Past Phantoms

by ariace613

Finale of this series. On the surface, everything seems perfect for the Brawlers. They beat Gundalia in the war, defanged its leadership, and Bakugan Interspace is thriving. But the image is marred. Alice Gehabich is still missing, on voluntary exile to rediscover herself. And, even worse, Gus is still at large, masterminding the Brawlers' demise. The age of the Brawlers is ending.

18. Chapter 18

Disclaimer: I don't own Bakugan or the characters.

XXX

Chapter 18: Breakdown

The underground bunker that Gus was using for his command station was quiet. After Gus departed to begin his attack, it had been vacant. The only activity was the automated computer system that was constantly making and deploying cloned Ultimate Bakugan.

In a room inside that complex, which held a king sized bed and a high tech Vestal computer, the air cracked. A portal opened up, with Gus walking through. Each step was accompanied with a grunt of effort. When he reached the bed, he collapsed on it. He was breathing hard, acting as though he were in pain.

After taking a moment to recollect himself, Gus took off his black robe. On his right knee held a dark bruise. He quickly diagnosed where he got it:

'The directions that Gus obtained from the Abis Omega led him to a vast and desolate plain, dotted with rocky pillars. The area had several chasms and other evidence of battle, as well as a forested area that was completely untouched. But there wasn't a Bakugan in sight.

"Helios, to that forest", Gus said. "It's probably her hideout."

'The mech followed Gus's directions, flying toward the forest, whilst also descending toward the ground. When he got within a quarter mile of the forest, however, the cyborg's form glowed black and shrunk down to ball form.

"What the-!?", Gus yelled as he fell through the air. He tucked in his body, rolling on the ground to minimize damage the fall would give him.

Gus groaned once he was stabilized, rubbing his right knee. He was sure a nasty bruise formed at the impact point.'

That wasn't all. His left arm was aching, as well. Checking it, he had a big scrape on the forearm. His left side was also bruised. He knew where that came from, as well.

'"This is it!", Hydranoid outcried from the literal eye of the storm. Each head blasted forth a massive amount of dark plasma, beelining at Infinity Helios.

He was in no condition to dodge. The dark plasma hit Infinity Helios without issue, scorching any resistance he might have had left. The sheer power was enough to knock him far away to the ground.

And Infinity Helios wasn't the only one affected. Once the plasma began pulsating, it threw Gus far away. He landed on the ground hard. He groaned, trying to get back up, but failed a first attempt. He took in a sharp breath, in clear pain.'

"Damn her to hell", Gus grunted, still angry about how much Alice accomplished against him. "But at least I came out of the fight in one piece. More than I can say for her." He chuckled darkly. "I'd take pain over oblivion any day."

Still, he was notably injured. He figured some rest was in order. When he'd wake up, he'd go back to the front line. Only one thing troubled him.

"Where did the Spectres scurry off to?", Gus wondered sleepily. "They're probably just hiding in some dark corner of Earth. Those children never could grasp the full picture." Putting himself at ease, he laid down on his back, choosing his eyes and falling asleep.

His sleep did not turn out to be a restful one. Nearly instantly, Gus found himself in the middle of a dark expanse. The floor beneath his feet was smooth and flat. Everywhere he looked, all he saw was blackness.

Before he could question what was happening, not even through thought, the setting shifted to a scene that he was familiar with.

It was in a circular Bakugan arena, ringed by bleachers full of roaring Vestal spectators. A clear dome was overhead.

Gus saw… himself, dressed in a black jumpsuit, on a towering platform on the battlefield. The armored Bakugan known as Subterra Premo Vulcan stood beside that pillar. Opposing them was a man on another pillar. He was wearing a red cloak that seemed to be made of feathers, and a crimson mask. Beside him was a red and black dragon, snarling with rage and power.

Then, Gus watched as Vulcan collapsed, proving to be nothing against Pyrus Viper Helios.

Gus smiled to himself. That was the first moment of the rest of his life. That loss led him to Spectra's tutelage. Without what happened that day, his life would have gone a completely different way, and he wouldn't have become who he was meant to be.

The scene faded to black. Gus was left confused. "What's going on?", he questioned, mostly to himself.

"Really, Gus, I thought you'd have figured it out by now", said a voice Gus knew and despised all too well, coming from behind.

"Keith!", Gus yelled, turning around in a fit of rage. "What trickery is this-!"

When he saw the figure with the voice, he immediately paled. It was Keith, in a manner of speaking. Same body type, same hairstyle. But he was also incredibly different to how Keith portrayed himself nowadays. He wore the same black cloak and mask that Gus had made his attire. Gus looked down and saw that he wore the black jumpsuit from his memory.

"I am not Keith, Gus", the masked man chastised. "I'd think you would know that better than anyone. After all, you are trying to be me."

"Master Spectra." Gus got on his knee and bowed his head. Silently, he was thankful his injuries weren't carried over to this dream.

"This is what you are", Spectra admonished. "A servant playing as a master. Is this all that remains of my legacy?"

Gus looked up, confused. "I am moments away from making your ambition reality. The entire universe will soon bow to Spectra Phantom."

"And what then?", Spectra asked. "Once you dominate everything in my name. What will you do then?"

Gus slowly rose, a troubled look on his face. "Alice Gehabich asked a very similar question."

"And you refused to answer it for her." Spectra took a step forward. "Yet it is a vital question to answer. So, will you answer it for me?"

Gus thought of the possible outcomes, following his ascendancy. The civilized parts of the universe would be greatly damaged.

He could use his power and authority to rebuild everything, all the while becoming the greatest ruler ever seen… no. That didn't seem right. That didn't seem like it would follow Spectra's ideology.

He could leave everyone to their own devices, letting them rebuild on their own and consolidate his power… but then, what would've been the point of the conquest anyway? It didn't add up.

He could use his overwhelming power to annihilate everything and everyone, like how he annihilated Alice. The ultimate statement of ultimate power.

"Yes", Spectra said, sensing Gus's thought process. "You've finally figured it out. Conquest is fleeting. Competition is ridiculous. My legacy… is ultimate power for total destruction."

"I understand", Gus said, feeling elated.

"You've come farther than Keith ever could", Spectra spoke. As he did, his appearance began to change. The spiky blond hair turned into flowing blue hair. His form shifted ever so slightly. Spectra took off the mask, revealing his green eyes.

"You are Spectra", he spoke, the voice now Gus's own. He offered the mask to Gus. "Take it. Claim your legacy. Claim our legacy."

Gus didn't even hesitate. He grabbed the mask. Then, all he saw was white.

Gus found himself back in his bed. His injuries still hurt, but they were irrelevant now. He carefully got out of bed, moving over to his computer so he could watch the results of his upcoming order. He pressed a button on the Spectra mask he was wearing.

"Authorization code", the mask spoke with an automated voice.

"Fallen Mask", Gus enunciated.

"Acknowledged", the computer replied. "Primary objective: attack of defenses of Neathia. Ready for order input."

"Destroy everything", Gus commanded. "Leave nothing standing but the primary base."

"Acknowledged. Transition in progress… transition complete. New primary objective: destroy everything, except command base. Acceptable?"

"Yes. Transmit the order immediately."

"Acknowledged. Transmitting order… order transmitted."

"That's all. Power down."

"Powering down." The voice turned off, but the new directives were passed.

Gus smirked. He finally knew what his goals were, and his army would achieve them. Total destruction. Nothing would be left. That would be his legacy, Spectra's legacy, though there wouldn't be anyone left to witness it.

XXX

The battle for Neathia was continuing to rage nonstop. Gus's army of hyper-evolved Bakugan kept up their relentless offense, and the combined powers of Battle Brawlers, Neathian Castle Knights and Gundalian soldiers were doing everything they could to hold them off.

Still, Gus's army continued their progression. Battlements were destroyed, Bakugan were beaten, soldiers were forced out of combat… one way or another. The aggressors sustained significant casualties on their side, too, but it wasn't enough. They were too powerful. And, little by little, they approached the Neathian Second Defense Shield.

The Battle Brawlers and Ren's team stood side by side. Their Bakugan were leading the defensive efforts against the horde, but time was running out. With the Second Shield glimmering directly behind them, they were literally backed up against the wall. Gus's army chose in to destroy the Defense Shield…

…but in a seemingly random moment, they stopped dead in their tracks. Each Bakugan lost their ferocity as their eyes began to brightly glow.

Zenet of Ren's team breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing the attack halted. "Finally, a moment to breathe."

"Stay focused", Shun warned. "There may be something about this that we don't know of. They could be receiving new orders-"

Shun was interrupted when an Alpha Percival craned his neck and outcried a wild howl, stirring the rest to action. The frontrunning Bakugan resumed their attack with renewed fervor, but the back lines broke ranks, dispersing to the Neathian forests.

"What the?", Ren questioned. "Why are some of them leaving the fight?"

Then, the army began attacking and decimating everything in sight. The forests started to burn, hills and mountains were deconstructed, and the Second Shield was attacked with newfound ferocity.

