Babylonian Tournament

The ancient tower was filled with a crowd at the first light of morning. Everyone was excited for a Babylonian Tournament— a multi-level arena with elimination battles on each floor and, at the top, a supposedly "legendary" Beyblade prize. The tower's stone walls howled in the wind, while narrow bridges and crumbling platforms created a dangerous atmosphere. Amidst the crowd, Ryuga appeared, his long coat billowing in the wind as he held L-Drago in his hand. His eyes scanned the crowd, and a sharp, mocking smile formed on his lips.

"I’d be surprised if I find anything worthwhile among this weak herd," he said, his voice rough and menacing.

"L-Drago looks like it’s going to starve." Then, slipping through the crowd, he vanished from sight.

Kenta, disguised with a hat and vest, stood at the entrance of the tower. As the murmurs of the crowd filled his ears, he thought to himself: Gingka helped all of us… I have to do something, too! He gripped Sagittario tightly, determination flashing in his eyes. Deciding to enter the competition to follow Ryuga and prove himself, he steadied his breath.

"I can’t give up here!" he murmured, his voice shaky but hopeful.

Tsubasa stood silently at the other end of the hill. His dark green hair swayed slightly as he held Eagle in his hand. He calmly observed the crowd and the competitors, but his eyes were drawn to Kenta and the presence of Ryuga just moments ago. He thought to himself: Ryuga is here… and so is Kenta. This can’t be a coincidence. His brows furrowed as he moved with a calm yet analytical expression, stepping forward to join the competition.

The tournament began. The first level was a narrow stone platform, its edges opening into a sheer drop, with winds shaking the competitors. Kenta was paired against a rookie Blader using a basic Beyblade. His opponent, a tall, overconfident boy, shouted, "I’ll finish you in a minute!" His voice was full of arrogance.

Kenta took a deep breath and placed Sagittario into his launcher. He thought to himself: Ryuga’s training was brutal… But I have to use it to help Gingka!

"Three, two, one, let it rip!" the announcer called out.

Sagittario landed on the platform, its golden body spinning rapidly. The opponent’s Beyblade attacked aggressively, its sharp edges aimed at Sagittario. But Kenta remembered the fury he had learned from Ryuga—he clenched his fists, gritted his teeth.

"Speed up, Sagittario!" he commanded. His Beyblade wavered for a moment, then accelerated, fueled by its anger.

The opponent’s Beyblade struck Sagittario’s body, but Kenta’s Beyblade didn’t falter. Instead, it swiftly retaliated, slamming into the side of the opponent’s Beyblade. Sparks flew into the air, leaving a thin scratch on the platform. The opponent was shocked. 

"What?!" he exclaimed. 

Kenta thought to himself: Everyone did something for Gingka… I will, too!

Sagittario picked up speed. It caught the opponent’s Beyblade from the side and hurled it toward the platform’s edge. The Beyblade stopped spinning, and the opponent fell to his knees. Kenta stood, breathing heavily, sweat dripping from his forehead, but a victorious glimmer shone in his eyes.

Tsubasa watched from the other end of the platform. He thought to himself: Kenta’s resolve… Even under Ryuga’s influence, he’s finding his own path. Narrowing his eyes, he turned to advance to the next level.

Kenta and Tsubasa continued climbing the tower, defeating their opponents on each floor. On the second level, Kenta, exhausted but persistent, barely managed to win against another challenger—his breath was ragged, and new scratches had appeared on Sagittario’s body. Tsubasa, on the other hand, claimed victories with a calm and strategic approach, guiding Eagle with flawless control in every match.

There was still no sign of Ryuga—only the fearful whispers of his defeated opponents echoed through the tower’s corridors:

"That Blader with the dragon… he took us out in a single move!"

Scarred Beyblades and trembling competitors were the silent proof of Ryuga’s path of destruction.

The final level was a vast yet treacherous arena at the top of the tower—crumbling stones, a narrowing platform, and chains swaying dangerously at the cliff’s edge. Kenta and Tsubasa were matched against each other. Adjusting his cap, Kenta placed Sagittario into his launcher. Tsubasa approached him and asked in a calm voice,

"Kenta, what are you doing with Ryuga?" His eyes were curious but cautious.

Kenta held his breath before answering firmly,

"I want to help Gingka!" There was both determination and hope in his voice.

"I'm trying to understand Ryuga… With his strength, I can do something!"

Tsubasa frowned slightly, but his tone remained composed. "Ryuga walks a dark path. Be careful." He placed Eagle into his launcher.

"Three, two, one, let it rip!"

Sagittario and Eagle hit the arena. Eagle moved swiftly and precisely toward Sagittario, its wings slicing through the air, creating a gust of wind.

"Hold on, Sagittario!" Kenta commanded, his voice strained with effort.

His Beyblade sped up, fueled by the lingering fury of Ryuga’s training. Eagle’s first strike sent Sagittario skidding sideways, but Kenta refused to back down.

Gingka believed in me… I can’t stop here! he thought to himself.

Sagittario retaliated, landing a hit on Eagle, sending sparks scattering across the stone floor.

Tsubasa remained composed.

"Eagle, speed up," he instructed with authority.

