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.

53. The Brightest Dawn - Part II

The air spiraled within the cold, night atmosphere as three Bakugan stood against each other. A wave of frost passing between them deterred upon getting too close to the black dragon opposing the serpent and the four-armed jester. Just the stares alone given from each Bakugan would've been enough to freeze someone on the spot.

A low, grotesque growl emanated from the black dragon's throat that showed he was ready to thwart the enemies in his path. He craned his head into full circle and released a rippling roar into the skies, shaking up the atmosphere yet again.

Abis whipped his tail around, thumping it against the ground. "Here we go, Brontes."

Brontes stepped forward, raising his four arms to attack. "Heh, this is gonna be a hoot."

"I'll draw his attention first. You follow up." Luka insisted.

Luke crouched with his blade at the ready. "Okay then."

Luka grunted, repositioning his stance to finally poise another strike against the otherworldly menace. 'This is it. This time, it's either him, or us. No one is going to walk away unscathed this time.' He looked up for a second at Brontes, who, from the corner of his nonexistent eye, was gleaming back at him. A short, consolidating silence between them before an understanding crossed them.

What felt like an eternity later, Luka's gleam hardened. "Now…get going!"

"Roger!" The other three contenders roared.

Luka raised his arm and readied his Bakumeter, showing his first ability. "Ability activate, Atmosphere!" Brontes raised his four arms to the air and conjured four metallic hemisphere with golden blades on the sides. He pivoted on his heel and sent them at Armagedoid.

Armagedoid remained completely standstill as his target's attack spiraled in his direction. He watched at the hemispheres circled around him instead of full-on attack him. The tactic did little to the black monster as he snarled, but he took caution seriously.

Riaan continued being observant as he figured out their next move.

"Now go!" Luka darted ahead.

"Right!" Luke followed in pursuit.

The two raced across the battlefield towards Riaan with no reluctance. Their strides with their swords beside them showed that. They raised their blades and closed the gap. Riaan braced himself as his opponents dove at him with harsh parries and relentless assaults.

Their blades clashed, but once again Riaan was undeterred by their downwards slashes. With one fell swing, he managed to repulse them back several paces. Both contenders landed on their feet and charged again. Luka uphanded a quicker stride and came into contact first, clashing his blade against Riaan's. The heat in their rivaled glares was so deep that if one looked too closely, they could see the writhe and resolution.

Armagedoid kept himself occupied by the hemispheres threatening to attack at any moment, but he felt the snow beneath liquifying. He looked down, noticing a small stir of water rising.

"Ability activate, Dive Bomb!"

At Luke's command, the water beneath Armagedoid rushed up, gushing into a large splash that submerged him in the spray.

Armagedoid: 1500 (-400 -300) = 800 Frill Abis Omega: 700

Alto Brontes: 700 (+400) = 1100

The hemispheres around Armagedoid's disclosed frame all ceased their rotation and adjusted to start spinning at the spray.

"Now!" Luka roared.

Just as the rotating sphered picked up speed, Brontes brought his hand down to direct them and Armagedoid. At the same time, Luke came from behind in a sliding fashion and went to slash at Riaan.

Catching his fault, Riaan turned on his heel and, again, swept Luka at Luke. Their blades glided across each other and they fanned out. "Ability activate, Deep Save!"

As the hemispheres closed in, a bright purple gleam from two eyes illuminated the spray. The water gush broke apart as distorted waves emanated outwards, dispersing the droplets and hemispheres into purple particles that vanished into thin air.

Armagedoid: 800 (+400 +300) = 1500 Frill Abis Omega: 700

Alto Brontes: 1100 (-400) = 700

Abis was pushed out of the ground and retained a distance from Armagedoid. The serpent hissed as the dragon remained undeterred. A shadow above got his attention, making him look up to see Brontes fall onto him.

"Surprise~!"

"Double ability, activate!" Luka roared. "Wizard Proxy, plus Shining Nightmare!"

Brontes maneuvered and fell through the air as a golden aura radiated around him and Armagedoid. Golden blades glistened as Brontes spiraled down and slashed vertically into Armagedoid, creating a burst of snow. As to where that happened, Armagedoid's power was revealed to have dwindled down to 1200, as to where Brontes was up to 1400.

The wake of snow dissipated, making Brontes hold firm where he slashed. When the wake faded, he saw he had struck Armagedoid's estrange headpiece, and it didn't even have a scratch.

The black dragon's eyes glowed bright magenta, growling lowly, much to Brontes shock. "Heh?"

Riaan smirked before pivoting, deflecting Luke and Luka's attacks in a steady sweep. "Impressive display…but it seems that you have a critical judgement in your abilities." He held up his Bakumeter to ready an ability. "Ability activate…Satanic Suppression!"

The star-like core on Armagedoid's chest shined brightly, immediately taking in the golden borealis around him and Brontes. It all drew into him in an instant as Brontes instinctively backed off. In no time, the golden arrays were all absorbed, leaving Armagedoid snarling.

Armagedoid: 1200 (+300 +300 +400) = 2200 Frill Abis Omega: 700

Alto Brontes: 1400 (-300 -400) = 700

Luka grunted at the attempt.

"Hmph!" With a stone-cold sweep, Riaan horizontally slashed Luka away, finally sending him doubling over behind Luke.

Armagedoid growled and craned his head, ultimately backing Brontes off as well. The clown yelped as he was thrown onto his back and doubled over onto his feet, making him stammer.

"Is this really are you're worth in the end? I was hoping for more of a challenge." Riaan scoffed.

Luke spread his legs. "Don't count us out just yet."

Riaan and Armagedoid furrowed their brows and felt the air being humid, despite it being bitterly cold. They glanced up, seeing a large hemisphere of water barreling down with smaller compressed rings of water in the wake of it. In the center was a roaring Abis as he fell down onto Armagedoid.

'They used the Wizard Proxy's light to distract while making another diversionary attack.'

"Ability, activate!" Luke shouted. "Sea Ruler!"

Abis roared with all his might as he barreled down onto Armagedoid in an intense fall of water. The black dragon withstood his ground as his headpiece was up and took the humungous pressure head-on. The aquatic bubble churned as the helixes around it spiraled faster.

Armagedoid: 2200 (-400) = 1800 Frill Abis Omega: 700 (+400) = 1100

Alto Brontes: 700

"I have seen you in battle before." Armagedoid's tone was dead serious as he stared deep into the spiraling wake hammering him. It's like was wasn't even fazed. "Your tricks are clever…but feeble."

"Allow us to rectify our testimony, on my behalf." Riaan lifted his Bakumeter to prepare an ability. "Ability, activate! Shambolic Wing!" A pulse emanated from Armagedoid's eight wings as they glistened with reflective energy. Abis' spiraling water sphere was pushing, but it was only because Armagedoid was lowering his head to allow one of his wings to take its place. The water around Abis began repulsing back upwards in a roaring cyclone, turning the droplets to ice that were swept up by the expanding reversion.

Armagedoid let out one more harsh growl before he swatted his wing, making the wave jettison skywards like a wall of water that spread out.

The black dragon kept his eyes on the erupting skywards spray, noticing a glimmer from inside. Some of the wake in the water was illuminated by a bright light, which got his and Riaan's attention. A maw was open as a wake broke, revealing Abis far away inside his blue typhoon.

Riaan pieced it together in an instant. 'They used the attack just to get close.'

"Ability, activate!" Luke shouted.

With Armagedoid just a few meters away, Abis' maw opened wide as his power had retained 1100, whereas Armagedoid was at 2200. Regardless, with the wing having been moved, there was no defense as Luke and Abis yelled with all their might.

"Filter Cannon!"

Abis gushed out an intense blue beam that swallowed Armagedoid on the spot. The impact took up the Bakugan's space as he peered into the attack's wake, unhinged by its force.

Luke slashed at Riaan, this time it being him who took the parry. Briefly at the stalemate, Riaan was locked in place for the opening Luke called for. "You're on!"

In the attack's wake, Armagedoid looked up through the glossy blue beam. He saw a break in the attack that revealed several jabs hammering through it. Likewise, Luka came down from above, slashing.

"Ability activate, Trans Rapture Illusion!"

The attack following Abis' tactic was Brontes unleashing barrages of his fists and jabs enveloped in the same energy as Abis' attacks. In hyperspeed fashion, he unleashed the jabs in tandems that made it look like several dozen arms with glossy energy hammering down on Armagedoid, recreating an intense eruption of snow and glossy blue to expel skywards.

Armagedoid: 2200 (-300) = 1900 Frill Abis Omega: 1100

Alto Brontes: 700

Abis and Brontes landed side-by-side, looking at the energy cloud stirring. Luka came down to slash, but his attempts were foiled when Riaan swiftly slashed Luke and him away. Like their Bakugan, they landed beside each other. They hurriedly raised their blades in unison for whatever Rin intends next.

The otherworldly entity raised his head, giving them a serious frown. "Your tandem is impressive…but are you really getting results?"

"We're just getting started." Luka seethed.

Riaan held back a sneer. "Suppose the sentiment can be returned…" He reached out, readying his attack. The adversaries braced themselves for the ability to be used. "Ability, activate! Fading Goliath!"

The snow and energy around Armagedoid faded, revealing his head down. He snarled as his eight wings stretched out, manifesting seven purple energy glints that compressed. He roared outwards, craning skywards as the seven stars blitzed across the atmosphere at Abis Omega and Brontes. The beams tore trails into the snow and earth beneath with the massive wake it carried.

"Here it comes!" Luke shouted.

Brontes backpedaled as Abis took to getting in front. He flexed his frills in preparation for his attack. "Don't hold back, Luke!"

Luke raised his Bakumeter and sword out. "Double ability, activate! Mirror Shock, plus, Fusion Ability, Refractor Booster!"

The seven star blast zipped across and barreled into Abis head-on. The frills on his body instantly lit up and glistened at the point of impact. The force of the starlight caused airwaves to pulse out in all directions, including behind Abis. Snow mounds and rocks reduce the dust from several meters behind Brontes. Abis yelled mightily as his frills took it all in, bouncing the attack with blue gloss edged into it. With a violent hiss, he lurched his frame and screamed mightily, sending the purple and glossy blue attack at double the mass it was. The ground broke apart beneath from the expanded force it carried out towards its origin.

Armagedoid: 1900 (-1000) = 900 Frill Abis Omega: 1100 (+1000 +600) = 2700

Alto Brontes: 700

The incoming attack drew closer, shaking up the landscape that obliterated beneath it. Armagedoid faced his attack head-on. "Even if it's deflected, one always has to comprehend pain." His eyes shined bright purple.

"Returning the pain we wish to bring to you is understanding. However…" Rian slowly reached out. "We are more than willing to take all that pain, and make it our resolve. Ability, activate! Satanic Suppression!"

Armagedoid howled as his chest started glowing.

"Go, Brontes!" Luka roared.

Brontes raised his arms behind Abis' frills. "Come get some!"

"Ability activate, Magic Dice!" Brontes congregated energy into a dice that spun in front of him. The four hands gripped the die to force it to stop, making the number "2". The die emitted a bright shine that beamed into Abis' back, causing his frills the give a golden gloss that went into his attack, making a light illuminate and transcend down at lightning speed into the front of the seven glossy stars. With radiating glows around their heads, they all beamed into Armagedoid, nullifying his absorption and making him see white.

A split second passed before snow and earth overturned beneath Armagedoid as darkness, light, and glossy energy pulsated in all directions. Abis unfolded his frills to shield Brontes behind him from the shockwaves. Luke and Luka used the explosion as cover and jettisoned towards Riaan, both screaming at the top of their lungs as they slashed right into his blade. The impact was powerful on both ends.

Riaan fended with his one arm holding his weapon. Luke and Luka were using both arms to hold their weapons. The air churned as the menace narrowed his glare, making Luke and Luka wary.

FWOOSH!

In the blink of an eye, Riaan swiped diagonally, causing them to backpedal into the snow. They grounded themselves and glared daggers at him in return.

Abis and Brontes looked ahead at the dissipating energy. Inside, there was a bright gleam of magenta eyes that made their spines tense.

"Uh oh, looks like we've woken up the beast." Brontes chimed.

Abis narrowed his eyes. He didn't know what to say…but he didn't expect any less.

A dark silhouette craned around in the smoke and flexed. The smoke and air tore to shreds when Armagedoid's eight wings expanded out with his bloodcurdling roar piercing eardrums. The vibrations in the air were physically distorting towards Abis and Brontes, causing them both to lurch.

The black dragon raised his head, his breath expelling a heated haze. "Master…"

Riaan observed what happened, smirking. "Nullifying his ability to absorb the attack, on top of having his attack reflected back at amplified power." He shot Luke and Luka a look. "I'm impressed. You both learned well from your past experience."

Luka opted to scoff back. "This coming from someone who lives in the past."

Riaan closed his eyes, taking the insult in stride. "In the past, you say?...hmph, yes, I suppose one could say that being in the past is a curse. But, as I recall, someone who lived in the past, can also make a future because of it, am I right, Luke?" He looked at Luke personally, the last part with a hinted inquiry.

"…" Luke steadied himself, neither confirming nor objecting the interest of the subject.

"The past is truly a terrible place to live in, but the reminisce does more for the state of mind. Think back to it, if we look at the varied societies of the many worlds, where would you be today? Take Earth for example. A thousand years back, you all had nothing but wood houses and shacks, and now today, mansions and cultivated lands take over. Lush forests turned to parking lots. The evolution of science and findings deep within your world. Humans, nee, species can always find a means to go forward…or so they think."

Armagedoid's tail raised and thumped against the ground, making the ground tremble.

"'So history doesn't repeat itself', as they say. And yet to this day, everyone conflicts with each other, and at the end, someone ends up dead." He turns away. "There's no denying it, the past can be seen as crude…but look at now, can you honestly say anything changed because of your accomplishments? Exactly how relevant are you, when you've failed to stop the slaughter of millions?"

Luke and Luka couldn't say anything. They were wanting to deny what Riaan said, but little could be done with words. Both resorted to rushing ahead, engaging in another parry as Riaan skillfully dealt with both.

"The most prominent answer is life is violence. The voice can never be without the percussions of blood. That is the real voice of reason." He bashed and deflected their shots without having to move from his spot one time. "You both settled whose reason was superior through violence. The stronger one prevailed in the end. Isn't that how it goes?"

The two went for one more slash, but Riaan's quick thinking got him to narrow his vision and unleash a volley of swift blades. They backpedaled to avoid his blade, though not unscathed. Both their clothing' shoulders got small, barely noticeable, tears in them.

"Armagedoid."

The black dragon responded to his call, standing firm as Abis and Brontes prepared for what's next. Slowly, Riaan, raised his arm for an ability.

"History always repeats itself…allow me to show you my point. Ability, activate…Necromancer!"

Armagedoid's eyes glowed bright purple, causing a familiar energy to surround Abis and Brontes. Their bodies went numb as a foreign, dark sensation took over them.

Their battlers looked over their shoulders in shock. Luke's eyes widened in disbelief. "Wait, that's-!"

Luka's teeth gnashed at the shock.

Armagedoid growled as his eyes glowed brighter. Slowly, Abis and Brontes began turning towards each other. Their eyes were fixated on each other, and their minds were telling them to resist…but their bodies weren't listening. Struggled and strained as they could, their bodies began moving according to what Armagedoid desires.

"Now then, Armagedoid…" Riaan paused, his magenta eyes brightening. "Set an example, of what I mean, if you wouldn't mind."

"With pleasure." Armagedoid raised his head, releasing another roar. "GRROOOOAAAHHH!"

Abis was manipulated into lunging at Brontes head-on, tackling him into the ground. The jester in turn was manipulated into backflipping with too much momentum, sending a knee into Abis' face. The serpent screeched at the pain, but he and Brontes didn't have a chance to get to recover when they clashed again, though Abis' fangs were bared and edged into Brontes' shoulder, causing him to yelp in pain.

"GAH!" The jest screeched out.

It didn't stop there. Brontes was manipulated into grabbing Abis' neck, holding him and his sharp teeth back. He reeled his two other fists back and dealt a double-decker cross to the serpent's chest. He deterred, but the tail came around, swatting the back of Brontes' head, faceplanting him into the snow. At the same time, Abis fell on his back.

The air churned as both contenders were still in their shock when Armagedoid manipulated them to stand once more and charge at each other. Fangs snapped into Brontes as Abis shrieked, forcibly coiling around his ally.

"Brontes!" Luka yelled in fret. He looked back at Riaan's smirk with a hateful glare. "You bastard…!"

Riaan remained undeterred at the crude truth he was making. "Say as you will, yet how are you going to save your friend? Will you fight him for your sake, just as you have before?"

Luke watched as his Bakugan's power was being used against his ally. He was aware that Riaan would be tricky, but even he wasn't intended on this crude mindset. His grip on his sword tightened as he faced him with uncertainty.

"Now then…" Riaan's eyes brightened, a sinister sensation creeping down their backs. "What shall be your next move, I wonder?"

---

A crackle of electricity gathered around the bulbous towers that were atop of the monstrosity in front of Drago and Radizen. Both Bakugan glared daggers and balled their fists as ectoplasm roared in the air. A foul, yet sharp incense bubbled up from Nastix' radioactive pool he was in. On top of that, the Prozar was getting soaked in the matter.

Amina raised her head and meekly chimed to herself. She couldn't wat to see how they would react to her rich, sultry might now.

