After roughly twenty minutes, the heroes arrived at the cliff side where the cloaked figures were waiting. Even with one victory, things were still intense. After all, if the next team lost this match, Eiko would be killed.

"Good, you're early," the leader said as the blue-armed figure added, "That just means we can start this sooner," directing their attention to a ring that had been set up on a rock formation that rose one story above the sea.

Bleachers had been set up around the ring, though they had been raised so nothing bad could happen to the audience and the same went for Nori and Yuki. After all, the leader did not wish to kill the humans. He wanted them to witness the fall of their heroes.

"And here we are one foot above ocean level!" Nori stated, "We are just about to witness yet another match between the heroes and the villains! Hopefully this next team can defeat theirs as young Eiko's life hangs in the balance!"

The pink-haired girl trembled as Isamu sighed, "Don't worry, Eiko. I'm sure they can do this," Eiko nodding and uttering, "Yeah, of course they can."

Vigoroth stared at the ring and enquired, "How is anyone supposed to enter that?" the leader replying, "By jumping, of course," the heroes, Noboru and Hana confused until two cloaked figures took to the sky and descended toward the ring, landing firmly against it.

Venipede trembled and uttered, "I hope I'm not the one entering that!" as Rinko nudged him on the side and remarked, "I thought you weren't afraid anymore!"

"Yeah, of combat!" the centipede retorted as even the brunette had to admit that the idea of having to jump into the ring scared her. After all, she still could not jump as high as her friends, not to mention landing against a surface from that height would likely hurt her feet.

Unfortunately, it seemed their fears had come true as the leader asked, "Now, who was it you two wished to face again?" one of the cloaked figures grinning and pointing at the centipede and brunette while saying, "Those two."

"WHAT!?" the duo spat, Venipede turning toward Rinko who cleared her throat and said, "It just came as a shock, is all."

Machop gave the duo a grin and nodded her head, saying, "Come on, show them what you're made of," as Venipede laughed nervously and replied, "Of course."

Meloetta could tell both were scared of jumping from this height as she asked, "Does anyone have a boat they could use or something?" only for Venipede to put on a more serious look, saying, "Get on my back, Rinko."

The brunette stared awkwardly at him as he said, "Yeah, I know you can't jump as high as someone like me, so I'll do the work for both of us."

Rinko continued to stare for thirty seconds. A part of her wanted to accept his offer right here and now, and yet for some reason, the very idea of climbing onto his back felt awkward to her.

"Hey, can you two hurry up!?" one of the cloaked figures spat, "We're not getting any younger!"

The leader nodded and folded his arms, asking, "You do want to save your friend, right?" as Noboru and Hana looked up as their kids with concern, hoping Rinko would just accept Venipede's offer.

"Right," the brunette said before taking a deep breath. She then wrapped her arms and legs around Venipede as a light blush formed on his face. Though right now, he had to relinquish any other thoughts he had. After all, this was so he and Rinko could enter the ring, nothing more.

With that, Venipede knelt down before propelling himself high into the air, descending toward the ring while Rinko did her best to hang on. After a few seconds, she tightened her hold on him just to be on the safe side as his blush brightened. As a result, the centipede wound up losing focus as his feet hit up against the ropes, causing him to trip and fall forward on his chin while Rinko blinked and uttered, "You okay, man?"

One of the cloaked figures laughed and pointed, revealing a leaf for a hand as she said, "You are too funny," the centipede blinking as the other nodded and added, "Yes, you are quite amusing. If I could laugh, I would be in hysterics right now."

Rinko rose up off of Venipede's back and growled, barking, "Hey, you take that back!" the figure with the leaf hands holding onto her sides and laughing insanely, shouting, "Oh my god, I was just threatened by Rinko! This is great!"

"What the hell are they going on about?" Torchic growled, "I didn't think that was so funny."

However, the other cloaked figures, save for the leader, joined in with their ally's laughter as one said, "Okay, that's enough. You guys may as well reveal yourselves now."

The figure with the leaf hands took many deep breaths, holding onto her chest before saying, "Alright, I'm good," before removing her cloak along with her partner.

Along with the leaves for arms, this being also had a head just like that of a Venus flytrap. Her stem was round and yellow and she had an assortment of red and green vines that resembled tentacles for legs. Needless to say, the crowd was rather intimidated by this.

Her partner was a grey mummy with a single red eye and stubby legs. His chin was made of three tooth-like projections and he had two long light-grey wispy growths coming from his shoulders and big hands with the same colour.

