Grace Hills

A Day Later...

Kazu: " indulge my curiosity. Why must it be that we board a train by ourselves to get to Grace Hills?"

He asked the boy standing beside him at the very front of the train speeding across the city towards Grace Hills. The green head had his hand on the console and his eyes glowing in red as he was controlling the whole thing.

Mizel: " to revitalize your memory, have you forgotten that the cars we have had gotten a decent beaten after Goliath? Hardly any of them is functional at all."

Gouda: " and so we're taking a whole train for ourselves this time. Doesn't sound half bad."

Ami: " I find it interesting, to actually sit here for the first time."

Mizel: " it's not some tour. Remember."

Evangeline : " you don't have to be dead serious about everything Mi. Let them enjoy themselves a bit."

Mizel looked back at her for a moment and then back at the road. He hardly doubted any of them was...

" I'm sorry."

Ban looked away from the window by his side and to the blonde sitting to his left, his eyebrow quirked up.

Lilyan: " for snapping at you like that the other day. I... I didn't mean..."

Ban gave her a small smile.

Ban: " it's alright, I get that you had been through a lot and had so much on your mind to deal with..."

However, his smile soon dissipated and was replaced by a rather serious complexion.

Ban: " But still, I would rather have you not coming with all of us."

Lilyan's head fell slightly.

Lilyan: " I... understand... I really know it's dangerous and that I shouldn't be holding all of you back but..."

She took out her CCM and held on to it tightly. She was holding a precious piece of her lost friend and everyone's last hope.

Lilyan: " but I should be there on that battlefield with you all, I want to do my part as well, for Unicorn's sake too."

Ban's eyes softened as he looked at her.

Lilyan: " if that didn't happen, if Unicorns was still there, I would be naturally on the battlefield along with everyone else. Even though Unicorn is not here now, I don't want that to hold me back."

Ban: " I do understand..."

His hand gently rested on hers and the pressure she was putting on her CCM relieved a tad at that.

Ban: " however, just promise me, that you wouldn't put yourself in danger, okay."

Lilyan gave a small smile and nodded her head at him.

Kirito: " relax..."

He told them from the chair behind them where he was leaning back as an attempt to get even a tad of sleep before reaching their destination.

Kirito: " our team will be heading to the Kaidou Mansion. It's unlikely for us to run into trouble with all of you guarding our backs. Unless you don't have the confidence that you can protect your girlfriend?"

Ban gave a confident smirk at that.

Ban: " you know my answer, Kirito."

The other blond smirked without even opening his eyes to look at the brunette.

Kirito: " definitely."

On the other row of seats, a certain red-haired boy was also deep in his own thoughts. His reflection on the window glass showed a rather serious face, one that was unusual for him.

Ran: " Arata..."

He snapped when she placed a hand on his shoulder. Arata's head immediately snapped towards her only to realize her worried expression.

Ran: " I've been calling for you for a while. Is something the matter? You're not your energic self anymore."

Arata's frown deepened as he leaned his head on his hand again, looking out at the buildings speeding past them.

Arata: " I'm kind of not in the mood right now."

Ran: " that's even more bothering."

Realizing she wouldn't let go of him before he spoke, he decided to cut it short.

Arata: " dad called..."

Ran didn't seem the least surprised. She must have figured that Arata's sulking was somehow related to his father. That's how it has always been.

Ran: " so..."

She prompted him to continue.

Arata: " to be honest I wouldn't have answered if it was up to me, it was an accident."

Ran: " well then, what did he tell you."

Arata pouted.

Hiroto: " you finally decided to quit your stubbornness."

Hiroto declared the moment Arata picked up, not realizing that it was by mistake. Had he checked the caller's id, he wouldn't have answered. But seeing the tension of the few past days, he expected it to be one of his friends.

Arata: " what do you want?"

His tone was dry and curt. He didn't want to waste time squabbling with him right now. He had far more important things to worry about.

Hiroto: " you... it's about time you stop playing hero and come back. I'll arrange for a flight for both of us so we can leave this country. Get out of Tokio City already."

Hearing those words almost made him sick.

Arata: " huh!? You want me to just step back and abandon my friends?!"

Hiroto: " I don't see what a bunch of children is able to do at this stage. Nor can I comprehend how a toy like LBX is going to save all of us. Just be realistic and get back."

