Recaps

Nalu and the Chinese Elite Four were confronted by American Staraptor riders who tried to detain them after a strange disturbance in the sky. Miyamoto Ryunosuke intervened and used his influence to make the Americans withdraw, allowing the group to continue toward the Exchange Tournament.

• Nalu and the others struggled to communicate with the Americans, who demanded that they submit to an investigation.
• The Americans threatened to use force, but Gengar seized their leader, and Wen Xu signaled for Gengar to release him.
• As the two sides reached a tense stalemate, Miyamoto Ryunosuke arrived on Jellicent and vouched that the Chinese team had nothing to do with the disturbance.
• Miyamoto Ryunosuke called someone, and the American leader received orders to leave the airspace and stop bothering the Chinese team.
• Yang Yonggang thanked Miyamoto Ryunosuke and promised to visit him after landing.

As Cheng Tian and the Reserve Team flew toward the World Pokémon League, Chong Wensen explained the League’s history and the Mythical Pokémon living on its island. Meanwhile, Yang Yonggang sent footage of Giratina to He Xisong, who learned that it had awakened and might soon break through its Imprison and seek revenge.

• Yang Yonggang told Nalu that an old fellow had helped resolve the trouble after spotting the Americans, while the newcomers listened without understanding their conversation.
• Chong Wensen explained that the Pokémon League was an ancient international organization based on Bakia Island and recounted how it had befriended Manaphy after the Pokémon caused a tsunami.
• Chong Wensen told the Reserve Team that Meloetta, Uxie, Zeraora, and Shaymin lived on the League’s island, and Cheng Tian hoped to meet Zeraora.
• Yang Yonggang reviewed footage of enormous black claws emerging from a purplish-black hole and sent the video to Director He Xisong.
• He Xisong and Long Lan concluded that Giratina had awakened, though Xiao Qian’s Imprison still held it, and Long Lan ordered He Xisong to return to Capital City for a meeting.

The Chinese delegation arrived on Bakia Island for the Exchange Tournament and was welcomed by Pokémon League chairman Sara. As they settled in, unusual Pokémon watched from across the island.

• Long Weixi teased Wen Xu for pretending to still be tired, while Cheng Tian and Su Han comforted a shaken Gengar.
• Yang Yonggang and Nalu agreed to focus on the upcoming Exchange Tournament while they waited for instructions from their superiors.
• The plane reached Bakia Island, where a yellow catlike Pokémon split a boulder, a hedgehoglike Pokémon went back to sleep, and an illusory figure appeared above the lake.
• Miyamoto Ryunosuke pointed out the Chinese plane to chairman Sara as it approached the runway.
• Sara stood his ground as the plane landed, then welcomed Yang Yonggang, Nalu, and the Chinese trainers to the Pokémon League.
• Miyamoto Ryunosuke offered to take the delegation to their accommodations, and Nalu thanked him.

Cheng Tian and Su Han settled into the Pokémon League’s shared suite, fed their Pokémon, and joined the other contestants for dinner. At the buffet, Cheng Tian accidentally met a Japanese girl’s hand while reaching for serving tongs, then fled after addressing her in an odd accent, unaware that Su Han had seen the encounter.

• Su Han happily explored the luxurious suite, while Cheng Tian protested that they should not share a room because they were minors; Long Weixi left them to settle in.
• Long Weixi discovered that Wen Xu had set up her Switch and invited her to play.
• Cheng Tian and Su Han released their Pokémon and fed them Pokéblocks, and Cheng Tian refused Su Han’s suggestion that they shower together.
• Cheng Tian and Su Han joined the others for dinner, where Miyamoto Ryunosuke introduced himself as head of the Pokémon League’s Resource Management Department and took wine away from Huang Zequan.
• Cheng Tian and Su Han went to make sushi, and Cheng Tian accidentally touched a Japanese girl’s hand as they reached for the same tongs.
• Cheng Tian apologized in Japanese with a strange accent and hurried away, while Su Han watched the encounter and later greeted him with a strange smile.

After the welcome banquet, the Chinese team learned that the Pokémon League competition rules and training grounds would open the next day. Miyamoto Ryunosuke’s delegation met them, setting up a possible spar between Yang Yonggang and Sama and revealing that Nalu and the woman leading the delegation were rivals, while Cheng Tian discovered that the girl he had spoken to was Miyamoto Sanya.

