*The next morning came and Athena was hard at work trying to find a way to beat Lane but her thoughts were interrupted when she sees Valt standing over her and gives his signature smile*

Athena: Valt.. How's Valkyrie doing?

*Valt held up his Brave Valkyrie which was good as new*

Valt: It's doing just fine, the damage Lane did wasn't extensive so repairing Valkyrie wasn't too hard.

Athena: I wish i could've done something to stop him.. if i had, then Valkyrie wouldn't have been destroyed!

*Valt simply just looks at her and smiles and places his hand on her shoulder*

Valt: You don't have to blame yourself for whatever trouble he causes and you aren't responsible for what he is doing.

Athena: Valt..

Valt: Lane has to be stopped but it's time you stop blaming yourself for him destroying beys.

*Athena nodded and smiled as Shu and Wakiya came up to them*

Athena: Shu? Wakiya?!

Wakiya: We've been doing some thinking and we've decided that we're gonna hold a tag team battle for the world to see, it will be a showcase of Legend power to get the fans excited for the Sparking Legend Tour!

Shu: It'll be an exhibition battle so it won't affect our ranks at all. The teams have already been chosen, you and Lane will be facing off against me and Valt.

Athena: Wait- I'm teaming up with Lane?!

Wakiya: Yeah.. But the teams have already been chosen and finalized so theres no going back now, i'm sorry but you're stuck until the battle is over.

*Athena felt like she was losing a grasp of reality, her own brother who was consumed by darkness was HER tag partner*

---Later that day---

*Lane was training at his abandoned factory as Athena walked in. Lane stared at her with a angry expression*

Lane: I can't believe i have you of all people as a tag partner..

Athena: I can say the same.. but whether you like it or not, we're gonna have to work together.

Lane: Work together my foot. You will stay out of my way as i crush both Spriggan and Valkyrie..

Athena: The whole idea of a tag battle is to work together! just so we're clear, i won't hesitate to attack Lucifer and knock you out of the battle.. you didn't forget last night did you?

*Lane looks away and frowns*

Lane: Fine... but if we lose then i will not show mercy on your Adeona when we face off again.. but then again, i already have intentions on destroying Adeona in the first place.

Athena: Just shut up and train.. how about you save that energy for the tag battle..

---Meanwhile---

Valt: So do we have a strategy for the tag battle?

Shu: With Adeona as an Attack Type and Lucifer a Defense Type, it's best if we exploit their weaknesses to defeat them.

Valt: Weaknesses?

Shu: Athena and Lane are no doubt going to have poor teamwork which was to be expected from the start but we can't just focus on that. I'll go with Left Spin Attack Mode and focus on Lucifer and you'll focus on Adeona which will probably go with its Left Spin Defense Mode to balance everything out.

Valt: Alright then, let's see how it plays out tomorrow!

---The Next Day---

*The day of the tag battle was here as the 2 teams walk up to the old Speedstorm stadium. Athena stared up at Lane who stared at their opponents with a psychopathic look, she simply shook her head as she changed to Left Spin Attack Mode*

Valt: We've been training long and hard to take you two down so get ready.

Athena: Lane.. stick to the plan that i came up with.

Lane: No, you'll stay out of my way!

Referee: Tag Battle!!

*The 4 bladers take their positions as the battle began*

Referee: Ready Set!!

3 2 1 GO SHOOT!!!

*The 4 beys land in the stadium and Lucifer wasted no time going on the offensive as it slams into Spriggan at full force*

Lane: At long last Shu Kurenai.. we finally fight!!

Shu: Yeah, and i'll beat Lucifer once and for all.. with him!

*Lucifer and Spriggan were locked in a fierce clash as Valkyrie and Adeona were engaged in a back and forth barrage of attack*

Athena: Blow them away!

Valt: Cut them down!!

*Both beys go flying back as Lucifer and Spriggan remained locked together, Shu smiles as Lane watched in a bit of shock*

Shu: You've fallen right into our trap..

*Lane watches as Valkyrie hits the rim and races towards the 2 beys! Lucifer was then sandwiched between the 2 beys as it began to shake between them*

Athena: Adeona!

