"Battlegear Ability, activate! Spartablaster Sol!" Zenet's shout of an ability was followed by Contestir, who was currently hovering over the Empyrean's base, to expel a bright light that shined down on a Sage Verias that stood nearby.
An Eclipse Atchibee glided overhead, screeching like a demonic banshee that sent shivers down everyone's spines. The Bakugan flapped its wings, expelling a bright cosmic purple dust cloud that engulfed its allies in the scales that empowered them. The light Contestir gave off wasn't able to break through, much to Zenet's chagrin.
"Ugh, seriously?! It nullified my Battlegear Ability!"
"How is that even possible?!" Contestir snapped.
Lena used a finger to prod her glasses. "Don't let your guard down! Remember, these Bakugan also mimic another Bakugan's memory structure in how they battle!" She paused to think about what she said. 'That also means that they're not mindless. They can coordinate as well as the original, too, if that last attack they did was of any consolidation.'
Gus grunted. "Let's see how they like our coordination then!" He held up an ability. "Vulcan! Mega Viblow!"
Vulcan reached out his hands, with the gears on the wrists spinning around violently. They emitted distorted shockwaves that acted like a shield towards the dust cloud and created a strong enough vacuum current that opened a pathway through the cosmic scenery.
"Everyone, go now!" Gus pleaded.
"Got it!" Ace grunted. "Ability, activate! Darkus Fly Arrow!" Flash Falcon Fly screeched as he transformed his body, becoming a stun gun-like blaster with the tail end becoming like the conduction point. The weapon fell into Percival's grip, where Darkus lightning crackled and conducted into the base of the weapon. It crackled intensely before he expelled a bright purple, glossy beam that exploded its way into the gaping hole that was through the cloud.
"Double ability, activate!" Baron shouted. "Sparkly Arrow, plus Tank Bunker!" Nemus raised his staff to charge up light, which radiated on Piercian's shields, which glowed bright and became two large, reflective mirrors that reflected the light. As Nemus swung the bright yellow orb, so did Piercian with shooting twin yellow beams that followed behind.
The twin yellow and purple beams rushed in behind Nemus' attack and shot a clean path forward into the gaping hole. They traveled through, but a sudden eruption of heated energy emanated a strong enough that basked the oncoming attacks as well as Vulcan in its heated rays. The Bakugan that attacked covered up in fear of being blinded so promptly.
"What the-?!" Ace shielded his eyes from the heated flare.
Nemus, Piercian, Percival, and Vulcan grunted as they all tried to hang on, but it was easier said than done with the Kimera Astral Jelldon's Flash Atom nullified all their abilities. With all of them distracted, it used this time to reach out and extend crackling plasma beams that struck not only them, but also Contestir, Rubanoid, and Plitheon.
"Gwaaaah!" Plitheon's body twitched violently, unable to freely move himself up and about.
"What's this?! Plitheon?!" Jesse fret.
Seeing his friends getting controlled, Ren's eyes widened. "That move…is that the same one the Maggie used from before?!"
He wasn't fully ware of what Minion Deluder was capable of, but he was very much aware of what it could mean if they were this exposed towards it. 'There's no doubt about it. That's the same ability that was used to push all of us back at once. If it really controlled all of us like that, then there's no telling what else that can be controlled. Gotta snap them out of it!'
"Percival, fight it!" Ace shouted.
Percival was caught in the plasmatic control of Astral Jelldon, facing everyone unwilling. "I…can't…!" His eyes suddenly snapped open as his maw and draconic pauldrons opened wide. Inside, energy spheres gathered bright purple, glossy energy that shined down onto Ace.
Mira looked over, visibly mortified with what she was seeing. "Ace, watch out!"
Ace looked up in earnest shock as Percival's attack charged up towards its maximum. The Geor Gunner shot straight into him, when suddenly, a red blue passed in front and emitted a shield, blocking off Percival's attack for the time being. By the time Ace processed it, his skin was already saved.
"Drago? Reptak?!"
Aeroblitz was in front of him with Fusion Shield activated, easily holding off his ally's strongest attack. "Don't aim for the others! Aim for the one controlling them!"
In a blitz, Magmafury appeared above the Kimera clone. "Right!"
Kimera Jelldon's two antennae eyes looked up at Magmafury and noticed him charging up an attack. When he fired a Supreme – Thunder, the attack was voluntarily blocked off by Piercian, who was forcibly moved in front and activated Eternal Cocoon. His entire body turned into a wall that blocked off Magmafury's attack, causing the green and purple beam to diverge into multiple strands.
"Now, guys!" Marucho shouted. "Fusion Ability, activate! Abyss Grander!"
The ground beneath Kimera-Jelldon blasted open at breakneck speeds, a thin but powerful beam of pressurized water that spiraled like a drill clean into the underside tendrils. The impact was intense enough to make the Kimera screech out and momentarily lose its hold. It shrieked in agony as it shifted away, whereas Betakor spun to a stop in midair.
Nemus and his fellow Bakugan were freed, enabling them to fall towards the ground.
"Is everyone alright?!" Shun asked.
"Master Shun!" Baron gasped. "Yeah, we're good, thanks!"
Shun nodded. 'It was smart thinking to distract it while we went under. Still…' He looked over, seeing the evolved Jelldon clone glaring them down with the underside still intact. 'This battle is far from over. These Bakugan that have been training harder than anyone else have a much higher durability rating. We just got lucky…and we probably won't get an opening like that again.'
"Keep it guessing, guys. We've still got plenty more around us!" Dan warned, him, Gunz, and Aeroblitz looking overhead at the Kimera clone of a Daedalus Abis Omega looming with its gills fading in and out.
Nearby, Nurzak and Fabia were behind debris as Aranaut and Sabator were facing the Kimera-Hercules Fly Beetle that glared them down. It was tough enough alone; they had to cooperate.
"Go, Aranaut! Battlegear Ability, Battle Crusher Duke!" Aranaut aimed the small cannon on his shoulder surrounded by the metal attachments at the insectoid clone and fired a large yellow beam at the Bakugan with a vengeance.
Without delay, Hercules Fly Beetle's Kimera copy stomped on the ground, raising a large parameter of solid earth that was solid as stone. The Earth Shield blocked off the Battlegear Ability with relative ease.
"My Queen, we need a better plan!" Aranaut imposed.
Nurzak held up a Gate Card between his fingers. "Then perhaps this shall suffice!" He flicked his wrist, sending out the card that faded beneath the Empyrean's battlefield. "Gate Card, open! Silent Stalker!"
The Gate Card shined beneath the Subterra Bakugan opposing them. The radiance seemingly stiffened it enough to make it feel immobilized.
"That should prevent it from activating any abilities. And on top of that, Sabator's Level 3 Battlegear Ability is active." Nurzak pointed out. 'This card was strong enough to suppress the likes of Dharak. It won't have enough strength to withhold this effect.'
Sabator stepped forward, his Chompixx charging up heat. "Got any last words, swine?!"
The Kimera glared at the threat looming in front of it. With its muscular prowess, the Bakugan tensed up, until the limbs were visibly shaking. The fists all balled slowly, tightening with creaking and churning ears.
"Huh?" Aranaut quipped.
"Is it really moving? But I thought-?!"
"KRRROOOOOAAAAH~!" Fabia's inquiries were short-lived when the Kimera unleashed a battle cry that was so powerful that it shook the ground they all stood on. Shockwaves emitted and Sabator and Aranaut momentarily lost their balance. The Fly Beetle clone fought the Gate Card's suppressing force as and raised one of its fists with all its might. With the force of a meteor, the fist went crashing down into the ground, making an eruptive sound upon impact with the Gate Card. Much to everyone's horror, the Gate Card cracked and shattered to pieces, indicating its nullification.
"I-Impossible-!" Fabia panicked. She never saw anything like this before, not to her knowledge at least. 'It didn't even use an ability. It couldn't! Did it…did it seriously just use sheer willpower to break the Gate Card on its own?'
Nurzak knew better than to allow his guard to be dropped so flimsy. He grunted as he held up an ability. "Sabator! Battlegear Ability, activate! Chompixx Hot Fury!"
The heat signature in between the scythes of the Chompixx finally finished charging a searing energy orb of molten fury. It was so hot that rays distorted the air around Sabator. "CHEW ON THIS!" He leaned forward to launch the molten fireball at Hercules Fly Beetle. It closed in, fast!
Its eyes gleaming, the Kimera clone snarled so heatedly that steam exhausted from the mandibles. Its body tightened as it charged forward towards the fireball. The carapace shined with Gaia Armadura as it rampaged straight ahead into the bolstering blast. The fireball made impact with the ironclad horn and fought for dominance, before it was overwhelmed by the clone's sheer might. The fireball split into several smaller spheres that whistled behind and exploded into the background behind the incoming insectoid. In fact, the explosion from behind gave it a tailwind to jettison after Sabator and Aranaut with shock on their faces. It bashed so hard with a quadruple lariat, not only knocking down Sabator and Aranaut, but the force literally tore both Battlegear off them, dented, smashed to pieces, and fell as scrap metal around it.
"Oh no…" Fabia spatted, until her shoulder winced. 'Gngh! I haven't fully recovered yet. And our best bet was just wiped out! These Bakugan…they're so strong!'
'This is the power that took on a beast stronger than Dharak and Barodius.' A dumbfounded Nurzak realized.
A Kimera-Hydranoid roared as it fired a Death Trident at Andro Elico, who countered with Element Core. The bright gleam caused the incoming attacks to dissipate and fade away. "Now, Elico!" Keegan ordered. "Fusion Ability, Aquos Core!"
The Alpha Hydranoid clone roared mightily as it opened its maws again to use Indigo Nightmare. The black and purple beams drew closer, but Andro Elico's core shined and his body expelled a cyclone of water that expanded outwards. He stood in the middle, an Aquos aura enveloping his body. He crossed his arms and pushed outwards, causing the current to force its way out and engulf the Hydranoid clone.
"How much more?! Seriously!" Keegan snapped.
An Infinity Helios clone, along with a Fusion Dragonoid and Eclipse Atchibee dropped from above. If it weren't for a nearby explosion created by the real Helios' Bombaplode in the background, everyone would've heard the biggest, loudest, most obnoxious groan that Keegan to ever hope to give out.
Far up higher than anywhere else in the Empyrean, everyone was rushing as fast as lightning, or however quick their feet could move, whichever came first. The point was that despite the callouses they'd end up receiving for this, they had to press on.
Maggie panted heavily, her head starting to get light as they kept climbing. "Maggie, are you okay?" Jelldon worried.
Huffing to herself, Maggie was still able to keep up. "Yeah…don't worry, Jelldon. I'm okay…" She labored. "But still…it feels like I'm about to pass out…"
"It's not that you aren't in shape as of yet." Jase prodded. "More or less, it's a sign of oxygen deficiency."
"Then…that's gotta mean we're closer to the top than before." Luke said, trying his best to stay focused ahead instead of his own breath. "You said that this planet has extreme levels of oxygen, right? Enough to cover up several miles or something?"
"Heh, you sure catch on." Up ahead, everyone heard Xander snark. "Yeh, don't worry. We've done our research, too. Yeah, this planet's taken much of other planets' oxygen, so much actually that the ozone layer itself has infused with oxygen. You can probably go up to the outer reaches of Interacia to see the sun rise on the far end and still be able to breathe."
"Or at least, that's the theory." Killian interrupted. "But the bottom line that we went over was that you're right. Oxygen is getting less abundant, which happens pass the halfway point."
"Just don't pass out on us if you can't take it." Maximus taunted. Once again, with Maximus' tone, it was tough telling if he was teasing or snarking down the others. Though with the intentions implied, it could have been a mixture of both. There was no definitive proof, but the point still got through."
Luke took a deep breath and kept himself steady. "Don't worry…we don't intend on falling behind, either."
Maximus lowered his head. "Hmph…very well then. You better prepare yourselves."
At that instant, they could all feel a shift in the pressure around them. With them being so high, the pressure became too much. Everyone felt it in their ears as they popped. Maggie winced as she felt the stinging sensation within her ears and groan. Luke, Shuji, and everyone flinched at the pressure in their ears from the monstrous altitude.
"Gah! My ears…!" Shuji gnashed his teeth. "Gotta be that air pressure everyone talks about."
Maximus snorted, as though the shift in pressure didn't deter him in the slightest. If he was getting a kick out of this, he sure was good at masking it. "Keep it moving. Ignore the pain."
Maggie grunted as she cupped her ears. "Geez, why's this gotta be such a pain? I can't tell which is worse, this, or Rogue Zero dragging us like ragdolls."
Jase beamed. "That would certainly be an international debate topic if that were possible."
"Well, can't say we had this coming, can we?" Shawn sighed, rubbing the back of his head as he kept walking. He tried to ignore the pain as their second wind came around. "Still, surprised this didn't happen sooner. It should've happened on the Vestal Empyrean when we climbed it as well."
"The Empyrean back then must have been set up just below that point." Esther surmised. "It was connected to the ocean, where a much different pressure zone is placed."
Shawn put a hand to his chin in pondering. "Yeah, that's true. And yet the land is attached to the bottom this time. Makes you wonder if that has to do with the pressure as well."
