Season 4, Ep 10: Battle for #1

[Jason Cross]

It's only round two of the Final Sixteen tournament and people are already packing the stadium for what is said to be the biggest match of the season. It's a brawl between the number two contender for the Championship and the number one contender. The number two contender is the Aquos superstar of the Krakkens, Greil Saratoshi. His opponent is the formidable and mysterious leader of the Sky Reavers, Scarecrow. Even after his win over Kaito and Kado, Greil has been feeling a bit at ease. For some reason after the match, he had been unable to find his partner and team captain, Bryce Witherson. With his missing friend at the forefront of his mind, will Greil still be able to defeat Scarecrow and become the number one contender? or will the masked brawler come out on top?

[Scarecrow]

Scarecrow walked through the hallway again. But this time, he was focused on plotting how to defeat this opponent. Unlike the last one, this brawler had worked his way to bieng right behind Scarecrow in the rankings. True, he had beat Bryce, the leader of this team, the krakkens. But, Griel was a totally different battle. While Bryce relied on technology and money to win, Griel had real skill. And a dangerous bakugan in Megaladon. Also, Megaladon did have the advantage in atribute. He wondered in a circle for a good five minutes until Zerevix ran into his head. This got Scarecrow head back in the game. He turned to his bakugan partner." Thanks Zerevix. I kind of needed that." He told Zerevix.

" I could see it in your eyes. Your brains really working hard at finding a plan to win." Zerevix relayed to Scarecrow. Knowing his partner was one of perks of the relationship between Zerevix and Scarecrow." We'll crush 'em. Don't you worry about that." He continued, trying to pump up his brawler. This succeeded in doing absolutely nothing. Scarecrow never, in the history of his brawling, got pumped. It was against the nature of the masked brawler.

" that's not my worry." Scarecrow responded as he continued down the hallway, towords the arena. He knew that this was only half true. He wasn't worried about losing to Griel. Scarecrow was the number 1 brawler out there, so he had a serious advantage. No, that wasn't it at all." I'm trying to find a way to avoid what happened last time. I don't want to waiste abilities again." He elaborated.

" well. We got this in the bag. Next stop, winning this tournament." Zerevix excitingly boasted. He could see the lights indicating where the battle area began. As they emerged to the fans, Zerevix let out a roar to show them that he means business. Or, at least, he has the ability to crush his opponent.

Scarecrow looked at his cards one more time." Gate card set!" He commanded. After the command was spoken, a red rectangle expanded across the arena floor, indicating the set of a gate card. Scarecrow snatched up his partner and tossed him at the gate." Bakugan brawl." The bakugan stood on the gate card and opened up. A mound of magma emerged and then took the shape of Zerevix." Stand Zerevix. It's time to close the curtains on this play." Scarecrow finished. The CDS voice chimmed in. Zerevix stands at 800g. Battle not detected.

Effects activated:
None
Result:
Zerevix stands at 800g
Bakugan:
Zerevix: 800g
?:?

[Greil Saratoshi]

Greil walked casually on the field and took a good look at his opponent. He smirked as he recognized the masked figure. His opponent was quite the celebrity. It was hard to not know who he was. He held the blue bakugan in his hand. Megalodon popped open as he spoke to his brawler. "So, this is the great Scarecrow and his bakugan, Zerevix, the Magma Monster. You think we can take him." He laughed at the prospect of not being able to win. Greil simply nodded, he wasn't too concerned about this brawl. Something else was at the forefront of his mind: Where was Bryce?

He hadn't seen his teammate all day. That was odd, Bryce loved being out in public. If he wasn't where his fans could see him, then he was upset. He needed to be recognized as the leader of the Krakkens, the best of the best. So where the heck was he?

He shook the cobwebs out of his mind. He needed to get back into the game. "So," he spoke to Scarecrow, "You're the so-called number one contender for the Championship huh? Well it doesn't matter. Number one, number two, they're just labels. I don't think they matter in this situation. What matters is that I'M going to win, I'M moving on to round three, and I'M going to become the champion. You can go home now if you'd like because this brawl was over before it started."

