Chapter Summaries

Yong began a Double Battle against the psychic twins Tate and Liza, who sent out Lunatone and Solrock against his Aerodactyl and Swampert. Their coordinated tactics left Aerodactyl trapped and struck by Solar Beam, putting Yong’s team under pressure.

• Tate and Liza welcomed Yong and announced that their Gym match would be a Double Battle.
• Tate and Liza sent out Lunatone and Solrock, and Yong chose Aerodactyl and Swampert to face them.
• The referee opened the roof, allowing sunlight to brighten the battlefield.
• Solrock used Sunny Day while Lunatone used Calm Mind as Yong ordered Aerodactyl to attack Solrock and Swampert to target Lunatone.
• Lunatone used Ally Switch to evade Swampert’s Water Gun and trap Aerodactyl with psychic power, while Solrock’s Flamethrower met the Water Gun.
• Solrock struck the immobilized Aerodactyl with Solar Beam, sending it falling from the air.

Yong defeated Tate and Liza in a Gym battle by coordinating Swampert and Aerodactyl against their Lunatone and Solrock. Tate and Liza awarded him the Mind Badge, bringing his total to seven, and looked forward to meeting him at the Elite Tournament.

• Yong ordered Swampert to charge while Aerodactyl used Agility, then had Aerodactyl strike Lunatone as Swampert broke free of Confusion and countered Solrock's Solar Beam with Dynamic Punch.
• Lunatone used Ally Switch to take Aerodactyl's Iron Head, but Swampert's Hydro Pump struck Solrock and left both Tate and Liza's Pokémon unable to continue.
• Liza stopped Lunatone, Tate and Liza conceded, and the referee declared Yong the winner.
• Yong received training points and experience; Aerodactyl reached level 40 and learned Take Down, while Swampert's Hydro Pump proficiency advanced to Expert.
• Liza gave Yong the Mind Badge, his seventh badge, and Tate and Liza told him they looked forward to seeing him at the Elite Tournament.

Steven returned from Mt. Silver with an ancient fossil and a Larvitar Egg, then discussed the Ishida family with President Stone. Meanwhile, Yong trained his Pokémon on Mossdeep City's coast while Lairon grew stronger in an abandoned mine near Dewford Town.

• Steven showed President Stone the fossil and Larvitar Egg he had found on Mt. Silver, and President Stone praised the Egg's potential.
• Steven asked President Stone what he thought of the Ishida family, leaving him to consider whom Steven intended to give the Larvitar Egg to.
• Yong supervised Steelix, Swampert, Vibrava, Baltoy, Aerodactyl, and Rhyhorn as they trained along Mossdeep City's northern coast.
• Lairon ate ore in an abandoned mine, befriended nearby Geodude and Machop, and grew larger under Yong's family's care.
• Mom called Lairon out for exercise, and Lairon's heavy footsteps shook the mine as its underlings watched admiringly.

Maxie sent Tabitha to find Soranus and his Meteorite Shard while Team Magma investigated New Mauville and Mt. Pyre. After training in Mossdeep City, Yong earned a permit to ride Flying-type Pokémon and set off for Sootopolis City on Aerodactyl.

• Maxie forgave Tabitha for failing at Mt. Pyre but ordered him to find Soranus and the Meteorite Shard he possessed.
• Maxie told Courtney to speed up her search for the Abandoned Ship and Submarine Explorer 1, then ordered Hinokage to contact 'Poison' for more information about Mt. Pyre.
• Yong visited Mossdeep City's Space Research Center, confirmed that Deoxys's meteorite core was absent, and continued training with Rhyhorn and Vibrava.
• After returning to Lilycove City, Yong prepared to fly to Sootopolis City using the League-approved permit he had earned.
• Yong mounted Aerodactyl at Mossdeep City's takeoff area, and Aerodactyl carried him into the sky above the ocean.

Yong arrived in Sootopolis City and learned of a reported explosion at Meteor Falls involving people in red uniforms. After checking in at the Pokémon Center, he called home, spoke with Larvesta and his mother, and learned that his father had something to tell him when he returned.

