Episode 16: The Lost Generals

[Noland Hardy]

"We're live with breaking news!" Miko shouted on air. The typical words 'Breaking News' went across everyone's television screens and showed Rumi and Yuji behind a desk.

"New York City has been completely leveled. The 9/11 memorial, the Statue of Liberty, Broadway, unholy traffic... All gone... Multiple casualties have been reported from the outskirts of the city after that wave of darkness swept through," Yuji noted. "Secret Service went above and beyond to get so many people out. Not their fault this happened. The main ones who died were the ones who chose to stay for whatever reason despite an army of Bakugan standing over them. Natural selection I guess."

"Oh...I'm not allowed to say that? Well fuck whoever has a problem with it. I said what I said. Anyway, I'm sure you all watched CNN, ABC News, or Fox. You know what's going on, and it's because of whatever that 'thing' is that's attacking Noland and Drago. And ever since it showed up, I've felt this burning hatred inside of me. I was going to have a good day today until this scumbag came in and ruined everything. Now instead of commentating on the enjoyable battles we've had yesterday, I have to sit here and watch a close friend waste everyone and there's nothing I can do about it. I bet that bitch Rumiko had something to do with it too. I hope she gets killed in a horrific, violent way. The money I would pay to have a front-row seat to this... Forget that... I want to have control over it..."

"I want her to see my face so that she knows that I know about what she did to Calvin and Nia. I'd happily set up a meeting between the worst serial killers we have out here and her... I want her to hear me tell them what to do to her... I want her to look me in my eyes as they cut every part of her out..."

"Yuji!" Miko interrupted.

"...I'm sorry. This is involuntary. I don't know what to do, okay? Everyone's reporting on being angrier than usual. No one knows why, but everything was mostly fine until THAT appeared! It makes me sick!" Yuji exclaimed.

"Even more sickening than those feelings is that Calvin appears to be the mastermind of this attack," Miko observed. "I want to stress that it appears to be that way. None of the news outlets know why Calvin is here or what his motives are. This still isn't a good look. No one is allowed to get anywhere near the city, so we can't give you any eyewitness accounts, but we'll keep you posted as best as we can."

"Noland, I know you're not listening to me, but I'm begging you. PLEASE defeat this guy. Whatever justice can be brought out of his defeat, I pray that it comes swiftly and decisively! I have faith that you will right this wrong and bring light amidst this darkness!" Yuji believed.

"We believe in you..." Miko shared. "Stay strong!"

[Noland Hardy]

Drago continued to push against Betadron's beam with his barrier of raw power. He didn't look concerned about what he was up against despite the seriousness of this fight.

"If he wins...his hatred will corrupt all, and he will be revived at full power... You MUST defeat him here..." a godly voice reminded Drago in his head.

"..." It was that damn voice again! "...A colossi... Is that what you are...?" Drago asked in the hopes that whatever it was will answer. Of course...he got nothing.

"We'll worry about that if we're still alive later," Noland decided.

"A big IF," Betadron somehow said while firing the beam from his mouth. Betadron maintained his beam on Drago as he jumped forward and swiped his wings to the left. In doing so, a dark wave appeared that flowed with his wings' movement. In a surprising fashion, Drago was flung approximately 100 feet away...

"Oh..." Drago did a side flip to his left to regain his balance. He saw that Betadron was still firing the beam and was about to point it at him again. Noland hastily found 'cover' among all of the debris as the beam went all over the place.

"I'll go after Calvin! You got Betadron! Deal!" Noland proposed.

"Yep," Drago agreed. Drago unleashed a fiery beam from his mouth towards Betadron's center mass. Betadron quickly turned to clash his beam with Drago's. Both beams canceled each other out and created a huge explosion. Both combatants jumped backwards from where they were and stared each other down.

"I assisted you last time due to his imminent escape from his prison. You have more time now, but you are the last line of defense. If you fall here, he will return..." the godly voice said to Drago. "Prove you can put him down, then...and only then...will I reveal myself to you..."

"...Here we go then..." Drago sighed.

(Decisive Battle)

[Dark Calvin (World's Collide)]

Calvin hid behind some rubble as well. He knew Noland was going to come for him based on what he said before Drago and Betadron went to blows. At the very least, this rubble can be cover against Noland. However, even he was starting to get nervous that the combatants would kill him and Noland from just clashing.

"What kind of monster did I bring here...?" Calvin asked himself out loud.

[Noland Hardy]

Betadron growled as quietly as he could out of frustration. He couldn't pretend like he wasn't hoping Drago would've went down already. The swipe that hit didn't really damage Drago all that much. He could see that very clearly.

"Night Phalanx!" Betadron activated. A translucent, black-covered sword-shaped projectile spawned above his head. It dropped and went straight through his body. In response to this, his body swirled in the same colored energy. This energy then became an aura that flickered on and off.

