Outside Boris' base...

A group of guards were carefully hauling some of the containers that held the bladers into the backs of some large trucks. A pair of guards walked out from the small entrance, wobbling a little bit as he almost tripped over a small rock.

"Hey, be careful with those things," said a guard waiting by the last truck, the engine of said truck revving as it prepared to leave.

"It's only... what, maybe two of the kids?" defended another guard, holding one end of the container which held Ray inside. "Boris has plenty more."

"And if we drop any of those, then I get the feeling that neither of us will ever have kids," the first guard retorted. "Just shut your trap and do your job properly."

The other guard, holding the opposite end of the container, grunted as he and his cohort lifted it into the back of the large truck. "Where are we taking these, anyway?"

"Eh, it's some old dude. All I know is that he used to live up in Russia before he moved to Japan. He's some tycoon of... something." The first guard shrugged. "But we're not paid to ask questions, so get to hauling ass. We've got to get there to show the new toys off in an hour."

"I guess that explains why Barthez is coming along," the second guard shrugged as he shut the truck doors. "Even though we're not taking many people out there."

"It's because you could always use a watchful eye," the man in question said, walking past them and into the passenger seat. "Plus, Boris is reaching out to other contacts if the deal with Voltaire falls apart, and Dr. K is making some last minute check-ups on the chips."

"Ah, that was his name," said the first guard. "I couldn't remember it at first."

"You'd do well to remember it when we meet him," Barthez warned. "Voltaire is a very powerful man, perhaps even more so than Boris and Dickenson combined." He then grinned. "Did you ever hear about a creature called Black Dranzer?"

"I remember hearing about it from some crazy homeless dude once," replied the second guard.

"Well, Voltaire made Black Dranzer. He was he one who created it. And I've heard rumours that he's going to work on it once more."

"Point made," said the guard. "Do not piss off super powerful rich old dudes."

Barthez smiled at this, then waiting patiently as the other guards sorted themselves out, putting a couple more of the containers in the back of the huge truck as a handful of guards got in the back as well before one behind the vehicle slapped it twice, indicating that the driver was good to go.

"I still don't get why we need a whole lot of trucks," said the goon driving the truck. "I mean, what's the point of all of us going to this Voltaire guy?"

"Who said we're all going to one person?" Barthez grinned. "The others have been given instructions to follow us out, like a convoy, and then when we reach the edge of the city, we all break away, going to different locations."

"Ah... that's a good cover, especially with all the suspicion that's bound to come," the driver shrugged. "So, I'm going to go out on a limb here and assume that these different locations are other rich people that are interested in what the chips can do?"

"You'd be correct in your assumption, yes," Barthez replied, wondering if the driver had a point.

"Well... how will the other guys present the chips to these tycoons without a spokesman to help deliver the sales pitch?"

"It's simple; Boris will remain at the base, and our scientists there will be patching him through live to all of those businessmen simultaneously," Barthez smiled. "He's essentially going to attempt to broadcast what we've been working on."

"That's... weird. Cool, but a bit strange. But eh, technology can make some amazing stuff these days, so that's just good planning ahead."

"I know. You're almost lucky to have me."

"Yeah, I was just about to ask," the driver started, "why are you with us and not back at the lab?"

Barthez chuckled. "Boris and Dr. K both believed that I would be a better person to go than a mere hologram in Voltaire's case."

The driver nodded in thought at this, figuring that Barthez was right before continuing to drive off, looking in front of him to see the other trucks beginning to take separate paths as they all went along the city, soon reaching the edge of it.

The driver carried on as his navigational device in his truck guided him to where he needed to go, and the drive was an hour longer than he would have liked, but he managed to get there, pulling into the front parking lot of a huge mansion, thanking Voltaire silently as the gates opened, allowing the truck to pass through.

"Whoa... this is where he works from?" one of the guards in the back of the truck asked. "What exactly does he do now?"

"Truth be told, he never really lost touch with his old business," Barthez said. "As for what he does, it's simple; he helps create beyblades, and profits highly from it, hence the house."

"So... like a mechanic?"

"Not quite. Voltaire has some of the most intelligent people in the country helping him. Scientists, engineers, physicists... he has everything refined to a tee."

"I'm guessing that his scientists are better, then?"

"Oh, by leaps and bounds," Barthez replied. "Nothing against our own, as we have some of the best minds as well, but they don't hold a candle to Voltaire's group."

"No kidding."

"Are we done yammering?" asked an impatient goon from the back. "I don't want to be stuck back here all day!"

