Chapter Summaries

Qingyu discovered that the disguised Oricorio at the Sunshine Gym was Mew, who had come to play tricks on him and Eevee. After Mew failed to fool him a second time, Qingyu invited it to share lunch.

• Qingyu recognized the Oricorio beside Eevee as Mew because it kept using its familiar cry.
• Mew revealed its true form after Qingyu pointed out its voice, then befriended Eevee and watched a movie with it.
• Qingyu let Mew stay at the Sunshine Gym, reasoning that it was powerful and could keep Eevee company.
• When Qingyu returned with Sandwiches, Mew had disguised itself as a second Eevee.
• Qingyu spotted Mew by the lack of a sex-specific pattern on its disguised tail, and Mew dropped the disguise.
• Qingyu invited the dejected Mew to eat Sandwiches with him and the others.

Lance visited Blackthorn City, where he chose a promising Dragon-type Pokémon Egg to repay the help he and Clair had received from Azure Feather. Five days before Cynthia’s arrival in Paldea, Qingyu met a very young Poppy, who came to challenge the Sunshine Gym.

• Lance met Clair in Blackthorn City, and she vowed to prove her strength in the Paldea Dragon-type Masters Tournament.
• Lance entered the Dragon’s Den and decided to repay Azure Feather by giving him a Pokémon with great potential.
• Lance selected a vigorous Dragon-type Pokémon Egg from a batch recently exchanged with Hoenn.
• On December 5, Qingyu idled at the Sunshine Gym and thought about Cynthia’s upcoming arrival in Paldea.
• Poppy visited the Sunshine Gym and told Qingyu she wanted to challenge him.

Qingyu accepted young Poppy’s Gym challenge and revealed that he would use a Poison-type Glimmora against her Steel-focused team. Poppy chose Corviknight for the battle, and Qingyu prepared to surprise her with the matchup.

• Nemona hurried out to meet the challenger, and Qingyu accepted Poppy’s challenge despite her young age.
• Qingyu and Nemona led Poppy to the outdoor court, where Nemona explained the one-on-one battle rules.
• Qingyu told Poppy that his assessment Pokémon was a Poison-type and explained that type advantages could be misleading.
• Qingyu sent out Glimmora, and Poppy switched her planned lead for Corviknight.
• Nemona admired Poppy’s ability to command a fully evolved Pokémon as Qingyu readied himself to shock her with Glimmora.

Qingyu used Glimmora’s Corrosion ability to poison Poppy’s Corviknight, then relied on defensive moves to outlast it. Corviknight eventually collapsed from the poison after landing one final Flash Cannon, leaving Qingyu’s Glimmora victorious.

• Poppy ordered Corviknight to use Bulk Up, while Qingyu had Glimmora set Stealth Rock and then attack with Power Gem.
• Poppy sent Corviknight into the air to evade Power Gem and strike Glimmora with Brave Bird, but Glimmora used Spiky Shield and its venom poisoned Corviknight.
• Qingyu explained that Glimmora’s Corrosion ability let its venom poison Steel-type Corviknight, and Poppy ordered Corviknight to attack with Steel Wing.
• Glimmora used Acid Armor to blunt Steel Wing, then continued defending with Spiky Shield as Corviknight tried Flash Cannon and Roost.
• Corviknight’s final Flash Cannon hit Glimmora, but Corviknight collapsed from severe poisoning and could not get back up.

Qingyu defeated Poppy in a Gym battle with Glimmora, then praised her skill and encouraged her to return when Sunshine Gym joins Paldea’s Eight Gyms next year. Poppy left eager to challenge him again, while Nemona worried Qingyu had charmed her into overlooking the battle’s harsh strategy.

• Nemona declared Qingyu the winner after Poppy’s Corviknight could no longer battle.
• Qingyu recalled Glimmora and reflected that its endurance strategy had made the battle longer than expected.
• Qingyu reassured Poppy by praising her commands and acknowledging her strength as a Trainer.
• Qingyu explained that Sunshine Gym could not award Badges yet but would become one of Paldea’s Eight Gyms next year.
• Poppy left determined to challenge Sunshine Gym first next year, and Qingyu realized he had forgotten to ask her for a good review.

