Recaps

Cheng Tian prepared for the university league final after receiving battle advice from his father, then faced Huang Zequan as the opening match between Magic City University and Kyoto University began.

• Bai Momo left to train, while Shi Pokémon League and his teammates arrived at the restaurant and joked with He Bi and Huang Zequan.
• Cheng Tian and Su Han said goodbye to the group, and Huang Zequan told Shi Pokémon League that he had failed a task from Su Han's parent.
• Cheng Tian received messages and encouragement during a video call with his father, who asked whether Gengar knew Encore and shared a battle tactic.
• Cheng Tian excitedly left to act on his father's advice after kissing Su Han goodbye.
• At the final, Cheng Tian and Huang Zequan entered the field as their teams' first competitors, and Cheng Tian challenged Huang Zequan to battle.

Cheng Tian used Gengar to trap and defeat Huang Zequan’s Swampert, then weakened Excadrill before sending out Milotic. Milotic’s Rain Dance cleared the sandstorm, leaving the battle against Excadrill ongoing.

• Gengar combined Cursed Body with Encore to lock Swampert into Stone Edge, then drained it with Giga Drain while Mean Look prevented Huang Zequan from recalling it.
• Huang Zequan sent out Excadrill, which used Dig and a sandstorm to pressure Gengar until Cheng Tian used Skill Swap to replace its Sand Rush with Cursed Body.
• Excadrill knocked Gengar out, and Cheng Tian sent out Milotic.
• Milotic used Rain Dance to wash away the sandstorm and create a muddy field, while Excadrill’s attempt to restore the sandstorm failed.

Huang Zequan used Excadrill’s underground tactics against Cheng Tian’s Milotic and Greninja, but Greninja overcame them and forced him to reveal his last Pokémon, a powerful Bronzong. Bronzong’s Gravity and Gyro Ball put Greninja under pressure, and the battle continued as Bronzong began forming an attack.

• Huang Zequan sent Excadrill underground to ambush Milotic, but Cheng Tian recalled Milotic and sent out Greninja.
• Greninja used Mind Reader to detect Excadrill’s movements, then struck it with Water Shuriken and Liquidation until Huang Zequan recalled it.
• Huang Zequan sent out his level 42 Bronzong, which he had caught in a dangerous ruin after his other Pokémon were knocked out.
• Bronzong used Gravity to slow Greninja and Gyro Ball to withstand its Water Shuriken.
• Bronzong used Earthquake, but Greninja escaped the ground with Surf as Bronzong began forming another attack.

Cheng Tian defeated Huang Zequan after Greninja overcame Bronzong and Excadrill, then met Shi Lianmeng, who challenged his strength and teased Bai Momo. The chapter left Bai Momo furious and being restrained in the waiting area while Cao Mengjie and He Bi joked about shipping him with Shi Lianmeng.

• Greninja endured Bronzong's attacks and built up three Swords Dance boosts while Huang Zequan tried to interrupt it.
• Greninja dodged Bronzong's Giga Impact, struck it with a powerful Slash, and defeated it after recovering faster than its opponent.
• Greninja quickly defeated Excadrill, securing Cheng Tian's victory over Huang Zequan.
• Shi Lianmeng introduced himself to Cheng Tian, praised his strength, and claimed he was still not strong enough to challenge him.
• Shi Lianmeng called Bai Momo a tsundere, and Meng Ha and A-Fei restrained Bai Momo as he tried to confront him.
• Cao Mengjie said she felt like she was shipping Shi Lianmeng and Bai Momo, and He Bi said he had shipped them for six years.

Shi Pokémon League defeated Cheng Tian’s Greninja and Milotic before forfeiting the remaining singles battles to begin a team match against Bai Momo’s side. The opening exchange featured both teams’ Mega-capable Pokémon clashing, and the battle continued with neither side gaining a clear advantage.

• Shi Pokémon League sent out Luxray, which defeated Cheng Tian’s Greninja with Thunder Fang.
• Cheng Tian sent out Milotic, but Luxray’s Guts-boosted Wild Charge defeated it, tying the score at 1-1.
• Shi Pokémon League forfeited the next two Single Battles, and Bai Momo, He Bi, Huang Zequan, and their teammates prepared for the team battle.
• Bai Momo and Shi Pokémon League each revealed a Mega Stone as both teams sent out their six Pokémon.
• The team battle began with Charizard and Garchomp trading Dragon Claws while the other Pokémon exchanged attacks.
• Garchomp knocked Excadrill away after it struck a Reflect wall and tried to attack from behind.

