Everything went to hell.
Out of nowhere, a group of eight fan girls came running toward the bench.
"Jasper!" one of them squealed.
"There he is!!"
Jasper, completely distracted, forgot he was still controlling Blaze's voice and body movements.
The group of girls surrounded him, giggling, their holographic cameras flashing.
One of them leaned forward. "Jasper! Can we get a selfie?!"
Jasper grinned, putting on his "charming" act.
"Ladies, relax! Everyone will get a turn."
Unfortunately—
Blaze repeated it at the exact same time.
"Ladies, relax! Everyone will get a turn."
Serena's eyebrow twitched.
"What?" she muttered, staring at him.
Blaze, realizing what just happened, tried to override the system—but failed.
Jasper, meanwhile, was happily signing autographs, throwing out compliments left and right.
Jasper (grinning): "You're all looking stunning. I swear, your body figures are so hot and sexy!"
Blaze: "You're all looking stunning. I swear, your body figures are so hot and sexy!"
Serena: "...WHAT?!"
She snapped her head toward Blaze, her expression frozen in pure disbelief.
The fan girls around Jasper giggled excitedly.
"OMG, Jasper, you're so bold!"
"Kyaaah! Say more, please!!"
Serena, on the other hand, was not giggling.
She slowly turned toward Blaze.
"You. Said. WHAT?"
Blaze, internally screaming, desperately tried to stop himself—
But Jasper, still completely distracted, kept going.
Jasper: "If you all want to be as strong as me, all it takes is one night with me. I'll teach you everything…"
Blaze: "If you all want to be as strong as me, all it takes is one night with me. I'll teach you everything…"
Dead silence.
Serena's entire body tensed.
Her face twitched.
Her fists clenched.
Her aura darkened.
Blaze, finally breaking free from the body controller, immediately cut off the transmitter.
"WAIT! I DIDN'T MEAN TO SAY THAT—!!"
But it was already too late.
Jasper was still happily signing autographs, so when a girl handed him a notepad, he grabbed it.
At that exact same moment, Blaze—without thinking—also grabbed something.
But.
It.
Wasn't.
A.
Notepad.
Instead…
His hand accidentally grabbed Serena's chest.
Dead silence.
Again.
The world seemed to stop.
Serena didn't move.
Blaze's soul left his body.
The fan girls gasped.
The crowd watching the nearby holographic replays turned toward them.
Then—
A DEAFENING SLAP.
SMACK!
Serena's hand collided with Blaze's face with so much force, his entire head snapped sideways.
The impact was so brutal, a clear red handprint formed instantly on his cheek.
Blaze staggered, holding his face, eyes wide in shock.
The garden fell completely silent.
Then—
The whispers started.
"Did you see that?!"
"Blaze tried something on Serena and got slapped!!"
"What the hell was he thinking?!"
"Is he the Champion of Flirting now?"
"I can't believe this! Our champion is a playboy?!"
Even Blaze's own fan girls were turning against him.
"Playboy Blaze!"
"Shameless! Who does he think he is?!"
"So disappointing! I thought he was different!"
Blaze, holding his burning cheek, slowly turned toward Jasper—who was still distracted signing autographs.
"JASPER," Blaze growled.
Jasper, finally looking up, blinked in confusion. "Huh? What happened?"
Serena, face still red but now fully pissed off, stood up abruptly.
"I am LEAVING."
She turned and stormed off, seething.
Blaze, mortified beyond belief, stood there like a broken AI.
Jasper, finally realizing what happened, burst out laughing.
"HAHAHAHAHA!!! DUDE!!! YOU—!!!"
Blaze, still holding his face, glared daggers at him.
"Jasper…"
Jasper wiped away a tear. "That… was the FUNNIEST thing I've ever seen!!!"
Blaze groaned. "I hate you."
CTS TIME: EXOHORIZON 5:45 PM
Location: Diamond Spacehub – City Streets
Blaze's Rage Meter: 100%
Blaze's cheek still burned. His pride was shattered. His reputation was at risk.
