*The 2nd Battle of Aiga and Lanes match was about to begin and Aiga stared down at his Achilles which had suffered some severe damage from its battle against Adeona*

Aiga: Achilles... you..!

Lane: A damaged bey has no worth, a bey as brittle as that will fall to my flames.

*Aiga just stared at Lane and he was immediately pulled into the Avatar World and he comes face to face with Achilles once again*

Achilles: Aiga.

Aiga: Achilles..!

Achilles: Don't worry about the damage, just fight the way you normally do.

Aiga: But what about you?! If you're destroyed then we may not have enough time to rebuild you until the 3rd Stage starts. If i'm not ready by that point, i'll be disqualified and i don't want that.

Achilles: You made a promise with Athena that you would meet her at the Semi-Finals and i know you want that more than anything in the world.

Aiga: Yeah..

Achilles: Athena is counting on you.. Regardless of whether or not we lose, whats important is that you prove to the world you are the greatest champion to have ever walked the earth.

Aiga: I am the greatest champion! Nobody will ever defeat me!!

Achilles: Now that's the attitude i like to see, now bring that into the battle!!

Aiga: Right! And i will not let you be destroyed, i'll do everything i can to prevent that from happening.

*The avatar world disappeared and Aiga stared at Lane and smiled*

Lane: He's smiling... why..?

Referee: 2nd Battle!!!

Aiga: I'll remain in Sword Mode but let's change it up a bit..

*Aiga sets his Dimension' Driver into Mid-Balance Mode and both him and Lane took their positions*

---

*Athena watched in worry in the crowd as the 2nd Battle was about to begin, she notices Valt, Shu and Phi next to her*

Valt: Looks like Aiga has taken the first point.

Shu: However, whether or not he can keep up this lead will be decided here.

Phi: He's still going with the Infinite Swords, looks like he still plans on going for a Burst.

Athena: Y'all just don't get it.. Achilles is going to be destroyed and it'll be my fault for real, i was the one who caused that damage.. and now Achilles is going to be destroyed because of me!

---

Referee: Ready Set!!

3 2 1 GO SHOOT!!!

*Both beys land in the stadium once again and Lucifer took the center once again as Achilles comes charging in once more, it glitching out once again*

Aiga: Achilles, Infinite Shoot!!

*Achilles rushes up the slope of the stadium and races back down towards Lucifer*

Lane: Bring it on! Dark Matter Dropper!!

*The plate on Lucifers driver lowers down and Achilles slams into it with a fierce attack! Lucifer remained in the center but it was incredibly off balance and was to a point where it was swiveling around in the middle of the stadium*

Aiga: W-What the-?!

---

*Athena watched in shock and a bit of amazement at what was happening*

Athena: What is that?!

---

Lane: Dark Matter Gravity!!

*Lucifer started to swivel like a pendulum in the center of the stadium and was fending off any and all of Achilles' attacks*

Aiga: Because it's driver plate is Free spinning when it activates, it can shake and wobble around in the stadium without any sort of stamina loss, i'll have to admit.. that's kinda awesome!

*Achilles keeps on dealing a fierce barrage of attacks on Lucifer but thanks to Lucifers intense wobbling, no attack managed to damage it*

Lane: How's that? How do you like Lucifers defenses now?

Aiga: Tch.. Keep going Achilles! Infinite Buster!!

*Achilles comes rushing in and lands another brutal blow and did a bit of damage to Lucifer but it wouldn't be enough as its spin was starting to falter.*

Aiga: Achilles!

*Achilles finally loses all of its spin and comes to a complete stop as Lucifer regained its balance*

Aiga: Tch..!!

Referee: Dark Matter Lucifer with a spin finish! Lane Valhalla earns 1 point!!

Aiga: Man.. we were so close!!

---

*Athena watches with even more worry as her anxiety was starting to peak*

Athena: Aiga...

---

Lane: Looks like Achilles has gotten weaker since it took all that damage, you sure you don't want to forfeit? For Achilles sake, it would be for the best.

*Aiga scowls at Lane as he looked down at his Achilles and it began to glow*

Aiga: Achilles.. Are you sure?

*Achilles glowed even brighter in response and Aiga simply sighed in relaxation*

Aiga: Alright, we're going to go all out this time! No holding back!!

