The Mikado's family watched the news on television. They saw their son and his buddy coming out with Azi Dahaka in his SD form, looking beaten up just like Drum. Kyoya came behind them, his face showing no emotions.

Suzumi felt her husband grabbing her hand and saying, "Don't worry. They are fine," he lightly smiled. She could see he was as worried sick as her.

"I knew Big Bro could do it," Hanako declared.

"From what we learned. The Buddy Police Force and The Police came to arrest Azi Dahaka and the group called Disasters who planned to conquer the world. The method in which he wanted to do so is currently unknown, but the two forces managed to prevent it. It also seemed that most of the humans were used as pawns by the ruler of Darkness Dragon World and-" the woman stopped for a few seconds. It was clear it was strange to talk about other worlds like that, "My daughter would have less problem," she sighed and regained her composure as the camera man said something to her, "Direct- Sorry everyone. Anyway, he manipulated everyone to do his biting and it will take a while for the prosecutor to decide what would be best to do with everyone implicated in there."

"Everything ended well," Gao's mother said as she stood up. She noticed Gao and Drum falling on the ground, losing consciousness.

"Gao!" that family yelled before adding the name of the red dragon with him.

Chapter 156: Epilogue: Part 1

The family was in the room where Gao and Drum were recovering after their battle. Suzumi grabbed the hand of her son, "It's been two days already."

Hanako sat at the other side of the bed with Halberd by her side.

The door opened and they saw Tasuku, Kiri and his buddy coming in, "Hello there," they said.

"Hello," Hanako replied.

"Is he alright?" Tasuku asked.

"He is. The doctor said he was tired and Axia said he used too much of his power. As for Drum, he was wounded," Takashi briefly resumed.

"Are we the first to visit?" Kiri asked.

"Because it will be cool," Joker replied.

"No. Kuguru and Baku came with their buddies earlier," the mother said with a small smile, "We're glad you pay a visit of course."

"I'm not last at least," Noboru said as he went inside with his buddy, "He fought much harder than me."

"You're worried too," Kiri asked.

"Of course. He's my friend. Damn. It would have been better if I could show up earlier to help," the boy with his tiger shirt grunted as he sat down. He crossed his arms while his buddy remained near the entrance. He was a little guilty and grumbled, "I wish I could have been more useful."

"Don't think bad about yourself Nobodu," his buddy told him.

The green dragon added, "Everyone did everything they could."

"I am thinking the same thing," Tasuku nodded before sighing.

Joker asked, "Where is Tenbu?"

"He'll bring something to eat," Suzumi said.

"Unless there is a cute nurse on the way," Takashi commented.

They heard a low grunt and saw Gao grumbling as he began moving. Tenbu came back just in time with snacks, "Looks like I'm back just in time."

They approached the boy as he slowly regained consciousness. The boy sat on his bed and looked at everyone. He appeared confused and it took a while to notice he was in the hospital, "Everyone? W-what happen?"

"You were unconscious for two days," Suzumi answered. She couldn't say anything else for a few seconds, too relief that her son was finally back.

"Axia told us you used too much of your power," the green dragon said.

After this, they talked a little about what happened while he was unconscious, but nothing of importance. Gao was relief to see his friends and their buddies were fine. Noboru looked away when his friend thanked him for everything he did. He had no comeback and remained quiet.

Kiri decided to ask the question that was in everyone's mind, "Gao. What happened during your fight against Azi Dahaka? The Darkness Dragon didn't say anything about it and we have no answer."

The boy looked at his buddy, still unconscious. He thought about it and it came back, "I remember. In the end of the battle, I use the…" he searched in his deck and took out the card, "Impact Card to defeat him."

"Are you serious?" They yelled.

"This better not be a joke. Because even I think it's a terrible one," the ice monster said.

"I'm not joking. I used it and-"

"And somehow still alive and well," the green dragon finished.

"It's a miracle you are fine Gao," Tenbu said as he approached the boy, "This was a foolish decision and-"

"I knew I could do it and be okay Tenbu. I knew it. At that time, I just felt that I already did before. Somehow," the boy couldn't explain it.

The old dragon played with his pink mustaches and commented, "Then it was possible."

The others turned towards the old dragon. Suzumi asked, "Explain it… please."

"Gao awakened his true potential. He used everything he had inside of him," the old dragon explained, before turning towards Tasuku, "Just like you, but he completely awoken it."

"When did it happen?" Jackknife asked.

The old dragon played with his pink mustaches and replied, "Their hair grew longer."

Everyone looked at him as if it was the stupidest answer ever heard, who does hair size decides that?

"They would lose their power if they get a haircut?" Noboru asked with a small grin.

"I don't think you could cut them with a sword," the old dragon answered.

"Did it really happen to me?" the blue haired boy asked his buddy.

The green dragon nodded, "Yes Tasuku. It did and your spells were much stronger."

Gao was quiet, thinking about it. It might happen to him too.

Tenbu chuckled, "I do not know more than that. I know that when you hair grew longer, you were awakening your true potential. Something that Azi Dahaka was surely after. It's hard to believe me right?"

They nodded positively.

"But that's the true. I don't understand how something that never happened once before works," the old dragon concluded.

Everyone cast that aside. It was just weird and unbelievable.

Gao gasped, "W-wait? The elections!"

Suzumi smiled, "It's already over. Hinako won the elections pretty far ahead. It was all thanks to all of you."

Takihara added, "Arresting both Tenchi and Azi Dahaka gave a boost in the main force of argument of Hinako. Everything else just came to place and she had the majority."

"There is nothing to worry," the boy's mother said, "You won."

That put a huge weight off his shoulders.

"That's great," someone said. They turned around and saw the red dragon sitting on his chair and giving a thumb up, "I didn't get beat up like this for nothing."

