Chapter Summaries

Lance led twenty Trainers into the Burial Tower, where they crossed a cavern and passed through a massive sealed door into a protected passage on the seabed. They discovered unknown Pokémon outside the barrier watching them with hostility.

• Lance and Steven led the Trainers down a cliff and into the cave that served as the Burial Tower's entrance.
• Tetsuya sensed that the dark cavern held no signs of life, while his Aura and Psychic abilities stood out among the Trainers.
• The group traveled deeper until they reached a massive metal-like door, and Lance's Dragonite failed to break it open with its attacks.
• A Trainer found a mechanism, and Steven used Metagross's Confusion to move a boulder and open the door.
• The Trainers entered a bright seabed passage protected from seawater by a transparent barrier.
• Unknown Pokémon outside the barrier attacked it with a Tackle and watched the Trainers with hostility.

Tetsuya and the other Trainers faced powerful artificial Pokémon in an underwater ruin as a fierce battle began. He recognized the creatures as Walking Wake and Iron Bundle from old books, giving the group vital information about their types.

• The Trainers identified the enemies as a large Suicune-like creature and small mechanical Delibird-like creatures, most appearing to be Elite Four Level.
• Lance, Steven, Wallace, and the other Trainers sent out their Pokémon and prepared to defend themselves underwater.
• A Trainer broke the standoff with a Thunderbolt, starting the battle between the two groups.
• Tetsuya checked Zero's Panel and recognized the large creature as Walking Wake, whose body was rapidly aging and whose strength was expected to decline.
• Tetsuya told the Trainers that Walking Wake was Water and Dragon type and that the mechanical creatures were Iron Bundle, Ice and Water type.

Tetsuya and the other Trainers fought powerful Walking Wake and Iron Bundle in the Burial Tower as he suspected time had stopped there and a hidden leader was testing them. Two enormous Totem Pokémon appeared, and Caitlin charged at the Walking Wake while Gardevoir joined her.

• Tetsuya speculated that time had stopped inside the Burial Tower, allowing its Pokémon to grow stronger, and suspected a powerful leader was hiding nearby.
• A hidden Walking Wake leader attacked Tetsuya, but Mega Pidgeot defended him long enough for Cynthia and Caitlin to support him with Garchomp and Gardevoir.
• The Champion Level Walking Wake revealed itself as a huge Totem Pokémon, while a Totem Iron Bundle appeared elsewhere.
• Caitlin charged at the Overlord Walking Wake with Gardevoir and used her Psychic power to strengthen their assault.

Lorelei confronted the Alpha Iron Bundle and used Lapras to battle it, but its Electric Terrain and overwhelming speed forced her to call in Jynx and Dewgong. As the three Pokemon pressed the Alpha Iron Bundle toward defeat, Caitlin and Gardevoir also gained the upper hand against the Alpha Walking Wake.

• Lorelei stepped forward to face the Alpha Iron Bundle and ordered Lapras to use Confuse Ray, but the attack passed through it without effect.
• Lorelei sent Lapras to attack with Blizzard and Ice Beam, while the Alpha Iron Bundle created Electric Terrain and seemed to shrug off the freezing attacks.
• The Alpha Iron Bundle vanished in a burst of speed and struck Lapras, prompting Lorelei to order Lapras to retreat beyond the Electric Terrain's range.
• Lorelei summoned Jynx and Dewgong to surround the Alpha Iron Bundle, whose speed could not keep up with their combined attacks.
• Caitlin and Gardevoir battered the Alpha Walking Wake until it could barely fight back.

Caitlin and Lorelei defeated and captured the Alpha Walking Wake and Alpha Iron Bundle. After their battles, two vortices formed in the Burial Tower’s barrier, offering the group a possible way forward.

• Caitlin and Gardevoir overwhelmed the Alpha Walking Wake with repeated Psychic attacks and a concealed Psybeam.
• Lorelei and Caitlin threw Luxury Balls at the defeated Alpha Iron Bundle and Alpha Walking Wake and captured them.
• The group congratulated the two trainers, while Lance worried that Lorelei’s new Alpha Iron Bundle would make it harder for him to become Kanto Champion.
• Two vortices formed in the Burial Tower’s barrier after the battles ended, and one trainer complained about the decision to split up.

