Recaps

After leaving the Sea God's Cave, Li Wei and Steven traveled toward Shalour City, where they arrived during a Battle Festival. Steven explained the competition to Li Wei, and they decided to visit and meet Elite Four member Wikstrom.

• Steven told Rotom to keep the Legendary Birds' location in the Sea God's Cave secret from everyone except Professor Sycamore.
• Steven caught a Corvisquire, while Li Wei took in a young Rookidee whose parents had left it in his care.
• Li Wei and Steven spoke with Professor Sycamore, who recalled studying Mega Evolution at Shalour City's Tower of Mastery and recommended they meet Gurkinn.
• Li Wei and Steven arrived in Shalour City as its Battle Festival was about to begin.
• Steven explained that the Battle Festival helped Pokémon World Championships competitors improve their ranks, and he and Li Wei chose to attend and meet Wikstrom.

Li Wei and Steven attended the Shalour City battle festival, where they met Steel-type Elite Four member Wikstrom. As Diancie watched her first official battles, Wikstrom asked Steven for a favor.

• Li Wei and Steven arrived at the battle festival and drew a crowd of fans.
• The organizers escorted Li Wei and Steven to the VIP viewing area, where Li Wei released his Pokémon.
• Wikstrom greeted Li Wei and Steven, while Diancie watched the battles and told Li Wei she wanted to do her best if she battled.
• Wikstrom asked Steven for a rather presumptuous favor.

At the Shalour City battle festival, Li Wei arranged a challenge against Wikstrom while Steven accepted the Elite Four member’s request for an exhibition battle. Inspired by the crowd’s cheers, Diancie decided she wanted to become famous and enjoy applause herself, as Steven and Wikstrom began their battle.

• Steven encouraged Galarian Farfetch'd to learn about chivalry from Wikstrom, who then asked Steven for a battle on behalf of his Scizor.
• Li Wei also asked Wikstrom for an official one-on-one battle to pursue his side quest, explaining that he was beginning to appreciate battling more.
• The festival announced an exhibition match between Steven and Wikstrom, drawing loud cheers from the spectators.
• Li Wei explained fame and the crowd’s enthusiasm to Diancie, who decided she wanted to step onto a stage and hear cheers and applause.
• Wikstrom saluted Steven before they sent out Scizor and Aggron, and Steven began activating his Key Stone.

Steven and Wikstrom began their Battle Festival match with Mega Evolution, and their Mega Aggron and Mega Scizor traded powerful attacks. The fight remained unresolved as Mega Scizor launched an X-Scissor at Aggron's neck.

• Steven Mega Evolved Aggron, and Wikstrom Mega Evolved Scizor.
• Wikstrom ordered Bullet Punch, and Steven had Aggron absorb the hit and retaliate with Metal Burst, blasting Scizor away.
• Wikstrom had Scizor use Swords Dance twice, while Steven boosted Aggron's defense with Iron Defense.
• Steven ordered Earthquake, which shattered the battlefield and interrupted Scizor's second Swords Dance.
• Wikstrom sent Mega Scizor charging at Aggron's neck with X-Scissor.

Steven and Wikstrom’s friendly match ended with Steven and Aggron defeating Wikstrom and Scizor after a brutal exchange of Steel-type attacks. The crowd honored both Pokémon and Wikstrom, and Li Wei was set to battle Wikstrom that evening.

• Mega Aggron countered Mega Scizor’s X-Scissor with Heavy Slam, sending Scizor crashing into the battlefield wall.
• Steven’s Stone Edge forced Wikstrom to use Protect, and Scizor avoided Earthquake with X-Scissor before Aggron struck back with Heavy Slam.
• Scizor lost Mega Evolution and was unable to battle, so Rotom declared Steven and Aggron the winners.
• Wikstrom helped Scizor up, recalled Scizor, and shook Steven’s hand as the spectators cheered for both competitors and their Pokémon.
• Li Wei, Lucario, and the others applauded, and the chapter ended with Li Wei’s battle against Wikstrom scheduled for that evening.

Li Wei battled Wikstrom’s Aegislash on the coast of Shalour City, where Arcanine’s Moltres-bolstered flames overwhelmed the Steel-and-Ghost Pokémon. Arcanine won after a prolonged exchange, leaving Wikstrom wondering how Moltres’s power had reached him.