"Battalix Hammer!" Drago countered. Drago didn't have an almost invisible sword stab him, but there was a sound of a fire coming from his body. 

Betadron was somehow able to materialized arrow-like projectiles swirling with dark energy out of thin air right in front of him. His eyes flashed in a purple color once, and the projectiles went towards Drago in nearly an instant. Simultaneously with Betadron's attack, Drago surrounded himself in a spherical dome of fire.

Betadron disregarded this dome burning away his attacks. He covered his hands and wings with energy and flew towards Drago with murder on his mind. Drago ran towards Betadron while not being able to directly see him. The dome stuck with him as he moved, keeping him in the center the entire time. Once he felt Betadron getting closer, he caused the dome to dissolve into particles and took them into his body. This energy caused Drago's body to glow in a crimson color. This was unique considering that Drago hasn't glowed like this when using Battalix Hammer before. Could he be trying harder than he's ever had to since evolving...?

[Noland Hardy]

Drago and Betadron got within 30 feet of each other. Drago clenched his right fist and punched forward. Betadron did the same. They're within 10 feet of each other now. Both of them stopped in their tracks and began clashing. It wasn't a physical clash, but the clash of their respective energies. A bright red aura flowed from Drago's side while a tarry dark aura flowed from Betadron's side. The bright light from both auras made it hard to see around them. The calamitous pressure the clash generated wiped everything out around them, so there was nothing to see anyway.

"Huh... You're kinda strong..." Drago commended...sorta.

"This isn't all you got, is it?" Betadron wondered.

"Don't get a big head about the compliment..." Drago warned him as his aura burst forth and overpowered Betadron's in an instant. Betadron was flung back approximately 200 feet away, which is 100 more feet than what Drago was flung by. "I said 'kinda' after all."

Betadron's back bounced on the ground a few times before he stopped his momentum by going airborne and using his wings for support. "Fluke..." Betadron claimed the clash's result to be. He defiantly charged at Drago again. This time, blades of pure darkness protruded all around his body.

From Drago's point of view, Betadron was nothing more than a ball of spikes. He still took precautions though. He summoned Apollo's Hand to his right hand. He gripped the trident as Betadron was getting closer. As this happened, Betadron unleashed a salvo of spiky projectiles that continuously set off a chain reaction of explosions that twirled like a twister. It seemed as if the twister-like motion was being used to make projectiles grind into the target. Also, this can increase the force and area of impact beyond just making regular contact.

Drago infused Apollo's Hand with some of Battalix Hammer's power. The weapon itself crackled with crimson-colored energy. It sounded as if energy was being continuously built up within it. Drago pointed it at the ground ahead of his feet. A bright light shone from it like a flashbang.

Betadron was blinded to the threat of this attack, but he surely felt it. He was rocked by an explosion and was briefly knocked unconscious. By the time he was able to fully realize what was going on, he was submerged in a pit of fire. Fortunately, his Night Phalanx aura provided some protection, but most of it was completely destroyed from Drago's attack. The little amount of energy remaining from the ability did what it could to preserve his body, but his flesh was starting to ooze. He quickly flew left and exited the fire in about 3 seconds time. He landed on the ground and stayed put for a bit to give his body a chance to reform. As he did, he looked to his right and saw the ground was cracked. A massive wall of fire had risen from this crack and was high enough to be visible from outer space. This was a more explosive and fiery application of the Rage Fire ability Drago gained when he was Bane Dragonoid.

[Noland Hardy]

Before Betadron could properly comprehend what he got himself into, a shadowy figure flew right through the fire and drove a metal object into his head. He was briefly knocked unconscious from the ordeal. He came to when he felt three sharps plunged into his chest. He saw Drago pinning him with the trident...

"You're right... Might be a fluke," Drago agreed as his aura grew more intense. It looked like he was about to unleash a finishing attack. "You went against my father. Must be an off-day for you if you're this weak..."

"Shut up!" Betadron commanded. "Orion Sword!"

"..." Drago jumped backwards while still leaving Apollo's Hand stuck inside of Betadron. This led to Betadron being sliced downwards and exiting the pelvic area. Betadron screamed in agony from this. Drago looked a little horrified at the wound he just inflicted since he's used to just blowing people up or burning them to cinders. He then saw Betadron's body morph into a sword that grew beyond gigantic proportions. There was a fleshy hilt at the top. The weapon itself was solid darkness. It was solid hate energy really, but no one other than Drago could tell the difference. It resonated with his Hex Code, which forced him in and out of the form. He held on and remained in base, but now he had to worry about this weapon flailing around and destroying everything it touched. That's exactly what Betadron did in this form. To make matters worse, he was doing so with frightening speed. A weapon that large shouldn't be able to move as fast as someone who is swinging one that's smaller than they are. Unfortunately for everyone on Earth, that's how fast this weapon was moving. It'd be a shame if it never got the chance to make a mark on the planet though...

