The group was surprised to see a man that they thought for sure had been killed. They watched as the massive man made practice swings with his blade. He seemed to be so absorbed in his training that he didn't even notice the others arrive.
"Are you serious? I thought that guy was supposed to be dead." Erik said, astonished.
"You there! Explain yourself!" Mizuhiro (formerly known as Water) ordered Black Mask.
But the giant masked man did not give a response to him. He simply continued to swing his axe and training.
"Yeah, I forgot to this guy wasn't exactly known for being talkative." Erik chimed in.
"Yes, that's right. He actually hasn't a word since we found him a few months ago." President Drump said.
Black Mask didn't say a word until he caught a glimpse of Hezikiah.
"It's you." He said as he stopped what he was doing immediately. "I've been waiting to have an opportunity to fight with you again for years."
"Is that so, well, that's fine. However, in return if win you will have to help us." Hezikiah suggested.
"Very well, just so you know this won't go the way it did last time. I've been training tirelessly for the past two years." Black Mask said. "Our first match technically has never been settled. So let's decide a victor right here, right now!"
After their fight Hezikiah, was standing over the bloody and beaten body of Black Mask.
"You're right it wasn't like our last fight at all. You e gotten light years stronger." Hezikiah said with a smile as he collapsed to the ground as well. He had been slashed in the shoulder so severely that it had almost been ripped off.
With Black Mask and the rest added to the roster they now had 13 out of the 15 team members that they needed for their battle against the Empire.
The team went back to Vercheg and went over their current roster and discussed their plans of how they were going to fill the final two spots.
"Well, the most obvious choices would be Denjimi and Toudou. They're clearly the strongest remaining fighters among our forces." "Earth" said.
"They're definitely the best choice we've got." Toro said. "That being said, I think we should hold off on using them."
"But My Lord, we are prepared to lay down our lives for this battle. Please, allow us to fight with you." Toudou said as he and Denjimi took a knee in front of Toro.
"Do you perhaps think that we are not strong enough?" Denjimi asked.
"It's nothing like that." Toro replied trying to calm the two down. "I'm simply planning for contingencies."
"What do you mean?" Denjimi asked.
"We're putting all our strongest warriors into this fight against the Empire, but I think we should hold back a few guys just in case things don't go our way." Toro explained.
"That doesn't sound like you. You're usually only focused on victory." Hezikiah said.
"That's usually true, but we all have families to think about now. I want some capable warriors to protect them just in case the worst comes to happen." Toro replied.
"I understand My Lord, we will protect your family no matter what happens. That goes for the others' families as well." Toudou said with Denjimi nodding in agreement.
With that, the final rosters were set for both teams, and the final showdown between the Empire and the Vercheg Coalition were ready to go down.