Chapter Summaries

Shen Qi advanced through Cerulean Cave after Driver No. 5 crashed, while Wen Jiu’s Toy Car transformed to hold back falling rocks. As Shen Qi pursued Feiyue’s Rainbow Flying Sword, Little Sheep’s brakes began grinding and behaving unpredictably, leaving him in danger at the end of the chapter.

• Driver No. 5 lost control, hit the cave wall, and overturned, while Feiyue dodged the wreck in Rainbow Flying Sword.
• Shen Qi accelerated Little Sheep past the crash as Wen Jiu transformed the Toy Car into a combat mech to block falling rocks.
• The organizers confirmed Driver No. 5 was safe, and he reported that his Brake Disc had failed.
• Shen Qi moved into fifth place and resolved to overtake Feiyue, using Magnet Rise to keep pace through the winding bends.
• Little Sheep’s brakes began grinding and the car veered unexpectedly, and Shen Qi suspected the Racing Brake Pads were too cold.

With Little Sheep’s front brake malfunctioning, Shen Qi used precise energy control and Jet Energy to survive the final corner and finish ahead of Rainbow Flying Sword. The official results placed Little Sheep fourth, securing Shen Qi a top-five finish.

• Shen Qi used an Analysis Card and Love Savings Bank to manage the brake failure and maintain precise control of Little Sheep.
• Shen Qi used Manual ESP to correct Little Sheep’s braking and overtook Rainbow Flying Sword at the final sharp corner.
• When Little Sheep tipped onto two wheels, Shen Qi used Jet Energy to right the car without fouling.
• Shen Qi had Chansey smash the rear windshield and used Jet Energy for extra thrust as Little Sheep raced Rainbow Flying Sword to the finish.
• Officials ruled that Little Sheep finished fourth because its protruding front license plate crossed the line first.

After Shen Qi placed fourth in the Summer Race, he and Archer discovered that the Little Sheep’s brake pads had lost effectiveness because they fell below operating temperature, though the cause remained uncertain. Shen Qi collected his prize money and joined Li Ke and Hinako for a celebratory meal, where the chapter left him caring for Golett.

• Feiyue inspected the Little Sheep after Shen Qi described its brake trouble, then left in a huff when he asked Archer to help.
• Shen Qi, Archer, Dodo, and Flaaffy examined the brakes and found that the pads were intact but had cooled below their operating temperature; Archer noticed pale gray residue on the brake disc.
• Archer and Shen Qi considered whether accumulated Ice-type energy from a Snowscape strategy had cooled the brakes, but they could not confirm the cause.
• Shen Qi received fourth place, 400,000 b, and 20 base points plus 11 technical points, bringing his total to 105 driver points and 780,000 b in savings.
• Shen Qi declined invitations from Archer, Lisia, and the others to meet Li Ke and Hinako, then fed Golett until he was ready to join the other Pokémon at the meal.

Shen Qi told Hinako and Li Ke about Zinnia’s plans to research Hisuian Form Pokémon, and the Pewter Science Museum agreed to send a team to investigate despite the lack of evidence. They prepared to seek permits in Sinnoh, while Shen Qi and his companions waited for Zinnia to rest and report back.

• Shen Qi explained that Zinnia had identified Qwilfish near Lake Valor and Stantler near Lake Acuity as possible candidates for evolving into Hisuian forms.
• Li Ke asked for supporting materials, but Shen Qi said his source could not share them with outsiders.
• Li Ke agreed to lead an advance survey team from the Pewter Science Museum, and Shen Qi accepted the joint research plan.
• Hinako and Li Ke planned to return to the museum, prepare researchers and equipment, and contact Sinnoh’s Ranger Union for approval to study the sacred lakes.
• Shen Qi said they would wait for news from Zinnia, who was resting in Mt. Coronet, and discussed Lilligant’s upcoming T2 Race.

Shen Qi prepared to leave Kanto for a two-month research expedition at Lake Valor and Lake Acuity, returning to Zinnia’s scenario route. Before departing, he arranged to store his vehicles with Lisia in Saffron City and learned she would also be going to Sinnoh for a Pokémon Contest.

• Shen Qi said goodbye to Li Ke and Hinako, then discussed Hinako’s Pokémon with Lilligant.
• Li Ke secured preliminary approval for a two-month research expedition at Lake Valor and Lake Acuity, and Shen Qi decided to join Zinnia in Sinnoh.
• Lilligant and Lopunny accepted Lilligant’s seventh-place finish in the T2 preliminaries and set their sights on trying again in October.
• Shen Qi left his vehicles at Lisia’s Saffron City villa before the trip to Sinnoh.
• Lisia told Shen Qi she planned to travel to Jubilife City for a Pokémon Contest and grew disappointed when she heard his research schedule would keep him busy.

