Chapter Summaries

Plot points and events

• Zhu Yan explains the Nirvana Organization’s origins: after devastating Ultra Beast attacks, it formed branches worldwide to combat the creatures and close Ultra Wormholes. The organization has kept Ultra Beasts secret to prevent public panic.
• Zhu Yan mourns the many people and Pokémon who have died protecting peace. Hu Bin is moved by their sacrifice and reaffirms his commitment to the organization.
• Over a meal, Zhu Yan notices Hu Bin’s Mythical Pokémon, Zeraora, and is astonished that a relatively new Trainer has one.
• Zhu Yan proposes a two-on-two Gym battle, promising Hu Bin a Badge either way but insisting on using his strongest Pokémon. They leave their Ninetales out so they can rest for the next day’s speed race.
• Zhu Yan opens with Typhlosion; Hu Bin sends out Dragonair. Dragonair’s Aqua Blast meets Typhlosion’s Giga Impact head-on, and both Pokémon take damage. Typhlosion follows with Flare Blitz, which Dragonair dodges by taking to the air.

Character developments and interactions

• Hu Bin’s growing understanding of the Nirvana Organization deepens his resolve to protect people and Pokémon. Zhu Yan encourages him and pledges the organization’s support.
• Zhu Yan comes across as warm, proud, and considerate: he celebrates Hu Bin’s potential, is candid about the battle’s difficulty, and protects the Ninetales’ strength for the race.
• Zhu Yan is shocked by Zeraora, while Hu Bin treats its presence matter-of-factly.
• In battle, Hu Bin and Zhu Yan test each other’s tactics. Hu Bin is surprised by Typhlosion’s power, while Dragonair shows resilience and responds promptly to his commands.

Significant themes

• Sacrifice and peace: The chapter honors those who gave their lives to shield the world from Ultra Beasts.
• Duty and solidarity: Hu Bin commits to defending peace, and Zhu Yan stresses that the organization supports its members.
• Respectful competition: The Gym match serves as a fair test of strength, with both Trainers showing care for their Pokémon and respect for one another.

Key plot points and events

• Hu Bin’s Dragonair battles Zhu Yan’s powerful Typhlosion. Dragonair blocks a devastating Fire Blast with Protect, then uses Draco Meteor to injure Typhlosion, though Typhlosion is eventually struck.
• Dragonair follows with Dragon Rush, but Typhlosion counters with Giga Impact. The clash sends both Pokémon crashing down, leaving them badly injured but still determined.
• Zhu Yan praises Hu Bin, then has Typhlosion use Fire Pledge. Seeing the danger, Hu Bin decides to risk the Dragonium Z and attempts a Dragon-type Z-Move with Dragonair.
• Trainer and Pokémon synchronize the Z-Move dance and unleash Devastating Drake. It overwhelms Fire Pledge and knocks Typhlosion out, winning Hu Bin the round.

Character developments and interactions

• Hu Bin stays composed despite being accustomed to Gym Leaders’ praise and powerful challenges. Faced with a decisive threat, he trusts Dragonair and commits to an unfamiliar Z-Move.
• Dragonair shows resilience, courage, and strong coordination with Hu Bin, fighting through severe injuries to deliver the finishing attack.
• Zhu Yan recognizes Hu Bin’s skill, enjoys the demanding battle, and responds graciously to his defeat, praising him for surpassing expectations.
• The battle emphasizes the mutual respect between the trainers: Zhu Yan offers encouragement, while Hu Bin acknowledges the seriousness of the challenge.

Significant themes

• Trust and teamwork: Hu Bin and Dragonair’s close synchronization makes the Z-Move possible.
• Perseverance under pressure: Both Pokémon continue fighting despite substantial injuries.
• Growth and generational change: Zhu Yan’s final remark recognizes that new talents can overcome established masters.

Key plot points and events

• After Dragonair and Hu Bin successfully unleash Devastating Drake, Hu Bin praises Dragonair. Zhu Yan then sends out his ace, Charizard.
• Hu Bin judges Zhu Yan’s Charizard against his father’s, which leaves both Zhu Yan and Charizard puzzled by his lack of awe. Since Dragonair is exhausted, Hu Bin chooses Zeraora, while keeping Ninetales rested for a match the next day and ruling out Blaziken as a poor type matchup.
• Zeraora opens with Plasma Fists, landing a fast hit before Charizard can take flight. Charizard counters with Flamethrower, but Zeraora blocks it with its self-created Thunder Barrier. Charizard’s Earthquake then hurts Zeraora, and its Inferno nearly threatens a decisive blow; Zeraora avoids the flames with Substitute.
• Zeraora retaliates with Plasma Fists and Aura Sphere, sending Charizard flying. Zhu Yan acknowledges Hu Bin’s talent but insists the battle is not over, then begins Mega Evolution.
• As Charizard evolves, the egg Blaziken is holding shakes violently, as though Riolu is trying to hatch. The shaking stops once Charizard’s Mega Evolution is complete.

Character developments

• Hu Bin shows sound judgment by withdrawing his tired Dragonair and choosing Zeraora, and he remains composed despite facing Zhu Yan’s strongest Pokémon.
• Zeraora is eager to battle beside Hu Bin and demonstrates speed, resilience, and creativity through Thunder Barrier, Substitute, and Aura Sphere.
• Zhu Yan and his veteran Charizard prove experienced and powerful, adapting to Zeraora’s attacks and preparing a final escalation through Mega Evolution.
• Blaziken is unsettled by the egg’s movement and unsure how to handle a hatching Pokémon.

