Chapter Summaries

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.

Yong’s newly evolved Excadrill defeated Ahe’s Serperior, earning the right to challenge Huchen in the Central Area. Huchen agreed to a three-on-three battle and sent out a Pokémon that Yong suspected was from Unova.

• Drilbur evolved into Excadrill, learned Horn Drill, Dig, and Smart Strike, and reached level 35.
• Yong’s Excadrill countered Serperior’s attacks and defeated it with X-Scissor.
• Roark declared Yong the winner, and Yong accepted his challenge to the Central Area.
• Huchen chose a standard three-on-three battle, encouraged the defeated Ahe, and prepared to face Yong.
• Huchen sent out his first Pokémon, and Yong wondered whether it was from Unova.

Yong sent out Larvesta to battle Huchen’s Liepard, and Larvesta won after using String Shot and Bug Bite. Huchen then sent out his second Pokémon, Crustle, as Larvesta prepared for the next battle.

• Yong surprised Huchen and Ahe by revealing his Larvesta, which they recognized as a rare Pokémon from Unova.
• Huchen ordered Liepard to use Shadow Claw, but Larvesta blinded it with String Shot and swung onto its back.
• Larvesta clung to Liepard through its Agility and defeated it with two Bug Bites.
• Larvesta gained experience, improved its String Shot and Bug Bite proficiency, and reached Lv35.
• Huchen sent out Crustle for the next round, and Yong prepared Larvesta to face it.

Yong’s Larvesta unleashed Overheat against Huchen’s Crustle, losing the battle but gaining new strength and learning Solar Beam. Yong then sent out Aggron to face Crustle, prompting Roark to conclude the challenge match was no longer meaningful.

• Yong ordered Larvesta to battle Huchen’s Crustle, and the Pokémon traded attacks as Larvesta used String Shot to dodge Rock Slide and Rock Blast.
• Huchen pressed Crustle’s advantage with another Rock Slide, but Yong told Larvesta to unleash Overheat.
• Larvesta’s blazing attack engulfed the battlefield and weakened Crustle, though Larvesta fell unconscious afterward and Crustle was declared the winner.
• Yong recalled Larvesta and learned that it had gained experience, improved its move proficiency, comprehended a Force Domain, and learned Solar Beam.
• Huchen invited Yong to visit Unova, then continued the battle as Yong sent out Aggron, whose Elite Class presence drove Crustle into its shell.
• Roark sighed that the challenge match had lost its point.

Yong’s Aggron overwhelmed Huchen’s Crustle, then faced Huchen’s stronger Nidoking. As Aggron charged in with Ice Punch, the next battle began.

• Huchen sent Crustle to attack Aggron with Superpower, but Aggron knocked it out of the arena with Iron Tail.
• Roark declared Aggron the winner, and Yong praised Big White before teasing him about Larvesta mastering a force domain.
• Huchen brought out Nidoking, his level 48 ace, to face Aggron.
• Yong ordered Aggron to test Nidoking’s strength with Ice Punch, and Aggron charged forward with his fist raised.

Yong’s Aggron defeated Huchen’s resilient Nidoking in a battle for access to the Central Area. Aggron reached Lv51, while Huchen encouraged Nidoking to rest and grow stronger.

• Huchen sent Nidoking to meet Aggron’s attacks with Fire Punch and Brick Break, but Aggron’s strength and defense held firm.
• Nidoking struck Aggron with Brick Break and forced it back two steps, though the blow did little lasting damage.
• Yong ordered Aggron to charge with Double-Edge, and Nidoking used Bulldoze to disrupt its advance before Aggron rammed it and sent it flying.
• Yong’s Aggron finished the weakened Nidoking with Hydro Pump, and Roark declared Aggron the winner and awarded Yong use of the Central Area.
• Huchen reassured Nidoking after the battle, while Aggron gained training points and experience, improved its move proficiency, and reached Lv51.

Yong received the Coal Badge directly from Roark and prepared to train in Oreburgh Mine. He arranged a new team and learned that Dr. Moroboshi had sent Aerodactyl’s Gene Potion, which he chose to keep in storage until he confirmed something.

• Yong encouraged Huchen to develop his own direction and praised his Nidoking’s potential for a breakthrough.
• Roark gave Yong the Coal Badge without a Gym battle, saying Yong had already proved his strength.
• Yong decided to send Larvesta home to recover and bring Larvitar and Tyrantrum to train with his other Pokémon.
• Yong learned that Dr. Moroboshi had sent Aerodactyl’s Gene Potion and asked Uncle Zhibian to store it until further notice.
• Yong packed training supplies, bought Berries and Pokéblocks, and returned to the Pokémon Center to rest for the night.

Yong returned to Oreburgh Mine and revealed his six Pokémon, including a vastly grown Steelix, stunning the Trainers and miners. He began training with his partners and planned to take Steelix to Iron Island to pursue electromagnetic force and strengthen Falling Stars.

• Yong arrived at Oreburgh Mine, where Yuanzhi told him the Central Area's lapis lazuli was especially tough and suitable for training.
• Yong released Aggron, Tyrantrum, Rhydon, Larvitar, Excadrill, and Steelix, startling the Trainers and workers with Steelix's enormous size.
• Huchen and Ahe saw Steelix and decided that delaying Huchen's challenge against Yong had been wise.
• Yong realized Steelix had grown denser and heavier by absorbing minerals underground and enduring the earth's pressure.
• Yong prepared his six Pokémon to train and planned to visit Iron Island so Steelix could study electromagnetic force and advance Falling Stars.