Chapter Summaries

After Glaceon and Floragato accidentally destroyed Xia Chi’s bedroom door, Xia Chi arranged for Glaceon to teach Floragato Triple Axel. Cynthia invited Xia Chi to stay at a hotel and continue discussing Pokémon history, while Lin Lange arrived at his house and mistakenly concluded that Cynthia had fallen for him.

• Glaceon and Floragato broke Xia Chi’s bedroom door while eavesdropping, and Cynthia made Glaceon apologize.
• Xia Chi asked Glaceon to teach Floragato Triple Axel as compensation, and Glaceon agreed.
• Cynthia offered to put Xia Chi up in a hotel so they could continue discussing the Ancient Kalos Kingdom.
• Xia Chi and his Pokémon helped prepare dinner while Cynthia watched a romance drama with Garchomp and Milotic.
• Lin Lange visited Xia Chi’s house and found Cynthia at the door; Cynthia said Xia Chi would probably be unavailable the next day.
• Lin Lange left believing that Cynthia had fallen for Xia Chi.

Xia Chi spent time with Cynthia, shared stories about Legendary Pokémon, and stayed up talking with her until dawn. After waking that evening, he joined Cynthia for dinner, where she questioned why his Larvitar seemed so weak despite its good constitution.

• Xia Chi realized Lin Lange had visited to challenge him to a spar and decided to meet her in a few days so he could spend time with Cynthia.
• Xia Chi made Cynthia laugh with a story about Groudon being unable to fly, then awkwardly apologized when Garchomp took offense at his joke about it.
• Xia Chi followed Cynthia to her hotel suite, where they talked about Pokémon lore until dawn while their Pokémon trained in the hotel training room.
• Xia Chi woke near dusk and found Cynthia waiting for him to wake before they had dinner.
• Cynthia praised Floragato and Misdreavus but asked Xia Chi why Larvitar's size, energy output, attack, and defense were so poor.

Cynthia recognized Larvitar’s extraordinary recovery from congenital energy mania and offered Xia Chi help as a friend. Later, Xia Chi and Cynthia began a training battle between Floragato and Roserade, where Floragato’s swift moves and Xia Chi’s quick counter impressed Cynthia.

• Cynthia identified Larvitar’s congenital energy mania and learned that Xia Chi had strengthened its body without curing the condition.
• Cynthia offered to provide resources for Larvitar, and Xia Chi accepted after she told him he mattered to her as a friend.
• Xia Chi and Cynthia began a training battle in the hotel’s Private Training Hall, with Floragato facing Roserade.
• Floragato used Acrobatics to dodge Roserade’s Sleep Powder, while Xia Chi recognized Cynthia’s plan to ignite the powder with Seed Bomb.
• Floragato switched to Grass-type with Protean and resisted the Sleep Powder, impressing Cynthia with Xia Chi’s quick response.

Xia Chi’s Floragato surprised Cynthia with its unusual moves and battled her Roserade at tremendous speed, pushing the training match beyond its original scope. Floragato collapsed from exhaustion, but Xia Chi encouraged it to believe it would grow much stronger after evolving.

• Xia Chi had Floragato use Triple Axel, and Cynthia tested its defenses with a restrained Dazzling Gleam that still made it cry out in pain.
• Cynthia ordered Sludge Bomb, but Floragato used Shift Gear to become a Steel type and avoid taking damage.
• Floragato used boosted Triple Axel, and Roserade instinctively blocked the attack while Cynthia urged Xia Chi to maximize its Attack and Speed.
• After further Shift Gear boosts, Floragato attacked Roserade in a blur, leaving shallow cuts before it ran out of energy and collapsed.
• Xia Chi helped Floragato up and reassured it that it would become much stronger when it evolved into Meowscarada.

After Cynthia reviewed Floragato and Misdreavus’s battles and arranged training support, she suddenly returned to Sinnoh when Team Galactic raided the Spear Pillar Ruins. Xia Chi resumed his training in Shanghai, while Cynthia’s online lessons helped his Pokémon improve and he signed Floragato up to study Play Rough.

• Cynthia praised Floragato and Misdreavus, advised Xia Chi on their training, and promised to arrange lessons and equipment for them.
• Cynthia abruptly left for Sinnoh after learning that unidentified Trainers had breached the League’s blockade and stolen something from the Spear Pillar Ruins.
• Xia Chi suspected Team Galactic had stolen the Adamant Orb and Lustrous Orb, then decided to focus on getting stronger rather than blame himself for the ruins’ discovery.
• Cynthia sent video lessons from Roserade, Spiritomb, and Glaceon, helping Floragato refine Triple Axel and Misdreavus develop a stronger, spiraling Shadow Ball.
• Xia Chi enrolled Floragato in an online Play Rough course.