Character interactions

• Hu Bin warmly praises Dragonair, strengthening their positive partnership.
• Zhu Yan challenges Hu Bin with his ace; Hu Bin’s calm reaction confounds both Zhu Yan and Charizard.
• Hu Bin and Zeraora coordinate closely, while Zhu Yan directs Charizard through a series of counters.
• Zhu Yan’s sportsmanlike acknowledgment of Hu Bin’s skill is paired with a firm declaration that he and Charizard can still fight.

Significant themes

• Partnership and encouragement: Hu Bin’s praise and teamwork bring out his Pokémon’s enthusiasm.
• Experience versus emerging talent: Zhu Yan’s veteran Charizard faces a resourceful younger challenger, and Zhu Yan recognizes the arrival of a new generation.
• Adaptability and perseverance: Both sides respond to setbacks with new tactics, and neither gives up.
• Anticipation and surprise: Charizard’s Mega Evolution coincides with the egg’s mysterious reaction, hinting at Riolu’s imminent arrival.

Plot and key events

• Zhu Yan’s Mega Charizard X clashes with Hu Bin’s Zeraora. Charizard’s Flare Blitz meets Zeraora’s Wild Charge, and the evenly matched collision briefly brings the battle to a standstill.
• During the fight, Blaziken’s egg cracks. Little Joy the Riolu has secretly hatched, wriggled out through a hole in the shell, and run straight to Hu Bin, whose aura feels familiar from their bond before birth.
• The interruption surprises both trainers and their Pokémon. After greeting the team and eating the nutritious eggshell, Riolu urges Zeraora to resume the battle.
• The match continues. Zeraora dodges Charizard’s Flamethrower and attacks with Plasma Fists. Encouraged by Riolu’s cheering, Zeraora grows more spirited, catches Charizard off guard with another strike, and knocks it flying.
• Hu Bin commands Thunder to finish the battle; lightning gathers overhead and begins striking toward Charizard. The chapter ends before the outcome is shown.

Character developments and interactions

• Hu Bin is startled by Riolu’s sudden arrival, then welcomes the Pokémon as Little Joy. The name recalls his beloved dog from his former life, filling him with warmth and affection.
• Little Joy is curious, sociable, and unusually eager to watch battles—Riolu admits to hatching early because the egg’s shell obscured the view. Riolu quickly bonds with Hu Bin and enthusiastically supports Zeraora.
• Zeraora becomes fond of Riolu and performs with extra confidence to impress the newcomer, even acknowledging Riolu with a thumbs-up.
• Blaziken is embarrassed and exasperated to discover the egg has been hollowed out from below, but gives Riolu the broken shell to eat.
• Zhu Yan graciously accepts the interruption, congratulates Hu Bin on his new teammate, and resumes the match.

Significant themes

• New bonds and belonging: Little Joy’s immediate recognition of Hu Bin’s aura turns their prenatal connection into an affectionate reunion.
• Family and emotional memory: Riolu’s name links Hu Bin’s new life to the companionship he remembers from his old one.
• Enthusiasm and encouragement: Riolu’s excitement lifts Zeraora’s spirits and influences the battle, showing how a newcomer can energize an established team.
• Humor amid competition: The dramatic Mega Evolution battle is comically interrupted by an egg-hatching Riolu determined to get a better view.

Plot and events

• Zeraora defeats Zhu Yan’s Mega Charizard with Thunder, knocking Charizard out of Mega Evolution and ending its ability to battle. Riolu watches excitedly, admiring Zeraora so much that it forgets its eggshell meal; Blaziken feels jealous that Riolu seems to overlook the Pokémon that hatched it.
• Zhu Yan is pleased despite losing, viewing Hu Bin as a promising member of their organization and part of the next generation that will face the Ultra Beasts. He awards Hu Bin the Guangdu Badge and a valuable Fire Pledge manual, then encourages him to compete for the championship the next day.
• Back at the motorhome, newly hatched Riolu enthusiastically plays with Hu Bin’s Pokémon. It enjoys flying with Dragonair and riding Ninetales, confirming its outgoing, sociable nature.
• Hu Bin bathes and dries Riolu, prepares food and special Pokéblocks, and watches over the Pokémon fondly. While he is distracted, Riolu presses the button on an empty Poké Ball and captures itself. Hu Bin releases it and formally welcomes it as his partner. The group then shares a late-night meal.
• Hu Bin plans to check Riolu’s information for training and prepare gifts for it and Zeraora.

Character developments and interactions

• Hu Bin is warmly attentive to his Pokémon and grateful for Zhu Yan’s support. His intended capture speech is interrupted again—this time because Riolu captures itself—and the others tease him about never getting to deliver it.
• Riolu emerges as energetic, affectionate, obedient during its bath, playful with the whole team, and eager to join Hu Bin.
• Zeraora becomes Riolu’s instant idol after its decisive victory; Blaziken reacts with comic jealousy.
• Zhu Yan shows generosity and faith in Hu Bin, treating him as a hopeful future leader rather than dwelling on his defeat.
• Dragonair and Ninetales indulge Riolu’s enthusiasm by carrying it through the air and racing with it; the team’s teasing and shared meal underline their close, playful bond.
• Hu Bin still resents his earlier defeat by Su Qingcheng and looks forward to challenging her again.