The Trainers split into two teams by drawing lots and entered separate vortexes. Tetsuya’s team arrived in a place where Flying-type Pokémon could not fly, and they landed safely on a sea-like stretch of solid ground before hearing a distant roar.

• Lance and Steven discussed how to divide the Trainers, and the group chose to draw lots for the two teams.
• The teams exchanged battle blessings and entered the vortexes, which then vanished; buried records revealed that earlier groups had died challenging the Creator of the Ocean.
• Tetsuya and the other Trainers were spun through the vortex and emerged high above the ground.
• Their Flying-type Pokémon could not fly, so Tetsuya and Caitlin used Gallade and Gardevoir’s psychic powers to guide everyone down.
• The group landed on a solid, khaki-colored stretch of sea where seawater could not enter, and a distant roar greeted them.

Tetsuya and the other Trainers faced four kinds of powerful Pokémon led by the intelligent Iron Thorns, and Lance and Tetsuya began their attacks. The battle was still underway as Mega Blaziken confronted a charging Iron Treads.

• Tetsuya identified Great Tusk, Sandy Shocks, Iron Treads, and Iron Thorns, and suspected Iron Thorns had suppressed any rival overlord.
• Iron Thorns directed the other Pokémon into battle formations, prompting Cynthia to volunteer to face it while Lance considered its resistances.
• Lance sent Dragonite into the opposing ranks, where it knocked out a Great Tusk and attacked the Sandy Shocks group.
• Tetsuya Mega Evolved Blaziken and ordered it to use Flamethrower against Iron Treads.
• Iron Treads rolled through the flames, leaving a scorched trail, then charged at Mega Blaziken as the fire weakened.

Tetsuya and Mega Blaziken overpowered an Iron Treads, while the other trainers struggled as the remaining Paradox Pokémon boosted themselves with Sunny Day and Electric Terrain. The battle grew more dangerous, and Cynthia turned her full attention to punishing an Iron Thorns that had looked away from her.

• Tetsuya ordered Mega Blaziken to seize Iron Treads by its horns and use Low Kick, then spin and slam it into the ground.
• Tetsuya had Mega Blaziken engulf Iron Treads in Flamethrower and Fire Spin, exploiting its weakness to Fire-type moves.
• Iron Thorns roared, and Great Tusk, Sandy Shocks, and the Iron Treads endured attacks before using Sunny Day and Electric Terrain to increase their strength and speed.
• Tetsuya wondered whether the Paradox Pokémon shared an Ability and concluded they might be artificial creations or products of a special environment.
• Cynthia rebuked an Iron Thorns for looking away from their fight and ordered Lucario to use Aura Sphere.

Cynthia’s Lucario combined Mind’s Eye with Aura to outmaneuver and heavily damage Iron Thorns. Meanwhile, Steven’s group found itself facing another pair of maze passages, with no sign of the danger ahead.

• Lucario’s Aura Sphere collided with Iron Thorns’ yellow beam, and Lucario emerged from the smoke to strike it.
• Cynthia urged Lucario to attack freely as it closed its eyes and used Mind’s Eye alongside Aura to read Iron Thorns’ movements.
• Lucario dodged Iron Thorns’ attacks and landed a precise blow that left a clear palm print in its armor.
• Bruno praised the combination, while Tetsuya envied Lucario’s ability to fight with its eyes closed.
• Flint sneezed as Steven joked that someone might have cursed him, and their group laughed.
• Steven’s group reached two passage entrances in the maze again and fell silent.

Trainers exploring the Burial Tower faced a Flutter Mane ambush and escaped their maze after the Ghost-type Pokemon used Perish Song. Tetsuya's group found a new passage after defeating their own enemies, and Tetsuya wondered whether reaching the place where Rayquaza was sealed had gone too smoothly.

• Wallace, Steven, and the other trainers debated whether to split up or attack the maze, then searched nearby areas together.
• Flutter Mane appeared and unleashed Shadow Balls, but the trainers counterattacked without panicking.
• The Flutter Mane began using Perish Song, so the trainers retreated through the passage while Steven covered them with Mega Metagross's Flash Cannon.
• Tetsuya's group rested after defeating their enemies, and Lance explained that both passage choices were valid but led through different processes.
• Tetsuya noticed a pale cyan vortex passage appear and suspected it led to the place where Rayquaza was sealed.

