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.

47. Armagedoid Rises

The battlefield exploded with firearms lighting up the atmosphere. Explosions ploughed across the cold, hard ground and into many defending Bakugan. Several Luxtor were unfortunate as the eruptions caused them to revert to ball form, leaving their soldier counterparts with no defense as firearms and flares caught up to them.

"We're taking heavy fire!" a Gundalian soldier stated. Even with his static spear in hand, he was unable to hold his ground as a tremor brought him to his knees.

"Everyone, maintain ground! Counterattack!" another high-ranking soldier cried out.

"Engage now!" A soldier pointed ahead, his fellow squad darting into battle with weapons. Those who had Bakugan used them as mounts as they charged into battle head-on against their enemy forces. Big mistake.

With one fluent motion, a young Interacian soldier swiped his arm, flinging a Gate Card into play. It spread across the battlefield while the Gundalians came within range. The ground suddenly ignited in a sheer glow, blinding everyone who was directly above.

"What's happening?!" A Gundalian screamed.

The ground vibrated harshly before an explosion engulfed the ground. It expanded skywards, blowing away not just the soldiers, but also their Bakugan. The shockwaves tossed around so many at once that fell to the ground. Their Bakugan weren't as lucky due to being reverted to ball form.

With no defense, the soldiers grouped were stirring; some whom were unconscious from the falling. They heard snarls that came from behind. They saw barrel cannons attached to a Pyrus Scaboid aimed directly at them.

"Twin Destructor! Fire!" an Interacian shouted.

Scaboid hissed as the barrels started turning, releasing blinding gunfire.

…

The cries of men and bullets was a symphony that echoed throughout the battlefield. Ren, Nurzak, and the top Gundalian fighters frowned heavily to this tune. On any other day, Jesse would adore such fine tunes to accommodate his plays. But judging from the frown he had, this act was going in a different view than wanted. Nobody was amused as the tensions between them and the two heads of Hades Pillars was so thick that it was almost impossible to breathe without inhaling an intoxicating stench. This kept up they'd end up dead from asphyxiation.

Explosions and bodies flew behind Cyrus and Zion, neither moved by the shockwaves; it made them all the more domineering.

"So then…these guys are the bad guys, huh?" Zenet quipped, breaking the tune some. "They don't look so tough."

"We've come to procure are spots for such an eloquent performance. To be a shame if one doesn't give their best to express themselves." Jesse smirked.

Mason grunted. "This is bad. Lena, you feel that?"

"Yes, I most certainly do…" The Gundalian analyst used her middle finger to prod her glasses into place. She gave Cyrus and Zion studious looks that made her posture tighten. 'Why am I so nerve-wracked? Is it because of this energy these two are giving off…? The atmosphere's energy intensified even more so when we entered the domain. What could this mean?'

Ren balled his fists as he snarled at Cyrus. "So, who are you supposed to be?"

Cyrus stood besides Zion, a small distance of space between in case the latter wanted to reach for his axe again. "Good evenings to you, Gundalia. I believe there is a distinction amongst us. Allow me to rectify that. You can call me Cyrus, Hades Pillars' supreme, as you may interpret."

"Hades Pillars' head you say?" Lena lightly gasped. She remembered the debriefing Ren tried giving her back at the destroyed HQ. There wasn't a lot of time, but she remembered Lucia and Amina. 'So then these two are supposed to be even stronger than them.'

Nurzak held his posture defensively. "Then please allow me to introduce myself then. I am the Gundalian Prime Minister, Nurzak." He paused. "I've heard tales of the many things you Interacians have done from my fellow cohorts. So you intend to go about destroying worlds to rebuild the remnants of others on your own?"

"Correction on your pat. Our Master is merely bringing everything he's lost back to his possession. There isn't much to say beyond that he is accomplishing promises he can manually keep."

"Not much to say?" Zenet scoffed. "Yeah, like I'd believe that. We've got a lot to talk about you, buddy?"

Cyrus closed his eyes. "If you came to speak, then do so. However, I believe that Zion and I aren't in what you would call…a cordial compromise here." He gestured towards Zion lifting his axe up. "Now then, did you come to chatter, or face your resolve?"

Lena narrowed her eyes, fists balling. 'He's taunting us, I can feel it.' She noticed her body was shaking a little. 'My body…it's trembling. Why…?'

Mason furrowed his brow. "Guess we better gave what these guys asked for, isn't that right?"

On his shoulder, Avior's head bobbed. "That's what I was waiting for. Let's blow these scumbags off this planet already."

"My thoughts exactly." Ren nodded. He spread his legs; his left leg leaning due to the wound that was given the last time. He powered through it. "You won't beat us! Gundalia will live on!"

Zion scoffed impatiently. "Your bark is louder than it was, boy. Are you forgetting something?" He held a sharp knife in one hand and threw it. Without question it zipped across towards Ren. It failed to hit when an orange bisento blade gleam. The knife impaled the ground, having been repelled by Nurzak, who stood before the others in their defense. Zion's gaze hardened onto him. "If you are here to fight, then do so."

Nurzak had a dead serious face fixed on his opponent. He threw that knife out of the blue to see how anyone would react. The others were stunned at the action, but Ren and himself seemed like they were prepared. 'I see now. This is how he fights his adversaries. He's not just a soldier…if anything, even getting around their Bakugan won't guarantee our lives. We'll all have to stay sharp.' "Everyone! Follow my lead! Stay on your guard, and whatever you do, don't lose focus! Understand?!"

"Yes, Prime Minister!" Ren nodded.

"Now then, to procure the future of Gundalia! Gate Card, set!" A Gate Card flung onto the ground, fading in a bright orange shockwave through the trembling earth. "If it's a fight you wish for, then so be it. Bakugan, brawl!" He threw his Bakugan in. "Bakugan, stand! Rise, Subterra Sabator!"

Rising up from the earth, the minotaur Bakugan balled his fists tightly as he snorted out steam. He snarled through his gnashing jawline and roared out proudly.

"Bakugan, brawl!" Ren was next to shoot in. "Bakugan, stand! Go, Darkus Linehalt!" In a dark flare that erupted skywards, the embers faded when Linehalt's wings pushed out with his howl.

"Ready, Ren!"

Jesse scoffed. "Then I believe that is our que. Bakugan, brawl! Bakugan, stand! Rise, Ventus Plitheon!" A green whirlwind shot out o the earth, shooting up Plitheon. He expelled a shrilling roar as his bladed body shimmered in the sky.

Zenet shot next. "Bakugan, brawl! Bakugan, stand! C'mon, Haos Contestir!" In a yellow glow, the humanoid Haos creature with shoulder cannons and horns arose for battle.

Zenet swiped her arm to shoot in Phosphos. "Bakugan, brawl! Bakugan, stand! Go, Aquos Phosphos!" In a blue light, the three-headed alien hydra was unleashed with a chilling, chattering snarl.

"Bakugan, brawl!" Mason shouted. "Bakugan, stand! Rise, Subterra Avior!" Rising last, Avior expelled a large roar that shook the earth beneath.

All six Bakugan were up and ready to battle at once. Zion and Cyrus remained passively calm despite the fact they were very much outnumbered. If anything, it bemused Cyrus even.

"Well sire…this should be entertaining." Zion noted.

"One can only see so far without falling to black." He held up his Bakugan, which had a menacing dark haze around it. "Now then, let's begin."

Zion grunted before turning ahead. He fired his Bakugan at the same time as Cyrus. "Bakugan, brawl! Bakugan, stand!"

"Demolish, Snapzoid!"

"Rise, Raptorix!"

The moment both Bakugan opened, a hazy shockwave rippled everywhere. The pressure exploded in one go, depressing into a crater as magenta energy whirled in one spot into an expanding dome of magenta, black, and fire. Nurzak and everyone covered up as the force of the summons was creating n even bigger magnitude that almost tripped Zenet.

Sabator and the other Bakugan stood their grounds as the dark some dissipated, revealing the crackling body of Snapzoid growling. Beside him, Cyrus' Raptorix was in midair, its dull magenta eyes leering down the prey.

Sabator: 900/Linehalt: 900/Plitheon: 900/Contestir: 900/Phosphos: 900/Avior: 900

Raptorix: 800 Snapzoid: 700

Even with the impressive opening, everyone was still on their guard as Nurzak ordered them too. Zenet balled her fists. "These guys aren't so tough. We've got the higher power level! We can take them!"

Zion's frown curved to a straight line. "Hmph, you'd be surprised, girly…" His blade shimmered. "Now then…shall the rectification begin!"

Linehalt scowled as he stood with his team against the howling Snapzoid and screeching Raptorix. From close behind, Cyrus observed menacingly…his smirk growing with venom.

---

Everyone was as cold as ice, even with the fire in their eyes and the steadily tension in the room. If anyone had the right mindset, they would have it alright to be leaving the room to not suffocate from this intoxicating energy. Yet everyone present stood like statues that didn't know the meaning of the word "fall".

Esther stood beside them. They got her back. That's one thing to cross off their list…now the really hard part was coming, and he was standing meters away at the bottom of his throne's stairway, sword in hand.

After a period of silence, Riaan's glare was so resolute that even a lion wouldn't want to pounce onto him. "You've all come for your friend. I congratulate you…but now you have one more obstacle to take down next. Are you prepared?"

Shawn furrowed his brow. He, as well as everyone else, knew there was no way out now. Granted, he was wise enough to not get so caught up in a mess when they were so beaten up, but the stakes were too high to get way from. They had to hold true to their words, just like Riaan was.

Hearing a clanging beside him, Luka glanced over to see Luke breathing heavily. His skin was getting pale, and he looked like he had trouble standing. "Hey…you think you can still fight?"

"Why he looks half-dead~." Brontes promptly chuckled.

"Luke…you sure you can keep going?" Shawn consoled. "It looks like all those battles are taking a toll on you and Abis. You guys need to-"

"We're fine, Shawn…" Luke protested, his breathing very heavy. "…sorry…but I can't kneel right now. None of us can. I…" He prodded his sword out of the ground. "I can keep going. I just needed a minute is all."

Esther frowned. She knew that Luke and Abis Omega had to push themselves in order to save them. Just seeing how rough they were was enough to tell that they mustn't…but she knew that by now they couldn't be stopped.

"Esther…"

Hearing her name, she turned towards her partner. "Atchibee…"

"I understand how you feel." She paused, thinking of Abis Omega. "But right now, we don't have the luxuries. We've held their hands long enough…we'll have to let them stand."

Esther modestly shook her head. "Yes, Atchibee. I know. We have a lot to make up for." She turned towards the front to stand with her peers. "I know that I owe you all an apology. I know it won't be much…but at the very least, allow us to assist you once more."

Shuji scoffed. "Don't sweat it."

Maggie pumped her fists. "Yeah, don't worry about the apology. Right now, this creep's gotta pay for the trouble he's caused! First taking Gundalia's DNA, then stealing our friend…that's a line crossed far too long."

Jase prodded his glasses up with his nose. "Well then, I suppose all of your gung-ho will revel up some must."

"What are you waiting for? Must I send you all formal invitations?" Riaan called from the opposite end. "Come forth, and meet me within range!"

Maggie furrowed her brow. "Well guys, can't keep him waiting any longer."

"Yeah, you're not." Shuji leaned forward readily. "No sense in backing out now. Gotta shut this royal pain down right now."

Esther felt footsteps beside her, revealing them to be Alice. "Alice…"

"Esther, I'm so glad you're safe. I mean it when I say that." The orangette's sincere sentiment was shortened with her glare hardened on Riaan. "Don't worry about making it up to us. You've saved us, and now we've saved you…at least for now, let's call it even."

Hydranoid opened on her shoulder. "Besides, we have a score to settle with this so-called Armagedoid and his scumcrawlers."

"That's right, so right now, let's all work together to make it out of this!"

Esther nodded. She reached over and picked up one of the two spears she used earlier. Just as Shawn reached for his rapier and Luke and Luka held up their weapons, she raised her own in defense. "Yes, we shall. There's no mistaking it, we need to put an end to this…all of us."

Luka scoffed. "You took the words right out of my mouth…guess there was a reason we saved you after all."

Riaan's leer hardened. "Then use those words of conviction to best Armagedoid and I. We're ready…" The room shined magenta one time. "To show you…" The room flashed again as his eyes shined. "Our own conviction!"

"Everyone, get ready!" Atmos cried.

Riaan: 100% Luke: 100%

Esther: 100%

Maggie: 100%

Shuji: 100%

Shawn: 100%

Jase: 100%

Luka: 100%

Alice: 100%

Without a moment's hesitation, Shawn was the first to show a Gate Card. "Okay guys, I'll give us a lead. Gate Card, set!" He flung the card out towards the battlefield, making it fade in an orange-brown shockwave through the earth. "Alright, time to go at him, ready?"

"You bet." Verias closed, along with everyone else's Bakugan.

"Bakugan…BRAWL!" All at once, Luke and everyone threw in their Bakugan. "Bakugan, stand!"

"Let's go, Haos Prime Verias!" In a yellow aura that rose from the ground, summoning a staff with thick end. The middle was caught and swung into the earth, protruding a blade as Prime Verias was hunched over and unleashed a bloodcurdling screech throughout the chamber.

"Rise, Ventus Gale Atmos!" In a spiraling green whirlwind, four wings flapped it all away, revealing Gale Atmos as he cawed.

"Show them what we're made of! Pyrus Glow Jelldon!" In a fiery red flare, tentacles swayed everywhere as Glow Jelldon's pockets emulated heated gel. He shrieked out with a fiery passion.

"Go, Subterra Stag Fly Beetle!" In an orange gleam, the earth shook as sturdy legs lifted a horn into the air. With a bright sheen in the eyes, Stag Fly Beetle emitted a strong-bodied roar to amplify his magnitudes.

"Stand, Darkus Dusk Atchibee!" A black cyclone burst out of the ground, but a pair of valiant wings and violet scythes shredded through them. The winds produced petal-like dust that sparkled around Dusk Atchibee as she cawed.

"Let's go! Aquos Frill Abis Omega!" In a blue cyclone of water, the waves dissipated when massive frills flexed. Opening his sharp orange eyes, Abis opened his maw of razor-sharp teeth as he unleashed a shrilling hiss throughout the chamber.

"Rise, Haos Alto Brontes!" Four scrawny arms lifted as two horns adjusted atop a head. With a sizzling cackle, Alto Brontes stood beside everyone with all four hands gripping.

"C'mon, Darkus Alpha Hydranoid!" Last but not least, three spiky maced tails swung around as three heads craned around. Rows of sharp, red teeth bared as Hydranoid unleashed a demonic roar that outburst the rest of everyone else. He stomped loudly as his tails spread out.

With all 8 of the opponents' Bakugan present, their shrieks and battle intensity was what gave Riaan a slight shiver. But not because of fear, but rather he seemed thrilled. Still, he was wise to hold true to his position. He knew they wouldn't go down so easily.

"It appears they are finally ready to see what I am capable of that Eve was unable to accept." He looked down at his palm, his Bakugan looking at him. "Armagedoid, are you ready to do battle?"

Armagedoid' small head nodded. "I am, Master. For our future…we shall distinguish our enemies and allies. Let's go!" He shut tight in Riaan's hardened grip.

With a rejuvenated shine in his eyes, Riaan glared daggers at his enemies. He paused as to build tension before a small pulse ran from his body. The shockwave made the room shudder a little. Everyone almost lost footing. "My choice of words precisely…come! Bakugan…brawl!"

He tossed the black and purple-accented Bakugan out towards the field. Everyone watched it roll towards the center with narrowed eyes. 'Here we go.' Luke tightened his grip on his blade.

"Darkus Armagedoid, stand!"

Stopping, the ball opened to reveal eight wings, a star-shaped headpiece, legs that folded out, a tail, and lastly claws that rest inside the ball's frame. A Darkus aura flared up as the eyes shined magenta. A vast magenta pulse wave erupted spontaneously, causing a greater recoil that almost blew everyone over. Maggie kneeled to keep herself from being blown away. The Bakugan buffered some, but not enough to completely throw them off. However, Atchibee and Atmos flew backwards from the range.

Everyone's eyes widened at what they sw. A magenta, black, and dark purple maelstrom of energy swirled like a dome that had a misty bottom. The haze spun upwards as a black prism arose. The atmosphere seemingly blackened as a vacuum brought in the haze through the jointed ends of the prism. Luke and everyone stared in shock and awe as their spines started tingling unconditionally. After a moment of silence, a magenta light exploded, expelling a flare that was so bright that it ignited the dark windowsills in Riaan's chamber. Harsh black winds brushed passed everyone's feet as they covered up. They had to see through the openings in their arms or cover below to see the flare degenerate to reveal dark static igniting as the prism separated into eight, panel-like wings. Inside, a draconic head gleamed magenta. The wings flexed enough to allow a long tail with a star dagger-like end to swing out. Two large black claws reached out as the star-shaped headpiece's silver protrusions unfolded, making it seem even more jagged now.

Standing on the ground with his bare black claws, Armagedoid reared his head back and expelled a groundbreaking roar in an arch. The entire room's magenta outlines flourished as Armagedoid was finally set for battle.

Everyone's blood ran cold t that instant. Despite their boldness, they could definitely feel it from here; the monstrous power. The source of the negative energy.

"This is it…this is Armagedoid in battle." Shawn deduced.

Riaan humbly snorted as Armagedoid bellowed a second time skywards, quaking the room.

…

High above on Gundalia's surface, a faint echo rummaged through the ground. For some reason, the Gundalians that were currently engage felt a massively dark spike that caused cringing. Even Nurzak's eyes shrunk in disbelief.

"This power…where is it coming from…?"

Ren and his allies looked down at their feet. Their Gundalian blood was running pretty cold before, but this level of negative energy was causing their skin pigment to pale somewhat. The only one who seemed amused by this was Cyrus.

"It seems…that our liege and Armagedoid have risen at long last." He spoke softly.

Ren's eyes widened at what he heard. 'What did he just say? Did he just…' He looked down at the ground. He thought the enemies before him were bad enough. He had no idea this energy lurked below…and his allies were in the heart of it. 'This is bad…'

…

Abis hissed defensively with his fellow Bakugan as they stood against Armagedoid. The Darkus Bakugan stared back calmly instead.

Frill Abis Omega: 700/Dusk Atchibee: 650/Glow Jelldon: 600/Stag Fly Beetle: 600/Prime Verias: 600/Gale Atmos: 600/Alto Brontes: 600/Alpha Hydranoid: 900 = 5250

Armagedoid: 1500

'A base level of 1500 Gs?' Luka's glare hardened at his Bakumeter showcasing the power gauges. 'It's worse than I thought. This thing…is a lot stronger than I initially thought!'

Luka balled his fists. He was showing a lot of insecurity and temperance for something that he wanted to take blame for. He should've known this would've gotten so bad to where everyone he was trying to save would be pit against the monster. If he had acted back during his stakeouts, none of this would've happened.

Looking over at clutching fists, Luke saw the anger on Luka's face. He recognized the guilt behind his angered expression. "Luka…"

Luka glanced over, seeing Luke's serious but empathetic stare. "Don't blame yourself for what's in the past. What's done is done." He faced forward. "Don't forget, you and Brontes aren't alone anymore."

Abis glanced back at Brontes. Despite their weakened states, they were still able to stand, even for their beliefs. The two remained quiet as they processed this realization.

After what felt like an eternity, Luka huffed. "Hmph, yeah. Guess you're right." He held his sword up. "But you know what we have to do, right?"

Luke held up his weapon. "Yeah, I know." He spread his legs, a stinging pain flaring in his side that caused twitching in the left eye. 'Gngh! Damnit…the medicine isn't working anymore. But still…' He leaned forward. 'I can't be a handicap again. Too much is at stake here…and we have to give it our all, eve if it means these wounds open!'

He narrowed his eyes, initializing an idea. "Guys, we'll need some cover!"

"Don't fret, I'm prepared for that." Luka showed two abilities overlapping one another on his Bakumeter. "Let's go! Brontes! Double ability, activate! Atmosphere, plus Sprite Glow!"

Alto Brontes cackled as he raised his arms. Metallic hemispheres with yellow blades on them spun like planets in the top hands, while the lower inner hands created loops of golden light. He threw them at Armagedoid.

