And now... on to my favorite chapter so far, as well as my favorite episodes from Metal Masters...
The Festival of Warriors!
"You know, I've never actually competed in the Festival of Warriors before. Is it a big deal?"
Nero perked up at the question, finishing off his bite of bacon before turning to King, "Oh, absolutely. The Festival of Warriors is an EU only event. People from across the nation come to compete!"
"Should be interesting to see how many come this year, considering it's the first time in two years that they've had it," Lucas commented, tapping his nails on the table. "None of us got the chance to compete in it three years ago, since we were all too busy chasing down leads on Nemesis."
"I've heard from several people that they're expecting a very big turn out," Julian mused, as he set down the magazine he was reading. "I think the fact that the EU team is going to be there is also drawing a big crowd."
"And as nice as that is, I think I won't be attending," Lucas said, stirring his spoon around in his coffee.
"What?!" Nero exclaimed, "Luke, nooo. Dude how am I supposed to compete without my partner in crime by my side?!"
Lucas looked mildly annoyed as Nero grabbed on to his arm, "Nero, don't you think I might have a good reason to not compete?"
"If you're worried that you might unleash a new ice age with Khione's upgrade, you don't have to battle! You can just stand there and look pretty like you normally do!"
Up until that moment, the rest of Excalibur and Rinascinta had been quiet and listening to the exchange. But, by the time Nero had finished his statement, Wales had choked on his coffee and Sophie and Amy were muffling their squeals.
"What?" Lucas blinked.
"What?" Nero parroted, hiding his panic well.
"…"
"…"
Julian cleared his throat, and Nero sent him a grateful look, "Nero's right, Lucas. You don't have to compete. Even we of Excalibur didn't battle until Gan Gan Galaxy crashed the tournament during the last Festival of Warriors we attended. It was more of a press thing that we even showed up there, since our team had only just formed. People wanted their first look at Excalibur."
"The press coverage was a nightmare and a half," Nero muttered. "I think there were more reporters there than Bladers."
"But, because Rinascinta has already debuted and shown how good you are, I highly doubt there will be many there," Sophie said, with a smile. "And, for the record Lucas, if you don't feel comfortable going to the tournament, you could always join myself, Amy, and Jasmine on our shopping trip."
On cue, Jasmine and Amy both gave him angelic smiles. Lucas stared at the trio of girls for a moment, repressing a shudder, "Uh, no thanks. Maybe another time."
Nero perked up, "So…?"
"… Yes. I'll come to the Festival of Warriors,"
Nero and King both cheered.
The Festival of Warriors was going well. Bladers from all over had indeed come to show off their skills, and it had just as big of a turn out as Julian had expected.
Lucas mainly stuck to the shadows, watching the other Bladers compete, and occasionally getting roped into a tag team match with Nero—not that he battled. He simply launched and let Nero handle their opponents. King was just as energetic as ever, bouncing around and challenging people left and right. Many were all too happy to meet his challenge, while others were wary of battling a Legendary Blader.
"This is so fun! I've not had this much fun in ages!" King exclaimed, practically vibrating with energy. His voice carried in the temple, "Go now, VariAres!"
"Follow him, Furie!" Nero cried, and in a flash of red light, their two opponents were sent flying, an easy win for two of Rinascinta's members.
"Nero and King are certainly energetic, aren't they?" Beside Lucas, sitting on the stone steps with an amused look on her face, Kelsea watched the battles happen. While she had come on Klaus' invite, following the Australian and Japanese battle, she had elected not to battle, stating she'd rather save her strength for the World Championships.
Standing beside her with his arms crossed and watching the scene below, Lucas chuckled softly, "They are. They make a good team."
Next to Lucas, Wales snorted and traded a look with Julian. Lucas shot them a glare, but neither looked intimidated by it. Instead, Wales just grinned at him and Julian ignored them.
"But you and Nero are better, or so I've heard," Kelsea mused. She looked up at him, blonde hair blowing in the slight breeze, "Why aren't you battling, Luke?"
