Madness. That's all that could best describe the situation everyone was in. They've been through a lot most certainly, but it was taking a lot more for them to stay moving. If they messed up, they'd be blindsided…that is, if they were lucky. It was already bad enough being outnumbered and pinned against clones of themselves, but with the clock ticking, they were getting desperate to find ways to slow down the vanguard Riaan had on his side.

And catching it all on camera being a large debris mound was Julie and her cameraman. They've learned from their mistakes and were certain to stay put of the line of explosions and Bakugan flying everywhere. "This is Julie Yamamoto, coming to you from the Empyrean Alpha, Riaan's base high in the sky. Upon entering the establishment, the Battle Brawlers and friends from around the planets that Riaan had infected, have all congregated to the Empyrean's lower floor in an attempt to work their way up. However-!" Julie ducked when a breeze from a passing Apex Atmos clone picked up. The camera shuddered as it caught the Kimera copy of the apex predator sailing across the air with more winged brethren. "…however, Riaan appears to have anticipated this, and launched Bakugan that look to be able to make duplicates of our own! The Brawlers and everyone are currently working towards getting around the problem as we speak. Stay tuned and keep watching to see where it all goes from here!"

A Kimera-Percival went charging after Drago with Dain Slief. The Dragonoid caught the blade in his claws, holding it off to the best of his abilities. His glare fixed on the clone was that of fire.

"Ability, activate!" Dan shouted. "Dragon Spur!"

Drago's body glowed in a red aura that increased his mobility. In speeds faster than lightning, he punched clean through the blade, shattering it like glass as the fist continued into Percival's imitation's face. The impact was so hard that it slammed onto its face.

Drago didn't relent. With all his might, he zipped into the air and went crashing down foot-first into the clone's body, sundering it even further into the Empyrean's flooring. The Bakugan's gaping maw hung open as its blob form revealed itself before deteriorating.

"Down goes another one." Drago said.

"Yup."

Shun was nearby on Jaakor when he turned and spotted something that grabbed his attention. "Dan! Drago! On your right!"

Drago turned in the direction Shun warned them of, but all that they could process was a green bullet with slicing wings that passed them. The Apex Atmos clone continued its wake, ascending while a shockwave passed Drago, via Sonic Rain. The Dragonoid screeched out as he stepped back, and the shockwave continued its path towards Phosphos, Nemus, and Contestir, who were too close and blown onto the ground. All of them were blown onto the ground, slamming brutally at that.

"Gah!" Lena squealed as she fell onto her back, flopping almost like a fish.

"Lena!" Ren shouted. He looked back towards the sky, seeing clones everywhere overcasting the light. "Ability, activate! Dark Javelin!"

Linehalt bent his knees and put his hands together to create a dark energy staff, which spread out with his hands to create a long trident with pointed tips. He jettisoned skywards, blitzing away into other Plitheon, Skytruss, and Fusion Dragonoid. Dark purple slash waves followed him wherever he went as he danced across the sky.

"Don't stop, Linehalt!" Ren shouted.

"I know! We'll keep going!" He continued his fight on.

As he danced through the skies, he was seemingly being watched from below by a Kimera-Andro Elico clone. It looked up, seeing Linehalt in sight. It raised both arms and spiraled the mechanical claws, projecting twin blue electrical tornadoes that surged up towards him, via Tidal Blow.

Just as Linehalt processed his surroundings, he looked down at the incoming nullification ability and was too slow to react. Thankfully, Radizen appeared out of nowhere, shielding with Keep Saver and crossing his forearms to make the mechanical tempest diffuse around them.

"Marucho!" Ren gasped.

"Don't worry, Ren! I got your back!" Marucho grinned back.

The tornado eventually dispersed, leaving Marucho and Radizen to make their counterattack as they dropped back towards the ground. "Ability, activate! Abyss Blade!" Radizen landed on a knee and swatted his arms at a lower angle, projecting blue energy blades.

Andro Elico stood there, its scissor-like claws that stuck out of the back gleaming and firing thin blue energy beams, via Droid Hydra.

"Ability, activate! Bolting Vibra!" Linehalt's horns cackled with dark purple electricity before he fired a thick blast of lightning that passed Radizen's attack, intercepting the multiple beams and circuiting towards Andro Elico. The attack crackled around the Bakugan, paralyzing it long enough for the blue energy crescents to land critical blows.

The Kimera impersonating Andro Elico let out a scowl before reverting to a clear blob that imploded to mush, much to Radizen's glee. "Aw yeah, that's showing them!"

Alice threw down a Gate Card where a Contestir, Phosphos, and Saint Nemus were grouped together. It faded into a dark shockwave that she reached out to. "Gate Card, open! Freeze Enemy!" The Gate Card opened, immediately making them all the opponents frozen in their tracks. "Ability, activate! Hellion Pulse!"

Hydranoid opened his three maws, which gathered pink and purple energy into compressed points. The hydra reared back and them lurched ahead, spewing three beans of glistening dark purple and black energy that jettisoned into the three opponents respectively. They all stood no chance as a dark explosion wave rippled before exploding skywards. In the blast wave, all the opponents vaporized into thin air, while Hydranoid looked on without remorse.

Alice looked serious as well, more so than she could have ever been. She heard a loud shriek and turned around to find a Kimera-Plitheon diving down after them.

Suddenly, out of the blue, large mechanical gauntlets with sharp claws shot into the clone before it could o anything, slamming it elsewhere. The claws retracted, and Alice and Hydranoid turned towards the real Andro Elico and Keegan atop.

"Thank you, Keegan." She grinned.

"Thank me after we win this whole thing!" He yelled back, intently focused on the battle at hand. "Double ability, activate, Element Core, plus Darkus Core!" Andro Elico stood perfectly still as a bright, radiant glow came from his core, which cascaded a shine across until his body had a Darkus theme on it. The mechanical dreadlocks on his headpiece expelled a dark, negative energy waves towards the tips before violently lashing lie tendrils that fanned out around them, slicing into multiple opponents that were within range.

"Now!"

Alice nodded. "Ability, activate! Indigo Nightmare!" Hydranoid opened his maws again, discharging intense purple and black energy beams that spread out and struck the opponents Andro Elico managed to immobilize, if not defeat. They all were swallowed in an explosion of darkness that the two Darkus Bakugan looked on in.

The flames of their attacks was what gave them a very small window to rejuvenate themselves. Alice looked ahead, undeterred.

Keegan was the same, a familiar fire in his eyes. "…hey, remember what I said before? About what I wanted to do?"

He thoughts back to when he and Gus spoke in the lab.

"Yes. I remember that. What is it?"

"Listen, don't tell anyone this…but I've made up my mind. I…want to change the ways of Interacia. These people. These guys left in the dark and oblivious, I want to change that. All the struggling they've endured for years, with barely civilization and fertile resources, I want to change that. With the resources that everyone has. Somehow. In some way." He looked down with contemplation. "I'm not saying it like I want your planets to die. But even if everything was reversed, and Interacia went back to being the way it was…I want to try. Just try, and maybe…just maybe…there can still be a future for those in the dark."

'This is what it feels like to try. To try, and work towards your goal.' His fists balled tightly. 'It feels…like my heart is on fire! This must what the others must be talking about – to feel alive!' He glared intensely ahead. "I will make my home…a better place for everyone!"

Andro Elico let out a loud roar, as if responding to his feelings. He unleashed Seith Circle, projecting the blades with a purple gyro orbit around them and grazed into a Kimera-Roxtor, so hard in fact that its claws shattered in a failed attempt to protect itself. The sawblades left a gashing energy cut, which Andro Elico took the opportunity to get close and raise a claw.

"GO!" The cyborg impaled the Roxtor hard straight through the head, immediately making it revert to being a Kimera blob that diffused to nothing. Elico kept that pose with Keegan on his shoulder, pausing for a moment to keep his fire collected.

A nearby Kimera Nemus raised its staff, creating golden pyramids in a triangular manner above Andro Elico, via Float Shield. Keegan glanced back, seeing the Nemus himself as it already charged up a hemisphere of light.

"Ability, activate! Hyper Aegis!"

A drilling knuckle blindsided the Nemus clone, knocking it down while dispelling the attack in an instant. The same creature responsible swung his arms around, destroying the golden pyramids above Andro Elico's head. The Bakugan turned around in response and Gus and Vulcan had their backs towards them.

"Gus!" Keegan gasped.

Gus smirked. "I like your spirit, Keegan. But you know, you shouldn't get ahead of yourself when others are trying to lend you a hand."

Keegan paused, then snorted with a grin. He faced ahead, ready to continue. "I'll keep that in mind."

Vulcan and Elico were back to back as more enemy Bakugan surrounded them, but they were ready to fight on with all their might.

Aranaut and Sabator were beside one another as they double teamed a Hercules Fly Beetle. They charged with punches, but the battle caught the fists with only two arms, holding them off without much of a struggle. Even Sabator, who was all muscle, was struggling to budge his foe.

"Gnnngh…move you oversized bug…!" He snarled.

The Kimera-Fly Beetle used its lower arms and lobbed the two onto their backs – hard! Nurzak jumped off of Sabator, while Fabia, who was still in lackluster shape, got behind a piece of debris and panted.

The queen looked over her shoulder in shock, seeing how easily they were thrown onto their backs. "Can't believe what brute power that guy has…"

Nurzak landed right beside her on a knee, gradually rising. "This is the same Bakugan that was able to move Armagedoid, your highness. Something even the Brawlers weren't able to do. It's nothing short of cast-iron strength."

The Kimera clone let out a sundering roar that made the air shift drastically. Fabia used the debris to support herself. "This is gonna be a lot harder than I thought…"

"Don't give up, Wolfurio! Keep fighting!" Rafe shouted.

"Boulderon, let's go!" Paige shouted.

Both Bakugan let out loud cries as they bolted after clones that came after them. Nearby, explosions went off around Helios as he stood completely still, watching clones get annihilated and swept away by his brutal energy blasts. On his shoulder, Spectra crossed his arms with a serious frown.

'It seems that we're able to on the lesser ones no problem. Most likely because they adapt to how the Bakugan battles. Therefore...'

A beaming dark blast raced across the ground, which Helios saw incoming. He pulled away and watched the beam continue on, exploding into a linear eruption of energy that engulfed everything. A blistering shriek was heard as they looked skywards, seeing the descent of an Eclipse Atchibee.

"Looks like they want a challenge from us, Helios. Shall we?" Spectra teased.

"Why should I hold back?" he snarled. "I never do!"

Drago jettisoned across the skies, racing an Apex Atmos clone to the best of his abilities. "That goes double for me!"

Hiding away, Julie was getting it all on camera. "That's right, guys! Keep it going! The clock's ticking!"


On Earth, everything was as much as a wreck compared to Vestal, Gundalia, and Neathia. With the outside world being a natural disaster realm, it was incomprehensible for anyone to step outside when random lightning could fry someone, or a fissure could open and swallow you up at any given time. Yet somehow – some way – all their available smart technology was on by themselves broadcasting everything that Julie's camera was seeing. They were watching the coalition hard at work trying to get passed Riaan's vanguard, and many were clinging to that little sliver of hope. Yet many more have already lost it.

Inside Luke's family estate, the lights were off, and it was dark outside the windows. The sound of rolling thunder could be heard on a consistent basis. Augustine and Claire were sitting in the large living room in front of Julie's TV report.

Cale walked up behind them, getting their attention off the screen for a moment. "I'm afraid it's no good. The circuit breakers aren't even responsive at the moment. The power won't be coming back on."

"It must be the power companies. They must be out of commission with the weather and shifting." Augustine noted. "Cale, we still have those generators in storage?"

"They're a little dusty, but I'm sure they'll do. But it'll take time to get them going. Plus they can only power so much."

"That'll be fine." He turned towards the broadcast. "I still find it hard to believe that this can be broadcasted when we have no such control over our own power now. This is the kind of power Riaan has been hiding from us this whole time."

"A week ago it was the same instance." Claire pointed out. "Everyone's technology was hacked and showed the Brawlers and our son's fight against that man."

Augustine lowered his head. "Yes, I know dear. It seems one way or another, his intent on keeping us from the dark is going as planned. We were blind fools from the start, and he waited until the right time to expose that flaw for everyone to acknowledge. Suppose he has lost his patience with how we lived so sheltered…I can see where that falls onto Luke."

A flash of lightning happened outside, followed by the sound of thunder. A long pause happened between them as they felt a change in tone.

Cale turned away and started walking. "I'll go dig out those generators. You both sit tight. I'll put one in the kitchen so we can keep the fridge running."

As he left, Claire looked down in worry. "I've heard that riots and panic are spreading rapidly. A lot of our towns are filled with chaos. People are so desperate that they're fueling these fires."

"This is the world we live in. If we don't find some levity given to us, then we just have to take it ourselves…I'm sure that's a moral we disregarded, too." Augustine closed his eyes. "All we can do now is put our faith in our son and his Bakugan friends."

Claire solemnly frowned. "Luke…please be okay."

As the sound of thunder shuddered the house, flashes of lightning struck down in the distance. They turned their attention back towards the broadcast at hand as they watched Drago blast fire.


Luke and the others traveled their way up the wide staircase of the Empyrean Alpha. They passed arches that gave view to the cold blue sky outside, allowing them to see how high up they were getting. Even so, the sounds of explosions and constant dazzling ruptures didn't escape their ears.

"Sounds like it's a big ruckus down there." Shawn noted, walking along with the pack.

Another rupture followed from below. "Yeah, sure sounds like it." Shuji noted.

"I almost feel bad just leaving them like that." Maggie said, frowning. "But I guess it can't be helped, we're on a deadline afterall."

"Precisely." Jase said. "Rather, we should focus our attention on reaching the pinnacle as soon as we are able."

"Still, it feels weird going up with Rogue Zero." Shawn sidenoted.

"Yeah, if I didn't know any better, I say this would have been a very weird dream." Maggie chimed.

"We can hear you, you little runt." Ariella sniped. "You know, we can settle this matter right now, that way there'll be one less brat to hear out amongst us."

Maggie beamed back with a glare. "Geez, sorry~." She chimed. 'She's certainly one to talk.'

"Maggie, are you sure about this?" Jelldon wondered. "I mean…we are enemies, right?"

"Yeah, that's the same feeling I'm getting, too. Just what happened back in the Doom Dimension that we missed?"

"Maybe either we hit them harder than we thought…" Shuji scrunched his brow. "Or this could be some kind of trap we're walking right into."

