"You know Noboru, this is the first time we've ever teamed up." Hope said. "And yet I'm a little nervous. Im going against a guy with a vendetta i have no idea about."

"This Priest is very mysterious, is he not? He claims to be a holy man and yet everything about him is everything but holy." El Quixote said.

"Honestly, I don't know anything about this god he's worshipping. He might've gotten you mixed up with someone else." Noboru said.

"Yeah...he's gotta. Maybe he's got me confused with...Nope the...Licker?" Hope said.

"Funny." Noboru said before a child with a tiger shirt came up to their table.

"Are you Noboru Kodo?" the kid asked. "I'm Sakate Onigashira! I'm your biggest fan!"

"Seriously?! Finally, somebody who gets me!" Noboru said.

"That name.." Hope said.

"The fight between the Team of Kanata Orzora and Mana Kawai, vs Togari Togayama and Riku...has just ended with a wipeout with Kanata and Mana taking the win!" Paruko said.

"Guess its time." Hope said. "Let's head out there."

"With that match all wrapped up...we will now feature another exciting match between Noboru Kodo and Hope the victor vs Sakate Onigashira and The Priest!" Paruko said as they arrived to the stage.

"I can't believe were fighting against each other, Noboru! I'm so Honored!" Sakate said.

"Oh, please… why don't you just drop the act already?" Hope asked.

"Huh?" Sakate asked.

"Don't play dumb. You're not who you say you are. You're the one who attacked us with CHAOS Yamigedo in Dragon World! Why don't you show us who you really are, Sakate Onigashira?!" Hope said.

"Silence, you wretched heathen!" Priest said.

"Oh for the love of… you really gotta cut in? I know who your partner is really. But i don't know who you are, and why you are after me with this God stuff. What did i ever do to you?" Hope asked.

"You killed...God Harlequin!" Priest said.

"Harlequin?!" Hope said as the heroes gasped.

"That guy knows Harlequin? What's going on here?!" Gemini said.

"Harlequin?" Luna asked.

"A sinister man who used to torture Hope when he was a kid." Riku said. "But he died during the events with Yamigedo."

"That must've been really intense." David said.

"It was. It was right before we met you, now that we think about it." Gemini said. "He was a member of the Ginova Family. Of the Comedy Seat. He tried to possess me and then Hopey...but I fought back and forced him out. But when I thought he was about to kill me...his own follower Spade went and diced him up. But what I don't get is...why is this coming up now?"

"I was afraid of this. There were rumors that before he died, Harlequin had amassed his own secret empire. I thought the rumors were false...until now." Daisy said.

"You got the wrong guy! It wasn't me who killed Harlequin, it was his former henchmen, Spade!" Hope said.

"Coward! Do not lie to me. Lord Harlequin himself has said that you have killed him!" Priest said.

"That's impossible... he should be dead." Hope said.

"Don't listen to him, Hope. He's clearly lost his mind." Noburo said.

"Thanks, Tiger." Hope said before glaring at Preist. "You're clearly a madman. I dont give a crap abound what you believe, or what Harlequin told you in that head of yours! There's only one way to deal with a Maniac like you, and if you can't be reasoned with… then I'm gonna put you down!" Hope said holding his core gadget up.

"In that case… my partner and I are gonna crush you both with everything we've got!" Sakate said ripping up his tiger T-shirt before casting off his hoodie and showing his true self.

"Wow...who would have thought." Erica said.

"I just...Ugh! Forget it. Let's just get this over with." Hope said.

"It's clear that tensions are high, and it shows with the worlds I warped to while these two were talking!" Paruko said. "Dungeon and Katana world are brimming with their own spirit and support! In Flower City, the people are cheering for the hometown boy, but… when I warped to the Priests …" Paruko said before lightning zapped her.

"Shut...up." Priest said as she fell unconscious.

"You….I'm gonna make you pay!" Hope shouted.

"Since she's unconscious, someone gotta take over commentating duties." Francisca said as she headed up. "Okay fighters, let's get started!"

"The greatest defenders of the universe unite as one, forging a path to peace! Lumenize! Heroic Legion!" Hope said.

"Overcome the raging storm and revive once more, oh knights of glory! Luminize! Glorious Knights!" Noboru said.