"Same as you. I'd rather save my strength," Lucas drawled. "And… there is the chance the EU team goes up against the Australian team in the second round of the World Championships."
Kelsea pouted, "Fair enough."
"Isn't there anyone here who can actually give us a challenge? These battles are too easy!" Nero's voice caught the duo's attention, and they looked up just in time see Nero call Furie back into his hand.
"You could always battle each other," Julian called, loud enough to be heard.
Nero turned to him, and stuck his tongue out, "Boo! Too boring!"
"Hey! I take offense to that!" King exclaimed.
"If you're looking for a challenge," A voice cut through the air, and Lucas went white. "Perhaps we can offer one."
The crowd parted, allowing two figures to glide through and up the steps, to stand on the opposite side of the stadium.
It was a teenage girl and boy, both about the same age, and probably just around the same age of Wales or Julian. They were nearly identical, with dirty blonde hair and eyes so dark they were nearly black. The girl wore a pair of horn-rimmed glasses while the boy didn't.
The girl smiled at Nero and King, "But, you see, we've been watching and neither of us has seen your teammate up there battle! And we've heard so much about Nero Konzern and Lucas Reynolds' tag team skills!"
"Hey, Lucas has too battled!" King snapped, "You just haven't been paying attention!"
"No…" Nero said, voice quiet and cautious, as though he was just realizing something, "He hasn't. He's launched, but now that I think about it… I've been the one finish all of our opponents off."
"And, you see, we're old friends of Lucas, and we'd love to see how far he's come!" The boy smirked, "It's been years since we've battle Luke!"
"You… know those two, bud?" Wales asked softly.
Lucas swallowed, thickly, "… Couple of kids father would hire to train me… if you could call their methods training. Andrew and Andrea Clarke. I… haven't thought of them in years…"
"What's that matter, Luke?" Andrew called, with a smile that could've been friendly if Lucas didn't know otherwise, "You scared or something?"
"We can call security to throw them out, if you want. Just say the word," Julian murmured.
"Not unless you want headlines on the paper," Kelsea hissed, standing up. "The Clarke's are powerful people, Julian. They're from Scotland, so by the rules of the tournament, they can compete here. You throw them out, and they're sure to go to the papers, spinning some story. That's what they're known for."
Julian scowled, and muttered in Italian.
"Luke," Nero turned to look up at his friend. "It's your call. You want to take over for King in a tag team match?"
King crossed his arms, glaring at the twins. He seemed to have sensed there was some tension in the air, and wasn't happy with it.
Nero's expression was blank, but his eyes were worried. He knew his best friend well, and Lucas' silence was an indicator that something wasn't right. He couldn't hear the conversation going on between his brother, friend, Wales, and Kelsea, but he could read a room just as well as anyone. He knew something was wrong, and he was giving Lucas a chance to back out if he wanted to.
Lucas took a deep breath, uncrossed his arms, and began descending the stairs, "Sure. Besides, you asked for a challenge and I know these two well enough to tell you, you'll have your wish granted."
"Lucas," King muttered, quietly. "You sure, man? I can stick with Nero and we can handle these two."
Lucas glanced at King, a silence conversation passing between them. Eventually, King gave a single nod, and stepped back.
"Well, I guess you get to battle Rinascinta's tag team wonder duo!" Nero chirped, always the one to bring optimism into a situation that needed it. His smile faded and he became serious, "Last chance though, you sure you can handle us?"
"You should be asking yourself that question," Andrea giggled, as she adjusted her stance and withdrew her gear.
Lucas and Nero exchanged looks, and readied themselves for battle.
"Three!"
"Two!"
"One! Let it rip!"
"Alright Luke, talk to me, what are we working with here?" Nero asked.
"Light Hydra and Dark Hydra. Both attack and balance types. Andrea sports White Hydra, which is a regular rotating Bey, while Andrew possesses the Dark Hydra which is left rotating. Experience tells me they go for a joint hit and run strategy, if they're battling solo. If they're battling as a team, the pincher attack," Lucas said, after a moment's hesitation. "But, that was five or six years ago… They might've changed their strategy now."
