CTS TIME: RE250.08.26 – 8:00 AM
Location: Exohorizon City – Various Places
Two days had passed.
Blaze was nowhere to be seen.
He didn't show up for training. He didn't appear in the restaurant. He didn't even step foot in the grand arena.
It was as if he had vanished.
Yet, Jasper, Rose, and Bolt remained calm. They knew the truth. They understood why he was keeping his distance, and rather than chasing after him, they let him be.
They respected his choice.
While Blaze remained absent, Bolt and Rose spent most of their time with Mainak.
The three of them enjoyed the Neo Rooftop Plaza, zipping through the air on their hoverboards, weaving between neon billboards and holographic projections of the upcoming Grand Final.
Mainak, being the Prince of Starcrest, was often recognized, but he didn't care much about the attention. He just wanted to have fun with his friends.
Rose, on the other hand, kept an eye on Bolt. She could tell he missed Blaze. Even though Bolt didn't say it out loud, his excitement wasn't the same.
Jasper spent most of his time sitting in the garden alone.
He would lean against the old tree, arms crossed, staring at the sky.
He wasn't just thinking about Blaze. He was thinking about himself.
He had lost his semi-final match. He had lost to a kid. He had failed to bring Blaze to his senses.
Was he really strong?
Or was he just pretending to be?
Jasper sighed, closing his eyes.
"I need to get stronger."
Dante, on the other hand, had a completely different problem.
"OI, WHERE THE HELL IS BLAZE?!"
He had been asking about Blaze nonstop.
Every single day, he had interrogated Jasper, Rose, and Bolt, but none of them gave him a proper answer.
"Training." "Busy." "Somewhere in the city."
Those were the only replies he ever got.
And it pissed him off.
Talon, on the other hand, didn't care. He was too focused on training.
Every morning and every night, he trained with Dante, pushing both of their limits.
And Dante, despite being reckless, was learning.
He wasn't just attacking blindly anymore.
He was adapting.
He was growing.
At first, Serena didn't care.
Blaze was missing? So what?
It wasn't her problem.
…Or so she thought.
But as the days passed, something started annoying her.
Whenever she walked into the restaurant, she expected to see him sitting with Jasper, smirking like an idiot.
But he wasn't there.
Whenever she passed by the training fields, she expected to hear his voice, yelling at Dante or boasting about his skills.
But he wasn't there.
Whenever she walked through the city, she expected to feel his presence.
But he wasn't there.
And it bothered her.
At first, she tried to ignore it.
But by the second day, she was frustrated.
By the third day, she was outright pissed.
"Where the hell is that idiot?!"
She didn't understand why she cared.
She didn't even like him. Right?
But then, why did his absence feel so heavy?
She clenched her fists, biting the inside of her cheek.
"Damn it, Blaze. What are you thinking?"
The Countdown to the Grand Final
With each passing hour, the holographic billboards across Exohorizon flashed the countdown.
GRAND FINAL – BLAZE VS. TENEBRIS
2 DAYS LEFT.
The city was buzzing with excitement.
But Blaze?
He was still missing.
The automatic doors of Diamond Restaurant slid open with a soft hiss. The futuristic neon lights reflected off the polished floor as Dante and Talon stepped inside, brushing off the exhaustion from their latest training session.
Dante stretched, groaning. "Man, I'm starving! I trained so hard today, I think I deserve triple the food."
Talon gave him a side glance. "You trained hard, but you still lost."
Dante shot him a glare. "Tch, details. I still got better, didn't I?"
Talon didn't respond. He simply walked ahead, his usual calm expression unreadable as he made his way to an empty table.
Dante followed—only to pause mid-step.
His golden eyes locked onto a familiar figure sitting alone.
Serena.
Serena sat at her table, her signature red ponytail draped over her shoulder, arms crossed as she stared at the table without touching her food.
She looked... annoyed.
No—she looked furious.
Dante and Talon exchanged glances before walking over.
