Lance was currently exploring a part of Republic City that was mostly covered by the Spirit Roots as he put a hand on a part of it.

"Drevas, what do you make of this?" Lance asked as his spear glowed and took the form of a young man with dark tan skin and emerald green hair along with a blue crystal on his chest.

"I am not sure, Master. But many citizens have been disappearing as of late and their disappearances have been connected to the Spirit Roots." Drevas said.

"We should let the others know." Lance said as Drevas reverted to his weapon form as they walked off. "What could...ah!" he said grabbed by a vine and taken away.

Meanwhile outside…

"Ohh…." Sunset shivered.

"Something up?" Spade asked.

"There feels like there's been an upset with the spiritual energy as of late." Sunset said.

"What do you mean?" Hope asked.

"Ever since I started taking an interest in yokai, my spiritual awareness has been on the rise. Something has upset the spirits...something horrible." Sunset said.

"Lance's aura...it's grown weak." Vargas said.

"Wait...didn't he go for a walk in the Spirit wilds?" ZS asked.

"He did!" Mark said. "You don't think…"

"Dammit…" Vargas muttered. "He went to check out the Spirit Wilds to see if something was amiss, and I think he might've been taken."

"You have no idea how right you are." a voice said as a familiar blue haired man appeared.

"Jaou Kaira." Sunset said.

"Oh yes, we met you at the GGG, do you know what happened to Lance?" Eze asked.

"Taken, just like all the humans who wandered into those wilds." Jaou Kaira said. "Though I cannot blame the vines since you humans are at fault."

"We aren't the type to harm nature without reason." Ace said.

"That's not what I've seen." he said creating an orb as it showed mech's cutting down large vines in the swamp.

"By Grand Gaia." Atro said in shock.

"It's Kuvira… she's cutting the roots of the Great Banyan grove tree." Hope said.

"Likely for her own gain." Tokoyami said.

"We need to talk about this with the counsel. Maybe we can finally get them to move against her." Jexi said.

"Yes, and we need to find a way to rescue Lance and the missing townspeople." Vargas said.

"One step at a time." Jexi said.

They arrived at the building to try and convince the council but before they could…

"Guys! Oh perfect...you're all here." Bolin said coming in with the undercover group.

"You all are alright!" Selena said.

"What the? Guards, take care of these traitors!" Raiko said.

"Wait wait wait, we're not traitors. We're not traitors!" Usopp said.

"We have top secret information for you!" Eddy shouted before the guards stopped.

"Guess we should have opened with that line." Miu said.

"What have you discovered?" Minerva asked.

"She's got this thing that goes...boom! Kapow! Ploosh!" Bolin said.

"It's a superweapon. Like a regular weapon but super." Varrick said.

"Could you please describe it, Jude?" Zan asked.

"Yeah cause this is the first I've heard about it." David said.

"It's a weapon that harnesses the power of spirits from vines. If she figures out how to tap into that energy, we're all doomed." Jude said.

"So that's why I sensed something amiss in the tree." Simon said.

"By the way, why is David here? Shouldn't he be qualifying for the finals?" ZS asked.

"I was trying to, but Kuvira and her forces kept getting in the way. I only managed to snag 5 tokens." David said.

"You must be joking. That woman has no respect for anything, does she?" Craniamon asked.

"Apparently not…" David said.

"You really think some silly tournament matters at a time like this? Lives are in danger." Jaou Kaira said.

"Hey! He's been through enough already!" Eddy said.

"I'm an athlete. Competitions are my livelihood. So call it silly again, I dare you." David said.

"Calm down, David. There's no need to get so worked up now." Omnimon said.

"He's right, you'd best save that aggression for Invel." Leopardmon said.

"So...what's happening to the people the vines took?" Rainbow asked.

"They aren't going to harm them. They're just taking small portions of energy from them. Keeping them in a hibernation state." Jaou Kaira said.

"Are you kidding me?!" Vargas yelled.

"That doesn't sound like something to be concerned about?" David asked.

"Well I'll just go in there and open those pods." Vargas said.

"I would advise against that. Attack will only provoke the spirits further." Jaou Kaira said.

"He's right. Reckless action will just make things worse." Gallantmon said.

"Well, can't you just tell the spirits that we're gonna stop Kuvira?" Eddy asked Jaou Kaira.

"Hmm. That might work. But you can't do it in the physical world. A talk with them will only work on their turf. The Spirit World." Jaou Kaira said.

"Who can do that?" Emo asked. "...Wait a minute." he then said, looking at Korra.

"There...may be a way I can." Korra said.

The group soon stood before a massive prison as its doors opened as they walked inside.

"Well well...look who it is." a voice said. "The no good mortals...who ruined our plans." Grimoire shouted from a cell.

"Shut up, Gringo. If it were up to us, you'd be staying in there." David said.

"Oh you little. When I get out of here in 50 years, you're dead!" Grimoire said.

"Good luck with that, jackass." Ace said. "Now where's Zaheer? He's in this prison right?"

"Yeah he's here. Lucky bastard has his own deluxe room since he can fly now." Grimoire said.

"...I can fly too…" Eddy said under his breath.

"I'm surprised they gave a monster like him a body back." Spade said.

"Yeah, who's running this place?" SE added.

"I'll have you know I took this body from a corpse after he destroyed the original." Grimoire said pointing to David.

"Hey, if it were up to me, you would've died along with it." David said.

"Ignore him. He's not why we're here." Korra said as they continued onward through several steel doors before they saw Zaheer floating in midair, chained down as he meditated.

"Hello...Avatar and heroes." Zaheer said.

"We need to ask you a few questions." Mark said bluntly.

