Chapter Summaries

Serena defeated A Qing and advanced to the top 16, where the Trainers learned their next matchups. Dawn and Serena were paired against each other, and the chapter ended as the round of sixteen began with Barry facing Ayaka.

• Serena used Pangoro to defeat A Qing's Umbreon, then sent out Clawitzer to defeat Scolipede and secure her place in the top 16.
• Serena returned to the stands, where Dawn congratulated her and the group discussed Serena's tactics and Xiaoyun's psychological training methods.
• The tournament announced the round-of-16 pairings, matching Barry with Ayaka; Barry apologized to Ayaka after she caught him insulting her.
• Sawyer drew Tierno, Ash drew Makoto Yuki, and Dawn was paired against Serena.
• The next day, the round of sixteen began with Barry versus Ayaka as the opening match.

Barry defeated Ayaka in a fierce final battle between Mega Chesnaught and Mega Absol by secretly recovering with Synthesis while pretending to be unable to stand. After the match, Ayaka demanded Barry’s contact number and introduced herself before leaving.

• Barry and Ayaka’s Pyroar and Hitmonlee knocked each other out, leaving their final Pokémon to decide the battle.
• Ayaka Mega Evolved Absol, and Barry answered by Mega Evolving Chesnaught as they traded attacks across the field.
• Absol and Chesnaught landed powerful finishing blows on each other, and both Mega Evolutions ended as they collapsed.
• Absol briefly stood before falling, while Chesnaught secretly used Synthesis and then rose, allowing the referee to award Barry the win.
• Ayaka took Barry’s contact number, told him her name, and left him bewildered.

Sawyer defeated Tierno after Mega Sceptile broke through Mega Blastoise’s attacks and finished it with a close-range Iai Slash combined with Leaf Blade. The next round-of-sixteen matchup, Dawn versus Serena, began as their friends debated the likely winner and placed bets.

• Zoey, Dawn, and Xiaoyun reacted with surprise when Ayaka asked Barry for his contact information, while Bonnie misunderstood how Barry had made a new friend.
• Sawyer and Tierno began their round-of-sixteen battle on a rugged wilderness field, with Tierno’s Mega Blastoise facing Sawyer’s final Pokémon, Mega Sceptile.
• Mega Blastoise used Shell Smash to power up Dragon Pulse and break through Sceptile’s Frenzy Plant and Dragon Pulse, leaving Sceptile badly hurt.
• Sawyer sent Sceptile rushing through Blastoise’s next Dragon Pulse with Detect, then used a close-range Iai Slash combined with Leaf Blade to defeat Blastoise and win.
• After the battlefield changed to a forest, Dawn and Serena took their places for the next match, while Ash, Barry, Zoey, Clemont, and Bonnie chose sides and bet on the result.

Dawn and Serena began their battle, with Dawn’s Dragalge and Aegislash defeating Serena’s Vivillon before Serena sent out Rhydon. Serena cleared Dawn’s Toxic Spikes and counterattacked, leaving the poisoned Rhydon charging at Aegislash with Megahorn as the chapter ended.

• Barry and Zoey teased Xiaoyun for not cheering loudly enough for Dawn.
• Dawn sent out Dragalge and Serena sent out Vivillon, which boosted itself with Quiver Dance before battling with Hurricane and Bug Buzz.
• Dawn switched Dragalge out for her Shiny Aegislash, Blue-Gray, which blocked Hurricane with King's Shield and defeated Vivillon with Shadow Sneak and Sacred Sword.
• Serena sent out Rhydon, which was poisoned by the Toxic Spikes on the field, then used Earthquake to clear them.
• Serena had Rhydon strike Blue-Gray with Bulldoze and pressure it with Rock Blast before ordering Megahorn.

Dawn defeated Serena in their League battle after both trainers Mega Evolved their final Pokémon. Dawn advanced, while Serena left the match pleased with how far she had come.

• Dawn recalled Blue-Gray after Rhydon fainted, and Serena sent out Delphox while Dawn chose her Red Gyarados.
• Serena and Dawn Mega Evolved their Pokémon, then traded Fire-type attacks as the forest battlefield caught fire.
• Serena used Delphox's Psychic power to break apart Gyarados's Surf and followed with Dazzling Gleam, while Gyarados countered with Crunch.
• Serena's Burn Up overpowered Gyarados's Fire Blast, but Dawn redirected Surf into the clash and created a steam explosion that knocked Delphox out.
• The referee declared Dawn the winner, and Serena congratulated her in the competitors' passageway before blushing as she thought of Ash.

