Tatenashi couldn't believe what happened in her duel. After it was over, all that was really left for them was to wait until they arrived at the destination for the four finalists. When it was over, they all gathered in Tatenashi's room as she tried to figure out what happened in her duel against. Even Houki took a break from watching Hector to hear about this.

"I don't understand. My tiara has never steered me wrong before." Tatenashi said.

"Your tiara foresaw that you would defeat Conner. What happened?" Senshi asked.

"Can you really see the future?" Rin asked.

"I did, but this is a first for me." Tatenashi said. "The only thing that I can think of is that there's some sort of great power watching over Conner."

"A great power watching over him?" Cecilia questioned.

"Who would want to watch over that jerk?" Houki said.

"Tatenashi, what are you doing here in the first place?" Senshi asked.

"My tiara showed me that I would be here. I believed that meant that I would be helping you against Meldrick, but I can't do that now." Tatenashi said. "I've also done some research on Meldrick, trying to learn what I can. To really defeat your enemy, you must know what makes them tick. Knowing how they think can help you give you insight and know how to stop them."

"What did you find out?" Senshi questioned as this sound greatly important.

"It wasn't easy to find this out. As you know, Meldrick came from a tribe of people that watched over the Mystic Gauntlet that he wields, and awaited your arrival, Great Hero." Tatenashi said. "He grew to resent it, but you need to fully understand the situation." She said as she began the truth behind Meldrick's past.

...

Ryu

Ever since Ryu lost in his duel against Senshi and Ichika, he's been resting in his room. They thought with the pendent gone, the evil spirit that controlled Ryu was gone. They were wrong. The pendent was back around Ryu's neck and he awoke with the evil spirit in control again.

"Well, that certainly didn't go the way I thought it would." Evil Ryu complained as he got back up. "No matter. I'll soon have a contingency prize." He said as there was still something he can obtain for his own agenda.

...

Meldrick

As for Meldrick, he and Oberin remained in his room as he was preparing himself for his big moment. The hour where he faces against Senshi and Ichika is drawing closer and closer. When that time comes, the fate of the world will be decided.

"It's almost time. Another duel or so and I shall soon face Ichika Orimura." Meldrick claimed. "When that time comes, all of the Great Hero's power will be mine."

"Your time is almost upon you. You will soon be free from what your father has done to you." Oberin said. "Never again will you be trapped by that legacy."

"You're right. Ever since I was a child, my father tried to force it all upon me." Meldrick said as he remembered it all. His past was a like scar that just wouldn't fade away.

...

Flashback

As it was told before, Meldrick was the heir to head of a tribe that took in others with no home. In exchange, they would take part for the Great Hero's return and resurrection. Meldrick no longer had his kind mother to watch over him, but he did have Oberin who watched over him like a brother. He remembers how he played ball with Oberin.

"I'll get the ball!" Meldrick said as he chased after the ball he and Oberin were playing with underground. The ball landed in a spot where light was shining through underground. When that happened, Meldrick stared up at the beautiful blue sky. Meldrick was like a bird who wanted to be free from his cage. He wants to see more of the world out there.

"Meldrick!" Meldrick turned around and saw his father standing there, and he did not look happy with Oberin standing behind him, unable to see what might happen. "What are you doing?"

"I was just playing ball with Oberin." Meldrick said.

"Enough with the foolish games." His father said as he just yanked the ball out of his hands. "You are to be studying, preparing yourself for when you take my place. Oberin!"

"Yes, sir?" Oberin asked.

"Make yourself useful!" His father ordered. "Remember that you are my son's servant! You are to serve him, but you are also to keep him focus on his responsibilities!"

"But I don't want Oberin to be my servant! It doesn't sound right!" Meldrick claimed.

"Enough of these foolish ideals! He and everyone else are meant to serve our family for when the Great Hero returns to us!" His father shouted as he took what he did quite seriously. Meldrick hated that his father is treating others like this. He took one last look at the clear sky because he doesn't know when he will again. His father saw that and was more displeased. "Meldrick, enough of these foolish thoughts!" He ordered as he grabbed Meldrick and dragged him away. "You are to remain down here and focus on your responsibilities!" Meldrick's father had zero tolerance for nonsense, but Meldrick wanted to see more of the world.

