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.

28. Results of the Hunt

A dark Subterra Verias raised its staff high, roaring darkly before slamming the staff down against pavement that frightened pedestrians too close. Nearby, a dark-coated Aquos Fly Beetle soared straight over their heads, picking up an intense shockwave that blew light weighted Vestals off their feet onto their backs. No matter where they turned, it was chaos, and creatures were overwhelming them to no end.

A heavyweight Vestal fell onto his back, groaning as Bakugan were glaring down from the distance. Before he could get up, he stared up at the face of a black Hammersaur surrounded with Stug, Abis Omega, and Anchorsaur of attributes varying, and they looked at him like he was prey.

"No…no please…have mercy!" he shakily feared for the worst.

The Hammersaur raised his foot, ready to crush the helpless man. He screamed in sheer fright for his dear life.

"Ability, activate! Trans Rapture Illusion!"

In a white blur, Mach speed limbs passed the Bakugan. Hundreds of volleys looked like thousands of hands in split seconds before Alto Brontes passed them, posing behind without looking. As he smiled maniacally like a clown, the Bakugan were all motionless before fading away in their attribute lights.

The man looked up shocked, realizing he was still alive. "Huh?" He saw a figure stand right in front of him. "Huh? Who are…?"

"Are you alright?" Luka asked. "Are you able to walk?"

The man shakily nodded. "Y-yeah…"

Luka unsheathed his energy sword as he looked away. "Then get going! I can't secure the area with you hanging around here! Head east! That's where the shelter is being made!"

"Right…" The man took off. "Thank you!"

"Just go!" Luka looked back to see the individual hurrying with the crowds swarming the streets. They all looked so frightened as their figures were like ants scuttling towards a single ant hill. "Can't believe how crowded this place has gotten." He grunted, before he faced the horde of Bakugan ahead of him. 'Still, those guys are the least of my problems. I know Riaan's around here somewhere. When I find him…' His eyes narrowed. 'He's gonna have to talk, one way or another.'

The Bakugan all charged, leaving him and Alto Brontes to shift towards them back.

"Riaan, come out of hiding!" Luka slashed his energy sword.

---

While observing over the tallest point of the city, Riaan saw smokestacks rising from various buildings. He saw civilizations beginning to scream and panic. Just by simply looking down he can see a Haos Atmos firing energy beams from its beads into a building already damaged. The top began to slowly topple over, sundering down onto the streets. The magnitude of its tremendous wake echoed throughout air like a dynamite explosion. With all the destruction as cover and casualties sure to fall, this was their chance.

He glanced back at his followers. "Cyrus. Hades Pillars. I believe you know what to do."

"As you wish, sir." Cyrus smirked as bowed, before him and Hades Pillars suddenly teleported away.

Meanwhile, Riaan and Armagedoid resumed watching, staying passively quiet. But Riaan's eyes narrowed as he watched a certain sight to behold from afar. 'Rogue Zero, I've given you great charge…do not disappoint me. The future of Interacia depends on your results. Do what you must, with extreme prejudice.'

---

A Darkus Freezer hung around with a Haos Jelldon, and amongst them, other dark-coated Bakugan were all obediently watching as they watched scene from afar. Their programming was to obey, and to more importantly destroy. But they didn't have minds to bother, so they hung around as Rogue Zero graciously met Luke and the others once more. The group was at a loss for words, much to the amusement of Maximus and Rogue Zero.

"You've gotta be joking." Shuji muttered.

Maximus smirked. "What's the matter? Don't tell me that you didn't miss us so soon. I thought you'd be delighted to see our faces. It's been so long you know."

Maggie balled her little fists. "Oh yeah? Well what if we said we didn't worry about you?"

Cesar let out a maniacal cackle of delight. "Ah, Maggie." He chimed. "Why, that's so hurtful, you just might've hurt our feelings."

"What feelings?"

Cesar faked being shocked. "Why, good heavens! And here you insinuated that we're the bad guys."

"What are you doing here?" Esther demanded, not deriving from the topic any further. "I'd imagine this isn't by coincidence, right?"

Xander smirked. "Perceptive. You sure catch on fast. Not that it isn't obvious, but if you can't tell, this is an important assignment."

Luke balled his fists angrily. "So leveling cities out of the blue is your game?!"

"Well, in a way." Xander leered at him specifically. "But more specifically, our lord requests his space…so that's all that we're doing."

"I see, so you intend a large exodus for Riaan's jurisdiction, sounds about right, doesn't it?" Jase deduced. "We were beginning to wonder how long other worlds were to be affected like this. Seems our timing couldn't have been anymore impeccable. Looks like we've hit rush hour."

Ariella flashed a smirk. "Sorry, but we've came here on business, not that it doesn't involve you." Her eyes narrowed. "Now, are you going to surrender, or perhaps do you intend to settle this the old-fashioned way."

Xander stepped forward. "I think their looks speaks for themselves, Ariella." He saw the serious looks they all had, each one frowning with displeasure.

The Aquos battler musingly scoffed. "So it would seem. So then…" Between her two fingers, her Clawcer was in ball form with a dark aura. "Shall we?"

"Agreed." Hendrix stated sternly. Beside him, Killian rolled his shoulders and began to approach them, standing right behind Maximus as he maliciously smirked.

"Stay sharp, guys." Shawn warned. "Something's seriously different about them today."

"Yeah, they look certain for some reason." Maggie pointed out. When she looked at all 6 glaring with confidence, she could actually see a small deathly aura enveloping them. "Is anyone else a little freaked out by all this?"

"Speak for yourself." Shuji balled a fist. "But if they want a fight, then I say we give it to 'em!"

"Shuji's right. This is no time to be backing down now." Esther said as she stepped forward. "If we're going to save as many lives as possible, we have to do whatever it is we can. That's the first thing we have to do…isn't that right, Luke?"

Luke nodded. "Yeah, you're right!" He rushed ahead and stood with everyone against Rogue Zero's menacing aura. "Look guys, I don't know why Riaan sent you here, but you're hurting innocent lives! Is what you're doing really that worth it?"

Maximus smirked. "Look who's talking."

"What?"

"Come now, don't think the news about Thermosphere doesn't ring any bells, huh?" The notion made Luke flinched. That's the reaction he was looking for. "So you're trying to learn from your own mistakes, huh? How admirable. But we have our own reasons as well."

Before Luke could backlash, Shawn glanced at him. "Luke…stay cool."

"…got it, thanks." He looked deeper at Maximus. 'He's right, something's definitely different about them today. They feel…creepier.' He shook his head to dismiss whatever dark thoughts were sprouting again. 'No, I can't lose my cool. This might be the chance we need to show our results of training.' "Abis Omega!"

"Right!" Abis Omega reverted to ball form, where Luke caught him. With him, the other Bakugan returned to ball form and into their partners' hands.

Maximus stepped forward. "Now then, if you all don't mind, I'd like this one to myself. Goblinball and I have a score to settle with this one in particular. I trust you have the rest covered?"

Xander nodded. "Consider it done." He faced Shawn. "Rogue Zero, let's go."

Hendrix cracked his knuckles as he glared at Esther. Cesar smirked as he floated higher until he was facing Jase. Ariella was glaring at Shuji. Maggie looked determined as it just left her and Killian once again, the two ready to have another rematch after their past couple scuffles. With that, they all looked set.

"Come now, Luke…let's see just how strongly your convictions are now, shall we?" Maximus challenged.

Luke held Abis Omega in his clutches fairly tight. 'This won't be like before. I'm different now. We're different. We've gotta beat these guys if we're gonna save those lives.' He glared forward. 'This time, we're going to stop them here and now!'

---

"Now, Percival!" Ace reached forward, commanding Knight Percival.

Percival opened his maw, which made the draconic shoulder pauldrons open up and create dark magenta energy spheres. "Geor Gunner!" He expelled the three intense blast waves, which streamed into one big blast wave that erupted in a strong explosion that swallowed several Bakugan in one go. They all roared in agony.

Ace smirked. "That'll show 'em."

As the smoke cleared, however, several dark silhouettes began to reveal themselves. Much to everyone's surprise.

"What?" Percival questioned.

As the smoke cleared, it revealed light shields created by Haos Bakugan, who all had dark auras around their bodies. The ability was nullified completely. Moreover, they looked even stronger than before.

"You've gotta be kidding!" Ace exclaimed.

Nearby, several Abis Omega, Stug, even Freezer of the Aquos attribute were firing Aquos Cyclowave in unison. The massive spray of blue energy beams ripped across the ground, creating an explosion that swallowed Nemus in searing agony.

"Nemus!" Baron reached, forward, but the shockwaves picked him up as well. With his partner, both screamed as they landed on their backs, sending incredulous sock through their bodies.

Ace looked back startled. "Baron! Nemus!" Unfortunately that was the distraction needed for several Sub Terra Verias, Rafflesian, and Fly Beetle to send an earth-like magnitude across the ground at Percival and him. When he looked back, a dust storm swept him up and hurled him onto his side, along with Percival.

Before they knew it, Bakugan were surrounding them. They all looked aggressively at them, like gremlins leering with deep, searing eyes that could leave even a child wetting their bed. It was a grim sight, even for them.

'I can't move…this is bad.' Ace looked up at Percival. 'Percival.'

Baron struggled hard to get up, but to no avail. "Nemus…" he and Nemus were barely sitting up, but already all the Bakugan opened their maws to ready an intense unison blast to finish them.

Ace and Baron looked shocked as they braced for eminent impact.

In one fell swoop, gyro, silver energy spheres with yellow blades shrieked through the army. They all diverged, shredding through numbers and attacking the Bakugan. Ace, Baron, Percival, and Nemus all looked terribly shocked as they watched Bakugan fading away with guards down. Before they knew it, they were all given a wide enough atmosphere to move around. Slowly, they all stammered back up, finding space again. Nemus looked left, while Percival looked right; each showed surprise at the numbers wiped clean.

"What just happened?" Percival asked.

"I…I don't know." Nemus answered.

"Well something just happened." Ace complained. "But what-?!" Before he knew it, something stood tall over them, looking away. Alto Brontes towered over with his cynical smile. "Huh?! Woah, where'd that guy come from?!"

"Beats me." Baron said. "But I sure hope he's on our side."

Luka brushed pass the two as he stood beside his Bakugan. "That takes care of these guys in the area! Hurry!" Alto Brontes lowered his hand to allow him onto his shoulder. Once on, he looked around to see the radius they covered. "You guys still able to stand?"

Baron shakily nodded. "Uh…yeah. Thanks, uh…"

Immediately Ace narrowed his eyes. "Just what the heck is going on? Who the heck are you?" All he got was a cold glare from Luka, one that made Ace more than a little unsound.

Percival looked at Brontes, his eyes also narrowing. "Huh…wait? Am I having déjà vu?"

Brontes looked back at them. "Long time no see, Percival. Nemus."

Nemus took a step back. "It can't be…Brontes?"

Brontes offered a cackling laughter. "Good to see you boys still kicking." He lifted all his limbs. "I'd love to stick around and chat, but unfortunately I'm a little busy. Perhaps later, okay?"

"That's Brontes?! For real?!" Ace exclaimed. "You mean Volt's partner? What the heck happened that we missed?" he leered at Luka. "And who're you?"

Luka seethed another harsh glare. "Can you still fight?"

"What?"

"If you can't fight, then head east. There's a shelter being made over there. But if you're really trying, then by all means, secure the area! Just get off your asses and do something!" he roared as Alto Brontes charged with him at the hordes in the distance.

Ace reached out. "Hey…!" But before he knew it, he was already out of earshot. He lowered his clutched fist. "Just what the heck is going on…?"

"I don't know." Baron said. "But I think we should follow his lead for now. Nemus!"

"Got it, Baron!" He charged ahead. "Hang on, guys! Save some for me!" He followed Brontes' lead.

Ace had a bitter expression on his face, but he didn't have time to throw a hot-headed fit. "Guess we haven't got a choice. We'll get answers from that guy later…" He swiped his arm. "Percival!"

Percival followed along, charging with Nemus and Brontes as all three Bakugan and their partners rushed to clear the path.

---

"Gate Card, set." Calmly, Maximus shot a Gate Card between him and Luke. It was the two of them as the others were squaring against one another elsewhere. Once the shockwave subsided, Maximus held up his Bakugan with a menacing aura. "Let's get started. Bakugan, brawl! Bakugan, stand!"

The dark energy erupted, expelling a small gust storm of black winds as the tainted Goblinball arose to do battle. He expelled a small, bloodcurdling shriek that shredded through the ears of any within the area.

"Goblinball." Abis Omega sniped.

The Bakugan looked down, his bright eye having a searing look. "You ready to play?" Maximus challenged.

Luke braced himself. "Guess there's no choice now. You ready, Abis Omega?" He threw his arm forward. "Let's go! Bakugan, brawl! Bakugan, stand!"

In a blue light, Abis Omega appeared in various coils until his head arose. He flexed his fins and let out a shriek of his own.

Goblinball: 500 Abis Omega: 450

Maximus' smirk faded away. "Well now, didn't see that coming."

"Doesn't matter." Goblinball sniped. "Their power levels may have risen…but let's see for how long."

"Bring it!" Abis Omega immediately lunged ahead, sending himself like an outstretched missile that bashed into Goblinball's own head. The impact caused the Darkus Bakugan to recoil a few meters backwards. The Bakugan managed to adjust himself in time before Abis Omega swung his tail around. He ascended to dodge, getting enough aerial distance to keep himself clear of his long body. Abis Omega glared up, hissing in retort of the defensive play.

'We need to take the initiative.' Luke held up his Bakumeter, showing an ability. "Ability, activate! Dry World!" Around Abis Omega, moisture and mist from the surrounding air began to condense, until it sprouted into a mist cloud that Abis Omega shot out of inside a water bubble.

Goblinball: 500 (-200) = 300 Abis Omega: 450 (+200) = 650

As Abis Omega went for the climb skywards at Goblinball, the Bakugan remained stationary while Maximus countered. "Ability activate, Shadow Snatch!" From around Goblinball, thick tendrils of shadows expelled from the body and went shooting at Abis Omega's water bubble.

Goblinball: 300 (+200) = 500 Abis Omega: 650 (-200) = 450

Abis Omega continued the assault regardless, counting on Luke for the counter. "Ability activate, Coil Guard!" In the bubble, Abis Omega wrapped around himself into tightened coils. When the shadows hit, they laced themselves around the bubble of water, holding it tight until it popped. When it did, the sprays of water went everywhere, and yet the shadows assaulted Abis Omega, but he held on. He undid his coils and used the momentum to lunge at Goblinball.

Goblinball: 500 (-200) = 300 Abis Omega: 450 (+200 +100) = 750

Abis Omega hissed loudly as he reached and arched down on Goblinball. They both plundered to the ground, where there, a smoke wave erupted as a magnitude went through the ground beneath them. When the smoke cleared, Goblinball was seen in Abis Omega's coils, restraint from mobility.

"Very frontal." Maximus smirked. "I like that."

"We haven't been sitting around. We came here to stop you guys from causing trouble." Luke stated, though this served to make Maximus raise a brow.

"Is that so?" He lifted his arm to show a certain ability pattern. "Then perhaps you won't mind if we return the results of our own labors. Ability, activate! Phantom-X!"

Luke's eyes widened. 'He's using that move now?!'