"Alright crazy lady, you and your slime bath are going down!" Dan raised his Bakumeter, showcasing an ability. "Ability activate, Dragon Blade!" Drago's right forearm's V-shaped mark shined bright red before an energy saber drew from it. He raised his arm high, extending its length for him to slash with.

Marucho raised his Bakumeter next with his own ability. "Radizen, let's go! Ability activate, Abyss Blade!" Radizen spread his arms and commenced whirling them around madly. Blue energy crescents went streaming across the ground towards Phastrix and exploded snow as it drew up towards it.

Nastix: 2900 Drago: 1300 (+500) = 1800

Radizen: 1000 (+500) = 1500

The blue energy crescents discharged across the terrain and went up the legs. They blasted Phastrix and Nastix, swallowing his front a smoke veil. Radizen looked up at Drago and beamed with pride. "Okay Drago, you're on!"

"Got it!" With lightning quick reflexes, Drago zoomed down after the smoke barrier. His arm drew back and the saber followed.

Amina darkly smirked. "…ability, activate! Quash Photon!"

Drago roared with all his draconic might, passing the Phastrix in a red slash following his wake. He posed behind on a knee with his energy saber still unsheathed. A moment passed before an explosion of red billowed around the mechanical monster, obscuring everyone of its intended destruction.

Radizen pumped a fist. "Oh yeah, that's what I'm talking about!"

Dan smiled. "Told ya, didn't we? No way you guys were gonna…" His skin started crawling at a very uncomfortable feeling. "…huh?"

Drago opened his eyes and looked back over his shoulder. "What?"

The smoke started clearing, but the combined assault of Radizen and Drago didn't cleave the machine through. In fact, it looked hardly fazed at all. The bulbous tops were actually crackling from the pool up towards the peaks with magenta electricity. It all rapidly started discharging as the accents glowed brighter than before.

Radizen took an awkward step back. "Uh, Marucho, what do we do…?"

"Watch out, that might be an electrical field!" he screamed.

"Drago, heads up!" Dan screamed.

Nastix' pool of ectoplasm gurgled bubbles, releasing a horizontal electrical impulse in all directions. The snow beneath sizzled as it blew right into Drago and Radizen, driving both off the earth and sent soaring in agony with crackling bodies.

Dan and Marucho were forced to cover up from the shockwaves that raced after them, but the energy was too immense that even they were blown back into the snow. Thankfully they were small and landed better. Drago and Radizen, on the other hand, smashed into the ground beside one another hard.

Nastix: 2900 Drago: 1800 (-500 -200) = 1100

Radizen: 1500 (-500 -200) = 800

The plasmatic shockwaves continued crackling across the snow and air, but Amina admired it all with a sense of awe and pride. The magenta static across the snow gave it an enigmatic glow that even she was mesmerized with.

Dan groaned meekly as he tried getting up. His fingers felt numb after falling on them. Slowly, his knees got beneath and wiped the side of his mouth. "What…the heck was that…?" he grunted,

Drago and Radizen slowly arose next, both their frames shaken by that earlier shockwave. Nastix gurgled as his Mobile Assault's accents shined brightly for another charge up. Ions and plasmatic impulses crackled up the six towers an discharged another intense shockwave dead ahead.

Drago got in front and balled his fists. "Not this time."

"Ability, activate!" Dan shouted. "Fusion Shield!" Drago brought his hands out and generated a translucent red energy shield in front of him and Radizen.

The magenta shockwaves crackled across the terrain towards the barrier. The energy pulses closed in and, much to Drago's horror and awe, shattered the energy barrier and made him slide along the ground back towards Radizen, nearly falling over. His front crackled as his power dropped to 900.

Radizen's shock was shown with his red eyes widened. "What just happened?!"

"The barrier was completely nullified!" Marucho exclaimed in analysis.

"So not even defensive abilities aren't gonna cut it against this guy?" Dan balled his fists. "Not good."

Drago got up for the umpteenth time, wiping any residue on his maw. He raspy breathing was a sign of wear. "Now I'm really mad!"

"That goes double for me, pal! Let's counter this thing for good!" Dan's brows furrowed. He wasn't going to go down like this. "There's no way, not after all the Brawlers have been through. We're not gonna let some hotshot tyrant who's obsessed with revenge take us out!"

"Yeah, believe it!" Marucho cheered. "This won't hold us down!"

"That's the kind of talk I like to hear!" Radizen balled a fist of his own. "Now, let's deep fry this sorry slug! It's now or never!"

The energy crackled around Nastix for a third time. This time, Drago and Radizen stood their ground and prepared for the oncoming shockwave.

"Get ready guys!" Dan shouted. Marucho stood readily beside him.

Gurgling loudly, the radioactive bath bubbles popped as atoms discharged in magenta shockwaves for a third time in a row. They leveled the crackling snow that it surged after the two powerful Bakugan.

"Ability, activate! Dragon Exploder!" Drago's body tensed up as a swirling hemisphere of flames erupted. His entire body pulsed out the attack in a spiraling blaze in all directions.

"Ability, activate! Luster Drain!" Radizen opened his palm and gathered moisture from the atmosphere around him. It manifested into a compressed ball of water that he gripped. He took a pose like a baseball player, swung his leg up, and swiftly swung his arm to launch the compressed water sphere.

Both attacks barreled into the oncoming shockwave. Th erupting flares and liquid sphere were supposed to shield and attack at the same time. Drago and Radizen roared with all they had in them to keep themselves from sliding back too far. The ground was already a mess as it was. Dan and Marucho looked expectantly as they braced themselves for the attack. They couldn't back down.

As the show of fireworks went off, the dazzling display did little to pique Amina. In fact, she seemed to be more invested with her nail polish. Her eyes narrowed at her own reflection in the manicure.

"Hm…?" She veered the corner of her gaze at them. "Oh, seems they're still trying…gross."

The flames and liquid sphere were pushing as hard as what they could manage. However, it proved fruitless when the ectoplasm ultimately pulsed through, breaking static flares into Drago and Radizen.

"What?!" Drago yelled.

"Guys, watch out!" Dan reached out, but was too late. The plasmatic pulse wave shot across the land, tearing up the ground yet again. Everyone screamed as the discharge ran through them. The pain they were feeling was unlike anything they could've imagined.

Nastix: 2900 Drago: 900 (-200) = 700

Radizen: 800 (-200) = 600

The energy pulses ceased for the time being, enabling for the dust and snow to settle into the ground amongst Drago and Radizen. They were severely weakened, but again, they were able to get to their knees.

"What…just happened…?" Dan groaned.

A snort came from Amina. "Hmph, all abilities are neutralized by the radioactive waves. All you're doing is wasting your energy." The show of frustration was evident on the two brawlers. "What's this? I was expecting some kind of petty remark that would wound my delicate ears."

The Brawlers present stood up again, this time prepared by any means.

"We've had enough of you!" Dan shouted, holding up a fist. "You better stop or-!"

Amina yawned loudly, ignoring the ignorant mouths of the uncouth. Her Bakugan started charging up another plasmatic energy wave, one with enough strength that could level them down. They needed a plan, and fast.

"Marucho, please tell me the Battle Suits are here." Dan hoped.

"They can't. They're back on Earth." Marucho morbidly said. "Besides, dimension transport is blocked systematically."

"Man…"

Amina scoffed. "Exactly as I have said before, so very…pitifully ignorant." She daintily reached out for the next wave to follow. "Words can only get you so far, simple trash heaps. You aren't half as witted our lord is at how life works. You think even battling and rules are fair." Her lipstick curbed to a malice sneer. "Well you aren't in control of life, are you?"

Nastix gurgled, expelling another shockwave that could've been seen from afar.

---

Brontes gagged from the crushing coils of Abis. The two Bakugan were still brutally pinned against each other by Armagedoid, and from what it looks like, Abis had overflowing power that his body used per square inch to break his ally.

"Brontes…stay with me…!" Abis grunted through his coiling body constricting his friend.

Brontes' head moved meekly to gaze up at Abis. But otherwise gave no response.

"I can commend your Bakugan for gaining such experience and power." Riaan pried. "But, what if to say that power was to be used against you? The most basic element of warfare, to take your enemy's most valued asset…and turn it into their undoing."

The comment sunk into their skulls like rock to water. They were well adverse this was how Riaan fought, nee, lived. Choosing to not dwell on the matter, they focused on the manipulation of their Bakugan at fault. "Luka, listen. You've gotta use Spirit Dominion." Luke muttered.

Luka shot back a look of surprise. "What? Are you saying for us to swap power levels?"

Luke looked back at Abis, seeing him strangle his friend, much to his reluctance. "We don't, then Brontes is gonna end up finished. If we swap power levels, at the very least, you can use the extra power and try and get an opening."

"…heh, that's pretty bold of you. You've always suggested such idiotic ideas that I don't even know why I bother." He frowned. "But that's suicide. No, I think I have a better idea made up."

Armagedoid's eyes flashed brightly. The sounds of joints snapping could be heard beneath Abis' coils. Brontes screamed mightily at the pain.

Luke and Luka shot a quick look at their Bakugan, both their faces showing relent and worry; anger was a clear sign amongst said emotions.

"Brontes. Hang on for a short while longer." Luka's brows furrowed. "Can you do that?"

Brontes grunted, spatting out a sick cough. "I'll…try…"

"Good. I expect that you would." Luka faced Riaan, their distances having spread to allow them a moment. The situation on the battlefield was more pressing right now. 'He intends to use our greatest weapons against us. But that wasn't it. His Necromancer ability allows for his Bakugan to turn our abilities on each other. So even if Spirit Dominion was used, it'd end up as Luke said. But…'

In his head, he had flashes of his past experiences facing his enemies at the time. Looking back at it, it was astounding at how far Luka came when he and Luke started out. Luke really was pitiful that he had to look out for him. He had to bail him out of so many situations that it was borderline hopeless how it all came to be. Yet, the time and battles shared, experience was gained, and the one-sided thinking had gone both ways, eventually leading to Luka gaining revelations he never thought were possible because of what tricks Luke had.

Though it was barely noticeable, Luka had a small grin slide across his face. 'I get it. But don't worry, the one who really knows how to use Brontes best…is me. Brontes!"

Brontes grunted, but his four fists balled.

"Ability, activate! Deathly Mimicry!" Brontes' core on his abdomen shined brightly, manifesting a golden energy visage that billowed overhead. The golden cloud was replaying the battle at fast-forward projection, heading to where Armagedoid's eyes shined.

Armagedoid snarled. "What is this?"

Riaan raised a brow. "I see…so, you intend to use Necromancer on us?" He lightly scoffed. "That's foolish, at least while you're under its influence that is."

Luka smirked. "Whoever said it was for you?"

Riaan frowned. "What are you saying…wait, you're not saying-!"

Luke's eyes widened as he shot a look at Luka.

"Like you've said. Turn your adversary's greatest asset, and make it their undoing." He pointed at Abis. "Now!"

The spirit cloud above Brontes turned into gold misty energy that swerved into his frame. The energy traveled into the core on his front, giving it a shine that went up to his eyes. The strange eye shape gave a bright Haos light instead of Darkus.

Abis gasped. He realized what was happening just as he could feel his crushing coils slowly pry way from Brontes. Once again, another foreign force took over and fought the force constricting. He was shoved back, allowing Brontes to weakly stand and hold his four glowing hands out at the serpent.

Armagedoid looked surprised to say the least.

"My body…it's not…" Abis looked at his frame, before facing Brontes with astonishment. "Brontes, you really just…"

"You know what they say. To use your enemies, you must use your friends. So sorry about this, hope you understand."

Understanding full-well, Abis smiled. "Sure thing."

Luka looked away impishly. "Hate to say it, but I'll be needing your help on this one."

Luke nodded. "Got it." He raised his sword. "Alright Abis, like it or not, guess we're gonna play shadow puppet."

Alto Brontes slowly turned towards Armagedoid and smiled cynically. "Are you ready? Because we surely are…" He reached one arm out to direct, his eyes glowing bright yellow. "…to kill you!"

Abis screeched out as Brontes manipulated his body to shoot after Armagedoid. The rush of his body was so fast that the black dragon didn't track. The black dragon was able to catch him in the head-on collision with his hands. The serpent was manipulated by Brontes to commence with the coiling around the frame, though the large wings were rolled inwards to make it difficult.

For an instant, Riaan smirked in full interest. "The manipulatee turning into the manipulator. A puppet on a puppet…splendid. Now you've piqued my full interests."

Abis tried restraining the dragon, but in no time, Armagedoid flexed his entire body, unleashing a broad distorted wave that sent him flying back. The serpent hissed at the momentum, yet Brontes lashed out and made his frills expand to reduce the drag. He slid to a stop, his frills folding back up.

Armagedoid lowered his neck and snarled at them. "Will that be enough?"

"Only one way to find out!" Brontes reached his arms out, pushing Abis forward again for the attack. Armagedoid's stance adjusted for the next attack.

"Ability, activate!" Riaan shouted. "Photon Dragonia!" Armagedoid's body lurched as dark purple and hot pink dragon fire fired in a compressed beam across the atmosphere, depressing a trail deep within the snow and earth.

Armagedoid: 900 (+600) = 1500 Frill Abis Omega: 2700

Alto Brontes: 700

The energy blast closed in, which they prepared for. "Hey, you're still on!" Luka shouted.

"Got it!" Luke shouted. "Ability, activate! Tidal Flash!" The dragonfire blazed across the snow towards Abis, but the serpent was well equipped to handle it. His bodily accents shined and his frills glowed. An Aquos aura exploded around his body as a sudden gush of tidal waves spiraled and swerved around him. The attack surged in response towards Armagedoid.

Armagedoid: 1500 Frill Abis Omega: 2700 (+400) = 3100

Alto Brontes: 700

The rush of waves and dragonfire swamped into each other, creating a humungous splash and steam before a dark hemisphere beneath it erupted. The eruption of seawater swayed everywhere. However, the dragonfire simmered, yet the torrent climbed over the wall of steam and was coming down on Armagedoid.

"Ability, activate! Ambiguity!" The black dragon's eyes glinted again as he scrunched his body. With a sudden flex of his frame, he unleashed a blistering roar that expelled dark purple shockwaves that tore through the atmosphere. The tidal waves that were about to crash into him when they dispersed into thin air.

The shockwaves continued towards Abis, making him get repulse and grunt harshly. Brontes' manipulative aura around his eyes faded as he was forced to a knee to keep himself from rocking too hard.

Armagedoid: 1500 (+2600) = 4100 Frill Abis Omega: 3100 (-400 -1350) = 1350

Alto Brontes: 700 (-350) = 350

'Now's the time!' Luka kneeled with Luke to refrain from being pushed away. He reached down towards the card. "Gate Card, open…Capacity Overdrive!"

As the menacing shockwave tore through the area, the Gate Card shined below, giving a glossy shine on Abis and Brontes.

"NOW!" Luka roared.

Luke nodded and roared. Together, he and Luka raised their abilities at the same time, but with opposite arms. "Ability, activate!"

"Filter Cannon, plus Fusion Ability, Refractor Booster!"

"Deathly Mimicry, plus, Atmosphere!"

The dark shockwaves were all taken in by Abis as a glossy Aquos aura enflamed his entire body. He screamed mightily as the frills vibrated from the sheer wake of the attack he drew in. It caused his diamonds on his chest to give of an intense blue shine. Brighter than usual.

Meanwhile, Brontes raised all four arms freely, creating a shrouded mist of gold that projected the battle onscreen. A fast-forward motion was taken and continued on until it stopped on the part where Armagedoid unleashed Photon Dragonia. The cloud shined before it turned into a bright shine that had gloss on it. His four arms created the metal spheres with golden blades on them again, rotating swiftly to gain momentum.

Armagedoid: 4100 (-2600 -400) = 1100 Frill Abis Omega: 1350 (+1350 +400 +800(x2) = 4700

Alto Brontes: 350 (+350 +1800(x2) + 400) = 4700

The energy round the two Bakugan was enough to make the area tremble. A thunderous wake echoed around as a glossy shine on both was emulating a strong wake that made Luke and Luka brace themselves.

"Get him!" Luka shouted.

"Now!" Luke cried.

Abis unleashed a mighty cry as he reared his head back and opened as wide as he could. A monstrous torrent if glossy blue energy rushed out of his mouth, amplified by the frills to make it compact so much force the ground depressed. Brontes unleashed golden dragonfire from his core, which was the same size as Abis' attack. The four metal hemispheres spiraled around them like orbit and gave the attack, tail-like spirals. The two attacks merged along the way, creating a spiraling glossy blue and gold beam that closed in on Armagedoid.

The attacks hit their mark, swallowing everything in the area within a seismic eruption that bloomed blue and light skywards, like a towering beacon that flashed ripples. In the brightness of it all, Luke and Luka jumped in unison and came down onto Riaan, who had never lost track of them. Together, they came down and slashed, effectively pinning Riaan's large, eloquent blade to prevent him from attacking.

---

The shockwaves of the attack fanned out on a larger scale than intended. Its glowing blue-yellow beacon caught the eyes of everyone who was fighting for their lives again. On the plateau, even Julie was caught surprised by the radiating pillar in the vast distance.

"Woah! What's that over there?!" She pointed towards the vast white range afar. "Ladies and gentlemen, it looks like we're having another serious battle out there. Just who could it be?"

Shawn looked in the distance, seeing the bright wake fade away. He didn't know why, but the bad feeling in his gut was coming up. 'That light…Luke, that idiot…!'