Qingyu had Eevee try to learn Glimmora’s signature Glimmora Spin, then prepared a livestream about using Paldea’s Garganacl, the Salt King, in ranked battles. He introduced Garganacl’s Abilities and began explaining its exclusive move, Salt Cure.

• Glimmora demonstrated Glimmora Spin while Eevee tried and failed to copy its spinning attack, and Qingyu suggested Eevee try spinning its tail.
• Nemona exercised alongside Pawmo and was overwhelmed by Eevee’s cuteness when it rolled across the ground.
• Qingyu considered Garganacl as a strong answer to Steel types and chose it as the focus of his evening livestream.
• Qingyu opened his livestream and explained Garganacl’s Clear Body and Purifying Salt Abilities to viewers.
• Qingyu described Garganacl’s kindness toward injured Pokémon and introduced its exclusive move, Salt Cure.

Qingyu streamed a ranked Pokémon battle using a lineup of defensive Pokémon and was matched against Wallace. Meanwhile, Wallace agreed to keep handling Hoenn’s Champion duties while Steven went to Paldea, then queued for a match and was paired with Qingyu.

• Qingyu built a team of Garganacl, Gliscor, Toxapex, Clodsire, Glimmora, and Chansey before starting ranked Single Battles.
• While waiting for a match, Qingyu tried the Gold Miner minigame and noticed that Steven Stone held an enormous first-place score.
• Qingyu’s opponent turned out to be Wallace, Hoenn’s Gym Leader and Steven’s friend.
• Steven told Wallace he was going to Paldea for a month and left Wallace to handle Hoenn’s day-to-day Champion duties.
• Wallace accepted the temporary work and later queued for a ranked match to find new ways to showcase Water-type Pokémon in Contests.
• Wallace was matched with a trainer whose ID was Azure Feather.

Qingyu faced Wallace, a Champion-level trainer, and used Toxapex to lay Toxic Spikes before switching to Glimmora. Wallace sent in Tentacruel to clear the hazards, but Qingyu anticipated the move and struck it with Earth Power.

• Qingyu recognized Wallace’s strength and chose Toxapex to lead against his Water-type team.
• Wallace led with Politoed, whose Drizzle brought rain, and Qingyu ordered Toxapex to set Toxic Spikes.
• Qingyu predicted Wallace would switch to Tentacruel to remove the hazards and replaced Toxapex with Glimmora.
• Wallace sent out Tentacruel, which used Rapid Spin to clear the Toxic Spikes from its side of the field.
• Qingyu had Glimmora unleash Earth Power, engulfing Tentacruel in an attack it could not dodge.

Qingyu used Glimmora and Clodsire to exploit Wallace’s all-Water team, knocking out Tentacruel and laying more Toxic Spikes. Wallace switched Gyarados out for Ludicolo, leaving Clodsire facing the next threat.

• Glimmora survived Tentacruel’s Hydro Pump thanks to its Assault Vest and knocked Tentacruel out with Earth Power.
• Qingyu recalled Glimmora, and Wallace sent out Gyarados to face Clodsire.
• Clodsire used Yawn while Gyarados attacked with Ice Fang, then Wallace switched Gyarados out for Ludicolo.
• Qingyu recognized that Politoed’s Damp Rock was extending the rain and ordered Clodsire to set two layers of Toxic Spikes.
• Clodsire took Ludicolo’s Ice Beam and restored health by eating its Sitrus Berry.

Qingyu used Chansey and a carefully timed switch to bring Garganacl onto the field against Wallace’s badly poisoned Politoed. Wallace discovered too late that Salt Cure dealt ongoing damage and was especially effective against Water-types, leaving Politoed in grave danger.

• After Chansey endured Ludicolo’s Ice Beam and set up Light Screen, the rain stopped and Wallace struggled to find a way through Qingyu’s defensive lineup.
• Wallace sent Politoed onto Qingyu’s Toxic Spikes, badly poisoning it as rain began to fall again.
• Wallace ordered Politoed to use Encore on Chansey, but Qingyu recalled Chansey before the move landed and sent out Garganacl instead.
• Garganacl used Salt Cure while Politoed struck it with a rain-boosted Hydro Pump, costing Garganacl half its health.
• Wallace looked up Garganacl’s move and realized Salt Cure caused ongoing damage that was especially effective against Water-types, while Politoed’s health rapidly drained from the move and poison.