Tetsuya and the other Trainers entered Burial Tower and found a black Rayquaza restrained by plant roots behind an impenetrable barrier. As they fought the Absol gathered on the floor, Tetsuya recognized a Victreebel and realized the roots might be connected to Bellsprout Tower, just as the Dark Rayquaza fixed its gaze on them.

• Lance led the group through the entrance to Burial Tower, where they felt a suffocating aura and saw a black Rayquaza bound in the distant sky.
• Wallace tested an invisible barrier with Milotic, and the Trainers concluded they could not reach or identify the dragon with certainty.
• Tetsuya told the group about dark beings he had heard of from Lugia and encountered in the Fiore Region, saying the Rayquaza and its roots seemed familiar.
• More than a dozen strange Absol appeared, and the Trainers led by Steven and Lance fought them with their Pokémon.
• Tetsuya noticed a Victreebel and wondered whether the roots came from Bellsprout Tower, then saw the Dark Rayquaza watching them.

Tetsuya and Cynthia discovered that a hostile Dark Rayquaza was sealed beneath Violet City, and its pressure incapacitated several trainers. After the group defeated the remaining enemies in Burial Tower, Steven reported that they could not break through the airspace above, leaving the trainers to debate whether to withdraw or continue.

• Tetsuya used the blue droplet on his wrist to steady himself against Dark Rayquaza's pressure and warned Cynthia about the danger.
• Tetsuya helped trainers who collapsed after looking at Dark Rayquaza, then told Lance that its seal was likely beneath Violet City.
• Lance sent Dragonite to use Draco Meteor while the other trainers intensified their attacks and cleared most of the enemies.
• Steven reported that the group could not break through the airspace above and suggested searching for another passage.
• A trainer proposed withdrawing to let the League assess the situation, while the others faced the choice of retreating or continuing.

The trainers chose to search for an exit from Burial Tower, but found that the only way out was to defeat Dark Rayquaza. Lorelei and the others attacked, and after Articuno injured it, Dark Rayquaza launched a devastating counterattack that left the group struggling to respond.

• Lance called a vote, and the trainers chose evacuation over fighting by twelve votes to eight.
• Steven led the trainers in searching for an exit, but they found no passage and could not damage Burial Tower's boundaries.
• Steven concluded that defeating Dark Rayquaza was their only way out, and the creature awoke and roared at them.
• Lorelei ordered Articuno to use Blizzard, and the trainers followed with ranged attacks that Dark Rayquaza blocked with a black energy screen.
• Tetsuya warned everyone to dodge as Dark Rayquaza rained explosive light orbs across the floor.
• Articuno pierced Dark Rayquaza's defense, provoking it to attack at great speed and send more than a dozen Pokémon flying.

Lugia sensed Tetsuya’s distress and saw Dark Rayquaza, then erupted from the deep sea and caused a vast disturbance. Inside the High Tower, the battered group kept searching for an escape while Steven and Lance brought out Registeel and Latias to help.

• Lugia woke to Tetsuya’s calls, saw Dark Rayquaza through the Water Drop Pattern, and surged out of the sea, stirring the ocean and alarming coastal cities.
• Dark Rayquaza’s bombardments badly injured several Pokemon, forcing their trainers to recall them as the group’s strength dwindled.
• The group searched for a Teleportation Passage but found no escape, while Cynthia and Steven warned that they could not keep fighting this way.
• Cynthia considered using her Aura Sphere to summon the Space-Time Duo but chose to hold out longer.
• Steven released Registeel from a Master Ball, and Lance sent out Latias to join the battle.

Lance and Steven sent Latias and Registeel to help defend against Dark Rayquaza, but the battle kept worsening until Lugia broke into the tower and confronted it. The chapter ended as Lugia and Dark Rayquaza traded attacks.

• Lance's Latias weakened Dark Rayquaza's attacks while Steven's Registeel shielded the others from a powerful Energy Fluctuation.
• Dark Rayquaza intensified its assault, leaving only a little over ten Pokemon able to battle as Tetsuya retreated and sensed Lugia approaching.
• Trainers panicked as they searched for an exit, but Lugia broke through the tower wall and fixed its attention on Dark Rayquaza.
• Lugia attacked Dark Rayquaza with a Hurricane, and Dark Rayquaza countered with a beam of black energy.
• Cynthia appeared beside Tetsuya and asked what was going on as the two Legendary Pokemon's attacks clashed.

