The building chosen for the tournament was one that was also used for video-game and board game tournaments. Though the organizers made sure to customize it for the Bakugan competition.

It wasn't the first ever Bakugan tournament either, but that one alongside the one coming around a month later were organized by a serious sponsor, which raised the prize money considerably. This was natural seeing how this new game was becoming bigger and bigger.

Inside the building, there was a reception, where the brawlers had to show the paper they had to print to confirm they were participants. Once done, they had to go on to the lockers, where they could leave any things they needed. And if they didn't want or need to, they could continue walking. The only remaining place to go at this point was the arena, where the tournament would be held.

At this moment, Izuse was already there. He was nervous, he couldn't deny it, seeing that much people there. He knew Bakugan was very well known, but never really expected such a big amount of spectators and participants.

The arena was a gym with a roof that, for the purpose of this competition, was filled with several designated areas where the brawlers would fight. And there, he started identifying every participant, even those he didn't knew were participating because he didn't read the whole public list.

He started regretting such a decision at the sight of a long-haired, very eloquently dressed boy of around his age, maybe a little older. It was none other than Klaus von Hertzon himself, the third best bakugan player in the world according to the official ranking. Izuse felt sick and almost passed out, but he managed to keep himself together and stay standing. Still, he knew he'd just gone to get destroyed in that tournament.

"I sense a very powerful bakugan close to him." Leonidas went out of the green-eyed boy's pocket as he felt a strong energy signal. He looked back at Issue and noticed that he was looking at Klaus as well.

"That must be Sirenoid," said Izuse, though it appeared to be more to himself than to his bakugan.

"Don't worry, Klaus won't participate this time." From behind, a feminine voice spoke to him, and its owner placed her hand on his shoulder.

The boy of the white hoodie turned around to find out who had talked to him. He was surprised to find a light-blue-haired girl, wearing a yellow t-shirt and a white skirt. He knew her pretty well, as any other bakugan fan did, probably. It was natural to know Runo Misaki as she was one of the battle brawlers.

"Nice to meet you." She said with a friendly tone, offering Izuse to shake hands. He accepted and extended his own hand.

"Uh, yeah sorry, I was a bit surprised that you talked to me."

Runo chuckled, she felt great that she was treated as a celebrity by the black-haired boy. "It's just that I noticed you also have a talking bakugan, so I couldn't avoid reaching out!"

"Oh, yeah, he's Leonidas," Izuse took his partner on his hand and showed it to the girl, who was surprised.

"Huh, it's weird, I've never seen anything like him..."

Leonidas remained quiet as the conversation progressed, though listening carefully what happened between the two humans. He might be a brute fighter, but he still knew that the best way to defeat your opponents was to know them well, and so he heard the conversation looking for any information on that Sirenoid they talked about.

"One day he just appeared to me! Kinda like the rest of the bakugan, but still," Izuse scratched his chin while the scene of his encounter with Leonidas reappeared in his mind.

"Just appeared...?" Runo submerged on her thoughts herself. Could that be a new bakugan? She'd have to ask her friends first, but she shouldn't worry too much, as the boy that was with Leonidas didn't seem suspicious at all. "Oh well, anyways, the tournament will start soon, so good luck!"

"Oh, true, thanks! I wish you good luck as well, but you won't need it as much as me." He replied, laughing nervously in between words.

Runo laughed softly. She loved when people praised her, and she deserved it of course. "I know I'm quite the brawler, but have some confidence! That Leonidas friend of yours surely is strong!"

Izuse was going to say something else, but the announcer started calling the participants for the tournament to start. His heart started pounding and quickly he was sweating. His nerves distracted him so much that he didn't notice Runo's goodbye.

The green dragon had to step on his shoulder and yell at him to snap him out of the trance he was in. The boy of the black, messy hair gasped as his partner's yells finally caught his attention.

"I think it's time." Said the bakugan coldly. "Get ready."

With his eyes finally setting on the announcer, and therefore finally locating himself in the space of the arena, he nodded in response to Leonidas's words. He took a deep breath, and nodded again after doing so. He slapped himself, and took another deep breath. Surprisingly, it worked and he managed to calm himself down a bit. He was ready.

"Alright, let's go!" He started running towards the rest of participants, and found a place between the crowd.

The announcer went on to explain how the tournament would work. With 16 participants, the tournament would start with a first round of 1v1 battles, from which 8 victorious brawlers would go on to the next phase. The quarter finals, semis and the final would be 1v1 matches as well, each phase having less and less participants, naturally.

Then, the announcer started announcing the matches that were decided randomly. Izuse started wishing for him to be lucky and not get some of the strongest brawlers.

Runo Misaki vs Isemitsu Muyori, Marucho Marukura vs Tadikko Iwatanda, and Izuse sighed in relief. He definitely felt lighter when he was confirmed that he wouldn't face against two of the best brawlers in the world.

