The wind was cold in the alleys of Minato ward. The remnants of Arjun's last battle still lingered in the air—dust swirled, and loose tiles rattled from the residual shockwave of Indra's Aegis Shield. Madoka was crouched beside Bakushin Airavat, inspecting its CS tip with a mixture of awe and concern.
"You've definitely pushed it harder than ever before," she said, adjusting her glasses. "But Airavat's holding up better than I thought. That shockwave… Arjun, it was incredible. You've developed a style that's not just power."
Arjun leaned against the wall, breathing heavily but with a faint grin. "It's not just about strength. It's about letting them know why I step into the ring. Airavat only responded when I figured out the why—to protect others."
Madoka chuckled. "You've got the attitude of a real Blader now."
After a few weeks after the incident:
While Arjun was scrolling through BeyTube, he found something interesting:
"THE ALL-INDIA OPEN BEYBLADE INVITATIONAL – THIS MONTH!
The nation's fiercest bladers gather to battle in a heritage-rich arena in Mumbai! Prizes, honor… and recognition on the international circuit await!"
Arjun's eyes widened.
"India…? That's home."
A Week Later
"Are you serious?" his mother asked, eyebrows raised as she stirred dal in the kitchen.
Arjun nodded. "It's a big one. This could open doors. I've been winning here, and Madoka said it's got international recognition. And hey, it's in India!"
His father, reading the newspaper at the table, finally looked up. "Where exactly?"
"Mumbai. It's some open tournament—they said it's attracting both new and underground talent."
His father folded the paper slowly. "We still have family there. Your uncle's in Mumbai. I could call him, see if you can stay. But this isn't just fun anymore, Arjun. You're treating it like… a career."
Arjun met his eyes. "Maybe it is."
There was silence. Then a quiet nod.
"I'll book tickets," his father said.
The Return to India
Mumbai welcomed him with its vibrant and humid atmosphere. The traffic was as he remembered—just as exhausting. The tournament was hosted inside an open-air amphitheater. Crowds of all ages buzzed with excitement.
Beyblading, he realized, had roots here. This wasn't just a sport—it was quickly becoming a part of culture.
His uncle ruffled his hair as they entered the arena. "Hey champ, looks like Beyblade is slowly getting popular in India as well. A massive crowd has come to see the tournament—are you nervous?"
Arjun grinned with a bit of nervousness. "Nope, I'm fine… I just want to test myself."
The Indian Invitational Begins
Round 1. Obstacle Rush: Sandpit Standoff.
The announcer's voice boomed, echoing against sandstone.
"Contestants must reach the summit platform by maneuvering their beys through a sand-logged terrain while battling three others. Points awarded for control, endurance, and takedowns!"
Arjun's opponents included a kid with Thermal Scorpio, a teenager with Dark Gasher, and an older guy with Rock Lynx.
He looked at Bakushin Airavat. "We're going uphill. Literally."
The match began. Airavat launched with a shriek of compressed air, gliding across the sand with balanced momentum. Its tusk-like wings clipped Lynx off-path early, scoring a point.
Dark Gasher went for a spinning tackle, but Airavat rotated defensively, letting the impact send Gasher into the pit—another point.
Madoka's advice echoed in his head: "Keep the balance center low. Use the sand's drag against them, not you."
Arjun angled the spin path, letting Airavat drift-tilt, cutting into the incline like a sled. With one last jolt of speed, it reached the summit—first.
"Winner of Round One: Arjun and Bakushin Airavat!"
He exhaled. "One step closer."
Semi-Finals: Serpent of the Sands
The sun dipped lower as the crowd gathered for the semifinals. This round was different—one-on-one, on a stone disc surrounded by a thin moat. Spectacle and intensity both rising.
His opponent: Veer, a quiet, snake-eyed blader who wore a hood and carried his launcher like a dagger. His bey: Poison Viper D125B—a custom built around destabilizing and recoiling strike patterns.
As they prepared to launch, Veer smirked. "You're not from here."
Arjun raised a brow. "Was born here but went abroad. I came back to see how good the bladers are in this country."
"Let's see how well you dance when the serpent coils."
3… 2… 1… Let it rip!
Poison Viper spun with a hissing grind, instantly veering sideways and taking a slithering path. Its D125 track shimmered in the light—designed for unexpected lateral bursts.
Airavat stayed central, letting the wide defense tip stabilize it.
Viper struck first—rapid side feints, each attack whittling at Airavat's momentum.
"Don't lose control," Arjun muttered. "Wait…"
He remembered something from a match he'd seen on a livestream—a defensive bait.
Airavat slowed… then, just as Viper came in for a back-angle strike, Arjun shouted:
"Airavat Counter—deflect!"
Airavat shifted weight as it spun, rebounding the strike and sending Viper flying into the edge.
The serpent Bey hung on the ridge. A final pulse from Airavat's spin knocked it clean into the moat.
"Winner: Arjun!"
After the Victory
Under the shade of a neem tree near the resting area, Arjun wiped sweat from his forehead. His uncle brought him a bottle of water.
"You've really picked this up fast," he said, grinning. "Your grandfather would've liked this."
Arjun chuckled. "He was the one who gave me Airavat."
"Yep."
They both laughed. Just then, a figure stepped from behind the tree.
An old man, wearing travel robes, his beard streaked with red clay.
"You fight like someone guided by instinct," he said, voice dry and raspy. "But your soul… your soul is not yet whole."
Arjun blinked. "What?"
The man looked south. "You've won with strength, boy. But clarity does not come from victory. When the storm inside you rages louder than the one outside, come to the southern hills. There, you'll begin to remember."
"Wait—do I know you?" Arjun asked, stepping forward.
But the man was already gone.
Later That Night
Arjun lay on his bed in his uncle's guest room, Beyblade beside him on the side table. He couldn't sleep well—just when he finally got some rest.
Flashes danced in his dreams. A purple three-headed dragon fighting a white Pegasus, a lot of shouting…
"What was that…?" he whispered.
Beyblade Lore and Reasons:
"Bakushin" comes from the Japanese bakushin, meaning "explosive advance."The Bakushin Wheel is one of the most balanced designs of its era—light, agile, and consistent.CS (Coat Sharp): In the anime, it was used by Masamune for his bey Ray Unicorno. It had good defense but just enough to start an offense.Bakushin Airavat is inspired by Bakushin Leone CS and RF. It is a custom bey that was used in a lot of tournaments in the real world. It was good at deflecting attacks but with RF (Rubber Flat) or MF (Metal Flat), it could attack very well using upper attacks to knock out beys from the stadium. It was a very good customization for the 2D format—a favorite among strategists who prefer to control the flow of battle.
Reasons Behind Using Airavat as the Bey for My Story:
About Airavat:
Airavat: A four-tusked, giant white elephant. It is the mount of Indra, which he obtained after the famous Samudra Manthan. Out of all the Vahanas that came from the Manthan, Airavat was the most regal one. Just like Indra, Airavat can summon storms and lightning and can fly.
I thought it might make a good Defense/Counter-Offense bey. There were other ideas, like Fenrir or Garuda, but we already have Dark Wolf and Eagle in the anime, so I went with this one.