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Published:
2025-02-06
Updated:
2025-03-23
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11/?
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Metal Fight Beyblade: Emerald

Summary:

The story follows the adventure of two Brazilians of Japanese descent who travel to Japan to visit their grandmother, who lives in the sacred village of Koma. During their visit, they encounter a group connected to someone they know from Koma Village. After hearing their story and understanding the situation, they agree to join forces with the group to defeat an evil presence that is threatening the world and plans to spread darkness and malevolence everywhere.

Notes:

**Note:**

1. I do not own the series or any of the characters, all rights belong to Adachi Takafumi.
2. This is just fanfiction based on the Beyblade series to entertain and provide enjoyment for everyone, including myself.
3. Unlike typical Beyblade OC fanfics, the original characters here will be using Beyblades that already exist in the anime.
4. The dialogue will be a mix of Japanese and English dubs. The characters and Beyblade's names are from the Japanese dub, while the names of the special moves will come from the English dub.
5. There will be more updates as the story progresses.

Chapter 1: The OC's

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

OC 1: Liliana Alves

NAMING
Japanese : リリアナ・アウベス
Japanese (Romanji) : Ririana Aubesu
PROFILE
Birthplace : Brazil
Ethnicity : Portuguese/¼Japanese
Hair Color : Indigo
Eye Color : Ocean Blue
Gender : Female
Height : 1.65 m (S1 & S2), 1.67 m (S3)
Age : 15 (S1), 16 (S2), 17 (S3)
Equipment :
- BeyLauncher (Purple)
- Launcher Grip (Black)
- Beypointer
- Beycase
- Grip Case
VOICE ACTOR(S)
Japanese : Kugimiya Rie
English : Laura Bailey
BEYBLADE
Ray Gil 100RSF

Type : Attack
Spin Direction : Right
Facebolt : Gil I
Ring : Gil I
Wheel : Ray
Track : 100
Bottom : Rubber Semi-Flat
Special Move(s) :
- Keel Cannon Strike
- Diving Vessel
- Keel Strangle
- Warship Smasher
- Emerald Sword Attack (Combine)

 

 

OC 2: Armando Silva

NAMING
Japanese : アルマンド・シルバ
Japanese (Romanji) : Arumando Shiruba
PROFILE
Birthplace : Brazil
Ethnicity : Portuguese/¼Japanese
Hair Color : Royal Azure
Eye Color : Gold
Gender : Male
Height : 1.32 m (S1), 1.47 m (S2), 1.62 m (S3)
Age : 12 (S1), 13 (S2), 14 (S3)
Equipment :
- Snipe Launcher (Gold)
- Launcher Grip (Gold)
- Beypointer
- Beycase
- Grip Case
VOICE ACTOR(S)
Japanese : Orikasa Fumiko
English : Cristina Vee
BEYBLADE
Tornado Herculeo 105F

Type : Attack
Spin Direction : Right
Facebolt : Herculeo I
Ring : Herculeo I
Wheel : Tornado
Track : 105
Bottom : Flat
Special Move(s) :
- Twisting Arrow Shot
- Sweeping Death Club
- Greatsword Dive
- Gladiator Punisher
- Emerald Sword Attack (Combine)

Notes:

I've made my own Ages and Heights canon for this fanfic:

Hagane Gingka = 15 & 1.62 m
Yumiya Kenta = 10 & 1.27 m
Amano Madoka = 14 & 1.48 m
Tategami Kyoya = 16 & 1.70 m
Hanawa Benkei = 16 & 1.82 m
Tendo Yu = 11 & 1.32 m
Otori Tsubasa = 17 & 1.76 m
Ryuga = 20 & 1.70 m
Hagane Ryusei = 42 & 1.86 m
Hasama Hikaru = 17 & 1.72 m
Watarigani Tetsuya = 15 & 1.76 m
Hyoma = 16 & 1.75 m
Akatsuki Sora = 13 & 1.56 m
Fukami Ryutaro = 15 & 1.60 m
Saotome Teru = 16 & 1.64 m
Daidoji= 26 & 1.86 m
Soudou Dan & Reiki = 15 & 1.68 m
Oike Tobio = 14 & 1.42 m
Kumade Kumasuke = 15 & 1.80 m
Busujima = 18 & 1.70 m
Mizuchi Reiji = 17 & 1.75 m

Chapter 2: Meeting the Gang

Summary:

Our OCs encounter the gangs on the train heading to Hagane Mountain. They share their stories, leading them to unite in search of Koma Village to find their important friend and the main character's grandmother.

Notes:

I'm putting Digimon: Eden Network in hiatus for not known when. Hopefully when an idea strike, I would write i again.

And for now, I'm into Metal Beyblade, and I'm wanted to write a fanfic on it.

Hopefully, you all understand it. 😇

Chapter Text

The constellation that adorns the night sky is vast.

Just as there are countless stars, there are many Beys.

Among them, a select few possess dark powers.

One such Bey is the forbidden Lightning L-Drago, once sealed away in Koma Village.

However, that seal has been broken, releasing the dark power once again.

This is the tale of passionate Bladers united in their battle against this dark force.

==============================

It was a normal day in Japan. The hot sun was shining, accompanied by surrounding clouds which made for a beautiful view of the sky.

At a train station, people were walking in and out of the train. Creating a busy atmosphere that usually occurs at every station in Japan.

But of all the people, 2 teens stand out, not only because they are one of the many bladers in the world, but also because they look non-Japanese.

One of them is Liliana Alves, a 15-year-old girl with indigo hair in a ponytail and ocean-blue eyes who wears a revealing purple sleeveless shirt and tiny blue shorts. She carries a Launcher and a Beycase on a dark blue belt and wears mid-sized black platform boots with dark green laces.

Beside her is Armando Silva, a very short 12-year-old boy with spiky royal azure hair and golden eyes. He wears an orange sleeveless shirt with a Beyblade case, a black scarf, and blue trunks. His outfit is secured by a belt and includes white socks and dark grey sneakers with white laces and red accents.

Judging by their name, both of them are from Brazil, a land of palms. They are currently in Japan to visit their Grandmother in Koma village, whom they haven't seen for 4 years.

When they finally boarded the train, they tried to find an empty seat. However, the short boy yawned as if unenthusiastic, leaving the girl confused.

Liliana: You seem very bored. You're usually excited at the mention of meeting Grandma.

Armando: *yawn* I'm just tired, all right? More importantly, how are we going to find Koma Village? I mean it's been 4 years, you know?

Liliana: *smile* C'mon, It's only been 4 years since we visited there. Have you forgotten where the village is already?

Armando: I'm still too young to remember, alright? I was only 8 years old when we visited last time.

Liliana: Heh... Admit that you're just a forgetful boy.

Armando: *annoyed* Don't start...!

Lilianna: *giggles* Alright, alright, I promised that finding the passage was easy as heck. Just trust me, okay?

Armando: You better be...

After that, they fell into another silence.

As they found the empty seat, they wondered how the village had changed since their last visit throughout the trip.

Liliana remembered the last time they played in Koma Village. Although there weren't many activities available, she definitely had fun.

Everyone in Koma Village loved Beyblade as if it was the only passion in their lives. No matter where they go or what kind of games they play, everything always revolves around Beyblade. As a Blader, Liliana can't wait to return to the place where she and Armando's love for Beyblade began.

She remembers many friends from Koma Village, but one people stands out in her Beyblading memories.

The Hagane's.

Hagane families in Koma Village are like sports figures for Beyblade, they love Beyblade more than anything. They're also the reason why she and Armando began to love Beyblade.

Mainly Hagane Ryusei, a man in his 30s who often talks about something called the "Blader Spirit." Initially, she thought it was just a gimmick designed to make children believe they could be stronger than others. However, after she began Beyblading, she realized how important the "Blader Spirit" truly is.

Speaking of Beyblade, she began to pull out her own Bey and examine it.

Ray Gil 100RSF...

An attack type Bey that is inspired by Carina, one of the 88 constellations representing a keel. Despite this, the Bey resembles the bone of a Plesiosaur.

She remembers how she received it. It was a gift from her grandma on her 10th birthday, and also for successfully completing a challenge to launch a Beyblade through several wooden targets from a moving boat.

She can't help but smile every time she remembers the memories. She then looked up to see the boy looking at the window, her gaze shifted to the Bey that the boy was holding in his hands. Just like hers, his Bey is also interesting.

Tornado Herculeo 105F...

An also attack type Bey that is inspired by Hercules, one of the 88 constellations representing a hero and the Demigod of Strength in Roman and Greek mythology.

The story of his Bey is quite fascinating. It was a gift from her father, who was Armando's uncle when he was only seven years old. The wheel he has now is different from the original one. At one point, he asked a friend back in Brazil to help him remodel the wheel together.

The result was his current wheel, the Tornado, a unique wheel that has five small serrated blades that slope upwards, making it a powerful attack-type wheel.

Unbeknownst to them, a group right behind them was also talking about their destination, Koma Village. Liliana, who happened to be sitting right behind their table, started eavesdropping on their conversation.

???1: So that was Gingka's story...

The voice of a boy said, his voice sounded very teenage and rough at the same time. But what caught her attention the most was the name he just mentioned.

Liliana: Gingka?

If Liliana knows about Hagane Ryusei, then she sure knows about his son, Hagane Gingka. The only son of Ryusei who shared the same love for Beyblade as his father.

Gingka happened to be one of the kids who befriended her. He's cheerful and popular among others thanks to his status as Hagane.

Liliana: I see that he's now traveling outside Koma Village, but are they from Koma Village either?

Curiously, Liliana kept on eavesdropping on them.

???2: Well, Gingka was always happy that we didn't know he had such a sad past...

Said another person, but this time it had a young girl's voice. But what she said regarding Gingka's past surprised her.

Liliana: A sad past...? Wait, I know that Gingka's mother died after giving birth to him, but I don't remember him being that sad about it...

Lilianna: What's going on...?

???3: Gingka... How could he leave us like that after promising that we would battle again...

Said another boy, but the voice was very child and young that Liliana concluded the boy must be around Armando's age.

???2: He doesn't want us to worry about him. But the thing is...

???2: It made me sad...

Said the girl's voice again, sadly. Though she can't see them from behind, she can feel the sad atmosphere surrounding them, making her even more curious about what happened to Gingka.

???4: Honestly...

The fourth voice came, but it sounded as if the person was very big and massive.

???1: So now he head back to Koma Village, huh?

???3: I... I think so...

???1: You think so? What's that supposed to mean?

???3: W-Well, it's the only place I know where Gingka will be...

???4: What makes you think of that?

???2: When someone is really sad, they begin to think about their hometown, right?

???4: Really?

???1: I guess we won't know until we see it for ourselves.

And after that, it was silence. Their conversation just stopped like that, and no one was saying anything again.

From their conversation earlier, Liliana concluded that Gingka had been traveling and had made some friends along the way. However, one day something happened that made him very sad, prompting him to leave and return to Koma Village. Now, his friends are trying to find him.

However, there is still something that puzzles her, why did Gingka feel sad? Additionally, are these people from Koma Village? Their tone suggests that they are unaware of Koma Village.

Curiosity got the better of her as she got up from her seat and walked towards them. Armando realized this as he looked at Liliana with a surprised and confused look on his face.

Armando: What are you doing?

But to his displeasure, Lilianna ignored him as she approached the group and stood beside their table. They didn't notice her presence, perhaps too engrossed in their conversation earlier.

Liliana: Umm... Excuse me?

Her voice made the whole group look up at her, she began to examine their appearance.

One of them is A tall teenage boy with tanned skin and a muscular build has spiky dark green hair in a shoulder-length ponytail and sharp blue eyes with small irises. His lion-like appearance includes fangs and symmetrical X-shaped scars on his cheeks. He wears an army-green coat with ripped sleeves over a tattered black shirt, beige cargo pants, and brown accessories, including fingerless gloves and boots, topped off with a round pendant around his neck.

The one who sits beside him has a big build with a large stomach, and his feet are said the sizes of probably each of their heads. His short purple hair is covered by his white beanie hat that has a red bull's skull on it. His eyes are reddish brown. He wears a red and black jacket with a red strip on both the front side that is zipped on his torso, white bands around his wrists, gray shorts on his legs, and black shoes on his huge feet. He also has a brown belt with a holster covered by his jacket in which he keeps his Bey Gear.

There are another 2 seats across them; one of them has a short build, probably around Armando's age. He has bright green hair with brown eyes and he wore a yellow T-shirt with a straight blue stripe running across his chest and arms. He wears a light blue trunk and white socks, along with blue sneakers.

And the last one is the only girl in the group. She has short maroon hair, bright blue eyes, and wears goggles on her head. Her outfit includes a sleeveless pink jacket with yellow buttons over a white T-shirt featuring a blue "B." She has a brown belt with gold buttons and a pink and gold pouch. Her look is completed with brown fingerless gloves, a dark blue skirt, thigh-high white socks with pink trim, and pink boots with golden buttons.

???2: Umm, yes...?

???4: Can we help you?

Liliana: Umm, before that, my apology for eavesdropping in the first place, but I couldn't help but overhear the mention of Koma Village and Gingka in your conversation earlier.

The mention of Koma Village and Gingka made their eyes fall on her, especially the green-haired boy and the big guy, who got up from their seat and got into her face (in an anime way)

???3: You know Gingka?!

???4: And you know Koma Village?!

???3: Wait, so, you know personally know Gingka? Like you're his friend or something?!

???4: And you know Koma Village? Can you tell us where is it?!

???3: Please I'm begging you, we all wanted to meet him again!!

Their sudden outburst shocked Liliana, leaving her staring at them with a baffled expression. She tried to respond, but no words came out.

???2: Calm down both of you! She can't just answer all your questions when you two get into her face like that.

The girl berates them, and the two of them look at each other and realize what they're doing. They put their hand on their back head as they laugh sheepishly before apologizing to Lilianna in an embarrassed manner.

Armando, who had been silent in his seat, began to walk towards the group, giving Lilianna a disapproving look.

Armando: Seriously? Why are you wasting time talking to these people?

They all look at Armando.

Liliana: Armando, these people happen to know Gingka. They might help us reach Koma Village together.

Armando blinked for a moment, he tried to process all the words she had just spoken to him before finding his word again.

Armando: Gingka? Like, Hagane Gingka, right? And these people knew him?

Liliana only nodded as Armando eyed the group.

Liliana: Oh sorry! How rude we are for not introducing ourselves. I'm Liliana Alves, and this is my cousin, Armando Silva.

Armando: Hey, I can introduce myself alright?! And yes, we're from Brazil, don't ask us again.

Despite his rude behavior, the group only chuckles, as his attitude reminds them of a certain green-haired friend in the group.

Madoka: Yeah, nice to meet you too. I'm Amano Madoka.

The girl introduces herself.

Kenta: Yumiya Kenta!

The small green-haired boy speaks.

Benkei: Hanawa Benkei! And this is my buddy, Tategami Kyoya-Pal!

Liliana: Kyoya-Pal?

Kyoya: *annoyed* Just once you said my name without putting "Pal" on it, just once!

Benkei: Eeek! S-Sorry Kyoya-Pal!

Kyoya grows even more annoyed at his friend for keeping putting "Pal" in his name, as Liliana only smiles a little, finding their friendship amusing.

Kyoya: So anyway, what's your business in Koma Village?

Liliana: Well, you see...

==============================

Madoka: I see, so you two have been traveling throughout the world, and Japan is your last destination to visit your grandmother in Koma Village after 4 years.

Kenta: And you two were Gingka's close friends? No way!

Armando: Well, Gingka has a lot of friends. So yeah, nothing special about it.

Kenta: I know, but being a childhood friend to the strongest bladers right now is such an honor! I feel jealous, you know!

Kenta exclaimed, but his words made Kyoya grit his teeth in annoyance and look away. He didn't like the fact that people kept saying how great and strong Gingka was, it always reminded him of his humiliating defeat against Gingka.

Armando noticed this, and he only raised his half-eyebrow sensing a rivalry between them.

Liliana: I see that he become stronger now. Seems like the Hagane's never failed to amaze us with their love and passion for Beyblading.

Armando: And his Bey is Storm Pegasis, huh? Seems like Hagane Ryusei's finally giving his son a chance to shine now.

The mention of Hagane Ryusei caused the smiles of the group to fade, and they all looked down sadly, except for Kyoya, who remained unaffected. Armando noticed this shift and made a confused face, while Liliana began to piece together the connections. It became clear to her that whatever had happened to Ryusei was linked to what made Gingka sad.

Liliana: Oh yeah, speaking of Gingka, I happened to overhear mentions of his sad past from you guys. Could you guys please elaborate on what's happening?

Kenta, Madoka, and Benkei exchanged glances, uncertain if they should recount the story once more. But since Liliana and Armando are Gingka's childhood friends, it wouldn't be fair for them to remain unaware of what happened to their friend while they know.

Benkei: Well, you see...

==============================

As the group tells them of what happened, both Liliana and Armando are left speechless.

About 6 months ago, before Gingka traveled, he was still living happily in Koma Village. But one night, an evil Beyblade organization called Dark Nebula entered the village by force to unseal the forbidden Bey Lightning L-Drago, they were Daidoji and Ryuga.

Ryusei attempted to stop them but was unsuccessful. Ryuga managed to escape with L-Drago and flee from the mountain where L-Drago was sealed. Before being buried under falling rocks in the flames of the volcano Ryusei managed to give his Pegasis to Gingka. Gingka had to witness his father dying with his own eyes.

Fast forward just a few days ago, Gingka and his new friends successfully invaded the Dark Nebula castle. During this encounter, Gingka faced Ryuga once again and battled against his L-Drago. However, the battle was heavily one-sided, as L-Drago toyed with Gingka and his Pegasis at every corner. As Gingka grew more desperate, he fell prey to Ryuga's taunts about his father. Fueled by rage, he blindly commanded Pegasis to keep attacking L-Drago, inadvertently making L-Drago stronger, as it absorbed power with each hit it took.

Ryuga concluded the match with his powerful Dark Move, leaving Gingka feeling even more dejected. He struggled with the weight of not being able to fulfill his father's promise. As a result, he decided to return to Koma Village, confiding only in Kenta about his decision, while keeping it from the others.

Liliana and Armando reflect on the story in their minds, but two things shock them throughout it.

One, Ryuga, someone they knew back in the day, was with Dark Nebula. And he successfully steals L-Drago and who knows what he's going to do with it.

Although they wanted to ask about Ryuga, they decided to keep it a secret. They feared that revealing their relationship with him would earn them unfriendly glares.

Two, the death of Hagane Ryusei. They remember how upbeat the guy was, not only he's the reason why Koma Village was such a lively place, but he's also the reason why they began to love Beyblading.

Knowing that Ryusei was no longer with them was heartbreaking, not expecting it to happen so soon. They started to understand Gingka's pain.

Liliana: I see, poor Gingka. He just had to witness everything with his own eyes and now carries the burden of his dad's promise, which he feels he's failing to uphold...

Armando: Yeah, I feel him... Ryusei's death was so sudden that it left him with a wound he'll probably remember for the rest of his life.

Kenta: Gingka...

Liliana: So you guys Reckon he's in Koma Village?

Madoka: Well, that's what we think. When people get sad, the only thing they want to visit is their hometown, right?

Armando: Make sense, but we won't know if he's actually there until we arrive.

Kyoya: I thought so...

And with that, they fell into an awkward silence once again.

==============================

They finally arrived at the station near Hagane Mountain, scanning landscapes prepared for their journey ahead of them.

Kenta and Armando each carry a backpack filled with supplies. Liliana has a shoulder bag packed with everything she needs. Madoka, on the other hand, brings a suitcase with various things. In contrast, Kyoya and Benkei arrive empty-handed.

Benkei: So which way should we go?

Benkei asks Armando, perking Armando to look up at him.

Armando: Apparently, Liliana said that she knows.

Kenta: Liliana knows?

Armando: She said it herself. Cause, to be honest, it's been 4 years since we last visited, so I kinda forget which way it is...

Both Kenta and Madoka sighed, realizing that finding Koma would not be easy. Armando and Benkei noticed Liliana and Kyoya speaking with a train conductor, likely asking for more information.

And after a brief exchange, they turn around to look at the group.

Liliana: Let's go, guys!

Kyoya: C'mon, don't waste time here!

Both Armando and Benkei moved quickly, heading towards them at a fast pace. Right behind them, Kenta and Madoka were also on the move, but they were slower due to Madoka's struggle with a suitcase.

Noticing her predicament, Kenta walked alongside in case she needed help.

Kenta: Don't you think you bringing too much luggage?

Madoka: Girls tend to pack a lot of items when they travel!

Kenta: Can't say the same for Liliana, though...

Madoka's eyes widened as she realized how simple Liliana's travel items were compared to her own exaggerated preparations. She continued walking with a flustered expression.

As they rejoined the group, Liliana and Kyoya took the lead as they continued walking. Although they weren't sure if they would reach Koma Village anytime soon, they pressed on for the sake of Gingka and Liliana, Armando's grandmother.

Chapter 3: Journey to Koma Village

Summary:

The group started their journey to find Koma Village, but along the way, they ended up fighting with each other, which caused them to split into different paths. Liliana and Armando reminisced about their relationship with Ryuga and felt sad that their stepbrother had joined Dark Nebula and now wielded the dark power of Lightning L-Drago. Just then, a battle erupted as the gang from earlier battled someone they knew from their past.

Chapter Text

The group continued their journey to find Gingka and the Brazilian grandmother in Koma Village. Liliana and Kyoya led the way through the highest hill, much to the exhaustion of the others except Armando.

Madoka: *sigh* Should we- even... climb this way...?

Liliana: From what I remember, the passage of Koma Village was hidden in one of these high hills.

Benkei: *Sigh* Did we- have to climb every hill?!

Armando: Well, there's no choice...

The rest of the group sighed, knowing well it was going to be a very tiring journey.

Madoka: W-Wait up guys!

Kenta, who was walking by her side, couldn't help but feel worried at Madoka's struggle to carry the suitcase while hiking.

Kenta: Are you sure you don't need any help?

Madoka: No, don't worry.

Madoka reassured, while Liliana and Kyoya successfully climbed to the top of the high hill. Once there, Liliana began searching for the secret passage. She kicked at the rocks and stomped on the ground, hoping to hear the sound of wood beneath her feet.

But to her dismay, she didn't hear or see anything.

Liliana: *sigh dissapointedly* It's not here...

Kyoya, standing beside her, can't help but sigh disappointedly as well. Before looking at their surrounding, try to count how many hills the area has.

However, his senses detected a gaze over them, Kyoya eyeing the bush not far from where they stood. Both Armando and Benkei managed to arrive at the top of the hill. They noticed Kyoya's curious expression at the bush not far ahead of him.

Benkei: What's the matter Kyoya-pal?

Kyoya glanced at Benkei and then at the mysterious bush, which prompted both of them to follow his gaze. Liliana also noticed Kyoya's expression toward the bush.

Benkei: What is it Kyoya-pal?

Liliana: Is something wrong?

Kyoya, noticing that his unusual behavior has drawn attention, chooses to dismiss it, not wanting to be the focus of the conversation.

Kyoya: No, it's nothing...

Kyoya walks on without caring for their reaction. Both Benkei and Liliana are confused for a moment but then brush it off as well before walking after him.

Armando meanwhile continued to gaze at the suspicious bush, fully aware that Kyoya must also sense something unusual within it. As someone who often spends time in the forest, he could detect when someone was watching him.

However, he didn't want to make everyone uncomfortable during their journey, so he chose to brush off his concerns and keep walking.

==============================

After a while, the group took a break by a small waterfall. Madoka dipped her bare feet in the cool stream while Kenta splashed water on his face, cooling down from their long walks.

Madoka: So refreshing~.

Kenta: *smiles* I feel alive again!

The other 4 stood by. As Kyoya and Benkei looked at Armando, Armando gave them a signal to make them get up and continue. Both Kyoya and Benkei nodded in understanding, Kyoya grabbed Kenta's backpack while Benkei picked up Madoka's suitcase.

Kyoya: Let's go. If we sit around wasting time, the sun will set.

Benkei: Yeah, come on.

They urge Kenta and Madoka before turning around and about to walk on. Despite their protest, Madoka immediately put her shoes on, while Kenta got up and about to follow them.

However, Kenta suddenly felt a sharp pain in his ankle foot and fell, landing face-first in the dirt.

Madoka: Kenta! What's wrong?!

Madoka gasped in concern as she hurriedly got up. Kenta lifted his left foot and was practically in tears.

Kenta: J-Just a foot cramp...

Madoka: Oh, thankfully...

Madoka sighed gladly. At least, it wasn't something serious. But the other was in displease, as getting their foot cramped easily would slow down their journey, and they didn't have time for it.

Liliana: Is it still hurt?

Armando: Can you walk though?

Benkei: *disappointed* Perfect, more baggage to carry...

Benkei indirectly offended them, making both look at him with an irritated face.

Kenta: Who are you calling baggage?!

Madoka: Don't talk to us like that!!

Kenta gritted his teeth while glaring at the big guy. Benkei felt annoyance from the way Kenta glared at him.

Benkei: What did you look me for, huh? And why am I suddenly the bad guy here?!

Muttered Benkei, as he dropped Madoka's suitcase in frustration, grinding his foot into the dirt like a bull prepared to charge.

Benkei: I am not your b-b-b-b-b-b-bad b-boy!!

In a fit of rage, he kicked a large stick that was near his foot. Unfortunately, the stick struck the nearest beehive hanging from one of the trees. The bees, disturbed by the sudden impact, swarmed out of their hive and began to buzz angrily toward Benkei.

Benkei: EEEEEEEEEEKKK!! WHYYYYYYYYY??!!

Benkei screamed and ran in circles, desperately trying to escape the swarm of bees approaching him. Kyoya, Liliana, and Armando stood silently, watching the comedic chase unfold before them with straight faces, while Kenta and Madoka joyfully danced and jumped at the sight of Benkei being chased by bees.

Kenta & Madoka: *laughing* That's what you get for bugging the bees~!!

But suddenly, they cramped their feet and fell forward at the same time.

Kenta & Madoka: Foot cramp...

Both Liliana and Armando sweatdrop in disappointment at the commotion, as They put on their poker face.

Armando: They're truly the most unserious people, ever...

Liliana: You don't say...

Kyoya, who was right next to them, couldn't help but sweatdrop as well. He couldn't believe the fools he was hanging out with, the fact that Liliana and Armando considered him part of such a group didn't make it any better.

==============================

After a while, the group took another break. Madoka spread out the sandwiches she had prepared earlier. Kenta and Benkei gazed in delight at the sight of the sandwiches, while Kyoya, Liliana, and Armando stood nearby, already grabbing their sandwiches.

Kenta: Wow, it looks delicious!

Madoka: Alright, let's eat!

Benkei: Here I go!!

Benkei, eager to eat, grabbed a handful of sandwiches with meat in them, much to Kenta and Madoka's dismay, as they looked at the massive boy with a disapproving look.

Kenta: Oi, Benkei! Don't just take the ones with meat!

Madoka: At least take the ones with vegetables too!

Benkei: Heh, sorry, I ain't vegan.

Benkei exclaims before shoving 2 sandwiches in one bite, causing both of them to be more annoyed.

Madoka: We also want the meat you know!!

Kenta: Pig boy! Pig boy!!

Their argument escalated as the other 3 remained in their place, eating their sandwich peacefully. Armando, looking at the commotion, just chuckled in amusement.

Armando: *chuckles* They always argue over everything, aren't they?

Liliana: Never mind them Armando, let them fight, and eat your sandwich.

Armando: Just saying, alright?

Liliana noticed that Kyoya wasn't eating the sandwich yet, he only crossed his arms and gazed at the sky.

Liliana: You're not eating your sandwich?

Kyoya then looked at the girl before pulling out the sandwich he had been keeping. He glanced back at her, and though she appeared confused at first, she soon gave him a warm smile.

Liliana: C'mon, eat with us, aren't you hungry?

Encouraging the girl, thinking that Kyoya was just too shy to show his soft side to them. Kyoya decided to eat the sandwich anyway.

Armando only watched the weird exchange between the two, he looked back at the other who were still arguing. While unknown to them, a small monkey was secretly stealing all of their sandwiches. Although he wanted to inform the others, he stayed silent. He grinned, anticipating their comedic reaction to the sight of a monkey stealing their food for his amusement.

Kenta: Cough the meat, Benkei!!

Benkei: No! You're not getting it back!!

The argument was suddenly interrupted by Madoka's shrieking, causing Kenta and Benkei to look at her.

Madoka: Forget about the meat, our sandwiches vanished into thin air!!

Kenta & Benkei: WHAAAT?!

Kenta: BENKEI!!

Benkei: I DIDN'T DO IT?!

Their argument becomes increasingly comedic, much to Armando's amusement. Trying to maintain a straight face, he decided to intervene.

Armando: He did...

He said as he pointed his finger to the top of a tree, directing their attention to the monkey, sitting on a tree branch, happily eating their sandwiches. They were shocked as Kenta and Benkei rushed to the tree, trying to reach the mischievous monkey.

Kenta & Benkei: AH! MY SANDWICHES!!

Madoka: I HAVEN'T GOT A CHANCE TO EAT IT!!

Then, the realization came to them.

Kenta, Madoka & Benkei: EEEEEEEEEEHHH?! WE HAVE NO FOOD??

The tension has finally reached its breaking point, and both Kenta and Benkei decide to separate from each other, having had enough of such irritating company.

Benkei: Goodbye!!

Kenta & Madoka: Whatever!!

They shouted before they all turned around and walked off in the opposite direction. Kenta and Madoka went together, while Kyoya went with Benkei, leaving Liliana and Armando alone as they both watched the others leave, speechless.

As they all disappeared from view, Armando commented;

Armando: Well... They're truly something, aren't they?

Armando perks up, looking at Liliana, with Liliana giving him a disapproving look.

Liliana: Why did you do that?

Armando: Did what?

Liliana: That thing! Where you purposely didn't tell them the monkey!!

Armando: What?! And why don't you also tell them if you know it too?

Liliana: I didn't know until you pointed it out.

Armando: Alright, fine. But I thought it was just their everyday fight. I didn't know it would escalate like that.

Liliana: *sigh dissapointedly* You're really the worst. Now we have to find Koma Village by ourselves!

