Boys, Girls and Non-Binaries! Tala has entered the building! I hope you like :)
Chapter 30.
"NOVAE ROG!"
A silver flash caused an arctic gust to blow Harkans' purple drape backwards, nearly knocking his hulking weight clean off his feet. Harkans' dagger blade hit and refracted off a wall inches thick of jagged glass with a *CHINK* sound.
"WHAT'S THIS!"Harkan exclaimed with a royally maddened face. His dagger was clean of blood. His features growled with fury and confusion as he placed the hand free of his murder weapon on the wintery white structure and held it there until it dripped wet. "ICE?! ICE?!"
"GO WOLBORG!"
His blue bangs, wet with sweat and damp with regret, littered with dusty wall debris, swayed as he lifted his cowering head. "Ta...la...?" Tyson Grangers' astonished heart jumped summersaults. The voice from his beyblading past burst his auburn coloured eyes open as wide as they would stretch. "No way...it's...it's...you!"
Moments ago the Granger had resigned himself to death in the promise that Daichi would be unharmed by a man whos' kin who wouldn't think twice about snuffing out a life. His assailants' team mate after all intended and nearly succeeded to kill Kai. He knelt with fists clenched tight above his folded knees, his head bowed and waited like a sacrificial lamb to the slaughter for a violent end to his short but eventful life. A worthy trade off to save his friend. The beychamps' death would have been a sad but noble one. Harkans' lethal strike was a mere second away from deliverance when a Russian saviour stepped in and ceased the Japanese's' murder.
Tysons' disgusted attacker was now obscured behind a dense frosty blue and white shield of ice which glistened like a holy grail of life under the artificial florescent lighting, and natural daylight combined from the smashed windows nearby. Tyson stroked Wolborgs' frosty structure with a throbbing hand; his palm swollen and bruised from earlier smacking the floor in frustration from Dragoons' defeat. He enjoyed its moisture and numbing cold like a giant icepack.
The giant frozen shard was erected so close to Tysons' person that his warm breath mixed with the cold air emanating from it much like an open freezer door in summer. The wisp of ghostly air when cold meets warm. The subzero shield was a welcome cooling treat as the temperature around it tingled Tysons' sticky bare arms and face in the stifling summer heat and battle exhaustion. Next to it...standing a few feet away to his right stood the architect of the instant iceberg...Tala Ivanov of the Blitzkrieg Boys.
Tyson murmured, his lips stammering as he rose his head further. "I...I can't...believe it...I mean...I can't believe you're here."
The Soviet beyblader hadn't changed much from the years before. He was now in his early 30s perhaps, lean and lightly muscled around 6ft in height, a typical height for European men. He sported regally red hair that reminded Tyson of Logan/Wolverine from X-Men that flared out to the sides brushed backwards. Two long thin antennae-like bangs hung in front of his flawless pale Caucasian face. He had the most piercing ice blue eye colour, straight thick red eyebrows and neat earlobes. He wore black military style boots with a wide metallic silver zip on the sides and silver laces looped and tied the fronts. He had abandoned most of his militia style clothing from years before and dressed casually in slim leg dark blue jeans, a tangerine coloured shirt and a chequered orange and white lumberjack-style long-sleeved shirt with the sleeved rolled up to his elbows, and the front unbuttoned. On his hands were fingerless gloves, also tangerine in colour with a single black stripe from the cuff to the half finger.
At the Blitzkrieg Boys' feet was a silver metal beyblade, Wolborg 2, built with steel and other alloys all the way through to its core, and with a hyper drive system The Chief would have wet dreams about tinkering with.
Tyson was so choked with relief that his pursed lips quivered, the skin on his chin wiggled and his eyes bulged out like a cute anime character as he fought not to cry like a baby. "Ta...la...I'm...so glad...to see..."
The cap wearers' crying fit of gratitude was cut short as a frantic Hilary launched herself into the air and landed onto him.
"TYSOOOOOON!" She cried as her arms constricted tight around his neck, the flesh of her knees and bone smacked onto the tile floor. Her pincer hug half crushed his windpipe with her thin but surprisingly strong arms. He could barely breathe but suffered it to smell the coconut fragrance from the shampoo she used that morning in her hair and feel the familiar swaddle of her flat-ish chest against his. His ordeal of the last hour left him too traumatized to react properly and to hug her back but nevertheless he felt comforted by her embrace.
She soon peeled herself away to briefly scan over his person for injury and then interrogated with worried auburn brown eyes deeply into his disturbed cinnamon. "Tyson are you ok?!" She squeakily demanded as her slim fingers vice-gripped around his forearm.
The Granger youths' his bottom lip trembled. Thin snot dropped from his nose as his eyes turned bulbous and watery. He took a moment to enjoy her features, grasped both of her hands in his and snivelled like a child. "*sniff*Hillllllllaryyyyyyyyyy.I thought I *sniff* would never see you agaiiiiiinn.*sniff*"
"Phew you're ok! Nope I'm sorry Tyson you're not getting off that easily. You're stuck with me whether you like it or not. I promised I would come back with help didn't I." She beamed reassuringly as she cocked her head cutely to the side, and twinkles of aqua glittered her bottom eyelids.
Tala smarted in a sharp demanding tone. "Hey love-birds. You mind moving back? I could do with some room to work here."
Talas' serious piercing blue eyes bored into the strange blader with silver hair opposite and telepathically ordered to his wolf. "I don't know the full story here but this guy was not playing around. I saw that dagger or whatever that was in his hand above Tysons' head. I don't know what his intentions were but I'm sure they weren't for good. Drive him back Wolborg!"
