From Depths We Rise

by Insane Dominator

1 year has passed since Dan and the Battle Brawlers saved the universe, and when things were serene, a new group of Bakugan players are sent to New Vestroia when a dimensional interference forces them to meet each other. Caught in the crossfire with aliens seeking resources, Luke, Abis Omega, and new friends must fight using unlikely odds if they're to save all from extinction.

18. Submerged

The room's lighting was very dark, but bright enough to where the workers in the nearby machinery could see the holographic projections in front of their faces. Those on the ground level were all protected by windows in front of the monitors in case of energy malfunctions, while the few monitoring rom the observation deck were on screens of their own. There present, Galilea and Cyrus observed behind the workers. But the most intrigued of them all was none other than the one in charge and yearned for this program, Riaan.

The recently revealed ruler and entity of the planet was watching with a calm façade over his expectant face. He was watching carefully as lights reminiscent of rainbow glistened in a massive space behind glass strong enough to defend against attacks.

"Inputting card." An announcement said. "I repeat, initiate the card fusion frequency."

Galilea turned towards Riaan to see what he had in mind, but the supreme ruler merely gave a nod of approval. She looked ahead and leaned over the desk of the head observatory manager. She pressed a button and held onto it. "Engage the card. I repeat, engage first sequence." Her voice echoed like an overhead intercom like the last announcement.

"Roger. Over." A reply came.

At the base of the dark gray podium the glass stood, a small window opened to reveal a forbidden card. A light like a sonar went across it and made a small blue grid appear over it. Behind the card, a green grid spread into the system, and a net dissipate around the window and into said base. The bottom of the base shined an illuminating neon green light, one that began to magnify into spiraling waves that mixed into the rainbow light, much like a whirlpool.

Moments later, within the turbine of multiple colors, if one saw ever so closely, they could see something that looked like an orb, a solid figment with what looked like faded black ligaments forming slowly around it.

"The first sequence has begun. I repeat, the first sequence has begun."

Cyrus turned towards Riaan. "Seems the core's reaction was successful."

"Good. Thank you all very much for all of this." Riaan smiled. "I was beginning to think at something may go wrong this early, but it was wrong of me to doubt Cesar and Lucia when they know what they're doing." He took a glistening stare down at the round core as neon green rays illuminated it thanks to the forbidden card's effect. "Soon, my dear child. Very so soon…"

A small beep was being heard beside Galilea's ear, getting her attention. Cyrus watched over as she tapped her finger against her earpiece. "Yes? What is it, Lucia?"

On the other end, a fair voice could be heard. "Miss Vergo, I'm sorry for the intrusion, but my foretelling has come to pass."

"So, then it looks like sir Riaan's absence was explained." She looked towards Riaan, seeing how intrigued he was at the project. She turned away again. "I'm sorry, Lucia, but is this why you spoke to me?"

"Yes. Do pardon my candor. I understand this timing may have come abrupt."

"It's all well. Shall I pass on a message?"

"If you can. Explain to sir Riaan that the next phase has come. Their divergence has cometh."

"Alright, thank you, Lucia." She moved her finger away from her earpiece, which turned off the communication. The look on her face didn't change, but it was even to hint to Cyrus what was transpiring.

"I take it the humans foreseen finally have been severed?"

"Yes, they have." She answered. "First, she foretold the destruction of Thermosphere, and now her new prophecy has come. And now we move according to that. Sir Riaan…"

"I know." He said, turned away from his top two supervisors. "Lucia told me this beforehand. Have myself on a broadcast in fifteen minutes. Cyrus, you have Zion preapprove a level 3 class defense protocol."

"Consider it done."

"And to all of Hades Pillars and Rogue Zero, assemble in the union chamber. The announcement shall be made there. Dismissed." With a snap of his fingers, he teleported himself away from the observation room, leaving Galilea and Cyrus to be.

"He sure seems to be excited all of a sudden." Cyrus commented half-heartedly. "You think he feels any distress from deceiving his human tool?"

"That's not in our place to judge our master's actions." Galilea argued. "Every action has an equal and opposite reaction. I'm sure he knows the right thing is being done." She turned away, making way to the exit in the form of sliding door sideways; her massive hips swaying. "Hurry up."

Cyrus followed, the door sliding to a shut behind.

---

A short while passed, and around the streets and the many of the billboards across Solaris, as well as around the many screenings available throughout the decrepit world, the very few showings were being shorthanded with signs, saying "BREAKING NEWS". A lot of people stopped what they were doing and looked at whatever screens available to see the monitors change to a showing of Riaan.

"Huh? What's going on?" A random citizen inquired.

The many of people looking up and available were beginning to wonder and question the face of Riaan, and soon enough, said projection began to speak.

"To anyone who may be watching anything at this time, I implore you, for just a few moments, please, I wish for your audience." Riaan spoke passively, much like he did at the gathering a couple days prior.

The many people talking and questioning fell silent as they began to indulge themselves in their leader's words.

"I am sure that this gravest of news had struck your ears at some point, but if not, I will renunciate what happened just recently. For those who have not been warned of this, there has been a calamity that has been struck upon us. A grave loss has fell upon us to this day, and I offer my sincerest of condolences." Before he continued, he bowed his head to the screen. "Everyone, what you are about to see is the direct result of what is known as self-destruction, what was meant to be the last thing I wish for any of us to endure."

The screen thus turned to an overseeing view of Thermosphere before it was destroyed. It was seen engulfed in Devil Miasma, and a lot of images showed the ground breaking apart and many citizens dying as they fell through cracks. The destruction of Thermosphere was showing, and everyone looking was either silent or had petrified looks of shock.

"My god…" one gasped.

The images were shortened to a small panel off to the side as Riaan continued with a frown. "It is with a heavy heart that I now say that this tragedy has brought onto us even more guilt for what our planet has become. It s because of my ill diligence that I failed to allow the core of that city to hold up its very pillar it stood for. Its power was finite, sure, but to allow something weakened to where it was put down in a state of misery like self-destruction…I, your leader, owe myself to blame and carry. To the lives of every Thermosphere resident lost on this day, I can offer nothing more than my shame." In a show of modesty and regret, Riaan fell to his knees and sat his hands in front. He bent over and bowed his head to his people. "This is all my fault. I commit myself to this mantle of shame. I let this happen, that I admit."

The many people looked up at Riaan with confused looks, though some were pitying the man. Some believed he was being a kiss-up, but it didn't change the images that showed Thermosphere and many perishing. Seeing the whole domain sink into the ground was painful enough to watch.

Riaan stood back up once more. "I pray for the lives that let me slip from this land. They may have suffered, but at least now that they may rest hopefully in a much safer place. This is, and will be, the last of my negligence. But offering apology to the dead does nothing to solve their demises. I understand that some of you may have had relatives and loved ones in that city at the time, and that their lives now rest upon my own. I cannot bring them back, and I also understand that this hinders my perspective with all of you. Make no mistake, as I have said before, this will be my negligence's rest as well. Due to the core's lack of security I had at the time, I instate for any and all personnel to remain in their cities and sanctuaries. No one is permitted to leave their cities until it is absolutely necessary. As such, my fellow head engineer will be activating the shields to make sure that the leveling of the outer lands does not hamper anymore ground level civilians."

Upon this report, Cesar adjusted his glasses with a smirk. 'More work for me. Oh, boohoo.'

"This act shall begin within 24 hours to allow anyone time to make preparations. I hereby issue a Level 3 Class Defense Protocol for the sake of Interacia. The Bakugan that are under our commitment will snuff out the rogues, and the Devil Miasma amongst us, do not approach. If it comes for your city, then make way for the evacuation routes listed. This land is ushering a change, and I will not let any of you have your lives wasted like this anymore. To all, do well for now."

The connection was thus cut off, the screens all returning to what they were beforehand. The sudden change in the atmosphere made many of the people silent in stupor or shock. Not one was celebrating like before. The situation has gotten a lot more complicated than it did.

In the room where he made the announcement, he stood in the center circle, where around him in their attribute circles, all of Hades Pillars and Rogue Zero were bowing to their leader.

"What is it that you ask of us, Lord Riaan?" Maximus asked modestly.

Riaan gave Maximus a hardy look. "Maximus Rogue and Rogue Zero, you know why you're here. The earthlings have fanned out across our land. I believe you know what happens next?"

When he began to realize this, Maximus began to smirk.

"I see, so a little search and destroy. Interesting." Ariella said.

Cesar chuckled low. "Well then I suppose my work will have to be postponed for now it seems. Pity."

Hendrix bowed his head. "As you wish."

Riaan raised his head to his subordinates. "Hades Pillars, establish perimeters within the areas of Solaris. Ready the Bakugan. It's time for Project Armagedoid to work on ground zero."

"Right, as you wish." They all said. They all thus teleported away, their spots empty and leaving Riaan the last one in the room.

"…I truly am sorry it's come to this, but a guardian's job is different than a soldier's. As a guardian, I will do what is meant to be for the sake of my home." Were the last words said before he finally teleported away out next.

---

Meanwhile, topside, the others were less than concerned with what they didn't know. The revelations and ideals Luka spilled onto them were still being processed.

"So what do we do now?" Shuji questioned the group.

Jase adjusted his glasses once more. "Our next steps need to be careful. As far as what we have experienced, staying in one spot for very long doesn't exactly count as safe now."

"Yeah, that's saying something there."

Maggie turned towards Luka. "So what do you think we should do?"

Luka turned away from his new acquaintances and looked precariously out at the Netherlands before him. He was silent as something ominous crawled up his spine. Somehow, just somehow, his gut instinct was telling him something went wrong somewhere. The feeling that is always against your back and doesn't show itself, yet it's as if a cold breeze just went through your soul. That's what he was feeling.

"Luka? You who~." Maggie chimed. "Still with us?"

The Haos battler lowered his head, but his guard was as high as the sky itself. "We need to go."

"What?" Shuji asked.

"We need to go. Now!"

"Woah, hey! No need to snap like that!" Fly Beetle exclaimed.

Moments later, the ground beneath them began to lightly vibrate. The ticklish palpitations, while rippling in the stomach, was nevertheless staggering.

"H-hey!" Shuji wailed as he struggled for balance. "What the heck?!"

As Jase was trying to keep his composure, Atmos opened in midair. "I feel a strong negative energy surge. Does anyone else?"

Jase looked up. "Yes. I feel that, too." He looked towards his Bakumeter, pressing a button to get a static screen on it. "Esther, Shawn, do any of you copy?" Within the signal, nothing but static on the screen showed. "This isn't right. Our connection is offline."

"You're saying we can't reach them?!" Jelldon worried.

"Uh oh…" Maggie began to look around with a worried look. The negative energy she was feeling, and the intensity around her was making her heart throbbing pulsate to an obscene level. "Guys…I'm scared."

Shuji looked unsound. "Yeah, me too."

"Looks like Riaan's making his next move on us." Luka said. "Damnit, of all the times for you and your friends to be playing hide and seek!" He turned towards another way and began there. "We need to go! Now!"

The others looked at each other before they came to the decision. They couldn't stay here anymore. They had to get to somewhere safe…wherever that was.

