Ryu: Kyoya!!

Kyoya and Ryuga had finished their battle, but somehow L-Drago had empowered Ryuga changing him physically with his skin darkening and eyes turning red. After his victory a Dragon Head went through Kyoya taking his power. They all ran to his body with Benkei being the most devastated.

Benkei: KYOYA! Come on you've gotta wake up!! Ky-KYOYA!!!!!!!

Madoka: Th-This is horrible!

Karma: Damn you!!

Fenrir: Karma, it would not be wise to act now. The Form that he has taken is a pseudo Beat Spirit form. Though it may not be complete he far exceeds your own power.

Ryu had just about enough of the Dark Nebula as he wanted to take.

Ryu: RYUGA!!

He aimed his launcher and attacked Dracian.

Dracian: YOU JUST CROSSED THE DAMN LINE!!!

Ryu: LET'S DO THIS RIGHT NOW!!! YOU WERE GONNA BE MY OPPONENT ANYWAY SO THERE'S NO POINT IN WAISTING ANYMORE TIME!!!!

His aura was fired up as he entered his own Beast Spirit Form.

Ryuga: Calm yourself now. But that was pretty amazing. The power you helped me grab from the unconscious guy.

Gingka: HELPED YOU?!!

Ryu: That power must be affecting your brain even more then it already did!! We'd never help the likes of you!

Ryuga: Don't you get it? From the very beginning, Battle Bladers was a tournament to make both of you stronger. Which I can then give to L-Drago!

Ryu's rage ceased from shock.

Ryu: What?

Ryuga: And let's not forget your friends. By trying to claw their way up to you, they also gained impressive strength.

Karma: That was the purpose of Battle Bladers?! To use us as food for your Beys?!

???: You've said and done quite enough Ryuga.

They all turned and saw Azure on top of some rubble.

Gingka: Azure!!

Azure: Thanks to you taking the power of Doji when he was already weak, he's in no shape to be the host. So now we'll have to continue this tournament on our own.

Gingka: Get real!! We were never meant to be food for L-Drago and Stallion!

Benkei: That's right!! I won't forgive what you've done to Kyoya!!

He launched Dark Bull at Ryuga with the latter only smiling.

Ryuga: Take it easy, I'm not interested in you big guy.

He launched L-Drago at Bull knocking it and Benkei back into a wall.

Karma: Benkei!!

Ryu: That's it!! LET IT RIP!!!

He launched Dracian at L-Drago but before the two could collide Stallion came between the Beys.

Azure: That's enough!

He blew Bey's away with Ryuga and Azure catching them.

Ryu: You wanna battle now too?!

Azure: Let people at least get back before we continue the tournament. This is still being broadcasted to the world.

Stallion spun harder creating a storm knocking debris out of the arena.

Azure: I wouldn't want to beat you any other way. Ryuga, at least let yourself recover too. 2 hours is all you have to wait.

Ryuga: Fine.

He caught Stallion with a few sparks flying from his glove.

Azure: Gingka, just because I'm not Ryuga you better not treat this as any less than a battle with him. Or else I'll crush you without a second thought.

Gingka: Dream on buddy!! I don't care who I face I always go all out!!

That was all he said before walking off.

Ryu: Hold on, why'd you save Yu?!

Azure: Cause Doji irritated me.

That's all he said before jumping away with Ryuga. Ryu clenched his fist before walking away.

Madoka: Ryu?

Madoka: Where are you going?

Ryu: I just need to cool myself off before my battle.

Gin: Ryu? Are you ok?

He looked down and saw Gin who was slightly saddened. He slightly smiled before scratching him behind the ears.

Ryu: I'll be better when this is all over pal. Stay with the others ok?

Gin: *Whimper* Ok.

Ryu continued waking away as Kasumi and Ryo looked down on the field.

Kasumi: You can figure this out Ryu. You already have more than enough power. You just need to realize the single thing your forgetting.

Ryo: But will you be able to find it in time. That is the question.

TIME SKIP!!

Ryu was sitting on the edge of a small cliff.

Ryu: Dracian.

