A/N: Dear Readers! I re-wrote and updated the first 5(!) chapters. If you can, I'd like to ask you to re-read them, but mostly recommend the first 2-3 chapters as these were entirely re-worded, containing minor, but slightly important details. You can learn how Tala and Alexandra met in the first chapter if you're interested in that. Again, these are small, not significant details, but it will give you a better insight into the story and its characters. I may update chapters 6-12 later, I'll let you know once I made up my mind. Thank you in case you decide to re-read it!
Chapter 17
On the day of the Quarter finals, all competitors got the news that the battling teams were going to be selected haphazardly, and they had to fight for points. Teams could earn points after every won battle, so collectively defeating the opponent team was not a guarantee anymore to participate in the semi-finals. The organizers required strategy from the teams from now on, pressing the captains to choose wisely the order of their battling teammates. Naturally, teams with the higher points were going to be qualified in the semi-finals.
Although, it made the tournament more exciting, many was not pleased with this unexpected rule-modification.
"Why do they have to announce it in the last minutes? They seriously expect us to re-think our whole strategy in minutes before the battles start?!"
Tyson massaged his temple as he was compelled to listen to Kenny's never-ending grumbling over the news in their locker room.
"Oh my gosh, Chief! Why is it such a big deal? We can beat anyone. What does it matter if we don't know which team we have to fight?"
"Because we were preparing to battle with Ragged Force, a newbie team! Based on the data I've collected so far, we could easily win the match against them, but now, we have no idea who's gonna be our first opponent!" Kenny said rapidly, not able to contain his frustration.
Suddenly, they heard the crowd's muffled but still loud cheering in the room as Jazzman's booming voice filled the stadium, boosting up more the audience's ecstasy for the upcoming battles.
Kenny audibly gulped in his anxiety.
Tyson and his team were mentally preparing themselves for the quarter-finals, although Tyson didn't really feel the same excitement as usually.
Despite the seemingly calmness in the room, Tyson could cut the tension with a knife among his friends.
When Kenny was not panicking, he was glued to his computer, running last minute analysts on the state of their beyblades; Ray was meditating in one of the corners, separating himself from his team; Max was polishing his Draciel in silence, preparing his mind to the battle; Kai was leaning against the wall with crossed arms and closed eyes, giving Tyson some undying déjà vu; while Hilary was just sitting quietly across the dragon-wielder, hanging her head low.
Hilary was mute since she had run after Kai and returned with tears in her eyes two days ago. Tyson tried to draw out from her what happened between them on the corridor, what the arrogant bastard told her that made her so upset, but the girl refused to talk about it.
Tyson was furious. He couldn't understand what Kai's problem was and why he had to be so rude to his own team, but Tyson was determined he was not going to tolerate his toxic attitude anymore. He hated his captain for making Hilary cry and causing conflicts among his friends. It was unacceptable.
He was determined to talk some sense into the captain before the quarter finals, but for his annoyance, the Russian had sneaked out of the hotel early morning and didn't come back. Tyson and his team met him in the locker room, completely ignoring his teammates.
Tyson tried to confront him, demanding explanation to his destructive misdemeanor, but Ray directed him to leave Kai alone and concentrate on the tournament instead. The dragon half-heartedly obliged, because deep down, he knew Ray was right.
He couldn't properly focus on his upcoming battle though. He felt nervous rather than excited. This was not how he imagined the reunion with his team on this tournament, having a bitter taste in his mouth.
"Calm down, Chief. Tyson's right. We have to adapt to the situation." Ray's calm, reassuring voice was unworldly for Tyson's mental condition.
How the black haired boy was able to meditate and relax in such heated moments, Tyson couldn't figure out. It seemed the Chinese boy temporarily took the captain's role and attempted to pull the team together for the competition. It was futile to reason with the freaked-out mechanic though, Ray's soothing words didn't settle Kenny's nerves the slightest.
"Calm down?! What if we have to fight with Justice-5 in the first round and your beyblades will be demolished? I won't be able to fix them in one day!" Kenny kept panicking, dismissing any comforting or rational idea.
Max stood from the table and stepped to Chief, gently grabbing his shoulders.
"Breath in. Breath out. In…out… Repeat."
Kenny followed the instructions, breathing deeply simultaneously with the blonde for a few times, before he let out a long sigh, getting rid of his nervousness.
"Better?" Max asked with a hopeful smile as he patted his friend's fragile shoulder.
"Yeah." Kenny replied wearily, but he meant it. He opened up his laptop, reviewing the list of the competing teams.
"Whatever team will be our opponent today, don't forget that the 'fight for advantage' is the most crucial battle you have to win. I suggest to quickly talk through the scenarios, finding a decent strategy for each battle."
Tyson dramatically growled, not enthusiastic with the idea.
"It's pointless, Chief! We don't have enough time for that."
For Tyson's words, the door of the room opened and a staff member leant in to tell them it was showtime.
All Bladebreakers collected themselves and headed to the corridor of the stadium with the other competitors to ceremonially process into the main hall of the stadium after Jazzman's call. They didn't have to wait long for that.
"Ladies and gentlemen! And now the competing teams of the Quarter Finals. Welcome the one, the famous, the re-united Bladebreakers who are still the official title defenders!"
The audience went crazy; the whole stadium trembled under the pounding legs and vibrated with the burst of applause, people shouting the team members' names and encouraged them with supporting words. Tyson couldn't stop his ear-to-ear grin even if he had wanted to. He could feel how the crowd recharged his energy, his positivity, being thrilled to launch his Dragoon.
He walked to their marked spot with the team and Jazzman called for the following team.
"Bladebreakers are followed by former champions. They won't leave until they reclaim their champion title, the Blitzkriegs!"
The crowd clapped and cheered loudly, but it was not as ear-piercing as for the Bladebreakers. Tala wore his usual contemptuous expression for what the fangirls habitually lost their minds, but his team threw a small smile or a quick handwave to the praising spectators.
"The next competitors are not only passionate, but fashionable beybladers, the F-Dynasty!"
