Happy New Year all! Firstly so so so sorry its been so long since I last updated. A lot happened in September/October and I've struggled to get my groove back with writing. I've re-written Chapters 10-12. Simply because I wasn't happy with them, I hope you like them. I hope you are all well Saoirse and Jasmijn and anyone else who is reading my ficcy. Sorry this is a short chapter but Ill be getting to work on another very soon.

Lotsa love, Kelly !

Chapter 51

Like the Korean playground game featured in Squid Game, "Red Light, Green Light," all those rushing to rescue Kai from another round of death by dagger, stopped abruptly in their tracks and froze to the spot as if Kai's gun reveal was a beaming red traffic bulb. Dust clouds kicked up at their ankles with each sharp stop, and all drew a laboured gasp upon spying the bullet-loaded weapon aimed ready for retaliation. Kai's form lofted statuesque, poised and ready to shoot.

Dranzer's abductor froze all further movement and permanently deleted all features of smarm and confidence from his face. Kai's deadly threat of retribution was far from expected, he'd caught his new target and his three kin outstandingly off guard. The Shadow Vale assailants each hid feelings of disgust and anxiety in favour of staying completely still to allow them time to figure out how to handle their new and lethal situation. Their rigid stances indicated they were clearly rattled by Kai's surprise; they daren't move or antagonise him as their life's mission was to obtain the three remaining sacred spirits...and they couldn't do that if they were dead. Kai had every motive to bury a bullet in Blake's skull for what he'd done to him and for what he'd stolen...and the other three too; in recompense for the suffering they'd caused his friends. He could shoot the trio purely out of self- defence given their proven history of violence and past wrongdoings, and in a court of law the case would likely uphold, especially with the wealthy CEO's bottomless budget to hire the best lawyers in the world. Kai could shoot all four of them dead and maybe, if his lawyer was cunning enough, never see the inside of a jail cell for the charge of mass murder.

The quad of purple caped bladers stood breathless and petrified while they frantically struggled to think of a way to leave Balkov Abbey and its grounds with their lives. They were entirely at Kai's mercy as they stood out in the open courtyard with nothing to run and hide behind. The Hiwatari was surely not going to just let them walk away without consequence, especially after they'd joyfully butchered his security staff leaving none unscathed.

Blake's golden dagger wavered in his loosening grip as he stared with pinprick pupils down the barrel of Kai's handgun. The vengeful greynette with his finger on the trigger remained under complete self control, unblinking and laser-focused like a sniper.

Josef shrugged as he eye-balled Kai's bullet pregnant weapon and the rock solid stance of the stoic blader professionally aiming it. He quipped with his classic sarcasm. "Well, none of us saw that coming. This hasn't gone the way you though it was gunna go. Huh Blake?! Whatcha going to do now?"

Tyson, Ray and Max had almost reached Kai's back and in doing so, were now close enough to clearly see all the unfolding drama happening on stage. They drank in a better look at Kai's sexy but lethal handgun. It looked legit, matt black, scary as hell, and they could tell by the way the CEO was holding it...he knew what he was doing with it. Mariah and Daichi stood a tad behind, and Kenny and Hilary were a further few steps back making their formation a staggered audience.

All bodies on the side of good were on edge but in a different way than before...this time...they wielded all the control and power. If anyone was at risk of getting hurt...it wasn't going to be their side...it'll would be Shadow Vale for once. But one thing could get in the way...their high morals and human decency.

Ray's words were slow and calm and full of reason as he remained glued to the spot. He fretted hard about what his old team mate was capable of and daren't go near him in his dangerous drone-like state. "I know you have reasons to shoot him Kai but think about it. Once you have that blood on your hands, it's never going to wash off. Do you really think you could live with that?"

Tyson blurted whilst resisting hard not to move close to the scarily zoned-out gun-man. He gestured with passion and urgency. "Ray's right dude! I know you and you're not a killer. I wanna see these guys pay for what they did to us but this isn't the way we do things. You're better than shooting someone to death. Gun crime is not the answer dude!"

Bryan climbed off Tala's tackled form and to his feet, then approached two steps close to play devil's advocate in Kai's ear. "Put him down Kai...and the rest of them too...then get on with your life. There's plenty of woodland round here we can bury a body or four. Nobody would ever know."