Shen Qi arrived in Sinnoh to join Li Ke’s research expedition to find Qwilfish with traces of an ancient bloodline near Lake Valor. Despite the researchers’ doubts about the expedition, the team set out for the reserve, where the rough journey began to make some members carsick.

• Shen Qi flew from Saffron City to Nohara City and called Zinnia after reaching the Lakefront Hotel.
• Shen Qi met Li Ke, Hinako, and ten researchers at the Seven Stars Restaurant, where the researchers questioned Li Ke’s decision to trust Shen Qi’s unsupported claim.
• Li Ke and Shen Qi agreed to begin the expedition promptly, and the researchers received their assignments.
• The expedition left the Lakefront Hotel the next day in five Off-Road Vehicles and turned onto a rough wilderness trail toward Lake Valor.
• Several researchers became carsick from the bumpy ride, while their colleagues tried to distract them by pointing out wild Girafarig.

Shen Qi and the Pewter Science Museum researchers reached Lake Valor and began surveying it for Qwilfish with the potential to evolve into Overqwil. Shen Qi captured a Qwilfish in a Capture Net and started testing its type energy.

• Shen Qi and the researchers trekked through Lake Valor’s hot, insect-filled forest while recording type energy data.
• After reaching the lake, Shen Qi offered to help Li Ke’s team search for Qwilfish and agreed to work from a kayak.
• Li Ke explained the survey plan, safety precautions, and the expected schedule for testing Lake Valor and Lake Acuity.
• Shen Qi used Pokémon Rations to lure a Qwilfish into a Capture Net, then attached probes to measure its energy chakras.

After weeks of fruitless surveying at Lake Valor, Li Ke joined Shen Qi on a smaller expedition to Lake Acuity, while Zinnia began checking Stantler nearby. Shen Qi spoke with Florges and sensed their relationship was about to change, as Florges continued to wonder why communicating with him felt different from the other Pokémon.

• After two unsuccessful survey cycles at Lake Valor, the researchers suggested that Li Ke and Shen Qi continue to Lake Acuity without the rest of the team, and Li Ke agreed to accompany Shen Qi.
• Li Ke recalled that Shen Qi had supported him when others mocked his flying Skeleton Fossil hypothesis, and said he would stand by Shen Qi in return.
• Shen Qi, Li Ke, and Hinako traveled from Nohara City to Snowpoint City, where Shen Qi explained that Zinnia had received testing equipment and was already surveying Stantler near Lake Acuity.
• The group reached a Ranger Union cabin beside Lake Acuity, and Hinako warmed herself by the fireplace while Shen Qi went outside.
• Shen Qi told Florges that their relationship might soon enter its next stage, while Florges reflected on her delayed replies to him and her humanlike habits.

Shen Qi and Florges grew closer at Lake Acuity, but Officer Jenny interrupted them and took Shen Qi to the Security Bureau. The expedition continued with no findings and morale declining, until Lisia called and asked Shen Qi to take her to Lake Acuity.

• Florges told Shen Qi that she thought he preferred spending time with Pokémon over dating young women, and Shen Qi explained his way of building a close bond with Pokémon.
• Shen Qi and Florges embraced beside Lake Acuity, but Officer Jenny arrived looking for poachers and took Shen Qi away.
• Shen Qi returned the next morning and resumed searching for Stantler with Li Ke and Hinako, while Zinnia’s separate tests also yielded no results.
• The researchers had found no leads at either lake, and Shen Qi worried that the expedition’s lack of progress was wearing down the team’s morale.
• Lisia called Shen Qi from Sinnoh, heard about the research, and asked him to take her to Lake Acuity.

Lisia joined Shen Qi and the others at Lake Acuity, where she detected traces suggesting someone had been watching them. As they tracked the unknown person through the cedar forest, Hinako also reported being followed, and a scream followed by an avalanche erupted nearby.

• Lisia joined Shen Qi's research expedition at Lake Acuity after Li Ke agreed to let her come.
• On her third day, Lisia sensed traces of type energy in the Cedar Forest Area, and Shen Qi found footprints behind a cedar.
• Lisia tracked residual Ice-type energy deeper into the forest while Shen Qi checked in with Li Ke over the Walkie-Talkie.
• Li Ke reported that Hinako had found signs of someone following her, so he turned back to find her while Shen Qi and Lisia continued tracking.
• As evening fell, Shen Qi and Lisia heard a piercing scream, followed by a thunderous rumble that revealed an avalanche.