Frill Abis Omega: 700/Dusk Atchibee: 650/Glow Jelldon: 600/Stag Fly Beetle: 600/Prime Verias: 600/Gale Atmos: 600/Alto Brontes: 600 (+400) = 1000/Alpha Hydranoid: 900 = 5650

Armagedoid: 1500 (-400 -300) = 800

Rather than attack him directly, the saucers and loops were conducted so as it trapped him. The dragon remained stationary as he eyed the blades and light that could strike in any given direction at a given time.

"That won't hold him for long. We're gonna need to seal off his vision entirely."

Shuji spread his feet part, showing an ability. "Then how about this then? Ability activate, Seismic Repeater!" The lower claws on Fly Beetle began vibrating and crackling bright orange energy. Once ready, he kneeled and pierced the ground with the blades. A large-scale shockwave ran across the ground, surfacing large amounts of dust beneath Armagedoid.

All while his power level dropped from 800 to 500.

"Let's go!" Luka darted through the dust surge.

"Right!" Luke followed close behind. Shawn looked behind as Esther charged with them. He tailed beside her as they all worked through the obscurity.

The dust brewed around Riaan as the shockwaves shook his domain. He remained passively calm despite knowing enemies could spring out anywhere. But he seemed confident.

The four ran through, using Luka's laser blade as the one source of light to carve into the dust. He made sure to move sharp and quick, and Luke knew he had to keep up, too. He was managing, though by the way he was starting to stammer was a bad sign. 'Gngh! Damnit! My body's heavy. Gotta move quicker…'

Esther and Shawn moved close behind. They could see a silhouette if Riaan not too far away. However, something caught Esther's attention.

"Everyone get down!"

At her call, they all turned and saw a metallic blur their size roll towards them. They all ducked as it steamrolled and fumbled across the ground until it hit a wall with a deep indent. They all looked back to see it was one of Brontes' Atmospheres.

Shawn heard a sway of a tail and turned around. "Guys, incoming!"

At his behest now, they backpedaled as a long tail end slammed into the ground, impeding their path. The shockwaves were enough to eradicate the dust field and make everyone slide or fall backwards. Esther nearly fell over if it wasn't for Shawn holding her back. Luke and Luka stammered back a few paces as the tail end receded back towards its owner.

They all looked up, seeing Armagedoid shooting a glance at them…and he didn't look too happy.

"Evasive…but I'm well aware of this feature you all have." Riaan stated. "You've all used a great deal of stealth throughout your adventure. But now, there will be no room for even the smallest crack for you to wedge your way through. Armagedoid!"

Armagedoid yelled out as he raised one of his giant claws to strike.

"Ability activate, Quad Vortex!" Jase shouted. Overhead, Atmos let out a caw as his four propeller joints unfolded and started spinning. Winds quickly picked up and summoned four green twisters that shot at Armagedoid.

Hearing the funnel, Armagedoid turned back towards the fray. He covered up using his bare hands as the tornadoes swirled into them. His power level dropped further to make 100.

"Verias, cover him!" Shawn shouted.

"Ready!" the muscular ape shouted.

"Ability, activate! Jade Surge!" Verias' gems all over his body began shining large levels of light that surged into the main gem on his forehead. Once he was all charged on all fours, he opened his maw, unleashing a massive beam of dense light. The light traveled through the tornadoes, causing a vacuum break for a second before the winds dragged along to make one massive tornado surrounding the compressed beam of light.

As the growing light drew closer, Armagedoid kept his hands stuck out. Brontes' earlier attacks finally drew closer around him with nowhere to run. Everything around him became a white blur that flashed several times before a pillar of light surged skywards, causing everyone to cover up as shockwaves buffered them.

"Riaan!" Luka's strong shout reverberated through the atmosphere against their foe.

Standing firm with his regal sword, Riaan was set for battle. He watched Luka and Luke take to their heels and both swung at the same time downwards. He chose to bunt with one blade, as per the one arm. The shock from their swing went into their arms, but it wasn't fatal. Luke and Luka's teeth gnashed as their struggles weren't making him budge.

All three were in a serious deadlock with eyes showing righteous passion on both ends. But not one was willing to give the fight so easily. Both backed away as their combined strike wasn't enough. Luka went for a side swing, but was parried. That was the opening for Luke as he went for a piercing blow. Riaan shifted his eyes at the incoming blade and glided his blade into Luke's direction. The result was Luke's energy blade parrying Luke's own sword. Riaan pivoted and slashed diagonally, the force of his blade's wake pushing Luke and Luka back across the chamber ground.

Sweeping in pass them, Shawn glided his rapier across the ground until he was at Riaan's range. He was about to parry but realized that Esther was already behind him to stab him. In speeds faster than light, he slashed his blade in a full circle. Metal and sparks flew everywhere as the two slid across the ground.

"Your teamwork and techniques are efficient…as expected of someone whom I once trained." Riaan commended. "But, I have hundreds of years' worth of experience under my belt. Remind me again who you all learned your skills from again?"

Luke and Shawn grunted; Luke's being more audible. They got on their highest guards when they saw Riaan lift his Bakumeter.

"Ability, activate! Deep Save!"

In the explosion of light, a bright purple flare ignited. A spontaneous eruption of energy with purple flickers around them dispelled the shockwaves, breaking the metal on Brontes' earlier attacks. Armagedoid was revealed to be sound, without so much as even a scratch as his power returned to 1500.

"He nullified all our abilities." Atmos deduced.

"Oh boy~." Brontes grunted. Even his voice cracking indicated slight unease.

Armagedoid breathed out a hot breath, looking remarkably irritated, if not grasped by everyone's attention. "Now, Armagedoid! Ability, activate!" Riaan held up his Bakumeter for an ability. "Fading Goliath!"

Armagedoid held his position on the dented ground as his eyes glinted purple. His eight wings curled out a little more to reveal seven purple glints glistening around his upper body.

"Uh oh~…" Brontes chimed.

"Brontes! Move it!" Luka warned.

Armagedoid released a bellow as the glints brightened, turning into seven dense beams of vermilion, purple, and bright pink energy that tore through the air towards the clown.

Frill Abis Omega: 700/Dusk Atchibee: 650/Glow Jelldon: 600/Stag Fly Beetle: 600/Prime Verias: 600/Gale Atmos: 600/Alto Brontes: 600 (-500) = 100/Alpha Hydranoid: 900 = 4750

Armagedoid: 1500 (+500) = 2000

The seven star beams tore across the room into Brontes. The attack's velocity was so great that the clown barely was able to move out of the way of the projectiles' direction. The result was everyone crouching beneath the beams as they bolted into the massive door behind them. The result was a pink flash before a shockwave obliterated the door, sending dust, darkness, and debris through the hallway towards the other end. Any obstacles and doors that were set up in advance were rushed through and turned to oblivion. The underground palace shuddered so loud that above, it caused a small magnitude.

The dust and debris settled, allowing everyone to uncover. When they looked back, they – exclude Jase – were shocked.

The entire wall that lead to pitch-black behind them was no more. The door was completely demolished to reveal an uneven tunnel that showed wreckage and destruction that slowly repaired itself into the Empyrean system. Even as the walls were repairing slowly, still seeing the door resynthesize with holographic linear lines didn't change how destructive it was.

"That power…with just one shot…?" Maggie blinked. She looked back with Jelldon, who seemed just as surprised.

Jase frowned, displeasure evident. "His power's just the starting point it seems."

Alice gasped. "Everyone, he's attacking again!"

Armagedoid charged up another set of seven starry glints around him. Without a skip in the beat, he shot seven negative colored beams that shot across the atmosphere into Brontes again.

Backing away for a moment, Luka turned towards the blast wave to reveal an ability. "Ability, activate! Magic Dice!" Brontes stood still as he manifested a die in front of his core. The toy started rotating as the seven starry beams drew closer.

The first number it landed on was a "2". The die shined a bright golden light just as the seven beams were within range. The die shined bright, quickly dispelling the beams into thin air.

Frill Abis Omega: 700/Dusk Atchibee: 650/Glow Jelldon: 600/Stag Fly Beetle: 600/Prime Verias: 600/Gale Atmos: 600/Alto Brontes: 100 (+500) = 600/Alpha Hydranoid: 900 = 5250

Armagedoid: 2000 (-500) = 1500

'Good. We've managed to stop the initial attack. Now we have to keep the pressure on.' Luke reached out with his blade. "Brontes!"

Cackling, Brontes spun the die again, making a "3" on it. A scythe made of raw light materialized in front of him that he gripped. He threw the scythe at Armagedoid; it spun like a runaway blade.

Frill Abis Omega: 700/Dusk Atchibee: 650/Glow Jelldon: 600/Stag Fly Beetle: 600/Prime Verias: 600/Gale Atmos: 600/Alto Brontes: 600 (+300) = 900/Alpha Hydranoid: 900 = 5550

Armagedoid: 1500

The scythe spun into the black dragon, but Armagedoid made a simple swipe of his arm to dispel it like thin air. At the same time, Luka slashed at Riaan, but the planetary menace mimicked Armagedoid's swipe, sending him sliding on his heels.

"We have to get his attention on us scattered!" Alice shouted.

"That's our que, tough guy." Shuji voiced to Fly Beetle.

Maggie interjected. "Count me in, too!"

Together, they showed abilities that shined brightly in their Bakumeters. "Ability, activate!"

"Drain Flash!" Jelldon lifted his tendril eyes and tentacles as his body expelled a blistering red light. The gleams radiated into Armagedoid, blinding him. He used his headpiece to shield his view, though he still felt heat.

"Giga Horn Buster!" Slamming on all six appendages, Fly Beetle raised his horn and charged up orange-brown energy at the axe-like end. Once charged, a bolting blast wave shot into Armagedoid, tearing a crack into the ground.

Frill Abis Omega: 700/Dusk Atchibee: 650/Glow Jelldon: 600 (+300) = 900/Stag Fly Beetle: 600 (+300) = 900/Prime Verias: 600/Gale Atmos: 600/Alto Brontes: 900/Alpha Hydranoid: 900 = 6150

Armagedoid: 1500 (-300 -300) = 900

The Subterra beam made direct impact with Armagedoid's abdomen. The black dragon snarled as he took the blow, but otherwise he looked far from fazed.

Riaan ducked as Shawn jumped over to slice with the rapier. Luke came in for a sweeping slash, but he parried that with speedily force. He twirled his blade and did a sharp swipe across to make the four back away. "The many rules to battle: Always make use of your resources, even your enemies if able." He recited. "Ability, activate! Satanic Suppression!"

Armagedoid's eyes glinted purple once again. The magenta star core on his chest glimmered brightly before the air distorted around him. The beam and the red flare's on his skin were drawn into the core, making its shine a lot brighter as the power was being absorbed. Both bakugan let up as they watched their abilities being absorbed into Armagedoid's center.

As the remnants of red and orange swirled into the core, Armagedoid let out a grievous snarl as his power level went bolting up towards 2100, while Jelldon and Fly Beetle returned to 600.

Esther furrowed her brow as she backed away. 'He absorbed the abilities. Just like how he absorbs life, his Bakugan can do the same.' She twirled her spear and prepared to prob. Though when she did, Riaan deflected the blade skywards, allowing momentum off of Esther to get her to move forward.

Time slowed down for her as she saw Riaan glaring down at her. He was ready to strike her down…

SHING!

Esther managed to get a knee beneath and looked up. Her savior was a man with red hair and a steel sword that kept Rian's blade at bay. "Luke!"

Riaan noticed the position in his swordsmanship. He didn't move an inch, but he didn't recognize the defensive bunt position Luke has. If anything, he was a little astonished. "Seems as though you've learned some new tricks since picking up your own sword. You've definitely grown since the manner incident, my little protégé."

Luke felt a sharp sting when Riaan said that. It really hurt him enough that he was fighting on n exhausted level, but he was wearing down with how Rian used him as a cover-up for his life. He powered through and used his position to get between Riaan's legs and slide beneath. The action got his attention. Luke swung his blade at his heels, but the man turned at just the right time to intercept the attack.

"I may have been your student, but that doesn't mean I have to follow your ethics!" Luke voiced.

"Then why not show me those ethics then!" Riaan demanded. He overpowered Luke enough to where Luke had to roll away. He evaded a pierce to the ground and slide to the side.

"Abis, let's go!"

Riaan's eyes widened. With him turned around he didn't see the blue serpent from before. Armagedoid was also unaware. Though they both saw a blue distortion creeping up below Armagedoid. 'They used the others as bait to keep themselves hidden.'

"Double ability, activate! Dive Bomb, plus Storm Drain!"

Armagedoid sensed a swirling sensation beneath him. Looking down, a geyser of water blasted into his body. It wasn't enough to move him, but the burst was enough to make him raise his head to find the geyser expanding into a whirlpool that closed him in.

Outside the whirlpool, resurfacing, Abis hissed in his coils as he controlled the gushing flow around their opponents.

Frill Abis Omega: 700 (+300) = 1000/Dusk Atchibee: 650/Glow Jelldon: 600/Stag Fly Beetle: 600/Prime Verias: 600/Gale Atmos: 600/Alto Brontes: 900/Alpha Hydranoid: 900 = 5850

Armagedoid: 2100 (-300 -300) = 1500

'That won't hold for very long.' Luke looked over at Abis, who was doing his damnest to look active.

"Alice! Are you there?!" Esther called out.

"I'm here, don't worry." She responded.

Hydranoid and Atchibee looked at each other with understanding. Both teacher and student roared and screeched respectively at what to do.

"Ability activate, Terminal Barrage!"

"Ability, activate! Glare Astral!"

On the ground, Hydranoid's maws charged up violet, white, and dark purple orbs of energy. Opening wider, he unleashed a malicious volley of repeated high-speed energy blasts into the whirlpool. They shot clean through the water into the other side, bombarding Armagedoid to no end.

Above, Atchibee hollered as her wings emitted a black haze. This caused a ghastly illumination in the circular patterns of her wings before they fired in a steep incline into Armagedoid, further inflicting damage that caused a cloud of mist and dark energy to erupt in his place.

Frill Abis Omega: 1000/Dusk Atchibee: 650 (+300) = 950/Glow Jelldon: 600/Stag Fly Beetle: 600/Prime Verias: 600/Gale Atmos: 600/Alto Brontes: 900/Alpha Hydranoid: 900 (+500) = 1400 = 6650

Armagedoid: 1500 (-300 -500) = 700

The blast wave bubbled and flexed uncontrollably, meanwhile the Bakugan snarled as they watched the carnage of their assaults unfold. The humans and Vestal all scooted back to their original positions due to the situation they were in.

Riaan watched the mist fizzle to his feet, yet the dark plumage continued rising like smoke. He looked ahead sternly. "Armagedoid!" he called chidingly.

The plumage of darkness continued blooming until a faint growl could've been heard. With a brisk shout, the black shockwaves tore apart as Armagedoid screeched out black ripples from his mouth.

Shawn furrowed his brow. "He's still standing, even after all that…"

"Suppose this is part of the powers of an Ultimate Bakugan." Jase figured. "It seems we have yet to satisfy the beast's appetite."

"An appetite, you say?" Riaan sarcastically hummed. "…yes, I guess one could say it's hunger. A dog with an empty stomach is sure to bite the hardest. But please, allow us to show you what I really mean!" He reached out, showing an ability. "Ability, activate! Ambiguity!"

Armagedoid's eyes glinted for the umpteenth time as he raised his head, shrieking out towards the ceiling. Distorted dark purple shockwaves blew around towards the Bakugan. The residual energy their attacks made had completely worn out and eradicated themselves.

The shockwaves reached the other Bakugan as well, causing them to brace themselves as they were barely hanging on. The dark pulses were like a maelstrom on a compressed level that almost made Hydranoid blow over if not for him pivoting to keep traction.

"E-everybody…hang on…!" Verias prodded his blade into the ground to keep still. Jelldon used a tentacle to hold onto his leg to stay firm.

Atmos and Atchibee hollered as they were buffered through the air. Fly Beetle, Abis, and Brontes were all close to each other, but the serpent flexed his frills so as to reduce the tension on his allies. Though he was not taking it too well as he gagged.

'Crap! My stamina's been drained from the last fight! But I…gotta hang on!'

Armagedoid craned his head around, strengthening his shrieking shockwaves.

Frill Abis Omega: 1000 (-300 -350) = 350/Dusk Atchibee: 950 (-300 -350) = 300/Glow Jelldon: 600 (-300) = 300/Stag Fly Beetle: 600 (-300) = 300/Prime Verias: 600 (-300) = 300/Gale Atmos: 600 (-300) = 300/Alto Brontes: 900 (-450) = 450/Alpha Hydranoid: 1400 (-500 -450) = 450 = 2750

Armagedoid: 700 (+800 +1100) = 2600

The pulse waves kept coming, but everyone was having a rough time. Fly Beetle had to dig his heels in so he didn't get blown away so easily. He used his horn to keep Abis from falling. "Fly Beetle?"

Fly Beetle said nothing. He kept focus so that his friend wouldn't fall. "Hang…in there…!"

Shawn stepped back. "Maggie, listen! We have to break through this blast wave! Think you can help me with that?!"

Maggie slowly arose, despite the small shake that almost downed her. "Gngh! Don't…you worry." She paused. "We're still good. Alright, let's do this!"

Shawn readied an ability. "Ability, activate! Bolt Cutter!" Verias' blade embedded in the ground started glowing. He managed to stand up once more, powering through the winds and roaring.

"Jelldon! Give him some firepower! Double ability, activate! Bolting Sun!" Jelldon raised some of his tentacles, the main ones manifesting heat that compressed into a plasmatic fireball. "Fusion Ability,, activate! Maximum Bolt!" Glimmering red plasma crackled like lightning into the fireball forming, making it look electrifying to the touch.

"Here you go!" Jelldon lobbed the crackling fireball towards Verias. The ape raised his double-sided axe and spun it overhead, manifesting a slicing veil that the fireball struck. It dissipated, but the flames and lightning crackled in a ring around the staff's momentum. Verias hollered and shrieked as he gained the momentum to dart across the ground with the twirling staff of sharp-bladed plasma that left a grizzly trail across the ground.

Frill Abis Omega: 350/Dusk Atchibee: 300/Glow Jelldon: 300 (+500 +300) = 1100/Prime Verias: 300/Stag Fly Beetle: 300/Alto Brontes: 450/Alpha Hydranoid: 450 = 3550

Armagedoid: 2600 (-1300 -300) = 1000

Verias ran with all his might through the shockwaves coming. His blade was rotating so fast it was creating a tailwind to help him. Instead of darting through the whole thing, he jumped into the air and screamed with all his might as he plunged the blade into the ground. The ground split and a shockwave of bright flames and plasma shred in a straight fissure into Armagedoid's distorted shockwaves.

They ran deep into the ground to disappear beneath the Bakugan. Seconds afterwards, gleaming beams tore up from below, causing Armagedoid to holler as the shockwaves were stopped.

"Now guys, hit him!" Verias shouted.

Riaan glared daggers at the fray. "Like to have an amateur to allow such an opportunity? Ability, activate-!"

Armagedoid opened his maw, dark energy surfacing to no end. "Photon Dragonia!" Armagedoid opened his maw wide and unleashed a monstrous blast of black, purple, and bright pink across the atmosphere towards everyone else. His power level jumped towards 1600 in no time.

The blast wave closed in on everyone, but Abis saw this and braced himself with Luke.

"Ability, activate! Mirror Shock!" Abis flexed his frills and emulated a strong cry. The draconic blast of darkness barreled into his direction and struck his frills with intense, groundbreaking force. It was taking whatever it was that Abis had to keep himself from being pushed over without Fly Beetle giving him a push.

"Abis…GO!" Luke roared.

With a violent cry, Abis shrieked outwards. "Take…THIS!" Flexing his frills, the sea serpent made blue gleams shimmer inside the attack as it rushed back at Armagedoid. It shred across the ground with greater force than before.

Frill Abis Omega: 350 (+300) = 650/Dusk Atchibee: 300/Glow Jelldon: 1100/Stag Fly Beetle: 300/Prime Verias: 300/Gale Atmos: 300/Alto Brontes: 450/Alpha Hydranoid: 450 = 3850

Armagedoid: 1600 (-600 -600) = 400

The beam struck Armagedoid, causing an intense tension that stung the Bakugan as he tried fighting his own attack. Even so, it wasn't pushing him back anywhere close to what anybody wanted. Rather, Riaan was seemingly amused by this.

A low frown crossed his face. "Relax, Armagedoid…it's alright." At this, Armagedoid was starting to calm in the blast wave. "This is what we wanted."