...

Meldrick

As Meldrick remained in his room and studied, but it was against what he really wanted. He hated that he has to remain underground. There was so much on the outside world he wanted to see, but his father would never allow it. Oberin remained by Meldrick's side, but he could see that there was something upsetting him.

"Is there something wrong, Master Meldrick?" Oberin asked.

"Oberin, I don't want to stay down here." Meldrick said. "It's not fair. Why should I remain down here, waiting for someone who we don't even know will ever arrive. This Great Hero is probably long gone. Why are we waiting for him?"

"It is what our predecessors have sought out because they believed a time like that would come." Oberin claimed. "We were also entrusted with one of the eight artifacts, your birthright, and use it to aid him."

"But why must we stay down here? I heard that my mother was free to go outside." Meldrick said.

"For food and supplies, but your father was against it as well." Oberin said. "However, your mother would not let that stop her."

"So why is it stopping me?" Meldrick questioned. "I want to see what the world has. I've heard so many wonderful and amazing things. It isn't fair that I have to remain here?" Meldrick has remained cut off from the rest of the world his whole life, but he had a spirit that wanted to see what was out there. The denial of that caused tears to form in his eyes. Wanting to fulfill his obligations and the promise he made, Oberin knew he had to do something.

"Let me talk to your father. Maybe there's something I can do." Oberin said. That brought much joy to Meldrick. However, when Oberin went to speak with his father about it, all that joy was quickly taken away.

"Absolutely not!" Meldrick's father shouted. Oberin was on his knees, lowering his head, and begging for Meldrick's father to reconsider and let Meldrick see the outside; but he refused no matter how much Obering pleaded. "My son shall remain here and prepare himself for when he takes my place!"

"Sir, I am only appealing to Master Meldrick's requests just as you asked of me." Oberin said, but his father still didn't care. It was then that Meldrick was there and he saw his father treated Oberin, the way he just assaulted him.

"My son will remain here and I will not hear another word of this!" His father shouted. It was bad, but Meldrick seeing what he saw made him feel worse. After what happened, Meldrick tried to help Oberin by applying bandages around him.

"I'm sorry, Oberin. You ended up getting hurt because of me." Meldrick said.

"It's quite alright." Oberin assured Meldrick that he would be fine. However, Meldrick didn't feel any better. Now it's starting to look like he was trapped here, but Oberin did care for Meldrick's happiness. What he's about to suggest might be crazy, but he's doing what he's suppose to. "There might be one way to get what you wish for."

...

Later

Later that night, Oberin made the crazy suggestion of them slipping out when it was dark out. When everyone else was asleep, Meldrick and Oberin went straight for the exit. Oberin granted Meldrick's request as he opened up a hidden hatch and stepped outside.

"Let's go, Master Meldrick. However, we'll have to be back before your father awakes." Oberin said as he guided Meldrick outside. For the first time in Meldrick's life, he was outside and could actually smell fresh air. This is the most free Meldrick has ever felt. As they were out there, the two of them explored the outside world. Meldrick saw so many things like plants, little animals, and they even went into a nearby town. Meldrick was amazed by what he was seeing, but it would all have to come to an end. As the sun was starting to come up, the two of them made their way back to underground.

"Do we have to go back?" Meldrick questioned.

"Your father will be most displeased if we do not go back." Oberin said. "We must sneak back in before he realizes what we have done." Meldrick didn't wish to go back, but there was not much choice.

"Oberin, can we do this again?" Meldrick questioned.

"We can certainly try." Oberin promised as he opened the door. Meldrick certainly wants that. However, Meldrick noticed something hanging above them.

"Oberin, what's that?" Meldrick said as he pointed to a device hanging in there.

"It looks like part of an alarm system! I didn't see it in the dark!" Oberin said as this wasn't good at all. "Hurry!" He grabbed Meldrick and hurried back to their rooms before it was too late. They both made it into the hall with Meldrick's father there, and he was not happy.

"I thought I have made myself very clear." Meldrick's father said as Meldrick feared the amount of trouble he was in. "Meldrick, you have obligations and you will fulfill them once these foolish ideals and desires of yours have ceased!"

