Chapter Summaries

Wen Xu let her Gengar teach the class while she sat beside Cheng Tian and played a game. Gengar’s extensive skills and carefully prepared lesson won over the students, who listened attentively.

• Wen Xu plunged the classroom into darkness with her Gengar and then sat beside Cheng Tian as Gengar took her place at the lectern.
• Cheng Tian inspected Gengar’s information panel and was astonished by the Elite Four Pokémon’s level and wide range of moves.
• Gengar accidentally opened an inappropriate study file before switching to his prepared presentation.
• Gengar used five doubles to teach students about using status moves, while Wen Xu leaned against one of them and played her game.
• Cheng Tian and the other students settled into the lesson and came to appreciate Gengar’s teaching.

Cheng Tian and his classmates attended morning lessons taught by Elite Four members, then compared what they had learned over lunch. After returning to the dorm, the students let their Pokémon stay out and play there while they attended classes.

• Gengar taught Cheng Tian's class while Wen Xu lounged on Gengar's body, and Cheng Tian later chatted with Shen Gun in the corridor.
• Cheng Tian, Bai Yun, Lin Lin, and Su Han shared what their classes had covered, including Long Weixi's Dragon-type lessons for the Fairy-type students.
• Long Weixi complained to Granny Du about teaching Fairy types, while Yang Yonggang and the others teased her.
• The students returned to the dorm, fed their Pokémon, and agreed to let them stay there during regular classes.
• Bai Yun looked forward to the next day's battle training.

Cheng Tian and the other trainees began practical battle lessons with powerful coaches, including Elite Four members. He learned that his elderly coach, Du Qiaoxin, had been the renowned Poison-type Elite Four member forty-eight years ago.

• Cheng Tian reflected on the demanding lessons and went to sleep while Shen Gun continued meditating with Alakazam.
• Xiong Weidong led the trainees through their morning run and announced practical battle training at the grounds.
• Cheng Tian ate breakfast with Su Han and the others, then joined the trainees at the vast training stadium.
• Xiong Weidong introduced the coaches, and the trainees checked their assignments, which included several Elite Four members.
• Cheng Tian met his coach, Granny Du, and agreed with Chen Tao to battle when they had a chance.
• Du Qiaoxin warned her trainees to follow her instructions and avoid making her angry, and Chen Tao identified her as the Poison-type Elite Four member from forty-eight years ago.

Granny Du challenged the group to test how well they understood their Pokémon, then demonstrated how her Gulpin’s refined toxins could harm Cheng Tian’s Aron despite its Steel typing. After Aron lost, Granny Du urged the young trainers to keep developing their own and their Pokémon’s potential.

• Granny Du invited the group to challenge her level 20 Gulpin, then picked Cheng Tian after noticing his hand move toward his Poké Ball.
• Cheng Tian sent out Aron and used Rock Tomb, but Gulpin escaped by corroding the rocks.
• Gulpin evaded Aron’s attacks and used its corrosive poison to damage Aron through its Steel armor.
• Gulpin used Clear Smog to erase Aron’s Defense boosts, then trapped Aron and defeated it with Water Pulse and Poison Jab.
• Granny Du explained that she had refined Gulpin’s toxins until they could corrode Steel-type Pokémon, and told the group to keep developing their own and their Pokémon’s potential.

Cheng Tian battled Chen Tao to test their Pokémon’s progress and gained a chance to see his new Steam Mode in action. After Frogadier defeated Wartortle, Chen Tao sent out Gyarados, but Coach Xiong Weidong stopped the battle and made him switch to Starmie before they could continue.

• Granny Du told Cheng Tian that developing a Pokémon meant adapting its existing body and left him to figure out how to apply the idea.
• Cheng Tian accepted Chen Tao’s offer to battle with two Pokémon each, and Frogadier faced Chen Tao’s Wartortle.
• Frogadier used Steam Mode and close-range Steam Water Pulse to burn and defeat Wartortle inside their merged Whirlpools.
• Chen Tao sent out Gyarados for the second round, but Coach Xiong Weidong ordered him to switch to a smaller Pokémon so they would not disturb the others.
• Chen Tao recalled Gyarados and sent out Starmie, allowing the battle to continue.

Cheng Tian defeated Chen Tao’s Starmie with Floette, prompting Granny Du to praise his underhanded tactics and urge her students to fight just as dirty. She sent Cheng Tian and Chen Tao to observe coaches’ lessons, after asking Cheng Tian to repeat his name.

