As Jasper's body sank deeper into the lake, his consciousness drifted into an unfamiliar void. He felt weightless, suspended in a strange space where time itself seemed meaningless. The battlefield, the roaring crowd, the pain in his wrist—all of it faded away.
Then—
A sudden shift.
Jasper's feet found solid ground beneath him. He stumbled forward, struggling to stand, his limbs heavy, as if gravity itself was trying to hold him down. His breath came in sharp gasps, and as he lifted his gaze, his heart nearly stopped.
Before him stood Dragonis.
The mighty celestial dragon, his partner, his very soul.
The creature's body shimmered like a living star, its crystal-blue wings reflecting an ethereal glow. Its scales were a deep, majestic blue, accented with intricate red patterns that pulsed like ancient runes. Each breath it took released a soft wave of energy, causing the very air around them to ripple. Its piercing sapphire eyes locked onto Jasper with a wisdom far beyond his own.
Jasper staggered, his eyes wide. "What… is this place?"
Dragonis spread its wings, the crystalline structure refracting light into dazzling patterns. "You are in the space between moments, Jasper. A place where your heart and mind must align."
Jasper clenched his fists. He could still feel the weight of exhaustion, the ache in his wrist. "I—I'm too weak. I can't win against him."
Dragonis tilted its head slightly, as if amused. "Do you believe in yourself?"
Jasper blinked. "What?"
"Do you believe in yourself?" Dragonis repeated, its voice deep and resonant.
Jasper hesitated. "I… I don't understand."
The dragon's eyes narrowed. "Then answer this—are you enjoying the fight, or are you afraid of losing?"
Jasper's lips parted slightly, caught off guard by the question. He thought back to the battle—the clashes of steel, the rush of adrenaline, the thrill of creating a new move in the heat of the moment.
He exhaled. "I… I was enjoying it."
His own words sent a surge of clarity through him. Yes, he had enjoyed every second of that fight. Even with the pain, even with the pressure, he had pushed himself because he wanted to.
A smirk formed on his lips. "Yeah… I really enjoyed it! My wrist is killing me, but I kept going because I love this. I love the fight! I created a new move because I wanted to push further, to see how far I could go!"
Dragonis let out a deep, approving rumble. "That is what I wanted to hear."
Jasper's mind flooded with images—memories of his best moments. Training with Blaze. Sparring with Dante. The endless teasing from Rose and Bolt. The stupid plans he had helped Blaze come up with for Serena. The bonds he had formed. The fights that had shaped him.
Dragonis stepped forward, lowering its massive head to meet Jasper's eyes. "When you believe in yourself—when you embrace the battle, not for victory, but for the fight itself—you will always find a way forward. And when you fight with the strength of your friends beside you, you will never stand alone."
Jasper's eyes gleamed with new fire. His fear was gone. His doubt had vanished.
His hands curled into fists. "Then let's go back."
Dragonis let out a mighty roar, its body bursting into radiant energy, engulfing Jasper in blinding blue flames.
The real fight was about to begin.
The arena was silent.
All eyes were locked onto the lake, where Jasper had vanished beneath the surface. The water remained eerily still, as if the battle had been frozen in time.
In the center of the battlefield, Tenebris stood motionless, his violet aura still crackling around him. His face remained calm, but his eyes held a knowing glint. He wasn't celebrating.
He knew.
Jasper wasn't done.
Then—
BOOM.
The lake erupted in an explosion of pure energy. A massive pillar of water shot into the sky, shimmering with blue light. The force of the blast was so powerful that waves crashed violently against the battlefield, flooding parts of the terrain.
From within the cascading water—a streak of blue shot forward.
Jasper landed gracefully onto the battlefield, his aura surging like an untamed storm. His breathing was steady, his expression fierce, his grip on Dragonis—tighter than ever.
The crowd exploded into cheers.
"HE'S BACK!!"
Blaze, watching from the stands, smirked. "Took you long enough."
Rose clutched her chest, exhaling in relief. "You idiot… don't scare me like that."
Dante cheered loudly. "HELL YEAH, JASPER!!!"
Serena's eyes narrowed slightly. Something was different about him now.
Jasper rolled his shoulders, then locked eyes with Tenebris. He lifted his blade and grinned.
"I don't care if I win or lose." His voice boomed across the battlefield. "But I'm going to enjoy every second of this fight."
Jasper exploded forward with unimaginable speed, his blue aura leaving behind streaks of light. He moved faster than before—stronger than before.
CLANG!
Their swords collided once more, but this time—Jasper was dominating. His movements were fluid, his attacks relentless.
