Chapter Summaries

Li Wei returned to Jubilife Pokémon Theme Park to livestream battles against Master Tier challengers at the Battle Tower. Lucario and Zeraora each defeated Aaron’s Pokémon, and the challenge continued.

• Li Wei returned to the Theme Park, where his Pokémon trained by battling challengers at the Battle Tower.
• Li Wei opened a livestream and faced Aaron from Aspertia City in the Unova Region.
• Lucario defeated Aaron’s Mienshao with a single Aura Sphere.
• Zeraora defeated Aaron’s Aegislash after dodging its attacks and breaking through its defenses with Plasma Fists.
• The referee asked Aaron to send out his next Pokémon.

Li Wei swept Longzo and Ramon before facing Iris, the newly crowned Unova Champion, in a six-on-six battle. Iris’s Haxorus gained a Dragon Dance boost, but Lucario used Metal Sound to disrupt its Dragon Claw as their match began.

• Li Wei’s Metagross defeated Longzo’s Tyranitar, and Li Wei swept Longzo’s team 6-0.
• Li Wei sent out Diancie against Ramon’s Hydreigon and swept Ramon’s team 6-0.
• Iris arrived as Li Wei’s final opponent, and the two began their six-on-six battle after congratulating and greeting each other.
• Iris sent out her Champion-level Haxorus, while Li Wei chose Lucario.
• Haxorus completed Dragon Dance despite taking an Aura Sphere, then Lucario’s Metal Sound disrupted Dragon Claw and let Lucario dodge.

Li Wei continued his Battle Tower match against Iris, defeating her Haxorus, Hydreigon, and then preparing to face her Lapras with Arcanine. The chapter ended as Iris opened the matchup by ordering Lapras to use Hydro Pump.

• Li Wei used Bone Club to vault Lucario over Haxorus's Earthquake, then Lucario defeated Haxorus with Aura Sphere.
• Zeraora dodged Hydreigon's attacks and knocked it out with Thunderbolt after trading blows at close range.
• Li Wei sent out Arcanine as Iris chose Lapras, prompting Dawn to worry about the Water-type advantage.
• Iris ordered Lapras to use Hydro Pump against Arcanine.

Li Wei’s Pokémon overwhelmed Iris’s team, bringing the score to 5–0 before Aggron and Melmetal began a fierce contest of strength. Melmetal endured Aggron’s Head Smash and threw it to the ground with Superpower, leaving the match’s final outcome unresolved.

• Li Wei’s Arcanine defeated Iris’s Lapras with Flare Blitz, and Dayou noted that Arcanine had not even used the Sword of the Vale.
• Metagross and Diancie defeated Iris’s Excadrill and Salamence, putting Li Wei ahead 5–0.
• Iris sent out Aggron, while Li Wei answered with Melmetal for a head-on battle between the two steel Pokémon.
• Aggron and Melmetal clashed with Double-Edge and Double Iron Bash, then triggered simultaneous Earthquakes that shook the Battle Tower.
• Aggron struck Melmetal with Head Smash, but Melmetal held its ground and hurled Aggron down with Superpower.

Li Wei defeated Iris six to zero at Jubilife Pokémon Theme Park, then praised her growth as Unova Champion. Iris revealed that she had come to Sinnoh to evolve her Ursaring into Ursaluna on the next full moon, and she prepared to perform the ceremony at Moonview Hills.

• Li Wei's Melmetal defeated Iris's Aggron with Double Iron Bash, giving him a six-to-zero victory and ending his five matches that day without a Pokémon fainting.
• Iris congratulated Li Wei after the battle and said she had learned a lot from their match.
• Ash and his friends watched the livestream at Aina's Kitchen, where Ash said Iris was his friend and suggested inviting her to Alola.
• Li Wei and Cynthia praised Iris's improvement, and Iris explained that training with Alder, Drayden, and her grandmother had helped her shoulder the responsibility of being Champion.
• Iris said she had come to evolve her Ursaring into Ursaluna, and Cynthia told her they had prepared a Peat Block.
• Li Wei told Iris to perform the evolution ceremony at Moonview Hills on the next full moon, and Iris said she wanted to visit Alola and battle Ash.