---

The pulsating waves faded away, revealing smoke and dust that was quick to fly past Brontes and Abis, who shared bright attributed auras over their bodies. They peered ahead at the smoke, watching the dispersion reveal their target.

Luke and Luka gritted their teeth as they kept Riaan's sword pinned down with their own. Even with one hand Riaan was very well oriented and strong. But what made them uneasy wasn't his raw strength. Rather, it was the way he smirked down at him.

"Very well executed." He complimented. "But…poorly timed."

The wave dissipated, revealing Armagedoid with a reflecting coat all over his body like armor. The dragon stood completely unfazed by the earlier attack that had otherwise flattened the landscape around him. His power was undeterred at 4100 still.

"Not even a scratch…!" Abis bared his fangs in annoyance.

Armagedoid snarled at them in response. "You both are skilled enemies…but we shall not be moved by your might alone."

Luka's eyes widened as he glanced back. 'He didn't even move from his spot like before. Damnit!'

"I believe that you have recalled my Eternity Screen ability, yes? Seems that I was just in the nick of time before impact." Riaan huffed for the umpteenth time. He pivoted and lashed his blade, again repulsing Luke and Luka. "However, I will admit that it was a close call."

Armagedoid's eyes glared daggers as Abis and Brontes, readying his next counterattack.

"Armagedoid, let's show them some more of your power, shall we?" Riaan raised his Bakumeter. "Ability, activate! Black Ripple!"

The dragon snarled as dozens of magenta orbs materialized around his frame and expanded. He raised his crossed arms, making the dark matter show signs of blackening. Abis and Brontes were completely stunned when Armagedoid uncrossed his arms in arches, expelling a cry that discharged the orbs into voluminous horizontal Darkus ripples that spread out at them.

Armagedoid: 4100 (+500) = 4600 Frill Abis Omega: 4700 (-500) = 4200

Alto Brontes: 4700 (-500) = 4200

"Guys! Look out!" Luke warned, but to no avail.

Abis and Brontes were struck hard by the rippling shockwaves of darkness. Their battlers weren't anywhere near as safe as they were when the ripples reached out at them. They both instinctively plunged their swords into the snow to reduce the drag, but the impact was so powerful that they were all pulled off the ground and cried out in agony.

A black, dark purple, and hot pink eruption billowed in front of Armagedoid and Riaan, but neither were moved from the sight. They watched the dark waves cease, revealing leveled snow that, surprisingly, sizzled.

Laying on their sides sprawled across the cold ground, Luke and Luka groaned. Their Bakugan rolled back to them in ball form, both landing close to their faces.

Luke: 20%

Luka: 20%

Armagedoid glowed dark purple and reverted back to ball form. He returned to Riaan's hand without having to say a word. "Well done, Armagedoid. Now then…I believe this is where they take their last stand, as they say. Brace yourself."

"I shall."

Both contenders slowly struggled to get back up. That last attack knocked the wind right out of them and left them dazed. Luka was the first to open an eye, seeing everyone's faces planted against the snow.

Luke weakly opened his eyes next. Like Luka, he stared back.

There was a small moment of silence in the atmosphere for both of them. They didn't know how to describe it, nee, how to fully comprehend it, but it was like they were seeing the desperation in each other. And to some vague belief, what they were thinking. They wanted – no, needed - to save everyone. Too many were hurting right now, and while they could end up rolling over unconscious, they were far above that.

SHING!

Two swords plunged into the ground, gripped by gloves. "Hey, dreck…tell me you can still stand."

"Yeah, don't worry. I'll be just fine." He started standing. "I can't…stay down like this. Too many have done that already."

He scoffed back. "Figured you'd say that, otherwise you wouldn't have made it this far without cracking." A pause came between them. Luka breathed out. "Listen, we won't last much longer. You know that, right?"

Luke's eyes narrowed. "Yeah, I know…this is Riaan we're facing. But listen, don't forget what we've settled on. We're not gonna spend the rest of our time worrying about surviving this. Maybe you're right, we might end up dying after all."

"…"

"But listen, everyone wants a will to live. A reason to want to see tomorrow come. I've learned a lot from you. A lot from Shawn, about staying true to friends…even if they don't think they have any."

Luka flashed Luke a surprised eye. He got where he was going with this. He didn't know what to say, but past it off with a meek frown. "Hmph, you talk too much."

"Maybe you're right." Luke picked up Abis. "Abis, you ready for one more?"

Abis popped open, nodding. "We won't quit, whatever it takes."

Luka picked up Brontes and looked down at him. "Brontes…"

"Let's bring the pain."

Both clutched their Bakugan at the same time and looked up at Riaan, who looked more than prepared.

"I see that you both have shared your final sentiments. Good. I do hate to tamper with such a boundless comradery made between two brethren, but alas, I believe this is where we end it." He showed a Gate Card between his fingers. "Gate Card, set!" He flung the card out, making a dark purple shockwave race across the ground. He showed Armagedoid's ball form. "Now then, show us how you intend to 'live'!"

"Here we go! Brace yourself!" Luka grunted.

At the same time, everyone threw in their Bakugan. "Bakugan, brawl!" In a show of broad force, darkness expanded and discharged, unleashing Armagedoid with a vicious roar. Abis and Brontes arose together, ready to battle.

Armagedoid: 1500 Frill Abis Omega: 700

Alto Brontes: 700

"Now then…" Riaan raised his other hand, finally making a two-hand grip on his sword. "Let us rectify our convictions! Ability, activate! Photon Dragonia!" Armagedoid snarled as he brought his head back, his maw widening for the assault.

"Here we go! Luke!" Luka lunged ahead into battle.

"Got it!" Luke followed in pursuit across the snow.

Armagedoid roared mightily as he pulled forward, releasing a vicious blast of negative dragonfire that soared past Luke and Luka towards their Bakugan. His power climbed up to 2100 while both contenders stayed low to the attack. Their swords grazed the underside of the wake. They slid underneath Armagedoid directly and darted for Riaan with their swords trailing his dragonfire.

Riaan braced himself for the incoming wake and swiftly countered Luke's left-handed blade first.

"Ability activate, Frill Rippler!" The dragonfire continued its course as Abis slid in front and flexed his frills at the attack. It struck him, but he withstood the blow as reflective, blue ripples expanded out. With what he could muster, Abis screeched out and unleashed the dragonfire back in his direction, tearing across the ground in an expanded rippling frenzy.

With Luke's interception, he followed it up by gliding the blade across the allow them both to separate. Luka rushed in and attacked with the downwards flames, which Riaan managed to see.

"Ability, activate…" He brought the blade down. "Sprite Glow!"

Brontes hummed manically as he created two halos of light in two hands. With firms grips, he threw them into Abis' ripples and reflected dragonfire. They directed towards the front and added pressure to the attack.

Armagedoid: 2100 (-600 -600 -200 -300) = 400 Frill Abis Omega: 700 (+200) = 900

Alto Brontes: 700

The reflected attack blitzed across the snow and exploded upon impact with Armagedoid. The impact made a dark purple light illuminate Luka's slash that Riaan blocked at the last second. As forceful as it was, the magnitude of both attacks did not deter them. Riaan's eyes glinted magenta before unleashing a blazing slash to drive Luke and Luka back into the lower shock of the explosion.

"Ability, activate!" Riaan crudely roared. "Oracle Cannon!"

The explosion diminished, revealing Armagedoid unfazed with his eight wings covered on one point. A dark energy began expanding into a hemisphere. He lurched his head back and roared violently. The hemisphere was fired in an intense beam across the battlefield. Once more, everything shuddered as the wake of the attack closed in on Brontes.

Armagedoid: 400 (+600) = 1000 Frill Abis Omega: 900

Alto Brontes: 700 (-600) = 100

The pulse of the attack rocked across the ground, but Luka managed to hold hi ground and remain stable. He was able to dodge Riaan's blade and doubled over onto a knee. He lifted his Bakumeter to show two abilities layered atop one another.

"Double ability, activate! Shining Nightmare, plus, Wizard Proxy!"

The roaring beam closed in on its targets, yet instead of Abis sliding in front, Brontes leaped overhead and created blades on his arms. He crossed them and took the immense beam head on.

Armagedoid: 1000 (-300) = 700 Frill Abis Omega: 900 (+300) = 1200

Alto Brontes: 100 (+400) = 500

Brontes yelped as his four arms took the attack, the force being so strong that he had trouble keeping footing. He was losing momentum, and fast.

Riaan's blade made its way towards Luke, but at the last second, Luka bypassed him and intercepted with a parry of his own. His foothold was firm as he dug his heels in.

"Brontes!" Abis was shocked at first, but he saw the golden borealis surging around his body. He loosened up as he felt the power drawn towards him. "Brontes…"

"Gnnngh…! Heads…up!"

Abis nodded. "Got it!"

Riaan pulled back and swung across with great force. Luka, as well as Brontes, did quick thinking and bent backwards. Brontes' blades shattered just in time too as their scattered remains reduced to dust. This left the beam and blade to continue after Abis and Luke, who were already prepared.

"Ability, activate! Daedalus Cyclone!"

The accents on Abis' frame shined bright blue as his maw opened. The broad energy beam drew closer, but was blocked and severed into many tiny beams that sprays elsewhere. The atmosphere behind Abis exploded into dozens of dark eruptions, but he paid no heed as the brunt of the cannon was overcome by a roaring leviathan head made of pressurized water. It surged in a vortex and pushed the attack back, meeting at a broad stalemate.

Armagedoid: 700 (-500) = 200 Frill Abis Omega: 1200 (+500) = 1700

Alto Brontes: 500

Luke's blade was the one to connect this time and prevent Riaan from impeding. The sudden collision caused a fallout in time that neither side processed. With their eyes met, they were so intently focused that Luka's sudden appearance almost surprised Riaan. He used Luke's back as a steppingstone and appeared in the air with his blade.

Armagedoid and Abis' attacks were causing the land beneath to shudder and vibrate. Darkness roared into a spiraling pressurized wave coming from the sea serpent behind.

"Persistent Bakugan…" Armagedoid muttered, eyes narrowing.

As he watched Abis' attack rage, a sudden break in the water shot something skywards. All wet, and yet surrounded by glossy sprays, Brontes posed. "Olly oxen free!"

"GRROOOAAH!" Armagedoid fiendishly howled at the surprise attack.

"Ability, activate!" Luka shouted. "Magic Dice!" Brontes created another large dice, which stopped on a "3" and created a long scythe made of pure light. His power level climbed towards 800 as he seized the weapon with one hand.

The two attacks below soon collapsed on each other, resulting in a large waterspout to swamp over the darkness. It swamped across the snow, sending the primary shock of the attack towards Armagedoid, as to where Abis used his frills to reduce any recoil drafts.

Luka came down at last, but instead of Riaan's head that he went for, the entity gritted his teeth and swatted Luke away, focusing a harsher slash to deflect Luka's blade. It succeeded, but Luka flipped through the air and landed on his heels forward and went into a diving charge.

"Ability, activate!" Riaan roared, eyes etched into Luka. "Fading Goliath!"

The massive spray shielded anyone from seeing what happened on the other side. However, there were several dark purple and hot pink stars glinting on the other side. The energy dispersed the wake as Armagedoid roared, unleashing seven starlight beams up at Brontes. This shot Armagedoid back to 700, while Brontes reduced to 300.

Abis and Luke saw their allies going for the interception each. As Brontes closed in with Luka, time drastically slowed down as the corners of their eyes peeked at them. Immediately they got it.

'Now!' All four readied as Luka's Bakumeter readied an ability of his own.

"PERISH!" Armagedoid's attack blazed into the midair Brontes, soaring with seven converged beams that pulsed skywards. A dark purple and pink eruption took up the skies and rippled outwards to create a smoke surge. Riaan brought his blade against Luka's again, this time coming to a stalemate. The ruthless efforts on both ends seemed like their opponents were done for.

"Hmph…haaaah!" Riaan pushed harder onto Luka, making his energy blade tilt farther away from him. Luka was starting to lose more momentum.

'He's a lot stronger when he's using both his hands to hold his sword.' Luka grunted in his thoughts. 'But still…'

The explosion in the sky diminished, showing Armagedoid what was happening. For once, the dragon seemed completely surprised by the show of Brontes falling down towards him, but he had a ghoul-like veil around him that showed no visible harm.

Armagedoid: 700 Frill Abis Omega: 300

Alto Brontes: 1700

Riaan looked ahead with mild bewilderment. He wondered where that attack came from, yet he picked up on it fast. He saw the ghouls surrounding Brontes were flowing from Abis down below. Immediately it clicked on him.

'I see. They activated Spirit Dominion to switch their allied power levels, since I was diverted onto Brontes at the time.' With that mental note, Riaan was almost blindsided when Luke jettisoned from above, coming down with his sword to impeded on Riaan's.

Armagedoid snarled as Brontes was coming down too fast. The dragon roared and swung his tail around, intercepting the scythe with the spear-like end. This caused an unintended breach that made Brontes backpedal and leap into the air. Armagedoid unleashed more starlight beams that glinted before blitzing after him.

"Now, Abis!" Brontes shouted.

"You got it, Luke!"

Understanding, Luke shot Riaan a fierce glare. "Ability activate, Mirror Shock!" Abis unfolded his frills and slipped into the air. With Brontes so close, he reached out his tail for one of Brontes' arms to seize. In a surprising show of dexterity, Brontes spiraled and whipped Abis towards his elevation, having him reached out and expand his frills to take the seven starlights and send them back with blue gloss.

But it didn't stop there. Once the attack ceased, Abis did a whiplash in a full circle, sending Brontes flying once he let go of his tail. The jester still had his scythe and he sailed into one of the star beams, integrating himself into the negative energy.

Armagedoid: 700 (-500 -500) = 0 Frill Abis Omega: 300 (+300) = 600

Alto Brontes: 1700 (+500 +500) = 2700

Armagedoid looked up with mild shock as the attack was barreling his way. Brontes was the middle star as he brought his energy scythe back and screamed with all his might. Luka did the same as he brought his blade down.

With a mighty battlecry, Both Bakugan and Vestal slashed as hard as they could into Riaan's blade and Armagedoid. Using his wings to block and the sword respectively, they fended against the mighty assault that hammered at them. The starbeams exploded against Armagedoid's frame, but he was retaining himself the best he could. Brontes and Luka screeched even louder in unison, pushing harder with their weapons.

"HRRAAAAHHH~!"

In a violent show of strength, the footholds beneath Riaan was beginning to deter. His feet started sliding back from Luka's surprising strength. 'What?!'

Armagedoid was trying his damnest to hold on, but Brontes with his scythe and darkness hammering at him refused to let up. His large black feet were losing ground fast, much to even his shock. With one final push, everything went white for a split second and blinked. A purple and yellow explosion rattled across the atmosphere, soaring immeasurable energy levels as Abis landed on the ground next to Brontes. Both Bakugan watched in anticipation as the quakes and pillar of energy was diminishing to reveal something that surprised even them.

Luke and Luka backed off after Luka's attack had shoved Riaan back. They looked just as surprised, but assured all the same.

As the atmosphere diminished to normal levels, a cold wind howled as a brighter blue illuminated the daybreak to come. The stars were gone, yet even the short, weak rays of the daybreak was enough to reveal their attack had shoved Armagedoid several feet across the snow. The black dragon still had his wings curled, but when he lifted his headpiece, he showed signs of annoyance. Riaan looked down at his feet, seeing he was also shoved back several feet.

Luke and Luka breathed heavily, as did their Bakugan. They were getting exhausted, but their determined glares weren't faltering in the slightest.

After a minute of processing, Riaan lowered his sword and chuckled, which grew into a laughter. The laughter made them tense up in confusion. "Well done. Brilliantly well done. You both have exceeded my expectations. You're proving to be more sporting than what I imagined." He brought his head back and laughed uproariously towards the cold night.

"Luka…" A bad feeling grew on Luke's spine.

Luka offered no response. Instead he glared daggers at Riaan.

He started settling down, composing himself enough to clear his throat. "My apologies. It seems that I have forgotten for what it means to really be alive for a moment. When you live for as long as I have, you can't exactly say being young is a virtue."

Luka was far from amused. "Laugh while you can. We're done messing with you."

The lightheartedness in Riaan's expression faded to a frown. "Yes, I can see that." He closed his eyes and paused. "And so are we with this battle. Time to end this. Ability, activate…Ambiguity!"

Armagedoid's eyes glinted dark purple. A pressure built up around him that caused the ground to shake beneath everyone. The palpitations arose higher, and harsher, until the dragon released a bloodcurdling screech towards the sky. His body flexed, unleashing powerful shockwaves that leveled the snow and shoved Abis and Brontes into the ground crudely. Their cries of pain were followed as Luke and Luka were blown back as well. All four slid and double over in the snow as the pulse waves continued running through the earth.

Armagedoid: 0 (+1500 +1700) = 3200 Frill Abis Omega: 600 (-300 +1400 -850) = 850

Alto Brontes: 2700 (-1000 -1400 -150) = 150

The shockwaves kept them all from getting up steadily. The force of the attack specifically was what made Abis' scales chip off. Parts of his slithery, scaly body were damaged superficially, while Brontes' andro-like figure had cracks running amongst it. They both grunted at how poorly in terms of condition they were.

"Guys…!" Luke's grunt had caught no wind of support. The Bakugan were all worn. 'It's no good. We'll have to nullify Ambiguity with Filter Cannon again…but he'll probably be expecting that.'

