The impending tournament caused a suspension of all classes, allowing the fighters to devote their time to training. "I can't believe they've cancelled classes," Lionel remarked. "Finally, no more studying some simple technique that I'll never use in my fighting arsenal," Kiyoshi quipped, only to be met with disappointed stares from his friends. "What? It was just a joke," Kiyoshi defended himself. Jax shot back, "You're terrible at jokes." Kiyoshi merely shrugged and fell silent. "Well, it's time to train for the tournament," Lionel announced before he along with Jax and Felix headed off in different directions. Kiyoshi looked around, puzzled. "Where are you guys going? I thought we were training together." They all turned back towards Kiyoshi. Lionel explained, "It's a tournament; we made it together but need to train separately so if we end up fighting each other, our moves won't be immediately known. Makes sense?" "I suppose," replied a subdued Kiyoshi. "Sorry, Kiyoshi," Felix offered sympathetically as Jax gave him a sad glance before disappearing into the distance. Consequently, each of them set off towards different parts of the woods for their respective training sessions. Kiyoshi ventured towards the snowy mountain while Felix chose the hot volcano as his spot. Lionel decided on the beach and Jax headed towards a temple nestled in the mountains. "Why is it so cold here?" complained Kiyoshi as he snapped off two icicles hanging from his nose. He muttered under his breath about how foolish he was to pick a snow mountain as his training ground just as heavy snowfall began to obscure his vision. Unable to see clearly anymore, he collapsed into unconsciousness amidst the swirling snowflakes.

Meanwhile, Felix was getting closer to a volcano which was marked on his map with an accompanying temple symbol nearby. As he neared the volcano, a sign loomed ahead with the words: 'Climb if you dare.' Felix's blue moon aura enveloped him, transforming him into Mudar, the Moon Wolf. With his wolf claws, he began his ascent up the volcano. On reaching the beach, Lionel found it deserted. "Odd," he mused aloud, "I thought fighters not participating in the tournament would be here relaxing." He continued walking along the beach until he stepped on a peculiar square shape etched in the sand. Suddenly, the sand beneath him gave way and he fell through a large hole that promptly closed up above him. Jax was carefully ascending worn-out stairs leading to a temple when one of them broke under his weight. Despite Tethyus' warning about their old state, Jax simply smiled and continued his climb. Meanwhile, two individuals clad in large winter coats discovered Kiyoshi unconscious and encased in a giant ice cube. They transported him to a nearby village where they placed him next to an ever-warm oven to thaw out. Felix had reached halfway up the volcano when gusty winds carrying volcanic ashes buffeted against him. Digging his claws deep into the side of the volcano for grip, he waited for the winds to subside before resuming his climb. Once at the top, he noticed an active volcano and a house on an elevated platform connected by a bridge. Ignoring his fear of heights, Felix crossed over to find an old sensei sitting inside. Lionel was still falling when he spotted a wall which led to a slide down onto cave floor. Using Neon Punch! He illuminated his surroundings and decided to continue exploring this path.

