CTS TIME: RE250.08.21 11:45 PM
LOCATION: Unknown Underground Facility
A dimly lit chamber stretched into the darkness, the air thick with secrecy. The faint hum of hidden machinery echoed through the underground lair. In the center of the chamber, a cloaked figure activated a device, its surface flickering to life as a holographic projection emerged—a man in a heavy, dark cloak, his face hidden behind an iron mask. His presence alone exuded an aura of control and menace.
The cloaked figure bowed slightly, voice steady yet filled with urgency.
"I have recorded everything. There are two legendary swords—one held by Blaze Deathbringer, the wielder of Venom Devolos, and the second by Tenebris Thron, the master of Prime Apocalypse."
The iron-masked figure, known only as Master Void, remained silent for a moment. His masked gaze seemed to burn through the holographic feed, absorbing every detail.
"Send the clips," he finally commanded, his voice a deep, chilling whisper.
The cloaked figure nodded, swiftly pressing a command on the device. Streams of encrypted data flashed across the interface, transmitting the recordings of Blaze and Tenebris in battle.
Void watched the data transfer, then turned his gaze back to the figure.
"Keep going. I want more than just their battles—I need details on Xander Starcrest, the ruler of this universe."
The cloaked figure hesitated for a fraction of a second before nodding.
"Understood, Master Void. I will gather intelligence on Xander Starcrest immediately."
Void remained motionless for a moment before the holographic feed fizzled out, vanishing into the shadows.
The cloaked figure stepped back, the glow of the device fading into darkness. Somewhere in the depths of the universe, a sinister force was moving—and their eyes were now set on the strongest warriors.
LOCATION: The Rooftop of Diamond Spacehub, Starship Observatory Deck
Above the cityscape of ExoHorizon City, the rooftop of the Diamond Spacehub offered a breathtaking view of the endless cosmos. The transparent glass dome reflected the flickering lights of distant galaxies, stars glowing like scattered jewels.
Standing beneath the celestial expanse, Mainak spread his arms wide, his voice brimming with enthusiasm.
"Blading is amazing! I'm going to make my own Blade!" he declared, grinning. His golden hair shimmered under the artificial lighting, his eyes filled with boundless excitement.
Beside him, Anik stood with his arms crossed, his expression unreadable. Unlike Mainak, his eyes were dark, clouded with thoughts too heavy for words.
"Oh?" Anik's tone was indifferent. "You really got that much enjoyment out of it?"
Mainak turned toward him, tilting his head. "Why do you sound so... detached? I made some great friends today. Why are you still like this?"
Anik exhaled sharply, turning his gaze toward the vast starscape. "I just told you to take me to my planet—Paradise of Eternity." His voice was edged with bitterness, as if the weight of responsibility had wrapped around him like unshakable chains. "I don't even know what happened to my father. I've already made too many mistakes."
Mainak's smile faded slightly, sensing the burden Anik carried.
"Dad told me we can't go to Paradise of Eternity for now," Mainak admitted. "Even I don't know why."
Anik didn't respond. Instead, he simply stared into the abyss of space, his crimson eyes reflecting the scattered constellations.
A silence stretched between them, heavy with unspoken thoughts.
Mainak watched him for a moment before sighing, placing a hand on his hip. "Well, if you're not gonna talk, at least don't mope around too much. The fight's not over yet."
Anik remained motionless, his fingers tightening slightly against the railing.
Below, the bustling city of ExoHorizon still pulsed with life. Neon lights flickered in a symphony of colors, holograms of upcoming tournaments illuminated towering skyscrapers, and fearless Bladers returned to their rooms, their minds still racing from the battles of the day.
Outside the Diamond Spacehub, near the hotel entrance, Jasper struggled to carry Dante on his back, the younger Blader still fast asleep from exhaustion.
Jasper sighed dramatically. "Man, you're heavier than you look."
Dante didn't stir.
Jasper smirked, glancing toward Blaze, who had been watching the sky, his mind elsewhere.
"Blaze, you can't just give up. You have to keep trying until she accepts it," Jasper teased, his tone dripping with amusement.
