From Depths We Rise

by Insane Dominator

1 year has passed since Dan and the Battle Brawlers saved the universe, and when things were serene, a new group of Bakugan players are sent to New Vestroia when a dimensional interference forces them to meet each other. Caught in the crossfire with aliens seeking resources, Luke, Abis Omega, and new friends must fight using unlikely odds if they're to save all from extinction.

36. New Vestroia's Last Stand

Riaan's imperial throne room was quiet, very much so. In fact, it was so quiet that one could hear the drops of dew left over from the thunderstorm that had just passed. Riaan stared out with Armagedoid, both eyes shut as they took solace after their meeting with Hades Pillars. With the battle plans set in motion and underway, Riaan sought to a little time to cleanse any worries, and thankfully the sound of dripping water happened to be the answer.

A lot of matters were created and resolved in the meeting, so much that even he could not fully process until now. He is aware of what is going on and is knowing of Galilea and Cyrus being potentially busy. In fact, he was certain that the mass of his forces is undergoing mobilization and reconstruction as of now. All he had to do was wait.

He softly grinned as he looked out at the clearing skies, seeing small breaches of sunlight casting over his capital. "The warmth and the miracles that happen after your struggles are a works of wonder." He spoke aloud. "Are these perhaps nature's doing, or is it something more? Who's to say?"

Armagedoid remained silent, but he grunted in response.

"Nature truly is beautiful, but even I have no means of control over it. I believe it's one of those things that you must let run its course. I have learned a few things on my time on Earth, gratitude, resources…and perspectives that continue to elate me now. But tampering with the forces of nature…is one thing that deludes the humans from everyone else."

Armagedoid glanced at him. "But Master, didn't you once live under these humans? Are they really that bad?"

"It's all in a matter of perspective. Personally, I admire how they're able to adapt and survive. Their tenacity and evolved wits are something to behold…however, humans overlook themselves, at least most of them do. They like to seize opportunities, and make use of one another. There are those who are kind and honest, with virtues and healthy conscience…and there are those who seek glory, and care only for themselves. Joy. Prosperity. Greed. Anguish. Exactly how do you define a human from good to bad? In all my years of being part of them, there is but one answer I came to accept."

"What is it?" Armagedoid looked genuinely curious, wondering what his master thought of.

"…you can't."

"What?"

"All humans, no matter how noble or malice, they themselves are what makes up both good and bad. There is no real good or bad human, because they're both. They were born into a world where conflict is amongst themselves. They suffer overpopulation and famine because they take themselves and their world for granted. In my years in the guise of humans, these emotions and outlook has made me into this form. Which is also why Interacian DNA is mostly human, the best parts."

Armagedoid looked confused. "Then…is conflict for humans considered a good trait? Because you sound like you wish to see them suffer."

Riaan frowned. "I see…well then, Armagedoid. You may very well be right." His gaze turned deathly serious as he stared out at the sunlight glistening over his massive balcony, reflecting off the water drenching the smooth pavement. "We have both chose a path of causing suffering, but that doesn't mean we have to savor it. It's what I feel is part of life. To see suffering by your hands is one thing. But to see others put themselves out of misery…well, it's rather sad. Who knows how many more lives are endangering themselves because of false choices? But their concerns are not ours." He stood up. "What matters to us…is to bring that conflict, and use it to move forward. I have no doubt in my mind that with human conflict as part of our genetics that sides will be waged, and then black and white will be seen, making everyone blind their purest color: Gray. We are all gray, Armagedoid. I am, as are you. But…" He walked out, stepping into a humid environment on the balcony. Sunlight beamed down on him, bringing warmth to his face. "Even the smallest touch of black or white, can mean a very big difference."

The doors slid open on the far end of the room. From them, an associate working in the palace clad in casual magenta and black hurried in and bowed. "Your eminence, we've just received word from Sir Zion! Rogue Zero's associates have all gone missing!"

Riaan held a steady frown as he was still outside. "…I see. Thank you for the update."

"Shall we dispatch a procuration squad to go track down their energy signatures?"

"There's no need for that. Everything will be just fine." He assured calmly.

The guard looked shocked. "But, sir…the operation can't proceed unless we have Cesar's lab clearance. And without Maximus to give the beta procedures, we can't-!"

"Please…calm yourself." Riaan said it so steadily, yet there was a hint of demand within that tone. The soldier immediately backed down. "To be honest, I've been aware of their absence for a short while now." He smirked. "To think even they would go to these lengths for themselves. How very ambitious of them…" he frowned. "Still, I am certain that they will return, rest assured. They will be dealt with."

The soldier nodded. "Yes, sir."

"Good, then alert the staff to be on standby, and follow Cyrus and Galilea's instructions. They will be your heads until Rogue Zero returns from their…excursion."

"Yes, sir!" the soldier saluted before walking off, closing the humungous doors behind.

As the doors echoed, Riaan sighed to himself. 'So they've started, the human parts of them are starting to eat away at their desires. Their greed has started to best their judgement, clouding them with prospects of savory by ridding their enemies before our own. I wish I could've explained it better…but it's too late for them now.' He looked skywards, seeing blue as the last of the dark clouds faded in the distance. "Now…I wonder how Magnus and Lucia are doing in their special assignment?"

---

The dimensional warp carried Shun, Marucho, and Alice as they all were getting to the other end. It was a long jump, but up the portal shoot they went, their bodies dragged through space.

"So New Vestroia really is in danger, Radizen?" Marucho questioned.

"Beats me. I haven't been there in eons." The Aquos Bakugan answered.

"They say that it's been going under, that all the Bakugan there are being tainted by this overload of negative energy." Jaakor said as he traveled alongside Shun. "If that's true, then we may already be too late."

"Oh way to be the pessimist, Jaakor. Look, we don't know for sure yet, so let's save the judging for after we've seen it for ourselves."

Roxtor floated beside Radizen, speaking gibberish.

"What? Of course I've listened to those guys!" Radizen countered. "It's not like we don't believe them or anything. It just feels we should have our say in the experience too, you know what I mean."

"Radizen's got a point. We can't be certain until we're there." Orbeum said.

"We'll be there soon, and when we do, then we'll know how much has changed." Skytruss proclaimed.

Behind the group, Alice was waning behind with her head turned away. She had a sad look on her face as she was silent the way through the gateway.

Marucho looked back as he soared above. "Hey Alice, are you okay?"

"Huh?" Snapping out of it, Alice looked at her comrades. "Sorry Marucho, were you saying something? Guess I must have spaced out."

Marucho saw how in shock Alice was. It wasn't like her to be this dazed. Normally, and as far back as he's known her, she's normally the most composed of the Brawlers, and especially one of the most capable at paying attention. Deciding best to turn forward and move ahead, he persevered. "It's fine. Are you sure about this?"

Alice nodded. "Yeah, positive. I know it's a job as a Battle Brawler to make sure that all Bakugan live in peace."

"And peace is what we'll bring." Shun declared. "We've brought it to New Vestroia before, we'll do it again." His eyes narrowed as his glare intensified. "Heads up, we're just about there."

Marucho and Alice nodded. They braced as they closed in on their destination.

Everything for the Battle Brawlers and their partners started to glow a bright white as they reached the end of their journey into New Vestroia. Once the flash faded, they all found themselves on solid ground, almost harshly. Shun first, then Marucho, and then Alice. The Bakugan had also reverted to their original forms, taking to their new destination: New Vestroia.

"Did everyone make it okay?" Shun asked, looking back at Marucho and Alice. They nodded. "Okay then…"

He turned forward, but his eyes shot wide with shock. So did the other two. What they sw shook them to their core.

"Wait, is this seriously it?" Radizen gasped.

In front of them, there was nothing but bare wasteland that stretched on for a long time. The rock was dry and crusty beneath their feet. The land itself almost looked like a perpetual desert; hot, with humidity being dry save for dark clouds over everyone's head. The clear skies of New Vestroia were covered in dark banks, and the air had a corrosive, iron-like smell to it.

As everyone looked around, their world was slightly spinning. It was so unrecognizable that some looked at their surroundings like foreign objects. Alice was more worried than ever.

"This is New Vestroia?" Marucho gasped. "Look at it!"

"I know! Exactly what I just said!" Radizen irritably announced. "Sheesh, what are we all spacing out now?"

"Everything is all dried up. It's like a land that's been untouched for centuries and never recovered." Shun grazed the ground with his fingertips and brushed it along the fingers. Grinding grains in his fingers, they stung as they reduced the dust before touching the earth again. "The land's became unbearable. New Vestroia definitely isn't how we left it before."

"What happened here?" Marucho worried, taking one more glance around everything.

"This land…it isn't as I remember it." Jaakor surmised. "The air's become foul. It's corrosive."

Roxtor spoke gibberish.

"I know what you mean, Roxtor." Radizen replied. "I thought that was one of us, but this is way too disgusting. Phew!"

"Do you smell that, bro?" Orbeum asked. "It's like something died."

"Yeah…and I can sure guess that scenario." Skytruss responded. "But…this feeling. And this smell…doesn't it remind you of someplace?"

Orbeum's eyes narrowed. "Yeah…the Doom Dimension."

Alice's eyes widened. 'The Doom Dimension…' Her vision grew hazy as flashes of her past began to broil up from inside. The incidents where Bakugan were cast into the Doom Dimension, and the anguish brought by Masquerade were setting into place. An image of him surrounded by wavy dark, negative tendrils with glowing red eyes engraved into her mind.

"Gnngh!" Alice clutched her head as she dropped to a knee, alarming her friends.

"Alice!" Marucho gasped.

"What's wrong? Are you hurt?" Shun questioned.

Alice kept clutching her aching head, throbbing painfully. "This feeling…it's making my head ache." She grunted, but managed to open an eye. "I feel…so much negative energy. It's just like when we were in Vestroia…only worse."

Marucho and Shun looked to each other with furrowed brow. What she said brought up a serious alarm that sent a small shiver down their spines. They recalled their time back when Vestroia was separating. There and the Doom Dimension were two places in particular that threw them through ring challenges.

"Huh?" Jaakor turned around and looked up. "Everyone look alive!"

Looking up, the humans looked skywards as they saw a wild Subterra Atmos swooping in from out of nowhere. The Bakugan cawed menacingly as it dove with its claws out. Immediately they floored and took cover as the claws barely grazed the ground. Winds shifted at ground level as the Brawlers were staying low.

