The entire first floor looked like a disaster area. Everyone was sprawled everywhere, trying their best to stay conscious. For some, it was taking all their effort not to throw up. As for others who were more determined, they were able to come around a lot easier than some. With the dark bog that shrouded over everyone's heads having been destroyed by some mysterious means, this left them all some air at last to work with.
Mason coughed. "What…the heck was all that about?"
"I…I have no idea." Lena coughed, before adjusting her glasses. "But it looks like the problem resolved itself for the time being."
"Queen Fabia, are you alright?" Elright asked.
Shaken up heavily, Fabia coughed out some more miasma. "Yeah, don't worry, Captain Elright. I…think that I can get up," However, when she did, her his immediately collapsed. Rafe and Elright caught her just in time.
"My queen, stay strong!" Rafe insisted. "Guys, what do we do?!"
"What was that stuff we were hit with just now?" Ace coughed. "That stuff was like breathing in poison. We almost died just then."
"Yeah, us too." Percival said. "It's so strange…I've never felt that way before. It's like everything inside of my body was screaming in pain. I couldn't feel anything else."
"Whatever we were hit with just now, it doesn't seem to have lasted very long." Nurzak stated. "On top of all that…" He looked towards the destroyed first floor. "It looks as though those clones weren't as tolerant of them as we originally thought. They've all seemed to have lost their instability as we did."
"What does that mean?" Zenet asked, still on hands and knees to support herself.
Jesse sat up close by. "I believe that this plot twist has caused the stage to be cleared for our cast to make the cut." He stated.
"It looks like all that's tuff came from high above us." Paige stated. "Just what the heck were they doing up there to make such a huge mess even?"
"We'll have to worry about that later." Ace grimaced. "We need to hurry and meet up with the others as fast as possible. We don't have a lot of time!"
"He's right. And I wouldn't wanna be around if more of those clones spawned on us. We'll be in trouble." Baron worried.
"I wonder what time it is…?" Zenet turned her head towards the arches showing the outside world, but shock grew so much that she jerked upright! Wah?! It's already night?! What the heck!"
"Snap! Those clones distracted us this long! Are we too late?!" Gunz grunted.
Shun looked towards the sky. "No, it's not over yet, guys." Everyone turned towards him. "If this much has happened above us, then that means the others are getting higher. For all we know, they could still be battling Riaan at the top."
Marucho furrowed his brow once he got his balance. "Then…we need to hurry and get to the top as fast as possible!"
"Then we have no choice. It's too long of a climb up the stairs. We'll have to go by air up to the top." Dan said. "I'm sure that those guys were able to clear the path up to this point. I know it." He turned towards Drago. "Drago, you okay, pal?"
Drago struggled to get up onto his two feet, but he was eventually able to rise up to the occasion. He spread his legs apart and huffed heavily in and out. "Yeah…don't worry, Dan. I'm good."
Spectra turned towards Helios. "Helios, are you okay?"
The cyborg dragon looked down at his partner, more than a little wear shown. "Don't worry…I'm fine."
The cyborg dragon looked down at his partner, more than a little wear shown. "Don't worry…I'm fine."
"At least they are." Mason grimaced, looking at Avior. "This old dog looks like he's out of steam. Those guys got us good."
"Yeah, I don't think Contestir's looking so good." Zenet worried, looking at her partner's ball form. "Those clones were a lot harder to beat than we thought."
"They had us cornered back there." Alice frowned. "If that gas didn't show when it did, we probably would've been in a similar situation."
"Killing two birds with one stone, but did the stone have to be a freaking boulder?" Keegan exasperated. "Anyways, we're running out of time. Everybody able to move yet?"
Gus smirked. "Don't worry, we're just fine. Master Spectra, we need to head up towards the top, now!"
Spectra nodded. "I agree. Let's go, Helios!"
Julie raised her mic high. "Hey guys, don't you dare forget about us! We need everyone to see what's going on, too! Can't leave them in the dark forever!"
"Julie's right. We should get up there and see for ourselves." Mira insisted.
"Right, gotcha!" Dan hoisted himself onto Drago's shoulder. The Bakugan bent down to allow people into his arms. Helios did the same, while minding the battle spikes on his forearms. They had to make sure that they all were secure. They didn't want anyone falling several miles down towards death. Once everyone was mounted and ready, Drago and Helios spread their wings and ignited their thrusters and flew out of one of the many open arches of the Empyrean skywards.
"Hang on tight, guys!" Dan shouted. "Next stop, the top!"
Even though the miasma was gone, it was still dark out. Luke and everyone traversed up the spiral stairwell that they've been climbing all day. As out of breath as they were, they knew they had to keep moving forward. They've made it this far, and time was not on their side. They only had about an hour. Which meant that if they weren't critical, then everything would end.
"We've climbed such a long ways up." Shawn stated. "How far up do you think we climbed?"
"That's hard to say. The air pressure and oxygen levels still are abundant enough up here near the pinnacle of the atmosphere. I'd imagine it has to be more than fifteen miles upwards."
"Earth's usual height in atmosphere is 8.5 kilometers. This must be the work of all the atmospheres coming into one." Esther deduced solemnly. "Without those energies, Interacia wouldn't be up to this point."
Maggie looked outside. She saw stars beginning to twinkle in the sky since dusk was all but gone. "The sky looks so pretty. I'm not a fool, but still, that beauty isn't real. It's just a fake sky."
"And Riaan's goal is to make everything about Interacia pure and original, by taking out what Eve set in stone." Shuji recited. "And hardly anyone knows what to do about it."
Maggie glared forward. "But we sure do! We have to defeat Riaan and stop his absorption and replication effects."
"Yeah. And we've only got a little time to do so." Luke said.
They all kept walking up the chamber's exit, until they passed through it. Rather than the pinnacle itself, they all saw that it was a humongous, long and very extensive stairway that went straight up towards the opening, which showed the dazzling night sky that twinkled endlessly. The staircase itself had white stairs, but shockingly enough it didn't have any kind of foundation. It was like the steps floated in midair.
They all looked up at where the staircase led to. They could feel it, a trembling amount of power that caused blood to run cold. They knew very well what happens next.
"I can feel it, even from here. There's a really strong power up there." Maggie said.
"Yeah, I feel it alright. No doubt it's Riaan and Armagedoid." Shawn stated.
"They're up there, no doubt alright. I have a really good feeling that once we go up there, there's no going back…but we chose that a long time ago." Luke stated.
"There's no need to turn back." Jase rebuffed. "It's as you said, going back won't solve our problems that will never resolve themselves. On top of that, there's no one more suited for the job than us."
"He's right. We've built up measures to counter forbidden ability powers. It was far from easy, and we didn't have any special Bakugan to do so." Esther paused, glancing down at Atchibee. "Anyways, we've made it this far. We'll do everything we can to see this through to the end."
"We'll bring this guy down and put an end to his genocide. One way or another." Shuji declared.
"You make it sound so simple…" Luke sidenoted.
"Because it is." Jase surprisingly agreed. "Riaan believes that he must keep to the vows that gives him purpose, even if it means sacrificing the lives of those who aren't systematically involved. He planned to expunge everyone's false reality. We on the other hand plan to keep the reality we still have, no matter how broken it may seem."
"Yeah, I can imagine everyone back home had their faiths shattered when the Brawlers got their asses handed to them." Shawn scoffed. "So we'll be sure to keep that small faith, and use it as power for our cause."
"Faith…heh, not very fond of such a term, but it's appropriate I suppose." Jase sneered. "We've come to the point where no words can mend our differences, which resolves to conflict."
Esther nodded. "Yes. We understand what Riaan is doing, and we will not accept it. It won't be like last time. It's either he goes…or we all go."
"It's totally irresponsible. Thinking you can just erase another's problems and start over when life doesn't go your way!" Maggie beamed. "We learned of this power before, and back then, we were all scattered in ideals. But now we've come together. We can all learn to live with the ways that our lives have become, and do better because of that! There's a future still for everyone!"
Shuji crossed his arms, raising his head high. "I'm not at all a speech kinda guy, so let's just say I wasn't really the toughest guy when I met you bunch and Fly Beetle. But it could've been worse. So I guess it shows that people can learn to not take their choices for granted."
Maggie knowingly smirked at Shuji. "Gee, Shuji. Way to stick a compliment out there."
He grunted harshly. "Tch, whatever. It's not like I didn't feel like it…I just got used to it is all."
Luke looked at his comrades one last time, giving each of them a serious look. From this point on, there was no need to look over his shoulder. Everyone would be there right beside him. He raised his head and glared up at the night sky. "…alright. We all know what to do, right? We don't know what kinds of new tricks he might have, and odds are he'll know our every moves too. We'll have to nullify and take his attacks and play off of each other the best we can to where we can wear Armagedoid down…and finish him. Alright, you ready to do this, Abis?"
Daedalus Abis Omega raised his head. "Don't worry, Luke. I'm not the same weak snake that splashed about aimlessly, I promise you that. We're partners, we've got each other's backs no matter what."
"Yeah, same here." Shawn said. "Verias?"
"There's no need to fret over me, Shawn. Thank you for being a good friend." Verias answered. "I'll do the same, and beside you all to the end."
Shuji glanced at Fly beetle. "You ready to go, tough guy?"
"Always ready, Shuji." Fly Beetle responded.
"Okay, Jelldon. It's our turn! You ready to kick some planetary overlord ass?!" Maggie cheered.
Jelldon glared forward. "I'm not going to shiver at something like this. I didn't overcome my fears of battling and the dark just to get scared by something like this. I'm not afraid of what will happen next, so let's go get these guys!"
Maggie smiled widely. "That's my Jelldon!"
Esther lowered her head. "I know we've been through enough, Atchibee. But…will you be willing to continue lending your strength?"
"I will do so as long as it takes, Esther." Atchibee replied.
Jase pushed his glasses up once more. "Atmos…"
"Yes, Jase. I understand…and I won't have it any other way." Atmos chimed. "It will be my greatest honor beside you and the rest of you all."
Their final peace stated, they all looked at Luke and Abis respectively, and then faced forward with vindication set in stone. "Okay then…let's go." Luke started up the stairway, taking evenly paced strides while also making it prompt. They knew enough time was said and made, but now it was their time to take it all back. They escalated the stairs higher, and higher, until they felt a rather crisp temperature. They should have frozen up, but with the Empyrean's artificial heating, they were only mildly chilly when they reached the summit.
No winds blew. It was a bright, starry atmosphere. The stars were so close that they looked like they could be touched. Below everyone, the Empyrean governed the atmosphere of Interacia. It felt like space, but at the same time they could breathe over the dark sea that was Interacia's water and land.
There, sitting in the dead center of the very summit, blue networks streamed from various corners of the flat surface. They surged into the center beneath Riaan as he had eyes closed and was on his knees, very patiently awaiting for them with his sword laying on its flat side on his lap.
"…" Riaan knew they were there, even without opening his eyes. He could sense them through the Empyrean's powers. The white tower looked almost translucent with how it was concealed into the dark sky. Yet blue outlines made it evident that it was still there.
Everyone took several steps forward behind Luke as he walked up until several meters separated him and his former master. The two swordsmen were parallels that had resolves of their own free wills. Everyone felt the same way, it was written all over their faces.
"…I believe a congratulations are in order." Those were the first words that came out of Riaan's mouth. "I'm impressed. You've all made it past my pillars and made it to the top. Truly astounding."
"It wasn't just us who made it this far. A lot of things and people had to be sacrificed to get to where we are now." Luke started listing them. "Billions of lives, our home worlds, the Trailer…Luka…Rogue Zero…all of those who helped us get to here now are still apart of us."
"That they are…" Riaan stood up, holding his sword in his left hand instead of his right sleeve. "Even after one's departure, if they mean that much to you, their influence will be forever engraved into your actions. I'm very much certain that this principal was something Luka was to all of you. Nevertheless, the past should never have to fade away."
Esther stepped forward. "Yes, the past will always connect to the future, but only if you allow it to. If you keep looking over your shoulder at what was before you, how do you expect to move forward?"
"By making the present life become history itself. A history that will be edged into a new present. The future henceforth will be one with a fresh start for all who have suffered in a world that's been crumbling and unbalanced."
"You may say that the way we all lived was unbalanced, but that doesn't give you the right to change that." Luke countered.
"Yet if I didn't, everyone would still be disillusioned with this so-called 'peace'. Stop to consider this, mind you. If everyone was truly happy, across the universe, there would be no conflict. No wars. No struggles. It would be a utopia for every living thing. That's where the balance scales tips into chaos. There must always be a yin and yang. If I must become the villain to make that balance reform and for everyone to realize their flaws when they won't…then so be it."
Shawn crossed his arms. "Yeah, we understand. Vestal and Earth were overpopulated and a lot of people dismissed the casual problems to treat Bakugan as a sport. It does sound farfetched if you ask me." He furrowed his brow. "But, even though their innocence is taken, they still have a right to choose how they want to live."
"Yes. I also believe in such an ideology…but, I also believe that in order to choose how you live, you must prove yourself through your actions. The fact that you were the only ones on your planet who came to fight, when you could have brought an army or militaristic means, what does that say about you all? You've all gone soft."
"Even us too, huh?" Luke leered.
"No, you have all proven that you have choices that you can make, and you have done so through your actions. You six, the ones who have managed to bring me to my knees at one time, truly do have the conviction to fight for your own future. If I am truly to feel threatened, it can only be by you."
"We'll take the compliment, but not how it'll go." Shuji stated. "We've been through this before. You know your actions are wrong, but make it sound so justified."
"If I spoke of these lines before. Then you must know that this is what drives me. It's only natural for every living things to be driven by something, no matter how irrelevant it may seem to someone else. Once you are freed or when that is pried from you, you start to see everything in a different perspective."
Jase started twirling his glasses around his index finger. "It's ironic hearing all of this from such a wise man. Even though you may be easily pried from what holds you to a belief, you can also just as easily cling to another." He clutched his glasses. "We believe that even though the fragile worlds have sought a comeuppance, we have a right to choose how we live with the burdens we all bare."
Riaan scoffed. "Ironic coming from a military man saying such things."
"You're one to talk. Just look at yourself." Maggie grimaced. "You're so shackled to your past that it's completely contradicting your own objective. You really want to lead an example that isn't defining you?"
"I am someone who should never be looked up to. Yes, young Maggie, I agree that what I say and where my actions originate have opposite ends of the spectrum, and it's because of that, I will live with being the last and only burden in the Bakugan-verse to feel clung to his dream…at least, until it is complete."
Luke glared forward. "You know we're not gonna let that happen, right?"
"I do…so until our purpose is fulfilled, Armagedoid and I will stall as long as we need, so that such an era will come that our kin can start anew."
A loud, draconic roar was heard throughout the airspace, followed by the sound of air soaring. Everyone turned to see Drago and Helios arrive with everyone in their clutches.
"Ah, speak of the devil." Riaan mused.
"You guys!" Dan shouted. Drago and Helios bent down and sat everyone down. He and Spectra stood close by while the others were standing a safe distance back. "You made it to the top!"
Spectra smirked. "Very impressive, you all."
"You guys doing alright?" Shuji questioned back.
Alice nodded. "Yeah, don't worry. We're just a little banged up is all. Sorry for troubling you."
"Our Bakugan took some bad hits back down there. They're still not up to co." Shun grimaced. "Sorry, guys."
"Then I guess it's just us." Dan said, more determined than ever. "Let's show them what for!"
"I see, so you were able to get past all the Kimera. Very impressive. To be honest, I didn't think you all would hold out this long. But, I'm afraid that you are not my main problem right now. All but Drago and Helios are hampered."
"That will still be enough to take you down, old man!" Dan sneered.
Riaan scoffed. "I do not intend to indulge myself on the trivial matters before me." He held up two clear balls in his let hand and swiped them. "Perhaps this will suffice for now. Bakugan, brawl! Kimera, stand!"
The two balls rolled out, and from the ground in front of Drago and Helios, rainbow gleams shimmered as two clear blobs arose with low howls. Drago and Helios got on guard as they faced the clones.
"He had more on him as backup?!" Dan gasped.
"This is going to be a problem." Spectra grimaced.
The amorphous blobs eyed the opponent Bakugan and gurgled aggressively. They analyzed their cellular structure and morphed into exact copies of themselves.
"Do these things seriously have to be this annoying?!" Helios scoffed.
"Yeah, I agree. This won't be easy." Drago said.
The clones snarled aggressively at their originals, to which Drago and Helios stepped up to the occasion. They were ready for battle, whatever the cost may be, they won't fall behind so easily like before.
"Now, where were we?" Riaan faced Luke's group with a vindictive passion. "It's time that we bring this bout to an end, don't you agree? Only one side shall come out victorious, and if it means the fall of my enemies, then so be it." His glare sharpened. "We shall not allow you to get in the way!"
"This one's for all the marbles." Shuji grunted.
Riaan: 100% Luke: 100%
Esther: 100%
Maggie: 100%
Shuji: 100%
Shawn: 100%
Jase: 100%
Julie was off to the side, staying low with everyone as the camera was showing everyone back home the battling that was going to unfold. "This is Julie, coming to you from Interacia! We've all made it to the top of the Empyrean, where Dan and Spectra are trying to suppress two of Riaan's bioengineered Bakugan. Meanwhile, it looks like the others have engaged Riaan in the ultimate battle to come!"
At home, the lights were off as dark stormclouds crashed lightning down along the estate of Luke's home, Claire, Augustine, and Cale all were hunkered inside the living room as the broadcast was still forced on by the Empyrean.
"Luke…" Claire murmured. Augustine furrowed his brow in his own worries arising, but he did his best to put on a brave face for his son fighting.
All across the five planets, everyone could see through various smart devices and televisions that were kept on by the Empyrean's signals. The survivors and those trying to stay alive. Serena, the few on Gundalia left, the Bakugan of New Vestroia, and Baron's siblings; all those alongside Earth were watching the broadcast while clinging onto whatever hope they had left. They couldn't lose it, they shouldn't. Not with what life they still held onto.
The Empyrean's flooring suddenly brightened, becoming a pure white that shined brightly in the night sky, almost like it was the middle of the day. The entire tower shined all the way towards its base, where blue networks connected with the ground.
"Gate Card, set!" Riaan flicked his left arm, sending a dark purple shockwave that faded into the Empyrean's flooring. "Armagedoid…"
"Yes, Master. No mercy…as I intend to."
"Very well. Then let us begin!" He brought his left arm back slowly. Everyone bent their knees and braced themselves as he threw in Armagedoid. "Bakugan, brawl!" He threw with gusto, sending Armagedoid skipping across the ground to a halt. "Bakugan, stand!"
His ball form opened, and the eyes shined before an eruption of negative energy shot skywards like a pillar. The entire Empyrean shuddered as shockwaves exploded outwards. All those with weapons pierced the ground to anchor themselves, where those behind got low or fell over completely in the harsh wake of this stand.
Luke gritted his teeth as he looked into the dreadful gaze of Riaan. He looked so serious that it was terrifying.
"Rise…Darkus Armagedoid!"
From the shockwaves of energy, a prism-like structure unfolded, expanding two wings, then another set, and then another, and finally one more. A draconic entity gradually arose and a headpiece flexed its pronged ends. It lifted, revealing Armagedoid's magenta eyes peering into the hearts of everyone there. He craned his head up and expelled a roar that dispelled the pillar, leaving nothing but clean air.
"It's our turn now!" Luke held out Daedalus Abis Omega. "Let's go! Bakugan…"
"…BRAWL!" All at once, the combatants threw in their Bakugan. "Bakugan, stand!"
Opposing Armagedoid and Riaan, shockwaves brewed inti their direction this time. They stood unfazed, however as they saw the lights and elements show various figures rising up to battle.
"Rise, Pyrus Astral Jelldon!" In a red plasmatic pillar, several tendrils wriggled until Astral Jelldon revealed himself, letting out a loud howl with all seven of his eyes glaring at Armagedoid.
"Go, Subterra Hercules Fly Beetle!" The ground was crushed when claws stamped onto it. A herculean insectoid arose, releasing a monstrous roar that blew away shrapnel everywhere.
"Let's give them a hand, Haos Sage Verias!" In an empowering light, a staff twirled around and pierced the ground. Blue eyes gleamed ahead, revealing Sage Verias ready for battle.
"We're up, Ventus Apex Atmos!" In a hurricane of green winds, high above, Atmos shot out of it, doing a doubletake and released a shrilled caw into the atmosphere.
"We'll bring an end to this, Darkus Eclipse Atchibee!" In a dark cosmic flare, Eclipse Atchibee surfaced with howls like a banshee in the night.
"Go, Aquos Daedalus Abis Omega!" In a deep blue cyclone of water, Daedalus Abis Omega arose, opening his maw wide and expelled a violent roar into the atmosphere.
Daedalus Abis Omega: 900/Eclipse Atchibee: 900/Astral Jelldon: 900/Hercules Fly Beetle: 900/Sage Verias: 900/Apex Atmos: 900 = 5400
Armagedoid: 1500
"And so it begins." Riaan's right arm started moving, much to Luke and everyone's surprise. He rolled up the sleeve, revealing what looked like a synthetic arm with networks of magenta energy that transcended energy into the hand. The entire arm, however, looked like a dark magenta brace that responded to his nerves and motion command. "It's not like my real arm. But, it shall suffice. Just long enough for the end of this prehistoric era!"
"Not if we have something to do about it." Shuji cracked his knuckles. "Let's do this…"
Fly Beetle stomped on the ground, leaning forward with his other allies. They faced off against Armagedoid, who was the most powerful adversary they had to suffer against. They've been in many battles against this foe before, and last time, they were successful in bringing him down. However, the fruits of their labor will show once and for all.
"We have shared many of fair qualms against one another…" Armagedoid started, bringing his star-shaped tail up. "I do respect you as opponents, and because if that…!" He slammed his tail into the ground, causing a tremor. "I WILL FIGHT TO MY FULLEST, FOR INTERACIA!"
