LightKingdom: I'm glad you liked it!

Mawazo: Yup, it wasn't really that bad. I'm glad it felt like they're a family because that the vibe I've been going for from the beginning. I'm glad liked the battle.

The Raging Winds: Chapter 21: Conquer

Tsubasa leaned against the wall, his eyes closed as he thought. Not just about the upcoming battle, but also a out Kanade's report.

"This is really serious," she had said. "The Dark Power works by tormenting the host mentally. Once it gains enough control, it creates a connection between itself and the host, one that keeps feeding off the host. Even if it has been defeated, the connection still remains, so there's a chance that it could infect you again. Only you can sever the connection, Tsubasa."

Honestly, he wasn't sure if that thought scared him or not.

He glanced at the sleeping Gingka, some worry creeping through him. It would be fine, he tried to convince himself. It was just exhaustion, nothing more. Not that it really helped.

Meanwhile, on the TV, Blader DJ was announcing the next match up: Tsubasa vs Demure.

"What's Demure like?" Yu asked. Tsubasa turned his gaze to him, remembering just now that he did, in fact, have no information on his opponent.

"He hasn't been in any battles since the qualifiers, so we're in the dark," Masamune replied.

Great. Just what he needed. An opponent of unknown abilities on top of all of this.

"Do you think you can handle this, Tsubasa?"

Yu's question snapped him out of his pity party and he tried to look more confident than he actually was. "Yeah, I'll be fine. We're too far to lose now."

He didn't know if he could pull it off. But he had to.

He was the team leader, after all.

"What the...?"

A team battle? It was... unexpected, to say the least.

"Well? Do you accept?" Benkei asked.

Tsubasa turned to the DJ, ignoring the question. "We'll need to discuss this."

The man nodded. "Well, folks, Team Wild Fang has requested a team battle! Gan Gan will be given ten minutes to decide!"

"So, what should we do?" Masamune asked as Tsubasa walked over to the benches.

Tsubasa closed his eyes as he responded, "They obviously have something planned. But without knowing Demure's abilities, we can't tell what."

"But then, wouldn't it be smarter to fight Ben-ben who we know all about, instead of fighting an unknown opponent?"

Madoka sighed. "Who knows? We can't make a decision like this." She turned to him. "It's your call, Tsubasa."

That was exactly what he was afraid of. If they could use their knowledge about Benkei to their advantage, it could theoretically work. However, if Demure and Benkei used their agreement to their advantage, there would be problems. Of course, it was also possible that he was over-analyzing the situation.

Well, if they couldn't reach a solution, they would just have to wing it.

"We'll accept," he said. "Masamune, get ready." The said blader grinned. "And remember, this is a team battle. We'll have to work together."

"Sure thing. You can count on me."

"Let it rip!"

The plan was simple. They would wait and see what they had first, though he already knew that Masamune wouldn't just stay out of stuff.

He didn't plan to either.

Eagle and Bull collided and, taken aback by the strength, the purple bey was thrown backwards. Meanwhile, Striker and Scorpio clashed head on.

Benkei wasn't holding anything back, that was for sure. He had gotten way more powerful than the last time Tsubasa had faced him. "In that case, I won't hold back either. Time to use the speed I've got."

Eagle charged forward and attacked Bull, immediately moving away from the counter attack before repeating the same thing. Benkei let out a roar of frustration. "Stay still, will ya!"

Meanwhile, Demure stared at the two beys. "Hey!" Masamune called out to him. "There's no point in just staring at them!"

Striker attacked Scorpio with such a force that it was thrown to the edge of the stadium, wobbling. Masamune's jaw dropped slightly. "Hey, what gives?" Tsubasa would have snickered, had he not been so preoccupied with the battle.

However, after the first few attacks, Demure changed his strategy and went straight towards Bull and Eagle. Scorpio attacked Eagle, making the bey bounce in Eagle's direction. What was he trying to do?

It became clear after a while, when Tsubasa noted that Bull could easily attack Eagle from its bounce. Fortunately, he had a teammate to cover up for him.

Striker collided with Bull in midair, sending the red bey to a side as it took the spot behind Eagle.

