Your POV 

"(y/n)! Welcome back!"

Majority of BC Sol instantly welcomed me back after I entered the cafeteria. Their smiles were so warm, it mirrored onto my face. "It feels good to be back."

"How are you?" asked Rickson. I shrugged. 

"Okay, I guess."

"You must be tired from the journey," Sasha said, her eyes flitting up and down at my frame. "Goodness, I didn't notice before, but you've become so skinny after training by yourself!"

"Take this as an opportunity to eat lots!" Kit added, before leaning in and whispering, "The substitute chef doesn't make as good food as Mum did, though."

I was reminded that Ange was away on the Battleship Cruise, cooking food for Aiga and the others. The competition was getting even more difficult, and the winner would be announced soon, which meant I would have to battle. 

Since most of the time I had just watched the battles or laid on my bed, Kris figured that it would be better that I returned to BC Sol to train for my title match, and sent me back. On the inside, I was glad. I hadn't been able to live in BC Sol properly after coming back as I only stayed there for a night before leaving again, and I missed everyone.

Not only that, Phi's aura was becoming too suffocating. I just needed to get away. Have a breather. 

"Oh, sorry (y/n)!" apologized Sasha, rubbing the back of her neck sheepishly. "You probably want to take a rest and train, right? Sorry for bothering you! Everyone, go back to your seats!"

Everyone in the hall obeyed Sasha, shuffling back into order. I sweat-dropped, "It's quite alright."

Even though I said that, what Sasha said was right. I missed everyone from BC Sol, but the urgency of Xcalius needing to be trained is stronger. All I wanted to do was dump my suitcase in my room and go train outside. Sasha must've read my thoughts, because she grabbed onto the handle of the luggage. 

"I'll take it up to our room," she offered. "You go train."

I smiled gratefully. "Thanks a lot."

Without waiting for her to answer, I slipped out of the hall and back outside of BC Sol. I was greeted with the sight of long, oak trees assembled in a forest. A memory from years ago surfaced, at this very place but only at night. I blinked it away.

Clutching Xcalius tightly in my hand, I began running into the forest. Long, dark trees with lush branches enveloped my sight, along with the occasional flower. Unlike last time, the forest didn't seem vicious anymore, but rather welcoming.

My legs were running on their own, powered not by my memory but their instinct. I jumped over every log, every piece of rock sticking out. I didn't trip like last time.

The trees began thinning away, making way for a clearing. Sunlight poured in, illuminating the area. The familiar sight of ruins of old pillars covered in vines graced me, the bey stadium in the center looking as if it was waiting for me to try it out. 

"(y/n)!" An excited voice yelled. The next moment I felt arms wrapping my body. Panic flashed through me, and I thrusted my elbows backwards, knocking my attacker backwards. I turned around to face him, cheeks flushed from the adrenaline. "Who goes there?"

As soon as I saw the person on the floor, I didn't know whether to feel guilty or laugh. Valt sat on the floor, rubbing his ribcage tenderly. A scowl adorned his face as he repeated my name but not in a very excited way anymore, "(y/n)! How dare you!"

"I'm sorry!" I apologized, dropping down to check if he was alright. "Are you alright?"

He lifted his nose into the air. "Don't pretend like you care, I can see you stifling your laughter! It's not funny!"

I made more of an attempt to hide my amusement before saying again, "Tell me if you're alright!"

"On the outside I am, but," Valt touched the place where his heart rested. "I'm hurting here. You, my best friend since PRE-SCHOOL, didn't even recognized me or my voice and ATTACKED me! Some best friend!"

I couldn't hold it in anymore. I rolled around on the grass, the laughter bursting out. Valt pouted, "I said it's not funny!"

"Hey!" I gasped for air between laughs, pointing at him. "I can see you're laughing as well!"

"Am not!"

But it was too late. He had already given in to the amusement, collapsing into heaps of laughter. This only multiplied our laughter, until I'm pretty sure even those at BC Sol could hear us. I sighed in content as the last of the giggles came out. 

"Let's just forget about me attacking you, okay?" I asked with a hint of amusement in my voice. 

Valt grinned, "Alright." Then his eyes lit up, "(y/n), let's have a battle!"

"Sorry, I can't," I apologized. "I want to see Free. You know, to catch up and all. Besides, I heard he battle Aiga a few days ago. Knowing how similar Aiga and you are, his determination is probably going to land him the winner position of the tournament. Meaning I'll have to battle him. And I want as much information on him as possible. Do you know where he is?"

