Chapter Summaries

Xia You and the others explored an unfinished undersea tunnel and marveled at the sea life beyond its glass walls. The chapter ended when they spotted a geometric structure on the seabed that Makomo suspected might be the legendary Abyssal Ruins.

• Dawn and Cheryl hesitated at the dark tunnel entrance, but Xia You reassured them and led everyone inside under Gardevoir's protection.
• The group reached a transparent glass passage and watched marine Pokémon swim through the underwater scenery.
• Makomo explained that the tunnel's thick tempered glass and automatic sealing system were designed to withstand the water pressure.
• Xia You noticed a distant structure on the seabed, and Makomo used her phone to confirm its blurry outline.
• Makomo suggested the structure could be the legendary Abyssal Ruins left by an ancient civilization.

Xia You, Dawn, and Makomo prepared to explore the Abyssal Ruins beneath the sea, while Cheryl stayed aboard to watch the boat with Deoxys. The group descended through the deep water, and the ruins began to come into view below them.

• Dawn and Makomo asked Xia You to investigate the suspected ruins, and he agreed to rent a boat and diving equipment.
• Xia You assembled a suitable underwater team, including Milotic, Greninja, and Blastoise, and brought Deoxys to Cheryl for protection.
• Xia You, Dawn, and Makomo boarded the boat and traveled to the ruins' location, while Cheryl remained aboard.
• Meloetta joined Xia You's diving group, and the three people descended with their Pokémon through the sea.
• Makomo pointed out the increasingly clear outline of the ruins below them.

Xia You, Makomo, and Dawn explored the Abyssal Ruins underwater, where Makomo photographed ancient carvings and symbols. They returned to the boat after nearly three hours, with Makomo insisting the ruins still held important research value despite the lack of treasure.

• The group approached the Abyssal Ruins, and Greninja scouted ahead before signaling that it was safe to enter.
• Xia You, Makomo, and Dawn swam into the ruins and examined the passages, pillars, and ancient markings while Pokémon guarded them.
• Makomo discovered a well-preserved doorway with intricate symbols and photographed it, while Xia You found no treasure or rare Pokémon.
• After Xia You noticed his oxygen gauge had reached the yellow zone, he signaled Makomo and Dawn to leave.
• The group surfaced at sunset, and Cheryl helped them back aboard the boat.
• Xia You told Cheryl the ruins were empty, but Makomo said their writing and murals still had considerable research value.

Xia You and his companions traveled to Undella Town, where he decided to visit Cynthia and Caitlin at their nearby villas. He surprised them in Cynthia’s garden, leaving both women stunned by his unexpected arrival.

• Makomo researched the writing she had photographed in the Abyssal Ruins while the group traveled south along the coast.
• Dawn defeated the novice Trainers who challenged the group on the road.
• Makomo identified Undella Town as a busy diving destination, and Xia You revealed that he planned to visit someone there.
• Xia You led the group to Cynthia’s villa, where Cynthia was gardening and Caitlin was reading.
• Cynthia and Caitlin froze when they saw Xia You at the gate, and Cynthia asked what brought him there.

Xia You arrived at Cynthia’s villa with Cheryl, Dawn, and Makomo, and reunited privately with Cynthia after dinner. Cynthia welcomed him into her life while accepting that Caitlin might also choose to pursue him.

• Xia You surprised Cynthia and Caitlin by arriving at the villa with Cheryl, Dawn, and Makomo.
• Cynthia arranged rooms and dinner while Caitlin showed the visitors around the villa.
• Over dinner, Dawn recounted their recent travels, and Makomo discussed the Abyssal Ruins with Cynthia.
• After the others retired, Xia You asked Cynthia why she and Caitlin were still living together, and Cynthia explained that their neighboring villas and the upcoming Boy Cup made it convenient.
• Xia You and Cynthia confessed their affection through a passionate reunion and fell asleep together after two in the morning.
• Cynthia recalled that she and Caitlin had admitted their feelings for Xia You, and she decided to leave Caitlin free to choose whether to join him.

