Chapter Summaries

Kaim lost to Iris when his hesitation let Haxorus defeat Little Black, and Iris and Cynthia explained that he needed to trust his own decisions. Kaim resolved to change and continue pursuing a victory over Sumo.

• Kaim recalled the defeated Lucario and sent out Kuroki, whose Curse-fueled attacks weakened Haxorus and helped end its rampage.
• Iris helped Haxorus clear its confusion, and the battle continued as Kuroki countered its attacks and exploited its burn.
• Kaim hesitated between attacking Haxorus and waiting for the burn to finish it, giving Haxorus time to knock out Kuroki and win the match.
• Iris told Kaim that he trusted his Pokémon but not himself, and Cynthia explained that his second-guessing made his commands slow and held him back from beating Sumo.
• Kaim accepted that he needed to change, reaffirmed his competitive resolve, and walked with Cynthia toward the Pokémon Center while carrying Kuroki.

Kaim discussed his lack of confidence with Caitlin and Cynthia, who encouraged him to value his efforts and trust himself as his Pokémon trusted him. After Kaim fell asleep drunk, Cochran arrived with news that Shaka wanted to visit the Dragonport Immortal Tower.

• Caitlin told Kaim how Cynthia had helped her control her psychic powers by teaching her to enjoy battling, and urged him not to dismiss his own past efforts as wasted.
• Caitlin confessed that she thought of Cynthia as an older sister and Kaim as an older brother, and asked him to stop putting himself down.
• Kaim told Cynthia that he trusted her most and himself least, while Cynthia explained that his self-doubt was a weakness in battle and reminded him that his Pokémon believed in him.
• Cynthia told Kaim she loved his effort to live honestly and correctly, and he admitted while drunk that he admired Cynthia, Steven, and his sister and feared he could never become stronger.
• Cynthia comforted Kaim as he fell asleep, then Cochran came to his room with Iris's message that Shaka wanted to visit the Dragonport Immortal Tower.

Cynthia and Kaim visited Dragonspiral Tower with Alice and met N, who revealed that he had once been Team Plasma’s king. Kaim accepted that N had acted out of concern for Pokémon and continued exploring the tower with him.

• Cynthia and Kaim arrived in Sekka City with Alice and met Shaka, who allowed them to explore Dragonspiral Tower.
• Cynthia and Kaim examined the tower’s ruins and discussed whether it might be connected to the Abyssal Ruins.
• N appeared inside the tower and asked Kaim to speak with him as a friend.
• N introduced himself and revealed that he had once been the king of Team Plasma.
• Kaim asked whether N had acted out of contempt for people; N said he had believed he was helping Pokémon, and Kaim said there was no reason to despise him.

Cynthia, Kaim, and N explored the Dragonport Immortal Tower and discussed how its spiral structure might relate to Zekrom and Reshiram. N admired the trust between Cynthia and Kaim as they reached the tower’s ruined summit.

• Cynthia and N became friends, then joined Kaim in examining the tower’s rubble-strewn second floor.
• Kaim proposed that the tower had been important to Zekrom and Reshiram, and N and Cynthia connected its spiral design to the Pokémon’s paired concepts of ideals and truth.
• N revealed that he had descended from the tower’s upper levels before, and he led Cynthia and Kaim through the dangerous third floor.
• Cynthia and Kaim considered how the tower’s floors were supported while N praised their close, mutually supportive relationship.
• The three climbed through the tower’s unusual floors and reached the summit, where they found broken, weathered pillars.

At Dragonspiral Tower, N introduced Kaim and Cynthia to his friend Zekrom and showed them the Isshu Region from the sky. After sharing lunch, N noticed Kaim's unease and asked about his lack of confidence in battle, prompting Kaim to explain how past failures had made him doubt himself.

• N's Zekrom arrived at Dragonspiral Tower, and Kaim eagerly touched him while Cynthia introduced herself and shook his hand.
• N took Kaim and Cynthia on Zekrom's back to see the Isshu Region, then the group rested and shared Kaim's lunch with their Pokémon.
• N noticed Kaim's sadness and asked to hear what was troubling him.
• Kaim admitted that he constantly feared making the wrong choices in battle because years of losses had left him unable to believe in himself.
• Kaim asked N what he thought about during battles, and N began explaining how his ability to talk to Pokémon shaped his approach.

Kaim took N’s advice to trust the people who believed in him and accepted N’s Zweilous as his Pokémon. After returning to Saba Town, he and Cynthia encountered Toya searching for N, then departed for Sinnoh with a renewed resolve to overcome his doubts.

• N urged Kaim to trust his friends’ confidence in him, helping him take a first step toward changing his self-doubt.
• N entrusted Zweilous, who had been separated from her former trainer and wanted to see the outside world, to Kaim, and Kaim accepted her.
• Kaim and Cynthia flew down from the tower with N and Zekrom, exchanged contact information with N, and said they hoped to meet again.
• Shaka invited Kaim to battle him the next time they met, and Toya arrived on Reshiram seeking N after sensing Zekrom nearby.
• Kaim told Toya that N had headed south, then Kaim, Cynthia, and Iris left for Saba Town and returned to Sinnoh two days later.

