Two days after the events involving the battle with Dragon's Fang, the three ships slowly re approach the temple as Jexi was stretching.
"Ah yes! The day's finally here! The last trial!" Jexi said.
"You sure seem fired up today." David said.
"Of course. I've been looking forward to this since the battle with Drake. It has me excited to fight so many amazing and talented fighters." Jexi said.
"I'm still worried about how this plays out." David said. "Do teams still apply or is it every fighter for themselves like it normally would be?"
"Guess we'll find out when we get there." Sectonia said.
"I would have to assume that any alliance that's more than 5 people would dissolve and fight for the spot themselves." Robin said.
"Meaning, it could turn into a free for all." Jexi said.
"This is one of those times where I feel that Drake made a smart move splitting his team in two." Scott said.
"But that's not too bad. That just makes watching it more exciting." Sonic said.
"Yeah. I really hope Volt takes a spot. He's worked hard for this." Lemon said.
"Okay, Volt's pretty good, but I bet on Noise taking a spot. She's pretty rockin." Rainbow said.
"With all these fighters we'll be seeing, anyone could take it, really." Leia said.
"We know one thing, Drake is definitely gonna snag a spot since he's so crazy powerful." Natsu said.
"Still, there are some fighters we know nothing about or what their abilities are. It's a puzzlement on who to root for." Aelita said.
"Aside from Jexi and Hope, of course." Ming said.
"Well yeah, they're default, but….we might wanna...expand our options?" Lacy said.
"Thanks. Way to be supportive." Jexi said sarcastically.
"Ignore them. I know you two got this." David said.
"Thanks, David. You got our backs when we need em." Jexi said.
"Yeah. Thanks a bunch." Hope said.
"You're very welcome." David said with a bow.
"Now then. Shall we?" Tapu Fini asked.
"No worries, we're almost there." Tails said pointing to the temple before them as they landed there and disembarking.
"Now, in order for things to kick off, we need to meet at the stage in the auditorium." Celti said.
"Back there, huh? Thought as much." David said.
"Still, it's an important part of these trials, so we may as well go." Ramona said.
"Let's get this show on the road." David said.
"Wish us luck." Hope said.
It was later that all the qualified fighters met in the Temple Arena stage as the crowd cheered for the fighters in the ring.
"Wow. The stands are packed. It's not just color fighters but people from a lot of different worlds watching his thing." Indigo said.
"It must be some big event now, since everyone saw Jexi and Drake's battle." Lucina said.
"Yeah. I see Spectra Force and Zexi's group in the stands ready to cheer our friends on." Gemini said.
"This is gonna be good." Rainbow said.
"I agree, I can't wait! Start the rumble already!" Luffy said.
Rain Bow then approached the stage. "Once again, I welcome you all back. And I see we have even attracted the attention of those not native to our temple and wish to see the final trial commence. Well, we will not keep you waiting for much longer. First, I want to congratulate all 25 of you making it back without dying or losing your positions."
"The pleasure is all ours, Master." Hope said as all 25 bowed.
"Now then, allow me to explain how the last trial works." Rain Bow said. "This large stage will be your final proving ground. Once we begin, it will raise into the sky. You will be fighting a battle royale and it will not stop until only 5 of you remain on the stage."
"Assumption tells me those five will be the new High Masters." David said.
"You are correct. Though, defeating your foe will not be enough, if they are unconscious and still on the stage, they can still take a spot. They must be knocked off the platform in order to secure yourself a slot." Rain Bow said.
"Force a Ring Out. Got it." Hope said.
"Now then, are there any other questions before we begin the final trial?" Rain Bow asked.
"None at all." Hope said. "Ring that bell! Or… gong!"
"Let us begin!" Rain Bow said as the stage soon began ascending high into the sky as the roof opened as they were out in the open sky.
"Yes! Now I can go and get rid of those in the way of…" Wicana said before a sound wave knocked her off the platform.
"And Wicana has failed." Rain said.
"Sorry, but we did not need to hear that, right?" Noise asked.
"Yep. Monologuers are the worst." Hope said.
"Now, if we're done with the chit-chat…" Vanaati said before Solana and Luna kicked her off.
"Vanaati has failed!" Rain said.
"The fighting already began…" Solana said.
"...when the stadium ascended." Luna said as she and Solana locked hands.
"Okay, that's not creepy or anything." David said.
"Sun and Moon combine to deal a deadly blow against those who fight against them!" they both said at the same time as they glowed with power. "Solar Lunar Blaster!" they shouted firing a blast onto the stage.
"What in the world?" Jexi said.
"While Color fighting is normally independent, some fighting styles can become stronger when paired with the right style." Raz said.
