The face bolt glowed gold for a moment, then stopped. The heat stung Tony's hand, but he couldn't let go. It didn't feel like metal anymore, it felt alive.
He frowned, lifting it closer for a better look. Meanwhile, his mom's voice drifted in the background, bargaining with the shopkeeper about discounts on entire Beyblade sets—ordinary words that felt strangely distant now.
The Bey warmed in his palm, a strange pulse traveling through his fingertips. It was almost as if it was whispering to him… asking to be launched again.
"Okay… is that what you want? I'll do it," he muttered under his breath.
"Three… two… one… Let it rip!"
The Bey shot out of the launcher but didn't go wild this time. It landed in the stadium and spun silently in place, unmoving, almost waiting.
"Hmm… interesting. It didn't act wild like before" Tony murmured.
He stared at the Beyblade spinning quietly in one spot. Minutes passed, yet it didn't move. Then, the moment Tony imagined it smashing the rocks in the stadium, the Bey suddenly shot forward—slamming into a boulder and splitting it clean in half.
"Whoa… did it just listen to me?" Tony whispered in shock.
He quickly tested it again, imagining the wooden log being smashed. The Bey obeyed instantly, charging forward and shattering the wood into chunks.
A grin spread across his face. He really was controlling it.
But then, without warning, the Bey went out of control. It crashed into everything around it, breaking rocks apart with its strikes, until it finally slowed down and stopped.
Tony picked up the Bey, his hand still tingling from the heat. Before he could think about what had just happened, a voice cut through the room.
"Hey, you. Wanna battle?"
Tony turned. A boy about his age stood there, holding a launcher. His eyes burned with challenge. "I saw what your Bey just did. Don't think you can hide it."
Tony froze. His mom was still busy talking to the employee , not paying attention. The boy stepped closer, smirking.
"Unless you're scared."
Tony tightened his grip on the Bey. His chest thumped hard. He didn't even understand this Bey yet… but backing down wasn't an option.
"Fine," Tony said quietly. "Let's battle."
They took their places around the small stadium in the corner of the room. It was about the size of half a basketball court.
"In three… two… one…"
"Let it rip!"
Both Beys shot into the stadium. The boy's Bey darted forward with speed, circling like a predator. Tony's Bey spun calmly at first—silent, waiting.
Then, without warning, the opponent's Bey charged forward like a gust of wind.
"Whoa… wait!" Tony exclaimed.
Tony's Bey dodged quickly, moving like a lightning bolt, then returned to spinning calmly in one spot.
"What's wrong? You're not gonna win by just dodging," the boy taunted.
His Bey charged again, but this time Tony didn't dodge. He went straight in, slamming the opponent's Bey and sending it flying close to the edge of the stadium.
"Yes… that's what I want! Now show me what you've got!" the boy shouted.
Tony gave a small smile and pushed for another clash. His Bey shot forward, but just before the collision, the opponent's Bey slipped aside with sharp speed and countered fiercely.
"Wait—what? How did you do that?" Tony muttered, stunned.
He froze for a second, a thought creeping into his mind. Is he also controlling it?
Without hesitation, he launched another charge. But again, the opponent's Bey dodged with precision and struck back, knocking Tony's Bey dangerously close to the edge.
*Tsk*
"What's going on? Why isn't it working?" Tony murmured, frustration creeping in.
As if mocking him, his Bey suddenly spun out of control again, rushing straight at the opponent.
"No! Don't charge—it'll counter and send you flying!" Tony shouted desperately.
"Too bad," the boy smirked. "You never learn from your mistakes."
Tony's chest sank. He could already see it—a stadium out, just like before. But this time, something different happened.
His Bey charged forward. The opponent's Bey slid left, ready to counter like always… but suddenly, Tony's Bey vanished.
Both boys gasped.
In the next instant, Tony's Bey reappeared—right behind the boy's Bey—before striking like lightning, almost sending it flying out of the stadium.
"Tsk… not good," the boy muttered.
Tony grinned. "How do you like that, pal? You still think you can beat me with that kind of speed and power?"
Both Beys were weakening, their stamina draining fast. Tony's Bey wobbled more than the opponent's, clearly on the verge of collapse.
Then the boy's eyes lit up. His Bey darted toward the stadium's edge, then leapt inward, arcing high before diving down—aiming for a final, crushing clash.
But to his shock, the clash didn't go his way. His Bey absorbed the full impact, lost its spin, and collapsed to the floor, completely out of power.
"No… way… it can't be," he whispered, stunned.
Tony stared wide-eyed. He had won his first real battle. He walked forward, picked up his Bey, and climbed back up from the stadium's edge, a small smile tugging at his lips.
"Tony! Are you done? We're running late!"his mom's voice called from the side of the room.
"Coming, Mom!" he answered quickly.
Turning back to his opponent, he said, "That was fun. What's your name?"
The boy picked up his Bey with a serious expression. "I'm Max,and next time we battle, I'm going to beat you. Remember that."
Tony nodded calmly. "Alright, Max. I hope you grow stronger."
Tony's mom slid the credits across the counter.
The shopkeeper raised an eyebrow. "You sure about this, ma'am? A Type-B Core Drive isn't just a toy. Half the kids who buy one never master it."
She smiled faintly. "My son will."
As the car rolled down the street, Tony leaned back with a smile, replaying his first battle in his mind. He turned the Bey in his palm.
Then, it vibrated.
Tony froze. The face bolt pulsed faintly. The metal grew hotter and hotter.
"W-what's happening…?" he whispered, clutching his forehead.
A wave of dizziness crashed over him. His vision blurred, his body burned as though gripped by fever.
Just before darkness swallowed him, a faint voice echoed in his head.
"At last… you've pre-awakened."