.
• Zhang Cheng claimed the system’s Bond Phenomenon reward and chose Poliwhirl, gaining a connection that allowed it to switch between evolved forms.
• Poliwhirl changed into level 27 Poliwrath, whose A+ potential, Fighting type, Submission, and Circle Throw increased its combat strength.
• Poliwrath switched into Politoed, retaining A+ potential and gaining Drizzle, Perish Song, and Swagger.
• Zhang Cheng asked about Mega Evolution, but the system said the feature needed more time to become available, and he resolved to win the tournament.

Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei began their semifinal battle against the Jinling No. 1 High School cousins Xiang Chen and Xiang Liang. The match opened with both teams targeting Ivysaur and Politoed, leaving the battle underway.

• Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei drew the first semifinal match and learned they would face Xiang Chen and Xiang Liang, visiting students from Jinling No. 1 High School.
• The four trainers sent out Politoed, Cloyster, Combusken, and Ivysaur, and Zhang Cheng checked the opposing Pokémon’s stats.
• Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei agreed to focus their attacks on Ivysaur, while Politoed’s Drizzle brought heavy rain to the battlefield.
• Xiang Liang ordered Ivysaur to attack Politoed with Energy Ball, but Politoed blocked it with Protect.
• Xiao Wei commanded Cloyster to hit Ivysaur with Aurora Beam, which dealt heavy damage.
• Xiang Chen ordered Combusken to attack Politoed with Double Kick.

Xiang Chen, Zhang Cheng, and Xiao Wei attacked Ivysaur and Politoed, and Ivysaur eventually fainted. Xiang Liang sent out Jumpluff, leaving the battle poised for Zhang Cheng to handle her while Xiao Wei targeted Combusken.

• Politoed and Cloyster hit Ivysaur with Ice Beam and Aurora Beam while Ivysaur used Giga Drain on Politoed and Combusken struck Politoed with Brick Break.
• Ice Beam froze Ivysaur, and Politoed recovered health from Giga Drain as it drained Politoed.
• Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei ordered Politoed and Cloyster to attack the frozen Ivysaur again, knocking her HP to zero.
• Xiang Chen continued attacking Politoed with Combusken's Double Kick, reducing Politoed to about a third of its HP.
• Xiang Liang recalled Ivysaur and sent out his final Pokémon, Jumpluff, who used Cotton Guard to raise her Defense.
• Zhang Cheng told Xiao Wei to focus on Combusken, and Xiao Wei ordered Cloyster to use Water Pulse on it.

Xiang Liang and Xiang Chen tried to wear down Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei’s Pokémon, while Perish Song put Jumpluff on a timer. The battle continued with Combusken and Pidgeotto badly damaged, and Jumpluff’s Bullet Seed pierced Cloyster’s Protect.

• Politoed used Perish Song on Jumpluff, forcing Xiang Liang to abandon its defense boosts and attack before it fainted.
• Jumpluff hit Politoed with Seed Bomb, but Zhang Cheng recalled Politoed and sent out Pidgeotto, which resisted Grass-type moves.
• Combusken struck Pidgeotto with Flame Charge, and Pidgeotto answered with Hurricane, leaving Combusken at critical HP while Flame Burst reduced Pidgeotto to about a third of its HP.
• Xiang Liang ordered Jumpluff to attack Cloyster with Bullet Seed, and Cloyster’s Protect failed to stop the seeds because Jumpluff had Infiltrator.

Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei's Pokémon defeated Combusken and Jumpluff, while Xiang Chen sent out Flareon to continue the battle. Politoed restored the rain and used Perish Song on Flareon, leaving Xiang Chen's team with little chance to recover.

