The Guardian of the Temple

Night had fallen. Deep within the forest, a fire burned among the dense trees. Ryuga leaned against a rock, watching the flames dance. Nightmare L-Drago was in his hand, its black-purple body gleaming in the firelight. His eyes reflected the flickering flames, lost in thought. His mind raced: Star fragments… Nemesis… What nonsense was Gingka’s dog spouting? I have no idea about any of this. Amidst the crackling of the fire, his mind drifted back to the last battle. He remembered the moment he fully merged with L-Drago—the explosion of power, the rage, the control. His hands clenched involuntarily, a restless feeling stirred within him. This power… it’s mine. But is it truly mine? His gaze drifted past the fire, into the darkness. What was this feeling? A weight, a pressure… but he couldn’t define it. It was something unknown.

As the first light of dawn seeped into the forest, Ryuga was already on his feet. He had moved away from the valley into an open clearing. Around him lay fallen trees and shattered rocks—remnants of his past training. He pulled out his launcher and placed L-Drago. Taking a deep breath, his eyes gleamed with determination. "Begin!" he commanded, his voice sharp and authoritative. L-Drago hit the ground, spinning like a black-purple tornado. Ryuga targeted a rock; the Beyblade crashed into it, turning it to dust, sending a cloud of debris into the air. "Faster!" he ordered, his voice filled with hunger. L-Drago created a whirlwind, bending a tree at its trunk, snapping branches. A cold smirk crossed Ryuga’s lips. "Good," he murmured.

The training intensified. He launched L-Drago again, this time aiming at a row of rocks. The Beyblade struck, shattering them into fragments that scattered everywhere. But on the next launch, something changed. As L-Drago’s spin accelerated, Ryuga’s hands began to tremble. A purple glow flickered in his eyes, his breath grew uneven. A hum resonated in his mind, as if L-Drago was speaking to him: You cannot control me… Ryuga frowned, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. "What?" he muttered, his voice tinged with anger. L-Drago’s energy surged, shaking the surrounding trees, sending a branch crashing to the ground. Ryuga gritted his teeth. "Are you defying me?" he shouted, a mix of fury and challenge in his voice. His fists clenched, forcing his willpower to take hold. "I am your master, L-Drago!" L-Drago’s spin slowed, trembling as it stopped before him. He was breathless, his eyes still glowing, but he had regained control. His expression turned icy. "You are not stronger than me," he declared, his voice carrying a warning.

Just then, a rustling sound came from the bushes. Ryuga’s head snapped toward it, his eyes narrowing with suspicion. "Who’s there?" he muttered, his tone sharp. He launched L-Drago; the Beyblade shot into the bushes like a lightning bolt. A loud crash erupted, dust and leaves flew into the air, uprooted plants scattered. From within the dust cloud, a figure stumbled forward—Kenta. Ryuga’s gaze swept over him, unrecognizing. He approached with a cold expression, hands in his pockets.

"You… Who are you, kid?" he asked, his voice laced with mockery and disdain.

Kenta coughed, pushing himself up, his face covered in dust, but despite the fear in his eyes, there was also defiance. "I’m Kenta! One of Gingka’s friends," he said, his voice shaky but resolute.

"Ryuga, I followed you! We want you to join Gingka’s side! You must help us against this threat to the world!"

Ryuga let out a cold laugh, his gaze piercing through Kenta. "I have no business with the weak, kid," he said, his tone harsh and indifferent. "Get lost."

Kenta took a step forward, his fists clenched, his voice growing stronger.

"No, I won’t leave! I will convince you, Ryuga! Gingka believes you’re under the control of the dark power right now, but I… we believe that we need you!"

Ryuga didn’t even look at him, slipping his launcher into his pocket as he started walking away. Kenta hurried after him.

"Ryuga, stop! Listen to me!" he shouted, but Ryuga’s pace quickened.