Qingyu defeated Wallace with a stall team built around Toxic, Salt Cure, Protect, and recovery, then queued for another ranked match. Wallace, left shaken by the battle, guessed that his opponent was a Poison-type specialist from Paldea and wished Steven could face him too.

• Garganacl blocked Politoed's Hydro Pump with Protect, recovered with Leftovers, and defeated it before wearing down Milotic with Salt Cure and Toxic.
• Seaking and Ludicolo finally knocked out Garganacl with a critical-hit Hydro Pump, leaving Wallace behind 4-1.
• Gliscor entered the battle and secured Qingyu's victory with Dual Wingbeat and Thunder Fang.
• Qingyu dismissed the chat's complaints, explained that his knowledge of Wallace's Rain Team had helped him dominate, and queued for ranked again.
• Wallace reflected on Qingyu's tactics and command skills, concluded that Azure Feather was likely a Poison-type expert from Paldea, and wished Steven would encounter him.

Qingyu enjoyed using his stall team to climb Great Ball Rank, then explained its tactics and Garganacl’s strengths in a new video. Tyme watched the video in Glaseado Town and wondered whether Azure Feather might become her colleague at Naranja Academy.

• Qingyu won several Great Ball Rank matches with his stall team, frustrating his opponents and entertaining his viewers.
• Qingyu ended his stream and slept soundly after a day of battling.
• Azure Feather released a video explaining how to use the stall team and recommending Taunt as a counter.
• Qingyu highlighted Garganacl’s bulk, Salt Cure, offensive moves, and potential with Terastallization.
• Tyme watched the video, reflected on Garganacl’s overlooked battling potential, and considered whether Azure Feather could become a teacher at Naranja Academy.

Qingyu defeated a challenger’s Electric Terastallized Shedinja with Garganacl’s Sandstorm, then praised the student’s creative strategy and let him pass. The students began to see Qingyu’s difficult Gym assessments as a way to make them improve, while Qingyu hoped their growing success would boost the Sunshine Gym’s reputation.

• Qingyu used Garganacl’s Sandstorm to defeat a challenger’s Shedinja, which had Terastallized into an Electric type and held an Air Balloon.
• Qingyu praised the challenger’s creativity, explained that weather could still damage Shedinja through Wonder Guard, and declared that he passed.
• Qingyu told the challenger that students had improved by preparing for the Gym’s announced assessments and choosing clever counters.
• The challenger reconsidered his view of Qingyu and suspected that the difficult assessments were meant to encourage students to work harder.
• Qingyu sent the challenger off with a request for a good review and hoped more passing challengers would improve the Sunshine Gym’s reputation.

The Sunshine Gym’s returning challengers improved, and Qingyu learned that students were using online tips to prepare for his assessments. He announced that the Gym would join Victory Road next year and raise its difficulty, prompting Okamoto to warn his classmates and driving the Gym’s reviews back down.

• Returning challengers raised the Sunshine Gym’s pass rate, and students credited Qingyu’s assessments with improving their battle skills.
• Okamoto used a Covert Cloak to counter Garganacl, and Qingyu noticed that many challengers had brought the same item.
• Qingyu told Okamoto that the Sunshine Gym would become a Victory Road assessment Gym next year and that its requirements would increase.
• Okamoto posted the news on the school platform, where students lamented the harder challenge and threatened to lower their reviews.
• The Sunshine Gym’s positive review rate plummeted again, leaving Qingyu baffled.

Qingyu traveled to Mesagoza to pick up Cynthia, his childhood friend, who had come to Paldea for the Dragon-type Masters Tournament. Geeta noticed how close they were and began considering how their relationship might benefit ties between Paldea and Sinnoh.

• Qingyu woke from a nightmare, got ready carefully, and made Miraidon take him to Mesagoza.
• Cynthia completed her tournament registration and declined Geeta's offer of League accommodations, saying someone would pick her up.
• Qingyu arrived on Miraidon, and he and Cynthia greeted each other before riding back to the Sunshine Gym together.
• Geeta watched their easy reunion and suspected there was something special between them.
• Geeta called Rika, asked about staff tickets, and told her to approve Qingyu's time off if he requested it.

