Chapter Summaries

Chu Xin and Bai Le traveled to the South Sea so Chu Xin could help Bai Le attempt a trial and win a Heracross Mega Evolution Stone. As they approached the island by speedboat, Chu Xin spotted Tentacool ahead, leaving their route blocked by the dangerous Pokémon.

• Chu Xin studied Bai Le’s Calm Mind manual and learned it was twice as efficient as Jindu Academy’s version.
• Chu Xin reassured Bai Le that his core Pokémon, Xiao Wu, Kaka, and Electrike, would help him pass the trial.
• Chu Xin and Bai Le arrived at a South Sea port and rented a speedboat to reach the island.
• Bai Le warned Chu Xin to watch for Tentacool and Tentacruel territory along their route.
• Chu Xin spotted two red shapes above the water, and Bai Le identified them as Tentacool.

Chu Xin and Bai Le were chased by a swarm of Tentacruel after they entered its territory, and their exhausted Pokémon could no longer keep them airborne. A Kingdra rescued them from the sea and carried them to a nearby island, where they survived.

• Tentacruel surrounded Chu Xin and Bai Le's speedboat, forcing them to escape into the air on Xiao Wu and Scyther.
• Tentacruel pursued the pair for over an hour and attacked them with poisonous barbs as their flying Pokémon grew exhausted.
• Chu Xin had Xiao Wu carry Bai Le and Scyther, then fed Xiao Wu Pokéblocks while Bai Le recalled Scyther.
• Xiao Wu eventually ran out of stamina and plunged into the sea, leaving Chu Xin and Bai Le surrounded by Tentacruel.
• A Kingdra rescued Chu Xin and Bai Le, drove off the Tentacruel, and brought them to the nearest island.

After Kingdra saved Chu Xin and Bai Le from the Tentacruel, Chu Xin suspected someone was secretly watching over them. The pair found the island’s Secret Realm, while Tao Lu and Ai Xing monitored them from nearby and Chu Xin prepared to help Bai Le complete the Trial.

• Kingdra rescued Chu Xin and Bai Le, and Chu Xin suspected it belonged to a hidden observer rather than being wild.
• Ai Xing recalled Kingdra after confirming Chu Xin and Bai Le were safe, while Tao Lu explained that the island held a natural Secret Realm and that the Tentacruel population had grown dangerously large.
• Ai Xing spotted Chu Xin and Bai Le heading inland after noticing something unusual, and Tao Lu and Ai Xing traveled to the island to watch them from a Surveillance Room.
• Chu Xin and Bai Le found the cave leading into the Secret Realm containing Heracross’s Mega Evolution Stone.
• Chu Xin suspected Bai Le’s Elite Four mentor had arranged the rescue and the Trial, but decided to enter the Secret Realm with Bai Le because he had accepted Bai Le’s payment.

Bai Le and Chu Xin entered the secret realm and found it filled with unusually powerful, berserk Pokémon that attacked like monsters. After holding off the creatures for half an hour, their Pokémon grew exhausted, so the two withdrew to rest, leaving the Trial unfinished.

• Bai Le and Chu Xin rested outside the secret realm, then entered with Scyther, Xiao Wu, Kaka, and Electrike.
• Chu Xin was shocked when a Rattata attacked them with Shadow Ball, and Bai Le urged him to organize their defenses.
• Bai Le and Chu Xin held the entrance against a vast horde of berserk Pokémon and noticed that the creatures knew unusual moves and included natural enemies living together.
• Chu Xin ordered their Pokémon to fight without holding back because he feared the monsters might escape the secret realm.
• After half an hour of fighting, Bai Le and Chu Xin withdrew with their exhausted Pokémon, and the monsters swarmed the now-empty entrance.
• Ai Xing watched the battle from the island's monitoring room.

Chu Xin and Bai Le reentered the Secret Realm to investigate its unusually large number of frenzied Pokémon, but Tao Lu triggered an alarm that drove the horde after them. They escaped on Xiao Wu as the Pokémon poured out and destroyed their camp, leaving the Trial more dangerous than before.

• Chu Xin proposed returning to the Secret Realm with Bai Le to test his theory, and Bai Le agreed despite the danger.
• Chu Xin and Bai Le quietly entered the Secret Realm while Luo Luo scanned its interior.
• Tao Lu triggered a piercing screech in the Secret Realm, alerting the Pokémon to Chu Xin and Bai Le.
• Chu Xin summoned Xiao Wu and flew away with Bai Le as the frenzied Pokémon chased them out and swept away their camp.
• Ai Xing questioned Tao Lu about the danger she had caused, and Tao Lu said it was exactly what she wanted.