"Who knows?"
Jase prodded his glasses again. "Much of what's been going on has been primarily based in natural atmospheric formations. Land, earth, air, everything. The Empyrean from my knowledge was designed so that the planet that it is attached to will have all its resources mimicked and then the original copy thus being infected. And with every time the Empyrean is made, it bears a different state. Intended or not, it's just as Killian said, we're nearing our destination."
"Right." Esther paused. "And there's another pressure we feel, too…"
Atchibee popped open on her shoulder. "I sense it, Esther, a strong mass of negative energy is afoot. I can presume that it may be more of our inconvenient hosts, perhaps?"
"Galilea, or maybe Zion and Cyrus…maybe even all three. Who's to say?" Jase chimed.
"Guess there's really only one way to find out. Up ahead, we're there!" Luke directed them towards the entrance to the next chamber up.
Everyone saw the exit's light come up ahead and they embarked their way through its reaches. As the light faded, they all stepped onto the next floor of the Empyrean Alpha, which was another massive chamber that had arches thinner than usual to allow the cold breeze of the Interacian atmosphere to blow through. The howling wind roared to make very small swirling vortexes that swept across everyone's front. They noticed that the tiling beneath them was paved with a green circular pattern, with thin ventilation on either side to allow even more air to flow through and circulate the small vacuums.
The wind roared loudly as the breezes often exasperated. Shuji stood his ground as breezes went left and right around him. "It's like we just walked into a wind tunnel or something." He grunted.
A passing wind forced Maggie to hold down her skirt, though she was already having a hard enough time keeping balance from this wind. "Gngh! Why's there so much wind up here?"
"It must be the ventilation we see." Esther said, directing everyone to the outer arches to the outside view of the clouds. "More wind comes from the high altitude and pushes through the arches. It then gets fluctuated back out by using the ventilation ducks."
Jase looked over at the outside. "There also seems to be more arched windows than usual. Their smaller than normal, but the numbers enable multiple wind passages."
Luke looked forward, his glare fixing on the person who stood before them. A passing wind howled loudly to create a moment's worth of mute before it simmered down. They all glared forward, seeing someone on the other side glaring them down.
"It appears that Lucia, Amina, and Magnus have all failed…how deplorable. However useful they were, they won't be overlooked this time around." Standing tall, glaring them all down with a stale visage in her eyes. Even her tone was matter-of-factly. "We were all brought here to serve under his leadership and his ideals for the new world. And in order for that to happen, everything must be systematic. I am Galilea Vergo, the pillar of wind of Hades Pillars. Whatever trouble stirs up, I will snuff it out. You have my word, you all will have no allegations beyond this point."
"Figures she'd be the one here. Now it makes sense." Shawn grunted. Another wind passed by, making them reaffirm their ground.
"I can feel a strong pressure in the winds." Verias said. "She's not fooling around, I can tell."
Galilea kept her composition, glaring forward without any sense of remorse in her eyes. "As I said, you have no business here. If you do not depart this instant…I will have to vacate you by force. This world does not need those who cannot comprehend its meaning in an instant."
Esther stepped forward in defense. "Have you thought about the people who have little to understand of what you're saying? What if you don't make things clear for them to interpret?"
"I believe that Lord Riaan has already deflated that factor already. Everyone saw it with their own eyes, the revelation that was his fall from grace by the light of Code Eve. She was in the wrong, but if you insist that he was at fault from the start, then you still so not understand…and people like that shouldn't have the right to live so leisurely."
Luke frowned. "No, we understand all too well. Riaan wasn't at fault to begin with, but we're still here because we're not going to allow his facts run the rest of our worlds until their ends."
Galilea snorted. "Then…you shall have to understand, I am in a position where I cannot accept any bargains nor deals. I will accomplish my mission, because I understand my responsibilities now…and that is to make Interacia free of you all until your worlds all die."
Another harsh wind swept across them, this one creating a violent vacuum that turned into a miniature cyclone that swept across the battlefield. As it severed into the ventilation, a blue network shined beneath them all, diffusing into the walls skywards.
'Guess she ain't budging. There's no other option then…'
A long sigh came from the group. Someone stepped forward. "Welp, guess this is my stop." Stepping up before everyone, Killian stood strides towards
Maggie looked over, gasping in utter shock. "Killian?!"
Before Killian got too far ahead, he turned around and extended his arm out towards Xander. "Xander."
To appease his cohort, Xander returned the handshake. "Hmph, formal much?" He looked at Killian's direct expression. "Then again, you were always to the point."
Killian turned towards maximus and nodded. "Maximus, I'd say it's been a pleasure…" He turned forward with a serious gleam ahead. "But then again, we weren't allowed to feel that, were we?"
Maximus looked at Killian, mildly grunting before facing forward. "You know what to do, Killian."
"Yeah…I got the idea."
Xander smirked. "What's the matter? It's your big moment. You're free to feel pleasure this time, nobody's gonna tell you otherwise."
"I know you guys won't…but the boss lady doesn't take kindly to that. I think I need to have a little talk with her. We need to, as she would put it, settle on some business."
"My, Killian, you sound so serious. I don't know whether I should applaud or give you a medal. But if you insist, we'll leave you to it. Everyone, follow Maximus!" Xander turned as Maximus took off and followed him towards the next set of stairs.
"We better move on. We don't want to be left behind." Jase prompted.
"Yes, indeed. Let's go!" Esther followed behind with the remainder of the group left. They were quick to maneuver around, leaving the businesswoman and her personal clerk to attend to their own private business.
Killian and Galilea glared at each other mutually. By now, the others had already gone far enough ahead to completely be disregarded. The former already said his peace with them, now there was just one more person left to tell tale towards.
It'd be no hard feelings if that meant anything, but it wasn't. It was the exact opposite.
After what felt like an eternity of a howling stalemate, Galilea quipped first with a strained tone. "Killian…"
"Galilea." He replied, mimicking her need to hold back harshly. "I see that you've changed your looks."
She blinked at what he meant and realized her hair was shorter. She subconsciously tossed whatever strands possible over her shoulder. "You surprised me. I never expected Rogue Zero to go out of its way as to completely disdain the name of Hades Pillars. More so, this having to do with someone like you."
Killian had to hold back the urge to grunt as he kept a straight face. "You would know. After all, you were the one who insisted I'd join."
"Yes, I remember that detail vividly…" The tension within her voice grew more strained as her eyes narrowed. "And now I'm starting to see that happenstance as a lack of judgement on my part. Killian…did I misread between the lines, or am I misinterpreting this as a personal rebellion?"
Killian shook his head. "You can interpret it as however you want, Galilea. The fact is…I don't have to answer if I don't want to."
"You have to, Killian. I'm your boss." Her voice dripped with such a crude venom. It was clear that she was starting to lose patience. "Now answer my question, I do not want any foolhardy excuse!"
"And what are you gonna do if I don't?! Find somebody else to be your little 'saddleback' so you can enjoy a smooth ride all the way to the finish?!"
The air shifted back and forth, whirling in between them to make a small cyclone that diffused just as quickly. That small burst of wind shifted Galilea's hair, while making Killian's streamers whiplash madly. The two kept their dispositions affirmed, but they chose to drag it on.
"You…believe that you were a saddleback?" Galilea quipped. "Killian, that's so absurd. You weren't anything like that, I promise you."
"If that were the case, then why was I cast aside with Rogue Zero? If I was indispensable like you said, then shouldn't you have done something to stick up for me, instead of leaving me in that valve for god knows how long."
"That part was out of my control and you know it." She reasoned, her strain so great she was starting to get flustered. "It was Milord who gave the order. Not me."
"Now look who's making foolhardy excuses. I thought you didn't want any of those? Maybe you should have set a better example instead of playing lapdog for someone above you!"
"BE QUIET!" Her shout was excessively sharp, sharper than any blade that cut the tension in half. "You have no idea just what kind of person you're talking to! You have no idea how much I've suffered!"
Killian glared at her with confidence, like he was sure about his thoughts. "I know exactly what kind of person you are. You…" He stepped forward. "Are a scared, superiority-complexed coward, who hates being told what to do. Thinking that she's entitled to what she thinks is the best choice, and thinks she can get away with whatever she says because of her position. You think you know better than me, better than anyone else by such a large margin, that if nothing goes your way, you take it out on the first person that rubs you off the wrong way. You want total control of a situation so as to ensure that it doesn't sully your good name, and whatever doesn't meet your management standards ends up paying for it instead of you …now doesn't that sum it all up?"
Galilea's was slackjawed. She looked like she was about to burst into flames, but her face tightened – a sign that showed Killian was right on the money. Her reddening face paled at just how Killian was able to figure her out.
Even so, she tried to cover herself up. "You…are in no position to say such terrible accusations, mister."
Killian's eyes narrowed beneath his shades. "And what about you? I said that you've changed, and I wasn't just talking about your hair. I heard how you were demoted. That must have shattered your little world."
Galilea bit her bottom lip, trying to hold back her anguish. "I admit…I've made a few mistakes in the past. But I do my best, unlike some subordinates."
"Yeah, I did my absolute best, and look where that got me." His point felt a hollow breeze to rush between them. After it passed, he pressed on. "I've done so much for you. You've asked me for a lot of things and I tried to reach your expectations. But it was never good, I see that now. Galilea, I honestly thought a few times that you thought of me more than just your little worker bee, you know? We've worked together for so long, and you treated me so well up until recently…" He shook his head in despairing disappointment. "You're not the same person I looked up to. You never cared about anyone but your own benefits. If you got me something I wanted, it was only so it could benefit you."
Internally, hearing these things was breaking Galilea's heart. "Well I'm sorry to disappoint. But your standards aren't relevant, are they? It's just business, Killian. Nothing more, nothing less. You don't do the work to your fullest, you're cut."
"Then what the hell is the reason that you'd risk your clerks for?! Why do you care so much for your position over the benefits of Interacia at all, well?! You were recruited for Riaan's goal, but you don't care one bit about it, do you?! Tell me, in the greatest of damned reasons, Galilea! What the hell is your reason?!"
Galilea's glare grew half-hearted as her answer came crashing down. "Security. Killian, in the world we previously lived in, there were absolutely no guarantees to one's life being prolonged. Resources were limited, and the world was unstable. But eventually, we've started up an economy, and the more credit you have, the higher your position. Take the Island family for example, they've had enough wealth in their social status that they were untouchable. You have no idea what the meaning of a position is, do you? I had to work my hardest to securing my position, and I was willing to risk anything to keep it that way. We lived in a desperate time…and such reasons call for desperate measures."
Killian paused to take the time to realize what Galilea meant. "Security, huh…?" He scoffed. "So you really are a coward. I feel so sorry for you. If I had known I was working this hard to becoming someone like you…I would've taken my chances elsewhere."
She gingerly closed her eyes. "Like where? Death? You must have forgotten, you owe your life to me. If I hadn't given you a job, you would have ended up dead with your family a long while back."
"At this point, I don't see how right now is any different. I'm pretty much dead to the world as you re to Hades Pillars. I came here to do my own job, and for once, it's not by you nor Rogue Zero…it's by me! You may need me, Galilea…but I don't need you anymore. I can be my own success that doesn't involve kicking others to the curb."
"And how do you intend on being successful when you don't have a career left?" Galilea challenged.
"I never said I needed a career to be my own kind of success, did I?" he sniped. "I'll succeed…by you failing!"
There was another serious tension that ran by them once more. The atmosphere went from 0 to 100 in an instant as a harsh wind howled within the chamber. Galilea's hair shifted as her glare on Killian was showing her overwhelming security at stake. She knew at this point what Killian came her to do, what he's willing to risk in order to see the final straw plucked from her. She couldn't afford to fail. She just couldn't. She worked far too hard to get to where she did now. If her most faithful worker was willing to look the other way at this time, then there was no question in her mind what needed to be done.
"I see now that bringing someone like you along was a terrible mistake on my part…I'll be sure to correct that." She held up a Bakugan between two fingers, which was black, magenta, and green patterned. "I will never allow another failure to run by me again."
"You make it sound so personal." He sniped back, holding up his own black, magenta, and green Bakugan. "But I guess that's just business too."
"…you know, Killian. I also admired you. You were the best worker I ever had…sometimes I felt sorry to have roped you into this work."
"It's a little late for sorries now, isn't it?"
"Yes, you're right."
"Galilea, consider this my resignation. From you, from everyone who used me as a mop when they were too lazy to do it themselves. I'm gonna clean up the biggest mess that's right in front of me, and that'll be it."
"That's not how this works, Killian. Should have given me a two-weeks notice."
"Last I checked, you don't need a notice to spill someone's blood."
Galilea: 100% Killian: 100%
A short silence fell between them as the howling winds shifted lightly before them. Killian furrowed his brow heavily as he kept his glare deadest on his goal. "Moskeeto, can I count on you to support me in this fight?"
"Don't worry, Killian. I'm ready when you are." He insisted. "I wish I could say sorry, especially with how you feel about her…"
"It's fine…it's better this way. Now let's take care of this business." He was the first to pull up a Gate Card. "Gate Card, set!" He flicked the card out as fast as possible, sending a green shockwave through the ground. He held up Moskeeto and threw him in. "Bakugan, brawl! Bakugan, stand! Fly, Ventus Swarm Moskeeto!"