"Drum!" Gao yelled with a large smile.

"I'm back and hungry," Drum said as his stomach grunted at the same time.

Everyone chuckled as they told the dragon everything that happened while they ate a little something.

"Gao," Noboru said as he showed his hand, "I'm glad that I could be a little useful. If there is a next time… Just fall into a coma again," his friend grabbed his hand.

"Don't worry. I hope it won't happen again," the boy said.

Tenbu knew it wouldn't be the case. No words came out of his mouth.

The group continued talking together. With the pressure off their shoulders once and for all, they went only for a more casual conversation.

When the day came to an end, everyone went home, leaving Gao and Drum in the hospital to recover.

Kyoya walked in the prison where the monster from other worlds were contained until their judgement. The boy went in there and said that he came to visit his buddy. It took a little convincing for them to let him talk with the ruler of Darkness Dragon World.

The boy walked in the room and sat on a chair, waiting for his buddy to come. He looked around and saw that he was the only one around.

Azi Dahaka entered in the large room in his SD form their handcuff restraining them. The dragon held their heads high and proud. Their time in prison wasn't bringing them down. They saw his buddy and lightly grinned. They sat on the chair and said, "Good to see you again Kyoya. I wasn't expecting you."

"I… had to come and check on you. After what you did-"

"I just confess everything after my defeat. If you are worrying about me in jail, don't be. I've been in there many times in my youth. This is nothing compared to be stuck in a wall by swords and spears," they crossed their arms, shaking their heads. It wasn't very good memories for them, "Here. It is less barbaric."

"You did that to your prisoners?" the boy asked.

"No. Having personally lived it, I banned it," they lightly frowned and asked, "What is the reason of your visit? I know we are under surveillance, but don't hesitate to tell me what's in your mind."

The boy sighed, "Why did you s-" the darkness dragon frowned, "confess everything like that? I don't understand why."

Azi chuckled, "I'll spell it out for you then," they smirked, "It's simply because I don't want any of you… much less Davide, ending up in jail for my failed plan. I am not that much of a monster than putting children from another world in jail for my plot," they smirked more, "I prefer to take all the credit for it."

"That's it?"

The dragon gazed seriously at the boy, "Why would I put my buddy in jail?"

Kyoya closed his eyes and clenched his hands, "Why are you saying this? We both know it was only temporary. Until Gao joined us and became your buddy. He was extremely powerful just as we saw."

They replied, "It's true that this was part of the plan but things changed. All the time spend with you, while the boy remained out of my reach made me realise one thing. The thing that pushed me to confess everything, so you wouldn't suffer the consequence."

"And it is?"

"Kyoya," a soft smile came out of their mouth. One they never showed to anyone, "You are my true buddy. No one can replace you. I will never replace you. So put this into your mind. I realised this kinda late, since you couldn't see it."

The teenage boy contained his emotions, but his eyes were a little wet, "And you aren't lying."

"I never did lie to you Kyoya. Since the moment we met, since I told you of the plan," he gazed at the guards, "But I manipulate you into doing things you wouldn't. This is the best I can give you," the dragon turned serious and his soft spot was sealed once again, "Kyoya. There is something I want you to do."

"What is it?" the boy was serious once again, what he wants me to do?

"Kyoya. I don't know why you accepted to help me. You didn't tell me everything in details and why you were 'manipulated'. The thing I want you to do Kyoya is to give humanity another chance," they crossed their fingers and looked at the boy with their red eyes. The boy didn't reply, "With Hinako winning the elections and with humans like Gao and his friends… Maybe you should still hope for the better."

"Why are you saying this?" the boy asked confused.

The dragon answered, "Because then, there is a chance you can move on. You can't let another monster like me use you again. Therefore, I'm telling you."

The two gazed at each other's for a while without saying anything. The white hair boy closed his eyes and replied, "Fine… I'll try."

"Good," the darkness dragon nodded.

They continued to talk a little until it was time for the boy to leave. He left his buddy behind.

The day was slowly coming to an end. Noboru and his buddy walked to the train station. They already said their good-byes to their friends who returned to school. It was the morning, so no one else could be with him.

"Are you okay going home alone Noboru?" El Quixote asked his buddy. He saw the boy lips pointing down as the question arose.

"Yes Quixote. I can't stay here any longer anyway," he showed his cellphone and his buddy saw the message his parents sent, "I have a lot of catch up to do. I still have school too," he looked at the old man and his dog, who was a dragon in disguise.

"Also, if you are still thinking you didn't do enough against them, you are wrong. Everyone did their part and so do you," the old man said.

Noboru lightly grinned, "I know. No needs to repeat the same thing again. I know I couldn't do more. I just wish that it would have been possible," he heard his cellphone ringing and answered, just as they went into the train, "Moshi Moshi."

He recognised the voice of his friend Gao who said, after his salutation, "-I just learned that you are leaving already. Are you sure about it?-"

The boy lightly smiled, "Yes. I have a lot to catch up in my homework's and studies. So, I must return sooner than I hoped," he said in a friendly tone, "I'm also glad I can leave without being worried about you for a while," he said with a mocking tone, "You can be a little dump sometimes."

"-Really funny Noboru,-" his friend replied, "-Can't stay on the phone for long. Thank you for coming and helping us Noboru. I hope you will visit us.-"

The boy let out a sad smile. He replied, "I will, but you better visit me too."

"-We will-" Gao replied.

They finished saying a few meaningless words before they concluded with, "Good-bye for now."

Then both hang up. The boy's buddy looked at the boy with a smile while the dragon in its dog form did the same the best he could.

Noboru watched the city as the train leave the town, "We'll be stronger next time we see them."

"We will," El Quixote replied.

AC: This is the end of this chapter.

Next: It will be the second part of the Epilogue.