---

As Riaan's announcement was being repeated throughout a lot of the screens throughout Troposphere, many of the citizens were still distraught about it all. They were talking amongst themselves, with many more beginning to rush from place to place, already beginning preparations for what is to happen within 24 hours.

Within this ensuing scramble, Esther was leaving the nursery. She made a mad dash with grace and her light brown hair flowing within the crowd. "Atchibee, what's going on you think?"

"I don't know, Esther. But I think now is a good time for us to get back to the ship!" she urged.

"You're right. But something's wrong."

"What is it?"

Esther looked down at her purple Bakumeter. To her surprise, she saw that the screen was static, and she wasn't seeing much of anything out there. "I'm not getting any signals. I can't tell where the Colonel or anyone else is."

"How could that be?"

"There must be a jamming signal coming from somewhere, but where…?" She went wide-eyed and turned her head towards the colosseum, but more accurately, what was atop of it. "The radio tower!" she realized. "It must be sending out stress signals to interfere!"

"This is bad." Atchibee admitted. "Esther, now is a good time to get back to Luke and find the others before it's too late!"

"I know!" The mature brunette clutched her fists and hurried towards the Trailer's direction. She made way through the mass of crowds heading over bridges and arches over waterways, which began to rush for subsequent markets nearby.

Eventually, within a short time, the Darkus battler finally made it to the docks where their ride was. "There it is!" She looked left and right, seeing if there were any suspicious signs about. When she found the coast clear, she made a hurried dash to the Trailer, where she opened the latch atop of it and dropped down.

Her head turned towards the bunkers. "We need to find the others!" She rushed down the short hall, where there, she found herself entering into the bunkroom where the two bodies lied. She rushed in, looking ahead with steady eyes. "Luke, get up! We have an emergency!" However, something was wrong. Her eyes widened when she saw that one of the beds was vacant. Keegan was still in a coma, but where Shawn's bed was, the sheets were finely tucked and folded nicely, like nobody slept in it.

"Luke? Luke?" Esther looked even more shocked than ever. Turning left and right, she saw that he was nowhere to be found. "Where did he go?" She moved herself away from the room and went towards the observation room. There, she saw that it was vacant. She went towards the restroom but saw that it was also vacant.

When it dawned upon her that he was nowhere, her worries began to rise. "Something's very wrong. Luke's missing."

"And Abis Omega is gone, too." Atchibee noted. "This doesn't look good, Esther."

Esther looked down the hall with worry. "What happened to Luke…?" Suddenly, a harsh shake in the vehicle made her lose balance, making her lean against the wall.

"Esther, you okay?"

Esther regained her balance and steadied out. "Yeah, I'm alright. But what was that?" Once more, she found herself losing balance as the ship was nudged by some force.

GROOAAH!

The unpleasant sound reverberated throughout their domain. The Darkus girl gasped and looked towards the latch.

As the ship swayed outside, light waves rocked the whole mechanism. Atop of it, Esther was seen crawling out if it, shock evident on her face when she nearly fell over from another nudge. However, she knelt and held her ground. With enough of a grip, she was seeing what was making a fuss, and it had tentacles gripping the ship's side.

The Aquos Freezer latching on roared as it was anchored to the ship's side. If that wasn't scary before, the way it was nudging violently could be a dead giveaway.

"An Aquos Freezer!" Esther gasped. "Where did it come from?!"

"I'm not sure, but we have to do something!" Atchibee reasoned. "That citizen is still inside!"

Esther nodded and furrowed her brow. "You're right. We have to stop this!" She grabbed hold of her Bakugan and threw her in without any form of hesitation. "Bakugan, brawl!"

The Aquos Bakugan was fruitlessly shifting its body against the ship, when a small black sphere was thrown at it. The sphere shined a purple light, which formed into Atchibee that hovered right over it with a wicked shriek. The Bakugan was met with a blade slashing from the side, cutting it off from the ship and sent flying back into the water with a massive splash.

Esther made it towards the edge of the Trailer, leaning over the railing to see the waves ease up. In the distance, she could see that the Freezer was resurfacing, screeching out angrily.

"Not good." The ship rocked again, this time forward to where she almost lost her balance and fell overboard. The wave from behind eased, and she turned around to find an Aquos Jelldon present. "Another one?"

The Jelldon roared out, and Freezer scowled with equal vulgar retort.

Atchibee looked at each of them, her senses looking nuts. "This is bad. They're affected by a strong negative energy!" More snarls and shrieks came from nearby, getting her to look towards the docks. Esther followed her gaze towards their route, only to find even more Bakugan, ranging from Subterra Fly Beetle, to Pyrus Verias, to Haos and Subterra Atmos.

"What?" Esther gasped.

The many Bakugan were snarling, converging as they were leering at Esther and Atchibee like they were lunch.

"Are they all…"

"They are. Negative energy is overflowing inside of them." Atchibee warned. "Esther, it's too dangerous to stay here!"

"I understand." She turned towards the hatch. "But what about-?!" She was cut off when the ship was rocked again, this time by a Sting Ray from the wild Aquos Jelldon. Blue lightning sparks struck the side of the ship, making her cover up.

"We'll draw them away!" Atchibee insisted. "If we get them towards us, then maybe they'll leave the ship alone!"

Esther uncovered and opened an eye as the attack subsided. "Alright then, let's do it!"

All at once, some Bakugan charged ahead of the docks, as to where some made a break with wings or crawling.

Esther put her arm up, her Bakumeter exerting an ability. "Ability, activate! Scare Flash!"

Atchibee's wings spread and she gained a few meters of air. Once up and about, the eyeballs unleashed a menacing bright purple light that beamed in all directions. The beams of light enveloped a lot of Bakugan, and those too close were unable to handle it as they became their attribute colors and dissipated, including the Jelldon and Freezer. Those that were barely hanging on were covering up from the light.

With cover, Atchibee lowered her tail to allow Esther to cling onto it. Once on, she raised herself up and held on as the bright light dissipated.

"We need to go! Now!" Esther ordered. Her Atchibee followed her wishes and she made a beeline straight into the Bakugan before her. With what power she mustered, her blades spread and slashed into some along the way. As she bypassed them, a majority of them glowed their attribute colors and dissipated as well. Those that were still in shock were trying to make sense and began to realize they were flying off north along the water. All the Bakugan available, though smaller in count now, made a straight shot at them to continue their pursuit.

"Atchibee, don't stop!" Esther shouted.

Atchibee hollered as she flapped her wings, racing at breakneck speeds through the collapsing world.

---

Meanwhile, topside, things were just as bad. The group found themselves surrounded so swiftly with many Bakugan hovering over them.

"W-where did all these guys come from?" Maggie worried.

"Forget that! We're surrounded!" Shuji exclaimed.

Jase brought his back to Luka, staring at the many Bakugan surrounding them. "So do you have an escape plan for this I take it?" he rhetorically asked.

"What do you think?" Luka snapped back. "Use your common sense! This isn't the time for crude jokes!"

"My apologies. I was merely asking."

Luka ignored Jase's half-hearted commentary and glared ahead of him. "There's only one thing we can do. Everyone, get ready!"

"Right!" They exclaimed.

They all pulled out their Bakugan as the rogue Bakugan started to close in around them. The various Atmos, Hammersaur snarling, the Saurus readying a charge, it all congregated, and they all threw their Bakugan.

"Bakugan, brawl! Bakugan, stand!"

Four attributed lights illuminated the space around them. Rising up from yellow was Alto Brontes, and from a green and orange light, Atmos and Fly Beetle; and from the red light, Jelldon raised his soft stingers and stood ready.

The many Bakugan surrounding them closed in further. They looked savage, no doubt from the negative energy they had inside of them.

"We have to cut open a path if we want to escape from here." Jase deduced,

"I doubt it matters where to run." Luka retorted before facing forward. "But staying one spot doesn't work either. You all just try and stay alive."

"Right! Just leave it to us!" Maggie gave a thumbs up. "Jelldon, you ready!"

The jellyfish nodded. "Yes, ma'am!"

"Good, then ability, activate! Shockwave!" Maggie called out the ability, in which Jelldon's tentacles were tipped in red static. He raised them and slammed the tips down, sending an omnidirectional ring of red electricity expanding all around. The many Bakugan surfaced were struck by this red electricity, making them all twitch and move uncomfortably.

Shuji was next to raise his Bakumeter high. "Alright then, let's pick up the pace a little, shall we?! Ability, activate! Sonic Wing!" Fly Beetle's buzzing wings faced the Bakugan ahead of him, unleashing orange-brown crescents that grazed into them. The Bakugan struck were pummeled and recoiled as much as Jelldon's attack did.

"You want some more?!" Fly Beetle flapped harder and dove on into the mass in front of him. With what vigilance, he rammed his horn into them, sending them all flying and reverting to their attribute colors.

"Yeah! Now that's what I'm talking about!" Shuji praised.

Jase raised his Bakumeter next. "Atmos, ability activate! Ventus Airsaw!" Atmos cawed loudly as he flapped his wings once, unleashed a green crescent-shaped energy that went slinging straight ahead. It struck a fellow Haos Atmos in front, immediately making smoke burst upon impact and befall it to the earth.

However, to take its place, two Subterra Atmos aligned with a Pyrus Atmos. They all either flapped their wings hard or shot small beams from the jewels on their chest feathers at Atmos in return.

"Atmos!" Jase warned.

"Ability, activate!" Luka's shout was so abrupt that it startled Jase. "Sprite Glow!"

Alto Brontes' four arms generated four golden masses of light rings that he held onto. Once tightened, he pivoted and spun around like a top. The four light rings went spiraling in various directions, including through the attacks going for Atmos. Overpowering, the one ring blazed into them, making them recoil and caw before fading to their attribute colors. Meanwhile, more were mowed down by the three other rings.

"I appreciate that." Jase thanked Luka, but the Haos battler seemed far from interested.

"Save it." He reached forward. "Go, Brontes!"

Jase followed suit. "Atmos!"

Both Bakugan advanced forward, eying their unresponsive foes. As they did, however, the ground thumped briefly.

A Darkus Hammersaur raised its claw against Jelldon, ready to bring it down on his soft body.

"Oh no you don't!" Maggie objected. "Ability activate, Darkus Jailer!"

Vermilion static began to envelop Jelldon's tentacles. "Sorry pal!" With a grunt, he raised one tentacle that made contact with the massive claws Hammersaur had. A field of static enveloped the Hammersaur and Jelldon used his spare tentacle to whack him in the stomach. Though short, it did enough to make him fall over onto another Darkus Freezer. The two Bakugan were engulfed in the vermilion static and hollered in pain before dissipating, leaving depressed ground in their place.

"Haha~! Yes!" Maggie chirped.

"Yeah, these guys are pretty weak to me!" Shuji reached forward. "Go!" He watched as Fly Beetle unleashed a Horn Buster attack, blasting into a fellow Aquos Fly Beetle. The blast was strong, but not enough to take it down. Fly beetle rushed in with his horn and whipped it up, sending it soaring and morphing into a blue sphere.