"Look, you have every right back there to be wary of us. We don't blame you." Killian paused. "At least I don't. We're not gonna strike you in the back when you aren't looking."

"But don't let it go to your heads, neither." Xander rudely chimed in. "Just make sure you stay out of our way, otherwise you just might end up in our sights, too."

"I had a feeling this had to do with that." Jase surmised. "You have some score to settle with Riaan perhaps?"

"That's a need-to-know basis for us. Just listen to what Killian and Xander said and we'll be just fine." Ariella chimed, smirking. "Personally, I would have loved to have you guys beneath us, but I could get can't get what we want, can we?"

"When you've lost everything, that's when you start to find yourself. Only then will you realize what you can give to others." Hendrix spoke solemnly. "It's all a matter of how you use it."

Shawn paused, putting a hand to his hips. "Huh…that's a pretty insight thing to say."

"Yeah, it is." Luke trailed off, thinking of what Hendrix said on a more seldom level. To an extent, he could relate to what he meant.

A loud scoff came from in front. "Well, isn't this just a splendid sight. Making friends so soon. Are friends supposed to be this chatty-cathy, or is it just you guys?"

Everyone looked up at Maximus, who glared down at them with some kind of twisted sneer. It was hard to tell if he was serious or sarcastic, but given his personally, it was probably best to worry about the inuendo he was setting off as he turned ahead. "Keep it moving." The rest of Rogue Zero followed behind his orders. The others were left for a moment to process the information.

After the long pause, the humans finally caught on as Jase kept walking. "We should keep following."

"Yes, you're right." Esther walked behind him, with the others following as well.

They kept their ascent at a mild quiet for a while, but they all knew they had to keep on going, no matter what. Luke and the others followed Rogue Zero, keeping to themselves promptly.

"They really seem…focused for some reason." Luke mumbled. "I can't really explain it. But…I think what they're saying might be the truth."

Esther walked beside him. "It's like Shawn said, for now, we have to trust their judgment. We're in no position to question their motives. For now, we're after the same objective. Besides, it seems that they know what they're doing."

"Yeah, guess that's true." Shuji said. "Still…" He thought about their entry. "Can't help but wonder what drove them here of all places."

"Suppose we'll have to play it out by ear." Jase said.

As they kept walking, Hendrix grunted. "The air…is getting thicker."

"Yes, I do believe that you are right." Cesar theatrically chimed. "Most definitely so. It means that we are getting close."

Luke stopped to realize something. "Huh? Hey, wait a minute." Everyone turned towards him. "I've been wondering. Wouldn't it be a lot easier if we flew up from the side of the Empyrean?"

Cesar swiveled around, resting his cheek against his knuckles. "Bountiful in oxygen as this planet is, you certainly do not. I'm afraid it just won't be possible, not with this plagued energy cloud above us."

"A cloud you say?" Shawn raised a brow.

Cesar snickered. "Look up and you'll see what I mean."

Everyone went towards the nearest open window arch. They all held onto the ends and looked up towards the dark blue yonder reminiscent of space. What they saw left a shocking epiphany on them.

"Wha-what is that?!" Abis gasped.

High above them, there appeared to be what looked some distorted field around the top of the Empyrean. It was nearly impossible to fell from there point of view where the top was located, but they could most definitely see a dark distortion field no less.

"Look at that, is that all negative energy waves?" Shawn questioned.

"I'm afraid that's the problem at hand. Even if you could potentially fly up to the top, you'll have to get past that energy field first." Cesar explained. "Even with your increased tolerance of negative energy to incredulous levels, you and your Bakugan would just be rebuffed. Air is cut off within that field of spatial energy, so you're out of luck."

"What the Doc is trying to say in shorter terms is that going up from the side will only kill you." Killian interpreted.

Jase turned towards him. "I understand. So then I take it that you might have an alternative to lift this veil, Cesar?"

His smirk widened. "Why, yes, actually. It's very simple…going straight up. Of course, the enemy is expecting this from us, so please, watch your steps."

Shuji looked back at him with surprise. "So like more of those things down below?"

"Hm? The Kimera? Not exactly. Though as much as I'd love to explain some more, we have a tight schedule, and that problem lies up ahead."

The stairway spiraling skywards reached towards the floor above them. Even from the thickness of the high ceiling, they could feel a strong pressure at the entrance.

"I see the entrance to the next floor." Shawn said, stepping up. "Guess it's safe to assume someone's waiting for us then, right?"

"Zion…or could be Galilea…or perhaps all of them." Jase proposed. The latter idea didn't spark any kind of confidence in anyone. "Or it could be any other surprise that we have encountered before. In any likely event, stay on your guards."

Luke paused, allowing the tension of the predicament to flow right up to his brain. His fingers flexed in and out with every deep breath he took. "…okay then. Let's go."

Maximus looked back at his fellow Rogue Zero members, frowning heavily as they all shared the same serious expression. His hood lampshade his eyes and single devil horn as he whipped back forward. "Don't get cold on me now." He commented.

"I really think none of you would." Luke said.

Maximus paused. "I was talking to you."

Luke felt like an idiot. "…oh…right."

Maximus sneered with a smirk as they all pressed onwards into the light of the oncoming exit to the huge first floor. Already alone, it was hundreds of feet they had to travel. Now it was a step up, literally. Upon entering the wake of the light, Rogue Zero's gazes were so fixated with their leader that it seemed like not even blinding light would faze them. They pressed on with everyone else, entering the realm of light.

Once they all passed through, they entered a new chamber. Much like the chamber below, the arched windows were open, allowing a graceful view of the outside world's blue sky and the sun beaming through the steep angles. The walls were a bright white, with magenta accents shining brightly to process the information of everything that was within the Empyrean. The flooring had a large island surrounded by flowing water, which, when it streamed towards the outside, immediately turned to vapor. Deeply woven golden accents were within the island.

All 12 individuals stepped onto the chamber ground; with each step making the floor network shine bright magenta. The magenta faded into the Empyrean, and with it, their curiosity.

"Looks like we've made it up a level." Shawn spoke.

Verias lifted his head on his shoulder. "I can definitely feel it. There's a change in the air around here."

"It's bright." Maggie grunted, having one eye open. "Why's this room feel so…angelic for some reason."

"It does give off some regal vintage." Esther pointed out. 'It's like my body feels light being inside this air. Further down, the negative energy would have made it hard to move, but for some reason, this feels the opposite. Like when you're floating instead of sinking…'

Maximus' head slowly shifted ahead towards the island. "Well, what do we have here?"

Jase followed. "Everyone, look!"

Luke's eyes widened. "Is that…!"

All eyes adverted towards the center of the island, where there was a small rune-like accented circle with a small stream surrounding it. It flowed into various crescents and woven canyons in the ground that were so than that one could step on it like a really thin puddle. In the dead center, there appeared to be a familiar someone sitting there in the sunlight beaming from steep angles from the surrounding arches. She was basked in an angelic light that made her blonde hair seem like a royal coating. Her eyes were shut as she sat there patiently, as though undeterred by any of the noise beyond the calm waters.

"…" Still silent, the familiar woman kept her eyes closed.

"It's Lucia!" Shawn shouted.

"It looks like Cesar was right about there being obstacles in front of us." Esther bent her knees, ready to defend herself.

Everyone glared down Lucia as she sat completely still. The Haos woman in turn didn't respond.

Suddenly, her eyes opened, revealing her elegant eyes illuminated by the light. She was ready.

As the crystal blue water flowed around her, so did the words from her mouth. "So you've come…just as I have predicted. And with Rogue Zero, no less. Perhaps if not for the light of the future that I seek, perhaps I would have been taken back by this. You, the very enemies who have taken the name of Lord Riaan to shame, band together to a single place…it's almost harmonic, if not painfully transparent. Even one who doesn't have the gift of foresight can painfully see the image of unification under one reason. However…" She slowly stood up within her circle. "I've come to realize, that our reasons and your own, cannot come to coincide in this lifetime. Thus, one reason, and one reason alone…shall be the deciding factor in who shall determine our fates. Compared to Milord…your reasoning is as blind as an Earthling bat in a cave closed off from the real world." She gracefully paused. "I am Lucia Artemia, Hades Pillars of light, and she who can see the future basked in light…for Milord's sake, and my own."

She took very calm, steady strides forward towards everyone. "From the very start, I could see it all. Your movements. Your breaths. Your very actions. Every last little judgment you've made befitting that of your character has come to its fulfilling point." She came to a stop. "You have done well, and now you shall be rewarded…by being basked in the light of the future that our lord shall make before your very eyes."

Luke opposed her opinion and space with his sword drawn. "That's not gonna happen. If you mean the future that involves the sacrifices of so many, then we'll have to change that so that our fates can be decided by ourselves!"

"You say that, and yet here you are, willing to lay down your lives for fates that you cannot see. You believe in so strongly in something that you cannot see. How do you expect to reach towards that image if you can't even imagine it for starters? To have your own fate, you must be able to see brightly. Milord is the fate that this world and its populace needs to make a future in which all who reside on Interacia to prosper. You all are not part of this vision…therefore, I must eradicate your existence from making it into limelight."

'She seems…different than before.' Shuji realized. 'What does she have now?'

'Something isn't right…it's like she's completely changed.' Shawn thought.

A low chuckle went through the domain, which erupted into a laughter, and even higher into an exaggerated uproar. "'Eradicate our existence' you say?!" the laughter continued.

Shuji flinched as a shadow moved over him. "Huh?! What the-?!"

In his levitating chair, Cesar moved over everyone and stood – floated – between Lucia and the intruders. He glared at Lucia with such a proud smile as he laughed. "Dear Lucia, you can see a thousand years ahead and such a future will never exist!"

"Cesar!" Luke quipped.

Lucia calmly looked up to her underling, her remote gaze unfazed by Cesar's uproar. "Cesar Ventriliqua."

Cesar continued giving his superior a knowing grin. "Dear Lucia, you're so disillusioned. Why, if one can truly see such a future, would it not make sense to do everything in your own power to reach for it as the simpleton said a minute ago?"

For a moment, Luke felt offended, but was moreover shocked at what Cesar's pointed validated as.

"You say you can see the future, but can you honestly say that you've contributed anything to make it not sound like a possibility? After all, you see something happen, actions must be brought into motion. And really, between us, you really had to work towards that future to not make it sound so scrupulous?" He paused as his smirk darkened. "I think my point stands."

Lucia lowered her chin, trying to keep her composure from fading. "I expect such words from you, yet they still make my blood broil with such offense. Have you not known your place?"

"Precisely why we're here, aren't we, Miss Artemia. You recognize your keen foresight, but, there's something else far more deserving. You know what that is?"

"Like what?"

"Hmph, naturally it's…" His chair whirled around as he raised his head and arms high in the sunlight for some form of stage lighting. "My genius~!" He began cackling laughter again, but was quick to stop. "Do you not see? Your so-called 'fate' only came around because I willed it. Otherwise, Interacia wouldn't have had such a stable transformation. Those are facts, not ideal substitutes for your own benefactor. Perhaps you should start looking towards what's in front of you instead of what's to come."

"That's a paradox, coming from someone as yourself." She countered. "Perhaps you should be wearing those glasses if you're that blind."

"Oh dear…you know nothing of the ways of a genius, do you?" He glanced back at his fellow Rogue Zero members. "Maximus, it appears that we have struck an impasse. Please, by all means, allow me to play my part, if you will?"

Maximus gave Cesar a serious look, meeting him eye-to-eye to reach some form of understanding. After a moment, the raspy voice of the leader came out. "Very well then." He turned away. "Just don't take too long."

Cesar's lipstick molded into a smirk. "On my life."

Hendrix gave a solemn nod as he turned away. "Keep her occupied."

Ariella went behind him. "We have high expectations for you, Doctor. Better not let us down so soon."

As they were leaving, Killian stopped and gave Cesar a sincere look. "See ya around, Doc." He spoke in such an admirable tone before fleeing with his comrades towards the next flight.

Xander glanced at Luke's group. "You guys better follow us, too. No need to waste your time with someone like her."

"You sure that's a good call?" Shuji questioned.

"Hmph, beats me. But you know I'm right. Besides…" He looked ahead at Cesar levitating down towards Lucia's level. "The Doc hasn't worn out on us yet. He knows what he's doing. Isn't your specialty to try and rely more on your comrades to clean up messes?"

"He's right. We can't afford to stop when a window is open for us." Luke said.

"Very well then." Jase prodded his glasses. "We must depart at once! Do not stop!"

"Right!" Everyone shouted. They all fled with Xander and the rest of Rogue Zero, leaving them to work their way around the standoff between the two odds at their own ends.

The fortuneteller and scientist gave each other respectable, yet shrewd gazes that told the other exactly how they felt about one another. The light of the sun beamed on the two, shimmering dazedly until the sun's position slowly shifted between the arches, momentary leaving Lucia and Cesar in their shadows. Both kept away from the light as they were, this was the brief moment they put out towards the open.

"Now…isn't this quaint. Just the two of us." Cesar chimed. "I'd prefer something more substantial where I can express evidence such as the lab, but hey, beggars can't be choosers, can they? Then again, you and I would know those positions well, wouldn't we?"

"Don't speak to me so freely, Cesar. You and I both know you are in no position to do such a thing." Lucia paused. "The incident in Solaris, that was most certainly not the work of the Battle Brawlers' superior accomplices. Tell me, am I wrong?"

Cesar chuckled low. "So you've noticed."

"Your actions of self-insured vengeance has done far more harm towards Milord's plans than that of the enemies at hand. You, as well as Rogue Zero, have all committed sins beyond that of failure. Have you no shame to the humiliation you've established here? Even though I foresaw your arrival and these actions, I can't help but feel disgusted just from seeing you."

"Disgusted? Shame? Hmph! Dear Lucia, why, I've felt nothing but disgust and shame ever since we've become acquainted.

"Cesar Ventriliqua." A voice came from afar, closing in. When he turned, he saw a dainty, well-dressed woman who seemed regal. She looked very serious behind her eyes, and she gave him a respected bow. "To you, Cesar Ventriliqua, I welcome you."

"Yes…? Can I help you, ma'am?" Cesar asked awkwardly.

Riaan gave a courtesy. "Allow me to introduce my associate here. I'd like to welcome Lucia Artemia. And she is the one who wished to see you in person.

Lucia walked closer, meeting Cesar at eye level. She bowed her head with a soft smile. "Gracious Cesar, it is a pleasure to meet you."

Little did Cesar know, that woman who bowed to him…he would be bowing to for the rest of his days.

