NOTE: New chapter and we have a full battle in it! Can you guess who's battling? I won't spoil, though I bet you all already know.
Yeah, the Brawlers are assholes in this game, and I love it. It's looking at them when they aren't the protagonists of the story.
Review and Enjoy!
Chapter 7: An Aura of White
"Why are you pouting?"
"I'm not pouting."
Serenity walked up to her husband and daughter, planting a kiss on the man's cheek. "Don't worry too much, dear. She's still upset over her loss in the tournament."
"It's unfair! I know that girl cheated!"
Ryuji sighed at his daughter, she hated losing more than anything else. He remembered how she would sulk in the corner whenever she lost during family game night. The patriarch turned his attention from his daughter to his son.
Or lack of son that is, because the boy was nowhere to be seen.
"Where's Yuji? Is he still in his room?" Ryuji asked.
Serena answered the question. "Nope, he left before you guys woke up. He said he needed some time to think about his next match."
"Oh, right. Isn't his next match against that Runo girl?" Serenity remembered.
Serena nodded her head, glaring at her breakfast. "Yeah." The little sister was worried for her brother and his partner. During the last round of battles, the Brawlers had completely isolated themselves from the Shujin family this time. Though Alice and Dan had acknowledged them but obviously decided to stay next to their friends.
All Serena could do at this point was wish her brother good luck.
RUMBLE!
"...I shouldn't have skipped breakfast."
"I do not understand."
Yuji groaned at Leo. "You don't have to eat, so you wouldn't understand it, Leonidas."
"If it's bothering you so much, then what was the point of leaving so early?" Leonidas asked him.
Currently, both the human and Bakugan were walking down the sidewalk. The early morning sun was a welcomed feeling that Yuji always enjoyed back in his old town. "The morning air always helps me clear my head. Back home I would always take walks outside if the weather was good."
"It brought you peace?"
"Yeah."
Leonidas hummed. "For me, peace is not something I'm familiar with. All I can feel inside of me is a raging desire for battle that needs to be quelled."
Yuji stared at his partner, still not understanding it. "I think we need to find you some hobbies, buddy."
"What are hobbies?"
"Well, they're-"
GURGGLE!
Yuji was cut off by his grumbling stomach, the teen groaned from his hunger. "...Food!" Yuji cried.
"Isn't that a restaurant as you humans call it?" Leonidas mentioned.
Looking in the direction, Yuji saw a small cozy restaurant across the street. And luckily for him the place was open this early. Just the sight alone already made his stomach feel slightly better. "Alright, Leonidas! Let's go!" Yuji hurried across the street.
Leonidas sweat dropped. "That has to be the most energetic I've ever seen him."
Walking into the store, Yuji was greeted by a middle-aged woman with familiar blue hair. He couldn't exactly place his finger on it, because of his rumbling stomach. He walked towards the bar and sat down.
The woman walked over to him, smiling. "Good morning, sir. What can I get for you today?"
Yuji scanned the menu quickly. "I'll have one of the breakfast sandwiches with a glass of orange juice, please."
She wrote down his order before nodding her head. "Thank you for the order. Your meal and drink will be coming out soon." She walked back to the kitchen to get started on his food.
Yuji leaned back in his chair with a dreamy smile on his face. "I can't wait to eat…!" The newbie felt as if his luck was finally turning around. Too caught up in his own daydreaming he didn't notice the waitress walking out of the kitchen with his glass of orange juice.
"Here's your orange juice," She placed it onto the coaster in front of him.
Yuji brought his head back down. "Thank you-" The words died on his lips as he stared at the waitress with a dumbstruck look. "Eh?"
He wasn't the only one, since the waitress had a similar look on her face. "Eh?"
….
….
….
"EEEHHHHHHH!?" Their combined noise granted them weird looks from the rest of the patrons.
Yuji didn't expect to run into Runo from the Battle Brawlers at all this morning. Such an awkward meeting couldn't be good for him at all, so he did the only smart option left.