Fly Beetle turned around to look back, but he found himself intercepted by a Haos Verias, and what looked like more wild Jelldon and Saurus. With his one side exposed, a wild Verias whacked Fly Beetle's thorax, making him grunt.

Shuji looked shocked at the revelation. "Fly Beetle!"

"I think you jinxed that one." Maggie whimsically said.

"Just shut it and do something, would ya?!" Shuji snapped.

"Allow me." Jase intervened. "Atmos, ability activate, Green Talon!" The avian soaring above circled around and readied another strike, this time coming into a steep dive like a bomber. With wings spread, the jewels on his chest unleashed two green lasers that struck the Verias attacking Fly Beetle, in turn removing it. The green lasers continued racing across the ground towards the other Bakugan, either hitting them or making them get out of the way.

As the green laser vanished, it revealed dust, which soon softened to a depressed trail inside the not-so-dense topside.

When a Haos Anchorsaur drew close to get around, he stepped on the trail, but to its shock, its foot sunk into the muggy ground, making it stuck.

Upon seeing this, Jase frowned.

"We've got'em on the ropes, let's hurry and find a way out of here!" Shuji shouted.

"Jelldon! Let's get out of here!" Maggie insisted.

Both Jelldon and Fly Beetle looked forward with vigilance as the many Bakugan continued pouring out if the blue. They all either flew or walked closer like zombies, slow, but enough to let Fly Beetle ram his horn, and for Jelldon to unleash a Sting Ray of his own to drive them back.

"I, uh…I don't they're slowing down, guys." Jelldon said nervously.

"Kidding. It looks like they're crawling all over the top to get to us." Fly Beetle replied.

"And their numbers are continuing to grow…!" Atmos barely noticed a wild Goblinball firing a black beam from its eyes. He ascended to dodge the blast, where he looked down at it. "If this keeps up, we may as well be submerged in these negative beasts!"

"I don't wanna drown like that!" Maggie cried fearfully. "There's gotta be another way!"

Luka looked at the many Bakugan gathering around. He and Alto Brontes were eying them carefully, while at the same time, he was paying attention to something else catching his eye. 'These guys are as weak as ants like these guys and their Bakugan, but their numbers are intense. I don't think I've seen this many in one spot before, not even underground.' He looked at Brontes, who moved his hands forward to create an invisible force that shot the many Bakugan before him away. 'This isn't right. I know they're non-authentic, but they're drawn by negative energy. Something about this feels like it's Riaan.'

With the dozens upon near the hundreds of Bakugan gathering around, they all were like an army cornering them. They were a small heard backed to each other as a massive army was converging, readying with vile intent.

As the Hammersaur from before tried to free itself from the muggy clutches from the earth, more Bakugan tried to bypass it. But that didn't help. The weight and tremors of each step palpitated to where the ground beneath the leg broke apart. The Hammersaur fell, its wailing heard and seen from everyone.

"Oh no!" Maggie squealed.

The Hammersaur, as well as a dew more Bakugan in the area, sundered, sinking into darkness of the underground world.

The ground around the ground began to falter, crumbling like soggy, muggy earth. The land beneath was decrepit enough with how soft it was, but as Bakugan on the ground began to press forward, some started to wind up with feet plunged into the earth. That's when it hit Jase.

'The ground on the surface world is a lot less solid than it was underground.' He looked down at his own feet, noting how his foothold was less than adequate. It was like treading in northeastern wetland grass. It was moist, easy to mold, but worst of all… 'This land isn't stable. The outer layer may have the most Bakugan affected by negative energy, but their weights are distributed. All of them in one place…'

"Colonel!"

Everyone turned their attention towards Maggie. They all looked over to find the girl's feet and her massive blob of a Bakugan surrounded by Bakugan that were closing in; but the matter was that they were all heavy. They all began to sink as they closed in, like the other Bakugan, them too sundering.

"Crap! The ground isn't supporting this kind of weight!" Luka cursed. In just explicit timing, the earth beneath shuddered like a violent tremor, everything crashing into each other, with various Bakugan toppling into each other like buildings; them too succumbing to the darkness of the fissures.

Maggie reached out to everyone before her. "Guys~!"

"Maggie~!" Shuji reached out to the younger girl.

"Everyone, hold on!" Jase shrieked loudly.

With everything finally coming down, so did the very ground beneath them. The moist, soft land finally broke into chunks, the dozens, maybe if the hundreds of Bakugan, all plundered from the surface into the nomadic underground. Maggie, Jelldon, Shuji, Jase, Luka, Brontes; they all went down, and they weren't as hell coming back up.

"GUYS~!" Fly Beetle shouted. Without hesitation, he went into the dark underground, with Atmos following behind.

Rocks and many Bakugan fell to the netherworld beneath them. Without any ground, the 12-year-old Maggie screamed wildly as she went spiraling down in madness. The squeals and the air pressure she was feeling felt like skydiving…if she ever knew how that felt.

"AAAAH~!" Her high-pitched squeals and her body flailing in a hysterical panic was like when she was tumbling down in the Trailer.

"MAGGIE!" A red, soft tentacle grabbed the little girl, pulling her in like a ragdoll. As she fell, she was at least embraced by an equally panicking jellyfish.

"JELLDON!"

Shuji wailed and screamed hysterically as he fell. He sundered with as much panic as anyone else out there. Fortunately for him, Fly Beetle's horn picked him up, and he held on so tight that they may as well fall off.

Jase plundered as well, but unlike the other two, he was retaining as much calm as he could. It was taking a lot for him to hold onto his glasses. With so much momentum, he could hardly turn his head to look over to see Luka, who was seemingly latching onto Brontes as the Haos Bakugan teleported using his magical powers. Fortunately for him, Atmos' claw snatched him and carried him away.

Fly Beetle wobbly flew through the falling debris, with Shuji hanging on with closed eyes for dear life. The six legs of the Bakugan managed to at least latch onto Jelldon as they whisked out of the falling area. Atmos and Fly Beetle, with Jelldon included, sailed safely out of the falling zone and drifted away to a safer plain.

"Is it over yet?!" Maggie shouted in her panic.

Jase held onto Atmos' leg with one arm and leg, using the momentum to look back and see many rocks crash and crush whatever was beneath. The dust field bloomed beneath like a pollen breakout, but he remained calm. "…for now!" he shouted back through the air.

Shuji opened one eye, his initial shock finally over and done with. "Huh…?! Wait…WE'RE ALIVE!" he chimed. "YEEEES! TAKE THAT, STUPID PLANET! HAHA!"

"Man, we're just full of luck, aren't we?" Fly Beetle dryly said.

"I-I-I-I-Is…is…are we on the ground yet…?" Jelldon had all six of his eyes shut so tight that they may never open again. His three spare legs were clinging onto Fly Beetle as the huge beetle was using his own weight to try and hold up his friend. "A-are we dead…?"

"I'm too pretty to die~!" Maggie cried.

Jase sighed heavily. "Relax, you two! You're not dead!" he shouted from the air pressure. He then smirked. "Not yet at least…"

"NOT HELPING!" Shuji cried. He went wide-eyed as he looked around, anchoring himself against the horn to see how close they were getting to the ground. If one ever measured, a mansion would look like an ant. "H-hey, we're not too far away!"

"Really?!" Maggie opened one eye as before, and then both opened upon seeing the incredulous view. "Wooaah…"

"Just like up the grid again." Fly Beetle said. "Huh…?"

In the distance, there was what looked like a yellow glint. It caught Fly Beetle's eye for a moment before it faded. The next second, a yellow ray shot at him. The beetle moved of too the side, the yellow beam grazing his side. He screamed loudly as his left side was enveloped in smoke. His grip on Jelldon faltered, leaving Jelldon and Maggie to fall.

"GAH! What's going on?!" Shuji cried.

"GAAH!" Fly Beetle spiraled into the distance, smoke trailing behind like some plane tail spinning into a potential crash.

"Shuji! Maggie!" Jase shouted.

"Hold on!" Atmos moved. But something speeding came from the side. A harsh force with claws seized them, carrying them off and sending them in their own uneased glide. "What?!" Atmos looked over to find himself being shoved by a Moskeeto, but this one of black coloring.

Jase held on for dear life, but looking over, his glare was calm. "You…"

On the other side, on Moskeeto, Killian was riding his Bakugan, retaining a serious look. "Surprise~!" he shouted.

With nothing to catch them, Maggie and Jelldon spiraled downwards. Both screamed hysterically into mayhem, and nothing was helping them this time.

"I DON'T WANNA DIE THIS TIIIME! AAAHHH!" Jelldon wailed.

Maggie's shriek was no less horrendous. The young girl held onto Jelldon's tentacle the best she possibly could, daring not to let go, ever.

Right beneath them, the ground was bare, but then it cracked apart, allowing a brief field of dust to cover it. Within it, two thorny yellow tendrils shot up from the shocked earth. They reached far up and came together, making a small little tube-like ring where the thorns were at their weakest. The little bed caught Jelldon, albeit not without some yelps from the jellyfish's soft body. The jellyfish was cradles in the yellow vines, but nonetheless was saved. The two were left in shock – and admittedly some harsh stinging – as the vines cradled them, but despite the harsh poking, they were surprisingly saved. The vines slowly lowered back towards the ground, where there, the vines very tentatively placed him back on the ground. The jellyfish and the battle partner were let go, immediately collapsing onto the ground from shock and exhaustion.

"Are we…are we actually still alive…?" Jelldon panted.

"I…I think so." Maggie was so dizzy right now. She couldn't even tell which way was up. "But…what happened?"

"That would be us."

The third voice captured their attention. The two mentally exhausted individuals lifted themselves to see a pair of footsteps stop right before Maggie. Upon recognizing them, Maggie gasped in shock.

"Hey, it's you!" she accusingly exclaimed. "You?!"

Hendrix stood with his Rafflesian right beside him, the yellow thorns of the Bakugan receding back to his side.

"It's you! You're that Hendrix guy we uh…" Jelldon didn't want to think back into that experience. Going down a shaft to follow your partner onto a muscular man and driving him to unconsciousness really doesn't bring pride when they come back.

"Are you able to stand?" Hendrix asked.

Maggie furrowed her brow in suspicion, but she wasn't going to stay lying down forever. Eventually, she managed to sit up, which lead to standing. "Y-yeah…I think so…" she answered uneasily. "So let me get this straight, that was you who saved us? Why?"

Hendrix looked modestly at her. "I don't find taking a death like falling to be prideful. A real meaning of demise has to come with pride."

Maggie blinked once, then twice, then finally tilted her head. "Uh…okay?"

Hendrix's glare hardened. "Life may not be fair, but I am. So stand up and fight, young one!"

Maggie's determined look returned. "Yeah, okay then? You're on, big guy! Jelldon, let's beat him and find the others! Ready?!"

"Yeah!" Finally out of his initial shock, Jelldon mustered the courage to get beside Maggie.

Hendrix picked and threw forth a Gate Card first. "Gate Card, set!" The card went out, vanishing in a orange-brown energy wave across the terrain. He reached out next, giving a sign command. "Go, Rafflesian!"

"Yes, my master." Rafflesian growled as he glared at Jelldon. Both four-limbed Bakugan glared at each other, their partners looking the same way at one another.