• Su Han teased Cheng Tian about approaching a pretty girl and led him to eat, while privately planning to deal with him later.
• Sara welcomed the gathered teams, announced that the competition rules would be revealed the next morning, and invited them to the Grand Training Ground and Path of Challenges the following afternoon.
• Yang Yonggang and Miyamoto Shigeru discussed a future spar between Yang Yonggang and Sama, who had not yet arrived.
• Nalu and Miyamoto Ryunosuke’s companion traded barbs, and Nalu claimed Cheng Tian as her student before he confirmed that he already had a teacher.
• Miyamoto Sanya, the girl Cheng Tian had met at the food counter, greeted the Chinese team, prompting Su Han to grow jealous.

At Bakia Island, Cheng Tian and his companions accepted a sparring challenge from Indian reserve team member Feroze Jawa. Su Han’s Ninetales defeated India’s Heliolisk with an illusion-assisted attack, while Miyamoto Sanya watched and took interest in her illusions.

• Feroze Jawa introduced himself to the Chinese team and challenged them to a two-on-two sparring match.
• Cheng Tian accepted, and Su Han volunteered to battle India’s first Pokémon while Cheng Tian prepared to face Feroze.
• Su Han’s Ninetales endured Heliolisk’s attacks, including Thunder, while using an illusion to conceal its position.
• Ninetales struck Heliolisk with Dazzling Gleam and Ice Beam, leaving it unable to battle.
• Miyamoto Sanya watched the match and became interested in Ninetales’s illusions.

An excerpt from another novel followed Akimoto Reiko as she handled a newborn after an emergency delivery in Yokohama. Jianghu Jue De revealed that the mother had arrived unconscious and that her family had not been reached.

• Akimoto Reiko held a newborn boy after a delivery at an obstetrics and gynecology hospital in Yokohama.
• The attending doctor ordered blood for the mother after severe bleeding and instructed staff to move her to Ward 5.
• Akimoto Reiko was told to take the baby to an incubator and nearly left through the main door before the doctor stopped her.
• Akimoto Reiko apologized and carried the baby through the emergency passage.
• Jianghu Jue De told an older nurse that the mother had arrived unconscious that night and that her family had not been contacted.

Cheng Tian stepped in to battle Floz after Su Han agreed to let Gengar fight, and Gengar defeated Floz’s Cyclizar. Floz congratulated Cheng Tian and hoped they could battle again, while realizing Gengar was probably not Cheng Tian’s strongest Pokémon.

• Cheng Tian persuaded Su Han to let Gengar take the match against Floz.
• Floz sent out Cyclizar, a Normal- and Dragon-type Pokémon that could transform into a motorcycle.
• Gengar dodged Cyclizar’s attacks and disrupted its balance with Sludge Bomb.
• Cyclizar trapped Gengar with Breaking Swipe, but Gengar hid and struck back with Energy Ball.
• Gengar burned Cyclizar with Will-O-Wisp, then used Giga Drain to knock it out.
• Cheng Tian introduced himself to Floz, who congratulated him and suspected Gengar was not his strongest Pokémon.

Su Han joined Cheng Tian in the bath and teased him about the Japanese girl he had admired. After nearly two hours, Cheng Tian tried to leave, but Su Han stopped him because he still had not washed his hair.

• Cheng Tian locked the bathroom door before bathing, while Su Han tried and failed to open it.
• Su Han returned wearing a shower cap, entered the bathroom, and insisted that she and Cheng Tian bathe together.
• Su Han asked Cheng Tian whether she was beautiful and pretty, then teased him about calling another Japanese girl pretty.
• After the pair had bathed for nearly two hours, Cheng Tian scrambled out of the tub, but Su Han stopped him because he had not washed his hair.

The Chinese and Indian reserve teams visited the Pokémon League Museum, where its mysterious caretaker warned them about forbidden areas and strange occurrences. Cheng Tian and the others entered with Gengar, while the old man remained outside, wondering how long the sunshine would last.

• Cheng Tian, Su Han, and the Chinese and Indian reserve teams arrived at the Museum and met its elderly caretaker, who spoke Chinese and sensed a peculiar power in Su Han.
• The old man warned the visitors to avoid restricted areas, ignore anything that defied common sense, and take nothing from the Museum.
• The caretaker stopped Floz from entering with a hidden camera, and Floz handed it over before leading his team inside.
• The old man spotted Gengar hiding in Cheng Tian’s shadow, then allowed Gengar to enter openly after examining him.
• After the reserve teams entered, the old man looked at the discarded recording devices, relaxed in the sunshine, and wondered how much longer it would last.

