Recaps

After training camp ended, Cheng Tian caught up with his family and Su Han while the trainers celebrated the World Pokémon Championships qualifiers. The lineup was settled with Yu Xiao captaining China’s Elite Four Team, and Cheng Tian was invited to accompany them as a spectator and handle logistics.

• He Xisong toasted the trainers as training camp ended and the Championship qualifier rankings were finalized.
• Cheng Tian called his parents, then spoke with Su Han, who invited him to spend a day together when he returned.
• Han Yu, Yu Xiao, Cao Min, and Liang Pingfeng shared their rankings, while the group discovered Wen Xu ranked 111 thanks to Gengar Teacher.
• He Xisong announced that Yu Xiao, Cao Min, Han Yu, Liang Pingfeng, Long Weixi, and Wen Xu had qualified, alongside Du Jiajia, to represent China as the Elite Four Team.
• He Xisong appointed Yu Xiao captain and asked Cheng Tian to join the trip as a spectator responsible for logistics.

Han Yu and the Elite Four members met Du Jiajia, the young Poison-type Elite Four member, aboard the plane. Du Jiajia and Wen Xu clashed over Long Weixi’s affectionate attention, and a sudden jolt left Du Jiajia face-first against Wen Xu’s chest.

• Han Yu sulked while the others teased him about being single, and Su Han joined the group as a logistics handler.
• Granny Du introduced her granddaughter Du Jiajia, whose status as the Poison-type Elite Four surprised Cheng Tian and Su Han.
• Long Weixi hugged Du Jiajia and asked to be friends, prompting Wen Xu to glare at them with jealousy.
• Du Jiajia insulted Wen Xu, and Wen Xu pulled Gengar Teacher from a shadow as the others rushed to stop a fight.
• The plane jolted, and Du Jiajia pitched forward into Wen Xu’s chest.

The Chinese team arrived on Bakia Island for the 97th World Pokémon Championship and reunited with President Sara. As the competitors settled into their rooms before the opening ceremony, Han Yu went missing and someone arrived at Nier’s cabin asking for iced sheep milk.

• Granny Du teased Du Jiajia and Wen Xu, then led the Chinese team to Bakia Island for the championship.
• Cheng Tian and Su Han reunited with President Sara, who welcomed the team and reminded everyone that the opening ceremony was at eight that night.
• Granny Du greeted Miyamoto Ryunosuke and noticed he was using a cane, but he gave no details about his accident.
• Cheng Tian and Su Han rested in their room while Wen Xu, Du Jiajia, and Long Weixi awkwardly shared another room.
• Liang Pingfeng asked Cao Min and Yu Xiao if they had seen Han Yu, but neither had.
• At a cabin near Trial Peak, an unidentified visitor asked Nier for iced sheep milk, and Nier said it was available.

Han Yu and the others gathered at the World Pokémon Championships opening ceremony, where Gamino learned Yang Yonggang had retired and left a bottle of liquor for him. The ceremony began with Meloetta taking the stage to sing, leaving Cheng Tian recording the performance to share with a friend.

• Han Yu rejoined Cheng Tian and the others, who discussed the guests gathered for the ceremony.
• Gamino approached the Chinese group to ask where Yang Yonggang was, then learned Yang had retired from competition.
• Gamino left a bottle of aged liquor for Yang Yonggang and departed, disappointed that he would not face him in the tournament.
• Chairman Sara welcomed the audience to the World Pokémon Championships opening ceremony and introduced Meloetta.
• Meloetta began singing, and Cheng Tian took out his phone to record her performance for a friend waiting beneath the sea.

Meloetta opened the 97th World Pokémon Championships with a celebrated performance, and Chairperson Sara explained the competition before declaring it underway. Later, Su Han and Cheng Tian watched Han Yu’s first match, where he sent out Lopunny against a stronger opponent after his Kangaskhan mother and child were defeated.

• Meloetta sang four songs, then Sara welcomed the contestants and announced the start of the 97th World Pokémon Championships.
• Sara outlined the elimination rounds and later points matches, while Long Weixi and the Chinese group resolved to compete.
• After dinner, Cheng Tian listened as Rotom proposed attaching a huge battery and jet thrusters to itself.
• Su Han and Cheng Tian discussed exploring the Pokémon League and watching the matches, then found Nier cheering for Han Yu.
• Han Yu lost his Kangaskhan mother and child to his opponent’s Machamp and sent out Lopunny, saying he would save Mega Evolution for it.