• Wikstrom sent out Aegislash for the friendly match, and Li Wei chose Arcanine.
• Arcanine opened with Flame Charge, then struck Aegislash with another charge as Wikstrom ordered Shadow Claw and Sacred Sword.
• Steven recognized Moltres’s silhouette in Arcanine’s unusually powerful flames and watched as Arcanine’s boosted speed forced Aegislash to use King’s Shield.
• Li Wei pressed Arcanine’s advantage with a point-blank Fire Blast and Flamethrower, while Wikstrom used Substitute and Aegislash repeatedly changed formes to endure the attacks.
• Arcanine landed a Flare Blitz on Aegislash’s shield, cracked its blade, and finished it with Flame Charge.

After defeating Wikstrom and meeting young Korrina at the Tower of Mastery, Li Wei accepted her as his first disciple and prepared to leave Kalos for Sinnoh. He departed with Lucario and Diancie, reflecting on the Pokémon and experience he had gained during the trip.

• Li Wei learned that his friendly match against Wikstrom did not qualify for a system reward, then explained that Moltres had blessed Arcanine's flames.
• At the Tower of Mastery, Korrina asked Li Wei to battle her Riolu, and Lucario defeated it decisively.
• Korrina asked Li Wei to become her master, and Gurkinn persuaded him to accept her as a disciple before giving him a Lucario Training Manual.
• Five days later, Li Wei and Steven parted at the airport; Steven flew to Galar to battle Raihan, while Li Wei boarded his flight to Sinnoh with Lucario and Diancie.
• On the plane, Li Wei reviewed his gains from Kalos and remembered that he still had three unused Pokémon Item Prize Tickets.

On the flight back from Kalos, Li Wei drew three Pokémon items and decided to give the Jaw Fossil to his cousin Vera and the Ancient Statue to Cynthia. He arrived safely in Jubilife City, where Dayou and Incineroar picked him up and brought him toward the busy Breeding Center.

• Li Wei used his three Pokémon Item Prize Tickets and received a Hard Stone, a Jaw Fossil, and an Ancient Statue.
• Li Wei decided to give Vera the Jaw Fossil for her birthday and considered giving Cynthia the Ancient Statue.
• Li Wei woke as the plane landed at Jubilife Airport and found that no extraordinary search or lockdown had greeted Diancie.
• Dayou and Incineroar met Li Wei at the airport, and Li Wei introduced them to Diancie and Rookidee.
• Dayou told Li Wei that the Breeding Center was busy with people looking for him, and Li Wei gave Dayou and Incineroar their presents.

Li Wei returned to the expanded Jubilife Breeding Center with Diancie and Rookidee, and reviewed plans for a ranch, restaurant, summer camp, and food festival. He introduced the new Pokémon to the staff and his father, then prepared to settle back in.

• Li Wei saw that Mayor Luca had funded a major expansion of the play area and that the Breeding Center had grown to 3.6 square kilometers.
• Li Wei welcomed Diancie and Rookidee to the Breeding Center, asked Lucario to show them around, and promised Shaymin more friends for hide-and-seek.
• Li Wei and Dayou discussed plans to raise Miltank and Gogoat, produce milk, and open a Pokémon restaurant early next year.
• Li Wei returned with bags of gifts and promised the employees he would hand them out at dinner.
• Shiyin and Leon greeted Li Wei, who introduced them to Diancie and Rookidee and said he would introduce everyone properly that evening.

Li Wei returned to the Breeding Center and gave Rookidee and Diancie gifts, then introduced them to the staff over dinner. After settling the Carbink into a safer underground home, he planned to resume his cooking practice and work at the center.

• Li Wei gave Rookidee a branch-shaped cat tree, which Rookidee happily climbed and chirped from.
• Li Wei presented Diancie with a custom pink princess bed, and Diancie thanked him and said she loved it.
• At dinner, Li Wei introduced Diancie and Rookidee to the staff and explained that Diancie's information would soon be officially recorded in the Pokédex.
• The staff gathered around Diancie, who enjoyed their attention and summoned sparkling diamonds with Diamond Storm.
• Li Wei had already moved the Carbink into a specially excavated underground cave, where they felt safer and enjoyed Pokémon food.
• After more than half a month away, Li Wei resolved to return to practicing his cooking and working at the Breeding Center.

Li Wei practiced new dishes with Diancie before accepting a lucrative request to help an extremely overweight Lycanroc lose weight. After Lycanroc failed to jump for a Frisbee, Li Wei decided to begin its exercise plan with swimming.