Unfortunately even Abis Omega found himself shocked by this. Before he could get away, the core exposed itself, snaring tendrils that faded into Goblinball's body. Slowly, his pupil and sclera both started shrinking, and a pulsating heartbeat echoed through the atmosphere. A dark, cold, violet aura started eroding from his body, and yet the sea serpent was in shock.

"Huh? Oh cra-!"

Before he knew it, a dark ominous shockwave expelled from Goblinball, engulfing Abis Omega in a dark flare of raw Darkus attributed power. The energy automatically released the serpent and sent him flying off.

Goblinball: 300 Abis Omega: 750 (-500) = 250

"Abis Omega!" Luke shouted through the dark shockwaves. As if by responding, the sea serpent barreled over the ground until he managed to loosely hover beneath the shockwaves, though he was hampered significantly. "Abis…" He shot glares at Maximus, seeing his smirk only rile him up further. "What is he thinking? You okay, pal?!"

Abis Omega strained through the excessive force, but otherwise held on.

"I wonder…" Maximus taunted. "Was all that just tough talk?"

Luke narrowed his eyes. "Not on our watch! Ability activate…" Abis Omega opened his maw wide, generating great deals of pressure. "Aquos Cyclowave!" The serpent released a powerful, compressed stream of blue energy that rushed through the dark waves at Goblinball, landing a clean, explosive blow that made the ground shudder beneath them.

Goblinball was seen roaring as he veered away, his attack dissipating itself. Though a small dark aura enveloped him still.

Goblinball: 300 Abis Omega: 250 (+400) = 650

Maximus' eyes narrowed. "…" A weak smirk was all he mustered as he witnessed the counter Luke provided. "That's new as well. Seems he did have some new tricks up his sleeve after all."

Goblinball adjusted. "Hmm, no problem!"

"We'll see…ability activate, Darkus Force!" Goblinball opened his mouth and created a violet and purple energy hemisphere, which surged into a stream at Abis Omega.

Goblinball: 300 (+300) = 600 Abis Omega: 650

Abis Omega saw the blast wave and expelled another blue energy blast. The two energy waves congregated to one point, in which they fought for dominance to neither side giving in. Slowly, blue began to overpower, but was pushed back again by darkness.

"We're not done yet!" Luke shouted.

"And neither are we." Maximus reached down. "Gate Card, open! Element Merge!" The Gate Card revealed itself, creating a wavy aura that went over Abis Omega's body and seeped into an arch into Goblinball. Their power transferred 200 Gs, making Abis Omega 450 and Goblinball 800.

"Abis!"

Luke's cry didn't help as the energy transfer made Abis Omega lose momentum he lurched back as the dark energy was beginning to overwhelm his own power. His eyes narrowed as he realized this. Thankfully not dumb as he was before, he slipped around the assault at the last second, managing to escape the shockwaves as well.

'That's it, just close in.' Maximus watched the snake follow him. 'Now!' He reached forward, commanding Goblinball to turn and wait for the serpent to attack. He unleashed dark volleys that rushed at Abis, who barely dodged each one with serpentine fashion. When one stray volley closed in, it erupted in front of him, sending the serpent into the sky. "Too easy."

"Abis!" Luke exclaimed.

Abis Omega crashed into the ground on his back. While noble in efforts, his actions were for naught as Goblinball hovered overhead. Maximus chuckled. "So, Luke, got any other tricks you wanted to show me?"

Luke wasn't sure of this was a gamble or not, but he wasn't willing to take chances. He needed to get Abis Omega back up and pronto. "Let's try this!" he shouted. "Ability, activate! Abyssal Deluge!" Slowly, around Abis Omega, energy currents began to erode into a blue whirlpool that the serpent started forming. He moved his head and hissed as a sudden rush of water expelled below, swallowing the Gate Card in a flurry of geysers. The card shattered as a straight line of pillars rushed for Goblinball, until the last one made its mark below, swallowing the creature.

Goblinball: 800 (-200) = 600 Abis Omega: 450 (+200 +300) = 950

"Like that!" Luke roared.

Maximus smirked at the display. He whipped his hands up. "Come, Darkus Fortress!" With no warning, he summoned his Bakugan Trap, which appeared in front of the water geysers rushing up below. It shielded Goblinball from anymore pressure.

Goblinball: 600 Abis Omega: 950

Fortress: 400

Luke's eyes widened. "He used his trap as a shield?"

Maximus reached forward. "Now, double ability, activate! Irate Eye, plus Crossfire!" All the shafts on Fortress showed themselves. Massive holes opened to reveal cannons that were poised and attacked tremendously. Purple beams and laser blasts shot excessively into the oncoming geysers, making bursts of water that were cover; some were strong enough to bullet clean through and get areas around Abis Omega, throwing him off with Luke. Fortress let loose tremendously shooting profusely on overdrive that left Abis Omega open and straining.

Goblinball: 600 Abis Omega: 950 (-300 -200) = 450

Fortress: 400 (+300) = 700

"Abis!" Luke cried out through explosions.

Maximus smirked. "No use. Goblinball?" He snapped his fingers, giving the word.

Goblinball's eye charged up darkness, crackling black electricity. Once aimed, he let loose a clean beam through the loose cannons of Fortress. Once Through the disarray, the purple beam raced like a death ray that Abis Omega wasn't able to counter. He looked ahead, only to be enveloped in a dark explosion. He screamed in agony as he fell backwards in pain, his head thudding hard. Which lead to him returning to ball form at Luke's feet.

Luke looked shocked s his life gauge fell to 50%. The shock on his face was priceless as Fortress and Goblinball returned to Maximus, who caught them with ease. He picked up Abis Omega with worry. "Abis Omega, you okay?"

"That wasn't too shabby." Maximus admitted. "Not too shabby." He snickered.

Luke glared daggers at him, growling as he was being taunted. "What's with him? It's like he's a different person now? It's weird…"

"That's saying something. I think he's trying to provoke us." Abis Omega guessed.

"Come now, show me your resolve." Maximus challenged. "Let us know why you're here. Is it worth the trouble?"

---

"Gate Card, set!" Esther threw her Gate Card between her and Hendrix. Once it faded, she was in position to throw. "Bakugan, brawl! Darkus Atchibee, stand!" In a dark glow, Atchibee arose and flapped her wings, expelling a shriek as she glared down her adversary.

Hendrix gave a serious glare and turned to look at Rafflesian. "Please, lend me your strength once more." He clutched the Bakugan and threw him in. "Bakugan, brawl! Rafflesian, stand!" Similar to the glow Atchibee gave off, a brown aura arose from the ground, expelling Rafflesian, who had a low roar exerted.

Rafflesian: 450 Atchibee: 450

Without much words, Hendrix went to work. "Ability activate, Ground Force!" With a swipe of his arms, he commanded his Rafflesian to unleash his ability. The plant-like creature roared as the ground shuddered and a glistening aura resonated from it. Rafflesian exerted a roar as he plunged two wines into the ground, creating a figure that eroded dust waves at Atchibee.

Rafflesian: 450 (+300) = 750 Atchibee: 450

The dust wave continued in their direction, but Esther had a counter already. "Ability, activate!" she shouted. "Darkus Stream!" Atchibee fluttered her wings, summoning a purple whirlwind that turned into a small twister that surrounded her. The dust waves and fissure opened up beneath, expelling great deals of pressure, but Atchibee was protected by her tornado that winded up the rocks and dirt.

Hendrix grunted.

Esther showed another ability. "Fusion Anility, activate! Chaos Turnover!" The whirlwind of purple energy abruptly eroded from a glint inside. Suddenly it enflamed to a dark violet, purplish tornado that whirled around Atchibee. It suddenly arched down and snaked over Rafflesian, who was stationary while the attack swallowed up the Bakugan. His roars were s clear as crystal while Atchibee's flames consumed him.

Rafflesian: 750 (-300) = 450 Atchibee: 450 (+200) = 650

Atchibee quickly closed the distance. "You're mine!" She went and slashed ahead of her.

In a split rush, Hendrix had an ability at the set. "Ability, activate. Mineral Plight!" The negative flames around Rafflesian were starting to dissipate as another aura enveloped Rafflesian, in which made the ground shimmer orange.

Rafflesian: 450 (+200) = 650 Atchibee: 650

Atchibee slashed her scythes in a cross, making Rafflesian roar. But bellow, his thorny roots suddenly burrowed skywards, getting around Atchibee while breaking apart the ground.

"Ability, activate! Root Seep!"

Vines snared and anchored Atchibee. Her scythes were the first things entangled, then the body. She found herself incapable of moving as the thorns were piercing her skeletal body. She did her best to fight through it.

Rafflesian: 650 (+200) = 850 Atchibee: 650 (-200) = 450

"Atchibee!" Esther exclaimed. Her partner couldn't move much at all.

"I didn't intend to get this personal." Hendrix got her attention. "However, you and your allies have made yourselves a very grim exception in Rogue Zero's case. I would prefer it if we can settle this now before it's too late."

Esther's eyes narrowed. "And how is it not too late already?" she argued. "You've invaded New Vestroia for DNA replication, you've already influenced Earth, and now you're destroying Vestal. Exactly what are you hoping to attain through this scuffle?"

Hendrix chose not to give in so easily. "Less than what you already know."

Esther realized she wasn't getting anywhere. Atchibee weakly craned her head. "Gnnngh! Esther!" she warned.

"Right! Gate Card, open! Darkus Reactor!" The Gate Card revealed itself, enhancing the power that Atchibee needed as a purple aura enveloped her through the energy field around them.

Rafflesian: 850 Atchibee: 450 (+150) = 600

Esther inserted another ability card at the ready. "Ability, activate! Scare Flash!" Atchibee's wings emitted an ominous glow, which started low and suddenly bloomed to incredulous levels. The blinding array was enough to leave Rafflesian to recoil his tendrils away and veer off to avoid direct, burning contact. He grunted as the waves from the defensive play was stinging hard.

Rafflesian: 850 (-200 -200) = 450 Atchibee: 600 (+200 +200) = 1000

The light was illuminating as it was deadly, and yet Esther remained calm. "We won't give up just because you think we are out of place." She said. "We cam hereat our own risks."

Hendrix glared forward, pulling out two abilities. "So be it…then suffer the consequences at your own transgression." The two abilities shined in unison. "Double ability, activate! Corona Thorns, plus Chaos Booster-X!"

At the call of the ability, Rafflesian began to feel another heartbeat run through his body as a strong flow of dark aura began to course through the vines as the normal aura around them started turning dark. An intense gravitational energy fluxed in and out, leaving the light from Atchibee's attack to deflect around him.

Esther immediately picked up on the shift in power. 'Something's wrong…' "Atchibee, look out!"

Atchibee heed her call and ascended, but it was for naught as Rafflesian let out a shrill cry as his thorny vines embedded in the dark aura plunged into the darkness. The dark matter instantly shattered, and a dark shockwave exploded into a minefield of thorns and intense, pulsating pressure that blew into Atchibee's altitude. It was so powerful it blew her away uncontrollably.

Rafflesian: 450 (+500) = 950 Atchibee: 1000 (-150 -200) = 650

Esther tried to fight through the shockwaves, but even she found herself unable to respond properly. She used her arm to cover herself up and glared skywards, seeing the brown pressure waves around the gleaming silhouette of Rafflesian. 'They've made a nullification ability imply this much power!'

Hendrix reached out, commanding Rafflesian once more. With a grunt, Rafflesian understood. "Yes, master!" With a roar, he exerted a stronger shockwave throughout his surroundings, hitting Atchibee like a brick wall. The moth Bakugan stood no chance as she found herself blown away.

Esther nearly fell to her side as the dust eroded at her hip. Atchibee reverted to ball form and went beside her, while her own life gauge fell to 40%. She grunted as she slowly tried standing up once more.

Hendrix's coat shifted as he looked unfazed by even the slightest wind. "If you truly intend to take this path, then there shall be no mercy." He shook his head. "Not even from us."

Esther picked up Atchibee, her battle spirit still on a cool yet cold disposition. "Well played." She remarked. "You've gotten stronger as well. Atchibee…"

Atchibee opened up. "I know, Esther. Let us not give up."

"No, we shan't." she faced Hendrix, ready to fight on. "There's no room for another misstep. Not again."

---

"So, mind telling me what you and your friends are doing here?" Shawn questioned accusingly.

Xander chuckled. "Isn't it obvious?" he raised his chin. "I already said we're setting the stage for our lord Riaan, so what else could you possibly want?"

Shawn narrowed his eyes. "Exactly, so what are you setting the stage for, exactly?"

Xander scoffed. "Well you sure don't ask dumb questions." He faced Shawn with a glare of challenge. "Perhaps you'll see for yourself eventually, but I guess we'll see how long that'll be."

Shawn braced himself as he held onto Verias.

Xander threw the Gate Card out first. Without a word, it swept onto the battlefield, fading into a red shockwave across the ground. "Bakugan, brawl!" He threw in a red orb, which popped open as its top spun. "Hyper Dragonoid, stand!" In a vortex of fire, a red glow emanated from it, revealing the spinning rise of Hyper Dragonoid. He released a shrilled roar in the heated atmosphere.

"Verias." Shawn said.

"Yeah, I feel it. His power is intense." The simian bakugan answered.

"Isn't that an understatement…so let's not keep him waiting." Whether he referred to Luke or his opponent was up to interpretation. Still, he grabbed Verias and threw him in. "Bakugan, brawl! Haos Verias, stand!" In a yellow light, Haos Verias stood, twirling his staff and pointing its tip at Hyper Dragonoid.

Hyper Dragonoid: 500 Verias: 450

"So, you're the monkey who Maximus and Goblinball lost to?" Hyper Dragonoid scoffed. "Heh, this should be a blast."

Verias remained unfazed by the taunt. "You sure talk as big as your partner, I'll give you that."

Shawn was the first to show an ability. "Ability activate, Siba Feral!" Verias took a knee and made a leap skywards. He hovered over Hyper Dragonoid in the sky before he twirled his staff overhead and came down. Hyper Dragonoid veered out of the way in time to avoid the slam. Verias landed on the ground, but he jumped again and spun in midair, lashing his staff against Hyper Dragonoid's side that he blocked using his forearm, yet the blow knocked him away a few feet.

Hyper Dragonoid: 500 (-200) = 300 Verias: 450 (+200) = 650

Verias made one more swing, roaring as he came closer.

"Ability, activate!" Xander shouted. "Interlock Dragon!" Hyper Dragonoid opened his maw and a condensed fireball enflamed inside. When Verias was close enough he exerted the fireball, in which Verias swung into. The two attacks came together into a heated center, but Verias found himself wincing at the scorching heat. Before he knew it, the fireball exploded, sending him packing and sliding across the ground.

Hyper Dragonoid: 300 (+200 +200) = 700 Verias: 650 (-200) = 450

"So what'll you do?" Xander challenged.

Shawn glared as he brought his Bakumeter up, indicating another ability. "Ability, activate!" Verias flipped as he slid, using a claw to anchor himself in a harsh slide back. He took a leap skywards, getting above the dragonoid again. "Verias Siba!" Verias came down with yellow flaming light energy in his twirling staff.

"Like that'll help you!" Proving his point, Xander swiped his arm, making Hyper Dragonoid shoot another fireball skywards.

"Fusion Ability, activate!" Shawn added. "Lucifer Bow!"

In midair, Verias prodded his staff at the bottom of the light wheel and aimed inside. He reached inside and energy bows and arrows showed. He glared ahead, ready to do some damage. With a harsh grunt, he let go of the bow, shooting a golden energy stream that shot clean through the incoming fireball. The attack made contact with Hyper Dragonoid's chest, exploding in a powerful light burst.

