So here we are. One of the cornerstone matches of the story. Hardly needs introduction, but here I am anyway. I hope you enjoy it!
Disclaimer: I don't own Bakugan or the characters.
XXX
Chapter 18: Earth's Finest
Spectra and his posse, with Michael Gehabich as their hostage, watched on as Alice went through the D.T. system's portal. The portal closed itself, cutting Alice off from the lab.
"And there our huntress goes", Spectra said with a wide smirk. He held out a gloved hand and raised it to chest level. "It won't be long now, friends. Soon, the Dragonoid will be in the palm of my hand." He clenched his hand into a fist.
"Bah! Drago's nothing compared to me, Spectra!", Helios scoffed. "If Hydranoid was out of the way, I would have annihilated him last time!"
"In a fair contest, that would be true." Spectra stared at the open window, deep in thought. "But the Perfect Core energy that Drago possesses makes it… unfair."
"Once Drago's in our control, we can take that power for ourselves", Gus added. "We'll be invincible. Even Hydranoid will be no match."
"That's assuming Alice will do what we need her to do", Ace said. "What if she smartens up and betrays us?"
"She wouldn't do that." Spectra waved a hand over to Michael. The aging scientist was standing somberly. "With the good professor as our hostage, she'd do anything short of giving us Hydranoid herself. You proved that when you asked her for Hydranoid, Ace." Spectra's smirk widened. "Alice's greatest weakness is that she cares. She's not willing to devote herself to power like ourselves. And that gives us an unshakable advantage."
Ace nodded, satisfied with his master's answer. Then, he had a sudden thought, and couldn't help blurring it out. "Then why'd she win?"
"Pardon?", Spectra's smirk lessened.
"You said that her values are her weaknesses." Ace looked confused, as if he didn't even understand why he was talking. "We eliminated those weaknesses when we forged Malice. But it was only after Alice regained control that she actually beat you. So isn't Alice stronger with her values? Wouldn't that make them her strengths?"
"We've discussed this, Ace." Spectra waved his hand dismissively, but his smile was gone. "Alice is an integral failure, without the spine to follow the path of power."
"Then how did she beat you, Master?" Ace was rambling, unable to even stop himself. "And you're almost admitting it yourself! Why else would you send Alice to fight a battle even you're unsure about-?"
"Enough!", Spectra snapped. Ace's mouth snapped shut from his master's command. "Alice's only claim to power is Hydranoid's power. Without it, she's nothing!"
"You're wrong." The Vexos all turned to Michael. "Without it, she's still the same person who got Hydranoid to the level he is."
The Vexos were downright incredulous at their captive's gall. They didn't have any idea why he'd risk the repercussions of speaking up. They didn't know that Michael was already on borrowed time, and therefore had very little to lose.
"I don't understand what happened to Alice while she was in New Vestroia, but whatever happened unlocked a part of herself I thought Masquerade had destroyed." Michael stared Spectra right in the mask's eye. "You've got her by the throat for now, but soon the tables will turn. Alice will show you how to truly claim the power you seek."
"As long as we have you, we'll always have her by the throat." Spectra walked up to Michael. "If you were Hal-G, you'd understand. He was a kindred spirit to me. You're nothing but a scientifically able old man, suffering from self delusions."
Michael looked defiantly at Spectra, who glared back in anger. All the other Vestals watched the staredown evolve into a stalemate.
As Ace looked between the two, he was heavily conflicted in his mind. 'Why did I even start questioning Master Spectra? What was I thinking?'
"That's exactly what you're doing now. Thinking." Ace's other voice spoke back. "Maybe you should think some more. It'll do you a world of good."
'I'm not listening to you.'
"Yes, you are." The voice chuckled at Ace's petulant denial. "Start thinking. Why would Spectra shut down the debate so emphatically? Maybe… he's wrong?"
The headache that always accompanied the voice returned at full force. 'Stop. Just stop. Spectra has shown me true power. If following him would give me a fraction of it, I'll take it.'
"Yet he uses blackmail and deception to claim power, instead of proving he's worthy. You asked the right question before. Why would he send another to fight an enemy he's unsure whether he could win?"
'Just BE QUIET!' Ace wasn't even refuting the claims anymore. He was just desperate to get the voice to shut up.
And, amazingly, it stopped. There wasn't any pressing the advantage or any other kind of rebuttal.
But Ace didn't dare think it a victory. He could feel the other's smug satisfaction as if it was his own.
XXX
Back in New Vestroia, at the lake serving as a moat for Beta City, a single underwater vehicle ran through the water towards the Vestal colony. Although it parsed an ability to travel through water, it also had a drill at the forefront and wheels, belying a potential ability to travel through the ground and overland.
Eventually, the vehicle reached an underwater section of Beta City. A compartment in the outer hull opened up, admitting the submarine before closing up.
The vehicle, now inside the Beta City structure via an underwater hatch, kept going until it got to an area without a water, and then it opened up.
Two humans and three Vestals left the vehicle.
"So this is how civilians leave and enter Beta City." Marucho looked around. "Private submarine stations."
"No, just the ones who can afford the rent", spoke one of the newer Vestals to Marucho, Iris. The redheaded Vestal enjoyed thinly. "Those that can't use boats."
"I'm glad you managed to get to Beta City safely", Newt said to Shun. He gave him a critical eye. "Though… I can't help but notice your lack of numbers…"
"Alice, Dan and Mira are indisposed." Shun didn't say how they were indisposed; he didn't trust these people that much yet.
"How so?", Newt insisted.
"I'm not even sure who you are, and you're asking for sensitive information." Shun gave the Vestal an equally stem look. "I'm grateful for your assistance getting to Beta City, but you need to do more than that to earn that level of trust."
"So you want to know if you can trust us." Iris smiled at Shun. "Well, I don't know what to say. Newt and I were looking outside the dome and saw your battle. I thought it might be you guys and said we should give you a pickup. And here we are."
"We were honestly just in the right place at the right time, Shun." Newt picked up the tale.
"But why would you help us?", Baron asked.
"Because we heard Alice's call", Newt answered. "Because we learned of the Vexos' monstrosities. Iris and I wouldn't be much help in battle, but if we could help you guys at all, in any way we could, we'd do it."
"What do you think?", Baron asked Shun.
Shun looked for signs of deception in either siblings, but they seemed both unflinching and honest. "I say… I say we can trust them."
Everyone relaxed at that. The Vestal siblings smiled with relief.
"Now, shall we?" Newt turned to the door of the chamber they were in. "Beta City awaits." He opened the door, and light entered the room.
The next part of New Vestroia's reclamation had finally begun.
XXX
It began in a large stadium. The field was a large oval of flat grasses, ringed by layers and layers of beaches. The stadium was largely exposed to the sky, with the proper arena lacking a ceiling. The time of day was late morning, but the sky overhead was covered in clouds. A storm was all but imminent.
In the center of the stadium's arena, a portal opened up with the sound of thunder. It stayed open long enough for a single female humanoid to walk through, then it shrunk down to non-existence.
Alice entered the stadium's field, looking around at the stands. After seeing nothing but empty bleachers, she sighed. "Nobody's here. At least we have that."
"Dome Stadium." Hydranoid recognized the arena of his defeat at Drago's hands. "Why here?"
"It's large enough to hold a Bakugan battle", Alice said. "Obviously, it's close enough for Dan to walk. And it's out of the way enough to minimize the risk of anyone being caught up in our battle."
It was more than that, of course. It was a symbol to both her and Dan, for different reasons. This was the sight of Masquerade's climactic defeat, where Dan used the masked persona's rage to claim victory. It was indicative of Dan's superiority over Masquerade, and over Alice by extension.
Except that wasn't entirely true. Alice knew, she knew, that if Masquerade had kept his cool, if he battled Dan with the same ruthless efficiency he used before, he wouldn't have lost. Her dreams had shown her how that would have played out.
Having the battle at Dome Stadium would be a reminder for Alice to take Dan and Drago seriously. She knew that if she would hold back, she would lose. But she also knew that she did possess the advantage. She wouldn't let things end the same as their last showdown in Dome Stadium.
"So, that's how it is?", Leonidas growled. "Give Spectra everything he wants?"
Alice looked miserable, even more so after hearing Leonidas. "Please… just drop it. We've been over this."
"Yes. We have." Leonidas muttered angrily.
"Then stop pushing this." Hydranoid was ready to advocate Alice's case. "You're not doing anything for any of us."
