Chapter 13 - Three Hundredth (2)

"Greetings, ladies and gentlemen! We're back with another battle! Today's battle is a very interesting one. An up-and-coming newbie and a genius battling. Here he is, number three hundred, Lupus Clark!"

As Lupus' column rose, he had a disinterested look on his face. He looked about sixteen years old. He had green hair and blue eyes. His jacket and gloves were green like his hair.

The spectators who saw him began to scream in admiration.

"I don't think he stands a chance!"

"Whoever he is, he made a big mistake. Haha!"

Others were more positive towards what the host called the " newbie".

"I think he still has a chance."

"Yeah. I don't think he's going to lose for sure."

"After all, it's not Spectra Phantom. Either way, there's a chance."

"Who said that? I'll find you. Let me catch you..."

As the audience clashed amongst themselves, the host introduced his opponent.

"And next up is James, the newcomer to the self-important Four Hundred and Eighty-eight House!"

As James' column rose, those who didn't recognize him looked on with pity. Those who had seen his first match instantly switched sides. There was chaos in the stands.

"James gets it, man!"

"Are you kidding? A new guy doesn't stand a chance!"

"Don't underestimate a new guy. In his first match, he took down number four hundred and eighty-eight. And it was a crushing defeat!"

"So what? That doesn't mean he can win."

Some of them were betting with each other, while others were still arguing with one another. Some of them got James's ear, but he just laughed. It was more of a surprise.

When the column finished rising, Lupus glanced at his opponent. He was momentarily disappointed to find nothing remarkable or professional about him.

Just then the announcer spoke:

"So if you're ready! Three! Two! One! Go!"

And with that, they both put the activation card in the gauntlet:

"Gauntlet, power strike!"

"Gauntlet, power strike!"

Lupus: 500 Life Points | James: 500 Life Points

Lupus immediately picked up the card. He threw a wind-patterned card with a green Ventus symbol on the right side.

"Gate card, ready."

It sank to the ground like no other card. A green wave spread out and almost instantly Lupus and James threw their bakugans.

"Bakugan, brawl!"

"Bakugan, brawl!"

The black and green bakugans quickly rolled to the ground. As the bakugans rolled on the ground, they both spoke:

"Bakugan, stand! Darkus Hammersaur!"

"Bakugan, stand! Ventus Ravenoid!"

Bakugans opened. Hammersaur appeared, glowing and roaring. As soon as the bakugan named Ravenoid opened, a small tornado surrounded it. Immediately afterwards, the tornado quickly dissipated.

Its appearance could be described as a green bird-man. His head was the head of a bird.  He had dark green wings and his feet were the claws of a bird. Otherwise he was no different from a humanoid. His body was the typical color of the Ventus element.

<Ventus Ravenoid> | <Darkus Hammersaur> 

<G-Power: 390> | <G-Power: 400> 

When the Bakugans were exposed, the gap was only ten points. Hammersaur roared provocatively:

"Come here! Roaar!"

Ravenoid squawked back as it spread its wings wide and soared upwards to maintain its range.

James, once again, felt a sudden pain in his head. Though relatively mild, it was enough to disrupt his focus. He quickly inserted his ability card, hard and fast. Then he shouted in an irritated voice:

"Ability activated: Crush Hurricane! Attack it!"

<Power Transfer: Darkus Hammersaur +100 G-Power>

"GRAW!"

Hammersaur's hands flashed. As the green particles flowed from Ravenoid to it and turned purple, it took position, leapt on Ravenoid and swung its claw at it!

Lupus shouted as Ravenoid folded its arms in defense:

"Open gate card! Ventus Reactor, plus double ability: Shadow Scratch + Tornado Pandemonium!"

<Power Down: Darkus Hammersaur -200 G-Power>

<Power Boost: Ventus Ravenoid +300 G-Power>

As a result, the calm environment suddenly changed. Large and small tornadoes formed on the court and the wind started to blow.

Not expecting a direct double skill in the first round, James was stunned by the sudden pain in his head. After all, someone who hadn't played enough to recognize his bakugan couldn't use a double ability, and he clearly didn't expect it to be used directly after his first defeat.

Ravenoid was surrounded by wind just as Hammersaur attacked, and Ravenoid flapped his wings, sending Hammersaur flying backwards with the wind currents!

James' pillar shook for a moment as Hammersaur hit the ground hard. Gripping the pillar tightly to keep his balance, he shouted:

"Hammersaur!"

But he was too stunned to put down his skill card. With that, Hammersaur roared and was enveloped in a purple light. Immediately afterwards, it transformed into a ball and rolled, landing right next to him.

Lupus: 500 Life Points | James: 210 Life Points

James bent down holding his head and picked up his bakugan.

"Sorry, Hammersaur."

But as usual, no reply was forthcoming. Then he sighed and stood up. His gaze became serious. His own ability had been quickly parried. He should have reacted quickly to the blowback with a counter move, but he had failed to do so, and was too late.

Distraction and underestimation had caused this.

This was exactly what he thought when he looked at the Life Points he had lost.

Lupus' Bakugan let out a cry of triumph and returned to his hand. Lupus sighed.

"I heard your Bakugan was interesting. Disappointing."

James rolled his eyes. He knew what he had to do. He had to give it his all, even if it gave him a headache. Otherwise he was going to screw up the only opportunity he had.

He tossed the gate card immediately.

"Gate card, ready."

But this time he didn't immediately throw his bakugan. He picked up his other two bakugans. He looked at his bakugans, one Pyrus and one Darkus, and sighed.

"It's quite risky, but..."

