The stadium lights burned bright above the crowd.
The air carried that sharp, electric tension only a tournament could hold. Ryo stood on the launch platform, his case already open, eyes calm as ever. Across from him, Daichi Mori grinned wide, his energy too loud for the moment.
"So this is the guy everyone's talking about? Left spin or not, I'll crush you!"
Ryo gave no reply. He set Drago onto the launcher, aligning the teeth with quiet precision.
The referee raised a hand.
"Three… two… one… let it rip!"
Both launchers fired.
Daichi's Bey burst forward first, circling the outer edge in wide, steady arcs. Drago followed a heartbeat later, its left rotation roaring across the stadium with a deep, heavy hum.
The instant Drago hit the floor, the Ignis Claw engaged. The tip bit into the surface, sparks of friction streaking beneath it as it gripped tighter, speeding up instead of slowing down.
Ryo's voice was low, almost calm. "Dragon Crash."
Drago tilted in a spiral and charged. The air warped around it, the spin compressing heat and force into one sharp line. The moment of contact came with a thunderous crack.
Daichi's Bey shattered apart in midair metal and plastic bursting outward like fragments of light.
The impact echoed through the stadium. Silence followed.
The referee's voice broke through first. "Burst Finish! Winner Ryo!"
Daichi stared at the fragments near his feet, eyes wide. "That… that was one hit…"
Ryo crouched, picking up Drago. Its surface was warm, faintly humming under his touch. "You left the center open."
He turned without waiting for a response, walking off the platform as the crowd erupted behind him.
Shu was waiting by the tunnel, arms folded, a faint look of disbelief crossing his face. "One strike again?"
Ryo set Drago's case back into his bag. "Dragon Crash doesn't need two."
Shu smirked slightly. "You really don't like wasting time."
Ryo glanced toward the glowing bracket board ahead. "Only when it's worth it."
The screen flickered, updating names for the next round. Ryo's own slid upward, one step closer to the finals.
He didn't smile, didn't react. Just looked once more at Drago's reflection in the glass faint, red-gold, and alive.
Another round done. Another line forward.
The cheers lingered long after the match ended.
Even in the hallway, the sound of the crowd followed Ryo like an echo he couldn't quite shake. He'd won in a single hit again, yet his heart still beat faster than usual.
Too fast, he thought. It shouldn't feel like this for a match that simple.
He adjusted the strap of his case and kept walking. The noise faded behind him, replaced by the dull rhythm of his own footsteps.
Then came the familiar voice.
"Ryo!"
Valt burst through the crowd, eyes bright as ever. "That was insane! One hit, and it was over!" He made an explosion motion with his hands. "How did you even"
Ryo stopped, the corner of his mouth tilting slightly. "Timing."
Valt blinked. "Just timing? Come on, there's no way!"
Shu appeared beside them, calm as always. "He's not wrong. It's not luck or power. It's precision."
Valt laughed, scratching his hair. "Man, you two sound the same sometimes."
Ryo shook his head once, amused despite himself. "You talk enough for both of us."
That earned a grin from Valt. "Guess that means I'm doing my part!"
For a moment, the tension around them eased. The air felt lighter not just because of the win, but because it reminded Ryo that he wasn't alone here.
They reached the end of the corridor where the tournament board glowed above the exit. New names scrolled into place, one after another.
Round Three: Ryo vs Wakiya Murasaki.
Valt let out a low whistle. "Whoa, Wakiya? That guy's all defense. Wild Wyvron's built like a wall."
Ryo looked at the screen. "Then I'll find where it cracks."
Shu's eyes narrowed slightly. "You can't rely on force alone this time. Wakiya studies movement. He waits."
Ryo's gaze softened. "Good. I'd rather earn the next win."
Valt leaned on the wall, grinning. "You really don't get nervous, do you?"
Ryo didn't answer right away. He stared at the faint reflection of his name on the glass. "Sometimes. But I don't let it stay."
Valt blinked, surprised by the honesty. "Guess that's why you're scary."
Shu closed his case with a click. "It's not scary. It's discipline."
The overhead speakers called for a short intermission before the next round. Students scattered, their excitement filling the hall again.
Valt turned to go. "See you tomorrow! I'm gonna train until dark!"
Shu gave Ryo a quiet nod. "Rest. You'll need it."
Ryo hesitated, then returned the nod. "You too."
They parted ways near the exit.
Outside, the air was cooler than before, carrying the distant noise of bladers still practicing in the smaller arenas.
Ryo stopped under a streetlight. The warmth from Drago's case pressed faintly against his palm.
It wasn't just winning that kept him going. It was the rhythm of it the way each battle taught him something new about control, about power, about himself.
He looked toward the sky, a soft glow fading behind the rooftops. "Wakiya, huh…"
There was a small, almost invisible smile on his face. Not arrogance, not pride anticipation.
Tomorrow wouldn't be another easy win. It would be the kind of battle he'd been waiting for.
He tightened his grip on the case and walked toward the dorms, calm but alive inside.