Leonidas snarled, glaring Hydranoid in the eye. When Hydranoid's stare matched his own in intensity, the non-evolved Darkus Bakugan backed down. "Fine. I won't say anything. But I don't care if it's for the old man. I won't forgive this easily."
"I understand, Leonidas." It was with a heavy heart that Alice proceeded as she had planned. "Now that we're in a suitable location, the next step is to get Dan and Drago here without backup."
"And how do we do that?", Hydranoid asked patiently.
The next word was something Alice had little experience in, or indication to practice. Though it was something that came naturally to her alter egos. "Deception."
Without elaborating further on that word, Alice took out her Vestal-based communicator, dialing Dan's number with it.
If the communicators were built at Earth's standards, they likely wouldn't work, due to a lack of compatible servers to connect with. However, standard Vestal communicators were able to work across an entire planet on their own.
It took a few moments, but Dan picked up the call. The Pyrus battler's face appeared on the holoscreen. "Alice? What's up?"
"Dan, I need to talk to you. In person."
Dan looked confused. "What about?"
Alice inhaled, keeping it discreet. Time for the deception. "We drove Spectra and the Vexos off at my grandfather's lab, but they're still out there in the Russian forests. With my grandfather working on the damaged D.T. system, I thought we could coordinate a search for them." A good lie, tying in Dan's natural inclination for battle with an interest in keeping the Vexos in check.
And Dan seemed interested in the idea. "Nice idea. I don't really like giving them a free hand. Why don't you meet me at my house?"
"I don't think that's a good idea", Alice said. Her real reason was a need to get Dan alone, but she couldn't exactly tell him that. "I used a teleport to get to Wardington City, which we already know the Vexos can track. I don't think we should risk leading Spectra to your family."
Dan looked pensive, then whitened as he realized the implications of Spectra finding his family. "You're right. That would be bad."
"Listen, we should continue this in person. We don't know if Spectra can listen in on our communicators." The longer a virtual conversation lasted, the greater possibility Alice would accidentally let something slip. "Meet me at the site of Masquerade's defeat." It was an obvious reference to Dome Stadium, and it would further sell a belief that long range communication could be compromised; Spectra wouldn't understand the reference as easily if he was listening.
Dan nodded. "Yeah, okay. I'll be there in five minutes." The screen shut off, signaling the end of the conversation.
Alice let out a sigh of relief. "Good. He bought it. He's on his way."
Hydranoid grunted. "I'm ready to battle, Alice."
"And if it gives you a power surge?" Leonidas vocally battered Hydranoid. "Look, what you and Alice are doing is wrong, but I don't want this mistake to destroy you, Hydranoid."
"It's not a mistake", Hydranoid said. "I know exactly what I'm doing. And I won't go down like this."
Leonidas growled.
"I thought you were going to stop talking." Hydranoid snarled at Leonidas. "Stand. Down."
"Fine!" Leonidas's ball form closed and went straight into Alice's pocket.
Another pang of misery rang through Alice's heart. "Win or lose, this battle might tear me apart." She looked to the sky, to the clouds gathering and ready for rainfall. "But it's too late for that. It's time for battle."
An image of Dan battling showed up in her mind, accompanied by an image of Drago summoning the Perfect Core's power. The duo were a formidable force, one that made even the strongest of the Vexos hesitate before taking on. But Alice wasn't afraid.
"Bring it on, Dan. I'm ready."
XXX
As Dan promised, he got to Dome Stadium within five minutes of cutting communication with Alice. He reached the room of the arena, barely even breathing hard after his run.
"Luckily we were already near the Stadium. Right, Drago?"
"Dan… something feels off", Drago advised. "I feel something… ominous. Like there's nearby danger."
Dan frowned, not making sense of it. "What do you think, Drago?"
"I don't know", Drago admitted. "Maybe my nerves are just frayed."
"Okay, bud. Keep an eye out, just in case", Dan said. "Maybe the Vexos already tracked Alice here, just like she said."
"Good point. That might be it." But it didn't sound right to Drago, even as he said it. It seemed far too simple an answer.
Still, Dan headed through the entrance, looking for Alice. After walking underneath the stands and reaching the field, he found his ally.
Alice stood at the other side of the field, noticing Dan as soon as he came out from under the stands. She didn't say anything, her mouth curved into a frown.
"Hey, Alice", Dan greeted. When Alice didn't reply, or even smile in greeting, Dan stilled. He started getting an ominous feeling himself.
"Dan, something isn't right here", Drago insisted quietly.
"... yeah", Dan was forced to admit. Alice was acting very strangely. It was worrying. "Alice? What's up?"
"I'm sorry, Dan." Out was the first word Alice spoke. She looked at Dan, and he could see her eyes glistening with barely restrained tears. "I led you here under false pretences."
That chilled the air. Dan tensed up, reflecting the increased tension in the area. "What are you talking about, Alice?", he asked. "You're not here to organize a hunt for the Vexos? What are you here for?"
"I know exactly where they are", Alice said. Before Dan could even ask, she elaborated. "They're in Grandfather's lab, holding a blade to his neck."
Dan heaved a sigh of relief. "So that's why you're here", he said. "You need help saving Dr. Michael, right?"
It made perfect sense. Alice needed to meet out of the way, at a remote location the Vexos couldn't know about. She couldn't discuss details in case they were listening in on her. It all fit.
But Dan was still wary. And Alice's next words proved the suspicion right.
"I already thought of that", Alice said. "Asking for help to get him away. It won't work. They won't make the same mistakes that let us get Runo and Julie away from them before."
"Then why are you here?" Dan was totally confused.
"Spectra's given me one way to get Grandfather away from them", Alice said. "My Grandfather… for Drago."
Dan's mouth dried up. "So that's what's happening." He finally understood the situation. "This is a trap."
"It is." Alice took in a breath, gathering her courage for what was coming.
"Do you honestly think Spectra will keep his promise?", Dan demanded. "You're the one who told me he couldn't be trusted!"
It was true. Alice remembered her strict denial to partnering with Spectra, all the way back in the Alpha City outskirts showdown. If she thought she could trust Spectra, she would have agreed to an alliance back then.
And Dan kept pressing his argument. "And even if he could be trusted, you can't honestly think it's worth Drago's capture!"
"What if it was Runo?", Alice asked, halting Dan's scalding criticism. "What if the situation was flipped? What if Spectra still had Runo by the neck, and told you to take Hydranoid from me?"
Dan wanted to say he wouldn't fight his own friends, but after actually considering the concept…
He knew the importance Hydranoid had to their effort. But he also cared a lot for Runo. He couldn't decide. He couldn't force himself to be decisive enough.
"I don't know", he admitted. "But-"
"I don't know if Spectra's being honest", Alice said. "But I do know that if I don't give him Drago, he will kill Grandfather."
"So that's it?", Dan asked.
"Dan…", Alice had a grim look, and yet, a tear finally fell down her face. "I'm asking you now. Give me Drago, so I won't have to hurt him."
"You couldn't have expected that to work", Dan accused.
"I had to try", Alice replied. "I don't want to hurt him. But if you won't surrender Drago peacefully, I'll take him from you by force." In a swift motion, she locked her gauntlet into her arm. "Dan Kuso, I challenge you to battle."
She'd said the words, issuing the challenge. At that point, there was no going back.
Dan took a moment, noting for the first time in a long while what kind of gauntlet Alice was using: a purple and black device, with the added adornments of a Vexos gauntlet. It was the gauntlet she stole from Shadow Prove.
'Guess it really does suit her now', he thought as he primed his own gauntlet. "Alice… challenge accepted."
The sky overhead began to crackle with lightning. After the first sounding of thunder, the clouds finally began to precipitate, raining down countless droplets on the arena.
Dan and Alice took in deep breaths as rainwater pelted them. Them, they called out the keywords to initiate the battle. "Gauntlet, Power Strike!" The cards locked within each gauntlet began shining red or purple, respectively.
Immediately, the rain seemed to spontaneously stop around them. The two Brawlers looked around, seeing the countless drops of water floating in the air around them. Along with that, the sky above lighted up multicolor, before the glow faded away.
"It's the old time-freezing effect, back from the old days", Alice said. "I never thought I'd see it again."
"What's the human saying…?", Hydranoid said. " 'The more things change, the more they stay the same', yes?"
"Gate Card, set!" Taking advantage of Alice's distraction, Dan shot his arm or and threw the first Gate Card of the battle. "Snooze, you lose, Alice!"