After escaping the Secret Realm’s frenzied Pokémon, Chu Xin explained his theory that their numbers were not being replenished and that the first Trial could be passed by gradually defeating them. The two planned to rest and return the next day, while Chu Xin privately suspected Bai Le’s Master had caused the shriek that alerted the Pokémon.

• Tao Lu watched footage of Chu Xin and Bai Le fleeing the Pokémon, while Ai Xing suspected Tao Lu had arranged the obstacles to torment them.
• Xiao Wu carried Chu Xin and Bai Le to safety after their long escape, then returned to its Poké Ball, exhausted and sulking.
• Chu Xin and Bai Le moved their camp farther from the Secret Realm and prepared for the night.
• Chu Xin told Bai Le that most of the Secret Realm’s frenzied Pokémon were weak and proposed comparing their numbers before and after another attack to test whether they could be gradually eliminated.
• Chu Xin and Bai Le decided to rest and reenter the Secret Realm the next day, while Chu Xin suspected Bai Le’s Master had caused the shriek that drew the Pokémon to them.

Chu Xin and Bai Le fought the frenzied Pokémon in the Secret Realm and confirmed their numbers were decreasing, giving them hope of completing the Trial for Heracross's Mega Evolution Stone. After they resumed the task, Tao Lu overheard Chu Xin complaining about the Calm Mind Manual and decided the pair needed a lesson.

• Chu Xin and Bai Le found their camp destroyed, then entered the Secret Realm and battled its frenzied Pokémon.
• After more than an hour of fighting, Chu Xin and Bai Le withdrew when their Pokémon began to tire, and the frenzied Pokémon did not pursue them.
• Luo Luo compared its scans and found that Pokémon density in the Secret Realm was decreasing, suggesting Chu Xin and Bai Le could eventually clear it.
• Chu Xin complained about the Trial and the Calm Mind Manual, but Bai Le insisted he finish the task with her.
• Tao Lu heard their conversation in the Surveillance Room and told Ai Xing that the pair needed to learn a lesson through hard work.

Bai Le and Chu Xin nearly cleared the frenzied Pokémon from the Secret Realm, leaving only eighteen percent as their exhausting Trial approached its end. As they discussed Jindu Academy’s Rotom research and plans to sell Rotom, Chu Xin wondered why Bai Le’s Master had not interfered with the Trial.

• Luo Luo reported that Bai Le and Chu Xin had cleared out one percent of the frenzied Pokémon, leaving eighteen percent in the Secret Realm.
• Chu Xin returned to camp to prepare lunch while Bai Le studied Luo Luo’s scouting data and said he wanted to buy a Rotom.
• Chu Xin explained that Jindu Academy had shared its Rotom-raising technology with the government and joined a government-led research organization based on campus.
• Bai Le showed little interest in the research details and continued examining the results with Luo Luo.
• Chu Xin suspected Bai Le’s Master was controlling the Trial and wondered whether he had misjudged the Master’s intentions after no one intervened.

Chu Xin and Bai Le cleared Pokémon from the Secret Realm while Tao Lu prepared further obstacles for their Trial. Just as they neared their goal, an enormous Steelix ambushed them, leaving the pair facing a powerful new threat.

• Chu Xin and Bai Le resumed clearing Pokémon from the Secret Realm and continued their efforts for two days.
• Tao Lu told Ai Xing that the Trial had more obstacles prepared, and that someone would soon appear.
• Chu Xin and Bai Le eliminated more Pokémon until the cave shook and rocks began falling from the ceiling.
• Chu Xin spotted a fin-shaped Pokémon charging through the ground and warned Bai Le, and they dodged its attack.
• An enormous, red-eyed Steelix burst from the ground before Chu Xin and Bai Le.

Chu Xin and Bai Le encountered a formidable Steelix in the Secret Realm, prompting an extensive assessment of its strengths, weaknesses, movesets, and counters. The chapter left Steelix as a durable but manageable opponent, especially for bulky Water-types, Ground-type walls, and powerful special attackers.

• Chu Xin and Bai Le came face to face with a large Steelix in the Secret Realm.
• The narrator examined Steelix's stats, typing, abilities, and potential roles, highlighting its exceptional physical bulk and limited offensive pressure.
• The narrator outlined Steelix's movesets, including Assault Vest attacks, hazard-setting, Toxic and Protect, Dragon Tail, and Curse with Rest.
• The narrator described Steelix's uses in Double Battles as a Trick Room attacker with Sheer Force and spread attacks.
• The narrator identified bulky Water-types, Taunt users, Ground-type walls such as Donphan, and Grass-types such as Shaymin as effective answers to Steelix.

Chu Xin and Bai Le tried to escape Steelix after its Curse left their Pokémon exhausted, but Steelix pursued them outside the Secret Realm. Chu Xin stayed behind and coordinated a counterattack that knocked Steelix unconscious.

