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Post by Markus Hederick on Aug 29, 2016 23:36:48 GMT -5
Markus was overly impressed with how Alana was handling Excedra in his true form. Karen's arrival was certainly problematic, but he didn't comment in fear of throwing Alana off of her game. He wouldn't want her constantly reminding him of who is in control if she was present during his battle, so he gave Alana the same courtesy. In an ideal scenario, he'd act as the pillar, but even the support doesn't last too long if the opposing force is so powerful and manipulative that it wouldn't matter either way.
As soon as Hydranoid started speaking his piece though, Markus had to add his opinion in for once before it was too late. "I couldn't possibly imagine how much this hurts you, but I think I may be able to understand how you feel. You're fully in tune with your identity, but your actions aren't aligning with what you feel. I get that. Someone really close to me was used and abused because of my negligence, and all I could do was watch and run away afterward because I was powerless. I couldn't help her, and when I apologized to her when I saw her again, she didn't remember what I thought; she remembered what I DID."
Markus looked at Gargulion briefly and recounted how he finished the remainder of the battle between himself and Excedra and what that meant for him personally. "That's why I couldn't escape from this menace even though I knew he activated something that flipped the switch. We're meant to mess up so we can learn. If you can't stop yourself from repeating those things, then maybe you're right about what could've happened to you before. I know that isn't the case though, because I've heard and seen great things from and about you, and I know you know that. You have the ability to make things right, but it starts with where your heart is placed. Excedra and Karen can't change that; it's on you and you only."
When Alana's life gauge meter effectively broke from the amount of damage inflicted on Hydranoid, he knew they were in an extreme situation on the grounds that Hydranoid was killed in this battle. They'd at least have Apollonir to dig them out, but what's the point if Hydranoid and Gargulion are down for good?
"You...you disgust me..." he stuttered.
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Post by Karen Valentine on Aug 30, 2016 15:00:52 GMT -5
Karen laughed at the site of it all. It made her feel alive again in a way. Simply saying that she missed this feeling battling gave her wouldn't be enough.
"Oh, Markus, haven't I always gotten on your nerves? It's nothing new. You should be used to it by now. You bothered me with how much you tilted during the regular season, so we're even now. I'd figure you would be thankful for me not killing your Bakugan yet, but since Hydranoid has kicked the bucket, I guess I can make room for that now. Excedra?"
"He's not dead..." Excedra noticed, which was a tremendous surprise to him that he could still sense Hydranoid's being despite what he just used.
"Her life gauge is on zero..." Karen checked her BrawlX to reference the life gauge amounts and she could confirm that Alana was on zero, so how was Hydranoid still alive according to Excedra? "Hey! What's going on over there? You should be dead!"
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Post by Alana Cortese on Aug 30, 2016 15:25:35 GMT -5
On Alana's side of the field, there was still a bodily obstruction in the way of Final Wizard, something that continued to resist Excedra's unequaled power. Even if Alana lost all of her life gauge points, she still had an ability activated, and she wasn't planning on letting that arbitrary number stop her from winning.
"That sounds like it could be bad for you," Alana answered. The brawling screen was updated on the BrawlX to show Hydranoid devolved into his previous form: Dual Hydranoid.
"I don't see the problem here. You told me to be careful, so you shouldn't be surprised that you still couldn't kill me with a Bakugan stronger than I am," Hydranoid added. His body was still taking the full force of the blast, but it was holding up through the unlocked technique that they deployed.
"It's called Final Survival Shield, my ultimate ability. When my life gauge hits zero, or if Hydranoid is in danger of being killed, we can stay in the fight by temporarily reducing the number of heads he has. The amount he had originally will be our lifeline." Knowing that Hydranoid could only afford to be killed two more times before she automatically loses the brawl, Alana had to act quickly and efficiently before Excedra could get that chance. "I think your genetic ability is your worst enemy. You think that getting stronger from negative energy makes you qualified to act any way you want to and not have to feel responsible for it. You've apparently forgotten who you're dealing with. My name isn't Karen Valentine. I am Alana Cortese, the one who's not only going to say she's going to do better by everyone, but she's going to DO it as well."
Hydranoid locked on to two separate targets before Alana played her ability: one was Excedra and the other was Gargulion. "Ability activate! Dual Gazer!" Hydranoid projected two individual blasts. He shot one at Excedra's jaw to deal serious damage, and he shot one at Gargulion to destroy his body. Once Gargulion was released, his spirit form emerged.
