Chapter 9

DJ Jazzman cried down the microphone. "Can the beyblader known as Blake please come to the dish!"

The camera responsible for the footage on the giant display TVs panned to the opposite direction to where Kai was waiting. A dark corridor was its focus.

From the blackness approached a young man of late 20s/early 30s. He had heavily spiked slightly standing back mid-length silver hair, he had thick silver eyebrows, square jaw, red eyes and dark skin (much like an Ishvalans from Full Metal Alchemist). He was tall, much like Kai, athletically built with a fair amount of lean muscle. He was marginally bulker than Kai but not by much. He wore a black and blue tunic much like what the Saint Shields wear only with long tight fit sleeves which stopped at his elbows and half baggy trouser legs which ended in a cuff at the ankle. He wore a loose purple cape that draped around his shoulders with a large hood flapped back in its rested position, and a large silver circular clasp affixing it around his body. He had heavily tattooed hands and forearms in thick black bands like rings around and around and around each finger and up the arms. The rings could be seen around his neck too and one could assume they were all over his body under clothing. He appeared to come from some kind of cult, not that it bothered Kai. Ethnic wear was adorned by many beybladers who came from afar to show pride in where they had come from.

The man named Blake continued striding until he stopped at the opposite side of the beydish to Kai. He wasn't nervous or scared, just eerily quiet and stoic.

Kais' amethyst and Blakes' red eyes locked. Dark skinned man upturned his thin lips into a smile; he showed no fear or signs of intimidation; despite being up against someone with Kais' reputation.

Kai sported a "straight down to business" look. He saw no point in small talk.

His mind began to run as he analysed the man before him."I will not underestimate you Blake. Dranzer, let's show him what we're made of." He could feel Dranzers' warm excited vibration in reply.

DJ Jazzman - "Annnnddd here he is folks our first competitor from across the globe. His name is Blake annnnnnd that's all we know about him. He attended our workshop in the South Asia region and moved up the ranks pretty quickly.

We all know his opponent very well. Kai was a regional Champion of Japan for 2 years running, a major contender in 3 of the World Championship Tournaments and runner up in the World Championship versus Tyson Granger, annnnnnnd he was instrumental in the collapse of the corrupt BEGA Corporation. Kai and his fire bitbeast Dranzer are an awesome team who are a real force to be reckoned with. I hope the air conditioning is on full blast because boy does Kai like to heat it up in the dish. Fire extinguishers at the ready guys!"

"Are you ready beybladers?!" The audience screams with excitement at DJ Jazzmans' question.

With expert grace, Kai removes a launcher from his right pocket, pulls the rip cord out of a purpose built compartment in his glove wrist piece, zips it through the launcher, takes Dranzer out of his left pocket, clips his Blue beyblade with red flashes into the spin gear piece of his launcher with a metallic clink, extends his arms outwards, legs balanced and apart. His battle stance complete and ready to release.

Blake mirrors his opponents' actions. He pulls a launcher out of a pocket on a belt around his waist, takes a dark blue and gold beyblade out of a pocket hidden inside the torso region of his tunic, loads it and expertly drives a rip cord into it. He readied for his attack.

Blake spoke with a cold monotone accent with no cockiness." I should warn you. I never lose."

Kai replied with almost a smirk."Hnnn I've heard that before" and recalled Brooklyns' words and 2 rounds later; the defeat that broke his psyche.

DJ Jazzman was more animated than ever and holding the microphone way to close to his mouth. "These guys haven't much time for chit-chat do they? Ohhhh the anticipation is killing me! Are we ready?!"

The public held their breaths, the intensity, the focus, the suspense. People stopped chewing food, ceased all talking and held their breaths. The beybattle was beginning. The moment they had all been waiting for.

DJ Jazzman – "3...2...1...LET ITTT RIIIIPP!"

Kai and Blake pulled their ripcords with perfect timing and their beyblades crashed into the dish with ultimate precision. Dranzer and Blakes' beyblade whirled round and round so fast they were just flashing dots on the screen. Regardless, the audience erupted with cheers again. Seeing the splendid Kai beyblade after all this time was a real treat.

Hilary yelled through hands fashioned into a trumpet shape. "Go get him Kai!"

Kenny was scratching his head. "This is a bit frustrating. I have nothing on Blake at all. He's a complete mystery as far as his background goes."

"We don't have to fret about Kai. He can take whatever this guy has to throw." Hilary said with her hands now preoccupied with picking out another jelly sweet from its packet.

