Chapter 16

The next day arrived with an electric energy in the air. Ryu stood in the center of the Beyblade stadium, the arena gleaming under the bright lights. His expression was as calm and cold as ever, but inside, the anticipation for something different hummed through him. After all, Gingka had promised a real challenge this time.

The door slid open with a heavy clang, and Gingka strode in, his usual energetic grin plastered across his face. Behind him were two Bladers that Ryu had never seen before. The boy was tall, with spiky red hair and a muscular frame. The girl was shorter, but the serious look in her eyes gave away her focus and determination.

"Here they are," Gingka called out. "I told you I'd find some tough opponents! These two are gonna push you, Ryu."

The tall boy stepped forward, a cocky smirk on his face. "I'm Kyousuke. And once you're done battling me, you'll realize just how strong I am."

Ryu glanced at him, unimpressed. "Talk is cheap."

Kyousuke's smirk widened. "Good. That means I'll enjoy this."

"And this is Hana," Gingka added, nodding to the girl. "She's got one of the most tactical battle styles I've ever seen. Don't underestimate her."

Hana said nothing, only offering Ryu a small nod. Her silence was far more intimidating than Kyousuke's bravado.

Ryu shrugged, already prepping Raiju on his launcher. "Let's get this over with. If they're as tough as you say, then they won't waste my time."

Gingka grinned, stepping back to give them space. "You asked for it! Alright, Ryu, you'll take them on one at a time. Kyousuke's up first!"

Kyousuke's confident expression didn't waver as he stepped into the arena and readied his launcher. His Beyblade, *Thunderclap*, gleamed under the stadium lights, its heavy frame radiating power.

"Ready to see what real power looks like?" Kyousuke taunted.

Ryu barely acknowledged him, his focus already locked in. "Three… two… one... Let it rip!"

Both Beyblades launched into the stadium with a fierce burst of energy. Raiju spun with a deadly speed, instantly taking control of the center. But Thunderclap wasn't far behind, hurtling toward Raiju with brute force.

"Thunderclap, hit him with a shockwave!" Kyousuke commanded.

Thunderclap unleashed a powerful impact, sending a rippling shockwave through the stadium. The force slammed into Raiju, causing it to skid backward slightly, but Ryu didn't flinch. His eyes narrowed, and Raiju quickly corrected its course.

"Raiju, counter!" Ryu's voice was calm, but the intensity was unmistakable.

Raiju darted forward, weaving through the aftershocks with incredible precision. Its lightning-fast speed caught Kyousuke off guard, and before he could react, Raiju delivered a brutal strike to Thunderclap's side, sending it spinning off balance.

Kyousuke gritted his teeth. "Not bad... but this battle's just getting started!" He adjusted his launcher grip, and Thunderclap roared back to life, launching itself at Raiju again with renewed ferocity.

But Ryu was already several steps ahead. "Raiju, Shift Mode!"

Raiju's tip shifted seamlessly, moving from an aggressive attack mode to a defensive stance. It sidestepped Thunderclap's assault with ease, its movements fluid and precise. Thunderclap's wild attacks continued to crash into thin air as Raiju danced around it, every hit missing by mere inches.

"That's impossible!" Kyousuke shouted, frustration leaking into his voice. "How are you dodging every move?"

Ryu gave a cold smirk. "You rely too much on power. You can't hit what you can't catch."

Raiju shot forward again, this time unleashing a flurry of quick strikes. Each hit was precise, chipping away at Thunderclap's stamina. The heavy Beyblade couldn't keep up, its rotation slowing with each successive blow.

"Finish it," Ryu ordered, his voice sharp.

Raiju responded with a final, powerful strike, sending Thunderclap flying out of the stadium and crashing into the ground.

The arena fell silent for a moment as Kyousuke stared in disbelief at his defeated Beyblade. He gritted his teeth and scooped up Thunderclap, clearly furious. "How... how did you—"

Ryu cut him off, his tone icy. "You relied too much on brute force. Learn to control your Beyblade, then maybe we can talk."

Kyousuke opened his mouth to retort, but Gingka clapped his hands, stepping in before things could escalate. "Alright, alright, take it easy, Kyousuke. It's Hana's turn now."

Hana stepped forward, unfazed by the tension. Her eyes were locked on Ryu, analyzing every movement he made. She carefully placed her Beyblade, *Solstice*, on the launcher. It was a defense type, sleek and light, clearly built for endurance and precision.

Without a word, the battle began.

"Let it rip!"

Raiju shot into the arena once again, immediately taking the center as it always did. But Solstice didn't rush forward like Thunderclap had. Instead, it hovered at the edge of the stadium, spinning with a calm, controlled energy.

Ryu narrowed his eyes. He recognized the strategy instantly. Hana was biding her time, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. It was a stark contrast to Kyousuke's brute-force approach.

"Raiju, attack!" Ryu commanded.

Raiju blitzed across the stadium, charging straight for Solstice with blinding speed. But just as Raiju was about to make contact, Solstice shifted ever so slightly, dodging the hit with ease.

Ryu frowned. Solstice continued to avoid each of Raiju's attacks with perfect precision, its movements calculated and deliberate.

"You're patient," Ryu said, his voice low. "But it won't help you."

Hana's expression didn't change. "We'll see."

Raiju attacked again, but each time, Solstice dodged by the smallest margins, maintaining its perfect spin. Ryu's frustration started to build. Raiju was faster, but speed alone wouldn't win this battle.

"Raiju, Shift Mode! Full Offensive!" Ryu's voice was sharp, his command decisive.

Raiju's tip shifted once more, transforming into a full-on assault mode. It blurred across the stadium, its speed increasing even further. This time, when Raiju attacked, it came from multiple angles, moving unpredictably.

But Hana was prepared. "Solstice, defense pattern four!"

Solstice's movements became more intricate, its dodges more complex as it narrowly avoided Raiju's strikes. Each time Raiju got close, Solstice would shift just enough to throw off the attack, maintaining its stamina while Raiju began to lose momentum.

"Smart," Ryu muttered, recognizing the strategy. "But not smart enough."

He smirked. "Raiju, Thunderstorm!"

Raiju responded instantly, its speed skyrocketing as it zigzagged across the stadium. Lightning-like sparks trailed behind it as it built up a massive charge. In a split second, Raiju crashed into Solstice with full force, unleashing the pent-up energy in a single devastating blow.

Solstice spun wildly, thrown off balance by the impact. Hana's eyes widened in shock as her Beyblade struggled to recover.

"End it," Ryu said, his voice a quiet command.

Raiju struck one final time, sending Solstice flying out of the stadium and into the stands.

The stadium fell silent once more as Ryu stood, his expression unreadable. He had won again, but this time, something felt different. The challenge had been real. For the first time in a long time, he had been pushed to his limits, and he had enjoyed it.

Hana picked up her Beyblade, her expression calm despite the loss. She looked at Ryu, giving him a respectful nod. "You're strong," she said quietly. "But there's more you can learn."

Ryu didn't respond right away. For once, he wasn't so sure of his superiority. Maybe... there *was* more to learn.

Gingka clapped him on the shoulder, grinning widely. "See? I told you they'd give you a run for your money! What do you think?"

Ryu glanced down at Raiju, then back at Gingka. "I think... I'm not done yet."

Gingka's smile widened. "That's what I like to hear. There are stronger Bladers out there, Ryu. And if you keep pushing yourself, you're going to be one of the best."

Ryu smirked, the fire in his eyes rekindling. "I already am. But if there's more out there, then I'll find it."

And with that, Ryu knew the battles ahead were no longer about proving himself to others—they were about seeing how far he could go.