"HUFFFFFFFFFFFFF." Breathed Wolborg heavily as the wolf spirits' haunches raised and his head lowered for attack. The giant furry Bitbeast was already out of his beyblade kennel and his yellow eyes were transfixed on Tysons' would-be attacker. Wolborg was densely white furred all over with two great shimmering ice protrusions out of his back which could be confused for wings. He had red anklets just above each of his four paws and protruding from them were more spiky ice formations. His dogs' breast was armoured with plates of thick ice and more icicles struck out from the fur lining his jaws, of which a pair of sabre tooth fangs jutted downwards over his bottom lip. A gold and red crest decorated the space between his eyes and forehead like a regal decorative armoured plate. More spikes of ice poked through the fur either side of his muzzle and lined the back of his neck. A true ice wolf through and though, even his breath turned the air Siberian chilly.
The giant guard dog's throat grumbled; his jowls upturned with his canine sabre teeth bearing on display. His black clawed paws stomped and cracked the grey tile as he stalked Harkan backwards, farther and farther away from his Bladebreaker quarry.
Harkans' ruby eyes popped veins with distain as his jaws clenched angrily tight. "I WAS SO CLOSE TO OBTAINING DRAGOON! JUST WHO IS THIS PETULANT BEYBLADER BEFORE ME!" He cursed as his open toed boots carefully back-stepped through the piles of wall debris and crunched the smashed glass beneath each stride, all the while not taking his eyes of his wolf spirit stalker as he slowly retreated. "Just you wait, I'll put you in your place newcomer, you, and your hound will be served no mercy for your interruption. Just you wait!" He glowered and seethed as his purple cape dangled close at his back.
Hilary snapped out of her coddling instantly with Talas' request. She jumped to her feet and proceeded to yank Tyson up by his hands. "You heard him Tyson, we gotta give Tala some space to work. I have a feeling Mr Shadow-loser-blader-man is about to get served a chilly butt whooping. It's a good job I found him huh? Super-Hilary to the rescue again."
Tyson appeared in a daze as he staggered to his feet for the first time since Dragoons' defeat. He never expected to stand again after accepting the morbid bargain for Daichis' life. He felt a tingling rush of blood to his legs, disorientated from the shock of it all, his ears rung as he took a moment to absorb the hopeful scene; Talas' wide-backed battle stance, then at Wolborgs' puffy white tail swishing aggressively and then at Harkan with his golden dagger still tightly wrapped in his hand being ushered backwards by a jaw full of teeth. The further the man that would have claimed his life travelled...the safer Tyson felt. His stargazing darted back to Tala's and felt awash with relief at his very presence. "How? How did he know to be here?!" He pondered then a light-bulb moment struck. "The Chief... he said something about emailing the Blitzkrieg Boys. Oh Kenny, you really saved our butts this time buddy...you and Hilary."
Hilary grasped at the loose scruff of his sweat laden yellow t-shirt and rollicked the beychamp back to attention. "TYSON! Help me move Daichi will ya!" She sharply commanded like a speaker phone into his ear.
Without delay, the now more alert Tyson, and Hilary together dragged Daichis' balled form by his clothing as his hot leg and arm skin skidded across the floor to a spot a safe distance behind Talas' battle line.
Hilary folded her skirt and legs under her. Tyson crouched, resting his shins on the floor with his knees apart. In the middle of the pair, the injured red-head began to stir from their manhandling.
Daichi murmured as he unfolded, propping his back straight at a 45 degree angle and lifting his head enough to view around him. "Mmmmmhhhwhhhaaaat happened? You're stilllllllll alllive Tyson." His voice droned with a hint of mumbled relief.
Hilary shrieked. "Daichi are you ok?"
"Daichi!" Tyson attempted to help him straighten even further by gripping his navy shirt and pulling him up like a puppet to sit straighter. "Talk to us buddy!"
Daichis' face screwed up and winced with one green eye open as he was less than ready to unfold from his protective balled state, his core muscles still spasmed painfully in episodes. "Easy with me Tyson!Geeeze I may be pretty but I'm not a doll ya know!" His croaky tone suddenly drew high pitched. "Wait...Is that?Who I think it is?"
Tyson sighed with double relief. Daichi had finally regained some consciousness and Harkan had been driven back further down the corridor than before. "Yeah...That's Tala alright. Delivered fresh from Russia. I just hope he and his beyblade are prepared for a fight... because if they're not...then we're not out of trouble yet."
Propelled to arm the soviet soldier with a warning, the emotionally and physically sore beychamp clambered to his feet. "Hey Tala! I'm super glad to see you and I can't wait to have a catch up over some lunch but there's something I gotta tell you first. This guy is real nasty. He won't think twice about attacking you as well as your blade! His name is Harkan and he hit Daichi with his own Strata Dragoon after defeating him. He's a team member to the guy who tried to kill Kai for his Dranzer. He's after my Dragoon and I wouldn't put it past him to do something dirty to get you outta the way and fast to get to me again. You gotta watch your back Dude!"
Tala cocked his head, his red tendrils swayed with the movement as he side eyed Tyson with a confident smirk. "Thanks for the heads up but worry about yourself Tyson. Wolborg and I have got this under control."
Tyson coolly nodded with a serious gaze. "Good luck buddy. Everything rests on you."
Harkan took Talas' momentary lapse in attention to rapidly conceal his dagger within a holder under his cloak. It took him only a handful of seconds to then produce his other lethal weapon, a launcher and the dangerous Black Ursus beyblade were locked, a rip cord run through the gear and his tattooed fingers wrapped like pythons strangling at the rip cord end ready to let rip.
The Shadow Vale brute deeply spat with malice and warning. "Under your control? Pah! Don't make me laugh. A skinny nothing like you? You're just another jumped up red-head with no talent who thinks he can take me on, just like the Strata Dragoon blader. Pathetic. Oh well you'll just have to learn the hard way just how foolish you are for challenging me." The hefty bulk of his inked muscled arm ripped back, sending his Black Ursus beyblade flying in the air, straight for Wolborg. He was wasting no time with idle spinning.
