In the grand, dimly lit halls of Ginimbi's estate, the master of lightning summons Heather—mother of Dope and Gango.
She enters the room dressed in flowing black lace, a wide-brimmed hat shading her eyes. She sits at the far end of the long table.
Heather: "You called?"
Ginimbi: "Yes. I haven't seen Najo in a while. How's the training progressing?"
Heather: "The boys haven't returned either. But rest assured… he's in good hands."
Her mouth curls into a smile. Beneath her hat, only shadow and mystery.
Heather: "In fact, I'm certain you'll be seeing him very soon."
Ginimbi's gaze narrows slightly.
Ginimbi: "Very well then."
High atop the forested peaks of the Lightning Village, Najo treks alongside Dope and Gango. They finally arrive at a shed—weathered, cracked, and surrounded by scorched earth and broken ropes marked with lightning burns.
Najo: "Isn't this far enough?"
Dope: "C'mon, we're basically there."
As Najo and Dope continue ahead, Gango trails behind. He quietly picks up a thick branch from the ground. In one swift motion, he strikes Najo at the base of the neck—knocking him out cold.
The brothers exchange a glance, then drag Najo into the shed and shut the door.
Back at the Succession Trials, the arena is silent—until a scream of pain pierces the air.
Flames blaze from Moto's arm—maroon flames, unfamiliar and violent. His skin sears beneath it, yet he doesn't release Gwen's leg. The fire overwhelms even Gwen's, burning through the veteran's flame-resistant skin.
From the royal balcony, King Douglas and Aritri rise to their feet. Even Gwen looks shocked—he's being burned.
The maroon blaze fizzles, leaving Moto's grafted skin fused to Gwen's leg.
Gwen trembles with rage. His eyes glow a brighter red than ever before. His body ignites, flames forming blazing shoulder pads and a helmet reminiscent of a furious sports titan. A ball of flame manifests in his hand.
Gwen: "HAA—"
Mr. Jumbo raises his hand. His voice is calm but unshakable.
Mr. Jumbo: "Sixty percent. Gwen is disqualified."
Gwen freezes. His eyes widen.
His current form… is one of his strongest. And according to the rules—he's just lost. To Moto.
Mukai rushes in to cool Moto's burns as Sheu and Sukai descend from the stands.
Moto looks toward the balcony. The King's eyes are locked onto him.
Then—a nod.
Moto feels his chest loosen, finally able to breathe. He did it. But Gwen's leg is still fused to his hand.
Douglas: "Medics!"
As they rush over, Gwen—still steaming with fury—yanks his leg away. The rip sends searing pain through Moto's nerves.
He howls as Mukai quickly conjures a water bubble to contain the bleeding.
Mukai: dryly "Regression, huh?"
Moto glances at him, sheepishly.
Mukai: "Looks like you weren't entirely honest with me. We'll talk about that later."
Sheu arrives beside him, kneeling.
Sheu: "You were amazing. Are you okay?"
Moto forces a smile. "Yeah. The worst is over."
The medics lift him onto a stretcher and carry him out. Sheu follows closely behind while Mukai stays for the final results.
Later, it's officially declared:
Mukai will train under Musaka.Moto will train under Gwen.
That evening, Moto lies in a bed, arm wrapped entirely in clean white bandages.
Sheu sits nearby.
Sheu: "So… you've always had this power?"
Moto: "…Yeah. But it burns me too, so I suppressed it into smoke."
Sheu: "Were you ever planning to tell me?"
Moto looks away.
Before he can answer, Aritri steps into the room.
Aritri: "Good evening."
She bows slightly to Sheu.
Aritri: "My condolences for your loss."
Sheu doesn't reply.
Aritri hands Sheu her approved border pass. The moment is thick with unspoken tension. Then she turns to Moto.
Aritri: "Moto, the King wishes to see you at the palace. At sundown. I've been sent to escort you personally."
Moto sits up slightly, surprise spreading across his face. The King wants to speak with him—directly.
He can feel it. This is it. His potential has finally been acknowledged. With Gwen as his trainer and proximity to the throne, his dream of influencing the future—of establishing real peace—is within reach.
But Sheu is suspicious.
Why sundown? Why send Aritri herself? And why separate them with her passport just now?
She hides her unease.
Sheu: "I'll be waiting for you at your place… when it's over."
Moto nods. "I won't be long."
The palace is quiet as night falls.
Inside a meeting room glowing with candlelight, a dark mahogany desk centers the space. Moto enters. He forgets to bow, but the King doesn't mention it.
Douglas: "Welcome, Moto. Please, sit."
Moto takes a seat. Aritri quietly closes the door behind him.
Douglas: "First—congratulations. I hoped you would win, and you did."
Moto: "Thank you, Your Majesty. I'm truly grateful for the opportunity."
Douglas: "Let's build some rapport. I'll tell you a story—something not even my sons know."
Moto leans in, honored.
Douglas: "I grew up in the Water Village. Far from the royal family. My father was a soldier in the Terror Defense Division. Fighting monsters every day broke him. He beat my mother. Me, too. I had no power to stop it."
Moto's chest tightens. He knows that feeling.
Douglas: "One day, he threw a table at her. I snapped. I fought back. He nearly beat me to death. That night, I ran away and never looked back. I left her behind…"
Moto listens, eyes wide.
Douglas: "But I heard of an Oracle in Nirvana. People said she could solve anything. So I searched for three years."
He looks up.
Douglas: "When I returned, I was wiser. My parents had passed. But I began climbing. Rank after rank. Now… no one tells me what to do. I hold all the power—and I didn't get here with strength."
Moto feels the story hit him deep. The King understands him. The weakness. The desperation. The fight to rise above it all.
Moto: "But… how?"
Douglas: "The answer is simple." He leans in. Douglas: "Knowledge is power. And I know everything."
Moto forces a nod. "O-Okay…"
The King's smile fades slightly.
Douglas: "Now… questions for you, Moto."
Moto straightens.
Douglas: "You don't possess wind ability. The Earth Ore doesn't react to you. Why?"
Moto stammers. "Y-you don't either, do you, Your Majesty?"
Douglas: "Fair deflection. So—what about your parents? Where are they?"
Moto looks down.
The King watches the change in his posture—he's breaking through resistance.
He opens a leather file and drops it on the table. Aritri's research.
Douglas: "So are you going to tell me the truth?"
Moto's mind spins. What does the King know?
Then—
Douglas: "I never imagined… that one day, I'd sit face to face with a child from Gehen."