Chapter Summaries

Tetsuya tried to get Enishi Tatsuya to share information about the invited Trainers, then met old Mr. Mura and his granddaughter Flannery. Enishi eventually introduced several powerful contestants, leaving Tetsuya and Norman impressed by the League’s lineup and Tetsuya considering negotiating a reward for winning.

• Tetsuya asked Enishi Tatsuya for contestant information, and Enishi explained that the League had kept the invitees’ identities secret before agreeing to describe the Trainers he knew.
• Old Mr. Mura introduced Flannery to Tetsuya, Enishi Tatsuya, and Norman, and praised Tetsuya after hearing Steven had spoken about him.
• After Mura left, Enishi Tatsuya gave in and began identifying powerful contestants, including Poli and Princess Sara, along with several regional specialists.
• Enishi Tatsuya described the contestants’ specialties, personalities, and battle styles, impressing Tetsuya and Norman with his knowledge.
• Tetsuya wondered whether he should negotiate a proper reward with the League if he won first place.

Tetsuya prepared for Hoenn’s Gym Leader Qualification Tournament and began his first-round battle against Hamon Chigi. After Pidgeot overwhelmed Swellow’s Gust, Swellow precisely evaded Pidgeot’s Quick Attack, leaving Tetsuya wary of Chigi’s tactics.

• Enishi Tatsuya explained that Tetsuya and Norman would face seven especially strong rivals as they competed for Hoenn’s vacant Gym Leader positions.
• Asakawa Chinatsu arrived, and the group learned that 32 Elite Four Level Trainers would compete in four round-robin groups, with the top three from each advancing.
• Tetsuya discovered he would battle Hamon Chigi, a Grass-type specialist, in the first match on Field 2.
• At the tournament, Tetsuya sent out Pidgeot while Chigi sent out Swellow, and Pidgeot’s Gust easily defeated Swellow’s wind attack.
• Chigi had Swellow use Echoed Voice, but Tetsuya ordered Pidgeot to interrupt it with Quick Attack; Swellow evaded at the exact moment Pidgeot could no longer change course.

Tetsuya defeated Chigi’s Swellow with Pidgeot’s overwhelming speed, then used Ursaluna to shrug off Magnezone’s Zap Cannon and poison Machamp. The chapter left Ursaluna and Machamp locked in a contest of strength, with the poison beginning to shift the advantage toward Ursaluna.

• Tetsuya’s Pidgeot outpaced Swellow and knocked it out with Air Slash.
• Chigi sent out Magnezone, whose Lock-On-assisted Zap Cannon had no effect on Tetsuya’s Ursaluna.
• Chigi switched to Machamp, but Ursaluna poisoned it with Gunk Shot.
• Machamp initially held its ground against Ursaluna, but poison weakened it during their clash and gave Ursaluna the growing advantage.

Tetsuya defeated Chigi in their opening tournament match after Ursaluna won battles against Machamp and Sceptile, then Ampharos swept through Chigi’s remaining Pokémon. The scoreboard recorded Tetsuya’s first win, placing him near the top of his group.

• Ursaluna defeated Chigi’s poisoned Machamp with Headlong Rush after Chigi’s Facade strategy failed.
• Ursaluna overcame Sceptile’s Double Team and Bullet Seed, then knocked it out with Ice Punch before halftime.
• After the break, Mantine’s Hydro Pump wore down Ursaluna, and Tetsuya recalled it.
• Tetsuya sent out Ampharos, which knocked out Mantine with Thunder and defeated Magnezone by controlling its electricity.
• Ampharos defeated Chigi’s final Pokémon, Exeggutor, and Miss Joy announced Tetsuya as the winner.

Tetsuya dominated his second qualification battle with Pidgeot before securing another win with his remaining Pokemon, while Norman and Asakawa Chinatsu also fought their first matches. That night, Miss Joy visited Tetsuya with an invitation to a trial for Dragon-type Pokemon and their Trainers on Southern Island in Hoenn.

• Tetsuya's first opponent fell quickly, and he and Norman teased each other while the crowd discussed Tetsuya's growing reputation.
• After the day's battles, Wallace told Tetsuya that people saw him as Kanto's next Lance, but Tetsuya said he preferred Steven's approach to life.
• Tetsuya used Pidgeot to defeat Kinda Bunta's Electivire, Cloyster, and Fearow, then finished the battle with Ursaluna and Ampharos to earn two points.
• Asakawa Chinatsu narrowly won her first match with Absol and raised her score to one, while Tetsuya encouraged her and urged Norman to reach the second round.
• Miss Joy visited Tetsuya at night and gave him a ship ticket to Southern Island, inviting him to a trial for outstanding Dragon-type Pokemon and their Trainers.

