Chapter 43 - Hard Battle (1)

Whenever I start a sentence with "unless something goes wrong", something goes wrong. Anyway, happy reading.

***

Siren: 300 Life Points | James: 500 Life Points

As a wave of astonishment washed over everyone, Siren nodded several times, as she was just as amazed as they were.

It was quite surprising that the seemingly ordinary Hammersaur showed unexpected abilities. But Siren had played a trivial bakugan just in case.

She grinned.

"Not bad, not bad at all."

James had his bakugan back. He glanced at her, then sneered back:

"Not bad, you say?"

Having said that, he quickly threw the gate card. Unfortunately, he didn't have a command card, so he had to discard the reactor card.

He hesitated briefly as the discarded card sank to the ground. Should he field the same bakugan a second time? After a brief hesitation, he shook his head from side to side and threw Hammersaur!

"Bakugan brawl! Bakugan stand! Darkus Hammersaur!"

Hammersaur came roaring out as usual. But Siren ignored him, looked at James, and solemnly warned:

"Be careful."

Immediately after this, she picked up another bakugan and quickly threw it in the same motion as before.

"Bakugan brawl! Bakugan stand! Darkus Xayah!"

As soon as it bounced once, it opened in the air. As soon as it opened, it quickly transformed, and while the purple particles were still scattered, it delivered a swift hook to Hammersaur!

It was so unexpected and so fast that neither James nor Hammersaur could react! Hammersaur simply turned into a ball and flew backwards! Immediately afterwards, James saw some elegant feathers falling to the ground.

And then the fascinating female bakugan who owned the feathers simply turned into a ball and disappeared.

Siren: 300 Life Points | James: 420 Life Points

He blinked his eyes in surprise. What had just happened? He looked at Siren with wide eyes.

Siren was still wearing her grin and even an amused expression. She always saw such expressions on her opponents and never got tired of it. The damage she inflicted quickly and swiftly often even caused her opponents to protest.

After staring at her for a while, James' eyes suddenly lit up as if a light bulb had been turned on in his head. The pleasant, silvery glow had become so normalized that it was difficult to attribute it to a specific cause.

He made a rough guess as to what he was up against and decided to act accordingly.

Meanwhile, Siren, who had taken the round for herself, threw her gate card. After it disappeared, iconically sending purple waves across the ground, she picked up her bakugan and threw it at full speed.

"Bakugan brawl! Bakugan stand! Darkus Xayah!"

The bakugan bounced a few times, then popped back up and glowed with a purple glow. Immediately after this, a cloud of black mist surrounded it. After it had settled, it was quickly dispersed by a few gusts of wind and Xayah appeared.

The first thing that could be seen was her wing. Her wing resembled the depths of midnight. Each of its feathers seemed to be inspired by the darkness of night. It was alluring and spiky. Her eyes were illuminated with a shimmering purple light, which spread like a beam.

Her body was elegant and attractive. The thin, black leather armor, unknown whether it was connected to her or not, accentuated the contours of her body and at the same time offered beauty and elegance. Her tail stretched out like a long and graceful arrow. Xayah stood out as a mesmerizing being with a natural beauty and charm.

It was hard to believe that such a thing was a bakugan. Even James stared, dumbfounded, as the place fell eerily silent for a moment.

[Focus, James!]

But at that moment, the sudden sound of Fox's voice brought him quickly back to his senses. He grinned like Siren. Then, he grabbed his bakugan and threw it quickly.

"Bakugan brawl! Bakugan stand! Darkus Gargonoid!"

As the Bakugan sped forward, it opened and was enveloped by a black tornado. The force of the tornado was too great, and after a few spins, Darkus Gargonoid appeared. He looked at Xayah as he roared in an eerie high-pitched voice.

As mesmerizing as Xayah was, Gargonoid was just as terrifying.

<Darkus Xayah> | <Darkus Gargonoid>

<G-Power: 500> | <G-Power: 300>

Xayah quickly leaped into the air without waiting for any command. At that moment, Siren used an ability!

"Ability card active: Cursed Feathers!"

<Power Increase: Darkus Xayah +100 G-Power increased.>

The feathers on her wings glowed with a purple glow as she gracefully twirled in the air in a dance of death, flinging her feathers in succession towards her target!