Dranzer and Blakes' beyblade started attacking. The blue and dark blue beyblades smashed again and again at each other, one would whizz past and give it a grinding smack and the other beyblade would repeat the same attack back.

Kai remained cool and focused despite the noise interruption from the thousands of people around him. He thought."That's it Dranzer stay on him until we can figure out what his strategy is. He appears just to be attacking head on with no ulterior motive but we're not going to take that to chance."

Blake lifts his head, narrows his red eyes and smirks at Kai.

Kai glared back but remained cool. "Yeah he's definitely got something up his sleeve but what is he waiting for. It's time to attack before he's ready to make his move."

"Go Dranzer!" Ordered Kai with a stretched out arm. The magnificent fiery red and golden Dranzer emerged from the blue and red beyblade; and the whole audience gasped. His regal feathers burned a bright scarlet and his phoenix call was something spectacular to hear. Dranzer was one of the most impressive bitbeasts to watch and the rarest to make an appearance due to Kai not often needing Dranzers' power to win his matches.

Blake smirked and said in a low voice. "Hello Dranzer. Nice to meet you."

Kai lip read Blakes' remark. "This is weird. I can't put my finger on it but there's something about him."

Kai hid his concern and channelled his energy with his trusty phoenix. He commanded to his feathered beast "Blazing Gig!" Dranzer cried back with an ethereal eagle like call and did what his friend/master requested. Red feathers shot like arrows around Blakes' beyblade, trapping him in place ready for the next move to knock him flying.

Mr Dickenson felt relieved that things were finally under way as he wiped his brow with a handkerchief. Months of planning, preparation, money and headaches went into making this event happen. "These kids really are a force to be reckoned with. Kai is certainly one of the elite. That being said...this Blake fellow is a very powerful beyblader. Ohh what will they do next?"

"Dranzer Blazing Gig Tempest NOW!" Dranzer screeched in reply to his human friend and took no time to get momentum. Dranzer took a blazing blue phoenix form, flew into Blakes' dark blue spinning top; throwing it onto one of the rims and nearly knocking him out of the dish.

***Meanwhile***

35 minutes had passed. "OK girls I ready do have to go now" said Tyson as he lifted his chunky arms from 2 star struck fan girls' shoulders. Their pupils went from star shaped to water logged. "Ohhh already Tyson?!" "Soo soon waaaa waaaa." "Ok you go get em Champ!" "Yeah go go go Tyson". Tyson ran down the corridor as fast his legs could carry him.

As he approached the end to where the opening of the action area; his stomach dropped into his bowels. "Whaaaat it's started! Shoot!" he cried as he grabbed his head and cap in frustration. He took in the view of the crowd cheering, smell of hot dogs in the air, bright white sunshine pouring through the glass dome and...the unmistakable Dranzer dominating the air space above the beydish; and Kai doing what Kai does best.

Ray, Max, Daichi and Mariah had moved to the spectator area beside the beydish several feet behind Kai, their backs to the VIP area. They could feel the rumble of the animated thousands behind them and couldn't wait for their turn in the dish.

Ray was feeling stoked. "This is gunna be good."

Max was equally as pumped."Yeah Kai's definitely in control."

Daichi agreed until someone caught his eye."Yeah he's doing alright...Hey there's Mr Latey Pants!"

Tyson sheepishly with his head hung low made his way around the outskirts of the stadium as much out of view as possible until he reached his unimpressed friends. Ray had noticed his skulking form and glared at him like an angry hawk as he approached. Max knew Tyson was about to get an earful from well ...everyone and readied himself to TRY to defend him; not that Tyson deserved it, Max was kind that way. Daichi couldn't even look at Tyson and thought a silent treatment will hurt him more than a shouting.

Mr Granger noticed his grandson a mile off. "Look there's the little mister now."

Hilary cackled."At last! I suggest he has toilet duty for a year Grandpa."

Grandpa Granger wore a rare stern face. "Oh don't you worry lil lady. Tyson's gunna be up at the crack of dawn every day for a month practising kendo, house cleaning and chores until his hands bleed. Annnnnnd I'll take his blasted XBOX away."

Kenny added."Tysons' got some serious making up to do. Ray looks furious with him."

Ray was only 2 inches taller in height than Tyson but with Tysons' low hanging form... Ray towered above him with a scary "I'm going to kick your ass" stance. His face was half blacked out and his eyes golden and slit.