She walked on as if she wanted to leave the boy, and he confusingly followed her. He wondered why she was upset with him.

Armando: Hey c'mon! You're not even stopping their fight!!

==============================

Liliana and Armando have both climbed more than just a hill, but they haven't had any luck so far. After ascending the third hill, they decide to take a break and sit on some nearby rocks. They are breathing a bit heavily since they climbed three hills in a row without taking a single break.

They remain silent for a while, attempting to refresh their bodies after a long walk and climb. The wind gently brushes their hair, they feel the breeze calming their skin, and the scenery surrounding helping them relax even more quickly.

Armando: This place is actually not bad at all if you think about it. Especially for Bey training.

Liliana: There are a lot of Bey training places in Koma Village if you're not remembered.

Armando: I'm just saying... Though I wouldn't admit it, those people weren't actually bad. I can sense their blader spirit of wanting to meet Gingka again that they really just went off searching for Koma Village without even knowing where the Village actually was.

Armando: I wonder if they were strong in, Beyblading. More importantly, are they even Bladers...? Liliana?

As Armando turns his head to the girl, the girl only looks down, seemingly thinking of something.

Armando: Earth to head, Liliana. What are you thinking?

Liliana snapped from her thoughts before looking at the boy. She blinked before answering his question.

Liliana: Oh, sorry. I'm just thinking about Ryuga...

Armando: Oh... Ryuga, huh?

Ryuga—a name they hadn’t heard since their last visit to Koma Village together. Their grandmother adopted him, and they remember him clearly: his spiky white hair with a reddish streak just above his left eye, his amber eyes, and his slim build. They recall his shyness around others they met.

According to their grandmother, Ryuga is part of the Dragon Clan, a lineage that possesses dragon blood throughout their bodies. However, ever since the emergence of the dark power associated with the forbidden Bey, L-Drago, many people have become concerned that the existence of the dragon clan could potentially unleash this power once more. As a result, they have started to hunt down and slaughter anyone with dragon blood.

Ryuga is the last of two remaining members of the dragon clan. The other is his brother, Ryuto, a name that hasn't been spoken in four years. While Ryuga has always been cold and shy, Ryuto was his complete opposite—bright, full of energy, and always full of life.

They recalled how they always lived in their grandmother's home because they were outcasts thanks to their blood. Despite this, they were genuinely good people. Ryuto was the adventurous one, while Ryuga was the silent and shy boy. The four of them always had fun when they were together.

So hearing that Ryuga possesses the dark power of Lightning L-Drago was not only shocking but made them sad as well. How could Ryuga do something like this? While yes, he always mentioned that he wanted to be the strongest blader, they just never imagined he would go so far as to steal the forbidden Bey.

And they're not forgetting about the organization Dark Nebula. Throughout their journey around the world, this is the first time they have heard of such an organization. But the fact they knew about the existence of the forbidden Bey makes them think the Dark Nebula is not just any organization.

Since when did Ryuga join Dark Nebula?

Liliana: Armando, what do you think about this Dark Nebula?

Armando: Hmm...? Based on the fact that they know and managed to steal L-Drago, they're not your typical Beyblade organization.

Liliana: Do you think they have a connection with WBBA?

Armando: Why are you asking me that? You think I would know what WBBA has been doing?

Liliana: Just asking for an opinion, alright? Jeez, why are you so hard to talk with?!

Armando: Oh please, a girl like you shouldn't say I'm hard to talk to.

Liliana: Excuse me?!

Armando: More importantly, why did Ryuga join such an organization? It's not typical of him to do so.

Liliana: Well, if you recall, he's very determined to be the best just like us, right? I'm not surprised that he's willing to do anything to achieve that. But of all the Beyblades he could get, he chose L-Drago.

Liliana: And I find that really surprising.

Armando: I see, and based on their account, it seems like he's already managed to control its dark power. *groans* Seems like it's going to be top-notch to stop him...

Liliana: For real, but don't give up, yet. I'm sure there's a way to stop him.

Armando: Like what?

Liliana: Well, you see-

But before Liliana even starts, a loud explosion is heard. They immediately turn around to where the explosion occurred.

Not far from the hill where they were sitting, there was a rocky area. To their surprise, they saw a rock about to fall on a person below. Remarkably, he dodged the falling rock effortlessly and then launched his Beyblade at the massive rock, successfully destroying it.

Liliana: Huh...?

The person then displayed his Bey, which appeared to be Rock Aries ED145B, a defense-type Bey based on Aries, one of the 88 constellations, representing the Ram.

But that wasn't what Liliana was paying attention to as She looks at the person in question's appearance. Has pale skin, shaggy light violet hair, and bright blue eyes.

Liliana: Wait, could he be...?

Armando: Ey, Liliana...! Look, It's them again!

Armando pointed his finger, prompting Liliana to look at it. She saw the group again, it seemed like they were regrouping again, and from how it looked, they were against the person in question.

Armando: Hmmm, so they're going to battle, huh?

Liliana: It seems like it. Let's just watch to see what are they capable of.

Armando: *grin* Just like always eh? Alright, alright... Ah, the green-haired one started first.

Just as he said that Liliana looked over at them, and sure enough, the smaller boy was the first to challenge the other boy. He pulled out his Bey, while Liliana and Armando began to inspect it. Despite the distance between them and the action, they had sharp eyes and could see every detail from far away.

Yumiya Kenta Bey; Flame Sagittario C145S, a stamina-type Bey based on Sagittarius, one of the 88 constellations, representing the Centaur using a bow.

Both readied their Bey and began their countdown.

3, 2, 1, GO SHOOT!!

Both launch their Beys and immediately engage in an intense match. But being a defense Bey, Aries has the advantage against Sagittario's stamina type.

Kenta chose the endurance strategy, but the other boy quickly taunted him by showcasing his special move, "Horn Throw Destruction." Not wanting to be outdone, Kenta responded with his own special move, "Flame Claw." This attack opened up 3 points on his C145 track, allowing it to function as a second attack in the move. Kenta is the one to gain the upper hand, as Sagittatio managed to send Aries flying.

Armando: Ooh...! nice one!

Liliana: For a stamina type, he knows how to attack as well. *smugly smile* Not bad at all, I see why Gingka befriended with him.

Armando: *grin* As I've said before, I knew there was more about them when it comes to Beyblading, this sure will be an epic fight.

Liliana: Sure does...

The fight goes on as Aries manages to recover, Sagittario trying to hit it, but Aries shows its secret maneuver that could deflect Sagittario's attack. This shocked the rest of them, including Armando.

Armando: Wow...! How did it do that?

Liliana: Try to pay attention to its track.

Liliana said as Armando began to narrow his eyes toward Aries and find out the secret of the Bey.

Armando: Eternal Defense 145?

Liliana: *michievously smile* Good boy~. And yes, ED145, a free-spinning track with the purpose of deflecting other Bey's attack.

Their attention returned to the battle, as Aries began to climb to the highest altitude. Kenta orders his Sagittario to do the same, but struggles and then crashes into the stone, causing it to stop spinning and lose the match. Both Liliana and Armando widen their eyes and sigh disappointedly.

Armando: Oh... what a shame...

Liliana: But you gotta admit, that boy is good. But still, he has a lot to learn and has a lot of potential.

Armando: It doesn't matter, lose are lose. It's supposed to be an important battle for him and others, yet he makes a mistake and loses for everyone.

Liliana: C'mon, at least he tries. 

Armando: Whatever...

Next up is Benkei, with his Bey, Dark Bull H145SD, a balance-type Bey based on Taurus, one of the 88 constellations, representing a bull.

Liliana: Dark Bull, huh...?

Armando: Haha, no wonder he builds and acts like a bull! Let's just hope he'll manage to put up some fight.

Liliana: His Bey type was balance anyway, so let's just see what he's gonna do against the boy Aries.

Liliana then eyed the boy in question. Familiarity was seen in her eyes upon him.

Liliana: I see that you haven't changed, Hyoma...

Once again, they launched their Beys. Bull aggressively attacked Aries, forcing the boy's name, Hyoma, to change tactics. Aries started to distance itself from Bull. Though Bull tried to chase after it, he was unsuccessful until Aries suddenly stopped. Benkei attempted to attack, but his friend reminded him of Aries's special move. This prompted Benkei to order Bull to stop, allowing Bull to barely avoid falling into the trap.

Armando: Well that was close...

Liliana only hummed, knowing well that aggressively attacking Aries would do nothing.

And that was proven in the next moment, as Bull tried to smash Aries with its uppercut attack, it seemed like it didn't affect Aries at all, as Aries kept spinning in its place like an immovable object.

Liliana grew tired at the battle, knowing that it would take long enough to finish. She then stands up.

Liliana: You know what? Screw this, let's end this once and for all.

Armando: Wait what?! What about the watch and see things?!

Liliana: Armando... We are here to visit Grandma in Koma Village, not to witness a one-sided battle. To be honest, I know that guy. He's from Koma Village, and I'm sure he knows the secret passage to Koma.

Armando: Wait, you knew him? Why don't you tell me so?!

Liliana: We'll talk about this later. You wanted to visit Koma Village quickly, right?

Armando: Alright, fair enough... Well then...

The boy then gets up and smirks at the girl, pulling out his Bey Tornado Herculeo.

Armando: Shall we...?

The girl blinked in confusion for a second before finally getting what he meant. She mischievously smiled as she pulled out her Bey Ray Gil as well.

Liliana: Why not...?

==============================

Amid the battle, Bull launches a surprise underground attack, throwing Aries off balance. Seizing this opportunity, Benkei aims to finish the battle once and for all.

Benkai: SPECIAL MOVE: DARK BULL RED HORN UPPERCUT!!

Kyoya: Alright! Attack from the underground!

Kenta: We did it!

Although happiness and hope filled the air of the group, Madoka looked at her tablet screen in worry, knowing that something was off with Aries's track.

Hyoma smirks, before launching its second special move.

Hyoma: ARIES, WINDSTORM ASSAULT!!

As Hyoma activated his special move, Aries's track suddenly moved. It deflected Bull's attack, causing Bull to be thrown into the sky as Aries landed on the ground. The others were baffled by it.

Kyoya: What?!

Kenta: It deflects Bull attack!!

Madoka: Its tracks are moving!!

Benkei: What kind of move is that?!

Hyoma: ED145, a track with the ability to deflect any attack as possible. My Aries is untouchable.

The boy looks up to see Dark Bull falling down, he grins, knowing well he can use his chance to end the battle with his other special move. Much to the group's dismay.

Kenta: Oh no!

Benkei: B-Bull!!

Hyoma: The secret of my Aries has been found out, sadly. But nevertheless, this battle is mine! SPECIAL MOVE: ARIES, HORN THROW-

Suddenly, the ground where they stood began to shake, as if there was an earthquake.

Hyoma: W-What?!

Benkei: W-What's going on?!

Madoka: An earthquake?!

Kyoya: No, look!!

They noticed a crack that appeared just below Hyoma Aries. It had grown larger before something emerged from it, pushing Aries along.

It was a blue beast of Plesiosaur bone, accompanied by a golden beast of an ancient Roman or Greek warrior, who wore a lion's head as a helmet and rode behind it while wielding a green sword. As it pushed Aries upward, it also knocked Bull of its way.

Hyoma: What the?!

Benkei: WHAT THE HELL?!

Kenta: W-W-WHAT IS THAT?!

Madoka: Just what exactly is going on?!

As the dinosaur bone-like beast fully emerged, it roared fiercely. The golden warrior beast raised its sword as if preparing to charge forward.

However, the beast slowly disappeared from view, much to their baffle as they looked at the ground. As the smoke gradually dissipated, Aries and Bull stopped spinning, and to their astonishment, two other Beys appeared in the center, unfamiliar to them all. One has a mix of blue and purple colors, while the other has orange, gold, and dark blue colors.

Benkei: Is that...?

Kyoya: A Beys...

Both Beys keep spinning in place until they suddenly move away. They keep eyeing the Beys until the Beys jump into the hands of two people, it was none other than Liliana and Armando.

Armando: You all leave us for more than hours, and this is what you all doing?

Kenta & Madoka: Liliana!!

Benkei: Armando!!

Hyoma: Liliana? Armando?

Both of them put their Bey back into their Beycase, they greet the group before landing their eyes on Hyoma.

Kenta: Liliana, Armando! He's-

Liliana: Don't worry about him, Kenta. Hyoma might be mysterious and weird, but he ain't a bad person, nor working for Dark Nebula.

Kenta: Eh...?

Madoka: You know him?

Hyoma: How did you know my-

As Hyoma began to pay attention to their appearance, he began to notice. She has indigo hair and ocean-blue eyes and wears her hair in twin tails. As for the little boy, he has spiky royal azure hair and golden eyes. He then remembers the same kids who have those features from his childhood and smiles at them.

Hyoma: Liliana Alves, right? And the boy is Armando Silva.

Liliana: *smile* Glad that you're remember.

Armando: Wait, so he's the guy that you once mentioned?

Liliana: Armando, that is Hyoma. You might not remember, but he, Gingka, and I were always together in Koma Village.

Madoka: You guys and Gingka were always playing together?

Kenta: And that means... You're also from Koma Village?!

Hyoma: Hmm, I see that you guys made that conclusion. My secret has been found.

Hyoma smiled as he spoke, leaving everyone else confused, except for Liliana, who regarded him with a blank expression.

Armando: What?

Liliana: *poker face* You're still the same weird boy from my memory...

Kenta: But wait, if you know Gingka and from Koma Village, why are you doing this to us?!

Benkei: Yeah! Why are you trying to hold us from going to Koma Village!!

Despite the group's demands, Hyoma stays calm, understanding their reaction. He closes his eyes before turning around to gaze at the beautiful view of the mountains.

Hyoma: The thing is, Koma Village is a sacred place that has been hidden around the world for almost centuries. No one is allowed to enter the village unless they prove themselves that they're worthy of entering the gates.

Armando: *burrowed* That's the first time I've heard such a thing. So how did we use to enter there easily? 

Liliana: Our grandmother greeted us, silly. So we didn't need to prove ourselves.

Armando: Hmm...? Oh yeah, right...

Hyoma: So, in other words, I had to determine that you were all worthy to enter the village.

The other group blinked in surprise, trying to comprehend the word that had just come from Hyoma's mouth.

Kenta: So you were testing us?

Hyoma: *nod* Now I am certain that you possess the true blader spirit in your heart, and all of you are genuine friends of Gingka.

Benkei: So we pass the test?

Hyoma: *smiles* You did!

All of them were smiling because they passed the test. Not only were they proven worthy of their blader spirit, but this was also their greatest chance to visit Koma Village, Gingka's hometown.

Hyoma: Now, as the reward. Could you give me a favor and move that boulder for me?

He said as he motioned his hand toward a massive boulder right behind him. Using Benkei's strength, he managed to push the rock and it revealed a secret passage filled with stairs.

Hyoma: That's the secret passage to Koma Village.

Liliana: I knew it!!

Kyoya: So this is what you mean by secret passage?

Liliana: Yes, I remember the secret passage was up the hill, where there was a hole filled with staircases leading to the village. But I forgot that the exact place was here in the rocky hills.

Hyoma: *giggle* Well, it's been 4 years since you guys visited this village after all... Now let's get going then, watch your step.

They began to move down the path, making sure to watch their step because downstairs is often more dangerous to walk on than upstairs. 

As they walked, Kyoya's eyes were focused on Liliana and Armando. From the moment he first saw them, he had a sense that they were Bladers, but he never expected them to be such a formidable force. A smile crossed Kyoya's lips as he realized that he had encountered another strong Bladers, and he eagerly looked forward to challenging them.

Chapter 4: Welcome to Koma Village

Summary:

Upon arriving at Koma Village, the group encountered more residents, including a talking dog and an elderly woman who turned out to be our OC's grandmother, Kinoshita Sumire. Their grandmother welcomed our OCs into her home and began to share the events of the past four years, along with the history of L-Drago.

Notes:

This chapter is rather dull, as it lacks Beyblade action and contains mostly dialogue. However, I promised that the next chapter would be filled with action because it is based on the episode "The Green Hades."

Chapter Text

The gang carefully walked over the unstable bridge that spanned a deep ravine, gripping the bridge's frayed rope as it creaked and swayed with their movements and the wind.

Kyoya: Hey, are you sure the village is this deep in this mountain?

Liliana: Yes. As far as I remember, the village was on the other side of this bridge.

Hyoma: She's right! Apparently, you still remember it, even though it's been 4 years~.

Liliana: Everyone always remembers the last step towards their destination.

Benkei: B-B-B-Bull!! Then what are we waiting for?! Let's go!!

Benkei exclaims in excitement, as he quickens his pace on the bridge. Causing the bridge to wobble, much to the other displease as they grabbed on the frayed rope.

Madoka: Benkei, slow down will you?! You're going to break the bridge!

Kenta: Wait up, Benkei!!

Armando: *chuckles* I'm not sure if he can't wait to see Gingka or wants to eat some food...

Hyoma: *smiles* Take your time, it's not going anywhere.

The group continued on, as they managed to walk across the bridge and try to catch up with Benkei.

But suddenly, Benkei stopped midway, and Kenta bumped into him, his nose meeting Benkei's back with a soft thud as Kenta looked up in annoyance.

Kenta: Ouch! What the hell, Benkei!

Liliana: Look.

The group stopped their track, eye-widening in awe as they watched the view ahead of them.

Far below their vantage point lay a small, traditional village, surrounded by mountains and lush green forests. From their perspective, they could see the entire settlement and the cluster of traditional houses. The village looks very secluded and sirene like it's a hidden gem, untouched from the world.

The gang only gasped, eyes widening in amazement. They couldn't believe it, as if they had finally found the treasure they had been looking for.

Liliana smiles, finally finding the place where she and Armando's grandmother live, while Armando looks at the view rather reminiscing, as if finally remembering everything about his life back in Koma Village.

Hyoma: Everyone, welcome to Koma Village, known as the village of Beyblade.

==============================

As they descended into the village, the gang couldn't help but marvel at their surroundings.

The architecture of the houses, with their wooden structures and thatched roofs, felt ancient as if they had stepped into history. The village was alive with the sounds of chirping birds, leaves rustling in the wind, and the distant flow of water.

Kenta: I can't believe that this is Gingka's hometown...

Madoka: It's truly beautiful... How could Gingka never mention this place, especially since it's his hometown?

Armando looked at its surroundings with the same reminiscing eyes he had from earlier. Liliana noticed this and smiled.

Liliana: Finally remember everything?

Armando: Huh...? Yeah, I guess. I remember we used to sprint on this road, much to the people's annoyance.

Liliana chuckles as she recalls the fun they had in Koma Village. The sun shines brightly as they arrive at the central area of the village, which features a small Beyblade stadium.

Suddenly, dark clouds begin to gather, obscuring the sun and casting a shadow over the area. Just then, a chilling voice echoes through the air.

???: Who are you!!

The group freezes in place as the mysterious voice continues.

???: Only those with a permit can visit this restricted area. Therefore, you outsiders, get out of here now!

The group was on their guard. Whoever this voice is, it was both menacing and unwelcoming. The group scanned their surrounding to find whoever this voice was coming from, but they had no luck. Causing all of them to be on the edge.

Madoka: W-Who's there...?

Kyoya: Where are you?!

???: All of you must leave at once! Or else, god may spell bad luck toward all of you!

The voice continued as the group looked up to see a small figure perched high above. The figure was barely visible in the darkness that surrounded them, but its glowing yellow eyes were unmistakable, creating a perfectly creepy sight for the group.

Armando: Who the hell are you?!

Kyoya: Show yourself!!

The group was tense at the sight of the figure, which looked creepy enough to compel them to leave. However, they refused to do so, as they had finally reached their destination after a long journey. Especially for Liliana and Armando, who were there to meet their grandmother.

For a moment, no one does anything until Hyoma steps forward and talks to the mysterious figure.

Hyoma: Easy, Hokuto. These people are no threat to us.

Kenta: Hokuto?

Liliana: Wait, does that mean he's...

Suddenly, the cloud moved away, allowing the sun to shine brightly once again. As the light illuminated the figure on the roof, it became clear that it was not a person but a dog wearing a grey bandana.

The dog eyed Hyoma with a disapproving look before jumping down and landing right in front of the group. To their shock, the dog began to speak.

Hokuto: Why are you bringing outsiders here, Hyoma?

The group widened their eyes. They saw a lot of weird things, but talking animals? That was out of place, to begin with. However, Liliana and Armando stare at the talking dog as if they knew him.

Benkei: Th-Th-Th-Th-The doggy is talking?!

Armando: Oh, Hokuto, right? The talking dog who used to accompany Ryusei?

Liliana: *surprised* Wow, did the wave of memories suddenly wash through your brain?

Armando: *annoyed* I'm serious here... Was he?

Liliana: *giggle* Yeah he was. *look at Hokuto* Hokuto, remember us? The grandchildren of Kinoshita Sumire, from Brazil?

The dog watches them closely, ensuring that she's telling the truth while examining their faces. He then realizes that their face is pretty much similar to the kids from one of the pictures of their grandmother, Sumire.

Hokuto: I see, so you two have decided to come back here after four years, Liliana and Armando.

Kenta: Eeh...?! So you two also know him?

Hyoma: Everyone, this is Hokuto. Just like me, Liliana, and Armando, he's one of Gingka's friends as well.

Hyoma reassured the gang, who were still in disbelief at the fact that there was a talking dog present, and it happened to be their friend. The dog keeps his serious face at Hyoma.

Hokuto: That's beside the point. Hyoma, excluding Liliana and Armando, have you forgotten what happened last time when outsiders entered this place? Is your memory really that short?

When the dog mentioned "last time," the group assumed he was referring to the L-Drago incident, making them understand his action earlier. Hyoma tried to reassure him that they were good people and meant no harm, but Suddenly, Madoka ran up to Hokuto and wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug.

Madoka: KYAAA, SO CUTE!!

Hokuto: Wh-What the-!!

Madoka: What a cute talking puppy! Here little puppy, yosh, yosh!

The girl cooed, completely ignoring the situation, much to the other confusion and the dog's annoyance as he looked up at her and tried to maintain his dignity.

Hokuto: Hey, get off me, kid! I'm Hokuto, and don't call me a puppy because I'm actually a full-grown!

Madoka: Awwwww~, who's a good Hokuto~.

She began scratching his underchin. Despite his annoyance, he couldn't help but enjoy the affection as his tail wagged and he panted contentedly. The others only looked at the commotion, unsure how to react.

But suddenly, a voice came to them. The voice seemed like it was coming from an old lady.

???: Liliana? Armando?! Ooh...!! My grandchildren, it's been a very long time!!

They all turn towards the voices and see an elderly lady approaching them with her arms outstretched as if she is offering a hug. Her grayish-white hair is tied in a bun, and she is wearing a kimono that combines gold and purple, along with traditional sandals.

Liliana and Armando immediately recognized the old lady, smiling in delight as they began to sprint toward the old lady.

Liliana & Armando: Grandma!!

They embraced each other. Her grandmother was teary-eyed, relieved to see her grandchildren again after four years.

Sumire: Oh, I'm so glad to meet my precious grandchildren again. But how did you find these places without my help? Don't tell me if my grandchildren become so smart at this~?

Both of them only look at each other and chuckle at their grandmother's praise.

Armando: *chuckles* Not really, grandma...

Liliana: *chuckles* We should thank our old friend Hyoma and our new ones over there, they help us find the way here.

The girl exclaims before they turn around to look at the group, prompting the grandmother to look as well. She smiles, knowing that they must made a new friend along the way.

Sumire: Ooh, thank you Hyoma and friends, for helping my grandchildren.

Hyoma: *sheepish* Oh, it's nothing, Granny Sumire.

Madoka: Y-Yeah, we happened to search for our friends as well and we met them along the way, so we decided to work together.

Kenta: Oh, right! Speaking of which, is Gingka here in this village?

Kyoya: Did both of you know he's come back here?

Hokuto: Gingka...?

All of them began to question the existence of their friend in the village, much to Hokuto and Granny Sumire's surprise that they even knew Gingka. Kenta and Benkei began to scream at Gingka's name, hoping for a miracle to happen and Gingka just suddenly popped out of nowhere, but to their dismay, Gingka didn't appear at all.

Hokuto: Gingka, huh...? *sigh* What a shame...

The group froze. Based on Hokuto's reaction, something is up with Gingka, and dread slowly crept into their hearts.

Benkei: What? What's going on?

Hokuto: You missed him, Gingka's up there right now.

Said Hokuto as he nodded toward a gloomy dark, snowy, mountain in the distance. The group's eyes widened at the sight of the daunting mountain.

Hokuto and Sumire began to explain that after his loss to L-Drago, Gingka sought more power to become stronger. Hokuto found this reasoning confusing since there was nothing left in Koma Village. But the old lady disagreed and suggested that Gingka climb a snowy mountain that no one had ever climbed before. At the top of this mountain, there was a shrine where a legendary blader had left a secret scroll.

Initially, Hokuto was reluctant to allow Gingka to climb the mountain alone. There were numerous dangers along the way, including fragile ice, frigid air, and the potential for snow avalanches. But Gingka, being determined as ever, accepted Granny Sumire's advice and started walking there alone.

The group shares the same disbelief expression at Gingka's decision to climb the mountain alone by himself (except Kyoya).

Kenta: Gingka, did that...?

Armando: *smirk* Heh... But I'm kinda curious about what the secret stroll was all about.

Sumire: *smile* Do you want to follow him up there? It's okay, I won't forbid it.

Armando: Nah, maybe not now, since I'm just too tired and don't want to push myself. Let's go to grandma's house. I really miss it, and it's been a long time.

Liliana only chuckled at Armando's sudden childish behavior, despite his rude and mischievous behavior, he would always behave like a good and nice kid toward his grandmother.

However, the other widened their eyes at Armando.

Kenta: Eh...? You're not coming with us?

Liliana: Sorry, everyone. As much as we wanted to say hi to Gingka, we're here for our Grandmother. So yeah, we won't be joining you all.

The group sighed, realizing they couldn’t dispute their argument. At the same time, they wished that Liliana and Armando could join them in the search for Gingka, but they knew they couldn’t force them, especially after they had just reunited with their grandmother after a very long time.

Hyoma: I guess this is the moment when they separated...

Benkei: But wait, this is not a goodbye, right?

Liliana: *laugh* Of course not! How could we just abandon our friend like that? Especially after we helped each other, despite *ahem* some minor inconvenience.

The gang gulps, realizing that they indeed abandoned them for a stupid fight between them.

Madoka: Ehh... About that, we're so sorry, okay?

Armando: It's fine, you all should be grateful that when we meet again, it leads us here, which is fortunate for all of us. Oh, and when you all manage to bring Gingka back, let's throw a party together.

Liliana focused her gaze on Armando. It was rare for him to act so friendly towards people he had just met that day, but she suspected he was only trying to appear nice in front of Grandma. This thought made her simply hum and shake her head.

They wave goodbye to the group as they wish them luck in finding Gingka. During their walk to Grandma's house, Liliana decided to question Armando's behavior earlier.

Liliana: It's rare for you to be suddenly all friendly like that, especially to people like them.

Armando: Hmm? So I'm not allowed to be friendly, now?

Liliana: No! It's just that-

Armando: Those people might not win against Hyoma, but I can tell that they're much stronger than that, especially that Kyoya dude, I haven't seen him battle, but he looks interesting.

Liliana: *sigh* So it's all about Beyblading once again, eh?

Armando: Why not? Don't you wanna battle a strong Blader?

Their Grandma only smiled at her Grandchildren's conversation, as she immediately embraced them in another tight hug while walking.

Sumire: My lovely grandchildren have grown up~! I can't help but feel proud of you all~.

Despite her strong grip that almost hurt their necks, Liliana and Armando couldn't help but snicker at their grandma's affection for them.

==============================

Later, they arrived at their grandma's house, a simple traditional wooden house located quite far from the village (the same place where Ryusei went hiding in episode 48).

When they arrived, Grandma Sumire immediately readied all the food she could cook, and, to their delight, both of them began to eat almost all of them.

Like any conversation between long-distance family members, they began to discuss how things were going among them. However, their conversation soon shifted to Ryuga, which made their grandma only sigh.

Sumire: I see that your friend has told you about it.

Liliana: Please tell us, Grandma! What actually happened? Why is Ryuga suddenly with Dark Nebula?

Sumire: *smile* Calm down, my dear. It's not like I'm keeping this a secret for myself, am I~?

Sumire recounted the events of the past four years. A year after Liliana and Armando moved back to Brazil, everything seemed normal until one day when Sumire realized that Ryuga and Ryuto were missing. She wanted to inform the entire village about their disappearance, but due to the villagers' negative feelings toward Ryuga and Ryuto, she held back her desire to speak up.

That was until one night, a villager noticed two figures entering the volcano where L-Drago was sealed. Concerned, Ryusei was sent to investigate. He discovered that the figures were Ryuga and Ryuto, who were trying to steal L-Drago. Ryusei managed to stop them from taking L-Drago, capturing both intruders and expelling them from the village.

Sumire tried to convince them that they wouldn't do wrong things when they got the power of L-Drago, but her confession was rejected, and both Ryuga and Ryuto left the Village anyway.

Liliana: Oh... So that's what happened...

Armando: And after he left, he joined Dark Nebula and managed to steal L-Drago this time...

Liliana: This is bad. I mean, who knows what he's gonna do with that kind of power?

Sumire: You shall not worry about Ryuga having L-Drago in his hand, but what you should worry about is what Dark Nebula is going to do with the dark power in L-Drago.

The two of them stare at their grandmother in confusion.

Armando: What does that mean, grandma?

Sumire: Before we get to the point, why don't I tell you about the origin of L-Drago itself, shall we?

She said as both of them narrowed their eyes and intensely listened to her grandma's story about L-Drago.

Sumire: Once upon a time, a star fell from the sky. There are two fragments on it; one falls into the birthplace of Beyblade, the village of Koma.

Sumire: The other, however, has a piece of dark power in it, falls into the hands of greedy and powerful people, and becomes the basic model of L-Drago.

Armando: Powerful people?

