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Post by Noland Hardy on Oct 9, 2022 2:35:56 GMT -5
Noland heard this while looking at the damage Landtude did. He became wide-eyed as he continued to look. That was due to what Landtude was doing. The explosion that made all of the landmass erupt like a volcano was one thing, but there was something else. That same energy was beginning to expand. The Earth was progressively getting destroyed by this energy, but no one else could really see it except for him.
He was fully intent on going back into the fight, but not before addressing what he was hearing.
"It's okay if you can't help them right now. There's nothing wrong with that. They're not immediate threats to us, so you shouldn't do what you're not comfortable with yet," Noland advised. "You'll gain control over that in time. You're certainly much nicer than me, so you'll be fine. I believe in you."
"...I wish I had the time to show you..."
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Post by Alana Cortese on Oct 9, 2022 2:40:09 GMT -5
"What...?" Alana's ears became wider when she heard that statement. It's one thing to say, "I wish I COULD show you," since that's implying one can't do it. Noland just implied that he COULD do it, but didn't have time...?
"...What do you mean by that, Noland?" Alana sternly inquired. "...Of course you have the time... Why would you say something like that? And you better not tell me I'm reading too much into it. You don't say stuff like that in these kinds of situations..."
Petra caught wind of this too. She wasn't too thrilled to hear that either.
"Whatever you're thinking about, don't do it... Please..." Petra pleaded with him.
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Post by Noland Hardy on Oct 9, 2022 3:10:57 GMT -5
Noland ignored both Alana and Petra. While continuing to face the threat, he spoke directly to Markus.
"Markus...think about what happened on Vestal when you were trying to revive me after the BT System went off the first time... Be ready if I get desperate and that happens again..." Noland warned him in advance. With that said, Noland disappeared through the use of Hyper Motion before anyone could talk him out of what he was planning to do...
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Post by Markus Hederick on Oct 9, 2022 13:51:00 GMT -5
Markus had an idea of what Noland was talking about in terms of him potentially becoming evil again. It sounded like Noland was asking Markus to kill him. At least, that's what makes sense. Otherwise...he really has no idea as the statement was too vague. He could read the 'room' though. Why say exactly what you're thinking when Alana and Petra will immediately object to it if it puts him at risk? They did that without knowing the truth. Noland put it in a way that only Markus would know with intimate detail, so he can get himself ready for the worst... "...Got it," Markus accepted. "Do what you have to do... I'm here whenever you need me."
---
On the battlefield, Betadron was cackling uncontrollably as if he was relishing in the destruction he caused. Drago and Gargulion were unscathed. Both were converted into shadows. Shadows from all over met a couple of feet away from Betadron to form into Drago. Gargulion was still nowhere to be found. This was the likely result of Hollow Winger, an upgrade on Gargulion's oldie that converts bodies into shadows.
"Gargulion, that attack just now is breaking apart the Earth. If we don't stop it, that'll be it for this planet," Drago explained.
"Yes... That was an attack from a Subterra warrior whose physical strength is unrivaled," Betadron confirmed. "But that's not all though... I have more..." The Subterra warrior shapeshifted into another warrior. This time, it was a Ventus lizard-like humanoid with two tentacles sprouted from its back.
"Dawn Razor!" The Ventus Bakugan had an impossibly high number of tentacles elongate from its back and aim for Drago from all directions. This was to keep Drago occupied while Betadron stays ready for Gargulion's attack. Little did he know, Drago wasn't going to do anything. Gargulion already had it covered.
"Got it," Gargulion announced. He briefly appeared from Drago's shadow, got rid of his Darkus Frame, and attached it to Drago. Drago's body was surrounded by a black aura that converted the tentacles that touched it into shadows. These shadows then merged into the aura to make it bigger. This was also the work of Hollow Winger. He can choose to convert himself into a shadow to phase through attacks. What he can do now is convert attacks into shadows instead of himself, but contact has to be made with the said attack. Any attack that he converts this way can be merged with the aura he gains from using this ability. The intensity of the aura is an indication as to how high the critical hit rate for his next attack will be. Just from the appearance of the aura, Gargulion's critical hit rate was extremely high. Well, Drago's will be since he has the aura right now...
"I'll cancel the attack. You hit Betadron as hard as you can. Deal?" Gargulion proposed.
"Let's do it," Drago concurred.