No one could tell if Mr Monotone was joking or not, and a stray chilly breeze overcame all on the courtyard with how dark his words. Given his tough background at BIOVOLT and street life prior...add his predisposition towards violence...it wasn't out of scope he was being serious.

Upon hearing Bryan's words encouraging murder and disposal of their bodies so openly and casual, the Shadow Vale quad quivered and shifted on the spot nervously. Should Kai agree with his old Demolition Boy comrade...they knew...they could be in serious trouble of the deadly kind. They had daggers and beyblades to protect themselves yes...but against a gun possibly harbouring a whole cartridge of bullets...Kai seriously had the upper hand there. If the scorned beyblader was well trained with a decent aim, he could shoot every one of them in turn before they'd ever have the time to raise their daggers or clip blades into launchers.

Josef quipped nonchalant toying with the Shadow Vale bladers sense of safety. He was enjoying the turnaround of events a little too much. "That's not a bad idea Blitzkrieg Boy. Shadow Vale are nothing but a scourge on our planet and the sooner we wipe them out, the safer the world will be." He took a moment to glance around at the nearby forest line. "Wooooo he's right...There's a lotta space for unmarked graves here."

Hilary slammed a foot to the dirt before yelling what was on her mind. The casual talk of killing was making her feel queasy. "Yes and who would be the one with blood on his hands filling those graves? Kai will have to live with what he's done for his whole life. You boys can't be serious!"

Emily added with sensible urgency. "Four murder charges, that's your freedom and career down the toilet Kai. Are they worth giving up your life? After all you've built and worked hard for with your company? Don't let these psychos take any more from you."

Mariam crossed her arms with sass and too wanted to make the Shadow Vale bladers sweat for her own amusement. "That's IF the authorities find out. If Kai shoots these four dead I'm throwing him a party, not shopping him to the police. Would any of you grass him up? I hope not. Kai would have done the world a huuuuuge favour."

Max cried with fluster and red shaded bitterness on his cheeks. His spiky words were most unusual for his kind character. "I say it's up to Kai what he does. I'm not going to stop him. These creeps have made our lives hell. They stalked our families, and kept us confined and scared for weeks.. Some of us were hospitalised and almost died after what Shadow Vale did to us, and look what they did to Kai's security guys who were just doing their job. They constantly threaten us and would kill us all in our sleep if they had the chance...one almost did. It's about time they feel what it's like to be the prey!"

Kenny became animated with frustration over the uncomfortable topic. He needed to hear Kai's thoughts. "I don't think a single person here believes Kai is actually going to shoot these guys, so who would grass him up is irrelevant. He'd sooner see them in cuffs than in a body bag. Right Kai?!"

"I say we do a show of hands. Who's down for shooting these punks?!" Daichi exclaimed before childishly sticking his hand in the air as high as he could and balancing on his tip-toes to add another inch or two. He love the idea of getting rid of the Shadow Vale menaces once and for all gangster style, but how he'd actually feel if Kai killed them and seeing their dead bodies in front of him would be a mystery even to him. Or perhaps he was just jerking around to induce further fear into the tattooed assailants...maybe?

Big brother substitute Tyson was quick to toss his lil'bro's twisted idea firmly into the bin. "No Daichi! We're not taking a vote on murder no matter how much they deserve it. We're better people than that!"

Tala launched his next words like an arrow and hoped they would imbed deep. He knew of Kai's fractured and toxic relationship with his Grandfather as far back as their shared residence at BIOVOLT, and even more was revealed during Voltaire's court case and subsequent media coverage. "Think about what you're doing Kai. Don't be what your Grandfather wanted you to be. Don't be like him."

Kai finally spoke. Everyone ceased any and all gum flapping to listen intently. Whenever Mr Hiwatari had something to say, it was always pure gold. His tone was elegantly strong, oddly relaxed, but warning with his handgun perfectly pointed at his dagger-wielding mark without a flicker of quiver. "Let me tell you about my Grandfather Blake. He was a businessman and a man of violence. A true King-Pin. He taught me from very young to never turn my back on or underestimate my enemies, and never let them take me by surprise. I let YOU take me by surprise that day... and I suffered the consequences...That, will never let that happen again. I spoke with him recently. He said I should put you in the ground. Burn you to ash. Set the balance right. I despise my grandfather, we never saw eye to eye...but after our encounters Blake, I've recently come to...relate to his thuggish ideology." The gangster's grandson cocked his head to the side for a moment before returning his stare squarely in line with his crosshairs. "What do you think I should do? Embrace the directions of my Grandfather and set the balance right for what you did to me? Or listen to them...pleading for your life?"