Sumire: Throughout history, many powerful leaders have aspired to rule the world, including figures such as Cleopatra, Nero, Genghis Khan, and Napoleon. These leaders harnessed the power of L-Drago to achieve their ambitions, driven by a mixture of greed and anger. As L-Drago absorbed the negative energy, it evolved into what we now know as Lightning L-Drago, a bey that wields incredible dark power fueled by human desire.

Liliana and Armando were silent as they processed the story. They look at each other and back to their Grandma as she continues.

Armando: So the dark power was passed from generation to generation?

Sumire: Presicely! To combat L-Drago, positive energy is essential. Back in Koma Village, the villagers have been devising a plan to resist L-Drago. Utilizing a star fragment that fell on their land, they created their own Beyblade, the basic model of Pegasis, which harnesses the power of light and hope.

Sumire: During the Battle of Waterloo, the people of Koma Village allied with the British and Prussian armies to fight against the powerful Napoleon, the last owner of L-Drago. As the battle commenced, Pegasis struggled to counter the dark power of L-Drago but ultimately defeated it, bringing an end to both Napoleon's reign and that of L-Drago.

Sumire: The people of Koma Village confiscated the L-Drago, and because of its immense power, they locked it away for eternity, making it known as the Forbidden Bey.

Liliana and Armando were captivated by the story; they could hardly believe that Beyblade had such a rich history. After a moment, they returned to the main topic. Based on what she had learned, Liliana finally pieced everything together. 

Liliana: I see. Throughout history, many powerful and greedy individuals have used L-Drago and its dark power to conquer the world. And so is the Dark Nebula, who also has ambitions of ruling the world using L-Drago. So that's their plan!

Armando nodded in agreement, affirming Liliana's insight.

Armando: Yeah, and they used Ryuga as a master for L-Drago to effectively control its power since Ryuga is a member of the Dragon clan and is capable of wielding it... Man, they're really clever about this, aren't they?

Sumire: Yes, that’s true. However, I’m more worried that if Ryuga does not try to overcome the Dark Power and allows his desperation to fulfill his desires and greed to take control, he may end up being dominated by L-Drago itself.

Both of them fell silent as their grandmother spoke with a hint of sadness. They looked at her, noticing that she was looking down, but they were confused about what she had implied earlier.

Armando: Dominated by L-Drago itself?

Sumire: As I mentioned earlier, L-Drago is a Beyblade that absorbs not only power but also the negative energy created by humans. The more negative energy L-Drago absorbs, the more it craves additional power, to the extent that it may attempt to possess its own user's soul to gain even more power.

Liliana and Armando blinked, feeling goosebumps as their grandma explained. They could hardly believe that Beyblade could do such things. They knew that Beyblade's power was limitless and that it could surpass its potential if its owner was determined enough to push further. But the idea that a Beyblade could possess its owner and defy them? It's no wonder L-Drago was considered forbidden.

Liliana pieced off what her Grandmother tried to imply in her fear of Ryuga in Dark Nebula.

Liliana: Oh, I get it now. Grandma was worried that Ryuga might lose control due to the immense dark power in L-Drago, which could be too much for him. Especially since he's in Dark Nebula, they might exploited their power and their negative energy for their own gain.

Sumire: Correct, seems like my beautiful grandchildren have become a very logical thinker...

Grandma Sumire praised Liliana as she patted her on the head, causing Liliana to blush and laugh sheepishly at her grandma's compliment. But they still couldn't shake the feeling that their childhood friend, Ryuga, might lose control of himself and be possessed by his own Bey.

They knew that as long as Ryuga remained with Dark Nebula, he would never overcome his Beyblade dark power since the one that Daidoji and Dark Nebula wanted was L-Drago's dark powers. Right now, he was no different than a puppet who kept feeding his master to gain something in return.

Armando: Is there any way to stop L-Drago?

The boy asked his question with a very serious tone, his eyes blazing with determination. This made Grandma Sumire smile at his resolve. He had truly grown into a man for his age. Closing her eyes, she smiles at them.

Sumire: Before I answer that for you. What is the opposite of the Negative energy?

Liliana and Armando once again blinked at their grandma's question before the boy answered it.

Armando: Positive energy?

Sumire: Correct~! That's my little grandchildren~.

Sumire gently patted Armando's head before continuing.

Sumire: Everything has an opposite. There is night and day, short and tall, cold and warm, and so on. Therefore, if negative energy exists, then positive energy also exists.

Liliana: Alright, but how to get this positive energy, anyway? Is there a way?

Sumire: *smile* Come on, try to think about it~. As I said earlier, L-Drago became strong thanks to Greed, Anger, Hatred, Despair, and many negative emotions that humans have...

The old lady fell silent, prompting them to reflect on her words. L-Drago embodied negative emotions, and to defeat them, they would need to harness positive energy that could counteract those negative forces.

Greed...

Hatred...

Anger...

Despair...

...

At that moment, it seemed they had finally found the answer. Both of them exchanged looks, their eyes widening in realization.

Liliana: Friendship...!

Armando: Love...!

Liliana: Happiness!

Armando: Hope!!

The old lady clapped her hands, her smile widening with pride at the sight of her grandchildren, who were able to guess her meaning. She walked closer and embraced them with tight hugs. Despite how tight it was, Liliana and Armando didn't complain and embraced her back.

Sumire: My grandchildren have not only grown up, but they become very smart as well!

Liliana: G-Granny!!

Armando: Jeez! For an old woman, you had a very strong grip!

They all laugh together, clearly enjoying the moment after 4 years of being apart. Both of them realize that a lot has changed, and the revelation about what happened to Ryuga has truly shocked them. They know they need to take action, but for now, they want to fully enjoy the things they miss in this village.

Chapter 5: Gingka & Koma Village

Summary:

In the evening, the group gathered for an outdoor dinner to celebrate the returning Gingka. Liliana and Armando also joined the gathering, excited to reunite with Gingka after a long time apart. Later, the gang engaged in various activities available in the village, such as stargazing, Bey training, and participating in some Bey-related challenges.

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

The sky was a vibrant orange as the sun began to set, signaling that the day was coming to an end and night was approaching.

Two figures strolled through the forest, revealing themselves to be Liliana and Armando, who had just left their grandmother's house after spending several hours there.

They walked back to the village to reunite with their group, who had likely found Gingka and were probably celebrating together now. They were also eager to greet Gingka, whom they hadn’t seen in a long time. Initially, they wanted to bring their grandmother along, but Sumire insisted that old people like her didn’t belong at a party of teenagers like them.

But before leaving, their grandmother gave a final message to both of them.

Sumire: Remember, my dear grandchildren, that while Ryuga is chosen by L-Drago, it does not guarantee he has harnessed its dark power unless he strives to overcome it. But as long as he stays in Dark Nebula, I doubt that it will happen.

Sumire: So promised me, my grandchildren. If one time he starts to lose control of himself, please... Save him.

The words from their grandmother still ring in their minds. They weren't sure if they can't save him if he began to lose control of himself. Heck, they were not even sure if they could defeat the mighty L-Drago, based on the story their grandmother recounted.

Although they have the answer regarding how to counter L-Drago's dark power, they still struggle to fully understand the concept behind it. Sure, the only way to counter negative energy is with positive ones, but they remain uncertain if this alone is sufficient. This uncertainty is particularly evident given that Ryusei, who was renowned for spreading positivity wherever he went, lost his life in the attempt to defeat L-Drago.

However, they decided to not think about it too much and try to enjoy their first night in Koma village after four years with their new friends.

Armando: But still, despite what he's done, Grandma has a love for him. Like her own child.

Liliana: As they said it. "A mother's love is infinite."

Armando: Well, he's not even her child.

Liliana: Let's just say that as she cared for them, she watched them grow, and her affection for them deepened beyond the typical bond of a mother and her children. Even if her children were to become criminals, she would stand by their side without hesitation.

Armando: *smirk* Heh, you're sure know that stuff.

Liliana: Honestly, I'm not sure. Maybe it's just how I feel since I'm a girl, and one day I will become a mother. Maybe I'm going to feel what is like to raise a child.

The thought of her bearing a child made her blush and close her mouth in disbelief at even considering it. The boy also blinked in surprise before laughing unconsciously.

Armando: *laugh* It's too early to think about that woman! Why don't you consider choosing a better man in your life first before contemplating how to raise a child?! Ahaha...

Liliana: *blush* O-Of course I would! But for now, I'm going to enjoy my youth as a blader to the fullest.

Armando: Now that's what I wanted to hear.

As they continued to walk, they finally arrived at the village. From the distance, they saw two figures. One was a figure of a dog, who they presumed to be Hokuto. However, the other was very familiar to them, a spiky redhead with a blue headband, a long scarf around his neck, and a short blue short-sleeved jacket.

Initially, they believed the figure to be Ryusei, but upon recalling previous events, they changed their minds. They also noted that the figure was much shorter than Ryusei as if it were a younger version of him. Then it struck them who he really was, prompting both of them to walk closer to confirm it.

Liliana: Gingka?

As she calls his name, the figure turns to look at them, and golden-brown eyes meet them. They get a clearer view of the boy. He wears a headband adorned with the design of a pegasus, but unlike Ryusei, who has two wings, his headband only features one. Underneath his jacket, he sports a plain orange T-shirt. Around his waist, he has both a red and a brown belt, which includes a pouch for his Beyblade. He is wearing black pants and red and navy blue shoes.

There's no doubt of it, He's Hagane Gingka. The son of Hagane Ryusei, and the one they befriended about four years ago. After a very long time, they have met again.

Armando: Yo! Gingka, long time no see pal!

Armando greeted him with a fist bump, only for Gingka to silently look at them, trying to guess who they were.

Gingka: Umm, you are?

Armando: *disappointed* Hey, c'mon! It's that what you said to a friend whom you hadn't met for four years?

Liliana: The clue to our identity is simply one word: Brazil.

Gingka kept on his confused face while staring at them, still trying to guess who they were. But at the mention of "Brazil," his eyes widen, finally recognizing both of them.

Gingka: Oh, Liliana, Armando! It's been a long time! Haha, sorry for not remembering you all.

Armando: It's okay, man. It's good to see you again. *fist bump*

Gingka: *fist bump back* Yeah, you too, buddy. But since when do you guys come back?

Liliana: Just today, we were just at our grandmother's house before we came here. Our grandmother filled a lot of things that we've missed.

Gingka quickly forces a smile as he looks down, the thought of being defeated by Ryuga filling his mind once again. However, after taking a deep breath, he begins to feel much better. He starts to realize that losing isn't so terrible after all, even though he lost to the powerful L-Drago. When you fail, you just gotta get up and try again, right?

Liliana: Oh right, about your father. I'm sorry...

Gingka: No, it's okay. What happened to Ryuga has nothing to do with you guys, so don’t feel guilty about it.

Armando: We've also heard about your loss against Ryuga several days ago. Don't tell me that you lost your confidence so much that you immediately returned to this village to quit Beyblading.

Gingka: Wha... Oh, haha, of course not! Why would I quit something I'm passionate about? I just felt like a failure for not fulfilling my father's last wish, so I returned here to find the answer and become stronger. But then I realized that losing once isn't that much of the deal...

Armando: *smile* I see, it's good that you're not quitting Beyblading over a single loss. Cause I would regret even considering you a friend if you did.

All of them began to chuckle, as Hokuto only stared at them with a slight smile, mainly at Gingka.

Hokuto: Hmm, seems like climbing that mountain has helped you, after all...

Gingka: Hmm...? Yeah, I guess it did. But I never would have thought Dad had set up such a place in case I ever lost. He really had thought of everything.

Armando: *confused* Wait, so the secret stroll that was made in the shrine above the mountain was-

Gingka: *grin* You guessed it, my father made those, along with the shrine.

Armando blinked before finally finding his word again.

Armando: You gotta be kidding me...

Liliana: Well, what do you expect from Ryusei? He always does something very random that makes us laugh and yet teaches us something from it.

Gingka: *chuckles* Yeah, that's my father for you.

???: Oi, Gingka!

They all look down to see a group having dinner outdoors, with Hyoma cooking while the others enjoy the meal. Madoka waves at them, encouraging them to join.

Madoka: C'mon, eat with us before the food is gone!

Armando: Damn, it seems like the party has started without us!

Kenta: Oh, Armando, Liliana! So you guys had returned. C'mon, join us here!

Benkei: Yeah! But if you don't want the food I can take care of the rest of it.

Liliana: *chuckles* This guy is truly a bull, isn't he? Even the way he eats looks like a bull.

Madoka then eyes the dog and begins to hold out her skewer and wave it like a treat.

Madoka: You too, Hokuto. Yoo-hoo...! Come here boy, come here!!

Hokuto: Stop treating me like a dog!!

Hokuto shouted as he rosed from his seat, showing his frustration of being treated like a dog.

Kyoya: But you're in fact, a dog...

Kyoya bluntly spoke without missing a beat. Causing all of them to burst into laughter, Gingka, Liliana, and Armando couldn't help but chuckle as well.

Armando: Your new friends are truly interesting, Gingka. You just couldn't stop making great friends, aren't you?

Gingka: Really? Haha, if you say so. Now, why don't we join them all, shall we? Never waste food, especially at dinner time.

Liliana: *smile* Well? After you...

The three of them jumped down the stairs and joined the fun. Hokuto watched them, letting out a sigh of relief as he finally allowed himself to relax.

==============================

The night had fallen, and the gang had gathered at one of the top hills of Koma village looking at the skies.

The skies were clear as ever, it was quiet and peaceful, as the only thing they heard other than themselves was the sound of crickets. It's a perfect time for stargazing.

Millions of stars were visible in the sky, and some of them formed patterns resembling mythological creatures, known as "constellations." As the group stargazed, they spotted one of these constellations.

Madoka: There it is, Sagittarius.

The girl said as she pointed her finger to one of the patterns she could recognize. The constellation "Sagitarus," depicts a centaur readying his bow.

Kenta: Woah... So cool...!

Kenta watched the constellation that inspired his Bey in awe.

Benkei: B-B-B-Bull! Where's the bull constellation?

Benkei trying to find his Bey constellation in desperation. Madoka, knowing that the constellation that inspired his Bey didn't appear in the right season, let out a sigh.

Madoka: *sigh* Taurus was a winter constellation...

Benkei: *frustrate* Grrrrrr...! Why won't you come out just this time...?! Uhuhu...

Kyoya: *sigh* Dream on, Benkei...

Kyoya then adverts his attention toward two Brazilians, standing not far away from them and also gazing at the stars. He walks closer to them enough to listen to their conversation.

Armando: That's a Hercules constellation...

Armando points his finger to a pattern that represents a constellation that inspires his Bey, Hercules, depicting an upside-down warrior holding a club in his right hand and a twig with golden apple fruit in his left hand.

Liliana: *nod* Hmph...

Kyoya: I see that both of you were also Blader.

They both turned to Kyoya.

Liliana: Hmm? O-Oh, yes, we are. I guess it's very easy to figure it out, right?

Armando: Duh, he witnessed how we stopped the battle between Benkei and Hyoma, ain't he?

Liliana: Eh...? Oh yeah, I forgot about that, hehe...

Liliana sheepishly laughed as Kyoya let out a rare slight smile as he looked up to the sky again, prompting the other to do the same. After a quiet moment, the girl began to speak.

Liliana: So what's your story with Gingka?

Kyoya then turned to the girl, seemingly confused by her question.

Kyoya: What do you mean by that?

Liliana: Cause... Honestly, from my point of view, seems like you have something against Gingka, don’t you? It feels as if you and Gingka share a strong rivalry over Beyblade. Cause from what I see, you don’t appear to be friendly with him.

Kyoya remained silent before looking away from the girl, confirming her suspicion about the relationship between Kyoya and Gingka.

Kyoya: I think you picked up on it, didn't you? Yes, you can say that Gingka was my biggest rival, and I can't wait to take him down, once and for all.

Kyoya determinedly claimed that Liliana only had her eyes half wide. "Take him down" wasn't exactly the most friendly term for defeating someone, it seemed like their rivalry was so intense that he had used such praise.

Liliana: I see, it seems like your impression of Gingka isn't exactly good, is it?

Kyoya: *looking away* Kinda like that...

Liliana: So, why are you here?

Kyoya: *looks back to her* Hmm?

Liliana: If you didn't really like Gingka, why are you joining them in search of Gingka? Now, please don't take offense at my words, but you seem like a loner who prefers to avoid people you dislike. Yet you're here, reaching out to Gingka...

Liliana: Why...?

Kyoya only stared at her without saying anything, is true that Kyoya had no reason to reach out to Gingka if he didn't really like him. But at the same time, after he beat him not only once but twice, he can't just let Gingka quit Beyblading without giving him a chance to avenge his loss.

But he wasn't sure if he should tell her about his defeat against Gingka. Admitting a loss wasn't his style, anyway. He wanted to avoid the topic altogether, but her gaze and personality reminded him a bit of his mother and he knew she wouldn't let it go until she got the answer she wanted.

Kyoya: Cih, screw it!

He sighed before he began to explain.

Kyoya: To make him battle again...

Liliana: *blinked* Huh...?

Kyoya: You see, before the Dark Nebula incident, Gingka and I have battled twice. First when we first time met, and second after I trained myself alone in the wilderness to become a lot stronger.

Kyoya: But to my own disappointment... I lost both matches...

Liliana intently listens to Kyoya's story.

Kyoya: But then the Dark Nebula incident happened and Gingka lost his confidence in Beyblading, prompting him to return here.

Kyoya: Though as much as I like to see Gingka lose for once, I couldn't accept it if it wasn't by me. So when we thought that Gingka might quit Beyblading and return to his hometown, I won't let it happen, not in a thousand years.

Kyoya: So as long as the matter between me and him hasn't been resolved yet, I want him to keep on battling for the top and battle me once again, so I can defeat him while he's at his best with satisfaction.

Kyoya raises his fist in determination, embodying both resolve and strength. Liliana smiles as she watches him, never imagining that someone like Kyoya would think that way. Although he might never admit it, his resolve reveals just how much he respects and cares for Gingka, despite their rivalry.

Liliana: I see, so you want Gingka to keep on fighting so you can avenge your defeat against him.

Kyoya: That's right, because if he's quitting Beyblade before I had a chance to avenge my defeat, then the shame will be on me.

Liliana only nodded, understanding his statement. She had only known him for a day, but she could already tell that the boy in front of her was the embodiment of determination, hard work, and never giving up.

Liliana: Gingka truly met a lot of great friends...

Kyoya: How about you Liliana? What made you love Beyblade?

Kyoya's blunt question surprised her, she looked up to the sky, trying to remember what made her love Beyblade in the beginning.

She began to reminisce about her grandmother, Ryusei, Koma Village, and all of her friends. She thought about the fun times they had while playing and battling with Beyblade. Taking out her own Beyblade, Ray Gil, she marveled at how this simple game of spinning metal could evoke so many emotions in everyone who played it.

Liliana: I think Beyblade is very unique and addicting, don't you think?

Kyoya: Hmm...?

Liliana: Think about it, who would have thought that a game about these small things could evoke such strong emotions in us? Whether it’s happiness, determination, or sadness, the more we've come to understand our Bey, the more we come to realize the true power within our spirit.

Kyoya: Our spirit?

Liliana: *nodded* The more we fought, the stronger we became, and we met many people. The more we understood our Bey, the more we grew not only as bladers but also in understanding our true selves as a person.

Liliana: Ain't that right, Kyoya?

Liliana warmly smiled at Kyoya, who blinked and hesitated. He then gazed at the night sky once again, recalling all the things she had said to him. Though he didn't realize it till now, he did feel the connection between him and his Leone. And he began to wonder if his connection with his Bey might have something to do with finding his true self.

Kyoya: Understanding our true selves, huh...?

==============================

The next morning arrived, and Gingka invited his friends to take a tour of Koma Village. Their first destination was a forest called Bey Forest, where many young kids, including Gingka and his friends from Koma village, used to play and train with Beyblade.

When they arrived, they saw a giant tree stump that resembled a Beystadium.

Kenta: Wow, a Beystadium...!

Gingka: We call it a "Monster Stump Stadium."

Madoka walked to the edge of it and began to gently graze the stadium with her bare hand. To her amazement, the surface was very smooth for a stadium made out of woods.

Madoka: It's so polished, this must have been used a lot.

Liliana: It did, we kids in the village used our Beys here every single day. It seems like the kids back then kept using it until it became this smooth.

Hyoma: We did keep using it until it became like this.

Armando: Yeah, I also remember this stadium too...

Kenta: Amazing, I wanna try it too!

Benkei: Alright, let's battle!

The two of them ran up to the stadium before they launched their Bey at the thump stadium. Their Bey spins effortlessly without any trouble, staying perfectly balanced without making any noise.

Kenta: Wow, it's spinning is very smooth!

Benkei: This is a b-b-beautiful stadium!

Everyone watched their Beys spinning in awe. Madoka, being very analytical about the stadium, wondered.

Madoka: But this tree stump wasn't always like this, right?

Gingka: *nodded* When this tree stump first appeared like this, it was rough and bumpy, and our Beyblade struggled to keep spinning.

Gingka, Hyoma, Liliana, and Armando began to remember the time when they first used the stadium. As Gingka mentioned, the stadium was very rough and uneven. Gingka remembered that every time he and the other kids launched their Beys, it took less than 10 seconds for their Bey to stop spinning, much to their disappointment.

Armando: Yeah, I did remember how our Bey kept hitting bumps and stopping spinning before the battle even immersed. It was frustrating.

Hyoma: But as me and Gingka kept Beyblading here, it became smoother and smoother. And before we knew it, the stump was as smooth as it could get...

Hyoma recalled, reminiscence the struggle he and Gingka faced to transform the initially rough stump Beystadium into a smooth and worthy Beyblade stadium. Though it took a very long time to do so, it was worth every penny of it.

Liliana: You guys really do anything for Beyblade, huh? It must take a very long time for the stump to get smoothen...

Gingka: Y-Yeah, the thing is we don't really keep track, as we're too focused on our goal...

Hyoma: And too busy, haha...

Meanwhile, Kyoya stood not far away from them. His eyes locked on Gingka and the rest of his Koma friends as his expression remained serious.

==============================

Their next destination was the river filled with rocks. The group stood at the edge, watching the clear waters gently flow downstream. Gingka, Liliana, and Armando take in the scene in reminiscence while the other stare, confused at what they are supposed to do here.

Gingka: Here's another great place for you to Beyblade.

Benkei: *confused* Hmm...? I don't see anything...

Armando: Ah, I remember this place a lot. This is literally where you trained your Gil, right Liliana?

The mention of Liliana Bey's name caught the group's attention, especially Kyoya's.

Kyoya: Gil huh...

Liliana: Yeah, this place is filled with a lot of memories for me...

Gingka: Oh right! I almost forgot that you're used to being the master of this challenge, it got to the point where they call you the "Queen of Crossing!"

Kyoya: Queen of Crossing?

Liliana: *grin* Alright, let's see if I still got this.

With confidence, Liliana stepped forward as she took out her Bey, and attached it to her launcher. She scans the area, trying to find a perfect position and angle to launch her Bey, as she figures it out, she stands in her position and readies to launch her Bey.

Liliana: Go Shoot!!

As she launched her Bey, it flew through the air, skipping across the river, bouncing from one rock to another before landing neatly on the other side.

Kenta: Wow, that's cool!!

Hyoma: It seems like the title "Queen of Crossing" for Liliana still remains~.

Hyoma's praise, made Liliana slightly blushed. Madoka pulled out her mini laptop and began to analyze the purpose of this challenge

Madoka: You're calculating the exact angle of reflection. The angle and the speed of your launch are crucial for this challenge. This is definitely not an easy thing to do.

Liliana: Well, if you already know the exact position and the power you need for it, this is definitely an easy challenge...

Benkei: Sound's interesting, let me try!

Benkei immediately stepped forward and readied his Bey and launcher. Liliana and Hyoma warn him that if he is off for the tiniest bit, his Bey will fall into the river, and once it happens, it's not easy to get his Bey again.

Benkei disregarded their warning and launched his Bey regardless. To his dismay, his Bey collided with a rock instead of bouncing off and landing in the river. This prompted Benkei to jump in, wading through the shallow water to search for his Bey.

Liliana: *giggles* Maybe next time, you will listen to the boss of this challenge!

Liliana berated the big guy as Madoka and Kenta laughed at the sight of it. Hyoma, Gingka, and Armando couldn't help but chuckle as well.

Kyoya, who's been silent, began to step forward and stand just beside Liliana, preparing his launcher and attaching his Bey to it.

Kyoya: Go Shoot!!

Kyoya launched his Leone with precision. And just like Liliana's Gil, Kyoya's Leone managed to skip from rock to rock without missing a beat, and land on the other side with perfect timing.

Gingka: Whoa...!

Kenta: Awesome!!

Liliana: Impressive!

Benkei: That's Kyoya for you! Doing it on the first go!

Kyoya: Heh, Anyone can do it if they've seen it before.

Said Kyoya in a cool and confident tone as Liliana couldn't help but chuckle at his confidence.

Armando: *smirk* Well that's the spirit.

Madoka: That's Gingka rival for you!

Hyoma: Hmm...? Rival?

Hyoma replied with a hint of surprise that was barely visible, as he looked at Gingka. Gingka looks him back with his usual smile.

Gingka: Yeah, Kyoya is absolutely skilled! You should seen him battle for once!

Hyoma's eyes gleam with curiosity as he stares at Kyoya.

==============================

Their next destination is a strange area filled with towering rock pillars of varying sizes. Some of them had holes in them, while others had fewer, but one of them was suitable for the gang's next challenge.

Kenta launched his Saggitario to one of the pillars, aiming at the hole in the middle. But his Sagittario missed and bounced back to his hand. Benkei took a turn and stepped forward, aiming his Bull at the same hole and launching it with fierce determination. But just like Kenta, he missed as well, and Bull bounced back to his hand.

The Bull owner becomes annoyed and plans to enlarge the hole by smashing into it, but Kenta intervenes to prevent this from happening. The two of them began to quarrel again over a simple disagreement, as the other only sighed and chuckled at their antics.

Liliana: Did they always like this...?

Madoka: *sighed* To be honest, even I didn't know how their relationship worked...

Armando, who had stood silently for a while, began to walk toward the two with a slightly irritated face and then smiled rather mockingly at both of them.

Armando: You guys just couldn't hold yourself to not argue about unimportant things, could you?

Armando mockingly said as the two stopped their quarrel. He began to step forward, taking out his launcher and attaching his Bey, Herculeo, to it, and aiming at the hole.

Armando: Now, this is how you did it... Go! Herculeo!!

He shot Herculeo out of his launcher and Herculeo flew toward the rock.

Kyoya: So his Bey is Herculeo...

And with perfect precision, it passed directly through the hole.

Kenta: Whoa...!

Liliana: Nice one, Armando.

Hyoma: If Liliana were best at crossing, then Armando was best at this.

Armando: *smug* Heh, don't mention it...

Madoka: So this is Bey passing, right? You guys sure come up with a lot of things to do here.

Madoka felt intrigued by a lot of creative uses of Beyblading in such an environment, her eyes were filled with wonder with her surroundings.

Liliana: Well, to be honest, other than this there's not much else to do.

Liliana said, pointing the simplicity of the village she used to live in. Madoka then pulled out her mini laptop once again and began to type something.

Armando: Did she always bring that everywhere?

Madoka: But this isn't just a game, is it? Adapting the stadium, launch techniques, Bey control. These were the skills needed in Beyblade, you know?

Armando: Yeah, but let's be honest, we don't really mind all of that as long as we're having fun with it.

Liliana: *nodded* After all, fun is the basic of Beyblading.

Madoka: Of course, that fun is the basis of Beyblading, but all these fun activities result in great Beyblading skills, you know?

Kyoya: So all of you and Gingka have been constantly training like this since you were kids? No wonder that all of you were strong...

Kyoya, with his gaze averted and eyes closed, began to acknowledge them for their dedication to Beyblading. He even admitted they were strong, which puzzled Liliana and Armando since Kyoya had never actually witnessed them in battle, yet he'd already labeled them as strong.

Armando: Kinda funny that you already labeled us as strong while you never seen us battle.

Kyoya: Using your Beys to dig the whole ground from one side to the other isn't something a normal blader can do...

Kyoya shot back without missing a beat, recalling an event that occurred yesterday with his eyes half open. Which made Liliana and Armando face each other and begin to chuckle, forgetting the event that happened yesterday.

Madoka: Speaking of which, where's Gingka and Hyoma?

All of them began to look around them, noticing that Gingka and Hyoma were nowhere to be seen.

Liliana: That's strange... I thought they were here before?

Benkei: Over there...!

Yelled Benkei as he pointed his finger toward where he saw Gingka and Hyoma. The other turned around, and they saw not far from where they were, Gingka and Hyoma were having a conversation about something.

They weren't sure what kind of things they were talking about, but the fact they had to stand away from them, must be a big surprise for them.

Just then, Gingka turned around and waved at the group.

Gingka: Oi, everyone! Let's move on, I got a better surprise for all of you!

Kenta: *blinked* A better surprise...?

Notes:

Initially, I intended to keep writing until the section where Gingka battles Hyoma at the Green Hades stadium. However, I realized that the chapter would be too lengthy (at least for me), so I decided to divide it into two parts.

I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, and I hope you still enjoyed the chapter. 🙏

Chapter 6: The Green Hades

Summary:

For the final destination of their trip to Koma Village, both Gingka and Hyoma take them to the notorious stadium known as "Green Hades." This dark green arena features a glass-like surface. Hyoma challenges Gingka to a battle there, and as the match begins, it becomes evident that Gingka's Pegasis is at a disadvantage due to the stadium's slippery surface compared to Hyoma's Aries.

Can Gingka still win the battle despite this disadvantage?

Notes:

I apologize for not finishing this chapter quickly, there were many distractions over the past five days that slowed me down. Nevertheless, here's the chapter of Gingka vs. Hyoma. Hope you all enjoy!

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

For their final destination, Gingka and Hyoma lead the group to a strange yet beautiful, huge green stadium. Everyone was in awe at the sight of this massive structure, amazed by how odd yet pretty it looked.

Benkei: Th-This is...!

Madoka: It feels like we could be swallowed by it.

Kenta: What is this, Gingka?

Gingka: The Green Hades stadium, a special stadium that only exists in Koma Village.

Armando: Now this is the place that I didn't remember in my memory here...