Upon reaching top of stairs Jax found Tokido waiting for him inside temple doors. "What are you doing here?" asked Jax surprisedly. "I am here to train you for this tournament," Tokido replied. Jax looked at him for a moment before agreeing, "Alright, let's begin. "As all this was happening, Kiyoshi's frozen body began to thaw out near the village oven. After about three hours, Kiyoshi’s head was free from the ice block, but the rest of his body was still frozen. Kiyoshi opened his eyes and said, “where I am?” He asked two people in front of him. “You are at Mt. Snow Crystals,” said one of the snowmen. “Mt. Snow Crystals?” Asked Kiyoshi. “Yes?” Said the snowman. “I think I maybe went too far over the mountain,” said Kiyoshi. “I believe so,” said the snowman. “Who is your best fighter, and let me fight him?” Said Kiyoshi desperately. The snowman chuckled a little and took a sip of his hot tea. “Maybe, I will wait until you are done thawing out,” said the snowman. Kiyoshi looks down. “That’s right,” said Kiyoshi. "Ah, welcome, my young apprentice," the sensei greeted warmly from his place of tranquility in the heart of the temple. His voice echoed softly against the ancient stone walls, filling the air with an aura of reverence. Felix, feeling a slight tremor of anticipation, stepped through the grand entranceway and bowed deeply towards the wise figure. "Join me here," beckoned Sensei, patting an empty spot on the woven mat beside him. The scent of incense wafted through the room as Felix made his way across the cold stone floor to sit next to his mentor. "I invite you to enter a state of meditation with me," Sensei suggested gently. With those words hanging in the air like a sacred mantra, Felix allowed himself to slip from his spirit guardian form into a more serene state. "Empty your thoughts," Sensei instructed, his voice barely above a whisper yet clear as crystal in the silence that enveloped them. Felix closed his eyes and began to let go of all worldly distractions, focusing solely on finding inner peace under Sensei's guidance. Lionel's footsteps echoed through the long, dimly lit tunnel as he made his way towards the bright lights at the end. As he got closer, he saw a massive training facility with state-of-the-art equipment and an impressive underwater aquarium. "How have I never seen this before?" Lionel wondered aloud. Suddenly, a voice spoke up from behind him. "A lot of people know about this place," it said. Startled, Lionel turned to see Zebeon and a group of other fighters standing in the shadows. "I think this is a trap," Zebeon warned. Lionel's heart raced as he searched for a way out. He spotted an exit and took off sprinting, but all the escape doors slammed shut in front of him. "Great," he muttered in frustration. Jax and Tokido squared off, their bodies taut with anticipation. "You've been avoiding using Dad's eye," Tokido observed, his voice a blend of accusation and curiosity. Jax shrugged, discomfort flickering across his face. "It feels...odd to utilize his eye now that he's gone. Tokido arched an eyebrow before launching himself at Jax with a sudden punch. "Perhaps you should reconsider. It could elevate your strength. With a swift backflip, Jax evaded the blow effortlessly. He shot back defiantly, "No." His own fist hurtled towards Tokido in retaliation "Too slow," Tokido taunted as he countered with a devastating two-hit combo that crackled with white electricity. The raw power of it sent Jax reeling backward into the fragile paper walls, tumbling down the staircase to its base. "Fight your way back up here and conquer me," Tokido challenged as he retreated indoors once more Alone again at the foot of the stairs, Jax gazed upward at the daunting ascent ahead. The ice thawed and Kiyoshi emerged. The snowman, who had finished his tea, spoke up. "Are you ready to fight?" he asked. "More than ever," replied Kiyoshi. "By the way, what should I call you?" he inquired. "I go by Hayden Mahler, mate," said the snowman. "Here's the challenge: steal a silver bell from me on this ice platform." As Hayden walked away, he wished Kiyoshi luck. Kiyoshi confidently grabbed a jacket from a hook and stepped onto the ice. He struggled to maintain his balance as Hayden took a fighting stance and urged him to come at him. In an attempt to reach Hayden, Kiyoshi ran but slipped and slid towards him. With ease, Hayden jumped over him as he crashed into a wall of packed snow. "You'll have to stand on two legs to defeat me," chuckled Hayden. Felix stood on the bridge suspended over a pool of bubbling lava. Sensei instructed him, “Your task is to retrieve that flammable sphere before the volcano erupts.” Felix was confused; why would the volcano erupt? Suddenly, Sensei cut both sides of the bridge and left