Chapter Summaries

During the second half of the match, Yong’s Claydol battled Carmilla’s Golduck on a rock field. Claydol endured Golduck’s Waterfall attacks and gained the upper hand, leaving Golduck down after a final clash of their moves.

• Yong encouraged A Kun not to lose confidence before heading to the rock field for the second half.
• Yong sent out Claydol while Carmilla sent out Golduck to begin their battle.
• Carmilla ordered Golduck to use Waterfall, but Claydol halted the wave with Confusion before Golduck followed with Aqua Jet.
• Yong had Claydol use Trick Room and Confusion to restrain Golduck, then struck her with Hyper Beam and Earth Power.
• Golduck resisted the attacks and countered with Waterfall, but Claydol’s second Hyper Beam blasted through the wave and sent her crashing to the ground.

Yong’s Claydol defeated Carmilla’s Golduck but lost to her Lapras after Sing left it asleep. Yong sent out Flygon to counter Lapras’s singing, and the battle continued with Flygon’s Rock Slide.

• Claydol defeated Carmilla’s Golduck, and the observers discussed the mysterious power behind Swampert’s transformation as a possible “key” to Mega Evolution.
• Carmilla sent out Lapras, which used Sing to put Claydol to sleep and then defeated it with Ice Beam.
• Yong sent out Flygon, which used Bug Buzz to disrupt Lapras’s Sing and Double Team.
• Carmilla had Lapras use Life Dew, but Flygon attacked with Rock Slide amid swirling sand.

Yong defeated Carmilla in the tournament semifinal after Flygon knocked out Lapras and Corsola, sending him through to the final stage. Carmilla congratulated him as he left the arena with Flygon to prepare for the final match.

• Flygon defeated Lapras with Giga Drain after surviving Carmilla's Whirlpool, earning Yong the first win of the round.
• Carmilla reflected that she had neglected her training as a Trainer and challenged Yong to the final round with Corsola.
• Flygon dodged Corsola's attacks and struck her with Solar Beam, blasting away the sandstorm and sending her flying.
• Carmilla conceded, congratulated Yong, and carried Corsola from the arena as the referee announced Yong's advancement.
• Yong praised Flygon and left the field, saying that the team would give its all in the final match.

After the tournament finalists were introduced, Yong faced Heross in the Ever Grande Conference final. The first half began on a Grass Field, with Heross sending out Charizard against Yong’s Claydol.

• Yong woke in the lounge and learned from A Kun that their battle would have to wait.
• The announcer introduced Yong and Heross as the finalists and described their tournament records.
• Yong and Heross exchanged remarks about Heross’s research-school background and his training in Forina.
• The first half of the final was set on a Grass Field.
• Heross sent out Charizard, and Yong sent out Claydol.

Yong and Heross’s battle intensified as Claydol and Charizard traded powerful attacks, with Trick Room and a clever Teleport letting Yong turn the fight around. Their final clash ended with both Pokémon knocked to the ground, leaving the battle’s outcome undecided.

• Yong used Sandstorm and Trick Room before Claydol’s Rock Slide and Rapid Spin collided with Charizard’s Dragon Claw and Flame Dragon’s Claw.
• Charizard’s Fire Blast covered the battlefield in flames, but Claydol appeared behind it with Teleport and struck it with Ancient Power.
• Yong followed with Rock Slide, and the rocks battered Charizard as it fell to the ground.
• Heross urged Charizard to rise, and its Blaze ability activated as it launched another Flame Dragon’s Claw.
• Yong ordered Claydol to use Rapid Spin at maximum power, and the Pokémon’s clash with Charizard sent both crashing to the ground.

Claydol and Heross's Charizard knocked each other out, leaving the battle tied before Yong sent Rhydon against Heross's Absol. After Heross drove the scarred Absol to fight recklessly, Yong ordered Rhydon to strike it with a full-power Hammer Arm, and the chapter ended with the blow landing.

