I fucking love this picture

Valt's POV 

He stared, ice cold, at me. Another shiver ran down my spine, but instead of excitement, I felt nervous. He had hardly blinked, and it felt like he was judging me. Like he could see and hear all my thoughts. Like he knew my next move before even I did...

'Fourth battle!' the referee called out. I blinked and shook my head. I had to focus now. It was my first chance to battle Lui and show him how strong I am.

'I'll show you I'm not the bad blader you say I am!' I shouted. 'Watch me!'

Ever so slightly, Lui tilted his head, nodding coldly at my statement. I growled. It just made me even more desperate to prove him wrong. I picked up Valtryek, and just by looking at it, I couldn't help smiling. Valtryek had guided me all the way, until now. 

'Yeah!' I cheered at my bey. 'Let's go, buddy!'

Lui snorted. 'Buddy, huh? You are just so immature.'

I stepped forward, eager to show Lui how wrong he was. 'Valtryek and I have gotten way stronger together since we started out! It's my partner, kay?'

'Ha. Whatever.'

Lui brought out his own bey. I only caught a glimpse of it, but the image will stay etched in my mind forever. The bey didn't seem just powerful. It looked fearsome. It was silver and blue, with two dragons on either side of it. Small snatches of red lightning surrounded the heads, adding effect. 

'There it is! The one and only Lost Luinor!'

We both took our stances, itching for the battle to start. Come on! I thought. Let's see what he can do.

'Ready? Set!' the referee called.

'3 2 1! Let it rip!'

Lost Luinor landed in the stadium smoothly. At first it looked like an ordinary bey, but it wasn't....

'No way!' I cried out. 'It spins counterclockwise? Unreal. I've never seen anything like it!'

It charged straight towards Valtryek, it's unusual rotation giving it the advantage for a straight-on attack. It was closing in fast on Valtryek, but as it neared, Valtryek sped up, dodging the attack. I exhaled tensely. That was way too close. It continued like that for a minute. Charging and missing, Valtryek dodging every single attack.

'Yeah!' I yelled, fired up. 'Super awakening!'

Lui's jaw was closed a little too tensely. I grinned, knowing that he wasn't expecting this.

'Hey, I bet you're not making fun of my partner anymore!' I grinned. Valtryek hit the wall, and zoomed off, sparks flying everywhere. But Lui didn't say anything. I glanced down again, watching Luinor. It was heading straight for Valtryek. And something told me that Luinor wasn't going to miss again. Lui let out a fierce grunt, his blue hair turning into flames. Luinor made contact with Valtryek, and on the first hit, Valtryek bursted. I gasped. The pieces were sent flying in three different directions. 

'Lost Luinor wins two points with a burst finish!' the referee declared. But I was still in shock. He burst Valtryek? On first contact? After Valtryek's super awakening? It just didn't seem possible. I picked up Valtryek, assembling it together. I glanced up. Lui stood, just like he did before the battle, without a sweat. I gulped. This guy was the real deal. Even Shu and (y/n) couldn't burst me on first contact. 

'My super awakening...' I trailed off. 'It was completely useless...can Luinor really be that strong? Must be if it beat Spryzen... It's completely in control...Lui's even better than I expected.'

Lui started walking away, back to Rideout. I started trembling and fuming. But all the same...Lui was so strong, I didn't even think it was possible!'

'Wait!' I suddenly called out. But Lui kept on walking, ignoring me. 'Hang on!' I started running, but my foot suddenly caught on the lace and I tripped over, eyes widening as I realized what was going to happen. I was about to fall. In front of thousands. In front of my best friends. In front of the whole nation and...in front of Lui. 'AHHHHHHHH!'

I slid, stopping at Lui's feet. 'You really live up to your reputation! Cool!'

The whole stadium went silent at this sudden outburst. I grinned. 'I know I looked pretty bummed out, but I'm over it now. Luinor is super awesome! So whaddya say to another battle? That a yes?'

But instead of agreeing like I had hoped, Lui walked away. 

'Wait...w-where are you going?'

'Time out!' Shu suddenly called. He grabbed my wrist, jolting me out of my thoughts.

'Woah...you scared me!'

'C'mere. We gotta talk,' Shu yanked my arm, pulling towards the team.

'Fine, fine!'