Despite the eerie synchronization between them, James was slow to react for a moment, but fortunately, he was able to put down three cards at the last moment.

"Triple ability active: Razor Waves + Dark Rey + Fusion Ability: Darkus Realm! Attack!"

Using fusion at the very beginning would undoubtedly cause problems, but James felt that if he didn't react at that moment, he would lose again instantly!

As the feathers were about to hit the Gargonoid, the Gargonoid's eyes flashed. It grinned, its teeth bared, as the atmosphere turned black. It flapped its broad wings, deflecting the feathers and preventing them from hitting it.

Moreover, its entire body was bathed in a purple light. With each flap of its wings, waves of purple, eerily extremely sharp rays, along with the spines, shot towards Xayah!

<Power Boost: Darkus Gargonoid's G-Power increased by +450.>

Neither Xayah nor Siren panicked, despite the sudden increase in power and the huge difference in strength. Xayah was dodging the sharp beam waves with some difficulty. However, it was clear that this could not continue.

Just as Xayah dodged these waves, a wave of purplish, near-black light shot from the Gargonoid's chest towards Xayah, dark enough to pierce through all the purple light surrounding its body!

At that moment, Siren opened the gate card, knowing what would happen next!

"Gate card open! I-"

But she couldn't continue. Because just as she was about to open the gateway card, it was torn to pieces! James spoke with a grin:

"Did you forget? Dark Rey overrides gate cards."

After James' reply, the beam that would have hit Xayah disappeared. Just like all the attacks. But instead of relaxing, Xayah became even more alert.

Siren, meanwhile, wasted no time talking. She immediately deployed a triple ability just like James!

"Then… Triple ability active: Feather Shield + Shadow Speed + Fusion ability: Shadow Dance of Fury!"

The moment she used it, Xayah's feathers began to glow with radiance. She flew high as she did a quick spin of her own. The feathers on her wing wrapped themselves around her like a shield.

<Power Increase: Darkus Xayah +350 G-Power>

Suddenly, many rays hit her from various places! The beams came from so many places, one after the other and in such rapid succession that Xayah would have lost dozens of times if she hadn't wrapped herself completely in her stunningly beautiful feathers like an egg!

The rays kept on coming. But each time Xayah's shield seemed to hold. It was strange that it would stay up even if her stats were completely even.

Xayah's feathers grew brighter and brighter as time passed. Seconds seemed like minutes to James. The more he saw the inexhaustible Xayah, the more suspicious he became.

So when he glanced down at his gauntlet, he realized something startling.

<Stable Power Boost: Darkus Xayah's G-Power increased by +1.>

<Stable Power Boost: Darkus Xayah's G-Power increased by +1.>

<Stable Power Boost: Darkus Xayah's G-Power increased by +1.>

…

As notifications like this flooded in, James realized what had happened. He was about to hurriedly insert his skill card and be done with it when Siren's voice rose!

"Now!"

At that very moment, the feather egg opened! Xayah danced gracefully as the feather egg spun around, showering feathers everywhere. Her dance in the air had a fury for the vestals and a sadness for the bakugan.

A few of the feathers flying from her dance quickly hit the Gargonoid!

James reacted, but it was too late. With a roar, the Gargonoid transformed back into a ball and sped back towards James.

As the darkness dissipated with the Gargonoid's departure, Xayah glared at James in mockery. It was as if she was challenging him. Of course, she turned back to the Siren soon after.

Siren: 300 Life Points | James: 250 Life Points

James took deep breaths in and out, trying to digest the absurdity before him. He had expected it to be difficult, but this was a whole new level of difficulty!

He looked at Siren and saw her grinning. She seemed to be enjoying herself.

'Of course, she is. After all, this is a game for her.'

He calmed down as these words ran through his mind. For him, this was a fight for survival. He couldn't lose, he wouldn't lose!

He became serious. Immediately after throwing his gate card, he threw his bakugan.

"Let's end this match, man! Bakugan brawl! Bakugan stand! Darkus Hammersaur."

Hammersaur roared as he quickly unfolded and emerged. The iconic clapping of his hands together, along with the noise it made, signaled that he was ready for battle.

James grinned once again. This was much better than fighting the Gargonoid. The Gargonoid might have traits that could learn and evolve, but it had no emotions like a living being. Although Hammersaur did not yet communicate directly with him, there was a more vivid connection he felt with it.