After their first tournament matches, Cheng Tian and Su Han spoke privately with Chairman Sara, who agreed to look for a Gengar Mega Stone in exchange for Cheng Tian’s Scizor Mega Stone. Sara then questioned whether Cheng Tian had enough time left to fully grow.

• Yu Xiao and the others discussed their first-day matches, and everyone in their group had advanced without being eliminated.
• Sara visited the group, praised Wen Xu’s performance, and invited Cheng Tian and Su Han to talk somewhere quieter.
• Cheng Tian showed Sara his Scizor Mega Stone and asked him to help exchange it for a Mega Stone he needed.
• Sara guessed Cheng Tian wanted a Gengar Mega Stone and agreed to keep an eye out for one.
• Sara remarked that Cheng Tian had grown faster than expected, then asked whether the time left would be enough for him to fully grow.

Sara told Cheng Tian and Su Han that the Great Calamity could come at any time and that humanity might survive only through a costly, uncertain thread of hope. Su Han resolved to seek that hope in the League Library, where Sara had granted them access to its books but not its underground repository.

• Sara said the Great Calamity could not truly be defeated and refused to explain the thread of hope because pursuing it would bring terrible suffering to the person who created it and their loved ones.
• Su Han pleaded with Sara to tell her how to seize that hope, explaining that she was willing to try for the sake of those she loved, and Sara warned her to consider the cost.
• After Cheng Tian left, Su Han asked him to accompany her to the Library, recalling Sara's offer to help her search for something there.
• The Indian Old Man let Cheng Tian and Su Han browse the Library's books but warned them away from the underground repository.

Su Han and Cheng Tian explored the Pokémon League Library’s forbidden underground book room, where Su Han discovered that its ancient, dustless books had all been written by the same person. Using Aura, she brought their mysterious runes together and glimpsed an image of a tiny, long-tailed creature before the effort overwhelmed her.

• Su Han and Cheng Tian entered the underground book room and found it filled with scattered books and broken bookcases.
• Su Han noticed that the books were spotless despite the thick dust around them, while Cheng Tian settled down to read and fell asleep on her lap.
• Su Han struggled to understand the ancient writing, then realized that several books shared the same handwriting.
• Su Han used Aura to reveal blue runes on the books and draw them together into an image.
• Su Han saw a sleeping, tiny creature with a long tail before dizziness made the image shatter.

Cheng Tian revealed that he had known Su Han could use Aura and reassured her that she was still the same person to him. After experiencing an Aura connection and learning more about it, he decided to train his own body and psychic powers.

• Cheng Tian told Su Han that he had noticed her Aura about a year earlier, and she apologized for keeping it from him.
• Cheng Tian comforted Su Han, said he trusted her, and kissed her cheek as a playful punishment for hiding the truth.
• Cheng Tian experienced the world through an Aura connection with Su Han and asked whether their children might inherit Aura.
• Su Han concluded that the hidden library information likely came from an earlier Aura Guardian, then tried again to uncover more without success.
• Cheng Tian resolved to train his psychic powers and improve his fitness, deciding to replace water with protein powder.

Wen Xu’s Dusknoir weakened Honchkrow before Gengar Teacher entered the battle, while Su Han continued reconstructing an image with Aura in the underground library. Her latest attempt showed the tiny creature holding a spherical object and rushing toward a cracked stone, but she collapsed before learning what happened next.

• Dusknoir used Memento to knock Honchkrow into a weakened state, then lost the ability to battle.
• Gengar Teacher took the field for Wen Xu as Cao Min remarked that she had easily reached the top 850.
• Su Han restored her Aura and used it to reconstruct a scene from the library’s books.
• The reconstruction showed a tiny creature and a cracked stone bearing a ghostly face, then revealed a spherical object in the creature’s hand.
• Su Han passed out before the scene finished and later wondered whether the creature was Mew and whether she could learn the answers by completing the reconstruction.

Sara discussed the coming Great Calamity and his resolve to protect humanity with the little old man, then directed Cheng Tian to the Lake of Wisdom to seek a Gengar Mega Stone. Cheng Tian was magically returned to the forest’s edge when he tried to fly over it, and an unseen yellow creature sensed an old friend had arrived.

