Chapter Summaries

Zhang Cheng relied on Toxic and Marshtomp’s defensive moves to wear down Ye Tian’s Zweilous. The battle remained unresolved, but Zweilous was close to being knocked out by poison.

• Ye Tian ordered Zweilous to use Crunch, and Zhang Cheng had Marshtomp land Toxic while taking heavy damage.
• Zhang Cheng blocked Zweilous’s Dragon Breath with Protect, causing the poison to drain Zweilous’s HP further.
• Marshtomp used Wide Guard to stop Zweilous’s Dragon Tail, surprising Ye Tian with the unfamiliar defensive move.
• Ye Tian ordered another Dragon Tail, but Zhang Cheng reassured Marshtomp and had it use Protect again.
• Zweilous’s attack failed to break through the barrier, and its HP fell nearly to zero as the chapter ended.

Zhang Cheng and Ye Tian battled, and Zhang Cheng won after Marshtomp’s Wide Guard outlasted Zweilous’s Crunch and Toxic defeated Zweilous. After their Pokémon reached level 20 and the final exams ended, Zhang Cheng returned home and arranged with Ye Tian to visit the Challenge Tower the next morning.

• Ye Tian ordered Zweilous to use Crunch against Marshtomp, but Marshtomp’s Wide Guard broke only after absorbing the attack, and Toxic then knocked Zweilous out.
• Zhang Cheng and Ye Tian healed their Pokémon, continued training together, and agreed to visit the Challenge Tower after the exams to earn the Normal-class Trainer title.
• The day before finals, Zhang Cheng’s Poliwhirl and Pidgeotto and Ye Tian’s Butterfree and Heracross all reached level 20.
• Zhang Cheng finished his theory exam, went home for winter break, and enjoyed a meal prepared by his mother.
• Zhang Cheng arranged with Ye Tian to meet at the Challenge Tower the next morning, then contacted Bai Yuling to play games.

Zhang Cheng began his Normal-class Trainer assessment at the Challenge Tower and battled an examiner’s Skarmory with Poliwhirl. Rainy Weather helped Poliwhirl gain the advantage, but the battle remained unfinished as Poliwhirl prepared Mind Reader.

• Zhang Cheng met Ye Tian at the Challenge Tower, and staff assigned them to separate assessment rooms.
• The examiner explained the two-on-two assessment rules, and the system selected a rocky battlefield for Zhang Cheng’s match.
• Zhang Cheng sent out Poliwhirl, while the examiner chose a level-20 Skarmory.
• Poliwhirl blocked Skarmory’s Metal Claw with Protect, then used Rain Dance and clashed with Skarmory’s Drill Peck using Waterfall.
• Poliwhirl struck Skarmory with Bubble Beam, and Zhang Cheng ordered Mind Reader as the battle continued.

Zhang Cheng defeated the examiner’s Skarmory, then faced Loudred while trying to avoid the Stealth Rock damage Skarmory had left behind. Pidgeotto bypassed the hazard and battled Loudred, ending the chapter as it blocked another Circle Throw with Protect.

• Poliwhirl put Skarmory to sleep with Hypnosis, hit it with Waterfall, and defeated it with Body Slam after Skarmory set Stealth Rock.
• The examiner sent out Loudred, which used Circle Throw to force Poliwhirl off the field and activate the examiner’s Stealth Rock strategy.
• Zhang Cheng sent out Pidgeotto, which avoided Stealth Rock damage because it was a Flying type.
• The examiner ordered Loudred to use Disarming Voice, but Zhang Cheng countered with Hurricane, cutting Loudred’s HP in half.
• Loudred tried Circle Throw again, but Pidgeotto used Protect and blocked its attempt to grab it.

Zhang Cheng passed the Normal-class Trainer assessment by defeating the examiner’s Loudred with Pidgeotto. In another battle room, Ye Tian used Butterfree’s moves and a surprise Sleep Powder setup to gain the upper hand against the examiner’s Ninetales, but the battle was still underway.

• Zhang Cheng ordered Pidgeotto to use Quick Attack, knocking out the already weakened Loudred and passing the assessment.
• Ye Tian sent out Butterfree against the examiner’s Gloom and used Aerial Ace to cut its HP in half.
• The examiner recalled Gloom and sent out Ninetales, whose Flame Charge badly hurt Butterfree after Butterfree blocked Fire Spin with Protect.
• Ye Tian’s Gust-and-Sleep Powder combination put Ninetales to sleep, and Butterfree’s Psybeam struck it hard enough to wake it at critical HP.
• Ye Tian ordered Butterfree to attack the weakened Ninetales with Confusion.

