LIGHT NOVEL Chapter 19: The Abyss Awakens
Chapter 19: The Abyss Awakens
The night stretched long over the tournament grounds, stars twinkling coldly above as if watching the events unfold from afar. Kai couldn't sleep. His mind raced with the weight of Raven's words and the lingering threat of Zephyr. He sat cross-legged in the shadows near the training arena, Inferno Draconix resting beside him, the Beyblade's core emitting a faint, rhythmic glow.
Taro sat down heavily next to him, yawning. "You know, normal Bladers sleep before the biggest tournament of their lives."
"I can't," Kai muttered, his eyes fixed on Draconix's core. "There's something about that fragment, Taro. It's more than just power. It's dangerous."
Taro rubbed his eyes and sighed. "You think too much."
Kai shook his head. "Not this time. Every Blader I've met so far—the good ones, the bad ones—they're all drawn to it. It's like the fragment is alive, calling to them."
Taro blinked, finally understanding the depth of Kai's worry. "Then why are you drawn to it? You've never been about power. What makes you different?"
Kai looked down at his hands. "I'm not sure. But Draconix… it feels like it's connected to the fragment somehow. Like it's part of the same fire."
Before Taro could respond, a chill filled the air. The wind shifted, carrying a strange, oppressive energy. The temperature seemed to drop, and the shadows around the training grounds grew darker, twisting unnaturally.
Kai jumped to his feet, clutching Draconix. "Do you feel that?"
Taro shivered. "Yeah. What is it?"
A low hum filled the air, vibrating through the ground. A dark figure emerged from the shadows—Zephyr. His cloak billowed in the wind, and in his hand, Oblivion Nemesis spun slowly, its crimson core pulsating like a heartbeat. The darkness around him seemed to ripple with its own malevolent will.
"Fire Blader," Zephyr said softly, his golden eyes glinting. "You've been seeking answers. Now they come to you."
Kai stepped forward, his heart pounding. "You won't get that fragment, Zephyr. I'll stop you."
Zephyr chuckled darkly. "Stop me? You don't even understand what you're fighting. Nemesis isn't just a Beyblade. It's the will of the abyss. Every spin, every clash, feeds its hunger. The fragment? It's only the beginning."
"Then I'll destroy Nemesis before it can take more," Kai growled.
Zephyr raised an eyebrow. "Destroy it? How do you destroy a force of nature?" He held up Nemesis, its core glowing brighter. "Power isn't destroyed. It only changes hands. And soon, it will be mine—completely."
Without warning, Zephyr launched Oblivion Nemesis into the air. The Beyblade spun with unnatural speed, its energy distorting the very air around it. A dark vortex formed at its center, pulling in shadows and heat alike.
Kai gritted his teeth and readied his launcher. "Draconix, let's light it up! Let it rip!"
Inferno Draconix roared into motion, flames spiraling as it hurtled toward Nemesis. The two Beys collided with a burst of fire and darkness, sparks flying like shooting stars.
"Draconix, Inferno Shift!"
The fire core pulsed, flames concentrating into a focused spin pattern. Draconix dodged Nemesis's attacks, spiraling in and out of the dark vortex with precision.
Zephyr watched calmly. "You fight well, but you're only delaying the inevitable. Nemesis, Shadow Eclipse!"
A surge of darkness erupted from Nemesis, engulfing the entire field in a swirling black mist. The temperature dropped further, and Kai could barely see Draconix as it battled within the shadows.
"Stay sharp, Draconix! Flame Surge!"
A burst of fire erupted, illuminating the mist for a moment. But the flames didn't last—Nemesis's darkness smothered them, drawing the heat into its core.
Kai's eyes widened. It's absorbing my fire!
Zephyr smiled grimly. "Darkness consumes all, fire Blader. Flames burn bright, but they can't escape the abyss."
Draconix wobbled as its spin weakened, the fire core dimming. Kai felt his heartbeat quicken. This can't be it. There has to be a way…
He clenched his fists. "Draconix, we won't let the darkness win. Shift again! Inferno Rebound!"
With a sudden burst of speed, Draconix reversed its spin pattern, flames spinning in reverse to disrupt the dark vortex. Heat and light pushed outward, scattering the mist. For a brief moment, the battlefield was clear.
"Now, Flame Spiral!"
Draconix surged forward, flames spiraling around it like a dragon's breath. It struck Nemesis head-on, fire and darkness colliding with a thunderous explosion.
The force knocked both Beyblades back, sending shockwaves through the ground. Sparks flew, and a gust of wind swept through the arena as both Bladers watched with bated breath.
Nemesis spun, its core flickering with unstable energy. Zephyr's smile faltered.
Kai's eyes burned with determination. "Even darkness can't devour a fire that keeps growing stronger."
Oblivion Nemesis wobbled. For the first time, it seemed to resist Zephyr's command. A strange, pulsing light emanated from its core—something more chaotic, more… alive.
Zephyr frowned. "Impossible… Nemesis, obey me!"
The Beyblade trembled as if in defiance, then steadied itself. The dark mist began to dissipate, but the malevolent presence remained.
Zephyr's eyes narrowed. "You've only delayed what's coming. The abyss is patient. It waits for the right moment to strike."
Kai picked up Inferno Draconix, its flames still flickering with fierce resolve. "Let it wait. I'll be ready."
Zephyr turned, his cloak swirling behind him. "Next time, fire Blader, the shadows will consume your flame entirely."
As he disappeared into the night, Kai stood tall, the heat of battle still surging in his veins. He could feel the fire burning brighter within Draconix, a spark of hope against the coming darkness.
To be continued…