Chapter Summaries

Tetsuya defeated Amphy’s Ferroseed with Prinplup and earned his eighth Johto badge, setting his sights on the Silver Conference. At the Pokémon Center, Anabel privately warned him that Giovanni had his eye on him.

• Tetsuya’s Prinplup battled Amphy’s Ferroseed, using Water Pulse and Brick Break while suffering damage from Iron Barbs.
• Tetsuya used Brine and Whirlpool to prevent Ferroseed from recovering, and the referee declared Prinplup the winner.
• Amphy awarded Tetsuya the Mineral Badge, completing his collection of all eight Johto badges, and considered taking Kasha as her apprentice.
• Back at the Pokémon Center, Tetsuya found Anabel waiting in his room and learned that Looker’s Boss had already been released after compensating those involved.
• Anabel used her Alakazam to create a Psychic Terrain barrier, then told Tetsuya that Giovanni had his eye on him.

Anabel warned Tetsuya that Giovanni had identified him as a potential target, and Tetsuya later joined Amphy on a trip from Olivine City. They encountered a dispute over ancient ruins near Strange Thunder Village, where Amphy learned the site was meant to be opened seven years later and suggested asking Professor Oak about Fruit Field Village.

• Anabel told Tetsuya that Looker's Boss knew Giovanni was Team Rocket's boss and might have brought her near Olivine City to test Tetsuya for him.
• Tetsuya said he would stay cautious around Team Rocket and rely on Pidgeot to escape danger, then watched Anabel and Alakazam leave by Teleport.
• The next day, Tetsuya and Amphy flew out from Olivine Gym and discussed the strength of Lt. Surge's Magnezone.
• Tetsuya and Amphy landed near Strange Thunder Village, where researchers led by Xiaoxia argued with villagers over access to ancient ruins.
• Amphy contacted Fruit Field Village's chief and learned the ruins should be opened in seven years, though entering earlier might be dangerous.
• Amphy told Tetsuya that Professor Oak would be the right person to ask about Fruit Field Village.

Tetsuya and Amphy investigated the ruins near Strange Thunder Village, where villagers warned that an underground force had once driven two people to violence and suicide. After locating and opening the entrance, they entered with Falkner and reached a massive door marked with the word “golden.”

• A villager told Tetsuya and Amphy that two people who spent a night at the ruins returned with glowing red eyes, attacked others, and later jumped into a river.
• Amphy decided to investigate despite the warning, and she and Tetsuya sent their Pokémon to search for the ruins’ entrance.
• Gigalith located the entrance about three hundred meters underground, and Steelix dug a passage down to it.
• Falkner arrived, and he, Tetsuya, and Amphy descended into the ruins with their Pokémon.
• The group reached a massive slanted door, and Tetsuya translated its inscription as “golden.”

Tetsuya, Falkner, and Amphy explored an ancient underground ruin and found a queen’s statue holding a scepter identical to the Sea Spirit Scepter. The statue’s mask and gemstone activated, sending six red streaks toward them.

• Tetsuya and Falkner discussed gold, their expenses, and the cost of raising Dragon-type Pokemon.
• Tetsuya had Gigalith smash open the sealed stone gate, and the group entered the ruins with Noctowl lighting the passage.
• The group examined murals depicting a powerful queen and reached a small hall containing her statue, golden throne, mask, and scepter.
• Tetsuya recognized the statue’s scepter as identical to the Sea Spirit Scepter, and he and Amphy noticed that the mask and scepter remained dust-free.
• The mask and gemstone glowed red, then sent six streaks of red light hurtling toward Tetsuya, Falkner, and Amphy.

Tetsuya, Falkner, and Amphy fled the ruin’s red beams while their Pokémon fought to stop them, but a final beam struck Tetsuya and Gallade. As the group tried to understand what happened, the ground began to tremble and Amphy summoned Na’er to protect them.

• The ruin’s mask and scepter fired red beams that drained the Pokémon’s strength, and Bronzong, Noctowl, Blaziken, and Gallade combined their powers to stop them.
• Sutian sensed trouble through Xatu and worried about Little Su, while Noctowl revealed its Quasi-Champion strength and helped hold back the beams.
• Tetsuya, Falkner, and Amphy escaped the hall, but a final red beam passed through Gallade and struck Tetsuya, leaving both motionless.
• Amphy deduced that the last beam had likely come from the scepter’s gem, though she could not explain why Tetsuya and Gallade had been hit.
• Noctowl sensed something wrong as wind rose around Tetsuya and the ground shook, so Amphy ordered Ampharos to protect the group and sent out Na’er.

Tetsuya underwent a powerful Psychic awakening underground while Metagross protected the others and analyzed what was happening. After the cavern erupted, Tetsuya emerged from the dust and introduced himself as a Psychic-type user.