Harkan swiped a hand in the air as if to brush an obstacle from his path. His voice went dark and bellowing and his ruby red eyes glinted with a mad desperacy. "Now get out of my way! Dragoon and I have a destiny to fulfil. Black Ursus, remove this interfering flea from my sight!"
"Watch out Tala!" Tyson stamped a heavy foot forwards as flashbacks prickled his unnaturally anxious mind.
*Flashback*Dragoon and Strata Dragoon being impaled on the black bear beasts' claws, their dragon necks bucking and their screams of agony echoed throughout the corridors, followed closely by their defeats.
Tala muttered under his breath and smirked with furrowed straight eyebrows. "Flea huh? We'll just see who the insignificant pest is here when I send you packing."
Once Harkans' blade connected with the floor, its bitchip immediately turned into a light projector and cast its spirit free. Black Ursus, the ebony furred creature with hoop pierced ears, silver armour plating on its head and arms with three samurai sword length claws on each paw and glowing blood red eyes... a mammalian bitbeast nightmare. Its evil intended caster grinned and chuckled under his hot angry breath malevolently and mad behind it. His psyche was beginning to crack.
Black Ursus roared so loud in reply to its master that any remaining glass in the window frames wiggled loose and debris on the floor rattled as if an earthquake rocked the building. "GGGGGRRRRRRAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!"
Tyson quipped with a worried sweat-drop as he glanced up at the sight of the tall bear which had caused so much pain to Dragoon. "Here we go again."
Hilary glanced at Tyson nervously and clutched her hands together as if to pray. "He'll be fine right Tyson? Come on Tala you can do this."
Tala growled with a scrunched nose as he lowered his head; the duo of red hair strands whipped his near-white cheeks in the air disturbance. "Make all the noise you like; you don't scare me. Go attack WOLBORRRRRRG!" He extended a half gloved finger outwards into their hospital walkway arena.
*SMASH!*
Tala's metallic silver Wolborg collided with the Black Ursus beyblade and a vicious tirade of grinding and zipping began. The black and silver blades danced and skidded over the grey tile whilst dodging the piles of dry wall particles and shattered window fragments from rocking their travelling axis.
*ZIP* *SMACK**SMACK**ZIP* *ZIP* *ZIP* *TAG* *ZIP* *SMACK* *SMACK* *ZIP* *SMACK* *SMACK**ZIP* *ZIP* *ZIP* *TAG* *ZIP* *SMACK* *SMACK**ZIP**ZIP* *ZIP* *SMACK*
Tala darkly chuckled inside."Mwwhhaaahhaaaa. That's the ticket. The more he connects with Wolborg; the more he charges our core. Not much longer now and it'll be dosvidaniya for you creep." The cocksure Russians' face went dark, his eyes glinted with Blitzkrieg confidence and his grinning mouth smiled red. His full body was in battle stance and he was clearly enjoying the battle rush.
Harkan stropped as his blood pressure rose whilst glaring angrily at Tala's defiant face. Their beyblades bashed and zipped in the background as he complained to himself."This is taking too long. He should have been defeated by now! This interferer is starting to test my last nerve. And what's worse I can feel my energy wane. I've been battling for too long. Time is of the essence. Grrrrrrrrr."
The Shadow Vale assailant cracked his neck to the side and cruelly smirked as he lifted his arms outwards. "Well newcomer your time of defeat has come. I'm going to wipe that misplaced smile off your face! Go Black Ursus attack!"
The black beyblade with barely visible red edges when spinning hummed as it went into hyper drive and exacted a swift side swipe attack on the unfaltering Russian steel top.
With a "SMACK* Harkan grinned deeper and lowly chuckled with the expectation of a fresh win. "Hhhaaammaaaammaaa goodbye you irksome fool."
A blink would reveal a fruitless attack as Wolborg accepted the tackle and returned the favour with a harder one of its own two fold. *SMAAACCCCCCCCCKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK*
Talas' smugness took on a new depth as he cried out. "Is that all you got. Mhhhaawwwwaaahhaaaa! Go Wolborg! NOVAE ROG!" His arms extended outwards and snow streams extended out of his finger tips. A cyclone of frosty wind circled around his blade and in rings around the "Ice prince" bladers body.
Wolborgs' engine core kicked in mega drive with a *SCHRREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE* sound and hurtled directly for Black Ursus taking the Antarctic cyclone hovering above with it.
The hospital corridor became almost an instant ice-rink with its own indoor blizzard. The casings to the florescent lighting, to the floors' surface and even the fire extinguisher hanging low on a far wall were coated in a layer of silvery glittering frost. The temperature dropped down to zero and any moisture instantly froze.
Commentators Brad Best and AJ Topper begged for sweaters or full arctic gear whenever Tala used his famous Novae Rog move during tournaments. No other blader had the power of ice quite like Tala Ivanov. His Novae Rog move wasn't complete until the spirit of a young long haired woman assumedly Mother Nature took form in a white dress with snowflakes the size of dinner plates circulating around her. She wordlessly whisked up an instant snow tempest into the air and directed at the black bear, encasing it in a tight flurry of razor sharp icy wind. The white-fluffed roaring Wolborg then took over for a finishing tackle whilst hovering over his travelling beyblade form.
Talas' sky blue eyes glinted with passion as he held his hands up as claws. "Now! Finish him off Wolborg!"
In seconds the stark grizzly bi-ped was encased in a giant egg shaped ice cube, frozen solid and unable to move within it. The only thing it was able to move was its scarlet red eyes, its pupils shrank to dots with surprise as much as its masters'.
Wolborg wolf roared as he hurtled towards his prey with an open mouth in the snowy blast ready to bite and crunch the icecube-o-bear Bitbeast into many fragments of ice cold defeat. "HOOOOWWWWLLLLLLLRAAWWWWWWRRRRRRRRRRRRR."
Tyson and Hilary couldn't help but yell prematurely in excitement. "Yeahhh go Tala!" "Yeah you get him Wolborg!"