SLASH!
A powerful strike forced Tenebris back.
BOOM!
Another impact sent cracks through the ground beneath them.
Jasper's entire body surged with raw power as he raised his sword high above his head.
"DRAGONIS…!!"
The entire battlefield shook as a massive, celestial blue dragon erupted from Jasper's aura, its wings stretching across the arena.
The crowd gasped in awe.
Jasper roared. "ULTIMATE GENESIS SLASH!!"
The colossal dragon lunged forward, its body becoming a blade of pure energy.
Tenebris' eyes flashed. He raised Prime Apocalypse.
"APOCALYPSE!!"
The air distorted violently as he swung his blade, releasing a wave of dark violet energy.
Jasper pushed harder. His voice echoed across the battlefield—
"FINAL ATTACK—ULTIMATE GENESIS NIGHTMARE SPIRAL SLASH!!!"
Tenebris countered with his strongest technique—
"ECLIPSE OMEGA BLAST!!"
BOOOOOOM!
The battlefield vanished in a hemispherical explosion of clashing blue and violet energy.
The force ripped through the arena, shattering the green barrier, sending energy shooting into the artificial sky.
The entire Diamond Spacehub trembled.
As the dust settled—
The crowd fell silent.
Everyone held their breath.
Two figures stood.
Jasper—his blade still raised.
Tenebris—his blade still held firm.
Then—
CRACK.
A sharp, splintering sound echoed through the battlefield.
All eyes turned toward Dragonis.
The blade detached from its hilt.
Jasper's eyes widened.
The referee's voice boomed.
"TENEBRIS WINS! FINAL SCORE: 3-0!!"
The stadium erupted.
Jasper, his strength completely drained, collapsed onto the ground. His fingers loosened, and the broken hilt fell from his grasp.
Tenebris turned toward the exit, his expression unreadable. But before leaving, he glanced back at Jasper.
"You're strong. You're close. I want to fight you again."
And with that, he walked away.
Lying on the battlefield, Jasper closed his eyes.
Despite losing—he couldn't help but smile.
This was the fight of his life.
And he had enjoyed every second of it.
The Arena Roars with Energy
The ExoHorizon Grand Arena trembled with the overwhelming cheers of thousands of spectators. The holographic screens above the battlefield flashed with Tenebris' victory, his name glowing in violet energy as the crowd erupted into wild applause.
"TENEBRIS!! TENEBRIS!! TENEBRIS!!"
The champion of the semi-finals had been decided.
But amidst the roaring voices, another chant echoed through the arena.
"JASPER!! JASPER!!"
Though he had lost, many fans recognized his incredible performance. The way he had fought, his resilience, his unbreakable spirit—it had won the admiration of countless people.
Jasper remained standing in the battlefield, his chest rising and falling with deep breaths. His body was battered, his right wrist throbbed with sharp pain, but none of that mattered.
He stared at the ground for a moment, then exhaled slowly, a small satisfied smile appearing on his lips.
"I lost… but I loved every second of that fight. I gave it everything I had, and that's enough."
With steady hands, he reached for Dragonis' hilt. The blade had detached after the final clash, but now—he secured it back in place. He gave it a light swing, testing its balance—
A sharp pain shot up his right wrist.
Jasper winced but didn't let it show. Not now… Not in front of everyone.
Ignoring the pain, he straightened his posture and walked toward the exit, his mind clear and his heart light.
The commentator's voice boomed across the stadium, filled with excitement.
"AND THERE YOU HAVE IT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN—TENEBRIS THRON IS OUR FINALIST!!"
The crowd exploded once again.
"WHAT A MATCH! JASPER FOUGHT WITH EVERYTHING HE HAD, BUT TENEBRIS PROVED WHY HE'S A MONSTER IN THE ARENA!"
The massive holographic screen above the stadium lit up, displaying the two remaining warriors.
FINAL SHOWDOWN – 28th AUGUST
Blaze Deathbringer vs. Tenebris Thron
The entire arena vibrated with the sheer anticipation of the upcoming championship battle. Fans were already debating who would take the title.
"Blaze is the champion! There's no way Tenebris can beat him!"
"Did you even see Tenebris' power?! Blaze will have a tough time!"
"This final is going to be insane!"
As the audience slowly began to disperse, their voices carried the excitement into the bustling streets of ExoHorizon.
Near the mid-row seats, Blaze and his friends gathered their things.
Dante stretched his arms above his head, grinning. "Guys, let's go meet Jasper. He put on one hell of a fight."
Serena nodded, arms crossed. "Yeah, he really did well. Unfortunately, he couldn't win."