• Amphy had Metagross analyze Tetsuya and learned that the red light had triggered his unusually powerful Psychic awakening, while Gallade's abilities were also improving.
• As Tetsuya's energy intensified, Blaziken tried to reach him with Aura but was thrown into a wall, and Metagross warned that it would soon be unable to withstand the pressure.
• Amphy and Falkner left the underground passage with Metagross, while Blaziken stayed behind to protect Tetsuya and went to retrieve two items from the Bluestone Hall.
• Tetsuya's uncontrolled power made nearby stones vanish and caused part of the earth to disappear before a massive eruption sent dust into the sky.
• Sutian and Asuka waited outside, and Tetsuya emerged from the dust and introduced himself as a Psychic-type user.

After overexerting his newly awakened psychic powers, Tetsuya collapsed and was treated at Olivine Gym. While recovering, he discovered that his psychic power could resonate with Gallade’s, temporarily raising Gallade’s strength and potential.

• Tetsuya descended after clearing the dust from the sky, then suffered a nosebleed and fainted from using too much psychic power.
• Miss Joy diagnosed Tetsuya with psychic overexertion, treated him with Asuka’s Secret Medicine and Chansey’s Life Dew, and advised him to rest for about a week.
• Amphy took Tetsuya to Olivine Gym to recover, while Asuka and Sutian left to discuss matters privately.
• After Tetsuya’s Pokemon gathered around his bed, Gallade blamed itself for not getting him out of the Underground Cave sooner, and Tetsuya comforted it.
• Tetsuya used his psychic power to resonate with Gallade, temporarily increasing Gallade’s level and potential as they shared their thoughts.

After recovering from his near-fatal psychic strain, Tetsuya trained with Gallade and watched his Pokémon strengthen at Olivine Gym. The chapter ended when Amphy called to report that something had happened to Tetsuya’s Ampharos.

• Tetsuya ended his Inner Focus resonance with Gallade, recovered, and told Blaziken to return the other Pokémon to their Poké Balls.
• Half a month later, Gallade used Teleport with Tetsuya’s psychic resonance and had reached level 54 and Elite Four Level.
• Tetsuya made Blaziken add training sets, then paid one million Alliance Coins after Escavalier destroyed a training machine.
• Tetsuya checked on Pidgeot and Togekiss training in the wind simulation area, Gigalith coaching Gible, Serperior battling Alolan Ninetales, and Prinplup trying to recruit Dreepy.
• Amphy called Tetsuya and said something had happened to his Ampharos.

Tetsuya learned that his Ampharos had reached Champion level with Amphy and Guang'er’s guidance, then set out to travel Johto and take Bounty Quests. By winter, he was repeatedly visiting Articuno on Mount Shirogane, where he complained that its suggested location had yielded nothing he wanted.

• Tetsuya visited Lighthouse No. 2 and discovered that Ampharos had broken through to Champion level after training with Guang'er.
• Tetsuya thanked Amphy and Guang'er, told Amphy he planned to travel Johto and take Bounty Quests, and agreed to inform Asuka before leaving.
• Tetsuya told Asuka and Yuriko he had decided to travel, and Asuka asked him to call regularly and confirm he was safe.
• Tetsuya left Olivine City, traveled across Johto with Pidgeot and Gallade, and became difficult for his friends to track down.
• In winter, Tetsuya visited Articuno at its Mount Shirogane cave for the third time in a month and said he had found nothing he wanted at the location Articuno had suggested.

Tetsuya finished his arrangements with Articuno, who agreed that her child would guard Mount Shirogane and assist the League when needed. He left the mountain as it closed for several years, then rested with his Pokémon and learned Steven would bring Prinplup’s Water Stone the next morning.

• Tetsuya asked Articuno for more treasure locations, but she had no further leads and blasted him with cold air when he pressed her.
• Tetsuya confirmed the League would leave Mount Shirogane alone and that Articuno’s child would serve the League for three years after its birth.
• Tetsuya left Articuno’s cave with Alolan Ninetales, and Articuno sealed the entrance as Mount Shirogane closed to Trainers.
• Tetsuya checked into a nearby Pokémon Center, where Miss Joy noticed that he walked strangely.
• Tetsuya received confirmation that a Water Stone had sold and reassured Prinplup that its replacement item would arrive the next day.
• Steven messaged Tetsuya that he would bring the Water Stone and share a discovery with him.

Tetsuya bought a high-quality Water Stone from Steven, and Prinplup evolved into an unusually powerful Empoleon with a mysterious red gemstone on its crown. Steven identified clues linking the gemstone to Lugia and the Mystery Crystal to Soul Dew, then agreed to wander around Johto; Tetsuya invited him to visit a place with lots of stones.

