The morning dawned grey and overcast, heavy clouds brooding in the sky. "It seems the sword is nearly ready to unleash its power upon us," said Sekel ominously. "I can scarcely wait for the world to transform," said Cloven with eager anticipation. "Yeah, when this power is unleashed, all-powerful beings will be mine to command," said Sekel greedily. "So, what happens when the sword is freed once more?" inquired Kiyoshi nervously. "Kiyoshi, when the sword is unleashed, havoc will erupt and pandemonium will ensue. It will be every man for himself," said Kitaro grimly.

Kiyoshi gulped anxiously. "Oh, so how can we prevent this sword from being drawn out of the stone?" he asked fretfully. "It would take a miracle or immense fortune," said Tokido despondently. "We're doomed," lamented Lionel hopelessly.

Suddenly, a shadow flitted swiftly between the trees, darting furtively around them. "Halt!" commanded Tokido sharply. "I sense a stealthy fighter lurking nearby," he added warily. "I sense it too," said Jose, his eyes narrowed in concentration.

"I detect a powerful unicorn spirit," remarked Lionel intuitively. "An extremely mighty one," affirmed Jose somberly.

"Reveal yourself, spy!" shouted Tokido forcefully, his eyes morphing into piercing Mitsukodorian orbs. "There!" exclaimed Tokido as he leapt adeptly into the tree. The spy jumped down nimbly but Tokido knocked them forcefully to the ground.

"Who are you?" demanded Tokido as he ripped off the mask. It was Scarlet. Felix's face morphed into shock and bewilderment.

"Why and how?" queried Felix, perplexed. "I overheard your discussion so I came to assist the group," Scarlet explained earnestly.

"I don't want you getting hurt," said Felix protectively.

"Can we please proceed and address your dysfunctional rapport later?" interjected Tokido impatiently as he strode off alone.

"Well, since you're already here, you may as well accompany us," conceded Felix begrudgingly.

The six of them approached the main school building, finding it eerily empty and abandoned. "What happened to everyone?" wondered Felix uneasily.

Tokido activated his ghost eyes again, following footprints leading inside. "Come with me," he directed authoritatively. They trailed after Tokido into the interior of the ominous building.

The footprints led towards the detention room where Felix, Kiyoshi and Lionel had once served time. "How did we never notice this door before?" marvelled Lionel in bewilderment.

"We were so bored in detention we must have overlooked it," hypothesized Felix sheepishly.

As they proceeded towards the mysterious door, Jose halted abruptly. He had detected a peculiar noise behind them. While the others entered the room, Jose stealthily pursued the sound. He chased the fleeting figure down the hallway.

"Stop!" he shouted commandingly at the fleeing person. Felix realized someone was missing and dashed out to assist. He raced in the direction Jose had gone.

Jose cornered the evasive guy in a dead-end. "Who are you?" interrogated Jose suspiciously. "Mitch," he replied gruffly.

Mitch had piercing yellow ram eyes and thick, curly steel grey hair styled elegantly. He had a rotund build and deeply tanned skin. His nose was distinctly triangular. He wore a grey gi branded with a ram insignia on the back and a green hooded man patch on the front.

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"Wait!" called Felix urgently, rushing up to them. "You're part of an evil cabal, aren't you?" accused Jose. "Yes, the Triangle Club," admitted Mitch as his hand glowed, revealing a triangle symbol.

"Prepare to fight," challenged Jose fiercely. "Let me handle this," insisted Felix firmly.

"Are you sure? He seems formidable," cautioned Jose worriedly. "I'll make certain I win," declared Felix with determination.

"A new contender, I see," sneered Mitch contemptuously. They bowed ceremonially to commence the duel. Their fists collided with tremendous force.

Felix aimed a punch at Mitch's stomach but it bounced off harmlessly, not even fazing his opponent. Mitch chuckled derisively and pummelled Felix, propelling him through two walls to the opposite hallway. Felix adeptly rolled back onto his feet.

Mitch jogged over leisurely and punched Felix clear out of the building. "Felix!" cried Jose in dismay. Mitch leapt down to crush Felix but he rolled out of the way just in time.

"He's so tough to defeat," Felix thought desperately. "I can't damage his stomach or neck - he has no vulnerabilities there."

