"it's over... Sister..."

Liu muttered before removing his sister's mask and throwing it to the side. Shawn's eyes widened before struggling in pain and suffering. Grunting loudly as the consequences for her mask's removal. Liu's eyes shower immense concern towards his struggling sister before feeling relieved once she started to calm down. After lowering her head, Liu cut of the net that tangled her and gently placed her on the metal floor.

"Shawn, are you alright? Speak to me!" Shouted Liu before the female bug replied with an exhausted voice.

"L... Liu? Where am I...?" Hearing her sister's clear voice made Liu feel ecstatic and hugged his long lost sister.

"I'm glad you're back!!!" Said the bug, holding her even tighter.

"What happened...? I remember packing in my room then a red explosion occured..."

"It's alright, Shawn. I'll tell you everything I swear but first... Let me hold you longer... I missed you so much I thought... I thought you were gone!"

"Oh Liu..."

Shawn showed a small smile as she hugged his younger brother in return. Liu couldn't held back his tears and ended up crying over her shoulders.

After a few minutes. Miyo and the rest slowly regained their strength and consciousness. They felt only a faint pain at some part of their body, the effect of getting attacked by Shawn. Soon Pala felt a tap on his back, he turned around to see Liu with a wide smile until he saw Shawn behind her and panicked. Alerting Lonky and Miyo as the Giraffe screamed and panicked as well.

"It's her! She's back!!!" Screamed Lonky while Shawn looked rather confused and anxious as to why they suddenly panicked.

"It's alright guys. She's back to normal" Liu manages to reassure them both but they still felt traumatized by her. "Shawn, These are my friends! Guys this is my sister, Shawn" Liu introduced them.

"Hello!" Shawn greyed with a beautiful smile and a friendly wave but Lonky and Pala were still afraid of her.

"You did it Liu. Your plan worked" Miyo complimented the bug.

"It's all thanks to teamwork. By the way, where's Yuu? I though he'd be here with you?" Liu asked.

"He's-" Miyo was cut off by Yuu's distant voice.

"I'm over here!"

All of them turned towards their right and saw Yuu walking out of the hallway, holding an unconscious Rema on his arms.

"Woah, you caught her!" Said Lonky, looking thrilled.

"Did you had a hard time?" Miyo asked and Yuu replied by shifting his head side to side before placing Rema on the floor.

"Nah. It was rather easy but I had to electrocute her just in case. Hanabi is also taken care of, I left her at the High Ground"

"Wow you're awesome!" Said Pala. Amazed that Yuu defeated two Dv8 all by himself.

"Oh hey, you managed to save your sister. Good job, Liu"

The bug's antenna perked up before replying.

"Oh yeah, I almost forgot to introduce you two! Shawn this is Yuu my other friend! Yuu this is Shawn, my sister"

Yuu glanced at the tall female bug with her eyes slightly widened at him. Having to show a friendly manner, Yuu raised his right hand and closed his eyes to show that he was smiling underneath his bandages.

"Nice to finally meet you" Yuu greeted but Shawn looked rather surprised until she spoke.

"Yuu... The Human?" Suddenly, everyone fell to an immediate silence. They're eyes instantly widened after hearing what she said.

"How did you know that he's... A human?!" Liu asked the question all of them were thinking of. Shawn paused for a moment, taking a few seconds to process Liu's question before giggling as part of her reply.

"Haha~ It's alright all of you don't have too look so surprised" Said Shawn, still giggling before speaking clearly this time. "The elder of his tribe told me all about him when he asked me to create something that could help him blend with his surroundings. I first thought of making a watch that changes your color scheme but I decided to give you clothing's instead, to help prevent anyone from seeing who you are. It's okay, you're secret is safe with me" Shawn reassured them all as she gestured by placing a finger on her lips.

Yuu let out a relieving sigh before responding.

"I see... For a second there I thought I'd have to erase your memories"

"Woah! You can do that?" Lonky asked.

"Anyone can do that. Just whack a person with a hammer and give them amnesia" Yuu's awkward joke failed to amuse anyone and only placed Liu and the rest with a cringed look but, Rema, on the other hand, laughed which immediately captured their attention.