It took all of Arata's will not to snap at him. On the contrary, he drew in a deep breath and asked calmly.

Arata: " even if I get back, where do you intend to run?"

Hiroto: " that..."

Arata: " there is no place safe from Leviathan's reach in this world."

Hiroto kept silent as he found no words to answer to that.

Arata: " I will continue fighting with everyone, so to give this world and everyone a tomorrow. That's the role I've been given and I must fulfill."

Hiroto: " you're-"

Arata: " I'm not runnig away now! "

Arata: " and I hung up."

He said with a rather irritated face. Ran had a wary smile at that.

Ran: " that really sounds like Uncle Hiroto."

Arata: " I can't believe him! Why can't he see the importance of what we're doing?!"

Ran: " I think it's hard for him to believe we're actually fighting for the whole world's safety."

Arata: " well, he is someone who didn't even believe in the future of LBXs."

The red head crossed his arms with an audible sigh.

Dot Blastrizer : " then all you have to do is show him."

Arata blinked twice as he looked back at his partner.

Dot Blastrizer : " just show him, that what you're doing is important. That you're able to save the world. And most importantly, that LBX could bring a bright future."

Arata: " Dot Blastrizer..."

His face then was lit with a bright smile, finding spur and motivation in his partner's words.

Arata: " you're right. All I have to do is to prove to that old man that he is wrong about everything. Thanks for the advice, buddy!"

Ran let a small smile as the red head regained his spirit.

A little further at the back, a certain brunette let a sudden gasp of surprise.

Wataru: " Momona you're actually older than me?"

Momona rubbed her head with an apologetic smile.

Momona: " didn't I mention that?"

Wataru: " you didn't!"

He was rather bewildered by that. She didn't even seem like she was around his age. He always thought he was older.

Wataru: " then that makes you the same age as Muraku-senpai and Arata-san. Then why be formal with them?"

Momona: "because I respect them both."

She answered nonchalantly when Wataru then remembered something.

Wataru: " I'm really sorry, I always thought you were younger than me, so I never used the formalities..."

Momona: " don't bother about that."

She quickly waved it off.

Momona: " I really don't like it when people are being formal with me. I like things between us the way they are. So please don't change it."

Wataru: " well... if you say so."

The girl smiled brightly at him before speaking out.

Momona: " ne Wataru... after everything is over, are you going back to the island?"

Odin looked up at that question and Wataru's face became serious.

Wataru: " I intend to confront my parents and make them listen this time. I want to go back and tread down the path of LBXs again."

Momona: " then, I'm looking forward to meeting you there! No, I'm waiting to battle you!"

Wataru: " eh?!"

Actually everyone else was drawn by her words back then.

Momona: " not just you. Everyone here, I'm wanting to battle you all. A nice and thrilling LBX battle!"

Arata: " that does sound like fun!"

Momona: " isn't it!"

Hikaru gave a small snort at that.

Hikaru: " seems we've got another Arata."

Gendou: " still, that idea doesn't sound half bad."

Sendou: " an LBX battle between all of us, huh?"

Nightmare: " you don't need your tarot cards to know we're taking the challenge."

The purple head smirked confidently.

Sendou: " of course."

Gouda: " sounds like a good occasion to beat you to a pulp."

Sendou: " don't make assumptions, it'll make you look uncool when you're defeated."

Gouda: " like I would."

Asuka: " you two must give up. You have no chance since I'm partaking too."

Sendou&Gouda:" huh! Like hell we will allow you to win!"

Everyone barely held back their laughter at the quarrel that started between the three of them.

Elie: " and here they get started again. I wonder why am I surrounded by LBX freaks whenever I go."

Beargguy: " because you're one of them."

Elie: "... I'm not answering that..."

Jin hardly tried to conceal the relieved smile that washed over his face as he looked back at everyone talking about their future LBX battle nonchalantly as though they weren't on their way to decide their world's fate.

Jin: " I wish this moment would last forever."

Ban: " you and me both."

From the very front, Ryan and Jennifer exchanged each a small smile at the actions of their groups.

Jennifer: " despite being the legendary battlers who saved the world time and time again..."

Ryan: "... they're really nothing more than a bunch of players who enjoy LBX from the bottom of their hearts."...

