Episode 20: The Mask Comes Off

[Noland Hardy]

Unknowingly being pursued by Vengeance due to the information he/she has that can spark war-like conflict with Earth and Vestal, Insidious fled to Earth with Hades to expose their plans. Krakix and Siege were right behind them both, and they were ready to take the Mechanical Bakugan over, regardless of who was stomped on their way to it.

The drama surrounding Noland's awakening had placed enough people on edge, especially Alex Andersen, who admittedly despised the bulk of the law enforcement. He was out on his own accord, having a lot to think about, but not enough time to think about how he was going to resolve those thoughts. 

[Alex Andersen]

Rhythm of bustling streets bathing in rays of sunlight were announcing a good and lively day. Sounds of cars rushing down the street, cheerful and loud voices of people enjoying their day or shopping around the mall and occasional slackers here and there running late to their jobs. Among all of them was a person whose appearance was mildly deviating from the rest. And his name was Alex Andersen, a member of Silver Knights and one of 5 legendary brawlers known as Mighty 5. Uncombed hair, winter-jacket with white fur on the jacket cap and thick pants that were clearly meant to be wore in the winter were all signatures in Alex's well-known appearance.
Young man was taking a stroll down the street to catch on some fresh air and enjoy the sunlight while it was still there and he was accompanied by a Bakugan orb colored in white and red colors.

Orb was giving a beautiful crimson shine from its red parts drawing looks from certain random people who were walking past them. Bakugan following Alex was clearly Dante, his Guardian.

Alex's facial expression was not the happiest one. It was more of a face of a 40-year old depressed businessman on sleeping pills. Dante was concerned about his brawler's health and thoughts that were drawing so much depression and darkness to his face.

"...Alex?" Dante quietly said once two of them found themselves near an empty parking lot in front of McDonalds. "..." However, Alex was not listening.

"You don't look very good. Have you been sleeping lately?" Dante tried once again, but just as the first time response was not coming from his brawler. That irritated Dante a bit, so he flew in front of his brawler charging right into his nose hitting him and waking him from his daydreaming.

"Hey, what was that for?!" Alex shouted angrily at his partner for surprising him like that out of nowhere. "I was checking your pulse, living deadman." Dante sarcastically replied referring to Alex's state moments ago.

Alex put his hand on his nose to ease the pain Dante gave him. "Geez...calm down. I'm alright. Just.." He said and yawned after what he wiped his eyes a bit to continue speaking again. "...thinking about things, that's all."

His answer and the way he put it gave Dante more things to be concerned about. "So that answers my question about sleeping, doesn't it?" The way Alex was acting was not his usual self. From a composed and relaxed person he seemed to be like a complete opposite now giving hints to Dante there were things going on, but certainly not well.

"As I said, I'm perfectly fine." Alex repeated skipping Dante's question again.
"Yes, you are...perfectly tired." Dante added to his brawler's sentence forcing Alex to come up with better excuses for his slight. "Alright alright, lay off!" Alex impatiently answered to Dante walking up to a phone booth and leaning against it with his back putting his hands behind the head and crossing his legs in relaxed manner.

He then continued their conversation. "Tiredness is just a part of a job. Honestly, this is the first time I feel the job getting best of me. It's the first time I'm feeling tired in years." Alex said admitting he was feeling tired. "Also, this is the first time working on two lines at the same time. First Washington and now here, too. With Washington bustling with Chrono Elite I say it is a dumb thing for a Mighty 5 'Frontal Weapon' to be sent here. I mean, with Resistors here, I practically have nothing to do. There were lots of things happen lately, though. Constant transfers; Washington, here, Washington, here..." Dante understood that situation since it was not that different from his, but at least he got many chances to rest and relax which was a luxury Alex could afford.

Dante added up to the conversation. "I understand. Declaration of war, swarms of terrorists, then a relic in No Man's Land...finding out that Pack was still alive, Noland Hardy being a Gundalian, being on maniac doctor's list...Lots of things have happened..."

