Metal City never stayed quiet for long.
Rumors spun faster than Beyblades. And today, the whispers carried a new name.
The Silent Blader.
Aarav.
The battle between him and the loud, scarf-wearing Gingka had rippled through the city like an underground tremor. No official tournament. No grandstand crowds. Yet, everyone knew.
"They didn't shout. But the stadium cracked."
"I heard his Phoenix doesn't even attack—he just spins."
As Metal City's lower streets buzzed, not everyone was pleased with this new story.
From the rooftop of an abandoned warehouse, Kyoya Tategami watched with narrowed eyes. The wind whipped his wild green hair as he sat, arms resting on his knees, gaze pinned on the moving city below.
The Face Hunters were gathered behind him. Loud, restless, irritated.
Benkei was the loudest. "Boss, these rumors are getting annoying! People are acting like that quiet guy's the new king of Metal City! We should crush him now!"
Kyoya didn't respond immediately.
He had watched the battle.
He had seen the city's reaction.
Gingka was easy to understand. He was a storm. Loud, aggressive, impossible to ignore. Kyoya expected him to challenge.
But Aarav…
Aarav unsettled him—not with power, but with absence. He didn't need to roar. He didn't need a crowd. Yet, the city listened.
"That one doesn't shout to be heard," Kyoya said, his voice low. "But when he spins… everyone stops to watch."
Benkei's fists clenched. "Then let's shut him up!"
Kyoya's eyes flashed. "No."
The command silenced the gang instantly.
"We don't strike blindly. We lure him out. And when he steps into my storm… we break him."
Kyoya stood, the wind pressing against him, but his stance was unshaken. "Gingka will come to me on his own. He's predictable. But Aarav hides behind rhythm. He thinks he doesn't need to roar."
He smirked, sharp and wild. "I'll give him a reason to."
Metal Park buzzed with activity.
It wasn't a formal battle arena, but every open space had become a stadium of its own. Bladers were testing launches, adjusting grips, and challenging anyone who dared.
Kenta Yumiya stood by a worn practice stadium, Sagittario in hand.
He had been here since morning, practicing launch angles, fine-tuning his grip, replaying Aarav's techniques in his head.
"Lower angle. More wrist flow. Don't fight the rhythm, ride it…"
But his practice was cut short when a shadow loomed over him.
Benkei.
"Oi, greenie. You're that kid, right? Aarav's little shadow."
Kenta turned, startled, but refused to flinch. "What do you want, Benkei?"
Benkei's grin was wide, predatory. The Face Hunters flanked him, laughing under their breath.
"We've been hearing a lot about your quiet hero. But it seems like his followers are getting too loud."
Kenta clenched his fists. "Aarav doesn't need followers. He earns respect."
Benkei's laughter rumbled. "Big words for a kid with no teeth."
The crowd began to gather, sensing tension.
"I think it's time we test if Aarav's rhythm can protect you." Benkei pointed at the stadium. "Battle me. Right now."
Kenta's grip on Sagittario tightened.
He knew the odds.
Benkei was a powerhouse, and his Dark Bull wasn't known for finesse. But Kenta had watched Aarav. He had learned. He wouldn't back down.
"Fine," Kenta said, stepping into position. "But don't cry when you lose."
The makeshift stadium was worn, its surface uneven, but it didn't matter.
Benkei loaded Dark Bull with a grin. "Let's see if you can spin without hiding behind Aarav."
Kenta's fingers trembled, but his eyes were sharp. He wasn't going to let fear control his rhythm.
"3… 2… 1… Let it rip!"
The ripcords snapped, and the clash began.
Dark Bull thundered into the stadium like a freight train, its sheer weight making the ground tremble with every rotation. Its movement was wild, unrefined, but its power was undeniable.
Kenta's Sagittario spun in clean arcs, avoiding direct clashes, using the stadium's worn edges to stabilize its flow.
For a moment, the rhythm held.
Kenta's mind replayed Aarav's teachings.
"Battles aren't about aggression. They're about not losing spin."
He adjusted his grip, keeping Sagittario at the outer orbit, avoiding Bull's heavy charges.
Benkei growled. "Stop running!"
Dark Bull charged again, this time shifting its path to corner Sagittario.
The first clash sent vibrations up Kenta's arms. Sagittario staggered, its spin pattern disrupted, but Kenta gritted his teeth, adjusting Sagittario's angle to stabilize.
"You've got spirit, kid!" Benkei shouted. "But spirit isn't enough to stop Bull!"
Benkei changed tactics, pushing Bull into a relentless barrage—each hit designed not to burst Sagittario, but to crush its rhythm.
Kenta tried to keep up, but every impact forced him onto the defensive. His spin time shortened, his control slipping.
One final charge.
Dark Bull smashed into Sagittario's side, sending it skidding across the stadium's edge.
Sagittario toppled, its spin breaking.
The crowd fell silent.
Benkei's grin was triumphant.
"Not bad. You lasted longer than most."
He stepped into the stadium, picking up Sagittario, examining it like a trophy.
"Shame. This Blade doesn't deserve a weakling."
Kenta's fists shook as he stepped forward. "Give it back."
Benkei's grip tightened. "You want it? Go ask your silent hero. Let's see if he's brave enough to spin when the King calls."
He shoved Sagittario into his jacket, turning to leave.
Kenta's nails dug into his palms. "You're a coward."
Benkei paused, his smile sharp. "I'm not the one hiding behind rhythm."
From the rooftop above, Kyoya watched, arms crossed.
He had seen everything.
The way Kenta fought with heart but lacked the crushing presence to enforce rhythm.
And now, as the crowd whispered, Kyoya's smirk deepened.
"This is how you lure out prey."
Benkei returned, handing Sagittario to Kyoya.
"Think this'll be enough, boss?"
Kyoya examined the Beyblade, eyes sharp. "It's not about the Blade. It's about the message."
He handed Sagittario back to Benkei. "Give it to the boy. Let him carry the message."
Benkei raised an eyebrow. "You're letting him go?"
Kyoya's grin was wild. "He'll deliver it. He knows where Aarav is. That's all we need."
Kenta stood in the alley behind Metal Park, panting, fists clenched.
Benkei approached, tossing Sagittario back at him.
Kenta caught it, surprised.
"Tell Aarav the King is calling," Benkei said, his tone casual but the threat beneath it razor-sharp. "No more silent battles. We're done watching. If he doesn't show… next time, you won't see your Beyblade again."
The words hit harder than any launch.
Benkei turned, the Face Hunters dispersing with mocking laughs.
Kenta stood frozen for a moment, the weight of the message pressing down.
Then, with a sharp breath, he sprinted.
There was only one place he could go.