After returning to streaming, Xia Chi received an invitation from Paldea’s Top Champion Geeta to visit Area Zero and help investigate the Great Crater. He accepted in principle and planned to discuss the details, then resumed playing Pokémon: Champion’s Path.

• Xia Chi returned to his channel after a week away and discussed which region’s history he might cover next.
• Geeta invited Xia Chi to Paldea to research the Great Crater, citing recommendations from Iono and Cynthia.
• Xia Chi considered what he knew about Paldea and agreed to contact Geeta privately about the visit.
• Xia Chi returned to Pokémon: Champion’s Path and reflected on his streaming popularity and advertising income.

After his livestream, Xia Chi discussed Area Zero research with Geeta and agreed to visit the lab after the World Pokémon Academy Tournament. The next day, heavy snow fell in Shanghai, and Floragato experienced natural snowfall for the first time.

• Xia Chi contacted Geeta and agreed to discuss her request over a call.
• Geeta explained that Professors Turo and Sada had stalled while studying the crystals in the Great Crater of Paldea, which held dense type energy that Pokémon could not absorb directly.
• Xia Chi identified an activating key as the missing piece and suspected the crystals were Tera Shards and the key was a Tera Orb.
• Xia Chi arranged to visit the Area Zero Lab after the World Pokémon Academy Tournament, then went to sleep.
• Floragato woke at noon, saw snow falling outside, and used Shift Gear to resist the cold as it played by the window.
• Xia Chi joined Floragato at the window and wondered at the heavy snowfall blanketing Shanghai.

Xia Chi spent a snowy winter day with Floragato, Misdreavus, and Larvitar, discovering that Larvitar had grown too heavy for him to lift. He reflected on the cost of raising his Pokémon and set aside several defensive equipment components until he could make better use of them or travel to Paldea next month.

• Floragato warmed Xia Chi's cheeks with its paws, and he lifted it for a cuddle before joining Misdreavus and Larvitar for lunch.
• Xia Chi took his three Pokémon outside to play in the deep snow, where Larvitar lost track of him and ate snow while trying to reach him.
• Xia Chi tried to pick up Larvitar but found it had grown to 0.6 meters and weighed seventy to eighty kilograms.
• Xia Chi noted that Larvitar had reached level 19 and had eaten more than half its costly rock crystal ore supply in a month.
• Xia Chi opened two Fear Chests and gained nurturing resources for Floragato and Misdreavus, along with defensive equipment components he did not plan to use yet.
• Xia Chi decided to wait for an Item Remover or his trip to Paldea next month before reconsidering the equipment.

Xia Chi continued training Floragato and Misdreavus, whose strength had grown rapidly, and farmed Fear by challenging Shanghai University team members. After deciding to travel through Donghuang once he returned from Paldea, he learned from Lin Qunzhi that the team would leave for Kitakami in a couple of days.

• Xia Chi noted that Floragato and Misdreavus had gained levels and improved their energy control through tough battles, Cynthia’s Pokémon tutoring, and intensive training.
• Xia Chi challenged a senior’s Scizor, but the senior reminded him that they had already battled, so Xia Chi moved on to seek a new opponent.
• Xia Chi defeated an upperclasswoman’s Electivire with Floragato and gained 8.3 Fear, then realized he had run out of fresh opponents at the training hall.
• Xia Chi abandoned the idea of exploiting paid sparring partners and decided he would challenge the Donghuang League gyms after returning from Paldea.
• Lin Qunzhi told Xia Chi to pack because the team would leave for Kitakami in a couple of days.

Xia Chi traveled with his teammates to Kitakami for the Pokémon Academy Tournament, hoping to meet powerful Trainers and gather Fear before the competition. On the flight, his classmates revealed his streaming identity to Lin Qunzhi, who planned to follow him online after they landed.

• Xia Chi agreed to join Lin Qunzhi's trip to Kitakami and planned to use the weeks before the tournament to meet Trainers and build strength.
• Xia Chi learned that the tournament was an individual competition and that he had earned one of Shanghai University's three places after defeating the school's team members.
• On January 25, Xia Chi boarded a flight to Mesagoza with Lin Qunzhi, Lu Yiyi, Lü Gang, and Floragato before transferring to Kitakami.
• Xia Chi told Lin Qunzhi he would not return with the group after the tournament because Paldea's Top Champion had invited him to research the Great Crater of Paldea.
• Lu Yiyi and Lü Gang told Lin Qunzhi that Xia Chi streamed under the name Teacher Shuiye, and Lin said she would follow him after landing.