He tried to run.
"Sit!" Runo's voice almost knocked him over.
He gave her a nervous look. "I-I think it'll just be better if I just leave-"
"And not pay for the food that YOU ordered? Did Dan also teach you to skip out on paying too?" She glared at him. If looks could kill then Yuji would've already been 10-feet under from the harsh stare Runo was giving him.
"H-he didn't, but I really think I should just pay and go-"
"Sit."
"Y-yes, ma'am!" Yuji quickly sat back down.
Runo rolled her eyes at Yuji's lack of a backbone. "And this kid is my opponent for the next round. Well, he isn't really what I should be worried about," Runo's eyes trailed over to his shoulder. Staring directly at Leonidas, who had been silent this entire time. "I see you still have Leonidas with you."
Yuji defensively flinched back. "I already told Marucho that I'm not handing him over."
"I'm not going to convince you to."
"You can't just-huh? You're not?" Yuji blinked, surprised. From what Serena had told him it seemed like Runo was the most vocal about taking Leonidas.
Runo smirked. "Nope, it's pointless trying to convince you with words. Though, it seems like I wouldn't have needed to anyway, since you didn't use Leonidas in the previous round at all."
Yuji's mood soured even more from the reminder. He hadn't used Leonidas in the previous round, because of what happened in the first round. His partner had been understanding of his decision, but Yuji could sense Leo's disappointment from not battling.
"Maybe, you already believe him to be dangerous."
"I don't!" Yuji shot back. His shout surprised her slightly, it seems like Yuji did have a backbone when it came to Leonidas. "Leonidas isn't dangerous and I'll prove that!"
Runo rolled her eyes at his lack of understanding. An idea did pop into her head that should work out in her favor. "Fine. Then let's have a little wager."
"A wager?"
"Our battle is later today. So, when I win the battle, I get to take Leonidas."
"What!?" Yuji and Leonidas were shocked.
"Scared?" Runo taunted.
"N-no way!" Yuji replied.
Runo shook her head, turning around to the kitchen. She didn't believe Yuji at all; the boy's entire body screamed 'scaredy cat'.
"W-wait!" Runo turned around to Yuji. "We didn't discuss what would happen if I win."
"There wasn't a need, because Tigrerra and I aren't going to lose," Runo replied. At the mention of her name the Haos tiger decided to finally make herself known. Tigrerra ascended out of Runo's apron and onto her shoulder.
Yuji stood up from his chair, glaring at Runo. "Leonidas and I aren't going to lose either! And when we win you have to promise to leave Leonidas alone!" As he made his declaration a pure white aura began to swirl around Yuji's body. Leonidas stiffened as he felt the pressure coming out of his partner.
Runo was unaware of Yuji's aura, but Tigrerra wasn't. She could feel the anger and determination pulsating off of the boy. In the back of her mind she felt that Runo had been pushing the boy too hard.
Unaware of her partner's thoughts, Runo smirked. "Then may the best brawler win." She turned back around only for her mother to shove a tray of food into her hand. One of those plates of food being Yuji's breakfast sandwich.
Runo awkwardly turned back to him with a small blush. "Uh, here's your sandwich."
He also simmered down awkwardly. "O-oh, right. Thanks," Yuji took his food.
While the two teens tried to move past the awkward atmosphere they had created, Leonidas was absolutely giddy. His partner had shown a side of him that he hadn't seen before.
Pure raw determination.
Leonidas could feel his own blood pumping in excitement.
"Serena?"
Looking up from her phone, Serena saw Alice looking down on her. Pouting at the sight of the Battle Brawler, Serena huffed and turned away. "What?" She asked rudely.
Alice shifted nervously. "You're on your own today?" Alice had coincidentally found the little girl roaming around the stadium on her own. She felt that it would be wrong to let a little girl remain on her own in such a large place.
"Mom and Dad are busy today, so Yuji had no choice but to leave me on my own," Serena explained.
"I-I can stay with you!"
