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.

62. Rogue Zero's Last Stand - Part I

The main chamber of the palace was occupied currently with six attributed circles filled by Hades Pillars. They all gave each other shifty glares as the air was extremely thin. Not just because of Cyrus, but from the awkwardness that riled everyone up in their respective places. The situation had turned on them, and not in the most amicable way either.

"I'm humbled you all could make it so suddenly." Cyrus rebuffed. "It seems that we've come to knowing of some…unfortunate news."

"Yes, Lord Cyrus. We are very much aware, thank you very much." Lucia chimed dryly. "We've been met with more than one breach today."

"Obviously." Magnus eyerolled.

Zion offered no input. He glared ahead with no need to say anything, when his iron grip on his polearm was all the answer for anyone to tell what mood he was in.

Amina shot everyone a glare. "Alright, out with it. Which one of you stole one of my dresses?" She growled. "Where is my dress? No one touches my stuff. Nobody!"

Magnus gave her a look. "Yo, can't this wait? We're getting to-"

"I don't care! Somebody touches my stuff, their filthy, diseased, poor hands had the audacity to go and defile my precious room, and look at my stuff. But then take something that's mine!" She shot Lucia a look. "You better come clean or else…"

Lucia remained unfazed by her associates threatening growl. "Hmph, and why would I bother with your material possessions, Miss Amina. You're misplacing your threats on the obvious bane of your existence."

Amina turned towards Galilea. "You! What nerve do you have then? Well?!"

Galilea scoffed. "No, Amina. It wasn't me. I've been too preoccupied with the workload and transferring files. Which, I should add, has come to a brief terminal."

"Which brings us to why we're here, I presume." Lucia followed up. "Now then-"

"Hey! What about my dress?! That was an irreplaceable fiber that took a long time to find! I am not letting this one go, do you hear me?!" Amina outraged.

Zion shot her a severe look. "Be quiet. Save your possession talks for later."

Amina growled ferally. "You ugly little…!"

Cyrus, while bemused by the scene, resumed the subject. "As you all might be aware, there has been a breach in our captivity area. Rogue Zero, the special ops team that served under us…seems to have gone under the wire around here. And Galilea, is there something else that you would like to share with us in association with that news?"

Galilea acquiesced. "Yes." She cleared her throat. "Approximately 15 minutes ago, our enemy's signature disappeared under our radar as well. The ones who have been engraved into our path infiltrated the lab, and has since been covered. Furthermore, there was a significant energy spike of negative compounds briefly that was picked up on the sensors before they disappeared. We have reason to believe that it may involve them somehow."

Magnus raised a brow. "Yo, didn't the security cams' catch them?"

Galilea shook her head. "No. Unfortunately the entire lab's monitoring systems and security system had an override. I was unable to teleport there as well. When I arrived via on foot…the sight was most troubling. All of our scientists in the unit that were in charge of maintaining the Forbidden energy matter and Solaris…have been killed."

Magnus' eyes widened beneath his visors. "Woah, woah! Hold up…all of them?"

Galilea slowly nodded. "All of them. Ruthlessly." She could still remember their blood splattered along the floor. It was enough to almost make her puke. "Whatever it was that attacked them before, it also tampered with the system. Which means, whomever was there before, is indeed responsible."

"So you saying these guys did it?" Magnus pondered.

"No. The system deterrence happened an hour prior to their infiltration."

"I see…" Cyrus meekly frowned. "How very…unsettling indeed. But, rest assured, their lives were for the service of his Majesty, were they not?" He gave Galilea a smirk. "And also, the lab was under your watch as well, is that right?"

Galilea gave an offended glare. "Excuse me? I was trying to-!" She stopped cold when something sharp was inches away from her neck. She froze in place at the axe blade attached to Zion's arm right by her side. She gave him a shocked look, but his flaming bloodlust overruled her authority.

"We have no room for excuses. Fix this." He scowled. "If we are not on time for the operation to eliminate these pests, that will be on your shoulders. Displeasing our lord will have grave consequences."

"At ease, Zion." Cyrus insisted. Zion complied and slowly levered his arm down. "But you know, I do condone, Galilea. Lucia foresaw the peak of their arrival is now. Regardless of the instance, we need the lab now. Go, and get everything ready. We'll worry about your worker bees' misfortune later, understood."

Galilea cleared her throat. She calmed down some enough to sigh aloud. Between Zion and Cyrus, she had no authority like she did before. It frustrated her. "…yes, Lord Cyrus." She looked away as she started typing into her Bakumeter, until she teleported away from her spot.

"Okay, well that solves one problem." Magnus boasted. "What about 'dem roaches crawling about?"

"Kill them on site." Zion sneered. "For now, prepare for the operation…we'll trap and gun them all down."

Hades Pillars teleported away, leaving Cyrus as the last one to do so. He smirked. "Hmph, I wonder…" He vanished of into the unknown darkness. "Will you end your fear…or continue to bend to your whim?"

---

Solaris was in a state of total chaos, that's the sum of what can be described.

As attacks were thrown by either side, holographic grids rippled the attacks outwards that would have destroyed buildings. Had it not been for these grids structures would have long since been decimated. Interacian Bakugan were everywhere while the others were all scattered about, trying to find what levity was possible.

Phosphos jumped back when an Interacian Luxtor fired a dark beam from its eyes. The three-headed alien hydra snarled back. "Ability, activate! Stealth Claw!" Phosphos gradually faded into his surroundings. With his visibility at a complete minimum, the enemy Luxtor in his way was completely immobile, unsure of what to do, before a force slashed into its side, making him fall over. Phosphos' frame only barely noticeable within the sunlight, but it was clear he moved too fast to show mercy. He jumped right up, kicking the Luxtor on the underside harshly into the side of a building. Another grid rippled harshly upon impact.

The Luxtor unleashed a loud, shrieking cry of pain at the sudden infliction dealt with. Phosphos on the other hand wasn't giving a care. "Quit your bellyaching! It's only just getting started with you!"

A squawk came from above, with a shadow becoming Plitheon as he glided from the skies. "My sentiments exactly!" he shouted. "Jesse, now!"

On his shoulder, Jesse held up an ability. "Ability, activate! Fly Slasher!" Plitheon swiped hos arm, sending deep green crescent blades after the Luxtor that Phosphos was trying to decimate.

A soldier reached out towards the street. "Gate Card, open! Freeze Enemy!"

The Gate Card shined beneath, completely freezing up the camouflaged Phosphos and Plitheon. The momentum of Plitheon's attack due to his sudden stalemate made it crash into Phosphos instead, since he was impeding the path towards Luxtor. Phosphos screamed as he fell over onto his face hard.

"Phosphos!" Lena panicked.

Another soldier close by aimed his machine gun at her. "Target in sight! Prepared to engage!"

Lena gasped in horror. Her pupils visibly shrunk as she saw the machine gun's black hole staring directly at her face. She was so winded that she didn't realize the blue hand that cupped her and grabbed her before the bullets started pelting where she stood just mere seconds ago.

"Got her!" Contestir shouted above. He was currently gliding with the Spartablaster on his back, enabling him to maneuver through the magenta beams that were beaming from all directions.

"Great job, Contestir!" Zenet shouted. "Let's hurry and get out of here, fast!"

"Right!" Contestir went for another location via gliding, but he didn't realize something was right overhead. It was a magenta glint before it was too late. "What-?!"

Before he realized it, a magenta beam blasted straight down with superb accuracy. The impact from the Hurrix was spot-on and swallowed him in a large magenta explosion that engulfed the skies.

Ren look in the direction of the blast and looked shocked beyond any means. He watched the smokey comet that was Contestir plummet straight down, crashing into the avenue hard. "Lena! Zenet!" He cried out.

An Interacian with an energy machete went lunging for him. He looked back in time to see him coming at him and backpedaled from the blade. He backpedaled one more time, and again, until he was able to get to behind a street sign, hoping that would stop the blade. However, a horizontal sweep of it sliced the poll in two.

"Ren!" Linehalt looked back to find him on the defensive.

"I can handle this. Don't you worry." Nurzak jumped off of Sabator's shoulder and pulled out a long bisento with brown energy. He came down on the soldier, but the same enemy had a shield on his right arm that he used to block Nurzak's attack. The old man grunted at the failed attempt to strike a clean blow.

'He's armed in both offense and defense?!' He backpedaled away, now diverting the soldier onto him. The soldier was much faster than him, and his reflexes were superb. Nurzak was defending blow after blow, but he was steadily losing footholds. 'His combat skills are better than my own. These movements, they are like Neathians!'

"Stay strong! Everyone!" Fabia insisted, but even she and Aranaut were losing ground. "Aranaut! Ability, activate! Mirage Fist!"

"Copy that!" Aranaut's fists clutched as two small staff-like handles protruded from either side. Several Interacian Bakugan fired projectiles at him, yet he withstood them by crossing them over one another. He swiped them apart to dispel them all, but the force of the abilities did make him lose ground by a step back.

Fabia gnashed her teeth. 'The enemy is too strong. At this rate, we'll never get to the palace. Just what's going on over there? Dan, Battle Brawlers, hurry!'

…

Radizen's Clawbruck struck the ground where a Fangoid would be, but it missed, leaving the Fangoid and two other Scaboid to open fire their Twin Destructors onto Radizen. For the most part the machine took most of the blows, but it was leaving Radizen to backpedal as well.

"Radizen! Don't give up!" Marucho insisted, riding the Clawbruck as well. "Roxtor! Give us a hand! Ability activate, Under Explosion!" Roxtor lifted his claws up and unleashed a cry before digging his way downwards through the pavement.

A soldier stepped forward, scoffing. "Tch, these guys never learn!" He swiped his hand, sending a yellow Gate Card out that rippled at the incoming dirt mound. "Gate Card, open! Wall Lock!"

The Gate Card open, creating a translucent reflective barrier that came up and exploded dirt everywhere. From the dirt mound, Roxtor went flying out due to recoil and flopped onto his back, squirming around frantically to get up.

"How'd he do that?!" Marucho worried.

Two Merlix spread their arms out and generated darkness around them. They both faded around Skytruss and Orbeum, who were looking around for their opponents. Suddenly, two shadows were cast over them and seized them. Iron grip that resembled Merlix' hands were holding them tightly against their wills.

"Guys, hang on!" Shun shouted. "Jaakor!"

"Hands off my family, Interacian scum!" He fired in the direction of the attack and bolted energy across the pavement into the opponent. However, perpendicular shots were fired across from several Interacian Luxtor, specifically from their eyes all at once to block off Jaakor. "You'll pay for this, you swine!"

Shun grunted, balling his fists angrily. "There's just so many…" He looked in the direction of the shield surrounding the palace. "And we can't get anywhere near that palace Riaan is in. Snap! We're sitting ducks!"

Drago and Reptak were flying about, together as Aeroblitz. Dan and Gunz were on the shoulder pauldrons hanging on for dear life as they were trying to evade attacks from all direction.

"C'mon! There's gotta be an opening somewhere! There's just gotta be!" Dan shouted.

"Let's try blasting it!" Gunz advised.

"Sounds like a plan." Drago authorized. "C'mon!"

Dan nodded. "Right!" He held up his Bakumeter, showing a yellow and red ability flashing. "Ability, activate! Harvey Cannon – Impact Torrent!"

Aeroblitz charged up his shoulder cannon with molten light. It took several seconds for a complete charge before blasting a ferocious beam. "Take this!" Drago roared out as the beam blitzed through several enemies at once. Those too close were melted clean through by the attack, reducing them to ball form and shrapnel. The attack continued on until it struck the shield. But instead of destroying it like they wanted, the energy grid absorbed it, and diffused it as magenta energy that flourished into the earth like veins.

"Seriously?" Drago grunted, before a stray magenta electrical pulse stung his back. He grunted and maneuvered hastily out of a Farakspin's attack that had him on the run. The two-in-one creature used acrobatics and moved about until he was at a high enough pint to overlook everyone.

Everywhere they looked, they saw gunfire and Bakugan firing on their friends. Dan's eyes were glued with shock and anger as he could see it all. Paranormal destruction afoot. He saw Phosphos unable to move as Impalaton were surrounding him and Plitheon. Contestir was already in ball form and Zenet and Lena were running away to corners. Sabator was trying to defend Nurzak as he was surrounded by men left and right. He even saw Percival and Nemus flying away while Rubanoid was trying to give some form of cover, but was nullified by a Gate Card.

Gunz' eyes widened in sheer shock. "Just look at all this…it's a mess."

Dan had nothing to say, he just grunted angrily at what destruction was going on right now. He was so lost he didn't realize something important that his eyes caught onto. He looked down at his left arm, seeing it crossed onto his right shoulder, as if to shield something that stung. More specifically, the spot where Riaan stabbed him.

"On all your planets, in your dimensions, every life isn't without violence. It's a tool – a necessity – that enforces one's position of where they stand. In order to survive, you must learn to fend for yourself. Even if it means the cost of another's."

Riaan's words stung him just as much as the wound. Barely healed as it was, it did little for Dan's self-esteem. "That's…gotta change. It has to…" He sighed. "…and we'll make it. We have to! THIS ENDS NOW!"

Aeroblitz made one more charge into the fray below. Dan and Gunz held on for their lives as they were going to risk it all. They had to.

'Riaan…guys…you've pulled a lot of weight…but we'll never stop fighting! Wherever you guys are, you better get here!

---

Lightning flashed with thunder ringing the ears of all who heard it. It flashed spontaneously so much that it gave way for Luke and everyone to recognize the six searing stares that were burning holes into their hearts. No winds blew, but a chill had gotten towards many of them at the sight of some old acquaintances.

The six gleaming stares were accompanied by a grizzly silence. Maximus nor anyone for that matter said anything to boast down to their unwelcomed guests of honor.

"Maximus…Rogue Zero…" Luke muttered, utterly stupefied and shocked.

"It can't be…" Abis gasped.

Maximus grimly chuckled beneath his tattered hood. "What's the matter, Luke? Didn't anyone teach you it's bad manners to not say hello back?" Another lightning bolt flashed across the sky, creating the illusion of them disappearing from their spots. Another harsh bolt blitzed across the sky, in which they appeared meters in front at eye-level.

Maggie stepped back, startled. "Woah! Talk about lightning quick!"

Shuji immediately got back on his guard. "These guys don't look anything like they did before…"

His statement was evident enough as it is. All six members of Rogue Zero were standing lined up, each one adorning what looked like new attires to match their improved selves. Amongst them, there were considerable changes that lampshades everything they knew about them from before.

Cesar was wearing a clean black coat with magenta markings that went from the shoulders towards the end of the long sleeves. The sleeves ended in pointed marks that matched his huge collar, which was also magenta. He had a white button shirt beneath that matched his lipstick. He had on white dress pants and black shoes. He wore white gloves same as before. However, around his left arm, there was a gold gauntlet-like pauldron that that numerous buttons and small screens for projecting. The antigravity chair he sat on was much different from his last one. This one had deep red leather and a long, swivel chair-like back rest that reached far up, and had no arches. It concaved around Cesar like he sat on some divine throne.

Ariella had her own changes in mind. Her bright blue hair that had a bud and ponytail now had a blue ribbon on it rather than pins. Blue pearls were on her earrings as well. She adorned a bright blue tank top to show off some reasonable cleavage, with a very beautiful and unique toga-like dress. The dress was a sea blue with white bubble patterns, with white wavy accents along the side. Her sleeveless arms and shoulder had armbands. She had black pants that went down to her knees and white shoes to match.

Hendrix had a green hazel-like coat buttoned over a black tank top. The petal-like accents that he had before were moves to the sleeve and his back. The sleeves were rolled up to the elbows in a bright tan. He wore a brown belt to hold up his black trousers. He had calve-length dark brown boots with tan laces across them. On his hand, he adorned black gloves with the orange flower patterns that were on his attire.

Killian's attire had undergone a considerable change as well. He wore dark shades instead of glasses, and instead of one neon green ribbons he had two dark green ones; one for each side of the shades. He had the silver armor on as before, but had a silver pauldron on the left shoulder with a dark green accent. Brighter green pointed streamers went down it. He had a dark green emerald on the base of the neck that held the deep green cape he wore on his back up. He had the same brown belt, with darker blue pants with silver pauldrons on the knees. He had the same brown boots as before.

Xander had notable changes as well, ones that made him look almost entirely different. The black rope-like band he wore on his head had thro-like protrusions to resemble a crown. His new deep red cape had black rope-like bracing at the collar bone with an orange orb. It also had two black horns sticking out at both shoulders. The cape was tattered all the way down towards the back of the knees, which was longer than Killian's. His red long-sleeved short was torn above the elbows so they were short. He no longer had the Pyrus-accented guard in front. He adorned black gloves with claws at the end. He had black pants with black pauldrons with red orbs embedded in them. His new cleats were accented red and black instead of red and silver; they even had spikes on the bottom and two small black horns to match the ensemble.

However, out of all of Rogue Zero, the one who looked unrecognizable was Maximus. He had a long, tattered, black cape that went down to his shins, making it the longest compared to Killian and Xander. The cape had a very large distorted hood that cascaded over Maximus enough to cover his shaggy bright blue hair. His demonic horn-like crown looked bigger and broader than it did last time. He had pitch-black pauldrons with jagged horns and silver edging. He wore pitch-black pectoral armor that went over his cut-off black tattered midriff. He still had the same belt as before that held up the white pants, which were tattered and torn above the shins to reveal his spikes cleats, which were black and silver lined. The ends of the heels were curbed to show more demonic footing. However, what was the mist noteworthy change was the fact that he was bare-armed, with black armbands around the triceps. His elbows had braces, while mechanically large gauntlets with razor-sharp claws were covering his real arms. Dark purple circles were on the back of the hands.

Maximus was hunched over, looking like a slouching zombie at everyone who stood in guard over them. He dark eyes had numerous wrinkles with his chapped mouth forming a bright smirk.

Jase held a serious disposition as he prodded his glasses with two fingers again. "Seems as though they've been accommodating themselves quite nicely to compare." He chimed.

Cesar chuckled. "Oh, Jase. It's good to see you again. It's nice to see some things haven't changed. Not like…" He raised his arms towards the air. "My genius!" He uproariously laughed in triumph. "It's glorious! Absolutely glorious indeed! Gyahahahaaah~!"

"More like lunacy." Maggie frowned heavily. "He's even more obsessed about his smarts that he's not even realizing it. Talk about self-absorbed."

"Hmph, long time indeed, little miss." Ariella snorted. "I trust that you've enjoyed your little vacation from us while we were left out of the field temporarily."

Hendrix crossed his arms. He gave a short grunt of displeasure. "It seems that we were destined to meet again…how unfortunate."

Killian furrowed his eyebrows. "Long time no see, guys. Looks like you haven't changed much."

"It's only been a few weeks. What in the world happened to these guys?" Shawn wondered.

"I'm not sure." Esther frowned. "But…something about them is completely abnormal. There's a huge amount of negative energy around them compared to before." She didn't tell this to the others, but her skin was crawling with goosebumps. She stood completely still with her guard up. 'This pressure is unlike them at all.'

Maximus raised his hood-covered head. "So you've noticed…good. We would've been insulted if you didn't notice from the start. We've been through enough thanks to what you lot have put us through. And now, it's time that we show our gratitude."

"Wait a minute…" Luke's eyes widened at the realization. "So then…how we got into the palace that time…"

Jase heavily frowned. "Now I see. That would explain everything."

Cesar chuckled, which evolved to an erroneous uproar. "So you've realized it then? Well, not like it matters anyways, but how's about we try to explain it in the simplest ways we can. After all, I believe they deserve an explanation for coming this far."

"Ha. You laugh too much Cesar, has anybody told you that?" Ariella scoffed. "Like the good Doc explained, we'll spell it out in the shortest words possible for you all. You see, after what happened in our last encounter, Riaan had us…detained for a short while."