Catching wind of what the enemy might be thinking, Riaan reached down towards the battlefield. "Gate Card, open! Misty Solitude!"

The shockwaves receded, but in place of the Gate Card shining below. Abis and Brontes managed to stir back up, but the breather was short-winded when Brontes gasped.

"What is it?" Abis looked ahead, but he was left agape with the sudden change in background. Instead of Armagedoid, a cloudy yellow scene blanketed everything. The strange feeling that he had was gone too, much to even his own discomfort. "Where are we, Brontes?" He realized something else was off. He turned around, not seeing Luke nor Luka anywhere. "Luke? Luka?"

Brontes turned around, seeing no sign of their partners. "Okay, I admit it. As much as I love a good joke, right now, it ain't too funny."

"Luke? Are you there somewhere?" Abis looked out and called everywhere, but he received no response from the mystic yellow space. "Where are we…?"

In actuality, Abis and Brontes were turning left and right, seemingly off in their own worlds. It was like their focus had completely scattered. "Guys, what's wrong? Can you hear me?" Luke called out, but to no avail. "Guys!"

Riaan humbly scoffed at the pointless endeavor. "It's useless. Misty Solitude blocks them from the outside world, so they can't hear you. On top of which, they cannot activate abilities while under said influence. Now…" He turned towards Armagedoid. "Armagedoid, voice your opinion, between these two, who do you deem the most notorious?"

Armagedoid looked between Abis and Brontes, tampering based on experience. After a moment, he came to a conclusion. "Master, if I am allowed to say…I believe Aquos Frill Abis Omega."

Riaan smirked at the opinion made. He neither showed displeasure or disdain. "Very well then. Then for the trouble he's caused, do as you wish to him first."

"Absolutely."

A bad feeling crept up Luke's spine. He didn't know what it was, but he knew better than to take chances. "Not gonna happen!" He charged after Riaan along with Luka, but they were both a little too late.

"Ability, activate! Soul Capture!"

Armagedoid let out another powerful roar that shook the hemisphere. He flexed his wings and flapped them, sending a powerful gust that blew Luke and Luka back across the snow. The black dragon ascended over the ground, diving at Abis with another vicious screech as his bare claws reached down and fazed into Abis' body, primarily the chest.

The dragon landed on the ground, causing another harsh tremor to rock the snow. His hands had tiny distortion ripples emulating from them as he was digging into Abis' soul, crushing his inner mind.

"AAAAAHH!" Abis' physical and mental body convulsed as he screeched out in violent agony. He could feel something frigid cold, piercing, and hollow touch his chest. It felt like someone stopped halfway with a power saw inside his body.

Armagedoid: 3200 Frill Abis Omega: 850 (-600) = 250

Alto Brontes: 150

Armagedoid kept his grip tight inside Abis, making him squirm and sway his long tail everywhere. "Your struggles will only lead you down further pain." He pushed even further, making his tail straighten.

"AAAAAAHHHH!" Abis cried out in agony louder than before.

Riaan humbly frowned at his wickedness. "I'd prefer we didn't have to resort to such measures, but…such measures are necessary. This way you'll be prevented from activating abilities. Period."

Luka recovered from that earlier gust that blew him away. His body stirred up, though he was heavily winded. He didn't realize it, but the few slick locks he had now were a mess. He looked wrecked, as one would say. He looked at the scene with shock.

"Hey, get up!" He shouted to his side.

Luke stirred back up, but like Luka, he was winded. "What…happened?" He looked ahead, the scene aso snapping him out of his daze. "Abis Omega!"

Riaan saw the plight, but he offered no such remorse. "Life can be so cruel, can it? You work hard with someone whom you've trusted, and they end up failing you in the end. Luka, do you remember this card? Back when we were in Troposphere, I'm sure you're aware of such errors."

Luke shot Riaan a contemptuous glare of hate. "Riaan…!"

Luka turned towards Luke. "Forget about it. Don't try to get mad, it'll just make things worse." He turned towards the situation. "Listen, we need to act fast. Abis Omega won't last long under that influence."

Luke furrowed his brow. "Okay, so what do you have in mind?"

After a solemn pause, Luka answered. "I know how this might work. If Brontes can hear me, we should snap him out in time. I just need you to keep him occupied."

"Got it."

"Good." Luka darted for Brontes. "Just save some for me, you dreck!" He shouted in the distance.

Luke nodded in understanding. "Don't worry…I will." He looked ahead at Abis, who was yelping and aching on the ground in agony. The black dragon snarled over him. 'Hang on Abis, we'll fix this.' He picked up his sword and went charging at Riaan, prepared to take him on.

He smirked. "Very courageous of you. Come, and face your former Master!"

Luka turned to face what he had to work with. Thankfully since Brontes didn't move around while paranoid he could get to his feet. He looked up at him with an uncertain eye. He knew Brontes couldn't her him afar, so he had to try up close.

"Brontes! Down here! Hey!" He called up to him, hoping that it would invoke some form of response. But alas, even after shouting, Brontes looked ahead uncertain. Luka had to act fast.

Looking down at Brontes' heel, he knew one way to bring him out. He lifted his energy sword overhead, poising for a strike. "Nothing personal." With haste, he slashed into Brontes' heel, causing an immediate reaction.

"OW!" The giant clown flinched. "I think something just bit me!"

"BRONTES! DOWN HERE!" Luka shouted.

Brontes looked down, hearing something of a faint echo. "Heh…?" He looked down in the general direction where Luka was. He couldn't tell immediately, but something was off.

"Guess once wasn't enough…" Luka sighed. Hardening his gaze, he lifted his arm and brought the blade down again, this time harder.

"GAH!" Brontes flinched at the pain he endured. A realization dawned upon him. "L-Luka…?"

"BRONTES! LISTEN TO ME! SEND YOUR MAGIC INTO ME! DO IT!" Luka shouted. "ARE YOU LISTENING?! SEND IT INTO ME!"

There was a moment of silence between them. Luka wanted – needed – him now more than ever. Too much was going on right now, but alas, Brontes was giving him a blank look. This discouraged him.

"Brontes…"

After a long pause, Brontes' hand moved towards Luka. The action made his eyes widened. "Brontes? You-!"

In a bright flash, Brontes' eyes gleamed into Luka's, making both their worlds go black.

---

Luka opened his eyes in a flash. His mind was once again drawing a blank. Looking around, he realized that he was inside the back of his own mind, which was a black void-like mindscape. Accompanying him was none other than Brontes, who, like Luka, seemed momentarily startled, but was quick to rebound. Both gazed at each other before the silence became too awkward.

The first to break it was Luka, scoffing. "Tch, sure took you long enough."

"You didn't have to hit me, you know." Brontes whined. "That actually stung me a little."

"It was the only way I figured would snap you back to reality." Luka reasoned. "We need to pull together and get back into the battle, and fast."

"Oh, I'm down for that." Brontes chimed. "I wanna make that bozo lizard pay as much as you do, my friend."

Luka meekly huffed. That's something that he didn't think would click so keenly with Brontes, nee, himself. He hardly thought of anyone s a friend. An acquaintance, sure. Allies, most definitely. But to the extent of actual friendship…well, that was complicated. He wasn't sure where to go with this. He figured he was in it for just the two of them, just him and Brontes. Now he was actually having others doing work for him. He felt so helpless that it was frustrating.

"Luka…" Brontes moved to say something, but a light started shimmering in their mind heading their way.

Luka gasped at the vague source. He stared wide-eyed at its expanding range heading right for him. The light carried with it a familiar warmth.

'This is…'

The light continued reaching out towards them, but instead of remaining stiff, Luka furrowed his brow and reached out for the light in turn. His hand glowed, along with the rest of him and Brontes.

The settings softened to a retrospective. It showed Luka blinking several times before he and Brontes realized they were in some room with a window open, but there wasn't anyone present as far as they could see.

'This is…my room. Back when I was young.'

Brontes looked over and gasped at something. Luka followed, his own eyes widening at his vision. It was him, but he was at a younger age, and very much alone. His head was down and he was on his bed, looking up at the ceiling meaningless. The only source of light was the sunlight from outside. He looked to be depressed, and worse of all…alone.

'Is that me?' Luka stared in wonder of this illusion. He looked at Brontes, who looked at him quizzically. If it wasn't him, then was it his own conscience toying with him? Why of all times? He was supposed to be in a battle, but something seemed mystic about this that he couldn't help but feel concerned. Seeing his cold face like that, it made him feel unapproachable. And yet, it was him. It was an awkward situation at best.

The boy didn't seem to notice the two strangers in his room. He just stared at the window aimlessly.

Sighing, Luka empathetically approached his past figment. His footsteps with his head high. "It's a cruel fate, isn't it? Thinking you're past something when in reality, it's always been there like your shadow."

The younger Luka tensed up. "Go away."

Luka frowned heavier. He calmly walked over towards the bedside and sat staring at the wall. "Why are you waiting? You know they're not coming back, right?"

"I know…it's just…I miss them. It's hard getting by without them."

Luka empathized with what his past-self was saying. In some sense, he could tell it had to do with the others he's befriended, but really it was involved with his parents' deaths. The memories of them and the accident were as clear as crystal to him. He scoffed.

"Yeah, you would think."

"How do you do it? How did you survive this long alone?" the younger version murmured. "I guess…it's better to be alone anyway…" He lowered his head in regret.

Luka lowered his head, his head churning at thoughts.

"Because I wanna save you, too! And if a battle is what it takes to save just one person, that'll be more than worth it! That's your logic, isn't it?"

Memories of what Luke told him resurfaced in his imaginary head. He could tell where this was going.

"You're…wrong. I'm not aiming…to survive." He lifted his head, giving Luka what could've been his most serious glare yet. "I want to live my life."

A bleak shadow covered Luka's eyes from the imaginary Vestal world. He was starting to rethink the way things should've been. His ideals were so transfixed on surviving without anyone there. It's been that way for a while now. It's pretty much second-nature to him at this point.

"…so tell me." Luka muttered. "You like doing things alone?"

"Yeah. I can get by all by myself." Younger Luka looked back at him. "What about you?"

He looked down. "…hmph. It's not as fun as you think it is, kid. It's hard having to rely on yourself in a world that moves on without you."

"…" Younger Luka faced the window in silence.

"You know, someone once told me, that it's better to live your life than worry if you can make it to the next. I thought he was crazy and delusional…" He thought about the way their swords clashed in their final battle. "It took me a while for me to understand what he meant by that."

Younger Luka looked back at him. "Did you try to drive that person away?"

"…I drew everyone away." He sighed again to himself. Another memory flourished back when Shawn wanted to go back for Luke.

"This guy may be more help, but that idiot you're making fun of knows more about loyalty than anyone I know. Whether it's misguided or not. I learned a lot more from the mistakes he wasn't willing to learn from to be who I am right now. I need to be there…because Luke's the one person I will go anywhere with."

Luka scoffed with an impish grin. "It's ironic, isn't it? The people that you drive away end up becoming part of you…" He raised his head. "It's…not as bad as I thought it'd be."

"Better than worrying about your own life?" Younger Luka fret. "I wanna see tomorrow's sunrise again! How do you expect me to enjoy it when I should be worrying about getting sleep, or finding stuff to eat around here?!"

Luka flashed a smirk over his shoulder. "That's the thing."

Younger Luka gasped.

"It's okay…even Darkus has a bright side to it. Even Darkus Bakugan can embrace the light. Embracing things that you're vulnerable to, it's what will help you realize what kind of person you are."

The words of Esther were now sunk into his head. His gaze softened on himself to where they looked almost completely different. The look made Brontes seem all but touched. "Luka…"

"Maybe you shouldn't try to worry. After all, at some point, you'll realize you need others as much as they need you. That's what it means to have a friend I guess."

Younger Luka scoffed. "I don't need friends."

"I thought so, too…but they're the reason why I'm here today. They pulled me out of the shadows, even when I didn't want to be. I don't think I could live the way they can without them. No, I wouldn't have…" He stood up and faced his counterpart with a serious expression. "You just need to learn to reach out to them when you think they need it."

Younger Luka gave his older-self a scowl. "Well I don't need to. What makes you think I deserve this anyway-?!" The younger frame went completely stiff when his older form slowly drew in and gave him something he never thought he would ever get. Arms slowly wrapped around his back, the gloves lacing into his back as a body hugged him tightly. The younger self didn't know what to say, let alone feel.

The awkwardness between them had turned bittersweet, and Luka was sincerely smiling.

"It won't be easy kid, believe me. I…was never good at expressing myself. But at least this way, I can say that you're someone I learned a lot from just now. But right now, I need to see that the idiots I've seen so much of get to see that sunrise, too."

The kid's eyes began misting up. This foreign feeling in his eyes was something that even his older-self was having in his misty eyes.

"I won't be easy kid, but try to reach out…even if it's just a little. Who knows? Maybe you'll actually find something you've been missing out on."

Brontes looked at the scene with sentiments. Luka looked back at him with a meek smile of his own. Under normal means Brontes would've gone sarcastic on him, but just because this was Luka, he was willing to make an exception.

"When you make your first friends, promise me something…" Luka's embrace tightened. "No matter how long you have left in your life…remember you're you because of them."

A tear shed down Younger Luka's cheek. With a twitch, his arms lifted, and he embraced Luka back. His little arms wrapped tightly around his torso to create a warmth between them.

"…Okay." A light started shining from the Younger Luka, beginning to permeate throughout the dark bedroom of the abandoned household, casting away its darkness. "Thank you."

Luka smiled back as he and Brontes were enveloped in the light. "Yeah…good luck, kid. It's gonna be a bumpy ride…but enjoy it while you can."

…

The once dark mindscape was now nothing but the serene visage of Haos, with crystals shimmering around them. The bright glow that illuminated Luka's face made him open his eyes. "Brontes…" His body glowed a bright aura. "I believe we've kept them waiting long enough."

Brontes' eyes glowed bright yellow as his body took on a Hos aura. The jest let out a prominent shout that beamed everywhere, turning the mindscape to a heavenly white.

---

Metal clashed as Luke and Riaan were in a relentless parry with each other. With two hands on his blade, Riaan was relentless and deflected each shot Luke furiously unleashed. Luke went for more abrupt flash, but it resulted in Riaan outmaneuvering him, earning him a slash across the left shoulder.

"Gnngh…!" Luke flinched at the wound sustained. He bunted the blade in time to avoid the direct blow from one more slash, but it drove him into the snow. He laid on his side, using his right hand to cover up the small cut.

Riaan towered over him, his gaze almost mocking. "I applaud you for your growth since the manor. You've done well…but now…" He raised his blade, bringing it down on Luke.

Eyes wide open, Luka managed to get the flat end of his blade up to bunker the blow from cleaving his chest. However, he was pinned completely, and by no means was Riaan's strength letting up.

"…it's time for you all to know, just what it means to feel like failures."

Luke's strength was starting to wear down. The prolonged battle and Abis screeching was all he could hear. He looked back, seeing Abis' eyes roll to the back of his head slowly. Armagedoid, like Riaan, were suppressing the inferior attributes with all they had. And they couldn't fight back. It'd only be a matter of time.

'Abis…guys…I-!'

A sudden pulse of pressure rattled the atmosphere before several flashes of light burst towards Armagedoid. The incoming ray of golden compressed energy ignited the atmosphere and made him let go of Abis in order to shield himself. The tremendous explosion expelled golden light skywards, swallowing everything in a crisp shine.

"What?!" Armagedoid used his wings to shield the golden cannon-like beam, but he was swallowed in an attack that looked like his Oracle Cannon. The eruptive was enough to cause him to shift focus and let go of Abis to get his arms up behind his wings.

The bright refraction of light caught by surprise. He stepped back and was slashed by an energy blade that made him step back further. It glided promptly, almost grazing his face. Riaan stepped away to allow Luke to ease himself.

Sitting up, Luke blinked at the realization. "What just…! Abis!"

The serpent's eyes rolled back to normal and he let out a loud inhale. He took in a large amount and breathed to get back to normal. "What just happened…?" He coughed. "That pain in my chest…where was…!" A golden glow got his hazed attention.

Luke looked up to see the glow as well, and it was coming from behind. Riaan and Armagedoid looked over to see what was happening.

A shining glow cascaded around Brontes as he stood tall. He retained his cynical smirk as his entire body was crackling in bright static. His already cracked frame was leaking out energy from his earlier Deathly Mimicry that was Oracle Cannon.

Armagedoid: 3200 (-1800) = 1400 Frill Abis Omega: 250

Alto Brontes: 150 (+1800) = 1950

The snow beneath Brontes was glistening as the particles crackled like lightning. They continuously popped around Brontes, absorbing into the cracks in his body. He stood tall as he got brighter, much to Abis and Luke's shock.

"Brontes…you're…"

The clown cackled as he was taking in power, his power drastically rising as the land shuddered beneath. Armagedoid used his headpiece to block out most of the light, but that didn't make it any less discomforting for him or Riaan.

"Luka, are you and Brontes then…!" Luke gasped.

Luka raised his sword, acknowledging the claim as he stood before his Bakugan. "Brontes!"

"Let's show them…" He spread his legs, summoning a large swell of light that expelled from his body outwards. The snow beneath swirled in a maelstrom of light that funneled into the sky, turning into a helix that rippled outwards.