• Granny Du returned to the training area and learned that Cheng Tian and Chen Tao were battling.
• Cheng Tian used Floette’s Copycat, Safeguard, and Wish to counter Chen Tao’s Starmie and restore Floette’s stamina.
• Floette defeated Starmie with Fairy Wind and Razor Leaf, raising Cheng Tian’s ranking.
• Granny Du approved of Cheng Tian’s tactics and told her students to use any methods necessary to win their battles.
• Granny Du suggested Cheng Tian and Chen Tao sit in on coaches’ lessons, then asked Cheng Tian his name before letting him go.

Cheng Tian watched Bai Yun lose to the Rock-type Elite Four member, who criticized Bai Yun for collecting moves instead of training Rockruff properly. He then saw Su Han’s team defeated in one attack by Long Weixi’s enraged Drampa.

• Chen Tao headed to Nalu’s field while Cheng Tian went looking for Bai Yun and found him battling the Rock-type Elite Four member.
• Bai Yun’s Rockruff used Thrash uncontrollably, and the coach had Armaldo knock it out after Thrash ended and Rockruff became confused.
• The Rock-type Elite Four member told Bai Yun to focus on mastering moves and training seriously, and Cheng Tian and Lin Lin offered to help him.
• Cheng Tian went to the eastern field, where Su Han was battling Long Weixi with Vulpix, Sylveon, and Togepi against her Drampa.
• Long Weixi’s Drampa activated Anger Point and knocked out all three of Su Han’s Pokémon with Flamethrower.

Cheng Tian asked Granny Du for help developing Aron and was introduced to the Steel-type Elite Four member Yang Yonggang. Yang brought Cheng Tian to his underground Gravity Training Room, where Cheng Tian began asking how to replace Aron's armor with a better metal.

• At lunch, Yu Fei told Bai Yun and Lin Lin that a Dark-type instructor's Pangoro had defeated nearly everyone's Pokémon, while Senior Sister Song's Pancham remained unharmed.
• Cheng Tian considered changing the material of Aron's armor to address its vulnerability to corrosion and the weight slowing Aron down.
• After afternoon team battles, Cheng Tian's Pokémon all gained levels, and Noibat learned Double Team; Cheng Tian won a three-on-three battle against Chen Yiyi.
• Cheng Tian visited Granny Du to ask about developing Aron, and she agreed to introduce him to Yang Yonggang.
• Yang Yonggang took Cheng Tian underground to his Gravity Training Room, where Cheng Tian asked for help replacing Aron's ordinary metal armor with a higher-performance metal.

Yang Yonggang explained how Cheng Tian could help Aron replace its armor and showed him the special training room and his powerful Aggron. He gave Cheng Tian a tungsten-steel Metal Coat to help Aron strengthen its armor, leaving Cheng Tian with a new path to develop his Pokémon.

• Yang Yonggang told Cheng Tian that changing Aron's diet could replace its armor, but the process would take more than ten years.
• Yang Yonggang had Cheng Tian wear a weighted chain-mail suit and led him into the gravity training room, where they could move without the added weight.
• Yang Yonggang released his level 65 Aggron, and Cheng Tian introduced Aron to the Pokémon it admired.
• Aron struggled against the gravity, used Hidden Power to raise its head, and earned Aggron's approval for its determination.
• Yang Yonggang gave Cheng Tian a special tungsten-steel Metal Coat and instructed him to spread it over Aron's body and wear down its armor in battles so it could absorb the material.

The trainees began a multi-day survival exercise in the outer forest, where they had to earn points by completing missions while avoiding dangerous Pokémon. Cheng Tian’s group accepted three missions and entered the forest with their Pokémon scouting and guarding them.

• Xiong Weidong announced that the trainees would collect their supplies and assemble for a survival exercise in the outer forest.
• Song Rongxue told Cheng Tian’s group that they would likely be out for two or three days, so they bought Repels, Potions, and tents.
• Xiong Weidong distributed tracking and distress devices and explained that the trainees would remain in the forest until Sunday, with staff ready to respond to emergencies.
• Long Weixi explained that the bottom hundred trainees on the monthly points leaderboard would be eliminated, and Cheng Tian’s group accepted missions to collect Beedrill honey, Nincada husks, and three Stantler antlers.
• Cheng Tian and his companions entered the forest and sent their Pokémon to scout from the air, ahead, and underground while the others guarded the group.