• Li Wei practiced Candied Sweet Potato, Boiled Cabbage, and Spicy Pokémon Curry, then offered Diancie Candied Sweet Potato and lemon Basque cheesecake.
• On August 20, Li Wei accepted a request to help a 70-kilogram Lycanroc (Midday Form) lose weight for 100,000 per kilogram lost.
• Lycanroc's Trainer explained that his mother had overfed Lycanroc while caring for it, and that it had gained weight without exercise.
• Li Wei tried to exercise Lycanroc with a Frisbee, but it could barely jump and got struck on the head.
• Dayou advised Li Wei to avoid running and try swimming, so Li Wei decided to get an inflatable pool for Lycanroc.

Li Wei continued Lycanroc’s weight-loss training while restocking his Pokéblocks and Poffins. His cousin Vera arrived for a rare two-day visit, and Li Wei promised to make her any dessert she wanted.

• Li Wei filled an inflatable pool with Milotic and Buizel’s Water Guns, then lifted Lycanroc in and had it swim under Lucario’s watch.
• Li Wei reflected on how practicing his many skills increased his proficiency and considered trying Potion Preparation.
• By August 30, Lycanroc had lost 1.5 kilograms in a week through swimming and a restricted diet, and Mr. Kang De planned to walk with Lycanroc and his mother once it lost weight.
• Vera arrived at the Breeding Center, greeted Arcanine, and asked Li Wei whether he had brought her a present.
• Vera greeted Gardevoir and Xiao Rou, then reunited with the Old Master and Leon, who offered to make her lunch and dessert.
• After Vera mentioned seeing Li Wei make desserts in a documentary, Li Wei offered to make her something, and she asked for everything.

Li Wei learned more about Diancie’s mysterious origins from Vera and arranged to take her to Sandgem Town for a study with several professors. The group planned to leave on September first, while Li Wei continued his work at the Breeding Center.

• Vera recognized Diancie from an ancient text and explained that Diancie was said to be born among Carbink in places rich in Fairy-type energy.
• Vera eagerly examined and cuddled Diancie, then asked whether Professor Rowan knew about her.
• Li Wei said he would take Diancie to the Rowan Research Institute in Sandgem Town, where Professors Oak, Rowan, and Sycamore would study her connection to Carbink.
• Vera asked to join the trip, and Li Wei agreed to take her on September first; she left with Diancie to request time off.
• Li Wei treated Cynthia’s Pokémon, including Garchomp, while watching Diancie and Carbink play and Farfetch'd train with Lucario.

Li Wei put the training methods and advice he had brought back from Kalos to use at the Breeding Center while his Pokémon trained. After lunch, he gave Vera a rare Kalos Jaw Fossil, which she identified as a remarkably intact Tyrantrum fossil that might be revived into a Tyrunt.

• Lucario practiced Gurkinn’s aura meditation method and Wikstrom’s Knight Breathing Method, while Duckling practiced the breathing method as potential preparation for evolving into Sirfetch’d.
• Metagross began teaching Rookidee Protect after discovering that Rookidee could not learn Iron Defense until it evolved.
• The two Dragapult delivered Pokéblocks to Cynthia and Mr. Harold, while Arcanine swam with Lycanroc to help it practice swimming.
• Li Wei gave Vera a heavy wooden box containing a Jaw Fossil he had received from a Hiker.
• Vera identified the stone as a well-preserved Tyrantrum jaw fossil that might be revived into a Tyrunt and said it needed equipment testing.
• Li Wei said he had something else to show Vera.

Li Wei brought an Ancient Statue home and then traveled with Diancie and Lucario to Sandgem Town, where Professor Oak, Professor Rowan, and Professor Sycamore began investigating how Diancie was related to Carbink. The researchers debated whether Diancie formed from a group of Carbink as Li Wei arrived at the institute.

• Li Wei showed his cousin Vera the Ancient Statue, but she could not identify its origins and agreed to ask her teacher or Grandma Carolina.
• On September 1, Li Wei drove toward Sandgem Town with his cousin, Diancie, and Lucario, while Arcanine ran there on its own.
• Li Wei sent thirty Carbink to Professor Rowan, and the researchers struggled to catch the energetic Pokémon at the Rowan Research Institute.
• Professor Rowan invited Professor Oak and Professor Sycamore to investigate how Diancie came into being from a Carbink population.
• Professor Rowan proposed that enough Carbink might combine into Diancie, but Professor Oak noted that other Pokémon formed by combining retained their original characteristics.
• Li Wei and Diancie arrived while the professors were discussing the Carbink and Diancie relationship.

