*The tension in the air was so thick it could be cut with a butter knife as the arena was filled with cheers. Athena and Main stared each other down*
Athena: Main... i find it hard to believe after all these years, you are still upset over that.
---Flashback, 2 Years ago on Athenas 2nd National Championships---
*The battle between Athena and Main Kuromi was nearing its conclusion and both beys were pushing hard*
Main: Finish it off!
Athena: Do it now! Go Sovereign Symphony!!
*Adeonas rubber blades slashed across Mains bey which was a purple and black Prominence Phoenix.Giga.Bearing-10. Cracks began to form in Mains bey and it shattered into pieces, leaving Main in surprise*
Main: W..What...?!
Referee: Sovereign Adeona with a Burst Finish! With a final score of 3-0, Athena Valhalla wins and remains the American Champion!
Main: Why.... Why would you do this to me?!
*Athena just stared at the blader in a bit of surprise, she wasn't exactly sad or worried about what just happened*
Athena: I-I'm sorry that happened but you can always get a new one, it's not hard to replace them.
*Athena turned and walked off, Mains eyes widened and began to burn with rage, the pieces of his fallen bey clicking together in the palm of his hand, the sharp edges piercing his skin*
Main: Athena... Valhalla!!!!!
---Flashback ends---
Athena: To think something like that would come back and bite me.. Main, just why can't you let this go?
*Main simply stared at Athena as his yellow eyes flashed with a golden energy*
Main: Athena Valhalla, today i will give you your just deserts and i'll expose your real self to everyone here. You really think now you can save your reputation?
Athena: People here are more familiar with me than they are with you, good luck with trying. I don't really hear anyone cheering for you.
Main: I don't need their incessant cheering, i didn't come here to be liked.
Athena: Of course you didn't...
---
*Bella and the others were watching the battle from the audience and Bella really couldn't believe what she was witnessing*
Bella: What is going on down there?!
Lane: For Main this is a revenge match, for Athena.. whether she thinks so or not, this is a battle that could determine the state of her reputation. Athena hasn't publicly lost a match since the Sparking Legend Tour.
Shu: Plus Athena has a deep history with him, Athena has tried her hardest to move on from that day but with him back, the past just can't be put to rest.
---
Referee: Second Battle!!
Main: Athena Valhalla, i will now be showing you Michaels true and ultimate potential, you're the only one worth enough for that honor.
Athena: Oh well am i supposed to say "I'm honored"? I'll be using my true strength as well.
*Both bladers took their positions, their auras bursting out like a dimly lit flame*
Referee: Ready Set!!
3 2 1 GO SHOOT!!!
*The beys landed in the stadium and Michael took the center of the stadium once more as Adeona raced around the stadium*
Athena: Let's go! Adeona!!
*Adeona began to launch a flurry of strikes on Michael as it started to knock it around. Michaels lock began to advance forward some as it struck a rubber burst lock*
Athena: Burst locks huh? It's no use!! Burst it with Legacy Saber!!
*Adeona slams into it and Michael went flying, however it wasn't a burst as Michael kept on going and another part of its Layer was now airborne*
Athena: What the?!
---
Bella: What is that?!
Lane: It looks like Michael ejected some kind of projectile off of its layer...
Shu: They say Michael is a bey that combines features from beys like Phoenix, Raphael and Lucifer.. this must one of its abilities!
---
Main: That's too bad for you! You're no match for the Primary Armor!
Athena: Primary Armor?
Main: When Michael has taken a certain amount of damage, the Armor will detach like the legendary Phoenix used by Phi.
Athena: So you're copying bladers like Phi huh? You do you but i won't let something like that get in the way of my win!
*Michael reclaimed the center as its perimeter was now incredibly smooth and its stamina wasn't dropping at all. Adeona comes charging in and lands the next attack but was reflected by Michaels smooth surface*
Athena: One more time, don't give up!!
*Adeona began to fire more and more attacks but Michael with its smooth surface and incredible stamina, wasn't affected by any of it*
Main: It's no use at all. You might as well sit back and watch as you are completely defeated here and now!
*Michael was now on the move as it slams into its own armor and launches it towards the wall*
Athena: Wait what is that?!
Main: Finish it! Primary Thunder!!
*The Primary Armor slams into Adeona and using the pointed spikes on it, it launches Adeona out of the stadium with devastating power. Athena was in disbelief at what just happened*
Referee: Primary Michael, Over Finish! Main Kuromi earns 1 point!!