Significant themes

• The next generation and mentorship: Zhu Yan’s badge, move manual, and encouragement express the older generation’s commitment to helping young Trainers grow.
• Belonging and companionship: Riolu quickly bonds with Hu Bin and the team, joining them in a spontaneous, affectionate way.
• Joy in everyday care: Bathing, feeding, training plans, and shared meals show Hu Bin’s happiness in caring for his Pokémon.
• Humor and affectionate rivalry: Blaziken’s jealousy and the team’s jokes about Hu Bin’s unfinished capture speech keep the chapter lighthearted.

Chapter summary: “The speed race begins”

Key events

• Hu Bin reviews Riolu’s moves and uses his system points to buy gifts for Riolu and Zeraora. Riolu receives a Body Enhancer, Soothe Bell, Focus Sash, and Fighting-type Z-Crystal; Zeraora gets a Soothe Bell, Magnet, and Air Balloon. The balloon is meant to help Zeraora practise its ability to float through magnetic force.
• Hu Bin also receives a Lottery Ticket for defeating Zhu Yan. It grants him Solar Beam, which excites him because of its power.
• The Pokémon enjoy their gifts, while Blaziken begins studying Fire Pledge, a move Hu Bin gives it.
• The next morning, Hu Bin and Ninetales arrive at the Haimen countryside speed-racing course. Blaziken, Dragonair, Zeraora, and Riolu watch from a tree, with Blaziken providing snacks.
• Zhu Yan greets Hu Bin and says he intends to beat him. Their friendly exchange draws the other contestants’ attention; assuming Zhu Yan respects Hu Bin as a rival, they begin taking the newcomer seriously.
• The race opens with an announcement that the top three finishers can each choose a Kalos starter—Froakie, Chespin, or Fennekin. The prize thrills the contestants, especially Zhu Yan, who has long wanted Fennekin.
• Hu Bin is surprised to see Professor Sycamore, a prominent Kalos researcher and a familiar figure from his past experience with Pokémon games, presenting the awards.

Character developments and interactions

• Hu Bin is generous and enthusiastic about helping his Pokémon grow, spending his points without hesitation. He is particularly pleased by Riolu’s delight.
• Riolu’s sunny, excitable nature is highlighted by its joyful reaction to the gifts and its eagerness to watch the race with milk and snacks.
• Zeraora tries to preserve its aloof image after showing how happy it is, but its careful handling of the gifts betrays its affection—a playful “tsundere” moment with Hu Bin.
• Blaziken is both eager to learn and considerate of the group, preparing snacks for its companions.
• Hu Bin and Zhu Yan show mutual respect: Zhu Yan encourages Hu Bin’s attitude, while Hu Bin focuses on giving his and Ninetales’s best effort rather than simply promising victory.
• The other racers’ view of Hu Bin shifts from dismissive to wary after seeing Zhu Yan speak warmly with him.

Significant themes

• Care and partnership: Hu Bin’s gifts and training resources reflect his commitment to each Pokémon’s development.
• Trainer–Pokémon teamwork: The race is explicitly framed as a test of coordination and understanding between partners.
• Confidence and sportsmanship: Hu Bin values doing his best without regret, while Zhu Yan approaches the event as a determined but friendly contest.
• Appearances and reputation: Hu Bin looks unremarkable, yet Zhu Yan’s respect makes others reconsider him as a serious competitor.

Plot points and events

• Professor Sycamore introduces three starter Pokémon—Chespin, Fennekin, and Froakie—and announces that the top three racers will choose one in order of placement.
• Hu Bin becomes determined to place in the top three, particularly because he wants the aloof Froakie. He spends 10,000 system points on an Expert Speed Racing Technique to improve his chances.
• At the race’s start, Gym Leader Zhu Yan and his Ninetales take the lead. Hu Bin and his own Ninetales quickly pass the other racers and move into second.
• Zhu Yan accelerates and pulls ahead, but Hu Bin catches up. As they reach the first bend, Zhu Yan performs his signature Supersonic Drift. Hu Bin matches the maneuver without slowing, keeping close behind and setting up a fierce contest for first place.

Character developments and interactions

• Hu Bin shifts from treating the race as a bit of fun to competing seriously for Froakie. His purchased technique gives him confidence, and his unexpectedly strong riding impresses both spectators and Zhu Yan.
• Zhu Yan begins as the experienced favorite and reigning three-time champion. Rather than dismissing Hu Bin, he praises his skill and treats him as a genuine rival, growing excited by the challenge.
• Ninetales shows strong coordination with Hu Bin, responding to his guidance and executing a clean drift.
• Froakie watches Hu Bin’s performance intently, intrigued despite its reserved, expressionless manner. Chespin and Fennekin, by contrast, cheerfully play and greet the crowd.
• The commentator builds excitement around the clash, while Professor Sycamore takes an interest in Hu Bin’s performance.

Significant themes

• Competition and ambition: The chance to choose a starter turns a friendly event into a high-stakes race.
• Practice, skill, and teamwork: Hu Bin and Ninetales’ coordination lets them challenge a veteran racer.
• Rivalry as motivation: Zhu Yan’s confidence and Hu Bin’s determination push both racers to perform at their best.
• Unexpected attraction and connection: Froakie’s attention hints at a possible bond with Hu Bin.