Li Wei brought Diancie to the Rowan Research Institute, where Professor Rowan, Professor Oak, Blue, and Vera investigated how Diancie differed from Carbink. Their research showed that Diancie had been distinct from Carbink since hatching and shared a similar but stronger, higher-frequency Aura with them; Li Wei left Diancie and Lucario at the institute while the study continued.

• Li Wei arrived at the Rowan Research Institute with Diancie and introduced his cousin Vera to the professors and Blue.
• Professor Rowan showed ancient records depicting Diancie and linked them to the Carbink population in Rock Mountain Cave.
• Professor Sycamore's instrument detected rising Fairy-type energy as Diancie stayed with the Carbink, whose synchronized gems began to glow.
• Li Wei explained that Diancie and Carbink had both hatched from eggs, leading Professor Oak to conclude that their difference developed before hatching rather than through Union Evolution.
• Vera proposed comparing their Aura, and Lucario sensed that Diancie's Aura was similar to the Carbink's but more complex and higher in frequency.
• Li Wei left Diancie and Lucario at the institute, where Aura-detecting instruments later confirmed Lucario's readings.

Blue presented provisional conclusions about how Diancie could arise among Carbink, and Professor Oak confirmed Diancie's official Pokédex registration and warned Li Wei about Pokémon Hunters. After the researchers departed, Li Wei and Blue made plans for a year-end gathering at the Breeding Center.

• Blue summarized the research, concluding that Carbink and Diancie were different Pokémon, that Diancie likely resulted from a mutation inside an Egg, and that it could be born in a large Carbink Population in a place blessed by Xerneas.
• Blue proposed that a Carbink Population could have only one Diancie, and the research meeting ended with the conclusions still awaiting long-term verification.
• Professor Oak told Li Wei that Diancie would be registered in the Pokédex and could enter Pokémon League tournaments or Pokémon Contests, then cautioned him to watch out for Pokémon Hunters.
• Li Wei invited Professor Oak and Blue to a year-end gathering, and they agreed to come if they could; Professor Sycamore then left with Li Wei for Jubilife Airport.
• After they dropped Professor Sycamore off, Vera remarked that Li Wei had become comfortable speaking with renowned professors as his reputation had grown.

After returning to the Jubilife Breeding Center, Li Wei discussed the Ancient Statue with Vera and considered the security risks surrounding Diancie. Lance then asked him to cooperate on a matter involving Diancie and revealed that an International Police officer would visit soon.

• On the drive back, Vera remarked that Li Wei had grown comfortable with famous professors, and Li Wei invited her museum colleagues to visit the Breeding Center.
• Vera left for Eterna City and said she would ask her professor cousin about the Ancient Statue, which Professor Rowan had tentatively linked to the fallen AZ Kingdom.
• Li Wei let Diancie and Carbink go play while Lucario went to train, and he considered the need to protect Diancie as her Pokédex entry was prepared for release.
• Lance called Li Wei to discuss Diancie, and Li Wei agreed to cooperate fully.
• Lance told Li Wei that an officer from the International Police would visit him soon.

Giovanni took an interest in Li Wei after watching his cooking videos and having Matori investigate him, while Li Wei remained unaware and continued caring for Lycanroc and training to cook for the restaurant he planned to open. The chapter left Li Wei practicing Candied Sweet Potato under the Old Master's guidance.

• Giovanni watched Li Wei's Corn Tart video and recalled how well Li Wei had battled against Siebold and Lance.
• Matori reported that the Matori Matrix had sent Giovanni Li Wei's information and that the Pokémon League protected Li Wei closely.
• Li Wei weighed Lycanroc, saw that the Pokémon had lost nearly 5.5 kilograms, and encouraged it to continue its weight-loss program.
• Li Wei took Lycanroc swimming and assigned Rookidee to watch over it.
• Li Wei practiced caramelizing sugar beneath oil to perfect Candied Sweet Potato while the Old Master supervised.

Li Wei received a complete crafting kit and began preparing to make Pokémon remedies, surprising Mizuki with his skill in Potion Therapy. Meanwhile, the researchers’ investigation into Diancie’s origins remained unresolved, with Li Wei and Blue planning to search for Xerneas in Kalos when they could.

• Professor Oak, Professor Rowan, and Professor Sycamore became nearly certain that Diancie was a mutated Carbink, but they still lacked evidence of how the mutation occurred.
• Blue and Li Wei agreed to search for Xerneas together in Kalos, using Carbink and Diancie to sense strong Fairy-type auras.
• Li Wei continued developing his Pokéblock and Poffin skills while working at the Jubilife Breeding Center.
• A Rocket Logistics employee delivered the complete crafting kit Li Wei had ordered from the Pokémon League’s official website.
• Mizuki questioned whether Li Wei knew Potion Therapy, then watched him expertly use the kit to prepare medicinal herbs.