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Post by Noland Hardy on Oct 9, 2022 16:21:13 GMT -5
Gargulion's spirit merged with Drago's. Drago's eyes glowed green to reflect that Gargulion was apart of him now. The 'fusion' then charged directly at Betadron.
"I'll get you both at once!" Betadron declared. The Ventus Bakugan formed into a Darkus...alien-looking creature with an eye as a face and an eye on its neck... "Imprison!"
A black hole was somehow formed in front of Betadron from the alien's gaze alone. Whether it led to another location on Earth, the Doom Dimension, or oblivion was anyone's guess. Water was being sucked into it as well as Drago himself.
"Gargoyle's Contempt!" Gargulion initiated. Shadowy creatures left Drago's being and spread out.
"Shit!" Betadron cursed. His pupils were moving in all directions. He couldn't keep track of them all. Not only were they all over the place, but shadows began to split apart to cover more ground. Betadron suddenly found himself being lunged at from a shadowy Cerberus that lunged at him from his own shadow. He dodged it without having to look at it, but more unidentifiable creatures jumped out from his shadow to assault him. If Betadron is touched by any of them, he will steadily be converted into a shadow himself. If his entire being gets converted, then it'll be over for him...
This was a distraction though. Gargulion's main targets were the black hole and Landtude's energy in the Earth. With the black hole, Gargulion never had to make actual contact with it. Instead, there were silhouettes of shadows that jumped into the black hole's shadow in the water. The black hole progressively shrunk until it disappeared completely. As for the Landtude's energy, an identical situation happened. Just like with Hollow Winger, the shadows had to make contact with the attack's origin to convert it into a shadow. Once that took place, the same thing with the black hole happened to Landtude's energy.
Unfortunately, as ridiculous as this ability is, there is quite a cost. Gargulion's stamina takes a massive hit from using a technique like this. Using another ability won't be possible for some time. That is why preparations have to be made before this ability gets used. In this case, he's already in Drago's body, so there's minimal risk to his safety for now.
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Post by Noland Hardy on Oct 9, 2022 17:37:10 GMT -5
Well, that would be the case, but Gargulion had Drago fire a spirit orb from his mouth. The orb traveled sporadically all over the place. Then it appeared in front of Betadron's face and flashed. It blinded Betadron briefly, but he could still recognize that Gargulion's spirit form was right in front of him.
"Got you!" Betadron declared. "Mist-"
"Nope!" Gargulion denied.
"Infernus Impact!" Drago conjured a red fireball on the tip of Apollo's Hand. The fireball dispersed and lit the weapon on fire. He then thrusted the weapon at Betadron with the intention of stabbing right through Gargulion. Surprisingly, Gargulion wasn't harmed when the weapon impaled him. Instead, Gargulion's spirit form merged with the flame and turned it green. This is because Infernus Impact allows Drago to take energy and supercharge it for his attack. He manipulated Gargulion's body since it's just energy, and then merged it with his own fireball. The flame itself became more powerful as a result. The weapon easily impaled Betadron. An green explosion occurred from within Betadron's body. Drago was shielded from the explosion by Gargulion's frame, but a good portion of it was blown off from the recoil.
Drago immediately tried to withdraw by slicing upwards and getting some distance. Before that...
"Mist...Bu-u-r-n!!!!!" Betadron activated while writhing in pain.
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Post by Noland Hardy on Oct 9, 2022 18:53:21 GMT -5
"Fuck!" Drago cursed. Betadron's body converted into mist and was merging itself onto Drago in the form of an aura. This was a much more focused variant of Black Burn. While Black Burn prioritizes spreading corruption in an AOE manner, Mist Burn focuses on a singular entity. Because of this, the rate of corrupting someone was even more likely.
While this was happening, Drago gathered Switch Code energy in his left hand and pressed it on his chest. In doing so, he was able to force Gargulion to split from his body while giving him some Switch Code energy to bring his stamina back to normal levels. "Get out of here!" he pleaded. Gargulion was spat out from Drago's back. He watched with a lot of concern as Drago started flickering between his base and Hex Code. Drago was struggling to maintain control so much that he couldn't even move from where he was...
"I'm gonna be fine, but you won't be if this gets you, so go!" Drago clarified.
"Drago, I'm not leaving you behind. Not yet," Gargulion refused. "He won't get me. But I will get him."