"Detained, huh?" Shawn inquired. He didn't sound very convinced by that testimony.

"Frankly how and why under circumstances aren't important. But during our time off the field, we've had quite a few revelations of our own. So, you can say that we've taken matters into our own hands. Killian?"

"Ole' Riaan wasn't very happy with us, just like she said." He started. "So we've gotten ourselves some pick-me-ups along the way to where we are now. So we had to improvise."

Cesar scoffed. "And with that, brings us to why we're here."

Luke's eyes widened again. He couldn't believe where this was going. "Then…the teleportation…the lab…and those people we found…" His face fell to a serious one. "Now I get it. This is about revenge, isn't it?"

"Revenge?" Maximus chuckled. "Luke, don't make me laugh now. This isn't revenge at all. This is far from that. Consider this…rectification."

"Then is killing off your own side's subordinates also rectification?" Shawn glared. "That was you guys, wasn't it?"

"…" Hendrix said nothing.

Ariella scoffed. "And what if it was?"

"Ariella…enough." Maximus rebuffed. "Allow me." He stepped forward, almost hunchback-like. He gave everyone a glare as he held up his new gauntlets. "We've all known each other for a long while now, so it seems fair to say this. Luke…you and your little group of apprehensible mistakes, you've been drawn here for one specific reason. We're here…to put an end to all of this. To you…and the path that you've blocked for us to move forward." He held his gauntlets higher. "With such power, comes with such sacrifices. This new power we've gained, it shall change everything. Including your very existence."

Jase wasn't convinced. "You must have us mistaken for someone else. Either that or it's too dark for you to see under that tattered hood you ornament. What makes the case any different from last time? Entail. Would it perhaps have to do with the recent archives related to Forbidden Energy that was commandeered?"

Luke's group looked at him with surprise. Maggie was the first to answer with words. "So it's true then!"

Maximus snorted. "Tch…clever."

"Yes, supposedly that is." Cesar chimed. "As you know, Jase, I'm an extremely important biproduct of Interacian life. Life wasn't just handed to them on a silver platter you know, I mean, who else would have access to the labs better than myself?" He held up his new gauntlet. "Now granted, Galilea and Lucia may have altered some matters about, but what's two low-brow uptights to a genius? I've overridden all the systems within the palace, with just a few short coded buttonworks of course." He smirked at Maximus' new gauntlet claws. "And, to give us a small boost, we've had to give ourselves some upgrades at that. And dare I say they don't come cheap you know. The blood will stain the metal, you know."

"Don't waste your breath on those kinds of remarks, Cesar. We don't have that time anymore." Hendrix rebuffed.

Cesar sighed heavily, shaking his head. "Suppose you're right. They're smart. They should be able to figure this puzzle out themselves."

Luke and everyone stood completely still, trying to process what Cesar was saying. It didn't take long for any of them to realize it.

"So that was your game then…" Shawn grunted. "So everything that happened since bringing us behind the border…was for this moment."

Shuji crossed his arms. "So what Jase said about that Forbidden Energy, I can only guess that these guys decided to mingle with it just to settle things with us."

"I'd say that's taking a leap too far gone." Maggie interrupted. "But at this point, it doesn't matter now, does it?"

"No, it doesn't." Esther replied, walking a few paces forward. "So, you hijacked your own lab, and you've anticipated that we would come here for the Forbidden Data. So instead, you'd set up a trap that would take us out of the picture into the Doom Dimension."

Xander snickered. "Well, well, look who's as sharp as she is cold. Guess gold star for you, Esther."

Luke got on his guard, bracing to grab his sword. Everyone got on their guards as well. "Tell me something. Was this Riaan's idea?"

"Riaan…Riaan…" Maximus lowered his head. "Riaan…?"

There was a very low sneer, which gradually erupted into a callous snarl. It became a chuckle, then a low howling, bloodcurdling screech of insane laughter. Maximus reeled his neck back and laughed uproariously towards the sky as it flashed lightning. Several lights ignited the wrinkles along his face as he joyfully laughed his heart out, much to everyone's unease.

Once Maximus let it all out, he careened his head forward once more. "Luke…has it really been that long? Are you so preoccupied about Lord Riaan that you completely forgot about our personal score?" He paused. "No. This has nothing to do with Riaan. Nothing to do with Hades Pillars. This is all about us, and us alone. You, and me. Nobody else, you comprehend that much at least?" He held up the gauntlet to resemble a crushing fist. "What we have, is something that is between us. And that…will end now, and free us from our wretched shackles."

Luke stood in place with a frown. "Is he really this far in depth with revenge?"

Esther gave him a glance. "Luke, remember. Don't worry about it. It's not your fault."

Luke took a short breath in, and then out. "…yeah, you're right Esther." He sharpened his glare on Maximus. "We're here now, that's what matters. And Rogue Zero's right in front of us. If they came here to settle this, then we've got no choice. I'm sorry guys…but if you won't get us out of here voluntarily, we'll do it ourselves!"

Ariella rested her cheek against her palm. "Oh? What's this? So Luke's stepping up I see. You're pretty bold compared to when we last saw you all humbled and inferior. How adorable." She put another hand to her hip. "But tough talk alone ain't gonna save you, you know. Just like Maximus said, we're here to put you down for good."

Shuji didn't look amused. "If that's the case then why aren't we dead yet?"

"Oh, you know women Shuji. They like to saunter about their words before going for the kill apparently." Jase chimed.

Esther and Maggie held their tongues as they sighed. This was no time to banter back at him.

"Wait a go, Jase." Shawn teased.

Jase had his composure still. "Well at least everyone has a fire in them now. Just be sure to keep it lit."

"Don't you think you're above your paygrades?" Xander taunted. "Look, I'm tired of sitting around. Once we're done with you, we have business with Hades Pillars that needs to be settled." He thought about Zion. 'All this time, he's been using me for target practice. Next time, he'll be a target for us!'

Maximus let out a lengthy sigh, his breath visibly hazy with negative energy. "Xander…shut it."

Xander did as told and balled his fists.

"Don't worry, we'll have our fun with Hades Pillars and Riaan…but first, let's clean up the mess in front of us."

"So if we were brought here because of you guys, does that mean you can reverse the effects as well?" Maggie asked.

Cesar chuckled. "Why, dear little Maggie, of course I can." He held up his golden gauntlet. "The beamer for the Doom Dimension portal was triggered because I wired its signals onto your Bakumeters. It was elementary, honestly." His gestured went quiet as his face turned serious. "The beamer will reactivate when the signals are recharged through the battle energy. But, just so you know, we've installed our Bakumeter signals into it as well. But it's not impossible…that is, if you can win."

"So that's how it is." Esther glared. "If we win, we'll go back to the others."

"But if we lose, we're trapped here in the Doom Dimension." Shawn grunted. "Damnit! They're really not messing around with the stakes this time, huh?"

Maggie balled her fists. "In that case, we can't lose this one! There's too much to ride on for us to be here!"

"Yeah, and I don't want to be here, either." Jelldon declared.

"Looks like we're in agreement then." Atmos coaxed. "Then a battle to the end, if it must be so."

Maximus' fingers twitched, his snarls growing feral with his need to spill Luke's blood running clean through his eyes. "I…have no fear of you. I…am free. Cyrus…you spoke so fondly of killing all fear, in order to make you stronger. I have killed my old self. This shall be me…the new me…the me that will SLAUGHTER FEAR TO OBLIVION!"

Lighting went ballistic above. The negative energy ions erupted like a signal for everyone to understand what must be done. Everyone braced themselves all eyes were fixed on their opponents. The energy swelled so much that even more lightning flashed, giving everyone a shadow the cast as all their faces showed dead seriousness. The one who looked most serious out of everyone, however, was Maximus as he glared hate-filled daggers at Luke, who showed absolutely no reluctance.

It was time for one side to be put to an end to this suffering, once and for all.

Maximus: 100% Luke: 100%

Xander: 100% Esther: 100%

Hendrix: 100% Maggie: 100%

Ariella: 100% Shuji: 100%

Killian: 100% Shawn: 100%

Cesar: 100% Jase: 100%

"Luke…I hate you. Truly, I do." Maximus growled. "But you know what I hate most about you? Do you really want to know?" He lifted his head, revealing his deranged, bloody glare fixed solemnly on his heart. "It's the fact that no matter what I do, you always are there, proving to one-up me. You keep climbing above me. You think you can make me fear you. You think that you can make me give up just because you're that farther ahead. Those eyes you have…those fearless eyes that show no concern…those will be the first things that I will gouge out." He swiped his arm, making dark purple energy claws lengthen from the tips. "So all you will see…is fear and darkness!"

Luke kept his glare hard on Maximus. "He's so consumed in his hate against us, Abis. I guess we'll have no choice then."

"I'm with you." The Bakugan nodded. "Let's put an end to this, once and for all."

"My sentiments exactly, Abis." Atchibee agreed. "Everyone, let's prepare ourselves!"

"You read my mind." Verias said.

"If they've acquired the Forbidden data already, then the machines we saw at the lab are the answer to our question." Jase recognized. "There's no telling what Rogue Zero might have done to their Bakugan at this point. Regardless of that, victory is a must."

"Right, so everyone! On your guard, now!" Esther insisted.

"Ariella smirked maliciously. "This is going to be fun. I can almost guarantee it."

"Enough talk! Show us what you've got!" Xander challenged arrogantly.

Esther furrowed her brow. "Gate Card, set!" She flung the card out towards the stale rock that was the never-ending wasteland. It faded in a dark purple shockwave across the ground. "Atchibee…"

"No need to say anything, Esther. I am always ready. Let's do this!" She closed, with everyone else following her lead.

Altogether, everyone pulled their arms back, firing off their Bakugan at the same time. "Bakugan…brawl! Bakugan, stand!"

In front of Rogue Zero, shockwaves exploded as they all withstood their ground. Six large pillars of various elements shined pulsating pressure skywards, especially the water pillar, which made the humidity increase by a large margin. They got on their guards as they watched several appendages expel form their respective elements.

"Arise, Darkus Dusk Atchibee!" From a black whirlwind, wings flapped to reveal Dusk Atchibee. She unleashed a bloody howl that shrilled through the dark skies.

"Go, Pyrus Glow Jelldon!" Red hot plasma discharged as tentacles swiveled around until Jelldon arose, his body unleashing a bright glow from all the gel sacs as he cried out.

"Rise, Subterra Stag Fly Beetle!" The earth shook as claws embedded into the dirt. A horn arose along with the expulsion of clear yellow wings, revealing Fly Beetle ready for action with a proud roar.

"Go, Haos Prime Verias!" From a beaming light, a staff was caught and the ends grew into long axe blades that punctured the ground. A large fur mane bristled the air as Verias arose for battle, unleashing a vibrant battle cry that distorted the air around him.

"Come forth! Ventus Gale Atmos!" From a green typhoon, the winds dissipated around Gale Atmos, whose four wings had the propellers projecting his whirlwinds and shrilled caw everywhere.

Lastly, a vortex of deep blue water surged in the back of all the Bakugan present. Everyone remained completely calm, save for Rogue Zero as they felt a tremendous power swell from out of nowhere. Luke held his unsheathed sword up, directing the beaming water skywards into a growing tidal hemisphere. "Come forth…Aquos Daedalus Abis Omega!" The water cyclone exploded, sending a bright blue array of water everywhere as Daedalus Abis Omega uncurled, showing off his glowing gills, tail, and diamonds all over his body. He unleashed a bloodcurdling shriek that rippled airwaves outwards throughout the Doom Dimension skies. His glow receded gradually as he remained floating with Atmos and Atchibee.

Daedalus Abis Omega: 900/Dusk Atchibee: 700/Glow Jelldon: 700/Stag Fly Beetle: 700/Prime Verias: 700/Gale Atmos: 700 = 4400

Rogue Zero looked on with straight faces. Although if one looked a little more closely, they could see they were taken back somewhat by the unveiling of their opponents' Bakugan. Specifically, where their eyes were drawn on Daedalus Abis Omega.

"It would seem that weren't the only ones to have improved in some areas." Hendrix pointed out.

"Okay, I admit. I wasn't expecting this kind of welcome." She smirked maliciously. "But…neither did they."

"Alright guys, enough talking. Let's get this over with." Killian responded, his tone deathly serious.

Xander stepped up besides him. "You heard him everyone. I shall it's time to show them our own little surprise."

"Yes. My thoughts exactly…" Maximus glared bloody eyes forward as a sphere enveloped in misty negative energy floated above his palm. "You know, Luke, I couldn't have waited for a better opportunity than this. You and your friends will be the first to see our new power. Consider it an honor. Now then…"

The stale air started rumbling around Rogue Zero. The others held up visible spheres in their hands that magnified the negative energy around them. A stray lightning bolt came down behind them, creating a heart-stopping flash that left everyone heavily anticipating what will happen.

"Here they come." Luke warned.

Maximus and the rest of Rogue Zero drew back the Bakugan in hand and cried out at the same time. Cesar inserted his Bakugan through an insert in his armrest and shot it out upfront. "Bakugan…BRAWL!"

Together, they all threw their Bakugan in. Six colorful balls residing attributes shot across the ground and towards the center, where they all opened at the same time. "Bakugan, stand!"

When all six Bakugan popped open, the earth suddenly diced apart beneath everyone. They all covered up when a broad shockwave of negative energy flashed through the area, making a helix of said energy that shot into the skies above. The Doom Dimension clouds high above instantly spread apart, tearing away the storm that was there a second ago. Luke and everyone gradually uncovered, seeing a maelstrom of negative ropes of energy gathering behind Rogue Zero. They all withstood the roaring energy that boomed their ears, yet the maelstrom went on.

Rogue Zero was completely unfazed by this energy as they all stood completely prepared. The energy gradually shaped around six Bakugan, which all had completely different shapes than what they expected.

"Huh?" Abis noticed the silhouettes, but he couldn't believe it.

Atchibee braced her scythes and she and the others saw what came before them.

Xander scoffed lightly. Why don't you say hello…to Ultra Dragonoid!" From a vortex of black fire, came a humanoid dragonoid-like Bakugan. The horns on the side of his head had gotten longer and deeper edged than last time. The scales along his neck were still black, but now had magenta spikes curving downward along the sides. Two smaller spike-like horns were on his snout and forehead. He adorned black armor over his upper body and over the shoulder much like pauldrons and a mantle. Each shoulder had three large magenta spikes jutting out, with the middle spike being the largest. His cream-colored stomach was now orange with silver edging, with a magenta diamond on the chest. Black armor shielded his legs, with golden diamonds lining up the armor. Deep red scales jutted out like blades from his forearms backwards. The same pattern on his stomach went towards the underside of his tail, where black scales and golden spikes up to the scythe-like tail. His wings were far wider and longer, with deep red scaling at the joints that resembled his arms.

The earth trembled as what appeared to be jutting roots spiked up out of nowhere. A large wine-like structure protruded out and opened. "Come…Subterra Bloom Rafflesian!" Rafflesian was drastically different compared to what he looked like before. He now sprouted from yellow vines the spiraled to make a body that went into the ground. The yellow roots had much sharper spikes towards them, like briars. He had a rose-like head that was closed and periwinkle colored, with red feelers along the sides. The petals fully bloomed in a total of five huge black petals, with the same patterned eyes as when he was Rafflesian. The wavy edging was all magenta.

A blue light gave wake to an enormous pincer that slammed into the ground. "Go! Aquos Megalo Clawcer!" The Bakugan that arose had the appeal of Clawcer, put his legs were far longer, making him stand like a spider crab. The legs were also black and spiked like a king crab. Black armor coated his upper body, which was much more rugged and spiky. His lower-half had a deep blue armor over his mouth, which now opened like two doors to reveal incisors and sharp teeth. A yellow star was on the underbelly. He had longer arms as well, leading up to a black lobster-like pincer on the left, and on the right was a pincer that was three times that size, with a silver sharp end. The pincer had rugged, deep silver incisors to tear anything that he touched. On the front of it was that same star-like pattern as before, however, it now evolved into a six-sided star0like shield that was fully magenta.

A dark green blur shot into the high skies, nearly rivaling Atmos at his elevation. The shockwaves generated were enough to create a tempest that deterred them all. "Go…Ventus Swarm Moskeeto!" The bakugan Killian unleashed looked very much like Moskeeto, but he had various upgrades towards his body. He took on a more insectoid-like mosquito body frame, with the lower abdominal frame having a silver stinger at the end. A bright green diamond was on said underside, whereas a black underside was on the back. Green filled the middle. The midsection was much smaller, with two bright green diamond that jutted out mosquito-like legs instead of the claws. The mosquito legs were in pairs of two, with very sharp, skewering ends. His clear wings have gotten much longer and refined edging to be more sleek. On the back was black fur with magenta spikes running along said back. His head had a black spike running back with a magenta diamond on the front. Two slick, magenta antennae swerved backwards His round eyes were narrower and sharper, with black frames around them. However, the biggest change was how his proboscis was compared to before. Rather curved and ridged, it resembled much like a machine gun, with a thin, triangular-like hole at the end. It had magenta edging with bright green covering.

A dark yellow light had a hazy mist that crystalized the particles, shattering as a large frame swerved out of it. "Arise my beautiful creation! Haos Deep Freezer!" A Bakugan arose next, resembling much of a giant squid. The entire ocular top was the brain, which was no longer contained in a case. A black tip was at the top, which helped border the magenta underside and the black rims. A black headpiece kept the purple eyes separated from the brain. A magenta rhombus was on the forehead. Below the eyes was a white body with silver chord-like protrusions that laced onto his ventilator to filter out the temperature. Silver chords made a ring or collar beneath. The chords laced and wrapped around ten black tentacles with white undersides.

The last of the negative energy faded around another Bakugan that hovered behind a gleeful Maximus. He smirked excitedly as a piercing eyeball dilated and shined to reflect his own. "Show them…what fear truly means. Darkus Daemon Goblinball!"

Two armored gauntlets tore away from the center, revealing an entirely new frame that enveloped Goblinball. His huge eyeball was still there, but it was a little bigger than before, yet that was the only thing that didn't change. His body had evolved into an armored demon, with the eyeball at the core and bordered by red teeth and a long brace along the sides. The "head" was black with black horns that resembled Maximus' to a tee. It had yellow eyes and sharp, pointed teeth. The cheeks had purple spikes running down them, as did the chin. On the forehead was a small eyeball that resembled Goblinball's. A thick collar with dark purple edging laced around the base of the vulnerable neck. Dense black armor shielded his pectorals with bulging magenta diamonds. He had extremely large and long shoulder pauldrons that were ridged and curved upwards. Purple arms lead up to black armored gauntlets with razor-sharp claws. His wings have grown to help support the structure, becoming more spiked at the top with black diamond patterns filled in the dark purple wings. The lower-half below the eyeball was an equally black armored body with a dense drape that was pointed at the end. It was dark purple edge with black armor, and had a magenta diamond in the dead center. Two diamond-like pauldrons shielded his hips and went down towards the knees. The black armored legs went to pointed dark purple heels.

All six Bakugan flexed, unleashing blood-bent cries and scowls that sent dust and rock flying. The other Bakugan and humans bent to cover up, but even they were dumbfounded.

Daedalus Abis Omega: 900/Dusk Atchibee: 700/Glow Jelldon: 700/Stag Fly Beetle: 700/Prime Verias: 700/Gale Atmos: 700 = 4400

Daemon Goblinball: 800/Ultra Dragonoid: 800/Bloom Rafflesian: 700/Megalo Clawcer: 700/Swarm Moskeeto: 700/Deep Freezer: 700 = 4400

"Well now…how do you like us now?" Xander scoffed. "Surprise."

Abis' sharp eyes gleamed moral surprise. "It can't be…"

"Their Bakugan…I recognize them." Verias gasped.

