At some kind of strange landscape, Velvet and David had just regained consciousness.
"Urg… My head…" David said as he slowly got up and looked around only to see Hope, Connor, Sectonia and the Tapu Guardians with them. "Wait… Where's everyone else? Did we get separated when we went into the portal?"
"More importantly… Where are we? Are we dead?" Velvet asked.
"Nope. We're all still very much alive." David said. "Sorry… If only I was more committed to your cause, I wouldn't have made myself a target when I snapped at Copernicus. All that talk about how humans are the most dominant species while the other races are just tools. I just… I just couldn't take it anymore."
"You speak as if you aren't human yourself." Velvet said.
"Let's just say I don't condone racism. Guess it comes with forming a racially-diverse group. I don't know if it's Melchior, Copernicus or whatever, but something about that scene just got me all riled up." David said as Tapu Lele awoke and the other Tapus went back into David.
"Would you say you're fully committed now?" Velvet asked.
"Now that I know who the true enemy is, yes." David said. "I am now ready to lend you my full support."
"Guys? Laphicet isn't looking too good." Tapu Lele said checking on Laphicet.
"What?" Velvet said running over to him as he lied there.
"Don't die...Velvet. Don't...die." Laphicet said weakly.
"We need to get out of here now." Velvet said picking him up as she took off.
David proceeded to wake Hope, Sectonia and Connor up before going after Velvet.
"Just what the heck is this weird place?" Connor asked as they ran.
"No clue but I'm getting a lot of weird energy from it." Hope said. "Just hope this isn't one of those forever type things."
"We're in an Earthpulse." a voice said as they saw Eizen, Jexi and Jack approach.
"There you guys are!" Sectonia said.
"Let's not count our blessings yet. It looks like we've been sealed inside." Eizen said. "At least we're still alive. Can't say the same would be true if we stayed in that place."
"According to Eizen, this is a place that's like the life pulse of the land. But the way in got sealed. He thinks Laphicet could open a way out." Jexi said.
"He can't do much in this state, though." Tapu Lele said. "If this keeps up, he'll turn into a daemon!"
"Calm down. We need a vessel. That should stop his daemonification." Jack said.
"Uh...an exorcist might work." a voice said as they saw Eleanor behind them. "We allow Malakheim in our body for the Abbey's purposes. I volunteer to serve as your malak's vessel."
"Can we really trust her?" Jack asked.
"If we try to attack her, she'll kill herself and we'll be stuck here." Sectonia said.
"I see you are aware of the situation." Eleanor said. "But this is personal. Once I regain my exorcist powers… I vow to challenge Velvet to single combat. If she wins, she can do as she wishes with me, and if I win, I will kill her."
"We don't have much of a choice. If we argue, Laphicet is going to be a daemon." Connor said.
"We don't have a lot of options then." Tapu Lele said. "Do it!"
Eleanor nods and moves to Laphicet. "What's the malak's name? Normally it's decided by their masters, but I still need to know."
"His name...is Laphicet." Velvet said.
"Laphicet… Got it." Eleanor said. "O child of the fountain of creation, these vows we exchange. May our purpose, resplendent, help to purify this cursed world. Remember this true name I bestow unto you."
Laphicet then vanished as he entered her body. She then felt a surge of power as it over took them all.
Meanwhile in some old ruins, the rest of the group was inside along with Magilou and Rokurou.
"Nuts… We got separated from them." Jesse said.
"Well, looks like this is where the adventure and the revenge trip ends." Magilou said.
"Don't say that! They could still be alive, wherever they are." Lloyd said.
"Yeah. We know these guys by now for them not to give up." Skull said.
"There's no way they're gonna keep up the revenge and adventure after this. Bet ya 10 gald I'm wrong." Magilou said.
"Ten gald? You're on." Skull said.
Soon enough, a rift opened and Velvet, Sectonia and the leaders emerged from it.
"Hah, that's one for Skull!" Mona said.
"What happened? You guys alright?" Teba asked.
"Yeah. We're fine." David said.
"Don't forget our little wager." Skull smirked as Magilou groaned. "Knew these guys would make it."
"Thanks." Jack said.
"Wait….where's the exorcist girl?" Jexi said looking around.
"She wouldn't leave with Laphicet after she promised a duel with Velvet. She's probably waiting outside." Sectonia said.
"Then I'm going to see her." Velvet said.
"Good luck. Now that she's back to full strength, you need to be careful." Hope said as Velvet ran out.
"Since she's gone...I need to have a word with you four." Jack said to Jexi, Hope, David and Connor.
"Is this about what happened back at the Empyrean's Throne?" David asked.
"Yeah. It was bad enough when Daisy was fooled by that bastard Diablo but his subordinate had to go and try to kill Cindrey. I am sick of these Hobbyists going against our family Hope." Jack said.
"What are you trying to say?" Jexi asked.
"You four have some strange alliance going on right? I want in." Jack said.
"Wha? Boss, you can't be serious!" Skull said.
