Chapter 17: Battle of Lightning
The next night, the rain falls at the school as the group gathers on the ground with their umbrella.
"It's finally the second round." Ryohei now wears a sling to rest his right arm from the battle the day prior. "We need to stay focused."
"Y-Yeah..." Tsuna hesitantly replies.
Meanwhile, Lambo stomps on the puddles with his yellow boots, playing under the rain.
"Taku, stupid cow... He doesn't get it at all." Gokudera says.
"I wonder if we can forfeit somehow." Tsuna says.
"Don't worry, Tsuna. If something happens, we'll intervene." Yamamoto assures the brunette.
"Nothing to worry about, Juudaime." Gokudera adds.
"Leave it to us!" Ryohei exclaims.
"I don't think it's going to be that easy." Kouga says.
"That action, if taken," The group looks up to see the Cervello women, "would lead to disqualification and will be prevented."
"And the one who helped, as well as the one who was helped,"
"will both give up their Rings to their opponents."
"Damn it, they're messing with us." Gokudera curses.
"I thought so."
The two women swing their arms in front of them. "Please look over there. That is tonight's combat field."
The group looks up at the roof in front of them.
"The roof?" Tsuna asks.
"There's something there." Kouga points out.
Suddenly, lightning appears behind it, showing spike-like protrusion on the roof.
"What is that?!" Tsuna shouts as everyone is surprised at this.
After seeing the protrusion on the roof, they all walk up the stairs to the roof with Lambo running in front of them.
"This doesn't look good." Tsuna says.
"I wish we could at least switch representatives." Gokudera says. "The stupid cow doesn't stand a chance."
"You guys were chosen." Reborn says from Yamamoto's shoulder. "If you hesitate now, you'll lose your lives."
"But..." The brunette says.
"As soon as this battle started, it could no longer be stopped." The hitman tutor says.
A lightning booms across the sky, revealing pointed figures on the roof.
"What is that?!" Tsuna exclaims.
"Thunder, shiny-shiny, rumble-rumble, boom!" Lambo sings as they roll around on the floor.
"He still doesn't realize what's going on..." Tsuna thought worriedly.
They manage to reach to the roof, to find it to have been remodified with six large spikes with web-like wires on the ground.
"Ah! The roof is..." Tsuna yells out.
"What is this?!" Gokudera questions.
"Tonight's combat area is a lightning rod area appropriate for the Guardians of Lightning," The Cervello explains, "the Electtrico Circuit." The lightning strikes the middle spike and the entire circuit glows.
"Ah! The floor is shining!" Tsuna exclaims.
"Special wires that easily conduct electricity run along the floor of the Electtrico Circuit." She explains. "The lightning that hits the lightning rods is enhanced several times and runs through them."
"Sonna..." Tsuna says.
"One strike from that, you would ended up burned to a crisp!" Kouga shouts.
"They sent this match, knowing there'd be a lightning storm." Gokudera says.
Lambo-san is going to play on that!" Lambo exclaims as he runs over to the area.
"Chotto matte!" Tsuna says as he picks up Lambo. "Lambo, that's dangerous!"
"No! I want to play on that!" The cow kid whines.
"He thinks it's an amusement park ride..." Tsuna deadpans.
"I want to go rumble-rumble on that!" He whines more and one of his horns drops off.
"Geez, you dropped your horn again..." The brunette sights.
"You stupid cow..." Gokudera grumbles as he picks up the horn and writes something on it with a black marker. "Don't trouble Juudaime... There! Even if you lose them, someone will bring them back to you!" He turns it over showing the kanji for 'Stupid Cow' he wrote on it.
"He really wrote 'Stupid' on it!" Tsuna and Kouga cry.
"Guardian of Lighting, please come to the center." Cervello announces. "Your opponents have already been waiting for two hours."
"T-Two hours?!" Tsuna cries. He looks around and then sees a figure on the other side, the lightning strikes showing the face of Levi. "There he is!"
The rest of the Varia lands near the water tank roof.
"Levi came two hours early again?" The blond Varia says.
"Unlike you, he's quite awkward in that way." Mammon says to him.
"I can't believe it."
"Hurry up and get this over with it!" Squalo shouts.
Allena can only cover her mouth as she yawns sleepily.
"Yosh, Sawada!" Ryohei grabs the brunette's arm. "Let's do the usual!"
