Chapter Summaries

Keldeo found the resolve to become a Sword of Justice and awakened its resolute form and Secret Sword, but Kyurem still overwhelmed it in battle. As Keldeo fought on, Ash and the others broke the ice imprisoning Terrakion, Cobalion, and Virizion.

• Encouraged by Ash and memories of its mentors, Keldeo overcame its fear and awakened its resolute form and Secret Sword.
• Keldeo charged Kyurem with Aura Sphere and Double Team, but Kyurem countered its attacks and sent it tumbling.
• Kyurem told Keldeo that its resolve was not enough, then froze Keldeo's hind legs and transformed into Black Kyurem.
• Keldeo stopped Pikachu from intervening, escaped Kyurem's Freeze Shock with Aqua Jet, and met the attack with a barrage of Aura Spheres.
• The clash shattered the ice trapping Terrakion, Cobalion, and Virizion, who approached Ash and the others.

Keldeo found its resolve and fought Kyurem in its Resolute Form, earning Kyurem’s recognition by standing up for its companions despite losing. After Keldeo returned to its Ordinary Form, Li Wei prepared to go to Rainbow Tower at Giovanni’s invitation.

• Ash, Charizard, and Pignite helped free Cobalion, Terrakion, and Virizion from Kyurem’s ice prison.
• Keldeo rose again with Ash, Pikachu, and Axew cheering it on, then used Secret Sword to battle Kyurem.
• Keldeo pushed Kyurem back with Secret Sword, but Kyurem unleashed Teravolt and overwhelmed it.
• Keldeo shielded Ash and the others from Teravolt and cut through the attack with Secret Sword before collapsing.
• Kyurem praised Keldeo’s willingness to protect its companions, recognized it as a fine sword, and left the cavern.
• Keldeo returned to its Ordinary Form, while Li Wei prepared to head to Rainbow Tower at Giovanni’s invitation.

Li Wei arrived at Rainbow Tower in Saffron City to meet Giovanni, seeing how Team Rainbow Rocket had transformed into a major business and charitable organization. He met Giovanni in person for the first time and found him stronger than before, with Tornadus, Landorus, and Thundurus beside him.

• Li Wei arrived at Rainbow Tower with Lucario and Zeraora after Giovanni invited him to meet.
• Li Wei learned how Team Rainbow Rocket had expanded its businesses, built Children's Welfare Homes and Rainbow Academies, and partnered with the Pokémon League.
• Li Wei received a Special Advisor badge and rode the elevator to Giovanni's office, where Matori greeted him.
• Li Wei met Giovanni face-to-face and saw Tornadus, Landorus, and Thundurus standing beside him.

Li Wei met Giovanni at Rainbow Tower, where Giovanni had earned the Forces of Nature’s recognition and recruited Landorus, Tornadus, and Thundurus to help control Unova’s severe weather. Li Wei gave Giovanni the Reveal Glass, leaving Giovanni prepared to use it with the three Pokémon.

• Li Wei arrived at Giovanni’s office with Lucario and Zeraora and found Landorus, Tornadus, and Thundurus there.
• Giovanni explained that he had challenged the Forces of Nature and earned their recognition so they could intervene during severe weather in Unova.
• Li Wei offered Giovanni the Reveal Glass, which Meloetta had entrusted to him after Ash returned it from the Abyssal Ruins.
• Giovanni accepted the Reveal Glass and invited Li Wei to sit down and talk.

Giovanni invited Li Wei to Rainbow Tower, shared his understanding of Earth's Secret Arts, and asked him to lead Team Rainbow Rocket temporarily. Li Wei accepted after considering the responsibility and the support of Lucario and Zeraora.

• Giovanni explained that Earth's Secret Arts centered on nurturing and supporting, then shared his personal understanding with Li Wei.
• Giovanni told Li Wei that Silver had chosen to remain a Pokémon League Investigator and had no interest in leading Team Rocket.
• Giovanni asked Li Wei to take over Team Rainbow Rocket temporarily, believing he could guide it and keep its factions balanced.
• Li Wei worried that he lacked the ability to handle the responsibility, but Giovanni cited his strength and actions at Cameran Palace and in Eindoak Town.
• Li Wei considered the decision with Lucario and Zeraora, who offered their support, and finally decided to accept.