While the applause for the Blitzkriegs was rather deep and warlike, the cheers were high-pitched and playful for Julia, Raul and Romero's trio.
"The naturally talented, and very popular Justice-5!"
Tyson was able to hear the mixed feelings from the applause; the members of Justice-5 were popular, but after the BEGA-fiasco, they got several anti-fans, as well.
"They couldn't make it this far last year, but now, here they are and ready to fight 'till the end with all their might, the Majestics!"
"The independent and diligent members of Miguel's Squad!"
"The only newcomers, who were able to fight their way to the Quarter finals against more experienced beybladers on the championship, the Ragged Force!"
"And never wake up the sleeping lions or you'll meet the furious claws of the White Tigers!"
Ray sent an encouraging smile to his clan that Lee returned with pride, while Mariah enthusiastically waved back at him. The tiger couldn't suppress his warm chuckle at the pink girl's cheerfulness.
Once all participants stood on their place in the stadium, the opening of Quarter Finals began. Jazzman quickly explained the new rules to the audience, reminding them also for the importance of the 'fight of advantage' battle.
"Argh, enough of the blabber! I want to fight already!" Tyson's clenched fist trembled in the air before his chest. He was losing his patience and he could never appreciate Jazzman's endless talk in these moments.
"I just got the information our random match generator has been activated. Few more seconds and we'll know the exact matchups for the first day of the Quarter Finals."
The whole stadium was waiting in tensed silenced when finally, the details appeared on the huge screen.
Majestics vs. Ragged Force
F-Dynasty vs. Blitzkriegs
Bladebreakers vs. Miguel's Squad
White Tigers vs. Justice-5
The spectators awed in surprise and excitement.
"Majestics and Ragged Force teams! You have 5 minutes to prepare for your fight! The rest, please, return to your room and stay there until your battle being called."
The teams followed the instructions and left the spot where they were standing.
Tyson searched Robert's face in the crowd, who was already ardently describing the strategy for his team that was diligently listening to him, even Johnny didn't interrupt his words. The British captain's accent lived so vividly in his mind that Tyson could almost hear it in his ear.
He smiled as he left the main hall with his team; the Majestics seemed undoubtedly tough and determined on this championship.
Pacing on the corridors, his team started to chat again; Kenny uncontrollably and unstoppably ran on, mentioning strategy after strategy for the battle with Miguel's Squad. Max gleefully giggled in his excitement, now he knew who was their opponent and seemed more confident.
"Let's quickly figure out who fight against who, while we watch the Majestics battling!" Tyson offered eagerly, finally feeling the excitement expanding from his stomach.
"Good idea. Thank God, it's not us who battle first!" Kenny said with a sigh of relief.
Before Tyson could step into their locker room with his friend, a strong, scornful shout called his captain behind his back.
oOoOo
"Hiwatari!"
Kai was quietly following his team to the locker room when he heard someone was calling his name. He stopped abruptly and looked back to find his former redhead captain coming with heavy steps in the corridor. Surprisingly, he was alone, he must dismiss his team to return their own room.
Regarding Tala's seemingly upset movements and calling him on his last name, Kai didn't expect a friendly conversation with the wolf, whatever it could be about.
"What is it?" He spat flatly.
"Don't you fucking dare assault my team ever again or I'll report you to the BBA head office for violence right after I beat the hell out of you! Am I fucking clear?" Tala quickly closed the distance between them to accusingly sink a digit into Kai's chest, emphasizing his point. He was furious, not tolerating the smallest abuse against his team.
Kai raised a brow, almost unfazed at the redhead boy's exaggerated action. He wouldn't think Tala could be so protective, especially for someone who he had barely known for two weeks. He never showed this side of him when he was his partner on the tag-team last year. Maybe because he had never needed anything like that.
"What, the little girl ran to daddy crying?" Kai retorted sarcastically as he defensively folded his arms.
"What?!"
Kai looked back at Tyson and realized his team didn't make to the locker room, they were standing in the corridor with him and Tala, staring in wild shock.
"You really hurt someone else again? Have you seriously lost your mind, Kai?!" Tyson yelled at him, and Kai had to fight back the urge to silence the boy with a slap on his face. Why did have to always shout publicly?
"Who was it? What did you do?" Ray's voice was calm, but his eyes burned with uncommon cold.
At his teammates' reaction, Kai felt something flinched in his chest, around his heart, but he quickly brushed aside the feeling, suddenly irritated for being affected and weak by their accusing expression.
"No," Tala replied to Kai's venomous retort. "Sergei told me what happened, not like it would matter. What matters is–"
"I merely grabbed her by her arm. Don't make a fool of yourself!" Kai cut in, getting fed up with the ridiculous situation. Why on earth Tala made such a scene about this, he couldn't wrap his mind around it.
"Stop assaulting her! She fairly won the battle against you and earn her place in the team, so pull your head out of your ass and get over it!" Tala snapped at him with all vulgarity, determined to end their conversation here.
He was about to turn on his heel and head back to his own locker room when Kai answered him. He was not going to just let him leave with those hard allegations without enlightening Tala about his teammate's dirty mind games.
"Then you better put her on a leash. She took my beyblade and used it without my permission, and I haven't mentioned yet the manipulative thoughts she has been filling my teammates' heads with."
Tala paused at his reply, but he didn't seem surprised by what Kai had just shared with him.
"I'm aware that she tested your Dranzer, but she also told me it was your mechanic who agreed on it. I can't see how the blame can be put on her in this matter." Now Tala folded his arms, standing solidly before Kai. "As for the manipulative thoughts… What are your teammates? Idiots, for believing them?
"Hey!" Max interjected, offended by Tala's words.
"Don't make a fool of yourself." Tala continued, repeating back Kai's words with a satisfied, malevolent sneer on his face, ignoring completely Max and the rest of the team. This argument had to be discussed between the captains.
No matter how small, Tala's facial gestures were always harsh and raw, mirroring the iciness in his piercing eyes. Kai never wondered why tough guys such as Boris and Sergei bent to his will so easily; the red-haired could be intimidating whenever he wanted to be.
