Recaps

Cheng Tian and Bai Momo’s Pokémon training match ended when an attack sent Steelix’s Flash Cannon through a building roof, wrecking the training grounds. As everyone cleaned up and Greninja met the team’s Pokémon, it learned that the prickly Garchomp was a girl.

• Greninja copied Palossand’s Water Compaction Ability with Role Play and raised its Defense by shrinking a Whirlpool around itself.
• Lilligant struck Steelix with Close Combat, making it topple and fire Flash Cannon into the roof of a building.
• Bai Momo scolded the team for wrecking the training grounds again, and He Bi offered to pay for the damage.
• The team cleaned up the debris and Bai Momo took a call from the coach to explain what had happened.
• Greninja greeted the team’s Pokémon, but Garchomp walked away until Lilligant explained that she was upset about losing.
• Hippowdon confirmed that Garchomp was a girl, leaving Greninja stunned.

Cheng Tian visited Old Master Su at Su Ball-Making Enterprise, where he learned about the company’s history and was asked to help manage it someday. Old Master Su then revealed a secret chamber in his office, leading Cheng Tian inside.

• Cheng Tian left Su Han at home and rode with Xiao Ye to Su Ball-Making Enterprise.
• Old Master Su welcomed Cheng Tian and showed him the company’s Poké Ball production facilities.
• Old Master Su asked Cheng Tian to manage the company in the future, but Cheng Tian declined and suggested Su Han’s father instead.
• Old Master Su led Cheng Tian to his private office, dimmed the lights, and opened a hidden chamber behind a bookshelf using a golden toad ornament.
• Old Master Su told the astonished Cheng Tian to follow him into the chamber.

Old Master Su took Cheng Tian to a hidden chamber and gave him a powerful blue scale identified by the system as Kyogre’s Scale. After Cheng Tian accepted it as Xiaohan’s dowry, Old Master Su proposed arranging their engagement over the New Year.

• Old Master Su showed Cheng Tian a concealed chamber filled with mysterious objects he had collected during his travels.
• Cheng Tian recognized an unusual GS Ball that Old Master Su had found in an abandoned temple.
• Old Master Su revealed a blue scale linked to the Dragon Army Crossing and explained its power to trigger evolution.
• The system identified the scale as a severely damaged Kyogre’s Scale, and Cheng Tian accepted it from Old Master Su as Xiaohan’s dowry.
• Old Master Su learned Cheng Tian was eighteen and said he would arrange Cheng Tian’s engagement to Xiaohan over the New Year.

Cheng Tian accepted Old Master Su’s plan for him and Su Han to get engaged, then prepared to help Feebas evolve in the East Sea. He left the shore with his Pokémon, determined to fulfill a promise as Feebas swam excitedly beside the boat.

• Old Master Su told Cheng Tian that he and Su Han would get engaged, then secretly coughed blood and lamented that he might not live to see his granddaughter’s child.
• Xiao Ye drove Cheng Tian home, where Su Han excitedly told him Grandpa had called to say they could get engaged that year.
• Cheng Tian explained that Old Master Su had given him something to help Feebas evolve, and he decided to find a suitable place outside the city.
• Cheng Tian took his Pokémon to the East Sea, traveled farther from shore in an inflatable boat, and announced that he would fulfill a promise as Feebas swam nearby.

Cheng Tian released Kyogre's Scale to help Feebas evolve, and the scale drew waves of hostile Pokémon to the sea. Feebas's evolution continued slowly as Cheng Tian and his Pokémon fought to protect it.

• Cheng Tian took the dinghy three nautical miles from land and prepared his Pokémon to defend Feebas during its evolution.
• Cheng Tian opened the box and threw Kyogre's Scale into the sea, and Feebas swallowed it as its body began glowing with blue evolutionary light.
• A colony of more than eighty Tentacool attacked, but Greninja and Gengar drove them back.
• Hundreds of Chinchou arrived, and Cheng Tian warned Gengar and Greninja to avoid moves that their opponents could absorb.
• Florges used Safeguard and Grass-type moves to help clear the Chinchou while Feebas's slow evolution continued.

Cheng Tian and his Pokémon fought off Pokémon drawn to Kyogre's Scale as Feebas drifted into the deep sea and encountered the scale's immense owner. Feebas then relived a false version of its life that ended with its forced evolution into Milotic and death, leaving its fate uncertain.