Li Wei accepted Giovanni’s offer to lead Team Rainbow Rocket as chief executive advisor and signed for a five-percent stake, binding himself to the organization’s future. At the Giant Chasm, Keldeo earned the Swords of Justice’s approval, and Cobalion invited Ash and his friends to witness their oath.

• Li Wei accepted the role of chief executive advisor, and Giovanni gave him a terminal and named Sabrina, Lt. Surge, and Lihua as his assistants.
• Giovanni explained that Li Wei would hold the voting rights for his shares and offered him a signed agreement for a five-percent stake in Team Rainbow Rocket.
• Li Wei signed the share transfer agreement and shook hands with Giovanni, who told him to call him Boss.
• At the Giant Chasm, Kyurem acknowledged Keldeo’s courage and returned to the cavern, while Cobalion, Virizion, and Terrakion praised Keldeo as a true Sword of Justice.
• Ash and his friends prepared to part ways with Keldeo and the Swords of Justice, but Cobalion invited them to witness the Swords’ oath, and they agreed.

Keldeo joined the Swords of Justice and decided to help Ash win the Unova League, while Li Wei became Team Rainbow Rocket’s chief advisor and future leader. Cynthia and the League leaders supported Li Wei’s appointment, and Silver revealed that he had recommended him and reconciled with Giovanni.

• Cobalion, Virizion, and Terrakion inducted Keldeo into the Swords of Justice after declaring that true courage was born from their united strength.
• Keldeo asked Cobalion for permission to help Ash win the Unova League, and Cobalion agreed that Keldeo could travel with Ash until the Vertress Conference.
• Li Wei told Cynthia that Giovanni had made him Team Rainbow Rocket’s chief advisor and chosen him as the next leader, and Cynthia said the Pokémon League would help keep the organization on the right path.
• Li Wei announced his appointment in the Chat Group, and Silver said he had recommended Li Wei because he was better suited to leading Team Rocket.
• Silver revealed that he and Giovanni had acknowledged each other as father and son, while Steven, Sabrina, and Lt. Surge offered Li Wei their support.

After finishing his matches with Lorelei and Bruno, Li Wei left for Jubilife City as news broke that Giovanni had transferred him a major stake in the Rainbow Group and named him chief executive advisor. Li Wei arrived home to find his family and friends waiting to hear what had happened.

• Li Wei promised a reluctant Mew that he would visit and bring Victini and the others along before leaving for Jubilife City.
• News broadcasts across several regions announced that Giovanni had transferred shares to Li Wei, making him the Rainbow Group's second-largest shareholder and chief executive advisor.
• Steven Stone confirmed that he and Li Wei were discussing business cooperation and a game project.
• Li Wei arrived at Jubilife Airport, where people stared at him because of his newfound wealth and position.
• Li Wei rode Metagross home and found his parents, relatives, Dayou, Xiao Meng, Mizuki, and the others waiting to question him.

Li Wei explained that Giovanni had chosen him as Team Rainbow Rocket’s backup leader, while his main focus remained the Pokémon Theme Park. He checked the hot spring Wellness Center’s progress and planned a plane tree avenue before heading to meet Steven about a business partnership.

• Li Wei told his family that the Pokémon League accepted him as Team Rainbow Rocket’s leader because his relationship with the League would keep the organization in check.
• Li Wei learned that Keldeo had volunteered to help Ash win the Vertress Conference, and he thought Ash might finally take the championship.
• Li Wei reviewed the hot spring Wellness Center’s construction schedule and decided to plant plane trees around it and along its avenue to attract visitors.
• Xiao Rou told Li Wei that Steven had arrived at the Breeding Center to discuss a business partnership, and Li Wei went to meet him.

Li Wei pitched Steven two Pokémon games, FireRed and LeafGreen, which told different Kanto stories through Red’s and Blue’s perspectives. Steven approved the concept, leaving them confident about moving forward with the games.

• Li Wei told Steven the games would share the main journey but differ in content, narrative perspective, and protagonists.
• Li Wei described FireRed as Red’s linear adventure focused on battles, exploration, Team Rocket, and becoming Champion, with Mewtwo and Team Rainbow Rocket as possible postgame content.
• Li Wei explained that LeafGreen would follow Blue through a more complex story about family pressure, rivalry with Red, personal growth, and darker sides of Kanto, with choices affecting parts of the story.
• Steven connected Blue’s pressure to his own experience as Mu Jin Stone’s son and said Blue’s storyline interested him.
• Steven praised the two perspectives as a brilliant way to attract different players and add depth to Kanto, and decided the concept could work.