The misty form of Betadron then attempted to get Gargulion as well. It went right through Drago's body and nearly touched Gargulion. "Manus!" Gargulion activated immediately. The mist froze in place and couldn't move. Due to how much damage Betadron received from Drago's massive blow to him, Gargulion easily ripped Betadron's soul out and was about to pull it into his body. His body was now an entrance to the afterlife. That's where Betadron was going, which would effectively kill him for the second time now. Before that, Mist Burn was forcefully canceled, and Betadron's body returned into the deformed mess it was left in after Infernus Impact messed him up. The ethereal Darkus Bakugan helping Betadron was flickering on and off, and was completely still. Unfortunately, Mist Burn's hold on Drago was still active... "You remind me a lot of Mutabrid... Always had very annoying abilities..." Betadron compared. "You do realize that killing me in this manner is useless, don't you?"As he said that, another Betadron began to form in front of Drago. It was much faster than how Betadron came back from the first death. It was all thanks to what Mist Burn was doing to Drago. It did give Gargulion some insight as to how it all worked though... "Either of you being stronger than me or being able to kill me... It really makes no difference..." Betadron claimed. "Your faults as mortals will be the reason why I will be reborn again and again... There's no end for me.""Not entirely true," Gargulion disagreed. "You're only allowed to recreate yourself if your energy is still present. And each time you do so, the energy you created disappears, especially when you try to revive yourself at the power you had when you were killed.""Prove it," Betadron challenged. "I just watched you do it. Plus, I have your soul in my hands. I can see exactly what you're doing," Gargulion reminded him based on what he saw from Drago's condition. "The fact that you targeted Drago specifically says it all. You don't have enough energy to reform yourself into a state where you're somewhat of a challenge for us. You wasted it all after you got your ass handed to you.""Enough of this... Seems I should've taken you out first..." Betadron regretted. "I'll fix that now!" "Good luck," Gargulion scoffed. "Spirit Synchro."A vibrating sound was emitted from Gargulion's hands. This vibration targeted the Betadron he had bound. In a miraculous fashion, the Betadron in front of Drago received the same damage that the bound one did. Basically, what happened to the Betadron that just spawned is now in the same situation as the one that just got his ass kicked...again. "Finish this, Drago, but if you need me, just call," Gargulion told him. He ripped the bound Betadron's soul out and sent it to the afterlife, which killed that one. Gargulion then left the scene of the battle as soon as possible so that he doesn't risk having what happened to Drago happen to him.
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Post by Andrew Bullock on Oct 9, 2022 22:39:08 GMT -5
"Right," Drago replied without a hint of worry. Gargulion did most of the heavy lifting, so he had a nice break. NOW it was time to get serious.
"You're not looking so good," Betadron noticed.
"You never did," Drago replied.
---
Andrew looked at Noland and could tell that he was struggling. Noland was shaking uncontrollably. Andrew pulled a pistol out of his waistband and pointed the muzzle at Noland. His finger was off the trigger, but he was ready just in case.
"Everyone, step away from him. I mean it," Andrew ordered.
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Post by Noland Hardy on Oct 9, 2022 23:02:38 GMT -5
Noland wasn't bothered by the gun and knew that Nero was doing what had to be done. Noland would do the same, but he was sure no one wanted to know that. He was thinking about everything he did while being under the influence of the Hex Code. Mainly, he was thinking about when he attempted to kill his friends, and...killing Alana and Hydranoid. He then thought about how sad Allen and Alana would be if they ever had to face that version of him again. Then he just focused on Alana...
"..." He could feel Allen pulling Alana away from him. He could also feel Petra's gaze.
Petra herself wasn't quite sure what to think. Noland told her about what happened when he was evil, but it was different seeing it up close. That time when the Angels were sent to take him out didn't help her understand what was going on at all. Now she sorta understands. She could hear Noland's growling. It sounded quite evil and intimidating. Knowing that he could snap at any moment, Petra was too stunned to say anything.
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Post by Andrew Bullock on Oct 9, 2022 23:05:43 GMT -5
"Noland, listen to me very carefully," Andrew started. "You have an increased resistance to this type of corruption, but even you won't last through this. We can't have you turn against us again... This time, we may not be able to stop you, so... I want you to take what I'm asking you to do seriously.
...If you can't do this - and I want you to really be honest with yourself about this - then...let me take your place. You can take me down. I just...I can't face your father again if I allow you to go down that path a second time."
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Post by Allen Silva on Oct 17, 2022 2:00:40 GMT -5
"..." Allen was unsure of what to say at first. He wasn't sure if he had to say anything, or if he should say anything. What if he makes the current situation worse? Noland looked like he was suffering enough. Maybe he doesn't want anyone else reminding him of it, especially with a gun pointed at him.