Blaze didn't respond immediately. His mind was still replaying Serena's gaze meeting his, that fleeting moment when neither of them spoke, yet everything was understood.
Jasper chuckled, shaking his head. "Damn, you're already lost in thought about her, aren't you?"
Blaze snapped out of it, shooting Jasper a glare. "Shut up."
Jasper laughed. "Yeah, yeah. Deny it all you want. Just don't choke when the time comes."
Blaze muttered something under his breath, then turned toward the hotel entrance, stepping through the automatic doors.
Blaze entered the dormitory section of the Diamond Spacehub, the soft hum of the ship's internal systems filling the air. The hallway was dimly lit, casting elongated shadows on the metallic floors.
When he reached his room, the sliding doors hissed open.
Inside, he found Rose and Bolt already asleep, their breathing soft and steady. Rose was curled up on the bed, her purple hair gently illuminated by the faint blue light of the room's interface screens. Bolt had sprawled out messily, one arm hanging over the edge of his bed.
Blaze exhaled slowly, stepping in and shutting the door behind him. He leaned against the wall for a moment, staring at the ceiling.
His mind was restless. The day had been filled with victories, challenges, and unexpected moments. Serena, Talon, Mainak, Anik—everyone was moving forward in their own way.
But Blaze?
He clenched his fists.
He still had something to prove.
Not just to the world—but to himself.
Blaze sat at his desk, staring at the wall, his fingers tapping restlessly against the hilt of Venom Devolos. His mind was a battlefield, but this time, the enemy wasn't another swordsman.
It was her.
Serena.
The way her crimson eyes burned with passion and determination. The way she challenged him without fear. The way her untied red hair flowed like wildfire during their fight. Every moment of their battle replayed in his mind again and again, but it wasn't just the fight that lingered—it was something deeper.
Blaze leaned back in his chair, exhaling slowly. What the hell was happening to him?
Was this… love?
He shook his head. No. This wasn't the time for distractions. He was a champion. His focus had to be on the upcoming Grand Showdown. He had two dangerous opponents—Jasper and Tenebris—both powerful in their own way.
If he lost focus now, he wouldn't just lose the title—he would lose himself.
His grip on Devolos tightened. "I'll deal with these feelings after the Grand Showdown," he muttered to himself. "First, I win. Then, I confess."
With that decision made, he finally stood up and crashed onto the bed. Within minutes, he drifted into a restless sleep, Serena's face still burned into his thoughts.
Next Day – CTS TIME: RE250.08.22 7:30 AM
The golden morning light filtered through the transparent window, casting soft rays across the room.
A stray beam of sunlight landed directly on Rose's closed eyes, making her stir. She groaned, shifting under the blanket before finally blinking awake.
She stretched her arms lazily, yawning. As she sat up, her gaze landed on Bolt, who was hunched over the desk, completely absorbed in watching match highlights from yesterday.
"You're up early," she mumbled sleepily, rubbing her eyes.
Bolt didn't even look up. "I wanted to study their movements," he replied, eyes locked on the holographic screen.
Rose yawned and swung her legs over the bed, stepping onto the cool floor. She turned around—
And froze.
Her eyes widened in shock and disbelief.
Blaze—the undefeated, unstoppable champion—the fearsome warrior of destruction…
Was still asleep.
Sprawled across the bed, snoring softly.
One arm hung off the edge of the mattress, and his messy hair stuck up in all directions. And the worst part?
A thin line of drool dripped from the corner of his mouth.
Rose's jaw nearly dropped. Was this really the same person who shook the entire arena yesterday?!
She leaned closer, whispering to Bolt. "Hey… is he seriously still sleeping like nothing happened yesterday?"
Bolt smirked but didn't take his eyes off the screen. "Yep. Guess the 'almighty champion' needs his beauty sleep."
Rose squinted at Blaze, watching his peaceful expression. "This is unreal…" she muttered, barely holding back a laugh.
Then—
Blaze shifted slightly in his sleep, mumbling something under his breath.
Rose and Bolt leaned in.
"...Serena…"
The moment the name left his lips, Rose's eyes widened.
Bolt turned to her, confused. "Did he just…?"