"What worries me is not Master Blaze or his little brother, but people...Murder, if it should be an option, should be the last option...and they go straight ahead to kill four people because they 'assumed' those people were infected...or because those kids are Gundalians. Just another way to satisfy their racist needs without being punished for it..." Alex complained impatiently closing his eyes for a moment and diving back to his thoughts as before, but Dante now went to speak.

He landed on Alex's head resting comfortably and continued to speak what he intended to. "Is this why you joined Silver Knights? To run away from this crazed society?"

"Which time is it you're asking me this?" Alex replied with continued impatience. "I joined Silver Knights to make a change...a difference. And also...to learn more about myself...As far as I know I might be a Gundalian like Master Blaze...or a human...or even a descendant of Advent."

Alex and Dante entered some fiery discussion about recent events happening to them. Topics like Silver Knights, laws, Chrono Elite, their past were coming one after another and breaking silence of the empty parking lot. There was still no one around and sun was shining strong heating up the area around them thanks to the blacks surface. Suddenly, Alex's words were interrupted by light and quick steps approaching him right from the front.

[Lydia Andersen]

Steps coming towards young Knight stopped suddenly.
"Overthinking as usual, I see." A mild female voice broke the conversation of the young Knight and his Bakugan in a sarcastic manner. Two of them could not notice anyone coming before young woman came right in front of their noses and made a comment about their conversation. As Alex opened his eyes and Dante turned left they noticed it was Alex's younger sister, Lydia. Expecting her to appear in the public while there was still sun shining on the sky was like expecting Donald Trump to make America great again. In other words, chances were quite low under any circumstance (unless vending machine with Snickers suddenly disappeared from her workplace).

As usual, she was wearing white buttoned shirt with long sleeves and a black dress. Purple was her signature color, but even she recognized it a little bit unusual to wear around people so she limited herself to purple glasses with purple hexagonal lens and white long boots with purple shoelaces and a purple laptop. In a way, she was like Alex when it came to being an odd one in public. Certainly, no one wore that kind of clothes around, but it was a style she did not mind and that was, more importantly, recommended to her by a very good friend.

Aside from that, she interrupted Alex's conversation with Dante and decided to join in. Dante was not the only one who noticed that Alex started spacing out more and more recently. However, Lydia knew it was from his usual overthinking about how he should be solving world's problems and that it brought a lot of burden on his back and depression in his daily behavior. That was why she came all the way there from her work post; to try and cheer him up a bit.

"You know, overthinking is bad for your health. Go on like that and you'll have to see a doctor." She said in a gloomy tone referring to Alex's behavior.

"And yes, I take cash only." She added smiling at Alex trying to cheer him up a little.

While she was talking a Bakugan orb of weird color and textures appeared right behind her producing two different colors with its glow. Upper side of the Bakugan orb was white with pretty golden ornaments that were giving an impression of angel's wings and these ornaments were source of the golden glow. Side below was completely black with a few purple ornaments with impressions of devil's wings and were producing an intimidating purple glow.
Suddenly, orb spun in the air letting the dark half take the upper position.

"And what's all that jabbering 'bout the hard work? This job ain't so hard ya know." Devilin, Bakugan from the dark part of the orb, added once she was put in control of the orb. Intended mockery against Dante.

"Oh-ho...Yes, I overheard you didn't sleep. Insomnia is another good reason to visit a doctor." Lydia rose her hand up like she was trying to say 'pick me'.

She was particularly happy considering how many things happened that and the past week. Things she heard and saw were definitely discouraging for her, but she seemed quite happy now for some reason and was doing her best to make a joke to cheer Alex up. Since a few incidents in Washington she became depressed and Alex seemed fine, but now as if those roles were switched for some reason.