"Good one" Said the white haired feline before standing up. Brushing the dust away from her clothing and looking at Yuu in the eye. Her Previous dark red eyes became rosy red and ocean blue. Surprising Yuu for a moment. "But I speak for everyone that you should stop on making jokes like that. It's really cringey"

"You can't blame me for trying" Yuu replied, sounding a bit cheerful. "Nice eyes by the way" Yuu complimented Rema's beautifully colored eyes making her snicker as she showed a crescent smile.

"Don't fall now. These eyes deceived many during the past years" Rema replied to him but her usual alluring and flirtatious tone of voice disappeared. Only sounding like a normal girl who holds many secrets.

"It's good to have you back to us, Rema" Said Miyo next to her.

"Thank you all for rescuing us. You're Miyo, correct?" Rema asked, facing the other feline.

"You know me?"

"The only spy that can read anyone's mind. Of course I know you" Rema smiled at Miyo, causing her to smile as well before Rema looked down and spoke. "I was assigned to gather information on charming Gold but... He found out about me and I was captured... He brainwashed all of us and turned out into his slaves... That's why I'm thankful that all of you managed to rescue us"

"So who's left in the Dv8?" Yuu asked them. "We have to finish this game here and now... We can't let that peacock get away after all that he did"

Everyone suddenly looked serious. All having a determined look on their faces before nodding in unison to Yuu's last sentence.

"I think Makhan is left. But I have all the courage in Kuga that he can win this without our help"

Meanwhile, in Charming Gold's quarters. The Peacock screamed in rage as he threw all of his nearby furnitures on the floor, destroying it before screaming once more to let out his steaming rage.

"How did they lose to them??!!!! ARGH!!!!"

Then one of his robot servants arrived to announce something.

"Mr. Gold, it's time to go. It's highly likely that the Running Men team will win this round so it's time to announce who the winner is" Said the robot but with a snap of Charming Gold's fingers, a black portal appeared and pulled the robot servants into the void before disappearing.

"Silence!!!" Shouted the peacock. "Okay.... Let's announce then..." Charming Gold gritted his teeth and clenched his fist in sheer rage. More parts of his cheek started to crack and wither away, revealing a wrinkly flesh underneath the withering skin before screaming in anger once more.
"So it looks like they'll win... Alright... Let the final round begin!"

Dr. Mala rained the hallways after exiting the Elimination room through a secret portal entrance. Soon a Holographic screen of Charming Gold appeared Infront of him, his fur perked up in sheer terror after witnessing the cracks on his face.

"Dr. Mala..." Charming Gold spoke behind the holographic screen. "Since things aren't going exactly as we planned... The final step must happen today"

"What...? But..." Dr. Mala hesitated for a moment. "We can't. It's too s-soon! If we change our previous plans then the results will be unpredictable or... Catastrophic!"

"Ehem! Are you... Disobeying me?" Charming Gold spoke calmly but his voice showed that he was hiding an immense anger which frightened Dr. Mala. "You do know what happened to those who refuses to listen to my orders..." Dr. Mala recalled having to see Charming Gold absorb the youth of those who betrayed him. Leaving the body of his victims only an empty, drained carcass. "Do I... Have your attention now?"

"Yes! Of course!" The doctor replied immediately. "I'll head to the lab and work on it right away! But... I still think this will end up wrong..."

"I don't keep you alive so you can think, I keep you alive you that you can follow my orders! Now go!!!"

"Y-yes Charming Gold!"

After some time, Liu and the rest arrived at the Bell Hunter arena. The area where there are dozen of Charming Gold Statues around them. Once all of them arrived safely in the area, a large screen appeared on the wall in front of them.

"Now what?" Lonky exclaimed before the Peacock appeared on screen, live for the audience and the Running Men Team.

"Ladies and Gentlemen..." Charming Gold announced with a wide smile from behind the screen but the crowd made a ruckus. Annoyed to see that the match has stopped once more. "Welcome to the 100th Running Man Championship! What you saw... Was just a special event before the Finale! What a show am I right?"

"A special event? What's he going on about?! Isn't this suppose to be the last game?" Lonky kept asking rhetorical questions but Yuu answered them anyways.

"The peacock is Choking..."

