Chapter 9 - First Brawl As Bakugan

The chapters have been delayed due to many factors such as illness, work, the temperature of the weather. I'm sorry. It's just one bad thing after another. Where I am right now, I really can't breathe because of the heat. Anyway, I hope you enjoy the chapter. My sincerest apologies again for posting so intermittently and late.

***

James likened the experience of transforming into his true form on the battlefield to cracking his bones. He felt relieved, as if freed from a narrow cage, and could feel every muscle in contrast to his previous form. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he felt much more alive.

He flexed his fingers inward, momentarily sensing the muscles he could move.

<Haos Mega Brontes> | <Elementless Broken Hydranoid>

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

<Error! Element definition in progress... Success! Darkus.>

<G-Power Boost: Darkus Broken Hydranoid's G-Power increased by 200.>

With his increased power, James clenched his fists, making his veins bulge. As expected, the system module worked.

Volt was momentarily surprised by the notification as he entered the match, but quickly refocused.

"Ability activate: Ghost Cell, finish him quickly, Brontes!" he commanded.

"Hahaha! I hope you're not afraid of ghosts!" Brontes mocked as dozens of ghosts emerged from his hands, swarming around James.

Their tails waved like smoke in the wind, quickly attaching to James' body, immobilizing him. James squirmed uncomfortably as he tried to break free from the ghostly bindings.

Brontes laughed as he approached to deliver the final blow. Just then, Siren's voice was heard:

"Don't be in such a hurry! Ability activate: Argentinum!"

As the ability card was used, James' body was bathed in a silver light. With all his might, he broke the bindings and punched Brontes! As he did, a notification was heard.

<G-Power Transfer: Haos Mega Brontes' G-Power decreased by 100.>

<G-Power Transfer: Darkus Broken Hydranoid's G-Power increased by 100.>

Brontes staggered back a few steps, saying, "Hey! That hurt!" James responded with a satisfied growl and threw another punch.

At that moment, Volt spoke:

"Dodge it! Not bad. Ability activate: Jeer Frontier!"

Brontes nimbly jumped and evaded, taunting, "Time to stop dreaming about beating me!" He then launched two large, hollow energy rings at James, who couldn't avoid the attack.

James felt a sudden confusion in his mind. He wasn't sure how to describe it. It was a kind of... intoxication. His senses were blurred, and his vision became increasingly strange and familiar.

He felt shorter. Brontes appeared much larger. Had he turned back into a human?

He looked around stupidly, trying to understand the situation.

"Hey! Siren, can you see this? I think I did it. But it feels so weird..."

He walked aimlessly, kicking up sand with each step without realizing it.

<G-Power Drop: Darkus Broken Hydranoid's G-Power decreased by 200.>

James' strange movements puzzled Siren.

"Hey! What's wrong? Can you hear me? Heey!"

Siren's calls were in vain. Volt explained:

"Don't bother. He's under an illusion. He can't use any of his abilities."

As Volt spoke, Brontes laughed.

"Let's finish off this big guy!"

Brontes broke his scarecrow-like stance and advanced to attack. But then something unexpected happened. Siren sighed lightly and raised her hand.

"So that's how it is. Luckily, I played this earlier. Gate Card open: Battle Release!"

Volt asked in surprise, "A command card?" He hadn't expected a command card to be played. Siren laughed and confirmed:

"With this, all Bakugan on the field return to their owners, and the turn ends."

As James took a step forward, his body was washed in a gray light, shrinking back to his ball form and returning to Siren.

Siren deftly caught her Bakugan and looked at him.

"Are you okay?"

James hesitated before answering.

"I guess... I feel a bit dizzy, but I'm fine."

The experience was undoubtedly strange. Even though he had gotten used to entering the match as a Bakugan instead of a player, the sensation of being affected by an ability was entirely new to him.

Especially with illusion-type abilities, he better understood how resilient and strong Bakugan needed to be in battles. The feeling of dizziness hadn't completely left him yet.

Nevertheless, he knew he needed to pull himself together. Victory in Bakugan battles required coordination as much as abilities. Someone who couldn't communicate well with their partner was doomed from the start.

As Siren ensured James was okay, Volt narrowed his eyes in suspicion and asked:

"Who are you?" His voice was a mix of determination and curiosity. He was puzzled by someone so skilled that they could calmly and quickly react without losing life points while hiding their purpose.

Siren put her hand on her hip and looked directly at him. The previous worried look was replaced by a playful tone. She chuckled and replied cheerfully:

"Less talk, more fight. If you win, I'll tell you who I am."