Barthez chuckled. "We're there." He then noticed several guards walking out of the front door of the mansion. Unlike Boris' guards, these ones had better armour, all wearing it in pitch black in contrast to the dull grey that Boris' henchman sported. "Are you here to help us?" Barthez asked as a guard walked by his window.

"State your business," replied the guard, carefully holding an automatic rifle in his hands, keeping it close to his chest.

"We have a meeting with Voltaire," Barthez calmly replied.

"Do you mind if we check your vehicle?"

"Is that necessary?"

"Just being cautious, is all."

Barthez seemed thoughtful, then nodded, stepping out of the truck along with the others. Voltaire's guards searched around the truck, their search eventually leading them to the back of it, where one of Boris' guards opened the door for them, showing the containers in the back.

Voltaire's guard grinned. "These must be what big boss man was talking about."

Barthez chuckled. "It would have been annoying to just bring the chips over on their own. The rest of our test subjects are back at our base."

The guard nodded before removing a hand from his gun, raising it high and extending his index finger and spinning it around, indicating that Barthez and his goons could finally enter Voltaire's estate proper instead of waiting out the front.

The driver of the truck killed the ignition and removed the keys as a couple more of Boris' goons went to the back of it, carefully lifting out one of the containers and holding it upright before Barthez came over to open said container, catching Ray as he limply fell forward.

The guards rinsed and repeated this method with the second container, Barthez handing Ray over to a pair of his henchmen before opening the second container, letting Max fall out of it, catching him also.

"These two?" pondered Voltaire's head guard.

"They are two of the strongest bladers around. Being part of the Bladebreakers seems to grant you that automatically," Barthez grinned. "But, yes, these two. They were a little bit easier to fully integrate with the chips. It's not the same for each blader; some can be corrupted all too easily, whereas others have wills made of pure iron. These two were of the latter category, but it didn't take nearly as long to get all the way through to them."

"Why not Daichi and Kenny? They have blades too, right?"

"True, but Daichi's still the weakest of the bunch. And Kenny doesn't really use his own blade often." Barthez then sighed. "Anyway, let's get this over with."

"Right. Sorry for the delay."

Barthez instructed his own goons to pick up and carry Ray and Max before a few more of Voltaire's guards sprawled out from the mansion, arriving with a pair of stand-up stretchers on wheels to strap the bladers into. They then proceeded to enter into the mansion itself, and Voltaire's head guard stopped by a speaker in front of the mansion, the speaker itself appearing to resemble a black phoenix with golden armour.

"Voltaire, it's Barthez here to see you."

"Send him up," Voltaire replied.

"Yes sir."

Voltaire's guard then walked in, followed closely by everyone else, with the guards holding the stretchers going over to an elevator, the design of which looked similar to the speaker, with a mostly pitch black appearance and tinges of shining gold.

"Damn... Voltaire really went all out with his design choices," said Barthez's head goon.

"With all of the money that he makes, it doesn't surprise me," replied another goon.

They soon arrived at the top floor, which just so happened to be the fifth floor, and Voltaire's guards let Barthez and his goons to Voltaire's office, the front of which was more extravagant than even Barthez was expecting; shining glass doors with bright gold handles; a large, red velvet carpet; and, perhaps most notable, a fantastic view of the late night Japan skyline from a huge window.

"Ah, Barthez," Voltaire spoke, offering to shake the man's hand. "It's good to see you again."

"Likewise. It has been far too long," Barthez smiled as they shook hands.

Voltaire's own grin then subsided. "Well, we'd best not waste any time. We should get on with it before anyone gets too suspicious."

"Agreed." Barthez then looked over to the small team of Voltaire's guards that held the bladers on the stretchers, nodding to indicate releasing them, which the guards did.

"I hope they won't stay asleep for too long," said Voltaire, then smirking as he looked closer. "Max and Ray. They've grown a lot."

"Indeed they have," Barthez replied. He then pulled out a pair of needle from his back pocket. "Adrenaline. It should keep them awake for as long as they need to be."

Voltaire simply nodded in reply, turning and walking over to his desk to take a seat as he watched Barthez do what he had to, using the adrenaline to wake up Max and Ray, both of whom knelt down before Barthez.

"How may we help you, master?" the bladers said simultaneously.

"I want you two to have a bey-battle," Barthez spoke.

"Right here?" Max asked as he and Ray stood back up.

Voltaire smiled. "Follow me."

The two bladers, Barthez, and the guards from both sides all followed closely as Voltaire led them all to a room adjacent to his, which was much larger than his own. There was a large circle in the middle, and instead of any windows, it had large walls, which appeared to have soundproofing just in case.