Eagle maneuvered skillfully, soaring over Sagittario before striking from behind. Kenta’s Beyblade wobbled, inching dangerously close to the platform’s edge. Gritting his teeth, Kenta shouted,

"No! I won’t give up!"

Sagittario steadied itself, but Eagle’s final attack—a sharp, spinning strike—sent Sagittario flying out of the arena. The Beyblade came to a stop, and Kenta collapsed to his knees, his breath ragged.

Tsubasa picked up Eagle and looked at Kenta. "You’re improving, but stay cautious," he said, his voice calm but warning.

Kenta thought to himself: I need to train harder… For Gingka…

The atmosphere of the final floor shifted. Ryuga emerged from the shadows, holding L-Drago in his hand. His eyes locked onto Tsubasa, and a wild grin spread across his lips.

"So, you’re here too, Tsubasa! You seem to have broken free from the dark power?" he shouted fiercely, his voice echoing through the arena.

Tsubasa looked at Ryuga’s new form and his Beyblade, appearing both surprised and concerned.

"Ryuga, judging by your appearance, you’ve become even more bound to the darkness. That means it’ll be easier for me to defeat you!" he declared confidently.

"You better not stand in L-Drago’s way, or I’ll crush you to dust on these stones!"

Tsubasa calmly placed Eagle into his launcher, but there was a hint of tension in his eyes.

"Your power keeps getting more uncontrollable, Ryuga," he said, his voice serious. "This anger will consume you."

Ryuga let out an enraged laugh.

"Anger? This is my strength, you fool! I’ll tear you and your pathetic Beyblade apart!"

"Three, two, one, let it rip!"

L-Drago hit the arena, sending out a black-and-purple whirlwind that made the platform tremble. In attack mode, it charged toward Eagle, its sharp edges slicing through the air.

"Eagle, strike back with more power!" Tsubasa commanded, his voice calm but quick.

Eagle sped up, narrowly dodging L-Drago’s attack, but L-Drago wasn’t done. It swiftly turned and slammed into Eagle’s body, sending sparks flying and carving marks into the stone floor. Tsubasa frowned, thinking to himself: This power… Ryuga is even more ferocious than before.

"Eagle, go hard now!" Tsubasa ordered.

Eagle landed a side hit on L-Drago, but it didn’t even budge. Ryuga sneered mockingly.

"Is this your toy, Tsubasa? You’ll be crushed like a weak insect!"

L-Drago switched to absorption mode, a vortex of energy swirling around it. The battlefield was set ablaze. L-Drago’s speed increased. Tsubasa gritted his teeth.

"Eagle, hold your ground!" he ordered, but L-Drago’s pressure was overwhelming.

The arena was shrinking, a stone slab collapsed, and Tsubasa struggled to maintain his balance. Eagle increased its speed, soaring over L-Drago and landing another hit—a thin scratch appeared on its body. But Ryuga, filled with rage, roared:

"This arena will be your grave!"

L-Drago’s energy exploded, flames engulfing the entire area, but Eagle continued to strike back. It rose high, preparing for a special attack. Tsubasa’s eyes lit up with determination.

"Now, fly high, Eagleee!"

Eagle soared above the flames. Tsubasa was ready to unleash his final move.

"Special move! Eagleee’s Shining Tornado Buster!!! No matter what, you will be stopped, Ryuga! This is a move I perfected in the depths of hell!"

Ryuga, furious that the battle had dragged on, decided to end it. He roared with rage.

"You fool! The ‘hell’ you speak of is nothing compared to the darkness I fell into! Now witness this— Ultimate Moveeee: Dragon Emperor Nightmare Blast!!!"

A black-and-purple hurricane engulfed the arena. Eagle was struck at full force, and L-Drago sent it soaring toward the mountains behind the tower. The arena cracked apart, and a dust cloud rose into the sky.

Tsubasa staggered back, his breathing heavy. Ryuga shot him a savage glare.

"Weak…" he muttered, his voice laced with both victory and fury.

For the award ceremony, a man dressed as a prince stepped out from a room next to the battlefield—his extravagant red coat and gold-embroidered hat were regal, but his face was pale with fear. As the crowd watched in silence, he nervously extended the prize to Ryuga, his hands trembling.

"T-the… legendary Beyblade, sir!" he stammered.

But what he handed over was nothing more than a cheap, ordinary Beyblade made of dull metal.

Ryuga’s eyes flared with rage. The announcer’s hand shook, and the Beyblade slipped from his grasp, clanking onto the ground with a metallic echo. Ryuga’s face darkened, his teeth clenched.

"I won’t waste my time with this pathetic nonsense!" he roared, his voice shaking the tower’s stone walls.

With a single stomp, he shattered the Beyblade into pieces. Metal shards scattered across the floor. The crowd recoiled in fear, and the announcer screamed as he fled.

Kenta stood at the edge of the platform, watching everything unfold. His breathing was still uneven, Sagittario clenched tightly in his grip.

I won’t give up… I have to train harder for Gingka! he thought to himself.

Tsubasa watched Ryuga closely.

This fury… It’s uncontrollable. Ryuga could become a disaster.

Ryuga stormed off the battlefield, his shadow vanishing into the stone corridors of the tower.