Synopsis: Wanna know how Hou Ren plans Path To Liberation & acquires new gifts? Well, you're in luck as the latter takes a trip down memory lane.
Anime Opening: Black & White
6 months & 6 weeks ago, the moon was full as it shone above the night sky. A tired & exhausted 15-year-old boy just came home from school. He tosses his school bag aside and lays on his bed while facepalming himself. He remembers a few moments.
Gwen: You planned the kidnapping. You Liar.
Masato: You're an attention seeker.
Natalie: You don't trust us at all.
Daryl: You're A Joke.
Once the flashback ends, Hou Ren's expression remains the same as he then remembers even more memories.
Hou Ren's Mother: When are you going to behave?
Hou Ren's Dad: Idiot.
Ms Shafi: You garbage student.
Ms Pauline: Apologize right now or you are suspended for LIFE.
Yet Another memory was shown.
Citizen #1: FREAKS.
Citizen #2: SHOWOFFS.
Citizen #3: LET THE BUDDY POLICE DO THE WORK.
The Draknights constantly got discriminated. Food & trash was thrown at them nonstop. At their secret base.....
Trickstar: (Bang a wall) I can't take it anymore.
Blaze: I swear, I want to burn them to ash.
Hou Ren: Absolutely Not. Killing is the last thing we do.
Garga: But at this rate, they will keep going like this.
Hou Ren: I know, but I still believe they can change. We just have to keep trying.
Kaizer: You know what I'm done. Hou, we tried to do it your way but it's not working. I officially leave the Draknights.
Hou Ren: What?
Magician: I agree. You created us so that you won't feel alone and so much more. End up what happened? We got stomped on instead. You got stomped on.
Lost Ren: We're not your servants and you're just a clown that's putting on a lousy show. You're blind to see reality.
Garga: Agreed. Hou Ren, you're too naïve. You need to stop pleasing people on top of that.
Hou Ren: I...
Garga: Until you realize your mistake, we will not side with you in future events.
Hou Ren: What. Gar....
Garga turns around and leaves. The remaining knights follow, leaving Hou Ren dumbfounded. The memory ends and Hou Ren still lies on his bed before sitting back up sadly.
Hou Ren: Man... (sigh) Times up. I need to head to shower.
As Hou Ren walks to his bathroom, a card accidentally drops out of his pocket. Hou Ren picks it up in calm surprise.
Hou Ren: This card...
Once again, another memory was shown. A day before the current moment, he was waiting at a bus stop on a rainy day while carrying a bag of groceries. A man walks in beside him.
???: Hello, Hou Ren.
Hou Ren: What..... You're.....Kyoya Gaen.
Kyoya: Nice to meet you.
Hou Ren: What do you want from me? I'm willing to try kung fu.
Kyoya: Calm down. I have come to help you.
Hou Ren: What do you mean?
Kyoya: I would like you....to have this. (Shows the Dragon EIN flag)
Hou Ren: That flag.....But....
Kyoya: Yes. But now, you shall be the new owner of this flag.
Hou Ren: But why?
Kyoya: I've been watching you and I'm impressed with your achievements. But I also felt sorry when you suffer at the hands of cruel people.
Hou Ren: I...
Kyoya: Don't you realize you're putting on a show for them? You made a lot of strides. But people see you as an eyesore regardless.
Hou Ren: I.....
Kyoya: And I don't mean to say this but.... all this time, people around you are just poisoning you. They don't care about how you feel. You're just being used so that they can toss you around.
Hou Ren: That's not true....
Kyoya: Deep down, you know I'm right. But with this, you can change everything. Set yourself free. Break free from those holding you back.
Hou Ren reluctantly takes the flag and looks at it with curiosity. He looks up again and surprisingly notices Kyoya is gone. The moment the memory ends in sync with his current expression, his eyes become sharper than ever.
Immediately, all the cards he owns are spilled onto his bed. Bit by bit, he builds a new deck. He even went to a store the next day and bought a whole box. Eventually, his deck is complete. But something feels missing as he looks at a picture. He then phone calls someone.
Hou Ren: It's me. We need to talk.
Outside the Buddy Card Office, Hou Ren is waiting for someone. A familiar voice caught up to him.
???: Hou Ren.
Hou Ren turns around and Garga is the one who stands before him. The two look at each other eye to eye sternly. The winds are gusting as leaves are flying past them.
Hou Ren: I'm sorry. It's all my fault.
Garga: Convince me otherwise.
Hou Ren: This whole time, I've been wasting my efforts. I just keep pleasing people when I should do it for my own sake. I'm such a blind idiot.
Hou Ren clenches his right fist while hating himself.
Hou Ren: People don't just hate us, they're jealous of us. So jealous that they become so judgmental & corrupted. I couldn't even change their minds. I'm just nothing but a failure.
Hearing this, Garga felt a bit surprised.
Garga: You...
Hou Ren: You're right. Lost Ren's right. I'm too naïve to see the reality. Hate me all you want but I want to make things right. I'm sorry for being a jerk. I'm sorry I pushed you away. I'm...
Garga suddenly comes forward and hugs his buddy. Now Hou Ren's the one being stunned.