The Atmos swooped around to attack again, soaring into a straight dive. Suddenly Jaakor got in the way.

"Not so fast, scum!" Jutting his fists and gauntlets out, he fired intense green beams that shot at the Atmos. The attack swallowed the avian in smoke, leaving a comet as it crashed off in the distance.

Marucho groaned as he got up. "Oh, man. What was that about?" he looked at everyone else. "hey, you guys all okay?"

Shun and Alice nodded. "We're just fine, Marucho." Shun answered before looking up. "Thanks for the save, Jaakor."

"That Bakugan just now…it was clear to me that it wasn't itself." Jaakor realized. "The negative energy must have damaged its reasoning."

"Yeah, that was just weird why it would attack us like that." Radizen put a finger to his chin. "How strange?"

Roxtor started speaking gibberish again.

"Oh give me a break. It's not like we're in that big of danger here." Radizen backlashed. "Uh…right? Guys?"

"If we stay too long, we will be." Shun said. "You heard what Alice said, this place is overrun by negative energy. The longer we stay here, the less likely we'll have at retaining ourselves. That includes you guys, too."

"We need to hurry and round up as many stable Bakugan as we can. We need to fan out and cover more ground."

"Right, then we should begin as soon as possible." Shun declared. "Let's go, guys!"

"Right!" Everyone declared. As everyone was ready though, Alice didn't seem all that thrilled. In fact, she looked more worried than ever.

---

Marucho and Shun thus went their separate ways. With Shun, Skytruss, Orbeum, and Jaakor were all heading in a quadruple ninja pack, vanishing and reappearing in other places, but wherever they looked at the bare lands.

After looking around for a while, Shun looked at the side. "There doesn't seem to be anything in this area. There's gotta be more in the air." He heard a caw from the sky, looking up to find Skytruss circling around. "Skytruss! Anything from up there?!"

"I'm not seeing anything good from up here either. It's all just badlands and foul air." He responded. "Honestly, it's making me feel…feel all…" Before he could finish, Skytruss began blacking out, falling from the sky.

"Skytruss!"

"Brother!" Orbeum shouted.

With ninja-like reflexes, Jaakor shot into the air, reappearing beside the plundering crow. He seized him and vanished, landing on a knee and gently setting the fainted crow on his side.

Shun and Orbeum rushed over to his side, getting to his aid. "Skytruss, are you okay?!" Shun exclaimed.

"Stay with me brother, you'll be okay." Orbeum assured. "Hey, you okay? Brother!"

Skytruss started stirring as his eyes began to flutter open. Weakly, he raised his head and looked around. "H-huh?"

"You're awake, thank goodness." Orbeum relieved.

"Are you okay, Skytruss?" Shun inquired.

"Yeah…I think so." He got back up. "Don't worry, I think I'm okay. I just got dizzy there is all."

"It must be the negative energy in the atmosphere. It's concentration and potency is much higher in the air where it's free." Jaakor surmised. "Don't worry, you'll be okay. Your body didn't take in that big of amount over time."

"Yeah, I guess so…sorry for making you guys worry." He apologized. "But still, to think that Atmos could fly in this. It has to have lost its mind, I'm not doubting that now."

"This isn't good. We should regroup. There doesn't seem to be anything around here." Orbeum advised.

Shun turned the way they came. "You're right. Let's go."

---

Near a small plunge pool at the base of a waterfall embedded in a small cliff, the black streams flowed along the dried banks in a narrower stream. It's here that Marucho, Radizen, and Roxtor all found more evidence.

"Woah! Look at that water! It's like someone took paint and smothered on it." Radizen awed. "Man, this is just getting freakier…"

Roxtor spoke gibberish, though with hints of concern this time around.

"Yeah I know what you mean, Roxtor. Even as an Aquos Bakugan I wouldn't touch that stuff even if you paid me."

"This is getting weird. I heard about pollution, but this isn't like on Erath with oil in seas or anything. It isn't as bright as most solutions. Usually the solutions would at least make the water murky like in city and canals, but this water is entirely black…is this because of the negative energy?"

A rupture started bubbling from the water, causing small geysers to spew from them. Marucho backed away quickly as the water spouted, sending out two three Stug that hissed with pale bodies. They all aimed for Marucho as he panicked.

"Hey you suckers, stay away!" Radizen aimed his fingers and began open fire with blue projectiles. Each shot beamed into the Stug, making them all his in pain.

Roxtor spoke gibberish as he manifested rock from beneath. He launched them at the midair crustaceans, creating a massive crash in the atmosphere that pushed them back into the plunge pool.

The Stug all sank beneath the tides of the plunge pool, the downwards waterfall, forcing them further to murky darkness as their limp bodies fumbled and vanished.

"You okay Marucho?" Radizen asked.

Marucho nodded. "Yes…" he looked back at the basin. "But those Bakugan…what happened to them?"

"I'm not sure, but it's gotta be that negative energy and this Riaan guy's doing." Radizen looked towards the pool with slight guilt. "But…I hate to say it, but I think it was too late for those guys. They looked really…sick."

"It's just like that Atmos. This is getting worse than we thought…" Marucho had to steel himself. He had to keep hopes up, or at least try to. He hasn't spent years loving Bakugan for nothing after all. He's come a long ways since the beginning. 'Preyas, I hope you're okay out there…' Balling his fists in hopes that his old partner was well, he reflected on something.

"To be caring means you have to be strong. For yourself, and for those who have already fallen."

'I lost you more than once Preyas, please don't make me think that way about you again.' Altering course with resolution, Marucho followed his tracks back. "C'mon, let's try this way."

"Yeah, sure." Radizen and Roxtor followed Marucho, leaving the black water to taint the banks with its tar-like musk.

---

In another part of New Vestroia, not too far from where their original point was, there was a wilted, dried forest. The massively tall trees lacked greenery to even call it a forest. It was something out of a horror movie setting.

Alice walked slowly through the decrepit remains of the woods, being sure as to remain as silent as possible. As she looked around, she saw how dead the wood was around her, and how there were branches that had already fallen that laid in shrapnel around her. The whole scene deterred her as she thought back to something.

"It's just…I don't understand. Why do we have to fight like this? Wouldn't be better if we all just reached a compromise with them?"

"You speak of a million virtues." he praised. "Virtues that I have come to respect as an individual. But, as much as I would agree, there are times when the only means to solve one's problems is to take it out on another. And I'm certain that you of all people should know that."

'What if he's right? Maybe I'm just in denial.' Alice stopped in her trek and looked down at her feet. There was no sunlight, so it wasn't too clear to her, but in the darkest pits of the soil, she thought she saw her shadow, only it had hair like Masquerade. Her hand clutched her chest as she deeply frowned. It wasn't that she was denying it, rather it was something she forgot. It wasn't a feeling that she could relish in, but battling to harm other Bakugan was still sensitive to her personally, especially after her time as Masquerade. The deeper she dwelled into it, the more distraught she felt. 'I know that I'm a battle Brawler…but being here isn't doing any good. Maybe it's best that I-!'

I sound of branches being snapped caught her off guard. Gasping, she took to her heels and hid behind a tree trunk. She kept hidden as a Pyrus Verias trudged through the area, yet its fur looked terribly dirty. Its eyes were bleak, and its posture made it look more feral.

The Verias lifted its head, sniffing the air for any unfamiliar scents. Alice glanced up with a leer. "A Bakugan…"

The Verias' ears twitched and looked down. Alice turned back behind the trunk and shut her mouth. She remained absolutely silent as time went on, waiting for the Verias to lose interest.

Slowly, but surely, the Verias began to walk off. The Bakugan's footsteps slowly faded to thuds in the distance, allowing Alice to relax.

"That was close…" she murmured. She slowly turned around, peeking over to see if anything else was around. 'That Bakugan was no doubt infected with negative energy. It didn't look right…' She turned back around the trunk, glaring. 'If the low-level Bakugan are affected around here, that must mean that the higher power level Bakugan should have a better resistance to it. Still, it's not safe to be here-!'

For the second time, trunks snapping got her attention. Still hidden behind the tree, the ones behind started snapping, causing her to cover up from flying bark and twigs. When they passed, she opened her eyes and looked stunned to see the Pyrus Verias surprising her, exerting a violent roar in her face.

"Oh my, this is bad." Alice muttered.

"GRAAAH!" The feral Verias raised its staff with a holler and slammed it down. Alice jumped and rolled over, avoiding the dust and the force of the staff reducing the ground where she stood to a small intend.

Alice sat up, but a shadow loomed over her. Looking up, the Verias towered over her with a snarl. Its fangs were bare, and the fur was standing on end. She found herself cornered with nowhere to run or hide. 'This is bad….' Mustering herself, she called out. "Please, stop! Listen to what I have to say!"

The Pyrus Verias lifted its staff, unleashing a bloody cry as Alice looked in horror.

Suddenly from out of nowhere, three spheres of violet and white shot at an alarming speed. Alice heard the whistling and turned around. Seeing the projectiles, she yelped as she ducked off to the side, just as the attack struck the Verias. The harsh blow created a bright explosion that picked up winds.

Alice grunted as she tried withstanding the blast wave. As the blast wave settled, she looked back, opening her eyes to find that the spot where Verias stood was now a small carter, with smoke sizzling in the center. The shock was extreme beyond measure.

"What was that?" she blinked, but then she heard a faint, deep roar not too far away. "Huh?"

As the dust was settling off to the side, the forest atmosphere swirled around a creature's silhouette. It was hard to make out, but as the dust passed, its monstrous figure became all too clear to Alice. Her hair shifted in the winds as her eyes slowly widened out of disbelief.

A maw opened as a shrilled roar boomed. The many heads craned up as the dirt dissipated, revealing a saw that slowly stopped spinning. Three tails swung about; one of which slammed down a random tree. Wings spread, and the Bakugan unleashed a voluminous shout to the world.

To Alice, it was sheer luck and surprise at her surprise savior. "…Hydranoid!" she gasped.

Hydranoid exerted louds roars all over as he stepped into sight. He looked around, as if oblivious to Alice. One head's menacing red eyes glanced down, catching wind of the orangette standing still. All three heads looked down, glaring at her.

Alice stood perfectly still, her glare fixed with uncertainty. "Hydranoid, it's me. Your friend, Alice. Don't you remember me?"

Hydranoid stares down at Alice, as if unable to share a response.