Hyper Dragonoid: 700 (-350) = 350 Verias: 450 (+200) = 650

The dust cleared away, but Xander meekly frowned. His Hyper Dragonoid was still standing once smoke cleared, but he staggered a bit. He was able to catch Verias still coming down, and he expanded his wings and went airborne in time as Verias slammed on the spot where he was originally, making the ground explode.

"How annoyingly persistent you are." Hyper Dragonoid scoffed.

Xander smirked. "Now I see how you take after that Luke guy." He held up another ability. "Ability activate, Pyrus Volting!" Hyper Dragonoid opened his maw and expelled a pressurized blast of fire that hit the ground in front of Verias. He jumped away to avoid it, but Hyper Dragonoid's head turned to make it trace towards him. This made Xander's smirk widen.

"Ability activate, Caroline Protector" Shawn exclaimed.

Verias slid to a stop and watched the attack head his way. He reached up and twirled his staff again, managing to keep the fire from touching his fur. As he twirled it, the fire spun with the staff, until he pivoted and sent the stream of fire back with a single swing.

Hyper Dragonoid: 350 (-300) = 50 Verias: 650

Xander hurriedly reached down for the battlefield. "Gate Card, open! Explode!" The Gate Card revealed itself, creating a sudden rainbow explosion that shot up like a wall between Hyper Dragonoid and the stream of fire. The attack dissipated quickly.

"What?!" Shane gasped.

Xander smirked. "Surprised? This card nullifies all abilities, and it brings all Bakugan on my side back to their base levels." Proving his point, the explosion dissipated, leaving Hyper Dragonoid unfazed. In fact, he looked even more excited than before as his power went back to 500. "Alright, time to get serious. Hyper Dragonoid, ability activate! Fire Blazing-X!"

A purple core shined on Hyper Dragonoid. He shuddered incredulously as he strained to keep himself upright. He felt the tendrils fade into his body, which caused his own heartrate to rise. Slowly, a heat wave eroded from him that made Verias recoil.

"You feel that?"

"Yeah…this is gonna get ugly." Shawn braced himself. "Verias, brace yourself! Ability, activate!" Hyper Dragonoid expelled a shockwave of intense heat all around. It closed in on Verias, but Shawn made it at the last second. "Caroline Protector!"

Verias jutted his staff forward to summon a heavenly light from above. Even with it, the shockwaves of pure heat were so strong that it made him jut back, Though the ability's effects were nullified, the raw power he was feeling was completely overwhelming him. He grunted at the pain he was feeling, and how hot it was getting.

Shawn covered up as he was starting to sweat. "Gnnngh, this heat…is he really drawing out this much more flare…?"

Xander reached forward. "Ability, activate!"

The light shield dissipated, leaving Verias open and in shock. "What the-?!"

"Blitz Sparta!" Turns out the nova he exerted was a distraction. With Verias warned down from that blow, the Bakugan was open to be rushed by a flaming comet that soared and crashed into him, making an explosion of fire that made the ape scream in flaming pain.

"Verias!" Shawn shouted through the shockwaves.

Hyper Dragonoid: 500 (+200) = 700 Verias: 650 (-200) = 450

Verias reverted to ball form, plopping to Shawn's feet as his life gauge dropped to 50%. Hyper Dragonoid chuckled as he saw victory this round and reverted to ball form.

Xander grinned. "You know, I was wondering just how Maximus lost to someone like you. Seems to me he had nothing to worry about."

Shawn leered at him as he picked up Verias. "You're a lot more messed up than what I thought of you before."

"You should be lucky that I feel that way. After all, if Maximus and Luke are at each other's throats, who's to say we shouldn't be as well? What do you say, from one wingman to another?"

Shawn stood up in challenge. "You wanna stake it to that claim huh?" He pulled out his fencer and sheathed it again, making its clang ripple as his glare intensified. "But don't expect me to give me a reason not to clip you, wingman."

Xander's eyes narrowed. "Be my guest."

---

Ariella was facing Shuji with a cold, searing frown deep on her face. "What are you looking at?" Shuji asked angrily.

"Nothing but a problem child standing in my way." She answered. "If you got something to say, speak up."

"Haye to break it to ya, but I haven't got anything to say to a witch like you." He mocked.

Ariella smirked. "So be it."

Shuji whipped out his card. "Gate Card, set!" He threw the card between them, expanding in an orange shockwave across the battlefield. He held up Fly Beetle and braced himself. "Let's do this…Bakugan, brawl! Bakugan, stand!" In an orange light, Fly Beetle roared as he arose to do battle against his mighty foes.

Ariella was next as she served. "Bakugan, brawl! Bakugan, stand!" Likewise, for her, a blue light eroded skywards, revealing Clawcer with his big claw sniping the air.

Clawcer: 450 Fly Beetle: 400

"Ya ready, Fly Beetle?" Shuji roared.

"More than ever." Fly Beetle arose by flapping his insectoid wings, taking flight.

Ariella was the first to take action. "Ability, activate! Aquos Cyclowave!" Her Clawcer opened his claws and steadied himself to fire a bright blue beam that shot across the landscape at Fly Beetle.

Shuji remained calm as he showed an ability. "Ability, activate!" he reached forward. "Subterra Seeker!" Fly Beetle opened his wing shields and the scents on them had a magma-like inclusion on them/ The blue beam that would've had disastrous results suddenly found itself ripping across the atmosphere back at Clawcer, exploding in his face and making him lurch back in pain.

Clawcer: 450 (-400) = 50 Fly Beetle: 400 (+100) = 500

Clawcer grunted as Fly Beetle hovered. "It's gonna take a lot more than that now!" he exclaimed.

"Gnngh! We'll see about that!" the crustacean sniped.

Ariella raised her arm. "Ability, activate! Shield Crush Delta!" Clawcer pinched his claws together and made a blue cresent from them. He raised his arm and took aim, shooting the crescent forward in a searing graze.

"Ability, activate! Exo-Shield!" Fly Beetle's body was coated in an orange filament, which braced him and nullified the ability upon contact. Shuji's eyes narrowed as he punched forward. "Alright, let's be done playing! Ya with me?!"

"You speak my mind!" Fly beetle beat his wings faster and made an abrupt shot across the landscape, where he rammed Clawcer horn first with intense results. The impact made Clawcer recoil, though Fly Beetle didn't call quits so easily as he dug his claws into the carapace, anchoring the crustacean down as his tusks and horn went in a furious array around him.

As Clawcer was being pushed around, the landscape shuddered as Ariella stared nonchalantly. She grinned. "Okay, so maybe it can pull its own weight after all. But still…" She threw a contraption skywards. "Bakugan Trap, Tripod Theta, stand!" Appearing in a blue bolt, a burst of mist eroded from the ground. Beside Clawcer, Tripod Theta revealed himself, growling low.

Clawcer: 50 Fly Beetle: 500

Tripod Theta: 350

"Her Bakugan Trap?" Shuji showed a little surprise by that last part. "They seriously pulling out the stops this early?"

Ariella showed seriousness. "You'd be surprised, big guy. Ability, activate! Gale Malice!" Tripod Theta was surrounded in a green aura as he raised his staff. Around him, a small typhoon whipped up, swirling itself towards Fly Beetle. The sudden pickup created a powerful draft that the horned insectoid found himself unable to properly maneuver out of. He was picked up into the air and fumbled around endlessly, roaring in contorted mess.

Clawcer: 50 Fly Beetle: 500 (-200) = 300

Tripod Theta: 350 (+200) = 550

Fly Beetle screamed as Tripod Theta controlled the tempest with his trident and stomped the bottom onto the ground, suddenly projecting all the wind into a force of gravity that anchored him to the earth.

"Hang in there!" Shuji shouted through the straining winds.

Ariella smirked as she found her opportunity. Through the gust storm, she reached forward. "Now! Clawcer!" At her command, Clawcer raise his mighty claw. "Ability, activate! Vice Snipper!" Clawcer's claw began to coat into an intense blue static as he prepared a deep snap down on Fly Beetle.

"Not on my watch ya don't…" Shuji showed an ability. "Let's see you hit your way through this. Ability activate, Cast-Iron Carapace!" At the call of the ability, the energy surrounding Fly Beetle started to churn as a shimmering orange filament engulfed his body. He stiffened into a steel-hard shell that Clawcer ran his claw into, but the casing was too thick to break through and backed off.

Clawcer: 250 Fly Beetle: 300 (+200) = 500

Tripod Theta: 550

"Another defense?" Ariella inquired. "You can't win just by defending alone, you know that?"

Shuji frowned. "Yeah, but it's better than sorry." He reached down calmly. "Gate Card, open! Power Pressure!" The Gate Card opened, making a white glow that started sinking Tripod Theta. The Bakugan Trap looked down and realized it wasn't able to move. "That'll hold your little helping hand down. Now…" Shuji raised his arm high. "Ability, activate! Diagonal Relation of Subterra and Aquos!"

The attributed circle showed itself, revealing the two attributes that made the Bakugan on the battlefield. Fly Beetle was enveloped in an empowering aura of his attribute color, which made him roar.

Clawcer: 250 Fly Beetle: 500 (+300) = 800

Tripod Theta: 550

"Get 'em!" Shuji exclaimed.

Fly beetle's eyes glowed brightly beneath the casing. "My thoughts exactly!" His carapace shell suddenly shattered, leaving a blinding blur that Clawcer was bypassed by. He winced as Fly Beetle soared pass him towards the most suitable target, Tripod Theta. When he was close enough, he exerted a powerful roar as he streamlined into the chest, knocking the Bakugan Trap into the air. Tripod Theta roared as it went into a blue light and plopped next to Ariella as a trifold pyramid again. She frowned in displeasure.

Ariella: 50%

'Can't let the momentum run dry. Gotta get her before she can recover.' Shuji thought. "Alright, go for the kill!"

"My pleasure!" Fly Beetle buzzed around into an arch that hovered towards Clawcer. He closed in with his claws and tusks, ready to end this.

Ariella, however, showed a leering gaze. Opportunity was upon her. 'Now!' "Ability, activate! Crustacean-X!" The forbidden ability that was called upon created its purple core, resonating a deep, intense wave of tendrils surrounding Clawcer. The tendrils quickly enveloped him, fading and created a pulse that made veins appear around Clawcer. He roared out loud as his body was enveloped in a dark blue aura, one that had an ominous appeal to it.

Shuji's eyes widened. "It's that card again…oh snap!"

He realized his mistake, but it was too late. Try as he might, Fly Beetle flew directly into a shockwave of blue pulsating pressure that came from the crab. The energy aura surrounding him faded, and he found himself losing momentum as he fought through the shockwaves.

Clawcer: 250 (+400) = 650 Fly Beetle: 800 (-400) = 400

Before he had the chance, Clawcer brought his claw enveloped in aura around and hammered Fly Beetle when he got close. The impact created a powerful blue burst of energy that sent a gust storm at Shuji. The Subterra battler was picked up from his feet and screamed as he fumbled onto his stomach, grunting as the pulsing impact harshly scored Fly Beetle's loss. He became a ball form that plopped to his feet.

Shuji: 50%

Clawcer returned to Ariella, who remained stoically calm and maniacal. She watched Shuji stammer back up with dust and bruises on him. "You really think this was your playground?" Her eyes narrowed. "Well then…let me know if you're having fun."

Shuji gradually got back up and glared daggers back. "This chick…" he seethed through his teeth. "What the heck's her deal?"

---

Maggie was squaring against Killian, the Pyrus battler balling her fists as she saw the expressionless face her opponent gave her. "It's you again." She chimed rather half-heartedly. "I should've known you guys would be crashing our little party."

Killian had hands in his pockets. "Sorry for the arrival, we didn't know we weren't invited." He chimed back. "Then again, nobody ever said this wasn't an invitational."

Maggie scoffed. "Well we're gonna crash your little party in kind. This time, we're not gonna lose like before, right Jelldon?"

"Yes, ma'am!" he nodded, holding onto high confidence.

Killian glared at them, bracing himself for battle. 'Can't lag around too long. We have to get the job done, or Galilea and the honchos won't get that core set up.' When he thought about Galilea, her body layout flashed in his mind. Memories of last night's pleasure replayed in his mind, leaving him contorted in the face. This didn't go unnoticed by Maggie or Jelldon.

"Uh, is he thinking or constipating?" she asked her Bakugan.

"I-I don't know…"

Realizing he was dawdling in his own personal pleasures, he mentally slapped himself and glared forward. 'No time for that. Gotta keep it up or our payroll's gonna suffer as much as us.' "Moskeeto!" His call for his Bakugan was answered and the Ventus Bakugan closed and entered his palm. Killian swiped his arm. "Gate Card, set!" He threw the card outwards, which eroded to a green shockwave. "Bakugan, brawl! Moskeeto, stand!" A green gust picked up, leaving Maggie and Jelldon to watch as Moskeeto arose with a buzzing hiss for battle.

"Well, here we go again. Get ready, big guy!" She grabbed Jelldon and threw him in. "Bakugan, brawl! Bakugan, stand!" With a red glow, Pyrus Jelldon arose to do battle. He roared aloud with tentacles waving.

Moskeeto: 450 Jelldon: 400

Killian didn't waste any time. "Ability, activate! Parasite Claw!" His Moskeeto raised his claws and expelled green laser blasts from the hard nails it had. They shot at Jelldon, while his power level dropped to 200.

"Ready, Jelldon?!" Maggie chimed.

"Yeah…let's go!" he breathed.

Maggie showed her red Bakumeter and granted an ability. "Ability, activate! Jolt Eraser!" The frilly outlines Jelldon's midsection began charging with static. Once he was charged, it was just in time as the green beams reached him. With a shout, he expelled great levels of electricity that eroded outwards. The electrical field shielded him from the attacks, and stray sparks shot pass Moskeeto as he acted fast enough to dodge them.

Moskeeto: 450 (-200) = 250 Jelldon: 200 (+200 +200) = 600

"Keep the pressure on, Jelldon!"

"No you don't." Killian retorted. He swiped his arm skywards. "Moskeeto, up! Stay out of range!"

"Got it!" The humming mosquito-like Bakugan ascended out of Jelldon's reach of the discharge, which soon dissipated.

Maggie grinned as she held up another ability. "Somebody need a bug zapper? Ability activate, Sting Ray!" Jelldon's tentacle tips were surrounded in red electricity and he aimed the tips skywards. Weak red jolts bolted into the sky, many of which Moskeeto remained painfully aware of.

Moskeeto: 250 Jelldon: 600 (+200) = 800

The bolts shot wildly, and Jelldon was trying really hard, but Moskeeto was too high and too fast. He tried to anticipate, and he shot a red jolt in front of Moskeeto, managing to cut him off. "Hrah!" With a rush for the opportunity, the tentacle shot another red electric blast for Moskeeto, but even that aim was terribly off as it was just a little too low. He grunted in slight frustration.

"He's too high." Maggie grunted.

Killian swiped his arm. "Gate Card, open! Ventus Reactor!" The Gate Card opened, creating the green attributed card before the atmosphere around them began to change to a green sky. A draft expelled from the card, enveloping Moskeeto in a small cyclone.

Moskeeto: 250 (+150) = 400 Jelldon: 800

Despite the tornado surrounding the opponent, Maggie knew he had to be there somewhere. She hummed low as she tried scoping him out.