Key plot points and events

• Hu Bin and Ninetales accelerate back into the lead, surprising Gym Leader Zhu Yan, who had assumed they were already at top speed.
• Hu Bin overtakes Zhu Yan, then uses Ninetales to block his attempts to pass. The two race neck and neck through the bends.
• In the contest for third place, Wu Qian and Tauros sprint ahead but quickly tire. Other racers pass them, and a trainer named Du takes third.
• Professor Sycamore watches Hu Bin’s performance with interest while Froakie watches the race unusually intently.
• With three kilometers left, Hu Bin leads Zhu Yan as they approach five sharp hairpin turns, where Pokémon moves are permitted. Zhu Yan suddenly orders his Ninetales to use Flare Blitz.

Character developments

• Hu Bin shows confidence, tactical awareness, and impressive riding skill, especially when accelerating and drifting through turns.
• Zhu Yan, the defending champion, is startled by Hu Bin’s speed but remains determined to challenge him.
• Wu Qian’s overconfidence gives way to frustration when his and Tauros’s stamina fails.
• Froakie’s focused attention suggests Hu Bin may be the trainer it has been waiting for. Froakie is selective about partners and seeks someone with genuine passion for Pokémon.

Character interactions

• Hu Bin and Zhu Yan trade friendly but competitive remarks, then battle for position through the race.
• Hu Bin directs Ninetales to block Zhu Yan’s passing attempts, turning their contest into a close tactical duel.
• Wu Qian taunts the other racers, who respond with insults before overtaking him once he tires.
• Professor Sycamore observes Froakie’s interest and privately suspects it has chosen Hu Bin as a potential partner.

Significant themes

• Competition and endurance: Early speed is not enough; stamina and judgment matter over the full race.
• Skill and adaptation: Hu Bin’s control through the turns helps him hold the lead, while the approaching hairpins may change the outcome.
• Choosing a partner: Froakie’s independence and standards emphasize mutual compatibility rather than being assigned to a trainer.

Plot and events

• In the race’s opening turns, Gym Leader Zhu Yan overtakes Hu Bin with Ninetales’s Flare Blitz. He then uses Agility, Quick Attack, and a Substitute to build speed and obstruct Hu Bin’s route through a turn.
• Rather than slow down or follow the standard course, Hu Bin orders his Ninetales to destroy the Substitute with Ice Beam and leap over the railing. They stop at the cliff edge and use their Ice Z-Move, Subzero Slammer, to freeze a new road along the mountainside.
• Hu Bin and Ninetales race along the improvised ice road, reaching the exit of the five hairpin turns ahead of Zhu Yan. They now have a strong lead with one kilometer remaining, though the result is not yet decided.
• The contest for third place remains chaotic, with several racers repeatedly overtaking one another.

Character developments and interactions

• Hu Bin proves inventive and willing to take extraordinary risks, using the terrain and a Z-Move to bypass Zhu Yan’s obstacle.
• Ninetales shows complete trust in Hu Bin and excels on the ice, turning the unconventional route into an advantage.
• Zhu Yan demonstrates tactical skill with his speed-boosting moves and Substitute, but is astonished by Hu Bin’s unexpected strategy.
• Froakie, watching with Professor Sycamore, is first frightened by Hu Bin’s apparent leap toward the cliff, then thrilled by his ingenuity. It realizes Hu Bin is the Trainer it has been seeking.
• Professor Sycamore praises Hu Bin and recognizes Froakie’s interest, encouraging Hu Bin to take good care of it.

Significant themes

• Ingenuity and unconventional thinking: Hu Bin makes his own route when the usual course is blocked.
• Trust and partnership: Ninetales follows Hu Bin’s risky instructions without hesitation.
• Risk, courage, and uncertainty: Hu Bin’s daring move transforms the race, but victory remains uncertain until the finish.

Key plot points and events

• Hu Bin and Ninetales win the race, with Gym Leader Zhu Yan and his Ninetales taking second. The rest of the competitors trail far behind; a muscular trainer and Persian eventually finish third.
• At the awards ceremony, Professor Sycamore congratulates Hu Bin and invites him to visit his laboratory in Lumiose City.
• Professor Sycamore then presents the three Kalos starters—Chespin, Fennekin, and Froakie—for Hu Bin to choose from.
• Since Zeraora is too rare and dangerous to reveal publicly, Hu Bin wants another Pokémon for his team. After weighing the three starters, he follows his instincts and chooses Froakie. Froakie accepts, ready to travel and compete alongside him.

Character developments

• Hu Bin wins his second consecutive race against Zhu Yan, though he modestly calls it luck. He is becoming accustomed to victory but remains thoughtful about building his team safely.
• Zhu Yan acknowledges Hu Bin’s skill and encourages him to keep growing.
• Froakie, previously cool and impatient on the surface, reveals its strong interest in Hu Bin. The race and Hu Bin’s invitation confirm that it wants to join him.
• Professor Sycamore acts as both an admirer of Hu Bin’s performance and a welcoming mentor, while teasing Froakie about its fondness for him.

Significant themes

• Skill versus luck: Zhu Yan insists that Hu Bin’s win reflects ability, not chance.
• Following instinct and finding a partner: Hu Bin chooses Froakie by listening to his heart, and Froakie recognizes him as the partner it has been waiting for.
• Responsibility and discretion: Hu Bin keeps Zeraora out of public competitions to protect it and avoid attracting dangerous attention.

Character interactions

• Hu Bin and Zhu Yan exchange congratulations and mutual respect after the race.
• Professor Sycamore praises Hu Bin, offers him help in Kalos, and playfully draws attention to Froakie’s feelings.
• Hu Bin makes Froakie a heartfelt invitation to travel and pursue the world championship; Froakie answers with a firm nod.

