EPISODE 4: GENETICS
"For the Prelims of the World Championships, two people from each designated Country will have a chance to play in the Finals. This year's World Tournament takes place in Russia! So train hard, and I hope to see many great Beybattles out there!" Mr. Dickenson concluded.
"I guess that means that we're going to have to split up again, Tyson…" Max said a few hours later as the four of them met again in front of Tyson's place.
"It's the only way we all have a chance of making the Finals," Ray said with a nod.
"I'm staying," Kai said suddenly, much to everyone's surprise.
"Kai…? I thought you would go back to Russia again?" Tyson said surprised.
"Not with my Grandfather running things again. I have a feeling he's the reason that the World Championship is in Russia again. Besides, here I still have a chance to face Tyson again, even if I have to face him in the Prelims," Kai explained, his arms crossed as usual.
"But what about me?!!!" A familiar voice rang out as a Blade whipped out of nowhere in front of them, "You didn't think you were going to leave out me and my Strata Dragoon, did you Tyson?!" Daichi said as he jumped out of a tree… but tripped on the branch as he jumped and landed flat on his face.
"Daichi! Who invited you anyways?!" Tyson said angrily as Daichi got back promptly to his feet, rubbing his head with his hand.
"I invited him Tyson," Ray explained, "Daichi, since Kai is going to be competing here, why don't you come with me to my home country? Of course, you'll have to compete with the likes of perhaps Lee and myself to get in, but you'll probably have a better chance."
Daichi picked up his Strata Dragoon and flashed it at Ray, "My Strata Dragoon can handle anything! I'll go with you, only so I don't have to be around Tyson's stench all the time! You guys should be glad you weren't on his team last time," He said, waving his free hand by his nose.
"What's that supposed to mean?!" Tyson said angrily, as he grabbed Daichi.
"You know exactly what it means!" Daichi responded as they put their heads together, growling.
"That's enough you two!" Max said as he pulled the two apart, "Alright then, that settles it. I'll head back to America. Ray and Daichi will go to China, and Tyson and Kai will remain here. I hope we all make it to the Finals, it should be awesome!"
"Tyson! You better get serious, because as it stands, none of us have a chance at beating Dark. And he's probably after our Bit Beasts too. We're going to have to work harder than we have ever worked before if we're going to put up any sort of fight at this Tournament against him. That goes for all of you!" Kai said sternly, still bitter about his recent loss.
"Yeah…" Tyson said, looking down a bit, "That reminds me, I still need to get myself a new Blade."
"Chief told me that he was working on it as we speak, Tyson. That's why he's not here right now," Max reassured his friend.
"Thanks, Max. That's good to know."
"Well, I guess this is goodbye for now then. We'll see you at the World Tournament!" Ray said as himself, Max and Daichi all went their separate ways.
"You better be there, Tyson, because I look forward to kicking your butt!" Daichi called out to Tyson before he left.
"In your dreams, runt!" Tyson said, smiling again.
Meanwhile, back in Russia, Dark had been called to Voltaire's office.
"I have a new Mission for you, Dark. You are truly all that I really need for the upcoming Championships, but I still would like another strong Blader to represent us, so as not to make us seem like a one man show. Do you remember Tala?" Voltaire said with a grin.
"Yes… he was one of the best at the Abbey, if not THE best, that I've seen," Dark admitted, remembering parts of his past.
"Well, before he was defeated by Tyson, we had given him cybernetic implants. However, Tyson somehow freed him from our programming during the battle, which caused his imminent defeat. Therefore, I'd like to re-program him. Your Mission is to locate and retrieve Tala and bring him back here, WITHOUT destroying his Blade. Other than that one condition, use whatever is necessary. You have your orders, now carry them out!" Voltaire demanded of his creation.
"I suppose. Not destroying his Blade presents me with a new challenge. It will make this easy victory a little more interesting at least," Dark smirked as he walked off…
Meanwhile, Tala was training on the frozen winter tundra of Russia. He had no idea of Voltaire's return, nor did he know of the mysterious Dark, but he did know about the upcoming Championship and he had every intention of being there. Suddenly he heard something in the distance that sounded like helicopter blades. He looked up and within moments he saw the helicopter appear above him. It then stopped and a dark Blade suddenly sprung from it, heading towards Tala. Tala was quick to react and jumped backwards. Then he saw a figure leap from the helicopter, despite it being over 20 feet in the air, and land easily on the ground, the dark Blade returning to his hand. The jump had caused Dark's hood to fall back, revealing his pale skin and dark eyes.