"Then let's see whose resolve trumps in the end, shall we?" Atmos tested.
Jelldon's tendrils gradually crackled in red energy lightning and tensed up at the tips. "Let's get this going! HNGH!" He slammed the tips into the ground, sending a discharge of red plasma energy below the surface that exploded dust everywhere between them and Armagedoid. Armagedoid glared ahead, alongside Riaan, as they anticipated their initial attack.
Everyone watching remained affirm as they saw the dust and smoke billowing from below. "A smokescreen attack?!" Ace gasped.
"I can't see a thing!" Zenet whined.
"Everyone stay back!" Mira implored. "We shouldn't get too close! We don't want to get in the way!" She looked ahead, seemingly tense about the situation. "It's all on them…"
Shun narrowed his eyes. As much as he didn't want to admit it, she was right. Their Bakugan were too weak and defeated right now. They'd only get in the way. Besides, everyone's seen what they were capable of.
Armagedoid peered into the smoke cloud, expecting an attack. However, his sensory as well as the liht from the Empyrean beneath made his and Riaan's gaze turn skywards when Atmos glided overhead with Verias. The ape used his staff to hold onto the talons, and once they let go, he fell down onto Armagedoid, along with the others who jumped of Atmos' back.
"Ability, activate!" Shawn shouted. "Polaris Hammer!"
His staff glowed bright yellow, and the gemstone at the top shined the brightest light. Verias twisted and doubled over until he came down onto Armagedoid with a violent swing. The dragon reached up and blocked using his bare hand, grabbing the weapon. However, even if it was caught, the impact's recoil caused the ground the tremble around Armagedoid's feet.
Riaan saw all the battlers fall onto him, all their weapons in hand. He used one arm and bunted against the sword, taser lance, rapier, and spear. He slashed them all away to give some distance; yet within the break, those who didn't have weapons like Shuji and Maggie closed the gap. Maggie feigned left to give Shuji the momentum to go forward with a punch, but Riaan blocked using the flat end of his gilded blade.
Off to the side, Maggie's Bakumeter had an ability set up. "Ability, activate! Volt Inferno!"
Through the dust cloud, a single beaming, plasmatic tendril with the surface tension of the sun streamlined for Armagedoid. The Bakugan saw the attack coming and used his free arm to stop the tendril in its tracks. At the same time, both Verias and Jelldon were thwarted and held off by Armagedoid.
Daedalus Abis Omega: 900/Eclipse Atchibee: 900/Astral Jelldon: 900 (+600) = 1500/Hercules Fly Beetle: 900/Sage Verias: 900 (+500) = 1400/Apex Atmos: 900 = 6500
Armagedoid: 1500 (-500) = 1000
Shuji backpedaled to avoid a slash, and off to the side, Esther slashed, getting Riaan to pivot and deflect her. Shawn and Jase went for two angles and slashed, but Riaan's all-seeing eye made him react and follow through with hos pivot to face them and bunt against the two attack.
'While he's occupied!' Luke's Bakumeter showed an ability. "Ability activate, Depth Fire!"
Abis' gems shined brightly on his body and let out a loud roar of triumph. He lurched forward, sending dozens of deep blue missiles after Armagedoid. They blasted on the other side, tearing the dust cloud apart to give Armagedoid a visual of what was coming his way. Abis' power increased to 1300, yet Armagedoid's plummeted towards 600.
With his hands full and pinned by an angular attack above and off to the side, all Armagedoid could do was grip the ground and face the oncoming attack in earnest.
"Ability, activate!" Riaan swung around, pushing back Jase and Shawn. "Deep Save!"
Armagedoid's eyes shined dark purple as he faced the oncoming arrays of blue missiles. His body emitted a distorted dark purple wave that diffused the plasmatic tendril and jewelry staff weighing him down and shoved them away. He faced the oncoming waves of energy and made them remotely fade away.
As they did, time slowed down as it revealed Fly Beetle running across the ground at remarkably hefty speeds to take on Armagedoid head-on.
"Ability, activate!" Shuji shouted. "Gaia Armadura!"
"Bring it on!" Fly Beetle's entire body suddenly hardened to immeasurable means as he lowered his horn. An orange outline encased him as he barreled into Armagedoid's headpiece, going physically head to head with the beast. The impact was so intense that a shockwave ran across the ground, and the ground depressed into shrapnel as the two met in the middle. Armagedoid's eyes returned to normal upon impact, and as a bonus, he was holding onto Fly Beetle so as to try and hold him back. But his added durability compared to his previous evolution proved to be a lot more difficult than he anticipated.
Daedalus Abis Omega: 900 (+400) = 1300/Eclipse Atchibee: 900/Astral Jelldon: 900 (+600) = 1500/Hercules Fly Beetle: 900 (+500) = 1400/Sage Verias: 900 (+500) = 1400/Apex Atmos: 900 = 7400
Armagedoid: 1500 (-500 -400) = 600
The air violently roared between the Subterra and Darkus Bakugan. Armagedoid was putting up a fight, but he felt his feet slip beneath. He lurched at the sudden drawback. "You think…it will be this easy?!"
Riaan twirled his blade, deflecting Esther and Luke's angular attacks. He then came straight down onto Shawn's rapier, blocking him off and pushing all of them back. "Still very coordinated. Good, I was worried that this wouldn't be a contest."
Everyone grunted.
"Ability, activate! Satanic Suppression!" Armagedoid's eyes narrowed as he snarled at Fly Beetle. His magenta gemstone glowed and he gripped onto the herculean beetle, draining his ability's power.
In a green bolt in the sky, Atmos jettisoned downwards at a harsh angle to attack. "Ability, activate!" Jase shouted. "Apex Speed!" Atmos opened his maw as the jewels on his body glowed. He aimed and fired a pressurized cyclone of emerald-green whirlwinds that beamed across the ground towards Armagedoid's side/ Armagedoid glanced over and saw the attack heading his way and was forced to let go of Fly Beetle. He used his panel-like wings to block a direct blast, but it packed so much power that air pressure streamed and pinned him down. He snarled as his absorption was interrupted.
Daedalus Abis Omega: 1300/Eclipse Atchibee: 900/Astral Jelldon: 1500/Hercules Fly Beetle: 900 (+500) = 1400/Sage Verias: 1400/Apex Atmos: 900 (+400) = 1300 = 7800
Armagedoid: 1100 (-500 -400) = 200
"You've nullified my absorption ability…not a bad effort." Riaan stated.
"Believe me, we're not even close to warmed up." Jase countered.
"Yes, as am I." Riaan held up his Bakumeter, showing two abilities that were layered atop one another. "Double ability, activate! Photon Dragonia, plus Fading Goliath!"
Armagedoid opened his maw to show negative dragonfire charging up. When he pulled back his wings, Fly Beetle was still there with a fist heading his way. Armagedoid roared violently as he unleashed a blast of intense negative flames into the oncoming fists. It slowed the fist down, causing seconds to meet a standstill, before an explosion of energy engulfed the area.
The smoke pushed Fly Beetle across the ground to where he gripped the ground with his lower arms. He didn't seem too hurt, aside from his right arm sizzling a bit. He looked on as seven twinkling stars shined through the smoke and blasted open the explosion, revealing magenta lasers that fired up at Atmos. He ziplined through the air, dodging them with acrobatic skills. He kept moving about overhead to keep them at bay only on him.
Daedalus Abis Omega: 1300/Eclipse Atchibee: 900/Astral Jelldon: 1500/Hercules Fly Beetle: 1400/Sage Verias: 1400/Apex Atmos: 1300 (-500) = 800 = 7300
Armagedoid: 200 (+600 +500) = 1300
Shawn held up his Bakumeter. 'Gotta give Jase and Atmos some breathing room for that attack!' The ability shined brightly. "Ability, activate! Sagacious Arrow!"
Verias eyes the multitude of energy beams making sharp turns after Atmos and charged up his gemstone. He raised his arm high and the energy charged into an arrow that he threw at the speeding projectiles. As Atmos passed by, the lasers followed in a straight line, where Verias' arrow went and intercepted the attack. A flurry of dark purple and bright yellow explosions went off in the atmosphere overhead, allowing Atmos the break he needed to jettison back skywards. Verias' power increased to 1800, while Armagedoid descended towards 900.
"Thank you, Verias! Now…we strike!" Atmos declared, breaching into freefall to face Armagedoid down below.
"Right!" Atchibee shouted. "Esther!"
Esther weaved away from a slash overhead, and Luke countered in front to allow her to step away with an ability to activate. "Double ability, activate! Violet Pulsar, plus Fusion Ability, Jet Black Buster!"
Atchibee separated her twin scythes to make four deadly sickles that took on a full moon pattern. A dark glow resonated that flickered several dozen times in a second, before a dark energy mass swirled inside of it with a dark purple shading. And orb of condensed energy exploded outwards, firing a monstrous beam clean through the explosion cover and tore open the sky as it came down onto Armagedoid.
Daedalus Abis Omega: 1300/Eclipse Atchibee: 900 (+600 +600) = 2100/Astral Jelldon: 1500/Hercules Fly Beetle: 1400/Sage Verias: 1800/Apex Atmos: 800 = 8900
Armagedoid: 900 (-600) = 300
Armagedoid glared up as he saw the oncoming attack as an indigo light illuminating the sky. He showed no fear as he awaited for a proper counter.
"Double ability, activate!" Riaan shouted, pointing his sword towards the atmosphere. "Oracle Cannon! Plus, Black Ripple!"
Armagedoid narrowed his eyes. His panel-like wings angled perfectly in front to charge up a dark matter orb that concentrated and shrank to a small mass before exploding skywards into a monstrous beam. A dark energy shockwave expelled outwards across the atmosphere into the enemy Bakugan that were nowhere near the attack's wake. The beam continued towards the center, meeting Atchibee's beam in the dead center. The attacks swirled and grew larger and smaller to unstable means until an orb of energy comprised of both attack imploded, spreading outwards over the vast atmosphere of the Empyrean. Shockwaves brewed about that everyone was either pushed over or had to get down.
"GET DOWN!" Shun warned, ducking with Gunz as dark shockwave ripples went overhead. Alice, Keegan, and everyone else present did the same thing, though it proved easier said than done.
Daedalus Abis Omega: 1300 (-500) = 800/Eclipse Atchibee: 2100 (-600 -500) = 1000/Astral Jelldon: 1500 (-500) = 1000/Hercules Fly Beetle: 1400 (-500) = 900/Sage Verias: 1800 (-500) = 1300/Apex Atmos: 800 (-500) = 300 =
Armagedoid: 300 (+600 +500) = 1400
The shockwaves fanned out everywhere, causing all the Bakugan to grit their teeth. Abis grunted and made himself into coils surrounding Verias, shielding him while Jelldon used it as a bunker behind. With his herculean body, Fly Beetle was holding firm. Atmos was high over Atchibee, but even he had mild withdraws.
"We've gotta block it off!" Shawn shouted.
"Jelldon!" Maggie shouted.
Jelldon heard Maggie and reached past Abis and Fly Beetle. Just as Rian was about to swing for Luke, tendrils laced around him and his friends and pulled them away quicker than lightning. Riaan's blade stabbed the ground where Luke would have been if not for being yanked away. 'Such response time…!'
The six tendrils beneath the skirt snaked back and put them all behind him to regroup. With them blocked off from the shockwaves and Riaan's attack, this gave them a chance to counterattack.
"We've gotta shake off the shockwaves, now!" Luke shouted.
"I got this!" Shuji shouted. "Fly Beetle, let's go!"
"Ready!" Fly Beetle spread his heels as he glared into the dark ripple effect continuing to weigh him and everyone down.
"Ability, activate! Precipice Slate!" Fly Beetle stamped his lower arms into the ground and grunted harshly. He pressed even further, causing an eruption of rock slates that jutted out of the ground, despite the Empyrean having no minerals as such.
The shockwaves of the Black Ripple ability was brought to a halt as the ripple effect countered against itself. The force of the attack let up considerable on everyone as the shockwaves of dark energy closed back in on Armagedoid.
The black dragon saw his own double ability attack returning towards him in a broadened wave of energy, but he stood there calmly, his wing posture fixed to a tee. He hardly looked impressed; an expression that Riaan shared with his Bakugan.
"Hmph…very well then! Then don't mind this! Double ability, activate! Satanic Suppression, plus Oracle Cannon!"
Armagedoid stood his ground as his magenta star-shaped core shined a bright color. The dark shockwaves that were reflected back was sucked into the core. The energy converted into a dark energy orb, which the panel wings angled around and contained. Once it was in place, Armagedoid's eyes widened once more as he let loose a violent roar. As his power suddenly erupted towards 2000, he expelled a violent beam of condensed negative energy that tore a trench into the ground as it sailed after Fly Beetle, diminishing his power towards 800.
"Abis!" Luke shouted.
Abis uncoiled around Verias and whirled around. Luke ran onto the tail that sprung him up to the head that came around. And together they lunged over Fly Beetle to face the oncoming attack in the air.
"Ability, activate!" Luke jutted hos sword ahead. "Hydrair Tornado!" Abis' tail was surrounded in a harsh cyclone of water that exploded into a large wave. He swung the tail around, roaring loudly as he sent the cyclone into the oncoming dark beam to stop it. Its pressure was so intense that it continued through the beam, gradually closing in on Armagedoid. He brought his wings before him and used them to block off the water cyclone from his form. Although, the pressure was enough to make him completely grounded and unable to fight back.
Riaan's glare hardened. He knew that this would happen and prepared accordingly. "Ability, activate! Ambiguity!"
Armagedoid's eyes brightened once more. He raised his head with a low roar expanding from his throat. "Your counterattacks…WILL NOT WORK SO EASILY!" He flexed his wings, sending dark purple shockwaves that erased the water cyclone and debris flying everywhere. The shockwaves leveled the ground as they traveled closer towards the others.
"Watch out!" Shun shouted, getting low to the ground once again with everyone else. The blast waves went right over their heads, causing them all to scream and hang on for their lives.
The shockwaves exploded in all directions, causing Atchibee to use her scythes to block off the assault. Atmos used his wings and kept at a high level with her, as opposed to everyone to stood their ground below and bunkered down behind Fly Beetle.
Daedalus Abis Omega: 1300 (-650) = 650/Eclipse Atchibee: 2100 (-1050) = 1050/Astral Jelldon: 1500 (-750) = 750/Hercules Fly Beetle: 1400 (-600 -400) = 400/Sage Verias: 1800 -900) = 900/Apex Atmos: 800 (-400) = 400 = 4150
Armagedoid: 0 (+1500 +4400) = 5900
The shockwaves gradually diminished, making dust brew about haphazardly. The Bakugan were more or less still stable, but that last attack did rough them up some.
Luke uncovered and looked forward. "Is everyone alright?!"
"Yeah…we're just fine." Abis said warily. "It's just like Jase said. We're just…"
"Getting warmed up." Fly Beetle stamped his heels on the ground, standing back up firmly.
"They're right. We're not through yet…not when we've climb this far up from the abyss." Esther said as she gradually stood up. Atchibee fluttered over her, looking ahead prepared. "We won't quit, right Atchibee?"
"Absolutely. Riaan must pay for the sins that he is trying to rectify!" Atchibee declared.
Riaan scoffed lightly. "Hmph. Rectifying sins, you say…? I suppose one could look at it that way. I may be a sin all of your eyes, but no life is ever truly a sin if it tries to make its own amends."
Everyone went silent as Riaan continued on the foreboding note. "I'm not talking about my life. I'm the overseer. I'm talking about those who have done wrong before you, and you rectified their mistakes for them in their stead. You rectify and tell off the flaws of others, and it's up to them to decide whether to move forward. From what I have seen, that's precisely what happened to Luka. And on top of that, there's Rogue Zero as well. They were all rectified because of what you told and believed. You gave them a chance to clear their past sins and die with no regrets in their hearts. In those regards…" His glare hardened. "Then if I were told of my sins and went through with them, then does that make me unconscious? Look at Armagedoid. He knows what he's doing is the wrong path, but we chose this path because we were victims of the sins of Eve. She tried to rectify Armagedoid when he had done nothing wrong. She saw him as a sin because he was born. Even I don't stoop so lowly as that."
Luke frowned as his bangs covered his eyes. "Yeah, we know…we know that well. You've made that clear back on Neathia. But still…" He faced forward, holding his sword in hand. "That doesn't mean that we still can't try and fix those sins ourselves. We all have sins and we had to fix them because everyone else was there. We can live with the sins we've all made together, but there are some that we won't accept! The future will be ours to change!"
"That's right!" Abis declared.
Riaan scoffed. "I see…then let's just see how you fair with such a boast! Come!" He held out his blade. "Time is of the essence for us all!"
Armagedoid stomped on the ground, craning his neck around with an empowered roar into the atmosphere.
"Let's hurry so we can back them up, Drago!" Dan shouted. "Ability, activate! Dragon Thrasher!"
"Ability, activate! Destroy Quasar!" Spectra yelled.
Both Drago and Helios reeled back and closed their maws at the same time. In complete harmony, dark purple and red energy beamed from their corners and expelled outwards in two beams that went barreling across the battlefield towards the respective clones as both their power levels increased towards 1700.
Kimera-Helios snarled; however, Kimera-Drago was quick to act with by expelling a tornado of twisting infernos at Drago's attack. The Dragon Tornado met the red beam in the center, but it didn't take long for it to push back and continue towards Drago.
Drago: 1200 (+500) = 1700 Drago: 1700 (-500) = 1200
Infinity Helios: 1200 Infinity Helios: 1700
"Drago, watch out!" Dan warned.
Drago realized that the attack was coming and ascended into the air, barely avoiding the explosion of fire beneath him. He looked down in modest surprise. "That was close…!"
As Helios' attack went at his clone, said Kimera raised his tail and concentrated an orb of dark energy, before firing it in a dense beam with crackling static, via Bolting Breaker. The attack made a clear shot through the dark crackling flames and closed in on Helios.
Drago: 1700 Drago: 1200
Infinity Helios: 1200 (+400) = 1600 Infinity Helios: 1700 (-400) = 1300
"Like we'll allow something as petty as that counterattack to stop us!" Spectra declared. 'Still, even with the FARBAS automatically stabilizing Helios, the fights have taken a toll. I won't know how long we'll last at this rate. For now, we must defend and find an opening!' His Bakumeter showed a Darkus ability. "Ability activate, Battle Warrior!"
Helios' body glowed and the armor on his body transformed into silver armored plating that was exceptionally durable. He folded his arms in front and took his clone's attack head-on. He stood his ground as the discharge of dark ions clouded up his vision, but he was able to hold firm as his power increased to 1900.
Once the discharge ended, suddenly a red blade went sweeping through, catching Helios by surprise. "What-?!"
Faster than what anyone could track, the Kimera-Drago past Helios with a swipe of Dragon Blade. It didn't do much damage to Helios, but the impact's force made him sway and almost lose footing.
"Oh snap, Helios!" Dan gasped.
"That was so fast…!" Drago realized.
Drago: 1700 (+500) = 2200 Drago: 1200
Infinity Helios: 1600 Infinity Helios: 1900
Helios grunted as he was trying to get his head in the game. "Helios, are you okay?!" Drago cried out.
Helios raised his head. "Bah! You should be more worried about yourself right now! Look alive!"
Drago realized what he meant saw his clone charging up a red energy inside his mouth. It looked like a Dragon Overcannon that rapidly charged up and fired at him. This time, Drago was prepared as his green eyes focused.
"Dan!"
"Yeah, pal! Ability, activate! Dragon Spur!" Drago's body shined bright red as he traversed at lightning speed past the fiery beam. He zigzagged through the air, reaching fast levels until he was able to get within close range of his clone.
Drago snagged his clone from behind, putting him in a chokehold. "Now I've got you…"
"Ability, activate! Hyper Drive!" Dan followed up.
The red energy around Drago became brighter as he suddenly erupted into a blitz with his clone. He jettisoned skywards and suddenly went into a streaking dive straight down. He roared violently as he crashed his clone as well as himself into the Helios clone.
Drago: 2200 (-500) = 1700 Drago: 1200 (+500) = 1700
Infinity Helios: 1600 Infinity Helios: 1900
An explosion of dust and energy discharged from the impact, and Drago shot out of it and landed on a knee looking away. He held firmly for a few moments before he lowered his head grunting and shivering.
"Drago!" Dan urged, moving closer. "Oh man…we still haven't fully recovered. We've been fighting this whole time without a break. It's taking a toll."
The dust cleared behind Drago's back, revealing the fake Drago and Helios standing upright and glaring at them. Unlike their counterparts, they were ready and full of energy still.
"We won't quit…not until, we win!" Drago lurched as he started getting up. He stammered to his feet and faced his clone alongside Helios. "We've come this far, and overcome our past difficulties with one another. It's as you said, Dan, we have too much that we still have to project. But…I still won't back down!"
Dan balled his fists. "Yeah, I like the sound of that. So Spectra, you ready to show these clones what fight we've got left?"
Spectra chuckled. "As if you need to ask. Helios, show them your fighting spirit!"
Helios flexed his arms and exerted a loud roar that went skywards, echoing throughout the airspace. Drago did the same thing. Both their clones reeled forward and shot at them, something they mimicked and charged for the center.
"Ability, activate! Fading Goliath!" Riaan shouted. Armagedoid let out a bolstering howl as magenta energy manifested into seven stars around his frame and fired them in dazzling beams at the opponents.
Maggie's Bakumeter showed two abilities layered atop one another. "Double ability, activate! Cosmos Body, plus Plasmorphis!"
Shifting in front of his comrades, Jelldon's entire body turned to a cosmic shade of twinkling energy that seemed like a red cosmos. The starlight beams bored into him, but they only fazed through him as plasmatic holes were made. He was unaffected as well as helped kept his power level from decreasing.