A devilish smirk formed on Rose's lips. She had heard it loud and clear.
Blaze Deathbringer, the legendary champion, was dreaming about Serena.
She crossed her arms, grinning. "Ohhh, so that's why you've been acting weird, Blaze… you're in love."
She glanced at Blaze again, watching him sleep like an innocent child, completely unaware that his secret had just been exposed.
This was going to be fun.
The room was quiet, except for Blaze's soft snores filling the air. He lay sprawled across the bed, arms tucked under his pillow, breathing evenly. His messy hair stuck up in odd directions, and the blanket was barely covering him.
Rose sighed, placing her hands on her hips. "Seriously… this guy."
She leaned over and shook his shoulder gently. "Blaze, wake up. It's morning."
No response.
She shook him harder. Still nothing.
Bolt smirked, crossing his arms. "Looks like it's my turn."
His mischievous grin widened as he climbed onto the bed. "Remember how he always scolded us for sleeping late?"
Rose instantly caught on and giggled. "Oh, I like where this is going."
Before she could stop him, Bolt jumped onto Blaze's stomach with full force.
"ARGHHH!!" Blaze let out a choked scream, his body jerking awake from the sudden impact. His eyes snapped open in sheer panic, his hands instinctively grabbing the pillow like it was a weapon.
His vision was blurry, his mind still fogged with sleep. "What the hell…?!"
Blinking rapidly, he saw Bolt grinning down at him.
"You little brat…" Blaze groaned, his voice raspy from sleep.
Bolt laughed proudly. "That's payback for all the times you scolded us for sleeping late!"
Blaze, still half-asleep, grumbled under his breath and turned over, pulling the blanket over his head. "There's no match today… let me sleep."
Just like that, he was out again.
Before Rose and Bolt could try waking him up again, a small beeping sound echoed through the room.
[DOOR SENSOR: Someone is outside.]
Rose turned toward the entrance as the slide door whooshed open.
Standing there, scratching his head lazily, was Jasper.
Rose sighed in relief. "Oh, thank god you're here. He refuses to get up."
Jasper stepped inside, looking at Blaze's unconscious form. He chuckled. "So this is why he didn't show up for training."
Bolt snorted. "He said, 'I'm already a champion. No need for training.'"
Jasper smirked. "Oh really? Let's test that theory."
He walked over to the bed, arms crossed, and leaned in slightly. His voice was casual, almost uninterested.
"Serena is still training."
Silence.
Then—
WHOOSH.
Blaze shot up like lightning, his blanket flying off the bed. His eyes were suddenly wide awake, full of energy.
Bolt and Rose stared in disbelief.
Jasper grinned. "Oh? Now you're awake?"
In mere seconds, Blaze was up, grabbing his towel. "Move! I need to shower!"
Rose, Bolt, and Jasper watched in awe as Blaze rushed around the room like a storm.
He disappeared into the bathroom—water turned on.
Seconds later—the door swung open. Blaze was already drying his hair, moving straight to the closet.
He grabbed his signature outfit, his blade Venom Devolos, and strapped it onto his back.
By the time he stuffed a piece of toast into his mouth, Rose, Bolt, and Jasper were still standing there, their heads turning left and right, trying to process how fast he was moving.
Then—Blaze pointed toward the door.
"Let's go, hurry up! Why are you all just standing there?!"
Bolt blinked. "Dude, what the hell just happened?"
Jasper smirked, arms crossed. "Looks like we found the secret to waking up Blaze Deathbringer."
Rose, watching Blaze rush ahead, hid a smirk.
"Oh, I'm so going to tease him about this later."
The transparent elevator hummed as it ascended toward the training arenas on top of the Diamond Spacehub. Blaze stood inside, arms crossed, his crimson energy subtly crackling around him. His thoughts were set. Today, he would impress Serena.
Jasper, standing beside him, smirked as he saw the determined fire in Blaze's eyes.
Blaze clenched his fists, his voice brimming with confidence. "Today, I will impress her with all my skills."
Jasper laughed, slapping Blaze's back playfully. "Yeah! That's the spirit! Show her what a real champion looks like! I'm sure she'll fall for you in no time."