Blaze, who was still processing the insane battle he had just witnessed, let out a deep sigh. Jasper had pushed himself to his limit, but Tenebris was just on another level.
Mainak, who had been watching silently, checked his holo-watch. The blue interface flickered as he read the time.
"It's almost 2 PM. I have to go—my father is waiting for me on the royal starship for lunch."
Rose, who had been listening, suddenly perked up. "Wait, before you go—"
She dug into her pocket and pulled out a small, sleek advanced wristwatch. The watch had a silver titanium band with a digital holo-display that shifted colors.
Rose handed it to Mainak with a grin. "Here. A little gift for you."
Mainak's violet eyes widened slightly before he smiled. "This is awesome. Thank you, Rose." He secured the watch onto his wrist, tapping the interface to activate it. The screen flickered to life, displaying a rotating star map.
He gave a small wave. "See you all later."
With that, Mainak stepped toward the exit, activating his teleportation device on his wrist. A blue portal shimmered before him, and in an instant—he disappeared.
At the entrance of the Grand Arena, Jasper stepped out, his body still aching but his spirit lighter than ever.
Before he could take another step, a familiar voice called out.
"JASPER!!"
He turned just in time to see Dante sprinting toward him, nearly tackling him.
"DUDE! That was AMAZING! You're awesome! I mean, not stronger than me, obviously, but still awesome!"
Jasper chuckled, shaking his head. "Yeah, yeah, Dante. I appreciate it."
Then, Blaze stepped forward.
Jasper's smile faltered slightly. He had promised Blaze that they would meet in the finals.
And he had failed.
Jasper lowered his head slightly. "Sorry, Blaze… I didn't keep my promise. I won't be meeting you in the finals after all."
Blaze paused for a moment, then smirked.
"That doesn't matter. What matters is that you didn't give up, and you gave us a battle we'll never forget."
Jasper blinked in surprise, then grinned. "You really know how to make someone feel better, huh?"
Then—
Serena stepped forward.
Jasper met her gaze without hesitation, his calm and confident demeanor unchanged.
She studied him for a moment, then gave a small nod.
"You fought impressively. I'm impressed."
Jasper smirked. "Of course you are."
Blaze's jaw dropped.
WHAT?!
Blaze had spent days trying to impress Serena, struggling to get her attention. And yet—Jasper had just done it effortlessly, as if it was no big deal.
Blaze turned away, rubbing his temples. "You've got to be kidding me…"
Dante burst out laughing. "Oh man, Blaze, you might wanna start taking notes from Jasper."
Blaze glared at him. "Shut up, Dante."
Jasper, completely unbothered, just smirked and adjusted his blade.
Then—Talon spoke.
The cold, reserved swordsman simply said: "It's time for lunch. I'll pay for everything."
Silence.
Everyone turned to stare at him in shock.
Dante nearly choked. "WAIT, WAIT, WAIT—DID TALON JUST SAY HE'LL PAY?!"
Bolt's eyes widened. "Is this real? Is this happening?"
Serena raised an eyebrow. "…Huh. Never thought I'd hear that from Talon."
Talon, unfazed, simply turned away. "If you don't want free food, then forget it."
Instantly—everyone rushed forward.
"NO, NO! WE ACCEPT! WE ACCEPT!!"
With smiles and laughter, the group headed toward the restaurant. Despite the loss, despite the exhaustion—they were together.
CTS TIME: RE250.08.24 – 2:30 PM
Location: Diamond Restaurant, ExoHorizon
The Diamond Restaurant was buzzing with energy. Holographic screens around the dining area displayed replays of the intense semi-final match between Jasper and Tenebris, while others simply enjoyed their meals. The futuristic restaurant, with its floating neon chandeliers and sleek, automated serving droids, provided a comfortable contrast to the chaos of the battlefield.
At one table, Rose, Bolt, Blaze, and Jasper sat together, while at another, Serena, Talon, and Dante were enjoying their food. The air was filled with a mix of excited chatter, the clinking of utensils, and the soft hum of holographic projectors displaying battle statistics.
Jasper, still exhausted from his battle, reached for his fork to take a bite of his food.
His right wrist throbbed the moment he tried to lift it. He winced, his fingers barely able to grip the utensil properly.
"Tch… damn it," he muttered, switching to his left hand.
But—that failed too.
The simple act of eating had suddenly become a challenge. Frustration flickered in his blue eyes.
Across from him, Serena, who had been eating quietly, finally sighed.
She stood up without a word, walked over to Jasper, and picked up a forkful of food.
