Underworld Tournament...


The battle had already started. Just as Ruri and Valkyrie did, Ken and Ranger backed from the start and chose a good hiding spot. Though instead of waiting for them to come, he actually targeted them from far away, taking down as many LBXs as he could.

Ken: " I don't like giving them a chance to come at me."

Ban: " I see, so he is basically reducing their number, targeting the strongest from the start while they're engaged in battles."

Ruri: " that's Nii-san's style. He knows they will be a pain for him later. But..."

Ranger had to duck down when an Assassin aimed at him, nearly avoiding the bullet.

Ruri: " even though his bow is considered a long range weapon, it can't actually reach the speed of a bullet or its range."

Unicorn: " which means he can't fight against opponents who are aiming at him from a far away place."

Ken: " tsk, I've been relaying on the Vaccine program for so long I forgot that."

Odin: " so the vaccine program boosted the range and speed of the bow, I see now. But when it comes to the normal battle..."

Ban: " snipers will be such a trouble for him."

Assassin aimed at him again but he ducked, so the bullet merely scratched the wall he was hiding behind.

Ban: " so what are you going to do in this situation, Ken?"

The bluenette narrowed his eyes and typed on his CCM.

Ranger appeared from behind the wall and shot at the Assassin.

" It's futile boy! Your arrows won't reach me!"

The arrow truly faded, but only to reveal another energy arrow on its trail and actually pierced through the LBX's head, destroying it.

" Im... Impossible..."

Ban had his eyes full open in excitement.

Ban: " Amazing, he shot two arrows in a row!"

Odin: " the first one quickly faded, but as it already opened the way for the second one it was able to extend its range."

Valkyrie: " Ken is really awesome."

Ken: " now let's finish it! Hissatsu Function!"

" Attack Function: Sagitta Rain!"

As he launched the arrows, they split midair above the left LBXs that were fighting each other and finished them off.

MC: " the match is over. Winner, Reizetsu Ken."

Another roar of cheering filled the dungeon. Ken walked out of the arena and headed up to the others. He exchanged a high five with his sister as soon as he reached there.

Ban: " that was a clever move."

Odin: " you made me long to battle you one day."

Ken: " maybe we can have a round in Artemis."

" Waaaah!"

Another round of cheering roared through the air as the MC announced the name of the winner of the following match.

MC : " now with no more people to enter, we shall begin the final battle."

The lights faded slightly around the dungeon while only one spot was focused on above them. There was someone sitting on a chair, he had watched all the battles carefully and a smirk was drawn on his face.

" Very thrilling."

He stood up, flickering his purple earring. The huge muscular form of the man was obvious to them. He had blond hair with turquoise green bang that was combed up. He had red eyes and was wearing purple earrings. He was wearing a black bodysuit that was revealing his right arm which had a purple tattoo on it, a green pauldron attached with a purple strap and green gauntlets with purple markings. He tied a red piece of cloth around his waist and had a scarf of fur wrapped around his neck.

" Krutz Baratier!"

" Man! He is so awesome no matter how many times you look at him!"

" I heard he was the first Artemis' champion, but because he never found a strong opponent there he decided on holding underground battles to find them."

Ban: " the first Artemis' champion?"

The brunette couldn't hold the excitement welling up within him.

Krutz' smirk widened slightly.

Krutz: " I have to admit that this years participants kind of fired me a lot. It's been a while since I had this etching to enter a battle."

His eyes wandered through the finalists.

Kurtz: " thus I decided to take a place in the final round."

The crowds cheered but most of the finalists merely swallowed on their salvia.

Kurtz: " the rule is no rules. Do whatever you like to entertain me. You have an hour to prepare yourselves. But you have to know, that once you step in the arena and you lose, your LBX is mine."

They could swear the roars of the crowd could be heard from the main street. Ruri and Ken narrowed their eyes as they were sure they were on for a rough fight. Soon they sat along Ban and Lilyan on a table and Ruri started dowing maintenance on their LBXs while Ken was looking around at the other finalists who were getting ready.

Ken: " counting Krutz we will be a total of nine. It will be a hard battle."

Ruri: " we're going to team up at first so we can expend our opportunities."

Lilyan: " the problem is you don't have much information on the other finalists or their fighting styles."

Valkyrie: " don't worry, Ruri can figure that out from the first minutes."

Ken: " but Ban-san, don't you know anything about this Krutz?"