The mega humming Wolborg beyblade closed in for the kill and was a mere second away from smashing it like an ice truck though snow drift...when...
Black Ursus burst out of it, sending its' icy prison capsule shattering out like broken mirrors, glittering and clanking as they flew outwards, scraping on the tile floor where they landed and fizzled as they dissipated into shimmering dust until the shards were no more.
Tala literally gasped. He back-footed a step as he wracked his brain over what went wrong. His eyes displayed a serious drop in morale. "Huuhhhhhhh! No! How? I totally had him right where I wanted him. He was done for, so how did he break out of Wolborgs' grip?"
"You really thought you are a match for me. You're nothing but a weakling who needs to learn his place." It was Harkans' turn to be smug as he crossed his huge inked arms and rumbled a laugh deep from his belly. "HHHHAAAAAAHAAAAAAHAAAAA HHHAAAAAA. Enough games boy. If that was the best you had then you are not worthy to wield a beyblade. NOW FOR THE LAST TIME GET OUT OF MY WAY! BLACK URSUS...Final attack." His last words were calm but deathly menacing as his cape caught a stray wind and whipped behind him.
The demonic black flash of the Shadow Vale blade thundered at breakneck speed towards the stunned Wolborg which spun like an abandoned puppy in a clearing in the centre of the thawing walkway.
Tysons' heart dropped as he heard Harkans' famous last words and yelled out. "NOOOOOOOOOOO! TALA WATCH OUT!"
Hilary gasped with her hands clamped over her mouth. Harkans' dreaded "Final Attack" would spell a certain end to Wolborg, just the same as Dragoon and Strata Dragoon.
Daichi was in too much pain to call out; instead he watched fearing the worst with one eye wincing shut and gritted jaws.
Tala regained some wolfs' pride and stamped a black and silver cloaked foot forward. "We're not defeated yet Wolborg. Get read. He's running on empty now and as soon as I get a window, he's going down for good." He wrapped both gloved fists tight and lofted his arms up high across his chest and face in an X-shape, bracing for impact. "Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr."
The giant bear spirit emit another dark cry which rumbled all light casings and echoed down walkways as if the tunnels themselves were haunted and moaning. "GRRRRRARRAAWWWWWWWWWWWRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!"
Tala couldn't resist a gulp as its roar bore deep through his chest like bass and before he could react further...the bear was upon his wolf in microseconds.
The black Ursus beyblade collided and jostled violently with silver Wolborg, both blades stood their ground. Black Ursus was the stronger beyblade but Wolborg and Tala were fresher for the fight. *SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEECCCCCCHHHHHHHH*
In slow motion.
Black Ursus raised a great dark furred paw; its razor sharp talons pointed so high they almost scraped what remained of the plasterboard ceiling tiles, and stained along the serrated edged was the blood of Dragoon and Strata Dragoon. Its red eyes glowed as its arm ached to swing down and maim the white wolf the same way he slain the dragons... by grizzly impalement... and certain defeat.
Wolborg growled wildly and stood his four legged stance ready to bravely accept the blow. His black lined lips were curled up revealing his white dog teeth and two extended canine fangs. His yellow dog eyes glared up at the bear's throat ready to bite at any given chance.
The bears' paw descended. The claws poised and angled at ice decorated dogs' spine and side of his rib cage.
The natural pack leader held his breath as the scene reflected on his light cerulean irises and pin tight pupils. "Wolborrrrrrg!"
Hilary cried as she clapped her hands over her eyes, only to part her fingers in v-shapes to see again. "I can't watch!"
Tyson backstepped and his arms dropped. "That's it. It's all over...Tala!"
His sword-like claws struck the solid jagged icy structures on Wolborgs' back...
*SMASHHHHHHH*
...and shattered on impact.
The pieces of Black Ursus' weaponry bounced and clinked as they skidded on the tile in shiny diamante pieces and wittered away like sparkly ash. The bears' garnet coloured eyes popped with complete surprise as it inspected its clipped nails on each of his paws. Its black furred head dizzily peered and one and then the other rapidly with horror on its long snouted face.
Tyson, Hilary and Daichi exclaimed and gasped in unison with shock. "HUHHHHH!" "HUH!" "HUH?"
Wolborg shook off the impact like a dog shook off water. His yellow eyes twinkled, his tail was fluffed up to the max, the hair on his neck stood on end, and any ice spikes within it jutted outwards like porcupine spines. His teeth bared more as he growled with unbridled aggression, ready to snap.
The Wolborg blade spun like nothing had afflicted it whilst the Black Ursus beyblade nearby, suffered a faint wobble in its gyration.
"IMPOSSIBLE!" Harkan launched himself forward a heavy footed pace. His scarlet irises shrank and a vein protruded on his rectangular tanned forehead. His hands were raised in front and grappling at the empty air in fury. "NOOOOOOOOOOOO! HOW CAN THIS BE?!"
Hilary briefly turned to the bluenette. Her need for answers was urgent. "What just happened Tyson? I thought for sure Wolborg would be a goner."
Tyson fought to give her them. "I have no idea Hilary. Tala is a world class beyblader for sure but I had no idea he was this strong. Harkans' Final Attack was too much for Dragoon and Strata Dragoon. But Wolborg fought his attack off like it was nothing. Black Ursus didn't leave a scratch on him. I don't get it. Either Talas' done some serious training since we last saw him and that I and Daichi have got some serious catching up to do. Or it was a massive stroke of luck and Harkan is finally running out of energy."
Daichi quipped still half-balled. "I'm impressed Tala. You've got better since we last fought. I can't wait to give you a re-match."
Hilary warned. "I wouldn't get too confident just yet guys. Tala's still gotta finish this battle and something tells me Mr Shadow Vole isn't going to just lay down quietly."
