After leaving Theodore, Valt sat back down with the rest of BC Sol.

"Hey guys!"

"Valt, where have you been?" Sasha asked.

"And where did Theodore go?" Silas asked butting in.

"Theodore and I have been talking and I think we know how to stop Phi for good."

"How?" Sasha asked.

"Well I don't know exactly but he said I'll know when the time is right..."

"That's not ominous or anything..."Sasha said.

"What's that supposed to mean? I knew I couldn't trust him." Silas added.

"Wait Valt, you never told us where Theodore ran off to during the meeting."

Right as Valt was about to answer the third groups battles started off with Clio and Cuza taking the stage.

"Hey guys look!" Sasha said pointing to the stadium.

Everyone looked down forgetting about Sasha's question.

Theodore never did tell me where he went that morning...maybe Phi was right about Theodore...

Looking down at the stadium the battle had already begun with Cognite coming in for the attack.

"Hey Sasha? Where's Shu?"

"He mentioned something earlier about training why?"

"Just wondering." Valt muttered looking back down at the battle.

******

"Theodore."

Theodore Glass stood in there doorway with a smug smile on his face.

"Mr.Kurenai, what a surprise. I figured you would've been with the rest of BC Sol..."

"What are you doing here?" Shu interrupted but was still facing the stadium.

In the background Cognite was using his signature tight rope dive move while Clio was using his own.

"I came here to say I'm sorry."

Shu this time looked up from the stadium and straight at Theodore.

"Why are you really here Theodore?"

"Perceptive as always Mr. Kurenai but I'm surprised Valt hasn't been more questionable about my motives then again he does have his own problems to worry about doesn't he? With Phi and everything else going on he's got a lot on his plate. Besides..."

Theodore stopped on the other side of the stadium bending down and feeling the old stadium for a minute his eyes glowed teal.

"I'm surprised you haven't realized the significance of this room yet."

Shu lowered his launcher but didn't say anything.

"This was the same room where you used to train last year..." Theodore said trailing off.

He never truly answers my questions. I wonder what he's told Valt....

"Where are you going with this?" Shu said, finally speaking up.

"Like last year, my true motives are still the same: to find the ultimate bey."

Theodore got up and closed the door behind him, taking the remote off the table he clicked a button and the windows turned black.

"Now as we both know I didn't just come in here to say sorry..."

"I know what your power is Theodore."

"Really? What is it then? The suspense is killing me." Thedore said as his eyes were glowing.

"You understand how to manipulate a bladers greatest motivation and you use it against them. When Valt went to the Snake Pit that night he was trying to save his friends no matter how outnumbered he was. By using his desperateness to save everyone you made Valt think you were on his side."

"I must give you props Shu, you've figured out part of it but that is not my power. You see men like me have a way of avoiding the consequences. At the end of the day I am still a businessman above anything else searching not only for the perfect bey but also the perfect business opportunity. Just think of how many kids would kill to have the same bey as the legendary blader Valt Aoi, the one who defeated the malicious and evil Phi?"

"This was your plan all along... this is why you teamed up with Phi in the first place the minute he started acting weird you were going to betray him and put all the blame on him..."

"Yes but when Phi went off the deep end it only made things easier for me."

"Then why go through all that trouble? Why put up with Phi and his army in the first place?"

"It's all rather simple, you see Phi and Free are special and I don't just say that because of their track records but I say that because of the power they both possess. I've never seen bladers with their kind of power before and with Free on Phi's side that only makes them more dangerous together. Free could easily drain everyone's power and when there is nothing left Phi could take advantage turning everyone."

Once again he still hasn't answered my question...

"So you did all of this for research?"

"Yes and No, after realizing how stronger Phi was I knew I had made a mistake and my allegiances. Besides, after what happened last year I knew better than to let Phi have all the power which is why I made sure he could be stopped."

"But you weren't the one who made Valtryek so what makes you think Valt will just hand it over?"

"While you were off fighting Phi the other night Valt and I made a deal, in exchange for me helping get rid of Phi for me he would have his friends back but once he defeats Phi things will not go back to normal. Instead Phi would do the same thing I did and gain strength over time until he is ready to face Valt again. Which brings him into the second half of our deal, if he doesn't hand over Valtryek when the time is right I won't tell him how he can truly stop Phi."

Shu was quiet for a few minutes taking this in.

"You're the true villain... you've manipulated us all from the very start...you're the true puppet master."

"Indeed now I must be on my way to train Valt for the final battle."

Theodore gave Shu a smug smile and was about to walk off when Shu stopped him.

"Then what is your power Theodore, you may be manipulative and good at avoiding answering my questions but what is your blader power Theodore? What is it that you can do when you have Amaterios?"

"How did you...Valt."

"Answer the question Theodore."

Theodore let out a tired sigh and held out his hand.

"I really hoped I didn't need to come to this but... I'm not surprised it turned out to be you that didn't trust me although it was bound to happen anyways."

"What are you..."

As soon as Shu said those words his body started shaking and he could feel Theodores power wash over him except unlike Phi's power this was different. The power wasn't trying to take over him but instead it only hold him in place.

"How are you doing this?" Shu barely managed to get out.

"You see Shu, I can't have you telling anyone else what I can do or what I'm really up to so instead so we'll keep this between us just for old times sake. You see I have the power to sense other bladers powers which is why I know Valt can stop Phi because his power has to do with his light. But that's not all..."

Theodores attitude changed and his voice got dark, his friendly mood was gone and was replaced by hatred.

"Sensing is one thing but I can also use other powers. I can use anyone's power, why do you think Amaterios and I were the strongest in the first place?"

"I thought... Fubuki had your power?"

"Fubuki can mimic others' moves and launches but I can use their power and their resonance all I want. I could even switch bladers powers if I really tried."

"You monster..."Shu barely managed to get out.

"No Shu you were the one who was the monster when you were Red Eye. Now then, your battle with Zachary is coming up and I know how much you love to train so I'll be on my way but if you think about telling Valt any of this you'll be my next puppet."

Letting his hand fall Shu relaxed and started heavily breathing clutching his throat.

"And one more thing Shu, tomorrow is the last of the battles until the finals."

"And as we both know only three can make it to the finals. That being Phi and two others. One will be Valt which only leaves one spot for you or Free.

"Your final battle though will not be against Free but instead Phi. But the thing is Shu, you try and stop me but tomorrow may be your only chance to stop Phi."