Chapter Summaries

Yong defeated Mikey’s Raichu with Pupitar and advanced to the Final Battlefield to challenge Sunyshore Gym Leader Volkner. Volkner opened the two-Pokémon Gym battle with Octillery, leaving Yong to choose his first Pokémon.

• Yong used Pupitar’s Earth Power, Screech, Iron Head, and Stomping Tantrum to drive Raichu into the ground and defeat it.
• Mikey recalled Raichu, conceded the match, and sent Yong onward to the Final Battlefield.
• Pupitar leveled up to 42, and Yong noticed his Training Points had reached 100,000.
• Yong entered the Final Battlefield, where Flint greeted him and agreed to referee his Gym battle against Volkner.
• Flint announced a two-Pokémon battle for a Badge, and Volkner sent out his level-50 Octillery.
• Yong examined Octillery’s details and tossed out a Pokémon Ball.

Yong’s Rhydon defeated Volkner’s Octillery despite its Water-type attacks, surprising Volkner and Flint. Rhydon gained experience and improved his move proficiency, while Volkner looked forward to a more interesting match.

• Flint encouraged Yong, mistakenly thinking he was discouraged by Volkner’s choice of Octillery against Rhydon.
• Yong ordered Rhydon to charge through Octillery’s Hydro Pump and strike it with Thunder Punch.
• Rhydon paralyzed Octillery and knocked it out with Body Slam, winning the battle.
• Flint revealed his belief that Rhydon had the Rock Head Ability, while Volkner realized his strategy had failed against a Rhydon that could swim and wasn’t afraid of water.
• Yong praised Rhydon’s improved control and said they could prepare for his evolution once an item arrived.
• Volkner smiled and said the match would no longer be boring.

Volkner sent out his powerful Electivire, and Yong replaced Rhydon with Big White, an Aggron whose force domain impressed Volkner and Flint. The two Pokémon traded heavy attacks, and as they separated, Flint began wondering why Aggron remained in better shape than Electivire.

• Volkner sent out Electivire, and he and Flint discussed how Electabuzz's evolution offered the species a new future.
• Yong recalled Rhydon and sent out Big White, whose force domain restrained Electivire and made Volkner recognize Yong as a serious challenger.
• Volkner ordered Electivire to use Quick Attack and Brick Break, but Aggron endured the strike before countering with High Horsepower.
• Electivire used the Fusion Technique Skill Thunderclap Flash against Aggron's charge, and both Pokémon clashed without yielding.
• Yong and Volkner ordered Hammer Arm and Dynamic Punch, and the blows forced Aggron and Electivire apart.
• Flint observed that Aggron had withstood Electivire's Fusion Technique Skill and was in better condition, leaving him curious about Yong.

Yong's Aggron overcame confusion and awakened the first stage of his defensive Force Domain during his battle against Volkner's Electivire. Aggron defeated Electivire with High Horsepower, leaving Yong's side victorious.

• Electivire struck the confused Aggron with Quick Attack and Brick Break, while Yong urged Aggron to recover and defend himself.
• Aggron regained awareness, caught Electivire's Dynamic Punch, and manifested a blue-green defensive Force Domain.
• Yong told Aggron to use High Horsepower, combining his new aura with powerful Ground-type energy.
• Volkner urged Electivire to resist and counterattack, but Aggron overwhelmed him with High Horsepower and blasted him to the edge of the battlefield.
• Electivire's electricity faded, and he lay motionless after Aggron's attack.

Yong defeated Volkner at the Sunyshore Gym, earned the Lighthouse Badge, and applied to challenge the Battle Zone. Scott received the application and recognized Yong, hinting that he might join Kofu’s upcoming challenge.

• Yong’s Aggron defeated Volkner’s Electivire, and Volkner awarded Yong the Lighthouse Badge.
• Yong applied to challenge the Battle Zone, and Nurse Joy explained that he had to travel by ferry from Snowpoint City.
• Yong collected his supplies and planned to earn his final Gym Badge before reaching the Battle Zone.
• Scott received news of a new challenger and recognized Yong’s name while preparing Kofu for the Battle Zone challenge.
• Scott told Kofu that Yong might join him for the challenge.

