*It wasn't long after the Semi-Finals and Athena stood in one of the training rooms with Valt, Aiga, Chiki and Ranjiro.*

Athena: I've arranged this training into 3 steps, we've already done the 1st Step which is come together, the 2nd step will be to come up with a plan to take down Lucifers defenses so let's get started on that. Any suggestions?

Chiki: Lucifer is a Defense Type while Adeona is an attack type, Lucifer has a type advantage and its power is nearly superior in almost every way.

Ranjiro: There's also it's devastating special moves like Dark Matter Slash, Dark Matter Gravity and its newly debut'd Dark Matter Doomsday. If we're to come up with any kind of strategy to take it down, we need to find a way to counter those deadly moves first.

Athena: Interesting, very nice.. Aiga, Valt, what do you 2 think?

Aiga: I have to agree with Cap'n there, Lucifers strength from its dangerous special moves. It shattered Fafnir in one blow using Dark Matter Slash, it repelled my Infinite Achilles attacks with Dark Matter Gravity and Lane completely decimated Shu with Dark Matter Doomsday.

Valt: There is also Lucifers Dropper Driver which can lower a freely rotating ring closer to the stadium and increase its KO resistance along with its LAD, all of which make it incredibly hard to move from the center. That's one of Lucifers key features, you won't defeat it if you can't manage to beat that. On top of all of that, it has Spark-Drive System Burst Stoppers just like Adeona.

*Athena took all of this into consideration and they were right, Lucifer had so much power and abilities that made it unlike any blader had ever seen before. Athena was stumped, she couldn't come up with anything, not a single thing*

Athena: Tch... i can't come up with anything!

Valt: Well let's take it easy for a while, i think if we actually battle then maybe your creative juices will start flowing again.

Athena: I guess so, let's get started i guess.

*Everyone gets the stadium set up and Athenas first opponent would be Chiki Sakurai and Lunatic Cthulhu!*

Valt: Ready Set!!!

3 2 1 GO SHOOT!!!

*The beys land in the stadium and Cthulhu races for the center as a small vortex of wind began to surround it*

Chiki: Now bring it on, Cthulhu is ready for you!!

Athena: Yes! Knock them out of there!!

*Adeona comes rushing in for the attack but is immediately sent flying back from Cthulhus incredible stamina and defense*

Athena: Cthulhu is a stamina type but its levels of Defense are so high, this is really the only opponent for me that can replicate Lucifer..

Chiki: What's wrong? That's not all you got, is it?

Athena: We're not done yet obviously! Sovereign Symphony!!

*Adeona slams into Cthulhu with all its might and manages to send it flying*

Athena: How's that?!

Chiki: Not bad, seen better! Lunatic Rip!!

*Cthulhu races around the slope of the stadium and slams into Adeona with a fierce attack and burst it almost instantly*

Athena: W-What the-?!

Valt: Lunatic Cthulhu with a burst finish! Chiki Sakurai is the winner!!

Athena: N-No way.. that easily too..?!

Ranjiro: Cthulhu is so amazingly strong..

Aiga: Yeah..

Athena: Chiki, one more time!!

*Chiki nodded and smiled as she readied herself once again*

Chiki: Yeah, let's do this!!

BURST

BURST

BURST

BURST

BURST

BURST

*About 19 battles had went by and Athena still hadn't won a single battle, all of the battles so far had ended in a burst finish in Cthulhus favor. Athena was exhausted, she could barely stand at this point*

Athena: O-One more time..!

Chiki: Are you sure, you look exhausted.

Athena: I can still go o-

*Athena's stomach growled loudly and she immediately deadpanned*

Athena: Fine, i guess we can take a little break for a bit.

*Everyone went down to the Ships cafeteria and Elaina and Shu brought out platters of delicious food. There was all sorts of delicious foods like Pasta, fish, sushi, rice, etc. Everyone else got themselves a nice plate, except Athena who just sat at the table with her bey in her hand*

Athena: Dark Matter Lucifer, it destroyed Achilles and Fafnir in the same week... i can't let Adeona meet the same fate, not again.

*Athena looks over as Aiga and Ranjiro were scarfing down their food in a high-intensity race, she was immediately brought out of her daydreams as Chiki pats her right on the back*

Chiki: You're not hungry? Your stomach growled like a warthog earlier, you gotta eat something.

Athena: I'll eat later, i'm busy thinking.