"I'm a big girl. I don't need a chaperone, especially not a traitor," Serena hissed.
Alice flinched from the tone. "Traitor?"
Serena looked her in the eyes, and somehow looked intimidating for someone her size. "You and Dan really hurt Yuji by avoiding him. I thought we were friends?"
Alice's heart hurts from the mention of Yuji's pain. She hadn't meant to avoid him, but she didn't want to aggravate her friends by interacting with him. She was sure Dan felt the same way about the situation at least that's what she hoped. Kneeling down to Serena's height, Alice smiled softly. "We are friends, Serena. I didn't mean to hurt you or Yuji by avoiding you guys. My friends are so certain that Leonidas is dangerous that interacting with you guys may have set Runo off again."
"She has anger issues."
"She's working on it," Alice giggled softly. "Can you forgive me?"
Serena narrowed her eyes, she wanted to stay mad at Alice, but the little girl was smart enough to understand her reasons. "I'll forgive you, but only if you cheer on Yuji with me today."
"Sure, and just between you and me, I also want your brother to win," Alice whispered.
"Why?" Serena asked.
"I think Runo needs to get knocked down a peg." Her response brought out a laugh from Serena.
"Agreed! She has a large stick up her butt!"
"Serena!?" Alice gasped.
"Yo, Yuji!"
Yuji was surprised to see Dan waiting outside of the ring's door. "Dan? What are you doing here?"
Dan smiled apologetically. "Just came to apologize for avoiding you like that the other day. It was rude of us to do that to you, and you did nothing to deserve it."
Yuji blushed from slight embarrassment. "N-no! You have nothing to apologize for, Dan! I understand that your friends are important to you. It wouldn't make sense for you to pick a stranger like me-"
"You're not a stranger, Yuji."
Yuji gave Dan a wide-eyed stare.
"You're my student, Yuji. Which makes you my friend as well!" Dan grinned. His admission caused Yuji's blush to grow even brighter, the boy's entire face mimicking a tomato.
"D-Dan!?"
Dan raised his fist up. "Give it your best out there. Both you and Leonidas!"
"B-but isn't Runo your friend?"
"Yeah, but I think losing this might be good for her," Dan laughed.
Yuji couldn't believe his ears; Dan was rooting for him to win this match. To defeat one of the Battle Brawlers. He could feel his own drive to win increase exponentially. Raising his fist to be on level with Dan's, the two collided. "We got this, right Leonidas?"
Yuji could feel his partner's desire for battle and unlike last time it didn't feel as unnatural for some reason. It honestly felt good.
Dan moved out of the way of the door. "Then get in there already. They're waiting for you."
"Right!"
"Took your time," Runo stood with a hand on her hip.
Yuji raised his Gate Card, a fierce gaze fixated on his features. "Sorry to keep you waiting. I won't be handing over Leonidas to you!"
Runo brought out her card. "We'll see about that!"
"FIELD OPEN!"
"GATE CARD, SET!" Two massive cards appeared in the battle arena between the two brawlers.
Runo smirked, hand on her hip. "Since you're inexperienced I'll allow you to go first."
Her cockiness was starting to get on Yuji's nerves. "Tch! Bakugan brawl!" Yuji tossed out his first Bakugan. The Bakugan flew across the field and landed on a Gate Card. "Bakugan stand!"
From the white light emerged a pure white Bakugan that resembled a humanoid falcon. It screeched loudly, prepared for battle.
Haos Falconeer: 210 Gs!
Runo scoffed, taking out her own Bakugan. "Landing on my Gate Card, huh? Guess you want me to show you just how strong I am! Bakugan brawl!" Runo sent out her own Bakugan. "Bakugan stand!"
The creature that emerged from the almost blinding light was a white Bakugan with dangerously large claws. It roared in Falconeer's face in an attempt to intimate it.
Haos Fear Ripper: 300 Gs!
Yuji clicked his tongue at the high power of Fear Ripper. "I didn't expect her to have something that much higher besides Tigrerra."
