"Welcome back. Now without further ado, we start the next set of races for round 1." the announcer said. "This time, we have Team Shining Ice facing Team Eastern Warriors and Team Silent Blades vs Team Reformed Society. All racers in that bracket, please enter your mechs."

As the preparations began, Lector saw Marx staring at him, Frosch, and the other Exceeds along with USApyon.

"Hey, you see that big guy, Marx? He keeps looking at us." Lector said.

"I know. Its creepy and scary at the same time." USApyon said.

"Should we…. I dunno… talk to him?" Happy asked.

"Absolutely not. You see that face of his? " Chopper said as he still made the same face.

"Yeah...best not do that." Happy said.

A stray white cat then walked into the stands and got close to him.

"No! Run little kitty!" Happy said.

Marx looked down at it at he reached an arm and started petting it. "So fluffy...so cute." he said.

"I… did not expect that." Lector said. "What about you Frosch? Frosch?" lector asked seeing Frosch approaching Marx. "What the?!"

"Hello, scary man. You didn't do anything to the kitty, do you like animals?" Frosh asked as the others starred with bated breath.

Marx then gave the same scary face as Frosch looked terrified as Marx reached out a hand and started petting it. "So cute...so fluffy." he said.

"Okay…let's keep a distance." Sonic said.

In the track, the racers were entering the starting grid.

"Seems fate is not with us. I was hoping to get at the Oni today." Shinji said. "But you guys will have to make good warm ups."

"Speak for yourself. My sister's over at the other side." David said.

"So, she's almost as weak as Shinji here." Pom said.

"Okay, very hurtful." Shinji said.

"Depends on what you mean by almost." Mayumi said. "She's actually a skilled fighter, as she proved on more than one occasion."

"Yeah. The only reason she's over there is because of the assassin theme." David said.

"And the fact you gotta fight us." Shinji said as Zetsuna shook his head in agreement.

"Mayumi and I are Japanese, so...no hard feelings." David said.

"We're Japanese too. Eh whatever. Let's do this." Shinji said.

The race soon began as out doing the survey was Mayumi and Pom.

"Conditions are not too sleek as of yet. However, there's a rise where our track is and therefore, a huge drop." Mayumi said.

"Imagine the moves that can be made with conditions like that." David said.

"We should be alright if we stay focused and not get careless." Sectonia said.

"That goes double for you, Dave. Nothing too flashy." Mayumi said.

"I know, I know." David said.

"All is good, Shinji!" Pom said. "Same with you, Zetsuna."

"Excellent, Pom." Shinji said. "There won't be much issue." he said as the survey was almost finished.

"And the battle lap is underway!" the announcer said.

"Pom, go for Sectonia, Zetsuna, get ice kid and the other girl. Finish is mine." Shinji said rushing ahead.

"Is this guy serious? Is he really trying to take the win for himself?" David said.

"I'm gonna prevent Shinji from getting the win. David, he's all yours." Mayumi said.

"If you're sure." David said.

Mayumi rocketed past Zetsuna as he then focused on David. His mech pounded its hands together before it began to punch at David's mech.

"Bring it on, big guy." David said as he starts blocking his strikes.

"Keep pounding him! He's a loser like this girl and Shinji." Pom said.

"Stop calling me that!" Shinji said.

"Why don't ya make me?" Pom said.

"You shouldn't really argue with your teammates." Sectonia said as she came out of nowhere and closed in to attack Pom.

"Perfect. Now it's time!" Pom said as she and Sectonia grabbed each other's mech arms. "All right! Pom Poko...Transform!" she said as smoke surrounded her mech before it turned into a copy of Sectonia's.

"Wh-what is…?" Sectonia asked.

"You don't know? Bake-danuki or Tanuki as you call us are masters of the transformation arts! I happen to be one of the best. I'm so good I can transform things other than myself." Pom said.

"Just calm down, Sectonia. It's not really you." Sectonia thought to herself. "But still, you'll have to face yourself sooner or later. But why me?"

"Simple. Your little boyfriend...I can tell he is a match for Zetsuna, so he'll eventually catch up to us. And since I look and sound like you and my mech matches yours...wonder which one he'll assume be the fake?" Pom said.

"Probably the one who doesn't know a thing about me. Like...what we started calling each other." Sectonia mused.

"You're on that level already?!" Pom said.

"Psych!" Sectonia said slugging Pom's mech, making her spin. "You might be good at transformation, but you're as gullible as any regular girl."