"The virtues of the gods are nothing without sins! All will tremble before my power! Luminize! Ancient Sins!" Priest said.

"To devour people is to walk the Path of Oni! Let bloom, the Flowers of Evil! Luminize! Scroll of the Oni Rascals!" Sakate said.

"Okay. Here goes. Buddy…" Francisca said.

"FIGHT!" the crowd cheered.

"Raise the flag!" they said.

"Dungeon World!" Noboru said.

"Hero World!" Hope said.

"Katana World!" Sakate said.

"Ancient World!" Priest said.

"First move is ours!" Noboru said. "Charge and Draw! I pay one life to equip Thunder Beast Spear, Bestia!"

10-9

"I'll shut the two of you up! Hah!" Noboru said cleaving at Sakate.

10-8

"I can't let this guy get in my head. Gotta keep my cool." Hope said. "My go! Im calling Uniform Warrior, Doctor Frill to the Right!"

"Who's ready to get a checkup?" Doctor Frill asked.

" To the left, Uniform Warrior, Racer Frill!" Hope said.

"It's been awhile, but I'm back at the starting line!" Racer frill announced.

"When Racer Frill is called out and there's another Superheroine on my field, I get to draw a card." Hope said. "Racer, knock some sense and justice into that Priest!"

"You got it! No one disrespects you while we're around!" Racer said as she laid into Priest with a lightning fast roundhouse kick.

10-8

"Two life apeice. That'll do for now. Let's see what you've got!" Hope said to Priest.

"You've made a grave mistake. Draw! Charge and Draw! I start by setting the spell Hundred Demons Sorcery, Banryufuto. Now all monsters on the left and right on my field gain 1000 power and defense. Then I pay two gauge and call Ring Dragon Emperor, Rust Igliha to the right!" he said as a large dragon appeared. "Then I call Poison Dragon Emperor, Misty Envy to the left. Then, I equip Poison Flame Armor, Mushibami! I pay 1 life and inflict damage unto you." Priest said.

8-7

10-9

"Now...the attack phase. Ring Dragon Emperor...destroy Racer Frill." he said.

The dragon roared as it crushed Racer Frill.

"And when he succeeds in destroying a monster, he gains double attack! Attack the child!" Priest said.

"I move Doctor Frill to the center!" Hope said.

"Halt your attack...Poison Dragon Emperor attacks the doctor!" Priest said as the poison dragon destroyed her.

"Doctor Frill's ability activates and she…." Hope started.

"Destroys a monster size 2 or less, right?" Priest asked.

"Yeah, that's… right. How'd you know?" Hope asked.

"You think I would seek mindless revenge? I know how you work, child. You were hoping Rust Dragon would attack her and you could destroy Envy. However, with Envy doing the attack, he had served his purpose. Now the attack continues. Rust Dragon...once again...destroy the child!" he said as Hope was struck.

9-6

"Now...I will make you pay heathen!" he said charging at Hope.

"I cast! I've seen through your moves!" Hope said nullifying the attack. "That was close…"

"I cast! Neutralize!" Priest said.

"Crap, he knew i was gonna use a counter spell!" Hope said.

"I discard a card from my hand...and destroy the spell you just played." Priest said as he struck Hope. "I reviewed all of your moves from past fights. You didn't even think I would use Generic cards."

6-5

"I end my turn." Priest said.

"What we just saw was completely unreal. The Priest cut Hope's life in half like it was nothing! This guy really is a master at what he does." Francisca said.

"Yeah, but something about him really bothers me." Ace said.

"It's gotta be the whole 'worshipping Harlequin like a god' thing." Akane said.

"Oh god, I really hate people like that. They just rub me the wrong way." Ace said.

"Agreed. And Francisca's right, Hope is in SERIOUS trouble right now. He needs to find a way to turn the tables on that guy next turn, or it's lights out for him." Christy added.

"But he knows every move he'll do before he's gonna make it. How is he gonna turn it around?" Alice asked. "David, what do you think?"

"I'm not really sure… If it were me, I'd make moves I normally wouldn't do." David said.