Dracian: Yes Ryu?

Ryu: I feel like there something I'm not understanding.

Dracian: What could it be?

Ryu: That's the thing, I have no idea. I've trained myself for months to gain power enough to defeat them alongside everyone, but I still feel like there's something else I need to do to really win.

Dracian: Well, what do you always do?

Ryu: Figure it out while I go.

Dracian: Figure it out as you go.

Ryu: Oh God damn it you're becoming me.

Dracian: I learned from the best.

They both laughed. Soon enough Ryu heard footsteps from behind him.

Ryu: Gingka, Madoka, I told you before I just needed to blow off some steam.

???: Actually it's me.

He turned around to see Karma there with her usual smile.

Ryu: Karma?

Karma: Hello.

She sat beside him looking to the sky.

Karma: So, something missing?

Ryu: So you heard that huh?

Karma: Sorry.

Ryu: Nah don't worry about it, I kinda outer monologued there.

Karma: By the way, I never got to say thank you.

Ryu: Wait, thank me for what?

Karma: You showed me what a real Bey Battle is supposed to be like. You were eager to let me and Yu be friends with you guys. And not only that you helped me look for him even though we had to battle Dark Nebula Bladers like crazy. I'm really grateful for that.

Ryu: Oh that? Well I guess it was just me being... Me.

They both smiled and looked into the sky. Unknowingly to the pair their hands had touched. When Ryu did notice he slightly blushed. Karma looked at him noticing his cheeks being a rosy red.

Karma: You ok Ryu?

Ryu: Uhhh Yup. All good.

That's when a small thought crossed Ryu's mind.

Ryu: Um, Karma, what time did I leave?

Karma: About twelve-ish.

Ryu: And what time is it now?

Karma looked at her watch before screaming.

Karma: 2:50!!

Ryu: CRAP I GOTTA GO!!!

They began running fast back to the arena. After a good few minutes of running they made it back.

Ryu: Made it!

Ryuga: You sure took your sweet time!

Ryu looked at Ryuga two had gone back to normal again.

Ryu: Oh you're going down.

He attached Dracian to his launcher taking his unorthodox stance again. Everyone in the stands looked in anticipation.

DJ: ALRIGHT BOYS AND GIRLS!!! JUST LIKE BEFORE THESE BLADERS DON'T EVEN NEED A STADIUM!!

Ryu&Ryuga: 3!! 2!! 1!! LET IT RIP!!!

They launched their Bey's with a burst of wind.

Ryuga: YAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!

Ryu: HRAAAAAAAAGH!!!!

Dracian and L-Drago clashed with an explosion happening and shockwaves hitting everyone.

Hyoma: WOAH THIS IS INTENSE!!

Karma held Yu while he held Gin.

Madoka: Is this what it's like when two Dragon Bey's clash?!!!

The wind stopped as L-Drago and Dracian still clashed.

Gingka: Which direction did Ryu go?!

L-Drago went to the left but Dracian circled to the right.

Benkei: TO THE RIGHT!!!

Yu: He went to the right?!!

Ryuga: AHAHAHA!!!!! Challenging me to a head on clash is the biggest mistake you'll ever make!!

Ryu: HA!! Like that'll ever happen!!

They clashed again with shocks going through the air.

Karma: WOAH!!!

Madoka: The shocks provided by the dragon heads clashing is immense! It's to reckless to go for a head on clash!!

Gingka: It can't be helped, that's just how Ryu is. Just think about it, has he ever once backed down from a challenge?

They thought back to both times he faced Kyoya and even against Karma at the Survival Battle.

Madoka: You're right...

Benkei: Every battle we've ever seen him fight Ryu's never backed down at all, not once.

Yu: You mean that's how he always battles?!

Gingka: Yeah. It's his own nature.

They looked back to the battle and saw something surprising.

Ryu: HIT HIM HARD DRACIAN!!!

Dracian was pushing L-Drago back.

Ryuga: How are you overpowering me?!!

Ryu: Cause you messed with my friends pissing me off!!

Dracian sent L-Drago flying away.