During the long journey to Kitakami, Xia Chi spotted a Shiny Rayquaza outside the plane and imagined one day riding a Pokémon like it. After arriving in Kitakami with his companions, he wondered what new Pokémon he might encounter there.

• Xia Chi woke during the flight and saw a Shiny Rayquaza flying through the clouds, while Floragato reacted with determination.
• Xia Chi worried Rayquaza might attack the plane, then questioned System Bro about its strength and whether an ordinary Pokémon could defeat it.
• Xia Chi fell asleep and later woke beside Lin Qunzhi as the plane landed in Mesagoza.
• Xia Chi and the Four Pilgrims boarded their connecting flight and arrived in Kitakami after nearly twenty hours of travel.
• Xia Chi, Lin Qunzhi, and Lu Yiyi went to a restaurant, where they discussed Kitakami's resemblance to Sinnoh and Xia Chi wondered what Pokémon he might find.

After arriving in Kitakami for the World Pokémon Academy Tournament, Xia Chi rested at the Athletes' Village and met Nemona at the Pokémon buffet. He realized the tournament had brought together many familiar Trainers and grew eager to battle them.

• Xia Chi arrived in Verdant Town and thought about clearing Ogerpon's name if he met her.
• Xia Chi and his companions checked into the luxurious Athletes' Village, then went to rest after their long flight.
• After sleeping for ten hours, Xia Chi took Larvitar to the resort's Pokémon buffet and found Rock Crystal Ore.
• Nemona reached for the same ore and challenged Xia Chi to battle for it, but he offered to get another basket and agreed to battle after eating.
• Xia Chi spotted Lacey, Paul, Lana, Mallow, Kiawe, and Gladion among the tournament's attendees and felt eager to battle them.
• A sweet voice beside Xia Chi asked whether he had been looking at her.

Xia Chi met Lacey and Nemona over lunch, then headed with them to the Resort’s Battle Center for their upcoming battles. There, he recognized several powerful young Trainers from other regions and learned that some had been enrolled at schools in name only to compete in the tournament.

• Lacey joined Xia Chi at the restaurant, recognized him as Teacher Shuiye, and explained that she had approached him to battle.
• Nemona arrived to claim that she had asked Xia Chi first, but Lacey invited her to eat with them instead.
• Xia Chi, Lacey, and Nemona introduced themselves, discussed their backgrounds, and exchanged Piplup accounts.
• After eating, Xia Chi and the two Trainers followed the signs to the Battle Center, where they spotted Ruby, Sapphire, and Cucumber-Korrina-from the Kalos Region.
• Lacey told Xia Chi that some competitors had been enrolled in schools in name only so their leagues could enter them in the tournament.

Xia Chi and Nemona began a three-on-three battle at the resort, with Lacey refereeing, and Floragato faced Pawmot. Floragato used Protean and the Speedy Attacker bond to counter Pawmot’s opening strikes, leaving the battle ongoing after Nemona’s second attack also failed to land effectively.

• Nemona asked Xia Chi for a six-on-six battle, but Xia Chi said he had only three Pokémon, and Lacey explained why some Trainers raised Pokémon one at a time.
• Lacey started the battle, and Xia Chi sent out Floragato against Nemona’s Pawmot.
• Nemona ordered Pawmot to use Mach Punch while Xia Chi called for Shadow Claw; Floragato changed into a Ghost type and avoided the attack before striking back.
• Nemona followed with Thunder Punch, and Xia Chi ordered Trailblaze, letting Floragato change into a Grass type that resisted the electric attack.

Xia Chi’s Floragato defeated Nemona’s Pawmot after resisting its attacks and preventing it from escaping with Volt Switch. Nemona sent out Skeledirge to continue the battle.

• Nemona had Pawmot use Fire Punch, and Xia Chi answered with Floragato’s newly learned Play Rough.
• Floragato and Pawmot traded powerful blows, but Floragato gained the advantage through its boosted attacks and physical lifesteal despite being burned.
• Nemona ordered Pawmot to use Volt Switch, but Floragato’s Mud-Slap changed it to a Ground type and blocked the move.
• Floragato knocked out Pawmot with Play Rough, and Nemona praised Xia Chi before sending out Skeledirge.