"Hydranoid…" Alice was losing assurance on her confidence. The longer she stared, the more she worried. 'Don't tell me…he was affected by the negative energy too?' She shut her eyes, wincing at her own lack of ability. 'This is my fault. I should have done something sooner to help. Now look, Hydranoid, please…don't tell me he's…'

As Alice was unable to process what might have become the ticking clock of her demise, a head lowered down to eye-level, glaring at her. "Alice?" he asked. "Is that you?" another head chimed.

Alice's eyes widened. She snapped back at Hydranoid, looking shocked. "Hydranoid?" She started to smile, walking closer with growing hope. "Is that really you, Hydranoid?"

The beast nodded. "Yes Alice, it's me."

Alice clasped her hands. "Thank goodness. I was beginning to worry there, that the negative energy might have taken you over." She sighed heavily. "Man that's a relief." She calmly walked up, where Hydranoid cupped his hands and allowed her to get on his palms. He lifted her higher so they were eye-level. The multi-headed Darkus Bakugan looked to his old battle partner and close friend, just as she did.

"Alice…I truly am grateful to see you again." He said.

Alice giggled. "And me too, Hydranoid."

---

Marucho was running back to where he started. He ran along the wasteland with Radizen and Roxtor following behind in long strides as the smaller guy lead the way. When he got far enough, his eyes widened when he saw Shun taking calm strides with the other Bakugan behind.

"Shun!"

Shun opened his eyes just as Marucho reconvened with him. "Marucho."

"Did you manage to find any Bakugan?"

Shun shook his head. "No, sorry. Skytruss fell so we had to call it off. Did you see any Marucho?"

"Well we tried but…" he looked down in shame. "It was too late. They were wild and unresponsive." Shun looked down in regret as well. "I hate to say it, but maybe the mass of New Vestroia is just overpopulated at the moment with infected Bakugan. You think that there may be a few left?"

"Maybe. If there are, they'd probably be in hiding somewhere. I wouldn't expect them to hang around in the open like we are."

Everyone heard a mild roar from afar, catching their attention. They all turned around and glanced at the skies.

"Huh?" Radizen saw something large coming from the air. "Am I seeing something or what?"

Roxtor spoke gibberish again.

"I see it too. Must be another Bakugan attack." Jaakor surmised.

Shun braced himself. "Everyone, get ready!"

They all braced for what might be heading their way. However, in the distance, they weren't expecting the figment that was flying right for them. Shun and Marucho's eyes widened as the figure drew closer, revealing Hydranoid holding Alice as they drifted through the atmosphere.

"No way!" Shun gasped.

Hydranoid soon drifted down in front of everyone, the Bakugan lowering their guards as the creature held Alice. The beast lowered the arms to allow Alice to get off. She stood up and looked to her teammates.

"Shun! Marucho!" She hurried and reconvened with them. "Are you both alright?"

"Yeah, we're okay. We should be asking you that." Marucho said.

"Are you okay, Alice?" Shun inquired.

"Yes, I'm okay." She looked up, smiling happily at Hydranoid. "It's because of Hydranoid that I'm okay."

Shun looked up at Hydranoid, surprised by his arrival. "Hydranoid? Wait, you mean the real Hydranoid, right?" Shun recalled the last time he thought Hydranoid was real. Of course he didn't realize that it was Hades. Nothing wrong with being too careful.

Alice nodded. "Yes. I'm positive. He's immune to the negative energy in the air, so we thought we could find you guys better this way." Her face fell. "Sadly, we didn't find any other Bakugan that were willing to listen here…"

"The negative energy is growing stronger by the minute. It's getting harder to let alone breathe if we stay here for too much longer." Jaakor said. He looked towards Hydranoid. "So, have you been living under these conditions?"

"More or less." Hydranoid responded. "All these Bakugan running wild has been stirring up a lot of negative energy, adding on to the pressure." Another head spoke. "So we've been cleaning up after them, and making sure that they're not in the way."

"And because of that battle energy, that only makes you stronger then." Shun's eyes narrowed. "Now I get it. That's how you've been able to handle this pressure." Mentally he felt truly grateful. 'I'm sure glad he hasn't fallen dark on us. If he had we'd be in serious trouble. Well…at least we were able to find one.'

Marucho walked closer to Alice. "So then…were you able to find Preyas?"

Alice looked regretful. "I'm sorry Marucho." Marucho looked down in shame. "Hey, it's okay." She smiled. "Preyas is tough, he's still out there." She looked over towards Shun. "And that includes Skyress too, Shun."

Shun crossed his arms and nodded. "You're right…okay then, seems we have enough gathered. Let's try and…" He was going to continue, but his eyes widened when he felt an odd sensation loom over him.

"Huh?" Hydranoid raised his heads to look up at something. Alice did as well. They all turned up towards a small rock formation looming over them. At the top, where there was just the tiniest show of sunlight, there were two figments that were cast in their own shadows. They frowned as they looked down at their prey with serious vibes.

Shun's glare hardened. "Who are you supposed to be?"

The eloquent blonde closed her eyes. "Seems they've finally taken to our attention, Magnus."

Magnus nodded. "About time. I was wondering if they were bright." Together, the two suddenly teleported. They reappeared in front of Shun and Marucho, bringing alarms up.

"Marucho, are you feeling this pressure?"

Marucho nodded. "Yeah, I am…" he looked into their eyes, seeing deathly seriousness in them. "And something about them is off. This pressure's surrounded by a lot of negative energy."

"Stay on guard guys." Shun balled his fists, staring down the enemies ahead. "Who are you? Are you with that Rogue Zero we've heard so much about?"

Lucia seemed humbled. She kept her eyes closed as she spoke. "As I thought, there's three of you." Slowly she opened her eyes. "And as expected, you've arrived on time."

"What?"

"You associate us with this Rogue Zero so callously. Are you say that you haven't been made aware of our involvement? Then please, allow us to meet your acquaintance, Shun Kazami, and Marucho Marakura. It is an honor to meet such prestigious battlers as yourselves." Lucia bowed to them in courtesy.

"Are they here to flatter us?" Radizen questioned.

"I'm not trusting this woman. Something's off here." Orbeum glared.

"Yeah, I feel it too. This isn't a welcome." Skytruss declared.

Lucia lifted from her bowing and looked at her foes. "To be honest, I'd rather we had met under better circumstances. To meet the mightiest threat to our divine plan in a dump such as this. I hate to be the one to say it, but not even Amina would dare set foot into a hell like this." She adjusted her glare onto the Brawlers. "But, if the great savior and Riaan wished for this, then it must be so."

"Riaan? So then that means you are working under him." Shun accused.

"The guy who's behind all this." Marucho testifies.

"You're mistaken." Lucia argued. "We do not 'work under' out divine one. His magnificence has humbly allowed us to beside him on his conquest. We are more than just his servants. We are his swords, his shields, and we aim to make his dream come to reality. That is our role."

The Brawlers looked confusedly at their foes. The way she spoke made it seem so passionate, but at the same time weren't buying it. In fact, their suspicions and ire grew by the second. Even Alice showed defiance..

"Now then, Brawlers, would you be caring to entertain us for a while? Magnus."

"On it." Magnus tapped his Bakumeter, punching in a code and the screen turned bright white. A loud hum came from the speakers before a distorted pulse shot in all directions. It passed the Brawlers and Bakugan, forcing them all into their attribute colors before reverting to ball form.

"Hydranoid!" Alice caught Hydranoid as he fell. The Bakugan was revealed in her palms now, opening to look at her. "Hydranoid, are you okay?"

"Yes, Alice. I'm fine."

"What the-?! Hold up a sec! How did we get into ball form when we're not on Earth?" Radizen questioned.

"How did they…?" Marucho gazed at Lucia and Magnus, both looking serious as can be. "Did they just send out an energy wave to revert them to ball form?"

"They did it from their Bakumeters." Shun realized. "Whoever these guys are, it's clear they're not letting us have a say. Guess we have no choice now. It's time we take back what's ours – The Bakugan! Marucho!"

Marucho stepped forward. "Guess this is it then." His brow furrowed. "Radizen, you ready?"

"Heck yeah I am! Nobody turns me into a ball and gets away with it!"

Alice stood behind. Her mind was waning back to what Jase said before. "But, as much as I would agree, there are times when the only means to solve one's problems is to take it out on another. And I'm certain that you of all people should know that." His comment continued to ring inside her head, making her feel all the more contemplative by the second. She lowered her head, looking uncertain.

"Alice, you stay back. We'll handle these guys." Shun told her. "Just leave it to me and Marucho."

Alice perked. "Guys…"

"Alice…" Hydranoid murmured.

Magnus smirked. "Looks like they took the bait, just like you said." He looked at Lucia as her eyes were closed. "So what now?"

Lucia remained quiet as she focused on what her mind was seeing. In her vision, she was seeing a Gate Card by Magnus, and she saw Jaakor rise, doing battle with a lizard-like Bakugan until Jaakor fell down. Her eyes flashed open, resolute. "Our opponent will be overwhelmed at first. Set up the Gate Card like Riaan proposed, and we'll proceed as planned."

Magnus nodded. "Cool."

Lucia: 100% Shun: 100%

Magnus: 100% Marucho: 100%

"Have it your way man. Gate Card, set!" Magnus chucked his Gate Card out, which summoned a brown shockwave across the battlefield. He then chucked his Bakugan out. "Bakugan, brawl!" The sphere was shot out, revealing to be a cross between a black and light brown sphere. The sphere popped open, revealing shining bright red marks that illuminated the area. "Bakugan, stand! Get out there, Subterra Glotronoid!"

An illuminated, ghastly light shined brightly as a dust storm picked up. Shun and everyone else covered up as the winds were massive.

"What's that?" Jaakor inquired.

The dust settled, revealing a clawed foot that depressed the ground. It was a Subterra Glotronoid, but the Bakugan looked very different. Instead, the chocolate brown skin it had was almost pitch-black. The yellow diamonds that were supposed to be on the head and the chest were also a different color, being magenta. The eyes were a dull yellow, looking like a feral, bloodthirsty lizard as it craned its head and roared out

"Okay…let's brawl!" Shun held a up Jaakor and threw him in. "Bakugan, brawl! Baku Sky Raider, jump!" Upon being rolled out, Jaakor popped open, but he shot into the sky, materializing. "Rise, Ventus Jaakor!"