Luke's eyes widened. "What…?" He then realized what Esther had done when she was under his control. 'Don't tell me, he's just gonna-!'

"Rather than take this power, let us learn from our past…and make everyone else suffer this wrath!" He reached his hand out. "Armagedoid, ability activate! Shambolic Wing!"

The panels on the wings shined, refracting light much like a mirror. Like a satellite, the blast that was reflected back at Armagedoid was manifesting into a larger force that was surprised everyone. The beast allowed the attack to refract off his wings, sent in a voracious beam at double the force. This caused his power level to skyrocket towards 2200.

Everyone's eyes shrunk as the attack bolted at a monstrous velocity. The one to react to this was Esther as she handled another ability.

They all braced themselves as the blast wave was too vast to dodge. Everything turned bright pink before everything faded.

---

"Ability, activate! Volting Blow!" Zenet started off immediately. Contestir reeled a fist back that glowed brightly before punching forward, sending lightning bolts at Raptorix

"Then how's about this for an upstage?" Jesse held up an ability. "Ability, activate! Fly Destroyer!"

"Oh yeah! My turn to bring the hurt!" Plitheon summoned a translucent green shield in front and charged up green energy in his maw. Once it was ready, he hollered and shot it into the shield. On the other end it went through, it became a larger bolt that zapped towards Snapzoid.

Sabator: 900/Linehalt: 900/Plitheon: 900/Contestir: 900 (+200) = 1100/Phosphos: 900/Avior: 900

Raptorix: 800 (-200) = 600 Snapzoid: 700 (-400) = 300

The green blaze and yellow bolt closed in quickly on the two Bakugan, but they remained stable for the time being.

In response to this, Zion prepared an ability to counter with. "Ability, activate! Vex Crunch!" Snapzoid opened his maw wide, firing off a large bright red beam that blazed into Plitheon's direction. The result were the two attacks being intercepting of each other as both their power levels matched at 600.

Cyrus grinned. "Very well then. Ability, activate! Vengeful Ripper!"

Contestir's yellow beam closed in on Raptorix, but the Darkus entity of the sky had its claws lengthened and shimmering dark purple. With one fell swing, he swiped through the lightning, making it dissipate as he faded.

"Where did he go…?" Contestir felt a shiver up his spine and turned around. However, he was a split second too late when Raptorix slashed down, sending him on his face. Contestir fell to 800, yet Raptorix went up to 900.

"Lucky shot." Zenet scoffed. Her eyes widened when she saw a knife head her way. She squealed when she covered up and allowed the knife to graze pass her arms.

"Zenet!" Contestir fret.

Zion narrowed his eyes. "Fools." Snapzoid fired another beam at Contestir when his guard was down. This one was enough to send him falling onto his back with a painful thud. He slammed next to Zenet, who used her freehand to cover the bleeding cut on her arm.

"Guys, we told you to watch your backs!" Ren shouted.

Zion reached for another part of his armor. He created his axe and started towards them in a stern stride. His glare was so fierce that it was almost mocking.

Lena held up an ability. "Not so fast! Ability, activate! Gorgon Viper!"

Phosphos hissed loudly as his three heads' maws widened. On his back where two plates were, they extended necks that arched over the shoulders. The knee plates showed necks and heads of their own. In total, seven heads aimed and fired bright blue beams at the opposing Bakugan.

As he charged into the beam, Zion didn't look the least bit afraid…it was unsettling. "Ability, activate! Swallow Excel!"

Snapzoid opened his maw as wide as possible, the extra snake tongue curling itself in. All the beams were able to fir into his mouth, creating a mass that was swallowed down the thick gullet. Lena gasped in shock. Before she could comment, Snapzoid opened wide as that same attack was blasted in one massive beam that spread far and wide, covering the other Bakugan.

Linehalt, Sabator, and every other Bakugan veered and covered from the intoxicating blast that stunned them. Their grunts of agony were audible.

Sabator: 900 (-500) = 400/Linehalt: 900 (-500) = 400/Plitheon: 600 (-500) = 100/Contestir: 800 (-500) = 300/Phosphos: 900 (-500) = 400/Avior: 900 (-500) = 400

Raptorix: 900 Snapzoid: 600

"He reflected Phosphos' attack back without hesitation…!" Lena was so shocked at the revelation that she almost lost track of something bypassing all the Bakugan. Her eyes widened when she saw Zion approaching with his sharp axe ready to cleave her.

"Lena! Look out!" Ren warned.

Lena was too in shock to move. Zion closed the gap quickly and swung with a killer gaze. Metal slashed into energy and sparks flared in the atmosphere as Nurzak's energy bisento intercepted Zion's attack. Lena flinched at the save there.

"You certainly do have the warrior's ethic to take down his enemy no matter the cost." Nurzak added a little more force. "But…you lack…the honor to uphold the true warrior!"

Zion snarled. "Last I checked, honor doesn't save your skin. Does it?!" Zion's heavier weapon made Nurzak lose traction. He slid back on his heels as to hold him back.

"Hang in there, old man!" Mason shouted. "Avior, back him up!"

"With pleasure!" the dragon huffed.

"Ability, activate!" At the activation of the ability, Avior's eyes shined bright orange. His neck started reaching out of his massive battle armor, revealing green ovular jewels on the sides. With each segment stretched, it sounded grotesque to human ears. Wings, and the tail stretched out to revel his draconic frame. "Long Aercules!"

Orange energy charged in Avior's maw as he aimed for his closest opponent: Raptorix. As the energy blast was at its peak, Cyrus seemed to be aware and was passively ready.

Sabator: 400/Linehalt: 400/Plitheon: 100/Contestir: 300/Phosphos: 400/Avior: 400 (+400) = 800

Raptorix: 900 (-400) = 500 Snapzoid: 600

"Choke on this, this time around!" Avior lurched his head forward, unleashing a bright orange beam that shot across the ground towards Raptorix.

Cyrus said nothing. They all watched as Raptorix looked immobile as an orange explosion skyrocketed from his position. Everyone stared expectantly as the shockwaves of the attack ranged passed them to make a broad light that dimmed on the Gundalian hemisphere.

As the smoke surge diminished, it revealed beside Snapzoid, there was an empty spot with an erased ground on it. The look on Avior's face showed his glee as he huffed out sizzling steam.

"Was that all?" he challenged.

Mason frowned. For some reason he wasn't buying it. It felt so vague knowing there was no sign of their opponent. His brow furrowed as he looked around. He looked at his Bakumeter next to realize the mistake made. That's what made his eyes widen.

Sabator: 400/Linehalt: 400/Plitheon: 100: Contestir: 300/Phosphos: 400/Avior: 800

Raptorix: 500 (+300) = 800 Snapzoid: 600

"Wait, hold on. It should've been defeated. So where did it…?" He looked around, noticing how the surroundings were looking a little darker than normal. It was borderline negative at this point.

"Hm? Hey, what gives? Where's the lights here?" Zenet scoffed.

Lena noticed the gauge on her Bakumeter. "And our opponent is still around somewhere…but where…?"

As they were fretting over what just happened, Zion backed off from Nurzak briefly. He didn't have to look back to know that Cyrus was standing there, expectantly staring with a grim gaze.

"…Camo Immersion."

In the blink of an eye, something struck Avior from behind. In an instant, the large beast floored with a massive quake.

"Avior!" Mason shouted.

Avior struggled to stand. That attack caught him in so much surprise that his body's initial shock was barely running its course. 'Where did that attack come from? I couldn't even see it!'

"What happened? Where did he go?" Phosphos turned his three heads everywhere, but failed to realize the threat above. Raptorix appeared out of pitch-black and slashed down on Phosphos' main head, causing the hydra to flinch.

Plitheon went to make a move next. "What's happening?! Jesse, back me up already!"

"This should flush him out." He pulled out an ability. "Ability, activate! Ghost Storm!"

A green whirlwind was gathering around Plitheon as his power level was increasing to 500. "Come out, wherever you are! I'm tired of waiting!" He swiped his arms ahead, sending the gale blast outwards into the darkness. He expected it to dissipate and reveal Raptorix, but all it really did was make the air colder. He balled his fists. "Where did he go…?"

Behind Plitheon, a ghastly visage of something appeared. Just as he caught onto it, a sharp claw parried a wrist knife, buffering Plitheon into Snapzoid's direction. Before he had the chance to turn around, Snapzoid's long tongue coiled around Pitheon's neck, sending electric impulses that paralyzed him.

"Impatient fool." Zion snarled.

Nurzak wasn't amused by this. "Then perhaps this will smoke you out! Ability activate, Destroy Horn!" Sabator lowered his head, orange lightning crackling around his body. With a snarl, he discharged the lightning bolts in Snapzoid's direction.

Zion's Bakumeter indicated an ability. "Ability, activate. Thunder Field!" Snapzoid continued electrocuting Plitheon when he chose to let go. Instead his curled tentacles discharged sparks and lightning all around him like a veil. It fizzled out Sabator's attack, while increasing his power to 800.

"Plitheon!" Jesse shouted.

With free reign, Plitheon was on his knees and was attempting to stand. "I'm…good." He winced.

"I'd count your blessings, as many would say." Cyrus said. His Raptorix appeared in front of Plitheon, startling him. "However…I don't believe blessings to bear much fruit."

Raptorix slashed Plitheon, causing him to backpedal out of there.

"Now I've got you!" Lena shouted. "Ability, activate! Tri Viper!" Phosphos' three heads spat blue beaming venom at Raptorix, but once again, the creature vanished like a shadow as the venom blast continued its course to the landscape.

"Great. Now where did he go?" Contestir snarled. A haze broke in front of him before Raptorix suddenly pounced on him. He yelled out as he fell onto his back painfully. "Gah!"

"Contestir! Look out!" Zenet screamed.

Contestir didn't have the luxury of getting up. He stared with wide red eyes as Raptorix hissed and bared claws ready to shred him apart.

"Hands off! Ability, activate!" Ren shouted. Linehalt raised his wings and pulled them back in preparation. "Darkness Blizzard!" He gave one powerful flap, his gust creating dark purple whirlwinds with snow and ice mixed into it. The snowstorm continued in Raptorix' direction and was strong enough to push him off Contestir. The snowy gale held him in place as the surroundings were returning to normal.

The creature hissed as his power decreased back to 500, yet Cyrus didn't seem phased. "I see…ability, activate. Barbaric Claw!"

The snowstorm whirled around Raptorix for a while until dark purple sheers grazed clean through. In a split second the winds were reduced to shrapnel as Raptorix' claws were crossed with dark glints. He hollered as his power went up to 800 again.

"Nullifying an ability is a basic move…but your follow ups are weak." Cyrus chastised.

"Then how about this for a follow up! Prime Minister!"

Nurzak nodded. "Yes, I know. I'll handle Snapzoid. You focus on containing that Raptorix."

"Okay, here we go, Linehalt! Ability, activate! Dark Javelin!"

A glowing purple rod manifested in Linehalt's grip, turning into a trident-like spear that he wielded. With a sharp twirl of it overhead, he lunged at Raptorix to meet him in the center. The metal clashed with the claws, causing a stalemate between the two.

"Ability, activate! Brute Cam Wilder!" The gears on Sabator's wrists started churning, as did the drills on the shoulders. The minotaur snarled as he made a bull charge into Snapzoid's electrical field protecting him. With a steady stalemate for a few second, Sabator was managing to gain ground.

With one final push, both Linehalt and Sabator roared out with all their might and pushed back Snapzoid and Raptorix. The force of the blow seemingly caught Zion's interests.

Sabator: 400 (+500) = 900/Linehalt: 400 (+400) = 800/Plitheon: 500/Contestir: 300/Phosphos: 400/Avior: 800

Raptorix: 800 (-400) = 400 Snapzoid: 800

Both Interacian Bakugan roared out for battle. They looked anywhere but fazed by the fallback they were enduring. Meanwhile, Zion was starting for the Gundalian again with his axe in hand. He raised it and parried with Nurzak once more. But this time, he had greater force to completely stop Nurzak's tracks.

"Overpowering us using force. How typical." Zion used only one hand to hold the axe in place, his strength startling Nurzak. From behind his shoulder, he reached for a polearm that he had lodged and slowly brought it out. "But that logic is reality. And I intend to keep you awake long enough for you to see!"

Nurzak's eyes widened as he got his feet beneath, backpedaling in time to avoid the polearm's sharp tip. He maneuvered backwards and kept out of range, but he was far from the clear as his adversary kept putting pressure on. He used the bisento to bunt from the two downward weapons, meeting him face to face again.

"Zion." Cyrus told offhandedly. "…I believe we may as well test them to see if they are deemed worthy, have you?"

"Yes, milord…consider it mutual." Zion stepped back from Nurzak, revealing a new ability, along with Cyrus – two cards with strange symbols that were barely recognizable.

"Ren, is that what I think it is?" Linehalt gasped. He remembered that card. That's what knocked him out before.

"This is bad." Ren grunted. He took a wary disposition. "Everyone, be careful! They're about to use their forbidden cards!"

BA-DUMP!

The atmosphere thumped, causing everyone's eyes to slowly widen. A sinister, dark tone crept around them. A voracious level of power erupted out of nowhere that gave even Nurzak the shivers. However, he was much more composed than the others since he was aware of this factor.

"This power…it's completely unseen…" Jesse gulped.

"Okay, this is starting to feel even more freaky now." Zenet fret.

Lena gave a glare at her foes ahead. She narrowed her nervous-looking eyes as notice the malicious cards and pulsating aura around them. 'This pressure…it's exactly what we've felt from afar. This has to be the forbidden powers we've heard so much about.'

Very calmly, both Cyrus and Zion raised their Bakumeters, a grizzly magenta aura around the cards shining.

"Diablo-X…"

"Spartan-X…"

Two bright purple core materialized in front of the two Bakugan and traced tendrils around their bodies. Once they faded into them, veins of glowing magenta fluid pulsated. The ground began shaking beneath everyone again. A dark pillar suddenly bloomed beneath Raptorix, and an inferno erupted around Snapzoid. The darkness and fire swirled into two palpable pillars that sent shockwaves around everyone. They all covered up again as they tried to hand in there.

"What's…happening?!" Mason yelled through the eruptions.

They all stared in awe and horror as Raptorix and Snapzoid's power levels were increasing drastically. Raptorix was boosting all the way up to a staggering 1900, and yet Snapzoid went up to 1700. The flames and darkness exploded spontaneously, making it almost impossible for anyone to see anything but two grizzly silhouettes staring them down with fire and darkness that burnt away goosebumps.

Cyrus was humble as he watched behind his erupting Bakugan. His smile was anything but good. He knew Luke and Alice's battle had most certainly piqued him – to an extent of course. But now he was invested in seeing if the Gundalians could make him pull out all the stops here.

---

Black draconic flames were blocked by a pink crystal barrier. The force of the attack went around it, protecting all the Bakugan behind the barrier from Armagedoid's wrath.

They all showed mild surprise at the last second save. They turned towards their saviors. "Esther! Atchibee!"

Esther had a dark purple ability, revealing it to be Chrysalis Shield. She and Atchibee had cold, expectant glares as they were trying their best to withhold their defenses from breaking. Still, with each second, another flaming pulse was buffering the crystals, causing Atchibee to deter.

Frill Abis Omega: 650 (+300) = 950/Dusk Atchibee: 300 (+300) = 600/Glow Jelldon: 1100 (+300) = 1400/Stag Fly Beetle: 300 (+300) = 600/Prime Verias: 300 (+300) = 600/Gale Atmos: 300 (+300) = 600/Alto Brontes: 450 (+300) = 750/Alpha Hydranoid: 450 (+300) = 750= 6250

Armagedoid: 2200 (-1200) = 1000

Seeing the last second shield, Riaan smirked. He seemed invested in how Esther was putting up a fight after all. Still, it was going to take a lot more than that. She knew that as well.

"Everyone, please listen!" Esther shouted. She buffered back from another shockwave.

"Esther-!" Luke reached out to her, but he retraced his arm. He chose to have her stand on her own terms.

"I…know that I have a lot to make up for. There's a lot you need to fill me on…" her eyes grew deathly serious. "But right now, we need to stop Armagedoid. Atchibee and I can't hold him off for very long. Everyone! Please, lend us your strength!"

Alice nodded firmly. "Don't worry. We're here for you…all of us." She glared at the shards of crystal flying overhead. The shield was slowly breaking down. 'If we try to use another defensive ability immediately after, he'll probably break through that. We'll need to counterattack straight away.' "Hydranoid!"

The hydra leered at the opportunity. "I'm ready, Alice!"

"Good. Time to blow him away! Jase, can you give us a boost?"

Jase prodded his glasses. "I'll do what I can. Ability, activate! Tailwind!" Atmos cawed as he got behind everyone, flapping his wings spontaneously. The falcon's green gale swirled around as his power level increased further to 900. Everyone else in front of him were feeling a draft behind that counterbalanced them from the shockwaves. "That should suffice for now. Now, go!"

"Right!" Alice lifted her Bakumeter. "Double ability, activate! Hellion Pulse, plus Fusion Ability, Final Destruction!"

Hydranoid opened his maws and charged up more dark energy with purple tints. As it glistened, the daft behind picked up as a purple aura engulfed his body. The flare intensified inside as he waited for when the barrier would soon break open.

There was a crack. Then another. Until finally Armagedoid's blast wave pushed down the crystals to give wide range. Hydranoid roared out as three glistening white, black and purple beams tore across the earth to counteract the impact. The result was an intense shockwave that made everyone kneel in cover. The two Darkus blasts were in a power struggle, with Armagedoid and Hydranoid on opposite ends.

Frill Abis Omega: 950/Dusk Atchibee: 600/Glow Jelldon: 1400/Stag Fly Beetle: 600/Prime Verias: 600/Gale Atmos: 900/Alto Brontes: 750/Alpha Hydranoid: 750 (+500 +100 +600 +100) = 2050 = 7850

Armagedoid: 1000 (-500 -100) = 400

'We've gotta hammer his guy even harder!' Shuji got a heel behind him, gaining an ability. "Ability, activate! Subterra Gravity!"

Still on all six appendages, Fly Beetle's eyes glimmered orange. His power level skyrocketed towards 1200 as he created a distorted gravity field around him. "Maybe this'll change things up!" He shoved the gravity wave pass Hydranoid into his attack. The gravity didn't just push the attack harder into Armagedoid's beam, but it also compressed it, multiplying the force to tear it through. Slowly, the dark beam with an orange outline around it was eating its way through the blast, until it finally got through the other side.

Armagedoid snarled in shock of the incoming attack. Riaan kept composure.

"Now, Brontes! Ability, activate! Shining Nightmare!"

Brontes' eyes glinted red as he got the message. He levered towards Armagedoid and went into a mad dash. It amazed them how fast Brontes was to have caught up and got in front of Hydranoid and Fly Beetle's combined attack. His fours arms created shimmering axes that he drew into the attack. He spun into a tornado as his power bolted towards 1250. He was a compressed typhoon of light, orange, and darkness that drew close until he was in front of Armagedoid. His arms were covered in gravitational dark blades that followed his wake.

"Hope you've celebrated your birthday…because you won't get another!"

Luke and Luka charged with all their might at Riaan at the same time. They slashed and bypassed him, just as Brontes spiraled and posed behind Armagedoid. His attack faded, leaving a moment of silence before Armagedoid exploded in a frenzy.

Luke and Luka looked back, seeing Riaan immobile for a minute. They were sure they got him that time. Luke was more out of breath than Luka, for obvious reasons to himself.

They all waited for the smoke to clear to get results. Though Jelldon was seemingly more anxious. "Did we get him…?"

Shawn and Jase looked ahead, seeing something inside. Everyone started recoiling from what they saw.

"So tell me…" Riaan paused. "Was that all, or was everything just a bluff?"

Luke and Luka looked back, as did Brontes. Riaan revealed that his accented sword was still in hand, but it wasn't even fazed. Armagedoid also had a rainbow translucent shimmer around his body, similar to an armor. Like Riaan, he was unfazed as his power retained 1000.

Luke's eyes widened. "When did they…?"

Luka growled angrily.

"Ability…Eternity Screen." Riaan announced. "This means that now, no abilities will leave a mark on Armagedoid."

Brontes' eyes widened when he saw Armagedoid's tail swing around and slammed into his side. The clown went flying back wailing. Abis quickly slithered up and flexed his frills. "Hold on!" Cupping his frills to make a trampoline, Brontes; landing was minimized, Though Abis still slid back some. The two grunted at the end and looked back, seeing how far away the tail slam had brought Brontes.