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Post by Markus Hederick on Aug 30, 2016 15:36:55 GMT -5
This would mark the first time Markus has seen anyone capable of continuing the brawl when their life gauge has been depleted. It seems that Alana had realized her personal potential as well and that she was going to prove to everyone that who she was before - cleverly placed in the form of Karen - wasn't going to be who she was seen as. She wanted to do what Alana does best, and that would easily be how she was before Barodius appeared: being there for who she cares for the most. Markus could only smile that things were turning around for them in both the battle and their lives.
"Why didn't anyone do that earlier?" Gargulion wasn't very happy that it took that long for him to be released, and it was quite understandable. "And you better not give the plot as an excuse."
"I don't think it was very possible to do without placing themselves at risk. There's a Bakugan across from us that can steal power better than you and Hydranoid. I'm actually glad we weren't the distraction," Markus said to make sense of what happened. "The important thing is we're still alive, and I don't intend to give this one a free pass just because we took something away from this fight; that's what's supposed to happen anyway. Believe this. Excedra's going to be the one to learn something today, and it's called respect."
Being unable to reform his body while he recuperated from the power drain, Gargulion floated above Hydranoid as they prepared to engage Excedra for what could be the last time.
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Post by Karen Valentine on Aug 30, 2016 19:45:49 GMT -5
Excedra's Final Wizard was stopped for the second time. He hissed very loudly because of the amount of pain he had to endure from being shot directly like that. He emptied the smoke from his mouth and saw that Gargulion has returned to battle.
"I commend you for being the second Bakugan to survive my Final Wizard and for thwarting both of my high-powered abilities. I'm very impressed with how you've developed in this battle, but now we shall see if your newfound powers will be enough to put me down. Let's get to it."
"Hmmm. I can see how that's useful for other opponents, but this is Excedra. You'll be destroyed in one or two hits at your evolution, but I guess I should expect a trick somewhere down the line. That's what you Resistors do." Karen swiped an ability card to trigger round three, figuratively speaking. "Ability activate! Deity Wizard!"
An upgraded version of Nebulous Hammer, Deity Wizard was like a personal summon. Out of the dark storm clouds came a giant fist composed entirely of smoke. This was really Excedra's energy in a personified form, but it was better to think of it as help. It converted itself into numerous pillars as it aimed to split both Hydranoid and Gargulion open.
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Post by Markus Hederick on Aug 30, 2016 20:21:05 GMT -5
Rather than have Alana work herself over in this somewhat dire situation, Markus took command of impeding Excedra enough to where Hydranoid can take him down safely. Plus, he had new abilities he wanted to try out too.
"You fought alongside the best. It's to be expected," Markus said, complimenting himself and the rest of the Resistors as a whole - mostly himself. "Ability activate! Spirit Slash!" Gargulion projected a smaller orb - much like himself in appearance - and had it revolve around him. It increased in speed as it moved, then it dispersed, creating a violent energy wave in the form of a greatsword's slash. This sliced all of Excedra's constructs, but they regenerated.
Markus's life gauge: 450
"These new abilities are so strong that they'll dock my life gauge with each use. This isn't good, especially if it didn't do what I wanted it to do," Markus noticed.
"By the way...if that touches you, then goodbye," Gargulion warned. He could feel the power surging through the monstrosity Excedra concocted. It was definitely something they didn't want to be hit by.
"Noted. Ability activate! Spirit Walker!"
"Markus's life gauge: 400
Gargulion's figure shifted to a lean, spectral humanoid. He warped inside of Hydranoid's body to bestow some of his abilities to him. He wasn't forming a BakuFusion; Hydranoid was being transported, and so was Gargulion by extension.
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Post by Alana Cortese on Aug 30, 2016 20:29:16 GMT -5
Hydranoid felt a weird pulse of energy through his body when Gargulion made that move. It didn't feel right at all, and he made sure Gargulion knew it too.
"This is becoming an annoying habit of yours, Gargulion. As long as this works, I won't complain, but stick to your own body next time. Please..." What Hydranoid didn't realize was that this ability was very different from his Fusion Gargoyle. When he inhabits another body, he actually has some control over what they do rather than fully submitting to their control. He showed this capability when he voluntarily forced Hydranoid to perform a soul step, or dodging an attack in a way that looks like he's phasing through very quickly. This is what was used to avoid Excedra's Deity Wizard, and Hydranoid didn't have to do anything. "Second thought, you're all good. Keep doing that."
Hydranoid started to stride all the way to Excedra, making sure to avoid all of the attacks thrown at him along the way using Gargulion's soul stepping. By the time he got within reach of Excedra, he warped on his back and strapped himself on there with his sawblades on his hide.
