Chapter 37: The Dragon's Punishment!

The stadium roared with excitement as DJ's voice echoed over the loudspeakers, fueling the high energy in the crowd. "Filled with chills, thrills, and tons of skills, the first round is over! The eight bladers moving on to the second round have all been decided. Let's look at the pairings for the second round, shall we? And here they are!"

He pointed toward the massive screen above the arena, which lit up with the images of the remaining bladers and their upcoming matchups.

The crowd watched in eager anticipation as the names and faces appeared: "Benkei vs. Kenta! Tsubasa vs. Haruka! Reji vs. Gingka! And Ryuga, who moments ago mercilessly defeated Hikaru with unstoppable power and strength, will be taking on Kyoya!"

DJ continued with an air of drama, "Let's take a break now, folks! Seems like there was some damage to the stadium in that round, but no worries for the beyblade-bound!"

The crowd cheered wildly, excitement rippling through them as they waited for the quarter-final battles to begin....

Meanwhile, in the waiting room, the bladers sat scattered around, each lost in their thoughts. The tension was palpable, and the recent battle between Hikaru and Ryuga weighed heavily on them all, especially Haruka, who wore a solemn expression.

Kyoya lay on a bench, arms behind his head, eyes closed. Gingka and Haruka were seated nearby, with Kenta, Benkei, and Tsubasa also in the room.

The door opened, and everyone looked up to see Madoka entering with a gentle look on her face.

"Madoka...how's Hikaru?" Haruka was the first to ask, her voice full of concern.

"Is she gonna be alright?" Gingka added, his brows furrowing with worry.

Madoka nodded. "The tournament organizers are looking after her, so she should be fine. All we can do now is wait."

Haruka looked down, her hands clenched tightly. "Right..."

Kenta shook his head, the disbelief clear in his voice. "First Hyoma, and now this happens to Hikaru? I can't believe it."

"Believe it!" Gingka said, punching his fist into his other hand, his tone sharp. "The Dark Nebula bites!"

"And Ryuga..." Kenta continued, "It looks like he's gotten even strongerthan before."

Benkei growled in frustration, his fists clenching as he recalled the battle he'd witnessed. "But how can we fight against an opponent like that?"

"It's not just Ryuga..." Tsubasa's voice cut through, calm but laced with a hint of tension. "There's another... the Poison Serpent, Reji."

The memory of Reiji's fierce aura and deadly attacks crossed everyone's mind, sending a chill through the room.

Benkei groaned, holding his head as if to rid himself of the bad memory. "I can't stand that there's another guy like that in the Dark Nebula organization."

"As if Ryuga wasn't bad enough..." Gingka said, his gaze distant, "now we have Reji too?"

Tsubasa nodded solemnly. "One thing's for sure, none of them are going to be defeated very easily."

Haruka stood silent, her thoughts spinning. The Dark Nebula's brutal methods and power had already hurt two of her closest friends. The guilt gnawed at her; she wished she could've done more to protect them.

Madoka, noticing the somber atmosphere, clapped her hands, her cheerful voice filling the room. "Hey, hey, hey! Why are you guys getting bummed out even before the battle begins?" She looked at Benkei with a playful smile. "Come on, Benkei, cheer up, dude! Say, bu-bu-bull!"

Benkei blinked, clearly confused by Madoka's attempt. "I'm...not sure that'll even work."

Haruka finally broke her silence, her voice steady and assuring. "Don't worry, Madoka. We already knew what we'd be up against when we decided to enter this tournament. That's why we trained so hard."

"Yeah, Haruka's right," Gingka said, his confidence returning. "We knew we'd be facing some total menaces in this tournament."

At that, Kyoya opened his eyes and sat up. "We're not giving up now."

Kenta nodded in agreement. "Hm. The best thing for us is to keep fighting with all we've got...right to the end."

"Right on!" Gingka declared, a spark of determination in his eyes. "We knew this wasn't going to be a cakewalk, and we have to spin with all our might till the very end!"