Cynthia woke after spending the night with Xia You, then joined him, Caitlin, Dawn, Makomo, and Cheryl for breakfast before he announced he was leaving for the Nimbasa Gym. After Xia You departed, Cynthia decided to go to Nimbasa to keep an eye on Elesa, and Caitlin chose to accompany her.

• Cynthia got out of bed despite the soreness left by her night with Xia You and joined Cheryl and Caitlin for breakfast.
• Xia You told everyone he would leave soon to challenge the Nimbasa Gym, and Cynthia worried that he might become involved with its leader, Elesa.
• Xia You asked Caitlin about earning Pokémon World Championships ranking points, and she invited him to use the arena at her castle.
• Xia You left with Dawn, Makomo, and Cheryl after saying something privately to Cynthia.
• Cynthia decided to go to the Nimbasa Gym to watch Elesa, and Caitlin said she would go with her.

Xia You and his companions traveled through White Forest and Black City toward Marvelous Bridge, where they saw a mysterious girl vanish. At the western rest stop, a woman told them the story of a sick girl and her Abra, leaving Dawn wondering whether the apparition had been asking for help.

• Makomo explained that White Forest held many wild Pokémon and that Black City was an ordinary city with dark buildings.
• Xia You, Dawn, Cheryl, and Makomo walked through White Forest, reached Black City at dusk, and continued toward Marvelous Bridge the next day.
• On Marvelous Bridge, Xia You and his companions saw a girl in a white dress whose face was obscured by mist, then watched her vanish after Xia You stepped toward her.
• At the western rest stop, Dawn asked a woman about the apparition, and the woman said a girl who played with her Abra had fallen ill and never recovered.
• The woman said some people believed the Abra had used its psychic powers to keep the girl there, and Dawn wondered if the girl had been asking for help.

Xia You and the others followed Gardevoir’s sensing to a cemetery, where they found the headstone of the girl who had appeared on the bridge. Abra appeared to protect her grave, and Xia You demanded that it bring the girl’s soul to them or face Gardevoir.

• Makomo confirmed that a girl had died of illness near the bridge around the time it was built, and Dawn suggested helping her rest in peace.
• Xia You sent Gardevoir to search for unusual energy, and it led the group to a cemetery behind the rest stop.
• Gardevoir stopped at the headstone of a twelve-year-old girl whose photograph resembled the figure on the bridge.
• Xia You spoke to the girl’s headstone and offered to hear what she could not let go of, but nothing answered.
• Abra teleported in front of the headstone and tried to keep the group away, so Gardevoir suppressed it with its power.
• Xia You told Abra to bring the girl’s soul to them or be defeated while they searched for her themselves.

Xia You and his companions discovered that a ghostly girl chose to remain with Abra, so they left the pair undisturbed. After sheltering overnight from the rain, they continued west toward Nimbasa City, where Xia You planned to challenge his final Unova Gym.

• Abra attacked Xia You's group, but Gardevoir blocked its Psychic power and knocked it down with a stronger Psychic.
• A translucent girl appeared to shield Abra, and Makomo explained that she was staying with it willingly.
• Xia You offered to free the girl, but she refused and confirmed that she wanted to remain with Abra.
• Abra crawled to the gravestone, where the girl stroked its head before both of them disappeared.
• Xia You's group left the cemetery, stayed overnight at a guesthouse, and set out west toward Nimbasa City.

Dawn, Xia You, and Makomo traveled through the unnaturally silent Fantasy Forest, where Dawn discovered that Berries vanished as soon as she picked them. After a wild Zoroark challenged Hisuian Zoroark and led them deeper into the woods, they found a motorhome and met a woman who invited them inside.