The top eight contestants drew their quarterfinal matchups, and Dawn faced Sawyer in the opening battle. Sawyer’s Slaking used Truant to exploit Hyper Beam’s recovery, but Dawn had Flygon build up Dragon Dance boosts and defeat it with Dragon Rush.

• Louis defeated Ferrothorn with Garchomp’s Draco Meteor, completing the top eight lineup.
• The contestants drew the quarterfinal matchups: Dawn faced Sawyer, Barry faced Xiaoye, Alain faced Louis, and Ash faced Trip.
• Sawyer sent out Slaking against Dawn’s Flygon and opened with Hyper Beam, using Truant’s rest period to avoid the move’s recovery drawback.
• Dawn saw through Sawyer’s plan to lure Flygon into attacking Slaking during its rest and used Dragon Dance instead.
• Dawn had Flygon withstand Slaking’s second Hyper Beam, boost its stats three times, and knock Slaking out with Dragon Rush.

Dawn and Sawyer’s battle continued as Slurpuff knocked out Flygon with Belly Drum-boosted Play Rough, while Volcarona Xiaohong and Clawitzer then took each other down. After halftime, Dawn opened the second half by sending out Lopunny.

• Sawyer used Slurpuff’s Belly Drum-boosted Play Rough to knock out Dawn’s Flygon, then Slurpuff fell to Xiaohong’s Fiery Dance.
• Xiaohong and Sawyer’s Clawitzer traded attacks until their collision left both unable to battle, ending the first half with Sawyer down three Pokémon.
• During the ten-minute break, Xiaoyun bought drinks while Barry, Zoey, and Ash discussed the battle and combination moves.
• Dawn sent out Lopunny when the second half began.

Dawn’s Mega Lopunny defeated Sawyer’s Aegislash, then fell to Salamence after a fierce exchange. Dawn sent out Floette, Eternal Flower, to face the weakened Salamence, leaving the battle unresolved.

• Dawn Mega Evolved Lopunny and used its Fighting-type attacks and agility to defeat Sawyer’s Aegislash.
• Sawyer sent out Salamence, which weakened Lopunny with Draco Meteor, Dragon Claw, and Air Slash.
• Lopunny counterattacked Salamence with Jump Kick and Ice Beam, but Salamence’s Dragon Rush knocked it unconscious.
• Dawn sent out Floette, Eternal Flower, to battle the weakened Salamence.

Dawn defeated Sawyer in their battle after Floette took down Salamence and Piplup overwhelmed Mega Sceptile. Sawyer was left comforting his devastated Sceptile while Dawn praised Piplup for the win.

• Dawn's Floette defeated Sawyer's Salamence with Petal Dance, leaving Sawyer with only Sceptile.
• Sawyer Mega Evolved Sceptile, and Dawn sent out Piplup despite its apparent type disadvantage.
• Piplup dodged Sceptile's attacks and shattered its Leaf Blades in a Secret Sword clash.
• Dawn and Piplup used a Water-type Z-Move to cut through Sceptile's Frenzy Plant, and Sceptile lost its will to battle.
• The referee declared Dawn the winner, and Sawyer rushed to comfort Sceptile while Dawn thanked Piplup.

Barry defeated Xiaoye’s Flareon with Heracross through a clever feint, but Xiaoye fought back with Mega Lucario Z Form and knocked out Barry’s Staraptor. The battle continued as Lucario’s aura-powered attacks pressured Barry’s Empoleon.

• Barry’s Heracross defeated Xiaoye’s Flareon after dodging Flare Blitz with Aerial Ace and striking with Megahorn.
• Xiaoye sent out his final Pokémon, Lucario, and Mega Evolved him into the unusual Z Form.
• Lucario used Aura Armor to break through Staraptor’s Hurricane, then threw an aura spear that knocked Staraptor out.
• Barry sent out Empoleon, whose Steel Wing stopped Lucario’s Aura Sphere after it pierced Hydro Pump.
• Lucario formed two aura clubs with Bone Rush and drove Empoleon backward in a close-range exchange.