Leonidas sat on his shoulder. "Should've sent me out first."
"She would've expected it," Yuji retorted.
"Gate card, open! Cheering Battle!"
The two turned their attention back to the battle to see the arena illuminate for a short moment. The Gate Card revealed by Runo. "Cheering battle?"
"That's right! It allows me to bring in another one of my Bakugan into the battle!" Runo revealed the effect.
"Seriously!?" Yuji cried. She was already doing something like that on the first turn!?
It didn't take a genius to figure out which Bakugan Runo chose to add. "Let's go, Tigrerra! Bakugan brawl!"
Tigrerra bounced onto the card, landing next to Fear Ripper. "Tigrerra stand!"
"WRAAAA!" With a mighty roar the mighty Haos Tigrerra leaped out of the pillar of light. She touched down on all fours, growling at her opponent. Now that she was in her actual form, Yuji finally got a good look at her. She was a large tiger-like Bakugan with several yellow-black blades sticking out of her back. She was white and black with sharp yellow claws on each foot.
Haos Tigrerra: 340 Gs!
"She's just as strong as you, Leonidas!" Yuji gasped.
"Numbers mean nothing until combat! I'll defeat her once the time comes!" Leonidas proclaimed.
Tigrerra's eyes shifted to the dragon, having heard his declaration. "Then by all means, Leonidas. I welcome the challenge!"
"Enough chit-chat! Tigrerra, Fear Ripper, finish it!" Runo ordered.
"With pleasure!" Tigrerra and Fear Ripper both charged into battle. Their claws decimating Falconeer. The bird Bakugan was blown away in a flash of light, rolling beneath Yuji's feet.
Runo caught both of her Bakugan. "Heh, all too easy. Still, it was smart of him not to send out Leonidas first or else that would've been the end right there."
Tigrerra agreed. "He also didn't use any ability cards. It's either he's saving them, or he has nothing to counter our move."
Runo shrugged. "Doesn't matter. He won't beat us."
"Dang it!" Serena whined. She had really hoped for Yuji to win the first round. "That card is broken!"
Alice shook her head. "Not really, it can be countered. But Yuji made the mistake of going for her Gate Card first. He doesn't know all of the cards yet, so there was no way for him to anticipate her actions. The smarter decision would've been to force her to attack him first. Runo has the momentum now."
"You know a lot…" Serena sweat dropped.
Alice flinched. "I-is that bad!?"
"Not really. Just reaffirms that you're a nerd like my brother."
"A nerd…" Alice muttered. This little girl really knew how to hit a person's pride.
"What's our next move?" Leonidas asked. He was hoping that his partner's confidence wasn't shaken by the loss.
Yuji gulped, trying to think of a plan. Looking through his cards, he smirked. "Since Runo wanted to go at us with everything she had it's only fair we return the favor. GATE CARD, SET!" Yuji tossed down another Gate Card. "Ready buddy?"
"I'm always prepared for battle!" Leonidas dropped into Yuji's palm.
"Bakugan brawl!" Leonidas descended to battle at lightning speed. "Leonidas stand!"
"ROAAAA!" Leonidas ascended into the air before dropping down onto his feet. He roared loudly at Runo.
Haos Leonidas: 340 Gs!
The girl flinched from the dragon's ferocity, it reminded her of a different Bakugan. One that radiated just as much savageness as Leonidas. "Is it too much to ask for him to calm down?"
"I would assume so, my lady," Tigrerra responded. "Should I go out to battle?"
Runo shook her head. "No, he's trying to bait me. It would be smarter to go with Fear Ripper again." Runo did just that and fired off Fear Ripper to battle Leonidas.
Haos Fear Ripper: 300 Gs!
Yuji acted quickly before Leonidas could make any other moves. "Gate Card, open! Grand Spirit!"
"Knew it," Runo clicked her tongue.
"It adds 50 Gs to my Bakugan for every Gate Card on the field! And I have two which is a combined 100 Gs!"