Upon the ball form opening, the vacuums dissipate when a stronger magenta and green cyclone shot skywards, erupting into a pillar that swirled around something inside. As the storm dispersed, the evolved insectoid Bakugan fluttered his wings, aiming his cannon-like proboscis at Galilea with a venomous shrill howling in the air.
The winds passed Galilea as she stared up, unfazed by the Bakugan's stand. "I see that you've used the forbidden energy to evolve your Bakugan, Killian. Were you along with this? Just like you were with the plans from the very beginning?"
"Even if I answered, it wouldn't change anything." He argued. "Now for once, stop asking questions. I didn't come her for an interrogation."
Galilea's nerve wracked. "You will know your place as I have. I'll personally punish you, in the name of Hades Pillars and Riaan!" She threw her Bakugan in. "Bakugan, brawl! Bakugan, stand!"
The Bakugan rolled out, popping open a set of wings, a head, as well as four jointed arms with an opening they flipped with a stinger end. A magenta glow glistened below that engulfed the entire room. A bright flash of energy absorbed the winds circulating around them and exploded skywards. Magenta whirlwinds beamed like a pillar that shook the entire chamber. Killian stood his ground, while Moskeeto fluttered his wings faster than before and hovered out of the drafts and down towards Killian to pick him up. Together, man and Bakugan glided away as they watched the tempest pillar skyrocket.
Galilea raised her arm high. "Arise…Ventus Hivaga!"
Inside a set of magenta eyes glowed brightly in the wind pillar. Six wings beat vibrantly and dispersed the wings, revealing the Bakugan that Galilea possessed. It was very similar to Buz Hornix – its predecessor – but it had a more draconic vibe towards her, and had a multitude of changes. Hivaga had a bee's head, but had a massive protrusion with ridges along the top that were encased in magenta. The head was all black, with two magenta diamonds at the base of the forehead. Two dark green antennae that were massively sharp were pointed upwards. She had two mandibles that were folded in, and two smaller ones that hooked outwards beneath the jaw. Her eyes were a solid magenta color and were connected like a compound lens with outwards spokes on either side. She had a long neck that was black and ridged along the back, with magenta lining separating it from the bright green underside. Between were two dark green claws on either side. It had a black chest with four dark green protrusions much like claws curved upwards as they border bright green arms with black circular joints with magenta spikes at their ends. Those were the elbows as they diverged to four arms; two on each side. The black hands had three bright green claws. The bright green torso was thin and had small dark green protrusions. The protrusions connected to the round, black stomach. Beneath that was an abdomen that was a replication of Buz Hornix, however, there were a lot of changes. For example, it was shaped in a beehive and was more rounded than it was flat. It had magenta ridged along the inner top to hold out the black panels that made it seem more finely edged. Each black panel had a magenta diamond pattern on it. Three giant claw-like protrusions sat evenly around the abdomen for intimidation. They all came to dark green folded claws that supported a gargantuan pointer that had a magenta end. Dark green joints made up the six silver-clear wings that supported the draconic insectoid's bulk.
"KRRREEEEEEEEE!" Hivaga raised her head high, emitting a cry so powerful that it hit a frequency note that made Killian try his best to not cringe at.
Hivaga: 1000 Swarm Moskeeto: 700
'Cesar did warn us that this could happen. Such power levels.' As mentally deterred as he was, Killian was done fretting with excuses. 'You came here to do this, your last job before it all begins. If this is the way it's gonna be…then I'm gonna to 100%.'
Hivaga's mandibles opened wide as she used her torso up and pointed her stinger end at those who defied her. 'I…will never fail again. Not ever!' Galilea assured. "Hivaga, go!"
Another monstrous shriek rattled the chamber as Hivaga obeyed her master. In the blink of an eye, she vanished from sight, much to Killian's surprise.
With a gasp, he heard a swarming sound and looked up. He and Moskeeto immediately noticed the shadow that was Hivaga's stinger aimed directly for them. 'So fast!' The queen bee came zipping down, but Moskeeto was witty enough to barrel roll to the side and fly skywards at the same speeds Hivaga did. He looked like a black and green fighter jet that faded into the chamber's atmosphere.
Galilea and Hivaga looked up and saw a bright green glint before it came down, beaming at fighter jet speeds. It was Moskeeto as his proboscis was aimed for his opponent. Killian was on his back as his Bakumeter showed an ability.
"Ability, activate! Lock Luster!" While soaring down, Moskeeto's proboscis jerked and fired a dense green energy beam that broke the sound barrier. It jettisoned and swiveled after Hivaga, so swiftly in fact that it seemed to outdo her.
Hivaga: 1000 (-400) = 600 Swarm Moskeeto: 700 (+400) = 1100
As fast as the ability was, Galilea anticipated this and already had a counter provided. "Ability activate, Granule Shield!"
Hivaga didn't budge as the attack drew in. Her visors suddenly shined bright green for a moment before a large translucent green shield appeared before her. Moskeeto's green beam struck the shield straight in its center, but it instead severed into various smaller beams that diffused around it.
Hivaga: 600 (+400) = 1000 Swarm Moskeeto: 1100 (-400) = 700
Killian wasn't deterred. Moskeeto eventually let up his attack, but it was only when he was so close that he was almost within stinger's reach. He did a tight but very accurate turn coming around the shield. Hivaga and her shield followed them and watched them zipline skyward, turn on the axel, and blitz back at her.
"Ability activate, Proboscis Gunner!" As Swarm Moskeeto dove in once more, his proboscis aimed and fired a multitude of tiny green projectiles like bullets out of a machine gun; an actual machine gun noise came from Moskeeto as he fired away. They all repeatedly ate away at the shield, hammering into it until it shattered like glass, exposing Hivaga to the barrage of green projectiles that exploded in her front. She let our hisses as the energy enveloped her in a green smoke.
Hivaga: 1000 (-400 -200) = 400 Swarm Moskeeto: 700 (+400 +200) = 1300
'Nullifying an ability that simply doesn't mean they got the job done.' Galilea mentally sterned.
The green explosion continued to engulf Hivaga's area, where Moskeeto jettisoned passed and ascended into a fighter jet roll and glided around above. He arched around the battlefield, allowing him and Killian to observe from a high point. Even at gliding speeds, he was speeding like his life depended on it.
Killian frowned heavily as he glared through his shades downwards. Through the green explosions, he could see magenta eyes beaming his and Moskeeto down.
"Moskeeto! Look alive!"
His warning came no sooner than when Galilea activated an ability. "You won't get away, mister! Ability activate, Aero Bolt!"
Moskeeto's multi-cellular eyes caught a glimpse of something green and changed his course. The green energy dissipated, revealing Hivaga as her claw-like pauldrons on her upper body had glowing tips and crackled green lightning to a single point over the head. It manifested into a large orb and she fired a streaking beam of condensed green lightning that swerved and blitzed at Mach speeds, destroying air particles as it traced Moskeeto's trajectory.
It was fast. Nothing more. Nothing less. Time slowed down for a second as Moskeeto barely craned his neck aside. The lightning blitzed onwards, destroying a part of the Empyrean's wall with brutal force. Pieces reduced to ash in a split second. Even as debris flew around, Moskeeto shot straight through, racing along the side as Hivaga open-fired once more, tracing her attack in his direction. As he arched around, the green lightning blast went in a straight line, destroying the structure, only for it to repair quickly.
Hivaga: 400 (+500) = 900 Swarm Moskeeto: 1300 (-500) = 800
Galilea watched them evade the attack and fly about across the atmosphere. Her glare was serious as it was disappointed as they continued fighting the inevitable. "You should get back on the ground, Killian. That kind of battling is very dangerous for your health."
Hivaga's attack continued following along, gradually drawing closer towards them. Killian glanced back and then forward. "Make me!"
At his behest, Moskeeto suddenly picked up speed and arch around Galilea. The green lightning blast destroyed the wall behind in a heartbeat. Debris that wasn't disintegrated went falling from the high point, dropping around Galilea with booming thuds. They broke to smaller pieces upon impact.
With the distraction, Hivaga ceased her assault as Moskeeto turned outwards. The Bakugan prioritized its master and beelined over just as a huge debris piece plundered. She hovered over her master and used her thorax as a base shield, sustaining little to no damage thanks to the outer shell it had.
Moskeeto's eyes glimmered with an opportunity. "Killian, I see it!"
"Ability, activate!" he yelled. "Mega Sonic!" Moskeeto's eyes glimmered brightly as his wings generated a vibrant hum. He somersaulted before the generated sonic waves multiplied and fired down in a condensed sonic blast that beamed down onto Hivaga.
Hivaga: 900 (-400) = 500 Swarm Moskeeto: 800 (+400) = 1200
The sonic blast barreled down when Hivaga was occupied with watching for her master. Galilea looked up and saw the sonic blast incoming. "Hivaga!"
The insectoid craned her head up, only to realize the jet blast heading her way. She only saw green air flicker before it pummeled her face, sending her onto her back hissing. The ground shuddered as the impact made dust and debris explode spontaneously, and poor Galilea was in the midst of it, screaming from Hivaga's thud.
High above, a large dust cloud surrounded Hivaga again. Killian and Moskeeto circled around as they observed the terrain from a higher standpoint. "Still think it's a good idea to stay grounded?!" Killian shouted. "I told you, I'm making my own judgements now! Maybe you should have taken how others feel into consideration, Galilea!"
The dust cleared away, revealing Galilea on her stomach, grunting. She was barely able to avoid getting crushed by her Bakugan. She weekly opened an eye when Moskeeto shadow blitzed right over her. She looked skywards, seeing how freely her former employee was without her. It made her blood boil.
"But for now, if she insists that we are to be told of our mistakes like children, then she shall be talked to like one, until she is seen fit…do you understand, Galilea?"
Cyrus' words rung in her head. The emotions she felt back then she kept bottled up were starting to show. 'I…refuse to be looked down on!' She saw Moskeeto ascend higher as he kept moving. 'I'll focus on narrowing his maneuverability.'
Her Bakumeter showed another ability shining green. "Ability, activate! Geo Hive Rush!"
Hivaga's silhouette arose as her magenta eyes gleamed. She hissed menacingly and ascended back into the air. Her glare fixed on Moskeeto's trajectory as he blitzed about. She locked on and aimed her abdomen at him.
"Killian, look!" Moskeeto warned.
Killian noticed Hivaga's abnormal behavior and grew anxious. "Not looking good…"
Hivaga hissed and jerked her entire lower half. The entire hive-like structure it had going ultimately collapsed upon itself. The panels opened wide into multiple legs with the green claws at the ends evenly spread out. There, Moskeeto and Killian saw it all. The underside of the "hive" was dark green legs that moved each panel like plates. The underside was a collection of magenta honeycombs that enclosed the stinger's base. If Killian's stomach wasn't flipping before, it definitely was when each individual honeycomb launched bright green comets that were shaped in huge hornets with grizzly stingers at their ends. They packed in hundreds of numbers and swarmed around Moskeeto, buzzing about and swarming him in a tornado of said energy.
Hivaga: 500 (+500) = 1000 Swarm Moskeeto: 1200 (-500) = 700
The energy hornets swarmed in hundreds, ne, thousands of their kind. They left behind streams that surged to make them seem faster than usual, almost like an illusion. They buzzed madly as their stingers often stuck out to impale Moskeeto. Killian stayed atop, but even he wasn't safe.
'She's created minions to help immobilize us and our field of vision!' Killian's eyes widened. A buzzing sound made him cringe before he ducked. A hornet stinger barely got his head, but another came right for him. He twitched right to dodge, but the stinger passed by, grazing his cheek to make a cut.
Moskeeto hissed as the tornado of hornets tightened around him. He was finding mobility impossible to control, not with collapsing hornet stingers barraging him. He hissed as several stingers struck him, while Killian was trying to hang on.
BZZZT!
An energy hornet shot straight into Killian's back, the lethal three-inch hooked stinger impaling his clothing and skin. His eyes widened as he gaped his mouth, but inhaled his shout instead of scream outwards.
Galilea watched with an emotionless expression as the cyclone of minions kept her opponent at bay. She glared as her Hivaga prepared her next attack. "Ability, activate! Superior Pulse!"
Hivaga raised her head, her mouth opening wide to make a green orb of energy surrounded by small dark green loops. The orb kept expanding until it reached its peak and fired in a straight path. The bomb had green ripples following its wake as it traveled through air after its target.
Hivaga: 1000 (+600) = 1600 Swarm Moskeeto: 700
Killian tried his damnest to maintain the focus he needed, but it was a lot at stake. A recent hornet scraped the side of his head, followed by another stabbing his right bicep. He grunted as he needed to get them off.
"Damnit…double ability, activate!" He shouted. "Swarm Cannon, plus Fusion Ability, Hum Pulse!"
The energy swarm broke off as a green pulse orb shot at Moskeeto. Time gradually slowed down for it to process what was happening with the attack operation. Moskeeto's nose suddenly lengthened at the very last second and he fired a bright green, glossy energy blast into the orb.