• Pelipper, Sharpedo, Chinchou, and Carvanha attacked Cheng Tian's group as Lairon, Greninja, Florges, and Gengar fought to protect them.
• Feebas's evolution intensified, and it swam uncontrollably into the sea while Cheng Tian ordered Greninja to follow and protect it.
• Feebas encountered a colossal Pokémon with red eyes in the deep sea and sensed overwhelming power and contempt.
• Feebas found itself back in its forest lake and gradually forgot that it had ever left.
• Feebas relived a life in which it was captured, sold, forcibly evolved into Milotic, and abused by a wealthy businessman until it died.

As Feebas lay near death, Cheng Tian and their Pokémon gave it the resolve to swallow Kyogre's Scale and evolve into Milotic. After Milotic helped drive off the attackers and heal Greninja and Gengar, the battle ended and Cheng Tian congratulated her.

• As Feebas faced death, Cheng Tian and his Pokémon reminded it of the life and dreams awaiting it, and Feebas chose to live.
• Feebas swallowed Kyogre's Scale while Greninja and Gengar defended it from three Gyarados and other Pokémon.
• Feebas evolved into Milotic, whose terrifying whale song frightened the attackers and scattered Pokémon nearby.
• Milotic used Aqua Ring to heal Greninja and Gengar, then struck the fleeing Sharpedo with her tail.
• The storm subsided, and Cheng Tian stroked Milotic and congratulated her.

After Feebas evolved into Milotic during a fierce sea battle, Cheng Tian rode her back to shore and learned that Kyogre’s scale had greatly enhanced her power. He brought his injured Pokémon to a Pokémon Center and began teaching Milotic new moves, preparing her for the competition.

• Lifeguards found numerous Water-type Pokémon floating unconscious near the sea and suspected something valuable had drawn them there.
• Cheng Tian rode Milotic toward shore because Greninja was badly injured, Gengar had fainted, and Little Ditto was exhausted from holding its boat form.
• Cheng Tian thanked Milotic for evolving and asked the system about her increased level and three unexplained question marks.
• The system explained that Kyogre’s scale had improved Milotic’s potential, boosted her Water-type moves, and made Rain Dance unusually difficult to override.
• Cheng Tian took his injured Pokémon to a Pokémon Center, where Audino brought them in for treatment.
• Cheng Tian used the Center’s Technical Machine to teach Milotic Ice Beam, Surf, Toxic, and Psych Up before leaving with Rotom.

Cheng Tian returned home after Milotic evolved, but he had caught a high fever from being soaked in the night air. While Su Han cared for him, Bai Yun and Lin Lin visited to see Milotic, and Infernape fell head over heels for her.

• Cheng Tian showed Su Han and the Pokémon his newly evolved Shiny Milotic, then sneezed repeatedly and developed a high fever.
• Su Han made Cheng Tian rest, arranged for him to miss school, and prepared chicken soup while the Pokémon fussed over him.
• Bai Yun and Lin Lin arrived to see Milotic and learned that Cheng Tian was upstairs resting with a fever.
• Bai Yun released Infernape, Lycanroc, and Breloom before going to visit Cheng Tian.
• Infernape became smitten with Milotic at first sight, while Lycanroc and Breloom reacted with disbelief.

After Cheng Tian woke up, he learned that the Pokémon had gone to battle while he rested. Milotic challenged Gengar and, after turning the fight around with its defensive moves, launched a shocking secret technique that left Gengar stunned.

• Su Han fed Cheng Tian chicken soup, and Lin Lin told him the Pokémon were battling in the backyard.
• Milotic challenged Gengar after Gengar teased it, and Rotom hosted the match while Greninja refereed.
• Gengar opened with Shadow Ball and Sucker Punch, but Milotic struck it with its tail and sent it flying.
• Milotic endured Gengar's Will-O-Wisp, Thunderbolt, and Shadow Balls, then reflected the attacks with Mirror Coat and blasted a hole through the backyard wall.
• Milotic healed much of its damage with Recover and Aqua Ring, then launched its Glittering Poison Dragon Drill at Gengar, leaving it stunned.

Cheng Tian trained with the School Team, then spent New Year's Eve dining with Bai Yun, Lin Lin, and Su Han before heading to the Pearl Tower. During a video call, Cheng Tian learned that his father had been invited to a Pokémon battle game tournament in Kyoto after placing fifth in the Master Ball Division.