Lane: No holding back huh? Well if you aren't, i suppose i should grant the same graditude!

*Lanes Devils Mark opened up and his skin began to turn pale as a sharp black cross marking went across the bridge of his nose as his teeth began to sharpen, his hands becoming that of claws, his eyes sclera as dark as the night sky and 2 massive demonic wings sprouting from his back as the sounds of bones cracking and screams echoed in the arena! Athena, Aiga, The Ref and the rest of the legends in the crowd looked on horror at the monster Lane was turning into. Aiga and Athena were in shock at the repulsive creature that was now Lane*

Demon Lane Lvl.2: Well Now Aiga Akaba, let's have some fun!

Aiga: You can do whatever you like, but this isn't gonna go the way you think.

*The Demonic form of Lane just grinned as the 3rd Battle was about to start*

Referee: T-Third Battle!!

Aiga: Achilles, i still refuse to let you be destroyed. We'll make it out of this A-Okay and i'll get you fixed up for sure. I'll patch up any cracks and damages on you after this battle, i promise.

Demon Lane Lvl.2: This battle shall come to a close and it'll result in Achilles' destruction..

Aiga: We're not gonna hold back at all, we're gonna win this with everything we got!

---

Athena: Aiga.. You can do this, i know it...

---

Referee: Ready Set!!

3 2 1 GO SHOOT!!!

*The beys land in the stadium for the last time and Lucifer took the center once again*

Demon Lane Lvl.2: Dark Matter Dropper!!

*The plate lowers down as Achilles comes rushing in and it glitches a bit*

Aiga: Achilles! Full power!!

*Achilles slams into Lucifer with a full powered attack and sent it off balance once again*

Aiga: Tch.. not again!

Demon Lane Lvl.2: Dark Matter Gravity!!

*Lucifers intense wobbling started and it began to deflect Achilles' attacks with ease*

Aiga: We're just getting started, there's no way we're gonna lose!!

*Achilles glitches once again as a loud heartbeat sound emits from it and comes racing back in for the blow*

Demon Lane Lvl.2: Just give up!! There's no way you can win!!

Aiga: Achilles!!

*Achilles slams into Lucifer with full force and tries to push it back but fails and gets sent flying*

Demon Lane Lvl.2: I thought i told you that was useless!!!

*Achilles hits the rim of the stadium and began to gain a ton of acceleration and speed as its glowing aura was shining brightly*

Aiga: Achilles will never lose to someone like you! Go!!!

*Achilles races onto the 4th Level and slams into the wall at the top and goes flying even higher into the air*

Demon Lane Lvl.2: W-What the-?!

*Achilles was starting to fall back down and it was coming straight for Lucifer, Lane watched in horror as his eyes were opened wide*

Demon Lane Lvl.2: H-How does Achilles still have this much power left?!

Aiga: Infinite Dive!!!

*Achilles lands directly on top of Lucifer with incredible force and the attack finally sent Lucifer on the move, Aiga watched in shock as his attack barely did anything*

Aiga: N-No way.. our attack did nothing?!

Demon Lane Lvl.2: I told you before it was useless and now you're going to pay the price of your actions!

*Lucifer started to glow with its evil flare and began to speed up a lot and it was starting to climb the slope of the stadium with incredible power*

Demon Lane Lvl.2: Lucifer!!!!

Demon Lane Lvl.2: Now prepare to be destroyed!

Aiga: We're not going to let that happen!!

*Both beys were now circling around the stadium with full speed and Achilles was starting to lose a bit of its balance*

Aiga: We're not going to lose this battle! Infinite Buster!!

*Achilles swords began to glow and it glitched intensely as a loud static sound rips straight through it*

Demon Lane Lvl.2: Now, Dark Matter Slash!!

*Both beys collide with full force and the stadium erupts with a ball of evil flames! The world around Achilles went inverted for a few moments as cracks began to form within the layer of Achilles and with one final push, Lucifer breaks Achilles into multiple pieces!*

Aiga: I-It can't be...!

*Aiga fell to his knees as the pieces of Achilles fell to the ground*

---

*Athena was in absolute disbelief and she desperately wanted to believe she was just in a dream and nothing more. She fell back into her seat as tears began to fall from her eyes*

Athena: A-Aiga... no...!