Good thing Kai had never been affected by him. He was not the kind of man who could be pushed aside easily with a simple scary glare. He knew if he demonstrated his dominance, Tala retreated from his superiority just like anyone else did all the time.
Kai closed the remaining gap between them, invading Tala's personal space so that he could see him shifting uncomfortably, but didn't stepped back. The wolf knew the rules of this game after all.
"Are you also aware of the fact that she talked about the tattoo to my teammates?" Kai asked so low that only Tala could hear his words though he intended to be rather threatening than cautious as he switched to Russian, so his team couldn't understand what he was saying. "If I catch her talking about the stuff happened in the Abbey again, I will be the one who'll use my connections at the BBA and ban her from the championship with a feign accusation, forcing her to leave with only shame."
Tala masked his bewilderment well, looking unfazed at him, but Kai could read him by the narrowed eyes; the redhead boy was contemplating his words with concern. Gleaming blue was running back and forth between Kai's two eyes, staring deeply at them, trying to catch a lie. The attempt was futile as there were no lies in there and Kai knew very well that.
Running out of his remarks, Tala stepped away at last.
"Leave her alone." He warned for the last time, closing the conversation, then walked away.
"Would ya explain what this all was about?" Tyson demanded as Kai turned back to enter the locker room.
"We have a more important thing; winning the battle against Miguel's team." Kai dismissed his question as he passed his team to enter the room.
Unluckily, he couldn't shake them off so easily.
"Now, I know why your Dranzer was under reparation. You fought the Russian girl for the empty place in Tala's team." Ray stated as he followed Kai.
The others stepped into the room as well, and Kenny firmly closed the door behind him. He didn't want anyone else to eardrop this sensitive topic.
Kai locked his eyes onto Ray's challenging ones, not believing he was having the same argument again with the team. He also saw Max's disappointment while Tyson and Hilary looked betrayed at him.
"Yes. So what?" Kai asked offhandedly.
"You battled with Alexandra after you've agreed to entry with us, as Bladebreakers. I can't believe you!" Tyson quickly caught up the conversation, putting the pieces together in his mind. He was shocked by another betrayal. His voice sounded hurt, and Kai wondered when Tyson was going to finally learn not to put his trust into his none-existing loyalty.
The room was silent for a short time, his team clearly ran out of words that they could throw at his head, because his action was nothing new for them.
"Why did you agree then?" Tyson asked, troubled with the discovery of Kai's true intentions.
He was obviously struggling to get over with this, trying to extort some valid explanation from Kai that helped him to understand his motives. Too bad that Kai couldn't give him any.
"Why didn't you just say no if you wanted to beyblade in Tala's team?"
"It's not about Tala's or your team. I wanted to secure my place on the championship. The opportunity to join the Blitzkrieg Boys occurred only later. I gave it a shot, that's all." Kai explained as bluntly as he could, not mixing emotions into the facts.
For some reason, Tyson was not satisfied with his answer. On the contrary, he heaved furiously, clearly on edge of his patience towards the Russian.
In the next moments, Tyson did something that Kai wouldn't have expected from him; the Japanese boy leapt forward with his fist to land a blow at him, but Kai caught his fist that provoked Tyson even more. He quickly swung his other arm, but Kai dodged that too, locking his arms in a strong grip from Tyson couldn't escape.
"You arrogant asshole! Why are you even a member in our team if you want to jump ship so bad?! Just fucking leave!" Tyson shouted, going off with his temper, still struggling to hit the captain, but Kai was too strong.
"No!"
"LEAVE!" Tyson bellowed from the top of his lungs into Kai's face.
"NO!" Kai rejected. It was not his intention to leave the team, and felt a little worry that Tyson would actually force him.
"Why?!" Tyson asked back helplessly, not able to hide his angry tears pouring down on his face.
"Because I am the captain!" Kai bit back, reminding the bluenette to his role in the team.
"We don't need an unreliable traitor in our team…"
"ENOUGH!"
It was Ray who separated the two though Max immediately hurried to help him and pulled back Tyson to prevent him from any violent act.
For a fragment of time, only their heavy breathing could be heard as everyone in the room was upset by the loud fight.
"I'm sick of you two!" Ray looked back and forth between Kai and Tyson, scolding them like angry dad who got enough of his quarrelsome children. "We'll have a battle soon and you fight like some strait dogs on the streets! Violence does not solve anything! Pull yourself together, postpone this conversation for later and act as professional beybladers!"
Tyson was staring fiercely at Kai's blank expression, trying to steady his breath and pulse, then he guiltily dropped his gaze.
"I'm sorry, Ray. You're right." He said and Max finally let him go, patting his shoulder sympathetically.
Ray noticeably relieved at his words, then looked at Kai, expecting some reaction from him too, but the phoenix only stared back at him impassively. He didn't know what Ray wanted but if the tiger was waiting for an apology, they were going to stand there for a long, long time. He could see that his silence was almost provoking for Ray, but he was wiser than Tyson and didn't let that annoy him.
"I need some air." Tyson murmured then exited the room with hurry. Hilary instantly followed him, muttering something about giving him some comfort and bringing him back in time for the battle.
When Kai thought the drama was finally over with Tyson's leaving, Ray suddenly addressed him.
"I hope you're content with yourself now."
Kai gave him a puzzled look, not having an idea what he was talking about.
"As a captain, your responsibility would be to unify this team, not to tearing it apart with your selfish ambitions."
Kai left Ray's comment unanswered, not really caring what he was expecting from him. Again, he had never asked for this post.
Ray heaved an exhausted sigh then turned to Kenny and Max, not giving recognition to Kai's ignorance anymore.
"Let's figure out who fight for the advantage. We don't have much time left."
oOoOo
"We're lucky with this matchup. You were expecting a battle with the Spanish team, right?" Boris asked Tala in the locker room.
Majestics team had just won their set against Raged Force, not causing big surprise to anyone, though the East-European team fought hard and earned a point with their only win against Enrique. The next matchup was between them and F-Dynasty.
