Jax, Tokido, Sekel, and then shortly arrive Cloven materialized onto the far side of the island, where the other dragon gem lay hidden.

"Smooth transit," remarked Sekel. "Did you annihilate that worthless Dragon fighter?"

"Yes, he was no match for me," replied Cloven, his face an emotionless mask.

"Show me the way to that gem," Sekel commanded Jax and Tokido. They obediently led the way towards the glittering prize.

Meanwhile, the rest of the group called desperately for their fallen comrade. "Jose!!" Lionel and the others shouted.

"Can you detect Jose's energy signature?" Kiyoshi asked Lionel urgently.

"Not without Zebeon," Lionel replied, crestfallen.

"Great, I guess this is where we die, frozen on a desolate mountain peak," lamented Kiyoshi.

"Cease your incessant whining," Lionel scolded sharply. Kiyoshi's temper flared at Lionel's callous remark.

"Enough, you two," Felix interjected firmly, stepping between the clashing egos.

"Jose, wake up!!" Zuldro bellowed, his voice echoing across the snowy pass.

Jose awoke buried under a crushing blanket of snow. He unleashed a fiery punch, melting away his frigid tomb.

"I can't believe he used such a dishonorable tactic to best me. I must be more wary, for he is clearly more dangerous than expected," Jose muttered.

Hearing his friends' distant cries, Jose yelled out to signal his location. The group raced over and saw his tattered gi.

"What happened?" Lionel asked.

"Cloven ambushed me, though somehow he was victorious," Jose replied uncertainly.

"Yes, through deceitful means," Felix confirmed grimly.

"I'm really starting to despise that guy," Kiyoshi spat.

"We all do," Lionel agreed vehemently.

Just then, the helicopter returned to collect them.

"I believe I know where they are headed," Grandmaster Sensei Tom declared ominously. "The far side of the island, where the ruins jungle lies."

"That's where we'll stop them for good," Lionel vowed determinedly.

Sekel strode through the crumbling ruins, seeking the temple that housed the green dragon gem. Spying an emerald glow, he rushed inside.

"At last," he uttered greedily. "Minions, retrieve that gem!"

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Jax and Tokido sprinted for the glittering prize just as Grandmaster Sensei's helicopter appeared overhead.

"Not so fast!" Kiyoshi yelled as they leapt down. "Surrender now! Is that right?" he asked Lionel uncertainly.

"Close enough," Lionel replied.

Cloven immediately activated his Spirit Guardian mode. "This will be effortless. I look forward to punishing you for interfering," he taunted menacingly.

Jose transformed as well, his aura blazing. "Cloven is mine," he stated flatly.

They charged, colliding in a flurry of fists.

"I will relish this revenge," Jose declared.

"Keep dreaming, Dragon boy," Cloven scoffed.

Meanwhile, Jax and Tokido continued towards the temple with Sekel. Grandmaster Sensei Tom turned to the others.

"Stop Sekel. We'll handle these two," he commanded. They raced to intercept Sekel just as Jax reached for the gem.

"Stop!" Lionel yelled.

Jax whirled, his eyes suddenly cold and cruel. He remained silent.

"Why won't you speak?" Kiyoshi asked, confused.

"He's being controlled. I don't think he can respond," Lionel deduced grimly.

Kiyoshi pleaded, "Sekel has deceived you, Jax!"

Jax's eyes shifted, activating his Mitsukodorian powers. Tokido followed suit, their auras surging wildly.

"How can we fight two with those eyes?" Kiyoshi despaired.

"With luck," Lionel muttered bitterly.

At Sekel's command, Jax and Tokido attacked viciously. Tokido unleashed a devastating ghost strike at Felix, who barely dodged the crushing blow. Felix swept Tokido's legs, but he adeptly backflipped away before unleashing a brutal ghost uppercut that sent Felix crashing into the ceiling.

Tokido pursued him relentlessly, firing a ghostly blast from his palm.

"He's too strong," Felix groaned, slamming into the floor.

