You Can Never Escape Your Shadow /// Beyblade Burst Fanfiction

Chapter 9: The Final Battle

Valt's mouth dropped open. "No way..."

Red Eye was wearing what he used to, even the mask.

"Ashtem!" Valt shouted. "What did you do to him?"

"I did nothing," Ashtem's voice answered coolly. "He is simply a hologram." As if on cue, the image of Red Eye flickered and disappeared. "He is the way to make your friend see sense. Red Eye will return."

Silence.

Valt ran out the door, trying to locate Shu. "Ashtem! Show yourself."

And indeed he did. The masked man blocked the way onward to locked stainless steel doors and restricted hallways.

"I'll battle you," Valt growled. "If I win, you'll have to let us go. All of us. Even Shu." "And if I win, Red Eye stays with me," Ashtem finished smoothly. "It's a deal."

Valt felt horrible making a deal that left his friend on the line, instead of him. But he knew anything else, Ashtem wouldn't agree. "Deal," he choked out.

"I'll referee." Daigo stood beside them, apparently have followed Valt.

"Perfect," Ashtem said calmly. "We will go to the science lab where Red Eye practiced."

The Snake Pit was much bigger than Valt expected. It took a five-minute walk just to pass the training center again, then another two minutes to reach the science lab.

Inside, there was a Bey stadium pushed against various computers and a big metal and glass case with colorful wires sticking out of it, which must have been used for the Requiem Project. Shu was slumped in the corner. Valt desperately wanted to go to him, but he had to win first.

"Requiem's doing," Ashtem smirked, noticing Valt's gaze. "He won't wake up." Unless Requiem is destroyed, Valt finished in his mind. I know. I will. I'm not failing.

He stared at Valtryek. Why did I call it Evolve Valtryek? Evolve is like change... this must have been supposed to happen. I did change for a reason!

"Valt. You ready?" Daigo asked. Valt nodded. "Alright." Daigo smiled. "First battle!"

"Ready? Set."

"Three, two, one, LET IT RIP!"

It was clear from the get-go that Requiem had gotten way stronger since Shu and Spryzen defeated it. "Vermillion Launch!" Ashtem called. "Requiem Strike!"

"Valtryek! Ultra Flash Rush Launch!"

The Beys clashed, flew up into the air, and Burst.

And so that went on for eighteen more battles.

"Twentieth battle!"

I have to change it up...

"Ready? Set?

I have to win!

Valt stepped back. And further and further, until he was pressed against a wall.

"Three!"

"Two!"

He began to sprint forward.

"One!"

He jumped.

"LET IT RIP!"

"He used Aerial Boost and a combination of Ultra Flash Launch and Ultra Winged Launch!" Ken murmured. The other members of the Bey club had come after the tenth battle. "Risky..." Honcho muttered.

"Go! Valtryek!" Valt yelled.

"Elemental Defense!" Ashtem shouted, but it was too late.

Valtryek slammed into Requiem. Ashtem's evil Bey was thrown back by Valtryek's momentum, thrown into the air, and shattered.

The Snake Pit's demeanor seemed to lighten. Requiem's control over the many Bladers there shattered along with the Bey itself. Even Shu awoke from the sleep Ashtem had issued over him.

-Timeskip-

Ashtem's been put in prison for harming minors.

None of us have recovered from what we saw in the Hall Of Memories— yet. We've promised to get over it. None of us are scared of the game anymore.

It feels good to be free.