Tetsuya accepted an invitation to a trial connected to Latias and began preparing his Dragon-type Pokémon for it. During the Elite Four-level tournament, his breeding expertise attracted paid requests from other Trainers, and he turned his attention to preparing for his next battle.

• Miss Joy told Tetsuya that he was the only invited participant so far for a trial whose time and location would be sent later.
• Tetsuya decided to intensify Gible and Dreepy's training, estimating that Gible would evolve into Gabite in about ten days.
• Tetsuya and Norman discussed Gible's rapid growth, and Tetsuya assured him that Miss Joy monitored its health.
• Tetsuya agreed to review Norman's Slaking diet and offered him two Energy Cube formulas for a fee, prompting other Trainers to request his breeding and training advice.
• Tetsuya collected several paid requests and noted that his next tournament opponent was Tie Xiangping from Steel Valley.

Tetsuya and Tie Xiangping began their Gym Leader Selection Tournament battle with their ace Pokémon, Blaziken and Aggron. After a fierce exchange, both Mega Evolved, and Tie Xiangping opened the next phase with Mega Aggron’s Heavy Slam as Tetsuya ordered Blaziken to dodge.

• Tie Xiangping was chosen to represent his Steel Valley family in the tournament’s fight for Hoenn’s first official Steel-type Gym.
• Tetsuya sent out Blaziken against Tie Xiangping’s Elite Four Peak Aggron, and the two aces traded attacks while testing each other’s defenses and reactions.
• Aggron countered Blaziken’s speed with a precise tail strike and a Headbutt, but Blaziken evaded most of the latter attack.
• Tie Xiangping and Tetsuya Mega Evolved Aggron and Blaziken, unleashing their full power before the spectators.
• Tie Xiangping commanded Mega Aggron to use Heavy Slam, and Tetsuya told Blaziken to dodge.

Tetsuya’s Mega Blaziken defeated Tie Xiangping’s Mega Aggron after overcoming its formidable defenses and exploiting its Outrage-fueled rage. Tetsuya went on to win the six-Pokémon match with only Blaziken, Ampharos, and Gallade taking the field, renewing trainers’ discussion of his strength.

• Tie Xiangping’s Mega Aggron used Filter to withstand Mega Blaziken’s attacks, but Blaziken’s Aura Sphere and speed let it gain the upper hand.
• Mega Aggron entered an Outrage-fueled frenzy, and Mega Blaziken used Shadow Step to evade its attacks before knocking it out with Superpower and Aura Sphere.
• Mega Blaziken defeated Skarmory but fell to Magnezone, which Ampharos then defeated.
• Ampharos overcame Scizor and weakened Ferrothorn before Gallade defeated Ferrothorn and, after a long fight, Steelix.
• Miss Joy declared Tetsuya the winner, and trainers discussed his victory after he used only three Pokémon.

After Tetsuya finished the first round with a perfect record, Brock told him that his family had left him in charge of Pewter Gym and his younger siblings. Tetsuya tried to reassure Brock and Jiro, then wondered whether Brock planned to marry into a wealthy family; the conversation ended before he could ask how Rhyperior was doing.

• Asakawa Chinatsu, Norman, and Enishi Tatsuya discussed Tetsuya's victories and the attention his accomplishments drew, while Enishi joked about a newspaper headline and Tetsuya demanded a share of the profits.
• Tetsuya won his remaining first-round matches and finished with seven victories and a perfect record, then waited two days for the second round.
• Brock told Tetsuya that Wupo, his mother, his grandfather, and his uncle had left to recuperate, leaving him responsible for Pewter Gym and his younger siblings.
• Brock complained that his family had burdened him with the Gym and the city's problems, then left to handle matters and sent Jiro to speak with Tetsuya.
• Jiro told Tetsuya that Brock had talked about marrying into a richer family to avoid worrying about the Gym; Tetsuya speculated that Brock might target the Joy or Officer Jenny families, startling Jiro into ending the call.
• Tetsuya realized he had wanted to ask Jiro how Rhyperior was doing and recalled their agreement that Jiro could have its Rhyhorn offspring as his Starter Pokemon.

After Misty told Tetsuya that Minglan had left Cerulean City with Brock and Wupo, Tetsuya encouraged her to train so she could take over the Gym. He then directed his Pokémon’s individual training and arranged battles to spur Gible toward evolution.

• Misty told Tetsuya that Minglan had left with Brock and Wupo, leaving her sisters to manage the Cerulean Gym, and Tetsuya reassured her.
• Misty resolved to become a great Water-type Trainer and train to take over the Gym, then hurried off to practice.
• Tetsuya assigned Escavalier, Alolan Ninetales, and Empoleon specialized training to help them reach Elite Four Level.
• Tetsuya noticed that Gible had reached Level 24 without evolving and arranged opponents from the Yuantian Group to give it battle experience, while Enishi Tatsuya and Norman watched.
• Tetsuya promised Gible an extra meal if it won, and Gible charged into battle with a move that appeared to miss its targets.