[Alex Andersen]

"Huh...?!" Alex gasped there looking at Lydia in surprise.
Dante's reaction was not that different. They were both fairly surprised that Lydia went outside while sun was still shining. In Alex's eyes that might be a good thing.
However, her jokes annoyed him a little bit in a certain way.

"Except for taking pudding, energy bars, juice cans, chicken nuggets and corn flakes from my fridge...every single day...and leaving it empty... You now aim to empty my wallet? I should be the one getting money." Alex complained quietly to Lydia making it unclear whether he was replying with a joke to what she said or if he was really serious about what he was saying. "If I only knew how she keeps getting into my apartment." He also thought to himself, but not out of annoyance as much as from sheer curiosity.
"Yes, an easy job...To fight like a dog and get opinions from those who watch. Thank you very much." Dante replied to Devillin in annoyance at her comment, but that was obviously what devil Bakugan intended in the first place.

"Overthinking, sleeping...how about not eavesdropping next time...?" And yes, Alex was aware that his sister was fond of eavesdropping on things; not because she is interested in those things, but because she is fond of using her hearing which she might have stole from Superman somehow.

"You are being too careless. It is not like I am worrying for nothing. Things are happening. I have to be watching over you, on top of that. Not an easy job since you disappear every 5 seconds...which can't be said for your appetite." Alex complained once again about his sister's carelessness. Her amazing sense of hearing was kind of a weakness to her; she would easily get careless putting her trust into that ability of hers and other abilities she was not very fond of revealing.

Alex finally sighed letting all those things regarding Chrono Elite and Gundalian incident back in the 'watch later' box and actually asked what he wanted to. "Anyway...weren't you working on that 'Gundalian cure' and 'Dark Hole Phenomenon'? Why are you out here?"

[Lydia Andersen]

In a blink of an eye Lydia's right hand grabbed Alex's left ear pulling it with inhuman strength. That unbearable pain spread from his ear into his entire body as Lydia was not letting go. That was one of her secrets; despite Alex being more masterful in his inner strength Lydia's outer strength and physical abilities were way out of Alex's league. "You're rude....you're not supposed to be rude, Alex. That's not nice. I'm trying to be a good sister here." Lydia said in a very mild and sad tone not to show her sadness towards Alex's replies, but to have more fun with his slow brain when it came to jokes.

"Someone is getting the love he deserves, hehehehe." Devillin laughed in the nearby spinning left and right, up and down of all that amusement. However, her orb spun once again with the white side being upper one. Now, a new Bakugan was in control of the orb. Angelight.

"You said you were supposed to show him something, did you not, child?" Angelight mildly inquired Lydia who was having way too much fun with torturing Alex.

Lydia was reminded she forgot that except for coming to have fun with Alex she also had important information to share with him. She then proceeded to sit on a wall next to the parking lot, but instead of letting Alex follow her she pulled him by his tortured ear all the way to the wall and once she sat she practically tossed him against the wall. She let go of him and immediately changed her happy mood to a more serious one.

She turned her laptop on and input password. "It will take some time for it to open. As for your question I tried to prioritize 'Gundalian virus', but I couldn't. Judging by the 'Dark Hole Phenomenon' a genocide might occur on any location where it appears. I had to prioritize that problem in my research. I also added Daniel's problem, but I think that might be out my area of expertise." Lydia replied to Alex's inquiry if she was working on two main issues that were present in the world at that moment. "I have to rest every once in a while." She also added referring to the question related to her appearance in the middle of the day.

*ring* *ring*

Laptop let out bell alarm signalizing that the process Lydia was referring to earlier was finished. She opened a file then. "Our biggest issue might not be any of those 3 at the moment. Remember, those names and files you caught on camera. I was able to to translate and analyze most of them." Lydia added in tone that seemed somewhat disappointed and sad. It was probably due to what happened a week earlier when Alex and Daniel raided one lab in control of a madman doctor and found some things that were highly unpleasant for all of them.