"The usual?" Tsuna asks. The boxer drags Gokudera with Ruki pulling Kouga and form the same group circle. "Put some spirit into it! He yells. "Lambo, FIGHT!"
"OH!" Everyone shouts.
"That was fun! One more time!" Lambo laughs.
"We won't!" Tsuna and Kouga yell.
Tsuna stingy-stingy..." The cow kid says.
"But is he really going to be all right?" Yamamoto asks worriedly.
"They absolutely don't understand what's going on." Gokudera mumbles.
"I understand, idiot!" Lambo yells at the silverrette.
"What?!"
"Lambo," Tsuna kneels down in front of the kid, "listen up. If you don't want to go, you don't have to."
"Juudaime..."
"I don't know why Tou-san decided to pick you, but it is not right that a kid like you has to fight. Lambo, you don't want to die yet, don't you?"
"Oh? You don't know?" Lambo sighs. "Lambo-san is invincible so he won't die."
"Listen to me seriously!" Tsuna says sternly.
"Ja-ne!" Lambo runs up to the combat area but is stop by Tsuna.
"Matte." The brunette tells him. "Don't use the Ten-Year Bazooka. Adult Labo asked not to use it."
"You talked too much!"
"If you're going to go anyway, take these with you." Tsuna takes out a pair of broken horns.
"They look dirty, so I don't want 'em!" Lambo whines.
"Just take them!" Tsuna shoves the horns into the kid's afro.
"Here I go!" Lambo says as he walks up to the Electtrico Circuit.
"He's so full of energy." Yamamoto notes.
"It's not that, he just doesn't get it." Gokudera grumbles.
Lambo walks up to the Cervello. "Ne, ne, onee-san, how do I play with this?" He asks causing the Cervello to sweat-drop at the kid's idiocy.
"That stupid cow still thinks this is an amusement park." The silverrette grumbles.
"In anyhow," The Cervello announces, "the Lightning Rings, Levi A Than vs Lambo, Battle Start!"
"SHishishishi, what a sad situation..." The blond Varia says.
"He'll die in a second." Mammon says.
"I won't how I play with this..." Lambo says kneeling and touching the metal web. "I wonder if it'll shine like before."
"Come on now!" Tsuna and Kouga cry as the brunette has his hand on his head and the other facepalms.
"Don't get on that, you'll get electrocuted!" The bomber warns the boy.
"I can't watch!" Tsuna shouts and then they hear lightning and it strikes the lightning pole. "Run! Lambo!" The electricity zips through the circuit, which Levi jumps to avoid the electrocution, but Lambo gets electrocuted and collapses on the floor, smoking. "Lambo!"
"I will confirm life or death." One of the Cervello walks up to check the child.
"There is no need." Levi says. "He's burned." He then hears a sob and then sees Lambo conscious, crying from the pain. "T-That's..."
"He's safe! He's alive!" Kouga exclaims.
"Yeah!" Yamamoto nods.
"Yokatta." Ruki sighs in relief.
"After being struck by so many times by electricity," Reborn explains, "his physiology has changed. It's an Electtrico Cuoio."
"Ele... Cuoio?" Tsuna asks, unable to pronounce the name.
"In Japanese, it will be called 'Electric Skin'," The hitman translate, "skin that can easily conduct electricity. When lightning strikes him and passes through his skin and to the ground, there's barely any damage to his brain and internal organs."
"Lambo's amazing!" Tsuna says in shock.
"Not only becoming the lightning that damages the enemy but becoming the lightning rod that accepts all damage towards the Family and destroys it: that is the duty of the Guardian of Lightning. The stupid cow's body exemplifies that duty, even if he is an annoying, stupid cow. There is no one more worthy of becoming the Guardian of Lightning."
Levi twitches at that remark.
"Shishishi..." The blond Varia says. "I bet that switches Levi on."
"I'm sure." Mammon says. "Right now, Levi is burning with jealousy."
"Worthy for the Guardian of Lightning..." Levi says as he remembers the time when his boss actually praises him for a job well done and the reason why he became the Varia's Guardian of Lightning.
"Because I wanted to be praised by the boss: that's why I became Guardian." He thought. "Being recognized as by the boss is my only reason for living."
"And then a brat like you...!" Levi yells as he dashes over to the cow kid and swings his weapon and hits the brat back and over to the ground.