• Jumpluff's Infiltrator let its Bullet Seed bypass Cloyster's Protect, and Zhang Cheng explained the Ability to Xiao Wei.
• Cloyster and Pidgeotto's attacks knocked out Combusken, while Jumpluff's Bullet Seed left Cloyster badly weakened.
• Xiang Chen sent out Flareon, and Zhang Cheng checked her data and judged that his two Water-type Pokémon had the advantage.
• Politoed's Perish Song took effect and knocked Jumpluff out, and Zhang Cheng recalled Pidgeotto before sending Politoed back into battle.
• Politoed's Drizzle brought back the rain, and Zhang Cheng ordered it to use Perish Song on Flareon.

Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei defeated Xiang Chen’s Flareon and advanced to the tournament finals. Zhang Cheng stayed to watch the next match so he could assess the opponents they would face tomorrow.

• Politoed used Perish Song again, and Xiang Chen ordered Flareon to attack Cloyster with Fire Fang.
• Cloyster blocked Fire Fang with Protect, then Politoed and Cloyster struck Flareon with Waterfall and Water Pulse.
• Politoed and Cloyster launched Bubble Beam and Spike Cannon together, defeating Flareon before Perish Song took effect.
• The referee declared Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei the winners and announced that they had advanced to the finals.
• After speaking with Xiang Chen, Zhang Cheng stayed to watch the next match and scout the finalists’ opponents.

Li Wei and Li Xue defeated their Magnolia Town opponents in the semifinals, setting up a final against Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei. Zhang Cheng inspected the sisters’ Pokémon and was preparing for the match when Li Xue approached him to introduce herself.

• Li Wei and Li Xue used their Water-type Pokémon to defeat Onix, Hitmonchan, and Kingler, while protecting themselves from Onix’s Self-Destruct.
• The Magnolia Town Trainer conceded, and the referee announced that Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei would face Li Wei and Li Xue in the final.
• Zhang Cheng inspected Wartortle and Dewott’s stats and decided to keep his current opening lineup because he had not seen the sisters’ second Pokémon.
• Li Xue approached Zhang Cheng, confirmed he was their opponent, introduced herself, and extended her hand.

Zhang Cheng prepared Poliwrath for the Double Battle finals, then teamed up with Xiao Wei against Li Xue and Li Wei. The match began with all four Water-type Pokémon, and Zhang Cheng’s opening strategy targeted Dewott while Poliwrath stole Wartortle’s Mystic Water.

• Li Xue blushed after Zhang Cheng held her hand, then left the competitors' lounge with Li Wei.
• Zhang Cheng chose Poliwrath for the finals because rain would boost its Swift Swim Ability, then changed Politoed into Poliwrath form.
• Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei met at the venue and faced Li Xue and Li Wei in the finals.
• Li Xue had Dewott use Rain Dance, and Zhang Cheng told Xiao Wei to focus their attacks on Dewott.
• Cloyster hit Dewott with Water Pulse, while Wartortle struck Poliwrath with Waterfall.
• Poliwrath used Thief during Wartortle's attack, damaging it and stealing its Mystic Water, then Zhang Cheng ordered Waterfall against Dewott.

Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei’s Poliwrath and Cloyster defeated Li Xue’s Dewott, while Li Wei’s Wartortle weakened Poliwrath with Dragon Pulse. Li Xue sent out Florges, and Li Wei revealed Bellossom as her second Pokémon, setting up a Grass-type pairing.

• Li Xue ordered Dewott to dodge Poliwrath’s Waterfall with Detect, but Cloyster hit it with five Spike Cannon strikes.
• Li Wei’s Wartortle used Brine on Poliwrath as Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei continued attacking Dewott with Waterfall and Aurora Beam.
• Dewott struck Poliwrath with Razor Shell, but Poliwrath’s Waterfall and Cloyster’s Aurora Beam knocked Dewott out.
• Wartortle hit Poliwrath with Dragon Pulse, reducing it to one-third HP, before Li Xue recalled Dewott and sent out Florges.
• Li Wei recalled Wartortle and sent out Bellossom, confirming Zhang Cheng’s suspicion that her second Pokémon would be Grass-type.

Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei countered Li Wei and Li Xue’s Grass-type pairing by switching to Ninjask and Pidgeotto, while Florges established Grassy Terrain. Bellossom and Pidgeotto took damage, and Pidgeotto launched a follow-up attack at Bellossom.

• Zhang Cheng checked Bellossom’s stats and recognized how her Healer Ability complemented Florges’s Flower Veil.
• Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei recalled their weakened Water-type Pokémon and sent out Pidgeotto and Ninjask.
• Li Wei had Florges set up Grassy Terrain, strengthening Grass-type moves and restoring Pokémon’s HP over time.
• Li Xue ordered Bellossom to hit Pidgeotto with Razor Leaf, costing Pidgeotto a quarter of its HP.
• Xiao Wei ordered Ninjask to strike Bellossom with Fury Cutter, taking a third of her HP.
• Zhang Cheng ordered Pidgeotto to attack Bellossom with Air Slash.

Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei coordinated Pidgeotto and Ninjask to target Bellossom while Li Xue and Li Wei used Florges’s Flower Shield and Grassy Terrain to strengthen and heal their team. Bellossom defended against the incoming Hurricane and Fury Cutter as the battle continued.

• Li Xue used Bellossom’s Protect to block Pidgeotto’s Air Slash while Li Wei had Florges boost Bellossom’s Defense with Flower Shield.
• Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei directed Pidgeotto and Ninjask to focus their attacks on Bellossom, and Pidgeotto stole its Miracle Seed with Thief.
• Li Wei had Florges use Flower Shield again, further raising Bellossom’s Defense as Grassy Terrain healed all four Pokémon.
• Zhang Cheng ordered Pidgeotto to unleash Hurricane while Xiao Wei sent Ninjask in with a strengthened Fury Cutter.
• Li Xue had Bellossom use Protect to defend against the incoming attacks.

Li Xue and Li Wei used Synthesis and repeated Flower Shield boosts to keep Bellossom standing against Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei’s coordinated attacks. Bellossom recovered to two-thirds HP while its Defense continued rising, leaving the battle unresolved.

• Pidgeotto’s Hurricane and Ninjask’s Fury Cutter struck Bellossom, while Florges’s Flower Shield raised Bellossom’s Defense again.
• Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei ordered another coordinated Hurricane and Fury Cutter, and Li Xue had Bellossom use Synthesis to recover to two-thirds HP.
• Florges boosted Bellossom’s Defense as Hurricane and Ninjask’s fourth Fury Cutter hit, reducing Bellossom to one-sixth HP.
• Grassy Terrain healed all four Pokémon, and Bellossom used Synthesis to recover to two-thirds HP.
• Li Wei ordered Florges to keep using Flower Shield, aiming to raise Bellossom’s Defense to its maximum.

Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei focused their attacks on Florges to break Bellossom's Flower Veil protection. After Florges was knocked out and Li Wei sent out Wartortle, Bellossom and Pidgeotto traded attacks.

• Zhang Cheng told Xiao Wei to ignore Bellossom and attack Florges, and Xiao Wei ordered Ninjask to use Fury Cutter.
• Ninjask's Fury Cutter and Pidgeotto's Steel Wing heavily damaged Florges, while Grassy Terrain restored some of its HP.
• Florges used Psychic against Pidgeotto, but Pidgeotto blocked it with Protect.
• Ninjask struck Florges with another Fury Cutter and knocked it out, so Li Wei sent out Wartortle.
• Li Xue ordered Bellossom to attack Pidgeotto with Energy Ball, and Zhang Cheng countered with Pidgeotto's Air Slash.

Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei used Ninjask’s powerful Fury Cutter to force Li Wei and Li Xue’s Pokémon to rely on Protect, then Zhang Cheng sent out Poliwrath and hit Bellossom with Perish Song. The battle continued with Wartortle damaging Poliwrath, while Bellossom faced the threat of fainting unless it could be switched out.