Haos Leonidas: 340 Gs to 440 Gs!
Leonidas roared with might as he grabbed Fear Ripper by the face and brutally smashed its face into his knee. Leonidas didn't stop with one strike and repeated it over and over again before ending it with a hammer smash.
Fear Ripper rolled next to Runo's feet. The Haos Brawler looked mildly annoyed at Yuji's tactic.
"Do you think that was his plan from the start?" Drago asked.
"Nah, I mean it would make sense that he would use it at some point, but I don't think Yuji thought to use it for the 2nd round," Dan replied.
"At best after Runo started off so strong, he figured going in with Leonidas was the best option to deal with either Fear Ripper or Tigrerra," Drago said.
Dan nodded his head. "Only problem for his strategy was if Runo decided to negate the power boost that Leonidas received, except she chose not to do so. Meaning that she's waiting for the right time to do so or she isn't using one."
"Question now is: How is Runo going to respond?"
"Don't get so cocky, Yuji! Your simple strategy may've worked out this time, but it ain't going to work again!" Runo announced. "GATE CARD, SET!" Runo tossed out another Gate Card.
"Bakugan brawl!" Runo sent out her next Bakugan. "Bakugan stand!" Her next Bakugan had been a Haos Stinglash that had landed on Yuji's Gate Card.
Haos Stinglash: 240 Gs!
"Just 240, huh? Guess that's her weakest one. Which means I'll send you out," Yuji decided. "Bakugan brawl!"
"Bakugan stand!" The Bakugan that had landed in front of the Haos Stinglash was a white knight. Instead of a sword it held a long spear in its hands.
Haos Siege: 270 Gs!
"Gate Card, open!" Yuji shouted. The card is revealed to be a Siege character card.
Haos Siege: 270 Gs to 470 Gs!
Haos Stinglash: 240 Gs to 340 Gs!
"Go, Siege!" Yuji ordered. His Bakugan charged in towards the scorpion-like Bakugan with the intent to skewer it.
"Hmph, as if!" Runo cried out. "Ability Activate! Haos Swap!" Her card glowed with malicious intent.
"Haos Swap!?" Yuji cried out. Another move from Runo he hadn't seen coming.
"Guess using the same attribute as me came back to bite you, huh? Haos Swap switches the G-power of both Bakugan if they're the same attribute!" Runo explained.
Haos Siege: 340 Gs!
Haos Stinglash: 470 Gs!
Siege's spear broke on contact with Stinglash's stinger. The scorpion swiped its tail into Siege's ribs, knocking the knight over. Then it stabbed the Bakugan in the chest, defeating it. Yuji watched with frustration as Siege rolled next to his feet.
He was now down to only one Bakugan.
"Nobody ever sees the swap cards coming," Alice sighed.
"GAH! Big bro, you've seen plenty of swap cards at this point! How could you walk into that!?" Serena cried.
"Now he's just down to Leonidas and one Gate Card," Alice frowned.
Serena jumped up, puffing hot smoke through her nose. "Big bro and Leonidas can do this! Kick her butt or I'll kick yours!" She shouted at her brother.
"Ugh…" Yuji groaned.
"Hm?" Leonidas turned to him.
"I feel like I can hear Serena's screaming," Yuji responded.
Leonidas' felt his own stomach drop after hearing that. Serena was loud for a human with her size, so that thought alone caused him to shudder in fear.
Yuji looked through his cards. "I think I got another idea, Leonidas. And if I'm right, you'll get that battle with Tigrerra too."
That was music to the dragon's ears. "Good! I'll crush them with my might!"
"GATE CARD, SET!" Yuji tossed down his final Gate Card. "Bakugan brawl! Bakugan stand!" Leonidas stood tall on top of Yuji's Gate Card.
Haos Leonidas: 340 Gs!
Runo returned fire with her Stinglash. "Bakugan stand!"
Haos Stinglash: 240 Gs!