He remembered what Fox had said earlier. A bio-organic life form with its own artificial intelligence, this was an artificial bakugan. Machine-like, but organic.

With his mind made up, he put Verias back in his pocket while holding the two Darkus Bakugans tightly. Although he didn't realize it, black-purple particles from the Bakugans would touch his hand and then disappear.

He took the Hammersaur in one hand and the Gargonoid in the other. Then he threw the first Hammersaur.

"Bakugan brawl! Bakugan stand! Let's make him pay this time, Hammersaur!"

With a roar, Hammersaur appeared. As usual, he roared as he clapped his hands together. Immediately after this, Lupus threw Ravenoid.

"Bakugan brawl! Bakugan stand! Ventus Ravenoid."

With a flash of light, Revenoid was revealed and screamed. Flapping its wings, it kept Hammersaur at a distance.

<Ventus Ravenoid> | <Darkus Hammersaur> 

<G-Power: 390> | <G-Power: 400> 

James threw his second bakugan less than half a second after Ravenoid came out.

"Bakugan brawl! Bakugan stand! Darkus Gargonoid!"

Bakugan ball rolled on the ground, and under curious and bewildered stares, the Gargonoid opened in classic fashion. It had a simple design with purple stripes, red wings and distinctive horns. Immediately after its unveiling, it began to glow with a purple light as a gloomy atmosphere suddenly descended over the entire arena.

A black tornado with purple lightning connected to black clouds. The tornado blocked the Gargonoid's view.

A whirlwind of darkness surrounded the bakugan while everyone around looked at the scene in front of them. What kind of a bakugan was it that could create such a tornado as it came?

As the tornado spun rapidly, purple lightning bolts crashed down on it. It was a strange sight, not expected from a normal Bakugan.

Eventually the tornado expanded, dissipated, and finally the Garganoid's appearance was revealed.

A normal Gargonoid was a humanoid bakugan with the head and wings of a Gargoyle. Even so, it felt much more sinister.

The horns on its head were abnormally long. Its yellow eyes had a very blank stare. It was as if it were the living dead. The general outline of its body was no different from that of a Darkus Gargonoid. There was only one obvious difference. The dark purple jewel on his chest looked much more eerie.

It did not show the slightest sign of life. It neither roared nor moved as it hovered in the air. It stared blankly.

"What kind of monster is this?"

"Simply terrifying."

"Isn't it an ordinary Darkus Gargonoid? Why does it feel so strange?"

"Strange..."

Many strange voices were raised. Lupus was surprised too. He immediately looked at his gauntlet.

<Ventus Ravenoid> | <Darkus Hammersaur, Gargonoid> 

<G-Power: 390> | <G-Power: 720> 

Lupus was surprised.

"Is it really a Darkus Gargonoid?"

Gargonoid's G-Power was below normal. This was quite strange. So he threw the second bakugan without much hesitation.

"So that's it. Bakugan brawl! Bakugan stand! Ventus Bee Striker!"

This time, what emerged seemed to be a rather large bee. Its stinger was extremely long and its wings were conspicuous. Its general color was green, but thick yellow stripes could be seen on its back. The stinger was also yellow.

<Ventus Ravenoid, Bee Striker> | <Darkus Hammersaur, Gargonoid> 

<G-Power: 790> | <G-Power: 720> 

James quickly put two separate abilities on the card, which would activate in turn.

"Hammersaur, ability activated: Crush Hurricane! Gargonoid, Glowing Claws!"

Gargonoid's eyes suddenly sparkled. His claws began to glow with a purple light. Green particles, meanwhile, streamed towards Hammersaur.

<Power Transfer: Darkus Hammersaur +100 G-Power>

<Power Boost: Darkus Gargonoid +100 G-Power>

Hammersaur was already running at them. The Gargonoid was still standing there. Thinking it was waiting for a command, James shouted:

"Attack!"

Hammersaur jumped at Ravenoid once more in the process. Lupus had to quickly use his double ability card.

"Ability activated: Shadow Scratch + Tornado Pandemonium!"

<Power Drop: Darkus Gargonoid -200 G-Power>

Ravenoid formed a tornado around him to dodge it. James, expecting this, immediately shouted:

"Gate card open! Darkus Reactor!"

The surroundings instantly went dark. It was as if night had come.

<Power Increase: Darkus Gargonoid +100 G-Power>

<Power Boost: Darkus Hammersaur +100 G-Power>

The whole body of his two Bakugan glowed with a purple light. The Hammersaur, armored in armor, struck a blow with its great claw: first it scattered the trunk. Then it struck the Ravenoid in the chest without giving it a chance to dodge!

"GRAAA!"

With a great yelp, it crashed to the ground. The Gargonoid attacked just as the dust cleared. It rushed towards Bee Striker and swung its claw.

Lupus didn't know what to do at that moment. Having been used to one-on-one duels all this time, he was stunned and panicked at the two-on-two. He immediately placed the first card that came to his mind.

"Ability activated: Reverse Blow! Come back, Bee Striker!"

With that, he managed to pull Bee Striker back just as he was about to hit Bee Striker. It transformed into ball form and quickly returned to Lupus' hand.

But Ravenoid was all alone. As Ravenoid tried to recover and get to its feet, Gargonoid turned towards it and clawed at it.

<Ventus Ravenoid> | <Darkus Hammersaur, Gargonoid> 

<G-Power: 390> | <G-Power: 920> 

With a great cry of pain, the Ravenoid transformed into a green ball and rolled on the ground right next to Lupus. Just then, a card appeared on the field, glowing with a silver light that only James could see.

Lupus: 0 Life Points | James: 210 Life Points

Silence. There was a great silence. The name no one expected... had won.