• Ninjask’s boosted Fury Cutter forced Wartortle and then Bellossom to use Protect, while Grassy Terrain healed the Pokémon.
• Zhang Cheng recalled Pidgeotto and sent out Poliwrath.
• Poliwrath used Perish Song on Bellossom, which could not block the move and had no reserve Pokémon available to switch in.
• Li Wei ordered Wartortle to use Dragon Pulse, dealing nearly half of Poliwrath’s HP in damage.
• Grassy Terrain restored the Pokémon’s HP as Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei stopped targeting Bellossom.

Li Xue and Li Wei tried to overcome Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei’s advantage, but Bellossom knocked out Poliwrath before Perish Song took Bellossom out as well. With Li Xue out of Pokémon, Wartortle charged at Ninjask while Xiao Wei prepared to counter with its increasingly powerful Fury Cutter.

• Bellossom’s boosted Energy Ball broke through Poliwrath’s Protect, while Ninjask’s Fury Cutter struck Wartortle’s Protect and did only minor damage.
• Poliwrath’s next Perish Song failed to reach Wartortle, and Bellossom hit Poliwrath with another Energy Ball, knocking it out.
• Perish Song then depleted Bellossom’s HP, and Zhang Cheng sent out Pidgeotto after both trainers recalled their defeated Pokémon.
• Li Wei ordered Wartortle to use Waterfall on Ninjask, and Xiao Wei commanded Ninjask to counter with Fury Cutter.

Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei defeated Li Wei and Li Xue to win the Double Battle tournament and split the one-million-Pokémon-Coin prize. After parting ways with Xiao Wei, Zhang Cheng ran into Li Xue, who invited him to lunch at a hot pot restaurant.

• Pidgeotto and Ninjask attacked Li Wei's Wartortle, while Wartortle's Dragon Pulse badly injured Ninjask before Fury Cutter knocked Wartortle out.
• The referee declared Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei the tournament champions, and Li Wei recalled Wartortle and congratulated them.
• A staff member gave Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei their prize, and they split the one million Pokémon Coins evenly before going their separate ways.
• Zhang Cheng encountered Li Xue, agreed to treat her to lunch, and followed her to a hot pot restaurant.

After resting and training in Magnolia Forest, Zhang Cheng said goodbye to Machoke and returned home for New Year's. He planned to raise all his Pokémon to level 36 so they could reach their final forms and improve his chances of entering Modu University.

• Zhang Cheng shared hot pot with Li Xue, exchanged contact details with her, and returned to the Inn to rest with his Pokémon.
• Zhang Cheng resumed training in Magnolia Forest, where Poliwrath reached level 32 and Pidgeotto, Flaaffy, and Marshtomp reached level 31.
• Zhang Cheng gave Machoke a large supply of Pokémon Food and Pokéblocks before saying goodbye and leaving Magnolia Forest.
• Zhang Cheng returned home after a four-hour taxi ride, and his mother welcomed him with a lavish meal.
• Zhang Cheng planned to raise all his Pokémon to at least level 36 so they could evolve into their final forms and help him get into Modu University.

Zhang Cheng returned to school after winter break, trained his Pokémon with Ye Tian, and began the new term. The chapter left him following Bai Yuling to her dorm for lunch after she invited him.

• Zhang Cheng packed for school, said goodbye to his mother, and returned to campus.
• Zhang Cheng cleaned his dorm and trained Poliwrath, Pidgeotto, Marshtomp, Flaaffy, and his other Pokémon at the training grounds.
• Ye Tian met Zhang Cheng, compared their Pokémon’s levels, and proposed they earn their Elite Trainer titles before the college entrance exam.
• Zhang Cheng began classes and browsed the news during Bai Yuling’s theory lesson.
• Bai Yuling invited Zhang Cheng to her dorm for lunch, and he followed her there.

Bai Yuling gave Zhang Cheng a legendary Diancie Pokémon Egg, which he stored safely while waiting for it to hatch. After a month of classes and training, Zhang Cheng was called with the Elite Class to meet students from other schools for friendly matches.