Xiaoye lost to Barry when Lucario ran out of Aura, and Alain defeated Louis with Mega Charizard X. Ash then began his quarterfinal against Trip, whose Unfezant was quickly knocked out by Talonflame.

• Lucario exhausted its Aura during Meteor Mash, and Barry's Empoleon defeated it with Wave Crash, winning the match.
• Alain Mega Evolved Charizard and defeated Louis's Mega Garchomp, advancing as the winner.
• Ash was called to battle Trip and arrived late after getting lost, then apologized before the match began.
• Ash sent out Talonflame against Trip's Unfezant, which taunted its opponent before the battle started.
• Talonflame used Aerial Ace and Brave Bird to defeat Unfezant, winning the opening round of Ash and Trip's match.

Ash's Pokémon battled Trip's team, with Talonflame, Noivern, and Goodra each falling before Goodra defeated Vanilluxe with Endure. After halftime, Greninja entered the match against Conkeldurr, and Ash prepared to change tactics as their battle continued.

• Talonflame defeated Trip's Unfezant but lost to Jellicent, while Noivern was frozen and knocked out by Vanilluxe's Sheer Cold.
• Goodra endured Vanilluxe's attacks and defeated it, but Trip's Conkeldurr then overwhelmed Goodra and won, bringing Ash's losses to three at halftime.
• After the break, Ash and Trip acknowledged each other's growth, and Ash sent Greninja out against Conkeldurr.
• Greninja dodged Conkeldurr's Stone Edge and struck it with Aerial Ace, but Conkeldurr countered with Hammer Arm and left Greninja staggering.
• Ash decided Greninja could not keep trading blows and told it to use a different move.

Ash awakened Greninja’s Bond Phenomenon, and Greninja defeated Trip’s Conkeldurr and Jellicent with overwhelming speed. Against Trip’s Mega Abomasnow, Greninja created a golden Water Shuriken and won a third knockout, leaving Trip with only two Pokémon.

• Ash and Greninja activated the Bond Phenomenon, transforming Greninja into Bond Greninja.
• Greninja defeated Trip’s Conkeldurr with Aerial Ace and a powerful Water Shuriken.
• Greninja avoided Jellicent’s Destiny Bond and knocked it out with another Water Shuriken.
• Trip Mega Evolved Abomasnow, which battled Greninja with Blizzard, Razor Leaf, Ice Beam, Wood Hammer, and Leaf Storm.
• Ash had Greninja unleash a golden Water Shuriken that broke through Leaf Storm and knocked out Mega Abomasnow.

Ash defeated Trip in the quarterfinals after Greninja took down three of Trip’s Pokémon and Pikachu beat Serperior with a Thunderbolt-powered Electro Ball. The semifinals were set, with Ash facing Alain and Dawn facing Barry.

• Greninja defeated three of Trip’s Pokémon but reached his limit, so Ash recalled him and sent out Pikachu against Trip’s final Pokémon, Serperior.
• Pikachu endured Serperior’s Glare and traded attacks with him, but Leaf Storm overwhelmed Pikachu and left him badly hurt.
• Ash urged Pikachu to keep fighting, and Pikachu clashed with Serperior using Volt Tackle before Trip ordered another Leaf Storm.
• Ash had Pikachu use Thunderbolt to propel Electro Ball through Leaf Storm and into Serperior, knocking him out and winning the battle.
• Ash and Trip congratulated each other after the match, and the semifinal pairings were announced: Dawn versus Barry and Ash versus Alain.

Xiaoyun and the others celebrated reaching the semifinals at Restaurant Le Nah before Ash and Alain faced off in the Kalos League semifinals. The battle began with Alain sending out Tyranitar and its Sand Stream stirring up a sandstorm across the field.

• Barry hosted a lively semifinal celebration at Restaurant Le Nah, where he toasted Dawn and challenged everyone to an eating contest with Ash.
• Xiaoyun spoke with Alain about Lysandre, while Alain helped Mairin and quietly enjoyed the warm atmosphere of the dinner.
• At the tournament venue, Diantha, Siebold, and Malva discussed Ash and Alain, while Barry, Zoey, and Xiaoyun watched from the stands.
• Trip watched the semifinal with complicated feelings, and a red-haired man secretly observed from the venue's highest shadows, eager to see the power of bonds.
• The referee announced a six-on-six battle between Ash and Alain, and Alain opened with Tyranitar, whose Sand Stream raised a sandstorm over the battlefield.