• Steelix attacked Bai Le and Chu Xin, then used Curse to exhaust Scyther and Xiao Wu as they tried to flee.
• Steelix chased the pair out of the Secret Realm, and Chu Xin told Bai Le to escape while he held it off.
• Chu Xin faced Steelix with Xiao Wu, Kaka, and Electrike despite their exhaustion.
• Chu Xin used Dynamax Energy to dispel Xiao Wu's weakness, then ordered Xiao Wu to strike Steelix with Outrage-powered Fire Blast.
• Electrike hit Steelix with Wild Charge, and Kaka used Burst Aura Third Stage and Brick Break to knock it unconscious.

Chu Xin and his Pokémon defeated Steelix, but the exhausted group fled when it began to recover. Tao Lu then sent Mega Scizor into the Secret Realm to make Bai Le’s Trial harder, though she promised Ai Xing she would stop pursuing Chu Xin afterward.

• Kaka knocked Steelix unconscious with a powerful Brick Break, but he and Chu Xin’s other Pokémon were badly exhausted.
• Steelix began moving again, so Chu Xin recalled Kaka and Electrike, fed Xiao Wu Pokéblocks, and escaped with it.
• After Chu Xin left, Mega Scizor defeated the awakened Steelix, and Tao Lu and Ai Xing emerged from the woods.
• Ai Xing recognized that Chu Xin had become strong, while Tao Lu complained that he had secretly learned from her Calm Mind Manual.
• Tao Lu decided to add Mega Scizor to the Trial and promised Ai Xing she would not pursue the matter with Chu Xin once the Trial ended.

After recovering from their first battle with Steelix, Chu Xin and Bai Le returned to the Secret Realm with a plan to separate Steelix from the other frenzied Pokémon. Chu Xin led Steelix away while Bai Le and Scyther held the entrance, and Chu Xin prepared to fight Steelix again.

• Chu Xin returned to camp with his injured Pokémon after Xiao Wu dragged him to safety, and he told Bai Le that Steelix’s recovery had kept him from finishing it off.
• Chu Xin and Bai Le rested overnight, unaware that someone was watching them from the woods.
• The next day, Chu Xin planned to lure Steelix out while Bai Le and Scyther blocked the Secret Realm entrance.
• Steelix charged at Chu Xin as soon as he entered, and a mass of frenzied Pokémon surged after them while a red Pokémon watched from deep inside the Secret Realm.
• Bai Le and Scyther fought off the Pokémon at the entrance as Chu Xin led Steelix away and prepared to finish it.

Chu Xin lured the frenzied Steelix to a grassy battlefield and led Xiao Wu, Electrike, and Kaka in a coordinated fight. After Steelix fell unconscious, Xiao Wu finished it off, leaving Chu Xin to prepare for whatever trials might come next.

• Chu Xin rode Xiao Wu through the forest with Steelix pursuing them, while Bai Le kept other frenzied Pokémon from reaching the battlefield.
• Chu Xin stopped on a grassy plain and sent Xiao Wu, Electrike, and Kaka to fight Steelix.
• Xiao Wu struck Steelix with Fire Blast, then dodged most of its Dragon Breath as Chu Xin avoided using his energy-consuming trump card.
• Electrike lowered Steelix's defense with Leer, and Kaka hit it with a critical Rock Smash before Steelix unleashed Quicksand Inferno.
• Xiao Wu used Hurricane to clear the sandstorm, allowing Electrike and Kaka to attack Steelix again and knock it unconscious.
• Xiao Wu finished off Steelix with Fire Punch.

Chu Xin and Bai Le cleared the remaining frenzied Pokémon and found a cave leading toward the Heracross Mega Evolution Stone. As they ventured deeper, Ai Xing and Tao Lu revealed that Bai Le’s Trial had been made much harder, with Tao Lu’s Scizor now guarding the stone.

• Chu Xin gave Bai Le rare Pokéblocks, and Bai Le praised how quickly Chu Xin had defeated Steelix.
• Bai Le and Chu Xin entered the Secret Realm, cleared the remaining Pokémon, and found a passage deeper inside after half an hour of searching.
• Chu Xin sent Electrike ahead to light and scout the cave as he and Bai Le began exploring it.
• Ai Xing explained that Steelix had once been the final guardian, but Tao Lu changed the Trial after Bai Le brought Chu Xin as reinforcement.
• Tao Lu said she wanted Bai Le to understand that a Trainer should rely on the strength of their Pokémon, not an external power like a Mega Evolution Stone.

