Tony's eyes fluttered open.
Blinking against the soft light streaming through his window, he realized he was back in his room. The familiar walls, the cluttered desk, and above it, shopping bags with a black box nearby.
His head still felt heavy, but he pushed himself up halfway, trying to fully wake. He rubbed his temples, attempting to clear the lingering fog. The room was quiet, except for a faint sound from outside.
Before he could gather his thoughts, the door creaked open. His mom peeked in, a gentle smile on her face.
"Tony? You awake, sweetie?" she asked softly, stepping inside with a tray in her hands. "I brought you some snacks."
Tony blinked, still half-dreaming, and nodded slowly. "Yeah… I'm awake," he mumbled, shifting upright on the bed.
"As we were almost home, you suddenly had a terrible fever," his mom said, her voice thick with emotion. "Your forehead was burning."
She stepped closer, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. "You've been sleeping for hours. I didn't want to wake you, but I had to make sure you were okay."
"I feel better now, Mom. I'm fine," he said calmly.
"Where is my Beyblade, Mom?" he asked worriedly.
"I kept it inside the black box," she replied.
"Mom, can you bring that box over here? I want to see it," he asked.
His mom stood up and placed the box near Tony. Just as she set it down, a voice echoed through the house.
"Honey! I'm home!"
"Oh… I think your dad just got back from work. I have to go, okay, son?" She left the room with a smile on her face.
Tony opened the box. A golden ray shone from the face bolt. This time, there was an engraving on it, but he didn't know what it was called.
"It looks like some sort of eye in the middle," he murmured.
As Tony was still staring at the mysterious glow of the face bolt, the door creaked open again. His mom peeked inside.
"Tony, come downstairs. Dinner's ready."
His stomach growled in response. Without hesitation, he got up and followed her to the dining room. The warm smell of food hit him the moment he sat down at the table.
"Son," his dad's voice broke the silence. He was smiling as he unfolded a rolled-up sheet in his hand. "Look what I found on my way home."
It was a brightly colored poster, bold letters splashed across the front:
Tomorrow — National Beyblade Tournament.
At the bottom, the details made Tony's eyes widen.
The chief guest: Derick Dorman, Fang College.
The prize: $50,000 in cash.
His dad leaned forward, his tone turning serious.
"Tony, I think you should enter. It's a free event, open to bladers all across America. This… might be your chance."
Hearing his dad's words, Tony's heart skipped. A tournament—his chance. The thought alone lit a spark of excitement in his chest. He quickly finished his food, barely tasting it, and hurried back to his room.
Dropping into his chair at the study table, he flipped open his laptop. For the next hour, he scrolled through forums and official posts about the upcoming tournament—rules, entry requirements, past winners, even rumors about the bladers who might appear.
When he finally closed the screen, satisfaction washed over him. Everything was set. Tomorrow was the day.
He lay down on his bed, the golden glow of the Beyblade still etched in his mind's eye. His heart beat faster with every thought of the battles to come.
Sleep claimed him at last, carrying him away with the thrill of what awaited.
⸻
The Next Day
[ Morning — 8:40 AM ]
Tony woke with a start, excitement buzzing through his body like a jolt of electricity. For once, he didn't feel heavy or sluggish after waking. Today wasn't an ordinary day—it was tournament day.
The clock read 8:40 AM. Just an hour and twenty minutes left before the battles began.
He jumped out of bed, washed up quickly, and got dressed. His Beyblade sat on the desk inside the black box, the faint golden glow still lingering from last night. Tony picked it up carefully, holding it in his palm.
"Today's the day," he whispered, his eyes gleaming with determination.
"Son, you ready?" his mom called.
"Yes, Mom! I'm coming!" he replied.
Both of them took a taxi toward the destination, arriving at the venue around 9:40 AM. Tony hurried straight to the registration desk, where he received his challenger's ID pass. His heart pounded as he clutched it tightly.
Stepping into the stadium, his eyes widened. The massive stage stood tall, lights blazing down on the central Beyblade arena. Crowds filled the seats, cheering and laughing, their voices echoing like a football stadium.
"So… this is how a real Bey stadium feels," he muttered, full of excitement.
⸻
Suddenly, an announcement rang out through the loudspeakers:
"Attention challengers and guests. Due to unforeseen circumstances, the event will now begin at 10:30 AM. We appreciate your patience."
