DPA09

Challenge! The Fortress Of Steel
挑戦!　ハガネの城!! Challenge! The Steel Castle!!
Info Collected in Vol. 2 Chapter number 9
Other Location Celestic Town/Canalave City Manga series Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Adventure!
Chapters Previous Chapter Team Galactic's Conspiracy, Revealed!! Next Chapter Serious Training on Iron Island!!

Challenge! The Fortress Of Steel!! (Japanese: 挑戦!　ハガネの城!! Challenge! The Steel Castle!!) is the ninth chapter of the Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Adventure! manga.

Synopsis

Spoiler warning: this article may contain major plot or ending details.

The chapter begins as Mitsumi and Jupiter seem to be evenly matched. Just when things are about to end for Mitsumi, Jun comes in to help (it also seems that his Staravia evolved). But he is not alone, as Prof. Rowan steps in. Seeing the potential danger, the Team Galactic Commanders flee on their Golbat. Prof. Rowan realizes that in order to obtain Dialga, they must catch the lake trio. Prof. Rowan decides to send to the Sinnoh lakes. Meanwhile, Hareta and Piplup is resting peacefully in Byron's house when they get an army-style wake-up call from the Gym Leader himself. They are skeptical on whose side the tough iron miner is on. However, their minds are changed when they receive a fit-for-a-king breakfast. After discussing about the accident, Byron introduces himself as Byron, the "man of steel". Walking through the City of Ports, they arrive at the Gym. Then Hareta is put through challenges in the Gym such as dodging steel beams, getting against a speedy moving walkway going in the opposite direction, and battling a one-on-three battle during an Earthquake. He reaches Byron only to find out that he already lost due to his recklessness. He is sent to Iron Island for further training as the chapter ends with Fantina screaming at the reader shouting "How dare you call me Grandma?!"

Major events

• Mitsumi continues her battle with Jupiter. Jun and Professor Rowan show up to help, however Saturn and Jupiter retreat soon after.
• Having been rescued by Byron, Hareta awakens and learns of him being Canalave City's Gym Leader and Roark's father.
• Hareta takes Canalave Gym's challenge, but is defeated by Byron who then suggests for Hareta to train on Iron Island.

Debuts

• Byron

Pokémon debuts

• Staraptor (Jun's)
• Steelix (Byron's)
• Bronzor (Byron's)
• Bastiodon (Byron's)

Characters

Humans

• Mitsumi
• Jupiter
• Saturn
• Jun
• Professor Rowan
• Cynthia's Grandmother
• Hareta
• Byron
• Roark (flashback)

Pokémon

• Infernape (Mitsumi's)
• Leafeon (Mitsumi's)
• Toxicroak (Jupiter's)
• Golbat (Jupiter's)
• Staraptor (Jun's)
• Golbat (Saturn's)
• Piplup (Hareta's)
• Steelix (Byron's; ×2)
• Onix (Byron's)
• Bronzor (Byron's)
• Bastiodon (Byron's)