Chiki: Thinking about a plan to take on Lane i would assume.

Athena: Yeah.

Chiki: I know you're worried and everything but come on, lower the walls for a while. I mean you should be happy that you made it to the finals of a big tournament like this, twice might i add.

Athena: You just don't understand, this is actually serious. If Lane wins the final then there is no possible telling what he might do.. and it'll be far too late to stop him then.

Chiki: I get that, but you need to have a little fun for a while. I mean, you have until we get back to Japan to train, why not have a little fun for a while.

Athena: You REALLY don't get it, i cannot let Lane win! You don't know what it's like to have someone you care about so much lose themselves to darkness.

*Athena finally rose to her feet and went to get her something to eat at last*

Chiki: Actually i do. I had a brother i loved dearly as well, in fact i went through the same exact thing you went through, i tried to stop him from going down the dark path but i failed. I failed to stop him and he severely injured himself from overexertion and he eventually passed away!

*Athena looked at Chiki with surprise and she looked down ashamed*

Chiki: I failed to stop him, but i won't let you fail Athena. I wasn't devoted to my goal as you are with Lane but i will help you the best i can, i will see to it you defeat Lane.

*Athena nods and she sat down and began to eat, extremely quickly! She finishes and jumps to her feet*

Athena: Chiki, let's do this! I win for you and your brothers sake, as well as everyone else!

Chiki: Athena.. yeah let's do this!

---Meanwhile---

*Lane stood alone in one of the training rooms and he continued to train with all his force! Lucifer spun in the center of the stadium as its dark flare glowed to life*

Lane: More..! Give us even more!!!

*Lucifer began to glow even brighter and the stadium started to crack. Lane began to pant and gasp for air as Flare began to swirl around him. small patches of gold were starting to emerge and combine into his Flare*

Lane: Athena Valhalla, with the power i hold, i will destroy Adeona for the last time! And soon, i'll reign over this world!

---Meanwhile---

*Athena and Chiki returned to the training room they were in before. Aiga, Valt and Ranjiro weren't with them this time as they requested the battle to be private*

Athena: I'm truly sorry to hear about your brother, when i fight Lane, i will fight in his honor!

Chiki: He's gone Athena, you don't have to.

Athena: We have similar backgrounds, i feel it's just right.

Chiki: I guess you're right, but-

Athena: No buts! You're honestly one of my greatest friends, i feel it's the least i could do for you being such a great friend to me.

Chiki: If you say so.

Athena: Now let's get started with the training!

*Both bladers take their positions*

Athena: I found out my strategy, if i can keep Lucifer out of the center then maybe i'll have a chance. Lucifer won't have a chance against us if we can pull this off perfectly.

3 2 1 GO SHOOT!!!

*The beys land in the stadium and Cthulhu heads to the center but is stopped by Adeona who stops it*

Chiki: W-What the-?!

Athena: Yes!!

*Adeona comes back around and deals another fierce attack and knocked it back even further*

Chiki: I see, so she's trying to prevent me from getting to the center.. hate to break it to you but that won't work!

*Cthulhu comes straight down and slams into Adeona with all its might and sent it flying as well*

Athena: Hang in there Adeona!

*Adeona hits the wall and survives as it keeps up its momentum*

Athena: Let's go! Barrage Boost!!!

*Adeona speeds up greatly as it races around the stadium at top speed*

Chiki: So fast, is she trying to go for a burst?

Athena: Let's do this! Sovereign Symphony!!

*Adeona races in and heads straight for Cthulhu*

Chiki: Cthulhu Force now!!!

*A red liquid energy barrier surrounds Cthulhu, maximizing its defenses! Adeona is sent flying once again*

Athena: Tch, grr..!

Chiki: Now, let's put an end to this shall we, Cthulhu! Send them spiraling into the abyss!!

*Cthulhus flare began to glow to life and Athena was racing around the stadium at full speed as its Flare began to glow as well*

Athena: You know what to do, Adeona!!!

*Adeonas rubber blades began to surge with a streak of purple energy as it comes charging for Cthulhu*

Athena: Send them flying! Sovereign Symphony now!!

*Adeona clashes with Cthulhu with all its might and Cthulhu burst from the clash*

Chiki: N-No way..!

Athena: Yes!!!

