Raging waves raced across the artificial lake's surface, slamming against the arena walls as Mimi's chaotic hydro hydra rampaged through the lake and unleashed devastating waves at even the slightest movement on its path towards Zuno. Zuno tapped a finger against his forehead and mentally groaned as he heard roaring waves and clashing attacks around him. Zuno dragged his finger down his face, murmuring to himself as his two swords hovered behind him.

"You're not getting cold feet are you, Edgelord!" Mimi exclaimed as she gleefully cackled, but the second she blinked Zuno disappeared. Mimi sparingly inhaled through her nose before she pinched the area above her nose.

"Right... not the same guy anymore". Mimi lightly tapped the staff of her water scythe against her forehead, and as she looked up from her staff she spotted two Zunos conjuring multiple large R.R.R rings. Mimi widened her eyes and tilted her head as she inspected the rings.

"So, that was the thing I sensed in the Whispering Forest," Zalroth commented, watching Zuno and Mimi battle while using one hand to block Xinia's punches without looking. Xinia glared at Zalroth and commented how she can't believe how carefree Zalroth is being, but did think she preferred him being carefree over being serious like Zuno. Xinia continued struggling to break through Zalroth's flimsy defence while mana threads slowly extend out from her wrists. Xinia threw another punch but it was easily caught by Zalroth. Xinia attempted to pull her arm back but couldn't break it free from Zalroth's grip.

"What's the big idea?". Xinia phased her hand out of Zalroth's hand and jumped backwards. Xinia glared at Zalroth before she raised an eyebrow. Xinia looked Zalroth in the face and realised Zalroth was passed out, with Kai lightly bopping Zalroth's face while also eating her ice cream.

"... Fei-Ku would definitely call this a bruh moment.". Xinia glanced over at the bell case before turning around and slowly shuffling over to the case, not noticing Zalroth had started smirking.

"Why are you throwing the match?" Kai asked telepathically.

"Sometimes people go against their own ideals in the interest of others. Besides, I can live without getting azure gems this one time," Zalroth telepathically remarked before the ringing of a bell chimed nearby, making Zalroth smirk a little more.

Back in the present on the flying airship carrier's training hall, all the kids stared at the TV in disbelief at how the tournament concluded.

"D-did that guy really fall asleep in the middle of a battle?" Prima asked as she looked over at Callie. Callie quietly giggled as she turned off the TV.

"Well, knowing him, having Chronia sleeping on his back probably influenced him," Callie said in a joking manner. The kids all gave Callie confused looks but eventually accepted Callie's explanation.

"That was certainly an... unexpected outcome, welp time to get back to your training, young lady," Three said before she picked up Prima and carried her away. Two mirrored Three's sentiment before he told Yokuza to follow him when he was ready before he walked off by himself. Yokuza yawned and pressed a thumb against his forehead before he felt Xero place something heavy in his hands. Yokuza hoisted up the object in his arm and inspected it: it was a long sword with a golden handle which has a dragon engraving, with a deep blue crystal blade.

"Behold my latest innovation in artificial azure gem technology, the Blue Empress, ta-da," Callie stated while doing jazz hands.

"Right... and that means...?" Yokuza uttered.

"It means I used the body of the Terrorior heathian Zuzu and Zalroth defeated as a base to make a sword that mimics their azure ability. Although I inversed it on Blue Empress, so when you swing it doubles its power and when you receive a hit it unleashes all of the stored-up energy; so, if you plan on using it I suggest you try not using it to block while you're not outside.". Yokuza nodded and placed Blue Empress between his wings before he hurried off after Two. Sapphire barrel rolled across the ground until bumping into Callie.

"Say mama will we get cool weapons like father and big bro?".

"Don't worry, I have something in the works for you lot but you'll have to wait until I meet up with Chronia and Zalroth," Callie explained. Callie bidded farewell to everyone before she jumped onto Xero's back before he carried Callie out of the training hall.

"And with that, that concludes this year's Maxicannion Tournament. It truly was an honour to have the Magistrate Zulcrestus participate, as many of his past incarnations have done before," Kikou said over the speakers before he and Kiki stood up and headed off as the audience started to leave. Xinia fist pumped and did a goofy celebratory dance as Mimi(in her small hydra form) landed on Zalroth's head and Zalroth pretended to be snapped awake.

"Huh? Oh... looks like I fell asleep...," Zalroth muttered, while Mimi and her other hydra heads hissed at Zalroth for letting her battle get interrupted. Zalroth poked the forehead of Mimi's main head and told her she'll have to wait for a chance for a rematch with Zuno before he turned to look at Sophia.

"Hey, Sophia!" Zalroth exclaimed before he tossed a metal key to Sophia, followed by Zalroth leaping off into the sky. Ruby (along with the others) watched Zalroth leap out of the coliseum before she looked over at Sophia.

"He faked falling asleep, right?" Ruby asked.

"Normally, It'd be hard to tell, but given how quickly he left I'd have to say he was faking it.". Ruby nodded and glanced up just in time to see Zuno disappear over the coliseum wall.

Zalroth rocketed through the air easily clearing Talkia and landing atop of a tree on the city's outskirts, followed by Zalkutaro with the other egos and visages in his tails landing next to Zalroth.

"So, you sensed it as well," Zuno said as he descend next to and floated near the two.

"Indeed, we'd never mistake the energy signature of an ancient tower activating," Zalkutaro stated as all the egos and visages migrated to Zalroth's tails before Zalkutaro retracted his tails.

"You're referring to the one in Lake Vesovian, correct?". Chronia yawned and climbed up onto Zalroth's shoulders before sitting on them.

"Naturally, I figured this would happen when I saw Kyubi being revied by Kukorama at the base of the tower, using my future... time vision," Chronia stated before she rested her arms on Zalroth's head.

"Whatever the case, we shouldn't delay any longer," Zuno said, transforming his armour to its casual mode before he flew off into the distance with the two kitsune essences following close behind him on floating magic barriers.