"Okay folks! We've reached the second battle of the semifinals. Whoever wins this match will face Blue Team in the finals! But who shall it be? Will it be Green Team? Or perhaps White? Only one way to find out! Let the battlefield be made!" Magenta Voice said as the battlefield was created. "And the battle...begins!" she said as fireworks went off.
"Okay. If the Green Team's last match was any indication, they're probably gonna try and have Shiozaki wreck our base with her Vines, so we have to work fast." Hope said.
"Hope, the only reason they did that last time was cause of the craziness that involved Mantis. I don't think they'll go for the same approach a second time." Francisca said.
"Besides, they wouldn't do that anyway because if they did, then Khan wouldn't have the fight that he initially would've wanted." Marco said.
"Right. Sorry." Hope said.
"Now you know why David and Leopardmon are the better strategists. Because they account for other considerable factors." Kaede said.
"Yeah, admittedly strategy is not my strong suit." Hope said. "I'm more of a soldier than a planner."
"So, anyone besides Hope have a plan?" Mermista asked.
"Well, we already know that Khan isn't the flag by this point, so you can pretty much leave him to me. Especially since I'm originally the one he wants anyway." Francisca said. "Shiozaki and Poison Ivy are still factors to consider though, as their plant abilities would give us trouble if we don't know what we're doing. This goes double for Poison Ivy, since her plants emit a scent that brings people under her control. I would recommend sending Keebo against them since due to being a robot, he isn't exactly affected by plants very much."
"That is completely robophobic...and sadly true." Keebo said.
"Sorry. I know Kokichi still gets on your nerves for that." Francisca said.
"It's...it's fine. I'm used to it." Keebo said.
"And Hope, I know it's you Sectonia wants, so I would recommend having two people accompanying you to the enemy fortress, just in case anyone else jumps at you." Francisca said.
"Good idea. I could use some power for this. Mana, feel like accompanying me?" Hope asked.
"You can count on me, mate." Mana said.
"And to balance us out, we could use someone thats good at distraction and disruption…." Hope said before looking at Fly Guy. "I'll take you, Fly Guy."
"Alright then." FG saluted. "I'll do the bezt I can."
"Ew, any reason why you're choosing the bug?" Mermista asked.
"I've worked with Fly Guy before. He may look a little…unsettling, but he's as tough as the other mercs come. Right, buddy?" Hope said.
"I can hold my own, that'z for sure." FG responded. "And I prefer to be called Marty, not 'the bug', if that'z okay."
"Sure, whatever you say." Mermista said.
"The rest of you defend against the attackers. Okay. Mana, FG, let's go!" Hope said jumping off the Parapet.
"Roger!" Mana said following after Hope, with FG taking to the sky to follow from above.
"Okay...the operation begins now." Keebo said as they crossed through the enemy lines.
"Good Luck, Keebo." Hope said as his group split off from Keebo. Keebo then kept up his advance straight down the middle before he was cut off by vines and plants.
"Oh, joy. They sent the robot." Poison Ivy said appearing. "Is it just you?"
"Yes, and you will find that I am more than capable of defeating you." Keebo said equipping a blaster.
"Oh really? I'm not really one for machines. They should've sent someone else." Poison Ivy said. "Oh well…I'll enjoy breaking you."
"You can't." Keebo said flying into the air as he fired down at Ivy from above.
"Get down here and fight like a more reasonable robot!" Poison Ivy called launching vines at him.
"That is completely robophobic!" Keebo said blasting apart the vines.
"And what does that make you? A botanophobist?!" Poison Ivy asked summoning giant flytraps.
"Don't go putting words in my mouth!" Keebo said blasting apart a flytrap after it tried to bite down on him.
"You started this conversation, Honey!" Poison Ivy said making vines rise up underneath her to get to Keebo.
'And now I'll end it!" Keebo said firing the laser in a line cutting the vines off as Poison Ivy fell to the ground. "Yeesh… No chance of a second date with her, I'd bet."
On the other side of the battlefield, Francisca was walking across the plains.
"I've waited for you." Khan said standing there.
"Khan…Tell me, if Mantis hadn't said anything, would you have still believed that I dragged Tigre with us against his will?" Francisca asked.
"I believe so. I believed her lies so much that I thought Tigre as my brother. And even though he is not my family…I still believe he needs to be avenged." Khan said.
"I see. Because given the circumstances at the time and from what he said during our match...Part of me actually believed it to be true." Francisca said.
"Then let's face each other in battle like we believed those words...and let us not hold back." Khan said.
"Quite right. This battle shall cast aside both of our doubts." Francisca said bringing her labrys out.
The two then stood across from each other before Khan roared and charged at Fransisca. He shifted to full tiger form and pounced on her.
Francisca took a step forward and made a heavy swing with her labrys.
Khan took the hit, but then recovered and leaped over the axe and tackled Fransisca to the ground, rolling with her into the rubble.
"Do you understand the ways of a Beastman? They never surrender!" Khan said.