The Blitzkrieg Boy regained his smarminess instantly as he straightened and dropped his protective guard. "Final Attack Huh? There was nothing final about that. Looks like you're running out of steam and time for me to show you what a real final attack looks like. Wolborg! NOVAE ROG! And there will be no escape from me this time!"
Harkans' day was about to get worse as he seethed with bitter twist. A sly sweat-drop travelled down his back. "You impertinent brat! You have no idea of who you are dealing with!"
Wolborgs' speed increased five-fold with a *SCCCCHHHRRRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEEE* sound at Talas' command. The Novae Rog ritual began as snow streams flurried out of Tala's fingers and a snow storm quickly whipped up in the air into torrents of frosty wind.
The Russian built beyblade careered directly for Black Ursus which spun unprotected in a nearby clearing with the black bear hovering above it, whimpering like an animal that had just been de-clawed.
Wolborg's mouth was open with frosty arctic breath. His teeth bayed for the crunch of the black beyblade between his jaws.
Tala sneered with delight as Wolborg neared in for the kill, his hair tendrils whipping in the airs' excitement. "That's it Wolborg. Let's finish this guy off nice and quick!"
*ZOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMM*
Out of nowhere another beyblade zoomed past Wolborg a fraction faster. Another black beyblade... on fire... hurtled past.
*SMACK*The aflame beyblade smacked Black Ursus so hard it skidded it out of Tala's strike point and back to near Harkans' open toed feet, grinding to a halt with a zing sound. *ZING*
The blazing beyblade new arrival then returned to spin at its masters' boot clad feet, ready to go on command.
Talas' attack was side-lined completely, the Novae Rog snow storm instantly dissipated, the temperature rose to a comfortable degree and Wolborg instinctively returned to stop clean before the former Demolition Boys' toes. The giant white Wolf looked as surprised and peeved as his owner. Talas' red tendril hairs swung with a sharp neck movement to scowl at the newest newcomer. "Hey, what's the big idea? This is my match. Just who are you anyway? Huh? Answer me." He demanded.
Harkan spat venom with the words. "Ozuma...and Dunga of the blasted Saint Shields!" His voice dropped off into a dark sarcasm. "I knew you would turn up eventually. Come to save the world have you?"
Stood to Talas' left but before Tyson and Co stood a male pair. A rather sweaty and panting Dunga with the leader of his team at his side, the shorter in stature, calm and collected Ozuma with Flash Leopard now spinning without flame, cooling off and whirling neatly on the spot.
Ozuma had no time for questions as he relaxed his launcher arm to his side. "Harkan. We meet again my old adversary." He briefly side eyed to analyse Tysons' physical state and eagle eye the depiction of Dragoon still in the bitchip of Tysons' beyblade in the cap-wearers palm; then quickly turned back to the violent blader. "I see you've failed to obtain Dragoon. Good. I intend to keep it that way."
Hilary jumped to her feet with excitement. "It's Ozuma! About time!"
Tyson was instantly pumped at another sudden reunion. "And Dunga! Boy are we glad to see you guys!"
Daichi was in too much discomfort to move and mumbled half hearted "Yayyyy."
Ozuma had no time for small talk and rushed an order to the Vortex Ape blader. "Dunga, check Kais' room NOW incase he's gone back to look for these dummies, and if he's not there keep searching the grounds. He's got to be somewhere! You must find Kai before Blake does. The fate of Dranzer and possibly the whole world depends on it. I'll take care of things here."
Dunga reacted immediately knowing full well what was at stake. If Harkan had infiltrated the hospital then Blake and the rest of Shadow Vale sure would have too.
"ON IT!" Cried Dunga as he heavily and cumbersomely side stepped the dusty, glass littered and half-frozen battle ground, past the trio of bladers and onwards down the hall, to the left... to Kais' room with urgency. Panic threaded his veins as he just hoped he wasn't too late.
The Saint Shields' leader hawked Dunga race through the messy corridor arena, safely pass Harkan who was more than distracted by his and Talas' presence and quickly disappear around the corner. Tyson and Co were unacknowledged for the most part as the dual red and grey haired man stepped in line next to Tala. "Thankyou for all your help until now friend but you aren't prepared for this kind of opponent. Step aside and let me deal with this."
Talas' temper was short at the best of times. His tone was snappy and unfriendly. "I beg your pardon? Oh I don't think so. I had this guy right where I wanted him. This is my battle...friend."
"I don't have time for this." Ozumas' emerald eyes side glared with agitation at the tall red-head. He blinked and set his sights on the purple caped assailant. His tone rose gruffly as he chose to dismiss Tala entirely. "GO! ATTACK NOW FLASH LEOPARD!"
Tala scoffed with an appalled face and open jaw. "Who does this guy think he is? This is my first decent beybattle in years and I'll be dammed if I'm gunna let this big shot ruin my victory."
"GO WOLBORG!" The guy dressed in orange, white and blue ordered with an extended half gloved finger pointing outwards. He was not about to let Ozuma finish the job he started. Wolborg raced to reclaim his chance for a win.
Wolborg and Flash Leopard pelted neck and neck in line towards Black Ursus, each baying to be the first to strike.
Wolborg -*ZIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGG*
Flash Leopard - *ZIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG*
One...hyper spinning silver chunk of Russian metal, solid, geared inside and ice cold, powered overhead by an ice breathed wolf, plastered with iceberg-like spikes.
The other...a jet black beybladewith red, orange and tiny areas of yellow stickering. The Bitbeast driving its core was an ebony short- furred leopard; armoured with thick purple plating over most of its body. The royal lilac armour had a white edge finish and was formed as anklets and as shields around its elbows to the tops of its shoulders. So to the entirety of its thick muscled neck and chest, its rump above his hips, its hind knees and covered almost every inch of his long swishing tail. His feline head was armour plated too between the eyes and extended out from its cheeks. His leopard eyes were red and from his mouth protruded sabre tooth cat teeth. To complete his ancient and mystical body were emerald green jewels, one on each knee plate, one on each shoulder and one above the middle of his piercing hunter eyes.
