Competitive Heart and Soul

Chapter 5
Competitive Heart and Soul

第５章
高めあう心と魂

Chapter 5
Competitive Heart and Soul

Info

Date released	July 15, 2025
Story arc	Arceus Arc

Other

Featured sync pairs

Arc Suit Ethan & Lugia Arc Suit Silver & Ho-Oh

Competitive Heart and Soul (Japanese: 高めあう心と魂 Competitive Heart and Soul) is the fifth chapter of the Arceus Arc in Pokémon Masters EX. It centers on Ethan and Silver as they train to battle each other in the Arceus Cup.

It was released all at once on July 15th, 2025.

Plot

I Wanna Battle Him!

Ethan stands at the side of the cliffs with Lugia, thinking of Silver and the way he has grown alongside his Pokémon. He yells out his desire to battle him.

Later, Silver speaks with Kris and Lyra, revealing to them that he has been unable to find Ethan since the start of the latest Arceus Cup. Suddenly, Ethan drops down from the sky with his Lugia and makes an immediate request for a battle with Silver, explaining he had trained all around Pasio in preparation for this. Silver then suggests they save their battle for the Arceus Cup, catching the attention of Volo, whose sudden appearance startles everyone. Ethan reveals that Volo had supported him during his training—delivering food to him in the most remote places.

Volo explains that those who have awakened their arc suits so far are Trainers who have surpassed the limits of their bond with one of their partner Pokémon, and his belief that this type of bond would surely lead someone to victory. He then asks Ethan and Silver if either has a deep connection with any of their Pokémon. Unsure about his own answer, Ethan asks Silver what he thinks, but the latter only reveals it will be his secret weapon for their match, then takes off into the skies with his Ho-Oh. Ethan becomes determined to train harder to defeat him.

Picking Partners

Ethan trains against Victor, Elio, and Rei. The three are impressed with Ethan's ability to move quickly alongside his Pokémon, which he credits to his participation in the Pokéathlon. They then ask him about Johto, and Ethan explains it has many ruins, old traditional buildings, and a culture that greatly respects Legendary Pokémon. He reveals that Lugia will be his partner Pokémon for the Arceus Cup, influenced by his adventures alongside it, as well as his prediction that Silver will choose his Ho-Oh.

Meanwhile, Silver speaks with Morty and Eusine at the beach, asking for their guidance in bringing out Ho-Oh's full potential. Morty suggests for Silver to begin with figuring out why Ho-Oh chose him, as it only reveals itself to pure-hearted Trainers. Kris enters soon after, bringing along Falkner, Jasmine, and Pryce to help him train. Falkner mentions that an elder at Sprout Tower had told him that Silver was too harsh on his Pokémon, something Silver does not deny, revealing this is the reason he wants to know why he earned Ho-Oh's trust. While Falkner's taken aback by Silver's honesty, Jasmine and Pryce in turn acknowledge that the Silver that stands before them has changed since. Ready for battle, Silver invites everyone to challenge him at once, silently committing to surpass Ethan as a pure-hearted Trainer.

Ethan's Intense Training

Ethan hikes up a mountain alongside Chuck, Whitney, and Bugsy. While Whitney and Bugsy are exhausted, Ethan instead suggests pushing further by training under a waterfall, which Chuck approves. He is then interrupted by a call from Lyra, who tells him she has met up with Clair who has time to meet with him. Thanking the others for their help, Ethan flies off on Lugia.

When Ethan meets with Lyra and Clair, Lyra explains she had initially reached out to Lance for help with training, but he had told her that he could not train Ethan or Silver over the other. Lyra explains she and Kris felt the same, so they decided to each pick a side to help. She then asks Ethan if he is pushing himself too hard, and he admits he is actually quite nervous, as he believes Silver will be the only one to awaken his arc suit. Clair tells him that his attitude shows he is not ready for an arc suit, then asks if he only chose Lugia because of its strength and rarity. Ethan loudly denies this, which does not surprise Clair, given how her master at the Dragon's Den approved of him. She ponders aloud about why people and Pokémon are connected, telling Ethan that he's closer to answering that question than her because his answers are carved deep into his soul, before challenging him to a battle.

Who's a Step Ahead?

The day of the Arceus Cup arrives. Ethan and Silver meet on the battle stage of the stadium, alongside Lugia and Ho-Oh, respectively. Silver notes that Ethan is not wearing his sygna suit as he expected, prompting the latter to reveal he chose his usual outfit because he has more memories battling Silver while wearing it.

Each side vowing to win, the two send their partner Pokémon at each other. As they clash, Silver recalls one of his early battles against Ethan which he blamed his loss on his Pokémon for being weak. He admits to himself that it was him who was weak all along. Silver then turns his attention to Ethan, telling him that he is the reason he started considering doing things the right way. Because of this, he announces that the presence of any purity in his heart will be revealed while battling Ethan, swearing to win and prove how far he has come. Immediately after he speaks, a bright light shines down from above, and Silver's clothes transform into an arc suit.

With its new power, Ho-Oh launches a powerful attack on Lugia. While first appearing rattled by the move, Lugia signals to Ethan that it is still willing to fight.

