The King of Blades
Chapter 5: A Guy Called Dark Phantom
"Wow, we're in London." Drigo commented as he and Vic walked down a cobblestone street. "It actually isn't so bad in terms of weather as long as you don't dress like it's summer." He wore a thick, brown and black suede jacket and blue corduroys with brown hiking boots while Victor wore red and black sneakers, black cargo pants and a thick white hoody with graffiti designs on it.
"Yeah." Vic droned seemingly detached. It was also his first time here and he was just watching people milling around about their business.
The team had arrived late afternoon and were taken from the airport to their residential hotel that they would remain in for the duration of their stay in the tournament. Everyone was settled in by evening and Drigo and Vic had gone off to explore despite the fact that it was late while Daniel, Craig and Inga had remained in their assigned rooms on the same floor. Victor and Daniel shared one, Craig and Drigo another while Inga had one to herself but they all had interlinking doors.
There was a surprising number of people in the streets for such a late time but Vic noticed them moving in and out of a corner pub. Those looked really busy, one of the trade marks of this place. They didn't intend going too far from the hotel but they were now a good five blocks away having been carried away with their walk.
"I think we'd better head back now." Drigo observed the area. "It's already late and tomorrow's the opening ceremony and stuff."
"Yah good idea." Vic agreed. "Actually, you go on ahead I'm just gonna stand out here for a while, I like the evening air."
"Whatever man, see you back at the hotel." And with that Drigo left. Vic just roamed a little and was about to go back seeing nothing more of interest when he noticed something standing out in an alley. He got closer, it was a beydish. He took a second just looking at it then removed Carbuncle from his pocket.
"Might as well spin it for a round then head back." he muttered and loaded his blade into it's launcher with a click.
"There will be no spinning of anything, at least not in my dish." a voice suddenly came from the shadows startling Victor.
"Who said that!" He demanded nervously. A figure stepped out of the shadows he was ready to run but as he saw more Victor's nerves immediately vanished to be replaced by a sweat drop. The figure before him was just slightly taller than he was, clad all in black with even a black cape and black top hat. His face was adorned with a seemingly home made balaclava with unevenly cut eyeholes. Vic couldn't stop staring in disbelief.
"Don't give me that look." The mysterious person shot at Vic. "I was going for a dark phantom type look like the 'Phantom Renegade' or 'V for Vendetta' but I couldn't afford the porcelain mask after buying all of this." He didn't sound much older than Vic either but his voice was softer and a tad higher, he had a British accent too but more colloquial as compared to Craig's more distinguished tongue. "More importantly, what do you want with my beydish?"
"Oh I'm sorry, I didn't know it belonged to you ." Vic said trying hard to be polite and avoid staring.
"No you right old twat, you're supposed to be more audacious, say something like 'I don't see you name on it' or something but don't just give way like a wilted veggie. Seriously though, who do you know that owns anything in an alley?"
That is true but what's with the weird attire?
"Well then it's nice to have met you but I'll just get going now." Vic began walking away.
"Ain't that a typical yorkel, don't have any manners, you haven't even introduced yourself." Vic stopped and turned to face him, now curious about this strange fellow, he decided to respond.
"I'm Victor, and you are?"
"I did just say I was going for a 'Dark Phantom' type look didn't I? So you can call me anything along those lines."
"Okay Ghost-boy."
"Ghost-boy? I just bloody said call me 'A Guy Called Dark Phantom'."
"No you just said anything along the lines of a 'Dark Phantom' theme."
"Yes and I do like to think that 'A Guy Called Dark Phantom' is somewhere along the lines of a guy that looks like a dark phantom theme ain't it now?" Vic sweat dropped again.
"Okay Phantom."
"I said A Guy Called Dark Phantom!"
"Can't I call you Dark Phantom for short?"
"No you twat! It's like 'A Tribe Called Quest' you've gotta say the whole thing!"
Vic Groaned to himself "Oh man, who the hell is this guy?"
"Bloody Nora! Are you deaf?! My name is A Guy Called Dark Phantom! Let's sing it together till you get it."
"Alright alright! So what do you want now?" He asked. He saw the expectant stare in the other boy's eyes and quickly added "A Guy Called Dark Phantom."
The tension in the other youth was released at last. "What do you think, a beybattle."
"A beybattle? Do you always go around looking to challenge people this late?" Vic said incredulously.
"Do you always use peoples beydishes without their permission this late?" The mystery youth shot back.
"I was here by chance and I just thought I'd...wait a second, you just admitted the dish didn't belong to you and now you're changing your story?"