He threw the blue bakugan on the field. "Bakugan Brawl! Stand Aquos Megalodon!" The shark stood on the field, trident in hand. "Let the brawl begin Zerevix! This is a battle of the brutes!"

Megalodon stands at 800G.

Greil's CDS' voice came online and said, "Aquos Megalodon is at 800G, Pyrus Zerevix is at 800G."

[Scarecrow]

Scarecrow heard the insults of the foolish little brawler. It was like throwing rocks at a waterfall. " you're small talk means nothing. You are talking to the mighty Scarecrow." The masked brawler 'enlightened' the aquos contender for his position. Number one meant to him that he had reached a power of a king. This was a achieving of the dream he had as a kid." Number one means that, by all reality, in this brawl, you are the underdog." He continued on his dissection of his opponent." And my strength is crushing these puppy dreams." Scarecrow ended. He then nodded to Zerevix, indicating his accepting of his bakugans plan.

Zerevix got a huge grin. Scarecrow usually never does this. It relieved and confused Zerevix at the same time." I got you sushi for brains. Now go, ability Lix hunter activate." Zerevix calls as he starts up his signature entry move. He created a ball and tossed it into the sky directly above him. The ball floated when it reached about 50 feet above the mighty magma beast. Meanwhile, it also shot powerful blasts of red energy at the shark bakugan.

Activated effects:
Lix hunter: send back the opponents bakugan, they can't send one out with the same base name.
Result:
Megaladon in danger of bieng sent back
400g transferred
Bakugan:
Zerevix: 1200g
Megaladon: 400g

[Greil Saratoshi]

Greil couldn't help but laugh. "Lix Hunter, huh? So this is the ability that took down Bryce. Good move." He raised an eyebrow as if anticipating something. "So? What to do now? Well, a normal brawler would just restart the round. However, you aren't the type to make the same mistake twice. You would've acted on your weakness and let me do it, thus taking control of the gate card in round two. Heh. It looks like I'm in a bind."

He smirked as the blasts of red energy from Zerevix's Lix Hunter crashed towards Megalodon. Greil's eyes flashed with a blue radiance as he shouted, "Ability Activate! SHARK! Fight!" Megalodon was hit with the attack and crashed to the ground. His body lay there for a few seconds until he started to glow with a blue energy. The bakugan stood, looking unscathed by the previous assault. He roared, displaying his newfound strength and power. He then charged after Zerevix with his trident, hoping to stab the magma monster with his golden weapon.

"Go down!" shouted Megalodon as his partner smirked and said. "Heh. Don't compare me to Bryce."

SHARK! Fight: Played when my opponent attempts to send Megalodon back. Send Megalodon back into the brawl with double his G's. Transfer 400G.

The CDS said: "Aquos Megalodon is at 1200G, Pyrus Zerevix is at 800G."

[Scarecrow]

Scarecrow simply sighed. He made a huge miscalculation and now scarecrow has the advantage." You made two mistakes." Scarecrow had begun. He simply waved at Zerevix to dodge the attack. But failing to do that wasn't a problem either." One, you played the power game against Zerevix. Two, you never negated my Lix hunter ability card." Scarecrow continued. He then took a breath in. Even a masked freak has to breathe." Fuse! Lix Ceaser fusion ability activate!" Scarecrow commanded.

Zerevix moves his hand, almost no patern to it at all. The red orb became a hardened spear." My Lix Ceaser will put the hurt on you fillet-O-moron!" Zerevix boasted. He then moved his hand down, beckoning the newly created weapon to fall at the rushing Megaladon. Zerevix crossed his arms after releasing the mighty spear." If that's all you got, Bryce really needs stronger teammates." He taunted. It didn't matter to Zerevix how mad Megaladon became. He was going to lose to Zerevix's strength.