Riaan, Luke, Abis, and Armagedoid gazed at the spectacle. They looked down at their Bakumeters, witnessing Brontes' power shooting up slowly. 1954…2000…2050…And it it kept climbing. The familiar sensation was giving Luke and Abis specifically a sense of déjà vu as they gazed into the heart of the light pillar illuminating the night sky.

'Luka…you and Brontes are…'

The amazement in both their eyes only mounted as the pillar of swirling light started fading from the altitude. The glow was only a hemisphere of swirling light that whisked Luka's locks in the cold breeze. Luka's drapes flowed in the breezes, yet his face and frame looked completely relaxed and dead serious.

Behind him, the radiating cloud of light faded, revealing Brontes. The Bakugan looked as tall as he was before, if not just a few more feet. His headpiece that had two pointed ends had completely morphed into a jester-like headpiece that was purple. The top pointed end had a yellow diamond-like center that went up towards the top to a broader diamond. Behind his head were long drapes that came down in a fashion much like hair would down towards midway of the body. His upper body-like chest area had gotten smaller, but also sturdier with a silver ring outlining the bright yellow core. Around the core were four small yellow circles with thick outlines; two on each side. The immensely broad shoulders had been completely reduced, instead large yellow hoops were where the arms jointed out from. Brontes had gained another set of arms, making six total that were had purple bulbous accents on the forearms leading up to the purple hands. Each hand had a huge yellow ring on the wrist. The underside of the forearms had black, which went down to the concave lower-half of the chest area. It dove towards the very core of Brontes, which completely separated his upper and lower body, making it a gravitational core. The core looked more cannon-based with a dark purple, negative void inside the opening, to rival the light core on the chest. The lower half had a golden ring beneath the core to keep it in place. A small coat of black was on the concave part, which curved out towards the rest of the white lower-half, where several yellow circles with accents outlining them were present. The legs were primarily white with wavy purple accents outlining the bulbous yellow markings, which made three; the middle being the largest. The knees were separated from the shins via a dark purple core comprised of gravity magic, much like the core. Purple accented the lower-half of the shins down towards the pointed yellow shoes Brontes had.

Armagedoid was barely buffered by the wake of the light, but it did give him overwhelming shock. "Master…our enemy! They…!"

Riaan kept a straight face as the winds breezed through his hair. He looked ahead with his own serious disposition.

Luke stood on his two feet again, holding his left tricep. He saw the light flares ignite Luka to give his green eyes a bigger shine to them. They were still serious, in fact, he looked better than ever.

"Unbelievable…" Abis mumbled. "Brontes…evolved."

Luka snorted low. "Guess this is the payoff after all." He turned towards Riaan. "Guess I should introduce you…to Haos Paradox Brontes."

Alto Brontes – now changed to Paradox Brontes – stretched his six arms, allowing the six golden rings to jingle on his wrists.

Armagedoid: 1400 Frill Abis Omega: 250

Paradox Brontes: 2150

"Paradox…Brontes." Luke repeated the phrase as he stared up at the Bakugan. He definitely looked the part of abnormal to borderline paranormal.

"Hey, dreck." He looked ahead at Luka, who walked up to him. Though his glare was still fixated on Riaan. "Can you still fight back?"

Managing to get over his initial shock, Luke nodded. "Yeah."

"That's good. I'd be a real drag if I didn't show my appreciation of cutting this bastard down." He took a poise to ready his strike. "Now then, I believe we have business we have to settle. Don't we?"

Riaan furrowed his brow, smirking. "Yes…I agree."

Brontes' star-shaped eyes glistened bright yellow. He glared at Armagedoid, the black dragon snarling back with his hands up. He wasn't gripping Abis, but he was still atop him with one foot pinning the serpent down. But due to Misty Solitude, Abis' vision was hazy between the real world and fake one, as shown with his hazy irises.

"Evolved as you are, that only proves how determined you are." Riaan scoffed. "If you insist on rectifying us and our misdeeds, prove it. We're ready."

Armagedoid swayed his tail around. "Absolutely."

"Then what are you standing there?" Luka raised his blade. "Come at us!"

"If you humbly insist." Riaan activated an ability. "Armagedoid, let's correct this miscalculation of ours. Ability activate, Oracle Cannon!" The black dragon converged his eight wings to create another dark energy blast. When he was ready, he faced Paradox Brontes and took a deep breath.

With a violent roar, the blistering beam shot after him, tearing apart the snow beneath and barreled into the illuminating Bakugan.

Armagedoid: 1400 (+600) = 2000 Frill Abis Omega: 250

Paradox Brontes: 2150 (-600) = 1550

Brontes made no attempt to dodge. Instead, he glared ahead with glowing eyes.

Luka held up his Bakumeter, showing an ability that shined dark purple. "Ability, activate! Ninth Circle!"

Brontes spread out his arms and made intricate hand signs with each individual palm. The hands formulated into a perfect circle with the hands as the axis. A dark purple magic seal appeared in front, taking in and neutralizing Armagedoid's ability to nothing.

"There's more where that came from." Brontes extended the power across the snowy ground. As the beam dispersed in the circle, a much larger magic circle spun beneath everyone's feet. The Gate Card's glow dispersed, and the haze and pressure Abis had endured from Armagedoid's Soul Capture was lifting. It gave his chest the relief it needed.

Armagedoid: 2000 (-500) = 1500 Frill Abis Omega: 250 (+600) = 850

Paradox Brontes: 1550 (+600 +500) = 2650

Everyone watched the effects of the ability happen along the battlefield and emanated a dark aura along Brontes. The jester smirked maliciously as he felt the Darkus power emulate extremely.

Luke gasped at the epiphany dropped. 'Wait, was that a Darkus Ability we saw? But I thought Brontes was Haos.'

"Paradox Brontes is a Haos Bakugan. But he's also gained the Darkus attribute as well, which means he's now able to use Haos and Darkus at the same time." Luka explained. "You have your little negative energy to thank for that, Riaan."

Riaan raised a brow. "How investing. A Bakugan with two attributes. Very well then, let's see what else you can do."

Armagedoid cautiously got off and returned to his original spots. His tail smacked the ground to signal he was ready to go. Abis slowly got up as Brontes stepped to his side. The serpent slowly arose and looked at his empowered partner.

"Abis, shall we tango? I hope that you're ready to dance…with death." The psycho clown teased.

Gathering his second wind, Abis grunted. "Yeah, I'm ready. I can keep up."

"Good. It'd be a shame if I had to wear you as a belt."

Riaan's eyes lit up. "It seems that the real battle…has only just begun!"

'This is it. This time, we're really going to battle it through.' Luka thought about his past-self, making his grip tighten. 'This time…we're fighting better than for ourselves!' He poised with Luke, with his grip in the right, and Luke's in his left. "Now, go!"

"Right back at ya!" Luke followed his comrade towards Riaan. For the umpteenth time, they charged into battle to engage in a series of parries. This time Riaan was kept on his toes.

"Ability, activate!" Luke yelled. "Daedalus Cyclone!" Abis hissed as the accents on his body ignited. His frills flexed as he lurched back as moisture and vapor transcended into liquified water that compressed into a swirling leviathan-shaped beam. With a loud cry, he shot it across the snow after Armagedoid.

Luka was next, though this time, the ability was yellow to signal Haos. "Ability, activate! Judgement Proxy!" The six rings on Brontes' wrists dislodged and floated off and into the air around him. The rings expanded, and in each one, a light flash before he reached out, sending six beams of light at the monster.

Armagedoid: 1500 (-500 -500) = 500 Frill Abis Omega: 850 (+500) = 1350

Paradox Brontes: 2650 (+500) = 3150

The two attacks came his way, but Armagedoid stood his ground and reached out his hands. The swirling cyclone of water and brazen beams made full impact with intention to push him back, but he snarled and held firm to the snow. That was, until the combined might and brightness of the beams made him deter, losing a few feet in his traction.

Luke and Luka unleashed a barrage of tandem swipes that were making Riaan parry relentlessly. It was hard-pressed, but he was holding his ground the best he could. Luka suddenly stabbed, causing Riaan to use the flat end to shield and deflect. "Ability, activate! Ambiguity!" Armagedoid withstood the attack and expelled a distorted dark shockwave that rumbled the landscape and stretched far. Dark seismic waves spread cracks beneath the depressed snow and spouted after Abis and Brontes, the two covering up as the shockwaves rushed past them.

Armagedoid: 500 (+500 +500 + 2300) = 3800 Frill Abis Omega: 1350 (-500 -450) = 400

Paradox Brontes: 3150 (-500 -1350) = 1300

The pulse waves continued pouring out nonstop, even managing to shove Abis back, but Brontes was standing firm. He moved in front of Abis to prepare his next assault.

Luka broke his blade off against Riaan's, making time slow between their standstill. With a searing gaze full of depth, Luka prepared another ability, this one being Darkus. "Ability, activate! Loke Miracle!"

Brontes' eyes flashed dark purple this time. As he held out during the blast waves, the dark gravity core on his center started glowing, as did the purple accents all over his body. He expelled a dark purple, sparkly mist from his body and pushed it ahead into the shockwaves. They slithered and snaked their way around and surrounded Armagedoid, obscuring his vision.

"What's this?" he questioned.

Meanwhile, the dragon was unaware that a layer of dark purple flared up beneath Brontes. It enveloped his body in a Darkus aura, giving his body a lurch that expelled a distorted gravity wave that enhanced his powers higher than before.

A similar wave snaked towards Abis, allowing him to feel the power climb as a surge of strength gave him a drastic boost. His startle turned to a roaring domination as his own power level shot to where a similar disruption of vapor caused his bodily accents to shine with flowing force.

Armagedoid: 3800 (-2500) = 1300 Frill Abis Omega: 400 (+3400) = 3800

Paradox Brontes: 1300 (+2500) = 3800

The magically mist clouded up Armagedoid, but he was far from enthused by this, as was Riaan. Brilliantly defending himself with successful and swift parries, he pushed back Luke in a slide, while Luka found the chance to swoop in and come down to slash. Riaan parried said blow, and deflected Luka overhead and watched him double over onto a knee and pivot to slice up as he did down. Both their swords bounced off each other, leaving the opening for Luke to take behind. With a violent cry, he did a swipe. Riaan caught him at the corner of his eye and pivoted into full circle, battering away Luka and Luke at the same time. They slid back, but they immediately darted back into the fray.

Luka was a little faster as he brought his blade back. 'Wear them down to where you have an opening!' Another ability shined, this one being Darkus and Haos with the light fusion it produced. Ability, activate! Purgatory Mania!"

Brontes stood his ground as the dark aura around his body swirled into the dark core. The core ignited in a dark light, while the chest core generated a bright light. The clown balled his six fists and held firm as two beams of dark and light erupted across the domain.

Armagedoid: 1300 Frill Abis Omega: 3800

Paradox Brontes: 3800 (+1500) = 5300

'Purgatory Mania adds 500 Gs for each Darkus and Haos Bakugan on the battlefield.' Luka thought promptly, deflecting another slash. 'Brontes now counts as both, which means he gains 1000 Gs automatically. You brought this onto yourself, Riaan.'

The dark and bright beams blazed and fused into one. They ripped through the mist surrounding Armagedoid and he took shocked as he was facing a swirling dark light spiral. He was struck hard, the attack swallowing him and pushing him back. The shockwaves of the attacks went well past him, picking up mounds of dirt, rock, and snow from the land beneath.

Armagedoid narrowed his eyes as he tried keeping it together, but the force was driving his one heel backwards. "Is that your best?!"

The eager look on Riaan's face brightened. "Fascinating. Ability, activate! Satanic Suppression!" Armagedoid dug in his heels and his chest core brightened. All the power Brontes unleashed was fiercely drawn into Armagedoid instead, allowing him to retain his footing and crane his head around. While Brontes reduced back to 3800, Armagedoid bolted up to 2800.

Brontes grunted, but Abis was just as amazed with Brontes' abilities as he was with the fact he was starting to push harder than usual. 'What power…'

The assault of swift blades and tandem attacks didn't recede, but Riaan still had momentum on his side as he went for the attack. "Double ability, activate! Photon Dragonia, plus Black Ripple!" Armagedoid's body lurched as several negative orbs sparked around his space. His arms swayed up and then came down as negative dragonfire roared outwards. A dark rippling shockwave exploded outwards in all directions to help expand the dragonfire's range.

Armagedoid: 2800 (+600 +500) = 3900 Frill Abis Omega: 3800 (-500) = 3300

Paradox Brontes: 3800 (-500) = 3300

The blistering shockwaves drew closer to them, and Abis was more than ready to take it. He flexed his frills, knowing what he had to do. But suddenly Brontes stepped up. "Let me, my friend." He raised his arms. "Consider this, my pleasure."

Luka avoided he sparks of the grinding metal and activated a Haos ability. "Ability, activate! Pantomime!"

Brontes separated all six of his arms and aligned them in a familiar fashion. His fingers bent and each hand held a different variant of bent fingers and outstretched thumbs. The draconic shade of darkness heading right for him was his target. All his fingers twitched at the exact same time, and remotely froze the attack, like time itself had stopped around it. He twitched his fingers in a different manner and the shockwaves returned to sender.

"Luke, now!" Abis shouted, given the opening they needed.

"Yeah, you're right!" Luke deflected another harsh swing. "Ability, activate! Tidal Flash!" Abis' body surged another vicious torrent of water that steadily arose and shot outwards. The snow flooded with a large wake that followed the darkness returning to Armagedoid.

Armagedoid: 3900 (-600 -600 -500 -500) = 1700 Frill Abis Omega: 3300 (+500 +400) = 4200

Paradox Brontes: 3300 (+500 +500) = 4300

Riaan's patience was wearing thin. He parried his foes in swift fashion, but as Luke was deflecting, Luka was in a vile frenzy. He was barely evading his calculated and harsh jabs of his blade. All he could do right now was defend.

"Ability activate, Eternity Screen!" Armagedoid's body flashed his reflective armor shield just before the darkness and tidal waves came swamping down onto him. His power level returned to 3900 as the assault was completely barricaded. The residual of the attack surged in a violent dark maelstrom that continuously battered away at the barrier, until it faded away.

"Did you forget about my Eternity Screen so soon?!" Riaan's tone was uproarious as he slashed, parrying a stalemate with Luka. Their eyes were locked on each other. "So now I ask you, what will you do now?!"

Luka could feel the snow losing traction beneath him, but he refused to falter. He kept his strength up as he seared his eyes into Riaan's. "The same that you do…take something valuable of your own!"

"Oh, I'm gonna enjoy this!" Brontes raised his arms to prepare his next move.

A Haos ability radiated around Luka's Bakumeter. "Ability, activate! Dimension Revolver!"

Brontes' eyes glowed brightly as his wrist rings shined brightly. Their surroundings had completely turned to something that looked similar to space, though there was a sense of gravity beneath them. Stars twinkled all around them as makeshift planets moved in a circle around them, like they were in orbit.

Armagedoid noticed something strange as the starlight and planets revolved around them. The faster they moved, the less the shield around him showed. Instead, it was Brontes who showed the ability shield around his frame.

'He completely swapped abilities effects onto his Bakugan now.' Riaan's observation was short-winded when Luka's blade nearly grazed his nose line. He leaned back to avoid it just in the nick of time. He was thus kicked in the chest, causing a stammer back. The sudden press of pain made him look back at Luka, who was giving him a dead serious glare.

Riaan and Armagedoid both snarled at their goes.

"Luke…" Luka paused. "…let's finish this."

Luke nodded, giving a flare in his eyes like Luka. "Yeah."

Riaan raised his blade. "Come at me with everything you've got!"

"No mercy, Brontes!"

The avengers of everyone went charging at them with everything they had, meeting their foes at lightning fast interceptions and swift reflexes. Luke and Abis were carrying the support, but Luka and Brontes were at the forefront with as much gusto as them, if not more. They fearlessly took on the menaces as they deflected with swords, tails, and wings of their own. They spiraled behind in unison to get strikes in, and sure enough, two kicks where Riaan and Armagedoid failed to deflect buffered them forward. Paradox Brontes reappeared in front Luke magic to deliver an uppercut, then a series of volley fists to disillusion the dragon. It was a continual evasion and speedily barrage that no one kept up with, not even Luke and Abis, though they did distract Riaan and Armagedoid by getting close. Brontes and Luka took the opening and gave them a surprise attack. The enemy slashed, but were overwhelmed with them reappearing above.

"Double ability, activate!" Luka cried, a Darkus glowing from the card. "Lunatic Cell, plus Fusion Ability, Divine End!"

Brontes' rings glowed dark purple and enlarged to almost triple their size to make size large loops of dark energy. The bright chest core ignited and made the light bulbous accents on his legs shine. They went down to his legs, giving him a tremendous speed boost as he barreled at Armagedoid.

Armagedoid: 3900 (-500) = 3400 Frill Abis Omega: 4200

Paradox Brontes: 4300 (+500) = 4800

At the speed of light, Brontes came down and slashed his six dark loops into Armagedoid, driving enough power to explode on his wings and make him howl. To even the dragon's shock, he was shoved back further than expected.

Luka slashed down, making even Riaan slide backwards a few feet. He and Armagedoid recovered and looked ahead, watching their evolved enemies with something that could be similar to anger, but a mix of envy. The rush they were feeling, it was starting to make their nerves jolt with a fury.

At the same time, Riaan and Armagedoid let out shout shouts as Luka and Brontes beamed after them to engage in another round.