Shen Qi and Lisia escaped an avalanche but lost their supplies and their way back in the dark. They sheltered in a Secret Base for the night, where Lisia told Shen Qi that Druddigon might have caught a cold.

• Lisia used Abra's Teleport to take Shen Qi and their Pokémon away from the avalanche.
• Shen Qi and Lisia crossed Lake Acuity with Dewott and watched the avalanche bury the Snow Cedar Forest.
• With their supplies buried and the radio broken, Shen Qi relied on Golett and Druddigon to find a suitable place for a Secret Base.
• Lisia's Quagsire and Dodo opened a stone Secret Base, and Shen Qi and Lisia sheltered inside.
• Lisia told Shen Qi that Druddigon was unwell and might have caught a cold.

Shen Qi and Lisia escaped the blizzard with help from Ranger Pokémon, then learned that poachers were likely behind the deliberately triggered avalanche. The Pewter Science Museum researchers decided to end the failed expedition, while Shen Qi noticed Dewott was unwell.

• Shen Qi and Lisia left their shelter and found Ranger Lapras and Delibird, who rescued them and carried them to the Lake Acuity camp.
• Shen Qi told Officer Jenny and the others that suspicious tracks had led him and Lisia into the avalanche, and the group suspected poachers linked to an earlier injured Snorunt.
• Senior researchers scolded Li Ke and warned Shen Qi to stop directing the investigation, while Hinako became tearful.
• The veteran researcher called off the expedition and said Lisia's sick Pokémon needed an examination in Snowpoint City.
• Shen Qi checked on Druddigon and found him recovered, but Dewott remained listless with unstable energy; he went to Lisia's room and heard her call out.

Shen Qi recognized that Dewott’s strange energy fluctuations meant he was evolving into a Hisuian Samurott, and he persuaded Lisia to wait rather than evacuate him from Lake Acuity. After Dewott evolved safely, Shen Qi left the decision about publishing the findings to Lisia.

• Lisia told Shen Qi that Dewott’s condition was worsening and that Dark-type energy was appearing alongside his Water-type energy.
• Shen Qi identified the change as a likely evolution into Hisuian Samurott and warned Lisia that leaving Lake Acuity could endanger Dewott.
• Despite the researchers’ objections, Lisia trusted Shen Qi and decided to wait three minutes before moving Dewott.
• Dewott evolved into a Water- and Dark-type Hisuian Samurott, confirming Shen Qi’s prediction.
• Shen Qi explained that Dewott needed Lake Acuity’s resonance to evolve safely, then told Li Ke that Lisia could decide whether the Pewter Science Museum published the findings.

Shen Qi and Lisia presented the discovery of Hisuian Samurott at a press conference, where Shen Qi also offered information on other Hisui Pokémon in exchange for extracting energy from the Red Orb and Blue Orb. Afterward, he continued his partnership with Li Ke and prepared to take his Pokémon out while Florges’s script neared completion.

• Lisia reassured Samurott that she would not abandon him and entrusted Shen Qi with deciding how to publish the research.
• Shen Qi chose to publish the findings through the Pewter Science Museum and told Li Ke that Samurott had not yet mastered the lost move Ceaseless Edge.
• At a press conference, Li Ke announced the discovery of Hisuian Samurott, and Shen Qi invited reporters to see him at Jubilife City’s September festival.
• Shen Qi offered information about other Hisui Pokémon in exchange for extracting Super-Ancient Energy from the Red Orb and Blue Orb, promising the orbs would be returned.
• Shen Qi told Li Ke to continue researching Overqwil and Wyrdeer, then declined Lisia’s invitation to get barbecue so he could take his Pokémon out and finish Florges’s nearly complete script.

At Lake Acuity, Shen Qi used the rewards from Golett’s completed script to unlock his Rock- and Flying-type potential, which gave him skeletal wings and new possible type combinations. Florges’s script then reached 100%, granting Shen Qi an Ultimate Key Stone, though Florges herself could not use it for Mega Evolution.

• Shen Qi received the fourth-stage rewards for Golett’s “Stone Bone Longing” script, including the Type Potential item.
• Shen Qi used Type Potential on Golett and found that he could activate Rock- and Flying-type energy alongside his Ground and Ghost types.
• Golett’s new Flying typing manifested as skeletal wings, but he could only hop when he tried to fly.
• Shen Qi completed Florges’s script and received rewards that included an Ultimate Key Stone.
• Shen Qi realized the Key Stone could help Lopunny or another Pokémon Mega Evolve, but Florges could not use it.

Shen Qi learned that the Final Key Stone required energy from every type and a large amount of Mental Power, while Florges's fully revealed condition showed how extensively it had trained. After a Pokémon Trainer named Li Shisan brought both Ancient Orbs to Lake Acuity, Shen Qi prepared to meet him with Zinnia.

