Chapter Summaries

Xiao Yan arrived late for the selection tournament but teamed with Meng Tingting to win their first-round match and advance. Afterward, a furious woman ordered a girl who had lost to train harder and take first place.

• Xiao Yan overslept, rushed to the tournament, and discovered that Meng Tingting was his assigned partner.
• Xiao Yan and Meng Tingting battled Pang Hu and Qing Long on Battlefield Three, where Sceptile quickly defeated Pidgeotto.
• When Mightyena threatened Houndour, Xiao Yan intervened and warned Meng Tingting that battles could be deadly.
• Sceptile defeated Mightyena, and the referee declared Xiao Yan and Meng Tingting the winners; Xiao Yan advanced to the second round.
• Feng teased a female instructor about Xiao Yan's victory, then Xiao Yan treated Sceptile to pork chop rice.
• A woman scolded a girl for losing and ordered her to win the squad leader position, so the girl went to train.

Xiao Yan learned that Meng Tingting was pushing herself to exhaustion because her mother had ordered her to win the upcoming match, and he rescued her after she collapsed. He cared for her overnight, and she left before morning, leaving him a pink alarm clock and a teasing note.

• Xiao Yan heard at the Public Bath that Meng Tingting had been training since afternoon without stopping for dinner.
• Meng Tingting’s followers told Xiao Yan that her mother would publicly execute her for disobeying orders if she failed to win her promotion match.
• Xiao Yan found Meng Tingting collapsed from exhaustion beside her worn-out Houndour and carried her to his room.
• After waking, Meng Tingting ate Cup Noodles that Xiao Yan fed her and thanked him before staying in his room for the night.
• Meng Tingting left before Xiao Yan woke, leaving a pink alarm clock with a note teasing him about being late.

Xiao Yan and Meng Tingting won their second Double Battle, and Xiao Yan advanced through several more matches to reach the final for promotion to squad leader. As the final approached, Meng Tingting asked him to throw their upcoming battle, but Xiao Yan refused and left without learning why she could not afford to lose.

• Xiao Yan and Meng Tingting defeated Brother Pig and Sweetie's Nidoking and Bellossom in the second round.
• Xiao Yan noticed a Charizard defeat a Golem in one move on another battlefield.
• Gary, Xiao Lan, and Serena traveled through remote mountains, where a middle-aged man scared off a huge Mightyena threatening Serena.
• Xiao Yan won several matches in a row with Sceptile, including a battle against Xatu, and qualified for the final.
• Meng Tingting told Xiao Yan she had investigated his past and offered him money to throw their upcoming match.
• Xiao Yan rejected Meng Tingting's request, said he also had a reason he could not lose, and left the dining hall.

Xiao Yan won the Group B final and was promoted to squad leader in Team Flare, while Gary, Xiao Lan, and Serena infiltrated the base to find him. The chapter left them witnessing Meng Tingting being punished by an elite member.

• Gary, Xiao Lan, and Serena followed the Middle-Aged Man’s advice and entered Team Flare’s base by taking the written entrance exam.
• Xiao Yan and Sceptile defeated Meng Tingting and Houndour in the Group B final, earning Xiao Yan promotion to squad leader.
• Xiao Yan left the Enlisted Dormitory and encountered the squad commander who had confronted him at the Public Market; she told him to look for a surprise in Building B’s 6th-Floor Corridor.
• Gary, Xiao Lan, and Serena complained about their Team Flare uniforms before continuing to search the base for Xiao Yan.
• Serena and the others found Meng Tingting tied to a pillar as a female elite ordered Tangrowth to lash her with Vine Whip.

Xiao Yan and his friends confronted a Team Flare Elite who was tormenting a captured girl and treated her Pokémon as disposable tools. After the battle turned against them, Xiao Yan stepped in front of the group as Sceptile prepared Leaf Storm to meet Walrein’s massive Surf.

• Xiao Yan interrupted the female Elite’s punishment of the girl, and Sceptile defeated her Tangrowth.
• The female Elite sent out five more Pokémon, and Gary, Xiao Lan, and Serena joined Xiao Yan with their Pokémon.
• Charizard’s Heat Wave knocked out Shiftry and Jumpluff, while the female Elite dismissed them as useless.
• The female Elite sent Walrein’s Surf toward the group, and Florges interrupted Blastoise’s attempt to counter with Surf.
• Serena shielded Fennekin, Xiao Yan stepped in front of his friends, and Sceptile began Leaf Storm on his command.

Xiao Yan defeated Elite Kyoko after Sceptile’s Leaf Storm absorbed her Surf and knocked out Florges, while Pikachu rescued Meng Tingting. Feng arrested Kyoko, then told Xiao Yan he had been promoted to squad leader and gave him Mega Stones for Sceptile before Xiao Yan returned to his friends.

