Recaps

Cynthia and Kaim arrived at Indigo Plateau for the Kanto League tournament, where Cynthia looked forward to facing the strongest Trainers. After meeting Champion Lance, Kaim reaffirmed that his role was to support Cynthia as she pursued the summit.

• Cynthia and Kaim reached Indigo Plateau and discussed the tournament draw and Cynthia’s hopes of battling the other Champions.
• Lance introduced himself to Cynthia, and they exchanged greetings while expressing their eagerness to battle.
• Lance examined Kaim’s Pokémon, praised his training and bond with them, and asked why he chose to be a supporter rather than pursue the summit himself.
• Kaim told Lance that supporting Cynthia was his goal, and Lance invited him to enjoy a battle if they met in the tournament.
• After Lance left, Cynthia praised Kaim for being recognized as a fine Trainer, and Kaim reflected on helping her reach the summit.

Cynthia attended the tournament’s opening meeting and renewed her resolve before catching up with Iris and Diantha. She met Kaim in the corridor, and the group left together as Diantha asked to hear about Cynthia and Kaim’s relationship.

• Cynthia and Kaim arrived at the Indigo Plateau, where the tournament’s contestants gathered for the opening ceremony meeting.
• After the meeting, Iris greeted Cynthia and vowed to give the tournament her best and settle her unfinished battle with Cynthia.
• Cynthia called Kaim and headed toward him, but Diantha stopped her and the two Champions caught up.
• Cynthia and Diantha found Kaim with Lucario, and Diantha praised his improved skills and his support for Cynthia.
• Diantha asked to hear about Cynthia and Kaim’s relationship, and Cynthia led them away together while Kaim followed.

Cynthia helped the lost Leon reach the Champions’ meeting point just in time for the opening ceremony at Indigo Plateau. The ceremony introduced the tournament’s Champions, ending with the arrival of Redo and Pikachu.

• Cynthia found Leon lost in a corridor and guided him to the meeting point, where the other Champions had gathered.
• Leon thanked Cynthia and said he expected to face her in battle, and Cynthia agreed she would fight with everything she had.
• The opening ceremony began at Indigo Plateau with a speech celebrating the tournament and its trophy.
• Lance, Steven, Mikuri, Cynthia, Iris, Diantha, and Leon entered the stadium with their Pokémon as the announcer introduced them.
• Redo appeared with Pikachu on his shoulder, and the crowd erupted in cheers.

The championship tournament’s bracket placed Cynthia against Steven in the first round, and Cynthia reviewed his team before their match. Kaim admitted that he wanted both Cynthia and his best friend Steven to win, leaving Cynthia to reassure him as the match approached.

• Red’s overwhelming ambition swept through the Stadium as the championship tournament began.
• The players drew lots, and the bracket set Red against Iris, Mikuri against Gary, Leon against Karnet, and Cynthia against Steven.
• Cynthia and Steven welcomed their first-round match and agreed they looked forward to battling the next day.
• Cynthia reviewed Steven’s registered Pokémon with Kaim, who confessed he felt torn between supporting her and wanting his best friend Daigo to win.
• Kaim recalled meeting Daigo at the Stadium and telling him he wanted to watch both Daigo and Cynthia win.

Cynthia faced Steven in the first-round match between the Sinnoh and Hoenn Champions, with both determined to win. Steven’s Aerial Armament defeated Cynthia’s Bullet Seed, and Cynthia sent out her unregistered Porygon-Z as the battle continued.

• Daigo and Kaim discussed their hopes for the match before Daigo left, promising to win while Kaim predicted Cynthia would triumph.
• Cynthia watched Leon defeat Diantha, then prepared to battle Steven with Kaim’s support and her newly mastered Mega Evolution.
• Cynthia and Steven exchanged declarations of their determination before the first-round match began.
• Steven’s Aerial Armament burned and struck Cynthia’s Bullet Seed with a boosted Brave Bird, leaving Bullet Seed unable to battle.
• Cynthia sent out her unregistered Porygon-Z, which used Double Team to evade Aerial Armament’s Drill Beak and counterattacked.