Plot points and events

• Professor Sycamore officially gives Froakie to Hu Bin after Froakie chooses him, asking Hu Bin to care for the Pokémon and bring him back to Kalos for visits.
• Zhu Yan selects Fennekin, while the third-place contestant takes Chespin, bringing the Speed Race to a close.
• At the celebratory banquet, Hu Bin draws attention for winning and for his powerful, varied Pokémon team. Froakie quickly joins the group and bonds with Hu Bin’s other Pokémon.
• Hu Bin plans to leave the next day for Harbor City, where he intends to challenge the next Gym and travel by water in his motorhome.
• Before he departs, Hu Bin’s and Zhu Yan’s Nirvana Pokédexes sound an emergency alarm. Nirvana predicts a large-scale Ultra Beast outbreak in Harbor City late the following night and calls nearby members to provide support. Hu Bin and Zhu Yan prepare to go.

Character development

• Hu Bin takes responsibility for Froakie and confidently promises to care for him. His victory and strong team earn him admiration, while the emergency reveals his role in the organization protecting people from Ultra Beasts.
• Froakie leaves Sycamore reluctantly but comforts him and embraces his new Trainer. He soon warms to Hu Bin’s Pokémon and becomes enthusiastic about joining the team.
• Professor Sycamore is saddened to part with Froakie but trusts Hu Bin. Learning that Hu Bin belongs to Nirvana deepens his respect for him.
• Zhu Yan remains composed at the banquet and quickly shifts into action when the emergency alert arrives.

Themes

• Trust and responsibility: Froakie’s transfer marks a bond between Trainer and Pokémon, as well as Hu Bin’s promise to care for him.
• Belonging and teamwork: Froakie is welcomed into Hu Bin’s close-knit Pokémon team.
• Recognition and ambition: Hu Bin’s success attracts attention, and he remains determined to collect all the badges.
• Duty and courage: The planned Gym journey is interrupted by the urgent need to protect Harbor City from Ultra Beasts.

Character interactions

• Sycamore and Froakie share an affectionate farewell, while Hu Bin reassures the professor that he will care for Froakie.
• Hu Bin’s Pokémon welcome Froakie, praising their Trainer until Froakie becomes deeply impressed with him.
• Hu Bin exchanges toasts and farewells with Zhu Yan and Sycamore; both encourage his journey.
• Once the alarm sounds, Hu Bin and Zhu Yan consult their Pokédexes and agree to head for Harbor City, while Sycamore recognizes the seriousness of the threat.

Key plot points and events

• Zhu Yan thanks Professor Sycamore for joining the fight against the Ultra Beasts. Zhu Yan then learns that the Nirvana Organization’s Guangdu branch and nearby branches are mobilizing. The group will meet at the Harbor City branch the next day to plan for the expected mass outbreak.
• Hu Bin offers to drive everyone to Harbor City in his amphibious motorhome. His past experience in the Alola outbreak still troubles him, but he feels far stronger now and believes he can face threats such as Buzzwole more effectively.
• Once aboard, Hu Bin reveals Zeraora, explaining that he keeps it out of public view to avoid attracting unwanted attention. Professor Sycamore is astonished and enthusiastically examines Zeraora, while Zeraora silently asks Hu Bin to stop him. Froakie also meets Zeraora, who welcomes it as a promising future teammate.
• Hu Bin drives at extreme speed, performing dramatic drifts that terrify Zhu Yan and Professor Sycamore. He narrowly avoids a mountainside and reaches the Guangdu coast in about thirty minutes.
• After getting out, the shaken men run off to vomit. Hu Bin releases the rest of his Pokémon and warns them to stay alert for the coming battle, particularly instructing Riolu and Froakie to remain close because they are still relatively weak.

Character developments

• Hu Bin is more confident than during the Alola outbreak, where he was badly injured, and is eager to lead his team into the next battle. His reckless driving reveals a comic, thrill-seeking side.
• Zhu Yan remains focused on organizing the response, though he is rattled by Hu Bin’s driving. His private pride in having battled Zeraora contrasts with Professor Sycamore’s excitement at merely seeing one.
• Professor Sycamore is committed to fighting the Ultra Beasts but is also so captivated by Zeraora that he forgets to respect its boundaries.
• Zeraora shows a protective, mentoring attitude toward Froakie, while Froakie reacts with awe to Zeraora’s strength.
• Hu Bin’s Pokémon team is treated as a unit preparing for battle, with special caution given to the less experienced Riolu and Froakie.

Significant themes and character interactions

• Preparation and growth: The characters mobilize against a shared threat, while Hu Bin measures his progress against the trauma of the previous outbreak.
• Caution versus bravado: The serious danger of the coming battle contrasts with Hu Bin’s reckless confidence on the road.
• Partnership and protection: Hu Bin keeps Zeraora hidden to protect them both and tells his weaker Pokémon to stay close.
• Humor amid danger: Professor Sycamore’s curiosity, Zeraora’s silent exasperation, and the passengers’ fear turn the journey into comic relief before the battle.
• The chapter’s interactions range from the practical coordination between Zhu Yan and Professor Sycamore, to Sycamore’s intrusive enthusiasm toward Zeraora, to Zeraora’s welcoming gesture toward Froakie and Hu Bin’s protective guidance of his team.