Liliana: Well, you've never been allowed to go here anyway, as Grandma was worried that you might slide to the ground and can't get out, hehe...

Armando: *disappointed* Well, that's cheap...

Kenta then touched the green floor of the stadium and was amazed at how smooth it was.

Kenta: It's so smooth.

Kyoya: It almost seems like a glass.

Madoka took out her mini laptop once again and began to analyze the stadium.

Madoka: Look, it's Moldavite!

Benkei: Moldivice...?

Madoka: No, Moldavite! A glass projectile that was created when a meteorite struck the earth.

Kyoya: Meteorite...? So this stadium is actually...

Madoka: A meteor crater.

Liliana: That's right, this is where the star fell to the earth.

The group was increasingly amazed by the existence of a stadium made from a gemstone from a fallen star, right before their eyes. It made them wonder if other extraordinary things might exist here that they had not seen before found here.

Gingka and Hyoma began to retell the story of when a meteorite fell to the earth. It happened a long time ago, before Koma Village even existed, and one small meteor crashed at exactly this place, forming a crater that was covered in molten lava from the huge impact and the heat was melting the rock.

Madoka: The impact of the meteor causes a very high temperature, resulting in its surroundings turning into a glass-like substance.

Kenta: Amazing...!

Kyoya: A stadium create by a star...

Madoka: What a fitting story for a village like Koma.

Madoka gazed at her laptop, very captivated by the history of the stadium and the village. As the stadium introduction concluded, Hyoma approached Gingka, his eyes filled with determination as if prepared for a challenge.

Hyoma: So, shall we started Gingka?

Gingka: *looked at Hyoma* Huh...? Oh yeah, of course, let's go!

Everyone turns around confused at Hyoma's words, including Liliana and Armando.

Hyoma: Gingka and I are planning to have a serious battle here.

Benkei: What? What do you mean by that?!

Hyoma: Gingka and I have been battling in this stadium many times since we were young. Yes, it doesn't matter how hard life was back then...

Hyoma: In other words, I know Gingka better than anyone else. So now, I wanted to battle Gingka personally, so I can tell if he's truly recovered or not.

Hyoma declared as his tone was very serious, much to the other surprise, as they had never seen the serious side of Hyoma, even Gingka was taken aback by his tone. The group was silent by this as Hyoma continued.

Hyoma: You guys had just become friends with Gingka, so you can't tell. But Gingka and I have been living together in this village for a long time, even longer than the likes of Liliana and Armando, so I'm the only one who can determine!

Hyoma: Gingka, as your true rival, I'm going to test you right here, right now...!

Hyoma finished his declaration as he pulled out his bey and showed it to Gingka. The others, mainly Kyoya, Kenta, and Benkei, were displeased by Hyoma's claim of being Gingka's true rival.

Kyoya: You...? Gingka's true rival? Don't be ridiciulous!

Kenta: Yeah! We're also Gingka's true rival!

Benkei: Exactly!

Gingka: G-Guys...!

Liliana: I see, now this is interesting...

They all turn to Liliana, who is smugly smiling.

Madoka: Liliana...?

Liliana: Well, how could I not feel excited about this? It's been a long time since I last saw them battle, and even though I remember watching them battle, it was always for fun and never serious to begin with.

Liliana: So to see them finally battle for real feels like a dream come true, you know? As someone who has known them for the longest, I am eager to find out how much they have grown as Bladers. Especially Gingka, who now owns Pegasis, given to him by his father.

Liliana exclaimed with excitement, unable to contain her eagerness. Armando nodded in response, a smug smile on his face, understanding her enthusiasm.

Meanwhile, the others began to share in her excitement as they anticipated the battle between Gingka and Hyoma.

Kyoya: *smug* I see, I guess I can't help but agree with you.

All of them began to look at Gingka.

Kyoya: Gingka, battle him for us!

Benkei: Yeah! Prove him how much stronger you have become after battling all of us!

Gingka: Alright then, leave it to me!

Hyoma: *smug* But remember Gingka, there's a reason why this stadium earned the title "The Green Hades."

Hyoma warns Gingka, making the Pegasis owner feel uncertain. Armando, who's listening, also wonders what made this stadium earn such a title beyond its larger size and green color.

Armando: Okay, now I'm eager to find out why...

==============================

Both Gingka and Hyoma have readied their position, with Gingka standing on the left side of the stadium, while Hyoma is on the right. They readied their launcher and began to count down.

3, 2, 1, GO SHOOT!!

The two of them launched their Bey, which landed on the green stadium floor. The battle started with Pegasis immediately traveling around the stadium at an incredible speed, much faster than before, and undoubtedly any Beyblades with attacking bottom tips.

Kenta: Wow, it's so fast...!

Benkei: Alright! What a great start!

Madoka pulled out her mini laptop and began to analyze Pegasis and the stadium.

Madoka: Due to the glass-like surface of the stadium, Pegasis' speed is like that of a racing car.

Despite the group's happiness, Armando watches the scene with uncertainty. He knew that something was amiss because, as the owner of an attacking type Beyblade, Pegasus's speed seemed too abnormal, even for a standard attacking type Bey.

Liliana eyed the boy with a smile, knowing the boy was being observant and obvious about Pegasis's movement.

Liliana: Noticed something?

Armando: Hmm...? Yeah, Pegasis was just too fast right now, I don't know why. Was it the Bey or the stadium... Did you know something about this?

Liliana: *nodded* As Hyoma said himself, there are reasons why this massive stadium was called Green Hades.

Armando: Alright, but what does that have to do with Pegasis being this fast?

Liliana: Why don't you look and find out yourself?

Liliana simply responded as their attention shifted back to the battle. Pegasis, moving faster than ever, attempted to ram into Aries. However, there was no impact, and Aries stood firm. When Aries counterattacked, Pegasis was sent flying into the air.

This shocked the rest of them.

Kenta: Huh...? What's wrong?!

Kyoya: The attack was deflected?

Gingka: Grr!! One more time, Pegasis!!

Gingka commanded Pegasis to return to the stadium and try to ram against Aries again, but there was no change and it was Pegasis who kept bouncing.

It keeps happening several times that Gingka and the other notice that there's something wrong.

Benkei: Wha- How can Pegasis attack didn't work on Aries, despite its speed?!

Hyoma: I already told you guys, this is Green Hades. *sneered* At least for Gingka, I supposed.

Hyoma: I haven't told you all, but Gingka never won against me in this stadium. Yes, until today, he always struggled to defeat me here.

The revelation that Gingka always loses against Hyoma shocked the gang, except for Liliana and Armando. They had always known that Gingka was unstoppable to almost anyone except Ryuga, so learning that Gingka couldn't win against Hyoma in this very stadium was just unbelievable for the gang.

Kyoya: Are you serious?!

Benkei: B-B-B-But why...?!

Armando who's been watching the scene trying to get the pieces of Pegasis's weird behavior, was it Gingka who isn't fully recovered? Was it Pegasis? Or the stadium...?

The stadium...

Green Hades...

Then like lightning struck, his eyes widened in realization, remembering Madoka's word.

Madoka: "Due to the glass-like surface of the stadium, Pegasis' speed is like that of a racing car."

Armando: Of course...!

Liliana: Seems like you finally get it, do you?

Armando: Yeah...!

The other turns to the Brazilians.

Kenta: You get it?

Benkei: What's going on?

Armando: Madoka, remember when you said that the stadium surface was glass-like?

Madoka: Umm, yeah...?

Liliana: That's the thing, Madoka. Don't you realize it?

Hyoma: I see, you two being very observant, quite expected.

Madoka: Glass-like...? *gasp* I get it!!

Madoka analyzed the stadium again using her mini laptop and found the answer.

Madoka: Due to the glass-like surface being too slippery, Pegasis has no grip on the stadium. The high velocity we observed earlier was because Pegasis only sliding through the stadium, lacking real force in it.

Kyoya: I see, so this stadium gives an attack-type Bey a disadvantage.

Benkei: While becoming an advantage for defense-type Bey!

As the group received the revelation, they realized that this was actually a one-sided battle, with Hyoma's Aries performing effectively in the slippery stadium while Gingka's Pegasis struggled to even launch an attack against Aries.

The gang finds it unfair, while Hyoma only sneers and taunts Gingka, and the gang even more.

Liliana: Don't give up, Gingka! Remember what made you such a gifted Blader and different than any Bladers!

Liliana: And for all of you, if you are true rivals of Gingka, you should know better what he was capable of!

Liliana told the gang as all of them turned to the indigo-haired girl, expressions filled with confusion and surprise on each one of them, including Gingka.

Gingka: Liliana?

Kenta: What do you mean, Liliana?

Liliana: You guys considered yourself as Gingka's true rival, right? If you do, then you guys should know that Gingka was more than just a strong Blader.

Liliana: Yes, even back in the day, Gingka was always considered a special kid. Although his battling style was no different from any other kid, his Blader Spirit made him unique, allowing him to overcome many challenges he faced.

Liliana: *look at Gingka* Gingka! It doesn't matter if you've just recovered, show us why your Blader Spirit is not to be underestimated! Prove us that no matter what difficulties you face, you still managed to overcome them!!

Encouraged by Liliana, Gingka took her words to heart and became more determined than ever. He knew what he was capable of and was about to work a miracle again to show that he had truly recovered.

Meanwhile, the other did understand what Liliana was trying to imply, but how could Gingka and his Pegasis fight in such a disadvantageous situation?

But Kyoya watches the scene with his eyes narrowing. Seemingly knowing what Liliana was talking about.

Kyoya: Of course...

Benkei: Huh...?

Kyoya: "Difficult paths make a meaningful win."

Kenta: Kyoya, what are you talking about?

Kyoya: Didn't all of you remember? The first battle between me and him at the metal tower?

Kyoya recalled the first time he battled Gingka. At that time, he didn't know much about him and tried to gain an advantage by battling from the top of a high tower. However, despite his strategic position, Gingka's Pegasis emerged victorious. This experience reinforced Kyoya's belief that true strength comes from overcoming challenges.

Kyoya: Yeah, as you remember, My Leone got the advantage there because of the wind. Yet Gingka never backed down and accepted the challenge. That's the Gingka that I know.

Armando: *half eyes widen* "So he did that, huh...?"

Kyoya: So that's why I don't like it when Gingka loses to anyone but me. *look at Gingka* Gingka! Win this for me, and prove that you're worthy of being my rival!!

Kyoya demanded as Gingka became more determined than ever, while Liliana smiled back at Kyoya. He might not particularly like Gingka, but he still respected and admired him as a strong Blader.

Gingka: Alright! I'll prove to myself that I still got it!!

With confidence, Gingka continued the battle as Pegasis circled the stadium again. However, the others realized that Pegasis was slowly moving toward the center.

Kenta: Pegasis began to move to the center.

Madoka: Because the center of the stadium is where the surface is not slippery, allowing Pegasis to maintain grip when it moves there.

Madoka explained while analyzing the battle on her mini laptop. Armando observed the girl's laptop with interest.

Armando: Seems like the girl's gadget is more useful than I thought...

Hyoma: Impressive~, I knew that you guys would figure it out~! But that doesn't mean I will allow it to happen.

Gingka: Heh, I could say the same thing to you. Hurry up, Pegasis!!

Gingka commands Pegasis to move swiftly to the center of the stadium. However, Hyoma ordered Aries to intervene by using its eternal defense track to change its trajectory, colliding with Pegasis. As a result, Pegasis is thrown off course, allowing Aries to take its place at the center, much to anyone's dismay.

Armando, who has been watching the battle silently, has figured out how to defeat Aries.

Armando: I see, since this stadium is made out of Moldavite, it made the surface slippery, giving a disadvantage for the attack-type Bey.

Armando: But what they probably didn’t realize was that the Moldavite was just covering the surface and not the actual ground. If Gingka struck the stadium hard enough, it would easily crack, as it had a glass-like quality.

Armando: And with the crack spread through the stadium, Pegasis could move with enough force and grip, and likely beat Aries easily.

Armando: But the question is, does Gingka know this...?

Back to the battle, as Aries was finally at the center of the stadium, Gingka ordered Pegasis to attack Aries head-on, despite the warning from the other.

Kyoya: Gingka...?

Madoka: But wait, Gingka!!

Benkei: Hyoma has a special move to counter a direct attack!!

Hyoma: Heh, I'm glad that all of you still remember. ARIES, HORN THROW DESTRUCTION!!

Hyoma summoned Aries's special move as Aries' avatar, a Ram, readied itself to throw Pegasis up in the air with its horn. But Pegasis didn't stop, and its avatar flew to the other Bey without stopping.

In the end, Pegasis's direct attack couldn't overpower Aries's special move, and it was thrown into the air, very high.

Madoka: Oh no...!

Kenta: Pegasis!

Hyoma: *sneered* So that's all...?

Gingka: No, I'm not finished yet!!

All of them: Huh...?!

Much to their confusion, they all looked up to see Pegasis shine on blue light and began to dive down toward the stadium. The gang watches in delight as they realize what's happened.

Gingka: SPECIAL MOVE: PEGASIS STARBLAST ATTACK!!

Madoka: Of course! How could we forget about Pegasis's special move?!

Benkei: Alright! Way to go Gingka!

Kenta: Yeah! With this special move, Aries has no chance!!

All of them watched Pegasis dive down toward the stadium, mainly Aries. While both Liliana and Armando maintained their flat expressions, Hyoma smirked, knowing that despite its strong attack, it had significant flaws.

Hyoma: Ah, I see, I should have known that when you were thrown into the sky, you would use your special move, Starblast Attack. Very clever, I suppose~...

Hyoma: *smirk* However, you should know that the biggest flaw of your special move is that it only travels straight and targets a single area. So, if I simply had my Aries move out of the way, Pegasis was just gonna fall straight to the ground.

Hyoma explained as his Beyblade, Aries, moved away from the center. Pegasis continued to dive straight down, risking defeat by crashing itself to the ground.

Benkei: Uh-oh... This is bad!

Kyoya: Dammit!

Madoka: Isn't it possible to cancel a special move?

Liliana: As much as Gingka would like to, a special move from above couldn't be stopped, regardless of the owner's wishes.

Kenta: N-No way!! Is Gingka actually going to lose?!

As the gang started to panic, Pegasis finally fell straight to the ground, causing an explosion as smoke spread throughout the stadium.

The gang looked on in dread and disbelief at the sight of smoke before them, fearing that Gingka had lost again. However, Armando noticed Gingka's expression, which remained unbothered by the scene...

Armando: Please tell me that he's thinking what I'm thinking...

Meanwhile, Hyoma only sneered, thinking that he had already won.

Hyoma: Seems like my winning streak in this stadium remains, Gingka~.

Gingka: No, not yet!

Said Gingka as he only said determinedly, much to others' confusion, while Armando stared at him with the hope that he actually thought what he was thinking.

Hyoma: Huh...?

Gingka: Hyoma, I do know how much you know about me and how many times we battled here, how many times I lost despite my best, and how many plans and tricks I tried against you. You're truly the master of this very stadium.

Gingka: *sneered* However, that led me to think the only way to overpower you right now!

Suddenly, a crack formed throughout the stadium, and Pegasis emerged from the ground it had fallen into, continuing to spin. This sight shocked Hyoma, while everyone else ignited their hope.

Hyoma: *surprised* No way!! It kept spinning despite the impact?!

Benkei: Wow...!

Armando: Alright! I knew that you were thinking the same as me!

They all turn to the spiky little boy with a confused face.

Kenta: What do you mean, Armando?

Armando: Well as you know, the glass-like surface of Moldavite makes the ground more slippery, making it less suitable for attack-type Beyblades. However, if we were to create a crack in the stadium by breaking it, Pegasis could use that crack to gain more grip and force with it.

Kyoya: I see, so the Starblast Attack move was to break the stadium.

Gingka: Exactly, that was my planning all along. Now, Pegasis!!

Gingka commanded as Pegasis began to move into the crack. Hyoma's Aries also got into the crack, but due to its Defense bottom tips that weren't suitable for the cracking ground, Aries was trapped and couldn't move.

Hyoma: ARIES...!!

Gingka: Alright, Pegasis, go!!

Pegasis used the crack to move toward Aries. Due to their distance that was far from each other, Pegasis managed to gain some momentum before taking Aries out.

Benkei: Let's go!! Pegasis true power has finally returned!

Kenta: Go, Gingka...!!

Liliana: *smug* Seems like the Green Hades has decided to betray you, Hyoma~.

Hyoma: *desperate* Hang in there, Aries!! WIND STORM ASSAULT!!

Hyoma commands Aries to activate its Eternal Defense to evade Pegasis's direct attack. However, to his dismay, the track is trapped, rendering the defense useless.

Things got worse for Hyoma and Aries when Pegasis finally got close to Aries at full speed, ultimately crashing into it and sending Aries flying out of the stadium. It came to a stop right in front of Hyoma, who looked down in disbelief.

Pegasis returned to Gingka's hand, who lit his hands up in delight.

Gingka: Alright! Finally, I've won here!!

Kenta, Madoka, and Benkei approached Gingka, congratulating him on his victory.

Kenta: So cool, Gingka!!

Benkei: Very expected for our Hagane Gingka!!

Meanwhile, Kyoya, Liliana, and Armando stood without approaching him, simply smiling from far away, clearly satisfied with Gingka's victory.

Armando: I guess that's what they called, "thinking outside the box", eh?

Liliana: Hmph... But who would've thought you could think the same?

Armando: You're truly underestimating the boy who has learned the dark art of the game.

Liliana: Haha, I guess so... But Gingka, he's truly something, isn't he, Kyoya...?

Kyoya: Hmm...? Yeah, I expected he could win. It would be very embarrassing for me if he didn't.

Liliana: Sure does...

Meanwhile, Hyoma, who was still stunned at his defeat, picked up his Bey and began to approach him with a smile on his face, admitting his defeat.

Hyoma: Well done, Gingka. You become a lot stronger than before and finally managed to defeat me here... It seems like I can't consider myself your true rival from now on.

Hyoma: Please, keep improving with your friends, of course. I'm sure you will...

Hyoma spoke with sadness in his voice. He wasn't upset about his defeat; rather, he felt saddened that Gingka might no longer consider him a rival and would leave him behind.

Armando had a disapproving look on him and began to speak.

Armando: Oh really? Is that it? You're just going to quit trying to become stronger and better? You're just going to stop like that over one loss?

Armando spoke in a serious and rude tone, clearly disliking the fact that Hyoma would be ready to quit trying to defeat Gingka after a loss.

Hyoma: Huh...?

Armando: You're very disappointing, Hyoma. I would be ashamed if I ever spoke loudly like that...

Gingka: Yeah, I couldn't agree no more. Like, what are you talking about Hyoma? You're still my biggest rival!

Kenta: Yeah, that was great!

Madoka You managed to push Gingka into his limit there.

Hyoma: But... I-

Kyoya: He can have more than one rival, Hyoma.

Kyoya interrupted as the others nodded in agreement with his words. Hyoma felt touched, despite his loss, he still felt valued—not only by Gingka but also by the friends he had made. At that moment, he realized that Gingka had truly found a wonderful friend.

Gingka: Kyoya's right! The more friends you had, the better. Keep you sharp, am I right?

Benkei: That's right! Next time, battle me, Gingka!

Kenta: What?! No fair, I'm the next one!

Liliana: How about both of you battled us? Don't you forget that we're also bladers too?

All of them turn their attention to the Brazilians, they, in fact, remember that they're Bladers as well. But they haven't seen their Beyblade in full version, yet.

Gingka: Yeah, it's been a while since I've seen you two battle!

Kyoya: Your Beys are Gil and Herculeo as far as I remember, am I right?

Kenta: Gil...?

Benkei: Herculeo...?

Kyoya reveals their Bey's name, as their curiosity becomes more apparent, wanting to know what kind of Bey they have. Liliana and Armando only eyed each other with a smirk, knowing it was time for them to reveal their Beyblade.

Liliana: Since most of you haven't seen what our Beyblade looks like, prepare to be mesmerized.

Liliana said before being the first one to show her Beyblade to the gang.

Liliana: My Bey, Ray Gil...

As she displays her Beyblade, the gang becomes intrigued by its design. The face bolt features a skeleton face of a Plesiosaur set against a transparent dark blue background. Surrounding it is a purplish-blue ring that represents the full skeleton of a Plesiosaur, with blue spots illustrating the bones and sharp edges. Additionally, the wheel, named Ray, is a type they have never seen before.

Kenta: Ray Gil...?

Madoka: I've never seen a Beyblade like that before...!

Armando: *smirk* Well, if you haven't seen Beyblade like hers before, then prepare to be amazed even more by my Bey!

He said before he also showed his Beyblade to the gang.

Armando: Tornado Herculeo...

If they were astonished by Liliana's Bey appearance, they were even more captivated by Armando's Bey design. The face bolt features the head of Hercules adorned with a lion's mane, showcasing a blend of gold and blue against a dark blue background. The ring is orange and decorated with black designs of lion heads. The most intriguing aspect is the wheel of the Bey, which is equipped with five small, jagged blades that slope forward, rather than just three.

Kenta: Tornado Herculeo...?!

Kyoya: The wheel has five blades on it!

Benkei: Just what kind of Bey is that?!

Madoka tried to analyze their Beys, but her mini laptop shows no data about it.

Madoka: Their rings and their wheels are unlike any I have seen before. I’ve never encountered an attack-type Bey like those!

Armando: *smirk* Heh, I knew that all of you would amazed by it...

While the others were amazed by the two Brazilian Beys, Gingka and Hyoma stood still with cheeky smiles on their faces, eager to see what the Brazilian was capable of after four years.

Notes:

Some of you viewers might ask "Why on earth did you use a freakin' Beyblade who already has the owner in the original series?!" Well, I'm gonna be honest, I absolutely adore the design of both Beys, and I think it's two of my favorite Beyblade designs in the Metal Master Series after Meteo L-Drago & Gravity Perseus/Destroyer. So to see them only appear several times and be used by the side villain is quite disappointing. Especially Herculeo, like for real, the Bey was based on the most powerful warrior in Greek mythology, and also the son of Zeus, and they just appear like that in the anime?! That's just pure disrespect to the story of Hercules itself!

And for those who might ask "Then what Bey did Argo and Ian would use?" You will find out once I get into the Master/S2 part of the story.

Chapter 7: The Magnificient Emeralds

Summary:

Our OCs show their Beyblade to the gang and challenge Benkei and Kenta to battle.

Notes:

The last chapter of the Koma Village arc. I hope you all enjoy it!

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

The group continues to stare in amazement at the two Brazilian Beys. They had battled some of the most unique Beyblades in Japan, but nothing compares to the distinctiveness of these Brazilian models.

Based on their appearance, it’s clear that they will perform even better than expected.

Armando: *smirks* So...? What do you guys think?

Gingka: Still as cool as I remember!

Kyoya: I'm more interested in what your Beyblade can do in the stadium.

Liliana: That’s more like it! *looks at Benkei and Kenta* So, you guys wanted to battle, right?

Benkei and Kenta suddenly snapped out of their amazement at their Beys. With excitement, they smiled and pulled out their respective Beys, determined to battle the Brazilians.

Kenta: Of course! As one of Gingka's rivals, we're not someone to be underestimated!

Benkei: Yeah! Get ready to battle my B-B-B-Bull!

Armando: Now that's what I want to hear!

Hyoma: Oh, and by the way, if you want to battle, make sure not to do it here. The stadium has too many cracks...

Hyoma smiled as everyone's attention shifted back to the stadium's current condition, which was indeed full of cracks, making it difficult for Beyblades to travel and slide smoothly.

Gingka sheepishly laughed while rubbing the back of his head at the damage he had caused to the magnificent stadium.

Gingka: Ah... Well, sorry. Hehe...

==============================

Later, the gang returned to the village and found themselves in an expansive area filled with several Beyblade stadiums. It resembled a vast park, with dozens of large stadiums set up in every corner. The gang looked around in admiration at the sheer number of stadiums.

Armando: Man! I missed these places!

Kenta: There are so many of them!

Kyoya: *confused* What’s the purpose of these places if the village already has stadiums on every corner?

Gingka: This is where many kids like us usually train with our Beyblades. It acts like a playground for all of us.

Said Gingka as he reminisced about the times he used to battle every kid in Koma Village in this very spot, along with Hyoma, Liliana, and Armando. It was indeed a good time, when they had nothing to worry about, and Beyblade was all about having fun together.

Liliana: It seems like this place hasn't changed in four years...

Hyoma: *nods* It’s no secret that the people of this village preserve the beauty and naturalness of this precious place.

Liliana: *smiling* No surprise here...

Madoka: So all of you have been battled like crazy in these places since you were kids? Geez, just how many surprising things we haven't known about you guys?

Madoka said sarcastically, making the others laugh. Armando then eyed both Benkei and Kenta with a smirk before approaching them.

Armando: So, Kenta, Benkei, shall we start?

Armando said, catching the attention of everyone else, especially Kenta and Benkei, who looked at him. A smile formed on their faces, and with determination, they raised their hands.

Kenta: Yeah, let's go!

Benkei: Brrrrrr...!! I can't wait to battle you!

Liliana: *smirking* Glad to hear that...

As everyone anticipated the two-way battle, Kyoya stood silently and watched the two Brazilians. While appearing unfazed, he couldn't help but feel curious about the power of their Beys.

==============================

The battle would take place in two stadiums. Kenta would face Liliana, and Benkei would take on Armando. Both Benkei and Kenta stared at their opponents with a mixture of determination and slight doubt. They recognized the strength of their opponents, evident in their appearance and Beys. However, that didn’t mean they would back down.

Liliana and Armando watched their opponents with serious and curious expressions. They were eager to learn more about these competitors, especially since Gingka considered them rivals, suggesting that there was something about them yet to be discovered.

Kenta: Liliana, I don’t care what you think of me, but I want you to battle me seriously!

Kenta declared as he readied his launcher and placed Sagittario into it.

Liliana: *smirks* If you insist...

Liliana replied, doing the same with her launcher.

Benkei: Get ready to face my raging B-B-B-Bull!

Benkei also prepared his launcher and Bey, looking at Kenta with determination.

Armando: Raging Bull, huh? A perfect opponent for my Herculeo!

Armando said as he readied his launcher. With everyone prepared, the countdown began.

3, 2, 1, GO SHOOT!!

They launched their Beys into each stadium.

Kenta: Go, Sagittario!!

Benkei: Charge, Bull!!

Both Kenta and Benkei commanded as their Beys charged forward.

Liliana: Ray Gil!!

Armando: Herculeo!!

Liliana and Armando did the same as their Beyblades began to collide before bouncing back and starting to spin through the stadium.

Hyoma: They already attack right at the start.

Gingka: Let’s go!

Gingka said in excitement, while Madoka pulled out her mini-laptop and began to analyze both of the Brazilian Beys. She started off with Liliana's Beyblade.

Madoka: Liliana Bey, Ray Gil. Its Ray wheel can deliver powerful smash attacks through the three small gaps between its three rings. It is definitely an ultimate attack type Bey.

Kyoya: Another attack type, huh...?

Madoka: However...

Madoka stares at her mini laptop screen, which displays the bottom tip of Ray Gil. It is quite similar to the Rubber Flat of Gingka Pegasis, but the shape of the rubber is not as wide and flat as a standard Rubber Flat tip.

It was Madoka's first time seeing this version of Rubber Flat bottom tip.

Madoka: What kind of Rubber Flat is this...?

Their attention returned to the battle between Benkei and Armando, where their beys clashed repeatedly, barraging each other before bouncing back again.

Armando: Heh, not bad at all, big guy!

Benkei: *smile* You too, little buddy!

Madoka then analyzes Armando's Bey.

Madoka: Armando's Bey, Tornado Herculeo, has a 105 track and a Flat bottom tip, which is typical for an attack type. Its wheel, however, features five blades, enabling it to deliver powerful smash attacks as well!

Kyoya: I see, so both of their Beys were almost identical...

Hyoma: They may look identical, but you should know that true strength isn't solely about relying on your own Beys, is it?

Kyoya eyes the Aries owner and can't help but agree with his statement, his eyes return to the battle again as his curiosity has reached its peak.

The battle between Liliana and Kenta goes on as their Beys keep on clashing with each other, but it's clear that Kenta's Sagittario is at a disadvantage due to Gil's attack nature. Kenta only gritted his teeth, thinking of a plan to counter Liliana's Gil.

Kenta: If this continues, Saggitario will definitely be knocked out for sure. To counter Gil's attack it needs a perfect moment to do so.

Kenta: So for now, let's use an endurance strategy since I'm unsure of what kind of Bey I am facing...

Kenta: Sagittario!

Kenta commanded as Sagittario went to the center of the stadium and stayed there, opting for an endurance strategy. While Gil kept on circling the stadium as Liliana noticed Kenta's sudden change of strategy.

Liliana: Oh, so now you change to endurance strategy? Very expected, it's a basic technique for stamina-type Bey, after all.

Liliana: But I thought you wanted me to take you seriously, right? Do you expect that waiting for my Beyblade to out spinning will win you the battle? You're not exactly dumb, are you?

Kenta: Well, if that's the case, why don't you try to take me out?!

Kenta declared, challenging the girl with his fist raised and his face determined. Liliana's eyes widened at his bold challenge, but then a smirk formed as she accepted his challenge with interest.

Liliana: Well, that's bold of you to assume I'm gonna have it easy on you. Gil!

Liliana commands Gil to charge toward Sagittario at the center, while the other look at Kenta with either confusion or surprise at Kenta's bold decision.

Gingka: Kenta...?

Madoka: Wait, Kenta! What are you trying to do? Ray Gil is an ultimate attack-type Bey, one smash attack could knock any Bey out of the stadium!

Kyoya: Let him be...

Gingka and Madoka turn to Kyoya with confused looks.

Kyoya: If that's what he wants and trying to do, let him be. I'm also not sure what his plan is, but I'm sure he's not that stupid to let himself lose easily.

Kyoya said before their attention returned to the battle. Gil struck Sagittario with power, sending it soaring into the sky. As everyone anticipated a knockout loss for Kenta and Sagittario, the unexpected occurred.

Kenta: Hold your ground, Sagittario!!

Sagittario managed to barely land on the edge of the stadium, much to everyone's amazement.

Liliana: What?!

Gingka: Wow, incredible Kenta!!

