Sorry this chapter took so long to get out. School plus personal issues... yeah, I'm struggling a little, but I got it done. Hope ya'll enjoy!

The battle ended up being more brutal than anything the audience had ever seen. Both Bladers went in strong, throwing out defensive and offensive moves and trying to one up each other. As the battle went on though, people were beginning to see that while Bao was putting his full amount of power into his attacks, Thorn wasn't.

In fact, it was a sickening thing to see what she was really doing: she was toying with him.

Bao's chest heaved in exhaustion. His entire body trembled with anger and pain, but he was somehow still going, despite being on his knees.

"Just give up," Thorn crossed her arms, and cocked her hip to the side. She smirked, "You're at your limit."

"Bao, forfiet!" Kuro yelled, "Just stop! Stop doing this to yourself!"

"Listen to Kuro!" Aguma called, "She's right!"

"Hades Crown can't take much more damage!" Xue cried, "If you don't stop, Hades will shatter completely!"

"Everyone has their limits! You've reached yours!" Da Xiang shouted.

"Since when does Beylin Temple give up?" Bao asked, quietly. His bangs shadowed his eyes. Grimacing in pain, he pushed himself to his feet, stumbling as he struggled to keep his balance, "Since when does a Blackheart give up?!"

Thorn rolled her eyes, "You don't know when to quit, do you?" She sighed, "Fine. I'll put you out of your misery... Heh, no pun intended. Oizys! Finish him! Special Move, Woeful Wail!"

Thorn grinned as the goddess of misery and depression appeared in center stadium, red eyes glowing. The goddess opened her mouth and let out a scream, shockwaves blowing through the arena and running straight for Hades Crown.

"No!" Xue exclaimed, and slammed her laptop shut, covering her ears and closing her eyes.

"Not done yet," Bao whispered, a bright crimson aura surrounding him. His eyes glowed underneath his bangs, burning bright with enough rage that had Thorn stepping back, "Hades Crown! Special Move, Crimson Fangs!"

"Bao!" Kuro, Aguma, and Da Xiang yelled.

To everyone's surprise, Hades Crown pulsed a bright red, and went from wobbling dangerously, to picking up spinspeed. The cheetah Beyspirit flashed into the stadium, standing proudly, before charging Oizys.

"Impressive!" Thorn grinned, "But you're making a mistake! Shadow Bolt!"

Oizys' arm became encased in dark energy, before her fist crashed hard into Hades' face. For a moment, they froze.

Then, a blast of white light lit up the stadium, a shockwave sending people flying back into their seats.

Kuro scrambled to her feet, rushing for the rail, "Bao... Bao! Bao!"

The dust began to clear, and Kuro's heart leapt into her throat.

"Look at that, folks! Thornella's Oizys has had a stadium out! But where is Hades Crown?!" Chinese DJ exclaimed.

Thornella growled, angrily, as she knelt down for her fallen Bey. She glared across the stadium, but her anger turned into a victorious smirk as the dust blew away, and a ripple of shock rang through the arena.

"N- no way! Hades Crown has had a stadium out as well! Uh- where is Bao?!"

"Bao!" Kuro screamed, and leapt over the rail, landing on her feet. She bolted forwards, to the still form she saw on the ground, "No, no, no, no... Bao!"

Kuro dropped to her knees, and grabbed Bao's shoulders, turning him over, "Bao... brother, come on, wake up... Wake up!"

"It's a tie!" The Chinese DJ exclaimed, "Unbelievable! In a shocking turn of events, this battle ends up in a tie!"

"Kuro..." Bao groaned, softly. A feeling of relief filled the girl as she saw Bao's eyes open slightly, "H- Hades Crown..."

Kuro glanced to the side, and shook her head. She reached out, picking up the pieces of the shattered Bey. She quickly pocketed it, "Don't worry about it, little brother..."

"Dajie... I stopped her, though, dajie..." Bao whispered, "I told you... I told you I'd prove it... I'm strong..."

"You are," Kuro said, softly. "You really are..."

Bao coughed, violently, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. He closed his eyes, breaths shuddering.

"Kuro," a heavy hand was laid on her shoulder, and through tear filled eyes, she saw Aguma's form standing over her. "The medics are here. You have to let them take him."

"We'll take good care of him, miss," a young man in a uniform knelt next to her. "We promise."

Reluctantly, Kuro stood up, stepping back as the two medics laid her brother on the stretcher and took him away. Once they were gone, Aguma nudged her shoulder.

"Come on, let's get back to the team room. We have fifteen minutes until the next battle... your battle," Aguma reminded her.

"Why wait?" Kuro asked, coldly. She turned around, and strode up the stairs to the newly replaced stadium, "Why wait?! Go ahead and send out my opponent, Night Risers!"