After earning the Normal-class Trainer title, Zhang Cheng accepted a League mission to catch three Wooper in Magnolia Forest. There, he reunited with the Machop he had met during an earlier training trip, now evolved into Machoke, and brought it along to help search for Wooper.

• Ye Tian defeated the examiner’s Gloom with Butterfree’s Aerial Ace and Psybeam, while Zhang Cheng completed his own battle; both registered as Normal-class Trainers.
• Zhang Cheng returned home and decided to spend winter break improving his Pokémon by taking League missions.
• Zhang Cheng accepted a Gold Rank mission to catch three Wooper for a reward of 200,000 Pokémon Coins and traveled to Magnolia Town.
• Zhang Cheng went to the waterfall area where he had previously met a training Machop and found it had evolved into Machoke.
• Machoke eagerly asked to battle Zhang Cheng’s Pokémon, but Zhang Cheng explained that he was on a mission.
• Poliwhirl indicated that Machoke could join the mission, and Machoke agreed to accompany Zhang Cheng to the river to search for Wooper.

Zhang Cheng caught a Wooper, then faced its furious mother, Quagsire. He and his five Pokémon began a coordinated attack, but the battle was still underway.

• Zhang Cheng weakened a Level 16 Wooper with Poliwhirl, Pidgeotto, and Machoke, then caught him after Poliwhirl put him to sleep.
• A Level 25 Quagsire arrived with two Wooper and attacked Zhang Cheng, apparently enraged that he had captured her child.
• Zhang Cheng checked Quagsire's stats and decided his Pokémon could defeat her despite her Water Absorb ability.
• Zhang Cheng ordered Poliwhirl, Pidgeotto, Flaaffy, Marshtomp, and Machoke to attack Quagsire together.

Zhang Cheng and his Pokémon defeated Quagsire and caught the three Wooper traveling with it. He turned in his mission in Magnolia Town, collected his reward, and prepared to visit Machoke again the next morning.

• Zhang Cheng's Pokémon weakened Quagsire with coordinated attacks, and Poliwhirl used Mind Reader to make Hypnosis Wave put Quagsire to sleep.
• Poliwhirl, Flaaffy, Pidgeotto, Marshtomp, and Machop attacked the sleeping Quagsire until it fainted.
• Zhang Cheng's Pokémon stopped the two fleeing Wooper, and Zhang Cheng caught both of them, along with the first Wooper Poliwhirl had knocked unconscious.
• Zhang Cheng had Poliwhirl heal Quagsire, said goodbye to Machoke, and returned to Magnolia Town.
• Zhang Cheng turned in his mission for 250,000 Pokémon Coins, bought Fighting-type Pokéblocks for Machoke, and returned to the inn.

Zhang Cheng brought Fighting-type Energy Pokéblocks to Machoke and arranged a battle between Machoke and Poliwhirl. Poliwhirl gained the upper hand with Rain Dance and a freezing Ice Beam, then struck the immobilized Machoke with a powerful Waterfall.

• Zhang Cheng and his Pokémon greeted Machoke at the waterfall and gave him Fighting-type Energy Pokéblocks, which he accepted.
• Zhang Cheng chose Poliwhirl to battle Machoke and checked Machoke’s stats before the fight began.
• Poliwhirl summoned rain, and he and Machoke exchanged powerful attacks, each taking significant damage.
• Poliwhirl blocked Machoke’s Bullet Punch with Protect, then used Body Slam and dodged Machoke’s Karate Chop.
• Poliwhirl’s Ice Beam froze Machoke, and Zhang Cheng ordered a full-power Waterfall that shattered the ice and sent Machoke flying.

Zhang Cheng teamed up with Xiao Wei to take a Platinum Rank mission to clear Mankey from Magnolia Forest and defeat their Primeape. After preparing and meeting early, they set off into the forest to find the group.

• Zhang Cheng’s Pokémon gained levels through training, and Marshtomp learned Mud Bomb while Flaaffy learned Take Down.
• Zhang Cheng met Xiao Wei at the Mission Hall and agreed to split the reward for a mission to clear over twenty Mankey and defeat a Primeape.
• Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei compared their Pokémon’s strength and agreed to meet at Magnolia Forest the next morning.
• Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei set out into Magnolia Forest, following the League’s directions toward the Mankey gathering place.

Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei entered Mankey territory, where their Pokémon defeated two level 16 attackers and drew a larger troop. They began fighting the troop’s reinforcements before its leader, Primeape, arrived.

• Zhang Cheng checked the stats of Xiao Wei’s Ninjask, Cloyster, and Weepinbell, noting their abilities and moves.
• Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei reached the Mankey territory and followed Zhang Cheng’s plan to draw the territorial Pokémon out.
• Two Mankey ambushed them, but Marshtomp’s Wide Guard blocked their attack; Poliwhirl and Ninjask then knocked both out.
• About ten more Mankey appeared, and Zhang Cheng urged Xiao Wei to defeat them before Primeape arrived.
• Xiao Wei ordered Ninjask to use Gust, Cloyster to use Spike Cannon, and Weepinbell to use Sleep Powder; Ninjask knocked out Mankey while Cloyster badly injured another.

Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei defeated a troop of Mankey using their Pokémon’s attacks and coordinated defenses. They then prepared to continue searching for a level 28 Primeape, which they planned to overwhelm together.

• Zhang Cheng warned Xiao Wei that the Mankey likely had Vital Spirit, so Weepinbell’s Sleep Powder would not work.
• Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei’s Pokémon battled the Mankey, with Marshtomp blocking their attacks while Poliwhirl and Pidgeotto knocked several out.
• Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei agreed to divide the remaining Mankey between them and finish the fight quickly.
• Xiao Wei’s Ninjask, Cloyster, and Weepinbell took down more Mankey, and Weepinbell defeated one after enduring its Fury Swipes.
• After the group of Mankey was defeated, Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei decided to search farther into the area for the level 28 Primeape.

Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei encountered a level 29 Primeape carrying a Lum Berry and battled it with their Pokémon. After a critical hit triggered Primeape’s Anger Point and their attacks badly poisoned it, Primeape knocked Cloyster out with Cross Chop.

• Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei continued through Mankey territory until Primeape attacked Marshtomp’s Wide Guard.
• Zhang Cheng checked Primeape’s data and discovered its Lum Berry and Anger Point ability.
• Poliwhirl blocked Primeape’s Karate Chop while Xiao Wei and Zhang Cheng’s Pokémon struck Primeape with a barrage of attacks.
• Weepinbell landed a critical hit, activating Primeape’s Anger Point, and Marshtomp poisoned it with Toxic.
• Primeape’s Cross Chop shattered Cloyster’s Protect and knocked Cloyster out.

Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei ordered their Pokémon to overwhelm Primeape after it knocked out Cloyster, Poliwhirl, Weepinbell, and Marshtomp. Pidgeotto and Ninjask finally brought Primeape down, and the poison inside it depleted its HP as it collapsed.

• Primeape knocked out Cloyster and attacked Poliwhirl as Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei ordered their Pokémon to abandon defense and attack.
• Poliwhirl struck Primeape with Waterfall before Primeape knocked it out, and Pidgeotto, Weepinbell, and Marshtomp continued attacking.
• Primeape knocked out Weepinbell with Karate Chop while poison gradually drained its HP.
• Pidgeotto used Hurricane and Ninjask used Fury Cutter to knock Primeape to the ground, but Primeape stood back up.
• The poison flared up again, depleted Primeape's HP, and caused it to faint.

After defeating Primeape, Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei rested and continued their mission to clear out the remaining Mankey. They defeated the last group at their cave, confirmed it was empty, and headed back to Magnolia Town.

• Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei rested after Primeape's defeat and treated their injured Pokémon, leaving Pidgeotto and Ninjask fit to battle.
• Three Mankey ambushed Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei, but Pidgeotto blocked their Fury Swipes while Ninjask and Pidgeotto knocked them out.
• Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei tracked the remaining Mankey to their cave, where five Mankey attacked them.
• Pidgeotto's Hurricane knocked out three Mankey, and Ninjask's Gust finished off the other two.
• Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei checked the cave for any remaining Mankey, then left for Magnolia Town to turn in their mission.

After completing a League mission with Xiao Wei, Zhang Cheng trained his Pokémon for nearly half a month and prepared for a Double Battle tournament with Xiao Wei. They planned to register and spend the two days before the tournament practicing teamwork.