"Take a look." She said turning her laptop towards Alex, so he could get a better view.

[Alex Andersen]

Before Alex could look into that laptop he had to bring his ear back from the dead after Lydia gave it a good grip and turned it into a pancake of pain. "This is exactly why they gave her that title, She-Devil." Alex thought to himself while his ear was beating ten times stronger than his heart could. "I don't want to know what she would do if I pissed her off. Ouch..."

Once he calmed down a little he gazed at the screen of her laptop to read what it said. Originally, most files he caught on camera and sent her were in Japanese, Russian and Croatian despite most of them probably being done by one man. Files Alex got time to read back when raiding the laboratory were lists of people among which he found himself, Lydia, Daniel and even three Resistors; Noland Hardy, Alana Cortese and Allen Silva. However, it seemed that Lydia did not only have a full list there, but also all information about what that list was about.
Alex started reading the info.


"Traqdrach project 1.0"
"Black Storm Project"
"White Raven Project"

These three were listed and Alex went to read all of them one by one.

"Traqdrach project 1.0."
"Three forms of powers lie in the bond between Bakugans and their owners. First power is known as 'First Treasury' and it is used to refer to the raw power of Bakugan. Second power or 'Second Treasury' is a term used to refer to the force owner of the Bakugan emits. In other words it can simply be called 'brawling skills.' Third and most important power in the bond is also known as 'Third Treasury' which increases or decreases effectiveness of Bakugan and its owner depending on their flow of thoughts of emotions. Any sort of strong emotion, regardless if positive or negative emotion, results in large increase of Bakugan's battle power and depending on how strong that emotion is it might trigger Evolution process or Transformation (Side-Evolution) process..."

Upon reading the part about Transformation Alex stopped there for a second. "So, that is what happened to Dragonoid...dark emotions correlate with dark powers"

"...What Traqdrach project is aiming to achieve a new sort of power. Fourth power. 'Fourth Treasury' or, as some call it, 'Force Genesis'. In order to achieve 'Fourth Treasury' owner's emotions are required to constantly remain at their climax, regardless if positive or negative. If emotions are constantly at their climax Bakugan's power and abilities are at their climax as well. However, many issues with this theory have been experienced. First issue was that there was no human that could keep an 'affect' active for a long time. Second issue was the matter of control; if there was a human with a long 'affect' we did not have any human like that in our army. Taking control of another human outside of Chrono Elite would be a good solution, but no human could ever reach a climax of emotions when put under brain-control and therefore Bakugan could not reach climax in his power either..."

"Don't tell me..." Alex began whispering as he continued reading.

"...In order to remove these two issues 'Traqdrach Project' was brought into action. With our latest discovery, Dominus, we have found a way to eliminate both issues at once. It was a machine that could stimulate an emotion or an affect continuously inside brawler's brain and even cause emotions and affects to be constantly at their climax while machine was active. Another function of this machine is that it links Bakugan and its owner by what we call 'Dominus Link'. Function of this link is to force master's emotions and orders on its Bakugan. Since we control the master and his emotions we also control Bakugan and its emotions. Due to constant climax of emotions Bakugan's power drastically rises and becomes destructive. However, there is one flaw we could not fix and we probably will not be able to. Unless brawler and Bakugan do not have an emotional bond it is impossible for this program to work and if one of them dies link will cause immediate death of other one as well. However, we do not think that is a problem; if one dies other one becomes useless anyway. Last function of this machine is that it feeds on emotions..."

"There are no more pages about this. I guess I couldn't get all of it with camera. Damn it. I need more information. Why would a machine need to feed on emotions...?" Alex complained and then looked at the next page where list of targets for this project was. Once he saw the full list chills ran down his spine.

"Priorities for the project were listed from the top priority to the lowest priority."

"Ma'rian Skymt [No Data]. Sion Lux [No Data]. Maria Zenovia [No Data]. Daniel Andersen [Data Available]. Alexander Andersen [No Data]. Lydia Andersen [Data Available]...."