"Lambo!" Tsuna and Kouga yell.
"Die." Levi says as his weapon crackles with electricity.
"Y-Yabe!" Gokudera shouts.
"Run, Lambo!" Tsuna and Kouga shout.
Lambo wails as he takes out the Ten-Year Bazooka from his hair.
"Yosh!" The silverrette cheers. "There was that plan!"
"Don't use the Ten-Year Bazooka!" Tsuna calls.
"Go, stupid cow! Jump right in!"
"No... Adult Lambo told me to stop him."
Levi strikes at him as Lambo goes into the bazooka and blows up with a pink smoke, the ring drop on the floor.
"He exploded along with the bazooka!" Gokudera shouts.
"L-Lambo..." Tsuna says.
"Yare, yare..." A voice is heard from the smoke, surprising Levi as the smoke clears to reveal an Adult Lambo sitting on the floor with the older Lambo eating a dumpling and noticing the situation.
"Adult Lambo!" Tsuna says in relief.
"I didn't realize that dumplings would be my last meal..." He says calmly as he takes a bite from his dumpling.
"Who is that?" Ryohei asks.
"And why is he wearing his shirt like that?" Ruki asks, blushing from the glance of the cow's teenager's exposed chest.
"One of your friends, right, Tsuna?" Yamamoto asks.
"N-Not good... He's been summoned." Tsuna stutters.
"Voi! Who's that?!" Squalo yells. "It's an outsider!"
"No, he is the form of the Guardian 10 years from now, as summoned by the Ten-Year Bazooka." The Cervello explains. "Thus, we acknowledge that they are the candidates, and the match will continue."
Lambo picks up the ring.
"Heh... This is interesting." The blonde Varia says.
"This is the first time I've seen it." Mammon says.
"Lambo, gomen." Tsuna apologizes. "Your child self couldn't handle it."
"Yare, yare, please don't apologize." The older Lambo tells him. "I felt this would happen. Plus, Young Volgola, though I look like this, I am a man who comes through when it matters." He says as he puts the ring around his neck.
"Y-Yeah... I know." Tsuna replies. "When Haru was in trouble back then..."
"Don't show off more than me." Levi says.
"That would be impossible." Lambo says. "I have what it takes to be a star. Just watch." He shows his horns in the air. " Thunder, set!" A bolt of lightning strikes him.
"He called down lightning, bypassing the lightning rods." Mammon comments. "That's a little surprising."
"Holding that much electricity in those horns is only possible because of their physiology." Reborn explains.
"So that technique is a high-level one?" Tsuna asks.
"Do it, stupid cow!" Gokudera cheers.
"Let's end this quickly." Lambo says as electricity surge throughout his body.
"I will be the one who attains boss' trust," Levi says, "so the Guardian of Lightning should be me."
"Take this!" The cow teenager yells as he runs towards his opponent. "Electtrico Cornuta!"
"Levi Volta!" Levi yells as he throws all the weapon into the air, and they open like an umbrella in the air.
"U-Umbrellas?" Tsuna says in shock.
"The umbrellas crackle with electricity and it shocks the teenager in the middle.
"Lambo!"
"W-What was that?!" Gokudera asks.
"This isn't good." Reborn says. "Even with Lambo's physiology, he can't withstand that much voltage."
"Sonna..." Tsuna says in shock as he sees Lambo getting fried in the electrical attack, with him grunting in pain. The electrical attack stops and Lambo collapses to the ground.
"Lambo! Hang in there!" Tsuna shouts at the fallen cow teen, who moves.
"Lambo!" Kouga shouts.
"Prepare yourself." Levi says as he draws the umbrella from his back. I'm going to thoroughly kill you." He jumps up and stabs down on him. "I'll cut you up and make you into roast beef!"
"Lambo, run!" Kouga yells out.
The man stabs down on the ground, missing him completely and then notices around that the cow teen is running away crying. "Wuahahahahah, it hurts!"
"That stupid cow... he actually ran." Gokudera deadpans.
"Ah..." Tsuna follows suit.
Levi runs after while Lambo goes into the Ten-Year Bazooka.
"That's Child Lambo's Ten-Year Bazooka!" Kouga shouts. Unknown to them, Reborn smirks as the bazooka rolls around, before firing and recreating the pink smoke, shocking Levi.