*The crowd was in awe at the result of the 2nd battle, their American Champion and Heavenly Guardian had lost the first point and so easily too*
Main: How's that?
Athena: You've gotten stronger like i said.. Michael really is something i tell ya.
Main: So now in the 3rd Battle, i'll end this with a burst finish!
Athena: A Burst Finish you say? Don't get too ahead of yourself, i still haven't even shown off my the rest of my power yet.
Main: The rest of your power you say? Well that sounds interesting enough.
---
Bella: Athena actually lost the 1st point to that guy...?!
Shu: Athena wasn't prepared for what Michael had in store for it. So its taken abilities from Phi's Phoenix, Rashads Raphael and Lanes Lucifer... A bey like that is incredible!
Lane: Well now that's made its public debut, there finally be data on it.
---
Referee: 3rd Battle!!
Athena: The Primary Armor... there has to be way to fight it, there just has to be.. I'll figure it out in this battle.
*The bladers took their position and the battle started once again*
Referee: Ready Set!!
3 2 1 GO SHOOT!!!
*The beys landed in the stadium and this time, Adeona wasn't holding anything back! It launched a fierce attack on Michael, keeping it out of the center*
Main: So that's your plan..
Athena: Adeona, let's go!!
*Adeona charges in and kept the attacks coming, blowing off Michaels Armor*
Athena: We won't let that stop us! Blow that armor to the moon!!
*Adeona slams into the Primary Armor and launches it high into the air, keeping it out of Michaels reach*
Main: Is that all you got? Don't me laugh!!
*Michael took the center at last and Adeona was starting to fire a barrage of relentless attacks on it*
---
Bella: What exactly is Athenas strategy here?!
Lane: She's trying to bring down Michaels stamina and then go for a burst. A plan like that just might work.
---
Main: You know the more you attack, The more you're only delaying the inevitable. You simply can't win against me!!
Athena: Just you watch, we're far from done! Deluxe Dance!!
*Adeona kept the attacks going but this time it was putting more and more power behind it, the armor was now starting to fall back down! Adeona disengages as it headed onto the upper deck*
Athena: Adeona, end this!!
*Adeona heads into the Secondary Stadium and started to speed up greatly, its speed as quick as lightning*
Athena: End this now! Legacy Saber!!
Main: Come forth! Primary Michael!!
Main: It's over! Primary Lord!!
*The round perimeter on Michael began to glow and it formed a ring of energy around it! Adeona slams into it with full strength as the stadium erupted into a fierce explosion! One bey flew up and burst, it was Adeona...! The Primary Armor fell to the stadium floor at last beside Michael.*
Athena: N-No way...
Referee: Primary Michael, Burst Finish! With a score of 3-0, Main Kuromi is the winner!
*The crowd burst into cheers as Main stared down at his fallen opponent, Athena fell to one knee as she picked up the pieces of Adeona*
Main: Well Athena Valhalla, it would appear i win..
*Athena got to her feet and turned to walk away, not giving Main any sort of satisfaction*
Athena: You can say or do whatever you want but you're not getting under my skin so easily..
*Athena walked off stage and Main just watched her, a sly smirk grew on his face*
---Later that day---
*Athena stood alone in the New York Bulls lobby and she stood at the stadium, her loss finally settling in her head*
Athena: So frustrating...
*She looks to her left and saw Shu come up the stairs*
Athena: Shu...
Shu: Looks like you had some trouble against Michael...
*Athena just looked away sadly*
Athena: Yeah..
Shu: You feel like you failed Bella didn't you?
Athena: I wanted to prove to her that i was strong enough to beat him, that i was unbeatable.
*Shu sighed and sat on the bench nearby*
Shu: No one is unbeatable. Not even the strongest blader in the world..
Athena: Valt...
Shu: He's my best friend but... even someone like him has to take a loss sometimes. It's just how beyblade goes.
Athena: Yeah i guess...
Shu: No matter how strong they may be, nobody is ever truly invincible. Sometimes you just have to accept that and learn from your losses. I lost to Bella and i may not be proud of it but that doesn't mean i'm gonna stop where i am.
Athena: ...You're gonna keep getting stronger.
Shu: Correct. See? You're getting it.
Athena: I as an American Champion didn't want to fail everyone today. I wanted to prove that Mains way of Beyblade is wrong.
Shu: You're going to do what you did with Lane?