• Cheng Tian practiced with the School Team, but Greninja and Bai Momo's Garchomp kept clashing during battles.
• He Bi invited Cheng Tian to join the School Team's New Year's Eve outing, but Cheng Tian declined because he had already promised Bai Yun they would celebrate together.
• Cheng Tian, Bai Yun, Lin Lin, and Su Han ate at a buffet near the Pearl Tower before calling Cheng Tian's mother on Rotom.
• Cheng Tian's parents revealed that they were traveling to Kyoto because Cheng Tian's father had received an invitation to an in-person tournament after finishing fifth in the Master Ball Division.
• Cheng Tian's parents ended the call as they prepared to board their train, and Cheng Tian's father promised to bring home a trophy.

Cheng Tian and Su Han spent New Year's Eve playing at an arcade before taking Togekiss into the sky to watch the Pearl Tower fireworks together. As the new year began, they shared a kiss and wished each other a happy New Year.

• Cheng Tian learned that the competition he planned to attend would be held at Kyoto University, where Long Weixi and Wen Xu studied.
• Cheng Tian and Su Han won a pig and a cat plushie together at a claw machine.
• Cheng Tian and Su Han became separated from Bai Yun and Lin Lin in the crowded area around the Pearl Tower.
• Su Han took Cheng Tian on Togekiss to watch the fireworks from above the crowd.
• Cheng Tian and Su Han counted down to the new year in the sky, kissed, and wished each other a happy New Year.

After a night of trouble over flying without a license, Cheng Tian and his friends traveled to Kyoto, where a hotel booking mix-up left him with a room of his own. He discovered it was an erotic suite, and Florges mistook its contents for evidence of Cheng Tian’s secret interests.

• Cheng Tian and Su Han were caught flying without permits, taken to the station, and released after Old Master Su called for help.
• Cheng Tian and his friends traveled by high-speed train toward Kyoto after spending the night watching a movie and attracting attention on short-video platforms.
• At the hotel, the group discovered one of their ten single rooms was missing, so Cheng Tian accepted the available double room.
• Cheng Tian entered a pink, romantic-themed suite and made up explanations for its unfamiliar items when Rotom asked about them.
• While Cheng Tian showered, Rotom released the Pokémon, and Florges secretly explored the room and concluded that Cheng Tian was into exciting things.

Cheng Tian struggled to sleep through noises from the neighboring room, while Su Han missed him and finally fell asleep after searching her wardrobe. At the National Pokémon University League opening ceremony, Cheng Tian reunited with Huang Zequan and learned that Professor Cao was leading Kyoto University’s team, leaving both students eager to meet in the finals.

• Florges massaged Cheng Tian until he fell asleep despite the sounds coming from next door.
• Su Han missed Cheng Tian, searched her wardrobe, and eventually fell asleep after changing her clothes and bedsheets.
• Cheng Tian arrived at the Phoenix Nest with the Magic University delegation for the opening ceremony and opponent draw.
• Cheng Tian met Huang Zequan at Kyoto University’s competitors’ area and learned that Professor Cao was leading the team.
• Cheng Tian and Huang Zequan promised to give their all if they met in the finals, while Professor Cao suggested their universities could be allies beforehand.

Cheng Tian arrived at the Pokémon esports quarterfinals and watched his father, Cheng Qiuyu, face off against elite competitors. Cheng Qiuyu defeated Watanabe with a series of clever predictions, while Wen Xu challenged him and was matched against another opponent.

• Cheng Tian reached the gymnasium in time to see his father introduced as a quarterfinalist and interviewed about his love of battling.
• Wen Xu recognized Cheng Qiuyu's in-game ID and publicly challenged him, while Long Weixi realized why she had spoken up.
• Cheng Qiuyu and Wen Xu were paired against contestants from other countries and agreed not to get knocked out.
• Cheng Qiuyu used Skarmory and Rhyperior to disrupt Watanabe's Trick Room strategy and knock out Porygon.
• Cheng Qiuyu sent out Gyarados, boosted it with Dragon Dance as Raichu used the ineffective Surf, then knocked Raichu out with Earthquake.

Cheng Tian’s father defeated Watanabe and faced Wen Xu for the championship, using a surprise team strategy to counter her Ghost-heavy lineup. After Wen Xu suppressed Slaking’s Truant with Gastro Acid, Cheng Tian’s father revealed that its Ability had already been suppressed, leaving the match at a shocking turning point.