• Dawn, Xia You, Makomo, and Cheryl noticed that the forest was unusually silent and had no wild Pokémon.
• Dawn found that the Berries she picked vanished from her hand and hurried back to camp with Piplup.
• A wild Zoroark attacked Hisuian Zoroark, but Hisuian Zoroark dodged and struck it before the challenger ran into the forest.
• Xia You sent Hisuian Zoroark after the wild Zoroark, and Dawn, Makomo, and Xia You followed them while Cheryl stayed at camp.
• The group found a motorhome in a forest clearing, and a woman stepped out and invited them inside.

Xia You discovered that the woman in the woods was a wild Zoroark, who had come seeking a mate and took an interest in his Hisuian Zoroark. After the pair disappeared into the forest and returned together the next morning, Xia You asked whether she intended to travel with them.

• Xia You ordered his Hisuian Zoroark to attack the woman, revealing that she was the wild Zoroark who had ambushed him earlier.
• The two Zoroark fought until the wild female Zoroark submitted and showed interest in Xia You’s Hisuian Zoroark.
• Xia You’s Hisuian Zoroark followed the wild Zoroark into the woods, and Xia You reassured Dawn that he would return.
• Dawn and Makomo reasoned that the wild Zoroark had created an illusion around the forest and attacked them for entering her territory.
• The two Zoroark returned to camp together the next morning, and Xia You asked the wild Zoroark if she planned to travel with them.

Xia You and his companions left the illusionary forest after Cheryl caught the wild Zoroark, then traveled to Nimbasa City. After scheduling Xia You’s Gym challenge for the next morning, they went to explore the city, starting with its amusement park.

• Cheryl caught the wild Zoroark after Xia You told it it had to travel inside a Poké Ball, and Hisuian Zoroark encouraged it to agree.
• The forest illusion vanished, revealing that the group had spent the previous day in an empty clearing.
• Xia You and the others ate breakfast, then set out for Nimbasa City, their final stop.
• Xia You called the Nimbasa Gym and arranged to challenge Elesa the following morning.
• Xia You, Dawn, Cheryl, and Makomo began sightseeing in Nimbasa City at its amusement park.

Xia You visited Nimbasa Gym to challenge Elesa, riding its underground roller coaster into the arena. Elesa was surprised to see him, and the chapter ended as the arena doors opened to a cheering audience.

• Xia You went to Nimbasa Gym alone while the women rested at the Pokémon Center.
• A receptionist directed Xia You to a roller coaster that carried him through an enormous underground amusement park.
• Elesa welcomed Xia You at the end of the ride and was surprised to learn he had already collected eight Badges.
• Elesa gestured toward the Battle Field, and the doors opened to reveal a cheering audience.

Xia You faced Elesa in a crowded Nimbasa City Gym, where Elesa’s fans recognized him as the man rumored to be involved with Diantha. The two exchanged playful challenges, and Elesa entered the battle eager to discover his strength.

• Xia You and Elesa entered the Battle Field, where hundreds of female fans cheered for Elesa.
• Spectators recognized Xia You from gossip linking him to Diantha and began photographing and discussing him.
• Elesa greeted Xia You and asked about his relationship with Diantha, drawing the crowd’s attention.
• Xia You told Elesa she could learn the truth if she beat him.
• Elesa accepted the challenge with excitement, and Xia You confidently promised to show her the gap in their strength.

Elesa challenged Xia You to a six-on-six Gym battle and asked him to use his main team, but he explained he did not have it with him. The battle began with Elesa sending out Ampharos and Xia You choosing Infernape, as both Trainers prepared to test each other’s strength.

• Elesa stopped the referee and requested a six-on-six battle with Xia You, saying she wanted to see his full strength.
• Xia You agreed but declined to use his main team because he did not have all of it with him; Elesa accepted his choice.
• The referee announced the six-on-six Nimbasa Gym battle, with both sides allowed to switch Pokémon freely.
• Elesa sent out Ampharos, and Xia You responded by sending out Infernape.
• The crowd cheered for Elesa as Xia You focused on Ampharos and looked forward to testing Elesa’s strength.