The Bakugan fighting alongside the Brawlers and Ren's team had to dodge innumerable blasts from the enemy, and couldn't get a single attack in. They were constantly on the defense, even as the soldiers beside them lost their fights or were knocked out.

Keitu observed it all. "They've become far more savage. They're less organized. Some of them are just causing random damage." His gaze dropped. "Oh, Gus. What have you done now?"

XXX

At the top of a mountain from a distance from the fighting, a light akin to the Perfect Core shimmered into existence. It began to fade, revealing Alice atop the mountain. She looked down at the carnage, the unrelenting destruction everywhere she looked and spreading towards her.

"Thank you, Drago", Alice murmured.

"I've given a little parting gift during the transport", Drago whispered through the dimming Perfect Core light. "The damage Hydranoid and Dharak sustained today has been undone. They're at full strength. Do what you feel is right." Then, the light disappeared.

Alice took a deep breath, vanquishing her rising fears and paranoia as she prepared for one more battle. "I've made a lot of mistakes", Alice said. "I was afraid of being drawn back into a fight that would destroy me. But doing nothing - standing idly by - that was just as self-destructive." She held up her Bakugan. "It's time we choose our fight. Ready?"

"You don't even need to ask", Hydranoid pledged. "As I've always promised, I'll always battle by your side. Put me in."

"Don't leave me behind, Alice", Dharak insisted. "This is going to be the best fight I've ever taken part in."

"Then I'm glad to be your partner in that fight", Alice replied. "Ok. Let's go! Bakugan, brawl! Bakugan, stand!"

Both Darkus Bakugan rose on the mountain, glaring down the enemy army. The closest Bakugan, a Phantom Brontes, noticed their arrival, but they otherwise began unnoticed.

"Let's start off with a long range attack; aim at the center of the horde", Alice directed. Her Baku Pod formed two abilities at one. "Double Ability Activate! Blackout Trident, plus Exodus Waiver!"

Hydranoid opened the mouths of each of his heads, the maws within gathering energy. The energy condensed into purple and black orbs, five in number. In a single instant, Hydranoid launched all five at once at the opposing side.

At the same time, Dharak's mouth began firing another barrage of orbs, one by one in rapid-fire succession. These ones were of purple and black energy, like Hydranoid's Blackout Trident, and the energy levels in each one were just as intense.

Hydranoid's five orbs' trajectories all intersected with each other's, leading to a fusion with them all, turning them into a single orb of explosive Darkus power and intensity. Dharak's semi-barrage flew through the air alongside it, traveling to a large mess of Gus's Bakugan army.

When they hit, they exploded with massive amounts of power. Dozens of Gus's army were taken out by the surprise attack that they didn't know to block.

Even the defenders noticed the explosion. On its own, it made their job much easier than it had been mere moments beforehand.

"What was that?", Mason questioned. "Who did that? Was it you, Ren?"

"No, Linehalt's right here", Ren said. "And so is Percival."

"Well, someone was behind that Darkus attack", Mira said.

A pair of loud roars cut through their dialogue. They all looked to see two Darkus Bakugan descend from a Neathian mountaintop. One of them was a Blackout Hydranoid, which they'd observed in the army, but the other was a Bakugan that was truly one of a kind.

"Dharak!", Sid exclaimed. "That's Dharak."

The Gundalians still on the battlefield called out their battle cries at the sight of their strongest champion's return. Their Bakugan responded, launching into the enemy with renewed fervor and actually pushing them back.

It only took a second for Shun to connect the dots. "It's Alice", Shun said, almost disbelieving his eyes and ears. "She's back."

XXX

Gus was still at his monitor, watching the chaos he wrought ensue. He took special interest in what was happening on Neathia. He was delighted by his army's new ferocity and viciousness.

But his delight abandoned him when Alice attacked. He dropped to a feral grin. "She survived? She's alive!? No, no, no! NO!" He quickly stood up, but winced as his injured knee ached in protest. He sat back down, fuming.

He was supposed to have been the winner. He gave everything he had to Alice's destruction. But here he was, injured and angry, and Alice's Bakugan didn't even seem fazed by the battle they just had. It was like the universe was actively mocking his efforts.

"DAMN YOU, ALICE!", he shouted uselessly.

XXX

The Spectres found themselves in the middle of a forest. Trees surrounded them, almost completely covering the night sky, and they looked heavily confused.

"They shoved us away from the fight", Jack said.

"I don't get it", Chris said, her fist balled. Her eyes blazed angrily. "We could've taken down that bastard!"

"Are you sure about that?", Soon asked. "It's possible. But we're not the best we can be. It'd be prudent to maximize our chances of victory in our next battle against Gus."

"It doesn't matter if we could've beaten Gus on New Vestroia", Robin inputted. "We don't have that shot anymore. What's done is done."

"He's right", Noah said. "But where are we now? Which planet are we on now?"

"Not New Vestroia", Turbine Dragonoid said.

Ben looked at his Bakugan. "How can you tell?"

"New Vestroia has… power in the air and ground", Dragonoid muttered. "Perfect Core power. No power here. Not New Vestroia."

"I'll take the word of a Bakugan", Ben agreed.

"That only leaves… what? The rest of the universe?", Jack deadpanned.

"We can narrow it down through simple logic", Soon countered. "Drago, like the Brawlers, is betting on us beating Gus. He wouldn't transport us somewhere irrelevant to the fight."

"Yeah, and look at these trees", Noah added. "There's no way this is Vestal. Or Gundalia, based off the records I've seen."

"That further narrows it down", Robin said, catching on. "Then it's either Neathia, the battleground, or-"

They were cut off by a loud scream, rolling over the forest.

Chris immediately began to rush toward the source of the yell. "Someone needs our help! Let's go!"

The six rushed over to the scream. Not even a minute in their run, and the trees parted, revealing a harsh sight.

It was a collection of white tents, set up in twenty rows of fifteen. Each tent was five meters apart, and was set up with an air conditioning unit, and had a floor area of eight meters. Each tent either had four bedsheets or a collection of supply crates. Human refugees were all over the place, running away to the southwest corner of the camp.

And the camp was under attack. A pair of Bakugan, a Mutant Elfin and an evolved Vulcan came from the northeast side, glaring down at the camp.

"They're human", Robin noted. "I guess we're on Earth."

"Run!", one of the refugees yelled.

"We can fight them", Noah said. "We've got to protect them!" He rushed ahead.

"We'll probably be back in Gus's crosshairs", Ben warned.

"Eh", Jack shrugged, racing after Noah. "You only live once!"

"Good point", Ben replied. The rest of them went after their Subterra and Aquos specialists.

The two Bakugan finally reached the border of the camp. They prepared to attack and decimate the tents when two other Bakugan slammed into them. The Vulcan was knocked by Noah's Flare Wilda, and the Mutant Elfin by Jack's Mystic Elico. The other Spectres' Bakugan rose up behind them, glaring down yhe enemy.

The two of Gus's army paused, as if waiting for something. After a moment, it dawned on them that the six new arrivals weren't allies. Their roar of challenge was dwarfed by five others.

Then, Turbine Dragonoid spoke. "You share my origin… but you are merely Gus's puppets. You cannot progress as I have. As my comrades are. I won't hesitate."

XXX

Gus was still on his monitor, glaring at the disturbance on Neathia. Hydranoid and Dharak were leading the charge, barraging his forces with their respective Gazer Barrage and Thunder Probe abilities. They were actually beating his army back. And it infuriated him.

His day only got worse when he got an alert. Bringing it up, he saw another disturbance on Earth. Two of his Bakugan had been corked by six others. None of them were responding to his orders of destruction.

"My Spectres", he grunted. "Openly defying me. Unwise." He pressed a series of buttons, deploying four more Bakugan to that location. "You've proven yourselves a nuisance. I will destroy you for that crime."

XXX

"It's six on two", Chris said. "And neither of them are Infinity Helios. Easy peasy."

"I wouldn't count on that", called Gus's voice.

"Gus", Ben growled.

"Hello, my Spectres", Gus replied. There was no hologram; the voice seemed to echo from his Bakugan. "How nice to see you again."

"Cut it out", Noah said. "Stop your attack on these innocents!"

"Why would I do that?", Gus questioned. "These human worms are guilty of not being the strongest. They deserve disintegration."

"How the hell did you come to that conclusion?!", Soon demanded.

"What's the point of my power if I don't use it? The true purpose of power is destruction. I'm sure you don't understand."

"You're totally psycho", Jack muttered.

"Think what you will. It doesn't matter", Gus chuckled. "My reinforcements are in position."

"Reinforcements?!", Robin yelled.

As if in answer, four more Bakugan rose up behind Gus's original Bakugan. Their numbers now equaled the Spectres' own. Among the new arrivals, only one shape was recognizable: the form of Blackout Hydranoid. The rest were relatively new to the Spectres.