---

Referee: Dark Matter Lucifer, Burst Finish! The winner is Lane Valhalla by a score of 2-1!

*Aiga held the pieces of Achilles in his hand and he looked down in pure sadness, he had a feeling this would happen but he had failed to prevent it from happening*

Aiga: Achilles.. im sorry..! I could've stopped you from being destroyed but it was foolish of me to think you could've pushed yourself even harder than i already did, i truly am sorry...

*Lanes body returned to normal as he stared down at Aiga with a sinister smile*

Lane: I told you, i would destroy Achilles and i have finally taken my revenge after you defeated me in front of everyone back then. This is what true power looks like, Aiga Akaba!

*Aiga simply turned and walked off the stage with nothing left to say*

---A little while later---

*The 1st Stage had finally ended and the 2nd Stage would begin in a few days, Aiga stood on the bow of the ship as he stared off into the distance and looked down at the broken fragments of his bey*

Aiga: Achilles.. We're going to come back stronger than this. I'll remake you into the strongest bey imaginable, when we do, Lane won't stand a chance.

*The image of a new Achilles filled his mind as it glowed a red and gold aura as it was covered by a black silhouette and Aiga finally had the idea*

Aiga: I know what we must do..

---meanwhile---

*Athena stood in the training room as she looked down towards her bey*

Athena: Aiga was right before, we need to take this more seriously.. especially after Lanes battle today, i can't afford to fall under his illusions and be destroyed like that, not again.. I need to practice my Barrage Dance as that will have the best chance at breaking through a defensive move like Dark Matter Gravity but then theres those Burst Stoppers..

*Athena took her position and stared at the other end of the stadium as she imagined Lane was there*

Athena: Lane.. i won't let you pull something like that again with me again, i'll defeat you once and for all when i finally get to you.

*She launches her bey into the stadium and it races around the stadium at full speed as it glowed with its Flare*

Athena: Adeona, we're gonna go out out, let's do this!

---Later that evening---

*Aiga stepped into the Bey-Lab on the Cruise Ship and placed his broken fragments of Achilles on the table*

Aiga: We aren't going to be able to keep up with everyone with how we are now, Achilles.. We're gonna evolve you into the worlds best bey.

*Aiga took to the computer and sat down and began to pull up designs from all his previous beys: Z Achilles, Cho-Z Achilles, Union Achilles and his recently destroyed Infinite Achilles.*

Aiga: Every Achilles i've ever used, i'll combine every one of them into the ultimate Achilles ever.

*Aiga went straight to making his bey and he started with his new Chassis: 4B which would have a pretty balanced shape to make it a true balance type bey. Afterwards he went to work on the Ring which would combine design attributes from the other Achilles, it's gimmick is that it would have Spring Loaded Swords and Shields. Lastly, its chip would be a nod to Z Achilles from the design of the the motif and it would have no chip core slot since it would also have Metal in its design. After about a few hours of working, the new Achilles was finally ready to make its debut*

Aiga: It's finally ready, Triumphant Achilles!

*The full combo of Achilles was Triumphant Achilles.Wheel.Xtend+'.4B! Aiga rushes out of the room and heads to the front of the boat*

---Meanwhile---

*Athena continued to train and she saw Valt come into the room*

Athena: Valt?

Valt: Come with me, you gotta see this.

Athena: Huh?

*Athena comes with Valt and he leads her to the bow of the ship and Aiga was standing there*

Athena: Aiga?

*Aiga turns towards her and held up his new and improved bey, Athena looked at it with amazement as her eyes lit up*

Athena: So that's the new Achilles!

Aiga: Yeah, this is Triumphant Achilles! I want its debut to be against you.

Athena: Really? Against me?!

Aiga: Yeah, ive already arranged with Wakiya that i want a rematch with Lane tomorrow so the Battle Royale will be afterwards. But for now, i want to have a battle with you once again!

Athena: Aiga.. Alright, let's do it!

*Both bladers walked up to a stadium and Athena took a look at the new Achilles and all its glory*

Athena: Triumphant Achilles... it seems to have a Spring Loaded Sword and Shield for full powered attack and defense, it has a heavy Wheel disk and an Xtend+' Driver to maximize all of its truest potential.. Really is an awesome bey made by Aiga, i'd expect nothing less from him. Looks like those reversed metal swords are gonna dish some serious attacks.