Back in Goliath, Jinn looked up from his laptop just as Leviathan's mark manifested on a hologram behind him.

Jinn: " they're moving, right?"

Without a word, Leviathan showed him their course.

Jinn: " Grace Hills? Wonder what they're planning to?"

Leviathan : "whatever it's, we must stop them. It's time we all move out."

Jinn looked back in shock at that.

Jinn: " you're actually sending all of our troops after those kids?"

Leviathan : " can't you see it?"

Jinn looked back at the screen just as Leviathan played footages from all around the world, focusing on the LBX players fighting against their forces.

Jinn: " all I can see is a futile fight."

Leviathan : " you don't get it. They still have hope."

Jinn's eyes flicked back as Leviathan spoke calmly.

Leviathan: " as long as those chosen players are standing, the whole world will still believe and fight beside them. They'll still hold on to their hope."

Jinn: " so, what do you want to do?"

Leviathan: " annihilate every ray of hope they could have. I want them to fall into despair. Once the whole world sees them scumble to darkness and suffer a most absolute defeat, they would have no choice but cast away every hope in defiance. They will then have to answer to my every word."

Jinn's smirk broadened at that. The idea of crashing the chosen players down to earth sounded good enough for him.

Jinn: " I'll get our players ready as well."

Just as he stood up to do so, Leviathan interjected.

Leviathan: " don't you bother looking for Itan."

Jinn rose an eyebrow at that, wondering why would Leviathan exclude one strong player such as him.

Leviathan: " that boy had enough waiting and started already moving on his own as of now."

Jinn: " that idiot."

He gritted his teeth at that.

Leviathan: " don't you bother about that. His reckless actions will eventually play to our benefit."

Unbeknown to Jinn, the boy was already standing out a certain room with his LBX in his hand. Gruxeon slashed at the heavy metal from top to bottom, forcing it open to his player.

As the boy stepped in, he saw the black suit hanging on the wall behind a glass door at the end of the small lab and a smirk appeared on his face.

Itan: " it's only natural to get paid for all that I had done for all of you."

He threw away his half-finished lollipop just as Gruxeon smashed the glass and reached one hand to the suit to snatch it.

Itan: " I'll destroy everything that pisses me off. Just wait and you will see, Sena Arata, I'll wreck everything that you hold dear."...

Grace Hills...

Kazu: " it's been a while since we've come here."

He said stretching up and looking in the direction of the mansion.

Kazu: " I wonder if they reached there?"

Achilles Deed: " don't worry about them. They're capable of handling themselves."

Kazu leaned his head back on his arms.

Kazu: " well, that's true."

Ami: " they're here."

Everyone stopped whatever they were doing to while their time before a certain large red tank loomed at the very end of the street where they were waiting.

Gouda: " it's just as Mizel said."

Sendou smirked as he took out the card of the chariot.

Sendou: " it wasn't something hard to predict actually."

However, Rafflesias were also following beside Big Tank.

Runa: " seems they're intending to fight us all out."

Asuka: " regardless..."

She rose the brim of her hat slightly so her glimmering eyes stared into her opponents.

Asuka: " this time we're not backing off!"

She said thrusting her CCM forward just as Vampire Cat and the other LBXs lunged on their enemies...

Everyone stopped for a moment as they saw clouds of smoke rising in the distance.

Mizel: " seems they started fighting over there. Well, that's our clue to speed up."

He said navigating them through the routes, taking the shortest to reach their destination all while keeping an eye on possible enemies or assaults. What they didn't expect however was an attack from the very back.

Dot Blastrizer swung in time to intercept a cross-beam slash thrown at them from behind, as he managed to neutralize it, someone dropped down behind them right from one of the nearby buildings.

Arata's eyes narrowed at the person in front of them, it was Itan. The boy with the buzz hair cut looked up at them with a leer and they all had fearful expressions, it was because of the very thing he was wearing.

Muraku: " a full synchro..."

He whispered to Arata upon seeing Gruxeon's armor strapped to the said boy. Beneath it he was wearing the black suit he had stolen earlier.

Itan, however, focused his attention on just one person there, he pointed his scythe at Arata and brought his thumb to his neck, sliding it with an evil smirk as though telling him he was going to finish him. Arata however remained calm despite the threat.

