"The Cho-Tayio Island Japan Qualifiers! Its where the Japan Round of the WBC cup is being held, to pick the spots for the Greatest buddy fighter in the world!" Ozon b said holding up the trophy on a raft. "Just recently, Tasuku and David have claimed the first slot during their amazing defeats of Ageha and Angelique. Only two slots remain." Ozon B said as seagulls pecked at him. "Slow let's buddy…"

"Meowt!" the cat said holding the flag.

As Gao and the heroes continue their search for Bal and Doctor Gara, we now turn our attention to Gaito and Riku. Like Tasuku and David, they too, have 99 wins under their belt, and just need one more to fill the second spot.

"Gaito...I know this boy is showing darkness in his heart...but I can feel a small presence of light within him. He can still be saved from his depression. I know it." Riku thought. But as he was about to say something.

"Found you!" a voice said as they turned to see Shura standing behind them with a small black cat and Paimon. "I'll never forget what you have done, Gaito!"

"Someone you know?" Riku asked Gaito.

"I don't know anyone like him." Gaito said.

"Begone. You are mistaken." Abygale said.

"Silence! The way you humiliated me...I will send you into the underworld!" Shura said.

"Yeah, and I kinda wanna do the same to Riku...cause it sounds fun." Paimon said.

"Yes and I, Helle Gepard with support them!" the cat said.

"Sorry, but I think you should go." Riku said.

"Oh...is that so? Well then…" Paimon said pressing the button on her phone as the UFO stage came and took them inside.

"Why did you do that?" Riku asked.

"I'm a demon! Tripping people up is sort of in the job description." Paimon said snickering.

"Gaito, because of you I have lost the one I loved and I will never see her again! I will make you pay for it!" Shura said.

"Lost someone?" Riku said. "You sure you don't remember anything about what he's talking about?"

"None whatsoever. But if they're getting in the way of my destiny, we just have to defeat them." Gaito said.

"There he goes with the whole destiny thing again." Ming said.

"I guess it's sorta his thing or something." Rainbow siad. "But i can't wait to see Paimon fight. Wonder what deck she uses?"

"The dark hour has begun... Luminize, Hollow Black Dragon!" Gaito said.

"Though they walk a dark path, I'll show them there's a better way! Luminize, Purgatory Redeemed!" Riku said.

"Burning up all of creation! The flames of perdition will cast judgement on you tonight! Luminize! Inferno Purgatory!" Shura said.

"Demons are already bound for a painful hell with no chance for paradise! Luminize, Hell's Angels!" Paimon said.

"Buddy...FIGHT!" Paruko said.

"Raise the flag!" the four said.

"Darkness Dragon World!" Gaito and Riku said.

"Searing Executioners!" Shura and Paimon said.

"Searing Executioners… that's the same flag Despair made me use against you, Jexi." Hope said.

"Yeah, I thought it looked familiar. The same one you used when he brainwashed you." Jexi said.

"And I see Helle Gepard is now Shura's buddy. I guess he had second thoughts about going with William." Hope said.

"Since you know so much about this new Flag, you mind if you give us a refresher course?" Indigo said.

Hope nodded. "Searing Executioners is like the Divine Guardians flag, but with totally different perks. You can use any card that has the Executioners attribute regardless of the world, and you start out with 4 gauge."

"But the trade off is that your life is limited to 8." Jexi said.

"During my brainwashing when I was Despair's errand boy, I watched myself play a Searing Executioners Deck like a pro. But Shura and Paimon's strategies have to be totally different." Hope said.

"That's because he probably programmed the strategies into your mind. Of course theirs will be different." Jexi said. "We're gonna see them play for real."

"'First move goes to Gaito and Riku." Paruko said.

"Charge and Draw. I call Black Sleepless City, Dimmoborgil to the center. I also cast Black Drain!" Gaito said sending three of Shura's cards into the drop zone. "Now I attack!" Gaito said.

8-6

"Now it's my turn. Charge and Draw! And I call Purgatory Knights, Long Katana Dragon to the center!" Riku said calling the dragon. "Attack Paimon!"

