The sun was beginning to rise up, but Ichika hardly got any sleep. Given everything that has happened in the tournament, how could he. He just sat up in his bed and stared out the window.

'Ichika, you should have gotten some sleep.' Senshi said.

"I couldn't." Ichika said. "Who could sleep with everything that has happened? Ryu is gone now because of Meldrick. This whole tournament has brought a lot more trouble than I thought. It's not fair anyway since I'm the one Meldrick really wants."

'Whatever happened between Meldrick and Ryu was because that evil spirit inside the pendent was most likely trying to take the artifact Meldrick holds, just as he tried coming for ours.' Senshi assured.

"Yeah, but the real Ryu just got caught up in all of it." Ichika complained. "It isn't fair because Ryu is so nice. He didn't deserve to be taken over by that spirit and get pulled into all of this. Meldrick is ruthless. You saw what he did to Hector, and now all this."

'I understand you're upset about this whole thing, but we must remain strong.' Senshi told him. 'Now is not the time for doubt or fear. Especially since we are close to the finals.'

"I know. I just don't want to lose anymore friends." Ichika said as the price of this tournament was starting to take its toll on him. "This madness has to stop."

'It will once we defeat Meldrick.' Senshi said. 'Let me take control again. You're clearly not in the right state of mind for what's going to come.' Ichika agreed to that as the two of them switched places again with Senshi in control.

"Attention, everyone! We will be arriving at our destination very shortly! Please gather in the main hall!" Tate announced. The semi-finals will soon start. Senshi has to be ready for this. He stepped out of his room and was on his way to the main hall.

"Up and about already, I see." Senshi turned around and was faced with Tatenashi.

"Tatenashi? Is there something I can help you with?" Senshi questioned.

"Not really. I just have something to give you. If I don't do it now, I might not have another chance." Tatenashi said. "You don't need to see the future to tell you that you're going to face Meldrick soon, and the fate of the whole world could depend on the outcome. It's vital that you win."

"I'm well aware of that." Senshi said.

"I know. To help you with that, I have something for you." Tatenashi said as she reached for her tiara and removed it. "Take this. It's yours now."

"Your Mystic Tiara? Why would you give this to me?" Senshi questioned.

"I can no longer see what comes from it, but I can still feel power coming from it. Perhaps that means I am to pass it off to someone else." Tatenashi said. "If that's the case, it should be with you. You will use it for good. I also know that it will help you into whatever might come next. You already possess some power from your Mystic Charm, but another artifact could increase more of your power."

"But I don't know how to use your tiara. Even if I did, it showed you a vision of the future and it ended up being wrong." Senshi said.

"That might be, but that doesn't matter. You'll just have to believe it can serve you better than it did with me." Tatenashi said. "I don't know what might come for you next. The future might not be written in stone, but you can certainly try to turn the future into one you want to happen. I'm putting my faith and trust in you. I want this to be of help to you." Tatenashi was insistent on giving her tiara to Senshi. Senshi could see that she's putting a lot of trust in him. All the more reason they have to keep fighting.

"Thank you." Senshi said as he took the tiara and claimed it as his own. Taking the tiara with him, Senshi went to meet with the others and braced himself for whatever might come.

'We now have two Mystical Artifacts now. I have a feeling we're going to need both of them.' Ichika believed. Having two artifacts might make them stronger, but will it make them strong enough to win this tournament and keep the world safe?

...

Houki

Houki is still in this tournament and has her own reasons for fighting now. She can't forgive Meldrick for what he did to Hector. Hector is now trapped in the shadows and will never awake until his mind is returned to him. As she stared down at his body, she kept thinking to herself that she has to battle Meldrick and win.

"Hector, hang in there." Houki said. "Once Meldrick is beaten, I'm going to get you back. He'll pay for what he did." As much as Houki hates Meldrick and what he just did, she's trying her best to keep her mind clear. Someone like Houki knows that anger will cloud her judgement. If she does end up facing Meldrick, she needs to keep her mind clear. "Just please try to hold on a little longer." She's hoping for the best, but Hector's mind is trapped in darkness with him being completely isolated from everything. It will take a toll on him eventually. All he can do is wait until someone saves him.

...

The Main Hall

The four finalists gathered in the main hall to talk about how the finals. The four finalists were all together with Charlotte, Cecilia, Rin, and Laura there to see how it all unfolds.

"Everyone's here. We can now begin." Mila said as she was starting this on behalf of her brother. "If you all turn to this screen, you'll see the sight of where the final duels will take place." She gestured all of them to a large monitor. She turned it on and showed that the finals will be taking place on a small island that held a tower on it. That tower was really the only thing on that island.

"Welcome to Knight Tower." Conner said.

"Knight Tower?" Houki questioned.