Battlecries echoed across the battlefield as snow churned beneath Brontes. His dark hoops were lengthened as he jettisoned into and around Armagedoid's tail, grazing his side in the process. He jumped to avoid the tail's reversal and came down with two hoops on the headpiece, which bounced off. Abis found the breakage to get between them and snap his jaws on Armagedoid's neck. He started constricting and brought coils around, but the dragon expelled another shockwave to pried Abis and sent him into Brontes. Using telekinesis to stop him in midair, Brontes bypassed and broke the gap in a slide. He slashed at the dragon nonstop with the dark hoops as he defended with wings. Brontes brought one hoop across; one that Armagedoid decided to get physical with and violently backhanded, knocking the hoop out of his grip. The dragon released negative dragonfire that Brontes jumped back and skid across the snow at Mach speed thanks to Divine End's magical boost. The dragon blaze sailed after him, but unlike when he was Alto Brontes, he was far more agile and acrobatic. When the blaze got too close, he jumped high into the air, flinging two loops to dispel the flames. When they dispersed, he dove through and kicked the dragon across the face with a glowing heel to deter him towards the left.

Riaan's swipes were getting more brutal. As powerful and skilled as he was, Luka was leading eth tandem as Luke followed. The thrusts and sheer might were starting to slow him down enough to where the light in Luka's eyes were crystal clear to him.

A cloud of snow vanished and Armagedoid roared out. He spewed dragonfire again, but Brontes had Eternity Screen, allowing him to rush through without delay. The tactic frustrated Armagedoid, but he didn't have the luxury to savor when Abis' coils from behind took him by surprise. He was anchored in place by the serpent pinning his wings, despite how much smaller he was in stature. He was vulnerable as Brontes beamed in, unleashing the last three hoops that sped and exploded into Armagedoid. The shockwaves of the attack uncoiled Abis, carrying him back away to safety. Brontes ziplined past him in a Haos blur, diving clean through the explosion to meet Armagedoid's look of shock when he spiral kicked him across the other side of his face, creating another explosion that erupted land beneath.

Both Riaan and Armagedoid were swept up by the fault in this attack and leaned back. All their momentum, as well as their attacks, weren't doing anything…but weren't down yet.

This fight, it was having far more meaning to it deep down than what they realized. Both sides could feel the desperation and strife in the other's actions. The ambition and loneliness in Riaan's life was a shadow of what Luka saw in himself. But these were two warriors who were on the same spectrum, but at different ends. While Riaan had someone from the beginning, they left him alone. Luka on the other was alone to begin with, but others came to his life. The side of light and the side of dark. One was brought a light in his darkness, and the other's light left him in the dark. The fact that their Bakugan were Haos and Darkus fighting was that very symbol. The shadows in which Luka lived in were now art of his light, a light that he will now use to the last of his life for others.

With furious battlecries, Riaan and Luka met in one more stalemate. Armagedoid roared and pushed back against Bronte's shield, actually managing to keep him from advancing. They were at a stalemate as well.

One side had to give in, but they needed a little push to get there. That's when Luka and Abis stepped in. "Ability, activate! Storm Drain!"

Despite the distance, Abis let out a shriek into the air. He created a large sum of water that whirled around him and expanded outwards. The swirling typhoon swept across and raised his power to 4500, while bypassing Brontes and swallowing Armagedoid, leveling him down to 3100.

With Armagedoid immobilized for a moment, he was blindsided when Brontes took one final leap into the daybreak sky.

Riaan was broken away when Luke suddenly pinned his sword with all his will, allowing him to look up as Luka took one final leap and brought his sword back.

'Now…time to finish this!' One final ability shined bright yellow. "Ability, activate…Asura Warlock!"

As time came to a gradual halt, Brontes' six arms took one more stance. In midair, the joints bent and he manifested six light swords with curved bladed edging. Behind him was the illusion of Asura, a demon god with six arms that held blades in a similar fashion. The afterimage of Asura followed Brontes as he sailed down towards Armagedoid with all six light swords.

Armagedoid: 3100 (-600) = 2500 Frill Abis Omega: 4500

Paradox Brontes: 4800 (+600) = 5400

Luka and Brontes came down with a familiar brightness in their eyes. For the last time, the image of his dark room vanishing into light reflected in Luka's eyes. "This is it! RIAAN~!"

In a furious slash of blades, Luke and Brontes slashed their respective foes at the same time. They passed them in a split second, with the latter's Asura image behind slashing and fading. Moments later, the light swords faded and Brontes kneeled as a star made of six slash marks appeared and cut into the dragon. Armagedoid's cries of anguish were hollowed out by an explosion of light. Luka posed as well, whereas Riaan gagged.

The light faded, revealing Brontes and Luka still posing. Slowly, they stood up and looked back. They watched as their opponents stood still for a moment…then in a miracle, Riaan clutched his side where Luka slashed.

Armagedoid remained still as well…but then one of his knees collapsed into the snow. That final blow did some damage.

"Heh." Brontes beamed.

"Amazing…" Abis awed.

Luke stood completely still. He looked at Luka with disbelief at that. "He…he finally got him." He never thought he'd see it. Riaan was a master with the sword. Never in his time with him has he ever been able to land a successful blow on him. This was the first time he's seen him visibly get wounded.

Riaan winced. He gripped his right torso and could feel his Interacian blood ooze. However, he was more on the revelation of being struck as he did. This left him visibly impressed. "To think that the day would come when I would be wounded in battle. I'd half-expect it from Luke. But you…"

Luka stood promptly up, turning around to face his enemy. "Consider this payment for getting carried away with us."

Riaan lowered his head, bitterly snickering. "…yes, I suppose one does have to pay the piper. Looks like a congratulations are in order, Luka. You were the first person to successfully wound me. You have my sincerest respects as a warrior."

Luka narrowed his eyes on him. "Then you won't mind if this blade alone cuts into you again."

"Perhaps…but, the toll paid still leaves me with reserves. I may be down, but I am most certainly not out."

Armagedoid shuddered, but slowly, he started to stand back up. Brontes looked back with astonishment as Abis was wide-eyed in disbelief. The black dragon balled his fists and unleashed a mighty shriek into the atmosphere, quaking the terra beneath.

"Unbelievable." Abis gasped. "Even after all that?!"

"This guy's a glutton for punishment." Brontes slurred.

Armagedoid lowered his head and exhaled a heated breath. He snarled low with eyes narrow. "So…that's what pain feels like." The pressure in the air churned around him. "It hurts…but it can never hurt more…THAN THE PAIN YOU BRING ONTO YOURSELVES!"

Abis lurched back, whereas Brontes stood his ground behind his Eternity Screen. Luke and Luka shifted back with surprise.

"Even after that blow?" Luke questioned. 'Riaan…really did make the Ultimate Bakugan.'

Standing back up, Riaan glared at his foes. "Ability, activate! Ambiguity!" Armagedoid raised his head and bellowed out to the skies again. His roar was so loud that it shrilled deep into the ranges of the snowlands far and wide. The echo went into the ground to create shockwaves so intense that negative energy erupted beneath Abis and Brontes. The latter, however, wasn't fazed because of the Eternity Screen. Abis however was blown onto his back, screeching in pain as his hampered scales grinded in the snow.

Armagedoid: 2500 (+3900) = 6400 Frill Abis Omega: 4500 (-300 -2100) = 2100

Paradox Brontes: 5400

The shockwaves dragged Luke and Luka back through the snow. They used their swords as anchors again to keep themselves up, but much of their strength was depleted. The dark waves eventually receded, but the daybreak atmosphere to come had a dark swirl over Riaan and Armagedoid from the attacks that unfazed them.

Riaan reached out his blade towards Abis. "Let's make things more even. Ability, activate! Zone Seal!"

Armagedoid snarled and released a dark purple distortion wave that expanded out around Abis. The Bakugan found himself able to stand, but as the zone wave passed him he froze up, unable to move.

"Abis!" Luke shouted.

"Do not worry." Riaan impeded their shock. "Your Bakugan can still use abilities. He's just unable to move. However, given his current condition, I find his chances to be highly favorable."

Abis struggled to move, but not even his frills could unfold. He only got meek twitches, but he couldn't get beyond that. Luka and Brontes stepped ahead to ready themselves since they were in better condition.

"Armagedoid…" Riaan's tone was gravely, if not serious. "It's time for the final blow."

Armagedoid stepped forward. "Indeed."

Luke and Luka gritted their teeth in angst. They weren't going to let this happen. Not while they allowed it. They drew closer…but the moment whipped up his Bakumeter, it was too late.

"Double ability, activate…" Riaan paused, his eyes flashing magenta, which Armagedoid projected. "Prism Dialect, plus…Prismatic Pulsar!"

Armagedoid's body emitted a glossy shine as he lowered his head. Low, bitter snarls started building up to harsh growls as his core began glowing. The light began refracting and building up within the inner panels of his eight wings to keep it all compressed. The ground beneath started shaking as pressure was building up. The light source was beaming off the ground as well, the snow's glow teaming with trillions of light particles that were ready to burst beneath them.

Luke and Luka came to a stop and realized the snow was too bright. The beacon that was Armagedoid was containing as much light, but it was still so harsh that they couldn't see in front of them.

"Now…show them…" Riaan's eyes shrunk, showing cynical dots that gleamed with envy. "What it means to feel pain!" Armagedoid lurched and curled his wings inwards, nearly becoming his folded prism form again.

"DRECK, LOOK ALIVE!" Luka shouted.

"GRRAAAAHHHHHH!"

Armagedoid unleashed a violent shriek as he uncurled his body. The light refracting off his wings projected all around , sending tremors and trillions of tony, piercing beams of dark purple light at light speed. He looked like a star that brightened with every passing second. Dark light beamed into Abis and Brontes' direction, the latter's Eternity Screen seemingly to not matter. It had piercing gashes in its rainbow forcefield that cracked and shattered with each photon and ion released out at lightspeed.

All four couldn't contain themselves. The light continued increasing in volume beyond them. They were picked up and carried through the beaming lights that pierced their bodies and sent them careening with violent shouts of anguish that went hoarse through the light's wake.

Armagedoid: 6400 (+800) = 7200 Frill Abis Omega: 2100 (-800) = 1300

Paradox Brontes: 5400 (-800) = 4600

The beaming spritz was swallowing everything in its path. The ground beneath Abis and Brontes was a complete blur of dark purple. Neither ally could see ahead as gleaming rays refracted in their faces, but it still kept going.

The shockwaves of glistening light beamed for what seemed like miles. In the far distance, people afar could get a glimpse of several dozen dark light rays beaming everywhere as a vague magnitude rocked the earth. The vibrations rushed to where it teemed even beyond Neathia's main capital. The vibrations crumbled buildings that had already lost support. Current Castle Knights out on patrols were either running for cover or crushed by falling debris as more of the beloved city was leveling down from this dark tremor coursing through the atmosphere.

Fabia, who was in her battle against Lockanoid, stopped with Aranaut to gaze at the ominous dark light in the direction where daybreak had started. The fact that her skin crawled with goosebumps didn't help her realize the fact that something horrible just went wrong. 'What's happening?'

The rumbling light was picked up from Julie as the ground vibrated. The roaring wake got her attention. "What the heck is that thing over there?! It looks like some kind of dark beam that's rising up from the lands ahead!" She turned towards the camera. "You getting all this folks? Because we're seeing a whole lotta mess out here! Just what kind of light is that?!"

Everyone who was battling stopped in their tracks and felt the earth rattle beneath. They looked out at the dark light illuminating dawn.

His ears went completely deaf. The quaking of the earth and the blinding light left Luke's mind to draw to another haze. His being was unable to even tell which side was up thanks to the broad shockwaves penetrating the atmosphere they had trouble breathing to begin with.

Abis and Brontes screamed as the lights became too much and cried out in pain.

Luke: 0%

Luka: 0%

Through the broad light, something swift moved and slashed ferociously. Luke's sword took the brunt of the blow, but it was only enough to keep him from getting another gash like his left shoulder did.

"This is the end…for you!" Riaan raised his blade high, ready to bring it down on his foe. "Time for the light that you've gained to become your demise!"

'He's too fast!' Luke was brought to a standstill. He looked up, barely seeing Riaan's narrowed magenta eyes before the blade drew down.

SHING!

The sounds of piercing and flesh being struck roared through the light. The echo of it was followed by a splatter of something.

"…" Luke kept his eyes shut, waiting for the shock of the stab to finally reach him. But it never did.

Abis was just as quiet. For some reason, even he wasn't feeling nearly as much pain as he should have.

Both weakly opened their eye, blinking as the light from Armagedoid diminished. 'Did he…miss me?'

Riaan still had his sword seemingly stuck out. His face had formed a deep frown. But on the other end, the sword was stuck in something – rather someone.

When the light fully faded, Luke and Abis Omega blinked several times as two figures stood before them. The realization of the two familiar faces and the instance with their bodies was what caused their blood to run cold.

Horror filled the air as Luka stood before Luke, his head down as a serious frown turned to a smirk. He seemed to be satisfied somehow, despite the massive sword that was gouging clean through the chest and through his back. Blood trickled down his lip.

Brontes stood in front of Abis, his own body having suffered gracious wounds of their own. Several holes were created from the beams of light that hammered at his body earlier. His accented bulbs on his legs were cracked, as well as smoke and steam coming out from his joints. It looked like one of his gravity cores on his knees were shot through, leaving him rendered with one leg, Despite that, he still had his six arms out teeming with holes.

The realization dawned…just as daybreak's true light reached.

"NOOOO~!" Luke shouted at the top of his lungs.

Luka didn't respond at first, but then a trickle of blood ran down the side of his lip. He struggled before he coughed up blood that splattered on the ground and Riaan's sword. The menace frowned as he took in the realization as well. Pulling his sword out brutally, Luka's body lurched as he sank to his knees. Brontes fumbled and his bad knee gave in. Both men lowered their heads and breathed heavily, their strength completely depleted.

"Luka…!" Luke kneeled down, getting a closer look at Luka's severe condition. "Stay still! You're bleeding out!"

Luka didn't respond. All his strength was focused on keeping himself from losing what consciousness he had left.

Luke frantically at his wounds. The piercing was gaping and going deep through the skin. Blood was everywhere on Luka's torso that he had a hard time himself from being sick. 'This is bad. This wound is too big. I don't think I have the first-aid kit with me!'

Riaan scoffed. "How foolish. Despite the efforts…it seems that you've only left yourself open for the inevitable."

"Riaan, you…!" Luke stood up with a balled fist. "This has gone too far!"

"Yes, I absolutely agree. But, then again, you've all told and showed me that you've made your own choices on how to 'live' your lives. Does this not count as part of it? I thought you all were prepared to lay down your lives with no regrets?"

Luke balled his fists in frustration. He wanted to snap back so badly, but he knew his priorities were on Luka right now.

"But it seems that our points have been made crystal clear towards one another. I've come to respect you all, so consider that your reward. Nd because of that, I am willing to let you in on a little something?"

"And what might that be?" Luke snarled.

Riaan paused. "You see, the truth was that I have already ascertained enough of Neathia's energy from the other day. I've merely stalled this long because here on Neathia, there's a matter that I need everyone to bear witness to."

"What's this about?! Say it! You said we've earned the right, so why didn't you go back to Interacia when you had the chance?!"

"The answer is simple, young Luke." Riaan paused. "I believe that the hints were visible to you earlier, were they not?"

"What?"

"Tell me, what is the one reason why this all started? Everything dates back to one reason, and one reason alone."

Luke furrowed his brow and looked towards the blood-splattered ground. It took him a minute until his eyes widened and he looked up with bewilderment. "…Code Eve."

There was a dreading chill that made loose snow travel across the ground between the two sides. Nobody moved a muscle aside from Luka and Brontes gagging. The situation had gotten far worse than expected.

Riaan looked towards the daybreak horizon, pausing for a moment before taking the initiative. "Now then, as fathomable as this was, I'm afraid this is where we part ways again. But to ensure that neither you nor the Battle Brawlers interfere again, I have something to remember me by." He raised his right hand. "This is the end."

"What's he doing?!" Abis gasped.

The air started trembling as a dark mass swirled into an orb in Riaan's palm. It started out the size of a baseball, then gradually became the size of a baseball. It gave off a sense of gravity with space and snow distorting around it. The atmosphere was starting to slowly collapse on itself from this force.

Luka and Abis looked on with horror as their worn out minds were gazing into purple and black voids being drawn into the center like a portal. Looking at it, it brought an unfavorable resemblance.

"Wait…that wormhole…!"

Riaan smirked. "You recall when I sent you and everyone to New Vestroia? Perhaps this time you will learn to be more careful to know where you stand. You and everybody else will be drawn here…to the Doom Dimension!"

Luka opened an eye to bear witness to the monstrosity being born. "Riaan…"

Riaan let go of the growing hemisphere and turned away. The globe of darkness started drawing even more atmosphere and slowly grew with each second it absorbed Neathia's energy. "Come, Armagedoid. I believe our work here is done for now. Back to the Empyrean."

Armagedoid snarled and disappeared in a dark purple light. Riaan's body started disappearing slowly before he faced Luke and Luka one last time. "If you somehow do end up surviving this, the be warned. You'll be returning to a darkness without a light. Farewell."

In a dark purple light, he disappeared from his spot, leaving behind four aching creatures that were down for the count, and two fatally in distress. Luke and Abis looked down at their respective associates, unsure of what to do.

'If we don't do something soon, that black hole he made is gonna swallow everyone. But I don't think we can make it in time…' Luke looked from Luka towards the growing hole. 'Damnit!'