One of the new combatants had a white and yellow coloring, marking him as a Haos Attributed Bakugan. His white body had an entirely humanoid form, and was covered in yellow armor. His chest held a round orb shining a bright yellow glow. His face didn't have a nose or mouth, and the eyes were solid teal. In his right hand held a white staff with a yellow hook on the end, resembling a pharaoh's crook. In his left held another white staff, but the end had three sharp spikes on chains, like a pharaoh's flail. His helmet had a yellow base that curved up behind, and a white piece that rose straight up.

"The resemblance to Baron's Nemus us uncanny", Soon noted. "Yet it also resembles pictures of an Egyptian pharaoh."

Another had the green color scheme associated with Ventus. The shape was that of a predatory bird, but the scale was far greater. The wingspan was over twice as wide as her body was tall, and was worked with countless feathers. The head was shaped like an eagle's, glaring with red eyes. There were two tail feathers, and they looked as razor sharp as the talons on her feet.

Robin barely recognized that one from his experience with the original Bakugan. "Is… is that a Skyress clone? How'd he manage to make that?!"

The last of them was mostly red, confirming his Attribute to be Pyrus, but there was a lot of black on its back and lining the wings. The shape was that of a dragon, but different from Turbine Dragonoid. The wings were split up into three separate pieces, with the top ones much bigger than the others. The body was heavily muscular, and the tail ended with a silver spearhead. The head was much like that of Infinity Helios or Supernova Helios.

"You've created a whole new set", Chris accused. "One for each Attribute."

"Wrong. I always had them." Gus's tone was as condescending as ever. "You give yourselves far too much credit, Spectres. And you've far outlived your usefulness."

"We'll beat them. And we're coming for you!", Ben called.

"Interesting choice of priorities", Gus mused. "In any case, you're wrong on both accounts. Did you really think I wasn't prepared for a house call?"

With that, each of the Bakugan and Spectres began to shimmer, being forcibly transported. Moments later, they all disappeared.

XXX

Ben and Soon, along with their Bakugan, reappeared together in the center of a desert. The sun was shining brightly. Their Bakugan were still confronted by the opposing Helios and Nemus.

"We appear to be in the American desert", Soon remarked. "An appropriate arena for light and fire battling, I suppose."

"Divide and conquer?", Ben ridiculed. "Now I know how the Brawlers felt when we did it to them."

"It is most disconcerting", Soon agreed.

"Well, we won't be going anywhere until we roast those turkeys", Ben said. "Dragonoid, you ready to fight?"

"Yes", Dragonoid hissed.

"What about you, Brontes?", Soon asked. Phantom Brontes merely nodded his head, but it was a semi-intelligent response.

Dragonoid and Brontes took their battle stances, and the Helios and Nemus clones responded in kind.

Turbine Dragonoid: 900, Phantom Brontes: 900

Orbit Helios: 900, Divine Nemus: 900

Before either human could initiate an attack, Orbit Helios initiated his attack. His mouth opened up wide, preparing a large amount of red and white energy. At first, he just stared ahead, but after a few moments charging up his attack, he craned his head upward at an angle. He released the energy, sending it diagonally forward and upward in a beam.

Then, when it had closed half the horizontal distance from Orbit Helios to his targets, the beam angles back downward. It exploded into a myriad of red and white energy beams, coming down with great speed.

Turbine Dragonoid: 900-400=500, Phantom Brontes: 900-400=500

Orbit Helios: 900+500=1400, Divine Nemus: 900

"Their attack pattern is incredibly simple", Soon deadpanned. Her Baku Pod formed another ability. "Ability Activate! Spectral Enhancement!"

Phantom Brontes spread out all eight of his arms, cackling maniacally despite the barrage he was enduring. Each hand began glowing a mystical yellow energy. When he was ready, he sent a shockwave of that energy outwards, which began rolling over the field.

The energy wave had three simultaneous effects. The two most immediate were the deflection of the Pyrus attack and empowering Brontes and Dragonoid, engulfing them in Attributed auras. The third effect was a slight repulsion to the enemy Bakugan.

Turbine Dragonoid: 500+400+400=1300, Phantom Brontes: 500+400+400=1300

Orbit Helios: 1400-500=900, Divine Nemus: 900

"Nice work, Soon", Ben said. "Oru turn to bring the pain! Ability Activate! Dragonic Firebomb!"

Turbine Dragonoid flew up, high above Orbit Helios and Divine Nemus, and began to soar above the opposing Bakugan. "Begone, puppets!" As he flew, the Dragonoid spread out his wings, which sent down several orbs of orange flames to rain down onto the enemy.

Turbine Dragonoid: 1300+400=1700, Phantom Brontes: 1300

Orbit Helios: 900-400=500, Divine Nemus: 900-400=500

Divine Nemus crossed his crook and flail in counter to the firebombs. Both weapons started glowing bright yellow. The yellow glow immediately spread out to encase him and Orbit Helios in yellow glows, empowering them both. Illusionary wings formed on Nemus's back as an extension of his yellow aura.

The firebombs exploded near them both, but it only had the effect of wiping away the yellow auras. The actual targets were practically unaffected.

Turbine Dragonoid: 1700, Phantom Brontes: 1300

Orbit Helios: 500+400+500=1400, Divine Nemus: 500+400+500=1400

"Strategic thinking?", Soon questioned. "Gus mentioned utilizing our early battles to calibrate his army's instinctive battling ability. We're seeing that in action."

"We made his plan work", Ben growled. "We were his pawns. No one plays me for a fool! Let's go, Dragonoid!"

"I stand with you!", Dragonoid promised.

But Helios and Nemus were both ready to press their advantage, moving before Ben and Soon could.

Helios lifted himself off the ground, gazing at the two Bakugan enemies. He spread his wings wide, continuing to ascend until his altitude was over twice his height.

Then, fire started to appear all around Orbit Helios, slowly surrounding him. He became engulfed in a massive orange fireball. With a guttural roar, he sent the fireball down upon the opposing Dragonoid.

Nemus, meanwhile, raised his crook outward, looking particularly at Phantom Brontes. The crook started to fill with yellow energy, making it grow and shift shape. It became a sword comprised entirely of Haos energy. Nemus brandished his sword and charged at the other Haos Bakugan.

Turbine Dragonoid: 1700-500=1200, Phantom Brontes: 1300

Orbit Helios: 1400+500=1900, Divine Nemus: 1400+600=2000

"Dragonoid! Hold off that fireball!", Ben yelled. His Baku Pod shone with another ability. "Ability Activate! Exodus Dragon!"

Turbine Dragonoid opened his mouth, letting out another roar of dominance before beginning his attack. His mouth began to light up a bright orange color, the maw within both heating up and gathering flames. Seemingly all at once, the Bakugan tightened up his body and unleashed the attack, blasting a full inferno of orange flames straight ahead, heading straight for Orbit Helios with a vengeance.

Turbine Dragonoid: 1200+600=1800

Orbit Helios: 1900

Dragonoid's fire blast connected with Helios's fireball, but the latter attack slowly started to push against the former.

"I… won't yield…", groaned Dragonoid.

"Soon, if you've got a move, now's a good time", Ben said.

"Stand ready, Phantom Brontes!", Soon called, agreeing with Ben's sentiment. "Ability Activate! Enmity Scythe!"

With a loud cackle to accompany him, Phantom Brontes spread out his eight hands, whilst channeling his yellow energy through each one and to the surrounding area.

Yellow energy began to condense all around Phantom Brontes, making two long scythes with yellow hilts and gleaming white blades. Phantom Brontes eagerly took hold of the melee weapons with his top set of hands, ready to continue his attack.

Brontes threw one of the scythes at a curved angle, deliberately having it curve to bisect Orbit Helios's fireball, then cut a gash on the red and black dragon. The scythe dissolved into yellow energy, which retreated back to Brontes.

Brontes quickly used the other scythe to block Nemus's sword. After a brief melee, with Nemus slashing elegantly and Brontes spinning the scythe almost uncontrollably with four arms, both Haos combatants pulled away. Nemus earned a small gash in that melee. Then, the other scythe dissolved, further feeding Brontes. Nemus's sword also broke down to the crook once more.

Turbine Dragonoid: 1800, Phantom Brontes: 1300+300+300=1900

Orbit Helios: 1900-300=1600, Divine Nemus: 2000-300=1700

Meanwhile, with nothing to hold him back, Dragonoid pushed his fire onward to strike at Orbit Helios, successfully scoring a direct hit. Helios descended from that blow, landing alongside Nemus.

"Good move", Ben said.

"Thanks", Soon replied. "But I'm curious. Why didn't you try your fusion ability to overpower that fireball?"

"I wanted to save that for a rainy day", Ben said. "Especially since things never seem to go well when I go overboard too quickly."

"Fair enough."

Helios and Nemus refocused, taking their battling stances once more. Helios let out a ferocious howl, attracting the present Spectres' attention.

"Looks like they want some more trouble", Ben said.

"I'll give them that trouble", Dragonoid said.