Madoka: Sagittario managed to hold itself from Gil's smash attack!

Hyoma: Amazing, don't you think~.

Kenta: That's right, the only way to effectively counter an attack-type Bey is to strike back when they just made their attack because that's the only moment when they are vulnerable.

Kenta looked down at Ray Gil who stood still in the center of the stadium.

Kenta: Alright, now's the chance! Go, Sagittario!!

Kenta commanded as Sagittario charged down toward Gil. Sagittario began to emit a flame as the three points on its Claw 145 opened up.

Kenta: SPECIAL MOVE: FLAME CLAW!!

Kenta finally summoned his special move as Sagittario emitted even more flame. Its avatar appeared as a centaur running toward Gil, readied its bow, and shot the arrow toward it.

With a powerful attack, Sagittario managed to push Gil back. The force of the push was so great that Gil was pushed backward to the edge of the stadium.

Madoka: I see, so that's what he's doing—immediately attacking after Gil made its move!

Gingka: Alright! Way to go Kenta!

Although Gil was overpowered by Sagittario's forceful push and was likely to get knocked out of the stadium, Liliana remained calm, which was noticed by Kyoya as he observed her.

Liliana: I see, you exploited my Gil by immediately making a counterattack right after I made a move. Impressive, I knew that you could do better.

Liliana: *grin* But don't think that this is the end for me and my Gil. Hold it, Gil!!

As Liliana commands her Gil, Sagittario's powerful push halts right at the edge of the stadium. The sudden stop shocks everyone as for some reason, Sagittario struggles to even push Gil any further, as if Gil has become immovable.

Kenta: Huh...?!

Before they knew it, Gil countered Sagittario's attack, causing it to be thrown into the air. But luckily, Sagittario managed to land back in the stadium.

Kenta: *relief* That was close...

Kyoya: What was that...?!

Gingka: Well, Liliana's Gil managed to stop Kenta's Sagittario attack, that's your 'what.'

Gingka jokes while Kyoya looks at his arch-rival in displeasure, as Gingka tries to hold back his giggles. Madoka analyzes Liliana Bey once again, and her eyes widen in surprise.

Madoka: No way! Look at this!

Madoka prompted the others to look at her mini-laptop screen, which displayed Liliana Bey's bottom tip, now identified as "Rubber Semi-Flat."

Madoka: Ray Gil's bottom tip is not your typical Rubber Flat tip, it's actually a Rubber Semi-Flat! Due to its smaller radius compared to normal Rubber Flat, it provides a firm, defensive grip on the stadium floor while still maintaining an aggressive movement pattern!

Kyoya: So Ray Gil is an ultimate attack-type Bey with a defense part on it.

Madoka: Exactly. However, this is very disadvantageous for Kenta, as Sagittario's stamina type couldn't do well against Gil.

Gingka: It might be, but that's not entirely true...

Madoka: *look at Gingka* Huh...?

Gingka: *smile* Didn't Hyoma say it before? True strength isn't solely about relying on your own Beys, right? It goes back to our heart, determination, and blader spirit.

Gingka: So I'm sure that Kenta can handle it.

Madoka: Yeah, but still...

Their attention returned again to the battle, but this time, they looked at the battle between Benkei and Armando. Bull and Herculeo barrage each other intensely, before bouncing back and then circling the stadium.

Armando: Very amazing big guy. As expected for a balance-type Bey, it has everything in one!

Armando: But now, let's see how much you can take the power of me and my Bey. Hit 'em, Herculeo!!

Armando commands as Herculeo gains speed and charges toward Benkei's Bull.

Benkei: *smirk* That's right, now's the time. GO! BULL UPPERCUT!

Benkei commanded as its Horn 145 track began to glow with a reddish-pink color. Bull then charged at Herculeo, and its avatar displayed a raging red bull rushing toward it, ready to knock Herculeo out with its horn. Bull succeeded, sending Herculeo flying into the air, much to Armando's panic.

Armando: Crap! Hang in there, Herculeo!

Herculeo managed to land back into the stadium, much to Armando's relief.

Armando: Phew...! That was close...

Benkei: How's that?!

Armando: Hmm? Oh yeah, that's cool. You almost got me there, buddy.

Armando: *smirk* Seems like it's time for me to step up my game, Herculeo!

Armando commands as Herculeo starts to circle the stadium, seemingly trying to gain more power and speed, while Bull follows along, trying to attack. But Herculeo is too fast for Bull to chase, so much so that Herculeo begins to appear right behind Bull.

Benkei: That was fast... But no matter what kind of attack you will have, my Bull will be ready to uppercut your Bey!

Benkei declared as Bull track began to glow again, ready to counter Herculeo's attack. But to their shock, Herculeo just ran past Bull as if it wasn't even trying to attack.

Benkei: Huh...?!

Gingka: It runs past Bull?

Madoka: What on earth is he trying to do?

Armando: Ey c'mon, easy there all of you. It's not like I'm going to destroy his Bey. I just don't see the need to rush to attack Dark Bull.

Armando nonchalantly stated, which left others confused, especially as Herculeo continued to circle the stadium without attacking Bull several times. However, Kyoya noticed that winds began to surround Herculeo's wheel, a detail that went unnoticed by everyone else. As the Blader wields the element of wind, Kyoya realizes what the boy is planning to do.

Kyoya: Don't tell me that he's-

Benkei: Grrrr...!! How long you're going to keep this up?! Battle me for real!!

Armando: *smug* Hmph...? You want a battle? Alright then, Herculeo!!

Armando commanded as Herculeo now began to charge toward Bull. Benkei, who was frustrated before, now smirked in excitement as the battle began again.

Benkei: That's what I'm talking about, now! Bull Uppercut!!

Benkei commanded his Bey again as his track glowed and began to charge toward Herculeo until suddenly Kyoya shouted at him.

Kyoya: Wait, Benkei, dodge it!!

Benkei: Huh?!

Gingka: Kyoya?

Kyoya: It's a trap! He actually gathering wind on his Bey wheel to knock you out!

Benkei: What?!

Armando: Herculeo! TWISTING ARROW SHOT!!

Armando finally summoned his special move as the wind surrounding his Bey wheel spread. A golden avatar of a Greek warrior wearing a lion's mane appeared, readied its bow, and shot an arrow toward Bull with the strong wind that was shaped like a tornado surrounding it.

Gingka: Armando unleashes his special move!

Madoka: Look out, Benkei!!

Benkei: B-Bull!!

Benkei commands his Bull in panic as Bull's avatar barely dodges Herculeo's arrow which almost sends Bull flying away due to its strong wind.

Benkei: *relief* Phew... That almost got me.

Armando: Sheesh, you got lucky...

Gingka: But what's with the sudden wind surrounding Herculeo?

Madoka immediately analyzes the Bey once again.

Madoka: No way! The Tornado wheel on Herculeo can absorb surrounding wind and use it for attack like a blade, while simultaneously serving as a shield at the same time!

Gingka: Wow, incredible!

Kyoya: So the circling thing he did earlier was to absorb more wind to gain power.

Madoka: Exactly! I guess the wheel was called Tornado for a reason.

Hyoma: Very incredible, don't you think? It seems like throughout the four years, he'd work hard to learn about his own Bey power and abilities before ultimately mastering them.

Gingka: Yeah, I can see that. He became a lot stronger than the last time we saw him, that's for sure.

Kyoya only stares at the two of them before his attention returns to the battle, his eyes narrowing toward Armando while gritting his teeth, realizing that he has a rival regarding the usage of wind as a power.

Benkei also gritted his teeth, realizing that the battle he had would not be an easy one. Armando then smirked, using his doubt to taunt him.

Armando: So, Benkei, I've decided to unleash some of my true power earlier. Will you continue to fight against me or choose to walk away?

Armando: *smile* Just consider this a second test to determine if you deserve to be one of Gingka's rivals.

Benkei: *determine* Cih, don't treat me like I'm some sort of loser who will run away. Bring it on!!

Meanwhile, the battle between Liliana and Kenta continues, with Kenta Sagittario struggling to fight against an attack-type Gil with defense variation in it, which makes Kenta feel cornered.

Kenta: *gritted teeth* Dammit! At this point, there's nothing I can do about it. If I choose endurance, she just going to knock me out with its smash attack. But if I decide to attack head-on, she's going to easily counter it.

Kenta stared at his Sagittario as it circled the stadium, mirroring Gil's movements. His mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, knowing he was fighting a battle he couldn't win. Nevertheless, he refused to back down, determined to prove himself worthy of being Gingka's rival.

Liliana noticed the confusion on his face and felt a strong urge to test how he would handle the pressure.

Liliana: *grin* What's wrong, little boy? Does my Gil put you on the edge already?

Kenta: Huh...?

Liliana: You want me to take you seriously, yet but you already look overwhelmed when I'm not even that serious. So, are you really Gingka's rival or is that just a mere claim to make yourself look better?

Liliana: Cause to be honest, if I were Gingka right now, I would be very embarrassed if I had a rival who's not even as strong as him...

Kenta started to feel frustrated. Although he disliked how Liliana disregarded him, he couldn't deny that there was some truth in her words. How could he consider himself Gingka's rival if he felt overwhelmed when battling one of his childhood friends? Especially since she wasn't taking their match seriously at the moment?

Kenta: It's no use... She's right, how come I consider myself as Gingka's rival if I am this weak...

But suddenly...

Gingka: Don't Give up, Kenta!

Kenta suddenly woke up from his despair. He looked back at his best friend with a surprised expression, while Gingka smiled supportively.

Gingka: Don't doubt yourself, not yet! Remember, Beyblade, it's not just about strength and stamina, it's about your feeling and connection to it! Win or not is determined by the desire of you and your Bey!

Hyoma: Yeah, come on Kenta, you can do it!

Kenta: Gingka, Hyoma.

Liliana smiles from the other side, touched by the support that Gingka gave to Kenta. It always reminds her of his father, who was always supportive of the weak and tried to encourage them even more.

Liliana: I guess that is always a Hagane's style...

Kenta: That's right, as long as Sagittario didn't stop spinning, the battle continued on. This is an important battle to prove that I'm worthy as Gingka's rival, so that's why I ain't giving up and will fight no matter how difficult the battle is.

Kenta: Sagittario!!

With a new determination, Kenta commands Sagittario to attack Liliana's Gil. Liliana only smirked even more, thinking that it was time to take the boy seriously.

Liliana: Alright, that's more I like it. Believe in yourself and never give up! Let's see how much you can handle my Gil now. Go, Gil!

Liliana commands her Gil to attack Sagittario. Surprisingly, Kenta's newfound strength allowed Gil's attack to be countered.

Liliana: What?!

Madoka: Sagittario manage to counter Gil!

Gingka: Alright! Now that's what I'm talking about!

Kenta: Go, Sagittario!

As if on cue, this time it was Sagittario who was dominant against Gil, attacking here and there to put Liliana's Gil on the back foot.

Kenta: Time to end this, SPECIAL MOVE: FLAME CLAW!!

Kenta summoned his special move once again, but this time the flame emitted by Sagittario was larger and more powerful. As the avatar of the Centaur shot an arrow toward Gil, Gil managed to avoid it. However, Sagittario was not finished. The arrow flew into the air and returned to Gil, moving in a loop.

Liliana: *impressed* Ah, so this is Sagittario's real power, huh? Finally, it seems like taking seriously now it's worth it.

Liliana: *smirk* But don't forget that I haven't summoned my special move, yet..

Kenta: Huh?!

Liliana: Gil! KEEL CANNON STRIKE!!

Liliana finally summoned her special move as Gil's avatar appeared as a Plesiosaur's bone charging toward Sagittario's arrow, creating an explosion when their attacks met. The smoke filled the area, and as it began to clear;

Sagittario stopped spinning, as Gil kept spinning freely just beside it.

Kenta felt dejected as he dropped to his knees, and small tears started to form in his eyes.

Kenta: I lost...

Madoka: Kenta...

Meanwhile, at the battle between Benkei and Armando, Benkei was distracted by the dejected look of Kenta as he looked away from the stadium.

Benkei: K-Kenta...!

Armando: Why don't you focus on your own battle instead of looking at your small boyfriend or whatever he is to you...

Benkei: *annoyed* S-Say what!

Armando: Herculeo! TWISTING ARROW SHOT!!

Armando activated his special move once again. Benkei was caught off guard and attempted to summon his own special move, but it was too late as Herculeo charged toward Bull at full speed, not giving Bull any chance to do anything.

Bull was knocked out of the stadium and stopped spinning as a result. Benkei was frustrated at himself for getting distracted during battle.

Benkei: BRRRRRRRR... ULLLLLLLL!!

Hyoma: Oh, how shameful that both of them lost...

Gingka: *smiles* Yeah, but I’m okay with that. Both of them give their all to defeat someone much stronger than they are. They refuse to back down or give up, their desire to win fuels their blader spirit and keeps them fighting. That determination is what matters most to me.

Hyoma: Speaking from experience, am I right~?

Gingka: *sheepish laugh* Ahaha, you can say that...

Kyoya silently looked at Gingka with approval, agreeing with his statement, as it reminded him of himself and the reason he was here now.

Meanwhile, the dejected Kenta, still looking down, wanted to prove himself that he was also Gingka's rival, only to lose against Gingka's childhood. Liliana walked to him with a smile as she crouched, trying to cheer him up.

Liliana: Hey, don't be that sad. You're proving yourself back there, you know?

Kenta: Huh...?

Liliana: You see, stamina-type Beys are often the most overlooked among the four types due to them only relying on stamina and endurance rather than raw power. However, you almost had me cornered back there, forcing me to take you seriously and use my special move.

Liliana: It's incredible you have such power. I've never been cornered by a stamina-type Bey in my life as a blader. I can see why Gingka looks up to you as well...

Liliana: But I can see that you must struggled with feelings of inferiority and doubt in your strength. Don’t let these thoughts distract you, especially in battle.

Kenta stared at the girl with eyes glazing. Seeing Liliana praise him for being strong enough to almost corner her despite using stamina-type Bey made him regain his pride that he almost lost.

At the same time, he kindly accepted her words. He always struggles with feelings of inferiority and doubt, especially during battles against strong bladers, and he is determined to avoid feeling that way again.

On the other side, Benkei feels frustrated by his loss of being distracted as he clenches his fist. Armando walks toward him, trying to cheer him up as well.

Armando: That was awesome, man! The raging Bull does fit the power of your Bey. But seriously, you were distracted easily, you should not let whatever happened to the other get the best of you during the battle.

Benkei: U-Umm, yeah... I guess you're right...

==============================

Standing on top of the hill, far above where the gang was, stand two figures looking down at them. They're Hokuto and Sumire, gazing down toward Ginka and the others with a relieved smile.

Hokuto: Seems like we don't need to worry about Gingka anymore...

Sumire: Very expected for the son of Hagane Ryusei. Like a magnet attracting everyone around him to become friends~.

Hokuto: You don't say...

Notes:

**Information about Gil and Herculeo's special moves:**

- Keel Cannon Strike: Gil performs a rapid maneuver, launching itself forward like a cannonball, delivering a powerful smash to his opponent.

- Twisting Arrow Shot: Akin to Sagittario's Flame Claw but utilizes wind instead of fire. It's more potent than Flame Claw due to Herculeo's attack-oriented nature.

Yes, I made their Beys behave differently from the series to show that I’m not just copying and pasting everything. I hope you all enjoy it and have a good day!

Chapter 8: Bey City & Battle Bladers

Summary:

The gang returned to Bey City, bringing our OCs and Hyoma with them. However, our OCs chose to skip the Survival Battle to avoid detection by Dark Nebula and to search for another strong Blader instead.

During their search, they did find a formidable Blader named Tendou Yu, with his Flame Libra T125ES. He proceeded to dominate the competition and emerge as the winner, only for them to discover that he was affiliated with Dark Nebula and had initiated a prestigious competition in Japan known as "Battle Bladers."

Notes:

I chose to skip the Survival Battle arc to dive directly into the action and training arc. I apologize to those who wanted more action in the Survival Battle arc, but I hope you still enjoy it!

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

After spending some time in Koma Village, Gingka and his friends decided to return to Bey City, located in Shibuya, Tokyo. They brought Hyoma and the Brazilians with them, who had chosen to join them for an adventure in the city.

During their first walk through Bey City, Hyoma and the Brazilians visited Madoka's shop, called "B-Pit," a popular Beyblade shop where a lot of bladers come to repair and maintain their Beyblades. Customers can also purchase new parts and enjoy battles in smaller stadiums for fun.

As Madoka asked everyone to lend her their Beys for repair and maintenance, Gingka and his friends took Hyoma and the Brazilians to some of their favorite spots. 

They visited a fast-food restaurant where Gingka always ordered his favorite "triple beef burger," a Beypark, various stadiums, and even the riverside where Gingka, Kenta, Madoka, and Benkei used to hang out together. The riverside became their favorite place to sit, share stories, and have fun for the rest of the day.

They also met another friend named Hasama Hikaru, a girl with messy sky-blue bob hair and indigo eyes. She wore a red jacket over a white chest plate, a slightly torn dark blue t-shirt, tan shorts, brown boots, and a black choker. Her white fingerless gloves reached her wrists.

Her Bey is Storm Aquario 100HF/S, an attack-type Bey inspired by Aquarius, one of the 88 constellations representing a man pouring water.

Armando's first impression of Hikaru was that her sexiness rivaled Liliana's, which earned him a hard nudge from an annoyed Liliana while Hikaru shot him a disapproving glance as her cheeks flushed. Nonetheless, they found the girl and her Beyblades interesting, and they hoped to battle her after their Beyblades were fixed.

Overall, their experience in Bey City was wonderful. The modernity and tranquility they felt while walking through the city made it seem like they had found another home outside their respective places.

However, the last thing they needed in this city was another strong Blader outside of their gang.

==============================

Liliana and Armando were sitting at a bar, watching a Beyblade competition event organized by the WBBA, called "Survival Battle." This new tag team tournament featured a thousand bladers who landed on an island filled with forests, battling each other to determine the fourth last standing bladers.

The prize for the tournament winner grants them one wish, anything the blader desires.

Armando gazes at the TV with little enthusiasm. He desperately wants to enter the competition, but Liliana has a different plan. She aims to identify the strongest bladers in all of Japan, beyond just their gang, by assessing their strength and abilities from a distance. At the same time, they need to stay under the radar to avoid detection by Dark Nebula, in case the organization is making moves or watching them.

Armando: *sigh* This sucks. I want to battle you know?

Liliana: Yes, but remember that we are not only here to battle strong bladers; we also have an organization to watch, so we need to be cautious about who we battle.

Armando: Oh yeah? And how are we going achieve that by just sitting here and missing the biggest Beyblade competition in Japan?

Liliana: ...

Liliana: Look, I'm not sure if Daidouji and Dark Nebula are aware of us, especially since they’ve known about Koma Village in the first place. So instead of revealing ourselves at the open tournament, it’s wiser to observe from a distance while staying hidden from them. Does that make sense?

Armando: *unconvinced* Cih, find then. Just don't me regret my decision to follow you.

Liliana: Good.

Their attention returns to the TV, as the screen shows the battle between Hyoma and Kyoya. Their eyes fixated on Kyoya's Bey, Rock Leone 145WB, a defense-type Bey inspired by Leo, one of the 88 constellations representing a lion.

Liliana: I see, so that's his Bey, Rock Leone. It's no wonder he looks that way. He probably spends more time in the wilderness...

As the battle goes on, Kyoya immediately summons his special move, Lion Gale Force Wall, where Leone creates a giant tornado to defend against opponent Bey, knocks them out or drains their stamina. And in this case, Leone drained Aries's stamina, ultimately defeating it.

Armando looks at the screen in awe, his eyes filled with excitement at the sight of Leone's creating tornado.

Armando: Damn...!! I never knew Kyoya's also used wind just like mine! That is so cool!!

Liliana: You're not mad that he used the same element of power as you?

Armando: Come on, why should I? Kyoya is a strong blader with the way Gingka and the gang always regard him as Gingka's number one rival. But I never thought that he also used wind as a source of power.

Armando: And I think it's awesome that I finally found my equal to battle with!

Liliana stares at the boy with one eye slightly widened. Throughout their journey together, Armando has always remained nonchalant when facing opponents. Even during his last battle in Koma Village against Benkei, when he appeared excited, it was just an act designed to encourage his opponent to give their all.

So to him getting all excited over someone was surprising for Liliana, but at the same time, she couldn't help but smile as for the first time that Armando felt excitement to battle someone.

Liliana: I see, so you think that he is your equal because he has the same power as you?

Armando: Well, not just that, honestly. I've actually been interested in battling him since back in Koma Village, but since Benkei were the ones who challenged me and Kyoya seemingly not interested in battling for a moment, guess I can't force myself with it.

Liliana: *smile* I see. I guess we thought the same thing. I've always thought that Kyoya looked strong, but I never thought that he was indeed that powerful, he probably matches Gingka in terms of strength.

Armando: *smirk* I know right?

Their attention shifted back to the TV screen, which displayed Kyoya holding his Bey, Leone, in his hand. Liliana glanced at Kyoya with a hint of concern, despite his strength, she sensed that he was the type to push himself beyond his limits, which could potentially harm both himself and his Bey.

The TV then shifted to a four-way battle featuring Kenta's Sagittario, Benkei's Bull, Hikaru's Aquario, and a young boy with pale skin, distinctive features, peridot green eyes, and fluffy orange hair. He wears a white jacket with sky-blue accents, knee-length white shorts, and mid-calf white shoes with blue highlights.

His Bey appeared to look similar to Kenta's Sagittario, it had a Flame wheel, and the color of its ring was yellowish lime. They deduced that his Bey must be a stamina-type, and began to observe his speciality.

As the battle rages on, Liliana and Armando are taken aback when they see the other boy's Beyblade create a sand trap from its bottom tip, beginning to ensnare the other three Beys. Suddenly, the boy unleashes a stunning special attack that illuminates the entire screen with a bright green light.

As the green light slowly faded, it revealed that the other boy's Beyblade kept spinning while the other three had stopped.

Armando: *smile* Man, that was incredible! What do you think is happening?

Liliana: I... I'm not sure. It all happened so fast that I still can't figure out what's going on.

Armando: Well, one thing's for sure, that boy Beyblade was truly something else. Seems like we finally have another strong blader on our radar.

Liliana: Definitely...

Soon enough, the commentator of the tournament, who refers to himself as "DJ Blader," had finally announced the final battle of the last four people standing. It was Hagane Gingka, Tategami Kyoya, and surprisingly, Amano Madoka.

Armando: *confused* The hell?! Madoka was there and battling? Didn't she say that he was only a mechanic and didn't battle?

Liliana: Well, all I remember is that Madoka said that she wanted to help the gangs while not battling with them. But she didn't know that the tournament's rule states that everyone who enters the island is considered a participant in the tournament.

Armando: *chuckles* I guess someone didn't read the rule before entering, I guess the others must be confused that there are only three Beyblades that appeared in the four-way battle.

Liliana: *grin* Yeah, you bet...

As they focused on the screen, their attention was drawn to the other boy they had seen earlier.

His name is Tendou Yu, and his Bey is Flame Libra T125ES, a stamina-type Bey inspired by Libra, one of the 88 constellations representing a traditional balance measurement.

Armando: Flame Libra, huh? Who would've thought that balance measurement could be very OP...

Liliana: Anything can happen, you know. Remember the guy using Virgo back in China?

Armando: Good point...

On the screen, the battle between Pegasis, Leone, and Libra has begun. Kyoya immediately attacked Libra which almost knocked it out, but Libra managed to recover.

Madoka discovers a secret about his Performance Tip, Eternal Sharp. Pegasis attacks Libra but fails. Out of nowhere, Kyoya uses his special move, Lion Gale Force Wall, but Libra breaks through. Furious, Kyoya activates his other special move, King Lion Tearing Blast, which Libra immediately counters with Sonic Wave, causing Leone's bottom tip to get trapped in the sand, causing a decrease in stamina due to a crack.

Armando: *grin* Man, this is intense...!

Liliana: No, not so much for Kyoya...

Armando: *confused* Huh? What do you mean?

Liliana: I noticed that Leone's bottom tip had a slight crack on it. If he continued to use his special move, the crack might enlarge, ultimately leading to Leone's destruction.

Armando began to narrow his eyes on Leone's bottom tip, and he also saw the crack on Leone's bottom tip. It got worse when he noticed that the crack expanded to its 145 track.

Armando: No kidding...!

Back on the TV screen, it appears that the others also realize this and demand Kyoya to stop, but Kyoya won't listen to them. Having no choice, Benkei and Kenta decided to launch their Beys. But since it was against the rule, Madoka took matters of her own and finally launched her Bey toward Leone and successfully stopped its special move.

Armando: Whoa!! Finally, Madoka launched her own Bey! Luckily, it stopped Leone's special move.

Liliana: Yeah, but more importantly, will Kyoya realize what happened to his Bey...?

As she watched the screen, Rock Leone's tip and track were almost destroyed. Kyoya walked into the stadium to pick up Leone and forfeit the match. He was eliminated, leaving Gingka and Yu to battle.

Armando: Well, that's your answer...

Liliana: *smile* Yeah, thank god he realized it...

Armando then eyes the girl with a suspicious look, before a smirk forms on his face.

Armando: You seem to be very worried about Kyoya...

Liliana: *look at Armando* Hmm...? Well, how could I not? Kyoya looks like the type of guy who would push beyond their limit and could potentially hurt himself. And he just did, which almost destroyed his own Bey...

Armando: Yeah? But you didn't seem as worried when it used to happen to me.

Liliana: Well that's because back then, you're just being foolish and reckless all the time. And I always had to intervene to stop your problem.

Armando: Well, aren't Kyoya's also being reckless and foolish earlier? *smug* Don't tell me it's different just because he's a hot, cool, looking dude with such an animalistic face~.

Armando smugly teased, as Liliana's face flushed a little while looking at him with an annoyed face.

Liliana: Oh please, not you, and you're teasing me about liking a certain guy. What did I tell you about me wanting to focus on Beyblading first?

Armando: *smirk* Now, where did I say that you like Kyoya? I just think it’s interesting that you’re worried about someone else Beyblade other than me, which made me wonder if there’s something between you and Kyoya.

Liliana: Oh... Well, in honesty, there's nothing between me and Kyoya. But back in Koma Village, we talk a lot...

Armando: Eh~? I wonder what kind of conversation you guys had~.

Liliana: None of your business...

Armando: Just a little piece? Please~~~...

Liliana: We're just talking about Beyblading and nothing else! If you're expecting us to be love-dovey, dream on!

Armando laughed as Liliana pouted before they turned their attention back to the battle on the TV screen.

As Pegasis attacks Libra, Yu activates his special move, Sonic Destruction, trapping Storm Pegasus in the sand. Pegasus escapes but is caught in Libra's Last Inferno Judgement. Gingka devises a plan and uses the Pegasis Starblast Attack against Flame Libra. The battle ends in an explosion, resulting in Pegasis's defeat.

Armando: Oof... But that was expected, no way any normal attack could break through that shockwave...

Liliana: A Beyblade that can use sonic vibration as a weapon, huh...? That boy was truly something else. I wondered where he came from.

Armando: Who knows? All we know for certain is that the boy was truly strong.

On the TV screen, DJ Blader announced Tendou Yu as the winner. In the next minute, the crowd of bladers gathered in front of the official WBBA stage where the winner, Tendou Yu, stood with a smile, along with DJ Blader, who was holding a microphone, simply asking him one wish.

The boy childishly took a deep breath before speaking loudly.

Yu: I wish for Battle Bladers!!

He declared his wish, leaving everyone in suspense and wondering what this new predicament would be.

Liliana & Armando: Battle Bladers...?

To sum it up for the crowd confusion (and our OCs as well), Yu explains that he wants a tournament where all the strongest Bladers in the country gather and battle to see who truly is the country's best Blader, and he calls it as the "Battle Bladers."

While both Liliana and Armando agree that wishing for another tournament featuring many strong bladers competing to determine the best in the country isn't necessarily a bad idea, they find it strange that a boy who has already won the country's biggest competition would even desire another one.

Both of them began to wonder if the boy was told to initiate the tournament by someone else behind the scenes.

The answer was immediately proven on the TV screen when a helicopter with the Dark Nebula symbol appeared. As the Helicopter landed, a man wearing a pair of hexagonal-shaped glasses with a purple suit and red tie stepped out of it. The Brazilians immediately assumed that the guy must be Daidoji, judging by how Gingka and the gang reacted to him from the screen.

Upon learning that Yu was a member of the Dark Nebula, they felt a mix of surprise and anticipation. However, the most astonishing aspect of the day was seeing former family members they hadn't seen in a long time.

On the screen, appeared a muscular young man with spiky white hair, amber eyes, and a slim build. Attireire consists of a black and gold tank top underneath a white coat, along with black pants.

The Brazilian eyes widen upon seeing the person on the screen.

Liliana & Armando: Ryuga??!!

Ryuga, the shy boy their grandmother had raised, now appeared on the TV screen. But they knew that this Ryuga was not the same timid boy they remembered. The wild grin on his face, the dark aura surrounding him, and the fact that he owned the Lightning L-Drago, an infamous forbidden Bey with dark power, had transformed him into a completely different person.

Liliana: I see, he really did change...

Armando: Seems like owning L-Drago changed him into a different kind of person.

Liliana: And his existence in the Dark Nebula makes it worse.

Armando: *saddened* Ryuga... He used to be a good, shy big brother for us. Why did he have to do this...

Armando muttered sadly. Liliana felt his sadness as she stroked his shoulder, reassuring him that they could make things right and keep their grandmother's promise.

On the TV screen, Ryuga uses his L-Drago to intimidate the audience, which Yu finds cool. Gingka attempts to challenge Ryuga, but Ryuga declines, stating that if Gingka wants to battle him again, he must enter the Battle Bladers tournament.

Ignoring this, Gingka launches his Pegasis at Ryuga’s L-Drago. The battle intensifies, darkening the sky and causing significant damage. L-Drago clashes with Pegasis before returning to Ryuga.

Ryuga informs Gingka that if he wants a rematch, he will need to improve. Daidoji then announces that anyone wishing to enter must have 50,000 Beypoints. This announcement, broadcast through the entirety of Japan, leaves many people stunned by the high point requirement.

