Chapter Summaries

Gary discussed his research plans with Bertha and Professor Rowan, then moved into Paul and Reggie's home while preparing his laboratory in Sinnoh. He promised Paul a chance to join his future campaign against the Battle District if he proved himself after the Sinnoh League.

• Bertha told Gary she would not battle him for the Sinnoh Champion position and would give way to Cynthia if he reached the top.
• Gary chose a long-term research topic comparing regional forms with ancient and modern Pokémon forms, and Professor Rowan offered to help raise Hisuian Pokémon.
• Gary told Paul he would recruit Trainers to take down the Battle District and gave him half a year to meet his standards after the Sinnoh League.
• Paul brought Gary to the Pokémon Day Care, where Reggie welcomed him into the brothers' home until Gary's laboratory was ready.
• Gary let Eevee and his other Pokémon explore the backyard, where Eevee led them toward Elekid and the sleeping Torterra.

Young Master Mao agreed to take on Sinnoh’s Gym Challenge after a system quest prompted him, then examined Paul’s planned traveling lineup and offered advice. The chapter ended with Young Master Mao comparing Paul’s Pokémon choices and recommending Staraptor over Honchkrow.

• Young Master Mao accepted Paul’s request for battle coaching and decided to take on the Sinnoh Gym Challenge after the system initiated the Conquering Sinnoh quest.
• Young Master Mao read Scott’s message that eleven crews would begin building a new research lab and considered using Cradily or Shaymin to purify its air.
• Young Master Mao made high-quality Pokéblocks for the Day Care Pokémon, while Paul noted down the recipe.
• Reggie explained that Gliscor had buried Torterra during a spar, and Young Master Mao used Viridian Force to heal Torterra and Elekid.
• Paul listed Torterra, Elekid, Honchkrow, Hariyama, and Drapion as possible travel partners, and Young Master Mao began advising him to choose Staraptor over Honchkrow.

Young Master Mao saw Paul off, then visited the construction site of his new Sinnoh research institute before driving to meet Professor Rowan. He arrived at closing time, and Professor Rowan dismissed his assistants so they could go home.

• Paul decided to build his team before challenging Gyms alongside Gary, while Young Master Mao wondered whether helping him would make things harder for Ash.
• Scott arrived with a new sports car for Young Master Mao and drove him to inspect the institute site near Reggie's Pokémon Day Care.
• Scott showed Young Master Mao the hill's varied habitats and the institute being built to resemble the one in Pallet Town, including an expanded residential area.
• Young Master Mao accepted the institute's progress and drove to Sandgem Town to thank Professor Rowan, bringing Braviary as a gift.
• Young Master Mao arrived at Professor Rowan's institute at closing time, and Professor Rowan let his assistants leave for the day.

Young Master Mao showed Professor Rowan his Hisuian Braviary, registered for the Sinnoh League, and planned to visit Eterna City and recruit an assistant. After returning to Reggie's house, he spoke with Lambda about Team Rocket's Sinnoh operations and ordered him to investigate whether W was being held by the Hunter Organization.

• Young Master Mao showed Professor Rowan his Hisuian Braviary, and Rowan suggested he bring it to Eterna City's Ancient Sinnoh festival to meet Cynthia.
• Professor Rowan registered Young Master Mao for the Sinnoh League and discovered he already had three Gym badges recorded.
• Professor Rowan recommended that Young Master Mao recruit graduate students at a Pastoria City recruitment fair, and Young Master Mao agreed to go.
• Young Master Mao returned to Reggie's house, shared a late-night meal with him, and received a call from Lambda about Jessie, James, and Meowth settling near Eterna City.
• Lambda described Team Rocket's Sinnoh operations, and Young Master Mao told him to monitor Team Galactic and investigate whether W was being held by the Hunter Organization.

Young Master Mao visited the Team Rocket Trio at James's family villa and helped them plan a more fulfilling life in Sinnoh. He offered them work tied to their interests and promised startup funds, leaving the Trio energized to serve Team Rocket.

• Maylene led Lucario and Paul's Pokémon through morning exercises while Young Master Mao planned to help train Maylene's Lucario.
• Young Master Mao visited the Team Rocket Trio at their villa and learned they had lost their money to a Magikarp scam.
• Young Master Mao encouraged Jessie to keep entering Pokémon Contests and offered Meowth a future role at his research institute.
• Young Master Mao offered James promotional work for commemorative cards and promised the Trio startup funds through Matori.
• The Trio vowed to work hard for Young Master Mao and Team Rocket.

