Chapter Summaries

Lu Chen learned that Aaron, the First Aura Guardian, had died in battle and visited his tomb, where he mourned the boy he had once trained. He left the Aura Holy Land overwhelmed by grief and anger at having been taken away from the super-ancient era.

• Lu Chen read Aaron's diary and found its final question asking where his master had gone.
• The old clan leader told Lu Chen that Aaron had most likely been killed in battle and that the Aura Clan had remained to guard his tomb.
• Lu Chen suppressed his killing intent and followed Aaron to the tomb of Aaron, the First Aura Guardian.
• Lu Chen left flowers, a goddess statue, and cola at Aaron's grave, then stayed there all afternoon remembering him.
• Lu Chen left the tomb in tears and shouted at the unknown force that had taken him away as thunder and rain swept over the valley.

Lu Chen returned from visiting a deceased friend's grave, and the sudden rain brought his grief into view before he reminded Ash and the others that the living gave meaning to the dead. The elderly chief explained that the Aura Clan also guarded the Tree of Beginning and revealed that its royal branch still held fast at Cameran Palace, a name that left Lu Chen dazed.

• A sudden downpour struck the Aura Clan's sacred grounds, and Ash and the others saw Lu Chen walking through it, soaked and dejected.
• Lu Chen summoned Lapras to dry him, then explained that tending an old friend's grave had stirred up feelings about the many comrades he had lost in the ultra-ancient era.
• Lu Chen told Ash and the others that the living gave meaning to the dead and that remaining trapped in grief would disrespect them.
• Lu Chen asked Aaron whether the sacred grounds had been built only to protect the grave, and the elderly chief confirmed that the Aura Clan also guarded the Tree of Beginning.
• The elderly chief revealed that the Aura Clan's royal branch had separated long ago and was still holding fast at Cameran Palace, leaving Lu Chen dazed.

Lu Chen left the Aura Clan’s hidden holy land with Ash and his friends, then waited at a Pokémon Center for a wealthy friend he had arranged to meet. The chapter ended with the group recognizing their visitor as Hoenn Champion Steven Stone.

• The old clan leader called Lu Chen his grandmaster and said the Aura Clan would await his return, while Ash agreed to travel with Lu Chen.
• Lu Chen, Ash, Gary, Misty, and Brock left the holy land, which vanished into a forest behind them.
• Lu Chen said they were heading to a nearby city to meet a wealthy friend, and the group waited for him at a Pokémon Center.
• Steven Stone arrived, apologized for being late, and was recognized by Gary, Brock, and Misty as the Hoenn Champion.
• Ash shouted in surprise when he realized Steven was standing before them.

Steven welcomed Lu Chen to Devon Corporation to negotiate for his Starf Berries. He offered three hundred million in cash for the berries and another billion in cash for Lu Chen’s cultivation method.

• Steven recognized Lu Chen and invited him and his companions to Devon Corporation’s offices.
• At the company’s top-floor reception room, Misty explained that Steven was both the Hoenn Champion and Devon Corporation’s sole heir.
• Lu Chen revealed that he had come to Hoenn to sell Steven something, and Brock correctly guessed it was Starf Berries.
• Steven entered with carts piled high with banknotes and offered Lu Chen three hundred million in cash for all his Starf Berries.
• Steven offered an additional billion in cash if Lu Chen would share his Starf Berry cultivation method.

Lu Chen rejected Steven’s cash offer for the Starf Berry cultivation method and instead asked him to treat hidden injuries in three Peak Champion-level Pokémon. Steven agreed after seeing Lu Chen’s Starf Berries, and his medical team was set to be ready in three days.

• Steven added another billion in cash to his offer, but Lu Chen refused to sell the cultivation method or accept cash.
• Lu Chen asked Steven to arrange treatment for hidden injuries in three Peak Champion-level Pokémon, while Steven warned that treating them carried risks.
• Lu Chen summoned Gengar, who brought out nearly three hundred Starf Berries, and Steven immediately agreed to help.
• Steven said his medical team and equipment would be ready in three days, and Lu Chen left ten Starf Berries as a deposit before departing with Ash, Gary, Misty, and Brock.
• Steven admired the ten Starf Berries and wondered where Lu Chen had found three Peak Champion-level Pokémon.