But most importantly—
HE WANTED JASPER DEAD.
Jasper, still howling with laughter, had finally realized his mistake.
And the moment he locked eyes with Blaze—
His survival instincts activated.
Jasper immediately turned and ran.
Blaze, eyes blazing with pure murder, launched after him.
"JASPER, YOU'RE DEAD!!!"
The streets of ExoHorizon were packed with people. Neon holograms flickered, hovercars zipped through the air highways, and massive floating billboards displayed ads for the Grand Final—showing Tenebris and Blaze's holographic figures facing off.
But now—
An entirely different kind of action was unfolding.
Jasper zig-zagged through the crowded city plaza, effortlessly dodging pedestrians and leaping over barriers. His silver hair trailed behind him, and his combat reflexes allowed him to weave through obstacles like a pro.
Blaze, on the other hand—
Did. Not. Care.
He BULLDOZED through the crowd, knocking over random civilians.
"MOVE!!!" Blaze shouted as he leaped over a market stall, accidentally knocking over a tray of neon fruit.
A vendor screamed. "MY SPACE MELONS!!!"
"I'LL PAY YOU LATER!!!" Blaze yelled back—though he absolutely would not.
High-Speed Chase Through ExoHorizon!
Jasper turned a sharp corner, sliding over the hood of a parked hovercar before sprinting toward the market district.
"WHY ARE YOU SO FAST?!" Blaze roared, vaulting over a holographic sign.
"BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO DIE!!!" Jasper yelled back, laughing.
Blaze, beyond furious, reached into his coat pocket, pulling out a gravity booster disk.
"Oh, YOU'RE NOT ESCAPING ME!"
He activated the disk, attaching it to his boots—
BOOST MODE: ACTIVATED!
His speed tripled instantly, sending a shockwave behind him as he rocketed forward.
Jasper, glancing back, saw Blaze approaching at breakneck speed.
His face drained of color. "Oh, HELL NO—!"
He kicked off a ledge, flipping onto the second-floor balcony of a high-tech café.
Blaze followed instantly, SMASHING through an outdoor table, sending plates flying.
"SORRY FOR THAT!" Jasper yelled to the stunned customers.
"I'M NOT!!!" Blaze screamed, swinging at Jasper—but missing by an inch.
The chase spilled into the market district. The streets were tighter, lined with floating vendor stalls selling futuristic tech, exotic alien foods, and energy weapons.
Jasper darted between merchants, hopping over crates, using the environment to his advantage.
Blaze ignored everything.
He plowed through, sending baskets, chairs, and stalls flying.
An old merchant waved his cane. "YOU YOUNG PUNKS HAVE NO RESPECT!!!"
Blaze, still locked onto Jasper, grabbed a metal serving tray from a food stall.
"WEAPONS FREE!" he shouted—
AND YEETED IT AT JASPER'S HEAD.
Jasper, seeing his incoming doom, barely ducked as the tray WHIZZED past him, smashing into a neon billboard.
The billboard flickered, changing from an ad for luxury hovercars to a glitching image of Blaze's face, labeled:
"BLAZE DEATHBRINGER – PLAYBOY CHAMPION?!"
Blaze saw it, mid-sprint.
He SCREAMED IN RAGE. "JASPER!!!"
Jasper howled with laughter. "BRO, THAT'S A WHOLE NEW TITLE FOR YOU!!!"
Jasper sprinted toward a hoverboard rental station.
"Sorry, Blaze, but I'm out!"
He grabbed a hoverboard, activated it—
And took off into the sky.
Blaze immediately did the same.
"Oh, YOU THINK YOU'RE SAFE?!"
He jumped onto his own hoverboard—and BLASTED after him.
The two of them zoomed over ExoHorizon's futuristic skyline, weaving between hovering skyscrapers, floating billboards, and speeding air traffic.