Yong arrived in Snowpoint City by airship and arranged to challenge its Gym before traveling to the Battle Zone. After catching a cold, he fell asleep at the Pokémon Center, where Palmer arrived and wondered who had chosen to challenge the Battle Zone during the snowy season.

• Yong took a three-day airship journey to Snowpoint City and struggled to adjust to its freezing weather.
• Yong visited the Pokémon Center, where Nurse Joy confirmed his Battle Zone application and booked his Snowpoint Gym Challenge for the next day.
• Nurse Joy advised Yong to rest, and he caught a cold soon after settling into his heated room.
• Palmer arrived at the Pokémon Center and wondered who would challenge the Battle Zone during the snowy season.

Palmer, Caitlin, Cynthia, Scott, and Kofu made plans that brought them toward Snowpoint City, while Yong recovered from a cold and helped Rhydon evolve into Rhyperior. After checking his newly strengthened Pokémon, Yong left the Pokémon Center and headed for the Snowpoint Gym.

• Palmer decided to visit Candice in Snowpoint City rather than stay overnight at the Pokémon Center.
• Caitlin contacted Cynthia, who said she was returning to Sinnoh, while Scott invited Kofu to visit his Battle Frontiers with Yong.
• After recovering from a cold, Yong equipped Rhydon with a Protector and fed him rare ores to prepare him for evolution.
• Yong traded Rhydon with Uncle Zhibian and got him back, triggering his evolution into level 53 Rhyperior, who learned Earth Power and Giga Impact.
• Yong recalled Rhyperior and left the Pokémon Center for the Snowpoint Gym.

Yong challenged Snowpoint Gym, where he had to cross a moving ice course and defeat a guarding trainer using only one Pokémon. With Aerodactyl protecting him from waves of snowballs and ice, Yong completed the perilous descent and began climbing toward the Final Battlefield.

• Yong learned from Gym Trainer Tokiko that he had to cross the moving ice and defeat a Gym Trainer without switching Pokémon.
• Yong slipped rapidly down the icy slope and sent out Aerodactyl to defend him from the incoming projectiles.
• Aerodactyl used Rock Slide, Agility, Steel Wing, and Flamethrower to stop the snowballs and chunks of ice from hitting Yong.
• Yong cushioned his landing with his backpack and jacket, then rolled safely back onto the moving ice belt.
• Yong reached the upward stairs, thanked Aerodactyl, and fed it Pokéblocks before the battle ahead.

Yong passed Snowpoint Gym’s gatekeeper and reached Candice, who challenged him to a two-on-two Double Battle. Candice sent out Abomasnow and Weavile, and Yong realized this would be his toughest Gym battle in Sinnoh.

• Yixiong surrendered without battling Aerodactyl and directed Yong to the Final Battlefield.
• Yong met Candice, who confronted him about entering the Snowpoint Temple before agreeing to battle.
• Candice activated her Icefield willpower domain and set a one-match, two-on-two Double Battle.
• Candice sent out her level 49 Abomasnow and level 55 Weavile, whose formidable abilities left Yong bracing for a difficult fight.

Yong sent Aggron and Rhyperior to battle Candice’s Abomasnow and Weavile in a blizzard. The fight ended in a stalemate as Yong’s double Rock Slide barrage pushed Candice’s Pokémon onto the defensive.

• Yong summoned Aggron and Rhyperior, and the referee announced the battle against Candice’s Abomasnow and Weavile.
• Yong ordered Sand Tomb and Rock Slide, but Abomasnow froze the quicksand while Weavile dodged and broke the falling rocks.
• Yong commanded Aggron to use Flamethrower, but Abomasnow’s combined blizzard overwhelmed the flames as Weavile rushed Aggron and evaded Rhyperior’s Hammer Arm.
• Yong ordered Aggron and Rhyperior to unleash a double Rock Slide, forcing Abomasnow to defend and Weavile to evade.
• Candice’s Pokémon gradually lost the initiative under the relentless barrage, and the battle settled into a stalemate.

