The chapter opens with Dango and Maylin travelling through the lush grass of Route 5. After battling a few trainers, Dango decides to catch more Pokémon to fill his Pokédex, while Maylin chooses to visit the Pokémon Daycare, so they split up for now.
Focused, Dango sends out his team to weaken wild Pokémon and catch as many as he can. Glancing at his Pokédex, he sees 91 Pokémon encountered and 86 caught—but he knows he still needs more.
Meanwhile, Maylin arrives at the Pokémon Daycare and steps inside. The room is lively—trainers picking up their Pokémon, chatting happily, and thanking the kind old man behind the counter. Maylin walks up to the front desk, and the old man does a double-take, blinking in surprise.
Old Man: "What—Maylin? Why are you here?"
Maylin: "Hey, Grandpa Albert."
It's revealed that the Daycare owner is none other than Maylin's grandfather. A short while later, Albert has brewed some warm tea, and the two sit down together to catch up. As they talk, Albert expresses his surprise that Maylin chose the life of a Pokémon trainer. He gently chuckles, admitting that he had always planned to leave the daycare to her as part of her inheritance.
Albert guessed that Maylin's grandmother, his wife Agatha, had more influence on her than he ever did. Maylin asked about her grandmother's whereabouts, but Albert admitted he didn't know—though it had been weeks since he last saw her, they still kept in touch.
The door opened, and Albert immediately knew who it was—the last person to pick up their Pokémon. Bango stepped inside, greeting Albert and Maylin with a smug smile. He asked for his Ralts and paid the fee. Albert went back to the yard to fetch the Ralts, leaving Maylin alone with Dango's older brother.
Meanwhile, deep in the trees, a wild Primeape was locked in a fierce battle against a flock of Spearow, its fists flying with lightning speed. Dango and Axew watched in awe as Primeape swiftly knocked the Spearow aside, sending them scattering in all directions.
After the last bird fled, Primeape locked eyes with them, a fierce glare burning in its eyes—then it turned and began to walk away. Impressed by the sheer power and spirit, Dango quickly threw a Poké Ball—but Primeape slapped it away with a furious swipe.
Now enraged, Primeape charged at Dango with a devastating Cross Chop, its fists slicing through the air. Without hesitation, Axew leapt forward, slamming its Iron Tail down just in time to block the crushing blow. Sparks flew from the impact, and the battle was on.
Axew quickly backs away, launching a fierce combo—first a Rock Slide to chip away at Primeape's defence, then a burst of Dragon Pulse to deal heavy damage. Next, Axew unleashes a series of Dragon Rages, aiming to overwhelm the furious fighter.
But Primeape, bruised and battered, powers through the attacks. Closing the gap in a flash, it lands a crushing Mach Punch that sends Axew crashing into the trees. Dango wastes no time, recalling Axew and sending out Elekid.
Elekid charges forward with a powerful Thunder Punch, staggering Primeape. The two trade blows fiercely, neither giving an inch.
Dango then switches Elekid out for Staravia, who soars in with a perfectly timed Aerial Ace. Primeape falters, too injured to fight back, and Dango easily catches it, finally adding a Fighting-type to his team.
After healing everyone with plenty of potions—including Primeape—Dango beams warmly and introduces himself and his team to their new member. He extends his hand for a handshake, hoping to build trust.
Primeape looks at Dango's hand, then glances over the team, before turning away with a disapproving glare. Dango's Pokémon exchange shocked looks, and Dango himself flushed with embarrassment.
Dango, deciding he'd had enough catching for one day, chose to head over to the Daycare, curious about what Maylin was up to.
Meanwhile, Maylin sat quietly sipping her tea, her cheeks flushed bright red as she glanced at Bango. Though she didn't know him as Dango's older brother, she couldn't help but notice how much he looked like Dango—only way cooler and more handsome.
Maylin: (thinking) "Wait... is that racist? Am I being racist? Now that I think about it, Dango did say he had an older brother… what was his name again?"
Albert: "Bango."
Maylin: "Yeah, that's it."
Albert handed Bango's Ralts back, and it ran happily to its trainer. Bango lifted Ralts up briefly before returning it to his Poké Ball. As Bango thanked Albert and started to leave, he thought to himself how creepy Maylin was for staring at him so much. Just as Bango turned to leave, something clicked in Maylin's mind.
Maylin: "That's Dango's older brother!"
Bango: (pausing) "Dango? How do you know him?"
The door swings open, and Dango steps inside, walking past Bango to reach Maylin. But the moment the realisation hits him, Dango freezes, then quickly backtracks, locking eyes with Bango. The air thickens with tension, silence hanging heavy between the two brothers.
Dango: "Me, you, battle now."
Bango smirks confidently, clearly doubting Dango's chances. But to Dango, this isn't just a friendly match—it's a battle to prove who's the better trainer.
Outside, Dango and Bango face each other, tension thick in the air. Maylin and Albert watch from the sidelines. Axew growls softly on Dango's shoulder, drawing Bango's sharp attention. Maylin steps forward, raising her voice to set the rules clear.
Maylin: "Only a team of four Pokémon, no exceptions."
The battle begins. Axew leaps down, Dango's first pick. To Dango's surprise, Bango bursts out laughing, which immediately annoys him.
Dango: "What's funny, prick?!"
Bango: (smirking) "Nothing. I just hope you weren't planning on using such a pathetic, absolutely useless Pokémon."
Dango: "You're face is pathetic."
Maylin: "No, it's not."
Dango: "Maylin, the fuck."
Tired of the endless trash talk, Bango finally snapped and threw down his Poké Ball. With a burst of light, a Dusk Lycanroc appeared, its dark fur glowing under the setting sun. Dango's eyes went wide—this rare Lycanroc was almost like a legend. How did Bango even get one?
The battle explodes into motion. Axew opens with a furious barrage of Dragon Rages—one, two, three searing waves of draconic energy hurl through the air, their impact blasting craters into the battlefield. Without letting up, Axew charges a Dragon Pulse, launching it point-blank into the smoke cloud left behind.
Dango: "Alright! Send out your next—"
Bango: "Stone Edge."
Dango: "What?"
The dust cleared—and with a fierce snarl, Lycanroc slammed its front paws into the ground. In an instant, jagged pillars of stone exploded upward beneath Axew in a dazzling burst of Stone Edge. Axew cried out, taking multiple hits, the sharp rocks striking with brutal precision.
He was launched high into the sky, spinning—but he wasn't down yet. Catching himself midair, Axew twisted his body and charged energy into his tail. With a sharp cry, he dove down, Iron Tail glowing bright as steel. Watching calmly, Bango crossed his arms, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
This battle had gone on long enough. As Axew closed the distance, Lycanroc threw back its head and unleashed a thunderous roar—waves of sound blasted forward like a shockwave. The Hyper Voice crashed into Axew before he could land his Iron Tail, sending him hurtling through a nearby tree.
Axew struggled to rise, battered but still standing. Seeing his partner injured, Dango quickly recalled him, giving Axew time to rest. With no hesitation, Dango flung out Primeape. Primeape exploded into action, unleashing a flurry of lightning-fast jabs, showing off his blistering speed. Then, narrowing his eyes, he locked in, ready to fight.
With the two brothers reunited, how will their battle unfold? And what role will Bill and his mysterious Mew play?
To Be Continued!