Chapter Summaries

The Johto League Silver Conference finals began with Gary facing Dushe in a full-stadium battle. Their opening exchange ended in a draw after both used sound attacks and recalled their confused Pokémon, leaving the match poised to continue.

• Lance presented the North Wind's Orb as the prize for the Johto League champion and worried about matching the reward Gary had received in Kanto.
• Gary and Dushe entered the stadium to cheers, then reviewed each other's teams and exchanged greetings before the finals began.
• Dushe sent out Skarmory while Gary chose Aerodactyl, and both held back from switching despite their Pokémon's differing strengths.
• Dushe used Metal Sound to lower Aerodactyl's Special Defense, and Gary answered with Supersonic, confusing Skarmory.
• Dushe and Gary both recalled their Pokémon to clear their status effects and reset their stats, while the referee fainted from the sound waves.

Gary broke the stalemate in the Silver Conference finals by defeating Dushe’s Meganium, Skarmory, and Weavile with a swift, aggressive strategy. After Dushe sent out Rapidash, Gary used Baton Pass to bring Desert Tyrant Tyranitar onto the field, leaving Dushe believing his chances of victory were gone.

• Gary’s Weavile defeated Dushe’s Meganium with Ice Iaido Slash and Night Slash.
• Gary switched to Gliscor, which used Sandstorm to conceal repeated Swords Dances before pinning and defeating Dushe’s Skarmory with Fire Fang.
• Gary’s Gliscor evaded Dushe’s Weavile’s Ice Beam and knocked it out with Super Tackle.
• Dushe sent out Rapidash, and Gary used Baton Pass to bring Desert Tyrant Tyranitar onto the field.

Gary defeated Dushe to win the Johto League and secure his second consecutive championship. After receiving his honors, Gary gave Xiaohui the Northwind Orb to help her village, while Ash and Ritchie vowed to beat him someday.

• Tyranitar knocked out Dushe's Sudowoodo, and Dushe surrendered by throwing an empty Poké Ball.
• Gary was declared the Johto League champion, and the crowd celebrated his second consecutive championship.
• Gary shared the podium with his Pokémon and Master Hitmonlee as Ash and Ritchie watched and promised to beat him next time.
• Lance gave Gary his certificate and the Northwind Orb, which Gary passed to Xiaohui to improve her village's living conditions.
• Xiaohui gratefully accepted the orb, while spectators misinterpreted Gary's charitable gift as an attempt to court her.

After the Johto League ended, Gary traveled back to Pallet Town with Ash and Caitlin, then returned to Professor Oak's Laboratory to rest. While Gary slept, Principal Monet arrived with a one-year teaching appointment, and Gary dreamed of adventures involving the land, the sea, the Millennium Comet, the Throne of the Sky, and visitors from outer space.

• Gary received 3,000 CG Points, Master-level contest performance, an Exp. Share, a Reaper Cloth, and a Prism Scale as Johto League rewards.
• Gary, Caitlin, Ash, Brock, and Misty drove from Mt. Silver to Viridian City, where Brock and Misty parted ways with Ash.
• Gary drove Ash home to Pallet Town, then returned with Caitlin to Professor Oak's Laboratory, where Professor Oak and Tracey welcomed them.
• Caitlin fell asleep in her guest room, and Gary released his Pokémon into the backyard before dozing off with Eevee-chan.
• Principal Monet visited Professor Oak with Scott and presented a one-year teaching appointment for Gary, while Gary dreamed of distant adventures.

After winning the Johto League, Gary celebrated with his friends and learned he needed to teach or train research assistants before establishing his own institute. He agreed to promote Scott’s Battle Frontier after his upcoming Galar charity tournament, while Principal Monet assigned him to teach at Rustboro Academy and compete in an interschool tournament.

• Gary woke to find his Pokémon still resting, then joined Scott, Principal Monet, Professor Oak, and the others for a celebratory dinner.
• Principal Monet appointed Gary as a doctoral supervisor and explained the teaching or research-assistant requirements for becoming a Pokémon League professor.
• Scott asked Gary to promote his club and battle at the Battle Frontier; Gary agreed to battle after representing Kanto at a charity tournament in Galar.
• Principal Monet assigned Gary to teach at Rustboro Academy for a year, recruit students, and lead a team in the interschool Exchange Tournament, where he would also need to raise three locally caught Pokémon.
• Scott offered to arrange a battle between Gary and Pyramid King Brandon in Oldale Town, and Gary agreed to contact him after settling in Hoenn.

