Three months passed and neither Team Asakura nor Team Ren faught. Then, one day, Yoh and Hao's oracle bells rang. It was Team Asakura and Team Star. Just as the fight was scheduled to begin, Yoh asked the King of Spirits permission to fight Hao alone. At first, he wouldn't allow it, but Yoh managed to persuade him. Ryu and Faust are sitting this one out.
"Guys, look at him." said Horo. "His form, it's flawless. He's just standing in front of Hao, completely calm. He's not even blinking."
"Amazing." said Ren. "He's just standing in front of him like it's another day at the beach."
Then, Yoh did something that suprised the gang even more. He became a Rei Shaman level 4.
"Ren, what's he doing?" said Horo.
"He transformed into a Rei Shaman level 4." said Ren.
"What! When did he learn this?" said Horo.
"I...don't know." said Ren. "I'll be sure to ask him once he beats Hao."
"A Rei Shaman level 4." said Horo. "But how? His eyes, his hair...they haven't changed at all."
"Exactly. As a Rei Shaman level 4, you look exactly as you do in your normal form." said Ren. "I suspect it's much easier to maintain than Rei Shaman level 3, since Yoh still isn't showing any signs of fatigue. As I said, I'll ask Yoh about it when he wins."
"You seem pretty sure he's going to win this."
"Of course he is. Don't you see? Even as a Rei Shaman level 4, Hao's furyoku is far lower than Yoh's. And besides, Yoh knows Sayuro, and that taught him how to use his furyoku wisely, and that's all that matters. I'm telling you, victory is in the bag. But where did he learn this form?
Then it hits him.
"That jerk!" said Ren. "He's been training in the Dimension Without Time without us! That's how he was able to transform!
While Ren and Horo are chatting, Yoh and Hao speed up the fight. And Yoh seems to have a huge advantage over Hao. As much as he tried, Hao couldn't hit him, while Yoh managed to land quite a few powerful attacks. Hao's furyoku was dropping quickly. But then one of his illusions heals him and gives him his furyoku. The other one does the same, and now Hao was too powerful for Yoh. It seemed when he split into three, his furyoku was also cut in three. But now that he has his full power back, Yoh was no match for him. As hard as he tried, he couldn't land a punch.
"Yoh, go to the training dimension! Get some rest, than come back!" said Ren.
"Right." said Yoh, and opened a Dimensional Door. He goes into it, and Hao tried to follow him, but Yoh closes the door. However, Hao opens another one, but where he was going Yoh wasn't.
"Where are you, Yoh?" said Hao angrily. "Strange. Where is he? We're in the middle of nowhere. Where could he be hiding?"
Back in Yoh's section of the dimension, Yoh was taking a nap. It lasted seven hours, and Yoh got ready to leave. When he was back on Earth, Hao was already there.
"Ah, Hao. How easily you are fooled." said Yoh.
"Where were you, idiot? I looked everywhere, and there wasn't a trace of you!"
"I can't tell you the secret behind that one. Let's just fight and get this over with." said Yoh.
Hao and Yoh started fighting, but this time Hao was no match for Yoh. This was because of when they were in the Dimension Without Time, Hao was restlessly searching for Yoh for twenty-four straight hours, using a lot of his furyoku in the process, while Yoh took a long nap and recovered all his furyoku that he lost in the fight.
As much as he tried, Hao couldn't hit him. However, even after an hour, he still kept fighting, though his strength decreased significantly. However Yoh's furyoku wasn't dropping, and he got ready to finish Hao off. He summoned a Double-Medium, slashed Hao, who then fell to the ground. He was almost out of furyoku, but preserved enough of it to heal his wounds. He got up, struggling for breath, now completely out of furyoku.
"Congratulations, Yoh. You beat me. I am clearly no match for you." he said, leaving everyone in shock.
"What are you up to, Hao?" said Yoh.
"Please listen, Yoh. While I fought you, I glimpsed into your mind. And I saw that even after everything I did to you and your friends, you still wanted to show me mercy. You still wanted to redeem me, to help me find my way. I am greatful to you for that, and I think that all your care finally paid off. I want to join you, Yoh. I wish to use my powers to do good, not evil. Please let me join you. I swear, I have changed. I do not want to harm you."
"Well...okay." said Yoh.
"Yoh, have you lost your mind?" said Horo. "This is Hao we're talking about! Hao who wanted to destroy all humans, Hao who wanted to absorb you into his being, who tried to absorb the King of Spirits, that Hao!"
"You're right, Horo, but I can see into his mind, and I know that he really has changed." said Yoh. "My brother is finally on my side. I can't blow this chance. "
"I hope you know what you're doing, Yoh." said Ren.
"He doesn't!" said Lyserg. "Yoh, I will never be on the same team as Hao! I'm going home to live by my own will, do what you want!"
"So that's how it is, you little ungreatful brat?" said Ren. "When you joined those stupid X-laws, we tried countless times to redeem you, but you won't even try."
"Do not mock the X-laws, chinese scum!" said Lyserg, and left back to his own time.
"It's a shame that you lost so close to the finals, Hao." said Ren.
"Close to the finals?" said Yoh. "Ren, what do you mean?"
"Haven't you heard?" said Ren. "During these three boring months, Hao faught and beat every other team in the Tournament. There's only one more fight. Team Ren and Team Asakura."
"Oh, really? Well then, let your downfall begin!" said Yoh.
"That's what you think!" said Ren.
Three hours later, the final fight in the Tournament began: Team Asakura vs. Team Ren. The voice of the King of Spirits was heard.
"Honorable shaman." said The King of Spirits. "Welcome to the final match in the Shaman Tournament. I have chosen this fight to be faught between two shaman. That will be you, Yoh Asakura, and you, Ren Tao."
The King of Spirits has announced the start of the final match. The fight to determine the Shaman King begins, who will it be? Will it be Yoh, the relaxed, laid-back, lazy slacker or Ren, the fierce chinese warrior that has been training all his life for this moment? Find out on the next exciting chapter of Shaman King II: The Rei Shamans!