Episode 32: Winds of Change

[Noland Hardy]

Kyuki gave the entire nation - no...the entire world - three days before the day that no one wanted would come upon them. No one else even knew that Kyuki was the mastermind behind this forced arrangement. They thought this was a game, another one of those twisted arena battles where the audience gets to see people figuratively - or very literally in this case - kill their opponents in battle. What could the Resistors and Spartans do about it?

Nothing... That's right; they can do absolutely nothing to stop Kyuki from doing this in hopes of delaying what may be the inevitable. They were dealing with a madman who could pop up anywhere at any time he wanted, so the beggars could not be choosers; they had to do what the man ordered...at least for now.

The site of this team deathmatch was placed at the same place the PBL finals would have taken place if the Hurranians had not came in and ruined everything: the NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. Kyuki obviously wasn't paying for their transportation there. The Resistors had to rely on the Legendary Soldiers to get down there in one piece, avoiding potential disasters that could await them at the airport. 

The Resistors did not come alone though. Due to certain members of the group being at high risk, the Silver Knights assigned them bodyguards. Alex was a clear pick. Daniel was another, as ironic as that sounds. Per a favor from Alex himself, a fellow ally from his unit, Michael Schulz, joined in to help out. The final member of this group was a woman named Keto, a fellow member of the Grim Reapers, Daniel's unit. 

The Spartans came in with their own set of guards - the Royal Guard - as well as Dasia in attendance to make sure that everything was going smoothly. A woman took her place in the center of the battlefield to sing the national anthem, but a certain person that was competing chose to do something that pissed a lot of people off while it was being performed, including Kyuki himself. 

[Prof.Dr.Kyuki]

Kyuki has been watching the preparations for some time.
Provoking the society, ruining lives of families, mercilessly taking lives... this is just a regular Monday for him. Forcing people to do what he wants them to do is another specialty that can hardly be opposed; when you catches you in a disadvantageous position you're screwed.
He has already prepared many options in case someone decided to be clever enough to try to find and attack him.
However, it is doubtful that anyone is crazy enough to engage face-to-face with not only the most-intelligent person on Earth, but also one of the strongest brawlers on Earth.

Seeing how certain someone decided not to stand up during national anthem. National anthem is something Kyuki does not care about in the slightest, but situation seems perfect to create a little bit more tension.
Kyuki points his finger at one of the 'expendable' units of his; a human revived not too long ago after being cut open by Kyuki. For experimental purpose he infected that unit.
'Person' nods at Kyuki and walks down towards the performer clapping twice which made performer suddenly stop.

Kyuki's Theme

Person rudely takes the microphone and sets their face towards Noland.
"Come on, be a good boy. Your dear host could get insulted if you don't stand up at this wonderful moment." Person says with a dark smile and an evil tone.

Seems like Kyuki won't let anyone have even a tinniest breather with his eyes and ears being everywhere and controlling everyone.

[Noland Hardy]

The Resistors and Spartans were spaced far away from each other. Their sidelines were on one side of the field, so they could get a good look at their enemies just by looking straight ahead. They had some very nice benches that no one else was experiencing during the singing of the national anthem, except for Mr. Hotshot himself. He found a cozy position and stuck to it, not even budging when the lady took the stand and sang.

Even with this large-scale interruption, Noland was still going to stay seated, and he was about to tell them why.

"You're talking to the wrong person if you think I care about what happens to him," Noland reminded him. "Or should I say I don't care about what happens to YOU, since I know that's you in there, Kyuki? Even the dumbest person here would have already known about someone's First Amendment rights, or lack thereof, since I'm part-Gundalian, right?"

"Now I'm going to put this into terms that a psychopath like you would understand. Standing for this is like saying I believe every lyric in it to be true."

He would then take two segments out of the national anthem and use them against the country itself.

"'Land of the free,'" Noland recited. "Yeah, only if you're white or, in this special case right here, a pure human being."

"And 'home of the brave,'" he recited. "More like 'home of the cowards.' You think you're brave by denying a minority due process and getting an entire battalion against two Gundalians and you still got your asses kicked? Please. Even someone who enjoys splitting people open and who hides behind other people's bodies knows they're far from brave; you're all a bunch of pussies, every last one of you who supported this bullshit."

"So you can take your so-called anthem and shove it. And if you want to remain with another body for you to control, you'd better excuse yourself from here right now before I remove it myself."

[Prof.Dr.Kyuki]

Person just gives a dark relaxed smile.
They do not seem to be bothered too much.
After all, it is not like they have a life to cherish; they are not who they used to be. It is almost as Noland would be threatening an emotionless robot.

"Now now...let's not get angry..."

"...it'd be bad to lose your cool before battles even started... At least give the audience some amusement you die..."

Person walks away from the spot in a very groggy style.
It looks like they are drunk. It is an effect of being exposed to Kyuki's experiments for too long; body just fails, but remains alive because of chips placed inside it.
It cannot die; even though it is already dead. Like a zombie.
However, there are many exceptions to this in Kyuki's work. Those who are worthless to him are only revived as messengers, suicide bombs or what else not, so they are not worth keeping in best shape.