Activated effects:
Lix Ceaser: change opponents atribute to subterra, gain 400g
Result:
Megaladon is now subterra atributed
Shark! Fight ability incomparable with subterra Megaladon
Megaladon once again in danger of bieng sent back
400g gained
Bakugan:
Zerevix: 1600g
Megaladon: 400g

( mod: forgot Lix Ceaser's second effect)

[Greil Saratoshi]

Greil laughed, "What mistake?" He asked as the spear came rushing towards Megalodon. Megalodon, instead of avoiding the attack, took it head on with his trident, deflecting the attack and knocking it to the ground. He roared as he displayed his superior strength over Zerevix. "What was that about playing the power game!? Don't underestimate me!"

Greil smirked with confidence as he began to explain his opponent's mistake. "You see," He explained to the Pyrus brawler, "You planned on changing Megalodon's attribute. However, not all bakugan are affected by an incompatibility in attribute. If the bakugan is strong enough, he'll use his effects regardless of attribute. In other words, our bakugan are at equal strength. Ability Activate! Dragged Down to the Depths!" The water level rose to eight feet as Megalodon fired a shot of blue enrgy from his trident. The energy shot into the water and created a massive tidal wave made out of an transparent goo-like plasma.

Since SHARK! Fight has any attribute, Megalodon is not affected by the effect. The score is 1200G to 1200G. Strike 1 for you.

Dragged Down to the Depths:Change an opponents ability card effect(s) to the effect(s) of any card in my bakupack. I get to use the effect(s). (My opponent still counts as using the card count and limited effect.) I pick Plasma Tidal Wave.

Plasma Tidal Wave: Prevent your opponent from activating Normal abilities. Transfer 400g each turn.

The CDS said: "Aquos Megalodon is at 1600G, Pyrus Zerevix is at 800G."

[Scarecrow]

Scarecrow shrugged at his partner. This was a basic move with no real strategy but to shut off his ability cards. Scarecrow found this a amusing ploy to defeat him." Kid, your ability means nothing to me. All it's doing is delaying Zerevix punching you so hard your face caves in." Scarecrow said with his tone changing to be slightly amused. This kid was getting more laughable every move he made. It's almost like he didn't even want Scarecrow to take him seriously." Gate card open! Gingrey firestorm." Scarecrow commanded. Like in his last confrontation, the power of his gate card nullified Megaladon's two abilities. It then begun to shoot up fireballs out of the ground itself." My gate negates your effects and adapts its second from a card registered in my CDS. Get ready for inferno red hierloom to stop your normal effects." Scarecrow explained. As he said that, a ball of red energy appeared in the middle of the gate, rushing after Megaladon at the end of the command.

Zerevix held one finger up and yawned." We are number one. They might as well crown us champions right here, right now." Zerevix boasted, making sure to emphasize the sheer power difference in the two bakugan." Now feel my fist ya seafood platter!" The pyrus bakugan exclaimed before rushing at Megaladon to deliver a powerful punch to the head.

Activated effects:
Gingery firestorm: negate opponents effects, use a effect in your bakupack
Inferno red hierloom ( effect used to do gate card): stop opponents from playing normal abilities
Result:
Megaladon's effects are negated.
Megaladon can't play normal abilities
Bakugan:
Zerevix: 1600g
Megaladon: 400g

[Greil Saratoshi]

"Gyahh!" Megalodon staggered as he was pelted with a barrage of fireballs shooting upwards from the Gate Card. He roared, irritated at his opponent in front of him. "Why, you little-" He slammed the handle end of his trident on the ground repeatedly, psyching himself up for Zerevix's next attack. Greil raised an eyebrow in anticipation as a ball of red energy from Scarecrow's Inferno Red Heirloom attack had appeared in the middle of the Gate Card. The bakugan was taunting, but Greil didn't care, he had this match in the bag.

"Ability Activate! Trident Storm!" Megalodon held his triden as one would hold a gun, with the pointed end directly facing Zerevix's Inferno Red Heirloom attack. The ball of energy rushed towards the Aquos bakugan, but was destroyed by three invisible, goo-like plasma bullets tendrils that lashed out at the ball of energy. The tendrils wrapped around the energy ball, crushing it and dissipating it completely. Megalodon's attention was then focused on Zerevix as he pointed his trident at the Pyrus bakugan. "Eat plasma, freak!" Shouted Megalodon as the tendrils reached for Zerevix.