"Now it's my turn to bring some pain. This'll be fun." Sakate grinned. "Draw, Charge and Draw! First, I'm gonna cast Under the Table! It increases my gauge by two, as well as give me one life back."

8-9

"For my next move, im equipping Dark Arms, Soaring Blade! Followed by calling to the left Pale Yellow Fiend, Kid Hoshiguma!" Sakate said as a familiar oni appeared.

"Wait...those cards….Kabuki is he?" David asked.

"Yes. He is an Oni Assassin player like I am." Kabuki said.

"That means he also uses Ambush. Noboru better watch himself…"

"Now...Attack him, Hoshiguma!" Sakate said as Noboru got attacked twice.

9-5

"Here I come!" Sakate said coming.

"Cast! Divine Protection of Shalsana!" Noboru said.

"Wow...you guys are such major letdowns." Sakate said smirking.

End of move.

"Now it's back to Hope and Noboru's turn, but hope is in trouble." Erica said.

Hope gripped his hand his core gadget was attached to as he prepared to draw.

"Sinner...you shall pay for your crimes. As a participant of this tournament, be lucky I am not allowed to kill you at the moment." Priest said.

"It feels like he's got me at the throat though… he knows all my moves and strategies." Hope said. "How can I beat this guy if he knows what I'm gonna do?"

"Hope! Don't give up, you hear?!" Kazuichi yelled. "If nothing is working like you want it to, do something different! That's what David does, and you're not just in this tournament for yourself! Remember who's still in the infirmary, fight for him too!"

"Be silent!" Priest said zapping Kazuichi with lightning.

"That bastard!" Lin said before Ace stopped her as he shook his head and she lowered her gun.

"We'll confront him later, but I'm pretty sure attacking someone in the stands is illegal." Aya said.

"Ace...I appreciate you and your group wanting to stand for me. But...even if I do end up losing...I'm not going down without a fight! Draw! Charge and Draw!" Hope shouted.

"It is pointless to continue! There's nothing you can do that I don't know about!" Priest said.

"You're right. You know every card in my deck. But not all of them! I call to the right, "Sacrifice" Iron Moon Slash, and Buddy Call Cyber Soldier Leader, Moon Bat to the left!"

5-6

"So you're really going to try it? A last ditch effort?" Priest asked.

"I...I call to the center, The Scar! And equip Sneak Judgement!" Hope said equipping a blaster.

"Two Darkheroes and a Darkhero Item? What's hope thinking?" Gemini said.

"He's changing up his strategy." Riku said.

"I'll use Iron Moon Slashes effect! Once per turn, I can discard one Darkhero from my hand and deal a point of damage to my opponent! I'll discard Judgement, Hollow Strydarm!" Hope said.

"The energy of the weak, fuels me to strike against the strong!" Iron Moon slash said blasting an energy bolt at Priest.

"You made a mistake. Cast...Havoc in Dragonland!" Priest said.

"What's that card? I've never heard of it." Erica asid.

"Allow me to explain, if I have a size 3 monster on the field, with this card, I can destroy a monster size 3 or less. Let's say...the Scar." he said as the Scar was destroyed. "Then I add a card to my gauge and gain life equal to its size.

7-8

"No way… He even has a counter for that. Is there really no getting past him?" David said.

8-7

"Critical of all your items and monsters is 2. I have seven life. Do the math." he said.

"Damn it… Even if he can cast something to get rid of that monster, Hope doesn't have enough combined critical to defeat him." David said.

"Damn you!" Hope shouted firing his item as the Priest bend backwards.

7-5

He slowly rose up as his hood fell off revealing a face with sharp teeth, horns and a third eye as he laughed.

"He's...a demon!" David said.

"Who is that?!" Arnice asked.

"I have no idea. I have never seen a demon like this before!" David said.

"No wonder I sensed something off about him." Ace said.

"Who are you?" Hope asked.

"Since I am going to defeat you and leave you in agony...I am one of God Harlequin's five enforcers...Alonz the Recruiter." He said.

"Alonz…" Hope said. "I'm not falling to you. I'm going to beat you!"

"No you aren't. For starters...your hand is empty." he said.