Arata: " everyone, go ahead."

Ran: " huh!"

She exclaimed, hoping she had just misheard him.

Arata: " only I am able to stand to him now that he's wearing that thing."

Dot Blastrizer: " leave him to us, we'll make sure to knock him out of it before the suit could consume him."

Ban narrowed his eyes at Arata's serious expression before he turned back towards their original direction.

Ban: " alright, it's up to you Arata."

The rest looked at him, struck by that decision. Yet, given that there wasn't much time before the satellite passes over their heads, they weren't given any choice in the matter. They soon followed their leader and Mizel as they lead them across the area. Only Muraku stood firmly where he was.

Arata: " what are you doing Muraku?! You should get going too!"

Muraku shook his head while defiantly holding his CCM before him, his LBX by his side.

Muraku: " I should stay by your side, Magna Orthus and I will provide support, besides..."

He glared back at Itan Kyouji.

Muraku: " you know he never plays fair. It will be better to fight him together."

Itan clicked his tongue in annoyance, flinging one arm at Muraku.

Itan: " you stay out of it, Houjou Muraku, your turn has yet to come."

From behind him, two Killer Gears sprung out, flanking him as though protecting him.

Mangna Orthus: " told you, he never plays fair..."

The rest scurried in a beeline towards the mansion which was growing larger the closer they got.

Ban: " get it together everyone, we're closing in!"

He shouted from the very front eyes still firmly fixed on the mansion. However, their progress was halted when Gendou stopped abruptly, throwing his LBX at the side. Just then, they saw him clashing against a glowing claw that morphed out of the shadow-draped alley by their side.

" Tsk, that Itan Kyouji, he was meant to stop you, but he's playing around, doing whatever the heck he wants."

Hikaru: " this voice..."

His expression contorted into seriousness upon recognizing it. Out of the shadow, a certain red head stepped out, face as cold as ever and eyes unreadable, Rikuya was standing in front of them.

Gendou: " Ban-san, you and the others go."

Hikaru stepped to his side.

Hikaru: "this is a problem of Jenock, there is no reason to deter you any longer for it."

Momona and Wataru exchanged known looks and nodded at each other before rushing to the other two.

Momona: " don't make everything about Jenock!"

She said flinging her CCM high.

Wataru: " this is a matter of Kamui Daimon as well."

Wataru added, his eyes flashing with purpose.

Hikaru looked rather astonished from one to the other.

Hikaru: " you two..."

Rikuya clicked his tongue in annoyance.

Rikuya: " you know, I've always hated your stubbornness, back in Kamui, and even against Leviathan. Why can't you just stop fighting?!"

Aya: " because we have reason not to."

She announced stepping right to their side as well.

Aya: " hope you won't mind me meddling with your things as well."

Gendou considered her for a moment before he gave his approving nod.

Lillia: " then I'm joining in on this."

She dropped KeQing to the ground as she got ready to lung.

Rikuya: " you don't know with whom you're playing."

Red dots blinked behind him before several Killer Gears lunged at them, KeQing and Kampfer hurried to stop them from aiming at their friends.

Lillia: " if you have time to stand and watch shouldn't you be running down that road to the mansion?"

Kousuke: " point taken, we've got no time to waste!"

He said sprinting back past Ban who took a final look at their backs as they emerged in battle before leading the rest ahead again.

Mizel: " stay alert! We don't know what may come at us right now!"

After crossing almost half the distance, they were forced to a halt as a large beam soared above their heads and hit the skyscraper across the street. Half of it melted down by the heat and the structure was rapidly teetering towards their side.

Ban: " split up, now!"

He shouted, Kousuke pulled Mirai aside while Ran had Hiro pushed hard out of harm and danger. Kirito, Ban and Jin made sure to get those closer to them away as well. By the time the building came crashing down on the ground, rising smoke and dust and throwing debris everywhere, they were safely hidden behind other buildings to stay out of danger.

When they peeked out again, it was almost impossible to reach each other across the fallen building. Kousuke took his CCM immediately and called Kirito.

Kirito: " who is with you?"

Kousuke: " the Oozora siblings and the Hanasaki girl."

Ran: " hey, you could at least use our names!"

