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Post by Tracy White on Jun 7, 2023 11:38:22 GMT -5
Tracy and a robed Skystar were in self-isolation in one of the bathrooms. Tracy was in a jacuzzi relaxing to temper her emotions. Skystar was off to the side reminiscing on their encounters with Betadron and what she could do to counter his dark influence in the future.
”...I think we should talk to Noland and Drago about this,” Skystar proposed. ”Since they’re still alive, maybe they can help us get control of ourselves like Noland offered.”
“Yeah… Great idea,” Tracy believed. “Everything they taught us worked, so… I’m all for that.”
”Also, I’ve been thinking. The Holy Providence doesn’t respond to what’s happening with Betadron’s corruption. I tried it on myself after that fight with Drazardon, but it didn’t work. Either we need to be actively corrupted for it to work, or it may not work at all. I can hardly see our dark halves wanting to get rid of themselves… Anyway, you remember on Neathia when Betadron hinted that him and others made the dark magic we were using?”
“Mhm…”
”What if the Archives contains anything that Betadron is using?”
“Do you know if Betadron used magic when he fought Drago?”
”Not sure. I’m not experienced enough to determine whether or not an attack is magic-based. I think it’s worth checking out though.”
“Okay. Another trip then. Just a couple of more minutes...”
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Post by Tracy White on Jun 7, 2023 11:38:57 GMT -5
Prior to Tracy and Skystar going into the Archives, the angelic Kuzuha they met the previous visit was already in there. She returned some books she borrowed and hummed a tune as she graciously floated all over the place for a considerable length of time. She suddenly paused when a godly-sounding beep went off in her head.
”...Our services have been requested… Hm… I wonder what for...” she muttered. She was motionless for a bit, which gave Tracy and Skystar the opportunity to make contact with her again. Kuzuha watched closely as the Legendary Soldier came through on a cloud.
”So we meet again,” Kuzuha noticed.
”So we have,” Skystar returned.
”Something just came up that you should know about. But first, a formal introduction. As you know from last time, my official name is Arch Priestess Kuzuha, but I’m usually called ‘Priestess’ to not confuse me for the other Kuzuha. I’m fine with whatever I’m called. I am one of six Lost Generals, counterparts to you Legendary Soldiers.”
“Lost Generals…?” Tracy mumbled.
”Nice to meet you then, Priestess,” Skystar greeted.
”You as well, Skystar,” Priestess returned. ”My existence is still highly classified in addition to the other five. I trust that you won’t expose us to those who shouldn’t know about us. Namely, the general public.”
”That depends on what ‘came up’ that I should know about.”
”Fair enough. The Knights have asked us to establish contact with you all and to monitor you.”
”...Are you kidding me…?”
“What do you people want…? It’s one thing after another… When will you all just stop…?” Tracy spoke up.
”We’re very aware of the tension that exists due to the activities of certain beings,” Priestess expressed. ”That is why I’m informing you of what’s going on. As a courtesy, and in contrast with others’ decision-making. We are not and should not be adversarial. If we all had been on the same page before now, our co-existence would be a lot more cordial. I cannot apologize on their behalf nor can any of us repair the damage that was done, but I’m sorry nonetheless. If I may, I’d like to make amends somehow. To start, I would like to communicate our intentions with you so that if we should encounter one another, there are no surprises and there are no conflicts.”
”And if you’re told to attack us?”
”We will not comply with any order like that UNLESS you’re threatening to blow up the Earth. We’ve already decided that once we became aware of your predecessors.”
”Alright. I don’t know you nor have I seen you do anything out of line yet, so I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt. You do EXACTLY what you just told me, then I’ll work with you. Otherwise, there will be conflict.”
”Understood.”
“So who are the other five?” Tracy asked. “Just so there’s no confusion.”
”Standby.” Six masses of light materialized next to Priestess. When the lights dissipated, scrolls were seen levitating and opening. ”As you can see, these are the names and appearances of the Lost Generals: myself, Ran, Senpu, Kabe, Exa, and Megalodon. They’re yours to reference.”
”...Thanks...” Skystar took all of them. Priestess nodded and started to fade away.
”I’ll be in touch,” Priestess assured them before disappearing from the Archives.