Yong and Candice’s Pokémon fought through the blizzard as Rhyperior fell to Weavile’s relentless Phantom Frost. Aggron broke through Weavile’s attacks and struck Abomasnow with Heavy Slam, collapsing the Ice Field.

• Yong ordered Rhyperior to shield Aggron and use Rock Slide while Aggron charged Heavy Slam.
• Candice sent Abomasnow to restrain Aggron, but Rhyperior used Blade Take Down to cut through the vines.
• Weavile attacked Rhyperior with Phantom Frost, using Armor Break to wear down its defenses until it collapsed.
• Candice ordered Weavile to use Phantom Frost again and Abomasnow to attack with Wood Hammer as Aggron charged.
• Aggron’s air armor turned aside Weavile’s strikes, and its Heavy Slam overwhelmed Abomasnow and caused the Ice Field to collapse.

Yong defeated Candice’s Abomasnow and Weavile to win the Icicle Badge, completing his collection of Sinnoh’s eight Gym badges. With two months until the Lily of the Valley Conference, he decided to test his strength by challenging the Battle Zone.

• Aggron and Rhyperior defeated Abomasnow and Weavile, earning Yong the Icicle Badge.
• Caitlin arrived in Jubilife City with Darach and said she would compete in the Battle Zone challenge.
• Scott and Kofu left Snowpoint City for the Battle Zone, where Kofu planned to await Yong.
• Yong received Aggron’s and Rhyperior’s care at the Pokémon Center and saw that he had collected all eight Sinnoh Gym badges.
• Yong decided to challenge the Battle Zone and thought its strongest opponent would be Battle Tower Frontier Brain Palmer.

Yong chose his lineup for the upcoming Battle Zone tournament and traveled to a snowy beach to train with his strongest available Pokémon. He gathered Steelix, Swampert, Aggron, Rhyperior, Excadrill, and Claydol, and ended readying the team for the challenge.

• Yong reviewed his Pokémon’s strength and roles, then decided which companions could join his tournament lineup.
• Yong called home with Aggron and Rhyperior before setting out the next day to find a training spot by the sea.
• Yong passed over a scene in Pallet Town where Ash begged Gary to show him the prototype Pokédex, until Professor Oak rushed out asking where it had gone.
• Yong found a secluded stretch of frozen beach and released his Pokémon to begin training.
• Yong teased Aggron about challenging Steelix and Swampert, but Swampert knocked Aggron flat as the team gathered to prepare for the tournament.

Yong set out training priorities for his Pokémon as they prepared to grow stronger, focusing on energy mastery, battle experience, and adapting to new abilities. Steelix, Swampert, Aggron, Claydol, Excadrill, and Rhyperior each received a tailored regimen for the days ahead.

• Yong assigned Steelix to study origin energy, deepen its force domain, develop its Fusion Technique Skills, and guide Rhyperior and Excadrill in learning moves.
• Yong directed Swampert to develop its Ground-type energy and dive beneath the seabed to train, while also sparring with Aggron.
• Yong made Aggron’s main priority repeated, intense sparring with Swampert to build its resilience and fighting spirit, alongside further energy training.
• Claydol continued developing its near-permanent psychic armor and psychic field, and Yong tasked it with mastering new moves and using them faster.
• Yong planned for Excadrill to gain levels by battling Pupitar and Larvesta, while refining its moves, claws, and speed.
• Yong assigned Rhyperior strength and endurance training so it could adapt to its evolved body and power.

Yong trained his Pokémon intensively in Snowpoint City, building their strength through daily practice and a week of battles with visiting sailors. Meanwhile, the Battle Brains gathered for the Battle Zone challenges, and Palmer learned that Yong would soon challenge the facilities.