"I did." Tala confirmed, he was still a bit discomposed after his little hassle with Kai. More precisely, what Alexandra had been talking about according to his former teammate.
Being conflicted, Tala absently rubbed the back of his neck where his own tattoo could be found. He really didn't want anyone to find it out, it meant such a shame for him and his teammates, as well.
'This is not the proper time to solve this problem, I'll confront her later', Tala noted to himself, putting aside his concerns for now, and focusing on the tournament.
"Alright. Review our strategy again. Boris will fight for the advantage, hopefully winning it for us so we can avoid a tag-team match with Julia and Raul. Alexa will…" Tala trailed off as he noticed Alexandra's hand in the air, asking permission to speak. He was not used to questions during giving briefs, but he was curious what the blonde had to say. "Yes?"
"I was wondering why we want to avoid the tag-team fight."
"Because that is not our strength. We're stronger in solo." Tala clarified bluntly; he expected a smarter question.
Alexa raised her brows at his simple, dismissive reply, but didn't argue with him.
"Alexa will battle in the first round after the 'fight for advantage', Sergei in the second and me in the third, regardless who we have to battle. The members of F-Dynasty are more dangerous as a pair, so until the 'fight for advantage' is won by us, we don't have to worry about the outcome. In case Boris loses the fight for some reason, he and Sergei will fight in tag-team. You two practice a lot together, so you have the biggest chance to work in pair."
"Alexa and I also practiced some in the past days. We're doing pretty good." Sergei piped in, but Tala quickly rejected his offer.
"Not as much as with Boris."
There was a knock on their door.
"This is our call. Let's go." Tala said and exited the locker room with the team on his heel.
oOoOo
"Tell me something, please." Romero asked in his usual honey-tounged manner that made Boris shiver in his irritation.
They had just stepped up to the big beydish that was designed like a beach with sand and waving water, and small details like umbrellas and kiosks that made the navigation of spinning tops harder on the field.
"How can you stay so pale, my boy, in Dubai, under such a strong sunlight?"
Boris only grunted, not bothering with the answer as he lifted his launcher.
"I see the competitors are ready for the fight. Romero from F-Dynasty, Boris from Blitzkriegs. I won't delay anymore the battle, let's count down! 3… 2… 1… Let it rip!" Jazzman narrated; the audience cheering loudly for both teams as Boris and Romero launched their beyblade.
Boris's launcher was solid and as soon his falcon landed on the beach, targeted Romero's beyblade to get the job done. The sand was slippery, and he had to keep the velocity of his beyblade high if he didn't want Falborg to sink.
Romero realized this instantly, hence he wisely avoided the sand area, retreating into the water which was also a tough terrain, but at least, he was able to steady his beyblade balance there. Clearly, this design was a bigger disadvantage for Romero's heavy type beyblade than for Falborg, and Boris was willing to use it for his own benefit.
He commanded his beyblade to start attacking the tricolor beyblade and Falborg obeyed, landing merciless, precise attacks.
"Come on, Romero! Dodge his attacks!" Julia and Raul supported the man from the bench, and Romero gritted his teeth.
It was easier to say than done. If he didn't want to lose, he needed to find a functional strategy, and Boris was perfectly aware of that. Not giving him any chance to retreat, he continued his attacks, biting off tiny bits from Romero's beyblade. But he got tired after a while and his ferocious attacks gradually slowed down.
Boris knew he should take a break, to gain back some energy for Falborg, but he didn't want to disappoint Tala. His captain assigned him for this fight because he knew he could win this battle for the team, and Boris was determined to prove him right.
So, he forced himself to keep up, tensing all his muscles to land more attacks. Romero's beyblade was not going to last long now. He needed just a little more time to finish him.
Sadly, Romero also noticed Falborg's slowing pace, and quickly built a tactic. He was waiting intently, letting Boris to hammer his beyblade more and tiring himself until the point he could land a counterattack, using the power of surprise and pushing out Falborg from the dish.
Boris saw through his plan immediately. He was expecting the man to pull out a stunt like that; he knew Romero was a tactic blader, Tala warned him about that and made him swear not to underestimate the Spanish coach.
When he saw that Romero's beyblade was moving for a counterattack, Boris called Falborg.
"Stroblitz Attack!"
The falcon generated a sudden violent gust of wind, picking up the beach around him, filling Romero's closing gear with sand that, in the end, made the Spanish man's beyblade stop.
"Romero's beyblade stopped! Boris from Blitzkriegs wins the 'fight for advantage'!" Jazzman announced and the audience partially cheered, partially booed at the outcome.
"F-Dynasty! You get two minutes to decide the orders of your battling members!" Jazzman said to the trio, and they quickly put their heads together to confirm their decision with each other.
"Nice job though I expected nothing else." Tala praised with a smug smile on his face.
Boris smirked back, proudly dropping his gun-like launcher on his shoulder. He appreciated his captain's words.
"The player from F-Dynasty in the first round will be Julia, in the second Raul, and Julia in the third again." Jazzman declared, then turned to the Blitzkriegs. "Blitzkriegs, you have two minutes to decide who will battle from your team in the first round."
But the Blitzkriegs didn't need two minutes, they already knew who was going to be the applicant for the task. Tala gave a gentle push to Alexandra, urging her to the beydish where Julia had been waiting for her.
"Alexandra from Blitzkriegs is stepping to the beydish, she's going to be Julia's opponent. Both looks determined to… Oh! Julia is requesting a tag-team fight!" Jazzman said with a surprise, and every head turned to the Spanish tall girl, who lifted two fingers into the air, an unofficial sign for a tag-team fight.
The crowd encouragingly whistled and applauded to the idea, demanding the tag-team fight.
"As Julia's team lost the 'fight for advantage', the opponent team can refuse the request, so it depends on Alexandra. What will be her decision?" Jazzman expectantly looked at the blonde to give her answer.