• Cheng Tian’s father swept Watanabe’s team, then politely shook his hand while Watanabe mistook insults for compliments.
• Wen Xu defeated her opponent and advanced to the championship match against Cheng Tian’s father.
• Wen Xu’s Gourgeist used Explosion to cripple Umbreon, and Cheng Tian’s father later sent out a Slaking against her Annihilape.
• Cheng Tian’s father revealed that his apparent Slaking was a Zoroark, which used U-turn to damage Serperior before Heracross entered the battle.
• Wen Xu suppressed Heracross’s Moxie with Gastro Acid, then used the move on Slaking, but Cheng Tian’s father smiled and declared the game over.

Wen Xu and Cheng Tian's father fought an unpredictable Pokémon battle, which Cheng Tian's father ultimately won to become champion. During his victory speech, he urged people to pursue their dreams and expressed pride in his son, moving Cheng Tian to tears.

• Slaking knocked out Wen Xu's Serperior and Annihilape before Bronzong defeated it, and Wen Xu's Pokémon later knocked out Heracross, Skarmory, and Zoroark.
• Mega Venusaur put Mega Gengar to sleep, but Bronzong's Ice Spinner and Gyro Ball defeated Venusaur after two Sleep Powders missed.
• Cheng Tian's father sent out Umbreon and Aegislash, defeated Wen Xu's remaining Pokémon, and won the championship.
• Cheng Tian's father told the audience to pursue their dreams and said he hoped his son would achieve success for himself.
• Cheng Tian watched his father onstage, cried, and congratulated him.

After Cheng Tian’s father won the championship, Wen Xu contacted Cheng Tian to get his father’s WeChat so she could battle him online. Cheng Tian then agreed to serve as the team’s main force in the next day’s preliminaries without showing too much of his strength.

• Cheng Tian’s father celebrated his championship with Cheng Tian, while Wen Xu sulked over losing to him and Long Weixi tried to comfort her.
• Long Weixi spotted Cheng Tian and his father leaving the venue, and Wen Xu realized she had been beaten by her apprentice’s father.
• Wen Xu added Cheng Tian as a friend and asked him for his father’s WeChat contact, explaining that she wanted to play games with him.
• Cheng Tian’s mother confronted his father about Wen Xu, but he explained that she was the opponent he had battled and then accepted Wen Xu’s challenge.
• Bai Momo asked Cheng Tian to be the team’s main force in the preliminaries while concealing their full strength, and Cheng Tian agreed.

Cheng Tian represented Magic City University against Ningzhou University in the preliminary round, revealing a Shiny Milotic that drew attention to the match. Milotic defeated Wu Jianguo's Xatu, but Wu Jianguo had already set up defenses for his next Pokémon.

• Bai Momo explained the tournament format and assigned Cheng Tian to face Ningzhou University's Wu Jianguo.
• Xiao Tu warned the team that Wu Jianguo's Honchkrow was a dangerous sweeper, while the team encouraged Cheng Tian to take the match.
• Cheng Tian and Wu Jianguo took the field, and Cheng Tian sent out a Shiny Milotic that captured the crowd's attention.
• Milotic used Rain Dance and Ice Beam while Xatu set up Light Screen and Reflect; Milotic blocked Xatu's U-turn with Protect and knocked it out.
• Wu Jianguo recalled Xatu, having used it to set up defenses, and Cheng Tian prepared to challenge his next Pokémon.

Cheng Tian used Milotic to defeat Wu Jiangguo’s Honchkrow and win Magic City University’s first match. After the victory drew attention to Milotic’s Shiny coloration, two sinister figures began plotting to steal it.

• Wu Jiangguo sent out Ninjask, which boosted its Attack and Speed before Sunny Day failed to clear the rain.
• Ninjask struck Milotic with Fury Cutter, but Cheng Tian used Twister to restrict it as it Baton Passed its boosted stats to Honchkrow.
• Cheng Tian used Psych Up to copy Honchkrow’s boosts, then Milotic’s Attract, Captivate, and Disarming Voice left Honchkrow unable to battle.
• Cheng Tian defeated Wu Jiangguo and earned Magic City University its first point, while Milotic remained in good condition.
• Two sinister figures noticed Milotic was Shiny and agreed to arrange its theft, with one asking for a few months to carry it out.