"From the very start, I knew that when I first laid eyes on you, when I learned of your foresight powers…it was a declaration of war."

"War, you say?"

Cesar aimed his five fingers towards his head. "Exactly as I said, it was war. War between mind over matter. A challenge to see who, between the two brightest minds on Interacia, would be most suiting to shape its future."

Lucia showed dissatisfaction. "You are wrong. It is fate who will create the future of Interacia."

"Yet, who was the one who did all the work to make everything as it is?" Cesar's usual smirk became ominously serious. What he was saying, he genuinely meant. "All my life…I've wanted nothing more than to see what Interacia can become, to see its potential blossom by the hands of science. And yet you, someone who has the potential to see into such a future, decided it would be within her realm of privileges to direct the ways of science that you know nothing about…brilliance isn't earned through shortcuts."

Lucia narrowed her eyes in growing impatience. "What do you know about me? You perceive so much, yet you preach only about yourself and your so-called 'genius'."

"Because unlike you, I have a right to. Because I'm capable of doing something that your powers cannot ascertain for you."

"And pray tell me, what would that be?"

Cesar paused. "Accomplishment. To perceive a goal and reach it with what you work towards. A few months ago, Interacia's realm was usurped by a crumbling wasteland in an underworld. The Empyrean, the prototype designs, the forging of the forbidden data." He listed. "Can you honestly say that today wouldn't exist without the grounds of science? If one wishes to move forward, they must lay down the foundations in which one can work with. My will is to make that very foundation that will transcend into the future! To have my life mean something more than just my own body as a vessel…"

Inside of a small lab with little lighting, Cesar was currently having a conversation with Riaan. The look on his face showed admitted shock. "P-Pardon me?!"

"My apologies for being so callous to you, Cesar. I understand if this is so sudden, but I ask you once more…please, reforge this data to the best of your abilities."

Cesar was left shocked. He was in a small prototype of his antigravity chair, so when he moved around in shock it almost capsized from his shock. In front of him was a large sum of helixes and forbidden data from his most recent venture towards Vestal. He came back, with something that was absolutely crucial it seemed, and most valuable.

"At the time, I didn't realize just how valuable that data was to be perceived. To someone like myself in a land such as this, it was a diamond in the ruff. A jewel that twinkled brightly even in the dark. Yet…"

Cesar looked down at the data with shock written all over his face. "This sure is…a lot of Bakugan data, Far more than what I have seen!" He turned towards Riaan. "Milord, you really want me to tamper with this?"

"I don't see why not. You are the only one that can, aren't you?" Riaan turned away. "Miss Vergo has some expertise in these things, but she doesn't have the meddling thumbs that you have, Cesar. If you can manipulate this data and make its output exceed to your specific qualifications, then the chances of Interacia's movement will increase drastically."

"Drastically, you say? With this sort of power?" He looked down with scrutiny. "I'm…not sure about that."

"Such power comes such responsibilities. That is what you are thinking, right?" Riaan paused, getting no verbal reply. "I won't force you to do such a thing, but I ask you, for the risks and sake of Interacia, and whatever lives can be salvaged, to consider the potential that you can make of it. If I recall, you were able to create your anti-gravity stool you are currently sitting in, yes?"

Cesar looked down at the stool he was on. "This? Why yes, but it's taken over three months to make the hardware…"

Riaan put a hand to his chin. "Then that's a start. A future cannot be created if it is not worked towards. And it takes time for the future to become the present. Tell me, what was it that you wanted more than anything?"

Cesar blinked. It seemed so obvious, yet at the same time, it felt impossible to preach so casually about. He closed his eyes, scoffing lightly. "I want to be recognized as the greatest mind Interacia will ever know, even into the future. To make Interacia into an image that many will remember me by."

"Then work towards that goal. If you have such a mind and resolve alone, then perhaps that very future you desire, may in fact come true. Cesar, we both want the same thing, to create a land in which we shall have our own names engraved into everyone for generations to come. So for our futures, will you do your best?"

Cesar looked down at the data he was looking at. For a moment he was hesitant. Though as much as he loved to tinkle with machinery and make new technology to distribute, he knew the risks of power. But what Riaan validated sparked a movement that he couldn't stop.

After a long time, Cesar faced Riaan again, this time smirking. "Your eminence…don't say such foolish things."

"Hm?"

"You shouldn't rely on me to make such a possibility come true. Rather, there's something else greater than that of myself. It's…my genius!"

"I'm such a hypocrite. I created a shortcut that was my undoing. My will…was to see and make the future with my own gift from the universe, my genius!" He glared at Lucia, showing genuine discouragement. "And yet the universe blessed you with seeing futures happen without having to take any action. If I didn't choose to make that forbidden data, perhaps things would have changed. Oh, what a pity~. To have one of my greatest achievements being squandered by somebody else's vision. Therefore…I shall take what is rightfully mine."

"And what might that be, Cesar?" Lucia questioned. "If you wanted the forbidden data, you can go to the Artificial Chamber if you wanted it. We have no further use for it. Besides, if you intended another vaccination, you'll run out of time."

"No…something far more valuable. The future. I shall rewrite the future that you see! And I will do it, with my own hands!"

"It's futile, Cesar."

"I know…which is why in order to ensure that the future in which I envision becomes true, I must erase you from it first!" His antigravity chair shot back a safe distance. "Shall we, oh great fortuneteller?"

Lucia fell silent, her gaze turning dull as she closed her eyes. She stood completely still, seemingly focusing all her mental abilities to what she had to say. The arch shadows gradually lifted, revealing light that permeated onto Cesar and Lucia once more.

"I…have no need to see your future, Cesar. For I can see it plain as day." Her blue eyes opened wide with a fury. "What you have done shall never be forgotten! You have disgraced the name of my beloved Lord Riaan; and that is beyond forgivable. For your actions for trying to go against fate itself, you shall be punished by the light that I see! Cesar Ventriliqua, I see it all too well…your life will end here!"

Cesar rose up to the challenge. "Do you truly believe that you can cut off my brilliance so easily with your words, Lucia dear? We shall see then!"

Lucia: 100% Cesar: 100%

A long breath took over as the atmosphere between the two Haos battlers was as bright as light itself. Blue and dark eyes met each other, reflecting the other's visual of the person.

'Lucia…you shall see for yourself…' Cesar's grip tightened. '…just how lethal the mind can really be, if used right.'

Lucia's gaze reflected the steadily Cesar. They closed as she pinpointed on her psychic abilities and calmed herself. She could see it, what was going to happen. When she opened her eyes once more, this time, they were wide open with her brow furrowed. She was ready.

"Gate Card, set!" Cesar's armchair shot a Gate Card from one of the compartments on the side. It shot a yellow shockwave through the ground upon landing. He inserted his Bakugan into a slot that projected outwards. "Bakugan, brawl!" His Bakugan flew out of a hole that opened in the armrest again. "Bakugan, stand! Rise, Haos Deep Freezer!"

In a yellow light, tendrils with metal chords attached ending in nozzles arose. A very large, ovular brain was shown as Deep Freezer's four eyes shined bright yellow. The automized squid exhausted a loud roar as he arose for battle.

Lucia showed a straight face to the evolved New Vestroia Bakugan standing before her. "I see you've evolved your Bakugan."

Cesar smirked. "I'll leave the details out of this. After all, we should be more focused on right now, right? Or rather…what we'll do in the future perhaps."

"Your patronizing just because of your superiority complex. That fault is what shall bring about your end." She held out a Bakugan as hell. It had a black head, with a four-sided magenta star on it with white and yellow all over the body. "Now, prepare to face judgment, by the most powerful Haos Bakugan ever created in the name of Milord!" She brought her arm across. "Bakugan, brawl!" She swiped across to send the Bakugan rolling to a stop. "Bakugan…stand!"

Upon coming to a halt, the ball form popped open, with a head sticking out, along with several small folds that looked like yellow wings. Arms were along the side as two folds below flipped to look like blades. The ball form's eye shined bright yellow before a magenta and yellow glow overshadowed the ground.

In front of Lucia, there was a shockwave of pure light that went around each corner of the Empyrean as a pillar of that same light roared skywards. The entire floor shook violently at the wake of this pillar, enough to make a magnitude that resembled that of an earthquake. Freezer hissed as he used his tentacles to cover up. Cesar's antigravity chair rebuffed several feet away while drastically tipping over.

As the others kept climbing, a sudden blinding beam of light exploded skywards. It produced shockwaves that buffered everyone, causing some of them to cover up and kneel to prevent from capsizing over the arches and towards death.

"Gnnngh…! What…what is that…?!" Luke gasped.

"This light…is this pure power?!" Shawn grunted. "I knew something was different about her! Just what did she do?!"

Standing in front of her pillar of light, Lucia's face was cascaded in a bright glow. She glared down Cesar through the other end as his seat automatically recalibrated and looked up. His eyes narrowed as he and Freezer watched.

"Rise…Haos Celestia!"

The pillar of light faded, receding into a light bolt that solidified into a humanoid creature that somersaulted in fetal position before rotating to a stop. Her body unfolded to reveal her black helmet with a long, pointed piece going backwards with a yellow line running along the sides. The helmet went over the eyes, instead making a four-sided magenta star with a yellow circular center appear. A white mask profile was on the front. The sides of the helmet had silver blades that looked familiar like wings. A very long magenta scarf wrapped around the neck and raped in coils around the arms, almost like streamers. Her chest was covered by silver armor with white wing breastplates. Over that was a very large, yellow, four-sided star piece as an extra guard. She had a slim waistline with black clothing with magenta lacing attached to the core below the star. A pure white, frilly dress skirt hung down with woven accent in them, with three magenta streamers attached to their ends. The arms and legs had cream skin with white markings painted with yellow bordering going up to the knees and elbows. On the elbows downwards were long white gloves that lead up to the silver fingers. On the back of the hands was black guards with the same magenta star pattern on them. Yellow bordered the guard rom the knuckles. The knees downwards were two large yellow gyro spheres with very long, silver blades that had pointed tips. Two yellow protrusions on the back connected the ridges back armor, which kept in line eight, shining, detachable wings made of raw yellow light. Each light wing was shaped like a blade that curved upwards.

Being able to see the Bakugan, Cesar looked on with slight surprise. "I see…so this is the Bakugan that you've created."

Celestia let out an unintelligible grunt was her wings flashed brightly. She swung her legs about, showing off her blades when she went into full circle. She gracefully descended in front of Lucia, who stood silently before her new Bakugan's showcase.

Celestia: 1000 Deep Freezer: 700

"I hope you realize that you should feel honored to stand before the divinity of Milord. Not just any person is respective enough to earn such a judgement…however, in your case, I am willing to make such an exception to that philosophy."

"Humbling today, aren't we?" Cesar chimed. "Now you've piqued my interests, Lucia. Exactly, just what is it that you are capable of now…I'm dying to know."

Freezer let out a loud hiss as he whipped his tentacles around and aimed for Celestia. The sentient floated in midair like a statue defying gravity. Lucia's gaze mimicked this stoic composure.

'With a power level that high, she'll be expecting me to make the first move. It's common basics. And with her deluded visions, she can see what I will do…so let's see just how fairly she keeps up.' Cesar held up an ability. "Let's do this, shall we? Ability activate, Spear Light!"

Freezer slunk his tentacles forward and took careful aim. Once all of his tentacle nozzles had a lock-on, each one fired thin beams of light that darted for the stationary target.

Celestia: 1000 (-300) = 700 Deep Freezer: 700 (+300) = 1000

The piercing beams of light all drew in and concentrated around Celestia's front. The Bakugan's only movement was reaching her hand out with the fingers spread. With just the hand alone, it blocked the incoming beam and made it spread into a dozen smaller rays that arched around, hitting random parts of the domain. They whistled as they seared into the neat tiling and porcelain passed Lucia as she remained unmoved from her spot.

"Such a defense." Cesar mumbled.

Lucia closed her eyes as another bright beam head her way. She remained absolutely calm and raised her Bakumeter. "Ability, activate…" She mumbled, before her eyes flashed open. "Bright Null Burning!"

Celestia continued reaching out at the light spears when her eight shining wings expelled a searing, bright light that blinded everything within the vicinity – far brighter than what Lumitroid's gaze offered. Freezer's attack faded away; even the stray light beam about to struck Lucia vaporized in the light.

Celestia: 700 (+300) = 1000 Deep Freezer: 1000 (-300) = 700

The eviscerating light gradually deteriorated, showing Celestia unfazed by the enemy attack. She levitated with a sense of dominance over Freezer and head held high like a regal superior would.

"It nullified the ability, hm?" Cesar observed, prodding his glasses with his fingers.

'Once we attack, he will use a counter, which will fail, and he will resort to defense.' Lucia recited what she saw in the beginning and reached out, her plan in action. "Ability, activate! Bright Cometh!"

Celestia suddenly looked up towards the sun-lit ceiling and shot up there, her body beaming at lightspeed. It was like instant teleportation to Cesar's eyes. The radiant Bakugan appeared at a higher altitude, gazing down Freezer before spreading her arms out. With a whimsical battle cry, the eight bladed wings detached and went flying in light rays down onto her opponent.

Celestia: 1000 (+600) = 1600 Deep Freezer: 700

The rays of light swords beamed in, but Cesar was having none of it. "Ability, activate! Octo-zooka!"

Deep Freezer howled as his tentacles kept locked onto Celestia. This time, he charged up even stronger beams of energy within the nozzles and fired skywards. Roaring, bright beams of energy went blazing up towards the oncoming attack to intercept it.

Celestia: 1600 (-400) = 1200 Deep Freezer: 700 (+400) = 1100

Eight rays of light beamed into the similar number of rays coming from below. The two attacks collided in the center, making a blinding eruption of raw light. Said light imploded, causing the chamber floor to erupt in a magnitude.

"…heh?"

Cesar blinked. In the bright explosion in the sky he still saw several blades of light that blitzed down onto him. Their speed was so fast that he barely caught them before the ground around him exploded into a vicious yellow dome that collapsed upon itself. White rock and dust sped passed Lucia as she watched her opponent get demolished by the lightspeed assault.

As the eruption went on, Celestia gingerly descended back down above Lucia. The fortuneteller glared ahead at the dust cloud without an ounce of remorse. "I expected much more of you. Supposed this is the best that your so-called 'genius' extends to?"

In the dust, there was a silence that followed. And yet, miraculously enough, a pair of glasses refracted light. "…like I said before, you know nothing about how a 'genius' works, do you?"