Surprisingly, Alexandra firmly nodded at the referee and commentator, approving Julia's request then turned back to her team and asked for Sergei to join her at the dish. She knew Tala might be irritated by her disobedient action, so she intentionally avoided looking at him. She wanted to give a new perspective for her captain that he was underestimating the team.
"AMAZING! This is the first time we can see the Russian team in a cooperative battle, and apparently, Alexandra is not scarred to decline a challenge like that. Let's root for her and her team not to regret their decision." Jazzman commented.
"What the fuck is she doing?!" Tala spat in his enrage. He was obviously regretting his own decision for letting the girl play, who didn't respect his orders.
Boris and Sergei shifted uncomfortably in their place beside Tala. They knew the redhead boy was very sensitive for any rebellious behaviour. When Sergei saw Alexandra waving at him to join her at the beydish, he looked at Tala, asking for his approval.
The wolf flicked his piercing eyes at Sergei and gestured to the beydish with his head, urging his muscled teammate to join the fight. The blonde complied, stepping up next to his teammate, Alexandra.
"Tala will skin you alive." He mumbled with barely moving lips to the girl, evidently not pleased for roping him into her mess.
"Not if we win." Alexa said, mustering as much courage into her words as she could.
She knew very well that she risked a lot with her decision, but Alexa trusted in her and Sergei's skills. She wouldn't have agreed to Julia's request, if she hadn't been confident about their win.
"I'm damn sure he'll skin you in any case." Sergei protested, then readied his launcher.
"There's water here, we got the best landscape for this battle." She tried to convince him.
"Alright, folks! The rules are a bit different in this situation regarding the scoring, let me quickly explain them for you. In case of a tag-team fight, instead of three rounds, teams have only this one battle that determine everything. It's an all or nothing fight; the losing team does not score any point while the winner earns all the three. If it's a tie, both teams scores one point. Now, shall we?"
Jazzman counted down again and all four players strongly pulled the ripcord.
Alexa didn't mess her launch this time, and landed steadily beside Sergei's Seaborg, circling protectively around it. They purposefully arrived in the water to use it for their own advantage.
Julia and Raul's beyblades moved in perfect harmony, spinning around each other like following a dance choreography on the beach part. They didn't remain passive too long; Julia engaged an attack and Raul followed her tightly.
The teamwork of the two Spanish players was flawless. If one of them made a move, the other instantly followed it like they could read each other's mind. Alexa prepared herself for this, but she was still amazed by their skills. She was working on a plan how to disorganize their smooth moves with Sergei.
"Should we counterattack?" Sergei asked, indifferent by the attacks of the pegasuses as Alexa was doing a good job to deflect the two beyblades keeping them away from Seaborg.
"Not yet but soon they're gonna wear me out. Start collecting your energy for a huge counter-wave, I'll be able to join you then."
"Got it!" Sergei acknowledged and Seaborg picked up his speed, twirling the water around him.
"Don't let them, Raul!" Julia ordered, quickly seeing through the Blitzkriegs' tactic and the red haired boy nodded, connecting his beyblade to his sister's for a stronger charge.
They aimed at Alexandra's beyblade that was still spinning around Seaborg with crazy speed, and the Russian girl startled.
"Sergei!" Alexa cried, scared that the heavy attack might blow her Baladrac out of the dish.
"I got ya, I got ya!" Sergei responded, quickly standing in front of Alexandra's beyblade with Seaborg and absorbing the Spanish offensive. His beyblade staggered, but Baladrac kept it steady, supporting it from behind.
"What an intense battle! F-Dynasty and Blitzkriegs are fighting head-to-head, both teams demonstrating exceptional teamwork!" Jazzman praised and the crowd loudly agreed with him.
"I'm almost ready." Sergei reported to Alexa when they finally were able to push back the Fernandez siblings.
The Russian girl confirmed his words with a nod, keeping her eyes on the battlefield. She forced her beyblade to steady its balance again, heating up the gears for their final blow.
"Sis', they're up to something!" Raul stated the obvious.
"I know!" Julia snarled in her frustration.
They had got what they wanted, a tag-team fight, yet somehow they were not in control. The Russians were tougher and more persistent than she had expected. Julia was angry at herself for underestimating the Blitzkriegs in a paired fight.
"Raul! Let's use our new attack!" She ordered and Raul stared at her with wide eyes.
"B-but Julia! We haven't practiced enough. It's too risky!" He objected, but Julia snapped at him.
"Just do what I say!"
Raul swallowed his doubts and did what he was told.
The two pegasuses clinched together once again while Seaborg finally generated a water wall around him, and Alexa's Baladrac started to create another one. The two walls suddenly blended together, creating a water ball above the two beyblades that spun unstoppably and in perfect unison.
The crowd awed at the extraordinary sight and they burst into a vociferous ovation, appreciating the show that the Blitzkriegs and F-Dynasty team provided them.
The Fernandez siblings could already hear the enormous whale's piercing war cry, but Julia warned Raul to keep his focus on their own attack. The two Spanish beyblades had sped up enough for the counter attack; Julia's Thunder Pegasus picked up Raul's and slung it directly at the Russians' beyblades like a bullet.
But they were late.
The two whale bitbeasts had already united their power, and the water ball slowly rolled in the air to them. Oddly, not only Seaborg and Baladrac, but numerous creatures were swimming inside of the ball, and in the next moment, the water, the bitbeasts and beyblades crashed into Julia and Raul's pegasuses, literally mopping the floor with them.
"Blitzkriegs wins the tag-team fight against, scoring all the three points with their unbelievable attack! F-Dynasty leaves with no points this day." Jazzman's voice boomed in and the audience lost their mind.
Alexa screamed and jumped in her happiness while Sergei was celebrating with more dignity, laughing at his teammate's joy. He traded a fist-bump with her; they won their battle after all.
Sergei was turning on his heel to join Tala and Boris, but he paused when he saw Alexandra walking to the Fernandez siblings to shake hands with them.
"Congratulations." Julia said reluctantly as she shook the Russian girl's hand.
"Thanks! Your final attack would've definitely finished us, I'm glad we could stop you in time." Alexa said, not able to fight back her smile.
