New Mutants #30 (2022)

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Inside the mansion, Dazzler is welcomed by her old Gladiator comrades Ivich and Max. She comes telling them that she couldn't stay away from her friends and her old life and they test her loyalty by making her drink a stronger version of the drug that they had forced her to take the first time she was in the ArenaBeauty and the Beast Vol 1 1. Monitoring from a private room the secret leader of the Gladiator Arena is happy to see that the Dazzler has returned to the arena and demands champagne to drink. However, with things going well this figure decides to prepare for possible disaster and puts in a call to General Nguyen Ngoc Coy in San Francisco.

Later, learning that the Arena is looking for technicians, Kitty disguises herself and calling herself "Cat" applies for a job. Max and Ivitch conduct the interview and test her by making her fix a walkie-talkie for them. As Kitty works on the device, Dazzler starts her first performance in the Arena since her return. Using her light powers and singing voice she manages to take out an entire arena full of warriors to powerful applause. Once more being adored and recognized Dazzler realizes that this is where she belongs, that she is home. She is unaware that she is being watched by the Beyonder who finds the who spectacle interest. As the battle concludes, Kitty turns back over the device and impressed by her work, Max hires her. Backstage, Dazzler revives Sunspot and Magma, who was knocked out by her light show. When she tells them that she has come with Cannonball and the others to save them, they want nothing to do with her, telling her that they saw her on that stage and she enjoyed what she was doing. Dazzler denies it, but deep down she wonders if they are right. Amara tells Dazzler that they can't escape so long as Flynn has children to threaten them with. This is overheard by Kitty, who used the opportunity to "repair" Max's communicator to slip a bug that allows her and the others to listen in. Informing Cannonball on what's going on, she decides that they are going to act during the next match and tells him the plan.

The next morning, the Gladiators go through a training session. During the staged battle, both Magma and Sunspot play rough with her spurring her anger. Dazzler, fed up with getting the third degree from the two New Mutants tells them that she is not going to help them anymore and only looks out for herself. This is overheard by the Arena's mysterious leader who finds this turn of events playing into their hands allowing them to bind.

While outside, Rachel is trying to make a connection to the presence she felt earlier while Cannonball and Magik wait for Kitty's signal. While inside, Kitty has checked and determined that Flynn is not holding prisoners hostage and uses her phasing powers to short circuit the electricity in the Arena. She then finds Roberto and Amara and tells them the truth and they all agree to work together to smash the Arena's operation. While outside, the Beyonder makes his presence known to Rachel and the others. Illyana immediately attempts to attack him with her Soul Sword, whoever Rachel pulls her back. Rachel decides that a better approach is to try to establish a psi-link with him in order to understand who they are. However in letting the Beyonder into her mind, his curiosity is overwhelming, and when Cannonball notices that Rachel cannot stand anymore he pulls her free, upon doing so the Beyonder vanishes once more.

While back inside, Kitty sends Sunspot and Magma off to the next battle telling them to wait for her signal while she goes off to find Dazzler. Finding Dazzler sleeping in her quarters, Kitty comes across her diary and finds an entry where Dazzler has come to terms with her addiction and realizes that she doesn't want fame at the cost of her soul. Proud of her, Kitty wakes Alison up and they try to get away when Dazzler suddenly unleashes her powers on Kitty. Before Shadowcat can do anything, she finds herself in the grips of the Arena's mysterious leader. When Kitty turns to see who it is, she is shocked by who the leader is and finds it impossible to believe.

Out in the Arena, Sunspot and Magma prepare for battle when Dazzler comes on stage signaling the main event. They are shocked when a giant creature comes out to battle them. As they prepare to fight, the mysterious leader of the Arena cackles madly from their secret screening room, as the giant warrior is really a robotic shell with Shadowcat hidden inside.

This story is continued next issue...

Secret Wars II continues in Captain America Vol 1 308...