"My thoughts exactly!" Ben loaded another ability. "Keep up the pressure! Fusion Ability Activate! Fire Surge!"

The orange glow within his mouth returned, intensifying far beyond what it was before. Turbine Dragonoid's body began to emit a red aura, but it was quickly transferred to his mouth, owing up the attack even further. His eyes blazed red. "You're done!", he called out.

Then, he released the attack again. A blast of fire, to exceed anything else achieved earlier that day, was unleashed, spreading out in front of Dragonoid like a storm of flames and close in on Orbit Helios. There was very little time to react.

Turbine Dragonoid: 1800+800=2600

However, right when the firestorm was about to connect with the other Pyrus Bakugan, it began shimmering. It started to artificially change directions, going instead to Divine Nemus.

The enemy Haos Bakugan was holding the flail, the spikes of which were glowing yellow. The firestorm went straight into the energy jewel on Nemus's chest, the Bakugan easily absorbing the powerful attack into the chest.

Then, Nemus lit up a bright yellow glow, obviously having absorbed Dragonoid's ability. Even worse, some of the energy leaked over to Orbit Helios, covering him in a red aura.

Turbine Dragonoid: 2600-800=1800, Phantom Brontes: 1900

Orbit Helios: 1600+300=1900, Divine Nemus: 1700+800+300=2800

"That move… absorbed my ability… and increased both their powers", Turbine Dragonoid spoke. "I'm annoyed…'

"Of course that happened", Ben groaned.

"They don't even have partner battlers", Soon said. "Yet they can still keep up with us. Impressive."

Helios lit up an even stronger aura, lifting off once again and flying high into the air. His red aura only increased in power, until it began to concentrate in spots all around his airborne form. The concentrated energy consolidated into a dozen orbs all around him.

With another roar, Helios sent the energy orbs to rain down onto both Dragonoid and Brontes at once. The orbs hit the ground all around them, exploding with all the concentrated energy contained within them.

Turbine Dragonoid: 1800-600=1200, Phantom Brontes: 1900-600=1300

Orbit Helios: 1900+600=2500, Divine Nemus: 2800

"Are you ok?", Ben called out.

"I could use some help", Turbine Dragonoid said. "Like how we did it with Hydranoid."

"Had the same thought myself", Ben agreed. His Baku Pod formed another ability. "Ability Activate! Blazing Twister!"

The yellow energy around Divine Nemus began to move away from him, twisting around the Dragonoid and rising into the air, with orange fire co-joining the flames. It turned into a large tornado of energy and fire.

Then, the tornado converged in the air, going back down to Turbine Dragonoid. The Dragonoid somehow absorbed the power into his body, a red aura appearing and intensifying proportionally to the firepower he was absorbing. When Turbine Dragonoid was done, there was nothing left of Brontes's aura.

Turbine Dragonoid: 1200+1600=2800, Phantom Brontes: 1300

Orbit Helios: 2500, Divine Nemus: 2800

Orbit Helios glared at the newly empowered contender. His mouth opened up wide, preparing a large amount of red and white energy. At first, he just stared ahead, but after a few moments charging up his attack, he craned his head upward at an angle. He released the energy, sending it diagonally forward and upward in a beam.

Then, when it had closed half the horizontal distance from Orbit Helios to his targets, the beam angles back downward. It exploded into a myriad of red and white energy beams, coming down with great speed.

Turbine Dragonoid: 2800-400=2400, Phantom Brontes: 1300-400=900

Orbit Helios: 2500+500=3000, Divine Nemus: 2800

"Heh. No problem", Ben chuckled. "Soon, pull Brontes back. This might get out of hand."

"Very well", Soon said. "Brontes, pull back!" Brontes soundly obeyed, retreating away from Dragonoid in preparation for their counterattack.

Ben gave a victorious smirk as he sounded out his next ability. "Ability Activate! Hellfire!"

Turbine Dragonoid reared up his head and let out another roar, the sound echoing throughout the area, being the loudest and most furious so far. Turbine Dragonoid's body then began to glow red, a harsh aura blazing around him. Helios's energy attack failed to overpower Dragonoid's aura.

"Compared to Infinity Helios… you're nothing!", Dragonoid declared. Only a moment later, the aura erupted into a shockwave of furious flames. The shockwave kept going, threatening Helios and Nemus at once.

Turbine Dragonoid: 2400+600=3000, Phantom Brontes: 900

Orbit Helios: 3000-600=2400, Divine Nemus: 2800-600=2200

"Ben really has improved", Soon said.

But the opposition wasn't finished. Orbit Helios landed in front of Nemus to counter the fire shockwave. His wings lit up, creating their own fire. Moments later, his form became encased in intense fire.

The shockwave connected with Helios, but the defending Bakugan withstood the attack without issue. The flames died down, and Orbit Helios was no weaker.

Turbine Dragonoid: 3000-600=2400, Phantom Brontes: 900

Orbit Helios: 2400+600=3000, Divine Nemus: 2200+600=2800

"We've gotta keep hammering!", Ben directed, his next ability flashing. "Ability Activate! Blaze Impulse!"

Turbine Dragonoid lurched forward, gathering energy within his mouth for the umpteenth time. Instead of flames, though, a massive amount of flaring red energy gathered in his maw, slowly building up. Then, the dragon unleashed his amassed power, sending a beam of red energy at Orbit Helios.

Orbit Helios still had the fire coating on his form. He stood ready to block the attack. When the red beam hit him, Helios crossed his wings to block it, not even having trouble with it.

"What?", Dragonoid hissed. "Nothing?"

Turbine Dragonoid: 2400+500=2900, Phantom Brontes: 900

Orbit Helios: 3000, Divine Nemus: 2800

"His power level didn't go down!", Ben realized. "Is he immune to ability effects now?"

"It's our turn, Brontes", Soon said, readying her own attack. "Double Ability Activate! Osiris Dominion, plus Spirit Halo!"

Phantom Brontes's body began to light up a bright yellow aura. The aura began to intensify at a rapidly increasing pace, as Phantom Brontes's aura heightened considerably. The jester began laughing uncontrollably.

The yellow energy consolidated in the air around Brontes, forming battle axes made clearly of yellow energy, both hilt and blade. Eight in total, one for each hand. Phantom Brontes took hold of each axe, positioning them to point at his opponents. Four of his arms threw their axes at Orbit Helios, whose fiery defense burned away the energy before it came close.

Then, Phantom Brontes spread out his empty arms, channeling energy from his chest into all four of them, and outward. The energy consolidated into four identical copies of glowing rings, which he took hold of.

Phantom Brontes wielded all eight of the energy weapons, swinging them all without having any of them connect. Then, he charged for the enemy.

Turbine Dragonoid: 2900, Phantom Brontes: 900×2=1800+500=2300

Orbit Helios: 3000, Divine Nemus: 2800

But then, Divine Nemus made his move. The orb on his chest, usually glowing yellow, took on a new red and orange coloring, similar to fire. He raised both of his weapons over his head, remaining at a standstill even as Phantom Brontes approached.

Then, the area between both tools began to light up with red energy, forming a fireball. Then, Nemus directed the fireball to blast at Brontes. The fireball impacted, sending the jester flying.

Turbine Dragonoid: 2900, Phantom Brontes: 2300-500=1800

Orbit Helios: 3000, Divine Nemus: 2800+500=3300

Turbine Dragonoid moved quickly, catching Phantom Brontes and softening the blow. He landed, allowing Brontes to better collect himself.

"That was… a Pyrus ability", Soon deciphered. "That Nemus is capable of using both Haos and Pyrus attacks. Incredible." Her expression hardened. "We're not going to allow them to defeat us, though. Right, Brontes. We've come too far to lose here!"

Brontes looked straight at Soon, doing nothing for a brief moment. "Right…", a high pitched voice came from him. "We will… not be… clowns for Gus."

Soon smiled. "An agreeable sentiment, my friend."

Ben chuckled. "What do you know? He's talking now, too."

Turbine Dragonoid regarded Brontes, who looked back. "Welcome, Brontes."

"Thank you…", Brontes replied. "Soon… now. Bring Nemus… to his knees!"

Soon nodded with the proposal. She generated two abilities from her Baku Pod. "Double Ability Activate! Ghost World…"

Brontes began by spreading out each arm, elongating them as far as possible. Mystical yellow energy gathered all around Brontes as he charged up his attack. Brontes sent out his mystical power, engulfing the opposing Haos Bakugan in the mystical field.

Nemus stopped moving, being brought to a complete standstill. His senses were being bombarded and crippled by something he shouldn't have been able to even process: terror. He had no idea how to react.

"...plus Fusion Ability, Bright Nightmare!"

"I will become… your worst nightmare!", Brontes exclaimed. All of his arms sent out a pulse of yellow energy at the incapacitated target. When it hit Nemus, he dropped to his knees, losing power rapidly. The fear around him was so palpable, he finally began reacting to it.