"They must have evolved." Shawn theorized. His eyes narrowed in exasperation. "I knew this growth of forbidden energy felt odd."

Cesar smirked maliciously. "Yes, indeed. Thanks to a little something we've picked up on." He held up a card, one that had a familiar core on its face. He held it up for all to see. "Using the revised forbidden energy we've used and researched through all of our battles, we've magnified them into ability cards that we've exposed our Bakugan too. This caused them to not only evolve, but their output has been maximized even further. It's…pure genius!"

"More like pure madness." Maggie grimaced. "Doesn't he know that stuff is completely unhealthy for the Bakugan?"

Jase frowned. "Their Bakugan have been affected by this before, thus they've developed a stable mentality. These abilities they've used must have the same affect as well."

"So in other words, they're fully aware, and are accustomed to this power. Not good." Shawn grimaced.

Ultra Dragonoid flexed his wings. "Hahahaha! So, we meet again, human. I trust that you've all missed us as well. So good to see you like this."

Atchibee bared her scythes. "Long time indeed."

Hyper Dragonoid gave Atchibee a snarl. "Ah, Atchibee. I've been meaning to see you personally. I've wanted to see to you personally after our last few encounters."

Clawcer raised his huge claw, whereas Freezer, Moskeeto, and Rafflesian growled in unison. The other Bakugan glared daggers back.

"Xander…" Maximus growled. "I trust that you have the situation under control here."

Xander understood the message and smirked. "Don't worry about it. We'll have our fun. You do you, Max."

He hunched over, twitching. "Good…now then…Luke."

Luke gave Maximus a serious glare. He and Abis were deathly serious by the way they pierced into the dagger-like eyes of Maximus. "Why don't we settle things ourselves. To be honest, I hate distractions as well, so let's move them out of the way, shall we?" Maximus' gauntlet arose, the orb in the wrist shining to reveal a holographic ability projecting. "Ability, activate…Deadlock!"

Daemon Goblinball's main eye pupil shrunk. It dilated and released a distorted dark ripple. The body clutched its fists and released a loud howl that unleashed a dark purple light at Abis and Luke. They both looked on, stunned by the swiftness the light carried.

"Luke!" Esther called out, reaching towards him.

"Esther, stay back!" Luke yelled. His figment disappeared with Abis, leaving a blinding light in everyone's wake.

Everyone kept themselves away from the light until was gone. When the light faded, they all gradually uncovered until they could see clearly again. Verias and Atchibee looked between them to find Abis was missing, as was Luke. On Rogue Zero's side, Maximus and Goblinball were also gone, much to even their own shock.

"Luke? Luke!" Shawn shifted his gaze around, but to his horror there wasn't any sign of him not Abis.

"Abis?" Jelldon swiveled around, but even he was surprised. "He's…he's gone, too!" He turned towards their enemies. "You…! What have you done with them?!"

Ultra Dragonoid crossed his arms and snickered. "Don't worry about them right now. You should be more worried about yourself with what we have in store for you."

"Don't be so hasty now, Ultra Dragonoid. If they really want to know, we'll tell them." Xander stepped forward, smirking maliciously. "You see, Maximus and Luke have a personal score that needs to be settled. As he said before, he prefers to have very little distractions surrounding him. So he and Luke will have…a quality time away to settle themselves."

Jase kept a straight face. "Well then, if that's the case, we'll just have to ensure we handle our business with you then."

"While Luke handles Maximus, we'll be sure to rip you a new one." Shuji boasted.

"My thoughts exactly." Fly Beetle growled.

"Guess we don't have a choice." Shawn brought out his fencer. "That idiot better not make us worry too much."

"Focus, everyone! We must prevail!" Atmos cried out.

"Yeah! The others are waiting for us!" Jelldon declared.

Atchibee fluttered her wings. "Then no holding back."

Esther closed her eyes, clearing her head and giving herself a short time to think hard. 'Luke, don't worry about us. You've helped us this far. Now…it's our turn…' She opened her blue eyes, glaring cold, searing daggers at Rogue Zero. 'We'll win…no matter what!'

Xander's eyes narrowed. "Enough talk…time to destroy!"

---

Somewhere several miles away, the Doom Dimension wastelands continued endlessly. Yet even then, there was a dark purple light that brightened in the middle of it. It spread vastly, until it faded away.

Luke uncovered himself, looking around immediately to see what's changed. To his surprise, he only found himself and Abis. Their friends were nowhere else to be seen or heard from. "Where…are we?" He looked around warily. "Jase? Shuji? Esther?"

Abis looked around, seeing no sight of the Bakugan as well. "Atchibee…Verias…not good. Looks like we were completely separated from them."

Luke picked up on something else. "Wait…where's Maximus and Goblinball…!" He looked around, until his eyes widened and looked upwards. He and Abis noticed a piercing gaze gleaming straight down at their faces.

High above, Goblinball flapped his wings and glared down at Abis with hate-filled eyes fixated solemnly on him. Maximus was on his shoulder, glowering down onto Luke. The atmosphere was charged with a glare fixed on both of them, and them alone.

"Now…isn't this more suiting? Feels more comfortable this way. Just us, as it should be."

Luke looked down at his Bakumeter. He was mildly surprised with what he saw.

Maximus: 100% Luke: 100%

Daemon Goblinball: 800 Daedalus Abis Omega: 900

'He completely isolated us from the others.' He realized.

"You like? Deadlock is an ability that separates Daemon Goblinball and another Bakugan from the current battle. So even if you wanted to attack multiple opponents, you'll only be attacking Goblinball. Now, it's just us." He held up a Gate Card and flung it downwards into the ground, where it faded into a dark shockwave across the surface. "Are you ready?"

Luke grunted. "Guess we don't have a choice…sorry guys." He shook his head. 'No, don't worry about them. They can take care of themselves. I know they can hold their own just fine. We have to focus on what's in front of us. Abis and myself.'

Abis' diamonds, tail, and gills glowed brightly as he braced for battle. He swerved down so Luke could jump on. Once he did, they arose towards Maximus' heights for battle. 'Maximus, we'll end this…for good!'

Maximus saw the determined look Luke gave. It made his blood boil. "That's right…show me what you're made of!"

Abis opened his maw and released a bloodchilling roar out at Goblinball. The demonic Bakugan grunted and convulsed madly, exerting dark energy all around to intimidate his foe. They glared the other down, ready to make the first move.

The battle had begun!

Luke reached his sword out atop Abis' armored forehead. "Ability, activate! Dry Dirge!" Abis' eyes glimmered bright blue as he careened his head back for a loud roar. He lurched forward, unleashing a jet of clear blue water at Goblinball.

Maximus hunched over on his shoulder and held up his claw gauntlet. "Ability, activate…Gravity Shield!" Daemon Goblinball's main eye turned ahead. The head's forehead eye flashed red before the right arm jutted out, creating a gravitational mass that summoned debris rock from the surroundings. A clumped mesh of gray rock shielded the aquatic blast.

Daemon Goblinball: 800 (+500) = 1300 Daedalus Abis Omega: 900

The rock and water burst into a large dust cloud that Goblinball flew up from. He ascended until he reached a critical kinetic point and went into a steep dive for Abis. The sea dragon served out just in time and arched close towards the ground. As he roared, Luke jumped off and landed onto the dry earth beneath. The serpent glided overhead as Goblinball continued maneuvering around as well.

Maximus landed on his feet, giving a stern glare as his claw gauntlet showed another ability. "Ability activate, Nebulous Destroyer!" Goblinball slowed down and bright his claws together, creating an indigo, plasmatic energy orb surrounding a magenta core. Magnified dark energy compressed before he fired it at Abis. The orbs were slow, but he created many more as Abis maneuvered out of the way.

Daemon Goblinball: 1300 (+500) = 1800 Daedalus Abis Omega: 900 (-500) = 400

Luke countered in a flash. "Ability, activate!" Abis opened his maw, generating up deep blue energy to be fired. "Flood Quasar!" Abis lurched forward, unleashing a dense blue beam that cut clean through Goblinball's attack. The demon evaded by gliding out of the way, going into an acrobatic disarray to keep from Abis' counterattack.

Daemon Goblinball: 1800 (-1000) = 800 Daedalus Abis Omega: 400 (+500) = 900

Abis swerved through the air, going in long wavy motions as he fired beams across the sky. Goblinball zoomed out of range with each one, firing back volleys of black plasma balls to counter, but ended up being dodged as well.

Eventually, Abis got a visible shot into Goblinball's shoulder, deterring him into a fall downwards into the dead ground. He pulled himself up at the last second and glided across the ground sideways, ripping open a fissure in front of Luke with his bare claws. He carried that with him until he ascended up to attack.

'He's a lot faster than his last form…!' Luke picked up on something from behind. Something swift shot through the dust of the fissure cloud that aimed for his face.

SHING!

At the last second, his blade's blue energy was active and parried dark purple energy claws from Maximus' gauntlets. The swiftness that Maximus carried was so intense that he almost got him if not for his quick thinking.

Now that he was even up close, Luke could see the deranged bloodlust in Maximus' glare. Though dark underneath his hood, his eyes were as sharp and feral like a wild animal's. They followed Luke's gaze. "You're quick."

Luke gnashed his teeth together. 'He's attacking me physically too, now. Guess he really means it. He wants to end me himself!' Luke backpedaled as he parried Maximus' advances, claws slashing ballistically to deter him. Each blow by the energy of blue and purple created violet sparks as they dueled in the wasteland ground, whereas their Bakugan flew right overhead.

They went for one more parry just as Abis swerved overhead and arched upwards. His extremely long body created a vacuum wake that shook the air and ground around the two. They stayed close to overpower, until Abis pulled up and they pulled away. They slid backwards to grinding halts.

Maximus rasped heavily as he held up his energy claws. "We've been through enough to know each other's strengths and weaknesses. Now…" he paused. "Let's me show you…" His eyes shrunk drastically. "JUST WHAT AN IMPROVEMENT I AM BECAUSE OF YOU!"

Luke grunted as he held his sword. He chose no words, only action. He lunged head-on with no fear towards his enemy as Abis roared after Goblinball.

---

Ultra Dragonoid's large wings flapped once, making a violent shockwave that shot him skywards in a flash. Faster than what the eye traced, he was several meters above everyone else.

"He's so fast." Shawn realized.

Xander smirked. "Now, time to show them some of your new firepower, my pet! Ability, activate! Stroke Blaze!"

Ultra Dragonoid opened his razor-sharp maw and manifested heat into a crimson fireball. He careened his head and unleashed a bolstering fireball that roared as it traveled. His power level went al the way from 800 to 1300.

"Heads up!" Shawn warned.

Maggie stepped forward with an ability active. "Ability, activate! Petroleum Shield!" Jelldon's gel sacs around his body glowed as he stuck two tendrils out front. A red translucent barrier picked up and took in the fireball's impact. However, the shockwaves generated from the force of impact was enough to make the ground turn to ash around them.

The jellyfish grunted as he withstood the brunt of the blow. 'So much heat generated from one attack!'

As Ultra Dragonoid's ability was nullified, something swift buzzed around him. The blur speed into a full loop and went flying down straight into the trajectory of the shield. Swarm Moskeeto had his visual locked on.

"Ability, activate!" Killian shouted. "Proboscis Gunner!"

As Moskeeto swooped in, his gun-like proboscis took aim and jutted out rapid-fire green projectiles, similar to a machine gun. The Mach speed volley flew into Jelldon's shield, gradually eating down the translucent wall like glass. His eyes were wide before the entire shield was completely shattered. Jelldon was bombarded by green volleys that exploded and sent him flailing over.

Dusk Atchibee: 700/Glow Jelldon: 700 (-200) = 500/Stag Fly Beetle: 700/Prime Verias: 700/Gale Atmos: 700 = 3300

Ultra Dragonoid: 800 (+500) = 1300/Bloom Rafflesian: 700/Megalo Clawcer: 700/Swarm Moskeeto: 700 (+200) = 900/Deep Freezer: 700 = 4300

"Jelldon!"

"Look out!" Shuji rushed Maggie out of the way as everyone cleared way for Moskeeto's projectiles to keep going. The high-flying mosquito sped clean through the other Bakugan and over everyone's heads at sonic speed, producing shockwaves that winded them.

"He's like a fighter jet." Esther stated crudely.

Moskeeto glided across the ground and stopped his wings. He trajected himself to aim skywards and shot up with a sonic boom rippling across the earth with how fast he went. He sailed at speeds so intense that it was almost impossible to keep track of him. But Ultra Dragonoid was another distraction. With their attention on Moskeeto, it was only thanks to Atmos' caw that they all shifted out of the way. The explosive fireball erupted in their place, sending a plumage of broiling smoke and embers everywhere.

Everyone covered up as the heated shockwaves were shoving them aside. Shuji was hefty and tough enough to hold his ground. "Gotta slam these guys down!" He warned. "Fly Beetle!"

Fly Beetle ug his claws into the charred dirt. "Do it!"

"Ability, activate! Subterra Gravity!" Fly Beetle's eyes glowed bright orange as he flexed his stick-like arms up and around. He faced the sky, summoning a distorted wave as he slammed his claws into the ground. Gravity intensified around the atmosphere to where it was creating a downwards force that Ultra Dragonoid and Moskeeto were having a hard time getting away from.

Dusk Atchibee: 700/Glow Jelldon: 500/Stag Fly Beetle: 700 (+500) = 1200/Prime Verias: 700/Gale Atmos: 700 = 3800

Ultra Dragonoid: 1300/Bloom Rafflesian: 700/Megalo Clawcer: 700/Swarm Moskeeto: 900/Deep Freezer: 700 = 4300

As gravity's pull was refraining Moskeeto and Ultra Dragonoid, Fly Beetle grunted as his eyes shined brighter. "Go…down you!"

"Ability, activate! Ink Duct!"

Out of nowhere, a blast of dark, slick ink shot at Fly Beetle. His glowing eyes were covered by the liquid that made him backpedal and lose concentration. His power was subtracted towards 900, leaving him weakened and blinded by that surprise attack.

"Fly Beetle!" Verias turned towards the source of that attack, which was the nozzle on the end of one of Freezer's tentacles that dripped ink.

Cesar chuckled as he pushed his glasses up with one finger. "Shouldn't have kept your eyes open."

"Esther!" Shawn shouted.

The light brunette nodded. "Right."

Together, both Atchibee and Verias moved in front of a staggering Fly Beetle and Jelldon. Atmos cawed as he swooped into an arch above while the two Bakugan took up the offensive lead.

"Ability activate, Jade Surge!"

"Ability activate, Glare Astral!"

Verias' forehead gem channeled Haos energy while the eyeballs on Atchibee's wings channeled dark energy. The light and darkness gradually built up until it was enough to where they could unleash it all at once. They bolstered across the ground, blitzing into Rogue Zero's Bakugan.

Dusk Atchibee: 700 (+300) = 1000/Glow Jelldon: 500/Stag Fly Beetle: 900/Prime Verias: 700 (+300) = 1000/Gale Atmos: 700 = 4100

Ultra Dragonoid: 1300 (-300) = 1000/Bloom Rafflesian: 700 (-300) = 400/Megalo Clawcer: 700 (-300) = 400/Swarm Moskeeto: 900 (-300) = 600/Deep Freezer: 700 (-300 -300) = 100 = 2500

The ground thundered as the attacks closed in, but Ariella was more than aptly prepared for the attack with a smirk. "Not so fast! Ability, activate-" Clawcer's huge legs moved him in front of his peers, his mouth guards unfolding to reveal his fangs. "Foam Dowser!"

Clawcer lurched forward, unleashing a large array of soft, foam-like bubbles that clouded up in front of the other Bakugan. The bubbles were soft enough to barricade and absorb all the dark and bright beams that came their way until they dissipated into oblivion.

Dusk Atchibee: 1000 (-300) = 700/Glow Jelldon: 500/Stag Fly Beetle: 900/Prime Verias: 1000 (-300) = 700/Gale Atmos: 700 = 3500

Ultra Dragonoid: 1000 (+300) = 1300/Bloom Rafflesian: 400 (+300) = 700/Megalo Clawcer: 400 (+300) = 700/Swarm Moskeeto: 600 (+300) = 900/Deep Freezer: 100 (+300 +300) = 700 = 4300

Shuji furrowed his brow. "Another blinding attack?"

"I can't see a thing. They've blocked us off." Verias growled.

Maggie clutched her fists. "Seems like Ariella's playing sneaky with us."

Hendrix stepped forward, not that anyone would notice. "Ability, activate!" He grunted, holding up his Bakumeter. "Ingrain Life!" Rafflesian growled low as he lifted his yellow briars and plunged them deep into the ground.

The ground beneath him shined an orange-brown light, which revealed his trunk glowing the same color all the way up to the eyes on the petals. His power increased to 800.

"This will buy us some power." Hendrix stated.

Xander smirked. "Good for you. We'll buy that time then." He reached out. "Go!"

The foam shield covering them tore open, revealing Ultra Dragonoid on the attack yet again. He screeched as he barreled through at lightning speeds across the ground after the other Bakugan. With his excessive maneuverability, he dodged a high-speed lash from Jelldon's tentacles, spinning and showing acrobatics to evade them all with grace. It didn't take long for him to appear above Atchibee.

"Peekaboo~!"

Atchibee's antennae rung. She and Esther glanced skywards at who was calling out to them.

"Ability activate, Stroke Blaze!" Ultra Dragonoid opened his maw, expelling another broiling fire blast at nearly point-blank.

"Ability activate, Wormhole!"

At the last second, the fireball was sucked into a dark vortex that was in front of Atchibee. It drained in all the flames, keeping her from harm, while giving her power that sped her up towards 1200. Ultra Dragonoid grunted, but he refused to let up so easily without a fight. He kept spewing flames to keep the momentum on his side, making sure Atchibee was held back.

"I'm gonna fry you up inside out!" His taunt was short winded when he felt a brisk of a feather behind. A green blur caught him by surprise. "What?!"

"Double ability, activate!" Jase gleamed. "Tailwind, plus Omni Storm!" Atmos' eyes flashed green before he grunted loudly. He flapped all his wings at once, unleashing a broad shockwave of green whirlwinds that scattered everywhere as his power climbed towards 1500. The turbulent blast was enough to hurdle Ultra Dragonoid across the atmosphere, screeching mightily to fight the waves, but he ended up getting grounded and slicing on his claws to a grinding halt.

As the whirlwinds brushed around Rogue Zero, Bloom Rafflesian's power was growing from 800 towards 1200. He growled low as he could feel himself feeding off the power the others were giving from every attack.

"Follow up with me!" Ariella readied her attack. "Ability, activate! Crab Gong!" Clawcer lifted his huge shield pincer and slammed the shield end into the ground. The earth depressed beneath, sending a shockwave of blue rippling energy that leveled the debris while Moskeeto glided right over and upwards.

"Ability activate, Mega Sonic!" Killian followed. Moskeeto's wings hummed at an alarming rate, gradually humming until green energy was fired in a funnel-like sonic boom that blasted at Atmos.

Dusk Atchibee: 1200 (-300) = 900/Glow Jelldon: 500 (-300) =200/Stag Fly Beetle: 900 (-300) = 600/Prime Verias: 700 (-300) = 400/Gale Atmos: 1500 (-300 -400) = 800 = 2900

Ultra Dragonoid: 1300/Bloom Rafflesian: 1200 (+100 +100) = 1400/Megalo Clawcer: 700 (+300) = 1000/Swarm Moskeeto: 900 (+400) = 1300/Deep Freezer: 700 = 5700

The two brutal shockwaves were making ways towards all the respective Bakugan. They caused the air to tremble as they were gradually getting closer.

Suddenly, the blue ripples across the ground redirected around Jelldon instead. The shockwaves Moskeeto produced were drawn into a straight right turn from Atmos into Jelldon as he drew in the attacks, and nullified them to make his own power. He grunted heavily as the impact of both attacks were relatively intense, but took it like a champion.

