"Toko, Nika! What are you guys doing here?" Shu asked, walking into Kris's office.

Sasha stood near the desk with her arms crossed while Kris wore a welcoming smile.

"Where's Valt?" Toko asked

Shu's smile instantly fell, because earlier he had just been on the phone with Hyde.

According to him Valt's condition had been worsening to the point where he wasn't even listening to Hyde anymore. And his power, at one point Valt had even turned his power on Hyde.

The situation was bad, Toko and Nika being here along with Delta and his problems weren't helping.

"We're worried about him, Shu. Fubuki's been giving updates telling us that he's on some training journey but now he's been declared missing. We just want to keep him safe. We've been trying to keep things under control but our mom is worried!"

Looking over at Fubuki he didn't meet his gaze and instead looked down.

Letting out a sigh Shu got into one knee and met the twins at his level.

"We'll find Valt, I know it must be scary knowing that he's out there somewhere missing but knowing him he's fighting to take down Theodore."

Smiling, both of the twins nodded happily.

"In the meantime why don't you guys stay in a guest room overnight?"

As the twins left the room Shu sat down on the couch as Aiger, Silas, Cuza, Free, Rantaro and his brother came in.

"I should've never let Valt leave." He mumbled to himself.

Standing up he tried to put that thought out of the way as he gathered his courage to tell everyone what he heard from Hyde.

"Valt isn't missing in fact he was just at the Dread Tower with Hyde. His condition is worsening to the point where he's not listening anymore. Hyde doesn't know his destination but he does know the journey, he mentioned about a map."

"Oh! I know what he's talking about!"

Sasha rushed out of the room and came back with a medium sized box.

Dumping out the contents, Brown Eyes mask clattered to the floor silencing the room.

Shu said nothing but his eyes were full of hatred staring down at the mask.

Finally a single piece of paper fell out last with Sasha grabbing it and she held it out for everyone to see.

"Do you know anything about this Shu?"

Taking the map from Sasha he looked it over.

"When I was there Theodore kept everything digital but there's no doubt that this is a trap."

Handing the map back to Sasha he couldn't help but feel bad that he didn't know anything else about the place.

Theodore had always been very selective on what he told certain bladers, those who were higher up he could trust with more secrets and information while newbies like Shu at the time only knew a few things.

"But maybe Norman would know something, Theodore did always trust Norman and Silver...or I mean Phi with everything." Shu said thinking.

But where was Norman these days Shu hadn't talked to him in ages.

"I'll take care of it." Sasha said answering Shu's own question

"And with this map we can meet up with Valt at his next stop and hopefully help him. But what about the twins?"Kris said taking the map from Sasha.

"They need to stay here, if they come with us who knows what Theodore will do with them or how bad they'll worry even more. We need to keep them far away from the Snake Pit."

"Then it's a plan, Sasha you'll contact Norman, Kris can get plane tickets, Fubuki I need you to try and figure out the destination on this map, Ranjiro, and Rantaro I'll need you to work with Silas and Cuza to teach them how to run your camp and to help run BC Sol while we're gone."

"What about me?"

Looking over at Aiger he was smiling.

"Start packing, pack anything you need and that goes for everyone else because if we can pull this off we may be face to face with Valt and possibly a trap."

******

The next morning, Shu Kurenai stood on the roof watching the sun rise, spreading it's beautiful colors across the sky.

It was early in the morning and not a lot of people were awake so instead of having breakfast Shu decided to reflect up on the roof.

There were so many things that weren't adding up, especially the fact that Theodore needed the mask. Or that they were walking into a trap but Theodore was still in prison.

It was amazing how many strings he was able to pull even from being in a prison cell. But then again he did have help from Delta and who knows what other Snake Pit bladers were still hiding until Theodore needed them.

But then there was Valt, they had always been close even from the start and yet Valt didn't tell him what was going on. Valt had chosen to run away; it felt like then facing his problems or to face Shu himself.

It almost felt like betrayal in a way, for Valt to just turn his back to Shu and run. Shu knew he could help him, out of anyone he knew what he was going through and yet Valt had just left him.

Shu may have been able to understand Valt's situation but deep down maybe Valt had been right. He didn't know how to fix something like this only Valt did by reaching out to him and not giving up on him.

And by corrupting Valt it was the ultimate checkmate for Theodore. Taking out the last hope of fixing corrupted bladers.

And those who were inmune like Free, Theodore would find other methods of torture for them until they turned.

Behind Shu, the door opened and someone stepped out.

Turning around it was Free standing in the doorway wearing a bored look.

"Free, what are you doing up here?" Shu asked calmly.

Free wasn't his favorite person right now considering he let Valt leave without consulting the rest of the team first.

"I have something for you."

Walking up next to Shu, Free took out a tarnished bey but despite it's discolored appearance Shu instantly recognized it.

"Legend Spryzen?"

Taking it from Free he ran his hand along its edges, the paint was faded and the metal was slowly rusting but it's basic pattern and details were there.

"I don't deserve it."

Shu held it back out to Free.

"I treated Spryzen back then like trash." He added looking back at the sunrise.

But instead of taking it Free curled Shu's fingers around the bey.

"Just as Spryzen needed you at the time, you'll need him back."

Leaning against the edge, Free ignored Shu's pleas for guidance and eventually things quieted between the two.

"Look, I'm sorry for blaming you for being the reason Valt left, it's just...he's usually more open than this."

Free said nothing and neither did Shu.

"Sometimes I wonder where does this all end or does it never end? How many more kids have to suffer from Theodore or Phi..."

"We've all suffered Shu,"Free said looking away.

"I'm sorry I mean we're not exactly winning here. Even with Theodore in jail he's still causing problems and then there's Delta and Valt. It just feels like everyone's going in their own direction; each is why Theodore is able to take advantage of them! It's going all out of control."

"Listen, these people look up to you Shu, you can't be talking like how we've already lost. The Snake Pit is like a black hole, it'll just keep sucking you in deeper until there's nothing left. It can get inside you and bring out your worst fear. Which is why we can't let anyone else suffer."