• Sceptile’s Overgrow strengthened Leaf Storm, which swept up the wave and knocked out Kyoko’s Florges.
• Xiao Yan revealed that Pikachu had rescued Meng Tingting, and Feng arrived with Team Flare grunts and arrested Kyoko for her unauthorized accusations and punishment.
• Feng told Xiao Yan that he had summoned him to congratulate him on becoming a squad leader and would tell Team Flare’s higher-ups that the group had acted under his orders.
• Feng gave Xiao Yan a Mega Stone and Key Stone set for Sceptile, and Xiao Yan left to rejoin his waiting friends.

Xiao Yan reunited with his friends and brought them to visit Meng Tingting, who was grieving after learning her adoptive mother had been expelled from Team Flare. Xiao Yan and his friends offered to become her new family, while Team Flare Elites Nord and Lulu watched the visit on a hidden camera.

• Xiao Yan reunited with Xiao Lan, Gary, and Serena, then led them to Meng Tingting’s room in the base’s Medical Center.
• Meng Tingting ignored the visitors until Pikachu alerted Xiao Yan that she was crying, and she revealed that her adoptive mother had been expelled from Team Flare.
• Meng Tingting explained that her adoptive mother had taken her in when she was homeless, and she blamed herself for losing the Squad Leader selection tournament and costing her a promotion.
• Xiao Yan offered to be Meng Tingting’s new family, and Gary, Xiao Lan, and Serena joined him in promising to move forward together.
• Nord and Lulu watched hidden-camera footage of the group’s conversation and then decided to go for a walk together.

Nord discovered that Xiao Yan’s recruit file was almost entirely blank and suspected the higher-ups were hiding something. Meanwhile, Leo and Feng advanced a secret plan involving Xiao Yan, while Xiao Yan’s friends agreed to help him search for Arceus and Ho-Oh.

• Nord examined Xiao Yan’s incomplete file, decided not to report it, and chose to wait and see what the higher-ups were planning.
• Leo watched videos of Xiao Yan and ordered Feng to move to the next stage of their plan.
• Xiao Yan told his friends he was searching for Arceus and Ho-Oh, and they agreed to help him find them.
• Feng revealed to Michelle that he had the original version of Xiao Yan’s file and asked her to train him.
• Michelle agreed to train Xiao Yan after Feng gave her the Mermaid's Tear.

Xiao Yan was ambushed by Michelle and taken with Pikachu to a remote wilderness for special training. After waking and feeding his Pokémon, he tried to scout the area, but Charizard fell asleep, leaving Xiao Yan and Pikachu to continue on foot.

• Serena returned Pikachu's Poké Ball to Xiao Yan, and they blushed after touching hands before she left.
• Michelle attacked Xiao Yan and Pikachu with Butterfree's Sleep Powder, then left them unconscious in a wilderness.
• Xiao Yan woke in the tall grass, checked that his Pokémon and egg were safe, and set out with Pikachu to find food.
• Xiao Yan released his other Pokémon, and Mewtwo eased the burning pain after Xiao Yan ate a spicy Tamato Berry.
• Michelle learned from Noivern which Pokémon Xiao Yan had and decided to test him herself.
• Xiao Yan surveyed the wilderness from Charizard's back, but Charizard fell asleep after landing, so Pikachu stayed awake to accompany him.

Xiao Yan and Pikachu were poisoned and overwhelmed by Drapion and its Skorupi, triggering Pikachu’s devastating red lightning before both collapsed. After Michelle and a hunter helped them, Xiao Yan woke in the hunter’s tent, learned how to reach Snowwind Town, and set off while the hunter prepared to hunt someone.

• Xiao Yan and Pikachu encountered Seviper, and Xiao Yan spared it after Pikachu defeated it with Thunderbolt.
• Drapion and several Skorupi ambushed Xiao Yan, and a poisoned needle struck his hand as Pikachu fought them.
• After Xiao Yan lost consciousness, Pikachu unleashed red lightning that killed Drapion and the Skorupi, then collapsed beside him.
• Michelle gave Xiao Yan an Antidote and checked Pikachu before leaving, and a hunter later found the unconscious pair and carried them to his tent.
• Xiao Yan woke, thanked the hunter, learned that Snowwind Town lay southwest, and set off with Pikachu as the hunter prepared to hunt someone.

Xiao Yan found the hunter fighting a Slaking in the forest and rescued him from the collapsing battlefield. After Slaking knocked out Zebstrika, Xiao Yan sent out Dragonite, which blocked Slaking’s Giga Impact and counterattacked, but Slaking caught its Thunder Punch and struck back.

