The tournament loss still echoed in Arjun's mind.
The crowd's cheers, the final spin of his Bey slowing into stillness, and the image of that tiny, smug Bey Spirit—a hamster? A rodent?—dancing atop the winning blade like a taunt, it all haunted him.
But what stung more was Airavat's silence.
Not even a whisper. Just that familiar stubborn weight in his hand, silent like stone.
After the match, Madoka patted his back. "You fought smart," she said gently. "But sometimes, it's not about just being smart. It's… more."
He nodded, not saying much. He knew what she meant. That connection. That fire.
And he didn't have it—not yet.
Later That Night – Back Alley of Southern Shibuya
Arjun walked Madoka home, still brooding, when a shadow darted across the alley in front of them.
"Stop right there!" a rough voice barked. A gang of teens stepped out from the shadows. Their jackets were tattered, their beys worn but fierce.
They looked like strays. And yet, something about them felt organized.
The leader, a wiry guy with rat-like features and greasy black hair, grinned. "Well, well. If it isn't the little champ. You were flashy in that tourney. Got a lotta people watchin'."
Madoka stepped behind Arjun. "We don't want trouble."
The gang surrounded them.
Arjun stood firm. "Back off."
The leader chuckled. "We're not here for you. We want her Beytech gear. And maybe your bey too, if you're feelin' generous."
A dozen launchers clicked into place.
Madoka grabbed Arjun's sleeve. "We should run."
"No," Arjun said softly. "Not this time."
He stepped forward, launcher in hand, his eyes calm—but inside, a fire crackled.
"You want a battle?" he said. "You'll get one."
The alley became a makeshift stadium. Cracked concrete, broken bricks, dust swirling in the night wind. The gang smirked, dropping their beys onto the makeshift ring.
One by one, the Bladers launched.
Twelve Beys.
Then the leader pulled out his own—Venom Vermin.
Its appearance made Arjun freeze.
The energy it gave off was... wrong. Purple, twitchy, radiating chaos. When it launched, it didn't spin so much as skitter, like it was alive.
"What the hell is that?" Arjun muttered.
The battle began in an instant.
Arjun vs. the Horde
Airavat held its ground. Despite being outnumbered, its wide, sturdy ring clashed against three, then five beys at once. Sparks flew. Concrete cracked.
Arjun gritted his teeth, repositioning his feet for better balance. He read every bounce, calculated every angle.
But they kept coming.
Madoka screamed from the sidelines. "Arjun, get out of there!"
One of the gang's beys clipped Airavat's edge. Another slammed from above. Arjun watched, powerless, as his blade skidded toward the edge.
"No!" he shouted—and ran forward, grabbing a loose brick and batting away an incoming bey heading toward Madoka.
Pain seared through his palm.
Then came the scream.
"RAAGHHH!"
It wasn't Arjun.
It was the sky.
Lightning cracked through the clouds above. The concrete beneath him shook.
And then—
From the spinning chaos, a figure emerged.
Airavat.
A giant, ivory-white elephant, its four tusks crackling with stormlight, stood tall above the field. Its eyes glowed with silent fury. It let out a thunderous cry that echoed across the buildings.
Everyone froze.
Even the leader's rat-like bey paused mid-spin.
Arjun's eyes widened.
"You came…"
The storm intensified.
Dust lifted, pebbles hovered in the air as if gravity warped.
A ring of pressure built around Airavat—its armor shimmering blue-white. A wall of spinning wind and magnetic force pushed the enemy beys outward.
The gang leader's eyes went wide. "What is this?!"
Arjun's instincts took over.
He lifted his launcher.
"Airavat… let's show them your wrath."
Special Move – Indra's Aegis Shield
The air trembled.
The earth cracked.
Airavat spun in place, pulling energy from the storm. A dome of thunder formed around it. Arcs of lightning surged outward like vines, striking the oncoming Beys before they could touch it.
One by one, they exploded backward.
Then came the shockwave.
A pulse of raw energy burst from the core of Airavat's spin.
Rocks lifted.
Windows shattered.
Twelve Beys flew into the air like paper.
And then came Vermin.
It had tried to escape, clinging to the edge of the field. But Airavat roared, its eyes glowing golden-white, and released one final surge of lightning.
The rat-shaped Bey Spirit shrieked and vanished.
Venom Vermin split in half.
The gang leader fell to his knees.
The battle was over.
Aftermath
Madoka ran up to Arjun, tears in her eyes. "That was—what WAS that?!"
He looked down at his blade, still humming with power.
"That… was Airavat."
The Bey hovered midair for a second, then slowly sank, the spirit fading into sparks.
He collapsed to his knees, exhausted but relieved.
The gang ran, dragging their leader away. The alley was silent.
And above it all, the sky cleared.