Ban shook his head.

Ban: " other than he is the first ever Artemis winner, I never really had the chance to watch Artemis back then, I don't know anything about him."

Unicorn: " seeing that he never participated in official tournaments, he is not known to the world."

Ruri: " we have to be careful of him. For the meantime we should keep our distance, maybe the other finalists can finish him off together."

Ranger: " by the look of it they were worried of him. Mostly they will try and finish him in one attack."

Ken: " then we shall oversee the outcome and then decide whether or not we help them."

Ruri nodded in agreement...


The siren sounded again and the doors of the cage closed on the nine battlers.

Ban and Lilyan watched tentatively as all the players launched their LBXs.

Ken: " Ranger!"

Ruri: " Valkyrie!"

Gatou: " Ganymede!"

Odin: " he changed his LBX?"

Unicorn: " seems like he believes that he can't defeat that Krutz Baratier with his Buld."

Krutz: " Chain G-Rex!"

All the LBXs landed on the platform of the volcano.

Ken: " a custom G-Rex?"

Ruri inspected the turquoise robot carefully.

Ruri: " it's equiped with knuckles as a weapon, I think he has a close range style."

Kurtz flickered his right earring and smirked.

" Battle Start!"

Just as predicted, all LBXs launched off towards Kurtz' unit, the male merely smirking excitedly.

G-Rex started jumping, shifting its weight from one foot to another while holding its hands close to its head. As the other LBXs attacked, it didn't find any trouble swiftly dodging their attacks with minimum moves, spinning around and side stepping. Eventually G-Rex managed to get closer to them and started landing its punches around, destroying each LBX with one punch on the head or the chest before backing while still jumping.

Ruri: " this moves..."

Ban narrowed his eyes.

Ban: " I see, he is using a boxing style."

Lilyan: " on top of that this power, and accuracy..."

Odin: " he is really strong..."

It was merely a minute before most of the LBXs were wiped out, leaving only G-Rex, Valkyrie, Ranger and Ganymede.

Gatou: " a fearsome power as the rumors say. But that won't hold me back. It's all or nothing."

He typed a command on his CCM and the LBX's visors glimmered in red as it was enveloped by a certain red color. Just at that moment, Ban and the others' CCMs started buzzing.

Ruri: " Nii-san! This is..."

Ken: " I know!"

Krutz: " this is..."

He squinted at the LBX at the other end, holding both its guns up.

Gatou: " you said everything is allowed, right? Then I'm allowed to use the power up code!"

He said laughing mockingly while shooting everywhere around. The vines on Krutz' forehead twitched.

Krutz: " what? You little-"

G-Rex dashed forward towards the other LBX.

Ken: " wait!"

Krutz: " you dare to use a cheating code against me!"

Gatou: " that's the rule! No rules! You can use whatever you want!"

He shot at G-Rex which held up its arms in defense. The thick metal of the knuckles deflecting the bullets.

Krutz: " damn you! You're allowed to use anything as long as you use your own power! I can't accept such a humiliation!"

G-Rex hit the ground and the whole field's floor cracked. Lava shot out of the cracks, Ruri and Ken barely managing to pull their LBXs to safety.

Valkyrie and Ranger's eyes lit up as the AIs were transferred to the LBXs.

Ranger: " the situation changed now!"

Valkyrie: " our priority is to destroy that LBX!"

They rushed forward.

Gatou: " No use!"

A strong stream of red covered Ganymede, making it difficult to reach to it.

Ranger tried to shoot his arrows but they were deflected and send to fly away by the strong storm.

Ruri: " Krutz-san, please get away from it!"

Krutz: " huh!"

Ranger: " this thing is dangerous! If he is to lose control now!"

Krutz ignored his curiosity about the talking LBX.

Krutz: " are you telling me to run away? Don't look down on me!"

The chains that were wrapped around G-Rex's arms were detached. The green LBX grabbed them tightly and swayed them around before lushing them at Ganymede with all its power. The heavy metallic chains manged to cut their way through the stream of energy and grabbed the other unit.

Krutz: " got you!"

Gatou: " not that easily!"

The tank like robot whirled around itself with such a high speed that it dragged G-Rex around, making it fly.

Krutz: " Damn you!"

His LBX was still grabbing tightly to the chains.

Valkyrie: " Ruri!"

Ruri: " Hissatsu Function!"

" Attack Function: Light Spear!"