"However..." Charming Gold continued to announce. "We cannot continue the game due to an error in the stadium's system. But atleast we know which team will compete in the Finale so let's cheer them on! And we promise that tomorrow's game will happen without any setbacks... Good bye everyone!" Charming Gold ended the feed and caused an uproar of the crowd. Throwing their food at the huge monitor and booing for his disappointing announcement. But A group of huge menacing Robots appeared and pushed the audience to the exit by force. Causing a panic as all of the people watching the game fled to safety.

"Finale? He means we're going to play one more game?" Pala asked.

"What the heck is going on?!" Lonky asked in annoyance before Miyo replied, having a smirk across her face.

"I think Charming Gold has already given up" Said Miyo, feeling victorious but Yuu popped her bubble.

"No... This is far from over..." Yuu muttered with a deep voice that held many meanings. "He has plans in-store..."

"I agree with Yuu" Shawn responded. "I know Charming Gold... He's just appeasing the crowd..."

Soon they heard faint grunting from behind. Once they turned to see who it was, they were then both surprised and relieved to see Kuga holding an injured Makhan across his shoulders.

"So what's next with the plan, Liu?" Kuga asked with a smile.

"He beat Makhan?!" Lonky gawked.

"Why do you look so surprised? It's like you doubted him or something" Yuu said to Lonky and the Giraffe replied by nervously laughing and shrugging.

"What no I don't... Hehe. This is getting serious..." Lonky whispered his last sentence to Pala.

"Alright let's plan our next step. Because now Charming Gold is pretty much defenceless without the Dv8 under his control" Liu stated but Shawn popped his bubble this time.

"Liu... Charming Gold... Is not to be underestimated" Said the female bug, confusing the rest.

"I agree with your sister this time" The bandaged man agreed, crossing his hands before continuing his sentence. "Charming Gold may look skinny, weak, defenceless and a hopeless egotistical jerk, like Lonky... No offense"

"Hey!!!" Lonky scoffed to what Yuu have said.

"But he's a dangerous man. He emits an Aura where even I was intimidated when I was face to face with him... And you know me... I don't get intimidated by anyone" Yuu's tone suddenly dropped and became deeper than before. Intimidating the rest, even Shawn and Rema, with his voice and made Lonky and Pala gulped down their saliva. "But back to what I said, we can't underestimate that Peacock. So let's think of a good plan while we still have time"

"I... I see. Thanks for the heads-up" Liu thanked the Bandaged man before all of them huddled in a circular formation to discuss their plans. "Okay first, it's likely that Charming Gold has already left his quarters, who here knows where he will go next?" Asked the bug but no one had a good answer.

"I don't remember much of his whereabouts..." Rema responded. "My memory is still a bit vague"

"That's alright. We'll think of something else" Liu reassured her before Shawn spoke.

"Dr. Mala... Yes! Dr. Mala knows where Charming Gold is!"

"That sly doctor, of course!" Said Rema, clenching her golden-clawed hand in anger. "He knows everything! That dirty old leech!"

"Woah, calm down" Said the bandaged man.

"Never tell a woman to calm down Yuu!" Rema shouted while Yuu, Lonky and Pala tried to hold back their small laughter due to the De Ja Vu moment where Miyo said the same thing when she was held like a wild animal by Makhan. The pink haired cat realized why they were holding in their laugh and immediately retracted her claws. Sounds of slashes and whimpers were heard before Yuu, Lonky and Popo fell to silence. Having claw marks on the side of their faces but to Yuu, the marks were embedded on his bandages.

"I'm sorry..." Yuu apologized but Rema had already calmed down moments before Miyo's attack.

"Anyways... Dr. Mala is the old guy with the broken horn right?" Lonky asked, trying to divert the previous topic.

"Yes. That's him" Shawn replied. "He works for Charming Gold and he knows where he is including all of his plans"

"Wait... Weren't you the leader of the Dv8?" Kuga asked as well.

"Unfortunately I am..." Shawn gestured by shifter her head left and right before continuing. "But I was brainwashed by Charming Gold to do his bidding... But Dr. Mala isn't. He's just going along with whatever Charming Gold orders him to do."

"Hmm..." Liu thought for a moment before his eyes caught Shawn's watch.

"Shawn, you can communicate with your team from that watch correct?" Asked the bug.

"Yes. Why?"

"I bet we can track Dr. Mala with it!"

"You think we could?"

"I know we can" Liu smirked and pulled out his super drill to work his magic.