Cynthia’s Polygon Z defeated Skarmory, then battled Steven’s Boss Aggron using Reflect, paralysis, and clever maneuvers. The chapter ended with Polygon Z and Boss Aggron trading powerful attacks as dust obscured the battlefield.

• Cynthia used Reflect to blunt Skarmory’s physical attacks, then Polygon Z defeated it with Thunderbolt.
• Cynthia explained that Polygon Z had been prepared to counter Skarmory, while Steven sent out Boss Aggron.
• Polygon Z used shattered rocks to ambush Boss Aggron with Thunderbolt, paralyzing it, then dodged its Earthquake by using Shadow Ball to lift itself.
• Boss Aggron bombarded Polygon Z with rocks and charged, but Polygon Z lured it close and struck it with Thunderbolt.
• Boss Aggron retaliated with Stone Edge, launching Polygon Z into the air, and Polygon Z answered with Shadow Ball as dust filled the battlefield.

Cynthia used Porygon-Z to defeat Daigo’s Aggron and weaken his Aerodactyl, Peter, before sending out Garchomp. She manipulated the sandstorm and battlefield obstacles to conceal Garchomp, leaving it poised to attack Peter.

• Daigo’s Aggron lost to Cynthia’s Porygon-Z, which had used Double Team and Reflect to overcome its physical attacks.
• Daigo sent out Aerodactyl Peter, whose Sandstorm helped it defeat Porygon-Z after Porygon-Z landed a final damaging attack.
• Cynthia sent out Garchomp, and Peter attacked it with Iron Head and Stone Edge while Garchomp countered with Dragon Claw and Dragon Pulse.
• Cynthia used the sandstorm and rocks to hide Garchomp from Peter, then brought it within striking distance before Daigo could react.

Daigo’s Aerodactyl defeated Cynthia’s badly wounded Garchomp after Garchomp survived Stone Edge and Ice Fang with help from a Yache Berry, then knocked Aerodactyl out with Dragon Rush. Cynthia sent out Milotic against Daigo’s Armaldo, and their battle continued amid the Sandstorm.

• Daigo’s Aerodactyl struck Garchomp with Stone Edge and Ice Fang, but Garchomp’s Yache Berry weakened the Ice-type attack and let him endure the damage.
• Garchomp grabbed Aerodactyl and slammed it into the ground with Dragon Rush, knocking Peter out.
• Cynthia recalled her injured Garchomp, and Daigo sent out Armaldo against her Milotic.
• Armaldo and Milotic exchanged attacks, and Milotic took heavy damage from Stone Edge, the Sandstorm, and its burn.

Steven and Cynthia’s battle ended in a double knockout between Armaldo and Milotic, leaving Cynthia to send out Togekiss against Steven’s Nidoran. Nidoran’s Light Screen blunted Togekiss’s special attacks, but Togekiss maneuvered behind the scattered rocks and rose overhead.

• Steven’s Armaldo and Cynthia’s Milotic traded attacks until Stone Edge and Hydro Pump collided, knocking both Pokémon out.
• Cynthia sent out Togekiss, and Steven answered with Nidoran.
• Nidoran used Light Screen to reduce the damage from Togekiss’s special attacks.
• Togekiss dodged Nidoran’s Ice Beam and used Air Slash, Magical Leaf, and Aura Sphere, but Light Screen and type resistance limited its damage.
• Nidoran used Rock Imprison, and Togekiss flew behind the scattered rocks and rose high overhead.

Shirona and Daigo’s battle reached its final Pokémon, with both trainers Mega-Evolving their aces. Mega Lucario began dueling Mega Metagross, and the chapter left their final clash underway.

• Togekiss and Nidoran both fell after Togekiss struck Nidoran with Hyper Beam, leaving Shirona with two Pokémon and Daigo with one.
• Daigo Mega-Evolved Metagross, which defeated Cynthia’s exhausted Garchomp with Zen Headbutt.
• Cynthia sent out Lucario and revealed her Key Stone, Mega-Evolving Lucario for the first time in the match.
• Mega Lucario parried Mega Metagross’s Hammer Arm attacks and countered with Dark Pulse and Meteor Mash.

Cynthia’s Lucario battled Steven’s Metagross in a fierce match that showcased both Pokémon’s techniques and tactics. Lucario defeated Metagross with Blaze Kick, leaving Cynthia the winner as Kaim and his Pokémon watched and learned.