Magic University and Shi Pokémon League’s teams exchanged attacks in a chaotic battle, with Espeon and Greninja helping Garchomp hold off Charizard, Chesnaught, and Excadrill. Shi Pokémon League prepared to go all out, and Bai Momo raised his Wristband to meet him.

• Espeon repeatedly raised its team’s defenses while Chesnaught and Excadrill boosted their attacks, and Greninja countered Chesnaught’s Bullet Seed with Whirlpool.
• Charizard and Garchomp traded blows as Charizard took to the air, and Espeon used Ally Switch and Magic Bounce to turn Charizard’s Will-O-Wisp back on it.
• Chesnaught and Excadrill unleashed Earthquake, while Greninja lifted Espeon onto a wave and the pair attacked Charizard until it struck back with Thunder Punch and Fire Blast.
• Garchomp pinned Chesnaught and drove off Excadrill, while Espeon’s Psychic slammed Charizard into the ground and both sides continued fighting at close range.
• Charizard blasted Garchomp with Dragon Pulse before Garchomp sent Charizard flying, and Shi Pokémon League said he would go all out as Bai Momo raised his Wristband.

Cheng Tian’s team gained a two-Pokémon advantage while Mega Charizard Y and Mega Garchomp fought fiercely. Mega Garchomp’s strength suddenly waned, letting Mega Charizard knock it down as Bai Momo realized he had pushed it too far.

• The captains Mega Evolved Charizard and Garchomp, then commanded them to clash with Blast Burn, Stone Edge, Dragon Pulse, Liquidation, Protect, and Focus Blast.
• Greninja and Chesnaught traded attacks while Espeon kept Excadrill occupied, until Chesnaught knocked Greninja back and Excadrill and Chesnaught cornered Espeon.
• Greninja returned in Steam Mode, defeated Chesnaught with Night Slash and a crushing kick, but Espeon was knocked out by Excadrill and Chesnaught.
• Greninja concealed itself with Smokescreen, then ambushed Excadrill as it emerged from underground and kicked it out of battle, leaving Cheng Tian’s side facing two opponents.
• Mega Garchomp’s scythes shrank and its aura weakened, so Mega Charizard struck it with Dragon Claw and knocked it down.
• Bai Momo watched Mega Garchomp struggle to stand and bitterly realized he had been too hasty.

Bai Momo and Garchomp pushed Mega Evolution to its limit in a desperate fight against Shi Pokémon League and Charizard. Just as Garchomp seemed about to lose, Cheng Tian and Greninja rescued it and took up its promise to win the championship.

• Bai Momo estimated that Garchomp could sustain Mega Evolution for only three more minutes, while Charizard could continue fighting longer.
• Bai Momo ordered Garchomp to use Outrage, and Shi Pokémon League had Charizard answer with Outrage.
• Mega Garchomp and Mega Charizard battered each other until Charizard used Protect and Garchomp’s Mega Evolution ended.
• Shi Pokémon League appeared poised to win as Charizard’s Fire Blast struck Garchomp, but the resulting haze turned out to be steam.
• Cheng Tian’s Greninja emerged from the mist carrying Garchomp, which asked Greninja to win the championship before losing consciousness.
• Cheng Tian and Greninja returned to the field and prepared to fight, declaring that they had to keep their promise.

Cheng Tian and Greninja fought Shi Pokémon League’s Mega Charizard, enduring its attacks as Greninja’s unusual form began to change. The chapter ended with Greninja transformed and radiating a fighting spirit equal to Mega Charizard’s.

• Cheng Tian ordered Greninja to use Double Team and Water Shuriken while Mega Charizard struggled with confusion from Outrage.
• Mega Charizard used Heat Wave and Fire Spin to counter Greninja’s attacks, but Greninja charged through the flames with Liquidation.
• Greninja used Mind Reader to find Mega Charizard through the steam and landed a Liquidation strike, but Mega Charizard hit back with Thunder Punch before its confusion ended.
• Shi Pokémon League ordered Mega Charizard to use Air Slash and Thunder Punch, forcing Greninja to defend with Substitute and a Water Shuriken shield.
• As Cheng Tian and Greninja endured the pain of their close bond, Greninja changed appearance, its head marking turning red as a round water droplet formed behind it.

Cheng Tian and Greninja revealed a powerful new level of their bond and defeated Shi Pokémon League’s Mega Charizard. Magic City University beat Kyoto University to become champions, while He Xisong moved to suppress videos of Greninja’s unusual transformation.

