“Knowledge is a dangerous thing, for with it comes the responsibility to use it wisely.”

—Mary Shelley, Frankenstein

INTERLUDE

(Flashback: The Meeting)

Usually, even Beyblade-related meetings made his mind tired, but this one? This one might just fry his brain with the freaking amount of information being thrown at him.

(Please, have some mercy on him!)

"Let’s proceed to phase two of the meeting—the overview of Blading Resonance," Betty announced, her voice calm but commands attention. Valt had only recently learned that she actually had a PhD in neuroscience, which suddenly made a lot of sense. Resonance dealt with the mind, after all, and she was the perfect person to explain it. She stood confidently before some of the most important people in the world, her demeanor unshaken as a hologram of a human brain flickered behind her. Up until now, the inner working of WBBA still surprised him.

(They have a lot of secrets from sure)

"A human brain has a part called the limbic system," she began, pointing to the center of the hologram. "This system controls emotions and behaviors. Specifically, it includes the amygdala, which attaches emotions to memories, and the hippocampus, which plays a role in the fight-or-flight response."

(That was actually easy to understand...?)

Valt almost sighed in relief. At least she wasn’t drowning them in overly complicated jargon. If she had, he might’ve just smacked his head on the table in frustration. Not because he couldn’t understand, but because it was 3 AM, and his brain was begging for sleep!

"The trace of Dark Resonance," Betty continued, "can often be found in the amygdala. It’s when negative emotions—fear, sadness, anger, you name it—become hyperactive. This heightened emotional state can hijack the hippocampus. And as we all know, competitive bladers experiencing this might start acting arrogant, wild, or even erratic. The brain does this to protect itself from what it perceives as danger or discomfort, often triggered by external problems."

She didn’t stumble once, delivering her explanation with unnerving precision.

Valt let the information sink in, and it hit him like a blade straight to the heart. So, that’s why… That’s why so many of his enemies had fallen into darkness. It wasn’t just them being “bad.” It was their emotions, their pain—something they couldn’t control. He could understand that, maybe better than most. The pressure of being alive, the overwhelming emotions—it was a storm, and some people just didn’t have what it takes to survive it.

But still, he couldn’t help but feel a gnawing pit of guilt in his stomach. He clenched his fists under the table. He’d fought them, beat them, even lectured them, but had he really helped them? Had he ever looked past their actions and seen their struggles for what they were?

A memory flared in his mind—one of Shu, his best friend, twisted by the darkness of resonance. And what had he done back then? He’d fought like crazy to save him, but for others… was it enough? Had he been enough?

(He didn’t know anymore.)

He definitely ignored the way Taiga’s gaze lingered on him, sharp and knowing.

"Now, where does Ripple Dark Resonance come from?" Betty’s tone turned grim. "It’s still a relatively new phenomenon, but here’s what we’ve found so far. First, let’s revisit the concept of resonance. In physics, resonance occurs when a vibrating object causes another object to vibrate at a higher amplitude. In a blader’s context, this is the bond between the blader and their Beyblade.

"The human brain, as you may know, produces electromagnetic waves—brain waves—that can interact or connect with others in the form of ripples." Her expression darkened, the weight of her words hanging heavy in the room.

"Fortunately, not everyone nearby will be affected. There’s a specific condition for those who are susceptible. The emotional frequency—or the external force—of the person with Dark Resonance must match the frequency of the potential victim. If the frequencies don’t align, the energy transfer becomes inefficient, and Ripple Resonance doesn’t occur."

(Dang)

Valt leaned forward slightly, his jaw tight. His mind raced as he connected the dots. How many times had he seen someone fall apart, consumed by darkness, and failed to stop it? How many bladers had he crossed paths with, thinking that a victory in battle would somehow fix what they were going through?

"The chances of successful infection are 80%," Betty continued. "The remaining 20% of cases involve individuals who subconsciously form what we call synaptic barriers. These barriers limit the transmission of resonance waves and protect the brain. While this can lead to a moment of clarity, it comes at a cost—intense mental strain."

(What)

(The)

(Hell!?)

Betty finished with a frown, bowing her head slightly before stepping away from the podium. She didn’t linger. She simply exited, leaving the room heavy with silence.

Valt sat back, staring blankly at the hologram of the brain as it flickered off. As the people around him starting murmuring about something he didn't care about.

His mind is full of overloaded information he doesn't know how to handle

80%. That was the infection rate. And the remaining 20%? They weren’t unscathed either. It wasn’t just a number. It was a grim reality. Shu. Gwyn. Lane. Pax. Even Phi. He could see their faces, one after the other, and the memory of their struggles crashed into him like a wave. He’d done what he could back then—hadn’t he? He’d fought, he’d reached out, but now… it didn’t feel like enough.

If only he’d known all of this sooner. If only he’d understood the science, the emotions, the invisible battles they were fighting. Maybe he could’ve helped them more. Maybe he could’ve made things easier for them.

The guilt churned in his chest, sharp and suffocating. They’d suffered so much, and he hadn’t been able to stop it. Not entirely.

And now, knowing the truth, he wasn’t sure what felt worse: the horror of what they’d endured—or the weight of realizing he might have failed them in ways he couldn’t fix.

(He's really disgusting)

HC: Deep within Valt's heart, he still hasn't forgive himself about Red Eye. He believed he is a "useless" best friend for not being there for him.