Gary challenged Gardenia at the Eterna City Gym before meeting Cynthia and quickly defeated her Pokémon to earn a Badge. Gardenia postponed her festival visit to take her injured Pokémon to the hospital.

• Gary arrived in Eterna City and caught Gardenia trying to leave the Gym for the festival, so she called the referee back to start their battle.
• Gardenia sent out Turtwig, but Eevee changed into Flareon and knocked it out with Flare Blitz.
• Gardenia sent out Roserade and used Sunny Day, but Eevee defeated it with a boosted Fire Blast.
• Gary collected his Badge and left to meet Cynthia, while Gardenia decided to take her Pokémon to the hospital.

After the Eterna Gym, Young Master Mao received four Origin Cores and fed them to Eevee before meeting Cynthia at the Hisui Festival. He showed her a Hisuian Braviary bred with his institute’s technology, and the chapter ended with him planning to move his Pokémon into the institute and find an assistant.

• Young Master Mao complained to the system about missing rewards, received four Origin Cores, and fed them to Eevee, which fell asleep.
• Young Master Mao met Cynthia at the Hisui Festival and showed her a Hisuian Braviary created through genetic atavism technology.
• Cynthia asked to borrow Braviary for the festival, and Young Master Mao agreed; she also promised to handle any Sinnoh financial interests that opposed his research.
• Cynthia told Young Master Mao that she dreamed of studying history and mythology but was waiting for someone to defeat her as Champion.
• After dinner with Cynthia, Young Master Mao planned to move his Pokémon into his research institute and find an assistant to care for them.

Gary moved into his new laboratory in Veilstone City and inspected his Pokémon’s new home before opening interviews for an assistant. The chapter left Gary beginning interviews with three applicants, including one who mistook the laboratory for a restaurant.

• Gary returned to Veilstone City and moved into his newly built laboratory with help from Maylene, Reggie, and Flint.
• Flint asked Gary to battle Volkner and restore his enthusiasm for battling, and Gary agreed to try.
• Gary explored the spacious backyard, where his Pokémon settled into different areas and spent time training, resting, or playing.
• Maylene expanded the interview seating, and Gary, Maylene, and Flint began interviewing the three applicants who showed up.
• Kōhei introduced himself as an academically gifted Trainer, Mii said she had studied Pokémon breeding, and Yamaminami asked whether the laboratory was a private restaurant.
• Gary ordered Yamaminami to leave after the hiker revealed he had mistaken the laboratory for a restaurant.

Young Master Mao hired Mii and Kōhei to help run the Gary Oak Laboratory, then planned a trip with Paul to find Pokémon for his Hisuian research project. As Ash and Brock set out from Professor Rowan’s laboratory, their paths converged with the travelers in the forest outside Sandgem Town.

• Mii and Kōhei accepted jobs at the Gary Oak Laboratory and chose to live there, while Gengar helped with the housework.
• Young Master Mao planned to use Atavism Cards to restore Hisuian Pokémon and asked Paul to locate Stantler and Ursaring in the Illusion Forest.
• Kōhei told Young Master Mao he had earned a qualification Badge and could enter the Sinnoh League without collecting Gym Badges.
• Young Master Mao left Kōhei in charge of the laboratory and departed with Paul for Oreburgh City, leaving Mii to look after the lab.
• Ash and Brock left Professor Rowan’s laboratory, and the two groups met in the forest outside Sandgem Town alongside a blue-haired girl riding a bicycle.

Ash and Paul clashed over their competing ideas about Pokémon training, then began a three-on-three battle with Starly. Paul’s Starly defeated Ash’s in the first round, leaving the battle to continue.

• Paul tried to catch a flock of Starly near Sandgem Town, but Ash arrived to reclaim his Starly, and Ash and Paul immediately antagonized each other.
• Paul asked Gary which Starly to keep, then argued with Ash about whether strength or bonds mattered more in raising Pokémon.
• Gary gave a brief perspective on both approaches, and Brock agreed to referee their three-on-three battle.
• Ash sent out Starly against Paul’s Starly, but Paul’s Starly used Double Team and Aerial Ace to knock Ash’s Starly out.
• Paul questioned his Starly’s strength, but Gary urged him not to rush, and Paul kept the Pokémon before sending Elekid to face Ash.