"Kuro, wait!" Aguma called, and ran up next to her, "Hold on! You're not in any state of mind to-"

"Stay out of this, Aguma!" Kuro shouted at him. She slammed her palm into his chest, shoving him away, "You should be just as upset, if not more! Bao is your best friend! Shouldn't you be raging about his loss, too?!"

"I am mad! But clearly unlike you, I can control my temper!"

Across the stadium, there was a chuckle, as Thorn stood up, "Why not do a tag team battle? Bella and Pyra, versus you two?"

There was a beat of silence; shockingly enough, Kuro and Aguma looked at each other, considering their choices. While they had never battled with each other in a stadium before, they had battled one another enough times to know the other's style of battle...

As one, they said the same thing.

"Challenge accepted!"

"Well, listen to that folks! Kuro and Aguma have accepted the challenge of a tag team battle!"

"Is that a good idea?" Ryuto asked, sprawled out over his bed, "I mean... even I can tell Kuro's close to losing it."

"She's protective of her brother," Nefertiti shrugged. "I would probably be the same way in her position, if it was Nile who collapsed."

"I seem to remember you wanting to track Johannes down and rip his head off his shoulders when I came back from Mist Mountain, so... I can't say I'm surprised," Nile said.

Nefertiti pointedly looked back down at her book, ignoring the looks she got from the boys. After a moment, she muttered, "It's an older sibling thing."

Dynamis chuckled in slight amusement, "It seems so." He turned his attention back to the television, which was broadcasting the Chinese and Russian match, thinking, It seems, from what I have seen and heard... most of the Warriors all have siblings. I wonder what this means for when it is time to end Nyx's potential reign of terror.

"This is going to end badly," Toby commented. "Like, seriously. Is Kuro insane or something?"

"Could be partially," Tyler shrugged. "But then again..." He trailed off, eyes glazing over as he got lost in thought, "When it comes avenging family, there's not a lot people won't risk to pull it off."

"Speaking from experience?" Masamune drawled.

"It's a fact, really. But there are those who'll risk everything, and then those who could care less," Chris said. On the couch next to him, Christina yawned, and curled up into her brother's side, muttering in her sleep. Chris cleared his throat, "Anyways. Even though she was off the grid for a while, Kuro definitely seems like the type of person who will give it her all and then keep on giving to support her brother."

"This battle is going to be off the charts," Masamune nodded. "Especially if Kuro's got anger driving her."

"Note to self, if somehow we end up against the Chinese team, do not trigger Kuro," Nero shivered as the image of the girl flashed on the screen, her face twisted into a mask of rage.

"I wouldn't put you up against her either way," Sophie said. "Even if that would be an entertaining battle, it would also be suicidal."

"No kidding," Lucas agreed. "Though, considering the damage we all saw Bao take in his battle, do you think he'll even be battling in the Chinese team's next round?"

"It's a tough call," Sophie shrugged. "It depends on how much damage his Bey took, too."

"Well, we all saw it," King frowned. "There's no way that he'll be up and going by his next battle. It'll all depend on Kuro and Aguma to keep winning."

"Strange," Sophie mused. "Especially since Kuro said she doesn't like the spotlight. She got more points than her brother in the Chinese qualifiers, but she's the sub member. I wonder why that is..."

"She won't be able to avoid the spotlight now," King said. "Depending on Bao's health... she'll be battling as the guard member now."

"Makes you wonder how she's going to take the sudden change," Luke commented.

Hm, interesting, Caspian thought, standing from his chair. He walked to the window overlooking the arena. Miss Blackheart has accepted a tag team battle without considering the consequences. How... reckless, of her... Hm, I think she'll find that she won't be able to stand against the power of Bella and Pyra, no matter how hard she tries. Even with a Legendary Blader battling alongside her, they'll be no match for those two girls.

"Three!" The crowd began to chant down.

Though... we don't truly know Kuro's true power... For all we know, Kuro could very well take this battle by herself. Maybe, though, Bella and Pyra can bring that power to its peak. It'd be interesting, to say in the least.

"Two!" The four Bladers had readied themselves.

Caspian chuckled darkly, Then again... her power, her anger... that could very well be her downfall.

"One! Let it rip!"

The first explosion was enough to send the stadium into shambles.

"Hmph," Kuro crossed her arms and glared across the stadium. "There we are. Looks Kronos has a move on the table already."

Aguma sighed and resisted the urge to rub his temples. Instead, he rolled his eyes, "Kronos! Great Ring of Destruction!"

The wind began to pick up, slowly building in force to pick up the debris in the arena. Fernis shot away from the wind, circling on the edge and waiting.

"Hah! You're wide open!" Pyra yelled, eyes glittering strangely, "Dark Philotes! Hit her!"

"Go in for the kill, Mystere Apate!" Bella shouted.

Kuro grinned, sharply, "Big mistake." She spread her stance, "Fernis! Shadowclaw Defense!"

A shield erected around Fernis, and Philotes and Apate bounced off of the dark dome. Pyra yelped in surprise.