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Post by Tracy White on Jun 7, 2023 11:40:18 GMT -5
Now that Priestess was gone, Tracy and Skystar could take a minute or two to process what just happened.
“Sky...I don’t like where this is going…” Tracy expressed with a heightened level of concern.
”I don’t either...” Skystar agreed. ”Considering she was here at all, she has exceptional magic power at minimum. More powerful than us at maximum… The other five could be – but most likely are – relative to her.”
“There’s the timing of all of this as well… But then why keep eyes on us though? If they were just summoned solely because Noland beat someone Asuka appeared to not be able to beat...twice...then that makes sense. Watching us doesn’t… Something’s not right here...” Tracy started to ponder.
”It really makes me wonder how Noland and Drago felt on a personal level, having to be watched 24/7 like he’s a monster,” Skystar began to imagine.
“…” Tracy groaned just thinking about it, but she didn’t want that thought to linger in her mind for too long. She knew she’d get emotional and then forget why she’s here in the first place. “I’ll tell everyone. You just focus on finding whatever you can.” Tracy faded away just like Priestess did.
”Okay. So...I’m back where I was last time...” Skystar remarked upon looking through the books on the shelves on both sides of the aisle. ”Just like I said White Arts to get here… I may have to say the exact name of the magic I want to see...or is generalizing it enough…?” She thought about it briefly, and then chose to ask a question out loud. ”Hey, those who spoke to me last time, do you have anything on the magic Betadron created?”
Skystar stood in silence for a couple of seconds. She thought she wasn’t going to get a response. ”...Great...I’m going to be here for a long time...” As she said that, words started popping up in front of her just like the first time she came there.
”That statement of his was an exaggeration. He is not a caster. His power by itself is the progenitor of dark magic. The said magic was created with his power serving as a template for it.”
”So he is an ancient being after all… So was there anything that was made to replicate what Betadron was doing then?” After asking that question, Skystar’s body glowed in a bright green color for approximately ten seconds. It disappeared after that, and then a new message popped up.
”The first dark magic ever made was based on hate. It is the foulest magic that we will not allow anyone’s eyes to see, including yours. However, considering your motivation in seeking this magic is to understand this enemy, we will make an exception for you under one condition: succeed where he failed. Seek someone who has conquered their darkness to show you the way in conquering yours.”
”Okay...” Skystar accepted. ”That was very helpful. Thank you.” Skystar began floating around like Kuzuha was earlier. She looked the shelves over out of curiosity. While doing so, she was silently composing her thoughts. This was a lot to take in, and – at least for now – she had time to make sense of it all.
”So Betadron may not have always been the way he is...” Skystar figured based on what was said to her. ”Then...could he be saved somehow…? Not like he deserves it, but still… Well, one step at a time… I need to fix myself before I can think about fixing others.”
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Post by Andrew Bullock on Jun 7, 2023 11:40:40 GMT -5
In the evening hours of that same day, Andrew and Clarence arrived at the back door of a town house in Virginia. Clarence led the way and unlocked the door with a set of keys.
”You stay as long as you like...or until I get sick of you and throw you out… Whichever comes first,” Clarence said as he led Andrew inside.
”You sure this is okay?” Andrew asked as he walked in and locked the door behind him.
”Sure. Wish this was for a different circumstance though. To be honest, I was ready for your arrival a while ago.”
”...” Andrew groaned after hearing that.
”...Anyway, make yourself at home. Guest bedroom is where it usually is. Got your washcloths, towels, toiletries, covers, and everything else on the list of essentials. Rules are the same as last time.” After saying that, he walked into the kitchen and saw a robed Darkus Bakugan sharpening Clarence’s knife collection. ”...”
”Don’t worry. I’m not going to kill you with these,” it assured them.
”...It’s Dharak...” Andrew recognized from its voice.
”Dharaknoid, mortal. I don’t know you like that,” the Dharaknoid reprimanded.
”How did you get in here?” Clarence wondered.
”Not important,” Dharak claimed.
”Um, yes it is...”
”Is it?” Dharak lifted Clarence up via telekinesis while also pointing his knives at him with the same ability.
”...No...I guess not… I’m sorry for suggesting it was...”