"Oooh! A fake-out by Sectonia sends Pom spinning!" the announcer said. "And with David, oh look at this! He's worn down the arms of Zetsuna's mech! Now Zetsuna has no way to fight back now!"

"Just to be sure." David said as he lands an uppercut and sends Zetsuna skidding to a halt. "Two down. Now, let's catch up to Shinji."

Shinji drew closer to the finish line before seeing the three catching up to him. "Damn. Those guys don't know when to quit. Looks like Pom and Zetsuna couldn't stop them. Should I use it on all three? No. I can only use it once and if one of them blocks, my mech will be too slow to speed ahead. Though...what if…"

"Whoa! What is Shinji doing? He's placed a hand on his sword and is aiming at….the wall?" the announcer said.

"What the heck is Shinji up to? and, that stance…" Hope said.

"Wait...Shinji Sakamoto….a monk in a temple, a temple near the capital...wait...could he be?" Driver wondered.

"Sorry kids. May not win...but we can call it a tie." Shinji said. "Here we go! One hit...KO Slash!" Shinji said hitting the wall as it sent him in the opposite wall as he was banging back and forth at high speeds. "Swordsman...Pinball!"

"Watch out, his movements are erratic!" Mayumi said.

"Uh… Hope he remembered to put a quarter in." David said.

Shinji continued to bounce back and forth until he crossed the finish.

"And with a strange sword style, Shinji has crossed the finish in first!" the announcer said. "Oh, but look at this! All three members of Team Shining Ice have crossed successfully! It's a Tie, ladies and gentlemen!"

The crowd gasped as Shinji's mech soon stopped after crossing and opened.

"Whoo! Did it! Hooray!" Shinji said while dizzy as he fell out and fell asleep.

"He tied? Impossible!" Hope said.

"Considering who he is, its very possible." Driver said. "Not sure why I didn't know this earlier...but now I'm certain. He's the Demonic Samurai Monk."

"Who?" Lacy asked.

"A swordsman who uses unorthodox methods of swordplay." Driver said. "He's an exorcist."

"Unorthodox is right. I can't imagine what he would have done to Mayumi if David and Sectonia hadn't won their fights." Kurochi said.

"Uh… He does know that Mayumi is not an actual demon, right? She just has the powers of one." Sunset implied.

"Don't worry, we'll tell him. He's not exactly adept in the ways of the Enhanced phenomenon. Though, he might be surprised to hear you're a former Demon Hunter now, Ice Boy." Pom said.

"Former? Well, besides Demon's Blight and…" David shivered. "Graci… I haven't run into a lot of demons lately. Although, I don't think Graci seems all that evil."

"Uh...Dave. Don't look now but I see Cheetah coming at you and she isn't too happy." Mayumi said.

"Yes. Team Reformed Society lost to Kabuki's team." Driver said.

"Ishihara!" Cheetah said charging at him as David prepared, before they could strike though, they saw Marx standing over them.

"Oh come on!" David said.

"Get...along." he said.

"Huh?" they both said.

"I hope... we all can….get along." Marx said.

"Whoa, big guy… i didn't expect that from you." Pinkie said as Marx looked at her with the same face as he held a box.

"Here...eat." he said.

"Uh…" Pinkie said opening the box as inside was a fruit crepe. "A crepe? Uh...thank you?" she said.

"Oh my gosh! That design! Its from the Restaurant to all the worlds right?" Graci asked.

"It...from yesterday." Marx said.

"Score! I was hoping it was here. I'll have to stop by after this is all over." Graci said.

"Uh...what?" Mayumi asked before Graci got to her.

"What? You've never heard of it?! You simply have to go there with me! You must! You must!" Graci said.

"Whoa… She seems chipper all of a sudden." David said.

"No surprise. The food there is something you would die for just to get a single bite." Shinji said.

"Oh...I've been there." Elize said.

"That's right. That's how Elize met us at Aytolis." Yuno said. "She crossed through using that restaurant."

"What exactly is it?" Mayumi asked.

"Not sure myself but its a restaurant that connects to every world in the 20 universes. I eat there twice a week and enjoy their Pork Cutlet Rice Bowls." Shinji said.

"Well...I guess it wouldn't hurt." Mayumi said.

"Great. Let's! We can get to know one another." Graci said.

"You sure, even if we'll be facing each other soon?" Mayumi asked.

"Yeah. Let's do it now! We're both done for today so let's go go go!" Graci said grabbing Mayumi as she ran off with her.

"Aaaaand, they're gone." Petra asid.

"Hope they enjoy. Cause we still have one round of racing left for today." Jack said.