Riko's P.O.V:

I watched as Angel disappeared from the arena. I was sad for one thing, about not being able to battle with her, but at the same time, I was ecstatic about battling AGAINST her! I looked at Masamune (self-proclaimed number one blader), Tsubasa (who of course was too cool to jump around, squealing like I had), and Yuu (who in fact WAS jumping around, squealing like I had).

Gingka was finally let out. It seems he had been battling against a difficult, extreme opponent in the office upstairs . . . The Mighty Chair. Go figure.

"And now," Blader DJ announced, "the match between Tsubasa and Yuu will start! Get ready!" Tsubasa and Yuu took their places. "Three . . . Two . . . One . . ."

"LET IT RIP!" they yelled, launching their beys.

I zoned out for a while, staring into space until I heard something. Of course, I'd been listening to the monotonous clashes and all, but I jolted up when I heard . . . a scream. Not a high one, but filled with desire and terror.

Odd combination of emotions.

Then I saw the source.

A dark aura was circling Tsubasa, and his eyes had turned a nasty crimson red. A twisted smile was set on his face as he yelled, "I MUST WIN!"

"Oh, crap," I muttered. Not good. I suspected that it was from battling Ryuga in Battle Bladers; Ryuga's evil must have seeped into him. Or something like that.

Okay, in general, suddenly turning evil and screaming your head off is bad news. But you know how it gets worse? If the opponent is an innocent eight-year-old boy.

Yuu looked on, half-confused, half-terrified as Tsubasa commanded his bey to strike Libra harder and harder. Then Yuu started gazing into space with this terrorized look on his face. I wanted to punch Tsubasa and knock some sense into him.

Soon enough, the battle was decided with Eagle sending Libra flying straight into Yuu's hands. Libra wasn't damaged that seriously or anything, but Yuu stared at his frenemy (friend/enemy) in horror. Then the purple aura lifted and Tsubasa gazed at his hands, whispering, "What have I done...?"

I decided to let it go this once. Getting to my feet, I walked over to where the rest of the team was asking Tsubasa if he was all right and fussing over Yuu. Then I spoke up: "I'll be the sub."

Everyone looked at me as if I was crazy.

"I'm serious. That way, no one will know my real power. It'll be fine." I waited for a response. The response turned out to be Yuu's face lighting up in a huge smile.

"YA-A-Y! I'm not the sub! Awesome!" He went on jumping around in joy as the rest of us parted to pack.

It turned out we were going to China. We were battling the Chinese team, Team Wang Hu Zhong. Masamune and Gingka were excited about Chinese food, while I sighed. Can't we be going to some place less historic?

As I packed my things, I thought again about Angel. I had no clue what team she'd be joining, but I hope we'd meet in one of the tournaments. In two days, we'd set off to China.

In the meantime, I guess I'd be practicing.

Angel's P.O.V:

I gazed at Beylin Temple. Four thousand years old, huh?

It sure looks like it.

Bladers were doing some extensive practice. Then I saw someone who stood out . . . This guy standing in the middle of a bunch of fangirls, signing autographs.

What was he doing here, in an ancient temple, basking in the glow of squealing girls? Interesting . . .

Anyway, I had more important things to do. I knew he was a part of Team Wang Hu Zhong, but I wanted to battle the leader, not him. Still, who else would know where the Chinese team was if he didn't? So I walked over to the crowd.

He saw me. "Hey," he said smoothly. "So, I take it you want an autograph?"

"Um, no," I replied. I could feel the glares of fifty girls burning a hole through my back. "I want to know . . . where's the rest of Team Wang Hu Zhong?"

He laughed. "Training. In there. As usual."

"Well, thanks." I turned to leave, but he grabbed my hand.

"Want me to show you?" he asked. Now the glares had started corroding my skin and bones.

"Um, you seem busy enough . . ." I trailed off, staring pointedly at the huge number of fangirls holding on to him.

"Don't worry about it." He shrugged lightly and slightly shoved the arms of the girls off him. "C'mon."

My back was gone.

All I was thinking was, WHAT A FLIRT!

A lot of girls seemed obsessed with his hair and eyes and everything else. I wasn't impressed as much. Maybe it was the fact that he was too easy to lose. But either way, better walking into Beylin Temple with a guide rather than wandering around aimlessly. So I followed him.

Soon enough, I was in Wang Hu Zhong's training room.

Everyone stopped their training and stared at me. Not every day some random girl comes from out of the country to speak to the team.

Finally the leader shouted, "Chao Xin, haven't I told you not to bring your fangirls into the training room!"

Ugh. He thought I was a fangirl. Well, time for me to speak up.

"I came here to battle you guys," I said boldly. Because though the team was already selected, the rules clearly stated that if a person were to defeat any one of the team members, they were allowed a spot on the team. If the tournament hasn't already started, of course.

But the leader sighed, exasperated. "Chao Xin, when I say guard Beylin Temple and stop outsiders from entering, I didn't mean invite outsiders inside the training room so we can have a nice chat and they can find out all our tactics!"

Chao Xin glanced at me, surprised. He must have been convinced that any girl who came over to him wanted his autograph. I sighed; the team leader misunderstood me again.

I took a deep breath. I was losing patience. When he tried to usher me out, I lost my head. "I DON'T WANT TO KNOW YOUR TACTICS!" I shouted, gaining the attention of not only the entire Team Wang Hu Zhong but also all the other Beylin Temple bladers. Whoops.

Then someone squeaked out, "Then why are you here?" Great. Now I intimidated them.

"Have you read the rulebook?" I asked in a more composed tone.

The leader looked confused for a second. Then understanding colored his featured. "Ah."

"So now that you're enlightened, how about a battle?" I questioned, fake sweetness practically dripping from my words.

"Right." Then in a flash, the whole team drew their beys out.

"Hold it!" I demanded. "The rules say I only have to defeat one of you!"

"Yes," the leader replied cryptically.

"So I'm only battling ONE of you," I explained.

"The rules didn't say that," Chao Xin said bluntly.

"Exactly," the girl on the team said. "So, we'll have a group battle. And if you can manage to defeat even one of us, you get the plot!"

"Um, don't you mean, 'she gets the spot' Mei-Mei?" Chao Xin corrected, causing her to go red.

"But isn't that four against one?" I pouted.

"You only have to defeat one of us," the leader said again.

Something didn't seem right, but I shrugged it off; I could handle it. "Fine."

"Three…" I whipped out my launcher.

"Two…" I slammed my bey into it.

"One…" I took a deep breath and prepared to launch.

"LET IT RIP!"