Cheng Tian's group hunted a Seviper and reached a clearing to set up camp, only to be driven away by a hostile group led by Yellow-Haired Guy. They left rather than risk a fight, continuing their search for a place to camp.

• Cheng Tian's group attacked Seviper while she ate a Spearow, and their coordinated moves defeated her.
• The group battled several Pokémon on the way and reached a flat clearing where three tents were already set up.
• Yellow-Haired Guy refused to let Cheng Tian's group camp there and told the men to leave while inviting the girls to stay.
• Bai Yun challenged Yellow-Haired Guy, but Shen Gun urged the group to conserve their strength for the task.
• Cheng Tian's group left the clearing as Yellow-Haired Guy and his companions mocked them.

Cheng Tian and his companions drove a large colony of Zubat and Golbat out of a cave and defeated them so they could use it as a campsite. After Noibat protected Cheng Tian from a level 29 Golbat and was badly hurt, Togepi healed it, and the group prepared to enter the cleared cave.

• Cheng Tian and his companions found a cave occupied by Zubat and Golbat, and Cheng Tian proposed using smoke and fire to drive them out.
• Cheng Tian's group filled the cave with Smokescreen, then Bai Yun had Monferno use Flamethrower to agitate the Pokémon inside.
• Su Han, Shen Gun, and the others used their Pokémon to defeat dozens of Zubat and Golbat as they fled the cave.
• A level 29 Golbat ambushed Cheng Tian, and Noibat took its bite and retaliated with Hidden Power before Vulpix froze the Golbat.
• Su Han had Togepi use Life Dew to heal Noibat, and Shen Gun began moving the defeated Pokémon while the others prepared to inspect the cave.

Cheng Tian and his companions cleaned a cave to use as a temporary base, then Cheng Tian and Shen Gun scouted the nearby Beedrill colony. They discovered the colony was heavily populated and returned to plan a cautious approach to the honey-gathering mission.

• Bai Yun burned the Zubat droppings, and Cheng Tian and Frogadier washed the cave clean while the others prepared lunch.
• Shen Gun told the group he had dumped the captured Zubat into a stream occupied by Basculin.
• Cheng Tian and Shen Gun scouted the Beedrill colony and saw many Weedle and cocoons among the trees.
• Alakazam detected movement, and a blond trainer and his companions fled past with more than thirty Beedrill pursuing them.
• Cheng Tian and Shen Gun returned to the cleaned cave, where Cheng Tian warned the group that a frontal assault on the colony would be too dangerous.

A sudden torrential rain flooded Training Island and forced Cheng Tian and his companions to shelter in a cave, where Alakazam used Secret Power to create a temporary safe space. When its psychic power ran low, they emerged to find two Stantler sheltering in the cave, leaving Cheng Tian excited by their unexpected arrival.

• Dark clouds gathered over the South China Sea, and torrential rain began pouring across Training Island despite the Sunny Day team’s efforts to clear the sky.
• Xiong Weidong ordered the wilderness survival exercise to continue and told personnel to monitor distress signals and dangerous Pokémon.
• Rainwater flooded the cave where Cheng Tian, Lin Lin, Bai Yun, Song Rongxue, Shen Gun, and Yu Fei had taken shelter, so Alakazam used Secret Power to open a hidden space in the wall.
• Inside the secret space, Cheng Tian told the group he had a plan to obtain honey despite the Beedrill, while other trainees were rescued from rain-related dangers and lost their mission points.
• As Alakazam’s psychic power ran low, the group left the secret space and found two Stantler sheltering in the flooded cave.

Cheng Tian and his group captured two Stantler using Vulpix as a lure, collected their shed antlers, and prepared for their next mission. After repairing their rain-soaked cave and resting, they gathered near the Beedrill colony and began their operation.

• Vulpix disguised as a wounded Stantler to lure two adult Stantler into the cave, where Alakazam and Sylveon knocked them unconscious.
• Shen Gun removed the Stantler's antlers without injuring them and released the pair, completing one mission.
• Cheng Tian and the others dug drainage channels around the cave and settled in for the night, with Shen Gun keeping watch.
• Cheng Tian and Su Han shared a quiet moment before falling asleep.
• The next morning, Cheng Tian coated Aron's armor with Metal Coat, and the group prepared to enter the Beedrill colony's territory.