Stinglash didn't have a second before Leonidas began smashing his fist into its face. "You are not the opponent I wish to crush!" Leonidas roared. Stinglash screamed in pain as it was relentlessly beaten down by the dragon.
"Ability activate! Rapid Haos!" Runo cried out. She needed to hurry before Stinglash was beaten. "Go back out, Tigrerra!" The Haos Brawler tossed her partner back out into battle. "Rapid Haos allows me to toss out another Haos Bakugan if I have one in battle. And it combines their G-Power!"
Tigrerra entered the battle, batting away Leonidas with her claws. She growled loudly at the dragon to protect her fellow Bakugan. Stinglash stood back up to join her in the fight.
Haos Tigrerra and Stinglash: 580 Gs!
"Alright!" Yuji screamed. "Gate Card, Open! Peacemaker!" Yuji revealed his final Gate Card.
"What!?" Runo was the one shocked this time.
"All battling Bakugan on this Gate Card are returned to their player's arsenal!" Yuji explained the details.
Leonidas, Tigrerra, and Stinglash were sent right back to their owners with that round ending in a draw. While the situation hadn't changed much, Yuji managed to cut down Runo's means of offense.
"Not too shabby for a newbie, huh?" Yuji smirked.
Runo just glared at him, her anger skyrocketing at being outsmarted by a newbie like Yuji.
"Alright, Yuji!" Dan cheered from his spot.
Drago looked impressed. "He anticipated Runo wanting to end the battle on that turn, so he made sure the battle could be drawn out for much longer."
"While also cutting down her resources at the same time. Now Runo is down to one ability and Gate Card. And it's all thanks to my teachings!" Dan stroked his ego.
"Oh brother…" Drago rolled his eyes.
Runo watched Stinglash drop down to her feet. Leonidas hadn't held back from making the fight as short as possible even after she used a power-up Gate Card. Yuji had a power boosting ability ready to use.
Now both brawlers were down to one Bakugan with her having the last Gate Card.
Tigrerra turned to her partner. "For someone who is new to battling, Yuji sure has put us into a corner. He's good, Runo."
Runo clicked her tongue. "He's just lucky, Tigrerra. If he didn't have Leonidas backing him up, none of his plays would've worked as well. Leonidas' battle power and aggressiveness are his only good points. Other than that he's just like any other brute Bakugan we've battled before."
Runo brought up her final Gate Card. "It all ends here, Tigrerra."
Meanwhile, Yuji and Leonidas were discussing. "This is it, Leonidas. The final round that decides our entire partnership," Yuji started to feel his nerves hit his stomach. "If I lose…then I lose you too."
"Then we don't lose."
"W-what?" Yuji looked at him.
Leonidas wanted his battle with Tigrerra, so that he could beat her and grow stronger. But seeing the scared look on Yuji's face had pushed his desire to the side for a moment. Right now, he needed to bring back his partner's confidence. "You said it yourself back inside of that restaurant earlier, didn't you?"
"Leonidas isn't dangerous, and I'll prove that!"
"You were going to prove to her and her friends that I wasn't dangerous. Doing that means that we must win this battle! To crush them with everything we have!" Leonidas yelled.
Yuji nodded his head. "R-right! We'll win this last battle together, Leonidas!"
"Right!"
"If you two are done over there, then let's finish this!" Runo yelled. "GATE CARD, SET!" Runo tossed down the final card. "Let's end it here, Tigrerra!"
"Yes, Runo!"
"Bakugan brawl!" Runo tossed out Tigrerra. "Tigrerra stand!" Tigrerra landed on the Gate Card, illuminating the battlefield with a white light. She slowly stepped out of the pillar, growling like a predator hunting her prey.
Haos Tigrerra: 340 Gs!
Yuji gulped. "I'm not going to back down! Bakugan brawl! Leonidas stand!" Leonidas didn't hesitate to emerge from the pillar of light. The Haos dragon charged directly at Tigrerra with the intent to put her down once and for all. His initial charge missed as Tigrerra jumped over him and landed on the opposite side of the card.