After a prolonged silence of shock, Blake finally found some fight in his belly. He blurted with a dark sneer like he had all the power on the planet. His statement was short and punchy. "You kill me and you'll never see your Dranzer again."

Kai was completely unperturbed. He remained cold and steely faced but with a tone growing in agitation. "Which brings me to my next question. Where is my Dranzer?! Give back what you stole from me!"

The Shadow Vale blader smarmed when he should be more contrite if he valued his safety. He was pushing Kai's boundary for sure. "I'm afraid I don't have Dranzer on me. But know he is safe and sound and somewhere you will never reach him. Learn to accept it Kai. You've lost Dranzer forever no matter what you threaten me with."

Kai cricked his neck back and narrowed his smoking eyes. "If you won't tell me where my Dranzer is...then I have no use for you alive." He moved his finger in a way that looked like he was about to pull the trigger and his stance tucked in a tad, indicating he was about to do something he'd never be able to take back.

Blake shrieked with a frantic high pitch none had heard before, his siblings too jerked in frightful surprise. His dagger dropped to the floor as his entire posture fell apart. He stepped backwards a step with the belief a bullet was coming his way if he didn't give the gun-man something to appease his growing lust for violence. A sweat drop adorned his forehead with the pressure and fear he was not accustomed to. He held his hands up like a robber who had just been caught by a cop. "Wait! My village elders are keeping Dranzer safe. That's all I can tell you."

Kai glowered and demanded boldly with a husky robotic voice. "Where. Is. Your. village?"

Elder brother Harkan took a step forward to answer for his stuttering kin. His tone was bellowing and disgruntled as he tried to reason with the would-be hitman. "This is getting tiresome. We will never tell you the location of our village, our clan's pact forbids it. Put your gun to our temples if you must...we'll never tell you. Your Dranzer is lost and I see you have a new replacement. Be content with that and learn to let go of the other. Your bond is broken with your red phoenix now and forever and cannot be repaired. It was your fault you lost him in the first place. What are you going to do now? If you are going to shoot us, get on with it. If you haven't got the guts... we will be leaving now." The mammoth of a man then took his Blake's arm in preparation to lead him away.

Kai was getting worked up inside but on the outside remained completely terminator-like. His voice grew in gruffness with each passing sentence. "I'm not finished with you yet Blake. You stole my Dranzer. You left me for dead. You held a knife to me when I couldn't fight back. My career is at risk because of your actions and today...you maim 6 of my staff."

The CEO's body language indicated something had snapped inside of him. His finger wrapped tighter around the trigger and his heart rate and breathing raced. His meek arms began to shake and his eyes peeled wide and wild with pure adrenaline. The latter of his sentence was laced with such raw emotion that all believed...someone was about to get shot. "I can't just let you walk away from that. You need to feel a FRACTION of the pain you put me through!"

The quad of Shadow Vale members each recoiled in horror. Garnetta wanted to reach for Vamplash but knew there would never be enough time to affix her in her launcher let alone let rip in defence. Blake eagle-eyed his dagger lying on the grass and wondered if there was enough seconds to scoop, aim and throw it...he wisely decided there was not. Darcel crumpled into a ball like a frightened hedgehog and dragged his cape over his back, while Harkan stood wide-stanced and petrified in the open like a stag in open season.

Emily cried but daren't move from her spot. "Don't do it Kai!"

Ray called out from behind. "Kai think about it!"

Bryan droned on. "Do it Kai. Put him in his place."

Hilary shrieked. "NO STOP!"

Kai growled like a rabid animal as he fought with the intense pressure of what to do. Fire his weapon and teach them a lesson for ever crossing him just like his Grandfather would...or let his targets go to punish another way another day.

Tyson yelled with golden purity and tenderness. "Kai! Listen to me! I have something for you to think about. What would Izumi think if you do this? Think about her face as you walk to the docks in handcuffs. How is she going to feel if you go down for murder? How will she cope with you in prison?! Don't make her lose you again Kai! She loves you so so much dude! And so do we! Don't throw your future away!"