Jasper tilted his board sideways, gliding past a massive holographic Tenebris ad.
Blaze followed at top speed, dodging a cargo drone by an inch.
"JASPER, YOU CAN'T ESCAPE!"
"BRO, RELAX, IT WAS JUST A LITTLE SLAP!!!"
"A LITTLE SLAP?!" Blaze bellowed. "THE WHOLE CITY THINKS I'M A PLAYBOY NOW!!!"
"Not my fault you grabbed—"
"DON'T SAY IT!!!"
Jasper, laughing hysterically, did a barrel roll around an oncoming delivery drone.
Blaze, still furious, punched a boost button on his board—
MAX SPEED ACTIVATED.
"YOU'RE DEAD, JASPER!!!"
Jasper glanced back—
And immediately panicked.
"OH SH—!!!"
Blaze had gone FULL SUPERSONIC MODE.
Jasper barely dodged as Blaze barreled past him, missing by inches.
"BRO, YOU'RE GONNA KILL ME!!!" Jasper yelled.
"THAT'S THE PLAN!!!"
Jasper, thinking fast, suddenly cut his hoverboard's engine—
And dropped.
Blaze, going at full speed, missed him completely.
"WHA—?!"
Blaze crashed straight into a floating traffic sign, sending him spinning uncontrollably.
"AAAAHHH—!!!"
He slammed into a safety net, his hoverboard bouncing off into a fuel station.
Jasper, now safely gliding below, looked up at the absolute disaster above him.
He grinned.
"And that, my friend, is why I'm the smartest."
Nearby Security Watching the Whole Thing
Two ExoHorizon security officers leaned against their patrol hovercar, sipping coffee, watching the entire chase unfold.
Officer 1: "Should we… stop them?"
Officer 2: "Nah. This is way too funny."
Blaze chased Jasper through the city, relentless in his pursuit. Their chase led them to the hangar, where spacecrafts normally landed. Jasper skidded to a stop, panting, while Blaze seized the moment—he leaped and tackled Jasper to the ground, slamming him hard onto the floor.
Jasper, despite being pinned down, smirked and said, "First, look above..."
Blaze hesitated for a moment and glanced up. His eyes widened as he saw a spacecraft descending, its sleek metallic surface gleaming under the hangar lights. A golden flame symbol was emblazoned on its hull.
The spacecraft landed smoothly, and the doors hissed open. Two figures emerged—a young boy, around 12 years old, and an older male, possibly his brother, who appeared to be around 21.
The kid's eyes sparkled with excitement as he stepped forward and exclaimed, "Finally! We made it to the Diamond Championship! I'm going to defeat everyone—the tournament hasn't started yet, right?"
His brother chuckled, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Yeah, you will." But internally, he was thinking, "Sorry, little brother... you're too young for sword fights. That's why I arrived late—if I had come earlier, you might have gotten hurt."
As they approached, the younger boy noticed Blaze and Jasper. Without hesitation, he walked toward them with a confident grin.
Extending his hand, the boy shook hands with Blaze and Jasper. His brother followed, greeting them as well. Blaze and Jasper exchanged confused glances, unsure of who these newcomers were.
The kid introduced himself proudly, "Nice to meet you! I'm Flame Strombringer!"
His brother added, "And I'm Rash Strombringer, his older brother."
Blaze nodded, "Blaze Deathbringer."
Jasper followed, "Nice to meet you. I'm Jasper Tyros."
Upon hearing Blaze's name, Rash's expression shifted to shock. "He's Blaze—the champion! If they tell Flame that the preliminary and semifinals are already over, he's going to kill me!"
Oblivious to his brother's concern, Flame turned to Jasper with an excited glint in his eyes. "Jasper! Are you a Blader? Let's fight!"
Jasper hesitated, eyeing the enthusiastic kid. "He's just a child..."
Sensing Jasper's doubt, Rash quickly pulled Blaze aside. "Blaze, come here for a second."