Then Allen got a bright idea: don't warn Noland about what could happen, but celebrate what he has done already.
"You got this. I'm not worried at all," Allen expressed. "You've been to hell and back these last two years, and I was here for every second of it. Even Gorem and I learned how to be more resilient just by watching you and Drago. I know you're struggling right now, and I can't pretend that either of us could ever understand how hard this must be for you, but I believe in you and Drago. If I had to bet my life on picking someone who could get through this, it's you all the way."
"What he said," Gorem concurred.
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Post by Noland Hardy on Oct 24, 2022 2:32:52 GMT -5
Noland and Drago closed their eyes and breathed slowly. Despite doing this in front of Betadron who was poised to do whatever to him, Drago became very calm, which made Betadron become agitated that Drago was resisting his corruption. "How...?" Betadron asked in disbelief. "You gonna attack soon? I couldn't move for a bit. Unless...corrupting me is your only win condition," Drago theorized. "Tsk...""It didn't work, which means you're back to where you're started. But...if you hit me with it again... I don't know. You might get me."Betadron backed away immediately. Now knowing that Drago had an unusual resistance to being turned, he knew he was in big trouble. He understood that he would have to try harder or that was it for him. "Fine... I was wrong. You ARE stronger than I am, and corrupting you right now is the best chance I have," Betadron admitted. "But that's okay. It's not the only chance. After all, my goal is to be set free. Beating you into the ground would be a nice bonus, but... Just from attempting to corrupt you, I can see the struggles you and your human have went through. What a waste to fight on their side... I'll make you into something better... Stigma!"Betadron pointed his left palm at Drago. Just like with Calvin and Dragonus, he was going to attempt to extract Drago's hatred for humanity, Emperor Barodius and his Dharak, Empress Barodius and her Dharak, the Hurranians, and the Pack. He will use it to create an indescribable monster. Imagine an unhinged Drago laying waste to everything he hates without restraint or a moral compass... Noland and Drago were struggling more than the Mist Burn affliction. It's one thing to be turned yourself, but now Betadron can just pull your bad side out of you. Dark energy was threatening to leave Noland and Drago's bodies. This was an extremely painful procedure, which gave Drago an idea... "Battalix Prime!" Drago activated. He glowed in a bright crimson color that was all too familiar to Betadron. "Hm... That looks like Dispel Roa...but even that wouldn't stop this... Appolonir tried once," Betadron remembered. Still, as he continued to draw out Drago's hatred, Drago's power level began to spike. "I will lose with your power being where it is, so having it rise makes no difference to me," he claimed.
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Post by Noland Hardy on Oct 24, 2022 3:15:51 GMT -5
Betadron was horribly wrong. "Wait a minute..." Betadron said as he questioned his own analysis of Battalix Prime. Drago's hate was being extracted just fine, but as the energy was seeping out of him and forming into a monstrous version of him, his stayed very healthy. "That usually one-shots opponents, or - at minimum - incapacitates them for a significant period... What is this ability of yours?" "You're about to find out," Drago stated with a devilish smile. A dark being spawned next to Drago from his own hate. As it was forming into something worth looking at, Drago - now glistening with a crimson aura - infused energy into his tail and whipped the being with it. The impact was so severe that the being exploded into a fiery cloud. "Orion Shield!" Betadron activated before Drago could go for him. He morphed his body into a giant, circular shield contemporaneous with Drago - who was a crimson streak from Battalix Prime boosting him to an unbelievable level of physical ability - intending to strike him. The crimson streak did not strike the shield at all, but went backwards. Drago looked up at the shield in disbelief.
"That was a close one... If I made contact with that, that would've been it for me with all I've taken so far," Drago believed, but kept to himself. "Dammit... If this guy gets unsealed, he's gonna be a huge problem..."
"Go on, Drago. Attack me now!" Betadron pleaded. The sky began to become purple from Orion Shield's presence. Also, Drago could feel that the hate inside of him was becoming more difficult to contain. It's possible that Orion Shield amplifies that feeling. From Drago's assessment, it may even be mental suicide to make physical contact with the shield at all. From the standpoint of how effective of a deterrent it is, Orion Shield may be one of the greatest defensive abilities ever used.