Cheng Tian and Su Han explored a dark museum lit by powerful Chandelure and found artworks depicting Pokémon legends and an ancient account of Arceus and Giratina. After learning that Arceus had fallen into eternal slumber, Cheng Tian realized Gengar had disappeared.

• Cheng Tian and his companions entered the dark museum and discovered Lampent and Chandelure overhead, including a level 66 Chandelure.
• Cheng Tian, Su Han, and Gengar explored the southwest exhibition hall while the others split up in pairs.
• Cheng Tian and Su Han read a painting about Manaphy, whose anger and destructive tsunami had been quelled by humans and Pokémon working together.
• Cheng Tian and Su Han examined an old mural describing Arceus creating the world and shaping a powerful Pokémon to watch over the dead.
• Su Han read that Arceus had sealed the Pokémon away before falling into eternal slumber, and Cheng Tian noticed Gengar was missing.

Cheng Tian and Su Han explored the museum, where Gengar found a set of battered swords and shields, including one that seemed unusually powerful. At the Exchange Tournament meeting, Misugi Shii volunteered to be a Gym Leader, prompting Nalu to send Cheng Tian to challenge her because of their past romantic rivalry.

• Cheng Tian and Su Han found Gengar beside five battered sword-and-shield displays, and Cheng Tian suspected the central shield was unusual.
• Cheng Tian and Su Han reunited with Huang Zequan, who had been cornered by an enthusiastic visitor from Pakistan, and they used phone translators to talk with him.
• Sara outlined the month-long Exchange Tournament and invited participants to volunteer as Gym Leaders for a challenge involving reserve-team members.
• Misugi Shii volunteered to be a Gym Leader, and Nalu decided Cheng Tian should challenge her, with Nalu ready to step in if he failed.
• Chong Wensen told Cao Min that Misugi Shii had once taken Nalu's sweetheart, and Nalu turned on Chong and asked when they had last sparred.

After visiting the Museum, Cheng Tian agreed to challenge the Pokémon League’s mixed Gym at Nalu’s request. He reached the sixth-floor Gym, where Miyamoto Sanya led him through a concealed door.

• Cheng Tian and his companions shared what they had seen at the Museum before heading to lunch.
• Nalu reminded Cheng Tian of his promise and told him to challenge the mixed Gym in Area Three, advising him to exploit his opponent’s underestimation.
• Cheng Tian, Su Han, Huang Zequan, and Liu Zhiwei went to the tower containing six Gyms and split up to battle.
• Cheng Tian waited in line at the sixth-floor Gym, which was staffed by Japan’s delegation.
• Miyamoto Sanya approached Cheng Tian, realized he did not understand Japanese, and led him through a hidden revolving door.

Cheng Tian entered Misugi Shii’s Gym and began a one-Pokémon battle against her apprentice, Miyamoto Sanya. Sanya revealed a Pawniard that Cheng Tian identified as a Zoroark using Illusion, leaving him astonished by the rare Pokémon.

• Miyamoto Sanya brought Cheng Tian through the Gym’s hidden entrance, and Misugi Shii agreed to accept his challenge.
• Misugi Shii led Cheng Tian and Miyamoto Sanya to the battlefield and told Sanya to test his strength with a one-Pokémon battle.
• Cheng Tian sent out Frogadier, and Sanya appeared to summon a Pawniard without using a Poké Ball.
• Cheng Tian’s system showed that the apparent Pawniard had the Illusion ability, so he realized it was actually a Zoroark.
• Miyamoto Sanya smiled at the Zoroark, her childhood companion and the first Pokémon her grandfather had given her.

Cheng Tian and Frogadier defeated Miyamoto Sanya’s Zoroark in a Gym battle after Cheng Tian exposed its disguise. Misugi Shii awarded Cheng Tian a Badge, and he prepared to report back to Nalu.

• Cheng Tian used Frogadier’s Double Team and Swords Dance to fight Zoroark, which was disguised as Pawniard.
• Cheng Tian tricked Zoroark into approaching with a feint, then trapped it in Whirlpool and revealed its true form with Frogadier’s Waterfall.
• Miyamoto Sanya realized Cheng Tian could see through Zoroark’s illusions, and Zoroark attacked Frogadier with Night Shade and Shadow Claw.
• Frogadier escaped Zoroark’s attacks and defeated it with Liquidation, Power-Up Punch, and a final kick.
• Misugi Shii gave Cheng Tian a Gym Badge, and Cheng Tian planned to report back to Nalu.