Alice would've berated herself, but she didn't care much about who got the first card in. Instead, she simply refocused her attention on the coming battle.
"Drago, ready to go?", Dan asked.
"We must be cautious, Dan", Drago advised. "Remember our battle with Leonidas. Alice is a formidable battler now, doubly so with Hydranoid."
"Yeah, I know", Dan said, taking the advice to heart. "But we've got the initiative. Let's use it." He threw Drago into the field with all the strength his right arm could utilize. "Bakugan, brawl! Drago, stand!"
Drago's spherical form landed on the grassy battlefield, popping open and beginning the transformation. A tornado of flames shot into the air, barely diminished at all by the time-frozen rainwater.
Moments later, the flames broke apart, and Drago rose up into the battle arena. The blue diamond in his chest glistened. Lines on his wings lit up orange, and the Dragonoid roared mightily.
"There he is", Alice said. "Time to get started."
"I meant what I said before", Leonidas snarled from Alice's pocket. "Don't ask me to fight your battle. Not this time."
Alice winced at yet another scathing remark, but she wouldn't be deterred. "I know. Hydranoid, will you lend me your strength?"
"My strength is yours already, Alice", Hydranoid swore. "There's no need to lend it."
Alice smiled thinly, in a mix of pride and connection to her Bakugan partner. Then, she took hold of Hydranoid and threw him straight ahead. "Bakugan, brawl! Hydranoid, stand!"
The ball landed on the ground opposite Drago, opening up on contact. As the ball transformed into Hydranoid's true form, the event was accompanied with an omnidirectional blast of wind.
The wind disrupted Drago's flight for a moment, but he quickly righted his course. He gazed down as the tri-headed Darkus champion as his body fully materialized.
Neo Dragonoid: 400
Alpha Hydranoid: 600
"Hydranoid, right off the bat?!" Dan was surprised. Unaware of the friction between Alice and Leonidas, he thought she'd save Hydranoid's strength for later. "She's really taking this seriously."
"Hello, Hydranoid", Drago greeted coolly.
"Drago", Hydranoid returned it in kind. His three heads curved up, looking straight at Drago.
"I'd hoped we'd never face off as enemies again", Drago said. "But I won't let you take me without a fight."
"I didn't expect you to", Hydranoid said, flexing his wings to prepare them for a quick liftoff. "Come at me, 'Ultimate Bakugan'!"
"Bring on the heat, Drago!" Dan locked an ability inside his gauntlet, and punched the air with that arm as the card went into effect. "Ability Activate! Burning Dragon!"
Drago reared back all his limbs, including good wings, where lines began to light up bright orange. His body began to generate luminous flames, which twisted back and condensed in an orb that surrounded Drago. Within moments, Drago was encased in a gigantic sphere of fire.
"Take… THIS!" Drago flapped his wings forward, propelling the fireball away from his body in a straight path towards Hydranoid. The formal crashed against the hydra in an instant, exploding in a blast of heat and fire.
Neo Dragonoid: 400+200=600
Alpha Hydranoid: 600
"That oughta have hurt", Dan remarked. When the heart wave reached him, he covered up. "How'd you like that!?"
"Is that the best you can do?", Hydranoid's words came from the epicenter of the flames. The fire split apart in a sudden shockwave, revealing Hydranoid no worse for wear.
"What?!", Drago gasped.
"You were once my equal, Drago", Hydranoid growled. "You bested me as an equal, and then you far surpassed me. But now…" his center head leered at his new enemy. "Now, you've given up most of your power. And now, I am stronger." His triple heads all opened up. "Now, it's my turn."
"Drago, look out!", Dan forewarned.
Even as Dan shouted the alert, Alice's ability card glowed within her gauntlet. "Ability Activate! Death Trident!"
After Alice called out the words, Hydranoid's three heads, each with an opened maw, formed an orb of condensed light purple energy, with blue lightning crackling around each one. The trio angled their heads, aiming at Drago from three slightly different positions.
Neo Dragonoid: 600-300=300
Alpha Hydranoid: 600
"Keep one orb in reserve", Alice advised.
Hydranoid grunted in confirmation, rearing back his central head. His leftmost head then struck, unleashing the orb in Drago's direction.
"Whoa!" Drago was almost hit by the Darkus orb, but he flew to the other side to evade it. "Nice try, but-!"
He was interrupted when a second orb crashed into his body, exploding upon impact. The explosion knocked Drago off his flight path. He only barely caught himself before colliding with the ground.
Hydranoid's rightmost mouth was smoking after unleashing its Death Trident orb. "More than a try, Drago." His center head forced itself ahead of the side ones, aiming its orb at the dazed Drago.
Dan's eyes widened. "I have to help Drago!" He quickly loaded in his next ability. "Fusion Ability Activate! Pyrus Slayer!"
Drago's eyes widened with the power influx, the pupils glowing a burning red. The dragon planted his feet on the ground and raised up his wings. In an instant, Drago's form ignited, a cloak of flames covering him from head to toe.
Wrapped up in intense fire, Drago took off into the air again and headed straight for his multi-headed enemy. "Here I come, Hydranoid!"
"Alice." Hydranoid kept his gaze on Drago. "Now!"
"Fusion Ability Activate!", Alice called with her card. "Final Demolition!"
And with that, Hydranoid instantly became encased in an aura of dense purple Darkus energy. He reared back his two side heads, while the center remained fixed on Drago. The remaining orb grew by over half its original size. When the orb stopped growing, Hydranoid gigabit let it loose.
With Drago simultaneously approaching Hydranoid, it was too close a distance for him to dodge the energy ball. Like the last time, the orb blew up the moment it hit Hydranoid, but the explosion was far stronger this time. The blast wiped away the majority of Drago's fiery cloak, leaving a remaining intensity that matched Hydranoid's own aura.
Neo Dragonoid: 300+300=600
Alpha Hydranoid: 600-100+100=600
With little option left, Drago simply collided with Hydranoid and began grappling with him. They locked arms and thrashed with their heads and open mouths.
Being locked in close combat with Hydranoid, Drago saw a prime opportunity to end the battle before it truly began. "Hydranoid… stop this madness!", Drago pleaded. "Before it's too late!"
"What are you talking about, Drago?", Hydranoid roared. "Why would I stop?"
"You have no reason to fight me here!", Drago urged, trying desperately to make peace in this situation. "I understand why Alice chose to battle, but why do you care so much about Michael? Why do you care enough to cripple our own efforts to save New Vestroia?!"
"Alice cares enough, and that's enough for me", was Hydranoid's only answer. It was answer enough for him, and that was all that truly mattered. He put more force into the grapple, only for Drago to match it anyway.
"It shouldn't be!", Drago countered. "You're allowed a right to your own choices! You shouldn't let others dictate your life!"
At this point, Hydranoid was slightly aggravated, especially on a personal level. "Then stop dictating my life, Drago! RRROOOAAAHHH!" The last bellowing roar sounded from all three heads in unison.
'He's gone mad!', Drago decided. The roar was painful even to his own ears, despite his incredible stamina as a high level Bakugan. 'I won't be able to talk him down. I'll just have to beat the sense back into his head! All three of them!'
Dan took a step back from the ferocity of Hydranoid's roar. "He's… packing some real power."
"Of course he is. Up until now, Hydranoid and I have been testing the waters. Sizing you up." Alice quickly loaded up her next card. "Now, the battle really begins. Ability Activate! Destroy Vanish!"
Dan sucked in a breath. "Drago, move!"
It was too late. The moment Drago tried to disengage from the grapple was the moment Hydranoid broke the stalemate and overpowered him. A forceful tug pressed Drago's chest against Hydranoid's metallic chest saw, and the maintained grip on his arms prevented Drago's escape.
Then, the chest saw began to move, countless spikes grinding on Drago's chest, and rapidly rearing down his stamina.
Neo Dragonoid: 600… 587… 575… 562…
Alpha Hydranoid: 600
For Drago, it was a pain he remembered well. Back in this very Stadium, he was subjected to it as the Ultimate Dragonoid. It was only due to Dan's incredible battling instinct that he survived it.
It wasn't a pain he liked experiencing again. And this time, he had to deal with it in a less powerful body than before. It was as Hydranoid said; he truly was weaker now. "GAAH!"