As James threw Hammersaur away, the not-yet-emerged Xayah sighed.

"This freak doesn't know how to give up."

Siren laughed. She spoke in a light whisper:

"Isn't this more fun? Let's get it over with!"

But Xayah only sighed once more. When she didn't say anything more, Siren threw Xayah with the same slant as before!

"Bakugan brawl! Bakugan stand! Darkus Xayah!"

At her command, Xayah, who had been hopping forward, suddenly opened up! Unlike before, her fast attack was not so surprising. James reacted quickly, placing his skill card and shouting:

"Dodge it now! Dark Mirror!"

<Power Transfer: Darkus Hammersaur's G-Power increased by +100>.

As the ability card glowed, Hammersaur quickly disappeared into Xayah's moving shadow and dodged the attack!

Darkus was an element known for its explosiveness, but Hammersaur had an insidious ability to contrast with it. When Xayah's attack failed, she floated lightly in the air and landed, once again showing her gracefulness in public.

The pinkish skin on the parts of her body that feathers could not cover was reflected in the light, making her all the more alluring. Voices rose from the audience in support of Siren.

Siren calmly glanced down at her gauntlet.

<Darkus Xayah> | <Darkus Hammersaur>

<G-Power: 400> | <G-Power: 520>

She held a card at the ready, waiting for the opportune moment. Xayah opened and closed her mouth several times as if muttering to herself. But she said nothing.

James quickly gave the command:

"Attack now! Gate card open! Darkus Reactor!"

<Power Boost: Darkus Xayah's G-Power increased by +100.>

<Power Boost: Darkus Hammersaur's G-Power increased by +100.>

The arena was suddenly enveloped in darkness. Xayah's elegant feathers looked even more deadly in the eerie atmosphere that came with the darkening night air.

While everyone was wondering when Hammersaur would appear, Hammersaur appeared, punching Xayah in the back from the shadows!

But just as he punched, Siren was not idle.

"Ability active: Feather Shield!"

<Power Boost: Darkus Xayah's G-Power increased by +100.< p>

Xayah quickly surrounded herself with feathers! Hammersaur's punch was blocked at the last moment by Xayah's feathers, and Hammersaur backed away. At that moment, James quickly placed his skill card:

"No retreat! Ability active: Bonecrushing Cyclone!"

<Power Boost: Darkus Hammersaur's G-Power increased by +100.< p>

Hammersaur, however, quickly retreated and charged forward! His kick was swift and powerful, spinning like a cyclone. His spin left a purple streak in its wake.

Siren, in response, quickly placed an ability card.

"Ability card active: Shadow Speed!"

<Power Boost: Darkus Xayah's G-Power increased by +100.< p>

Xayah's shield disintegrated as she dodged Hammersaur's abnormally fast spinning kick in a quick dance!

She dodged the kick with the ease and freedom of a bird. She continued to dodge Hammersaur's kicks as she darted around the arena, leaping higher and higher each time, as if waiting for the right moment to fly into the air.

When James realized he was going to waste a lot of time, he used the ability he hadn't been using until now.

"Finish her, Hammersaur! Ability active: Crush Hurricane!"

<Power Transfer: Darkus Hammersaur's G-Power increased by +100>

With the sudden power transfer, purple particles from Xayah began to flow rapidly into Hammersaur's gloves. As they flowed, Hammersaur's gloves, which looked like huge claws, glowed with ferocity.

With that, Hammersaur stopped kicking, and with the power of his legs, he leaped up and tried to land the finishing blow on Xayah!

Its sudden leap to the ground momentarily shook the entire arena, but Siren's attention was fully on the match. As Hammersaur lunged forward and tried to punch Xayah, Xayah leaped into the air with all her might!

Siren shouted and activated the triple ability.

"Triple ability active! Cursed Feathers + Dark Refraction + Fusion ability: Featherstorm!"

<Power Boost: Darkus Xayah's G-Power increased by +400>.

With that, Xayah quickly began to spin around. The enchanting feathers erected themselves into spikes, and as the seismic purple rays spread out, the spikes shot out in all directions!

Hammersaur was unable to defend itself against the sudden waves of beams and feathers. It roared tragically as dozens of feather strikes hit it. Then, it transformed into ball form and fell next to James.

Siren: 300 Life Points | James: 70 Life Points