"..." Drago had to think for a second. He could just blow Orion Shield up like he did with Orion Sword, but he would be back to square one. He can't absorb it either for obvious reasons. Betadron needed to be defeated NOW, so...what does Drago do in this situation...? He does remember being forced to take control of the Hurranian Dasia's attack back when he first evolved into Battalix Dragonoid. If he were to take control of Orion Shield, then maybe...
---
"..." Noland saw this and knew what had to be done. He looked around to see everyone. He didn't want to tell them that what he was about to do may backfire, but it was a risk he was willing to take. "Just in case...it has been an honor, and I'm sorry for whatever might happen from this," Noland told them. "Yeah, even you Knights and Angels, and Asuka. We may not see eye to eye now, but at one point, you've all helped me, so...thank you."
Noland disappeared from the area via Hyper Motion as he was hearing his name being yelled by...almost everyone. He appeared right above a certain coward who was flying high above Delaware and stomped on his spine. This was a very devastating blow that was boosted from the instantaneous movement from Hyper Motion. It caused a loud crack and snap. The individual was smacked straight down on the interstate he was flying over. Fortunately, no traffic was in the immediate area of impact, but incoming and oncoming traffic slammed on their brakes in horror of what they were seeing.
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Post by Dark Calvin (World's Collide) on Oct 25, 2022 1:45:55 GMT -5
With a green aura surrounding his body, Noland flew down to the highway and floated above his victim. His victim's spine was shattered. Civilians started exiting their vehicles and looking down to see who it was.
"Oh my God...that's him!" a lady shouted. "That scumbag destroyed New York City!"
"Tear that son of a bitch to shreds, Noland!" a man loudly requested.
"..." Calvin was in too much pain to say anything. He couldn't move at this point...
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Post by Noland Hardy on Oct 25, 2022 2:47:09 GMT -5
Noland went down there and lifted him up by his hair. He dangled Calvin's body to make sure he was paying attention.
"You really thought I would be too distracted to notice your energy signature heading south? You VASTLY overestimated yourself. You were NEVER better than me!" Noland said in an evil-sounding tone. "Let me show you..."
Noland then Hyper Motioned back to New York City with Calvin in tow. He appeared near Drago and Betadron (Orion Shield). He transitioned to a blue aura and was able to stand on the water. "Let's end this! Ability activate!" Noland initiated.
"Supremacy Force!" Drago finished. He pointed his hands towards Orion Shield. Bio-electricity surged from his hands and made contact with Orion Shield. This happened for about five seconds. As he did this, both Noland and Drago flashed in between their Switch and Hex Codes. Then, after five seconds, the transitions stopped.
"Hey! What do you think you're doing!?" Betadron asked. He knew something was going on.
"Attacking you," Drago revealed. "Supremacy Charge!"
Betadron split from the Orion Shield when Drago activated that. He reformed behind the Orion Shield. When he did, he watched in disbelief as Drago supercharged Orion Shield with Switch Code energy and shapeshifted it into a large Genesis Dragonoid head.
"Tsk...you dare show that bastard to me!? After what he's done!?" Betadron roared. "I will make you pay!"
"Oops. Sorry. Please forgive me," Drago apologized, but in a disingenuous and sarcastic manner.
"I'll get you! Geis Buster!" Betadron called on a portal that opened above the Genesis Dragonoid head. Lightning surged around it before a giant particle beam left it. The Genesis Dragonoid head blocked the beam from hitting the planet's surface, but not for long. Eventually, it will be surpassed, because as long as the beam does not hit the intended target - which is Drago in this case - then the beam will progressively get stronger. This ability is on the same level as Apollonir's Scarlet Dragonia and Drago's Crimson Dragonia in that they can win any power struggle...
"Too late," Drago dismissed. "Coming at you hot!"
The Genesis Dragonoid head imploded on itself and released a 360 degree wave motion blast that covered the entire planet. It was too bright for anyone to see anything for at least ten seconds. It became more bearable as time passed, but vision was still at a premium. Geis Buster was forcefully negated, and the hatred that Betadron spread was diluted by Drago's Switch Code energy.
"It's over... He's gone," Noland confirmed. "And somehow...we're still sane."
"Yeah... I was afraid that we'd turn evil from trying to take control of that attack..." Drago admitted. "...That's insane...that we, as Duality users, can become corrupted by him... What is he...?"
Noland looked to his side. He pulled Calvin up to look at him. He saw no traces of Betadron's energy still in Calvin. "You sold your soul to him. Maybe you can tell us. Salvage whatever amount of good you have, if you still have good in you," Noland figured.
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