"Neither do I!" Francisca said as she fired icicles.
Khan shifted again to his Tiger form and dashed to avoid the icicles before jumping at Fransisca changing back.
"Beastman Martial Arts: Style of the Striking Tiger!" Khan said before punching Francisca in the stomach with both fists in the style of a Rokuogun. "Six-Star Superior Tiger Cannon!"
Francisca slowly gets up after that, barely surviving the attack.
"I'm impressed you withstood that." Khan said.
"What do you expect? I take after my master. I tend to be pretty stubborn." Francisca said as she enters Sapphire God Mode.
"Hmm. Rah!" Khan said jumping at Francisca.
"Sapphire God's...Crystalline Revolver!" Francisca said as ice crystals shoot out her labrys as she swings furiously before charging and firing an energy beam.
Khan flew right into the beam and took the full brunt of the attack, struggling to hold on. He slowly walked towards Francisca with a claw raised before collapsing onto the ground.
"Phew…That actually took some work. The rest is up to you, Hope." Francisca said.
Inside the Green Team's Base…
"Alright guys. It's time to look for the Green Team's flag. Who do you guys think it is?" Hope asked.
"Green Honor. Haz to be zomeone honorable. Which iz almozt everyone here." Fly Guy said.
"He's right. Playing the guessing game isn't going to help here." Mana said.
"Okay...so we'll just try and take out as many as we can inside." Hope said.
"That won't work either, we'll get tired out. We need to be ztealthy and make our way through the baze." FG suggested.
"You got a point FG. Just charging through will expend our energy." Hope nodded. "We'll play it stealthy for now."
At the top…
"Are you going to show yourself to him?" Gallantmon asked.
"No. I'm going to wait and see how long it would take him to figure it out." Sectonia said.
"You sure that's a good idea? Hope's not exactly the type to use his brain for anything, if you don't mind me saying." Gallantmon said.
"I know, but that's exactly why I'm testing him. If he really is as skilled as he claims, then he should have no problem reaching here." Sectonia said.
"And if he's not?" Gallantmon asked.
"All the initiative for a counterattack, then. Either way, one of us will be facing David and Cheetah in the finals. And personally, I hope she hasn't gotten too comfy around him." Sectonia said.
"Is someone a little jealous?" Gallantmon asked.
"J-jealous? Me? W-what makes you say that?" Sectonia asked blushing and flustered.
"Nothing really." Gallantmon said. "Sorry, it wasn't my place to say that."
"I'm just hoping it's nothing." Sectonia said.
Back inside the fort…
"Okay, sneaking around the forts getting harder than I thought." Hope said. "You buzz way to loud when flying around, FG."
"Zorry, evolutionary habit." FG whispered.
"Its okay. Most insects can't help buzzing like you do, but we got caught a lot of times." Hope said before realizing what he said. "Wait...insects...I know who the flag is!"
"What are you talking about? This team has no in...Oh, Sectonia." Mana said. "I kind of figured it would be her."
"Given who she is, she's probably waiting for us at the very top of the castle." Hope said. "I know she's there because I have a feeling. Our first battle was high up too."
Hope then led Mana and Fly Guy to the very top of the fortress.
"I've been waiting for you." Sectonia said as she revealed herself.
"So, were you testing me?" Hope asked.
"I've been wanting to see how long it would take you to figure it out. Quite frankly, it didn't look like there was any need." Sectonia said.
"Still, I made it." Hope said. "Ready for a rematch?"
"Hope…Do you remember when we first met?" Sectonia asked.
"How can I forget? It was the battle you lost your life in and where I met Lunala." Hope said.
"Ever since then, I've been thinking back on everything that's happened. It took a while, but I finally gained what I realized I've been missing. Dealing with the likes of people like Incarose, Kaguya and even Marluxia, it looked like I was looking in a mirror of my past self." Sectonia said. "But it was thanks to all of you that I had the support that I needed, and was able to become my old self again."
"That's funny, I've been thinking myself. I've been trying to be someone I'm not. I was always so jealous of the others. Jexi's strength, David's tactics….I don't know what that makes me. I know they say it's not a competition but I sometimes felt like I was the odd man out." Hope said. "I tried to be stronger or come up with plans so I could try to be as good as them, but I ended up being so full of mistakes that it hindered everyone. But during this tournament, I realized I have to be myself if I want to be the strongest I can be."
"No one was asking us to be like the others. We just had to bear our own burdens." Sectonia said.
"That's exactly what makes us the same, you and I." Hope said getting into a fighting position. "We've both had problems in the past that need fixing."
Sectonia motions for Gallantmon to face Mana and Fly Guy. "Quite so. And admittedly, I wouldn't have gotten this far without all of you." she said as she draws her swords and points one of them at Hope. "Everything I feel is in this sword!"
"Well, then everything I feel, are in my fists!" Hope said.
(Cue- When Determination Strikes- Tales of Vesperia)
Hope then ran forward to Sectonia as he leaped into the air. He yelled as he spun in the air and kicked at Sectonia.