Julia and Raul cheered up a bit at that, appreciating her words with a small smile.
"It's good to see a Blitzkriegs member smiling. Not very common in your group." Raul complimented.
Alexandra looked at his teammates to confirm the validity of the Spanish boy's comment, and indeed, she saw only angry, ominous eyes staring at her. Alexa chuckled in her embarrassment.
The less pleasant part of her day was just about to come.
She returned to her teammates and Tala ushered them back to the locker room. He didn't say anything about her battle, not praising their win, his expression promised only scolding.
oOoOo
Thanks to Hilary's comforting words, Tyson relatively fast calmed down after his new fight with Kai, but it was hard to completely let his anger go. He was pacing back and forth in a hidden nook of the stadium, trying to vent out his frustration.
"I just don't understand why he keeps doing this!" He grumbled to Hilary, repeating this sentence for the seventh time. "I know he was never a loyal person, but there must be a line somewhere even for him."
"It's not your fault, Tyson. I don't think he betrays the team to mean harm. He just… puts his ambitions before everyone else." Hilary said, trying to find an explanation for the Russian's actions.
Tyson exhaled a loud, hoarse sigh, not knowing what to do with the whole situation, but annoyed by it beyond measure. From the distance, they heard the crowd applauding, and he realized he was not in the state to beybattle.
"I think we should head back now. Don't miss your battle." Hilary offered when she heard the muffled cheering.
The dragon didn't resist, following half-heartedly Hilary back to the team's locker room.
When they returned, the fight between Majestics and Raged Force had finished already, and his team was watching the Blitzkriegs' tag-team battle with F-Dynasty.
"Crap! I missed the Europeans' fight!" Tyson slapped himself internally; he wanted to see that fight so bad. He was surprised though that Sergei and Alexandra was battling in pair with Julia and Raul.
"Blitzkriegs lost the 'fight for advantage' again?" He asked in his confusion.
"No. Boris won it against Romero, but Alexa, in the first round, accepted Julia's challenge and agreed to have a tag-team fight." Max explained from the table, leaning on his elbow.
"She what? Wow, that's brave. Teamwork is not the first thing comes to my mind when I think of the Russian team." Tyson said as he sat next to Max, gluing his eyes to the TV screen.
"Now, that you're here, Tyson, I'd share with you our strategy for the battle with Miguel's Squad." Kenny spoke up, trying to catch the champion's attention. "The one who's going to battle first for the advantage will be–"
"Me!" Tyson interjected firmly, not open to argument. He wanted to battle as soon as he could, that might help on his mood.
Kenny was taken aback by his vehement reaction that he suddenly didn't know what to say.
"But… But we already decided it'll be Max." He stuttered.
"It's okay, Chief. I pass it to Tyson this time." The blonde offered, he knew they couldn't reason with Tyson when he wanted something so bad.
"Thanks, pal!" Tyson grinned appreciatively. "I can always count on you… unlike others." He added under his nose, shooting a glare to Kai.
The captain didn't react to his comment, just slightly rolled his eyes while kept watching the Russians' fight.
"Okay. So, Tyson will start and fight for the advantage. If he wins, Ray will come after him, then Max and Kai in the third round. It can change, of course, depending on the outcome of Tyson's fight." Kenny summarized, finally at ease that they had a plan.
"Uh-huh, okay." Tyson muttered, not really paying attention at Kenny, because the fight between F-Dynasty and the Blitzkriegs were so intense that he couldn't tear his glance from the screen.
"Are you recording this, Kenny? This is the first time we can see the Russian girl battling." Ray asked suddenly.
"Of course!" Kenny replied, almost offended at the assumption.
"You're right, she missed her launch last time." Max remembered. "I'm surprised she got a water-type bitbeast, too."
"Hn." Kai said with a frown.
"Stop humming. If you want to say something, form words like a decent human, otherwise, stay quiet." Tyson bit at him, making clear for the captain that he was not over with their fight.
Kai stared and raised a challenging brow at him. Tyson ignored the taunting gesture and turned his gaze back to the screen.
Sergei and Alexa were synchronizing their attack in that moment, forming the water ball that floated above the beydish.
"WOAH!" Both Tyson and Kenny gasped, amazed by what was happening on the screen.
"I've never seen anything like that." Ray mused with wide eyes.
"Even I can't do that!" Max said in his awe.
"Maybe it's something you can only do with someone else." Hilary pondered aloud, watching the water closing to Julia and Raul and splashing at them with all its weight.
"Yes, it's a special attack that only multiple bitbeasts can initiate." Kai confirmed Hilary's words.
They heard as Jazzman announced the Russian's team win, and Hilary turned off the TV.
"Hey!" Tyson exclaimed in protest.
"It's our turn, Tyson." Hilary scolded, putting a hand on her hip.
"Oh, right!"
Hilary spared him an eyeroll while the team stood and took their leave to the stadium.
oOoOo
"I'm asking the competitors for the 'fight for advantage' to stand up to the dish!" Jazzman requested, and Tyson stepped forward.
"So, it'll be Tyson from the Bladebreakers, and Mathilda from Miguel's Squad. Ready?" The commentator waited for the confirmation from both beybladers then started to count down.
The crowd encouraged them with whistles and loud clapping, and Tyson tried to gain strength from them, but his mind was swirling like he would've launched Dragoon in his head, casting its typhoon of thoughts there.
He tried to close out everything and concentrate on his launch. He felt his sweating skin on the ring of the ripcord, his fingers twitching in his nervousness.
…'You'd be a fucking no one if I weren't be!' …
…'It was me who made you champion!' ...
… 'YOU FREAKIN' HYPOCRITE!'…
Tyson shook his head frantically, trying to shift his focus back on his battle. Why was he thinking of Kai's lies now? Why now?!
"Let it rip!" Jazzman bellowed at the end of the counting, and both Tyson and Mathilda shot their blades into the beydish.
'I will show him what a true champion I am!', Tyson swore internally, infuriated by the hurtful words.