Eight paws pounded the air as fast as they could sprint; for behind them their unleashers' Tala and Ozuma gritted their teeth, growling and pumped with adrenaline eager to beat the other for very different reasons.
Harkan knew he was in trouble. His voice boomed deep and disgruntled as he tried to save face. "YOU FOOLS! You have no idea of who you're dealing with here!"
His mind raced with a foreign feeling of distress. "I don't fucking believe it. First this insolent newcomer and then that heathen Saint Shield, Ozuma. I can take that runt Ozuma ,one on one any day but after the damage I sustained from battling the red haired shrimp with the scar on his forehead and Dragoons' guardian I'm far from prepared. I fear my defeat is inevitable. I can't let that happen. I need to find an escape! I will not allow that Saint Shield to humiliate me. Dragoon will keep. I will have to be patient. Ozuma won't be able to protect him forever and when his guard is dropped...I'll be waiting." The latter of his mind track turned his face into a downward sneer and his eyes twinkled evilly.
Talas' battle parted legs stood firm and un-phased as he was blasted with a snowy back draft of arctic cold air; whipped up by his beloved Wolborg weapon as it hurtled towards Harkans' beyblade. "That's it Wolborg. Take him down!" The wolf howled in reply as he drew close to striking. "HOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWLLLLLLLLLL!"
"I said step aside! It's for your own good! Get him Flash Leopard!" Ordered Ozuma as his ear pendant swung wildly in Talas' icy gust, chilling his earlobe numb, his thick fuzzy grey eyebrows furrowed bitterly at the pig-headed Blitzkrieg blader to his right. He was seriously pissed off at Tala for the uncomfortable arctic blast and for not heeding his request to stop.
Tala scoffed aloud but inaudible for anyone to head over Wolborgs' personal hallway blizzard. The ice princes' orbs barely squinted in the cyclone of snow which left all others, especially Ozuma with watering eyes and blue fingers. "Who does this guy think he is? Bossing me around! This is my battle! ATTACK WOLBORG! NOVAE ROG!"
"FLASH LEOPARD! CROSS FIRE ATTACK!" With Ozumas' words, his armoured leopard Bitbeast spontaneously combusted into flame. It's shoulders, hocks and neck were aflame and its beyblade spun like alight charcoal.
The temperature instantly spiked a few degrees with the unguarded flaming ball of metal and Bitbeast. The mini winter-wonderland atmosphere dialled down several notches as the new heat melted some of the ice glistened tile floor, and the climate became mild again.
For Black Ursus and Harkan...their defeat was about to be served as an ice cold dish or trial by fire.
Harkans' ruby red eyes shook in his skull as he mentally flailed, trying to think of a way out of his entrapment. He glowered vexed and seething mad at his most hated long term adversary Ozuma, and the white skinned wolf master who ruined his chances to take Dragoon... and fulfil his one and only destiny.
*CRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHH!*
A rotating ball of flame dually smashed into the Shadow Vale blade at exactly the same time as the spinning iceberg.
Flash Leopards' flaming heat reacted on impact with the freezing cold Wolborg...and a thick choking cloud of steam engulfed the tight hallway. The misty air was warm, the perfect mix of the two elements. The inhabitants of the balmy fog could only see their hands in front of them and were visually blanketed from foes and allies alike.
The warring trio were temporarily rendered blind as Tyson, Daichi and Hilary could only watch from afar, and wait for who would emerge the victor. All around was graveyard quiet.
Hilary whispered as her heart jumped to her throat. "I can't see them!"
Tyson gazed intently into the fog, hoping to see a glimpse of someone or something. "Me neither. The suspense is killing me!"
Daichi begged. "Come on Tala buddy."
Tala slowly whirled his arm around in the thick haze, his eyes wide with surprise. "Oh great. I'm no physicist but I'm guessing my Wolborgs' ice attack must have clashed with whatever his name is' fire element bitbeast."
Ozuma growled with frustration in his misty concealment, his battle stance remaining wide and slightly hunched over and ready for anything. "That guy...how dare he get in my way. This is all his fault...Wait...I don't hear any blades spinning..."His ears pricked up as he held his breath.
"Now's my chance. You bickered like children and you have given me the perfect cover to escape. Until we meet again Ozuma...next time I'll be ready to take you down for good." Cursed the evil intended Shadow Vale hunter as he scooped his still and silent Black Ursus blade from the dust. He u-turned back down the corridor and fled, his purple cape fought and twisted with the speed of his flipped up his hood to conceal his face mid run and promised in its darkness. "Dragoon I'll be back for you. I guarantee it."
The steam cleared quickly with the help of the glass-less windows and air conditioning unit vents above. Seconds pass and whole new scenario was unveiled.
Harkan and his unkind beyblade were gone. An empty and trashed hospital corridor scene... piles of eroded dry wall, smashed shards of glass glinted in the daylight, the fragments that remained in the window frames twinkled like dew. The tile flooring not concealed with dust and debris was clearly deeply scratched, the florescent light tube casings on the ceiling half held on and one had completely fallen and broken into three pieces. Squares of ceiling were completely missing or smashed through from Dragoon and Wolborgs' wind based attacks. Areas of dry wall were completely eroded away in craters; the walls and plastic window sills were streaked with axel burns and attack ring slice indentations. Puddles of melted frost gathered in places to the right of the hallway, whereas burn marks scorched the left. The extent of the damage of what took place during three consecutive beybattles in one spot, were clear as day.
Tyson took a moment to absorb the peace. The relief that he was finally safe was overwhelming as he felt the need to fall to the floor and too choked to speak.
Hilary breathed a long sigh of relief as she dusted off her skirt. "Phewwwwwww he's gone. I hope we don't see him anytime soon."