Venipede's fear of fighting was starting to return just from looking at these two. They were the scariest-looking villains he had ever seen, just like something out of a horror film. Even Gyarados and Tentacruel did not look nearly this threatening.

Rinko could see this as she patted him on the shoulder, whispering, "Come on, don't freak out. You've come such a long way. I know you can do this."

"Would you look at that, Dusclops?" the flytrap asked, "We're so ugly that even a bug is scared of us. This is exactly why we turned to a life of evil," the mummy folding his arms and sighing, "Don't feel too offended, Carnivine. This one scares easy. He just tries to hide it."

"What!?" Venipede retorted as Rinko was about to ask the same thing only for the flytrap, Carnivine, to fold her arms and say, "Yes, we saw your match with Tentacruel, and I have to say, the way you were trying so damn hard to hide how obviously scared you were was just hilarious."

"But I relinquished my fear in that match!" Venipede retorted as Dusclops sighed, "Who are you trying to kid, us or yourself? Admit it, the very idea of facing someone with more arms and limbs than you was terrifying."

Rinko gritted her teeth and barked, "That's not true!" before uttering, "Is it?"

The others stared as Torchic asked, "He was fully confident when he faced Tentacruel, right? He seemed fully prepared for that match," the others nodding.

However, it seemed they would soon be proven wrong as Venipede sighed, "I have to admit, Rinko, they're right. I tried so hard to convince myself that I wasn't afraid, but I was. Facing someone with eight arms and six legs was just frightening. But I was still able to fight to my fullest because, well, I remembered all my training with you and didn't want it to go to waste."

Rinko gave him a warm smile until Carnivine laughed and stated, "This is exactly why we chose you as our opponent, Venipede," the centipede staring at her as she added, "It's because out of all the heroes fighting for Tokyo, you are, by far, the funniest."

Venipede stared with confusion as Rinko gritted her teeth, the flytrap adding, "Think about it. You try to act so tough in the face of danger yet deep down, you're nothing more than a coward who should have never tried to become a hero. Not only that, but you haven't won a single match since you came to Earth!"

All went silent as no one knew how to respond to this. Venipede looked down and clutched onto the sides of his head, groaning, "They're right," Rinko staring at him with concern before scowling at Carnivine.

"Alright, you bitch," she growled, "I'll take you first!" as Dusclops shrugged his shoulders, replying, "I'm fine with that."

Carnivine smirked and said, "Good. This will be fun," as Venipede made his way over to the other side of the ring, climbing over the ropes and standing on the other side.

Rinko gave the centipede a look of concern and sighed, "Venipede, don't listen to her, okay? I'm sure she's just saying this stuff to psyche you out. Even if you haven't won a match, that doesn't mean it can't happen."

The centipede's eyes sparkled until Carnivine laughed and remarked, "Oh my god, you're almost as funny as he is!" the brunette glaring at her and retorting, "What was that!?"

Dusclops let out a sigh and said, "I'll admit, even I wish I could laugh at the stuff I've seen from you. Posing as an insect and pretending to be as strong as the mighty Scyther. You're no better than Venipede."

Rinko stared at the mummy as Carnivine added, "He's right. A mere human such as yourself shouldn't even be in the ring," as Machop gritted her teeth and snapped, "COME ON, ARE YOU GONNA JUST STAND THERE AND LET THEM TALK SHIT ABOUT YOU!?"

"No, I'm not!" Rinko retorted as Nori nodded and exclaimed, "Well, you heard the girl, folks! I think it's finally time we begin this match!" before ringing the bell as Rinko charged toward Carnivine.

Before the flytrap could even try to respond, the brunette dodged to the right and sent a roundhouse into her side. Carnivine ignored the pain and took hold of her ankle, pulling up on it and causing her to fall on her side. The crowd stared in horror as Carnivine swung Rinko around, eventually releasing her hold and allowing her to fly head-first into the turnbuckle.

"And after receiving a fierce roundhouse, Carnivine acts like she took in no damage and hurls Rinko into the turnbuckle!" Nori stated as Carnivine laughed and exclaimed, "This is exactly what I'm talking about! If anyone else had kicked me, it probably would have hurt, but you're just a weak human! You're not meant to take on creatures like us! It's a miracle you haven't been killed yet!"

Meloetta trembled and whimpered, "But that's not true. She's not weak. She took in all kinds of torture from Sneasel and still put up a good fight," Torchic nodding and saying, "Oh yeah, you actually saw that match. But I'm pretty sure Carnivine is just trying to psyche her out. I have no doubt in my mind that roundhouse did more pain that she's letting on."