Plot points and events

• Riolu and Froakie insist on joining the fight against the coming Ultra Beast outbreak. Hu Bin warns that they could be killed if they are not strong enough, but agrees after Zeraora promises to protect them.
• Hu Bin, Zhu Yan, and Professor Sycamore travel by amphibious motorhome across the sea to Harbor City. While Zhu Yan and the professor sleep, Hu Bin worries about the coming battle; his Pokémon come out to keep him company.
• They reach Harbor City safely at 3:30 a.m. and head to the Nirvana Organization’s local branch. Trainers and members are arriving from land and sea in unusually large numbers because of the threat to the coastal city.
• Branch head Lu Nan welcomes Zhu Yan and thanks Professor Sycamore for helping. After learning Hu Bin is a young Level Four member, Lu Nan praises him and says he may be assigned to lead a team.

Character developments and interactions

• Hu Bin balances caution with compassion: he initially refuses to expose Riolu and Froakie to danger, then trusts Zeraora to safeguard them. His private doubts about the battle ease when his Pokémon gather around him.
• Riolu and Froakie remain determined despite Hu Bin’s warning. Their gratitude to Zeraora strengthens their resolve to train and become more capable.
• Zeraora steps in as their protector, helping persuade Hu Bin to let them participate.
• Zhu Yan and Professor Sycamore travel with Hu Bin and are welcomed by Lu Nan, who recognizes their value to the response.
• Lu Nan shows confidence in Hu Bin’s potential and signals that the young trainer may take on leadership responsibilities.

Significant themes

• Courage tempered by responsibility: wanting to fight is not enough; strength and protection matter.
• Trust and teamwork: Zeraora’s promise enables the younger Pokémon to participate, while Hu Bin’s companions support him through uncertainty.
• Collective duty: trainers and organization members mobilize from across the region to defend Harbor City from the looming outbreak.

Key plot points and events

• More than six hundred reinforcements arrive in Harbor City, joining the local branch’s members to form a force of over seven hundred. Their arrival gives the leaders confidence that they can face the Ultra Beast outbreak together.
• Lu Nan welcomes the warriors and announces that they will rest before a strategy meeting the next day, with the attack planned for that night.
• After the troops leave, the leaders discuss Zhu Yan’s recent Speed Race loss. Zhu reveals that Hu Bin beat him both in a Gym battle and in the race.
• The next morning, Hu Bin looks out over the city, aware that its residents do not know disaster is coming. Riolu and Froakie wake and seek his affection; he picks up both Pokémon.

Character developments and interactions

• Lu Nan is heartened by the large turnout and begins considering a more important role for Hu Bin in the coming battle.
• Zhu Yan is disappointed by his losses to Hu Bin, though he tries to preserve his pride by insisting he would win in a six-on-six battle.
• Lu Tianye, initially teasing Zhu Yan, becomes privately apprehensive about facing Hu Bin and decides to use his second-string Pokémon if challenged.
• Hu Bin is respected as a powerful trainer, while showing a gentler, affectionate side with Riolu and Froakie.
• Riolu and Froakie both seek Hu Bin’s closeness. Froakie is outwardly reserved but visibly longs for his attention and is delighted when he is picked up.

Significant themes

• Solidarity and mutual support: The organization’s rapid response reassures its members that they will face danger together.
• Courage and preparation: The reinforcements meet the coming battle with determination, while the leaders plan their next steps.
• Pride and humility: Zhu Yan struggles with defeat, and Lu Tianye worries about losing face.
• Affection and trust: Hu Bin’s tender interaction with his Pokémon offers a warm contrast to the looming threat.

Chapter Summary

• At noon, Froakie happily eats Hu Bin’s Curry Rice and Pokéblocks, confirming the excellent reputation of his cooking and strengthening Froakie’s warm feelings toward him.
• Hu Bin attends a Nirvana Organization strategy meeting. Though the other members do not recognize him, Gym Leader Zhu Yan invites him to sit with the senior figures. Gym Leader Lu Tianye introduces himself and invites Hu Bin to challenge his Gym after the crisis.
• Lu Nan reports that nearly 200 Ultra Wormholes are expected to open, while the organization has just over 700 members. About 600 will guard the Wormholes in groups of three; the remaining 100, all level-four members or above, will form a ten-team Rescue Assault Squad.
• Hu Bin is named one of the ten team captains. The appointment surprises the room, so Zhu Yan publicly explains Hu Bin’s credentials: he excelled during the Alola outbreak, defeated numerous Nihilego and a Buzzwole, won the Spring City Rookie Tournament, earned four Badges, and beat Zhu Yan in a Gym battle. The members’ skepticism turns to respect.
• After receiving emergency supplies, Hu Bin adds jars of Pokéblocks to his pack and gathers his team. Though anxious and unsure he is ready to lead, he tells the group to remain alert and prepared to assist wherever needed.

Character Developments and Interactions

Hu Bin moves from feeling like an unknown outsider to being recognized as a capable leader, but the responsibility leaves him nervous. Zhu Yan demonstrates strong confidence in him by defending his appointment openly, while Lu Tianye treats him as a promising Trainer and potential challenger. Hu Bin’s assembled teammates are powerful and proud, and some remain uncertain about him, but the looming emergency pushes them to focus on their mission. Froakie’s delight in Hu Bin’s food also highlights their growing bond.

Significant Themes

The chapter emphasizes earned trust and recognition, as Hu Bin’s record overcomes initial doubt; leadership under pressure, as he must accept a role he feels unprepared for; and collective responsibility, with the organization dividing its forces to protect one another during a large-scale crisis.