Haruka watched them, feeling her resolve strengthen. "All our might..." she thought, a sense of determination burning within her.

Benkei, now feeling the infectious energy of his friends, grinned widely. "Oh yeah! Now you're talking! Whether it's Ryuga or anyone else, they better watch out for ol' Benkei!" He hesitated for a second, glancing over at Kyoya, before quickly adding, "...I-I mean the next one to fight him. Good ol' Kyoya will show him who's boss!"

Kyoya smirked. "Tsk, sure. He's as good as fired."

Gingka and the others laughed, lightening the heavy atmosphere, while Tsubasa stayed quiet, his expression unreadable.

Haruka glanced at Kyoya thoughtfully, then took a step closer to him. "Kyoya?"

Kyoya turned to her. "Yeah?"

She looked at him with a hopeful but serious expression. "I'm counting on you to win the next match. We need to even the score with Doji for both Hyoma and Hikaru."

Kyoya met her gaze, nodding with a faint smile, his eyes closed as he acknowledged her words.

As everyone prepared mentally for their upcoming battles, the room's energy shifted. They were determined to face the Dark Nebula, ready to fight with all their might. In silence, Tsubasa remained lost in his own thoughts, still pondering the weight of his own match and the dark power lurking in the tournament....

Inside the dimly lit Dark Nebula base, Doji sat at his desk, his eyes fixed on the screen, replaying the battles in which Dark Nebula bladers had faltered. Captain Capri, Tetsuya,Kumasuki, Reiki, Ryutaro, and Yu were all there, observing with mixed expressions as Doji watched intently. The footage replayed defeat after defeat, and with a calm, chilling voice, Doji finally broke the silence.

"So very unimpressive," he murmured, fingers steepled. "I think it's high time that they each were taught a little lesson."

Suddenly, Yu burst into the room, looking around with a pout. "Huh? No one's here either!" he exclaimed, his voice echoing in the large room.

Doji turned to him, his voice calm but with an edge of impatience. "What is it that you want?" he asked, his gaze sharp.

Yu folded his arms and strolled into the room. "Oh, nothing much. I was looking for someone to battle with, but I can't find anyone around here," he said, letting out a disappointed sigh. "This place is totally deserted." He stopped, folding his arms across his chest, and glanced around with a frustrated expression. "Man, I'd even battle the crab guy!"

Doji, his gaze cold. "Even though you lost in the first round, you seem to be in a pretty good mood."

Yu shrugged slightly. "What's that? Big deal. I don't really care about that at all," he said nonchalantly. "That stuff just kind of happens sometimes. You know what I mean, mister?"

Doji's voice was serious. "I don't see it that way, my friend. The tournament is over for you, so why would you want to battle anymore?"

Yu's eyes lit up. "Huh? Because Beyblade is fun!" he replied with a grin.

Doji's eyes narrowed. "Did you say fun?" he repeated, a hint of distaste in his voice.

Yu swung back and forth, giggling slightly. "Ever since I had my match with Gingka, I've just been pumped to compete, win or lose! Maybe next time I'll battle Haruka-it'll be awesome!"

An intrigued look crossed Doji's face. "Oh?"

"Yes, sir! Right now, I just really, really want to battle!" Yu said eagerly, practically bouncing on his heels.

Doji turned to look out the large window beside him. "Is that so? The truth is you really don't know the first thing about beyblade, do you?"

Yu gave him a defiant look. "I do so! I wanna battle!"

Doji looked back over his shoulder, a sinister smile on his face. "That may be, however, I still think you need us to teach you something worthwhile about beyblade."

Yu tilted his head, a hint of suspicion creeping into his gaze. "What do you mean, us?"

Just then, a menacing voice cut through the air. "The regret, sorrow, and fear of beyblade."

Yu's eyes widened as he turned to see Reji standing behind him, a dark, twisted smile on his face. His presence radiated danger, and the sight of him made Yu visibly tense.

"Who are you? I don't know you," Yu said, trying to mask his nerves as Reji chuckled quietly, his laugh sending chills down Yu's spine....