The Trainers planned an escape from Burial Tower while Lugia battled Dark Rayquaza above them. Dark Rayquaza then failed to Mega Evolve, and Tetsuya wondered whether its condition or the tower had caused the failure.

• Cynthia noted that Lugia’s opening in the tower offered hope of escape, but the Trainers struggled to find a safe way up through the battle’s aftermath.
• Steven asked whether any Trainers had battle-ready Flying-type Pokemon, but nearly all their Pokemon had been incapacitated.
• Caitlin explained that the Legendary Pokemon’s energy fluctuations made teleportation dangerous, so Steven proposed using Registeel and Lance’s Latias to stabilize and pinpoint the route.
• Lorelei reported that Articuno could break the energy barrier over the entrance, and the Trainers began preparing their escape.
• Lugia repeatedly struck Dark Rayquaza with Aeroblast, and Tetsuya realized that Dark Rayquaza’s attempt to Mega Evolve had failed.

Tetsuya and the others used their combined Psychic power to escape the Burial Tower while Lugia fought Dark Rayquaza. Dark Rayquaza noticed their escape and attacked Articuno, but Lugia blocked it as the trainers reached the exit.

• Lugia mocked Dark Rayquaza, and the two Legendary Pokemon clashed with enough force to shake the Burial Tower.
• Tetsuya, Caitlin, Registeel, and Latias combined their powers to teleport the group toward the cave entrance.
• Articuno flew toward the entrance as Dark Rayquaza realized the humans had vanished and moved to intercept them.
• Lugia blocked Dark Rayquaza's attacks on Articuno, and the two Legendary Pokemon charged at each other again.
• The group emerged beside the pit and rushed outside after the Energy Layer disappeared.

After escaping the Burial Tower, the battered Trainers regrouped and prepared to report the Legendary Pokemon conflict to the League. Alder arranged further investigation while the tower continued to shake, and Asuka received an urgent call from Sutian.

• Lance led the escaped Trainers away from the Burial Tower, and they reflected on their helplessness before Legendary Pokemon and their resolve to become stronger.
• Alder told the younger Trainers that the League's future depended on them, while regretting that Unova lacked a successor to become Champion.
• An explosion shook the Burial Tower, so the injured Trainers left to report to the League and request reinforcements.
• Alder spoke by phone with the returning Trainers and arranged for families and Pokemon Professors to investigate what they had found.
• Asuka answered an urgent call from Sutian and asked whether something had happened in Violet City.

After learning that Bellsprout Tower was in danger, Tetsuya was ordered to go to Violet City and resolve the crisis despite just escaping Burial Tower. Cynthia decided to accompany him, and the chapter ended with Bellsprout Tower covered in black aura.

• Sutian told Asuka that a dying monk had said only Tetsuya Tamaki could resolve the crisis at Bellsprout Tower.
• Asuka informed President Alder, who ordered Tetsuya to go to Violet City and arranged medical and logistical support.
• Lance told Tetsuya to head to Violet City immediately, and Tetsuya protested that he had just escaped Burial Tower.
• Cynthia volunteered to accompany Tetsuya to investigate Bellsprout Tower, and Lance agreed.
• Tetsuya and Cynthia departed as Bellsprout Tower stood shrouded in dense black aura.

Sutian and Falkner organized Violet City's response as Black Energy Tide threatened to break free from beneath Bellsprout Tower. Tetsuya and Cynthia arrived in the city and began arranging medical support for their Pokémon while the danger remained unresolved.

• Sutian asked Xatu about Bellsprout Tower's condition and learned the monks' preparations could hold the threat for only a few hours.
• Falkner reported that residents had evacuated and security teams were deployed, then questioned the records claiming the sealed Pokémon could plunge the world into darkness.
• Sutian used Xatu's energy to push back the Black Energy Tide while Falkner returned to his duties on Pidgeot.
• Tetsuya and Cynthia descended into Violet City and exchanged remarks about the thrilling landing and Tetsuya's Psychic-type control.
• Tetsuya and Cynthia met Miss Joy, whose supervisor verified them and assigned an elite medical team to treat their Pokémon.