Kousuke: " you?"

He asked ignoring the fuming red head that was restrained back by Mirai and Hiro.

Kirito: " Elie, Ban, Jin, Eva, Lilyan, Ryan, Jennifer and Mizel. So all of us are safe. Stay where you're, we'll have Mizel scan the vicinity for a-"

Kousuke: " don't bother."

Kirito kept silent on the other end and Kousuke smirked broadly.

Kousuke: " we'll find our way by ourselves. You best scurry along and wake that sleeping bird, alright."

With those words he cut off the call and turned back to the other three.

Kousuke: " bring out your CCMs."

He told them with an excited air as Lucifer flew by his side.

Kousuke: " show time is about to begin."

He was looking right past them. Everyone then turned around, befuddled by his sudden change, only to see, at the end of the street, standing with his LBX in hand, Unryuji Knight smirked as wide as his lips could allow.

On the other side, Kirito gave a grant as Kousuke shut down the call and turned back to the rest.

Kirito: " it's down to us now."

Ban looked at the green-haired boy by his side, he was looking away at the far distance, as though expecting something to manifest out of the blue any moment.

Ban steeled himself then and looked into Kirito's eyes.

Ban: " Kirito, you lead them from here on?"

" Eh?"

It was rather a surprise to hear their lender announcing he wouldn't be going any further with them.

Kirito: " what do you have in mind?"

He asked, trying to read his face. Ban chanced one glance over at Mizel who looked back at him and gave a brief nod.

Ban: " we'll make sure you're safe. You head on. Don't lose any much time."

Elie: " Onii-chan..."

Kirito's eyes widened for a fraction as the pieces clicked together, but he hid it well that almost no one noticed it.

Kirito: " alright, we depend on you."

He said before heading down the street again, Eva hesitantly looked away from their leader and her sibling and followed him. Jennifer and Ryan were about to argue but Ban's stern look made them take a step back and go after Eva. Jin, Lilyan and Elie lingered behind as the brunette gave her brother a tight hug she almost knocked all air from him.

Elie: " don't dare get hurt on me!"

Ban: " I won't."

He assured her, gently getting her off him and looking into her eyes.

Ban: " now get going."

She stared into his eyes for a moment before she ran back to Jin. The man gave his friend one last look.

Jin: " stay safe."

Ban: " you too, and look after her."

He didn't need to be told that. They quickly caught up with Eva and Kirito, who had stopped, impatiently waiting for them. Ban then looked over at the blonde, about to ensure her that he would be fine when she pulled him down into a deep kiss all of a sudden.

It was rather unexpected, but he soon took in the reality and pulled her closer as well. When they broke it, Ban smiled as he asked curiously.

Ban: " what was that just now?"

Lilyan: "... for luck."

She said, her face glowing red. She then let go of him and ran to the others, who did their best to pretend they didn't see a thing.

Ban was pulled back to reality when Mizel scoffed by his side.

Mizel: " making out with your girlfriend in the middle of the fight, some nerves you've got there."

Ban merely gave a smile before his attention went to the far horizon.

Ban: " you reckon he is coming?"

Mizel: " not coming, he is here."

He stated coldly, his eyes fixed on a certain point in the sky.

Mizel: " that laser beam didn't come from nowhere you know."

He took several steps forward and cracked his shoulders, all ready to embark on a fight.

Mizel: " you would have done yourself a great service if you had just gone with them."

Ban: " and let you have all the fun, not a chance."

He stood by the boy's side.

Ban: " I know you're our last defense line, and I'm not letting you go down easily."

Mizel looked up at him as if trying to confirm his resolve. Finding no hesitation whatsoever in his air, he nodded his head approvingly.

Mizel: " just don't get yourself killed."

He stated as the outlines of a large aircraft manifest in the horizon, a shimmering light caught their attention as the huge body of Leviathan was forming close by.

Ban: " I'll try my best not to."...

And finally, we're reaching the final battle!

Frankly, I was surprised to find that I only have about 7 drafts left before the story's end. I was like, " What the heck, it's already ending!"

Anyway, the final battle is the one battle I've been hyper-fixated on, and I enjoyed writing it, for me, it's the best part of the whole story. Hope you all enjoy it as much as I did. Look forward to the coming chapters! OvO