Joshua Burns stepped onstage striking his signature pose, sparkles flew around him and his teeth glistened.
Shu Kurenai on the other hand rolled his eyes at the sight of Joshua. Going back to his battle he had better things to do.
It was now group 3's turn in the tournament and it was still only day 1. Thinking about it, it was hard to believe it had only been a not even a day.
Looking back at the TV Joshua's competitor stepped onstage.
Zac the former Sunrise stepped onstage causing Shu to look up from what he was doing.
Like the other corrupted bladers he wore full blown Snake Pit attire along with a black mask with yellow highlights.
Turning back to the battle Shu launched again.
In the background the battle had begun with Zac gaining the upper hand easily.
"Hey Shu."
Looking up from what he was doing Valt Aoi stood in the doorway with a friendly smile.
"Valt what are you doing here?"
"Just wanted to check on you, I heard you were going up against Hyde. That and I wanted to talk to you about Phi."
In the background Joshua was making a big speech about how he would majestically save Free.
"He's getting more relentless and impatient, anyone who gets in his way is instantly turned. There's no fixing someone like him."
"That's not the only thing, Shu."
Shu looked up from his battle back to Valt.
"There's something off about their battle, look."
Looking back at the TV both bladers were locked in battle. But narrowing his eyes Shu could tell there was something wrong with their power.
"It's their resonance, yesterday during the tour Valerie said something about the balance being upset..."
"Valerie... I thought I saw you following her yesterday."
"Yeah but thing is I don't know if she's still with Theodore or not. But based on how she was acting yesterday I think she's gone rogue."
"She's dangerous."
"Which is why Phi takes more priority than her. She may be dangerous but like you said there's no fixing someone like Phi."
******
After Zac was declared the winner the next two bladers stepped onstage.
Hyde and Shu stood across from each other with serious looks.
"Shu Kurenai."
"Hyde."
Shu got into his launching stance while Hyde followed.
"3...2...1! Let it Rip!"
Spryzen sped around the stadium colliding Hades in the middle.
As Hades came in for the attack Spryzen dodged it last minute.
Hades bounced off the wall spinning wildly towards Spryzen.
"Dread Gravity!"
They both collided and flew out of the stadium. Spryzen landed first and then Hades.
The crowd cheered wildly but Shu wasn't fazed.
Picking up Spryzen Shu looked back at Hyde.
"How do you beat him?"
"Huh?"
"How do you beat Phi?"
Shu's eyes were faintly Red enough for Hyde to notice.
Hyde narrowed his eyes.
"Aigers beaten him before but Fubuki's done it more recently.."
"Aiger? When did he do that? I don't remember him beating him at the title match..."
"This was before the title match, and after Aiger got corrupted."
Shu was silent thinking as he got into his launching stance.
"3...2...1! Let it Rip!"
Like the last battle both beys circled each other attacking in the middle.
"Hades end this."
Once again they both attacked but were both pushed back speeding down the outer circle.
Hades caught up with Spryzen knocking it against the wall.
Hades retreated back to the middle while Spryzen went for the attack.
"Hades now!"
Summoning Hades, Hyde's aura surrounded him. But it was glitching and weaker. Hyde could feel Hades' pain even though it wasn't attacking.
"What's going on!"
Shu took his chance.
"Spryzen now!"
Spryzen rose in power behind Shu but he could feel the imbalance as if something was wrong. It wasn't a big change in power but it was noticeable enough.
Hades flew into the air bursting into pieces.
But like Shu he wasn't surprised.
"If you are planning on defeating Phi then what's your plan?"
Shu was quiet thinking.
"Have you ever defeated him?"
This time it was Hyde's turn.
The third battle started off just like the others except this time neither of them were really focused on the battle.
"My plan is to talk to Aiger and free Fubuki. They've both defeated Phi before so there's a chance they can be helpful."
Spryzen attacked again and then Hades.
"Phi is a monster, he's no longer my brother or human."
"Human?"
Both beys collided and started slowing down.
"Phi hasn't been in that body a long time..."
Finally Hades stopped spinning first and then Spryzen slowed down.
"Then who is?"
"Phoenix."
Shu was called the winner and the crowd went crazy.
Walking off the stage Shu had more questions than answers.
After going down the elevator Shu went to the bleachers and sat down next to Valt.
"Good job Shu!" Sasha said.
"Thanks."
On stage the next two competitors walked on: Drum and Cuza. Drum was bursting with happiness while Cuza was just standing there.
"I didn't doubt you for a second." Valt said smiling over at Shu.
Shu cracked a smile but then narrowed his eyes.
"Hey Valt, can I talk to you?"
"Sure."
Both of them got up and walked into the hallway.
"What's up?"
"Hyde agreed our best way to defeat Phi is by talking to bladers that have defeated him before which includes Aiger and Fubuki."
"Aiger? I know he lost the title match..."
"This was before the title match, this was when Aiger was Phi's toy."
"I think I remember him mentioning something about that..."
"But that's not the only thing, there's something going on with our power..."
"You mean our resonance?"
"Yes but it wasn't just us, Hyde was having trouble too. It wasn't a big change but it was noticeable enough."
"If this continues then we'll have bigger problems than Phi."
"That's no all, Hyde told me that's not Phi down there."
Shu pointed to the lower deck were Phi had his arms crossed playing with Cuza like he was his puppet.
"What do you mean?"
"Hyde told me that Phi hasn't been in that body for a long time but I don't think that's true. He acts human... enough but I think he's onto something...."