"Prepared, I see," Barthez smiled.

Voltaire shrugged. "Eh, I like a battle every now and then, as do my guards."

Barthez smiled in answer, turning to the two bladers. "Max, you stand on the right side of the dish. Ray, you take the left."

They both nodded, walking over to their positions as the circle in the floor opened up, showing a rather impressively lit up bey dish, with a somehow still-fresh paint job of gleaming silver. Max and Ray then prepared their beyblades for battle.

"I'll call this one," said Voltaire, walking up to a side of the dish not yet occupied and raising his arms. "3... 2... 1... let it rip!"

As he brought his arms down to signal the start, Max and Ray launched their blades, complete with cries of their own blades/bit-beasts, neither one letting up as the blades crashed into each other harshly.

Voltaire appeared impressed. "They're certainly more aggressive than I remember them being. But what does that prove?"

Barthez grinned. "I'll be more than happy to show you." He then turned his attention back to the battle. "Max, dodge Ray's next attack!"

Voltaire watched as Max did so. "Hmm..."

Barthez smiled once more. "Ray, weave around and attack Max from the side! Max, block it and hold your ground!"

As the bladers continued to follow the orders of Barthez, Voltaire continued to watch more and more intently, continuing to grow more impressed as he watched the display unfold of Max and Ray's unquestioning obedience.

Barthez then smirked. "Now, blade however you like, but keep it going hard, you understand?"

"Yes sir," Ray replied.

"You got it," Max followed.

The two bladers continued in their own way, with Ray's precise and fast style going against Max's signature tough defence and resiliency, but Voltaire took note of how much stronger Max and Ray were blading.

"How was this done?" asked Voltaire. "I mean, I'm aware of the chips as you talked to me about that, but how was that achieved."

"Well, the chips plan was an idea that we've had for a while," Barthez replied. "We simply needed one thing to help to push it over the edge to get it working properly, which we didn't have when we first started. But then, Boris decided to organise a new World Beyblading Tournament, and that helped us to get our opportunity."

"Ah... a very impressive plan," Voltaire smiled. "That would explain why it came around a bit sooner than normal, not to mention Dickenson not having a hand in it."

"Well, Dickenson had pretty much retired in the years since then. With the loss of Tyson's grandfather, it was a difficult time for him." Barthez seemed thoughtful. "They were good friends."

Voltaire nodded. "Dickenson always had a good head for business, but his heart is in the wrong place. I believe that Boris has the right idea." He sighed. "Shall we continue the battle?"

"If you want to see more, then yes," Barthez said, looking over to his bladers. "Max, go after Ray! Ray, dodge and strike back!"

Max and Ray carried on with their battle, still following the instructions that were given to them, with Max being the aggressor, then Ray, one going on the defensive, one outrunning the other... it was all going so well.

"Haha! Now that's more like it!" said one of Voltaire's guards, clearly impressed.

"I got money on Max!" said another goon.

"I'm picking the White Tiger on this one!" replied another.

Barthez turned around with, at first, a brief scowl, before his expression softened into a smile before he turned to Voltaire. "What do you think?"

Voltaire shook his head. "No betting, but I feel as though we should have a full-fledged battle at least."

Barthez then chuckled, turning to Max and Ray. "All right, I want you two to act as freely as you wish. Say and do whatever you like, but remember; make it fun!"

Ray and Max nodded at each other, each giving the other a thumbs-up as a sign of friendship before they commanded their blades to attack. Neither one was safe as they both clashed relentlessly, keeping the aggression that they had been using thus far before Max saw an opportunity.

"Draciel, dodge his next move and strike back!"

Before Ray could see it, Draciel had dodged his Driger and struck back, slamming low and into the right side of Ray's beyblade, hitting him hard and sending him over to the far side of the dish before following up with more strikes.

Ray started to grunt, holding his arms in an X-shape over himself as his blade braved the attack. "D-Driger! Hold on! We just need him to miss!"

"Good luck with that!" Max replied. "Keep the pressure on him, Draciel!"

Ray gasped slightly, trying to catch his breath as he looked around and finally saw a good way to escape. 'Okay...' he thought to himself. 'I just have to time this right...'

As soon as Draciel moved back to attack again, Ray silently willed Driger to do a low sweep and attack Draciel from behind, knocking it slightly off-balance before going around to Draciel's front to attack from there, pressing forward and forcing the battle to go back to the middle of the dish.

"This is where Ray does his best work, I think," said Barthez.

"Ray is adaptable. That's a unique trait about him," Voltaire replied. "But Max's defence is also adaptable, perhaps even more so."

