Once Tyson's Beyblade was put back together, Max invited him, Chief, and me - if I wanted to come along - to follow him into the store's basement.
Maybe it's because it's been so long since I was a kid or maybe because I've been an introvert as long as I can remember, but is it normal for people to meet total strangers like this and immediately invite them to do friend stuff? I just happen to be in the room, and I'm already being asked to join the group. Then again, Max is the friendly type and he and Tyson would have just met like an hour ago…Why am I questioning this? This is what I wanted to happen.
Delayed by my questioning, I suddenly hear Tyson's amazed exclamation and realized I was left behind. Hurrying to follow, I can hear Tyson marvel over Max having his own BeyStadium.
I arrive in time to see Tyson on his knees looking into the large bowl in the ground. I too am impressed at the sight - though for different reasons.
Due to Beyblade's popularity, it's considered a normal sight for parks or playgrounds to have BeyStadiums set up. However, these BeyStadiums are not very large - at most just big enough for two Beybladers to move around. Additionally, they will be screwed into some sort of platform - or raised pedestals for the smaller ones - to prevent theft.
Max's, on the other hand, is much larger. One of us could stand in it and have it be deep enough to reach our knees, and it's wide enough one of us could probably lie in it. I'm not sure why, but the fact that it's built into the ground makes it even more impressive despite meaning it isn't portable. Though, then again, it might be too heavy to just carry around due to its size.
"Would you believe it was here when we bought the place," Taro commented.
I keep my mouth shut, but actually, yes, I do believe it. Because D.D. wrote this story and subtlety is a lost concept on him. Plot convenience may as well be a big stick he beats his writing with. 'Oh, we need this super legendary, ancient, treasure? Let's go on an epic quest to go get it…or we can talk to this guy who happens to be selling the exact same thing for 9.95$.'
While I complain about D.D.'s inability to write a good story, Tyson grows excited. "Oh man, you just gotta let me try this baby out!" Getting back to his feet, he turned back to us and fished his Beyblade out of his pocket. Holding it out, he proudly displayed his Dragoon S. "What do you say, Max?"
There's my cue. So, despite seeing Max's face lit up, I decided to interject, "Actually, would you mind if I was your opponent?"
"Huh," Tyson uttered as he turned his attention to me and…He completely forgot I existed, didn't he? Right, remembering Tyson's character in this story, of course he did.
I turn to Max and Taro, "I know it's your house, so you can go first if you want. It's just I've heard a lot about Tyson - the guy who had the guts to face the Blade Sharks. I was wanting to see how I measured up."
"Well," Max said as he and his father shared a glance.
I felt a little bad forcing myself in like this, but there were certain plot points where I had to come out on top and this was an opportunity for me to test my and Leech Worm's current ability against Tyson without worrying that my defeat would mean dropping dead. That's part of the reason why I added that little bit of flattery.
This story's plot armor doesn't apply to me; so, I can't count on things conveniently working out in my favor. However, D.D. was big on the MC getting their way and anyone who was against them being the bad guy. So, hearing I was a 'fan' wanting to challenge him, I didn't even have to turn around to see the dopey grin that spread on Tyson's face.
"Well, I can't let a fan down, now can I," Tyson said smugly. "Come on, Max, we can have a BeyBattle after I and…"
"Scott, Scott Eustace," I answer the unspoken question.
"Right, me and Scott have a match."
"Okay, I guess," Max says unsurely.
I honestly feel a little bad. Here Max was, all excited to show off to his new friend and maybe play a game only for some random kid he just met to swoop in and steal his thunder out from under him - in his own house…store…Wait, does Max live here? Oh well…
Anyway, I thank him and turn around to see Tyson already standing on the other side of the BayStadium with Dragoon loaded into his red Launcher and hand on the red Ripcord - ready to go.
I lazily pull out my Leech Worm from one pocket and my Launcher already loaded with the Ripcord out of the other. Putting the two together, I approach the BeyStadium. It has a protruding wall around the rim to prevent Stadium Outs however, there are gaps - dividing the wall into four segments. Tyson is standing between two segments on one side and I take my position opposite him.
"Be careful, Tyson," Kenny calls as he takes a seat on the sideline between us. "We have no idea who this kid is or his Beyblade."
"Aw, cool it Chief," Tyson said. "I've got the power of Dragoon on my side."
Kenny sighs and begins setting up his computer in his lap while muttering, "That doesn't mean you're invincible." Once his computer was up and running, he said, "What do you think Dizzie?"
"I'm not sure," sounded a female voice from Kenny's computer. This voice was none other than a Bit Beast Kenny had somehow managed to get sucked into his computer. So, now he walked around with a possessed laptop and the two acted like an old married couple. "His Beyblade is certainly unusual, but we'll have to see if that's something to be worried about or not."
Taro took up the position on the other side of us. He looked between us and asked, "Are we ready?"
Tyson just smiled while I put my finger through the whole at the end of my Ripcord.
Taro raised his arm. "Okay. Ready. Get set. And, three…two…one…Let it rip!"
Taro throwing his arm down acting as a signal, Tyson and I pulled our Ripcords and sent our Beyblades spinning. They fell from our Launchers and landed in the BeyStadium. Tyson's Dragoon S quickly made its way around while my Leech Worm barley did a single lap before settling into the middle of the bowl.
Off to the side, I could hear Kenny and Dizzie talk.
"So, got anything, Dizzie?"
"That's one weird Beyblade, I can say that much. The distribution of weight would suggest that it's a Stamina-type Beyblade, but it's built more like a Defense-type."
"So, you're saying it's a hybrid?"
"Yes and no. While it has characteristics of both, it fails at being either. It's built like a Defense-type but lacks the stability or weight. It has the properties of a Stamina-type but isn't built in any way to use them. It's a Beyblade that tries to be both and fails - having both type's weaknesses and none of their strengths."