"Perfect! Ability activate! Guillotine!" Hydranoid revved his sawblades and let their unmatched cutting power do the rest.
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Post by Karen Valentine on Aug 30, 2016 20:38:12 GMT -5
Excedra was very unhappy that Hydranoid hitched a ride without permission. Each of his eight heads turned around and glared at the hydra with the intent on getting him off as soon as possible.
"This really isn't good...Excedra is being pushed too far here..." Karen was beginning to become concerned about her opponents' momentum, so she had to do something quick. Excedra was quick to respond, given his centuries of experience.
"You're going to really wish you never did that!" Excedra roared. His Deity Wizard targeted him so that he'd be smothered by its power. Regardless of whether his opponents would be destroyed by the command or not wasn't the main focus. What this would do is surround his body in that power to give him that extra lethal edge. He'll be able to enhance his attacks to the point of giving them the ability to kill whoever it touches, and having it amplify his powers even further was a bonus he couldn't pass up even if Hydranoid dodges it.
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Post by Alana Cortese on Aug 30, 2016 20:56:31 GMT -5
Hydranoid looked up to see that Excedra was intending to crush them. He was counting on Gargulion to get him out of there; otherwise, he'd be in his first form again, and he really didn't want that since he was very used to walking on two legs.
"Gargulion, you got me?" Hydranoid was warped away before the attack could hit him, allowing him to survive a bit longer. He was put in front of Excedra before he was covered in his entirety. He used that moment to punch Excedra right in the kisser, laying him out on the ground as his strategy started to come into effect.
"Slow it down, guys. We can't make physical contact with him anymore." Since she couldn't risk Hydranoid getting brought down to one life, she had to play something that would hit Excedra from long-range. From what she could tell, the shroud may power Excedra up far beyond what they can reach normally, so it was all or nothing. "Ability activate! Clean Slate!"
Hydranoid revved his sawblades once more to produce a high concentration of kinetic energy. Blasts projected from his mouths and tails would merge with this to produce a laser of overwhelming power that is only intended to produce catastrophic results. Excedra was the guest of honor.
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Post by Karen Valentine on Aug 30, 2016 21:22:24 GMT -5
"Ah. That attack brings back memories. Hydranoid was such a beast back then, and I had Elico with me, attribute changing and making so many different moves. I loved that Bakugan so much. Those were some good times..." Karen didn't spend much time going through memory lane because they had Hydranoid to deal with. It's not like she couldn't afford to do it though. The attack they sent wasn't going to work.
"You fought long and hard, but I can now tell that even you two combined are still not enough to overpower me. Prepare for your burial."
"Ability activate! Shade Consuming!" Excedra amassed a large blob of darkness from his mouth that grew close to planetary size thanks to his Deity Wizard influencing it. The smoke substance covered the ball when it was launched towards Hydranoid. The incoming attack clashed with it momentarily before an explosion occurred, which left a good portion of Excedra's attack broken - effectively cutting it in half, but his attack still being there was all that mattered. What would happen to Hydranoid if sucked into the mass would be an immediate siphoning of their power before that same level of strength is used to collapse the sphere with them inside it.
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Post by Markus Hederick on Aug 30, 2016 21:49:24 GMT -5
Markus understood that neither him or Alana was strong enough by themselves to stop Excedra at this rate. If they were going to finish this, they had to beat him now. Luckily for them both, Markus had the answer.
"You'd be right if we were done," Markus countered. "Ability activate! Darkus Frame!" Gargulion began building his frame now that he had the strength to do so. He stationed his head in between Hydranoid's two heads, placing it right in the middle. He modeled it after Hydranoid's design, so it appeared like Hydranoid had three heads altogether.
"You and I should trade sometime," Gargulion suggested, clearly in a joking manner.
Markus activated the new program on his BrawlX that he received from the Silver Knights. Normally, it would only work for Gargulion since he's registered for this usage, but since he was within Hydranoid's body, it can be used on him. He scanned Hydranoid so that he could strengthen one of his existing traits. This made Hydranoid grow an eye on his upper chest - slightly lower than his neck and above his sawblades enough to not accidentally cut it.
"Alana, it's all up to you," Markus signaled.
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Post by Alana Cortese on Aug 30, 2016 22:14:18 GMT -5
The process of growing that eye was not as painful as he expected it to be, but even if it was, he'd be glad if he knew that meant that he had the proper genetics to evolve into an Excedra if he wanted to based on Markus's move.
"I've won," Hydranoid realized. "Activate them. I'm eager to show this old geezer how to really use these abilities."