"Havoc Extinction!" Drago called out. He shot two lasers out of his eyes. As soon as they made contact with Betadron's sword form, he was blown up in almost an instant. Drago quickly created a barrier of raw power to give himself some cover. Noland also Hyper Motioned to Drago when the explosion happened to give himself some cover too. In the end, all that was left of New York City was a large crater with some of the ocean pouring in on its remains.

"Did you get him?" Drago asked in reference to Noland going after Calvin.

"Hard to find an opening when you and Betadron are destroying everything," Noland replied. "Looks like you destroyed Betadron already..."

"Looks that way..." Drago sounded very unsure when he said that. He turned his head to look around. "Something about this is very wrong... It shouldn't have been that easy..."

[Andrew Bullock]

Andrew was watching the battle via a holographic display on his BrawlX. He held it out in front of him so he could have eyes on the battle and what was in front of him. There wasn't much in front of him obviously, but he still had to look.

"...That was easy," Desiree commented on Drago seemingly destroying Betadron. "...I have a hunch that it was too easy. We really need to think about getting out of here..."

"I agree," Andrew concurred. "But it's no use."

"What do you mean?"

"The sword that Betadron transformed into could've destroyed the planet. Everyone and everything on Earth is in the hot zone now. Only distance that matters is offworld, in another dimension, or whatever. All we can do is plan on containing Betadron in the event Drago is defeated and making sure this battle doesn't leave NYC. Plus..." Andrew looked at the Silver Knight and Eden quartet who was standing near them. They looked miserable, which - from Andrew's secret viewpoint - they should for their performance. "These 4 can do real damage. Unless the Knights or Eden sends some big guns to watch them, we have no choice but to keep them here. Moving them is too dangerous in their current condition. I guess we could have backup, but I'm guessing the explosions, earthquakes, and tsunamis are holding them up."

As he said that, he felt a strong gust of wind blow right past them. "Well, there goes at least one of them..."

[Seiki Maki]

Ahio dashed to the scene of the battle and spat out Seiki, Markus, and Gargulion when she stopped.

"Backup has arrived! Now where is he!?" Ahio asked with a lot of adrenaline pumping through her veins. She frantically looked around, but saw no one... "Did you beat him already? I thought this guy was supposed to be one of the main villains."

Seiki looked nervous. Sure, Drago's victory was anti-climactic, but should they all be this paranoid about it? Is it only a definite victory when the battle was hard fought? She didn't know, and it bothered her greatly. She wasn't sure that her, Markus, and Noland being there was a good idea. More importantly...

"Wasn't Calvin supposed to be here? Where is he?" Seiki asked. "And, I'm glad you're okay, Noland. I was worried when you pressed that button..."

"Aw..."

[Markus Hederick]

"Not sure anyone could survive that without some form of protection," Markus believed. He still canvassed the area with his eyes to look for Calvin. Gargulion did the same, but since he could tell whether someone lived or died, he was instantly more effective than his brawler at making a conclusion.

"Calvin's alive, but is in critical condition," Gargulion announced. "He's buried underneath 'some rubble'. As for Betadron...he's gone..."

"Good. Finish him..." Markus sounded like he was telling Gargulion to kill Calvin. Gargulion moved very slightly, but stopped instantly upon seeing a dark purple flame.

"I stand corrected... Betadron's back..." Gargulion reported with a disgusting tone in his voice.

[Noland Hardy]

Noland looked closely at the dark flame. It started out small, but became more intense and got bigger. There were trails of energy flowing into it from all directions.

"It might be too late to destroy him. Even without being free, he's using hate from other beings to make another body," Noland figured.

"...He's not operating from a vessel this time... Calvin, the Knights and Angels, us...not even contributing to this," Drago noted. "Wherever this energy is coming from, it's not because he planted it... In fact, it's not his energy that's reforming him. It's humans and Bakugan..."

"Humans...and...Bakugan...?" Noland didn't want to say this out loud, but...Black Burn's usage may have been the reason why Betadron is now capable of doing this. His actions have lit a fire in everyone who saw what he did. That fire...is hate...

"The four of you need to leave NOW. You cannot be corrupted under any circumstances," Noland advised Markus, Seiki, Gargulion and Ahio.

[Dark Calvin (World's Collide)]

There was a large pool of blood a couple of blocks behind the dark flame. In it was a miserable human/Achron hybrid who was conscious only due to being one. Unfortunately, light was beginning to fade from his eyes. As it was...