Dante leaned on the table, smirking. "Yo, Serena. Why do you look like you're about to murder someone?"
Serena's crimson eyes snapped up, piercing through him. "Shut up, Dante."
Dante put his hands up defensively. "Whoa, whoa! Chill out, I was just asking." He pulled out a chair and sat across from her. "Seriously though, what's up?"
Serena exhaled sharply, her fingers tapping against the table. "I was about to ask you the same damn thing."
Talon sat beside Dante, glancing at her. "About what?"
Serena's jaw clenched. "Where the hell is Blaze?"
Dante blinked. "Uh… what?"
Serena leaned forward, eyes narrowed. "You heard me. It's been three days, and no one's seen him. You guys are close to him, right? So where is he?"
Dante scratched his head. "Uh… I dunno? I thought he was just doing his own thing. Training or whatever."
Serena's glare deepened. "So you're telling me the so-called 'Champion' is completely missing, and you don't care?"
Dante shrugged. "I mean, it's Blaze. He does weird dramatic stuff all the time. Maybe he's just hyping up his entrance for the finals."
Serena scoffed. "This isn't just about the finals, dumbass. Something's off."
Talon, who had been silently watching her, finally spoke. "You're worried about him."
Serena tensed. "I—" She quickly looked away. "No. I just don't want him showing up last second and embarrassing himself. He's still a competitor. If he's not training, he's an idiot."
Dante grinned. "Wow, Serena. If I didn't know better, I'd say you actually care about him."
Serena kicked his leg under the table.
"OW! Damn it, woman!" Dante groaned, rubbing his shin.
Talon exhaled. "Regardless, we don't know where he is."
Serena leaned back in her chair, rubbing her temples. "Fine. If none of you know…"
She stood up, determination burning in her eyes.
"I'll find him myself."
Serena stormed out of the restaurant, her crimson ponytail swinging behind her as she walked with purpose.
Dante winced, still rubbing his leg. "Damn, she's fired up."
Talon, as usual, remained calm. "She's right, though. It's strange that Blaze hasn't appeared."
Dante sighed, waving a dismissive hand. "Eh, I give it a few hours. She'll come back empty-handed."
Serena searched everywhere.
Training Fields. No sign of him.
The Grand Arena. Nothing.
The Neo Rooftop Plaza. No trace.
She even asked some random fans if they had seen him—nothing.
By midday, her frustration turned into full-blown irritation.
By afternoon, she was annoyed.
By evening, she felt defeated.
Serena walked back into the restaurant, exhausted and pissed.
She slumped into her chair, arms crossed, glaring at nothing in particular.
Dante—who was still lounging at the same table—smirked. "So? Any luck?"
Serena growled. "Shut. Up."
Dante laughed. "Told you."
Talon, on the other hand, simply observed her reaction.
She wasn't just angry. She was bothered.
She wouldn't admit it. But deep down, she was worried.
And for the first time, she didn't know why.
Dante stretched his arms, yawning as he stood up from the table. His golden eyes flickered with determination as he looked at Talon.
"I'm heading to rest, but before the finals, I want to fight Blaze."
Talon gave him a brief nod. "If you can find him."
Dante scoffed. "Oh, I will. He can't hide forever."
With that, Dante walked away, leaving the restaurant.
Talon turned his gaze toward Serena, who was still lost in thought, staring at the empty plate in front of her.
"Come with me outside," Talon said suddenly. "You'll feel better."
Serena frowned. "Tch. How is that supposed to help?"
Talon didn't answer. He simply stood and walked toward the exit. After a brief hesitation, Serena sighed and followed.
As they stepped outside, the cool night breeze brushed against them. The city lights of Exohorizon shone brightly in the distance, but above them, the vast sky was filled with millions of twinkling stars.
Talon gestured toward them. "Look at those stars. Shining so brightly, even in the endless darkness."
Serena's crimson eyes softened as she looked up.
"Talon..." she muttered before exhaling deeply. "I admit it. Everything was my fault." She clenched her fists. "Now stop playing games and tell me where Blaze is."