The dust dissipated, revealing Cesar untouched by Celestia's assault. Mounting over his antigravity chair, Deep Freezer used his entire body as a shield while covered in cast-iron chrome. Lucia was unimpressed by the defensive tactic. She could see the ability active on Cesar's Bakumeter as bright as day.

"Typical of you to be so reliant on such tactics." She pointed out casually. "You minimized the impact of the superior ability using a hardened structure right over you."

"Was it that obvious? Using Chrome Stasis this way benefits myself and Freezer. I work towards benefitting the lives of all of Interacia. The way I see it, it's a win-win for everyone. And if I'm not mistaken, your only goal is the benefit of just one other person, right?"

Lucia's glare hardened. "Don't you dare talk so frivolously of his greatness!" Celestia responded to her feelings, flying in at lightspeed and sweeping a blade across Freezer's icy chrome body.

The damage that the attack did almost instantly healed as a mist expelled and covered the injury in ice. The regeneration process was almost immediate, something that Lucia didn't seem to appreciate very fondly.

Cesar lowered his head, a wily smirk shown. "And yet, what I say isn't wrong."

Celestia swept across Freezer again, and again, slashing kicks constantly dancing at a furious pace into Freezer as his body held firmly within the chrome exterior. "I admit, as self-absorbed as I am, my actions have been for another as well. But the impacts that they have made…" He thought briefly about the support pillars that supported many of the overworld in the past. Thoughts jumped then towards his inventions, and the purified water. All the inventions he's made since he was just a tinkering young boy all came back to him. "The people that they've affected…the lives that changed because of my actions…they are anything but selfish!"

"Krrrrr!" Celestia brought her right leg own in a chop kick, the blade slashing so harshly that Freezer's healing inside was sustaining damage. But even so, he hung in there.

"In order for one to feel proud of themselves, they must accomplish what others could not. So tell me, after everything that I have said, why do you hold yourself so high when I was the one who created the ladder in the first place? This is not about a battle of positions, Lucia, is this…" Celestia raised her leg for another kicking slash. "…A BATTLE OF RECTIFICATION!"

"Your words and actions mean nothing! I see everything!" Lucia challenged. "And that is something even your talents can never hope to change!"

Celestia brought her leg down, the blade cutting through once more. This time, the chrome shield around Freezer's body finally broke apart, showing his exposed frame. The star on Celestia's helmet glimmered with the sunlight before she jettisoned upwards again. She vanished before she beamed down again at lightspeed blade-first for Freezer's brain.

Cesar's glare hardened. "Hmph…now that's predictable. Ability activate, Ink Duct!"

Freezer's nozzles on his tentacles fired at Celestia. Just when the lightspeed humanoid was about to strike the brain, the helmet was smothered with a harsh spray of ink. The Bakugan grimaced as her trajectory was a little off and impaled the ground in front of Freezer and Cesar - both legs in fact.

Celestia: 1200 (-300) = 900 Deep Freezer: 1100

Lucia glared at Cesar with anger.

"If you know about kinetic energy, it's that it builds up a lot of momentum for the object that will be pulled by gravity. When an object falls from such a height at such a speed, that force can be used against them to keep them from reaction. It thrown off just a bit…it can be most deadly indeed."

With Celestia's legs immobilized, Freezer was able to use this time to squirm his way away, with Cesar floating as well. This gave them the room they needed to lock onto their target.

As if unfazed by the circumstances, Lucia closed her eyes. In her mind, she was seeing another explosion of energy, followed by legs sweeping and then bright swords aimed to strike. She started her attack. "Ability, activate! Grand Chariot!"

Standing still, the light entity spread her arms out and gracefully pointed them up, with one hand over the other. She spread them apart as an arch of lights glimmered from high above. She directed them at Freezer as light rays rained down from the heavens, aiming for one target.

Celestia: 900 (+500) = 1400 Deep Freezer: 1100 (-500) = 600

The seven roaring lights streamed down as Cesar held up two abilities. "Then shall we apply to that as well? Double ability, activate! Spear Light, plus Fusion Ability, Absolute Zero Reactor!" Freezer aimed all his nozzles at the oncoming attack and fired more thin light beams. However, with an added twist this time, an icy mist eroded around Freezer's mask filter as a sign of cold temperatures brewing. His light beams had icy coatings that shimmered as it made contact with the downwards light rays.

Celestia: 1400 (-300) = 1100 Deep Freezer: 600 (+300 +500) = 1400

The very instance of impact resulted in a million flashes in a few seconds. Blinding rays with icy frost expelled over Cesar and Lucia's heads as their attacks were met with one another's prompt counter. Once again, the atmosphere shook violently around them as nearby walls caved in from the force of their attacks.

Lucia remained unfazed, but Cesar was far from satisfied. "Trust me, this is far from what we can do!"

Freezer's lower tentacles aimed for Celestia dead ahead. Even as his other tendrils fired icy light, he held back two spares and aimed low and sharply for Celestia.

Lucia saw the attack as clear as day, and it was drawing in fast on the incapacitated Bakugan. Very calmly, she held up her ability. "Ability activate, Berseria!"

Celestia glared ahead at the oncoming cold light. When it seemingly reached her, the light almost instantly froze, creating sharp spikes of pillars that reminisced that of a crystal's texture. In split seconds, yellow slash marks sheered in numerous areas of the ice light stack. The entire structure sudden shined bright yellow before every inch of it was diced up into even pieces. Time gradually slowed down as all the chunks seemed suspended around Celestia's postured frame, which was bent lower with her leg blades glowing bright yellow.

'Such speed…!' Cesar thought.

Celestia's movements were caught in suspense before her legs spun and slashed at lightspeed. Crescents of bright energy reduced the ice in front to dust as the blades carved their way towards Cesar and Freezer. They slashed into the ground around them, causing an eruption that Freezer screeched at in agony.

Celestia: 1100 Deep Freezer: 1400 (-500) = 900

Cesar gnashed his teeth as the wake of the light nearly made him fall out of his seat. He floated a safe distance away as rock and porcelain from below surfaced. It buffered the underside of his seat to where the antigravity flickered, making him almost touch the ground.

The icy frost from below flaked above them, scattering around Celestia to give her a more angelic hue as she stood like a statue before everyone.

"My patience has become most intolerable for someone like you, Cesar Ventriliqua." Lucia scoffed. "As proficient as you are in the technological realm, your ideology lacks an icon. For one such as myself, that is the reason for where I draw my own strength, not from such selfish desires that you so baselessly accused me of."

"Baseless? Baseless?" he parroted. "My word, seems like someone's in denial. I'm fairly certain that I laid out all the evidence earlier. Perhaps I was unclear with you. I'll say it again. You have done nothing that my calculations could not keep up with. If you so easily predicted my movements as before…" He thought back to when he called for Ink Duct. "Then you should be untouchable, yes? If you saw such a future, you must make it your own. Why let some fate direct you like a mindless puppet? It's just simply your life in the hands of someone else."

What Cesar said struck a nasty chord in Lucia, but she tried to keep her composure. "You think that you know everything, do you? Milord's reality is set in motion, so is hall do yours a favor in his stead. You are never omniscient. You say you know a lot, but you don't know a thing about me personally enough to give yourself the satisfaction of judgment."

"Perhaps not, but at least I don't follow another's logic without them taking actions to prove it. That's what Maximus has shown me at least."

Lucia glanced skywards. She knew that high above, Rogue Zero and Cesar's leader. "I see…then perhaps we should fix that, shall we? Celestia!"

The Bakugan stood tall and raised her chin to gaze up. Lucia raised her arm high to direct her Bakugan and shot up in a blast of light.

Cesar raised a brow. "Oh~? What is this supposed to be? Another prediction perhaps?" He looked up to where the light was heading towards, only for that usually callous smirk he'd give off to fade at what Lucia might be aiming for. "Oh dear, this isn't good…"


Maximus leaped to the next stair, not bothering to pause when the others were trying to keep up. "C'mon, friends. You wanna save your worlds, don't you?" His tone was sickening and contaminated, especially with the venomous sarcasm in "friends". They couldn't tell if he was trying to be for real or if he's messing with them.

"He's definitely…wonky, isn't he?" Maggie tried to point out.

"It's…not fully disagreeable." Esther paused to take in the sentiment. "But, it's still assuring to see that we're all on the same page for once."

"Yeah, I get what you're saying…" Shuji caught a glimpse of something from below. It was streaming up fast in their direction. "Guys, below us!"

"What?!" Shawn gasped.

In a bolting stream of light, everyone found themselves caught off guard when a yellow light caught up to their heights, revealing Celestia with her knees bent and arms crossed.

"Where'd that come from all of a sudden?!" Shuji quipped.

"None will ever escape the light that is fate." Lucia scoffed. "Ability, activate! Bright Cometh!"

High above, Celestia's wings glowed a brighter shade as she concentrated her attack onto everyone; her power jettisoned towards 1700. It charged so fast that even Jase was caught surprised.

'No, it's too quick-!'

Cesar's glasses cascaded light as he reached out towards the field. "Gate Card, open! Land Pressure!"

The Gate Card shined far below, creating a reaction that Celestia couldn't escape from. Just as her wings were about to fire onto them all before their blades could be drawn, gravity magnified to a vicious extent. Celestia's momentum was dragged back down towards Lucia.

'He used a Command Card to thwart my maneuverability?' Lucia paused, gasping upon realizing where Celestia was falling. The Haos Bakugan fell onto her side, sundering so hard that the ground flashed multiple times from falling on her own light swords. The explosion of dust exploded with showering rays of her light swords spreading everywhere spontaneously, like a fountain of light that nearly pushed Lucia over.

The light swords all scattered and whistled across the ground and walls, nowhere near where the others were. The highest ray of light sword made it only a hundred feet behind them, creating an explosion that destroyed the staircase in that small area.

As the rumbling diminished, they all looked back to find the dust settling, the stairwell completely parted by a large gap. "That was a close one." Shawn said. "Thought my life flashed before my eyes there."

"Hmph, that Cesar. Could he have given us a little warning?" Ariella scoffed. "Whatever, he's doing his part. Come on, we're wasting precious time!"

Killian nodded firmly. "Yeah, you're right." He started after him. "I forgot how much the Doc likes to be flashy with his experiments."

"How ironic that it fits him rather well, wouldn't you say?" Xander chimed.

Maximus kept walking, leading Luke's confused pack as well as his own. His gaze was never taken off the front again, despite it being covered by a hood. 'Cesar, make sure you do your part. You wanted to be acknowledged for your genius, right? Then you better make it count on your life just like you said…or else.'


Cesar's smirk was cynical as he hovered behind Freezer, who had his nozzles aimed dead ahead. Lucia on the other hand looked generously displeased.

With gravity suppressing Celestia, she was vulnerable as she tried resisting. "Ability, activate! Ink Duct!" Celestia was blindsided by a spray of pressurized ink, clotting her face and attire to where she dropped to her hands again as her power dropped towards 1200.

"For someone who's so prideful, your actions are rather crude, aren't they?" Lucia rebuffed.

"If one must achieve, they must be willing to take the risks to the next level. If you can't comprehend such an ordeal, then I'm afraid this is as far we you go. Freezer!"

"Yes, Master." Freezer's body began congregating cold temperatures around his entire body. The air crystalized to an amped degree that ice started forming beneath him. The Bakugan snarled as what sounded like a generator was turning about in his body, despite it being all organic.

Cesar's eyes widened as he directed his arm outwards. "Ability, activate…Atomic Freeze~!" Freezer screeched out with his partner as an explosion of ice and frost expelled from him. Ice spikes and a wall-like blizzard expanded outwards at overwhelming speeds. It closed in onto Celestia, who was unable to escape due to being suppressed by the Gate Card.

Lucia watched on as the absolute zero blizzard drew closer, everything within her vision turning into ice. Yet, everything around her was turning white at the same time. Ice spikes rapidly engulfed whatever realistic vision she had before everything went blank for a moment.

"Lucia…you have so much potential." A silhouette endowed in light reached its hand out towards her aching self. She looked so broken, and yet this familiar frame was actually believing in her. "You might think it's a curse that you were born with, and if I were in your shoes, I would most certainly understand the hardships. But I believe your curse…can perhaps become Interacia's most important key to survival. So…"

The light shined brightly on both, so brightly that everything went white again. "Will you help me and everyone see the light we so need?"

CRASH!

Ice crackled as it engulfed everything in its wake. At lightning speed, Lucia held her forearms and activated an ability without verbal usage. The ice blast engulfed and layered mountains of frost and sheets of ice all across the floor…only for beams of light to rotate around an epicenter and explode, causing sheets of ice to repulse back towards Freezer and Cesar,

"Gnnngh…!" Cesar grunted as he used his forearms to block off any of the small shrapnel.

As ice deteriorated, a bright comet of light shot skywards to an altitude out of Freezer's range. Celestia was embedded in the thick layer of Haos energy that she almost looked like a star beaming brightly down upon all. The Bakugan twirled around and expelled an even brighter glow, dispelling the ice with the heat of the light that caused even Freezer to cover up.

"She…nullified my ability?" Cesar grunted.

Beyond the light, there was Lucia as she held an ability up. "Ability…Flash Paradigm. With this, your ability is nullified, and you will not be able to use it again for the duration of the round."

"I see, so you've perceived my most prominent battle gun, eh?"

Lucia's face was as cold as ice, but her eyes had a fiery passion within them. "I am the light…that will see Milord's future of Interacia! Ability activate, Orbital Cannon"

As the light shined from her body, Celestia's eight wings angled themselves so that they all pointed towards Freezer. The eight points concentrated light onto a single point, becoming a bright white orb that condensed to the smallest degree. She spread her arms out, expelling a roaring yellow and white beam that steeped downwards towards its target.

Celestia: 1200 (+500) = 1700 Deep Freezer: 900 (-500) = 400

Cesar immediately countered with another ability. "My own patience is wearing thin as well, Lucia! Time for our trump card! Ability, activate…" He reached his gauntlet out as he spread all five fingers. "Nuclear-X!"

A purple core appeared on Freezer and instantly draped and constricted him in hashed chords. His body gave off a magenta shade as the white and yellow cannonade beamed right into him. Everything went silent for a moment, then the beam of light suddenly projected random beams around Freezer as his body was surrounded in a spiraling dome of magenta atomic energy that had frozen crystals inside. The airspace violently rumbled as the ground's debris churned within Freezer's perimeter.

Freezer hissed as his eyes had a bright magenta shade upon them. He raised his head upwards, shrieking loud enough that even more airspace rumbled, reducing debris to atoms.