Gary and Caitlin traveled to Galar for the Charity Peak Tournament while Leon defended his Champion title against Bea. After defeating her, Leon learned that Bea’s master was Gary Oak and looked forward to meeting him.

• Gary prepared for the Charity Peak Tournament, whose confirmed competitors were Gary, Steven, Cynthia, and Leon, while Caitlin and Diantha withdrew from the matches.
• Gary and Caitlin boarded the Rose Chamber of Commerce’s private plane and headed to Galar, where Gary watched videos of Leon’s battles.
• During Leon’s Champion Challenge, Rose met a young hospital patient named Jon, who hoped to become Champion like Leon, and accepted his letter for Leon.
• Leon’s Charizard defeated Bea’s Machamp, and Bea explained that her master was Gary Oak.
• Leon invited Bea to welcome Gary with him that afternoon, eager to meet Bea’s master.

Gary arrived in Wyndon with Caitlin for the Charity Peak Tournament, where online arguments questioned whether he belonged among the top Champions. After checking into the Wreath Crown Hotel, he discovered that several tournament guests and friends were staying on the same floor and joined Caitlin and Elesa for games.

• Leon, Sonia, and Oleana welcomed Gary, Caitlin, and Bea at the Wyndon airport.
• Fans photographed Gary and Leon together, sparking online debate about whether Gary was strong enough to compete with the top Champions.
• Gary posted a brief message instead of arguing with his critics, and Leon praised his restraint to Sonia.
• Oleana brought Gary and Caitlin to the Wreath Crown Hotel, where Gary settled into a Champion Suite with two bedrooms.
• Caitlin introduced Gary to Elesa, Bea brought Sonia, and Gary realized that other tournament guests were staying on the same floor.
• Caitlin pulled Elesa into Gary's room to play a game, saying Elesa's skill would keep them from dying right after landing.

Gary Oak, known as Young Master Mao, took Sonia, Valerie, and Elesa to dinner after rejecting Chairman Rose’s invitation, while Rose chose not to retaliate and revealed that he viewed Gary as powerful capital. Oleana then delivered a Charity Summit Night invitation to the sick child Jon, who hoped to see Leon battle.

• Young Master Mao declined Rose’s invitation and invited Sonia, Valerie, and Elesa to join him for Galar Battle Curry, while paparazzi followed them.
• Elesa and Valerie explained how Galar’s battle-focused economy and Rose’s priorities marginalized fashion and other industries.
• Young Master Mao confronted Rose’s paparazzi, then went to dinner with the three women after Sonia and Elesa took his arms.
• Oleana asked Rose whether to use the media against Gary, but Rose told her to leave him alone because Gary’s Rotom Phone and Silph Co. ties made him powerful capital.
• Rose sent Oleana to check on his plan to obtain unlimited energy and looked at a photograph of himself with Leon.
• Oleana gave Jon, a child in Wyndon Children’s Hospital, an invitation to Charity Summit Night, and he eagerly hoped to watch Leon battle.

Gary rescued Jon from three delinquents who tried to steal his invitation to the Night of Champions, then encouraged him to keep dreaming of becoming a Pokémon Trainer. Gary invited Jon to watch Leon battle Cynthia at Wyndon Stadium, and Jon promised to cheer for Gary if he ever challenged Leon.

• Gary left the fashion show with Eevee and Celebi to head for Wyndon Stadium and watch Leon battle Cynthia.
• Jon traveled alone to the stadium, got lost, and was cornered by three delinquents who tried to take his invitation.
• When Jon refused to give up his dream of becoming a Trainer like Leon, Celebi rescued him by opening a Space-Time Rift that frightened the delinquents away.
• Gary comforted Jon, introduced Celebi, and told him that he had the talent to become an excellent Pokémon Trainer.
• Gary invited Jon to the tournament, and Jon promised to cheer for Gary if he challenged Leon someday.

Gary watched Leon and Cynthia battle in Wyndon Stadium, then anticipated facing Raihan and possibly Leon himself. The match ended with Leon defeating Cynthia, while Gary resolved to take his own upcoming battles seriously.