As the two men spoke, the two beyblades in the middle ground against each other in a push for dominance before Draciel briefly broke away, hoping to charge back. Ray saw it coming, though, and commanded Driger to go on the offensive.

"That's it! Go for it, Driger! We can't let up!"

Max grunted. 'Dammit! How... how did I slip up like that?' he said in his head.

Voltaire then turned to Barthez. "Did you cause that?"

The Brazilian man shrugged his shoulders. "Not directly. With the range of communication on these chips, who knows?"

"So, your scientists did this?"

"It stands a chance. I didn't plan that, though. Must have been Boris or Dr. K."

Voltaire grinned. "I knew that you all still had some dirty tricks up your sleeves, but rigging Beyblade matches? That's something new."

Barthez chuckled. "Anything could happen, Voltaire."

Back at the battle, Ray kept Driger on the offensive, with Max having to stick to his defence and being forced to back away, almost being pushed off the edge before seeing an opportunity.

'It could be risky... but I need to try it...' Max thought to himself. "Draciel, try to duck low and swing around!"

Draciel did just that, managing to break away from the grinding battle and spin around Driger, attacking from behind. Max then grinned as he kept up the offence, bringing the fight to the middle of the dish once more as the two blades ground it out against each other, sparks flying heavily as the blades began to spin faster.

"How strong are your buildings windows?" Barthez asked with a slightly amused tone.

"Strong enough. Neither bit-beast should be too troublesome, especially considering the depth of the dish itself." Voltaire then closed his eyes. "But we should still stand back a bit."

A guard then spoke up. "Now I know why they put the audience seats far enough from the dish at the tournaments..."

As the guard had finished speaking, Ray was the first to summon his bit-beast. "Let's go, Driger!"

Max grinned and followed suit. "Time to rock, Draciel!"

Both bit-beasts arose at the same time, with bright neon green electrical energy surrounding Ray's beyblade and a deep blue circle of water surrounding Max's as they both charged for each other.

"Thunder Slash!" Ray called.

"Aqua Shield!" Max yelled back.

As both bit-beasts roared loudly, they rushed at each other, the water surrounding Draciel forming into its signature tsunami, and the electricity around Driger creating an electrical afterimage of the brilliant white tiger bit-beast itself as it hopped onto the tidal wave, rushing forward towards its turtle opponent with a roar, the electricity mixing with the tsunami and creating a visually stunning mishmash of the deep blue waters and the shining green lightning.

Both bladers roared in time with their bit-beasts as their final attacks fought for supremacy, with the two bit-beasts wrestling against each other as Driger surfed on Draciel's tidal wave, looking for any advantage that he could get.

'I've got to be careful here...' Ray said in his mind, his calm thoughts surprising him given how much outward pressure he felt. 'I can't slip up. One mistake, and it's all over...'

'I know that we're in the middle of our final attacks right now,' Max said in his own head. 'But I can't mess this up... he knows that, too.'

"You ready to end this?" asked Ray, grinning.

Max smiled. "You know what? Why not. It's been a long time coming," he chuckled. 'So much for the not messing up...' he said in his head.

Ray closed his eyes and smirked before opening them again, his eyes glowing green like his beyblade. "Driger, finish this now! Give it everything you've got!"

"Let's do this, Draciel!" Max called back. "This match is ours!"

Both beyblades, still on the tidal wave, broke apart from each other before charging at each other for what would be the final time, with their respective energies wrapped around them as they charged, their collision causing the sound of thunder to boom throughout Voltaire's office.

As loud as it was, the thing the appeared to have suffered the most damage was the dish itself. Most of the building, windows included, remained intact, and save for a few of both Boris and Voltaire's men being knocked back, there wasn't much done.

Max and Ray panted, exhausted from their intense battle and the exclamation of their final strikes, with both bit-beasts now having disappeared back into their beyblades, the brilliant light emitting from them disappearing with them.

"Who won?" asked one of Boris' guards.

Barthez walked over to see Ray's beyblade spinning slower before winding down into the ground, looking over to see that Max's beyblade had already fallen over beforehand, leaving no doubt in Barthez's mind.

"The winner is Ray," he said, "but just barely."

"Huh. This fight was closer than I thought it'd be," said one of Voltaire's guards.

Voltaire himself, meanwhile, kept a grin on his face. "Haha! That was just the thing that I wanted to see!"

Barthez shot a confused look at the white-haired man before smiling as he worked out what he meant. "So, I take it that this battle was proof enough of how well the chips work?"

"Oh, without a doubt!" Voltaire chuckled.

Barthez grinned. "I'll be sure to tell Boris about it when I return to him. It is getting rather late."