Well, they've got us pegged. Meanwhile, Tyson calls out, "Okay, Dragoon, show them what you've got!" That's when something strange happens.
Dragoon stops circling the BeyStadium and curves inward toward Leech Worm - striking it and pushing it away before moving back to the center of the stadium. That's what happened, but at the same time I saw something else. Like I was seeing two things at once. In addition to the Beyblades in the BeyStadium, I also saw the Bit Beasts themselves.
It was like there was nothing, just Leech Worm who was the same size as me and Dragoon who was a large, bipedal, blue reptile as big as a house and pronounced claws. When the Dragoon Beyblade went to strike mine, the dragon spirit lazily swatted its tail at Leech Worm. Although it successfully struck Leech Worm and batted it away, Worm had bitten into it to use Energy Leech on impact - siphoning off some energy. Dragoon then looked to its tail that had been bitten and seemed annoyed.
"So that didn't take you down, huh," Tyson smirked. He then tried to taunt, "What, are you just going to stay spinning at the center of the BeyStadium?"
"That's all it seems he can do," Kenny interjected.
"Huh?"
"The way his Beyblade is built, it's like someone wearing a fat suit. Ordinarily, they might be able to move just fine, but they have all this weight put on them that it makes it hard to move."
"Wait, really? Why would you use a Beyblade like that?"
I just shrug in response.
This seemed to annoy Tyson as I could hear him grumble, "You think you can handle us like that?" He then ordered, "Okay, Dragoon, let 'em have it!"
Again, there was the strange double vision of the Beyblades in the stadium and the spirits of Dragoon and Leech Worm.
On the sprits side, Dragoon much more harshly whipped its tail at Leech Worm. My Bit Beast tried to bite it and hold on for dear life but failed and was sent flying.
This was represented in the BeyStadium as Dragoon S moving in and slamming into my Beyblade. The two remained in contact for a moment as Dragoon pushed my Beyblade back before breaking off and Leech Worm was sent skidding up the side of the BeyStadium. It just narrowly stopped before reaching the edge and heading back down.
To the side, I hear Kenny question, "What was that? According to my data, that attack should have finished it."
"You're right Kenny, but that doesn't take this into account," responded Dizzie.
I assume she pulled up something on screen as I hear Kenny gasp. "I see, his Beyblade's base is somehow detached from the rest of the Bey. This causes it to weigh the Bey down and eats up its stamina, but upon impact with another Beyblade, it acts like a buffer that drains the enemy's own stamina. What's more, the hit causes it to spin and generate more momentum. It's effectively draining the enemy's stamina to add to its own!"
And that boys and girls is the real-life explanation of how Energy Leech functions. All special powers provided by Bit Beasts somehow gets converted into a 'unique mechanic' of the Beyblade. This is important later in that trying to copy these mechanics is how imitation Beyblades are produced that later in the story become the foundation for artificial or clone Bit Beasts. It all sounded like made up sci-fi mumbo-jumbo to me when I actually read it, but that's how it works.
Tyson did not seem as interested and was more annoyed his attack didn't end it. "Don't let up Dragoon!"
This time, Dragoon went on the attack. The Beyblade struck Leech Worm and did not let up - striking over and over.
Among the spirits, the very same was happening as Dragoon repeatedly and harshly lashed at Leech Worm with its tail. Due to how my Bit Beast's body slightly bounced from each impact, it almost looked like Dragoon was dribbling a ball.
Because the attacks were coming so hard and so fast, Leech Worm did not have much time to try and absorb Dragoon's energy. As a result, after one powerful strike, Leech Worm was sent flying out of the BeyStadium.
My strange double vision fades and all that remains is the real world.
"Alright, we won," Tyson cheered as Dragoon flew up the BeyStadium wall and into the air for him to catch.
I just smiled knowingly and retrieved Leech Worm. This is more or less what I expected. I don't know about Tyson, but Dragoon was obviously not taking us seriously - just using its tail to knock us around.
Holding Leech Worm in my hand, I ask, "Hey did any of you see anything strange while our Beys were going at it? Like a giant lizard and worm duking it out?"
Everyone just looked at me in confusion. But a voice I was not expecting answered me - Dizzie, "You're talking about the Bit Beasts's representation of the battle? You could see that?"
"What do you mean Dizzie," Kenny asked.
"You see Kenny, when two Beyblades containing Bit Beasts battle, it isn't just the Beyblades fighting in the BeyStadium. The Bit Beasts are also battling it out. Though I've never heard of a human who could see it."
"You have a Bit Beast, Scott," Tyson asks me.
I nod, "Yeah. Leech Worm." I then tune out Tyson and Max's excited chattering about how cool that is and Tyson's bragging of how my Bit Beast still couldn't compare to his Dragoon. It seems I have a special power of my own that people typically don't. Interesting. Could it be another thing granted to me by D.D.? Or, does it have to do with me not being from this world?
Also, there's something else. I didn't notice before due to the phantom sensations of getting beaten around by Dragoon's tail, but I feel a…warmth inside me. I'm not sure what it is, but I'm guessing there's something more to using Energy Leech on other Bit Beasts than regular BeyBlades.
This is what I need! I don't believe I'm guaranteed to fail. D.D. was shitty but I don't think he'd completely set the game against me. I think the situation is more like going into a game on apocalyptic difficulty with no saves and one life. Everything is set against me, but it's not hopeless. I just have to find that one path to the next level. I'm sure this is that path!…Or I'm desperate and making shit up to comfort myself.
It is then that I start to hear the tail end of Tyson and Max talking. "Okay Max, you're next. Let's hit the dish!"
"Alright!"
"Might I suggest you two postpone your battle until a little later," said a new voice said.