Chapter Summaries

Yong’s Bastiodon defeated Fantina’s Drifblim, then endured Duskull’s Will-O-Wisp and Hex despite being burned and badly injured. The chapter left Bastiodon standing again, determined to prove himself in front of Swampert.

• Bastiodon defeated Drifblim, earning Yong Training Points and increased move proficiency.
• Fantina sent out her level 35 Duskull, and it used Confuse Ray as Bastiodon countered with Ancient Power, triggering its stat boost.
• Duskull used Disable to seal Ancient Power, then struck Bastiodon from behind with Shadow Sneak before Fantina ordered Will-O-Wisp.
• Bastiodon endured the burn and hit Duskull with Shock Wave, but Duskull answered with Hex and overwhelmed his Protect.
• Fantina was astonished when the injured Bastiodon stood back up, and Yong said he wanted to prove himself in front of Swampert.

Bastiodon overcame its fear and defeated Fantina’s Duskull with Flash Cannon. Fantina then recognized Yong’s accomplishments and challenged him to a final battle against her strong Pokémon.

• Bastiodon learned Flash Cannon, and Yong raised its proficiency to expert.
• Bastiodon’s Flash Cannon overwhelmed Duskull’s Shadow Ball and knocked Duskull out, winning the battle.
• Yong praised the exhausted Bastiodon, which collapsed after using all its strength.
• Fantina revealed that she knew of Yong’s tournament victories and asked to battle one of his main-team Pokémon.
• Yong accepted Fantina’s challenge, and Swampert and Fantina’s Pokémon appeared for their final battle.

Yong and Swampert battled Fantina and her Gengar, revealing the gap between Swampert’s strength and Yong’s undeveloped battle will. Fantina conceded, awarded Yong the Relic Badge, and promised to battle him again when he found his own path.

• Fantina sent out Gengar to battle Yong’s Swampert at the Gym.
• Yong used Swampert’s advanced Ocean Current Aura to overwhelm Gengar, while Fantina’s Stage Play domain countered the aura and suppressed Yong’s thoughts.
• Swampert broke Gengar’s Psychic restraints with Liquidation, then endured her Shiranui attack and struck her down with another Liquidation.
• Fantina conceded after the referee declared Gengar unable to battle, and she told Yong he needed experience and his own direction to reach Gym Class.
• Fantina awarded Yong the Relic Badge and promised to battle him without holding back once he was walking his own path.

Yong left Hearthome City after earning its Gym Badge and chose to travel to Iron Island via Canalave City rather than join Reggie and Akemi in Veilstone City. Meanwhile, the Pokémon League began an internal investigation after its operation against Team Rocket exposed little of the organization’s deep roots.

• After the Pokémon League operation failed to uncover much of Team Rocket, its leaders launched a sweeping internal investigation.
• Agatha visited Professor Oak in Pallet Town, received his device containing data on Kanto’s Pokémon, and left after he mentioned his grandson Gary.
• Yong returned to the Pokémon Center, showed Reggie and Akemi his Hearthome Gym Badge, and declined to travel with them to Veilstone City.
• Yong said he planned to reach Canalave City and explore Iron Island, then chose the route north toward Mt. Coronet rather than visit Celestic Town.

On the third day of his journey west from Hearthome City, Yong trained his Pokémon in a forest clearing and planned new exercises for them. As his team rested and continued growing stronger, Yong reaffirmed his resolve to follow his path.

• Yong trained Rhydon to maneuver in tight spaces, then planned to improve its accuracy with Swampert's help.
• Swampert brought Bastiodon back from underground training, and Yong praised Bastiodon's determination while cautioning Swampert not to push it too hard.
• Yong and Swampert reaffirmed their shared dream of reaching the top and agreed to battle Steelix someday.
• Yong watched Larvitar and Larvesta practice Rock Slide and Flamethrower, then told Drilbur to begin attacking Pokémon instead of only stationary targets.
• Yong assigned Bastiodon as Drilbur's next opponent and finished the day writing in his notebook, resolved to stay on his path.