• Yong spent his training points on Steelix, whose Earthquake reached Commanding Class, while Swampert practiced controlling its Earthquake’s power.
• Tucker, Dahlia, and Caitlin arrived in Snowpoint City, joining Palmer as four of the five Battle Brains returned; Kofu began challenging the Battle Facilities.
• Sailors from a salvage ship joined Yong’s training battles for a week, helping his Pokémon level up before they rested and consolidated their strength.
• Grandmother Bertha told Palmer that Caitlin had personally battled Kofu because she shared Cynthia’s interest in history and anticipated Yong’s challenge.
• Palmer learned that Yong was the youngest Hoenn League Tournament Champion and had defeated Cynthia in the Elite Tournament, and he looked forward to facing him.

Yong arrived at the Battle Zone, where Scott explained the island’s areas, Battle Facilities, rules, and rewards. Yong planned to begin his Silver Print challenge the next day and followed Scott to challenger accommodations where someone was waiting for him.

• Yong arrived at the Battle Zone with Steelix, Swampert, and Aggron.
• Scott greeted Yong at the pier and guided him through the Survival Area, Resort Area, and Fight Area.
• Scott explained that Yong could challenge the Battle Factory, Battle Chateau, Battle Stage, and Battle Roulette in any order, but had to save the Battle Tower for last.
• Scott told Yong that he could compete only at the Silver Print level, which capped Battle Brain strength at Gym Class.
• Yong decided to begin his challenge the next day and followed Scott to the Resort Area, where someone was waiting for him.

Yong reunited with Kofu at the Battle Zone and learned why Kofu had come to Sinnoh after his plans to travel through Kalos and Johto fell through. Kofu warned Yong that the Battle Brains were exceptionally strong and urged him to give everything from the start of his challenge.

• Scott visited Kofu and introduced Yong, who had arrived at the challengers' apartments.
• Kofu told Yong that he had left Kalos because the newly established League and research into a mysterious power made the region chaotic.
• Kofu explained that he had planned to travel through Johto, but the League diverted its resources after Unown opened a gateway to another space in the Ruins of Alph.
• Kofu warned Yong that the Battle Brains could make any Pokémon perform beyond elite class and urged him to fight at full strength from the outset.

Yong entered the Fight Area with Scott and Kofu to begin challenging its Battle Facilities. He chose the Battle Factory first and learned that Tucker was its strong Battle Brain.

• Yong visited a Pokémon Center and returned Claydol, Rhyperior, and Excadrill to his team before going to sleep.
• Scott woke Yong the next morning, and he and Kofu accompanied Yong to the Fight Area entrance.
• Staff checked Yong’s Pokédex and scanned his Pokémon before clearing him to enter.
• Kofu showed Yong the prize exchange hall, where challengers could trade points for prizes such as TMs and stones.
• Scott explained the five Battle Facilities, and Yong chose to challenge the Battle Factory first.
• Scott led Yong and Kofu to the Battle Factory and warned Yong that its Battle Brain, Tucker, was very strong.

Yong learned the Battle Factory’s rules and spun the wheels to determine his challenge. He faced three battles in the Fighting, Fire, and Normal types, then followed Tucker to draw his Pokémon.

• Tucker explained that Yong and he would use randomly drawn Pokémon and that each round’s type would be fixed by the wheel.
• Tucker told Yong that winning every round would earn him a Silver Print, one of four needed to unlock the Battle Tower.
• Yong spun the outer wheel and landed on three battles.
• Yong spun the inner wheel three times and selected Fighting, Fire, and Normal types, all on the standard field.
• Tucker led Yong deeper into the lobby to draw their Pokémon.

Yong began his three-round Battle Factory challenge against Tucker, drawing random Pokémon for Fighting, Fire, and Normal types. The first round opened with Tucker's Combusken, and Yong's chosen Pokémon appeared to surprise everyone.

• Tucker explained that the machine would generate six Pokémon at a time for each type, and Yong and Tucker selected three Pokémon Balls apiece.
• Yong and Tucker entered the battlefield, where Scott and Kofu watched as they confirmed the Fighting, Fire, and Normal rounds.
• Tucker sent out a level 34 Combusken with Speed Boost for the Fighting-type round.
• Yong sent out his chosen Pokémon, leaving Tucker looking strange and Kofu puzzled.