Kaim defeated Cynthia’s Lucario and learned that he had reached Gym Leader level by trusting his own battle style. He went to Veilstone Gym the next day, where he prepared to battle challengers before facing Sumo, his longtime rival.

• Kaim’s Little Black defeated Cynthia’s Lucario, and Cynthia told him he had finally overcome the wall holding back his skill.
• Cynthia urged Kaim to defeat Sumo, whom he had lost to forty-nine times, and Kaim planned to challenge her after his Gym duties.
• At Veilstone Gym, Kaim agreed to battle the challengers scheduled for ten and three o’clock.
• Kaim gave Sumo three containers of food because she had little money and often went hungry.
• Kaim selected Gorky, Lv. 29, and Nidorino, Lv. 30, for his first challenger, who had four Badges.

Kaim battled Gym Leader Sumo, showing a newfound confidence and defeating her Hawkazaru with Blaziken through a strategy built around Endure and Reversal. He then sent Lucario against Toxicroak, and the battle continued with Kaim setting up an Earthquake counter.

• Kaim and Sumo agreed to a four-Pokémon battle, and Sumo asked Jiro to record it because Kaim seemed different.
• Kaim's Blaziken endured Hawkazaru's Struggle and defeated it with Reversal, giving Kaim the lead.
• Sumo sent out Toxicroak, while Kaim chose Lucario for the second matchup.
• Lucario used Extreme Speed to disrupt Toxicroak, then began charging Earthquake as Toxicroak jumped to reduce the move's damage.
• Kaim revealed that he had prepared Lucario to use Earthquake when caught off guard, and the fight remained underway.

Lucario and Toxicroak knocked each other out, leaving Kaim to battle Sumo with Staraptor and Kuroki. Kaim’s strategic switches put Sumo under pressure, but the fight between Lucario and Kuroki ended with both Pokémon suddenly paralyzed.

• Lucario and Toxicroak traded final blows and fell together, leaving the battle tied at two Pokémon against three.
• Kaim sent out Staraptor against Medicham, using its moves to weaken Medicham before switching with U-turn to Kuroki.
• Kuroki struck Medicham with Sucker Punch as Medicham’s Confusion failed against the Dark-type, forcing Sumo to recall Medicham under pressure.
• Kaim sent Kuroki against Lucario and used Dark Pulse and Snarl to reduce Lucario’s strength, then interrupted Lucario’s Swords Dance with a surprise attack.
• Lucario hit Kuroki with Force Palm, which paralyzed Kuroki; Lucario then suddenly became paralyzed as well.

Kaim defeated Sumo in a hard-fought Gym battle, and Sumo asked him to take over as the Veilstone Gym’s substitute Leader while she studied abroad. Returning home, Kaim told Cynthia that it was the first time he had ever felt he had truly won, and the first time in his twenty-three years that he felt victory.

• Kaim and Little Black defeated Sumo’s Lucario, but Little Black collapsed afterward and could not continue battling.
• Kaim’s Staraptor defeated Sumo’s Medicham with Aerial Ace, earning Kaim the match victory.
• Sumo asked Kaim to serve as the Veilstone Gym’s substitute Leader while she joined an overseas study program, and Kaim accepted.
• Kaim and Sumo shook hands as she recognized him as the Gym’s new substitute Leader.
• Kaim returned home and told Cynthia that the battle had been the first one he had genuinely enjoyed and the first time he had felt he had won.

Kaim and Cynthia shared a quiet evening as they encouraged each other to grow, but Kaim could not accompany her to an academic conference because he had become a substitute Gym Leader. Cynthia traveled alone to Alamos Town for her presentation and began exploring its distinctive landscape and history.

• Cynthia told Kaim she wanted to learn housework from him, and he promised to teach her as they ate with their Pokémon.
• After dinner, a tipsy Cynthia urged Kaim to accept himself, and he reassured her that he liked her.
• Cynthia invited Kaim to accompany her to a conference in Alamos Town, but he declined because he had Gym Leader duties and scheduled challengers.
• Cynthia told Kaim that Sumo would study abroad in the Galar Region, and they discussed the conference and Alamos Town’s Space-Time Tower.
• Cynthia arrived alone in Alamos Town, missed Kaim’s company, and went out to explore the city’s distinctive buildings and preserved natural scenery.

Cynthia met Alice, a tour guide and music student, in a garden in Alamos Town and learned about its history and Alice’s memories of her grandmother. After Alice played the soothing song Oración, she led Cynthia toward the Space-Time Tower.

• Cynthia entered a garden and met Alice, who recognized her as Champion Cynthia.
• Alice explained that architect Godi had designed the garden and helped develop Alamos Town, including the Space-Time Tower.
• Alice shared memories of her grandmother, who had taught her stories about Godi, the tower, and a Pokémon.
• At Cynthia’s request, Alice played Oración on a leaf and explained that the song could soothe and heal Pokémon.
• Alice led Cynthia from the garden to the Space-Time Tower.