Kai screamed with raw emotion. "I have the right to take his life like he did mine!"

Tala responded before anyone else had the chance. "Yes...you do Kai. But you're better than he is. Blake is just another brainwashed incel with nothing better to do in his life. You have a future Kai, a really bright one. You're the CEO of a company, you have the power to make lots of money and help people. Don't throw away your life just to take his. Whether you get caught by the police or not, murdering someone will change you and you'll never see yourself the same way again."

Kai blurted out with a broken husky voice with all the emotion surging through his throat. His amethyst orbs were growing glassy as his finger tightened more so around the trigger...anymore and the gun was going to go *bang-bang.* "He killed me! He embarrassed and defiled me for the whole world to see. He stuck a blade into my body and pulled it out without any compassion. Cold and alone I died on that beystadium floor. At the hospital I was stripped naked, tubes and needles shoved into my body against my will. I was kept sedated for days. I lost precious time and all near future plans were destroyed. It will take weeks for my body to fully recover and even then I have a long road to become the person I once was...Now, Blake has to deal with the vengeful person he left behind."

Tyson stammered towards Kai's back and longed to place a careful hand on his shoulder... he daren't in case his touch sparked a reaction and terribly bad news for someone else. "We know what you went through. We were there, we saw the whole thing. Your battle, the medics, the hospital. I understand how angry you must feel, I really do. You deserve revenge! But there will be other ways to settle things, I promise you Dude. You have Black Dranzer now...and Blake will learn what a mistake he's made when you both hand his ass to him in the future."

Ray eagerly added with trepidation. "Tyson's right Kai! You have to let them go. Blake will suffer your wrath in other ways sooner or later. Garnetta will suffer mine, just as soon as I get my claws on her."

Mariam interjected on behalf of her clan in place of her leader Ozuma who was still out cold. "Us Saint Shields have no say in the matter, it's up to you Kai. One less Shadow Vale member on the earth is a good thing for us and humanity...but it's you with the gun... and it'll be you that has to live with the consequences."

Hilary begged aloud with dewy eyes. "Please let them go Kai. You're not a killer! You're a good person and we need you to help us fight Shadow Vale the right way...you won't be able to do that from jail if you go down for murder. Dranzer's waiting for you, wherever he is."

Kai sneered and growled in toil with himself. He was totally knackered emotionally, physically and mentally with only pure fury and blood-lust driving him through. He stared at Blake lethally for a few moments longer...deciding what to do with him. He had all the power. "I don't want to shoot him...I want Black Dranzer to rip his Killertile to shreds, take my pound of flesh in battle, rescue Dranzer and put him somewhere he can never be a menace again. I can't do that if he's dead. As likely as I would to win a murder charge, I don't want the hassle or bad publicity. And lastly, I'd be just like my grandfather if I pulled this trigger. I will NOT be him."

Kai had made up his mind. He completely lowered his firearm to hover in front of his crotch but kept his hands ready to raise them again should any of Shadow Vale give him cause to. The man in the hooded biker jacket announced. His every word was spoken with the strongest of intention. "Blake...and the rest of your clan. I want you to remember this moment. The moment I could have taken your life but didn't...Now...I want you to run. Run away like the COWARDS YOU ARE...GO! Before I change my mind."

Darcel peeped from under his cape. "Eeeeep he's letting us go?"

Garnetta's skin felt like it was on fire due to stinging cuts aplenty from the ice shard spray of Wolborg's Novae Rog attack. Her arms, legs and head were dripping crimson and had been for some time; she was quite a battered and bloodied picture. Stitches or staples were no doubt needed and she hastened to go away somewhere to lick her wounds. She whispered slyly, her beating from battling the Blitzkrieg Boy had subdued her wild personality a tonne. "Let's go Brothers. There will be another day."

Blake scooped up his dagger from the grass and quickly snuck it into its cubby hole beneath his cloak...all the while not once taking his eyes off his adversary with the gun. Scowling with gritted teeth he'd finally got a taste of what it was like being a hostage, Kai's hostage, and it left a god awful sour taste in his mouth. He physically spat on the ground before shuffling backwards to the cluster of his siblings readying to flee.