• Claydol and Charizard both fell after their clash, and the referee declared the round a draw.
• Yong sent out Rhydon, while Heross responded with a scarred Absol that Yong recognized as recently caught in Forina.
• Wallace condemned Heross for mistreating Absol, and Glacia and President Charles Goodshow reacted with concern over his growing arrogance.
• Heross ordered Absol to attack Rhydon recklessly with Quick Attack, Double Team, Brutal Swing, and Close Combat.
• Yong sensed Absol's desperation and commanded Rhydon to unleash a full-power Hammer Arm, smashing Absol into the ground.

Yong’s Rhydon defeated Heross’s Absol, but Heross’s Ursaring then knocked Rhydon out and fired Hyper Beam after the battle was effectively decided. After both trainers received warnings for breaking the rules, Yong resolved to answer Heross in kind, and Wallace noticed that he was getting serious.

• Rhydon defeated Heross’s Absol, earning Yong a warning for entering the battlefield to check on it.
• Heross sent out Ursaring, which battled Rhydon in a contest of strength.
• Ursaring used High Horsepower to knock Rhydon down, then followed with Hyper Beam despite the referee’s order to stop.
• The referee warned Heross for a malicious attack and warned Yong for entering the battlefield; Ursaring was declared the winner.
• Yong praised Rhydon, then told Heross he would give him what he wanted, while Wallace remarked that Yong was getting serious.

Yong’s Swampert defeated Heross’s Ursaring with one Mega Punch, forcing the battle into a halftime break. Yong then wagered that Heross would give him Absol if Yong won, while Heross demanded that Yong kill Absol if Heross won.

• Yong sent out Swampert, which overwhelmed Ursaring with its aura and knocked it unconscious with one Mega Punch.
• The referee declared Swampert the winner and paused the match for halftime after Heross lost his third Pokémon.
• Heross insulted Ursaring as he recalled it, while the spectators cheered for Yong’s victory.
• Yong challenged Heross to wager Absol against a favor Yong would owe if Heross won.
• Heross accepted and changed the stakes: if he won, Yong would have to end Absol’s life himself.
• Heross threatened to sell Absol on the black market if Yong broke the wager, and Yong replied that Heross would not get the chance.

Yong's Swampert faced Heross's Kingdra in the Water Field, where Heross used rain and a relentless series of attacks to trap and blast Swampert. The water settled with Kingdra still visible, but Swampert had disappeared, leaving the referee and crowd unsure of his condition.

• Yong sent Swampert against Heross's Kingdra as the second half of the match began in the Water Field.
• Heross opened with Rain Dance and Twister, but Swampert charged through the waterspout and shattered it with Hammer Arm.
• Heross used Aqua Burst Wave to trap Swampert in a spinning current and slam him into a rock.
• Kingdra followed with Hyper Beam, striking Swampert amid the crashing water.
• The water calmed, but Swampert was nowhere to be seen, and the referee waited uncertainly for him to surface.

Yong's Swampert defeated Heross's Kingdra and battled his Gyarados while Yong condemned Heross's poor command of his Pokémon. As Heross angrily ordered Hyper Beam, Yong sensed Gyarados silently begging Swampert to defeat it.

• Swampert struck Kingdra with Mega Punch and Hyper Beam, winning the battle and reaching level 51, where it learned Scald.
• Heross sent out Gyarados, and Swampert caught its Waterfall with Superpower before hurling it onto the rocks and striking it with Earth Power.
• Gyarados's Thrash wrecked the rocky pillar, forcing Swampert to retreat into the water.
• Yong accused Heross of being an arrogant pretender who wasted the potential of his Pokémon, and Heross reacted furiously.
• Heross ordered Gyarados to use Hyper Beam, but Yong sensed Gyarados begging Swampert to defeat it.