Plot points and events

• Over 200 Ultra Wormholes open across Harbor City, and vast numbers of Ultra Beasts pour out, far exceeding expectations. Nirvana Organization members stationed at the wormholes begin fighting, but are quickly overwhelmed.
• Hu Bin coordinates rescues from a mountaintop. As emergency calls multiply, he sends squad members to support endangered teams, then flies to a critical site himself on Dragonair.
• Lu Nan realizes the outbreak is beyond the city’s available forces and urgently requests help from the Huaxia Alliance. The Alliance dispatches two Elite Four members and 200 elite Nirvana members, but they will take about an hour to arrive.
• Grieving over the danger his miscalculation has placed the fighters in, Lu Nan is encouraged by Professor Sycamore to join the rescue effort. Sycamore flies out on Garchomp; Lu Nan follows on Pidgeot, leaving researchers to coordinate and relay updates.
• Hu Bin finds several comrades gravely wounded and their Pokémon still defending them. Enraged, he deploys his entire team and launches a fierce counterattack against the Ultra Beasts.

Character developments

• Hu Bin takes command responsibly, balancing oversight with direct rescue work. Seeing injured comrades turns his concern into fury and drives him into battle.
• Lu Nan is forced to confront the scale of his mistaken estimate. His guilt and grief give way to action as he heads into the field.
• Professor Sycamore shifts from analysis to frontline aid, showing practical courage and reassuring Lu Nan.
• The Nirvana fighters and their Pokémon display resilience, continuing to resist despite being badly outnumbered and wounded.

Significant themes

• Courage and duty under pressure: Leaders and fighters act despite overwhelming danger.
• The cost of misjudgment: Lu Nan’s underestimation of the outbreak leaves the organization critically exposed.
• Solidarity and sacrifice: Trainers and Pokémon protect one another, while allies rush to assist even before reinforcements arrive.

Character interactions

• Hu Bin directs his squad through urgent rescue requests, then fights alongside his Pokémon to protect wounded comrades.
• Lu Nan relies on the researchers to contact the Alliance and maintain communications, while Professor Sycamore comforts him and urges him to help in person.
• The wounded fighters’ Pokémon remain at their trainers’ sides, defending them despite their own injuries.

Plot and key events

• Hu Bin’s Zeraora and Riolu help turn the tide against the Ultra Beasts, but the wormhole keeps producing more enemies.
• While his Pokémon fight, Hu Bin treats an injured teammate. The teammate asks him to heal his Pokémon first; moved by their loyalty, Hu Bin gives them Pokéblocks to restore their stamina before continuing the treatment.
• Two other teammates also withdraw briefly to recover their Pokémon. Hu Bin shares Pokéblocks with them, earning the gratitude of people who had earlier underestimated him—especially after seeing his powerful team and Mythical Zeraora.
• Hu Bin’s Pokémon defeat the remaining Nihilego, and the depleted Ultra Wormhole shrinks and disappears. Exhausted, the team collapses; Hu Bin treats their injuries and replenishes their stamina.
• Riolu and Froakie help apply medicine and bandages, revealing an unexpected knack for medical care. But the victory is only local: Hu Bin discovers that fewer than fifty wormholes have been closed, with roughly 150 still active.

Character developments

• Hu Bin shows compassion and leadership, balancing battlefield orders with care for injured people and Pokémon. He also begins noticing that his Pokémon have interests and talents beyond combat.
• Riolu and Froakie feel guilty that Zeraora had to protect them, but resolve to grow stronger. Their observation and initiative reveal a talent for treating injuries.
• Zeraora fights while protecting the younger Pokémon, taking the heaviest wounds. Its actions demonstrate both strength and devotion.
• The teammates shift from doubt to gratitude and respect as Hu Bin supports them and proves his team’s strength.

Interactions and themes

• The injured trainer’s plea to save his Pokémon first highlights the mutual loyalty between trainers and Pokémon; his team, in turn, insists that he be saved first.
• Hu Bin’s generosity fosters cooperation among the teammates, while Riolu and Froakie’s help reflects how care and learning can strengthen a team.
• Key themes are loyalty, compassion, teamwork, growth through hardship, and discovering abilities beyond one’s expected role. Despite the win, the many remaining wormholes leave the larger crisis unresolved.

Key plot points and events

• Hu Bin continues responding to distress calls while waiting for reinforcements. He tells teammates whose battles have ended to rest and use the Pokéblocks he prepared for their Pokémon.
• At another battlefield, Hu Bin and his team rescue three Nirvana Organization members from an Ultra Beast attack. Ninetales, Blaziken, and Dragonair use powerful Hyper Beams, while Zeraora, Riolu, and Froakie take down the surviving foes.
• Hu Bin organizes the fight around Hyper Beam’s recovery drawback: the other trainers protect the temporarily immobile Pokémon, while the remaining Pokémon finish off enemies and gain experience. The Ultra Wormhole weakens as many Nihilego and some Poipole are defeated.
• Just as the battle seems won, Buzzwole emerges. Dragonair recognizes the Ultra Beast as the one that once defeated it when it was a Dratini. Hu Bin lets Dragonair fight alone to settle the old score.
• Dragonair and Buzzwole trade powerful attacks. Dragonair dodges Fire Punch, then drives through Buzzwole’s Flamethrower with Dragon Rush.

Character developments

• Hu Bin shows stamina, leadership, and consideration: he keeps moving between rescue sites, supports his teammates, and gives clear tactical instructions.
• Riolu and Froakie gain valuable experience, improving their instincts and technique. Zeraora is relieved that its earlier injuries helped prepare it for battle.
• Dragonair’s lingering humiliation turns into determination to prove its strength. It takes on Buzzwole without help and pushes through a powerful counterattack.