Armagedoid glared ahead. "That won't help you-!" He gasped. He could've sworn everything became a blur when a green bullet blitzed straight through Atmos.
"Ability activate, Storm Bullet!" Jase shouted.
As Jelldon's cosmic body acted as a veil, it turned to Plasma when Apex Atmos bolted clean through at hyper speed in a glistening green energy stream. His power level increased towards 900, while Armagedoid's reduced to 5400. The jet-like falcon made impact straight into Armagedoid's wings that he used to block at the last second. Winds of energy pulsated across the summit from the attack that Atmos was breaking against.
Armagedoid grunted with air pressure condensed onto him. "That…will not help!"
"Ability, activate!" Riaan shouted. "Necromancer!"
Shuji narrowed his eyes. 'That ability again.'
'Here we go.' Maggie realized.
Armagedoid's eyes glowed dark purple and a short outline of energy engulfed Atmos. He put his hands up and thrusted them forward, causing Atmos to shoot backwards across the flooring towards his allies. A similar aura enveloped everyone else, save for Jelldon thanks to Plasmorphis. Armagedoid pulled them all forward into Atmos' trajectory.
'Now!' Shawn showed two abilities. "Double ability, activate! Siba Strider, plus Icarus!"
As he was pulled in, Verias' grip on his staff tightened and its jewels shined bright yellow. The same shading transcended over the jewels on his bodily armor and he remotely brought tis arm back and stabbed the ground with a bright tip. Time slowed down for an instant as a large dome of transcending light energy encompassed all his friends, blocking them off from Necromancer's effects.
Daedalus Abis Omega: 650 (+400) = 1050/Eclipse Atchibee: 1050 (+400) = 1450/Astral Jelldon: 750 (+400) = 1150/Hercules Fly Beetle: 400 (+400) = 800/ Sage Verias: 900 (+500 +400) = 1800/Apex Atmos: 900 (+400) = 1300 = 7050
Armagedoid: 5400
'They timed the attack so they could all be within the perimeter of the ability. Not bad.' While Riaan was impressed, that didn't distract him from Luke's sharp swing. He deflected the attack and went for a slash, but Luke feigned right for Shawn to parry with the base of his rapier and put him in a momentary hold.
"Shuji!" Shawn shouted.
"Right!" Shuji ran up and, using his large arms and hand, had the sword pinned between his palms. This gave Shawn the levity he needed. Shuji gnashed his teeth as he tried to keep the blade as still as possible so that a clear opening was made.
Riaan felt resistance as he tried pulling away. "You're a lot stronger than I anticipated."
"You think that I was just a fat lard this whole time?!" Shuji countered, but jerked his head back when the blade was starting to slip through his hands.
Jase darted in from the side and held out his taser lance. The electric tip crackled as he went for a jab, causing Riaan to sweep his heel away and pull back to allow Jase to follow through. Once he did, Luke came to strike, causing Riaan to bunt and block the attack.
"Hah!" In the air, Esther cried out as she held her thick spear in hand. With how short the interval was, Riaan's eyes widened before Esther's spear impaled his shoulder armor, landing a hit the caused Riaan to grunt in pain.
"We got him!" Maggie cheered.
Everyone veered backwards as Riaan gritted his teeth in angst. He stammered backward and winced at the pain in his shoulder. "Damnit…"
The blue networks on the Empyrean lit up bright beneath their feet. They connected to Riaan and a bright shade escaped from him, flexing outwards down the Empyrean this time.
…
In the far mountain ranges with snowy-white tips, there a was a harsh rupture, before a harsh explosion skyrocketed the debris in all direction. Snow instantly melted as a tremor pushed further downwards towards the base, causing a steep fault line to open up. The beautiful land that was above was opening to reveal darkness in which many of fauna and minerals were falling into.
…
Riaan grimaced as he steadied himself. 'What was that I felt. It's like I just felt something stir on the other side of the world. Was it an earthquake…? No, something's not right here. But, I can't get distracted. I must not fail!'
"Ability, activate…!" Luke started. Abis spiraled around his comrades and ascended high into the air, his maw shining a dense blue. "…Flood Quasar!"
Abis roared as he unleashed a dense energy blast at Armagedoid from a steep angle. It bolstered through the atmosphere and closed in on him, but the dragon was more than prepared.
"Not so fast there, Luke!" Riaan's Bakumeter showed another ability. "Ability, activate! Shambolic Wing!"
Armagedoid's wing panels shined glistening light and flexed them just as the attack landed its mark on him. The dragon drew in the blue beam and ended reflecting it with a far greater force that expanded back towards Abis and his colleagues. Armagedoid's power bolted towards 6400.
'Knew he'd do that!' Luke's Bakumeter showed another ability. "Now! Fusion Ability, activate! Poseidon Surge!"
Abis' eyes shined bright blue, which reminisced of his diamonds and gills. Just as his attack was about to engulf him and his allies, he let out a blistering roar and fired a vortex of draconic water that swamped away the blue wake. It traversed back at Armagedoid as his power went up towards 1550.
Esther showed two abilities as well. "Double ability, activate! Diagonal Relation of Pyrus and Darkus!" Atchibee shined a dark indigo light, as did Jelldon as his Pyrus aura reacted to his counterpart attribute. "Fusion Ability, Jet Black Buster!" Atchibee's aura intensified as her blades made four similar points and condensed dark energy into a singular point. She fired it into a beam with an intensified aura around it as her power bolted towards 2450.
The two attacks closed in on Armagedoid was a tidal wave swirling in a clockwise motion with a violet energy beam piercing through the center. It bolted so fast no one could have traced it before it was too late. Armagedoid was engulfed in a beaming wave with violent eruptions going skywards. Pulsing rippled of energy flared nonstop as the others down below were holding their ground the best they possibly could without being blown away.
The shockwaves passed Riaan as he stood his ground apart from Luke and everyone else. The attack no doubt dealt some measure of damage towards him and Armagedoid.
It took a few moments for a wave of dust to simmer away, revealing Riaan's composed look. "Nicely executed. You followed up with a Fusion Ability that would make it impossible for me to use Satanic Suppression. However…"
The dust cleared away, causing everyone to glare harder to reveal Armagedoid behind a rainbow wall of invisible energy that quickly settled down. He glared forward, snarling.
"I trust that you also didn't forget about Eternity Screen, did you not? Your abilities, no matter how powerful, will not reach us otherwise!"
"We'll see about that." Shawn challenged. "Verias!"
"Right!" Verias twirled his staff around overhead, before plunging it into the ground beside him readily. He leered at Armagedoid and vice versa.
Shawn activated an ability. "Ability, activate! Rune Warlock!"
A bright afterimage of Verias appeared as his eyes and gemstones shined a familiar light ray. The rings on his staff glowed bright yellow, causing Armagedoid's invisible screen in front to flicker on and off, before it vanished entirely.
"What's this…?!" The dragon looked ahead, gasping as he saw his ability's screening in front of Verias this time. "My ability was taken from me?"
"I see that you've acquired some useful versatility within your evolution." Riaan dryly stated. He remembered the last time something like this happened. It was against Luka and Paradox Brontes that his Eternity Screen was hijacked. 'They know how to counter even our most defensive abilities with their own. We'll have to pick up the pace then.' His Bakumeter showed another ability. "You've forced my hand, you all…ability, activate! Ambiguity!"
Armagedoid's eyes glinted brightly once more, before unleashing another dark shockwave that leveled the ground around him.
"We've got this! Right, Fly Beetle?" Shuji asked.
Fly Beetle opened his wing shields and flew over his allies to land in front of them. "Don't worry. Whatever comes our way, I'll take it!" He faced the shockwave without any discouragement. His fists balled tightly.
"Ability, activate!" Shuji yelled. "Earth Shield!" Fly Beetle kneeled and punched the ground, summoning a large eruption that exploded into a dense barricade of solid, compressed earth minerals as hard as diamond. The wall blocked off the shockwaves entirely, nullifying the ability and protecting everyone else from harm.
Armagedoid snarled as he kept producing shockwaves from his body, but Fly Beetle was able to match that power with his impermeable defenses.
"HRAH!" Meanwhile, Shuji went for a punch, but Riaan dodged and he turned to deflect Esther's shot around him. Jase and Luke went at lower angles with simultaneous thrusts, something that Riaan wouldn't ignore lightly. He caught on, and did a full sweep, deflecting as well as repel anything who was too close. They all either slid on their knees away or followed through with tumbling and rose to their knees.
"Enough of this, it means that I will no choice but to step up my firepower this time around."
Luke narrowed his eyes. 'He's going to use stronger abilities this time around.'
Riaan held up his Bakumeter, showing two abilities readily active. "Double ability, activate! Photon Dragonoia, plus…Prismatic Pulsar!"
Once again, Armagedoid's eyes glinted dark purple. "Show them our might, Armagedoid!"
Armagedoid careened his head up and expelled a vile roar that shook the air around him. He suddenly enclosed himself within his prismatic form, making a moment's break before a foreboding pressure began building up from within.
The magnitude within the area intensified dramatically around the other Bakugan and humans. They tried remaining stable despite this ominous force.
"Here it comes…!" Esther warned. "Everyone, brace yourselves!"
Riaan jutted his blade forward with valiance. "FEEL OUR WRATH!"
Armagedoid's wings gradually expanded outwards, and then a supernova-like flare of millions of piercing lights and a negative dragonfire blast seared through the center of this explosive light wake. The entire top of the Empyrean pulsated into a magenta star that radiated towards everyone else.
Daedalus Abis Omega: 1550 (-600) = 950/Eclipse Atchibee: 2450 (-600) = 1850/Astral Jelldon: 1150/Hercules Fly Beetle: 800 (-600) = 200/Sage Verias: 1800/Apex Atmos: 1300 (-600) = 700 = 6650
Armagedoid: 6400 (+600 +600) = 7600
The blast wave closed in at an astonishing rate that no one could comprehend it. The others along the sidelines covered their eyes to avoid total blindness as the wake took its course at their colleagues. The shockwaves prevented them from making any movements forward to aid in the fight.
Shun peered over his forearm, glaring with shock at the disastrous light. "GUYS!"
The earth wall took the piercing light and draconic blast coming from the center. It smashed into it, gradually cracking it part until minerals reduced to dust. It didn't take long before it punctured straight through, engulfing everything on the other side on an atomic-level blast wave of dark light that plumed outwards. A blue network illuminated the ground at the large-scale level of power that the attack produced that was supposedly absorbed by the Empyrean. Armagedoid looked out as he watched his opponents get engulfed by his attack with vindictive gleams in his gaze. Neither he nor Riaan let up let up so easily.
Riaan, on the other hand, remained affirm as Esther drew closer to slash, the light from Armagedoid's attack provided as her aid to catch Riaan off guard. It gleamed off her weapon and caused him to backpedal with a grunt. Angered, he countered by overpowering her, beating her in the parry and sending her flying back.
"I gotcha!" Shuji reached out and grabbed Esther in time. "You okay?"
Esther was quick to rebound. "Yes. Thank you, Shuji."
Riaan looked out at everyone around him, seeing them all in a momentary square-off yet again as the explosion of light was off to the side. Suffice to say that he wasn't too impressed with what he was seeing. "Were you not prepared for that one? How disappointing."
"Oh no…" Mira fret. She, as well as everyone else there, looked on with slight shock was they recovered from that blast wave that knocked them around a fair amount. Although with how high up and the pressure being against them, it was taking quite a bit of time before it all processed.
The flare gradually receded, and Armagedoid's dragonfire let up. He glared forward at the indigo inferno he set ablaze up to where the opponents were. The tiling had a trench that repaired itself in an instant and diminished gradually to see what kinds of damage was dealt onto them.
The flames diminished…revealing cosmic dust with a bright flare at its center.
Armagedoid's eyes narrowed. Riaan scowled.
Everyone watched with astonishment as the waves of fire receded, revealing Atchibee fluttering over her allies with a cosmic purple dust cloud encasing them, protecting them from the smoldering blazes and light. An elemental aura enveloped all of them that came from Verias' staff beaming power for everyone.
"I see…" Riaan looked at Esther and Shawn, who had Solaris Moondance and Haos Savior active. "Looks like I've spoken too soon."
Daedalus Abis Omega: 950 (+600 +500 +2050) = 4100/Eclipse Atchibee: 1850 (+600 +500 +2950) = 5900/Astral Jelldon: 1150 (+500 +1650) = 3300/Hercules Fly Beetle: 200 (+600 +500 +1300) = 2600/Sage Verias: 1800 (+500 +2300) = 4600/Apex Atmos: 700 (+600 +500 +1800) = 3600 = 24,100
Armagedoid: 7600 (-600 -600) = 6400
"They got all their power levels up big time!" Zenet gasped.
"There they go again, making a big show of things!" Mason stated, though it was clear by his tone that he was heavily sarcastic as he was fearful.
"Their battling experience against Hades Pillars must have helped boosted their tolerance to such greater power." Marucho said, hos brow furrowed. "So high in fact that we can't get anywhere near that."
"Most impressive…" Nurzak observed with such a studious glare. 'I would have highly doubt that Emperor Barodius would have had any chance against these battlers either.'
Jase spread his heels. "I'll assume the support. Shuji…"
"Yeah, I got him." Shuji stomped on the ground, a similar position that Fly Beetle took. "We're gonna pry these guys of their heels."
"Atmos!" At the call, Atmos spread all four of his wings and glided above his allies. "Ability, activate! Anemoi Wings!" Atmos began spiraling in place as his wings were coated in a broad emerald shine that illuminated his allies. An emerald tempest picked up that expanded towards Armagedoid, who used his wings to shield himself as the emerald coating outlined him. He grunted angrily as the tempest blinded him and Riaan from seeing what was happening.
"Now!" Atmos shouted.
"We got this…" Fly Beetle grunted. "Let's go, Shuji!"
"You read my mind. Ability…activate!"
All the armor on Fly Beetle's body started to solidify. He crushed the ground beneath himself as the last part to solidify was his horn and face. "ARMORED ULTIMA!" He and Shuji cried out. Together, both rampaged straight ahead into the tempest, barreling a path towards their opponents. His power level bolted towards 3400 as he beelined ahead.
Riaan and Armagedoid saw their opponents coming at them, and Riaan was ready to swing his blade. However, the wound Esther inflicted slowed him down, forcing him and Armagedoid to use a blade and wings respectively to hold off their opponents when they collided.
"We're gonna bulldoze you to death!" Fly Beetle challenged. The insectoid dug his heels further and used his tank-like exterior to break through the wings. Armagedoid and Riaan went wide-eyed when they found themselves sliding backwards hastily as they were tackled like football players. Shuji pushed against the flat side of the sword pressing against Riaan's chest, while Fly Beetle thrust his horn up, uppercutting Armagedoid's chin and pushed him down.
It then began. Fly Beetle stabbed his horn into Armagedoid's chest, making the dragon screech out in pain, but it was cut short when Fly Beetle pinned him down and kept pushing, tearing up the battlefield as he grinded Armagedoid deep into the ground. Plating as well as debris was reduced to shrapnel as he grinded Armagedoid against the ground. He pressed down harder with each uneven path of ground churned, hitching every step of the way to make his opponent grounded. If it wasn't for his headpiece he would be suffering severe brain damage.
Shuji growled heavily as he was pushing Riaan further and further away with all his might. Veins were popping out of his forehead as he was using all the adrenaline and muscle to keep him at bay.
'Such force…!' Despite Riaan trying to stand ground, like Fly Beetle, Shuji was tackling him again and again.
Fly Beetle gave one final thrust and kept his puncturing horn into Armagedoid. With his might, he grabbed the gagging dragon with all four arms and swung his horn up, sending him spiraling out of control skywards as a green bullet drew itself in.
"Ability activate, Sonic Rain!" Jase shouted. He darted in along with side, the taser lance in hand. "Fusion Ability, activate! Mach Maelstrom!" Atmos dove at uncanny speeds, a green helix of spiraling energy erupting in front as his acceleration exploded. 700 Gs was subtracted to Armagedoid, putting him at 5700, while Atmos ascended towards 4300.
Armagedoid saw the attack just as he rebounded. He was quick to get over the pain as he counterattacked. "Ability, activate! Oracle Cannon!" He hastily charged up energy and fired a dark matter beam at Atmos. However, it only transferred 400 Gs because of Anemoi Wings enveloping it in a green outline, putting Armagedoid at 6100, while Atmos fell towards 3900.
Atmos beelined at Mach speed at the same time, Jase went for a piercing blow from the side. Shuji ultimately let up and Riaan used his blade to deflect Jase around. Armagedoid traversed his beam to angle Atmos just enough that he would get past him, though the aerial shockwaves caused a severe feedback that pushed him away. Thankfully using his wings he was able to balance out.
Riaan was able to keep ground as well. 'That was close…huh?'
Above them, two blue glints were seen coming down at the rate of bullets. "Ability, activate! Terror Torpedo!"
Luke came down with his blade that Riaan parried. At the same time, Armagedoid's magenta eyes caught the glistening blue beam that was Abis beaming down from the sky. A streaming energy snake wriggled in the air for several seconds before an explosion of energy pushed everything away. Armagedoid went smashing into the ground straight below by the blue meteor, causing an eruption of energy and dust.
Daedalus Abis Omega: 4100 (+700) = 4800/Eclipse Atchibee: 5900/Astral Jelldon: 3300/Hercules Fly Beetle: 3400/Sage Verias: 4600/Apex Atmos: 3900 = 25,900
Armagedoid: 6100 (-700) = 5400
The dust cloud brewed away, and Abis flew out of it from the top. Fly Beetle and Atmos reconvened by flying over and regrouping with everyone as they watched the dust settle. It revealed Armagedoid, on the ground, on his stomach, wedged in the Empyrean's tiling.
Riaan pivoted and deflected Luke back towards his side, at the same time Esther thrusted her spear at him. He parried that, and on top of that, Jase and Shawn followed up as support to deter him. With a powerful pivot, his blade swept across, but everyone ducked at the exact moment.
On a knee, Jase instigated an ability. "Ability, activate! Draft Burden!"
Atmos glided high over Armagedoid as the dragon attempted to stand. He summoned a downward draft that instantly immobilized Armagedoid. He grunted as wind pressure weighed him own from high above.
"So you've prevented me from activating abilities?" Riaan chimed.
"And your Gate Card is suspended." Jase stated. "Esther!"
Esther nodded. "Right!" She held up her Bakumeter to activate an ability. "Ability, activate! Black Solstice!"
Atchibee hollered as she spread her wings over Armagedoid. With a banshee shriek, she unleashed a purple light that gleamed down Armagedoid's immobilized frame. As dark purple cosmic dust was sprinkling down onto him, energy was siphoning from his body upwards towards her.
Daedalus Abis Omega: 4800/Eclipse Atchibee: 5900…6150…6400…/Astral Jelldon: 3300/Hercules Fly Beetle: 3400/Sage Verias: 4600/Apex Atmos: 3900 = 25,900 (still increasing)
Armagedoid: 5400…5150…4900…
Armagedoid cringed as he was on his hands and knees, feeling his power getting completely sapped away. "Just like that, Atchibee! Don't let up!" Abis encouraged.
Everyone watching smiled with such glee. They all looked so hopeful as their enemy was pinned down immeasurably.
"Yes~! You got him! You got him!" Julie shouted. "You've got that monster guys, so nail him and save our worlds!"
"This just might work." Ren said expectantly.
"Hmmm…" Jesse grimaced.
"What is it, Jesse?"
"Take a look, Ren." He did as instructed and noticed Armagedoid's body was shimmering underneath the light Atchibee produced. His prismatic wings and headpiece looked to be glistening the brightest, like a veil of some sorts. "It appears that our lead antagonist has changed the script at the last second.
"Huh? What is that?" Marucho blinked.
The fellow Bakugan facing Armagedoid grew wary as they watched their adversary slowly rise up onto his two feet. Albeit hesitant at first. Nit because of the winds, but the damage Fly Beetle and Abis inflicted. He eventually arose to his feet, eyeing all his foes with an angered scowl.
"Is…is that the best your evolutions got…you all?!" He let out an indominable roar that split apart the air. It shrilled throughout the atmosphere like ripples across time and space.
Luke and his allies covered up from the shockwaves of Armagedoid's attack, enough that they had to spread heels or use weapons to support one another. As the shockwaves dialed down, they all looked forward expectantly.
"He's still able to move?" Shawn grimaced.
Shuji narrowed his eyes. "Wait a second…" He saw that Riaan's Bakumeter was shimmering with an ability. 'Don't tell me…'
"Did you all forget about Prism Dialect?" Riaan challenged. "Just before he struck the ground, I activated the ability in anticipation that you would try and incapacitate us. You know all of my tricks, yes. But…I know all of yours as well." Armagedoid snarled alongside him. "And that means, in spite of numbers against us, we are still evenly matched. Ability, activate…!" Another ability activated. "Ambiguity!"
Armagedoid's eyes shined dark purple before he let out a loud roar once more. With a bolstering cry, he expelled even more shockwaves than fanned out, leveling the atmosphere and buffering all the enemies at once. The emerald wings, as well as the clear shield in front of Verias, all vanished. The ironclad armor on Fly Beetle receded, and Atchibee's rays were blown off easily.
Daedalus Abis Omega: 4800 (-700 -2050) = 2050/Eclipse Atchibee: 6800 (-900 -2950) = 2950/Astral Jelldon: 3300 (-1650) = 1650/Hercules Fly Beetle: 3400 (-800 -1300) = 1300/Sage Verias: 4600 (-2300) = 2300/Apex Atmos: 3900 (-700 -1600) = 1600 = 11,850
Armagedoid: 5000…(+3600) = 8600
The shockwaves didn't stop. The entire Empyrean shuddered as the blue energy outlines radiated throughout the shimmering white tower. The bystanders had to stay as low as possible as everything around them rumbled towards extremes.
