Chapter Summaries

Paul defeated Trip in the round of 128 and criticized his shallow battling, then Xiaoyun began his round-of-64 match against Clair. Xiaoyun’s Serperior turned Clair’s Flamethrower against her with a strengthened Leaf Storm, leaving Druddigon under attack.

• Paul’s Mega Aggron defeated Trip’s Serperior, and Paul rebuked Trip for relying on strength and failing to adapt his strategy.
• Paul told Barry and Xiaoyun that Steven had given him his Mega Stone, then admitted he had wanted to teach his old self a lesson.
• Xiaoyun, Dawn, Barry, Paul, Ash, Misty, and the others advanced to the round of 64, where Xiaoyun drew Clair as his opponent.
• Clair sent out her Shiny Druddigon against Xiaoyun’s Serperior, and their Pokémon traded Dragon- and Grass-type attacks.
• Clair ordered Druddigon to use Flamethrower, but Serperior redirected the flames with Leaf Storm and then unleashed an even stronger storm that overwhelmed Druddigon.

Xiaoyun defeated Clair in a Dragon-type battle after Serperior and Garchomp overcame Dragonite. Dawn and Paul also won their matches, and the chapter ended as Norman and Barry were introduced for the next battle.

• Xiaoyun's Serperior defeated Clair's Druddigon with boosted Leaf Storm, but Dragonite defeated Serperior with Extreme Speed and Fire Punch.
• Xiaoyun sent out Garchomp, which matched Dragonite's Dragon Dance and defeated it with Dragon Rush after emerging from Dig.
• Dawn's Flygon swept a Hoenn Coordinator's Tropius and Shiftry.
• Paul's Nidoking and Electivire defeated Brycen's Beartic and Darmanitan, respectively.
• The next day, Norman and Barry were announced as the next competitors.

Norman defeated Barry’s Heracross and Empoleon with Slaking, ending Barry’s tournament run in the top 64. Ash and Pikachu pressed Nessa’s Drednaw before it Gigantamaxed, and the battle remained unresolved as Nessa ordered Max Rockfall.

• Norman’s Slaking knocked out Barry’s Heracross with Counter after enduring its attacks.
• Barry’s Empoleon used a Z-Move, but Slaking defeated it with Hammer Arm, ending Barry’s run in the top 64.
• Ash’s Pikachu dominated Nessa’s Drednaw with its speed and attacks until Nessa Dynamaxed it into its Gigantamax form.
• Gigantamax Drednaw sent Pikachu flying with Max Darkness, but Pikachu recovered and struck back with Thunderbolt.
• Nessa ordered Gigantamax Drednaw to use Max Rockfall as the battle continued.

Ash defeated Nessa in the Round of 64, then learned that he would face Misty in the Round of 32. Their battle began the next day, and after Misty’s Politoed froze Totodile, Ash sent out Squirtle.

• Pikachu split Nessa’s Max Rockfall with Iron Tail, struck Drednaw, and ended Ash’s match against Nessa.
• At dinner, the group reviewed the Round of 32 matchups, and Ash learned he would battle Misty while Xiaoyun would face Long Yu.
• Ash and Misty began their match with Totodile and Politoed, whose Drizzle Ability brought heavy rain.
• Totodile overcame Politoed’s Scary Face, bit its Aqua Tail, and landed a Hydro Pump before Misty ordered Politoed to use Belly Drum.
• Politoed froze Totodile with Ice Punch, so Ash recalled it and sent out Squirtle.

Ash defeated Misty after Squirtle beat Politoed and survived Psyduck’s terrifying psychic rampage, while Misty forfeited once Psyduck returned to normal. The next round-of-32 match began with Dawn facing the Masked Royal, whose Incineroar battled her Volcarona, Xiaohong.

• Misty’s Politoed froze Squirtle’s Water Pulse, but Ash used Hydro Pump to create an opening for Rocket Headbutt, which knocked Politoed out.
• Misty’s Psyduck emerged and used Water Gun, then its head was struck and it unleashed powerful Confusion that chased Squirtle across the field.
• Ash had Squirtle use Water Gun on Psyduck’s face, restoring it to its usual dazed state, and Misty forfeited the match to Ash.
• Dawn faced the Masked Royal in the round of 32, and both trainers sent out their Fire-type Pokémon: Incineroar and Dawn’s Volcarona, Xiaohong.
• The Masked Royal ordered Incineroar to use Flamethrower, but Dawn’s Xiaohong answered with Fiery Dance and drew the flames into a vortex.
• The Masked Royal ordered Incineroar to break through the fire vortex with Darkest Lariat.

