Chapter 49: Secret
Dan struggled to his feet before the unity broke and he returned his human form and Drago was in ball form totally unconscious. A few feet ahead the card Code Eve had given him was vaporized before he could even think about going for it and the back blast sent him flying into a wall. The Mechtagon cackled as Dan struggled to his feet once more. The damage he had amounted upon the Mechtagon was nothing compared to the pain he felt now. He noticed the sword sticking out of the wall space near him and went to pull it out.
"Give it up, Kuso." Said a familiar voice from behind making Dan glare as he whirled around to find Wiseman sneering at him with his arms folded, "The power of the key is fading from you and soon Code Eve will take back what she gave to you. Face it! After my intervention you'll soon cease as I wanted and the power of the key will be mine along with this world!"
"What nonsense are you talking about now, Wiseman?" Dan grunted as he tugged out the sword and glowered at Wiseman.
"I'm saying that by taking over your mind and copying your body I was able to render you a worthless host of the key's powers! The bonds and links you shared are breaking! The key is rejecting you and once it has relinquished itself from you totally you'll die permanently." Wiseman explained with a sadistic smile on his face and Dan felt a burning sensation in his hand.
He looked at his hand and found that the symbol for the key had reappeared and the crack was growing and more were appearing. His eyes went wide as for a moment he could see through his hands. Wiseman sneered at Dan's reaction and then turned away.
"Can you feel it?" He asked looking over his shoulder as Dan stopped panicking and went charging after him.
Wiseman did a backflip over Dan landing strategically behind him and pulled him into a choke hold. Dan's sword clanged to the ground as he struggled in the vice like grip. He wasn't trying to actually suffocate him, but rather render Dan impaired while he whispered into his ear.
"It's truly the end for you Kuso. You should have listened to Shun about being careful of your precious second chance, but it's too late. IT'S TOO LATE FOR YOU!" Wiseman whispered at first and then half yelled and half laughed into his ear as he tightened the choke hold and reached for Dan's hand with the key.
He was about to siphon out its powers when a three pronged grappling hook was gouged into his arm. Wiseman cried out in pain as the rope connecting to it was tugged and he lurched out of the grip he had on the real Dan Kuso. Dan fell to his knees coughing as he rubbed his throat hoping to soothe it. Wiseman glared up at Shun standing on the wall overlooking them as he held the other end of the rope yanking it forward every so often. Wiseman gritted his teeth and pulled out the hook splattering the ground and his body suit with not crimson blood, but dark navy blue. He cackled some as he licked what dark navy blue blood had landed on his face and lips. He then tugged back at Shun making him lose his balance and fall, but Taylean caught him; however he only managed to soften the fall as he was hit by a blast from the Mechtagon watching it all.
Wiseman then strode up to Shun grabbing him up by the hair, "Here let me offer you a chance to live, Kuso! Why don't you start by telling your friends what you really are?"
Dan looked at Shun and then to the others as they arrived and spotted the spectacle. Wiseman sneered up at them and gestured for Dan to tell them as well.
"The party is all here! Tell them Daniel Kuso! Tell them all what you truly are!" Wiseman jeered as he pulled harder on Shun hair and grabbed up the hook holding it to Shun's throat, "SPILL IT!"
Dan looked up at the others and then felt a tapping on his foot finding Drago in his ball form. He smiled at Drago and then solemnly stood up. The Mira, Marucho, Ace, Baron, Spectra, Gus, and Gunz along with their bakugan partner silently waited unsure of what to do for the situation.
"I'm-I-I-I…." Dan began, but Wiseman interrupted him, "LOUDER!"
Dan scowled for a moment and then stood taller as he took in a deep breath and shouted at the top of his lungs, "I have the DNA of a bakugan!"
Everyone gasped except Spectra, he just tilted his head in puzzlement. Wiseman cackled wildly as he eyed everyone's reactions and then noticed Dan's scowl directed at him.
"That's a good boy. Feels better now that you have that secret out of the way?" Wiseman said throwing the hook at Dan and then pushed away Shun before he teleported away.
Dan avoided the hook and then went to help Shun to his feet. He lowered his eyes when Shun looked at him.
"Dan? Why didn't you say anything?" Shun asked.
Dan felt his throat dry out as he spoke, "Code Eve said to not tell unless it was absolutely necessary. I'm sorry for putting you all through this and never had the nerve to get over myself and be the friend I'm supposed to be."
Wiseman appeared on another building as his bakugan gathered around him. Everyone noticed as he began to glow as did the bakugan surrounding him in a circle lifted to the sky and then a light shot out to the darkening clouds above.