The former champion shook his head, "Most of BC Sol found out about this clearing, so he found another one, but I have no idea where he is. I did visit it once, but I forgot where it is. Follow the deer. Look, it's right besides you!"

I turned my head, and sure enough, there it was. It cocked its head to the side slightly. I followed suit, as I had seen Free do all the time. It suddenly turned around and leaped back into the forest again. My feet started moving again, and I barely uttered at quick, "Bye," to Valt.

The trees were seeming to get thicker, and I was glad that the deer's rich, light brown stood out from the dark oak trees. The deer was moving at lightning speed, not slowing down even though we had been running for a while. 

I could tell we were going to a part of the forest I had never been before, a place so deep civilization has barely touched it. Again, the trees started clearing out, signaling a clearing. That's where Free is. 

Not slowing down even a little, the deer turned and sped off, leaving me in the forest. I walked towards the clearing, where the golden sunlight had managed to penetrate the darkness in the forest. 

Wincing, I made it to the clearing. The sunlight was brighter than I had anticipated, bursting in streams of a brilliant gold. A single, big oak tree was in the middle, its long branches hanging over a circular pond. 

The circle of sparkling blue seem to entrance me to take a dip in. The reflecting light only made the area brighter. In the middle of the pond was another circle; this time, one of soft grass. 

Upon the grass was a boy who sat cross-legged, his hair matching the colour of the sun. His eyes were closed, and his faced relaxed as if he was meditating. Which he probably was. 

"(y/n)."

"Hey Free," I greeted, slightly weirded out at the fact he could tell it was me without sight. "How did you know?"

"You're the only person other than me the deer would bring here," he answered, eyes stilled closed. "Well, maybe Valt, but he would probably trip and fall. Actually, I don't know. He's not that clumsy anymore."

"Yeah," I sighed again. "I'm not sure how to feel about that. On one hand, it's good that he's maturing, but on the other...I don't think I'm ready to see such a change in him."

"I get what you mean," Free responded. He opened his eyes, orbs of darkness boring into me. "So, how have you been?"

"Okay, I guess," I shrugged. "You?"

"Actually pretty good," Free said, a hint of a smile on his lips. "Fafnir and I have strengthened our bond, and same with me and BC Sol. Oh, and I lost feelings for you."

I blinked. That was a bit...unexpected. 

He continued, "It was quite easy to forget about you."

I blinked again, not sure whether to feel sad or happy. "Oh okay."

"Anyways, I know you want to ask me about my battle with Aiga," Free said.

I chuckled nervously, feeling as though he could read me too well. "Yeah. What was Achilles and him like?"

Free stayed silent for a while, considering what to say. "Powerful. Strong. But a dangerous kind. Their bond is fraying, I can tell just by battling them. Aiga's the one pushing Achilles away."

"Aiga?" I repeated, a little shocked. Wasn't Aiga always ranting on and on about how strong his bond with Achilles were? How they were the perfect team? 

"I don't know who did it, but somebody has corrupted Aiga's way of thinking," Free said slowly. "It's been clouded by dark. When he activated his aura, it's the same way that Shu was at the God Blader's Cup."

I inhaled sharply as fragmented memories of the broken Shu took me back to the fear, the pain, the desperation. I clenched my fists in frustration. Phi. Only he would be behind something as evil as this. 

"Be careful when battling him, (y/n)," Free warned. "Darkness is in his heart. You know first-hand how dangerous that can be. You'll have to be better at blading than ever."

I nodded in determination, feeling my aura light up. "Let's battle then."

-------------------------

Along with Free, I was back in the ruins of the pillars surrounding the stadium, in the middle of a battle. Valt stood to my right as a referee. This was our fifth battle in, and so far we had only been able to score one point against each other. As the intensity of the battle increased, so did the number of our simultaneous burst finish. 

Sweat lined my brow, dripping off from my forehead from the amount of energy I was using up each battle. Free was equally just as sweaty, his breath rough and raw as his veins bulged out even more. I clutched Xcalius tightly. It was just a friendly battle, but we were going full out against each other. 

I set my fixated my gaze on Free before calling out to Valt, "Again!"

"Ready? Set!"

"3 2 1!" The three of us chanted in unison as both Free and I prepared to launch with all of our might. At the last count, I jumped up into the air, performing Soaring Boost in a perfect motion. 

"Let it rip!"

The two beys were off again, both spinning in counterclockwise. Xcalius zoomed across the outside, before dipping into the center to ferociously hit Fafnir out. 

"Upper Launch!" I shouted, kicking things off with a strong start. 