• Shen Qi discovered that the inactive Final Key Stone could not be used until he entered the Mega Evolution World Line, and he reassured Florges that they would seek a way forward together.
• Shen Qi decided to wait for Zinnia to cross worlds before testing whether he was qualified, while he and Zinnia awaited news about the Red and Blue Orbs.
• Li Ke called Shen Qi and said that Li Shisan, who possessed both orbs, was flying from Pokémon Town to Lake Acuity with a temporary entry permit from Candice.
• Shen Qi told Zinnia that the orb holder was arriving, then saw a young man in a white trench coat standing outside the cabin and calling for someone.

Li Shisan brought the Red and Blue Orbs to Shen Qi, and Zinnia confirmed they were genuine before extracting their super-ancient energy. Shen Qi grew suspicious of Li Shisan’s unusual knowledge, but the group later welcomed him at a feast at Lake Acuity.

• Li Shisan met Shen Qi and presented the Red and Blue Orbs, briefly mistaking a Flame Orb for one of them.
• Zinnia verified the orbs as genuine, and Shen Qi told Li Shisan that she planned to use their energy to save her ancient tribe.
• Li Shisan questioned Shen Qi about unknown Hisui Pokémon and Zinnia’s origins, prompting Shen Qi to suspect he was a knowledgeable Pokémon player.
• Shen Qi and Li Shisan added each other as friends and discovered they both knew Wen Jiu from Pokémon Paradise.
• Li Ke arrived with food, and the group shared a feast with Li Shisan and his Pokémon; Chansey went outside to talk with Shuckle.

Shen Qi prepared to cross into another world with Zinnia, but a Tulip Squad ambush interrupted the preparations at Lake Acuity. After fighting off the attackers and realizing his captured Poké Balls were empty, Shen Qi remained wounded and outnumbered as the enemies pressed the attack.

• Zinnia gave Shen Qi six Strange Balls and told him to accompany her to a place on Mt. Coronet to pray for the Space God's power.
• As Zinnia entered the mountain, a hidden attacker wounded Shen Qi, and the Tulip Squad seized the Luxury Balls he had set aside.
• Shen Qi escaped into the forest with Chansey and used his Pokémon to ambush the attackers, defeating one Trainer and knocking out Sharpedo.
• The Tulip Squad discovered the stolen Poké Balls were empty, while Shen Qi identified them by their petal-shaped weapon and suspected their silence meant something was wrong.

While fleeing the Tulip Squad, Shen Qi empowered Dodo’s Normal-type attacks and fought back, but Chansey’s desire to protect him led her to learn Protect and evolve into Blissey. Blissey charged into the battle, and Shen Qi recalled her as the pursuit continued.

• Shen Qi escaped through Snow Cedar Forest after Lilligant used Protect, while the Tulip Squad pursued him and he noted that two freed Liepard had abandoned their trainer.
• Shen Qi used Type Potential on Dodo, giving him Normal + Normal typing and strengthening his Tri Attack.
• Shen Qi and Dodo ambushed the pursuing Liepard, knocking out two; a Tulip Squad member unmasked as Cai Xia.
• Chansey remembered Shuckle’s advice about protecting what mattered and learned Protect as she shielded Shen Qi from concealed weapons.
• Chansey evolved into Blissey, charged toward Houndoom behind Protect, and raised Brick Break before Shen Qi recalled her.

Shen Qi escaped the Tulip Squad’s attack and reached Zinnia at the Spacetime Rift, where he learned that she could not return without losing the power needed for their crossing. As the passage stabilized, Zinnia explained that Shen Qi might arrive in a different place—or at the location where his counterpart had died—in the Mega Evolution World Line.

• The Tulip Squad’s explosives blasted Shen Qi through the snow, but he recalled his Pokémon and followed the Strange Balls toward Zinnia using [Jet Energy].
• Shen Qi suspected Hinako was a Tulip Squad member who had helped control the Pewter Science Museum and realized Li Shisan was in grave danger from Domino’s group.
• Shen Qi reached Zinnia beside the Spacetime Rift and told her about the Tulip Squad’s attack, but she refused to abandon their crossing because doing so would exhaust the crystal’s divine power.
• Zinnia warned Shen Qi that returning to help might be too late to save Li Shisan, and Shen Qi accepted that he would have to become stronger and avenge him later.
• Zinnia explained that Shen Qi might encounter another version of himself in the Mega Evolution World Line, be sent somewhere else, or arrive where his counterpart had died; Shen Qi agreed to protect his Pokémon and proceed.