Fubuki Sumiye: The Escape from Dread Tower (Book 2)(Completed)

Ep 22: The Fall!

The next morning Fubuki slept in. Heck he slept in so late he almost missed the first battle of the day: Laban Vanot versus Joe Lazure.

After getting up, getting dressed, and taking a shower Fubuki made his way to the cafeteria.

Fubuki felt more rested than he had in days, it was the first night Fubuki had gone through without having a nightmare about Theodore.

The cafeteria was crowded with people eager to get breakfast. Breakfast was set up buffet style with pancakes, eggs, hash browns, toast, bacon and other various smells lingered in the air.

Grabbing a tray, Fubuki loaded up on eggs, pancakes and orange juice. When he was through the line Valt waved him over.

"Morning Fubuki." Valt said

"Looks like I'm the last one here I'm surprised you didn't sleep in."

"Well when it comes to blading it's a different story."

Fubuki sat down next to Valt while Ranjiro and Aiger were across the table still eating.

"Laban versus Joe this'll be interesting the battle of the fortune tellers." Ranjiro said, taking another sip.

"Yeah I wonder who'll win." Fubuki said starting in on breakfast.

"I think Laban will win, his fortunes are never wrong and I've heard rumor he's come up with a new move."

"Well I on the other hand think Joe's going to win. He's been on a winning streak lately."

Ranjiro and Aiger got into argument leaving Valt and Fubuki silent.

"They've been like this all morning but they're just upset about the battle." Valt said whispering

"What battle?"

Before Valt could answer the intercom system came on.

"Would the following bladers make it to the arena? Laban Vanot and Joe Lazure?"

Joe stood up and so did Laban. The pair made their way to the arena and everyone else followed. The tension was thick this time of day. Despite everyone wanting to win for themself they also wanted to win for the rest of the blading world.

To end Phi's reign of terror, some bladers didn't know but after Phi had taken over there had been a lot more breaking of beys, missing bladers and suffering lots of suffering.

It was sad to think blading had been reduced to this. For some it had been their joy or their hobby. Thinking about all of that just made Fubuki sad. Sitting down in the bleachers Fubuki inched his way to the seat next to Valt.

"Hey Fubuki." Valt said as Fubuki sat down.

"Hey Valt."

Just then the lights dimmed indicating the upcoming battle. Introducing the bladers, Laban stepped out first and then Joe. Joe was smiling and so was Laban. Fubuki could tell they were both confident.

They both stopped on the opposing side of the stadium. Fubuki couldn't really hear what they're saying but based on how nobody had launched yet. They were probably trash talking it up.

The first battle went pretty smoothly, Leopard used its signature more: Howling Bite to earn a burst finish. But luckily for Joe the battle was to 3 points. With Joe falling behind Laban was feeling pretty confident until he threw down his rocks. The rocks shifted and fell over making Laban nervous.

Now unlike Laban, Joe was interested to see what Laban has seen but the second battle started.

Since Laban was caught off guard by his fortune Joe swooped in with his move Fortune's Trick throwing him off.

Leopard tried to take bite out of Joker but it was too fast and unpredictable causing Leopard to run out of power.

Slowing down it came to a stop while Joker was still spinning.

Despite Laban still being ahead he looked worried. Fubuki wandered what was going on down there.

The third battle started and both bladers got into their launching stances.

Both launches were pretty good but Laban was still nervous while Joe was smiling. It was clear Joe had the upper hand.

Using one of his moves: Joker Flush Joker went straight through Leopard bursting it. Laban was speechless but he looked terrified. Picking up the pieces of Leopard, Laban was about to walk off when a trap door appeared under him.

Fubuki stood up to see what was happening.

Laban desperately tried to reach or gain a grip but his hand slipped and he was sent down into the darkness of the pit. The doors closed while Joe walked off twirling his coin.

Fubuki's mouth felt dry. He didn't know what to say or how to react. He didn't even want to react. The thought of losing only made the stakes higher of this tournament.

If you won you moved on but if you lost... then who knows what shady things go on down there.

After Joe was declared the winner everyone walked out of the room to get some lunch or practice. Fubuki didn't eat that much since he had a late breakfast but he couldn't stop thinking about the trap door.

Going back into the cafeteria Fubuki sat down with the group. Aiger and Ranjiro were arguing while Valt was trying to break them up.

Fubuki was afraid, he wasn't afraid of Phi or Theodore but now he was afraid of losing. The thought of losing only scared Fubuki.

The uncertainty of the trap door was starting to get to Fubuki. What happened down there? Did they disappear? Or is it something else?

Before coming here Fubuki had been thinking about when Aiger got corrupted. The way his eyes were, his anger, his power. It scared Fubuki to think that he would be there soon. In fact his power had been spiking a lot lately.

Sometimes walking down the hallways he would snap at someone or when Aiger and Ranjiro where fighting he would snap then two. It was starting to get to a point where he couldn't control his emotions anymore.

"Would the following bladers come to the Dread Tower Arena?"

Everyone in the room silenced knowing what was about to happen. Another blader was being sent to their demise.

"Aiger Akabane and Ranjiro Kiyama please report backstage. Thank you."