'Just how strong is he physically?' Abis questioned, but he knew better than to speak so rhetorically. 'He's countered our attacks, and we can't even touch him…we've gotta do something, and fast!' He winced again, something Brontes picked up on.

"Don't keel over just yet."

"I'm fine." Abis weakly straightened up. "We've gotta do something else if abilities won't work on him."

"Maybe this will level things out." Shawn reached down towards the ground. "Gate Card, open! Element Merge!"

The card below shined brightly, causing a rainbow aura to erode up from Armagedoid towards the other Bakugan on the other side. The aura divided into eight different pieces as everyone felt a surge of power.

Armagedoid looked calmly ahead. He could feel all his power starting to drain away drastically. Regardless, he remembered what he was fighting for. "Do not think that you can win this way." He spoke.

"Indeed." Riaan taunted. "You may have found a way around abilities, but…" He held up his Bakumeter. "But…a guardian must do everything he can in order to preserve what he vows to protect. Ability, activate! Dimension Gate!"

Armagedoid's panel wings adjusted so they refracted along the Gate Card. The card's accents and wording had begun distorting and spacing beneath everyone.

"What's happening?" Hydranoid scowled.

The transcending energy that was going over everyone's heads before had froze in place. Like a rewind button, the energy was returning to Armagedoid. Even more so, it was also taking some from everybody else. They all wobbled about as a dizziness was kicking in.

Maggie gasped. "He's turning the Gate Card effects around!"

Frill Abis Omega: 950 (-200) = 750/Dusk Atchibee: 600 (-200) = 400/Glow Jelldon: 1400 (-200) = 1200/Stag Fly Beetle: 1200 (-200) = 1000/Prime Verias: 600 (-200) = 400/Gale Atmos: 900 (-200) = 700/Alto Brontes: 1250 (-200) = 1050/Alpha Hydranoid: 2050 (-200) = 1850 = 7350

Armagedoid: 1000 (+1600) = 2600

"As you are aware, my powers are to duplicate the life force, and sap it from the host slowly. What you consider yours, is merely but a biased accusation. When in reality, the goals are to take claim of what you have once lost. You see, like this Gate Card, everything that I have gained from my time of existence has been given to others, so that they could prosper. But, like this ability and my own abilities, I can no longer remain in the dark. Code Eve has blinded you. She may have given Bakugan life and powers, but I hold the key stone. And I intend to take it back and start anew!"

"Not if we have anything to say about it!" Alice rebuffed with an ability. "Ability, activate! Grand Down!"

Hydranoid's feet expelled a dark energy that eroded across the Gate Card, turning it back and void. The energy siphon above everyone faded away, allowing all their strengths to return to what they were.

Frill Abis Omega: 750 (+200) = 950/Dusk Atchibee: 400 (+200) = 600/Glow Jelldon: 1200 (+200) = 1400/Stag Fly Beetle: 1000 (+200) = 1200/Prime Verias: 400 (+200) = 600/Gale Atmos: 700 (+200) = 900/Alto Brontes: 1050 (+200) = 1250/Alpha Hydranoid: 1850 (+200) = 2050 = 8950

Armagedoid: 2600 (-1600) = 1000

"Look, we're terribly sorry for what happened to you. Honestly." Alice remarked, though her face showed the opposite of empathy. "But there could have been other ways to solve this. Why did you have to commit all of this?! A lot of lives are being lost, are you feeling no shame for what you're doing?!"

Riaan calmly closed his eyes. A short silence fell as he took Alice's words to heart.

"You speak the truth, Alice Gehabich. Yes, there could have been an answer much more peaceful to all of this destruction that we're committing…" He raised his head. "But, is it also not true that just because you think there's an easier way, that makes you right? Perhaps my way is easier because it gets a message across."

Everyone fell silent at what they were hearing. They wanted to rebuff, but what Riaan was saying was essential.

"Even if I weren't to cause destruction, would peace really stay in a standstill because I chose to remain in solitude? This is more than just about my score to settle with Code Eve. This is for everyone's sake as well. No matter what; no matter whom; the fight never ends." He glared stern daggers that was cutting Alice off from making a statement. "Lies, faulthood, and power. All these traits share one common thing: They require fear. Fear by others, just as how there are so many who fear losing their lives. That one emotion can either drive you back, or move you forward." He raised his blade. "Well? Do I look afraid to you? Do I look ashamed of what I've done?! I pity those souls who have lost themselves to my cause, but this is the path that I am willing to take responsibility for. I will make everyone aware of the Bakugan's true origins!"

Luka scoffed. "That's funny, considering you've lied to your own people."

"They will understand. Everyone will." The room's magenta outlines glowed to an intensified level. "If they do not, then they fear reality. Zion has practiced this well, and now, I must practice what I preach, and show you our resolve!"

Armagedoid raised his head, emitting a vindictive shriek that shook the entire Empyrean.

Luke and Abis gnashed their teeth in frustration. In a way, they could somewhat understand through their resolve to no longer hide from reality. But that didn't mean they agreed to his methods in full.

"We've gotta take down that barrier to Armagedoid then." Shawn insisted. "…only our nullification abilities won't have any effect either."

Shuji rammed his fist into his palm, cracking it. "Don't sweat it. That's what Fly Beetle and I are known for." Fly Beetle looked back, giving a nod towards his partner. Shuji reciprocated. "Shawn, you and Verias back us up?"

Shawn nodded. "Yeah, don't worry about it. Verias?"

"I'm with you guys." The ape nodded, readying his battle axe. "Let's go!"

Fly Beetle stepped forward. His toes clawed at the ground as he hunched forward into a charge at Armagedoid. Verias leaped ahead to follow his lead towards the monster.

"Ability, activate! Thorax Defense!" Shuji roared.

Fly Beetle's entire body was encased in a Subterra aura that left a hardened, glossy shine over his entire exoskeleton. His power level bolted up to 1600 as he went horn first into Armagedoid's barrier. The screen-like projection withhold ground as he was trying to power through, grunting harshly.

Riaan stared on at the sight. 'What could they be up to…?'

"Here I go!" Verias leaped off Fly Beetle's thorax, which was extra hard for platform material. He leaped over Armagedoid.

Shawn showed two abilities. "Double ability, activate! Primera Pressure, plus Correlation of Darkus to Haos!" Verias' entire frame had a Haos flare erupt as his bodily bulk's accents brightened. With extra light energy around his fist, his power level jacked up to 1500 as the fist met the barrier to Armagedoid and stopped cold.

"Your abilities won't affect Armagedoid. Not with Eternity Screen active." Riaan reminded.

"Maybe so." Shawn rebuffed. "But Primera Pressure ignores all ability effects." He swiped his fencer. "Verias!"

"GRAAAAAH~!" With an indefinite increase to his roar, Verias applied more pressure to his fist. So much in fact that the shield around Armagedoid was beginning to crack. It cracked harder on the fist, and even more so a second later. Until finally, a hole cracked in the Eternity Screen.

Verias' fist connected with Armagedoid's headpiece, creating a shockwave. But the black and magenta dragon was unfazed by the assault. He felt nothing.

"Fly Beetle, hurry!"

Fly Beetle tucked his horn in as it glowed. "Here we go!" The tip was glowing, the axe blade-like ends extending with the energy embedded into them.

Shuji ultimately gave the word. "Ability, activate-!"

"HORN BLITZER!" Fly Beetle ascended and dove at Armagedoid, his power level rising to 2100. Once Verias pulled his fist out, he backed away in time for Fly Beetle to dive into the hole, his hardened exoskeleton making the shield ineffective as his horn struck his chest. Armagedoid roared out as his Eternity Screen shattered into energy fragments, allowing everyone to get to him.

"It appears that the barrier has been lifted." Jase deduced.

Fly Beetle stammered onto his stick legs and skid back. He snarled as Verias joined him along the side as they held off Armagedoid. They charged with horn and staff respectively, but Armagedoid used his two hands to keep them in place. He still didn't budge an inch.

"Think again, enemies!" His eyes glimmered brightly.

"You may have brought down his shield, but I now see my own opportunity at hand." Riaan scoffed. "We'll at the very least take out one of your frontmen in return. Ability, activate! Oracle Cannon!"

Armagedoid shot a pulse from his arms that shot Fly Beetle and Verias onto their backs. The black dragon snarled as his eight panel wings positioned in equilateral positions and congregated dark energy with pink starlight in the center. The blast charged up quick – too quick for neither Verias nor Fly Beetle to get out of.

"Guys, watch out!" Luke warned.

Verias was the first to stand, but what he saw startled him. Armagedoid let out a bloody roar as the hemisphere compressed to the size of a bowling ball for a second, before it tore open and shot a huge beam of dark purple, black, and pink starlight that sent shockwaves on either side. The beam closed in on the ape, but he didn't have time to move.

Suddenly stepping in front, Fly Beetle used his horn and lobbed the shocked Verias out of the way. "Fly Beetle!"

The stag beetle turned and faced the incoming threat just as the blast wave reached him. He screamed mightily as he tried to hold his ground, but he couldn't even feel it beneath his feet. The beam was too large and too strong for even his thick thorax to hold up.

Frill Abis Omega: 950/Dusk Atchibee: 600/Glow Jelldon: 1400/Stag Fly Beetle: 2100 (-600) = 1500/Prime Verias: 1500/Gale Atmos: 900/Alto Brontes: 1250/Alpha Hydranoid: 2050 = 10,150

Armagedoid: 1000 (+600) = 1600

Fly Beetle was doing what he possibly could to keep his shields up, but cracks quickly formed around his thorax. The pressure from the attack was much more than what he anticipated. 'I…I can't stop him! My defenses, he's breaking them!'

"Fly Beetle, move!" Shuji warned.

Fly Beetle's sturdy physique was blown off the ground and hurled through the shock of the cannon. With a mighty cry, the beetle reverted to ball form, escaping the blast as it continued its course towards the Bakugan behind.

Shuji looked down in shock, Fly Beetle rolling to his feet while his life gauge fell to 80%. "Fly Beetle…"

"It's still coming!" Maggie warned. The blast wave ran closer towards the group, and it was coming in hot.

"Ability, activate!" Esther cut in. "Wormhole!"

Atchibee's wings spread out as she summoned two distorted holes from the eyes of her wings. The Oracle Cannon's wake made a beeline directly into her and bisected into two halves. The chamber shook as she tried her hardest to refrain from budging, but the impact's wake was taking everything she had to not get blown away while vacuuming in the attack.

Armagedoid soon receded his attack, his power dropping to 1000. Atchibee managed to hold out as the rest of the energy was finally sucked in and converted to her energy, bringing her power level up to 1200.

"Atchibee, are you alright?!" Abis fret.

Atchibee huffed, signs of her fatigue as clear as day. She wasn't feeling so hot, but she knew she couldn't quit…especially with her fellow friend taken out. "Don't worry, I'm alright." She paused. "How's Fly Beetle?"

Shuji looked down at Fly Beetle, seeing he wasn't budging. His teeth gnashed in frustration at his Bakugan's condition. "He's…outcold." He lowered his head. "I'm sorry…"

Shawn drew his fencer and immediately charged. Verias howled out in rage of his own for letting a brother fall. Luke, Luka, and Esther all took to their heels to strike Riaan again, but he was prepared and positioned his sword to block two blows, and moved his head to be between the spear and fencer.

"You bastard. You're gonna pay for that." Shawn scowled.

Riaan gave a mocking glare down at him. "You know, between the manner and here. I'm a little surprised of you Shawn. You've always kept a cool head…this is new."

Shawn suppressed a growl the best he could, instead focusing his attention on dodging the swing of Riaan's blade. He and the others spread out around the master swordsman.

"Jelldon, let's back him up!" Maggie cheered on.

Jelldon eagerly nodded. "I gotcha! Here we go~!" His gel core started shimmering a bright light, illuminating a rainbow shine across his body. "Attribute Change! Haos!" His gel pack shined, allowing his bodily colors to change into his Haos attribute version.

Riaan pivoted and deflected Esther's spear to the side, then sharply swung back without much leg swing into Luka to overpower his swing. He looked back with Armagedoid at Jelldon's attributed qualities in full bloom.

"I see, so a Bakugan is capable of changing attributes to whatever they want." Armagedoid stated. Though by his tone it was more of a neutral statement than one of inquiry.

'Gotta shut down his abilities for good.' Maggie focused on the task at hand. "Ability, activate! Sulis Judgement!"

Jelldon's blue eyes on top of the head glared down at Armagedoid. They flickered on, like overhead lights that Armagedoid used his headpiece to shield. He curled into a prism as Jelldon fired thick yellow plasma arrows at the black dragon. The bright substance stuck to Armagedoid and enclosed him in a bright light-like shield.

Frill Abis Omega: 950/Dusk Atchibee: 1200/Glow Jelldon: 1400/Prime Verias: 1500/Gale Atmos: 900/Alto Brontes: 1250/Alpha Hydranoid: 2050 = 9250

Armagedoid: 1000 (-300 -100) = 600

"That'll keep him activating any abilities as well." Maggie explained. "You guys make a move!"

"Thanks Maggie." Shawn looked forward with a serious face. "Verias! Let's go! Ability, activate! Kingdom Gladiator!" The jewels on Verias' battle armor glowed brightly as the accents on his face and body were shimmering bright armor. Verias' battle staff was glowing in a dazzling cosmic Haos pattern as he roared out with all his might, reeling his arm back to deal the fatal swing. With the help of the Tailwind, the gasp between him and Armagedoid closed abruptly as he swung downwards. The ape let out a bloody cry as he was going to cleave into the light encrusted creature.

Riaan reached out. "Armagedoid!"

Just as Verias was closing the gap, the light shattered like glass, blinding Verias to make him back away. He strayed away to look with Jelldon at the scene, but they couldn't make heads or tails of it.

Maggie gasped at the sight. "What…what happened?"

Shuji furrowed his brow. "What the…?"

Around Armagedoid's prism frame, there was a large reflective shine off his coat. The black panels had a deep shine on them that made it almost blinding if one tried looking directly at it. The creature slowly unfolded his appendages, giving all of them an engrossed glare.

Jase's face showed like he knew what happened. "A defensive ability."

Riaan revealed his Bakumeter, which showcased an ability that had already activated. "Correct. What you see before you is another one of Armagedoid's unique features: Prism Dialect." He slashed his blade swiftly, stopping Luke and rebuffing him back. "With this ability, Armagedoid's bodily frame is secured by a thin layer of reflective light, barely noticeable to the naked eye. T allows him to use his abilities as he sees fit, regardless whether it's by a Gate Card or by an ability effect."

Maggie recoiled. 'That means…Sulis Judgement nor other abilities can't stop him!'

"And that's not all. With extra refraction of light and dark matter, it enables Armagedoid to increase his ability effects, similar to your Tailwind. You care to try?"

Maggie furrowed her brow. "Gotta keep a lead then. Ability, activate! Spiral Lantern!" Jelldon jumped into the air with his tentacles. Facing Armagedoid, he spun like a wheel and his tentacles glowed brightly and elongated downwards in a hypnotizing helix towards the dragon. His power level shot drastically towards 1900 with the whirlwinds increasing his speed.

Verias clutched his staff tight and twirled it overhead. With a voracious shout, he infused with the spiraling attack while coming in to slice the dragon. But Armagedoid looked ready.

"Double ability, activate!" Riaan shouted. He used the back of his sword to bluntly shove Shawn away when his fencer was intercepted. "Photon Dragonia, plus Fading Goliath!"

Armagedoid howled as he opened his maw, unleashing a voracious beam at Verias. Meanwhile, seven star-like projectiles shimmered around his body and fluxed before they fired outwards. Their range was far sharper and stronger as the destructive force was directed up at Verias and Jelldon.

Frill Abis Omega: 950/Dusk Atchibee: 1200/Glow Jelldon: 1900 (-700) = 1200/Prime Verias: 2100/Gale Atmos: 900/Alto Brontes: 1250/Alpha Hydranoid: 2050 = 9650

Armagedoid: 0 (+800 +700) = 1500

The attack Verias was up against was something he had to stop…but he couldn't. He had to use his axe to bunker the straight shot of pitch-black and magenta energy while the seven starlights shot through Jelldon's attack. The beams closed in on Jelldon, much to his horror.

"JELLDON!" Maggie yelled worriedly.

Jelldon screamed mightily as he was swallowed in a frenzy-like blast that lit up the chamber. Maggie screamed as she was forced to cover up from the erupting blast that happened above her. Magenta and dark purple was all that lit up the atmosphere. As it settled, Jelldon was seen in ball form, falling with a bounce in front of Maggie.

"Jelldon…" She looked worriedly at him as her life gauge dropped to 40%.

Verias, meanwhile, was pushed back by the attack across the ground. He doubled over, slamming on his stomach and gritting his teeth. He struggled to stand, whereas he was really getting a hard time. Abis hissed as he, Brontes, and Atchibee covered for him.

Luka turned towards Jase. "Hey! Look sharp! He's going to go after you next!"

Jase looked ahead knowingly. "I see…"

Luka faced forward with an ability. "Brontes! Give him some power! Ability, activate! Wizard Proxy!" Brontes raised his arms and cackled as he summoned glowing golden aura that encompassed the area. Armagedoid snarled as he remained unfazed, though he was feeling the windstorm around sapping his power. He leered at Atmos, sensing where that's the power going to.

Frill Abis Omega: 950/Dusk Atchibee: 1200/Prime Verias: 2100/Gale Atmos: 900 (+300 +100) = 1300/Alto Brontes: 1250/Alpha Hydranoid: 2050 = 8850

Armagedoid: 1500 (-300 -100) = 1100

Riaan said nothing in retaliation. He could tell what they were setting up for. But he would rather play it out.

Atmos cawed as he spread his wings. He took towards Armagedoid with a shrieking caw as winds surged around him.

"Now then, double ability, activate!" Jase shouted. "Boreas Arrow! Plus, Fusion Ability, Wise Sky!" Atmos' bead on his chest were gathering up energy and typhoons from around the air and focused them into a single point. Once he was set, he flapped his wings and three massive beams with wind surges pulsated at Armagedoid. In them, several green stars flew across the atmosphere in streaks into Armagedoid.

"Alice, put me in there!" Hydranoid insisted.

"You got it!" She held up an ability. "Ability, activate! Indigo Nightmare!" Hydranoid's three maws opened wide, surging malicious black and purple energy. He took aim and fired the three beams with gusts behind to amplify the speed.

What was behind Armagedoid, was a humbled Riaan.

Frill Abis Omega: 950/Dusk Atchibee: 1200/Prime Verias: 2100/Gale Atmos: 1300 (+400 +100 +200 +100) = 2100/Alto Brontes: 1250/Alpha Hydranoid: 2050 (+300 +100) = 2450 = 10050

Armagedoid: 1100 (-400 -100 -200 -100) = 300

Riaan looked at Armagedoid, who seemed to understand what needed to be done. With a huff, he raised his Bakumeter. "It seems that I'll have to take this the hard way…ability, activate! Necromancer!"

Armagedoid's eyes glowed brightly as he looked at the two attacks coming his way. He did nothing, yet as the attacks drew closer, the rays of Hydranoid's attack were starting to sway away. They bisected Atmos' attack skywards towards him, completely dispelling all the momentum it had.

Atmos was in the way of the black and purple beams coming across when they drew too fast towards him. He was engulfed in a shrieking explosion, his cries of anguish heard clearly for all to clear.

Jase and everyone stared in surprise; Alice gaped with horror at what just happened. Riaan and Armagedoid had quiet complexions as they focused on the dispelling smoke.

As it all dissipated, Atmos was seen falling from the sky in ruffled plumage. He slammed into the ground hard on his stomach. He reverted to ball form and returned to Jase's side, his life gauge dropping to 30%.

The gust storm that was supposedly giving everyone the boost before dissipated. The room's storm was gone, but the raging omens were set to begin for them.

"What…just happened…?" Shawn flabbergasted.

Alice was in shock of her own. But she looked towards Jase as he kneeled to ensure Atmos. "Jase! I…I'm so sorry!" She looked back towards her Bakugan. "Hydranoid! What's wrong?! Hydranoid?!"

The hydra was unresponsive. It seemed like he was a statue as all three heads were craned in the direction of his attack. His fingers were twitching, but that wasn't what scared the others.