Talon remained silent for a moment before turning to her.
"You admit it, huh? Then answer this first." His silver eyes locked onto hers. "You liked Blaze from the very beginning, didn't you?"
Serena's heart skipped a beat.
She looked away, gripping her arms tightly.
"Yeah… it's true," she finally admitted. "But I don't think he ever liked me back. Now tell me where he is."
Talon sighed. "I wish I could, but I don't know either."
Serena's expression darkened. "Then why the hell—"
"But…" Talon interrupted, "there is one person who knows everything."
Serena narrowed her eyes. "Who?"
Talon smirked slightly. "Jasper."
Serena stiffened, then quickly turned on her heel. "Tch. Should've known."
She glanced back at Talon and muttered, "Thanks."
Without another word, she took off.
Serena searched for nearly half an hour, her frustration growing with every passing second.
Finally, she found him.
Jasper was sitting alone in the garden, under the glow of holographic lanterns, watching as normal people laughed and enjoyed the evening.
He looked… distant. As if his mind was somewhere else.
Serena clenched her fists and walked toward him.
The moment Jasper felt her presence, his entire body tensed.
Then—he moved.
Jasper stood up and tried to run.
"Jasper!"
Her voice cut through the air—filled with frustration, pain, and something deeper.
Jasper's body froze.
Like he was a statue.
Serena caught up to him, stepping in front of him. Her crimson eyes burned with determination.
"Where is he?"
Jasper avoided her gaze. "I don't know."
Serena's patience snapped. She grabbed his collar, yanking him closer.
"Don't lie to me, Jasper!" she demanded. "Where. Is. Blaze?"
Jasper's breathing became shaky. For the first time, he looked scared.
Yet, despite that fear, he muttered, "I'm sorry… but I can't tell you."
Serena's grip loosened.
Her hands trembled as she slowly let go.
Her eyes shimmered—not with anger, but with unshed tears.
She knew.
She couldn't force him.
Jasper swallowed hard, guilt written all over his face. After a moment, he sighed.
"Fine." His voice was quiet. "I'll tell you where he is… but first, there's something you need to know."
Serena wiped the corner of her eye before nodding. "Then start talking."
Jasper took a deep breath and motioned toward the nearby tree. "Let's sit."
The two of them sat under the tree, the night air heavy with unspoken words.
Serena braced herself.
Because whatever Jasper was about to say…
It was going to change everything.
CTS TIME: RE250.08.26
The garden was quiet. A soft artificial breeze rustled through the bioluminescent trees, casting faint blue and purple glows onto the metallic pathways. The night sky above was a vast illusion—a perfectly simulated view of the galaxy, stars stretching infinitely in the distance.
Under one of the tallest holo-trees, Jasper and Serena sat side by side on a stone bench. The garden was mostly empty, aside from a few late-night wanderers enjoying the cool evening.
Jasper exhaled, leaning back against the tree trunk. His silver hair shimmered under the soft light. He knew this conversation was inevitable.
"I know how you feel." His voice was quiet, but firm. "Blaze being so stupid all the time."
Serena scoffed, crossing her arms. "Yeah. He always acts like an idiot. But…" her voice softened, "this time, I think it's my fault. That's why he won't show himself. That's why he's living alone."
Jasper turned his gaze toward her. "You're right about one thing—he's isolating himself. But you're wrong about another."
Serena blinked, frowning. "What?"
Jasper sighed. "It's not your fault. But I will tell you why Blaze acts like such a complete dumbass around you."
Serena turned to face him fully now, her crimson eyes narrowing. She wanted answers.
Jasper ran a hand through his hair, mentally preparing himself before he finally spoke.
"From the first day, from the first glance—Blaze started liking you."
Serena's breath hitched slightly, but she didn't say anything.
"And not just 'liking' you, Serena. He fell hard. He fell in love with you. But every single time he met you, something happened."
Jasper smirked slightly. "He'd freeze up. His face would turn completely red. He'd get nervous, his brain would short-circuit, and he couldn't say a single damn word properly in front of you."