Celestia: 1700 Deep Freezer: 400 (x5) = 2000

In a safe distance, Lucia's hair shifted as the Orbital Cannon's trajectory was being distorted and destroyed by Freezer's atomizing hemisphere. She retained calm as she recognized this energy. "I see, so this is your forbidden energy's power."

"Dazzling isn't it? Breathtaking perhaps?" Cesar sniped. "Well…what I can do will be such a thing!"

The nuclear energy ate away at the Orbital Cannon and expanded outwards, deteriorating the ground as it made way towards Lucia and Celestia. Instead of ice engulfing everything this time, it was a magenta atomic wave that leveled everything in its path.

"Ability, activate!" Lucia countered. "Bright Cometh!" Celestia let out a loud cry as her light wings shined brighter than before. Once again, they shot as piercing projectiles at Freezer's atomic wave.

Celestia: 1700 (+600) = 2300 Deep Freezer: 2000

The light beams jettisoned downwards into Freezer's atomic wave. The piercing lights gained enough momentum to completely block Freezer's attack from advancing, and at the same time drilling into it relentlessly. It gradually ate its way towards Freezer and Cesar, turning their atomic magenta color to a bright shining star that they were unable to escape.

"You will never…" Lucia narrowed her eyes. "Escape fate's light!"

The light swords beelined their way through the energy, finally reaching Freezer. Various flashed of light punctured the area around him before exploding into spontaneous pillars of light. The chamber roared as Lucia watched the carnage of her attack like she's seen it on replay over and over again.

Freezer screamed mightily as he reverted to ball form through the eruption. The blast wave was so powerful that Cesar screamed as his antigravity throne lost momentum and slammed into the ground, crushing him beneath its bulk.

Cesar: 40%

The blast waves gradually reduced, with Lucia watching as the floor's magenta network channeled the energy of their battle up along the Empyrean and fading into the ceiling. Celestia hovered over her partner as more light wings formed.

The dust dissipated, revealing Cesar's throne along its side, with him barely hanging on. The side of his head had sustained a blood wound that ran down his cheek, with his glasses getting a few cracks in them.

"As I have said before…" Lucia paused as Celestia reverted to ball form, returning to her hand. "The fate that I follow…is what will lead to the future. A bright suture, that Milord will shape for all. Not your trinkets that you value so highly than Interacian life!"

Cesar's fists clutched as he attempted to stand, but he found that difficult to do. That attack made his head spin so much that he was borderline dizzy. He used his gauntlet and tapped a few controls to reboot the antigravity function on his throne. It slowly levered itself up.

"Your passion for material possessions is sickening. It always has been. Even after we were first introduced to each other by Milord, I could never truly understand what it means to hold onto something when it will just disappear right before your eyes. Our world…has been nothing more than a crumbling mess. A place where even I felt like I didn't belong. But Milord showed me…that this world's future isn't for naught. He was the first ever to believe in me and my psychic powers when everyone else turned away and died. That man…" Her fists balled tighter as her frustrations grew. "I will not let you disgrace him anymore with your material!" She threw her Gate Card out, making a bright yellow shockwave. "Bakugan, brawl! Haos Celestia, stand!"

In a bright beam of light, Celestia shot skywards, somersaulting until her momentum slowed down enough to make her twirl around and pose with a divine radiance around her. She stood at 1000.

Cesar bit his lower lip as his weary eyebrow twitched. He inserted Freezer into the slot and shot him out. "Bakugan…brawl! Haos Deep Freezer, stand!"

Appearing out in front of Cesar, Deep Freezer let out a loud roar as he stood at 700.

"Cesar…I can see it. You will lose not just this battle, but also your life…all for nothing. If you have any final words before it is enacted, speak now…or we end this."

"…" Cesar was quiet. Too quiet. Instead of speaking aloud, he was brought back to his thoughts. 'To think…that this woman, even now…is holding my genius back. What a nuisance she has become! I-I…' In his mental irate, his head tilted downwards as he suffered very long pause. It felt like the real world had faded away for a moment as he started to recount his whole life.

Remembering his youth, Cesar could recount when he was just barely 3. AT that time, fiddling with broken sticks and wires, he was able to construct a playpen for himself. Even after that, he could evolve that into cages, and then ladders. Starting so small, and ever-growing he became since then. Being able to create a filtering center for clean water in Troposphere, the home of his lab that he shared with Rogue Zero. The foundations in which his achievements would have been realized soon enough by Troposphere and the entire world.

"Thank you, Mr. Ventriliqua! Your invention saved my daughter from drowning!"

"I can drink clean water now! We're gonna be much healthier from now on I can feel it!"

"This material is better for flooring you said? I'll have to take your word for it, Doctor!"

The constant praises people sand to him over his younger year up to his teens still were fresh, echoing like a symphony through a concert hall. The people of Interacia had such a populace already, and yet it would always suffer because of how many people dying from Devil Miasma, natural earthquakes, drowning, everything. And no one was there to help them. It made Cesar sick to no end that their lives would be forfeited without a fighting chance.

'You think I'm selfish, Lucia…you have no idea who you're messing with. I'm a man, who has given up everything as well…for…what I love, too…'


The lab doors opened and shut as Killian walked into the small lab. He immediately noticed how low the lighting was as he looked over at Cesar. "There you are, Cesar." He walked over, putting the glass of fresh water on his desk. "Here, figured you'd need this. You've been in the lab all day."

"I do thank you, Killian. Just set it right there and I'll get to it in a minute." He was so focused on the holographic modulators that were on Troposphere and Thermosphere, the latter having an expansive, huge wall around to keep the Devil Miasma out. "Hmm…it appears that the ventilation is weak. I'll have to regulate the core's power there until the system is a go."

Killian turned towards the screen. "Is this the big project that we're going to go with?"

Cesar smirked. "Right you are, my friend. Once I finish up a few specifications on the cores, we'll be ready for our launch to New vestroia in about four days' time. I know it's a lot, but could you please hold your excitement until then?"

"I'll try not to explode on the spot." Killian dryly chimed. "But it looks like the team has been informed about the situation."

"I'm sure you all are. Hmph!" Cesar tapped on a panel, expanding it to reveal a crumbling area on the other side of Interacia. He and Killian went silent as they watched the support pillars he made help minimize the level of crust that plummeted into the ground below. "Hmph, just as I calculated."

"I'm still amazed that you could do all that, Cesar."

"Yes, as am I, young Killian. It is a burden for this body to bare, but at the same time…!" He raised his hands high in praise for himself. "There is no one more qualified for the likes of my genius!"

Killian nervously looked on. "Yeah, sure…I should go. Galilea's expecting me back soon. She's been in a mood with the workload and all, so I gotta pitch in."

"You're quite the worker bee, aren't you, Killian." Cesar prompted. "I respect that."

"Yeah, same here." Killian turned away, but before he fully left, he stopped and looked back. "Hey, Doc, I have a question."

The doctor eyerolled. "One question, and that's it."

"Why did you become a scientist? We know that you're incredibly talented with machines and building, but a lot of people would have just used that talent to rebuild their broken homes. Why are you doing all of this again?"

"That's two questions, Killian…" Cesar trailed off, a dead serious frown plastered onto his face. "Tell me, what do you see?"

Killian looked up towards the projections, seeing Thermosphere and Troposphere. He was about to answer when Cesar cut him off. "I see a future, a future for not just the people of this planet, but for the entire world. Killian, we come from a broken home -literally. When we construct villages and small towns, they are always destroyed. How do you expect to create a future of the present ends up becoming an end? When I was still learning to walk, I didn't see building blocks nor shapes like most inferiors would. Instead…I saw chance. A chance to make something new that I can grow on. Before Thermosphere's giant walls were built, you know what it had before? Wood and stone, not metal and ventilation systems. When one acts, a chain reaction occurs that impacts countless others. When I realized that what I could do to change my ways of living, I realized that…perhaps if I tried a little more, I could do the same for everyone else." He paused as he looked on. "If I could create my own future, I can do the same for another, and then another, and then another! The more I invent, the greater chances there are for Interacians to live on through my aid. And in turn, I will be the one to help live their lives." He frowned heavily. "As deploring as it is to admit, all lives are finite…even my own. Someday, I won't be able to tap another button…but even so, if my works can go through and create a future that even more can live in, then that means even I won't be truly gone. What I can create…can help me achieve that dream. If I have to give up this body in order for my ideals alone to transcend into even a single code, I will make that sacrifice. My friend…to have a will means to know your worth, and what your potential is as your own. My will, is to see to the boundless possibilities that I can create before I die. Serving the very core's proxy is just one part of my will. I can keep going…beyond the very reaches of Interacia if needed to make this broken present we have, into a boundless future."

Killian stared at Cesar as he processed everything that he's heard. "My own will, huh…?"

A short silence fell between the two.

"There, that answers your question, does it not? Now, leave my genius to its own. I'll inform you when the transport will be ready."

"Got it." Killian started off again. "Oh, and Cesar…thanks for everything you do. This is just me talking, but I think you don't give yourself enough credit. Your genius is you, right?" With that, he walked out of the lab doors to leave the scientist to his works.

He snorted as he tossed a lock away. "Hmph, that Killian. As much work ethnic as he puts in, he's truly needy, isn't he?" He turned towards the screen. "He doesn't get it. Not that anyone does. I do give myself credit…after all, who better to understand a genius, than another genius? But alas…Interacia only has room for one genius."


Cesar was still quiet, unable to speak properly. "Only…room for one…" he mumbled, sitting upright. "Only one…will…"

"Cesar Ventriliqua!" From the other side, Lucia's shout was borderline demanding. "My patience is coming to an end! Speak now before fate ends you himself!"

A small chuckle came from Cesar, which turned into a growing laughter. Eventually, it erupted into a loud uproarious cackle that made him almost demented. "GAAAAHAHAHAHAHAAAAH~!"

Lucia's eyes slightly widened.

"Dear Lucia, you truly are a simpleton, just like everyone else is!" Lucia gasped at Cesar's bold words. "Your fate is your and yours alone. If I am destined to create and invent to my heart's content, I will do so under my jurisdiction! It is not fate manipulating my actions, it is my will to be as boundless as predetermined future!" He spread his arms out as he glared ahead. "I am Cesar Ventriliqua, ventriloquist of a thousand machinery across Interacia! And I will live up to that name, and use them all to create a future! Freezer!"

"Yes, Master!" The squid Bakugan hissed as he jumped back.

Lucia narrowed her vision. "What are you…?"

"I'll show you the labors of a genius at it's finest! This time…I, too, shall fight in earnest as well! For my genius – no…for the entirety of Interacia. Commence docking!"

Freezer's eyes shined brightly as he let out a loud battle cry. Cesar's large antigravity throne docked directly on Freezer's head, and immediately a chain reaction occurred. The curved backside of the throne made a golden, cylindrical top and a glass dome in front of Cesar. Golden plating with refined, heavily armored arms with snapper claws expelling from the throne. Freezer's tendrils worked their way into them and had the nozzles screw into the middle of the four-claw grappling ends. The armor made a glass dome appear over Freezer's huge brain.

One claw stamped the ground, then another, and then another, until all but two legs were supporting Deep Freezer's mechanized armor had a deep golden tint to it. Dense, jagged four claws were on the ends of each tendril. Cesar sat atop within his bulletproof window with a prideful smile.

"Mechanoid Deep Freezer assimilation…complete!" He boasted. "Now…show me the power you have! Come!"

Freezer let out a loud roar, holding up two huge arms like lubricated cannons. His nozzles stuck out as the black claws on either end spun around them.

Celestia: 1000 Mechanoid Deep Freezer: 3500

'He…he created a mechanical armor or his Bakugan?' Lucia gasped. 'Not only that, but his power level has drastically climbed. What has Cesar and Rogue Zero done to do this to their Bakugan?!'

Celestia remained stationary as she eyed down her adversary. The claws spun as the nozzles zeroed in on the target who looked so superior above.

"Let's begin! Ability, activate! Ink Duct!"

Freezer's eyes shined brightly as the claws spun around the nozzles. When ink came out, it wasn't in liquefied sprays, but extremely pressurized blasts of dark ink that looked like piercing jets that Celestia covered from, but was easily blown back by the force.

"What?!" Lucia gasped, before covering up as sprays of the ink came down around her. Some of them stained her precious dress.

Celestia: 1000 (-900) = 100 Mechanoid Deep Freezer: 3500

Celestia used her forearms to shield from the ink jets, but the pressure was so condensed that it hurt the forearms just to hold them up. Freezer didn't give an inch as his jets kept the opponent at bay.

Cesar smirked maliciously as he watched the Ink Duct's force amplify. 'Finally, after careful calibrations, I've created a weaponized battle armor that goes beyond Battlegear and Mobile Assault Vehicle potential. I got the schematics from what I believe was the Vestal's 'Assail System'. Granted it's not as powerful as the original, but it more than makes up for it by increasing ability effects threefold! And it's designed so that I can use my abilities freely regardless of Gate Cards and other abilities preventing me so. Let's see what predictions trump the power of science, Lucia!'

Lucia covered as ink continued spraying her Bakugan, who was losing momentum in the air fast. She grunted. "Ability, activate! Bright Null Burning!"

As the ink sprayed, Celestia expelled a bright flare from her body, eviscerating the ink to vapor in an instant. Her power returned to 1000 and she retained her stance high in the air.

Freezer hissed as he fired the tendrils at him, which lengthened to immeasurable means to grab Celestia. Blitzing at the speed of light, she zigzagged across the skies to evade. The tendrils swayed and snatched, but with lightspeed she was getting around amicably.

Cesar prodded his glasses. "I see you travel at the speed of light…no matter!"

Two compartments opened besides Freezer's armor, revealing two dense helicopter fans that aided in him getting off the ground. He ascended until he reached grand elevations that dwarfed Lucia. Celestia continued to zipline around and passed Freezer's mechanical armor. She reappeared in front of him with her posture fixed.

Wiping the ink off her face with a sleeve, Lucia looked skywards. "Ability, activate! Bright Cometh!"

Celestia scrunched up and flexed, projecting her wings as bright energy spears that jettisoned after Freezer. As her power level increased to 1600, the golden energy made impact, but had no effect on his armor.

"I'll show you real power! Ability activate, Spear Light!" Freezer aimed his armored nozzles and concentrated light into the ends. Once they were all charged up, half a dozen dense light rays with sheer volume roared after Celestia. The light swords were broken clean through as they closed in on her.