Ryu: Sure, I like a challenge, but I also knew that when it comes to raw power, L-Drago just can't surpass Dracian!!

Both Dragon Spirits revealed themselves as L-Drago went after Dracian but she had bitten down on the tree heads.

Ryu: Here we come!!

Dracian switched to Full Attack Mode and started hitting L-Drago with a barrage attack.

Ryuga: Push back now, L-DRAGO!!!

L-Drago gained some ground able to start attacking.

DJ: WOW!! WOW!!! These two Titans of Bladers are going at it!! SHOCKWAVES ARE RIPPING THROUGH THE AIR LIKE CRAZY!!!

Madoka: Its just impossible! Each one of their attacks are like a Full Power Special Move!

Karma: Then it'll be crazy when they really start firing of Special Moves!

Ryuga: ENOUGH OF THIS!! L-DRAGO!!!

It dodged and sped away. That's when the Dragon Heads on L-Drago shifted as well.

Ryuga: DARK MOVE!!

Energy sphere's appeared in Ryuga's hands.

Ryuga: DRAGON EMPEROR SOARING BITE STRIKE!!!!

He fired them at L-Drago as it absorbed the power before it raged towards Dracian.

Ryu: THAT'S WHAT I WAS WAITING FOR!!! DO IT DRACIAN!!

Dracian: Right!!!

Dracian spun around at high speeds before going into the air.

Ryu: DARKNESS SHINING BUSTER!!!

It rocketed down to L-Drago as it went up to meet the attack.

Ryuga: IT'S NO USE!!

The Bey's clashed as surprisingly they were even.

Ryu: What'd you think would happen when Bey's coming from opposite direction in an attack would do?! Your Dragon Emperor Soaring Bite Strike won't be able to withstand an Ariel attack of this level!!

Ryuga: You baited me into using my special move?!!

Benkei: BU-BU-BULL!! Go get him Ryu!!!

Ryu: YOU GOT!! HAAA!!!

Ryu entered his Beast Spirit form making Dracian power up. Soon she knocked L-Drago to the ground.

Gingka: He actually overwhelmed Ryuga!!

Ryu: You know L-Drago was believed to have split of from the original star of Dracian and Stallion! I'll show you what the originals upper attack is like!!

The Dark Aura started to appear around Ryu and Dracian.

Ryu: Special Move!! DARK SURGE JAWS!!!

The Bey's collided with Dracian attacking L-Drago going up before crashing back down. The crowd cheered wildly seeing this.

Gingka: He nailed him!!

Hyoma: One more time Ryu!!

Yu: Yeah!! Finish him off with another attack!!

Ryu: Right!! Let's-

Before he could finish his sentence, a loud voice echoed around.

???: YOU HAVE FAILED AGAIN RYUGA!!! IT SEEMS I MUST TAKE MATTERS INTO MY OWN HANDS!!!

Ryu: The hell?!!

Karma: Could it be?!!

Ryuga: L-Drago?!!

The Dragon's of L-Drago started to fly around before going into Ryuga.

Ryuga: AHHHHH!!! WHY?! WHY L-DRAGO?!!!

Ryu: RYUGA!!!!

Ryuga: AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

He began to change even more than he had before. A Dark aura shot into the sky darkening it. That's when Ryuga gained purple markings on his face starting to look more like a Dragon.

Dracian: Ryu...

Ryu: Dracian, what's happening to him?!

Up in the stands Azure watched with Stallion knowing exactly what was happening.

Stallion: It has begun.

Azure: Looks like Ryuga just wasn't strong enough. He was too weak to be able to control and master that Bey. And L-Drago seems to be too wild as well. YO RYU.

Everyone looked at Azure.

Azure: That person you're fighting now isn't Ryuga, at least it's mostly not him anymore.

Ryu: What the heck are you talking about?!

Dracian: He's right. That is L-Drago.

Ryu: No way. Is that true, are you really L-Drago?!

The Ryuga figure looked up.

L-Drago: That's right!! Ryuga was too weak!!

Kasumi: Oh no...

Ryo: It was only a matter of time.

They saw Kasumi and Ryo up further in the stands.