Ray had a dark voice prepared. "I'm so disappointed in you Tyson. Tsshhhh you not only let our group appearance down, you let yourself down and you missed the beginning of Kais' match."

Daichi cried with his arms tightly folded across his chest. "Tyson I'm so angry with you too!" trying and failing to look authoritarian like Ray.

Max hated confrontations and a sweat drop was forming from the anxiety. "Shhhhhhh guys let's give Tyson a chance to explain himself later. Kai's battling. We should be rooting for Kai, not squabbling."

Tyson knew he was well and truly in the dog house and took Rays' little lecture with a sorrowful look. "I'm sorry and I know I've got some making up to do but Max's right."

"Hey Kai! Go get him!" Yelled the late comer trying to redeem himself.

Max - "You can do this Kai!"

Ray noted to give Tyson a real bollocking later but for now... recoiled his mood for Kais' sake. He yelled. "You're doing great Kai!"

Daichi – "Yeah Kai pound him into the ground!"

Kais' body half twisted as he glanced back for the briefest second upon hearing Tysons' voice. His eyes were met with his bluenette buddy grinning with a big outstretched thumbs up. Kai grunted."Hnnn I'll deal with you later" then snapped his body back to the match.

"Blazing Gigs Turbo now Dranzer!"Kais' Dranzer was going in for the kill and heading full force towards Blakes' seemingly pinned beyblade.

Blake came alive with his counter-attack. "It's time Killertile!"

Killertile emerged from Blakes' beyblade. Killertile was a komodo dragon looking creature, a hulking black muscular lizard with a thick black hide and gold armour plating on its shoulders and hips. It had a very long thick whip like tail which was easily twice the length of its body. It had solid dark red eyes and golden spikes lining its back. It roared with 8 dagger like teeth which interlocked on the outside of the lips when the mouth was closed like an alligator. It was quick, stealthy with a long neck which kept it in proportion with the tail. Its legs were short and stocky but powerful enough to catch and pin down any prey.

Kai looked in awe, he'd never seen one so mean looking...still it was no match for his Dranzer and smirked at the thought of defeating it.

Dranzer took his magnificent phoenix form, emblazoned from beak to tail in a mighty blue flame. Killertile arose out of his bit-chip and the two spirit creatures tackled head on. The beyblades struck with such force that a hot shock wave rippled the air. The heated air dispersed outwards as if the sun itself was burning from the centre of the beydish. The heat licked the bodies of every soul in the dome. If they weren't sweating before...they were now.

"Looks like Kai's wasting no time in cooking everyone. Nice one Kai...right in the middle of summer." Kenny noted after a wave of Dranzers' heat brushed his face and steamed his glasses.

"Yeah thanks Kai. Because we're not hot enough as it is." Retorted Hilary sarcastically as she nabbed Grandpa Grangers straw hat off his head to use as a fan.

The fire air dispersed. Killertile was still spinning with all the intensity of before the attack. It had barely fazed him. Kais' face and stance fell with surprise and thought. "You did well to survive that attack." He picked his determined face back up and grinned. Kai enjoyed tough competition and boy did he have it with this guy.

Ray – "Did you see that? Kais' attack had no effect?"

Max –"Yeah this guy is really something. I think Kai might be in trouble."

Tyson – "Nah Kai's fine he can handle this. He's got himself through stickier situation than this."

Blake remained flat toned and emotionless. "Killertile attack."

Kai eyes were ignited and serious. "Get him Dranzer!"

The fiery phoenix and the golden/black lizard crashed with an almighty shock wave and another blast of hot light assaulted the air. All in the dome immediately shielded their faces from the blinding light and wave of rippling heat. The light faded as quickly as it had appeared and the heat swept away with the oxygen.

Killertile and Dranzer were in a stale mate. Kai could feel himself starting to sweat. "Who is this guy? He doesn't seem fazed at all at Dranzers' attacks."

Blake hardly seemed to move or look concerned in any way. "Killertile attack him."

Killertile collided with a thunderous metallic smash. An almighty shock wave caused by the collision sliced through the atmosphere with a force that knocked Kai aback a couple of feet. Blake remained statuesque. Kai winced with his arms protecting his face from the shock wave to stop any damage to his perfect features. He maintained his balance well from the wave and waited for the force to dissipate. The audience suffered along with Kai whom cried with a series of "Urhhhhhh ahhhhrrrhhh" as the after shock wave struck them too. Dranzer held his ground in the beydish, much to Kais' relief.