Turbine Dragonoid: 2900, Phantom Brontes: 1800+400+600=2800

Orbit Helios: 3000, Divine Nemus: 3300-400-2000=900

Moments later, Nemus lit up a yellow coloring, dissolving into yellow light. The fear consumed his form.

Turbine Dragonoid: 2900, Phantom Brontes: 2800

Orbit Helios: 3000

Sending that he was now alone, Helios glared at the enemy with even more ferocity. Helios lit up an even stronger aura, lifting off once again and flying high into the air, though his fiery coating finally flickered off. His red aura only increased in power, until it began to concentrate in spots all around his airborne form. The concentrated energy consolidated into a dozen orbs all around him.

With another roar, Helios sent the energy orbs to rain down onto both Dragonoid and Brontes at once.

Turbine Dragonoid: 2900-600=2300, Phantom Brontes: 2800-600=2200

Orbit Helios: 3000+600=3600

"Hell no!", Ben retorted, using two abilities at once. "Double Ability Activate! Blazing Twister, plus Strike Inferno!"

Once the energy orbs neared Turbine Dragonoid, they shifted course, twisting around the Dragonoid and rising into the air, with orange fire co-joining the flames. It turned into a large tornado of energy and fire.

Then, the tornado converged in the air, going back down to Turbine Dragonoid. The Dragonoid somehow absorbed the power into his body, a red aura appearing and intensifying proportionally to the firepower he was absorbing. When Turbine Dragonoid was done, there was nothing left of the attack.

Then, the metallic coating began to heat up, and the read looking on them started expending red energy, all around the Dragonoid. Yet it only seemed to be charging up for a truly devastating attack.

The dragon opened his mouth wide, allowing orange flames to rage within his maw. Within seconds, he blasted a column of flames ahead, and his wings blasted twin bolts of red lightning. All of which was targeting Helios.

Turbine Dragonoid: 2300+1300+500=4100

Orbit Helios: 3600-500=3100

The three attacks all hit Orbit Helios, finally breaking his defenses. The targeted Bakugan shined bright red, only to dissolve into red particles.

"What a hassle", Ben sighed. "Glad that's over with, though."

"Agreed", Soon stated. The two boarded their Bakugan, who began to vacate the area.

"Congratulations, Brontes", Dragonoid said.

"I can't wait… to give Gus… a piece of my mind", Brontes said.

"Believe me… neither can I."

XXX

Jack and Robin found themselves in the bottom of a great chasm. A sizeable river raged beside them. Mystic Elico and Cosmic Ingram stood in front of them, still being countered by Gus's Elfin and Skyress drones.

"Where are we, Robin?", asked Jack.

"Hold on", Robin glanced at the rocky walls on either side. The chasm snaked onward and behind farther than he could see. He checked the computer on his Baku Pod to confirm his suspicion. "No way… I think we're at the bottom of the Grand Canyon."

Jack looked back in surprise. "Are you kidding… you're not kidding."

The Elfin growled, attracting their attention. Both humans turned to face the enemy.

"I guess it doesn't really matter, right now", Jack said. "Time to take these losers down!"

"True enough", Robin agreed. "Get ready for battle!"

Ingram and Elico got into battle ready positions, following Robin's statement, and doing their best to stare down Elfin and Skyress. Their battle had begun.

Cosmic Ingram: 900, Mystic Elico: 900

Talon Skyress: 900, Mutant Elfin: 900

Skyress quickly ascended into the air to claim an aerial advantage over her enemies. Ingram quickly does suit, racing after the bird with all his speed. The two met midair, clashing against each other several times. But neither could claim supremacy over the other.

Elfin, meanwhile, raised up her hands, projecting blue Aquos energy into the air around her. That energy started moving around Elfin. With seemingly no prior warning, the energy flashed brighter than it was earlier. Then, the flash dissipated in an instant, being converted into a powerful twister of water. That twister quickly started pulling at Elico, destabilizing him.

Cosmic Ingram: 900, Mystic Elico: 900-400=500

Talon Skyress: 900, Mutant Elfin: 900+400=1300

"Come and get it!", Jack taunted, using an ability of his own. "Ability Activate! Aquos Maelstrom!"

Mystic Elico's eyes flashed blue for a single moment, the light facing as energy began to collect all around his body. Moisture collected from the air, or was drawn out of the Aquos Bakugan, beginning to swirl around the Bakugan.

Clouds began to appear overhead, showering rain on the battlefield. The rainwater and nearby river only joined Mystic Elico's water swirl, converting it into a full fledged hurricane, and even greater. Lightning crackled overhead, from the storm clouds. The hurricane kept raging, only growing in intensity as the seconds passed.

Cosmic Ingram: 900, Mystic Elico: 500+900=1400

Talon Skyress: 900, Mutant Elfin: 1300

The two hurricanes clashed against each other, each collision a test of wills. After a few seconds, though, Elfin was forced out of her own twister, and sent reeling to the ground.

"Yeah! A walk in the park!", Jack cheered.

"Maybe for you", Robin countered.

The twisters did more than fight each other. They actually pulled at both Ventus Bakugan, pulling them away from each other. It was all either could do to avoid slamming into the canyon walls.

Jack winced. "Sorry."

Ingram and Skyress quickly regained their stability, adapting to Elico's hurricane once Elfin's was debased. They readied to combat each other once again.

Skyress slowly began to become encased in a green light with an energy influx. She let out a predatory shriek, the light erupting into dark green flames. Skyress ascended, burning like a phoenix, before descending at a beeline towards Ingram like a green comet.

Cosmic Ingram: 900, Mystic Elico: 1400

Talon Skyress: 900+600=1500, Mutant Elfin: 1300

"That shouldn't be too hard to deal with", Robin decided, readying his own ability. "Ability Activate…. Gale Split!"

Ingram's body erupted in a green explosion. Scores of Cosmic Ingram duplicates appeared, each one producing dozens on their own. In no time, Ingram duplicates were all over the place.

Cosmic Ingram: 900+400=1300, Mystic Elico: 1400

Talon Skyress: 1500-400=1100, Mutant Elfin: 1300-400=900

Skyress collided with a dozen Ingram duplicates, but they all dissipated into smoke. The rest all circled around Skyress, practically smothering the bird. She cawed angrily, but couldn't do anything more.

"Nice move!", Jack complimented.

"No need to beat the enemy in a straight up fight", Robin said with a smirk.

But then, Elfin made her counter. She began to raise her hands directly forward, aiming at both of the enemy Bakugan. Before they could react, her chest jewel began to glow bright blue and shoot a blast of cold wind and snow at them all.

The snow ripped the Ingram duplicates into shreds, blasting the real Ingram down to Elico's side. Ingram was covered in frost, which was thick enough to impair his movement.

Cosmic Ingram: 1300-400=900, Mystic Elico: 1400

Talon Skyress: 1100+400=1500, Mutant Elfin: 900+400+500=1800

Robin moved to activate an ability, but the Baku Pod didn't respond. "That must've blocked my abilities", Robin rationalized. Realizing the blizzard was still coming, Robin realized the danger. "Jack, that ability could wipe us out! You have to nullify it!"

"Chill out, dude", Jack rebutted, forming another ability. He paused for a moment, considering the statement. " 'Chill out', haha...sorry. Bad choice of words. Ability Activate! Torrent Shield!"

Elico reached out with his two arms, seemingly doing nothing but trying to intercept the incoming cold front. Elico began to force moisture in the air and out of his body, condensing it into a wall of water as a shield, surrounding himself and Ingram.

The blizzard then connected with the water shield, freezing it over into ice within moments. Still, Elico was unharmed, and the frost on Ingram dissipated. Once the blizzard ceased, the frozen barrier cracked and broke down leaving a relatively clean slate.

Cosmic Ingram: 900+400=1300, Mystic Elico: 1400+400=1800

Talon Skyress: 1500-400=1100, Mutant Elfin: 1800-400-500=900

"Thanks", Robin said.

"No problem", Jack replied.

It was then that Skyress made her next move. Her wings started shimmering a bright green color, lighting up with Ventus energy. Skyress kept her altitude in the air, glaring down Mystic Elico especially. Then, her glowing wings blasted out bursts of green energy at the ground based Bakugan.

Cosmic Ingram: 1300, Mystic Elico: 1800-500=1300

Talon Skyress: 1100+500=1600, Mutant Elfin: 900

"Don't worry about that", Robin promised, developing another ability. "Ability Activate! Armored Triumph!"

Ingram dove in front of Elico, putting himself between Skyress's attack and his ally. He flapped his six wings powerfully, sending a gust of wind at the incoming energy attacks. Neither energy burst was blown apart by the winds, but kept going.

Still, Ingram had enough time to complete his defensive move. His wings folded onto his body and covered every spot on his form in preparation for the impact, even as he charged the energy alone. Both energy bursts collided with him, but he endured the attack easily.

Cosmic Ingram: 1300+500=1800, Mystic Elico: 1300+500=1800

Talon Skyress: 1600-500=1100, Mutant Elfin: 900

"We've got them cornered!", Jack exclaimed.