”Good.” Dharak immediately let Clarence go and put his knives away. ”Anyway, our deal’s no longer necessary. We know that Tinsley guy is Father Zayne and that he’s responsible for restarting the Collision. We’ve decided not to erase him for right now.”
”...What…?” Andrew asked in disbelief.
”Not enough of Zayne’s soul exists in Tinsley’s body for me to erase him and the possible bodies he could resurrect from. My theory is that he used his power on his soul enough to hold it back from inhabiting Tinsley’s body completely. Again, only a theory, but that’s the only thing that makes sense based on what we know he’s able to do. He can negate anything. Concepts, objects, latent abilities, doesn’t matter.”
”So why not erase his soul then?” Clarence proposed.
”Wonderful idea...if I was allowed to do it.”
”You told Gargulion that the Collision will destroy the universe. That sounds like an exigent circumstance. Also, didn’t you do that with whoever those people were on Equilibria?”
”I agree, and yes, but they were alive when I did it. If I had a compelling reason, I could erase Bowen and Lyles since they did fully resurrect, but due to Zayne’s special circumstances, he’s off limits. He's Kane's problem now.”
”Kane?” Clarence suddenly interrupted.
”Death.” Andrew clarified before getting back on topic. ”Why does it matter if they’re dead or alive?”
”Jurisdictional issues. I’m sure you know what that means.”
”Alright...slow it down… Someone needs to get me in the loop here. I’m completely lost,” Clarence expressed.
”Both of you have been through enough chaos for today, so you two can work that out. As for me, I’m leaving this world temporarily. I have to pick up the slack on preventing doomsday for everyone.”
”Fine...but one more thing...”
”...Of course there is...”
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Post by Andrew Bullock on Jun 7, 2023 11:41:01 GMT -5
”What do you know about the Lost Generals?” Andrew brought up. ”We know who their members are. They want to monitor the Resistors, so we need to know if there are any concerning facts about them. And I know you know about Senpu, because you brought him up to Gargulion. The Kuzuha said they were counterparts to the Legendary Soldiers. Is that true based on power, or for something else, like if Naga is a secret member like Wavern is to the Soldiers?”
”...So that’s what’s going on… CIA using the Legendary Soldiers to collect intelligence…and it’s ‘Lost Generals’... Now I get it,” Dharak realized. ”Alright. Get comfortable and sit down. If those idiots do anything crazy, it’ll be never-ending nagging by my brother, so I’ll tell you what you need to know.”
Dharak waited for Andrew and Clarence to get themselves together before continuing. Both agents sat at a round table. Dharak stood nearby and started to reminisce.
”This isn’t some full history lesson, so I’m not going to explain literally every single detail. Record me or do whatever it is that will help you remember what I’m saying. I’m not saying this again…”
Clarence took out his phone and started recording the conversation.
”Now, a very long time ago – before the First Great Universal War – there was another war, the first war involving Bakugan and the only one fought solely in Vestroia – the War of the Ancients. During this time, Bakugan were primitive and war-mongering. They were animals who were never satisfied with what they had and wanted more territory just to have it. Each attributed world fought with one another. In the middle of it all were six beings: Ran, the ‘Soul Bandit’; Senpu, the ‘Shinigami’; Arch Priestess Kuzuha, the ‘Sanctified’; Kabe, the ‘Invincible’; Exa-Z Draco, the ‘Obliterator’; and Megalodon, the ‘Menace Down Under’.
Through various beings acting as my proxy, I enlisted their help in quelling this senseless violence. One by one, the leaders responsible for this war fell. They brought peace, and I was very proud of them for doing so. I let them go and live their lives. However, after some time, a new evil arose.
The pure darkness from the war rose from the battlefields and formed into seven demonic beings. The Generals went into battle again and fought them off. Six of those demons were beaten, but once they were, their remains produced staggering energy that the seventh one absorbed into itself. It called itself ‘Satan Endless’. The Generals did what they could, but they were dominated by this enemy and were on the verge of losing. As a last resort, they used a forbidden ability to seal it away. As a consequence for using the said ability, their bodies were left in suspended animation. History quickly moved past them, and they were forgotten.”
”So in a way, they were your Legendary Soldiers then?” Andrew inquired.