• Cheng Tian realized Greninja’s changed appearance was not Mega Evolution and focused on finishing the battle.
• Greninja dodged Mega Charizard’s attacks and struck back with Aerial Ace and Liquidation, while Cheng Tian felt the impacts through their bond.
• He Xisong ordered his staff to stop videos of Greninja from spreading online.
• Mega Charizard hit Greninja with Thunder Punch after Blast Burn, but Greninja answered with powerful Water Shuriken and broke through Protect with Liquidation.
• Greninja knocked Mega Charizard down, and the referee declared it unable to battle.
• Magic City University defeated Kyoto University and became champions.

After Cheng Tian’s Greninja defeated Mega Charizard, Magic University celebrated its championship while Shi Pokémon League handed the trophy to Cheng Tian. He Xisong then proposed separate volunteer teaching assignments for Cheng Tian and Su Han, which Cheng Tian realized would help him pursue his mission to the Temple of the Sea.

• Meng Ha and Bai Momo congratulated Cheng Tian after Greninja defeated Mega Charizard, while Cheng Tian credited Mega Garchomp with creating the opening.
• He Xisong led both teams to the awards ceremony, where Shi Pokémon League presented the trophy to Cheng Tian instead of Bai Momo.
• He Xisong told Cheng Tian that Greninja’s mutation was progressing well and that meeting Manaphy might reveal what had happened.
• Cheng Tian welcomed Su Han inside from the cold, and she explained that He Xisong was friends with her grandfather.
• He Xisong offered Su Han three months of volunteer teaching and said Cheng Tian would teach separately in coastal cities and visit Water-type Trainers.
• Cheng Tian realized He Xisong was arranging for Su Han to be away so he could continue his mission to the Temple of the Sea.

Cheng Tian and Su Han prepared for three months apart as she agreed to volunteer teach in Bingzhou and he planned to leave for training. Back in Magic City, Cheng Tian asked Bai Yun to keep Su Han from discovering his plans and sought Counselor Liang’s approval for an extended leave, ending with him asking He Xisong for help.

• Su Han agreed to volunteer teach in Bingzhou after He Xisong promised to arrange the assignment, and she and Cheng Tian discussed being apart for three months.
• After returning to Magic City, Cheng Tian noticed Bai Yun had a newly hatched Riolu and later asked Bai Yun to help keep Su Han settled while he went away.
• Bai Yun agreed to help conceal Cheng Tian’s plans during Su Han’s volunteer teaching assignment.
• Cheng Tian asked Counselor Liang for at least three months of leave, but she objected that he would miss classes, exams, and academic requirements.
• When Counselor Liang still refused, Cheng Tian had Rotom message He Xisong’s private number for help.

Su Han and Cheng Tian prepared for their engagement banquet, with Su Han ordering Cheng Tian a custom suit. Cheng Tian realized they still needed engagement rings and rushed off to find a shop.

• Su Han took Cheng Tian to a Magic City suit shop and chose expensive fabric for his custom engagement outfit.
• The staff measured Cheng Tian, and Su Han paid for the suit after asking whether its design could be finished sooner.
• Su Han listed the engagement preparations and said they should split up, leaving Cheng Tian confused as she drove away.
• Cheng Tian's mother asked to see their engagement rings, prompting him to realize they had not bought any.
• Cheng Tian asked Rotom to locate a nearby ring shop and ran off to buy an engagement ring.

Cheng Tian chose an Eternal Heart engagement ring for Su Han while Su Han bought a gift and called her father with news of their relationship. After learning they had been dating for three years and were getting engaged, Su Mulin rushed to Magic City.

• Cheng Tian used Su Han's message to learn her ring size and selected an Eternal Heart ring symbolizing lifelong devotion.
• Su Han left a jewelry store pleased with her purchase, and Xiao Ye reflected on how much she had changed.
• Su Han called Su Mulin and told him she had a boyfriend, leaving him stunned.
• Su Han revealed that she and Cheng Tian had been dating for three years and that she was getting engaged.
• Su Mulin grabbed his coat and announced that he was heading to Magic City immediately.

Su Han took Cheng Tian to school in a space-expanded backpack after transforming into a Gardevoir girl. During class, Cheng Tian accidentally emerged from the bag and left Su Han struggling to answer the teacher’s question.

• Cheng Tian woke up, saw Gardevoir girl Su Han, and fainted again.
• Su Han fed Cheng Tian Pokéblocks, cuddled him, and stuffed him into her schoolbag when she left for school.
• Cheng Tian discovered that Secret Power had expanded the backpack’s interior into a large space.
• At school, Su Han secretly opened the backpack during class to let Cheng Tian get some air.
• The schoolbag tipped over as Su Han was called on, and Cheng Tian’s upper body poked out while she tried to answer the question.