"Much like Linked Artes." Jude said.
"Or any other form of combination attack." David said. "The wonders of the multiverse never ceases to amaze me."
"Blood Shot!" a voice shouted as blood broke Solana and Luna apart from each other as it came from Marie. "Sorry, but there's no team ups in this fight."
"There are bodies flying everywhere." Hope said.
Suddenly Hope was grabbed by multiple fighters. Barry, Raz and Skyler, trying to wear him down and push him over the edge.
"You don't belong here, blue boy! Leave the High Master stuff to the big dogs!" Barry stated.
"There is no place for you here. We'll put you out of your misery right now." Raz said.
"It's time you fell." Skyler said.
"No… you fall!" Hope said breaking free of the three fighters and pushing them back.
"Just give in already! This is our yard, we built it up for centuries and this is our year to become high masters." Barry said.
"Just try and take it. I dare…." Hope said before they heard cannon fire.
"What? The hell was that?" Raz asked.
"Oh no… Don't tell me he's here now…" Jexi said sighing as a familiar ship was before them. It was the Dark Cruiser.
"Flux? How did he find this place?" David asked.
The screens were being taken over as appearing on it was Lucius as he chuckled as the people were gasping in fear.
"Oh my god…!" Barry said in total shock.
"It can't be…!" Celti said.
"Hello, my fellow color fighters. Your brother has come home." Lucius said laughing.
"This is not your home. You lost this after killing so many innocent lives." Rain said.
"Hey, Lucius!" Hope said walking up as the crowd gasped. "We're in the middle of something important. Butt out!"
"Who are….Oh. I remember you. The little blue idiot who let me out." Lucius said as lots of scowls were pointed to Hope.
"You let Lucius out of his cell on Genosha?!" Barry said. "That's crazy and that's coming from me."
"You imbecile…" Solana said.
"...you've let loose the worst criminal in the universe." Luna said.
David sighed at this. "Hope, there are times where you should've just kept your mouth shut."
"This boy…" Lucius said. "Could he be… No, that's impossible. Wait, the face, the pointing out the obvious….you're Ishihara's son."
"Yes. That's right." David said.
"Ah, so he went and had a brat. If I had known, I would have brought chaos to your home ages ago." Lucius said laughing.
"Well, someone already beat you to it. And another thing. He actually has two." David said. "Yeah, that's right. I have a sister."
"Good. Gives me something to do after I claim my revenge. Apart from looking for the three men who imprisoned me the first time." Lucius said..
"Sorry, but like Hope said, we've got something important here. Can we mop the floor with you some other time?" David asked.
"Why do you think I picked now? No better time than the promotion trials. And the final trial is the icing on the cake. See, I came here for a reason...to wipe color fighting off the face of the earth." Lucius said.
"And what makes you think we'll just let that happen?" David asked.
"Oh...I already thought of everything." Lucius said pressing a button as tubes were dropping from the ship and into the stadium. Shattering, they revealed men in matching uniform.
"Oh my goodness! Those are the clones I saw on the ship!" Pinkie said.
"Aw come on! You said you weren't gonna let them loose!" said a voice as Lucius turned to a tied up Flux.
"I said I might not." Lucius said.
"Oh, this is gonna be a bloodbath." Ming said.
"What have you done?!" Skyler said as the clones surrounded them.
"It wasn't my fault!" Hope said.
"How isn't it? You set him free!" Marie said. "There visual evidence of you letting him loose on Genosha."
"And now we're all gonna suffer, because of YOUR mistake, blue one." Maelstrom said.
"Same goes with everyone below." Duplica said.
"Just admit it! This is all your fault!" Yuki said.
"Enough! We can blame him later. Right now, our focus should protecting everyone from the clones." Drake said.
"But if we leave the platform to help the civilians…" Solana said before Volt grabbed her collar.
"You think a stupid trial matters more than innocent lives? Then you have no right to call yourself a high master." Volt said charging down there.
"He's right. There are some things that matter more than status." Celti said following him.
Hope was about to jump before Jexi grabbed him.
"No. We're going in there." Jexi said pointing to the Dark Cruiser. "Lucius has been a plague to our fathers. Its time to finish what they have started."
"And David as well. His father was part of it, too." Hope said.
"He's one step ahead." Jexi said pointing down as David was climbing an icy stairway up towards the ship. "Come on. We need to stop him before things get worse."
"I know. I let Lucius out of that cell. It's time I put him back in it. I need to redeem myself." Hope said.
The two of them flew towards the ship as Lucius smiled inside. "Go ahead and come. I'm not going anywhere." Lucius said.
As they fought the clones below and the three leaders head for Lucius, things are going to lead to an amazing turn of events for the entire universe.