Garga: I wasn't upset with at all, Hou Ren. I was just sad that you lost your way. I had always been by your side all along. And I always knew....my buddy would always get back up no matter what.
Hou Ren: (hugs back while crying)I'm sorry... I'm so sorry.
Garga: It's okay. We're buddies till the end.
Suddenly Garga starts to glow. His crystal sparks bright leaving both of them surprised and let go.
Hou Ren: Garga? What's going on?
Garga: I don't know.....but I can feel power surging through me....could this mean?
Hou Ren: You're evolving?
While Hou Ren stares in shock, little do they know that Light Kurouzu is watching them from afar inside the building. The next day at school, Ms Shafi was talking to one of the teachers in the staff office.
Shafi: Oh I can't stand Hou Ren nowadays, always on his IPAD and playing games and saying that he's doing "homework". He's so stupid.
Teacher #2: Seriously?
Shafi: Yeah. Does he even pay attention at all? And what good will he do in the future? He's such a failure and I will confiscate his IPAD the moment he uses it in my class.
Teacher #2: You could get in trouble you know.
Shafi: Who cares? Besides, it's just the two of us in the room. No one would know. Just like no one knows that I'm the reason why the knights receive a lot of hate. For I lay out false rumors about the knights.
Teacher #2: You what?
Shafi: No one would know. It's for the best of this world. Those miserable knights must pay for ever existing in this world.
However, outside the staff room, Hou Ren & Garga were secretly recording her using their phones. They felt disappointed as they shake their heads.
Hou Ren: Unbelievable...
Garga: And I thought Teachers are supposed to guide students.
Hou Ren: Yeah. If she is my phone, I will put her on silent mode.
This same action is repeated for 5 weeks. Along the way, Hou Ren have to endure his parent's peer pressure & nagging. Not to mention some cold stares. When school ended one day, they have a talk at the BP's rooftop. Hou Ren was looking at the sunset while Garga stood behind him.
Hou Ren: My friend.....I'm leaving Malaysia.
Garga: Really? But Why?
Hou Ren: The answer is obvious.....the odds are against me.
Garga: But what good would leave Malaysia do?
Hou Ren: Simple. As I said, people are so judgmental nowadays. Unable to see the bright picture. Refusing to acknowledge us, listen to us or even understand us. We're a menace to them.
Garga: Hou Ren.....
Hou Ren: Literally, I was bound by chains. I kept thinking that we can show them our worth. But guess what, it's all a ruse. I kept getting crushed. Or rather, WE kept getting crushed. I need to set us free.
Garga stares at him in calm shock.
Hou Ren: If everything we do.....If everything I do...is just creating more conflict. If we're never meant to be somewhat heard...
Garga: But still, You need to face them instead of running away.
Hou Ren: For what? Nothing's gonna change even if I do something. For God's sake, I must move on.
Garga: You.....
Hou Ren: (sigh) There's a saying by an old master of ours. "You must detach from what's holding you back". And what's holding me back are those stinking ungrateful traitors.
Garga: Hou Ren...
Hou Ren:
Have you noticed from the beginning of this?
Before Lost Ren, before everyone, all this time, it's just been me.
No matter what happens here.
If this is the only way. If I'm the root of this madness.
If I'm the key to close it all. If my brothers are in it or not.....(Turn around) It's me & you...against the entire world.
Garga felt surprised to see how much his Buddy had become. Little do they know that Tasuku & Jack were secretly watching them from afar while feeling worried.
When night time arrives, the two enter their secret base & all the Draknights are there looking stern.
Hou Ren: (sigh) I owe you all an apology.
Lost Ren: Elaborate, please.
Hou Ren: (sigh) I'm an idiot okay. Like do people appreciate us at all nowadays? NO. Do people like understand us as equals? NO. Change their mind for what? Epic fail.
Lost Ren: So you noticed.
Hou Ren: And I deeply regret pleasing them like circus animals. We need to stop. But before that, I need to say I'm sorry. I'm deeply sorry for using all of you as tools. I'm deeply sorry for pushing you all away. And I'm sorry for being such a jerk.
The Draknights stare for a bit and Sensei Ren steps up to him.
Sensei: Who says anything about pushing us away? We were by your side the whole time.
Hou Ren: What? I still...
Sensei: Hou Ren, the real reason we left you is because you need to realize that not everything can be changed easily. Not to mention, we can't always baby you. You need to start being independent.
Agent: Sensei's right. And you need to realize that you can't always please people.
Kaizer: Aside from that, You're not an idiot. You're not stupid. You're just....well too hopeful and too naïve, no offense.
Garga: And too pure of heart to believe that things could change.
Hou Ren: Okay, I get your point. Are you guys going to accept my apology or not?
Trickstar: Well.... seeing that you learned your lesson...I forgive you.
Kaizer: Same here.
Every single Draknight agreed. Lost Ren felt reluctant but he nodded as well.
Hou Ren: Thanks, guys.....
Lost Ren: Just don't do it again. Come. I know you didn't invite us just to apologize.
Hou Ren: Okay. What do you guys know about (reveals his new flag) this?
Lost Ren: (Shocked) IMPOSSIBLE!!!