• Sara and the little old man discussed why Sara had guided a girl toward a forbidden place and Sara’s plan to buy humanity more time before the Great Calamity.
• The little old man warned Sara that Ryūnosuke had lost his resolve, while Sara said Ryūnosuke was still his best friend.
• Sara told Cheng Tian to visit the Lake of Wisdom on Leifei Plateau, where someone might help him find a Gengar Mega Stone.
• Cheng Tian flew with Noivern toward the lake, but an unknown force sent them back to the forest’s edge, so he continued on foot with Gengar.
• A small yellow creature opened its eyes in another space and sensed that an old friend had come.

Cheng Tian and Gengar found Uxie in a hidden space beneath the Lake of Wisdom, where Uxie exchanged Cheng Tian’s Scizor Mega Stone for a new Mega Stone suited to Gengar. Uxie hinted that Sara had told it about Cheng Tian, leaving him surprised by the mysterious connection.

• Cheng Tian and Gengar reached the Lake of Wisdom and discovered Uxie’s reflection on the water.
• Cheng Tian used Shadow Escape to enter the lake’s hidden depths, where he found an upside-down world and Uxie struggling with powerful psychic energy.
• Uxie recognized Cheng Tian, then spoke to him after a strange flash separated a small orb of light from his body.
• Uxie said Sara had told it about Cheng Tian and confirmed that he wanted a Mega Stone for Gengar.
• Uxie took Cheng Tian’s Scizor Mega Stone and returned a new black-and-purple Mega Stone that Gengar could use.

Uxie revealed that Cheng Tian had died in nearly every one of billions of projections of the Great Calamity, with only one future in which it was defeated. Unable to disclose that future, Uxie told Cheng Tian to keep thinking and wait, then sent the unconscious Cheng Tian away as a mysterious ball of light entered his body.

• Uxie told Cheng Tian that it had exchanged the Evolution Stone with him and asked whether he had met Mesprit.
• Uxie explained that it had projected 8,567,720,000 possible futures after the Great Calamity, in nearly all of which humanity was destroyed and Cheng Tian died or suffered terribly.
• Cheng Tian begged Uxie to explain how to defeat the Great Calamity, but Uxie said that revealing a prophecy would make it responsible for destroying the world.
• Uxie told Cheng Tian to wait, keep thinking, and look toward future changes when destruction came.
• Uxie spoke with a little ball of light about its plan and its choice of Cheng Tian, then the light entered Cheng Tian's unconscious body.
• Uxie used the lake's suction to send Cheng Tian up through the water and hoped the little ball of light was right.

Han Yu and the others discussed the tournament eliminations before learning Cheng Tian and Su Han had gone to Trial Peak to train. The couple reached Thunderfall Valley, where Cheng Tian planned to draw out Zeraora by challenging strong Pokémon with Gengar.

• Han Yu lamented being eliminated, while Yu Xiao reported that 28 members of their group remained in the competition.
• Granny Du revealed that Cheng Tian and Su Han had gone to Trial Peak, and the others noted that five Elite Four members had advanced.
• Cheng Tian and Su Han watched Noivern spar with a powerful Charizard, then Cheng Tian healed both Pokémon and thanked Charizard with Pokéblocks.
• Cheng Tian reassured Florges when it wanted to train with them, then he and Su Han continued toward Thunderfall Valley.
• Su Han showed Cheng Tian a high-grade Thunder Stone and teased him about her plan to defeat Zeraora.
• Cheng Tian brought out Gengar and planned to challenge powerful Pokémon to lure Zeraora out and get practice with Gengar's Mega Stone.

Cheng Tian and Su Han encountered a level 62 Magnezone in a lightning field, and Cheng Tian challenged it with Gengar. Gengar Mega Evolved and clashed with Magnezone’s fully charged Zap Cannon, leaving both Pokémon injured as the blast cleared the thunderclouds.

• Cheng Tian and Su Han climbed a hill and found Magnezone absorbing lightning in the sky.
• Cheng Tian attacked Magnezone, which retaliated with Thunder and then pursued Gengar with Lock-On-guided Magnet Bombs.
• Gengar used Double Team to evade the Magnet Bombs, and Su Han supported Cheng Tian by strengthening the bond between him and Gengar.
• Cheng Tian had Gengar boost its Special Attack with Nasty Plot while Magnezone charged Zap Cannon and set up Electric Terrain.
• Cheng Tian Mega Evolved Gengar, which fired Focus Blast at Magnezone’s Zap Cannon.
• The attacks detonated in midair, injuring both Pokémon and blasting open the thunderclouds above the lightning field.