Gingka: Father!!

Ryo: Through the entirety of history, L-Drago was never truly able to be controlled. And now that Dark Power has finally taken over Ryuga.

Ryu: Taken over... Wait, Dracian, it's the dark power that's controlled Ryuga right?

Dracian: That's right.

Ryu was quiet deep in thought.

Ryu: That's it. I know what I was missing.

L-Drago: YOU WILL BECOME POWER FOR ME AS WELL!!

L-Drago spun faster as it charged towards Dracian.

Ryu: Go now!!

Dracian charged as well with shocks much more powerful happening as they clashed. L-Drago started to push Dracian back.

L-Drago: DESTRUCTION!! YOU WILL BE DESTROYED!!!!

Ryu: Woah!! He's that much more powerful with an unperfected form!!

Azure seeing Ryu pushed back gained an annoyed expression.

Azure: RYU!!!

He looked up at Azure.

Azure: YOU BETTER NOT LOSE THIS!! BEING DEFEATED BY A CONTROLLED RYUGA IS NOT HOW YOU'LL BE DEFEATED!! THAT PLEASURE BELONGS TO ME ALONE!!!

Ryu immediately responded angered.

Ryu: LIKE HELL!! Dracian: SURGE THUNDER!!!

Dracian turned red as it pushed back.

Yu: You can do it Ryu!!

Gingka: We all believe in you!!

Karma: You can beat them!!

Everyone started to cheer his name as Ryu looked around.

Ryu: Thank you everyone. I'll take that support to not only help me defeat L-Drago, but to save Ryuga as well!!

Madoka: Save him?

Karma: Is that what he realized?

Ryu: It wouldn't be a victory if we lost a Blader. He'll never admit it but Ryuga truly does love Beyblade!!

Kasumi: You finally realized it Ryu.

She smiled seeing this and for a brief moment saw Sol.

Ryu: Alright L-Drago you're gonna release that grip on Ryuga one way or another!!

L-Drago: You are nothing!! Worms have no future, AND THAT'S ALL YOU ARE!!!

L-Drago powered up even more as Ryu looked with intent.

Ryu: Tch, I didn't think I'd have to use my newest Special Move until the Finals.

Madoka: Wait, he has another?!

Gingka: How does Ryu always have another Special Move for these moments?!

Karma: And Dark Surge Jaws is already so powerful!!

Ryu: HERE WE COME!!!

Dracian bashed away L-Drago and spun faster as a tornado appeared.

Hyoma: WOAH!!!

Yu: THIS WIND IS EVEN STRONGER THAN THE LION GALE FORCE WALL!!!

Ryu: FLY DRACIAN!!!!

Dracian leapt into the air higher than they'd ever seen her.

L-Drago: DARK MOVE!!!! DRAGON EMPEROR SOARING DESTRUCTION!!!!

He dragon heads spiraled around creating a drill like beam.

Ryu: SPECIAL MOVE!!! DRAGON KING: WRATHFUL CRUSH!!!

Dracian flew down with a massive aura around it.

Ryu: COME ON RYUGA!! FREE YOURSELF!!!!

The Bey's clashed one last time before Dracian overpowered L-Drago. As she did L-Drago cracked releasing Ryuga from its control. The sky went back to normal as Ryuga was about to fall but Ryu grabbed his hand.

Ryu: Phew, that was close.

Ryuga: Ryu?

Ryu: *Sarcastic* No it's Jack Frost.

DJ: HE'S DONE IT!! THE WINNER OF THE BATTLE AND THE ONE TO MOVE TO THE FINALS IS NONE OTHER THAN RYU!!!

Madoka: HE WON!!

They all cheered happily as Ryu slung Ryuga over his shoulder grabbing Dracian.

Ryuga: Why are you helping me?

Ryu: Cause you're a Blader.

Ryuga: I can walk on my own.

Ryu shrugged and let go of Ryuga letting him walk over to L-Drago.

Ryu: One more challenge, then I'll be number 1.

All: RYU!!

He turned and saw everyone running to him as he smiled.

CHAPTER END!!