"Maggie, what do we do?!" Jelldon shouted through the winds.

"We'll just have to smoke him out then! Double ability, activate!" Maggie cried out. "Shockwave, plus Fusion Ability, Glowcer Red!" Jelldon braced himself as the massive red glow in his orange body parts started shining. Pulsating pressure eroded as electrical currents surge as he raised all four stingers. "Okay…" She punched forward. "Let it, rip, Jelldon!"

With a large, slightly crazed cry, Jelldon slammed the tentacles down, creating a red electrical shockwave that went everywhere, while a green forcefield expanded it and made a dome of electricity surge. Once it hit the base of the wind, it toned it down, leaving the shockwaves to attack Moskeeto.

Moskeeto: 400 (-200 -100) = 100 Jelldon: 800 (+200) = 1000

The red discharge closed in, but Killian was ready. "Not on my watch! Ability, activate! Clear Compound!" Moskeeto hissed at the discharge, his eyes glowing bright green. Energy waves exerted like ripples as he remained stationary. The attacking electricity surged into the expanding waves, but they dissipated before reaching Moskeeto, much to Maggie's shock.

"They nullified it!" Jelldon gasped.

Moskeeto: 100 (+200 +100 +200) = 600 Jelldon: 1000 (-200) = 800

"Moskeeto, let's get to work!"

"Right, Killian!"

Killian showed another ability at the ready. "Ability, activate! Max Sonic!" Moskeeto's eyes glimmered before they began to make the wings hum brightly. A frequency-like charging energy started pulsating like a generator before the insectoid took aim and let out a cry. He beat his wings at sonic speeds, releasing a cyclone of green rippling shockwave that became a funnel that swallowed by Jelldon. The jellyfish cried out in shrieking pain.

Moskeeto: 600 (+300) = 900 Jelldon: 800 (-300) = 500

"Jelldon!" Maggie shrieked.

Jelldon cried out as the sonic waves were tearing into him. He was trying hard to hand on, but the vibrations and the whirlwind of pure sonic energy was rendering him immobile. Maggie knew she had to act fast.

"No mercy, Moskeeto!" Killian ordered, albeit strangely confident. His demeanor made him even more of a little more threatening compared to what he was back on New Vestroia. It was unnerving.

Maggie quickly got a save up. "Hang on, Jelldon! Ability, activate! Gel Shield!" Jelldon was hanging on the best he could, his orange spots glowing and expelling a watery red forcefield that surrounded him. He was shielded by the energy field, taking no direct blasts.

Moskeeto: 900 (-300) = 600 Jelldon: 500 (+300) = 800

"Sorry, Killian, but we're not going down that easily!" Maggie challenged.

Killian didn't look deterred. "I can see." He lashed his arm up. "Come, Triad El Condor!" From the throw, a Bakugan Trap popped open. In a green light, Triad El Condor revealed himself, ready for battle.

Moskeeto: 600 Jelldon: 800

Triad El Condor: 350

Killian pulled out an ability. "Ability, activate! Stasis!" Triad El Condor's eyes glowed green, emitting a green energy that enveloped the forcefield around Jelldon. In a matter of seconds, the shield shattered like glass, and the jellyfish was swallowed in the turmoil again.

"No! Jelldon!" Maggie exclaimed. "He just nullified Jelldon's ability…but how?"

Moskeeto: 600 (+300) = 900 Jelldon: 800 (-300) = 500

Triad El Condor: 350

Killian reached forward. "Moskeeto!"

Moskeeto exerted a powerful hiss. "Do not interfere!" he roared, expanding his sonic funnel. The pulse wave ripped through the atmosphere, creating a magnitude strong enough to make Maggie lose her footing. Jelldon himself was unable to hold on as the tornado finally picked him up, sending him spiraling out of control into the air above. As Maggie fell on her bottom, Jelldon glowed red and reverted to ball form, heading her shins.

Maggie: 20%

Maggie grunted as she was stirred up good. She groaned as she was getting back up. "Gnnngh…man, that was…" She looked ahead, staring at Killian, who looked at her in all seriousness. "Man, that was a rocker."

"Sorry, nothing personal." Killian glared. "It's just work."

Maggie growled. She held Jelldon in her hand, balling tightly in preparations for the next round.

---

"Should've known you'd be here as well." Jase said as he faced Cesar. "Why, you seem livelier than I remember."

Cesar maliciously chuckled. It was a lie, he lacked sleep due to all the hard work he's done in less than a month. He chuckled it off. "Your little whimsical musings are hilarious, but I can see right through them! Jase Mercury!" he shouted as he pointed at him. "You won't even have a last laugh to lag on!"

Jase smirked. "Why, whatever do you mean? I was being honest. You doubting your own complexion?"

Cesar balled a fist as a tick mark was pulsating. "Wh-I just…you! I…" he started seething through his teeth.

"Careful now, you'll trip on your own wording." Jase teased.

"Oh~ that does it!" Cesar fumed. "Mark my words, Jase! You will not make a mockery out of this scientist! Why, it's precisely my genius why all these Bakugan are here!"

"I see…" Jase looked around, observing all the Bakugan that were in the surroundings. He could see all the black on their bodies. He faced Cesar again. "So then I take it that you've installed forbidden ability enhancements to Interacian Bakugan now."

"Yes!" Cesar's chair levitated a little higher to exaggerate his status. "Thanks to the brilliance of my weeks on end of study, I've managed a sequence in the forbidden effects that can alter the replicated Bakugan that are on our planet! Although…the sequence is rather cumbersome."

"Really? How so?"

"Well, while they're not able to activate forbidden abilities, we've given them a higher brain capacity. Thus their coordination increase tenfold! And on top of which, their power levels are as high as our own, and ability capacity is-!" He realized he was giving out too many details and stammered a bit. "Oh! Now look at what you are doing! You're changing the subject!"

Jase raised a brow. "Why, whatever do you mean?"

Cesar growled, but he simmered down. "Hmph. Well, you can beat around the bush, but I came here with a mission. You may have grown, but as did we. But rather than tell you about Freezer and his new powers…" A slot opened in his armchair, Freezer popping open on the armchair. "How's about I give you a field test of those results!"

"What a coincidence." Beside Jase, Atmos was waiting. "I was about to ask that same thing. Atmos?" Atmos balled and Jase clutched him.

Cesar chuckled again. "Now we'll show you the grim error you've made. Gate Card, set!" A card shot out of the armchair's slot and slid to the center, creating a pulse wave of yellow through the ground. "Now…Bakugan, brawl!" Freezer shot out of the armchair. "Bakugan, stand!" In a yellow light, Freezer arose to do battle.

"Bakugan, brawl! Bakugan, stand!" Jase threw Atmos into battle, who flew into the air.

Freezer: 450 Atmos: 450

The first strike went to Cesar. "Now then, shall we begin? Ability, activate! Dark World!" Freezer's four eyes shined brightly as a dimensional, dark wave expelled all around, racing towards Atmos to seal him off. In a few instances, the flacon found himself stuck inside of a dark dome that felt heavy on his wingspan.

Freezer: 450 (+100) = 550 Atmos: 450 (-200) = 250

Cesar smirked.

"Double ability, activate!" Jase exclaimed. "Avianna Tempest, plus Ventus Airsaw!" The sark dimension that was swallowing Atmos began to slowly gurgle with whirlwinds. Puffs of air breached certain areas, and then it stopped briefly. Seconds later, a massive, spinning, green crescent shot clean through, tearing into the dimension at Freezer.

Freezer: 550 (-200 -100) = 250 Atmos: 250 (+200) = 450

The crescent wave closed in, but Freezer wasn't moving. "Hmph. Improving your attack strength I see…ability, activate! Haos Force!" Freezer unleashed a shrilled cry as a hemisphere of yellow energy resonated in front, before it condensed and fired into a beam that rushed into the green crescent. It tore right through, heading straight towards Atmos.

Freezer: 250 (+300) = 550 Atmos: 450

Atmos quickly ascended and evaded the yellow beam. It sailed beneath him and pass Jase as he remained calm. It exploded in the distance when it connected with part of the Bakugan army, involuntarily causing one to vanish. Cesar merely scoffed.

"For someone so omniscient, your usage of Bakugan is most expendable." Jase scoffed.

Cesar rolled his wrists and shrugged. "It's not a drastic fault. I've made thousands that are constantly wreaking havoc amongst elsewhere. Even now, they're my beautiful works of art just merely doing as told." He squinted accusingly. "You of all people should know that…Colonel."

Jase didn't show any emotion by the name called. Faint memories of his past in the B.I.F lingered in his head, but he didn't dwell on it. But the slightest irk shown was how swiftly he pulled out another ability. "Ability, activate! Diagonal Relation of Haos and Ventus!" Like Shuji's battle, Atmos was in a green light, which gave him power due to Freezer ahead as his power shot up to 850. The falcon sailed overhead and glared down, ready for a steep dive.

Cesar's smirk never faded. "So be it…" he reached down. "Gate Card, open! Land Pressure!" The Gate Card glowed as it revealed itself. A sudden pull in gravity forced momentum Atmos had to falter. He used his wings and flapped, but all he did was slow down his fall.

Freezer: 550 Atmos: 850 (-200) = 650

Jase remained passively calm while his Bakugan was flapping. "Stay calm, Atmos." He warned. "It's just what he wants."

Cesar revealed another ability ready. "Ability, activate! Brain Freeze!" The triangle on Freezer's head glowed bright before it expelled a lance-like beam that shot at Atmos, making his power level rise to 750.

As Atmos struggled to remain airborne. He looked back at Jase and saw him nod. Atmos nodded back and allowed gravity to pull him. Thanks to it, he was able to avoid the harsh bright beam that shot skywards. As Atmos fell drastically, he remained composed as Jase whipped out another ability.

"Ability, activate! Storm Chase!"

Freezer: 750 (-200) = 550 Atmos: 650 (+200) = 850

Atmos fell, but as he did, a green tempest whirled around him. He began to spiral like a drill until he found momentum to fly sideways with a wing barely touching the Gate Card. The shockwaves of the winds shattered the card, as well as push back the light beams that freezer was launching. He shot pass Freezer, knocking the squid over in a pulse wave while the avian soared in an arch overhead. He sailed valiantly while Freezer was still processing that last attack. As he laid on the ground, Atmos dove down and struck a talon that kicked Freezer onto his side again, making the ground shudder. Atmos returned above Jase as the Ventus battler showed a serious expression. He carefully observed Cesar as the scientist was keeping his cool. It was a strange coincidence.

Despite the setback, Cesar's smirk never faded as he pulled out another, very familiar, ability. "That's right…now then, ability, activate! Freeze Jail!"

While still straining on the ground, Freezer lifted one tentacle, producing a yellow ripple that solidified particles. Before he knew it, Atmos found himself unable to move as time froze around him.

"I knew something was rather fishy when you didn't play one of your defensive abilities sooner." Jase said.

Cesar chuckled. "Clever as you are." He chuckled. "No worries. This'll just be quick. Ability, activate! Experiment-X!" Now unleashing his trump card, the attack was unleashed. A bright purple core eroded in front and tendrils surrounded Freezer. The Haos Bakugan growled low as the tendrils around him suddenly expelled out and caught the falcon, tangling him.

Slowly, Freezer and Atmos began to shift energies. As Freezer's energy flowed outwards, expelling into the tendrils, they seep into Atmos, projecting a stinging sensation as the Freeze Jail ability wore off. The falcon gave a stinging caw as he could feel his body aching. The part where he kicked Freezer he could feel alongside his head, and it ached pretty good. The wind around him was starting to feel suffocating as his powers started collapsing.

Freezer: 550 (+300) = 850 Atmos: 850 (-300) = 550

After a prolonged minute, Freezer finally relented. Feeling the energy that Atmos had, he felt fairly lively, and the tendrils around them faded. "And now…" Cesar snapped his fingers, and Freezer used a tentacle and smacked Atmos right in the head while he was still processing the shock. The falcon was shot away, reverting to ball form as Jase looked calm.

Jase: 40%

Freezer returned to Cesar, who chuckled amusingly at the victory he achieved. Jase picked up Atmos, making sure to give Cesar a glare. "So now you see the results of our progress?" he chimed.

Jase repositioned himself as he held a Gate Card of his own. "You'd be surprised. You're certainly putting paces on yourself. Why the usage so soon?"

Cesar smirked. "Oh, you'll see."

There was an insidious chill in his voice, and Jase picked up on it. He could feel an underlying message in the tone he was playing out. He knew something was up. But for now, he'll have to play along. "Be careful Atmos. Caution is advised this time."

---

Darkus Gargonoid with black armor shrilled cries as they hovered in the skies, along with dark-coated Atmos circling around. The vast numbers were a nuisance to those below, specifically a certain Mystic Elico as Keegan stood on the shoulder. He could see the vast numbers, but figured little as the others were given time to escape. Now it was just a means of getting himself out.

Pyrus and Subterra Saurus charged along the ground. Their charges were creating tremors as they raced towards Mystic Elico.

"Ability, activate! Mystic Dice!" Keegan activated an ability, causing Mystic Elico to create a cube that spun. When he gripped it, it morphed and glowed, infusing him to his Subterra form. "Now…Plate Tomb!" At his command that followed, Mystic Elico raised a claw and pierced the ground with it. The ground shuddered as figures opened up beneath the charging Bakugan. Plates of rock arose and trapped them like they were in a tomb. The Saurus roared as they found they weren't able to move.

Keegan smirked. "How's that?" His snarking was cut short went dark shockwaves rained down from the sky, hitting his Bakugan. He held on tightly, but the barrage from above was pretty heavy. "Gnngh! What's happening?!" He looked up, seeing the soundwaves coming from the Gargonoid above. "How annoying!"

Unfortunately his luck was running dry. With his Bakugan incapacitated, the Bakugan around were starting to gang up. The Saurus were breaking free of their prisons and Atmos, Freezer, and many other Bakugan surrounded the Mystic Elico. With nowhere else to go, they all shrilled cries as they all released long-range attacks, with Pyrus Bakugan exerting blasts of fire, and Subterra Bakugan slamming the earth to cause shockwaves. Respective attributed blast waves that closed in and engulfed Mystic Elico. A massive explosion swallowed up the area, and the shockwaves blew Keegan right off his Bakugan. The poor man screamed as he plundered into the lake. He spiraled as his Mystic Elico reverted to ball form, and he crashed into the water with a shock through his body. He quickly realized breathing was hard and tried swimming back up. When he popped his head out of the water, he gasped loudly for air.

"BLEH!" he coughed up water. "What happened?! Where's my Bakugan?!" He didn't have a chance to scope out before the Bakugan surrounded him. They all gathered around the lake, and the Atmos and Gargonoid above looked like they wanted to break him. "Oh shi-!"

A Gargonoid reached for him, but something like a projectile sailed across. A massive fist soared like a rocket that blew right through the Gragonoid, immediately sending it flying away and disappearing in its attribute color.

"Fusion Ability, activate!" a voice shouted. "Drill Booster!"

The hand suddenly morphed its shape. It became a drill that spun alarmingly fast. The speed increased and it was like a bullet that blitzed through Bakugan after Bakugan. The sky was lit up in fireworks of Bakugan being reduced to nothing.

Keegan looked at the scene, completely startled. "What the fu-!"

"Ability, activate! Warfire!"