"What?! But did it…!" Ariella looked over, seeing the culprit. "You!"

Maggie held up an ability, via Soft Conductor. She gave Ariella a dead serious glare. "Don't think we're just gonna take the fall without a fight! We've had our own share of quick thinking, you know!"

Jelldon continued drawing the attacks until they were done. His gel sacs burned with his power skyrocketing towards 1100 thanks to the whirlwinds Atmos was making. Once again, though, Rafflesian's power jolted towards 1500.

"Verias, now!" Shawn shouted. "Double ability, activate! Diagonal Relation of Haos and Ventus, plus Fusion Ability, Sheer Valkyrie!" Verias' body was enveloped in a sheer bright aura as he swiveled around gathered momentum until it was enough to where he swung his axe around, sending a bright crescent picked up by the shockwaves Atmos created.

"Double ability, activate!" Esther shouted. "Phonic Liseran! Plus, Fusion Ability, Vermilion Raid!" Atchibee hissed as she ascended into the air. The atmosphere darkened to an unsettling pitch-black before unleashing red lights that gleamed dark energy before firing four brutal beams, with a vermilion-like flame in the dead center.

"Double ability, activate!" Shuji shouted through the shroud. "Giga Horn Buster, plus Fusion Ability, Grand Booster!" Fly Beetle slammed on all his legs and lowered his horn to channel up large sums of orange-brown energy. It blinked several times before unleashing it all through an enormous projectile that went in another angle.

Dusk Atchibee: 1200 (+400 +100 +400 +100) = 2200/Glow Jelldon: 1100/Stag Fly Beetle: 900 (+300 +100 +400 +100) = 1800/Prime Verias: 700 (+300 +100) = 1100/Gale Atmos: 1500 = 7700

Ultra Dragonoid: 1300 (-400 -100 -300 -100 -300 -100) = 0/Bloom Rafflesian: 1500 (+600) = 2100/Megalo Clawcer: 700 (-400 -100 -300 -100) = 0/Swarm Moskeeto: 900 (-400 -100 -300 -100) = 0/Deep Freezer: 700 (-400 -100 -300 -100) = 0 = 2100

The three attacks surged at all their respective opponents. A multitude of beams were firing at high-speeds that it seemed like they would hit their mark. A large eruption of energy exploded in front of everyone as they backed off from the shockwaves. Pulsation shook the earth as they all kept their feet beneath; Esther, Shawn, and Jase using their respective weapons to plunge into the ground for some matter of anchorage.

The dust gradually cleared away, and they all got close towards each other to recuperate from that attack they unleashed. "Did that do it?" Jelldon wondered.

The ground continued rumbling until its magnitude diminished. The dust cloud embroidering their foes slowly dissipated, yet something about its structure made Atmos' falcon eyes unsettled.

"No, not quite."

Everyone looked on as the dust dissipated, revealing a cage of briars that draped around Rogue Zero's Bakugan, protecting them all from harm. Not only that, but briars were also laced around their limbs, filtering strength into their bodies.

Esther squinted. "We weren't fast enough."

Hendrix was revealed to have an ability already setup. "Ability…Yggdrasilium. I believe this will be enough for you all." He spoke in reference towards his cohorts, as his Rafflesian glowed his respective attribute color, as did the other Bakugan.

Dusk Atchibee: 2200/Glow Jelldon: 1100/Stag Fly Beetle: 1800/Prime Verias: 1100/Gale Atmos: 1500 = 7700

Ultra Dragonoid: 0 (+1800 +500) = 2300/Bloom Rafflesian: 2100 (+500) = 2600/Megalo Clawcer: 0 (+1000 +500) = 1500/Swarm Moskeeto: 0 (+1300 +500) = 1800/Deep Freezer: 0 (+700 +500) = 1200 = 9400

"Their power completely regenerated." Shawn grunted. "Damnit, and they've gotten even more power from that as well."

"Looks like they weren't bluffing after all when they said they've changed." Jase observed. "They're a lot more tactful than they were before. They must have thought this thoroughly."

"Are you so surprised, Jase?" Cesar scoffed. "Why, as calculative as you are, we aren't just handing ourselves over without a fuss…this time at least. Our retribution is at hand! Ability, activate! Spear Light!" Freezer aimed all his nozzles at Atmos and channeled raw light into the tips, before firing ten bright beams at the falcon. Atmos' power diminished towards 1200, while Freezer's escalated towards 1500.

Esther brought up an ability to counter. "Ability activate, Chrysalis Shield!" A wall of pink crystal arose and took the attack for Atmos. Several shards of the crystal shattered, however, around them.

Dusk Atchibee: 2200 (+300 +100) = 2600/Glow Jelldon: 1100 (+300 +100) = 1500/Stag Fly Beetle: 1800 (+300 +100) = 2200/Prime Verias: 1100 (+300 +100) = 1500/Gale Atmos: 1200 (+300 +300 +100) = 1900 = 9700

Ultra Dragonoid: 2300/Bloom Rafflesian: 2600/Megalo Clawcer: 1500/Swarm Moskeeto: 1800/Deep Freezer: 1500 (-300) = 1200 = 9400

"Tch, charlatans." Cesar scoffed.

Hendrix followed up with an ability of his own. "Ability, activate! Scarp Thorn Mine!"

Rafflesian grunted lowly before he plunged his briars into the ground. The earth shook violently before the ground erupted with large briar spikes that made a linear pathway towards the opponents. The huge thorns spiked consistently, digging beneath the crystal shield and underneath everyone else. They narrowly missed Verias' face, and closed them within the wall of spikes.

Dusk Atchibee: 2600 (-1900) = 700/Glow Jelldon: 1500 (-800) = 700/Stag Fly Beetle: 2200 (-1500) = 700/Prime Verias: 1500 (-800) = 700/Gale Atmos: 1900 (-1200) = 700 = 3500

Ultra Dragonoid: 2300/Bloom Rafflesian: 2600/Megalo Clawcer: 1500/Swarm Moskeeto: 1800/Deep Freezer: 1200 = 9400

"Guys!" Maggie shouted, covering up from the wild spikes surrounding them.

"Guh! I can't move!" Jelldon fret. There was little mobility allowed with the sharp thorns and briars everywhere. It stung enough below as it did already.

"With Scarp Thorn Mine active, your Gate Card won't open to save you." Hendrix explained lowly. "Personally, I do not wish this had to turn out like this…but circumstances have led us to here. We can't return to what it was before…" He shook his head solemnly. "Not without a price."

"Hendrix, enough of your philosophy." Ariella scoffed. "Like that matters now."

Hendrix gave her a foul look. He didn't approve of this, nor the ill-respect given. But he chose to give everyone a stern glare instead.

"Don't worry, once we're through with these guys, we'll be sure to give Hades Pillars their regards." Ariella held up an ability. "Ability, activate! Sea Stalker!" Clawcer raised his spiked legs and jutted them into the ground. A geyser of water rushed out of nowhere into a linear fashion, making columns that went towards the others, while his power level increased towards 1900.

"Ability, activate!" Killian followed up. "Lock Luster!" Moskeeto hissed as he hovered high above his peers. His eyes gleamed bright green before he drew his proboscis back before firing a thin, brisk beam of dense green energy with sonic rings around it from the sky.

Dusk Atchibee: 700 (-400) = 300/Glow Jelldon: 700 (-400) = 300/Stag Fly Beetle: 700 (-400) = 300/Prime Verias: 700 (-400) = 300/Gale Atmos: 700 (-400) = 300 = 1500

Ultra Dragonoid: 2300/Bloom Rafflesian: 2600/Megalo Clawcer: 1900/Swarm Moskeeto: 1800 (+400) = 2200/Deep Freezer: 1200 = 10,200

"Look alive, now!" Shuji shouted.

The water columns beamed through the crystal barrier, along with the green energy beam heading their way. As they closed in, all the Bakugan braced themselves with serious glares.

---

The sky exploded with dark purple and deep blue swirling. The eruption could've been seen as a flash several miles away, but one could've mistaken it for lightning. High in the Doom Dimension insufferable atmosphere, Abis and Goblinball were colliding heads with an intense glare down. Reptilian slits were looking into dull yellow eyes full of hate. The energy these two produced was enough to make violet lightning crackle between them.

On the ground, the lightning flashed around Luke and Maximus as they were in their own deadlock. Energy claws were holding off the metal sword Luke was using as a bunker while they tried overpowering the other.

Another bolt struck the ground, this one signaling them both to back off. Maximus spread his heels and showed the left gauntlet with an ability. "Ability, activate! Black Overcannon!"

Goblinball grunted before shoving Abis away into the sky. The huge serpent watched the demon put his hands around his giant eyeball core, which concentrated a pitch-black mass with purple highlights in it. He lurched forward, shooting the concentrated beam at Abis directly.

Daemon Goblinball: 800 Daedalus Abis Omega: 900 (-500) = 400

The beam bolstered itself closer, but Luke made a counter as quick as one could blink. "Ability, activate! Crash Coil!" Abis allowed the attack to make contact with him, but at the last second, it deluded around his body as he swerved and moved through a spiral pattern. He turned upside down and spun his long body to recreate Goblinball's attack into a dark cyclone at his use. He whipped forward, using his tail like a tidal wave and slamming the black cyclone into Goblinball, engulfing him in his own attack instead.

Daemon Goblinball: 800 (-500) = 300 Daedalus Abis Omega: 400 (+500) = 900

Maximus watched the attack engulf his Bakugan, his glare unwavering. "I see…not a bad move, reflecting my attacks like that. Someone's been practicing. However…" His claws twitched again. "That doesn't mean that we're done with you!"

Luke parried and deflected Maximus' furious slash. He slashed again, but Maximus ducked and went to slash at his stomach. Luke turned the blade at the last second to block. Maximus stepped back before pivoting, going for a spiral slash that Luke grinded the sharp end of his blade against. Sparks flew between them as they refused to budge. Even with the sparks igniting, Luke can barely see the wrinkled and chapped face his nemesis had. Just a deranged smirk and bloodlust eyes.

'He's like some kind of wild animal trying to eye down his prey.'

Luke swiped his blade again, getting enough force to make Maximus back off. The hooded demon scoffed. "No matter what you…it will never be enough…to keep me down! Your power you always get…it infuriates me! I will show you…" His pupils shrunk. "The depth of my own strength from Hell!"

Maximus raised his Bakumeter high. "Ability, activate! Osiris Drake!"

The dark cyclone engulfing Goblinball was giving off a beaming bright purple glow. It looked like a cocoon of energy that gradually grew to implode the attack Abis directed back. It diffused to where the aerial serpent narrowed his eyes at the realization. "What?"

The dark matter diffused and ripped apart around Goblinball, revealing his body surrounded by a bright purple structure that had immense pressure. The demon's faux yellow eyes glinted before unleashing a bloodcurdling shriek of rampage. The air thundered violently as he shot towards Abis in the bright purple energy streaming into the shape of a demonic dragon head with crooked devil horns. The mass itself roared like one as it closed in on its target.

Daemon Goblinball: 300 (+500 +600) = 1400 Daedalus Abis Omega: 900

"Abis!" Look warned.

The extremely long serpent realized just how fast his opponent was coming after him. The draconic head was beaming so closely that he was extremely narrow in spiraling around the entire attack. He funneled around, thanks to his serpentine draconic figure. He managed to swerve through the skies out if the tail end's wake and watched as Goblinball changed the trajectory to follow him skywards. The draconic head roared with fury, but Abis kept swerving and dodging through the dark sky.

"You can't run from me now!" Maximus charged for Luke, slashing him head-on into a blockade. But the force of his slash was so strong it pushed Luke back several paces.

'He's gotten stronger!'

"There is nowhere now…that we can hide from each other." Maximus snarled. He was so deadest on Luke he didn't realize their Bakugan still dancing in the skies, with Abis and Goblinball racing in a jet fight. "On New Vestroia…on Interacia…you've always snuck around, like a shadow. But now, I'm bringing you out of that shadow…so I can show you just what it means to look into black!" He pushed a little harder, snarling angrily. "No more tricks, Luke. This is now a fair fight in the deepest depths of shadows. I've dragged you here, and you will rot…and that shadow will be solemnly my own to look back on."

Goblinball's draconic darkness suddenly pulsed., giving him greater speed to maneuver and catch up to Abis. The serpent turned around at the last second and used the lower-half to coil and lace the energy to soften the impact. Goblinball's force was still strong enough to shove him back through the atmosphere.

"Know our hatred for you…will be your end!" Goblinball shouted.

"Double ability, activate! Nebulous Destroyer, plus Fusion Ability, Lunatic Blackout!"

Goblinball was still pushing back the huge serpent when he manifested a large plasmatic mass between his palms. Dark sparks fluxed around it to give it an intense gleam. He growled low and discharged dark lightning around the orb that he shoved into Abis' face. He and Luke went wide-eyed before everything went white. Moments later, the sky flickered before a dark purple star exploded, sending a shockwave towards the ground that caused loose gravel to overturn. Luke used his sword to bunt from the attack while dust flared everywhere in a hectic frenzy.

Daemon Goblinball: 1400 (+500 +300) = 2200 Daedalus Abis Omega: 900 (-500 -300) = 100

The ground thundered just as much as the sky did. The explosion collapsed on itself outwards as Goblinball kept pushing it into Abis' direction, promptly erasing him from oblivion. The darkness expanded further, covering an even larger area until it enveloped the entire sky. Goblinball's roars of anguish and triumph surged hectically.

"That's right, Goblinball! Make sure not even a trace of them is left!" Maximus shouted. "Erase them…erase their feelings…erase it all…until all is left…is their own dread!"

"Just remember…why you fight to begin with. What drives you matters. Look back…and make it your strength."

Maximus thought about Riaan's words back before the mission of Gundalia. That memory was still fresh. 'This is my strength…my will…to kill all that fear!'

The darkness gradually dissipated, allowing that energy to slowly expend into nothing. A few flickers later revealed nothing before Goblinball. The demonic Bakugan lowered his hands and snarled at the job well done. Maximus scoffed lightly.

A foot suddenly swept in from out of nowhere, catching Maximus off guard. He was hot in the armored chest, sending him doubling over onto his knees. As he was catching his breath, a sword was heard swing. He looked up, finding Luke still giving him the same determined glare as before.

"Is that the best you've got?!" Luke shouted defensively.

Maximus' shaded eyes opened wide. Did he hear Luke right? How come he wasn't finished yet?! He looked down at his Bakumeter, seeing something completely off.

Daemon Goblinball: 2200 Daedalus Abis Omega: 2200

'He's not destroyed…instead he's gained power somehow!' His gaze turned towards the sky. 'But where is that Bakugan…?'

Goblinball looked around and everywhere for his foe, but alas he wasn't anywhere to be seen. His humungous eyeball shifted everywhere, until some crushing, invisible force crunched down onto the armored head and horns, bending it inwards. Goblinball was taken back and was flailed violently around, until he was slammed with what felt like a tail with crushing force into a nearby cliff, shattering into pieces.

"Goblinball, no!" Maximus bellowed. He gnashed his teeth and looked skywards. "Where the hell did that attack come from?!"

Luke stayed silent. He wasn't going to explain it so callously so that Maximus could catch on. He had to worry about now and watch his mouth. Unbeknownst to Maximus, Luke's Bakumeter was layered with two abilities. 'I managed to shield Abis at the last second with Pressure Shield. And thanks to Stealth Dweller, we should be safe from ability and Gate Card effects.'

Goblinball dislodged himself from the cliff, only to get slammed by another invisible Abis' tail. The lash was excessive and intense to where the back of the fake head rung like a bell.

Maximus groaned hastily. "I'm getting rather pissed right now." He held up two abilities. "Double ability, activate! Osiris Drake, plus Fusion Ability, Lunatic Blackout!" Goblinball remained embedded into the rock until body exploded into an intense stream of dark makeshift, draconic energy. He jettisoned off the plateau top and shot at Mach speed high into the atmosphere. He grunted loudly as he reached a pinnacle and reached up. His gauntlet expelled a forceful dark lightning mass that crackled across the sky. The black lightning flashed through the open Doom Dimension and surged down on multiple spots, crushing and charring rock to ash in a number of spots. His power shot up drastically towards 3100.

Dark bolts rained down from above, creating a lightning show above Luke. Visible ions reduced to nothing. A random bolt nearly came down on him; it was only thanks to his quick thinking and shifting was he able to avoid being struck. 'His attacks are wilder than before, too!'

Maximus swiped his arm. "Gate Card, open! Element Merge!" The Gate Card shined beneath them, creating a rainbow mass around Goblinball that he took into his body. His power level increased towards 3300, but thanks to Stealth Dweller, Abis was spared from the Gate Card and the discharge of dark energy.

"More Goblinball…more…more! Until the dimension itself is ash!"

Luke gritted his teeth. "Maximus…" He thought back to when he fought him all those times ago. It felt so long since their last battle. "Have you really gone this low…? What's happened to you, that made you like this?"

Maximus gave no verbal reply. He lunged at Luke in lightning quick moves. His claws pierced the ground where Luke dodged at the last second. He grinded the gravel beneath and swung at Maximus, who used his claws to parry and swat away.

'But as much as I wanna know right now…I can't afford it. I'm sorry…but I have something that I need to do!'

The lightning crackled in the high skies, followed by a discerning roar. Goblinball looked up, seeing Abis' frame within the flashes. The serpent eyes him and went diving right for him.

"Ability, activate! Terror Torpedo!" Abis' diamonds all over his body gave off a bright glow, before a blue torrential water and energy liquid engulfed him into a speeding jet that shot down with a blistering stream in his wake. He closed in on Goblinball so fast that the huge eye shrunk.

Maximus growled. "Not so fast! Ability, activate! Gravity Shield!" Goblinball put his hands out and generated a distorted airwave shield to absorb the impact.

'I knew he'd nullify! Now for this!' Luke showed another ability. "Fusion Ability, activate! Poseidon Surge!"

Abis' torpedo-like stream continued its way down, but suddenly it generated a gravely large cyclone around it to make a surging vortex like a veil of deep blue water. It was so pressurized it held it tear through any leftover discharges and bolts Goblinball used before. He rammed head-on at full speeds into the shield, drilling so fast and hard that it was moments before the shield was giving out. Goblinball's sclera expanded when he saw his shield implode, leaving him in the face of the blue spiraling torpedo.

The sky was engulfed in a bright blue shockwave that diffused all the energy Goblinball released. The ground completely leveled beneath as Maximus covered up. His cape went wild while Luke's attire remained in one piece. He continued firing glares even after raindrops fell with Goblinball into the earth between them. The demon slammed hard into the ground, making a depression in the earth. Rain from Abis' attack poured down briefly as the serpent descended towards the ground, gently lowering until he hovered right over Goblinball's body embedded into the earth.

Daemon Goblinball: 3300 (-500) = 2800 Daedalus Abis Omega: 2200 (+500 +500) = 3200

Goblinball grunted lowly as he gradually reverted to his attributed color and then ball form. He rolled up to Maximus' feet, who stood hunched over life a lifeless beast still and picked him up.

Maximus: 20%

Abis returned to Luke in ball form. He caught him and immediately braced himself for anything that he might do. He held his sword up as the drizzling soon stopped.

Maximus made no movement. He stood still, giving look a straight glowering glare. His eyes were fixed on the posture, and the way Luke countered him so readily. He wasn't like before, he couldn't have been. Otherwise he should've been finished by now, right? His chin lowered and closed his eyes. They eyes open again, this time the pupils nearly gone.

"Did you…" He paused. "Really think…I'd fall so easily…not like this…"

Luke furrowed his brow at Maximus' broken speech pattern. He blinked as he noticed his enemy's look turning borderline psycho.

"You think, I could drag you here, and let you show me up…in my home?!"