"But father, I don't want to remain down here!" Meldrick said. "There's so much of the world I want to see! Why should I wait here for someone who might never come?!"

"Enough!" His father shouted. "As for you, Oberin..." He said as he painfully grabbed Oberin. "You have failed me for the last time!"

"Father, no!" Meldrick said as he grabbed his father's arm to try and stop him. "Don't be mad at Oberin! This was all my fault!" He tried pleading with him, but his father simply pushed me aside.

"Do not make excuses for Oberin's disobedience!" His father shouted as he showed no form of humanity on Oberin. Meldrick couldn't watch what his father was doing to him. His father was just heartless. Oberin fell to the ground and didn't look good, but Meldrick's father wasn't done. "You have been nothing but useless to me, Oberin. That won't be that way ever again. My wife made a mistake bringing the likes of you in here."

"Father, please stop!" Meldrick begged as he grabbed his father. "This is my fault! I can't stay here! Father, please! It's not fair that I have to wait here for something that might never happen! I want to see the world!" His father couldn't take it anymore as he actually unleashed a bit of wrath upon his own son.

"Enough of these foolish ideals, Meldrick! You are never going outside!" His father shouted like a tyrant and that Meldrick had no say in it. "You will remain here and fulfill your obligations even if I have to chain you here! You have no choice in the matter!" Meldrick couldn't take it anymore himself, but he decided to act rather than cry. He looked towards the gauntlet and used the only weapon he could against his father. He went straight to it and snatched it. "Meldrick, put that down! That will only be yours when you have earned it!"

"No!" Meldrick shouted as he unleashed his new power upon his father. His father was blown against the wall and dropped to the floor. "I have had enough. I will not remain down here anymore!"

"Meldrick, I'm your father. You will obey me." He claimed.

"Exactly!" Meldrick claimed. "I am your son, but you care more about you responsibilities! I'm your son, not a continuation of your obligation!"

"You will do as I say." His father said.

"No." Meldrick said as Oberin woke up. Meldrick went over to his father and held the gauntlet out. "I will not remain here. You will not hold me here or hurt Oberin ever again." Meldrick reached out and grabbed his father's face. Then, using the power he just gained, he banished his own father's soul to the shadows. No one could believe what just happened. It was unreal, but Meldrick still did not feel satisfied.

"Master Meldrick... Your father is really... You're free, just like you want." Oberin said.

"No." Meldrick said as he didn't feel free. "All of this revolves around the Great Hero. He is the strife of my suffering. That is why I will not wait for him. Rather, I will erase his legacy and create my own! Only then will I really be free!" That was when it all really began for Meldrick.

End of Flashback

...

"The time will soon come where I will face the Great Hero." Meldrick said. "I've been waiting years for this moment. Oberin, while I am grateful for all that you've done for me, I will soon free myself from my father and my lineage by defeating Ichika Orimura."

"After you banished your father to the shadows, you made your way into the world." Oberin said. "You soon found others. Valatin ended up being the most useful and better. His connections to the darker side of humanity proved to be most useful to us. Now, your hour is almost near."

"Yes. After years of suffering, I have a chance to finally feel free and I won't let anyone get in the way of that." Meldrick said.

"How touching." Both of them looked to the door and were surprised to see Evil Ryu standing there.

"What are you doing here?" Meldrick questioned. "You already failed me once before."

"We still have an unsettled matter. You still have something I want." Evil Ryu said. "I assume our deal is off since I lost, but I still plan to take your gauntlet one way or the other."

"Is that so? Well, I need it for when I face the Great Hero, but I believe I already know where this is going." Meldrick claimed.

"As do I." Evil Ryu claimed as they both know what's coming next.

...

The Duel Field

They both went on ahead to the upper deck and went to the duel field. The winner ends up walking away with the gauntlet and the loser will be finished.

"So, are you ready to begin?" Evil Ryu questioned. "Only fair to warn you that I am one with the shadows."

"Is that so? Then you should feel right at home." Meldrick said as they were beginning this as they both used their powers and a dark cloud formed around them. Two sinister forces are now about to crash.