Dawn battled the Masked Royal, using Piplup’s Secret Sword and a newly created Water-type Z-Move before losing by a narrow margin. The tournament then shifted to Marshal and Bruno’s Fighting-type showdown, where Hitmonchan won the opening round and Machamp entered to face Conkeldurr.

• Dawn’s Volcarona lost to the Masked Royal’s Incineroar after their Flare Blitz clash, so she sent out Piplup.
• Piplup used Ice Storm, Mist, and Secret Sword to challenge Incineroar, then Dawn unleashed their newly created Z-Move, Phantom Water Surging Waves Secret Sword Slash.
• The Masked Royal’s Incineroar met Piplup’s Z-Move with Malicious Moonsault, and both Pokémon fell; the referee declared the Masked Royal the winner.
• Freddy O'Martian introduced Marshal and Bruno for their round-of-32 match, and Throh faced Bruno’s Hitmonchan.
• Hitmonchan defeated Throh with two Dynamic Punches, prompting Marshal to send out Conkeldurr and Bruno to answer with Machamp.

Bruno defeated Marshal and Norman defeated Roxie as the tournament’s strongest competitors put Unova under pressure. Xiaoyun began his two-on-two battle against Long Yu, whose Dynamax Evolution of Duraludon left the match poised to continue.

• Bruno’s Machamp overwhelmed Marshal’s Conkeldurr with Quadruple Dynamic Punch and won their battle.
• Norman’s Linoone used Quick Feet and Double-Edge to defeat Roxie’s Scolipede and Garbodor.
• Xiaoyun faced Long Yu, who sent out Dracozolt; Dracozolt’s powerful opening Bolt Beak injured Bisharp before Long Yu exploited that injury to defeat it.
• Xiaoyun sent out Aerodactyl, which evaded Dracozolt’s attack and knocked it out with Iron Tail and Hyper Beam.
• Long Yu sent out Duraludon and used Dynamax Evolution, transforming it into Gigantamax-Duraludon.

Xiaoyun defeated Long Yu’s Dynamaxed Duraludon with Bond Aerodactyl, then Paul began his round-of-32 battle against Volkner. Their Electivire fought to a draw, leaving Paul and Volkner ready to send out their next Pokémon.

• Xiaoyun’s Bond Aerodactyl broke through Duraludon’s G-Max Depletion with Gaia Energy Cannon and won the battle for Xiaoyun.
• Long Yu praised Xiaoyun’s strength, said he would continue traveling, and challenged him to battle again someday.
• Paul faced Sunyshore Gym Leader Volkner in the tournament’s final round-of-32 match and sent out Electivire against Volkner’s Electivire.
• Paul’s Electivire activated Motor Drive with Thunder, then used its speed and Ice Punch to pressure Volkner’s Electivire.
• Volkner’s Electivire bound Paul’s Electivire with its tails and landed a full-power Focus Punch, but both Pokémon collapsed and the first round ended in a draw.
• Paul and Volkner recalled their fainted Electivire and prepared to send out their next Pokémon.

Paul defeated Volkner’s Luxray with Mega Aggron and advanced to the top 16 as the round of 32 ended. The next day, Xiaoyun learned that his first opponent in the round of 16 would be Lorelei, the Kanto Elite Four’s Ice-type specialist.

• Paul and Volkner battled, with Luxray using Fire Fang to exploit Aggron’s weakness before Paul countered with Metal Burst.
• Mega Aggron’s Metal Burst knocked Luxray out, giving Paul the victory.
• Alder announced that the round of 32 had concluded and the top 16 would compete the next day.
• Ash, Paul, and Xiaoyun reflected on the coming battles and prepared to keep fighting for the championship.
• Freddy O'Martian revealed Xiaoyun’s first round-of-16 matchup: Lorelei.

The round of sixteen began with Xiaoyun facing Kanto Elite Four member Lorelei. Their opening Pokémon battled to a double knockout, leaving the contest tied as both Trainers prepared to send out their next Pokémon.

• Lorelei told Bruno that Xiaoyun had defeated Cynthia, prompting Bruno to reassess his opponent’s strength.
• The tournament matchups were announced, and Dawn, Zoey, May, and their companions gathered in the stands to watch.
• Norman rebuked Max for dismissing Elite Four Trainer Malva before her battle against him.
• Xiaoyun and Lorelei sent out Volcarona and Jynx, and Lorelei used Perish Song while Jynx copied Volcarona’s Flame Body Ability with Role Play.
• Xiaoyun’s Volcarona and Lorelei’s Jynx both collapsed when Perish Song took effect, resulting in a double knockout.