Cheng Tian panicked when Su Han told him her father had arrived and wanted to meet him, so Bai Yun and Lin Lin helped him prepare before he went to see the Su family. He entered Old Master Su’s office and found Su Mulin kneeling while Old Master Su scolded him for choosing politics over the family business.

• Cheng Tian learned that Su Han’s father had arrived and was waiting to meet him.
• Bai Yun and Lin Lin lent Cheng Tian clothes, helped him with makeup, and urged him to go without bringing a gift.
• Xiao Ye drove Cheng Tian to the office, reassuring him that Old Master Su was there.
• Su Han greeted Cheng Tian and told him that her suit was ready while her father spoke with Old Master Su.
• Cheng Tian entered the office and saw Su Mulin kneeling as Old Master Su rebuked him for refusing to inherit the business and entering politics.

Su Mulin refused to approve Cheng Tian and Su Han’s relationship until Cheng Tian proved his strength in a Trainer battle. He challenged Cheng Tian to hurt his level 62 Kingambit, which would not use any moves.

• Su Mulin questioned Cheng Tian about his relationship with Su Han and said he could not yet approve their marriage.
• Old Master Su approved of Cheng Tian, but Su Mulin insisted Cheng Tian prove he was worthy of Su Han.
• Su Mulin led Cheng Tian to a basement battlefield while Su Han nervously asked Old Master Su to speak up for Cheng Tian.
• Su Mulin sent out his level 62 Kingambit against Cheng Tian’s Greninja and challenged Cheng Tian to hurt it without Kingambit using any moves.

Cheng Tian and Greninja faced Su Mulin’s powerful Kingambit, which effortlessly dispelled their attacks with its killing intent. Greninja endured Kingambit’s blade-polishing pressure but was struck and sent flying during a close-range attack, while Kingambit’s slash carved into the battlefield near Cheng Tian.

• Cheng Tian ordered Greninja to use Water Shuriken, but Kingambit dispersed the attack with its killing force without moving from its seated position.
• Cheng Tian used a coded command to have Greninja activate Mind Reader and attack again, but Kingambit polished its blade and sent Greninja reeling with the hum of its killing intent.
• Kingambit continued polishing its blade, forcing Greninja to use Protect against the pressure, then acknowledged Greninja for standing firm.
• Cheng Tian ordered Greninja into Steam Mode and had it charge with Liquidation, but Kingambit turned and struck Greninja in the abdomen, sending it flying.
• Kingambit’s blade aura cut the battlefield just in front of Cheng Tian, who wondered whether Su Mulin was putting him in his place as his future father-in-law.

Cheng Tian faced Su Mulin’s Kingambit in a test of whether he could protect Xiaohan and win her family’s approval. Greninja wounded Kingambit with a surprise attack, earning Su Mulin’s acknowledgment, while Su Han celebrated and Old Master Su assigned Su Mulin a two-hour sparring punishment.

• Kingambit badly wounded Greninja with a single strike, so Cheng Tian asked to give Greninja a helper and tossed it the Fisherman Hat, which transformed into a katana.
• Greninja used Double Team and Liquidation, but Kingambit read its intent and outmatched it in swordplay until knocking its katana away.
• As Kingambit brought its cleaving blade down, Greninja used Substitute to evade and thrust a water spike through Kingambit’s right shoulder.
• Su Mulin admitted Cheng Tian had won, recalled Kingambit, and said Cheng Tian was good but still needed to be observed and shaped.
• Su Han hugged Cheng Tian, while Old Master Su ordered Su Mulin to spar with his Kingambit for two hours as punishment.

As Cheng Tian prepared for the upcoming Temple of the Sea expedition, two men tried to steal his shiny Milotic, but he easily defeated them and confronted their masked accomplice. The masked man shot at Cheng Tian, and after Gengar blocked the bullets, someone launched a Poison Sting at the back of Cheng Tian’s neck.

• Cheng Tian planned to buy emergency supplies and moves for the Temple of the Sea expedition scheduled for March 1, using funding from He Xisong.
• Cheng Tian spotted two men following him and lured them into a secluded alley.
• The two men sent out Victreebel and Pinsir and demanded Cheng Tian hand over Milotic.
• Cheng Tian’s Milotic blasted one attacker with Hydro Pump, while a ghostly face frightened the other unconscious, and Cheng Tian subdued their Pokémon.
• A masked man with a vermilion birthmark stepped from the shadows, offered Cheng Tian a chance to work with him, then fired several shots.
• Gengar blocked the bullets, but a Poison Sting shot toward the back of Cheng Tian’s neck.