Cheng Tian used Mega Gengar’s Z-Move to defeat Magnezone, then waited for Zeraora to appear. Zeraora arrived, and Cheng Tian and Greninja prepared to fight it for revenge.

• Cheng Tian trapped Magnezone with Mega Gengar’s Shadow Tag and unleashed a powerful Z-Move that knocked it unconscious.
• Su Han caught Cheng Tian as he staggered from exhaustion, then released Milotic to help restore his and Magnezone’s stamina.
• Cheng Tian said Zeraora would come to challenge a strong opponent, and released Greninja as an electric streak approached.
• Zeraora appeared before Cheng Tian and Su Han, recognizing Cheng Tian from their earlier encounter.
• Cheng Tian and Greninja challenged Zeraora, declaring that they wanted revenge for the kick that had knocked Cheng Tian out.

Greninja and Cheng Tian battled Zeraora again, trading powerful attacks as both Pokémon grew battered. As Greninja began to gain the upper hand, Su Han prepared a Top-grade Thunder Stone and watched Zeraora.

• Zeraora spread Electric Terrain and struck Greninja with Thunder, but Greninja used Role Play to copy Volt Absorb and Double Team to evade its attacks.
• Greninja blocked Zeraora's Drain Punch, then countered with Surf and Aerial Ace before Zeraora battered it with a series of close-range blows.
• Cheng Tian and Greninja canceled Role Play and used Liquidation, wounding Zeraora in a prolonged exchange that left both Pokémon bloodied.
• Zeraora regained confidence and charged Greninja with Wild Charge, but Greninja met it with Whirlpool and its water blade, then pinned it down with Ice Beam and Water Shuriken.
• Su Han took out the Top-grade Thunder Stone she had prepared and watched the crackling Zeraora.

Greninja and Cheng Tian battled Zeraora while Su Han prepared a way to subdue it. After Greninja struck Zeraora with Hyper Beam, Su Han used Aura through the Thunder Stone, and Zeraora vanished.

• Greninja used Dig to evade Zeraora while Zeraora expanded Electric Terrain and healed itself with summoned lightning.
• Su Han asked Cheng Tian to create an opening so she could get close to Zeraora.
• Zeraora anticipated Greninja emerging underground, but Greninja appeared behind it and stabbed it with its Katana.
• Cheng Tian ordered Greninja to fire Hyper Beam, which blasted Zeraora toward him and badly burned it.
• Su Han channeled Aura into the Thunder Stone, and Zeraora vanished when the stone touched it.

Su Han discovered the Aura Sealing Technique in Mew’s memories and learned to turn objects into Sealing Objects that could contain Pokémon. She claimed to have sealed Zeraora inside a Thunder Stone, but the stone began trembling, leaving its seal uncertain.

• Su Han used Aura marks to divide the library books and finished using Future Sight on another set of scenes.
• Mew showed Su Han how it sealed Spiritomb and passed her a memory of the Aura Sealing Technique.
• Su Han experimented with Sealing Objects, accidentally sealing Farfetch'd in an iron pot and later successfully sealing a level 33 Golem in an Everstone.
• Su Han explained that sealing Legendary Pokémon required powerful materials and came at a price.
• Su Han told Cheng Tian that she had sealed Zeraora in a Thunder Stone and teased that she might seal him too.
• The Thunder Stone began trembling, and Su Han hurriedly threw it away.

Cheng Tian and Su Han returned to Nier’s cabin after failing to capture Zeraora and escaping its attack. There, they found Han Yu recovering from his tournament elimination, while Nier and Su Han shared a knowing moment about their relationship.

• Cheng Tian and Su Han explained that their Sealing Object had failed to restrain Zeraora, which defeated their Pokémon and forced them to flee.
• Nier welcomed Cheng Tian and Su Han into the cabin, where they found Han Yu lounging in a hammock.
• Han Yu revealed that he had been eliminated in the Top 212 knockout round, and Nier comforted him.
• Han Yu vowed to become Pokémon League Champion and promised Nier his trophy, while Nier blushed and Su Han encouraged her.