Xiaoyun’s Floatzel defeated Lorelei’s Cloyster with the newly mastered Dragon Hail Frame, tying their match before Infernape faced Lorelei’s Lapras. Lapras froze Infernape beneath ice, leaving the spectators uncertain of the outcome as Paul insisted the battle had only just begun.

• Xiaoyun sent out Floatzel against Lorelei’s Cloyster, and Floatzel used Torrent to clear Cloyster’s Icicle Spear despite being at full health.
• Floatzel’s Ice Saber and Liquidation failed to break through Cloyster’s shell, while Cloyster’s Ice Spinner and Blizzard battered Floatzel.
• Floatzel formed temporary ice wings in the Blizzard and used Dragon Hail Frame to freeze Cloyster, winning the round as it collapsed from exhaustion.
• Lorelei sent out Lapras, and Xiaoyun chose Infernape; their Fire Spin and Surf clashed before Lapras added Blizzard and Infernape countered with Flare Blitz.
• Lapras endured the clash, struck Infernape with Avalanche, then used Sheer Cold to freeze it beneath thick ice as the spectators wondered whether it could continue battling.

Xiaoyun defeated Lorelei after Infernape survived Sheer Cold and unleashed its Bond Form’s Flame Dome, advancing to the quarterfinals. Paul then began his round-of-16 match against the Masked Royal, whose Incineroar struck Gyarados with Malicious Moonsault and left it badly hurt.

• Infernape emerged in Bond Form, shattered Lapras’s Protect, and knocked it unconscious with Flame Dome.
• The referee declared Xiaoyun the winner, and Lorelei teased him before offering him her Elite Four position, which he politely declined.
• Paul entered his match against the Masked Royal, and both trainers sent out Gyarados and Incineroar.
• Paul used Rain Dance, then traded attacks with the Masked Royal as Gyarados and Incineroar both took damage.
• The Masked Royal unleashed Incineroar’s Malicious Moonsault, which broke through Gyarados’s Waterfall and sent it crashing into the edge of the battlefield.

Paul lost to Kukui in a grueling battle after Electivire fell to Venusaur and Torterra tied with it. Bruno then defeated Shauntal when she forfeited against his enormous Steelix, advancing to the quarterfinals.

• Paul's Electivire used Thunder to weaken Incineroar, but Incineroar countered with Reversal and knocked Electivire down before both Pokémon were defeated in a final clash.
• Kukui sent out Venusaur, which swallowed Electivire and blasted it away with Solar Beam.
• Paul's Torterra and Kukui's Venusaur fought for nearly half an hour before their Solar Beam and Frenzy Plant attacks knocked both Pokémon out, ending Paul's tournament run.
• Bruno's Hitmonlee defeated Shauntal's Cofagrigus, then used Destiny Bond to take Chandelure down with it.
• Bruno's enormous Steelix overpowered Shauntal's Golurk, and Shauntal forfeited after Steelix used Magnet Rise, sending Bruno to the quarterfinals.

Mustard’s Urshifu overwhelmed Siebold’s first two Pokémon, but Mega Blastoise forced Mustard to withdraw his exhausted Rapid Strike Urshifu and send out a fresh Urshifu in another form. The new Urshifu charged Mega Blastoise with Wicked Blow as Siebold tried to counter with Aura Sphere.

• Siebold’s Greninja fell to Mustard’s Urshifu after Surging Strikes landed three precise blows.
• Mustard’s Urshifu redirected Clawitzer’s Water Pulse, broke through its attacks, and defeated it with Close Combat.
• Siebold Mega Evolved Blastoise and used ranged attacks to wear down Urshifu, prompting Mustard to recall it.
• Mustard sent out another Urshifu, which endured Mega Blastoise’s Dragon Pulse and charged with Wicked Blow.
• Siebold ordered Mega Blastoise to fire Aura Sphere, but Urshifu’s Wicked Blow struck as the attack left the cannon.

Mustard defeated Siebold before Sabrina forfeited her match against Caitlin, and Ash began his battle with Champion Alder. Snorlax lost to Alder’s Bouffalant, and Ash sent out Primeape, who had recently returned to him.

• Mustard defeated Siebold with his Urshifu, while Xiaoyun reflected on the strength of Galar’s hidden talents.
• Sabrina evolved Kadabra into Alakazam, then forfeited against Caitlin and left with Gengar.
• Ash faced Alder and used Snorlax, who stopped Bouffalant’s charge and landed a Hyper Beam, but was knocked out after Alder’s Bouffalant used Cotton Guard, Megahorn, and Head Charge.
• Ash sent out Primeape, and Misty told Xiaoyun she had pressured Anthony to return Primeape to Ash.

