Chapter Summaries

Zhang Cheng's Pidgeot knocked out Zhu Han's Breloom but took damage from Rock Slide. Zhu Han sent out his final Pokémon, Emboar, whose Flamethrower began cracking Pidgeot's Protect barrier.

• Zhang Cheng recalled his badly injured Poliwrath and sent out Pidgeot to face Breloom.
• Pidgeot's Hurricane battered Breloom, while Breloom's Rock Slide struck Pidgeot; Breloom was knocked out and Pidgeot lost a third of its HP.
• Zhu Han sent out his final Pokémon, Emboar, and Zhang Cheng used the Detection System to inspect its abilities, moves, and held Charcoal.
• Zhu Han ordered Emboar to use Flamethrower, and Zhang Cheng had Pidgeot use Protect to block it.
• Emboar's flames battered Pidgeot's barrier until cracks began to appear.

Zhang Cheng defeated Zhu Han to advance to the top 100 at Modu University, though Pidgeot and Emboar knocked each other out in their final exchange. He recovered his Pokémon and rested before preparing for the next day's match.

• Zhang Cheng ordered Pidgeot to attack Emboar with Brave Bird, and the collision left Pidgeot injured while badly damaging Emboar.
• Zhu Han ordered Emboar to use Burn Up as Blaze activated, while Pidgeot attacked with Air Slash; both Pokémon fainted.
• The referee declared Zhang Cheng the winner because Zhu Han had no Pokémon left able to battle, and Zhang Cheng advanced to the fourth knockout round.
• Zhang Cheng had his injured Pokémon treated, fed them Pokéblocks, and rested in his dormitory.
• After dinner, Zhang Cheng trained with his Pokémon, returned to the dormitory, and went to bed before the next day's match.

Zhang Cheng faced Lin Peng and his powerful Samurott in the first match of the day. Poliwrath stole Samurott’s Mystic Water and blocked an Air Slash, but the battle continued as Samurott launched another attack.

• Zhang Cheng and Lin Peng entered the Battle Area, where Lin Peng sent out Samurott against Zhang Cheng’s Poliwrath.
• Samurott struck Poliwrath with Waterfall, but Poliwrath used Thief to steal Samurott’s Mystic Water.
• Lin Peng ordered Samurott to use Air Slash, and Zhang Cheng had Poliwrath block it with Protect.
• Poliwrath countered with Waterfall, taking two-fifths of Samurott’s HP.
• Lin Peng ordered Samurott to use Air Slash again, sending a blade of air toward Poliwrath.

Zhang Cheng defeated Lin Peng’s Samurott and sent out Swampert to counter Lin Peng’s Magneton. Their next attacks collided, leaving the outcome of the new matchup unresolved.

• Poliwrath broke through Samurott’s Protect and knocked it out with Submission.
• Lin Peng sent out Magneton, and Zhang Cheng recalled Poliwrath and chose Swampert.
• Zhang Cheng used the Detection System to inspect Magneton and learned that its Analytic Ability rewarded attacking second.
• Zhang Cheng ordered Swampert to use Mud Bomb, while Lin Peng commanded Magneton to use Flash Cannon.
• Mud Bomb struck Magneton and exploded as Flash Cannon shot toward Swampert.

Zhang Cheng and Lin Peng’s battle continued as Swampert and Magneton knocked each other out with Mud Shot and Explosion. Lin Peng sent Swellow against Zhang Cheng’s Poliwrath, whose Protect stopped her Fly before Poliwrath began a Waterfall counterattack.

• Swampert struck Magneton with Mud Bomb, and Magneton’s Flash Cannon damaged Swampert in return.
• Zhang Cheng ordered Mud Shot, while Lin Peng had Magneton use Explosion; the blast knocked out both Pokémon.
• Zhang Cheng sent Poliwrath into battle, and Lin Peng answered with his final Pokémon, Swellow.
• Swellow attacked with Fly, but Poliwrath blocked the dive with Protect.
• Zhang Cheng ordered Poliwrath to counter with Waterfall.