Li Wei witnessed Iris’s Ursaring evolve into Ursaluna beneath the full moon, then returned to Alola and taught his students about Z-Crystals. The class noticed that the Electrium Z on his tray looked different from Ash’s, leaving them wondering why.

• Iris’s Ursaring evolved into Ursaluna under the moonlight as Li Wei, Hoopa, Victini, and Meloetta watched.
• Iris thanked Cynthia and embraced her newly evolved Ursaluna.
• Li Wei returned to Alola, where he heard reports of a mysterious, powerful Trainer with a Midnight Form Lycanroc and an Umbreon.
• Li Wei began a lesson by showing the students eighteen Type Z-Crystals he had collected during the Island Challenge.
• Sophocles and the others noticed that the Electrium Z on Li Wei’s tray looked different from Ash’s, though Ash said he had used his own that morning.

Li Wei taught the Pokémon School class how Z-Moves worked and explained how a Trainer’s bond with a Pokémon shaped their power. Professor Kukui announced that Alola’s four Gyms would open the next day, and Ash and his classmates prepared for real Gym challenges before Pikachu noticed a crowd after school.

• Li Wei explained Z-Move synchronization and showed the class Ash and Pikachu’s perfect 100% synchronization rate.
• Li Wei told the class that a strong bond could make Z-Moves powerful enough to produce unforeseen miracles.
• Professor Kukui announced that Molayne, Acerola, Hapu, and Kahili would open Alola’s four Gyms to challengers the next day.
• Li Wei agreed to attend the opening ceremonies, and Professor Kukui planned to take Ash and the others on an outdoor lesson to challenge the Gyms.
• Professor Kukui announced the upcoming Gym battles, and Kiawe, Ash, and the others cheered.
• Ash helped Professor Kukui shop after school, while Pikachu noticed a gathered crowd.

Ash met Gladion, Lillie’s long-missing older brother, after watching him win a battle in Hau'oli City. Gladion left without returning home, but Ash’s Z-Ring and connection to Tapu Koko made him eager to battle Ash another time.

• Ash and Pikachu watched Gladion defeat a Blastoise with his Midnight Form Lycanroc and then challenged him to a battle.
• Gladion recognized Ash from his League performances, but Lillie arrived and revealed that Gladion was her brother.
• Lillie introduced Gladion to Snowy, and Gladion was surprised that she could touch Pokémon again.
• Ash pursued Gladion and revealed that Tapu Koko had given him his Z-Ring, deepening Gladion’s interest in battling him.
• Lillie and James asked Gladion to come home, but he said it was not time yet and walked away with Lycanroc.

After Gladion left, Ash learned more about his brother from Lillie and grew more eager to battle him. The next day, Ash challenged Kahili at Hau'oli City's new Horizon Gym, where he was forced onto the defensive before finding a way to counter Altaria's aerial control.

• Lillie invited Ash to her house, where she explained that Gladion had left six months earlier and that she did not know why he had changed.
• Ash told Lillie that Gladion still seemed gentle, remembering how warmly he had looked at Snowy and how he had asked Lillie to care for it.
• Ash, Lillie, and Professor Kukui's other students attended the opening of the Horizon Gym, where Kahili welcomed the crowd and Ash became its first challenger.
• Kahili sent out Altaria, whose ranged attacks and altitude advantage put Ash and Pikachu on the defensive.
• Ash ordered Pikachu to use the arena walls as he searched for a way to reach Altaria.

Ash earned the Navigation Badge by defeating Kahili, while Kiawe and the other students lost their Gym challenges. Li Wei advised Kiawe to teach Turtonator Sunny Day, and the challengers went to treat their injured Pokémon before training again.

• Ash used Pikachu’s rebounding Quick Attack and Iron Tail to defeat Kahili’s Altaria and earn the Navigation Badge.
• Kiawe’s Turtonator struggled against Pelipper’s rain-boosted attacks and lost despite using its Z-Move, Inferno Overdrive.
• Li Wei advised Kiawe to teach Turtonator Sunny Day, then told him to return after treating its injuries.
• Mallow, Lillie, Sophocles, and Lana each challenged Kahili and lost, while Ash encouraged them to train and try again.
• Kiawe and the other challengers took their injured Pokémon for treatment, and Professor Kukui celebrated their enthusiasm for battling.