Luka's eyes narrowed at the suspicion. "Don't tell me…"

Luke and Abis' eyes widened in shock slowly. Esther tensed up at the actions taken. All anyone could do was take precautionary steps back as Hydranoid staggered his footing to face them. His body had stern, robotic movements as he looked to be in pain.

"Hydranoid…Hydranoid! What's wrong?!" Alice fret. She looked at Armagedoid, whose eyes were shimmering brightly. Her eyes shrunk at the realization. 'No way, can Armagedoid really…?'

Jase's brow furrowed, and not just from the lackluster lead they had lost. "Now it's clear. Of course he's found a way to target others without direct abilities as well. Who needs your own abilities and powers…" He looked at Hydranoid facing the other Bakugan left. "When you can use another's against their bidding."

---

The battlefield shuddered when a plasma shockwave exploded. Several Gundalians and their Bakugan were blown down like dull wood. Once they were down, yellow projectiles shot at them. Their screams were inaudible as they were blown to smithereens before Nastix and Lumitroid.

Lucia and Amina were moving onto the next spot when they felt the earth shook beneath them. They looked over, seeing two distinct pillars in the distance. The familiar energy was all the evidence they needed.

"…it seems Lord Cyrus and Zion are rather overzealous, wouldn't you say so?" Lucia calmly commented.

Amina eyerolled. She seemed far from interested as she was looking through a small mirror while applying lipstick to her supple lips. She was completely oblivious to the dying men around her. "Whatever, Lucia. If it'll keep this new coat I have on my face from running for the next hour. Geez, this dust and dry air is making my skin break like crazy. Are we almost done yet?"

Lucia looked around. She saw Buz Hornix and Glotronoid in their respective Mobile Assault Vehicles, repelling all attacks and decimating numbers. She took one more look over at the pillars and chose to turn away. "It won't be for much longer. Within the hour, the Gundalians will all be quashed."

Amina snapped her pocket mirror shut. "Hmph. We'd be done a lot sooner if Zion and Cyrus just went and fired up their Mobile Assault vehicles."

Lucia walked passed her. "Understandable. But don't forget, this is Lord Cyrus and Zion. At this rate, it wouldn't need my foresight to tell the outcome of this battle…" she stopped to process her thoughts. "Cyrus and Zion are ranked as our superiors for a reason. They wouldn't have to waste such material when it comes to…making their points."

Neither girl said anything as they turned to opposite directions, their Bakugan blasting and destroying enemies as the pillars ruptured in the distance.

…

Ren and the others were staring at the two massive pillars in their way. Goosebumps rattled their spines and skin as they faced the impending threat, but didn't know how to react.

"I say we finish these slouches…they're not as active s they should be." Zion prompted. He pulled out his axe and readied to aim when Cyrus cut him off.

"Not just yet…wait and see."

On the other side of the battlefield, Ren balled his fists, teeth clutching with his mouth shut. 'These abilities are too dangerous.' He had brief flashes of the fiery explosion back at the base. He could still feel the pain in his leg. 'We have to stop them here. It's the only way!'

Nurzak stepped forward. "Everyone, listen! Stop those attacks at whatever mean necessary! Do you understand?"

Zenet licked her lips. "Music to my ears! C'mon, Contestir!" She tapped her Bakumeter, getting a synchronization code setup as yellow energy started materializing from the screen.

"Ready, Spartablaster." The pieces came together, creating a diamond-like protrusion that Zenet seized and threw at Contestir.

"Battlegear, boost!" She threw the contraption at Contestir. The compartment on Contestir's back flipped open, allowing the Battlegear to open on his back. It shined brightly as the sun as it became a white and yellow petal-like weapon, with thick white lines separating them like quadrants. Contestir's power level increased to 400.

"Oh yeah, just what I was thinking!" Contestir balled his fists.

Zenet showed an ability card with a different pattern on it. "Let's brighten things up around here! Battlegear ability, activate! Spartablaster Sol!" Contestir ascended into the air and aimed at the pillar of darkness that had Raptorix inside. The Spartablaster flexed before it unleashed a blistering, bright sun ray that radiated down onto the dark pillar. It was so bright that it made Raptorix visible inside. The Bakugan hissed as it remained undeterred, even as his power level dropped to 1500.

"Good call, Zenet. Very well then." Lena started for a new sequence on her Bakumeter as well.

"Very well then. Allow me to follow in this act as well." Jesse followed her lead into the sequence.

"Ready, Terrorcrest."

"Ready, Vilantor Gear."

Green and blue Battlegear schematics materialized in both Gundalians' Bakumeters. They seized their respective gears threw them in. "Battlegear, boost!" At the same time, Phosphos's back compartment opened up, similar to Contestir. The Battlegear materialized, becoming battle armor that surrounded his tough claws with curved spikes that ran along the back. Vilantor Gear on Plitheon was much like a jet engine with compartments for blasters. They replaced Plitheon's wings for aerial mobility. Phosphos' power went up to 500, yet Plitheon's escalated towards 600.

"Battlegear ability, activate!" Lena started. "Terrorcrest Stigma!" Phosphos thrust his armored claw shields dead ahead. The very ends fired deep blue lasers that separated into two brazen sets; one after Snapzoid, and one after Raptorix. Both Bakugan's grunted weren't heard very well as their abilities' auras were starting to weaken some.

Sabator: 900/Linehalt: 800/Plitheon: 600/Contestir: 400/Phosphos: 500 (+400) = 900/Avior: 800

Raptorix: 1500 (-400) = 1100 Snapzoid: 1700 (-400) = 1300

The spear blasts were only leaving steam and smoke on Snapzoid's fiery battle armor, He hollered in place like it wasn't even there. Their howls only seemed to intensify.

"Our turn, Jesse!" Plitheon scowled.

Jesse showed an ability of his own. "Yes, indeed. Battlegear ability, activate! Vilantor Gear Cyclotron!" Plitheon howled as he aimed his trajectory at Raptorix, who was now just a grizzly haze. Slots opened on the ends of the Battlegear's engines and unleashed green missiles that rained across the battlefield towards Raptorix.

Cyrus calmly showed an ability with a dark visage over his eyes. "Ability, activate. Vernier Macro!"

As the green missile barrage was drawing near, Raptorix began spinning in place. He spun, and spun faster, and faster, until he was a stationary tornado. When the time was right, he pivoted and slashed skywards. A shockwave of negative haze spread in all directions, erasing the green beams out of existence. Plitheon's eyes widened.

"What the-?!"

"He nullified our ability." Jesse evaluated.

Mason was starting to show impatience. "This is starting get tedious." He started for Snapzoid. "Time to play fire extinguisher! Ability, activate! Battle Howling!"

Avior's maw opened wide as he shot a brown beam at Snapzoid's burning body. The blast wave reached and struck him, surrounding him in a burning orange ripple effect. The wyvern snarled. "Hmph! Good luck trying to activate abilities after that."

Zion stared blankly as he waited for them to figure it out.

The ripples continued fluxing around Snapzoid as he remained still. Slowly, the flames around his body came into contact, evaporating the ripples to nothing. Avior's shock could be described as…enflamed.

"What?!"

"He just burnt away Battle Howling?! But how?!" Mason scoffed.

"You are a fool." Zion scoffed, reaching out towards his prey with a knife. "Snapzoid…reduce them to char." Snapzoid obeyed and started slithering across the ground towards the enemy Bakugan. The trail he left behind left charred earth and embers that seemed to remain on the cold, dry land.

"Oh no you don't!" Ren was next to get his Battlegear setup.

"Ready, Boomix."

The Battlegear material appeared and Ren quickly grabbed it. "Battlegear, boost!" He threw it onto Linehalt, who took it and materialized into long battle rifle. The Battlegear equipped gave Linehalt power to equal 1000.

"Now, Ren!" Linehalt rushed.

"Right! Battlegear ability, activate! Boomix Lock!" Linehalt lined up his lock-on screen with Snapzoid's oncoming visage. Once he was within firing range, he pulled the trigger, unleashing a deadly beam that raced across the field towards the slithering furnace.

Sabator: 900/Linehalt: 1000/Plitheon: 600/Contestir: 400/Phosphos: 900/Avior: 800

Raptorix: 1100 Snapzoid: 1300 (-500) = 800

Snapzoid continued his charge at Ren's assault, while Zion raised his Bakumeter, showcasing yet another ability. "Ability, activate! Double Fang Buster!" Snapzoid opened his maw extra wide and charged up an adhesive amount of red energy inside. The snake tongue inside crawled out and opened wide as well, charging up energy. As Linehalt's attack closed in, Snapzoid unleashed a red beam that had a dark red center, which came from the snake tongue acting as a pressurized base.

Sabator: 900/Linehalt: 1000 (-400) = 600/Plitheon: 600/Contestir: 400/Phosphos: 900/Avior: 800

Raptorix: 1100 Snapzoid: 800 (+400) = 1200

The two attacks bolted into each other with full force. It was a momentary struggle before Snapzoid's attack pushed through, heading towards Linehalt. Linehalt braced for the impact to come.

"Ability, activate!" Mason interceded with his counterattack. "Offering Armor!" Avior managed to intercept the red beam before impact. His entire body glowed with a bright orange outline and he tucked in his long segments. Once they were in, he was like a tank as the brazen beam didn't budge him.

Sabator: 900/Linehalt: 600 (+400) = 1000/Plitheon: 600/Contestir: 400/Phosphos: 900/Avior: 800 (+300) = 1100

Raptorix: 1100 Snapzoid: 1200 (-400) = 800

Avior's bodily armor went down s he glared daggers at his foe. "Why won't they just go down?!"

Nurzak's eyes widened as he saw an opportunity. "Okay then, try this!" He reached out towards the field. "Gate Card, open! Brutal Gambit!" The Gate Card shined brightly, giving Sabator a white aura that eroded up towards his body. The minotaur snarled as he could feel his power increase considerably.

"I can feel it…the power…flowing through me~!" He flexed his thick muscles with glee. His power drastically bolted from 900 to a massive 2400.

"The Command Card, Brutal Gambit, is a Command Card that is unique to Sabator." Nurzak explained. "It erases all the ability effects dealt to him, and increases his power level 500 times the number of opponents in play. And I'm sure you're aware of math." His eyes narrowed. "And furthermore, it links up to Sabator's Battlegear, enabling Lv 2 Class Battlegear abilities to be activated."

Zion nor Cyrus said anything. They simply allowed for the moment to sink in. Though unfortunately, they seemed far from impressed.

"Add me in on this, too!" Mason tapped away on his Bakumeter, getting a sequence like Nurzak was doing.

"Ready, Chompixx."

"Ready, Lashor."

Both Subterra contenders grabbed their Battlegear and threw them in. "Battlegear, boost!" Both did an overhead throw, sending them into play. Sabator's Chompixx returned to his back, the blades ready to cut into the earth. Meanwhile, Avior's wings and neck were reaching out as four pointed engines were beneath his wings, with a larger engine on the back with a jagged end. Sabator's power bolted towards 2500, with Avior going up towards 1200.

"Now, time for the finale! Adios!" Mason showed an ability. "Battlegear ability, activate! Lashor Heavy Striker!"

The engines on Avior's body hummed loudly before they all fired deep orange beams at Snapzoid and Raptorix, who seemed unfazed despite the auras flaring around them. Avior's multiple blasts engulfed them, swallowing them in spontaneous eruptions.

Sabator: 2500/Linehalt: 1000/Plitheon: 600/Contestir: 400/Phosphos: 900/Avior: 1200 (+400) = 1600

Raptorix: 1100 (-400) = 700 Snapzoid: 800 (-400) = 400

With a dust surge as their cover, this gave them the cover they needed. Zion and Cyrus remained quell, though Zion decided to add one more kick to it. "Ability, activate! Taser Fang!" Snapzoid's power level went up to 600 as he unleashed his snake tongue at Contestir.

"Somebody help me out here!" Zenet pleaded.

"I shall finish this!" Nurzak declared. "This is for the sake of Gundalia! Ren, assist me!"

"You got it!" Both held up Battlegear abilities. "Time to settle our score, Zion! Say goodbye!"

"Battlegear ability, activate!" both yelled.

"Boomix Dimension!" Linehalt yelled aloud as he dropped to a knee and took aim at Snapzoid's tongue. The beam fired, but it faded through a distorted ripple where the tongue was forced to stop. Suddenly a distortion opened up above the Bakugan. A beam hammered them dead center, engulfing them in a dustcloud.

"Chompixx Havoc Burst!" The two axe-like balances at the very back of the Chompixx Battlegear suddenly began manifesting a heat signature. It was able to create a propulsion for Sabator that made his strides less tedious. He closed the gaps. The massive pincers on the weapon glowing bright orange.

"Choke. On…" He broke through the smoke cloud to meet them. "THIS!" His blades manually slashed into Snapzoid and Raptorix, leaving behind grizzly orange trails that followed it back towards Chompixx as the engine simmered down. Sabator remained still as the slashes on the Bakugan exploded into bursts of smoke that shook the earth.

Sabator: 2500 (+600) = 3100/Linehalt: 1000 (+400) = 1400/Plitheon: 600/Contestir: 400/Phosphos: 900/Avior: 1600

Raptorix: 700 (-400 -600) = 0 Snapzoid: 600 (-400 -600) = 0

The dust waves of the attacks diminished, leaving a molten flare at the end of it. The Gundalian Bakugan with their Battlegear all looked expectantly to see if they won. There was no way even the likes of them would have been able to survive.

Zenet panted rather heavily. "Well, that takes care if that I guess."

Contestir nodded. "Yeah. Took a little longer though."

"They were very resilient opponents. I can see why they were top ranked amongst their peers." Lena adjusted her posture. She seemed unsure about something. 'And yet, why is this strange energy not dissipating? Is there a much stronger source coming from elsewhere? I'm sure they said something about an…'Armagedoid'. Is that the root of all this?'

As they looked at the destruction ahead of them, Linehalt seemed certain at what he felt. "Ren…"

Ren was silent for a moment as he stared at the smoking remnants of the battle they had finished. He didn't know what to say, let alone think about the whole situation. He seemed certain that they had taken down the enemy Bakugan. To be fair, while Zion and Cyrus were powerful enemies, he had to respect what he had learned from them…especially about Zion and opening his mouth. That much he could respect.

"…that's that then. C'mon guys, the others might need our help." He turned around and started for another direction. "The others must have gone inside somehow. Mason, you got them there, didn't you? Let's find a way to entrance so we can-!"

BA-DUMP!

Ren stopped in his tracks and felt his blood turning icy cold. His eyes shrunk to the size of dots when an ominous pressure eroded from all around them. Nobody moved, because in a matter of speaking, they couldn't move. Some kind of pressure that exploded was causing their nerves to shut down on the spot. They all slowly turned back towards the smoke, but they only saw air stir above a trembling earth.

"What…is this feeling…?" Jesse stammered. Even as a fine actor, he was at a loss for words.

"Wait…but I thought we beat them!" Zenet looked up, seeing the air distort around them with a heat signature flaring.

All around, the decimated earth was starting to melt away. The crusty fissures made earlier were exuding broiling flames as dark energy was surging in a maelstrom. Fire and darkness fused to create a negative flare that illuminated the atmosphere around Zion and Cyrus. Both had their eyes set in stone with flames and pitch-black in each of their gazes. They looked anything but the names of grace.

Ren backpedaled. "It…can't be…"

Nurzak was completely dumbfounded. "What atrocity is this? Where could this power have come from?" He looked down at the gauges, but he was baffled at what he saw.

Sabator: 3100/Linehalt: 1400/Plitheon: 600/Contestir: 400/Phosphos: 900/Avior: 1600

Raptorix: 8000 Snapzoid: 8100

"Their power levels…are over 8000?!" Lena was taken back by this upset. She looked back at the dark spire and solar flare that pushed shockwaves out that rebuffed everyone.

Taking a better look, they could all see Raptorix and Snapzoid better. A molten, atomic flare surrounded the eel as the ground was melting around him from the heat signature. The negative energy around Raptorix was absorbed to make all his muscles pulsated and throb. They were far denser, and had red veins all over them. A grizzly aura enveloped them as they leered at their adversaries.

The air everyone needed was beginning to run dry as steam sizzled on their paling figures. No one could say anything, let alone act. Even Sabator was overwhelmed as his Chompixx gear was starting to melt at the tips from the heat. Pulses of darkness expelledconstantly, making it impossible to charge ahead.

"Sabator! Hang on!" Nurzak insisted.

"Futile." Through the heat signature expelled, Zion shot a dagger that blistered through the flames. The end of it caught on fire as it made a path into Nurzak. The old man was struck in the shoulder, carving clean through his clothing and sizzling the bleeding skin. His screams of anguish were heard loud and clear.

"NURZAK!" Ren cried out.

Nurzak gaped in drastic pain, falling to his knees. He clutched the wound that he had just received, and it wasn't pretty. It was hot upon the touch; so much that his palm was burning. 'He got me…when my guard was down…!'

Zion stared at everyone else, their scared expressions making him all the more persevere. "Now…who is next?"

"This is bad…really bad." Mason didn't know how to counter this, but he knew better than to take chances. "Avior, stop them!"

"Right, Mason!" Avior aimed his engines at the enemies and fired four intense beams. However, they all disintegrated before they could get anywhere close. "What?!"

Phosphos got desperate and fired brazen energy stingers at the opponents. Plitheon, Contestir, and Sabator followed up with all their Battlegear unleashing attacks as well. The shockwaves drew closer towards the adversaries, but like Avior's attempt they all dissipated from the pulses and flares burning them away.

"Ren…" Linehalt looked back at Ren, meeting his eyes.

Ren said nothing. He just looked at Nurzak, who shot a tired glance at him. The look was all he needed to confirm. He looked back at Zion, his fists balling in frustration, teeth gnashing. He reached out, giving it his all.

"LINEHALT!"

The cry was what Linehalt answered as he shot his Boomix at his opponents. It soared across the atmosphere and closed in quickly.

"Shall we end this?" Zion inquired.

"We, quite so." Cyrus chimed. "I believe we've had our fill…it's a shame, to think they weren't enough. Ability, activate! Alpha-X!"

Zion followed. "Supernova-X!"

Both Bakugan let out monstrous cries as their respective energies finally collapsed on themselves. They surged and expelled heated pulses and dark explosions that obliterated the ground. Shockwaves of negative energy and sun-like heat raced across the atmosphere at paces that would put the fastest Bakugan to shame.

Linehalt, Sabator, and the other Bakugan all screamed as the last thing they saw was smoldering negative waves before an eruptive shockwave bloomed. AN earthquake depressed the earth as flames shot up like pillars while sheer cold darkness blew all within the area down on their backs to get incinerated. Ren, Nurzak, and everyone all had nowhere to run as the negative wall finally reached them.

Ren: 0%

Nurzak: 0%

Jesse: 0%

Zenet: 0%

Lena: 0%

Mason: 0%

Ren's cries vanished in the negative eruptions as he reached out for his friends. Cold discomfort closed in as everything turned black for him.

Cyrus and Zion watched unempathetically as the shockwaves raced pass them, half-grins plastered on their faces.

---

"What have you done?! Let Hydranoid go, this instant!" Alice couldn't feel anymore helpless as she was already. She was a great battler, and she cared a lot about her friends. But never in a million years would she have wanted something like this to happen.

Hydranoid strained as his body was moving all by itself, tails swinging mightily as a show of dominance towards the other Bakugan. Abis, Atchibee, and Brontes stood a good distance away from Hydranoid's impending wrath by Armagedoid's control.

"How is he controlling Hydranoid like that?" Abis fret.

Esther furrowed her brow. A familiar sensation made her stern and angry. "It's Armagedoid. He has the power to manipulate Bakugan energy, and control it as he sees it." She shot a look at Riaan. "Just as how Riaan's able to influence his peers."

Shawn narrowed his eyes. "So, like father like son then. Should've known he'd have him outfitted with that."

"This certainly causes problems. If he's even able to manipulate the Bakugan to do his bidding, that means he's able to sustain his energy while his opponents quarrel amongst themselves." Jase deduced.

"That's just low!" Maggie huffed.

Riaan scoffed at the commentary. "You may think so, but this is just another fact apart of life. To the more humanitarian side, they say it's a world where it's use or be used in order to get wherever you need to be. A cold aspect, but nonetheless another aspect that has been proven in your history. Call it blasphemy if you will, but the art of war: Know your enemy's weaknesses, and make it your strength! Armagedoid!"