When Alex started reading the seventh name chills ran through his spine once again.

"...Vince Hardy [Data Available]. Noland Hardy [In progress...]. Alana Cortese [In progress...]. Allen Silva [In progress...]..." Names continued to list there, but Alex was stopped with reading. He had to think about what he saw and what he saw was horrible.

"Maria Zenovia...Vince Hardy...but why?!" He inquired in shock.

"Vince Hardy was sent to the Doom Dimension long time ago. Since then his life signs and signals from the gauntlet were unavailable. This list was made...2 weeks ago. Doesn't Kyuki know Vince is gone...? And why is he aiming for our Admiral and not for Marshal? How is Admiral involved in all this?" Alex inquired once again in shock while looking at the list and making sure he read it correctly and that 'Vince' and 'Maria' were really there in the list.

Dante was looking at those three Resistor names with higher concern that Alex had for Maria and Vince. "What does it mean 'In progress'?"

[Lydia Andersen]

Lydia had that saddened and depressed look again. It appeared that not even she knew what exactly all those things meant, but things she was able to understand saddened her even more. Meaning behind all those researches professor Kyuki did was still in shadows. Was a brilliant person like that only a power-hungry lunatic the entire time?

"In progress...I'm afraid that all theories about that end the same." Lydia was not happy at all when looking at those three markers put on Noland, Alana and Allen. Seeing Vince in the list was disturbing for her. Knowing what happened to her parents she knew the same could happen to Vince. "Did you understand what he wanted with this 'Traqdrach project'?"

"It is forcing brawlers to obey all his commands and simultaneously stimulating their brain into a climax of emotions. With Dominus Link all those emotions and control affect brawler's Bakugan as well. Example of that would be if he captured you and Dante. He could control Dante through you and even use Valiant Strive against your will. Normally, it is impossible to activate Valiant Strive without your free will. However, this way..." Lydia explained.

She then changed the topic to Noland's true nature of a Gundalian. "I think Noland might suffer the greatest here. This list was created before Noland showed that he was a Gundalian. Kyuki did not know about it before, I assume. He probably knows already..."

*ring* *ring* Her laptop gave a sign. Email came to Lydia.

"...he must be delighted. That vile human..."

"And this society...it is not helping us at the very least."

"What do you make out of this?" Lydia inquired Alex.

[Alex Andersen]

"Not much. I have already talked with Dante about it." Alex replied.

"Master Blaze is a Gundalian. That gives all criminals an advantage since Gundalians are also a natural enemy of the government. Government itself made this possible..." Alex felt like there was nothing more that should be read from those files and stood up to lean against the phone booth once again with his arms behind his head. "They marked Gundalian as a threat. Then they attacked a Gundalian who had no intention of posing a threat. Naturally, he strikes back like any normal person. And they recognize it as a mark of hostility. And people just blindly step on government's side." He complained about that situation to Dante moments before Lydia arrived. Surprisingly, he had to give his opinion considering Lydia was eavesdropping the entire time.

Dante continued to stroll around Alex in circles out of boredom. He was interested in the topic, but it was obvious Alex and Lydia were just going to repeat same things from before for the rest of that conversation. He simply landed back on Alex's head and waited.

"Anyway, I'll try to do something about it. For instance keeping the government away from Master Blaze as long as possible. I can't trust them anymore."

"Not that I ever trusted them..." He thought to himself.

Alex sure got tired of that conversation really fast considering how physically tired he already was and top of his day would be to sleep for a few hours. Still, he had to be awake and around that area for the next 2 hours because of Admiral's orders.

"I can't help, but notice that you didn't already raid my fridge." Alex joked about Lydia's inappropriate habit of breaking in his apartment in some unknown way ad stealing all food from his fridge.

[Lydia Andersen]

"I don't trust them either..." Lydia replied.