"If the stupid cow from 10 years in the future uses the Ten-Year Bazooka again..." Gokudera freaks out.
"W-What's going to happen?" Tsuna stutters."
Levi steps back in shock as electrical streams crackle around the smoke as it clears.
"Hm?" The blond Varia stops grinning.
"What's this overpowering pressure?" Mammon mumbles. "What's going on?"
The pink smoke clears completely then there reveals a figure in the smoke.
"Is that one of Sawada's friends?" Ryohei asks.
"Y-Yeah, probably..." Yamamoto replies as the figure is more visible, revealing to be an even older version of Lambo.
"C-Could it be..." Tsuna says as he and the rest of the group gawk in awe. "Lambo from 20 years in the future?!"
The ring falls from above and is caught by the 25-year-old Lambo. "Yare, yare..." The man sighs. "This phenomenon... If this isn't a dream, it's been a long time since I've been summoned by the Ten-Year Bazooka."
"Is that really the stupid cow?" Gokudera asks in shock.
"This Lambo seems dependable." Tsuna says.
He turns around to see the group. "Meeting you again..." Lambo says. "It has been a long time..."
"Lambo."
"I'd like to cry, but it's no time to be sentimental. That brutish-looking guy is glaring at me."
"It doesn't matter who you are." Levi says. "I will still kill you.
"It seems that old me struggle against you. It won't go that way with me."
"Don't kid around with me." Levi shouts as he throws the umbrellas into the sky again.
"Oh, no! It's that attack again!" Tsuna cries.
"Lambo, run!" Kouga calls out.
"Levi Volta!" The man shouts as he throws the umbrella into the air and they open again.
"Once the parabolas are open, it's all over." The blond Varia says.
"Levi Volta doesn't have any blind spots." Mammon explains as Lambo stands there and ties the ring around his neck. "The parabolas which have absorbed the lightning support each other and strike their prey."
"Why are you dawdling?!" Gokudera yells.
"It's impossible to dodge that." The hooded baby continues. "The energy held within the parabolas all fired towards the center at the same time. It is, indeed, a 'one hit sure kill'. Because of this technique, Levi was chosen to be one of the nine officers of Varia. The match is over."
"Die!" Levi declares.
The electricity shoots out of the parabolas and shocks Lambo, but he seems unaffected.
"Lambo!" Tsuna shouts. The lightning hits the lightning rods.
"Lightning hits the rods too!" Kouga yells out.
The electric current from the circuit also hits the future lightning user.
"He is hit by Levi Volta along with Electtrico Circuit." The hooded baby says. "That damage will be multiplied many times. He's charred."
"Yabe! He has nowhere to run!" Gokudera yells.
"You're dead." Levi says as he walks away. "I want to show this light to the boss."
"Yare, yare..." He turns around in shock. "Where are you going?"
"What?!" There stand the cow adult unharmed.
"Watch, Electtrico Reverse!" Lambo shouts as he directs the electrical energy into the ground, disbursing it to the ground below while breaking a few windows.
"You unleashed that amount of current into the ground?!" Levi shouts.
"Electricity is like an adorable kitten to me." Lambo says. "I've created the perfect Electtrico Couio."
"Sugoi!" Tsuna shouts in awe. "This is Lambo from 20 years from now?!"
"He's really is a lightning rod." Reborn says.
"He's better than I expected." A voice says from behind which they all turn around to find Iemitsu and Basil standing and observing the match.
"Tou-san!/Otou-sama!" Tsuna and Gokudera says.
"I gambled on their potential to bloom as a great Guardian of Lightning." He tells them.
"Amazing!" Yamamoto says.
"I don't really understand, but he's winning!" Ryohei yells.
"T-Thank goodness." Kouga says.
"Yosh! You've got this battle!" Gokudera shouts. "Go, stupid cow! If you lose, I won't forgive you!"
"Lambo-kun, do your best!" Ruki cheers.
"Haha... It's a little embarrassing to have you all feeling happy for me." Lambo lightly blushes but the notices the two worn out horns on the floor. "That's..."
"I will kill you, no matter what!" Levi declares.
"Yare, yare..." Lambo sighs as he picks up the horns.
"I'll thrust a current directly to your heart!" Levi shouts as he runs towards the future adults, but Lambo dodges the thrust from the Varia man before blocking it with the horn and jumps back.