”Unofficially. Naga and I never met with them personally nor did we say they were Legendary Soldiers. I guess you could consider them the precursor to the Legendary Soldiers.”
”Interesting...”
”Anyway, the six of them are abnormal. Ran is the only one who’s not a Bakugan; he’s Achron. Also, Senpu is a Gargulion inhabiting the armor of an unknown Achron unit. Finally, their powers are mainly derived from the mystical objects they somehow fused with. I never cared to look into them since all I cared about was them wasting the war starters and whatnot. Just be aware of those things if the Soldiers should ever see them in battle. Whatever they had may have been hand-me-downs, but like the Soldiers, they grew into their power based on their life experiences and hard battles. They were gods of the battlefield back in their day, so use extreme caution around them.”
”Noted...” Clarence sighed.
”Sounds like you’ve seen and heard enough. I’m out. I’ll be around though.” Dharak launched himself upwards through the roof, but simply fazed through it like he was a ghost.
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Post by Andrew Bullock on Jun 7, 2023 11:42:03 GMT -5
Andrew and Clarence sat their for a moment trying to take all of that in. After about a minute of silence, Clarence finally spoke up.
”Being in the same area as Trinity and almost getting my ass erased by the god… I think that’s enough for today...” Clarence decided.
”Yeah...I agree...” Andrew concurred.
”By the way...if I were you, I’d bang in the next couple of days. Not sure if a breakup would be a legitimate reason, but I’m sure someone can make something up considering all that has happened.”
”No need. I don’t plan on going in the office anyway.”
”That’s good, but-”
”I’m fine. I appreciate the concern, but I’m doing what I’m going to do.”
”Suit yourself. Everyone would understand if you took some time, but I hear ya. Anyway, you have a good night now. I’m gone.”
Andrew watched Clarence leave and go upstairs. Afterwards, he sat there at the table and slightly hung his head down. He stayed that way for several minutes.
Similarly, Montai was motionless and silent while sitting on her bed. She looked like her life just got sucked out of her. Horridian walked into the room as the size of an ordinary dog and looked up at her.
”...” Horridian didn’t bother saying anything. He walked out of the room immediately. After he left, Montai started crying. He sat near the door to her room and got comfortable. He hung his head down in sadness.
”...Thank you, Genesis Dragonoid, for letting me see this happen… Hopefully he’s gone now,” Horridian said in his mind.
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Post by Noland Hardy on Jun 7, 2023 11:43:01 GMT -5
Back at the ‘safehouse’, Noland sat in the middle of his bed in criss-cross-applesauce. He was thinking about something in particular…
“...they’ll want Noland to testify in front of them…” he remembered Yuji saying about Congress.
”If they do that...what am I going to do…?” Noland thought to himself. ”What if I say the wrong thing? What if they make this about politics instead of safety? What if they do something based on what I say? What if...they do the wrong thing…?”
”Thinking about Alana’s love confession?” Drago blurted out.
“...Huh?” Noland zoned out while thinking about the Congress situation.
”It stunned you that much… Congratulations. I’m happy for you two.”
“Oh, that. I wasn’t,” Noland denied. “I was thinking about what Yuji said about Congress wanting me to testify. It has me concerned a lot more than I thought it would.”
”Oh...”
“It’s frustrating… There’s always someone that wants to talk to me, scrutinize me, track me, or kill me. This mess never stops…”
”Yeah...it doesn’t, so we can’t either.”
“...Yeah...I know…”
”Their minds are made up no matter what you do. You’ll just be a checklist for Congress. They won’t do anything like usual, so do what you can to keep your head clear.”
“Easy to say when it’s just me being affected, but now the entire brawling world may be in my hands.”
”Fortunately for everyone, it is.”
“I’ll believe that...for now.”
”So...about the confession… In all seriousness, that L word she was about to say sounded like it was going to be ‘love’. Can you handle that being the case?”
“I don’t know. I was hoping I wouldn’t have to deal with that. It’s whatever for now since there are more important things to think about: Drake disappearing, Jimmy and Calvin going to jail, Maurice working with a world-renown terrorist, and the Lost Generals out and about. And I haven’t forgotten about the body-possession thing either. This all has to end, but I’m not sure how that’s going to be done...”
”...Well...when you put it that way...I can see why...and I don’t know either...”
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