However, nothing lasts forever, and his relief proved it once the next match was announced. Izuse Kushino vs Hyoshida Wakudate. He was facing off against the 8th best according to the official bakugan ranking. He didn't react, or at least so did the girl next to him thought due to his expressionless face. Truth was, though, that he was so shocked that he couldn't focus hard enough to push out a single bit of emotion.

The announcer continued doing his job until every match was officially announced and the order of the tournament established. Only then was Izuse snapped back to reality, as his future opponent tried to call his attention for them to have their match. He was faced by a boy of around his same age, though with short brown hair and eyes of the same color.

This time, Leonidas didn't have to yell directly at the boy's ears, luckily. Izuse apologized and then greeted his opponent properly, who smiled at such manners and kindness.

Hyoshida took out a gate card of his, and so did Izuse, with both showing their cards to the other.

"Field open!" The two said in unison as time froze all around them, and were then sucked into a blank space.

Each brawler threw their cards and once they had been placed on the field, both took out their respective bakugan. Izuse grabbed Leonidas, being the safest choice to make in such a difficult match; while his opponent grabbed a brown ball, a subterra bakugan. Hyoshida would be the first to throw.

"Bakugan, brawl! Tuskor, stand!" Once the bakugan landed on the card, it released a bright light, from which a giant elephant with spikes on its trunk emerged.

"Bakugan, brawl! Leonidas, stand!" Izuse followed his opponent, throwing his bakugan and releasing a giant bipedal dragon once it landed on the card.

"What is that?" Hyoshida asked to himself at the side of the green dragon.

Seeing that both bakugan landed on different cards, the brown-haired boy took his next bakugan while he thought about what to do next. He could either make a double stand and win the first card or go and attack that mysterious bakugan. Though giving it more thought, he would always eventually end up fighting the dragon, so better do it with his strongest bakugan than with any of the others.

"Manion, stand!" He said directly as he threw his bakugan, which landed on the same card as Leonidas. From a yellow light, a giant sphinx appeared to face the dragon.

"Ventus Leonidas, 400 Gs. Subterra Manion, 385 Gs."

Hyoshida was surprised by the power of the mysterious bakugan, but he assumed he probably was something similar to Dan's Dragonoid and didn't give it much more thought.

"Gate card, open! Leonidas!"

The brown-haired boy was, rather than surprised, astonished at the reveal of the card. He knew the green dragon would probably hit absurdly high power, and their bakupods confirmed it.

"Ventus Leonidas's G power increases to 680 Gs. Subterra Manion's G power increases to 505."

Izuse noticed the troubled expression on his opponent's face, and this gave him a slight bit of confidence that he needed to go on with the battle more calmly. It was relieving to see one of your bakugan put none other than the 8th best in the ranking in a difficult position.

"Ability card, activate!" Said Hyoshida as he took a card out from his pocket. "Sand Pyramids."

A huge amount of sand piled up out of nowhere, and slowly started to form what seemed to be a pyramid. The temperature of the arena started increasing and the dragon started being bothered.

"Subterra Manion's G power increases to 655 Gs."

"Still not enough!" Hyoshida said after gritting his teeth.

"Go, Leonidas!" Ordered Izuse before the green dragon charged against the sphinx.

Subterra Manion attempted dodging the attacks, but as it flew away, Leonidas grabbed one of its legs and threw it back to the floor. Then, the dragon jumped over it and stomped on the sphinx after falling. The subterra bakugan went back into its ball form, indicating the victory of the green dragon, who also went back into his ball form as soon as he won.

"W-what is that monster?" The brown-haired boy observed with his eyes wide open his now defeated Manion. "And who are you?!"

"I'm just a guy that likes bakugan!" Izuse replied, with a newly gained confidence reflected on his grin. "Bakugan, brawl! Ventus Siege, stand!"

His second bakugan landed on the same card as his opponent's Tuskor. From a green light, emerged a green knight, that proudly held a spear in its left hand, and then pointed it against the giant elephant.

"Subterra Tuskor, 390 Gs. Ventus Siege, 350 Gs."

"Are you working for Masquerade?!" Hyoshida asked. "What even is your ranking?!"

"My ranking is 234023." Izuse replied, causing his opponent to fall back. "And I've only won 11 battles from the 141 I've had!"

"I have so many questions, what kind of joke is this...?"

"I can answer them later, I guess."

The calm on Izuse's tone surprised Hyoshida, but in the end the latter decided to keep going with the battle. He couldn't lose with someone that bad, he was among the best and had some standards he couldn't break, after all.

Alright, this will probably be the last chapter of this year, but thanks to everyone who's been supporting the story with your favs and follows! Also remember reviews are very appreciated!

Wanted to thanks specifically LHOCIN for leaving their review. I'm glad you have liked the story so far!