Sorry for the short chapter, the next ones will be really long and I'll be sure to post another with this one.

The next day, the teams were announced consisting of Free, Lui, Nightfell, Kris, Sasha, Norman, Xavier trying to take down Theodore.

While Diago, Suoh, Aiger, Nika, Hyde, Delta, Zac were going to help Shu to get to Valt.

After having another feast-like breakfast there was a bit of small talk going on between people but after leaving the realization of what was going to happen was starting to set in.

All of them were going to be facing friends and family, people they once knew and loved twisted and turned into Theodore's image by the power of the dark resonance all being controlled by their former friend Valt.

Even though everyone had to split up to avoid attention when getting to the airport their flights were all the same sitting in silence for a couple of hours both knowing and not knowing what they were about to walk into.

For some this battle, this fight meant revenge while for others it was meant for them to be a family again, and for others it was a chance to get their friend back. But for Shu he didn't have a single reason to be going to the Snake Pit, no his reasons were everyone's and more. Out of anyone returning back to the place where everything started only made him even more nervous.

He had been to the Snake Pit countless times before except this time they were going to fight Theodore and Valt on Theodore's turf where he had all the advantages. Deep down Shu knew they should've taken the fight somewhere else but even if they had done that Theodore would only send his army and not be there himself.

But even with Theodore having the advantage Shu was still determined to win no matter what cost.

Every angle, trick and possibility had been thoroughly thought out and even if he was corrupted or tortured they would know what to do.

Because Shu was their last chance, Rantaro, his other best friend had failed, Sasha, got close and even himself had managed to do it but it was Theodore.

This was no longer about bringing Valt back, they had proved they could do it. No, this was about defeating Theodore because until he was gone Valt and all those corrupted bladers would never be free.

Looking at the window the jungles of Mexico came into view causing Shu to stiffen up.

"We're here." 

******

After saying goodbye to both Kris and Taiga the two teams ventured off into the jungle. The night before Shu, Free, Kris and Taiga all agreed it would be better to have Kris and Taiga stay back considering Taiga had his family to take care of and in case they lost Kris could dig up something to have Theodore arrested again.

For Shu's team Diago was their guide and while Free led them through the forest onto the other side of the Snake Pit.

Hiding within the trees, Free's group went in first and then after a few minutes Shu's group went in next with the door shutting behind them, trapping them in the darkness.

From afar, Theodore sat watching the pod containing Valt. No activity had been shown and the data had rapidly declined leaving thoughts of both worry and failure for Theodore.

But unlike then, now the pod was glowing a deep purple causing a dark smile slowly spread across his face.

Turning to the perimeter cameras he smiled at thought of his visitors thinking they were going to end this little dispute when really they were going to start it.

Theodore laughed haunting the Snake Pit with his presence as the glass began to crack.

*Both figuratively and literally*