When Kiyoichi Saionji posts a letter Wakaba had written to him, Utena challenges him to a duel, not knowing the consequences of her actions. Saionji is at first puzzled, but remembers Touga's speaking about a new challenger he read about in the letters from "End of the World" He accepts, and Utena finds herself drawn into the Student council's duels for the Rose Bride, Anthy Himemiya.

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Later that night when she enters the forbidde forest, Utena finds the strange door to the duelling arena locked, but placing her hand on the knob produces a strange effect, a droplet of water strikes the ring she wears, triggering the rose gate to the arena to open. After climbing the stairs, she finds a large platform. Saionji and Anthy Himemiya stand waiting for the challenger.

When she asks about the floating castle, he says to think of it as a trick of the light. He then calls Anthy to prepare them. She brings two roses, a green and a white. As she pins the flower to Utena, she explains "If the rose is knocked from your chest, you loose the duel," as Anthy wishes her luck, Saionji overhears, and strikes Anthy, claiming that as his belonging, she should not wish good luck to someone else.

When she begs his forgiveness, Utena asks if she is crazy, and then learns that Anthy 'belongs' to whomever is the champion duellist, Saionji being the current  one.

As the duel begins, Anthy performs an unusual invocation chanting the words "Power of Dios that Sleeps within me, heed your master and come forth" Utena is even more shocked when Saionji pulls a sword

from the girl's chest while he cries "Grant me the power to bring the world revolution"

The duo lock swords several times until Saionji with a well placed strike, knocks Utena to the ground. She raises her sword again only to find that the length of it is missing. Horrified, she asks him if his sword is real. Even Saionji is surprised to find that

Utena did not know of the sword of Dios, and he says he can end the duel easily, cutting the rose from her chest with a single stroke, for she did have the courage to face him. Offended by his offer, Utena stands and takes the remains of her blade in her hands. Remembering the long-ago words of her prince, she prepares an all out rush attack.

She defeats him in a matter of moments, leaving him shell shocked. Pitifully, he calls Anthy, who says "You seem upset, Saionji, classmate," the bells toll as the duel ends, and the focus is now higher above the arena, where the student council president, Touga Kiryuu sits, watching. "This is an unexpected development. I think she's in the middle school. Oh, yes, Baby, you've lit the fire in my heart" is his only comment.

Saionji, intent upon regaining his bride, begins  training even harder. When Touga pays him a visit in the training hall, he insists that Utena's victory over him is a mistake, declaring that he is the only rightful posessor of the Rose Bride. Even Touga's statements about End of the World do not faze him in the least, only seeming to anger him further as he tries to decapitate the Student Council President.

When he pays an unexpected visit to Utena and Anthy's shared dorm, she refuses his pleading to come back to him, saying their engagement is in the past. Enraged with her answers, he spits on her and strikes her to the ground. When Utena is drawn out to see what is happening by Chuchu, he challenges her to a second duel for the hand of the rose bride.

When she attempts to refuse, he tells her that all opposed to the Student council vanish from the campus. Fearful of expulsion, she is forced to accept his challenge. Believing she has found a way out of the ridiculous duels, she tells Anthy she will throw the outcome, intentionally losing the duel. Anthy tells her to do as she wishes, seeming a bit disappointed in her engaged...

Saionji seems disgusted with the need to fight Utena a second time, tossing aside the sheath for his katana and glaring at her as she enters the arena with her uniform magically decorated with epaulets, an underskirt, and other adornments.

But even Saionji has to cover his eyes as Utena draws the Sword of Dios from the Rose Bride.

As Saionji gains the upper hand in the duel, he deals a viscious kick to Utena as she falls. As she attempts to recover, Saionji laughs at her, a maniac gleam in his eyes as he raises his sword.

Suddenly, a strange light eminates from her rose signet, and a shadowy form descends from the castle, merging its body with Utena's. Her form is lifted and she suddenly flies towards Saionji at lightning speed, swiftly cutting the rose from his chest. As she slows down, a hazy afterimage of a young man is seen flowing from her body.

As he watches from the balcony, Touga lowers his glasses in absolute shock, asking aloud "What was that?! Was that the power to revolutionize the world? The power of Dios?" For now, though, his questions remain unanswered.

President Kiryuu is not the only one surprised at Utena's win. "You didn't purposely loose the duel?" she asks Utena. "It isn't what you think...I did it for Chuchu," Utena

says "If you went back to Saionji, he would just be mean to him" and for the first time since their engagement, the Rose Bride smiles.

Saionji's downfall