*Adeona comes charging in towards the 3 beys for the assist*

Lane: I told you to stay out of my way!!

*Lucifer breaks free and knocks Adeona into the air and both Valkyrie and Spriggan crush Lucifer between them once again*

Lane: Valt Aoi.. Shu Kurenai... Prepare to be destroyed!!!

*Adeona speeds up and it races toward the trio and slams directly into Lucifer which takes Lane by surprise*

Athena: Lane, Now!!

*Lane watched in surprise as Adeona was transferring its stamina and power to Lucifer and make it spin even longer and faster*

Athena: Lane! Are you going to counterattack or not?!

*Lane lets out a fierce yell as the belts covering his body snap and fly off as his Flare burns to life*

Lane: Lucifer!!!

Lane: True Emperor Disaster!!

*The stadium erupts in a ball of purple flames as Adeona, Spriggan and Valkyrie go flying out of the stadium from the intense special move!*

Valt: What?!

Shu: How did-?!

Referee: Emperor Lucifer and Guardian Adeona win with an Over Finish! Athena and Lane Valhalla are the winners!

*Athena picked up her bey as Lane stared down at her with a furious expression*

Lane: What were you thinking..? I had them!

Athena: We won didn't we?

Lane: I would've won even without your help, Don't do it again!

*Lane walked away as Athena sighed and followed him, Valt and Shu stared after them concerned*

---Later That Evening---

*Athena was in the park training alone and she sees Wakiya walking up and he held up his new bey, Jet Wyvern*

Athena: So you finally finished it..!

Wakiya: this is Jet Wyvern, The perfect defense type in the world! I want its first opponent to be you.

Athena: Alright then, i'll take you on.

*Both beys walk up to the stadium and Athena sets her chassis into Attack Mode. Both bladers take their positions and the battle began*

3 2 1 GO SHOOT!!!

*Both beys land in the center and Wyvern took the center immediately thanks to its Just Driver.*

Athena: it's Just Driver is very pointy so it has incredible stamina and defense, looks like this cookie is gonna be hard to crumble.

Wakiya: Well now, attack from any angle you'd like!

Athena: Alright Adeona! Get in there!

*Adeona rushes in and comes in for the attack! Wyvern uses its Free Spin ring to repel the attacks and send Adeona away*

Athena: Wait what?!

Wakiya: Wyverns ring can rotate freely plus it has rubber to further absorb attacks. Attacks like those won't put even a scratch in Wyverns defenses!

Athena: Rotating freely huh? Rotate this!!

*Adeona slams in Wyvern and begins to lay into it with a barrage of fierce attacks but Wyvern uses its ring to repel them all*

Athena: Blow it away!!

*Adeona knocks Wyvern into the air and it lands back in the stadium and wobbles*

Athena: Yes!!

*Wyvern uses its metal balls on its Around Disk and returns to the center*

Wakiya: Looks like we have ourselves a winner..

Athena: Alright Adeona, End this Bound Crush!!

*Adeona comes charging in with its wings glowing brightly*

Wakiya: Jet Shield!!

*Adeona and Wyvern clash and Wyvern gets sent flying once again and it stops at the rim of the stadium and it starts sliding down the stadium at a rapid speed*

Wakiya: Jet Crush!!

*Wyvern slams into Adeona and knocks it into the air and it burst! Athena fell to her knees as Adeonas pieces flew in front of her face*

Athena: Adeona..

Wakiya: I can't thank you enough. You were the one who made the design for Jet Wyvern and it is on its way to becoming the best defense type anyone has ever seen.

Athena: Y-Yeah..

--That night--

*Athena walked through Japan as she was heading back to the ship! As she continues, she bumps into a familiar friend.. it was Chiki Sakurai!!--

Athena: Shut the front door.. you're back!

Chiki: Sup Athena! How's it been going?

*Athena rushes forward and hugs her friend*

Athena: I can't believe it.. you're actually here..!

*Chiki smiles as Athena lets go of her*

Chiki: Well i heard my bestie is now a Legendary Blader, i also heard about the Sparking Legend Tour! You're so lucky!!