Li Wei and Steven finalized plans for FireRed and LeafGreen, including version-exclusive Legendary storylines and a cross-version alliance quest, as their first joint project. After lunch, Li Wei left Steven to tell Red and Blue about the game and get their approval before their exhibition match.

• Li Wei proposed hidden Legendary storylines for FireRed and LeafGreen, followed by an online alliance quest where Red and Blue would team up to calm the Legendary Birds.
• Steven praised the game concept, and he and Li Wei agreed to pursue a partnership between Devon Corporation and Rainbow Group using Devon's virtual gaming platform.
• Li Wei and Steven discussed seeking Giovanni's input on possible VR pod and helmet collaboration, then toasted their partnership.
• Li Wei and Steven ate lunch together, and Li Wei promised to make Steven roast duck the next day.
• Li Wei left Steven to explain the project to Red and Blue and obtain their consent before the exhibition match.

Steven shared Li Wei’s plan for a Pokémon game starring Red and Blue, and the Chat Group discussed how to portray Team Rocket and its ties to the Gym Leaders. The idea won support, but Giovanni’s approval was still needed before they could proceed.

• Li Wei made Pokéblocks and Poffins at the Theme Park while Steven stayed there ahead of his Master League match against Li Wei.
• Steven told the Chat Group that Li Wei wanted to create FireRed and LeafGreen, following Red and Blue as they challenged Gyms, fought Team Rocket, and pursued the Pokémon League title.
• Red and Blue agreed to the game, while other members of the Chat Group asked questions and discussed whether Gym Leaders should be portrayed as Team Rocket executives.
• Lance warned that naming Gym Leaders as Team Rocket members could conflict with the Pokémon League’s public account, and Steven relayed Li Wei’s argument that it would heighten the game’s tension.
• Sabrina and Lt. Surge accepted the idea of appearing as Team Rocket executives, and Steven proposed a disclaimer stating that the fictional portrayal did not reflect reality.
• Red and Blue had no objections, leaving Giovanni’s approval as the remaining step.

Li Wei and Steven secured Giovanni’s and Devon Corporation’s support for a Pokémon game based on Red, Blue, and Giovanni’s past. They began developing the story and gameplay for FireRed and LeafGreen, starting with Red’s journey from Pallet Town.

• Matori told Giovanni that Li Wei wanted to base a game character on him, and Giovanni approved the project and pledged Rainbow Group’s support.
• Giovanni reflected on how his past encounters with Team Rocket, Red, Blue, and Li Wei had shaped him and welcomed the chance to have that journey recorded in a game.
• Chat Group members discussed future games and offered suggestions for FireRed and LeafGreen, while Lance offered to handle permission from the Pokémon League.
• Steven called his father, Mu Jin Stone, who agreed to support Li Wei’s game proposal and welcomed the chance for Steven to become involved in Devon Corporation.
• Li Wei and Steven began refining the game, planning Red’s journey from Pallet Town with the classic starter trio, Brock as the first Gym Leader, and Yellow as a girl from Viridian Forest.
• Li Wei and Steven decided that Pokémon would evolve at set levels and that the game would have a level cap of 100.

Li Wei and Steven stayed up all night working on a game before Li Wei agreed to buy his father Leon a costly Devon Precision watch. He also arranged to buy a rose-gold watch for Wen Hui, and Steven planned to send both watches to him.

• Li Wei and Steven worked on their computers through the night while Li Wei chose Lucario, Arcanine, and Victini for his upcoming battle against Steven.
• Leon brought Li Wei and Steven breakfast, then asked Li Wei to buy him a limited-edition Metagross-inspired Devon Precision watch.
• Steven identified the watch as the Thousand Peaks Azure model and explained that it cost 120 million Pokéyen on the secondhand market.
• Li Wei agreed to buy the watch for Leon, who left for work delighted.
• Li Wei asked Steven to recommend a watch for Wen Hui, and Steven offered a rose-gold model alongside Leon's watch for a discounted total price of sixty million.

After finishing the main storyline for FireRed, Li Wei and Steven prepared a music video with Ash before meeting in Jubilife City for their Master League points-stage battle. Arcanine charged at Steven’s Shiny Metagross, which answered with Rock Slide.