• Steven arrived openly at the Pokemon Center, drawing a crowd, and gave Tetsuya a quality-97 Water Stone without charging extra.
• Tetsuya fed Prinplup before letting it evolve, and Prinplup became a level-43 Empoleon with Quasi-Champion potential and a red gemstone embedded in its central horn.
• Tetsuya suspected the gemstone was Lugia's Present, and Steven guessed that it could improve Empoleon's control over Water-type energy.
• Steven revealed that an ancient record connected the Mystery Crystal to Soul Dew, which was refined from Mystery Crystals.
• Steven said he had handed Hoenn's affairs to Wallace and planned to search Johto for a way to refine Soul Dew.
• Tetsuya invited Steven to accompany him somewhere in Johto that had lots of stones.

Tetsuya recruited Steven to help investigate the Alph Ruins, where many types of Unown had made exploration dangerous. After meeting Falkner and learning about the enormous ruins and their Unown, the group reached the first section and prepared to descend into a massive pit.

• Steven eagerly agreed to accompany Tetsuya to the ruins after hearing they contained fossils and unusual stones.
• Tetsuya and Steven flew to the archaeological site on Pidgeot and Metagross, drawing attention from local Trainers.
• Falkner greeted Steven, confessed he was a fan, and bickered with Tetsuya about their past battles.
• Falkner explained that the Alph Ruins contained four connected areas, three Underground Caves, fourteen underground structures, and possibly all twenty-eight kinds of Unown.
• Falkner led Tetsuya and Steven to the first area, where he tossed a rope into a massive pit as they prepared to enter.

Tetsuya, Steven, and Falkner entered Area One of the Alph Ruins, where Tetsuya exposed the Unown hiding in what appeared to be a stone wall. The Unown attacked in coordinated groups, and the three Trainers fought back as the battle escalated.

• Falkner led Tetsuya and Steven into Area One of the Alph Ruins and explained that researchers were still deciphering its ancient writing.
• Steven admired the walls while Tetsuya asked about the Unown, and Falkner explained that they hid inside the writing and attacked approaching researchers.
• Tetsuya used Blaziken to catch an Unown, then claimed he could no longer find the rest after they concealed themselves.
• Tetsuya and Steven ordered Blaziken and Metagross to attack the wall, revealing that it was composed entirely of angry Unown.
• Falkner ordered the Guard Team to protect the researchers as the Unown formed groups and launched attacks with wind, fire, and electricity.
• Tetsuya, Steven, and Falkner countered the Unown's stronger assault, and Metagross and Noctowl struck the swarm, sending many Unown flying.

After the Unown overwhelmed Steven, Tetsuya, and Falkner with white light, Tetsuya woke in a sealed cave with his Pokémon. As several Pokémon resonated with a marked triangular rock, Cynthia appeared in the cave, leaving Tetsuya wondering how she had arrived.

• Steven sent Aggron to attack the Unown, but they transferred its Stone Edge barrage away and warned the humans to leave.
• Tetsuya sensed the Unown's emotions while Steven prepared to act, but the Unown enveloped the group in white light and vanished with them.
• The Guard Team found the cave empty and called the League, while Cynthia explored an ancient Sinnoh ruin and used Draco Meteor at a passage entrance.
• Tetsuya woke in a sealed cave, confirmed his Pokémon were with him, and released them while Ampharos illuminated the strange triangular black rock.
• Escavalier, Empoleon, Dreepy, and Gible began glowing as their Aura resonated with three patterns on the rock.
• A blast brought Cynthia into the cave, and she and Tetsuya were both surprised to see each other.

Tetsuya and Cynthia discovered they were trapped in the Three Illusions Stage, an altar to Arceus in a Space-Time Rift between Johto and Sinnoh. Unable to find a way out, they decided to risk channeling their Pokémon’s power through the altar.

• Cynthia identified the altar’s symbols as representing Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina, then explained its connection to Arceus and the World Behind the World.
• Cynthia revealed that the Three Illusions Stage lay in a Space-Time Rift and that she and Garchomp had been teleported there by Unown.
• Tetsuya learned that Steven and Falkner had been traveling with him and might have been sent somewhere else by the Unown.
• Tetsuya treated Cynthia’s injuries with Potion and Togekiss’s Life Dew, and Cynthia told him that Steven had an eye condition that made him sensitive to intense light.
• Tetsuya and Cynthia agreed to take a gamble and called their Pokémon forward.

Tetsuya and Cynthia's Pokémon fueled the triangular stone until it summoned a phantom of Arceus, who agreed to hear their request to return home. Arceus noticed that Tetsuya should not have appeared there, then turned toward three approaching powers.