All that was seen from the outside was a bright green flare that sparkled every second. The flare brightened and suddenly erupted into spontaneous comets that rained down destroyed energy hornets around Hivaga and Galilea. The latter covered up as winds violently surged from that blast. The eruption of glossy hornets was like a volcano erupting. Endless arrays of comets rained downwards as Swarm Moskeeto zipped away.
Hivaga: 1600 (-500 -300) = 800 Swarm Moskeeto: 700 (+500 +300) = 1500
The raining insectoids kept Galilea busy as Moskeeto glided right overhead. He arched skywards, creating an undertow that pushed Galilea onto her back harshly. Adding in the falling insects, one that still in the process of burning away landed on her upper left thigh. It sizzled as it faded away, but Galilea couldn't help but scream in mortal agony. Her thigh pants had a small hole, where her skin sizzled from its stinger dissolving.
Moskeeto jettisoned across the area, making sure to stay on the move. Killian kept his eyes open in every direction as the destroyed swarm fell everywhere. Something didn't feel right. '…where's Hivaga?'
Suddenly, in a breakneck appearance, Hivaga reappeared above Moskeeto, her enclosed stinger pointed at him. The mosquito hardly had time to look up to realize.
'She's too fast!'
"Ability…activate!" Galilea strained. "Cell Leech!"
Hivaga screeched as her magenta tip shined brightly, before it aimed for Moskeeto's back and fired a stinging green dart that exploded upon impact. Smoke erupted from behind as he went downwards like a plane that was knocked down from the atmosphere. As he hissed, the green smoke that was from the explosion surrounded Hivaga, who had a green outline around her body.
Hivaga: 800 (+900) = 1700 Swarm Moskeeto: 1500 (-900) = 600
Galilea watched Moskeeto plunge. "Cell Leech an ability that transfers 100 Gs times the number of abilities used this round." She recited. "You wouldn't have lasted long at all."
Moskeeto grunted as he tried to hold on, especially with Killian in the balance. Just as he got his momentum again, Hivaga jettisoned downwards and crashed into him. He smashed into the ground, making a dust cloud that faded away. He was shown to be on his back, with Killian sprawled close by. He was lucky that Moskeeto was extremely light, otherwise that would have seriously crushed him. But he was still badly injured as he was sprawled a short distance away.
With his limbs immobilized by four claws hands, Hivaga hissed as she pinned her prey down. Moskeeto was already winded from that earlier blast to his back.
Galilea saw Killian struggle to stand, but her face showed no concern for his well-being. "This is what happens when you don't do as you're told, Killian." He managed to get his feet beneath him. "You knew better than what you are doing now, yet you still decided to be selfish. You really think that I wanted to do this? Did you?!"
At her harsh wording, Hivaga pushed down harder, crushing Moskeeto into the ground so much that his backside could be heard scrunching. Killian staggered about, trying to ignore the blistering pain from the multiple impales of stingers that went through him.
"Killian…why? Why now? If you had just stayed obedient like I am, you could have had it all. You could have had everything you ever wanted! Interacia would have flourished and then you wouldn't have to work like you did ever again! So why throw that all away?! Tell me!" Her voice was getting much less strain. It was clear that her emotions were starting to break apart her concentration.
Killian panted. It took him a moment to respond. "…do I…look like Amina to you?" he exasperated. "I thought I made it clear…even if this succeeded…I never would have been happy with myself in the end."
Galilea gnashed her teeth, her frustrations with Killian rising. "You're such an idiot. We all had to risk our sakes for Milord, that's one of the many things we have to give up to someone who has a stronger passion than you. You don't have anything, Killian, so what's there to give up to me?! You…ungrateful little…"
"…" Killian didn't respond. He looked over at Moskeeto, seeing him pinned. He looked back, his glare reaffirming something he remembered a while back.
"What?"
"Nothing…just thinking is all." Killian laid his head down on a pillow, closing his eyes as he tried to take in the morals of what he was doing. "Honestly, I know what I'm doing is work…but something about still crawls up my spine. I don't like it."
"Maybe…" Galilea reached over, slowly surmounting the stressed Ventus battler. "But no work means nothing gets done. What's important is to stay on task. Lose focus…" She put her hands on his shoulders, her own nails driving into his stiff neck muscles. "And it'll reflect poorly on your actions…and your superiors. Don't forget that."
Looking back at it now, the memory felt more like a stain, a stain that will always be there. Maybe it was his emotions he kept bottled up coming out, or maybe it was a misunderstanding, but even if Galilea did care about his well-being, it was all for her safe. A full circle with him as the orbit.
He kept his fixation on Galilea, but seeing her like this, he felt no remorse. 'Galilea…'
Moskeeto hissed as he was trying to get up, but the enemy had kept him pinned down. Hivaga slowly levered herself up and stationed high above the adversary. The stinger took its position right overhead. The claws detached and revealed the hive inside.
"Know your place, Killian Miles!" Galilea roared. "Ability activate…Gorge Cannon!"
The honeycombs all shined bright green which began concentrating electrical impulses down towards the pointed top. Energy amplified and compressed into a near-solidified point that brightened in front of Moskeeto's face.
Hivaga: 1700 (+600) = 2300 Swarm Moskeeto: 600 (-600) = 0
The energy rapidly charged, brightening everything between Galilea and Killian. Air currents were drawn in and swirled around the attack, causing their clothing to shift. Killian and Galilea locked eyes with each other, unyielding towards the other. The way that Killian kept looking at her, it just made her mad. Ne, furious! If she hated anything else than failure, it's being looked down on as someone who's inferior. She worked too hard and suffered gratifying humiliation by Cyrus and Zion. She won't let a third person make a mockery of her stature.
She glared ahead and pointed dead ahead. "Hivaga! Now!"
The queen bee gave a menacing hiss before she unleashed all the concentrated matter within her stinger. The energy flashed several times in front of them and everything went white for a moment. Seconds later, the ground erupted into green shockwaves that broke through the ventilation, beaming the energy straight outwards throughout the Empyrean with a forceful magnitude. Dust and whirlwinds flashed and swirled into a single point before expelling outwards. Galilea maintained her position as the shockwaves rummaged passed her.
From higher up, gusts of wind were spewing up skywards, catching Jase's attention. "Watch out!"
At his warning, everyone looked down as saw green shockwaves tear up the atmosphere towards them. They all got low and gripped the stairwell. The shockwaves exploded upwards, causing them all to almost immediately feel like something was trying to pry them away. The Empyrean chamber shook violently to where it felt like an actual hurricane happening within the domain.
Luke gnashed his teeth as he kept a hold on the step ahead on him. 'Such force…!'
Maggie, being the lightest of the bunch, had it poorly as she felt the winds becoming too much. She lost her grip and was pushed towards the open arch beside them.
"Crap! MAGGIE!" Shawn reached out towards her, but she had already gotten too far out of reach.
Maggie squealed as her body was being flung towards the outdoor, cold atmosphere, when suddenly, a gauntlet reached out and gripped her wrist in time. Maggie was saved by a black cape that flicked in her face, but even she was left speechless.
"Maximus?!"
The Rogue Zero leader said nothing as he pulled Maggie closer and swept his cape around her to shield her from the violent windstorm. He used his spare gauntlet and activated the energy claws to dig into the stairwell and help anchor them down. He made sure to not let go of his grip as his hood flailed madly, yet still somehow covered his face.
The attack eventually receded, and everyone started coming around once more. Their balance returned fast enough for them to assure their ground.
"Is everyone okay?!" Luke shouted back.
Esther nodded. "Yes, we're fine."
The shockwaves let up, leaving Maximus to let go of Maggie and leave her stunned at the actions made. "Maximus…you just…"
As if he didn't hear her, Maximus kept his ascent going. He trudged along. "Keep it moving."
Xander passed by, smirking. "He means you're welcome, by the way." He sneered at Maggie. "And by the way, you should be more careful and find something better to anchor yourself down with next time something like that happens."
Confused, Maggie shook her head to dismiss said inquiry and nodded. "Yeah, duly noted."
Shawn looked down at the source of the earlier flash winds, seeing a bright green eruption of energy at the center far beneath them. "That power…it's from Killian and Galilea…and it's reaching all the way up here."
"You think they're gonna hold out?" Shuji wondered.
"Heh…don't waste your breath." Everyone heard Maximus' snipe as he kept climbing. Xander was close behind. "You're all forgetting, this is Killian you're talking about. Soft as he is, he always follows through with any job you give him. That's perhaps one of his only advantages."
The wind howled as everyone gave the other shifty glances. They didn't know Killian personally like that, but right now was not the best time to know those circumstances. They had to keep climbing.
A green fume erupted skywards, engulfing the ground between Galilea and Killian. Both sides were trying to stay form to the ground, despite whirlwinds brewing outwards. Regardless, they were able to hold up to the best of their abilities. One of the streamers attached to Killian's glasses snapped off and fluttered away, and parts of Galilea's wardrobe got holes, aside from the burn on her thigh.
Galilea shifted her weight so she could hold firmer to the ground. She glared at her Hivaga, unleashing the beam that should have killed the enemy at point-blank range. 'That should have done the trick. An attack with that much power must have surely done it.'
A green wave shifted past a frown. "You good?!"
Galilea's eyes widened as a gasp escaped her mouth.
Hivaga kept beaming her attack, but as the light dimmed down somewhat, one could see the green energy turn to magenta as it struck Swarm Moskeeto, drawing into his body. The Bakugan's body glowed a magenta aura as he was still intact, still alive despite the beam supposed to kill him. Hivaga hissed down in shock, which reflected on Galilea's stupefied expression.
Hivaga: 2300 (-600 -600) = 1100 Swarm Moskeeto: 0 (+600 +1200) = 1800
'Impossible…did he seriously nullify the ability?' She readjusted her critical thinking. 'No, it wasn't nullified. It was reversed somehow, otherwise Moskeeto wouldn't have gained all that power.' She looked ahead at the root cause of this phenomenon, seeing Killian still standing with an ability with a purple core. Her eyes narrowed. 'I should've known…'
"Ability, Infection-X!" Killian announced. 'Just in time, too. A split second beforehand. I was always told of my timing being on point. Guess this qualifies. With this forbidden ability, the opponent's ability effects change from positive numbers to negative numbers, and adds double the affected amount towards Swarm Moskeeto.'
Hivaga kept up the pressure, unaware that her power was being absorbed and amplified into Moskeeto. The Bakugan grunted as his nose faced her and his eyes shined.
"Hivaga, watch out!" Galilea fret, but it was too late.
Killian held up another ability high. "Ability, activate! Lock Luster!" With Hivaga so close and her legs spread apart, Moskeeto had a great shot for the underside. He arched his huge probiscis up and channeled green energy with a gleam in his eyes. With a hissing battle cry, he unleashed a roaring blast of dense green energy that engulfed the entire underside, causing Hivaga to screech out in agony as she was blasted skywards off the mosquito and high into the air.
"KWAAAAAAH~!" Hivaga screeched as she lost any and all momentum she had and doubled over into the ground, smashing into the Empyrean's accents and making a thud so grand that Galilea fell over, screaming in shock and pain.
Hivaga: 1100 (-400) = 700 Swarm Moskeeto: 1800 (+400) = 2200
With the ground trembling, Moskeeto finally was able to work his way out and ascend back into the air. Killian took a leap and grabbed onto the proboscis as his Bakugan zipped passed him and glided back to a higher point. He made sure to stay on as winds kept surging through the area.
Galilea grunted as she attempted to stand. She looked up at Killian, seeing him back up in the air. She could see it, but still found it hard to believe. 'He outdid me. He used the proximity and Hivaga's exposed underside and struck her weakest point faster than she could react. He must be getting desperate.' It had to be the case. He was desperate. Not that she was weaker. She could think a lot better than he could, that was a given. Yet Killian managed to outmaneuver her. Her heat rate was skyrocketing like crazy.
Beside her, the dust cleared as Hivaga gingerly arose. She looked up, hissing at Moskeeto as he came around. She ascended back into the air and darted straight for him.
"Moskeeto, incoming!" Killian warned.
"I got her! Hang on!" Moskeeto broke into a breakneck stride through the air. He and Hivaga went at each other head on, his proboscis nose clashing with her gargantuan stinger. It was a lightspeed fencing battle as he repeatedly jabbed, deflecting shots made by Hivaga while at the same time trying to outmaneuver her. However, she kept up, and was faster than expected. The angry queen bee thrust her stinger, but Moskeeto hovered up and gained altitude over her. The mosquito and dragon bee met eyes with opposition on one another.
"Ability, activate! Aero Bolt!" Hivaga's clawed pauldrons energized green lightning at their tips and focused energy to a single point. From her, lightning expelled in a concentrated green blast at Moskeeto.
The insectoid Bakugan didn't bother moving as he kept his position in the air. He hissed as the incoming green lightning turned magenta and was drawn towards him. It struck him, but was easily absorbed and energized Moskeeto further instead of doing damage.
Hivaga: 700 (-500) = 200 Swarm Moskeeto: 2200 (+1000) = 3200
Galilea's eyes widened in shock. 'The Infection-X is still active?!'