After finishing his speech, Daidoji departs with Ryuga and Yu in a helicopter. Gingka and the others, fascinated by this, declare their intention to sign up and participate in the Battle Bladers tournament.

Liliana: So we need 50.000 Beypoints to enter the tournament, huh? That's really a lot.

Armando: But what's the deal with such a point?

Liliana: I guess Daidoji tries to gather a lot of strong Bladers who are worthy of being part of the tournament. Cause I have a feeling that the purpose of this tournament has something to do with Ryuga.

Armando: Makes sense... Considering that L-Drago can absorb an opponent's Bey power for itself, Daidoji and Ryuga likely used the tournament to gain power from every strong blader they faced.

Liliana: That's exactly what I mean. Man, they're really being clever with this...

Armando: So what should we do now? I mean, I already have 26.000 Beypoints. Should we go along with their plan, or is there any masterpiece plan you are trying to pull?

Armando asked with a hint of sarcasm in his tone, but Liliana chose to ignore it as she pondered their next move. She glanced at her Beypoints, which totaled 30,500, and contemplated whether she and Armando should enter the Battle Bladers. More importantly, she wondered if Gingka and the others would enter as well.

Liliana: ...

Liliana: Maybe we should wait for the others to come back here and talk about whether they entered or not, as we followed their plans.

Liliana: If they enter, we'll enter as well. If not, we’ll find a way to get to Ryuga and Dark Nebula. So, for me, it’s better to discuss this first.

Armando: *nodded* Good idea, I guess. It's going to be the biggest talk once they get here, after all...

==============================

DJ announcements were broadcast throughout all of TV in Japan, bringing excitement across the country.

DJ Blader: The Battle Bladers tournament is officially here! It’s time to find out who the strongest blader in the nation is. Who will be crowned the number one blader? This tournament will reveal the answer!

DJ Blader: To qualify for this prestigious competition, every blader must accumulate 50,000 points. If you haven’t reached this goal yet, don’t worry! The WBBA will hold qualifying tournaments in various locations to allow you to earn the necessary points. The battles will be intense, and winning will grant you a substantial amount of points. Alternatively, you can steadily accumulate points by participating in junior tournaments.

DJ Blader: Who wants to be named the nation’s strongest? If you have what it takes, grab your Bey and join the competition! Remember our motto.

DJ Blader: Go! Battle Bladers!

Inside B-Pit, the gang watched the announcement on Madoka's computer. As the announcements ended, Madoka turned off the computer and faced the rest of the gang, her expression filled with uncertainty.

Madoka: A tournament to decide Japan's number one blader, huh...? I know that's every blader dream, but...

Armando: Dark Nebula's involvement in this tournament will make this competition unlike your typical ones, that's for sure.

Kenta: Who would've thought that they would do something like this.

Benkei: Grrrrr... I can't stand those guys! They're creeping me out!

Kyoya: I think we have a pretty good idea of what they were doing.

Liliana: *nodded* By gathering strong bladers from across the country and making them battle Ryuga, they plan to let L-Drago steal all their powers.

Madoka: That is outrageous! They're trying to commit manslaughter on those innocent bladers. I'm gonna make a call to WBBA!

Armando: Go on and try, but you are wasting your time doing that.

Madoka: Huh...?

Kyoya: Considering that qualifying has started around the country, WBBA is nothing but their lap dog at this point. Convincing them is pointless, as long as the Dark Nebula continues to feed them.

Gingka: Even if we enforce the cancellation, the blader spirit of these bladers has been ignited, and there's nothing we can do to stop them.

Madoka: *frustrated* So what are we supposed to do? If this continues, it'll be like walking into their trap, and those innocent bladers may become the victims of those insane organizations and their plans.

Madoka uttered in frustration, letting her worries known to the gang. It is true that if they entered as well, it would be like walking into their trap and the other might become the victim of their insane plan.

But on the other hand, Ryuga was there with his forbidden Bey. If they don't do something about it, who knows what he and Dark Nebula's gonna do with it.

Armando: *sigh* You know what? Screw their plan, and screw whether we're entered their trap or whatever you're gonna called it. As long as Dark Nebula is gonna keep corrupting the game we'll love, we gotta do something, you know?

Armando said determinedly as he rosed from his seat, causing the other to stare at him, nodding in agreement, except for Madoka, who still had an uncertain look.

Gingka: That's right, if Ryuga is entering so am I. This is my chance to have a rematch with him.

Gingka also said determinedly, as he rosed from his seat as well.

Gingka: I'm entering Battle Bladers!

Madoka: But-

Kenta: I'm in!

Benkei: Me too!

Liliana: *smile* I guess that everyone is in...

Benkei: But we need 50.000 Beypoints to enter. *took out his Beypointer* I still had only 20.000...

Everyone began to pull out their Beypointer, to check how many Beypoints they already had.

Kenta: I only have 17.000 points.

Liliana: I had 30.500 points.

Armando: 26.000 points.

Gingka: I had 40.000 points.

The others stared at Gingka with wide eyes, shocked by how many Beypoints he had already accumulated. While Kyoya, Liliana, and Armando remained calm, they were equally surprised.

Benkei: That's so many! *frustrated* Grrrr... Seriously?! This made it hard for us to even qualify!!

Liliana: Maybe you should stop complaining and work hard to get there...

Kyoya: So by the time we meet again, it will be at the Battle Bladers.

Everyone turns their attention to Leone's owner, unsure of what he means, and they look at him as if begging for his elaboration, and Kyoya only smirks before he declares.

Kyoya: By winning Battle Bladers, I can thwart Daidoji's plan and claim the title of the strongest Blader in Japan. It's a rare opportunity that anyone could seize if you think about it. So, remember this Gingka, if anyone is going to defeat you at the top, it will be me, Tategami Kyoya!

Kyoya declares with his hand pointing at Gingka in determination. Gingka was quite taken aback by this yet he kept his composure and smiled determinedly at his lion rival.

Kyoya: Oh, and don't worry about Ryuga, 'cause after settling with you, Ryuga would be my next prey!

Gingka: *grin* Oho, you think so? I'll say again and again that I will be the one who comes out at the top. It doesn't matter whether I'm going to fight you, Ryuga, or both at the same time, my Pegasis won't lose again!

Gingka declared while clenched his fist, vowing to become the best in the prestigious tournament in Japan and defeating Ryuga in the process.

Liliana: *smirk* Heh... It's bold of you to assume that we're just gonna stand here and watch you guys quietly...

Liliana rose from her seat and stood between them with a smirk, while Armando followed with determination in his eyes.

Armando: Don't underestimate us as just another challenger. If you let your guard down, it will be us claiming the top spot in Battle Bladers.

Kyoya: Hah! In your dream lil' pal! Because the one you need to watch out for is me!

Liliana: We might haven't battled, but be careful of what you wish for...

The four of them exchanged grins, silently agreeing to be unfriendly once they entered Battle Bladers.

Kenta: I-I want to enter as well! I don't know if I could win the competition, considering that there'll be a lot of strong Bladers like you guys, who are undoubtedly stronger than me. But I'm a blader as well, and entering this competition is an opportunity to test my strength and how far I can go.

Kenta: So if we happen to meet again and battle each other, fight me with all you got because I won't back down no matter what!

Kenta declared his participation in the tournament with unwavering determination as the gangs stared at him with approval, showing respect for Sagittario's owner and his desire to become stronger.

Benkei: *excited* Grrrrr!! I'm getting pumped up right now! I want to enter too! Go! Battle Bladers!!

Benkei exclaimed, his excitement palpable. Madoka merely watched the group with a sigh, knowing that once they decided on the whole thing, especially regarding Beyblade, there was nothing she could do to stop them anymore.

Madoka: Oh boy...

==============================

Later on, they walked on the outskirts of the city. Their path was set to the training ground, which happened to be an old coliseum that looked abandoned for a very long time. 

Armando: This stadium looks crap...

Liliana: Shut your mouth, Armando! This place might be important for them despite its look.

Benkei: Absolutely! This is the place where our friendship started!

Kenta: It really brings a lot of memories, isn't it?

Gingka: We'll have one battle as friends, before separating until we meet again at Battle Bladers.

Liliana: At this place, eh...? Fine by me. *look at Armando* Armando you're on?

Armando: Hmm? Oh, of course! Why not? When it comes to battle, I'm always ready.

Kenta: Well then, let's go!!

Madoka: G-Guys, wait up!

All of them walked faster to the old coliseum, excitement filling the air as they prepared for their final battle together as friends before embarking on their quests to enter the Battle Bladers.

As they entered the stadium, their footsteps echoed through the ancient stone walls. Armando eyed the entire surroundings in disbelief at the fact that such an old building still stands strong.

Armando: This place looks like it could stand still for more than a hundred years. You guys use this place often?

Kenta: *reminisce* Mostly me and Benkei, it was the time when we were training together...

Benkei: Great times, isn't it?

Kenta: Yeah...

Liliana: I see...

???: Ah...! There you are, guys!

A familiar voice suddenly filled the air, and all of them looked up to see Hyoma standing on a raised platform. 

Gingka: Hyoma?! Don't tell me you're entering as well?

Hyoma: *smile* Why not? Do you really think you can just enter a big Beyblade tournament without asking your childhood friend first? How cruel of you to try to leave behind the friend who has always been by your side, Gingka...

Hyoma sarcastically remarked, causing Gingka to let out an apologetic laugh while muttering sorry at his childhood friend. Liliana and Armando also laughed beside him, shaking their heads at Gingka for being the worst friend ever.

???: And all of you are not going without me either!

Scream another voice far in front of them. They look ahead to see a familiar girl with sky-blue hair slowly walking toward them with confidence and determination. As the view became very clear, they smiled at the familiar figure in front of them.

Gingka: Hikaru!

Hikaru: Just like all of you, I also wanted to become the best Blader in the country.

Liliana: Oh, I'm glad that you're entering too. It's getting lonely to be the only girl in a game full of boys, you know.

Kyoya: *grin* Alright then, you're on! Just remember, we're going all out in this battle without backing down. Okay?

Gingka: That's what I wanted to say! Fighting fiercely one last time to mark our journey to the Battle Bladers!

Armando: *excited* Alright then! Let's dive into this awesome battle without wasting time!

All of Them: Yeah!!

They cheered as they raised their fist in the air. Before attaching their Beyblade to their launcher and preparing to fiercely battle together for the last time.

3, 2, 1, GO SHOOT!!

Eight of them launched their Beyblades simultaneously, causing a chaotic atmosphere filled with explosions as their Beys clashed. Kyoya, Benkei, Armando, and Kenta battled fiercely, each summoning their special moves. The Bey avatars materialized and were poised to charge at one another.

On the other side, Gingka, Hyoma, Liliana, and Hikaru were battling fiercely. Determined not to lose, they unleashed their Special moves, until Gingka summoned his Starblast Attack, which sent Pegasis into the skies and dropped down at full speed, immediately wiping out the competition.

==============================

The gang finally embarked on their journey to the Battle Bladers. They went separate ways, each making their own quest to earn 50,000 Beypoints. They traveled throughout the country, entering any competition to gain more Beypoints.

As for the Brazilians, they return to Koma Village to visit their Grandmother for the last time before they embark on their own journey.

It was midnight, and the Brazilians and their grandmother stood at the top of the hill, gazing at the night sky with thoughtful expression, while their grandmother only smiled at them.

Sumire: I see, so they finally began their journey...

Liliana: Yes, and they all seem pretty excited about entering the tournament which was initiated by the Dark Nebula...

Armando: Well we can't blame them, as their blader spirit has been ignited.

Sumire: Well, you all should be excited too, right? This is the biggest opportunity to prove yourselves as the strongest Bladers~.

Liliana: I guess... But it seems like bringing Ryuga to his senses won't be an easy task. But I promise you, Grandma, we will try.

Liliana narrowed her eyes at her grandma, a mix of determination and uncertainty crossing her face. She knew that battling Ryuga's forbidden L-Drago would be no easy task. However, Sumire seemed unfazed by it and began to gently tap both of her grandchildren on the shoulders, offering them reassurance.

Sumire: *smiles* It's all right, my grandchildren. You don't need to feel obligated to bring Ryuga back to me. Just focus on doing what you do best without worrying about anything else.

Sumire: Please remember that no matter what happens, Grandma will always be proud of both of you.

Liliana & Armando: Grandma...

The Brazilians were touched by their grandmother's words as the three of them embraced each other as the nights went on. They might felt uncertain about what lay ahead, but they'll remembered their wise grandmother's advice: "Just focus on doing what you do best, without worrying about anything else." They would certainly keep her words in mind during their journey.

Notes:

So yeah, I've decided not to include Osamu, Takeshi, and Akira in this fanfic, as they were largely forgotten once the Battle Bladers began. Therefore, there’s no need for them to exist in my version of Metal Beyblade.

Regarding Tetsuya, some of you may say, "Wasn't he there when they battled as friends for the last time?" Well, I'm more questioning the purpose of including him if he eventually becomes an enemy. Even if he doesn't turn against them, he mainly serves as comedic relief. So, I won’t be including him in the battle.

Overall, there are many changes in this chapter, and I hope they didn’t bother you all, especially those who have been enjoying the original stories.

Chapter 9: Capri the Sniper

Summary:

It had been a month since the qualifying rounds for Battle Bladers started, and Armando was thoroughly bored and dried out due to the lack of strong Bladers outside of the gangs. That changed when he visited Osaka and encountered an infamous, mysterious Blader known to many as Death Capri. Armed with his Capricorne, always launched an unexpected attack out of nowhere, how will Armando respond to this challenge?

Notes:

From now on, I will only write the OC's part of the stories, as I think writing all the episodes is somewhat pointless. However, I will include them if they are important to the plot. Anyway, I hope you enjoy it!

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

It has been a month since the gang started their journey to enter Battle Bladers. With the competition set to take place in three months, they have wasted no time trying to participate in every tournament across Japan to earn as many Beypoints as possible.

Like the others, the Brazilians decided to split up to pursue their quest for additional Beypoints individually.

Armando Silva, the youngest Brazilian, was walking through the urban town of Osaka. He has also been traveling and battling non-stop, gathering Beypoints, which have increased to 35,000 and only 15,000 left to enter the Battle Bladers.

However, after a while, he becomes increasingly bored and uninspired by the journey. After a month of battling across various cities, he has yet to encounter a Blader who can push him to use all of his strength. This leaves him feeling dissatisfied and dried up after an entire month of holding his urge to go all out.

Armando: *sigh* This is ridiculous. Ever since encountering Gingka's friends, I expect more from stronger Bladers in this country, just like them.

Armando: But it seems like I’m a fool for hoping that there'll be a lot of strong Bladers to begin with. I should have known that every country is the same...

He kept on walking before suddenly, he was confronted by three boys.

Boy1: Hey kid! You look like you're not even from this place, let alone this country!

Boy2: He's Armando, you idiot! The Blader from Brazil who gained his reputation here and also on his way to enter Battle Bladers!

Boy3: Really? Damn, this is interesting!

Armando stopped when he noticed the group of boys circling around him, preparing their launchers and Beyblades, eager to battle. Armando regarded each of them with an expression of indifference.

Bey2: Battle us! If we win against you, give us all of your points!

One of the boys commented while Armando's expression remained unchanged. He then took out his launcher, attached Herculeo to it, and prepared to battle the three of them without saying a word.

As all of them launched their Beyblades, Herculeo managed to knock out the three spinning Beys in just three seconds, causing them to come to a stop. The group of boys stared at their motionless Beys in disbelief, shocked by the difference in strength between them and Armando's.

Herculeo then flew back to Armando's hand and he started to walk away, leaving the shocked boys behind.

Armando: Another day, same weak bladers. *sigh* I'm starting to wonder if another strong Blader in this town was just a myth...

The three boys exchanged glances and grinned as they turned to look at the Brazilian.

Boy1: Just a myth, you say...?

Boy2: Speaking of myth, this town, in fact, has a myth of a strong blader.

Boy3: Beware of Storm Capricorne once you walk through this part of town!

Armando immediately stopped mid-way at the mention of the Beyblade name, and he looked back at them with curiosity.

Armando: Storm Capricorne?

The three boys began to explain that in this town, a mysterious Blader had been terrorizing many Bladers. It didn't matter what type of opponent or battle he sought, once he targeted his prey, his Storm Capricorne would appear out of nowhere and defeat them in a single strike.

Boy2: Till today, no one knows what he looks like or what he wants, as he has never appeared in public. He is like a hunter for a Beyblade, and we began to refer to him as "Death Capri."

Armando: Death Capri, huh...?

Boy1: Once you become his prey, you can run but you can't hide, and he will follow you everywhere until you get beaten.

Boy3: So, be prepared to lose against him.

The boys warned him with a smirk on their faces, believing at how strong and invisible this "Death Capri" was to anyone, including Armando himself. Armando was unfazed by it, as he turned around and walked again.

Armando: Cool... See ya around.

The young Brazilian nonchalantly remarks, much to the boy's surprise. Although he appeared unfazed, deep down, Armando found it intriguing that someone could treat Beyblade like a hunting tool. He couldn’t help but hope that he was as strong as the three boys mentioned he was.

Unbeknownst to him, the very person he had just been warned about was watching him from a great distance, atop a tall tower. Using an aiming device, he kept his eyes fixed on Armando.

???: *smirk* So that's Armando Silva, eh? Perfect target...

==============================

Armando walks from place to place, hoping that Death Capri will appear and battle him on sight. Meanwhile, the Death Capri himself began to prepare everything he needed to hunt the young Brazilian from the tower.

He carefully wears his gray gloves before he opens his bag filled with his Beyblade stuff. He began to assemble the launcher grip, Beypoints, Beylauncher, and another tool that behaves like a compass, Preparing to attack the boy.

As he approaches the edge of the tower, Death Capri reveals his appearance. He is a young man of average height, sucking on a blue lollipop. His hair is a striking yellow afro, and he has brown eyes, though one eye is covered by an aiming device. He is dressed in a long white and black coat adorned with numerous buckles and buttons, all zipped up to his neck. Completing his outfit are black pants and black shoes.

He then attached his Storm Capricorne and was ready to launch his Bey at Armando.

(Capri): Shoot Point, 0243... Air Velocity, -01...

Death Capri calculated while the aiming device had a lock on the target directly on the ground in front of the young Brazilian.

(Capri): Target lock...

(Capri): GO SHOOT!!

Death Capri launched his Bey with perfect precision and calculation, his Capricorn flew toward its target with incredible speed.

Armando noticed something in the air and quickly looked in the direction it came from. He saw a Beyblade fly towards him from a distance and calmly stepped back as the Beyblade crashed right in front of him, causing the ground to crack. Although the impact was significant, Armando remained unfazed and his hands reached for his launcher and Beyblade.

Armando: Ah, so this is Death Capri attack.

Armando calmly said as the Beyblade began to bounce wildly. He looked at the tower and saw a figure sneering at him. Disinterested, he closed his eyes and chose to keep walking, ignoring the erratic Beyblade.

Death Capri sneers fell, causing the lollipop he sucked also fall to the ground as he looks at the occurrence with disbelief.

(Capri): What?! He simply ignored it?!

As Armando keeps walking, Capricorne follows it and bounces even more wildly, trying to provoke a reaction. But Armando shows no reaction as if the Beyblade is invisible to his eyes.

He turned around to look at the figure in the tower once more, giving him a mocking smile before walking away with satisfaction. This only increased Death Capri's annoyance, causing him to clench his fist in frustration.

(Capri): Damn you! You think you could just get away from the devil's eyes?!

==============================

It was evening, and the skies were blazing orange. Armando entered a small motel, seeking rest after a long day of relentless walking. As he got onto the bed, he began to disassemble his Bey and carefully cleaned each part with his black scarf.

Meanwhile, Death Capri stood atop one of the tallest buildings near the motel where Armando rested. He still couldn't accept the mockery he received, so he tried to challenge him to a battle again using the trick he had employed earlier.

(Capri): *smirk* Mock me all you want, but you'll never escape the devil's eyes until you battle me, punk.

Death Capri declared before he readied his launcher and Bey once again, recalculating the shooting point and air velocity before he launched with precision at the fan room where Armando rested.

Armando continues to maintain his Herculeo, ensuring it stays in excellent condition. But then, he noticed something entering the fan, and when he peeked, the same Bey that had tried to annoy him appeared again. However, he didn't care as his attention returned to his own Beyblade.

Capricorne was undeterred by Armando's indifference and began to bounce around very wildly on the whole room, trying to get the attention of the boy. But it seems like no matter what it does, the boy simply acts like it's just nonexistent.

Outside the motel, a white blimp hovers over the town, and its loudspeakers blare the announcement from DJ Blader that echoes through the streets below.

DJ Blader: The Battle Bladers challenge match on Prince Tower will begin tomorrow! Are you ready?! Buckle up and ready your Bey to earn big points! Go! Battle Bladers!!

Armando heard the announcement before his attention finally landed on Capircorne, who was still bouncing wildly through the room before finally getting out of his room. An idea pops into his mind as his grin widens a bit.

Armando: Death Capri, huh...?

Death Capri watches the whole scene with his frustration becoming apparent, having enough of being ignored. He finally lets his anger out as his Capricorn returns to him.

(Capri): The hell...?! Is he saying that I'm not a worthy opponent?! Oh well, he's going to-

Before he even finished his word and was about to launch his Bey again, a sharp breeze whipped past his face, froze him at sight as he felt that something just shot past his face like a wind.

He took a peek behind him to see a Beyblade spinning not far from where he stood, it was Herculeo.

(Capri): T-Tornado Herculeo?!

He gasped, couldn't believe that he was played by the boy he was supposed to hunt. Suddenly, a voice echoed through the tower.

Armando: You finally get my attention, Death Capri... Satisfied?

Death Capri presumed that the voice belonged to Armando himself, considering he knew that Aramando owned the Beyblade Hercules. His shocked face turned into admiration as he put his hands up with a rare smile on his face.

(Capri): You're impressive, Armando. You managed to sneak up on me from behind, you're the only one who has ever done that. Quite remarkable...

Armando: Glad you thought that way. Now, you wanna battle? Come to the Prince Tower Tournament tomorrow...

(Capri): *annoyed* You're ordering me around?

Armando: Consider this as my way of accepting your challenge. You should be glad that I haven't put a bruise on your petty face for annoying me for a day.

(Capri): What did you say?!

Armando: Only a coward who wanted to fight and hide at the same time, see ya at the tournament...

(Capri): *angry* Now you've done it!!

Death Capri angrily turned around, ready to attach his Bey to his launcher, when suddenly, Herculeo shot toward him at full speed, cutting a portion of his afro hair before vanishing. 

Death Capri was so shocked that he stood there, shaken and speechless. However, he soon began to calm down and stared at the empty space where Herculeo had been with a mix of smirk and annoyance on his face.

(Capri): Armando Silva, huh? All bark, no go... But fine, you want to battle tomorrow? No problem. I ain't letting my prey slip away, after all...

(Capri): ...

(Capri): *holding head* Don't tell me he messed up my hair- AARGH, HE DID!!

Death Capri was bewildered when he found out that part of his afro hair was cut.

==============================

The night had fallen, and rather than resting inside the motel, Armando decided to venture out into a nearby forest. As he arrived, the crickets and birds fell silent in his presence. He took Herculeo out of his Beycase, which glowed with an orange and gold hue, radiating excitement for the battle against Capricorne tomorrow.

Armando felt a surge of excitement as he smiled menacingly. After a long time of holding back his power to the point of feeling drained, he was finally ready to unleash it all in the battle ahead.

Armando: Yes Herculeo, I know you're excited, and so am I.

As he couldn't contain his enthusiasm anymore, he then attached Herculeo to his Beylauncher and prepared to launch it into the empty forest ahead of him.

Armando: SHOW ME WHAT YOU GOT, DEATH CAPRI!!

He launched his Bey with great force, destroying every tree in its path and creating an explosion with each one it hit. After Herculeo completed a circle, it returned in front of Armando. At that moment, Herculeo generated strong, big, circling winds around it, and an avatar of a warrior wearing a lion's mane appeared, letting out a powerful roar.

Armando, who finally letting out all his power again, laughs in excitement. He couldn't wait for the battle tomorrow.

==============================

The following day, the Prince Tower Tournament was set to begin. Many Bladers who had entered the competition gathered in the tower, and Armando stood in the middle of them, scanning his surroundings in search of the boy he had challenged the day before.

Other Bladers were talking to each other like usual, but the main topic of their conversation was they heard that Death Capri was entering the competition as well, much to the other surprise as this was the first time the boy would show himself publicly.

Armando: So he's entering...

On the other side of the building, Death Capri sits on the edge with a smirk on his face looking at the Prince Tower. After the recent incident with Armando, he decided to enter the tournament as well.

(Capri): Take it easy... No need to rush ourselves to the public.

(Capri): Right, Capricorne?

He said as he pulled out his Bey, Storm Capricorne M145Q, an attack-type Bey inspired by Capricorn, one of the 88 constellations representing a goat.

Returning to the Prince Tower, the tournament finally began. With DJ Blader announcing the event with excitement, the atmosphere in the stadium was electrifying as the crowd eagerly anticipated the great battle.

The first match will feature Armando facing off against a random opponent. His name instantly captures attention, as Armando, along with Liliana, has gained popularity in the Japanese Beyblade scene for being a foreigner and for being one of the strongest bladers so far.

As the first match began, it didn't take more than ten seconds for Armando to end the match as a winner, DJ Blader declared him a winner with his usual excitement.

In the upcoming match, it was set to be a battle between a guy named Ryo and Oike Tobio. But to their surprise, Tobio was not present on the opposite side of the stadium. DJ Blader then informed the rule stating that any participant who failed to appear within 10 seconds would be disqualified from the tournament.

???: No need for the rush, my friend!

A voice comes from above as a figure is seen sitting at the large screen, simply resting while sucking on a lollipop. Suddenly, he jumps down right to the spot where he is meant to be, capturing the audience's full attention.

Armando was watching from far above. The audience also stared at him intently.

Armando: So his real name is Tobio...

Tobio, also known as Death Capri, began to open his bag filled with his Beyblade stuff. He began to assemble the launcher grip, Beypoints, Beylauncher, and another tool that behaves like a compass.

The audience begins to speculate that the boy is Death Capri due to the device on his left eye and the bag he carries, which is filled with Beyblades stuff, reminiscent of a hunter. When the boy reveals his Beyblade, Storm Capricorne, the audience is even more bewildered at the realization that he's indeed Death Capri, this is the first time they have seen his true appearance.

Even the boy he's about to face can't believe he is about to confront the infamous Death Capri.

Tobio attached his Bey to the launcher and prepared for battle. However, his approach was different from the others. He lay forward on the ground, positioning his launcher vertically.

Despite DJ Blader's confusion, he began the countdown anyway. When it began, as expected, Capricorne moved oddly to the side of the stadium, leading everyone to believe he misfired and that it was all over for him.

Tobio: Kick it up a notch, Capricorne!!

Tobio's command, as what happened next amazed everyone in the stadium. After Capricorne landed in the stadium, its avatar of a goat appeared, and it began to move erratically, bouncing around the stadium wildly.

DJ Blader: Look at that, folks! This movement can't be seen by normal eyes! Have you ever seen a Beyblade move like this?

Meanwhile, Armando started analyzing the Beyblade and learning about each of its movements to counter its attacks.

Armando: Storm Capricorne M145Q. Its bottom tip is Quake with a diagonal axis, and no one knows when it will rebound except for him. Additionally, he is using an angled compass, which typically keeps the Beyblade level and measures its bounce. By analyzing the slope of the stadium and the angle of the bounce caused by the Quake tip, he can control the genetic moves of the Beyblade.

Armando: *smile* Very interesting, he's like the physicist who became Blader. But he should know that Beyblading isn't just about having a unique type of Beyblade.

Back to the battle, Capricorne managed to send the other Beyblade out of the stadium, claiming a victory as everyone was baffled by his true ability. His Capricorn returned to his hand as he muttered; Mission Completed. Before leaving the area.

Ever since, every time Tobio was battling, Armando watched to learn and analyze his positioning and movement so he knew when to move and counter its attack.

The tournament has finally reached its climax, with the final match determined between Oike Tobio and Armando Silva: Storm Capricorne versus Tornado Herculeo.

DJ Blader: It's time for the final battle, ladies and gentlemen! As expected, the two strongest Bladers in the competition have finally reached the finals. Who will emerge as the winner and earn 2,000 points, taking one step closer to becoming a Battle Blader? Oike Tobio against Armando Silva!

The crowd of the audience was electrifying as usual, eagerly anticipating the battle between the two strongest Bladers in the competition. Who will win? The Bey possesses a hunting style of battling or the unique powerful Bey with five blades on its wheel.

Both Bladers stand on each side, narrowing their eyes at each other with a smirk.

As they were about to launch, Tobio took the same position as before, lying down and positioning his launcher vertically. Armando responded by positioning his launch normally, but he pulled his Beylauncher forward with his left hand, causing his Beyblade to point downwards.

DJ Blader: Okay! Are you ready?! On three...

3, 2, 1, GO SHOOT!!

As they launch their Bey, Capricorne bounces wildly around the stadium, when suddenly...

Armando: Not for me, buddy...!

Armando sneered as his Herculeo anticipated Capricorne's movement, striking it and sending it flying.

DJ Blader: Oh, look at that folks! Herculeo managed to deflect Capricorne's attack! Well, looks like we're going to witness a great battle here!!

The crowd was delighted by the battle, and while Tobio was speechless, he couldn't believe that his move, which seemed unstoppable, was thwarted not just once but more than twice at that moment.

Armando: *smirk* Heh, underestimating me, eh? You're a fool, I should say. In a world where Beyblade competitions are fierce, only fools think they're unstoppable.

Tobio: What...?!

Armando: Your Beyblade skills are impressive I gotta admit, but you have the illusion of being unstoppable, as you can see. We're in the Bey Stadium, where movement is limited. Once someone like me figured out your patterns, your attacks were no different than a fish jumping out of water.

Armando declared as DJ Blader the crowd grew more bewildered by the battle unfolding before them. While Capricorne was still bouncing around wildly, each time it attacked Herculeo, Herculeo managed to make a counter-attack.

Tobio expression was still in disbelief as he stared at Armando before his eyes narrowed, and his sneer widened.

