NOVEL NEXT Episode LXXXVII: The Fading Team
The entirety of Team Checkmate ambles back, their confusion palpable; they are uncertain about how to rejoice over their latest victory. "I'm pondering whether we'll ever see the fighters again since all we know is that they vanish into some unknown realm," Yosuke muses aloud. "Indeed, we must find a way to retrieve the fighters who faded into that mysterious place," FJ concurs.
As Team Checkmate returns to the resting area, they encounter Mystical Force and Faded Legacy teams poised for combat. "Impressive, you survived against the champ," Kiyoshi remarks. "Indeed, the duel between FJ and Cloven was a nail-biter," Juro acknowledges. Lionel mutters to himself, "I hadn't seen FJ until a few months ago when he narrowly defeated Cloven; I'll need more training. When I challenged him years ago, he obliterated me twice."
"Congratulations on reaching the finals; you've earned your finalist status," Felix says with a grin. "Thanks!" Team Checkmate responds in unison. The intercom crackles to life, “Faded Legacy and Mystical Force, please be patient while we repair the platform; apologies for the delay.”
"Wait a moment! Was the match so intense that it destroyed the solid platform?" Kiyoshi queries incredulously. FJ rubs his neck sheepishly as he admits, “You could say Oga and I got carried away.”
The entire Faded Legacy team saunters towards Mystical Force team. “Welcome to your journey's end,” Yeom taunts them smugly. “Hmm, I highly doubt it,” retorts Felix coolly as Yeom scrutinizes him and finds him lacking in strength.
Jax glares at Hoon furiously before accusing him bitterly of murder: “You're deluded if you think I believe you didn't kill your brother.” Hoon retorts, “But you were the last person who saw him and had a match against him. You returned to the resting area without him.”
Miyoki changes the subject: “We'll have to see how much stronger you've become since our last battle.” Kiyoshi responds confidently, “We've trained under an exceptional Sensei since then.” Hoon adds, “We shall see who emerges victorious from this match.”
The tension between the teams escalates until the intercom interrupts their standoff with an announcement that the match will now resume. Both teams exit the resting area towards the platform. They arrive at a platform larger and more imposing than its predecessor made of hard sand.
"I guess they spared no expense on this platform," Kiyoshi observes wryly. Hiroko announces, "This is the final match of the final four; we witnessed the champ disappear in the last match. But let’s hear it for team Faded Legacy on your left side! With a formidable roster and potential to win end-of-the-year tournament, it all starts with their captain Eo Hoon..." The crowd roars in approval.
Hiroko continues after a beat: "Facing them on your right side is team Mystical Force!" The cheers for them are noticeably quieter.
Hoon interrupts Hiroko's commentary with a request: "I propose we make this a four vs. four match." Hiroko starts to refuse until she hears instructions through her earpiece: "Do what he says." She relays this change to everyone present and is met with deafening cheers from spectators.
Team Faded Legacy leaps onto the platform first as Yeom taunts Mystical Force team: "Don't be cowards; join us here." Hiroko narrates, "Yeom is pressuring Mystical Force team to step up onto this platform for combat."
After a brief consultation, Mystical Force team follows suit. As they take their positions, the night sky illuminates the platform. "Wait, we aren't supposed to fight in the dark," Felix points out. Jax reassures him: "We're under supervision; they don't care about the time."
The match commences with all eight competitors clashing against one another. Felix faces off against Yeom, Kiyoshi duels Miyoki, Lionel squares off against Akira, and Jax challenges Hoon. Everyone immediately transforms into their spirit forms and Kiyoshi finds himself at a disadvantage as Miyoki effortlessly dodges his shadow punches: “In this form, I'm simply too quick for you,” she taunts him after he falls for the fourth time.
"How can I possibly land a punch on you when I'm already adding extra speed to my punches?" Kiyoshi asked. "It's simple, I'm faster and smarter," Miyoki replied with a laugh. Kiyoshi grumbled as he picked himself up for the fifth time, "Do you ever stop laughing?"