Before he could react, she gently brought the bite to his lips.
"Here," she said, her tone casual.
Jasper froze for a second. The restaurant noise seemed to dim slightly.
Serena looked completely unfazed, but everyone else?
Dante nearly choked on his food.
Rose and Bolt stared in shock.
Blaze… was thinking about something, but his grip on his glass tightened slightly.
Serena noticed Jasper hesitating and arched an eyebrow. "You fought well today. So this is for you."
Jasper, recovering quickly, smirked slightly and accepted the bite. "Huh. Guess I won something after all."
Dante, suddenly excited, leaned forward. "OH, OH! I wanna give him a bite too!"
Rose and Bolt immediately jumped in. "Us too!"
And just like that—Jasper, the former semi-finalist, was now being fed by his friends one by one, each taking turns like it was some kind of ritual.
Everyone except Talon and Blaze.
Talon simply continued eating, as if completely ignoring the madness.
Blaze?
He silently sipped his water, his left hand gripping the glass tightly.
Once everyone finished eating, Serena stretched her arms and yawned slightly. "I'm exhausted. I'm heading back. See you all later—and Jasper?"
He looked up. "Yeah?"
Serena gave him a small nod. "Keep that hand safe."
Jasper smirked. "I'll try."
With that, Serena turned and walked toward the exit.
Blaze watched her leave, his mind racing.
Bolt suddenly grabbed Rose's hand. "Rose! Let's go to the rooftop hoverboard park! I bet I can beat you this time!"
Rose finished her drink and stood up. "Tch, as if. Let's go."
The two of them rushed outside, disappearing into the bustling streets.
Dante then turned to Talon with his usual grin. "Talon! Let's have a one-on-one match. This time, I'll burst your sword a hundred times!"
Talon, as calm as ever, simply picked up his sword from the side of his chair. "…Alright."
Without another word, the two left for the training grounds.
Now, only Blaze and Jasper remained at the table.
Blaze, still drinking water, glanced at Jasper and said, "You enjoyed that, huh? When Serena fed you?
Jasper smirked, completely relaxed. "Don't get the wrong idea. But…" he leaned back, stretching his arms, "I am starting to think I might be more famous than you now."
Blaze's eye twitched.
He set his glass down. "Alright, enough messing around. What about your promise?"
Jasper raised an eyebrow. "Promise?"
Blaze leaned forward, lowering his voice. "You said you'd help me get closer to Serena. You told me she was 80% there. But last night—" he paused, rubbing his face. "Last night, she asked me directly if I liked her… and I froze. I didn't say a damn word. And she walked away thinking I don't."
Jasper sighed, shaking his head. "Yeah, that was pretty painful to watch. You just stood there like a statue."
Blaze groaned. "So what now? What's our next step?"
Jasper smirked, resting his chin on his hand. "Well, here's what I think happened: She probably assumed that you don't like her. I mean, think about it—you literally gave her no answer. In her mind, that's rejection."
Blaze tensed. "…Shit."
Jasper nodded. "Yeah. If you don't want her to think that way, you have to fix it. And to do that? You need to actually talk to her."
Blaze sighed, rubbing his temple. "You know I can't do that. I just—I don't get it. You talk to her normally. Why can't I?"
Jasper smirked. "Because I'm not a dumbass like you."
Blaze glared at him. "Screw you."
Jasper laughed. "Relax. I have a plan."
Blaze narrowed his eyes. "This better not be another dumb idea."
Jasper grinned. "Oh, it's absolutely a dumb idea."
Blaze groaned. "Oh, for the love of—just tell me."
Jasper leaned forward, lowering his voice.
"We're going to practice. You need to learn how to talk to Serena without acting like an idiot."
Blaze frowned. "And how exactly do we practice that?"
Jasper's smirk widened.
"Simple. I'll dress up like her."
Silence.
Blaze blinked. "…WHAT?!"
Jasper crossed his arms. "I'll put on a red jacket, maybe even a ponytail—"
Blaze facepalmed. "Jasper. No."
Jasper continued, ignoring him. "Then you talk to me like you would talk to her. If you can hold a normal conversation with me, then you'll be ready to talk to Serena for real."
Blaze looked horrified. "This is the dumbest plan you've ever come up with."
Jasper shrugged. "And yet, it's the only plan that makes sense."
Blaze groaned, dragging a hand down his face. "Why do I even trust you?"
Jasper smirked. "Because you have no other options."
Blaze slumped back in his chair.
Jasper leaned closer. "So? What do you say, lover boy?"
Blaze closed his eyes. "…Fine."