A purple hemisphere shot across the area out of the blue. All the Bakugan left around looked at the hemisphere before a pulse wave echoed in the air. He sphere erupted to thousands of arrows of dark beams that went off like fireworks. Even more Bakugan were fruitlessly defeated in a matter of seconds.

With the area sizzling, Keegan noticed how in the blink of an eye, the atmosphere was clear of Bakugan in the area. Though with his current issue, he realized he needed to get to land. He paddled and rushed towards the land, where he shakily got to his feet and coughed. As he recovered, two shadows hovered over him. When he looked up, he saw an armored Viking-like creature and a black spiked draconic creature with cybernetic parts. Although with the sunlight above, it was hard to tell exactly what they were.

"Are you alright down there?" a voice asked on the Viking's shoulder.

Keegan squinted, trying to catch visual. "…yeah! I think so!" he answered back. "What the heck is going on?! Who are you?!" Keegan blinked several times, until finally he got a good visual. His eyes cleared up, allowing him to see the backs of the two Bakugan that got his eyes to widen. "Wooah…"

The two figures dropped to the ground, facing ahead and surveying the area. They were quiet, as was Keegan. The damp man stared in slight awe over their attires, and the Bakugan they used.

"You believe it's this way?"

The one beside the pale blonde stepped forward. "Yes, I certainly feel it over here, just like you said."

"Perfect. Then I guess that means that the culprit isn't too far from here. This line of fire certainly is a dead giveaway."

"Uh, hey…" Keegan's voice got their attention. They looked back at the confused and helpless Interacian. "Just…what the heck is going on…?" He faced the masked man. "And who the hell are you?"

The masked man didn't respond. Instead, he smirked.

---

Within another part of Vestal, tainted Abis Omega swam the open waters. Reservoirs of massive water expanses were in huge circular lakes that covered up a great part of Vestal like Earth oceans. With the waters being procured, nearly a mile away from the shoreline, there were six different hover vehicles that contained Hades Pillars. Each one of them saw smoke and explosions everywhere. Some buildings even fell apart right before their very eyes. Some weren't fazed by this, keyword some.

"Gross." Amina scoffed. "Filthy, and gross."

"Indeed." Lucia said. "But this is the answer we seek, in the name of Lord Riaan."

"I was talking about this planet." She deadpanned. "Honestly, they can't even find space for a decent shoe store. I can't believe I wasted time on such a tacky planet."

"Your opinions aren't important." Cyrus warned. "Remember, the stage is now set. Galilea, did you pack it?"

Galilea reached into her light jacket and pulled out a small marble. "Yes, have you?" With her included, Hades Pillars all had an individual marble, one that matched their attribute colors.

"Good…then let's begin." Cyrus narrowed his eyes, beginning the process.

Together, they all crushed the marbles in their grasps. They all let their palms loose to allow the scattered fragments to twinkle. As they all mixed, an unknown draft began to combine them into a small ring. The ring began to expand, turning into an energy wheel that slowly sunk to the water below.

Beneath the waters, there was a bright glow, one that Hades Pillars looked down upon with expectations.

---

Rafflesian released a low roar, one that it made while his roots plunged into the ground. The ground beneath Atchibee shuddered before four tendrils shot up and tried to snare her.

"Double ability, activate!" Esther countered. "Scan Blaze, plus Lavender Shock!"

Atchibee remained stationary as her eyes glowed bright red, emitting energy waves like radiation. The roots didn't get any closer. With the distraction, her tail also lifted beneath, shooting a dark purple energy bolt directly into Rafflesian's face, creating a small burst of smoke.

Rafflesian: 450 Atchibee: 450 (+200 +200) = 850

"Impressive front." Hendrix spoke. Through the dissipating smoke, Rafflesian was shown to not have budged an inch. "But not worth it."

Esther's eyes narrowed. She needed to disagree with him if she wanted to win.

Hendrix threw a projectile into the air. "Come, Legionoid!" Once more, Legionoid appeared on the battlefield. The six-headed Bakugan roared out and made Atchibee bare her scythes.

"You again." She sniped.

Hendrix showed an ability as he reached out. "Ability, activate. Clear Poison!" One of Legionoid's mouths opened wide and expelled a dark blue venomous beam that rushed after Atchibee.

Esther showed another ability. "Ability, activate! Scare Flash!" Atchibee's eyes on her wings glowed brightly as ominous rays expelled from the them. The rays were powerful enough to act of a field that pushed the venom blast away. Still, Legionoid kept trying.

"Do not stray. Use your wills." Hendrix swiped his arm. "Ability, activate! Seed Flare!" Rafflesian let out a roar as his petals opened wide. They lifted, revealing massive holes. There, orange glistening rays expelled in all directions, releasing a powerful energy signature that battled against Atchibee's light.

Atchibee tried to hang on, but the moth found herself unable to gleam away. She covered using her scythes as the orange rays glistened and collapsed both her light and Rfaflesian's alike. Those attacks were cancelled, but Legionoid was the problem now. With the opening, the serpent released a stronger, dense blue beam that made contact with Atchibee. The moth grunted as the poison was starting to seep at her strength.

"Atchibee!" Esther exclaimed.

Rafflesian: 450 (+200) = 650 Atchibee: 850 (-400) = 450

Legionoid: 350

The venom blast soon dissipated, leaving Atchibee to lose her momentum. With her straining, she could feel her vision get a little hazy. "Gnnngh…everything's…hazy."

"We can't give up, Atchibee!" Esther enforced. "Do whatever it is you can, and make sure no one else is hurt. That's the priority!"

"Other than yourself?" Hendrix questioned. "If you're not safe, then who makes guarantee that they'll be as well?"

Esther struggled to find an answer, but she instead resolved on the battlefield. "Ability, activate! Darkus Stream!" Atchibee let out a cry as she released another whirlwind of darkness at Legionoid this time. She knew that he had to be taken down.

Hendrix's eyes narrowed. "…so be it." Two abilities showed. "Double ability, activate! Gravity Poison, plus Dark Poison!"

This time, two heads of Legionoid fired ahead. Two maws expelled two different colors. One was brown, and one was dark. The whirlwind heading their way was hit by the brown venom blast, which was remarkably heavy in density. The whirlwind was starting to slow down some as it enveloped partly of Legionoid, but the dark venom kept spraying ahead, hitting Atchibee as she screeched from the painful stinging.

Rafflesian: 650 Atchibee: 450 (-300) = 150

Legionoid: 350 (-150) = 200

Of the two in the deadlock, the whirlwinds were looking to be holding off Legionoid well, but the venom was stinging Atchibee. The dark poison was numbing her body, making it hard for her to move. Esther hurried for a move.

"Don't bother." Hendrix shook his head. "Dark Poison prevents Darkus Bakugan from activating abilities if their power level is lower than Legionoid's."

"No…" Esther looked back in shock, watching the stalemate finally concede. Slowly but surely, the tie was broke, and Atchibee was forced to her ball form and plopped to Esther's side.

Esther: 30%

Esther picked up Atchibee, looking at her in worry. "Atchibee, are you alright?"

"…Esther…" she grumbled. "…yes, I think I'll be okay. That poison is starting to wear down."

Esther looked relieved, but her security was short as she watched Legionoid and Rafflesian return to Hendrix. The two shot glares at one another, and from the looks of it, they weren't getting anywhere. At least in terms of speech. They were past the point of talking by now. When looked around, she could see even more peril, but she had to keep trying. She had to. For herself. For everyone.

"Atchibee…" she said. "We can't lose again. Okay?"

"I know. And I don't plan to."

Hendrix glared. "How foolish."

Esther whipped out a Gate Card. "Gate Card, set!" She whipped the card out, making a dark purple pulse run through the area.

"Bakugan, brawl!" Esther and Hendrix threw their Bakugan in unison. They stood, ready for battle again.

Hendrix reached up. "Come, Legionoid!" Just like before, Legionoid once again popped out, ready to assist Rafflesian in destruction.

Rafflesian: 450 Atchibee: 450

Legionoid: 350

"Atchibee! Let's go!"

"I'm ready, ready to end this here and now!" the moth Bakugan valiantly exclaimed.

Esther didn't waste time as she showed an ability. "Ability, activate! Darkus Slave!" Atchibee's eyes glistened purple before she ascended a little higher. Once she was ready and looked down on Rafflesian and Legionoid, she glinted before expelling volleys of dark purple projectiles. They shot rapidly like bullets, attacking Rafflesian with explosive results.

Rafflesian: 450 (-400) = 50 Atchibee: 450

Legionoid: 350

The volley continued repeatedly, and Rafflesian was paying a grave price for each volley. They thrashed against him with every turn and twist, and some even exploded upon contact. The plant-like creature grunted as it felt pain.

Hendrix narrowed his eyes as he glared at Esther, seeing her own stare back. She looked confident. More so than last round. The look of valiance, while noble, annoyed him. "Ability, activate!" he roared. "Bright Poison!" His Legionoid opened another maw and shot yellow venomous beams from the maw. They shot skywards, twinkling into fireworks that the volleys touched. The bright show caused Esther to cover up, and Atchibee glimmered down at the bright light.

"Fusion Ability, activate!" Esther exclaimed through the light. "Chaos Turnover!"

Atchibee kept expelling volleys of darkness through the bright blast waves nullifying her ability. The ominous dark purple, glossy fireball inside her mouth was launched, and it raced down the center, making an intense eruption of glossy, shining shockwaves that erupted into a burst wave of smoke that no one could see through. The one thing was certain, the shockwaves were reaching Rafflesian and Legionoid as both grunted inside.

"HRAH!" Atchibee blitzed through the smoke, slashing into both with vigilance.

Rafflesian: 50 (+400) = 450 Atchibee: 450 (+200) = 650

Legionoid: 350

Atchibee arose through the smoke cloud and glared down. Esther followed suit. "If you intend to endanger lives, then you need to be stopped." She said.

Hendrix didn't give so much of a verbal response. Instead, he frowned as he chose to carry out his duty instead. He raised his fist, showing two abilities. "Your decision and choice of words shall be your undoing…double ability, activate. Chaos Booster-X, plus Draft Poison!"

Hearing that first ability set off an alarm. Atchibee and Esther procured a warning and veered away higher. And not a moment sooner when a purple core shined deep within the smoke cloud. In a split second, a shockwave from Rafflesian repulsed all that energy, expelling a gust that went up as high as Atchibee. Although thanks to momentum this time, she covered up herself with her scythes to reduce the drag. Meanwhile, s airwaves and the ground shuddered, Legionoid expelled a green venom, one that suddenly picked up and turned to a gassy green air that swirled around him and Rafflesian. Both Bakugan growled as the typhoon and the magnitude centered around them specifically.

Their images darkened in the rushing flow of power, their many eyes glistening their respective colors.

Rafflesian: 450 (+500 +300) = 1250 Atchibee: 650

Legionoid: 350 (+300) = 650

Hendrix reached out. "No mercy…none of you." As if by understanding, both Bakugan growled in unison. "This ends here."

Esther reached down, keeping her cold composition. "Gate Card, open! Pyrus!"

Hendrix narrowed his eyes. "What?"

The Gate Card soon flashed open, revealing itself. As the glowed showed the card, the strong energy waves began leaking from Rafflesian, weakening as Atchibee gave a hiss as a dark aura enveloped her own body.

Rafflesian: 650 Atchibee: 1250

Legionoid: 650

Atchibee's ominous glow and her power level was all the signs Hendrix needed. He remained calm as he processed the information. "I see…so she was waiting for this. Interesting."

Esther pulled out one more ability. "Ability, activate! Night Wave!"

Atchibee expelled a large scowl as she flapped her wings. As she did, the moth emitted a strong black whirlwind that enveloped the two Bakugan. All the momentum and the winds from their added power were being erased, and the dark gust swallowed them in all black. Hendrix covered up as well.

Rafflesian: 650 (-200) = 450 Atchibee: 1250

Legionoid: 650 (-300) = 350

The wind from Atchibee howled madly, but through it, Esther refused to show any signs of weakness. "If you won't surrender, then we'll just have to fight back harder." She growled. "That's the logical solution."

Atchibee released another cry, expelling a darker shade of her gust storm that swallowed everything.

---

Verias used his staff to stop Hyper Dragonoid's attack. The dragon retreated into the air again as Verias recovered. The dragon indivertibly swung his tail around, smacking Verias along the shoulder and forcing him to roll.

"Pathetic." Hyper Dragonoid scoffed.

"Double ability, activate!" Xander exclaimed. "Dual Dragon, plus Item Core!" The Pyrus Bakugan suddenly split and multiplied. His body became a clone that held an axe and a shield combo.

Hyper Dragonoid: 500 (+100) = 600/Hyper Dragonoid: 500 (+100) = 600 = 1200 Verias: 450

The two draconic creatures quickly attempted to close the gap, but Verias was ready for them. He refused to give in as Shawn showed two abilities at the ready. "Double ability, activate! Heaven Solace, plus Solar Volt!"

Verias raised his staff high, stomping it into the ground. He summoned a radiant light from above, and shocking enough, the atmosphere around Verias was also starting glow a yellow aura, increasing his power considerably. The two Hyper Dragonoid charge into the light and Verias, only to be repulsed in an instant. The one dragonoid instantly faded away.

"What?!" Xander exclaimed.

Hyper Dragonoid: 600 (-100) = 500 Verias: 450 (+300) = 750

"Alright, let's go, Verias!" Shawn encouraged.

"Right behind ya!" The simian took a massive leap and roared as he got above Hyper Dragonoid. Once he was ready, he roared as he hammered his staff down, viciously driving the Bakugan to the earth with great force.

Xander covered up from the shockwave, which was steadily creating magnitudes that irked him. He looked ahead, seeing his Bakugan arise, yet Verias was swinging at him again, driving him away. 'I gotta keep that brat at bay!' he told himself. 'He and his pals have been a massive pain. Perhaps we should show them the hard way just who we are now.' He threw a contraption skyward. "Come, Pyrus Metalfencer! Bakugan, stand!"

In a red light, Pyrus Metalfencer arose for battle, floating right above Hyper Dragonoid.

Hyper Dragonoid: 500 Verias: 750

Metalfencer: 400

Xander showed them an ability. "Ability, activate! Mal Fender!" Metalfencer obeyed its code and its programming made the stinger on the back converge energy. Once charged, its power level arose to 700, as a high-pressured laser that aimed at Verias, but the ape used his staff and twirled it, making a shield to defend himself.

"Keep it going!" Shawn shouted.

"Don't mind if I do." Xander smirked as he took up the offer, "Now then, Metalfencer, Battle Unit Mode!"

Metalfencer's eyes glimmered shortly as its body slowly docked with Hyper Dragonoid's. The mechanical arms aligned, and the legs were encased in the armor. The stinger and tail soon came together. Soon enough, Hyper Dragonoid was emitting a powerful roar, one that shrilled the earth as he was fused with the Bakugan Trap.

Hyper Dragonoid: 500/Metalfencer: 700 = 1200 Verias: 750

"Now the fun begins." Hyper Dragonoid mocked.

Xander smirked. "Now then…ability, activate! Red Valkyrie!" His Hyper Dragonoid aimed the cannons on the arms and the braces widened. As his power level shot up to 1600, Verias immediately grew worried as Hyper Dragonoid bellowed out. Orange lasers fired in rapid succession to no end. The pulsing blasts were of deep, searing shots that even as Verias twirled his staff, he knew he had to jump and evde. Hurrying, moved out of the way to evade possible impaling. Hyper Dragonoid chuckled and scoffed as he watched Verias move constantly, admiring his destructive firepower in the process.