"Not that I trusted them in the first place." She thought to herself.

Just as Alex, she felt really sorry for Noland for what happened to him. Since he got his Bakugan he fought against evil; he fought to protect lives. And then he was forced to become what he was fighting against all those years. It was a very sad thing from Lydia's perspective, but from Noland's personal perspective it was certainly an event that would eternally leave a scar in his heart; a huge sadness and depression. Dark thoughts.

"We both will do our parts." She happily exclaimed. Alex was the one who could fight. She was the one that could find a permanent solution and prevent government from killing Gundalians.

... ... Ten minutes have passed with two of them being silent and thinking ... ...

Since Lydia could not overthink things as much as Alex could she easily ended her brainstorming with an angry comment about Alex's joke earlier that she tried to ignore. The thing was, she couldn't ignore it, so their serious conversation again became a war between their lifestyles.

"Are you implying I'm eating too much?? That I'm fat?!" She then hit Alex's forehead with her index finger, but thanks to her lovely trait of being as strong as a train Alex nearly fell down on the ground from it. "Aside from that, I am a little hungry now. I will be on my way and...in case your fridge is empty when you come back...That isn't necessarily me..." She quickly changed her mood switching to sarcasm and jokes. Knowing her she was probably not joking about his food's next disappearance.

She sighed once again and turned her back to Alex and Dante walking away slowly and waving them a goodbye. Her Bakugan switched back to the dark side and quickly followed her leaving a purple glowing trail behind. Sunlight has withdrawn unexpectedly fast behind swarms of black clouds coming from every direction. That entire day was supposed to be sunny, but it seemed mother nature had other plans...or was it really mother nature? Lydia quickly looked at the sky with suspicion in her eyes as her observed a weird cloud formation. "Something is coming...ominous scent in the air...What are you?" Lydia quietly said upon smelling the air around her and then calmed down to catch any suspicious sounds passing by. She was relying on her enhanced senses to help her locate whatever that source of ominous energy way.

[Insidious]

Right around the time Lydia became wary of her surroundings was when a dimensional portal opened right above their heads. Hades came flying out of it along with its new master: the masked guy that every Vestal hates. He/she looked at his/her surroundings to get a feel of where they were at and where they needed to go to get where they needed to be. The reactions of the people looking at him/her were priceless.

"What? You haven't seen a machine before?" He/she then thought about Xavier and his head scientist making fun of him. "Oh...it's the mask. Well, fuck all of you then."

Krakix and Siege appeared behind them as the dimension gate was closing. Due to the Hurranian influence, Krakix didn't care that he would be stomping on the roads, crushing any vehicle under his feet; he landed there anyway, which relieved him of having to carry Siege the whole way.

"Right. Can you all be good citizens and clean up my baggage?" Hades took off once again in the general direction to "No Man's Land." "Thanks in advance. Now, if you die, it's your fault. I'm passing on the responsibility. Bye now."

Krakix and Siege didn't want him/her to leave. Siege summoned a large tidal wave inside the city, hoping to catch that mechanical Bakugan with its surging strength.

[Alex Andersen]

It was an unexpected and rather surprising view to see a masked freak pop up like a shooting star out of nowhere and then start wreaking havoc all over the street with some pile of metal junk that awfully resembled a Bakugan from Hydranoid race; Alpha Hydranoid. As that was not enough that pile of mechanic garbage was being followed by two Bakugans; one certainly a warrior-class while the other one was clearly of Siege race. As it seemed they were trying to capture large mechanical Hydranoid, but could not pick up enough speed to do so.

Alex could not realize what was going on as everything happened so quickly, but three large Bakugans rushing through the streets so carelessly was certainly a recipe for disaster and Alex was sent there exactly to stop such things from happening. Even though he did not expect anyone to be such an idiot to rush through the city with a mass of Bakugans and expecting not to be stopped it was happening right before his eyes. "...Give me a break." Alex said silently to himself and Dante's Bakugan Orb soared in the air before flashing in white and red colors continuously.