• Xiao Yan rode Charizard into the forest after hearing a roar and gunfire, where he found the hunter battling Slaking alongside Zebstrika.
• Slaking shattered the ground beneath the hunter and Zebstrika, so Xiao Yan rescued them on Charizard and flew toward the forest’s outskirts.
• The hunter and Zebstrika jumped down to face Slaking, but Slaking knocked Zebstrika out with a single punch.
• Xiao Yan sent out Dragonite, which blocked Slaking’s Giga Impact with Protect and hit it with Thunder Punch.
• Slaking caught Dragonite’s next Thunder Punch, powered itself up with Bulk Up, and attacked Dragonite with Brick Break.

Xiao Yan defeated Slaking and agreed to help the hunter rescue his kidnapped family, then learned his Dragonite might be an Ultra-Ancient Pokémon sealed away for millennia. After following the hunter to a warehouse in Snowwind City, Xiao Yan intervened when the rich man and the Heaven Tiger Gang threatened the hunter and his injured Slaking, but the gang turned their attention to Suicune.

• Xiao Yan ordered Dragonite to use Outrage, and Dragonite defeated Slaking with a Twister and Dragon Pulse without losing control of himself.
• The hunter explained that a rich man had kidnapped his wife and child to force him to capture Slaking, and Xiao Yan agreed to help him.
• While flying to Snowwind Town, the hunter told Xiao Yan that Dragonite might be an Ultra-Ancient Pokémon who had been sealed away.
• Xiao Yan followed the hunter to a warehouse, where the rich man and five Heaven Tiger Gang members held the hunter’s wife and daughter hostage and demanded Slaking.
• Xiao Yan entered the warehouse with Suicune, and the rich man ordered the gang to abandon Slaking and capture Suicune.
• Xiao Yan commanded Suicune to use Extrasensory as the gang’s Rattata and Weedle approached.

Xiao Yan rescued the hunter’s family, took the rich man’s fortune, and used it to help others before having Slaking healed at the Pokémon Center. A map led him to a hidden teleportation device in Snowwind City, and he returned to Team Flare’s base.

• Xiao Yan defeated the Heaven Tiger Gang members and forced the rich man to surrender his fortune, truck, butler, and jewelry.
• Xiao Yan donated the rich man’s money to charity, gave the jewelry and truck to the butler, and asked him to drive to a Pokémon Center.
• Nurse Joy and Wigglytuff healed Slaking, and Xiao Yan sent Suicune to Professor Oak because he had more than six Pokémon.
• A Noivern dropped a map showing the teleportation device’s location, and Xiao Yan followed it to an abandoned train station.
• Xiao Yan found the device in the station’s public restroom, entered the password, and returned to Team Flare’s base.

Xiao Yan returned from wilderness training and was brought to Feng, who arranged a three-on-three battle against Michelle. Xiao Yan defeated Michelle’s Shiny Lopunny with Sceptile, and Slaking overpowered Noivern before Truant left him unable to move.

• Xiao Yan encountered Michelle at Team Flare’s base, and she escorted him to Feng’s office.
• Feng ordered Michelle and Xiao Yan to have a three-on-three battle in the arena.
• Michelle’s Lopunny attacked first, but Xiao Yan’s Sceptile defeated her with Bullet Seed and Leaf Blade.
• Michelle sent out Noivern against Xiao Yan’s Slaking, who caught Noivern’s attacks and struck him with Brick Break.
• Slaking’s Truant activated after the attack, leaving him unable to move as Noivern appeared to have stopped obeying Michelle.

Xiao Yan's Slaking and Noivern knocked each other out, leaving Pikachu to face Michelle's Mega Ampharos. After Pikachu was defeated, red lightning surged from him and created an unusually powerful Electric Terrain, leaving the battle poised for a dramatic turn.

• Slaking broke Noivern's wing with Arm Thrust, but Noivern used Agility to bite him as they fell, and both Pokémon were unable to battle.
• Michelle sent out Ampharos against Xiao Yan's Pikachu and Mega Evolved Ampharos, awakening his Dragon type.
• Pikachu and Mega Ampharos's Electro Balls collided in a powerful explosion that left Pikachu with little stamina while Mega Ampharos remained standing.
• Pikachu used Double Team to evade Mega Ampharos's attacks, then struck him with Dynamic Punch before Mega Ampharos hit Pikachu with Dragon Pulse.
• As Feng began to declare Pikachu unable to battle, red lightning erupted from Pikachu and spread across the field, forming a powerful Electric Terrain.

After defeating Michelle’s Mega Ampharos, Xiao Yan learned he would be transferred to Headquarters and went to a nightclub to unwind. When a hostess tried to drug and exploit him while he was drunk, Serena arrived to rescue him, but the furious hostess prepared to attack.