• Lucario countered Metagross’s Meteor Mash with Aura bullets, but Metagross shattered them and pressed him with Bullet Punch.
• Metagross used Earthquake, Thunder Punch, and Hammer Arm, while Lucario endured the attacks and countered with Dark Pulse and Power-Up Punch.
• Lucario struck Metagross with Close Combat, and Metagross answered with a close-range Earthquake.
• Lucario used Extreme Speed to evade Earthquake, slowed to deflect Metagross’s predicted Hammer Arm, and followed with Blaze Kick.
• Metagross caught Lucario’s Blaze Kick but collapsed from exhaustion, and Cynthia was declared the winner.

Cynthia studied Leon’s Gigantamax Charizard while recovering from her battle with Steven, then went to find Kaim as he cared for her Pokémon. In the basement, Kaim met Sonia, who was searching for Leon.

• Cynthia reviewed Leon’s battle against Diantha and considered how Milotic and Garchomp could counter his Pokémon, especially Gigantamax Charizard.
• Kaim told Cynthia that her Pokémon had recovered and warned her not to stay too long in the bath; she then entered his tablet’s password using her birthday and went to see him.
• Kaim collected Cynthia’s Pokémon and eased their lingering mental fatigue by polishing Mikage’s Trapezoid Stone and massaging Togekiss.
• Sonia entered the basement field looking for Leon, learned that Kaim was a supporter too, and introduced herself as Leon’s supporter.

Kaim met Sonia, Leon’s former rival and current guide, and invited her to share what she knew about Leon with Cynthia before their battle. Cynthia arrived, and their conversation revealed that Leon had a terrible sense of direction while Cynthia was hopeless at tidying.

• Sonia introduced herself to Kaim as Leon’s supporter and explained that she had brought him to the stadium because he often got lost.
• Sonia described her past Gym Challenge and League rivalry with Leon and said she was glad he was still battling, though she had lost track of him after he left the Pokémon Center.
• Kaim invited Sonia to stay and tell Cynthia about Leon as a person, and Sonia agreed after he explained that it could make their battle more enjoyable.
• Sonia met Kaim’s and Cynthia’s Pokémon, which crowded around and mobbed Kaim while she watched them affectionately.
• Cynthia arrived, greeted Sonia, and learned from her that Leon could not find the stadium on his own.
• Kaim told Sonia that Cynthia was terrible at tidying, embarrassing Cynthia as she admitted it was true.

Cynthia and Kaim learned from Sonia how Galar particles and Rose’s device allowed Dynamax to be used outside Galar, then met Mikuri in the lobby. Mikuri prepared to face Red the next day, while Cynthia hoped to advance far enough to battle him herself.

• Cynthia asked Sonia how Dynamax could be used in Kanto, and Sonia explained that Rose’s device stored and transported Galar particles.
• Sonia revealed that Professor Magnolia was her grandmother and that she was studying to become a researcher before Leon called her back to the Stadium entrance.
• Sonia gave Cynthia and Kaim her contact details and left, after which Cynthia teased Kaim about stopping to talk with her.
• Cynthia and Kaim met Mikuri in the lobby, and he praised Cynthia’s victory over Steven and Kaim’s support.
• Mikuri said he would battle Red the next day, and Cynthia said she hoped to advance far enough to face him before they returned to their room.

Cynthia met Leon before their Championship battle and agreed to make it their best match. After watching Red defeat Mikuri, she faced Leon in the tournament’s second-round final, where their opening Pokémon’s first attacks collided.

• Cynthia woke refreshed after Kaim’s massage and tea, then went for an early walk and met Leon outside the Stadium.
• Cynthia and Leon introduced themselves, praised each other’s Pokémon and discussed their excitement for their battle.
• Red defeated Mikuri after Mega Charizard Y knocked out Milotic, securing his place in the final.
• Cynthia and Leon entered the arena, exchanged words about testing their strength on the world stage and began their battle.
• Leon sent out Aegislash while Cynthia sent out Mikage, and their opening attacks collided in an explosion.