Haos Leonidas: 340 Gs!
Yuji pulled out a card. "Ability activate!"
Haos Leonidas: 340 Gs to 390 Gs!
Leonidas' body surged with power from the ability's activation. His fist was seconds away from going directly into Tigrerra's face until a bright light covered his senses.
"Gate Card, open!" Runo called out.
Yuji's stomach dropped once he realized the card that Runo had placed down. "No…"
"Oh yeah! It's Tigrerra's character card!" Runo laughed triumphantly. The card beneath the two Bakugan was Tigrerra's own card, meaning she was about to receive double the boost.
Haos Tigrerra: 360 Gs to 660 Gs!
"RAAA!" Tigrerra roared, sprinting past Leonidas and landing a powerful swipe into his back.
"GUH!" Leonidas cried out, before going in for another attack. "I will not lose to any Bakugan!"
Tigrerra hissed at him. "You have no sense of remorse in battle, Leonidas. For you to be a Haos Bakugan and this violent is nothing short of disappointing!" Tigrerra slashed him again.
"Leonidas!" Yuji screamed for his partner, helpless to assist him. His one other ability card had no chance of helping Leonidas catch up in terms of power.
Runo smirked, her victory all but certain. "And just to sweeten the deal. Ability Activate! Cut in Saber!" Runo used her final Ability Card.
Haos Tigrerra: 660 Gs to 860 Gs!
"860!?" Serena screamed at the shockingly powerful numbers. "H-how can anything be that high!? YUJI! LEONIDAS!" Her heart sank as she was about to watch her brother's defeat.
Alice just closed her eyes, apologizing to Yuji and Leonidas both. It may have been too much for her to hope that Yuji could overcome one of her friends so soon. "I'm sorry, Yuji."
Dan just sighed as he watched the battle take place. "How much do you want to be partners with Leonidas, Yuji?"
"GAH!" Leonidas refused to go down as Tigrerra's claws dug into his skin, leaving marks all over his torso. "I will…not lose…!"
"This battle is done, Leonidas! Give up!" Tigrerra demanded.
Leonidas staggered on his two legs, ragged breaths escaping his throat. "I…will not lose to another Bakugan! NEVER!"
Runo was growing equally as frustrated. "Just accept that you're going to lose! I get that you have some weird hatred against Bakugan, but quit being stubborn!"
"My desire doesn't allow me to lose! Not until I find my answers, every Bakugan must fall to my feet!"
Runo groaned. "Talking to brutes like you is meaningless when you refuse to accept that you're beat. Too bad it doesn't matter, right Yuji?"
"What?" Yuji had been too focused on Leonidas' condition to listen to the conversation.
"Our deal, genius. Once Tigrerra finishes Leonidas off, then we'll take him off your hands. Trust us, this is all for your sake," Runo spoke.
Yuji just stared at her. Inside of his body something was bubbling up as he listened to her words. His fists clenched tightly.
"It was a mistake for you to partner up with someone as dangerous as him."
"If he truly saw you as a partner then he would've listened to you."
"What does it mean to be partners?"
"Will battling with you give me the opportunity to defeat other Bakugan?"
"Do you need a reason to become the strongest?"
"...I think I finally get it, Leonidas…" A white aura began to filter out of Yuji's body. The trail of white extended itself to Leonidas, filling him with strength.
Leonidas snapped his head to Yuji's direction, his breath hitching at the sight before him. He wasn't the only one, because both Runo and Tigrerra were slack jawed.
For the first time in his life Yuji Shujin was truly pissed off. His eyes were glistening with a shining white color. A maddening grin was plastered on his lips as the aura surrounding his body grew bigger and bigger. "Who gives you the right to choose who's good and evil?"
Runo subconsciously took a step back. "W-what?"
