"Ugh…that was so exhausting." Aura said.
"I think you did…very well." Mare said.
"Yeah, but it felt like torture doing every fight other than Lord Ainz's." Aura sighed.
"Well, you certainly put effort into it, considering that." Scarlet said.
"Well it was a punishment. I really did not want to take the alternative." Aura said.
"Karma's a bitch ain't it?" Simon said.
"Who asked you guys, anyway?" Aura asked.
"Well, you were so eager to see Ainz fight that…you kind of brought it on yourself." Mayumi said.
"Hey, only I should have the honor. Besides, not like I killed that human. Just locked him away somewhere." Aura said.
"Whatever helps you sleep at night." Simon said.
"Moving on from that, let's talk about the little reveal after Terry's fight." Mark said, turning to Leopardmon. "Team P.O.A., huh? Nice choice, it fits the lineup well."
"Well, I knew I had to come up with something. After all, it has to be something that its members have in common." Leopardmon said.
"But don't you think you're kind of jumping the gun with that? After all, the KOF tournament is set after the Winter Olympics, and there is still a little bit of time before that." Crusadermon said.
"Plus, there is that certain someone that isn't going to be happy with this kind of unity. You guys know who I am talking about." Sectonia said.
"That is actually a bonus. If that person hears about this forming, it will damage their pride enough to want to enter themselves. Whilst with our combined brainpower, we will crush and humiliate them in front of a viewing audience." Leopardmon said.
"Damn, you really thought this through, have you?" Magnamon asked.
"He's certainly gotten devious." Ace smiled. "That would be a sight to see as well."
"Plus, I know those two would agree to it if they knew I was the one proposing the idea." Leopardmon said.
"Ah…those two?" Ethox repeated in question form.
"Yes. Of course." Leopardmon said.
"What are you, some kind of mediator between those two or something?" Agursu asked.
"At times, yes. But I'm also more of a bridge between the two, much like Zacian and Zamazenta. They do still have their…moments, after all." Leopardmon said.
"You mean David and Cheetah right?" Shantae asked.
"That's right. Those two still tend to go at it sometimes." Mayumi said.
"Well at least it's not as bad as between her and Hitomi." Al said.
"Between…it was just one fight. I mean she did lose but I don't think that honey badger even cares if Cheetah comes back at her again." Zexi said.
"Those two looked like they were gonna tear into each other in Wakanda before Black Panther stepped in." Al said.
"Only because Hitomi was taunting her." Poison Ivy said. "She was just trying to get under her skin."
"True." Al admitted.
"But knowing what David and Cheetah are capable of when they cooperate with each other, I think Leopardmon really is playing a winning hand here." Alphamon said.
"Speaking of winning hands, what do you think Ainz plans on doing with Ganon? Not that it's any of our business, just this feeling of unease." Revali said.
"I feel the same as well." Lana added.
"It shouldn't matter what happens to Ganondorf. Not after what he has done." Cia said.
"Ah, yeah. We almost forgot you and Lana had a stake against him as well." Mayumi said.
"Yes, we were originally one person but a fragment of Ganondorf's darkness split us into two people." Lana said. "Especially when we were tasked with maintaining the balance of the Triforce."
"Whatever is going to happen to Ganondorf, I'm sure it'll be what he deserves." Cia said.
"I suppose, given his list of atrocities throughout the ages." Leopardmon said.
"Still, Wario and Donkey Kong were huge surprises." Leonora said. "Well, not exactly the fights themselves, just the antics that surrounded them."
"Yeah, I'm just gonna say, DK was acting more like his grandpa during the fight." ZS said. "What the heck happened that caused him to act like that?"
"Yes…I wonder what did." a voice said as a figure stood in the shadows.
"Who's there?" Ace asked.
"Just an anonymous guy. It's almost as if someone drugged the big ape to make him go King Kong." the voice said. "Hehehehahahaha! Dumb ape."
"Well, he still lost, so… Guess it didn't work as intended." Kokoro said.
"Didn't it though?" they said.
"Okay, this is starting to get really weird." Mayumi said.
"What? It's not weird! I'm just an anonymous…" the figure said before the lighting showed it was King K. Rool. "Damn it, I told you to keep the lights off to add mystery!" he shouted at some Kremlings.
"Gotcha." Kokoro said.
"Of course, anyone with hatred against DK had to be this Royal pain." Spade said.
"Shut up! Yes, I drugged the big ape so he'd lose to some of your stronger guys. And you didn't get me. This was just a fluke cause some idiots can't figure out lighting!" King K. Rool shouted to some Kremlings as his minions fled.
"He was going to lose anyway, so what was the point?" Razmi asked.
"Well yeah. Cause he's a stupid monkey who eats bananas. Anyone can beat him." King K. Rool said.
"Then, why can't you?" Sunset asked.
"I mean, hello! He's a monkey. Eating bananas is what they do." Kokoro said.
"Plus you had a huge laser cannon and he still whomped you." Jexi said.
"Grrr…you better hope I'm not picked in the next round…cause I'm burying all of you." King K. Rool said slowly backing away before tumbling down some stairs. "Ah, dammit!"
"Yeah… That wasn't intimidating at all." Kokoro said.
"Yeah, I was shaking in my boots." Kagura sarcastically remarked before approaching the top of the stairs. "Well I say bring it on, lizard lips!" she yelled down.
"Uh…you think she knows that stairwell is empty?" Rainbow asked.
"Eh, let her have this moment." Kokoro said.
"Meow." a voice said as a black cat with emerald green eyes looked at the group from the upper levels.
"Seems the cat agrees. Did…did someone lose a cat?" Harumi said.
"I'm actually here with someone if you're curious." The cat said in an older male voice.
"And it talks. Not the craziest thing we've seen. I mean, we still have Cheetah and her lot." Revali said.
"Wait a second. I'm sensing something from this cat." Mayumi said.
"Very observant, my name is Goutou-Douji." the cat said, jumping down and walking towards them.
"What brings you here? I don't think anyone you know is competing in this thing." Kokoro said.
"Well, let's just say my protege wanted to see how his students were doing in their Breathing Styles." Goutou said.
"O-oh, right. You must mean Kagane." Kokoro said. "Well, David, Sectonia and Gemini all fought quite a while ago, so I think you can pretty much see the results for yourself."
"Indeed, and he is very impressed." Goutou said.
"Please Goutou, there's no need for that." A voice said as Kagane approached.
"We're glad to hear you heard about the demon train…but you know, while none of the passengers were killed, it wasn't an ending with a happy note." Gemini said.
"I have heard, you have my condolences. Rengoku was a good man." Kagane said, tipping his cap as it shadowed his eyes. "I apologized for not being there to help."
"There was nothing you would've done anyway. It was one of Kibutsuji's Upper Moons." Kokoro said.
"Of course. Those demons have never changed even once since their formation." Kagane said. "Not even the Hashira can stand against them. But that is why you must continue to grow."
"We know. It's only a matter of time before we face them ourselves." Gemini said.
"Yes." Kagane said. "But you will have your friends and allies by your side."
"Appreciated…but that isn't always enough." Gemini said.
"Oh…I…suppose you're right." Kagane said.
"Besides…still more fighting left." Jexi said. "Two days left…let's see what we got in store."