A low hum echoed in Ryuga’s mind. L-Drago’s energy was pulling him toward something—an unknown force he couldn’t resist. His steps led him deeper into the forest, onto rocky terrain. The path was treacherous—steep cliffs, crumbling trails, thorny bushes. Ryuga climbed onto a rock, his hands scraping against the stone, thin cuts appearing on his palms, but he didn’t stop. Kenta struggled behind, panting.

"Ryuga, where are you going?" he called out, both curiosity and persistence in his voice.

Ryuga didn’t answer, only pressed forward.

The journey was long. As the sun rose and fell, Ryuga passed along the edge of a cliff, loose stones tumbling beneath his feet, revealing a river below. Kenta stumbled, his knee hitting a rock. "Ah!" he groaned but refused to give up. His thoughts raced: Has he lived like this for years? These harsh paths, this solitude… how does he endure it? He watched Ryuga’s determined steps, noticing the worn fabric of his old jacket. This willpower… it’s unbelievable, he murmured to himself. Yet, he called out again,

"Ryuga! What’s the harm in listening to us? If you help us, we can defeat Nemesis easily together!"

Ryuga tilted his head slightly but only muttered, "Don’t be ridiculous," before continuing forward.

Kenta didn’t stop, gripping onto a tree root as he climbed down a slope. "Ryuga, why are you so stubborn?" he shouted, his voice tired but fierce.

"Gingka always talks about being strong, but you… your strength is something else!"

Ryuga’s shoulders tensed for a moment, but he still didn’t respond. Kenta continued speaking to himself,

"I’ll take you to Gingka, Ryuga. You’ll be convinced, I know it!" A smirk of amusement flickered across Ryuga’s lips, but he remained silent.

Hours passed, the sun dipping westward. Finally, Ryuga and Kenta reached an ancient temple. Moss-covered stones surrounded it, broken statues guarded the entrance, an eerie energy filled the air. Ryuga stopped, feeling L-Drago’s power intensify. His breathing was steady, but curiosity flickered in his eyes. Kenta, breathless, reached his side.

"This… is such an ancient place…" he murmured, his eyes wide with awe. "Ryuga, why did we come here?" he asked, his voice laced with exhaustion but still carrying hope.

Ryuga didn’t answer. He simply took a step toward the temple.

A figure emerged from the shadows of the temple—Dynamis. His long purple hair swayed in the wind, and he had a calm yet authoritative stance. He held Jade Jupiter in his hand, his eyes scanning Ryuga. For a brief moment, a flash of recognition crossed his mind—Four Seasons Blader?—but he concealed it. Speaking in a calm and mysterious voice, he said:

"Those who come here challenge the will of the heavens. Prove your strength, stranger."

Ryuga flashed a cold smile, unfazed by Dynamis’s composure.

"By battling? Just my style," he said, his voice menacing and confident. But then, he paused, locking eyes with Dynamis.

"First, I have a question." His tone carried a rare curiosity. "The Star Fragment… Nemesis… what are they, huh? Do you know anything about them?"

Dynamis tilted his head slightly, a wise expression forming in his eyes. 

"This secret is revealed only to legendary Bladers who possess a Star Fragment," he said, his voice calm but resolute.

"Will your strength be worthy of it? We shall see."

For a brief moment, Ryuga’s mind drifted back to what Gingka had told him during their battle. "The Star Fragments… they changed L-Drago." Gingka’s words echoed in his ears. He furrowed his brows but said nothing. Placing Nightmare L-Drago into his launcher, he grinned.

"Hahah! Once you witness the power of the Dragon Emperor’s ultimate Beyblade, you’ll understand, you fool!" His voice was filled with ambition and challenge.

Dynamis set Jade Jupiter into his launcher. "The will of the heavens does not accept the weak," he declared, his tone both serene and commanding. The two took their positions. Kenta stepped aside, holding his breath.

"Three, two, one, let it rip!" they shouted.

L-Drago and Jupiter hit the temple’s stone floor. L-Drago’s black and purple body spun fiercely, carving into the ground, while Jade Jupiter, with its green and gold hues, stood firm. Ryuga made the first move—L-Drago charged at Jupiter with aggressive speed. Its sharp edges clashed against Jupiter’s body, sending a metallic clang through the air, sparks flying across the stone. Jupiter trembled, but Dynamis remained composed.

