Synopsis: The tournament is ongoing, yes, and there are only three days left before the final 8 move on. The results are in, and there's a TIE in 8th place???
In Hou's room, Hou, Garga & the Gar Trio are anxious as they sit in front of Hou's computer. As Hou moves the mouse...
Hou: Okay....Moment of truth, unveil yourself.
Hou clicks on his mouse and outcomes a live stream on screen???
Ion: Hello, All Buddyfighters, Ion here.
Tako: And I'm Tako.
Ion: The Ace Buddyfighter Playoffs is sure one heck of a spicy blast. But now it's time to cool off a bit. Don't worry, the event isn't over yet, as there are still three days left before the final round.
Tako: Because now it's time to reveal who has made it to the final round. Let's start with the top 3.
Ion: In third place, Daryl Hoshino. With 27000 points.
The screen shows Daryl's profile with his points beside him.
Hou: Figures that he made it.
Garga: He is the Ace of Study no less.
Ion: In second place, it's Eden Hanazono. With 30000 points.
A female fighter then appears on screen. She has long blond hair while wearing a half-face mask over her eyes.
Garcat: Who is that?
Gardog: I have never seen her before.
Ion: In the first place, it's Vile Ranma. With 50000 points.
Now, Vile Ranma appears.
Garga: Of course, he's first. (Sigh)
Hou: Apparently, he snatched all of his opponent's points. One By One. Should he lose, however, it's the other way around. But it's not happening.
Garcat: Nevermind that, look.
On Garcat's call, they all turn back to the screen. One by one, all of the other 4 participants are revealed.
Ion: In Fourth Place, Masato Rikuo. Fifth Place. Daijirou Kurayashiki. Sixth Place, Seiji Kido.
Hou: This must be it.
Ion: In seventh place, Rei Urameishi.
All: {Flabbergasted} WHAT?
Hou: Wait, then where's me?
Garga: It can't be. We've been fighting non-stop in the tournament for the last couple of days. Don't tell me it's all a waste...
Ion: HOWEVER. For 8th place, there's a really massive surprise. Never before in a tournament have we seen two fighters tied for 8th place. And one of them is our Ace of Games, Hou Ren.
All: {Excited} YES.
Hou: Thank goodness.
Garga: What a relief.
Ion: And the other fighter...is sad to say...it's Dan Yamada. Or Rather...Da Dan.
All: {Flabbergasted} WHAT?
Hou: I'm tied??? With Him??
OP: Silhouette
At Gwen's Cafe, all of the friends except for Daryl & Cross gather. Hou feels absolutely bombarded as he lays his hands above his head.
Hou: What just happened, guys?
Masato: I can't believe it. Of all people who ended up tied with him, why did it have to be Da Dan?
Agito: Hou's clearly the stronger buddyfighter. Like he singlehandedly defeated that idiot in just one turn.
Gwen: Or the fact that he was able to overcome him & Jasraj during that Tag fight.
Amaterasu: He couldn't have cheated, did he?
Garga: No Da Dan may be evil. But he's not the type to cheat in buddyfight. Hmm...
Suddenly, the door opens and outcomes Daryl & Cross.
Cross: Good. Everyone's here.
Daryl: There's something I want to show you all.
All: Huh?
Hou: I'm sorry, what?
As Daryl pulls up his phone, he reveals some bar chart statistics of all fighters who have made it. Everyone's curious.
Daryl: There's no denying that First and Second are going to make it. Ranma will lose all of his points if he loses in a match, but..
Cross: Considering his victory rate, that will not likely happen. As for the third to the seventh players, they will almost certainly move to the finals.
Daryl: Which leaves the 8th place question. Will it be Hou or Da Dan moving on? Or will it be someone below them who will move on?
Garga: Interesting. So despite the tie, there are many possibilities to consider. Someone might catch up any minute.
Hou: Then what am I standing around for? I gotta fight.
Garga: (Stops him) Hold it. Hou, I know you're strong. But opponents may have studied your fighting style throughout your matches. There's also a chance you might get plummeted easily.
Hou: But this is a race against time, Garga. I don't have time to waste.
Garga: I know. But what did I say about success itself that time? Success requires patience.
Hou: And Great things take time, I know. But still...
Garga: Did you forget that you said you want to be unpredictable? Right now, you're the opposite.
Hou: I...(sigh) Fine. There are only three days left anyway. Guess we're going back to old school.
Gwen: Nevermind that. Da Dan is one person to watch out for. Like he's good at plotting schemes. Wouldn't he like to contact someone to lose on purpose and just move on?
All: Uh...
Cross: Perhaps I can help with that. (Reveals a globe)
Inside the globe...
Da Dan: (On a phone) Aww, come on, Jacky. Lose for me. What...you won't. FINE. I'll find someone to lose you, scumbag.
