*The next day had come and the Block B Round 2 matches were about to start shortly, Athena talks with Shu about what she had witnessed the day before*
Shu: So Lanes flare is starting to shine at last.
Athena: Yeah, i didn't think it would be this early. Lane on the other is still aggressive as always, no changes there.
Shu: Well either way, it is still progress.
Athena: Yeah i guess... you should be preparing for your match.
Shu: I got plenty of time, don't worry about me.
Athena: Your opponent is Lui, you need all the training you can possibly get.
Shu: While that may be true, i can assure you Lui won't be able to beat us, i can guarantee that.
*Athena lowers her head a bit*
Athena: If you say so.. still you still at least need to be thinking of a plan to take him down.
Shu: I got it all figured out, just sit back and watch is all you can do now. And on the topic of focusing on matches, your Semi-Finals opponent is Aiga and don't forget he is using a new Achilles than he did before. Triumphant Achilles is not going to be an easy bey to beat.
Athena: I already know that and quite honestly, i'm scared. If i lose in the Semi-Finals then that's it for me, there is no going back from that.
Shu: I'm sure you'll come up with something, after all you were able to beat Valt with an unplanned aerial attack, if you were able to do that then you can come up with a strategy to beat Aiga.
Athena: I guess..
---Meanwhile---
*Free De La Hoya stood in one of the training rooms as he talked with Valt for a bit*
Valt: So you're up against Lane huh?
Free: Yeah and you can bet everything that i will win no matter what, he destroyed me back then but i won't let it happen ever again, i can guarantee it.
Valt: What's your plan?
Free: I'm going to absorb its power and try to win by a Spin finish.
Valt: You're not gonna go for a burst?
Free: Trying to burst a bey like Lucifer will require a lot of power.. Power that Fafnir probably won't be able to handle without receiving severe damage, therefore if i can't burst it then i can at least win by a Spin Finish.
Valt: I see.
Free: That said, i'm ready for him.
---Later---
*The 1st Match for Block B Round 2 was finally on and Lane and Free finally made it to the arena, both bladers stepped up to the stadium*
Lane: Free De La Hoya, it's been quite some time since we last faced off.
Free: Indeed it has, quite honestly i'm not playing any games today, i'm taking you down if it's the last thing i do.
Lane: Tough words coming from someone who lost so badly in the past.
Free: You can trash talk all you want but it'll be me who comes out on top!
Referee: First Battle!!!
---
*Athena watches from the crowd and she quite honestly didn't know what was now going to happen*
Athena: Lane..
---
Referee: Ready Set!!!
3 2 1 GO SHOOT!!!
*The beys land in the stadium and Lucifer immediately takes the center as Fafnir comes in with a slow spin*
Lane: Please!? You're gonna fight Lucifer like that, yeah right! As if absorbing my spin will defeat me!!
*Fafnir clashes with Lucifer and began to absorb its spin with every strike*
Free: If i can't burst Lucifer then i can for sure win by a Spin Finish!
Lane: Is that so? Well then, that will be your downfall!
*Fafnir maximized its spin and it disengages from Lucifer and began to speed around the stadium at top speed*
Free: All part of the plan..
*Fafnir races around the stadium as it comes charging towards Lucifer*
Free: Mirage Claw!!
*Fafnir clashes with Lucifer with all its might and sent it flying with a brutal attack! Lane simply grins as his Flare glowed to life, small golden sparkles began to emit from it*
---
Athena: There it is again! However let's see if that means anything if at all..
---
Lane: You know what to do! Lucifer!!
*Lucifer entered its dark flare and it was actually starting to regain its balance and start speeding up*
Free: How is it..?!
Lane: You made a terrible mistake thinking you could ever defeat Lucifer with a ridiculous plan like that! You're nothing compared to me!!
*Free simply grins, veins began to poke out of his arms and face as he began to get super fired up*
Free: Is that so..? Well in that case, i'll be sure to make this battle... interesting..!!
*Fafnir took the center and its Nothing Driver started to shrink*
Lane: He's gonna try and use that move.. in the face of Lucifer, that won't work!
Free: It's time! Fafnir!!!
