"So, what now?", Runo asked once Dan and Shinichi returned.
"Alright, gather around everyone.", Shinichi said. The Battle and Vanguard Brawlers did as he did, forming a large circle.
"We've got the whole issue of Masquerade going on with bullies or brainwashed brawlers being on his side, and we still don't know what's Masquerade exactly planning or if he is working alone or with someone by his side, and then there is the matter of Kazami Shun, and the idea of the Battle Brawlers.", Shinichi explained.
"Idea of the battle brawlers, what do you mean?", Julie asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Just like how we are 18 now, you guys need to expand your members, find the best brawlers to join you.", Kaito explained.
"That's not exactly easy.", Gorem said.
"Why? Any guy we had tough time defeating, we can ask them to join.", Preyas suggested.
"This isn't a soccer club though, we do need some good members, whether their style shear strength or strategy.", Ingram spoke up.
"We should also brawl together and work on our own strategies, I think the best way to do this is have each attribute member hang around each other and either practice or defeat the bullies.", Cyndeous suggested.
"The primary brawlers and the battle brawlers will deal with searching with Masquerade and will handle the bullies they come across, but the secondary ones, their main job is to handle the bullies and any Masquerade henchmen.", Shinichi ordered.
"I've done some research on the Bakugan site, and I've already found through pictures being taken of them, the Bakugan Brawlers who have sided with Masquerade, thanks to the unique gauntlet they all wear.", Marucho said as he adjusted his glasses.
"Did you find out who are the top brawlers from them?", Shinichi asked.
"Yeah; I've even prepared full files of them after extensive research.", Marucho said as he pressed a few buttons on his Bakupod before a hologram screen popped out of it, showing data on the first brawler.
Eisuke whistled before he smiled, "That's awesome! I think we both can work together on a newer version of the Bakupod in the future.".
"I'd love that!", Marucho exclaimed.
"Science nerds.", Sonoko mumbled.
"I agree.", Haruka said before she looked at Eisuke and whispered to herself, "Though the taller one is cute.".
"Just tell us what you've got.", Shiho said straight to the point.
"I'll start with the Pyrus Brawler: Chan Lee. She's Chinese and her Bakugan partner is Fourtress, and she's very overconfident like Dan.", Marucho said as he displayed the data and images of Chan Lee and her Bakugan.
"Huh? What do you mean?", Dan asked, feeling offended.
"He's kind of right.", Makoto pointed out.
"He IS right.", Drago said.
"Looks like you, Lee, and Kazumi, are three peas in a pod.", Hina joked.
"Is today the pick on Dan day or what?", Tristan asked confused.
"Shut up, Wada.", Kazumi scoffed in annoyance.
"Yeah, we are nothing like them.", Kelion added.
"And this is what happens when a room is full with children.", Zentaur sighed in annoyance.
"Why can't you all be like Momiji?", Howlkor suggested.
"Because I'm special.", Momiji smiled.
"Move ta da next one before a fight starts.", Kazuha suggested, trying to contain her anger, which increased further when she heard Soshi and Hawktor snicker.
"You mean before you strangle her…", Taylean mumbled.
"Please do, for Hattori's sake.", Soshi and Hawktor chorused.
"Huh?", Heiji said confused.
"Marucho, hurry before a fight does break out.", Aoko said, noticing the angry aura around Kazuha.
"R-Right.", Marucho gulped, feeling afraid from Kazuha's anger before he changed the display to the Aquos Brawler, "The next is Klaus von Hertzon, he's a German Aquos brawler and his Bakugan partner is Sirenoid.".
"Ugh, that guy is so full of himself, I've met him a couple of times as a kid when his father would visit mine or vice versa… I've never seen such an egotistical person like him.", Sonoko grumbled.
"I have no idea why your mother thought about an arranged marriage between you two.", Pegatrix said.
"Two rich families, this whole old trope…", Sonoko said feeling nauseated.
Marucho then moved onto the next Brawler, "This is Julio Santana, He's a Spanish Haos Brawler and his Bakugan partner is Tentaclear.".
"Isn't that baldie the guy you kicked his ass two months ago?", Shinichi asked Ran.
"Yeah… He wasn't very pleased when Leonidas fired his alpha blaster in Tentaclear's eye.", Ran recalled.
"He deserved it, he was very loud and annoying.", Leonidas commented.