"Her defensive power is admirable," Bella commented. "But we have stronger attack power!"

"Do you?" Kuro smirked, "Fernis! Shadowclaw Uppercut!"

Fernis pulsed silver, whipping around in a tight circle, before shooting forwards and slamming both Philotes and Apate high into the air.

"Hah! How's that for you!"

"You gave me just the boost I needed!" Bella laughed, and Kuro gasped, watching in shock as Apate landed inside of Kronos' Ring of Destruction, "Apate! Special Move, Strike of Deceit!"

Apate pulsed dark green, and shot head on towards for Kronos.

"A direct attack won't do anything to Kronos when it is set in stamina mode!" Aguma smirked.

"Then it's a good thing I'm not going for a direct attack!"

Apate continued straight on for Kronos. Right when the Bey met Kronos head on, Apate disappeared, and Kronos was sent flying from behind. The attack was enough to disappate the Great Ring of Destruction.

"Woah! I wouldn't believe it unless I saw it with my own eyes, and I still don't believe it! Apate met Kronos directly, but disappeared and Kronos is the one that is sent flying!"

"What? But how?!" Aguma exclaimed.

"Wouldn't you like to know!" Bella grinned, sharply. Kronos was sent flying to the side as yet another attack sent the Bey into the air, "Stamina has no affect on my Apate!"

Aguma growled, glaring across the arena at the black and green haired girl.

"Hey, pup, where you looking?" Pyra asked, and Aguma's attention was brought back to Kuro.

Kuro went still, "What did you call me?"

"A pup!" Pyra smirked, "Because that's all you are! A small, weak pup! You don't even have any bark to back up your bite! Then again, what would I expect from someone whose brother was so easily defeated by Khione?!"

Kuro growled, eyebrow twitching.

"Quite right, sister!" Bella laughed, "Now I see why she chose the sub position of her team! She has no power to back up her plays!"

Aguma tensed, glancing back and forth between Pyra, Bella, and Kuro. He knew full well Kuro was not in her right mind as of that moment- he had known it the moment she had challenged the Russian team, and they seemed to know it to, with how they were pushing her.

"Let's not forget, she abandoned her brother, and now all of a sudden, she seems to want to get right back in his life! How utterly pathetic is that?"

Kuro's fists curled, and she ducked her head.

"Hey," Aguma frowned at the two girl across the stadium. "That's a low blow, even for you two."

"Oh, shut it," Bella snapped, as Kronos was pushed back again. "This doesn't concern you."

Aguma looked back over at Kuro, "Hey, Kuro. Ignore them. All you have to know is that you know the reasons why you did what you did... As do I and Bao. We listened, and we forgave you for that... We all did. You have friends now, friends who will stand by you now, no matter what."

"I said, stay out of this!" Bella snapped, and Kronos was sent flying back. Aguma managed to stay on his feet, but by now, Kronos was wobbling.

"For once... I agree with her," Kuro whispered, hoarsely. Her bangs shadowed her eyes, as a dark aura began to surround her, "You call me pathetic... You say I'm powerless? That I'm a weak, pathetic pup with niether bark or bite?" A dark chuckle escaped Kuro's lips as she slowly raised her head to reveal sharp, canine like teeth and glowing red eyes, "Oh, how wrong you are."

Bella and Pyra looked at each other in fear, then back at Kuro. Then their attention was drawn to the their Beys.

"Apate!"

"Philotes!"

"Attack Fernis!"

Kuro's laughter turned into a howl, and Aguma's survival instincts kicked in.

"Kronos, get out of there!"

"Death Fernis! Throw them into the darkness! Ultimate Move, Eternal Night!"

A loud explosion rocketed the arena as a pillar of darkness shot into the air. Dark clouds rolled over the sky, as dark purple lightning cracked across the sky. Thunder shook the ground, as the wind began to pick up.

Aguma threw his arms up, ducking as a wave of black energy slammed into himself and Kronos, as well as the other two Bladers present in the stadium. A feeling of despair and numbness overtook him, intense enough to take his breath away. Aguma opened his eyes, trying to take in the scene before him, but found himself unable to see anything.

And with a shocking jolt, Aguma realized that on top of being unable to see anything, he was unable hear anything.

What type of power is this? he wondered.

My power, Kuro's voice echoed in his mind. The pain, rage, and darkness within me, the emotions I have built up since the day I left Beylin Fist... And now, you shall suffer as well.

Slowly, Aguma's senses returned to him as the arena began to brighten. He could hear the silence of the crowd, the sound of the blowing wind, and the sound of a single Bey spinning.

"A-Amazing!" The Chinese DJ exclaimed, "In an explosive final move... Kuro Blackheart sends every other Bey in the stadium flying! Team Breaking Dawn moves on to the next round!"

Andd that's a wrap for this chapter! Until next time, ciao!

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