Neo Dragonoid: 88… 74… 63…
Alpha Hydranoid: 600
"It's over, Dan", Alice looked resolute, but not enthusiastic. "This isn't the least painful way to take Drago, but at least it'll be over quickly."
"Nothing's going to be over if I have anything to say about it!" Dan's retort was accompanied by the swipe of his hand. "Gate Card Open! Pyrus Reactor!"
The card lit up a bright red rectangle, with the glow most prominent at the edge of the card and directly under Drago. Out of nowhere, the ground beneath Drago erupted, a pillar of flames shooting to the sky.
Hydranoid snarled as the flames rose up, quickly letting go of Drago to avoid being burned.
The pillar pushed the newly freed Drago high into the air, where he physically looked down on Hydranoid once again. "Is that all you've got?!"
Neo Dragonoid: 14… 0+400=400
Alpha Hydranoid: 600
"And I'm not finished!", Dan went on, with a dup of his cards. "Double Ability Activate! Fire Tornado, plus Burning Tornado!"
Still in the air, Drago fixed himself at the top of the Gate Card's flame pillar. Within moments, his body began to generate more flames, which began to melt with the other pillar.
Moments later, all the fire around Drago began to twist and change shape, corning around him in the meantime, until the Dragonoid was surrounded by a massive twister of flames.
"I'm taking you DOWN!", Drago roared within his twister, and the flames grew stronger afterwards.
Neo Dragonoid: 400+100+200=700
Alpha Hydranoid: 600-100-200=300
Hydranoid snarled as waves of heat and embers rolled over him. "Sparks and heat. It'll take more than that."
"This battle isn't yours to win, Hydranoid", Drago declared. "I'll show you what it means to have a real partnership. Simple obedience to Alice isn't enough!"
Hydranoid slowed to a complete stop. "Is that what you think…?", he whispered, without a hint of emotion. "That I'm simply obeying? That Alice isn't a true partner…? How dare you?"
If Drago was warm-blooded, his face would have paled. Instantly, he knew he'd crossed the line and went into the no-fly zone. To put it guiltily, he'd made this battle personal. "Hydranoid, I-!"
"SAVE IT!", Hydranoid outraged. "You have NO RIGHT to mock me!" He glowered right at Drago. "Never belittle me again~!"
Alice quickly closed her gauntlet with an ability. "Ability Activate! Trident of Doom!"
Hydranoid started off his attack by charging a purple and white energy orb in each mouth, the hemisphere growing steadily in each one. Then, after several seconds of charging and enlarging the energy, the hydra fixed each head upwards to aim straight at Drago, then released the orbs.
The three orbs kept their course towards Drago's powerful flame twister, yet they didn't stay that number. Halfway to their destination, the energy orbs split apart into a total of nine orbs. Each orb was a third of the original trio, they flew ahead at a much more rapid speed.
The barrage of orbs struck the flames simultaneously, all exploding at once. The nine explosions going off at once not only wiped away all of Drago's flames within a second, but it also blew Drago backwards to the very rim of the battlefield.
Neo Dragonoid: 700-300-300=100
Alpha Hydranoid: 300+300=600
Drago groaned in pain. "The tornado was supposed to take some of that impact… how?"
"You don't understand me." Hydranoid began a slow advance towards the downed Pyrus Bakugan. "You can't understand me. Why do I battle with Alice so willingly…?"
XXX
"Before I met Alice, I was nothing. Less than nothing."
'It all started a long time ago, back from before Dr. Michael had his infamous accident with his original Dimension Transporter system. Back before the Bakugan were accidentally introduced to humanity.
Back in that time, Vestroia was a dimension with six different elemental worlds: one of fire, water, windstorms, earthen caves and tunnels, and a fifth of blinding light.
But Hydranoid's story started in the sixth Attribute world: a world of all-encompassing darkness, devoid of light or any of the actual elements. To say it was a void, with nothing inside, would be inaccurate; the darkness permeating the area was somewhat corporeal.
And Hydranoid was one of the beings that thrived in that darkness.
He floated in the thick darkness, his single head glaring down at two other Bakugan. One was a smaller Bakugan that resembled a winged goblin, and the other was a serpent as long as Hydranoid, but without the legs or head horns. A Garganoid and Serpenoid, both sharing his Darkus Attribute.
"Come at us, Hydranoid!", Garganoid yelled, charging the quadrupedal dragon head first.
Hydranoid sighed simply, batting his winged opponent away with his tail. "Pathetic." His voice didn't possess any malice, or any other emotion. "Try harder."
"If you inssssisssst!", hissed the Serpenoid, who'd coiled up as Garganoid went on the attack. The serpent used his coil as a spring to jump at Hydranoid, mouth opened for Hydranoid's neck.
"Chaos… of the… DARKNESS!", Hydranoid roared. His head blasted out an orb of Darkus energy at the serpent, meeting direct force with a long range attack.
Serpenoid hissed once more, but this time in surprise. And when the orb struck him, he hissed again, but in pain. The orb transformed into a storm of electricity, surging throughout the serpentine Bakugan in a painful manner. The pain overwhelmed Serpenoid, causing him to black out. His pupils disappeared, and he let out a low hiss as he went unconscious.
Garganoid shrieked when he realized his partner was knocked out. A brief glance at Hydranoid, and he flew away at top speed.
Hydranoid looked at his remaining opponent as he flew away in desperate retreat. He knew full well that he could send it another Chaos of the Darkness to blast him down. 'I could blast him out of the sky', he thought to himself. 'But what's the point?'
This was actually a rather common occurrence. Darkus Bakugan, by nature, were more prone to battles of power and dominance against each other than the other Attributes. They constantly faced off to see who was the strongest, and even the definitive strongest wasn't safe from being challenged.
On a personal level, Hydranoid had been challenged more times than he could even remember. His peers had heard of his power, and sought to usurp him.
At first, he didn't always win, but he won far more than he lost. And, as he kept winning, he grew stronger.
When single Bakugan no longer stood a chance, Hydranoid started getting double teamed. But it didn't matter; Hydranoid won almost as easily anyway. He won so many times, he didn't even care to enjoy his battling.
Yet battle was all he knew. All he knew was attaining power and battling declared enemies. Without any enjoyment to the battle, though, it led to a great dissatisfaction with his life.
'What's the point of this?', Hydranoid wondered. 'What's the point of these constant battles? What's the point of my power? What's the point of any of this?'
To any who could hear Hydranoid's internal dilemma wouldn't doubt Hydranoid had a depression crisis. But, of course, no one would be privy to such a weakness in the Darkus world. Hydranoid was left to suffer alone.
That is, until a single human entered Vestroia. A scientist in over his head, who had no idea what was going to happen.
Breaching Vestroia's dimensional barrier had an immediate and severe reaction in all six worlds in the dimension. All over the dimension, Bakugan were drawn away from their Attribute worlds, forced through spontaneously appearing portals to an unknown destination.
And Hydranoid was no exception. He saw a large portal appear directly behind him, drawing him in like a vacuum sucks up bits of garbage.
Under the propulsion of the portal, Hydranoid was about to tense his body in resistance, until a stray thought entered his mind: 'What's the point?' He didn't struggle at all. He let the portal draw him in and force him to wherever it would take him.'
"My power burned away my drive. I had no purpose. Until I came to Earth."
'Hydranoid felt a substance around his body. It was soft, like a cushion, but as he laid there,he felt it getting more and more wet. There was another sensation, too: a prickling, uncomfortable sensation that made his body recoil instinctively.
'Cold.' The word came to him. He'd never felt cold before; the Darkus world was always a comfortable temperature. But he knew he didn't like the cold.
"Where… am I?", he wondered aloud. He knew the portal took him here, wherever he was. He just had no sense of his bearings. "Am I even in Vestroia anymore?"
He tried to stand up, take a look at his surroundings, only to find his body fighting him. He felt more stiff than ever before. A look at himself told him why. "What happened to my body?!"
His body had transformed into a largely spherical shape. His head protruded from a large neck, his tail was prominent, but his legs barely existed.
"Move, body!", he roared in frustration.
"Hello?", a female voice called out. Hydranoid couldn't see where it came from, but he could tell the voice was kind. "Is someone there? Are you hurt?"
Hydranoid growled threateningly, an instinct honed by constant ambushes in his home. That only served to help narrow down his location.
Before he knew it, he was looking at a large face in front of him. Beige in skin color, two eyes with auburn pupils, and flowing orange hair. "Did you make that sound? I thought you couldn't talk", she said, in a kind tone.