Celestia: 1600 (-900) = 700 Mechanoid Deep Freezer: 3500 (+900) = 4400

Time slowed down as the rays closed in on Celestia, but at lightspeed yet again, she blitzed across the chamber, missing a light beam that pierced clean through the Empyrean wall. Before the wall could recover, a diagonal graze went across the hit Celestia, but she zipped up, followed by another beam, and then another. Each spear of piercing light gradually molded through the Empyrean faster than it could recover.

"You…CANNOT ESCAPE OUR WRATH SO EASILY!"

Freezer flexed all his tendrils at the same time, firing off a dazzling display of bright beams that whiplashed everywhere. With mechanized power added, the floor, walls, and even the air itself was sliced up within seconds. Debris and flooring were in suspense in the starry eye of Celestia as she moved at lightspeed across the Empyrean's walls as a piercing beam followed her.

Lucia was watching over as chaos and immediate repairs were being made, but her mind was set solemnly on Cesar. A couple light beams were shot down onto her in Freezer's wake. With the destructive attack coming her way, she would have no way to dodge. That's when Celestia flew from out of nowhere to shield her partner and take the full brunt of the light beams. They fanned out in dozens of smaller ones that rattled the ground around Lucia as she covered beneath her Bakugan.

The mechanized tendrils reached down through the piercing light rays, grabbing hold of Celestia when she was still defending and lifted her high. The nozzle unleashed a point-blank blast that jettisoned into the walls high up, but still didn't let go of Celestia. Cesar's maniacal smile widened as the Bakugan was unable to escape the full grasp of their might.

The beaming light continued roaring a clean hole through the Empyrean and eventually receded. The claws opened and tossed Celestia's limp body skywards, only for another tendrils to come down, snag her, and send her face-first into the ground. She was dragged along the earth passed Lucia, who fell over in cover as her Bakugan carried by. Celestia smashed through the Empyrean wall, shoved outside its boundaries, but was still unable to break free as the mechanical arm was dragged about by Freezer. He roared loudly as his full might had the chords smash through the entire floor's perimeter, slicing clean through the chamber walls. Even so, it still didn't fall nor budge due to the Empyrean hyper-regeneration. It followed through, slinging back inside and overhead, sending Celestia into the ground once more with a bouncing thud.

'Such power! Even with Celestia's speed, she wouldn't be able to take that head-on!' Lucia realized.

Cesar looked on with a smirk. The dust cleared away, revealing Celestia attempted to stand. However, her body had suffered a contingency of cracks and scrapes. She looked heavily worn out.

Lucia grunted angrily. "Ability, activate! Orbital Cannon!" Celestia's wings pointed at Freezer and concentrated raw light energy into a single point. A striking blast of raw energy erupted into a bright laserbeam that closed in on Freezer and Cesar.

Celestia: 700 (+500) = 1200 Mechanoid Deep Freezer: 4400 (-500) = 3900

The beam closed in, but Cesar didn't seem moved. "Pathetic!"

Freezer opened all his mechanical huge claws and put them all below him, making a huge shield to take the light cannon. The beam made impact, but the armor didn't break. The attack dissipated quickly to reveal not even a scratch was inflicted upon him.

Lucia narrowed her eyes; she mustn't relinquish so easily. "Ability, activate! Grand Chariot" Celestia moved her arms towards the sides and positioned them so they were over the other atop her head. Once it was all gathered, she spread them apart and jabbed her fingers at Freezer. Seven twinkling stars above glistened before they beamed down upon him, creating an explosion on the outside of the armor.

Celestia: 1200 (+500) = 1700 Mechanoid Deep Freezer: 3900 (-500) = 3400

The eruption of light dissipated, but once again, the condensed golden armor received little to no signs of external damage. The mechanized monstrosity touched down on its own accord, aiming for Celestia.

"Double ability, activate!" Cesar shouted. "Octo-zooka, plus Fusion Ability, Absolute Zero Reactor!"

All of Freezer's claws clipped wide open to reveal all his nozzles aimed for in front. As energy charged, Lucia's eyes widened upon realization. If Celestia dodged, she'd be wide open to the attack. Before she realized it, a monstrous wake of icy light beams headed her way.

From far out of the Empyrean's boundaries, the sky roared as an explosion of yellow tore clean through a sizeable chunk of the tower. The roaring yellow beam continued across the horizon, beaming so far away that the clouds miles away were separated by the might of the attack.

Lucia was kneeling, screaming at the top of her lungs as Celestia was hit by the full force of the attack, blowing her away through painful somersaults and twists through the air,

Celestia: 1700 (-1200) = 500 Mechanoid Deep Freezer: 3400 (+1200 +1500) = 6100

Celestia was still limp in midair when a stray tendril shot straight down onto her star chest, driving her into the ground in front of Lucia. The shockwaves of the attack were so strong that the psychic was blown off her feet and slammed onto her back.

"My, my~. Seems that the results are working too well, don't you?" Cesar taunted as Freezer retracted his tendrils. "Though I do admit, you have excellent durability and stamina, but it seems your proficiency is in speed. Looks like just one more blow is all it'll take…that is, unless you absolutely insist that my death is eminent anytime soon."

Lucia's glare hardened incredulously. "Over my dead body! Ability, activate! Light Cometh!" Still barely able to comprehend at this point, even more light blades were fired at Freezer as Celestia's power increased to 1100.

"Ability activate, Ink Duct!" Freezer raised only one tendril needed to expel a monstrous jet of ink that went through the light swords towards Celestia. Her power dropped towards 200 as it closed in.

Celestia adjusted her stance, but remained stalwart nonetheless. "Ability, activate! Flash Paradigm!" Celestia expelled another ray of light that blinded everything within a general area. This area gradually eroded outwards, dispelling all the ink into vapor and then particles.

Even though the ability was nullified, Cesar was far from impressed. "You sure are hanging in there. I must give my deepest regards to you, Lucia. Because of you being a guinea pig to Riaan, that's more than enough reason for me to test out the full might of my genius! I'm just getting started! No light of yours…" Freezer raised his chords as icy first channeled through his systems. "Will be enough to snuff out what a single Interacian can do of his own free will!"

Lucia's eyes widened again. Not at just what Cesar said, but what's happening.

"Ability…ACTIVA~TE! ATOMIC FREEZE!"

Freezer reared his head back and roared with all his might as he plunged his tendril claws deep within the ground. The ground's magnitude erupted again, this time because of the temperature drop freezing everything beneath them. The water that was within their perimeter had frozen over, followed by thicker sheets of ice. Lucia looked down at her feet, seeing the floor freezing over in an instant.

Celestia: 1100 (-1500) = 0 Mechanoid Deep Freezer: 6100

'The temperature…it's getting cold…they're really going too…!' Her pupils shrunk again as she gazed forward in shock and horror.

Cesar's menacing glare grew that much more severe. In her eyes. The scientist let out a loud cackle as Freezer's claws expelled absolute zero blasts that enveloped everything in ice. Celestia's proximity was far too close, and she was in a weakened state that left her exposed and engulfed by the attack. The entire chamber's domain was engulfed in an explosion of ice and frost that jutted out ice crystals everywhere. They were visible even from the outside as ice crystals and frost fluttered down.

Far below them, Nemus was on a knee, huffing as he tried catching his breath. "C'mon Nemus, we can't lose here…huh?" Baron took a moment to realize outside, the sky was raining down bright shades of blue glitter. For some reason, he could have sworn he felt the temperature drop from out of nowhere. "Huh? What's with these goosebumps I'm getting?"

"Baron…something's happening above. I can feel it." Nemus grunted. "You think it's them?"

"Beats me, buddy…" His glare hardened. "But we can't stand around to have answers come our way. C'mon!"

"Yes!" Nemus stood up, twirling his staff with excitement against a Radizen clone coming in.

It was a blizzard, as sheer cold blizzard. It took up everything within the chamber's perimeter. Cold winds howled that blew in from the outside, instantly making ice crystals that rained down over the frozen ice land that engulfed anything that touched it. Everything was frozen. Everything. From the flooring to the air itself. Frozen crystals of air pockets were solidified and hung aimlessly around Freezer as he stood in the epicenter of this wasteland of ice.

The huge metal claws beneath were covered in frost and thin layers of ice. One mechanical claw moved and flexed, making it all flake off. It rotated clockwise then counterclockwise to make sure that the internal structures weren't solid.

Cesar's gauntlet flashed to show any signs of damage dealt towards his creation. So far, everything looked to be in the green. "…hmph." He scoffed. "And the damage sustained was kept at a bare minimum." His gauntlet's modulators deactivated as he looked out his temperature-controlled glass shield. "Well, well…what do we have here…?"

Standing several meters away, frozen solid, it looked like Celestia as she was in a kneeling position with her arms up, as though to protect herself. Or rather, someone. Even with her body frozen, it was still enough to enable such enough levity for someone hidden beneath her robe.

Lucia was cold. Freezing cold. Had it not been for her Bakugan shielding her at the last second hen she did, she would have also frozen immediately – to death. Even so, she couldn't feel anything. Nothing…nothing but dreaded cold that exhaled from her tired breathing.

Cesar sat comfortably in his leather seat, crossing his one leg over with a smirk. "And that…is what you would call, a successful field test. Fine job, Freezer. Seems those last-minute upgrades were just what we needed after all." He turned towards Lucia, his frown showing gracious levels of pity. "This is what happens…when you do nothing to shape your own potential. You end up just like this…a lifeless, cold being, who can only focus on breathing. Nothing more, nothing less."

"…" Lucia said nothing. Her world was getting black by the second. She could feel her strength fading away as everything was slipping away from her. 'Milord…the light…it's fading…I can't…'

As she was losing consciousness, she found her mind retrogressing. Everything went silent. Everything…everything, but the sounds of screams and crying that echoed into an uproar.


The sounds of crumbling were heard loud and clear. What sounded like rock piecing off from one another turned to loud thumps as they crashed into the ground.

"Run away! The upper world is breaking down on us!" an individual panicked.

"Quick, run away!" another screamed.

Panic strewed beneath the crumbling surface of Interacia. With the land constantly changing from below just as it was above, the old land was coming apart. And for some unfortunate residence beneath, they had little room to get around.

A small group of fleeing individuals turned in various directions, but a lot of their pathways were blocked off. Only a few forked paths led away from the disaster area. One of the older individuals, a man, turned back towards the group he was leading away. "We have to go now! Let's take the wide path, that'll get us to more spread out lands!"

"Yeah, good idea." Another agreed.

"Wait! Stop!" The Interacians stopped and turned towards the sound of the voice. A very young one at that.

Standing not too far away from the narrow path was a young girl with shaggy golden hair that went down her back. All she had on was a dirty white dress with heels to match. She stood on the narrow path's entrance as she tried to guide everyone.

"Please, don't go that way! Up ahead, it's going to collapse!" she quipped.

A man's eyes widened. "Huh? What's that?"

"That's impossible. The path leads to a safe zone that's already been supported. It can't break with those pillars an walls holding it up." Another argued.

"They're going to collapse with all the shaking! The narrow path will take you away from there!" she pointed towards the narrow passage, which had much steeper cliffs running far out.

"What kind of logic is that? Didn't your parents teach you anything?!" another argued. "There are high, unstable cliffs in that direction! We go that way in this mess, we'll definitely be crushed!"

"Please! I'm begging you!" she hurried up towards them and began pulling on the one's sleeve. "C'mon! You need to get away! I know that way will only lead to your deaths! You have to believe me!"

"Gah! Get off me you dirty floozy!" The older man wrung his arm and swatted her towards the ground. "What does a little girl like you know?! You can't see what's happening, can you?!" He turned with the group. "Come on! This way!"

The impatience of the Interacians lead them away from the domain, leaving the young lady alone to try and stand up with what strength she had. She was shuddering, her eyes brimming with tears. "Please…don't leave…you won't make it…please…"

The shaking of the area intensified, but the path that the Interacians took lead them towards the safe zone, which was a large, flat land that was surrounded by huge stone pillars connecting the ground to the ceiling.

"Alright…I think we're far enough away. Guess we've made it out after all." The leading Interacian said, before turning towards the group. "We better find whatever resources we can, and fast. We lost everything back there."

Another furrowed his brow. "Yeah, but where's the water?"

"We'll find some somehow. Right now, we have to-!" Suddenly, shaking erupted out of nowhere. "Huh?! W-What the-?! The hell?!"

"Where is all this shaking coming from?" Another panicked. "Is it the aftershock?!"

"Look!" a female Interacian pointed out.

All the Interacians turned and watched a crack form along the top of a nearby support pillar. The crack gradually grew upwards, becoming less stable as chips and stone were prying off.

An Interacian jerked back in shock. "Ah! T-the support pillar! Is it…really breaking?!"

"How?! I thought this was the safe zone! It can't collapse so soon!" another argued, but the pillar kept deteriorating to where large chunks were starting to come off. "R-Run away!"

The stone pillar, along with a small fraction of the overworld rock above, had all chipped off and rained down along the safe zone. As they all screamed, large rocks and earth came down in ship-sized chunks – the biggest one being so large that none of them could escape from it.

"NOOOOOO!" The leader screamed, before everything went black with a crushing splatter.

Far away, taking the narrow trail by herself, the little girl was shuffling her feet when she heard the sounds of ruptures and explosions. She looked on, her face completely broken with despair and tears piling up from guilt. She sniffled and wiped her face with her sleeve before vacating through the valley gorge alone.

This was the tale of Lucia Artemia. At this early day and age, Interacians were still rather…an unstable matter at hand. While they had human appearances, they had the night vision of Gundalians, and the supposed skills of Neathians. However, there were a special few that were outliers, those who were outcasts amongst all outcasts. And for young Lucia, she was amongst those very few.

Unlike the standard assets that an Interacian would have, Lucia had every bit f those and then some. But even from birth, she was very…different. You see, she was gifted with the most perplexing of powers. The power…of foresight. It was a power that was extremely uncommon, and tales tell that it only happens once every few hundred years somewhere. Lucia was considered fortunate…or in her case, very misfortunate.

As a young Lucia was walking through a residential area by herself, she was steered clear by ongoers.

"Look, it's her." A voice whispered. "What is she doing here?"

"Wait…you mean that's her? The child that's said to see our deaths?!"

"What kind of omen is this?! If she's here…that means we're gonna die!"

Lucia frowned heavily. No matter where she went, no matter who it was, the fact that people always looked down on her because of this…this curse she had just didn't end. She was labeled 'The Cursed Child' for a reason, a fact that she had tried to accept, in spite of everything she's done to try and prevent all these future demises from happening. But no one would listen. Not a soul.