"I've been looking for these forever, and here they are." Lambo says. "With that last attack, its shell broke and its true form has been revealed." The shell around the horn breaks, revealing the kanji for 'Stupid Cow' on it. "The insulting words Gokudera wrote om them..."
"I just wrong that!" Gokudera says in shock.
"W-What is going on?!" Tsuna shouts.
"Those horns belong to the Lambo 20 years in the future." Iemitsu tells them. "The boss of Bovino Family gave them to me."
"Tou-san."
"I gave those to Lambo 10 years from now, as a hint to summon the Lambo 20 years from now." He adds. "Though, I don't think they notice. Well, ended up good for us in the end."
Lambo takes off the horns that are already on his head and tosses them before he puts his actual ones on. "They feel much better than the spare horns. Now I can use my full strength."
Thunder rumbles through the sky as lightning strikes Levi's weapon. "I won't miss next time." He says.
"I don't intend to run. Thunder, set." With that, lightning strikes down on Lambo, stronger than before.
"That looks amazing." Yamamoto says.
"It's extreme!" Ryohei shouts.
"Take this! Electtrico Cornuta!" The cow adult shouts.
"How foolish, I know that technique." The Varia says.
"Eh?!" Tsuna shrieks.
"Because it has one fatal weakness." Reborn explains.
"Weakness?" Kouga asks.
"There is no effect unless you're hit by the horn." Mammon explains.
"Its short reach will be its doom." The blond Varia says.
The lightning user sprints towards his opponent.
"I'll skewer you!" Levi shouts as he fires his umbrellas at him.
Lambo smirks and says, "That was the old me." The electricity from his horns extends from his point, creating two horns of electricity.
"The electric attack stretched!" Tsuna shouts.
He dashes forward with his horns and Levi quickly blocks his attack, struggling with it as Lambo are winning. "We're much experienced than you." The cow man says. "Come back later."
"T-That's impossible!" Levi shouts. "I can't. Not at a place like this! Boss!"
"Pull back your sword. If we continue, you'll lose your life." Just as Lambo finish his sentence, a pink smoke suddenly appears around him, shocking everyone as the smoke disburses, there stand Lambo as he gets hit by his own attack and collapses on the floor.
"Ah!" Tsuna and Ruki gasp.
"Stupid cow!" Gokudera yells out.
"Why?! There has been a little while since he returned into his 20-years- future form!" Kouga shouts.
"It seems that the effects of the bazooka only last five minutes from the first shot." Reborn explains.
That means five minutes in total?!" Tsuna yells out.
"Lambo-kun!" Ruki calls out.
"Lambo-san's dizzy..."
"As I thought, you are not worthy of being the Guardian of Lightning." Levi says as he walks up to the young boy. "I am! There is no need someone like you!" He grabs Lambo by the head. "Die and disappear!"
"Lambo, watch out!" Tsuna cries out.
"No!" Ryohei shouts.
"That bastard!" Gokudera curses as he, Ryohei, Yamamoto, and Ruki dashes forward to save the young boy.
"Matte." Reborn stops them. "If you help, you'll be disqualified."
"Then what can we do?!" Yamamoto says.
"That is exactly right." The Cervello tells them. "If you step even one foot into the Electtrico Circuit, you will be disqualified. And your Ring will be confiscated."
"If we don't do anything, he's done fore!" Tsuna says to his tutor. "Do something, Reborn!"
"Disappear!" Levi shouts as he shocks the cow brat, before dropping him to the ground.
"I think we'll able to see a sensational ending." Mammon says.
"Voi! Burn up!" Squalo shouts.
"This is the end!" Levi says as he takes out his weapon.
"Stop!" Tsuna cries out as he runs forward.
"Where are you going? Reborn asks, stopping the brunette. "You'll get disqualified."
"I know." He says. "But... I need to protect Lambo!"
Iemitsu sees this and smiles.
Reborn smirks. "I guess I don't have a choice."
"Tsuna." Kouga calls out. "Leave everything to us."
"Kouga-san..." Tsuna looks at him and nods.
"This is the end!" Levi shouts as the lightning hits his weapon. "I'm going to burn each and every cell down!"
"Stop!" Gokudera cries out.
"Die!" The man strikes down his weapon but then the spikes drop down on him. W-What?!" He jumps up to avoid getting crushed.
"That doesn't seem to be the wind." The blond Varia says.