"He is serious." Joker said. "He has to be to go to these lengths. Personally, I agree with him. I can't stand for how these groups do things. Reminds me way too much of home." he said taking off his mask. "Jack...where you go, we follow."
"Akira…." Jack said.
"Your team has your back. That's the loyalty of friends. More than that, family." Hope said.
"Family? What're you talking about?" Jack asked.
"Jexi's team is more like a family than anything. I'd say mine is too, and David's as well." Hope said. "And no matter how much you deny it, I'm still your brother."
"Heh. You always were a sucker for the sappy stuff." Jack said gently punching Hope's arm.
"And you're still the same ol' buzz kill." Hope said gently punching him back as Daisy smiled.
"I never thought I'd see the day that Jonah and Jack would get together like this." Daisy said. "Maybe there is hope for our family."
"It isn't the same without Sahara, Cindery and Benny, though." Hope said.
"Benny? Nah, I wouldn't worry about him. From what he's been telling me, he's found work as an apprentice chef in a restaurant to all the worlds." Jack said.
"Wait… Isn't that restaurant how Elize got to us at Aytolis?" David asked.
"That's the one." Jack said. "It connects to every world and offers food not normally found on them."
'It's like we told Connor at the alternate Alola, we'll need all the help we can get." David said.
"Well, since they're in, I guess I'll be sticking with you guys for a while." Alvin said.
"You're stuck with us now, Alfred." Jack said.
"Now we're teaming up with thieves. Our alliance is becoming very interesting." Jexi said.
"Yep. Definitely." Hope said.
"I know of the Hobbyists numbers. I can tell that just our five groups won't be enough to go against them." Jack said.
"So, we'll have to gather allies in every world we come across, huh?" David asked.
"No...I think….two more groups would give us a good enough chance." Jack said.
"Who else do you think could help us?" Hope asked.
"Well, there's still Ty, but who knows where he and his group are now…" David said.
"True. I would also say Spectra but his group's been quiet and off radar since that stuff with Acnologia." Jexi said.
"Well, I did hear that after the business with the elements, Ty decided to use the Boar's Hat as their base and leave Flower Town." Mona said.
"That's exactly why I said that we don't know where they are." David said.
"I'm sure we'll run into them eventually. Ty's a great guy, and we can trust his team. After all, he helped us stop Black from using my family and Cindrey." Hope said.
"There's still the matter of the seventh group. Guess we let the chips fall where they may." David said.
"Wait...there is someone we aren't considering. Zexi!" Jexi said.
"Oh yeah, I completely forgot about him. He'd jump right to helping us if we gave him a call." Hope said.
"Yeah, but we should probably resolve this world first before anything." Aoyama said.
"For once, I agree. First things first." Jiro said.
"Yeah." Hope said.
"We better find Velvet then." Jexi said as they headed out to look for her.
They searched for Velvet and Eleanor until they saw them battling against one another over a nearby bridge.
"Those two are really going all out." Tapu Bulu said.
"This is a duel with implications, Bulu. One side has to win." Tapu Koko said.
"It will be Velvet. While Eleanor has regained power, Velvet has more combat experience." Tapu Fini said.
"Okay, I'm lost. When did you guys start being buddy-buddy with Velvet?" Zelos asked.
"It was after we escaped from the Empyrean's Throne. I mentioned that I couldn't condone racism and decided to lend her my full support." David said.
"Ah, Dave. Always the moral one out of all of us." Rainbow said.
"Aren't I always?" David asked.
"Still...this is a pretty close match." Morph said as Velvet and Eleanor continued to clash until Velvet sent Eleanor's weapon flying with her claw.
"Whoa! Guess Fini was right on the mark there." Tapu Lele said.
Velvet then grabbed the weapon as she pointed it at Eleanor as she sat on the ground. "Once your sword is drawn, never waver. Control your feelings to control the tide of battle. Right?" Velvet said.
"Lord Artorius's teachings? What a fool I've been. I'll keep my promise...till the day I die!" she said trying to impale herself.
"Don't!" Laphicet's voice said overpowering Eleanor as she fell and him exiting her body.
"Laphicet! You feeling any better?" Hope asked.
"I'm great." Laphicet said.
"No… how could a Malak… overpower his own vessel….?" Eleanor said before falling unconscious.
"What the? Eleanor passed out?" Connor asked.
"Her body was weak from the pact." Eizen said.
"He's right. All she needs is some rest, and she'll be back on her feet in no time." David said. "Laphicet… We don't know what she'll try to pull on us. If she starts being suspicious, don't hesitate to stop her."
"Got it." Laphicet said.
"Anyway, we should get some rest. We'll scour the area tomorrow." Hope said.
"Agreed. Night, everyone." David said.
That night as everyone rested, Eleanor had awaken to a response from Artorius to bring Laphicet to Loegres. However, she wasn't the only one awake as Mona listened in.
"Sorry, Eleanor...The others may trust you but I don't." he said keeping an eye on her.