He attacked Mathilda's hedgehog straightaway, wreaking his wrath that piled inside him during the past days.
"Oh no! Hold on, Pierce hedgehog! Dodge!" Mathilda cried helplessly, trying to pour some strength into her bitbeast as Dragoon was smashing her beyblade without mercy.
The yellow beyblade attempted to retreat and gain stamina for one single attack, but Dragoon followed it closely, not giving it any chance for that.
"Dragoon! Galaxy Storm!"
The storm rose in the beydish, tearing apart every detail on the beach, but mostly, Mathilda's Pierce Hedgehog. Pieces of her beyblade was flying all around; she had no chance to pull up any defense against the destructive wind and her strongly mutilated spinning top unstoppably flew out of the dish, leaving Mathilda in tears.
"With Tyson's unusually forceful game, Bladebreakers takes the advantage from Miguel's team." Jazzman commented, covering well his shock.
The crowd couldn't mirror his professionalism; people uncertainly clapped their hands, but soon, they started to boo at Tyson for his dishonorable beyblading style.
Tyson only then realized what he had done; staring at Mathilda, who couldn't stop her crying over her demolished beyblade.
"Why did you have to? Why did you have to attack so aggressively?" She asked on her small, high voice and Tyson could feel his blood freezing in his veins.
"Oh my god… I'm so sorry, Mathilda! I didn't mean to…" Tyson started but didn't know how to finish his sentence as he didn't have a proper explanation why he attacked her so brutally that he destroyed her beyblade in the process.
"Miguel's Squad! You have two minutes to decide the orders of your battling members!" Jazzman ordered, and Mathilda stepped down from the beydish, looking for comfort from his team.
The captain, Miguel sent a hard glare at Tyson, not forgiving for what he had done. The champion could only stutter.
"I-I'm really…"
"Tyson, come down!" Hilary called him from the bench, pulling him out of his stupor.
The dragon-wielder obeyed and left the stage. He looked at his teammates, but immediately regretted it because their shocked, scolding expression was unbearable for him. Even Kai watched him with darkened, disappointed eyes, but that only annoyed Tyson.
'How dares he staring at me like that? As a former Blade Shark!'
"What was that, Tyson? Why did you have to destroy her beyblade?" Hilary questioned him in a strict manner.
"I must agree with Hilary on this. What's with you?" Ray asked, but Tyson could only gape at his question.
"Yeah, not very sportsmanlike." Max confirmed though his voice was not filled with judgement, rather confusion.
"I don't know! I got upset!" Tyson threw his hands in the air, feeling driven in the corner.
"The order of the battling members of Miguel's Squad are the following. Miguel fights in the first round, Aaron in the second and Claude is the last one in the third. Bladebreakers! You have two minutes until the first round." Jazzman informed the whole stadium.
"Okay, the strategy is the same what we've discussed in the locker room. Ray, you go first. You'll be a good counter for Miguel, he's the strongest beyblader in their team." Kenny said rapidly, trying to cover every detail in the short time they had.
"You can count on me." Ray nodded gravely.
"Max, you'll fight in the second round against Aaron. We got not much data on his play, but I don't think you have to worry. Keep up your defense, be alert and you'll be fine." Kenny continued, looking at the blonde who just gave him a thumb up, acknowledging the instructions.
"And lastly, Kai, you'll fight against Claude in the third round. He has an eagle bit-beast so expect attack from above. Oh, and watch out for his Twin Saber attack! Any question?"
"Do you have any more helpful advice?" Kai asked back cynically.
Kenny huffed, disregarding his captain's sarcasm.
Ray stood up to the beydish where Miguel was already waiting with folded arms. He still seemed discomposed by what happened with Mathilda. The two shared a deeper bond since last year, Ray could see that.
He was not proud of it, but Ray put Miguel's distressed state to good use. The moment their beyblades landed in the dish, the situation had got serious.
Miguel was determined to score a point against Ray, and promptly called his Dark Gargoyle to smite at Driger. Ray didn't let him to do it; he picked up his speed instead, his beyblade winding rapidly around the dish.
Miguel couldn't keep track and follow Driger's flashlights, so the tiger continuously struck at his beyblade, approaching out of nowhere then disappearing with the same crazy speed. The European soon recognized that he was out of Ray's league and couldn't compete with him.
This was not a reason to throw in the towel though. He mustered all energy he got for a final attack, risking everything with his last attempt to score a point against the Bladebreakers.
Ray saw the danger and was eager to finish the battle immediately, but Dark Gargoyle was faster than he anticipated, and when his Driger attacked for the last time, pushing Miguel's beyblade out of the dish, the winged beast bit into the tiger, crashing the rings of his spinning top.
Right after Miguel's Gargoyle flew out of the dish, Ray's beyblade stopped rotating, laying heavily damaged in the sand.
"The Bladebreakers scores their first point in the Quarter Finals with Ray's victory against Miguel!" Jazzman stated, provoking another applaud out of the crowd.
"Well played!" Rai nodded with smile at his opponent; Miguel didn't give the win easily.
The blonde boy smiled back at him, reassuring him there was no hard feelings between them.
"Let me see the damage!" Kenny urged in panic when Ray returned to the bench to his team and dropped his broken Driger into the mechanic's hand.
"Oh no! The core is also broken!" Chief whined.
"But you can repair it for tomorrow, right?" Tyson cut in, asking the question instead of Ray.
"I'll try." Kenny promised uncertainly.
"Competitors of the second round, step to the beydish!" Jazzman's always excited voice called.
"That's me!" Max rose from the bench, energetically climbing the stairs where he met with Aaron.
Max and Aaron's battle was almost uneventful as Draciel was defensive the whole time while Aaron's Rushing Boar, being a stamina-type beyblade, waited patiently for the turtle to engage. Soon, the rasta haired boy got bored and initiated his attacks.