"Yeah, that's right." Hope said. "I have less life than you, there isn't enough critical to take you down, and you might have a counter for me on these next two attacks. But…. I'm not giving up. Someone I know never gives up until the end, and he's fighting through pain to survive. There is no one who is invincible, which is why he always improves. And I won't give up either, for his sake, my teammates, and the monsters I have out with me! Moon Slash, Attack the fighter!"

"The strong don't give up until the very end!" Iron Moon slash said punching Alonz.

5-3

"But the weak are devoured by the strong. That is the way nature and demons always work." Alonz said.

"But that's not me. That will never be me. Moon Bat… attack!" Hope said.

"Yes!" Moon bat said jumping into the air.

"Is he nuts?! Moon Bat doesn't nearly have enough critical to pry him away!" Rainbow said.

"He knows that. Hope's a fighter. Even when he's backed in a corner, Hope always keeps fighting." Akane said.

"You failed. I have a fun surprise. Another spell. Havoc in Dragon Land!" Alonz said.

"Not that again!" Erica said.

"Is it even possible to use the same card twice?!" Al asked in shock.

"The rule is you can have up to four copies of the same card within your deck." Tails said.

"Yeah, so there's always a chance of seeing duplicates." David said.

"I win." Alonz smiled as Moon Bat vanished.

3-4

"Heh….kinda saw that coming. But that card...what's with that weird symbol in its bottom corner? It's not hundred demons." Hope said.

"Boy….you should know there is more wickedness than just demons. After all...Chaos is good for creating a new world." Alonz said.

"Wait… Aren't those the same words that Zaheer said before?" Jude asked.

"These words are something shared with me from a benefactor of mine. He and all of us...we will upgrade the worlds into a new golden age!" Alonz said.

"You can take me and Noboru down, but I'm not done. We're gonna stop you, and whoever you're so called benefactor is." Hope said.

After Hope's proclamation, Noboru took his turn and struck back at Sakate, but fell victim to his Ambush tactics to buddycall Oni Boss, Kid Ibuki, damaging him on Noboru's own turn.

"Wait...Look at Ibuki's card. It's got the same mark as that spell card Alonz has." Erica said.

"I need to cross reference that symbol." Tails asid scanning Ibukus card as the match continued, with Sakate and Priest absolutely assaulted Hope and Noboru, ending their match. Hope survived, but Noboru was hospitalized and lost his confidence.

"Yoko… we gotta avenge Noboru and Hope. When we get our chance at those two, we will beat them. You with me?" Gao asked Yoko.

"Oh, you bet we will. There's no way I'll let him get away with this." Yoko said.

"In that case...you'll need to win your next match if you want any chance of fighting them." Lacy said. "Tomorrow it's Shosetsu and David vs Kanata and Mana, then its you two vs Ku Teito and Onyx."

"Onyx… While Miasma and the others are here to watch and root for her...I have a feeling there's a different reason for her inclusion." David said.

"Emiya should be back soon from his recon." Cu Chulainn said as Emiya appeared in front of them.

"You sent the archer guy to spy on the competition?" Yoko asked.

"His name is Emiya. And he went to try and gather info." Mari said.

"As for the symbol...I didn't really find any info on it. But it has been appearing on a couple of cards." Hope said. "There's even this weird attribute with them...Chaos."

"Chaos… That word has been thrown around a lot lately, hasn't it?" David asked.

"Yeah. One thing's for sure, Alonz, and the men in black, are connected to this somehow. I saw one of them and he had the symbol etched into his suit." Emiya said.

"And Jexi's injury… It was clearly done on purpose. Someone clearly doesn't want us here." Sectonia said.

"Well for now we should continue on with the tournament and lay low for a bit." Ace said.

"Speaking of which… Hope, unfortunately due to Noburo's injury, you are forced to withdraw from the competition." Vera said.

"I know." Hope said before grabbing a bandana as he wrapped it around his arm.

"What is this?" David asked.

"A promise. You and I...we've wanted to battle one another for awhile. So...I make this promise...I will not lose another match until we can meet each other in an official tournament!" Hope said.

"Hope…" Ace muttered as he held out his pendant.

"But seeing as now my fellow rep is on her own, I'm thinking she's gotta be feeling the pressure." Hope said. "Ku Teito...hmmm…"