After a few second of reprogramming the system on her watch, Dr. Mala's voice was heard through the watch after pressing a button. Surprising the others before they fell into silence to hear who and what the doctor is talking about.

"But Charming Gold, I-if we overdose the Soul Tree by injecting every Drug we have t-then it may deteriorate the Tree and there's a s-strong possibility that we may not be able to revive it again!" Dr Mala spoke with a nervous voice that caused him to stutter in each word.

"Injecting the Soul Tree with a Drug?" Lonky muttered. "That doesn't sound good..."

"Since when is injecting a drug ever a good thing?" Yuu asked a rhetorical question before continuing to listen to the conversation.

"If that happens... Then your dream of creating a new race... Won't come true!"

"A new race...?" Said Miyo u til Charming Gold's voice was heard out loud this time.

"You will do as you're told! I've been a live for a Thousand Years, dreaming of this very moment!!! I'm tired of waiting!!!" Charming Gold shouted through the communication system.

"Charming Gold is... A thousand years old?" Said the tiger in shock as the rest.

"I've been in charge of the Running Man Tournaments before any of you were Born! The Materion will make me live forever! Hahaha!" The peacock laughed maniacally before proceeding to speak once more. "So the games will always be mine and mine to decide who will win! And as for the new race? The new race is me! Everyone will kneel before me and those who resist will parish by my hands! I will rule this world at any cost!!!" Now do as I say and inject the Soul Tree with the drug now!!!"

"Y... Yes sir..."

The commutation then ended. The rest was left with a widened eyes and an open mouth as all of them were shocked to hear Charming Gold's revelation.

"Charming Gold has already been planning all of this the whole time! And if he injects the Drug then he'll win!" Said Lonky out loud.

"So all this time... Charming Gold has been the same person yet never aged through the years...?" Pala exclaimed.

"That's why he's so obsessed with the Materion..." Miyo muttered before Shawn replied to what she said.

"But if the Drug is too strong then the Materion Dies, the Soul Tree too"

"Then we have no time to lose. We must stop him right away" The Bug stated as he stood up straight.

"Yuu, is something the wrong?" Rema asked Audible, catching everyone's attention as they stared at Yuu. Noticing an ominous aura around him. His eyebrows creased, his fists tightened and faint grunting was heard from his breath. As if he was preventing himself from exploding in anger.

"He lied... HE LIED!!!" The bandaged man suddenly shouted out loud, surprising everyone as they were placed in small confusion.

"What are you talking about?" Rema asked once more.

Yuu let out powerful breaths but manages to reply clearly.

"That Peacock told me he wanted to create a world where people who were abandoned can live together in peace, away from those that betrayed them... Just like him... He offered that to me in an attempt to make me join him but I refused... But Hanabi... She believed him. She wanted to live in a world Charming Gold envisioned... But it was all a Lie! Charming Gold wanted to Rule everything from the start! He never planned to create a world for those who were betrayed and abandoned... All of this... Is just for his own sick, greed!!!"

Yuu became even angrier, he felt like punching the wall until his anger fades but he felt a hand placed on his shoulders. It was Liu. Smiling at him but with eyes of determination, surprising Yuu.

"It's alright. That's why we're here as a right now. So that we can out an end to his scheme" Yuu paused for a moment and took time to take in the Bug's words. His eyes then trialed towards the others. Seeing everyone with the same smile and eyes of determination just like Liu.

"We'll give Charming Gold what he deserves. Don't worry, Yuu" Said Rema with a calm voice. Placing her right hand on her waist as she posed with an alluring posture.

"See? All of us have one thing in common right now. And that is stopping Charming Gold. So... Are you still with us?" Liu asked, hoping for him to answer.

Yuu took once more glance at the people Infront of him before closing his eyes and letting out a deep, calming breath as he answer.

"Yeah. I'm with all of you till the end"
Having to smile underneath his bandages. The group rejoiced by smiling widely until the floor they were standing on began to shake.

Alerting everyone as they started to feel like the floor was sinking.

"What's going on?!" Lonky asked loudly before the floor completely dropped. All of them screamed as the fell into a dark abyss along with the concrete floor.

"HAHAHA...." A loud Laughter was heard echoing around every area in Tree City. "This is the Finale... It's Running Time..."