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Your POV 

I watched as Shu handed Valt a drink bottle. Valt stared at if for a second, before dumping it on his head, water trickling from his fore head down to his chin. He shook his head like a dog, drying his hair.

'That feels better!' he said happily. 'Nice and cold!'

'Whatever it takes,' I smiled.

'So...are you mad or something?' Valt asked Shu.

'No...' Shu trailed off. 'I just wanna give you a heads up. You can't go around challenging people to another battle here. Don't let yourself forget this is a tournament.'

'Guess I got caught up thinking about finishing off Luinor,' Valt admitted.

'Even after a loss, he's still psyched about a rematch,' Daigo said warmly.

'Hang on...you know how Valtryek is on the verge of a super awakening?' Wakiya suddenly said. 'Well I think you might be on one as well.'

'I was wondering the same thing, and you know what?' Valt asked excitedly. 'That means I gotta get out there!'

'No!' Wakiya cried. 'I can't let that happen. You rest and let me take over!'

 'Nah, I'm good; park it and cheer from the bench!'

'Such a generous offer, but listen,' Wakiya's expression turned serious. 'It's you I'm concerned about. You said yourself down time is good.' He turned to Shu. 'You're with me, aren't you?'

'They're going to pick Lui again,' said Shu. 'It's time to focus.'

'You sure about that?'

'They're just a burst finish away from winning the tournament,' explained Daigo. 'Why wouldn't the pick their strongest blader?'

'If their going to go with Lui, then we have to go with (y/n) or Shu,' Honcho declared. I closed my eyes. I could be facing Lui again. And this time, I need to beat him. I won't let him win again, or break my bey again. It's time for me to step up and prove that I am the strongest blader. I opened my eyes again, more determined than ever. There was a serious glint in my eye that I never had before, and my hands were fists.

'No, me!' Wakiya argued. 'I'm ready; I can do this!' Then he caught sight of my face. 'You really want this, huh.'

'I've been waiting for the day,' I said determinedly. 'Ever since two years ago, when I lost to him...'

Everyone nodded grimly. Then out of the blue, Valt popped up.

'Pick me!' Valt said. '(y/n), you've gotta let me go...ever since I lost in that battle before...I've been itching for a rematch.'

A huge wave of rage and anger washed through me. It's not even been ten minutes for him; I've been waiting way longer for this day.

'Oh yeah? Well try TWO FUCKING YEARS!' I shouted in his face. 'Stop thinking about yourself! Like it or not, I'm going next!'

I angrily stomped up to the scanner and placed my launcher there. I realized how rude I had sounded. I turned around and faced a near-tears Valt. 'I-I'm sorry,' I apologized, walking up to him. 'I know as captain, you have to make the decisions. But you can't pick yourself all the time. Other people need this battle more than you.' I stared at Shu and nodded at him, before continuing. 'I just need this battle. I need to win this battle. You need to understand as captain.'

'I-I-I do,' Valt whispered, drying away his tears. 'That's why Shu is going to go next after you, not me.'

I nodded. 'Thanks for understanding.'

'Yeah...but oh man!' he yelled out happily. 'Imagine this! Lui versus (y/n)! It's going to be soooo epic!'

I grinned. 'Totally.'

I started walking up to the stage, with a determined face on, but I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned around and found myself face-to-face with a pair of gorgeous ruby-red eyes.

'Shu...' I whispered.

'(y/n)....' he took a deep breath. 'Win this. For you, and for me. For both of us.'

A huge wave of confidence and determination flowed throughout me. I nodded, and kissed his cheek. 'I will.'

I turned back around and faced Lui. I stared towards him, lifting my chin and showing my new-found confidence to the thousands in the crowd, the cameras and the flashes. Right here, right now, I was going to prove to the world Lui wasn't unstoppable. I didn't care if Lui broke my bey the last time. I had been waiting too long to mess this up. I was going to win this.

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Another chapter done! I'm going to make Valt a bit more thoughtful for others, cause in the anime he put himself in a battle FOUR FUCKING TIMES IN A ROW!! He is such a great captain....*that's sarcasm by the way

Sorry if there's a little too much swearing. Do you like it or do you want me to stop? I'm fine if it's a little too much.

I want to do an announcement book, but maybe after I finish this one.

I'm still open for cover ideas; no one has messaged me yet and I really need ideas for this.

REMEMBER...VOTE...COMMENT...SHARE!!

Word count: 1609