*Shu and Boa stared at each other as their auras glowed, both of their beys glowed in their hands as well, both bladers take their position*
Athena: Third Battle!!
*Shu changed to Left Spin and kept his 2B Chassis in attack, Boa watched a bit surprised as he watched Shu change his modes*
Boa: So he's going full on attack is he? Well let's see if he can break through my shield again or if it was just luck..
Shu: I'm gonna have to pull off a strong launch otherwise i won't be able to burst it, Bahamuts defenses are a lot stronger than they were before. However, i have one last trick that not even Athena or Lane know about...
Athena: Ready Set!!
3 2 1 GO SHOOT!!!
*The beys landed in the stadium and Bahamut took the center once more as it waited for Spriggan to attack*
Boa: Now bring it on Spriggan!!
*Spriggan rushes in for the attack*
Shu: Push them back!!
*Spriggan attacks Bahamut with all its might, every blow was advancing Bahamuts lock and it transformed into a perfect circle once again*
Boa: Now, Panic Guard!!
*Spriggans attacks were now ineffective as it couldn't break through Bahamuts guard*
Shu: Let them have it, Counter Break!!
*Spriggan comes in and manages to move Bahamut but not break through its guard*
Boa: You won't break through our defenses, Just give up already!!
Shu: You shouldn't underestimate me or Spriggan so easily!!
*Spriggan takes to the upper deck and into the speed cradle as it began to pick up immense speed. Athena watched in awe as Spriggan was gaining even more speed, Spriggan was starting to spin so fast that it looked like it was about to break the sound barrier*
Athena: Amazing.. i didn't know Spriggan was this fast..!
Shu: Spriggan!!!
*Spriggan was now imbued with an aura of flames as it began to get even more faster*
Boa: Let's go!! Bahamut!!!
*Spriggan bolts out of the speed cradle as it races towards Bahamut at lightning speed*
Shu: World Spark!!
*Spriggan was so fast that it broke through Bahamuts defenses and sent it flying upward, Bahamut flew in front of Boas face and it burst and Boa looked at Shu absolutely shocked*
Boa: No way! It can't be!!
Athena: World Spriggan with a burst finish! Shu Kurenai wins!!
*Shu smiled as he raised up his hair, revealing his scar. to Boas surprise, Shu's scar was glowing a crimson red*
Shu: That was a fun battle Boa, your Bahamut is a tough bey to beat.
*Boa regains his composure and smiles*
Boa: Yeah, your Spriggan never ceases to amaze.
Shu: I hope we get to battle again.
*Boa nods and both bladers shake hands, Athena watched as she thought for a moment as she all of a sudden started to feel incredibly cold*
Athena: W-What is all this?
*Athena ran off as she began to run out of the Sparking Arena, nothing was starting to feel real to her as she lost consciousness and fell to the floor. She is then brought into a void, it was all just pure white, white for miles. Athena looked around and she saw Lane standing behind her*
Athena: Lane..?
*Lane turned and looked towards her, still wearing his Snake Pit outfit*
Lane: Athena..
Athena: How've you been?
Lane: That's none of your concern.
*Athena sighed and stepped closer to him*
Athena: You still mad that i defeated you a while back?
Lane: Why would i be mad about that, i no longer have a reason to even acknowledge you!
*Athena points her finger on Lanes heart, Lane looked at her a bit surprised*
Athena: The Lane i seek is in here somewhere, and i will not stop until the Lane i know and love shows itself once again.
*Lane takes a step back and slaps her hand away*
Lane: I don't need you to interfere! In fact, i don't need you at all! Ashtem has promised me power and i will make sure i get it!
Athena: you know, the Snake Pit might offer quick results but you good and well that they're just using you... You're just too afraid to admit it because you know the truth just as well as i do! But again, you're too afraid to admit that.
*Lane was at a loss for words, Athena takes Lanes hand and holds it tightly*
Athena: I want to see you happy, you used to be so kind.. why did you have to go and change on me?
*Lane looked at her, stunned. Athenas warm hand was making Lane feel weird on the inside*
Lane: A-Athena...
*Lane reaches out and takes Athenas other hand, Athenas eyes widen as she could feel light shining within Lanes heart*
Athena: Lane.. I-
*Before she could finish, Athena instantly snaps back to reality as she woke up in the halls of the Sparking Arena. Athena was at a loss of breath as she looked around, she had no idea what just happened or what she was doing before the dream. She gets up and runs out of the Sparking Arena but she then runs into Phi once more*
Athena: P-Phi!?