only one section connecting it to his house platform. Felix quickly regained his balance, knowing that their lives depended on it. "I need to stay focused," he said. "Otherwise, we won't make it." Mudar nodded in agreement. The ball rolled towards Felix, but he struggled to reach for it without losing his footing. "Whoa!" cried Mudar. A deep, commanding voice echoed through the empty training room. "You have been chosen by the elites to undergo this challenging training. Do you accept?" Lionel hesitated for a moment before responding, "I suppose I have no other choice." The voice continued, "There is an odd number of flags hidden throughout this complex. Your objective is to collect more than me in order to escape." A sense of urgency and excitement filled the air as Lionel braced himself for the task ahead. "Ready, set, go!" The voice announced, signaling the start of their competition. Lionel quickly sprang into action, his muscles tensed and ready for the challenge. With a swift movement, he leapt onto the balcony to grab the first flag. As he reached for the flag, he heard the voice announce triumphantly, "I got one!" Determined not to fall behind, Lionel pushed forward with determination. The game was on. Jax raced up the creaky stairs, his heartbeat pounding in his ears as he reached for the last step. But just as he was about to triumphantly climb it, the stair vanished, and he fell back down to the beginning with a loud thud. "Damn it," Jax muttered as he dusted himself off and began his ascent once again. Meanwhile, Kiyoshi stood on the ice rink, his breath visible in the cold air as he prepared to face off against Hayden. But before he could make a move, he slipped and fell on the slick surface. Frustration building inside him, Kiyoshi got back up and tried again, only to slip and fall once more. With each failed attempt, Hayden taunted him from across the rink. As night turned into day and back again, Kiyoshi continued to struggle. "This task is stupid," he grumbled, feeling defeated. But with Kitaro's encouragement, he kept trying. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Kiyoshi managed to keep his balance and launch himself towards Hayden. But Hayden was quick and dodged Kiyoshi's punch with ease. Undeterred, Kiyoshi slid on the ice and snatched the bell from Hayden's grasp. In shock, Hayden checked himself for any signs of defeat while Kiyoshi proudly held up the bell with a peace sign. "Looks like you're ready for the tournament," Hayden said with a grin. And with newfound confidence, Kiyoshi knew that he was indeed ready to take on any challenge thrown his way. The volcano's eruption echoed in Felix's ears once more, sending lava skyward from a new location. He honed his senses, anticipating the next fiery surge. Twenty days passed without a single burst of molten rock. Felix remained, standing patiently for his chance to retrieve the ball. Another nine days trickled by before Felix seized his opportunity. As the lava spewed forth, carrying the ball with it, he timed his move perfectly. His eyes snapped open just in time to pluck the ball from its fiery trajectory and execute an elegant flip, landing on the volcano's rim beside Sensei. "Hmm," Sensei mused aloud, "I think you are ready for the tournament." A dull ache began to throb in Felix's legs from prolonged standing. Sensei cracked open an eye and advised him to consider a new Gi. "Heh, yeah," agreed Felix as he shut his eyes. Suddenly, a full-blown eruption shook their surroundings; a colossal geyser of lava shot into the air, obliterating their house and bridge. "Well," Sensei remarked dryly, "I didn’t expect that." Meanwhile, Lionel and a mysterious voice had been engaged in an intense search for two flags within a complex labyrinth for 29 days. Throughout this period, Lionel clashed with an enigmatic adversary over flag possession but neither yielded ground. The final flag descended between them mid-air. "That is my flag," declared Lionel before launching himself upwards alongside his opponent. "Special Move: Neon Flash!" Lionel shouted as he unleashed blinding light towards his rival. Capitalizing on the momentary disorientation, Lionel delivered a swift kick and snatched the flag from above while his opponent plummeted earthwards. He then performed an aerial flip before landing confidently on both feet and flashing two triumphant thumbs-up signs at his fallen foe who gestured towards the exit. "You beat me fair and square," conceded the mysterious fighter. "I think you are ready to fight in the tournament." Expressing his gratitude with a respectful bow, Lionel departed back to land. Simultaneously, Jax triumphantly reached the summit without any mishaps. "Finally, you are ready to fight," Tokido announced before launching