Trident Plasma Shift: Switch the gate card on the field with one from yours or your team mates bakupack. Add 400G. (I can use all the effects of this card even if the opponent has prevented me from that type of effect.) Because I have the gate now, your last attack is invalid.

The CDS then said, "Aquos Megalodon is at 2000G, Pyrus Zerevix is at 800G."

[Scarecrow]

Scarecrow was uncaring for his opponent's attack. It was impressive, but futile nonetheless. His opponent had a very tactical array of tricks, but it had no substance against the sheer power of Zerevix. He laughed under his mask. He couldn't help himself, his opponent was trying so hard to take him down. But the shark and his boy would soon learn the follies of trying to defeat the true number one brawler.

"Heh. Impressive, you have an interesting arsenal. However," Scarerow clicked his tounge, "The game has just begun. I will win this fight beyond a shadow of a doubt, and you will get the chance to bathe in the light of my victory." Scarcrow yawned, he really wanted to save his serious attacks for the finals, but then again, this was the number two brawler. He really didn't have to hold back at all, "Ability Activate! Promethean Strong Arm!"

"Ahahahaha!" Zerevix guffawed as his right arm started to glow with red energy. The arm started to grow and become huge as he pulled the tendrils that grabbed him. The Pyrus bakugan easily broke free from the plasma tendrils, causing them to pull apart. He thrust his massive arm towards his opponent, hoping to crush the puny shark Bakugan with his fist. "Now!" Zerevix shouted, "Flatten like a pancake, fish legs!"

Activated effects:
Promethean Strong Arm: negate opponents effects and transfer 400g each turn.
Result:
Enemy effects negated
400G transfered
Bakugan:
Zerevix: 2000g
Megalodon: 0g

[Greil Saratoshi]

Greil grimaced, his opponent was much tougher than he had first anticipated. He had found a way to power through his strategies like they were nothing. He had to think of something fast, or he and Megalodon were toast. He bit his lip in fury. This match would not be his endpoint, not here, not yet. His eyes flashed blue as he activated his next attack. "Here we go, Megalodon! Don't hold back!"

"Special Ability Activate! Trident Strike!" Megalodon roared as he raised his trident at Zerevix's Promethean Strong Arm. A massive sound echoed through the stadium as the two collided. The shark-like bakugan managed to fend off the attack, pushing back the magma monster from his position and saving himself from being flattened. "Ability Activate!" Greil continued. "SHARK!"

Megalodon suddenly grew large. He reached for Zerevix hoping to crush him in his massive hands. "Who's the pancake now?" He bellowed.

Trident Strike: Negate/Reflect any effect(s) and transfer 400G each turn.

SHARK!: No matter the G power your bakugan gains the advantage. You may then loop 1 effect from your bakupack.

I loop Plasma Tsunami: Switch out the opponents bakugan with one of your choice from their bakupack at 100G. Loop an effect from your bakupack. I choose Fourtress.

The CDS said, "Aquos Megalodon is at 2400G, Pyrus Fourtress is at 100G."

[Scarecrow]

Scarecrow was impressed by the size of his opponent's bakugan. His opponent knew that he couldn't win by just a defensive strategy. he would have to turn the tables on him, but he wasn't going to let that happen. "Well," he said to Greil, "You've got quite the ability there. However, you should never play the power game with Zerevix and I. You were forewarned." Zerevix motioned for Megalodon to come and get him. "Come on!" he shouted with as much force as Megalodon had earlier, "Give me your best hit!"

"Special Ability Activate!" Scarecrow shouted. "Molten Freinder Cannon!" Zerevix charged up a massive ball of energy. The ball was released, sending a massive amount of energy towards the giant shark. The attack was slow, but massive making it almost impossible to miss. Scarecrow smirked under his mask, his eyes glowing red. If his opponent could beat this attack, then he would have to resort to that move. If not, then he would win. Either way, victory was assured.