Shooting up in a green turbine, Jaakor was a bulky ninja-like Bakugan, relevant to Shun. He had red lenses that glimmered in the light of day. He bolted into the sky, before coming down on his two feet, shuddering the land. He stood proudly, ready for a fight.

Glotronoid: 700 Jaakor: 1000

'That Bakugan, it looks like the other ones on Vestal.' Shun thought back to when they helped on the Vestal brigade, saving everyone from the New Vestroia Bakugan clones Cesar made. 'But this one…I can tell, it's much stronger. It's giving me goosebumps, why?'

"It appears that even the likes of the Battle Brawlers are unaware of the power our forbidden gift that we possess." Lucia scoffed. "To think even they wouldn't know forbidden amplification through Riaan's DNA replication."

"Alright, so should I go first or what?" Magnus asked curtly, as if almost demanding.

Lucia closed her eyes. "Let them indulge us."

Shun went first, crossing his arms and making an ability show. "Ability, activate! Fierce Demon – Thunder Clap!"

Jaakor clutched both fists and the holes on his gauntlets started charging up energy. "Bakugan or not, I'll knock down all evil that stand before me!" He fired multiple green beams at Glotronoid with impactful force.

Glotronoid: 700 Jaakor: 1000 (+500) = 1500

The beams closed in, but Magnus remained surprisingly calm about it. "Ability, activate! Sterilize Shield!" Glotronoid lowered his head and his forehead gem shined, creating a luminescent brown energy shield that took the blunt of the green beams. Jaakor's ability was nullified, putting him down to 1000 again.

"Is that all?" Shun challenged, reaching out. "Ability, activate! Slash Wave Thunder!" Jaakor reached his hand out alongside Shun, emitting a radiant green pulse energy that shot at Glotronoid. The shockwaves broke the shield, causing Glotronoid to strain and slid back a couple of feet.

Glotronoid: 700 (-400) = 300 Jaakor: 1000

"Such defense…" Shun murmured. 'Yeah, no question about it. This one's durability is a lot tougher.'

Glotronoid recovered, hissing. "Alright, not shabby." Magnus showed another ability. "Ability activate, Mal Impact!" Glotronoid lowered his head again and fired condensed brown beam across the wasteland at Jaakor.

Glotronoid: 300 (+200) = 500 Jaakor: 1000 (-200) = 800

Jaakor stuck his hand out, yelling as his bulky gauntlet took the blunt of the beam. "You'll have to do more than that, scum!"

"Jaakor, now!" Shun exclaimed.

Jaakor suddenly vanished, allowing the beam to blaze across the ground. The Ventus ninja reappeared above, flipping and coming down onto Glotronoid. The reptile looked up, but then a green slash chopped at the back of the long neck. The lizard fell over as Jaakor was seen behind on a knee. He across, standing proudly.

"Wait a go, sensei!" Orbeum shouted.

"He's just as fast as ever. Those guys don't know what hit them." Skytruss said.

Jaakor stood over his downed foe. As he looked triumphant, Glotronoid's right hand started twitching. Jaakor glanced down. "Hm?"

"Ability, activate! Nail Predator!"

Glotronoid's eyes shot wide open before his claws glowed bright purple. He swung his tail, knocking Jaakor off balance. With the distraction, the Bakugan passed him as he fell, posing with crossed bright red claws that left trails. Jaakor screamed as the swiping engraved into his body.

Glotronoid: 500 (+300) = 800 Jaakor: 800 (-300) = 500

Jaakor fell onto his back, yelping. "Jaakor!" Shun yelled.

"You ain't the only one who knows how to pull a few fakers here and there." Magnus retorted. "I grew up on the streets, and even on the ground…you gotta look alive." He snapped his fingers, and Glotronoid swung around, slamming his tail and sending Jaakor falling forward this time.

Shun grunted. Deciding to make things even, he reached out.

"Here it comes." Lucia warned. Magnus nodded.

"Ability, activate! Sonic Reflector!" Jaakor created a green energy shield to the one that Glotronoid manifested. Glotronoid slashed into the shield, but bounced off and back.

Magnus had no visible expression. Instead, he glared over, making Lucia humbly huff. She nodded, knowing it was her turn. She lifted her Bakugan, which had a massive red lens on it.

"This is why I allowed you to go first. Now watch." Throwing her Bakugan, she brought it out. "Bakugan, brawl! Bakugan, stand! Rise, Haos Lumitroid!"

In a crisp yellow light, a Haos Lumitroid entered battle. But unlike other Lumitroid, the eye had a magenta shine to it. The small eyeball was pitch-black. The upper scales and spikes all over the body were pitch-black, with magenta accents all along the back leading up the tail. The scorpion tail was also magenta rather than black. The Bakugan hissed as it arose for battle.

Glotronoid: 500 Jaakor: 800

Lumitroid: 700

"Another Bakugan?" Shun gasped.

"Get ready, they're gonna gain up Shun!" Marucho warned.

Lucia showed an ability. "Now, to move onto the next phase of our future, Lord Riaan. Ability activate, Flash Fade!" Lumitroid's eye exerted a bright, piercing light that shined across the battlefield. The glow from the eye shined onto the shield, shattering it to pieces. Jaakor was speechless before Glotronoid close din, slashing him across the face again and knocking him down.

Glotronoid: 500 (+300) = 800 Jaakor: 800 (-300 -300) = 200

Lumitroid: 700

"She nullified my ability?" Shun gasped. Jaakor got up, facing both Subterra and Haos Bakugan at the same time.

Lucia closed her eyes again. Everything went silent around her as a meager shimmering sound run in her ears. In her mind, she saw Radizen protecting Jaakor and going on offense against Lumitroid. Her eyes calmly opened. "Be warned. Marucho will come out next, and will immediately go on defense."

Marucho grabbed Radizen and readied his turn. "Okay Radizen, it's our turn now." Marucho threw his Bakugan in next. "Bakugan, brawl! Bakugan, stand! C'mon, Aquos Radizen!"

Arising in a blue cyclone of water, Radizen shrieked out as he arose for battle. He faced forward with a smile growing. "Aw yeah! Who's ready to rumble?!"

Glotronoid: 800 Jaakor: 500

Lumitroid: 700 Radizen: 1000

"Alright Radizen, let's back up Shun!" Marucho insisted.

"You got it!"

Magnus showed an ability. "In that case, I'll bait them out…ability activate, Glow Jacket!" Glotronoid's entire body began glowing from the accents on his body, making him stronger and pushing his power to 1100. Once ready, the lizard rushed towards the foes.

"Ability, activate!" Marucho countered. "Deep Descent!"

Radizen moved in front of Jaakor, spinning. "Oh yeah~!" Posing, he had a blue forcefield around his body, with blue energy flows constantly going around it.

Glotronoid attacked the forcefield, but was rejected. The Bakugan veered away, but otherwise was unscathed.

Glotronoid: 1100 Jaakor: 200 (+300) = 500

Lumitroid: 700 Radizen: 1000 (+300) = 1300

"Thanks for the save, Marucho." Shun thanked.

"Don't mention it. Let's get back in there." Marucho encouraged. "Ability activate, Slam League!"

Radizen aimed his fingers like pistols at the enemy, his power level shooting up to 1700. "It's slammer time!" He cried out as he shot blue beams at them all.

As the blue beams closed in on their foes, Lucia closed her eyes once more. She seemed to be focusing, which didn't go unnoticed by Alice as she looked with wonder. Something about her disposition and the way she acted was off.

As the ways closed in, Lucia's eyes suddenly flashed open. "I see the light. Ability activate, Flash Fade!" Glotronoid's eye shined brightly, giving off a powerful light that vaporized Radizen's attack before it came close to them. The light beamed into Radizen, causing him to cover up.

Glotronoid: 1100 Jaakor: 500

Lumitroid: 700 Radizen: 1700 (-400 -300) = 1000

Radizen was being petrified by the light, unable to look efficiently. "I…can't see!" He complained, but Glotronoid's equally glowing form swatted Radizen away, nearly making him fall over. He grunted as he was getting more annoyed than ever now.

"So, what now?" Magnus questioned Lucia.

The Haos woman held and eloquent stature as she looked ahead towards the battlefield. "They will make an effective counter starting now. They will use two abilities to greatly lower our power levels…we will counter on the second one."

"Jaakor, time to step it up!" Shun yelled. "Ability activate, Moonlight Shadow Slash!" Jaakor jumped into the air with great force. He cried out as he spun around, sending green shuriken everywhere. Glotronoid and Lumitroid both glanced before explosions escalated, swallowing both in a powerful shockwave.

Glotronoid: 1100 (-400) = 700 Jaakor: 500 (+400) = 900

Lumitroid: 700 (-400) = 300 Radizen: 1000

"Now, Radizen!" Marucho encouraged as the explosions went off. "Time to win this thing! Ability, activate! Abyss Blade!" Radizen hollered out loudly as he swung his arms, shooting blue crescents that blazed through the explosion, creating blue bursts that mixed with the shockwaves to create a violent tornado that Lucia and Magnus looked into. Both looked unfazed, even when they saw a cyclone of flames erupt.

Glotronoid: 700 Jaakor: 900

Lumitroid: 300 Radizen: 1000 (+500) = 1500

Radizen landed with a proud smile. "Boom! Done like dinner!"

Jaakor, however, didn't look convinced. "Wait, something's happening."

Shun, Marucho, and everyone else looked ahead, seeing what was happening as the smoke was clearing. Alice showed shock of her own as they were seeing a bright red eye glow, revealing Lumitroid as the Bakugan was seen in a faint glowing light. The scales were glistening around it as Glotronoid was behind, looking completely unfazed.

Glotronoid: 700 (+400) = 1100 Jaakor: 900 (-400) = 500

Lumitroid: 300 (+400) = 700 Radizen: 1500 (-500) = 1000

"What?" Marucho gasped. "Our abilities! Did she nullify them?"

"It's the Scale Defense ability that Lumitroid has." Lucia explained. "All your abilities were nullified. You were careless as to bring out your best shots before us."

Alice continued observing, but she was growing suspicious. 'That woman…she's surprisingly smart. She's not observing and yet she knows how to counter all their abilities. There's something to it…but what?'

"Alice, what is it?" Hydranoid worried.

"I think it is has something to do with that woman…something about her is off." Her eyes narrowed. "But what exactly…?"

Lucia glanced over. "Magus, I believe this is where we take advantage of their shock."