Cheng Tian and the others used repeated raids to weaken a Beedrill colony, then retreated when its growing forces threatened to overwhelm them. After resting, they prepared to attack again while Cheng Tian helped Aron absorb more Metal Coat.

• Cheng Tian, Bai Yun, Song Rongxue, and Yu Fei launched attacks on the Beedrill colony from three directions.
• Cheng Tian’s Pokémon defeated waves of Beedrill, but the colony kept sending out stronger fighters.
• Cheng Tian used Smokescreen and his Pokémon’s moves to escape the pursuing Beedrill.
• The group regrouped, and Shen Gun praised Cheng Tian’s guerrilla strategy as their Pokémon gained experience and learned new moves.
• Cheng Tian applied the remaining Metal Coat to Aron and told it to absorb it so they could grow stronger.

Cheng Tian and his friends drew the Beedrill swarm and its level 33 leader away from their territory so Su Han, Lin Lin, and Song Rongxue could raid the nest for honey. After the girls entered the forest, Yellow-Haired Guy and his group followed, planning to take the honey and threatening the girls if necessary.

• The Beedrill leader sent a force of more than two hundred Beedrill against Cheng Tian and his friends, who fought back with their Pokémon.
• Cheng Tian and his friends forced the level 33 Beedrill leader to emerge, then fled while fighting off the swarm’s attacks.
• Cheng Tian threw a Dive Ball into the bushes as the Beedrill pursued the boys, leaving Su Han, Lin Lin, and Song Rongxue to enter the territory and search for honey.
• Yellow-Haired Guy and his four lackeys watched the plan unfold, then followed the girls into the forest to seize the honey for themselves.

Cheng Tian and the others were overwhelmed by the Beedrill swarm until Noibat unleashed Outrage and a rescuer arrived, taking Yu Fei away after he triggered the distress signal. As the remaining boys rushed back toward their teammates, the Beedrill leader sensed its offspring were in danger and drove the swarm back to its territory.

• Yu Fei pressed the emergency button as the injured group struggled to escape the Beedrill swarm.
• Noibat unleashed Outrage to protect Cheng Tian, fighting the Beedrill leader until Swellow arrived and scattered the swarm.
• The rescuer declared Yu Fei eliminated, but Cheng Tian and the others chose to continue the mission and hurried back toward the girls.
• Cheng Tian realized the Beedrill were returning, and the boys rushed toward their teammates.
• The Beedrill leader sensed danger to its offspring and ordered the swarm to speed back to its territory.

Su Han, Song Rongxue, and Lin Lin found a Beedrill hive containing a honey pond and a possible Shiny Weedle Egg. Yellow-Haired Guy and his lackeys attacked the hive and confronted the three girls over the honey, leaving them outnumbered.

• Frogadier spotted the Beedrill hive, and Sandile scouted it before the girls entered and found a honey pond with many Pokémon Eggs.
• Su Han and Song Rongxue suspected one yellow-green egg was a Shiny Weedle Egg, while Lin Lin wondered if it was a crossbreed.
• Yellow-Haired Guy and his four lackeys attacked the Beedrill with their Pokémon and pushed the defenders back.
• The girls ran toward the honey, but Yellow-Haired Guy intercepted them with Houndoom, Sneasel, and Linoone.
• Song Rongxue and Su Han called out their Pokémon as the four lackeys arrived, leaving the girls outnumbered; Song Rongxue rejected Buckteeth's offer to share the honey.

Su Han and her companions secured the Beedrill honey while a rival group damaged the hive and stole eggs, provoking the returning swarm. After the girls hid in the honey and were rescued, they ended their training early, while Su Han reminded Cheng Tian to retrieve something Frogadier had hidden.

• Su Han sent Frogadier to carry away the unusually colored Pokémon Egg as a fight broke out with Yellow-Haired Guy’s group.
• The rival Trainers’ Pokémon damaged many Weedle eggs, and Yellow-Haired Guy ordered Houndoom to burn the remaining eggs.
• When the Beedrill swarm returned, Su Han and her companions jumped into the honey pool, and the enraged swarm attacked Yellow-Haired Guy and his companions.
• Cheng Tian and the others found the girls in the honey pool, pulled them out, and had Frogadier wash them with Water Gun.
• Song Rongxue activated the distress signal, and rescue personnel confirmed their honey task was complete and arranged to transport the honey.
• Before leaving with the rescuers, Su Han told Cheng Tian to have Frogadier take him to retrieve something.