Later, Yu finds himself face-to-face with the true brutality of the Dark Nebula Organization. He is thrown to the ground by Reji, while Doji looms over him with a sinister air. Down below, he witnesses Ryuga using the dark power of L-Drago to destroy the Kumade Brothers' beys and leave them unconscious, reveling in his dominance.

The scene reveals the harsh reality of Battle Bladers: those who lose are mercilessly punished and sacrificed as "food" to fuel L-Drago's dark power, a fate intended to serve Ryuga's ambitions.

Captain Capri, angered by the disrespect toward defeated bladers, challenges Ryuga in a futile attempt to fight back. Despite his bravado, both he and Tetsuya are easily defeated byL-Drago's overwhelming force, leaving them unconscious along with Ryutaro, Kumasuke and the Gemios twins.

Watching his allies fall, Yu begins to question his loyalty, still clinging to the belief that Ryuga is his friend. However, Doji cruelly reminds him that in Ryuga's eyes, all others are insignificant. Yu grapples with this betrayal, Reji seizes the opportunity to taunt him, revealing that Yu isnow essentially a pawn to be used at their whim.

Reji challenges Yu to a battle, with Doji offering Yu a glimmer of hope: if he can win against Reji, he will be free to leave the organization.

"I don't need you to give me permission! I've always been free, got it? And there's no way i'm gonna lose to this guy anyway!" Yu said defiant.

Doji's voice took on a mocking tone. "I like your spunk. But you shouldn't take Reiji lightly. After all, he's the most perfect blader that the Dark Nebula Organization has created, and he's the only one, other than Ryuga, who uses a Dark Move."

Yu blinked, glancing nervously between Reji and Doji. "What'd ya mean, Dark Move?" he asked, uncertain.

Reji's smile only grew wider as he took out his Poison Serpent beyblade, holding it up menacingly. "3-!" he began.

"2-!" Yu shouted back defiantly, taking his stance.

"1-!" Reji echoed.

"LET IT RIP!" they yelled in unison, launching their beys into the stadium.

Yu's Libra began to glow with a fierce green aura. "LIBRA SONIC BUSTER!" he commanded.

Libra unleashed its supersonic waves, transforming part of the stadium floor into sand. Serpent, however, remained unaffected, gliding smoothly across the sand.

"Huh?!" Yu gasped, watching Serpent advance.

Doji's laugh rang out. "Do you think there are any snakes that can't move across sand? Actually, sand is more like their home turf," he said with a dark smirk.

Serpent struck Libra repeatedly, each hit a calculated move that made Libra wobble. "How does it feel to be caught in the sand trap that you made yourself?"

"LIBRA!" Yu called out, trying to urge his bey on. Libra darted forward, retaliating with an attack on Serpent.

"That's the way! Go now, Libra!" Yu cheered, feeling a surge of hope as Libra struck again and again. But Reji merely smiled, watching and waiting.

"Alright, I'll decide this with the next hit!" Yu declared. Libra charged forward, but just as it neared Serpent, it suddenly began to wobble, unsteady.

"Huh? What happened?" Yu gasped, looking frantically between his bey and Reji, who grinned darkly.

"It looks like the poison has taken effect," Reji said, his voice laced with menace....

Meanwhile, the atmosphere was lively at the burger joint where Gingka, Benkei, Kenta, Madoka,and Haruka had gathered. The table was stacked with trays of food, as Gingka and Benkei were devouring burgers with impressive enthusiasm.

Madoka looked at them, half-amused, half-exasperated. "You guys sure you have enough burgers over there?" she asked.

Benkei looked up, a burger in each hand. "I have to store up energy! I've gotta carbo-load for the next battle; it's important!" he insisted, taking a big bite.

"Atta boy. Load it up, Benkei!" Gingka cheered, equally enthusiastic as he took another big bite.

Benkei grinned and nodded. "Especially since my next opponent is Kenta."

"That's right, isn't it?" Madoka said, glancing over at Kenta.

Kenta smiled, his eyes shining with determination. "Battling with Benkei! I'm really looking forward to it. I won't go easy just because it's you, Benkei, old buddy."