Kyuki watches 'the show' from the cloak of darkness.
At one moment he sets his eyes on Daniel. "What do we do with you...?" Despite knowing that Daniel is in a bad position thanks to Virus, Kyuki is still hesitant to face him directly knowing that Deathcrown could kill him instantly.
He then sets his eyes on a girl sitting near Daniel; Keto.
Evil smile comes across his face. "Oh, so you've come as well, my dear..."

[Damian Knight]

Despite Noland threatening to dispatch the body, Damian was not going to be so merciful. He was actually going to do it. He waited until the body got off of the stage and onto the ground of the arena before he struck.

Out of nowhere, a pool of lava rose out of the ground and engulfed the body, consuming it until it was a pile of ashes. Near Damian, there was Helios, standing there in his monster form. People gasped at the sudden "killing" of someone like that, even though common sense would tell them that he didn't do anything worse than what Kyuki already did to him.

Helios eyed Noland with curiosity of him making a statement like that. He didn't want to openly admit this, but he was...very pleased with what he just saw and heard. He made a point to plant his rear on the ground to trigger every person watching that he was defying what the national anthem stood for, and he didn't even live on the planet.

Damian had to do it himself as well. He knows what it's like to live on the bottom, and to know that the lyrics to the anthem actually says what it says made him lose the scarce amount of respect he had for the earthlings in general. He sat on the bench and didn't bother moving.

[Noland Hardy]

The facade of a murder happening right in front of them was somehow the least of their concerns when seeing two people and a Bakugan openly disrespect the country by not giving the anthem its due respect. The crowd booed Noland and Damian. Many were already planning on booing Damian anyway because...he's just Damian. They expected Noland to know better, and that's what made them now hate him more than Damian, aside from the inconceivable amount of deaths he was responsible for.

Drago voluntarily rolled himself onto the arena grounds and stood. When he did, he heard a number of people tell him to set his brawler straight. He took one good look at Noland to check how serious he was about doing this and if he knew what he was doing signified. Drago easily got the message. What he did next would show that what the audience was telling him went through one ear and out of the other.

He was parallel to Helios in terms of positioning. Just like he did, Drago planted himself on the ground. Both Drago and Helios glared at the lady to either keep on singing or just hand the mic over to someone who was going to start this battle; they didn't care which.

Noland did crack a little smile when he saw Damian take his seat. That showed him that Damian had some common sense, even though he doesn't like to show it sometimes.

[Noland Hardy]

Due to all of the commotion Noland and Damian's protest caused, the lady finished the anthem to not send the public into an uproar for refusing to sing it. No one addressed the Pyrus brawlers' actions from that point forward, not even Dasia or the Silver Knights who were present.

The announcer nervously called for the first match in the midst of this turmoil. Seiki was the first Resistor to be called out onto the field. Her opponent was Deon, the one she embarrassed before. Damian made it a point to tell him not to make a fool out of himself out in the open since he knew what was going to happen if he loses one more time. On Seiki's side, Tracy cheered her on, saying that she was definitely capable of taking him on with Ahio's new evolution. Daniel also complimented her skills after training with her, believing that she could pull this one off.

With both brawlers having a lot to lose and with the support of their respective teams, both brawlers took the main stage and were set to brawl.

(Boss Theme)

[Seiki Maki]

seiki maki

Seiki bit a small portion of her lower lip. It wasn't that she was nervous- well maybe a little, but that wasn't the reason why she was so tense. It was the previous scene that made her a little uneasy. "You know, I'd much rather be there singing..." Seiki to herself with a soft sigh. "Too late to turn back though." With her resolution and friends to support her, Seiki walks out to the battlefield with her head held high.

Ahio was walking alongside her human partner before reverting back to her ball form when they approached the field. She bounces into Seiki's open hand which she grips comfortably in her grasp. This would be like a test, a trial that she had overcome her past self and can now face the future without fleeing back. "Come at me with all you've got!" She shouts, tossing Ahio upwards into the air and catching her. "Take flight, Seraphim Ahio!"

Seiki throws her partner into the field. The toy springs open and was engulfed in a light green light. The ventus bakugan emerges from the light with a roar-screech hybird, scales glistening in the light. "Don't hold back you buffaloon!"

ulla

[Deon Irvine]

Deon made sure his time was not wasted.
He had been training for hours and hours to perfect his strategies against Resistors and especially against one Resistor he did not like... Seiki.  He had been preparing to crush her into bits until she begged for mercy.
And with this lucky coincidence (which certainly is not) he got a chance to do what he intended and put that Resistor's bird in the stove where he wanted it to be.

"Bakugan brawl! Tyr, stand!!"

Large bull Bakugan appeared on the battlefield. It did not take a second and Deon had already started with a powerful ability. "Ability activate! Aerial Impact!"
Being a Ventus Bakugan it implies that Tyr should have abilities that allow him to move quickly and even fly or levitate. Aerial Impact is one of those abilities; allowing him to become as light as air itself and then charge wildly towards Ahio.