Athena: No... as much as i would like to, it's time i pass the torch to someone who can actually defeat him. My loss today made that clear to me..
Shu: You're going to leave it to Bella?
Athena: I mean do you have any other options? Bella can clearly show him what Beyblade truly means.
Shu: I don't think he'll ever forgive you.
Athena: And i don't expect him to.. He got what he wanted today and it was my defeat.
Shu: You're taking this a lot better than i thought.
Athena: After my experience with Lane, i'm not going to let words like his get under my skin. I had to bear that for a long time 3 years ago. I could go through that again, i don't want to though.
Shu: Is that why you're introducing her to all the other legends?
Athena: It's a means for her to get stronger, the legends could possibly teach her something i couldn't.
Shu: I see.
---The Next Day---
*Bella and Athena were now at the airport as they were starting to get ready to leave*
Lane: I won't be coming with you guys either.
Athena: What? Why?!
Lane: I have something i need to do.
*Lane shot her a look of what he was talking about and Athena immediately got it*
Athena: I see... well i can't wait to see it.
*Athena and Bella said their goodbyes and they got onto the plane and it took off into the skies and the long 14 hour flight began*
---14 Hours later---
*Athena and Bella were finally in Japan and Athena looked around amazed, it had been a very long time since she had visited Japan. She had actually received word that Valt and Lui were in town to train, Athena decided they would go to Valt first*
Athena: I'm sure you're well acquainted with Valt since you beat him before.
Bella: Does he have an Origin Bey yet?
Athena: He told me on the phone he was in the process of making one but it's not finished yet, he still uses Ultimate Valkyrie for the time being.
Bella: I can't wait to battle him again and Lui.
Athena: i heard Lui already finished his so we'll be visiting him next after we're done with Bell.
Bella: Awesome! i seriously cannot wait!!
Athena: Well i'm glad you're excited.
*The 2 kept on walking and eventually they met at the arena where the Hybrid Drive Stadium was kept, it was also the place where Rashads Beyclub had battled all those years ago and bladers like Phenomeno Payne made their debut. When Athena and Bella get there, Valt was already waiting for them*
Athena: Valt! It's great to see you again!
Valt: I take it you guys are here to see Bell?
Athena: Yeah, we're done with Shu now so i decided to take Bella to another blader. Bell just happened to be the first one that came to my mind.
Valt: Well i hate to break it to you but Bell isn't here right now.
Athena: Wait! What do you mean "He isn't here"?!
Valt: I went by Hell's Gate earlier this morning and a note was on his doorstep, it said "The Demon King is in hiding! Do not enter!!"
Athena: Probably just another one of Bell's ridiculous pranks, come on Bella, let's get going.
*The 2 started to leave and they eventually found the infamous Hell's Gate where the feared Bell Daikokuten resided. Athena ripped off the note of the front gate and went inside.
Bella: Well this place definitely is spooky, more spookier than my place..
Athena: Well Bell likes to pull pranks and his whole home is tailored for that. Bell is rather interesting to work with but it all works out in the end.
*The 2 eventually reached the place Bell called the "Theatre Of Hell", the place where Bell held all his battles. Many many battles had taken place here against his friends like Basara, Ranzo, Valt and so much more.*
Athena: Well we are in the correct place but no sign of Bell, maybe he really isn't here.
*The 2 started to leave until the gates in front of them slammed shut and loud cackling was coming from the top of the room.*
Athena: Well i stand corrected then, he is here.
*The shadowy figure jumped down from the balcony and he stood up to the stadium as his full figure was revealed, it was Bell Daikokuten in the flesh*
Bell: Who dares enter the Gates Of Hell!?
*The Demon King stared down at the 2 and young boy began to laugh loudly, a demon like figure standing over him as its green eyes began to glow*
-----
*Back in Japan, Lane Valhalla was now hard at work on making a new and improved bey for himself. His new Lucifer was going to be the strongest one the world had ever seen*
Lane: It'll take some time but when you're finished, you'll be the strongest defense type the world had ever seen.
*Sparks began to fly as Lane continued to work on his new Origin Bey as a purple aura began to surround him, the bond with his bey getting stronger and stronger as time passed. Shu Kurenai watched from the doorway as Lane continued to work.*
[TBC]
Next Chapter: Free For All! Hell's Gate Battle Royale!!
A battle royale between Bell, Athena and Bella ensues at the dark Hell's Gate! Meanwhile, Main Kuromi reaches Japan as well.