Magnus nodded. "Okay then, have it your way." He showed another ability. "Ability, activate! Hyper Nail Predator!" Glotronoid's claws glowed bright red, but this time the claws lengthened to longer extents. The lizard lunged and attacked, slashing pass Radizen and Jaakor, knocking them both down.

Glotronoid: 1100 (+300) = 1400 Jaakor: 500 (-300) = 200

Lumitroid: 700 Radizen: 1000 (-300) = 700

Radizen and Jaakor screamed out. Both yelled as they hit the ground hard.

"Radizen, no!" Marucho screamed. Beside him, Roxtor also yelled gibberish.

"Sensei!" Skytruss yelled.

"How are they doing this? They're just using standard abilities but they're teamwork is phenomenal." Orbeum awed. "Are they really that good?"

Radizen and Jaakor grunted. Both stammered back up as they were recovering from their horrendous slashes they received.

Lucia closed her eyes again. In her ringing mind, she saw bright beams dissipated by a blast of wind, followed by a brighter light that Radizen attacked. She then saw another shimmering light that vaporized darkness and granite. When it faded, she glared. "…I see. Then we'll plan to that."

Alice had white around her as her eyes shot wide. 'Wait…she isn't using telepathy, is she? Is someone feeding her this information about us? I knew something was wrong here…' She stepped forward. "You guys, hold it-!" But it was too late.

"Ability activate, Cluster Brace!" Lucia forewarned her attack as Lumitroid aimed its claws at Jaakor, firing dense yellow lasers at the weakened ninja. As the blast traveled, Lumitroid's power shot to 900, and Jaakor was about to drop to 0.

"No way, we won't give up!" Shun declared. "Ability, activate! Sparkly Shadow – Cross Storm!" Jaakor arose to his feet and conjured a green wind energy in his palms. He exerted it out, making a shockwave swallow the light and blew right into Glotronoid. The ability was nullified, and Lumitroid's power dropped to 400. "And now, ability activate! Fierce Demon – Thunder Clap!" Jaakor shot his fists out again, unleashing green energy blasts that blazed through the atmosphere. His power shot up to 600 as the green blast erupted in Lumitroid's spot, causing an eruption of dust and rock.

"Back you evil scum!" Jaakor roared, but a pair of claws scraped behind. Waiting to strike, Glotronoid was there, and Jaakor turned around to see this foe. "Huh?"

"Jaakor, incoming!" Shun warned.

"Ability, activate!" Magnus shouted. "Bright Cell!" Glotronoid's chest gem was starting to glow bright pink, the energy charging and crackling before a massive load of energy was beamed at Jaakor.

Glotronoid: 1400 (+400) = 1800 Jaakor: 600

Glotronoid: 400 Radizen: 700

With Jaakor turned around and the blast heading his way, Radizen suddenly jumped in front. "Not so fast there, buck-o!"

"Ability, activate! Zap Screen!" Radizen created a blue mirror-like barrier in front that took the blunt of the energy blast that was heading his way. As the beam blitzed and was absorbed by the shield, Glotronoid's ability was nullified, bringing him to 1400.

"Heh, that the best you got?!" Radizen mocked. "You okay back there Jaakor?"

"Yes, I am." Jaakor looked ahead, glaring as he and Radizen were now back to back. They were surrounded by Lumitroid and Glotronoid, both Bakugan snarling deeply at them. "But…"

"We've underestimated them deeply." Shun glared. "They're good."

"Not so." Magnus deterred. "It's the other way around. The truth is that you've gotten weaker. You've been so busy holding up all these one-shots and winnings that your own sense of skills in prolong battles has deterred. I'm disappointed."

Shun grunted in annoyance, He, Jaakor, Marucho, and Radizen all shot glares at their opponents.

"Hold it!" a voice shouted. The Brawlers looked behind, seeing Alice surprisingly close.

"Alice, what is it?" Marucho questioned.

"Just a second." She walked in front for interference. The battling came to a brief halt as everyone saw Alice walk up calmly, giving everyone a fierce glare. She directed her attention towards Lucia. "You. You're able to have some kind of telepathic ability, am I right?"

Shun and Marucho gasped. They looked toe ach other then back at the scene.

"I thought it was suspicious when you were speaking like you were knowing of our moves. You can either read our minds or someone or something is thinking for you…am I right?"

Lucia gasped, but her shock turned to a smirk. "My, how humbling…." She grinned. "Well now, I must admit, the great Alice, Darkus Brawler and the former Masquerade. To think that you would be the first human to decipher even a fraction of what I am able to achieve. To be honest, you're, as you humans say, in the ball park. I have the power of premonition, meaning I can see the future."

"What?" Radizen gasped. "H-Hold up a second there girly. Uh, not that it doesn't fit you, but…what?!"

"The ability to see into the future? How can this be?" Marucho questioned.

Shun's eyes narrowed. "You're lying. In what way can you prove that you can see into the future that we can't make for ourselves?"

"Think about it." Lucia said, her tone rather shrewd as her eyes were closed. "Leading up to now, how is it that we have come to seek you here of all places? Would you perhaps call this a coincidence? My apologies, but I don't believe in such nonsense. You see, everything, every action that we do…it all comes to a chain reaction, and those reactions created a chain linked to fate that cannot be broken. The moment you chose to head to New Vestroia was when your fate was sealed."

"But why? Why do you want to do this?" Alice begged.

Lucia turned away. "You're mistaken, dear one. We're not here to terminate the Battle Brawlers. That is not the orders that Lord Riaan, his graciousness, wanted. He merely wants us to see the potential in their threat…" She gave them all a glare. "And from the looks of it, I'm not impressed."

"You talk too much." Shun backlashed. "Your idea of fate, and this talk about futures…you make it sound like you alone can make it all happen."

Lucia scoffed. "Meager words coming from such a human. If one says they can change the future…then how is it that I've never been wrong? In my years living, never once has my premonitions been wrong." In her head, she recalled the part of Alice and Hydranoid surrounded by dark flames. 'Of course that also means that she will be involved in this war herself.'

Alice clutched her fist to her chest. Hydranoid saw this and remained quiet. Alice looked even more worried than ever, but resolute. "Listen to me, I'm not sure why you guys want to do this or what you have against us, but why is all this necessary? Why is he risking worldly genocide? All these lives…all so innocent…why is he forcing this onto them?!"

Lucia gave Alice a very calm stare. She slowly closed her eyes, processing what it was that Alice was saying. "I understand. The pain of knowing, and yet you have no answers…" She thought back to a time when she was still younger. She was surrounded by ruins and smoke, and all she could do was cry on the ground. "Knowing that you could've done something, but fail to act so…it truly is a painful feeling." She opened her eyes, reflecting Alice's figure. "Justice is such a distorted term. Is it retribution, or is it another? No one can say. But…our beloved Riaan was wronged by someone he once loved, so this is his answer. As it is ours!"

She reached up, subconsciously getting Glotronoid to focus on Alice. She glanced up in shock, seeing it glare at her.

"The will of violence will never end…and that is your greatest weakness, Alice!"

Glotronoid raised a claw, ready to swat down Alice. In too much shock, Alice could only stare as the Bakugan attacked.

"Bakugan, brawl!" Shun threw in two Bakugan simultaneously, both jumping at the same time. "Baku Sky Raiders, jump! Go, Darkus Skytruss! Darkus Orbeum!" The two Bakugan arose to take off almost immediately, both the dog-like beast and the crow soaring and running into Glotronoid. Their combined force pushed back Glotronoid, saving Alice.

Alice uncovered, looking up and realizing that she was spared. "What just…?"

"Alice, are you hurt?" Orbeum asked as he looked down at her.

Alice managed to compose. "Yeah, I'm okay." She looked at both Bakugan. "Thanks you guys."

Shun and Marucho bypassed Alice. "Alice, we need to stay on guard. You stay back and observe. We'll make sure they don't get beyond this point! Marucho, you're up!"

Marucho held up Roxtor. "Yeh, let's add one more to the party! Here we go, Roxtor! Bakugan, brawl!" he threw Roxtor out. "Bakugan, stand! Go, Subterra Roxtor!"

Appearing in a brown light, a pair of claws slashed, and a hiss came out of Roxtor as he pivoted and glared at the foes along with the other Bakugan.

Jaakor: 600/Radizen: 700/Skytruss: 900/Orbeum: 900/Roxtor: 1000

Glotronoid: 1400 Lumitroid: 400

Magnus observed all five Bakugan gaining up on their two. To him he seemed challenged. "So you're ganging up on us using numbers now. And here we thought you Brawlers fight fair."

"Hey pal, it stopped being fair when we learned about that quirky trick she has!" Radizen pointed out.

Roxtor yelled out gibberish.

Magnus scoffed. "Then I suppose all is fair in love and war."

"You got that right, and you just messed with the wrong side!" Orbeum declared. "Let's go, bro!"

"Yeah, I'm with ya!" Skytruss ascended into the air above, though he made sure to be high enough to where he wouldn't get sick from the negative energy. 'We gotta hurry this up. Who know how long we have until the negative energy affects us again.'

"Right, then let's go! Ability activate, Full Moon – Wave Burning!" Skytruss cawed as he flapped his wings, sending feathers made up of purple energy that were like kunai that shot across Glotronoid's path, forcing it to veer away. "Now Orbeum, ability activate! Supreme Flame!" Orbeum went on the attack as well, running along as his back legs had gun-like projections slid open, firing purple projectiles at Glotronoid. Like the feathers, the projectiles all glazed across Glotronoid's surroundings, leaving it unable to find thorough space to attack.

Jaakor: 600/Radizen: 700/Skytruss: 900/Orbeum: 900/Roxtor: 1000

Glotronoid: 1400 (-400 -400) = 600 Lumitroid: 400

Within the dust field and debris, Lucia and Magnus maintained a high guard. 'We're dealing with ninjas. Their next attack will be an ambush, then an ally interference.'

With Lumitroid and Glotronoid immobilized, the dust blew across them. They were unable to block when Jaakor, along with Skytruss and Orbeum, all blindsided them, making a triple impact that caused both Bakugan to deter.

Marucho held an ability up. "Ability, activate! Power Granite!" Roxtor's body had a bright orange aura as he yelled out gibberish. He telekinetically manipulated rock and threw it through the dust, causing a loud rupture to envelop Lumitroid and Glotronoid.

Both Bakugan violently hollered as they doubled over, slamming on the ground along with the debris.