As Hivaga kept firing het attack, she was looking more worn out than before. This was Moskeeto's chance to fly in and struck his proboscis into Hivaga's chest, where he fired a point-blank beam of green energy that engulfed her. She hissed violently as she was shoved back down towards the ground, slamming with so much force in front of Galilea that anther dusty cloud erupted.
"Now, Moskeeto…ability activate, Swarm Cannon!" Moskeeto's proboscis suddenly jerked and it lengthened by a grand margin. Glistening green energy hastily manifested into tip, which was aimed on the already deterred opponent. Without flinching, Killian reached down at the target. "NOW!"
Moskeeto's eyes glistened with adrenaline as his proboscis jerked once more. His entire body was pushed back a few meters as a glistening beam of energy pulsated downwards at sonic speeds. The air roared as it let loose airwaves that dispersed vividly.
Hivaga: 200 (-500) = 0 Swarm Moskeeto: 3200 (+500) = 3700
'This time, we're not gonna miss our targets!' Killian's thought were brought to life as Moskeeto's body erupted in a Ventus aura. His beam started turning wavy and ultimately split in several smaller meteors that flared down on Hivaga and Galilea. They traveled so fast that the latter only saw a few glimmers before her vision saw white.
Time slowed down for a moment as everything was fading fast. All she could feel was searing pain running through her core, and it wasn't from the projectiles she glared at. It was something that made her heartbeat that much quicker.
"You are smart, Galilea, but your self-discipline has weighed heavily on you. You are someone who is used to having the worker bees do the work and you direct and watch over them. Like a queen hornet. And do you know what cruel fate awaits the Queen Hornet and her larvae when winter comes?"
Galilea watched Riaan turn around. The magenta highlights in his eyes overcast by his dark shadow made him look more menacing than ever.
"They get disposed of by their own workers."
What Riaan spoke of from then to now finally clicked. Did he really foresee this kind of outcome? If she didn't know better, this had to be that karma that she keeps hearing about. 'No…I refuse…I refuse…!' Her anger boiled over as she remembered something immediately after.
"You threaten your workers to live up to your expectations, but you've failed to realize my own. Don't forget, this isn't just a business anymore. It's a force. And like everyone out there, a force is as strong as its most capable combatants. From what I've seen, you have seemed to have mistaken that you are not helpless without your hive that doesn't listen to its queen."
'I refuse…' Her eyes widened back as she raised her head high. "…TO ACCEPT THIS~!"
The green barrage closed in, but she was quick to apply a counter. "I'll show everyone that this queen won't be kicked out of her hive. Ability, activate! Imperial Driver!"
The three giant claws on Hivaga's abdomen gave of a green static green that built up pressure, enough to make a ring-shaped green energy mass that connected its crackling energy at the tip of the stinger. The stinger raised at the numerous comets right for her and expelled green electrical impulses that spread outwards, blocking every comet and dispelling it in a flash.
Killian and Moskeeto didn't even have time to register to shock before the green impulses reached them. The insect was swatted away in a grunt of pain.
Hivaga: 0 (+200 +500) = 700 Swarm Moskeeto: 3700 (-500 -500) = 2700
Killian was whipped around, trying to make heads and tails of what was happening. He picked up on green and black blur within their melee turbulence, Just as Moskeeto readjusted, Hivaga flew directly into his face, her stinger set.
"I won't be looked down on as a failure! Ability, activate! Judgement Pointer!"
Hivaga's stinger end glowed bright green and she slashed it across like a blazer. She impaled Moskeeto's freefall frame right across the small abdomen, where he grunted heavily at the pain.
Hivaga: 700 Swarm Moskeeto: 2700 (-2000) = 700
The venomous slash across the torso quickly spread. Swarm Moskeeto had no means of getting away as the toxins had already infiltrated his structure.
'This is bad!' Killian braced another ability. "Ability, activate-!" He went to activate an ability, but nothing happened. He gasped. "My abilities are blocked?!"
Hivaga backpedaled away a few meters as Moskeeto fell limply towards the earth beneath. It was a spinning nosedive that Killian held onto for his life.
"No matter how much you try, in the end, you can never hope to satisfy those above you." Galilea recited. "Ability, activate! Cell Leech!" Her Hivaga pivoted and aimed downwards, firing a green energy darts that rushed in hastily. Its speed was helped by the force of gravity help it reach Moskeeto that much faster.
Killian gnashed his teeth. He was losing momentum fast. He opened one eye and saw the green energy dart fly in faster than anticipated. And he couldn't activate an ability to fight back. He looked back down, seeing that they were about to hit the ground harshly.
"Killi…an!" Moskeeto strained. "Need…a little…help here…!"
Killian mentally cursed himself. 'It's now or never…' He craned his neck down towards the battlefield. "Gate Card, open! Evil Clear!"
The Gate Card unleashed a powerful one, one that had an immediate affect on Moskeeto's body. As he drew closer, the numbness he felt went away in an instant. Similarly, the oncoming dart that was just about to hit them faded away. Moskeeto was able to gain his bearings and adjusted, flying straight over the Gate Card and back up, kicking up yet another dust wave over Galilea. She grunted as she tried desperately to hold on.
'He used a Gate Card to nullify my abilities!' she sniped in her thoughts.
Moskeeto ascended back into the air, beaming brightly as his power level returned towards 2700, while Hivaga degenerated back towards 700. The superior queen bee looked on as Moskeeto sped about in a buzzing frenzy.
"Ability, activate!" Galilea shouted. "Gorge Cannon!"
Hivaga kept eying Moskeeto until she got a clear lock on him. Her visors shimmered and she hissed defensively. She opened her claws wide to expose her hive-like underside and gave off a bright shine. The shine channeled energy towards the tip, expelling a monstrous green beam that jolted after Moskeeto.
Hivaga: 700 (+600) = 1300 Swarm Moskeeto: 2700 (-600) = 2100
The beam grew larger as it closed in on Moskeeto. Killian initiated a counter. "Ability activate, Proboscis Gunner!" Moskeeto's proboscis cocked and he aimed for the oncoming cannon beam heading for him. He shot bullet-like projectiles of glistening green energy that ate away at the beam. It stopped dead in its tracks as bits of it dissipated.
Hivaga: 1300 (-600 -200) = 500 Swarm Moskeeto: 2100 (+600 +200) = 2900
Galilea held up another ability at the ready. "I saw that coming! Ability, activate! Imperial Driver!"
Hivaga receded her attack for the time being and closed her hive claws. They folded and the three huge claws channeled a ring of green lightning that manifested at the tip of the stinger. Once ready, shockwaves exploded outwards, eating the air and the oncoming projectiles. They expanded outwards towards Moskeeto, but this time he anticipated it and ascended out of range, but barely.
Hivaga: 500 (+600 +200 +500) = 1800 Swarm Moskeeto: 2900 (-600 -200 -500) = 1600
The air pulsed outwards, sending briefs shockwaves in all directions. Green abnormal distortions filtered through the air until they faded away, revealing Hivaga fluttering in pace, while Moskeeto was higher up, albeit coming in for a direct dive. The mosquito hissed aggressively, while Hivaga didn't take it lightly and readied herself.
"You'll pay for all the trouble you've caused…right now!" Galilea shouted.
"The only one who'll be paying is you!" Killian snapped back.
"Ability, activate! Superior Pulse!" Hivaga careened her head up, hissing as she channeled green energy into a compressed energy orb with loops around its base. She fired it at impressive speeds, carrying through towards Moskeeto.
"Ability activate, Mega Sonic!" Moskeeto's eyes glimmered intensely as his wings generated a strong beat. Sonic waves condensed around him and he fired a funnel of green sonicboom shockwaves that tore the air clean through. It rumbled as it discharged towards Hivaga.
Hivaga: 1800 (+600 -400) = 2000 Swarm Moskeeto: 1600 (+400) = 2000
The orb and sonic funnel blasts met in the middle, creating a strong airwave that expanded between Hivaga and Moskeeto. Both their attacks were in a deadlock in order to overpower the other, but neither side was letting up. The shockwaves created by their combined attack generated a windstorm that pushed outwards, forcing Galilea to cover up so she wouldn't get pushed over herself. Killian clung onto Moskeeto for dear life as his anticipation showed.
Both Bakugan refused to give in as they each expelled a violent hiss in retort. Moskeeto's wings vibrated faster, making the shockwaves far larger than before. Similarly, Hivaga did the same her energy sphere grew larger to keep the balance between them.
"MOSKEETO!"
"HIVAGA!"
Both Bakugan's eyes gleamed at the sound of their master's call. Once more they screeched mightily as they unleashed all they had into their attacks, making them so concentrated that energy distorted between them. Green sparks exploded into an unbearable flash that steadily grew. The flash imploded upon itself, expelling a green Ventus energy with hurricane-level winds ripping everything apart. Moskeeto and Hivaga's attacks backfired on the other and this hurricane energy wall smashed both, doing so much damage that parts of their clear wings tore up as they fell towards the ground. Killian and Galilea screamed as they fell off and were blown away as well, each one slamming into the ground close to their Bakugan. Dust exploded from their thuds that were swept around by the windstorm, making it impossible to tell what was happening.
Finally, after a long time, the energy diminished, revealing Moskeeto and Hivaga both recoiling hard from that attack they endured and reverted to ball form at the same time. Their spheres rolled back up to their owners, hence their crippled and sprawled masters as they laid on the ground.
Galilea: 50% Killian: 50%
Both of their clothes were getting tattered up bad, Killian more so than Galilea with the earlier blows. He toughened it out and shakily stood up before his opponent did. He balled a fist and wiped his bleeding lip. He glared daggers through his cracked lenses to show his defiance.
Galiea, on the other hand, was trying to get up, but she was bruised and winded from that last fall. That windstorm and shuddering stung bad.
"I'm not picking you up, Galilea. You wanna use anyone's legs, use your own." Killian threatened.
Galilea managed to get back up, irked incredulously by his taunt. She spread her two feet, not minding that her right pant leg had a cut in it. She refused to allow Killian to have his way. And she could see clear as day what this relationship they were in had come to.
Both sides were transfixed with a number of emotions at the moment. A passion, which was overcome by rage, and regret, to boiling grudges. If this wasn't personal before, it most certainly was now. The point of no return was far out of their reaches now.
"You got lucky." Galilea sniped coldly. "It won't happen again."
Killian held up Moskeeto. "Then work for what your words mean."
"Believe me, I'll happily oblige." She held a Gate Card and shot it between them. It faded into a green shockwave between their feet.
Both combatants held up their Bakugan and threw them in at the same time. "Bakugan, brawl!" The two Ventus Bakugan shot out, creating a magenta and Ventus flare that instantly summoned a typhoon. Both Killian and Galilea held their ground while the whirlwind spat out two Bakugan skywards.
"Ventus Hivaga, stand!"
"Ventus Swarm Moskeeto, stand!"
The whirlwind separated into two distinct masses. Winds broke apart as Hivaga and Swarm Moskeeto immediately took off into the air at fighter jet speeds.
Hivaga: 1000 Swarm Moskeeto: 700
Galilea showed an ability right off the bat. "Ability activate, Geo Hive Rush!" Hivaga spun out of her speed race with Moskeeto and took aim for his trajectory. Her lower half gleamed before it spread wide open to unleash a green hornet swarm up towards Moskeeto. Her power increased towards 1500 while Moskeeto's plummeted towards 200.
Killian was brazening enough to counterattack. "Double ability, activate! Mega Sonic, plus Fusion Ability, Hum Pulse!" Moskeeto reached a high enough point within his ascent and gazed downwards at the oncoming swarm. His wingbeat intensified as his eyes glinted bright green. Magnified pulsing waves expelled in all directions, exploding across the Empyrean's atmosphere into every corner. The swarm heading his way was blown away completely.
Galilea's eyes widened and forcibly covered herself so as to shield herself from the raining swarm that pelted the ground. It felt like sharply-edged gravel coming from above. Her skin stung harshly.
Hivaga: 1500 (-400 -300) = 800 Swarm Moskeeto: 200 (+400 +300) = 900
Her skin was on fire. Galilea could feel the energy hornets shot down by ultrasonic soundwaves, making her ears ring from the pressure. She had to get it to stop. She glared forward with an ability.
'She's on the attack again!' Killian braced himself. "Moskeeto, watch out!"
"Ability activate, Superior Pulse!" Hivaga aimed through her falling swarm and channeled energy into a bright green hemisphere with loops running from the top. The energy pulse fired up at Moskeeto at bolstering speeds.
Hivaga: 800 (+600) = 1400 Swarm Moskeeto: 900
Killian wasn't dumb, but he had to be cautious. He had to hurry and make a move fast to save his partner.
"Don't even try, Killian! This ability can't be nullified!" Galilea shouted.
Killian's eyes narrowed. "That so?" He reaffirmed another ability. "Then how about this! Fusion Ability, activate! Cell Booster!"
Moskeeto's eyes glowed glossy green. His wings glowed the same shade as his eyes as his wingbeat fastened once more. The cellular energy made them vibrate even faster as he projected a more compressed and stronger jet blast of sonic green energy funnels on top of the already amplified vibration waves.
Hivaga: 1400 Swarm Moskeeto: 900 (+500) = 1400
'A double Fusion Ability counter?' Galilea gasped in surprise.