Meanwhile, Felix was attempting to dodge every punch Yeom threw at him but found himself caught by every other blow. He was tossed around so much that he ended up crashing into Kiyoshi. "Hey man, why are you hitting me from behind?" Felix complained.
"Do you want to switch opponents?" Felix suggested.
"Sure, just be careful of her counter," warned Kiyoshi.
"This guy is all attack and no defense," Felix observed.
"Got it," responded Kiyoshi.
"No mid-match meetings!" Miyoki called out.
"Yeah, what she said," Yeom chimed in.
Ignoring their comments, Kiyoshi launched a Shadow Punch towards Yeom. "Where did your fist go?" Yeom asked in confusion just before the fist reappeared and slammed into his face. The impact sent him crashing hard onto the platform.
Felix seized this opportunity to launch a swift Moonlight Punch into Miyoki's gut. It was so fast that she blinked and lost sight of his movements. As she clutched her stomach in pain, Felix followed up with a Moonlight Kick, both legs lit up with his signature blue moonlight color. Miyoki twisted in response and fell onto the ground.
Felix and Kiyoshi shared a celebratory fist bump. Hiroko commented from the sidelines, "What great teamwork from both Felix and Kiyoshi; got to love it."
Elsewhere on the platform, Lionel was busy dodging Akira's Ice Punches. "Why won't you just stay still?" Akira demanded before receiving a knee to the face from Lionel. Before Akira could fully fall over, Lionel landed a neon kick in his gut and two neon chops to his neck. He then flipped back into stance.
"That's it, you're dead meat," Akira threatened as he powered up into his ONI spirit form. His entire body turned to ice and he transformed Lionel's section of the platform into an icy terrain. Lionel attempted to run but found the platform too slippery. He began sliding towards Akira, who slammed him down onto the icy surface with his frosty arms.
"Can't even slide on ice, huh?" Akira taunted as he approached the fallen Lionel.
Meanwhile, Hoon and Jax were locked in an intense exchange of powerful punches. "This is for my brother!" Jax yelled as he launched a lightning punch at Hoon who countered with a fire punch. The force of their attacks stirred up a fierce wind that had spectators clutching each other for safety.
"I will avenge my brother!" Jax declared, his aura of blue lightning growing taller. He charged at Hoon with a flurry of punches; Hoon managed to dodge all but one which sent him crashing onto the ground bearing scratches. Despite this setback, Hoon retaliated by throwing a fireball at Jax who was knocked down hard, creating a small crater in the platform.
"The first major damage of the night that we'll have to repair later," Hiroko joked from the sidelines.
In another part of the arena, Kiyoshi was being battered by Yeom's poisonous horn punch which rapidly drained Kiyoshi's energy. Despite this, Kiyoshi tried to launch a shadow claw attack but failed, leaving himself open to another poisonous punch from Yeom that sent him sinking two feet deep into the platform.
"This kid is trash trying to attack me," Yeom scoffed.
Felix attempted another Moonlight Punch but it morphed into a water claw strike that slashed his arm. Miyoki followed up with another slash to Felix's leg and then kicked him in the gut, sending him crashing onto the ground.
Lionel, meanwhile, had started to slide on the icy platform, gaining speed as he zoomed around Akira. Using this momentum, Lionel executed a Neon Flash maneuver that left Akira disoriented and dizzy. Seizing the opportunity, Lionel flew at Akira's face shouting "Ultra-Move: Ultra Neon CyFlash!" He launched both flashes at Akira's face which resulted in a huge explosion. The icy terrain was shattered and Akira was knocked unconscious.
"What clever strategy from Lionel; using the ice to his advantage," Hiroko praised.
Jax and Hoon resumed their battle, their lightning and fire punches creating an impressive light show against the night sky. "Special Move: Lightning Gale Pulse!" Jax yelled while Hoon countered with "Special Combo: Fire Star Shot!"