---

Far away, in a spacious flat plateau, the rock was met with the visual of Fly Beetle spiraling and crashing into it. Smoke and dust bellowed, and Shuji screamed out as he fell off the horn, flopping onto his stomach painfully. The beetle toppled to his side and groaned, whereas Shuji laid on the ground with muffled moans of pain.

Getting a big, deep breath, the battler got his arms beneath and pushed up. "Gnnngh…!" He sat up, albeit slouching back. He put a hand to his hair and groaned again at the throbbing sensation. "Oh man. I think I got five different kinds of concussions or something. Ow!"

A maniacal chuckle came from close by. "Just as I predicted. Right in this area you are."

Shuji perked his head to another direction. Seeing a familiar someone in a chair, he gasped in shock as said being was followed by his squid-like Bakugan attached to a yellow and white machine part. "Crap! Not you!" he snapped.

Cesar gave him an angry scowl. "You twisted fool!" He pointed with deep exaggeration at Shuji. "I'll have you know my name is Cesar! Not this 'Crap'!"

"Maybe not." Shuji slowly steadied himself. "But that cheap shot you pulled sure was."

Cesar's purple lipstick formed another smirk. "Aw well, to whom why I should bother what a meddlesome bug says? As far as I'm concerned, you're just a small price to pay."

Shuji smirked. "For what? That makeup you wear?"

"Okay, now that's just crossing a line right there!" Cesar snapped. "I intend to punish you dearly for coming to our land unannounced as such. Freezer! Dynamo!" He snapped his fingers once, and the Bakugan fused together became to different spheres of yellow that went back to Cesar's hand.

"Looks like we haven't got a choice here." Shuji told Fly Beetle. "We better get these guys out of our way first. You up for it?"

Fly Beetle nodded. "Yeah. I got to pay them back for that cheap shot." He morphed to an orange light, one that reduced him to a sphere that went to Shuji's hand.

Cesar chuckled yet again. "Why, even your little insect thinks it was cheap! Why what absconding riddles for I to solve. Truly, man and Bakugan truly are alike; insects that must be swat when annoying those with much better things to do than buzz around."

"Then why don't you shut your mouth and quit buzzing? Your voice is like one in my ears!"

Cesar's smirk darkened. "So be it. Gate Card, set!" He inserted a card into a slot, where it went through the armrest and into the outlet, where it shot into a neat slide onto the plateau. A yellow light went across the terrain to spread for the battle. Next he inserted Freezer. "Now then, let's show him what happens when you defy a genius in the hierarchy then. Bakugan…brawl!" Freezer shot out of his armrest. "Bakugan, stand!"

In a yellow light, Freezer arose and scowled, the black and white colors clashing to make him even more dominant than last time.

"Alright then, guess we better get started then." Shuji said. "Bakugan, brawl! Subterra Fly Beetle, stand!"

Standing next in an orange-brown light, Fly Beetle arose, his horn raised high.

Shuji and Cesar glared at each other, their eyes meeting. "Let's brawl!"

---

On a less than leveled terrain, there was an uneven landscape with barely any footing. One misstep and you could slip and fall to the next ledge down. The ridge was unclear as to how many miles it went, but that where Atmos and Moskeeto were dragging themselves towards.

Far away from the others, having shot like comets like Fly Beetle, Moskeeto hissed while Atmos cawed scowling call. When they lost their momentum, both Bakugan reverted to their ball forms, their green spheres catching up to their battle partners as they fell unevenly onto the ridges. Jase landed on his boots, but almost immediately slipped, He used both hands to grip onto separate rocks on either side to hold himself steady, while Killian landed with arms and feet wide like a gecko. To get momentum right away, Killian 'gecko crawled' up the ridge and stones, until he was at least a few meters above and looking down at Jase.

"Still alive?" he asked.

Jase coughed, having the air knocked right out of him. "I didn't…hear you." He coughed. "You caught me by surprise."

Killian shrugged. "Sorry."

"That's quite a skill." Jase moved his foot so that he was at lest able enough to get to a safer part of the ridge he was on. With Killian above and over a slanted, curved slope, it was light looking at someone at a superior angle. "Well now, this sure wasn't seen. I thought you would be away from us at this time."

"Sorry, orders are orders."

"So then this isn't personal?" Jase gave a skeptical smirk to try and con Killian. However, it looked like it wasn't working.

"I didn't come all this way to be tantalized. Master Riaan has been pretty peeved about your interference with our little plan…whatever it is."

"So then you don't know?"

"No, I do know. It's just preferring to take it one step at a time is more preferable my way. I'm not exactly capable of thinking a step ahead when I'm on the fly."

Jase smirked. "Well now, seems this will lead to an impasse then. You're intentions are to dispose of us, yet we are choosing our own course. And the way you sound, you make it seem as though are unable to process much without information beforehand. So tell me, what is there you know about me that I don't know about you?"

"You're the brains of the group, and the overall most intelligible thinker." Killian answered. "You're name is Jase Mercury, and you've been guiding your so-called pals along the way. They depend a lot on you, so what happens if you're waned to a corner all alone?"

Jase's smirk never receded. "I do wonder that."

"Hendrix said he beat you when that happened. Let's see if history repeats. Moskeeto!"

Moskeeto opened in ball form. "We will destroy them for our cause!"

Atmos glared back. "Jase, are you going to be okay?"

Jase grinned. "It'll be fine, Atmos. For now that is."

Killian threw his Gate Card first. "Gate Card, set!" Instead of throwing the Gate Card like anyone did, he instead let it drop to his feet. The card faded into green energy, and Killian grabbed hold of Moskeeto. "Let's go, Moskeeto! Bakugan, brawl!"

"Atmos, brace yourself." Jase gave a serious face as he seized his own Bakugan. "Bakugan, brawl!"

Both Bakugan went speeding into one another. Their green, and partially black, coloring clashed as sparks flew between them and their force. After several seconds of intense sparks, the balls shot backwards, opening at the same time.

"Atmos, stand!"

"Moskeeto, stand!"

Summoned in a green light, Atmos arose, whereas Moskeeto arose with a gust storm brewing. Both green creatures arose, hissing and cawing while their partners held onto the rocks beneath.

Moskeeto: 450 Atmos: 400

"Atmos, let's see what we have to do here." Immediately, Jase started off, albeit with simplicity. "Ability, activate! Typhoon Chase!"

A green aura outlined Atmos as he ascended a few meters higher. Once high enough, he expelled a massive gust of his own, one that pulsated and beamed right into Moskeeto. The nearby weak rocks were blown away, but Moskeeto held his ground evenly, as did Killian as he covered up.

Moskeeto: 450 Atmos: 400 (+100) = 500

The massive winds didn't change anything in regards to Moskeeto. The Bakugan was holding on fairly well as his own wings beat to where they glided him steadily.

"Stay sharp, Moskeeto." Killian said.

Jase furrowed his brow at Moskeeto's resilience. 'Sturdy.'

Killian thus showed his ability next. "Ability activate, Frequency Shaker!" His Bakugan remained absolute as the winds continued. The wings began to beat loudly, vibrating so fast that green soundwaves expanded from them. They went pulsing through the wind, reaching Atmos and making him back off from the power that was exerted.

Moskeeto: 450 Atmos: 500 (-200) = 300

Jase didn't sway from his actions just yet. "Not bad with that counter. So then, ability activate! Winding Winds!"

Atmos' bleak yellow eyes dilated through the shockwaves he was being hit. As he was trying to balance himself out, the Bakugan's wings flapped yet again; this time, creating green whirlwinds that picked up from the flap and dissipated throughout the air, leaving Atmos and Moskeeto with a blank space.

"Not bad." Killian said.

"Much too kind for a foe intending to kill." Jase replied.

Moskeeto: 450 Atmos: 300 (+200 +200) = 700

Atmos unleashed another powerful flap of his wings, this one making a gust strong enough to emit pressure that pushed Moskeeto back. The attack made the insect back off, but not enough to make him crash into rock.

Rather than praise a second time, Killian got straight to the attack. "Ability, activate! Aero Slim!"

Moskeeto's eyes glinted for a moment before he raised his claws. Like his partner, he did not praise nor speak. Instead, he launched green energy shards at Atmos like bullets, forcing him to ascend and try to evade the assault. Even at a higher altitude, Atmos was not safe. He had to maneuver about and sail as the shard went everywhere.

Moskeeto: 450 (+200) = 650 Atmos: 700 (-100) = 600

Atmos sailed in a long arch, one that went about around the green shards, yet he still had little room. He twirled around one incoming shard, managing to evade gracefully, though more still came.

"He's not letting up." Jase deduced.

Killian reached out before him. "Gate Card, open! Freeze Enemy!"

The Gate Card glowed beneath them, and the as the glow came to pass, Atmos was flying higher, until at last everything about him was unable to move. His muscles stiffened. His beak stiffened. Everything about him froze up. "My…body…"

Moskeeto: 650 Atmos: 600 (-200) = 400

"He had a trap for when he gets the advantage?" Jase didn't show his shock, but nevertheless, he did show signs of astounding.

"The command card, Freeze Enemy, stops my opponent from moving, and siphons off 200 Gs, while at the same time preventing them from activating any abilities." Killian explained.

Atmos began to fall down, going into a steep nosedive into the ridges beneath. "No…!"

"Moskeeto!" Killian snapped his fingers, making it echo along the ridge. His Bakugan responded by having Atmos in his red lenses and hiss loudly. Once he had aim, he waited at just the right moment.

"Take…this!" Dozens of green shards went firing dead ahead in a straight line. They closed in one Atmos, who was unable to move at the time. The falcon was enveloped in a squawk as loud as the smoke cloud that enveloped it. The booming and the shockwaves expanded for just a small range, but enough to make the ridge shudder. Jase lost his footing and slipped backwards down to the next rock, where there, he barely held on while Atmos came down in a green ball at the side of his foot.

Jase: 50%

Moskeeto went back to Killian, who caught him without a fuss. "Nice job, bud."

Jase slowly bent down and lifted up Atmos. Holding him, the Ventus battler looked ever so casual. "Atmos, are you alright?"

"Y-yes." He answered. "Sorry, I let my guard down."

"It's quite alright." He replied. "Besides…" His attention went up towards Killian, who was keeping his calm as well. "At least we know now for ourselves his style."

Atmos opened again. "So I've noticed."

Jase smirked. "This will be quite interesting."

---

A wild Aquos Abis Omega breached from the sea, time slowing down to catch its arch with the spray of water surrounding it. Alongside it, in the bay, several more Abis Omega, Stug, and wild Clawcer were on standby it seemed as the unknown port had a panel to a building arise, revealing Ariella as she looked over the numbers.

"Look at them. Just weak and mindless." She would've pitied them if she ever cared, but the truth was she didn't. All she saw were weak Bakugan that were unable to handle the power of forbidden cards. "What a waste of good power."

Beside her, the now conscious Clawcer popped open. "Mistress Ariella, what are your orders?" he asked in a neutral manner.