The ultrasonic blast met Hivaga's attack in the middle, zooming onwards and hitting it along its side. With the aim intended on Hivaga, the attack caused her to dodge, and her energy orb bent a little off its course.
The orb kept going, but Moskeeto was evasive enough to tumble roll off to the side at the last second. His last-second save for himself caused him to lose control and buzzed around while the orb kept going, exploding into a voluminous green smoke that rattled the entire background around Moskeeto. The entire Empyrean roared in violent surge, projecting shockwaves that gave him a tailwind boost to project him down towards Hivaga.
"Ability activate, Close Virus!" Moskeeto's tip was poised and ready as he folded his wings in further and dove for Hivaga.
"Ability activate, Granule Shield!"
At the last possible second, a green forcefield rippled in front of Hivaga, stopping Moskeeto's endeavors cold. The tailwind blast went past him and the shield, causing the air to violently shake between them. Try as hard as he could, Moskeeto and Killian couldn't penetrate deep enough through the barrier.
"Stop…fighting the power!" Galilea roared. The shield suddenly pulsed, rejecting all the wind and energy Moskeeto shoved into back at him. The insectoid Bakugan yelled aloud as he spiraled through the air uncontrollably. Galilea channeled another ability.
"Ability activate, Aero Bolt!"
Hivaga's shoulder claws projected green lightning that concentrated to a single point. The lightning hemisphere overhead shined brightly before Hivaga unleashed a slim and dense lightning blast at the flailing mosquito.
Hivaga: 1400 (+500) = 1900 Swarm Moskeeto: 1400 (-500) = 900
Killian readied an ability to counterattack. "Double ability, activate! Mega Sonic, plus Lock Luster!" Moskeeto's proboscis aimed downwards towards the oncoming lightning bolt and fired an ultrasonic green soundwave around a green energy beam. It made a veil of distorted shockwaves that projected the attack towards its center, where everything flickered and flashed along the way.
Hivaga: 1900 (-400 -400) = 1100 Swarm Moskeeto: 900 (+400 +400) = 1700
Killian and Galilea kept their glares fixed on each other, not bothering to lose sight of one another even after a bright green flash engulfed the atmosphere above them. A harsh horizontal ripple expelled overhead before green smoke engulfed everything. It made its way down, obscuring the both of them and their Bakugan. The shockwaves made strong drafts that repulsed them off their feet once more, no matter how much they tried covering themselves from the wake of the attack.
From the whirlwinds, Moskeeto's light body made him easy to push back into the atmosphere. He was able to adjust himself this time quickly.
With Killian floored and covered up, Galilea took initiatives and barely saw through the dissipating smoke. She had an idea where Moskeeto might be on the other side. "Ability activate, Cell Leech!"
As Moskeeto hovered safely over the smoke, he saw a green glint beneath. "Huh-?!" By the time he processed it, a green dart bolted straight through the smoke, striking him hard in the face with no time for action. An explosion of energy engulfed Moskeeto, causing him to scream in riling agony.
"Moskeeto!" Killian snapped.
Hivaga: 1100 (+1000) = 2100 Swarm Moskeeto: 1700 (-1000) = 700
The smoke finally cleared, allowing Galilea to give Killian a stern glare. "This is what happens when you try to rise up on your own terms." As she explained her standpoint, Moskeeto plummeted. "You go only so high, but when a greater influence comes along…all your efforts crash!" At the last word, Moskeeto smashed into the ground in front of Killian.
Killian looked startled at his downed partner, before looking back at Galilea.
"You're a nice guy, Killian. Very nice, and very sweet…but nice guys don't always win big." She reached out towards the field. "Gate Card, open! Power Pressure!" The Gate Card shined brightly, making a bright light that Moskeeto was stuck to. Part of his body gradually sunk into the card, leaving only one of his wings, his left legs, and his head out. Like a fly to a sticky trap.
"A trap field…" Killian realized. He looked back at Galilea with clutched fists.
"Out of all of Rogue Zero, you're the one who cares most about his partners…so was I not good enough?" Galilea bitterly chuckled. "Of course it wouldn't matter because I would always be above you, plain and simple. Killian, I just needed your cooperation. You and Moskeeto, and the others, you could have been spared…but because you chose this, now you and everyone that you hold close are going to get killed…all because you tried to be better than me this one time. Don't ever question your superior. I was sure Maximus did that much at least…what a poor judgment of character."
Killian leered angrily at her. He had to focus on saving Moskeeto, but he was low on options. 'Gotta free Moskeeto. Need to nullify the Gate Card, now!' Suddenly, something green and pyramid-like shot from Killian's pocket without him throwing it. "What?!"
Besides the struggling Moskeeto, a green aura expelled Triad El Condor out to the field. The Trap Bakugan hummed as his eyes flashed green.
"Triad El Condor…?" Moskeeto grunted.
"His Bakugan Trap?" Galilea questioned. "But he didn't throw it out…"
Moskeeto grunted. "What are you…?"
Triad El Condor turned towards Moskeeto and his Ventus tiki shined. His eyes glowed green and he reached his hands out, creating a bright green ray that blossomed over the fallen Moskeeto. Even with his body stuck in the ground, the injury he sustained healed gradually.
Killian looked shocked at Triad El Condor's actions. "That's Stasis."
The Bakugan turned towards Hivaga as the black tiki shifted in front. It shined brightly as he raised his hands high, summoning swirling dark stormclouds overhead that thundered. Purple lightning glistened the coverage before purple energy hail came down, crashing into the Gate Card. Every small pellet dented in the Gate Card, enough to make it shatter eventually.
"Black Hail…" Killian realized.
Hivaga: 2100 (-1000) = 1100 Swarm Moskeeto: 700 (+1000) = 1700
Triad El Condor: 350 (+200) = 550
Galilea took a step back in shock. "His Bakugan Trap…voluntarily nullified both the ability and Gate Card? How…?"
Moskeeto levered his freed wings and hovered besides his ally. "Thank you for that…Triad El Condor." His response was several green blinks from the Bakugan's eyes.
Killian narrowed his eyes. "Well what do you know. Galilea. I guess caring about your partners does pay off after all." In front of him, Moskeeto arose besides Triad El Condor, both ready to take action.
Galilea grunted, but she was well aware of the predicament. She fastened herself against the odds as Hivaga poised to strike.
"Double ability, activate! Mega Sonic, plus Triad Hot Blast!" Moskeeto's eyes glimmered again as he jolted higher into the atmosphere. His wings hummed at an exaggerated rate before ultrasonic green soundwaves compressed into a funnel. Triad El Condor's eyes glowed bright green as all three of his tikis shined their respective attribute colors. He opened his maw and unleashed a blistering beam of green, brown, and purple energy that traveled alongside the soundwave funnel.
Hivaga: 1000 (-400 -300) = 400 Swarm Moskeeto: 1700 (+400) = 2100
Triad El Condor: 550 (+300) = 850
The attacks drew closer, but Galilea was already set with an ability in her Bakumeter. "Ability activate, Aero Bolt!"
Hivaga watched the attacks draw into her, but she created more green lightning compressed into an orb overhead. She unleashed a streaking, glossy blast from the orb that jettisoned into the twin attacks. Lightning conducted into the sonic typhoon and elemental winds before the attacks diffused. Hivaga's attack continued its course towards them, albeit slowed down by a small margin.
Hivaga: 400 (+500) = 900 Swarm Moskeeto: 2100 (-500) = 1600
Triad El Condor: 850 (-500) = 350
With that small of a margin, Killian was able to instigate an ability to counter. "Ability, activate! Stasis!"
Triad El Condor's green tiki shined brightly as his eyes shined. He reached out, emitting a green wave of energy that blocked off Hivaga's attack. It diffused into thin air, completely nullifying the ability. Galilea was hard-pressed to hold in a grunt.
"Moskeeto, take the opening!" Killian roared.
Moskeeto broke into a breakneck lunge across the atmosphere. The sound barrier smashed to pieces at how swiftly he closed in on Hivaga with a vindictive pointer ready.
"Like we'll allow that!" Galilea snapped. "Ability, activate! Superior Pulse!" Hivaga careened her head around and fired a condensed green orb of energy. Loops projected around it as it fired into Moskeeto's trajectory as her power escalated towards 1000. Moskeeto's speed was too great as he jettisoned and made impact with the pulse orb at borderline point-blank. Green static crackled between them before the atmosphere ignited into a massive eruption of green energy skywards.
The ground took in the drafts, blowing around everything yet again. Killian and Galilea covered up as the shockwaves slammed into them. Both kneeled as the green smoke billowed upwards. The first to fly out was Hivaga as Moskeeto followed in pursuit.
"Ability, activate! Geo Hive Rush!" Hivaga turned around and opened her hive underside to expose her honeycombs, which glowed bright green to expel her minions.
"Ability, activate!" Swarm Cannon!" Moskeeto immediately countered with his proboscis lengthened outwards. He fired a glossy beam of green energy that launched and separated into multiple beams.
The hive swarm closed in, but the several diffused beams darted into them all like rain. Explosions went off like wildfire that engulfed the entire atmosphere. The air rumbled uncontrollably as another layer of green smoke enveloped them both.
Galilea glared skywards, her frustrations showing. She then noticed a pair of green eyes that gleamed like stars. "Hivaga! Above you!"
Hivaga turned at her call skywards to see a glare through the smoke cloud. A hole tore open, where Moskeeto sped past her. Just as he moved past her, the queen bee kept her eyes on him when Triad El Condor levitated through the opening to focus on the honeycomb hive.
"Subterra ability, activate!" Killian shouted. "Mosaic Stone!"
Hivaga's antennae twitched and she whipped forward, but it was too late when Triad El Condor 's brown tiki moved in front and glowed. He projected glowing spheres that turned into gray stones into her exposed underside. Her underside exploded with rocks damaging the insides, causing her to shriek in pain.
Hivaga: 1000 (-200) = 800 Swarm Moskeeto: 2100
Triad El Condor: 850
Triad El Condor moved out of the way as Moskeeto suddenly sped downwards on the aching bee. "You're…GOING DOWN!"
Hivaga's glare fixed on Moskeeto's proboscis as time slowed down between them. She was in too much pain to act swiftly, and before she knew it, a point-blank blast of energy erupted into her face. The impact was so brutal that airwaves traveled downwards with her. She smashed into the battlefield in a blazing green comet, quaking the plating and causing Galilea to scream and fall backwards, doubling over onto her stomach.
As the smoke engulfed the enemies, Killian stood tall as Moskeeto and Triad El Condor descended besides one another to regroup. The Rogue Zero battler glared at the smoke dissipated between them. He couldn't let his guard down…not yet at least.
The dust gradually settled in, allowing the silhouette of Galilea to be standing, albeit heavily winded. Falling down over and over was settling bad for her. Add in the earlier injuries and it was a miracle that she was still able to stand. She glared daggers at him as she tried catching her breath. Her second wind had long since been knocked out of her.
"You through yet?" Killian challenged calmly.
"No…far from it." She sniped. "I…was hoping that I wouldn't have to use this on you…but I guess you need more punishment…don't you?"
The air shifted between them. Aloud howl exasperated as Killian's spine tensed up. He saw Galilea pull up her Bakumeter to show a forbidden ability activating. From in front of her, Hivaga's open legs kept her balanced until she was able to get back up to glare at Moskeeto.
"Killian, I feel pressure…they're gonna do something big!" He warned.
"I know! Watch yourselves, now!"
"You…" Galilea swiped forward. "Have no more privileges to be here as you do alive! Ability, activate…Hive-X!"
A purple core materialized in front of Hivaga's chest and spouted energy hashes. They lengthened to constrict all around her body before they integrated deep into her skin.
BA-DUMP!
Hivaga's eyes widened slightly as her antennae vibrated intensely. The shuddering continuously escalated as her beehive-like underside gradually opened, the honeycombs all shining a bright magenta.
'Here it comes…!' Killian braced himself.
"KRAAAAAAH~!" Hivaga careened her head into the atmosphere, her shrieks expelling outwards like a call to arms. The honeycombs had a brighter shade that faded in and out, eventually settling to a brighter magenta shade as energy hornets came crawling out, only these ones looked far more demonic than anything Killian was familiar with. They had blade-like stingers and mandibles that looked like they could bite off a human finger in one fell swoop. They fluttered out of the hive and took up large groups around Hivaga. The buzzing they emitted was noise pollution that rivaled that of the wind itself. The colonies held up their stinger blazers and hissed as some stayed clustered onto the queen for protection and voluntarily integrate themselves to become part of her energy. The Bakugan emitted a stronger roar as parts of the swarm that embedded with her shined bright magenta.
Hivaga: 800 (+4400 +5800 +2000) = 13,000 Swarm Moskeeto: 2100
Triad El Condor: 850
The swarm spiraled around Hivaga as a funnel as Galilea explained. "Hive-X commands Hivaga's most gruesome minions to do her bidding, and using the forbidden energy, makes them very aggressive. Not only do they use their power to heal all the G-Power she would have, but much like your Infection-X, Killian, this ability takes all the G-Power that I lost…and doubles that amount. And on top of that, adds an extra 2000 Gs for nutrients. You dared to anger the queen bee…now her minions are going to exterminate the threat…" She slowly reached her hand out. "I suggest you start running."
