Alright as you all know things are going to get intense from here on out. And I'm not just saying this because of the plot but I'm also saying this because chapters will get longer, crazier, sad, and all of the above. Heck just writing one made me almost cry. And enjoy!

Lui Shirosagi set down his bags and started unpacking, it was a smaller room than what he previously stayed in last time but he didn't mind. He wasn't here for luxury, he was here for Free, out of all the bladers there besides Shu and Valt, Free De La Hoya was the main reason why he was there.

Lui could have cared less about getting dinner together and team meetings, he wasn't even on their team. Most of those bladers downstairs weren't even on their team and yet there they were.

After ordering room service there was a knock on his door. Opening the door was Shu Kurenai standing on the other side.

"Shu, what do you want?" Lui asked walking away from the door.

Shu came inside wearing his usual serious expression.

"I came here to talk to you about Free and Theodore."

That stopped Lui in his tracks, he turned around slowly back to Shu.

"What about them?"

"I know that's why you're really here," Lui didn't flinch at the comment but kept listening anyways.

"You don't care about sticking together but the more we distance ourselves the more easy it'll make Theodore to pick us off one by one. I know you really want to battle Free but we need to stick together."

"And to what? Go get Ice Cream together afterwards? I get that there's a war or something going on here but I'm here on my terms, not because I'm a temporary member of BC Sol. You guys lost the minute Valt gave into their tormenting. You and I both know there can only be three in the finals and the way you and Valt have a little bit of Phi's corrupted power in your resonance I doubt you two will last long, once it takes root there's no stopping it. "

"You're wrong, Valt will be fine. He can make it through and I know he's stronger than Phi."

"Then what about you? What happens when you're against Phi and he takes control?"

"I've battled him before and I know not to fall for his tricks..."

"As if I care...he still ended up destroying Spryzen anyways, there's no helping a blader like Phi."

That silenced Shu, only causing Lui to smile even more. If there was one thing that annoyed Shu it was how Lui could easily point out someone's weakness even if they're not battling.

"Phi's the least of our problems right now, there's only going to be three in the finals: Phi and Valt if he doesn't slip up while that just leaves you and I. Now I suggest you leave me alone so I can train."

Lui walked over to the stadium in the living room and began launching over and over. Shu watched for a few minutes.

"There's only one way to do this..." Shu said, walking over to the stadium. Lui watched his every move interested.

Putting Spryzen in his launcher Shu got into his launching form while Lui followed his lead.

"We're bladers, and we'll settle this in the stadium."

Lui smiled back at Shu.

"Fine then, we'll settle this your way Kurenai."

Energy started to form around Lui while Shu did the same. Their resonance was strong, strong enough for Phi to sense it from downstairs.

"3..."

"2..."

"1..."

"Let it rip!"

Both beys raced around the stadium copying each other's trajectory until they clashed in the middle.

Sparks flew everywhere, and the wind was intense but neither one of them were backing down without a fight.

Both bladers yelled out their battle cries as the beys collided in the stadium. Lui sat back watching the whole thing with a smirk while Shu was serious.

"Spryzen!"

"Luinor!"

The bit beasts rose up behind their masters growling with power and dominance.

"Spryzen finish this!"

A flicker of doubt and fear was on Lui's face but only for a second. Spryzen swung his axe causing Luinor to fly out of the stadium. Lui caught it smirking.

"Well it looks like you've gotten stronger."

"I could say the same about you."

Lui once again smiled putting Luinor in his launcher but this time there was something off about Lui. The last battle he seemed more confident but now he almost seemed uncertain.

A Blue and Violet aura surrounded Lui, his eyes lit up glowing violet and a ghost of Luinor was barely seen behind Lui.

Shu narrowed his eyes calling upon his own energy too.

"3..."

"2..."

"1..."

"Let it Rip!"

Both beys flew around the stadium but this time Luinor dodged Spryzen's trajectory.

Shu wasn't suprised throwing down another attack.

"Turbo Spryzen Whip!"

"Dragon Scream!"

Both beys collided but were sent back, both flew out of the stadium landing simultaneously.

"Heh, not bad but we both know who's going to win."

Shu gripped his fists feeling his resonance flair up.

"3..."

"2..."

"1..."

"Let it Rip!"

Both beys circled each other like a predator looking upon its prey. But the question was who was the prey and who was the predator?

Both beys collided again and again in a storm of energy. The air was thick and tense with a bit of electricity in the air.
Lui was smiling while Shu was gripping his fists.

"Turbo Upper Launch!"

"Dragon Storm!"

"What!"

That caught Shu off guard, he had heard rumors of Lui being stronger than before but throwing out a new move out of the blue was surprising. Who knew how many more moves he had.

Both Luinor and Spryzen flew out of the stadium into the air. Both beys bursted.

Their pieces in the stadium lay in defeat. But it wasn't just them that had been defeated. Shu had lost but only by a little bit. Lui was surprised but he wasn't trying to show it.

Lui and Shu had always been evenly matched but it hadn't been this bad since the National Tournament.

"Hmph that's what I thought, Phi did something to you and it wasn't just him trying to corrupt you."

"What do you mean he did something else?"

"You hesitated."

Shu was caught off guard.

"When attacking for a split second you hesitated. Phi has you afraid and right where he wants you. He knows you pose a threat which is why he's targeting you. He knows about Red Eye."

Lui opened the door for Shu, a dark shadow had fallen across his face.

"And one more thing Kurenai,"

Shu turned back to Lui and looked him in the eye.

"Don't give into Phi or Theodore's distractions. Those masked bladers are only a distraction meant to throw you off; they're meant to confuse you. One little slip up and you'll be gone, replaced by Phi's will."

"How do you know all this?"

"Because I after Free, was Theodore's second target."