The Aquos woman smirked. "Well…I suppose a little reinforcement wouldn't hurt. It'd be shame to let just good space be left unfilled." Her attention drew towards the worker operating the bay's safety net. "Release them!"

The plump worker with the standard construction uniform turned towards the padlock beside him. He opened a latch, which had a red knob that he turned. He then began to punch in a numerous code that was followed then by a loud, shrieking beep went on. In a matter of moments, the safety net supposed to restrain the Aquos Bakugan inside the domain began to slowly scrunch itself up, opening up like a gateway to the grand sea beyond them.

As if following instinct, all of them turned their heads to the opening that lead them to their target possibly lying out there.

"Now go! Fulfill the great Riaan's wishes and destroy the humans!" Ariella exclaimed.

An Abis Omega let out a massive shriek into the atmosphere before turning to get away. The creature dove into the water, much like the others that submerged into the water. They all escaped into the gran sea, where there, they would fan out and follow the orders given.

"Nothing wrong with a little insurance to be sure." Ariella huffed, turning towards the plump worker. "You, release all the Aquos Bakugan in the paddocks across the coast. I don't want to see any of our ducts with one single Bakugan."

"Yes, ma'am!" the worker fearfully exclaimed. He moved towards the knob again, punching in more codes. Ariella stood off to the side with a smirk of success.

"Well I think my work here is finished. Suppose Xander is waiting for me." She angrily pinched the bridge of her nose. "That imbecilic pet. How is it that Maximus is having me work with that troublemaker?"

As she muddled along, she chose to take her leave, leaving the Bakugan across the paddocks in the area to swim freely.

---

The Bakugan in the various coastline through the area were making their way as swift as lightning; some swifter than others. Some arose from basins and followed the directive of Riaan. Others were following from sheer instinct. They all were fanning out, heading out towards the direction where some of the Bakugan were giving chase towards a Darkus Atchibee.

Unbeknownst to the Bakugan, something swam close by, but the patterns he had made him undetectable in the water. What was noticeable, however, was the creature that it was attached to on the head. The creature had red hair that looked cut, with something around his head that looked like some bubble for air. The creature's green eyes glanced down at the invisible creature it surfed on. From the faintest of reflections, he could see the eyes looking up at him with heavy vigilance, as did his. But at the same time, with calm. The softened green eyes glared back ahead, the creatures both swaying in the water towards the many numbers after others.

---

"Ability activate, Horn Buster!" Fly Beetle unleashed a large blast of streaking orange-brown energy at Freezer. The bolting attack evidently made impact with the face, prompting energy to spark and recoil the squid-like creature.

Cesar didn't look in the very least appalled by the first strike. "Really now, is that the best you have to offer my genius? Just look!" In a display that he could've predicted, the streak faded, but Freezer was looking fine. "You'd need more to offer if you wish to escape my genius?"

Shuji smirked back. "Hey, smart aleck, I'm not here to make fun of your oversize brain, okay?" He raised his arm, showing another ability. "I'm here to find a way back, and you're in my way! Double ability, activate! Fly Arrow, plus Sonic Wing!" His Fly Beetle looked down at Freezer as he took flight. The huge beetle's yellow tusks glowed a bright brown color before rays shot out of them, whereas the wings emitted powerful crescents of orange-brown energy that grazed along the sides towards Freezer.

Freezer: 450 (-100 -200) = 150 Fly Beetle: 550 (+200) = 750

The attacks all rushed in towards Freezer, but the tainted Haos Bakugan still refused to move. It was as if daring Shuji to run into a trap. "That's right, just be a little fly that closes in on my buzzer…" When the time came, once close enough, Cesar smiled wide and showed two abilities. "Now, my glorious creation! Double ability, activate! Dark World, plus Haos Force!"

The gem on Freezer's head began to glow a bright hue, in which the energy exerted began to enshroud a negative, void-like energy of many negative colors all around. The space expanded to a dense field that shrouded Fly Beetle and his incoming attack. It was so much density that it was waning that waning the other attack's trajectory.

"What the-?!" Shuji gasped.

Freezer gave a loud shriek as a ball of compressed, bright energy formed on his gem. He unleashed a powerful bright blast of energy that went straight into the attacks. A bright flash erupted when all the attacks congregated in the center. The bright waves illuminated a field that dissipated the negative flow that suffocated them all. Shuji covered up from the bright beam, whereas Cesar nonchalantly smiled.

Freezer: 150 (+100 +300) = 550 Fly Beetle: 750 (-200) = 550

As the bright light dissipated, Fly Beetle remained high in the air, careful as to maintain his distance from his six-legged opponent. He looked down once more, seeing as how he was unfazed. Their eyes met; cold, dark daggers coming from Freezer.

"And now…" Cesar showed another ability. "Ability, activate! Freeze Jail!" Freezer lifted one of his tentacles and pointed it at Fly Beetle. The extension expelled rippling yellow rings of energy at the insectoid and closed in.

Shuji grunted angrily before he pulled out another defense. "Ability…activate! Cast-Iron Carapace!"

Fly Beetle remained completely still as the energy waves drew closer. His body became engulfed in a metallic, orange filament that made him have a glossy hardened surface. His power level shot back up to 750 while time stopped around time. No winds blew anywhere.

"Just in the nick of time." Shuji huffed. If he hadn't been so fast, he would've been screwed.

"An impressive defense." Cesar remarked. "If I recall, that raises Fly Beetle's power level by 200, as well as makes him immune to ability effects." He reiterated. "Although…I'm curious exactly."

Shuji's brow furrowed. "What?"

"Exactly how sturdy is that wall of yours, perhaps?"

The Subterra battler balled his fists at the prospect. Whatever was going to happen, he wasn't liking the sound of it.

Cesar balled his fist and raised it high, shooting up an oddly shaped creature. "Come! Bakugan Trap! Dynamo!" The hexagonal-like creature glowed, becoming the massive spider that stood alongside Freezer. One of the mechanical legs adjusted, making the rock beneath get a dent from the pointed end.

Freezer: 550 Fly Beetle: 750

Dynamo: 400

"A Bakugan Trap?" Shuji gasped. With him, Fly Beetle grunted inside his little defense.

"That's right. You should be happy about this." He insisted. "Now then, Gate Card, open! Healing Up!" The Gate Card revealed itself, creating a strong glow beneath Freezer and Dynamo. Both were enveloped in a yellow aura that enveloped both their bodies, making a power surge flow within them.

Freezer: 550 (+300) = 850 Fly Beetle: 750

Dynamo: 400 (+300) = 700

"I wouldn't think standing in one spot that long would do you any good, now would it?" Cesar chimed. As he saw the look on Shuji's face, he could tell he cornered him into all defense. "Now then, I'll make this as quick as possible. Ability, activate! Gillian Cords!"

Dynamo's power level bumped up to 900 as the three red triangles on the supposed mouth began to shine. The radiating bright light shot out and bolted in a pressurized light at Fly Beetle, hitting him square in the face. The result was his filament surrounding his body taking the full blunt of the attack, making the shield crack apart.

"Fly Beetle!" Shuji exclaimed. He saw the attack push harder, making Fly Beetle fully envelop in the blast wave. The insect was unable to hang on, enveloping him in a bright burst of energy that picked up the man and sent him flying backwards in a pained shout. He doubled over towards the edge, thudding hard on his stomach. He groaned weakly s everything for him went black, but barely audible sounds could've been heard, including Fly Beetle's ball form rolling to his front.

Shuji: 70%

Cesar chuckled in amusement. "How weak you are." Freezer and Dynamo returned to Cesar's clutches. "I remember you putting up a better fight the last time we crossed paths. When was that? Oh~, right. When you had that blonde individual in your little party, yes? Now how's it feel to be battling all by yourself, big boy?"

Shuji grunted painfully as he attempted to stand again. It took a moment, but when he picked up Fly Beetle, he wiped the spit from his mouth using his other arm. "Hey pal, give me a break." He breathed heavily. "We weren't…serious that time…right?"

"Yeah, absolutely." Fly Beetle scoffed.

Cesar smirked. "Oh really? Killian did mention something about your will when he faced you, but that's probably because he isn't as critical to judging than we all are!"

"Well then try and judge us after we pull this." Shuji held up a Gate Card, one that he showed to Fly Beetle. He nodded, as did the battler. "Gate Card, set!" He threw the card down on the ground, where it faded to an orange-brown ripple that went across the earth. "Now we get down to business." He seized Fly Beetle and went for the attack. "Bakugan…brawl!"

Fly Beetle went skipping across the ground to a stop, where an orange light shined and appeared him, roaring. He stood once more, his power level at 350.

Cesar didn't lose his smirk in the slightest. "As stubborn as he is gutsy." He shot Freezer through his armrest. "Bakugan, brawl! Freezer, stand!"

In a yellow bright light, Freezer arose, making his own shrilled cry prominent. He stood at 450.

"Now then, you care to show me more of what your guts are?" Cesar challenged nonchalantly.

Shuji raised a balled fist. "Don't get so cocky just because you got a big head!"

"My head is perfectly shaped to hold my genius brain! Why I think that it is your head that has more of an empty space in t than it does actual brain!"

Shuji grew a tick mark as he yelled across the plateau. "Grrrooh! You wanna start now?! How's about I knock you off that chair first?! Huh?! We'll who stands after that one!"

"Mock me all you want, but I doesn't change a thing!" Cesar backed off, tossing his bangs to the side and adjusting his own glasses. "My, how infuriating it is to be making conversation with someone who truly doesn't understand."

Shuji furrowed his brow. "You say that now, but what do you know about us humans that makes you mock us?"

Cesar gesticulated a mocking shrug. "Why, my young acquaintance. I think you picked just the right amount of words to make yourself audible to my ears now! Of course there's reasons why humans are so easily scoff-worthy!" he exclaimed, though it could be said he spoke with a passion. "Why think about it, you humans make the most mistakes out there. Why, I've heard you all basically inflict self-destruction each and every day. Many die all for negative reasons. Money, guilt, jealousy; many of emotions that are easy for man to succumb to. I've even noted from Lord Riaan that you even having this little natural disaster that's called 'global warming'. It's because of your arrogance to use your resources so callously that your population is growing and will lead to nothing short of a survivalist's genocide. Now then, does that sound about right?"

Shuji wasn't at liberty to press on with the argument, but he wasn't wrong. Earth suffered numerous problems each and every day, and not just in the primary countries, but overall. Many perish from lack of food or water, and some re food to the wild animals. Some are even tortured or shot for no reason. It was never ending, a morbid aspect that while debatable, wasn't appropriate for.

"What Riaan shall do is extort all the positives of the planets he wishes to be one with him. Think about it, a land where the people can coincide; a place where many can coincide without fear of resources drained, where population can be kept under control. A place, where many can rejoice in every little area of the universe exploited, all gathered in one glorious spot. Our utopia. Now doesn't that sound like a dream come true? Why continue to resist when you know Riaan's goal will succeed?"

Shuji gave Cesar a very annoyed look. He stared coldly up at the scientist before his Bakugan turned his head. Fly Beetle gaze turned to give red lenses at Shuji to see any signs of doubt. Shuji, in turn, looked at him, locking eyes if not for a short time. The look each was giving was a long, deep look to make them reminisce on a certain event where the two connected; specifically, the time where they were doomed against Keegan.