Jaakor: 600/Radizen: 700/Skytruss: 900/Orbeum: 900/Roxtor: 1000 (+500) = 1500

Lucia and Magnus watched with emotionless faces, their Bakugan barely stirring up as the Brawlers gained the upper hand.

"You speak of fate so fluently, well you don't know half of what we went through to change that!" Shun declared. "The Brawlers came together so many times before, and we will again if it means taking you down. Our power doesn't come from just facts alone, we've also have experience and friends, something you can't possibly comprehend."

Lucia closed her eyes. In her head, she started to see more visions. She was seeing two lights being struck out by a green and purple comet, followed then by what looked like overwhelming black force that overlapped everything. Slowly, she opened her eyes.

"…perhaps. But you know…such cliché speeches hold just as much meaning…to a meager bug." Lucia held up an ability. "Magnus."

"Yes." He readied an ability as well.

"You say that your power comes from the bonds and numbers that you share, does it?" Lucia questioned. "Well then, imagine what it would feel like, when your own logic becomes your worst nightmare." She held her arm up. "Ability, activate! Leech Glare!"

Lumitroid's pupil suddenly fluxed, The scorpion exerted a menacing hiss as its eye expelled a bright, searing light that beamed so bright that it blinded everyone. Shun, Marucho, even Alice had to cover up as the ability was too bright to see.

"I can't see anything!" Shun exclaimed.

The Bakugan were all covering up as well, and like their partners, the light was making them weaker. Radizen dropped to a knee with Jaakor, and the others grunted while Lumitroid was hissing through the ghastly light.

Jaakor: 600 (-200) = 400/Radizen: 700 (-200) = 500/Skytruss: 900 (-200) = 700/Orbeum: 900 (-200) = 700/Roxtor: 1500 (-200) = 1300

Glotronoid: 600 Glotronoid: 400 (+1000) = 1400

Through the beaming light, Lucia glared. "The light of truth is a very drastic light. You may continue to look away as you like, but no matter where you hide, the light will always reach you. Magnus."

Magnus nodded and revealed an ability. "Anility, activate! Jag Spartan!" Glotronoid's forearms began to jut out the prolong spikes that were along the edges. They manifested into blades through the harsh light, making perfect cover as he closed in on a target.

"What's going on?!" Skytruss was too blind to see. Even for a ninja this light was harsh. Suddenly Glotronoid appeared in front and slashed one of its blades. The harsh cut shot Skytruss towards the ground, making him slam and create a tremendous thud.

Once Glotronoid landed in a pose behind, 400 Gs was transferred, putting Glotronoid at 1000 and Skytruss at 300.

"Skytruss!" Shun yelled, but veered through the light. 'Their power levels are getting higher. These guys are knowing our every move…maybe they won't be expecting this!' He tried glancing at Marucho. "Marucho, see if you can get a shot in between! Can you do that?"

"Yeah, I think we can!" Marucho yelled through the beams. "Radizen, you think you can manage?!"

"Yeah, I can make that shot! Just leave it to me!" the Aquos Bakugan declared.

Marucho nodded. "Okay, ability activate!" The ability shined faintly through the ghastly light. "Luster Drain!"

Radizen opened a webbed palm. In it, moisture clustered into a ball of water that he clutched tight like an actual throwing ball. "Okay. One swing…two strikes in the dark." He lifted a leg like he was about to pitch. "Okay…batter up!" With gusto, he swung around and pitched the water bomb at Lumitroid and Glotronoid didn't see coming. The water bomb shot and erupted in between them – more closely towards Lumitroid. The eruption of pressurized water diminished the light, making Lumitroid and Glotronoid hiss and growl in annoyance.

Jaakor: 400/Radizen: 500 (+300) = 800/Skytruss: 300/Orbeum: 900/Roxtor: 1300

Glotronoid: 1000 (-300) = 700 Glotronoid: 1400 (-300) = 1100

"A nice shot!" Alice gasped.

As mist and water sprayed in front, the visage was enough to make the other Bakugan recover from that searing blast of seeping light.

"Hey, I can see a little!" Orbeum shouted. "You okay over there bro?"

"Yeah, I'm fine! Let's take them on together, sensei!" Skytruss exclaimed.

Jaakor nodded. "Yes. With the combined might of three ninjas, we shall end this battle!" He declared. He stood with Skytruss and Orbeum, both ready to take control. "Shun, you ready?"

Shun nodded. "Okay then. It's time we break the news to these invaders, once and for all! That the Earth and New Vestroia…are not theirs!" He pulled out an ability, which shined green and purple. "Okay guy, altogether now! Ability, activate-!"

"Ultimate Kazami Style – Rapid Fury!" all four ninjas cried out.

Jaakor was ignited in wavy green energy. He suddenly vanished, and Skytruss and Orbeum were surrounded in purple energy and vanished. All three became three streaking blazes that shot into the air, their energies protecting them from the negative flow in the high altitude. They shot up until they became glints in the sky, and then three spiraling comets of green and purple shot down, spiraling in a helix formation. All three ninjas cried out as they broke the sound barrier as they shot into the enemy Bakugan, reappearing and disappearing. The glints were bolting comets that shot in straight lines, and around. They were bolting comets that repeatedly dashed the enemy Bakugan until at last they all made a unison cry, with Skytruss and Orbeum passing in a cross formation, and Jaakor shooting down the middle to make a six-edged star. Their trails made the Bakugan scream in anguish as they veered away from the consecutive impacts.

Jaakor: 400 (+600) = 1000/Radizen: 800/Skytruss: 300 (+600) = 900/Orbeum: 700 (+600) = 1300/Roxtor: 1300

Glotronoid: 700 (-600) = 100 Lumitroid: 1100 (-600) = 500

Silent but deadly, the streaks all vanished, revealing Jaakor and his students looking away from the massive dust cloud they created. Jaakor was on a knee, head down in grace. "…it's done."

Alice's eyes lit up some. She started to look happy as she realized what it could mean.

BA-DUMP

An odd, but very gruesome pulse went through the atmosphere at that moment. Alice stopped in her tracks when she sensed a very off and dark pressure that sent shivers down her body.

"Alice, did you feel that just now?" Hydranoid baffled.

Alice was speechless; her hair shifted in the lifting breeze as an insatiable tension filled her head. Ahead, the explosions and dust that were from Jaakor's attack were fading away. They revealed very grim silhouettes that had three bulging eyes seething them down. For some reason, just looking at them ws enough to make her heart stop.

"I fear that the real battle…has only begun."

Jaakor, Radizen, and everyone else looked in shock as they slowly turned around to see what was happening. Their eyes slowly widened when they felt intense shivers crawl up their spines upon seeing the dust diminish, and yet two human-sized silhouettes were giving off prominent negative auras around their bodies, the same ones around their Bakugan. Shun and Marucho were left completely speechless as this raw shrill shuddered down their spines.

"And now…the gateway that will alter how you perceive us now." Lucia's voice echoed through the dust. Her silhouette was seen lifting an arm, showing an ability. "Your most valued treasures…can never live up to the expectations of reality. Ability, activate…Solar-X!"

A bright purple core appeared and expelled chords all over Lumitroid. The Bakugan hissed as the strands faded into the body, in which the Bakugan's eye suddenly pulsed. Veins appeared over the eye that pulsed with fluids and energy that palpitated violently. The eye suddenly widened, and instead of a bright yellow light as before, a harsh, searing magenta light enveloped the area.

"GAH~!" Jaakor and Radizen and the others were stunned by this light. They screamed in violent agony as their bodies made contact with the light.

"Jaakor!"

"Radizen!"

Both brawlers cried out, but then the light stung them. They covered up as a stinging, pulsing light that fumed with negative power shined brightly. Alice and Hydranoid were in the back, but the negative shockwaves generated by the light caused the former's hair to shift and sway. "What's…this energy? Is it…coming from the light?"

"Gnnngh…Jaakor! Skytruss! Orbeum!" Shun called out, but the radiation was too much. Even the Bakugan were paralyzed by this light. 'It's no good. She's completely paralyzing us. And on top of that, I can't seem to use any abilities. This is bad.'

Jaakor: 1000 (-500) = 500/Radizen: 800 (-300) = 500/Skytruss: 900 (-400) = 500/Orbeum: 1300 (-800) = 500/Roxtor: 1300 (-800) = 500

Glotronoid: 100 Lumitroid: 500

"You guys, hang on! We'll think of something!" Marucho shouted, facing forward, but then he had to shield his eyes from the overpowering light.

"Marucho! Shun!" Alice screamed through the light.

With the magenta light like a sun, Lucia's figment was nothing more than a black shadow that looked like a demon woman that glared at Alice. "One cannot hide from the likes of fate." The message caused Alice to swallow. "So now, I ask you…just how do you intend to stop our violence?"

Magnus held up his arm, his own shadow giving a demonic vibe. "Guess you don't us much street cred. You've got a gang…but we have the guns. Ability activate, Prominence-X!"

The bright core ignited in front of Glotronoid. The chords all faded into the body, and the veins bulged around the gem in the chest area. A pulse erupted from the chest as it glowed brighter. All the accents illuminated around Glotronoid's skin, creating a magenta flare that caused a gravity field to depress around his feet. The Bakugan craned its head as the trembling distorted air, making an impressive field that Glotronoid yelled through.

Jaakor: 500/Radizen: 500/Skytruss: 500/Orbeum: 500/Roxtor: 500

Glotronoid: 100 (+600 +1900) = 2600 Lumitroid: 500

Barely glancing at his Bakumeter through this graviton shockwave, Shun couldn't believe what he was seeing. "But how?!"

"You so dumb." Magnus glared through the gravity field. "This is the power of Riaan's forbidden strength. We restored Glotronoid's power that he had to begin with."

Shun's eyes widened in horror. "No way…" Beside him, Marucho was speechless. This went beyond what either calculated.

"Our future has no place for any of you." Lucia swiped her arm. "Begone!"

Lumitroid shined brighter, with Glotronoid's graviton shockwaves distorting everything. The Bakugan all screamed as they were being pierced by lights and explosive shockwaves coming from two opponents at once. Shun and Marucho screamed as the piercing light was becoming too much for them as well.

"Shun! Marucho!" Alice was in terror. She was seeing her friends succumb to negative radiation waves. She was covering up too from all this negative energy that was blocking her. The ground around her was literally cracking to reveal fissures of raw magenta and black energy to replace dust. It passed her and Hydranoid as they had no means of being able to fight back at the moment. 'This is bad…what am I doing?!'