The blast waves caused everyone else to feel intense recoil, enough to leave them immobilized. Riaan gripped his blade and went for a slash at Luke.
"Oh no you don't!" Maggie shouted. "Jelldon!"
Gritting his teeth, Jelldon's skirt expelled seven tendrils. As Riaan was about to slash Luke, he saw an electrified tendril dart for him. He hastily used his blade as defense and it harshly jabbed to where the gilded metal alloy was dented at its center. He gritted his teeth as he was pushed away, his feet gliding across as he observed the remaining tendrils whisk everyone else away.
They were all pulled back behind their partners as they barricaded themselves against the shockwaves.
"He's nullified our abilities. Even Jelldon's Cosmos Body won't stop his power from dropping." Esther stated.
"We need a distraction." Shawn looked towards Luke. "Luke, any ideas?"
Luke didn't hesitate. "Yeah." He held up his Bakumeter. "Ability, activate…!"
'Here is my chance.' Riaan gestured his blade towards the Earth. "Now, Gate Card, open! Freeze Enemy!"
The Gate Card shined a bright light beneath everyone present as the shockwaves of Armagedoid's attack kept going. Almost instantaneously, everyone froze in midair, as though they were suspended by a force that paralyzed them completely.
"A trap field." Shawn grunted.
Daedalus Abis Omega: 2050 (-200) = 1850/Eclipse Atchibee: 2950 (-200) = 2750/Astral Jelldon: 1650 (-200) = 1450/Hercules Fly Beetle: 1300 (-200) = 1100/Sage Verias: 2300 (-200) = 2100/Apex Atmos: 1600 (-200) = 1400 = 10,650
Armagedoid: 8600
"And because of Freeze Enemy, you won't be able to process any abilities." Riaan noted.
"Oh no!" Marucho shouted. "Guys, you need to do something!"
"Yeah, like that isn't obvious enough, genius." Keegan backlashed. 'How the hell are they getting out of this one? Hold on…' He noticed something about their side. 'Something seems off.'
Armagedoid snarled as he slammed his tail downwards, picking him upwards high into the atmosphere. "Enough games! We will not allow ourselves to hold back so frivolously!"
Riaan raised his Bakumeter to show an ability activating. "And I am in full agreement. Let's see how you fair against this, shall we? Double ability, activate! Photon Dragonia, plus Fading Goliath!" Armagedoid expelled a bolstering howl as he lurched forward with pressurized dragonfire and starlight beaming around his bodily frame at his foes.
Daedalus Abis Omega: 1850/Eclipse Atchibee: 2750 (-700) = 2050/Astral Jelldon: 1450/Hercules Fly Beetle: 1100/Sage Verias: 2100/Apex Atmos: 1400 = 9,950
Armagedoid: 8600 (+800 +700) = 10,100
The attacks beamed swiftly into the immobilized enemies, but they were unable to do anything about it, much to everyone's inexplicable horror.
"It's coming in too fast!" Lena realized. "They won't be able to dodge!"
Everyone's anxiety ran to an all-time high as they gaped their mouths in horror at what could have been a deadly blast. The others were farther behind the attack. The beam and starlight sailed in a steep angle right for them, but just before everyone thought there would have been an impact of some kind, the beam was stopped cold by an invisible force, and the seven falling stars ricocheted past the invisible force around the ally Bakugan.
"Hngh?!" Armagedoid grunted.
Riaan looked just as shocked as his partner, However, he was quick to pick up on something about the forcefield that appeared out of nowhere. 'Hold on. That ability…that belongs to…!' His eyes narrowed. 'Clever.'
Behind the shield, in front of everyone else, Daedalus Abis Omega slowly faded into view. Unlike his other allies, he wasn't petrified at all by the effects of the Gate Card.
"Ability…Pressure Shield!" Luke announced.
"Nice save there, Luke!" Maggie thanked.
"Yeah, don't mention it." He looked ahead as he thought of how very close of a call it was beforehand. "If I hadn't used Stealth Dweller a second sooner, we'd be in trouble."
Armagedoid's beaming attacks continued jettisoning downwards onto Abis and his Pressure Shield forcefield, but the force of the attack wasn't getting through. Instead, a dense, blue aura enveloped Abis as he lowly snarled at Armagedoid.
Daedalus Abis Omega: 1850 (+8250) = 10,100/Eclipse Atchibee: 2050/Astral Jelldon: 1450/Hercules Fly Beetle: 1100/Sage Verias: 2100/Apex Atmos: 1400 = 18,200
Armagedoid: 10,100
Seeing as how his attack was unable to get through, Armagedoid let up and lowered himself towards the ground a good distance away. Riaan smirked. "Seems that you haven't lost a step."
Luke activated another ability. "Ability, activate! Tidal Divide!"
Abis raised his head towards the stars above, expelling a roar as loud as waves crashing against shores. The atmosphere thundered as stormclouds were summoned and spiraled above all of them. Armagedoid and Riaan looked up as well as they observed the clouds spiraling directly above their opponents.
'Weather abilities this high in the atmosphere?'
It started pouring down cold rainwater across the battlefield. The longer it went, the harsher the droplets. They sloshed Armagedoid as he growled lowly. An aura filled the rainwater that fell off his body and flooded the entire field, drowning the Gate Card to where it turned black. Everyone behind him immediately started moving again, while Abis absorbed the rainwater on the ground through his mouth. Like a drain, the water was sucked in and swirled to where an explosive blue surge of dense aura made the air around him vibrate to an intense level.
Daedalus Abis Omega: 10,100 (+5050) = 15,150/ Eclipse Atchibee: 2050 (+200) = 2250/Astral Jelldon: 1450 (+200) = 1650/Hercules Fly Beetle: 1100 (+200) = 1300/Sage Verias: 2100 (+200) = 2300/Apex Atmos: 1400 (+200) = 1600 = 24,250
Armagedoid: 10,100 (-5050) = 5050
"They were able to nullify the Gate Card…!" Nemus gasped.
"Awesome…" Baron ran speechless.
Once again, all six of them squared off against Armagedoid, who looked ahead humbly, yet at the same time expectantly.
"Not a bad follow up. Now…for our follow-up." Riaan swiped his arm. "Ability, activate…Necromancer!"
Armagedoid raised his arms and his eyes glowed dark purple. Everyone on the other side of the field felt an intense thumping in their bodies that immediately froze them on the spot. They all were cringing as Armagedoid moved his arms about and forced Jelldon's multiple tendrils to lace around the other Bakugan, especially around their necks. His main tendrils were manipulated through their dexterity to lace around his own upper body to make him blind. Armagedoid grunted as his eyes flashed again, causing high voltage from Jelldon to course through everyone's bodies in a painful manner. Crackling lightning engulfed them all at their ally's thunderous power.
"They're at each other's throats again…!" Shawn realized, before he realized a tail coming down from Abis and dodged. The wake of the attack blew him and Maggie back, but they were quick to rebound. "We've gotta get control again."
Several of Jelldon's other tentacles beneath his skirt went beaming at the others, but Luke, Shawn, Jase, and Esther used their respective weapons to deflect and block off the streaming tendrils. However, the force was enough to make them all get to their knees or slide back.
'Jelldon's a lot stronger and heavier than I thought!' Luke grunted.
'With Prism Dialect, abilities will work no matter what we do.' Shawn thought as he cut into a tendril to deflect it. 'Sorry, Jelldon!'
Drago went toe-to-toe, nail-to-nail with his doppelganger. They were in a spritz so crisp that red static was seen within their blows. Meanwhile, below, Helios locked hands to overpower his clone, their red eyes glaring at each other.
"You're nothing special! Did you hear me?!" he yelled at his clone.
The clone's response was his maw opening wide with a close-range Destroy Quasar charging up. Helios' eyes widened when he realized the mistake he made and prepared himself.
"Ability, activate! Warfire!" Spectra countered.
Kimera-Helios fired a black and purple electrical blaze, while Helios quickly charged up his maw with an orb of dark energy and launched it with precision. The results were both attacks meeting in the center, while at the same time causing a large-scale explosion that engulfed all of their surroundings. Several beams of dark purple energy expelled everywhere, radiating even upwards towards Kimera-Drago. It realized the attack incoming and covered up to avoid most of the projectiles.
Drago: 1700 (-500) = 1200 Drago: 1700
Infinity Helios: 2100 (-500) = 1600 Infinity Helios: 1900
With the attack as cover, Kimera-Drago was completely immobilized for Drago to get a move in. He sprung through the atmosphere, kicking his clone with all his might into the armguards. It deterred him backwards, but Dragon landed on a knee as to where Helios slid back from explosive wake.
Both Bakugan took a moment to catch their breath, but the smoke cloud enveloping Kimera-Helios suddenly glinted bright purple. The top of the clous exploded with hundreds of dark purple projectiles flaring everywhere, via Deep Fire – Block A.
"Huh?!" Drago looked up, seeing the multiple projectiles whistling as they arched downwards all directly onto him and Helios.
Drago: 1200 Drago: 1700 (-500) = 1200
Infinity Helios: 1600 (+500) = 2100 Infinity Helios: 1900 (-500) = 1400
Dan's Bakumeter showed an ability to counter. "Oh no you don't, fakes! Ability, activate! Fusion Shield!"
Drago moved in front of Helios and lifted his arms high up to create a translucent, red forcefield that was like an umbrella to them. The dark purple projectiles streamed down and exploded against the barrier and ground around them. The landmine effect caused a rupture that made Dan and Spectra cover up.
While Drago was trying to hold off the attack, he almost didn't see a red explosion gradually getting closer. "What?!" Both he and Helios were completely hammered as the wall of fire erupted outwards, blasting away the shield and engorging them both in the inferno wake of the Kimera-Drago's attack.
Drago: 1200 (+500) = 1700 Drago: 1200
Infinity Helios: 2100 Infinity Helios: 1400
The shockwaves were enough to make Dan and Spectra scream as they fell over. They landed on their sides as their Bakugan both fell onto their backs, grunting heavily from the exhaustion. Drago gagged, while Helios stifled a grunt. It was taking everything they had to stay conscious, let alone maintain the battle.
Spectra was able to get up first. "Such force. They're countering us at every turn." He looked over towards Dan, who was panting and holding hos right shoulder. "Are you okay, Dan?"
"I'm fine…just a little banged up is all." Even though he was putting on a brave face, it was clear that the pain Dan felt when Riaan stabbed him a short while back was returning. The adrenaline and the despair was a mixture that was frustrating him, but he kept his cool the best he could. "We can't give up. We've already lost hope once…and as long as I'm still able to stand…" he gradually stood back up. "I won't let our worlds be changed!"
Spectra smirked. "Good to see you still have some fire." He glared ahead. "Come! We need to coordinate if we're going to survive this!"
"Yup!" Dan gave him a thumbs up. Together, he and Spectra faced the Kimera standing in their way. Drago and Helios gradually stood once more side-by-side against their clones.
Abis' extremely long body enabled him to coil around both Atchibee and Atmos as the latter Bakugan were plunging their scythes and talons into his heavily dense scales. Compared to his last evolution, he was much harder to get through. But the struggled just didn't end, especially with Jelldon and Verias pinned down by Hercules Fly Beetle's sheer might.
Riaan glared ahead. He knew that it would be only a matter of time before that happens.
"Everyone, stand back! We've got this one!" Maggie declared.
"You sure, Maggie?" Shawn asked.
Maggie firmly nodded. "Definitely. Just be ready to counterattack if Armagedoid uses his Deep Save or any offenses on us." She looked at her partner. "Jelldon!"
Fly Beetle pressed even harder onto Jelldon and Verias' head, pinning them further into the ground. "Yeah…let's do this, Maggie!"
Riaan scoffed. "As if I would be that off-guard." He reached his arm out, to which Armagedoid responded by commanding Abis to unwrap himself around his allies and shoot straight for the others with iron armored jaw wide open.
Everyone took evasive actions. They all ducked low and moved the other out of the way of Abis' wake. They floored and rolled off to the side to evade the razor-sharp fins that sliced into the ground. Shuji was able to grab Maggie in time and slide on his shoulder away. He gritted his teeth as the weight grinding on it caused his skin to scrape.
"Shuji!" Maggie gasped.
He opened an eye. "It's fine! Just hurry!"
"Okay!" She held up her Bakumeter to activate an ability. "Ability, activate! Binary Plasma!"
While still pinned down, Jelldon's gel sacs glowed brightly as electrical plasmatic impulses were discharging around him and his allies. They formed int a singular point above them, transforming into an exact copy of Jelldon.
Daedalus Abis Omega: 15,150/ Eclipse Atchibee: 2250/Astral Jelldon: 1650/Astral Jelldon: 1650/Hercules Fly Beetle: 1300/Sage Verias: 2300/Apex Atmos: 1600 = 25,900
Armagedoid: 5050
"A duplication ability." Riaan observed.
"The clone is usually immune to all ability effects by the opponent, but we have to hurry!" Maggie activated another ability. "Ability, activate! Minion Deluder!"
Armagedoid looked up at the clone and his eyes brightened. Another dark outline enveloped the other Bakugan as they all turned and went shooting up at the Astral Jelldon clone, only to be exposed to the massive skirt unfolding into hundreds of tendrils that wriggled and shot conduction red lightning down onto them. It stopped them all in their tracks as electrical impulses caused them to face forward.
Shun's eyes widened. "They got control of themselves back using their own manipulation ability turned on them!"
"They used it on themselves?" Zenet blinked. "That's crazy…"
"Yeah, you're speaking the truth there, sister." Mason sneered. "But it looks like it's paying off in a big way."
"Nice save, Maggie!" Luke was given enough elbow room to lunge after Riaan.
"Now we can attack back!" Shawn followed, along with Jase and Esther. Shuji got up alongside Maggie and they charged in for the support.
Riaan watched them all come for him. He was dully impressed with what they did regarding the counterattack that Jelldon's cloning. "How interesting…but still, futile!" He jutted his blade out. "Ability, activate! Oracle Cannon!"
Armagedoid angled his wings into alignment and conjured dark energy. The Prism Dialect's influence enabled him to zero in on the clone's point, making his attack glisten like a plasmatic dark matter gloss before he fired a large-scale energy beam that roared through the atmosphere at him.
Daedalus Abis Omega: 15,150/ Eclipse Atchibee: 2250/Astral Jelldon: 1650/Astral Jelldon: 1650 (-800) = 850/Hercules Fly Beetle: 1300/Sage Verias: 2300/Apex Atmos: 1600 = 25,100
Armagedoid: 5050 (+800) = 5850
As they were running towards Riaan, Maggie looked at Shuji. He responded knowing what to do. "Double ability, activate! Tectonic Edge, plus Fusion Ability, Terra Phalanx!"
The Jelldon clone grunted and lashed the tendril manipulating his ally. Fly Beetle was given viable movement to soar and plunge his fist into the ground, causing a bright orange pillar to shoot up, followed by large waves of stones that went in a linear fashion towards the Oracle Cannon's trajectory. The tip of the stones had orange energy similar to molten magma
The dark matter cannon soared across the ground and met the jagged stones in the center. The result was a molten implosion of orange and dark purple that created a huge wall between them. The entire top leveled in a shockwave that expanded towards every corner of the Empyrean. A huge flare encompassed the center between the two attacks.
Daedalus Abis Omega: 15,150/ Eclipse Atchibee: 2250/Astral Jelldon: 1650/Astral Jelldon: 850/Hercules Fly Beetle: 1300 (+500 +400) = 2200/Sage Verias: 2300/Apex Atmos: 1600 = 26,000
Armagedoid: 5850 (-500 -400) = 4950
The eruption kept blossoming, but the others chose to not let up. "Ability, activate!" Maggie shouted. "Volt Inferno!"
The molten dark shockwave suddenly had a hole punched through when an elongated tendril of molten plasma streamlined across the ground towards Armagedoid. The original Jelldon's power increased towards 2250. Armagedoid saw how fast it was closing in and braced himself.
"Ability activate, Zone Seal!" Armagedoid thrust his arm out and released a rippling dark shockwave that went into the plasma-infused tendrils. If froze in place, keeping its tip several feet away from his face.
Riaan grunted. But then, his eyes widened when he saw something wrong with the immobile tendril and gasped.
"Ability, activate! Polaris Hammer!" Shawn shouted,
In a burst of plasmatic flare, Verias leaped out of it, roaring mightily with his staff overhead. Time gradually slowed down as the staff shined brightly as a star in the night sky. His power arose to 2800 while Armagedoid descended towards 4450.
'He was using his ally's attack just to get within striking distance!' Riaan was left astounded as he was surprised. He saw that everyone was closing in on him and had to react fast. Armagedoid was no different, as time felt slow around him given the star-like hammer coming down onto him.
Just before the hammer could hit the headpiece, Riaan made the call. "Ability, activate! Ambiguity!"
Armagedoid expelled a bolstering shockwave of dark energy that immediately shut down Verias' ability. Bits of his fur and armor chipped off as he was blown backwards, along with the frozen tendril and slate shrapnel. Atchibee swooped in and caught Verias in her claws and bared the shockwaves with everyone else. Luke and everyone plunged their weapons into the ground and covered their heads to avoid any debris resulting brain damage. Shuji and Maggie bunkered behind Luke and Esther respectively.
The Bakugan again were forced to hunker down against these powerful shockwaves, and through them, the clone dissipated into plasma, before reducing to thin air.
Daedalus Abis Omega: 15,150 (-7600) = 7550/ Eclipse Atchibee: 2250 (-1150) = 1100/Astral Jelldon: 2250 (-600 -850) = 800/Hercules Fly Beetle: 2200 (-900 -650) = 650/Sage Verias: 2800 (-500 -1150) = 1150/Apex Atmos: 1600 (-800) = 800 = 12,050
Armagedoid: 4950 (+5950) = 10,900
They all grunted and hunkered down the best they could. Everyone dug in their heels as the atmosphere roared with the intensity Armagedoid gave off. A multitude of flashes erupted on a constant basis, so much that the air was becoming unstable.
"Not yet…Jase!" Luke shouted.
"Understood!" He lifted his Bakumeter to enact an ability. "Ability, activate! Hurriblade!"
Atmos gave off a loud shriek. He brought his wings up and swatted them, summoning a wild tornado of pressurized air that rushed through the area and swayed in the shockwaves before them. Atmos' power ascended towards 1400.
"Maggie!" Esther shouted.
"Ability, activate!" Maggie complied. "Element Storm!"
"Ability, activate! Armored Ultima!" Shuji cried out.
The eye of the slicing tempest shined brightly. Seven green eyes proceeded to shine brightly as much as the tornado of slicing energy gradually changing shape. It spiraled around an epicenter that beelined with a cosmic rainbow storm spiraling around the atmosphere. Several flashes rumbled as the galactic-like storm compressed into a large veil-like energy that spiraled around Fly Beetle as he bolted through it all. In his wake as he jettisoned across the atmosphere, the entire tower shuddered violently with the spiraling ions and whirlwinds within his armored wake.
Daedalus Abis Omega: 7550/ Eclipse Atchibee: 1100/Astral Jelldon: 800 (+3500) = 4300/Hercules Fly Beetle: 650 (+600) = 1250/Sage Verias 1150/Apex Atmos: 1400 = 16,750
Armagedoid: 10,900
"YOU THINK YOU'VE WON THIS?!" Fly Beetle roared through his iron take down. "WE'RE NOT EVEN CLOSE TO DONE WITH YOU!"
Riaan glared forward. "Then perhaps this shall suffice! Double ability, activate! Prismatic Pulsar, plus Photon Dragonia!" Armagedoid's eyes shined even brighter as his magenta core brightened with power. There wasn't even time for a shockwave to expel as dragonfire and light instantly discharged from his mouth and wings outwards. With Prism Dialect, it was gargantuan beam of light that Fly Beetle was flying into.
Daedalus Abis Omega: 7550 (-800) = 6750/ Eclipse Atchibee: 1100 (-800) = 300/Astral Jelldon: 4300 (-800) = 3500/Hercules Fly Beetle: 1250 (-800) = 450/Sage Verias 1150 (-800) = 350/Apex Atmos: 1400 (-800) = 600 = 11,950
Armagedoid: 10,900 (+800 +800) = 12,500
A rainbow shockwave expelled across the sky, exploding for miles on end. If there were any clouds, they would have been vaporized by the shockwaves that this attack produced. Light shined across the Interacian sky as brightly as a magenta sun from the far shores of Outback Isle. The ocean water violently swayed as waves crashed into various shores across the world.
Airwaves were so intense that not a single word could be made out as Fly Beetle was fluttering his wings so fast they couldn't be seen. It was taking everything within his ironclad frame to maintain the straight line of energy. His skin didn't break by any means, but the pulsing force was blinding him as much as it did deter. Still, he refused to yield.
Armagedoid snarled low at the challenge. "FALL YOU ALL~!" He exerted even more light and dragonfire. The wake of the attack became a large-scale wall that Fly Beetle had to endure all by himself. Even the whirlwinds and ions were spiraling madly that Atmos and Jelldon were keeping up, albeit barely.
"Keep pushing…Fly Beetle!" Jelldon grunted.
"Just a little further!" Atmos encouraged.
Riaan humbly glared through. "Do you believe that will be enough to…huh?"
Behind Fly Beetle riding the ion and whirlwinds, there was a blue comet that streamed with both energies swirling around it. The comet roared mightily with the cries of a dragon as Abis went streaming in for the backup.
"Ability, activate! Terror Torpedo!" Luke cried out.
Riaan gasped. 'He's using his ally's attacks to shoot faster! On top of that, the centripetal force is giving it momentum!'
"SHUJI, LET'S GO!"
Shuji got up with Luke. "RIGHT BEHIND YA, PAL!"