Armagedoid's eyes glowed brighter. Hydranoid howled as his three maws opened wide to launch black and purple beams at Abis, Atchibee, and Brontes. All three moved out of the way as the attacks continued towards everyone else.

"Get down!" Shawn ducked Shuji's head in time to avoid the black beam. Maggie and Jase kneeled to evade the torrential wake of the attack.

Explosions of darkness went off behind them. Hydranoid swung his mace-like tail into Abis, who unfolded his frills to use as shields. He held against the first one, but the second tail broke the folds, then the third slammed clean into his chest, sending him flying onto his back.

"You've been a naughty Bakugan, Hydranoid~!" Alto Brontes times. He charged for him, evading three dark blasts and sped for behind. He jumped and did a midair spiraling kick to the back, only for Hydranoid to grab the leg. Shocked, Brontes didn't have tome to register being slammed overhead into the ground. The hydra looked down and raised a foot as Brontes attempted to stand. The heel slammed on his core hard, causing him to cry out in pain.

Luka grunted. "Damnit…!" He pulled out an ability to be ready for use, but Alice intervened.

"No, don't!"

He looked shocked. "Well do you want Brontes to lose this?! If we don't do something to stop Hydranoid, he's going to wipe us all out!"

Alice shot glares at Armagedoid. "Then we'll go for the source."

Esther nodded. "Atchibee!"

"I'm on it!" The moth sailed overhead. She flew over Hydranoid and shrieked on her pathway towards Armagedoid.

Riaan's eyes dulled some. "Don't be so sure."

Armagedoid's eyes glowed, making Hydranoid turn his three heads in three different directions. Black and purple energy fired at Atchibee, Abis, and Brontes; all hitting their marks. The three Bakugan all fell and blew backwards, slamming into the ground with heavy gasps for air.

"Abis Omega…Atchibee…Brontes…if only I could control my body…" Hydranoid couldn't feel anymore used. He was looking regrettable at the actions being taken right now as he was attacking his comrades. It really was sickening, but he couldn't help it.

Abis was doing his best to stand, but he had already taken a lot of blows in less than a day. He was running low. The same with Brontes, and Atchibee fared no better. They all tried standing once more to face Hydranoid, his menacing frame hulking right over them.

"Hydranoid, fight it!" Alice insisted.

"I'm…trying, Alice." The hydra was trying to crane his body around…but to no avail.

Armagedoid continued manipulating Hydranoid with no pleasure in mind. "It's not exactly fair, is it? It's nothing to be proud of." Riaan assured his Bakugan with generous words. "But still, this is the path we have chosen. To make our points known for our existence, we must do what we must in order to prevail." With a snap, Armagedoid's eyes glowed brighter. A brief magenta aura flickered around Abis, Atchibee, and Brontes. Using telekinesis, Armagedoid levitated them in midair fixed in front of Hydranoid. The three heads remotely opened wide as dark energy surfaced. "Alice." The former Battle Brawler gasped at her name. "Whether it would've been you or Masquerade, the results would've been the same. At the end of it all, you would've ended up hurting those closest to you…just as you have long ago. We may all learn from our mistakes…but that doesn't mean that you have the power to keep yourself from making them happen regardless. Hydranoid, prove my point."

"Attack!" Armagedoid ordered, eyes brightening. At the command, Hydranoid's three maws condensed the energy on his immobilized opponents. Unable to move themselves, they were helpless as the energy spiraled and readied to be unleashed.

Luke clutched his sword tighter. He snarled as he readied a strike, but his side burst with pain. He faltered with a small gasp.

"Luke! What's wrong?!" Shawn shouted. "Did you get cut somewhere?!"

Hydranoid unleashed three sinister beams that bolted into the three Bakugan; one for each one. They all stared with as much horror as Alice and the others when they couldn't find a way out.

A golden wave emulated in front, shielding everyone around. The black and purple beams were erased by a holy glint surrounding them. The unknown kinesis that suspended them had lifted, allowing free reign as they fell to the ground. Green energy ripples went up their bodies, slowly healing them.

Frill Abis Omega: 950 (+300) = 1250/Dusk Atchibee: 1200 (+300) = 1500/Prime Verias: 2100 (+300) = 2400/Alto Brontes: 1250 (+300) = 1550/Alpha Hydranoid: 2450 (+300) = 2750 = 9450

Armagedoid: 300

"What? The ability was nullified?" Luka glanced over at the dome's source. Off to the side, Verias had his staff up as he used it as a cane to support himself. "I see…"

Riaan looked over at Verias, a frown clear as day on him. "Seems we've missed one. How cumbersome." Aside from his lackluster expression, Armagedoid showed just as much calm. Neither expected this to be easy anyways.

The Bakugan were feeling their wounds heal from the battle, Abis especially. He and Brontes looked over at Verias, who was reenergizing himself. "Verias, are you okay?" Abis fret for his ape friend. "You saved us…thanks."

Verias huffed weakly. "Don't mention it. We've gotta take him down…and fast, too. I've healed us…but I can't say the same for our stamina."

"We understand." Hydranoid nodded. He turned back towards Armagedoid. "Now, time for you to pay for what you've done!" another head snarled. "Alice, time for payback!"

The orangette nodded. "Right! Double ability, activate! Extreme Chaos Leap Sting, plus Destroy Vanish!" Metallic tendrils shot out of Hydranoid's wings as they shot around and latched their demonic teeth on the rope. They tangled Armagedoid, restraining his movements for the incoming saw on Hydranoid's abdomen.

Frill Abis Omega: 1250/Dusk Atchibee: 1500/Prime Verias: 2400/Alto Brontes: 1550/Alpha Hydranoid: 2750 (+300) = 3050 = 9750

Armagedoid: 300 (-400) = 0

"I'm going to grind you into dust! Prepare for a painful death!" Hydranoid yelled angrily.

The saw blades drew near Armagedoid, but the black dragon refused to budge from his position. Even as Hydranoid was slowly trying to trace the beast back to him, Armagedoid was surprisingly stubborn about his position. The only sign o him slipping was his left heel, which nearly did in. "You…will not trifle us, Hydranoid!"

"That, I agree." Riaan raised his swordless arm. "Ability, activate! Ambiguity!" Armagedoid's eyes flashed bright purple as his body expelled a radiant dark force. He raised his head and roared to the ceilings, unleashing dark, negative shockwaves that pried the tendrils off his body with little problem. They spread out and struck Hydranoid, shoving him back across the ground as he was trying hard to resist.

The other Bakugan behind Verias' barrier got low and covered from the shockwaves that smashed the barrier to pieces. Debris flew over them and the battlers that smashed into the synthesized walls. No one could get up at this time.

Frill Abis Omega: 1250 (-300 -500) = 450/Dusk Atchibee: 1500 (-300 -600) = 600/Prime Verias: 2400 (-300 -1050) = 1050/Alto Brontes: 1550 (-300 -650) = 600/Alpha Hydranoid: 3050 (-300 -300 -1250) = 1200 = 3900

Armagedoid: 7500

The shockwaves became too much, even for Hydranoid. The hydra was blown off his feet and flew pass his fellow Bakugan into the wall with a thunderous crash. His entire frame embedded with a dreaded gag coming from all three heads.

"Hydranoid, no!" Alice screamed, though the winds made it impossible to hear.

Luke looked back, shock spelled all over his face. He knew Hydranoid was a very tough Bakugan; very tough to have gotten this far. And yet he was blown off his feet like some toddler who was learning how to walk. 'He blew away Hydranoid, with only one shot.' He sharply looked back, biting his lip against the groundbreaking menace. 'This Bakugan…just what did Riaan make that can withstand this much power?!'

Armagedoid raised his head and unleashed a mighty roar. The below spread far and wide for t to echo all the way towards the surface. Below everyone's feet, the ground shook to an even greater magnitude that fissures brimming with magenta and hot pink erupted like lava.

Esther managed a knee, struggling to stand. The level was intoxicating, but they couldn't quit. "Ability activate, Dusk Tornado!"

Atchibee dislodged her scythes from the ground and hastily flapped her wings. She howled as she summoned a black maelstrom that spun and swirled around until it gathered enough momentum to shield everyone from the shockwaves. They continued towards Armagedoid, encompassing him in a thick dark whirlwind.

Frill Abis Omega: 450 (+ 800) = 1250/Dusk Atchibee: 600 (+900 +200) = 1700/Prime Verias: 1050 (+1350) = 2400/Alto Brontes: 600 (+950) = 1550/Alpha Hydranoid: 1200 (+1550) = 2750 = 9650

Armagedoid: 7500 (-6000) = 1500

Riaan calmly looked on through the dark winds, as though they didn't faze him nor Armagedoid. 'She nullified our ability to keep our power from going over.' Using his eyes' visionary prowess in darkness, he noticed the sheen over Armagedoid's body was vanishing as well. 'And she rid of Prism Dialect as well, not bad.'

The black whirlwinds kept Armagedoid from seeing his foes, but that didn't mean he could still sense their energy. He knowingly looked up, seeing Verias with a glowing axe blade coming down and cleaving clean through the winds.

"Bolt Cutter!" The ape closed in like a falling star, swirling his axe around swiftly.

Riaan's eyelids half-shut. "Fast…but not fast enough. Armagedoid! Shambolic Wing!"

"Begone!" Armagedoid swatted his wing into Verias' axe blade, deflecting the shot entirely. The shockwaves from the cutting edge spliced through the dark winds, revealing Alto Brontes directly below. Armagedoid snarled and swung his tail around, smacking Brontes away while Verias' axe deflected to his chest, slicing it with a yellow sheen.

The poor ape cried out as he was blown away with light from his chest. Unlike Armagedoid, his power declined towards 1200.

Shawn's eyes widened in horror as he raced towards his partner. "Verias!" He saw Verias crash into the ground, causing a shock that pushed Shawn onto his bottom. He winced at the fallback as he was supported by Shuji, Maggie, and Jase. They all looked on as Verias laid there, the blow being too heavy to bear.

"Verias…"

Verias winced as he was on the ground, but regrettably couldn't stand. "Shawn…I'm sorry…" He reverted to ball form, rolling towards Shawn's feet as his life gauge fell to 40%.

"Verias!" Luke gasped horridly. The others looked just as shocked as he was, but Luke had to keep his head in the game. He shook his head. 'No, don't lose focus. Remember why we're here.' He glared ahead, his fortitude stronger than before. "Abis, ability, activate! Sea Ruler!"

Abis snarled as he was surrounded in liquid water that condensed into a hemisphere that floated over the ground. It had several rings of bright blue as it raced after Armagedoid with Abis inside.

"Ability, activate! Atmosphere!" Luka followed. Alto Brontes manifested several metallic hemispheres above his head, where golden blades spun with them. He launched them along with Abis, gliding within the blue rings to make smaller replicas of the Sea Ruler that followed him.

"Ability, activate! Phonic Liseran!" Atchibee hollered as she flapped her wings, turning everything pitch-black. The red eyes on the wings glowed brightly, along with her eyes. Then she fired two intense beams of energy that pulsated towards Armagedoid.

Frill Abis Omega: 1250 (+400) = 1650/Dusk Atchibee: 1700 (+400) = 2100/Alto Brontes: 1550 (+400) = 1950/Alpha Hydranoid: 2750 = 8450

Armagedoid: 1500 (-400 -400 -400) = 300

Abis sailed in with the two attacks following him. Atchibee's dark rays in the nighttime area infused with the blobs and the liquid surrounding him, giving his water bubble a vermilion shine onto it. The metal hemispheres had purple water with high pressure spinning and shooting like asteroids at Armagedoid. When the black dragon looked on, he could've sworn he saw space falling down on him.

"You're getting desperate now, are we? You're starting to become predictable." Riaan chastised. "Ability, activate! Satanic Suppression!" Armagedoid snarled as his magenta, star-like core shine brightly. All the attacks around Abis crashed into him with tremendous force, enough to shoot a ripple across the ground. The energy that was around him was quickly being absorbed into Armagedoid's center.

In a matter of second, all the power that they were unleashing was sapped into thin air and embedded into Armagedoid. His power bolted to 2700 in an instant, taking the power they all had.

Abis grunted. "You…!"

Riaan reached out, and Armagedoid roared. The shockwaves from his roar blew Abis away and onto his back. The bellow trembled Brontes to where he kneeled, and Atchibee faltered. His shrieks were so loud that everyone had to cover their ears.

"This battle is pointless." Riaan spoke softly. "I understand your convictions. If my world was in such peril, I would do the very same thing…the thing that I am doing, is no different from you."

Luka used his energy sword as a base to get himself up. "Don't you mean self-preservation?" he snarled.

"One can interpret t that way." He turned away. "But…don't we all strive for that? If Earth and Vestal were to perish, what would that leave you? You're all no different. You all care to save your own worlds, that's the rudimentary of this whole scheme."

"What are you saying?" Shawn rebuffed.

Riaan glared hastily. "I am fulfilling my dream; the one dream that gives me a purpose to live. This world…it shall be the new start to everything. A unity for all Bakugan throughout existence and the realm. This one world was the promised land that Eve walked out on. For eons, it was I, and I alone, who had to now preserve his own life in order to fulfill this dastardly deed." He pointed his blade at their faces. "As long as I stand with my sword, by the power entrusted to myself, I will show you my vindication is far greater than yours!"

Alice worriedly heavily, but it wasn't visible on her face. Hydranoid weakly dislodged himself and stammered beside her. "You've tried to make me harm my friends." Hydranoid stomped. "You've took someone and made them your puppet." Her glare hardened. "And worse, you're taking everything from everyone. You're taking homes that you think you have a right to, like you own them."

"Like I said. Everything starts in one center…I am merely that center."

"Then consider your so-called children disowned, you scum!" Hydranoid backlashed.

At that que, Alice reached out. "Stand back, everyone! This is for all of us! Ability, activate! Chaos Armageddon!" Hydranoid opened all three maws, charging up Darkus energy that condensed bright centers. His metallic tendrils slithered out and began charging six similar energies as well. His power bolted towards 3350, and Armagedoid plummeted to 2100.

As the beams were charging, Riaan showed his Bakumeter. "Ability, activate! Prism Dialect!" Armagedoid folded his body in place, allowing a shimmering gleam to gloss over it.

Hydranoid reared his heads back and open fired. Several pitch-black, indigo, and dark purple beams blazed across the battlefield and smashed into Armagedoid. The Bakugan's prism body refrained from movement as Riaan remained stiff. Debris blew everywhere, even at the synthesizing rate it was going, it was still being torn away from the backlash of the destructive Darkus attack.

"Go down!" Hydranoid opened wider, increasing the velocity of the dark beams. The impulse slammed into Armagedoid's prism frame, but the wings and headpiece connected didn't budge as easily as intended. Still, Riaan was getting impatient himself. This battle was dragging out too long.

"You reap what you sow…Ability activate, Oracle Cannon!"

Armagedoid suddenly opened his wings and headpiece, allowing the black beam to charge straight into his center. The impact concentrated into an enlarging beam that was amplified by the glossy wing panels that stopped Hydranoid's attack entirely. Armagedoid howled as the orb blinked several times before it blazed across the earth, tearing open porcelain and carpeting while tearing away at Hydranoid's attack like a ram.

Frill Abis Omega: 1250/Dusk Atchibee: 1700/Alto Brontes: 1550/Alpha Hydranoid: 3350 (-800) = 2550 = 7050

Armagedoid: 2100 (+800) = 2900

The grizzly star-like beam tore through Hydranoid's attack and bolted into his direction. The enlarged attack made everyone realize they needed to get back, and fast.

"Alice, get back!" Luke screamed.

Alice was dumbfounded as she watched the beam close in on Hydranoid. It was moving so fast she couldn't put up a defense in time. "Hydranoid, look out!"

The hydra was pushing as much as he could, but the black beam had finally reached him. His three heads roared in agony before everything vanished to pink. Negative colors exploded all around the chamber as everyone was blown away by the sheer force of the attack. Alice didn't have a chance to look back when Luka suddenly tackled her to the ground and pinned her to avoid the shock streams that went around the room.

It took several minutes for it all to diminish to thin air. Upon settling, those who were able to stand – mainly Luke, Esther, and Luka – looked around to find that Shuji and Shawn were on their sides, grunting from the blast waves knocking the lights out of them. Maggie was barely safe beneath Shuji, protected by his body. But she was still in shock as well. They looked around, seeing Abis, Brontes, and Atchibee all dazed as Armagedoid snarled in place.

"What…happened…?" Alice coughed. She gasped at a realization. "Hydranoid?!" She turned around, seeing a trail leading to a crater in the wall. At the end of it was Hydranoid in ball form. Her life gauge fell to 10%.

"Hydranoid…" Alice somberly mourned. She suddenly felt a tap on her shoulder and looked up. To her shock it was Esther, who had an assured look.

"Alice…you both did what you could. We'll do our part now. It's the least we can do." She turned towards Luke. "Right?"

Luke nodded. "Right." He turned towards Riaan. "Now you've gone too far! This is way too personal now, you hear me?!"

Riaan humbly closed his eyes. "Was it not when I robbed you of your friend? I think my actions speak for themselves when I say I crossed that line long ago."

Esther's eyes squinted. She charged at Riaan with her spear as the ground returned to a refreshed state beneath them. Now on solid footing, she parried Riaan's sword without a moment's hesitation. She backed away for a moment and sidestepped for Luka to dash in and pierce away. Riaan used the flat edge of his reinforced blade. He clashed with Riaan, but he was remarkably sturdy and much more reflexive than what they predicted. Luka and Esther backpedaled again, while Luke managed to jump between the two and collided his blade once more, getting into Riaan's face with a wary, yet serious glare.

"You think you alone can change the course of time?" Riaan challenged. He was strong enough to pivot and deflect Luke's shot. He spiraled in place and came around with the blade in one hand coming for the side.

Luke's eyes widened in shock. He was too slow to act as the blade drew near. Fortunately a yellow shine came between that was from Luka at the last second. Luke staggered away to catch his breath.

Abis and Brontes slowly uncurled from the ground as Atchibee hovered above. Her wing flaps indicated she was out of fuel too, but she couldn't give up. "We…mustn't give up. We've come too far…to allow ourselves to fall here…" She flapped her wings once, gaining altitudes towards the ceilings. She hovered directly above Armagedoid as his magenta eyes locked onto her own. "Esther!"

"Yes, Atchibee!" she jumped away to evade any potential interlock as she activated her set of abilities. "Double ability, activate! Silver Twister, plus Fusion Ability, Vermilion Raid!" Atchibee flapped her wings, scattering bright silver and gray scales that spontaneously multiplied into hundreds of millions that manifested into a tornado that shot down onto Armagedoid. Once it made impact and swallowed him, he was trapped inside, allowing Atchibee to unleash a negative blaze that spewed from her maw. It whirled around and caught the tornado in a flaring blaze.

Frill Abis Omega: 1250/Dusk Atchibee: 1700 (+400) = 2100/Alto Brontes: 1550 = 4900

Armagedoid: 2900 (-500) = 2400

Atchibee hissed as she raised her blades. She – like Esther – went into the tornado and Riaan alike. Together they bared their weapons as Luke and Luka were driven onto their sides. Esther took a leap while twirling the weapon to strike. When she came down, she slashed with all her might.

Likewise with Atchibee, both were thwarted in place. Time slowed drastically down as shards of Esther's spear spilled all over as Riaan looked on indifferently with this blade sweeping clean through. Atchibee's own blades were backhanded when the tornado dissipated, revealing Armagedoid with his wings shielding him. Both were in a standstill as the dominant adversary was clear as day.

"If it wasn't for the human heart, Esther, perhaps I would've been more lenient towards mercy…but you've served your purpose. Armagedoid!"

With a bloody cry, Armagedoid raised his tail and brought it round. It slammed clean into Atchibee's abdomen with force so powerful, a burst of air could've been seen. Atchibee soared backwards into Abis and Brontes, who managed to break her fall with arms and outstretched frills. Esther was repulsed by Riaan through a stamp of his boot to her stomach.

"ESTHER!"

"ATCHIBEE!"

Luke and Abis cried out as their allies fell over, getting beneath to slide in for them. Luke broke Esther's fall, and Atchibee laid in Abis' coils. Both seemed extremely weak to where they looked barely conscious.

"Esther?! Hey, are you okay?! Hang in there?!" Luke pleaded. He was tempted to shake her, but he had to be gentle. He knew better than that.

