The stadium went dead silent. Even the faint buzz of the overhead lights seemed to vanish as Y/n stood at the edge of the arena, crimson energy crackling off him like fire ready to explode.
For the first time, Silver Eye's smirk faltered.
"What is this—some kind of second wind?" he muttered, knuckles whitening on his launcher.
Y/n didn't answer. He held Variares tightly, feeling the weight of its pieces, the bond between them.
We've been through worse, he thought, jaw set. You're not done yet. Neither of us are.
With a sharp inhale, he snapped Variares back together.
CLANG!
The sound echoed across the entire room, and crimson light flared outward from Y/n like a shockwave, rippling through the stadium.
The analysts' monitors screamed in alarm.
"Energy levels are spiking!" one shouted.
"This isn't possible!" another yelled. "That Bey's power output was barely measurable after the last burst!"
Ashtem's smirk deepened, his eyes gleaming with interest.
"So the boy's finally getting serious," he said under his breath.
Silver Eye snarled, annoyed at the sudden shift in momentum.
"You think a light show is gonna scare me? Perseus is unbeatable!"
Y/n stepped into position, crimson aura swirling around him like a storm.
"Unbeatable?" he said, his voice low but vibrating with power. "Then let's find out."
"Bladers ready?!" Ashtem's voice cut through the air, almost giddy with excitement.
"Ready," Y/n growled.
"Let's finish this!" Silver shouted back.
3!
2!
1!
"LET IT RIP!"
The launch cracked like thunder. Variares exploded into the stadium, leaving a crimson streak of light as it tore across the floor. Perseus met it head-on, and the impact was so violent that shockwaves rattled the walls and shook the stands.
"Variares—CHARGE!" Y/n roared.
Variares' energy layer ignited in a fiery red glow, spinning so fast it looked like a blazing wheel. It slammed into Perseus with brutal force, driving it toward the stadium wall.
Silver didn't flinch.
"Don't get cocky! Perseus—BLACK EXCALIBUR!"
Perseus' sword blazed with dark light and swung forward, cleaving through the air. The two Beys collided mid-charge, creating a blast of light so bright it cracked the stadium floor.
When the dust cleared, both Beys were still spinning—
but Variares' speed was climbing.
"What?!" Silver shouted, disbelief flashing in his eyes.
"It's absorbing Perseus' counterstrikes..." one analyst whispered.
"No..." Ashtem said with a sharp grin. "It's matching Perseus' ability."
"Go all in, partner!" Y/n yelled. "ARES DRIVE—MAX!"
Variares erupted with crimson energy, the aura around it surging higher than ever before.
"END THIS! SWORD OF ARES!"
Variares shot forward like a comet, striking Perseus with a single, earth-shaking blow. The room froze for half a second—
CRACK!
Perseus shot across the stadium, slamming into the ground outside the ring.
Silver Eye's smirk was gone. His launcher slipped from his fingers.
"No... that's... impossible..."
The stadium erupted in chaos—analysts shouting, alarms blaring, screens flashing red. Even Ashtem was on his feet, eyes wide with genuine surprise.
Y/n caught Variares as it rolled back to him, its glow slowly fading but its spirit still burning. He looked up at Silver with a cold, hard glare.