When it was all processed, Shuji smirked. His change in expression surprised Cesar. "Man, for a well-known scientist, you're not all that original, are you?"

"What was that?" Cesar snapped.

"Look pal, I'd like to dream as much as the next guy, but as much as that likes to happen, I can't believe I'm saying this, but I've got a few things I wanna protect. So why would I throw away ll tht we've done for someone's dreams who I couldn't care about?" Shuji's smirk widened to a mocking one. "Nobody likes a copycat after all."

Cesar's eyes dilated in anger. "You…! You~…!" He pointed accusingly at Shuji. "You dare call my genius copying?! My work has been nothing short of a revolution for this world! To make a living being satisfied with its need is the purpose of science! To think I truly believed that reasoning with a buffoon would work on someone like you!"

"Hey, my thoughts exactly." Shuji mocked.

Cesar reached out, his Bakumeter glimmering with an ability card. "We'll freeze you in your rightful place! Ability, activate! Cool Breath!" Freezer expelled an icy mist from his mask-like front, which rushed at Fly Beetle like a whirlwind to freeze him in his tracks.

As it drew closer, Shuji looked serious. 'Thought so.' He fist-pumped forward eagerly. "Gate Card, open! Chain Link Force!"

"What?!"

The Gate Card opened, creating a bright glow that illuminated the area. The deep fog closed in on Fly Beetle before it ultimately was stopped by an invisible force, like hitting some paranormal wall that blew it back at Freezer. The Haos Bakugan was rendered in shock as the attack blew right back at him, engulfing him in the blight. As the white mist dissipated, Cesar uncovered to have some frost on his arms. When he looked back, he had a stupefied expression on his face when he saw that Freezer was completely immobile, trapped in a thin sheet of bitter first and ice.

"NOOOO!" the mad scientist wailed.

"Oh yeah!" Shuji fist pumped.

Freezer: 450 (-200) = 250 Fly Beetle: 350

"You scoundrel! You tricked me!" Cesar angrily accused.

Shuji feigned shock just to mock. "Hey, don't look at me, pal. I'm not the one who played my best card on the first play. And here you said earthlings were stupid, well what does that move say about you then?"

Cesar's teeth gritted in sheer anger. As he looked at Shuji and his Fly Beetle, he could feel his annoyance grow ever so much. He could remember them being no less of a threat than they were mere toys that he was observing from Troposphere the entire time. Now, they were pest control, and it was tough to handle, even for someone who likes to think ahead of the game. To be outwitted by someone who knew him better than he knew himself, it was crude, and more so, insulting. "I'll show you!" Once more, he threw a hexagon up. "I summon Bakugan Trap, Dynamo!" In another brief flash, Dynamo reappeared in battle, standing in front of the frozen Freezer.

"This guy again?" Shuji annoyingly asked.

Cesar smirked. "What's the matter? Don't you appreciate a little backup when you need it?"

Shuji angrily scowled at Cesar before he chose to go on the attack. "Fine, you wanna go that way, we'll break that stupid spider! Ready, Fly Beetle?!"

"Ready and willing!" The Bakugan spread his six limbs, ready to do battle.

"Ability, activate! Horn Buster!" Fly Beetle followed his lead and raised his horn. The orange-brown energy began to magnify and was launched in a crisp, streaky beam that bolted at Dynamo. The attack made a breakneck impact on the diamond, where there, the static ran wild as Dynamo was pushed back. Fly Beetle's power thus jumped up to 550.

"Ability, activate! Gillian Cords!" Cesar gave the command to make the Dynamo arch its elongated neck down. The triangles on the mouth glowed a bright yellow and expelled a beam that ran beneath and traveled across the ground towards Fly Beetle, breaking apart the streaky Subterra attack in the process.

As the attack powered through, Shuji made his Bakumeter show yet another ability. "Not this time! Ability activate, Exo-Shield!"

Fly Beetle let up on his assault, whereas the bright beam drew closer. A faint orange veil surrounded Fly Beetle as the attack closed in, where it took the beam and separated it into many various beams that went everywhere else. As the dust and the thin beams dissipated, the atmosphere was shrouded for a moment before the veil faded, revealing Fly Beetle unharmed.

"How about that?!" Shuji exclaimed. "Let's show'em, Fly Beetle!"

"Just what I had in mind!" Fly Beetle's wing shields unfolded to allow his wings to flap freely. He arose off the ground and darted straight at Dynamo with all his might. With just one thrust of his horn, the spikes on it went into the underside. Fly Beetle dug his claws deep and lifted, sending Dynamo up and falling over. The Bakugan fell on its back with a thud, while Fly Beetle ascended into the air and went soaring down yet again.

Cesar lifted his arm again. "Not this time! Ability activate, Sub Dimension!"

Dynamo's eyes glowed faintly, its body emitting a strong, distorting wave of energy that was mainly dark and purple. The distorting dimension surrounded it and Fly Beetle. As odd as it felt, the Bakugan's head throb as everything distorting rendered Fly Beetle to sail towards the ground. "Oof!" he fell with a pained thud.

"Fly Beetle!"

Hearing Shuji's shout, Fly Beetle slowly tripped back up, but the dimension ws making his head throb and ache. He could fell his own power drop to 250 from the disrupting flow of the dimension Dynamo was making. "Uuugh, my head. I feel like-GAH!" A bright way blasted him in the face, sending him off to the side with another thud. Dynamo got back up with a low mechanical roar of defiance.

"Crap! Fly Beetle!" Shuji yelled.

"That's right, Dynamo! Tear down that insect…and his Bakugan!" Cesar maniacally laughed as he pointed ahead. He gave full directions to the path that Dynamo was to take to destroy Fly Beetle, all while his Freezer was frozen. 'I might not be able to initiate the combination attack right now, but at the very least, I can handle him individually.'

Dynamo raised its head to fire one more charged beam from its mouth. As it did, Fly Beetle shook himself awake and dazedly stared ahead. "You…!"

"Destroy them!"

"Oh yeah?! Bring it!" Shuji roared. "Ability activate, Correlation of Haos to Subterra!" Due to the attributed properties, with Freezer and Dynamo being Haos, Fly Beetle's body began to absorb that power, and in turn, a bright orange aura enveloped his body as he arose to strike back.

Dynamo shot at Fly Beetle at long last, but the attack did not go as expected. Instead, Fly Beetle's horn jutted forward as he darted clean through, the aura around him acting as a ram and bunker at the same time.

Freezer: 250 Fly Beetle: 250 (+300) = 550

Dynamo: 400

Cesar watched with a stupefied expression as he watched Fly Beetle mow straight through. "Haos to Subterra?!" To his shock, he could only watched in horror as Dynamo's blast failed to slow down the creature. "Dynamo, move you!"

But it was too late. Once again, Fly Beetle rammed into Dynamo, this time with so much force that it sent it flying back into Freezer. The ice shattered almost instantly, but the force sent both backwards. They slammed into the ground hard, rendering them immobile for Fly Beetle to continue soaring in. His horn once again smashed into the squid and spider drone, kicking them into the air high overhead. As they flailed over the glowing insectoid, they morphed into ball form, where they fell to Cesar's feet.

Cesar: 10%

Fly Beetle returned to Shuji, who caught him with a smile. "Just a little playbook play I thought up on."

"…so I see." Cesar's chair bent down to pick up Freezer and Dynamo alike. "I wasn't aware you humans used attributed powers to win Bakugan battles. To be honest, this came to me as a surprise."

Shuji beamed with pride. "Heh, when you're dealing with Earth, you play by my rules!"

Despite the beating he took, Cesar's smirk grew. "Then I guess I'll have even more work for me after this." He gave a grand gesticulation as his smile grew dark and wicked. "Show me your interests, pests!"

---

Hendrix reached out. "Attack!" Rafflesian followed his command, sending his many yellow vines at Jelldon.

"Oh no you don't big guy!" Maggie raised her sleeve, her red Bakumeter emitting an ability of its own. "Ability, activate! Sting Ray!" Jelldon moved his front two tentacles to face Rafflesian's incoming thorns. The tentacles discharged streaky red electric blasts at the thorns. The blast were holding them off fairly well, at the very least creating a stalemate that thwarted the connection.

Rafflesian: 450 Jelldon: 350 (+200) = 550

"Keep pushing, Jelldon!" Maggie urged.

Hendrix showed nothing but calm. Not even scoffing, the man remained vigilant as he showed his own ability. "Don't get ahead of yourself. Ability activate, Root Seep!"

Rafflesian made one more grunt before he finally lashed his thorns. They lashed away the sparks, giving him room to arch his vines into the ground. They plunged deep, breaking bits of hard rock on the surface. Jelldon remained unknowing as the ground was silent for a moment before vibrations took over. He suddenly felt a tremor grow, larger, and larger, until at last the ground prodded two holes to show thorny vines wiggling around Jelldon to close in.

Rafflesian: 450 (+200) = 650 Jelldon: 550 (-200) = 350

"Oh no you don't!" Maggie hurried and pulled up another ability. "We'll just block that! Ability activate, Jolt Eraser!"

Jelldon hardened up as his body emitted red static all over. "Sorry about this!" He was saved by Rafflesian before, but in the end, he was still an enemy, one that had to be dealt with. Jelldon expelled a discharge of red lightning everywhere, which enveloped the space around him. The tall vines around him recoiled as they were struck and electrocuted by red lightning. It traced back to Rafflesian, in turn making grunt. The impact forced him to recoil his vines back, his body recoiling in a shudder as red static enveloped it.

"Again, sorry!" Jelldon exclaimed.

Rafflesian: 650 (-200 -200) = 250 Jelldon: 350 (+200 +200) = 750

Maggie stepped back, trying to keep her defenses up. "We may not know what's going on right now…" Her fists balled tighter. "But if you're gonna say you wanna play a game of cat and mouse, then just try and catch us if you can!"

Jelldon expelled more red static bolts at Rafflesian, who grunted as the attack came for him now.

Hendrix held a straight face as he tossed up another cylindrical figure. "Come forth, Subterra Legionoid!"

In a bright orange glow, a comet arch onto the area next to Rafflesian. Appearing and ready for battle, the glow faded, revealing Legionoid, his six heads exerting a loud shriek that shook the airspace around him.

The weak red electric blast Jelldon unleashed was stopped cold when Legionoid slammed one of his tails on the ground. The thud made a piece of the earth shoot up, acting as a shield that was bolted by the attack. The rock broke to pieces, crumbling at Rafflesian's front.

"Thanks for that." Rafflesian thanked. Legionoid in turn hissed in compliance.

"It makes me pity to know that someone as you has taken a responsibility onto her shoulders." Hendrix said. "I wish that nobody had to die for this…"

Maggie furrowed her brow back. "Well it seems too late for an apology from either of us, now is it?"

Hendrix adjusted his footing to shoot a glare. "That it is." The look on his face didn't dare to change, no matter what he felt. "But if this is what you wish, then I won't stop your suffering." He lifted his arm, showing an ability. "Legionoid!"