About to reach Ahio, Tyr lowers his head pointing his thorns towards Ahio to inflict heavy damage.

[Seiki Maki]

seiki maki

Her eyes narrow at the sight of Tyr already charging headfirst into battle with such a powerful ability right off the bat. Seiki was tempted to simply charge back and try to knock out as much health out of the bull like what her opponent was doing... But this fight wasn't going to be a glass staircase. She had a feeling that Deon would be pouring his everything into this fight seeing how he seethed her with a burning passion.

"I don't think we've used this in a while, you still remember how to maneuver through this?" Seiki asks her partner while he draws her card from her hand.

"If I don't, I'll figure it out." Ahio huffs in response, readying herself for the oncoming impact, her scales, lowering to form a natural shield around her form.

With a nod, Seiki activates the ability, "Like a whirlwind, quick as lightning!" Ahio then had a storm of wind whipped up around her. When Tyr come into contact with the dragon-bird, the attack didn't seem to do any damage. It did the exact opposite actually. It energized Ahio, and she pushes back at Tyr with her own grand horns.

ulla

[Deon Irvine]

"Hah! Not so fast! Ability activate! Bull Drive!" Deon yells.
He takes a card and puts it inside the gauntlet.
Try flashes in green as he stops all motion and continues on levitating in mid-air.
Large bull then turns to Ahio and within a second he charges towards the large bird with his horns in front and apparently charged with some sort of electrical power.
Or at least it seems electrical because of static-electricity-like feeling.

Bull Drive gives him enough speed to soar and circle around Ahio in the same time, so their opponents have a harder time finding out from which direction he'll attack.
Finally, he appears from above Ahio charging in at the bird with full force.
If Ahio takes a hit from that headaches won't be the main problem to face anymore because this attack could definitely break the bird's bones.

[Seiki Maki]

seiki maki

"Ability Activate, Gusty Scales!" The new ability linked to this evolution that Seiki had called out on the spur had Ahio's scale seem to flip up slightly, exposing it's weaker, dark undersides. From all the scales came an overpowering gust of wind that shot Tyr back, completely negating his effect and dealing him some damage from the sheer force of the wind alone.

"I love these new scales," Ahio coos as she flexes them up and down a few times before looking back at Tyr. "I don't have to dodge every ability now." She leaps up into the air and charges towards Tyr in the air, with the intent of ramming Tyr with her golden horns.

ulla

[Deon Irvine]

"Not so fast, chicken drum!!" Deon yells.
He has already set a card inside his gauntlet.
"Ability activate! Elements' Break!"

With this new ability in use Tyr is surrounded by a powerful magical tornado.
In the same time his horns extend as well surrounded by green energy and static electricity. This gives large bull additional speed and surrounds him with a windy shield.
Shield is more than enough to deal with Ahio's attack while two extended horns hit Ahio, negate the ability and deal heavy damage.
Thanks to the high speed Tyr finds himself in front of Ahio very quickly with both his horns pointed towards the bird and ready to impale its head.

[Seiki Maki]

seiki maki

With a screech, Ahio charges towards Tyr, horns first, or at least that's what it looked like. "Ability activate, seraph fragments!" Ahio's form was disrupted in a white light, her form then shattered into triangle fragments that flew across the field. Ahio had gotten out of Tyr's oncoming attack, but the bakugan was no where to be seen.

"Reform!" Under the girl's commands, parts of the triangle fragments form back into a spot across from Tyr on the other side of the field. once majority of the triangles had gathered in that one spot, it flashed back into Seraphim Ahio. The remaining fragments of her were then shifted to projectiles which shot at an astonishing speed towards her opponent.

ulla

[Deon Irvine]

Resistor's bird seems to be much faster now.
Seems like they have become much stronger and faster since the last time they have fought Deon and Tyr. Despite how much Deon has trained Tyr could not match that level of speed; he is a bull after all.
However, he could still match Ahio in power because... he is a bull after all. And unlike birds, bulls can endure heavy attacks directed against them. "Ability, activate! Frenzy Bull!" Deon says as he sets a card inside his gauntlet.

Tyr's body starts glowing in red color and it suddenly expands.
His body becomes much bigger than it originally was.
He roars in rage and then looks at the incoming projectiles. His next roar causes most of them to turn into dust within seconds and those that continue to head towards Tyr simply crack and disperse after hitting his body. "Special Ability, activate! Frenzy Rock Tornado!" Deon activates yet another ability. And this one is definitely one that Ahio should be avoiding.

"Tyr, bury her alive!" Deon shouts.
Tyr forcefully hits the ground and then powerful tornado starts forming around him. Tyr's body nearly becomes invisible of all the dust around him and if that was not enough you can see chunks of the floor detaching and becoming parts of the tornado. In less than ten seconds Tyr's tornado is filled with hundreds of sharp rocks that are just waiting for their target.
"Catch, chicken drum!!" Tyr yells as his tornado forcefully charges forward towards Ahio.
Tornado nearly reaches Ahio when it explodes launching rocks in all directions at force same as of bullets. If Ahio is hit by that then losing against Deon is not the worst thing they have to worry about.