*Athena hands back the bey to Aiga*

Athena: I'm very curious to see what kind of bey Achilles is now, looks like you went all out with its design.

Aiga: Yeah i did, this Achilles is an amalgamation of every Achilles i've ever used.

Athena: Every Achilles..?

Aiga: Yeah, this takes the reversed swords from Z Achilles, The Shape From Cho-Z Achilles, The Face Of Union Achilles and the Sword and Shield from Infinite Achilles combined into the Ring.

*Athena took an even closer look at it and he was right, all the main attributes from previous evolutions of Achilles were combined into one bey. Aiga began to switch Xtend+' into its Defense Mode*

Aiga: Now let's begin!

*Both bladers take their position and the battle started*

Valt: Ready Set!!

3 2 1 GO SHOOT!!!

*Both beys land in the stadium and Triumphant Achilles took the center almost immediately*

Aiga: Now bring it on!

Athena: Adeona, let's go!

*Adeona comes rushing in and it collides into Achilles with full strength but gets sent flying back instead*

Athena: W-What the-?!

*Achilles continued to spin in the center of the stadium, it had used its Triumphant Shield to rebound Adeonas attack and send it flying back*

Aiga: Is that all?!

Athena: Not even close, we're just getting warmed up!!

*Adeona slams into the wall and uses its rubber blades to rebound itself towards Achilles*

Athena: Sovereign Symphony!!

*Adeona clashes with Achilles at full power and sent it flying back and it landed on the outer edge of the stadium*

Athena: Yes!

Aiga: You think that'll end it?

*Achilles tilts on its Xtend+' Driver and began to speed up greatly as it charged straight for Adeona*

Aiga: Triumphant Bound!!

*Achilles rushes in and slams into Adeona as one of its swords coiled back and Adeona went flying into the air from the bound attack and burst from the attack*

Athena: Amazing.. It has such incredible power..!!

Valt: Triumphant Achilles with a Burst Finish! Aiga is the winner!

Aiga: How do you like me and my new Achilles?

Athena: Amazing as always, you'll defeat Lane for sure tomorrow!

Aiga: And i intend to, Lane has no idea what he is up against.

*Aiga looked down at his new Achilles as it began to glow with a red and gold aura*

---Later that night---

*Athena stared up at the stars as she listened to the waves slap the side of the ship and she began to think about a few things*

Athena: Aiga is going to have a rematch with Lane in the form of an exhibition battle tomorrow and after that it'll be the 2nd Stage Battle Royale where we're all going to fight each other. This should be interesting..

*Athena looked down at her Adeona and it glowed with a white and purple light*

Athena: I guess you're excited too huh? Figures, you're always excited for these kind of things.

*Athena looked back up the stars and her thoughts wondered on Aiga once again*

Athena: There's also that new Achilles.. Triumphant Achilles, it truly is one of the best beys ever...

*Athena was immediately pulled into a white void and she stares off into the void with an emotionless expression and she felt a whole wave of old memories come back*

Athena: All this journey, i've tried to stop Lane and prove to him that his way of blading is incredibly flawed but now...

*Athena raised up her hand and a spark was ignited into a purple flame as it hovered above the palm of her hand*

Athena: I can do so much more than just that, i will show Lane my true worth and that i am strong.

*The void around her started to blur as black streaks flew past her at full speed, almost as if Athena was traveling through light speed. Athena saw another figure up ahead and her eyes widened, it was her but something was different.. this version of herself had angel wings spread out from her back and the hair had unraveled into a wavy mess and flowed above her. The figure disappeared and Athena fainted in the void, she didn't realize it then but she had just witnessed a tiny glimpse of her future... A future that no matter what, it was going to involve Lane*

*Athena woke back up and she still held Adeona in her hand as she tried to process what just happened*

Athena: W-What was that just now? Did Adeona do that?

*Athena had so many questions and she couldn't make heads or tails of the figure she saw at the end of the void, she needed answers and she needed them now as the answers could change everything including the fate of her and Lane forever.*

[TBC]

Next Chapter: The Ultimate Bonds! Triumphant Achilles!!

Aiga has his rematch with Lane who had just destroyed his old bey! Meanwhile, Athena seeks answers on the vision she experienced the night before!