Rinko seemed to realize this as she rubbed her head, grunting, "You're just full of shit! Admit it, my kick did, in fact, hurt you, didn't it!?" Dusclops asking, "Well, Carnivine, is she correct?"

"Well, it might have hurt a tiny bit," Carnivine replied with a shrug, "But I still barely felt a thing."

Rinko's eyes were wide open as the flytrap added, "I'll give you credit. Unlike your partner over there, you have managed to earn yourself one victory on Earth. Or have you?"

The audience members started talking amongst themselves as Vigoroth sighed, "Dammit. That's actually a good point," Meloetta uttering, "What do you mean?" Noboru and Hana gulping nervously.

"Admit it, you never truly defeated Voltorb, did you?" Carnivine asked with a smug look on her face, "In fact, you would have lost if he hadn't stupidly resorted to that Explosion of his, a move that covers so little space that anyone could avoid it."

"Don't listen to her!" Venipede retorted with concern only for Rinko to sighed, "No, she's right. I've thought about that match ever since it ended. She's not lying. I didn't beat Voltorb. He beat himself."

Everyone stared with concern as even Rinko's friends could not argue against this. She was right. The only reason Voltorb lost was because he activated a feature on himself that caused him to self-destruct. However, there was one thing Rinko did do as Venipede narrowed his eyelids.

"You may not think you earned that victory, but I truly believe you did!" the centipede stated, "He had you locked tight in his grip with only a few seconds left before he exploded, but did you cave in and let him do it!? No! You overpowered him and escaped from his grip! You technically dealt the final blow to him!"

Carnivine wrapped her arms around her sides and laughed insanely, shouting, "Technically dealt the final blow! So you admit it wasn't legit!" as Rinko sighed, "Thanks for trying to help, Venipede, but it's okay. I know I didn't earn my victory against Voltorb. That's why I've been training all this time, to make sure that when I finally win again, it will feel earned!"

"And how do you plan to do that?" Carnivine asked as she leapt into the air, holding her arms out and spinning toward the girl.

The crowd winced as the flytrap exclaimed, "POWER WHIP!" sending an onslaught of slaps into Rinko's cheek at the speed of a helicopter propeller. Venipede watched in horror as the brunette was sent flying into the turnbuckle once more after taking in thirty hits.

"That looked brutal!" Yuki exclaimed, "Rinko is a sitting duck as she continues to endure torment from Carnivine!" the flytrap then leaping toward the brunette as Venipede frowned and snapped, "Sorry, Rinko, but I need to do this!"

With that, he quickly shifted over to her and slapped his hand against hers. The brunette's eyes widened as the centipede leapt toward Carnivine and tucked himself into a ball, shouting, "CENTIPEDE STEAMROLLER!"

The flytrap's eyes and mouth widened as she took the blow to her gut, flying backward a bit. However, she still managed to land on her feet as Venipede retracted out of his ball-like state, taking a deep breath and asking, "You okay, Rinko?"

The crowd cheered as Yuki said, "And after a close call, Venipede has come to save his partner," Rinko rising to her feet and grinning, saying, "Danke schoen, Venipede."

However, Carnivine's look of shock turned to a maniacal grin as she thought, 'This is perfect. I know exactly how to break him,' before saying, "You were very quick to get over your fear of me. I'd be impressed if it wasn't for the obvious reason you did what you just did."

Noboru blinked and asked, "Obvious reason?" Machop groaning, "I think I know where she's going with this. I really hope Venipede doesn't let this get to him."

"Well, I care about my friend," Venipede said with a serious look in his eyes, "So what?" as Carnivine laughed and slapped her knee, retorting, "Come on, there's so much more to it than that!"

"Yes, it really is quite easy to see," Dusclops replied with his arms folded, "The reason Rinko inspires sudden bursts of courage from you is because you have a crush on her."

All went silent through the area as Vigoroth sighed, "Knew it," Meloetta replying, "But they told me they were just friends," as the sloth rested a hand on her shoulder and sighed, "You have a lot to learn about modern love."

"Wait, is that true?" Rinko asked, Venipede's cheeks bright pink as he uttered, "Um, well, uh..."

However, he was unable to answer when Carnivine leapt over his head and wrapped her left arm around his waist, the other around his head and pulled each in the opposite direction, shouting, "WRING OUT!"

This caused the centipede intense pain as he cried out in agony, Yuki saying, "And Carnivine catches Venipede off-guard and has him in a hold that looks kinda like a dragon sleeper."