Serena lowered her gaze, gripping the hem of her jacket tightly. She remembered those moments. She had always assumed it was just Blaze being awkward, but now—knowing the truth—her heart clenched.
Jasper continued. "That's when I stepped in. I promised Blaze that I would help him get closer to you. And not just that—I wanted to find out if you liked him back."
Serena's fingers twitched slightly, but Jasper didn't give her time to react.
"Blaze and I tried everything. We made countless dumb plans just to get your attention. Do you know how many times he stood in front of a mirror in his room, just trying to say 'I love you' without freezing up?" Jasper chuckled bitterly. "He practiced for hours, failing every single time. He even trained with an AI simulation of you, just to hold a normal conversation. We were so desperate that we had to ask an AI for help."
Serena's lips parted slightly. She had never realized.
"And then," Jasper said, leaning forward, "we finally decided on using gadgets. We found a voice transmitter and a body movement controller. Do you remember that day in the garden?"
Serena nodded slowly. "Yeah… He was acting strangely confident. He was talking so smoothly, unlike before."
Jasper smirked. "That's because I was speaking for him through the voice transmitter. Every word he said… was actually me."
Serena's eyes widened in realization. "That means—"
"Yeah," Jasper sighed. "Everything was going perfectly, but then… I got distracted."
His expression darkened slightly as he continued. "I forgot to turn off the voice transmitter. I also forgot to turn off the body movement controller."
Serena's breath caught. She knew where this was going.
Jasper sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "You remember, don't you? The moment when Blaze suddenly said, 'Your body is looking stunning, hot, and sexy'?"
Serena clenched her fists. "I… remember."
"That was me talking," Jasper admitted, guilt clear in his voice. "But Blaze repeated it. He had no choice—the transmitter made him say it."
Serena's heart pounded in her chest. She remembered how furious she had been. How humiliated she had felt at that moment.
Jasper exhaled deeply. "And then… the worst happened. Blaze's body was still under my control. And when I reached for a notepad, Blaze—who was mirroring my movements—ended up reaching for something he absolutely shouldn't have."
Serena stiffened.
Jasper sighed. "And then you slapped him. Hard. In front of everyone."
A painful silence settled between them. Serena closed her eyes for a moment, feeling an overwhelming sense of regret wash over her.
She had assumed Blaze was just being an idiot.
She never considered that he had no control.
Jasper's voice turned serious. "Serena, that slap? To you, it was just a moment of frustration. A stupid thing that Blaze deserved."
He then leaned closer, his eyes sharp. "But to Blaze? That slap wasn't just about that moment. To him, it was pure disrespect. He thought he had embarrassed you, humiliated you in front of everyone, and that there was no coming back from it."
Serena's fingers trembled slightly. "I… I didn't mean—"
"And it didn't stop there." Jasper's voice grew bitter. "After that moment, Blaze's entire reputation changed. People stopped talking about him as the Champion."
Serena looked up, confused. "What do you mean?"
Jasper clenched his fists. "He didn't become famous because he was the reigning champion. Instead, his own fan club started calling him names—'Playboy Blaze.' 'The Flirt Champion.' Girls started joking that he could 'stay the night' with them. People mocked him, laughed at him, and he couldn't even fight back."
Serena's stomach twisted.
Jasper shook his head. "That's why he disappeared. He couldn't handle it anymore. His reputation, his pride, everything he worked for—it went to hell."
He leaned back against the tree, his expression unreadable. "And at the end of it all… Blaze didn't just lose his pride."
Jasper finally turned to Serena, his gaze heavy.
"He started hating you."
Serena's breath caught.
Jasper's words hit her like a blade to the chest.
Her heart ached in a way she had never felt before.
Blaze… hated her?
Jasper exhaled deeply. "I don't know how much he hates you. But from what I saw… it's bad."
Serena felt her hands tremble.
She never meant for things to go this far.
She thought Blaze was just being a fool.