"I can speak", Hydranoid snapped. "Who are you? I've never seen a being like you."
"My name's Alice", the being introduced herself. "And honestly, before today, I've never seen a being like you, either."
"I am a Bakugan", Hydranoid proudly declared. "You can call me Hydranoid."
"It's nice to meet you, Hydranoid", Alice said with a smile.
Hydranoid paused. He was at a severe disadvantage against Alice. He knew that, in this form, he didn't stand a Pyrus Bakugan's chance in the Aquos world at fending Alice off. Yet Alice seemed only to be kind to him, and he couldn't for the life of him understand why.
"What do you want with me?", he finally asked.
If Alice was insulted by his rudeness, she didn't show it. "I guess… I want to help you. Do you need help?"
Hydranoid spent a long time trying to think of any reasons for deception, but he couldn't. There was no reason except stubbornness to refuse the offer, and he didn't care enough to employ stubbornness.
But that left the question, what did he want? 'Power', he immediately thought. 'No, that's not it. Power made my life miserable. Why do I want power?' He didn't know, but he was going to find out.
"I want a purpose", he finally said. Alice drew a confused look, so the Bakugan extrapolated. "For my whole life, all I've known was to gain power. But I want more than that. I want to know how to use power. I want meaning in my life." He forced himself to look at Alice. "Can you give me that?"
Alice regained her kind smile. "I can try." '
XXX
"The day I met Alice was the day I rediscovered my drive", Hydranoid continued, still continuing his agonizingly show advance towards Drago. "It was the day I began learning about using my power for a cause. About using my power for my friends. And Alice ranks chief among those friends. Despite everything that's happened to her mind, everything she's been through… she's always remained a loyal friend."
"Hydranoid…", Drago moaned. Then, he was covered in Hydranoid's shadow, with the Darkus Bakugan right in front of him.
"You were right before, Drago", Hydranoid stated plainly. "I am obedient. I'm a follower. I'd surrender all my principles in a moment to aid Alice." A hand wrested Drago up and curved him to meet Hydranoid at eye level. "And I don't care. That's how I want it. Because Alice's goals are my goals. Fighting for Alice is my purpose!" He squeezed his hand in Drago's neck. "Do you understand me now?!"
Drago gagged as his windpipe was strained. "Gaahhh!"
"Drago, no!", Dan yelled from the sidelines, locking in his card. "Ability Activate, now! Fire Shield!"
Drago's wings started sparking up, embers igniting into another flame attack. This time, the blaze started on Drago's wings, propelling him as he tried to counter Hydranoid at close range.
Neo Dragonoid: 100
Alpha Hydranoid: 600-200=400
Hydranoid didn't even bother with it. He just lashed out with all three heads at once. He bit down on the wings and lower neck, and hard.
Drago's pupils dilated. He couldn't manage a scream, or even a gasp. He just shrunk down to ball form and fell to Dan's feet.
Dan: 40%
"Drago!", Dan called out. Picking up his friend, he looked back at Alice. "Wasn't that a little harsh?"
"I can't afford to hold back, Dan." Alice caught the returned Hydranoid. "I thought you understood that."
Dan shook his head, clearly having trouble processing what was going on. "And what about everything Hydranoid said? He'd follow you to the ends of the universe. You want that kind of power over him?!"
"If it's how Hydranoid wants it, I'll lead as best I can." Alice drew the second Gate Card of the battle and threw it down. "You probably shouldn't insult our bond, Dan. Don't make it personal."
"This got personal the moment you threatened to steal Drago away!", Dan reacted. "I get you're conflicted, but get off your high horse!"
"Fine", Alice said. "Let's get back to it. Bakugan, brawl! Hydranoid, stand!"
Five seconds later, Hydranoid's battling form reappeared on the battlefield. Three sets of eyes flashed purple, and three mouths let out a monstrous roar in unison.
"Bakugan, brawl!" Dan threw Drago straight ahead. "Drago, stand!"
Another moment later, Drago ascended into the air, looked at Hydranoid from above, and let out his own roar. It had nothing compared to Hydranoid's ferocity, but Drago made up for it with his determined stare.
Neo Dragonoid: 400
Alpha Hydranoid: 600
"Double Ability Activate!", Dan said as he was loading the cards. When the gauntlet snapped shut, he named the abilities. "Burning Tornado, plus Burning Dragon!"
This time, no fire was generated around Drago's body. Instead, Drago glowed a harsh red for an instant, before all the energy was drawn to his mouth. Drago opened his mouth and quickly released all the power, formed into an extremely condensed fireball.
But that wasn't it. Almost as soon as Drago had unleashed the attack, the fireball exploded in midair with a brighter light than a flashbang grenade. The light dimmed as quick as it came, revealing the flames had transformed into a gigantic flame twister. The twister didn't grow or shrink in power or size, but still traveled towards Hydranoid at incredible speeds.
Neo Dragonoid: 400+200+200=800
Alpha Hydranoid: 600-200=400
"I thought I told you you'd need more than those embers!", Hydranoid taunted.
Alice closed her gauntlet, abilities locked inside. "Double Ability Activate! Indigo Nightmare, plus Chaos Leap Sting!"
Hydranoid opened all three of his heads, and flexed all six of his bulky wings. Then, two reactions began at once.
First, the dragonic mouths all began to fill up with a mix of purple and black energy, which was actually a single bicolored energy. Darkus energy filled up his mouths until they threatened to go past them, and then the energy began to condense.
Second, all six wings extended long metallic tendrils from the tips, until the tendrils were as long as the rest of the wings. At the end of each tendril was a miniature, eyeless hydra head, barely anything more than a mouth. Each mini hydra head opened their mouths and generated purple energy within.
Neo Dragonoid: 800-200=600
Alpha Hydranoid: 400+300+100=800
"They got ahead again?", Dan asked in dread.
"Get it through your heads, Drago and Dan! YOU'RE NOT OUR MATCH ANYMORE!" After saying those words, Hydranoid unleashed his power. Each head, standard or miniature, released the energy that they were holding in. The result was three blasts of dark purple and black energy shooting forward right alongside six beams of light purple energy.
Once the nine outbursts of Darkus energy met the flame tornado, the fire started to dissipate. Drago's opening salvos was blasted apart within moments.
"Are you kidding?!", Dan shrieked, quickly readying another ability. "Ability Activate! Burst Shield!"
"Good idea, Dan!", Drago called. His body began to emit flames from the front, being projected to a space in front of him. The flames quickly formed a protective dome around him, meant to shelter against the incoming attacks from Hydranoid.
"Clever, but not clever enough!" Hydranoid complimented Drago's efforts, but it was mocking in both words and tone. His eyes flashed purple as he accessed a known part of his powers. "Double Dimension!"
And from Hydranoid, a rush of wind with the lightest color of purple rushed ahead. It surpassed Hydranoid's actual attacks to strike at Drago's barrier.
"What the-?!", Drago yelled in surprise as he saw the flames around him thin. When the wind finally blew past him, it diffused the entire Burst Shield.
Drago didn't have a moment to process that, though. In the next instant, Hydranoid's barrage of energy attacks finally reached him, causing almost a dozen dark explosions all at once. "Ahh!"
"Drago!", Dan yelled. "What the heck was that, Alice? Hydranoid used an ability without your gauntlet?"
"I'm honestly surprised, myself." Though, to be truthful, Alice had seen it before. Back in her first battle with Shadow, Hydranoid fought an entire round without her input. "Hydranoid, are you okay?"
"Perfect", Hydranoid said. "Keep going, Alice!"
"Right." Alice swept her hand. "Gate Card Open! Darkus Reactor!"
As the Gate Card flashed in its activation, it sent a pulse of energy that radiated throughout the battlefield. For the first instant afterward, nothing seemed to happen.
Then, the storm clouds above began to start up once again, as if the time freeze was losing effect. The clouds turned dark purple, and instead of any rain, it shot down half a dozen purple lightning bolts.
All of the lightning bolts struck Hydranoid directly. Instead of causing pain, though, Hydranoid really absorbed them into his own body. The three headed form began to glow in power as a reaction.
Neo Dragonoid: 600
Alpha Hydranoid: 800+300=1100
"Not good. He's 500 points ahead!", Dan called. "If I lose here…"
"We won't lose", Drago assured his partner. "We're up against formidable opponents. But remember this, Dan: we've beaten them before. We can do this."