Gible evolved into Gabite after Empoleon repeatedly dunked it in the pool, and Tetsuya tested its new body and combat abilities. Gabite showed impressive stats and a love of shiny marbles, while its odd, doglike cries earned Tetsuya an icy reprimand from Alolan Ninetales.

• Empoleon chased Gible into the pool and dunked it after Gible accidentally hit it with Draco Meteor twice.
• Gible evolved into a level-26 Gabite with Champion potential, new moves, and the Sand Veil and Rough Skin Abilities.
• Tetsuya gave Gabite a Glass Marble and began testing its gliding, defense, stamina, and attacks with help from Empoleon.
• Gabite performed rapid short-distance glides and recorded excellent stats, though it struggled to control its direction and was exhausted by the tests.
• Tetsuya and Norman discussed Gabite's strong performance while Gabite happily played with two Glass Marbles.
• Tetsuya teased Alolan Ninetales by requesting an ice spa package, so Alolan Ninetales froze him into a human-shaped ice sculpture and Gabite praised its boss.

After advancing to the second round, Tetsuya learned that the Trainers would temporarily manage different city Gyms for a month while the League evaluated their performance. He arrived in Mauville City, where he met Wattson and his assistant Watts, and began his temporary assignment.

• Asakawa Chinatsu won his tiebreaker matches and secured a place among the twelve Trainers advancing to the second round.
• Miss Joy announced that each Trainer would serve as a temporary Gym Leader for one month, with League staff judging their performance.
• Norman learned that he had been assigned to Petalburg City, where he planned to develop the Gym he intended to lead permanently.
• Tetsuya learned that he had been assigned to Mauville City, a difficult post shaped by Wattson's controversial role in halting the New Mauville Project.
• Tetsuya met Wattson and his assistant Watts at Mauville Gym, received the Dynamo Badge, and learned that Watts would help him during the month while Wattson left town.

Tetsuya began his month as Mauville Gym’s acting Gym Leader and spent his first day clearing a backlog of paperwork while learning about the routes and problems under the Gym’s jurisdiction. After arranging for Berry supplies for his Pokémon, he decided to investigate a forming hurricane near Route 123 the next morning.

• Tetsuya took over as acting Gym Leader and learned that Wattson’s renovations had left the Gym with little office space and no cafeteria.
• Tetsuya and Watts reviewed a large backlog of reports, and Tetsuya resolved an old incident involving Wild Pokémon attacking people.
• Tetsuya learned about ongoing issues on Routes 111, 118, 119, and 123, including Trainer disputes, search-and-rescue operations, and Berry cultivation overseen by the Xianxie family.
• Tetsuya gave Watts a long list of Berries for his Pokémon, and Watts agreed to arrange the supplies.
• Tetsuya read a report about a massive hurricane forming south of Route 123 and planned to investigate it with his Absol the next morning.

Tetsuya weakened the Storm Surge threatening the Berry groves along Route 123, then accepted an invitation to lunch from the Xianxie family. The chapter ended with Xin Xie welcoming him by placing a flower garland around Pidgeot’s neck.

• Tetsuya left Watts in charge of Mauville Gym and flew with Pidgeot to the waters south of Route 123 to weaken the approaching Storm Surge.
• Pidgeot repeatedly disrupted the cyclone, while Tetsuya used the Water Drop Pattern and Little Ho-Oh’s help to manage the falling seawater.
• Pidgeot accidentally drenched a nearby Masquerain clan, and Blaziken drove the angry Pokémon off with its flames.
• After Pidgeot reported that the Storm Surge had been weakened, Tetsuya agreed to join the Xianxie family for lunch.
• Xin Xie introduced himself as the person in charge and placed a flower garland around Pidgeot’s neck.

Tetsuya met Lilyca of Mt. Pyre, who asked whether Groudon had recently awakened, then returned to Mauville Gym. Watts reported a widespread paralysis incident on Route 110’s Cycling Road.

• Tetsuya dined with Xin Xie, learned of the Xianxie Family’s ties to Ecruteak City, and claimed he had mastered their Flying-type massage technique at a glance.
• Lilyca introduced herself as a Ghost-type Trainer from Mt. Pyre and asked whether Tetsuya had recently seen the Creator of the Land; he said he could not confirm it.
• Lilyca explained that Mt. Pyre’s land-representing item had fluctuated and led them to Tetsuya, while he inferred that Groudon had noticed him because of the power he carried.
• Tetsuya left after agreeing to visit Mt. Pyre, where its guardians hoped to meet him, and returned to Mauville Gym.
• Watts reported heavy Trainer traffic on Route 117 and a large-scale, sudden paralysis problem on Route 110’s Cycling Road; Tetsuya joked that New Mauville might be leaking electricity, prompting an awkward look from Watts.