Activated effects:
Molten friender cannon: reflect the opponents effects
Result:
Megaladon's effects are reflected
Bakugan:
Zerevix: 2400g
Megaladon: 0g

[Greil Saratoshi]

Greil grimaced and gritted his teeth. Once again, Scarecrow had deflected his attack like it was nothing. He couldn't believe it. Was this the true power of the number one contender for the championship? He shook his head. No, he had to get all doubts of his mind. Bryce would kick his rear end if he lost, wherever he was. The Aquos brawler let out a groan. He had absolutely no clue where Bryce had gone. He was worried that something might have happened to him. At the same time, he had to focus on this brawl, he had to win for the sake of the Krakkens.

"You're quite the brawler, Crow" He spoke to his opponent with his confidence returning, "However, this is where I draw the line. I won't let you get past me. I will win this brawl, and make it on to round three. With you out of the way, that championship is as good as mind. He held up his right hand in order to reveal a glowing blue ring. Megalodon was bathed in a transforming blue light as Greil shouted, "Evo-Gear Enhance! Hydro Striker X!"

Megalodon roared as he grew his two arms, extra tail and extra head. "Ready, brother?" The second head asked the first. "I'm always ready!" The first one replied. Megalodon charged at the ball as the second head opened his mouth. He inhaled as the massive ball of red energy was sucked into his mouth. "What a meal!" He shouted as the second head spit a very similar attack that was bathed in glowing blue plasma, at Zerevix.

Hydro Striker X: Negates all enemy effects. +400G.

The CDS said, "Aquos Megalodon is at 3200G, Pyrus Foutress is at 0G."

[Scarecrow]

Zerevix laughed heartily. "Hahaha!" He guffawed with much amusement. "Twice the heads equals twice the ugly! Not to mention twice the stupid." Scarecrow chuckled under his mask. His bakugan wasn't the brightest crayon in the box, but he sure knew how to make him smile. Good thing no one else was ever able to see it. It would kill his reputation.

He took a good look at Megalodon. The bakugan's mutation was quite the sight to behold. Scarecrow had never heard of an Evo-Gear that grants a bakugan the gift of another head. He wondered if that ever became weird after a while. It had to be.

Never mind that, he realized. It was time to focus on what was important at the moment: winning this brawl. He set up a trap for the Aquos brawler and his shark-like bakugan, and the trap had been sprung. They had not only reflected the attack, but enhanced the power of it tenfold, making it devastating if it hit. However, because it was so powerful, it would make his own counterattack that much more deadly.

He held up his right hand revealing his own ring. "Evo-Gear! Enhance! Shatter Hezig!" Zerevix transformed as the Support Weapon was activated. Gears and pipes appeared on his boy as he turned into a mechanical magma monster. "Alright ya fish-freak!" Zerevix shouted. "Go down!" he held out his hands and absorbed the attack. The magam seeped into his boy while the plasma leaked out of the pipes, separating itself from the energy. "Explode!" Scarecrow shouted as thousands of fireballs that shot out from all directions. They were all about half of the size of the energy blast from the Molten Friender Cannon attack and all of them were just as deadly.

Activated effects:
Shatter Hezig: negate the opponents effects
Result:
Megaladon's effects are negated
+400 to Zerevix
Bakugan:
Zerevix: 3200g
Megaladon: 0g

[Greil Saratoshi]

"Gyahh!" Megalodon shouted as he was hit with Shatter Hezig's explosion. Greil frowned as he saw his mistake. He hadn't been paying attention to the fact that Scarecrow hadn't used his Evo-Gear yet. He had used two abilities in a situation where he only had needed one, costing him the brawl. He slammed his fist into his palm. He had made such a rookie mistake. If only he could have been more focused. However, Bryce was still missing.

The Aquos brawler shook his head and smiled, his team captain was gonna kick his butt for this. Oh well, things could have been worse. As Megalodon returned to his hand and his ring lost its glow, Greil turned to look at Scarecrow. "You better win this, Scarecrow. I just gave you the tournament. If you don't win, you'll make both of us look bad." Greil gave him a thumbs up and walked towards the elevator that led him out of the arena.

Good Game.