The crowd gasped as Rinko bit her lower lip, her heart racing as she thought, 'What am I thinking about at a time like this?' before barking, "VENIPEDE, FIGHT IT!"

Carnivine chuckled and tauntingly said, "Yes, let the power of love guide you. It's obvious the only time you ever do a good job in a fight is when you rely on it."

"Oh god, how I wish she'd put a sock in it!" Machop growled, "All she's done so far is use words to throw them off-guard! Can't she fight them without having to resort to that!?"

"Like it or not, that's how lots of villains fight," Torchic replied, "Heck, Gyarados and Tentacruel used similar tactics against you," the girl nodding and saying, "Good point."

Venipede wanted to fight back. After all, he knew this was to save Eiko's life, but right now, he could no longer concentrate. All the while, Dusclops narrowed his eyelid and said, "Hey, save me some of the action, will you? I haven't gotten a chance to fight yet."

"Don't worry, I'm just gonna torment him a little bit longer," Carnivine said as Rinko gritted her teeth and spat, "ALRIGHT, SCREW THE RULES!" the girl propelling herself over the ropes and a sending a two-legged kick into the back of the flytrap's head.

The crowd cheered as Carnivine released her hold, Yuki saying, "And just as it seemed like Venipede would lose for sure, Rinko comes in and returns the favour from earlier," the girl raising her arm and shouting, "ARM SCHWERT!" sending a karate chop into Carnivine's skull.

With that, the flytrap finally released her hold on Venipede as he took full advantage of this. He grabbed hold of her wrists and threw her over his head, slamming her hard on her back as the cheers got even louder.

Dusclops' eye widened as he was just about to climb into the ring only for Carnivine to rise to her feet. She then rubbed her head and snickered, saying, "Wow, you two love each other so much, you'll violate the rules of a tag team match for each other."

"She's got a point there," Yuki stated, "This isn't the first time we've seen this today, but to think the heroes would do it first in this match," Nori nodding and saying, "Still, if this was a fight between heroes, I'd have to give them a warning. As this is a match between heroes and villains, they're allowed to get away with this, though it does make me wonder why they don't just turn these into tornado tag matches instead."

'That's actually a good idea,' the leader thought as Rinko took a deep breath, saying, "Whether it's allowed or not, Yuki's right," the brunette returning to her side as Venipede implied a smile and said, "Thanks for the save, anyway."

"Hey, partners look out for one-another," Rinko said with a light smile, her cheeks turning pink as she asked, "But, is that true what they're saying? Do you really have a thing for me?"

Venipede trembled nervously for a few seconds as Carnivine tagged in Dusclops, saying, "I've had enough fun with these two for now. You can take advantage of the wimp now," the mummy replying, "Thank you."

Venipede's eyes widened as he realize he could no longer think about his answer, but it was too late as Dusclops clenched his right hand into a fist, a dark aura surrounding it as he sent it toward the centipede. At first this seemed like a waste of effort as he was standing a good distance away from him, but the crowd gasped when the bandages started to unravel, allowing his fist to go further until it made contact with Venipede's face.

The centipede coughed up a bit of green blood as Dusclops exclaimed, "SHADOW PUNCH!" Venipede falling on his back as the mummy proceeded to latch onto his face, lifting him high over his head and swinging him around.

The crowd gasped as Yuki said, "And Dusclops has already proven himself a force to be reckoned with as just from that one punch, he has left Venipede unable to defend himself."

And after a few seconds, the mummy hurled him forward as Rinko could tell just from how high the centipede had been thrown that he would surely fly over the ropes. As such, once he got close to her, she leapt up toward him with her arms up.

Unfortunately, Rinko could not defy gravity like her friends. As such, she was unable to reach the centipede's height as he soared right past her, their friends staring in absolute horror as his flight ended. Thus he wound up falling into the water below the ring, Rinko's eyes wide with terror as he spat, "VENIPEDE!"

"Well, at least he didn't hit the cliff side," Eiko uttered as Isamu groaned, "Do you not see how bad this is? If Venipede is anything like a normal centipede, he probably can't swim!"

And this seemed so as the centipede struggled to stay afloat only for his arms to weaken in no time. Thus he ended up sinking as Meloetta squeaked, "OH NO! SOMEONE HAS TO SAVE HIM!"

"What a dirty tactic!" Yuki exclaimed with a look of terror, "As if using their emotions against them wasn't bad enough, Dusclops has sent Venipede careening out of the ring!"

Rinko trembled with terror in her expression. If she went down there to save him, they would be disqualified and Eiko would die. But at the same time, she did not want her best friend to drown. What could she possibly do?