When she turned her head about, her gaze met various other people. Instantly they looked astonished in a fearful kind of way. They backed away while she made way towards the nearest vendor. She tried to stay calm as she brought out some pocket change.

"This is enough, right?" She quipped.

The vendor looked down at the small change she had on his desk, before looking back at her. "Sorry, but prices just went up, little missy."

She blinked. "But I could have sworn the price was right. When did it go up?"

"When you just showed up. You better go now before prices get even higher."

Lucia frowned heavily. She reached for the change again, but then what felt like solid dirt hit her back. "Ow!" She turned around, seeing other Interacians with debris and mud in their hands. "W-who did that?" Another Interacian threw mud at her face. "Gah!"

"Freak! What are you doing here?!" an angry man shouted. "You can't be here!"

"Yeah, yeah! What he said! Get your curse out of here!" another individual snapped.

"Ow…n-no…this has to be a mistake. I…I'm not trying to curse you. I-gngh!" She felt a sharp pain through her head, a throbbing that was so intense that she had to curl up. "Gah!"

"What's she doing now?" another individual gasped.

Another started running away. "Oh no! Her curse is happening! I'm out of here!" He darted away to his own sanctuary.

Even more people were getting riled up as they all yelled and threw dirt and clumps at Lucia. Even as a little girl, they didn't show any mercy as they swore her down to where it was inaudible wails in her ringing ears.

"Make it stop…make it stop…" she muttered softly.

"We should be able to dig here, fellas." An Interacian said. He looked towards a bunch of settlers who were with him. "Let's get digging right away. If the topography is right, we should have some water spouting here within a few hours. Sooner if we're lucky.

"No!" The group turned and saw Lucia run from out of nowhere. "Don't dig there! Please!"

Another Interacian gave her a squinted glare. "Heh? Who is she…?" As he looked at her, he was having an epiphany. 'Wait, that golden hair…and those eyes…is this the rumored Cursed Child we've been hearing about?'

"What do you want, little girl? Can't you see we're busy here?" Another angry Interacian snapped.

"Don't start digging there! Devil Miasma is pooling there! You have to dig someplace else!"

"How do you know that?" an Interacian huffed. "You're just a kid…wait, you're that Cursed Child, aren't you? The one who brings death wherever she goes!"

Lucia shuddered in fear. "No…I'm not! I'm just-"

The Interacian refused to listen and turned away. "Ignore her! We're thirsty over here! The divining rods are picking up water for certain, so let's get digging!"

Another person held up a shovel and glared at Lucia. "You heard him, little missy! Get your dirty ass out of our sights! You're just gonna kill us!"

"No! I'm trying to prevent it! Please, you have to believe me!" She cried out, but the same Interacian swatted his shovel, forcing her to backpedal with an: "Eep!"

"We know all about you! Well let me tell you this. We ain't gonna die just because you said so! We ain't going nowhere, so you better back off, or else!"

"…" Lucia teared up in sadness. Once again, her attempts to prevent another's actions were the results of their undoing; their stupidity. Their ignorance. Their lack of understanding of what she was trying to do for them. But no matter what she said or tried, every time that her head rung, she always saw a catastrophe, and action that ends up breaking something or someone. And at the ends of the day, no matter how much she attempted to deter the situation, it always happened. That's how it's always been. And, apparently, how it always will be.

"Alright, let's get digging!"

"I bet it'll be clean water, or better yet, gold!"

"Heh, that'll be something! Now, pick up that pickaxe! We better find an oasis by nightfall!"

She silently took her leave, frowning in the growing depression that was her life. She was so distraught in her own grief that as she stumbled away, she was completely tuned out to the sounds of screams and coughs of the Interacians that opened a hole to Devil Miasma that crawled out, engulfing them.

Day in and day out, it all came to this point. Lucia was hiding away, inside a small alcove where she was shivering. Her white dress was all tattered, and she hadn't eaten in days. She was all alone, clutching her head as it throbbed from the nonstop headaches.

'My head…it feels like I'm going to split into pieces at any moment.' In her mind, she could see it. From afar, a fissure would open up, expelling Devil Miasma that would plague across the land. More eruptions and earthquakes. Everything that would spell death, she saw. And she was unable to do a thing about it. 'It's…no use. No matter what I see, everyone refuses to listen to me. And I'm so thirsty that my head hurts even more. Every time I see something, why does my head hurt so much? Stop hurting! Why did I have to be born with this curse! Everyone just keeps dying wherever I go! What am I…what am I supposed to do?!'

Her headache only intensified. Her fingers dug into her head tightly. 'Maybe…maybe it's best that I did everyone a favor…maybe I should disappear…'

"Are you alright, young one?"

Lucia's eyes widened open as she heard a masculine voice. She slowly looked up, realizing that someone was standing over her with a calm expression.

"Judging by the way you look, you appear to be dehydrated." He held up a bag-like cantina of water. "Here, drink this. I'm sure that you will feel much better."

"T-Thank you…" Lucia was so in shock that she almost didn't realize the cantina in front of her. She reached out and started drinking profusely. It's been so long since she had a good drink of freshwater. By the time she finished, the cantina was almost completely empty. "Thank you so much…! O-oh my, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to-!"

Riaan softly chuckled. "It's quite alright. I apologize in advance, I didn't think that I'd find anyone out here. You must have gotten very lost along the way, haven't you?"

The young girl looked down in sadness. "…no. This is where I belong. It's better for everyone that I stay far away as possible. I'm nothing more than a burden to everyone. I'm sorry…"

He frowned. "…I see…I've heard tales of there being a young child of destruction. Or rather, should I say they are misfortunes?"

"No, you're right…ever since I could remember, I've been cursed with seeing people and death alike…I just don't know why…"

"…" Riaan remained silent.

"No matter where I would go, it all seems well…and then I feel a headache. Next thing I see, is a vision of what will happen. I tried preventing them…but no one would listen to me…I'm a failure. I deserve to die out here."

Riaan looked down at Lucia's face. It's true that she's seen better days, but to see such a depression of loneliness from her when she had such an innate ability was something he could understand and sympathize with. He gazed down at her as she couldn't even meet him in the eye properly. She feared she'd see his future of death.

"You as well, huh?"

Lucia sniffled as she looked up to him.

"So you were gifted with an unfathomable power as well. Yes, I know all too well what it feels like. You see, I, too, had driven away those that I intended to care for as well…or rather, should I say just her. After all this time of attempting, I can understand that loneliness that you are suffering from." He paused. "But perhaps, there is another side to this coin that has yet to have been flipped. Are you absolutely certain that you are at fault? It may also be the people who are at fault for being oblivious."

"The people…are to be blamed?"

Riaan kneeled to meet her height. "It may very well be, then again, there is no definitive proof of that either. Young one, do you perhaps have a name?"

"Lucia. Lucia Artemia."

"Lucia…a fine name you have." He continued, not even bothering with the blush spreading across her face. "Let me tell you of something important. It is nobody's fault. You see, you have the power to see the future. How they act after hearing it is on them. People in this world are suffering as much as you are. They are scared, desperate, and searching for answers. You saw their futures, didn't you? You were trying to warn them…but I believe that death is something that is unacceptable to one's eye."

"I tried…really, I did." She whimpered.

Riaan paused. "Are you able to see my future, or is it spontaneous?"

"It's-!" She was cut off when a searing pain went through her head yet again. She gasped at how sharp it was, but compared to before when she didn't have any water, it was at least tolerable. 'This is…!'

In her head, she had a bright flash of light from out of nowhere. A large piece of earth deteriorated from above, coming down onto Riaan. The light faded fast though, bringing her back to reality.

She blinked in honest shock. Her face went pale. 'Did…did I see…'

"What's wrong? Was that you having another premonition?" Riaan asked.

Lucia's heart skipped a beat. She realized what came next. "M-Mister Riaan! Above you! The earth, it's gonna-!"

Riaan looked up at her behest. What she predicted happened at the instant. The crust from above had a very small fragment of it deteriorate and crack away from the top. It fell straight down onto both him and Lucia. The psychic was too weak to do anything as the crushing earth came right for them.

SHING!

Faster than what she could blink, a metallic blade cleaved clean through the rock. Her face was painted with nothing but shock as Riaan effortlessly salvaged themselves with just one blow. The future that was supposedly death, literally, crumbled away as the two halves hit the ground besides Riaan.

"Lucia…you have a gift. A very beautiful gift at that. You've tried so hard to fight what you are. You are a very strong person to have that kind of conviction. The fact that you even saw that and told me after the suffering you've gone through shows that you are a kind person. I think it's time that you should accept yourself as not a cursed person, but a gifted individual. And use that that gift to help everyone you so deeply care for. If they will not see reason, they will blindly fall into death's grasps…we must change that." He turned towards her. "I want to make Interacia a prominent land, brimming with new beginnings. But I know I cannot do it alone."

Lucia stared with awe up towards the man. The spot that had dropped the large rock was showing light that radiated onto Riaan's frame as he towered over her. She was sitting in his shadow, staring up at the face that made a tear shed from her eye. Not from despair, but of salvation.

"Lucia…you have so much potential." He reached his hand out towards her. She looked so broken, and yet this familiar frame was actually believing in her. "You might think it's a curse that you were born with, and if I were in your shoes, I would most certainly understand the hardships. But I believe your curse…can perhaps become Interacia's most important key to survival. So…"

The light shined brightly on both. "Will you help me and everyone see the light we so need?"

At that point, Lucia found the one person to care for…whom her powers were meant to help, more than anyone else in the known universe. Since then, not a single fortune ached her head ever again…


Cold as she was, the numbness she felt was starting to fade away.

Looking on with a less than impressed appeal on his face, Cesar sighed at the victory ascertained. "Well, I suppose that takes care of business with her. Though it feels cruel to just leave her like this…" Freezer turned away at his behest. "So sorry, Lucia, but it was fun while it lasted. The future waits for no one, not even a genius such as myself."

A weak, gloved hand reached out towards the field. It was shaking, and unbalanced, but the field reacted by glowing brightly beneath the ice.

"Hm? What's this?" Cesar looked down, immediately noticing the thick ice starting to fade into particles around him. They glistened into the atmosphere before fading into vapor. "A Haos Saver Gate Card…"

Celestia's frozen body was slowly engulfed in the light. It was slow-moving, but the ice melted away, slowly freeing her. "For the first person to accept me…" Lucia thought about Riaan. "For the first person to consider my power a gift…for the one, single person who accepted me for who I am…! I will…!" Her eyes widened with a fury. "NEVER LET GO OF THAT LIGHT AGAIN~!" In her furious cries of anguish, the Gate Card responded by making the ice floor and spikes shatter and fly back towards Freezer, who covered up from the damage. All the ice and frost vaporized and became light bolts that faded into dazzling bright glints that fluttered around the repaired chamber flooring.

Celestia: 0 (+1100) = 1100 Mechanoid Deep Freezer: 6100

The chamber looked precisely as it did when their scuffle began. Freezer's mechanoid armor kept him supported as Celestia elevated above Lucia, who stood tall and proud in spite of the frivolous look of bruises and stained clothing she endured. The bright lights around her face showed just how pissed she was with Cesar.

"I see…that's how it is." Cesar frowned. "She set up a nullification Gate Card that would counteract Atomic Freeze. How unceremoniously…annoying." He snapped with his grip tightening around his armrests.

"Cesar…you have tried and nearly succeeding in taking away the light that I needed in my life…the light that Interacia needs in order to see its meaning come true. In the name of his divine grace and the future of us all, the light of Hades Pillars will purge the darkness that stands before it!" She narrowed her eyes, perceiving what will happen. 'I can see what will happen. He'll use his Nuclear-X to increase his current power level 15 times its current amount. That will be his final battle gun.'

Taking a moment to allow the moment to sink in, she glared forward. "So then…shall we finish this, Cesar Ventriliqua?"

"For once, Lucia, you read my mind." He chimed. "Let's see what the power is…when a power level gets so high from just a single ability factor! Ability, activate! Nuclear-X!" Cesar's finger directed forward. "Freezer, take in all the tower, and eradicate them!"

A bright purple core appeared in front of Freezer, which spread across his armored frame and faded into the system. Several flashes of light happened around him as magenta energy poured out, distorting the air to atomic levels. The Bakugan's suit was condensing some from the pressure it took in, but not enough to deter Freezer as the entire chamber rumbled along with his drastically increasing power.

The entire chamber rumbled as fissures crawled throughout the cracks. Magenta atomic energy spewed out from below and swamped the area around Lucia. The energy waves seemingly engulfed her as she continued glaring forward.

The output gradually ate at everything…until a vaporizing light engulfed everything. In the blink of an eye, Freezer's attack gradually deteriorated until the magenta atomic energy was fully erased when a brighter shade of magenta lighting took over.

"What's this?" Freezer grunted.

"Hm?" Cesar blinked.

Celestia stood in the epicenter of this radiant magenta glow, her entire star-shaped armor on her chest giving a vibrant glow as Lucia stood beneath, basked within its ominous light. She was so engrossed in it that she almost looked like an angel.

"This power…are you absolutely certain this is what I think it is…?" Cesar paused as his gauntlet went off. He looked down at it to see the energy readings. "This energy…it's on an even greater scale than what I anticipated!"

"Your judgement…will be by this light. The light that purges all who dare to defy it. You…will know your place is far from sanctuary." She lifted her Bakumeter. "Learn it well…ability, activate! Heaven-X!"

Celestia spread her arms out and ascended in a magenta light. Cesar followed her trail skywards until she got to a high enough point. Once it was accomplished, the light wings she had before slowly went from yellow to magenta. The light was so dense that the very chamber's hue turned magenta. Everything – from the light coming from outside to the ink on Lucia's clothing, was all basked in magenta radiance.

The piercing magenta star shined so brightly that Cesar wasn't able to look directly at it. Freezer's mechanical armor steamed through the wake of this bright flare.

Celestia: 1100 (+600 +10,500) = 12,200 Mechanoid Deep Freezer: 6100 (-2600) = 3500

"Heaven-X…an ability that preaches the judgment to those who dare to defy its wrath." Lucia stated. "It brings Celestia's power level up to her highest point in the round, then adds triple the opponent's base level to her, while burning the rest of their excess power away. I told you…that you will not hide from the light. It will always catch you in its radiance, and…you will succumb to its fate. Now…accept it! ACCEPT IT!"