Ash battled Alder in a fierce match, and Primeape evolved into Annihilape before both Pokémon were knocked out. Ash’s Pikachu also tied with Bouffalant, but Alder won because he still had one Pokémon remaining.

• Alder sent out Escavalier, and Primeape fought it with Rage Fist until the move’s growing power helped Primeape evolve into Annihilape.
• Annihilape defeated Escavalier with Seismic Toss, but poison and exhaustion caused both Pokémon to become unable to battle.
• Ash sent out Pikachu against Alder’s returning Bouffalant, and their attacks ended with both Pokémon unable to battle.
• The referee declared Alder the winner because he still had one Pokémon remaining.

After Ash’s tournament run ended, the quarterfinal matchups were announced, setting Xiaoyun against the Masked Man. On the rest day, Xiaoyun trained against Paul and Barry, preparing for his match while Paul reflected on Infernape’s bond with Xiaoyun.

• Ash comforted Pikachu after their draw with Alder, and Alder praised Ash’s effort and encouraged him to keep traveling.
• The quarterfinal bracket paired Norman with Wikstrom, Alder with Caitlin, Bruno with Mustard, and the Masked Man with Xiaoyun.
• Xiaoyun worried about facing the Masked Man and considered the likely semifinal opponents, while Mustard wondered whether Xiaoyun might meet him there.
• Xiaoyun and Paul trained with Bloodmoon Bear and Infernape, and Blood Moon defeated Infernape after Paul failed to awaken its Blaze without their former bond.
• Barry demanded a training battle, but Paul defeated his Empoleon with Electivire, leaving Barry scorched and resentful.

Norman defeated Wikstrom in the championship quarterfinal, winning with Castform before Exploud beat Wikstrom’s Mega Scizor. Norman advanced to the next round, where Alder expected to face him if he won his own match.

• Wikstrom opened with Aegislash, but Norman’s Castform used Fire- and Electric-type attacks to defeat it.
• Wikstrom sent out Probopass, and Norman changed the weather with Rain Dance; Castform and Probopass knocked each other out with Thunder and Zap Cannon.
• Norman’s Exploud battled Wikstrom’s Mega Scizor, which threw Exploud and struck it with X-Scissor.
• Exploud answered with Boomburst, ending Mega Evolution and knocking Scizor out; Norman advanced after Wikstrom ran out of Pokémon.
• Wikstrom congratulated Norman and offered him a friendly handshake, while Norman reflected on how strong he had become.

Alder defeated Caitlin in the second quarterfinal after she deliberately held back, then Mustard beat Bruno in a hard-fought third quarterfinal. Mustard advanced, while Bruno accepted the loss and took his mentor’s advice to keep pursuing the Fighting path.

• Alder sent out Volcarona, which quickly defeated Caitlin’s Reuniclus after boosting with Quiver Dance.
• Caitlin battled on with Beheeyem and Gothitelle, but Gothitelle fell to Volcarona’s Flare Blitz; Alder advanced after Caitlin had secretly withdrawn her support at the decisive moment.
• Bruno’s Hitmonchan and Mustard’s Rapid Strike Style Urshifu knocked each other out, leaving Bruno to send out Machamp against Mustard’s Single Strike Style Urshifu.
• Mustard’s Urshifu endured Machamp’s attacks, broke free with Iron Head, and overwhelmed it with Close Combat.
• Machamp and Urshifu clashed with Counter and Wicked Blow, but Machamp collapsed first, giving Mustard the victory.
• Bruno accepted his defeat, and Mustard encouraged him to treat it as a stepping stone on his continuing Fighting path.

Xiaoyun defeated Kukui’s Empoleon with Floatzel, then sent out Bloodmoon Bear to face Incineroar. As their battle intensified, Xiaoyun and Bloodmoon Bear activated the Bond Phenomenon, unveiling Bloodmoon Bear’s Champion Stage Bond Form.

• Xiaoyun’s Floatzel used Torrent Mode and Rain Dance to turn the battle against Kukui’s Empoleon, then defeated it with Flying Raijin.
• Kukui sent out Incineroar, and Xiaoyun recalled Floatzel and chose Bloodmoon Bear to fight it.
• Bloodmoon Bear attacked with Earth Power and Moonblast, but Incineroar dodged and struck it with Darkest Lariat.
• Xiaoyun used the Power of Overcoming to connect with Bloodmoon Bear and trigger their Bond Phenomenon.
• Bloodmoon Bear transformed into a nearly three-meter-tall Bond Form with Ground and Dark types, Mind’s Eye, and Champion Stage strength.