Yong entered the Stone Tunnel beneath Mt. Coronet with Larvesta and Swampert, relying on Larvesta’s light and warmth as they traveled through the dangerous mountain. Hoping to find a powerful Rock-type or Ground-type Pokémon, he left the official route and entered the largest cave he had spotted.

• Yong passed the market at the Stone Tunnel entrance, where Flash TMs were popular, but decided Larvesta could provide the light and warmth he needed.
• Yong reviewed his Pokémon’s recent growth: Larvesta had reached level 33, Larvitar level 28, Drilbur level 30, Bastiodon level 37, and Rhydon level 48.
• Yong recognized carvings of Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf on the entrance arch, then released Swampert and entered the tunnel with Larvesta.
• Larvesta lit the cold passage and warmed Yong as he followed the official route deeper into Mt. Coronet.
• Yong left the main route and entered the largest cave he had observed, seeking a powerful Rock-type or Ground-type Pokémon.

Yong and Swampert discovered a hidden cavern filled with Pokémon, whose inhabitants prepared to confront the intruders. Yong apologized and offered food, and Vaporeon accepted it, calming Golem and the others.

• Swampert found a Tangela hiding in the tunnel, and Yong gave it Pokémon food before continuing on.
• Tangela followed Yong and Swampert as they found an underground river and entered a vast cavern.
• Larvesta lit the cavern with Flamethrower, startling Bidoof, Bibarel, Machop, Geodude, Golbat, Murkrow, and other Pokémon.
• Swampert showed its strength as Golbat, Golem, Machoke, and Bibarel gathered around Yong and Larvesta.
• Vaporeon stepped between Yong and the hostile Pokémon, and Yong offered food as an apology for disturbing them.
• Vaporeon accepted the food, and Golem lowered its fist.

Yong and his Pokémon faced a powerful Torterra, Magnezone, and Heracross attacking the underground river’s defenders. Just as Torterra prepared a devastating attack, Empoleon arrived and revealed itself as the river’s true leader.

• Torterra led Magnezone and Heracross into the cave and attacked Vaporeon’s group with Bulldoze.
• Vaporeon, Golem, and Machoke fought back, but Torterra’s durability and its companions’ attacks injured Golem and Machoke.
• Vaporeon dodged Magnezone’s Thunderbolt and fired Aurora Beam at Torterra, whose allies blocked the attack.
• Torterra prepared to charge with a powerful Grass-type move, but Empoleon emerged from the underground river and stopped it.

Empoleon and Torterra fought over access to the underground river, and Yong sent Swampert between them before their attacks could destroy the cavern. Yong and Swampert awakened the Bond Phenomenon, stopping both Gym Class Pokémon, and Swampert returned to Yong after the battle subsided.

• Empoleon confronted Torterra after learning that the two groups disputed control of the underground river.
• Empoleon attacked Torterra with Slash, and Torterra countered with Crunch before they prepared Flash Cannon and Wood Hammer.
• Yong called on Swampert to stop the escalating fight, and their bond triggered Swampert's Bond Phenomenon in Torrent Mode.
• Swampert intercepted the attacks and pinned Torterra's head, forcing Empoleon and Torterra to back down.
• Swampert reverted to normal and returned to Yong, who leaned against its side as calm returned to the cavern.

After calming the conflict between Empoleon and Torterra, Yong learned that he needed to travel deeper into Mt. Coronet to find ruins and Pokémon with potential. He and his Pokémon returned to the main tunnel, ate, and settled in to rest under guard.

• Yong watched Empoleon and Torterra end their standoff, then gave Vaporeon food as compensation and saw it bring Machoke and Machop to carry the supplies.
• Empoleon told Swampert that Yong would have to head deeper into Mt. Coronet to find ruins and Pokémon with potential, but Yong could not identify any ruins from memory.
• Yong said goodbye to Empoleon and Vaporeon, reunited a lost Tangela with its group, and reflected on practicing the bond phenomenon.
• Yong returned to the main tunnel, let out his Pokémon, and shared food with them before they rested.
• Swampert sensed something unusual but found nothing, and the Pokémon surrounded Yong while Rhydon and Bastiodon kept watch.