Celestia's entire body scrunched up as a large mass of magenta light expanded outwards. It engulfed everything, consuming every atomized particle and basking it in its growing mass. Her star-shaped piece on her helmet gave of an even brighter glow that exploded out into a large beam that traveled at lightspeed, smashing into Freezer's mechanical body. He didn't have time to react when a roaring magenta mass smashed into him.

"Gyyaaaaah~!" Freezer yelled through the burning light.

"AAAAAAAAHHH!" Cesar yelped in agony. The force of the light was impeccable. Its strength was beyond the levels that he was readily prepared for.

Flashes of images came to his mind. His eyes widened and a gasp escaped his throat when he could have sworn he saw the Troposphere lab – his home – along with images of the architecture of Solaris, Troposphere, and much else.

'My path…' He reached out towards his illusionary lab, where even there, the rest of Rogue Zero waited. '…it's been forged for everyone…'

He vanished in the light…before everything faded to magenta.

From outside, there was an extremely bright star that twinkled where Lucia and Cesar were. It condensed almost all the light within the surrounding atmosphere and made the hue darker as it concentrated to magenta shades. It all absorbed as quickly as it did erupt into a heaven-piercing light that went in all directions miles outwards horizontally.

"Huh? What's that?!" Ace shouted. Even from the inside on the low and upper levels, the blinding light got into all of their eyes.

As they kept climbing, Luke and the others were still running when a harsh flare from below caused them all to close at least one eye.

"What is…this light?!" Shuji grunted.

"Is this Lucia?! Or Cesar?!" Shawn exclaimed.

Ariella was still racing up, keeping an eye open away from the blinding gaze from below. Even so, her mind raced with a number of possibilities. 'This light and negative energy. The Doctor's systems don't have any kind of program for anything like this.'

'There's no doubt about it now.' Hendrix followed.

Killian, Xander, and Maximus continued their way, the latter not bothering to stop.

"That's a massive amount of negative energy concentrated below us. It must be a forbidden ability." Jase evaluated.

"Gnnngh…keep pushing! We have to keep going!" Luke grunted, continuing on nearly half-blinded.

"He's right, we should keep climbing!" Esther prompted.

It took a long while for the light to dissipate. The magenta rays receded from the atmosphere and returned to Celestia. The hue of the atmosphere returned to normal as the rays dissipated to atoms. The Bakugan floated above Lucia, who stood with a prompt glare in her eyes.

There, several meters away, metal armor was spread out everywhere. Some of it was pried off completely, whereas some of it was chipped or cracked off. It all led up towards a smoking Freezer, whose armor was shattered, and his body was crippled to where the helicopter blades were blown off. He groaned lazily as he laid sprawled along the earth. The bulletproof glass in front of Cesar was completely shattered, his body covered in shards and bleeding out. Like his partner, he was crippled and slouched in his seat.

'Forgive me…everyone…' He wheezed hopelessly, gagging out blood onto one of his glasses lenses, which sat on the ground in a cracked mess.

Cesar: 0%

With Cesar out of commission, Lucia graciously approached him. "How fortunate for you to survive such an attack. Or rather, should I say how misfortunate. If I had to presume correctly, it has to do with that armor you've endowed your Freezer in, correct?"

Cesar wiped his bloody mouth with a sleeve. "…yes, you are correct. However, this armor prohibits Freezer from entering ball form again as well. This was a one-way trip for him as it was or all for me."

"I see. In that case…"

Celestia raised a leg and came down at lightspeed, stabbing Freezer's giant's brain underneath the broken glass it was contained in. The Bakugan let out a violent cry of agony as his nerves were shut down.

"We'll just have to do this the old-fashioned way. By maiming you as the barbarians do. I apologize for being so bloody…but I allow no further extensions to enabling Milord's dreams being forlorn by the likes of a narcissist such as yourself. You claim everything has been or the good of Interacia, but all I see is material that has been for his radiance. You, and every last one of you traitors, will know your place beneath the divine light of our greatest savior, and it won't be you." Her glare intensified. "A fool like you could never hope to be the light of Interacia!"

Cesar panted heavily. That last blast wave knocked a great deal of wind right out of him. He was so dizzy that he could barely see straight. Breathe in, breathe out. He did this for so long, until finally he spat out another blood-infused spit.

"Tch, and they say I run my mouth all damn day, what hypocrites. They should have been pointing them at you. At least what I say makes logical sense." He wheezed.

"Pardon?" Lucia snapped. Celestia responded by sticking her sword leg deeper into Freezer's brain, causing him to growl in pain.

"You think…I cam here to beat you? That was never my intention from the start. You see, I knew from the start that I would stand no chance at beating you. You had an even more advanced energy for your Bakugan, so of course the chances were low to begin with. I just wanted this opportunity…to take back what is rightfully mine…the power that I gave you all from the start, I can take away as easily as your lives."

"I find that hard to believe. Do excuse my curtly statements."

"Pfft, what's there to excuse? Nothing." He mischievously smirked. "But Lucia, I do wonder about one more theory."

Lucia watched Cesar tap his gauntlet, seemingly activating something that was related to Freezer's armor. Destroyed plates and the residual armor all had bright blue networks attached to them. The armor attached to Cesar infiltrated his body and eyes, making them shine bright blue. It worked through the brain, stunning Celestia's leg on the spot.

"I theorize…can you see your own future…with you in it as well?" Cesar's gauntlet ejected a handheld stick with a red button that he held his thumb over.

Lucia had a bad feeling about what she saw. Her patience was wearing thin. "Cesar…what are you thinking? What is the meaning of this?!"

"Don't you have a brain? Perhaps I forgot to mention one last thing. This suit…is also functioned to have a fail-safe self-destruct, which will unleash gigatons of anti-forbidden vaccinated coding. With such a voltage, do wonder what would happen."

Lucia was confused at what Cesar was referring too…but it didn't take long for her to catch on to what he meant. Her eyes slowly widened with the paled face of pure horror written all over her. "…you wouldn't dare." She hissed.

"Would I? I said before that all Interacian life would be in my hands, right? I mean what I say when I don't bluff."

"Cesar…you are far too proud of yourself to resort to these kinds of measures!"

"And it's precisely because I'm proud that I am doing this."

Lucia's breath hitched again.

"Dear Lucia…it's no lie that I refer to my genius a lot, but it's my own genius that's carried me to the next day. I decided to wake up, to eat, and to invent. Day in, and day out, all for my sake as well as this planet and its inhabitance. If this is to ensure a future that I envision becomes a reality…then I will gladly make that sacrifice."

She stepped forward. "No! Stop! Don't you even think about it!" Her heart rate skyrocketed out of worry. "You can't do this to me! Not to yourself! Sacrificing yourself won't bring about your future! You'll end here!"

"…do you have the power to stop me?"

His question sent a shiver down her shine. Her knees were giving in too quick for her to move anymore. She looked genuinely stupefied at what was happening.

"…that's what I thought. If this is how it was foreseen, then at least…I can do everyone a favor and take you with me, to a land that my genius will outshine even in the light!" He closed his eyes, having a calming moment for moment. He thought back to everything that's happened up to now. 'Yes…this is way it has to be. What I want it to be. A future that isn't predetermined…is a future that is destined for boundless opportunities. I am certain, that in this form…' He thought about Luke and Rogue Zero, who were currently still climbing with all their heart. 'My name and legacy…will most certainly live on. Rogue Zero, my colleagues at arms…I leave the rest to you. Assist those fools, into creating…an even brighter future for all.'

He spread both arms out as he raised his chin high. His thumb was held over the button as Lucia's own life flashed before her eyes.

"To all of Interacia! I thank you all for being such a wonderful audience for me! Allow me to reward you…with my last project. This is what I leave in your hands…the future of Interacia, for all to unite and continue growing! With that, I bid you all…a fond farewell."

With one final breath, Cesar puffed out his chest and opened his eyes towards the sunlight beaming on his face. His smile was so proud to feel such a lively warmth for the final time. "MY WILL…!"

"NOOOOOOOO~!" Lucia screamed out in teary angst.

"Is…done."

CLICK!

Freezer's body lit up a bright blue that gradually swallowed everything. Celestia was unable to escape, as was a horrified Lucia, and Cesar kept smiling with beaming joy as all four vanished in a split second.

BOOOOOOOOM!

A bright blue explosion went off that beamed shockwaves in all directions throughout the Empyrean's range, expelling far out towards the sea. The entire Empyrean shook violently as the explosion shot the blast wave in the form of a light straight up passed everyone. They all fell over and clung to the stairway as the pillar of blue light transcended beyond them. They all screamed in shock at the ferocity of the wake coming from out of nowhere.

The beaming light transcended through each floor, causing magenta networks to become plagued with bright blue as it went by. It shot higher, and higher, continuing to drive until its impact reached the ceiling. It gathered enough momentum to force itself through, causing Riaan to look down at the glowing floor.

"What the-?!"

A blast of blue light penetrated the top, continuing towards the outer surface of Interacia's atmosphere. The shockwaves spread throughout the atmosphere, rippling far and wide over the ocean and land. Hundreds of miles out it dissipated, leaving nothing but open air.

Further below, the earthquake violently shook about everyone, including the Kimera. Magenta networks that were coming up often were replaced by bright blue networks instead,

"What…is happening?!" Mira panicked.

"The tower…something went off big above!" Shun shouted.

Julie turned towards the nearest arched exit, her eyes widening as she pointed towards the ignited blue sky. "Look!" The camera caught the sight of the bright light engulfing all of the atmosphere, like a radiant heaven that bathed everything below.

In the bright epicenter of it all, it was all a pure white. What remained were yellow sparkles that danced majestically through the waves of the explosion, like they were liberated and celebrating through an angelic dance. The bright explosion gradually faded away, thinning away to where it was a few glints that dispersed.

Dan and everyone else below uncovered as the sky returned to normal. "W-What was that…?" he paused. "I could have sworn that…I have a bad feeling something just happened, guys. I can feel it."


It took several minutes for the ringing in their ears to simmer down. They most certainly suffered some form of hearing damage from that burst. But what mattered was them coming to their senses.

"Gnnngh…" Luke was the first amongst his peers to come around. Immediately he turned towards everyone else. "Hey, you guys alright?!"

Esther stood up. "Yes…somehow we are. That blast wave must have been concentrated enough to where it had minimal destructive aftershocks within its surroundings."

"Ooooh, my head." Maggie rubbed the top of her head. "I am definitely gonna feel that for a short while."

Shawn managed to get to his feet and looked down, his eyes still wide with grievous shock. "The hell…? That came from below. Don't tell me…"

Shuji looked further down to find the bottom, but with how high they were, it was impossible for him to get any kind of visual. But somewhere in his gut, it was telling him something went very wrong just now.

Walking up to his side, Hendrix gazed down as well. "He's done his job."

Shuji's went up in shock towards Hendrix as he passed him. "Wait, what did you just say? 'Did his job'?" Hendrix didn't reply to his growing tone. "Hey, what's the big idea?!"

Ariella huffed. "Don't waste your breath, big boy. We know you've grown a little bit bigger of a brain and all, but don't throw it out just for our sake, alright? What matters is that we keep pressing forward, isn't that right? If we're alive still…that means it's a good sign. We can keep fighting." She looked over her shoulder at everyone beneath her. "Besides, shouldn't you worry about what's in front of you?"

"Yeah, we know that." Maggie frowned. "But…did Cesar really just…?"

Hendrix kept his head forward. "Maggie, do not discourage yourself over the sacrifice of an enemy. You'll only disgrace him." He philosophically said. "Cesar's actions are noteworthy because they were the product of what he believed in…just as what we are all aiming for. Pitying or questioning now means his legacy will have less meaning."

Maggie lowered her head in regret. "…yeah."

"Maggie…" Jelldon mulled.

Xander scoffed. "Poor shame. He's been really useful to us up till now."

"He always wanted to go out in a big way…guess this qualifies." Killian despondently commented.

"…" Maximus' expression was shrouded in his hood, but he didn't bother slowing down his path skywards. "C'mon…we're leaving Riaan waiting. Keep it moving." Behind him, Rogue Zero followed in silence. But beneath his breath, he seemed to be enlightened about something. 'Excellent work, Cesar. Your work has done most…wonders indeed.'

Luke's group were still behind, still processing what just happened. It didn't take long for them to pick up on the tone playing out before them.

Luke looked back down, his face falling in grief. "…I see…so Cesar really is dead."

Jase turned away, prodding his glasses before continuing his march up a few paces. "He was a very worthy asset to Interacia. That was perhaps his only good quality. Nevertheless, if he stalled against Lucia, then that means we have two less problems to worry about from here on."

"He's right. We won't know for certain if what happened will impact how we reach the top. And there's still the issue at hand with Rogue Zero. We need to trust their judgement…at least for a little while longer." Esther insisted.

"She's right…so let's get a move on." Shawn started.

"…yeah. If we don't move now, we'll only be delayed further." Luke started once more with his friends, heading up to the next floor.


Having self-repaired, the Empyrean's top had deep blue accents that were flashing instead of magenta. Riaan's posture was still fixed in the same place, but he certainly felt that blow just now…and what he processed from that explosion certainly wasn't something he was going to remember.

"That…that was most certainly…surprising." He paused. "But…this strange feeling I've felt just now…it's like something cool is filtering through me. What could this mean?"

Armagedoid was worried as well, but he picked up on another matter. "Master…that energy just now. It wasn't our own."

"Yes, it would seem that way…" He frowned with the upmost dignity. "It appears that…Lucia will not be joining us in seeing Interacia's rebirth. Lucia…thank you for all that you've done. Believe it or not, it was because of your powers that we were able to prepare ahead accordingly. I swear, in the name that is our conviction, we will make sure that your battles fought will have the upmost meaning towards Interacia's future."

"Master…this is where we do not apologize, right?"

"Correct. If we apologized to Lucia now, it would mean pitying her ideals of following my way…this is my responsibility. If anyone is to be sorry towards anything, it's allowing myself to have influenced her this much. But, in the end, this became her will. I dare not sully that fact. Your allies' ideals, as well as your foes'; they are all part of why you choose to fight on the path that you take. You remember what I said about Luka and Brontes, don't you, Armagedoid?"

The black dragon paused to register what he said back then, about continuing forward even though a valued enemy was killed. Quitting was not an option. "Yes, indeed. We won't quit, not until we see our home's new beginning."

"That's right, and the clock is still ticking…the future is coming. Only now, I dare ask one question…what will happen next?"


8 days, but still not terrible. This ended up being much longer than I originally wanted, but it ended the way I wanted it to. Cesar and Lucia are out of the picture now, leaving 5 members of Hades Pillars left. Hope to hear back on your thoughts!