CHAPTER FOUR – Taken Down In Black Flames

I sneaked out of my room late one night, determined I would feel Black Dranzer's power and have no-one around to grass on me. I pulled a dark cloak I had swiped from another trainee tight around my body and hurried down the endless corridors to the lab.

Upon entering, I was blinded by the gleaming surfaces and the ultra-violet lighting. Quickly locking the lab doors behind myself, I walked towards a tall, secure cabinet. I cursed silently when I saw that my dark prize was locked beneath a strict security system. Switching on a computer, I drummed my fingers impatiently, waiting for it to load up. The screen finally flashed up and I began typing madly, hacking through various programs until I found the one I wanted. With a click of a button, a mechanical voice announced that the security for Black Dranzer had been shut off. Startled by the voice, I tensed, expecting Biovolt scientists to be all over me. Thinking of Biovolt made me realise just how sneaky they were and how there were likely to be many hidden cameras around the lab which I hadn't thought of checking for. Panic-stricken, I stared around the room. Yes, there... A camera, recording my every move, following me around the lab with its all- seeing eye. Frantically, I tore off my cloak and threw it over the camera, shielding myself from its ugly view. Now knowing I wouldn't have long before someone caught me, I snatched Black Dranzer from the cabinet and ran towards the testing zone.

I stood in the centre of the zone, the blade in my hand. I clutched it tightly before drawing out my launcher and loading Black Dranzer into it. I slid the ripcord through and stood poised, ready to take this perfect moment. I counted down in my head.

Three... Two... One...

"LET IT RIIIIP!!!"

I tore the ripcord from my launcher and Black Dranzer sprang away from me, spinning like no blade I had ever possessed. Mesmerized, I could only stare in awe at the beauty of the blade in front of me. Raising my arms, I commanded the black phoenix to appear. Once again, I was mesmerized. Black Dranzer rose into the air, screeching in an unearthly manner. Tears welled up in my eyes with sheer pleasure and ecstasy.

"Black Dranzer, show me what you've got!" I managed to choke out. The phoenix flew in a circle above me, cawing and shrieking, before shooting towards a large monitor. Coming back to my senses, I realised with horror that Black Dranzer was too powerful for me to handle.

"No!" I screamed as its powerful talons made contact with the screen, which exploded with more force than I could ever have imagined. I dropped to the floor with my hands over my head, praying the explosion would have knocked the blade off-balance. I risked a peek at it, and with a small gasp, I saw it still spinning. Black Dranzer turned in midair and flew at another electrical appliance. Before I knew what had happened, the room caved in around me...