They both cried out with all their might, running ahead after Riaan the same time Abis beelined up to Fly Beetle. The Subterra and Aquos combination exploded with blue and orange energy streams surrounded by slicing whirlwinds and rainbow plasmatic ions that crackled with lightning. The atmosphere flashed to unstable levels as the two elements fused into a spiraling drill with the firmness of Fly Beetle with Abis' beelining speed.
Daedalus Abis Omega: 6750 (+500) = 7250/ Eclipse Atchibee: 300/Astral Jelldon: 3500/Hercules Fly Beetle: 450/Sage Verias 350/Apex Atmos: 600 = 12,450
Armagedoid: 12,500 (-500) = 12,000
"HRAAAAAAAH~!" Abis and Fly Beetle shouted through their drilling force. The light and dragonfire gradually lost its momentum against the combination.
"Gnngh…!" Armagedoid lurched. His strength was gradually waning away. "My body…why is it…!" His eyes widened in utter horror. "No…!"
"We're gonna bulldoze you to death!" Fly Beetle challenged. The insectoid dug his heels further and used his tank-like exterior to break through the wings. Armagedoid and Riaan went wide-eyed when they found themselves sliding backwards hastily as they were tackled like football players. Shuji pushed against the flat side of the sword pressing against Riaan's chest, while Fly Beetle thrust his horn up, uppercutting Armagedoid's chin and pushed him down.
It then began. Fly Beetle stabbed his horn into Armagedoid's chest, making the dragon screech out in pain, but it was cut short when Fly Beetle pinned him down and kept pushing, tearing up the battlefield as he grinded Armagedoid deep into the ground. Plating as well as debris was reduced to shrapnel as he grinded Armagedoid against the ground. He pressed down harder with each uneven path of ground churned, hitching every step of the way to make his opponent grounded. If it wasn't for his headpiece he would be suffering severe brain damage.
"My body…suffered severe drawbacks…I can't…!"
With Luke carving through the light with his energy blade active, he pierced the way as Shuji followed behind. The energy drilled suddenly pierced the dragonfire and light down the middle like a blade right into Armagedoid's shocked expression. The dragon's eyes were wide with shock before the impact went straight into his core, causing a severe pain that cracked it. The dragon gagged in agonizing pain as he tried holding his firm hold of the ground, but it was becoming too much for him.
Gradually, he slid backwards by a few meters, then another few, until finally, Abis and Fly Beetle broke out of their drill for a split second, and went for his arms. Abis bit down on the right arm, and Fly Beetle's mandibles crunched on the other. "HWWAAAAAAHH~!" Armagedoid's screech of wailing agony went along with the tornado of energy that uppercut into the atmosphere high above to where they almost looked like a star. Seconds later, the drilling energy mass with a spinning black dragon smashed into the Empyrean's ground, causing a bright light of energy to expel all the elements into every direction. The Empyrean felt the shockwaves of the attack by a large margin. The floors beneath trembled before dust and energy expelled from the arches breaching the outside world. The entire atmosphere looked like a small streak of light that fell from space.
Riaan was caught completely by surprise. His eyes widened when he saw Luke going for a piercing blow, but was able to deflect with his blade at the last second. However, Shuji closed the distance with his own violent cry, reeling his fist back and punching Riaan's gut so hard that his eyes shrank as he gagged out blood.
"GAH!" Again, a blue network awoke in the shockwaves. Another pulsing sensation was felt as he felt recoil. 'This feeling…it's like I genuinely feel pain! Why does it hurt this much?!'
The violent energy waves gradually receded after several minutes. Everyone uncovered as Luke and Shuji pulled away with their allies. Abis and Fly Beetle emerged from the energy wake, in which Jelldon shot tendrils and pulled them back for precaution.
The dust settled, revealing a mildly deep crater where Armagedoid's body was embedded into. He gagged loudly as the shock caused him to groan before reverting to dark purple energy, which turned into a ball form that went flying in front of Riaan's feet.
Riaan: 10%
"No way…DID YOU SEE THAT?!" Julie quipped in utter disbelief. "THOSE GUYS SERIOUSLY JUST LAID THE HAMMER ON RIAAN AND ARMAGEDOID! AMAZING~!"
"S-seriously…what the heck was all that…?" Mason asked shakily, still knocked around by the energy.
"Are those guys seriously that much stronger?" Gunz questioned. "That dragon had a power level higher than last time even."
"It's what needs to be done." The comment was by Shun, who looked on with crossed arms. "We all know what's at stake here. If we don't push beyond the boundaries, we're finished."
Baron looked ahead. "That may be, but Riaan doesn't look finished yet."
Riaan was on a knee, collecting himself as the other Bakugan reverted to ball form and returned to everyone's hands. They kept a calm disposition as to where he was looking down at Armagedoid.
"I never expected…them to wear us down…this promptly." He labored. The gut punch really knocked the wind out of him. "Looks like we have our work cut out for us after all." He picked up Armagedoid. "Are you alright, Armagedoid?"
Armagedoid's ball form shuddered. "Gnnngh…they overwhelmed me, yet again…they wore me down there. I got careless."
"They dragged out so much from you that you've exhausted yourself. But it's fine." He shot everyone a glare. "Because this battle isn't over yet. Our world is still coming. We just need to live and stall just a little longer until that time comes." He coughed again, this time drawing up some blood.
The blue network beneath them all suddenly shined brightly in response to Riaan. The Empyrean – the air itself – shuddered madly in response. The sudden magnitude surprised everyone there.
"What's this trembling?! Did we trigger something?!" Lena exasperated.
The shuddering continued for several moments until Riaan was able to calm himself. The ruptures receded to a low roar as he shot glares at everyone. He faced everyone with a heavy vindication. "Something seems off…I feel…exasperatedly peculiar." He went to his thoughts. 'Is something happening to my core?'
"We need to hurry this up. It seems that he's near the breaking point if we move at this pace." Jase presumed.
"Then we'll just have to shut him down before he gets too far ahead." Maggie insisted.
"Yeah, we've gotta do something about Necromancer and Prism Dialect. Those are the biggest problems at this point." Luke stated.
Esther stepped forward, her spear in hand with a dignified, cold expression. "There is a way." Everyone turned towards her. "It all comes down to this. Atchibee and I will shut him down. That's when you all strike."
Luke knew Esther knew what she was saying. He could have questioned her, but he was very much aware of what she was capable of. He turned towards without any complaints. "Okay then. Then I guess we'll leave the field playing to you?"
"Yes." Esther held up a Gate Card and threw it out, making a purple shockwave wave into the Empyrean. "Everyone, now's the time!"
"Bakugan…brawl!" At the same time, they all threw in their Bakugan. Six elemental pillars exploded, summoning Luke's group Bakugan with dominant and ready statures about them.
Almost immediately, Esther readied an ability. 'With this, it shall seal the deal.' She held up her Bakumeter with the card shining bright. "Ability, activate! Velvet Chain!"
Atchibee's forehead eye shined brightly as energy circulated in a large energy ring across the battlefield. It became thick, velvet, gem-like links that shined before fading into the background.
"Everything is set. Now, we wait." Esther raised her head with her weapon ready against Riaan's force.
"Armagedoid, let us proceed once more." Riaan swiped his arm, throwing out Armagedoid. "Bakugan, brawl! Armagedoid, stand!"
Upon his ball form opening, there was a flash of negative energy in every direction, before Armagedoid spread his wings out with a loud roar. His neck craned as he eyed all of his fellow adversaries with deep ambition. He said nothing, for there was no excuse nor boast to say to his worthy foes.
Daedalus Abis Omega: 900/Eclipse Atchibee: 900/Astral Jelldon: 900/Hercules Fly Beetle: 900/Sage Verias: 900/Apex Atmos: 900 = 5400
Armagedoid: 1500
Riaan held up his sword. "…you've all grown strong. Very strong. To think that you all could push me this far…heh, I feel so honored if not so ambitious. I expect no less from my own student. Luke…" He faced Luke with his synthetic right arm. "You've brought about the greatest bout of surpassing expectations back on Neathia. If you truly wish to pass those boundaries and save you and your allies from misery, then strike me down with all your might. But I will warn you…we will not lose without a fight!"
"GRAAAAAAHHHH!" Armagedoid spread his legs and expelled roar that shuddered the ground beneath them.
Luke and the others lunged ahead with all their might to confront Riaan once more. As they charged for him, Armagedoid's panel-like wings levered themselves and flapped once, pushing him into the air high over everyone else. With him in the air, he went jettisoning onto them at high speed, but Atmos was much quicker to intercept and beeline into his flight path, buffering him back long enough for Abis to sleek through the air to attempt coils alongside Jelldon's tendrils, but Armagedoid caught on and boosted back up to dodge. The tendrils didn't let up as he did acrobatic maneuvers throughout the air to keep the tendrils away from him.
"Atchibee!" Esther shouted. The moth flapped her wings and glided across the ground. Everyone used their weapons as anchors to her claws as she carried them across the battlefield over Riaan. He braced himself as Atchibee's ghastly visage sailed overhead. Six figures dropped down all at once, with four of them holding weapons that collided with his sword in his right arm. The result was a momentary standoff before they were all forced to withdraw. Riaan slid back across the ground, as did everyone else.
Shuji was quick to gain ground and pushed both Luke and Shawn forward into Riaan. Together, the duo got into a parry and kept Riaan on his toes, until he swiped diagonally, causing them both to feign away as Esther took the interception with her spear. The results was a momentary standoff long enough for Jase to get in and use his taser lance. Riaan saw this coming and yelled out ferociously in a violent pivot, sweeping at everything around him. Everyone brought up their weapons' hardened edges and blocked the attack. They all slid back on their heels several feet away, glaring at Riaan.
"Ability, activate!" Riaan shouted. "Black Ripple!"
Armagedoid was maneuvering as fast as he could around the tendrils until he zipped towards the atmosphere. When the tendrils drew too close, a large-scale explosion of dark matter with exploding red stars expelled outwards.
Daedalus Abis Omega: 900 (-500) = 400/Eclipse Atchibee: 900 (-500) = 400/Astral Jelldon: 900 (-500) = 400/Hercules Fly Beetle: 900 (-500) = 400/Sage Verias: 900 (-500) = 400/Apex Atmos: 900 (-500) = 400 = 2400
Armagedoid: 1500 (+500) = 2000
The dark shockwaves eroded across the sky, heading towards their opponents. Jase and Esther readily held up their Bakumeters to show green and purple abilities. "Ability, activate!"
"Anemoi Wings!"
"Solaris Moondance!"
Atmos cried out as his wings glowed bright emerald shades and he spun in place, creating a short-term emerald gale that expanded outwards. It did nothing to the oncoming attack, but Armagedoid was engulfed in a bright green outline around his body.
Atchibee howled as she flapped her wings, scattering a cosmic dust that quickly engulfed her teammates with bits of emerald sparkles inside. The concealing cloud blocked out Armagedoid's attack entirely,
Daedalus Abis Omega: 400 (+500 +700) = 1600/Eclipse Atchibee: 400 (+500 +700) = 1600/Astral Jelldon: 400 (+500 +700) = 1600/Hercules Fly Beetle: 400 (+500 +700) = 1600/Sage Verias: 400 (+500 +700) = 1600/Apex Atmos: 400 (+500 +700) = 1600 = 9600
Armagedoid: 2000 (-500) = 1500
The dark matter dissipated, revealing the cosmic cloud to Armagedoid that he glared down at. It faded to reveal everyone else gleaming back.
Luke went on the offensive first that Riaan defended against. Shawn and Esther came from the sides to counter. Riaan hastily batted at them, deterring them, but left himself open for Shuji to shoulder charge into his left side, right into the shoulder that Esther stabbed before. Once again, another pained grunt escaped him as he pulled away.
Behind him, Maggie stuck her leg out, in which Riaan tripped over and nearly floored if not for him rolling with the momentum and landing on both feet. He lifted his blade to strike Maggie, but Esther lunged between them to give Maggie the room to veer away. Esther was doing her best to keep herself from losing momentum in the stalemate, but Riaan was strong.
"You all individually have gracious levels of momentum on you."
"Then if that's the case…we'll just have to combine and show you a united front!" Riaan recognized the voice. It was Jase. His glare went behind to see Jase twirl and jab his lancer forward, which he parried and swept Esther away at the same time. Shuji was there to catch her and shove her back at Riaan alongside Luke and Shawn as they took up support.
"Hngh?!" Turning his head, Riaan swept his blade across, but everyone anticipated his and ducked all at once. They all went for an upwards stabbing motion, in which he stopped cold. He saw Jase follow up on his backhanded assault and found himself battling on two fronts.
"Everyone…!" Jase enforced.
"Yeah!" They all held up their Bakumeters at the same time, even as they were parrying. "Ability, activate!"
"Pyrus, Aquos, Haos Triple Node!" Jelldon, Abis, and Verias all shined their bright auras respectively.
"Ventus, Subterra, Darkus Triple Node!" Atmos, Fly Beetle, and Atchibee glowed their respective auras as well.
Armagedoid glared down as he saw the six Bakugan shimmering their bodily auras like flares. Together, all of their power grew exponentially once again.
Daedalus Abis Omega: 1600 (+800) = 2400/Eclipse Atchibee: 1600 (+800) = 2400/Astral Jelldon: 1600 (+800) = 2400/Hercules Fly Beetle: 1600 (+800) = 2400/Sage Verias: 1600 (+800) = 2400/Apex Atmos: 1600 (+800) = 2400 = 14,400
Armagedoid: 1500
The aura radiated vibrantly across the Empyrean's top. Everyone who was a bystander was covering up as a large wake of power was making it impossible to see straight without their skin getting goosebumps. Not that they had them already.
"Woah, they got their power high so quickly all at once!" Zenet gasped.
"Yeah, we can see that!" Ace grunted. "Still, these guys know what they're doing. They're the only ones that can match up against this guy!"
The atmosphere rumbled around the six Bakugan that Armagedoid glared down. He beelined in front of them and crashed into the ground, his magenta eyes glaring daggers directly in their faces. "Your power become mine!"
"Ability activate, Satanic Suppression!" Riaan shouted. Armagedoid's star-like core shined brightly, and he spread his wings and took position. The bright aura that everyone had gradually faded from their bodies and into Armagedoid's gem. As all the elemental streams spiraled and converged into a single point, all their power reduced back to 9600, while Armagedoid's excelled towards 6300.
"Shawn!" Luke shouted.
"Got it!" Shawn whipped his rapier as he went charging ahead. Meanwhile, Verias used his staff and held it out as Abis grabbed onto it with his maw and flew through the air closer towards Armagedoid. Riaan nor his Bakugan looked pleased by this.
"Ability, activate!" Luke started. "Pressure Shield!"
"Ability, activate! Sagacity Gem!" Shawn followed up.
As soon as Abis flew into range, his gems shined brightly and they unleashed a translucent, blue shield that engulfed everything around himself, Verias, and Armagedoid, effectively cutting off the power drain from his peers. As his body enflamed with a bright blue aura, he craned his head and threw Verias into Armagedoid. His staff was raised overhead as he let out a loud roar. Armagedoid braced himself and waited patiently until the staff came down onto him. Using his hands, he grabbed the staff and held Verias in place.
The black dragon snarled as he clutched tightly. Verias reciprocated as he clutched tighter. A light enveloped the gemstone on his staff and started draining directly from Armagedoid's core. The magenta energy streamed from magenta to rainbow colors as that same color expelled into the many gemstones around his armor.
"My power! He's-!"
'He's absorbing an absorption ability. How troublesome!' Riaan saw Luke and Shawn come at him to parry.
Daedalus Abis Omega: 1600 (+4700) = 6300/Eclipse Atchibee: 1600/Astral Jelldon: 1600/Hercules Fly Beetle: 1600/Sage Verias: 1600 (+4800 +700) = 7100/Apex Atmos: 1600 = 19,800
Armagedoid: 6300 (-4800) = 1500
Armagedoid was holding off Verias' staff with his two hands, but that wasn't enough as Verias' staff expelled a bright light that flared in front of Armagedoid's face. He used his headpiece to shade himself, but he was blindsided when Abis rammed straight into his body towards the ground. A cloud of dust expelled from the impact that Verias on from.
What he saw as the dust cleared out, was Armagedoid being held in place, sustained by tight coils that pinned his arms to his sides, refraining any free reign. Even more coils crushed the spaces between the wings, preventing them from folding in or out. Abis had his sharp teeth crunching into Armagedoid's neck, making pained gasps escape from him as he was fighting for his life.
'He increased Abis Omega's power level to the exact same as Armagedoid's before all that power was taken away, which gave them even more power than before.' He leered at Luke and Shawn as they had him on the defensive. "Ha! Clever, as expected by my fellow disciples. You've learned well. But…" He hunkered down on his heel and swung up, buffered them both away. "I still taught you both the ways of the swords and rapier."
Luke breathed in and out. His muscles were tense. He exhaled to loosen them. He looked at Riaan with his blade high and lunged for him, breaching yet another stalemate.
"You did…but I learned something you didn't much sooner than you did." He grunted.
Riaan narrowed his eyes. He remembered the last time Luke outmaneuvered him. His synthetic arm shined brighter to maintain its sturdiness. "And what might it be this time?"
This time, Luke brought his arm around in the same motions as before. He arched the blades to one side, and as Riaan was pulling his other arm back for security, he was stunned by a fist colliding with his face. His nose dented to the side and he backpedaled in pain.
Luke held up his fist as he did his signature blade. "…how to take a proper punch to the face!" he finished.
Shuji smirked.
The blue network shined brightly beneath Riaan yet again. The Empyrean vibrated once more with the pain stimulus he's been feeling all over his body. He let go of his aching face and labored. He looked at his own hand as it had some blood on it. "…heh…I see you've learned a few tricks from your allies." He straightened back up. "But let's see how you fair against an old trick. Double ability, activate!" His Bakumeter showed two abilities brimming with lights. "Correlation of Aquos to Darkus, plus Diagonal Relation of Pyrus and Darkus!"
Armagedoid growled low as a dense, Darkus aura engulfed his body. With Abis connected to him, and with Jelldon's presence, Armagedoid's power fluctuated towards 1700 due to Anemoi Wings' effect. Even though Abis was anchored onto his neck, he still had free reign of his tail, which he bashed against Abis' armored forehead. He flinched, giving Armagedoid the chance to bite down on Abis' side and pivot around, undoing the coils into several laces that loosely followed as he pivoted and threw Abis back towards his comrades. Fly Beetle was the one to fly over and seize him. He helped straighten him up and the two hovered in the air along with the others, save Verias.
Armagedoid gave them all a snarl before expelling a violent roar. Riaan held up his Bakumeter to ready an ability. From the situation they were in, they all knew what to expect.
"Ability, activate! Prism Dialect!"
Armagedoid grunted as his body started shimmering with a small coating of translucent purple gloss. Everyone's eyes narrowed as they anticipated this.
Suddenly, the Velvet Chain's outline appeared around them. The glossy shine on Armagedoid dissipated back to a normal shade, much to his astonishment. "What?!"
Riaan's eyes widened. He looked at his Bakumeter to find that Prism Dialect did not activate. "What's this? Prism Dialect is…"
"There was a reason why I used Velvet Chain." Esther humbly stated. "When any opponent Bakugan enters battle after Velvet Chain is activated, they will be unable to use any of their defensive abilities. That goes for your Ambiguity, your Necromancer, Eternity Screen, even your reflection and nullification effects won't work. Your only bet now, will be offense."
"D-Did I hear that right?" Linus gasped. "They really just…!"
"They did…they shut down Armagedoid!" Elright realized. "If it can't use Prism Dialect or that Necromancer…then…!"
Despite the revelation, Riaan chose to be compliant with the circumstances. If anything, he was amused by it. "Heh…so I guess that means it truly means it. Bakugan can evolve beyond their limits, even without any outside forces. Despite not having any natural elements like the Perfect Core nor the powers of Eve, you've all adapted to harsh battling, and your Bakugan and abilities are the sheer proof of that." Armagedoid stepped up. "But…we are still far from yielding!"
"We'll see about that, won't we?!" Shuji held up an ability. "Ability, activate! Land Crusher!"
Fly Beetle crashed down into the ground, where he spearheaded his horn into the tiling. A shockwave of earth tore a fissure through the flooring heading towards Armagedoid.
Daedalus Abis Omega: 6300/Eclipse Atchibee: 1600/Astral Jelldon: 1600/Hercules Fly Beetle: 1600/Sage Verias: 7100/Apex Atmos: 1600 = 19,800
Armagedoid: 1700 (-700) = 1000
The shockwaves drew closer, prompting Riaan to ready his counterattack. "Ability, activate! Photon Dragonia!" Armagedoid opened his maw, charging of negative dragonfire with a weakening emerald gloss by Atmos. He fired the beam into the ground as his power ascended towards 1400. The two shockwaves of earth and dragonfire traced towards the central area, where the two elements mixed together until a powerful shockwave expelled everywhere, diffusing both attacks into a cloud of dark, enflamed dust.
From the dust cloud, Armagedoid jettisoned into the air, becoming mobile after the tiling was torn about by the fissures. From above, the sound of whirling tornadoes spun in a funnel-shaped wave downwards.
"Ability activate, Whirl Barrage!" Jase shouted.
The cyclone of spiraling tornadoes gradually gained momentum to strike Armagedoid. However, the dragon's maneuverability around the attack caused him to speed past it and perform an acrobatic show to everyone to narrowly escape the winds. One of the streaming tornadoes barely grazed one of his panel wings, catching his attention to an astonishment.
A whirling tornado suddenly bolted from in front, making his eyes widen and turn towards it before it engulfed him and pushed him back down into the ground. The tornado beam tore into the Empyrean's earth as it traced across the summit, blowing apart the debris and him with it. Armagedoid's breath left his body as the tornado beam stopped, allowing him to gag and double over across the ground.
