Chapter Summaries

Lu Chen and his battle-scarred Pokémon emerged from the ultra-ancient wartime era into the modern Pokémon world near Pallet Town, where Professor Oak recognized him as a traveler from another time. Rather than accept Oak’s offer to become Champion, Lu Chen decided to retire with his companions and asked about buying land.

• Lu Chen sent Aerodactyl to scout the unfamiliar forest and discovered that its Pokémon had unusual forms.
• Aerodactyl pinned Professor Oak to the ground, and Lu Chen stopped his Pokémon from attacking Oak and his powerful team.
• Professor Oak told Lu Chen that it was September 10, year 138 of the Pokémon League calendar, near Pallet Town in the Kanto Region.
• Lu Chen realized he had escaped the ultra-ancient battlefield, while Gouging Fire’s roar of fire drew Entei’s attention from Johto.
• Professor Oak invited Lu Chen to become Champion, but Lu Chen declined and asked whether he could buy land in Pallet Town to start a farm.

Lu Chen accepted Professor Oak’s offer of land in Pallet Town and chose a remote plot where he planned to settle down with his four Pokémon. He began preparing the wasteland for a farm with Lapras’s Rain Dance, leaving a woman in Pallet Town puzzled by the sudden storm.

• Professor Oak offered Lu Chen a plot beside his laboratory, gave him six empty Poké Balls, and flew with him to Pallet Town on Aerodactyl.
• Professor Oak showed Lu Chen his laboratory, and Lu Chen chose a remote, undeveloped plot for his retirement farm.
• Lu Chen reached the plot with Aerodactyl, Gouging Fire, Lapras, and Gengar, then declared the dilapidated cabin their new home.
• Lu Chen asked Lapras to use Rain Dance to moisten the barren land, and dark clouds rapidly gathered over Pallet Town.
• A woman watering her flowers noticed the sudden dark sky while Mr. Mime hurried to collect the laundry.

Lapras’s life-giving Rain Dance restored the land around Lu Chen’s new farm, and Delia came to welcome him as a neighbor. Aerodactyl mistook her for an enemy and nearly attacked, while Lu Chen realized it still suffered from battlefield trauma; the visit ended with Lu Chen’s dilapidated cabin collapsing in the rain.

• Lapras’s Rain Dance spread life energy across the wasteland, reviving the soil and plants.
• Delia visited Lu Chen with Mr. Mime and brought him a homemade apple pie as a welcome gift.
• Aerodactyl charged at Delia, but Lu Chen restrained and calmed it before it could reach her.
• Lu Chen recognized Aerodactyl’s battlefield trauma and sent it to rest.
• Delia asked whether Lu Chen had somewhere to stay, and his battered cabin promptly collapsed.

Lu Chen built a home in Pallet Town with Lapras and Gengar’s help, then shared Delia’s apple pie with his Pokémon. After Aerodactyl secretly tasted a leftover crumb and got teased, Lu Chen said he planned to visit a nearby city and would need Aerodactyl to come along.

• Lu Chen used Lapras’s Secret Power to create an earthen house, and Gengar furnished it with items from its dimensional storage.
• Lu Chen told Delia he had been a traveling Trainer and planned to settle in Pallet Town, while Delia worried about her son Ash.
• Delia returned home, and Lu Chen tasted her apple pie and shared it with Gengar, Lapras, and Gouging Fire.
• Aerodactyl rejected the pie until it secretly ate a crumb, then flew off in embarrassment when Lu Chen teased it.
• Lu Chen told Aerodactyl he was planning a trip to a nearby city and needed it to come along.

Lu Chen went to town to sell the goddess statue given to him by the queen of Cameran Palace, hoping to raise startup funds, but an appraiser judged it too new to be a super-ancient artifact. As Lu Chen wondered how he could earn money, the appraiser followed him and asked to inspect his animal-hide garment.

• Lu Chen recalled Gouging Fire and Lapras into Poké Balls, then flew toward town on Aerodactyl and put Aerodactyl away before entering.
• Gengar emerged from Lu Chen's shadow, briefly entered a Poké Ball on its own, and retrieved the goddess statue from its pocket dimension.
• Lu Chen brought the statue to a department store, where the manager summoned an appraiser to examine it.
• The appraiser said the statue's material and craftsmanship looked authentic but its condition suggested it had been made recently, so Lu Chen refused to sell it for a few thousand.
• The appraiser followed Lu Chen outside and asked if he could examine Lu Chen's animal-hide garment.

After selling his ancient hide garment for a million, Lu Chen outfitted his home with modern utilities and internet, then searched for a profitable crop to support his Pokémon. He chose Starf Berries, which he knew how to propagate using methods from the super-ancient era.