Lowering his voice, Rash explained everything—why he had arrived late and why he had kept Flame away from the early rounds. Blaze listened carefully and then reassured him, "I'll handle it. Don't worry."
Relieved, Rash nodded. "I'll return for the grand finals on August 29th, but first, here—take this Star Credit Card."
Blaze accepted the card, and without another word, Rash boarded the spacecraft again and departed, leaving Exohorizon City.
Blaze turned to Flame, "Alright, kid. First, come with me. I've registered your room in the Spacehub."
Flame beamed. "Okay, Brother Blaze!"
With that, the three of them headed toward the Spacehub. Blaze, despite keeping a composed front, was still rubbing his cheek absentmindedly.
Jasper smirked, "Forget about it, Blaze. We'll talk to her and convince her."
But Blaze was deep in thought, troubled. "That was disrespectful... and I realized she hates me even more now. She really doesn't like me..."
A shadow of sadness passed over his face as he muttered, "I'm giving up."
Just then, Flame ran excitedly toward the Spacehub entrance.
Jasper stared at Blaze in shock. "Don't tell me you're serious. You're Blaze!"
Blaze smiled weakly. "But I don't think she likes me... so let's drop it."
Jasper frowned, unable to understand Blaze's sudden change in behavior. Did Serena really go too far?
Inside the Spacehub – CTS TIME: RE250.08.24 | 5:45 PM
Blaze slumped onto a metallic bench in the bustling lobby of the Diamond Spacehub. His mind was a tangled mess, replaying the slap incident over and over. The glowing holographic countdown for the Grand Finals flickered before him—3 days left.
Above the lobby, massive digital screens displayed rotating images of the finalists, including himself and Tenebris. The display also highlighted Dante, Talon, Serena, and other top-ranked Bladers. Their names and statistics glowed in neon-blue text as fans gathered around, discussing potential matchups.
Blaze barely paid attention to any of it. His mind was elsewhere—his reputation was in ruins.
Across the lobby, a group of young women whispered excitedly among themselves, their voices just loud enough to reach Blaze's ears.
"Did you hear? Blaze tried hitting on Serena and got the slap of the century!" one of the girls giggled.
Another smirked. "That guy's a total playboy. I bet he'll try with someone else next!"
A third girl chimed in, "Let him try me. He can stay for one night—or forever."
The group erupted into laughter, throwing flirty glances toward Blaze.
Blaze's eyes widened in horror. WHAT THE HELL?!
His entire reputation was turning into a joke.
He clenched his fists, his frustration boiling. So this is what people think now?!
Meanwhile, at the reception desk, Jasper was registering Flame's room. He casually swiped the kid's Star Credit Card to check the balance—and nearly dropped the card in shock.
2 MILLION STAR CREDITS.
Jasper's eyes nearly popped out of his skull. What the hell?! This kid is RICH!
The receptionist, noticing his stunned reaction, politely asked, "Would you like a Deluxe Suite for your stay, sir?"
Jasper quickly regained his composure and smirked. "Yeah, we'll take the 50000 Star Credit Deluxe Room for 4 days."
The lady handed him a sleek holographic room key, which flickered with Flame's room details.
With the registration complete, Jasper and Flame walked over to Blaze. But as soon as Jasper saw Blaze's face, he knew something was off.
Blaze's usual cocky attitude was gone. He looked completely drained, his eyes staring blankly at the countdown screen.
"Blaze…" Jasper called out.
Blaze barely reacted. "You got the room? Give him the key." His voice was flat, devoid of its usual fire.
Jasper frowned. "What's with you? You're acting weird."
Blaze scoffed and looked away, his annoyance evident. "I hate her. It doesn't matter to me anymore."
Jasper's eyes narrowed. This isn't just frustration. He's actually giving up? That's not the Blaze I know.
Before Jasper could say anything, Flame, still full of energy, grinned and tugged on Blaze's arm.