Dan took a quick, but deep breath. "Yeah. We're fine." He took an irregularly shaped Bakugan. "And this time, we don't have to fight alone! Bakugan Trap Scorpion, stand!"
The Bakugan Trap glowed bright red and landed on the ground. The shape then began a quick transformation into the multi legged creature with a scorpion tail and a back that could unfold into a satellite dish.
(Neo Dragonoid: 600, Scorpion: 350)=950
Alpha Hydranoid: 1100
"Okay. Let's try this again, alright", Dan said, locking in two abilities at once. "Double Ability Activate! Satellite Boost, plus Burning Dragon!"
To begin the combination, the plates on Scorpion's back unfolded, revealing the metallic satellite dish within. Scorpion angled his body to provide a viable angle to Hydranoid for Drago's benefit.
The lines on Drago's new wings started to light up bright orange, the most common color of fire. He opened his mouth, forming an orange fireball within it. He aimed the fireball directly downward, right at his new ally, and let the fireball fly.
Within an instant, the fireball struck Scorpion's back. Instead of exploding into a firestorm or even causing any damage, it stuck itself to the satellites attached to Scorpion. Unbelievably enough, the fireball swelled in size and increased its heart and intensity, as the satellites enhanced Drago's attack to its very limits.
Ready to unleash the enhanced fireball, Scorpion sent out bursts of flames at Hydranoid. Flame meteors shot out of the larger fireball, slowly reducing its size with forming it into a barrage of smaller fireballs.
(Neo Dragonoid: 600+200=800, Scorpion: 350+100=450)=1250
Alpha Hydranoid: 1100
"Dan, please! Stop fighting back!", Alice all but pleaded, loading in her next card. "I won't stop until Drago's in my hand, so please stop. Ability Activate! Death Trident!"
Hydranoid's three heads, each with an opened maw, formed an orb of condensed light purple energy, with blue lightning crackling around each one. The trio angled their heads, aiming at the veritable meteor storm from three slightly different positions. Then, Hydranoid let loose each of the orbs all at once.
(Neo Dragonoid: 800-300=500, Scorpion: 450)=950
Alpha Hydranoid: 1100
When the three Darkus orbs met against the storm of fiery meteors, the result was a series of innumerable explosions as attacks were canceled or and neutralized. The only one left was one of the Death Trident orbs, and it kept it pace towards Drago.
Except Scorpion scuttled in the path between the orb and Drago. He screeched lowly, angling his satellite against the orb.
Dan quickly got the message, loading up his next ability. "Alice, I know you won't stop until you get Drago. That's why we have to make you stop! Ability Activate! Reflection Boost!"
The orb struck Scorpion right in the satellite dish, but the vast momentum of the Death Trident orb didn't drive Scorpion back at all. Instead, it began to grow, with red energy joining the orb to make it even stronger.
(Neo Dragonoid: 500+300=800, Scorpion: 450)=1250
Alpha Hydranoid: 1100-400=700
'They'll send it back at us with increased power!', Alice realized. 'No matter what, I won't let them take Hydranoid!' "Hydranoid, keep going!", she yelled ferociously. "Ability Activate! Chaos Trident!"
Hydranoid opened his three mouths once again, focusing Darkus energy for another trio of energy orbs. But these ones were pure black in color, and far more intense than the ones from before.
(Neo Dragonoid: 800-300=500, Scorpion: 450)=950
Alpha Hydranoid: 700+300=1000
Dan sucked in a breath. "That's a powerful attack", he murmured. "But we won't stop here! Hit it, Scorpion!"
Scorpion responded with a bestial screech, and released the energy contained in his satellite. The enhanced Death Trident orb was sent straight ahead, aimed for Hydranoid's position.
"Bring it!", Hydranoid roared, unleashing all three Chaos Trident orbs at once. The three orbs matched the intensity of the incoming attack, but the orb Scorpion sent back was much larger. The four orbs collided center field, resulting in an explosion powerful enough to wipe out all four of them in an instant.
"Unbelievable", Drago said. "Even with Scorpion as my aid, Hydranoid is still keeping up with us." After saying that, Drago heard a single pulse ring throughout his body. He bent down quickly, only catching himself barely.
"Drago!", Dan yelled. "What's wrong?!"
"My body", Drago said. "I feel… weak."
"You've been fighting as hard as you could to keep pace with us", Alice said. "The problem is Drago isn't as powerful as Hydranoid. Your stamina is draining faster than ours."
"That can't be right!", Dan protested.
"But it is!", Alice said. "Dan, this battle's over. Even if you win this round, Drago can't withstand a third for long. He'll collapse, and then you're really finished."
Dan curled a fist in frustration. "No…"
"But I don't want that", Alice promised. "So I'll end it here. Bakugan Trap, Legionoid! Stand!" She threw upwards a cylindrical Bakugan, watching it land on the ground. It flashed purple, and summoned the support best it contained.
After the purple flash ended, the Bakugan standing in place was the large, six-headed serpent known as Darkus Legionoid. All six heads hissed, dark venom dripping from their mouths.
(Neo Dragonoid: 500, Scorpion: 450)=950
(Alpha Hydranoid: 1000, Legionoid: 350)=1350
"Drago, it's go time!", Dan prompted. "Get up! Please!"
"I'm… I'm okay, Dan", Drago promised, righting his stance again. "Let's do this!"
"Time to get serious, bud." Dan placed a differently styled card in his gauntlet, and the card glowed with all the possible colors. "Ability Activate! Strike Dragon!"
Drago's blue diamond began to glow multicolor, drawing power from a completely different dimension. The glow spread from the diamond to outlining Drago's form. 'Wyvern… lend me your strength!', he thought. His stamina seemed to replenish as more and more of the Perfect Core's energy poured into his body.
Hydranoid growled low as he felt the fringes of the energy. The last remnants of what made Drago the Ultimate Bakugan. He took a step back to brace himself.
But then, Drago finished charging up his attack. "You're mine, Hydranoid!", Drago roared aloud. Then, the multicolored energy spread out from his body, blasting out in an omnidirectional wave.
"No, you don't", Alice retorted, loading up three abilities at once. "I'll show you what it means to get serious. Triple Ability Activate! Trident of Doom, Infusion, plus Fusion Ability Final Demolition!"
Instantly, under the threat of the Perfect Core itself, Hydranoid and Legionoid went into action in seamless coordination.
Hydranoid started off by charging up yet another trio of energy balls in his mouths. The orbs shared the colors of Death Trident: purple and white, crackling with barely restrained energy. "Legionoid, go!"
Legionoid took the cue for what it was, rearing all six heads upwards. The mouths all opened up and started spewing out a venom with very diluted purple in color straight into the air. Then, like a geyser, the venom spattered back down on Hydranoid and Legionoid, and was absorbed into their skin.
With the ultimately beneficial toxins running through his system, Hydranoid finally put the last ability into action. His body became cloaked in a thin, dark purple hue, and the orbs all swelled in size. With mere moments before the waves of Perfect Core energy would reach him, he fired off all three at once.
When the orbs all collided with the multicolored wave, it created three large explosions. The force of the explosions was immense enough to wipe out all three of Hydranoid's orbs, but it also tore apart Drago's Perfect Core wave. The next instant was greeted by a shockwave that blasted at both sides of the field.
(Neo Dragonoid: 500-300=200, Scorpion: 450)=650
(Alpha Hydranoid: 1000+200+100=1300, Legionoid: 350+200=550)=1850
Hydranoid and Legionoid, being closer to the shockwave, found themselves affected by it quickly. Still, the power Legionoid's venom granted them allowed them to have the storm well enough.
Drago and Scorpion, despite being further away from the center of the shockwave, found thematically far more severely affected by it, blown several paces back by the wind pressure.
"Drago! Scorpion!", Dan called out, his voice growing hoarse.
"Dan, you have to stop this", Alice said. "Every time you try attacking or countering us is only hurting and exhausting your Bakugan. Please! I don't want to have to beat Drago past the point of exhaustion!"
"Well, that's what you'll have to do", Dan replied. "And we're not out yet! Drago, get up!"
Drago gasped and almost collapsed again. Still, he somehow stayed on his feet. "That took a lot out of me, Dan. We need to end this, now!"
"Okay." Dan cautiously loaded up three abilities. He knew it was a big rush, considering how recharging Drago was, but there really wasn't a choice. "Then we've gotta pull out all the stops. We don't stand a chance otherwise! Triple Ability Activate! Burning Dragon, plus Burning Tornado, plus Fusion Ability Pyrus Slayer!"