• Xiao Wei and Zhang Cheng turned in their mission, split the one-million-coin reward, and exchanged contact details after their Pokémon recovered.
• Zhang Cheng trained his Pokémon at the waterfall and in Magnolia Forest, helping them level up and learn new moves.
• Xiao Wei invited Zhang Cheng to team up for a Double Battle tournament with a one-million-coin championship prize, and Zhang Cheng agreed.
• Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei discussed the tournament rules and expected number of entrants, then agreed to register and train their Pokémon together.
• Zhang Cheng returned to Magnolia Forest to train, while Xiao Wei went to the Pokémon Mission Center to take on missions.

Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei trained their Pokémon for a Double Battle tournament, then drew number 6 and learned they would face brothers Fang Jin and Fang Yin. After watching several poorly coordinated teams compete, Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei took their positions for their opening match.

• Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei chose Poliwhirl and Cloyster as their leads, with Pidgeotto and Ninjask as their second Pokémon, and trained together for two days.
• Zhang Cheng fed his Pokémon Pokéblocks and rested with them before the tournament.
• Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei met at Magnolia Town's crowded main square, where 64 Trainers had entered the tournament as 32 teams.
• Xiao Wei drew number 6 for their team, and the matchup screen showed they would face brothers Fang Jin and Fang Yin.
• Zhang Cheng watched the early matches and noticed that most teams lacked coordination and many contestants' Pokémon were underleveled.
• After the number 5 match ended, Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei took their positions across from Fang Jin and Fang Yin.

Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei began a Double Battle against brothers Fang Jin and Fang Yin, whose Noctowl and Ariados used disruptive tactics while Zhang Cheng's side prepared a rainy-weather assault. The opening attacks were underway, with Noctowl confronting Cloyster and Ariados defending against Poliwhirl.

• The Referee explained the Double Battle rules, and Zhang Cheng, Xiao Wei, Fang Jin, and Fang Yin sent out their Pokémon.
• Zhang Cheng scanned Noctowl and Ariados, learning Noctowl had Insomnia and Ariados had Protect and Toxic Spikes.
• Fang Jin had Ariados scatter Toxic Spikes, while Zhang Cheng ordered Poliwhirl to create rain with Rain Dance.
• Fang Yin had Noctowl use Double Team, but Cloyster's Skill Link-powered Spike Cannon struck the real Noctowl and dispelled her copies.
• Zhang Cheng and Xiao Wei ordered Waterfall and Water Pulse, and Fang Yin answered Cloyster's attack with Noctowl's Extrasensory.
• Fang Jin ordered Ariados to use Protect against Poliwhirl's Waterfall.

Fang Yin used Fang Jin's advice to have Noctowl evade Cloyster's attacks with Double Team, while Cloyster resorted to Spike Cannon. Fang Jin then ordered Ariados to attack Poliwhirl, and Zhang Cheng had Poliwhirl use Protect, leaving the battle ongoing.

• Poliwhirl's Waterfall struck Ariados's barrier, while Cloyster's Rain-boosted Water Pulse took half of Noctowl's HP.
• Fang Jin told Fang Yin to use Double Team to stall Cloyster and create a chance for Noctowl to use Hypnosis.
• Fang Yin had Noctowl use Double Team repeatedly, allowing it to evade Cloyster's Water Pulse twice.
• Xiao Wei switched Cloyster to Spike Cannon, but Noctowl's Double Team limited each attack to one spike hitting the real Pokémon.
• Fang Jin ordered Ariados to use Poison Jab on Poliwhirl, and Zhang Cheng responded by having Poliwhirl use Protect.

Zhang Cheng’s Poliwhirl defeated Fang Jin’s Ariados while Xiao Wei’s Cloyster knocked out Fang Yin’s Noctowl. Fang Yin sent out Lickitung, who began battling Cloyster as the fight continued.

• Poliwhirl used Waterfall to damage Ariados, while Cloyster’s Spike Cannon steadily wore down Noctowl.
• Fang Yin ordered Noctowl to use Extrasensory, but Cloyster’s Water Pulse knocked Noctowl out; Fang Yin sent out Lickitung.
• Poliwhirl put Ariados to sleep with Hypnosis, restored the rain with Rain Dance, and knocked Ariados out with Wake-Up Slap.
• Zhang Cheng checked Lickitung’s stats and judged that Cloyster could handle him.
• Lickitung attacked Cloyster with Lick, but Cloyster’s Spike Cannon struck his tongue and forced him to pull it back.