Kai's unblinking stare never left Blake's form either as he begrudgingly allowed his arch enemy nemesis to walk away without bloodshed. He called out one last thing. "I'm not finished with you yet Blake. We'll meet again." A dangerous hunter's scowl painted his pale features as he second guessed his choice to let him go. He promised himself Blake's retribution would come...just not today.

Blake muttered slow and careful not to mince his words as he backed away cautiously further. He sneered. "Yes Kai. I have no doubt we will see each other again."

*WAFT WAFT WAFT WAFT WAFT WAFT WAFT WAFT WAFT WAFT WAFT WAFT WAFT WAFT*

A helicopter high above grew loud and near in seconds. One of the downed guards must have put a distress call out and a rescue team in a Chinook had just arrived in response. Its noisy entrance provided the perfect distraction as all heads looked skywards at the incoming military grade aircraft.

*WAFT WAFT WAFT WAFT WAFT WAFT WAFT WAFT WAFT WAFT WAFT WAFT WAFT WAFT*

Harkan swiftly took the chance to ensure his brethren's clean getaway. He revealed a hard black ball from inside his cloak and threw it to the ground with force, resulting in a huge *BANG.* A far spreading grey plume of smog was instantly born. The gassy cover blinded everyone in a second, even the man who bore it. Nobody could see their own hand in front of them, the smokescreen was that dense. Tyson and his friends worried with pulsating seconds of dread, they no idea of what dirty tricks to expect next and could do nothing but wait for the air to clear.

By the time the smoke dissipated...the four Shadow Vale members had vanished. The only evidence remaining was Garnetta's blood and the many scorched and dug beyblade tracks on the gravel and dirt ground. The would-be assassins had fled to the only environment with cover...the woodlands nearby, where Bryan suggested burying their bodies if Kai did indeed put a bullet in each of them.

It was all over...Tyson, Max, Ray and Kai had survived another brush with Shadow Vale...for now; but not without cost.

The Chinook complete with armed guards and paramedics were quick to land. The on-call rescuers spilled out into the courtyard as soon as the flying behemoth touched ground and set straight to work on those needing urgent medical assistance. There were plenty of patients that needed them.

The list of those that needed medic attention was extensive. 11 Hiwatari Enterprises security personnel including the Kai's head of security Mr Cooper, 6 of which were in full view at the front, and the other 5 were later discovered around the back of the abbey. Each had been sliced and diced with deep wounds around their necks, along sides of their heads, across thighs and shins and up and down arms. Each operative had been viciously and repeatedly struck by Shadow Vale's beyblades. The brave staff never stood a chance; even with their bullet-proof vests they had little protection. The highly trained team were ambushed before any had a chance to see what was coming. None even had the time to pull their weapons, for all the good it would have done them. Some of those cut deepest bled an awful amount of blood which the gravel and dust drank up beneath their collapsed bloodied bodies. Flesh wounds and broken bones make up the bulk of their injuries and all 11 operatives required urgent medical help and hospital treatment.

They...were not the only casualties.

Ozuma and Dunga were deeply unconscious and refused to rouse no matter how much shaking and shouting those who cared about them valiant pair was completely drained but more alarmingly...barely breathing. Mariam and Josef naturally stuck to their sides like glue.

Tala and his clothing was cut to ribbons and bloodied all over. He could barely stand. Bryan retrieved Wolborg for him and the duo hobbled together over to the chopper for some much needed first aid.

Kai was in no great state either. He was close to collapse too. He mustered the strength to collect precious Black Dranzer from the battle space and placed it securely into his pocket. The gun...was not his own. He'd stolen it from Mr Cooper when he inspected his body soon after rejoining with Tyson. He put the gun back in his bodyguards holster; Theodore would want to know where it is when he wakes up. That's if he survives his ordeal and makes it to the trauma unit on time. Kai stayed loyally beside him, as the African American once did for him.

Tyson, Hilary, Emily, Ray, Mariah, Mariam, Josef, Daichi, Kenny and Max all did what they could to assist the medics in lifting bodies onto stretchers and bandaging those who urgently needed it.

Before long, all bodies were seated and strapped down in the Chinook helicopter and were soon whisked away with rapid spinning blades to the nearest ER, Moscow Central Hospital. There was no time to lose.