Daedalus Abis Omega: 6300/Eclipse Atchibee: 1600/Astral Jelldon: 1600/Hercules Fly Beetle: 1600/Sage Verias: 7100/Apex Atmos: 1600 (+600) = 2200 = 20,400
Armagedoid: 1400 (-600) = 800
Armagedoid felt like the world was moving too fast for him for a split second. He grunted and spread his panel wings to help regain his momentum. He jettisoned back into the air, following the momentum and spiraling into a steep climb above everyone.
"Here he comes! I feel like he's about to do something." Atchibee noted. "Esther, now!"
Esther nodded in understanding. "Right!" She twirled her spear and spared herself from a swift slash by Riaan. The force pushed her back along her heels, however. "Ability, activate! Gleam Disruptor!"
Atchibee's forehead eye shined bright, expelling a short-distanced energy ring that faded into the background around her and her allies.
'That move…' Riaan realized as he kept up his counterattack. He was slashing and parrying, until he got in a piercing blow that was aimed for Luke. Luke used the flat side of his blade and deflected it to the side, metal spark grinding between their collision. Riaan followed through past Luke, putting right after Shawn. As Shawn stepped forward, Luke pivoted and slashed behind him.
"HRAH~!"
Riaan's eyes widened realized where he was. It was a pincer attack! He sidestepped so Shawn and Luke would end up colliding with each other's weaponry, deflecting both their shots. With a prideful grunt, Riaan slashed horizontally at both…but he was surprised to see them pivot and duck at the same time.
"HNGH!" Together below the belt, Luke and Shawn slashed at Riaan's legs, causing him to backpedal. Their blades barely cut into the pants, causing more artificial blood to drip. When he did regain his momentum, Jase stabbed his back with the taser lance, causing a pained cry to escape Riaan.
Once again, the Empyrean shuddered for a brief moment as blue networks shimmered throughout the structure.
Riaan backpedaled with labored breaths. He was starting to feel weak as he stood against his enemies. "My patience…is thinning!" He raised his Bakumeter. "Ability, activate! Prismatic Pulsar!"
Armagedoid's eyes glinted fiercely for a moment. He raised his head high and charged up light from around his frame. He folded in his wings for a brief moment to concentrate all the light particles into a single point. His entire frame shimmered like an eclipse of the sun before dozens of flickers resulted in a large-scale eruption of piercing lights that echoed outwards with his triumphant roar.
The other Bakugan watched as the piercing lights drew closer, but none of them made an effort to move from their spots. They stood there watching as the attack gradually engulfed everything around them. Everyone else covered up and veered away so they wouldn't suffer a terrible blindness.
Suddenly, the piercing lights were affected by a purple light that gleamed from Atchibee's forehead eyes. It consumed the bright rays heading right for them into rainbow energy that radiated onto all the Bakugan. Instead of taking damage like Armagedoid was intending, he was found stunned when he found the light not piercing his enemies, but giving them strength.
Daedalus Abis Omega: 6300 (+400) = 6700/Eclipse Atchibee: 1600 (+400) = 2000/Astral Jelldon: 1600 (+400) = 2000/Hercules Fly Beetle: 1600 (+400) = 2000/Sage Verias: 7100 (+400) = 7500/Apex Atmos: 2200 (+400) = 2600 = 22,800
Armagedoid: 800 (-400) = 400
'My ability effects, they were inversed!' Riaan realized. 'And I can't use Prism Dialect and neutralize the ability effects!'
As his attack dissipated, Armagedoid was feeling worn out. He grunted heavily as the light actually felt like it was waning him down instead of his adversaries. It left him momentarily stunted in the air.
"Maggie, now!" Jelldon shouted.
"Ability, activate!" She cried out. "Volt Inferno!" Jelldon shot out a streaming jet of plasmatic molten tendrils that speared into Armagedoid. With no choice to absorb it due to Atchibee's attack, he dodged the fast-moving tendril, but just barely as Jelldon's power skyrocketed towards 2800. Armagedoid grunted as he drifted some.
The inferno tendril dissipated, revealing Fly Beetle suddenly beelining through and smashing his body into his chest. Armagedoid let out a violent grunt as he floored hard beneath them, sundering painfully while Fly Beetle thudded besides his comrades.
Armagedoid stirred back up, giving them all pained glared from below the headpiece. "You…lot!"
Armagedoid glared down the thick aura enveloping the other Bakugan. Verias' fists were clutched tightly as he held firm to his staff. Yellow energy streamed form his and everyone else's frames as they were keeping up a gracious deal of power. Abis was not very far behind with a dense blue aura.
"Such power…" Riaan admired.
Armagedoid looked back with a genuinely cautious look in his eyes. "Master!"
He nodded in understanding. "Yes, Armagedoid. I know. It seems that we are forced to play our hand now with our final trump card. We must…no, we will prevail! No matter the cost!"
"Here it comes, guys!" Luke warned, knowing that he was going to be preparing something big.
The tension in the air solidified as a small rupture was growing around Armagedoid. The dragon snarled aggressively as he eyed his opponents with a headstrong glare. His chest core started glowing brightly before a small pulse fluxed outwards, and then inwards. It fluxed out, and then in. Each time that it repeated this, the surroundings – even the Empyrean – was losing its luster. Everything around them was going pitch-black
"Even the Empyrean?" Shawn looked down, realizing his statement was true. "Wait, all this light being drawn in…that means-!"
Riaan glared ahead, his magenta eyes gleaming with envy. "You will know our wrath…"
Kimera-Drago opened his maw and fired a Dragon Thrasher right at Helios. Spectra instantly took the initiative and activated an ability. "Ability, activate! Ragnarok Buster!"
Helios' abdominal cannon shined a dark purple outline before the plating opened to reveal a cannon inside. Dark purple energy charged up to a single point until it was fully ready. "Choke on this you fake!" He fired the cannon with all his might, sending a bright purple blast that tore up the ground beneath as it traveled towards the red beam. It went straight through, eating its way towards Kimera-Drago until it made impact, creating a pulsing eruption of dark energy.
"Ability, activate!" Dan shouted. "Dragon Tornado!"
Drago's body ignited in a Pyrus aura before he unleashed a spiraling tornado of dragonfire right into Kimera-Helios. It roared as it was engulfed in flames and hurled right into the ground with the other clone with a painful thud.
Drago: 1700 (-600) = 1100 Drago: 1200 (+500) = 1700
Infinity Helios: 2100 (-500) = 1600 Infinity Helios: 1400 (+600) = 2000
"Yeah! That's the way!" Dan cheered.
"Keep the pressure on, Helios!" Spectra declared, holding up another ability. "Ability, activate! FARBAS Infinity!"
Helios' body shined dark purple as the biometric computer inside his systems began to calculate everything out. "5% damage from Bolting Breaker has been repaired. Damage sustained from Deep Fire – Block A at 50%. 20% damage from Dragon Exploder has been repaired. Increasing defense systems by 120%. All systems rebooted. Increasing power level by 900 Gs."
Drago: 1100 Drago: 1700
Infinity Helios: 1600 Infinity Helios: 2000 (+900) = 2900
Helios balled his fists tightly. "I feel invincible!"
The Kimera clones gradually worked their way towards standing upright once more. Kimera-Drago gave them all a glare before the chest core shined brightly and charged up energy. His maw widened as a crimson inferno was gradually spiraling towards a concentrated point, via Dragon Eternal Force.
"Watch out!" Dan warned.
Kimera-Drago reared its head back and opened wider, unleashing a bolstering blast of crimson flames that beamed down onto the originals. They looked up, seeing the attack heading their way.
Drago: 1100 (+600) = 1700 Drago: 1700 (-600) = 1100
Infinity Helios: 1600 Infinity Helios: 2900 (-500) = 2400
Dan readied an ability to counterattack. "Ability, activate! Dragon Overcannon!" Drago opened his maw as wide as possible. He expelled a brighter, more yellowish, crimson flame blast at the oncoming flames. The results were Kimera-Drago's power receding towards 1200. The results were a drastic discharge of energy that exploded heated shockwaves in all directions. Dan covered up, as did Spectra from this heated wake.
Drago grunted as he was hunkering down the best he could, but he was kneed harshly by his clone. He gagged, but his eyes widened suddenly and he grinded his heels against the flooring until he came to a halt. "I won't be defeated…not by a fake like you! Do you hear me?!"
"That's right It's time we show them how this is properly done! Ready, Spectra?" Dan urged.
Spectra chuckled. "Thought you'd never ask, Dan."
Together, both raised their Bakumeters and showcased their abilities. "Ability, activate!"
"Mauser Impact!" Helios' abdominal cannon charged up once more. This time, the charge was a lot more concentrated than the previous time.
"Dragon Eternal Force!" Drago's diamond core brightened as he charged up energy as well, his wings' undersides glowing bright red as crimson flames spiraled to a single point.
"NOW!" They both shouted.
Helios flexed his entire body and gripped his toes to the ground. "THIS ONE'S GONNA HUUUUURT!" He roared out with all his might as every energy charge in his body was concentrated into a giant, destructive blast that raced across the ground. Everything was obliterated as the dull Empyrean tore up beneath its gargantuan wake,
"You're both going DOWN~!" Drago furiously roared as he unleashed a blistering crimson energy flame that beamed through the atmosphere for the adversaries afoot.
Drago: 1200 (-600 -600) = 0 Drago: 1100 (+600) = 1700
Infinity Helios: 1600 (-600 -600) = 0 Infinity Helios: 2400 (+600) = 3000
The two massive attack expanded further, becoming a red-violet energy beam that seared across the atmosphere heading towards the clones. The beam engulfed both of them, creating a powerful white flash that flickered in and out multiple time before a discharge of explosions erupted, creating a violent display of explosions that raced skywards like a chain. The shock of the attack erupted the Empyrean, especially around Dan and Spectra's corner. They were holding on the best they could while Helios and Drago looked on in astonishment at their combined might.
Inside the explosion chain, the two Kimera clones screeched out in agonizing pain before reverting to clear blobs, which dissolved away in a rainbow mush.
The smoke cleared, revealing nothing left of their copies. This made Drago and Helios breathe out with ease.
"Told ya! You may have our power." Dan stated. "But together, we're gonna take you down!"
Suddenly, Drago gagged as he kneeled. Helios grunted as he was losing balance. They both reverted to ball form, returning to both their hands in pain.
"Drago?! You okay, pal?!" Dan urged.
Drago groaned weakly at the pain he felt. "Uuuugh…sorry, Dan. That last one…really took it out of me."
"It seems that they've used up the last of their strengths to stop those Kimera." Spectra noted, inspecting Helios carefully. 'Even with the FARBAS system, only so much could have been done over a prolonged process. That Devil Miasma wore us down…' A loud shudder grabbed his attention. "Hm? Dan, look!"
Dan looked over, seeing Luke and everyone else's battle. "What…what's that?"
The air violently roared out as dark shockwaves were creating a vacuum around Armagedoid. The Bakugan drew in light from very corner of the atmosphere. When one looked up, they couldn't even see the stars. Actual starlight was being absorbed into his body as pulses of dark light transfixed around his perimeter. He looked like a star, a black star that had a cosmic rim around his body. He snarled fiendishly as he eyed all his adversaries at once.
"That ability, I recognize this power." Maggie realized. Despite the earlier shakiness in her tone before, she was accustomed to what she felt.
"Here it comes." Shuji warned. "Esther, this gonna be part of the plan you've mentioned?"
Esther nodded. "Yes, Shuji. It is." She took a readied stance, the rest following. "Everyone, brace yourselves!"
The entire Empyrean shuddered as Armagedoid bellowed wildly. He scrunched up as all the power concentrated into his core. His eyes glowed so bright that they reminisced of stars.
"If nothing else, then face this! Ability, activate!" Riaan swung his blade ahead. "JURAT BLACK STAR!"
"GRROOOOOOAAAAAH~!" The dragon flexed his body as he finally unleashed every bit of power e had within his entire body. The discharge of ions and dark light turned inverse for a split second before a large-scale supernova of energy erupted. A dark matter pulse went over everyone's head that fanned across Intercia's entire sky. Light sped in every corner that eroded away every cloud that was within the atmosphere.
Daedalus Abis Omega: 6700 (-5800 -850) = 50/Eclipse Atchibee: 2000 (-1100 -850) = 50/Astral Jelldon: 2800 (-1900 -850) = 50/Hercules Fly Beetle: 2000 (-1100 -850) = 50/Sage Verias: 7500 (-6600 -850) = 50/Apex Atmos: 2600 (-1700 -850) = 50 = 3000
Armagedoid: 400 (+5100) = 5500
The light glistened across the atmosphere, beaming into the Empyrean, the ions in the atmosphere; everything. It quickly eroded outwards as everyone was trying to hang in there, but shockwaves were starting to catch on. They all screamed as they realized that they wouldn't be able to escape.
"NO! NOT AGAIN!" Fabia cried loudly in the dark light.
"This force…it's just like…!" Linus remembered vividly the last time this was used on the Battle Brawlers. It overruled them at every turn. He then remembered Luke and Abis' ultimate collision back on Neathia. "If that hits here…we're done for!"
Luke and his allies stood together, staring into the dark light like it was nothing. They could see it; the one opening that would help lead them towards victory. They all knew what had to be done.
"Now, Esther!" Atchibee declared. "Do it now!"
Esther closed her eyes humbly. "As you wish, Eclipse Atchibee." She opened them slowly. "Shawn, be ready…"
"I gotcha…" He held up his rapier. "Let's see what you're all made of, shall we!"
Esther reached down towards the battlefield, beaming with a cold confidence. "Now! Gate Card, open! Super Transformation!"
As the piercing dark matter light radiated across the atmosphere, the Gate Card brightened up beneath, making it the only other source of light. In a split moment before the dark light drew closer towards the Bakugan, another shockwave of energy exploded from around them, blocking off the light for a moment. Suddenly, all the dark light that was supposed to engulf the other Bakugan. The entire wake of the combined force created a distorted typhoon that shrouded the nighttime atmosphere. Everything blew around the others as the force didn't blow away the Bakugan.
An eruption of energy engulfed the Bakugan attributed auras engulfed them. They withstood the light nova and gritted their teeth and narrowing their eyes as they were pulling ahead of their brawling partners to shield them from the burning dark rays.
Armagedoid was in the center still, roaring mightily as he continued producing these relentless expanses of dark light. Pulses destroyed the superficial layer of the Empyrean, yet it still stood amazingly.
'Super Transformation?' Riaan thought as he covered up with his left arm. 'That means only one thing…!'
Daedalus Abis Omega: 50 (+4950) = 5500/Eclipse Atchibee: 50 (+4950) = 5500/Astral Jelldon: 50 (+4950) = 5500/Hercules Fly Beetle: 50 (+4950) = 5500/Sage Verias: 50 (+4950) = 5500/Apex Atmos: 50 (+4950) = 5500 = 33,000
Armagedoid: 5500
The elemental auras illuminating around the Bakugan protected them from the searing star shot. They were all holding on the best they could, despite the force feeling like they were going to be burnt away. Still, even though the superficial layers of their auras were unstable, the Bakugan were well protected inside.
"Shawn! I'm ready! Do it!" Verias insisted.
Shawn narrowed his eyes. "Okay, you got it." He held up his Bakumeter. "Ability, activate! Haos Savior!"
Verias let out a low roar as his staff raised high into the air, before coming down in a stab-like motion into the broken summit tiling. The bright aura resonating from everyone at that moment simultaneously contracted, before expelling outwards into a roaring energy mass that engulfed twice the space as their original auras. Thick, dark hues of all their attributes caused a magnitude so great that the Empyrean was shuddering. The dark light Armagedoid exuded was beginning to lose momentum with every second. The brimming light of the many attributed auras was just too much.
Daedalus Abis Omega: 5500 (x2) = 11,000/Eclipse Atchibee: 5500 (x2) = 11,000/Astral Jelldon: 5500 (2) = 11,000/Hercules Fly Beetle: 5500 (x2) = 11,000/Sage Verias: 5500 (x2) = 11,000/Apex Atmos: 5500 (x2) = 11,000 = 66,000
Armagedoid: 5500
The atmosphere violently flashed. Elemental energy was spiraling out of control as everyone had an aura that was so thick and so dense that it looked like actual armor on their bodies. Plasma was produced around Jelldon, as to where earth was defying gravity around Fly Beetle. The gemstones on Verias shined brightly, and Atmos had a powerful storm around his body that he was trying to contain. Atchibee's accents on her body were glowing grimly, and the gills and diamonds on Abis were bright as water was swirling beneath him.
Riaan was taken back by their power increase. "They've doubled up on each other so quickly."
"Now, Atchibee!" Esther held her Bakumeter up as an ability resonated with it. "Ability, activate! Darkus Indignation!"
Atchibee's accents on her body glowed bright purple. The wings and shades on her body exerted a sudden flare so powerful that a dark purple light overtook Armagedoid's attack in an instant. When it cleared away, it revealed nothing. It was like it was all erased in a sudden instant.
Armagedoid perked up in surprise. "What?!"
"They've nullified Jurat Black Star…and that also means, the power that we took away….!"
"Yes, that's right." Esther interrupted. "It's ours once more."
"But, if their power levels are already this high…!" Mason gasped.
"They're lunatics!" Lena paled. "They're seriously risking this much?!"
Riaan and Armagedoid leered aggressively as the tension in the air gradually settled down. It picked back up again when all the Bakugan's eyes widened with bright irises erupting in their pupils. They all reared their heads high as explosions of elements erupted into the atmosphere, causing space to spiral around overhead as the six elements created a hurricane of energy that crackled monstrously.
Daedalus Abis Omega: 11,000 (+6650) = 17,650/Eclipse Atchibee: 11,000 (+1950) = 12,950/Astral Jelldon: 11,000 (+2750) = 13,750/Hercules Fly Beetle: 11,000 (+1950) = 12,950/Sage Verias: 11,000 (+7450) = 18,450/Apex Atmos: 11,000 (+2550) = 13,550 = 89,300
Armagedoid: 5500 (-5100) = 400
The immeasurable energy surge quaked even the skies above. Everyone felt their knees giving in as this force was spiraling in space over their heads. They could see the energy storm stemming from the six spiraling attributed helixes around each of the Bakugan. They all violently snarled and roared out as their eyes Armagedoid with their eyes visibly glowing and in flames reminiscent of their own energy signatures.
'These people…' Riaan was looking at them, his expression genuinely baffled with what he saw. For moment, he thought back to when he first met them all on New Vestroia. "They're not the same as they were before…not even close. These six…they're all true masters of Bakugan."
Armagedoid snarled at them, unyielding towards the cause. "You will not stand in our way!"
Agreeing, Riaan held up an ability. "Ability, activate! Satanic Suppression!"
Armagedoid's gemstone on his core started glowing. He attempted to draw in the entire energy storm crackling above, but Atchibee's accents on her body shined brightly, shutting him down once again.
"As long as Darkus Indignation is activated, his abilities will always be nullified." Esther explained. "Atchibee and I will keep him at bay. Now…" She twirled her spear and jutted out at Riaan. "Let's go!"
Armagedoid expelled a violent roar. He refused to go down like this. "Our new beginning will not be the end!" He jettisoned after Atchibee, knowing she was the source of his abilities being shut down in the first place.
Shawn held up his Bakumeter first. "Okay, here we go! Ability, activate! Incarceration!"
Verias' brightened body flickered as he held his staff with two hands. He grunted and stabbed the ground. From below, ethereal golden chains sprouted from the ground and shot up towards Armagedoid.
The black sailing dragon took notice of the streaming chains below and inadvertently hit the airbrakes before he could rush into them. They blocked him from Atchibee and arched through the air down onto him. He shifted away, dodging the diving chains. He jerked out of the way some more until he was forced into a speeding jet blitz to keep the chains from reaching him.
'He's still too fast.' Shawn grunted. "Jase, you're up!"
Jase held up his ability. "Ability, activate! Skyliner!"
As Armagedoid sped through the air, he was so focused on the chains that he barely caught the supersonic bullet that was Atmos jettisoning with a whirlwind streaming at his tail. The pressurized tornado tail followed him, even at Mach 3 speeds as he closed in on Armagedoid.
Armagedoid, on the other hand, could not even compare to the speed that he was coming in. Not even a thought could be processed before Atmos' boosted speed burst smashed into his backside, feeling like his back was impaled by a shockwave that went straight through. He gagged loudly as he felt his momentum go into freefall, while Atmos continued on. As his power ascended towards 14,250, Atmos' streaming tailwind burst next, producing a stronger pulse that pushed Armagedoid into the chains that snatched him up. He yelped in genuine shock as he was dragged straight into the ground, smashing so hard that dust erupted.
As it faded, everyone looked on as Armagedoid was anchored to the ground, his wings bent inwards as his neck, upper body, and stomach were all restrained by the chains. He tried standing, but even as his power returned to 1500, he couldn't do anything. "You…!"
"That'll hold him in place. Everyone, go!" Shawn urged, racing after Riaan with his rapier.
"Right!" Everyone else followed. They all hurried after the opening given to them by their Bakugan.
Armagedoid's magenta eyes narrowed as a fiendish snarl escaped his maw. While his limbs were stuck in place, his tail wasn't. He lifted it as soon as they were close and held it high over their heads.
"Incoming! Tail!" Shuji warned.
Armagedoid's tail came lashing down onto them, but at the last second, a tendril smacked it away, slamming into the opposite side of the ground. Jelldon grunted as he hovered over Armagedoid.
"Jelldon!" Maggie quipped.
"Don't worry, we've got this!" he assured. "Keep going!"
Maggie nodded. "Right!" She held up her Bakumeter. "Let's make sure he stays down! Double ability, activate! Thunderstorm, plus, Fusion Ability, Element Booster!"
As Armagedoid was coming up to his knees, he grunted angrily as a discharge of red plasma overshadowed him. "Hey, big guy!" He glanced skywards, seeing a massive frilly shade with hundreds of tentacles coated in lightning and ions poised right for him. "You know what really stings?! ME! TAKE THIS!"