• Xiao Yan defeated Michelle’s Mega Ampharos with Pikachu, and Feng announced that Xiao Yan would transfer to Headquarters the day after tomorrow.
• Xiao Yan entered a nightclub, where Jessie, James, and Meowth tried to catch Pikachu before the manager sent them back to work.
• Xiao Yan drank a cocktail, watched the nightclub’s performers, and became too drunk to leave safely.
• Ruhua dragged Xiao Yan toward a resting room and tried to force an unidentified pill into his mouth.
• Serena and Fennekin intervened, and Fennekin scratched Ruhua’s face.
• Ruhua revealed her muscular physique and charged at Xiao Yan and Serena in a rage.

Xiao Yan escaped Ruhua with Serena and reunited with his friends, who learned they were all summoned to Team Flare Headquarters. As the group arrived at Headquarters, Lysandre sent Alain to Hoenn, and Alain challenged Xiao Yan to a battle before a girl chased after him.

• Xiao Yan used Sceptile to knock Ruhua unconscious, and Serena explained that she had come looking for him before leading him back to their friends.
• Xiao Lan, Gary, Meng Tingting, Serena, and Xiao Yan reunited, and Meng Tingting revealed that they had all been summoned to Headquarters the day after tomorrow.
• Malva warned Lysandre that Xiao Yan might interfere with Team Flare's plans because he was Arceus's Trainer, but Lysandre refused to remove him from the list and ordered her to bring Alain back.
• Xiao Yan noticed a crack in the blue-marked Pokémon Egg while packing, and Michelle later told Lord Feng that the list had been delivered and that new orders had arrived.
• Lysandre sent Alain to Hoenn to find the legendary Giant Rock, then Xiao Yan and the other transferred Team Flare members arrived at Headquarters.
• Alain challenged Xiao Yan to a battle after noticing his Mega Bracelet, but a girl and her Chespin caught up with Alain and interrupted them.

Xiao Yan and the new recruits entered Team Flare's hidden headquarters, while Alain traveled to Hoenn and battled Champion Steven before Lysandre interrupted. Lysandre revealed his research into Mega Evolution energy and showed Steven an image that startled him.

• Aliana guided Xiao Yan and the other recruits through security to Team Flare's underground headquarters and assigned them room cards.
• Xiao Yan fell asleep after thinking about Alain's challenge, while Alain and Mairin arrived in Hoenn to investigate the Legendary Giant Rock.
• Mairin met Steven at the ruins, and Alain challenged the Hoenn Champion to a battle.
• Alain Mega Evolved Charizard, and Steven Mega Evolved Metagross before Lysandre stopped their fight with Pyroar.
• Lysandre apologized to Steven, explained that his lab studied energy released by Mega Evolution, and showed Steven an image that shocked him.

Steven, Lysandre, and Alain found the Legendary Giant Rock, but their experiments provoked Rayquaza, which destroyed their equipment before the rock vanished. In Rustboro City, Steven and Lysandre discovered that Groudon had appeared and learned of a possible Kyogre sighting, leaving them fearing the two Legendary Pokémon would destroy the world.

• Steven and Lysandre combined clues from their wooden tablets and used their Key Stones to open a rainbow staircase to a floating island.
• Steven and Alain activated two altars, causing the Legendary Giant Rock to rise from beneath the floor.
• Lysandre's researchers tested the rock, provoking Rayquaza to Mega Evolve and attack the group and their equipment.
• A meteor strike triggered by Mega Rayquaza caused the Legendary Giant Rock to vanish, and Lysandre sent Alain with Steven and Mairin to investigate matching energy readings near Rustboro City.
• Steven and Lysandre viewed footage of Groudon creating land and a recording of its Primal Reversion.
• Lysandre's team detected a huge creature near Sootopolis City, and Steven, Lysandre, and Mairin suspected it was Kyogre.

Steven and Lysandre raced to Rustboro City as Primal Groudon and Primal Kyogre fought over the forming Giant Rock, while Xiao Yan and Mewtwo arrived to witness the battle. The legendary Pokémon continued clashing as Alain’s Mega Charizard X was struck down, and an unseen force blasted Kyogre away just before it could consume the Giant Rock’s energy.

• Steven traced Groudon and Kyogre’s routes to the same point and hurried toward Rustboro City as the Giant Rock’s energy intensified.
• Mewtwo sensed the energy calling to him, woke Xiao Yan, and carried him to Rustboro City, where the two saw Groudon and Kyogre fighting over the glowing mass.
• Lysandre told Alain to protect the Giant Rock for Team Flare, and Alain sent Mega Charizard X into the battle.
• Xiao Yan recalled Mewtwo to hide him from Team Flare, then summoned Dragonite and watched the fight from the clouds.
• Groudon and Kyogre traded powerful attacks, while their battle battered the airship and helicopter and repeatedly disrupted Mega Charizard X.
• Kyogre knocked Groudon into the sea and lunged for the Giant Rock, but a tremendous force struck Kyogre away.