*Chiki fell to her knees and she sighed, she picks up the pieces of Cthulhu and she looked up at her friend*

Chiki: Since the first day we met, i always thought of you as an interesting blader... but now here we are, time after time again have you proved to me that you are one of the best bladers in the entire world. Forget Lane, forget the Legends, you are one of the greatest bladers to have ever walked the planet, i'm proud to call you my best friend.

---Later that night---

*Lane Valhalla sat down in one of the waiting rooms as he spoke with Ashtem*

Ashtem: It's only a few days until the grand final, Lane Valhalla. You have done incredibly well in the tournament, however you have yet to have provided actual good results from Project: Shadow! You were meant to have used your Devils Mark on Sisco, Free and god forbid even Shu Kurenai!

Lane: Those 3 weren't worthy of my true strength, i won't use my full power on anyone who doesn't deserve it!!

Ashtem: And yet you used your strongest technique on someone as trivial and worthless like Kurenai?! You never cease to confuse me.

Lane: Well stay confused! I'll be fighting the finals my own way, Athena is just a stepping stone to something even bigger.

Ashtem: Even bigger you say? If it's that same old "Reign over the Beyblade World" motive then i hate to break it to you, but that will never happen in a trillion years.

Lane: Say what?!

Ashtem: It won't matter how strong you get or how many beys you destroy, your power will never amount to anything and you'll never truly be the strongest!

Lane: And you think you will? What are you saying, you're not thinking of betraying me are you? Because this won't end well if you do.

Ashtem: And just what are you going to about it? Your precious little sister isn't here to save you now!

*Lane smiles like a complete psycho as his Flare glowed to life and it began to get even larger and larger and larger AND LARGER!! Ashtem watched a bit concerned as he watched the evil flare take on the form of a monsters claws*

Ashtem: W-WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?! ARE YOU CRAZY!?!

Lane: When i said this won't end well for you if you betrayed me, i meant it..!! It's lights out for you, well... forever!!!

*The claws of Flare raced forward and it came straight for the screaming-in-terror Ashtem*

Ashtem: Alright!!!! YOU WIN, YOU WIN!! PLEASE JUST DON'T HURT ME, I'LL DO WHATEVER YOU ASK!!!

*The claws of flare dissipated and Lane simply smirks as the Flare vanished into thin air*

Lane: Very good then, that's precisely what i thought.

*Lane turned and started to walk out*

Lane: Besides, did you really think i was going to kill you? You've become more use to me then i have to you, but who knows? Maybe i'll reconsider not killing you after this is all over*

*Lane leaves the waiting room as he began to laugh like a maniac. Ashtem got to his feet and began to call Silver Eye*

Ashtem: Silver Eye... listen to me carefully..

---Meanwhile---

*Athena stared off into the sunset as she stood with Wakiya for a bit*

Athena: Dinner was so delicious! Compliments to the chef as always!!

Wakiya: Yep! The Sparking Legend Tour Cruise Ship chefs prepare only the finest of-

Athena: WOW IT'S A DOLPHIN!!!

*Athena watched in amazement as dolphins began to jump into the air and ride the surf! Athena giggles like a little child as the dolphins leap out of the sea and back into their watery domain*

Athena: So beautiful..!

Wakiya: She really is amazed by even the simplest of things.. i guess that's Athena for ya. But either way, she has proved to be an amazing blader regardless of any drawbacks. I anticipate a great battle in a few days, Athena Valhalla.

Athena: Wakiya.

Wakiya: Hm? What is it?

Athena: I have a request.

Wakiya: A request? Of course, what is it?

Athena: I want you to hold an exhibition match.

Wakiya: An Exhibition match? What for?

Athena: Lane is my final opponent, but before i face him, i want to face one more person in one last battle.

Wakiya: Well alright, who do you want to face.

Athena: Valt Aoi.

Wakiya: Valt huh? Are you sure you don't want to face someone like Aiga again?

Athena: Valt is the legend of legends, even though Aiga was a great inspiration, Valt was the one who gave me the courage to keep on going through this journey, and it wasn't just him it was everyone who helped me as a person. But Valt, a battle from him will get the audience around the world extremely pumped for the coming final battle.

*Wakiya smiled and nodded*

Wakiya: Alright then, your exhibition match will be held tomorrow afternoon so get ready!

Athena: Yeah!!

[TBC]

Next Chapter: Athena's Ultimate Bond!!

Times running out as Athena and Valts exhibition match gets explosive! During the battle, Adeonas flare reaches new heights!