LIGHT NOVEL Chapter 12: A Flicker of Shadows
Chapter 12: A Flicker of Shadows
The victory over Ryuga left Kai riding the high of triumph, but as the crowd dispersed and the stadium grew quiet, a familiar chill crept into the air. He had proven the strength of his flames, but in the back of his mind, Hiro's warning echoed like a distant thunderclap:
"The darkness never truly fades. It waits."
Taro jogged up, his grin as wide as ever. "Kai! That was epic! You took down Ryuga like it was nothing!"
Kai shook his head, his eyes focused. "It wasn't easy. Leviathan's power was overwhelming. If Draconix hadn't held out just long enough…"
Taro laughed, slapping him on the back. "Always so serious! Come on, enjoy the win for a change. You're getting stronger with every battle!"
Kai nodded slowly. "Stronger… but there's more to learn. I felt it. Leviathan's storm was chaotic, but Ryuga knew how to flow with it. He wasn't just controlling the storm—he was the storm."
Taro tilted his head, a hint of concern in his voice. "You're not doubting yourself, are you?"
"No," Kai said firmly. "But I need to grow. My fire has power, but it needs to evolve if I'm going to face what's coming."
Taro's expression darkened. "You think Hiro's lurking around again?"
Kai glanced at the shadows stretching across the ground. The setting sun painted the sky in hues of crimson and gold, but there was something unsettling about the way the darkness crept closer.
"Hiro's not done. The shadow's waiting for its moment."
That night, Kai returned to the underground training arena. The echoes of past battles whispered around him as he stood alone, Inferno Draconix gleaming in his hand. He tightened his grip, feeling the heat of its power radiate through him.
"Draconix," he murmured, "we've come far… but it's not enough."
He launched the Beyblade with a sharp flick, watching it spin fiercely. Flames flickered along its edges, bright and unrestrained.
Power isn't just strength. It's control. Precision. Adaptation.
The words replayed in his mind as Draconix spun faster, the fire building. He pictured Leviathan's storm, the way it bent and shifted. How could fire become something more?
"Focus the flames…" Kai whispered.
He stepped forward, narrowing his eyes. "Draconix, Inferno Spiral!"
The flames condensed into a swirling vortex, spinning tighter and faster. The heat intensified, burning brighter and brighter—until suddenly, the fire wavered.
Draconix buckled under the pressure, the flames exploding outward uncontrollably. The Beyblade skidded across the ground, its spin nearly lost.
Kai's fists clenched. "No… It's not right. I'm forcing it too hard."
Before he could retrieve his Beyblade, a low, cold laugh echoed from the shadows.
"Still trying to master fire, Kai?"
His blood ran cold as he turned. A figure stepped forward, the darkness wrapping around him like a cloak. Hiro's eyes gleamed with malicious delight, and in his hand, Shadow Basilisk twisted with dark energy.
"You beat me once," Hiro said softly. "But fire always burns out. And when it does…" He raised Shadow Basilisk. "The shadows are always waiting."
Kai's heart raced. His journey wasn't over—
The true battle had just begun.
To be continued…