Training on the Path of Dark Power

When Kenta opened his eyes, the sun was seeping through the trees of the forest. A few hours had passed since the night by the fire with Ryuga. The hard ground had made his back ache, but the last crumbs of the dry bread in his hand were still in his palm. In his dream, he had seen himself convincing Ryuga and defeating Nemesis. He thought to himself: Gingka always said we could help each other... I have to do something too. Just as he was about to get up, Ryuga's cold voice filled his ears.

"Get up, kid," Ryuga said, his voice harsh and commanding. He was already on his feet, holding L-Drago in his hand, his eyes piercing through Kenta.

"Training starts now. Stop lying there like a weak dog. Only the weak are lazy."

Kenta sat up with sleepy eyes, grabbing Sagittario. His breath was still uneven, but a fire ignited inside him: Everyone is helping Gingka... I can't give up either!

"I'm ready!" he murmured, his voice shaky but determined.

Ryuga let out a cold laugh. "Ready? Hahaha, we'll see," he said, mockery in his tone.

"Weaklings are never ready, kid. The power of darkness will break you. Prove your endurance, or you'll die here. If you prove your ambition, you can become one with the darkness." He pushed Kenta toward the forest, his steps swift and merciless.

The forest was dense and wild. Ryuga forced Kenta to run. Thorny bushes scratched Kenta’s arms, tree roots tripped his feet. His breath was ragged, sweat dripping from his forehead. Gingka believed in me... Ryuga is tough, but with this training, I can do something! Ryuga shouted from behind,

"Faster, kid! You're crawling like a weak turtle!" There was disdain in his voice, but Kenta clenched his teeth and kept running.

They reached a riverbank. The water flowed fast, the stones were slippery. Ryuga ordered, "Cross it!" his voice threatening. Kenta stepped into the water, the cold freezing his legs.

He lost his balance, hit a rock, and felt a sharp pain in his knee. But he thought to himself: Everyone is doing something for each other… I will too! He got up, reached the other shore, his breath heavy and wheezing.

Ryuga was sitting on a rock, watching him. "This is your strength?" he muttered, his tone dripping with mockery.

"Even a weak rat is faster than you." Kenta didn’t respond, just held Sagittario tightly in his hand.

Ryuga stopped Kenta at the riverbank. "Now, the real training begins," he said, placing L-Drago in his launcher.

"Withstand L-Drago, kid. The weak cannot bear this power." He launched it without counting down. L-Drago hit the ground, spinning like a black-purple tornado. In Assault Mode, it rushed toward Kenta, its sharp edges cutting through the air.

Kenta yelled, "Sagittario!" and launched his Beyblade. The golden Beyblade started spinning, but when it clashed with L-Drago, it was thrown back. A scratch appeared on Sagittario’s body, and Kenta fell to the ground. Ryuga let out a cold laugh.

"This is your resistance?" he said, his voice mocking. "You think you can challenge me with a weak toy?"

Kenta sat up, panting, thinking: Gingka taught me not to give up... Even if I can’t defeat Ryuga, I have to do something!

"Again!" he shouted, his voice trembling but stubborn. He launched Sagittario once more, aiming at L-Drago.

This time, it held out a little longer, but L-Drago’s second strike sent Sagittario flying to the riverbank. Kenta ran to retrieve his Beyblade, his hands trembling.

Ryuga muttered, "You reek of weakness, kid," his eyes filled with disdain.

They took a short break by the river. Kenta, shivering in his wet clothes, still kept his eyes on Sagittario. Ryuga leaned against a rock, his voice rising, cold and sharp.

"Listen to the essence of dark power, kid. Find your rage, sharpen your will. Strength doesn’t come from a weak heart. Darkness is not just evil. Darkness is the only hope for people like you and me. When we’re desperate, it's what we should truly feel. If you’re stuck on a path, it’s because of you. Find that rage, create unshakable power. At first, it will cause problems for you, make you lose control. You won’t be able to handle it… but don’t resist it. Just as you found your rage, you will control this too!"

Kenta furrowed his brows, thinking: Rage? Gingka taught me hope... But Ryuga’s power means something too... He grabbed Sagittario and whispered, "Let’s go!" before launching it.

Sagittario started spinning, and Kenta closed his eyes, recalling his frustration—Ryuga’s taunts, the fear of failing Gingka. Sagittario spun faster, but when it faced L-Drago, it lost again. L-Drago’s energy crushed Sagittario, and Kenta held his breath.

Ryuga asked, "This is your rage?" his tone sharp and mocking. "Even a breeze is stronger than that."

Kenta crouched and picked up Sagittario, his hands covered in dirt. He thought to himself: Everyone did something for Gingka… I have to do something too… Ryuga’s power… Maybe I can learn from this! A spark of determination flashed in his eyes.

Ryuga led Kenta toward a rocky plateau. The path was difficult—steep rocks, slippery ground, the howling wind. As Kenta climbed, calluses formed on his hands, his breathing grew stronger. Ryuga moved ahead without even looking back at him. Kenta paused for a moment,

Then called out to Ryuga, "Gingka believes in me… If I prove myself, I will take you to them!"

There was stubbornness in his voice, but Ryuga muttered, "I have no business with the beliefs of people like you," his voice cold and indifferent.

When they reached the plateau, Kenta was exhausted but still standing. He thought: Gingka’s team was always together… Even if I don’t understand Ryuga, I can do something with this training! He took Sagittario in his hand and launched it on his own. The Beyblade spun on the rocky ground, vibrating slightly as it gained speed.

Kenta tried to combine the endurance he learned from Gingka with the rage Ryuga taught. Inside, he told himself: Everyone did something for each other… I will too! A tired but hopeful smile formed on his lips.

Ryuga watched from afar, an amused smirk on his lips. "Maybe one day, kid," he said, his voice laced with menace. "But for now, you’re nothing more than a weak shadow."

As the sun set, Kenta and Ryuga set off upon hearing a rumor—a legendary Beyblade was being offered as a prize in a competition at a nearby tower. As Kenta followed Ryuga, he found an old hat and a worn-out vest to disguise himself, putting them on. Ryuga doesn’t take me seriously… But in this competition, I can do something! he thought, his determination growing.

On a hill near the tower, Tsubasa stood. Just as in the anime—calm, observant, his dark green hair swaying in the wind, Eagle in his hand. As he watched the competitors, his eyes drifted to the other side of the hill, where Kenta and Ryuga were hiding. He noticed Kenta under the hat and vest, his brows slightly raising.

He thought to himself: This aura… Ryuga? And that kid… Kenta? What are they doing here?

His eyes narrowed in suspicion as he continued watching them silently. The sky had darkened, and the silhouette of the tower stood against the stars.