*Fafnir started to get even faster as its started getting shorter and shorter thanks to the Nothing Driver compressing downward*
Lane: Is that all you've got?!
*Lucifer comes charging in and slams into Fafnir with full force as a loud explosion rings out! Both bladers yell out with all they've got as streaks of gold and purple shoot out of the stadium! Both beys get sent flying back once again*
Free: Now! Nothing Break!!
Lane: Shatter! Dark Matter Slash!!!
*Both beys shoot onto the 4th level like a rocket and both beys clash head on and Lucifer shatters Fafnir with little to no effort at all! Free watches in horror as the pieces of Fafnir slash his face and arms, leaving relatively shallow cuts*
---
*Athena fell back in her seat as tears streamed down her face, she had a feeling this would happen. Lane hadn't changed at all*
Athena: Why... WHY!!!?!
---
Referee: D-Dark Matter Lucifer, Burst Finish! Lane Valhalla is the winner!!
Lane: Don't feel too bad Free, it was your fate to be destroyed by me and would you look at that, it would appear you have fallen.
*Lane began to laugh like a complete maniac as his Flare began to grow even more, its burning flames scattering across the arena! Free retrieved the broken fragments of his Fafnir and walked out*
---Later---
*Valt stood in the halls of the ship and he talked with Shu for a bit about the previous match*
Shu: Well Lane has officially made it to the Semi-Finals.
Valt: Yeah, seems like it.
*Both were silent for a while and Shu finally broke the silence*
Shu: Did you even have any faith that Free would be able to defeat Lane?
*Valt sighed and just looked at him*
Valt: As much as i hate to say it, No i didn't and i doubt he did either.
Shu: I had a feeling Lane would've won but not so easily, what was he thinking trying to absorb Lucifers power?
Valt: I don't know, maybe Lucifer really is invincible.
Shu: I guess it is, and nobody has the bravery to take its full might..
---Meanwhile---
*Athena trains hard in one of the training rooms as she launches her bey with all her might, trying to get the strongest launch possible*
Athena: Adeona, get some speed going!!
*Adeona lost its control and it slams into the wall and went flying out of the stadium*
Athena: Tch.. it's still so frustrating!
*Athena remembers Fafnir getting destroyed the first time in New York by First Uranus and now here in the tournament by Lucifer*
Athena: I still can't believe it, how could Free lose to someone like him..?!
*Athena kept on training as these thoughts continued to race through her mind*
---Later---
*The final match of Round 2 was on and it was the long anticipated Lui VS Shu! Athena had gotten settled in her seat as she didn't want to miss this at all. Both bladers step up to the stadium and get ready to battle*
Lui: Shu Kurenai, it's an honor to finally get to battle with you again.
Shu: The pleasure is all mine, i've been waiting for this for a long time.
Lui: Is that so? Well in that case, i'll show you a true nightmare and crush Spriggan!
Shu: You're the one getting crushed.
Referee: First Battle!!
*Shu changes his Spriggan into Right Spin Defense Mode for the first battle*
Lui: Defense Mode huh? He's gonna try and defend against my attacks, well it's no use!!
Referee: Ready Set!!
3 2 1 GO SHOOT!!!
*The beys land in the stadium and Spriggan takes the center right off the bat and Longinus races around the stadium*
Lui: No matter what Spin direction or mode you choose, i'll be the one who comes out on top! Go Longinus!!!
*Longinus comes charging in towards Spriggan with full speed*
Shu: World Spin!!
*Spriggan uses its Chassis in its free spin mode to repel Longinus' attack! Longinus keeps going but it couldn't land a dead on attack*
Lui: You think that'll stop us?!
*Longinus uses its upper attack and knocked Spriggan up the stadium but it used the rubber on its Unite' driver to stop itself and hit the rim of the stadium instead*
Shu: Let loose with your Counter Break!!
*Spriggan accelerates to great speeds and slams into Longinus with full strength, sending it flying out of the stadium*
Lui: W-What-?!
Referee: World Spriggan, Over Finish! Shu Kurenai earns 1 point!
Shu: How's that?
Lui: I'll admit you've gotten a little stronger, however this time around, i won't be holding back anymore, got it?!
