The BeyMall was already packed when I arrived.
Posters for the regional tournament covered the glass entrance, each one showing bursts frozen mid-air, sparks caught in motion.
Inside, the sound hit instantly.
Launchers clicking, Beys spinning on demo stands, kids shouting to each other across the open space.
Dozens of stadiums filled the center of the mall, surrounded by banners and lights.
It wasn't chaos.
It was excitement.
I walked past the line of food stalls and tournament booths until I found the registration desk.
A row of staff members sat behind computers, each handling a steady stream of bladers.
One of them looked up. "Next!"
I stepped forward.
"Name?"
"Ryo."
She typed fast. "Last name?"
"Just Ryo."
She looked up for a moment, then nodded. "Alright. You're registering as an independent blader?"
"Yes."
She turned the screen toward me. "Stand there, please. Photo for the tournament database."
A small flash went off before I even blinked.
Then she pointed to the platform beside her. "Now your Bey."
I placed Eclipse Drago on the stand.
The machine above scanned its surface, lights passing over the gold and crimson frame, capturing every ridge and detail.
"Left spin," she murmured, reading the data.
Her tone changed slightly, just a hint of surprise. "We don't see many of those."
I didn't answer.
A moment later, the printer beside her spat out a small card — my tournament ID.
"Alright, you're registered. You'll get your first-round match assignment tomorrow morning. Good luck."
I nodded, slipped the card into my pocket, and turned away.
Across the open floor, I caught a glimpse of Valt at another booth.
He was posing for his photo with a wide grin, holding Victory Valkyrie high like it was a trophy.
He noticed me right after and waved so hard the photographer nearly dropped the camera.
"Ryo! You're here too!"
"Yeah," I said, walking over.
"This is gonna be epic! Can you believe this place?"
I looked around — the stadiums, the lights, the echo of launchers.
"Yeah," I said quietly. "It's something."
Valt laughed. "I'm gonna win this whole thing!"
"We'll see."
He blinked. "Wait, are we in the same bracket?"
I shrugged. "Guess we'll find out tomorrow."
The sky had already turned dark when I got back to the dorm.
Most of the students were still out training.
I liked it quieter.
I set my bag down, took out Eclipse Drago, and cleaned off the thin layer of dust from the metal ring.
The driver clicked neatly back into place. Everything felt ready.
After a moment, I picked up my phone and scrolled to a familiar number.
"Hey, Mom."
"Ryo! It's been a while. How are classes?"
"They're fine. I wanted to tell you something."
"Oh?"
"I joined a tournament. It's at the BeyMall downtown. Starts tomorrow."
A short pause, then her voice brightened. "Really? That's wonderful!"
In the background, I heard my father ask what was going on.
She must've turned to him, because his voice came through next.
"A tournament, huh? So you finally decided to test yourself."
"Yeah."
"That's good," he said. "Don't rush, stay focused, and make every launch count."
Mom laughed softly. "He sounds like he's your coach now."
"I know," I said, smiling a little.
"You've been working toward this for years," she said. "No matter what happens, we're proud of you."
"Thanks," I said quietly.
"Call us when it's over," Dad added. "We'll want to hear how it went."
"I will."
The call ended with a click.
I set the phone down and looked at Drago again.
Three years of work had come down to this one weekend.
I walked to the small practice stadium by the bed and readied my launcher.
"Three. Two. One. Let it rip."
Drago hit the ridge, curved around the bowl, and steadied in the center with perfect balance.
Even in the dim light, the red of its frame caught a faint reflection.
Tomorrow, it wouldn't be practice anymore.
The crowd outside the BeyMall stretched far beyond the doors.
Everyone was talking at once, holding launchers, parts, or cameras.
Today wasn't about shopping or practice anymore. It was time to battle.
Ryo waited his turn at the entrance checkpoint. Once his badge was scanned, the security gate lit green, and he stepped through into the bright atrium.
The change from yesterday was almost unreal.
The empty walkways had turned into rows of stalls selling food, accessories, and spare drivers.
The sound of spinning Beys echoed from every direction.
"Attention, participants," a voice said over the speakers. "All first-round bladers, please proceed to the main floor. Matches begin in fifteen minutes."
Ryo followed the flow of bladers heading toward the center of the mall.
The main stadium looked enormous from up close, the clear walls reflecting flashes of color from the overhead lights.
Crowds had already filled the stands, cheering as a few test launches fired in the side arenas.
He found a quiet spot near the lower benches and set his bag down.
Across the stadium, he spotted Valt waving wildly at someone, probably Shu.
Even from here, he could hear his voice cutting through the noise.
Ryo exhaled slowly.
So this was it — the first step on the real path forward.
He glanced at Eclipse Drago resting inside its case.
The red and gold frame caught a streak of light, almost alive under the glare.
"Let's make this count," he said softly.
The announcer's voice rose above the crowd.
"Welcome, bladers, to the BeyMall District Tournament! Let the battles begin!"
The floor vibrated as the first pair launched in the opening match, the sound of clashing Beys filling the hall.
Ryo tightened his grip on his launcher.
His turn was coming.