"Yeah, the way the bases of the rod are bent, it was heated." Mammon says. "Heat has melted the thinner, weaker parts of the rod."
"The entire Electtrico Circuit is radiating heat." The Cervello says. "This is heat conduction."
Reborn smirks with his gun smoking as a figure stands at ends of the area, revealing to be Tsuna in hyper mode." If I were to lose a dear friend right in front of my eyes." He says. "We'd never be able to die in peace!" The brunette stands up, revealing his flaming metallic glove in his hands, burning the wires.
"What's with that flame?!" Yamamoto says in shock.
"W-Who is it?" Ryohei asks.
"Could it be? Tsuna?"
"Yeah... There's no mistake." Gokudera says. "That's Juudaime!"
"Yep! The baseball ace smiles. "That's Tsuna!"
"Sawada is the only one who could have pulled this off." The boxer agrees.
"I see." Mammon says. "The middle of Electtrico Circuit is made out of metal and can conduct heat. That heat made its way to the narrow part of the lightning rods and melts them. They could no longer support their own weight and fell."
"But you didn't tell us, Squalo," The blond Varia says, "that there was a guy who could emit such a huge flame."
"What's with that kid?" Squalo thought in shock. "He's completely different compared to the last time I saw him. Was it Iemitsu's doing? No, it's that Arcobaleno, sent as a home tutor thanks to the Ninth's patronage."
"No matter how important you tell me it is..." Tsuna says. "Vongola to be the next in line for Boss... I can't fight for those like that." This shocks the Varia. "But my friends..." The brunette says as the flame sizzles out. "I don't want our friends to be hurt!" He shouts and everyone grins at their friend's/student's/son's statement.
"Shut up!" A force hits Tsuna and sends him flying to a different direction and to the ground.
"Juudaime!/Tsuna!" Gokudera and Yamamoto call out in shock as Tsuna grunts to get on their feet as he and Kouga look up to find Xanxus and a hooded figure standing beside him.
"Xanxus." Tsuna thought.
Kouga looks at the hooded figure when the breeze blows the hood off revealing a teen with cold green eyes and black hair as the person next to him, but his hair is short and straight.
"Aaron." Reborn calls. "So that's where he is."
"I have been wondering why he hasn't shown himself." Iemitsu states.
"Aaron?" The silverrette asks.
"The one within Varia possesses the same strength as Xanxus, probably the only one who can match that man's power." The CEDEF leader tells them. "Their Vongola Knight, Aaron!"
Kouga decided to go to Tsuna and help him up before both teens glare at them.
"What's with those eyes?" Xanxus questions.
"Do you really think that you two can actually defeat us and become the successor?" Aaron questions.
"I don't think that!" Tsuna shouts. "I don't want to lose even one friend in this fight!"
Xanxus widens his eyes a bit. "I see, you..." He says and raises his left hand and it glows the same light as before.
"Oi! Xanxus, what are you doing?!" Aaron asks.
"You mustn't, Xanxus-sama!" One of the Cervello jumps up and to where the Varia leader is. "If you raise your hand now, the Ring Conflict will be pointless! Please hold back!"
"Shut up!" He blasts the pink-haired woman off the roof, shocking everyone. "I haven't snapped. In fact, I'm amused." He laughs.
"H-He laughed!" Tsuna mentally cries.
"This is rare." The blond Varia says.
"How long has it been since we've seen the boss' smile?" Mammon says.
"It has been eight years." Levi says.
"I finally understand why the old man chose both of you, even if it was only briefly." Xanxus says. "That rotten speech... That weak flame... You and that old fool would get along."
"Huh?" Tsuna breathes out.
"Haha! This is going to be a birth of a tragedy!" He laughs. "No, a comedy!"
"That's true!" Aaron laughs.
"W-What's so funny?" Tsuna thought.
"Hey, woman, continue." Xanxus orders the Cervello.
"Hai." She answers. "I will now announce the result of the match. The victor will be Levi A Than, due to disqualification caused by Sawada's interference. The Lightning Ring, along with the Sky Ring, will be Varia's.
"Not only the stupid cow's but Juudaime's ring too." Gokudera growls.
"That is not right!" Basil shouts. "He should not be disqualified! Sawada-dono never enter the field!" Iemitsu places his hand onto Basil's shoulder. "Oyakata-sama..." The miner shakes his head.