Shu: So he was holding back there? if he was holding back there, then i wonder what he'll truly do now!
---
Athena: Shu...
---
Referee: Second Battle!
Shu: I'll continue in Right Spin Defense Mode, i'll end it just like the last battle.
Referee: Ready Set!!!
3 2 1 GO SHOOT!!!
*The beys land in the stadium and Spriggan took the center once again*
Shu: Yes!!
Lui: So you're playing Defense again huh? It's utterly useless, we've already seen this before!!
*Longinus comes barreling down the center and it starts releasing a vicious volley of strikes and this time it was actually doing some damage*
Lui: What's the matter?! Cat got your tongue?!
*Longinus and Spriggan were locked in a back and forth clash and both were sent flying back from the next*
Shu: Go Spriggan!!!
Lui: Finish this Longinus! Show them no mercy!!!
Lui: Tear them to pieces, Raging Upper!
*Longinus' 3A Chassis and Rage Ring began to glow with a purple light as it comes charging straight for Spriggan! With all its might, it sends Spriggan flying high into the air and it went out of the stadium*
Referee: Rage Longinus, Over Finish! Lui Shirasagijo earns 1 point!! The score is now 1-1!
Lui: You're lucky that wasn't a burst, because that would've been the end.
*Lui lets out a big laugh as Shu retrieves his bey and stares back at Lui with a small smile*
Shu: You're strong Lui, you're incredibly strong but it'll be me who wins this match.
Lui: Oh really? We'll see if that's really true! I'm gonna end this with a pull powered attack!
Referee: Third Battle!!
*Shu began to change Spriggan into Left Spin Attack Mode*
Shu: We're not holding anything back, we're gonna finish this for good!
Lui: Attack Mode huh? He's gonna try and end it with a burst, well it's no use!!!
Referee: Ready Set!!!
3 2 1 GO SHOOT!!!
*The beys land in the stadium for the final time and both beys were on the move this time*
Lui: Regardless of what mode you choose, Longinus is just going to crush you all the same!!
*Longinus slams into Spriggan with full force as its Burst stopper wings were pushed back in and kept Spriggans lock from advancing*
Shu: Don't think you've won yet! Show them what we've got!!
*Spriggan charges ahead and both beys were locked in a back and forth clash with each other, neither one was willing to give an inch*
Lui: Just bring the heat already Kurenai!! Longinus is getting bored!!!
Shu: Spriggan!!
Shu: Counter Break now!!!
*Spriggan races up the slope of the stadium as it chases after Longinus with full speed, flames trailing behind it*
Lui: Not good.. with how fast it's going, i can't take an attack like that!
*Spriggan knocks Longinus high into the skies*
Lui: Longinus!!
*Longinus lands on the 3rd Level and it uses the slope to gain a bit of speed*
Shu: W-What the-?!
Lui: I told you this was useless! Longinus!!!
*Both beys race to the center and clash with an all-out fury as a strong explosion rips from the stadium! Both beys weren't willing to back down from the clash and the storm from the explosion was getting even stronger*
Lui: Crush them!
Shu: I don't think so!!!
*Both beys go flying and Longinus burst first and Spriggan second*
Lui: N-No way-!!
Referee: World Spriggan, Burst Finish! Shu Kurenai wins with a score of 3-1!!
*Lui picked up the pieces of his bey and stared up at his rival*
Lui: Shu Kurenai, i have to give you props for that one. Managing to beat me is not an easy feat.
Shu: Well i just knew i could.
Lui: You may have won this time but next time, you may not be so lucky.
*Lui turns and walks out of the arena and Shu began to do the same. The 2nd Round was over.*
---
*Athena takes a look at the Semi-Final Matches and her heart sank a bit. Her opponent in the Semi-Finals was Aiga and his Triumphant Achilles, Shu was up against Lane Valhalla*
Athena: Adeona, if me and Lane win here then we'll face each other in the finals and i know for sure that i will win..
[TBC]
Next Chapter: Swords Up, Semi-Finals!!
The Sparking Legend Tour nears its conclusion with an explosive Semi-Final! The fight for the Finals is on!!
5 more chapters to go.