• Yong flew into Sootopolis City on Aerodactyl and passed the security inspection at the designated landing platform.
• As Yong walked through the city, he overheard two young men say that people in red uniforms had caused an explosion at Meteor Falls.
• Yong decided to visit Meteor Falls after taking care of matters in the city, suspecting Team Magma was not targeting A Xing and the others.
• Yong left his Pokémon with Nurse Joy and called home, where he happily spoke with Larvesta, his mother, and his father.
• Yong told his mother he planned to challenge the Sootopolis Gym, and Shiyan Toru asked whether he had met Steven before saying they would talk when Yong returned home.

After finishing his call home, Yong visited the Sootopolis Gym and met Wallace, who challenged him to a three-on-three battle to see his potential. The chapter ended as Wallace’s Sealeo faced Yong’s Rhyhorn in the opening match.

• Yong fed his Pokémon at the Pokémon Center, then left for the Sootopolis Gym without receiving any challenges.
• Yong reached the Gym and met Wallace, who said Steven had told him about Yong’s maturity and strength.
• Wallace opened the Gym’s roof to allow Aerodactyl to fly and set the battle rules at three-on-three.
• Wallace sent out his level 40 Sealeo, and Yong examined its abilities and moves.
• Yong chose Rhyhorn, and the referee announced the start of their battle.

Yong battled Wallace's Sealeo with Rhyhorn, using its unexpected ability to fight in the water to surprise the Water-type Pokémon. Wallace's Sealeo ultimately defeated Rhyhorn with Water Phantom, leaving Yong to recall it.

• Wallace's Sealeo used Whirlpool and Water Pulse while Yong had Rhyhorn endure the attacks and counter with Rock Blast.
• Wallace froze Rhyhorn's stone pillar with Ice Beam, and Yong ordered Rhyhorn to leap toward Sealeo with Drill Run.
• Sealeo dodged Drill Run and struck Rhyhorn with Water Pulse, but Rhyhorn used the water's buoyancy to launch a Rocket Headbutt that hit Sealeo.
• Wallace praised Rhyhorn's unusual aquatic talent, then had Sealeo use Water Phantom to freeze Rhyhorn in shallow ice crystals.
• Wallace explained that the ice would not seriously harm Rhyhorn, but the attack had left it unable to battle, so Yong recalled it.

Yong faced Wallace in a Gym battle, losing the opening match with Rhyhorn before sending out Swampert. Swampert defeated Wallace’s Sealeo with overwhelming strength, and Yong openly declared his ambition to become a Champion.

• Wallace’s Sealeo defeated Yong’s Rhyhorn with Water Phantom, giving Yong an unfavorable start.
• Yong sent out Swampert, and Wallace challenged him to show his true strength.
• Yong introduced himself as a future Champion from Dewford Town, and the referee began the Swampert-versus-Sealeo battle.
• Swampert shattered the lake’s surface with Hammer Arm, then pursued Sealeo underwater despite Wallace’s Whirlpool.
• Swampert grabbed Sealeo by the tail and knocked it unconscious with Mega Punch, winning the battle.
• Swampert gained experience, improved its Hammer Arm and Mega Punch proficiency, and learned Whirlpool.

Yong defeated Wallace’s Sealeo, then learned that the Elite Tournament’s seeded rookies were formidable and that his debut year could be a disadvantage. Their next battle began with Swampert surviving Wallace’s underwater Energy Ball, and Wallace sent out Ludicolo and started Rain Dance.

• Swampert defeated Sealeo, and Wallace praised Yong before warning that he would face strong seeded contestants in the Elite Tournament.
• Wallace launched his next Pokémon into the lake, and Yong sent Swampert into the water to find it.
• Wallace’s Energy Ball blasted Swampert into a stone pillar, but Swampert endured the Grass-type attack and recovered.
• Wallace recognized Swampert’s defense, sent out Ludicolo, and ordered it to use Rain Dance.

Yong countered Wallace’s Ludicolo by recalling Swampert and sending out Vibrava to replace the rain with Sandstorm. Vibrava overwhelmed Ludicolo with Bug Buzz, giving Yong the round and leaving Wallace’s Pokémon unable to battle.