Phi: Athena, it's been some time.
Athena: Yeah it has, W-what do you want?
*Phi holds up his bey: Eternal Phoenix to Athena, who was kinda taken by surprise a bit*
Phi: The time has come, Phoenix wants to challenge your new Adeona and see what it can really do.
Athena: R-Really?!
*Phi smiled slightly, he lowered his bey and led Athena to an undisclosed location in the middle of nowhere*
Athena: Where are we?
Phi: This is where i usually train, it's peaceful out here with nobody to interrupt me while i train.
Athena: I feel you, peaceful training is often the best training!
*Phi smiled as he pulled out his launcher, his launcher was the same one he had used years ago during the ChoZetsu era but this time it was upgraded to a Sparking Launcher*
Phi: Well now, shall we begin?
Athena: Yeah lets go!
3 2 1 GO SHOOT!!!
*The beys land in the stadium and both beys go at it with a fierce clash*
Athena: Let's go Adeona! Push through it!!
Phi: Push them back, now Phoenix!
*Both beys get sent back and they come back in for another head on collision*
Athena: Guardian Strike!!
Phi: Phoenix Break!!
*Both beys clashed and gusts of wind burst from the stadium as it whipped and blew in their faces*
Phi: Go Phoenix! Scorch them to ashes!!
*Phoenix counters and claims center stage, Adeona gets sent reeling up the stadium as it powered up for its next attack*
Athena: Now lets go! Show them what you've got!!!
*Adeona began to glow as its flare trailed behind, Phi looks on in surprise as the Flare mesmerized him*
Phi: Not bad... no actually, that's incredible..!
*Adeona rushes in for the next attack*
Athena: Send it flying!! Guardian Strike!!!
*Adeona clashes with Phoenix as a massive ball of white fire emerges from the stadium, both beys go flying and they land outside the stadium at the same time*
Athena: What the-?!
Phi: It's a draw.
*Both bladers picked up their beys as Phi was still starstruck by Adeonas light*
Phi: That inferno.. could that have been...?
*Phi looked at Athena who was examining her bey and making sure it was ok. His opposite colored eyes glistening in the day time as he was starting to get serious..*
---Meanwhile back in Project: Shadow, Lane had encountered his final trial. he stood at a massive doorway that was elegantly decorated. He pushes the doors open and he stepped into a black and purple room and in the center of it all was a black sphere, Lane walks forward and the doors behind him slam shut with a loud bang*
???: State your name!
Lane: I am Lane Valhalla and i am a blader, I've come here seeking power!
???: And tell me Lane Valhalla, do you really believe you can handle the power that i hold?
Lane: I do.
???: Well then, let me show you my true form!
*The black sphere began to glow an evil purple that was incredibly blinding, Lane looks up and a titan like figure with massive purple wings looked down at him*
Lane: You're..
Lucifer: Lucifer.
Lane: It's.. It's you!
Lucifer: It's time to decide!
*Lucifer outstretched its hand and Lane took it and a massive jolt of power rushes through Lanes veins as Lane could feel his soul being torn apart. Lane screamed out as loud as he could and Lucifer screamed out with him. Lane was completely possessed.*
*The capsule doors of Project: Shadow opened and Lane stepped out as the steam covered his brightly glowing eyes, a compartment on the capsule opened up and a new bey lied on a pillow tray*
Ashtem: The bey you created. it's 100% complete.
*Lane looked at his new bey, Lucifer glowed an evil aura as Lane took it, more and more power surging through his veins*
Lane: I'll crush everyone in the world with this bey: Emperor Lucifer!
*Lane stepped up to a stadium and put his new bey on his launcher*
Lane: GO SHOOT!!!
*6 rubber tabs extend from the 2D Chassis on Lucifer, Lucifer lands in the stadium and takes the center in record time. Lucifer begins to glow in Flare as it began to break the stadium from the sheer power of its spin*
Lane: I'll break every legend and every blader until there is nobody left to break, and i'll save the biggest blader for last.. Athena Valhalla!!
[TBC]
Next Chapter: The Tyranical Bird Of Fire! Eternal Phoenix!!
Athena and Phis' match continues! Later, Athena explains her nightmares to Shu and the rest of her friends.