Valkyrie held her spear, gathering energy within it before launching them in the form of light beam at the infected LBX.

It was hit and it fell down, G-Rex landed on the ground, still grabbing the chains tightly.

Gatou: " Damn it!"

He tried moving his LBX but it couldn't.

Ranger: " let's finish it off!"

At that moment, Ganymede's eyes sparkled as its boosters were activated flying it up. G-Rex grabbed tightly the chains, trying to keep it from leaving the Diorama.

Krutz: " what are you trying to do!"

Gatou: " it's not me! I can't control it! I swear!"

Seeing the panicked look on his face was enough to convince them he was saying the truth.

Ken: " Tsk! It started!"

Ranger tried to shoot the unit but it dodged his arrows.

Ruri: " can't we put it still!"

Krutz: " leave that to me! Activate Wild Mode!"

" Wild mode!"

The green LBX was coated in a green aura while the screen of Krutz' CCM enlarged.

G-Rex pulled the chains, pulling the rampaging unit with them until it was close to it.

Krutz: " Hissatsu Function!"

" Attack Function: Thunder Attack!"

The green robot gathered energy in its fists as they were covered with green thunder before it launched forward, punching the rampaging unit multiple times.

Ganymede fell on the ground after that, but it was still trying to get up.

Valkyrie: " Ruri! Ken! Now!"

Ruri&Ken: " Hissatsu Function!"

" Attack Function: Trident!"

" Attack Function: Flame Vortex!"

Both their attack functions hit the other robot directly and caused it to explode, shaking the whole diorama.

Ken and Ruri let out a breath of relief at the sight of the unit scattered around.

Ken: " that was close."

Krutz glanced over at them and their intriguing LBXs.

Krutz: " who are you both?"

Ken and Ruri blinked and looked at each other before exchanging smiles and looking back at Krutz.

Ken: " we're two LBX players who came to defeat you and gain entrance to Artemis."

Krutz merely smirked and flickered his earring again.

Krutz: " very well! Come at me!"

As both AIs backed to their players CCMs, Ruri commanded Valkyrie to attack, dashing forward in a high speed while pointing her spear at her opponent. But G-Rex span around, grabbed her spear as she passed it and threw her away.

At that, Ranger used that instant to shoot at it but the robot quickly jumped back and avoided his arrows. Valkyrie dashed again but it jumped even back and landed on a high land.

Krutz: " not bad. Hissatsu Function!"

" Attack Function: Bolt Attack!"

G-Rex gathered the energy that was surrounding it in its head and jumped up, aiming to bunt Valkyrie.

Ruri quickly typed on her CCM and she hardly managed to get back, eventually she was knocked by the air force caused by the other robot hitting the ground.

Ken: " he is strong! We won't be able to win against him like this!"

Ruri thought for a moment before she spoke calmly.

Ruri: " I have a plan."

Krutz rose an eyebrow as he saw the two siblings whispering before they backed.

Krutz: " are you trying to hide? What effect will that have for you?"

Ken and Ruri were focusing on their screens.

Lilyan: " it seems they have a plan."

She pointed out once she noticed the air around them changed.

Odin: " their opponent managed to hold still in front of an infected LBX, I'm sure they understand how strong he is."

G-Rex was looking around, waiting for a small movement from its opponent.

Not long after, an arrow was shot at it but it defected it easily with its hand.

Krutz: " found you, archer!"

G-Rex ran off to the direction the arrow came from only to be ambushed by Valkyrie who dashed forward, pushing the tip of her spear ahead of her, aiming for the torso.

G-Rex easily evaded and at the same time landed a hit using its tail at Valkyrie, pushing her back.

Krutz: " was your plan a surprise attack, it's nothing at all."

G-Rex started throwing punches at her, but Valkyrie swiftly dodged them, merely getting a few scratches while trying to keep distance between them.

Krutz narrowed his eyes at her pattern before stopping his attack.

Krutz: " hold on..."

A little further behind Valkyrie, he can see the flowing river of lava, glowing in orange, and he smirked.

Krutz: " I see, you were trying to lure me to the river so your brother could push me down, right."

Ruri: " you saw through our plan, really clever. But..."

She wore a smirk on her face.

Ruri: " you're already within the range!"

Krutz: " What!"

Ranger landed a few feet behind G-Rex, holding a great axe.

Krutz: " that weapon..."

