The cosmic sumo arena shook like thunder. The spines that Prickly Pear had shed wriggled across the floor, sprouting legs and arms. They rose up into an army of mini cactus warriors, each one with sharp thorns and glowing green eyes.
“Too many of them!” Penny gasped.
“They’ll overwhelm us!” shouted J.J., swinging his sword as a thorn monster lunged at him.
Just when it looked hopeless—
a great portal of rainbow light opened in the arena.
From it stepped a crowd of kids—Alfie’s school friends!
“Tommy! Jude! Francis! Vigo! Jacob! Oli! Olivia! Harley! Ian! Annabelle! Emily! Isla! Logan! Indi! Charlotte! Claire!” Alfie cried in surprise.
They had all been summoned by the Tournament of Worlds to fight at Alfie’s side for this one incredible battle.
The Kids vs. The Cactus Army
The cactus warriors charged.
But Alfie’s friends were ready.
- Tommy and Jude grabbed huge cosmic sumo belts, swinging them like whips to knock over the cactus soldiers.
- Francis and Vigo used teamwork, flipping each other into the air to karate-kick cactus heads clean off.
- Jacob and Oli found glowing alien laser guns and fired rapid beams, zapping whole rows of the spiny creatures.
- Olivia and Harley fought back-to-back, blocking the cactus army with shields that shimmered like mirrors.
- Ian, Annabelle, and Emily used glowing alien ropes to lasso the cactus warriors and tie them together in giant, spiky knots.
- Isla and Logan ran at super speed, tripping the enemies so Onosato could stomp them down.
- Indi, Charlotte, and Claire worked as a trio, spinning their braided hair into glowing lassos that wrapped around the cactus minions and flung them off the arena floor.
The alien crowd roared louder and louder—cheering on the kids!
Alfie’s Leadership
Alfie stood tall, his karate gi glowing with power. He directed his school friends like a true leader:
“Jacob—cover the left! Isla—circle around! Oli—blast the back line! J.J.—with me, we’ll take the middle!”
He launched into Shizuki Ni, a kata of flowing punches and blocks, cutting through cactus warriors with speed and precision.
Skull Fire’s dragon flames burned away waves of enemies, while Charlie’s Zelda compass revealed weak spots in the biggest cactus brutes.
The Final Push
At last, the Thorn Army was cornered.
Alfie’s school friends all shouted together:
“For Alfie! For Earth!”
They charged one final time, smashing, zapping, lassoing, and karate-kicking the cactus soldiers until the arena floor was covered in piles of broken thorn husks.
Prickly Pear staggered back, shocked.
“You… defeated my army? Impossible!”
The demon roared—but before he could attack again, the rainbow portal reopened.
“Time for us to go home,” Isla said, smiling.
“You’ve got this, Alfie,” Tommy added.
One by one, Alfie’s school friends stepped back through the light, returning to Earth.
The Aftermath
Alfie stood with his crew—Charlie, J.J., Penny, Laragh, Skull Fire, and Onosato.
They were battered and bruised, but still standing strong.
Prickly Pear glared at them with fury.
“This is only the beginning,” the demon growled. “Next time, there will be no escape.”
Alfie clenched his fists, standing tall in his gi.
“Then next time,” he said firmly, “we’ll be ready.”
TO BE CONTINUED…
In Chapter Seventeen: Duel with the Demon, Alfie and his crew face Prickly Pear himself in the ultimate sumo showdown!