More screams of pain and fear resonated from the maze sending chills up Shu's spine.

Instantly, Shu knew immediately that Theodore had gotten to the Kiyama brothers.

First Fubuki, then Aiger, and Kris and now the Kiyama's? Where was Delta, Drum, Free and Sasha in all of this? Cuza and Silas are back at BC Sol...

But like Free, Shu knew Theodore was aiming to pick them off one by one.

But what scared Shu the most wasn't corruption or whatever Theodore was doing to everyone else.

It was the thought of losing Valt forever, knowing he wasn't smart or fast enough to save his friend.

All this time Shu had a feeling Valt was being corrupted but he didn't want to believe it in fact he didn't think it was possible.

But because of his hesitation Valt was now almost gone, consumed by darkness and anger.

Keeping his hand along the wall, Shu kept sprinting eager to get out of the maze.

Another scream echoed through the maze followed by crying and more screams of pain.

Then turning the corner the maze hedges ended leading Shu straight into Theodore waiting for him.

"Where is Valt!" Shu yelled with pure anger.

Theodore only laughed, amused by his anger thinking he could actually win.

"First we battle."

"Fine."

"3...2...1..."

But before the battle could start Sasha came out of the maze launching right into the battle.

"Let it Rip!"

Knocking away Spryzen out of the battle her bey rushed into Amaterios.

"Sasha?"

"He took away Valt, he took away everything from us Shu. I overheard him torturing Kris, he's bought out everything."

Colliding into Amaterios, it didn't even budge.

"It's like hitting a brick wall."

Meanwhile on the other side of the stadium a shadow had fallen over Theodore's face. A cruel smile began to spread quickly turning into a laugh.

"What's so funny!" Sasha yelled.

"You feisty... insufferable young lady, speaking out of turn...interrupting...you will be punished."

His eyes and resonance turned dark and Sasha's eyes widened.

"You think you're brave? You think you're a player in this game? You're nothing but a feisty little girl in way over her head."

Amaterios clashed with Sasha's bey causing it to lose power.

"You say you're fearless, but really you're scared Sasha."

His resonance climbed over to her with tentacle like arms grabbing her resonance turning it purple. Looking right into her eyes, his eyes turned purple and then so did hers.

"And you should be."

Clashing into her bey Amaterios tore right through it breaking it into pieces. Sasha fell over whimpering and crying softly.

"What did you do to her!"

"She got what she deserved, now then Shu...no more distractions..."

Holding out his launcher Theodore's dark power grew in size.

But before Shu could launch, Fafnir had made its way between Shu and Theodore.

Free along with Delta and Drum stood in the maze walking into the battle.

"Free." Theodore growled.

Together Fafnir and Spryzen sped towards Amaterios.

And for once Theodore looked like he was worried.

His power wavered and in that second both Free and Shu thought they could save Valt.

Together, their power merged between both beys making them even stronger.

Theodore's composure wavered and he got serious. Colliding into Amaterios it moved a little bit but didn't weaken.

Shu and even Free seemed surprised that it didn't work.

"You're both strong, I'll give you that... but you don't know how to work together."

As Spryzen and Fafnir recovered, building up power, Amaterios came in for the attack, knocking them both to the ground.

The trapdoors sent the hedges down into storage revealing Aiger crying over Achilles, Fubuki in a ball position muttering to himself, the Kiyama brothers, and Kris who had been crying.

Theodore's power died down and his eyes returned to normal.

"It's amazing how much you can train being imprisoned." He said softly.

Falling onto his knees Shu stared down at Spryzen processing the events from earlier.

With newfound anger he grabbed Spryzen and held up his bey.

"Again!"

Turning back to Shu, his eyes glowed red. Theodore for once didn't look amused. Instead he only seemed bored.

"There's a time for fighting Shu and now it is over. Go home."

Walking away Shu ran ahead blocking Theodore's way.

Theodore looked down on him with silence.

The whole room and everyone in it was silent except for something in the distance.

Slowly lowering his bey, Shu could hear distant pounding.

"Shu!"

Peeking up Shu looked around until he noticed Valt pounding on Theodore's office window.

Holding up his hand Valt silenced.

"Stop it!" Shu yelled with anger.

But Theodore knew better, that wasn't anger. Instead it was fear.

"You see, that's the thing about the maze and my power. It's designed to bring out your worst fears."

Looking around the room, everyone but Free, Delta and Drum seemed affected.

"But your biggest fear shouldn't be me or The Snake Pit, it should be Valt."

"What are you talking about Theodore." Shu growled.

"Did you ever wonder what Phi's power could truly do? As much as it can control bladers it can also control their power. The mask wasn't lost in the chaos that night no no, it was stolen on purpose."

Valt pounded on the window causing Theodore to smile.

Just barely Shu could hear Valt say: "No it's not like that, I just wanted this to go away! I wasn't actually thinking of doing it, it was only in case I got desperate. I..I just didn't want to lose you guys...."

But before he could get another word out Theodore raised his hand silencing Valt.

"Valt...Valt would never do that!"

"Then maybe you don't know him as well as you think you do."

Letting go of Valt he fell to the ground breathing heavily.

"There's still so much we don't know about the dark power, in fact we're lucky to know anything at all about it. But I do know enough to tell you it was in that moment when Valt battled Phi he corrupted or cursed Valt, planting a seed of darkness in him."

"Then why is it only affecting him now?" Shu asked.

"Because when Free gave him a little bit of his Golden power he also gave Valt immunity but now after the tournament that power is running out and is losing its ability to keep the darkness at bay. I'm only finishing what Phi started."

Theodore's eyes started glowing and his resonance turned dark.

"You were supposed to be the strongest Red Eye...you were supposed to be my masterpiece. I was training the future of Beyblade...I was helping them get stronger. But when Valt freed you he took away everything from me, my power, my bladers, and my reputation. And now with this power I could easily drain everyone's power thanks to Mr. De La Hoya over here.."

Free said nothing, looking away from everyone and down at the floor.

"But instead with Phi's mask thanks to Mr. Akane.."

Delta said nothing, avoiding eye contact.

"I can corrupt, train and control the future of Beyblade and its bladers."

A staircase rose out the side of the wall leading back to the exit. Turning away from BC Sol Theodore made his way back to his office where Valt was waiting.

"Oh, and when the time comes I'll make sure to collect my new property from you Kris."

Theodore walked away leaving BC Sol both speechless and shocked.