"The tower is normally used for global communication and such, but we had it modified for the tournament." Mila explained. "You all will be dueling at the top of the tower. That way, the winner of the tournament will stand at the top as the best. What's more is that this is going to be broadcast around for the whole country, and maybe even parts of the world to see. That way, people will know who is really the best of the best."

"In other words, so Conner can try to show everyone that he is the best. That ego-centric loon." Rin mumbled as she saw through the real reason.

"The four of you have done well to make it this far, but I'm afraid only one can be left standing." Mila said. "We'll see who that one is soon enough."

"Brace yourselves, everyone. We're about to touchdown on the island." Tate announced. The ship was over the island and was coming down and landed down on the ground, securing it's place. They have arrived at their destination where a winner will be crowned.

"So, the finals are about to start, right? How do we determine who is facing who?" Houki asked.

"I'm glad you asked." Mila said as she referred to the machine. "We'll just simply use the number system like we have before. This time, we'll draw out all four balls. This will determined who is paired against who, and that it's completely fair and random. Which ever two get paired up will be who is facing who. Now, let's get started!" They all watched as the machine activated again. The numbers were one, two, three, and five. The balls kept going in the machine until two came out on both sides. Everyone was a little anxious on who was going against who.

"The first semi-final match... The numbers selected for that are...two and five!" Tate announced. "That means the first duel is between Houki Shinonono and Meldrick!"

"Meldrick?!" Senshi said with shock. All of her friends couldn't believe she would be going against him so soon. That means she'll be placed in the same risks had when he dueled Meldrick. Knowing what became of Ryu as well, Senshi was worried about what is going to happen to Houki.

"That's just fine with me." Houki said as she wasn't worried at all. In fact, facing off against Meldrick and taking him down for good is exactly what she wants.

"That means the second semi-final match will be between numbers one and three: Conner Knight and Ichika Orimura." Tate announced. That is exactly what Conner wanted.

"I was expecting us to face each other during the finals, but this works just as well for me." Conner said as he stared down at Senshi. "I'll beat you much sooner than I thought and prove to everyone that I'm the better duelist." Defeating Ichika has been Conner's goal in this whole tournament and now he finally has his chance. However, Senshi had other concerns.

"Does anyone have any problems with these matches?" Mila questioned.

"Not here." Conner said.

"I do not." Meldrick said. 'In fact, defeating a close friend of his might be beneficial for me.'

"Wait just a minute." Senshi said as he did oppose this. "Houki, I can't allow you to duel Meldrick. It's just simply too dangerous. Look at what happened to Hector. I don't want the same thing to happen to you."

"Are you seriously going to hold her hand?" Conner mocked. "She's a duelist like you and I, Orimura. She needs to be able to stand on her own feet."

"Conner, you saw with your own eyes what Meldrick can do. You would still allow it?" Senshi questioned.

"This is why I can't understand or accept that I lost to you." Conner claimed. "Something like that should make a duelist more anxious to duel against a strong opponent. You, on the other hand, are trying to ruin it. A duelist is a duelist first. Besides, it's not like your little girlfriend has a chance against Meldrick in the first place. She'll be taken out quickly and her suffering will end quickly."

"Conner..." Senshi said as he couldn't believe his attitude.

"The point is that this is her fight, Orimura, and not yours." Conner claimed. "Just leave it alone and accept whatever it is that's about to happen." Senshi couldn't believe that Conner would allow this.

"Ichika, he's right." Houki said with everyone surprised that she agreed with him. "This is my fight. I get that you're concerned about me, but I'm not backing down. I don't need you to protect me this time. This is what I want, and I'm going to take Meldrick down."

"Do you honestly think you can defeat the likes of me?" Meldrick taunted.

"I know I can and I will." Houki said as she glared right at him. "I'm fine with the matches. How soon can we start?"

"Climb your way up to the tower and we can begin right away." Mila said.

"Good." Houki said as she marched right out of there. Meldrick was going to enjoy himself with this as he followed after her. Houki's friends were a little worried about her.

"Guys, I'm with Ichika. I'm not so sure about this." Rin said.

"Maybe so, but Conner did have a point. This is her battle and there isn't much we can do." Laura claimed.

"But Houki doesn't even seem like herself." Charlotte said.

"Indeed. This does not look good at all. I certainly hope that Houki knows what she's doing." Cecilia said. They all voiced their concerns and they have every right to be worried about her. She didn't even get all flustered when Conner called Houki Ichika's girlfriend. Houki is dead serious about taking Meldrick down. They can only help that it works out in the end. It's Houki vs. Meldrick and Senshi vs. Conner. Only one will be able to walk out as the winner, but hopefully they'll all be able to walk out of there. If not, this could end up being the last duels they ever have.