After selling his Starf Berries, Lu Chen treated Ash and the others to food before Scott invited them to the Battle Frontier. Lu Chen agreed to visit after Scott revealed that Battle Frontier Brain Brandon had two Legendary Pokémon and was seeking a third.

• Ash excitedly fixated on Lu Chen’s 1.3 billion, while Gary reminded him that the money belonged to Lu Chen.
• Lu Chen offered to treat Ash, Gary, Misty, and the others to dinner as they explored the city.
• Scott introduced himself as the person in charge of Hoenn’s Battle Frontier and invited Ash and the group to challenge its Battle Brains.
• Scott revealed that two Battle Brains had Legendary Pokémon, then named Brandon as a Trainer with two who was preparing to catch a third.
• Lu Chen asked for details about the Legendary Pokémon, then agreed to visit the Battle Frontier when Scott said the specifics were confidential.

Scott offered Lu Chen an ordinary-looking glass marble in exchange for an introduction to Steven, unaware that it was a Mega Stone. Lu Chen accepted the trade and explained to Ash and the others that the stone enabled a temporary special evolution for battle.

• Scott asked Lu Chen to introduce him to Steven, and Lu Chen stayed silent as Scott searched for something to offer.
• Scott gave Lu Chen a glass marble containing unusual energy, and Lu Chen recognized it as a Mega Stone and accepted the trade.
• Scott and Lu Chen exchanged phone numbers and agreed to meet in three days before parting ways.
• Ash, Brock, and Gary asked Lu Chen about the stone and Lucario's evolution.
• Lu Chen explained that the Mega Stone helped Pokémon enter a temporary special evolved form for battle.

Lu Chen revealed that Mega Stones could trigger special forms, then accepted Steven’s apology and challenged him to a battle. With Steven’s Cradily facing Lu Chen’s Garchomp, Lu Chen began to Mega Evolve Garchomp.

• Ash and Gary reacted to the importance of Mega Stones, while Lu Chen said he would demonstrate one with a Pokémon he owned.
• Steven arrived and apologized for investigating Lu Chen, explaining that the database had marked his identity top secret.
• Lu Chen accepted the apology and challenged Steven to a Pokémon battle, saying one of his Pokémon had gained a special battle form.
• Lu Chen sent out his Elite Four-level Garchomp, and Steven answered with Cradily, revived using Devon Corporation’s fossil revival machine.
• Lu Chen considered whether the machine could revive other ancient life-forms, then called on Garchomp to Mega Evolve.

Lu Chen used his bond with Garchomp to trigger its Mega Evolution without a Key Stone, revealing the airborne Garchomp Z. Steven assessed its new abilities before starting the battle with Cradily.

• Lu Chen focused his consciousness and connected with Garchomp to make it Mega Evolve without a Key Stone.
• Steven watched Garchomp transform and worried that Cynthia's Garchomp might also evolve.
• The evolved Garchomp hovered in the air, and Gary wondered whether it had become a Flying type.
• Steven examined Garchomp Z and concluded that it was a mixed attacker with greatly increased Special Attack.
• Lu Chen and Steven prepared to battle, and Steven ordered Cradily to use Vine Whip.

Lu Chen saw through Steven’s Cradily’s hidden root tactic and defeated it with Garchomp Z. After Steven conceded, he asked how Lu Chen knew Cradily so well, and Lu Chen replied that he had once known someone who owned one.

• Steven sent Cradily’s Vine Whip after Garchomp, but Lu Chen kept Garchomp Z at range and countered with Dragon Pulse.
• Steven had Cradily exchange Energy Ball attacks with Garchomp Z, believing its underground roots would let it win the battle of attrition.
• Lu Chen ordered Earthquake, exposing the roots beneath Cradily and revealing how they absorbed energy from the ground.
• Garchomp Z used Draco Meteor to destroy Cradily’s roots, then severed the remaining vines with Dragon Claw and knocked Cradily out.
• Steven conceded and asked how Lu Chen had uncovered the tactic, and Lu Chen said he had once known someone who had a Cradily.

Lu Chen learned from Steven that human revival could only create a stranger with the same genes, while Professor Juniper was pursuing a more complete form of fossil revival. After Steven left, Lu Chen considered whether the fossil Pokémon on his farm could help Juniper’s research and offer a chance to revive someone.