---

"Step it up, everyone! Finish this now!" Fabia shouted.

"You heard her, Rubanoid! Time to stop this guy cold!" Linus shouted. "Ability activate, Mirage Field!"

Lockanoid fired the harpoon one more time at Rubanoid, but the crimson dragon stood tall for it. "Enough of this!" He created a large area of red reflective walls in front, drawing in the harpoon and making it shatter to pieces. The shards fell into the snow as the crimson walls dilated and surrounded Lockanoid, preventing him from using abilities. "Now it's time that we finish you for good! Now, everyone!"

"You heard him Aranaut, deal with it!" Fabia shouted.

"Of course, my queen." Aranaut darted ahead.

"Wolfurio, stay with them!" Rafe shouted.

"Boulderon, end it now!" Paige screamed.

The three Bakugan charged through the ruby domain towards Lockanoid. The Interacian Bakugan saw Aranaut and reflections of the other two Bakugan heading its way and took aim. The cannon hands fired a clean shot, but it turned out to be another reflection that dispersed the beams into the walls. The Lockanoid was completely disoriented with its attack having failed, allowing Aranaut, Boulderon, and Wolfurio to get through.

"Take this!" Boulderon slung his SlingPike around, surprising Lockanoid on his left with a deadly spike mace into the side.

"In the name of the Castle Knights and my family the Battle Brawlers, I cast you out!" He fired a beam from his lance on the right directly into the face, stopping Lockanoid cold. The Bakugan snarled and saw Boulderon and Wolfurio were on its sides. Angered, it launched close-range beams, but again it all dispersed before they could make contact. Aranaut used this opportunity to get up close to the chest area with the cannon barrel aimed directly at it.

"Now it's our turn! Battlegear ability, activate! Battle Crusher Duke!" Fabia shouted.

The barrel started gathering large sums of yellow energy to make one final charge directly into Lockanoid's core. "Light's out for you, Interacian imposter! HRAH!" He fired a point-blank beam if compressed yellow energy through the core, projecting through the other side of Lockanoid. The beam dissipated swiftly to reveal the core of Lockanoid having been unhindered, but seconds later it started dulling until it started cracking. Once it cracked to a degree, Lockanoid's eye dulled and the Bakugan growled low.

Aranaut and the other Bakugan stepped back as Lockanoid lurched several times, before he raised his head high and let out a shriek of despair. His body turned to a Darkus aura before he swirled to thin air, disappearing in broad dark purple sparkles. Rubanoid's mirage walls reduced to thin air slowly to allow daybreak to show itself in the vast distance. All the Bakugan eased up, but more or less were exhausted. Boulderon slumped over, nearly passing out.

"That was tougher than it should've been." Rubanoid huffed.

"Yeah. I feel like I'm gonna spew." Boulderon complained.

"Shake it off up there! We're not out of this fight yet!" Paige shouted. "The others might still be fighting. We've gotta go back them up, and quick."

Rafe steadied himself with Linus' support. "Paige's right. That was a tough battle, but it just shows how serious these Interacian Bakugan compare as a threat. Imagine if that one had a battler beside it."

Fabia straightened herself and braced for what may come next. "I know everyone is exhausted, but the fight's not over yet. Let's hurry and…!" An odd distorted frame got her and everyone's attention. They turned towards its direction. "Huh? What the…?"

In the distance far beyond the Empyrean, they were seeing very small rays of bright pink being sucked into something dark and glowing in the distance.

"Are you guys seeing this?" she muttered.

"Yes, my Queen. I see it, too." Linus answered. "Looks like a dimensional break ahead."

Rafe furrowed his brows at the uncertain wake. "It looks like it's growing slowly."

"We better hurry and check it out. The others might be over there!" Paige declared. "C'mon, Boulderon!"

---

"Gate Card, open! Ecto Dirge!"

The Gate Card shined beneath Drago and Radizen, surprising them as plasmatic, radioactive slime stuck to their lower bodies while suppressed to their knees from earlier damage. The numbness and tingly sensation clung to them harshly.

"I…can't move!" Drago strained.

"What is this stuff?" Radizen grazed the radioactive material with his claw, but it was hot to the touch. "Gah! Clingy acid!"

Amina scoffed. "Don't bother. This Gate Card prevents you from activating any abilities."

"Drago!" Dan shouted.

"Radizen, get out of there, quick!" Marucho yelled.

Amina watched as her opponents squirmed in displeasure. She relished in this kind of stuff, but now she was getting bored, not to mention tired. She let out a meek yawn. "Okay. Well, as much as I enjoyed this, I believe this is where it all ends. So sorry."

Dan balled his fists and gritted his teeth, "Luke we'll let that happen because of you, you hear me?!"

"…nope. Battlegear ability, activate-!" She was about to finish the call for the Level 2 Battlegear ability, but her Bakumeter suddenly beeped. She looked down and grunted. "Who's calling now?" she sighed. "That Lucia, if it's that chatty blonde promqueen I'm gonna…"

"Attention, to all Hades Pillars members. I have an announcement." The voice belonged to Riaan, causing Amina to relax her posture. The rest of Hades Pillars n their battles stopped and heard his proclamation. "Everyone, return to the Empyrean at once. This is a direct order from your supreme one. Disengage, that is all."

Hearing that message from Magnus' Bakumeter, Shawn lowered his guard. "Disengage?"

"Looks like it, little man." Magnus grunted. Without delay, he started teleporting away from the ground up. "Guess we'll be settling this business next time…and you'd be paying for them visors with yo life."

The left the scene, leaving Shawn alone with Verias still in full form. "The hell just happened…?"

"Shawn, look!" Verias shouted.

"What is it?" He turned around and faced the glowing distortion wave ahead of them. "W-what the-?! Where'd that thing come from?!"

Zion looked from his Bakumeter towards Shuji, his frustration showing in his crude, cold glare. He was extremely annoyed earlier with that punch to the face, but alas his duties to his lord took priority. "Consider your sentence in reprieve for now, shield. This matter will be settled again." Like his cohort, he faded away as well.

Shuji's left eye twitched as he growled menacingly. But Fly Beetle's turn towards the disruption ahead brought him out of his spat. "Woah…"

Maggie flinched at the sight afar. "What is that?!"

Lucia closed her eyes and withdrew herself. "I suggest that you'd prepare yourself and your friends for the worst. Don't say that I didn't warn you."

"Hey, hold it!" Maggie reached out, but Lucia was gone. She withdrew herself and frowned worriedly. "What was all that?" She turned towards the distortion wave. What Lucia said before rattled the back of her mind. "No, it can't be…Jelldon, let's book it!"

"You got it!" He latched Maggie over his head and he squirmed towards the ominous spatial energy.

Looking at it as well, Galilea closed her eyes and tossed her hair over her shoulder. "Hmph. Jase Mercury, consider yourself warned. Next time things will be different." With that, she teleported away next.

"…" Jase prodded his glasses into place just before his eye caught sight with Atmos. They glided high above, seeing the dark center that drew everything in.

Nastix reverted to ball form as Amina caught him. She huffed and nonchalantly shrugged at her foes.

"What are you doing, running away?!" Dan mocked.

Amina turned away in disinterest. "Why bother? I've lost interest in such dirty trash like you. You're too dirty to even try and put effort in." She teleported away, leaving the area in a blue transport light.

"Wait-!" Dan reached out, but was too late. "What just happened, Drago?"

"I don't know Dan, but I've got a bad feeling." He felt something uneasy in the air towards west. "Huh?"

Dan and Marucho followed the direction of the odd energy wave. At the vague pink daybreak, the darkness was molding around something drawn towards it. Their eyes widened in the shock.

"What is that?!"

"I don't know, but something's going on here." Drago answered.

"We need to hurry over! Someone might be in trouble!" Marucho insisted. "Radizen, can you go on?"

Radizen weakly stood, his shoulders slouched forward as he huffed. "Oh…phew. Ugh." He gave Marucho a perky thumbs up. "Don't you worry about me, I'm just dandy!" It was a bold-faced lie. He wasn't feeling so good. But he didn't wanna seem down on Marucho. "Let's hurry up and get going pronto!"

"Right!"

The dark air around Esther and Cyrus continued swirling. Neither side made an effort to move nor budge, but the message was made clear for even Esther to understand that this scuffle of theirs will have to be settled at some other point.

"Well now, seems that we have yet another score to settle. Quite a debt piling up on me to pay." Cyrus mused, before he turned serious. "Brace yourself. There'll be no shelter for you to hide from your demons. It's easier to find demons, than run from them after all."

With that comment, Cyrus was enveloped in a dark, swirling haze before he dispersed. The darkness around Esther dissipated, giving her the air she needed to pick up on again. She took it in calmly…but even she wasn't disillusioned enough to misjudge the situation.

"Atchibee…"

"Yes, Esther." She turned towards the same direction as the energy spiraling out of control. "You can feel it s well, all that negative energy flowing."

Esther furrowed her brow. "Yes…I do." In the pit of her gut, she was getting a pain in something was going terribly wrong. 'Luke, I'm getting worried now. What're you in right now…?'

---

The dark mass slowly expanded, becoming the size of a disco ball. Its void-like inside drew in more air and snow from the ground. The negative energy was visibly spiraling around it in an opposite rotation.

The longer it dragged on, the less likely they'd get out of this. Luke looked like he needed a paper bag because the stress was making his stomach churn. But he had to step up. His friends were terribly injured, but the mass ahead was going to consume them. And, if they don't prevail, possibly the whole Neathian population.

'This is bad. If we don't act soon, we'll be thrown into this Doom Dimension.' Given his experience with unfamiliar planets, that's a chance he wasn't going to take. 'We can try and blast it with an ability…but is Abis okay?'

Taking a shot at Abis, the serpent was tattered and worn out. His frills had small tears to show how much recoil he suffered from those attacks. He was in no better shape than Luke.

'Looks like Abis is spent.' He felt the land shudder once beneath him, causing him to kneel. The gravity of the orb had caused everything to stir. 'We've gotta get to the others…no, wait. We probably won't make it in time before this thing gets us. Damnit!'

From the corner of his eye, Luka could see the growing angst on his comrade. He was having a little bit of trouble himself, but what mattered was that they get out of this. But as he's learned through his experience, reality wasn't all sunshine and miracles.

He shot a look over towards Brontes, who turned his head at him. The steam coming from the pierced holes in his body was like blood coming from his battler. A moment passed before they came to an idea.

Slowly, both started standing on their own, their quivering leg muscles making it hard to sustain their own weight.

"Luka, hold on! You're hurt!" Luke insisted. "Don't push yourself!"

Luka coughed up some more blood. "Don't be stupid. Did you forget the bigger concern here? Stop worrying about the small things for once!"

Luke flinched at the harsh tone he received. "Luka…"

The wounded man faced the threat ahead of them. "Listen to me. That thing will only get bigger the longer we press this matter. Our objective right now *cough*…is to neutralize it."

Luke looked ahead with a discerning gleam. He knew Luka was right, though he didn't wanna show it. "Then how do we stop it?"

"Listen carefully, because I'm only gonna say this once…" Luka winced, but he caught himself just in time. "That…thing, it's bringing things towards the Doom Dimension, which is up to space. Surely you get that much. Now tell me, was there ever a point when that space was warped in one of your crossings?"

"Well…" Luke looked down to think for a moment. He thought enough to make his own brain ache…then it hit him.

The time when they were in the Trailer heading back to Earth from Vestal brought back the uncertain memory. That's when all of a sudden, the trip was brought to a standstill and they had to send out a distress signal. Was what Luka suggesting similar.

"I take it from that expression, you have." Luka impeded his thoughts before he got too drowned in them. "The you should be able to understand then. Brontes' new magical abilities are much stronger now. He should be able to warp the space around that hole to keep anything from getting inside."

Brontes stammered from side to side. "No problem…hehe…"

Luke stared wide-eyed at them in surprise. "But in your current conditions, isn't that going to-!"

"Shut up! I told you not to worry, alright?!" Luka snapped. "Brontes will use his magic to suppress that hole. He'll get it down to where it becomes small and compressed enough to where it'll be tangible…that's all there is to it."

"Then I'll cut it." Luke opted, before being forcibly pushed back.

"No. Light counteracts darkness. Your element is water, you won't be doing much help this time." He glared. "Just stand back, alright?"

Luke didn't buy it, not for even a split second. "Not gonna happen! You're basically telling us to watch you and Brontes risk yourselves."

"…isn't that the point that friends make?" Those words flowed so evenly out of Luka's mouth that they froze Luke in place. "Listen, everything is gonna be okay. Like I said, we have bigger things to worry about. We need to stop Riaan at whatever cost, that's the whole reason we're all hear after all, isn't it?" He paused to scoff. "Don't be such a hypocrite now when we're so close."

"Luka…"

Luka stood in front of Luke, his grip on his blade tightened. His throat throbbed as he hunched over with one more gag of blood painting the snow red. Despite all this, he refused to fall. He faced forward with his vision fixated on the prize at hand.

'So…this is what it's come to.' He had another flash of himself in the beginning, following Riaan back to Interacia. 'I guess this is what I can be worth in the end…and yet…' He raised his blade. "Brontes!"

Brontes stood up, bracing for his last remnants of strength. Like Luka, he took one final glance back at Abis, who seemed just as shocked. Neither could say anything to their allies as they watched them going through with it. Mysteriously enough, they started thinking back some more.

A flash of their meeting on New Vestroia popped into their heads, when Luka saved Luke and Abis Omega for the first time and got them out. "I'm an avenger, and that's all you need to know." Those were the words he told them back then. At least, that's who he thought he was.

In a sense of calm, Luka steadied his breathing. 'This is it…my last act as an avenger. Let's get this over with.' "Dreck…I mean it this time." He paused. "For once, don't get in my way."

Luke didn't say anything. He didn't even know what could be possibly said.

"Brontes, are you sure?" Abis bitterly insisted.

The clown cackled low. "Don't let your scales get soft now. It only cheapens your quality." He braced himself. "Luka…shall we do them a favor them?"

"Sure…lead the way."

Brontes balled all four fists as he charged head-on towards the dimensional doom. Abis could only watch as he went onwards willingly. "BRONTES!"

Brontes darted across the ground and made way towards the hole. The vacuum it created was pulling him in faster. With what power his bright and dark cores had, they glowed to signal his magic activating. He created his own gravitational pull to keep himself stable. Stepping closer to the orb, he got around towards the back and held all six arms out around it. He centered his magic into the black hole, causing light to outline it. An even greater pressure pushed everything else away, including Luke and Abis. Brontes' body cracked again the more of his enhanced spatial magic was being forced to cause it to solidify. In doing so, a number of things were going through his own head at once.

Memories of Volt came rushing into his head. They weren't too much, but he had to admit the nostalgia made him feel lucid, even for a moment. Now that he thought about it, Volt and Luka were a lot alike that it almost creeped him out. But Luka was able to bring himself out of his shock when the time came to move on. It wasn't much really…but maybe this was what he needed in his antagonizing life. Oddly enough, he should be cackling joyfully at this insane plan…but rather he felt sad, and to an extent, ease.

Watching as the dark hole was losing momentum, space warped around Brontes as he started showing solidification. The momentum he was gaining was gradually climbing and snow had ceased being pulled in. "Well done, Brontes. Keep it going." Luka steadied himself and looked ahead. He raised his sword one final time before kneeling forward. "Alright…here goes nothing!" He charged ahead with a violent battle cry with his sword brought back.

"LUKA~!" Luke shouted. He could only watch in horror as his ally went ahead on his own. 'They really are…?'

Time slowed down as Luka charged with his blade. His gaze upon the black hole was the most ferocious oneanyone could ever make. Despite the pain he felt, despite the mental epiphany of his body's condition, despite everything at how he treated everyone and vice versa, he was undeterred. He screamed at the top of his lungs. He ran faster, and faster, making his blade's light intensify the more resolved he got along the whole.

'This is strange…' An image of Maggie and Jelldon appeared. 'My mind…it won't stop thinking.' He thought of Shuji and Fly Beetle. 'These feelings I have…' Then Jase and Atmos. 'And yet, for some reason…' Then Esther and Atchibee. 'I'm not bothered at all…' Then Shawn and Verias. 'These guys…'

"You're…wrong. I'm not aiming…to survive. I want to live my life."

The words spoken by perhaps the biggest pain, and the biggest influence, echoed in his mind again. His heartbeat palpitated as the roaring light in his blade was like a shining bolt at the crack of dawn.

'Dreck…I think I finally get it. To live…to feel so alive for the first time. This is…me being alive! THIS IS MY LIFE!'

He swung his blade and pierced the gravity ball, which was condensed to the size of a bowling ball thanks to Brontes. Luka screamed mightily as light and darkness exploded in all directions, but he refused to give up as Brontes mustered even more magic to keep it from imploding. They shared the same bright fury in their eyes as they force every ounce of their strength into their attacks. By no means were they holding back this time.

The ground roared and shook with fury equally as much that Luke and Abis couldn't get anywhere nearly as close. Even with what they had left, it wasn't anything compared to the evolved powers these two had. Their eyes were only showing awe and concern with how they're taking it all.

The dark hemisphere and atmosphere raged with a roar. Flashes went on nonstop that they kept moving through. Luka's thoughts deepened to his life flashing before his eyes. The people he met, as well as the kind who dared to never give up. There were people whom he empathized with like Alice, whim he recalled as well.