"Come forth Mechtagons!" Wiseman cackled as three more Mechtagon fell from the sky to join the other one amongst them.
"We have been summoned and will do the bidding you command us to do, master!" All the Mechtagon shouted in unison.
"Dan! Shun! Are you guys okay?" Marucho called as the group ran up to join with the two while their Bakugan got in front protectively.
Dan looked to them glumly and then cast his face downward. Spectra rolled his eyes and then strutted up to Dan socking him in the jaw.
"Idiot! Your causing your own demise and don't seem to care! Get it together, Kuso!" Spectra spat angrily surprising everyone as Dan lurched back and wiped away the spittle that had spew over his chin when he was hit, "You need to fix this all now!"
Dan nodded solemnly to Spectra, "I'm sorry everyone there's a lot I never told you and now it's too late."
"No! It's never too late Master Dan!" Baron pleaded and then gasped as he noticed Dan becoming translucent and the glowing symbol hovering above the back of his right hand.
"Dan!" Drago cried as the boy clutched his hand feeling the burning sensation surge through it once more.
"I'm sorry everyone. I caused the rift between the Battle Brawlers. I'm sorry for lying so much to you all." Dan said looking to all of them individually, "I'm sorry for never telling you about my DNA change and that my key is breaking because of the rift between me and Drago."
"Is that why you're becoming translucent every so often?" Mira asked as she went to touch his shoulder and was happy to find that her hand didn't faze through.
"No Dan it's my fault. I'm sorry for not being able to find you when you were right in front of me." Drago nodded to Dan.
"I'm just sorry for not forgiving you for your actions and I hope you all can forgive me as of late." Dan murmured.
He started to solidify a bit more and Baron stopped holding his breath as they all nodded.
"That's what friends are for." Marucho piped up, "We forgive and move on."
"That's right." Ace added in.
Spectra nodded as well as Gus did. Gunz sighed not knowing what to say exactly since he barely knew Dan.
"Hey Gunz?" Dan called to the dark blonde.
"Yeah?" Gunz replied wondering where Dan was going to go with the conversation.
"Sorry for attacking you out of my anger for receiving my bakumeter. I guess Code Eve might decide to make you the new key bearer." Dan said looking down at the cracks appearing on the symbol.
"Hey I would be angry to, but as for this Code Eve person I have no clue as to why your bakumeter merged with mine. I'm willing to lend you mine if need be." Gunz replied as he removed his bakumeter.
"This is nice and all, but could we get some help here!" Betakor complained as the four Mechtagon merged into one being.
"I am Mechtavius Destroyer!" The united Mechtagon cried in a triumphant roar, "I will oblivarate you all!"
Suddenly Dan, Drago, Reptak, and Gunz were surrounded in a bright light and time seemed to stop completely as they were transported to another dimension. The placed was very familiar to Dan and Drago, but a first for Gunz and Reptak as they gazed around in awe only to have their attention seized by a huge bright light.
"Daniel Kuso, Drago, Reptak, and Gunz Lazar, I brought you four here for a very important reason." Code Eve stated as they all looked to her, "I must explain a few things and fix a few problems while I am at it, but first will come the explanation."
"So she's Code Eve?" Gunz asked Dan as he pointed to the light.
Dan nodded and allowed Code Eve to continue talking.
"Daniel Kuso. The one known as Apokkolys now Wiseman is actually a being from a deceased planet called Knemisis, a planet of evil beings that feed off negative energy produced by their enemies, but it was believed to be destroyed with all its inhabitants extinct with it. You'll need the full power of the key to make sure history with him doesn't repeat." Code Eve explained and then turned her attention to Gunz, "Gunz Lazar. I only let you partner up with Drago because Dan was incapacitated at the time, but it's time I returned Drago to him before he loses the power of the key completely."
A bright light surrounded Gunz's bakumeter which had it split into two and the separate items returned to their rightful owners. Dan beamed proudly as his bakumeter floated back into his hands. It had been over four months since he got to hold the thing much less feel like a true brawler. It felt good to have it clasped down to his wrist now.
"Dan," Code Eve called to the brunette's attention, "You need to realize that it will take some time for the key to repair the damages so be very careful to not reverse the process. I've returned the card True Bonds to you once more, but know that it will not be usable until the key is ready and as are you."
Dan nodded and then asked, "Hey, even if we beat this Apokkolys, dude. What's to stop him from overshadowing me or someone else?"
A white light began to surround them and Dan grew desperate to hear Code Eve's answer as he could feel them fading from the dimension and she was transporting them back to Earth.
"The answer is within you." Code Eve stated before he found himself standing amongst the Battle Brawlers.