"Not this again," Jax muttered as he unleashed Mitsukodorian level one. Multiple fiery tiger claws hurtled towards him but despite his best efforts to dodge them all while maintaining his Lightning Gale Pulse, he was hit by every other claw. His gi began to rip and tear until it was completely shredded. Despite this setback, he managed to launch the Lightning Gale Pulse at Hoon who merely sustained some bruises.
"Damn it," Jax cursed as Hoon charged at him with a fire tooth punch that made Jax spit out blood.
Just when it seemed like Hoon would land another blow on Jax's head, Lionel intervened by stopping Hoon's punch with a Neon Cyclone move although it was clear that he was growing tired.
Felix managed a narrow escape from Miyoki's ocean tail counter attack but Kiyoshi wasn't so lucky; Yeom continued to pummel him with poisonous horn punches until Kiyoshi's eyes began to glow with a shadowy purple light. With renewed energy, he kicked Yeom in the chin and sent him flying into the crowd.
Kiyoshi then stood beside Felix, ready for the next round of attacks.
"Are you sure you have the energy for this attack?" Felix questioned. "I'll manage," Kiyoshi replied, before shouting, "Super Move: Shadow Roar Blast!" In response, Felix yelled, "Super Move: Moon Fang Blast!" Their blasts of purple and light blue fused together, propelling Miyoki out of the ring despite her block break. She crashed onto the ground with a heavy thud.
"Miyoki's down! That blast was something to behold!" Hiroko exclaimed, his voice brimming with excitement. Meanwhile, Lionel and Hoon exchanged blows until Felix and Kiyoshi intervened. Astonishingly, Hoon managed to fend off Lionel, Felix and Kiyoshi simultaneously. He landed a fiery punch on Lionel, kicked Kiyoshi in the face, and threw a weaker Fire Star Shot at Felix which sent all three sprawling.
Regaining consciousness, Jax rose to his feet. "Hard to believe this fight turned into a four versus one in just thirty minutes," Hiroko commented. As if on cue, Lionel, Kiyoshi, Felix and Jax encircled Hoon. Rather than charging at him individually they grouped up to execute their team move.
"Team Move: Mystical Force!" They announced in unison as they assumed their formation. Each body glowed with its own unique aura before releasing a vibrant blast towards Hoon. The effort exhausted everyone except for Jax who remained standing.
"I've still got some energy left for this move," said Felix as he began powering up to Level 2 Mitsukodorian form while Jax transformed back into Tethyus - the Dark Lightning Blue Hippogriff with a patch of brown hair.
"Ultra-Move: Ultra Lightning Gale Pulse!" Jax bellowed at the top of his lungs as an ominous wind ball morphed into a dark blue lightning ball in his palm. It grew larger than the platform itself before he launched it at Hoon. Their team move had been a ploy to break Hoon's guard, allowing Jax to finish him off with the Ultra Lightning Gale Pulse. The ball collided with Hoon, causing a massive explosion that reduced the platform to ashes and enveloped Jax and Hoon in a brilliant white light.
When the dust settled, Jax and Hoon stood face-to-face. "Firstly, I want to thank you for removing the dark aura spell from me," began Hoon as his body started to fade. "Secondly, this tournament is cursed. Be wary on this island; the chancellor isn't who he appears to be. Sensei Yuriko runs this island and she's evil - she cursed my team and forced me into her service. The Kori family is more powerful than ever so think twice before confronting them. Tokido isn't dead; I allowed him to escape so he could return again. I suspect this tournament won't have a winner by its end."
"Hold on! How do you know all of this?" Jax demanded.
"I've seen hell and I'm trying to rectify things," said Hoon solemnly as his form continued fading away. "I'll explain everything later once you and your team save this island from the Kori family, Sensei Yuriko, and that deceitful chancellor. Until then, goodbye." With those final words, Hoon vanished completely.