Dreams Live On

Ethan recalls the first battle he had against Silver. While Silver asserted that only strong Pokémon were worth raising, Ethan strove to prove him wrong, battling across Johto with different Pokémon. This eventually led him to Lugia, who he claims is the answer to all of the questions he had. Ethan announces that his soul, as well as Lugia's, echo each other, showing their bond. Shortly after Ethan says this, he too becomes dressed in an arc suit.

Silver is impressed, and Ethan declares that he is equals with him, making the two "ultimate" rivals. Their Pokémon continue to battle, taking their fight higher into the sky. As they fly upwards, Ethan thinks again of Silver and his growth.

Lugia lands the finishing blow to Ho-Oh, winning Ethan the match. Ethan begins to thank Lugia, but trails off and collapses. Silver rushes to Ethan, soon realizing that he passed out from exhaustion after his harsh training. He credits Ethan for being the reason why his "dream lives on."

Some time later, Ethan is speaking with Kris and Lyra when Silver shows up. Ethan laughs and runs off, beckoning Silver to follow him. The two are later shown by the cliffside, watching Lugia and Ho-Oh fly together in the distance.

Area info

Area name	Unlock condition	Completion rewards
I Wanna Battle Him!	Available from start	Gems ×10 Challenge Elio
Picking Partners	Complete Challenge Elio	Gems ×10 Challenge Falkner
Ethan's Intense Training	Complete Challenge Falkner	Gems ×10 Challenge Clair
Who's a Step Ahead?	Complete Challenge Clair	Gems ×10 Challenge Arc Suit Silver
Dreams Live On	Complete Challenge Arc Suit Silver	Gems ×10

Battles

Name	Difficulty	Trainers			Pokémon			First-Time Rewards	Completion Rewards
					Left	Middle	Right
Challenge Elio	Normal	Rei	Elio	Victor	Decidueye Hisuian form Weakness:	Primarina Weakness:	Rillaboom Weakness:	Gems ×30 Picking Partners	900 coins
Challenge Falkner	Normal	Pryce	Falkner	Jasmine	File:Masters0221.png Piloswine Weakness:	Noctowl Weakness:	Steelix Weakness:	Gems ×30 Ethan's Intense Training	1,400 coins
Challenge Clair	Normal	Clair			Dragonair Weakness:	Kingdra Weakness:	Gyarados Weakness:	Gems ×30 Who's a Step Ahead?	1,900 coins
Challenge Arc Suit Silver	Normal	Silver Arc Suit			Ho-Oh Weakness:			Gems ×30 Dreams Live On	2,400 coins

Gallery

Artwork of Chapter 5	Artwork of Chapter 5	Artwork of Chapter 5

Music

Situation	Song key	Song name	Arrangement
In menu	No. 00004	Adventure Awaits!	Unknown
During battle (Challenge Elio)	No. 07011	Battle! (Alola Trainer) (Pokémon Masters EX Version)	Haruki Yamada (ATTIC INC.)
During battle (Challenge Falkner, Challenge Clair) Ethan's Intense Training WHen Clair challenges Ethan to a battle	No. 02001	Battle! (Johto Gym Leader) (Pokémon Masters EX Version)	Haruki Yamada (ATTIC INC.)
During battle (Challenge Arc Suit Silver) Who's a Step Ahead? When Silver receives his arc suit	No. 02018	Glorious Battle! (Silver) (Pokémon Masters EX Version)	Unknown
I Wanna Battle Him! As Silver talks to Lyra and Kris Picking Partners After Ethan wins his training battles Ethan's Intense Training When Ethan meets up with Clair	No. 00008	Out for a Stroll	Unknown
I Wanna Battle Him! As Volo explains arc suits	No. 01024	Glorious Battle! (Lance) (Pokémon Masters EX Version)	Unknown
Picking Partners From start	No. 02009	Battle! (Johto Trainer) (Pokémon Masters EX Version)	Haruki Yamada (ATTIC INC.)
Picking Partners When Silver begins his training Dreams Live On From start	No. 02003	Battle! (Silver) (Pokémon Masters EX Version)	Haruki Yamada (ATTIC INC.)
Ethan's Intense Training From start	No. 00010	Wild Wanderings	Unknown
Ethan's Intense Training After Ethan admits he's worried about the Arceus Cup Who's a Step Ahead? As Silver reminisces on his past journey Dreams Live On During the flashback in the middle of the battle	No. 00013	A Somber Moment	Unknown
Who's a Step Ahead? From start	No. 00002	Pokémon Masters EX Main Theme	Unknown
Who's a Step Ahead? When Ethan and Silver begin their battle	—	Battle! Arena Trainer	Unknown
Dreams Live On When Ethan receives his arc suit	—	Glorious Battle! (Ethan) (Pokémon Masters EX Version)	Unknown
Dreams Live On After Ethan wins the battle	No. 00012	Let Your Spirit Soar!	Unknown
Song names without a song key listed are unofficial, as they have not been added to the Jukebox.

Script

In other languages

Chapter 5

Competitive Heart and Soul

This article is part of Project Sidegames, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on the Pokémon Sidegames.