Daichi almost completely unfolded, splaying his legs out in front into a seated position on the cool floor as more as his muscle spasms finally relented. His arms still crossed over his middle protectively. "Geeeeze the caretakers here are gunna need more than a lick of paint to fix that up."
Tyson soon found his voice as he felt nothing but a surge of gratitude for the two blading saviours in front. "I can't believe it's over. We're safe I guess...for now. All thanks to Tala and Ozuma."
The blading duo were not so pleased. Wolborg had ground to a halt in a puddle of slushy water and Flash Leopard lay motionless on a patch of ashen tile. The two blades were silent whilst their bitbeasts slumbered inside their bitchips where they had collided with Black Ursus. Their masters were about to do battle of their own.
Ozumas' black gloves which extended higher than his wrist, tightly shook in fists at his thighs. He stomped twice towards the taller Russian blader near entering his personal space. His face was wrought with anger as he fought not to shout. "I told you to STEP ASIDE. Because of your interfering, one of the greatest threats to the safety of humanity has just escaped." He jabbed an arm at the direction where his Shadow Vale arch enemy nemesis once stood.
Talas' haunches were instantly spiked. Ozumas' step forward amounted to a challenge and the hot headed blader was more than happy to take it on. Tala was the least stoic of the Blitzkrieg Boys with a furious temper; but restrained himself well...this time. Ozuma had robbed him of his apparent win and he was ready to throw words and fists in pay-back. His slim clothed arm and gloved finger also furiously gestured to Harkans' empty spot. "Threat to the safety of humanity? I don't know what crack you're on... friend... but I almost beat your so called greatest threat single-handedly. My Wolborg reflected his attacks easily. I had his bitbeast on the ropes and I would have finished the job if YOU hadn't interfered with MY match. I arrived first, it was my battle and said I had it all under control.
Ozuma was naturally and equally as hot tempered. He crossed his arms to prevent himself from grabbing at the scruff of Tala's orange and white shirt. He grouched with livid green eyes. "That blader is from a clan who seeks to kill the guardians of the four sacred spirits and claim their bitbeasts in a bid to destroy the world. Tyson is one of those guardians. If Harkan takes Tysons' life to obtain his Dragoon in the future, you will be partly to blame for getting in my way when I had the chance to defeat and apprehend him for good."
Tyson scratched the back of his head with embarrassment for being the centre of the heated argument. "Geeze guys this is all so heavy. Whatdya say we cool it for a second huh?!"
Hilary piped up anxiously. "Ummm guys...please don't argue. Not right now, we have other things to worry about...Kai?" Her words were ignored entirely by the warring head strong bladers.
Daichi enjoyed the drama. "No don't stop em Hilary. Say, how about you go get me some popcorn and a hotdog?"
Hilary scolded as she reminded herself not to hit him in his injured state. "Daichi this isn't the Jeremy Kyle Show! Put a lid on it."
Tala mirrored Ozumas' attempt of self-restraint. His fingers twitched for Ozumas' loose collar all the same. His sharp voice raised and his tone turned smug. "I think you'll find today I saaaaved Tysons' life. That Harkan or whatever his name is, was about to attack him with a knife and my Wolborgs' attack protected him before his blade fell. Don't hark on at me about guardians and clans I know nothing about. Tyson is just fortunate I got here when I did. You on the other hand...if Tyson and his Bitbeast are so important to world peace then where were you?... Oh and I accept your apology for ruining my battle."
Ozumas' top lip twitched, his patience ran thinner as a leg stammered forward of its own accord and his arm flung out again to point momentarily and twist back into a cross. "Well done, you got to play the hero for a minute. That doesn't absolve the mess you've now created by letting the Shadow Vale blader go. We are all responsible for protecting the world from evil. And you royally screwed up my job by getting in the way during a crucial opportunity to bring a fugitive down. I appreciate you didn't know the gravity of the situation but all the same...you should have stepped aside when I told you to."
Tala scoffed as his foot twitched to step into the shorter statured man. "Come again?! Who do you think you are? You don't tell me to do anything. That was my battle and I had him! That would have been the end of it. Threat neutralised but you ruined that. Besides, the fate of the world is not my responsibility. If you want to take that on then that's great for you but don't go expecting the rest of us to jump up to play Superhero. You can save Tyson next time, then you can feel like you're doing humanity some good, or earning your "save someone" boy scout badge."
Ozumas' arms dropped as his blood pressure started to peak, his hands subconsciously gripped tighter in their crossed position. His patience was being tested to the max. His face glowed a shade of red and a raised vein popped on his forehead as he marched up closer into Talas' space. "You're like a child; this is bigger than you and me. Your beybattle win to boost your obviously fragile ego isn't worth the safety of the planet so you won't be getting an apology. Next time, assumedly there is a next time...stay out of important affairs and let the grown-ups save humanity. Oh and what's more...who am I? Oh just the guy from a clan who's dedicated his entire life to keeping evil bladers from taking over the world by stealing bitbeasts to destroy civilization. And you?...You worked for people who tried to do just that. How many bitbeasts exactly did you steal in your past...Demolition Boy? You were a Beyblader Intent On Victory Over Lawless Tyrany were you not?"
Talas' temper was at boiling point as he fought not to physically growl through his teeth. Two veins popped on either side of his forehead as he struggled to not to put hands on the shorter red and grey-haired blader. Instead he grabbed his hips to busy his hands, his elbows and chest stretched wide; he arched his face downwards closer in a posture of threat. His past at BIOVOLT was a touchy subject and his civil behaviour was on a knife edge. "That's a pretty sharp tongue you have. Shame your brain isn't as sharp. It sounds like you did your research on BIOVOLT alright. So you must know the kind of training we had? And you still want to square up to me? You're just a jumped up village boy with a serious saviour complex who doesn't know when to back away. Its time you got out of my space before you regret it. This is your last warning."