Drago slowly got back up and straightened himself, breathing hard as his body processed the three consecutive abilities. His body started glowing bright red, the crimson glow shining almost as brightly as Drago's Strike Dragon. For a brief instant, Drago's body became encased in a large fireball, before the flames were directed and absorbed back into Drago's body.
Drago raised his wings as high as he could, and a fire tornado larger than any previous rose up. The tornado continued to rise, its power and height climbing higher than anything Drago had accomplished previously on that day.
The flames rose high in the air and raged mercilessly, emitting a wave of heat that kept Hydranoid and Legionoid at bay. At the top of the tornado, a dragonic shape soared out, covered in flames. The flame-wreathed Drago shot into the clouds, and the heat he gave off parted the clouds all on its own.
(Neo Dragonoid: 200+200+200+300=900, Scorpion: 450)=1350
(Alpha Hydranoid: 1300-200-100=1000, Legionoid: 550)=1550
Alice sighed in disappointment. "So this is how it'll end, huh?" In truth, every time she asked Dan to stand down, she wasn't just looking for an easy win. She really didn't want to hurt a friend. But Dan's refusal to give in, coupled by her own need to capture Drago, made it a necessity.
But that didn't mean she had to like going all out. She'd won the battle, whatever it took, despite how guilty she'd feel over it.
"Come on, Drago", Dan projected. "This is our last shot! Let's go!"
Drago let out a loud roar that was plainly heard, despite his fiery cloak that was muffling it. "RRROOOAAAHHH!"He flapped his wings once, and began flying back down towards Hydranoid in an offensive charge.
"Even if you did choose the gap with that last attack, it wouldn't matter", Alice said. "I'll stop this last attack and end it here. Dan, this is over. Double Ability Activate! Corrosion-!"
Legionoid, after hearing the card, began shining his many heads for the enemy. Four out of six aimed at the incoming Drago, and the other two for the stationary Scorpion. Each serpent head opened wide, unhinging their jaws in the process, and spewed out streams of dark purple venom.
Drago saw the venom coming, and tried to fly out of the way. However, he was too close, and got doused regardless. When the venom reached Drago, the fire cloaking his body was extinguished on contact with the dense liquids.
The other effect was shared by both Drago and Scorpion. When the venom made direct contact with their bodies, the skin absorbed the venom wherever the contact was made, and it was a very painful process. Scorpion resisted the venom wordlessly, incapable of giving words, but Drago expressed the sensation for both of them.
"My body! It's burning! Gah!", Drago cried out. It took all his self control to avoid writhing in pain. Still, he backed off from his offensive charge, with his flames entirely doused.
(Neo Dragonoid: 900-200=700, Scorpion: 450-200=250)=950
(Alpha Hydranoid: 1000, Legionoid: 550)=1550
"Hydranoid!", Alice called, her eyes tearing up as she saw Drago in agony. She hated causing that pain, but it was only easy to bring a decisive end to this battle. 'Please, let this be enough.' "Chaos Trident!"
Hydranoid left his mouths open, focusing his energy within each one. Within moments, three more black energy orbs formed in those mouths, all of them aimed at Drago.
(Neo Dragonoid: 700-300=400, Scorpion: 250)=650
(Alpha Hydranoid: 1000+300=1300, Legionoid: 550)=1850
"Hold", Alice requested, and Hydranoid held off on unleashing the Chaos Trident. "Dan, last chance. Surrender."
"And why would we do that?", Dan demanded. Despite his bravado, though, he was very worried about the situation.
"Drago's in no position to dodge this attack", Alice said. "And even if you can nullify it, we'll still be more than 500 points ahead." She raised her right hand, ready to snap her fingers and give Hydranoid the attack signal. "I don't want to hurt Drago any more than you want Drago hurt. Just give up, and we can avoid the finishing bow altogether."
"Give up without a fight?", Dan asked.
"I wouldn't call this, 'without a fight' ", Alice noted. "You fought with everything you had, but you're beaten. Just recognize that you've lost. It's over."
Dan didn't give a response, but he didn't need to. In front of him, Drago stood at full height once again. His body still had scorch marks from Hydranoid's energy blasts, and the venom was still coursing its way through his body. In short, his temporary body was pushed further to the brink than ever before. But he kept himself upright.
"You're wrong, Alice", Drago declared. The diamond in his chest began to glow multicolor again, as did his eyes. "Nothing's over!"
"Drago…", Dan stood in awe. His awe only increased when he saw a new Perfect Core ability materialize in front of him.
Alice's eyes widened when she perceived the new ability. 'I wasn't decisive enough', she realized, cursing herself. 'I just pushed Drago to deepen his connection to the Perfect Core!'
Dan smirked after reading the new card's description, and loaded it in with a standard card. "Time to turn this around. Double Ability Activate! Satellite Impact…!"
Scorpion was silent in reaction, but his back unfolded to reveal the satellite dish. The satellite was already reflecting the small bits of Perfect Core light Drago was emitting, even before the ability unleashed it.
Dan smirked as he named the second card. "... plus, Dragon Contender!"
The Perfect Core glow that was lightly emanating from Drago intensified into a harsh light, like Drago was a direct extension of the Perfect Core itself. The energy didn't release in waves, instead remaining within Drago's body, but the light shone in all directions.
Scorpion's satellite picked up some of the light, and with a screech, the Trap Bakugan sent it back to Drago. That served to make the Perfect Core energy more intense as a reaction.
Drago heaved heavily. While the new ability did grant him a lot of power, it didn't replenish his stamina at all. His body was still aching, and he could still feel the aftereffects of Legionoid's venom. He was almost entirely running on fumes. This was likely his true last chance to turn the tide. But still, he pressed on.
Hydranoid kept his composure, yet his leftmost set of eyes glanced at his battler. "Alice… now?"
"Yes, now!", Alice called back.
Hydranoid then, finally, released the three Chaos Trident orbs. The trio of black orbs went uncontested, all the way to Drago. When they struck Drago's body, they all exploded at once.
When the black energy was fully expended, though, Drago was still in the same position. The Perfect Core glow wasn't diminished at all.
Hydranoid snarled low. "I see."
The multicolored glow on Drago's body suddenly lit up, and multicolored flames ignited all over his body. He got back in the air and flew straight at his opponent. "HYDRANOID~!"
(Neo Dragonoid: 400+600=1000, Scorpion: 250+100=350)=1350
(Alpha Hydranoid: 1300-700=600, Legionoid: 550-200=350)=950
"I'm back at base level?", Alice said. "Drago wiped out 900 points from our power level and raised his own by 600. That's an amazing ability."
"You're through, Alice!", Dan yelled, fueled by adrenaline and sensing an end to the battle. "No one touches Drago but me!"
"You're wrong on both accounts", Alice countered, leading in a single card. "I was honestly hoping I didn't need this card, but you proved me wrong. The Perfect Core won't save you from this! Ability Activate! Merge Shield!"
Dan gasped as he heard Hydranoid's most powerful card announced. "No…"
Hydranoid's six eyes all flashed bright purple. "Yes…." He breathed in deep with all three heads, drawing in a large amount of the power generated by the long round. Even some sparks of Drago's Perfect Core blaze entered his mouth. As the energy went into his body, Hydranoid almost immediately expended it into a thick aura of black and purple Darkus energy.
Then, Drago collided head on with Hydranoid. The collision sent Perfect Core energy, along with Darkus energy, in all directions. Most of the energy shot upwards in a wide blast of power, and it kept going until it was over.
But when it was over,Hydranoid still had plenty of dark energy engulfing him, and it was only increasing with every passing second. Drago, however, was completely spent, and it was only Hydranoid's grip on him that kept him off his knees.
(Neo Dragonoid: 1000, Scorpion: 350)=1350
(Alpha Hydranoid: 600+2100=2700, Legionoid: 350)=3050
"Drago…." Dan's call went by deaf ears. Drago was unresponsive within Hydranoid's grasp. "Drago… Drago!"
"Dan…", Drago said hoarsely, finally hearing Dan the third time.
"I'm ending this here", Hydranoid declared. "No more chances." The dark aura surrounding him began to intensify even more. Dark energy began circulating around the hydra, forming a large twister. And Drago was on the fringes of the energy storm.
"Hydranoid, hold on!", Alice forewarned. "Don't go overboard!"