8-7

End of move.

"Now its time I show you hell!" Shura said. "Draw! Charge and Draw! I call Glutton Jailer, Glugiu to the left. THen I pay one gauge to call the ebony panther that is liked by darkness. Sound Speed Jailer, Helle Gepard!"

"Ive been waiting a long time for this!" Helle Gepard said assuming his true armorknight form on the left.

"Now I equip….Executioner Hammer, Helles Fander! Then I set the spell Gate of Verdict Judgment and activate its ability. I discard two cards from my deck and increase my gauge by one! Helle Gepard, attack the center!"

"I'll strike so swiftly, the enemy wont see me coming!" Helle gepard said swiftly slicing Dimmoborgil to shreds.

"The center is open now. Glugiu, attack Gaito!" Shura said as Glugiu breathed fire from his two heads on gaito. "When i have 5 or more cards in the dropzone, he gains a critical!"

10-7

"Now i shall strike you with my Hammer of Judgement!" Shura said swinging his guitar hammer hybrid. "Helles Fender!"

7-5

"Paimon, deal with the other one!" Shura said.

"Got it, man. Time for me to rock! Draw! Charge and Draw! I start by calling Thousand Limb Jailer, Cadval to the right and then Lethal Poison Jailer, Silhouette Leroy to the left. Then I equip Purgatory Sword, Silver Givson. Next I cast the spell Damian's Decision and send two cards into the drop zone. And since one of them was an Executioner I put the top card into my gauge and draw a card. Now let's get cleaving!" Paimon said destroying Long Katana Dragon with her item. "Attack him! Leroy! Cadval!" she said as both monsters attacked.

10-6

"With that, my move ends." Paimon said.

"So, these guys are pretty good." Riku said as he looked at Gaito who stared into space. "Something's bothering him."

Gaito soon snapped out of it as he went with his move. "I call Black Sleepless City, Dimmoborgil to the center. And then, I buddy call to the right, Black Death Dragon, Abygale! Then I activate his ability!"

"Wind of Atonement!" Abygale said destroying Gepard.

"Discard 2 cards!" Gaito said.

"Actually, it's 4 cards! When Gepard is destroyed, I have to discard 2 of them." Shura said. "And since Gepard has soul Guard, he revives! I move him to the center!"

"Then… Abygale, clear Gepard out!" Gaito said.

"Gale Claw!" Abygale said slicing Gepard in half.

"Heh heh heh… that's two more cards sent to my drop zone." Shura said.

"Dimmoborgil! Attack him!" Gaito said.

"Cast! Helles Shield!" Shura said.

6-5

"You lose a life if there are 15 or more cards in the dropzone!" Shura said.

"Then it's my turn." Riku said. "I call Purgatory Knights, Underblade Dragon to the right and then call Purgatory Knights, Pain Dagger Dragon to the left and then I equip Way to the Dawn!"

"I move Cadval to the center!" Paimon said.

"Underblade, clear the center!" Riku said as Underblade destroyed Cadval. "Paindagger, attack the fighter!"

7-5

"Now you get the attack!" Riku said.

"Cast! Helle's Shield!" Paimon said defending.

End of Move

"Shura's strategy seems to be the complete opposite of David's stalker." Sheena said.

"Stalker? OH! You mean Angelique!" Scott said.

"Yeah. Her effects only work if her drop zone was empty." David said.

"While Shura's strategy has him send as many cards to the drop zone as possible." Tapu Lele said.

"Yeah, he has to have something up his sleeve." Jexi said noticing Shura discarding a large number of cards.

"Now...I will call to the right, the executioner that over looks hell itself! Master of the Searing Executioners, Galgalgarios!" Shura said as a large dragon appeared. With its arrival, Glugiu vanished. With 15 cards in the dropzone, he now has 3 critical and he also has double attack and penetrate!" Shura said. "Now...waste Gaito!"

The large dragon destroyed Dimmoborgil before striking Gaito.

5-2

"One more!" Shura said.