After Pikachu’s attack wrecked Dawn’s bicycle, Gary arranged for Ash to compensate her and suggested she travel with the group. They went to Professor Rowan’s institute, where Dawn chose Piplup and Paul registered for the League, before Rowan agreed to take everyone out for a meal.

• Paul’s Elekid absorbed Pikachu’s Thunderbolt and used Protect to send Pikachu crashing into the woods, where Pikachu destroyed Dawn’s bicycle.
• Gary helped Dawn up, and Ash agreed to pay for the bicycle and travel with her until he had repaid her.
• Gary suspended Ash and Paul’s battle and led the group to Professor Rowan’s institute, where Dawn picked up Piplup and Paul registered for the League.
• Professor Rowan offered to send Gary ten Pokémon of each Sinnoh Starter species for his institute and said Trainers might be assigned to him the following year.
• Gary invited everyone to eat together, and Professor Rowan agreed to take them out for a meal.

Gary and Paul traveled toward Illusion Forest, where Gary challenged Paul's harsh training methods and Paul decided to give Chimchar to him. Ash, Dawn, and Brock joined them at camp, and Ash and Paul began a three-on-three battle.

• Gary and Paul traveled through a gorge toward Illusion Forest, and Gary began preparing coconut milk curry while Paul gathered firewood.
• Paul ordered his Pokémon through harsh training, but Gary argued that Chimchar's power depended on emotion and bonds rather than desperation.
• Paul decided to give Chimchar to Gary because he could not fully believe in the power of bonds.
• Ash, Dawn, and Brock arrived at the camp, and Gary invited them to share the curry.
• Ash challenged Paul to a three-on-three battle, and Ash's Turtwig faced Paul's Torterra.

After losing to Paul, Ash chose Chimchar while Paul chose Piplup for a future rematch at the Sinnoh League. Young Master Mao and Paul then entered the Illusion Forest, where Paul caught Ursaring and Young Master Mao began hunting Stantler for his laboratory.

• Gary declared Ash the loser after Paul's Torterra defeated him, and Ash vowed to challenge Paul again.
• Young Master Mao offered Ash and Paul Sinnoh Starter Pokémon, and Ash chose Chimchar while Paul chose Piplup.
• After lunch, Ash's group headed toward Jubilife City while Young Master Mao and Paul continued into the forest to find Pokémon.
• Young Master Mao offered to help Paul pursue an atavistic evolution for Ursaring if Paul left it at his laboratory for research.
• Paul caught an Ursaring after Elekid blocked its Hyper Beam and struck it with Brick Break.
• Young Master Mao sent his Pokémon into the forest to catch every Stantler they could find, with Paul helping prepare the Safari Balls.

Gary received a Pokémon League assignment to protect five rare living Shieldon and learned that the Hunter Organization planned to attack them. After arranging a broad counteroperation, he headed to the Oreburgh Gym with Paul, where Roark awaited their battle.

• Gary received the assignment to protect and research five endangered Shieldon being escorted toward Veilstone City.
• A Team Rocket courier warned Gary that the Hunter Organization had sent two squads to intercept the Shieldon, and Gary ordered the hunters allowed through so the police could capture them.
• Gary contacted several allies, while Lambda mobilized Team Rocket's Sinnoh Branch to attack the Hunter Organization near Mt. Coronet.
• Gary gave Paul a Piplup, then set out with him for the Oreburgh Gym and told him to train while he battled Roark.
• Roark welcomed Gary to a Gym battle, and Gary revealed that he had prepared one of his first-team Pokémon: Golduck.

Young Master Mao defeated Roark’s team at the Oreburgh Gym with Kartana and Golduck, then received the Coal Badge. He flew toward Canalave City, leaving Paul determined to train harder.

• Roark began the three-on-three Gym battle with Onix, but Kartana defeated it with one Solar Blade.
• Kartana used Hidden Power and boosted its stats before defeating Roark’s Golem with Sacred Sword.
• Young Master Mao recalled Kartana and sent out Golduck, who stopped Rampardos’s Head Smash and defeated it with Psychic, Psyshock, and Hydro Pump.
• Roark awarded Young Master Mao the Coal Badge and invited him to battle his father’s Bastiodon.
• Young Master Mao departed on Dragonite for Canalave City, while Paul resolved to train harder.

Young Master Mao learned that Team Galactic’s activity had delayed Lucian while Lance and Cynthia led an operation against Hunter J in Flower Edge Town. Hunter J escaped toward Eterna City, where Lucian was left to intercept her, as Young Master Mao prepared to face her again.