• Bai Yuling gave Zhang Cheng a Pokémon Egg that his scanner identified as a genderless, S-potential Diancie.
• Bai Yuling confirmed she knew what Pokémon was inside but told Zhang Cheng to wait until it hatched, and she insisted the egg was better suited to him.
• Zhang Cheng researched legendary Pokémon Eggs and learned that they hatched on their own after an unpredictable incubation period.
• Zhang Cheng and Bai Yuling played games during class, while Zhang Cheng continued his usual studies and training with Ye Tian.
• A month passed, and Zhang Cheng's Poliwrath and Pidgeotto both reached level 33.
• The school's loudspeakers announced that students from other high schools had arrived for friendly matches and summoned the Elite Class to assemble outside.

Jin Wu defeated Hao Chenggong in a battle between Jinling University and Jiangcheng No. 1 High School, then challenged the school’s students. Ye Tian accepted Jin Wu’s two-on-two challenge and began the first match with Butterfree against Marowak.

• Zhang Cheng arrived at the training grounds and saw Jin Wu’s Quilava defeat Hao Chenggong’s Pignite, leaving both Pokémon badly injured before Pignite collapsed.
• Jin Wu mocked Jiangcheng No. 1 High School and challenged its students, prompting Ye Tian to step forward for a two-on-two battle.
• Ye Tian sent out Butterfree while Jin Wu chose Marowak, and Zhang Cheng checked Marowak’s information.
• Jin Wu ordered Marowak to attack Butterfree with Bone Club.

Ye Tian used Butterfree to defeat Jin Wu’s Marowak by exploiting its Grass-type weakness and putting it to sleep with Sleep Powder hidden in Gust. Jin Wu sent out Umbreon as his second Pokémon, refusing to concede.

• Butterfree blocked Marowak’s Bone Club with Protect, then Jin Wu countered its Energy Ball with Protect.
• Ye Tian ordered Butterfree to use Gust, and Marowak struck back with Bonemerang, dealing heavy damage to Butterfree.
• Butterfree’s Gust hit Marowak and carried hidden Sleep Powder, causing Marowak to fall asleep when Jin Wu tried to use Protect.
• Butterfree hit the sleeping Marowak with Energy Ball and then Psychic, knocking it out.
• Jin Wu recalled Marowak and sent out Umbreon, insisting that he still had a chance to win.

Ye Tian defeated Jin Wu’s Umbreon with Butterfree by feinting with Gust before landing a decisive Bug Buzz. Song Qing then challenged Ye Tian to a two-on-two battle, and the two prepared to fight.

• Zhang Cheng checked Umbreon’s stats and recognized that its Dark typing countered Butterfree’s Psychic moves, while Heracross would have been a strong alternative.
• Ye Tian kept Butterfree in battle, and its Bug Buzz dealt heavy damage to Umbreon despite Butterfree’s own injuries.
• Ye Tian tricked Jin Wu with a Gust feint, then used a second Bug Buzz to knock out Umbreon when Detect failed to save it.
• Song Qing stepped forward after Jin Wu’s defeat and challenged Ye Tian, proposing a two-on-two battle.
• Ye Tian agreed to begin the match with Song Qing.

Song Qing’s Hariyama challenged Ye Tian’s Heracross in the opening battle, but Heracross defeated him with Counter after surviving a powerful Arm Thrust. Both trainers then sent out their second Pokémon, Song Qing’s Grotle and Ye Tian’s Grovyle.

• Song Qing led with level 30 Hariyama, while Ye Tian sent out level 32 Heracross.
• Song Qing had Hariyama use Belly Drum, sacrificing half his HP to maximize his Attack.
• Ye Tian’s Heracross struck Hariyama with Aerial Ace, leaving him with less than a third of his HP.
• Hariyama’s boosted Arm Thrust hit Heracross four times, but Heracross endured the attack and returned the damage with Counter, knocking Hariyama out.
• Song Qing sent out Grotle, and Ye Tian recalled Heracross and chose Grovyle.