On cue, Andrea and Andrew exchanged a look. Both nodded, and adjusted their stances, "Hydra!"
Both Beys glowed—one white, the other black—and raced around the stadium, circling Furie and Khione. They quickly gained speed, passing one another in a dizzying blur that made it hard to focus on.
"Go now!" The twins shouted.
Once the Hydra's were directly across from each other, they did a sharp ninety degree turn and rocketed down the slope.
Nero's eyes went wide, tracking the trajectory, "Furie!"
Furie pulsed red and intercepted White Hydra before it could crash into Khione. As it was, Nero was glad he did so, seeing as when Dark Hydra crashed into Khione, Khione was pushed back several inches before regaining her traction and her defenses went up.
Kelsea let out a whistle, "Damn. That's some attack power."
"Isn't it though?" Andrew chuckled, "When my sister and I combine our skills, there's hardly a defense that we can't get through!"
"That a fact?" Nero growled, "Well then, hotshot, why don't you try this on for size?! Hellfire Furie, Special Move, Hellfire Blast!"
Furie erupted into red flames, and began to push Dark Hydra back, further and further towards the edge of the stadium.
"You may be good together, but you're on your own, Andy!" Nero grinned, "Lucas, keep her busy, I've got this guy!"
Lucas didn't answer, too busy focusing on doing just that. Khione shimmered in and out of existence, blocking Light Hydra from advancing to help her partner. Andrea's smile was diminishing by the second, turning into an angry scowl.
"So, you really have improved from the last time we battled. Guess your dad wasn't joking around," Andrea hissed.
Lucas straightened, eyes going wide, "What did you say?"
"Don't listen to her Luke, she's just trying to get in your head," Nero said.
"No—What are you talking about?" Lucas demanded.
"Your father always knew you were special, you know, that you were destined for greatness," Andrea continued, placing a hand on her hip. "At least, that's what he told us. Why do you think he pushed you so hard? He wanted to make you realize that, Lucas! And now, here you are with a new power you haven't got a clue how to utilize!"
"You call what he did to me 'pushing me'?" Lucas asked through grit teeth, "Do you call what you two did to me 'training'? If everything you say is true, then he was only using me! That's all he ever did—him and his friends!"
"Luke?" Nero turned away from his own battle with Andrew, concerned, "Keep it together, man, if you get yourself riled up—"
"I suffered, what he called life, for fifteen years! It was hell! Every waking moment, I lived in terror, wondering if I would live to see another day! If anything, everything he did to me just made me hate him more! Would you believe it if I said I threw competitions just to spite him?!"
"Yes," Nero muttered, but didn't try to stop Lucas from his rant.
"And now you two showing up here trying to deliver a message, I can imagine from the old man himself, am I right?"
Andrew and Andrea shared a look.
"Listen, Luke," Andrew began, sounding at least somewhat honest, compared to his sister, tried to calm the redhead down. "If you could just listen to us—"
"I'm done listening. You had your chance to say your piece, and now I'm saying mine. Go back to my father, and tell him that if has a message for me, he can deliver to me himself—In person," Lucas growled, and turned to Nero. "Cut the heads off and burn it down."
Nero blinked at him, "Huh?"
"That's how you kill a Hydra," Lucas said. "Follow my lead and don't mess this up."
Nero stared at his friend, before nodding.
"If you think we're just going to roll over and let you win, you're wrong. Light Hydra!"
"… Dark Hydra!"
"Joint Special Move—"
"Blizzard Khione!" Lucas shouted, "Special Move—"
"Fourteen Headed Venom Strike!"
"Ice Strike!"
The room dropped in temperature as Khione appeared in the air, looking furious. Ice and snow swirled around her in a whirlwind of arctic air. Before her, a beast that was twice her size and nearly brushed the roof of the temple shimmered into existence, a fourteen headed Hydra with it's heads twisted and turning around each other. Red eyes focused on Khione, before, in sync, all the heads lunged forward.