Benkei gave a firm nod. "No, of course not. I'm gonna fight with all I've got too. And no matter who wins, we'll act like true bladers."

Kenta stood up, extending his fist toward Benkei. "Alright. Let's do our best, Benkei."

Benkei stood up, meeting his fist with his own. "Ba-ba-ba-bull! Suddenly, I'm feeling pumped up!" he shouted....

Meanwhile, Haruka stood off to the side, a serious look on her face as she watched her friends. She remained deep in thought, her mind replaying the battles she had witnessed–the fierce battles between Reji and Hyoma. Ryuga and Hikaru.

She felt a heavy sense of responsibility, not wishing for any other of her friends to be harmed by the Dark Nebula, as she made a silent vow to herself. Seeing her friends' enthusiasm, a small smile spread across her face. She, too, was ready for the battles that lay ahead. As she glanced around the table, she realized two of their group were absent....

Tsubasa walked alone under the dim streetlights, his mind clouded, a voice called out from the shadows.

"Where are you going?"

Tsubasa turned to see Kyoya leaning casually against a nearby street lamp, partially hidden by the shadows. Kyoya stepped forward, his eyes sharp and challenging.

Tsubasa raised an eyebrow. "None of your business. I have absolutely no interest in getting to know you guys any more than I have to, understand?" His tone was cold, dismissive.

Unfazed, Kyoya took a slow, deliberate step toward him. "Well, I don't really care where you go or what you do, to tell you the truth," Kyoya began, his voice low but firm.

"But if someone were trying to interfere with my match against Ryuga, well..." he stepped even closer, grabbing the front of Tsubasa's shirt and pulling him just slightly forward, his piercing gaze unwavering, "I hope you'd understand that." The threat in his tone was unmistakable. "I just couldn't allow that to happen."

Tsubasa stared back, unflinching but clearly troubled. "It's still not too late for you," he replied, his voice softening. "Just stand down from your next battle."

Kyoya's grip tightened, his expression darkening. "What did you say?" he demanded, his eyes flashing with intensity.

"You've seen Ryuga's overwhelming power, haven't you?" Tsubasa countered, his voice steady but laced with concern.

"So what about it?" Kyoya retorted, his confidence unwavering. "I know what I'm up against, and I'm ready for it. Understand?" His grip remained firm as he stared Tsubasa down. "So what are you trying to say?"

Tsubasa sighed, his voice serious. "What if you end up like Hikaru, huh?"

Kyoya's eyes flared with defiance. "That won't happen!"

Pushing away Kyoya's hand, Tsubasa's eyes narrowed. "How do you know that?! I just can't stand by and watch anyone else fall prey to Ryuga! I can't!" His frustration spilled out as he glared back at Kyoya.

Kyoya folded his arms over his chest, a smirk playing at the corner of his mouth. "So, you were planning to beat me to it and go battle Ryuga yourself, is that it?" he asked, his tone drippingwith disdain. "Well, forget it! What you have in mind is not just an insult to me but an insult to the whole concept of Beyblade!"

Tsubasa looked at him, confused. "Huh? To Beyblade?"

Kyoya continued, his voice laced with conviction. "No matter how strong an opponent is, I'll face them head-on. I'll hold nothing back. Even if I'm putting all I have on the line, so be it. That's what it means to be a Blader." He smiled defiantly, a fire in his eyes that showed his unbreakable resolve.

Just as the tension reached its peak, a familiar voice cut through the air, soft yet firm. "It's understandable."

Both boys turned to see Haruka standing nearby, her gaze steady and confident. She looked at Tsubasa, her expression empathetic yet resolute.

"I get why you think that way, Tsubasa," she said gently, then turned to Kyoya with a nod of respect. "But Kyoya's right. Beyblade is about standing tall in the face of your opponents. No matter how tough it gets, you have to keep fighting."

She paused, a small, knowing smile tugging at her lips. "Sometimes, it's not about how strong you are, but about having the Will to keep going, even when it feels like you can't."