"Jupiter, hold your ground," he commanded, his voice carrying a steady power.

Jupiter’s spin shifted, forming a defensive barrier around itself. L-Drago’s second strike slammed into the barrier, rebounding with a scrape against the floor.

Ryuga clenched his teeth, his eyes burning with fury.

"Is this supposed to be your strength?" he muttered, his tone dripping with mockery.

L-Drago accelerated, crashing into Jupiter once more. This time, a thin scratch appeared on Jupiter’s body, but the Beyblade still stood strong. Dynamis narrowed his eyes.

"The will of the heavens does not crumble so easily. Finish this, Jupiter!" His tone was calm but carried a hidden menace.

Jupiter gained speed, striking L-Drago from the side. L-Drago wobbled, scraping against the temple’s stones, leaving a groove behind. Ryuga let out a furious roar.

"A pathetic move, weakling! Did you really think you could stop L-Drago with that? Now finish this, Nightmare L-Drago!"

L-Drago’s attack mode activated, and it lunged at Jupiter like a lightning bolt. A flurry of blows followed—the first strike sent Jupiter skidding, the second dented its body, and the third launched it into the air. The temple stones trembled, a cloud of dust rising. But Dynamis did not falter.

"Jupiter, now! Special Move: Grand Lightning!" Dynamis commanded his final attack.

Jupiter gripped the ground, its ball bearings shifting as it gained momentum and counterattacked. Its green and gold edges struck L-Drago’s side, creating a deep impact as sparks burst through the air. Ryuga stepped back, his breathing heavy—Jupiter’s resilience was pushing him.

From the sidelines, Kenta watched with wide eyes. "This… this is intense!" he murmured.

Ryuga’s eyes blazed with determination, his rage fueling him. He had made up his mind to strike back.

"L-DRAGOOO!!! Unleash your superior left-spin power and show your true might!" he roared.

L-Drago’s rotation shifted, an energy vortex forming around it. When Jupiter’s next strike landed, its power was drained straight into L-Drago. L-Drago was absorbing Jupiter’s strength. Its speed surged. Dynamis furrowed his brows.

"This… is unexpected. So, he possesses both the cursed power and a Star Fragment," he murmured, for the first time showing a trace of surprise.

The battle reached its climax. L-Drago and Jupiter collided head-on, metal grinding against metal, the temple’s stones cracking under the pressure. L-Drago’s sharp edges dug into Jupiter’s body, carving another gash. Jupiter’s rotation slowed, yet it still stood. Ryuga let out a victorious yet furious cry.

"You cannot stand against the Dragon Emperor’s power, do you hear me?! L-Drago! Show him your full strength and make him regret fighting you!"

A black and purple storm erupted around L-Drago, and with all its might, it crashed into Jupiter at full force. The impact shook the temple, stones crumbling, as Jupiter was hurled into the air before slamming into the ground, its surface covered in scratches.

Kenta, watching from the back, felt a mix of awe and fear toward Ryuga’s power. He had seen Gingka, he had seen Kyoya, but Ryuga… was on an entirely different level.

Dynamis stepped back, his breathing slightly heavy, yet he remained standing. He picked up Jupiter, his eyes carrying a weary expression. Ryuga grabbed L-Drago and cast a cold look at Dynamis.

"HAHAHAHA! Now do you understand the power of my L-Drago?" he declared, his voice filled with superiority.

Dynamis lifted his head, a glimmer of admiration and a mysterious recognition in his eyes.

"So, you are the true Blader of the Four Seasons Summer Constellation," he said, his voice calm yet striking.

Ryuga and Kenta were taken aback. Kenta couldn’t hold back his curiosity.

"The Four Seasons Summer Constellation Blader? What does that mean?"

Ryuga scowled, growing irritated.

"What are you trying to say? Just get to the point!"

Dynamis saw the ambition and power in Ryuga’s gaze. And so, he began to explain…