Kai quickly composed himself. "You think that would be enough to take me down. You're gunna have to do better than that." He grinned with defiant eyes. He had endured far worse than this.

Blake commanded another attack before Kai could prepare his own. Killertile struck Dranzer again with harsher consequences and a sharper blow. The waves of wind sliced through the air cutting anything in close range. Kai instinctively lifted his arms up to protect his face again. His shirt and trouser legs took the brunt of the attack and were cut in long straight lines that stung in the air. Whip like marks decorated his skin on his forearms and the marks quickly became raised with traces of blood escaping. Dranzer took damage too, his attack ring had 2 small corners chipped which became insignificant debris and was blown away like dust.

Maxs' voice dripped with worry.– "I don't like this. That Blake guy is playing a little too rough."

Daichi – "If anyone can handle rough...it's Kai"

Tyson – "Kai...hang in there, we believe in you dude."

The gloves were off.

Kai began to pant, sweat ran down his stinging arms and legs and he began to summon the power from deep within his quickly aching body. He spoke to himself. "This guy wants to finish this match quickly. His bitbeast is strong but nothing compared to the power I have with Dranzer."

Kais' eyes were aflame, his patience had run out and he poised himself for his next attack. "I've had enough of you Blake. Now you will see the true power of my Dranzer! FLAME ECLIPSE! " Kais' body was wrapped in flames as he gestured his attack, his hair alight and Dranzer burst into yellow and blue flames. Dranzer leapt into the air and began his crashing decent onto his victim.

Blake remained still and overconfident. "Killertile!"

Dranzer screeched his phoenix cry and crashed down on Blakes' beyblade. The smash had the force of an atomic bomb as Blakes' beyblade recoiled the force of Dranzers' attack and it blew backwards into Kais' direction. The giant shockwave knocked Kai clear off his feet and propelled his body backwards through the air. He landed on his back, cracking his sore and scathed elbows on the solid floor and knocking the breath out of him. The fallen beyblader quickly arose again and fought back to his feet growling, staying down was not in Kais' nature no matter who the opponent.

Blake – "Finish him Killertile."

Kais' determination was undying. "Oh I don't think so!" His anger was starting to bubble through as his frustration pulled at his last nerve.

Killertile emerged from his masters' beyblade once again and headed with lighting speed towards Dranzer. The fire clad bitbeast met him head on causing an all mighty crash of metal on metal...bitbeast on bitbeast. However Dranzer got side swiped. The giant lizard bitbeast grabbed Dranzers' right wing in his jaws, clamped down, wrapped Dranzers' body and left wing up in his tail and shook the red bird from side to side. Dranzers' flailing body slammed at the floor, each thud tore at Kais' heart as Dranzers' body connected with the ground. The scene was like in Africa when a crocodile has hold of a wildebeest's body, whipping it until it relents to its death. Dranzer couldn't break free no matter how hard he tried. All Kai could do was hope his determination saw him and his phoenix through until they could issue a counter attack.

Mariahs hands were raised to half cover her face. "Are you seeing this guys? Dranzer's in real trouble. I can't watch."

Rays voice was edgy and concerned. "Yeah we see Mariah, I'm just not sure I believe it."

Max – "Poor Dranzer. I've never seen a fight so nasty before."

Tyson growled furiously and his fists were shaking. "This Blake...who does he think he is?!"

"Shake him off Dranzer! You can do this!" Kai gritted in pain as he felt every bash Dranzer did. With each slam he could feel his ribs get punched so hard he thought they would cave in. The assaults getting harder and harder as Dranzers' power weakened. With each blow the majestic phoenix tried desperately to bite at the black and gold reptile but failed. The strikes got harder and Kai felt every one of them as if he; himself was being flipped around. Kais' body felt like someone had physically punched him over and over in the ribs and breath became harder to draw, he fell to one knee, determined and growling not to fall any further. Kai could only watch with pained eyes and a flaring temper as his beloved bitbeast was being thrown around like a rag doll. He felt sick with anger and a wave of defiance ripped through his core.

With fire engulfing his eyes he spat. "We're not giving up Dranzer. Hang in there!" With those words he summoned the strength to stand back up and expressed a look of pure resent towards his silver haired opponent. "We're not done yet!"

Hilary – "Kai's gunna get hurt if we don't stop the match."