Yong dreamed of a ruined cavern and a shadow that attacked him, then woke in a mountain tunnel with Swampert and his other Pokémon nearby. Remembering the dream and sensing a call, he found a fissure covered in black mist and entered it with Swampert before it closed behind them.

• Yong wandered through a ruined cavern in his dream, discovered his backpack and Pokémon Balls were missing, and panicked while searching for his Pokémon.
• A black-misted shadow emerged from a pile of stones and lunged at Yong, jolting him awake in the rest area.
• Yong realized other travelers had also experienced nightmares, though they could not remember them as clearly as he could.
• As Yong traveled deeper into Mt. Coronet, he felt a call and found a black-misted fissure opening in the mountain wall.
• Yong entered the fissure with Swampert, and it closed behind them.

Yong followed the dreamlike path into a ruined cavern and freed a being trapped inside a Black Crystal by defeating its black mist with Swampert. After a flash of Giratina appeared, a Pokémon began emerging from Yong’s shadow.

• Yong entered a vast ruined cavern and called out to the being whose voice had summoned him.
• The being asked Yong to defeat it, and he ordered Swampert to attack the black mist with Hydro Pump and Mega Punch.
• Yong had Swampert unleash Waterfall, which overwhelmed the mist and shattered the Black Crystal imprisoning it.
• A pillar of black energy burst from the shattered crystal, and Yong briefly recognized Giratina before the energy vanished.
• Yong searched the cavern for the freed being, then turned as a Pokémon began emerging from his shadow.

Yong freed Darkrai from the Black Crystal’s seal and learned that the Pokémon had once guarded the Light Crystal in the Almia Region. Darkrai agreed to travel with Yong, then revealed that about ten years earlier it had sensed another space connecting with reality, where ideals and reality met.

• Yong offered food to the weakened Darkrai, which thanked him for breaking the seal and explained that only Yong had answered its calls through dreams.
• Darkrai told Yong it had served as a sentinel in Fengrao Forest, traveling from Almia to Hisui before being sealed for nearly a century.
• Darkrai explained that the contaminated Light Crystal and unstable Angel Tower had brought Dialga and Palkia into conflict, after which Giratina sealed it inside the Dark Crystal and cast it into the ruins.
• Yong invited Darkrai to explore the outside world with him, and Darkrai agreed to stay in his shadow.
• Darkrai told Yong it had sensed another space connect with reality about ten years earlier, when ideals and reality met.

After leaving Darkrai’s cave, Yong searched Stone Tunnel with Swampert and Larvesta for new companions and the ruins Empoleon had mentioned. He discovered an isolated Scyther whose body had changed after consuming black augurite, and promised to help it evolve into Kleavor.

• Yong left the cave where Darkrai had been sealed, and Swampert broke through the mountain wall to lead them back into Stone Tunnel.
• Yong searched the tunnel with Swampert and Larvesta, hoping to find companions for Swampert and locate the ruins Empoleon had mentioned.
• Yong and Swampert found a cramped cavern filled with stones, where an altered Scyther ambushed them and was knocked back by Swampert.
• Yong recognized Scyther’s black rocks as black augurite and explained that the ore could let Scyther evolve into Kleavor instead of Scizor.
• Yong told Scyther that it needed to hold black augurite and level up, then promised to help it.

Yong helped Scyther evolve into Kleavor with a black augurite, then battled him with Bastiodon. After winning, Yong caught Kleavor and welcomed him as a partner.

• Yong fed Scyther and hung a black augurite around his neck before having him battle Bastiodon and Larvesta to gain strength.
• During a battle with Larvesta, Scyther evolved into a Hisui Kleavor, gaining the Rock type and learning Stone Axe and Rock Slide.
• Kleavor challenged Yong to a proper battle, and Yong chose Bastiodon as his opponent.
• Bastiodon defeated Kleavor with Iron Head and Rock Slide, and Yong caught him in a Poké Ball.
• Larvitar and Larvesta celebrated with Yong as he welcomed Kleavor to his team.