"You don't know Leonidas, like I do! You couldn't begin to understand his desires! And as his partner I'll carry those desires along with him!" Yuji declared. Yuji pulled back his head and released a powerful cry, his aura completely enveloping Leonidas' body.
In response to the aura entering his system, Leonidas released an equally powerful roar.
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
Looking down at her Baku-Watch, Runo's pupils began to shrink. "W-what the heck?"
Alice couldn't believe what she was seeing. "W-what's going on!? How is this possible!?"
Dan stopped leaning on the wall, getting closer to the screen in front of him. "Drago… Do you know what's happening?"
"I…I cannot begin to understand it myself, Danel." Drago answered, utterly lost himself.
Haos Tigrerra: 860 Gs to 700 Gs!
"Tigrerra's power is decreasing but that shouldn't be possible! She should still be at 860!" Her attention turned back to the duo. "W-what are you two doing!?"
CRACK!
"Runo! The Gate Card!" Tigrerra alerted her partner.
Runo gazed down at the Gate Card and gasped. "I-It's breaking apart…" Large cracks could be seen appearing on Tigrerra's character card. The cracks continued to grow along with the roars of Leonidas and Yuji.
Tigrerra realized something. "It's reacting to them!"
"Tigrerra, stop them before-"
The two were too late to stop what was happening. The card beneath both Bakugans shattered completely, almost like glass from a window.
Haos Tigrerra: 700 Gs to 540 Gs!
Runo was utterly confused. "T-this doesn't make sense. The battle should've ended in a draw. The Gate Card is gone!" She didn't even know how the Gate Card had managed to shatter, but everything in this last couple of minutes wasn't making sense to her. "What is going on-"
"LEONIDAS!"
"ROAAAAAAAA!" Leonidas' roar responded to Yuji's outburst. His power began to fluctuate, commanding the shattered pieces of the Gate Card to form back together.
Runo and Tigrerra could only watch in dumbstruck awe as the Gate Card had been put back together.
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
Haos Leonidas: 390 Gs to 590 Gs!
"T-the Gate Card…" Runo fell to her butt in shock.
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
Haos Leonidas: 590 Gs! to 790 Gs!
"RAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!" The dimension shook in awe of the power being displayed by Leonidas. It was something almost unprecedented in history for a Bakugan to contain as much raw power as Leonidas was showcasing.
Below the Haos dragon was a Character Card.
But it wasn't Tigrerra on the card.
Instead, it was an image of Leonidas, screaming to the heavens above.
Yuji grinned excitedly for the outcome of this battle. "Finish it, Leonidas."
"With pleasure!" Leonidas charged forward and Tigrerra found herself helpless. Her body was bombarded on all sides from Leonidas' endless barrage of attacks. The tiger tried to fight back, but any attempt was shut down almost instantly. Leonidas grabbed her by the tail, swinging Tigrerra around.
"I will defeat all Bakugan!" Leonidas declared one last time before slamming Tigrerra down onto the ground.
Tigrerra screamed in pain before one last thought crossed her mind. "I'm sorry, Runo…" Tigrerra turned back into a ball, rolling down next to Runo.
The Haos Brawler was too stunned by what had occurred to even process that she had just lost. Fear and awe written all over her face as she stared at the newbie duo.
"Just what the heck are you two?"
Chapter End
NOTE: I REALLY want to explain what just happened to Leonidas and Yuji. But I can't until we get to a certain Darkus duo.
I was really trying to figure out a way to give Leonidas his Character Card and I figured this was the best way. For Leonidas and Yuji to create the card through their own power.
Yuji has figured out what his partnership to Leonidas means to him. Does Leonidas understand what their partnership means?
I'm not trying to bash the Brawlers but being the antagonists of the game for the most part doesn't do them any good. And I need them to be a bit jerkish for Yuji's development. They're so used to being the heroes of the story that they can't see when they're wrong about something.
Serena got knocked out of the tournament off screen. She just wasn't important for this tournament. You'll see her do more in the Tag Team tournament.
Hope you all enjoyed the brawl and look forward to the next.