Tsubasa's expression softened as he absorbed her words, though the uncertainty still lingered in his gaze. He looked down at his beyblade in his hand, his mind churning with doubt. "I know... I just... I can't let Ryuga destroy anyone else."

Haruka continued, her voice warm but firm. "I know, Tsubasa. I've seen Ryuga's power firsthand–twice. But sometimes, you've gotta trust the process. We all have to face Ryuga sooner or later."

Her eyes held a determined gleam as she looked back at Kyoya. "And just like Kyoya said, no matter how strong Ryuga is, I'll stand up and fight him-head on. That's what it means to be a true Blader."

Kyoya nodded briefly, a look of approval flickering in his eyes as he acknowledged her words. He turned back to Tsubasa with his usual confident smirk. "Well, you better start training harder then. If you win your battle, your next opponent is me."

Tsubasa, still processing everything, looked up at Kyoya, a hint of respect in his gaze. "You sure know who you are, huh?"

Kyoya's smirk widened, his confidence unwavering. "I'll be waiting for you at the semi-finals."

Haruka grinned, her own competitive spirit shining through. "Only if you manage to win against me. So be ready, Tsubasa, cause I'm not holding back."

Tsubasa nodded, a faint smile breaking through his conflicted expression. "Sure, I'll be ready. Good luck." He turned, walking away, leaving Haruka and Kyoya standing side by side.

The street grew quiet after Tsubasa’s figure disappeared into the night, leaving only the soft hum of the city in the distance. The glow from the overhead street lamps cast a warm, faint light across the pavement.

Haruka turned to Kyoya, who was already staring off into the distance, arms crossed, his expression unreadable but calm—his trademark confidence written all over him.

"You handled that well," he said without looking at her, his voice low and firm.

Haruka gave a small nod, her eyes thoughtful. "Yeah... but I still get where Tsubasa was coming from." Her voice softened with understanding. "Ryuga’s power—it is overwhelming. And the fear it strikes into those who face it... it doesn't just disappear. We've all seen that dark power and the devastation it brings.” Her voice dropped slightly as memories came rushing in. “Hikaru’s battle, Hyoma’s… and I’ve seen it firsthand myself.”

Kyoya turned his head slightly, his eyes narrowing as he studied her, silent.

Haruka continued, voice distant with thought. “Ryuga, Doji, the whole Dark Nebula... what they've done—its left a mark. Not just physical, but a much deeper one.” she placed a hand gently over her chest.

The wind picked up slightly, ruffling her hair as the two stood in silence, the gravity of her words hanging between them.

Then Kyoya finally spoke, his tone calm but firm. “Then why are you still fighting?”

Haruka glanced up at him, her amber eyes glowing slightly under the lamp’s light, flickering with resolve. “Because I made a promise,” she said, voice steady now. “And until I fulfill that promise, I won’t run in the face of darkness. No matter how strong it is. No matter what it takes me—I’ll keep fighting.”

Kyoya starred at her, something unspoken flickering behind his sharp blue eyes. He could see it—the fire, the sheer weight behind her vow. That wasn’t just determination. That was purpose. And whether he admitted it aloud or not, he admired that.

Then Haruka’s expression shifted slightly, the corners of her lips tugging into a knowing smile. “Besides... I wouldn’t want to miss the chance to face you in the semifinals.”

Kyoya blinked, slightly caught off guard. He turned to her, a brow raised. “Is that right?” There was a hint of amusement behind the seriousness.

Haruka nodded, her smirk growing. “Of course. We never did settle our match. I want to know who would win between us… so yeah, it’s personal now.”

Kyoya held her gaze for a long moment before giving a short, approving nod—a silent agreement, a mutual respect. Neither of them had to say it, but the truth was there. Both wanted that battle. And deep down… maybe more than that.

As the night breeze whispered around them, peaceful silence settled in—until a rogue gust of wind suddenly sent a stray newspaper flying directly into Haruka’s face.

“Wha—?!” Haruka flinched, standing frozen as the paper clung to her face awkwardly.