After Cheng Tian led Magic University to an opening shutout, his teammates celebrated with a dinner that turned chaotic when Cao Mengjie fell onto him during a video call with Su Han. Su Han stayed outwardly gentle, then called Old Master Su to arrange a trip to watch Cheng Tian’s matches.

• Cheng Tian celebrated Magic University’s victory over Ningzhou University after Milotic helped him defeat three opponents alone.
• Cheng Tian and his teammates shared dinner, where they joked and praised his performance.
• Su Han, Lin Lin, and Bai Yun called Cheng Tian, and Rotom showed them the team’s dinner in wide-angle mode.
• Cao Mengjie tripped while carrying lamb, scattering food over the men and falling onto Cheng Tian as Bai Yun watched on the call.
• Su Han reassured Cheng Tian after the accident, and he promised to take her to the movies when he returned.
• Su Han called Old Master Su and asked him to arrange time off and a ticket so she could watch Cheng Tian’s matches.

Magic University prepared to face Magic City Jiaotong University, and Gengar recognized Liu Zihao as the man it had crippled before. Gengar provoked him during the opening match, leaving Liu Zihao demanding a chance to compete.

• Magic University learned it had drawn Magic City Jiaotong University and reviewed its opponents, including the wheelchair-bound Liu Zihao.
• Gengar volunteered to battle after recognizing Liu Zihao and deciding he could threaten Cheng Tian.
• Cheng Tian took the field against Zhang Luoyi and sent out Gengar while other schools watched to scout his strength.
• Gengar beckoned mockingly at Liu Zihao, who recognized it as the Pokémon that had crippled him.
• Liu Zihao lost his temper and demanded to take the next match.

Cheng Tian’s Gengar defeated Zhang Luoyi’s team by faking weakness, exploiting Zebstrika’s Lightning Rod, and poisoning Weavile, then faced Liu Zihao’s Obstagoon. Gengar stole Obstagoon’s Guts Ability and burned it, leaving Cheng Tian confident as their battle continued.

• Gengar used Skill Swap to take Zebstrika’s Lightning Rod, absorbed its Electric attacks, and knocked it out; it then defeated Weavile and Zhang Luoyi’s remaining Pokémon to win the first match.
• Liu Zihao entered the field in a wheelchair and threatened Cheng Tian after Gengar laughed at him, earning a yellow-card warning for insulting his opponent.
• Liu Zihao sent out his level-40 Obstagoon, and Gengar endured its attacks while applying Curse and Spite.
• Gengar copied Obstagoon’s typing and swapped its Ability for Guts while hiding in its shadow, then burned Obstagoon with Will-O-Wisp without activating Guts.

Cheng Tian’s Gengar defeated Liu Zihao’s Gliscor and battled his Cloyster in the university match. After Liu Zihao threatened Cheng Tian, Gengar redirected an Icicle Spear with Psychic, and Liu Zihao fell from his wheelchair into a pool of blood.

• Gengar used Mean Look and Skill Swap to poison Gliscor, then put it to sleep and defeated it with Dream Eater and Shadow Ball.
• Magic City Jiaotong University’s captain hesitated to concede because he feared offending Liu Zihao’s powerful backers.
• Liu Zihao sent out his level 41 Cloyster, which used Shell Smash and Icicle Spear to injure Gengar and force a stalemate.
• After Liu Zihao threatened to kill Cheng Tian, Gengar used Shadow Balls to position Cloyster and prepared to counter its final Icicle Spear.
• Gengar used Psychic to redirect Cloyster’s icicles; four hit Protect, while one went off course, and Liu Zihao fell from his wheelchair into a pool of blood.

After an icicle struck Liu Zihao during the match, Gengar and Cheng Tian suspected he had targeted Cheng Tian and arranged for him to die in the medical center. Liu Zihao was found dead, and Bai Momo warned Cheng Tian that the powerful Liu Group would seek revenge.

• An icicle pierced Liu Zihao during the match, and Cheng Tian withdrew Gengar so he could receive treatment while Milotic took his place.
• Gengar told Greninja about the plan, and Greninja agreed to act against anyone who threatened Cheng Tian.
• Smoke filled the medical center, and the attending physician discovered Liu Zihao dead in the operating room after the Chansey treating him had passed out.
• Bai Momo told Cheng Tian that Liu Zihao had died from poison on the icicle and warned him that the Liu Group would come after him.
• Cheng Tian feigned surprise and said he had not meant for the icicle to hit Liu Zihao.