"For the sake of winning this argument yes."
"You are...I don't even have the words." Vic sighed heavily.
"So how about you let your blade do the talking." the mystery youth finished.
"Challenge accepted." Victor readied his blade. Just give him his little battle so he can be satisfied and then I'll just leave. Hanging around someone like him will just make me insane too. They counted down simulatneously.
"In three, two, one. Let it rip!"
Both blades were shot into the dish and met with a crash then came apart.
"So." The youth spoke just barely giving attention to the battle. "I recon you're not from around here and I probably be guessin' right eh?" his dark blue blade crashed against Carbuncle and Carbuncle retaliated with a strike of it's own.
"No I'm not." Vic cautiously replied while focusing on the battle. "That's it Carbuncle."
"So what are you, on vacation, tourist maybe or a foreign student?"
"Neither." Vic replied.
"What then?"
"I'm here for the beyblading tournament if you have to know." Vic finally replied seemingly exasperated.
"Beyblading tournament? Ah yes that Noobs tourney, for new faces tryin' to make a name for themselves eh. So noob, you think you have what it takes to win this and go on to the King of Blades to try and become world champion?"
"Who're are you calling a noob?" Vic demanded now annoyed.
"Why you of course, anyone who enters a tournament for noobs." he replied heartily. "Is most definitely a noob."
"It's a tourney for people that haven't had exposure in competitive beyblading you jack-ass!" Vic was now fuming. Who the hell does he think he is? Calling people he's never met noobs, there could be some really tough bladers there for all he knows. I'd like to see his competition trophies.
"Whoa easy mate, why so angry, it's not like I said it to insult you. No, when I called you a noob." His expression and voice darkened "I most definitely meant it, now watch and learn."
The navy blue blade dodged Carbuncle then veered into it with the attack ring dipped low striking Carbuncle's spinning base causing it to wobble in the centre of the dish.
"Carbuncle!" Vic shouted for his blade to come under control.
"You see my friend..." The mystery youth started as his blue blade flawlessly ramped up the side of the dish and into the air for a boomerang. "In order for any entity in the universe to gain any sort of new or extra power or skill..." His blade came back down the ramp fast at Carbuncle who had just recovered too late "It first needs to acknowledge..." Carbuncle flew out of he dish and landed some feet away. "That it lacks it." Victor was awe-struck. To him, not a minute ago this guy was the biggest idiot he'd ever met but he just dispatched him at his own leisure.
Maybe Daniel was right, this may be out of our league.
"Do you understand now, if you want a respectful title you have to earn, and in the world of beyblade, to earn is to take."
"Who are you really?" Vic asked in voice so hoarse it was almost a whisper.
"You really want us to go through that again? I thought you just got the hang of it."
Victor went over to pick up his blade and as he stood the youth grabbed his wrist and stared at his blade.
"You have a bit-beast? Why didn't you use it?" he asked calmly.
"I acquired it very recently but I can't use it's power properly yet."
The black-clad youth released his hand and spoke.
"I see, you should know that for some, the ability is obvious from the get go and for others well, seeing as you're such a good student I'll tell you th..."
"Student?" Vic splurted feeling insulted in spite of hi defeat.
"Off course, I just took your arse back to beyblading school didn't I. Oh, don't tell me I kicked your derriere so badly you got amnesia now? It has been known to happen."
Vic sweat dropped yet again. After gaining some form of respect for this guys new attitude, he was back to being the dumbass he seemingly was at first. "Anyway, before you interrupted me I was saying you'll eventually learn what your bit-beast can do. For some it first comes with the need."
"It first comes with the need?" Vic looked at Carbuncle. "What does that mean?"
"You'll know soon enough. I originally wasn't interested in this tourney but I'll be watching you. See you around." With that he sprinted deep into the night with Vic quickly losing sight of him.
Vic returned to the hotel to find Daniel already asleep. He was actually very late due to his encounter with the mystery man known only as 'A Guy Called Dark Phantom'. He almost laughed out loud at the name now.
He changed into a tank and boxers and got into bed.
It first comes with the need. No point in dwelling on it now, tomorrow will be exciting, the opening ceremony should b....and without realising just how tired he really was, he was taken by the world of dreams.
Author: How was that? Hmm I wonder who the masked phantom is.
???: How many times do I need to tell ya it's "A Guy Called Dark Phantom".
Author: Okay okay my bad, *mutters something about being able to delete characters*
Anyway folks, you know the drill. Read and Review.