Ken: " thanks Ruri, I had already build the C gage."

Krutz' eyes widened at that.

Krutz: " when?..."

Ken: " Hissatsu Function!"

" Attack Function: Earthquake!"

Ranger hit the ground with the axe hardly multiple time, causing it to crack beneath G-Rex's feet. Valkyrie's agility allowed her to make her way of the danger zone in time before the ground fell and the LBX was thrown in the Lava beneath it.

The crowd roared at that while Krutz had his eyes wide open at what happened. Ruri and Ken exchanged high fives.

Ban: " while Ken retrieved the axe from one of the fallen LBX and build up the C gage to be able to use a Hissatsu Function, Ruri was holding G-Rex back. Not a bad plan."

He said with an eager smile. It doesn't need a genius for one to get that he was really looking forward to a battle with them.

Lilyan: " but, what about that arrow?"

She enquired inclining her head curiously.

Odin: " Valkyrie fired it."

Ban: " that way, Krutz though Ken was up somewhere ready to back up his sister."

Krutz chuckled exotically.

Krutz: " I see your plan now, to think I've lost to two kids, Man!"

He looked at them and his smirk widened.

Krutz: " seems there really are strong LBX players up there."

Ken: " there are LBX players more stronger than us."

Krutz: " is that so? I will see that for myself, but now..."

Ken and Ruri exchanged serious and detemrined looks.

Ruri: " it's time, Nii-san..."

Ken: " ... to decide the winner of this tournament."

Krutz backed of the Diorama, giving his spot to Ken so he was facing his sister. Ranger had retrieved his bow and was facing Valkyrie. A few moments of silence passed by and no one moved yet. The siblings merely staring at each other.

Finally their eyes twitched as they made the first move.

Valkyrie darted forward. Ranger quickly moved to the side to dodge her coming attack while shooting her.

She halted and jumped up, avoiding his arrows. Pointing down at him she aimed for an opening. Ken tried to stop her midair but she reflected his arrows. He hardly backed, the tip of her spear passing an inch from his face.

Ranger put a distance while trying to shoot the other LBX down. But Ruri was till able to dodge them easily. Valkyrie held up her lance and threw it at Ranger who jumped up to escape it and landed on a high land, pointing his arrow at Valkyrie but she was already holding a gun in her hand.

Ken: " what!"

Ruri winked.

Ruri: " who came with the idea of using other weapons littered around?"

Valkyrie shot at Ranger who quickly ran away. Ruri kept aiming at him as he ran along the rock wall.

Ken: " it's all or nothing!"

He narrowed his eyes as Ranger jumped up. Valkyrie rose the gun to shoot at him, but he poised his feet on the vlocan's rocky wall and kicked forward, launching towards her with a high speed.

Valkyrie missed him and he already landed in front of her, his bow pointed at her chest while her arm was still lifted up from when she was aiming at him up high.

Ruri: " it can't be..."

Ken smirked at her shocked expression.

Ken: " you're open, sis."

He shot one energy arrow and Valkyrie was thrown backward and broke over.

The crowd around them cheered loudly at the robot MC announcing the end of the battle.

MC: " Battle ended. Winner, Reizetsu Ken! Thus the qualification to enter Artemis is his!"

Ruri: " you've done it now."

She sighed defeatedly.

Ken: " you could have won if you reacted faster. But you thought you already had me."

Ruri: " I thought you were only jumping to dodge."

They snapped their heads to the side when Krutz approached them while clapping.

Krutz: " you've showed me an interesting battle. Congratulations, Ken. And Ruri, you were awesome till the end."

He reached beneath his red cloth and took a roll of parchment.

Krutz: " as promised, her is your Artemis invitation."

Ken accepted it thankfully from the man.

Krutz: " of course, all the LBXs that fell on the battlefield, even mine, are yours now."

Ken: " I don't need them."

Krutz blinked at his statement.

Ken: " I have one strong partner and that's enough for me."

He said looking at Ranger who was standing on his shoulder.

Krutz: " I see then."

He offered his hand and gave a smile.

Krutz: " I hope we can fight each other again, maybe on a more brighter stage than this."

Ken nodded as he shook his hand. Krutz shifted his attention to Ruri.

Krutz: " you too."

Ruri shook his hand with a bright smile.

Ruri: " I will be looking forward to our next battle, Krutz-san."

He nodded in satisfaction before they all left the arena...