As the elevator doors slid open, a bustling city stretched out before them— shops, people training, children running around, hoverboards zipping through the air. The air buzzed with excitement.
Blaze took two steps forward, and suddenly—
"It's Blaze Deathbringer!" A voice rang out.
In an instant, a swarm of children rushed over, pushing and shoving to get closer.
"Can I get an autograph?!"
"Blaze! Take a picture with me!"
"You're my hero!"
Jasper chuckled, watching as Blaze got pulled into the frenzy of excited fans. Blaze sighed but couldn't help but smile as he knelt down, signing autographs and taking pictures.
After some time, they finally reached the training fields—but what Blaze saw made his jaw drop.
Serena… training with Talon.
Blaze's expression darkened instantly. His fists clenched, his fiery aura flaring slightly.
"What the hell is this?" He muttered.
His chest tightened as he watched Talon swinging his blade, sparring fiercely with Serena while Dante stood as referee. Serena looked completely focused, her movements sharp, her red hair flowing with every strike.
Jasper nudged Blaze. "Hey, close your mouth before a bug flies in."
Blaze barely heard him, his fists trembling. "I'll crush Talon. Then she'll know who's really strong."
Jasper smirked, enjoying this situation more than he should. "Damn, Blaze. You're jealous, huh?"
Blaze snapped his head toward him. "Shut up, Jasper."
Jasper raised his hands in surrender. "Alright, alright! Chill, man. Instead of glaring at them, how about you show off? There's another training field right next to theirs. Let's give them a show."
Blaze's scowl turned into a wicked smirk. "Fine. I'll show them power.
Blaze and Jasper stepped onto the adjacent training field.
The air grew tense, as a few spectators started gathering.
Jasper rolled his shoulders. "Alright, champ. Don't go easy on me just because we're friends."
Blaze smirked, gripping his sword tighter. "Wouldn't dream of it."
Jasper raised his sword. "Okay! One…"
Blaze added, "Two…"
But before he could say 'Three,' he completely zoned out.
His mind drifted into a fantasy.
"I'll use my ultimate attack at once. Serena will see my strength, and then she'll say, 'Oh, Blaze! You're so much stronger than Talon!' Then she'll hug me tightly, and then… we'll—"
"BLAZE, WAKE UP!"
Jasper's voice snapped him out of his daydream, but it was too late.
Jasper had already moved—fast.
Jasper closed the distance in an instant, rotating his blade mid-air and delivering a powerful first strike.
BAM!
Blaze barely reacted in time, raising his blade to block. The impact sent him flying backward, his feet scraping against the training field.
The crowd gasped.
Blaze's eyes widened. "Tch… sneaky bastard."
CRIMSON ENERGY EXPLODED FROM HIS BODY.
Blaze screamed, "DEVOL—OS!!!"
A burst of violent red energy erupted. The sheer force cracked the ground beneath his feet. His aura flared, flames licking at the air.
The children watching cheered loudly.
"Whoa! Look at that power!"
"Blaze is insane!"
"I've never seen anything like this!"
Jasper grinned. "Oh? You're serious now?"
Blaze pointed his sword at him. "I'm going all out."
Jasper narrowed his eyes.
He tightened his grip on his sword. Blue and white energy surged around his body, his aura brighter than ever.
Jasper screamed, "DRAGONIS!!!"
The field trembled. His sword glowed with blinding light.
Two titanic energies clashed.
Blaze screamed, "BLAZING GIGS TEMPEST ATTACK!!!"
Jasper countered with, "ULTIMATE DRAGON STRIKE!!!"
The two warriors charged at each other at full speed, their swords trailing crimson fire and white lightning.
When they collided in mid-air, the shockwave was so powerful that—
BOOOOM!!!
A massive explosion erupted.
A red barrier instantly surrounded the battlefield to contain the destruction.
The impact was so violent that the barrier itself flickered under the force. The training field cracked like shattered glass, deep craters forming across the ground.
The crowd fell completely silent.
When the dust settled…
One blade was brusted.
Jasper's Dragonis had detached from its hilt.
The crowd erupted.
"BLAZE WINS!!!"
To be continue...