'Alice…'

"And Luka…do your best."

'I am-no, I WILL! BECAUSE I AM…!' Luka stabbed a little deeper, his lungs pouring out more battlecries to make him bleed out more. 'A LIGHT THAT SHALL GUIDE EVERYONE AHEAD!'

Spatial magic made the energy sphere churn and dilate. Brontes' body screamed in agony as more cracks appeared to make him seem fragile. He stayed focused the entire time, even as Luka was intent on what had to be done.

The next instance, they were both in a see of Haos, and below them was a sea of Darkus. The sphere between them was drawing in and mixing the two together around them. Luka and Brontes took a pause and realized there was a connection through the magic.

'We had a good run, didn't we Luka?'

'Yeah, guess you can say that. I'm sorry that it's come to this.'

'Don't be so coy~. I had a blast…even though I was the one getting blasted.'

'…Brontes.'

'Yes?'

'Perhaps, in some other place or time…maybe…it wouldn't be too bad to keep hearing your stupid jokes.'

'…why, Luka…hehehe! I guess I can finally say it…you're not a stick in the mud after all. We can leave the rest to those Brawler wannabes then after all.'

'Yeah…I have no doubts now.'

The daybreak air was a holy beacon that pulsed airwaves outwards nonstop. Even from afar, Julie's camera was showing everyone this bright beacon that permeated the skies. She didn't have the words as she rode atop of Drago to get a view with the others.

Looking back over his shoulder, closing in on the Neathian capital, Gunz turned around and noticed a beaming light illuminating the dawn. It left him almost completely speechless. "What's that light…?"

Shun's gaze was still heavy, but this light felt warm on him even as he was slipping in and out of consciousness.

The Doom Dimension hole had finally gotten to a shrunken point. Luka's energy sword had finally managed a crack in it, creating a bright wave to expand out. It swallowed him and Brontes, but both remained completely calm as they fixed on each other.

"…thank you. For being my partner till the end."

Several flickers emerged before a pillar of raw light shot into the sky. It was broad and expanded out, sending massive gravity waves that tore through the ground. Luke and Abis gaped as they saw the shockwaves before everything went white.

---

Ahead of everyone, an enormous beacon of light erupted across the land. Those in the air like Atmos, Atchibee, and Drago could see clearly. A vicious display of pressure was all too evident for them.

"WHAT'S THAT?!" Julie screamed into her mic. The wind blowing was making it hard to hear, but she managed to get it across.

"Look out! It's a shockwave!" Jase warned.

A large shockwave raced across the round towards their direction. It leveled the snow and was about to mow down everyone, until Jelldon and Fly Beetle made way in front to generate a liquid forcefield and harden their bodies respectively. The enormous waves rushed past them all, nearly blowing them all over.

As soon as the shockwaves diminished. Fly Beetle and Jelldon released their guards. Everyone uncovered to see the light fading in the sky.

"The…the hell was that?" Shawn blinked.

Jase uncovered and looked at the sky. "That energy release just now, it erased all that negative energy…no, wait. It was disrupted by something else."

"Like what?" Marucho wondered.

"We'll find out when we get there." Dan ushered. "Better hope that was a good sign."

"Dan…" Fabia murmured. For all their sakes she sure hoped so as well.

---

Luke grunted as his ears rang. He found that his cheek was cold as ice. It took him a moment to realize he had fallen on his side in the aftermath. His head spun like a top, but he was able to feel his way around to his knees.

"What…just happened…?" He blinked several times until the bright light had come to its end. He looked about, immediately noticing a tandem of blue coils nearby. "A-Abis!" He stumbled over towards the blue serpent's closed eyes and placed a hand on his snout. "Hey…Abis. Wake up. Hey!"

Abis groaned and started coming around. He groggily arose, looking down at who was responsible for the awakening. "Luke…?" He shook his head. "What just hit us?"

"I don't know…!" He snapped back to reality. "Luka!"

Abis turned the direction the attack came from. They both stared in shock as the dust and snow dispersed, bringing them to shaken cores.

The Doom Dimension portal had been closed, leaving only a swirling rift that reduced to nothing. With it gone, someone was seen walking back, albeit lethargically. Each step was slow and suspenseful, like one on a movie. Luka soon came to a stop, his mouth and body layered in blood with his skin losing all its color. Brontes stood too, pale as a ghost.

A long silence passed as Luke and Luka stared the other down. With a cling of the sword, it fell out of Luka's hand into the snow. He slowly fell backwards into the snow with a thud. Brontes followed.

"Luka! Brontes!" Luke hurried over beside Abis. They crossed over the short distance, stumbling every now and again but were able to get there in time. Luke hovered over Luka, and Abis over Brontes. They both had horrified looks as they've witnessed what could've been their ultimate undoing.

They both looked bad. Really bad. From what they've seen, they knew it was too good to be true. A part pf them wanted to scream or shout right now, or maybe they wanted to vent on something for allowing this to happen…but they knew better. Reality was cruel, and they weren't denying. But even now it was a hard pill to swallow.

"Luka…" Luke was on his hands and knees with shame in his eyes.

"…" Weakly stirring, Luka opened his eyes. His breathing was calm, if not a little too subtle. He slowly turned his head towards Luke, showing a meek smile.

Luka scoffed. "…hmph, don't give me that look…someone had to take the fall."

Luke opened his lips, but the words he wanted to say breached a halt. He instead turned away to think of other words. "…it should've been me."

Luka scornfully grunted. "It could've been anyone, you know that." Another short silence passed through the snowy lands. He picked up on a softer note. "Listen…Luke."

Luke fell silent with Abis to hear their voices.

"Daybreak is near…so tell me something."

"Okay…?"

"…did you think…did Brontes and I…lived our lives?"

Luke and Abis' shock showed. It quickly dispersed as a wave of empathy washed over them. This was no time to smile…but a warm one crossed over Luke as he nodded. "Yeah. Very much so."

A humble smile casted over Luka's face. "…that's good…I'm glad…glad to know the biggest idiot in the universe told me that. In the end…I guess I actually meant something after all."

"Luka…"

He looked over at his sword. It was a few feet away and deactivated. He stared at it longingly as something came over him.

"Suppose you never asked." He scoffed. "He could've gone for any weapon, but in the end chose the sword. Supposedly in your world, swords are for knights, or heroes of fairy tales. Guess the past never really does die as long as a piece of it remains in the present."

"Hmph. Listen…it's not the blade. It's the one who holds the blade who draws its path. To cut into obstacles that stand between him and what he's standing for."

Luka hesitated for a moment, but he gripped his energy sword's hilt and weakly held it up to Luke. "Hey, dreck…I believe this belongs to you."

"Your sword?" Luke gasped. "I can't…"

"Remember what I said earlier. It's the person holding the sword who embodies the path it follows. My path's been nothing but a false avenger for himself…but you actually have something to avenge. You've earned it."

Luke mournfully stared down at his falling friend. He was on the verge of tears, but he held them back over the need to hang on. It pained him…but he knew Luka was right. He looked down at the blade, grabbed its hilt slowly, and allowed Luka's grip to ease and eventually let go…for the final time.

"I won't let you down." Luke bitterly swore. "I'll make sure of it."

Brontes shuddered as he looked up at Abis. "Hehehe…we've had a blast."

Abis gave a serious frown. "Yeah, I guess you can say that." He hesitated to say much else. "Brontes…thank you."

The clown cackled impishly, but was so winded he stopped and looked up at the sky. "Thank you…thank you…heh, who'd thought a clown like me would earn such earnest words. I must really…be in heaven."

Abis suppressed his misting eyes.

"We're…gonna leave the rest…up to you guys." Luka coughed again. "Don't cause too much trouble…you'll have to bail yourselves out somehow."

"Luka…"

Luka tenderly smiled as something warm illuminated the left side of his face. It was bright. Brontes' had a glow on his side as well. Luke and Abis slowly turned around to see the first rays of sun rise up over the horizon at long last.

It was warm. Warmer than anything anyone could ever imagine. In spite of how dark the night had been, the brightness of the new dawn was enough to leave a glow on Luka's pale face. This was probably the one true time that he was actually taking in the real solace of himself.

"It won't be easy kid, believe me. I…was never good at expressing myself. But at least this way, I can say that you're someone I learned a lot from just now. But right now, I need to see that the idiots I've seen so much of get to see that sunrise, too."

Luka smiled humbly at the rising sun and glanced at Luke. It was so ironic, but he didn't have to fight it this time. This sense of accomplishment was all he needed to know that in the end, he wasn't dying alone. The one bane turned to his greatest treasure…and that treasure, was his first friend. 'So this is what happiness feels like…it's warm…'

The sun's angelic rays illuminated the shine in Luka and Brontes' eyes. Luke and Abis frowned sadly as they turned back towards them to see their smiling complexions.

"Yeah…good luck, kid. It's gonna be a bumpy ride…but enjoy it while you can."

That last thought made Luka look directly into Luke's eyes, seemingly telling him what he thought. The sympathetic stares given to each other made it clear the message was well received.

'Guess my life…wasn't so bad after all.'

The light in his eyes faded. His hand loosened on his stomach as his eyes shut for the last time. Brontes' eyes went completely dull as his core light finally went dull.

Luke and Abis' eyes shrunk at the realization. The former's mouth gaped and he kneeled down to place his head beside where Luka's heart would be. No heartbeat. Slowly, he got back up and gawked at his now-deceased friend. Tears were swelling and couldn't hold back anymore.

"GAAAAH~!" Their anguish cries echoed loudly through the flat snowlands. They curled over and sunk their heads in the grief that became too much to bear.

It was a long moment to take in. All Luke and Abis could do was keep their eyes shut as they stood over their comrades' corpses. Even now, despite the damages their bodies had received, they had weak smiles that were directed at them. Even Brontes, whose smile was usually creepily, was peaceful.

"There they are! Up there!"

The shout came from close behind. Luke and Abis slowly levered themselves and gazed forward as their comrades came up to them with their Bakugan in full form behind. Right now Luke wasn't in the best shape to face them.

"Hey you guys, is everything okay over here?" Julie called, running up with the cameraman beside her.

"What was that big light we saw? It was huge!" Dan exaggerated.

Luke's group got closer to their guilty comrade, but he still refused to face them with his despondence.

"Luke, are you alright?" Esther asked. She looked to where Luke was staring, an audible gasp coming from her covered mouth. "…Luka!"

Maggie's eyes shrunk. "Is he…?!"

Shawn raced around to get a view of Luka from another angle. He noticed the gruesome wound on his chest and his pale complexion. Even he was at a loss for words. "No way…"

Jase walked around and kneeled beside Luka. He placed two fingers on his wrist to check for a pulse. But unfortunately, even he got no results. He turned towards Luke. "…that explosion of light just now, it was them wasn't it?"

Luke lowered his head even more in grievance. "There wasn't any other way…"

Shuji looked in shock before closing his eyes, unable to bear the sight. Maggie stayed close to him, close enough to nearly hug him. But she remained strong. Shawn punched the snow in frustration.

Verias, Atchibee, and the other Bakugan slowly surrounded the grieving Abis and Brontes. Nobody could really say anything to make the situation any better. It was truly a bitter vision.

"Oh no…" Fabia gasped. The others and their Bakugan stood behind, watching along at the sight with nothing to say. Even Dan and Marucho weren't able to come up with any words. Though Dan balled his fists in frustration at the poor timing. He looked away in anguish.

"Abis…" Atchibee purred. "It'll be okay."

"…" The serpent looked down in regret and grief. He was above tearing up, but that didn't make him any less guilty for the loss of his close comrade.

A set of footsteps walked closer beside Luke until they stopped beside him. Esther kneeled and placed a hand on Luke's shoulder. She gave him a grieving yet sorrowful look. "Luke, exactly what happened?"

Luke hesitated. "He saved all of us. If it wasn't for him, we'd be stuck in the Doom Dimension…and Abis and I would've been dead."

"Luke, I'm sure it wasn't your fault…"

Luke remained silent. He closed his eyes as he held onto Luka's sword a little tighter than before. No tears flowed like Abis, but the fact sunk in like a rock to water.

Images of Luka's face at the end compared to now made Luke feel a little better…but not much. 'Luka…you were happy your final moments just now. I could tell…I guess I should say…your welcome.'

With the sun beaming on Luka and Brontes' still faces, the light began glowing on their bodies. The glow grew and alarmed everyone to stand back up.

"He's glowing…!"

Abis shirked back as Brontes' corpse glowed as well. They both started illuminating the snow as dawn's light continued to shine.

"What's going on?" Shawn murmured.

It took a moment for Luke to realize what was happening. He saw a yellow sparkle shine from Luka that bubbled up and floated into the sky. "…I get it. This is his time to go now. Is that what you're telling me?"

A hand slipped into his, grabbing his attention. He looked at Esther, who shared a simple, but reciprocating smile. "If that's it…then let's see them off right."

Everyone went silent as they all took a step back, all except Luke and Abis Omega. The five Bakugan and humans gave them the space they needed to say their final farewells as more specks arose from their bodies.

"Luka…Brontes…thank you everything. If it wasn't for you guys…we wouldn't be who we are today. You opened our eyes. And at the end…I guess we did the same for you in return. Guess we can call it even."

"…we'll never forget you." Abis told Brontes.

Their cheeks gleamed the brightest, as though imaginative tears were shed into the skies. The sparkles of energy finally enveloped their bodies and reduced them slowly to beds of yellow energy that gradually spread out into the sky in front of everyone to watch.

Two large beds of sparkles slowly drifted into the dawn skies above. As the black in the atmosphere gave way to the blue yonder to rise, the bright yellow energy glistened in the morning sun.

Esther looked up to watch the spectacle before she stepped up and cleared her throat. She paused before she started to sing.

Julie made sure the camera was rolling so she could get footage of this.

Dear thy ole setting grace~

May you please hear my voice and see my face.

Dan, Drago, and everyone weren't able to say anything. They only stared with their comrades as the lights continued on their path to the beyond.

It's a cold, cold night,

One set by the ends of one's dear fight.

It's here that they sleep,

And hear so let me say, when they rest in peace~.

The Bakugan around Brontes' floating particles looked on ceremoniously in a full circle of their respective places in the attribute circle, likewise with the humans. They all looked up and tried their best to not get emotional. Luke and Abis were the exception since they looked on with pride.

Dear thy resting spirit, please don't cry

Tears from you and thy fall from the grace.

He who watches far from the sky,

He holds you dear with warmth and a smiling face.

May you watch with a smile like his,

So that when skies clear we know you have been mi~~ssed.

Everyone started thinking back to the matters involving Luka and Brontes when they helped them out. There were so many instances that they lost count. Jase kept track, though he disregarded them at the moment. Right now was a time for reminiscing for all of them. They didn't believe that someone whose been alone this whole time could go out this way.

Shawn looked over towards Luke, who seemed to be looking up with his epiphany. The yellow sparks reflected in his eyes.

A life where you live what you can,

You did what you could and ran.

You went far, oh so very far.

And now you've reached the end and look down from afar.

Dear not weep,

For thy mortal wounds cut so deep.

You took that leap and now you are set free.

The yellow sparkles drifted onwards, making large fountains of stars that casted away the darkness made. For a little while, the atmosphere felt really warm with these two lights intertwining towards the ehavens.

Hear thy spirit's plea,

I dear long for what you wished to see.

A land that you once called a disgrace,

But soon a land you see turn to a beautiful sea,

A sea of time and settings sun~s,

Suns that set on one's path and start anew.

Here thy spirit's plea,

Bring to me the peace that I wished you see~.

The last of the sparkles drifted into the blue yonder, vanishing to thin air. The atmosphere, despite dawn's light, was beaming with speckles of stars that glued themselves so the sky to look down on all of them.

"There they go." Shawn mulled.

Jase said nothing as he watched the sky dazzle.

"Guess that's how it is now." Shuji grunted, his brow furrowed. He was really holding back to urge to punch something.

The Battle Brawlers watched in silence and grief. They felt sympathy, but also tremendous guilt for having this happen to their own. It was unforgiveable. Even Julie looked upset. The camera and the people though, got to see the spectacle of two lives ascending into the skies.

"Thank you for everything." Esther finished, bowing towards the skies. "Rest well."

Luke raised his head high, staring longingly at the dawn sky. "Goodbye, Luka. Paradox Brontes."

Abis reared his head back and let out a cry that echoed towards the twinkling skies. They gleamed ever so brightly down onto them, like they were smiling about something.

On that day, as blood stained the snow, it was illuminated by the light of Neathia's brightest dawn it had ever seen.

---

Took me a while to get this chapter up, right? I was barely under the 1-week limit with this one. I had writer's block big time until I started watching My Hero Academia and video game walkthroughs. I do admit I dragged this chapter on way too long, especially with the post combat with the whole Luka and Paradox Brontes sendoff, but I made sure to give their final battle meaning and one to remember.

I know maybe Luka wasn't probably the best written character, but at this point, I felt that his roll in terms of the plot was just about done. He started the whole Riaan crusade, now he's leading it up to Luke and Abis Omega to lead everyone the crusade for him. But I made him go out with a bang at least, along with Brontes getting some badass points against Armagedoid.

I'll get another chapter up soon, but I hope you guys still enjoyed this one. Now that the battle is over, we'll be seeing what Luka's sacrifice has left for them to take in.

As always, your reviews are very appreciated! I'd love to hear how you're taking in the story and everything I've done so far! Until next time! Stay healthy and well!