Ace opened his eyes as he saw the others looking down at him relieved. "Hey you guys."
"Thank god. We thought we lost you." Lucy said.
"You collapsed from being in contact with those crystals." Cache said.
"Yeah it felt like whatever was inside them were crying for help." Ace said as Spade helped him stand up. "Sorry if I worried you."
"Wait, youre saying that you heard something call for help? What's so important about these crystals that you heard voices from them?" Nana said.
"I don't think it's far fetched as it seems. I remember some old story that some powerful beings were trapped in crystals. Or maybe that's just the tales of the Eidolons Ace has." Hope said.
"Those crystals were from a land of nature and wild animals. How can they be calling out?" Twilight said.
"I'm not sure, ok? I don't know much about those crystals as you do. I'm sorry." Ace said apologizing.
"In any case, we shouldn't worry too much about it, otherwise it's just going to hurt our heads even more." Kurochi said.
"You're right. The sooner we stop Diablo, the better. There's no telling what he could use, whether it be an object or person." Ace said.
"All we have to focus on is the races." Ty said as on the track surveying were Abby and Rinea as well as Zagan and Pom.
"Right, I'm gonna head back to town, I think I might've missed something." Ace said as he flew to the city.
"You don't have to make a flashy exit everytime, you know!" Kazuichi said. "Sheesh, why can't he ever take a bus or something?"
"Is there a problem with him flying?" Spade asked with a dark aura around him.
"Nothing wrong, sir!" Kazuichi said in fear.
"Good." Spade said as he turned back to normal and smiled. "He just wants to feel free in the air that's all."
"There's no shame in that." Akane said.
"Spade, has anyone told you you're really supportive of actions?" Teepo asked.
"Well, he is his brother, after all." Elize said.
"Yeah, ever since our parents were killed I've protected him and gave him all the love he needed, he's very precious to me." Spade said as he took out a photo of when he and Ace were younger and showed it to them.
"Sounds like a certain two I know." Hope said looking to Asta and Yuno.
"We're not like that." The two of them said.
"Oh…" Hope said.
"Let's just focus on the race. The battle lap just started." Indigo said.
"Oh, and it's already competitive right from the start! Eastern Warriors explode right out of the gate, but Demon's Blight...they don't let it last long as they began to brutally attack them." the announcer said.
"Geez, they never hold back, do they? And come on, one of ems' just a kid!" Hope shouted.
"You know they can't hear you right?" Psychic asked.
"I know." Hope said.
"These guys are on my hit list now." Saki said as she cracked her knuckles.
"Don't bother. You can't do anything to them, anyway." Shiozaki said.
"I know." Saki said calmly. "But if I do run into them in the future, they'll pay."
"David here is a demon hunter, so...he might just beat you to it." Tapu Lele said.
"Why don't we both take care of them then?" Saki asked looking at the Devil Hunter.
"Because you're not participating in this thing. I don't know much clearer we can make this." David said.
"And they aren't breaking any laws. This is a race. All of this is legal...well as legal as it gets." Driver said.
"*Sigh* I'm really sorry about my sister. She always wants to fight powerful opponents." Aya said.
"Didn't think there was anyone more competitive than me." David said.
"She doesn't really make a competition over anything. She's always serious whenever we go on missions." Aya said.
"And that's kind of the problem. She needs to enjoy life more, you know what I'm saying?" David said.
"Yeah but...Saki didn't really have a good childhood. During the first undead incident on our world, we didn't know we were siblings. We fought and I manage to hold back without killing her." Aya said with a saddened look. "It's gonna take time." She said.
"Besides, I'm not sure Astaroth is an ideal opponent." Kenshin said as Demon's Blight was making quick work of Pom and Zetsuna before Bathin charged at Shinji.
"Here goes. It's a waste, but I gotta survive. One hit KO Slash!" Shinji said swinging his sword as he cut through Bathin's sword and mech.
"Whoa, he actually pulled it off?!" Zelos asked.
"Looks like he took your advice to heart, Kabuki." Maki said.
"Not bad, not bad." Kagura said in broken english.
"That was my one shot. I just need to keep ahead of those other two." Shinji said trying to keep ahead of Demon's Blight.
"Zagan, cut him off." Astaroth said as Zagan charged towards Shinji.
"This isn't my one hit KO but...this has to be something." Shinji said drawing his blade to block Zagan's advance. "I just have to keep blocking an...what?"
Astaroth then drew a large black blade from his mech before lunging at Shinji. His sword pierced through Zagan and Shinji's mechs causing both of them to break down.
"He went through his own teammate? Why would he do that?!" David said remembering what Astaroth said.
"The stronger demons absorb the weaker ones. If you are not strong, you're fodder. As for other demons, sometimes we sacrifice ourselves to make each other stronger." Astaroth said.
"This is just...something else people. With only one racer intact on the track. The winner is...Team Demon's Blight!" The announcer said as the audience cheered.
"Jeez, do these people even care what happens to the other teams?" Akane said.
"It's a race. They're just in it for the thrills." Driver said.
"And coming from the other track...the winner is Team Valkyrie Maidens!" The announcer said.
"Wait, did I hear that right?" David asked.
"Yes. Its Team Valkyrie Maidens." the announcer said. "It was close. Leonora took first while Jexi took second with Jack in third. No crashouts."