Lin Peng’s Swellow and Zhang Cheng’s Poliwrath traded heavy blows as both Trainers gambled on their Pokémon’s moves. After Poliwrath’s Endeavor brought Swellow down to a quarter of its HP, Lin Peng ordered Swellow to use Air Slash.

• Lin Peng ordered Swellow to meet Poliwrath’s charge with Air Slash, leaving Poliwrath with a quarter of its HP before Waterfall took two-fifths of Swellow’s HP.
• Lin Peng sent Swellow into the air with Fly, while Zhang Cheng ordered Poliwrath to wait for the right moment to use Hypnosis.
• Swellow narrowly dodged Poliwrath’s Hypnosis Wave, but its changed flight path caused Fly to miss Poliwrath.
• Zhang Cheng had Poliwrath use Endeavor while Swellow was close and unable to dodge, reducing Swellow’s HP to match Poliwrath’s quarter remaining.
• Lin Peng, worried about Poliwrath’s Endeavor, ordered Swellow to use Air Slash.

Zhang Cheng advanced to the top fifty after Poliwrath and Lin Peng’s Swellow knocked each other out. After resting and preparing for the next day, he learned that his top-fifty opponent was Wang Lu and faced her at the start of the round.

• Poliwrath and Swellow struck each other with Waterfall and Air Slash, and both Pokémon fainted.
• Zhang Cheng and Lin Peng recalled their Pokémon, and Lin Peng vowed to grow stronger and challenge Zhang Cheng again.
• Zhang Cheng registered his victory and advanced to the top fifty as nearby Trainers discussed his strength.
• Zhang Cheng ate, rested, ordered dinner to his dorm, and relaxed before going to sleep.
• The next morning, Zhang Cheng learned that Wang Lu was his opponent and met her at the battlefield to begin their match.

Zhang Cheng faced Wang Lu in a Pokémon battle, leading with Pidgeot against her Venusaur and anticipating her strategy. Pidgeot struck Venusaur with Hurricane, and the battle continued as Venusaur launched Sludge Bomb and Zhang Cheng ordered Brave Bird.

• Zhang Cheng sent out Pidgeot while Wang Lu chose Venusaur, whose Grass typing put her at a disadvantage against Pidgeot.
• Zhang Cheng identified Venusaur’s Toxic-based strategy and avoided using Protect when she opened with Leech Seed.
• Pidgeot’s Hurricane hit Venusaur hard, while Leech Seed drained some of Pidgeot’s HP and restored a little of Venusaur’s.
• Wang Lu ordered Venusaur to use Sludge Bomb, and Zhang Cheng responded by commanding Pidgeot to use Brave Bird.

Zhang Cheng's Pidgeot battled Wang Lu's Venusaur, enduring poison and Leech Seed while dealing Venusaur heavy damage. Pidgeot blocked Venusaur's Toxic with Protect and countered, but Venusaur blocked Air Slash and prepared to use Toxic again.

• Pidgeot's Brave Bird struck Venusaur hard, activating its Overgrow as Leech Seed and poison reduced Pidgeot's HP to around half.
• Wang Lu ordered Venusaur to use Toxic, but Zhang Cheng had Pidgeot block the attack with Protect.
• Zhang Cheng ordered Air Slash, and Venusaur stopped the blades with its own Protect.
• Wang Lu ordered Venusaur to use Toxic again after it blocked Air Slash.

Zhang Cheng’s Pidgeot defeated Wang Lu’s Venusaur but fell to Emolga’s Thunderbolt after landing a Twister. Zhang Cheng sent out Swampert to face Emolga, despite its inability to use Ground-type moves against her.

• Pidgeot used Air Slash to knock out Wang Lu’s badly injured Venusaur before it could release Toxic.
• Wang Lu sent out Emolga, whose Motor Drive ability made Zhang Cheng reconsider sending out Ampharos.
• Emolga’s Thunderbolt knocked out the poisoned Pidgeot, while Pidgeot’s Twister took a quarter of Emolga’s HP.
• Zhang Cheng sent out Swampert, trusting it to defeat Emolga without relying on Ground-type moves.

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.