Cao Min fought Gamino in the tournament and used Dhelmise and Serperior to challenge the formidable Kommo-o. Serperior forced Kommo-o out and swiftly defeated Rhyperior, leaving Cao Min with a dramatic advantage.

• Cao Min used Dhelmise to surprise Kommo-o with a combined Shadow Sneak and Anchor Shot, but Kommo-o endured the wound and knocked Dhelmise out.
• Cao Min sent out his Contrary Serperior and used Grassy Terrain and repeated Leaf Storms to trap and weaken Kommo-o.
• Serperior struck Kommo-o with Dragon Tail, forcing Gamino to send out Rhyperior.
• Cao Min immediately ordered Leaf Storm, and Serperior defeated the Grass-weak Rhyperior in seconds.

Gamino sent out Volcarona against Cao Min’s Serperior and explained how years of struggle shaped his contempt for supposed geniuses. Volcarona defeated Serperior, and Gamino ordered the battle to continue.

• Cao Min faced Gamino’s Volcarona, whose rarity and hard-won survival made Cao Min doubt that Serperior could overcome it.
• Gamino recounted his long path from repeated defeats and delayed evolution to becoming a champion, and declared that he worked harder than any genius.
• Volcarona used Fiery Dance and Quiver Dance, burning away Cao Min’s Leaf Storm and growing stronger.
• Cao Min ordered Serperior to use Protect and close in, then commanded Dragon Tail as it leapt toward Volcarona.
• Volcarona caught Serperior in Fire Spin, leaving it unable to battle, and Gamino told Cao Min to continue.

After Cao Min lost to Gamino, Cheng Tian reflected on Gamino’s strength and received reassurance from Su Han about his bond with his Pokémon. Cheng Tian then encountered Gamino in the restroom, where Gamino smashed a smoke alarm, and watched him exchange tense words with Miyamoto Ryunosuke before leaving.

• Cao Min’s teammates comforted him after Gamino defeated him, ending his Pokémon League run.
• Su Han told Cheng Tian that his bond with his Pokémon set him apart, and Cheng Tian went to the restroom.
• Gamino smoked a cigar in the restroom, smashed the smoke alarm with a stone, and explained that he valued the pleasure of forgetting that smoking brought.
• Gamino recognized Cheng Tian from his past with Yang, then dismissed him after learning he was only handling logistics.
• Miyamoto Ryunosuke confronted Gamino about the broken alarm and asked him to look after Yūichi in their match, and Gamino agreed to pay for the damage before leaving.

After Cao Min’s elimination, the Chinese contestants discussed the next round, and Long Weixi assigned Su Han to take Wen Xu along while she competed. Cheng Tian spent the evening studying artifacts in the Pokémon League Museum, where the old caretaker translated their descriptions and criticized the exam-focused English Cheng Tian had learned.

• Cao Min offered to help Long Weixi and the other contestants scout dangerous opponents, while Han Yu, Du Jiajia, and Su Han discussed what they would do the next day.
• Long Weixi took Wen Xu’s game console and left Wen Xu in Su Han’s care for the following day.
• Cheng Tian worked with Gengar to translate the second-floor museum displays, but the old caretaker repeatedly urged him to leave before closing.
• The old caretaker translated an artifact’s description as fossilized forelimb remains from an ancient Pokémon and told Cheng Tian to return the next day.
• The old caretaker explained transcreation and told Cheng Tian that the long, complex English sentences taught for exams were meant for college entrance exam graders, not foreigners.

The former Pokémon League Chairperson warned Ryūnosuke not to seek a hidden Museum artifact as a tournament reward, saying Uxie had ordered it kept safe. The next morning, Cheng Tian discovered a display labeled No. 101 in a Museum that was supposed to contain only one hundred items.

• Ryūnosuke visited the Museum after hours to discuss rewards for the Pokémon League tournament, and the little old man refused to let him take anything from the collection.
• The little old man warned Ryūnosuke to keep to his duties and protect what Uxie had instructed them to keep safe.
• The next morning, the little old man let Cheng Tian into the Museum early and gave him a headset to ask about displays.
• As visitors filled the Museum, Cheng Tian asked about several exhibits, including an ancient sacrificial vessel and a Dragonite bone.
• Cheng Tian told the little old man he had found a compartment labeled No. 101, and the little old man realized something was wrong.