---

In a blinding flash, a golden battle axe swung horizontally, shattering the thorns and spikes like glass. The water column that would've drowned them from below and the aerial green beam shot from above were spliced into pieces when the axe sliced clean through. Ending in a pose, Verias stood in the center, with everyone behind as the shrapnel of the attacks unleashed went flying over everyone's heads. The remnants of Moskeeto's attack dissipated into the distance, making green explosions far outside the wasteland.

Ultra Dragonoid gave a mock scoff. Xander followed with his own. "Oh, some fight left?"

Shawn was revealed with his Bunker Axe ability active. He gave all of Rogue Zero a stern look. "You guys talk too much."

Verias breathed out heated air. "I was about to say the same thing."

"He…he nullified all of our abilities?!" Ariella gasped. "But how?!"

Cesar put his cheek into his balled fist. "Hmph. Well of course they would. Against such odds, their best bet to keep up with us now is nullify whatever is coming at them. It's only natural that you'd nullify such a deadly ability."

"Atmos."

"Atchibee."

Jase and Esther's insistence made Atchibee and Atmos nod at each other. They flexed their wings and ascended higher. The falcon had his tailwind to help speed him along while Fly beetle opened his wing shields to tail after him. Atchibee used her bottom-half's tail pincher and grabbed Jelldon by the tentacle to haul him upwards.

"Ability, activate!" Jase shouted. "Draft Cannon!" Atmos ascended to a high enough point and opened his beak. Once enough wind pressure was created, Atmos released it all into a pressurized aerial cannon that streamed through the air at an exasperating pace. His power climbed towards 2600 rapidly.

"Don't get ahead of yourself!" Xander held up his Bakumeter. "Ability, activate! Spire Flare!"

Ultra Dragonoid flexed his wings and generated a gracious sum of heat within his maw. It concentrated into a singular mass that he fired at the incoming air pressure cannon. The blaze severed into three helix comets that funneled around each other into a beam and into the cannon. The results were an instantaneous eruption of warm air that exploded in all directions.

Everyone covered up as the drafts spread like wildfire across the atmosphere. The shockwaves primarily overtook Ultra Dragonoid and Gale Atmos. Ultra Dragonoid's power went up towards 2600, as to where Atmos' diminished towards 2300.

"Is that all you've got?! I'm just barely even warming up!" Ultra Dragonoid flapped his wings once, quickly separating the distance between himself and Atmos. "You're mine, roasted turkey!"

"Esther." Jase warned.

Esther nodded. Without a word she reached down towards the field. "Gate Card, open! Forcement Enemy!" The Gate Card on the battlefield shined bright, enveloping all the Bakugan on Esther's side in a powerful light that embodied them with an even greater flux of power.

Dusk Atchibee: 2600 (+500) = 3100/Glow Jelldon: 1500 (+500) = 2000/Stag Fly Beetle: 2200 (+500) = 2700/Prime Verias: 1500 (+500) = 2000/Gale Atmos: 2300 (+500) = 2800 = 12,600

Ultra Dragonoid: 2600/Bloom Rafflesian: 2600/Megalo Clawcer: 1500/Swarm Moskeeto: 1800/Deep Freezer: 1200 = 9700

As Ultra Dragonoid closed in for a full-on attack on Atmos, he was surprised then the falcon flapped his wings once, sending a shockwave that paralyzed him in place. Verias stomped on the ground and flung himself up to grab Ultra Dragonoid's tail. He gathered momentum to where he could throw him at the other Rogue Zero Bakugan at full might. The dragon screeched as he slammed into the earth painfully.

"Guys! Go!" Shawn shouted.

"RIGHT!" Jelldon and Fly Beetle shouted in unison.

Atchibee flapped her wings again and got higher. She did a complete somersault and whipped Jelldon up overhead, circling underneath and whipped him at the opponents. Fly Beetle shot right after him. The two sailed side by side, interlocking Fly Beetle's arm with one of Jelldon's tentacles.

"Ability, activate!" Shuji and Maggie shouted in unison.

"Bolting Sun!" Jelldon ignited his tentacle and started spinning Fly Beetle around him. His rotation picked up gradually thanks to the Tailwind still active. It was just like back on Neathia, only with a little more improvisation. Jelldon looked like Saturn with a plasmatic fiery ring around him that he flung at them with all their might. And at the very core of it was Fly Beetle, coming in hot!

"Seismic Repeater!" Fly Beetle went smashing into the ground, diffusing the flames around his body in a molten explosion upon impact with the ground. A voluminous shockwave of bright orange-brown and flames expelled in all direction, creating a wave that closed in and swallowed all of Rouge Zero's Bakugan.

Dusk Atchibee: 3100/Glow Jelldon: 2000 (+500 +100) = 2600/Stag Fly Beetle: 2700/Prime Verias: 2000/Gale Atmos: 2800 = 13,200

Ultra Dragonoid: 2600 (-300 -100) = 2200/Bloom Rafflesian: 2600 (-300 -100) = 2200/Megalo Clawcer: 1500 (-300 -100) = 1100/Swarm Moskeeto: 1800 (-300 -100) = 1400/Deep Freezer: 1200 (-300 -100) = 800 = 7700

The explosive earth wave past over Rogue Zero, who stood in place with glares into the dust. They looked almost half-hearted to say the least, and not in the necessarily best way.

Fly Beetle and Jelldon landed promptly. Atchibee and Atmos sailed back down, with the latter grasping Verias in the midst of it to keep his fall as painless as possible. They all watched the dust and embers clear away, seeing their results.

There was something off all of a sudden. They could all feel an uneasy laughter creep up through the embers and dust. It was low, but was evident something was still inside. It was mocking.

"Huh?" Atchibee paused, seeing something with piercing fiery glares beaming at them.

"Haha! Really now? You call that fire?" Wings expanded from the tips of the cloud. With one flap of his wings, Ultra Dragonoid jettisoned into the atmosphere, shrieking for battle. "We'll show you, what true firepower is all about! Master! Do it!"

Xander snickered within the amusement. "Alright then…if that's what you wish for." He held up his next ability. "I think we can accommodate that! Show them what an evolved Bakugan can really do! Ability, activate! Exploding Flare Dive!"

Ultra Dragonoid tensed up his entire armored frame as he generated a strong heat wave that enveloped his body. His frame was enveloped in fire, just like the ability would've done before. However, it took it one step further, and made fiery eruption expel everywhere to make it combustible upon impact. Ultra Dragonoid unleashed a bloodcurdling shriek before shooting down with a deep crimson stream following him. He barreled straight down in the middle of the battlefield and faded. Moments later, a red ripple expelled everywhere, followed by a supernova-like shockwave that erupted in all directions. The Gate Card shattered to pieces, which burnt away before they got too far.

The others were too stunned with how fast the attack was heading for them to maneuver. The super-hot blast wave engulfed them all, taking away what momentum they had before. The humans behind them all had to cover up from the hot rays that spewed dust past them.

"Gnnngh…!" Shuji grunts as he used his forearms to block, but they were getting red and hot. "Gngh! Hot!"

"Even his normal abilities evolved, too!" Maggie shouted.

Dusk Atchibee: 3100 (-500 -400) = 2200/Glow Jelldon: 2600 (-500 -400) = 1700/Stag Fly Beetle: 2700 (-500 -400) = 1800/Prime Verias: 2000 (-500 -400) = 1100/Gale Atmos: 2800 (-500 -400) = 1900 = 8700

Ultra Dragonoid: 2200/Bloom Rafflesian: 2200/Megalo Clawcer: 1100/Swarm Moskeeto: 1400/Deep Freezer: 800 = 7700

Esther used her spear to hold herself up as she looked into the piercing shockwaves the opponent gave off. It was enough to make her sweat from the exhaust put off. 'This heat…this nova…they're really going all out, aren't they?'

Cesar let out a maniacal cackle yet again. "Are they still wanting more! Very well then! I'm excited to see this play out! Ability, activate! Octo-zooka!" Freezer hissed as he aimed all of his tentacles at the opponent Bakugan. He allowed the energy masses to charge up until finally, ten large, blitzing beams expelled at monstrous paces across the burning ground. They all sailed into the others while they were still too petrified from the heat rays.

Dusk Atchibee: 2200 (-400) = 1800/Glow Jelldon: 1700 (-400) = 1300/Stag Fly Beetle: 1800 (-400) = 1400/Prime Verias: 1100 (-400) = 700/Gale Atmos: 1900 (-400) = 1500 = 6700

Ultra Dragonoid: 2200/Bloom Rafflesian: 2200/Megalo Clawcer: 1100/Swarm Moskeeto: 1400/Deep Freezer: 800 (+400) = 1200 = 8100

The flashing nova Ultra Dragonoid produced was too staggering alone, but a multitude of beaming lights rushed out of nowhere, enveloping the Bakugan in a flash of white before several flickers of the energy shot in spontaneous directions. A white out happened that plumed into the other's direction.

"Get down!" Jase warned.

The blast wave shot right over their heads, enveloping the entire atmosphere in a large mass of energy. The explosion could've been seen several miles away as well. It repulsed into one singular direction, diffusing outwards until the energy was soon to fade away.

All their Bakugan shrieked and cried out as they were unable to hold up for very long. They all reverted to their ball forms, dropping in front of everyone's head while they got down low to shield from the fading shockwaves.

Esther: 30%

Maggie: 20%

Shuji: 20%

Shawn: 20%

Jase: 20%

Maggie grunted as she stirred on the ground. When she opened her eyes, she got her second wind and looked at Jelldon's ball from in front of her. "Jelldon!" She picked him up, looking at him worriedly. "Hey, you okay?"

A low groan came from him. "Maggie? Yeah…barely…"

"Okay…that actually hurts." Fly Beetle mumbled.

Shuji picked up his partner and grunted. "Damnit." He looked back up, giving a harsh glare back at Rogue Zero.

Ultra Dragonoid crossed his arms and scoffed arrogantly as he and his fellow Bakugan reverted to their ball forms and returned to their owners' hands. Xander gave them all a dead serious frown.

Shawn got his knees beneath him. "The hell was that all about? They're unlike anything they were before…" He furrowed his brow. "No…they're absolutely different now. They have evolved."

"We were too careless back there. Is everyone alright?" Verias asked.

"Yes, Verias. We're fine." Atchibee replied. "More importantly, we've seen just how powerful Rogue Zero is now."

Esther frowned. What Atchibee said was completely true. 'She's right. The times before…they weren't anything like now. They were all more reckless than we were. But more importantly…they're coordinating with one another.' She furrowed her brow, standing back up. "Can anyone still battle?"

Jase stepped forward. "We'll be just fine, but thanks for not asking by the way." He paused. "Now…it's their turn."

"Eyes forward, everyone." Atmos insisted.

Cesar let out another loud cackle of pleasure. He pointed directly at them with a bright smile. "You see that?! That was just the small taste of the power the negative energy has given to us! The Doom Dimension immediately amplifies Bakugan who feed off this corrosive energy, making them even more powerful than they ever were! You were fools from the start to believe that you have a hope in Hell…or in this case, the Doom Dimension!"

Ariella snorted. "What this cook is trying to say is that it's pointless. We have power now, power that'll put Hades Pillars to shame. We've heard you went toe-to-toe with them. But tell me, were they ever as skilled as us?"

"What they all said." Xander scoffed, holding up a Gate Card. "Gate Card, set!" He flung the card outwards, creating a red shockwave that fanned into the ground. "Save all your squabbles until after we've won. They've still got some meat we need to chew up."

Hendrix nodded. "Understood." He held up Rafflesian. "Lend me your strength once more."

Esther stepped forward, preparing her Bakugan as well. "Everyone, hold together. Don't let your guard down for even a second this time!"

Shuji glared daggers ahead. "You don't have to tell me twice." He held up an equally enraged Fly Beetle. "No losing ground this time. Let's go!"

Rogue Zero pulled back their Bakugan. "Bakugan…"

"…Brawl!" Everyone threw in their Bakugan at the same time. "Bakugan, stand!" They all exploded energy that bolstered skywards. Shockwaves leveled the charred ground and dissipated the dust between them. All 10 battlers made sure they were standing upright and glaring at their respective foes while their Bakugan unleashed shrilled cries outwards, rattling the atmosphere violently.

Dusk Atchibee: 700/Glow Jelldon: 700/Stag Fly Beetle: 700/Prime Verias: 700/Gale Atmos: 700 = 3500

Ultra Dragonoid: 800/Bloom Rafflesian: 700/Megalo Clawcer: 700/Swarm Moskeeto: 700/Deep Freezer: 700 = 3600

"Now…show us what strength you have left!" Xander demanded, sneering angrily. "Better make it count."

Above him, Ultra Dragonoid flapped his wings to make a short gust. He careened his head around to violently shrill across the atmosphere.

They all glared daggers at Rogue Zero and braced for their attacks. This was no time to be looking into any errors.

---

What Luke heard, wasn't something he nor Abis could process in earnest. They looked at Maximus like he was crazy…well, crazier. It wasn't that they didn't believe him, it was because there wasn't a lot of conveyed evidence.

"Your home?" Luke parroted. "Did I…hear that right?"

"Are you as dull as I remember you being?" Maximus scoffed. "I'm saying this as clearly for you that I know how. You're in…my home. My realm."

"So you're really saying…" Luke's eyes widened. "Wait! But weren't you from Interacia? You're an Interacian, like the others!"

"…" Maximus gave no response, staring dully instead at Luke.

"What happened that made you see this place as your home?"

"…heh, so now you're interested. Better late than never as they say." He paused. "Tell me, do you remember anything from the last time you were on Interacia?"

It was a rather vague question. He wasn't sure how to properly answer that. There were lot of things he remembered about Interacia from the last time they were there. From the mucky, soft surface, to the underworld that lid underneath. He remembered the seawater, up towards the destruction of Thermosphere.

Maximus frowned. "Perhaps I'm not specific enough. Does Shi'imon Hill ring any bells?"

'Shi'imon…Hill?' Luke scrunched his brow to think, before his conscience snapped at what felt like a jolt. 'Wait a minute! Is he talking about…!'

All eyes were on the structure as there was a massive hill with a steady climb up. At the near top, there were two huge stones naturally carved to look like a gate of some sort. One south and one north, that way the sun arose on one end and set the other. The heights of both was so high that looking at the top was like looking at the top of the world.

"Is…anyone else freaked out by this?" Maggie nervously asked.

Esther stepped back. "Yes. It's alarming."

Luke looked down at his skin, noticing the hairs of his body were standing on end. They were even pointing away from the source. 'Even my own hair is sticking on end. This structure…does it have something to do with repulsion?'

More of the realization dawned upon Luke. 'Is he talking about that hill that was on the surface? That's the same one we took to get home!'

"You see, Interacia was still in the early development stages. Riaan was the planetary core and he's been working immediate time-space shifts. Teleportation…that concept, it was still such a fragile thing. Shi'imon Hill was a natural gateway, if you recall. It was one of the few projects Cesar was to develop in order to keep Riaan's unstable time and space fluxes under control. It had some of its uses, but it wasn't always like that…" He paused. "Before then…the dimensional disruptions would have fluxed in random spots on Interacia. They only lasted a few seconds, but that's all someone needs for their life to be changed…"

The ground grew fissures sporadically. Everything was breaking apart as Devil Miasma was spewing everywhere. The intoxicating mass was gradually engulfing a settlement, and not everyone was prepared for it. Interacians were running madly everywhere, trying to find a means to escape. However, the ensuing chaos crowded up the small city, and that made it harder for anyone to get through.

"Get out of the way! It's gonna get me!" A villager panicked, running for his life from the miasma.

A slower male looked back over his shoulder, seeing the cloud of Devil Miasma gradually plume his way. He was as hopeless as could be before the huge wave engulfed in. The thick mass immediately made him cough and gag to where his lungs were giving out. As the cloud traveled through the city, even more of the slower folk were unable to escape. Those who were still in the center of town had long since perished due to overexposure.

Those still escaping were in the shrilled panic. Amongst the many that were running, or in this case stumbling, there was a small boy with a considerable amount of blue hair. He looked around, seemingly frightened, fearful, and worried.

"Daddy…Mommy…" The boy couldn't have been any less than 4. He looked around for his folks, but nothing was showing that he recalled. He looked back where the cloud was pluming, where he last saw his parents. It was a horrific thing, but he only heard one thing

"Keep running, sweetie! Don't look back!"

The little boy stumbled and didn't listen. He only saw the plume engulf the area until it was closing in. He was in a panic to make it for the best way to get out. "Make it stop…" He cried. "MAKE IT STOOOP!"

Devil Miasma closed in behind, engulfing even more people. Maximus kept running and stumbling, when something suddenly opened up in front of him. The Devil Miasma engulfed him, just as he was stumbling his way through.

"AAAAAHHH!" His screamed went mute as he fell into the rift, which shut with several blinks in the process.

The miasma continued its surge into the rest of the settlement, swallowing up people and places for them to meet their intoxicating demise.

…

Everything was black. Nothing could be seen or heard from. But wherever this was, it left the very young Maximus to lay on its rocky surface, leaving him sprawled there like a lifeless kid.

He opened his eyes weakly, blinking several times before his consciousness returned. "Gnngh…what…happened?" He mumbled. "My head hurts so much…Mommy." He turned over, immediately coughing out spats of the Devil Miasma he inhaled. His lungs were puffing them all out, so much that he gagged.

"My stomach hurts…it hurts so much…" He laid there, feeling nothing but pain all over his body. He looked up at the cavernous darkness that was supposed to be Interacia, but instead he saw an entirely different setting. "Clouds?"

He's only heard about them, but he never saw one before. The upper world was extremely unstable and manifesting new layers that kept falling down every now and again. When he finally got his feet underneath, he stood up to find himself in a completely new setting…one that had just as bad of an odor as Interacia did.

"Where…am I…?"

All he saw was very strange rock formations and valleys of dark rock everywhere. The ground was a dry brown on Interacia, but here it was duller and paler than that. There were a number of strange creatures that looked petrified, and even turned to stone. Some of them were reaching out towards something. He stared out at them, completely mesmerized by the surroundings.

"At the time, the Devil Miasma killed everyone in the settlement we Interacians were building. I was fortunate enough to survive, though only some of the Devil Miasma made me a little sick." Maximus paused. "When I came to, I found myself in this place. I was saved, only to be put into another Hell. How poetic, don't you think?"

Luke's eyes were wide. "Then Maximus, how did you…how long were you in here for?"

"…long enough that my body relied on negative energy to function." He breathed outwards, a dark, raspy breath, which fumed a brief gray haze. "Since Interacians were primarily modeled by humans, that meant I had to rely on food and water to keep me alive, but everywhere was nothing but stone. The Devil Miasma I inhaled gave me…an acquired taste for sustenance, if you will." His body started shivering again. "Two years…two…two years…until I have found my way out…" His neck started twitching. "But now…I am home again…the source of my strength…source…of my…"

Luke backpedaled from Maximus' speech patterns growing spontaneous. "He isn't acting like himself…is it because being back in the Doom Dimension is affecting him?"

"I bet." Abis murmured. "I can feel an increase of negative energy from here."

Dark lightning flashed high in the sky. The thunder clapped so fiercely above, specifically over Maximus.

The Rogue Zero leader hissed as he snarled at Luke. "Daemon Goblinball…and I…feed off negative energy. We crave it! This energy…it's mine…mine…to command! This is my world! You cast no shadow over me…no shadow exist…just suffocation…my lungs…" His eyes widened with his head careening skywards in a demonic shriek. "FILL WITH THE BREATH OF FRESH AIR! I HATE IT~!"

The atmosphere intensified incredulously. Luke and Abis could feel the tone around them darken from his outcries. Dark lightning crackled intensely, thundering over Maximus' head as he breathed heavily at Luke with hate-filled eyes.