• Lucian explained to Young Master Mao that Team Galactic’s threat to the Eterna Museum had kept him from joining the encirclement operation, so Cynthia had gone to Flower Edge Town instead.
• Lance and the police surrounded Hunter J’s poachers, and Cynthia joined the fight by defeating Salamence and forcing Hunter J to escape on Braviary.
• Team Rocket’s Lambda protected the police from the Hunters’ Self-Destruct attacks, but Hunter J fled before they could capture her.
• Cynthia sent Lucian a message that Hunter J was heading his way, leaving Lucian shocked that he had another assignment.
• Young Master Mao received word that Miss W had been rescued and Flint had destroyed the Hunter Organization’s base, then resolved not to show Hunter J mercy again.

Young Master Mao launched a sweeping assault on Hunter J’s organization after she threatened his secretary, then joined Lucian and Flint to pursue her. Hunter J’s Pokémon and escape routes were defeated one by one, and she ended the chapter trapped beside a lake with Young Master Mao revealing his humiliating ambush.

• Young Master Mao ordered a strike against Hunter J’s organization, and Team Rocket and the International Police helped devastate its branches and headquarters.
• Uncle Giovanni praised Blue’s operation and rewarded Lambda despite docking his pay for acting without authorization.
• Young Master Mao recruited Lucian and Flint to capture Hunter J, while Brandon set out for Mt. Coronet with the Legendary Titans.
• Flint defeated Hunter J’s Ariados, and Lucian stopped her Braviary and blocked her Petrifying Ray as she fled through the wilderness.
• Hunter J lost Salamence, Ariados, and Braviary before stopping at a lake, where Young Master Mao revealed that Golduck had bathed in the water she drank.

Young Master Mao defeated Hunter J and captured her for the International Police, then forced Drapion to train Chimchar until Chimchar evolved into Monferno. Flint and Lance arrived as the group prepared to turn Hunter J over to the authorities.

• Young Master Mao surrounded Hunter J with his Pokémon, and they overwhelmed Drapion after she ordered it to use Protect.
• Young Master Mao had Golduck disable Hunter J, then ordered Electivire to knock her out and told Golduck to tie her up for the International Police.
• Young Master Mao forced Drapion to lose to Chimchar fifty times or face being chopped up, and Drapion reluctantly trained Chimchar.
• At sunset, Flint and Lance arrived and watched Chimchar defeat Drapion and evolve into Monferno.
• Young Master Mao released Drapion and told Lance that Hunter J would be handed over to the International Police.
• Young Master Mao explained that whenever Hunter J woke up, he had Gengar lick her face until she passed out again.

Gary enjoyed a quiet day at his research institute before Brandon called him to Snowpoint City to help contain the threat posed by Regigigas. With other powerful trainers occupied, Gary agreed to go and prepared to leave.

• Gary relaxed at the Veilstone Town institute while W resumed leading the Overgrow Group and the Pokémon enjoyed their new home.
• Gary watched Moltres and Rayquaza spar over the lake, while Lugia admitted it was afraid to intervene.
• Brandon told Gary that the five Shieldon were safe in his Battle Pyramid and explained that a Hunter Organization member had disturbed Regigigas at Snowpoint Temple.
• Brandon said the Legendary Titans could only restrain Regigigas and that the crisis needed someone at Champion level or higher.
• Gary learned that Cynthia, Lance, and the Hoenn trainers were unavailable, so he agreed to travel to Snowpoint City and prepared to leave.

Gary joined Brandon, Candice, and Lucian in Snowpoint City to deal with Regigigas, whose awakening had been triggered by the Hunter Organization's bombing of Snowpoint Temple. The group learned that Regigigas had not yet awakened, but Gary prepared to face it if it did.

• Brandon and Candice discussed the danger of Regigigas awakening and waited for help while nearby classes were suspended.
• Gary arrived on Moltres, and Lucian joined the group after canceling his vacation.
• Candice brought everyone to Snowpoint Gym and explained that surviving members of the Hunter Organization had bombed Snowpoint Temple, weakening the seal on its fifth underground floor.
• Brandon said Regigigas's Slow Start awakening process usually took seven to ten days, and Candice warned that it was a First-Class God.
• Gary touched the Master Ball containing Lugia and thought he might make Lugia confront Regigigas if it woke up.