Sectonia blocks with her blades, being pushed back before throwing rings of light at Hope.
Hope then shifted his style to Darkness Mode. He then unleashed two black hole singularities which swallowed up the rings of light.
"Here, you can have them back!" Hope said as the black hole spheres glowed. "Spectral Darkness: Liberating Force!"
The light then blasted out of the black holes in beams back at Sectonia.
"O divine spear, run my enemy through…Holy Lance!" Sectonia said as spears of light rained down on Hope.
"Swallow and Redirect! Black Cylinder!" Hope called creating two vortexes beside each other as the spears entered the left hole and came back out the right.
"Well, if these aren't going to work, then I'll just have to go in myself." Sectonia said as she entered Lavender God Mode.
"Good, just the way I like it!" Hope said entering Azure God Mode as the two clashed, blade to fist. The two then blasted back from each other as both charged up attacks.
"Azure Gods…!"
"Lavender Gods…!"
"Emerald Storm!" Hope called blasting a green energy shower up at Sectonia.
"Final Flash!" Sectonia said as she fired a beam of energy. The attacks collide, resulting in an explosion.
Hope jumped out of the explosion as his fist glowed blue.
"Azure God's Dynamic Resolute Fist!" Hope callec charging at Sectonia for a punch.
"Lavender God's Stardust Breaker!" Sectonia said as she clenched a ball of light with her hand and blew the particles at Hope. Another explosion followed as the two were blown back, but got up as Hope stared at Sectonia.
"You really have gotten stronger... But you know what?" Hope said as he glowed brighter. "So have I!"
(Music Shift: Sky Should be High- Guilty Gear Xrd)
Hope's form then shifted to Azure God, the Heroic as he was ready to fight again.
"You do remember that I can reach that form too, right?" Sectonia asked as she invoked Lavender God: The Angelic. "This...is where the real battle begins."
The two then charged at each other as the area around them explode in Lavender and Azure light as they clashed their fists and sabers. They danced around each other, dodging and striking in a whirlwind of color.
"Great Spectrum!" Hope said as the lights on his astral cape lines flashed in all colors of the rainbow. "Prismatic Storm!" he called shooting beams of all 7 colors.
Light started to shine from Sectonia's sword. "Lavender God's Shining Elegy!" she said as a burst of light was fired from the sword.
Hope saw it coming, barely dodging the attack while also attaining minimal damage.
"Rgh…!" Hope said, going to ground level and crossing his arms. "Azure Gods…!"
Sectonia guarded with her sword.
"Carolina SMASH!" Hope called executing a cross chop that blasted Sectonia off the top of the fortress.
"You really think it would be that easy?" Sectonia asked as she entered Burst Mode and charged right at him.
"Nope!" Hope said entering his own Burst Mode and charged at Sectonia herself, colliding in a brilliant burst of light.
They then entered a rapid assault of blows at light speed before blasting back to their respective sides they were on.
"Well, this is fun, and epic!" Hope said. "But only one of us will go to challenge David in the finals!"
"Won't be you." Sectonia said.
"You know I'm tired of always hearing that. It won't be me, it can't be me! I've always been at the back." Hope said powering up. "This time though? I'm going to the very front! This ends with one last attack!"
Sectonia begins to charge up her energy.
"(I'm not going to let myself down ever again. David, Jexi…wait for me, because I'm going to face you both in the finals!)" Hope thought.
"(Sorry, Hope. But this match is mine.)" Sectonia thought.
After they were both at full power, Hope and Sectonia both charged their final attack. After their attacks collided, it took a minute before Sectonia collapsed.
"Whew…." Hope breathed catching Sectonia in the air. "Good...fight." he said before flying her into White team territory.
"We have a winner! White Team moves on to the final!" Magenta Voice said.
"Oh man…that could've gone either way, to be honest." Hope said he collapsed into sitting as Sectonia sat up. "You really gave me a run for my money. That was a great fight."
"Hard to believe how much has happened since we first met, huh?" Sectonia asked.
"No kidding. We first met fighting as enemies. Now, we've fought today as equals." Hope smiled. "I always know that from every fight, we get stronger, and our bonds get stronger too."
"I guess I didn't have much to worry about when it comes to those two after all." Sectonia said. "I was a little worried about David and Cheetah. As you probably know, they didn't start on the right foot either."
"Yeah, but they've come so far now." Hope said. "I'm real proud of them. And I'm equally proud of you, Sectonia."
"It was thanks to all of you, you know." Sectonia said.
"Yeah, I feel the same way." Hope said.
"Well, you'd better brace yourself then. Those three are no joke." Sectonia said.
"I know that, I've fought David, Cheetah and Jexi before. But I wonder…" Hope said looking at the three who were watching. "My last fight with Jexi was a tie, I lost to David in King of Fighters, and I never fought Cheetah. So…how long can I last against them? I want to find out for myself."