All: (Awkward) Oh No...
Masato: That guy never changes...
Hou: Screw Da Dan. Garga. Gar Trio. We got some training to do. You with me?
Garga: You read my mind. Let's do it.
Daryl: And we'll help you.
Hou: You mean it?
Masato: For Share. I don't mind sparring.
Hou was initially stunned, but he accepted with a smile. Meanwhile, under a bridge, Da Dan is really furious over being unable to ask any of his friends to lose for him.
Da Dan: Those Guacamoles...I can't believe no one would lose for me...This is just not (toss his phone) Fair.
Bloody Eyes: Then I suggest you prepare yourself instead.
Da Dan: I don't wanna do that. Intensive training? Mind-Blowing Exercise? I don't want to die doing that.
Bloody Eyes: (sigh) Oh, great tidings. Bring glorious blessings to my buddy.
Meanwhile, Hou faces Daryl & Masato one by one. Gwen & Amaterasu watch from the sidelines. All battles were intense yet exhausting. All fighters are giving their all. One by one, they keep winning and losing left and right. After a while...
Hou: (Pants) I'm beat...
Masato: (Pants) Me too...
Daryl: (Pants) 6 matches combined in total...Three Wins and Three Losses.
Garga: I'm surprised...Despite Hou losing, he was able to be on par with Agito & Cross's New Forms. While he wins in all of Masato's matches...[It still feels like we're going nowhere.]
Masato: Let's stop for now. Let's have a break.
Gwen: Good thing I bought some of my homemade pizza here.
Hou: No.
All: What?
Hou: I want to keep going. I don't care if I have to be tired. I just...
Masato: Whoa. Hou. Slow down.
Daryl: Is this about Da Dan?
Hou: It's not that. It's just that...I want to win this tournament for two reasons...One is for myself...the other...I want to save my friend.
Garga: You...
Hou: It's stupid, I know. But I want to face him on equal grounds and reach him. And if winning this tournament is the only way, then I'll do it.
Masato: Hou...(Smiles) Then I won't be holding back this time.
Daryl: Same here.
Gar Trio: We're with you, too, Ace of Games.
Garga: As Am I, my buddy.
Another match begins.
Hou: This time...
Garga: We'll make it count. (Shoots Swords to the sky) Aarghhh!!!
Suddenly, Garga's swords become a new weapon, and Garga's shoulder platings and colour start to change. All of a sudden, he changes into something new??? The weapon is some sort of gattler...
Hou: Garga!!! Did you just...
Garga: I created a new mode...
Everyone's shocked. Meanwhile, at Vile Ranma's base, Vile Ranma is very displeased.
Vile Ranma: You? Being an ally?
Da Dan: (Begs) Yes Please.
Vile Ranma: Absolutely Not.
Da Dan: Huh? Why not?
Vile Ranma: Because you were nothing but an annoyance. Don't think that I forgot about that time you nearly got the Whaddup Pals channel banned.
Da Dan: But...That was a long time ago. Please, Vile Ranma. I need your help. I need the power of the Lost World to demolish my opponents.
Light: (Walks in) I don't usually say this, but perhaps you should lend him a hand. If you want to have Lost World spread worldwide in fame/popularity, I suggest you do it.
Vile Ranma: Hmmm....
Da Dan: If it makes you feel better, sir, I also have excellent editing skills. I can even help you out with the Vile Ranma channel.
Vile Ranma: That so? (sigh) Very well, hand me your buddy, please.
Da Dan takes Bloody Eyes's card out of his pocket and passes it to Vile Ranma.
Vile Ranma: Destroyer. A little help, por favor.
Destroyer shows up in skull form as he moves through a wall, scaring Da Dan in the process, and he also gives out a Lostrizer card.
Destroyer: I shall grant that wish.
Vile Ranma immediately lostrizes Bloody Eyes.
Bloody: D...Don't. (Being Lostrized) AHHHHHHHHHHHHH.
Da Dan: You okay, Bloody Eyes?
When the Lostrizing is complete...
Vile Ranma: Your buddy has powered up. He's now...reborn. (Passes it back to Da Dan)
Da Dan: (Catches it) ######### Eyes...Deadly Eyes???
Deadly Eyes: Don't speak the ######### part aloud.
Da Dan: Glad to see your sense of humor hasn't changed. Now...who to test it on...I know. (Laughs menacingly)
The next day, at a buddyfight stage.
Ion: Whenever there's a buddyfight, you can find me. Ion Nanana.
Tako: And Tako too.
Ion: These two fighters are tied for 8th place. Whoever wins this round will move on to the finals.
Da Dan: Hey Hou. It's been a while.
Hou: I'm surprised you challenged me. I was gonna decline, but apparently, my subscribers kept asking me to fight you. So there.
Da Dan: Well, in that case, why don't we put all of our points on the line?