Ash’s newly evolved Garchomp defeated Alain’s Tyranitar and then Bisharp, winning both battles with creative attacks. Garchomp celebrated with Ash after securing its second victory.

• Ash sent Gabite against Alain’s Tyranitar and used Dig, Dragon Claw, Draco Meteor, and Dragon Rush to defeat it.
• Gabite evolved into Garchomp after winning, while Ash and Alain prepared to continue the battle.
• Garchomp struggled against Bisharp’s speed and technique, but Ash told it to bite Bisharp’s Iron Head.
• Ash ordered Garchomp to use Draco Meteor while it held Bisharp in its jaws, knocking Bisharp out and winning the battle.
• Ash ran over and lifted Garchomp into the air to celebrate.

Ash’s Garchomp fell to Alain’s Weavile, and Torterra entered the battle with Frenzy Plant before losing after Ash used Rock Climb. The match left Ash down another Pokémon, while Zoey wondered why he relied so often on Rock Climb.

• Alain sent out Weavile, which defeated Ash’s exhausted Garchomp with Ice Punch.
• Ash sent out Torterra, whose Frenzy Plant vines battered Weavile and limited its movement.
• Alain changed tactics, and Weavile’s Icicle Crash and Ice Beam injured Torterra as it maintained its attack.
• Ash ordered Torterra to use Rock Climb, but Weavile countered its charge with Ice Punch and then struck again from above.
• Weavile froze Torterra and won, while Xiaoyun said Ash could have done better by keeping his distance with Frenzy Plant.
• Zoey recalled that Ash had used Rock Climb in every match since Torterra learned it and wondered why he liked the move so much.

Ash’s Torkoal defeated Alain’s Weavile, and after halftime Noivern beat Unfezant before falling to Metagross. Ash sent out Donphan to face Metagross, leaving the battle unresolved.

• Ash recalled Torterra and sent out Torkoal, which endured Weavile’s attacks and defeated it with Burn Up.
• During the halftime break, Ash’s friends discussed his lead and Alain’s remaining Pokémon, including Charizard.
• After the break, Ash’s Noivern used Acrobatics, Boomburst, and Dragon Pulse to defeat Alain’s Unfezant.
• Alain sent out Metagross, which blocked Noivern’s Boomburst with Light Screen and knocked it out with repeated Flash Cannons.
• Ash sent out Donphan to face Metagross.

Ash’s Donphan weakened Alain’s Metagross before Torkoal defeated it, but Alain’s Charizard then knocked Torkoal out. Ash sent out his veteran Charizard instead of Greninja, and the two Charizard began a fierce battle that left Ash’s Charizard overpowering Alain’s.

• Donphan used Earthquake, Rock Tomb, Rollout, High Horsepower, and other attacks against Alain’s airborne Metagross before both Pokémon were badly injured and Donphan was knocked out.
• Ash sent Torkoal back into battle, and it defeated the weakened Metagross with Burn Up.
• Alain sent out Charizard, which beat Torkoal with Flamethrower and Dragon Claw.
• Ash chose his veteran Charizard instead of Greninja or Pikachu, surprising the spectators and Alain.
• Ash’s Charizard and Alain’s Charizard traded Flamethrower and Dragon Claw attacks, and Ash’s Charizard’s forceful fighting style began to overpower Alain’s.

Ash's Charizard defeated Alain's Charizard in a brutal Mega Evolution battle, securing Ash a place in the final. Alain accepted the loss and left with Mairin, while Barry realized he might face Ash if he beat Dawn.

• Alain and Ash Mega Evolved their Charizard into Mega Charizard X and began an intense close-range battle.
• Ash's Charizard overpowered Alain's Charizard, and Ash explained that his Charizard had survived brutal struggles in Charizard Valley.
• Ash's Charizard used Seismic Toss to slam Alain's Charizard into the battlefield, and the referee declared Ash the winner.
• Alain accepted the defeat and went with Mairin to get food, saying it was an honor to battle Ash.
• Barry anticipated facing Ash in the final, but Zoey and Dawn reminded him that he still had to beat Dawn first.