Kyoya Tategami is introduced as the fierce leader of the Face Hunters, a gang of beybladers in Gingka Hagane's hometown who prey on younger and weaker bladers to steal their beypoints and the face bolts of their beyblades. He is initially portrayed as arrogant, ruthless, and driven by a desire for power and dominance. His motivation largely revolves around proving his own strength and maintaining his status as the strongest blader in his area. This changes when he encounters Gingka, whose skill and unwavering spirit challenge Kyoya's worldview. After losing to Gingka in battle, Kyoya experiences a significant shift in perspective. He decides to disband the Face Hunters and embarks on a personal journey to improve himself as a blader. This marks the beginning of his development from an antagonistic figure into a main protagonist and one of the few legendary bladers known as the Bladers of the Four Seasons. His relationship with Gingka evolves from pure rivalry into a mutual respect, though they remain intensely competitive throughout the series. Kyoya also has a close bond with Benkei Hanawa, a former member of the Face Hunters who remains fiercely loyal to him. Kyoya is known for his wild, lion-spirited blading style and uses the beyblade Rock Leone. His notable abilities include powerful offensive techniques such as the Lion's Fangs and Rock Crush, which reflect his aggressive and relentless combat approach. As the series progresses, Kyoya becomes a key ally in battles against larger threats, including the evil blader Ryuga and the global tournament opponents in the World Championships. His growth is marked by a deepening understanding of beyblade not just as a means to crush opponents but as a source of bond and personal purpose.