• Wallace’s Ludicolo confused Swampert with Teeter Dance, then struck it with Energy Ball and drained its stamina with Mega Drain.
• Yong recalled Swampert and sent out Vibrava, then ordered it to use Sandstorm to replace the rain.
• Wallace sent Ludicolo underwater, but Vibrava dodged Hydro Pump and attacked it with Bug Buzz.
• Wallace conceded the round, and Ludicolo floated up with spirals in its eyes as Vibrava was declared the winner.

Yong's Vibrava faced Wallace's Gyarados in the final round of their battle, but Wallace combined water-based moves to overwhelm it. Vibrava fainted, leaving Wallace victorious.

• Wallace sent out his Gyarados, explaining that his Milotic was laying eggs and that Gyarados was her mate.
• Yong opened with Rock Slide, but Gyarados used Twister to absorb the rocks and sweep toward Vibrava.
• Vibrava used Supersonic to tear gaps in the waterspout, but Gyarados rode it upward with Waterfall and trapped Vibrava in the falling water.
• Vibrava used Mega Drain to recover some strength, but Gyarados followed with Twister and slammed both Pokémon into the battlefield.
• Gyarados emerged from the water while Vibrava floated unconscious, ending the battle in Wallace's favor.

Yong’s Swampert defeated Wallace’s Gyarados in a fierce battle after learning Waterfall and unlocking greater power through its Torrent Ability. The referee declared Yong the winner, while Swampert collapsed unconscious from exhaustion.

• After Vibrava was knocked out, Yong sent Swampert back into battle against Wallace’s Gyarados.
• Swampert and Gyarados traded powerful attacks, including Mega Punch, Iron Head, and Hammer Arm, before both plunged into the lake.
• Swampert learned Waterfall during the battle, and both Pokémon used the move in a final clash above the lake.
• As Gyarados began overpowering the inexperienced Swampert, Swampert’s Torrent Ability activated and it broke through the waves to strike Gyarados.
• The referee declared Gyarados unable to battle and named Yong the winner; Swampert leveled up to Lv41 before collapsing unconscious.

Yong defeated Wallace to earn the Rain Badge and his eighth Gym Badge, then learned that the system had unlocked the tournament talent Mainstay. He planned his final preparations for the Elite Tournament, including training his Pokémon and seeking a Tyranitar, before falling asleep at his desk.

• Wallace awarded Yong the Rain Badge and an Aqua Tail TM after praising his battle and Swampert's newly learned Waterfall.
• Wallace wished Yong luck at the Elite Tournament and, after Yong left, said he was sorry to place Hoenn's League hopes on him.
• The system rewarded Yong for earning eight Badges, raised each Pokémon by one level, advanced Baltoy toward evolution, and unlocked the Mainstay talent.
• Yong considered using Mainstay in tournament battles and planned to pursue Tyranitar as the centerpiece of a sandstorm team.
• Yong listed his remaining training and travel plans, then fell asleep at his desk.

Yong traveled to Wailz Island hoping to find traces of Ancient Pokémon, while Dr. Moroboshi and Dr. Annu monitored the fragile revival of an Omanyte. After Dr. Moroboshi went to investigate the outsider, Yong ran into a hostile Primeape and prepared to fight.

• Yong flew to Wailz Island on Aerodactyl, hoping to discover Ancient Pokémon fossils.
• Dr. Moroboshi and Dr. Annu watched over the unstable Omanyte revival when their alarm announced that an outsider had entered the island.
• Dr. Moroboshi asked Ale to accompany him to investigate Yong while the other researchers went to protect the Pokémon.
• Yong fed a group of Aipom to get them to stop pestering him, but they continued following him through the forest.
• A hostile level 39 Primeape blocked Yong’s path, and Yong decided to fight.

Yong and Baltoy fought a Primeape, but the battle drew an entire troop of Primeape and Mankey. As Baltoy unleashed its full psychic power to stop the troop leader’s powerful charge, it began to evolve.

• Yong sent Baltoy to battle the attacking Primeape, and Baltoy knocked it into a tree with Confusion.
• The injured Primeape called for its troop, and dozens of Primeape and Mankey surrounded Yong and Baltoy.
• The troop attacked, but Baltoy used Confusion to hold back the charging Pokémon.
• The Primeape leader charged through Baltoy’s psychic attack with a powerful move, and Baltoy countered with Extrasensory.
• Baltoy’s psychic power surged, and Yong realized it was finally evolving.