• Li Wei and Steven completed the main storyline for FireRed and decided to have Meloetta compose a song for a music video featuring Ash.
• Ash accepted Li Wei’s invitation to record the song after the Unova Pokémon League tournament.
• Li Wei and Steven met at Jubilife City’s Sky Arena for a Master League points-stage match under single-battle rules.
• Li Wei sent out Arcanine while Steven chose his Shiny Metagross.
• Li Wei ordered Arcanine to use Flare Blitz, and Steven had Metagross rise into the sky and launch Rock Slide at Arcanine’s path.

Li Wei defeated Steven in a close battle, proving he could beat a Champion in an official match. The chapter then turned to the Vertress Conference final, where Ash faced Virgil as Li Wei and others watched to see whether Ash could win his first League championship.

• Li Wei defeated Steven's Mega Metagross with Mega Lucario after Arcanine and Victini wore it down.
• Steven congratulated Li Wei, then returned to the Hoenn Region to fulfill his duties as Champion.
• Dawn returned to Jubilife Pokémon Theme Park after finishing second at the Hoenn Grand Festival.
• Ash reached the Vertress Conference final after defeating Trip, Bianca, and Cameron, and faced Virgil and his six Eevee evolutions.
• Li Wei, Cynthia, Dawn, Delia, Professor Oak, Red, and Blue watched as Ash's final began, with Ash and Keldeo showing strong teamwork.

Ash battled Virgil in the Vertress Conference finals and opened with Snivy, which defeated Virgil’s Jolteon. Ash then sent out Meloetta against Flareon, and the match continued as Meloetta transformed into Pirouette Forme and prepared to counter Flareon’s close-range attack.

• Ash opened the finals with Snivy, which used Attract and Leaf Storm to leave Jolteon vulnerable before defeating it with a critical Leaf Blade.
• Virgil sent out Flareon, and Ash recalled Snivy and chose Meloetta instead of Keldeo.
• Meloetta’s Relic Song overpowered Flareon’s Lava Plume and changed Meloetta from Aria Forme into Pirouette Forme.
• Virgil sent Flareon in with Flame Charge, and Ash ordered Meloetta to answer with Close Combat.

At the Vertress Conference finals, Ash built a commanding lead over Virgil by defeating Flareon with Meloetta and drawing with Leafeon using Krookodile. Charizard then battered Espeon, and Ash ordered a Seismic Toss as the chapter ended.

• Meloetta defeated Virgil's Flareon with Close Combat and Psychic, putting Ash ahead two to zero.
• Krookodile and Leafeon knocked each other out after Ash's Fire Fang met Leafeon's boosted Leaf Blade, leaving the score three to one.
• Ash sent out Charizard against Virgil's Espeon, which greeted him with Psychic while Charizard entered the field.
• Charizard struck Espeon with Wing Attack and interrupted its Morning Sun with Thunder Punch.
• Virgil ordered Espeon to use Psychic, and Ash told Charizard to grab it and use Seismic Toss.

Charizard defeated Espeon, and Pikachu overcame Virgil’s ace Eevee, bringing Ash to the brink of winning the Vertress Conference. Virgil sent out Umbreon, while Ash chose Keldeo, which transformed into its Resolute Form as their final battle began.

• Charizard seized Espeon with Psychic and won with a Seismic Toss, extending Ash’s lead to 4-1.
• Virgil sent out his unevolved Eevee, and Ash chose Pikachu for the next battle.
• Pikachu and Eevee traded attacks before their Volt Tackle and Last Resort collided, with Pikachu defeating Eevee.
• Virgil sent out his final Pokémon, Umbreon, and Ash chose Keldeo.
• Keldeo transformed into its Resolute Form as it entered the battlefield.

Ash defeated Virgil to win the Vertress Conference, claiming his first official Pokémon League trophy. He celebrated with Keldeo and Pikachu and said he would keep working toward becoming a Pokémon Master.

• Ash's resolute-form Keldeo overwhelmed Virgil's Umbreon with Sacred Sword and Secret Sword, knocking it out and giving Ash a decisive victory.
• The referee declared Ash the Vertress Conference champion, and Ash hugged Keldeo as Pikachu joined the celebration.
• Cynthia said Ash was qualified to compete in the Master League, while Li Wei and Cynthia doubted Blue would let him enter yet.
• Virgil accepted his defeat and shook Ash's hand before Alder presented Ash with the championship trophy.
• Ash raised the trophy alongside Keldeo, Pikachu, Meloetta, and Charizard, then said he would keep working toward becoming a Pokémon Master.