"Damage to the field will be considered as interference with the match." The Cervello says as she takes Tsuna's Ring. "It is inevitable that it leads to disqualification."
"S-Sonna..." Tsuna speaks up.
"We decided the rules." She pulls out the ring.
"That's dirty!" Gokudera yells.
"That's not fair!" Ruki yells.
The woman jumps off and lands in front of Xanxus, presenting the ring to him. "Xanxus-sama, the ring."
He takes the Ring and joins it with his half. "it was inevitable that this would be in my hand." Xanxus says. "Can you imagine who else besides me being the boss of Vongola?"
"I can." Kouga says aloud. "And that someone is a better person than you are."
"You scum..." Xanxus growls.
"I'll deal with him." Aaron tells him as he has his palm at him and a blue glow around it before thrusting a blast at Kouga.
"Kouga-san!" Tsuna calls out. "Look out!"
"It is useless." Mammon comments. "Nothing ever escapes Aaron's Aura Pulse."
"That guy is going to regret saying that." The blond Varia says.
Kouga stares as the blast speed towards him and he raises his arm with a light blue outline around it and deflects it, shocking everyone.
"No way!" The blond Varia shouts.
"He deflected Aaron's blast?!" The hooded baby says.
"It's going to take a lot to get rid of me." The black-haired teen says as half of his hair turns blond along with the hair that covers Kouga's other eye spikes up to reveal a sky blue eye. "I'm not a normal human."
"You trash..." The Varia knight growls.
"It doesn't matter, Aaron." Xanxus tells him. "I can dispose of them whenever I wish in the name of the Vongola with this Ring."
"Sonna..." Tsuna stutters.
"But it would be far too boring to simply kill you after that old fool chose you even once." He adds. "I'll kill you after I make you taste true despair during the Ring Conflict, like I did to that old fool."
This shocks everyone, especially Iemitsu, who snaps at him. "Xanxus! What did you do with the Ninth?!"
"It's your job to find that out, external advisor."
"You bastard... Don't tell me that you..." The CEDEF leader swears.
"Calm down, Iemitsu." Reborn tells him. "You don't have any proof."
"Then you should put your gun down, too." He tells the infant who already has his Leon-pistol out.
"What's going on?" Tsuna mentally panics. "What did Xanxus do?"
"Rejoice, you frauds." The Varia leader tells them. "I'm giving you a chance. I'll allow the remaining matches to be conducted. If you do manage to win, I'll give you the Vongola Rings, and the position as Boss."
"Eh!"
"But if you lose," He adds, "everything that is precious to you will disappear."
"E-Everything, precious to me?" The brunette asks.
"Show me the power with which that old man was so obsessed." Xanxus says before gesturing to the Cervello. "Woman, go on."
"Hai, then I will now announce the combatants for tomorrow's match." She tells them. "Tomorrow will be the duel between the Guardians of Storm."
"So Gokudera's next." Yamamoto says.
"You'll do all right." Ryohei assures the silverrette. "We're counting on you!"
"Y-Yeah..." Gokudera hesitantly replies.
They see the Varia leap away and immediately the group rush towards Lambo and quickly take him to a clinic where Basil stayed during his treatment. After dropping Lambo there, the group walks back to their house.
"So Lambo was still unconscious." Ryohei says.
"What do we do? With my Ring gone, we're at a disadvantage." Tsuna says.
"One win, two losses." Gokuders counts. "If we lose again, that's it."
"And Xanxus seems like he's plotting something." Reborn points out.
"Was it right for me to charge into that match?" Tsuna wonders.
"Tsuna?" Yamamoto calls.
"Juudaime."
"What are you talking about?" Kouga questions getting the brunette's attention.
"That's right." The baby hitman agrees. "Vongola doesn't need a boss who would abandon his subordinates."
"Kouga-san... Reborn..." He says and his expression changes. "Reborn, I want to become stronger!"
Reborn smirks and lifts his hat. "The third phase of training is going to be even tougher."
Tsuna nods as everyone smiles at him except Gokudera who has his eyes down.
"And Kouga." The hitman calls. "I want you to help with Tsuna's training."
"Eh? But I have my own training to do." Kouga tells him.
"Dan passes you to me since you're basically done with your training."
"Grandpa Dan..." The black-haired teen facepalms.