"I don't. Just came to look him in the face and say I'm not scared of him." Korra said.

Zaheer then stopped meditating as he flew at Korra, frightening her but he was stopped by his chains as he laughed. "Didn't work. You still look scared." he smirked.

"Aw, shut it ya big bag of wind!" Eddy said.

"This was a mistake." Korra said turning to leave.

"I know why you all came...the Avatar can no longer enter the spirit world." Zaheer said. "I am well known for entering the spirit world and it has been well known that the Avatar's spirit hasn't been there for a few years."

"You can enter the spirit world?" Jude asked.

"It doesn't matter! He...poisoned me. People used to think I was invincible but now they hesitate to call me. You ruined me!" Korra said.

"Blaming me is just a crutch to make you feel better. But neither of us are the same as back then. I learned to fly but now I'm bound in chains, you have all the power in the worlds and limit yourself with it. That poison should have killed you but you fought it off. You say your power is limited. I say, its limitless." Zaheer said.

"He's a jerk...but he's got a point." Eddy said.

"Let's not forget one important thing. He killed the Earth Queen and inadvertently created the worst dictator this world has ever seen. Way to go." David said.

"I've heard rumors about her. I didn't think she'd rise to power so quickly. She has to be stopped." Zaheer said.

"Yeah, we're having a bit of trouble with that... thanks to that poison you inflicted on Korra." Issei said, glaring at the man.

"I think I can help her get into the Spirit World." Zaheer said.

"Really?" Jude asked.

"We all may have been enemies at one point, but for now, our interests align." Zaheer said as he started meditating.

"Can we really trust that he can help? What if he's just trying to trick us?" Marco asked.

"If we had other options, we wouldn't even be here." Jexi said.

"I can't believe we're doing this." CP said.

"These uneasy alliances happen all the time, Cap. You better get used to it." David said.

"Okay, here goes." Korra said as she meditated as well. As she connected with Zaheer, her battle with him flashed through her mind.

"Let the images play out! Focus on me!" Zaheer yelled.

"I can't!" Korra called.

"Just hang on!" Zaheer said as Korra was dragged into the Spirit World.

"I made it…" Korra said as Zaheer appeared. "Do you know where everyone is?"

"No… but you do." Zaheer said as he disappeared.

Korra soon reconnected to Raava as she used her to locate the captive people inside the pod. "How do I free them?" Korra asked.

"Bend the energy around them. Here in the Spirit World, you are all powerful." Raava said as Korra touched the pod, bending its energy as it opened up with the spirits inside leaving and returning to their bodies.

"Ugh...what?" Lance groaned waking up in a pod. "What the?"

Back in the prison…

"Hmm. Seems the spirit vines in the city wilds have calmed." Jaou Kaira said.

"Looks like Korra did it. She's back to 100% now." Hope said.

"How Enma put up with a human like you is beyond me. How he put up with any of you." Jaou Kaira said with a smile.

"I can't tell if that was a compliment or an insult." Al said.

"Maybe both." Mark said.

"All the same, you'll find we're...quite an unusual bunch." David said.

"And you'll find there is no problem with humans." Rainbow said.

"I don't have a problem with them. It's impossible for me too. See, I'm half human myself." Jaou Kaira said.

"That's interesting. You don't have a problem with Nephilims either, do you?" Mari asked.

"I consider anything not of yokai origin human to be honest." Jaou Kaira said as he turned to leave.

"Nephilim? You're half-angel too?" Mark asked.

"Not true. Ace, Spade and Simon are a race called Nephilim. Not angel." Jexi said.

"We're half Human and Demon." Ace said.

"Just like Dante…" David muttered.

"(One of the sons of Sparda.)" Spade thought.

"Wait, where are you going?" Sunset asked.

"Apologies for this meeting cut short, but I have more important matters to attend to." Jaou Kaira said.

"Now that the people are safe… we should get down to business." CP said. "The Earth Empire must be stopped!"

"Yes, it does." A voice said as Lance approached the group. "But we will have to come up with a plan and fast."

"You have no idea how right you are." Kazuichi said sweating. "When we were captives, I overheard a conversation between her and her inner circle."

"Oh, that's never good." Emo said.

"The attack on Republic City...it's gonna go down in two weeks." Kazuichi said.

"They're gonna use that army we saw in Zaofu aren't they?" Simon asked.

"And if their tech has caught up...that Spirit weapon too." Franky said.

"All the more reason to put a stop to Kuvira and her plans. And David, Invel's all yours, it's time you showed him why you're named the Ice Devil." Ace said.

"Damn right. And to also show him that I'm not the same rookie back in Glenwood that he metaphorically tossed around like a ragdoll." David said.

"We still need to free Suyin and her family though. The more cards Kuvira doesn't have the better." Hope said.

"Hope, that won't be necessary. See...Bolin and Opal along with the chief took off to rescue them when we headed over here." Applejack said.

"What? Why didn't you say anything?" Hope asked.

"Cause they asked me not to." Applejack said.

"Either way, we still have two weeks to prepare. We'd best make the most of it." David said.

"It's time we show Kuvira she picked the wrong heroes to mess with." Simon smirked as his left eye glowed.

Meanwhile in said army…

"Yes sir. All is going according to plan. The weapon has been finished. The invasion will commence soon." Invel said talking to someone in the dark. "Kuvira...depending on how things turn out, she might be a valued ally. The Ice Devil...yes. Knowing him, he'll definitely want to fight me again. He defeated me once during the Ultron Sigma incident. But...it will not happen again. His allies robbed me of my emperor...that is the only reason I do this journeying. I will destroy anything they hold dear. For my emperor." he said.