With a new arena for the Dark Tournament, the semifinals have at last gotten underway. Elsewhere, in a cave in the mountains far away from the arena, Yusuke was undertaking his final, greatest trial from Genkai. At that time, Hiei was fighting against his opponent, Makintaro of the Reverse Bedtime Stories team, and defeated him with a single blow.
Hiei Battles Consecutively!
Shoot Your Black Dragon Wave!
Juri announces that Makintaro is down, and seeing as he is unable to continue fighting, she declares Hiei as the winner. Koto comments on how fast that was, as she didn't even have time to do any commentary. Hiei tells Shishiwakamaru to roll the dice, as he has a feeling his name will be coming up again.
Shishiwakamaru tells him not to get too carried away, and then rolls the dice. The names land on free choice and Kuro Momotaro. Momotaro sees that he's up next, but doesn't seem that bothered. Meanwhile, at the cave...
Yusuke is still writhing in agony. He starts punching a wall and shattering it to pieces before stopping and rolling around. Genkai thinks it was too soon to give Yusuke this trial. She rolls him over and says he can't take any more, so she will take back the spirit wave orb.
She removes the orb from Yusuke's body, but before she can absorb it back into herself, Yusuke stops her. He asks her what the hell is she doing? She tells him the spirit wave orb is a ball of spirit energy, condensed to its very limits. If his body isn't up to the task of accepting this energy, he'll be blown to bits. Yusuke tells her he can endure this, and he takes the orb back.
He forces it back into his body, and the pain begins again. As he goes back to punching walls, Genkai thinks that without him taking this power, Yusuke would lose to Toguro. She'd hoped that if he had obtained enough spiritual power during the tournament, he could endure this trial. And whilst his spiritual power has risen, the odds of him surviving this trial are 50/50.
Keiko suddenly wakes up from a nightmare. Botan wakes up and asks her what's wrong, and she says it was to do with Yusuke. Botan tells her it was just a dream, but then realizes how light it is outside. She gets everyone else up, as the matches have already started.
Back at the stadium, Hiei says that he'll be fighting again. Momotaro asks Onji if Hiei can't use his black dragon wave again, and Onji says it's 100% impossible for him to use it. Hiei is still suffering from the aftereffects of the last time he used that technique, and his demon energy is only at about 60% as well.
Onji also says that Hiei isn't a natural evil eye master, either. Which means he doesn't have enough experience taming the flames of the Demon Realm here in the Human Realm. Hiei asks Kuro Momotaro what the matter is, whilst Kuwabara yells at them for dawdling.
Juri says they'd like to get the match started soon. Onji tells Momotaro that in any case, Hiei can't shoot his black dragon wave, which is the greatest technique among the wicked king immolation fist. However he probably can use other techniques beside the black dragon wave, but whatever they are, he believes Momotaro can withstand them. Momotaro says he's relieved to hear that, and calls Hiei an ordinary runt if he can't use the black dragon wave.
Juri calls the two fighters forward. Momotaro tells Hiei not to be too pleased with himself for defeating Makintaro, as he didn't have enough of what it takes to be a ruler in the underworld. He removes Hiei's sword and then kicks Makintaro's corpse off the ring. He says he's in a bit of a different category from Makintaro, and then compliments Hiei's sword. Hiei says he'll lend it to him if he likes, but the rental fee will be his life.
Momotaro thanks him for the offer, and then slices one of his arms with the sword. Everyone wonders why he's just done that, but he says how much it hurts, and how well the sword cuts. He places the sword into the ground, and says he's now memorized how sharp it is. He then removes an item from his belt.
ITEM OF DARKNESS
STRANGE, BEAUTIFUL SWEET DUMPLING
Momotaro crushes the sphere and inhales the fumes that come out of it. As he does this, the wound on his arm heals itself, and then his entire body begins to change.
BUJUU SOUKOU: MAEN NO SOU
(War Beast Armor: Armor of Demon Monkey)
Kurama says the demons on this team are a special variety, that each has their own specific Demon Realm items. Momotaro says he'll return Hiei's dull blade, as it'll no longer be of any use against him. Hiei catches it and says this is going to be interesting.
Juri signals for the fight to start, and Hiei decides to put things to the test. He charges forward and strikes Momotaro's arm with his sword, but the sword shatters into pieces.