Tetsuya investigated the dangerous Static around Route 110 and traced it to a New Mauville entrance, where he found a Mechanical Raikou. He ordered Ampharos to attack it, beginning a confrontation with Wattson’s invention.

• Watts told Tetsuya that Wattson’s visits to New Mauville might have caused the Static affecting Route 110 and described the site’s vast scale and emergency shelter.
• Tetsuya set out to find Wattson, discussed the backlog of Gym problems with Norman and Asakawa Chinatsu, and headed toward Route 110.
• Tetsuya had Ampharos absorb the Static around Cycling Road, then followed the energy to a sealed entrance to New Mauville.
• Tetsuya and Ampharos descended into the underground facility, where Tetsuya’s Psychic-type abilities struggled to navigate the complex magnetic field.
• A Mechanical Raikou emerged from below, and Tetsuya ordered Ampharos to attack it with Thunderbolt.

Tetsuya and Ampharos fought Wattson’s Mechanical Raikou after investigating the Static incident on Route 110, and Tetsuya’s Pokémon eventually dismantled it. Wattson traced the incident to faulty circuits caused by a wild Electric-type Absol and offered to show Tetsuya the current state of New Mauville.

• Mechanical Raikou absorbed Ampharos’s Thunderbolt and attacked with a Plasma Ball, but Ampharos countered with Cotton Guard, Zap Cannon, and Thunder.
• After Ampharos discharged its excess Electric-type energy, Tetsuya sent Gigalith, Urshifu, and Ursaluna to finish Mechanical Raikou, which they tore apart in less than five minutes.
• Wattson arrived and explained that Mechanical Raikou guarded New Mauville and had been activated when Tetsuya entered as an unregistered outsider.
• Tetsuya told Wattson about the Static incident, and Wattson found that faulty circuits, probably damaged by a wild Electric-type Absol, had caused it.
• Wattson admitted he was trying to make up for his past mistake involving New Mauville and invited Tetsuya to see what the place was like now.

Wattson explained how Devon Corporation’s Infinity Energy helped bring down Mauville City Co., Ltd. and showed Tetsuya the underground New Mauville he had built with Electric-type Pokemon. He asked Tetsuya to oversee Mauville City for a month, then gave him a map to a hidden Sea Mauville treasure and recommended he seek battle advice from Huixuan.

• Wattson told Tetsuya that Devon Corporation’s Infinity Energy, more than the halt of New Mauville, had driven Mauville City Co., Ltd. into collapse.
• Wattson took Tetsuya through New Mauville and showed him the underground city he had built with Electric-type Pokemon while protecting the surrounding ecology.
• Wattson explained that he needed a month to finish inspecting New Mauville and asked Tetsuya to handle Mauville City’s affairs; Tetsuya agreed to defend it from Team Aqua or Team Magma.
• Wattson gave Tetsuya items including Thunder Stones and Magnets as payment for his help.
• Wattson gave Tetsuya a map to a treasure in Sea Mauville that belonged to a former colleague and said it had come from Oreburgh Mine.
• Wattson advised Tetsuya to find Huixuan for battle advice and said Watts would tell him where to find her.

After finishing a week of paperwork at Mauville Gym, Tetsuya took a break and visited the Battle Food Court, where he met Hoenn Elite Four Phoebe. They shared a meal and discussed Kalos, Pokémon training, and the strategic use of Pokémon Items.

• Tetsuya completed the accumulated Gym paperwork and gave Watts a day off.
• Tetsuya visited Mauville Food Court and ate his way through its specialties before entering the Battle Food Court.
• The restaurant manager introduced Tetsuya to Phoebe, Hoenn's Ice-type Elite Four, who was dining in a private room.
• Tetsuya apologized for using his Psychic-type abilities to scan Phoebe, then sat with her and discussed Poli and her Kalos origins.
• Phoebe recommended the Mauville Assorted Noodles and explained how unexpected Pokémon Item choices could help Trainers win battles.

Phoebe advised Tetsuya on choosing battle items, prompting him to consider new equipment for Gallade, Togekiss, and Alolan Ninetales. Meanwhile, a Shrine Maiden Elder read a prophecy about Absol, a Storm Plan, and a chosen hero, then saw Tetsuya approaching her Divination House.

• Phoebe explained how trainers could match Pokemon Items to opponents and battle styles, and Tetsuya considered Choice Band and Scope Lens for Gallade.
• Tetsuya considered Choice Specs for Togekiss and Light Clay for Alolan Ninetales, valuing the latter's Aurora Veil against its Steel weakness.
• The Shrine Maiden Elder read Unown letters in her mirror prophesying that an Absol would awaken an incarnation and set off a Storm Plan.
• The Shrine Maiden Elder resolved to meet the chosen hero and saw Tetsuya approaching her Divination House.