The golden bey swerved back in again, clashing with Xcalius fiercely. The impact knocked both beys onto opposite sides of the stadium and Fafnir started running to catch up to Xcalius at an amazing speed. Free yelled out, "Catch up to Xcalius and knock it from behind!"

Intent on winning, I exclaimed, "We're not backing down! Xcalius, Switch Counter!"

It was a new move I had been working on over the years, I felt pride burst at seeing it succeed. Xcalius quickly changed to clockwise mode, coming in to counter against the charging Fafnir. The energy from the sudden swerve was used to knock Fafnir back, until it lost its speed.

The bey managed to hang on, but it was rapidly losing stamina. Free gritted his teeth, "Fafnir! Hang on, let's hit it with Absorb Break!"

As expected, Free's aura started up, golden lights dancing around him. His eyes burned yellow with determination, a contrast from his usual black. The familiar golden dragon appeared, bearing its fangs at me. 

Fafnir shot out with extraordinary speed. It closed in to Xcalius, waiting to deliver to final blow. I grinned, and activated my aura as well. The familiar feel of warm flames started up, and Xcalius in beast form erupted from the bey. "Final Strike!"

The two collided, and shining yellow blinded me and wind whipping everything into a frenzy. Sparks were flying from the amount of energy being used up by the beys. Free yelled out over the screaming winds, "Go, Fafnir!"

Fafnir's aura shimmered even more brightly, and slowly, it began to take the upper-hand against Xcalius. Sweat dripped more frequently, as fear and panic over took me. At this point, I would lose the match to Free. 

I can't lose, I thought desperately to myself. I just can't. I need to be strong. I need to be stronger than everyone else. This what I've worked for. I've worked so hard, I can't let myself lose in a pathetic battle like this one. 

Aiga couldn't beat Free. If I can't be Free, does that mean I'm equal to Aiga? No, I can't bear the thought of being like Aiga. I need to be superior to him, I can't lower down to his level. I can't lose this battle. I have to win. 

I just have to. 

Suddenly, this new power surged through me. It was unlike anything I had ever experienced, and it seemed so much more powerful too. It made my head spin with giddiness. It felt so good.

My strength felt like it was being multiplied into infinite amounts. It filled my whole body, then started to leak into my aura before to Xcalius. As it reached Xcalius, the bey turned a whole new colour. Purple. The colour of royals. 

Now it was reversing its position with Fafnir, snatching the upper-hand as it grinded harder than ever against the metal. My eyes widened in satisfaction, "Yes. Yes! This is the power I've training for!"

To my right, Valt gasped in shock. Free stayed silent, but something clicked in his eyes. Whatever it meant, I could care less. Maybe he finally realized that he didn't stand a chance against me. 

Power was just flowing in to me and Xcalius. My grin widened, "Xcalius, Final Strike again!"

"No!"

I heard a shout, felt somebody's hand on my chest, and the next I knew I was on the ground, grass flattened beneath my back. My new-found power went as suddenly as it had come, sucking all of it out from my body and Xcalius. 

I groaned, feeling a little drained of energy. My head thundered with an aching headache. Irritation starting building up inside of me as I realized what had happened and, despite my lack of energy, I stood up in annoyance, glaring at Free and Valt. "What happened? Who pushed me?"

Free looked equally as exhausted, sweat on the spots where his veins once popped out. Fafnir was in his hand, and that's when I saw Xcalius was on the floor too, next to me. Valt swallowed, "It was me."

"Valt!" I scolded. Why had he just interrupted Free and I's battle? Did he not know how important it was for me to improve? "Why?"

"(y/n), you didn't see yourself," the bluenette exclaimed, all signs of fear gone. "You-you weren't acting as if it was just a friendly battle. You were battling Free as if you were intent on destroying Fafnir!"

"You don't get it Valt," I said, frustrated. "I was merely pushing myself to get better! And I wasn't going to destroy Fafnir!"

"You don't have to be power hungry to get better!" Valt cried out. His voice dropped to a shaky whisper. "A-And your aura...I-It was dark."

"What do you mean it was dark?" I said in a quiet, but dangerous tone. "The only dark people are Aiga and Phi! I don't use dark power!"

"No, (y/n), Valt's right," Free said, locking eyes with me. "Your aura was darker than ever before. It was exactly how Aiga's was when I battled him."

A chill ran up my spine. 

-----------------------------

this took me FOREVER i am SO SORRY. 

also, my friends say i listen to k-pop too much, so please drop some English song recommendations!! i really like sad music

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Word count: 2710