With the Element Booster's insidious charge, a gargantuan blast of hundreds of red lightning bolts with emerald outlining crashed down with destructive power. The ground fried and overturned on itself Armagedoid let out the loudest, most agonizing scream he has ever given as his entire body coursed with plasmatic lightning. He could feel his nerves jerk and sear to where his body was smoking while still electrocuted to oblivion.
Daedalus Abis Omega: 17,650/Eclipse Atchibee: 12,950/Astral Jelldon: 13,750 (+700 +500) = 14,950/Hercules Fly Beetle: 12,950/Sage Verias: 18,450/Apex Atmos: 14,250 = 91,200
Armagedoid: 1500 (-700 -500) = 300
The lightning was so bright that no one could see through it. The discharge went by everyone as they covered up and floored to avoid being struck. They were all screaming for their lives at how much force was being produced by their attacking might.
Julie, who was down low with the cameraman, opened and eyes continued her broadcast. "A-Armagedoid is…is being pushed back big time! You seeing this, folks?! The Bakugan that's been terrorizing our hopes is finally being put to justice!"
Dan and Spectra were on a knee each with forearms up in front. They anted to get close, but Drago and Helios were out of commission for the time being.
Riaan lowered his forearm and saw the lightning flash…before a silhouette with a blade came down onto him. His eyes widened and he used his blade to parry Luke's strike. Shawn moved in for a piercing blow, but instead of the stomach area, he went for the thighs, landing a successful blow.
"GNGH!" Riaan's teeth gnashed harshly.
'He's slowing down!' Jase evaluated, pulling his lance back.
'Wear him down!' Esther followed the attack.
Atchibee's accents kept glowing just in case Armagedoid would break out of his chains. She watched as his entire body sizzled with smoke after Jelldon's attack receded. He lowered his head briefly, before churning and rustling aggressively. He careened his head up and violently roared into the atmosphere, where an orange star glinted bright within the energy hurricane's eye. It came sailing down fast, something that didn't go unnoticed by him.
"Now, Fly Beetle!" Shui shouted. "Armored…"
"ULTIMA!" He jettisoned downwards with his body coated in a thickened layer of his hide. Armagedoid was struggling out of his chains when Fly Beetle came down with low hammer-fists clasped together straight onto his headpiece. The results ere instantaneous. It sounded like a mountain crumbling down. The fists hit so hard, the jewelry embedded into the headpiece shattered as the outer layer severely dented inwards. Armagedoid floored so hard as the rest of Fly Beetle came down, crushing him with dense force.
A massive eruption of the Empyrean's summit went around the atmosphere. A hurricane of dust and debris spiraled inwards before fluxing out in a harsh, gravitational burst. Everyone again screamed as the rampage spread thin all around. Riaan grunted harshly as the rumbling below was caused nit just by the impact, but also his wounds. He deterred Luke, but another quake almost made him lose his knees.
'NOW!' Luke charged, with everyone else in tow.
The dust gradually veered away, allowing Fly Beetle to alleviate back up into the air, his power ascending that much further towards 13,750. The summit was leveled around Armagedoid as a few of his panel wings were misaligned. His headpiece was all but tarnished, and worst of all, he still couldn't move all too well. As his knees were shaking as he attempted to take a stand, his vision was getting hazy.
"I won't…allow ourselves…to be brought down like this. Not like…this!" He strained, trying his damnest to concentrate. "I…" He thought about Riaan, his father who was there for him, unlike his mother.
"Listen, because I'm not sure that I have said this enough. I want you to know, that even though this path was chosen by you, I still hold myself responsible for letting you in on the cruel truth. I understand if what is happening is forced and it may be much still. But, in any event, I thank you for doing your best for following through beside me."
The feeling of how proud Riaan was, it made him feel proud. His eyes widened as he started picking up on the slack. "I WON'T BE DEFEATED! WE WON'T BE DEFEATED!"
"That's right!" Riaan declared. "We have far too much for our sakes as you do!" he stood up. "You think that we'll take this lying down?!"
"We'll find out, won't we!" Luke shouted.
Riaan raised his blade high and slashed straight down. This time, much to everyone's shock, a vertical crescent of sharp energy traveled across the ground. They all veered out of its reaches and continued onwards. Armagedoid stamped on the ground and mustered all his might to stand upright, jerking the chains to where some of the energy metal chipped. He snarled as he brought his tail around and swung it, sending a horizontal shockwave across the ground. The Bakugan all got into the air, save for Verias, who had to be carried by Atchibee. Everyone closed in on their targets and dove right for them. The defenders were doing everything in their power, but they had little room. Riaan ached immensely at the pulse in his body, and Armagedoid's sudden haziness returned. That was the opportunity.
Blindsided for a spit second, Jase took the opportunity to dodge the recent energy blade and managed to get a piercing jab into Riaan's left right shoulder, right into one of the arteries. The electricity coarsed through his body and let out an agonizing scream of paralyzing again.
"Luke, do it now! Prevail!"
"Ability, activate!"
Both their eyes snapped open when they heard the call. Daedalus Abis Omega opened his maw wide with dense black and deep blue energy charging to a critical mass. Luke held his sword out with a passion. Both Riaan and Armagedoid's eyes were wide as they only saw blue energy flicker.
"HYDRIAS…IMPACT~!" Roaring at the top of their lungs, Luke thrust as Abis careened his head around and unleashed a monstrously large, hyper-condensed, energy beam of dense, oceanic blue energy. The mass of the attack was so hard and so pressurized that it was like an actual ocean's abysmal pressure engulfing Armagedoid. The beam pulsated outwards, beaming far outwards into the distance ahead of them into the beyond.
Daedalus Abis Omega: 17,650 (+800) = 18,450/Eclipse Atchibee: 12,950/Astral Jelldon: 14,950/Hercules Fly Beetle: 13,750/Sage Verias: 18,450/Apex Atmos: 14,250 = 92,800
Armagedoid: 300 (-800) = 0
Abis kept the pressure on. He wasn't about to let their one opportunity of victory go to waste. Luke raised his blade high and screamed at the top of his lungs.
"DIIIIIIIIE~!"
"GRAAAAAAAHHHH~!" Abis screeched as his body flared in a much greater blue aura than ever before. The atmosphere erupted into a dense, blue explosion that dissipated the energy hurricane around the top of the Empyrean. Space crackled with rainbow discharges as the attack destroyed much of the atmosphere. A blue sun with a blade went down onto Armagedoid and Riaan as both screamed at the top of their lungs.
"AAAAAAAAAAHHHHH~!"
All the blue faded away, turning into white energy. The nighttime space returned shortly after, but everyone watching from the short distance or at home were gaping at what they were seeing. They were t an immeasurable loss for what could be said, let alone how to process it. Everything was silent as they all revered to what it was that could have been the biggest, apocalyptic combination they've ever seen. Dan, the Brawlers, even everyone's families at home were all gaping with dumbfounded disbelief.
Several flickers of energy later, the bright gleam in the atmosphere collapsed into several starry gleams that faded skywards. Everyone stood by and saw Luke stand in front of Riaan, his eyes cascaded in his bangs as his sword was held in a slashing motion. Riaan stood there, having a deep cut that ran down his entire right pectoral. The pain he felt was unlike anything he's ever felt before, but the look on his face proved that he couldn't process it.
Abis reconvened with everyone else as they watched the dust settle, revealing Armagedoid still standing. His chains were completely destroyed, and his body suffered severe cracks that leaked out Darkus energy. His core was also severely cracked, with armor all over his body dented in from pressure and damage. His wings were all but a mess as some were dented so far back that they dangled loosely.
Alice gasped. "Did they…?"
Luke pulled away along with the rest of his friends for a safety precaution. They eyed Riaan as he stood still, laboring in deep breaths to keep himself conscious. But even now, he couldn't move.
Abis and his fellow Bakugan were in thick energy auras as they kept glaring at their enemy. Armagedoid was panting heavily, unmoving like Riaan was. He shuddered for a few moments, and started lurching forward. They all glared daggers at him and readied in case he made a move.
Armagedoid reared his head up and expelled a violent roar up into the atmosphere, distorting the air around him and faded outwards. Everything shook around him so much that they all got on edge.
But then…it stopped. The brightness in his eyes faded as he fell forward with a collapsing thud. He laid sprawled along the ground, unable to fight back, let alone continue.
Riaan: 0%
Unable to keep going, Riaan plunged his sword into the ground beside him and fell to a shaken knee. He grunted painfully before coughing up blood. He could barely keep an eye open to glare at his foes that bested him once more. What's more, put him in his place.
"This can't be…" He looked over, seeing his Bakugan's condition as badly as he was. "Armagedoid…"
Marucho uncovered, finally realizing what this meant. "Wait…does this mean…?"
"Hold up! Did they all seriously just-?!" Rafe could hardly believe it.
Keegan gave a long, exasperated sigh. "About damn time, you lot. You were starting to make me think you'd lose there."
Gus smirked. "Looks like the deal was sealed, Master Spectra."
"Not quite, Gus." Spectra said. "They just need one more push, and they know it."
"YES, GUYS! YOU DID IT!" Julie cheered. "YOU GUYS TOTALLY NAILED RIAAN AND ARMAGEDOID! YOU BEAT THEM!"
"Yeah, guys! That's the way!" Dan shouted.
Abis and the other Bakugan felt their auras break around their bodies. Several pulses escaped them as the energy they took in from that last battle finally caught on. They all lurched over, almost flooring completely.
"Gngh…!" Atchibee hissed.
"My body…it feels like it's still being torn apart." Verias heaved.
"The recoil we've sustained from having our power exceed our limitations…it's finally kicking in." Atmos labored. "We've all never had such a power level before…" Another burst of air exerted from his body, causing him to lurch.
Fly Beetle punched the ground, trying to stay stable. "But…I think we've got him this time. This time…he's staying down."
"Yeah…it looks like it." Jelldon panted. "What…what now…?"
Abis continued panting, his coils on the earth instead of the ground. "I don't know…"
Suddenly, the Empyrean began quivering again, harsher than it ever did before. This time it felt like it was starting to break apart.
"W-woooooah! What's happening?!" Baron fretted, trying to keep balance.
"The Empyrean! Something's going on!" Ace shouted. "It feels like it's coming apart!"
True to what he was saying, everyone could feel it from high above. The blue networks that were continuing to run through the Empyrean's structure were dimming in and out, getting brighter one moment, then darker the next. The shuddering was happening so much that visible cracks were seeing running through a reasonable sum of the tower.
Riaan shuddered, feeling the Empyrean's fortitude beginning to lose strength. "What's…happening to the Empyrean? Its damage…it isn't being restored?" He came to a realization. 'Wait a minute. That feeling that I've had before, when I was stabbed earlier by Esther…I envisioned the mountains fracturing. I wonder…'
With his low strength, Riaan reached out. "Show me…show me Interacia!" Holographic panels appeared before him, allowing him to see a large sum of the landscape that was being made. "It can't be…"
"…gnnnngh…" Groaning, Armagedoid glanced over. "Master, what is…?"
Dan stepped forward. "What are those?"
In the numerous screens that everyone saw, the holographic panels revealed various landscapes. There was a desert that had rivers flowing through them, but much of the sand was sinking through various holes, along with the minerals of the Gundalian and Neathian mixture. The lush forests in another panel that had remarkably tall trees looked like they were starting to wither away. The bark that crusting off as they fell into fissures that were opening up. The mountains that they all went through with snow white tips were showing to be splitting.
"What are those? Are those our worlds?" Baron worried.
Lena prodded her glasses with her fingertip. "No, take a closer look." She recognized the mountains. "Neathia's surface is all but destroyed, and if I recall from what you've told me, Vestal has no room for such wildlife."
Zenet's eyes widened. "Hey, yeah! I recognize those mountains! Didn't we pass those on our way here before?"
"Look at it, it's all coming apart." Contestir commented.
"How is this possible? Is the battle energy we're producing doing this you think?" Ren questioned. "Prime Minister Nurzak?"
Nurzak gave a serious frown. "This is all new to me as well, Ren. But…perhaps this has to do with Riaan." He looked at him. "Take a look at Riaan's condition. It seems to be resonating quite reasonably with what we're seeing in the graphics shown."
Riaan huffed in and out, like Armagedoid, he couldn't even move. He was unable to do anything productive, let alone fight in his body's condition. As such, they saw the sinkholes and the fissures on the surface of Interacia were beginning to open up slightly wider.
"Hey, you're right about that…" Mason said warily.
"So what's this mean?" Paige asked. "We've won or something?"
"I'm not sure…" Elright narrowed his eyes. "But they weren't destroyed yet. I can't say this is over just yet!"
"He's right. Everyone, prepare to move in!" Fabia ordered.
Riaan breathed in and out, trying to keep his head clear and in one piece. "This is my proxy body. It shouldn't have effect on Interacia…of course. Heh…now I understand. That explosion from Cesar…I see. So even in death, he's found a way to turn the Empyrean against me. That infectious energy surge I felt in my body back then…that was to prepare for this moment. A genius indeed. Even after their demise, Rogue Zero was most certainly extraordinary."
"Master, does this mean…that we…" Armagedoid grimaced lightly.
Riaan humbly lowered his head. "It would seem so, Armagedoid. It would seem so…" He looked at Luke and his allies. "Well done, you all. Seems that…you've bested me truthfully…this time." He coughed.
Luke glared forward. "It's over, Riaan. Stand down, now!"
Riaan scoffed. "Please, Luke. It's not defeat for me just yet. After all, I'm still alive. Even though my proxy body is now directly linked to Interacia's life cycle, as long as I am alive, that means there's still the chance of your worlds still going to die. Your only chance of preventing further destruction is to kill me." He struggled to stand, but much to everyone's dismay, he was back up. "Though I question, do you have the resolve to follow through with that conviction?!"
"We wouldn't have come here if we didn't know the risks!" Luke countered.
"How interesting of you to say…" he coughed. "Then I supposed that you didn't know about this risk then. If I were to die…then all life connected to Interacia…would fade from existence with me."
Everything went silent at that moment. Everyone's faces were painted with the same expression of shock and astonishment. Some of their hearts completely stopped at the revelation. It was almost laughable if not for how actual it might be.
"W-what did you just say?" Luke stammered
"It's true. Since I am this planet's core and my body is now directly connected to that core, whatever damage that I have sustained from you is affecting the planet. And since I biologically link all the lives towards me, the chain reaction will result in everything that is mixed with Interacian DNA…to disappear from existence with me."
"Wait, all life that's on the planet?" Linus repeated. "So then, those mountains we've passed by, they're crumbling wasn't because of the fusion. It's because they're being destroyed with him!"
"So then everything's just going to crumble away? Just like that?!" Paige parroted.
Riaan wasn't done. "And I'm not just talking about the wildlife that I've been taking from all your worlds. That goes for the Interacians as well. Their lives are no different."
"Wait, then that also means…!" Maggie whipped around with shock. "Keegan…"
A majority of everyone turned their attention onto Keegan, for obvious reasons. Their expressions were painted with genuine shock for what they heard about their ally. Even his own expression showed disbelief. He backpedaled a couple steps so he wouldn't have to fall over.
"Wait, hold on…so then that means, that I'm to disappear…?" he whispered.
"Keegan…" Alice worriedly grimaced.
"…" Gus had no words to say. He looked down in remorse and gritted his teeth. His fists balled at the circumstances that might follow the repercussions.
Dan turned around, angrily staring at Riaan. "Tell us you're bluffing! Like you can even do such a thing to take away even the lives of your own people!"
Riaan frowned. "Alas, that is something even I cannot control, Dan Kuso. I'm sorry, but if you insist on my end, that is what will happen."
He stomped on the ground. "Darn it!"
Riaan looked towards Luke's group with a serious gaze. "Luke, Shawn…you've all made such good allies, and have gained morals in the process. I know how much another life's worth means to you, so I ask you, are you willing to sacrifice the lives of my people on your shoulders?"
Everyone tuning in was hearing in on what Riaan was saying. Even the Interacians that were in their homes in Troposphere and Solaris were all observing with upmost shock and horror/
"These people may have been born off unstable DNA, but in the end they are still another life. I have worked diligently to create a world so that Bakugan, as well as the biproducts of this species, can start anew. It's your choice. Take away my life to preserve your own people, or hold onto your morals and let my own live. Either way, it makes no difference, for in the end, you know what must be done."
Luke looked ahead, but his mind was thinking back to Solaris, specifically, Cole.
"Hey kid, I got you back home, didn't I?"
"Y-yeah…?"
Luke nodded. "Then start with what you do know. If you're unsure of yourself, you can watch others. You might see things in a different way." He put a hand to his shoulder. "But what's important to you right now, is living what you can of your life. What you can do to live your best life. If you don't know how to do that, then it's okay. Take your time."
The kid blinked. "Living…my life?" For as long as he could remember, he was surrounded in constant fear, fear of the outer lands of Interacia crumbling down upon him. Now it was rain and sunshine. But at the same time, what was he able to do?
Luke stepped back. "Yeah, you'll figure it out. I won't tell you how to live your best life, only you can decide that." He turned around. "As for me and my friends, we're gonna do the same thing. If we're going down fighting…then at least in the end, we tried."
"You all have been so encouraging to help as many people live the rest of their lives with no regrets, right?" Riaan led on. "You can only decide to live your life if you are able. But, take away that, and-!" He coughed up blood. The Empyrean's lighting dimmed some. "-and…you are left in a perpetual cycle of control. Is this really what you want?"
It was a hard bargain that not many were willing to accept. Even the Interacians were extremely terrified at what they were watching. The remaining populace of the other planets were all anxious at what was happening, but with everything literally breaking down around them, it was no contest at what seemed to be the most appealing right now. Big-hearted heroes can only go so far.
"DO IT!"
Everyone gasped when they heard the voice. Alice turned towards Keegan. "Keegan!"
"What are you doing?!" Mira quipped. "If Riaan is killed, then-!"
"You guys want to save your own worlds, don't you? Think about your people while they're still alive!" He sounded extremely urging. "I'd rather live this short life with you morons instead of a long one of guilt. Get it over with!"
"Keegan…" Gus muttered. 'He's willing to forsake his dream to make Interacia great again, for us.'
"He's right. We're here to end this destruction, no matter the cost." Jase stated. "Former soldier or not, we have a mission to complete, and the mission comes first. Strike him down, Luke!"
Luke raised his head, showing no hesitation. "Right. Sorry, Master Riaan, but I've made up my mind. We don't need you…I don't need you! We can all live with that guilt, that I know is possible!"
"Heh…my, how you've grown." Riaan smirked, but his strength was lost in his knees again. He fell to his hands and knees while gagging. He looked up with a vindictive glare. "Goodbye then, Luke."
Luke brought his sword back. He knew what he was doing was the right thing, but at the same time, knew that it would weigh down on him. He wanted to try and save whatever people he could, including the ones here that were suffering. But even he was not a fool, nit anymore at least. He had to do what was best to ensure that the most lives on all their planets would be salvaged. He wished there was another way. He truly wished such a thing, but he gripped his sword as tight as possible, knowing that he knew the actions that must be played out.
'Luka…this is what we'll do, together.' He held the blade close as he thought about Luka once more. All his life, he's been trying to stop Riaan. 'We will…stop him!'
Luke charged ahead, racing without any sense of worry. Time slowed down as everything went silent. All that could have been heard was a heartbeat that thumped slowly. With Riaan worn out, he just looked ahead at his attacker. Esther and everyone called out to Luke in the silence to go for it. Abis used himself to help hoister Luke up onto his forehead armor and jetted after Riaan in the silent thumping.
"RIAAAAAAN~!" Luke and Abis roared mightily. The blade drew onto his face with a passive bright blue blur that Riaan was unable to defend against.
Green and magenta eyes reflected in each other as the blade followed through…
Suddenly, a bright light enveloped everything.
"STOP!"
Abis and Luke found themselves pushed back by some unknown force back into their friends. Luke lost his balance atop of Abis, but Shuji and Shawn were there to help catch him while Verias and Fly Beetle supported their baffled ally.
Everyone else had their forearms up to shield from this dazzling light. It was so warm. It ignited the atmosphere in rainbow arrays of light. Everyone was completely stunned by this show, even those that were watching from home.
"Gnnnngh…! What…what happened?!" Dan screamed out. "Where did this light come from?!"
The intense flare gradually waned away, allowing everyone to see once more. A rainbow hue enveloped the skies above the Bakugan as they all looked up. Atchibee and Atmos looked up and were forced to land.
"Everyone, up there!" Atmos warned.
Jase glanced at the sky. "What's this?"
Everyone's attention drew towards the sky. Those who could comprehend felt their hearts stop when they recognized the all-too-familiar light that fell from the sky. The glow it gave was something the Bakugan unmistakably recognized. Armagedoid looked the most shocked. If it weren't for his body being broken, he would have gotten up in an instant. But with the condition he was in, all he did was stare up in shock.
"Drago…" Dan muttered.
"I feel it, this lights is…"
"Seems we have an unexpected guest amongst us." Spectra chimed in. On his shoulder, a bright glow came from Helios. "Helios?"
"My power…I can feel it return…" he groaned.
"Yes, mine as well." Aranaut opened his ball form, radiating a Haos light. "My queen, I feel an incredible power…"
Fabia looked up at the light, genuinely shocked at what she was seeing. She was at a loss for words. 'It can't be. This light is…'
All the Bakugan including Abis' friends, were shimmering their respective attribute auras. As the light drew closer, the brighter they got. Linehalt, Sabator, even Andro Elico; all their ball forms shined brightly. The light came down between Luke's group and Riaan.
"This light…I feel incredible!" Linehalt realized.
"Nurzak, is that…?" Ren muttered.
Nurzak looked up at the light, his eyes fixed on this warm light beaming everywhere around him. "This power…the Sacred Orb?"