After an explosion of two colors Dante's monster form was finally released and the first thing he pointed his lance at was that nasty attack Siege Bakugan was using. "Shatter!" Dante shouted as white static started to form on the bottom of his lance concentrating on the tip of the lance. Concentration of Clear-Attribute energy created a mass of electricity on the tip of the lance and that mass charged into Siege's attack in form of a shooting star. Attack soared through the street and reached the impact point causing a nullification of Siege's ability.

Dante quickly picked Alex up and put him on his shoulder. Then Alex turned to astonished Lydia shouting at her. "Hey! I'm taking the tin can! Keep those two in control until reinforcements arrive! And don't you dare die!" Upon saying that Dante charged into Hades.

Despite Dante's great speed that mechanical Bakugan sure had a huge speed of its own. Dante could catch up to it with a little more effort, but getting close to that thing was not sort of a goal considering how fast and aggressive it looked. Better plan would be dealing with it from the long range. "This is your first and last warning. Cease your movements at once!" Dante shouted at the mechanical Bakugan and masked lunatic.

[Insidious]

"Ah. Spoken like a true goon. You rehearsed that one pretty well, whoever you are. Great job."

The flight was going rather well without Krakix and Siege bothering Hades, and the masked person WAS enjoying the ease of tension. All of that was completely eliminated when a knight Bakugan was pursuing them. He/she thought the threat was meaningless as Hades definitely wasn't stopping. He/she entertained what was said anyway. It was better than nothing, at least from the opposite side from his/her perspective.

"I don't feel like stopping yet, so no, I won't cease my movement," he/she responded, not even bothering to look back at his/her pursuer. "Maybe I'll think about it when I land, but even that's going to be a stretch. Looks like you'll have to try something else. That didn't really work."

Hades continued on its way without paying Dante any attention. All they were going to get was the smoke coming from its thrusters. This went uncontested for a few seconds since they were close to "No Man's Land" before their chasers caught up to them. Hades began the landing sequence around the center of "No Man's Land," a few yards from the teleporter. He/she hopped off of the machine to look around, seeing all of the scars from the past battle that haven't disappeared yet. "Now this is what'll get me to stop." He/she looked at Alex and Dante approaching them. "You see that? Oh. You must have seen that. You were there for that, right?"

[Alex Andersen]

Dante soared right above the mechanical Bakugan and was supposed to land in front of it, but before doing that he turned towards the Bakugan while still in mid-air. "Dux Restrict!" Alex said silently. He took a white card from his pocket and inserted it inside the gauntlet triggering Dante's immediate attack.

Dante pointed his lance towards mechanical Bakugan concentrating white mass of energy on the tip of the lance and then releasing it all at once at the Bakugan. Blinding light from the attack was formed like an arrow as it headed towards Hades hitting it in the middle head. Arrow released waves of energy followed by continuous bursts and explosions on Bakugan's upper body parts. Finally, last explosion triggered the last effect which released massive chains purposely decorated with long thorns. Chains were practically transparent and were glowing in white from the inside. They quickly seized large mechanical dragon; its body, legs, tails and heads. Thorns coming from chains were making sure that every movement that thing made while escaping would end in additional damage.

Once it was restrained Dante finally landed about 70 meters away from mechanical Bakugan and the freak. After looking closely at the two Dante had to comment. "Aren't you going to say 'trick or treat'? Or offer us some candy to enter your black van, hmm?" Dante inquired probably because of the person's appearance and behavior.

Alex jumped off Dante's shoulder and landed near his right leg. Then he observed his opponent and large mechanical Bakugan, but it did not seem he was going to give himself a bonus activity of commenting the guy's mask. Probably because no matter how he struggled he could not give a damn about it. "What's your story?" Alex coldly inquired while looking at the person.