Khione was ready. With a war cry, she swept her staff out, and sliced it through all fourteen heads cleanly and without hesitation.
"Now, Nero!"
"Right," Nero nodded. "Furie! Special Move, Hellfire Blast!"
Furie flashed into existence, right as Khione disappeared. Furie released a fire blast on the decapitated Hydra, which vanished into smoke and ash. Furie let out a victory cry before disappearing.
Light and Dark Hydra both fell into the dish, no longer spinning.
"Hmph," Lucas called Khione back into his hand, his fingers briefly frosting over. Without another word, he turned on his heel, walking up the stairs and disappearing from sight.
Nero caught Furie, steam rising up between his fingers, and turned his attention back to the Clarke twins, "Consider that your first and final warning. Don't come back."
"We're back!"
Sophie's voice rang through the front hall, parlor, and den. It was accompanied by the rustling of bags and heels clicking on the floor.
"Oh, Julian, Nero, you're already here!" Sophie chirped, "Where's Kelsea and Klaus?"
"Ricardo took Klaus and Kelsea to the airport. Klaus was seeing his sister off," Julian replied, voice tight.
Jasmine tilted her head, "You alright, Julian? You seem tense." She looked around the room, "Where's Wales and Lucas?"
Nero grumbled under his breath, looking upset, "Wales and King are in the gym. Lucas has locked himself in his room and isn't talking."
"… Who do I need to murder?" Amy asked, seriously, "Give me some names, I'll make them disappear."
"Actually, if you wouldn't mind calling on WBBA contacts to get some information on a couple of Bladers, that'd probably be more helpful," Julian sighed.
Sophie, Jasmine, and Amy glanced at each other, before Sophie's expression turned serious, "Let us go put our bags away, then you can explain everything to us."
"He said that, did he?"
"Yes, sir. He did," Andrea nodded, hands on her hips. Beside her, her twin stood with his arms crossed.
"Anything else?"
"He said that if you have a message for him, you could deliver to him yourself," Andrea said.
Caspian McKandless' lips quirked up into a smirk, "Oh really? Interesting statement to make…" He sighed, and shook his head, "That boy… I guess I'll just have to pay him a visit, and remind him what happens when he disobeys me."
"No offense, sir," Andrew cleared his throat. "But you're under a restraining order of a minimum of fifty yards' distance. You're already toeing the line by being a member of a World Championship team, and I'm sure that if Russia and the EU team end up against each other that—"
"Andrew," Caspian stood up, voice cold.
"… Sir?"
"Did I ask for your opinion?"
"… No, sir," Andrew shifted his stance into a more submissive one.
"No, I didn't," Caspian circled his desk to stand in front of it. "You let me worry about what I can and can't do… And you worry about carrying my orders out, understand?"
"Yes, sir," Andrew nodded.
"Good. You're dismissed," Caspian flicked his hand. "Andrea, stay behind."
Andrew paused for only a second, before he left the office. The door shut behind him with a whoosh and click, and Caspian's eyes landed on Andrea, "He's slipping."
"I know, sir," Andrea sighed. "He was, even before today happened."
"I want you to keep an eye on him. I can't have anyone messing my plans up, you understand,"
"Of course, sir," Andrea nodded. "… What will you do if he turns on you?"
"Make an example of him, of course," Caspian smirked. "You two are some of my greatest investments, Andrea. I can't have any mistakes made. Keep and eye on Andrew, and continue to report to me about his movements. Let me know if he does anything that is… not acceptable."
"Got it. Anything else?"
"No. You're dismissed. Thank you, Andrea," Caspian nodded, and the teenager nodded in response, before walking out the door.
Caspian tapped his fingers on the top of his desk, expression turning dark and stormy.
"Well son," he mused to himself. "If you want me to pay you a visit… consider your wish granted."
... well this can't be good.
So, who wants to place bets on what Caspian does next, or what his role will be in this story? I'll give ya'll a hint: it's been implied in a few chapters already just what he's up to.
Until next time, thanks for reading and I hope you'll leave a review! Ciao!