"Code Eve?" Dan muttered.
The light settled herself and focused on Riaan. The entity glared up, alongside his Bakugan against her. Suffice to say that they didn't seem too entirely thrilled to see her again.
"Eve…you decided to show in person after all near a possible end." Riaan coldly stated.
Armagedoid glared daggers. "Mother…"
The light dimmed upwards. "Hello, Riaan. I see that you've been faring well after our last talk you've forced me in." She directed towards the others. "You all, desist at once."
"Code Eve?" Shuji questioned aloud. "What is she doing here?"
Jase frowned. "Who's to say…" He prodded his glasses. "But we're still on a clock. We mustn't waste time."
"Do not be alarmed, everyone, for I will handle this situation myself. Thank you all so very much for your hard work, but now, at least this way…I can clean up one mess that I didn't leave for another."
"She's gonna do what now?" Gunz questioned.
"Beats me." Reptak replied.
A lot of people were confused about this, especially since everyone there was present and forced to watch her trial by Riaan back on Neathia. They remembered full well about the lies she's made up, as well as the faults that she ran away from after being convicted as such. But they were all just so wiped right now that not many could muster up much of a question.
The light turned around, so that Riaan and Armagedoid could exchange equally spiteful looks towards her. Riaan especially looked displeased.
"Eve, only in the face of my possible death do you now step in. Heh, I don't know whether to call that cowardly or plain reckless."
"Now, Riaan. You know I didn't come here to have this conversation with you again."
"I'm well aware. I exposed each and every one of your flaws back on Neathia. And when you were given the choice, you fled of your own accord to leave your ancestor Drago to die by our hand. What possible right do you have to interfere now?"
The light flickered briefly, as though it were flustered. But she tried to defend herself. "Now…Riaan, please listen to what I have to say. Just this once."
He scowled. "If I recall correctly, listening to you is precisely why I'm here. And what fool listens when they're shamed after once?"
"Says the fool who is willing to die for his cause." She countered. "Now then, while I don't have such feelings for you, I believe that it is imperative that such a universe should still retain some measure of peace. There must be a balance as you've said. And order to do that, we must preserve a peace."
"Peace, you say? You really are ignorant, Eve. I explained it before that there's no such thing as peace. Even if I were to die, something somewhere will still be lurking where your light cannot reach. You're defending a hollow cause."
"…" Dan balled his fists tight. He wanted to say something, but he learned from last time not to lash out impulsively. His shoulder stung again.
Eve was silent for a moment. "And it's that line of thinking that separated us. You see, Riaan, I sought it to be appropriate because in this state, we are of even quantity. Admittedly, I am no match for you and your powers. But this way, I can take you to the reversed dimension, where you and your fellow Bakugan can harm the good of all."
He frowned heavily. "Hmph, so you wish to imprison us, fine, be our guest. But didn't you learn from the last round with Barodius and Phantom Dharak. Exactly, what did you think happen regarding them? They mutated and broke free of your shackles."
"You…" Armagedoid gradually stood up once more. "I will not be imprisoned by you, Mother!"
The light flared harshly. "Hush! I wouldn't have to force my hand if not for you both. You both are a duo that is not what the universe needs. As long as I still have many years left, I will do what I must to keep a proper balance between the good and the evil."
Riaan was hardly fazed by that response. "I can tell clear as day. When you were angry, did you not bring Mason and Nurzak to another dimension?"
Mason and Nurzak's eyes widened. The former seemed more shocked. 'Wait a minute, he knows about that?'
'His connection must run deeper than we've imagined.' Nurzak realized.
"Stopping bad just by putting it into time-out won't solve any of your problems." He coughed blood and clutched his right pectoral. "And…it won't stop this calamity. By putting me in another dimension, my core is still active. In another 20 minutes, Armagedoid and my vision that you're looking down on will be realized."
"Which is something that I cannot allow!" she snapped. "This is for your own good, both of you! Do you not understand?! The reason why I do this is because of what I see as a second chance, A chance for those who have sought wrong before to learn their place in this universe that we have been born from. Until a time comes when they can be accepted, they must be isolated to rethink themselves properly!"
Mason blinked. "Nut…we didn't do anything wrong."
"She must be speaking of Barodius." Nurzak explained, his eyes narrowing with disgust. "Of course, now it makes sense. Mag Mel was created from the anger and hatred from Barodius when he was trapped on the other side. It seems that case was special…but I think I know where this might lead to."
Ren looked shocked, but he didn't bother questioning.
"Now…it's time that we enact this punishment, and ban you to where you can never harm anyone ever again. Riaan, you and your Bakugan will learn your place in this universe, and everyone's futures shall be saved!" Eve's light erupted outwards, blinding everyone present. They all covered up as the searing light beamed primarily on Riaan and Armagedoid.
'Is she really gonna do it?' Dan thought. 'Are they seriously going to seal them away?'
The light radiated intensely onto Riaan, but all he did was glare ahead as everything went white. Just as it looked like he was going to be vanquished, however, a strong, magenta flare expelled from him and Armagedoid. "GRAAAAH!" Both expelled a violent shockwave of magenta energy everywhere, completely nullifying the rays.
The shockwaves were so sudden that everyone watching was blown off their feet. They all fell onto their backs or sides painfully. Abis and his fellow Bakugan gnashed their teeth and limbs and tried to hold ground until the shockwaves dissipated.
When it all faded, Riaan was shown standing upright, albeit with a very crude complexion. He looked genuinely angry within his glare. "How appropriately…pitiable."
"You…are deplorable!" Armagedoid brutally snapped, giving off a violent roar.
"He can still fight back?!" Shawn grunted. "Damn, just how much durability does this thing have?!"
Armagedoid faced Eve's light and hung his loose wings. "Rotting in a dimension for a long time would be no different than what Master has suffered from, what he's been trying to keep me from! It's the same as isolating us from everything, and only being left with loneliness. I…I will not give myself up to such malarkey, Mother!"
The light flinched. "You…you still insist on fighting for such a doomed cause?" She glared at Riaan. "This is your doing!"
"I was being a good father to him…unlike the selfish mother you turned out to be. Now, you are wasting our precious time, Eve. If you do not wish to see eye-to-eye, then maybe we can work something else out."
Eve refused to listen. She expelled another burst of light that was supposed to seal them, but ended up blanketed by a magenta flare from the pair. The Empyrean's glow began to grow weaker the more magenta light Riaan and Armagedoid produced. The former's pulse throbbed as his damage was returning.
"Hurry, everyone! While he's distracted!" Jase insisted.
Shuji balled his fists. "You don't have to tell me twice!" He started off, with Esther and the others following behind.
"No wait, guys! It's too dangerous!" Shun cried out, but they were too far out of earshot for them to hear. "Gnnngh…!"
The others moved in with their weapons to kill off Riaan while Eve had him pinned down. He gritted his teeth as he saw through the light, seeing the many faces heading for him. His eyes narrowed with a brighter glow to them. "You're all…FAR TOO WEAK!" His body expelled another harsh pulse that pushed away everyone. Luke group went flying back on their heels and drop to their knees.
The light that Eve produced had dimly thinned as her attempts were once again flawed.
"That is it, Eve! I've had my time with you, did you hear me?! If you are not willing to see the light that you fail to be, then I shall have no choice but to take that light with control…one of my least favorite methods." He reached down towards the Empyrean. "Activate protocol 101-ALPHA!"
His synthetic palm made a magenta light network within the veins, which slowly traced into the Empyrean's networking. The bright blue networks that were there to help stop Riaan had all faded back to magenta, glowing as bright as the sun beneath everyone's feet.
Elright stepped back. "What's happening?!"
"Something must have been triggered!" Linus worried.
The Empyrean began shuddering again, this time because of a powerful energy wake that connected many of magenta networks directly beneath Eve.
"Code Eve, look out!" Dan shouted.
The network light shined brightly beneath her, and suddenly, a pillar of magenta energy shot skywards, engulfing her in it. She screamed violently as the light kept her contained.
"NO!" Fabia panicked. "Leave the Sacred Orb alone!"
Riaan closed his eyes. "You still call her that, huh? I fail to see what's so sacred about a disgrace…though I suppose that would make me hypocritical." Riaan walked forward slowly, minding his serious wounds. "Don't bother fighting back at this point. I've made this protocol specifically in case any resonance with you happened to get up to this point. It'll all be shut down, so you'd best save your strength."
Eve struggled, but the elder light was unable to break free. She couldn't even summon her powers to help nullify these accursed beams weighing her into a solid stasis.
"I was hoping that it wouldn't have to come to this…but it seems that now there is but one choice. For the sake of our future, the convictions that we all share together, I will make it a reality, and merge it all into one!" He reached his arm out to the side, causing a small hole to open up to allow a very thin stand with an ability card at the end to rise. "And I have just the ultimatum to do that."
Luke stood back up. "What are you doing?!"
"An obligatory resonance. You see, this is my forbidden card. I never used it because once it happens, the effects can never be reversed. But…it will guarantee that our plans shall succeed. And with Eve here, that shall be an even bigger bonus to our strength."
Shawn spread his legs. "Not if we have something to say about it!"
"Armagedoid!"
Armagedoid, though battered he was, refused to give up. He spewed dragonfire past the pillar into the others, to which Fly Beetle dove through and turned his back to shield everyone from the blast.
"Gngh! Nice timing, big guy!" Maggie shouted.
Riaan turned towards Eve and picked up the ability card. "Now, Eve…this is your very last chance. If you believe in second chances, and you truly believe that there is a redemption for yourself…then stand down now. There is no hope for me nor Armagedoid. Even if we were in another dimension, nothing will change."
Eve grunted angrily inside of the binding, but her light flickered in and out. "Gngh…gnnnnnnngh! You must…stop this…!" she pleaded. "I mustn't…allow this…to happen!"
Riaan sighed out his nose. "Sadly, that's a disappointing answer. You have failed as your responsibilities as a proper partner and mother figure, to me, to Armagedoid, and to all. So as punishment, your spirit shall become one with us…with this." He held the ability card up.
"Somebody stop him!" Shun shouted.
His synthetic arm arisen higher. "As one, we three shall create a new beginning through this end! Armagedoid, are you ready!"
Armagedoid stood by his side with a heavily vindictive glare. "I will move forward! There will be a future beyond this, no matter the cost! Unleash the full extent of my power, Master!"
Riaan grinned. "…you've grown, Armagedoid." A short silence fell before his glare sharpened. "Very well! Infinity Chaos Ability-X…ACTIVATE!"
The magenta right from the card shined, and at that moment, everything – everything – went pitch-black. Silence fell over as everything went stale. The cold air; the goosebumps everyone felt; everything went stale. It all became a sudden blank.
Zenet shivered. "Th-the heck just happened…? I can barely see anything…"
"I fear that an inevitable plot twist is about to concur." Jesse recited.
"Chaos Ability-X?" Spectra parroted. "That ability, that's…!" He came to a realization. 'If he's modified it, then that means his Armagedoid will-!'
The ability card in Riaan's hand shined a magenta light that radiated throughout all of the pitch-black land. Instead of a core, magenta tendrils went around Riaan's arm, transferring down and constricting his entire frame. The tendrils reached out and reach into the pillar of light keeping Eve at bay. They laced around her, strangling her with an unimaginable pain. She cried out fiercely, as did Riaan. The magenta tendrils shined immensely, causing both their signatures to pulsate.
"What are they doing?!" Mira worried.
"Their energies are merging!" Ace shouted.
"Oh no! Somebody do something, quick!" Julie snapped.
"GRAAAAAAAAAAH!" Riaan screamed in agony.
"AAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!" Eve yelled out.
Both deities screamed at the top of their lungs as the magenta tendrils were compressing their forms. The large light that was Eve was gradually shrinking downwards, while Riaan's form had started shifting. He came a similar core, but with darker and more magenta in the colors than the rainbow shades of Eve. Everyone watched in utter shock.
'He's condensed both their forms into energy…' Esther grimaced.
Both their screams soon came to a stop when the two lights were the size of beachballs. The pillar engulfing Eve simmered to thin air, allowing the two lights to be magnetically drawn towards each other. Once they were close enough, they started spiraling around a singular point and rotated around in a very small orbit. They gradually went higher, and higher with each rotation dragging them upwards until they looked like two bright stars.
Armagedoid looked up at the starry atmosphere, seeing as how all the stars were blocked out by this energy field. He saw the two orbs dazzle overhead directly above him and stood perfectly still as they kept twirling and funneled straight into the cracks of his star-like core.
The moment they vanished inside, a shirt silence fell around everyone. They were too stupefied with what they saw to even contemplate how to counter.
It was brief for a few seconds, but the core on Armagedoid's chest gradually shined brighter with every passing second. His eyes suddenly flashed open with bright rainbow energy, stunning everyone there.
"Everyone, get down now!" Atchibee warned.
They all hurried and floored as fast as possible before a pillar of rainbow and magenta energy erupted from Armagedoid into space. The beam fired so fast and so high that it seemed to have faded into the upper cosmos. Ripples the size of supernovas expanded throughout space, making the cosmos' texture seem like someone looking at the water's surface from down below. Various rays of light fluctuated from each passing ripple, each one possessing a different attributed wave to make a rainbow of pulses running wild.
Armagedoid screamed at the top of his lungs. His body felt like it was being ripped apart from this change of energy. If he had any sclera of pupils, they would have rolled to back of his head at this point. But he held firmly to whatever solid ground was able with his claws to know that he could still feel.
'Mother…Father…together…we are one!'
"Jase, what's happening to him?!" Luke shouted as he tried to hold on. Even down on the ground, it was still too much to bear.
Jase used a forearm to shield himself as he looked at the cosmos fluctuating above. "It's an overload of both symbolic energies. It's causing Armagedoid's powers to grow out of control!"
The Empyrean rumbled so much that no one could get anywhere close towards the shockwaves. They were anchored down as the black dragon's roars echoed into space, spreading across the multiple dimensions across the collapsing worlds.
Above New Vestroia's skies, any Bakugan that haven't gone sane at this point were looking up and seeing that the sky was rippling a rainbow, starry atmosphere. On Gundalia and Neathia, everyone could see space literally distorting to a liquid-like matter with rainbow shades. Same with Vestal and Earth, as all five planets were engulfed in this ever-expanding force resonating from Interacia. The planets that were engulfed in this matter had every fiber of space come to a standstill. Collapsing stones floated in midair, as to where raging lava flowing down volcanoes were freezing on the spot. It was like time within the non-organic atmosphere was breaching to a mesmerizing halt.
As the screaming pillar jutted out energy to a relentless level, a mixture of dark matter and light matter gathered around into a miniature dome of energy that compressed on the epicenter. The ions fused with dark and light pairing with each other to make rainbow stars that were drawn into Armagedoid's figure as it faded into the pillar. His roars grew more distorted, sounding like a double layer of a hollow cry that echoed into the breaches of everyone's minds.
Then, in a flash…it all stopped. The pillar of energy collapsed on itself and thinned away, allowing a momentary levity for everyone to balance themselves upright and get a sense of what's going on.
After getting the fuzzies out of his eyes, Shuji shook his head and opened an eye to see that the energy had let up. He looked up, and he looked shocked that space looked like a liquefied matter of reflective rainbow energy. He was stupefied to say the least. "What…what the…?"
"What the heck just happened just now?!" Gunz panicked. "That energy spike was out of nowhere and it just…vanished?"
Mira leered ahead, her eyes narrowing. "No, you're wrong."
"What?"
Alice gasped. "Look! Up ahead!"
Everyone turned their attention towards the spot where the Empyrean's magenta networking was centered around a hollow, flat point. It was barely visible, but they could feel it. There was something that looked about the size of a Bakugan's standard ball form, with a black body and rainbow chrome all over the body as accents. A lot of it looked to be in the shape of the standard 4-pointed star that Armagedoid had. The way that it had a rainbow aura around its lustrous form looked all but enticing towards them.
"Is that…a Bakugan?" Drago questioned.
"What is it?" Dan wondered.
Keegan watched as the rainbow aura gradually diminished around the Bakugan. "I have a bad feeling about this…"
The ball form that everyone eyed warily receded its rainbow aura and watched it fall to the ground. It tapped once and bounced closer towards them, making a few more jumps before rolling to a slow halt. Its body then unfolded, taking on a shape that looked a lot like Armagedoid's own ball form, but with rainbow, crystal wings and more tails.
Once the eye shined bright rainbow, a supernova of dark hued, rainbow energy exploded outwards at the speed of light. It happened so fast that nobody had any time to react to it. Once again, the pillar of dark rainbow energy exploded upwards, but this time it had a far larger spherical epicenter that erupted like a supernova. The fellow Bakugan had no chance as they floored so hard that their impacts dug into the ground. The shockwave expanded in all directions, traveling at lightspeed across Interacia's surface and into space. The ocean water beneath sprung into large tidal waves that crashed into each other. Large mountain peaks were obliterated, as to where the forests that were too high had their tree trunks snapped clean off and blown hundreds of miles away.
As the nova receded, everyone's ears were ringing. That explosion was so loud and forceful that everything was muted for several minutes. Luke grunted as he laid on his back, realizing that he had fallen over. He opened both eyes and started sitting up.
"Gnnngh…guys?" He looked around, seeing everyone's dazed states and figures sprawled around him. They started coming around though, much to his relief. "Guys!"
"Ooooowww…my head's spinning…" Julie groaned. "What happened anyway? Where's Riaan and Armage…ge…"
The camera was still rolling, but what it caught was nothing more than a rainbow shine that everyone back home was still watching. What everyone saw left them stupefied.
As Dan was coming around, a rainbow glow made him wince and turn away. "Man, why's it so bright…!" He widened his eyes and looked up. His pupils instantly shrank in sheer disbelief. His mouth hung open in utter horror at what he saw.
Everyone came around and looked at what they were gawking at. Much to even their sheer shock, there was something majestic and large that overtook the light that was any star that shined brightest. Luke and his friends gradually stood up supporting each other, as did their Bakugan, as they eyed the creature before them.
Floating, roughly a hundred feet over the Empyrean's summit, was a creature that seemed like Armagedoid, but there was something unmistakably different about it. For one thing, the body style was significantly different, as it had a more humanoid stature than draconic. The head was a black base with the eyes no longer there, and the huge headpiece that was on Armagedoid's head had changed shaped and seemingly merged with the scalp to make a guard. The guard was pitch black with a magenta and purple core at its center with three small magenta stars in the shape of an upside-down triangle. The sides had three smaller dots that seemed to give the impression of stars. A purple edging marked the scalp's end to make a prolonged magenta point that went backwards and overlapped the underside, with looked like rainbow crystal that glistened various colors. The cheekbones were sheer rainbow light crystals as well that split into two on each side. Magenta and purple cosmic energy spokes jutted out behind the head. The neck was black, with ridges purple scales going down the front all the way towards the tails, which were three separate tails connected at the base of the middle tail. The tails themselves were rainbow like streamers that reflected light. The upper body was encompassed with a pitch-black mantle around the shoulders with sharp, pink spikes. Rainbow diamonds had six magenta dots between them going in arches of three, connecting them all around. At the center of the black-scaled chest, there was a very small magenta-purple core that had a layer of rainbow energy coursing around it. Beneath the chest, ridged black armor supported the base, which was a cosmic array of dark purple and magenta energy that was translucent. The arms were more human-like and purple, with magenta spikes at the elbows and dark purple gauntlets with two black rims. The hands were purple, with the backs being black scales – yet shockingly the nails were disconnected and seemed to be ethereally attached. The palms had rainbow orbs inside them. At the elbows, very long, sharp rainbow blades hung there free from the connection. The legs had black armor, with pores that were gaping with rainbow energy, especially the gems at the knees. The legs were more draconic than human, but were purple and had magenta orbs and spikes floating at the shins and at the joint. The feet were extremely slim with black hooves, and the three clawed toes were separated as well.
However, that wasn't the most captivating thing about this beast. What had to be the most staggering part about it, was that its wings were made of the pure light made into rhombus shapes. The outlines were various shades of rainbow that glistened. There were a total of 10 of these wings. They were disconnected from the body, but floating magenta orbs between them and the ridged base were present. That was supported by gravitational power to the black ridged base, where tubes of rainbow energy connected to the mantle and the shoulders, where orbs of energy shined. Over the head, there was a massive magenta, ridged arch with diamond-shaped energy on the top, and orb-like magenta energy on the bottom.
It was like looking at an actual beast made up from some child's worst nightmare. A rainbow aura cascaded over everyone as they gawked at this monster before them. Ren sat on the ground with sweat running off his face, his mouth gaping out of fear and adrenaline. Many of them were too scared to move, while many of them seemed awfully puzzled with what stood before them.
"Drago…are you seeing this, bud…?" Dan quipped.
Drago opened his ball form and looked on in disbelief. "I am, but I don't believe it."
"Is…that thing even real?" Baron swallowed a lump.
"What is it?" Keegan wondered.
Luke looked on as the draconic beast had a similar shade and frame towards it. For some reason, he had a bad feeling, like he knew what this was all about. His eyes widened in sheer disbelief. 'Wait, don't tell me…!'
The universal beast raised his rainbow crystal underjaw, which was spiked downwards. When one saw closely, it showed that the insides now had gums and sharp teeth grown inside them, like Drago's teeth. The beast let out a low gurgle as the rainbow energy shined and fluctuated all across his body. He looked down at his hands, realizing they were more muscular with detached energy blades. He could it as he balled his fists tight; power beyond the belief of the mortal realm. He looked down at the enemies that stood before him, their frightened and stupefied expressions saying all that he needed to feel.
With a deep breath, he finally spoke his first words.
"I am…Eternal Armagedoid."
You thought that was the final battle? Surprise! There's still a bit left before it all ends here, folks! Still, I'm gonna work my best to get this all done before 2020 is over. Gonna roll these last few chapters out as smoothly and efficiently as I can!