"Come on, Brother Blaze! Let's go see my new room!"
Blaze forced a small smile. "Yeah, let's go."
Without another word, Blaze grabbed the holo-room key and led Flame toward the elevators. Jasper followed silently, deep in thought.
"This is bad. If Blaze gives up now, everything we planned is screwed. I need to fix this—fast. First, I have to snap Blaze out of this… then I'll deal with Serena."
With that determination, Jasper stepped into the elevator, the doors sliding shut behind them.
Deluxe Room – CTS TIME: RE250.08.24 | 6:10 PM
The Deluxe Room was nothing short of royalty. The walls shimmered with a soft golden glow, sleek holographic displays lined the interior, and the panoramic glass window provided a breathtaking view of ExoHorizon City. The ceiling displayed a simulated starry sky, making it feel like they were floating in space.
A fully automated AI assistant hovered in the air, adjusting the room's lighting based on movement. The futuristic beds had built-in temperature control, and the bathroom featured gravity-based water showers.
Flame, full of excitement, ran around the room, opening drawers, touching the glowing walls, and even jumping onto the king-sized bed.
"WOAH! This is AWESOME!!" he shouted, bouncing slightly. "Brother Blaze, this place is HUGE! We can have a whole battlefield in here!"
Jasper, curious, leaned against the sliding metal door, casually inspecting the luxurious interior.
Blaze, however, wasn't impressed. He walked over to the sofa, slumped down, and exhaled deeply.
Jasper watched him carefully. Something was seriously wrong.
Blaze, staring at the ceiling, muttered, "From now on, I'm staying here with Flame."
Jasper blinked. "Huh? What do you mean?"
Blaze continued, his voice dull. "You'll stay with Rose and Bolt. They'll worry about me if they don't see me. Just tell them I'm fine."
Jasper's frown deepened. "Okay… now I KNOW something's wrong with you. You're seriously avoiding everyone?!"
Blaze didn't even look at him. "It's not avoidance. I just don't care anymore."
Jasper clenched his jaw. "Blaze, what the hell are you talking about? You're not making any sense!"
Blaze sat up slightly, his eyes sharp. "Listen carefully, Jasper. Don't tell anyone where I am. I'll be training in Training Field No. 23 with Flame, and I won't be joining any of those 'group friendship nonsense' anymore."
Jasper stared in shock.
Blaze was cutting himself off from everyone?
Jasper's patience snapped. "You're doing this because of Serena, aren't you?! That slap—"
Before he could finish, Blaze stood up abruptly, his voice cold and sharp.
"I SAID DON'T."
For the first time, Jasper saw anger in Blaze's eyes—not frustration, not embarrassment—real anger.
Blaze shoved his room key into Jasper's hand. "If you're my friend, you'll listen to me. You don't need to 'fix' anything. Just leave it."
Jasper wanted to argue, to say something, anything— but the words wouldn't come out.
Blaze exhaled, lowering his voice. "If you want to see me, come to Training Field 23 at 4 AM. If not, just stay out of this."
Jasper clenched his fists but said nothing. He knew Blaze. If he forced the issue now, it would only make things worse.
Without another word, Jasper turned and left the room. The sliding metal door hissed shut behind him.
As he walked through the hallways of the Spacehub, heading towards the Diamond Restaurant, his mind raced.
"Damn it… he's really serious about this. This isn't just him being mad—this is him actually giving up."
He knew Rose and Bolt would demand answers.
He also knew he couldn't tell them.
"But this is my fault… If I hadn't messed up with that stupid voice transmitter, this never would've happened."
Jasper gritted his teeth.
"I have to fix this… but first, I need to figure out how."
With that thought in mind, he stepped into the restaurant, preparing for the storm that was coming.