Yong watched Baltoy evolve into Claydol, then met Dr. Moroboshi and followed him to his research lab on Wailz Island. Back in Dewford Town, Shiyan Toru decided to pursue a new opportunity, while Brawly reflected on Yong’s future and the mysterious Pokémon Egg.

• Baltoy evolved into Claydol, and Yong used Training Points to improve its Trick Room and Hyper Beam.
• Primeape attacked Yong and Claydol with Ice Punch, but Dr. Moroboshi arrived and calmed it down.
• Dr. Moroboshi introduced himself and his assistant Ale, then invited Yong to his research lab.
• At the Ishida family home, Shiyan Toru told Brawly that he planned to seize an opportunity and picked up Larvesta and the Pokémon Egg.
• Brawly looked at the dark green and yellow Pokémon Egg and said he looked forward to seeing how far Yong would go.

Yong reached the Ancient Fossils Biology Research Institute, where Ale verified his identity and Dr. Moroboshi warned him that the institute’s Pokémon were off-limits. Dr. Moroboshi gave him a topographic map of the eastern mountains to search for ancient Pokémon, and the chapter ended with the researchers discussing Yong’s connection to Steven.

• Yong arrived at the institute with Dr. Moroboshi and Ale, and Ale took his Pokédex to verify his information.
• Ale confirmed Yong was a League Trainer with a clean background and praised his Gym badge record.
• Dr. Moroboshi told Yong he could not catch Pokémon on institute grounds but gave him a map of the eastern mountains to explore.
• Yong agreed to bring any ancient Pokémon or unusual stones he found to Dr. Moroboshi, then left the institute with the map.
• Ale told Dr. Moroboshi that ancient fossils had not been found in the mountains for a long time, and Dr. Moroboshi replied that Yong had earned Steven’s recognition.

Yong abandoned the map’s marked caves and had Swampert dig underground, with Claydol carrying him through the tunnel. They broke into a cavern where Kabutops and its Kabuto were attacking two Tyrunt, and Yong ended the chapter delighted to have found an Ancient Pokémon.

• Yong searched the marked caves with Swampert but found nothing, so he ordered Swampert to dig underground and released Claydol to help them descend.
• In a cavern, a Kabutops and several Kabuto attacked two Tyrunt, and Kabutops buried one Tyrunt beneath rocks.
• As Kabutops raised its blades to strike the remaining Tyrunt, Swampert broke through the cavern wall, and Yong arrived with Claydol.
• Yong sent out Aerodactyl to light the cavern with Flamethrower and spotted Kabuto, Kabutops, Tyrunt, and Shieldon.
• Yong recognized a Tyrunt and grinned at the Ancient Pokémon he had been searching for.

Yong rescued Tyrunt and Shieldon from Kabutops by trading it food, then cared for the injured young Pokémon and searched the cavern for fossils. After finding several fossils, he left with Swampert while an unknown Pokémon watched from the underground river.

• Yong stopped Kabutops from attacking Tyrunt and Shieldon and traded it Pokémon food for their lives.
• Yong found Cranidos dead, treated Tyrunt and Shieldon's injuries, and let them sleep under Swampert's protection.
• Claydol brought dry branches, and Aerodactyl lit a fire that revealed the cavern and its underground river.
• Yong followed the river with Swampert, found fossils in the rock wall, and collected several.
• Yong left the cavern with Swampert as a blue-green spiral-shelled Pokémon watched from the river.

Yong rescued Tyrunt and Shieldon from the underground ruins, and the two Pokémon agreed to travel with him. After carrying Cranidos outside, they buried him overlooking the sea before setting off for the Moroboshi Research Institute.

• Tyrunt and Shieldon woke, ate the food Yong offered, and revealed their abilities and moves.
• Yong invited Tyrunt and Shieldon to join him, and they agreed after conferring with each other.
• Yong and the Pokémon struggled through a collapsed passage and emerged from the mountainside onto a coastal ridge.
• Tyrunt and Shieldon said farewell to Cranidos, and Yong buried him with their help and made a simple gravestone.
• Yong and his companions set off for the Moroboshi Research Institute.