• An appraiser identified Lu Chen's hide garment as the hide of an extinct Pokémon and bought it for one million.
• Lu Chen spent some of his money on supplies, four Luxury Balls, and a crew to install water, electricity, and gas at his home.
• Lu Chen connected to the internet and researched agricultural products, but ordinary Berries would not earn enough to support his Pokémon and their medical care.
• Lu Chen recalled the cultivation methods he had learned in the super-ancient era and searched for rare Berries that could not be propagated artificially.
• Lu Chen selected Starf Berries as his main crop because they were extremely valuable and he knew how to propagate them.

Lu Chen used a fragment of Jirachi’s meteorite shell to plan a way to grow Starf Berries and resolved to ask Jirachi about the ancient past when he awakened again. When Agatha attacked him to test his claims, Lu Chen’s patterned Gengar seized her Gengar effortlessly, leaving the Elite Four members stunned.

• Lu Chen asked Gengar to retrieve a fragment of Jirachi’s meteorite shell and planned to use it to cultivate Starf Berries.
• Lu Chen realized Jirachi would awaken in a few years and decided to ask him about the history of the ancient era.
• Professor Oak received Lorelei and Agatha, who came to investigate Lu Chen’s claim that he had traveled from ancient times.
• Agatha dismissed Lu Chen as a fraud and sent her Gengar to attack him while Professor Oak, Lorelei, and Delia watched.
• Lu Chen’s patterned Gengar emerged from the shadows with Agatha’s Gengar gripped by the neck, overwhelming it without using a move.
• Agatha recoiled in terror as Lu Chen calmly told her not to get so worked up.

Lu Chen ended Agatha’s test by making his patterned Gengar release her frightened Gengar, then joined Professor Oak, Delia, Agatha, and Lorelei at Delia’s house. He confirmed Lorelei’s suspicion about his origins by showing them an ultra-ancient Lapras, which Lorelei identified as a purebred species extinct since ancient times.

• Professor Oak and Delia pleaded with Lu Chen to spare Agatha, who admitted she was wrong after his patterned Gengar subdued her Gengar.
• Lu Chen called off his Gengar, and Agatha’s Gengar fled into her shadow in terror.
• Lu Chen said he had expected the group to test him, and Delia invited everyone to continue their discussion at her house.
• Lorelei asked whether Lu Chen had traveled from ultra-ancient times, and Professor Oak asked Delia to keep the revelation secret.
• Lu Chen summoned his ultra-ancient Lapras, and Lorelei recognized it as a purebred Lapras extinct since ultra-ancient times.

Lorelei explained that super-ancient Lapras were pure Water-types and that modern Water- and Ice-type Lapras descended from a branch that migrated to colder regions. She offered Lu Chen medical care, resources, and a League position, but he refused and left, while Lorelei remained fascinated by the possibility of breeding her Lapras with his.

• Lorelei revealed that super-ancient Lapras were pure Water-types and that modern Lapras were a regional form descended from those that migrated to colder climates.
• Delia noticed Lu Chen's Lapras's scars, and Lorelei apologized for her and Agatha's earlier behavior before offering Lu Chen medical care, resources, and the vacant Kanto League Champion position.
• Lu Chen refused Lorelei's offers, saying he wanted a peaceful retirement and did not want to be drawn into political struggles or battles against Legendary Pokémon.
• Lorelei gave Lu Chen her contact information, and she and Agatha left; Professor Oak explained that the League had sent them to assess Lu Chen's safety.
• Lu Chen thanked Delia for the apple pie and left, while Professor Oak warned Delia to keep the day's events secret.
• On their way back, Agatha and Professor Oak argued about their past, while Lorelei clarified that she wanted her Lapras to have a child with Lu Chen's super-ancient Lapras.

Lu Chen traveled to Celadon City to buy Starf Berry seeds from Erika at Celadon Gym, where his blood-soaked aura terrified her. He bought thirty seeds and left planning to grow the berries and do business with Erika in the future.

• Lu Chen flew southwest to Celadon City on Aerodactyl and considered the risks of revealing his ancient Pokémon knowledge.
• Lu Chen found Celadon Gym, where Erika sensed the overwhelming smell of blood around him and feared him.
• Lu Chen told Erika he wanted Starf Berry seeds, and she directed a staff member to handle the sale.
• Lu Chen spent seven hundred thousand on thirty Starf Berry seeds and received gardening tools with them.
• Lu Chen left Celadon Gym pleased and planned to grow Starf Berries, sell them to Erika, and later order Pokéblocks from her.