Athena: Yeah, the tournament starts in a few weeks so i'm doing some super crazy training until then. Wakiya has also held some practice tournaments on the Cruise Ship so i've really been preparing.

Chiki: Well that's good to hear, i don't have my blading gear on me right now but i can't wait to battle with you again.

Athena: Right. And by the way, this is Guardian Adeona!!

*Chiki looked in amazement at the new Adeona*

Chiki: So it's true, you actually evolved it!

Athena: Yep. Made it when i got here, kinda as a fresh start.

*Chiki places her hand on Athenas shoulder as she turns and starts to walk away*

Chiki: Keep doing what you're doing, your strength and prettiness have definitely gotten better.

*Chiki turns and walks away as Athena stared after her and smiled*

Athena: Chiki.. Soon, we'll get to have a super amazing battle.. and we'll be the ones who come out victorious.

---At Midnight---

*Lane stood in his abandoned factory as he stared in the stadium, Lucifer spun in the center of the arena as its dark flare glowed and swirled around it. Lane was still furious from earlier as he thought to himself*

Lane: Why... Why did she assist me..?

*He flashbacked to when Adeona was giving Lucifer its stamina for it to seal the victory*

Lane: I had it all under control.. Why.. did she help me...

*Lane fell to his knees as he clutched his head in pain, he then screams out as his Flare emerges and shoots out and swirls all around him aggressively*

Lane: Athena Valhalla.. when i face off with you, i'll crush you and shatter Adeona into pieces... In fact, i wonder if you noticed the little "love mark" i gave Adeona.. with the damage that Adeona sustained in last nights battle, your destruction will be even more sweeter than i imagined..

*Lane smiled with a sinister face as his Flare began to glow with Black highlights*

Lane: Just you wait dear sister.. Adeona's fabulous, glorious death is coming and i'll be the one who seals its fate!!

*Lane tilts his head like a psychopath and he laughs like a maniac*

---The Next Day---

*The new stadium was delayed so Athenas match with Lane was delayed a few days as well. Meanwhile, Athena had a match arranged with Lui Shirasagijo! Both bladers walked up to the stadium and Lui began to laugh*

Lui: Well Athena Valhalla, It's been some time since we last faced off.

Athena: Yeah, it's an honor to have battle with you once again.

Lui: The pleasure is all mine, i'll take you down with this Rage Longinus!

*Lui held up his Longinus which had actually been destroyed by Lane Valhalla a month prior, now it was fixed and ready for action once again*

Athena: So you got it fixed, alright then bring it on! I'm excited to battle Longinus once again.

Referee: Ready Set!!

3 2 1 GO SHOOT!!!

*Both beys land in the stadium and Longinus climbs the stadium as it prepares for its attack*

Lui: It's time! Longinus!!

*Longinus speeds up towards Adeona but it dodges the attack as Lui gasps in surprise as he watches Adeona circle around the stadium at full speed*

Athena: Go Adeona!!

*Adeona skids on its rubber and +L Attachment as it began to gain speed*

Lui: How interesting.. Let's see if Adeona can handle this!!

*Longinus charges in as its upper blades glowed*

Lui: Raging Upper!!!

*Longinus knocks Adeona into the air and sent it flying*

Athena: We're not done! Adeona!!

Lui: Alright! Longinus!!

*Adeona and Longinus collide and a massive explosion erupt as their fierce clash ensues. Both of their auras glowed brightly as blue and purple lights glow and dance around the arena. Both beys go flying and Longinus returns for the killing blow*

Lui: Crush it with all your might!!

*Longinus uses its 3A Chassis and Rage Ring to scoop Adeona into the air and burst it. Athena was stunned as the pieces of her bey flew past her face*

Referee: Rage Longinus with a Burst Finish! Lui Shirasagi wins with a score of 2-0!!

*Lui laughs as he turns and walks away. Athena picks up the pieces of her bey as she looks down at it with a confident look*

Athena: I know what we gotta do now.. we're gonna aim for your final awakening..

[TBC]

Next Chapter: Athenas Shining Flare!!

Athena aims to awaken Adeona to its final state in another exhibition battle, this time against her teacher: Shu Kurenai!