Bai Le and Chu Xin reached a crystal cavern and found the Heracross Mega Evolution Stone, only to be attacked by a Mega Scizor guarding it. Their Pokémon faced the Scizor, which swiftly knocked out Xiao Wu, Kaka, and Electrike, leaving Bai Le's Scyther as the last one standing.

• Bai Le and Chu Xin trekked through the long cave and spotted a blue glow at its end.
• Bai Le and Chu Xin entered a cavern lined with blue crystals and discovered the Heracross Mega Evolution Stone encased in a clear crystal.
• Mega Scizor attacked when Bai Le reached for the crystal, and Chu Xin warned him while Electrike used Thunder Shock.
• Chu Xin summoned his Pokémon and Bai Le sent out Scyther to face Mega Scizor.
• Mega Scizor overwhelmed the group with its speed and knocked out Xiao Wu, Kaka, and Electrike, leaving Scyther alone against it.

Scizor defeated Chu Xin’s Pokémon in seconds while guarding the Heracross Mega Evolution Stone, forcing Chu Xin and Bai Le to retreat. Back at camp, Bai Le proposed giving up the Trial, but Chu Xin refused and searched for another way to succeed.

• Mega Scizor quickly knocked out Chu Xin’s Pokémon, then stood between Chu Xin and Bai Le and the way forward.
• Chu Xin noticed that Scizor remained rational, and he and Bai Le left the cave rather than confront him.
• Chu Xin and Bai Le returned to camp, where Chu Xin confirmed that their Pokémon had recovered without serious injuries.
• Chu Xin concluded that Scizor was likely the main Pokémon of Bai Le’s Titled Elite Four master and far beyond their strength.
• Bai Le suggested that they admit defeat in the Trial, but Chu Xin insisted that he would keep thinking of a way to pass.

Bai Le regained his confidence, and he and Chu Xin used Luo Luo’s simulations to consider ways to defeat the powerful Mega Scizor guarding the Heracross Mega Evolution Stone. They rejected a cave-collapse plan and favored flooding the cave, while recognizing that victory would still depend on adapting during battle.

• Bai Le and Chu Xin asked Luo Luo to evaluate their tactics, but none had a success rate above 8%.
• Luo Luo analyzed a plan to collapse the cave with Earthquake and trap Mega Scizor inside, but Bai Le and Chu Xin rejected it as too risky and impractical.
• Luo Luo assessed a plan to flood the cave, which had a 7% success rate because Mega Scizor could still escape.
• Chu Xin proposed using Dynamax Xiao Wu to flood the cave, letting Electrike attack through the water and Xiao Wu potentially freeze the battlefield.
• Bai Le marveled at Bug-type Pokémon’s strength, and Chu Xin encouraged him to train Scyther while joking that Scyther would not defeat all his Pokémon in one hit.

Chu Xin and Bai Le put their flooding plan into action against Mega Scizor, while Tao Lu and Ai Xing discussed the Trial’s purpose and Chu Xin’s potential. Xiao Wu’s first Max Geyser flooded the Secret Realm and sent water rushing into the cave where Mega Scizor guarded the Heracross Mega Evolution Stone.

• Chu Xin and Bai Le chose to flood the area to counter Mega Scizor, then studied the cave and prepared their positions.
• Tao Lu explained that the Trial was meant to strengthen Bai Le’s will, and Ai Xing suggested Chu Xin might become a Champion.
• The next day, Chu Xin and Bai Le returned to the cave entrance with their Pokémon and put their plan into action.
• Chu Xin used Dynamax Energy to enlarge Xiao Wu, who brought on torrential rain with Rain Dance.
• Xiao Wu used Max Geyser to flood the Secret Realm, sending water surging into the cave while Bai Le’s Scyther carried them to safety on a prepared platform.

Chu Xin and Bai Le coordinated Xiao Wu, Kaka, Electrike, and Scyther’s attacks to knock Mega Scizor into the lake. In the Surveillance Room, Tao Lu refused to end the test, and Mega Scizor rose again to unleash its full power.

• Mega Scizor burst from the water and attacked Xiao Wu, but Kaka blocked its Bullet Punches before being sent flying by a Whip Kick.
• Xiao Wu struck Mega Scizor with Max Flare, filling the cave with steam and turning the flooded area into a sunny battlefield.
• Mega Scizor emerged through the steam with its power increased and attacked Xiao Wu, but Electrike paralyzed it with a charged Electro Ball.
• Scyther used its strengthened Brick Break to hit Mega Scizor and send it plunging into the lake.
• Ai Xing praised Chu Xin and Bai Le’s teamwork, but Tao Lu said she wanted to see them cornered, then ordered Mega Scizor to unleash its full power.
• Mega Scizor rose from the lake as a powerful current swept across it and began gathering power.