⸻
Tony froze for a moment, then grinned. More time to explore. His excitement doubled as he began roaming around the venue, soaking in every detail.
That's when he noticed a smaller practice stadium off to the side. Five people were already locked in battle, their Beyblades clashing with sparks and screeches of metal.
Tony's eyes lit up. Without thinking, he tugged at his mom's sleeve.
"Mom, look! Over there!"
He dashed forward, unable to hold back his excitement.
"Hey guys, can I join you?" he asked with a smile.
"Sure… just wait like two minutes until I win this match," a random blader replied with a grin.
"You sure, pal? Look at your Bey," another teased.
Four minutes later, the battle ended. Two players left, leaving four challengers including Tony. All of them got ready to launch.
"In three… two… one…"
"Let it rip!"
All four Beyblades clashed in the center. But surprisingly, three were knocked back hard, nearly flying out of the stadium.
"Wait, what?!" one blader exclaimed. "Is that Bey… awakened?" His expression turned serious.
"Man… why didn't you tell us you had an awakened Bey? That's unfair!" another said angrily.
As they started to walk out, frustrated, someone approached. A tall boy in a formal blue college uniform, a crest embroidered on the top left of his shirt.
"Hey… I heard someone here has an awakened Beyblade. Is that true?" he asked the group.
Without hesitation, the three pointed straight at Tony.
"Hi. I'm Sho, from Obsidian Fang College," the newcomer said politely. "I'm curious about your Bey… may I hold it for a moment?"
Tony hesitated at first, but eventually handed it over. Sho adjusted his glasses and examined the face bolt carefully. His eyes widened.
"No way… this is really a Horuseus Bey," he breathed.
Sho's shock was clear. He explained that Horuseus was a legendary Bey—one in a million, said to choose its wielder.
"What's your name?" Sho asked politely.
"I'm Tony," he replied, keeping a neutral expression.
Sho, unwilling to miss such an opportunity, smiled sharply.
"Tony, let's battle. One on one."
Tony agreed, his curiosity piqued. "What's your Bey?"
"Oh… mine is Frost Pegasus DF145," Sho answered calmly.
"Okay. Let's battle," Tony said firmly.
"Sure."
"In three… two… one…"
"Let it rip!!"
The two Beys shot forward, colliding with a thunderous crash. Shockwaves rippled across the stadium floor, rattling the air. The clash drew attention, and soon, curious onlookers—including Tony's mom—were gathering to watch.
"Witness the assault of Pegasus!" Sho shouted, his voice brimming with confidence.
Sparks flew as the Beys collided again. This time, Pegasus's raw force pushed Horuseus back inch by inch. Sho's eyes gleamed.
"Pegasus—Counter Blizzard!!"
A chilling aura spread across the arena, coating the stadium in frost. Horuseus wobbled, its footing slipping as though caught on a frozen lake. Pegasus seized the moment, slamming forward and sending Horuseus skidding backward.
"Come on, Tony! Don't hold back. Show me the true power of Horuseus!" Sho's smile widened, both daring and eager.
Tony's chest burned with heat. A strange warmth flowed through his veins, as if his very soul was resonating with Horuseus.
"Alright… here I come! Go, Horuseus!!"
The golden Bey flared with radiant light, its entire frame engulfed in a shimmering glow. Tony felt it—the bond. In that instant, Bey and Blader were one.
Sho narrowed his eyes, refusing to be outdone.
"Pegasus—Final Counter Blizzard!!"
A blizzard roared forth, cold and merciless, but something was wrong. Sho's jaw dropped as he saw Horuseus holding firm, its golden aura locking it into place. The ice storm shattered against its radiance, leaving it completely unaffected.
In the next heartbeat, Horuseus lunged forward at blinding speed. The golden flash slammed into Pegasus with overwhelming force.
*BOOM!*
Pegasus was launched high into the air, spinning helplessly before crashing out of the stadium. The crowd gasped, stunned into silence.
Tony stood frozen, his chest still burning, his hand trembling around the launcher. Horuseus spun proudly in the center, golden light flickering like a living flame.
Suddenly, a translucent screen materialized before his eyes.
[ Exp Requirement Completed ]
[ System Activation In Progress… ]