After making a Super Potion, Li Wei decided to earn an entry-level Pokémon doctor certification so he could treat Pokémon and share medicine-making videos with credibility. When Diancie felt she had failed to protect the Carbink during a fight, Li Wei agreed to help her grow stronger and assigned Metagross to train her in Psychic-type moves.

• Mizuki recognized that Li Wei had successfully made a Super Potion, while Comrade Leon warned him that treating Pokémon or selling medicine without certification was illegal.
• Li Wei registered for the entry-level Pokémon doctor certification exam, partly to avoid trouble when treating Pokémon and to support future medicine-making videos.
• Carbink and Geodude fought over territory, and the conflict escalated into a standoff between Diancie and Golem with wild Onix; Li Wei and Dayou drove off the opposing Pokémon.
• Diancie told Li Wei she wanted to become stronger so she could protect the Carbink herself.
• Li Wei asked Metagross to teach Diancie Calm Mind, Light Screen, and Psychic, and said he would find Training Manuals for Fairy-type moves.

Li Wei and the Breeding Center staff planned to watch the once-in-a-thousand-years comet together, while Li Wei continued training Diancie to protect the Carbink. Above Sinnoh, Black Rayquaza confronted three Deoxys trying to cross the atmosphere and blocked their way.

• Yuka reported that the comet would appear on October 7 and listed the best viewing locations.
• Dayou suggested watching the comet at the Breeding Center, and Li Wei and the others agreed to hold a gathering there.
• Li Wei invited Diancie and the Carbink to watch the comet and continued training Diancie.
• Minior sensed danger in the ozone layer as Black Rayquaza surged into space.
• Black Rayquaza faced three Deoxys in different formes and ordered them not to pass.

Black Rayquaza defeated three Deoxys in space and drove them away from the Pokémon world. Steven spotted Rayquaza leaving the atmosphere and informed Li Wei, who was training Diancie with Metagross.

• Three Deoxys attacked Black Rayquaza as they tried to enter the Pokémon world, but Rayquaza Mega Evolved and overpowered them with Dragon Ascent.
• Black Rayquaza let the badly injured Deoxys retreat rather than pursuing them.
• The Mossdeep City Space Observation Center detected the battle and Rayquaza's departure, and Steven reassured the researchers before warning them to prepare for a possible attack from space.
• Steven messaged Li Wei that Black Rayquaza had been living above Sinnoh and had flown into space.
• Li Wei read Steven's messages during Diancie's training and looked up at the sky, wondering about Black Rayquaza.

Li Wei discussed the upcoming once-in-a-thousand-years comet with the Chat Group and planned to watch it at the Jubilife Breeding Center. He then asked Erika to contact Kalos Gym Leader Valerie because Diancie wanted to become stronger.

• Li Wei wondered whether Black Rayquaza was flying into space because of the approaching comet and hoped it would not be injured again.
• Whitney shared news about the comet, and the group discussed where they would watch it; Li Wei planned to livestream from the Breeding Center.
• Li Wei asked whether anyone knew Kalos Gym Leader Valerie, and Erika said she did.
• Li Wei explained that Diancie wanted to grow stronger after a Pokémon group fight, and Blue advised him to let the Pokémon resolve their disputes impartially.
• Li Wei asked Erika to pass his request to Valerie, offering money or another form of compensation, and Erika agreed.

Valerie agreed to advise Li Wei about raising Diancie in exchange for his Super Rich Poffin recipe, and Erika arranged to bring her to Jubilife City before Fashion Week. Later, Li Wei and Dayou turned an evening run into a race while their Pokémon joined in.

• Erika contacted Valerie, who agreed to speak with Li Wei about raising Diancie after learning it was a Rock- and Fairy-type Pokémon.
• Valerie proposed exchanging her advice for Li Wei's Super Rich Poffin recipe, and Li Wei accepted.
• Erika arranged to bring Valerie to the Jubilife Breeding Center on the morning of October 2, ahead of Fashion Week.
• Li Wei told Diancie that Valerie would visit as her teacher, and Diancie cheered at the news.
• Li Wei took Arcanine, the police Arcanine, and Lycanroc out for conditioning, prompting Dayou to join the run with Incineroar.
• Li Wei and Dayou challenged each other to race to a hill as Arcanine and Incineroar competed alongside them.