Lu Chen sought a way to make his barren farm fertile enough to grow Starf Berries, and Professor Oak told him that Dugtrio could use Rototiller to improve the soil. Lu Chen flew toward a mine in Viridian Forest to find one, leaving Aerodactyl eager for the hunt.

• Erika told Lu Chen that Ash had recently earned the Rainbow Badge, and Lu Chen left the Celadon Gym with seeds and tools.
• Ash and Misty began competing to dig up fossils in a canyon while Brock watched.
• Delia brought apple pie to Lu Chen's farm, where Gengar, Lapras, Gouging Fire, Aerodactyl, and Lu Chen crowded around to eat it.
• Delia suggested that Lu Chen ask Professor Oak about improving the soil, so Lu Chen hurried to the laboratory.
• Professor Oak explained that Dugtrio could use Rototiller to make barren soil fertile, and Lu Chen set out to find one.
• Lu Chen rode Aerodactyl toward a mine in Viridian Forest, where he believed Dugtrio lived.

Lu Chen had Aerodactyl defeat the Totem Steelix and persuaded it to gather Diglett and Dugtrio for him. Lapras then sang to calm the gathered Pokémon, and its ancient song soothed listeners as far away as Delia and Professor Oak.

• Aerodactyl fought the Totem Steelix in its mine, overwhelmed it, and dragged it into the sky before releasing it to crash into the ground.
• The Totem Steelix submitted, and Lu Chen told it he would leave its territory alone if it gathered Diglett and Dugtrio.
• The Totem Steelix sent Pokémon throughout the area to search, then brought over a hundred Dugtrio to Lu Chen's farm.
• Lu Chen summoned Lapras, which sang its soothing song and calmed the frightened Dugtrio and the agitated Aerodactyl.
• Lapras's song reached Delia and Professor Oak, easing Delia's fatigue and drawing Professor Oak's curious attention toward Lu Chen's farm.

Lu Chen accepted Gabite as the first farmer at his farm after the determined Pokémon asked to follow him and grow stronger. With Gabite’s help, he planted Starf Berry seeds, and watering them with life energy and Jirachi’s meteorite fragment made many sprout before he settled in to enjoy his farm.

• Steelix gave Lu Chen its stored treasures, and he kept some valuable materials before sharing the rest among the Dugtrio.
• Gabite, a battle-seeking wanderer who had repeatedly lost to Steelix, stepped out of the woods and asked Lu Chen to help it become stronger.
• Lu Chen offered Gabite a place as the farm’s first farmer, and Gabite willingly entered a Poké Ball.
• Gabite helped Lu Chen prepare the soil and plant Starf Berry seeds, finishing the work in less than half a day.
• Lu Chen watered the seeds with life-energy-rich water and Jirachi’s meteorite fragment, causing at least half to sprout within minutes.
• Lu Chen relaxed beside the thriving field and said that the farm was the retirement he had wanted.

Delia and Professor Oak told Lu Chen that Ash had gone fossil digging in the Great Canyon, where an explosion buried him and Team Rocket. Lu Chen flew to the canyon on Aerodactyl, blasted open the blocked tunnel, and entered the fissure to find Ash.

• Delia visited Lu Chen with apple pies, and Gabite blushed when she praised his farmwork and promised to bring him snacks.
• Professor Oak complained about Gary, while Delia worried that Ash had gone to the Great Canyon to dig for fossils.
• Team Rocket set off explosives at the canyon, causing a collapse that buried Ash and the trio as cameras broadcast the disaster.
• After Gary called Professor Oak for help, Delia and Oak rushed to Lu Chen, who agreed to rescue Ash and flew to the canyon on Aerodactyl.
• Lu Chen ordered the crowd aside, and Aerodactyl's Super Hyper Beam destroyed the rubble blocking the tunnel.
• Lu Chen and Aerodactyl descended into the fissure as Professor Oak told Gary that Lu Chen was a powerful adventurer who could save Ash.

Lu Chen and Aerodactyl rescued Ash and the Team Rocket Trio from a group of fossil Pokémon in the canyon tunnel. A goddess statue reacted to Ash, and the chapter ended as a second Aerodactyl appeared from deeper in the tunnel.

• Lu Chen and Aerodactyl followed the scent of ancient marine Pokémon into the canyon tunnel.
• Omastar, Omanyte, Kabuto, and Kabutops emerged from the walls and surrounded Ash and the Team Rocket Trio.
• Lu Chen and Aerodactyl arrived, and Aerodactyl’s roar frightened the fossil Pokémon into submission.
• Lu Chen introduced himself to Ash and noticed that the goddess statue glowed brighter when brought near him.
• A second Aerodactyl roared from the depths, and Lu Chen’s Aerodactyl reacted with excitement at hearing its own kind.