[Insidious]

It turns out Xavier wasn't exaggerating the effectiveness of the metal exoskeleton. There wasn't a single scratch on its design. That was simply too useful to be real. It was astonishing, but, most importantly, terrible for the enemy. Hades did hiss at Dante though. The constriction must have been very annoying.

"My story? I'll give you the version usually reserved to people who should be minding their own business," he/she said. "I'm a being in a mask who killed lots of people on Vestal and am on my way to the CIA so they can decide how to tell the rest of the people on this backwater planet how stupid they are. The only problem with that is you getting in my way."

He/she booted up a BakuMeter, also stolen off of the Vestals. "Ability activate! Inhibitor Release!" What this technique is designed to do is have Hades adapt to changing conditions. What this means is that anything impeding it from fighting at full potential can be overcome through modifications to its ever-changing data on the situation. Hades's ball form performed a cyclone spin, translating to Hades doing one standing up, eliminating the hold Dante had over it. The card is also designed to never allow the same limitation to restrict Hades again.

"Is there something else you'd like to do? You're wasting enough of my time already, and my patience is running out."

[Alex Andersen]

Mechanical dragon easily nullified one of Dante's abilities usually used to catch criminals that were trying their luck with running from him indicating that this one was not intending to go and run away and that it definitely did not mind being impaled with countless metal thorns. However, it was worth to try and test the strength of that piece of garbage before going into any direct action.

"Hmm...Interesting...Defenses of this tin can might be comparable to that of Iron Juggernaut's Gorem. However, this thing doesn't feel pain, apparently." Dante said to Alex commenting on how easily mechanical Bakugan was capable of escaping the Dux Restrict; thing was even bothered that thousands of metallic spikes were pointed at its body at the time. That indicated that it did not feel pain.

Alex then took another white card from his pocket. Gauntlet opened and he placed an ability card inside it. Once that was done ability was triggered and gauntlet glowed in white color. "Absolute Lance!" Alex said the name of that ability simultaneously activating it.
Dante's lance started producing powerful blue static and it was all coming together at the tip of the lance; Dante's typical types of attacks were to charge his lance and fire short-to-medium-ranged attacks that were mostly guided.  However, he was not trying to use his powerful attack just yet.
Once a mass of blue lightning bolts forming a hank gathered at the tip of the lance Dante pointed it at Hades releasing it in a form of shooting star that had blinding light coming from it, but was too fast to be avoided by a Bakugan of that mass.

Once that attack made contact multiple bursts of twisted blue Haos energy started appearing all over mechanical Bakugan's body clinging to its material for some reason. Dante was known for some of his attacks bearing nasty after-effects like types of twisted Attributes (blue Haos, black Pyrus for example) that were reacting to different types of elements. Blue Haos energy was the one reacting with metals and since this Bakugan was made of that made it easy for after-effects to cling on it. Thing with these after-effects was that they would produce energy bursts of a certain Attribute and then energy released from those bursts would react with the element (e.g. metallic surface) and re-produce those bursts. In simpler words, it makes bursts repeat themselves infinitely until either there is nothing left of that metal or until opponent nullifies it in some way. Simply healing or repairing itself would not do any good since bursts would not stop even after that.

Bursts continuously repeated on this Bakugan's surface. It looked like the midnight in New Year and it was not stopping. Bursts were repeating themselves and doing continuous damage against the Bakugan.

"You are losing patience? Too bad...because we have plenty. It is not an ideal afternoon to spend it like this, but life is not fair. Bear with it." Dante said commenting on person's statement that they were losing patience with those two.

"Hmm...Why is he so set on entering deeper in this area? Might there still be something worth here? Maybe Pack's remaining parts...or some devices from Nero's facility...Maybe it would be a good idea to destroy the building..." Alex thought to himself for a few seconds, but brought his mind back on the battlefield.  Thinking about that was pointless during a fight.