"We still can't underestimate them", Robin warned. "That's a potentially fatal mistake."

At that exact moment, Elfin began to glow multicolored, the glow covering her whole body. Moments later, the glow faded, showing that the navy blue parts converting to light purple, and the royal blue into dark purple. The chest jewel shifted from pink to dark blue.

"Elfin changed Attribute?", Jack queried. "Two can play that game. Elico!"

Elico, like his rival, began to shine a bright multicolored light, changing his Attribute likewise to Elfin. Moments later, his glow faded, revealing Mystic Elico in his Subterra form.

Elfin wasted no time in utilizing her Darkus powers. She clawed both of her webbed hands, pointing at Mystic Elico. The fingertips all glowed bright purple, charging up Darkus energy. Moments later, all ten fingers blasted forth small beams of purple energy at Elico.

Cosmic Ingram: 1800, Mystic Elico: 1800-500=1300

Talon Skyress: 1100, Mutant Elfin: 900+500=1400

"Let's take Elfin out, first!", Jack said. His Baku Pod shone with another ability. "Ability Activate! Subterra Tectonic!"

Mystic Elico started to shine a new orange aura as his ability started. When Mystic Elico smashed his right fist into the ground, the attack truly began. The ground beneath Mutant Elfin began to rumble, and suddenly, large, jagged rocks rose up out of nowhere, heavily constricting Elfin's movements. The beams were cut off as a result.

More rocks then rose up, splintering off the ground to strike at Skyress. The bird was struck, but not immobilized.

Cosmic Ingram: 1800, Mystic Elico: 1300+500=1800

Talon Skyress: 1100-500=600, Mutant Elfin: 1400-500=900

"Nice", Robin congratulated. "It's my turn now." He loaded another ability. "Ability Activate! Cosmic Cyclone!"

As Robin called out his attack, Cosmic Ingram's body began to exert an insurmountable amount of green Ventus energy up into the atmosphere above.

Green winds appeared in the air, reaching from the ground to the sky, high above the field. They began to circulate around Cosmic Ingram in a ferocious twister of Ventus power, only intensifying at an increasing rate.

Cosmic Ingram: 1800+600=2400, Mystic Elico: 1800

Talon Skyress: 600-600=0, Mutant Elfin: 900-600=300

The green winds broke apart Elfin's rock restraints, only to subject her and Skyress to an even greater punishment. Still, Elfin had gained an opening.

Elfin held up her arms, seemingly in order to simply block the tornado, but her hands started to glow bright purple. That purple glow quickly spread out to merge with the Ventus tornado, only making it stronger.

But Elfin and Skyress weren't being hurt by it anymore. The twister spun even more rapidly and violently, but Ingram was taking severe damage from it.

Cosmic Ingram: 2400-600-900=900, Mystic Elico: 1800

Talon Skyress: 0+600+900=1500, Mutant Elfin: 300+600+900=1800

"They reversed my ability with an added power boost", Robin grumbled.

Once the tornado finally dissipated, Elico and Elfin ran towards each other, knocking into each other. Neither could gain the upper hand over the other.

Ingram was still reeling from his own hijacked attack, barely keeping himself from collapsing. He began to stand back up, but Skyress wasn't going to leave him alone.

Skyress cawed loudly, exclaiming her power in the shriek. She began collecting winds around her, giving herself a great boost. She then started flying throughout the canyon at a speed far greater than she had earlier displayed.

Jack looked at his Baku Pod, but saw that the power levels didn't change. "Huh. Weird."

Skyress then flew high above Elico, with Elfin retreating from the stalemate. Skyress's two tail feathers each aimed directly at Mystic Elico, crackling with electricity. Each tail feather blasted an individual, and monumentally powerful, green lightning bolt at Elico.

Cosmic Ingram: 900, Mystic Elico: 1800-600(×2)=600

Talon Skyress: 1500+600(×2)=2700, Mutant Elfin: 1800

"Whoa!", Jack exclaimed. "Get out of there!"

Elico jumped away from the targeted area, just in time to escape the certainly fatal lightning. The electricity made a crate where Mystic Elico previously stood.

Elico landed several steps away from where he was before. He glared at both opponents, who glared back from the ground and air.

Jack looked at the field, unconsciously noting something was missing. "Where's Ingram?"

Before Robin could even begin to respond, the shadow that Elfin cast began to swell beneath her, beyond even the longest shadow. Behind her, Ingram rose up, cleaned in a faint green aura, without any other warning. He grappled her from behind, struggling to keep his hold.

Cosmic Ingram: 900, Mystic Elico: 600

Talon Skyress: 2700-500=2200, Mutant Elfin: 1800-500=1300

Robin grinned. His Baku Pod was displaying the Gale Echo ability. "Take her up!", he called. "They can't match us!"

Ingram responded, flying high into the air while still holding onto Elfin. With her position and current Attribute, there wasn't anything she could do. So she began to glow multicolored, trying to shift Attribute again.

"Too little, too late", Robin said. "Ability Activate! Celestial Whirlwind!"

Cosmic Ingram suddenly ascended even higher into the air than he was already. He spread out his six wings as wide as possible, allowing them to glow green as energy was focused into them.

And then, all in one instant, the green aura's power was focused into a space directly in front of Cosmic Ingram, which began to glow bright with Cosmic Ingram's Ventus power. The concentrated energy allowed Cosmic Ingram to unleash a large blast of winds, equitable to those of a category four hurricane.

Cosmic Ingram: 900+500=1400, Mystic Elico: 600

Talon Skyress: 2200, Mutant Elfin: 1300-500=800

Elfin was flung away from Cosmic Ingram, her uncontrolled descent downward only accelerated by Ingram's winds. She slammed into the ground with a loud crunch. After that, she glowed blue and broke into particles.

"Yes!", Robin shouted. "Good work, Ingram!"

Ingram regarded Robin for an elongated moment. "Thank you… Robin", he spoke cautiously. "They… could not match us."

Robin's eyes widened, before he realized what was going on. "You can talk more", he realized. "Guess we're catching up to Ben."

The moment was cut short with Skyress letting out a fierce shriek. Skyress slowly began to become encased in a green light with an energy influx. She let out a predatory shriek, the light erupting into dark green flames. Skyress ascended, burning like a phoenix, before descending at a beeline towards Ingram like a green comet.

Cosmic Ingram: 1400, Mystic Elico: 600

Talon Skyress: 2200+600=2800

Ingram was impacted by the charging Skyress, being slowly scorched as the flames spread to cover him. "I need help!", he called.

Without any command from Jack, Elico began glowing multicolored light, shifting his Attribute. Moments later, his transition completed, turning him into Darkus.

"Hey! I didn't tell you to change Attribute", Jack protested

Elico looked at Jack. "Best… choice…", he spoke.

Jack right about the decision, realizing the react Darkus gave him in this scenario. "Ok… nice to see you talk now. And good suggestion, Elico. Let's go!" His Baku Pod shone with another ability. "Ability Activate! Darkus Exodus!"

Mystic Elico began to glow with a dark purple aura, his power beginning to heighten. The aura formed thick tendrils of the substance, which latched onto Talon Skyress.

The predator cawed as the tendrils pulled her away from Ingram. She blazed powerfully, but it was no use. The tendrils held her tight. That green blade abandoned Skyress, traveling through the tendrils to empower Elico. Then, the rebels retracted back into Elico's form.

Cosmic Ingram: 1400, Mystic Elico: 600+3800=4400

Talon Skyress: 2800

Elico groaned loudly, his power apparent from the substantial amount of dark energy collected around him. It was barely notable compared to Blackout Hydranoid's earlier displays, but it was more than enough to deal with Skyress.

"That amount of power seems kind of risky…", Robin warned.

"Come on. If Ben can do it, so can we!", Jack replied. "Right?"

"Right." Elico grunted assent. He charged the dazed Skyress with unmatched speed. "You… will not defeat us!"

Skyress quickly tried to ascend to the air to avoid the powered enemy, quickly reaching above Elico's head.

"We can't let Skyress attack us again", Jack said. He eyes the battlefield, realizing for the first time what the canyon walls could do. "Jump off the canyon wall! We can reach Skyress!"

Elico didn't waste time. He leapt upward, aiming for the rocky wall. Landing on it, he jumped again, using the wall as a platform. He slammed into Skyress, his momentum slamming them both into the opposite wall.

Beating the full force of the impact, Skyress let out one last, weak shriek before heading into green particles. Elico began his descent, turning back to his Aquos form midair as the brawl concluded. He landed lightly on the ground.

"That was close", Jack said. "You ok, man?"

"Yes", Elico replied. "We need… to move."

"He's right", Robin said. "We have to rendezvous with the others, then take Gus down."

Ingram and Elico knelt, reaching their hands to their respective battlers.

"Climb on", Ingram said.

Robin and Jack stepped onto the hands, allowing their Bakugan to put the humans on their shoulders. Then, they took off. Ingram ascended up the canyon, and Elico began to climb the nearest wall.