"Luke…"

"Yeah, he's like a starving animal right now. He's been bent on negative energy all his life that it's what he's obsessed with…"

Maximus tilted his head, creepily crackling the bones in his neck. "Are you…ready…to finally become part of my power?!"

Despite the goosebumps on Luke's body, he shot Maximus a glare. "Not gonna happen. Gate Card, set!" He threw the card outwards, making a deep blue shockwave that spread outwards. He braced his sword as he glared down his demonic rival. "Look here Maximus, the Doom Dimension may be your home, but it's not for any of us. I'm sorry about your life, about everything…but I can't afford to lose here! There's much bigger problems that you can't just run away and hide back in the shadows, not when you know you have to do something about it."

"Enough talk! Time to die! Bakugan…"

Luke grunted and followed through. "Brawl!"

Both Bakugan went flying out into the middle, thrown as hard as possible into each other. Once again, violet static flared before they opened in midair at point-blank. Two fountains of blue and purple shot skywards, unleashing Goblinball and Abis high into the atmosphere.

Daemon Goblinball: 800 Daedalus Abis Omega: 900

"LET'S GO!" Maximus jumped into the air, which Goblinball swooped down to seize him.

Luke copied the motion as Abis arched down for him. He hopped onto his head as he past by and arched back into the lightning-filled sky. The serpent kept climbing, as did Goblinball. Both reached a high enough point off the ground and glared daggers at each other.

Maximus' energy claws lengthened as he yelled out for Luke. "DISAPPEAR!"

Abis reciprocated the charge as Luke brought his sword back. They yelled mightily as they closed the gap with lightning flashing just before Abis and Goblinball made impact. Once again, a gruesome explosion of violet shockwaves pulsated everywhere, churning the ground beneath with its unprecedented force.

---

Ultra Dragonoid let out a bloody howl as he swung his long tail around. Before they reached Atmos, Jelldon outstretched his tentacle and countered the swing. The stalemate gave Atmos the opportunity to ascend and peer down on everyone.

"Ability, activate!" Jase shouted. "Tornado Slash!" Atmos released another shrilled caw before whipping his wings around spontaneously. A large array of aerial green crescents went raining down on Rogue Zero and their Bakugan.

They all saw the attack speed down in their direction, but they looked far from worried. Xander held up an ability. "Ability, activate! Fault Crimson!" Ultra Dragonoid spread his wings as his body gave off a crimson-like glow. The shine it had blocked out the aerial crescents, dispersing them with ease.

"Ha! You're gonna need more than a little puff shot to take me down!" Ultra Dragonoid scoffed.

Jase's eyes were showed by his glasses, holding up another ability. "Then perhaps this will suffice. Fusion Ability, activate! Wise Sky!"

Atmos' eyes gleamed yet again. He brought all four wings back and then forward, unleashing green dense starlights that sped through his attack into Ultra Dragonoid. The crimson light supposed to nullify the ability was indeed faulted when the light permeated through it, much to his shock.

"Guh! GAAAH!" Ultra Dragonoid was swallowed in a large explosion in the sky, followed by green crescents falling through along with him. He barreled into the ground as the slashes rained down onto the other Bakugan, fanning across the atmosphere to make the ground plume dust.

Dusk Atchibee: 700/Glow Jelldon: 700/Stag Fly Beetle: 700/Prime Verias: 700/Gale Atmos: 700 (+200) = 900 = 3700

Ultra Dragonoid: 800 (-200 -200) = 400/Bloom Rafflesian: 700 (-200) = 500/Megalo Clawcer: 700 (-200) = 500/Swarm Moskeeto: 700 (-200) = 500/Deep Freezer: 700 (-200) = 500 = 2400

Clawcer raise his claw to shield himself from Atmos' barrage from the sky. Freezer used his tentacles to shield his large brain from any lethal damage. However, the rest of the Bakugan were getting hammered by sharp slashes from the sky.

"Huh?" Ariella noticed something swooping in from the side. It closed in drastically, revealing Atchibee swooping in from behind into a steep downward dive for the dust cloud.

Esther showed an ability at the ready. "Ability, activate! Scale Down!"

Atchibee's eyes glowed a pure purple. She sailed overhead, slowing down above Rogue Zero's Bakugan to produce glittering powder from the scales on her body. They floated down through the dust cloud, spreading over Rogue Zero's Bakugan and layering atop them. She flapped again, producing even more dust that fanned around the combatants.

Hendrix covered up from the glossy scales fanning out. He found them sticking to his own broad arms. 'Powder?'

"That should buy us some time while their attacks are weakened." Esther stated.

Atchibee ascended back into the air and followed through. However, a hole tore open through the dusty powder, beelining right for her. She looked back to find Swarm Moskeeto buzzing around at a higher vantage point for her back.

"Ability, activate! Mega Sonic!" Killian shouted. Moskeeto buzzed and starting humming again. He manifested soundwaves, but Esther was prepared.

"Ability, activate! Wormhole!"

Moskeeto unleashed the sonic boom at Atchibee, but she whipped around, creating a dark vortex that swirled in the direction of the cyclone that would have dealt some damage. Thanks to Scale Down, it was half as effective as it should have been, giving her 200 Gs that put her power at 900.

"She's…absorbing my weakened attack!" Moskeeto gasped.

Killian was skeptical at this, but he didn't have time to pull any comments when he saw Jelldon lace a tentacle around Verias. "Below you!"

"Let's try…THIS!" Jelldon gained enough momentum and he whipped around, generating the speed to whip Verias into a skywards glide across the sky into Moskeeto. He zipped through the atmosphere, almost too fast for Moskeeto to keep track of.

"We'll clip you of your wings!" he declared.

"Ability, activate! Bolt Cutter!" Shawn shouted. Verias' blade shined brightly as he drew closer. He became a golden gleam that gradually swung his axe into Moskeeto's unguarded direction.

Verias's eyes gleamed brightly as his fangs bared a savage side. Time slowed down as his blade was up overhead and cried out.

"Ability, activate!" Xander shouted. "Tiberius Flame!"

A broiling streak of searing fire came between Verias and Moskeeto at the last second. The fire acted like a barricade that Verias fell into, his blade cut off by the heat of the flames.

Ultra Dragonoid was in the air as well, streaming the fire from his maw. His power shot up towards 700 while he blocked off the attack ruthlessly. Xander smirked. "Don't think we'll let our guards down a second time now."

Verias was fending against the flames with his battle axe, but it was starting to get to where his blade was hot to the touch. His fangs gnashed heavily. 'He's using hotter flames than last time! And, they're shielding my cuts!' Eventually it became too much. Verias pulled back and found himself in freefall, leaving Ultra Dragonoid to turn his flames on.

"I'll take you out first, fur face!" He arched his head into Verias' direction, much to his lack of embrace.

At the last second, Fly Beetle swooped in and grabbed him with his claws. "I gotcha!" With his strength, he dragged Verias out of the flame's path as Ultra Dragonoid continued on. He fanned the flames into Atchibee and Jelldon's directions, causing them to dodge while the ground lit in explosive blaze. The inferno's wake spread far enough to where even Esther and everyone had to make a beeline for the nearest rocks jutting out and hid behind them for cover.

"Get down!" Jase covered his head beneath the stone. A shockwave of fire blazed overhead, but they all were sure to stay low to the ground to avoid incineration.

Ultra Dragonoid eventually finished his embroidery flames that left the ground in smoke and embers that scattered into the sky. He looked down, embers seeping out of the sides of his mouth.

Xander scoffed. "Now that's what I call incineration."

Fly Beetle hovered over the smoked earth, staring down with subtle awe. He was so lost that he nearly missed something beaming their way.

"Fly Beetle, below you!" Shuji shouted.

"Huh?" The insectoid turned his horn, barely evading the beam of light that grazed the end of his right pincer. He quickly regained momentum and maneuvered out of a second beam of light while holding onto Verias. He fluttered around, making his movements in a small area as the light beams kept coming.

As Deep Freezer was firing, Cesar was laughing. "Yes, Freezer! Spear Light him! Keep that flimsy bug as far back s possible! Ha!"

Freezer kept firing as his power climbed towards 600, where Fly Beetle's dropped towards 600. The multitude of rays fanned in several angles. He couldn't find enough space, let alone the momentum, to dodge them.

Verias used his axe blade's staff to create a bunt. That split a light beam in half around them. "Fly Beetle! Do it!"

Finally getting a moment's rest, Fly Beetle nodded. "Right!"

"Double ability, activate!" Shuji shouted. "Stag Bullet, plus Fusion Ability, Grand Booster!"

Fly Beetle braced himself before the accents on his horn illuminated brightly. An orange-brown aura flared around his tensing body before firing down onto Freezer. He cried out mightily as his bombarding projectiles blasted away nonstop.

Dusk Atchibee: 900/Glow Jelldon: 700/Stag Fly Beetle: 600 (+200 +400) = 1200/Prime Verias: 700/Gale Atmos: 900 = 4400

Ultra Dragonoid: 700/Bloom Rafflesian: 500/Megalo Clawcer: 500/Swarm Moskeeto: 500/Deep Freezer: 600 (-200) = 400 = 2600

The increased rapid fire permeated clean through Freezer's offense and repeatedly bombarded a wake that went towards Freezer and the enemy Bakugan. It traveled across the ground, creating a chaotic wall of earth explosions that plumed upwards.

The shockwaves of the rampage nearly brushed all of Rogue Zero around. However, Ariella was able to hold herself up as she instigated an attack. "Ability activate, Tsunami World!"

Through the wake of the earth, red eyes gleamed brightly as a bright pincer swatted the dust away. The air was clear so Clawcer could store of concentrated vapor in the middle of the mouth, exerting blue circles that went inwards until they reached a critical mass. He aimed for Fly Beetle in the air, opening wide to release a blistering blast wake of dense, blue water surrounding a blue beam at him. As it traveled, Fly Beetle's power went down to 1000, yet Clawcer's bolted up towards 700.

"Ability, activate!" Maggie shouted. "Petroleum Shield!"

Atchibee swept around and used a scythe for something Jelldon to dangle on. He hung on as Atchibee pivoted in midair and slashed into the direction of the aquatic shockwave beaming for Fly Beetle and readied a shield. He cried out as he made it between them, making his large shield swallow up the ability, nullifying it on the spot. All the water diffused, leaving the jellyfish suspended momentarily.

"You just got lucky, that's all!" Ariella declared.

Jelldon was in freefall when Atchibee went by and swept him up again. Despite his bulk, she was able to hold him up long enough for him to be passed over towards Atmos, who circle around and used his propeller joints to create a draft to keep him airborne and hold up Jelldon.

All five Bakugan began circling Rogue Zeros' Bakugan. They all looked around warily as their opponents circled them. They could attack from any angle, not to mention the Scale Down was still in effect. It was starting to make Clawcer's shell itch. They all watched the Bakugan with careful consideration to their abilities, but they had to stay just as sharp.

"This is starting to get annoying." Xander grunted. "That Scale Down is really annoying."

"Our attacks are at most half as effective with that, for sure." Killian observed. "But…it shouldn't last forever. It looks like it's weakening. A few more shots should do the trick."

"For your sake, let's hope that's the case." Ariella chimed. "If their plan is to do a ballet for us, let's make them earn their keep."

Hendrix bared his clutched fists. "So be it. Allow me." He held up his Bakumeter, in which an ability radiated a Subterra flash. "Ability, activate! Terra Form!"

Rafflesian rumbled his briars beneath the surface. They churned rocks to where a magnitude was strong enough to make it all diffuse. The ground broke into shambles, in which the briars released whiplashes that hurled the rocks and large stones all around. Rafflesian's power increased towards 800. The rocks came up like a plume and made large mass of stone and gray earth throw all the aerial bakugan off. Fly Beetle was being sure to maneuver around the rock and dust for Verias' sake, who used his feet to press and kick a stone away to allow them a skyward backdraft.

Atmos and Jelldon were gliding through, though Jelldon was using his tentacles to whip and jab at rocks trying to smack them down. Each individual jab shattered rock to stone, repeating the process over hundreds of times in seconds so none would hit Atmos.

Atchibee fluttered upwards, dodging another rock. "Lobbing earth at us from such a height difference?"

"At ease, everyone. Allow us!" Atmos fanned his wings. "Jase!"

The ex-Colonel prodded his glasses for the umpteenth time. "Ability, activate! Vacuum Turmoil!"

Atmos let out a loud shriek before ascending into the air thanks to the blades rotating faster than before. He summoned a whirlwind in front of him and Jelldon that created a small cyclone. All the rocks thrown at them were sucked in and following the flow of the tornado.

"Jelldon, it's your turn now! Go!" Maggie shouted.

"You got it!" Jelldon swayed his body to and fro in Atmos' rasp, whom realized to let go and toss Jelldon into the rock-induced tornado. The jellyfish instantly began spiraling around in the manner the funnel's rotation was and whipped up a red center.

"Hm? What's this?" Cesar blinked.

As he spun around, Jelldon's tentacles were stretching out from around and beneath him. Each one snagged and attached to a different stone that was inside, until all the tendrils were laced around an individual stone. The vacuum finally spat out Jelldon in a red spiral towards Rogue Zero's Bakugan, much to their complete bewilderment. "I've always wanted to lob some rocks! Here! Try it!" As he processed his speed, the tornado's momentum and Jelldon's magnified force hurled the stones in his tentacles like meteors shooting down into Rafflesian. They were so fast and so harsh they the flower's four eyes couldn't see clearly until it was too late. The stones crashed into the towering Bakugan, dragging his power to 100 in no time. The flower shrieked painfully as he was struck down by the attack, much to everyone else's shock.

"What the heck was that all about?!" Ariella gasped. "Did they seriously throw their own Bakugan into that attack?!"

Killian gasped. Something was misplaced, and it wasn't their Bakugan. "Jelldon's still coming in hot!"

Still spinning drastically, the jellyfish's tendrils made him look hypnotic enough to where they were too slow to react. "Now Jelldon, ability, activate! Tendril Trap!" Jelldon slung five of his multiple tentacles through the air, flinging themselves into all the Bakugan. Long, sticky, flexible tentacles laced and stung them in place, including Moskeeto, whose nozzle-like nose was trapped within Jelldon's grip.

He landed on the ground, giving them all a glare. "Looks like…you're all tied up!" he strained.

Shawn smirked. "Nice work! Ability, activate! Mangekyo Blade!"

Fly Beetle finally decided to let go of Verias, allowing him to fall onto Rogue Zero's Bakugan with his blade. The double-axe ends twirled between his fingers as a bright, angelic gleam cast over the ends as he descended. He doubled forward and cleaved sharp, swift cuts, showing acrobatic reflexes as he sliced into various parts of them all before flipping over Jelldon behind. When he looked back at them, the ape snarled as the light gradually spread over all their bodies, infecting them.

"That'll stop them from activating abilities." Shawn stated.

"Atchibee, make this quick!" Esther directed with her arm. "Ability, activate…Silver Twister!"

Atchibee's eyes gleamed dark purple before she flapped her beautiful dark wings. She hovered over the paralyzed enemy and reeled her wings back. "Say goodbye!" She reeled her wings forward, unleashing a large cyclone of silver scales that churned their way down onto all of them. With all of them unable to move with the paralyzing light, and Jelldon constricting them in place, it was easy target practice for an immense tornado to smash into the ground. The five glowing Bakugan had no chance when the winds were grazing and tearing them up from within.

Dusk Atchibee: 900/Glow Jelldon: 700/Stag Fly Beetle: 1200/Prime Verias: 700/Gale Atmos: 900 = 4400

Ultra Dragonoid: 700 (-500) = 200/Bloom Rafflesian: 100 (-500) = 0/Megalo Clawcer: 500 (-500) = 0/Swarm Moskeeto: 500 (-500) = 0/Deep Freezer: 400 (-500) = 0 = 200

Violent winds scattered silver powder everywhere. It rained down across the Doom Dimension, like glitter in a snow globe. It flaked over Rogue Zero's heads as they watched their Bakugan get torn from the inside of the havoc-thrusted cyclone.

Atchibee echoed shrilled banshee-like howls as she arched around, regrouping with her friends a safe distance away from the attack. They all watched the cyclone gradually tear away, but they looked completely fine with it.

"That should do it." Shawn said. He looked up to see thin purple scales diminishing. "And it looks like just in time too. Looks like Scale Down's effects finally wore off."

"Don't get your hopes up just yet. Remember, this is Rogue Zero. They don't quit so easily." Esther warned.

"No way they could have survived that." Verias insisted.

Fly Beetle, being on the ground, felt his incisors shudder all of a sudden. He stiffened when he felt some form of movement. "Hm?"

"What is it?" Shuji looked into the tornado, feeling something off as well. It wasn't just Fly Beetle who could feel it off. As a man who stands his ground now, he could feel the earth move beneath him. His eyes narrowed at this gnawing feeling.

Esther squinted. She saw as well.

Ariella's frown turned into an arrogant smirk. "I'll admit, that was a close one there…"

As the twister surged in place, a silhouette gradually clawed its way out. It was completely ignoring the winds and metal scales thanks to the sheer, hardened coating around its body. It was Clawcer, and he came crawling out with a hiss and glaring red eyes.

Ariella showed an Aquos ability active, being the result of her confidence. "Ability…Shell Brace!"

"You're kidding, all our abilities didn't do a thing on her?" Shawn questioned.

"Look who's catching on. Yes, Shell Brace makes Clawcer immune to abilities." She frowned again. "But I will admit, that was a close one. Had it not been during that barrage your Jelldon unleashed, I never would have had a cover. But still, A for effort." She held up another ability. "Ability, activate! Foam Dowser!"

Clawcer turned around to face the silver cyclone and chattered his mouth braces. They spread a large sum of bubbles an white foam that fanned out into a large field around the area. The twister was completely blocked off, and Jelldon's tendrils were unable to keep a grip due to the slippery suds of the foam. He was forced to retreat them back towards him as the bubble field popped slowly, gradually showing Rogue Zero's Bakugan, all standing together with minor to no injuries thanks to the suds washing all the cuts away by Verias' attack.

Dusk Atchibee: 900/Glow Jelldon: 700/Stag Fly Beetle: 1200/Prime Verias: 700/Gale Atmos: 900 = 4400

Ultra Dragonoid: 200 (+500) = 700/Bloom Rafflesian: 0 (+100 +400) = 500/Megalo Clawcer: 0 (+500) = 500/Swarm Moskeeto: 0 (+500) = 500/Deep Freezer: 0 (+400) = 400 = 2600

Shuji balled his fists. "She nullified all our abilities."

Ariella flashed another cocky smirk. "Like the good Doc said, it's only natural to nullify any ability that can be deemed a threat. I'm sure you all can relate. But let's see you all see what we have as well. Hendrix."

The burly man gave a nod. "As you wish." He held up his Bakumeter, showing an ability. "Ability activate, Deep Incense!" Rafflesian growled low as his closed bud in the center of his face started unfolding the petals, revealing a thicker stem inside where many of seeds and pollen resides. The tips peeled back to expel the pollen around him and his fellow Bakugan. The cleansing of the pollen was sticking to them, revitalizing their strengths to where they felt stronger than ever.

Dusk Atchibee: 900/Glow Jelldon: 700/Stag Fly Beetle: 1200/Prime Verias: 700/Gale Atmos: 900 = 4400

Ultra Dragonoid: 700 (+300) = 1000/Bloom Rafflesian: 500 (+300) = 800/Megalo Clawcer: 500 (+300) = 800/Swarm Moskeeto: 500 (+300) = 800/Deep Freezer: 400 (+300) = 700 = 4100

"They're increasing their power even more. I see." Jase realized.

"It's always nice to take the time and smell the roses as they say." Xander chimed nonchalantly. "We've smelled plenty of roses ourselves. Roses that had thorns that we had to pluck and snare for our own little garden of revenge. Now then, I think it's time we show them just how serious we can, what do you say?"