Xia You and Infernape faced Elesa and Ampharos in a fierce Gym battle, with Infernape breaking through Ampharos’s relentless attacks and landing a powerful Mach Punch. Elesa recalled Ampharos with Volt Switch, leaving the battle poised for her next move.

• Elesa opened with Thunder Wave, but Xia You ordered Fire Spin to block it, and the attacks canceled each other out.
• Ampharos attacked with Dragon Pulse and Thunderbolt, while Infernape dodged the beam and charged through the electricity with Fire Punch before retreating from Protect.
• Elesa sent Power Gem at Infernape, which used Flame Wheel to deflect the barrage and approach Ampharos from the side.
• Ampharos unleashed Discharge, but Infernape pushed through the electricity and struck Ampharos with Mach Punch, sending it sliding across the battlefield.
• Elesa used Volt Switch to recall Ampharos to its Poké Ball as Infernape watched from the center of the field.

Elesa sent out Luxray to challenge Xia You, who switched from Infernape to Jolteon. Their opening exchanges showed Jolteon’s superior speed, and Elesa prepared to attack with everything she had.

• Elesa recalled Ampharos and sent Luxray into the Battle Field as the crowd cheered her on.
• Xia You recalled Infernape and chose Jolteon to face Luxray, while Elesa assumed the switch was a normal tactical adjustment.
• Elesa ordered Luxray to use Quick Attack, and Xia You had Jolteon meet it with the same move.
• Jolteon moved faster than Luxray and emerged unruffled after the two Pokémon crossed paths.
• Elesa ordered Luxray to use Discharge, but Jolteon dodged the spreading electricity without being hit.
• Elesa sharpened her focus and resolved to attack with everything she had.

Xia You’s Jolteon defeated Elesa’s Luxray by evading its attacks and absorbing its final Wild Charge with Volt Absorb. Elesa realized Xia You had anticipated her strategy and admitted she felt played.

• Elesa ordered Luxray to repeatedly use Wild Charge, but Jolteon dodged every charge.
• Elesa had Luxray maintain Discharge to limit Jolteon’s movement, and Xia You countered with Thunderbolt.
• Elesa ordered Luxray to gather its energy with Focus Energy and unleash a maximum-power Wild Charge.
• Jolteon took the attack without moving and recovered its stamina with Volt Absorb.
• The referee declared Luxray unable to battle, and Elesa told Xia You she felt he had played her.

Xia You defeated Elesa’s first four Pokémon, leaving her to make a final stand with Zebstrika against his Greninja. Greninja dodged Zebstrika’s opening attacks and prepared a second Water Shuriken while Zebstrika was airborne and unable to change course.

• Elesa conceded that Xia You lived up to his reputation as the world’s strongest Pokémon Trainer.
• Xia You’s Pokémon defeated Elesa’s Galvantula, Stunfisk, and Emolga, leaving Zebstrika as her last Pokémon.
• Elesa sent out her ace, Zebstrika, and Xia You answered with Greninja.
• Zebstrika used Quick Attack and Thunderbolt, but Greninja evaded both attacks.
• Greninja struck at Zebstrika with Water Shuriken, and Zebstrika jumped to dodge it.
• While Zebstrika was airborne, Greninja formed a second Water Shuriken as Elesa realized Zebstrika could not change its trajectory.

Xia You’s Greninja outmaneuvered Elesa’s Zebstrika and defeated it with a series of Water-type attacks. Zebstrika collapsed beneath the field’s railing, leaving Elesa stunned.

• Greninja used Water Pulse to block Zebstrika’s Discharge, then hid on the lighting rig above the field.
• Greninja evaded Zebstrika’s Thunderbolt attacks by changing direction in midair and slipping through their gaps.
• Greninja struck Zebstrika with a Spinning Water Shuriken whose follow-up blades kept hitting it after the first strike.
• Xia You ordered Hydro Pump, which blasted Zebstrika into the railing and left it motionless.