XXX

Noah and Chris reappeared side by side, a large open expanse all around them.

"Where's everyone else?", Chris asked.

"Gus's countermeasure", Noah replied, trying to process the plan. "He must've… divided us to lessen our effectiveness. It's just like how we last battled against the Brawlers."

"Seriously? He used the same trick we did? And we fell for it?" Chris groaned. "That's pathetic."

"There's nothing to do about it now", Noah rationalized. "Look over there."

They looked around to see the surroundings. An Earth night sky covered their position. Few clouds covered the stars. They found themselves high on a forested mountain, enough so that there weren't many trees where they were.

Alpha Percival and Flare Wilda stood side by side, staring down the Blackout Hydranoid clone and Vulcan clone. Gus's two soldiers stared back, with no sense of intelligence in their eyes.

Chris and Noah tensed up, mentally prepped. Their battle had begun.

Alpha Percival: 900, Flare Wilda: 900

Blackout Hydranoid: 900, Shadow Vulcan: 900

Before either Spectre could begin their attack, Vulcan crossed his bulked arms across his chest. His metal armor began to shimmer bright orange with energy, covering his whole form. He uncrossed the arms, taunting both opponents at once. He stood still, preparing for attack.

Alpha Percival: 900, Flare Wilda: 900

Blackout Hydranoid: 900, Shadow Vulcan: 900+500=1400

"I'm betting that isn't just some fancy shine", Chris remarked on Vulcan's ability. She readied an ability of her own. "Ability Activate! Alpha Blade!"

Alpha Percival began to glow a bright purple light, his power being intensified. The glow began to consolidate into his hands, being expensed outwards. The energy consolidated into two blades, one for each hand. The swords were solid, with purple metal blades, shaped like two scabbards. He swung the two swords experimentally, finding the right balance. Once he was fully prepared, he began his charge at the other two enemies.

Alpha Percival: 900, Flare Wilda: 900

Blackout Hydranoid: 900-500=400, Shadow Vulcan: 1400

Percival reached Vulcan first, and as such began slashing with both swords. Neither blade could make a mark, despite striking Vulcan several times.

"It's withstanding our attack", Chris realized. "Percival, switch to Hydranoid!"

Percival complied, moving away from Vulcan to attack Hydranoid. This time, Hydranoid pulled back to avoid the worst of the blades' damage.

Noah, on the other hand, began to target Vulcan with his own ability. "Ability Activate! Steel Trap!"

Wilda raised one heavily bulked leg, then forcing the leg back down with a heavy impact on the ground. The blow shook the floor beneath the combatants.

Beneath Vulcan's feet, metal began to appear, spreading up Vulcan's legs. However, the orange glow pulsed once, melting away all the metal.

"Guess that's not going to work", Noah said.

With Vulcan secure, the Hydranoid drone made his move. Hydranoid became coated in a thick aura of dark energy, which hid his form from view and increased his power tremendously. Only ten purple dots could be made out: Hydranoid's ten eyes, glowing with the power increase. Hydranoid roared in challenge to the enemies.

Alpha Percival: 900, Flare Wilda: 900

Blackout Hydranoid: 400+500+500=1400, Shadow Vulcan: 1400

Percival stepped back to avoid Hydranoid's counterattack, brandishing his swords and awaiting Chris's move.

Chris quickly caught on, readying her next ability in accordance. "Got it! Fusion Ability Activate! Dual Turmoil!"

Alpha Percival readied himself for his counter, keeping his grip on his swords. Each hand neared each other, bringing the flat hilts of the two swords together. As they met, they snapped together, forming one large, double bladed sword, with each sharp blade opposite the other. After a few seconds of the connection, each blade began to glow bright purple, being enhanced by the fusion ability.

Alpha Percival: 900+600=1500, Flare Wilda: 900

Blackout Hydranoid: 1400, Shadow Vulcan: 1400

Alpha Percival slashed Hydranoid several more times, not letting up in the least. When one blade was pulled away, the other began its attack. Slowly, the blades slashed away Hydranoid's dark aura.

Then, however, Vulcan initiated his attack. He raised both hands and outstretched them; one aimed at each opponent. He closed his fists and siphoned his orange energy into the armored gauntlets.

Then, the energy went off the gauntlets, forming completely identical orange energy constructs of the gauntlets. Moments later, the energy constructs rocketed ahead, each one targeting their own enemy.

Alpha Percival: 1500-400=1100, Flare Wilda: 900-400=500

Blackout Hydranoid: 1400, Shadow Vulcan: 1400+400=1800

"Yeah… not yet!", Noah countered with his own ability. "Ability Activate! Igneous Shield!"

Flare Wilda reared back both of his fists, facing the ground directly in front of him. After a second, he slammed both fists into the earth, then pulled them back, out of the ground.

The places where Wilda had impacted the ground began to light up bright red. Within a few moments, red hot magma spotted from those spots, rising up high above the combatants. As it kept rising, the magma cooled impossibly quickly, turning into a wall of shiny, black obsidian.

Alpha Percival: 1100+400=1500, Flare Wilda: 500+400+400=1300

Blackout Hydranoid: 1400, Shadow Vulcan: 1800-400=1400

The construct heading his way slammed into the obsidian wall, with the force powerful enough to cause small splinters to break off. Percival, on the other hand, pulled away from the construct heading his way, subconsciously recognizing the danger.

Wilda pushed against the obsidian, to ensure maximum chances of withstanding the attack. Eventually, the construct broke apart.

After that, Percival turned around and slashed with his double blade, bisecting the construct and defusing the danger. He once again charged at Hydranoid, intent on resuming his attack.

"We'll keep Vulcan off your back", Noah purposed, utilizing one more ability. "Ability Activate! Gaian Hammer!"

started to pour out of Wilda's body, hiding him in a smokescreen from behind the wall. Wilda readied himself to move. Then, Wilda began to lift himself out of the steam, his feet producing steam to somehow grant him aerodynamics. He flew high in the air, descending towards Vulcan while gaining momentum behind his fist.

Alpha Percival: 1500, Flare Wilda: 1300+300=1600

Blackout Hydranoid: 1400, Shadow Vulcan: 1400

Wilda landed right in front of Vulcan, slamming his fist into the enemy with incredible speed and power. But Vulcan wasn't fazed. His body's orange outline returned, allowing him to repel the force behind Wilda's attack.

Noah checked the power levels. "That's… that should've dropped Vulcan down! He's still immune to our ability effects!"

Hydranoid quickly gathered energy into his five mouths, condensing them into bright purple orbs within each set of jaws. When ready, Hydranoid took aim at the opposing side, with two heads aiming at Alpha Percival, and three at Wilda.

Then, he fired all five energy orbs in quick succession. The energy orbs sailed through the air, flying at the speed of sound on its way toward the enemy. They impacted their targets, making two explosions and smoke clouds.

Vulcan, meanwhile, lifted a single leg above the ground, paying no mind to Wilda hammering on him. He brought it back down with all the force he could muster. The impact shook the ground.

The ground's shaking didn't seem to lessen, though. In fact, it only began to intensify. The mountain started destabilizing, with trees downhill getting uprooted. The Hydranoid drone lifted off the ground, leaving his and Vulcan's enemies out to dry.

Alpha Percival: 1500-500-500=500, Flare Wilda: 1600-500-500=600

Blackout Hydranoid: 1400, Shadow Vulcan: 1400+500=1900

Wilda stumbled away from Vulcan, pulling back to Percival. They tried withstanding the groundquake, but it was only getting increasingly worse. Their endurance was fading.

Chris and Noah were also affected by the earthquake. The two humans crouched low, but they were still being jostled around. A rock detached from the mountain and rolled down to their position.

"Watch out!", Noah called, tackling Chris and pushing them both out of the way. The rock rolled away harmlessly.

"Thanks", Chris said. She and Noah slowly got up, realizing the shaking was worse than ever. "If this keeps up, we'll be knocked off the mountain!"

"Don't worry. I've got an idea!", Noah said. His Baku Pod formed another ability. "Ability Activate! Terran Flare!"

Wilda reached his arms back, turning his body to face Vulcan and Hydranoid. His glowing red chest began to intensify its glow immensely, with Flare Wilda readying his power for another attack.

The red glow then shone on both enemies, making them scream in pain as they were slowly fried from the outside in. The mountain's shaking immediately ceased, Wilda and Percival rose up with renewed strength, and the orange glow within Vulcan's armor burned away.

Alpha Percival: 500+500+500=1500, Flare Wilda: 600+500+500=1600

Blackout Hydranoid: 1400, Shadow Vulcan: 1900-500-500=900

"You even nullified that invulnerability ability. Great idea", Chris congratulated her partner. She looked and saw she was gripping Noah's hand from the earthquake. She let go quickly, brandishing her next ability. "Ability Activate! Thunder Oblivion!"