"It's the only way to be sure!", Hydranoid roared back. "We've seen how resistant they are. This is our best chance!"
"But I…." Words failed Alice. 'I don't want to lose you.' Still, she knew Hydranoid was right. "Just do it quickly."
"As you wish", Hydranoid replied. The tornado around him became thicker, so much so that it shrouded Hydranoid even from view.
Drago would've screamed in pain, but his vice was too hoarse. His was caught at the very edge of Hydranoid's entry storm, meaning the part it was most intense. He tried to wrestle himself out, but Hydranoid's grip was ironclad.
Scorpion didn't last nearly as long. He was far away from the storm's epicenter, but he went down first. With his body glowing red, he shrunk down to ball form.
And, like that was the agreed on signal, Drago followed suit. His body finally shrunk down to ball form and shot to Scorpion's side: in Alice's hand.
Dan: 0%
"Alright, that's enough!", Alice called over to Hydranoid. "Shut it down!"
Accepting the battle was over, Hydranoid started to pull the brakes on his power storm. And that put more strain on his body than keeping up the outburst.
"I… I can do this…", Hydranoid said, heaving between words. "I won't be… beaten… by my own power. Not today! Not like this!"
It was a slow and difficult process, but eventually, the storm receded to an intense aura, and even that was diffused to fully reveal Hydranoid's body. Hydranoid sighed in relief. "It's done."
Only then, did Hydranoid and Legionoid revert to ball form and shoot to Alice's hand.
Alice exhaled the breath she'd been keeping in. "At least it's over."
All around them, time began training. The storm clouds that were overhead had been blown away by the intense energy surges of the battle, but the end was still blowing. Not that either of them noticed it at this point.
Dan's arms fell slack to his sides. His mouth remained gaping open. "No… it can't be."
Seeing the look of blooming horror on Dan's face struck a chord in Alice. She flung a red Bakugan across the field, which Dan caught immediately.
Dan opened his palm, hoping beyond hope, but only saw Scorpion in his palm.
Despair overtook him again. He knew that Alice only needed Drago; of course she'd return the Bakugan she didn't need. The kindness only made this act more painful. "Please… don't do this."
"I don't have a choice", Alice said, tears running down her face. "I really am sorry, Dan."
"Don't be!", Dan snapped, making Alice flinch. "Your sorrow is only making it worse! So stop being sorry! It would be easier if you didn't care! Be a monster I can hate without feeling guilty about it!"
Alice shook her head. "I can only be me." She took her communicator and dialed in a number. In an instant, the other end picked up.
"Well?", Gus Grav spoke through the communication.
"I have him", Alice said despondently. "You can transport me back now."
"Good girl", Gus said tauntingly. "Do you want a bone?"
"Don't push it", Alice warned.
Gus chuckled on the other end. "Just ruffling your feathers a bit. I've been in close quarters with Lync too long." He grinned wide. "Portal's open. See you soon." The screen faded to static, meaning he hung up.
A portal opened up behind Alice. Without saying another word, Alice turned toward the portal and began walking through it.
Dan watched Alice disappear into the wormhole, his face twisted in rage and despair. He didn't say another word until Alice was gone, and the portal disappeared with her.
XXX
On the other side of the portal, Alice walked methodically into Gehabich labs. The Vexos on Earth stood to greet her.
Spectra seemed interested, studying Alice with great scrutiny. "You're alone. No tricks. Good."
"You were expecting tricks?", Alice asked.
"You weren't gone nearly long enough to fight a long battle", Spectra said. "I assume Drago wasn't much trouble, then?"
Alice was confused for a moment. The battle wasn't quick at all, and Drago was certainly a powerful opponent. Then she remembered what happened after she and Dan loaded their gauntlets.
"That's not it", Alice explained. "Battling on Earth happens during a time freeze. My battle with Dan took less than a second for you."
"Ah. That explains it." Spectra nodded in understanding. "Alright. Let's see him."
Slowly, and deliberately, Alice showed Drago in her right hand. Drago was unresponsive in ball form, obviously exhausted. "He took a bit of a beating."
"I expected nothing less", Spectra said. "Gus, the scientist."
Gus nodded obediently, retrieving Dr. Michael without a complaint. Gus held the professor's arms behind his back.
"Alice", Michael said, looking his granddaughter in the eye. "You don't have to do this. Not for me."
Alice met Michael's gaze, only to see complete honesty. From what Alice could tell, Michael had no fear of death. But Alice feared Michael's passing. "Yes, I do."
'I have to stop this', Michael thought to himself. 'And I can do it. I just need to tell her I'm dying.' He opened his mouth to tell her. But, seeing how desperate Alice was, the words wouldn't form. He just exhaled without a sound.
Alice walked forward, the hand holding strip outstretched. Gus walked forward, pushing Michael along. In an instant, the two traded hostages. Gus pushed Michael into Alice's grasp in the same instant that Alice handed Drago to Gus. The two backed up from each other.
"It's okay", Alice whispered. "It's okay. You're safe."
"At what cost?", Michael wondered. "At what cost?"
"The cost of letting me win", Spectra answered. "I thank you for your assistance, Alice. You can go now."
Alice backed herself and her grandfather up, not turning their backs to the Vexos. "You don't mind if we use the cabin." It wasn't a question.
Spectra shrugged. "Suit yourself. Just don't come inside the lab."
"Bye, Alice!", Lync jeered. "See you later!"
At that point, the two Gehabich finally left the laboratory entrance. Only then, did they turn around and rush away.
As she guided her guardian to the cabin, Alice felt throughout her pocket. "I know you're disappointed in me Leonidas, but I had to do this." But something was strange; she didn't feel the ball in her pocket. Frowning, Alice tried again. "Leonidas? Is this still the silent treatment?" More feeling around the pocket, but Leonidas wasn't silent. He was…
"Leonidas?", Hydranoid asked, his voice strained after such intense battling.
"He's gone!", Alice realized. It was at that moment she realized just how much Leonidas disapproved of her decision. She finally understood another consequence of taking Drago away, far too late to change her choice.
"Alice?", Michael asked.
"I lost more than I realized, Grandfather", Alice said. Tears began falling freely down her face. She won today's battle, but lost far too much to be worth it.
XXX
After losing the battle against Alice, Dan began a slow pace back home. All the energy and rage he'd worked up strained out of him the moment Alice had left Wardington City with Drago. All that was left was… emptiness.
"Drago… I'm sorry", he muttered. "I fought as hard as I could, but… I failed. I wasn't good enough." He bowed his head. "I'm so ashamed. And I can't even fight to win you back. I can't win a battle with Scorpion alone."
"You don't have to", came a voice Dan knew. It sounded from his jacket pocket.
Dan's hand shot into his pocket, drawing Leonidas. "What?! What are you doing here?"
"I'm here because Alice refused to listen to me", Leonidas growled. "I was against battling you from the beginning, and she ignored me. I'm here because I've got my eye on the bigger picture."
"Really?", Dan asked. "And why would I believe you?"
"There's a reason Alice relied entirely on Hydranoid", Leonidas said. "It's because I refused to be a part of that battle." He lowered his head. "I promise you that, if you let me, I'll battle with you until we reclaim Drago."
Dan considered the offer. On one hand, he was convinced Leonidas was sincere, and this wasn't a trick to sabotage him. On the other, Darkus Bakugan weren't really his forte… but considering the circumstances, he couldn't be picky.
"Thank you", Dan said gratefully. He gave Leonidas a grin. "We'll battle Spectra together."
"That's the plan", Leonidas said. Leaving Alice wasn't as easy a decision as he made it out to be. It hurt a lot to leave Hydranoid behind, but Leonidas knew that Hydranoid wouldn't leave Alice. And if Leonidas picked the easy route over the right one, he'd be in no position to criticize Alice. This was the right thing to do, so it was the thing he had to do. "Here's to a successful temporary partnership."
"Agreed." With that, Dan began to feel hope again. The situation wasn't unsalvageable. He could still rescue Drago.
There was still a chance.
XXX
And that's the chapter. I hope you enjoyed! If you did, be sure to follow or favorite the story. If you want to say anything, feel free to leave a review or PM me. Before I go, responses:
Enigmus-288: By all means, what's the question?
Alice Gehabich: did this suffice?
SkylanderZilla: No spoilers beyond this, but the remaster's version of Hades is going to have a lot more impact.
Until next time, goodbye!