Beyblade Burst Adventures

You Won't Feel a Thing

In which Ashtem finds a new, absolutely perfect candidate for the Beast Within Project, and this time his operation won't be cut short. (This branch of the Beast Within AU is no longer canon! It has been replaced by a new story containing a different sequence of events!)

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I step into the dark room, the light coming from the hallway being the only thing illuminating the bare walls and the one bed in it. A small figure is on laid out on the bed, slightly curled in on himself and laying on his side, breathing shallowly.

"Red Eye?" I call out softly, tiptoing over to him. When I get close I can see his eyes are still half-open, but show absolutely no sign of alertness. They're unfocused and glassy, like he's dreaming with his eyes open.

"Red Eye?" I swallow hard, slowly reaching out to touch his bare shoulder- his coat and his jumpsuit sleeve have been tossed aside somewhere.

I frown even more when I feel his cold skin under my fingertips, finding that he barely even reacts to me.

"He's not going to be able to hold a conversation with you for a while." I yelp, turning on my heel towards whoever spoke.

Gold Eye stands in the doorway, his mask held under his right arm. I swallow hard and stand up straight, crossing my arms behind my back. He stares at me with an unreadable expression, murmuring, "Boa..."

"I'm sorry, sir. I know trainees aren't allowed to be in his room, b- but-"

"I understand. I know you care about him," He interrupts, waving his hand a bit before walking over to my right side.

I fidget a bit uncertainly, then I turn back to Red Eye. "What's wrong with him?"

"Ashtem gave him a sedative."

He reaches out with his free hand, tucking it under Red Eye's cheek and lifting his head to where the beast Blader's dull eyes are somewhat focused on him.

"But why was he drugged?" I ask. "What use can he possibly be to Ashtem like this?"

"It's so Ashtem and his team can prepare for a procedure he'll be a part of."

"... What procedure?"

Gold Eye lets out a soft sigh, setting Red Eye's head back down. His eyes loll back into his head a bit as it comes to rest again, leaving him staring at the foot of the bed.

"It's to make him the best Blader he can be. The most bonded with his Bey he can be. Ashtem's team is going to cut into him, cut him open. They're going to take things out and put new things in. If Red Eye actually wakes up from it, he'll be more beastly than before."

"But why?" I ask, swallowing hard as I listen to his words and my heart begins to pound.

"Because he's still held back by human limitations. Ashtem has a theory... A theory that Bladers have a set of subinstincts that are developed when we receive our Beys, and they grow at a glacial pace from then on. He told me that- that our human instincts, our human nature, it restricts our Resonance, and our Blader instincts. We're conditioned to ignore our "inner animal" because society rejects it.

"Certain Bladers are too far gone to bring it out this way, either because of their nature or just because they've spent too long repressing it. Red Eye is a perfect candidate because, at present, all he wants is to win. To become the strongest Blader and beat Lui Shirosagi."

"And he thinks this is the way to do it? By- by letting himself become a monster?"

Gold Eye looks me in the eye, his expression unflinching as he answers. "No, he doesn't. Ashtem didn't give him a choice."