The episode begins with a recap of Zero and the founding of the Commission. Rock explains to Dragon Boy that Zero was not a monster, but a savior who bore the burden of humanity and ultimately collapsed under the weight of their negative emotions. Rock emphasizes that pain is a necessary preparation for attaining divinity – the reason why he selected Dragon Boy.

The battle between Dragon Boy and Smile escalates. Nice appears on the battlefield, torn between the commands of his manipulator Shand, to infect the victor with Fear, and Smile's appeal to remember the true faith of a hero. Nice finally injects Dragon Boy with Fear, but thanks to his ability to return inflicted damage twofold, Dragon Boy spews the Fear substance onto Smile.

Smile becomes infected and transforms into a Fear monster that attacks everything and everyone. Dragon Boy, initially overwhelmed, recalls a painful childhood experience in which he was trapped under ice and had to free himself. This memory triggers a transformation into his more powerful demon form, with which he defeats the Fear-possessed Smile.

Nice, horrified by Smile's death, attacks Dragon Boy, but is dominated by the crowd and Dragon Boy's superior power. At the decisive moment, X intervenes and saves Nice by manipulating reality and effortlessly neutralizing Dragon Boy by transforming him into a piece of paper and discarding him.

The episode ends with X mourning the dead Smile and taking his pendant. Rock, who has been observing the events, announces that he has finally tracked down X.