Hiei decides to attack without a weapon, but before he can, Momotaro goes on the offensive instead. He hits Hiei on the head and sends him crashing onto the edge of the ring. Hiei gets sent sliding off the ring and into a wall.
Momotaro asks him if he now understands why he cut his own arm with his sword earlier. He reveals it's because his body completely memorizes the offensive abilities of an opponent by the damage it takes. He cut his arm with the sword earlier to memorize its power. Then, in order to overcome Hiei's offensive capability, he ate one of his dumplings. His dumplings are specialized items which allow him to endure an opponent's offensive abilities, and grant him even greater power.
Onji says this match is all but over. Meanwhile, Jorge suddenly acts very frightened, as the dumplings have reminded him of his forefathers, on Onigashima Island. And what that other Momotaro did...
Jorge says it pains him to think about it. Koenma hits him and says he's not interested in his forefathers, he's more concerned about Hiei. Back at the hotel, Botan tells everyone to hurry, but Keiko then asks where Shizuru is.
Shizuru is buying some juice, since she needs something to help her sober up. Keiko then remembers she forgot Puu, and so goes back into the hotel room to get him.
Back in the cave, the trial continues. Genkai thinks this is the moment of truth -the minimum requirement in order for Yusuke to survive the battle ahead. Yusuke rolls around on the floor, as blood squirts out of his body.
Hiei gets up and walks back to the ring. Momotaro tells him to use his wicked king immolation fist, as once he's memorized that, it will be when Hiei's end comes. Hiei removes his bandanna.
He opens his evil eye, and says he'll let Momotaro have what he wants. Koto comments that despite Hiei taking that much damage, he's still going to counterattack.
Momotaro isn't worried in the slightest, and tells Hiei to go on and use the technique. Hiei tells him he'll let him have it, just the way he wants it. Kuwabara thinks Momotaro will be burned up completely, and won't be able to memorize it. But Kurama says Hiei can't shoot his black dragon wave.
He explains that for Hiei to summon the dragon, which itself is an embodiment of Demon Realm hellfire, he has to lure it, using his own demon energy as bait. However, in order to do that, he has to continually release a vast amount of demon energy. During his fight against Zeru, Hiei was at his best -but he still didn't have enough demon energy, which almost cost him his right arm. Now, Hiei's demon energy is in a state between 60 and 70%. Kuwabara finds it hard to believe that with how much demon energy Hiei's throwing out, he's only at 60%. But Kurama says Hiei won't be able to summon the dragon, even if he wanted to. If he tries, it's likely he'll be the one who is devoured by it.
Onji says what Kurama is saying is true, and it means Hiei is going to lose. Hiei suddenly dashes forward, then leaps high up into the air.
JAO ENSATSU RENGOKU SHOU
(Wicked King Immolation Purgatory Scorch)
He comes back down and strikes Momotaro in the gut and face with two powerful punches. Kurama says those flames Hiei is using are from the Human Realm.
Momotaro drops to his knees, as Hiei says he didn't even need to call for the flames of the Demon Realm. He tells his opponent he can defeat him with the flames of the Human Realm. Momotaro laughs and gets back up, and says now he's memorized this pain. He takes out another dumpling.
He crushes it, and inhales the fumes. Once again, his body undergoes another transformation:
BUJUU SOUKOU NI: MACHI NO SOU
(War Beast Armor Two: Armor of Demon Pheasant)
Juri is in shock and awe of this new transformation, whilst Koto comments that Momotaro's demon energy and form have grown even more ominous and powerful. Momotaro spreads his new wings, and takes off.
Faced with such a desperate pinch, does Hiei have any hope of winning? And will Yusuke be able to overcome the final trial that has been given to him by Genkai?
NEXT EPISODE PREVIEW
(Yusuke is speaking)
Kuro Momotaro, how well you are named! First you're a monster monkey, and now you're a monster pheasant? And what's more, you're getting stronger and stronger, and it's going to be harder to deal with you! Well, rather than putting down the ogres, we'll just have to put down Momotaro! Hiei! I'm counting on you! Next time: Tremble! Kuro Momotaro's Transformation. The Other World's not watching for nothing!