• Steven was astonished that Lu Chen knew someone with a Cradily, and warned him that the injured Pokémon was a dangerous predator.
• Lu Chen calmly stroked Cradily, soothing it and examining its injuries; Steven was amazed that Cradily trusted him immediately.
• Lu Chen advised Steven on treating Cradily’s injuries, then asked whether fossil revival technology could revive humans.
• Steven explained that Devon Corporation’s method could only create a genetically similar new person, and revealed that Professor Juniper was researching a dream-based form of complete revival.
• Steven warned that human revival was forbidden, then left the Pokémon Center; Ash, Misty, and Gary connected Lu Chen’s goal to the gravestone at the Aura Clan’s sacred grounds.
• Lu Chen thought Professor Juniper’s research might have advanced and considered renting her the fossil Pokémon breeding on his farm.

Lu Chen brought his Pokémon to Steven’s specialist treatment room, where Nurse Joy examined Aerodactyl and discovered extensive hidden injuries. She said Aerodactyl could fully recover and might become even stronger once treated.

• Scott met Lu Chen and his companions outside the Pokémon Center and escorted them to the Devon Corporation Building.
• Steven welcomed Lu Chen and led the group to the specialist Pokémon treatment room, where Lu Chen released Gengar, Lapras, Gouging Fire, and Aerodactyl.
• Nurse Joy and her Elite Four-level Chansey began examining Aerodactyl after the other Pokémon hesitated to go first.
• Nurse Joy found numerous old injuries, bone fissures, muscle tears, and lingering foreign energy throughout Aerodactyl’s body.
• Nurse Joy assured Lu Chen that Aerodactyl could recover completely and might advance further after treatment.

Lu Chen’s Aerodactyl, Lapras, and Gengar recovered from their lingering injuries and regained the possibility of growing stronger. After giving Steven the remaining Starf Berries, Lu Chen introduced Scott’s Battle Frontier project, and Steven agreed to visit its strongest Brain, Brandon.

• Nurse Joy’s medical team treated Aerodactyl, Lapras, and Gengar for two days and nights while Gouging Fire completed basic rehabilitation.
• Aerodactyl, Lapras, and Gengar awoke free of their lingering injuries and sensed they could surpass Peak Champion strength.
• Lu Chen thanked the medical staff with valuable supplies and gave Steven more than two hundred Starf Berries, advising him not to buy more in bulk for a year or two.
• Lu Chen introduced Scott and his Battle Frontier project to Steven, who became interested after hearing Scott’s plans.
• Steven agreed to visit the Battle Frontier, and Scott led him and Lu Chen to meet its strongest Brain, Brandon.

Lu Chen and the others visited Brandon’s Battle Pyramid excavation site, where Professor Hokuto and the archaeologists greeted Lu Chen with gratitude for saving them in the past. Deep in the ruins, an ancient voice awakened in response to Lu Chen’s presence, leaving him suspiciously familiar with the place.

• Brandon welcomed Steven and Lu Chen to the Battle Frontier and brought them to an archaeological excavation led by Professor Hokuto.
• Hokuto joyfully reunited with Lu Chen, thanked Gengar, and sketched its markings while feeding it snacks.
• The archaeologists thanked Lu Chen for rescuing them from the ruins, and Scott told Brandon that Lu Chen had four Champion-level Pokémon.
• A black stone sphere deep inside the ruins awakened as Lu Chen approached and declared that its king was still alive, cursing the Aura Guardian.
• Lu Chen sensed something familiar about the ruins but did not explain his suspicion to Hokuto.

Lu Chen led the group into ancient ruins and identified the central chamber as the throne room of the tyrannical emperor of the Empire of Pokélantis, who had tried to capture Ho-Oh. As he warned that the chamber might be a death trap or a resurrection chamber, the black beads embedded in the walls suddenly moved.

• Lu Chen guided Hokuto, Brandon, Steven, Ash, and the others through murals depicting war, slaughter, and destruction.
• The group found blood-red sealing runes, and Lu Chen had Gengar break through a hidden wall to reveal the path to the central chamber.
• Lu Chen recognized a chained depiction of Ho-Oh on a stone door and discovered a black Poké Ball resting on an obsidian throne.
• Lu Chen identified the throne as belonging to the emperor of the Empire of Pokélantis and explained that the tyrant had waged war to capture Ho-Oh.
• Lu Chen warned that the chamber might be a lethal trap or a resurrection chamber, and the black beads in the walls began to move.