Xia Chi's Floragato battled Nemona's boosted Skeledirge and used Vine Whip to restrain its Fire Blast, then released it at the last moment. The blast engulfed both Pokémon, and Lacey realized Xia Chi had spared Skeledirge from a likely fatal point-blank explosion.

• Nemona's Skeledirge repeatedly used Torch Song while Floragato struck back with Shadow Claw, building up three Special Attack boosts.
• Nemona ordered Skeledirge to finish Floragato with Fire Blast, and Xia Chi had Floragato bind Skeledirge's jaws with Vine Whip.
• As Fire Blast built up inside Skeledirge's mouth, Xia Chi told Floragato to release the vines just before the move exploded.
• Fire Blast engulfed both Pokémon, and Lacey understood that Xia Chi had chosen not to force a one-for-one trade by making Skeledirge take the blast inside its body.

After Xia Chi and Nemona’s battle nearly injured Skeledirge, the group learned about Kitakami’s legend of the Oni and the Loyal Three. Xia Chi questioned the tale, while a masked Pokémon secretly listened and watched him leave.

• Xia Chi stopped Floragato from letting Fire Blast explode inside Skeledirge, and Lacey ended the battle so both Pokémon could be checked at the Pokémon Center.
• Nurse Joy found severe burns inside Skeledirge’s chest, warned Nemona about the danger, and treated Skeledirge and Floragato.
• Nemona thanked Xia Chi and offered him a Pokémon, but he instead asked for a Rotom Phone, which she promised to send.
• As Xia Chi, Nemona, and Lacey explored Kitakami, they encountered wary locals and discussed the legend of the Oni and the Loyal Three.
• Xia Chi pointed out gaps in the legend and wondered if the Oni was still alive, while a small Pokémon with a damaged green mask listened from the shadows and watched him go.

Xia Chi took Floragato and Misdreavus for a midnight walk through Verdant Town, where they discovered the Loyal Three's shrine and rescued Ogerpon from a Mightyena. Ogerpon fled, leaving her Teal Mask behind, and Xia Chi expected they would meet again soon.

• Xia Chi took Floragato and Misdreavus out for a snowy midnight stroll while Larvitar stayed with Lin Qunzhi.
• Misdreavus led Xia Chi to a shrine honoring Okidogi, Munkidori, and Fezandipiti, and Xia Chi stopped his Pokémon from attacking the statues.
• Xia Chi heard a cry behind the shrine and found a Mightyena attacking Ogerpon.
• Floragato and Misdreavus drove off Mightyena, but Ogerpon fled when Xia Chi approached.
• Xia Chi picked up Ogerpon's dropped Teal Mask and said they would meet again soon.

Xia Chi examined the worn Teal Mask and decided he needed Lacey’s help to locate its maker’s descendant. Nemona delivered his Rotom Phone, which introduced itself and became his new assistant, though it did not count as a Pokémon for his system.

• Xia Chi inspected the Teal Mask and considered how he might find Grass-type Tera Shards to restore it.
• Xia Chi asked Lacey to help locate the famous mask maker’s descendant, and Lacey called Carmine to ask about her ancestor.
• Nemona brought Xia Chi the Rotom Phone he had requested the night before.
• Xia Chi powered on the Rotom Phone, which introduced itself and demonstrated its ability to float and assist him.
• Xia Chi checked his system and confirmed that the Rotom Phone had not filled a Pokémon slot.

Xia Chi visited Xuezhong with Lacey and Nemona and learned the truth about Ogerpon’s past from the mask maker’s descendant. Xuezhong revealed that Ogerpon had been wrongfully blamed for attacking Kitakami, while the so-called Loyal Three had stolen the masks and killed Ogerpon’s companion.

• Lacey told Xia Chi that Carmine had informed her grandfather, and she and Nemona agreed to accompany him to visit Xuezhong.
• Xuezhong welcomed the visitors into his home, where they met his wife Shuzi and an elderly Leavanny.
• Xia Chi showed Xuezhong the Teal Mask and explained that he had rescued Ogerpon from a Mightyena before Ogerpon fled and dropped it.
• Xuezhong told them that villagers had driven Ogerpon and its companion into hiding, and that the companion had commissioned four masks to help them fit in.
• Xuezhong explained that Pecharunt and the three Pokémon later called the Loyal Three stole the masks and killed Ogerpon’s companion, prompting Ogerpon to defeat them.
• Xuezhong revealed that villagers mistook Ogerpon for the attacker and the thieves for heroes, while his ancestor’s attempts to tell the truth led to his persecution.