Supposedly, Max would be in disadvantage against Aaron with his defense type beyblade; Kenny wanted Tyson to fight against him for this very reason, but the blonde had no deep concerns about his battle. Using some clever moves, he could trick the European to lure him into bold attacks that made Aaron's beyblade unsteady, and with Draciel's help, Max was able to finish the Boar bitbeast with a water attack.
"Two points for the Bladebreakers, zero to Miguel's Squad!"
Kai followed Max in the last round, stepping up with Claude to the beydish that was already filled with debris. Their battle lasted briefly, but it was more spectacular as the two bird bitbeasts fought intensely to get the upper hand. Despite Claude's competent attempts, Dranzer scorched the flying feathers of the eagle with all the waste in the beydish, cleaning up fairly the field.
Claude collapsed to the floor in his sorrow, having a hard time to accept the fact that his team couldn't score a single point.
"Bladebreakers scores their third points in the last round thanks to Kai!"
Kai called back Dranzer to his hand and before he left, he reassured his opponent.
"Keep it up, you're getting stronger."
Claude looked up at the Russian to make sure he heard properly what Kai said, but he was already moving away.
oOoOo
The battle between the White Tigers and Justice-5 was more intense than any other match on that day. Ray's clan was conscious of the situation, getting one of the strongest opponents on the first day of Quarter finals, and they were committed to make their best out of it, meeting with the challenge.
Lee fought for the advantage against Mystel, who was goofily laughing at his opponent at the beginning, but he stopped fooling around after the lion bitbeast's black lightning rushed through his water, numbing his beyblade for several seconds, leaving Poseidon vulnerable for the claw attacks.
The Chinese captain took seriously their fight, and pushed Mystel to do the same as the two had to settle an account with each other after their first meet in China. Therefor, the battle lasted longer than normally, and soon everyone was on the edge to finally know which team could get the advantage for the next three battles.
Lee became exhausted and Mystel gave his best to counter his attacks, and eventually, the two stubborn beybladers couldn't feed their bitbeasts anymore with the necessary energy; both Galeon and Poseidon stopped spinning, still clinched together to finish the other.
"Unbelievable!" Jazzman roared and the crowd rewarded Lee and Mystel's vigorous battle with a standing ovation. "The 'fight for advantage' ends with a tie between Justice-5 and the White Tigers! According to the rules, the captains of the two teams have to fight for the advantage in this case. Let's hope it won't end with another tie and we can go home before dawn!"
The audience laughed at Jazzman's joke, but White Tigers didn't appreciate it.
"Not fair! Lee just finished his battle with Mystel, he's exhausted!" Mariah whined and stomped with her feet angrily.
"Yeah, it sucks! But it was our team's decision to make him fight the foremost battle." Kevin reasoned, but Mariah could only groan, helplessly watching his brother on the stage, who was noticeably too tired to win a battle against Garland. She was worried for him.
"3…2…1…Let it rip!"
Garland wanted to take mercy on Lee and tried to finish the match as quickly as possible, but not landing too heavy attacks on the already damaged black lion and on its wielder, but Lee didn't admire his Good Samaritan attitude. He fought back vehemently against the griffin, throwing out his caution and not taking into consideration the possible injuries.
Despite putting up a good fight with Garland, the battle ended fast, leaving Apollon spinning alone in the dish.
The audience gave a long, sympathetic 'oh' for Lee's honorable efforts. White Tigers generally was not the crowd's favourite, but it seemed they liked their fighting spirit.
Jazzman urged the White Tigers to figure their battling order, and once they were done with that, Kenny moved to the beydish, being the one who fought in the first round.
Ming Ming was his opponent.
"Oh, my! Another monkey boy?" Ming Ming complained audibly.
"Yep, I am!" Kevin snickered.
Ming Ming shortly learnt that the short boy was as determined as his captain to score a point in his round, so Kevin was giving a hard time to the pop princess with his monkey bitbeast's literally crazy attacks, tricking her with the illusion of multiple beyblades attacking her Venus.
The Justice-5 girl got perfectly confused then upset for not being able to recognize Kevin's real beyblade from the fakes ones, and went berserk in the beydish, hoping she could hit the real one in her luck.
Kevin tauntingly laughed at her, not helping to ease her frustration, and in the end, he was able to launch Venus out of the beydish.
Ming Ming was not able to accept her defeat and gave a small tantrum over the dish, smashing her microphone-launcher to the floor and stomping angrily.
The White Tigers tried to draw strength from Kevin's victory, but Gary, despite giving his all, was no match for Garland, who landed every bursting attack precisely, finishing the battle before Gary could have heated up the fight.
At last, Mariah fought in the third round with Brooklyn. The pink girl swallowed nervously, but her amber eyes slipped in a ferocious line, ready to hunt down her prey.
She was fast and wild, but Galux's claws couldn't harm the god bitbeast. Brooklyn easily dodged her attacking attempts though he was fair enough not to brag about it as he could see that Mariah was giving her best; using clever, unpredictable moves.
The orange haired young man seemed to be a changed man since his battle with Tyson. He was less passive in the beybattles and less cocky towards his opponents, giving the respect them what they deserved.
Eventually, Mariah's beyblade was pushed into the corner, sinking deeply in the sand that prevented her Galux to keep her rotation up.
"Mariah's beyblade stopped spinning, Brooklyn wins the last round against the White Tigers! The result is two points for Justice-5, one for the White Tigers! You will see promptly on the screen how many points the teams scored in total today." Jazzman pointed to the huge display behind his back on which the team names and their current points were indeed described.
Bladebreakers: 3
Blitzkriegs: 3
Justice-5: 2
Majestics: 2
Ragged Force: 1
White Tigers: 1
F-Dynasty: 0
Miguel's Squad: 0
"Thank you for rooting for the competitors, you were a great audience today! Have a good night, see ya all tomorrow!" Jazzman said his goodbye and the lights turned on above the grandstand to help the crowd leaving the stadium in safe.
A/N: Again, 9K+ words / 22 pages. Why? Why did I decide to write a tournament story when I hate writing about beybattles?! Am I stupid? (Rhetorical question, of course I am...)
Please, leave a review, let me know what you think about the chapter and story!