"Who are you?" Tala demanded of Dark.
"Come now, it's very impolite to ask for one's name before giving your own… you should mind your manners… Cyber-Tala!" Dark said with a grin.
Tala's eyes widened, "Very few people know of that name. Just who or what are you? Are you a Cyborg too? No Human could have handled that jump like you did.
"Cyborg? No… I am not machine in any way or form. I was sent here by Voltaire to bring you back for reprogramming," Dark said with a bit of a laugh.
"Voltaire?! You must be joking, why would I go back to him?!" Tala said, with a shocked expression on his face.
"Probably because you don't have a choice," Dark grinned as he reattached his Blade to his Launcher.
"Heh, do you really think you have a chance? I'll show you what true power is!" Tala said as he attached his Blade, Wolborg, to his Launcher.
"3…2…1…Let It Rip!" They both yelled as they pulled their Ripcords.
"Go, Wolborg!" Tala yelled.
"Go, Shadow Lord!" Dark yelled as the two blades landed near each other, onto the frozen plains.
"You're in my element, here! You don't stand a chance! I'll finish this quickly…" An evil look in his eye appeared as he shouted, "Novae Roe!" Wolborg appeared and ice shot around Shadow Lord. Suddenly ice encased Shadow Lord as Wolborg slammed through it, shattering the ice. White dust covered the battlefield, but Tala was fairly confident that he had just won, "Return to your Master and tell him that I decline his invitation."
Dark had remained calm during the entire thing, emotionless even, "You know, not destroying your Blade is a very difficult task. I don't see why Voltaire should care about someone as weak as you. Although, I admit, you're currently doing better than Tyson, but not as good as Kai," Dark's expressionless face turned to that of an evil grin.
"W-what?!" Tala said shocked as the dust settled and he saw that Shadow Lord wasn't there at all. His Wolborg was still spinning, but he had lost sight of his opponent.
Dark brought his cloak in close to himself and then flung it back. Suddenly Shadow Lord appeared out of nowhere, having been cloaked before, and slammed hard into Tala's blade. Wolborg bounced a few times, but managed to stay spinning.
"You say you defeated Tyson and Kai? You're just bluffing… I'll show you a new technique I've been working on! I was saving it for the Finals, so consider yourself privileged!" Tala said with a grin, as he spread his arms out wide, his blade starting to glow a pale blue.
"It won't work!" Dark said, throwing his cloak away from him which smashed through the ice as it hit the ground, weighted even more than Kai's, "Shadow Lord, 40 percent input, decreasing to 10 percent impact, do not destroy!" Shadow Lord appeared out of the Blade, it's cloak also missing, revealing a Skeletal figure covered in shadows with a sword hilt, Dark and Shadow Lord both moving their hands towards their hilts.
"Too late! You cannot hope to stand against this!" Tala said with a grin, "Wolborg! Tsurara Mai!" Icicles then shot out from the ground, traveling along the ground in a wide area towards Shadow Lord.
"Kage Mai!" Dark shouted, his eyes flashing red, as he moved with Shadow Lord at nearly untraceable speeds, weaving in and out as Shadow Lord burst through the icicles, and then slowed down at the last second before it struck Wolborg, sending Wolborg flying, where it landed on it's side, stopped.
"W-h-how did you…?" Tala said, absolutely shocked.
"You asked if I was a Cyborg. I am not. Rather, as you should know, Boris had worked on genetically enhancing and mutating Bit Beasts to create more powerful Artificial ones. Boris figured, if they could do it with Bit Beasts, they should be able to do it with Humans too. I was used in an experiment… I was genetically mutated to be the World's Ultimate Blader. Someone like you, an artifact of the past… you cannot even compare to me," Dark explained, "Now, to take you in… Shadow Illusion!" His eyes flashed red again as a dark light emerged from the still spinning Shadow Lord, blinding Tala within it.
"W-what's…going…on….." Tala said as his eyes slowly closed in unconsciousness.
Dark picked up his blade and stored it within his cloak. He then took out his radio, "Boris, this is Dark. Tala has been secured."
"Good work, Dark! I knew we could count on you! I'm bringing the Chopper in now," Boris replied through the radio.
As Dark watched the helicopter return, he just whispered to himself, "It's just all too easy for me….."