Esther opened her eyes, looking up at Luke. Her blue eyes met his green ones once again. "Luke…" She slowly stood on her own, though that blow to her stomach knocked some winds out of her, she was dazed overall.

"Abis…Brontes…please, forgive me…" Atchibee rasped.

"Atchibee!" Abis shrieked her name, but he couldn't do anything as she reverted to ball form. Esther's life gauge fell to 40%. The serpent could only wince at allowing his friend to take a hit like that.

As Esther kneeled, Luke knew better than to digress. He and Luka shot hostile glares at Rian. Everyone was close behind, though they couldn't do anything for the moment since they were temporarily indisposed.

"And then, there were two." Riaan's recite was followed with Armagedoid turning towards them, eyes flaring magenta. Around them, the room was igniting with magenta networks that shimmered into Riaan and Armagedoid alike. The black dragon calmly glared at his adversaries. Abis and Brontes held their ground as they shot glares at their opponent.

"So, it's come to this. I knew you were the stubborn between my students, Luke. But to hold out this long against this power. Why, I commend you for coming this far." Riaan's glare fastened. "But, it's clear that you haven't learned enough to surpass your teacher just yet. Such a shame."

Luke glared daggers back. "Riaan, I'm not your student anymore. I'm not some puppet that you can use for your score with another person, got it? Stop dragging so many innocence into this mess! It's not worth it!"

Riaan glanced away. "So you say. While there is a kernel of wisdom in your words, the point of no return doesn't recognize empathy. You say you aren't my student?" He scoffed at Luke's swordplay. "Then why are you fighting left-handed still? If you were in full defiance, you'd be ambidextrous at this point. Some things just never change, no matter how much words are used. The crocs jaws are too strong to escape, and in the end, you get pulled under, turning the water that many drink from red."

Luka furrowed his brow. "And you're saying that we can't escape from death?"

"What I'm saying is that in dire times, what would you do? Would you be willing to severe your limb to escape with your life, or preserve it for nothing? There is no easy answer, because even though you manage to walk away from death once, the next time around, you may not be so lucky. You've all survived this long because you all have that mindset: Think fast before the jaws snap down on you. But it's clear now that you weren't fast enough to act on that instinct…now for you to pay the toll for coming too close."

Luka snarled. "Not if I have anything to say about it! Ability, activate! Spirit Dominion!" Brontes' core on his abdomen shined brightly. He waved his arms out, distorting the air around himself and Armagedoid. Ghastly figments wailed as they expelled from his core, surrounding Armagedoid. "Now, Brontes! Shining Nightmare!" Brontes charged with blades into the ghostly wall, which was seeping back towards him.

"Wait-!" Abis called out, but Brontes rushed past him. He could only watch as he closed the gap on the monster.

Riaan seemed humble. "Armagedoid."

"Yes, Master. Deep Save!" Armagedoid's body emitted a purple shine, eradicating the ghosts and the blades in a flash. Brontes lost his momentum as Luka looked shocked.

"What?!"

Riaan narrowed his eyes and slashed his blade the same time Armagedoid used his headpiece to deflect Brontes off him. Both combatants slid backwards pass their counterparts as they gasped at the fallback. They looked back at Riaan and Armagedoid, realizing the problem here.

'He's absorbing and nullifying all the abilities that we have. If we use an ability, he'll absorb it, and he can attack us right after.' For a split second he thought of being able to reflect that power with Abis' abilities, but he knew he'd absorb that too. 'Damnit, we're at a standstill here!'

Seeing Luke in a pause, Riaan huffed. "Well? I'm waiting for your next move? Or perhaps your vindication has grown lackluster?"

Luke wanted to say something, but he was short on a rebuff. He said what needed to be said, to him at least. But Riaan's resolve was a lot tougher to make him not feel sorry, even though it was clear he wasn't. He looked back at everyone to see them all backed off due to being knocked out. It was just him…but he couldn't do this alone.

"What's wrong, Luke? I thought you said you were going to make me pay? I'm disappointed. You chose to give up survival to stop me…how foolish of you in the end."

Luke furrowed his brow. He and Abis coiled some against Armagedoid as the dragon growled at them.

"Heh…for someone who's lived for over a millennium, you must have a short-tracked memory."

Luke snapped towards the voice beside him. "Luka?"

Rian shot a glare at the other redhead. "What is it you're speaking of?"

"Heh, don't play dumb with me. Did you forget why we came here from the start?" Luka charged at Riaan, initiating another clash of blades. They danced as everyone watched. "What's the point of living if you can't survive till the end? I asked myself that question for a very long time, and I followed that rule and look what happened! I've always held back to wait at every chance to take you down for ages…but in the end all I did was just end up hiding!" Luka pivoted and glided his energy blade along Riaan's to deflect both their parries. "But apparently, some dreck went head and knocked some sense into me; that very same buffoon who's made more of a person of himself than the both of us!"

"Luka…" Luke didn't know what to say. He just watched him parry Riaan's blows to a stalemate.

Luka looked over his shoulder. "What the hell are you doing back there?! We came here prepared to live while we still can, right? Well why don't you show him what I'm talking about!"

Luka's words was like a sword that broke through the armor. Luke looked back over his shoulder at everyone behind him, the very same faces who once disowned them in their own rights that he worked so hard to get back, just because he went and chose to escape his little reality. No. Better. He changed it. He looked back at Abis Omega, who had as big of a revelation as he did. Their own worlds themselves came to a standstill as they could recall the battles that lead them up to now…after Luka thrashed them on Interacia, they've came to terms, and everything has changed since then.

"…you're right. I'm sorry, I guess I was being stupid there." He stood back up, doing his best to ignore the flaring pain on his side. "Yeah, we came here not because we wanna survive. If we're gonna make sure everybody else can get through this, we need to focusing on living our lives to the fullest." He gripped his sword. "Abis!"

Beside him, the sea serpent hissed as he flexed his frills. The Bakugan let out a loud, shrieking roar as a blue aura flared around his body. "I hear you, Luke! Let's go!"

"So you choose to live the remainder of your life? How honorable." Rin pushed harder against Luka. "To think even you would fall victim to his influence, Luka."

Luka backpedaled to Luke's side. "About time."

"Yeh, thanks for that. Let's do this together."

Luka held his sword up. "Heh, never thought it'd come to this…suppose if it'll better our chances. Brontes!" At his call, Brontes' eyes glinted, a yellow aura flaring around his body.

"Do your worst! I'm ready!" Armagedoid shouted. He craned his head around, expelling his roar of challenge.

"Very well then!" Riaan stuck his sword out at them, a small smirk appearing. "Come, and meet your fates!"

Luke and Luka screamed out as they drew their swords back and raced across the battlefield. Abis slithered with gusto, while Brontes dashed beside him. They all soared towards their foes with a serious vendetta to settle, and they only continued to surge as their paces escalated.

'That's right! We have to fight through this! Fight until the end!' Luke's side flared with the pain. His skin was pale, and he was stumbling, but he picked himself up and sailed on the focus: Riaan. 'We didn't come this far! For New Vestroia…' In his head, he thought about Amazon and Preyas. 'For Earth.' He thought about his family. 'For Vestal.' He thought about Ren, Baron, Spectra, Gus, and Klaus. 'For Gundalia!' He thought of Ren. 'For everyone who stood by us!' He thought about his friends behind him, with Alice, Keegan, and especially Luka.

His eyes widened with an incredible surge. His adrenaline levels kicked into overdrive as he cried out with Abis Omega as the blue aura around his body began morphing into liquid. A blue shine came from his Bakumeter, one that Riaan saw.

His eyes squinted. 'What's this?'

"Let's get him, Frill Abis Omega! Ability, activate!" Luke's Bakumeter showed an ability that shined blue. "Tidal Flash!"

The energy streams of liquid surged around Abis until they beamed into Armagedoid. They swirled into a helix that raced cross the ground and exploded into a large wave of water that came down on Armagedoid. The massive tsunami wave swamped around the dragon and spun in a whirlpool, trapping his entire lower body in the torrential currents.

Armagedoid: 2400 (-900) = 1500 Frill Abis Omega: 1250 (+400) = 1650

Alto Brontes: 1550

'A new ability?' Riaan saw the waves centered around Armagedoid, keeping him from making any active flights…though he seemed indifferent about it as he faced them again. He raised his sword.

"With Tidal Flash, you can't use abilities either!" Luke shouted. "Now!"

Together with Luka, the swordsmen charged with abilities in hand. "Double ability, activate!"

"Daedalus Cyclone, plus Fusion Ability, Refractor Booster!"

"Wizard Proxy, plus Shining Nightmare!"

A golden borealis illuminated around Armagedoid as he could barely see past the raging waves. He suddenly saw the swirling typhoon of water heading his way that tore a hole through the waves. The black dragon had a momentary shock when he saw the tornado spiraling golden blades. Abis and Brontes were inside, while similarly as the waves were illuminated in yellow and gold, Luke and Luka screamed with all their might as their swords met Riaan's.

At that point of impact, a whirlpool of golden water with razor sheers running through them exploded upon impact with Armagedoid. The Bakugan let out a gruff shout as the waves blinded him.

Armagedoid: 1500 (-500(x2) -300) = 200 Frill Abis Omega: 1650 (+500(x2)) = 2650

Alto Brontes: 1550 (+300 +400) = 2250

Everyone behind covered up as pressurized waves rushed past them. They all saw the golden water drizzle down onto the battlefield as Abis and Brontes were both interlocked with Armagedoid still as he remained standing, though he seemed unresponsive. Luke and Luka slashed with all their might, managing to slowly push Riaan's sword back.

The calm look on his face was evident, even as he showed some radiance from his enemies. "…not bad."

Armagedoid snarled as he seemed to have felt that one. Abis and Brontes were directly below him, giving glares and waiting to see if he would do anything. All the dragon did was lower his eyes and give them a sharp glare.

"…"

A brief silence came and went, but still nothing. "Was that all?"

Abis and Brontes' eyes widened at what they heard. Did they hear that right?! Everyone else looked completely baffled as they were before Armagedoid expelled a trembling roar.

Luke and Luka flinched at their attempts failed, and Riaan wasn't giving an inch. "You've actually managed to make Armagedoid feel pain…congratulations. Now for you…" his eyes flared magenta. "To face my wrath now!"

"No!" Shawn shouted afar, but it was too late. Rian had set up an ability.

"Even if you say I can't use abilities, Prism Dialect enables me to. Now for you to face the consequences of your actions against me imperial Ability, activate! Ambiguity!"

Dark purple shockwaves exploded at near point-blank range directly into Abis and Brontes. The blast waves stretched far out, distorting space and dispelling the golden drizzle that soaked the battlefield. The two went flying through the air, screams of anguish growing hoarse from the air knocked out of them.

"ABIS!"

"BRONTES!"

Both battlers shouted for their Bakugan, but Riaan used the chance to widen his eyes and swing his mighty blade. With one swift swipe, he shoved Luke and Luka away, enough to made the shockwaves send them back further.

"LUKE!" Esther cried out.

Armagedoid: 200 (+1000 +300 +900 +7100) = 9500 Frill Abis Omega: 2650 (-400 -1000 -650) = 600

Alto Brontes: 2250 (-300 -400 -800) = 750

The blast waves hurled both men into the ground, but Shawn and Shuji managed to muster up enough strength to reach them in time to catch them. Shuji managed to break Luka's impact, and Shawn broke Luke…but poor Abis and Brontes slammed into the ground hard.

Armagedoid's body flared in magenta and dark purple, his overwhelming power shaking the entire Empyrean. No, even more so, the aspects of Gundalia. His shockwaves continued stretching throughout the atmosphere and through the earth.

"What's happening?!" Maggie shuddered, the entire chamber rumbling madly.

"His power is spreading rapidly! He's releasing a large mass of his force through his pulses." Jase evaluated.

Riaan stood firmly as he looked around his Empyrean chamber. The magenta network was flaring as Armagedoid's dark purple pulses kept going.

---

Beneath everyone's feet, dark distortions eroded upwards. Fissures of negative energy were cracking apart the earth, expelling negative colors that raced everywhere across Gundalia. Not just the battlefield, but the fissures of negative pulses boomed throughout the Gundalian ravine that they traveled through. The entire landscape cracked and exploded mountains of dark purple ruptures. It just didn't stop. Towards even the Capital City within Gundalia, earthquakes ran wildly as dark purple pillars erupted from below. Pulses shot towards the surface of Gundalia's crust, breaking through them.

As the entire planet was trembling before the magnitudes unleashed, Ren was laying on the ground in a coma. His head ached, but he was alive, thankfully. He slowly opened them, only to see bizarre pulses and explosions of purple in the distance. The battlefield was littered with these explosions and the men on his side were paying for it.

'What's…happening…?' He tried moving his appendages, but they were too damaged. Char covered his clothes while his skin was stained in Gundalian bruises and blood. He did, however, manage the strength to turn his head from side to side. He saw his teammates and their Bakugan littered in the debris, all their injuries just as bad as his, if not more so. His eyes slowly widened when he saw Nurzak laying unconscious with Sabator's ball form sizzling. 'Prime Minister…no…'

Footsteps drew closer towards Ren. His ears rung, but he could make out the churning of gravel. When he looked ahead, his insides contracted at the sight of an armored silhouette drawing near him.

Out of the smoke and explosions, Zion's eyes were set on Ren's fearful pupils. He stood over him, his chest out and a grizzly visage that caused Ren's blood to stop.

Cyrus allowed Zion to enact his beliefs, all while looking up at the shockwaves breaking through the crust. "So this is his majesty's Armagedoid's power." He paused, smirking. "My, seems that Zion isn't the only one who gets his point out into the open."

---

The room simmered down to a light magnitude as Armagedoid finished with his shockwaves. The recoil of the attack left the room cracked; so much that the Empyrean walls and networks were cracked. Everyone there looked around to realize debris wasn't fixing itself.

"The ground is still shaking…" Shuji noted.

Fly Beetle opened beside him. "Is the Empyrean collapsing on itself?"

Riaan closed his eyes. "Look, and see for yourselves." He snapped his fingers, summoning a holographic projection of the outside. In the frames that played along, everyone was seeing fissures open with dark purple. Cracks along the crust was leading to several cave-ins that littered matter on Gundalia's underground. The dark planet's quaking was just the starting point of it all. "This is just the awakening, you see? This is what not just I, but Armagedoid, are capable of."

Maggie's eyes were shrunk with horror. Just as tremors were heard here, she saw the destruction outside as everything was falling apart. "No way…Gundalia is…"

"It's…it's just like Interacia all over again…" Jelldon mumbled. He was at a loss for what to say.

Atmos turned towards the roaring Armagedoid. "All that power…concentrated in one Bakugan."

Riaan said nothing. He allowed for them to take in the situation that was borderline hopeless now.

"Damnit…" Luke grunted, stirring up from a knee. He barely had the strength to lift his sword. "You…Riaan…" His gaze was solemnly fixation. He looked distressed, if not desperate. Abis struggled to get up as well with Brontes, the two taken far too much for themselves to handle against the imperial might of the black dragon.

"Bastard…!" Luka lowly roared, his body banged up just as bad. At least he wasn't as pale as Luke was now.

Riaan raised his sword towards the ceiling. He adjusted his posture with his face fixed with zero expression. "You came here knowing you may not come out of this in one piece. As a man of his word, I can honor that determination. So…allow me to show you my end of this bargain. Consider this our courtesy on behalf of Armagedoid!"

Armagedoid's eyes brightened as he opened his maw. Black, dark purple, and hot pink dragonfire enflamed the throat for everyone to see. They all stepped back warily as eminent death was reaching its peak.

Luke and Luka shot looks at each other. They could tell they didn't have time. They didn't even have their Bakugan who could barely stand. Abis Omega and Brontes tried supporting each other as they faced their opponent with abrasive looks.

"We need to get out of here!" Maggie turned towards Alice. "Alice, don't you have like a teleportation card?!"

"It won't work in here! Riaan's disabled space!" She showed her card, which still was glowing, but to no avail. She bit her lower lip as she held Hydranoid tight. "I'm sorry…"

Riaan and Armagedoid continued channeling their power into the maw, the broken Empyrean still fluxing its network wall lights. They vibrated as the beast it was connected to had Abis and Brontes reflected in his eyes. They braced for what's to come…

Suddenly, Armagedoid flinched. Riaan picked up on this and furrowed his brow. "Hm?"

Uncovering, Maggie realized she wasn't vaporized yet. "…wait, what's happening?"

Armagedoid started looking around the Empyrean walls, turning left and right like he was searching for something. He snarled defensively, like some wild animal who was sensing danger.

Riaan fell silent at the dragon's response. 'Can it be…?' His eyes widened next. His attention turned towards the ceiling above…

---

Zion and Ren had a long staring contest with each other. The world around them was trembling as pillars collapsed around them. They didn't focus on that. What mattered was between them.

"You and your friends…are fools. It seems that Gundalia truly is a worthless planet to begin with." Without warning, he drove the polearm into Ren's shoulder rather than his leg. The sharp tip pierced clean through to the other side, making Ren scream in agony.

"The reality, is that you thought that you could challenge me again, without knowing what others lie ahead of you. It's not just me, you didn't realize we had all this force behind us…and even after first-hand experience, you and your so-called friends whom you let down to milord thought you could come back alive…what a fool's dream."

He pried the polearm out of Ren's shoulder. The tip was coated in his blood as he felt him squirm beneath. Ren kept one eye open that had a pained tear dripping along the end. He gnashed his teeth together as he faced the tip of the polearm mere inches from his eye.

"It's people like you that I hate to have alive…the kind that do not learn from their mistakes; those who believe they know what's best, and think they can do what's best, but they don't have the power, nor the experience to do so. You say that you've been in wars before, so tell me, did you intend to kill me when you've found an opening? Or were you just going to have that old man over there take the brunt of it all?"

Ren wanted to say something…but he was in too much pain. It was just too much for him to take that he couldn't make heads nor tails anymore what to do. He didn't even know how to feel after his body suffered that blowback.

"Farewell…prey."

Ren closed his eyes as he waited for Zion's polearm to run through his head. The metal drew closer in split seconds…

Cyrus' attention went from the crumbling atmosphere towards something else that caught his eye. He sensed something, and he knew it was coming as well.

Zion stopped the polearm when a distorted hole spread wide open above him. He was so close to stabbing Ren's face when he looked up at the portal that came from out of nowhere.

Lucia turned towards the portal, a frown plastered on her eye. "…the time has come."

"What now?" Amina looked up, squinting at the portal. "Huh?"

Galilea and Magnus stopped in their tracks as their Bakugan looked up as well. They all did. The forces were temporarily thwarted as the earth shook around them. They were programmed to act this way, because they knew it would be reckless. The Interacians stayed close to their Bakugan on high alert for what might time.

Suddenly a bright yellow beam bolted out of the portal and blitzed across the landscape. The grazed across the ground between several Interacian Bakugan before the line erupted. The Bakugan all howled as they reverted to ball form in a flash.

Lucia's eyes traced green shuriken that raced across the horizon, accompanied by dark purple projectiles falling from the sky. Pellets of green and purple fused into landmine explosions that swallowed Interacian forces.

"Gundalian reinforcements?" Galilea inquired. "I thought we cut off their spatial technology to Neathia and other planets?"

Magnus looked through his visor with a furrowed brow. He saw figments coming in from the portal. "…looks we'd be getting some backdoors to this operation."

The dimensional portal dropped three people, and six Bakugan. The middle man was the second tallest, but the slimmest of them definitely. He had the dark green coat with yellow stripes, with long black hair. The one beside him was the shortest, with yellow hair and red glasses, with large blue eyes. The next to show was the tallest, with dark gray pants and coat, with bleached blonde hair slicked that with a fierce look. Behind them, all the Bakugan stood in attention, ready and able.

Looking over, the broken Ren couldn't believe what he was seeing. His eyes slowly widened at who it was that came to them within an inch of his life.

All of Hades Pillars turned and frowned at the unexpected guests, save for Lucia, who had foreseen this. They gave harsh glares at the faces of the battlers who have arrived out of the blue with nothing less than a cold, brewing gaze that could chill one to the bone.

Ren's eyes were shrunk and shuddering, but even he recognized the heroes from before. It left him completely speechless. "Maru…cho…"

"The Battle Brawlers…they've finally arrived." Lucia stated coldly.

"Here we are, guys! Let's hurry!" Marucho insisted.