Hivaga hissed again, the magenta swarm shooting at intense speeds across the airspace towards Moskeeto. They took demonic wavy shapes as they closed in and hovered over like a tidal wave. Moskeeto, quick to react, jettisoned into the air.
Suddenly, the wave of insectoids molded into several spears that curbed up and around Moskeeto, faster than he anticipated. "So fast-!" He moved his head at the last second before one spear darted right past him. Another went blitzing at him from another angle.
"Moskeeto, on your right!" Killian warned.
The hive went on the attack, but thanks to Killian's warning, he was able to tumble off to the side and evade promptly. Another wave drew closer, narrowly missing Moskeeto's stinger end. However, it did nick a piece of it. He ignored the sensation and continued dodging the swarm that kept cornering him, chasing him all throughout the air above. No matter how fast nor how sharply he turned, more was still there to leave him with very tight places to move, eventually forcing him high into the air.
Killian observed from down below, his sights completely fixated on the rate of the swarm petering through the area. 'They're even keeping up with Moskeeto's flying speed. The forbidden energy must have made them travel at the rate of sound. Not good.' The small part of Moskeeto's stinger landed in front of him. 'And it looks like they'll eat through anything. We need to get around them faster!'
Galilea noticed Killian's focus not on her. "You should pay more attention, Killian!" At her behest, more of the swarm buzzed from Hivaga towards him directly.
Killian's eyes widened as he saw the magenta stingers and mandibles race towards him. He looked on in earnest shock. 'Crap! I'm not fast enough to dodge!' Suddenly, Moskeeto swept in from the side, picking up his partner mere milliseconds before hornets crashed down onto his spot. The tsunami of insects was too close that tie, but Killian was thankfully pulled away.
"Moskeeto!" He looked down at his partner, then back where he was. The tiling had been, quite literally, eaten away. Even as it regenerated and blue networks shine, he still was shocked to find that small bees could do such destruction.
'They ate even the ground? If these hornets could do that…they could easily eat away an entire city and its people! We've gotta put them down, now!' Killian fastened himself. "Moskeeto, evasive maneuvers!"
Hivaga raised her head high, manipulating the swarm to follow Moskeeto. Several of them jolted around and away from various points, but Killian and Moskeeto were holding on no matter what. They kept evading, shifting, and through it all, Galilea watched them with a blank expression.
Moskeeto managed to get above, and he and Killian got into momentary freefall. 'Damnit, we can't get anywhere near them like this!'
Moskeeto looked up in shock. "Above us!"
Killian's eyes snapped wide open. A shadow loomed over them that was a huge cloud of magenta buzzing hornets. It took up a large area, enough to almost completely blanket the entire atmosphere. The two looked completely dumbfounded at the stormcloud of swarming insects.
Galilea's eyes narrowed. "Now fall."
Hivaga gave the hiss to command them. Like raindrops, hornets fell individually in succession at bullet speed. Killian covered up the best he could, whereas Moskeeto tried shifting about. But there was just too many that fell with blazers first. Both screamed at the top of their lungs as they shot into the ground, which uprooted debris that was pierced and eaten away by the raining insects. They were concentrated on the central area, but the impact dug up the chamber flooring and diced it to shrapnel. Dust blew everywhere as Galilea watched them suffering.
As the dust cleared away, there was a long pause as it showed the ground being repaired around them, though stinging blazers were littered across the flooring left behind by energy hornets. The last cloud of dust settled around Killian and Moskeeto, revealing the pair sprawled across the ground. Killian was grievously wounded, with half a dozen miniature blazers stuck into his arms. One was wedged into his shoulder blade, and another was stuck in his lower back. They weren't terribly deep, but it was still horrendous. His mini cape had been all but eaten away by the swarm.
Moskeeto was lying on his front, his body having suffered incredulous wounds. Dozens of miniature blazers were stuck in his back, and his lower right wing had had a tear in it. He tried getting up, but he suffered too much damage.
"I'm surprised your Moskeeto didn't go back to ball form after that." Galilea said matter-of-factly.
Killian tried making a fist, but a stinger blade was in his hand. It was numb. 'My body…I was lucky to have survived that…but this damn pain…!' He felt a shadow loom overhead. When he looked up, he saw a dense and heavy tip poised to strike at him by Hivaga. The insectoid Bakugan glared down her prey as her swarm buzzed around freely. She looked fairly vindictive at her prey, and no one could blame her.
'Damnit, we're cornered…! GNGH!' Killian's entire body ached when he tried moving. He lurched over, gagging blood that stained the tiling.
Galilea watched Killian's writhing in anguish with a steeled heart. "You brought this onto yourself. It doesn't matter how useful you were anymore. What mattered was your cooperation. Milord said that when winter comes, the hornets and bees kick out the queen to die…and yet who's still standing?" She narrowed her eyes. "Bees…hornets…workers…they're all the same. They work, until they are not needed, or they cannot perform their duties capable enough. As such, they die. This is the queen's judgement…and no one usurps the queen."
Hivaga raised her stinger and pointed directly at Moskeeto's face. The tip was ready to skewer them both.
Killian gritted his teeth harder than before. 'Damnit…move! MOVE!' For a moment, he recalled how he was always on the move, whether he was typing, or sitting somewhere, he would always be able to get somewhere and manage. 'I can't stay down…I won't…MOVE!'
Hivaga hissed mightily as she dove at breakneck speeds for them. Killian and Moskeeto looked on in horror as she came in at the speed of sound.
CRASH!
In a white blitz, it all happened so fast. Green shell and wood splattered through the air in slow motion. Killian and Moskeeto went wide-eyed in pure horror and disbelief at what they witnessed. Hivaga's exposed stinger had landed its mark into its opponent…just not the one that was intended.
In front of Killian and Moskeeto, Triad El Condor had his arms spread out and mouth gaping as the stinger went clean between the teeth, coming out the other end. He levitated proudly before his peers as a wedge. This kept Hivaga from reaching Moskeeto, who was just a few inches away from the sheer tip.
Galilea looked on, shocked. "What…?!"
"Triad El Condor!" Moskeeto gasped.
Killian looked at the Bakugan Trap, seeing him take the deadly blow for them. "Triad…"
The Bakugan Trap held his position, but his eyes flashed green as some meaning or indication. Shakily, he raised his hands up at Hivaga, the green tiki shining brightly. He activated Stasis of his own accord, coating Hivaga in the energy wave and making her jerk away. The stinger prodded out of Triad El Condor to leave a gaping hole inside his mouth and out his back. He stood there, motionless and lifeless. Slowly, he started falling backwards, his body giving a bright green glow.
"Triad El Condor…you…!" Killian was left speechless.
The Bakugan's eyes glinted bright green, as of reassuring Killian and Moskeeto. Before he would have hit the ground, the Trap Bakugan's body turned bright green completely, dissolving into green particles that fluttered skywards.
"TRIAD EL CONDOR~!" Killian screamed.
Galilea watched the scene with shock, but it was more out of shock that her own ability was nullified. Hivaga writhe at the green light that made her energy hornets fade across the sky. It was like a beaming sun after a stormcloud separated, allowing Triad El Condor's particles to dissipate into the open light. 'His Bakugan sacrificed himself…just to nullify my forbidden ability?' She looked down at Killian, whose body was gradually rising with a vengeance. "Killian, I…"
Killian gritted his teeth, his broken shades unable to hide his anger. "Galilea~!"
Moskeeto arose as well, fighting the pain with a renewed fury. "Okay…this just got personal for me, too."
Galilea grunted. She mustn't allow them to recover. "Ability, activate! Cell Leech!" Hivaga hissed in aggression before her stinger pointed at Moskeeto again, firing a glowing green anergy dart.
This time, Killian mustered his strength and hopped onto Moskeeto as his four wings vibrated immensely. He jettisoned skywards to avoid the dart that exploded in his place, engulfing the ground and everything around him. Once that were high enough, Killian showed three abilities ready. "You're gonna pay for that one! Triple ability, activate! Swarm Cannon, plus, Mega Sonic, plus Fusion Ability, Hum Pulse!" Moskeeto's proboscis jerked and lengthened towards its upmost degree. With three wings still able, he vibrated them as his eyes glimmered bright green. Ultrasonic green soundwaves launched at the same time an energy beam fired at incredulous speeds and separated into several smaller beams.
Hivaga: 3100 (-500 -400 -300) = 1900 Swarm Moskeeto: 0 (+500 +400 +300) = 1200
Hivaga used her evasive speed to move out of the way of the attack as its range drew closer onto Galilea instead, who was in the direct line of fire. Her eyes shrunk, but before the attack could hit, Hivaga scooped her up in her claws and beelined passed the soundwaves and cannonfire, which exploded into flying green debris across the battlefield.
Galilea looked back, noticing the dust wave created suddenly separating to reveal Moskeeto diving right for them. "Ability, activate! Close Virus!" Moskeeto sped further in to pierce his prey with his proboscis.
"Hivaga, turn around now!" Galilea ordered. Hivaga obeyed and turned towards her opponent. "Ability, activate! Granule Shield!" Hivaga generated a rippling green forcefield in front of herself that Moskeeto flew and smashed right into.
However, when Galilea expected them to be driven off, she instead saw a glowing center in the proboscis that caught her off guard. Hivaga hissed in shock as Moskeeto had already generated energy at the tip of his proboscis. 'He used that ability just to get close!'
"Ability activate, Lock Luster!"
Moskeeto's eyes brightened as the light from his mouth grew brighter. "This one's for Triad El Condor! HRAH!" He expelled a point-blank green beam that shattered the green forcefield like it was glass. Hivaga was unable to escape when the attack exploded in her face, sending her careening off towards the wall.
Hivaga: 1900 (-400) = 1500 Swarm Moskeeto: 1200 (+400) = 1600
Before she got too far out of range, Hivaga was able to regain some of her maneuverability and stopped midflight. Galilea gnashed her teeth and uncovered from her Bakugan. "Ability activate, Superior Pulse!" Hivaga generated another green orb and fired it at Moskeeto, her power level ascending towards 2100.
"Moskeeto, up!" Killian shouted. Moskeeto obeyed and jolted skywards to avoid the high-speed projectile. It crashed with an explosive wake that created a draft to shoot Moskeeto to a safe enough distance.
Hivaga joined Moskeeto in the high altitude, both their partners bracing for their next set of abilities.
"Ability, activate!"
"Hive-X!"
"Infection-X!"
Both Bakugan glared the other down as purple cores emanated on their bodies. Chords extended and reached around their already battered frames. Two pulses ran through the air that distorted their surroundings. Hivaga opened her undersides, revealing magenta hornets like last time that integrated themselves and swarmed around her. Moskeeto unleashed his own insectoid swarm of a brighter shade of magenta insects that buzzed the air. The insects connected, but with the smaller size, the stingers of the infestation led by Moskeeto pierced the hornets. They buzzed haphazardly before combusting. Magenta explosions exploded across the sky around Hivaga, heading right towards her as the energy that the hornets were supposed to empower her with ended up backfiring. Galilea's shock was clear when exploding hornets and those on fire retreated back to Hivaga, only to engulf her in forbidden energy explosions that shook the air. Moskeeto and Killian stayed a far enough distance as combusting hornets full of anti-toxins fall limp towards the ground.
The man with shades glared ahead, watching the energy dissipate gradually. 'Infection-X reverses ability effects…including other forbidden abilities as well. All that power she would have gained combusted onto her.'
Moskeeto suddenly lost altitude, grunting heavily. "Gngh!"
"Moskeeto!" Killian yelled, but gagged more blood. 'Crap, I'm losing blood…I can barely see straight as I am now…is this…is this really it…?'
The cloud of magenta energy crackled and continued engulfing where Hivaga and Galilea were. Suddenly, a loud, shrilling hiss got both their attention. Moskeeto straightened up and looked to see the cloud dissipate as green shockwaves emanated from Hivaga. The waves expanded and pushed Moskeeto farther out than before. He screamed as he and Killian were pushed away. It caused the hornet blazers in them to fall off though. Moskeeto was able to buzz to a halt when he looked at Hivaga, who glared down with Galilea.
The woman looked like a mess. That combustion and rush of hornets left her face with a big gash, and her glare was so worn out. But she held on despite the pain she felt. She had Imperial Driver active on her Bakumeter.
Hivaga: 0 (+2100 +500) = 2600 Swarm Moskeeto: 1600 (-500) = 1100
Once more, there was a stalemate between them all. Hivaga and Moskeeto were in another glaring contest. Hivaga let out a screech that made the air shrill around the chamber once more.
Galilea breathed in and out, her breath almost completely deflated. "I…can't let it all go here…not after I worked so hard…"
"Moskeeto…do you think you can keep going?" Killian asked, before coughing up more blood.
"Yeah…but I'm not sure how much I have left in me." He responded. "…listen, Killian. All those talks we had…"
"My Mom. My Dad. My brother. Sister…all gone. If it wasn't for Galilea…I'd probably be with them…" He clutched his pillow tighter. "…and today is their 2 years gone…" he strained to hold back misty tears.
