Mori, Daewi, and Mirahave made it through the first preliminary round. With the next round coming up, the three of them talk about their reasons for entering the tournament. Mira says she’s hoping to find a strong man who can become the successor to her late father’s Moon Light Sword Style and rebuild her family’s dojo. On the day of the tournament, one of the favorites to win the tournament, Gang Manseok, faces off against tai chi user Go Gamdo.

Mira faces off against WWD women’s pro wrestler Mah Miseon, but her swordfighting can’t keep up with Miseon’s well-built body and overwhelming strength. Mori faces the risk of being disqualified from the tournament after interfering with the match between Gang Manseok and Go Gamdo. Park Mujin, a National Assembly member and God of High School’s sponsor, tells Mori that if he can defeat Commissioner Q in a match, he will be allowed to return to the tournament. Meanwhile, as regional preliminaries continue across Korea, a secretive organization schemes behind the scenes. The "key" to fulfilling their desires turns out to be…

In the first match of the national tournament, Mori loses his team’s opening bout by applying a pressure point he learned from Bongchim of The Six, which renders him immobile. The second bout pits Daewi the tournament’s oldest competitor, 38-year-old Jin Pumgwang, who overwhelms Daewi with powerful attacks acquired through years of hard physical labor. Meanwhile, Commissioner Q is attacked by Drake, a member of Nox, and seriously injured. Q ends up removing his limiter so he can call upon the power of the gods, and the charyeok Joker materializes!

The team led by Park Ilpyo, one of the participants considered a top Key candidate, faces the team led by Gwim Gi. Gwim Gi calls upon his charyeok, Jack the Ripper, but Ilpyo uses his antiquated taekkyon fighting style rather than relying on charyeok. Meanwhile, Daewi is suspended from the competition after interfering in a match and hitting Taek. Mira scolds him, but Mori seems distracted. Something he sees on Ilpyo's back looks familiar...

In his battle with Mori, Ilpyo unleashes the charyeok Nine-Tails and awakens as the Key. Mori uses his Blue Dragon Tempest, but Ilpyo stops it easily. The difference in strength between them seems clear, but then, energy suddenly surges forth from Mori's body...

Ilpyo mercilessly beats down Jegal. Just as he's about to deal the finishing blow, Ilpyo sprouts tentacles and ensnares him. With the charyeok Greed, Jegal unleashes the charyeok powers of the others he's absorbed and turns their incredible powers upon Ilpyo. As their battle rages, something changes in the sky over the arena, and it is soon filled with a sword-wielding God and his many followers...

The god that appeared over the arena has been shot down by Jaesan's technique. Mori and the rest have fallen into a huge cave, where they battle against Jegal, who has transformed into a god after absorbing the Key. Mori, Daewi, and Mira face him together, but their attacks don't even reach him, and Daewi is severely wounded protecting Mori from Jegal's vicious onslaught. As the situation grows desperate, a memory that had remained dormant in Mori's mind all this time reawakens...