Blaze: How did you...
Garga: Long story...
After a brief transition.
Draknights: You're Going To Do WHAT?
Hou Ren: Can you please calm down?
Blaze: But isn't that.....running away?
Garga: I told him that too.....
Hou Ren: What good would it do if we stay? Nothing's gonna change unless we leave.
Trickstar: Then....what's the Dragon EIN flag for?
Hou Ren: (place it back to his deck) Before I leave, I want to have One Last Buddyfight. I want to deal with a rat. Or rather....a vixen.
Lost Ren: Let me guess.....Ms Shafi.
Garga: Correct. She's the reason why we've been getting unfair backlash. Jealousy has consumed her.
Hou Ren: I have two goals. One, expose her. Two, if it works, open everyone's eyes. But I doubt the second one would succeed. Either way, we must liberate ourselves from this misery.
Everyone stares at their leader in curiosity.
Hou Ren: Let me say it...THE THING I ADMIRE, EVERYTHING I FOUGHT FOR DOESN'T EXIST ANYMORE. IT'S OVER. IT'S ENDS NOW.
Garga: Calm down, Hou Ren. Regardless, you all have two options. You can come with us into our new life, or you can stay here and look after the citizens in secret. We won't force you either way.
Everyone thought about it for a while. Lost Ren walks forward and taps his shoulder.
Lost Ren: I'm coming with you.
Hou Ren: Lost Ren?
Lost Ren: You both can't honestly survive on your own. Where are you going to go on top of that?
Rockstar: Agreed. Also, what for to stay when our place is destroyed. It will be endless hate if we stay. We need to purge it or else.
Everyone else nodded in agreement which made Hou Ren smile.
Hou Ren: Join my hand. All of you.
Hou Ren places his right hand in the middle and everyone stacks their hands on top of it and each other. The Gar Trio even join.
Hou Ren: Tomorrow, we make our final stand. We do it as a family. And I promise you this...I will liberate us from this misery. For Glory. For Freedom. For Victory.
All: YEAH.
Suddenly, Everyone's Aura glows and they feel surprised.
Sensei: What's Going On?
All of a sudden, tons of new cards appear before them. They let go of their hands and grab the cards slowly.
Trickstar: Did we just....
Garga: Create new cards?
Everyone stares at their new powers in shock. Soon after, The Day of Liberation arrived. Immediately, everyone prepares their gadgets. Their faces become serious as they stand righteously with their equipment.
Trickstar: I'm gonna miss this place NGL.
Hou Ren: We all will.
Suddenly, everything went pitch black except for the young leader. Hou Ren draws his sword and swings it in very well in slow motion.
Hou Ren: (Thought) The final chapter has arrived. I must end this tragic story. And I will do whatever it (creates a slash)takes(Thought)
The moment the slash was created, it struck down a frightened Ms Shafi on the stage.
Ms Shafi: But.... how...How did you.....
Hou Ren stands before her while feeling hateful as he wields his sword. The moment he held his sword up high, everyone else in the stands are in fear. Hou Ren strikes his opponent down with the latter yells in pain. It was entirely dark later on.
???: And that's the story.
It arrives at the present day. At a park, Daryl, Masato, Gwen, Alec, and Eden were astonished. It was revealed that Hou Ren was telling them a story.
Daryl: Woah.....
Masato: For share.....
Hou Ren: After that, we left and start a new life. I met a few new friends and you know what happens next.
Alec: I must say....That was intense.
Gwen: But why are you telling us all of this?
Hou Ren: Let's just say, an acquaintance of mine mentioned Kyoya's Name. And then it reminded me of this tale. (shrugs) Plus, Daryl & Masato wouldn't stop bugging me earlier.
Masato: Oh yeah that...
Hou Ren: (Bangs the table) Believe me when I say this but I had enough of unfair backlash, the pure neglection, everything. I couldn't stand it anymore.
Masato: Woah Calm down man. It's okay. We feel you.
Ms Pauline: (arrives)Well...now that I heard the story.....I'm deeply sorry for what happened.
Hou Ren: Ms? What are you doing here?
Pauline: I just happen to be in the neighborhood. Anyways, you certainly opened my eyes. You accomplished what we could not.
Gwen: Yeah, you're the first student to surpass a teacher.
Alec: You traveled to California without using vehicle transportation.
Eden: And the fact that you use different worlds all at once? I'm impressed, Hou Ren.
Hou Ren: I suppose.
Alec: And you know, if any future events occur, don't hesitate to ask for help.
Everyone else nods.
Hou Ren: Thanks guys. Aight, I gotta head back home. It's getting late.
Masato: See you man.
The Moment He Left, everyone stares in warm smiles.
Daryl: It's good to have him back.
Masato: For share.
Eden: (Thought) He can do anything when he puts his mind to it. (Thought)
Alec: (Thought) After all, he's our greatest rival & friend. (Thought)
The story ends with Hou Ren walking into the sunset.
Anime Ending: Gonna be right.
Story End.
Hou Ren: Just a chill day or so I hope. Illegal monsters just rampage across the city. What's going on? Next time, "Disaster Struck". Join us for a buddyfight.