Ash met Gladion for a battle at Kala'e Bay, where Gladion's Midnight Form Lycanroc overwhelmed Ash's Rockruff. The match ended when the others accidentally interrupted it, and Ash left determined to win their next battle.

• Gladion sent Umbreon to deliver Ash a note challenging him to battle at the eastern beach of Kala'e Bay after sunset.
• Ash hurried to the beach, where Gladion chose Midnight Form Lycanroc to face Ash's Rockruff.
• Lycanroc used Stone Edge, Counter, and Crunch to defeat Rockruff's attacks and send it reeling.
• Sophocles, Kiawe, Mallow, Lillie, and the others were discovered hiding nearby after Togedemaru and Crabominable stumbled into the battle.
• Gladion ended the match, praised Rockruff's eyes, and left despite Lillie's calls; Ash declared he would win next time.

Lillie felt sad that Gladion seemed to be avoiding her, but Ash reassured her, and she agreed to go camping with her friends. At Pokémon School, Li Wei began teaching Kiawe and Turtonator to use Sunny Day by assigning them three materials to collect for training.

• Lillie worried that Gladion was avoiding her, but Ash said Gladion was doing well, and Lillie resolved to find out what was going on.
• Mallow invited Ash, Lillie, and Lana to go camping together that weekend and said she would cook Pokémon Curry.
• After losing to Kahili's Pelipper, Kiawe asked Li Wei to teach him and Turtonator Sunny Day.
• Li Wei demonstrated Arcanine's Sunny Day and explained that Turtonator needed to guide its Fire-type energy into resonance with the sun.
• Li Wei tasked Kiawe with collecting a shed leaf from a Sunkern, coal from a Torkoal, and mane fur from a Litleo, and Sophocles and the others offered to help.

Li Wei taught Mallow to prepare Pokémon Curry, and she made a delicious pot that earned praise from her taste testers. He judged it Milcery class and encouraged her to keep improving as a cook.

• Li Wei gave Mallow a private cooking lesson, teaching her how to select Berries, manage the curry’s consistency, and control the heat.
• Mallow added dried Honey flower stamens to the curry and finished cooking it with Li Wei’s guidance.
• Ash, Professor Kukui, and the Pokémon taste testers arrived and praised Mallow’s curry after trying it.
• Li Wei rated the curry Milcery class, noted ways Mallow could refine its flavor and texture, and encouraged her cooking talent.

Kiawe mastered Sunny Day with Turtonator under Li Wei’s guidance and set out to challenge Kahili again at the Horizon Gym. Li Wei returned to his Battle Tower duties while Ash and the others went to watch Kiawe’s rematch.

• Mallow’s Pokémon Curry earned unanimous praise, and Li Wei considered taking her on as an apprentice because of her cooking talent.
• Kiawe brought Li Wei the requested materials, and Li Wei guided him and Turtonator through practice until they successfully used Sunny Day.
• Li Wei advised Kiawe to use Sunny Day, Solar Beam, and Rock-type moves against Kahili’s Pelipper.
• Kiawe and Turtonator headed to the Horizon Gym, and Ash, Mallow, Lillie, and Lana followed to cheer them on.
• Kiawe asked Kahili for another battle, and Kahili agreed, noting that he seemed ready this time.

Kiawe defeated Kahili’s Pelipper and earned the Horizon Badge after mastering Sunny Day with Turtonator. Back at Jubilife Pokémon Theme Park, Li Wei began another livestream and showed viewers the growing Torterra family, including Pikachu riding on a Torterra’s back.

• Kiawe used Turtonator’s Sunny Day to dispel Pelipper’s rain and strengthen his battle strategy.
• Turtonator trapped Pelipper with Rock Tomb and Stone Edge, then knocked it out with Solar Beam, earning Kiawe the Horizon Badge from Kahili.
• Kiawe credited Teacher Li Wei for teaching him, and Ash and the others congratulated him.
• Li Wei started another livestream at Jubilife Pokémon Theme Park, where viewers spotted the growing Torterra family.
• Li Wei explained that Pichu had evolved into Pikachu through its friendship with Torterra.

