Ash had just managed to catch his breath from his fight with Kenta when a chilling voice pierced the air, immediately chilling the environment.
"So, you're the so-called 'new guy,' huh?" The tone was dripping in mockery, like the speaker was already writing off Ash before he'd even spoken a word.
Ash looked around to find a tall man walking towards him, his confidence more or less shining off of him. This was Kyoya Tategami, the captain of the Face Hunters, and he exuded an arrogance that practically radiated from him. Ash could sense the rivalry flame in Kyoya's eyes, and it was clear: he wasn't here to play around like Ash. Kyoya was here to reign supreme.
After Madoka taught him all about the world of Beyblade and assembled his Beyblade, Storm Greninja, Ash was more than ready to put it to the test in battle, but he didn't think he would come across someone like Kyoya sooner.
Kyoya's intense stare focused on Ash as he walked up. "So, you're ready to play with the big boys, huh?" Kyoya sneered.
Ash stood his ground but remained calm. He wasn't going to let this cocky Blader get the best of him. "I'm not here to play," Ash retorted, "I'm here to win.
Kyoya smiled, his arms loosely crossed on his hips. "We'll see. You're a newcomer, aren't you? You think speed alone can win, huh? It can't. A true Blader knows how to crush his foe, not simply dodge and weave."
Madoka cast a warning look Ash's way, but Ash was too busy getting into the zone. "I challenge you to a battle! Storm Greninja, let's see if you can defeat me!"
Kyoya's smile grew even broader, and he stepped forward with no hesitation. "I'll show you what happens when you think you can just walk in and take on the best."
"3… 2… 1… LET IT RIP!" he bellowed
He fired his Beyblade—Wild Fang—with precision. The feral blade, with its menacing, claw-like shape, sped across the stadium floor, whirling with a ferocity that increased its speed. The raw power of Wild Fang was apparent from the beginning.
Ash was not going to let up sends Storm Greninja off at full speed.
The stadium was silent for a moment, other than the sound of the two spinning Beyblades whirring. Storm Greninja zipped around the stadium, twisting in a wild, unpredictable pattern, making the most of its speed and agility. It was quick—just about quicker than one could keep up with—but Kyoya wasn't the kind to be distracted by a bit of speed.
Kyoya's Wild Fang advanced with a lumbering, crushing speed, holding its ground waiting for the perfect time to attack. It wasn't interested in velocity. It was all about brute strength.
"Storm Greninja, attack!" Ash shouted, sending his Beyblade charging.
But Kyoya smirked and simply shouted, "Wild Fang, stay grounded."
At the last second, Wild Fang twisted, its claws scraping against the floor to reposition itself just as Storm Greninja zoomed in for the attack. The clash was powerful, sending sparks flying as the two Beyblades collided with tremendous force.
"Ha! That all you've got?" Kyoya taunted, his voice oozing with superiority.
Ash clenched his teeth. He hadn't known Kyoya was this skilled. He was facing a Blader who knew not just how to battle but how to disrupt his rhythm.
"Don't count it out yet!" Ash yelled, not wanting to concede. "Storm Greninja, utilize your agility and dodge Wild Fang! Move back and forth!"
Storm Greninja zigzagged around Wild Fang, barely avoiding another blow. Kyoya wasn't fazed, though. He recalled his Beyblade with a near-relaxed assurance.
"You're quick, but quickness won't cut it here. Wild Fang is designed to tire you out," Kyoya taunted, "And you're already running on fumes."
Ash clenched his teeth. His Beyblade was quick, but Kyoya's skill and merciless fighting style were tiring him out quicker than he had anticipated.
"Time for the real test, kid. Wild Fang, unleash your full power!"
The Wild Fang burst forward with explosive power, sending Storm Greninja stumbling backward. Ash's Beyblade careened wildly out of control, barely managing to stay on course as it struggled to find speed.
"No way!" Ash growled, his forehead creased in anger. This was more challenging than anything he'd dealt with in ages.
He wasn't going to let it go, however. "Storm Greninja, don't back off! Bury yourself forward!"
Storm Greninja came barreling forward again, gaining speed this time. Ash had a strategy this time, however. He needed to outsmart Kyoya—not merely outspeed him.
With a final spurt of speed, Storm Greninja hurtled towards Wild Fang, delivering a crushing side swipe that sent Kyoya's Beyblade crashing across the stadium. For a brief moment, Ash appeared to have the advantage, but Kyoya's Wild Fang recovered at lightning speed and returned with fury renewed.
The two Beyblades clashed together once more, sparks shooting up and the heat of friction radiating through the air. Both Beyblades' power was massive, yet neither had any superior advantage over the other. Within a bit longer, only a few minutes, the two Beyblades engaged in the last confrontation—neither intending to yield.
The crowd roared as both Beyblades gradually ground to a stop, spent from the continuous fight. Ultimately, neither Storm Greninja nor Wild Fang possessed the energy to knock each other out of the arena.
"It's a tie," Madoka declared, her tone one of shock and respect. "That was amazing. Both of you put your all into it."
Kyoya stood, breathing hard, his smirk still playing on his lips. "Tch. You were lucky."
Ash's heart pounded. He hadn't lost, but he hadn't won either. He had pushed Kyoya to his limits, and that was something.
Kyoya's smirk faded for a moment as he studied Ash, almost as if seeing him for the first time. "You've got potential. But don't get ahead of yourself. I'm the one who calls the shots here."
Ash held his ground, eyes locked on Kyoya. "I'm not giving up. I'll be back."
As Kyoya walked away, he glanced over his shoulder with a sneer. "We'll see about that."
Ash stood tall, proud of what he had accomplished. He hadn't won, but he had learned something crucial—he wasn't here to follow the crowd. He was here to make his own contribution, and Kyoya was just the beginning of many adversaries he'd encounter.