Alpha Percival started to gather his focus, heightening his powers. After a moment, he became cloaked in an aura of purple colored energy. The aura began to crackle like lightning, a couple stray bolts surging in all directions. With an enraged roar, Percival unleashed a huge bolt of purple lightning straight ahead, right into Hydranoid. Upon impact, the lightning bolt sent Hydranoid far away in the air.

Then, Percival fired another bolt at Vulcan. Without his enhanced armor to defend him, he was struck and legitimately damaged by the lightning and the resulting explosion.

Alpha Percival: 1500+500=2000, Flare Wilda: 1600

Blackout Hydranoid: 1400-500=900, Shadow Vulcan: 900-500=400

Upon being struck, Vulcan actually fell to the ground, losing his strength. But he slowly started to rise, regardless.

Hydranoid also seemed weaker, but he landed back on the ground with his stability intact. His body began to exhume a thick aura of his remaining power. It filled the air surrounding Hydranoid, quickly transforming into a gravitational entity.

The auras of power engulfing Percival and Wilda drained from them, drawn into Hydranoid's gravitational force. As the energy entered his void, he lit up with a harsh dark aura.

Alpha Percival: 2000-1100=900, Flare Wilda: 1600-700=900

Blackout Hydranoid: 900+1800=2700, Shadow Vulcan: 400

Vulcan, following Hydranoid's example, stood back up. His body started to shimmer, then glow a bright orange color as his power rose drastically. Every inch of his armor glowed with the pressurized energy, surpassing his earlier displays of power.

Alpha Percival: 900, Flare Wilda: 900

Blackout Hydranoid: 2700, Shadow Vulcan: 400+1500+400=2300

"It's not going to be that easy, buster", Chris said with a smirk, having the exact right ability for the occasion. "Ability Activate! Dark Diffusion!"

Alpha Percival's body began to exude a thick fog of dark purple energy, which began to spread throughout the area. It obscured him from outside view, even as his opponents' power auras tried to clear the fog.

As the dark fog continued to spread, however, it began to break apart Hydranoid and Vulcan's auras, depleting them down to nothing. The fog engulfed the entire mountaintop.

Alpha Percival: 900+400=1300, Flare Wilda: 900

Blackout Hydranoid: 2700-1800=900, Shadow Vulcan: 2300-1400=900

"This Hydranoid is a lot more predictable than the last one", Chris remarked. "Guess it's because this one doesn't have a battling genius like Alice to guide him."

"That's a good thing", Noah said. "It means that we've got a shot to take this Blackout Hydranoid down."

"Yeah", Chris agreed reluctantly. "I guess I can get a rematch with the real one after this is over." She loaded another ability. "First things first, though. Ability Activate! Primal Gunner!"

Alpha Percival opened up his mouth wide, slowly gathering energy within his maw, though he couldn't be seen in the thick fog. That energy consolidated into an orb of purple and white energy, growing just ahead of Alpha Percival's mouth. The bright glow of the amassed energy shined through the haze and reached Hydranoid's eyes.

Hydranoid, in response, locked into Alpha Percival with his next move. Each of Hydranoid's eight wings extended small metallic mini heads from their tips. Each head was connected to the main body via a metallic rope-like neck. As soon as they were out, each mini head began charging purple energy, gathering strength for an attack. Within moments, the mini heads fired the purple energy in short bursts at Percival.

With a loud roar, Alpha Percival unleashed the energy in a large beam, aiming right at Hydranoid and his energy bursts. The two attacks clashed in between the two Darkus Bakugan, the collision blowing away the fog.

Alpha Percival: 1300+400-300=1400, Flare Wilda: 900-300=600

Blackout Hydranoid: 900+400-400=900, Shadow Vulcan: 900-400=500

Percival's beam ripped past Hydranoid's attacks, striking the hydra dead on. The intensity of the blast made Hydranoid fade away into purple particles.

"Yeah! That's how it's done!", Chris cheered. "Great job, Percival!"

"…thank you, Mistress…", Percival murmured.

Chris showed some surprise, but quickly covered it with a smile. "It's good to meet you, Alpha Percival."

"Likewise…", Percival replied.

"Your Bakugan's talking", Noah said. "I'm glad for you. Let's finish this, here and now!"

A brutal grunt drew their attention back to the remaining enemy, Shadow Vulcan. He stood ready to keep up the fight.

Noah quickly launched his next ability card. "Ability Activate! Cannon Lock!"

Flare Wilda turned himself to face Shadow Vulcan and spread out his palms. The cavities on his hands began to glow a harsh orange color as Wilda began to power up his attack.

The air was cold and unmoving around Wilda for several moments before Wilda shot out a pair of large energy orbs, straight at Vulcan. The two orbs were then sent through the air, moving as fast as a modern cannon's projectile on a straight path towards Vulcan.

Alpha Percival: 1400, Flare Wilda: 600+500=1100

Shadow Vulcan: 500

Vulcan's body started to shimmer, then glow a bright orange color as his power rose drastically. Every inch of his armor glowed with the pressurized energy, further surpassing his earlier displays of power. His glow easily overpowered Wilda's energy orbs, leaving Vulcan unscathed.

Alpha Percival: 1400, Flare Wilda: 1100

Shadow Vulcan: 500+1800+400=2700

The harsh glow pulsated, sending a wave of orange energy that knocked over both enemies.

"Come on, Wilda! Stand up!", Noah called out. "We can beat them!"

Wilda sat up, getting up on one foot, then the other. He rose up, glaring down the rival Subterra. "Do… it… NOW!"

Noah was startled, both by Wilda's speech, and it's intensity. He complied, however, brandishing his next ability. "Ability Activate! Quake Barrier!"

Flare Wilda began to glow a bright orange, with his power building in a seemingly defensive aura around him. Then, Wilda's aura began to spread out of his body, spreading out in a shockwave. When it reached Vulcan, it covered his body and forced him down to the ground.

As the energy waves washed over Vulcan, it stripped away all of his power, leaving him back to base.

Alpha Percival: 1400, Flare Wilda: 1100+400=1500

Shadow Vulcan: 2700-1800=900

The shockwave kept going, forcing Vulcan to glow orange. The glowing form broke apart into fading particles. The fight was over.

"It's over", Noah said, sighing with relief. "Thank you, Wilda."

"Thank you… Noah", Wilda replied.

Percival looked down on Chris. "Climb on, Mistress… we must find Gus."

"Yeah", Chris remarked. As she and Noah were put on the shoulders of their Bakugan, she utilized her Baku Pod to access a map. "Huh. We're in the Appalachian mountains. Guess that explains the geography."

"Then let's get back to Gus's base", Noah said.

Percival and Wilda took off, heading back to Gus's bunker. Percival was able to simply fly, but Wilda jumped with his rocketing feet to propel him. As they moved, the four others were also on their way to rendezvous at Gus's compound.

XXX

"NO!", came Gus's bloodthirsty cry. He glared at his monitor, which was reporting that all six of his Bakugan had been soundly defeated. "How did they defeat my soldiers so easily? It's impossible!"

"They were only successful because of the strength you gave them", a dark voice echoed through his head, like his own, but with a more sinister edge. "They would be nothing without you, and are nothing compared to you."

Gus took a deep breath. "Yes. They are nothing", he decided. "They will challenge me again. This time, I won't let them retreat so easily. I will destroy them." He pulled up another tab, one that displayed the war on Neathia. "And there's nothing the Brawlers can do to stop me. There's nothing that anyone can do to stop me!"

XXX

The Neathian battleground was more chaotic than it had ever been. Gus's forces were as focused on destroying Neathia's forests and landscape as the actual city. The defenders were trying to hold them back, but all but a few were beaten by the sheer power.

Among those few, Typhoon Ingram, Dharak and the original Blackout Hydranoid stood together, battling the enemy with moderate progress. Their battlers stood side by side.

"I thought you wanted to protect yourself from this fighting", Shun said. Typhoon Ingram was battering a Shadow Vulcan with his Typhoon Hyper Impact. It wasn't until Dharak intervened with Evil Blast that the Subterra Bakugan was beaten.

"Dharak gave me a wake up call", Alice replied, observing Hydranoid assault the enemy with Gazer Barrage. "I realized that I was giving up who I was to protect… nothing. I was wrong, and that cost you so much. I'm sorry."

"I'm just glad you're here now", Shun said. "But what happened? What about the Spectres?"

"They've already made great progress", Alice answered. "But Gus found us out and attacked. They got away, and I held him off for as long as I could. They'll have to figure out the rest on their own."

"They'll do it", Shun said confidently. "They're young, but they're smart and talented. They'll beat him."

Good luck, Alice thought, thinking of her brief time training with the new team. Stay on the same course. Don't get pulled away, like I did. All of our hopes are with you.

Then, the two Brawlers returned their full attention to combating the chaos.

XXX

And that is it! I hope you enjoyed. If you did, be sure to follow or favorite the story. If you want to say anything, feel free to leave a review or PM me. Before I go, responses:

Alice Gehabich: your extremely small scale suggestion has been noted and overruled. I really won't remember adding that miniscule detail.

Until next time, goodbye!