Sehki's brain hyper fixated on getting to the goal, ignoring his usual excitement of the fire and avian themed obstacle course more elaborate than the ones from physical education.

A large gust targeted at his head, and Cree had to block his attempt to punch a potential threat.

"Relax, it's me. You're still shaken up, huh?"

"Her dad could be dead because of me."

"You're not the one blackmailing Lorena's parents and they'll use her to get to Starlight. Shake it off, what happened to the Demon King who was going to humiliate all the heirs in front of the whole world?"

"What good is a king who can't keep their loved ones safe?"

"There's good in a king who earns the respect of their people to inspire others to act for better causes," slapping him by his back. "And no more worrying about us when you're gone, let's win this race so that you can go back to Earth, first. Then we'll cry about it."

Don't worry Sehki, we'll find a way to get you back if we need you, he recalled.

"You're my third Paladin for a reason," getting held up by the staff, as the two took turns getting each other through the course, catching up with the others. Ainsley rode on top of Bodin's ink hawk from the rear, Taylor rode Delphine with their clothes on, trying to feed her water to stop her from slowing down, and with Mace's Apus magic, Rigal was trying to close the gap between Xia and Calypsa flying ahead in the lead.

"Did Taylor's parents really do that? I can beat Sehki all on my own."

"Well let's put that to the test!"

A large wind burst forced the other supporters barring Xia's away from the floating platform as Sehki ran right behind them. Rigal grunted his teeth at Cree's cyclone pushing Bodin, Mace, and Delphine back.

Angered, all of them, Ainsley eventually sped up, now directly weaving their respective elements. Calypsa smiled while the audience gasped.

"All of the other heirs and Xia's partner have emerged in front of Prince Sehki. Are they planning on eclipsing him from the race?"

Ainsley, Taylor, Rigal, Xia, Calypsa, breathing before surfing on the platforms, jumping off a ramp to fly straight towards them.

"Bring it on, I'll destroy you all!"

He dodged and climbed up the rockstorm Ainsley hurled, surfing on Taylor's wave to the giant tornado Rigal birthed. None of them expected his laughter, riding through and boosting off the walls, accelerating at Xia.

Saiban's princess ignited her arms when his body spun from her fixed flamethrowers, heading for Calypsa instead.

His heart breaker swung her staff against his grip, wrestling and twisting the sky against the pole. She grinned.

"You think you beat all five of us at once," seductively confident. "Let's make each other's fantasies come t-"

He swung and somersaulted off her staff as he let go, flying ahead of her.

"Huh?"

All the competitors barring Ainsley were surprised.

"Unbelievable! Prince Sehki is now in the lead!"

Cree blasted his way above the heirs' and their allies' shocked faces to join Sehki.

"Thought you'd taunt them so much and make them waste energy."

"Just had a bit too much fun. We'll stick to the plan," grinding through a constellation platform, taking a second to enjoy the view and spectacle before the rage of his resentful peers were ready to murder him.

Xia was about to explode when Calypsa dashed through the heavens past Cree to the young prince, knee striking Sehki airborne with glee and grinning straight in his face.

"Show me how strong you've gotten!"

Grinding off her leg with his dark shield and morphing the shadow into a whip, throwing her aside, she lunged off the walls of a floating dragon scale back at him. He slid away from her, jousting and choreographing his body from her attacks.

His hands flowed like water whipping from her Pavo's peacock blades, sky surfing away from her Antlia boost, latching on and swinging on a ring as her Columba sprayed milked that nullified the flames and his liquid, going corporeal while Calypsa's Corvus could eye his movements.

Calypsa tackled him as he jumped out, leading them to face him head off as he struggled to break free from her choke hold on his chest. Pushed by the confidence smirk on her face and the sound of Coma when hair started to feast on his limbs, his shadow covered and pushed them off.

"I'm not your playtoy anymore!" Forming a fang head reminiscent of Victory Rider Shadow, his wind repelled the approaching hair, wetting it up, throwing a fireball she blocked enough for his leg to get coated in rubble and darkness.

He spun off a dragon float as she called for Crux. The collision of his kick and her two handed cross blew them both away from each other.

"Wow, you're becoming far less Meh-ki," wiping down her face. "Having fun?"

He huffed, wiping off the drips on his face. "A bit," as a smile escaped his drive to win. Angry as he was, his heart pounded with respect: given and received. "I'm almost having fun," as the two flew forward with their broom and StellArt respectively.

"Told you I'd make our fantasies come through," pointing to a monitor showing several people's faces as he asked what he meant. "For now, you and me, respected by the whole world, even if just for a few moments. Feels like a dream, doesn't it. You've amassed your own friends and fans, haven't you?"

"Huh, I guess so. But don't you?"

She snickered, shaking her head with a tinge of sorrow. "Only up to the number of fingers. You can overcome things I can't just yet. But," tender, "that's all I need. And when this is all over, I'll be satisfied thanks to you."

I'm helping her? Then why - guess I just have to win to find out!

With enough strength, both bounced towards each other when Xia's drop kick burst between them.

"I'll extinguish you here and now!"