• A rainbow appeared over Ilex Forest, and Kurt worried that the strange sight might involve the boy connected to recent Ho-Oh and Lugia incidents; an old shrine then vanished in a green glow.
• Professor Carolina watched the rainbow from the ruins of the Hall of Origin, recognized the Lustrous Orb's reaction, and wondered whether Cynthia had entered the Hall.
• Tetsuya and Cynthia realized the stone was draining their exhausted Pokémon, but Cynthia believed the three upper patterns would be enough to trigger a way out.
• The stone sent Tetsuya, Cynthia, and the Pokémon flying, and Tetsuya used his Psychic power to keep Cynthia from hitting the ground.
• A white phantom of Arceus appeared and explained that it was an avatar left behind long ago; Tetsuya asked it to return them to where they came from.
• Arceus told Tetsuya he should not have appeared there, then looked toward three familiar powers approaching the Three Illusions Stage.

Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina appeared in the Three Illusions Stage, where their arrival provoked a confrontation with Arceus’s phantom. After Dialga and Palkia began fighting, Arceus banished the Legendary Pokemon, though Dialga looked back at Tetsuya before disappearing.

• Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina emerged in the Three Illusions Stage as Tetsuya and Cynthia tried to retreat.
• Giratina challenged Arceus’s phantom, while Dialga and Palkia’s hostility escalated into a battle.
• Dialga attacked Palkia with Roar of Time, and Palkia retaliated with Spatial Rend, which Dialga deflected with Iron Tail.
• Arceus’s phantom stopped the attack from reaching the Three Illusions Stage and ordered the Legendary Pokemon to return to their worlds.
• Arceus’s phantom expanded its Thousand Arms and banished the Legendary Pokemon, while Dialga glanced at Tetsuya before vanishing.

The Arceus Phantom restored Cynthia’s Aura Sphere and used its remaining power to improve Gigalith and Escavalier’s bodies. Tetsuya awoke in a Pokémon Center with Asuka, Falkner, and Steven beside him, then quietly called Cynthia.

• The Arceus Phantom explained that Aura Sphere came from Arceus and could summon the Space-Time Duo to help restore order, then awakened the power in Cynthia and her Pokémon.
• The Arceus Phantom told Tetsuya that his existence was unusual but accepted him as part of the world’s development, then offered to help his partners.
• Tetsuya asked the Arceus Phantom to improve Gigalith and Escavalier’s bodies, and it began using its remaining power on them before disappearing.
• The Arceus Phantom explained that the Unown had only been frightened, and Tetsuya heard it mention an unfamiliar human energy in Escavalier before losing consciousness.
• Tetsuya woke in a Pokémon Center, greeted Chansey, and found Asuka, Falkner, and Steven waiting beside him.
• Tetsuya reassured them and secretly used his Psychic-type abilities to bring over his wristwatch and call Cynthia.

After the Unown teleported Tetsuya, Steven, and Falkner to distant regions, they regrouped and learned that several days had passed in the outside world. Steven apologized for the incident and arranged consolation gifts, while Falkner revealed he would enter the Silver Conference, which Tetsuya expected to be unusually competitive.

• Tetsuya spoke with Cynthia by phone, and they agreed to discuss their experiences when they met again.
• Falkner said he had been teleported to Dark Cave, while Steven described being sent to a ruined temple in Hoenn; they learned that nearly four days had passed outside the ruins.
• Falkner reported that the Unown had mostly vanished and that a red light associated with Ho-Oh had appeared above Ilex Forest, drawing Trainers to the area.
• Steven solemnly apologized to Tetsuya and Falkner, and Asuka accepted the apology on their behalf and agreed to receive consolation gifts at their Gyms.
• Falkner announced that he would compete in the Silver Conference and eagerly named several possible rivals, while Tetsuya predicted the tournament would be chaotic and resolved to win.

After a week of rest at Cianwood Gym, Tetsuya joined Asuka and Yuriko for the New Year Fireworks Festival with all twelve of his Pokemon visible inside specially arranged Poke Balls. The chapter ended with Tetsuya and his partners watching the fireworks together.

• Tetsuya reflected on his recovery, the Three Illusions Stage, and his suspicion that he possessed both Aura and Psychic-type powers.
• Asuka invited Tetsuya to the Fireworks Festival, and Yuriko prepared a traditional outfit for him.
• Tetsuya modified clips to let all twelve of his Pokemon ride in visible Poke Balls, allowing them to join the outing.
• Tetsuya, Asuka, and Yuriko walked through Cianwood as other Trainers copied Tetsuya's way of bringing their Pokemon along.
• Tetsuya and his Pokemon watched the fireworks while Asuka and Yuriko enjoyed the festival together.