Yong’s Swampert defeated Gyarados after Heross’s mistreatment left it unwilling to obey, and Yong sent out Steelix to face Heross’s Metagross in the final battle. The two Steel-types faced off as the arena erupted in cheers.

• Heross’s Gyarados ignored his command to use Hyper Beam, and Yong ordered Swampert to strike it with Hammer Arm.
• Gyarados was knocked out, giving Swampert the victory and Training Points, while Heross berated his Pokémon and received a warning from the referee.
• Heross sent out Metagross and boasted that it was stronger than Yong’s previous opponents as spectators booed him.
• Yong recalled Swampert and sent out Steelix, recalling their promise to stand together on the podium.
• Metagross appeared, and Yong recognized that the final battle had begun.

Yong’s Steelix defeated Heross’s Metagross in the tournament final after overpowering its attacks and breaking through its psychic restraints. The referee declared Yong the champion as he recalled Steelix and left the battered battlefield.

• Heross ordered Metagross to attack with Meteor Mash and Hammer Arm, but Steelix met its strength with Iron Tail and High Horsepower.
• Metagross used its Force Domain to weaken Steelix, but Steelix released its Aura and shattered the surrounding iron gates.
• Steelix knocked Metagross back and pursued it, but Metagross dodged Crunch and used Psychic to inflict severe pain.
• Heross commanded Metagross to fire Steel Cannon and restrain Steelix with Psychic, but Steelix broke free and charged with High Horsepower.
• Steelix overpowered Metagross in their final collision, leaving it toppled on the rubble while Steelix remained standing.
• Yong recalled Steelix and left as the referee declared Metagross unable to battle and announced Yong as the winner.

After winning the Ever Grande Conference, Yong celebrated with the other top contestants and rejected Heross’s offer to trade Pokémon. During the closing ceremony, he chose to convert his championship reward into Pokémon League contribution points.

• Kong, A Kun, and Carmilla congratulated Yong on his championship, and Yong said he would rest before traveling again, perhaps to Johto or Sinnoh.
• Yong invited the other trainers to visit him in Dewford Town and build connections, while Kong expressed interest in traveling with him to Johto.
• Heross offered Yong five million and several Pokémon in exchange for Steelix and Swampert, but Yong refused and said Pokémon were partners, not tools.
• Drake opened the closing ceremony with President Charles Goodshow, Glacia, and Wallace present, and Yong received the gold championship trophy.
• Yong chose to convert his conference reward into Pokémon League contribution points and save them for valuable resources.

Yong left the Pokémon League after winning the Ever Grande Conference and found Heross torturing his injured Pokémon in a lake. After rescuing them, Yong sat beneath the stars with his companions and wondered what lay beyond them, answering that it was home.

• Yong received the championship trophy from President Charles Goodshow and posed for a photograph with the other finalists and League officials.
• Yong slipped away from Kong and followed Heross into the forest, where Heross threw his Pokémon into a lake and began shocking them with an electrified metal rod.
• Yong attacked Heross with Swampert’s Hyper Beam, then used Rhydon and Claydol to bring Metagross and the other Pokémon ashore.
• Yong confronted Heross over his cruelty, then walked away with Swampert, Rhydon, and Claydol to watch the moon while Pokémon roars and an explosion sounded behind them.
• Yong told his companions that home lay beyond the starry sky as Metagross approached with six Pokémon Balls floating behind it.

Yong spent a relaxed morning with his Pokémon after the rainy season, reflecting on his friends’ new journeys and his own growing team. The chapter ended with his Pokémon gathering around him as he greeted them.

• Yong let Larvitar and Larvesta sleep in after their training, noting their progress with Rock energy and Flamethrower.
• Yong recalled how Kofu, Kong, and Carmilla had visited to train and spar with him before setting off toward their own goals.
• Yong visited the expanded Pokémon Home, where his Pokémon rested in their preferred habitats.
• Yong fed the gathered Pokémon and welcomed the huge, scarred Pokémon as it emerged from the cave and curled around the group.