Kennys voice was hurried and fraught. "We can't Hilary. I know it's hard to watch but Kai will never forgive us if we do. We just need to trust that he knows what he's doing."

Blake commanded and raised a pointed arm towards Dranzer. "Enough...Killertile, Millenia of Daggers."

Blakes' brutal Bitbeast released Dranzer but not out of mercy. Killertile unwrapped his great black tail, turned in the air and fired 4 golden daggers out of his mouth. Dranzer was now free from Killertiles' vine like tail grasp but screamed as the daggers embedded themselves simultaneously in his sacred bird-like body. One struck the fire bird deep in the belly, one in the neck, one in his left wing and one in his right. The hilts protruded through crimson feathers and Dranzer let out an almighty screech of agony as he fell to the ground.

Kais' eyes were wide with pain and disbelief. The dual tone haired man didn't realise it... but he was as pinned as his phoenix was. He felt whatever Dranzer felt. Their bond was so close that they were telepathic, linked by the soul and when one felt pain, so did the other. Dranzer screamed, his head bucking as the agony ripped through his feathery body. Kai couldn't move, the pain his Dranzer was going through overloaded his human nervous system and stood paralysed struggling to draw breath. All Kai could do was gaze with sorrowed eyes and a dropped jaw at his helpless crying bitbeast.

Kais' mind raced, his amethyst eyes were close to tears and locked on his best friends writhing body. Dranzers' cries burned through his soul. He telepathically called to his distressed bitbeast. "I don't know what to do Dranzer. I...don't... know... how to get you ...out of this...Just hang in there...I'll think of something...I..."

The crowd were silent. Dranzers' harrowing shrieks echoed in the dome. A thick uneasiness hung in the air. All beybladers in the room gasped with jaws wide open with disdain. They had never seen a bitbeast treated with such ferocity before and to have it strangled then impaled was just cruel.

Dranzers' torture was short lived and as Kais' beyblade ground to a sudden grinding halt... Dranzer released a heart rendering bird cry and dissolved broken and hurt back into his beyblade shelter.

Tyson stammered. "Kkkkaaii lost. I don't believe it."

Max struggled with his words too. "I don't believe it either."

Mariah –"Kai gave his all and still this guy beat him."

Ray growled. "Who is this Blake. What was his deal?"

Daichis fists were tightly wrapped. "That guy is nasty. Super tough. I'm not even sure I could beat him."

Tyson – "I'm not sure I'd want to face Blake...the way he attacked Kai and Dranzer was way out of line. Beyblading is supposed to be fun but this...it's like this was personal or something."

Kai was so stupefied that he couldn't react. His eyes were wide, pupils like tiny dots in his eyes and the expression of disbelief painted his features. He gazed down at his silent, still beyblade and struggled to string words together.

Blake appeared emotionless. He gazed at his beyblade that was still spinning millimetres away from a still Dranzer, then turned up to face Kai. He locked eyes with his shocked opponent. Blake drew a deep breath and exhaled.

"And now... it's your turn Kai. This is MY destiny."

Then with a lightning quick swift move Blake drew a thin golden dagger with around 12 inches in length from inside his cloak and threw it like a ninja at Kais' body. His execution was so quick that it was drawn and became a projectile into the air in less than a second flat.

The flying dagger had entered into the left flank of Kais' abdomen leaving only the hilt exposed. Kais' body hadn't registered the impact yet. Still paralysed.

A violent uneasiness engulfed the room. The TV focused on Kai and Blakes' faces and shoulders. There was no cheering in the room; the entire dome was deadly quiet. Thousands of people had seen everything the duo did and witnessed something they couldn't believe. Had they seen right? Did Blake just throw a dagger at Kai? What? People shuffled nervously waiting for some confirmation from someone before reacting.

Kai was in a daze, his eyes were still tiny specks on his eyes and his ears started to ring.

Rays' face expressed pure disbelief and turned to Tyson. "After what Blake had done to Dranzer why is Kai just standing there?" He stared intently at Kais' back.

Tyson called out "Kai! Are you ok bud? Why are ya just standing there? Do something! You gunna let that creep treat Dranzer like that?"

Kennys' voice was high pitched and panicked. "Something's wrong. Very wrong. I can feel it."

DJ Jazzman- "Well there we have it ladies and Gentlemen our first winner of The Beyblade Charity Tournament. Kai has been defeated and Blake is the winnerrrr... Hey what's going on? Is that blood?"