Mitch tapped his head tauntingly and stomped the ground, powering up his aura ominously. Sharp metal horns erupted from his skull and he charged headfirst at Felix.

"What the hell?" exclaimed Felix in shock. Mitch's horns speared him in the blink of an eye, sending him flying again. Felix slowly stood up, grasping his throbbing stomach.

"I need more training," he admitted ruefully.

Mitch cackled scornfully. "Weaklings like you are laughable," he ridiculed.

Felix's knees buckled dejectedly. "Maybe Jared was right, I can't fight well. I'm a loser," he thought miserably.

Head hanging despondently, Felix sank to his knees in defeat.

"What's Felix doing? I should intervene and help him," Jose worried, conflicted. He respectfully bowed to Mitch. "Remember, joining incurs a health reduction," Mitch reminded him smugly.

"I'll take the risk," vowed Jose dauntlessly. Suddenly, electroshocks drained away some of Jose's vitality.

"Bring it on!" challenged Mitch aggressively, slapping his belly contemptuously.

Jose closed his eyes, assuming a dragon stance, then made the first move. As Mitch stomped the ground, charging up his aura ominously, Jose's eyes transformed into fierce draconic orbs.

Jose formed a fiery dragon breath fireball then hurled it straight at Mitch.

"You don't scare me," scoffed Mitch scornfully. "Ultra Move: Metal Horn Bash!" he bellowed.

As his horns grew into deadly spiralling loops, Mitch charged recklessly into the fireball head-on, easily penetrating it and spearing towards Jose.

Jose instantly activated his spirit guardian mode, morphing into a formidable dragon-human hybrid. Jose's indomitable power repelled Mitch's attack.

"Ultra Move: Half Burning Dragon Tornado Kick!" roared Jose intensely. His legs ignited with flames and he unleashed a devastating 180 degree kick to Mitch's head, followed by another knock-out blow.

Mitch collapsed, utterly defeated. "Match ended," declared the watches neutrally.

Meanwhile, Tokido and the others approached the peculiar detention room door, finding it slightly ajar. They cautiously entered the room, discovering it was filled with spy equipment monitoring the entire island.

"What is this place?" asked Kiyoshi, unnerved. "A surveillance hub for spying on everyone," explained Scarlet knowingly.

"I can't believe this was here all along without us noticing," said Lionel, astounded.

Hearing voices nearing, they quickly hid behind lab equipment.

"Sir, Mitch just lost a duel to Jose in the courtyard," reported Cloven urgently.

"He was merely a sacrificial pawn to bring us closer to freeing the sword," dismissed Sekel coldly.

"Should we stop Jose and the other fighter?" suggested Cloven.

"No, I suspect they'll come to us. I sense other interlopers nearby," said Sekel intuitively.

"Did you retrieve the gems for unlocking the sword? I located this one across the world, guarded by a fighter," said Cloven.

"Why involve my brother?" demanded Tokido angrily.

"Yes, why are we amassing these gems?" asked Cloven uncertainly.

"United with the sword at full power, the five gems will unleash the five most formidable dragon fighters, granting me the power to annihilate the world and rule the remnants," revealed Sekel malevolently.

"Why would Grandmaster Sensei do that?" exclaimed Lionel in horror.

Jose helped the despondent Felix up after his defeat. Felix felt deeply ashamed and hopeless.

"I'll never win or defeat anyone. Maybe Jared was right - I'll never be the greatest fighter. Everyone is manifesting their spirit guardians while I can't reach that level despite all my hard training," lamented Felix despairingly.

"You okay, man?" asked Jose supportively, extending a hand to assist Felix.

"I'm fine," muttered Felix sullenly, standing up alone.

"Let's rejoin the others, they may require our help," suggested Jose.

As they walked back, Felix grew even more resentful over his inadequate fighting skills.

"I'm just not good enough for this island," he cried bitterly, sprinting away towards the docks in misery.

"Where did Felix disappear to so suddenly?" mused Jose, puzzled by his abrupt departure.

At the pier, Felix spotted a rickety wooden raft and hastily paddled away from the island.

"Time to go fishing," remarked a fighter cheerfully, rod in hand. "Hey, where's my boat?" he asked in confusion.