The Bakugan gave a loud shriek outward, responding to his master without complaint.

"Pyrus ability activate, Burning Poison!" Legionoid complied with one more snarl at Jelldon before he opened one of his many maws. The one head expelled a red-hot beam of venom at Jelldon, the attack striking so fast that Jelldon was hit in the square center. The Pyrus Bakugan let out a small yelp as he tried to cover up using his tentacles to absorb most of the blow, but residual streams of it still stung his center.

"Jelldon!" Maggie shrieked.

Rafflesian: 250 Jelldon: 750 (-100) = 650

Legionoid: 350 (+100) = 450

The attack may have been weak to some extent, but it was beginning to get to Jelldon. The young girl watched as her Bakugan was taking some venom that looked like it could burn skin off. "Oh man. Hang on, Jelly-welly! Ability activate, Gel Shield!" As Jelldon was trying his hardest to maintain his ground, the orange spots on his front began to illuminate. Slowly, a translucent, red liquid-like shield surrounded Jelldon, freeing him from his burning pain.

Hendrix offered no scoff in return. "Haos ability activate, Bright Poison!" This time, when one head snarled, it expelled a bright yellow venom, this one so illuminating that it could've resembled a glowing laser. The venomous attack made contact like a spray of acid against Jelldon's shield. When it began to dissolve, so did Jelldon's shield.

"Wait, what?!" Maggie shrieked. "You nullified Jelldon's ability!"

"Uh oh…" Jelldon worried.

Hendrix lethargically reached out. "Gate Card, open." The card slowly glowed, making a small field that stopped Jelldon. "Land Pressure!"

The atmosphere around Jelldon intensified, making him anchored to the battlefield. As much as he wanted to move, his soft body wasn't complying. To add insult to injury, his power level went down to 450.

"Jelldon? Jelldon?!" Maggie exclaimed.

"GRAAH!"

When Maggie looked back, her shock was evident on her face. She saw both Rafflesian and Legionoid snarling, growling even as they were eying their adversary. She took a step back, her nerves skyrocketing like crazy.

Hendrix's eyelids went half-shut as he glared at her. "This is why a child like you does not belong here." He said. "To have such a dark truth as cold as reality known is but an early death wish. Rafflesian!"

The Subterra Bakugan growled as he glared at the incapacitated Jelldon. "Yes, master."

When Hendrix showed his Bakumeter, he revealed what was another card. "Do not drag this matter out any longer. Ability activate…Chaos Booster-X!"

The forbidden ability card unveiled itself. Its bright purple core appeared on Rafflesian's front, where it glinted. Purple chords extended in an X-shape and reached all over the body, squeezing tightly like it was constricting him. It held a strong, firm grip against him, and it vanished into his body.

BA-DUMP

A massive heartbeat went through the area. Veins immediately popped out of Rafflesian, a strong, ominous aura enveloping his body. His growls grew darker as the rocks around him began to slowly defy gravity.

Jelldon looked ahead in a quivering fashion as he was given a grim look by Rafflesian. As much as he wanted to move, he knew he was screwed.

"Jelldon!" Maggie fearfully cried.

Rafflesian let loose one more primal shout before his yellow vines arose and slammed into the earth. Two pulsating shockwaves made a massive tremor of intense magnitude that shuddered about. The energy wave ran in two fissures that converged into one at Jelldon. The attack met Jelldon, making him scream as n eruption of dust and shockwaves ploughed into him.

Rafflesian: 250 (+500) = 750 Jelldon: 450

Legionoid: 450

"JELLDON!" Maggie shouted. The shockwaves picked her up as well, sending her screaming and flying onto her back. The girl thudded harshly on her back against the bumpy rocks, instantly sending a shock that made her wince. Meanwhile, the dust cloud in front of her was voluminous, but a bright red sphere went to her side, being Jelldon.

Maggie: 40%

Maggie struggled as much as she could. As dust dissipated around her, she managed enough strength to at least roll onto her belly, hovering over Jelldon.

"M-Maggie?" Jelldon winced. "Are you okay?"

"Y-yeah…I think so…" A little shaken up, she could say, but otherwise it was a little scratch that didn't deter her too badly.

"Now you see?"

A voice called up behind them, getting them to turn and look over their shoulders into the dissipating dust. There, they saw a silhouette coming into view very much like Hendrix.

"A child such as yourself does not belong in this fight. It would've been wise to just stop your own doing before we had to step in."

Maggie's brown eyes furrowed. She picked up Jelldon and stood back up, ready for battle. "Okay, that was pretty good." She admitted. "…but you guys are just as wrong as us in this mess. You're taking from other planets what's rightfully theirs. Don't you know stealing is wrong?"

"As is bringing unnecessary guests to someone's home." Hendrix countered. He cracked his knuckles again, followed by a tilt in the neck to make the bones crack. "Now then…"

Maggie swallowed a hard lump. It looked like she was in for a tough time.

---

Along the craggy coastline, if one got a panoramic view from above, they could see a Darkus Atchibee with a human on its back. It flapped along the air as it was heading to directions unknown. Behind it, many of Bakugan were tailing its direction.

Esther looked back over her shoulder to see the many of Bakugan. "There's even more than there were before!" she warned. "And it looks like they're catching up!"

A consistency of splashes came from below. Esther's ears twitched at the notion of this, making her gasp. When she looked down, she saw the oceanic water beside her and Atchibee was spawning with creatures beneath their waves. Some surfaced and snarled, and some like Clawcer and Stug dared to crawl up and join the march.

"They're coming up from even the ocean!" Esther exclaimed.

"Esther, look out!" Atchibee's body suddenly turned, making Esther gasp and hang on tight as a random red laser shot from behind. The insect maneuvered out of the way and tilted once more, dodging a blue ray that came from behind as well. The Darkus Bakugan jerked upwards next to avoid a small blast that was a green cyclone. She had no choice but to do a barrel roll off to the side to get around it, all while making sure Esther stayed on.

Many of the Bakugan following roared out, their flying and marching speeds in vigorous pursuit.

"They're not letting up!" Esther shouted. She looked down at the sea, her eyes widening again. "On your right!"

Atchibee followed, looking down.

A few wild Abis Omega unleashed helixes of seawater that bloomed from around them. The seawater ll converged to one big tornado that surrounded them. It went wiggling up towards Atchibee, being too great to dodge.

Esther brought her purple Bakumeter up to cast an ability. "Ability activate, Darkus Stream!"

Atchibee stopped in her path and began to viciously flap her wings. The few flaps it took summoned a dark lavender-like cyclone in front of her. The wall of dark winds managed to hold off the blue cyclone heading their way. Being a complete wall, it gave Atchibee and Esther enough time to elude the attackers and fly further away.

"How much further until we lose them?!" Esther exclaimed.

"Not sure! We'll find a way!" Atchibee flapped her wings again, picking up speed to find a place to hide.

Watching from a nearby high point, Xander and Ariella were observing with intrigued but also displeasing looks. It was hard to tell if they were having fun with this, or were annoyed.

"Looks like we have them on the move." Xander scoffed. "That girl with the Atchibee certainly isn't letting up now, is she?"

"Indeed." Ariella agreed with a frown. "And it seems we're driving her right where she want her as well."

"The Wayward Falls."

"Precisely." Ariella couldn't hide it I she tried. A smug smirk crossed her face. "I think I want to deal with her myself."

Xander had hand to his hip. "Heh, well do as you want, but Maximus asked me to tag along with you. So don't get any bight ideas excluding me. That little witch really isn't my favorite either. Next to you of course."

Ariella scoffed back. "Finally, an agreement we've come to. This should be entertaining."

They both watched the Bakugan continue their pursuit from the distance. As they fanned out along the coast, many more were coming from inland along the valleys. And along the sea, some Bakugan were slowly emerging from the water…but only a few.

Ariella frowned.

"What's the matter?"

"There's something not right here."

"Other than you?"

She obviously ignored him. "I would've thought that the reinforcements would be swarming the coast. So why is it that I'm seeing only a few?"

Xander shrugged. "Don't ask me. Aquos Bakugan aren't all that common. You'd be seeing more Pyrus Bakugan taking up space. Maybe they're too far down to bother." He chuckled.

Ariella snuffed at him and turned away. She looked out towards the coast, seeing only but a couple of some Bakugan underwater trailing along and meeting up for the chase. So that begged the question, where are the rest?

---

Dams underwater that allowed passageway out to the ocean in many areas were blocked off, either from being crumbled by rocks or otherwise being blocked off further upstream. Not a single Aquos Bakugan swam their way through the current out towards the perpetual sea. The ones currently out at sea were less than enthused, but they powered on ahead by the commands of Riaan. Many of Abis Omega, Limulus, even Stug, Clawcer, Jelldon, and Freezer, all the Aquos Bakugan capable of swimming as such made their way off the coast.

However, something positive – something relentless – that energy was what drove them towards a little out towards the sea instead. The smell of sanity ran through the water like blood, and that's what drove them to deeper, wider waters.

Some instantly turned as they were swimming along. Their heads all whisked towards west, as if something drastic moved them away from the farther object.

Elsewhere, deep within the water, something swift slithered at an alarming rate.

Many other Abis Omega and other Bakugan were out in the sea, but as they looked around, they found nothing was blending in but deep blue water. Many tried to find the right place where they smelled positive energy, and they out pretty far, but all that they saw were some sinking bodies of a few Abis Omega and Limulus that arrived earlier. They watched them become blue bodies that faded.

And that's when it happened.

"GO!"

"HRAH!"

A lung from straight down shot clean up once more, the strike of an Abis Omega ramming another like a rocket into its maw uppercut it out of proportion. The flexible body instantly turned and hissed angrily at a wayward Clawcer. Abis snapped his jaws and bit into the smaller of the two claws it had, tossing him to the side where another wild Abis Omega tried to lunge. He then turned his body and saw another Abis Omega swim at him, but he was diligent enough to at least move out of its way.

"Bite its tail!" Luke shouted inside his bubble.

Abis opened his maw and did just that. He snapped down again on the flexible tail. The wild Aquos creature yelped before being thrown and whisked around. Abis turned his body to spin his species so incredulously that the massive body became a perk. The long reach slammed and spun into so many in one fell go.

When Abis let go and faltered lower, it was time to hurry with their next offensive.

"Ability activate, Dry World!" Luke exclaimed.

"No problem!" Abis' body expelled a misty, bubbly rupture from his body, where it fizzled into a small field of energy before it revealed a thicker, denser layer of water enveloping him underwater. Charging in with the bubble of water, the Aquos Bakugan and his master went skywards into a Stug that was crawling through the water. It was struck straight below, where it was most vulnerable. It vanished into blue as Abis continued his path and went up. Many of the other Aquos Bakugan followed their path towards him, but through it all, all they could do was play chase.

Once high enough, Abis stopped in his tracks and looked back. "Ability activate, Osmosis!" His body suddenly began to vanish, camouflaging into the murky depths. With his body invisible, the other Bakugan heading his way were unable to tell, leading them to only look at the human "swimming" towards them. With that being their only trademark, they rushed upwards at Luke, but a harsh force making a wave in the water possibly from a tail smacked into the oncoming flow of Bakugan.