Yong left Stone Tunnel, rested with his Pokémon, and continued toward Oreburgh City while helping his new partner Kleavor settle in. After arriving in Oreburgh City, he battled a Trainer on Route 207 as Muren Under the Moon arrived in Sinnoh and ordered Yuriko to locate someone in a photograph.

• Yong emerged from Stone Tunnel, ate with Swampert and Larvesta, and spent the night in a cave dug by Swampert.
• The next day, Yong introduced his Pokémon to the outdoors and organized a group meal to help Kleavor bond with the team.
• Muren Under the Moon arrived in Pastoria City, and Yuriko Under the Moon accepted his order to find the person shown in a photograph.
• On Route 207, Larvitar defeated a Trainer's Mothim with Rock Slide and reached level 29.
• Yong planned to prepare Larvitar for evolution and continued toward Oreburgh City, which came into view at the end of the road.

Yong reached Oreburgh City, exchanged Pokémon with his father, and headed to the Oreburgh Mine to train. He released Drilbur in the trainers’ area and planned to spend the day there.

• Yong arrived in Oreburgh City and called his father, Shiyan Toru, from the Pokémon Center.
• Yong sent Larvitar, Swampert, and Kleavor home so Swampert could help train them, and requested Steelix and Aggron in return.
• Yong learned that his mother was away at a Pokémon Breeder Association exhibition in Lilycove City.
• After recovering his Pokémon and completing the exchange, Yong left his backpack at his room and chose to visit the mine instead of the Oreburgh Gym.
• Yong reached the Oreburgh Mine, went to the trainers’ area, and released Drilbur to train for the day.

Yong discovered that the Oreburgh Mine’s dense lapis lazuli made it an ideal place to train Pokémon’s physical strength. After learning that Trainers fought for the best training spots, he became eager to challenge the mine’s strongest occupant, Gym Leader Roark.

• Yong had Drilbur strike a blue-black rock and saw that its claws barely scratched the unusually hard stone.
• Yuanzhi introduced himself and explained that the rocks were lapis lazuli, which was heavier, tougher, and used at major tournament venues.
• Yuanzhi told Yong that Trainers claimed better training spots by winning challenges, while the loser had to leave.
• Yuanzhi explained that the central spot’s occupant appointed a gatekeeper, and that challengers had to defeat the gatekeeper first.
• Yong learned that Roark had first claimed the central area with his Cranidos, and he looked forward to facing the Gym Leader.

Yong challenged Ahe for access to the central training area and agreed to face Ahe’s stronger Serperior using only Drilbur. As a referee stepped forward, the battle was about to begin.

• Huchen welcomed the prospect of challenging Yong, saying that real battles were the best test of strength.
• Yuanzhi identified Huchen as the strongest trainer and holder of the central area, and Yong announced he would challenge him immediately.
• Ahe blocked Yong’s path and required him to win a one-on-one match before entering the central area.
• Ahe set the rules so Yong could use only Drilbur, then chose his Level 37 Serperior as his opponent.
• Yong accepted the matchup, and a trainer volunteered to referee the challenge.

Yong’s Drilbur battled Ahe’s stronger Serperior, using Sandstorm and its speed to wear it down before being caught and squeezed by Bind. As Drilbur neared defeat, Yong urged it to unleash its power, and it began to evolve in front of the crowd.

• Roark arrived and agreed to referee Yong and Ahe’s one-on-one battle.
• Drilbur dodged Serperior’s Vine Whip, raised a Sandstorm, and used its speed and X-Scissor to land a super-effective strike.
• Serperior defended with Vine Whip, then caught Drilbur with Bind and drained its stamina with Mega Drain.
• Yong urged the nearly unconscious Drilbur to unleash its power, and brilliant light enveloped it as it began to evolve.