Hou: Hmmm...
Meanwhile, Amaterasu and the rest are spectating from the sides.
Amaterasu: My. What an Ominous thing to say.
Daryl: They both have 15000 points. Should they win, they will be bumped up to third place.
Cross: And should they lose, they will be kicked out.
Gwen: Hou wouldn't lose...wouldn't he?
Hou: (smiles) So be it. I'm in.
Da Dan: (smiles) Heh. You're going down.
Daryl: (crossed arms, smiles) Of course, he accepts.
Agito: Cool as a cucumber.
Masato: (crossed arms, smiles) Nothing less from the Ace of Games.
Hou: A deity's dragon brigade descends. Come On. Luminize. Dradeity.
Da Dan: Dragonblood Sect. Gather before the great Da Dan. Luminize. Deadly Nightmare.
Ion & Tako: Buddy...Fight.
Both: Raise the flag. Dragon World.
Ion: Da Dan has the first move.
Da Dan: Draw. Charge & Draw. I cast. Dragonic Charge Plus. (Gains gauge) I call Madness Luna to the left.
Madness Luna: (Appears) About time I appear.
Hou: A new monster, huh?
Da Dan: Equip. Fake Heart. (Equips a hand mirror)
Garga: A new item too...
Da Dan: And now I pay 3 gauge and buddycall Deadly Eyes to the right.
Deadly Eyes: (Appears) The sign of my crimson eye means a loss.
Da Dan: Size 3. 12000 power. 10000 defense. A critical of 3. My buddy has powered up with the strength of Lost World by his side.
Garga: Did he say Lost World?
Hou: You became one of Ranma's allies?
Da Dan: That's right. I did so in order to defeat you. Now, shall we get started? Deadly Eyes, deliver his death.
Deadly Eyes: (Flies) Slake your pain. (Shoots)
3 damage hit. 7 life left.
Da Dan: My turn is over.
Ion: Da Dan starts off with 3 damage. And now it's Hou's turn. He equips Gar Buster and calls Garcat to the left. Increasing his hand and gauge.
Hou: I cast. Gar-Oracle. (Draws 2 cards) I buddycall Garga to the right.
Garga: (Appears) All are powerless before my blade.
Da Dan: Well, well, well. I've been waiting for this. Deadly Eyes, show me your new power.
Deadly Eyes activates his ability. His crimson eyes glow, and hypnosis waves echo through the stadium.
Deadly Eyes: Now. Fall Into Slumber.
Suddenly, Hou's monsters are under control once again. Everyone's shocked.
Da Dan: Now your monsters are mine. And they are forced to attack my buddy. Plus, with Fake Heart's effect, you can only attack deadly eyes this turn. And it cannot be destroyed. How you like them apples?
Hou: Same song and Dance. I cast. Gargantua Switch Mode. G-EVO Activate. Change. Gargantua Dragon, Cyclone Mode.
Garga: (G-EVOs) Cyclone Mode.
Hou: Destroy Luna and Deadly Eyes for me.
Garga destroys the two.
Ion: Impressive. Just like the last fight, Hou switches Garga's form in order to avoid control. But...
Garcat is still under control, and because it doesn't have enough power....
Deadly Eyes: Wither away. (Shoots Garcat)
Garcat: I'm sorry, Hou. (Destroyed)
Hou: Garcat!!! Garga. We got some avenging to do. Link attack with me. (Attacks)
Both Garga & Hou attack Deadly Eyes.
Da Dan: Cast. Blue Dragon Shield. (Blocks)
Garga: Drats. Gar Buster can only attack once, and I don't have enough power.
Hou: I thought of that. I cast. Gar-Down. I reduce Deadly Eyes' defense by 5000.
Da Dan: Huh?
Masato: Now, Deadly Eyes has 5000 defense.
Agito: And Garga has 7000 power.
Hou: (Fists Up) Let 'em... (Open Fives) have it.
Garga: As you wish. (Attacks)
Da Dan: Hold it. Cast. Green Dragon Shield.
Garga: In case you forgot, I have triple attack.
Da Dan: Cast. Dragon Barrier. (Blocks the attack)
Hou: Grrr....My turn is over.
Ion: Oh my. Despite the impressive play, Hou wasn't able to defeat Deadly Eyes.
Da Dan: Hehehe. You didn't think it would be that easy like last time.
Hou: Well, in case you didn't notice. You have no cards left in your hand. I can win against you next turn.
Da Dan: We'll see. Draw. Charge and Draw. I cast. Dragogenius Plus. Should I have one or fewer cards in my hand, I get to draw 3 cards. Once again. I call Madness Luna to the left. Madness Luna, attack him.
Hou: Cast. Deity Blue Dragon Shield.
Da Dan: Deadly Eyes...