It may not have been much, but it was enough to deter them. They all grunted as they looked back up again, snarling or hissing.

Seeing them still there, Luke began to grow frustrated inside. 'Damnit. We're not that strong enough! They're even more resilient than us.' He looked down at Abis Omega, who looked back up towards him. Their eyes met for a second before Luke glared uneasily back at the Bakugan before him. 'We were never that strong to begin with anyway…it was stupid of us to rely on others when they couldn't rely on me, because I didn't have anything to give back to them.'

A few Abis Omega squealed loudly before they started swimming up at them in a frantic manner.

The green eyes of Luke grew astronomically serious. 'But that's why we're doing this.' Abis dodged a fellow wild Abis Omega that shot up, repeating what he did before and snapped on the tail and lashed him into the few others heading from for him. 'It may not be much at all, I doubt it is at all…but we're gonna get stronger! We're gonna make the lives we ruined at ease! WE'LL DIE TRYING!'

Three Limulus and a Clawcer scuttled or swam their way up towards Abis Omega, hissing and roaring in the process.

"ABIS! LET'S GO~!"

Abis' eyes glinted with resolve. "I'm with ya, Luke! HNGH!" He swatted his tail yet again, sending the few Bakugan drifting downwards yet again.

Luke's eyes grew even more spiritually resolved. 'Abis is with me, as I am with him! I may not have understand before, and I still feel sorry for that. I deserve nothing less than to be here in this water, but if Abis is willing to bear his life with mine, then we'll die together!' "ALL THE WAY!" he bellowed. "Ability…activate! Diamond Shower!"

Abis let out a loud, shrilled shriek that echoed through the water. The serpent craned his head around with Luke staying on with gusto. With a lurch of his coiled body, the serpent loosened and expelled an expansive funnel of bright blue energy everywhere. It went about haphazardly to where it enveloped a lot of the Bakugan down below. They all roared in pain as the shards bombarded them, sending them further down into depths and becoming their attribute colors.

"We have to get stronger…for the people who're fighting out there!" Luke raged.

Abis Omega agreed in a loud, shrieking screech in defiance to the other Bakugan, who began to veer in slight shock.

The battle for their repentance was to be eternal from here on…but something else – something more eminent – was to come for them. Deeper down beneath them, many of meters beneath them, if one got a visual upwards, something swam slowly below. Far below.

---

A Subterra Fly Beetle went crawling ahead, but a bright yellow slash made impact with it, morphing it to ball form. Another Haos Jelldon closed in to attack, but it too morphed to ball form in one slash. The culprits were nine other than Alto Brontes and Luka, the latter holding his ground as he evaluated they were surrounded by forces.

"Damnit, how did this happen?!" he cursed. Alto Brontes slashed using his Shining Nightmare, continuously mowing down so many in one blow. "I take one look away and this is where we get ourselves into! How did Riaan evolve to drive this many to his will even?!"

Brontes slashed again, defeating a wild Pyrus Verias. "Luka! Focus!" He slashed again, dissipating through a bright orange beam from a Subterra Verias.

Luke reaffirmed himself and grunted. "Fine. Guess it can't be helped now." He straightened up, glaring as hard as he usually did. "Nothing we can do about that. The others are on their own for now. If they make it out, we'll meet them topside! Now go!"

"Right!" Brontes cackled a laughter as he emitted yellow rings from his arms, creating strong waves of energy that pushed so many Bakugan back, and even more dissipating from his power.

As Alto Brontes and Luka were cleaning house with all the Bakugan drawn towards them, they weren't too far off with what's to come. Along the decrepit earth, something crawled its way ahead that a loud hiss emitted from its armored mouth. Its many eyes glared at the prey before him, reflecting Brontes' image.

Luka created another ability from his Bakumeter. "Ability activate, Magic Dice!" Alto Brontes raised his far two arms up and created a ball of light, one that formulated into a bright, edgy white die. The die had six sides to it, which had many of dots. When one side landed on what looked like a one, four magical guns appeared out of thin air. He took each one and began to fire yellow lasers everywhere. With wild accuracy, just one or two blows everywhere gunned down so many Bakugan. Brontes let loose another cackling, maniacal laughter as he did a 360, having his arms wailing and covering every corner. Everything erupted around him in bombarding bright fashion.

"Go!" Luka ordered.

Brontes shrieked loudly as he fired lasers so fast that the whole terrain was engulfed in dust clouds. Any Bakugan that were astray were gunned down by the relentless blasts that refused to give in. Hell completely broke loose as the entire area became nothing but a mine field of rising dust.

After a long minute, the dust field began to settle down to a degree. Luka looked around discerningly for any signs of Bakugan emitting negative energy, but even with his vision blocked off, he could feel nothing, nor see nothing.

"You think that did it?" Brontes sarcastically asked.

Luka turned away, waving dust off of himself. "Whatever. We got the job done here. Now c'mon, hurry up and find more so we can-!"

A deep, dark purple beam shot out of the dissipating dust cloud, ripping an opening that made it pulse towards Brontes. "Huh?" Before he realized it, the intense blast struck Brontes' side, creating a powerful burst of smoke that toppled him over like a tower. "GAH!" he yelped upon impact.

"Alto Brontes!" Luka gasped. He whipped his head to where the attack originated.

A loud, but audible shriek could've been heard. It wasn't too far off, but it was there nonetheless.

Luka and Alto Brontes slowly got back up. They glared ahead at the dust, looking suspicious as the shriek was audible once more.

"Brontes…"

Alto Brontes readied himself once more. He could feel a greater deal of pressure than he did before. All the others were something, if not nothing. But this pressure he was feeling, it felt distinct. Like he knows it.

The screech was heard again, but this time, a silhouette came out of the dissipating out. As it faded, the Darkus Bakugan revealed itself, standing up tall on its hind and snarling angrily. The Bakugan, to what could be described as a mediocre surprised, was a Darkus Luxtor.

Immediately, Luka's glare hardened. "You…"

Luxtor unleashed his roar once more against them. He certainly didn't seem too pleased either to see them.

"So you want to finish what we started then? Fine by us." He pulled out his energy sword, holding it with gusto and out ahead of him. "Alto Brontes…!"

Brontes let loose a cackling laughter, while Luxtor shrieked out.

---

Abis Omega swam down and headbutt a wild Abis Omega heading right for him. It recoiled back, and he was struck from the side by a Limulus swimming pass him.

Luke swayed a little on the head fin, but he didn't stop. "Keep going." He insisted.

Abis rebounded quickly with his resolve to show. This time, when another Limulus showed itself swimming from the other side, the serpent turned and bared his fangs. Limulus, literally, ran into his mouth, and he snapped down on the front and gave a quick toss yet again, sending it sailing through the sea elsewhere. Abis then used his flexible body to circle and barrel around an oncoming Freezer. Once around, he coiled himself around it and squeezed briefly, just enough to send a shock through it body.

As an Aquos Jelldon came at them, it had blue static along the body. It came awfully close, but Abis was ready.

"Now!" Luke shouted.

"HRAH!" Still coiled around the Aquos Freezer, Abis used the creature for an anchor. He swung around when Jelldon was close enough, smacking it hard with Freezer's body. The coils undid themselves with that momentum undone, leaving The Bakugan to remain frozen from shock in water.

"Ability activate, Fin Melee!" At Luke's insistence, Abis followed suit. He knew to strike fast. He had to if he wanted to survive. Swinging his tail around, a blue slash trail followed as he whacked Jelldon first, and then Freezer.

Both drifted off into the ocean next, fading to blue next.

"We're not letting them get the edge on us." Luke said. "We're not done yet…not here we are."

Abis hissed in compliance. The few Aquos Bakugan out there hissed out as well in retort. Though fewer, they were still greater in numbers that both were willing to be ready for.

KRREEAAAH!

A shrilled, loud shriek pulsated through the water. Its massive frequency immediately stopped everything that was going on. Luke and Abis felt their hearts hitch when they heard that awful sound. Their eyes widened in surprise even as they saw how all the Aquos Bakugan in the area seemed to react just the way they have.

Another low, blood-curdling growl came from the waters. Luke and Abis Omega looked left and right to see where the grotesque feeling was coming from, but the swaying of water was all that was heard.

"What's that?" Luke gasped.

"I…I don't know…"

More hissing came from ahead. Their attention turned towards the Bakugan that were against them. To their surprise, they were seeing the majority of them swimming and scattering in the depths, getting away as far as possible.

"Look, they're swimming away!" Luke pointed out.

"Yeah, I can see." Abis answered. "But…why are they…?"

KRREEAAHH!

The loud shriek came once again. Both of them went wide-eyed as they could tell the sound came down below. From there, they were feeling something. Something grand; something dark. Whatever it was, it was too dark to see from where they were. Their hearts were pulsing from the increased anticipation they were feeling, but more importantly, this level of power.

"I think we're about to find out." Luke muttered.

"Yeah…"

Both of them remained vigilant despite every bone in their bodies telling them to get away. Although, as far as they were concerned, it was too late for that. The shrills stopped crying and the dark depths of the sea began to show a dark silhouette rising up. Its shape, as well as the very slow manner it was coming up from, were sending chills that made Luke and Abis freeze in the water.

The slow, deafening rise it made was like something out of a science horror movie. Its dark features began to dissipate within the light, but seeing it face-to-face left both startled.

"Oh my god…"

The creature slowly coming into view had red eyes that beamed painful daggers at Abis like he was prey. Its lower half was completely bear with light blue scales, but the whole top had sharp, ridged blue scales that looked like impenetrable armor. The many sins all over the body made it even more lustrous, if not perpetually lethal to approach. But the most destructive feature it seemed to have, it came from the front. There, there was an orange nose, one so long and ridged like a spear. The creature looked very much like a swordfish; a very grim swordfish that gave a menacing growl.

"Is that…a Bakugan?" Abis questioned worriedly. The pressure it was giving off was tremendous, as was its size. Granted, though maybe not as long, it was thick, and far deadlier than what he's known.

Luke's teeth gritted at the sight of the monstrosity. There was no backing out. It was too late for that.

The creature gave another shrilling shriek at them, churning water with its vocals. The true challenge has just begun.

---

Hey guys, how are ya? I finally got to getting another one of these chapters written up! And for once, it's under 20K! Yay me! But anyways, I truly do apologize for the wait that it took to make this. My pacing completely died off, and I am getting more hours at work. And to top it all of, I got back a few days ago from my family vacation. Although, I can say for certain that I feel refreshed and ready to write again, so here's this chapter for a start!

So this chapter, I set up a few decent battles that'll go on. I had the rematch of Luka and Alto Brontes VS Luxtor setup, and I set up a really big obstacle for Luke and Abis Omega. I thought something Gundalian would suffice, so I thought something average like Aquos Megarus would suffice.

Next chapter will be another chilling fight lead on. Will Luke and Abis make it out alive? Will Esther and Atchibee get away from Ariella and Xander's forces? Where's Shawn, and how will they win? It's a lot of questions, but hang tight until next chapter! Reviews are very much appreciated, and thanks again for your patience!