The next morning started like any other.
The classroom was already half full when I walked in.
Valt was at his desk, spinning a pencil launcher and nearly hitting the kid behind him.
"Valt," the teacher warned without even looking up.
"Sorry!"
The moment settled into the usual rhythm.
Books opened, pens moved, the hum of morning lessons filling the room.
It was almost calm—until the announcement system crackled to life.
"Attention students," the voice said. "The BeyMall City Tournament will begin next weekend. Registration opens today for all bladers interested in competing. Matches will take place inside the central atrium of the BeyMall. Practice facilities are available throughout the week."
The class exploded.
Valt jumped to his feet so fast his chair fell over. "Yes! Finally!"
Half the room started talking at once.
"Are you joining?"
"No way, I'm not ready!"
"I heard Shu's competing again!"
I looked toward the front. Shu didn't react, just kept writing in his notebook like nothing had changed.
He didn't need to say it; everyone already knew he'd be there.
The teacher tried to calm the room down, but it was hopeless. "You can talk about it after class," she said, though even she was smiling a little.
Valt leaned across my desk. "You heard that, right? You're signing up too, right?"
"I might," I said.
"Might? Come on, it's the BeyMall! It's huge! They even have giant screens showing every match!"
"I'll see."
Valt grinned. "You're totally joining."
The bell rang a moment later, but no one seemed ready to focus again.
Everyone was still talking about the tournament.
When the final class ended, I waited until the others left before packing my bag.
The hallway was still buzzing with chatter—plans, rumors, excitement.
I stepped outside, the sound fading as I walked down the main steps.
It didn't take long to decide.
I'd already come this far.
By the time I reached the registration office, the line was forming fast.
Students from different schools, some older, some younger, all waiting with that same restless energy.
I filled out the form, wrote my name, and slid it across the counter.
"Ryo, right?" the clerk said, checking the list. "You're all set. First matches start Saturday morning."
"Thanks."
As I left, I passed Valt rushing in, waving his papers and talking a mile a minute.
He didn't even see me.
The sky above Beycoma was starting to darken, and the streetlights flickered on.
It felt like something was starting too.
The practice hall buzzed with sound.
Metal clashed against plastic, launchers snapped, and every shout blended into one steady rhythm of battle.
Everyone wanted time in the stadiums before the BeyMall tournament began.
Valt was in the middle of it all, loud and grinning.
"Watch this! Victory Valkyrie's gonna break the limits!"
He launched with everything he had.
Valkyrie bounced off the wall, spun for a few seconds, then fell flat.
The group around him laughed, but he just smiled wider.
"Okay, that one doesn't count!"
I set my bag down near an empty stadium.
It was time to test Drago again.
Valt noticed me right away.
"Hey, Ryo! You brought your Bey too? Come on, let's battle!"
There was no point refusing.
He would keep asking until I said yes.
"Fine," I said, locking Eclipse Drago into my launcher.
A few students turned to watch.
Most had never seen my Bey before.
The red and gold layer gleamed under the lights, dragon emblems curled around the metal frame.
We took our positions.
"Three!"
"Two!"
"One!"
"Let it rip!"
Both launchers snapped.
Victory Valkyrie shot forward in a burst of blue light.
Eclipse Drago curved the opposite way, carving a sharp path along the ridge.
The collision came instantly.
The sound was deep, heavy, and final.
Sparks flashed.
Valkyrie shattered.
The pieces flew across the stadium floor and rolled to a stop.
The room fell silent.
Someone whispered, "That Bey… it's spinning left."
Another voice followed, "Left spin? Seriously?"
All eyes turned toward the center.
Drago was still spinning, calm and balanced, the faint shine of friction glowing under the driver.
Valt crouched, collecting his Bey with wide eyes.
Then he laughed, bright and honest.
"That was insane! You're amazing, Ryo!"
I looked down at Drago. "You just need more practice."
He grinned. "Then I'll keep training until I can beat you!"
I nodded once and reset Drago.
No more words.
The others kept talking, but I launched again.
Drago hit the ridge, accelerated, and circled with perfect rhythm.
Every line was clean, every spin precise.
It wasn't luck.
It wasn't chaos.
It was control through power.
Valt kept watching, muttering something about how "cool" it looked, but I barely heard him.
The sound of Drago's spin drowned out everything else.
The stadium stayed silent after the burst.
Victory Valkyrie lay in pieces across the floor while Eclipse Drago kept spinning, steady and calm.
Valt blinked, then started laughing.
"That was awesome! You have to battle me again sometime!"
I placed Drago back into its case. "Maybe."
Valt was already talking about training harder, his voice loud enough for everyone to hear.
The others started battling again, their noise filling the room until it all sounded like one endless spin.
I stayed a little longer, launching a few more times, testing balance and speed.
Every hit echoed clean through the stadium, sharp and even.
From the far side of the hall, near the entrance, someone paused mid-step.
A quiet figure stood there, watching the motion of the Bey without saying a word.
When the final launch ended, he turned slightly, eyes still on the stadium.
He could tell Ryo hadn't gone all out.
That single hit had been enough, but there was more behind it — a strength he was holding back.
Shu's expression didn't change.
He just nodded once to himself, then walked away.