Lu Chen's Aerodactyl subdued a newly awakened wild Aerodactyl, prompting the other Fossil Pokémon to submit to Lu Chen. As Lu Chen prepared to take them out of the cavern, Ash's Charmeleon challenged his Aerodactyl, and Lu Chen stopped Aerodactyl from swatting it away.

• Lu Chen's Aerodactyl questioned a wild Aerodactyl, then seized it when it insulted the rocks on its body and explained their significance.
• Lu Chen calmed his Aerodactyl, captured the unconscious wild Aerodactyl, and watched Ash marvel at the capture.
• Omastar, Omanyte, Kabuto, and Kabutops lined up and submitted to Lu Chen, who promised to take them out of the cavern.
• Ash's Charmeleon emerged from its Poké Ball and challenged Lu Chen's Aerodactyl, scorching Ash when he tried to stop it.
• Lu Chen stopped Aerodactyl from swatting Charmeleon aside, and Aerodactyl stepped back, amused by the challenge.

Lu Chen defeated Charmeleon in hand-to-hand combat, prompting it to evolve into Charizard, which Gengar quickly knocked out. After warning Ash and the others that the tunnel was about to collapse, Lu Chen left with the Fossil Pokémon, while Misty discovered a Pokémon Egg among the rubble and Lu Chen planned to ask Ash about Aura.

• Aerodactyl spared the Omanyte as its underlings but ate the severed tentacles of Omastar while the Team Rocket Trio watched in fear.
• Lu Chen challenged Charmeleon, defeated it with martial arts, and provoked it to evolve into Charizard.
• Charizard attacked Lu Chen with flames, but Gengar emerged from his shadow and knocked Charizard unconscious.
• Lu Chen captured Omastar, Omanyte, Kabuto, Kabutops, and a wild Aerodactyl, then warned Ash and the others to flee the tunnel before it collapsed.
• The tunnel collapsed after Ash, Gary, Brock, and Misty escaped, and Misty found a glowing Pokémon Egg in the rubble.
• Lu Chen flew toward Pallet Town on Aerodactyl and resolved to ask Ash about Aura.

Lu Chen returned to Pallet Town and reassured Delia and Professor Oak that Ash was safe, then gave Professor Oak a living Kabuto. At his farm, Lu Chen settled four fossil Pokémon by a river and told Aerodactyl to change his hunting habits, though he allowed him to snack on Omastar’s regrowing tentacles.

• Lu Chen returned to Professor Oak’s Laboratory and told Delia and Professor Oak that Ash was safe.
• Professor Oak asked about fossil Pokémon, and Lu Chen gave him a living Kabuto as repayment for the plot of land.
• Lu Chen released Omastar, Omanyte, Kabutops, and another Kabuto by the farm’s river, where they thanked him for rescuing them.
• Aerodactyl eyed the fossil Pokémon hungrily, so Lu Chen told him that times had changed and he should stop treating them as prey.
• Aerodactyl agreed to restrain his urge to kill, and Lu Chen said he could occasionally eat Omastar’s regrowing tentacles.

Lu Chen finished building an underwater home for the Fossil Pokémon and put his Aerodactyl in charge of the newly caught Aerodactyl. He then discovered that someone had stolen a Starf Berry seedling from his farm and vowed to find the thief.

• News and rumors about Lu Chen’s rescue at Fossil Canyon spread across the Kanto Region, while Ash planned to visit Lu Chen after collecting eight Badges and Gary taunted him about his own progress.
• Lu Chen directed Omastar and Kabutops as they built a hidden underwater cave, then asked Lapras to watch over them.
• Lu Chen coaxed his sulking Aerodactyl into taking the wild Aerodactyl to the forest to teach it the rules of their kind.
• Gabite alerted Lu Chen that a Starf Berry seedling had vanished from the farm, and Lu Chen angrily vowed to find the thief.

Lu Chen enlisted Gengar and Gabite to investigate the stolen Starf Berry sapling, and their clues led them through the forest. The thief, a little fox Pokémon, replanted the sapling and dreamed of future berries, unaware the group was closing in.

• Gengar volunteered to become a detective, and he and Gabite agreed to investigate the theft together.
• Gengar and Gabite found no human or Pokémon footprints, then discovered nutrient-rich black soil that suggested the thief was a Flying-type Pokémon.
• Gabite offered to track the scattered soil by scent, and Lu Chen followed him into the forest with Gengar.
• A little fox Pokémon replanted the stolen Starf Berry sapling beneath an ancient tree, hoping it would eventually provide plenty of berries.
• Lu Chen, Gengar, and Gabite approached the little fox Pokémon without it noticing.