"That was close," Masamune said.

"Too close," Tsubasa agreed.

However, their opponents' next moves were synchronized as well. Scorpio suddenly attacked Eagle at an angle that made it fly while Bull attacked just as soon as Eagle landed, preventing it from regaining its balance.

As it moved to strike another hit to add to its barrage, Striker appeared in a streak of green lines and intercepted Bull's attack, giving Eagle the time to recover.

"Time to take this up a notch," Tsubasa said.

"You got it."

Eagle moved forward to attack Bull, though the bey dodged. Tsubasa smirked. Just as planned. Next to Bull, Striker appeared again and charged at it. However, Scorpio intercepted the attack before it could even begin. Masamune gritted his teeth.

"One more time!"

But it was useless. Try as they might, neither Striker nor Eagle could get a single attack to hit. It seemed as if there opponents could predict all their movements. So, this was the enemy's plan all along.

If this kept up, they would end up losing.

Lose?

No! They wouldn't, couldn't lose.

A familiar voice rang through his head, taunting. "Looks like you're in a tight spot."

Tsubasa's eyes widened as his mind flew into panic. He had defeated the Dark Power. It couldn't be back.

Kanade's warning ran through his head. "Even if it has been defeated, the connection still remains, so there's a chance that it could infect you again."

Damn it! He was sick and tired of this!

He took a deep breath, trying to calm down himself. After all, the Dark Power took advantage of the weakness within one's heart.

However, the momentary slip was enough for it to take control and before Tsubasa knew it, he was watching the dark bey destroy everything in sight.

What could he do? He couldn't resist against it, because that would make it stronger. He couldn't just give himself over on the silver platter either.

Just why did it have to be him?

"Once it gains enough control, it creates a connection between itself and the host, one that keeps feeding off the host.""Only you can sever the connection, Tsubasa."

But how? What could he do that would break this so-called connection?

"How pitiful. The answers you seek are right in front of you, and yet you can't figure it out."

What?

For some reason, Ryuga's voice echoed in his mind.

"You're thinking too much. Stop it and just do!"

Thinking too much? But what did that have to do with...?

That was it! The solution was so easy and so obvious! Tsubasa wasn't sure if he should laugh or tear his hair off.

No matter what he did, his thoughts always went over to the outcome of the match. While his desire to win was a good thing, his irrational fear of losing wasn't. And that was the weakness the Dark Power availed.

Well, not anymore.

For once, he decided to take a leaf put of Masamune's book and just do things while leaving the details for later.

"You can't control me! I won't let you!"

Soon, the dark void of his mind vanished into the stadium. It was eerily quiet, leaving Tsubasa to only guess whatever happened in his absence. Still, it didn't matter. He could figure it out later.

"You okay, Tsubasa?"

He gave Masamune a smile. "Better than ever." He turned back to the battle that was still going on. "Time to finish this. Special move! Eagle! Shining Tornado Buster!"

A purple eagle appeared from his bey and soared high in the sky. Then, it spun as it descended and its speed made it morph into a purple tornado.

Masamune grinned. "Special move! Striker! Lightning Sword Flash!"

They weren't the only ones planning to end it, it appeared. "Bull! Red Horn Uppercut!"

"Scorpio! Poison Needle!"

A black scorpion appeared from its bey, shooting sharp needles from its tail that cut through the air itself. The four moves collided, causing an explosion that made everyone shield their eyes.

Soon, the dust settled and everyone uncovered their eyes as the result became apparent.

Striker and Eagle lay motionless near their respective owners, just as Scorpio and Bull.

Another tie.

Still, Tsubasa couldn't help but feel accomplished. After all, he had not only defeated the Dark Power but also made sure it wouldn't return.

At the stands, Kanade smiled softly, closing her eyes. "He finally figured it out." Though she drew the attention of Chris who was right next to her, she paid no mind to it. "Well done, Tsubasa."

Meanwhile, deep inside a volcano, Ryuga closed his eyes as L-Drago returned to him, smirking as he did. "Well, what do you know? Girly- boy actually did it."