Hou: I cast. Dragotrap. Deadly Eyes cannot attack.
Da Dan: Huh? Fine. I might as well attack you instead.
Hou receives 2 damage. 4 life left.
Da Dan: My turn is done.
Ion: Despite the survive, Hou only has 4 life left. What is he going to do? He's like a candle in the wind.
Hou: Draw. Charge & Draw. Cast. Dragonic Charge Plus. (Gains 5 gauge) And I cast. Dragonic Grimoire. (Draws 3 cards) Got it.
Da Dan: I hate to burst your bubble, but this game is over for you. Deadly Eyes's ability activates. This time, I'll force Cyclone mode to attack him.
Once again, Garga's under control.
Garga: Not again...
Ion: And with Fake Heart's effect, Hou can only attack Deadly Eyes for this turn.
Hou: (Closes his eyes) Garga. It's time. I cast. Gargantua Switch Mode. G-EVO activate. Change. Gargantua Dragon, Gattling Mode!!!
Garga: (G-EVO) Gatling...MODE.
Garga unveils himself as the same new form he unlocked earlier. His form is grey, and he wields a Gatling-made gun as a weapon. Everyone's surprised.
Masato: There it is.
Daryl: It's the same new power he unlocked.
Agito: It looks so cool.
Da Dan: G.G.G.G.G..GATTLING MODE???? WHAT THE HECK IS THAT?
Garga: Why should you know? You're not the only one with new gifts.
Hou: Cast. Gar-Oracle. I draw two cards.
Da Dan: Well, in case you didn't know. Deadly Eyes currently has 3 soul cards left. And with Madness Luna on board, he also gains 10000 defense. And you can only link attack once since you do not have enough power.
Hou: (Holds a card) Who says I'm going to link attack? And thanks for the info. Cuz if you don't, then I wouldn't cast this card. I cast. Dragon Spell Hiding Bomber.
Madness Luna is destroyed again.
Da Dan: Uh Oh...
Ion: You're kidding me. Madness Luna was destroyed twice!!!
Hou: And since Gar Advantage is in my dropzone, another 5000 power to Gattling Mode. Garga. Nail Deadly Eyes to Pieces.
Garga: Shout towards the sky. GATTLING...SABER. (Shoots to the sky)
Da Dan is quite shocked.
Hou: With Gattling Mode's effect, I can...either destroy one card on the opponent's field, deal one damage to the opponent, or destroy one of the opponent's gauges. And since Garga G-EVO, I can repeat the same choice three times.
Da Dan: THREE???
Hou: Of course, you know my choice at this point. Destroy Deadly Eyes Three times.
Garga: With Pleasure. (Shoots) Fire. And Fire. From Fire.
All of Deadly Eyes' souls are wiped.
Garga: And outcomes the nails. (Snaps his fingers)
Suddenly, the shots the Garga shoot towards the sky, suddenly come blasting towards Deadly Eyes. Deadly Eyes is shocked.
Deadly Eyes: Alas...my world has fallen. (Destroyed)
Da Dan: DEADLY EYES NO!!!
Masato: For Share.
Gwen: Amazing.
Ion: UNBELIEVABLE. Da Dan's Iron Wall of Defense, Deadly Eyes has been Obliterated. Gattling Mode is so cool.
Hou: Because I destroyed your monsters five times, Gar Buster now has a critical of 8. Batter Up. (Holds A Baseball)
Ion & Masato: A baseball?
Hou throws the ball up high and swings Gar Buster at the ball. Direct Hit the ball, and the ball hits Da Dan right in the gut.
Da Dan: OWWW.
Ion: Well, that's one way to deal damage...
5 life left.
Hou: Final Phase.
Da Dan: Oh No....
Hou: I cast. Deity Gargantua Punisher.
Impact Sequence.
Hou: Impact. DEITY....GARGANTUA...PUNISHER!!!
Da Dan: NO WAY.....
Punisher marks the hit, and Da Dan loses.
Ion: Game End. Winner. Hou Ren.
Hou: Alright.
Everyone else cheers.
Ion: As a result, Hou has 30000 points. And Da Dan...has None.
Da Dan: N....N....N...NO WAY....
The screen suddenly fades to black. And Ion & Tako sudden appear on TV once again.
Ion: And with that, the second round is officially over. Moving on to the final round are...them.
The ones moving on by ranking are Vile Ranma, Eden, Hou, Daryl, Masato, Daijirou, Seiji & Rei.
Ion: Congrats to all players who are moving on, and the final round will be held in three weeks' time. We hope to see you then. Stay humble.
ED: Hello by Za Bon.
Garga: While all of the tournament buzz is going on, Hou Ren's birthday is on the way. However, it would seem there would be some mishaps. Next time, "Happy Birthday Ace Of Games". Join us for a buddyfight.
Story End.