CTS TIME: RE250.08.24 | 6:30 PM
Location: Diamond Restaurant
The Diamond Restaurant was alive with activity. The air buzzed with conversation as bladers, travelers, and spectators gathered for their evening meal. The soft hum of holographic displays projected replays of the semi-final match between Jasper and Tenebris, drawing the attention of some diners. The atmosphere was a mix of excitement and relaxation—except for one person.
At a table near the window, Jasper sat alone.
It was rare. Almost unheard of. He was always with Blaze. But tonight, he had no choice.
His mind was still replaying the events from earlier. Blaze's voice, sharp and cold. The frustration in his eyes. The way he shut himself off from everyone.
"Damn it, Blaze… what the hell am I supposed to do now?"
The restaurant doors slid open with a soft hiss.
Two figures entered—Talon and Dante.
They looked completely exhausted. Their clothes were slightly dusty, and sweat glistened on their foreheads, but their expressions told the full story.
Talon, as composed as ever, walked toward the table with his usual calm, collected stride.
Dante, on the other hand, was grinning wildly, his golden eyes burning with excitement.
Talon sat down first. "Your skills have really improved," he admitted, picking up a holographic menu.
Dante plopped into his seat, still energized. "Hell yeah! I burst your blade at least twenty-five times today!"
Talon raised an eyebrow. "And I burst yours twenty-seven times."
Dante froze. Then, after a moment, he groaned, dropping his head onto the table.
"Damn it… you still beat me!"
Then, suddenly, Dante perked up.
"Wait! Then I just need to fight someone stronger!" His grin widened. "I'll fight Blaze next! I'll show him my true power!"
Talon didn't even look up from his menu. "Blaze isn't here."
Dante blinked. "Huh? Wait… you're right." His gaze shifted to Jasper. "And you're sitting alone? That's weird. You two are like magnets."
Jasper tensed slightly.
"Uh—"
Talon, as usual, remained indifferent. "Now sit. Let's eat. Tomorrow, I'm taking you somewhere."
Dante frowned. "Another tournament?"
Talon shook his head. "Not everything is about tournaments. We train our bodies, but we also need to strengthen our minds."
Dante scrunched his nose. "That sounds boring."
Talon gave him a side glance. "Then stay weak."
Dante immediately sat up straight. "I didn't say I wouldn't go!"
Jasper let out a small chuckle at their interaction.
"At least these two are the same as always."
The restaurant doors slid open again, and this time, two smaller figures entered—Rose and Bolt.
Rose was waving goodbye to Mainak, who stood near the entrance before heading toward the spaceport.
Bolt looked around excitedly, already scanning for something interesting to eat.
The moment they saw Jasper, they rushed toward him and took seats directly in front of him.
Jasper's heart skipped.
"Damn it. Here comes the interrogation."
Rose immediately leaned in, her sharp blue eyes narrowing.
"Okay. Where is Blaze?"
Jasper tried not to look nervous. He forced a casual shrug.
"Training. I think he'll come later."
Bolt tilted his head. "That's weird. He was with you the whole day, right?"
Jasper nodded quickly. "Yeah, but, uh… you know how he is. The Grand Finals are coming up. He wants to focus."
Rose studied him carefully.
She wasn't convinced.
"Damn it, she knows I'm lying."
But before she could press further—
The doors opened one last time.
And the moment she walked in, the air shifted.
Serena Arrives
Serena entered the restaurant, her long crimson ponytail swaying behind her as she walked.
She moved with her usual confidence, her sharp red eyes scanning the room briefly before heading toward Talon and Dante's table.
She sat down across from them, her expression relaxed.
"You two look like you've been fighting all day."
Dante grinned. "Because we HAVE."
Serena smirked slightly, glancing at the floating holographic menu. "Try not to kill each other before the finals."
Jasper stared.
She looked… normal. Completely unfazed.
"She's still smiling… like nothing happened. Did she really just forget about everything? Or… does she actually hate Blaze now?"
A sinking feeling settled in his chest.
Jasper clenched his fists under the table.
"Damn it. What the hell do I do now?
To be continue