Li Wei livestreamed from Jubilife Pokémon Theme Park, shared facts about Pokémon, and announced two games developed with Steven that would launch on May 1. He ended the stream after viewers grew excited to play Pokémon FireRed and Pokémon LeafGreen.

• Li Wei explained that Pokémon sometimes evolved through friendship with other Pokémon and cited research reports as evidence.
• Li Wei proposed building a sports field so Pokémon could play baseball, soccer, or basketball at the theme park.
• Li Wei announced that Pokémon FireRed and Pokémon LeafGreen would launch on May 1, with different main storylines.
• Li Wei revealed that the games would feature Red, Blue, Giovanni, and other major characters, voiced by the real people.
• Ash, Kiawe, and their companions watched the livestream and agreed to buy the games and play together.

Ash and his friends enjoyed a camping trip in Morelull Forest, where Mallow prepared Copperajah-rank Pokémon Curry. That evening, Cynthia called Li Wei to report a discovery in the Eterna City ruins connected to Kubfu, and he set off to meet her.

• Litten helped Lillie light the campfire, while Alolan Vulpix accidentally froze the cooking pot before Turtonator thawed it.
• Mallow served spicy and sweet sausage Pokémon Curry that ranked at Copperajah level, impressing Ash and the others.
• Lillie revealed she had cooked far more rice than needed, and the group planned to use leftovers for fish porridge.
• Lana told a forest legend about travelers leaving as skin and bones, but the others dismissed it as a joke.
• Cynthia called Li Wei from the History Museum in Eterna City and told him that a new ruin discovery was related to Kubfu.
• Li Wei agreed to come and flew to Eterna City with Latios.

Li Wei joined Cynthia and the researchers at the Hisuian Goodra ruins in Eterna City, where he found faint signs of life inside two fossilized eggs and used his Power of Overcoming to strengthen their chances of revival. The team also uncovered a mural depicting Kubfu and its Urshifu forms, leaving the ruins’ historical connections and secrets to investigate further.

• Li Wei arrived at the excavation site with Latios and met Cynthia, Professor Rowan, Professor Carolina, Doctor Lin'en, and Vera.
• Cynthia explained that Lucario had sensed faint signs of life in two fossilized eggs, and Li Wei confirmed their signals with his Power of Overcoming.
• Li Wei nurtured the eggs’ faint life signs and judged that both might be revived with specialized technology.
• Doctor Lin'en revealed a mural depicting Kubfu training and evolving into Single Strike Style and Rapid Strike Style Urshifu.
• Li Wei suggested Kubfu might not have originated in Galar and proposed stabilizing the eggs before investigating the ruins further.

Li Wei, Cynthia, and the researchers discovered that the Kubfu murals predated the Hisui Goodra’s use of the ruins, and that the fossilized eggs might be connected to the ancient tradition depicted there. After twenty-four hours, the eggs were successfully revived, though their species remained unknown.

• Doctor Lin'en presented evidence that the Kubfu murals were far older than the Hisui Goodra traces in the ruins.
• Li Wei proposed that the eggs found near the murals might date to the same ancient period and be connected to Kubfu or Urshifu.
• Doctor Lin'en reported that preliminary analysis suggested the eggs’ interiors were extremely ancient, while their precise age remained uncertain.
• The revival machine restored the fossils into two intact Pokémon Eggs with black-and-white patterned shells and stable vital signs.
• Li Wei sensed two powerful, steady flames of life inside the revived eggs, while Professor Carolina and Professor Rowan said their species could not be confirmed until they hatched.

Li Wei cared for the two revived Pokémon Eggs in Eterna City before returning to Alola to investigate the Morelull that had drained Ash and the others. He arrived at Morelull Forest with his Pokémon and began searching for the aggressive creatures.

• Li Wei and Cynthia placed the two healthy, likely Kubfu Eggs in incubators, and Li Wei agreed to care for them until they hatched.
• Ash and the others were drained by aggressive Morelull during a camping trip, while Lillie avoided the attack by using Max Repel; they reported the incident to Officer Jenny and contacted Li Wei.
• Li Wei told Lillie to keep everyone in a safe, open, well-lit area and promised to handle the threat after returning to Alola.
• The next day, Li Wei entered Morelull Forest with Lucario, Arcanine, Metagross, and Melmetal to search for the Morelull using Aura and his Power of Overcoming.