"Unbelievable. Not only was someone other than me able to beat Jexi, but Jack, too." David said.
"Wow, those Valkyrie Maidens are really good." David heard some of the spectators say. "If the others aren't careful, they just might win the whole thing."
"Now...as you all know, we'll be having the festival. After, we have the playoffs against the remaining eight teams. Now...we have a special guest joining us for the remainder. Please allow me to welcome the races sponsor...Diablo!" the announcer said.
"What the heck? Diablo's here?!" Hope asked in shock.
"I didn't think he would be here himself in his condition." David said.
"So this is the man who thinks he's going to wipe out the universes." Kagura said.
Diablo soon approached the podium with a calm expression on his face. "People of Future City and the universes beyond. It is a great pleasure to welcome you all here. I am truly a fan of this wonderful sport of yours. That is why I have sponsored those six teams, so we can have one amazing season. And I'm sure you all feel the same." Diablo said.
The audience cheered as they chanted Diablo's name.
"Tch." Fefnir scoffed.
"He talks himself out of a situation." Jexi said.
"As affluential as he is, that's to be expected." David said.
"I can tell from a distance this fool's ego will be his downfall." Leviathan said. "He's no better than ."
"There is no ego problem with him. This is just a show for the people." Jexi said. "If you knew the real Diablo...you would know the threat he has."
"We faced Omega to a standstill at the cost of our lives and it's thanks to Zero he was destroyed." Harpuia said.
"Zero… That's a name we haven't heard in awhile." Indigo said.
"Hmm, tell us. What was the Zero and Master X you met like?" Phantom asked.
"They're two of the best Maverick Hunters we've ever met. We fought alongside them quite a lot until they returned to their own time after the battle against Ultron Sigma and Dragon." Nana said.
"Zero, a maverick hunter? That's surprising." Fefnir said as he laughed.
"Really? What was he like to you four?" Nana asked.
"We fought against him and the resistance who we considered mavericks, we all fought him and still lost. I even self destructed myself to prevent him from reaching Master X, who I didn't know at the time was a copy." Phantom said as he closed his eyes.
"So that means that you four were from the same world as them, but further ahead in time." Sectonia said.
"Yes, a hundred years from their time." Harpuia said. "We were all blinded by the truth and thought we were doing the right thing but...we were wrong. And we're here now to make amends by helping watch over Ace."
"Well maybe one day you and Zero can meet up and make up." Jack said.
The four guardians all had downcasted looks when they heard that and closed their eyes.
"Uh, Jack. I don't think they're expected to be forgiven for their actions." Sectonia said.
"Yeah...and the Zero here wouldn't even know them." Jack said.
"We made amends with him by helping defeat Omega." Leviathan said. "It's just that the Zero we knew sacrificed himself to defeat Weil and stop Ragnarok."
"Oh… sorry, we uh… didn't know." Kazuichi said.
"It's alright but there could be chance he's still alive. We just didn't have enough time before we were sent to Valentia." Harpuia said.
"And zat's when you ran into us." Rachel said.
"Correct." Harpuia said before he saw Ace floating towards them. "Speak of the devil."
Ace landed down in front of them as he held something in his arms. "Hi everyone. Did I miss anything?"
"Besides the last race, no." Nami said.
"Uh...what's that you got?" Jexi asked.
The creature in Ace's arms turned around and spoke. "Hello everyone. My name is Lunamon."
"That's...a Digimon!" David said.
"Is this what Luna is? She's so cute!" Ace said as he hugged her as Lunamon hugged his neck.
"Okay...not even sure how you got that thing." Jack said.
"Where did you even find that...creature?" Psychic said.
"Maybe she got out of the Digital World and ended up here." Takeshi said.
"Well actually, I found her wounded near some kind of gate and took her to get medical attention, she's been stuck with me ever since." Ace explained.
"That doesn't even explain how she got here." Driver said. "Even in the Future Universe, those things are rare."
"So, let's just go with Takeshi's assumption. She wandered here after somehow leaving the Digital World." Kokoro said.
"Well, you see, when I was exploring around, some weird creatures attacked and turned my friends into Digi-Eggs. I managed to escape and you know the rest." Luna said as she hopped onto Ace's head and layed down. "Now I'm the partner and friend of this guy right here."
"Strange. We'll look into it." Jack said.
"Later. Now come on." Hope said grabbing Jack and Daisy.
"Easy. What's the rush?" Daisy said.
"Someone wanted this letter to get to us and I wanna honor it." Hope said running off with the two.
"Guess we'll see you tomorrow!" Jack shouted.
"Bye,bye!" Luna shouted back waving.
"David, there is something I must discuss with you, Hope and Jexi after the championship." Ace said as he held a sleeping Luna.
"We'll be all ears." Jexi said. "At least David and I will. Hope...most likely when he runs back tomorrow."
"It's nothing bad, don't worry." Ace reassured as he put his Digivice around Luna's neck. "See you tomorrow." He said as he and the others warped back to the ship for the night.
"Whew… What a day. So much stuff happened today, I can't even tell what's what anymore." David said.
"Thankfully, all that's left are the festival and the playoffs." Jexi said. "After those, we'll listen to Ace...then confront Diablo once and for all."
"Yeah. We should rest up. Tomorrow's going to be a big day, I can tell." David said.