Significant themes

• Teamwork and leadership: Hu Bin coordinates Pokémon and trainers so they can cover one another’s weaknesses.
• Growth through adversity: Battles help Riolu and Froakie improve, while Dragonair confronts a past defeat.
• Perseverance and redemption: Dragonair seeks to overcome the opponent that once bested it.

Character interactions

• Hu Bin encourages exhausted teammates and supplies them with Pokéblocks, earning their gratitude.
• The rescued Nirvana members are initially stunned by Hu Bin’s strength, then join the fight when he explains the danger of Hyper Beam’s recovery period.
• Hu Bin and the other Pokémon respect Dragonair’s personal stake in the fight and watch as it challenges Buzzwole alone.

Plot points and events

• Buzzwole survives Dragonair’s earlier attack and presses the fight with Dynamic Punch, Bounce, and a sustained Outrage.
• Hu Bin counters with Protect and Substitute, then has Dragonair strike back with Dragon Pulse. As both Pokémon fall, Dragonair regains control and uses Draco Meteor to overwhelm Buzzwole.
• Buzzwole is defeated, its Ultra Wormhole disappears, and the immediate crisis on Hu Bin’s battlefield ends. Dragonair is relieved to have finally beaten the opponent that had defeated it before.
• Hu Bin receives an emergency distress call from his friend Zhu Yan and rushes to help.
• On Zhu Yan’s battlefield, his team and the other fighters are unconscious or unable to battle. His injured Mega Charizard X is his last Pokémon standing against Guzzlord, and reinforcements are ten minutes away.
• Guzzlord overpowers Charizard with Dragon Claw and Dragon Pulse, ending its Mega Evolution and knocking it out. As Guzzlord fires Hyper Beam at Zhu Yan, Hu Bin arrives with four Pokémon—Zeraora, Ninetales, Dragonair, and Blaziken—and their combined Hyper Beam blocks Guzzlord’s attack.

Character developments and interactions

• Dragonair overcomes its lingering fixation on its previous loss to Buzzwole, proving itself through a hard-won victory.
• Hu Bin shows tactical composure against Buzzwole and immediately goes to aid Zhu Yan when he learns his friend is in danger.
• Zhu Yan’s determination to protect the battlefield gives way to despair after Charizard falls. He believes he has failed the Nirvana Organization, but Hu Bin’s arrival saves him from Guzzlord’s attack.
• Hu Bin and Zhu Yan’s friendship is highlighted through Hu Bin’s swift rescue and Zhu Yan’s grateful response.

Significant themes

• Overcoming past failure: Dragonair’s victory brings emotional closure as well as success in battle.
• Courage under pressure: Zhu Yan keeps fighting despite overwhelming odds and the wait for reinforcements.
• Teamwork and solidarity: Hu Bin’s coordinated attack demonstrates how allies can turn a desperate situation into a survivable one.

Plot points and events

• Hu Bin recalls Ninetales, Blaziken, and Dragonair, leaving Zeraora to face Guzzlord. He keeps weaker Riolu and Froakie out of the dangerous fight.
• Zeraora’s opening Plasma Fists is stopped by Guzzlord’s Dragon Tail, and its Thunderbolt is countered by Dark Pulse. Guzzlord then unleashes Earthquake, damaging the battlefield and threatening Hu Bin’s group.
• Forced to adapt, Zeraora uses electricity and a redeemed Air Balloon to hover above the shaking ground—an awkward but exciting first taste of flight.
• Hu Bin sends Dragonair to carry the injured Pokémon and Zhu Yan to safety. Dragonair returns, and Hu Bin rides it to direct the battle from the air.
• Guzzlord attacks the airborne Zeraora with Hyper Beam. Zeraora answers with its own, and the two blasts collide in a massive explosion, temporarily immobilizing both Pokémon.
• Taking advantage of the pause, Hu Bin sends out Ninetales, Blaziken, and Dragonair to attack together, openly abandoning any pretense of a fair fight.

Character developments

• Zeraora shows determination despite being outmatched, then achieves the difficult feat of hovering. Its delight at flying contrasts with its fierce battle spirit.
• Hu Bin prioritizes his Pokémon’s safety, carefully keeping the weaker Riolu and Froakie out of the fight. He also proves opportunistic, using reinforcements as soon as Guzzlord and Zeraora are both disabled.
• Dragonair acts quickly to protect the injured group and willingly returns to the dangerous battlefield to help Hu Bin.

Themes

• Teamwork and trust: Hu Bin coordinates his Pokémon, while each partner contributes according to its strengths.
• Adaptation under pressure: Zeraora finds a way to avoid Earthquake, and Hu Bin changes tactics as the battle escalates.
• Protection over pride: Hu Bin refuses to risk less powerful Pokémon in a fight where mistakes could be fatal.
• Humor amid danger: Zeraora’s balloon-assisted flight looks less imposing than expected, and its reaction to Hu Bin’s “unfair” tactics adds comic relief.

Character interactions

• Hu Bin reassures the recalled Pokémon that they will have their chance to help later; they settle only after hearing this.
• Hu Bin guides Zeraora through its attacks, while Zeraora reacts with frustration to Guzzlord’s strength and disbelief at Hu Bin’s sudden reinforcements.
• Dragonair protects Zhu Yan and the injured Pokémon, then returns to carry Hu Bin into the air.
• Zeraora’s speechless look at Hu Bin’s tactical pile-on punctures the seriousness of the battle with a joke.