Cynthia defeated Leon’s Aegislash by adapting its dust-cloud tactics and exploiting the opening in King’s Shield. Leon sent out Haxorus next, and it began boosting its Attack and Speed with Dragon Dance.

• Aegislash used a dust cloud and Shadow Sneak to damage Milotic while Cynthia discovered that Flamethrower had burned it and that Weakness Policy had boosted its stats.
• Cynthia had Milotic hide in a dust cloud and use a decoy made from Tartar’s energy to draw out Aegislash’s Shadow Sneak.
• Milotic struck Aegislash in Blade Forme as it tried to raise King’s Shield, knocking it out and earning Cynthia the victory.
• Leon praised Cynthia’s tactics and sent out Haxorus, which used Dragon Dance to raise its Attack and Speed.
• Cynthia prepared to face Haxorus while warning herself to stay alert for its attacks.

Leon and Cynthia traded knockouts when Haxorus and Togekiss fell together, leaving their battle tied. They sent out Dragapult and Roserade next, and Roserade waited for Dragapult to reappear from Phantom Sneak.

• Cynthia sent Togekiss against Leon's boosted Haxorus, and the two Pokémon traded attacks as Haxorus struggled through flinching and paralysis.
• Leon revealed that Haxorus held a Life Orb, and Haxorus and Togekiss knocked each other out with Iron Tail and Dazzling Gleam.
• Leon sent out Dragapult while Cynthia sent out Roserade, and Dragapult pressed the attack with Dragon Dive and Thunderbolt.
• Dragapult vanished with Phantom Sneak, and Cynthia told Roserade to watch for the moment it reappeared before attacking.

Cynthia and Leon fought through Roserade’s defeat, with Roserade poisoning Dragapult and forcing it to retreat nearly exhausted. Leon then sent out Dondozo against Cynthia’s Lucario, whose speed and Dondozo’s durability shaped the opening of their next battle.

• Roserade used Dazzling Gleam and Sludge Bomb against Dragapult, then poisoned it with Poison Point after intercepting Dragon Rush.
• Dragapult feinted with two successive Phantom Force attacks before defeating Roserade with Dragon Rush, while Roserade’s poison left Dragapult nearly exhausted.
• Cynthia and Leon praised Roserade’s effort, returned their injured Pokémon, and prepared for the second half of the battle.
• Leon sent out Dondozo, and Cynthia chose Lucario instead of using Mega Evolution.
• Lucario struck Dondozo with Meteor Mash, but Dondozo’s Solid Rock Ability reduced the damage from the super-effective move.
• Lucario used Mind Reader to evade Bulldoze, and Leon recognized that it used the move as propulsion.

Cynthia’s Lucario battled Leon’s Duraludon, using careful evasion, Swords Dance, and unexpected Aura Sphere attacks to overcome its defenses. Lucario defeated Duraludon with a final Meteor Mash, though it was left badly injured and exhausted.

• Lucario dodged Duraludon’s attacks while using Swords Dance to raise its attack power.
• Duraludon struck Lucario with Bulldoze and Stone Edge, while Lucario used Aura Sphere to catch Leon off guard and reveal Duraludon’s Assault Vest.
• As both Pokémon neared their limits, Duraludon injured Lucario’s leg with Stone Edge and followed with Bulldoze.
• Lucario used Extreme Speed to cross Bulldoze’s shock wave, launched itself into the air, and deflected Duraludon’s Hammer Arm.
• Lucario struck Duraludon with Meteor Mash and won the battle.

Leon and Cynthia’s battle continued as Lucario fell to Oranguru, leaving Oranguru to face Cynthia’s Milotic in a punishing endurance match. The chapter ended with both Pokémon powering up and recovering at once, poised to decide the battle with their next moves.

• Leon sent out Oranguru, whose Grass Terrain began healing him and strengthened his Grass-type attacks.
• Lucario struck Oranguru with a final counterattack before collapsing, and Cynthia recalled him after praising his effort.
• Cynthia sent out Milotic, who used his burn-activated Marvel Scale, Grass Terrain, Aqua Ring, and Recover to endure Oranguru’s attacks.
• Oranguru and Milotic traded attacks as Scald burned Oranguru and Cynthia used Milotic’s coils to trap him briefly.
• Oranguru avoided a nearly certain Ice Beam by deflecting it with his drumsticks, then landed Drain Punch on Milotic.
• Leon had Oranguru use Swords Dance while Cynthia ordered Milotic to Recover, and both finished their moves at the same time.