"I'm sorry, Nia... I failed you..." Calvin uttered. "I did horrible things...and I couldn't protect you from your mother... In the end...I should have died the way I was instead of who I became... Betadron...what a disgusting creature... Why did I let my hate for Rumiko turn me into...this?"

"Because she had to pay," Betadron replied through the flame. "How could anyone let scum like her get away with what she did? You did what you believed was the appropriate response to someone abusing your trust, selling you out, and selling your daughter out for a man who showed her power... I saw myself...in you even..."

"..."

As Betadron spoke to Calvin, the dark flame transformed into the monstrous humanoid that was Betadron's body. "I remember... Before I became who I am, I had a wonderful relationship with my Creator. I fought so many battles to earn His trust, and then He earned my trust in return when he trained me. But then...when I needed Him most, He fed me lies and cast me aside when I couldn't do what he needed me to do any longer. Then He told my friends that I was a monster and moved on to His next creation... Sickening... Retribution is justice... It will be for me, and it will be for you. How dare we sit idly by while the true evildoers get away with their sins against us and be allowed to carry on like normal? I say...we get what's ours..."

For a reason Calvin couldn't articulate, he could relate to Betadron. He didn't want to due to Betadron's actions. Still, the feeling of being used and cast aside - especially when the man Rumiko sold them out to could just kill Nia whenever he wants to - bothered him. It bothered him to the point where his earlier remorse was overrun by the desire to have his vengeance. It wasn't just for him, but for Nia.

"They'll just throw Rumiko in a prison... My family are good-for-nothings who make drama out of everything... Her family didn't like me from the start... Where would Nia go? Why can I not be there...when my father wasn't...?" As Calvin thought this, hate energy began flowing into him too. His wounds progressively healed, and he rose. He broke free from the rubble and flew to be alongside Betadron, the one who can understand him...

[Noland Hardy]

Betadron reforming was a troubling concern, but there was something about him this time that was off... Very off...

"Drago..." Gargulion called out despite Noland suggesting that he leaves. "...Do you see that...?"

"...Yes..." Drago plainly answered.

"See what?" Ahio wondered. "Come on! You can't just say it like that and not say what it is on the spot!"

[Dark Calvin (World's Collide)]

"I remember... My friends were just like yours, Drago. I'll show you mine..." Betadron stated. What Drago and Gargulion saw was a buildup of energy in front of Betadron. It was obvious how Drago saw this, but the reason why Gargulion could see it was because whatever this mass was had a soul. But how is that possible?

This was an ability linked to the Inheritor ability Betadron used on Dragonus during the fight against Ares. What Betadron extracted from Dragonus was the worst part of the latter. For most - if not all - beings, it's their 'evil' side, the side that appears when people say, "He/she brings out the worst in me." That's essentially what Inheritor did when targeting Dragonus. Inheritor allows Betadron to 'inherit' the victim's 'worst side'. Betadron can then call on the victim's 'worst side' as a form of support. This is considered a transformation/form for Betadron. It's called - you guessed it - Inheritor.

"Seems I can only use this externally while sealed... Shame..." Betadron remarked to himself about his nerfed capabilities.

The energy mass formed into a holographic form of a Subterra snake-like humanoid. This being had slim, but very defined muscles. It had tusks on the bottom row of its teeth. There were jagged spikes on its shoulders.

"Landtude!" Betadron activated.

When this activated, Calvin flew off miles behind where they were, not wanting to be hit by this catastrophic ability.

[Seiki Maki]

"Ahio, grab the humans, and run!" Drago said with a panicky tone.

"Huh? But..." Ahio tried to ask before Gargulion yelled,

"DO IT!"

The now ethereal Subterra 'friend' - as Betadron called it - looked up. A small brown energy ball formed above its forehead. It raised its arms and bent its elbows as if it was gathering energy. Then, without a moment's notice, a brown flash blinded everyone. Ahio saw this flash for less than a few milliseconds. She quickly took Noland, Seiki, and Markus and flew elsewhere.

She landed near the spot where Andrew and Desiree were set up at. After putting the humans down, she glued her eyes to the spectacle that was Landtude. Brown lights shone from the ground like they were the Northern Lights. The ruins of New York City were in the air. All that was left was the ocean pouring in on the land that was now destroyed. ..

"That could've been us. You need to listen and not question them next time," Seiki scolded Ahio.

[Tracy White]

Ahio was too occupied with Landtude's result to notice that the other Resistors were here as well. Tracy was trying to be useful by helping the Knights and Eden quartet with their problem, but she was...hesitant. It wasn't out of malice or anything. It was...fear...

"...I don't know if I can do this..." Tracy admitted. "I don't have it all together myself...and Queen Serena was the one who healed me... How am I supposed to help someone else...?