Tobio: I see, so I didn't give you enough credit am I...? But who do you think I am, Armando Silva? I am Death Capri! And I ain't letting my prey get away until I hunt them down!!

Tobio declared as Capricorne began to move even more erratically. However, this time, the attack missed the moving Herculeo and instead created several holes in the stadium. Armando narrowed his eyes at the boy, a bit taken aback by his change in strategy and wondering what he was planning now.

Tobio: *smirk* No worries, I'm just showing the true power of Capricorne. Think you can handle it?

Tobio challenged with a confident smirk as he pulled out his sucker.

With Capricorn now moving unpredictably, no one, including Armando, can decipher its movements. Herculeo continues to circle the stadium, but Capricorn attacks out of nowhere each time. The audience, even DJ Blader, believes there is no way for Armando and Herculeo to counter these attacks.

The stadium's holes added chaos to the match, giving Capricorne a significant advantage. The audience began to wonder if it was all over for Armando.

But Armando stood there confidently, his face stoic, refusing to show any sign of reaction, much to Tobio and others' confusion. But then he began to laugh, and a mix of gold and orange aura appeared surrounding him as he bewildered

Armando: Hahaha, that's right...! Finally!!

Tobio: *confused* Huh...?

Armando: Finally! After a month of dying to find a strong Bladers, you appeared, and exactly all I needed! A strong Blader who gives me a sense of challenge, even though it was decent! I'll give you credit for that! Hahaha!!

Tobio: *offended* D-Decent?!

Armando: Exactly!! SHOW ME ALL YOU GOT!  GIVE ME YOUR POWERFUL SHOT! AND TRY TO CRUSH ME WITH EVERYTHING YOU HAVE!! BECAUSE AFTER THIS, I'LL GIVE YOU THE REALITY OF HOW FAR YOU ARE FROM ME!!

Tobio: *even offended* Cih, why you!! Fine then! But be careful what you wish for CAPRICORNE!!

He commands as Capricorne leaps into the air.

Tobio: SPECIAL MOVE: LIGHTNING SCREWDIVER!!

Tobio activated his special move as Capricorne's avatar appeared. A pale red tornado formed, starting from its horn and whipping around. The tornado then dove down, crashing into the moving Herculeo. Upon impact, it unleashed a brilliant ray of red light that shot out from the stadium, illuminating the sky.

Tobio: *confidence* Mission Completed...

Armando: *chuckles* Too soon, junior...

Tobio: *surprised* Huh...?!

Tobio eyes widen, as the thought of winning is taken away when he sees that Capricorne's attack didn't make any impact at all, and Herculeo managed to hold his ground.

Tobio: H-HOW...?!

Armando: *sneers intensely* Hah...! What did I tell you, you're far from me! You might be strong, but compared to someone like Liliana, Gingka, and Kyoya, You're like a stone that was easily moved!!

Tobio: *offended* Liliana? Gingka? Kyoya?

Armando: Now it's my turn to show my true power, HERCULEO!!

Armando commanded loudly as Herculeo began to emit a powerful wind, pushing Capricorne away. Slowly, the wind intensified, and the entire stadium felt its strength. 

Before they knew it, Herculeo glowed into the mix of gold and orange and unleashed it into the sky. At this point, Tobio's expression was horrified, knowing what was coming next.

Armando: HERCULEO, SWEEPING DEATH CLUB!!

Armando finally unleashed his second special move as the avatar appeared once again. This time, it wielded two clubs instead of a bow and arrow. The warrior's avatar swept its clubs towards Capricorne, resulting in a brilliant explosion that hurled Capricorne high into the air.

Tobio gazes at the sky in distress, realizing he cannot effectively counter that kind of attack. With his Capricorne thrown into the air like that, it's all over for him.

Armando: *smirk* Don't be embarrassed because you lost, be glad that I give you the reality of how far you are from being strong and unstoppable. Maybe after this, you gotta improve yourself, you know...?

Armando remarked as Capricorne finally fell to the ground and stopped spinning right in front of Tobio. Tobio dropped to his hands and knees, his face dejected as the weight of his loss washed over him.

Tobio: Mission... Failed...

DJ Blader: And the winner of the Prince Tower Tournament is Armando Silva! Let's applaud the little champions from the Samba nation, who have been undefeated since the start of the qualifiers! Go, Battle Bladers!

The crowd roared in response, as their cheer was heard throughout the stadium.

==============================

Later in the evening, Armando was ready to leave the city before Tobio approached him and they appeared to have a little talk.

Tobio: The people you mentioned, Liliana, Gingka, Kyoya... Are they really that strong?

Armando: You will know once you see them with your eyes...

Armando simply said before he walked again.

Tobio: Wait...!

Tobio demands as Armando stops mid-way. The afro-haired boy tosses a green-wrapped lollipop toward the young Brazilian, which he catches effortlessly.

Tobio: I'm entering Battle Bladers as well. Once we see each other again, I'll make sure that you're not getting away again...

Tobio uttered before turning around and leaving, his voice was as determined as ever to face the young Brazilian again at Battle Bladers.

Armando's smile widened as he unwrapped the lollipop while walking away and suck it, his confidence unwavering and with the promises of Battle Bladers on the horizon.

Notes:

In the next chapter, Liliana is the one who appear. Can you guess who would be the one she battle?

Chapter 10: The Shining Virgo

Summary:

Just like everyone else, Liliana was traveling through the country, entering competitions to earn more Beypoints to qualify for Battle Bladers. Upon arriving in one of the cities, she encountered a certain boy with a feminine appearance whom she recognized as the most talented young ballet dancer from her home country, Brazil. He had mysteriously vanished for five years after a specific incident, but now he had returned as a Blader.

As they talked, he claimed that she was his savior and expressed a desire to repay her. This left her wondering why he felt that way...

Notes:

Sorry for taking this chapter for a very long time, there are a lot of things that happened in these 15 days.

So anyway, I hope you enjoyed it

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

The qualifications for entering Battle Bladers continued, and everyone was excited to battle at every competition ever to gather as many points as possible until they reached 50,000.

Meanwhile, the final of the Prince Tower Tournament was being broadcast throughout the country. Some gang members watched from various locations, including bars, cafes, and their homes, either on big screens or TVs.

They intently watched the battle between Armando and his opponent, who wielded the interesting Bey, Storm Capricorne. As Armando finally showcased his true power and won the tournament, the rest of the gang had mixed reactions to his victory.

Kenta, Benkei, Madoka, and Hikaru found him to be stronger than the last time they encountered him and wondered if he was at the same bar as Gingka and Kyoya. Kyoya was impressed by Armando's power and hoped to battle him soon. Gingka and Hyoma were amazed by how Armando had grown stronger despite his age, which motivated them to strive for the same achievement.

As for Liliana, who was close to Armando like a sibling, she only chuckles at his way of battling.

Liliana: *chuckles* Typical Armando... Enjoy battling strong Bladers like finally getting a pizza, and then defeat the opponent as if devouring the entire pizza. I guess no matter where you are, you're no different and still the same Armando...

Liliana: But nevertheless, he did finally find a strong Blader, something that I haven't found yet. If he can find one, I should be able to find one too.

Liliana determinedly muttered as she pulled out her Beypoints, which already reached 39.000. She then walked on, trying to get into another tournament in another city.

Liliana: Oh, and remember to stay low on Dark Nebula radar...

==============================

Liliana entered one of the competitions in another city. Like Armando and (probably) everyone in the gang, she managed to win the whole competition and claim 1.500 points, making her Beypoints go up to 40.500.

DJ Blader: Liliana grabs another 1.500 points and adds to her winning streak! The beauty who wields the beast has been the most unstoppable blader throughout the qualification! With her Beypoints total now exceeding 40,500, could she become the first female blader to enter the Battle Bladers?

DJ Blader's remarks resonated through the stadium, and the crowd erupted with excitement. She felt a blush creeping onto her cheeks at being called "the beauty who wields the beast." However, her embarrassment didn't end there as the fans continued to shower her with compliments about her skills and looks.

Girl1: Way to go, Liliana!!

Girl2: Get in there, girl!!

Boy1: Liliana, you're so pretty!!

Boy2: Marry me, Liliana!!

All the praise made Liliana's face even reddened and she only sheepishly laughed, trying to hide her embarrassment.

Liliana: But seriously though, these people act like they never saw female bladers before...

==============================

Liliana moved to a new city after earning 1,500 points in her previous location. She arrived in Akita and, as she entered the city, noticed a crowd gathered around a big screen to watch a Beyblade battle.

Curious, Liliana stopped to watch. On the screen, she saw Storm Aquario, which she assumed belonged to Hikaru, battling a yellow-colored Beyblade. Moments later, the screen shifted to reveal Hikaru in person.

Liliana: Oh, Hikaru!

Liliana exclaimed in delight as she recognized someone familiar on the screen. However, when the camera turned to show Hikaru's opponent, she blinked in surprise and wonder at the sight.

The screen revealed Hikaru's opponent, a feminine-looking boy with a glamorous appearance. He had wavy blonde hair covering one of his dark blue eyes and wore a white dress shirt with a blue jabot and a deep red cummerbund. His outfit included a red jacket with gold detailing, black slim-fitting trousers, and white boots, all featuring red linings with gold edges.

Liliana: *blinked* Wait, isn't he...?

Liliana: *shakes head* No... No way he just appeared and changed his career path, right...?

Liliana said in her heart, convincing herself that the feminine boy on the screen was not the same boy she knew in her memories.

The battle between the boy and Hikaru rages on as Hikaru's Aquario relentlessly attacks the boy's Beyblade. However, despite the barrage of strikes, the boy's Beyblade continues to spin without interruption.

In desperation, Hikaru decides to unleash her special move, "Infinite Assault." This move tricks the opponent into thinking multiple Aquarios are attacking, while the real ones move in for the strike. A massive waveforms, threatening to engulf the boy's Beyblade.

As the wave begins to cover the boy's Beyblade, it seems like defeat is inevitable for him and a victory is at hand for Hikaru. But to everyone's surprise, the boy's Beyblade deflects Aquario’s special move and continues to spin elegantly, as if the attack had no effect at all.

???: Virgo, PIROUTTE TOUR!!

The boy commands with an elegant voice as his Bey, Virgo, spins rapidly on its axis, creating a dazzling spectacle. It charges into Aquario's many clones, crashing into each one without flinching and sending them all flying before disappearing.

Hikaru: *shock* W-What?!

Liliana stares at the boy Bey's ability in amazement. It's certainly not easy to not only deflect Aquario's special move casually but to send all Aquario's clones flying within one move, yet the boy did it casually, and Liliana found that he was remarkable for that matter.

Liliana: Wow...! Countering her special move easily and casually. *smile* He's sure stronger than what his appearance may suggest.

Back on the screen, the boy confidently activated his other move, "Grand Jete," as his Bey, Virgo, began to dance gracefully across the stadium. Its avatar appeared as a ballerina-like girl, leaping and twirling throughout the arena.

In a swift and elegant motion, Virgo leaped and attacked Aquario from above, sending Aquario soaring into the air and causing it to stop spinning right in front of Hikaru, who looked down in mortification and disbelief.

DJ Blader: Ladies and Gentleman, there's our winner, Saotome Teru!! Another 1.500 Beypoints has been added to our elegant Blader as his winning streak still continues!

DJ Blader's announcements were heard across the street, as the crowd began to awe at the skill that the feminine boy has. Liliana stares at the screen, which shows the boy with widened eyes.

Liliana: *bewildered* No freakin' way!! It's actually him?! He appeared again and suddenly changed his career?! Since when...?!

Liliana: Ah well, never mind. At least from the way he defeated Hikaru, he's surely tougher than his appearance...

Liliana: *sigh* Guess I finally found someone interesting...! Let's just hope that he would battle me in one of these Competitions...

With that, Liliana turned around and walked away from the crowd. Her resolve solidified with each step.

==============================

It was a calm, cool night, and the moon shone brightly against the twinkling stars scattered across the dark blue sky, creating a beautiful scene and casting a soft glow over the forest.

Liliana sat leaning against a tree trunk, gazing up at the sky with one hand holding her Beyblade, Gil. Her face showed signs of fatigue from training earlier, but the serene view of the night sky brought her a sense of peace, making her tiredness feel distant.

In moments like these, Liliana often reminisced about the times when she and Armando would stargaze and admire the beauty of the night sky each evening during their childhood. The constellations overhead served as a reminder of her passion for Beyblading and the reasons why she was here now.

Suddenly, she was distracted by a splashing sound coming from a nearby river. She turned her gaze in that direction and saw the silhouette of a female ballerina, illuminated with a warm yellow hue, gracefully dancing on the water's surface.

The figure spun and twirled elegantly before finally landing in a spinning pose at the edge of the river.

Liliana stared at the ballerina, filled with questions. Was she dreaming? Why on earth was a ballerina practicing alone in the middle of nowhere, especially in a dark forest where it was dangerous for an unarmed young woman to be?

She rubbed her eyes, doubting her own vision. When she opened them again, the ballerina had vanished and was replaced by a free-spinning Beyblade. Liliana’s eyes widened in surprise, and, driven by curiosity, she got up and walked toward the spinning Beyblade.

As she got closer, she began to admire the way it spun.

Liliana: It's beautiful... Its way of spinning is mesmerizing, and the balance is completely fine. This Bey could run through the snow without leaving a mark...

???: It's an honor that such praise was coming from you, Liliana Alves.

An elegant male voice was heard, and Liliana immediately turned her attention to one of the tree trunks, which was where she heard the voice. Suddenly, a figure of a male around her age appeared beside the tree trunk, it was the same person that battled Hikaru on the big screen earlier.

Liliana: *blinked* You are, Saotome Teru, right...? The former ballet dancer back in Brazil...?

Teru: *surprised but smiling* Oh my~! I've never thought that someone still recognized me after five years~.

Liliana: How could I forget? You were popular among girls my age back then in Brazil. A generational ballet talent, who showcased incredible professional skill at such a young age. My grandmother loved to watch you dance. Then, a certain incident occurred, your career dwindled, and you seemed to disappear without a trace.

Explained Liliana, as Teru's smile fell a little, remembering what happened to him years ago. Feeling bad for making him sad, Liliana decides to change the subject.

Liliana: But I'm quite surprised to see you here now, it appears you have changed your career path.

Liliana said as she looked at his free-spinning Bey, trying to break the atmosphere as the boy's smile lit up again, and his Bey finally flew toward his hand. He then showed his Bey to the Brazilian girl.

Teru: *nodded* Me with my precious Prima Donna... Earth Virgo!

His Beyblade, Earth Virgo GB145BS, a stamina-type Bey inspired by Virgo, one of the 88 constellations representing a woman.

Liliana: *poker face* Why a Beyblade that represents a woman mostly owned by a man...?

Liliana: *smile* By the way, I saw your battle earlier against Hikaru. I gotta admit that the way you Bey's spinning is amazing, and you look stronger than what your appearance may suggest. Looking forward to battle you.

Liliana praised the boy's Beyblading ability, and the boy couldn't help but smile even further, feeling a sense of pride washing over him, as his confidence became more apparent on his face.

Teru: Why, thank you~! I'm quite touched that you think I'm strong, Liliana. It really means a lot coming from you...

Teru: Oh, and since you're here, I guess that means you're competing in tomorrow's Turaru challenge match?

Liliana: Uh... Yeah, I did.

Teru smiled wider, clearly pleased that the girl joined the same competition as him. However, his smile turned more challenging as he looked at Liliana with a smirk.

Teru: Good, because I'm entering as well. Let's just hope that we can battle each other tomorrow, and have my payback for you...

Liliana's excitement turns to confusion at the boy's remarks.

Liliana: Payback...?

Teru: You see, you're my savior during my hardest time, Liliana...

Liliana: *even confused* Savior...? But this is the first time we've met, isn't it? Though I know you for your reputation, we don't exactly know each other...

Teru: *smiled* I thought so...

Teru dismissed with a casual wave of his hand as he looked up to the night sky, prompting the girl to do so.

Teru: Those stars in the skies, they shine brightly like they were meant to shine everyone's dream...

He said in a dreamy voice, as he held out his Bey into the sky.

Teru: Just like my Virgo...

Teru: If I can defeat you and your Bey, Gil, in tomorrow's competition, my Virgo and I will shine even more. In summary, I’m looking forward to our battle, Liliana~. See you tomorrow!

He declared before turning around, raising his hand while waving, and walking away elegantly through the darkness of the forest, leaving the confused Liliana standing in sight, reflecting on what he had said earlier.

Liliana: Payback...? And, I'm his savior...? I don't remember saving him from something, so what does he mean by that...?

Liliana: *shakes head* Ah well, never mind what he said. Since he's entering as well, I guess I could finally battle someone worthy of our power.

Liliana: Right Gil...?

Liliana pulled out her Beyblade and brought it close to her face. As if in response to her anticipation, Gil glimmered with excitement, eager to finally face a strong opponent. Liliana then turned her gaze toward Teru, who had disappeared from her sight, her expression filled with determination.

Liliana: You may shine brightly Teru, but even stars have their limits and eventually stop lights up.

==============================

The following day, the Turaru challenge match was scheduled to take place at the stadium surrounded by a forest near Kagoshima city. With the stadium divided into four sections, the crowd buzzed with excitement as they prepared to witness a simultaneous four-way battle. DJ Blader's voice echoed throughout the stadium, adding to the electrifying atmosphere.

DJ Blader: Go! Battle Bladers!! And at last, we are about to start what we've all been waiting for! We're in the midst of challenge matches, all aiming to earn 50,000 points. The Turaru challenge match is about to begin!

With DJ Blader's announcement, eight Bladers stand in each of the four stadiums. One of them is Liliana, who confidently stood ready at one of the stadiums, gripping her Beylauncher, and prepared to battle.

Like Armando, she easily dominated the entire competition. She wasn't the only one to do so, as the other Blader who achieved a winning streak and made it to the final was none other than Saotome Teru.

Teru's way of battling was both elegant and precise. He always played along with his opponent as Virgo danced around like a ballerina and then struck in a fluid motion, sending the other Bey out of the stadium.

Liliana often took a peak of Teru's way of battling. The boy was indeed something else. His skills, his composure, and his calmness in the face of the enemy were extraordinary. It was rare for Liliana to see anyone Beyblading as calm as him other than Armando.

Liliana: *smirk* It's not going to be surprising if we do face each other in the end...

==============================

DJ Blader: Here we go, Bladers!! The Turaru challenge match has reached an exciting climax, and the final will be contested between two exceptional Bladers! Who will emerge victorious and earn the points needed to enter the Battle Bladers?! Will it be Liliana Alves or Saotome Teru?!

The spectators erupted in cheers and couldn't wait to witness a great final between two formidable Bladers.

Liliana and Teru stood at opposite ends of the arena. Liliana wore a focused and determined expression, while Teru maintained his calm and composed demeanor. Both were equally eager to battle each other, with the former performer already holding his launcher.

Teru: I always knew that if I kept winning, I would eventually battle you, Liliana. Let's battle hard!

Liliana: *grinned* If you say so, I hope you pack some real steel behind your agile frame, Teru.

Liliana shot back without missing a beat while preparing her launcher as well. DJ Blader and the crowd began the countdown.

3, 2, 1, GO SHOOT!!

They launched their Bey and landed in the stadium. The fans erupted, witnessing the final match between them.

Liliana: Let's go, Gil!!

Liliana commanded as Gil began to charge toward Virgo. Their Beys clashed, sparking with every impact they made.

Teru: Let's dance, Virgo, my prima donna...! May the curtain rise for our stage!

With a flick of his wrist, Virgo moved gracefully as it danced around Gil. Everyone was hypnotized by how Virgo danced, like watching a ballerina performing at Beyblade Stadium. Liliana tried to keep focus and analyze her opponent Bey.

Liliana: A truly beautiful Bey, isn't it? But you should know that Beyblade is about battling and not dancing around. Go, Ray Gil!

Liliana commanded as Gil attempted to attack Virgo with greater power and speed. However, when Gil struck Virgo, it had no effect. Despite Ray Gil's powerful raw attack, Virgo seemingly managed to absorb the impact.

Liliana: Huh...?!

Teru: Nice turn, Virgo~.

Teru gracefully guided his Beyblade with the precision of a conductor leading an orchestra. Gil attempted to strike Virgo again, but its efforts were in vain as Virgo remained unaffected.

DJ Blader: Check it out, ladies and gentlemen! Gil's attack isn't bothering Virgo at all. In fact, the more Gil attacks, the more it spins faster! And would you look at that way of spinning, it almost looks like a dancing of a beautiful ballet!

Liliana: *gritted teeth* What the hell...?!

Teru: Exactly~. Virgo, my one and truly prima ballerina. Just as I was before, a noble dancer as they say...

Liliana: Yeah...? If it did, why did you quit and become a Blader?

Liliana asks him out of curiosity despite her tone being a little demanding. Teru's smile slowly faded as sadness started to creep into his gaze, remembering those fated days that changed his path of career.

Teru: I guess it was just meant to be...

Teru began to tell the story of what happened to him and why he quit dancing and became a Blader.

Around five years ago, Teru was at the top of the junior ballet world. Coming from a Japanese family in Brazil, he was the most overlooked talented kid in the Brazil Junior Ballet Competition.

His way of moving through the air, his elastic body, and the precision of his agile landings were enough to make people fall in love and be captivated by him.

Everything appears perfect for him until one day during a competition when an accident occurs. While he is performing, a stage light falls from above and crashes onto his ankle, entirely breaking it.

Liliana: *reminisce* Yeah... I remember the news.

Teru: *sad* It was the most devastating moment I have ever experienced in my life. At that moment, I felt my hope dwindling as my dream to become the best ballet dancer shattered within one moment. Then I saw you, Liliana Alves, and you became my savior.

Liliana: *confused* Wha- me...?

Teru reminisced once more. He found himself in the hospital after the incident, lying in bed with one of his feet wrapped in a cast. His eyes were lifeless and dull, while the television displayed a Beyblade battle from one of the competitions in Brazil.

As he adverts his attention to the TV, he sees young Liliana battling with high spirits and unraveling excitement. Her bladder spirit ignited as her eyes blazed in determination.

(Young) Liliana: Go! Ray Gil! KEEL CANNON STRIKE!

Young Liliana commanded as Gil erupted in a mix of blue and purple colors before smashing the opponent Bey and knocking it out of the stadium.

The crowd on TV erupted in applause, and Teru was genuinely captivated by the determination and spirit that Liliana displayed. A spark of hope ignited within him as he watched Liliana and Gil with fascination, becoming the true motivation for him to rise again and pursue his dream of becoming a Blader.

Later on, a certain girl comes into his room and hands him a Beyblade, with the face bolt of a woman with the word "Virgo" on it. Sensing the purpose, he grabbed the Bey and stared at it with a whole new spirit.

Back to the present.

Teru: With my Virgo, I can finally shine again in the Bey Stadium, the brand-new stage for my new dreams~. To shine even brighter, my biggest goal is to face and defeat my savior—it's you, Liliana.

Teru declared with newfound passion and resolve as he pointed his finger at the Brazilian girl. His determination resonated through his Bey, and Liliana softened, finding his story heartwarming and respectable.

Liliana: So that's what he means by calling me his 'savior' and wanting payback... *blushes a little* I can't believe I have given hope to someone whom everyone used to look up to...

Liliana: I see... Well, I must say that I truly admire your determination, Teru. You reached the lowest point in your life, but instead of giving up, you held onto hope, found a new goal, and moved forward. You seized the opportunity to shine even brighter with your new partner. You are remarkable for that.

Liliana: *sneered* But just because I'm your savior doesn't mean I'm going to be easy on you. Let's see how much strong you are after all this year with your precious prima donna.

Liliana threatened as Gil darted toward Virgo with more power and intensity. As they collided, Gil managed to knock Virgo into the air, but it was not enough to put it out of the stadium, and Virgo landed back gracefully.

Gil tried to attack again, but Virgo kept on elegantly dodging it under Teru's command "Allegro Antesha." Its moves are precise and very calm as if the Bey was a ballerina itself.

Teru: Right now, Virgo! GRAND JETE!!

Teru active his special move as Virgo is the one who made the attack from above, sending Gil flying into the air.

DJ Blader: Oh, look! Virgo finally made its move, and it only needed one attack to send Gil flying! Will it end here?

Liliana: *gritted teeth* In your dream! Gil!!

Gil managed to land back on the edge of the stadium, much to Liliana's relief.

Teru: *grin* I knew that you were not going to be defeated easily.

Liliana: Heh, you talk like you only know me yesterday. Gil!!

Teru: Virgo!!

They both commanded their Beyblades at the same time and as they circled around the stadium, their movements synchronized with each other. Then, Teru activated a special move called "Pirouette Tour," causing Virgo to spin even faster. The air around it formed a bearing shield, enhancing its speed and defense.

Liliana widened her eyes in shock as she saw Virgo using air for speed and defense, the same trick Armando used in battle. However, Liliana sensed that the air Virgo formed was much different from Herculeo's.

Liliana narrowed her eyes at Virgo, trying to assess the air surrounding it. The air vortex around Virgo was similar to Armando's Herculeo, but unlike Herculeo, which only had an air vortex covering one side of its Bey, Virgo's vortex enveloped the entire Bey, leaving no room for any opposing Bey to approach straight on.

Liliana: I see, the air surrounding it covers the whole of its Bey, which acts as a defense, and the speed of its spinning. Which means that it's useless to attack Virgo from above. Additionally, its Gravity Ball 145 spin track features two metal balls that move outward while it spins, providing Virgo with exceptional balance, allowing it to move gracefully like a ballerina.

Liliana began to think of a plan to counter Virgo.

Liliana: Let's see, attacking head-on simply isn't going to work, even with a special move, Virgo will just land back on the stadium thanks to its high-velocity spinning and its spin track. And if you think about it, the only part where Virgo isn't protected is its upper part, so if I only could make Virgo fly upward and attack it in the air, I might have a chance to win.

Liliana: But my Gil isn't exactly able to make an air surrounding it like Virgo and Herculeo. If Armando's the one facing him, he could win easily. Damn it! There's no way I could let Armando be one step ahead of me!!

Liliana: Also, I could just make my Gil dig through the floor and attack right just below where it stands. But this is a Bey stadium, and not normal soil, which could risk stop spinning in the middle of the underground...

Liliana: Alright focus, Liliana. You got this... All you should do is think of another way of countering its spin track and its high-velocity spins...

As Liliana tries to think of another plan to defeat Virgo, her gaze returns to the Beyblade. She watches as Virgo spins elegantly, completely unfazed. Liliana can't help but admire the beauty and tranquility of its spinning. Out of all the stamina-type Beys she has faced, this one has the most impressive spinning technique.

Liliana: It's spinning it so beautiful though. The  wind surrounding it made the Bey completely unfazed by everything, and it seemed like the only way to attack was to attack from below...

Liliana: Or maybe, if there's some way to disrupt its spinning. Like destabilizing its spin like how a ballerina couldn't dance in the cluttered ground...

Liana: *widens eyes* Wait, speaking of cluttered ground.

Liliana began to remember how Gingka's Pegasis countered Aries in the Green Hades stadium. By destroying the surface of the stadium, Aries' movements become irregular and trapped in its cracks, and Pegasus, with its attacking nature, could use the crack to attack Aries and win the match.

Liliana wondered if she could do the same thing to destabilize Virgo's spinning by destroying the surface of the stadium. She hoped that it disrupt and destabilize Virgo's spins thanks to the messier ground where Virgo couldn't dance around the stadium anymore.

Teru: *smirk* So Liliana, what do you think about my Virgo? You inspired us to find a new way to dance, and by defeating you, we can shine even more~!

Liliana: Shine, huh...?

Teru: *nodded* Hmph, now, that our victory is near, we will soar toward our dream stages!

He raises his hand in confidence, but Liliana only shakes her head in unapproval.

Liliana: Thinking you're winning already, huh? Seems like you forgot that I haven't used my special move yet.

In her remark, Gil began to spin faster and circled through the stadium. It kept circling faster before it ran to the edge of the stadium and soared into the sky-high.

DJ Blader: Oh, look at that! Gil spins even faster and then floats itself into the sky! Is it part of her plan to counter the magnificent Virgo?!

Liliana: *smirk* No need to question that, SPECIAL MOVE: DIVING VESSEL!!

Liliana summoned her other special move as Gil finally showed its avatar of a plesiosaurus bone and began to dive down toward Virgo. However, Teru kept his confident smile, knowing that no matter where the attacks came from, they would not affect Virgo that much.

Teru: Hmm~ attack from above I see. But you should remember that Virgo can take any attack no matter the direction, no matter how much you try, it only made Virgo spin even faster~.

Teru: *giggle* Seems like there's nothing you could do to stop me, my savior. Victory is already in our hands, I suppose~.

Liliana: Oh really~? Then what if I say that your Virgo isn't my target...?

Liliana wore a confident yet mocking smile, leaving the feminine boy confused as his grin faded and turned into uncertainty. Meanwhile, in the battle, Gil dove to the ground, but Teru realized it wasn't aiming for his Bey.

As Gil finally crashed onto the stadium floor, it created an explosion that sent all of the stadium debris flying everywhere. To Teru's horror, some of the debris headed straight for his Bey, crashing into Virgo one by one with force.

Although the impacts didn't stop Virgo from spinning, they did shatter its windshield. The spin began to slow down, and Virgo's movements became unstable as it swerved all over the place. The situation was made worse by the cracks that had formed all over the stadium, causing Virgo to bump into them repeatedly, affecting its spin even more.

DJ Blader: Wow! Check this out, ladies and gentlemen! Gil just destroyed the stadium, as the debris is all over the place. Look at that, folks! Virgo spinning seems to be getting awkward. Was this actually Liliana's master plan to win the match?!

Teru: *panic* No, my Virgo!!

Liliana: *sneered* So, how did the ballerinas dance through the damaged floor, huh? I finished it now, Gil!!

Liliana's command as Gil emitted a mix of blue and purple aura before it began to charge toward Virgo.

Liliana: SPECIAL MOVE: KEEL CANNON STRIKE!!

Liliana commanded another special move as Gil's avatar appeared once again and swept through the debris like it was nothing. Teru's face was in horror, seeing the plesiosaur bone heading toward his unbalanced Bey.