Voltaire nodded. "Indeed it is." He then paused. "Set up a video call with Boris tomorrow. I feel it'd be less hassle than having to drive all the way up here."

"Good point," Barthez replied as Max and Ray walked over to him, their blades and other equipment having been put away.

"What shall we do now, sir?" they asked.

Barthez smiled and walked over, putting his arms around both of them, leading them over to two of his guards. "Just rest for now. That was a hard-fought battle, and you both need to preserve your energy."

Before the two Bladebreakers could speak, they were suddenly knocked out as Boris injected a needle into both of their necks at the same time, causing the two to fall limply into the arms of the guards standing by.

"Put them in their containers," said Barthez.

"Yes sir," replied one of the guards.

Barthez then turned around to Voltaire. "It was a pleasure doing business with you."

"Likewise," Voltaire said, extending his hand.

Barthez shook it. "I'll see you tomorrow. Not in person, but still."

Voltaire nodded. "Farewell." He then gestured to his guards. "Help them carry Ray and Max back down."

"Yes sir," the two guards replied.

After bidding their final goodbyes, Voltaire went back to his office while Barthez headed back downstairs with his own guards as well as the guards from Voltaire that were helping out with Max and Ray. They soon reached the elevator, taking it to the ground floor.

As soon as they had reached their destination, the guards carried out Max and Ray, with Barthez commanding a group of his own guards to get the containers ready, which they did. As soon as Ray and Max were in their containers again, they were placed in the back of their truck once more.

The drive back to Boris' base went along mostly silently, save for some exclamations of success from the goons and Barthez answering some questions that the guards had in regards to the success of it in the long run.

Soon, they had made it back, Barthez practically jumping from his side door. "Ah... it's good to be back."

The guards chuckled as they also got out. "Good thing you have an office here that you can sleep in. The rest of us have to go home."

"Then go," Barthez said. "After we're done here, of course."

The goons nodded, and as the driver killed the engine of the truck, the group of guards at the back had opened the doors and were pulling out the containers with Max and Ray inside. As they did this, another truck arrived.

"How'd it go?" the driver of the other truck asked.

"Really well," replied Barthez. "I think that we officially have a buyer now."

"Doesn't surprise me. Voltaire has always had a good head for business."

"Are you the last ones?" one of the guards from Barthez's lot asked.

"Yeah, we should be."

"Who'd you have to show off?"

"We got Mariah and Mariam. Mariam won, but the dudes that we showed them too were apparently not too impressed."

Barthez chuckled. "It matters not. We have Voltaire backing us, now. All we have to do is sort out a deal with him tomorrow, and it should all be sorted out."

"Well, we'll head off then."

Barthez nodded. "See you all tomorrow."

After the other group of guards left, Barthez's group managed to get Ray and Max back inside Boris' base, and Barthez made his way up to Boris himself, a smile on his face as he broke the news.

"Voltaire is more than happy with our proposal," Barthez said. "He'll back us."

"Ah, fantastic!" replied Boris. "Good work, Barthez. I knew I could count on you." He then paused. "Was there any success elsewhere?"

"Not to my knowledge. Have you heard about anything in regards to the others?"

"No," Boris shook his head. "But I thought it best to cover as much ground as we could. I've not heard of any of the others accepting my proposal."

"I guess that it's a good thing that I was there to help with Voltaire, then," replied Barthez.

Boris nodded. "Oh, who won the match, by the way?"

"Ray did. It was a very close fight, though."

"I don't doubt that." Boris then smiled. "I'll sort out the big meeting with Voltaire tomorrow. You've done a hood job."

"Thank you, sir," replied Barthez.

Boris reached out to shake Barthez's hand, to which the Brazilian man nodded and shook back. After the handshake, Barthez bid one more goodbye before turning around to leave, heading for his office.

Boris, meanwhile, chuckled to himself. "Ah... I had a feeling that Voltaire would say yes. It's a good thing to have him on our side." He then looked down to the container that held Tyson, smiling widely. "And to think, it's all going to start tomorrow. One more day, Tyson. One more day, and your world will be nothing, because there will be nothing that you can do to stop it. And my world will be the only thing left for you to go back to..."

So... this is not the last chapter, as I was expecting. But I felt that it would have dragged on too much otherwise, so the next chapter could be the last chapter. Maybe. Possibly. It depends on what happens. Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed this one. It was fun to finally write the battle between Ray and Max, despite the two being brainwashed and such, but I enjoyed writing it, and I hope you all did too. With that said, I shall see you on the next, and hopefully last, chapter.