Meanwhile on the other side of the Snake Pit, Free's group got in through a different entrance unlike Shu's.

There was nothing to be said about what they were going to do and even the sky slowly darkening to make way for the night was a bold reminder enough if they failed.

Shu's group, unlike theirs, had the easier part, the real challenge was going to be finding Theodore and somehow defeating him. At least Shu's group knew where to find Valt or at least the general area and Shu was going to get through to Valt. Sasha had been able to do it before, Free had no doubt that Shu would be able to do it too but it was beating Valt Free was more worried about.

Opening the door, Norman slowly opened it as it made a quiet creaking sound but as soon as he peaked out Free grabbed him and pulled him back into the hallway not shutting the door but keeping it cracked.

Free held up his finger to Norman's lps and pointed into the Snake Pit where a lonesome blader was walking down the hallway.

"Fubuki." Sasha whispered.

She started to open the door when Free closed it, stopping her.

"That isn't Fubuki anymore." he whispered.

Closing the door, he wondered why Theodore had less bladers than usual but before he could think.

"We need a distraction, if we're going to get past him." Sasha said looking through the crack watching as more bladers were marching down the hallway all wearing similar outfits but in different colors.

"It's scary how alike they all are," she whispered to Xavier.

Waiting for his response she felt something brush past her and looked back in the Snake Pit.

Xavier was walking straight towards Fubuki and the other bladers confidently but with a bit of hesitation, it was a wonder they hadn't seen him yet.

"Xavier, get back here! What are you doing?!" Sasha practically whispered screamed, this got the attention of Free Norman, Lui, Nightfell causing them too to watch Xavier.

"Being a hero." he said, giving her a smile before confronting Fubuki.

But before he could do what he had planned he froze at the sight of Fubuki

"There's something wrong with him." Xavier said, facing him with his back to the group.

Sasha stopped crouching and straightened up, Free was the first one to follow Xavier and slowly one by one everyone else followed.

"Wasn't he just walking a minute ago?" Sasha asked, confused.

Facing him she cautiously took a step towards him until he fell to the ground unexpectedly, Sasha ran over and threw his mask across the room and checked his temperature as everyone else gathered around.

After getting a good read she backed away back towards the group

"He's burning up Free, I don't like this, something is happening to him, I don't know what.." she trailed off.

Fubuki then opened his eyes but they were darkened and tainted by Brown Eye's power but that power was fading and it seemed like Fubuki was fighting it.

"I don't like this," Free started.

"There should've been guards and fighting but there's nobody here, I'm starting to think Kurenai was wrong about Valt being here." Lui commented, crossing his arms and looking around unconcerned about Fubuki.

"He isn't." Free said.

"Then why would Theodore have sent weak bladers like Fubuki here?"Nightfell said thinking.

"It's simply because he wouldn't, we know that Valt controls most of their army but if something is happening to them then maybe he feels it too and it's affecting them too. Maybe that's why Fubuki is able to fight it right now." said Sasha suddenly feeling hopeful again.

Grabbing Fubuki's hand, she looked into his closed eyes.

"Fubuki, can you hear me? Can you fight this and even help us?"

Fubuki faintly nodded his head but didn't get up, instead he gripped her hand and the power came back.

"We better leave him, he's no use to us like this." Lui said moving along with Nightfell.

Sasha gave him a dirty look but Lui was already walking away.

Sasha smiled at Fubuki one last time before joining the rest of the group.

"But if Fubuki isn't fully under Valt's control right now then I wonder what's happening to him..."

"That isn't our concern Sasha," Lui said.

"Then maybe it should be Lui! Theodore killed Phi! He would just as easily kill any one of us, so stop pretending you're above everyone!"

Sasha's last words echoed in the Snake Pit silencing the rest of the group.

A screech responded, along with an inhumane moan and growl. Free looked over the edge of the catwalk and looked over the edge. Hundreds of unaffected bladers looked back up at him causing him to back away from the edge.

"Stairs now!"

Following Free the rest of the group sprinted towards the nearest door just as the first couple of corrupted bladers reached the top of their level chasing after them. Everyone got into the hallway and Xavier shut the door behind them holding it so the corrupted bladers couldn't get inside.

"Run! Go leave me!"

A hand got through the door along with another.

Free wanted to say something but instead pursed his lips together and turned around following Norman up the stairs along with everyone else, Sasha gave Xavier one last look as the corrupted bladers got through the door trampling Xaviera and holding him down.

Faces she knew were in that crowd of corrupted bladers and it sickened her to her core that these used to be friends and even family from BC Sol but now.. 

She turned away from the scene unable to accept what was going on with Rickson, Cuza, Rantaro, Kit and Silas's faces haunting her.

"Sasha c'mon!" Free yelled from the doorway with Norman holding it out for her.

She sprinted back up the stairs and through the doorway as Norman closed it and locked it behind her.

The moans and inhumane noises ceased while Xavier's screaming took its place instead , Sasha turned white at the sound of it as she backed away from the door.

"Good going Sasha, now the entire Snake Pit is after us and we've lost Xavier."

"Enough Lui," Free said, giving him a dirty look.

"Where are we?" Sasha asked to change the subject while looking around.

"Theodore's office, the control room is also on this floor among other things.." Norman said, looking away.

Sasha gave him a weird look and turned her attention to the bookshelf, she figured she'd find things on how to dissect bladers or how to be an evil billionaire or something but instead most of his books were about Biology and Math.

"General Chemistry....Analytical Chemistry....Principles of Biochemistry....Intro into Organic Chemistry.... Essentials of Genetics, Biochemistry, Drug Index, National Formulary..."

"For being such a bad guy, Theodore sure knows alot about genetics and chemistry." Sasha said, picking up a book.

"No kidding," Free said, looking up at the various Bachelor degrees and pHds in frames.

Norman, instead went over to the entrance and tried the door but instead it was locked. He tried pulling on the handle along with Sasha while Free, Lui and Nightfell watched from afar with Lui even snickering .

"Are you all just going to stand there and watch or are you going to help us?" Sasha said.

"Get back." Free said, causing Sasha and Norman to move.

Eyes glowing golden alongside Lui's glowing purple they both held out their launchers and aimed their beys right for the door causing it to be knocked down by the shear force and power of Lui and Free.

A long, dark and ghostly hallway welcomed them, causing a shift in the atmosphere darkening it and warping the good mood.

"He's here."