Kyoya blinked, taken slightly aback at the sight. He stared for a moment as Haruka muttered beneath the paper, her voice flat and deadpan.

“Great…”

She tugged at the edges, trying to take it off with some effort as the paper crinkled loudly. Bits of her hair rustled and stuck to her face, and as she tried to sort herself out, Kyoya took an unconscious step forward.

Without thinking, he reached up and gently brushed the few strands of hair from her face, his fingers brushing against her cheek.

Haruka’s eyes widened slightly, caught off guard by the sudden touch. A warm flush crept up her cheeks, and she paused, blinking.

The moment was brief, subtle, but real.

The second Kyoya realized what he’d done, he quickly pulled his hand back, shifting his gaze–trying to act like nothing happened.

Haruka straightened herself quietly, brushing her hair back into place with one hand. Her fingers lingered for a second longer than necessary, then she spoke up, trying steer the conversation back on track.

“So… you plan to win your next match, right?”

Kyoya, snapping back into his usual bravado, gave a smirk. “Obviously. I’m not letting anyone else get to Ryuga before I do. I’ll make sure to win.” He turned to face her. “But you better be ready. When it’s our turn to battle… I won’t hold anything back.”

Haruka locked eyes with him, her expression unwavering. “I wouldn’t expect you to.”

For a long second, they simply looked at each other—an understanding passing silently between them. The night still surrounded them, cool and quiet, but something had shifted. Beneath the surface of confident smiles and promises of battles to come, there was something more—something warm, mutual, and quietly building....

Meanwhile, at the Dark Nebula facility, Libra wobbled unsteadily, its movements growing weaker. Yu clenched his fists, watching as hisbey was battered, piece by piece.

"Libra's movements are strange. I don't know what's happening... could this really be because of Serpent's poison?" Yu thought, panic creeping into his voice. Across from him, Reji cackled,clearly savoring the sight of Yu's struggling Libra.

With a sinister grin, Reji's voice cut through Yu's thoughts. "What's wrong, Yu? You should already know-Poison Serpent's toxin is coursing through your bey. If you don't make a move soon, you'll end up with a sleep out."

Yu's confidence sparked back to life as he shouted, "Tell me something I don't know, snaky! Libra, Sonic Wave!"

Libra unleashed a powerful sonic wave, sending a concentrated blasttoward Serpent. But nothing happened.

"Wha-?! Libra's shock blast had no effect at all?!" Yu gasped, the disbelief clear on his face.

"It seems you still do not understand," Doji sneered from the sidelines, taking out a comb and casually brushing his hair as if the battle were nothing more than entertainment. "Reji, why don't you go ahead and explain it to him?"

Reji licked his lips, his eyes gleaming with dark amusement. "Gladly. Go, Serpent!"

Suddenly, Serpent struck with a speed and ferocity that seemed otherworldly. To Yu, it was as if a monstrous force was encircling Libra, tightening its hold.

"Dodge it, Libra!" Yu yelled desperately.

Libra attempted to evade, but its movements were sluggish, as though something invisible held it back. Serpent closed in, dealing a powerful hit that sent Libra skidding across the floor.

"What's happening? Why won't Libra move?" Yu's voice trembled as he watched his bey struggle, unable to understand the grip that Serpent had over it.

"I already told you, didn't I?" Reji sneered, "Libra's under Serpent's spell. My bey's poison is coursing through it."

"I don't believe that!" Yu shouted, trying to shake off the sinking feeling in his gut. "You can do it, Libra! Special Move!" Libra started gathering energy, slowly making its way back to the center of the arena. "That's it! Go! Libra Inferno Blast!"

Libra tried to unleash its powerful special move, but halfway through, its sonic vibrations wavered, fizzling out in a weak sputter. It was clear Libra couldn't sustain its power. The bey'senergy sputtered, and it nearly toppled over, still struggling to keep its balance.

"No... it can't be. Libra, One More Time!" Yu's voice grew more frantic as he watched his bey try again, only to fail, the attack dying before it even began. "Why won't it work?"