Verias soon slipped up. He was blasted in the knee, making him roar as he lost the power to stand. On a knee, Hyper Dragonoid took aim and open fired, unleashing pulse wave after wave at him.

'Verias can't survive this.' Shawn realized this and quickly pulled up his trick up his sleeve. "Verias, we gotta get ready!"

Verias grunted as he shakily arose to his feet again. "I know…" he stood tall once more. "Ready!"

"Okay then…" He reached ahead at the battlefield. "Gate Card, open! Haos Saver!" The Gate Card shined a bright yellow. It glowed, creating an energy feedback that dissolved the orange shots before they hit Verias. As Hyper Dragonoid kept firing, he realized nothing was coming out.

"What?" he looked down at the field, realizing what was happening. He could feel his own power level decrease to 1200 again. He watched as Verias emitted a mighty roar as he rushed for him, bringing his staff around as light started to surge in it.

Xander's eyes widened. "Wait-!"

"Ability, activate! Prime Mistral!" Verias closed the gap further as cosmic light energy pulsated around his staff. The distance closed further between them, and he gave one powerful lunge as he streamed light again.

Hyper Dragonoid: 500 (-200) = 300/Metalfencer: 700 = 1000 Verias: 750 (+300) = 1050

Verias exerted a massive shout as his staff swung with great force. Hyper Dragonoid was caught surprised but for a moment. At the last second, he pulled up his arms, containing the attachments to Metalfencer. The Bakugan swung in and exploded a massive light force, creating a shockwave that made him roar in pain. The shockwaves were so powerful that they caused Metalfencer to lose momentum and pry off. It glowed red and went to Xander's feet, making his life gauge drop to 90%.

"Now, Verias!" Shawn encouraged.

Xander immediately countered. "No you don't!" On his Bakumeter, there was a certain card showing. "Ability activate…"

Time slowed down for both and for their Bakugan as the distances were short. Face to face, Verias and Hyper Dragonoid each had their gems shine bright yellow, while a purple core appeared and infused a high temperature. Their eyes each showed fierce determination and prominence.

"Fire Blazing-X!"

"Simian Howl!"

Both Bakugan collided long-range attacks at a dangerously close distance. Yellow shockwaves met extreme heat, causing a fierce explosion of red and yellow to expel outward and level everything.

---

"Bakugan, brawl!" Maggie and Killian shot their Bakugan out, but Killian had a double throw. At the same time, Jelldon, Moskeeto, and Triad El Condor arose to do battle once more.

"Double ability, activate!" Killian exclaimed. "Aero Slim!" His Moskeeto fired green energy shards that came from the claws. "Plus Mosaic Stone!" Triad El Condor's tiki on the necklace rotated, showing brown instead. Energy projectiles condensed, becoming solid stones that hovered like a ring before they were shot in volleys at Jelldon.

Moskeeto: 450 (+200) = 650 Jelldon: 400 (-100 -200) = 100

Triad El Condor: 350

As the attacks closed in, Maggie rushed to make her counter. "Two can play at that game! Double ability, activate! Diagonal Relation of Pyrus and Darkus, and Correlation of Subterra to Pyrus!" The churning elements were both thanks to Triad El Condor. The Bakugan Trap was unaware of the two attributes it had aiding his opponent as a massive red aura enveloped him. Jelldon let out a strained roar as he spun in place, the tentacles lashing away at the attacks and dissipating them.

Moskeeto: 650 Jelldon: 100 (+300 +300) = 700

Triad El Condor: 350

"She's using my Bakugan Trap's attributes to her advantage." Killian knew this was a smart play for his opponent, but he couldn't sway. An image of Galilea appeared in his mind. His eyes narrowed. 'No, no time to sway. Galilea's expecting me to do my best out here.'

"Thanks…for everything."

Galilea softly smiled as she pulled her long hair through her shirt. "…you're welcome. I hope you're rested well…I'll be needing your strength."

"I won't let you down."

'That's right. She needs my strength…and if I don't, things won't get done!' He showed an ability, this one shining green, brown, and purple. "Triad El Condor, go!" His encouragement for the Bakugan Trap caused its three tikis to shine. "Ability, activate! Triad Hot Blast!"

Once he was charged, the mouth of Triad El Condor began to open. Once it was ready, the eyes glowed green as a searing green, brown, and purple hot wind ripped across the ground, rushing at Jelldon.

Moskeeto: 650 Jelldon: 700 (-300) = 400

Triad El Condor: 350 (+300) = 650

The intense wind swallowed up Jelldon, making him scream in volatile pain. The heat and pulsating feeling was strong and searing against his gelatinous form, and he couldn't move.

"Finish him!" Killian roared. Moskeeto followed the command and dove down to attack the immobile Jelldon.

"Jelldon!" Maggie worried.

Jelldon grunted as he was straining. "Mag…gie…" He could feel himself lose momentum again, so much that he could feel himself wane to where it was starting to go black.

"JELLDON!"

Maggie's shout got his attention. His eyes shot wide when he heard that squeal. Images of a certain fight where Maggie was hurt because of his fault was rushing through him. The adrenaline was starting to spike, and his eyes began to dilate again. "No…" he growled, static beginning to flare. "You won't…WIN AGAIN~!" He roared with anger inside his voice.

Killian's brow raised from the outburst. "What the-?!"

"HRAH!" Fighting through the blast of elements, Jelldon swung his tentacle with all his might, smacking Moskeeto with extreme force. It was so potent that the impact stung the side of Moskeeto as he hit the ground hard. Jelldon seethed as he held his weight into the attack, roaring in fierce determination.

Maggie started cheering. "Yes! Go, Jelldon!" She put her arm forward. "Ability, activate! Pyrus Volting!"

Jelldon's power level shot up to 700 again as he aimed his tentacled and let out a seething roar. He took a deep breath and let it all out. "HRRAAAAH!" With one monstrous breath, Jelldon unleashed a pressurized bolting blast of fire that cut into the blast that El Condor was making. This side of Jelldon was unnerving, even to Moskeeto as he couldn't get close.

"GO!" Maggie encouraged.

He seethed a violent roar as he kept pushing. His roaring made the wind dissipate, and Triad El Condor was hit directly in the maw. A fiery explosion enveloped him, which made him glow his attribute before returning to his tri-pyramid form at Killian's feet.

Killian: 90%

Killian looked completely shocked. "Okay…he looks mad." He registered his Bakugan Trap's defeat and looked forward, showing his own determination. "Okay, this is hardball now! Ability, activate! Infestation-X!"

Moskeeto let out a shrilled cry as a bright purple core showed again. He created tendrils, of which faded into the body. A slow pulse wave went through his body before the Bakugan emitted a powerful shout of his own. A green, glossy, mist-like wave emitted from his body, all shooting at Jelldon and converging onto him.

With Jelldon still in shock from his own outburst, he looked over to see the attack heading his way.

"Gate Card, open! Pyrus Enforcement!" Maggie did a quick save to make the green energy about to envelop Jelldon fade away. The forbidden ability effect was nullified, leaving wide open areas for which it was a clear shot.

"Grrr…" Jelldon glared at Moskeeto next, finally working up the nerve to show no mercy. "HRRAAH!" He unleashed another blast of fire, this one streaming hard and fast. It was so strong that Moskeeto was also enveloped in the fiery shockwave. He sailed out of reach, screeching as he smashed into the ground hard.

Maggie jumped. "Yes! Wait a go, Jelldon! Keep the pressure on!"

Killian was stone silent. He watched the battle with a gaze of seriousness.

---

"Ability, activate!" Shuji shouted.

Fly Beetle's horns started glowing again. "Fly Arrow!" Withstanding his own ground, two dense orange blasts shot at Clawcer. The orange rays sailed at the tainted Bakugan, but he remained stationary.

"Ability, activate!" Ariella countered. "Carapace Shield!" Effortlessly, her Clawcer made a translucent blue shield that stopped the two beams before they could make contact. Clawcer arose to 550, yet Fly Beetle dropped to 300.

"You little…" Shuji growled.

"Getting mad at your own usage of defense won't save you." Ariella mocked. "Gate Card, open! Aquos Reactor!" The Gate Card opened, allowing the ground to slowly erode water from the Gate Card. The small waves, eroded out, while geysers expelled higher quantities from the four corners.

Fly Beetle was forced to go skywards, avoiding the aquatic field change. Meanwhile, Clawcer glowed a bright blue aura, signaling his power rise.

Clawcer: 550 (+200) = 750 Fly Beetle: 300

The waves rocked back and forth against Clawcer, who growled emotionlessly. Ariella looked tempted to just add insult to injury, but she was doing that already. She just couldn't get enough of it.

"We gotta shut her down." Shuji realized. "Fly Beetle!"

"I got it!" he shouted. "Let's go!"

"Right!" he nodded. "Ability, activate! Infestation Stigma!" Fly beetle opened his wing shields and began to create energy comets. They buzzed incredibly loud, so much that the swarm closed in and swallowed up the area in which Clawcer was in.

Ariella, however, smirked.

"Bull's eye!" Fly beetle exclaimed as he lowered some. "That'll…huh?"

"Huh? What's that?" Shuji inquired.

They both saw through the dissipating comets that were eating away at something. But they were caught completely by surprise by the target. As waves simmered down, they saw that it wasn't Clawcer who was struck down, but it was Tripod Theta. The comets were eating at him, making him unable to activate abilities.

"Where'd he come from?!" Shuji exclaimed.

Tripod Theta's power level dropped to 150, leaving him on a knee. As the comets bugged him, he reverted to his original form and went to her feet, her life gauge falling to 20%. "Hmph, cheap sacrifice." She scoffed.

"You used your Trap as a shield?" Shuji questioned angrily. "What kind of a play is that, huh?!"

"I fail to see the problem in that logic." Ariella scoffed back. "Trap Bakugan, people…in the end, we're all just slaves. He was just doing his job, just like I asked."

Shuji's teeth gritted in anger. "Okay…now I'm mad."

Fly Beetle hummed faster. "That makes two of us."

Ariella ignored their little irate and went to make her move. "Now! Ability, activate! Aquos Cyclowave!" Clawcer's claw opened up and he mustered enough power to charge and fire a blue beam across the water. It sped at Fly Beetle with zero repercussions.

Clawcer: 750 (+400) = 1150 Fly Beetle: 300

"You're finished!" she roared.

"That's what you think!" Shuji backlashed. "Now, triple ability, activate!" In his Bakumeter, three abilities layered one another. "Kabuto Basher!"

Fly Beetle's tusks on the end of his massive horn glowed brightly. They extended to long sabers that outlined in a dense energy field. As the blast wave of blue headed his way, Fly Beetle felt an intense rush exceed all his veins and joints, making him roar as he bolted clean through the attack. He bisected the beam, bolting straight through and meeting Clawcer in an intense rupture of orange mixed with blue.

"WHAT?!" Ariella screeched.

"Diagonal Relation of Subterra and Aquos, and Fusion Ability, Terra Surge!"

Clawcer: 1150 (-400 -200 -200) = 350 Fly Beetle: 300 (+300 +300 +200) = 1100

Clawcer shot backwards from the frontal blow. He made the ground beneath almost tear with his claws anchoring him. With his big claw anchoring him, he was unaware as Fly Beetle was enveloped with an orange aura and granite and minerals surrounding his body. The gravity made it surge faster and he bashed into Clawcer again, making him roar in pain. The crab lost his hold on land and fell on his back, while Fly Beetle went for the killing blow.

"GET EM!" Shuji bellowed.

Clawcer looked up, shocked as Fly Beetle soared down on him. Just before impact, as the insectoid closed in, the red eyes reflected Fly beetle's incoming image.

Just then, a massive rupture exploded a magnitude was heard as it all turned black.

---

Atmos was back in the battle as his talons reached down. Freezer retorted by shooting beams of light from his triangular forehead piece. Atmos immediately maneuvered around them, barreling with grace and forced close to the ground in a speeding blitz at Freezer.

Cesar threw his Bakugan Trap into the air. "Come, Haos Freezer!" The light shined in the air above, summoning the mechanical drone spider that slowly worked its way down and sat besides Freezer. With both ready, they began their assault.

Freezer: 450 Atmos: 450

Dynamo: 400

"And now, double ability, activate!" Cesar exclaimed. "Sub Dimension, plus Cool Breath!" Dynamo's eyes shined bright yellow, which emitted a distorted dark dimension around them and Atmos. The falcon braced himself as he looked around, seeing everything but Freezer as an icy mist eroded across the battlefield at him. He only saw it at the last second.

"Ability, activate! Winding Winds!" Jase countered with making Atmos flapping his wings, creating a green tempest just before the attack could reach him. The frost eroded away, as did the dimension Dynamo made.

Freezer: 450 Atmos: 450 (+200) = 650

Dynamo: 400

Atmos continued flapping his wings, creating a strong tempest that was making it hard for the Haos duo to withstand their own ground. Freezer grunted as he could feel himself slipping.

"I'd rather not take chances against someone as prestige as yourself, so as you claim!" Jase roared.

Cesar's left eye twitched. "Hmph! Never underestimate the beauty of my genius!" he reached out. "Now! Freezer! Dynamo! Combine!"

Both sets of eyes glowed brightly. Dynamo's head fell back into place, and left open room for Freezer to jump atop and insert his six tentacles. The slots opened, enabling full control and maneuverability of Dynamo upon combining.

Freezer: 450/Dynamo: 400 = 850 Atmos: 650

"Ability, activate! Grapple Bazooka!" The combined abomination raised its front legs upon remote command. The cannons opened up, firing bullets of light that went to rapid fire mode. They blitzed clean through the winds, a few bullets getting Atmos and prompting him to fly away.

Freezer: 450 (+300) = 750/Dynamo: 400 (+300) = 700 = 1450 Atmos: 650

Yellow bullets flared everywhere, and Atmos was sailing all over the place. He was maneuvering as fast as possible, and as agile as possible. He sailed in tight circles to evade strained blasts that the Dynamo half kept firing.

Cesar cackled a maniacal laughter again. "This is my power!"

Jase prodded his glasses, making light refract off them. "Then perhaps we should be returning the favor, in kind…double ability, activate!" He showed two abilities. "Shooting Lance, plus Fusion Ability, Anemoi Grace!"

Atmos' yellow eyes shimmered for a brief second. He straightened out as he saw the incoming bullets aimed directly for him. He spread his wings, making sure to take great aim as the beads on his chest were aligning well and glowing green. Dark green ripples were seen in them, and once ready, Atmos get out a primal shout as two deep green blast waves shot at the incoming bullets. Following those, comets of spiraling green fireworks traveled along the attack, bulldozing into the center upon collision. The result was an intense pulse of light that exploded in a shockwave that picked Freezer and Dynamo up.

"HUH?!" Cesar nearly fell over.

Freezer: 750 (-400 -200) = 150/Dynamo: 700 (-200) = 500 = 650 Atmos: 650

The shooting beam made impact with Dynamo due to the length and height. The green laser made a complete impact that caused the combined duo to get swallowed and scream.

Cesar grunted as he found he couldn't see through the flashy explosion, unaware of how even Freezer wasn't able to take sight. Meanwhile, a falcon-like silhouette sailed at high speeds through the explosion, cawing with great force.

"Now! Ability, activate!" Jase added. "Cyclone Brave!" Atmos was enveloped in a whirlwind that made him increase his speed. He shot straight into Freezer and Dynamo, creating an intense shockwave of green winds that leveled the battlefield.