"I agree, he's been messaging Runo constantly, wanting to battle.", Tigrerra recalled.
"He hasn't learned the lesson now, has he?", Leonidas mumbled.
"We'll teach him next time.", Runo said.
Marucho then moved onto the next brawler, "This is Billy Gilbert, he's an Australian Subterra Brawler and his Bakugan partner is Cycloid.".
"No! There is no way Billy joined that bastard! I know him since we were kids!", Julie defended Billy.
"Maybe he was brainwashed, we did come across brawlers he already were.", Makoto suggested.
"Or maybe he joined because he wanted to know more about Masquerade to beat him and then got brainwashed, we won't know the story until we face him first.", Saguru pointed out.
"Then he is mine to deal with.", Julie insisted, and no one objected on that.
"Next up, we've got Komba O'Charlie. He's an American-Brazilian Ventus Brawler and his Bakugan partner is Harpus.", Marucho said.
"I've seen dat guy before. We didn' brawl but he was very rude ta anyone he came across wid.", Heiji commented, "looks like his mother forgot ta raise him.".
"Those are the top brawlers among Masquerade's henchmen, and they're the top in the ranks too. I didn't spot a Darkus brawler with them, but I assume that role is taken by Masquerade.", Marucho said.
The Bakupods then beeped and everyone looked at their own, reading the upcoming message.
"Masquerade changed the rules?", Akako raised an eyebrow in surprise, "We can now use more than one ability card, and it's up to the Bakugan to withstand the attack, not just depend on G-Power.".
"Hey! Who gave him the right to change it?", Dan asked annoyed.
"He must've had some source of power to give him the ability to control the Bakugan Field.", Shinichi deduced.
"It has something to do with how we originally brawl.", Nillious spoke up, "You aren't the first sentient species to team up with Bakugan. The Neathians and Gundalians were before you, when some Vestroian Bakugan migrated there.".
"I can confirm, I'm Neathian.", Akwimos said.
"Same here.", Hawktor said
"I'm Gundalian.", Tristar said.
"So, am I.", Taylean said.
"The brawlers would fight with one Bakugan and the match was based on a health bar, not three rounds, and the G-power difference would be deducted from the health bar. Of course, we couldn't speak, and you didn't know what exactly we are when we arrived, so you formed your own rules.", Drago explained.
Everyone sweatdropped once they reached the same realization, they've been playing Bakugan the wrong way the whole time.
"There is a reason why your method was good though. Had you played it in the original way, you kids would've turned it into a massacre, so you still don't know the impact of our powers.", Eenoch spoke up.
"I've always thought the Bakugan Field was something that existed to make sure we don't destroy the world around us, since it doesn't exist in the three other worlds.", Elfin said.
"So, it's not just Vestroia and the Doom Dimension, there are other worlds out there with beings like us living on it?", Masumi asked in disbelief.
"Welcome to reality.", Vladitor commented.
"So, what's our first move?", Kaito asked Dan and Shinichi.
The two looked each other, nodded, before Dan answered, "We defeat Kazami Shun.".
Leonidas stared outside the window, leaving the other Bakugan chatter with each other while the humans were getting to know each other even more. He had asked Ran for some lone time, and she allowed him so.
"You're thinking the same thing, aren't you?", Vladitor said as he floated up to Leonidas until he was next to him.
"Only a matter of time before they discover we aren't from any of the three worlds, but from the Doom Dimension.", Leonidas voiced his thoughts.
"Indeed, and Bakugan from the Doom Dimension don't have the best reputation, especially us.", Vladitor nodded, "The two most ruthless Bakugan who battled with anyone, and destroyed anything around them during battle.".
"We've become soft with these Humans.", Leonidas pointed out before he sighed, "But I'm surprised that I don't feel bad about this…".
"Same here… I've grown attached to that kid, and I feel pity for her from her family.", Vladitor said.
"Likewise.", Leonidas said.
Vladitor then asked after a few moments of silence, "Do you think we should tell them?".
"I… am not sure… how will they react when they know we've been lying to them about being from Vestroia?", Leonidas said slowly.
Unknown to both of them, Ran and Masumi were hiding behind a wall, eavesdropping on them, and they heard everything clearly.
The two girls looked at each other in disbelief, what were they supposed to do now with this new information?