Teru: *gritted teeth* No, this is not the end yet! Remember that I still had one special move! Virgo, PIROUETTE TOUR!!

Teru attempted to activate his special move as Virgo began to stabilize and spin normally. However, it was too late for Virgo to create its shield, as Gil had already closed in. Gil then struck Virgo, easily knocking it out of the stadium, where it landed right beside Teru, leaving him shocked by the sudden turn of events.

DJ Blader: It's over...!! The winner of today's Turaru challenge match is Liliana Alves! Everyone, let's applaud "the beauty who wields the beast" for her remarkable achievement! At the beginning of the fight, she faced some difficulties, but thanks to her fighting spirit and hard work, she was able to overcome them and came out as a winner!

DJ Blader: If you want to gain more points and enter Battle Bladers, be just like her!

DJ Blader's voice echoed through the stadium, causing the crowd to erupt in excitement, and Liliana was bombarded with praise and compliments, making her blush even more, and a bit irritated for being called "Beauty who wields the beast."

Liliana: *irritated* Jeez, would stop calling me that?! You've almost made it seem like you were into me or somethin' like that!!

DJ Blader: *sheepishly laugh* Ehe, sorry...

Meanwhile, Teru picked up his Beyblade and held it to his hand. His expression was a mix of awe and tranquility as he glanced at his Bey.

Teru: *sigh* Virgo, it seems like we're not the stars we want to be, yet...

He then adverts his attention to the Brazilian girl and then walks toward her, congratulating her for winning against him.

Teru: *smiles* Congratulations, Liliana Alves. It seems like you're shining even further now...

Liliana: *shooks head* No, I wouldn't say that. In fact, you and your Virgo shine just as brightly. I have to admit, battling you wasn't as easy as I expected.

Liliana: There are almost no flaws in your technique and battling style. In fact, I had to destroy the stadium just to defeat you, which is something I've never done in an official competition before.

Liliana: *smile* So I have to say this, Saotome Teru: don’t let dreams just be dreams. Try to keep shining as long as you believe in yourself.

Liliana said with a warm smile as Teru blinked before finding himself smiling at the girl once again.

Teru: Well then, Liliana~. When we will become stronger and shine together, let's battle both of us again, sometime.

Liliana: *nodded* Of course, why not...?

They both shake hands, their resolve resonating as they eyed each other determinedly.

Notes:

Liliana's special move, "Diving Vessel," is essentially a copy of Gingka's "Starblast Attack." I think everyone was okay with this since many special attacks from above have similar styles. 😁

I also decided to introduce Teru earlier in the series, just because. The arc following the battle royale will focus more on the past and the relationships between our OCs and Ryuga.

I hope you all understand, and have a great day!

Chapter 11: The Intruders

Summary:

The qualification for Battle Bladers continues, and both Liliana and Armando are simultaneously entering the "Turaru Challenge Match." However, the competition is interrupted by two members of the Dark Nebula organization, who challenge the two Brazilians to a battle.

This raises concerns about whether they have finally attracted Daidoji's attention.

Notes:

I'm a little bit dissatisfied with how I wrote the battle scene here, but I hope that you all still enjoyed it. 😊

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

The qualification for the Battle Bladers continues, with more competitions being organized throughout the city. The increasing number of young people trying to qualify has led to significant disruptions, as public transportation, such as buses and taxis, is filled with aspiring Bladers. The streets are also crowded with young competitors rushing to attend some of the official tournaments.

This has gained some media attention and even trended outside of Japan, drawing curiosity from many people abroad. With the continuous influx of young Bladers entering various tournaments, coupled with the unreasonable entry requirements, some of these outsiders who were also interested traveled to Japan to compete in the qualifiers.

In a certain café, Armando sits at one of the tables, sipping tea while watching the news on the TV. He finds it intriguing that the qualifications have attracted attention beyond Japan. He wonders if Dark Nebula also planned this to increase revenue, and not exactly for a good reason.

Then, DJ Blader announced that there would be another tournament in Niigata City, where he is currently located. This event is called the "Turaru Challenge Match" and will take place in Bijin Bayashi Forest. There will be two contests happening simultaneously: the green forest field and the stream field.

Armando nodded, knowing that the Turaru challenge match was the reason why he was in the city. He finished his tea, grabbed his bag, and left the café. As he stepped outside, he glanced to the side and saw a forest nestled below the mountain. He concluded that it was Bijin Bayashi Forest, where the Turaru tournament was held.

Without waiting, he walks toward it with resolve on every step.

==============================

As he arrived, he found the entrance already crowded with many bladers eager to enter the competition. However, his focus was on a board displaying the options for battles: a forest battle or a stream battle. Without hesitation, he lined up for the forest battle, believing it to be the perfect match for his Herculeo, especially since he had always trained in the forest.

The line was long and packed with numerous bladers, but Armando didn't mind as he was going to dominate the tournament like usual. He started scanning the crowd, hoping to spot one of the gang members or find someone who could entertain him during the contest.

Until he heard a familiar voice.

???: Hey Armando, it's been a while...!

A familiar female rang through his ears, he widened his eyes as the voice only belonged to the one he had known for a very long time. He turns around to see none other than his cousin, Liliana Alves, waving at him with a smile.

Liliana: Sup...! I never thought to see you here.

Armando: *flat-face* Oh, it's you. I see that you are entering this tournament as well...

Liliana: I happened to pass this town and watch the news of a tournament being held here. So without question, I'm going for it because why not?

Armando: *grin* Well cool then...! At least this competition had another strong worthy Blader. Well, seems like I'm gonna have fun here.

Liliana: Okay...? By the way, which field you're entering?

Armando: Hmm...? Oh, I'm entering the forest field, it's fitting for my Hercules, after all.

Liliana: Well, guess I'm entering the stream ones.

Armando: *surprised* What?! Come on! Are you really that scared to battle me after such a long time? And you do know that I'm the type to be bored easily to keep battling nobodies...

Liliana: Okay, first of all, I'm not scared of you, you should remember how many times I beat you. Secondly, you should remember that we're doing this to get more points to enter Battle Bladers. So save the fun for later on Battle Bladers, okay...?

Liliana explained with a slight irritation for being called scared of him, Armando wanted to argue but he realized that she was indeed right.

Armando: *groans* I guess you're right. Maybe I should calm down for once. After all, we're fighting against Dark Nebula here...

Liliana: *gasp* Armando...?! Is that really you?! Is my lil' cousin finally an understanding person and ready to become an adult?! Who would've thought!

Armando: *irritated* Shut up, you "Beauty who wields the beast!" I'm always been this understanding! And stop doing that, you cringe the heck outta me...

They both stared at each other, Liliana with a shocked expression and Armando with an irritated look before they laughed together and returned their attention forward.

In the sky, an eagle flew past by, eyeing the Brazilian intensely before suddenly turning around and flying back. Armando noticed the bird, and for some reason, he sensed something wrong about it.

==============================

DJ Blader: Go! Battle Bladers!! And now ladies and gentlemen, get ready for an exciting broadcast of the Glen Valley challenge match, taking place in the stunning Bijin Bayashi forest!

DJ Blader announces from the WBBA studio, which features a stage where he stands, three large screens displaying different views, a studio camera, and an audience full of young fans who are enthusiastically watching the Beyblade match.

The large screen from the right shows a Beyblade battle from the forest field, where Armando was battling against another Blader, which he easily won.

DJ Blader: It appears that we have a dominant Blader emerging from the forest side! Armando Silva has impressively secured three consecutive victories in a row. Can this talented young Brazilian maintain his winning streak throughout the tournament?!

DJ Blader: Now, let’s turn our focus to the opposing side of the competition, the stream field, and uncover who truly excelled in the match!

DJ Blader announces once again, as the left large screen shows the Beyblade battle from the stream field, where it was Liliana who dominated the tournament as well, getting three consecutive wins just like Armando.

DJ Blader: Look at that, ladies and gentlemen! It appears that another Brazilian is the one who dominated the tournament on the other side! Liliana Alves, "the beauty who wields the beast," has been unstoppable in this tournament!

DJ Blader: Can't you folks believe that this tournament might be invaded by these Brazilians!! Will anyone can't stop these strong Bladers from winning?! We will see about that!!

Back in the forest, two figures were seen walking toward the tournament entrance. One of them is a young boy who already gained his reputation by winning The Survival Battle. Tendou Yu, a boy with fluffy orange hair walks with both his hands on the back of his head.

He was ordered by Daidouji and Dark Nebula to monitor Gingka and his friends to assess their progress for Ryuga's sake. As part of this mission, he was sent to the Glen Valley Challenge Match, a tournament featuring Liliana and Armando. He intended to disrupt the tournament and challenge one of them to a battle.

He was not alone in this matter, he was accompanied by a fellow Dark Nebula member who just entered the organization a few days ago.

Otori Tsubasa, a tall boy with a tan complexion and long silver-grey hair in a low ponytail. His golden-brown eyes are sharp, and he wears a sleeveless brown shirt with lavender trim and loose white trousers, complemented by brown boots. He also wears brown fingerless gloves that go up to his wrists.

Yu: Aha, there's the Brazilians! They really come all the way from South America to Japan just to participate in Battle Bladers, aren't they?

Tsubasa: Daidoji stated that these two are the ones we need to focus on besides Gingka.

Yu: Well, if he had to say that, then I guess these two must be better than we expected, right? Damn, I'm getting pumped up here!

The young boy exclaimed excitedly, while the long-haired boy maintained a flat expression as he focused on the two large screens, which displayed the Brazilian on each side. Daidoji pointed out that the Brazilians were important for Ryuga's sake and emphasized the need for them to concentrate on that first to assess their strength.

A lot of questions filled his mind with that statement, but he decided to ignore that for a moment and focus on his mission.

Tsubasa: So anyway, Armando and Liliana, which one that you'll choose...?

Yu looks up at the large screen, contemplating his battle opponent. He sees the images of Armando and Liliana before he makes his decision.

Yu: Well, as much as I wanted to battle Armando, I'm more interested in Liliana's Gil, So I'll battle Liliana!

Tsubasa: Alright, then I'll battle Armando...

After making their decision, Tsubasa entered the forest area while Yu headed into the stream area to confront their respective targets. The female guard attempted to warn them about trespassing, but they ignored her and continued walking.

==============================

Meanwhile, the tournament had reached its climax, with both Armando and Liliana reaching the final, and waiting for the other semi-finalist to finish their battle.

Liliana sits with the other crowd just beside the stream river, watching the boring semi-final battle with a yawn.

Liliana: *yawn* If only there's another strong Blader in this tournament.

DJ Blader: Ladies and gentlemen, we have approached the final of the Glen Valley Challenge Match! Both Brazilian competitors have proven themselves to be forces to be reckoned with, dominating the competition and making it to the final! Now, all that remains is the thrilling anticipation of who will rise to challenge Liliana in the final!

???: How about me?!

A younger voice suddenly filled the area, and everyone turned to see where it was coming from. Just then, a Bey disrupted the battle and simultaneously knocked the other two Beys out of the stadium, shocking everyone, including DJ Blader, who watched the occurrence from the large screen.

DJ Blader: Whooah...!! What's going on?! It appeared that we have an intruder here!

Suddenly, a young boy revealed himself from behind the large rock just before the forest. It caught the attention of everyone, and they were shocked to see who it was.

Liliana: *blinked* He's-

DJ Blader: Ah, It's him! The winner of the Survival Battle, Tendou Yu!!

Blader1: What do you think you're doing?! You can't just disrupt our battle like that!!

Blader2: Yeah! You're not even applying for this tournament, so get out of here! 

The two Bladers, who happened to be the semi-finalists complain, but the boy seemingly doesn't care as he jumps down from the large rock and walks over them. Liliana rose from her seat with curiosity.

Yu: You guys don't matter at all, it's not like you're going to win against that girl, haha...!

Yu poked fun at them as their face became more irritated, but made no move as they knew how strong the boy in front of them was. Liliana narrowed her eyes at Libra's owner's uncertainty.

The official tried to warn the boy that he was not part of the tournament as what he was doing was considered trespassing. But the boy cut them off as he eyed the Brazilian with a childish smile.

Yu: Now, Lily! Let's battle together!

Liliana: *blinked* Lily? Battling you?

Yu: Aw, c'mon! I know for a fact that you wish to battle a stronger Blader now. So consider yourself lucky that me and my Libra wanted to battle your Ray Gil, right here and right now!

Yu exclaimed while pointing his finger at the girl, demanding her to battle her right now. The girl only stared at him still with uncertainty, wondering if this was Dark Nebula's plan to spy on them.

Yu: You wish to battle me, too, right?! Now, what are we waiting for? C'mon, let's go!

However, part of her wanted to battle him since the competition was dull to her. Even if one of them won and advanced to the final against her, she was confident she would win anyway. So, for this battle, she viewed this as an opportunity to practice, whether or not she still had full control of her abilities.

Liliana: *sigh* Alright then, you're on. So don't let me down and show your true power, okay?

Yu: *grin* Now that's what I wanted to hear...!

With Liliana accepting Yu's challenge, the officials and the spectators were baffled and bewildered at the sudden turn of events. The tournament was messed up thanks to an intruder challenging participants out of nowhere.

???1: Let's go!

???2: Defeat it!

From the studio, the sound of other Bladers rings the room. DJ Blader and the spectator avert their attention to the forest field to see the battle continue undisrupted. Then, one of the Beyblades managed to take out its opponent, claiming victory.

DJ Blader: O-Oh, While we were distracted by the turns of events from the other field, it seems like we have finally confirmed our finalists in the forest side of the tournament! Looks like our blader here was fortunate enough to battle the unstoppable young Brazilian here!

DJ Blader announces with excitement before sighing in relief that the other field remains undisrupted.

On the forest field, Armando rose from his seat and walked toward the stadium to battle the other finalist with a boresome face.

Until...

???: Battle me, Armando Silva!

A young adult's voice called out to him, causing him to pause and turn his head in the direction of the sound. He looked upward to see a young man standing on a tree branch, looking down at him, and it was none other than Otori Tsubasa.

The officials were once again baffled and bewildered, as there were not just one but two intruders who had invaded the tournament simultaneously and challenged the Brazilian to battle them. DJ Blader was almost at a loss for words from the studio.

DJ Blader: W-W-What now?! It seems like another intruder has invaded the tournament as well! But this time it's on the forest side. What is actually going on here, ladies and gentlemen?!

Tsubasa: Me? An intruder? How rude. I'm actually been here for a while, I'm just waiting for them to finish the battle.

Tsubasa calmly said before gracefully jumping down from the branch. He spread his arms like a bird and landed right in front of the young Brazilian, who didn't flinch at his unusual way of introduction and continued to stare at him in confusion.

Armando: *blinked* You're...?

Tsubasa: Otori Tsubasa, and this is my friend, Earth Aquila!

Tsubasa introduced himself as he held onto his Bey and showed it to Armando. Earth Aquila 145WD, a balance-type inspired by Aquila one of the 88 constellations representing an eagle.

Armando: Earth Aquila, huh...?

Tsubasa: You're gonna run away...?

Tsubasa taunted the young Brazilian, attempting to provoke him into responding. However, the Brazilian remained unresponsive, his expression flat as he tried to process what had just happened. This silence lasted for nearly 20 seconds, and Tsubasa began to feel uncomfortable in the situation.

Tsubasa: Umm...

Armando: Oh, sorry. I'm just wondering for a moment how to react to a taunting chicken...

Tsubasa: *blinked* Taunting chicken...?

Armando: But nevertheless, if you're desperate for a battle, fine then. It's been a while since I've battled strong Blader, and you look interesting.

Armando declared as he pulled out his Herculeo and showed it to Tsubasa. With Armando accepting the request, the tournament was in shambles as the intruders appeared from nowhere and challenged the Brazilian to battle them.

DJ Blader: W-What is this?! Even on the other side, the Brazilian also accepted the intruder challenge! What the hell is happening with the tournament?!

Back in the stream field, Liliana and Yu had already stood facing one another in the soil stadium, ready to battle.

Yu: Are you sure in this place? If you know about me, you should know that this place is like a home for my Libra.

Liliana: To prove greatness means continuing to fight, even when circumstances are unfavorable. So yes and I don't care if this place is like a home for your Libra.

Yu: *Eyes widen while smiling* Eeh, Is that so?! Seems like you're more intriguing than the others. Well then, no more time wasting, let's battle!!

Yu excitedly pulled his launcher from his sleeve and attached his Libra to it. Liliana did the same, but she couldn't shake her uncertainty about Yu's intentions in wanting to face her. She wondered if this was part of Dark Nebula's plan to spy on them. If that were the case, she needed to be careful and avoid revealing her true power, while still making sure the battle wasn't too easy for him.

Liliana: Alright, here we go!

3, 2, 1, GO SHOOT!!

They launched their Bey, and both Gil and Libra clashed with each other, creating a spark on each hit.

Yu: Go, Libra!

Their Beys kept clashing with one another, with every hit becoming more and more intense, before suddenly both Beys bounced far into the corner of the stadium.

However, Liliana's focus wasn't on the battle. Instead, she was intently observing the boy. She wondered how someone like him could become involved with such an organization. While she couldn't fault him for wanting to join any group he desired, the boy seemed bright for a place like Dark Nebula.

Liliana: Maybe this is the perfect moment to gain some information about them through him.

Yu: Hah...! You're good!

Liliana: Hmm...? Oh yeah, you too. Seems like Dark Nebula chose you for a reason.

Yu: *widened eyes* Eh...? You know about Dark Nebula?

Liliana: I thought everyone in Japan knew about it. Speaking of Dark Nebula, what do you think about them?

Yu: What do I think about them? They're awesome! They've provided me with some of the most advanced training that has shaped me into who I am today. I don't understand why Gingky and the others have a negative view of us, but based on my experience, they are really cool!

Liliana: I see, are there any strong Bladers other than you in Dark Nebula?

Yu: Well, there are some, but they can't be considered my equals. However, there are two that I would say are strong. There's this guy named Otori Tsubasa, and he's annoying! He kept calling me a little boy! But I gotta admit that he's strong.

Liliana: *giggles* Well, you're in fact, a little boy...

Yu: And there's this guy who I considered the coolest Blader that I've ever seen in my entire life! Though as much as I wanted to tell you who he was, Daidoji convinced me not to tell everyone and kept it a secret, which sucks, to be honest...

Liliana: He must be referring to Ryuga...

You: Now, enough with the chit-chat, and let's focus on our battle, shall we? Go Libra!!

Yu commands as Libra attacks Gil head-on. Liliana blinks, but then a mischievous grin creeps on her face as she didn't plan to lose against him.

Liliana: Alright then... Don't lose Gil, push him forward!!

In the forest field, the battle between Armando's Herculeo and Tsubasa's Aquila has begun. Armando commands Herculeo to attack Aquila, but the effort is in vain. Aquila dodges each attack by disappearing just before they clash and reappearing right behind Herculeo, leaving Armando confused.

Tsubasa: That kind of attack won't work against us, now it's our turn. Let's go, Aquila!!

Tsubasa commanded while standing on one of the wooden poles. Aquila launched an attack on Herculeo with remarkable precision and power, but it proved ineffective. The wind vortex surrounding Herculeo acted as a shield, successfully halting Aquila's strike, much to Tsubasa's dismay.

Armando: *smirk* Sorry pal, If you had something in your pocket, so do us. It appears that you're truly interesting, pal...

Tsubasa: I thought so, the shield might protect you from the attack head-on. But remember, me and my Aquila soar into the sky!

Tsubasa declared as Aquila suddenly moved toward the edge of the stadium and jumped away, it bounced off a tree and was now high above the stadium. Armando gritted his teeth, knowing that attack from the above was his biggest weakness.

Tsubasa: Spread your wings and fly high, Aquila! METAL WING SMASH!!

In his command, Aquila dove from above as its avatar of the eagle with a purple hue appeared. As it strikes Herculeo several times, Herculeo bounces around and starts to lose their balance, but thanks to the wind vortex the Bey still manages to hold its ground.

Armando, however, watches their Bey clash with uncertainty. As mentioned before, the upper attack is his biggest weakness, so it’s uncertain how long Herculeo will maintain its position as he begins to think more critically.

Tsubasa: *smirk* How's my Aquila, Armando...? Just like an eagle, me and Aquila soar boldly through the sky, even amidst a storm. It feels the unseen winds and, using its wings, it ascends!

Armando: *sneered* Heh, amidst a storm, huh? How about we put it on the test? Herculeo!!

Armando commanded as if an idea had struck his mind. His Herculeo began to circle the stadium, and slowly it started to spin faster, increasing in velocity until it created a wind that gradually developed into a hurricane.

Tsubasa initially disregarded the hurricane, thinking it was normal, until Aquila's movement suddenly halted, remaining suspended in the air before being tossed around erratically. Tsubasa then widened his eyes in shock at the sight of Aquila being tossed around without direction.

Tsubasa: Aquila! What's going on?!

Armando: *smirk* What's wrong? I thought eagles boldly fly through the storm, so why the panic?

Armando taunts as Tsubasa remains baffled. At the same time, he feels the wind blowing directionless, as if it were coming from any direction. He then looks at Herculeo, who is still moving in a circle with incredible speed while using the wind to create a hurricane, at the same time, the wind vortex still appears around the Bey.

Tsubasa's finally realized what was going on.

Tsubasa: I see, the hurricane he created is not your ordinary strong hurricane. The wind vortex surrounding it causes irregular airflow, resulting in a strong chaotic hurricane with disorganized wind flow. *smile* Clever I see...

Armando: Now's my turn for the attack, Herculeo! TWISTING ARROW SHOT!!

Tsubasa: *widens eyes* Huh...?!

Armando activated his special move, causing Herculeo's avatar to appear and shoot an arrow into the sky toward Aquila. In a state of distress, Tsubasa commanded Aquila to fly even higher, hoping to dodge the arrow. Aquila complied, and both Beys ultimately fell into the stadium as the hurricane disappeared.

Armando: *grin* Heh, not bad...

Tsubasa: *clap hands* You too, Armando. I knew the moment I saw you that you were stronger than I expected. Not everyone can counter my special move, yet thanks to your Blader Spirit, you managed to overcome it.

Armando: *confused* What...?

Tsubasa: Beyblade's power and potential are limitless, so you just can't rely on your Bey too much. Considering you've been winning every qualification for more than a month, you should know that...

Armando: I do know that, but what's your point exactly...?

Tsubasa: I just want to battle a stronger Blader, and by far you're one of the most intriguing Bladers that I've ever seen, so I can't help wanting to test you out on how far your Blader Spirit could go.

Armando: Test me out, huh...?

Armando narrowed his eyes toward the mysterious boy, seemingly disliking the true intention of the boy. He just disrupted the competition, challenging him to battle out of nowhere and then claiming that he just wanted to test him out. He had a feeling that there was more intention behind it, and it felt like he want Armando to play his games and reveal his true power for satisfaction, which he can't help but feel insulted by it.

He closed his eyes, trying to cope with the feeling of being insulted before looking at him with a hint of dislike.

Armando: Look, if you wanted to test someone out...

Armando then catches his Herculeo in his hands, entirely forfeiting the match. Much to everyone's shock, especially Tsubasa.

Armando: Go find another chicken, 'cause I'm not playing your stupid games at all...

He nonchalantly said before starting to walk away from the stadium, leaving everyone baffled at his sudden change of demeanor. The official warned him that he wouldn't get any points if he walked away, but he only mentioned that he didn't need it at all.

Tsubasa attempted to taunt him by claiming he was running away from the challenge. His reaction was to ignore him entirely, as if he were nonexistent, leaving him to stare at the young Brazilian with a frown.

The battle between Liliana and Yu is intensifying. Libra has already summoned its "Sonic Buster," transforming the stadium floor into the sand, where normal Beyblades struggle to spin properly. Gil is seen struggling with the sandy surface.

Gil: Hang in there, Gil!

Yu: *laugh* Looks like no matter how good you are, you will never escape the magnificent power of Libra! After all, Libra has an Eternal Sharp defense that made it move everywhere!

Yu: It's been fun Lily, you're on par with Gingky and Yoyo. But still, I defeat both of them at the same time, so defeating you is more than just kicking the small rock!

Yu: Libra! INFERNO BLAST!!

Yu then finally activates his special move, which produces a huge blast of sonic vibrations in the middle of it. Slowly, Gil was dragged onto it, and Liliana only saw in awe at the special move in front of it.

Liliana: So this is Libra's special move... I finally saw it right before my eyes...

Yu: *laugh* Incredible, right?! No one ever escaped my special move before! And from it is, Gil seemingly attracted to it~! And if it goes inside the vibration, you will lose by slide out!

Yu exclaims as Liliana commands Gil to move away. Gil slowly manages to escape the blast, surprising Yu with a smile. However, a smug expression now forms on his face.

Yu: You can run, but you never exactly escape the fate...

Suddenly, the blast's frequency expands, engulfing the entire stadium with nowhere to escape. Normal Bey quickly slides out after being surrounded by the explosion, but no one expects what happened next other than Liliana herself, who watches the whole thing nonchalantly.

As the blast gradually dissipates, Libra is still seen spinning in the center of the stadium, but for some reason, Gil is nowhere to be found. Everyone wondered what was happening, including Yu, who blinked several times, wondering where Gil was.

Yu: Eh...? Where's Gil at?

But suddenly, a smile formed on his face, and he put both of his hands behind his head.

Yu: Haha...! I guess Gil was too afraid of my blast that it decided to hide itself from my Libra. Man, what an easy victory it was...

Yu closed his eyes, believing he had won until a clap was heard, and he saw Liliana clapping her hands with an approving face.

Liliana: Well done little guy~. I gotta admit that you almost have me in the first half, not gonna lie. But you're way too underestimating your opponent, little buddy. You're already thinking that you won a battle without fully understanding what was happening.

Liliana: And it happens right now, you already thought you won just because Gil was nowhere to be seen. But what if I tell you that Gil is still spinning...?

Liliana declared with a challenging tone, as the boy only stared at the girl with a confused look before it began to look around the stadium to find her Gil. But he didn't see Gil everywhere as he put an annoyed look on his face, thinking the girl was trying to make a fool out of him.

Yu: *pouts* Are you trying to fool around? I might have a small body, but that doesn't mean I can't be fooled by people like you...!

Liliana: Ohoh... You think I'm fooling you eh?

Suddenly, an earthquake occurs, surprising everyone at the site. Before they knew it, Gil appeared just below Libra and pushed Libra to the sky, shocking everyone once again, including Yu, who watched Libra being attacked from below with a horror face.

Yu: What...?!

Then, their Bey bounced away and landed back on the sandy stadium.

Yu: *baffled* What- What was that?! It's impossible! With my Inferno Blast, your Bey should've stopped spinning!!

Liliana: *grin* Guess I have to tell you now that I actually lied about you being the only one who conquered these types of fields...

Yu: Huh...?

Liliana: You see, if sand is your ally, then my Gil is born within the sand!!

Liliana declared as Gil began to dig the sand beneath it, much to Yu's shock as he finally realized that the reason she managed to avoid being slid out by his special move was that Gil had dug underground and avoided the blast with it.

Once again, without warning, Gil appeared beneath Libra, launching an attack from below that sent it soaring into the sky before landing back in the stadium. Yu felt a surge of frustration as he glanced at the girl, his expression displaying annoyance.

Yu: Grrr, don't get cocky just because you got lucky you avoided my special move!

Liliana: *smirk* Oh really? How am I lucky when I planned this the whole time? Aw, don't tell me that the winner of Survival Battle feels frustrated that his so-called magnificent Libra attack was being encountered like nothing~.

Yu began even more frustrated by the taunt, he gritted his teeth as he finally let his anger get the best of him.

Yu: That's it!! Just so you know I can summon my special move all the time! Libra, INFERNO BLAST!!

Yu tries to summon his special move again, but to his dismay, Liliana's Gil keeps on digging underground and attacks just underneath his Libra, entirely canceling his move.

Liliana: *sneered* And my Gil will just simply dig underground and attack you from below as well! Gil could do this all day without draining its stamina!

In frustration, Yu repeatedly summoned his special move over and over again, while Gil simply canceled his special with the same move again.

It repeated several times until suddenly, Yu tried to summon it one more time, but to his surprise, Libra seemingly struggled to even form the blast, and the way its spin started to be weirder.

Yu: Huh...! What's going on Libra?!

Liliana: Libra started to drain its stamina. That's what happened...

Liliana informed as Yu's face became pale a little. He kept forcing Libra to summon its special move and resist Gil's attack from below many times without realizing that persistently doing so would disrupt the balance of Libra's spins, affecting its stamina, which was every stamina-type owner's biggest nightmare.

Yu: No... Libra!

Liliana: Awh~, the thought of an easy battle turns into a nightmare within an unpredictable move, huh? Winning a Survival Battle gives you the illusion that you're invisible. But sorry kid, you're not...

Liliana nonchalantly said before he raised her arms as Gil stopped its attack on Libra, flew back, and returned to Liliana's hand, entirely forfeiting the match. Yu was shocked once again by this.

Yu: Huh...?!

Liliana: You see kid, you might be strong, but you live in a bubble where no one can stop you just because you win a Survival Battle. Don't stop training just because you feel like you are already strong enough, because Beyblade power has no limitation...

Liliana: Remember kid, above the sky, there's still a sky. In life, there's always gonna be someone who could do things better than you. So if you wanted to be a lot better, you gotta soar even higher...

Liliana: Anyway, goodbye for now...

Liliana began to walk away from the stadium and the field, a sly smile forming on her lips as she celebrated her success in concealing her true power while nearly defeating Yu's Libra in the process. However, she realized that this was a warning that they were under the radar of the Dark Nebula now. She decided it was best to inform Armando about it later.

Meanwhile, everyone is at a loss for words about what is happening. Yu was also speechless as he blinked for a moment and tried to process what had just been said. However, he quickly dismissed her words, shaking his head and giving the Brazilian girl an annoyed look once again, thinking that she was looking down on him.

Yu: Don't get cocky just because you can counter my special move! You might be right that I haven't put myself too much in training. But remember this! After this, I will train harder than before, and the first thing I will do is defeat you, Lily!

Yu: YOU HEAR ME? REMEMBER THAT!!

Notes:

The next chapter will be an original chapter that was based on one of the episodes of the Metal Master/Baku season.