Moskeeto grew unpleasantly quiet for his mourning. He wished to feel empathetic, but he didn't know how. All he could do was see his partner in pain in more ways than just the lack of sleep. "…I'm…I'm so sorry." He said.
"Don't be." He sat up, using a thumb to wipe away a stray tear from his eye. "If it wasn't for Galilea, I wouldn't be here. I was just plain lucky. Sure, maybe people didn't like her…but she wasn't mean to me. And I appreciate that. So the least I can do is do anything she asks me…I owe her my life after all. Besides, I'd rather not have my sleep problems stress her out."
Moskeeto nodded in understanding. "…you're a good person, Killian."
…
Moskeeto popped open on his shoulder. "Miss Galilea slept with him. Is that punishment enough?"
"Moskeeto." He whispered calmly, hiding his anger well. "You and I are gonna talk later. Big time."
…
Moskeeto's horn went up and down. "I understand. Pollution truly is disgusting, is that what you're saying?"
Killian meekly smirked. "Nothing gets passed you." He looked straight down, seeing the dark waves crash against Empyrean's base. The sight and height was enough to make him feel unnerved about moving. "Hard to believe that we're doing this, causing pollution, and killing worlds just for our own…" he sighed again. "Including your own…" He walked towards his post, his steps rather lethargic. "I know, it's way too late for sorry. You might not want that right now…but I'm just doing my job. That's all I can do."
"I've learned a lot about you. You were just another Interacian who wanted to live, that's all. You were right, back then, sorry wasn't going to save my home, and it won't mend what Galilea wedged between you two…if this is how I'm going down, then at the very least…it's besides one of the most selfless Interacians I've known."
Killian mustered a grin. "Yeah…feeling's mutual. Well if I'm going down, let it be the one time I know how to use a backbone, am I right?" He paused to look up. "Wish I could say it's been fun to both of you…but it wasn't supposed to be."
"It's fine with me. But you seem pretty happy that you're about to die."
Killian's smirk widened. From behind his shades, a single tear started falling down his cheek. "What do you want me to say? I'm just happy is all. Can't think of a better way to make all my efforts worth it than this. I'm pretty sure Maximus wouldn't admit to it, but I think he did his best for all of us in the end. That's enough for me."
Galilea gnashed her teeth. "What are you smiling about over there, Killian?!"
"Nothing to get so worked up over, Galilea. It'll do you some good to try and loosen up a little. You'll stress yourself to death that way."
"I won't be told off by you…not another word!"
"Whatever the lady wants." He grabbed his shades and ripped them off his head, tossing them away to reveal his eyes. He held up his Bakumeter, showing consecutive abilities ready. "Come get some!"
"KILLIAN~!" In the most painful cry she could give, Galilea had consecutive abilities set as well.
The final dance has begun. Everything between them fell into a harmonic silence as not even the raging explosions could be heard through their dance through the atmosphere. Moskeeto beelined ahead to intercept Hivaga's stinger, jerking away into a pivoting twirl upwards before firing another Swarm Cannon with a Hum Pulse amplification. Hivaga blitzed around and bypassed all the beams faster than Killian blinking. He and Moskeeto looked towards the sky above and saw Hivaga with a Superior Pulse firing down onto him. Moskeeto matched that speed and tumbled out of the wake and balanced out. With the distance and his proboscis still lengthened, another Swarm Cannon beamed at Hivaga, separating into a multitude of diffused beams. Hivaga hissed aggressively as she chose to take her stand as her three claw ornaments on her beehive underside expelled pulsing green energy, via Imperial Driver. The ability made a shockwave that expanded outwards, making a wall that the multiple green beams flashed in front of. A huge wall of green light blinded them, making it impossible to see what was happening.
Killian showed another set of double abilities activating. As he yelled out and reached his arm out, Moskeeto's wings beat faster as he charged up another Lock Luster, but this time, glistening energy infused to amplify the cells, via Cell Booster. The insect used every ounce of strength to unleash his attack as fast as he could through the projected flash. The beam severed the light and struck a surprised Hivaga, engulfing her in a bright cellular flare that pushed her back in the shuddering airspace. A green explosion overtook Hivaga and Galilea's standpoint that expanded outwards. The momentum caused both Bakugan to jerk away from the other.
Killian's forehead kept bleeding out, but even with his vision partially blinded, he could still see and grin at Galilea. What she looked and how she felt had to have been the complete opposite. She looked angry, and in so much stress. All the weight was on her shoulders that she couldn't pass onto anyone else. Her one and only stress reliever – her most faithful worker – had set himself free, and she hated that. She hated that so much. It was hurtful to see, and yet a burning jealousy was setting her heart on fire. She didn't know why, she couldn't possibly explain why she felt so upset and yet jealous at the same time. But she had to make this pain go away. She cried out with vindication, with Hivaga responding by flying straight at him.
Moskeeto darted ahead full-speed. The two green missiles collided, creating a break in the airwaves. Their proboscis and stingers clashed like swords that sparked whenever they crossed. From a regular standpoint, it looked like green lightning bolts that flickered in various places, arching over the atmosphere before breaking apart. They collided with each other again, making a stronger wake that chipped both their clear wings. Hivaga raised a claw and slashed across one of Moskeeto's eyes, shattering one of his lenses. He retaliated with his tiny claws puncturing the neck, causing Hivaga as well as himself to fall out of reach.
Both Bakugan fell at the same rate, but recovered just as fast as their brawlers showed their final moves.
'This is it…this one's for everything we've given.'
'I won't…let it go!'
Both showed Ventus abilities activating at the same time. "ABILITY, ACTIVATE!"
"GORGE CANNON!" Hivaga raised her abdomen and expanded her claws, revealing the damaged honeycombs that channeled energy towards the charging tip.
"SWARM CANNON!" Moskeeto lurched his head back and lengthened his proboscis to its absolute maximum for his most accurate shot yet.
Hivaga: 2200 Swarm Moskeeto: 2200
Both Bakugan channeled their energy to their respective tips. They were ready to end this, just like their masters were. Killian kept smiling vindictively, almost tantalizing Galilea on purpose. Her expression was her completely broken dreams broiling in her anger she was taking out on Killian.
"FIRE~!"
Hivaga fired a concentrated green beam at Mach speed. Moskeeto responded by firing his glistening green beam back. The two attacks beelined into the other's trajectory, getting closer towards the midway point. Their battlers watched as time slowed down between the two attacks. They only watched in a mixture of shock and anticipation as they passed by each other. They continued towards Hivaga and Moskeeto as they glared ahead with zero reluctance at their oncoming attacks.
'This is it…my life draws to this point.' Killian's mind went blank, allowing him to rethink about his deceased family and fellow Rogue Zero allies. 'Everything…draws to now…'
KROOSH!
Time froze completely as the green beams met their marks. With sounds of bone snapping and cartilage tearing, Moskeeto and Hivaga's abdomens tore open with the beams going completely through them. Everything went blank between them as the beams diffused and two explosions gradually engulfed the four. Galilea looked horrified, but Killian looked readily. The explosions of green energy engulfed the skies, flashing spontaneously for a whole minute, leaving much for anything to be desired.
As the smoke diffused, Hivaga and Moskeeto's smoking frames went limp as they dropped straight down. Killian's eyes gradually shut as the very last of his strength was slipping away. The last thing he saw…was Galilea reaching out to him hopelessly.
'My work here…is done.'
THUD!
Black engulfed everything. Everything was but a haze for what felt like the longest time. Two huge smokestacks resonated across from each other that came from two Bakugan that were terribly crippled and dying. Hivaga was on her back, writhing with her abdomen pierced. Moskeeto was on his side, the light in his eyes completely him as his stomach was destroyed with the giant hole in it.
A low wind howled as Galilea was sprawled along the ground, her body completely destroyed. Her clothing was torn, scrapes were everywhere, and yet even now, she was barely hanging on to dear life.
"Gnnngh…gngh…" Her moans were extremely weak. She tiredly moved her head up, blood and scrapes aside, she looked across to find someone else on the ground. "Killian…"
Killian was sprawled on his stomach, his skin was completely pale as the blood coated his clothing and the blazers stuck in him still. Unlike her, he wasn't at all, and his eyes were shut. Coincidentally, he landed close to his shattered shades were.
He was gone.
"Killian…" Galilea whimpered, finally unable to hold back her feelings. With what little strength she possibly had, she crawled towards him. "…I did this…I did this to you…" As she kept crawling, she was starting to think back to their more touching moments.
"…great."
"What is it?" Galilea asked.
Killian tried rubbing the gunk out of his eyes. "Rogue Zero's got a meeting in an hour. Maximus wants us all in Cesar's lab in 15 for something special."
"Is that so?" Galilea moved to reach for her own clothes. She reached for her phone as well to find a similar message for herself. She and Killian started getting dressed together, though both stared in opposite directions.
"…hey, Galilea."
"Yes?"
"Thanks…for everything."
Galilea softly smiled as she pulled her long hair through her shirt. "…you're welcome. I hope you're rested well…I'll be needing your strength."
"I won't let you down."
Tears swelled in her eyes as she kept crawling. "Killian…it wasn't you who let me down…it was I…who let you down…who let everyone down…I've put so much on your shoulder, that I didn't do my share. Killian…I'm so sorry…I'm so sorry for everything…"
Her tears mixed with her blood as they ran down her face. She was so close to Killian, so much that he was within arm's reach. She weakly reached out for his hand. "You were always by my side…always…why…why did it have to be like this…? I wish…I wish that you and I could have seen the new world…together. Maybe…maybe I don't deserve to go where you are now…but if you can somehow hear my voice…please…just know…I wish you the happiest of life…to where you've gone." Her fingers barely overlapped his. They were cold to the touch. "Maybe…just maybe…in another life…we can actually be…"
Galilea didn't have to say the last part. She knew that well enough. She looked at Killian with a mournful but proud smile. "Good…job." With those final words, her hand went limp, resting atop his.
A soft, humbling wind echoed as Killian and Galilea laid there, the life in their bodies completely lifted. Even with their final moments so pitiful, a meek grin could've been seen on their lips as the sunlight beamed brightly from the west.
Galilea: 0% Killian: 0%
Hivaga screeched in agony as her body was unable to go back to ball form. Her shrieks echoed as she dissolved into green particles that went above them.
Moskeeto's frame was gradually dissolving as well, but he looked on at the scene, and what Galilea just said in her last moments. "Killian…" He looked at his deceased partner, hoping he heard Galilea just like he did. "…your work paid off…rest well…friend…"
His body shined bright green and gradually faded away. Green particles whisked into the atmosphere, dazzling the atmosphere above Killian and Galilea's resting place with green stars that were carried by the winds skywards. And – to those hopeful – their liberated spirits towards a happier place.
The group kept their ascent at a steady. Maximus and Xander kept running upwards without looking down. "The pressure is growing more at this point. There's more negative energy above us still." Maximus stated. "How tedious this is starting to get."
As he followed along, Xander took a moment and felt a draft pick up. He looked over at the center to see something coming from below. "Max…"
Maximus paused and glanced over with everyone, seeing a draft push skywards. Drifting green particles danced merrily and mixed into the atmosphere above. Everyone's heads turned to watch these particles whirl around in glee.
Maximus lowered his head, grunting. "I see…so Killian did his part after all. I knew he'd pull through…that workaholic numbskull."
"Killian…" Maggie looked on in grief. Judging by how familiar these lights were to the last ones, she knew what it meant.
"Him, too…?" Jelldon worried.
Esther lowered her head, silently mourning for the loss. She glanced over at Xander. "…he was the most sympathetic amongst you all, wasn't he?"
Xander turned his head away. "Tch, that ain't in my place to say."
"Xander." Maximus sniped. "What did we say about respecting the dead again?" Xander went silent as Maximus looked forward. "…that idiot never meant any harm. He was just following orders, that's all…still, I hate to say it, but he's made his own impacts, too. He was the reason why our Bakugan were able to keep their intelligence. He wouldn't stop pestering Cesar about the subject until he was absolutely certain they would hold to their intelligence."
"I see, that explains a lot about how your Bakugan were able to talk still despite their transformations." Jase commented.
Xander shrugged. "I didn't mind to be honest, it kinda grew onto me." He frowned. "Still, as much as it pains me…he really was the heart that made us." He smirked. "At least now he'll have a happier place to relax in. Who knows, maybe Galilea will join him there like he would've wanted…that clingy fool."
"What was that?" Luke questioned.
Xander turned away and started walking. "None of your business, just humming here."
"Keep it moving." Maximus sniped. "We need to do our job, too, and protect what valuable assets we have left…even though we've lost a good one."
The wind howled as Maximus and Xander kept going, the pair minding their own business as the others looked on worriedly. "…come on, guys, we better keep moving." Shawn insisted. The others understood and they followed along as well. They all pressed on in silence of the howling winds that roared skywards. There was still a long climb to go, and the sun was westward. They had to press on, no matter what they must do in order to get their job done. It will get done, even if it meant their lives.
Took longer than I had hoped, but I still think I can make up for lost time before 2020 ends. Alas, now comes the end of Killian Miles, the Ventus Rogue Zero member. Now there's the Pyrus and Darkus left. I'll try my best to make these next few chapters count!