Ariella shot him a glance. "Hurry it up. The quicker we get this done, the faster we'll be able to return and give those arrogant fools a piece of our mind."

Xander scoffed back. "Fine." He stood still, allowing a change in pressure to churn around them. "Ultra Dragonoid."

The Bakugan braced himself. He flexed his wings and stood in front of his peers, snarling ferally. Xander gradually lifted his arm, showing a card with a bright purple core on it. Instantly they all recognized this sinister chill.

"That's-!" Shawn leaned back in shock.

Jase narrowed his eyes, glaring angrily with hidden expectation. "As I have thought. They have forbidden abilities of their own." His eyes squinted. "And, from this feeling, they're stronger."

"Everyone…on your guard!" Esther shouted, getting the others rallied to cover.

Xander gradually raised his Bakumeter, allowing the card to shine brightly with a magenta radiance coming from it. "Ability, activate! Incinerate-X!"

A dark core implanted itself on Ultra Dragonoid's armored chest. Chords spread thinly around his arms, neck, and all the way to his tail. As he snarled, his nerves were twitching with a rush of magma-like power that burnt his inside. His snarls grew lower, and lower, until the very ground itself was burning a magenta ring of fire around him. "KRRREEAAAAAH~!" He careened his head out, releasing an earsplitting roar that shook the air violently.

The temperature drastically climbed, making heated Doom Dimension clouds cackle overhead. The other Bakugan stayed extremely careful as the surroundings darkened with a hue, leaving Ultra Dragonoid with magenta flames as the vibrant source of heat and light.

"This power…" Shawn grunted, shielding his eyes with his forearm. "He's turning up the heat further!"

"Here he comes! Everyone look out!" Esther warned.

Magenta flames condensed into an orb in front of his maw as he shut it. He reeled his head back and lurched forward, unleashing a laserbeam of magenta, pressurized fire that incinerated the landscape beneath. The ground condensed into a molten trail that glowed as it flew into everyone's direction.

Dusk Atchibee: 900/Glow Jelldon: 700/Stag Fly Beetle: 1200/Prime Verias: 700/Gale Atmos: 900 = 4400

Ultra Dragonoid: 1000 (+2000) = 3000/Bloom Rafflesian: 800/Megalo Clawcer: 800/Swarm Moskeeto: 800/Deep Freezer: 700 = 6100

The magenta laserbeam closed in fast, too fast for anyone. Atmos and Atchibee swept themselves out of the way while Fly Beetle and Verias were grabbed by Jelldon, who pulled them off to the side as the laserbeam blitzed right past them, fanning out over everyone else's heads as they ducked. The ground felt so hot that it felt like they were on hot coal. But it was either that or be incinerated in a super compressed beam that traveled into the far mountains. It faded away, before several flashes in the distance was followed by an explosion of magenta that reduced the mountain to oblivion.

The eruptive wake echoed back towards them. Shuji gnashed his teeth together. "It did all of that?! Just a blow?!"

"His firepower has definitely increased from before!" Maggie shouted. "Gngh! It's like hot sand down here!"

Ultra Dragonoid continued until enough mass was eventually expelled. The energy diminished enough to where he closed his smoking mouth, sighing with a feral grin.

"Hahahaha…looks like we've turned up the heat a little too much there." Ultra Dragonoid scoffed, overlooking the magma-like trail that was still fresh. It went on for miles, leading up to a vacant, molten slab that was between two valleys. The ground around him smoked incredulously.

"Then how about we cool things down a little." Xander teased. "Doc, I believe this is your move?"

Cesar prodded his glasses with a smirk. "With pleasure." He held up his golden gauntlet, showing an ability ready to begin. "I'm really looking forward to this. You want to cool down? Don't worry. We'll make it…absolute zero! Ability, activate-"

Freezer's eyes glinted. With the air around still hot, steam was erupting around him as his internal cooler was beginning to produce cold temperatures. The ventilator was puffing out frost that started going down his chords, swirling over his arms and into the ends of the nozzles. The steam at that point was all ice and frost.

Esther gasped. "Here they come again!"

Shuji and Shawn raised their heads and looked at each other. They nodded towards the other.

"ATOMIC…FREEZE~!" Freezer let out a loud, piercing cry as his body exploded with an omnidirectional shockwave of a blizzard of frost and ice that spread like wildfire. The inferno ground layered the earth before was completely frozen solid and continued its wave towards the other Bakugan. The battlers got low and behind whatever cover they could to avoid the freezing wave. They all hid behind rocks and tucked themselves sin as super-cold frost and ice erupted past them, freezing up the air itself.

Dusk Atchibee: 900 (-500) = 400/Glow Jelldon: 700 (-100) = 600/Stag Fly Beetle: 1200 (-500) = 700/Prime Verias: 700 (-500) = 200/Gale Atmos: 900 (-500) = 400 = 2300

Ultra Dragonoid: 3000/Bloom Rafflesian: 800/Megalo Clawcer: 800/Swarm Moskeeto: 800/Deep Freezer: 700 = 6100

The shockwave of ice and frost gradually dissipated away. It was now a dense, cool atmosphere that was shivering to the feeling.

The first thing Maggie felt was her body shivering. She hugged her arms and peered over the rocks to see what happened. "That…was cold…" She glanced around, but what she saw surprised her. "Gah!"

In front of them, all their Bakugan were completely covered in ice. They were frozen in place, like giant statues that were suspended in time. Even Atmos and Atchibee, much to the laws of physics themselves, were suspended in midair. They were all frozen down to the bone…or cells, in Jelldon's case.

Cesar blinked. His look of surprise gradually grew into a smirk. He smiled wide and chuckled. Again, blooming into full-blown laughter as he reared his head back with glee. "You see that?! That, is my genius in its finest arts! It leaves any and all frozen in their hopeless tracks! Now,you can't activate any abilities that can help you now!"

The all glared ahead, showing disdain for what happened. Cesar couldn't stop laughing.

"Oh how quickly the tables can turn! You've all gotten experienced but we still have our own. You've been thorns in our sides long enough as it is. Would it kill you to sit still long enough to let us have our moment to shine? Well, if you won't let us, then we shall do it for you!"

His laughter echoed through the cold atmosphere. No one could say anything to empathize or counter what he had to say. The Bakugan were completely frozen solid.

CRACK!

"Huh?" Cesar stopped laughing.

Cracks were heard from a few statues. The crackling and fragments of ice were starting to grow, much to Rogue Zero's shock. The cracks eventually shuddered, rumbling in fact. They were creating a magnitude before it all shattered to pieces that flew everywhere, followed by a terrifying roar.

"W-w-woah! HUH?!" Cesar's chair backpedaled from the surprise attack, He dodged a few ice shards and looked ahead, startled at what he saw. "What is this all about?!"

The ice and frost shard scattered everywhere, raining down around a sharper, denser shield-like surface that belonged to an insectoid creature. The claws were hardened as much as the entire body was to make it seem monstrous towards them. Fly Beetle gleamed with rising ire at his stunned opponents, who were too disbelieved at the time to react properly.

"Now that was what I call cold." Fly Beetle scoffed.

"Impossible! How did he-!" Xander stopped midway when he heard more cracking of ice. His eyes shrunk as he adverted towards the culprit behind Fly Beetle.

The ice statue behind Fly Beetle cracked to pieces, falling into clumps at his feet. From behind, Verias stepped up with his entire body coated in veins and a glistening aura around his body. He spread his feet and released a primal roar outwards that distorted the air around them.

Dusk Atchibee: 400/Glow Jelldon: 600/Stag Fly Beetle: 700 (+500 +500) = 1700/Prime Verias: 200 (+500 +400) = 1100/Gale Atmos: 400 = 4200

Ultra Dragonoid: 3000/Bloom Rafflesian: 800/Megalo Clawcer: 800/Swarm Moskeeto: 800/Deep Freezer: 700 = 6100

Both Bakugan stepped forward, looking far from deterred by what just happened. In fact, they looked reinforced to where it didn't like they were taken down by frontal assaults. Behind them, Shawn and Shuji had abilities active, both glaring seriously.

"You!" Xander quipped. "When did you…!"

"Just before the blast wave hit. We knew you'd try and shut us down the moment we couldn't fight back." Shawn explained. "But thanks to Primera Pressure and Carapace Riot, we're not going anywhere."

Shuji smirked. "One good defense deserves another. Right?"

"Couldn't have said it better myself." Fly Beetle retorted, still hardened by his ability. 'But we better hurry this up. This ironhide of mine won't hold forever.'

"Shawn, listen." Shuji glanced over towards him. "We'll block anything that gets close. You and Verias work on getting the others out."

Shawn nodded. He knew better than to question the impermeable defense that Shuji can be. "Okay."

"This is the last straw!" Ariella fumed. "Why don't you fools just go down already?! We're sick and tired of you, so why don't you do everyone else a favor and just accept it?!" She gave Killian a stern glare. "Killian, the final battle gun!"

Though it wasn't seen through his shades, Killian gave Ariella a glare. "You're being too hasty there, give me a sec!" He sighed, straightening himself to direct towards the others. "Time to end this! Ability, activate…" Moskeeto's proboscis gradually lengthened, thanks to each segment protruding outwards. The nose looked as long as a shotgun rifle, three times as long and narrowed in on Fly Beetle and Verias.

"Swarm Cannon!"

Moskeeto's wings hummed as he started channeling green Ventus energy into the proboscis tip. The energy compressed deeper inwards, reaching a critical mass.

Dusk Atchibee: 400 (-500) = 0/Glow Jelldon: 600 (-100) = 500/Stag Fly Beetle: 1700/Prime Verias: 1100 (-500) = 600/Gale Atmos: 400 (-500) = 0 = 2800

Ultra Dragonoid: 3000/Bloom Rafflesian: 800/Megalo Clawcer: 800/Swarm Moskeeto: 800 (+500) = 1300/Deep Freezer: 700 = 6600

The energy mass compressed gradually, but there was still enough time for them to react. Fly Beetle looked back at Verias. "Get ready back there!"

"Not so fast!" Ultra Dragonoid shouted, flexing his wings mightily. He ascended, generating a surge of heat that focused around his maw. "We'll roast you alive before you get that chance!"

Shuji glared in challenge. "We'd love to see you try and break us. We dare you!"

Xander's eyebrow twitched as he shot Shuji a mentally challenging glare. "You seriously wanna go down that way? Alright then…" He instigated another ability. "Let's see how you do against this! Ultra Dragonoid! Ability, activate…Incinerate-X!"

Another bright purple core appeared in front of Ultra Dragonoid and infused with his body. Instantly, another rise in temperature sprouted around him as he opened his maw, growing a large pool of melted ice beneath. The magenta fire compressed into a singular point as he prepared to open-fire. His power bolted all the way towards 5000.

"Fly Beetle…we won't break!" Shuji roared. "CARAPACE RIOT!"

Fly Beetle grunted loudly as his red eyes gleamed. He heard Shuji loud and clear, toughening himself to the furthermost extent of his armor's hardness. It was so brutal that anything that would come into contact would be bounced off. He stood before all his fellow Bakugan, crossing his multiple arms and braced for impact.

Moskeeto let loose first, firing an enormous blast of green energy at Mach speed. The ground's ice shattered to pieces as it traveled after Fly Beetle's defenses. Ultra Dragonoid's attack launched next, exploding large arrays of magenta fire everywhere. The air gradually heated with the ice all throughout the area annihilated. Not even liquid form was left as it beamed at the same angle as Moskeeto's attack.

The two attacks smashed into Fly Beetle on the spot, separating into dozens of green and magenta energy rays that bolted around him. He stood with his thin arms and horn up as the attacks exploded the surroundings around him. Ground reduced to lava before erupting into oblivion. The concentrated fire by both bakugan had s much pressure towards it that it could've torn through metal, yet their insectoid enemy stood there, taking it all like a wall.

"Gngh! GNNNNGH!" Fly Beetle grunted heavily as he did his best to keep himself from breaking through this sheer pressure. The molten fire hitting him head on mixed with green pressure was leaving his carapace to wear away hastily. But even so, he wasn't breaking.

Though while he didn't break, the ground and air sure did around him The ground diced and threw itself backwards, causing him to slide back in front of Verias, who was still safe along with his friends from annihilation.

"Fly Beetle!" Verias shouted.

"Don't break!" Shuji shouted through the roaring air bypassing everyone.

Fly Beetle didn't give up. Not at all. His arms had molten breakage seeping with his entire front half looking red and engulfed in steam. Even so, the air violent roared as he did as he didn't give out, not until Ultra Dragonoid's roar and Moskeeto's beams finally receded down to thin air. Once the attacks ran themselves out, smoke billowed from Hyper Dragonoid and Moskeeto's maws and nose. Fly Beetle's entire front was steaming with a few edges so hot that it felt like fire. But the payoff was that the land was destroyed in an area that was barely outside his frozen comrades' proximity.

"D-do it…" Fly Beetle wheezed, before kneeling forward with a thud.

Verias was momentarily stunned at his friend's sudden failing of strength, but he wasn't going to let that be in vain. He slammed his staff down, charging up a light. He did his best to keep his rage in. "SHAWN, NOW!"

Shawn held up his Bakumeter, readying another ability. "Ability, activate! Territory Heart!"

Verias instantly produced a strong light with a strong cry of resurgence. The dome enveloped all of his allies, including the crippled Fly Beetle before him. Gradually, sparkles rained down on all of them, producing a healing wave of Haos aura that restored them and their injuries. Jelldon, Atchibee, and Atmos began thawing, while the superficial wounds on an exhausted Fly Beetle repaired themselves. It didn't take long for everything to appear as though nothing happened.

Dusk Atchibee: 0 (+400 +500 +300) = 1200/Glow Jelldon: 500 (+100 +100 +300) = 1000/Stag Fly Beetle: 1700 (+300) = 2000/Prime Verias: 600 (+500 +300) = 1400/Gale Atmos: 0 (+400 +500 +300) = 1200 = 6800

Ultra Dragonoid: 5000 (-2000) = 3000/Bloom Rafflesian: 800/Megalo Clawcer: 800/Swarm Moskeeto: 1300 (-500) = 800/Deep Freezer: 700 = 6100

Xander was left wide-eyed, stupefied with what he just saw. "I-Impossible!How did that even happen?!"

Fly Beetle gradually stood back up, looking ahead with his stamina restored by a small sum. "Thanks, Verias. That saved my hide."

Verias nodded. "Just returning the favor."

Xander gritted his teeth. He reached down towards the battlefield with a command. "Gate Card, open! Evil Clear!" The Gate Card started glowing beneath, making a shine that would slowly eat away at Verias' regenerating light. He smirked. 'Heh, just as I thought. Let's see them break out of this one.'

"Jelldon!" Maggie reached out to her partner. "Attribute Change!"

Jelldon's eyes sparked plasma. "You got it, Maggie! HRAH!" With a grunt, his gel sacs ignited in a rainbow aura. The shine around his body waved and simmered until it fully dispersed back into the gel sacs. His Darkus coating glistened as he stood readily. "Alright, let's go!"

Maggie held up a Darkus ability. "Ability, activate! Shadow Providence!"

Jelldon's tentacles lifted, before plunging them into the Gate Card's surface. Dark purple plasma filtered across, gradually making a dark haze that made the light of the card fade into a dark, void-like projection like the Darkus Reactor Gate Card would. It filtered throughout the surroundings, allowing the effect it had on Verias' ability to dissipate into oblivion.

A dark purple aura illuminated around Atchibee and Jelldon. Their powers steadily grew, enough to where a dull, dark pressure suppressed any force from reaching them.

Dusk Atchibee: 1200 (+500) = 1700/Glow Jelldon: 1000 (+500) = 1500/Stag Fly Beetle: 2000/Prime Verias: 1400/Gale Atmos: 1200 = 7800

Ultra Dragonoid: 3000/Bloom Rafflesian: 800/Megalo Clawcer: 800/Swarm Moskeeto: 800/Deep Freezer: 700 = 6100

'With this ability, any Gate Card can be infected, and give Jelldon a boost by turning it into a Darkus Reactor automatically.' Maggie thought.

Jelldon raised all his tentacles and jabbed them forward at swift, sonic rates into each opponent. The jabs were intense, and punctured soft points in the Rogue Zero Bakugan. They all faltered away as Jelldon's enhanced force forced them back. The ground churned beneath, much to Rogue Zero's discomfort.

"You can't be serious!" Ariella snapped. She was proven wrong when Clawcer when flying onto his backside with a powerful thud. The quake rattled her enough to where she fell onto her back as well.

Hendrix grunted when Rafflesian nearly fell over. "They're strong. No…stronger than we've initially thought."

Moskeeto wailed through the air, but adjusted and shifted above Killian. "Then I guess we'll have to pull into our bag of tricks again, huh? Okay then, my turn…" He lifted his Bakumeter, which showed what looked like an ability readily activating. "Moskeeto, ability, activate…"

A purple core flashed on Moskeeto before it produced chords around his body. The chords restrained him, but only for a short while. Afterwards a distorted pulse ran through the air, causing all hairs to stand on end. Esther and everyone backpedaled as they saw Moskeeto's wings humming lowly and produced magenta hornets, which buzzed sporadically. Each energy hornet had a proboscis and pitch-black eyes that looked into your soul in multi-cellular vision. They all hissed aggressively in waits to be unleashed.

"Now, Infection-X!" Killian reached outwards, forcing Moskeeto to direct his own attack with a shrilled shriek of his own. He buzzed his wings at supersonic speeds, sending the hornet swarm in energy waves that fanned out and struck all the Bakugan. The swarm buzzed and nipped at them, stinging their ends and digging into their bodies like a bad itch. Not only that but it hurt just as much of a bite as it did with a bullet.

They all dug through Verias' fur, making him whirl and itch around madly. Atmos cried out as his plumage was violated by the swarm stinging him. They all grunted with each thrust. As they all struggled, the magenta energy hornets faded into some venomous toxin that stuck to their bodies, fading inwards until all their bodies were covered in a magenta hue.

The spontaneous buzzing eventually receded, but the churning didn't leave anyone's ears for some time. They all uncovered and looked forward, seeing their Bakugan flustered and disoriented with his aura.

"What was that just now?" Esther questioned.

"Just a little bug is all." Killian responded curtly. "A virus that's under your skin."

Verias grunted in discomfort from the itching skin, trying hard not to scratch it. "What's this terrible feeling…it's like acid on my skin that won't stop burning!"

Fly Beetle fought back the urge to scratch, staying completely still after just being heeled by a little. "Gnngh…this…is getting annoying." He stumbled some, but picked himself up in time. "Shuji!"

Shuji nodded. "Ability, activate! Thorax Defense!" Fly Beetle tensed up as an orange-brown glow illuminated over his body.

Killian narrowed his eyes. "Thought so."

As the light got brighter around Fly Beetle, he suddenly felt an intense pain that backfired on him. He grunted mightily as his entire body convulsed from a fiery sensation. His power didn't go up. Instead it dropped towards 1700.

Shuji squinted. "What?"

Fly Beetle did a double take on what he felt. It coursed through his veins, making him feel more than a little disoriented. "What…was that just now? It's like my ability just…bit back at me for no reason." He looked back at Moskeeto, who hovered like nothing could reach him. The two insectoids stared the other down.

"Ability, activate!" Xander shouted. "Stroke Blaze!" Hyper Dragonoid opened his maw wide, unleashing a crimson fireball that bolted through the air into Atchibee's direction.

Esther had no choice but to instruct a counter. "Ability, activate! Wormhole!" Atchibee swiftly got in front of everyone and spread her wings to absorb the ability. The vortex appeared in front of her and sucked in the fireball, however, much like Fly Beetle's case, the vortex became magenta, instead imploding on itself and bursting in front of Atchibee, sapping away 500 to shoot her down towards 1200.