Lu Chen and the others fought sixteen Elite Four-level Spiritomb and learned they were disposable weapons made from 108 human and Pokémon souls each. After the Spiritomb were purified, the King of Persia’s dark soul appeared and recognized Lu Chen, leaving the group facing their true enemy.

• Ash hid behind Misty as sixteen Elite Four-level Spiritomb emerged from the black beads, and Lu Chen, Steven, and Brandon sent out their Pokémon.
• Steven’s Metagross and Brandon’s Regirock struggled against the Spiritomb’s corrosive attacks and their reckless, self-destructive fighting style.
• Lu Chen told Steven and Brandon that the Spiritomb were weapons created by the Persian Empire from 108 human and Pokémon souls each.
• Lu Chen’s allies stopped holding back, and their Pokémon purified all sixteen Spiritomb.
• A dark soul rose from the throne, and the King of Persia recognized Lu Chen, who realized the old king had survived.

The King of Persia possessed Ash and taunted Lu Chen, who beat him but could not bring himself to kill Ash. The King of Persia demanded Lu Chen’s Pokémon in exchange for leaving Ash’s body, then reconsidered his terms.

• The King of Persia possessed Ash after Gengar failed to stop him, and announced that he had returned.
• Lu Chen brutally beat the King of Persia while he controlled Ash, then stopped short of killing him when the King pointed out that Lu Chen would not sacrifice Ash.
• The King of Persia punched Lu Chen and demanded that Lapras heal Ash, then reminisced about his past with Lu Chen and their old plan involving Ho-Oh.
• Lu Chen demanded that the King of Persia state his terms for leaving Ash’s body, and the King demanded all of Lu Chen’s Pokémon before realizing Lu Chen could not command them to obey.

The King of Persia, possessing Ash, challenged Lu Chen to a Pokémon battle, and Lu Chen accepted while secretly waiting for reinforcements. As they headed to Brandon's Battle Pyramid, Lu Chen recounted how he had once foiled the King of Persia's plan to seize Ho-Oh, while Steven and Brandon wondered about Lu Chen's true identity.

• The King of Persia proposed a battle and demanded Lu Chen's Pokémon if he won, while Lu Chen required him to leave Ash's body if he lost.
• Lu Chen agreed to the battle and secretly relied on Gengar to summon reinforcements, then led the group out of the ruins with the King of Persia.
• An unnoticed dark stone orb left the ruins as Qixing asked Lu Chen how he had met the King of Persia.
• Lu Chen recalled leading Aaron and Pokémon to stop the King of Persia from using thousands of corpses to suppress Ho-Oh, gaining Sacred Fire but failing to kill the escaping emperor.
• The King of Persia declared Brandon's Battle Pyramid his temporary palace, while Brandon and Steven discussed Lu Chen's mysterious background.

Lu Chen battled the King of Persia, who used Charizard and a referee as a shield before taunting Lu Chen with the story of Aaron’s death. The revelation left Lu Chen consumed by rage as the battle continued.

• The King of Persia challenged Lu Chen to a battle, and they sent out Charizard and Aerodactyl.
• The King of Persia ordered Charizard to hide behind the referee, forcing Aerodactyl to stop its Rock Slide before it struck him.
• The King of Persia revealed that Aaron had hunted him for three years after Lu Chen disappeared and had ultimately been killed by an assassin.
• Lu Chen clenched his fists and threatened to make the King of Persia regret ever coming into the world.
• The King of Persia mocked Lu Chen and dared him to kill him.

Lu Chen exposed the King of Persia’s past and prepared to capture him with Aaron’s help and the goddess statue. The King of Persia escaped Ash’s body but destroyed himself by plunging into the statue’s Aura-infused light.

• Lu Chen resisted the King of Persia’s provocation, revealed that Aaron had defeated him, and questioned why he had appeared before Lu Chen.
• Aaron arrived with the goddess statue from Cameran Palace, and Lu Chen asked him to infuse it with Aura.
• Aaron filled the statue with Aura, causing its light to burn the King of Persia’s soul while protecting everyone else.
• Lu Chen summoned Gengar and prepared a stone box to contain the King of Persia while seeking information from him.
• The King of Persia escaped Ash’s body and rushed into the statue’s light, where his soul dissipated completely.