• Gary confronted Raihan in the VIP seats, and Oleana intervened to remind Raihan that Gary was Chairman Rose’s honored guest.
• Gary told Jon that he could face Leon if he won his match the next day, and Bea joined them with donuts before the battle began.
• Leon and Cynthia sent out Charizard and Garchomp, which exchanged powerful attacks without either gaining a decisive advantage.
• Leon and Cynthia withdrew their aces, then their Aegislash and Spiritomb knocked each other out.
• Leon’s Cinderace narrowly defeated Cynthia’s Lucario, giving Leon victory.
• Gary reflected that Leon and Cynthia had held back and looked forward to testing himself against Raihan before using his Dynamax Band.

Young Master Mao challenged Raihan to a private battle at Wyndon Stadium, where Eevee-chan fought Duraludon with powerful attacks. Eevee-chan defeated Raihan’s Gigantamax Duraludon with Extreme Evoboost, and Young Master Mao carried the injured Pokémon away.

• After the stadium emptied, Young Master Mao met Raihan on the battlefield for a one-on-one match.
• Eevee-chan used Umbreon mode and Flaming Return to knock Duraludon down, though the impact hurt Eevee-chan too.
• Raihan Dynamaxed Duraludon and attacked with G-Max Depletion as Young Master Mao prepared a Z-Move.
• Young Master Mao used Eevee-chan’s Sylveon mode and Extreme Evoboost to clash with the attack and defeat Duraludon.
• Raihan conceded defeat, and Young Master Mao picked up the wounded Eevee-chan and left.

Gary arranged for Jon, a boy with muscle weakness who dreamed of battling Leon, to take his place against Steven at Charity Summit Night. After the plan drew widespread support, Gary brought Jon into the stadium and helped him face the crowd.

• Gary persuaded Rose to let Jon battle Steven in his place, giving Jon a chance to challenge Leon in the final.
• Gary visited Jon at the hospital and found him pushing himself through exhausting rehabilitation exercises.
• Gary invited Jon to battle Leon, then called Steven to discuss the match.
• Rose publicized Gary and Jon's story, and supporters praised the plan as Charity Summit Night surged in popularity.
• Gary brought Jon onto the field, draped his Champion's Cloak over him, and asked what he would do if his path had no turning back; Jon shouted that he would keep going.

Jon battled Steven with Gary’s Charizard and managed to take Aggron down with him, though Charizard lost after Steven exploited Metal Sound and Thunder. Gary then stepped in as the substitute, and the exhibition match continued.

• Leon arrived and headed to the Overlooking Box, disappointing Jon, who had hoped to ask for an autograph.
• Gary sent Jon onto the field with Charizard, then let him command the Pokémon against Steven’s Aggron.
• Jon used Leon’s airborne tactics and Charizard’s fire attacks to damage Aggron, but Steven trapped Charizard and struck with Thunder.
• Jon’s point-blank Overheat and Steven’s Thunder left both Pokémon down, but Aggron rose first and was declared the winner.
• Gary reassured Jon, pointed out his mistake in overlooking Metal Sound’s effect, and offered to continue the match as the substitute.

Gary and Jon defeated Steven in their tournament match after Gary’s Moltres overwhelmed Skarmory and Golduck outmaneuvered Steven’s Metagross. Their win earned them a chance to face Leon, while Steven looked forward to battling Gary again for real.

• Steven sent out Skarmory, and Gary revealed Moltres, whose Heat Wave quickly knocked Skarmory out.
• Steven brought out his former ace Metagross, and Gary recalled Moltres and sent in Golduck.
• Metagross’s Take Down and Hyper Beam were stopped by Golduck’s Psychic and Light Screen.
• Golduck trapped Metagross in a psychic spatial barrier and defeated it with Future Sight.
• Jon celebrated Gary and his victory, securing them a match with Leon, while Steven said he expected to battle Gary again.

Young Master Mao celebrated Jon’s chance to face Leon, then learned that Chairman Rose had brought Xiaohui’s sick community to Galar for treatment and seats at Charity Pinnacle Night. Moved by their support and thinking of the system’s first-place reward, he resolved to give his best in the final match with Lugia.

• Young Master Mao declined media interviews and asked Chairman Rose to arrange medical care for Jon, who excitedly recalled battling alongside Charizard.
• Young Master Mao, Caitlin, and Bea feasted at a roadside stall, where the owner treated them to dinner and Young Master Mao secretly left money behind.
• Young Master Mao took Bea home and teleported away with Caitlin before spending the night gaming and sleeping in the next morning.
• Oleana brought Young Master Mao to meet Xiaohui and her sick community, whom Chairman Rose had flown to Galar for treatment and seats at Charity Pinnacle Night.
• Young Master Mao promised the patients he would win and decided to showcase Lugia in the final, hoping to earn the system’s illness-curing aura.