Cynthia visited Alamos Town’s Space-Time Tower with Alice and learned that the twin towers honoring Dialga and Palkia were also a century-old musical instrument. As they prepared to explore inside, Alice’s childhood friend Tonio joined them to share his knowledge of the tower.

• Alice showed Cynthia the Space-Time Tower from the balloon and explained that its two towers represented Time and Space and could play music using Soundboards and electricity.
• Cynthia asked why the tower had been built, and Alice recalled vaguely that it was meant to prepare for battles in the future.
• Cynthia and Alice approached the tower, where Cynthia reflected that different perspectives revealed different aspects of things and told Alice she had an apprentice.
• Tonio arrived while investigating the tower, and Alice introduced him to Cynthia as her childhood friend who knew a lot about the tower.
• Cynthia welcomed Tonio’s offer to join their tour, and the three headed inside the Tower of Time.

Tonio guided Cynthia and Alice through the Space-Time Tower, explaining how its sphere and pendulum symbolized space and time and how the tower functioned as a musical instrument. Cynthia learned that Tonio was descended from the tower’s architect, Godi, and encouraged his research before the group prepared to explore the rest of the city.

• Tonio showed Cynthia and Alice the sphere in the Space Tower and explained that it represented the universe and Earth.
• Cynthia discussed the legends of Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina, recalling her recent visit to the Distortion World.
• Tonio showed them the machine that operated the Space-Time Tower as a musical instrument and revealed that he was Godi’s descendant.
• Tonio explained that he was researching Godi’s intentions, and Cynthia praised his dedication.
• Tonio and Alice offered to guide Cynthia around the rest of the city.

Cynthia toured Alamos Town with Alice and Tonio, then called Kaim from her hotel and talked with him about the town and his new Gym Leader duties. She ended the call by admitting she had almost called out Kaim’s name when she arrived in town.

• Cynthia thanked Alice and Tonio for showing her around Alamos Town and paid for their dinner before giving them her contact information.
• Alice noticed Cynthia’s red ring and asked Tonio whether Cynthia had a girlfriend, but he did not know.
• Cynthia called Kaim after receiving his message, and he told her that the house felt quiet without her.
• Kaim explained that he was learning to adjust his Gym battles to challengers’ badges and was still getting used to the Gym’s Pokémon.
• Cynthia opened her hotel window to see the illuminated Space-Time Tower and told Kaim she had almost called his name when she arrived in Alamos Town.

Cynthia enjoyed a phone conversation with Kaim, then attended an academic conference and social gatherings while reflecting on how much she valued having him as her assistant and boyfriend. The chapter ended with Professor Oak Door praising Cynthia’s research environment as she thought of Kaim.

• Cynthia told Kaim she wanted him beside her, and they chatted by phone until they were ready to sleep.
• After her presentation, Cynthia met Alice for dinner and dessert, showed her the ring she had bought in Alto Mare, and revealed that Kaim was now her boyfriend.
• Cynthia attended the conference’s social gathering, declined to pursue joint research with strangers, and spoke with Professor Oak Door.
• Cynthia told Oak Door that she had an assistant who had helped her greatly, while he inferred the closeness of her relationship with Kaim.

Cynthia learned that Green had become the Viridian Gym Leader after losing to her, then accepted Oak’s old sea chart marking a remote island in Hoenn. She returned home to Kaim and prepared to make Hoenn their next destination.

• Cynthia asked Oak about Green, and Oak explained that his grandson had become the Viridian Gym Leader after Team Rocket’s Giovanni disappeared.
• Oak gave Cynthia an old chart marking a remote island in southern Hoenn, where rare and powerful Pokémon were said to live.
• Cynthia accepted the chart because she wanted to investigate the old man’s intentions and explore a region she had never visited.
• The next day, Cynthia left Alamos Town and returned home near Mio City.
• Cynthia reunited with Kaim and told him she wanted to hear about his experiences as a Gym Leader over a meal.
• Cynthia and Kaim set Hoenn as their next destination.

Substitute Gym Captain Kaim defeated a challenger named Gangshi after Nidorino fell to Murkrow, then let the arrogant boy leave with a Cobol Badge and a warning. After tending to the battle Pokémon, Kaim confirmed he would be away for about a week to investigate again.

• Gangshi's Murkrow defeated Kaim's Nidorino, making Gangshi the winner of the Gym battle.
• Kaim awarded Gangshi a Cobol Badge and a Technical Machine, but Gangshi mocked Kaim and the Gym Trainers for being weak.
• Kaim warned Gangshi not to let his talent and quick badge collecting make him arrogant, and Gangshi left without accepting the warning.
• The Gym Trainers complained about Gangshi's insults, and Kaim said they should let the boy reach his potential before showing him the difference in strength.
• After treating the Pokémon and planning more training, Kaim confirmed he would take the next day off to investigate again.