"I gotcha!" Using his gelatinous mass, Jelldon positioned himself beneath Atchibee, letting her spring off him and back into the air. "Are you okay?"

Atchibee shook around, looking back at him. "Yes, thanks to you, Jelldon. But that attack just now…I thought I absorbed it. How could it have backfired so…!" She didn't finish when the infection started to ache again, cutting her off with the rest of the Bakugan.

Ariella snickered loosely. "Not a bad play there, Killian. I admit, even I was pleasantly surprised."

"Thanks." He said dryly, yet seriously. "But they'll catch on soon. Better finish them off, now."

"I agree." Hendrix replied.

"What's wrong with them?" Maggie worried, seeing their Bakugan ache. "It's like their power is completely reversing on itself…wait a minute."

Jase took a moment to adjust his stance. He gave each of the Bakugan an observant eye. "I see…so that's what Infection-X does. Every time we use an ability, the reverse happens. Those hornets diffused within their bodies must have infected a polarity toxin that rewinds the flow of power."

"So in other words, we increase our power, the opposite happens." Shawn parroted bluntly. He shot Rogue Zero a sharp look as they watched Freezer slip forward with his attack aimed for them. "Well we better get rid of that, and fast."

"Leave that to Atchibee and I, we'll set this battle straight." Esther declared.

"You sure?" Shuji wondered.

"We don't have much time to consider any options. When the opening is clear, we need to make our move. Understood." Everyone behind her knew what she was talking about. For now they all decided to follow her lead. This was for the best if she and Atchibee could take this. They faced forward, seeing Freezer eyeing them with the ten nozzles raised.

"Allow me to be the one to put these muckrakers to their knees in mercy!" Cesar ceremoniously cheered. "We'll make this quick alright! Double ability, activate! Octa-zooka!" Freezer aimed all the nozzles as yellow energy surged into each one. It all compressed into singular points, at which Cesar showed an extra ability in his golden brace. "Fusion Ability, activate! Absolute Zero Reactor!" Freezer's hazard mask filtered from the brain, which gave off a bright blue glow as it drastically cooled down. The ten orbs had crystalized textures on them that froze the energy as it kept morphing. Ten frozen beams of light barreled through the air, the ice giving the texture a sharper, firmer exterior for a greater impact on all the Bakugan.

Dusk Atchibee: 1200 (-400) = 800/Glow Jelldon: 1500 (-100) = 1400/Stag Fly Beetle: 1700 (-400) = 1300/Prime Verias: 1400 (-400) = 1000/Gale Atmos: 1200 (-400) = 800 = 5300

Ultra Dragonoid: 3000/Bloom Rafflesian: 800/Megalo Clawcer: 800/Swarm Moskeeto: 800/Deep Freezer: 700 (+400 +500) = 1600 = 7000

"Disappear~!" Cesar wailed.

The beams blitzed inwards, drastically reducing the distance between all of them. They all waited until they were close enough when Atchibee fluttered in place, bracing herself for the attack. "Esther!"

Esther pulled up her Bakuneter, showing an ability. "Ability, activate! Dusk Tornado!" Atchibee flapped her wings, unleashing a shrilled cry before a black cyclone enveloped her and her fellow Bakugan. The tornado acted as a barricade that completely dispelled Cesar's attack, much to his horror.

"W-what?!"

The black maelstrom rapidly spun around, violently stirring up everything within the area. That included the magenta virus that infected her friends. The whirlwinds fanned out, carrying the forbidden abilitie's effects into the scattered darkness with a sound flap. It erupted into the rest of Rogue Zeros' Bakugan like a black wind wall, forcibly blowing them all over once more with a gag.

Dusk Atchibee: 800 (+400 +500 +200) = 1900/Glow Jelldon: 1400 (+100) = 1500/Stag Fly Beetle: 1300 (+400 +300) = 2000/Prime Verias: 1000 (+400) = 1400/Gale Atmos: 800 (+400) = 1200 = 8000

Ultra Dragonoid: 3000 (-2200) = 800/Bloom Rafflesian: 800 (-100) = 700/Megalo Clawcer: 800 (-100) = 700/Swarm Moskeeto: 800 (-100) = 700/Deep Freezer: 1600 (-900) = 700 = 3600

Ariella covered up with a forearm to block out the cyclone's shockwaves, but it was stull enough to make her and the rest of her team's feet drag about. Cesar's antigravity chair threw itself back for a moment, deterring the scientist.

"Gngh! Where is all of this wind coming from?!" Ariella hissed.

Hendrix stepped forward, giving a harsh grunt. "Ariella, enough with your fits. They aren't productive…look out!"

With the black whirlwinds as a cover, Maggie instigated a serious counterattack. "Triple ability, activate! Element Kraken, plus Desert Spirit! And Fusion Ability, Maximum Bolt!"

As the cyclone rampaged, the enemy Bakugan were unable to advance, giving the opportunity towards Jelldon's lack of appearance and tentacles flaring out of nowhere, clad in plasmatic static that whiplashed into the other Bakugan. He violently shouted as he slammed his tendrils into all of them. Brutally at that. The harsh, invisible whips of crackling plasma was nonstop, specifically on Ultra Dragonoid as he went smashing into the ground with earth breaking beneath his wake.

Dusk Atchibee: 1900/Glow Jelldon: 1500 (600+200 +300) = 2600/Stag Fly Beetle: 2000/Prime Verias: 1400/Gale Atmos: 1200 = 9100

Ultra Dragonoid: 800 (-200 -300) = 300/Bloom Rafflesian: 700 (-200) = 500/Megalo Clawcer: 700 (-200) = 500/Swarm Moskeeto: 700 (-200) = 500/Deep Freezer: 700 (-200) = 500 = 2300

"Where are these attacks coming from?!" Xander grunted. He covered up when a tendril smashed into the ground close by, producing a shockwave of plasma that made his hair stand on end.

The tornado's drafts gradually diffused out to the open, leaving dark plasma to surge and violently whip to no end. It was relentless volleys after one another, with possibly no end towards them. They wouldn't stop. And worse, they were getting more intense by the second.

Hendrix felt sparks ignite spontaneously from each individual strike, but he refused to budge. "Then I suppose…it's my turn." He held up an ability. "Ability, activate! Cavernous-X!"

A bright purple core illuminated in front of Rafflesian as the chords filtered all over his body. The closed rose bud on the top absorbed the core, in which a pulse went through his entire body. Suddenly, veins started seeping through his briar-contorted trunk. He snarled low, before a magenta aura flared around his body. The edging of his petals shined the same color.

"GGRROOOOOOOOHHHH!" Rafflesian's bellows spread as magenta ripples across the ground. They fanned out far and wide beneath everyone else. Once they were all spread out, a network of root-like veins sprouted out if the blue beneath everyone. It was low, but a rupture was beginning to reinforce magnitudes.

The ground vibrated harshly beneath Maggie as she stepped back. "What's this…an earthquake?"

"Everyone hold onto something!" Shawn warned.

Rafflesian released another loud bellow, which spread like wildfire through the area. The magenta energy veins within the ground brightened up, before erupting into fissures that tore through the ground. The ground started giving way, making uneven plating and formations that eroded towards the others.

Dusk Atchibee: 1900 (-1800) = 100/Glow Jelldon: 2600 (-2500) = 100/Stag Fly Beetle: 2000 (-1900) = 100/Prime Verias: 1400 (-1300) = 100/Gale Atmos: 1200 (-1100) = 100 = 500

Ultra Dragonoid: 300/Bloom Rafflesian: 500 (+8600) = 9100/Megalo Clawcer: 500/Swarm Moskeeto: 500/Deep Freezer: 500 = 10,900

The shockwaves and the drastic power climb grew out of control. Rafflesian's huge, flora-like body began convulsing as he grew in all the opponents' power from below. The eyes within all the petals shrunk to the size of beads as their colors went full inverse. The magnitude served to intensify that much further, making the land rupture for miles on end. The ground depressed even around Rogue Zero's Bakugan, causing Freezer and Clawcer to lose their footing.

"Hey! Watch where you're aiming at!" Ultra Dragonoid snarled in the air.

"KRROOOOAAAAHH!" Rafflesian didn't respond. He was drawing in so much power that the veins even around his body were starting to convulse. The pulsation was making even the rose on his head glow bright magenta.

The atmosphere violently shook as Rafflesian's flux was too great. Even the air was becoming less stable as magenta flashes enveloped the skies. Lightning appeared out of nowhere, coming down spontaneously. They crackled around the Subterra Bakugan as he grew out of control.

Ariella was trying to keep footing, but her patience was getting thin. "Hendrix, what are you doing?!"

"What we must." He narrowed his eyes, looking far from desperate. In fact, he looked stone cold ahead despite the earthquake threatening their footing. "We must prevail. You said it yourself…" He shook his head. "There's no other way at this point except for the unthinkable."

Killian looked at his associate with shock. 'It's just like before.' He thought about their last group effort against the others. 'He's pushing himself past the breaking point. At this rate…'

Rafflesian was on a rampage as his briars wailed about in a frenzy. As the ground shook, he suddenly came to a halt. He froze in place, allowing the tremors to settle down, much everyone's confusion.

"What's wrong?" Ariella questioned. "Hm?"

Rafflesian's dilating petals were focused on the ground, where something shoved him from below. It budged again, and then a third time. Until the fissures beneath exploded with rock and dust. The entire lower half was ripped from the ground and blown over when a jagged energy horn went flying upwards, revealing Fly Beetle unleashing a powerful battle cry.

Time gradually slowed down as deposits and wasteland went falling over with Rafflesian. The Bakugan's power he absorbed vanished, leaving him in a standstill while the others tried processing what just happened.

"How it that…?!" Xander looked down, realizing what happened. 'Hold on…did Fly Beetle travel through the fissures below?'

Shuji was amongst his friends still standing, holding up an ability. "Ability, Horn Blitzer!" he shouted. "This'll stop your little power drain."

Dusk Atchibee: 100 (+1800) = 1900/Glow Jelldon: 100 (+2500) = 2600/Stag Fly Beetle: 100 (+1900 +400) = 2400/Prime Verias: 100 (+1300) = 1400/Gale Atmos: 100 (+1100) = 1200 = 9500

Ultra Dragonoid: 300/Bloom Rafflesian: 9100 (-8600) = 500/Megalo Clawcer: 500/Swarm Moskeeto: 500/Deep Freezer: 500 = 2300

"They nullified the ability of that magnitude? Like it was nothing?!" Cesar was voluntarily speechless. He couldn't believe what he just witnessed.

Rafflesian groaned as he went down like a tree, smashing into the ground completely uprooted with his briars. Fly beetle got airborne and glared down, all while noticing the other Bakugan below stepping back as their large ally went down.

"We're running out of options here!" Xander shouted.

"Then we better think of something, and quick!" Ariella grunted.

Cesar prodded his glasses. "Very well then. I suggest we try a playoff. Anything they can do, my genius can outwit. What do you say?"

Xander smirked. "I think I follow. Alright then, we'll try it your way then."

"Good. Now, get ready!"

Ultra Dragonoid, Clawcer, and Freezer all aligned with each other. They pulled out abilities at the exact same time. "Ability, activate! Pyrus, Aquos, Haos Triple Node!" The three members shouted. The Triple Node activated instantaneously, giving the three Bakugan a respective glow around their bodies that amplified all their power. They howled in sheer might.

Dusk Atchibee: 1900/Glow Jelldon: 2600/Stag Fly Beetle: 2400/Prime Verias: 1400/Gale Atmos: 1200 = 9500

Ultra Dragonoid: 300 (+600) = 900/Bloom Rafflesian: 500/Megalo Clawcer: 500 (+600) = 1100/Swarm Moskeeto: 500/Deep Freezer: 500 (+600) = 1100 = 4100

"A Triple Node?" Shuji parroted.

"They never used that trick before." Maggie pointed out. "Guess they really are playing off of us."

Esther narrowed her eyes. She looked to be focused on something she felt coming.

"Ability, activate!" Killian shouted. "Mega Sonic!" Moskeeto hissed before getting to Fly Beetle's elevation. The insect looked up in time to see a sonic boom of green energy rings aimed for him. Moskeeto went up to 900, yet Fly Beetle dropped back to 200. He buzzed around the attack to get out of range.

"Now, let's turn the heat up a little more, shall we?!" Xander held up his Bakumeter. "End this here and now! Ability, activate! Hellfire-X!"

Ultra Dragonoid snarled as a dark purple energy core bloomed around him. His growling intensified before it faded into his body. His body produced magenta flames, which erupted into a magenta-crimson wave that overcame hos entire frame. He unleashed a loud, earsplitting shout as he ascended into the sky, the flames building up to a greater mass than before.

"Allow me as well!" Cesar declared, holding up an ability. "With this, victory shall be ours! Ability, activate…Nuclear-X!"

A core appeared in front of Freezer, which faded into his body next. The energy the ability had caused the brain to suddenly glow bright blue, icy outlines. The mass all around his body had began expelling icy frost, which turned magenta upon fanning away from him. His entire body had an outline of magenta energy that thickened. The more it did, the colder it got around Freezer.

Dusk Atchibee: 1900/Glow Jelldon: 2600/Stag Fly Beetle: 2000/Prime Verias: 1400/Gale Atmos: 1200 = 9100

Ultra Dragonoid: 900 (+4100) = 5000/Bloom Rafflesian: 500/Megalo Clawcer: 1100/Swarm Moskeeto: 900/Deep Freezer: 1100 (x5) = 5500 = 13,000

"Now…YOU SHALL ALL BE REDUCED TO ATOMS!" Cesar declared, pointing directly at them. "NOW~!"

"KKROOOOAAAAH~!" Ultra Dragonoid and Freezer unleashed blistering howls that echoed through the skies. The clouds above them swirled into a dark mass that concentrated even more flashes of lightning right overhead. The crimson magenta hellfire was causing a radiation wake that was starting to overwhelm the air's natural state. The atomic energy Freezer had was beginning to contradict just that, creating an unstable chemical reaction within the atoms around them.

"Everyone, prepare yourselves!" Jase ordered.

"Right, then there's something we can try." Shawn declared. "Esther?"

Esther nodded. "Very well. Let's do it."

As Fly Beetle pulled away, a flash of lightning was coming down quickly. Atmos swooped in and pulled his back while Atchibee and Verias were given clearance. Jelldon grabbed them by his tendrils and started spinning yet again, gradually increasing the momentum to where he could throw them both in the same direction into the blast wave.

"Ability, activate!" Both shouted.

"Silent Plexus!"

"Light Primus!"

Ultra Dragonoid and Freezer didn't hold back any longer. Both Bakugan built up their energy output to where a crimson-magenta nova shot into the sky, permeating the lightning that came surging down and turned into fire. The pillar expanded outwards, incinerating everything within the area at an atomic rate. Freezer's attack was a shriek before an atomic, icy shockwave of magenta frost that traveled towards the enemy. The enormous blast waves combined in the middle, creating an atomic tsunami wave that leveled the ground to an incinerated and absolute zero temperature wasteland. The pulse waves traveled through, seemingly destroying everything within its path.

The flashes the attack made Rogue Zero and all their Bakugan watch. They couldn't do much outside of the mass attacking, but that didn't deter them from relishing in it.

"…huh?" Ariella squinted.

Two figures were seen beaming through.

"Heh?" Cesar blinked.

Hendrix, Killian, and Xander all stopped and shot looks of sheer and honest surprise when they saw the elemental eruption actually…diffusing. It severed as two Bakugan traveled alongside one another, being Atchibee with bright red blades with a veil of indigo darkness encompassing her. Verias had the axe blade brought bad as he eyed Rogue Zero with a deadly glare, the blade bight and dragging an intense light that outshined the crimson magenta, like a star.

Dusk Atchibee: 1900 (+4100 +400) = 6400/Glow Jelldon: 2600/Stag Fly Beetle: 2000/Prime Verias: 1400 (+1500) = 2900/Gale Atmos: 1200 = 15,100

Ultra Dragonoid: 5000/Bloom Rafflesian: 500/Megalo Clawcer: 1100/Swarm Moskeeto: 900/Deep Freezer: 5500 = 13,000

The ape and moth were flying through, battling as hard as they could against the force against them. Verias faltered behind, in which Atchibee used her extendable pincher for his axe. As she dragged him, they gradually gained momentum and crossed blades.

"Verias!"

"Let's do it!"

"GO DOWN ALREADY~!" Xander echoed.

Atchibee and Verias refused to listen. Both unleashed violent cries through the air as Atchibee crossed her blades in an X-formation. The bright red lengthened and thickened to masses with an erupting indigo, black, and purple mass engulfing everything. Verias slashed his blade, creating a massive crescent of pure light he got from his friends. The light crescent cleaved into the X behind, aiming a 6-sided star of red and yellow with darkness tearing through the attack.

None of the Bakugan saw it coming. Ultra Dragonoid gasped as the crimson-magenta fire around him wasn't enough when a monstrous x-shaped star tore through the atomic wave, dispersing it in midair. Time slowed for a moment for all of them to see the peril heading right for them…before it rushed in and engulfed them with a series of flashes that erupted into starlight and bright glimmers. The eruptive wake sent shockwaves everywhere, causing Rogue Zero to look absolutely horrified beyond recognition. They all covered up before falling over. All their efforts resulted in a large-scale eruptive pillar that flashed towards dissipation.

Ultra Dragonoid and the other Bakugan roared in violent agony through the shockwaves. Their howling faded as they all reverted to ball form, rolling up through the flattened landscape towards their stammering partners.

Xander: 20%

Hendrix: 10%

Ariella: 20%

Killian: 10%

Cesar: 20%

Yellow and dark sparkles rained down on Verias, Atchibee, and the other Bakugan. They all had resolute glares fixed on them as they stared ahead, each one having a unique pressure built up around them as they reverted to ball form and returned to their partners.

Xander managed to stand back up, but when he looked down at Ultra Dragonoid's defeated ball form, he was at a lost for words. "No! Im…impossible!"

Hendrix humbly grunted. Once again another flaw that deterred them.

"But…that doesn't make any sense." Ariella baffled. "We've even used our Forbidden Abilities. How did they seriously overpower us this much?"

Cesar gnashed his teeth and scoffed angrily. "Hnnngh…these ruffians sullied my good name, my reputation, and now my greatest achievement! This has gone on long enough!"

"Yes, for once I agree." Jase announced. "Shall we finish this?"

Killian stood up, giving them a glare. "No more pulling punches this time."

"Yeah, same here." Maggie countered. "Unlike you guys, we have people who are waiting for us. And we intend to get back and help them however we can."

"Heh, pretty bold choice of words young lady. Care to back them up?" Ariella taunted.

"We'll do more than just talk, that is a promise." Esther held up Dusk Atchibee's glowing ball form. "Rogue Zero…we've struggled a lot because of you…" Lightning flashed overhead. "We've learned what fear was because of you." Another bolt flashed. "And because of what you've taught us throughout our adventure, I will say this…we will not lose to you."

---

Dark lightning flashed elsewhere. Abis let out a violent battle cry s loud as a crashing tsunami wave. Goblinball expelled a violent roar of his own in retaliation. Both of their combined cries echoed loudly throughout the airspace for miles on end.

Luke held up his blade as Abis swam through the air, directing towards Maximus. "Maximus~!"

Maximus snarled ferally as Goblinball flew after him, both their sets of claws pulled back.

As the two Bakugan collided in the sky, so did their battlers. Blades and claws created violet sparks…sparks that would ignite until inferno was snuffed out by the other soon.

---

Decided to cut off here for now. It would get to be long henceforth and I'd be overdue. But anyways, Part 1 of the big Doom Dimension battle! I had to throw everything I had towards these fights that are still going, and I'm trying not to disappoint in the slightest. I hope you like what I'm doing!

Next chapter will be the conclusion and the outcome of their fights! Hope that you enjoy!