She never thought about how much pain she had caused him.
She looked away, staring at the artificial night sky. The stars shimmered above them, but they felt cold to her now.
Jasper glanced at her one last time. "I told you everything. Now, it's your choice what you do with it."
Serena remained silent.
Her mind raced with emotions—guilt, frustration, regret, pain.
And deep inside her heart…
She realized something.
She didn't want Blaze to hate her.
She didn't want to lose him.
And for the first time—Serena knew what she had to do.
CTS TIME: RE250.08.26
The air in the Diamond Spacehub's distant garden was thick with tension. It was a quiet, secluded place, far from the bustling neon-lit city, with only a few dim holographic lanterns casting a soft glow across the lush green pathways. The artificial night sky above shimmered with simulated stars, and a small stone fountain in the center trickled softly, filling the silence with a faint, calming melody.
Jasper stretched his arms, exhaling deeply.
"Well, I told you a long story," he muttered, rolling his shoulders. "Now what?"
Serena's crimson eyes burned with determination and urgency. She turned to him without hesitation.
"Now, you tell me where he is." Her voice was sharp, unwavering. "I will fix this. Tonight."
Jasper raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms. "And how exactly do you plan to do that?"
Serena clenched her fists. "I'm going to confess my feelings for him."
For the first time in their entire conversation, Jasper actually looked surprised. His silver eyes widened slightly before narrowing in disbelief.
"Wait… That means you—"
Serena interrupted him before he could finish. "Yes. Just like Blaze, I've liked him since the first day."
Jasper blinked, absorbing her words. He had spent so much time helping Blaze, but he never considered that Serena had been fighting the same battle within herself.
"Then why didn't you say anything before?" he asked.
Serena sighed, folding her arms tightly around herself. "Because I thought he didn't like me back. And even if he did, I didn't think he would accept me."
Jasper let out a short chuckle, shaking his head. "If you had just admitted this earlier, we wouldn't be in this mess. But now…" His voice trailed off, a hint of doubt creeping into his tone.
Serena frowned. "Now what?"
Jasper's gaze darkened slightly. "Now… I'm not sure if it'll help."
Serena inhaled sharply. "That doesn't matter." She stepped forward, her entire posture radiating fierce determination. "Just take me to him."
Jasper hesitated for a brief moment before nodding. "Fine… Come with me."
A Lonely Figure in the Moonlit Garden
Jasper led Serena behind the Diamond Spacehub, through the narrow pathways lined with glowing plants, until they reached a secluded section of the garden.
It was a beautiful, peaceful spot, far removed from the artificial chaos of Exohorizon City. The trees swayed gently in the manufactured night breeze, and firefly-like nano drones hovered in the air, pulsing with a soft golden glow. The sound of distant city traffic was nothing but a faint hum here.
Jasper stopped, motioning toward a stone bench near the fountain.
"Look," he whispered. "He's there."
Serena followed his gaze and froze.
Blaze was sitting alone on the stone seat, his arms resting on his knees, staring silently at the stars above. His sword, Venom Devolos, rested beside him, its crimson and violet energy faintly flickering. His face was unreadable—his posture tense, yet calm in a way that sent chills down Serena's spine.
But what caught her attention most wasn't Blaze.
It was the small boy sitting near him, playing with a flock of tiny robotic birds.
"Who is that kid?" she asked, her voice softer now.
Jasper's gaze shifted toward the child. "That's Flame. Flame Strombringer."
Serena frowned slightly. "Strombringer? I've never heard of that name."
Jasper sighed. "There's a long story behind him… but I'll tell you later. Right now, you have bigger things to worry about."
Serena took a deep breath and stepped forward, but Jasper suddenly grabbed her wrist.
"Wait." His voice was cold and serious now.
Serena turned back, irritation flashing in her crimson eyes. "What?!"
Jasper didn't release her wrist. Instead, his grip tightened slightly.
"I'm giving you a warning." His silver eyes darkened. "Blaze's anger right now isn't normal. It's at a different level."