"The will of violence will never end…and that is your greatest weakness, Alice!"

Alice's eyes widened as she thought of Lucia's words. 'My greatest…weakness.' She slowly glanced over at Hydranoid, the Bakugan looking back at her. "Hydranoid…"

"This battle, there's no doubt about it. The negative energy is spiraling out of control. Look!"

Alice looked ahead, seeing the Bakugan all paralyzed and sizzling. Their bodies were beginning to pale as it looked like some disease was going through them. Shun and Marucho were getting to their knees as they were succumbing as well.

"The negative energy…no, my friends…" She clutched her fist to her chest, it starting to hurt some. 'That's right. Hydranoid can sense it, but we're not affected by it…then that means.'

"Alice, you know what we have to do." Hydranoid insisted.

"Hydranoid…"

"Our worlds are falling apart, Alice. Our species is coming to an end. We have to do something." He saw how Alice seemed uncertain, but he sympathized with her. "I know that it's hard now." Another head said. "But if we don't…then who will? Please Alice…once more, let's do this."

"Hydranoid…" Alice's shock began to boil over. She was flashing back to her battle against Shadow Prove and Hades. She had to fight because she had no choice. She fought, and yet through it she was still afraid because of her other identity. But Masquerade made it clear he was gone, even though he left Alice precious battling abilities and skill. But…that was before. Now she actually had a choice. She could sit by and watch her friends suffer, or she could defend them. It was a tough call, and she was aware that she retired from battling, but seeing Hydranoid's own home being wrecked like this, it was making her upset. Her own world was crumbling, and here she was, not fighting to preserve it.

Her mind flashed back to Luke and everyone else. 'You guys…you're really doing this for everyone, are you…' The longer she stared ahead, the more her mind became clearer. She and Hydranoid looked to each other, both sharing the same gaze.

With how still both felt, the answer was clear. Alice closed her eyes, opening them again to show a glare.

Lucia reached forward. "Lumitroid, burn their meanings away!" The Bakugan hissed as the magenta rays brightened more, searing the Bakugan to a greater extent.

They all screamed as their eyes were dulling, negative energy forcing them to surrender while Glotronoid rushed for them.

"Guys, watch out!" Shun yelled.

Glotronoid closed the gap, but suddenly three glints were in the distance. They became prolonged black and purple beams that shot at him, causing an explosion that repulsed him away within the light. He was knocked into Lumitroid, causing both Bakugan to topple over and stop the intense light.

The light receding, Jaakor and the other Bakugan nearly toppled over. The light made them dizzy, but they coughed out the negative debris that was piled up.

"Man, that was close *cough*!" Radizen wheezed. "Guys, what just happened…?"

"I don't know…" Jaakor murmured.

Lumitroid and Glotronoid stood back up, their bodily prowess diminished for the time being. A pair of deep blue and black feet with red claws stomped on the ground, making Shun and Marucho wide-eyed.

Magnus looked shocked, but Lucia seemed expectant of her vision. "…so it's finally here. I was right…this would happen."

Hydranoid stood in full form, emitting a shrilled roar as he stood before everyone in full dominating glory.

Jaakor: 500/Radizen: 500/Skytruss: 500/Orbeum: 500/Roxtor: 500/Alpha Hydranoid: 900 (+300) = 1200

Glotronoid: 2600 Lumitroid: 500

Shun and Marucho turned around, but surprising enough, Alice was standing by their side, a serious glare fixed on her pretty face.

"Alice?" Marucho gasped. "You saved us."

Alice gave no verbal reply. She only stared forward along with Hydranoid as both Brawler and Bakugan were set on the prize. They both were fixed on Glotronoid, who seethed at Hydranoid in return.

"Ability, activate! Death Trident!" Alice brought up her purple Bakumeter that showed an ability. Hydranoid's three heads aimed and opened their maws, generating large, spherical energy wave that crackled with purple static. Once ready, all three heads fired the beams at once. They all crashed into Glotronoid, causing it to fall over in pain on its back and making his power decrease to 2300.

Magnus uncovered from that tremor made, glaring ahead. "That chick…she's actually doing this?" He saw the resolution on Alice's face, her hair shifting in the cold breeze.

Lucia's eyes closed. Once again, she saw the vision of Alice and Hydranoid in her mind. They opened again, albeit halfway. "And here it is."

"Alice, what are you doing?" Shun questioned, albeit with shock on his face. "This is dangerous!"

"I know." She responded. "And that's precisely why we're in this too! No more holding back, Hydranoid! Time to save ourselves and our friends!"

Shun and Marucho looked shocked once again, unable to find appropriate responses.

Magnus nodded. "Alright…I see what you doing. You wanna tussle with the gang too, girly?" Alice gave no verbal response once again, making her point. "Oh well, your loss. Tear her apart!" Glotronoid lunged for Alice and Hydranoid, closing in with gusto.

"I'm ready, Alice." Hydranoid declared. "Let's teach these invaders the true power of Darkus."

Alice nodded. She showed another ability when she lifted her Bakumeter. "Ability, activate! Extreme Chaos Leap Sting!" Hydranoid's wings lifted to unleash six metallic tendrils that all had head with fangs. The maws shined bright purple before intense violet, white energy beamed through the air.

Jaakor: 500/Radizen: 500/Skytruss: 500/Orbeum: 500/Roxtor: 500/Alpha Hydranoid: 1200 (+300) = 1500

Glotronoid: 2300 (-400) = 1900 Lumitroid: 500

The beams aimed for Glotronoid but the Bakugan used its forearms to cover up. But the beams were relentless, and the power they had was slowly pushing it back. Slowly, very slowly, Glotronoid was being pushed back, unable to advance onto his foes.

With Hydranoid focused on Glotronoid, Lumitroid turned and dilated the pupil against the hydra.

"Ability, activate! Luminous Arrow!" Lumitroid's eye dilated again as a bright yellow arrow of light shot across the battlefield at Hydranoid. The hydra glanced over, seeing the arrow incoming.

"Ability, activate!" Alice countered. "Saw Demolition!" Hydranoid's saw started to turn and violently graze the atmosphere. As the saw churned, the arrow made contact with the spinning spikes, but was grinded up and turned into purple static all around Hydranoid.

Jaakor: 500/Radizen: 500/Skytruss: 500/Orbeum: 500/Roxtor: 500/Alpha Hydranoid: 1500 (+200) = 1700

Glotronoid: 1900 Lumitroid: 500 (-200) = 300

Lucia closed her eyes humbly. "As expected, she'll slowly be gaining ground on your forbidden ability, Magnus." Besides her, Magnus huffed.

"Okay, then what now?" he asked, a little irritably.

Lucia remained silent as she glared forward.

Hydranoid glared at his prey angrily. "Now, where were we?" He stopped shooting energy beams from the tendrils and extended them out at Glotronoid. The Bakugan was wrapped around and snared by Hydranoid's superior strength, unable to break away by any means.

"Alright Hydranoid, let's go! Ability, activate! Destroy Vanish!" Alice pointed ahead, causing the buzzing saw on Hydranoid's front to continue spinning. The closer Glotronoid got, the clearer it was it couldn't escape. Eventually, Hydranoid's saw grinding against the scales and chest, causing the Bakugan to cry out in pain. Quickly, his power was sharply declining.

"What are you doing?" Magnus leered.

"Destroy Vanish is an ability that's unique to Alpha Hydranoid." Alice said. "He grinds Bakugan against his powerful body and drops their power. I really wish that it didn't have to come to this…" She balled her fist as she held it up. "But if it's to protect my friends, then bring it!"

"Alice…" Marucho awed.

Hydranoid roared as he continued crushing Glotronoid and draining his power. Lumitroid was off to the side, ready to make another counterattack.

Lucia closed her eyes. Humbled by her results, she set it to motion. "Ability activate, Radiant Sting!" Lumitroid's stinger shined a bright light, and it reached for Hydranoid, who noticed the stinger.

"Hydranoid, no!" Alice yelled.

"It's okay, Alice." Hydranoid assured, facing the stinger as it shot for him. "This energy…is nothing to me!" He swung the wrapped Glotronoid in his path, using him as a shield to take the stinger in the back. Glotronoid released another painful scream as the pure light was spreading over his body, making it so that he couldn't activate abilities. Hydranoid swung his three tails around, sending Glotronoid into Lumitroid for the second time now. The Bakugan expelled another bloodcurdling roar, one that shook the air and created pulse waves everywhere.

Behind, Radizen was getting. "Woah, okay…that's insane."

"I know. He saved us." Jaakor observed, watching his roar end. "He's able to withstand this energy better than we have. He's saved us."

"Yeah, so let's lend a hand then!" Radizen proposed. "Make some room because we're back at it!"

Marucho nodded. "Right, ability activate! Slash Boomerang!" Radizen gripped his head fin, which shined bright blue. He whipped his hands forward, unleashing an energy crescent that flew like a boomerang and grazed Lumitroid and Glotronoid, subtracting 200 Gs from their already low power levels. The boomerang energy returned to Radizen as he placed it within the fin again.

"Shun!" Jaakor imposed.

Shun nodded. "Right then, let's go! Ability, activate! Flying Dragon – Spinning Storm!" Jaakor ignited himself in pulsing green energy and ascended into the air. With what he had, he shot down with a battle cry as he pulled back a fist.

"Hydranoid! Ability activate, Terminal Barrage!" Alice reached out, and Hydranoid roared out as he unleashed endless spheres in a barrage similar to a machine gunfire strike.

As the attacks closed in, Lucia's hair shifted in the winds. Time slowed down for her as the negative energy waves around Alice were shifting yet looked unaffected. She stood alongside her comrades, which only served to pique her more. 'I see…then it's finally come true. It would appear that our plans will be most…interesting.' She grinned disjointly. "Magnus, I believe that's enough for now, don't you think?"

Magnus huffed, but he nodded. "If you say so. You say this." He reached out towards the Gate Card. "Alright, Gate Card, open! Battle Release!"

The card glowed, and as both attacks closed in, they dissipated before they reached their targets. The glow from the card expelled across the land, swallowing all the Bakugan,

"What the-?"! Jaakor couldn't finish as a glow enveloped him.

Soon it as Hydranoid, Radizen, and the others. When the flash faded, the Gate Card's glow was gone, and the Bakugan all returned to their owners' hands. The battle from then on stopped completely, leaving silence in the air.