Cynthia and Leon’s battle reached its final stage after Oranguru and Milotic knocked each other out and Garchomp defeated Leon’s poisoned Dragapult. Cynthia Mega Evolved Garchomp as Leon prepared to Gigantamax Charizard, whose Poké Ball grew enormous.

• Oranguru and Milotic traded final attacks and were both unable to battle.
• Cynthia sent out Garchomp while Leon sent out his poisoned Dragapult, and Garchomp’s Venom Drench-reduced speed let it defeat Dragapult.
• Leon sent out Charizard as his final Pokémon, and Cynthia prepared to Mega Evolve Garchomp.
• Cynthia Mega Evolved Garchomp, while Leon activated Gigantamax and Charizard’s Poké Ball transformed into a gigantic Poké Ball.

Cynthia defeated Leon in a fierce battle between Garchomp and Gigantamax Charizard, winning the match as Sinnoh’s Champion. Afterward, both Champions thanked each other for the battle and promised to face one another again.

• Leon sent out Gigantamax Charizard, and it clashed with Cynthia’s Garchomp using Max Flare and Draco Meteor, scorching and devastating the battlefield.
• Leon and Cynthia traded powerful attacks as Charizard’s Gigantamax and Garchomp’s stamina came under pressure from the burning field.
• Kaim realized Leon had weakened Charizard’s Max Flare to quickly follow with a super-effective Max Wyrmwind, but Cynthia’s Garchomp broke through it with its full Dragon Power.
• Garchomp struck Charizard before it could counterattack, and Charizard returned to normal and collapsed from exhaustion.
• The referee declared Cynthia the winner, and Leon and Cynthia thanked each other, shook hands, and promised to battle again.
• Sonia welcomed Leon at the entrance and handed him a towel.

After defeating her opponent, Shirona rested and considered how formidable Red would be in their upcoming battle, resolving to win. Kaim waited with her recovering Pokémon at the Stadium, where a visitor appeared as evening fell.

• Red and Green watched the tournament final, then flew away together on Charizard and Pidgeotto.
• Shirona rested in the bath and reviewed Red’s strength and possible untapped potential.
• Shirona admitted she was eager to battle Red and vowed to win.
• Kaim waited for Shirona’s Pokémon to recover, walked around the quiet Stadium with Blaziken, and saw someone enter through the gate.

Kaim reunited with Green and Red while waiting for Cynthia’s Pokémon to recover, and the three recalled how Kaim had encountered Red during his battles against Team Rocket in Kanto. The chapter left them together at the tournament venue, catching up after years apart.

• Kaim recognized Green, who learned that Kaim was supporting Cynthia and said he wanted to thank her for their Sinnoh League battle.
• Green told Kaim that Red was getting drinks, and Red soon arrived with Pikachu.
• Kaim and Red greeted each other as old acquaintances, surprising Green, and explained they had met two or three times in Kanto.
• Kaim recalled treating Red after he destroyed Team Rocket’s Hideout in Celadon City and again after Red defeated Team Rocket at Silph Co. in Saffron City.
• Green called Kaim kindhearted for helping Red, and Kaim and Red agreed that they had never expected to meet again.

Kaim learned that Red had trained on Mt. Silver, while Green and Red joked about their friendship. Cynthia searched for Kaim, met Leaf, and encouraged her as a fellow Trainer whose battling style she admired.

• Kaim asked Red where he had gone after winning the Kanto League, and Red showed him Mt. Silver on a map.
• Green told Red he had nearly missed the competition and urged him to check in with his family, prompting Kaim to tease Green and Red about their friendship.
• Cynthia went to the Pokémon Center looking for Kaim, but Leaf told her he had been at the Stadium.
• Leaf recognized Cynthia and praised her match, and Cynthia recognized Leaf as a Kanto League top-eight competitor from Pallet Town.
• Cynthia told Leaf she enjoyed watching her battles, and they agreed they would like to battle each other someday.