After earning the Sakura Badge, Cheng Tian met Han Yu and was summoned by Miyamoto Sanya, who questioned how he could see through Zoroark’s illusions. She attacked him to test her suspicions, but Cheng Tian escaped and left angrily, refusing to hear her theory about his abilities.

• Cheng Tian told Han Yu that he had earned a Sakura Badge, surprising Han Yu, who had failed to get one.
• Miyamoto Sanya led Cheng Tian to a Japanese-style room and asked him why he could see through Zoroark’s illusions.
• Cheng Tian denied seeing through the illusions and claimed he had chosen Fighting-type moves because Pawniard was weak to them.
• After Miyamoto Sanya apologized, Zoroark attacked Cheng Tian, but a system warning let him dodge its claws.
• Miyamoto Sanya suggested that Cheng Tian might possess powerful psychic abilities or Aura, but he rejected her explanation and left.

Cheng Tian discovered a hidden room beside the central building and fell asleep on its mysterious stone with Aron. After warning Nalu of a coming calamity, Sara sensed powerful fluctuations from the room and found Cheng Tian and Aron inside.

• Cheng Tian left the elevator and learned that Nalu was meeting with chairman Sara, then wandered to the central building.
• Cheng Tian found an inconspicuous black building, opened its door, and discovered a giant black stone inside.
• Cheng Tian released Aron, who was drawn to the stone, and they climbed onto it and fell asleep.
• Sara warned Nalu that Mythical Pokémon and Legendary Pokémon had been appearing unusually often and that Uxie had foretold a great calamity.
• Sara sensed powerful fluctuations, entered the Quiet Room, and found Cheng Tian and Aron asleep on the Eternal Stone.

Cheng Tian was drawn into a dream of Aron's childhood and watched Aron grow up safely with its Aggron parents in an abandoned mine. The dream ended when armed intruders arrived in the storm and prepared to destroy the mine, awakening Aron's father to danger.

• Cheng Tian found himself transparent and unable to interact with Aron as he followed Aron and its parents through the mountains.
• Sara sensed the bond between Cheng Tian and Aron and decided the stone he had recovered could help Aron.
• Cheng Tian watched Aron's father hunt and defend the family while Aron lived happily in the resource-rich mine.
• Aron began to feel that it had forgotten something important and briefly looked toward Cheng Tian.
• A group of black-clad people reached the abandoned mine and ordered explosives planted to level it and make it a base.
• Aron's father woke to the intruders' noise as the storm raged outside.

Cheng Tian and Aron witnessed Aron's parents fight a group of black-clad attackers led by a scarred Tyranitar. After Cheng Tian shielded Aron and the Aggron couple were overwhelmed, the parents used Metal Burst in a final act of resistance.

• Cheng Tian woke as the mountain shook, and Aron's scarred Aggron father shielded them from falling rocks before heading out to confront the danger.
• The Aggron couple fought the black-clad group and their Pokémon, but Tyranitar joined the battle and helped drive them toward defeat.
• A black-clad figure ordered Hitmonlee to kill Aron, and Cheng Tian took its blows while protecting Aron.
• Aggron fired Flash Cannon to destroy Hitmonlee, but the exhausted couple were knocked together by their opponents.
• The two Aggron exchanged a determined look and unleashed Metal Burst as the black-clad group tried to use Protect.

Cheng Tian and Aron deepened their bond in the Quiet Room, where Sara helped them discover an Aggron Mega Stone hidden inside the ancient remains beneath them. Sara then asked Cheng Tian to pledge that he would stay true to his heart when disaster came, and Cheng Tian agreed.

• Aron awoke from a dream, and Cheng Tian comforted it as Sara explained that only about two hours had passed.
• Sara asked Cheng Tian why he wanted to become a Trainer, and Cheng Tian said he wanted to grow stronger and protect the people and companions he loved.
• Sara summoned his Lucario and guided Cheng Tian and Aron through an Aura connection that strengthened their bond.
• Cheng Tian and Aron sensed a glowing object inside the boulder, and Lucario retrieved an Aggron Mega Stone from it.
• Sara revealed that the boulder was the centuries-old remains of an Aggron, then asked Cheng Tian to pledge that he would stay true to his heart in a disaster; Cheng Tian agreed.