Radizen pumped his fists in glee. "Oh yeah! You're reading my mind, Marucho! Let's thrash these foul-smelling creatures into next week!"

"Ability, activate! Luster Drain!" Radizen created a sphere of water the size of a baseball in his hand and clutched it. He whipped one leg up and got into a position similar to a professional baseball player. He threw the hemisphere of water into the crowd of Bakugan, where it vanished before exploding into a misty spray that instantly defeated so many.

Shun held up his arm with the Bakumeter to show a Ventus ability in check. "Ability, activate! Supreme Jet Shot!"

Jaakor balled both fists as the knuckle cannon charged of green particles. "Lights out for you, Interacian scum!" He shot dense green beams from the knuckles into aerial Bakugan in the air. A Longfly with a Zukanator on its back was struck hard. The impact caused the Battlegear to explode as well, which the beam continued through to graze the other Bakugan and make them explode.

Next up was Gunz as he raised his right fist. "Ability, activate! Spar Hook!"

Reptak took a leap into the air. "Lock-on!" With his orange visors, he focused on the enemy Bakugan within his range. His grapple shield created two yellow hemispheres at the tips and fired them with deadly precision. They exploded upon impact with the Bakugan that were closest, instantly reverting them to ball form.

Zion heard trembling and looked over. Over him was Orbeum, the wolf's glaring daggers down onto him. "What do you think you're doing?"

Zion didn't answer, choosing instead to give the silent treatment. He noticed kunai heading his way and twirled his polearm to reenact as a shield. He deflected the shuriken, but at the cost of the momentum he had on Ren. Shun appeared out of thin on a knee and stood against Zion, a serious glare fixed on him.

The warrior held his polearm close to himself, getting into a battle position. "So, you've come at last."

"Yeah, looks like it." Shun looked back over his shoulder, his eyes widening at the grievous condition of Ren. "Ren? Is that you?" he was almost speechless at the wounds he endured. "What in the world happened to you?!"

Ren weakly raised his head. "S-Shun…"

"What is it?" he urged.

"…watch…your back…"

Shun realized what he meant and turned around. Zion had thrown knives at him, but was quick enough to disappear and reappear in another spot. He looked up and saw Zion was fixed on him, his polearm now equipped with an axe blade on him. He regained his composure. "So then, I take it you're one of the Hades Pillars that we've heard about, right?"

Zion obliged by showing him his axe. "Do hope you provide as much sport as the one that came before you."

Cyrus looked at the scene with a frown. Whether he seemed elated to see such opponents arrive s yet to be known. But what he was seemingly aware of was how drastic the situation had changed. But it looked like he didn't mind. Instead, he focused back on the Empyrean. He seemed invested in something else.

"…what do we have here?"

---

Armagedoid looked around warily, unsure of what he was feeling all around him. But for some reason, he felt like he knew something was coming. Riaan felt it too as explosions were being heard from above.

"What's going on?" Shuji looked up, feeling the vibrations below simmering from Armagedoid settling.

"You guys hear that?" Maggie chimed.

Esther furrowed her brow. "Yes, I do…seems as though there's a commotion.

Luke and Luka looked up at the ceiling with the others; Abis and Brontes looked unsure. They all heard explosions and the sounds of defiance. Riaan would've summoned another screen, but he wasn't going to give them a freebee.

Instead, they all heard the sound of a draconic roar that surged directly around them. The below shook them to the core. A silence fell within the chamber as the magenta network remained in a fixed glow from the power unleashed.

Riaan showed a mighty humbled frown. "Hmph…I was wondering when we'd cross paths eventually."

Luke's eyes widened at a realization. 'Wait, is he talking about…!' He gasped in shock. 'They're here?'

Jase calmly turned towards the ceiling. He noticed that it was starting to turn red and heat rapidly. The whole index was quickly rising between Armagedoid, Abis, and Alto Brontes. Before long, the spot burst into deep red, yellow, bright red, with tints of black energy blitzing into the ground causing it to quake. From above the smoking hole, a draconic shout was clearer than before as something humanoid dropped in.

Riaan uncovered as the dust diminished. He showed a delighted smirk.

Shuji's eyes widened at who he recognized. "Wait…are you serious…?" He recognized the beast descending, and to say he was stunned would be putting lightly.

"Shuji, what is it?" Maggie looked at Shuji then towards the hole. "Jelldon, you see that?!"

"I do…" he quipped. "Um…is that who I think it is?"

Esther fell silent with the others. Shawn had hands to his hips as he raised a brow. Luke and Luka couldn't even move because of how exhausted they were as the shadows dropped down.

With a dense foot crashing into the ground, a humanoid dragon-like entity dropped from seemingly out of nowhere. He had red battle armor with a broad chest and a strong upper physique. He had a four-point ended tail with a pattern similar to the v-like armor on his chest, where a diamond-like core was. He had unique wings that lowered and showed his many horns that were along his head, with reptilian green eyes that went wide open. He expelled a loud roar as he stood proudly in front of everyone, shielding them from the black dragon across.

A figure dropped down on a knee from his shoulder. He slowly stood up, facing the danger that was Riaan. He had a dead serious look on his face.

"So, it seems you've finally caught onto us…why I'm a little in shock right now. To think that I would be seeing you face-to-face here of all places. This certainly isn't what I had in mind…Dan Kuso."

Luke flinched. 'Wait a minute, did he mean that guy who was supposed to be the leader of the Battle Brawlers?' He slowly turned towards the person in line. 'So then…that's him?'

Standing before then was a young man with brown spiky hair and large red eyes that showed determination. He adorned brown pants and a red and white jacket. He adorned a black and red Bakumeter with black gloves. On his head were matching dark shades.

It was Dan Kuso, and with him, Pyrus Fusion Dragonoid have finally arrived on the scene.

"D-Dan?!" Shuji recoiled at the familiar face. He was shocked to see him alright, but not in the best way.

"No way! Dan Kuso? And is that really Drago?!" Maggie turned towards the humanoid dragon, her gawking clear to see. "So that's them in person…"

Alice's eyes were shrunken in disbelief. She was in just as much shock as Shuji, if not more so at seeing her old friend again. "Dan…"

Dan looked over his shoulder to see his allies. "hey guys, are you okay back there?"

Getting over the initial shock, Alice weakly nodded. "Y-yeah, we're okay."

Dan smiled. "Glad to hear. Mira and Shun said that you ran off somewhere Alice. We were really worried there. That was a little jump scare."

Alice put a hand to her chest. She was honestly touched that the others cared about her, even though she went in another way than what she was told. She wasn't supposed to be here, but she came regardless. And at the end of it all she came across them still. No words could describe how she felt right now. All she did was smile and nod in agreement.

Dan looked over at everyone else. "So you're the guys we've heard about. We've heard a lot about you guys and what you've been doing. Thanks for putting up some for us." He looked back at Riaan. "Drago, you ready?"

The dragonoid glared at Armagedoid. "You bet!"

Armagedoid expelled a hazy breath from his fangless mouth, fizzling out between himself and Drago. The two draconic Bakugan stared at each other as Dan and Riaan finally spoke to each other. "So, you're Dan Kuso, in the flesh. It is an honor to have the most powerful Bakugan Brawler in the universe in my company." Riaan mockingly curtseyed.

"Yeah, that's me. And who are you supposed to be?" Dan replied curtly.

Riaan held his blade to his side in defense. "I apologize for not introducing myself sooner to you. I am known as Riaan – The Father of all Bakugan. And standing before you is my Bakugan, Armagedoid."

Dan furrowed his brow. "Father of Bakugan?" he sounded more questionable than what it should've been. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Drago turned towards Armagedoid, the black Bakugan glaring at the dragonoid. Drago's face did nothing but assure him of his opposition against him. "Drago…so that is your name."

"And you must be the Bakugan that's called Armagedoid, are you?" Drago rebuffed.

Armagedoid politely nodded. "That I am." He fell silent as he looked at Drago intently. There was definitely something he felt from the Dragonoid that perked his curiosity. He couldn't quite feel it. That's when he started remembering something Riaan told him back on the Empyrean on Vestal.

"They are known as Dan Kuso, and his partner Bakugan, Pyrus Drago. You told me that Code Eve showed you two Dragonoids, did she not? Well, as I have found out…it appears that Drago is the direct descendant of one of those two Dragonoid Bakugan."

"Is this true? Then he's directly connected with…"

"With Code Eve, yes. When you think about it, it's like you're…cousins. Distant relatives, one might put it."

"…distant relatives."

'Now that explains it. That's what this feeling I have is inside of me. It has to be. So this is my distant relative, the one who Code Eve raised.' The dragon gave Drago a serious look. He remembered well what his mother tried to do, and Riaan was dead right to begin with. He couldn't trust an enemy who was blinded from the truth, even if it is by some measure of blood.

There was a horrendous pressure change in the room. Drago immediately clutched both fists as his scales crawled. "Dan, you feel that?"

"Yeah dude, it's freaking weird…" He looked down at his arms. Even to his surprise, there were goosebumps. He looked back at Riaan with an uncertainty.

"You've certainly took your time tracking me down. I was beginning to think that you'd never come along and introduce yourself to Armagedoid and I. So, you've been entrusted the powers of Code Eve."

Dan eerily leered. "Yeah, we are." He pointed at him accusingly. "And we've heard a little about you, too. You're the creep who's been trashing my friends and their worlds, aren't you?!"

"We were told by Shun and Marucho how you used Bakugan from our worlds and duplicated their DNA, just so you can use them to make these forbidden weapons to give them power." Drago snarled.

Riaan scoffed. "A crude testimony…but you're not wrong. You see, I have the power to take in the life source and replicate the structure of it, while at the same time, I have recently been able to extirpate the host life as well, so long as it's non-organic."

Drago balled his fists as Dan glared. "No way! You creep!"

Riaan meekly grinned, offering no input.

Armagedoid could definitely feel a great measure of power from Drago; much more than the Bakugan he was shielding. Compared to him, they were small fry that he was all warmed up on. His magenta star core shined, just as the Empyrean that surrounded them. Drago braced himself for the draconic menace.

"I imagined you came here to do battle with me. That makes sense, considering the actions that have led to this point. However, as indulging as that would be, Armagedoid and I don't have a place amongst here anymore."

"What do you mean?" Dan growled, but Riaan reached for his Bakumeter instead. "Hey, I'm talking here!"

"What is he doing…?" Shawn looked warily as he saw Riaan roll up his sleeve to speak into his Bakumeter, while keeping eye contact with his enemies still.

With a click of his gadget, he started speaking. "Cyrus, do you copy?"

On the other end, a click was heard. "Yes, milord. Whatever it is you desire?" the Darkus man on the other end spoke.

Luka's brow furrowed in aggravation. 'Hades Pillars!'

"I believe that you've all done your part admirably. Our guests have given us what we've came for."

"Understood, milord."

---

The communication ended, allowing Cyrus to keep the channel open to his colleagues. "Now then, does everyone understand?"

Amina groaned loudly. "About time. I've had it with this disease-riddled place. We should've head back home sooner than get this dust on my high-heels!"

"Understood. We'll recuperate with his majesty at once." Lucia turned and had Lumitroid revert to ball form. When she caught it, her attention went towards the Battle Brawlers in the distance, taking out their forces in order to get to them. She could see how determined they were, but it mattered not. "Till once we meet again, soon Battle Brawlers." She teleported out of sight.

Magnus folded his arms. "Guess that'd be our que then." His Glotronoid returned to him in ball form, teleporting away.

Galilea huffed. "Alright." She reverted her Buz Hornix and teleported out of there.

Amina gagged as she vanished next. That left Cyrus and Zion as the Battle Brawlers were starting to gather around them with all their Bakugan fixed to fight them if necessary. When they were around Cyrus, they could all feel a shred of goosebumps.

"Who is this guy?" Skytruss wondered. He had a corrosive sensation on him. It reminded him of New Vestroia.

"Yeah, I feel it too, bro." Orbeum replied.

Roxtor spoke gibberish, which Radizen understood. "Yeah, I'm getting the willies…hey, wait. What the heck is going on? Why are there rocks falling everywhere miles away?!" He just now realize the situation, and he couldn't comprehend the beginning of it.

"You guys must be the Hades Pillars, aren't you?!" Marucho shouted accusingly.

"We've fought your kind before." Shun replied. "This time, you're not getting the best of us so easily."

Cyrus frowned. "How imprudent. Zion, we know better, don't we? Perhaps another time."

Zion gave the Brawlers a stern glare, but he slowly dislodged his axe blade from the polearm and latched it into the slot on his gauntlet. "…yes, sire." He stepped towards Cyrus' side, their gazes equally as chilling.

"A pleasure to have met you all for now. I do hope we meet you again…our lord would be very pleased to see to that." With that, Cyrus started teleporting away with Zion.

"Hold it!" Shun reached out, but it was too late. They vanished from view, making him ball his fists. "Man, got away…"

All around, the surviving Interacian soldiers reverted their Bakugan and teleported away with Zion's code. They followed his lead and left the battlefield bear with the bodies of dead and wounded Gundalians. Broken machine parts and debris laid scattered everywhere. The sounds of crumbling from rocks in the distance was all that was heard. Not even the cold winds brewed.

Gunz looked around, seeing no sign of the enemies. "I think they left, guys."

"Yeah, I don't see them anywhere. Maybe they're heading back to their headquarters." Reptak advised.

Radizen balled his fists. "Ha! Then I say we send those guys packing some more! Let's follow them just to make sure!"

"Wait a sec, guys! We need to take care of the wounded first!" Marucho advised. He ran over, kneeling towards Ren's side. He looked saddened, if not worried, for his closest friend and Gundalian. "Ren, speak to me. Are you okay?"

Ren weakly turned his head. "Marucho…I'm…glad you're here…" he weakly grinned. "My friend…"

Marucho shook his head. "Don't say anything! You're badly injured, Ren! We need to get you somewhere safe, and quick!"

"Right, I'll go get the others. C'mon guys!" Shun raced towards Nurzak and the others, with Gunz following behind.

"Right back at ya."

---

In a matter of seconds, Hades Pillars assembled out of thin air behind Riaan. They all stood in attention, with Cyrus, Galilea, and Magnus on his right, and Zion, Lucia, and Amina on his left. They all stood with placated expressions at the master's call.

Maggie gasped. "Hades Pillars!"

Jase stood affirm. "Seems he's assembled them here for quite a show in the end."

Everybody fell silent as they were interlocked with glares on the opposite opponents. The negative energy Hades Pillars spilled made the Empyrean network shine just a little brighter. It didn't stay like this for very long, though.

"Riaan…" Luke breathlessly murmured.

The swordsman humbly grinned at the sight of the many battlers present. "I must say, this was rather more engaging than I had hoped. Vestal had a spectacular show, but now the curtain closes onto here. Dan Kuso…" he turned to face Dan directly. "I'm curious, just whom will win out in the end? Shall it be the epitome of Code Eve's so-called 'success', or will it be Armagedoid and our rectification? Suppose we'll have to see at another time."

Dan furrowed his brow. "Hey, no one's going anywhere! Just what the heck are you planning next, bub?!"

"That's for you to interpret. This is a battle, and in battle, knowledge means very much to where it stakes your life on it…do keep that in mind the next time we cross paths." He faced Luke and the others. "Consider this a blessing to you all. We shall meet again! Come, Armagedoid…we shall have time to get acquainted with your relative at a later date."

"Yes, Master." Armagedoid gave Drago one last sharp glance. "Prepare yourself, relative Drago…for mother, is not who you think she is." He glowed dark purple and reverted to ball form.

"Wait! What do you mean by that?" Drago reached out, but Armagedoid had already retreated towards Rian's side.

With his assets beside him, Riaan gave a note. "Galilea. When we return, we will require the Empyrean becomes reinforced. I trust with the Gundalian tools we have now that can be infused with the Vestal circuitry."

Galilea nodded. "Understood, milord."

"Then, back to Interacia then. Enjoy the solace you have, everyone…for when you see the truth for yourselves, the way you see everything shall change forever." With that final remark, Rian vanished with Hades Pillars, leaving everyone present in solitude.

The eerie feeling in the air lifted. It was a little easier for them to breath.

Maggie dropped to her knees and sighed heavily. "That was a close one…for a second there, I thought we were gonna drop like flies."

"Suppose we can count this as a blessing for us to chalk up." Jase turned towards Dan. "Your timing couldn't have been anymore impeccable."

Dan turned around and half-grinned. "Um…thanks, I guess. You guys look like you're in bad shape. That guy really did all this to you?"

Esther lowered her head. "It's a long story that I don't think is the right place."

Shawn glanced away, withdrawing his rapier. "Yeah, I can't disagree with you there."

Alice softly smiled. "Thank goodness…we were actually able to survive that one. I was so worried for a moment there. Right, Esther?" She looked at Esther for her input, given a nod of confirmation.

"Yes."

Luka managed to catch his breath, attempting to stand on his own with a huff. "…but Riaan still got away. He's taken Gundalia's forces for his own now, are you happy?"

Jase had a serious frown as he prodded his glasses. "We'll need to evaluate this once we've safely evacuated. I fear we shouldn't stay here much longer."

Luka lowered his head. "Suppose we don't have much options now." He looked back at Luke. "You better keep up in that condition, alright?"

"Yeah, I know. Abis, can you still…!" Luke started for his fellow Bakugan, but he coughed. He was coughing so much that he almost lost air for a second. When he caught his breath, he was wheezing haphazardly. "…man…my body…is heavy…is everyone alright? Guys?"

When he looked at everyone, he didn't see their usual composed looks. Rather, he saw a sight that worried him. They looked concerned, if not shocked at his face. Alice and Esther especially had wide eyes that showed fear.

"What…?" He looked down at his body, but saw what startled them. His arm was splattered in red blood that he coughed up. But his attention was focused more on the slightly drenched coat he wore, specifically in the spot where he was bleeding out from before.

He had one last look at everyone, but the last thing that caught his eye was Abis as he showed wear. Like Luke, he started falling over from exhaustion. "A…bis…"

As Abis finally fell over with a thud unconscious, Luke slammed on his side. The last thing he saw and heard were Esther's cries of worry and feet gathering around him just as he blacked out.

---

Happy New Year's Eve people! It's the end of the decade, and what better way to honor that than with a long, new chapter of my Bakugan fanfic! Now I know this was an incredibly long read (again), and admittedly writing this was no easy feature, I tell you. I was debating whether or not to have Cyrus and Zion show off their Mobile Assault Vehicles, but I thought that instead I'd show why they're the top dog baddies that can destroy opponents without any help from machines.

So now you finally have a sneak peek of what Darkus Armagedoid can do. And I know for a fact that it's WAY over the top, considering this is the most dangerous Bakugan up to date, but keep in mind that this is Riaan's Bakugan, and the top tier of forbidden prowess given manifestation and life. I was originally wanting to go for 2 rounds with Armagedoid, but as I was thinking this through, it would've been too long and difficult, so prolonging a 1-round fight would do just fine.

Also, since it's going to be 2020, I wanna take a second and reflect on what's happened this whole year. It's been quite a venture, but I've kept a scoreboard on what I managed to accomplish since 2015 when I started FanFiction:

2015 – 96

2016 – 120

2017 – 96

2018 – 63

2019 – 34

So I did 15 chapters of From Depths We Rise, with 14 chapters of The Contender's Ascent, 1 chapter for Kalos Vacation Training, and finally, 4 chapters in Fire Emblem Fates: Trainer's Revelation. So in total, I averaged 34 chapters this year. Now compared to by best year in 2016, making 120 chapters, I only got a quarter of that. My stories are getting FAR longer in word count per chapter, so that's why it took more days to write them up. Not really the number I wanted to see with the decade ending, but I'm gonna shoot to get above that in 2020, and hopefully before the next year's end, have this story wrapped up. We'll just have to see what dedication I can pour into my time. So guys, please bear with me on this new decade.

Also, on January 3rd, it shall indeed be my 5-year anniversary of joining FanFiction! 5 years, and I think I speak for myself when I say I've come pretty far in just that time. Hope you guys continue to be there for the years to come!

So anyways, now that Dan and the Battle Brawlers are here, the Gundalia Arc concludes on a shocking note! You guys can probably guess what might be coming next, so let's see what you guys think about the Neathia Arc, because I have some crazy plans in mind there! Here's to a Happy New year's Eve, the end of a decade, the end of an arc, and the start of a new! See you guys in 2020!