Freezer: 150/Dynamo: 500 = 650 Atmos: 650 (+300) = 950

Cesar grunted as he tried fighting through the winds. "Ability, activate! Experiment-X!" A bright ourple core was seen inside the green explosion that dissipated. Quickly this time, a rush of tendrils went towards Atmos, but this time the falcon was ready.

"Ability, activate! Cloud Zero!" Jase countered in time to make Atmos flap once, expelling a green, cloud-like wind that swallowed up the tendrils and made them fade. They swallowed the other Bakugan as well, making Freezer and Dynamo fall over onto their backs.

Freezer: 150/Dynamo: 500 (-200) = 300 = 450 Atmos: 950

"You Rogue Zero ruffians sure make it difficult to put up an easy fight." Jase acknowledged through the strong winds, prodding his glasses up. "But I won't make the mistakes as of last time."

Cesar, however, remained silent. He maniacally smiled wide, showing excitement.

---

Luke balled his fists tight. As battles were waged all around them, he was being glared at by a smirking Maximus. He seemed to be taking light of their little battle, and it only annoyed Luke. "What is he smiling about…? It's creepy."

"So then, shall we end this, Luke?" Maximus suggested.

Luke's brow furrowed. "Maybe it's a trap…so let's play this! Gate Card, set!" Luke threw his Gate Card next, summoning a blue pulse wave across the ground. "Get ready, Abis Omega! Bakugan, brawl! Abis Omega, stand!" Abis Omega stood for battle once more, letting out a shrilled roar.

"Go, Goblinball!" Maximus swiped his arm, shooting out Goblinball for battle.

Goblinball: 500 Abis Omega: 450

Maximus made the first move. "Let's enjoy our little dance, shall we? Ability activate, Darkus Impact!" His Goblinball opened his maw a little wider, creating a strong dark hemisphere that he compressed into the center. Once ready, his power shot to 800. He fired a dark beam at Abis Omega.

"They can't beat what they can't hit! Ability, activate! Osmosis!" Abis Omega suddenly began to camouflage into his surroundings, making himself invisible as the beam traveled passed him. It faded into the distance where the enemy Bakugan were layering the sidelines. It exploded, instantly obliterating a small fraction as the serpent silently slithered to confines unknown.

Goblinball looked around, but even Maximus was no fool. "You can run, but you can't hide."

Luke, however, smirked. 'Time to show that improvement!' "Now, Abis Omega! Double ability, activate! Sea Helix, plus Aquos Cyclowave!"

Goblinball recognized an underlying flow beneath him. When he looked down, it was too late as a high-pressured blue beam surrounded by spinning helixes of water swallowed him like a geyser from below. The impact roared through the atmosphere, making Maximus' cape flare, and Luke covered up.

Goblinball: 600 (-100) = 500 Abis Omega: 450 (+400 +100) = 950

As Abis Omega revealed himself as he fired away, Luke looked at the blue beam with seawater swirling around it. Inside he saw Goblinball, and he was aching and screaming in agony as the blast wave finally shot him skywards. 'I remember when I did this trick when we had our first fight.' In his eyes, he recalled how he and Esther were barely making it out okay while at one point Abis Omega used the same technique, but without Aquos Cyclowave. 'Man, we've sure come a long way from then. But we're better now, and we won't get caught up like that again!'

Goblinball straightened up high in the air, managing to catch himself. "Gnnngh! You'll pay for that!" he seethed.

"And so they shall, my pet! Ability, activate! Darkus Slave!" Maximus gave the order, and he made Goblinball unleash a few flaps of his wings before shooting dark purple volleys that rained down against Abis Omega.

Goblinball: 500 Abis Omega: 950 (-400) = 550

The volleys kept coming down, but Luke and Abis Omega were prepared with all their might. "We're not going down yet! Now! Triple ability, activate!" With all his might, Luke punched skywards, three blue ability cards glowing atop of one another. "Dry World, plus Diamond Shower, and Fusion Ability, Blue Mega!"

Abis Omega shimmered an intense blue glow that surrounded his body. The serpent unleashed a shrilled roar as deep currents filled his body, encasing him in a water bubble that shimmered like a crystal ball. Around him, a veil of blue diamonds shielded the Darkus attack. With all his might, and a power level spiking to an intense 1150, Abis Omega roared with all his might, pulsing skywards and fighting through the volleys with no trouble.

"We won't lose to you!" Luke determinedly shouted.

Maximus smirked. "So you say…" he muttered.

"What?"

Maximus snickered low, which was rather grizzly by the ear. It soon evolved to a loud, maniacal shout, one that could make bones shrivel with their own goosebumps. Luke himself was caught by surprise. "On the contrary…it is I who should be saying that to you, my friend." He pulled his Bakumeter up, revealing another ability. "Now then, let's end this party with a bang, shall we?"

Luke's eyes narrowed. As he looked at Maximus' Bakumeter, he could see another purple core. 'Wait, isn't that another forbidden card? But I thought…unless…!' Luke's eyes widened. 'They didn't…'

Maximus raised his arm high. "Now…ability, activate…Lore-X!"

Upon closing in, Goblinball remained still as a purple core appeared in front of him. It snared tendrils around him, which soon faded into his body. Through his system, a pulse wave echoed with great intensity. His eyes suddenly sharpened.

"HRAH!" Abis Omega made impact, creating a massive blue shockwave that engulfed everything in the atmosphere. Rain, mist, and energy sparkles exploded above Luke and Maximus. Luke looked up in shock, but Maximus seemed even more confident.

As the mist subsided, Abis Omega lowered to the ground, looking skywards. "That do it?" When the smoke and mist faded, he instead saw the watchful gaze of Goblinball, but something was wrong. "What?!"

"It can't be!" Luke cried. "That should've done the trick!"

Maximus smirked. "Oh you'll be surprised." He swiped his arm. "Unleash your power…Rogue Zero!"

---

The shockwaves dissipated, leaving Verias and Hyper Dragonoid both hunched over. They had labored breaths as steam was coming from both of them, but Verias and Shawn seemed to be the ones taking most of the damage.

"You withstood…I'm impressed." Xander admitted. "I didn't think it'd take this long to beat you, but I guess you do have something to show after all."

Shawn kept his fencer out as he shot glares. "Yeah, guess I could say the same to you."

Xander smirked. In the distance, he heard Maximus' shout. It only made him look back and smirk. "Guess the pal's calling it. Time to stop meddling." His Bakumeter showed an ability. "Ability…activate!"

The air around them both shuddered. They could feel a strong, pulsating force that created an intense heat around Hyper Dragonoid. But this energy, it started to shape itself. A very bright orange energy seeped around the Bakugan, creating the illusion of flames enlightening the atmosphere.

"What the…?"

Verias got on guard. "What is this…?"

Hyper Dragonoid glared, snickering as he glared daggers at the simian. The purple core that was on his body was so, pushing veins throughout his body as the air and ground alike was pulsing pressure. "This…is power…!" He sniped. "Power…you're pathetic against!" He exerted a string heated roar, making a shockwave that Verias was forced to block.

Xander watched the scene, smirking. "Dragonia-X!"

Hyper Dragonoid's cry made the atmosphere ripple in sheer quaking displeasure. In a sudden show of shock, Shawn's Bakumeter was showing a tremendous spike, one rivaling that of sheer terror. "No…"

Hyper Dragonoid: 1500 Verias: 700

"Their power level just spiked!" Shawn exclaimed.

Verias stepped forward. "We gotta bring it down!"

Shawn redoubled his efforts and nodded. "Yeah, let's hurry!" he pulled up two abilities. "Double ability, activate! Verias Siba, plus Fusion Ability, Lucifer Bow!"

Verias twirled his staff to create light energy. He prodded his staff down and up below. He readied himself and pulled in to get the energy bow set. Once ready, he unleashed a powerful roar and he let go, allowing the bolt shoot directly into Hyper Dragonoid. A bright yellow explosion was seen, and Verias looked prepared…but that pressure only built as the smoke dispersed, revealing Hyper Dragonoid still standing in his draconic aura, and without a scratch.

"What?" Verias gasped.

"You've gotta be kidding!" Shawn exclaimed.

"Anymore?" Xander questioned.

Shawn grimaced. He couldn't give up, no matter what. "Alright then…let's try this! Verias!" Alongside him, Verias released a shrilled shout to the battlefield! "Ability, activate! Prime Mistral!"

Hyper Dragonoid: 1500 Verias: 900 (+300) = 1200

Verias roared as he closed the gap. He let out a menacing, shrilled cry as he took a leap down with a cosmic light embedded in his staff, but all Hyper Dragonoid did was expand his wings, creating a heated, roaring gust that repulsed Verias like he was a fly.

"CRAP!" Shawn glared at Xander, looking for answers.

Xander chuckled. "That all you got still?"

---

It was revealed that Clawcer had caught Fly Beetle's horn, much to his shock. "What?!" Shuji gasped.

Ariella smirked. "Close. Very close…but this is where the fun begins. Ability, activate! Vicer-X!"

Much light the others, a bright purple core glowed, with Clawcer making a small growl as veins appeared beneath his carapace. The energy levels and tendrils all converged to Clawcer's claw, making it stream bandages that seemed to put pressure on Clawcer's hold. The Bakugan growled low as the added pressure to the horsepower provided made the grip on Fly beetle hurt. The insectoid screamed as it felt like his horn was going to come off. The brown aura on his body was starting to get absorbed into Clawcer;s claw, making the orange aura fade into the claw and make the whole thing glow bright blue. Shuji was left speechless as he could barely see because of the blue light.

"What the…what are you doing?!" Shuji screamed out.

Ariella smirked as the light emphasized her maniacal nature. "Isn't it obvious? I'm taking the power your last ability transferred, and then some."

"What?!"

Clawcer: 350 (+600) = 950 Fly Beetle: 1100 (-600) = 500

Shuji looked shocked. "No way…" This reaction only made Ariella smirk wider.

---

Hendrix put into his Bakumeter a new ability. Through the dark gust, he showed his own glare. "Ability, activate…" The card glowed an ominous purple. "Mirror Force-X!"

A bright purple core appeared in the middle of darkness. A very grotesque energy wave began to slowly erode, outlining Rafflesian's immense body. The bud-like creature growled as the chords instead went side to side rather than all around. They bound his sides, including the many eye, which the chords actually outlined to create lenses. The lenses reflected the faint images of Legionoid of one eye, and Atchibee in the front. Rafflesian growled again as a sudden vacuum engulfed the Night Wave, making it absorb into the mirror in rapid succession. Atchibee could feel her balance get fluctuated as the energy vacuum spiraled into Rafflesian's lenses.

A strong wind and rupture was beginning to engulf the area, and rocks defied gravity around Rafflesian. The Bakugan roared as the mirrors took in all the energy and made harsh pulsing veins that made the Bakugan growl louder.

"What are you doing?" Esther shouted through the winds.

Hendrix said nothing. Instead, he glared daggers as his eyes also narrowed. He watched Rafflesian's lenses suck in power from looking at Atchibee and Legionoid.

Rafflesian: 450 (+400 +400 +400) = 1650 Atchibee: 1250

Legionoid: 350

Esther's eyes widened as she witnessed the drastic power spike.

"It's done." Hendrix muttered.

---

Moskeeto slowly arose once more. He winced for a brief moment, but he didn't have the luxury of a rest when Jelldon started bolting fire streams at him, quite viciously at that. He barely dodged one, and then another. Finally, Jelldon readied one more blast of fire, growling.

"That's right, Jelldon! Show them what you're made of!" Maggie encouraged.

Killian glared harder. 'It's now or never.' In the distance, he heard the faint voice of Maximus. He knew what had to be done, and he pulled his Bakumeter up. "Alright…I didn't want to have to do this…but you leave me with no choice."

Maggie blinked. "Wait…what are you…?"

"Ability, activate…" A bright purple core showed on Moskeeto as well. "Altitude-X!"

Jelldon attacked quickly, screaming out as he jolted another blast of fire. It was closing in, but Moskeeto's eyes glowed as the tendrils reached his nose and his wings. Suddenly, they faded. In another second, the fiery explosion made impact, making a gust storm brew. Jelldon began to calm down, believing that he made sure this would sting for certain. As he looked in expectance, he and Maggie were both baffled that Moskeeto wasn't there.

"He's gone?!" Maggie gasped.

Killian said nothing, but the only clue he gave was by looking up. When he did, Maggie and Jelldon both covered up from a sudden tempest that picked up. They both felt an intense whirlwind skyrocket, making them both hardly keep ground as they started getting the hint.

"Huh?" Jelldon peered skywards, getting the hint.

High above, the tempests all resonated from the center: Moskeeto. High at altitude, Moskeeto hummed as his body had a glowing green aura. Massive maelstroms surged around him, making a veil that made it almost impossible for anything to reach him.

Moskeeto: 650 (+500) = 1150 Jelldon: 700

Maggie covered up in fear she might be blown away. "Gnnngh…we can't…give up!" She opened an eye. "Let's go, Jelldon!"

"O-okay!" he shouted.

"Ability, activate! Jolt Eraser!" Jelldon once again expelled a massive discharge of glowing red lightning everywhere. He shouted out loud as the winds howled. But rather than race through the winds, they fizzled out before they got anywhere close.

"What?!" Jelldon gasped. "Maggie, it didn't work!"

Maggie's brow furrowed. "Then let's add this! Fusion Ability, activate! Plasmatic Discharge!"

This time, all the tendrils aligned with red plasma expelled everywhere with the lightning in a massive shockwave. It rippled outwards, but the force was once again dissipated by the winds. "What…?" Jelldon's confidence immediately went south.

"No way…" she faced Killian. "Hey! What are you doing?!"

Killian glared daggers. "As long as this ability is active, I'm making sure you don't touch me."

"That's cheating!"

Killian's glare remained unchanged. "Sorry, not my style, but it's my job."

---

Atmos hovered over Freezer and Dynamo as they were still together. They slowly arose, straightening out to brace themselves.

Cesar laughed maniacally as they were finally ready. With his mouth wide and boisterous in breath, he couldn't contain himself. "It's time! It's finally time! The tests are now complete! Now we shall put this beauty to the test!"

"Exactly what is it do you mean?" Jase deduced.

Cesar smirked as he pulled up his own card with a purple core. "Now then…ability, activate! Octo-X!" A bright purple core revealed itself. Tendrils shot everywhere around Freezer, making him feel a pulse wave through the body and create veins. However, rather than the tendrils shooting out, they faded into his system, making the glass right over his brain shine an intense color. Electricity swelled around it, more precisely, yellow plasma. Freezer's eyes glowed as plasma surrounded them as well, making an intense, pulsating static field envelop him.

Freezer/Dynamo: 450 (x3) = 1350 Atmos: 950

"You went and maxed the output of your Bakugan further!" Jase exclaimed.

"YES!" Cesar exclaimed. "All of us now have new powers, just like I told you!" he laughed maniacally. "You must feel so surprised, Jase. After all, you are facing a genius…" His facial expression darkened. "A genius who was able to triple his power level in one move."

Atmos looked back. "Jase."

"Yes, I know Atmos." Jase responded. "We still have a trick up our sleeve. Now, Gate Card, open! Evil Clear!"

The Gate Card opened, making a glowing light. Cesar merely smirked, shrugging even. "Oh Freezer~, if you would?"