Gary prepared Jon to battle Leon in the charity event’s featured match, encouraging him to fight for his dream rather than serve as a mascot. Leon arrived just before the match, and the chapter ended as the referee began the battle with Gary, Jon, and Leon ready on the field.

• Gary told Jon he would wear Leon down so Jon could face him in the final match, and Raihan, Xiaohui, Caitlin, and Cynthia encouraged the boy.
• Leon got lost on his way to the stadium, leaving Steven and Wallace to consider taking his place, but he arrived before the match began.
• Leon entered the stadium, followed by Gary and Jon, as the crowd cheered for the charity event’s special battle.
• Jon declared that he would become an outstanding Trainer like Gary and Leon, then pointed skyward and announced, “We are the Champions!”
• Gary and Leon faced each other, said “Let’s battle!”, and the referee officially started the match.

Gary faced Leon in an exhibition battle, using Eevee’s different modes and Mega Evolution to defeat Haxorus before sending out Mega Charizard X against Dragapult. As Dragapult pressed its attack, Gary began invoking a Z-Move, leaving the second round underway.

• Gary sent out Eevee in Sylveon mode, and its combined defensive screens reflected Haxorus’s Hyper Beam back at it.
• Eevee switched to Vaporeon mode to attack Haxorus with Hydro Pump, then changed to Sylveon mode and hurled it with Slam before finishing it with Moonblast.
• Leon sent out Dragapult, and Gary recalled Eevee and sent out Charizard, which Mega Evolved into Mega Charizard X.
• Charizard charged through Dragapult’s Dragon Darts and Thunderbolt, then struck it with Dragon Claw and Brick Break, but Dragapult countered with Dragon Pulse and knocked Charizard to the ground.
• Leon ordered Dragapult to use Dragon Rush, while Gary raised his hands and called on Jon to watch their full strength.

Gary and Leon staged a Champion Time battle so Jon could win the Night of the Pinnacle trophy, but Jon surprised them by having Lugia strike Charizard with Brave Bird. Afterward, Gary used Lugia’s healing aura to cure the gathered spectators, leaving Lugia celebrated as a merciful god across Galar.

• Gary’s Charizard and Leon’s Dragapult knocked each other out in a draw after clashing their strongest attacks.
• Gary gave Jon the Master Ball, and Jon summoned Lugia to face Leon’s Charizard in a staged battle.
• Jon ordered Lugia to use Brave Bird, unexpectedly striking Charizard hard enough to knock it out.
• Gary and Leon presented Jon with the Night of the Pinnacle trophy, and Jon promised to pursue an official match with Leon.
• Gary led the audience in praying while Lugia used Rain Dance and Gary activated an aura that healed the spectators and Jon’s fellow villagers.
• Gary rode Lugia away as the crowd cheered, and stories spread through Galar about Lugia’s mercy.

Gary traveled to Hoenn to collect a problem-child Torchic and met May on the way to Professor Birch’s laboratory. After reaching the damaged lab, he received Electivire’s Poké Ball and headed toward Back Mountain, where Ash was likely waiting.

• Gary settled into his Rustboro City villa with Kahili, Eevee, Gengar, and Togetic before setting out to collect Torchic.
• May nearly crashed her bicycle into Gary, and Togetic knocked away the Duskull covering her face.
• Gary and May introduced themselves and traveled together to Professor Birch’s laboratory.
• Gary found the laboratory damaged and learned Professor Birch was on Back Mountain.
• Gary called Tracey and received Electivire’s Poké Ball before setting off toward Ash.

Gary rescued Professor Birch from Poochyena, demonstrated Torchic’s power to May, and then saved Ash and Pikachu from a cliff after Electivire absorbed Pikachu’s excess electricity. Ash reunited with Gary, who teased him about his battered appearance.

• Gary and May found Professor Birch clinging to a tree above three Poochyena, and Gary urged May to battle them herself.
• May sent out Mudkip, but it sprayed Water Gun into her face because she had not specified a target.
• Gary ordered Torchic to use Flamethrower, driving off the Poochyena, then gave Torchic a Pokéblock.
• Professor Birch warned Gary that Ash’s Pikachu had dangerously high electrical power, so Gary sent Electivire to locate them.
• Electivire rescued Ash and Pikachu from a cliff and used Motor Drive to absorb Pikachu’s excess electricity.
• Ash recognized Gary, who greeted him with a teasing remark about his rough appearance.