an electrifying roundhouse kick that Jax narrowly evaded. Unfazed, Tokido followed up with a straight punch that sent Jax reeling back towards the temple entrance but he managed to hang on. As Tokido approached and stepped on Jax's hands, Jax retaliated with a swift kick to Tokido's face causing him to stumble backwards. "Forgive me, Tethyus," Jax pleaded before removing his left eye from its socket. Strix and Tokido watched in awe as he replaced it with his father's eye from a jar, leaving him with one brown and one dark blue iris. A surge of brown electricity coursed through him as he absorbed his father's powers. Tokido smirked smugly at this predictable move before blasting away Jax’s original eyeball with an electric beam from his hand. "Why did you do that?!" cried out Jax in anguish. "You don’t deserve your old eye after inserting our father's," replied Tokido coldly. Jax transformed into Tethyus, the blue lightning hippogriff; instead of two dark blue eyes, he had one dark blue and one brown eye. He lunged at Tokido who easily sidestepped and lightly thumped him on the head causing Jax to collapse unconscious onto the ground. "Every choice has consequences brother; I'll see you in the tournament," said Tokido as he exited the Temple. Kiyoshi, Felix, and Lionel hurried back to their original starting point from a month ago. "We've all passed our tasks," Kiyoshi announced. "But where's Jax?" Felix interjected, scanning their surroundings. "Didn't he head towards the mountains around here?" Lionel queried. "Yes, just before I left, I saw him heading in that direction." Kiyoshi affirmed, pointing northwest from his location. "We should follow his trail then," Lionel suggested. "We need to hurry if we want to get to the sign-ups on time," Felix reminded them. "I completely forgot about those sign-ups!" Lionel admitted. "Just talking about it won't bring Jax back any sooner," Kiyoshi pointed out. "Right," Lionel agreed. They all sprinted towards where they believed Jax had gone. As they ascended into the mountains, they spotted a temple with a spiraling staircase. "I sense a hippogriff in this temple," Lionel declared. "Then Jax must be inside," Kiyoshi reasoned, moving towards the stairs. "Hold on Kiyoshi! It could be a trap!" warned Lionel. But it was too late – a branch from an overhanging tree smacked Kiyoshi in the head and one of the stair boards gave way beneath him causing him to fall onto the ground with stars circling his head. "I warned you," Lionel said smugly as Felix began laughing at Kiyoshi's misfortune. Undeterred by what had happened to Kiyoshi, Felix successfully made his way into the temple without any mishaps. "I don’t understand how you manage to avoid everything while I keep getting hit," complained Kiyoshi as he tried again but fell face-first on the ground when another stair board disappeared beneath him. "Maybe this tree has something against you," suggested Lionel jokingly as he also managed to reach the temple unscathed. "You two go ahead and find Jax. I'll wait here," Kiyoshi decided, nursing his bruised ego. "Or maybe the tree just hates him," Felix suggested, chuckling as they opened the sliding door of the temple to find Jax unconscious in a corner. "Jax, wake up!" Lionel urged, shaking Jax gently but getting no response. "He's out cold," Felix observed. Lionel hoisted Jax onto his back just as he heard a sizzling sound emanating from within the temple. "We need to get out of here now!" Lionel shouted and they both leaped out of a side window just as the temple exploded into fragments. "That was set up to trap us," Lionel deduced once they were safely away from the debris. "Well, whoever wanted us dead missed their mark," Felix retorted smugly. "That was too close for comfort," Kiyoshi admitted when he caught up with them. "I agree," said Lionel before Felix reminded them about their original mission. "We need to hurry over to the main area for festival sign-ups." Realizing how late it was getting, they all sprinted towards the main plaza where an announcer was calling out instructions for tournament registration. "Sign in here for confirmation if you're among the top 64 fighters," he announced as dusk turned into moonlight. A man cloaked in black stepped forward and signed his name without uttering a word. "People, you have five minutes left! Five minutes!" The announcer warned just as Felix, Kiyoshi, Lionel and an awakening Jax arrived at the table panting heavily but still in time for registration. “Where do we sign?” Kiyoshi asked breathlessly. “Right here,” one of the officials pointed out. As they each signed their names including Jax who had finally awakened, the registration time expired. They had made it just in time.

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