"Cast! Black Dragon Shield!" Gaito said.

"Then I'll finish you myself!" Shura said.

"Cast! Midnight Shadow!" Gaito said.

"Dang, that kid's pretty cool. Well, can't focus on that now." Paimon said. "Now, I'm saying goodbye to Leroy as I buddy call to the right...Master of the Evil Shadow Executioners, Silhouette Damian!

5-6

"With his ability, I pay a gauge and add to his soul to destroy Underblade Dragon!" Paimon said. "Now, attack him!"

"With pleasure." Damian said attacking Riku.

6-3

"Now I get a crack at ya!" Paimon said attacking Riku.

3-2

End of move.

"Draw! Charge and Draw!" Gaito said. "I call Black Cradle, Crablus to the center. Attack Gagalgarios!" Gaito said.

"Cast! Helles Shield!" Shura said.

3-2

"Gale Claw!" Abygale said destroying the dragon.

7-5

"Final Phase!" Gaito said.

"Unlimited Death Drain, is it? Well it wont work! You'll only bring me down to one life!" Shura said.

"Impact call to the Center!" Gairo said.

"What the… hes doing it anyway?!" Paimon asked in shock as Abygale attained his dark sphere form and sucked out seven cards from Shura's core. "Huh? There should be….OH COME ON! Don't tell me!" Paimon said.

"Deck out." Gaito said as both Executioners flags vanished.

"Huh? Why did mine go?" Paimon asked.

"Its in the rules. When the main partner loses, his partners automatically loses as well." Riku said.

"He used Shuras own strategy against him. I gotta say, that was impressive." Hope said.

"A brilliant play by Gaito! He and Riku take the second spot to advance to the World Championships!" Ozon B said.

"You dumbass! You cost me my chance to become famous! All because some girl thought Gaito was better than you!" Paimon shouted.

"Wait… that's what this was all about?" Riku said.

"Oh come on, wasn't it obvious? Master Shura's girlfriend saw one of Gaito's fights, and fell for him and turned on Master Shura!" Helle Gepard said as Shura was frozen like stone.

"Oh… I get it." Riku said. "I'm sorry it turned out this way for you. I know you wanted to become the first Demon Rockstar."

"Word of advice, Dave. Don't get caught in any love triangles." Zelos said.

"Doesn't Ming already consider Sectonia and Kabuki love rivals?" Tapu Fini asked.

"Yeah, so… A little too late for that." Tapu Bulu said.

Riku made his blade disappear. "Well, i guess that's that. What?" Riku said noticing Abygale beginning to attack Shura. "Gaito! What are you doing? It's over! We don't need to keep going!"

Gaito laughed before turning to Riku. "Didn't you see, Riku?" Gaito asked smiling wickedly.

"See what?" Riku asked.

"The glow of the Dragon Force. It chose me!" Gaito said before he was knocked out by the back of Riku's Keyblade.

"Gaito…" Riku said picking him up. "Abygale...we're leaving."

Abygale then returned to SD form as they left.

Paimon then got out of the UFO stage as she went back to the Hotel.

"Nice fight." Hope said.

"Save it, humie. Way things are going… I won't get famous." Paimon said.

"Why do you want to become the first Demon Rockstar?" Hope asked.

"Huh? Where'd you get an idea like that? I just wanna be famous, that's all there is to it. And it looks like partnering with that idiot was a mistake." Paimon sighed. "I'm outta here. Gotta regroup."

"You know, there are alternative ways to keep going in the-" Hope began.

"Not interested." Paimon said flying off into the sky.

"I wasn't even gonna ask her to join the team…." Hope said.

"She probably had enough with what happened and didn't want to hear anything else." Lucifer said.

"I still feel bad for her, Lucifer. She came all the way out here to pursue her dream, and she got blocked off. Even demons need to have dreams, right? Do you have any, Lucifer?" Hope asked.

"None." Lucifer said happily. "Demons only go by their desires. We have no real obligations for them."

"Oh." Hope said. "See ya around… Paimon."