The feisty males were seconds away from "fisty cuffs" when Tyson threw himself between them. His presence instantly dropped the tension in the room. He held a chubby sweaty hand up in each of their faces and turned his head from one to the other; begging them to stop.
"COME ON GUYS STOP FIGHTING!" He yelled as loud as he could with his eyes closed the action of his mouth in typical over-the-top-Tyson fashion.
He looked to the grumpy Tala who still had a livid screwed up face and hands newly latched onto his denim hips. "Tala, I'm never gunna be able to repay you for saving my life. I can't tell you how happy I am to see you and that you travelled all the way from Russia to help us. You must have flown through the night right? I bet you're insanely jet lagged and you haven't eaten much today am I right?"
He turned to the Saint Shield who was scarily red faced and repressing a huffing chest with his arms bolted across. "And Ozuma I'm never gunna be able to thank you enough for keeping me safe up until today. I know that you and the rest of the Saint Shields have been working round the clock to watch over the hospital, all to keep Shadow Vale away from us while Kai recovers. I bet you've hardly slept or eaten either!"
Hilary was astounded at how intuitive Tyson was for once. Sometimes his people skills were spot on. She skipped over to the trio to join in Tysons' peace keeping mission. She plastered on her best cute smile, clasped her hands begin her back and tried to work her magic. "Yeah guys I bet you're both just really hungry and tired and today has just brought out the worst in you. I bet you two could be really good friends after a nice long nap and some food. So whatdya say? How about a truce hhhmmm?"
Ozuma bent his neck to the side to meet a gaze with Tala, as the Blitzkrieg Boy did the same.
Their ruby raged complexions simmered down to pale once more. Green locked with blue eyes, their eyes slanted as they glared
and they glared
...and glared
...and glared
...waiting for the other to make a move or say something else to trigger the other, their egos' begged for a change to have another pop.
Until...Tala dropped his dominant stance and finally broke the silence and his death stare with it. "Whatever. I'm not here to make more friends. Actually, I don't entirely know why I agreed to come. Something about helping you deal with Kai. For all the good I'll do. Speaking of which...where is he?"
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" The exasperated cry echoed loudly throughout the maze like hallways and bounced down every corridor. Dunga had one hell of a set of lungs on him.
Ozumas' ears pricked up and instantly disengaged with anything to do with his new Ivanov enemy.
"That's Dunga!" He cried with adrenaline pulsating thickly in his blood and instantly took light-footed flight. In an authoritative voice he called back and hoped the prickly red-head with a problem taking orders would oblige. "Blizkrieg Boy...stay with Tyson, and don't let him out of your sight!"
His red and black ethnic boots kicked up dust and scratched glass fragments as he sprinted towards the direction of Dungas' bellowing...down the hallway and turned left...the direction of Kai's room.
Tala recoiled in red coloured disbelief. "Urghhhh! Really?! Telling me what to do again! What's his problem!"
Before the blue eyed Russian could allow himself to get any angrier at another of Ozumas' bossy requests he turned to see Tyson and Hilary struggling to lift the limp and pained Daichi to his feet.
Daichi moaned and cried with discomfort as he fought with his instinct not to straighten his injured tummy muscles and shot solar plexus. "Yowwwwww oowwwww owwwww. Ouchhhh guyysssss."
Tyson begged with sweat dripping down his concerned features as he hoisted one of Daichis' arms up in an attempt to hoist him to his feet. "I know it hurts Daichi but we gotta get to Kai and we can't leave you here alone. Okay."
Hilary scolded but as softly as she could, he was in pain after all. Daichis' posture resisted like stone."Come on Daichi. I'm sorry... we gotta go."
Before the red head, Hilary and the bluenette knew it, the soviet scarlet haired man was in front of Daichi, kneeling like a knight and offering his back to mule him wherever he needed to go.
"Get on already." Quipped Tala as he rolled his eyes, bracing for the weight of small man to crawl on and cursed why he offered to come to Japan in the first place.
The Strata Dragoon bladers' eyes grew bulbous and watery as he brimmed with gratitude. There was no way he was walking anywhere. Daichi instantly climbed onto the Blitzkrieg Boys'' back like a koala. His arms wrapped around Talas' collar bone, creasing his shirts in the process and legs straddled his back whilst the Russian blader held up his legs so they didn't dangle. For someone so lean, Tala was incredibly strong.
The quad took no time to get going and marched off as fast as Tala could stagger with "Monkey Boy" clinging close to his spine like a marsupial infant. A strange sight; given how frosty Tala was as a person, and how antisocial his beyblade team was in general.
"Dunga!" Cried Ozuma as he burst into Patient Room 12, the door slammed onto the wall behind it causing the plaster finally to cave inwards and crack in a spider-web pattern. Ozumas lungs' heaved with running so frantically. Intense panic had taken hold as his lower jaw hung.
His wide emerald eyes reflected the sight of...
...feathers.
White feathers everywhere... in the air, on the floor, on the window sill, on the chair. Kai's pillow had been slashed vigorously with a knife or some sort of blade. The pillowcases were like shredded white rags. Kai's hospital mattress too had been stabbed and slashed in multiple places and so viciously that the stuffing and memory foam tumbled out in chunks like stuffing pilling out of a bear. The perpetrator had done this mad act with pure fury...and not too long ago.
Dunga stood sweating with a heaving mouth agape in the middle of the room. A feather landed on his shoulder like a dancing fairy and then took flight again with the summer air breezing in from the partially open window, to land blissfully light at Ozumas' feet. An eerily calm and pretty scene...despite such a troubling time.
Dunga heaved in a breath. A sweat drop cascaded down his high cheek bone. "Were too late! I've searched most of this hospital and I still can't find Kai. I've failed Ozuma!"
Ozuma stamped a foot on the feather. "NO, WE GOTTA KEEP LOOKING. If Blake had found him in here, there would be more than feathers in the floor. This room would be splashed with red."