Qingyu brought Cynthia back to the Sunshine Gym, where her Pokémon met his team and quickly settled in. His Sweet Herba Mystica sandwich won over even Garchomp, leaving Cynthia surprised by Qingyu’s newfound cooking skills.

• Qingyu rode Miraidon back to the Sunshine Gym with Cynthia, who noticed that the Pokémon was unusual but did not press him about it.
• Eevee and Riolu greeted Cynthia warmly, and she released her six Pokémon to meet the Sunshine Gym’s residents.
• Garchomp glared at Qingyu, while Lucario assessed Riolu’s progress and Glaceon befriended Eevee.
• Qingyu offered Garchomp a sandwich made with Sweet Herba Mystica, and its irresistible aroma drew Cynthia’s Pokémon toward the kitchen for more.
• Cynthia expressed surprise that Qingyu had learned to cook, and Qingyu proudly credited his skills to his own hard work.

Qingyu examined Cynthia’s newly evolved Kommo-o and recommended moves to improve her battle prospects, including Dragon Dance. He gave Cynthia several Dragon Dance TMs, and Garchomp eagerly took charge of training Kommo-o.

• Cynthia explained that her Jangmo-o had evolved into Kommo-o after several days of training under Garchomp.
• Qingyu assessed Kommo-o’s moves and suggested she learn Clangorous Soulblaze, Dragon Dance, and Drain Punch.
• Garchomp reacted angrily when Qingyu mentioned Dragon Dance, recalling his old jokes about her inability to learn it.
• Qingyu brought out several Dragon Dance TMs, and Garchomp snatched them up eagerly.
• Cynthia left Kommo-o’s training plan to Garchomp, who took Kommo-o to study the TMs.

At the Sunshine Gym, Cynthia helped Qingyu realize that Eevee was ready to evolve and had been waiting for him to choose a direction. Qingyu and Eevee agreed to aim for Sylveon, and Eevee briefly began to glow with the signs of evolution before the light faded.

• Garchomp, Kommo-o, Riolu, and Miraidon spent the evening studying, training, or guarding the Sunshine Gym while Qingyu returned to the living room.
• Qingyu found Cynthia watching a Diantha movie with Eevee and Glaceon, then pulled Eevee into his arms when Cynthia teased him by letting Eevee rest on her thigh.
• Cynthia suggested that Qingyu and Eevee choose an evolution path together, explaining that she and Glaceon had planned for Glaceon to evolve because it loved snow.
• Qingyu asked Eevee if it liked Gardevoir, and Eevee agreed to aim for Sylveon and follow in Gardevoir's footsteps.
• Eevee began to glow as if it were evolving, startling Qingyu, but the light faded before it transformed, and Cynthia concluded that Eevee could likely evolve at any moment.

Qingyu hosted Naranja Academy students at the Sunshine Gym and defeated a challenger while Cynthia refereed. Cynthia watched Qingyu coach the students and hoped he might eventually return to Sinnoh as a Gym Leader, Elite Four member, or Champion.

• Qingyu woke to find Cynthia training her Garchomp and Kommo-o as students gathered outside the Sunshine Gym.
• Okamoto explained that the students had time off because Mesagoza's battle plaza was closed for the upcoming tournament.
• Qingyu told the students that Cynthia was a Masters Tournament competitor, and they discovered she was the newly crowned Sinnoh Champion.
• Cynthia refereed a one-on-one Gym Challenge between Qingyu and a Naranja Academy student.
• Qingyu's Garganacl defeated the student's Lokix with Rock Tomb, and Qingyu critiqued the student's battle commands while Cynthia watched.

With three days left before the Dragon-type Masters Tournament, Lance visited the Sunshine Gym to thank Qingyu for advice from their past battle. He brought Qingyu a Bagon egg as a gift, leaving Qingyu stunned.

• Qingyu prepared breakfast while Cynthia trained Garchomp and Kommo-o outside, and Miraidon spotted a fleeting orange figure in the sky.
• Lance rode Dragonite to Cabo Poco and found Cynthia training outside the Sunshine Gym.
• Lance greeted Cynthia, confirmed the gym’s location, and went to knock on its door.
• Qingyu opened the door and recognized Lance, who knew him by his online name, Azure Feather.
• Lance thanked Qingyu for helping him and Clair improve their strategies, then offered him a Bagon egg as a gift.