Sara gave Cheng Tian the Mega Stone and explained Aura and other human powers. After Miyamoto Ryunosuke secretly ordered an investigation into Cheng Tian, Cheng Tian promised Aron they would grow stronger and avenge Aron's parents.

• Sara entrusted Cheng Tian with the Mega Stone of an Aggron that had died centuries earlier during a Pokémon swarm caused by the Prince of the Sea.
• Sara explained that humans could master Aura, demonstrate Aura Sphere, and use psychic abilities with the guidance of Psychic-type Pokémon.
• Miyamoto Ryunosuke told Cheng Tian not to enter the Quiet Room without permission, then privately ordered someone to investigate Cheng Tian discreetly.
• Cheng Tian walked with Aron and promised they would grow stronger, avenge Aron's parents, and keep each other safe.

The Chinese delegation remained busy abroad while Cheng Tian and Su Han spent time studying a Mega Stone and sharing meals with their Pokémon. Florges grew jealous of their closeness and decided to learn to cook, just as Long Weixi and Wen Xu arrived at Cheng Tian’s door.

• Huang Zequan’s Sandstorm team developed as he added Excadrill, Marshtomp, and Sandile to his lineup, while the Reserve Team kept challenging foreign trainers.
• Miyamoto Sanya continued pestering Cheng Tian and Su Han to discuss illusion techniques, irritating them both.
• Cheng Tian and Su Han examined the Mega Stone Sara had given him and discussed how he could not use Mega Evolution until a Pokémon reached its final form.
• Florges tried to climb onto the bed to sleep with Cheng Tian, but he refused because Su Han would be unhappy.
• During lunch, Florges watched Su Han feed Cheng Tian and resolved to learn to cook, while Gengar continued teasing Feebas.
• Long Weixi and Wen Xu knocked on Cheng Tian’s door, and he went to answer it.

Long Weixi and Wen Xu joined Cheng Tian and Su Han for a meal, then Long Weixi discovered Cheng Tian’s Shiny Feebas and suggested Su Han look for a Fairy-type Pokémon on Bakia Island. Cheng Tian agreed to accompany Su Han, while Long Weixi and Wen Xu stayed behind.

• Long Weixi and Wen Xu came to Cheng Tian and Su Han’s room after missing meals while busy with Pokémon League Gym battles, and the hosts invited them to eat.
• Long Weixi and Su Han discussed how Miyamoto Sanya’s repeated interruptions had kept Cheng Tian and Su Han from going out.
• Long Weixi spotted Cheng Tian’s Shiny Feebas in the fish tank and tried to play with it, while Wen Xu woke her Gengar to play on her Switch.
• Wen Xu lost a Pokémon battle and complained that she was bored staying in the room to avoid being pestered.
• Long Weixi found a map location for a Fairy-type Pokémon not found in China, and Su Han decided to go catch one.
• Cheng Tian offered to go with Su Han, and she happily agreed.

Long Lan and He Xisong discussed Giratina’s seal and the League’s young trainers, while Cheng Tian and Su Han set out to catch a Pokémon. They reached a remote circular platform and heard a shrill birdcall.

• Long Lan told He Xisong that Giratina’s seal was unlikely to break soon and that experts were considering ways to strengthen it.
• Long Lan and He Xisong discussed the Elite Four trainers and agreed to keep an eye on Cheng Tian’s talent for mixed teams.
• Cheng Tian and Su Han left with Gengar and Florges to search for a Pokémon, using Gengar to cool them and Florges’s scent to repel bugs.
• Cheng Tian and Su Han walked through the heat, spotted a Rookidee, and reached a remote circular platform at 3:36 in the afternoon.
• Cheng Tian and Su Han heard a shrill caw from the platform, and Cheng Tian wondered what had made it.

Cheng Tian and Su Han encountered a Tinkatuff protecting a Tinkatink from Corvisquire, and Su Han decided she wanted one. They followed Tinkatuff to its home, where it welcomed them with Pinap Berries and Su Han offered it a lollipop.

• Cheng Tian recognized Tinkatuff and explained that Corvisquire were trying to steal the metal from its hammer.
• Tinkatuff knocked one Corvisquire out with Ice Hammer, and the other fled.
• Su Han excitedly agreed to catch a Tinkatuff, but Cheng Tian waited to see whether more Tinkatink were nearby.
• Tinkatuff led Cheng Tian and Su Han to its tree hollow, noticed them hiding, and invited them to share Pinap Berries.
• After Cheng Tian told Su Han the berries were rare, she offered Tinkatuff a lollipop from Coach Long.