Cheng Tian foiled an ambush by Pokémon traffickers after Ditto blocked their attack and police arrived, then had Gengar extract one attacker’s memories. He learned the traffickers had targeted his Shiny Milotic, leaving him furious and intent on confronting the people behind the scheme.

• Ditto saved Cheng Tian from a Poison Sting, and a green-haired woman and a man with a vermilion mole confronted him with several powerful Pokémon, demanding his Pokémon.
• Cheng Tian revealed that he had alerted He Xisong, and police surrounded the traffickers before they could take him hostage.
• Cheng Tian’s Pokémon appeared and turned the fight in his favor, while Lairon reacted with rage toward the man with the vermilion mole.
• After Officer Li took the suspects into custody, Cheng Tian used Gengar to extract the mole-marked man’s memories.
• Cheng Tian learned the traffickers had planned for months to steal his Shiny Milotic and resolved to go after those responsible.

After recognizing one of Lairon’s parents’ killers, Cheng Tian supported Lairon’s resolve to seek revenge and traveled to Qinzhou to help it evolve. He met Yang Yonggang, who welcomed him and learned about his recent championship win.

• Cheng Tian recognized a Pokémon trafficker from the attack that had destroyed Lairon’s family, and Lairon wept as it resolved to avenge its parents.
• Cheng Tian comforted Lairon and told it to break free of its grief by confronting the past itself.
• Cheng Tian told Su Han he was going to Qinzhou for something important involving Lairon, and she trusted him and urged him to stay safe.
• Cheng Tian asked He Xisong to help Lairon complete its final evolution before the trip, and He Xisong arranged a meeting with Yang Yonggang.
• Yang Yonggang met Cheng Tian in Qinzhou, treated him to dinner, and heard that Cheng Tian’s School Team had won the collegiate league championship.

After learning that Yang Yonggang was helping Qinzhou’s armed police investigate a poaching ring, Cheng Tian persuaded him to let him join the dangerous operation to confront the people who had harmed Lairon. On the fifth day, hundreds of officers set out for an abandoned mine in Wumeng District, where nationally wanted ring leader Xu Shixiong was believed to be hiding.

• Yang Yonggang received word that the police had pinpointed the poaching ring’s location and was invited to discuss an arrest plan.
• Cheng Tian asked to join the operation so Lairon could face the people connected to its unresolved grievance, and Yang Yonggang eventually agreed.
• Cheng Tian learned that the ring had a broad supply and sales network, while the police sought to catch its members and uncover their protectors.
• Officer Xing approved Cheng Tian’s participation, and he joined Yang Yonggang and hundreds of armed officers heading out before dawn.
• The police traced the ring to an abandoned mine in Qinzhou’s Wumeng District, where wanted criminal Xu Shixiong was believed to be based.

Cheng Tian joined a large police operation to raid an illegal mining site in Qinzhou, where Lairon had once lived and hoped to avenge its parents. The officers quietly subdued several guard posts, but the operation was discovered, and Cheng Tian and Yang Yonggang prepared to respond to the new threats.

• Cheng Tian recalled that Lairon had likely come from Qinzhou and watched Lairon return to its former home, determined to avenge its parents.
• Police Officer Xing coordinated nearly eight hundred officers as they surrounded the mining site and began the operation.
• A reconnaissance squad used Pokémon and Stun Spores to incapacitate a guard post and arrest its occupants without raising an alarm.
• Police Officer Xing received reports that squads had been discovered and were facing powerful enemies, then rode west while Yang Yonggang prepared to take Cheng Tian east.

Xu Shixiong discovered that his mining base was under attack and fought the Armed Police Officers with his Tyranitar. Yang Yonggang and Cheng Tian confronted him, ordering him to surrender or be shot.

• Xu Shixiong learned that Sixth Brother had failed and ordered his men to secure the base and monitor the surrounding area.
• Xu Shixiong noticed the watchtower lights had gone out, then ordered his men to fight back after an explosion confirmed the base was under attack.
• Xu Shixiong flew to a watchtower on his Mandibuzz and released his blind Tyranitar to battle the Armed Police Officers.
• The Armed Police Officers protected their Pokémon from Tyranitar's Earthquake, and an Aggron charged in and struck Tyranitar with Heavy Slam.
• Yang Yonggang and Cheng Tian arrived atop a Magnezone and demanded that Xu Shixiong surrender or be shot.