Reji laughed, pointing to glints of metal littering the arena floor. "Still don't get it, do you? Those little fragments down there, those are bits of Libra's parts that Serpent has chipped away."

Yu's eyes widened in horror. "What... what do you mean, Libra's parts? How could that happen?"

"Even a tiny fragment can mean a fatal wound for a bey," Reji explained with dark satisfaction. "Without those pieces, Libra can't stay balanced, and its power drains away. My poison is working through it, just like I said."

As Reji spoke, Doji leaned forward, voice dripping with cruel pleasure. "Your special move relies on supersonic vibrations to attack, doesn't it, Yu? But with those small wounds, the vibrations are thrown off, weakened before they even reach Serpent."

Reji cackled, adding, "And the best part? I didn't even need to use my full strength to drain Libra completely! That's the taste of sadness, Yu."

"Sadness?" Yu repeated, his voice shaking as he watched Libra struggle.

"Sadness, fear... watching your precious bey destroyed right in front of you," Reji taunted.

Serpent circled closer to Libra, its attacks growing faster and harsher, almost like a snake coiling around its prey. "This is true sorrow."

"Stop it! Stop It Right Now!" Yu's voice cracked, and he felt the hot sting of tears streaming down his cheeks. His hands shook as he was helpless to protect Libra.

Reji's eyes gleamed with sinister delight, and his voice dropped to a menacing whisper. "Next for you... is fear." A dark aura began to swirl around Serpent, filling the arena with an oppressive energy. "Now, I'll give you a good taste of my Dark Move. Serpent Venom Strike!"

From every direction, Yu felt Serpent's power pressing in, each attack a relentless blow that seemed to come from all sides. Libra was assaulted mercilessly, forced to endure as Serpent closed in tighter and tighter.

In the midst of the onslaught, Doji laughed mockingly. "This is the end, Yu! Tell me, what will you do now?"

Yu fell to his knees, tears pouring down his face. His voice was barely a whisper as he choked out, "Stop... Stop it! That's Enough Already!"

He looked up, his vision blurry, and saw a figure in the distance. It was Ryuga. Despite everything, Yu's heart lifted with a desperate hope. He reached out, smiling through his tears. "Ryuga..."

But Ryuga only stared, his expression cold and unreadable. With a dismissive turn, he walked away, leaving Yu alone. The crushing realization hit Yu like a tidal wave Ryuga wasn't going to help him. He was truly on his own.

"Ryuga!" Yu cried, his voice echoing through the arena as tears streamed down his face. His bey, the very symbol of his spirit, was being torn apart in front of him, and there was nothing he could do. The weight of it settled on him, suffocating and hopeless.

"This isn't..." Yu whispered, shaking his head as memories of his battle with Gingka surfaced, the thrill of their match, the joy he had felt. "This isn't the Beyblade Gingka taught me about."...

In his mind, he heard Gingka's voice, echoing with warmth and encouragement. "Let's battle again sometime!"...

"Gingka..." Yu murmured, his grip on his launcher tightening. He straightened, determinationflooding back into his eyes as he wiped away his tears. Reji watched, intrigued, as Yu forced himself to his feet.

"I didn't join Dark Nebula for this kind of battle!" Yu declared, his voice resolute, echoing through the arena. "I've always been free! And Libra's always been free! I won't give up. Not now!"

Libra seemed to respond to Yu's renewed spirit, glowing with a warm light as it steadied itself, wobbling but still defiant. Reji sneered, unimpressed, but Yu's voice rang out with renewed strength.

"Try Just One More Time For Me, Libra!"

Yu's spirit surged, so did Libra's. It was engulfed in a sphere of blinding light, its energy flooding the arena, illuminating every corner of the Dark Nebula building.

**************

Author's note: Hope you enjoyed.Second round, coming up✨I have a plot thought out for how I want to carry this story, so there definitely will be some unique changes and interesting ones aswell.🙂 Stay tuned for it🔥

Let me know your thoughts and review in the comments :>

Thanks.