Serena's heartbeat quickened, but she held her ground. "What do you mean?"
Jasper let out a slow, controlled breath. "I mean… he might kill you."
A silence stretched between them.
Serena stiffened.
She glanced toward Blaze again—his entire presence was radiating something different.
Something cold. Something dangerous.
And then she looked at his sword.
Venom Devolos.
Resting beside him, its crimson glow pulsed steadily, almost like it was alive. She could feel it from here—the raw, venomous energy coursing through it.
Blaze wasn't just sitting there.
He was barely keeping himself under control.
A flicker of hesitation passed through Serena's mind.
But then—she clenched her fists.
"He won't do anything." Her voice was steady, but deep inside, she wasn't sure if she was reassuring Jasper or herself.
Jasper exhaled sharply. "You sure about that?"
"Yes." She locked eyes with him, her expression unwavering. "Just watch."
Jasper didn't move at first, but then he slowly released her wrist.
"Fine." He stepped back, folding his arms. "But if anything goes wrong… I'll stop him myself."
Serena nodded, taking a deep breath before stepping into the garden.
As she walked forward, Blaze didn't move.
He just sat there, staring at the stars, unaware that his past was about to confront him.
And Serena?
She had never been more afraid in her entire life.
But at the same time—
She had never been more certain.
The night was still, but the tension in the air was suffocating.
Jasper stood behind a tree, his grip tightening around the hilt of Dragonis, his eyes never leaving Blaze. He could feel the tension radiating from his friend—the silent storm raging within him.
Serena walked forward, her heart pounding.
She could hear the faint rustling of leaves beneath her feet, but her mind was completely fixated on Blaze.
Not far away, Flame had stopped playing with the birds. The small child's golden eyes flickered toward Serena, sensing the shift in the atmosphere. His innocent joy faded as he turned toward Blaze.
And then—
Blaze noticed her.
His body tensed. His heartbeat stuttered.
For a brief moment, his breath hitched, and a storm of emotions clashed inside him—anger, pain, disbelief, longing.
But when he spoke, his voice was cold. Ruthless.
"You… What are you doing here?"
Serena tried to speak, but the words refused to come out.
A sharp, venomous voice slithered through the air.
It was Devolos.
"Finish her off."
The words were not loud, but they struck Blaze's mind like a whip. His grip tightened around Venom Devolos, and for a second, he actually considered it.
Serena saw the way his fingers curled around the hilt—the way his shoulders tensed—and fear trickled down her spine.
But she pushed it aside.
She swallowed, then whispered, "I'm sorry, Blaze."
Blaze ignored her. His expression didn't change, his voice void of emotion.
"Come, Flame. It's too late. It's time for dinner."
He turned away.
For him, the conversation was over.
Serena's heart clenched as she saw him walking away. It was happening again—he was slipping away.
"Blaze… just stop. For me. Only one time."
Her voice cracked.
And that was the only reason Blaze stopped.
There was something in her voice.
Something deeper than just an apology.
Blaze turned around. His eyes met hers, and for the first time that night, he hesitated.
He let out a slow breath, then looked at Flame. "Go to the room. I'm coming."
Flame hesitated, glancing between the two, but then nodded. "Okay, Brother Blaze. Good night."
With that, Flame disappeared into the Spacehub.
A heavy silence settled between Blaze and Serena.
The distant hum of the city felt like background noise to the chaos inside their minds.
Blaze's voice was quiet. Cold.
"What do you want now?"
Serena stepped forward, her hands trembling slightly.
"I just… I just wanted to say I'm sorry." Her voice was soft, hesitant. "It was my fault."
Blaze said nothing.
But his grip tightened around Devolos.
She stepped closer. "I'm really sorry, Blaze."
His jaw clenched.
She stepped even closer.
Now, they were barely inches apart.
Behind the tree, Jasper's fingers curled tighter around Dragonis, ready to interfere if things went wrong.
Blaze was about to release his sword.
To be continue..