Alice blinked. "Huh?"

"Well now, this is surprising. To think that we were able to bring this much out of the Brawlers in such a state." Lucia said. "If it weren't so pitiful, I would've extended my hand in good show. But, that doesn't change anything."

Jaakor appeared in ball form beside Shun. "What happened? Did they forfeit the battle?"

"No, they used a Command Card to stop the battle altogether." Shun said. "This was just a test, wasn't it?"

"Again, you astonish me. Seems you humans do in fact catch on." Lucia humbly smiled. "But I must admit, I didn't expect the results to be this extreme, especially against foes of your caliber…" she turned towards Alice, making eye contact with her. "Alice, yes?"

Alice gasped, but she composed. "Yeah, that's right."

"You have our respects. To think someone as you would have such a match against our forces." She grinned. "It appears that there actually is worth on this planet's inhabitance after all. Unlike the Battle Brawlers, seems some Bakugan have come to embrace negative energy."

Everyone shot glares at her and Magnus. They had nothing to say as the fighting was over for now, but they failed to drop their much-needed guards.

"Lucia, are we good then?" Magnus inquired. "Cuz I think we got what we came for."

"Yes." She nodded. "Master Riaan will be most pleased knowing our results. I'm certain he'll properly reward us for our duties to him." She bowed.

Marucho leered at them. "What's going on here? What tests are you speaking of?"

"It's possibly those forbidden moves they made." Shun cursed. "And we fell right into their hands…" he slowly balled his fists, his own frustration on the rise. He growled low when he knew it was too good to be true, but Lucia was right.

Lucia shut her eyes and chose to not answer. "We will let you go this one time, Battle Brawlers, but be warned, if you truly interfere like those previous 6 have, then we will not hold back. This is your only warning. Farewell." She and Hendrix began teleporting away.

"Hold it!" Shun hurried and threw a grappling hook with rope on the end at the duo. The item sailed at them, but they teleported just as the hook reached them. This caused it to continue and pierce the rock behind, leaving a failed target acquisition. "Snap…they got away."

Marucho lost his will to stand, slumping down with a grieving sigh. "Man, that was just scary. What the heck was that we faced?"

Shun glared. "I don't know. But whatever it was, it was enough to put us at mercy." He turned around and looked at Alice. "Alice, Hydranoid. Thank you both for what you did."

"Yes, thank you both very much." Jaakor bowed. "You have our gratitude."

"I still can't believe it. I was amazed that you went in and id that, Alice." Marucho said in a shocked tone. "I thought you stopped battling?"

Alice clutched her hand to her chest as Hydranoid sat on her shoulder. "Yeah. I…" She trailed off when the land began to vibrate. The pulsating pressure and the cracks in the earth around them made a harsh shift that almost threw everyone off balance.

The land shuddered to extremes. The purple leaks in the ground were growing vastly. Inch by inch, the negative energy was enveloping the fissures and the battlefield, seeping deeper into the ground.

On a knee, Shun evaluated with shock. "What's going on?"

"It's negative battle energy!" Orbeum realized.

"It became overwhelming for the area, so now it's spreading into the ground and atmosphere." Skytruss answered. "At this rate, the Bakugan are gonna turn like the other ones from before, even the strong ones!"

"Then…there's nothing we can do here now?" Radizen asked concerningly. He wished he hadn't said it, but it's what was on the mind. "Oh man…"

Alice lowered her head, looking shameful. "Hydranoid, I'm so sorry. I wish that we did more…but I guess our best just wasn't good enough."

Hydranoid floated off Alice's shoulder and into her face. "Don't apologize Alice." He insisted. "We were able to be spared because we got to see you again, that's what matters." He said in a different voice. "We've come to realize something upon seeing you again. That it's probably time…for us to take this fight or ourselves now."

"Hydranoid…" Alice processed what he was saying, nodding in acceptance. "You're right." She reached out, allowing him onto her palm. "Hydranoid, I know this is hard, but will you come home with me once more?"

Hydranoid didn't hesitate to answer. "With you, Alice…I am home."

The land shuddered again, this time the rumbling was making great palpitations. The Brawlers all stammered about, almost losing balance. The Bakugan all floated up, with them reverting to their original forms. They all were finally worn off from Magnus' battle pulse signature, leaving them able to move about freely again.

"So what do we do now?" Alice questioned.

"Listen guys, it's too unsafe to be here anymore." Marucho said. "I'm afraid our best bet is to head back to Earth and rethink a strategy."

"Marucho's right. We'll have to adapt. Whoever those guys were, I doubt that won't be the last of them." Shun looked towards Skytruss and Orbeum. "Skytruss, Orbeum, do you two think you can make a portal still?"

Orbeum nodded. "Gnnngh…well, we'll try. Ready bro?"

Skytruss nodded. "Yeah. It's gonna feel dizzy, but I think we can manage." Together, they spread evenly but remained close. "Ready?"

"You bet!"

Together, both Bakugan emitted a pulse wave ahead of themselves. The pulse distorted, transforming itself into a distorted field that slowly expanded into a dimensional portal for them all to fit through. Skytruss almost fell over, as did Orbeum, but Jaakor supported them both, much to their thanks.

"Well, time to book it." Radizen was the first to walk up, jumping into the portal.

Roxtor crawled up, speaking gibberish again before he jumped in next.

"I'm not in a hurry, you're just a slowpoke!" Radizen complained inside the transport.

"Well, guess it's time for us now." Skytruss said, with an underlying sadness in his tone.

Orbeum nodded. "Afraid so, bro. I wish it didn't have to be this way for New Vestroia: Our home."

"Don't worry." Jaakor issued, looking confident. "It's true that we may have lost our home, as well as our brothers and sisters…but they may still yet to have a chance. This fight isn't over yet. We will save New Vestroia and Earth, that is a promise."

Both his students nodded in agreement. As bad as it was, they had to move on. With reluctance, they moved into the portal, where all three dove at the same time.

"Well, guess it's our turn then." Shun said. "Is everyone ready?"

Alice nodded. "Yes, I am." She looked up and smiled. "You ready, Hydranoid?"

Hydranoid picked her up like before and the two turned towards the portal. Together, they faced the Bakugan heading in and nodded. Hydranoid flew in and sailed through, both heading back to Earth once more.

Shun walked towards the portal, looking over his shoulder at Marucho. "Marucho, you coming?"

The Aquos Brawler nodded. "Yeah, just a second." He turned around while Shun walked into the portal, leaping back to Erath. Marucho was left alone for a moment as he thought of something, or rather someone important.

'Preyas…Elfin…you guys, I sure hope you guys make it out okay. I know it'll be hard…but we'll be everything we can. Please, hang in there a little longer.'

Marucho turned and jumped into the portal, allowing it to finally close. It was time to leave New Vestroia behind for a while.

---

On the isle where Preyas and Amazon tutored Luke and Abis Omega, the water was pitch-black. Cool, clear water was replaced by grimy black; even the waterfalls were dripping black.

Preyas was sitting inside the cave behind the waterfall. He decided to wait out and hide as tainted Bakugan were swimming in the depths outside. As he conserved energy, an odd shock went through him. "Hm?"

"What is it, sensei?" Amazon asked.

Looking out at the waterfall, Preyas was notably quiet. He thought he heard a familiar voice, but he wouldn't know what it was saying. But the feeling made him smile for the first time in a while. "It's nothing."

From then on, and with what looked like many moons to come, New Vestroia fell into an eerie silence.

---

Back on Interacia, inside the prestige palace and humungous tower that was Riaan's own home, two figures were manifesting in the summoning chamber where all 12 slots were. Within the Subterra and Haos symbols, Magnus and Lucia respectively teleported and turned.

"Well now, I would be as far as call that mission a success." Lucia humbly said.

Magnus nodded. "Yeah, whatevs." He started walking with Lucia to the other end of the room, where they would be heading off to make the report. "So, it looks like you were right. That girl with the Hydranoid has returned. Tch, great, Now I owe Zion 50."

"The point of who would go doesn't change what happened." Lucia pointed out. "As I said before, I saw it, and therefore it came to fruition…I just wanted to be there for myself to see it. Besides, it was a prestigious honor to have battled the Battle Brawlers, even if it was lackluster…" her eyes glared forward. "But make no mistake, we weren't near our full strengths yet, and neither were they."

Magnus snickered. "Then that would've been interesting now, would it?"

"Of sorts, but it still wouldn't change the circumstances. I would've just adjusted our strategy to wait until we brought out their fusions. But now, we now see the first glance of what our powers can do."

Magnus nodded.

Together, both teleported once again as they stepped forward. The next instance, they reappeared in Riaan's hall, where they continued strides like nothing happened until they were meters away from the throne. Both dropped to a knee.

"Your divine one, I am humbled by your willingness to see me again." Lucia said dutifully. "We have returned with the report of our expedition as you requested."

Riaan turned around with Armagedoid, looking at Lucia. "I see. So then, Lucia, did it all go according to what you saw?"

Lucia slowly lifted her head, humbly grinning at her lord and savior. "…milord, better than what one could hope for."

Riaan grinned in pleasure. He was going to have fun hearing every detail that will bring him one step further to his vision.

---

This chapter goes out to all those Alice/Hydranoid fans out there. Yes, I am aware that Alice and Hydranoid back in the canon against Shadow Prove was a complete disaster, so I decided to give them both another chance in my fanfic, at least for a little while. I am going to make use of them, don't worry about that. And as for New Vestroia, as you may have guessed, this was probably the last chapter that will involve that planet. We've had a lot of good times on New Vestroia, but now it's in horrendous shape, so now it's time to move on and fight elsewhere.

So I chose to switch things up and do a sneak peek of Hades Pillars and their power against the Battle Brawlers, so I killed two birds with one stone this time. I know I probably didn't do the Battle Brawlers much justice (don't hate me), but I wanted to compare how prepared they were to how intense and ready Luke's group is after their harsh experiences.

By the way, I know Hydranoid's power level is like 550 or 500 in the show, but for the sake of the story and his badass reputation, I feel 900 Gs would suffice. Plus I added a few kickass abilities to boot too!

Anyways, with Hydranoid coming back and Alice's battling spirit revived, I hereby conclude the Alice Arc, and we're now moving into the Gundalia Arc! Please comment/review on your thoughts about all this and thanks for reading!