As Ash waited in the middle of the open tournament stadium, the air was electric with anticipation. Ash had finally reached the big leagues, and this was no ordinary tournament—it was the region's First Major Tournament. The pressure mounted and the stakes were higher than ever before.
Madoka and Kenta stood beside him, offering their usual support. Madoka adjusted her glasses and glanced around. "This is it, Ash. You're going to face Bladers with years of experience. It won't be easy."
Trying to calm the situation, Kenta smiled. "But you've been training a lot. Ash, you can do it!"
Sensing the weight of their expectations, Ash clenched his fist. Glaring out towards the arena, he gripped Storm Greninja tighter. The excitement of the crowd was clear, as the applause rang in the air. All the fans were waiting eagerly for the start of the next match. He had been awaiting this opportunity to show his potential as a Blader.
With determination in his eyes, Ash said, "I won't let you down."
Ash's early matches were quite straightforward as the tournament progressed. Even though his opponents were skilled, they were not at the level of the actual sports veterans. With every win, he became more confident as he breezed through the rounds. He was a great Blader due to his experience with Gingka, which had taught him how to balance speed, control, and agility. But the real test lay ahead.
When the announcer shouted for the next battle, the arena went wild. "Ash Ketchum, you will battle Carlos, the Steel Phantom!"
Ash's gaze expanded. Carlos was regarded as one of the leading candidates in the area. Carlos was notorious for his brutal efficiency in the arena and was a cold, calculating Blader. Steel Phantom, his Beyblade, was a defensive powerhouse that could repel almost any kind of attack.
Madoka said gravely, "You better be ready, Ash." "Carlos should not be taken lightly."
"Don't be concerned. Though the butterflies in his stomach told him otherwise, Ash answered, "I've faced tough Bladers before."
Ash's eyes widened. Carlos was seen to be one of the top contenders in the region. Carlos was feared for his ruthless effectiveness in the stadium and was a calculating, cold Blader. Steel Phantom, his Beyblade, was a shielded force to be reckoned with who could deflect nearly any style of attack.
Madoka stated seriously, "You better be prepared, Ash." "Carlos isn't to be underestimated."
"Don't worry. Despite the butterflies he was getting in his stomach telling him otherwise, Ash replied, "I've battled hard Bladers before.""
Carlos stepped into the arena, glowering at Ash with a cold face. His black hair suited the somber aura that clung to him, and he was taller than Ash. His demeanor was so intimidating that he didn't even need to say anything. In the arena lights, his Beyblade, Steel Phantom, shone. With a thick, heavy metal ring that made it almost impossible to knock off balance, it was meant for defence.
Let's make it interesting, kid," Carlos whispered, barely covering his disdain for Ash's enthusiasm.
While they prepared for their lives' battles, Ash arrived in the arena and stood facing Carlos. The two Bladers, facing each other, geared up to launch. The announcer counted down.
"3… 2… 1… LET IT RIP!"
There was a whirlwind of activity as the fight began. Carlos's Steel Phantom held firm, taking every hit Storm Greninja dished out with its metal frame. Ash could feel the pressure mounting as he tried his best to break through Carlos's defense.
"Storm Greninja, Aqua Dash!" With resolve in his voice, Ash shouted.
With lightning speed, Storm Greninja burst forward. It rammed into Steel Phantom and a crushing clang shook the arena. To Ash's shock, however, Steel Phantom didn't flinch. Instead, it simply continued to spin steadily in place, as if shaking off the attack entirely.
Carlos smiled. "You believe that speed will pierce Steel Phantom? You are wrong. Everything depends on patience. You may hit me all you want, but nothing will be different."
Ash's heart was racing. Even knowing Steel Phantom was made for defense, Carlos had exceeded expectations. The pacing of the battle was as much a matter of Carlos's control as the defense was. He wasn't allowing Ash to call the shots.
Steel Phantom lit up as Carlos initiated his special attack.
"Phantom Shield!" Carlos exclaimed.
Abruptly, Steel Phantom started to rotate even faster, creating a powerful centrifugal force shield. Storm Greninja's attacks merely hit the shield, unable to pierce it.
Ash was starting to feel the pressure. His attacks were becoming less effective, and Storm Greninja was slowing down. He had to come up with something in a hurry—he couldn't keep going at him the way he was. He needed to disrupt Carlos's rhythm.
His thoughts racing, he muttered to himself, "Think, Ash… think!"
Then it hit him. He remembered something he had learned from Gingka: sometimes you must step back and look at the larger picture to win a fight. Steel Phantom was dependent on its predictability along with being a defense machine. It wasn't invincible. Like every Beyblade, it had weaknesses.
Ash screamed, "Aqua Dash won't be effective anymore… Storm Greninja, let's do something different!" "Tornado Surge—Full speed ahead!"
Storm Greninja charged forward this time in a wild zigzag motion, weaving left and right to avoid Steel Phantom's shield. It leveraged the flows in the arena to its advantage as it built up speed, generating a tornado of energy.
Carlos, clearly not ready for that, furrowed an eyebrow. His Beyblade slowed as it struggled to keep up with Storm Greninja's erratic movements. The powerful shield weakened momentarily, allowing Storm Greninja to land with precision shots.
"That's it!" Ash thought. The rhythm had been disrupted by him.
The defensive Beyblade whirled out of control and smashed into the side of the arena as Storm Greninja and Steel Phantom clashed for the final time.
The crowd gasped. The stadium erupted in cheers.
The announcer shouted, "Ash wins the battle!"
Ash sighed in relief, his heart pounding. He had finally beaten one of the greatest Bladers in the world. He went over to Carlos and helped him to his feet.
Carlos's eyes stayed cold, but he took the gesture. He told him, "You got lucky, kid," but there was a respect in his tone. "But don't think you've won the war."
Ash nodded. "I get that. But this was only the beginning."