Freezer made a loud shrilled cry that repulsed winds and pressure alike. He let out a massive plasmatic field, which electrocuted the card, all the way up to Atmos. The Bakugan cried out as the static rendered him paralyzed. Jase narrowed his eyes in wonder. "You've made the card effects untouchable for your Bakugan." He deduced, showing a little agitation.

Cesar shrugged. "Oh please~, Jase. I was painfully aware of my own doings. I knew that if I used my Freeze Jail or Cool Breath, it'd only backfire on my results. So I used that information, and made it my asset. Now Freezer's forbidden ability is immune to Gate Card effects!" once again, he maniacally laughed. "This is it! My genius at its finest hour!"

"You've got quite the mouth for someone so bold." Jase replied.

"And yet, I'm not the one paralyzed. Exactly who was the bold one here again?" Cesar chimed.

---

The mist dissipated completely, and a dark, luring void surrounded Goblinball as his body had darkened, and his iris was a bright red to give an intimidating stature. All the mist and water in the air evaporate, morphing their own structures to darkness that Goblinball took in. The black around his eyeball began sucking in a mass of deep darkness that enveloped him, as if eating it. This only boggled Luke and Abis Omega to no end.

"What is it doing…?" Luke muttered.

"That's it, Goblinball…breathe it all in." Maximus retorted, and Goblinball's iris only brightened as he could feel an intense energy flux make a grizzly aura around his body. Similar to his other forbidden ability, there was that same dark energy, yet it styed contained, and what's worse, it remained around the eye area.

"What is he doing?!" Abis Omega exclaimed.

"I don't know!" Luke looked down, his Bakumeter showing a shocking display. "You've gotta be kidding me!"

Goblinball: 1600 Abis Omega: 1150

"How did his power level get that high?!" Luke shouted.

Maximus smirked. He decided to throw him a little bone. "Lore-X is a new ability. It pushes up Goblinball's dark energy to make him feed on the battle energy that we generate. Basically, his power level increased by 200 Gs for each ability we both used. So tell me, Luke, how many did you feed him again?"

Realizing how many abilities he's used, Luke's eyes shrunk and shuddered. "Y-you mean…I did that…?"

Abis Omega looked back. "Luke!"

Luke's eyes were shuddering. This wouldn't be the first time he was tricked by the enemy. Images of Thermosphere flashed in his mind. He could still remember the cold glares he was given by everyone when he tried to insist it wasn't his fault. That trauma made him disillusioned. "No…NO! I-I didn't mean to…i-it was just-!"

"LUKE!" Abis Omega roared.

"H-Huh?!" Snapping out of his trance, Luke was caught off guard. "Gate Card, open! Ring Zero!" The Gate Card hurriedly opened, creating a glow. However, much to his own shock, as the card glowed, Goblinball remained unfazed by the effects as the black gravity field remained unchecked. "W-why isn't working?!"

"Haven't you figured it out?" Maximus taunted. "Gate Cards have no effect when Goblinball uses this ability. Face it…you've lost."

Luke wanted to make a comeback, but he was stammering in place. He couldn't think of anything to say to counter what was being spoken. The energy in the air was beginning to dark as all around, he could see the other Rogue Zero Bakugan encased with various energy fields. They all were looking fiendishly ready, and their vile aura were reminiscing their vengeful glares. When he looked at his friends, he could see the shock they all shared and the same predicaments they couldn't get out of. "Guys…GUYS!" he screamed out.

Maximus held out his fingers. "Goblinball…if you would."

His fingers snapped.

"NOOOO!" Luke cried out, but it was too late.

At the same time, a black void-like blast shot from Goblinball, while a pulse wave expelled from Hyper Dragonoid. Moskeeto shot down in a comet. Freezer expelled a plasma shockwave that swallowed Atmos. Rafflesian's lens expelled a powerful beam. And Clawcer pinched, creating a pulse wave at point-blank. All the attacks made impact with no accuracy left unchecked. The raw energy that everyone was hit with expelled in all directions, making even the battlers unable to hold ground as they fell out of place. Luke, Esther, Shawn, and everyone else screamed as all their Bakugan were engulfed in the energy field that nearly tore them to pieces. All their bodies went limp in the shockwaves as they retreated to ball form, plopping to the ground at the same exact time, while the others smashed into the ground, painfully.

Luke: 0%

Shawn: 0%

Esther: 0%

Maggie: 0%

Shuji: 0%

Jase: 0%

"EUREKA! AT LAST~! MY GENIUS HAS TRIUMPHED!" Cesar roared with great achievement. "HAHA! Rogue Zero, may we forever remember this day, the day we showed to our lovely friends exactly what science has truly come to be!"

With strain, Luke struggled to get up. "G-guys…"

"Gnngh…what the…?" Shuji swayed around. "Man, that hurt…"

"Owie…" Maggie whined.

Esther and Shawn both winced, and Jase was on a knee. They all were starting to come around, realizing that they were all surrounded by Rogue Zero's Bakugan. They growled at them, and Trap Bakugan stayed off to the side as support in case they slipped up. Each one still had a menacing dark aura of their respective attributes. They all grouped up at each other's back as they found themselves trapped.

"What now?" Shuji grimaced.

Maggie looked worried. "D-did we just…lose?"

"Damnit!" Shawn cursed. "No!"

"We have to do something. There's gotta be a way." Esther tried to allow encouragement, but nothing was coming through. She looked over to Luke, who looked ahead with balled fists. "Luke…"

Luke was shaking in place. He was glaring daggers at Rogue Zero as they all had attained victory. He couldn't comprehend the confusion or what just happened, but moreover, he didn't know what to do. "Rogue Zero…"

Amongst the gathered group, Maximus was the one smirking.

Suddenly, a bright pulse wave went below their feet, followed by a sudden magnitude that rattled the ground.

"What's going on now?!" Shawn exclaimed, looking down and seeing the bright network in the ground.

Tremor rippled beneath again, causing everyone around to lose balance for a second. Even Rogue Zero found themselves off balance; save for Cesar's floating chair. The tremors pulsated every other second, barely giving time for leisure.

After another tremor, the area's Bakugan were starting to slowly back away. They gained some space needed for something, which was closing in dramatically fast. The tremors eased up some.

"What…is that?" Esther inquired.

Cesar smirked as he rested his cheek against his wrist. "Empyrean."

…

At the base of the sea, where Hades Pillars was, light waves rippled through the water. Networks acted as roots that surged into the base of sand and dirt untouched by Vestals. Yet, slowly rising from the dark waters, the base of all those roots had a shimmering red glowed with viral radiance, pushing up a stone-like energy that manifested into massive tower. It continued climbing higher, and higher, reaching heights beyond the wake of the waters. Hades Pillars watched as the new core and its fortress finally breached, climbing right pass them.

"…I still say it's tacky." Amina said.

Cyrus smirked as it ascended far higher, closer towards the clouds themselves.

…

"Em…pyrean?" Shawn repeated.

A pair of feet stepped forward. "Seems that the new core Hades Pillars planted is a success. You've admirably well, Rogue Zero." A familiar voice also said. "Seems I was right to have believed your measurements, Maximus. Please, forgive my accusations."

Luke's eyes shrunk. 'That voice…'

Rogue Zero stepped aside as they all generously made way for a certain someone. Their Bakugan also complied, getting out of the way. They all stayed still and embraced the entry of Riaan as he stared down the defeated group, smiling. "Luke and friends…I welcome you." He said honorably.

Shawn's eyes widened. "It's you…Riaan."

Riaan nodded. "Seems that I wasn't forgotten after all. In all honesty, I should be the surprised one here. I didn't think you'd all survive that jump gate incident. Color me impressed."

Maggie stepped forward. "What do you want?"

"Yeah, and what's the big deal about all this, huh?!" Shuji gestured to all around. "What the heck is all this?!"

"It is exactly what it looks like." He answered. "Retribution."

"Really? Cuz I could've sworn there was a difference between retribution and destruction." Shawn crossed his arms. "Or is that a means of interpretation?"

Riaan chuckled. "Shawn, quick-witted. You sure catch on." He looked away. "You are right. I suppose it is a means of interpretation. But if it makes you feel better, you can call it…a step in my direction."

"A step in your direction, you say?" Jase inquired. "Funny, I would've thought such a wise man as yourself knew the steps to take when directing an attack such as this."

Riaan turned to face Jase. "Truer words never spoken from someone who's a military man himself. You have my empathy, Jase Mercury." He swiped his arm. "But, my direction is in the footsteps of a guardian, not a soldier. Besides…I had a grim feeling you of all people would be aware of my plans. I knew there would be some resistance while Hades Pillars set up the Empyrean, and it looks like my hunch was right after all."

Luke's eyes widened again. "Wait, so…Master Riaan sent Rogue Zero…just to stall?"

"Gnnngh, that bastard…" Abis Omega grunted, still recoiling.

"We should've expected no less then." Jase scoffed.

Riaan gave them all glares. His sensed picked up, and he immediately unsheathed his blade. He turned and intercepted a which energy sword that came from Luka, who appeared and angrily seethed his teeth. The two had a brief standoff, before Riaan swung his arm, causing Luka to double over and slid back in front of the group. He glared at Riaan, still holding his energy sword.

"Riaan!" he roared.

"Luka?" Esther looked completely shocked, but hers was rather tamed compared to the others.

"Huh?! Wait, you?!" Shuji gasped.

"Luka!" Maggie exclaimed.

Jase looked ahead with no surprise. "So you've come here then as well. Should've figured as much."

Luka adjusted his stance as something shimmered above. "That's not important!" He held his blade as Alto Brontes descended from above. His extra long legs made it easy for him to bypass other Bakugan by a single jump and poise to strike. Luka glanced back. "What I want to know is how the hell you guys got here in the first place!" he finished.

"Luka…" Luke was in shock as he saw their ally once more…if he was one. "You're okay?!"

Luka glared ahead. "I said don't worry about me! Why are you guys here?! You shouldn't be here to begin with!"

Riaan glared at Luka. "Luka…so, you did survive. I had a feeling I haven't seen the last of you."

"Same can be said over here." Luka scoffed. "I thought you'd be on Earth or Interacia tending to that so-called 'project' I've heard about."

On Riaan's shoulder, Armagedoid popped open. "Master…so then, these are the ones called…enemies, right?"

Riaan nodded. "Yes, Armagedoid. That is correct. They are adversaries who challenge us."

"I see, so then they oppose us and our ideals."

"Armagedoid…?" Luke inquired. 'Wait, where have I heard about that before?'

"Armagedoid." The name rung a bell in Luka's head. When he looked at the Bakugan, his eyes widened. "Wait…you're saying…! Damnit!"

Riaan sheathed his blade. "Are you surprised? While you were snooping around, I, however, didn't beat around the bush."

Luka clutched his fists in anger. "You bastard…so that means that Project Armagedoid, is that thing right beside you?"

Maggie blinked. "Wait, hold on a sec. You men that 'Project Armagedoid' you told us about…was a Bakugan?"

"Man, that is so messed up." Shuji grimaced.

"Yes, even I can see to that." Jase noted. "So, this must be part o the project…a vessel I take it."

"You may interpret it as you will, but we, however, have made our own path." Riaan voiced sternly. "Armagedoid made his choice, and that is his to make. If you choose not to believe and stand in my way further…" He reached his hand out, in which Armagedoid closed and jumped in. "Then we shall show you what I mean! Now, Bakugan, brawl!" Riaan threw Armagedoid upfront, where there, a menacing purple glow radiated skywards. A purple pulse wave immediately threw off Rogue Zero, and Luke's group doubled over from the shockwaves. The energy feedback made the ground tremble as a black foot depressed the ground, growling menacingly. Luka looked up in shock as the Bakugan slowly arose, meeting Alto Brontes' height. Armagedoid's body and headpiece unfolded slowly unveiling the monstrosity inside.

"Wha…what is that thing?!" Luka exclaimed.

Armagedoid let loose a shrilled roar, one that made all the Bakugan in the area abruptly unable to move.

"Holy…" Shawn trailed off as he and everyone were inside the shadows of the monstrosity.

Luke had a distraught expression as he looked up. He and the others were at a loss for what to say or do as they could actually see and feel shockwaves pressured by him. They all felt their spines shrivel as their heartrates skyrocketed like crazy. This feeling…it was just like when they first encountered the forbidden cards, if not worse. The energy surrounding Armagedoid was too heavy for shockwaves alone. In fact, his very presence was creating such an ominous gravity of sheer powering might that no one was even able to lift a finger.

"Y…you've gotta be kidding…" Luke muttered.

"Now, Armagedoid, let us show them our resolve!" Riaan swiped his arm, and Armagedoid craned his head and bellowed a dominant roar in defiance to all who stood in their way. Energy flashed like lightning as the pressure was like facing a giant with power so great it was hard to breathe. Luka grunted as he withstood his ground.

"M-Master Riaan!" Luke screamed.

Riaan shot a look at Luke and his friends. "Luke, I thank you considerably once again. You were great test subjects for Rogue Zero. As payment, I'll show you mercy and send you off in kind. Consider yourselves lucky." With a swipe of his arm, he summoned a massive portal beneath Luke's group, sucking them all in.

"W-WHOAAAAH!" Shuji screamed as he fell in. Following next was Maggie, who screamed in fright with Jelldon. Jase followed next. Then Shawn.

"Luke!" Esther reached for Luke as they began falling.

Luke reached back. "Esther!" He reached farther, and they were gonna connect. But the force was too strong. They were separated as Esther screamed and fell further than him. "ESTHER! SHAWN! GUYS~!" He looked back up, his eyes still wide as he could see Riaan still with a serious look. "Master Riaan…MASTER RIAAN!"

The portal closed, leaving Luke's group to vanish. Luka looked back with wide eyes, before he turned towards Riaan for answers.

"Do not be alarmed, Luka. They are alive…for now." He assured. "This is just my thanks to them, just this one time. However, for you…" he reached forward. "Consider yourself my opponent! Armagedoid!"

Luka gritted his teeth. "Alto Brontes!"

Both bakugan growled, their attribute auras around them signaling their dominance.

"Well, well. This is going better than expected." Ariella chimed. "Seems that the trash has been disposed of."

"Indeed." Hendrix quietly said.

Cesar lightly snickered. "My, what beauty of events today. Guess you can say that all's well that ends well. And we're no exception."

"Suppose you're right." Xander's eyes narrowed. "I'm sure those fools learned their lesson the hard way. They'll think twice now if they ever think of seeing us again."

Maximus didn't vocally answer them. Instead, he offered nothing more than a grim smirk. He lowly chuckled, which soon boomed. He roared a loud laughter of triumph as his Goblinball floated behind with the other Bakugan s Riaan and their forces overran domains and created explosions everywhere. People were getting hurt, and property was being destroyed. Landscapes were being overturned while others were being destroyed.

Maximus' laughter echoed far and wide, signaling the victory of their foes and their mission.

Vestal was now theirs, and that was merely the beginning of a universal retribution.

---

Yo guys! I know it's been a month, but how've you been? Sorry if I haven't updated as of late. I had to get the last 3 chapters of The Contender's Ascent accomplished before coming back over to here. And, as you can guess, I'm going to be doing 3 chapters so that way it stays even. Besides, I think reaching 30 chapters before the 1-year anniversary of this story would be a really fun milestone!

Hope you guys enjoyed the battles! And don't worry, Luke and the others will have a lot to do in the upcoming chapters! Reviews are appreciated and thanks again! :)