In response, Volt shrugged and, after a moment of thought, swiftly threw his gate card. As the card hit the ground, waves formed with Haos' yellow color, then the card disappeared.

"Gate Card set! Bakugaaaan brawl!" Volt shouted.

He threw Brontes once more, and the Bakugan hit the ground, opening and reappearing.

Brontes taunted, "This time you can't escape from the clown!"

Siren took a deep breath and turned to James. They had almost lost because of James' momentary hesitation earlier. James seemed to understand what she was thinking and spoke:

"I'll be more careful this time. Trust me."

Siren nodded slightly. She had entered this battle because she trusted him. Was there any other option but to trust him? She didn't hesitate even a moment before throwing her Bakugan.

"Bakugan brawl! Let's show Vexos what we've got!"

With this battle cry, James reappeared, spreading his wings wide and roaring.

"Like I said, you talk too much, clown!" he retorted.

<Haos Mega Brontes> | <Darkus Broken Hydranoid>

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

<G-Power Boost: Darkus Broken Hydranoid's G-Power increased by 200.>

Just before attacking the scarecrow-like Brontes, Siren's voice was heard.

"Ability activate: World Eater!"

<G-Power Boost: Darkus Broken Hydranoid's G-Power increased by 100.>

James' body was enveloped in a white light. He dashed toward Brontes at lightning speed.

"Let's take a bite out of you!"

As he moved like a wave of silver light, his eyes searched for Brontes' weak points. He aimed his claws at Brontes' broad shoulders. Just then, Volt's stern voice echoed in the desert.

"Don't rush! Darkus Scythe."

A massive scythe appeared in Brontes' hands with a purple glow. Brontes swung the scythe to stop James.

<G-Power Drop: Darkus Broken Hydranoid's G-Power decreased by 200.>

As the scythe's shadow fell over him, James reacted instinctively. He gritted his teeth and met the scythe with all his might. Sparks flew between his steel teeth and the dark blade of Darkus Scythe. Brontes' power clashed with James' silver glow, and a metallic clink echoed through the arena.

James' teeth firmly gripped the scythe. Brontes' expression of shock and anger met James' determined gaze. He gathered all his strength to break the scythe while holding onto Brontes' shoulders with his claws.

Meanwhile, light particles flowed rapidly from Brontes to James. As this continued, James' pressure increased, and the scythe showed signs of cracking.

Volt looked at his glove in confusion and was shocked by what he saw.

<Haos Mega Brontes> | <Darkus Broken Hydranoid>

<G-Power: 480> | <G-Power: 320>

<Haos Mega Brontes> | <Darkus Broken Hydranoid>

<G-Power: 479> | <G-Power: 321>

…

There was a steady transfer of G-Power. Slowly but continuously! Seeing Volt's confusion, Siren jumped and explained with a giggle:

"World Eater continuously steals the opponent's G-Power."

As Brontes struggled more and tried to kick James away, Volt quickly reacted:

"Gate Card open: Haos Reactor!"

<G-Power Boost: Haos Mega Brontes' G-Power increased by 300.>

Suddenly, the surroundings became much brighter, and Brontes chuckled.

"Haven't you outgrown biting toys yet?"

He kicked James away from the scythe. As James tumbled in the air, he quickly spread his wings and hovered. His movements were purely instinctive, allowing him to land firmly.

Brontes swiftly swung his scythe at James, each swing sending a wave of light. As James dodged them, Siren's voice was heard.

"Ability activate: Silver Burst!"

James' entire body was engulfed in silver flames as he roared.

"I told you..."

James flew towards Brontes. His flying style was more like a phoenix than a humanoid dragon. A silver phoenix...

"You talk too much!"

As he flew towards Brontes, surprisingly, no notification sound was heard. Brontes, not understanding what was happening, held his scythe like a baseball player about to hit a ball and swung it quickly.

"Come here!"

James and his flames passed through Brontes, enveloping his entire body. When the scythe hit James, he was thrown back. However, as it hit him, the scythe was engulfed by the silver flames.

<Ability Cancel: Darkus Broken Hydranoid's G-Power increased by 200.>

<G-Power Boost: Darkus Broken Hydranoid's G-Power increased by 200.>

As both sides fell in different directions from the impact, James couldn't withstand the blow any longer and reverted to his ball form, followed shortly by Brontes. Both returned to their owners, and the results were as follows:

<Haos Mega Brontes> | <Darkus Broken Hydranoid>

<G-Power: 775> | <G-Power: 725>

Volt: 500 LP | Siren: 450 LP

Thus, the second round ended with Siren's loss.