"Transform into me," Mudar urged.

"Will that be enough?" Felix wondered despairingly.

"We must try," Mudar replied firmly.

Felix's aura surged as he shifted into a wolf-human hybrid.

"I am Mudar, the Moon Wolf!" he howled fiercely.

Meanwhile, Jax assaulted Lionel and Kiyoshi relentlessly. They blocked his strikes until he smashed Lionel with an electrically charged kick.

Lionel crashed away as Kiyoshi's aura flared purple. "I am Kitaro, the Shadow Tiger!" he roared, shifting forms.

He unleashed a flurry of shadowy strikes, staggering Jax before slamming him away with a finishing burst.

"Yeah!" Kiyoshi cheered before a crackling orb blindsided him. Lionel facepalmed in frustration.

Jose and Cloven traded thunderous blows until Jose landed a flaming dragon kick, punch, and kick in quick succession, knocking Cloven down decisively.

Leaping upwards, Jose rocketed downwards to finish him, but Cloven blocked the strike before spinning and blasting Jose's back with an inferno pulse.

Jose exploded into a tree before rising, eyes glowing crimson, hands engulfed in fire.

"Let's finish this!" Cloven yelled, activating his ultimate technique. He charged, but Jose adeptly avoided the barrage before slamming Cloven with twin fireballs.

"My turn!" Jose shouted, unleashing a spinning fiery tornado kick that savagely struck Cloven three times before a final fiery punch left him broken on the ground.

A sudden explosion signaled the retreat of Sekel's remaining minions.

"That'll teach them," Scarlet muttered, powering down.

Tokido clutched Felix's throat, preparing a final strike when Felix kicked free and sent Tokido tumbling down the temple steps.

"Whew, that was close," Felix panted.

Lionel battered Jax with radiant fists until a sweeping neon kick and a final powerful strike sent the dazed Jax crashing away, reverting to human form.

Seeing an opening, Kiyoshi leapt off Lionel's shoulders, forming an orb of shadowy energy.

"Shadow Roar Blast!" he thundered, slamming the orb into Jax.

Jax blocked the strike, transforming into Tethyus. But instead of the usual azure eyes, his were fully blackened.

A massive force wave exploded out, staggering the heroes.

"I wish Zebeon was here," Lionel lamented as Jax prepared another attack.

"We've got this," Kiyoshi assured him confidently.

But Jax and Tokido attacked in unison, their combined moves overpowering Kiyoshi and Felix's defenses.

"ZEBEON!" Lionel screamed desperately. A brilliant pink aura flared around him.

"Neon Flash!" Blinding light enveloped the temple, staggering both opponents.

With the opening created, Lionel's blast finally overpowered Jax, hurling him away to slam smoking into a wall, reverting to human form once more.

"Tokido!" Jax cried, racing to his friend.

"I'm alive, but barely," Tokido rasped weakly.

"I can't believe that snake controlled us," Jax said remorsefully.

"Stop him, and avenge our people," Tokido murmured before losing consciousness.

"No, wake up!" Jax begged desperately. The others looked on sadly.

"He was my only family," Jax wept. But Sekel had already claimed the gem and vanished.

"He's on our side now," Jose explained when the others arrived.

"But Sekel escaped," Lionel added grimly.

Suddenly, the temple began quaking violently.

"Outside, hurry!" Grandmaster Sensei Tom urged.

Once outside, the sky darkened ominously as the island fractured into pieces.

"He has the sword," Grandmaster Tom despaired. "Now, dragons, arise!" Sekel commanded.

Four wraith-like figures emerged from the ancient blade.

"You have gathered the gems and uttered the words to summon us," one intoned. "Name your desire."

"I wish to rule you all!" Sekel proclaimed arrogantly.

"It shall be done," the spirit acquiesced.

Sekel cackled maniacally. "The world is now mine!"

Inside the crumbling temple, Tokido regained consciousness. Seeing the others outside, he silently slipped away, discarding his cloak and vanishing in a cloud of smoke.