After celebrating his eleventh birthday, Yong left Hoenn for the distant Sinnoh Region aboard the cruise ship Dawnbringer. He settled into his cabin with Larvitar and Larvesta as the ship departed Slateport City for Pastoria City.

• Yong said goodbye to his family and set off with Aerodactyl, Larvitar, Larvesta, Drilbur, and Swampert.
• Yong flew to Slateport City and reached the Kusunoji Shipyard shortly before his departure.
• Yong showed his ticket and boarded the Dawnbringer, bound for Pastoria City in southeastern Sinnoh.
• Yong settled into his private cabin and released Larvitar, who joined Larvesta on the bed to watch the sea.
• The Dawnbringer sounded its horn and sailed northeast from Slateport City.

Yong met the young Reggie aboard a cruise ship and learned that Reggie had competed in the Sinnoh League and received an Elite Tournament invitation. As Yong prepared to travel to Sinnoh, Reggie invited him to visit Veilstone City and suggested they explore the Battle Zone together.

• Yong explored the cruise ship and shared a meal with Larvesta, Larvitar, and Drilbur.
• Akemi and Reggie approached Yong after noticing his Larvitar, and Reggie recognized him as the Ever Grande Conference champion.
• Yong and Reggie talked about their Pokémon journeys, including Reggie's top-eight finish in the Lily of the Valley Conference and his missed chance to compete in the Elite Tournament.
• Reggie invited Yong to visit him in Veilstone City and proposed that they challenge the Battle Zone together.
• Yong accepted Reggie's invitation and wondered whether the well-behaved little brother Reggie mentioned was Paul.

Yong learned about Sinnoh’s creation myths from Reggie and joined Reggie and Akemi on deck, where Trainers were holding a king-of-the-ring tournament. The reigning champion had won four battles when Yong entered the arena to challenge him.

• Reggie told Yong and Akemi about Sinnoh’s legends of Arceus, Dialga, Palkia, Giratina, and the Lake Guardians.
• Yong reflected on his ambition to explore the Pokémon world and meet its legendary Pokémon.
• Yong, Reggie, and Akemi went to the deck and found a tournament underway among the Trainers aboard the ship.
• Akemi explained that Reggie could not compete because his only Pokémon did not meet the requirements.
• After the reigning champion won four battles, Yong stepped into the arena and challenged him.

Yong battled challengers aboard the Dawn Treader, drawing a crowd after they recognized him as the Ever Grande Conference champion. After spending the evening with Reggie and Akemi, he returned to his cabin as the ship entered the Long-Distance Sea Route.

• Yong defeated Xiao Liang's Munchlax with Larvitar, and Xiao Liang conceded when Munchlax curled up and refused to continue.
• Yong fought three more matches, then withdrew and fled the arena with Reggie and Akemi to escape the crowd's attention.
• Reggie teased Yong about being champion, and Yong asked whether Cynthia had entered any Pokémon League Conferences that year.
• Yong and his companions watched the sunset before heading to their cabins as the deck became unsafe in the rising wind and waves.
• Unable to sleep as the Dawn Treader rocked, Yong heard the ship's horn announce that it had entered the Long-Distance Sea Route.

During a violent storm on the Long-Distance Sea Route, Yong saw a huge eye outside his cabin and later sent Swampert into the ocean to refine its tidal aura. As the storm eased, Yong waited anxiously for Swampert to return to the Dawn Treader.

• Yong saw Pokémon battling through the storm, then noticed an enormous black pupil watching him through his cabin window before it disappeared.
• After waking in the morning, Yong realized the storm and ocean could help Swampert refine its tidal aura.
• Yong brought Swampert to a terrace at the stern of the Dawn Treader and urged it to feel the storm and ocean's power.
• Swampert leapt into the sea despite Yong's warning not to go too far.
• The storm weakened and the fog cleared, but Yong continued waiting by the ocean, worried that Swampert had not returned.