Two cards materialized in Alana's right hand: Demon and Final Wizard, the strongest Darkus abilities, which she can now use. Whatever Markus just did to Hydranoid gave them legendary power. It must be used.
"Markus...where did you get that...?" Alana was almost too freaked out by that to play the cards she was supposed to, but she got them off. Still, to think Markus had something like that made Markus way stronger than he usually was. "Double ability activate! Demon Wizard!"
Hydranoid's eye shined a bright light on Excedra's attack that caused it to be completely drained and brought into Hydranoid's reserves. "Plus Final Wizard!" The ultimate attack, Final Wizard was now in play. Hydranoid had to charge the attack with his heads in addition to his eye to make the attack more in line with what Excedra used earlier. Even though he had to use extra, he still fired the same death beam that would likely burn through Excedra's scales and eclipse his power altogether.
"Be careful, you two. This may be strong enough to beat you," Hydranoid mocked.
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Post by Karen Valentine on Aug 31, 2016 8:39:50 GMT -5
Excedra's shock when Hydranoid unlocked the eye out of nowhere couldn't be put into words. The wide-eyed look he had on all of his heads and his face said it all. He couldn't believe what he was seeing, and once he was hit by Final Wizard, that spelled the end for Karen's own life gauge. She was pouting after being defeated like this.
Karen's life gauge: 0
"Pfft. I lost..." Karen closed her eyes and sighed before returning her gaze back to Alana and Markus. She smiled at them, being very proud of their progress. "Okay. I guess you deserve to be set free now, so you pass."
Excedra condensed his form once he was done fighting. He nodded in approval of what Karen said to them. Their combined power was all he needed to see from them, and they'll likely emerge better than they came in. That's all he was tasked to do, so he could return to his slumber. "Yes, Hydranoid and Gargulion were very strong. I admit defeat." Excedra curled up to go back to sleep, needing to recover from the brawl. "Now get out of here. I need to rest for this upcoming battle. We will see each other again."
Excedra transported everyone outside of his area into another part of the Darkus dimension. The area was mostly composed of a spiraling darkness with no grounds, depicting an endless void with nowhere to go. Amir had also shown up next to her as well.
"You both rock. Seriously," Amir commended.
"We both put you through some really rough times in your lives. I just hope there's enough time for you two to fix what we've wronged, because what you've shown in that battle proves that you're capable of so much more than where we put you. We're really sorry."
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Post by Markus Hederick on Aug 31, 2016 9:15:36 GMT -5
Gargulion exited Hydranoid's body and "clothed" himself in his own body once again. He looked at Hydranoid and gave him a nod, representing their trust in one another from now on.
"As much as I'd like to blame you for what happened, Amir, I can't hold you accountable for what I did. She's mad at me for that reason. You were the person who was placed there at that time to test me, and I failed, but not anymore. That's why I can forgive you for that ordeal and myself as well. Regardless of what happens, I'm not going to stop giving up hope, not for her, or for any Resistor," Markus declared.
He looked at Alana after making that statement and gave her a thumbs up. "That goes for you as well when it comes to Noland and Allen. You're a great person, and I believe you're going to come to terms with what you need to do to be happy again. I believe that."
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Post by Alana Cortese on Aug 31, 2016 13:37:55 GMT -5
Hydranoid grew back into his Alpha evolution when the battle ended. He gave Gargulion a nod back. He didn't want to admit it, but Gargulion's aid increased their chances of winning by a large margin.
"So do I," Hydranoid added in agreement with Markus. "I know that means I need to tone it down a little when it comes to Gorem and his antics, but whatever's necessary to make you feel better is what I'll do."
This made Alana smile. "Awwww. You're being nice?"
"Tch...please...only for you..." Hydranoid blushed in embarrassment when Alana glomped his leg. "Okay, okay...please stop." He looked Gargulion in the eyes when this was done and warned him. "Never speak of this to anyone."
Alana turned to Markus. He was the only person to believe in her aside from Tracy. "Markus...thank you so much..." She gave him the same death hug that Tracy gives Noland, causing him to lie on the ground in a comedic fashion from the pain. "You really know how to make a girl smile. I'm sure you'll do just fine with whoever you need to patch things up with."
She then looked at Karen and offered her thoughts about what happened to her for the first time in a long time. "Karen, if there's any consolation for what I've done to you, I've made people smile over the years, especially Noland various times. I know how much you've said to me you always wanted to meet your hero, so I thought the best way to keep you alive in our thoughts is by doing what you're no longer able to do: support those you care about in the end even if they never return that same feeling. I hope you're able to forgive me and see the future with me..."
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Shade Gargulion :: 1500G
