Moments ago, this colossal coliseum had roared with the violent cries of millions—demanding victory, demanding glory. But now, an oppressive stillness reigned. The only sounds were the quiet crackling of molten ash and the faint, mournful howling of a battlefield reduced to ruin.
In the center of it all, Blaze Deathbringer stood like a broken corpse. His once-mighty frame was marred by blood and scars; his grip still clenched around the shattered hilt of Venom Devolos. His eyes, wide and hollow, fixated on the lifeless four fragments of his destroyed sword—each piece a reminder of the battle he had lost. For a long, heart-stopping moment, time itself seemed to freeze.
The crowd of millions watched in complete horror. No one spoke; no cheers or jeers broke the silence. It was as if they had just witnessed the death of a god.
The Crowd Begins to Shatter
Then, the silence shattered.
Rose screamed, her voice piercing through the void:
"NOOOOO!! BLAZE!! NOOOO!!"
She collapsed to her knees, her entire body trembling as she watched Blaze—her protector, her savior—crumble before her eyes. Her small hands clutched her head, and uncontrollable sobs wracked her frame.
Dante, frozen and whispering in horror, managed to utter:
"...His sword… it broke..."
Jasper, clutching his hair in disbelief, murmured:
"Oh my god… his sword is gone..."
Bolt's furious cry rang out, his voice cracking with anguish:
"GET UP, BLAZE!! YOU CAN STILL FIGHT!!"
Serena's whisper, laden with tears, drifted over the hushed crowd:
"No… no… he promised me… he'd come back."
And then, from the front row, Flame—a young, impassioned supporter whose eyes burned with both hope and desperation—shouted out, his voice trembling yet determined:
"Blaze, don't you dare give up now! We believe in you!"
The combined agony of the onlookers painted a picture of collective heartbreak. The once-mighty champion now resembled a ghost: his body quivered, his knuckles turned white from the unrelenting grip on the broken hilt, and his eyes, once blazing with confidence, now reflected only unbearable emptiness.
The Official Announcement
A circular hoverboard descended slowly from above, carrying the official referee. Even his face was ashen, etched with disbelief and sorrow—as if he, too, had witnessed something beyond mortal comprehension.
His voice cracked as he spoke:
"The battle… has concluded."
Blaze remained unmoving, his gaze fixed on the scattered fragments of Venom Devolos. The referee, swallowing his own disbelief, slowly turned his attention to Tenebris—whose blade, Prime Apocalypse, though marred by cracks, still shone with a cold, unyielding light.
With a trembling voice, the referee announced:
"T-Tenebris Thron… is the winner of the Diamond Championship Finals."
And just like that, a final nail was driven into Blaze's shattered heart.
The silence of the arena exploded into collective despair. Thousands upon thousands of spectators broke under the weight of what they had seen.
Rose sank to her knees, her voice shattering:
"NOOOO!! HE WAS SUPPOSED TO WIN!!"
Dante clenched his fists, his voice cracking with raw emotion:
"THAT WAS HIS SWORD!! IT WAS HIS LIFE!!"
Bolt pounded his fist on the floor, rage mingling with sorrow:
"IT WASN'T SUPPOSED TO END THIS WAY!!"
Jasper, staring blankly, whispered hollowly:
"He… he lost…"
And Serena—her entire world in ruins—could only sob softly:
"...He promised me he'd come back."
Even Flame, whose heart had once been ablaze with hope for Blaze, now stood mute, his youthful face streaked with tears and disbelief. The silence among them was as deep as the void that had swallowed Blaze's honor.
Blaze's Silent Breakdown
Slowly, the referee drifted toward Blaze, his voice barely above a whisper:
"Blaze… you need to leave the battlefield."
But Blaze did not move. His hand remained tightly wrapped around the broken hilt, his knuckles bleeding from the pressure. His breath was shallow and broken as his mind screamed a silent question:
"Why did you break…? Why did you leave me, Devolos…?"
The referee, visibly shaken, repeated softly:
"Blaze… please… step down."
Blaze Tries to Walk Away
With trembling determination, Blaze staggered forward. His legs, once strong and sure, now barely functioned. Every step was a battle, every movement a struggle against the crushing weight of his loss. As he approached the scattered fragments of Venom Devolos, his heart squeezed painfully.
His trembling hands reached out, gently picking up each shard of his broken sword, his fingers shaking as if trying desperately to keep the remnants of his soul intact. His vision blurred, and his voice cracked in a feeble whisper:
"…Why did you break…?"
Every fiber of his being ached with betrayal and sorrow as he clutched the broken pieces against his chest. The entire arena watched in silent agony.
Dragging his battered body toward the exit, Blaze's arms cradled the four fragments of Venom Devolos as if they were the only things anchoring him to life. His breath came in ragged gasps; his vision was fading, blurred by tears and exhaustion.
Halfway through the corridor, his knees buckled under the weight of defeat.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
The shattered pieces slipped from his grasp, clattering against the cold metal floor with a sound that echoed like the death knell of a fallen hero.
With a voice breaking under the strain of his despair, Blaze cried out:
"No… no no no…"
His body trembled uncontrollably. His fingers, desperate and numb, clenched his hair as if trying to hold on to what little remained of his shattered will. His throat burned with anguish as his voice shattered once more:
"WHY DID YOU BREAK!? WHY DID YOU LEAVE ME!?"
Footsteps pounded the corridor—fast, desperate, full of raw emotion.
Then, a voice pierced the despair:
"BLAZE!!"
Blaze's shaking body slowly turned his head, and there, through a haze of tears and pain, stood Serena Blackspire. Despite the soreness in her legs from the previous night's trials, she moved with relentless determination. Tears streamed down her face, her voice cracked from endless crying, yet her resolve was unwavering.
Without a moment's hesitation, she collapsed beside him, grasping his face with both hands.
Through uncontrollable sobs, she screamed:
"I DON'T CARE!! I DON'T CARE IF YOU LOST!! I JUST WANT YOU!!"
Blaze's voice, barely audible, trembled as he responded:
"Serena… I lost… I failed you…"
Serena's grip tightened, her forehead pressing against his as if to imprint her love and desperation upon him:
"I NEVER CARED ABOUT YOU WINNING!! I JUST WANTED YOU TO COME BACK!!"
Blaze's hands shook violently. With tears mingling with blood, he whispered:
"I—I'm sorry… I'm so sorry…"
Serena, her voice desperate and raw, cried:
"YOU PROMISED ME!! YOU PROMISED YOU'D RETURN!! AND YOU DID!! THAT'S ALL I EVER WANTED!!"
In that moment, Blaze finally broke. His arms wrapped around Serena's trembling waist as his tears fell freely onto her lap. His body trembled uncontrollably against her, every fiber of his being shattered by defeat.
As the overwhelming collapse of his body set in, Blaze's strength waned. His physical, mental, and emotional limits were reached. His grip around Serena weakened, his voice a mere whisper:
"…I'm sorry, Serena… I'm sorry…"
Then, with a final, gut-wrenching sound, his consciousness slipped away.
THUD.
Blaze fell completely limp against Serena's body. His arms dropped to his sides, and his ragged breathing slowed to a feeble cadence.
Serena gasped in horror:
"BLAZE!! WAKE UP!! PLEASE!!"
Tears flooded her eyes as she shook his face desperately:
"YOU PROMISED ME!! WAKE UP!! PLEASE!!"
But Blaze was gone—not dead, but his mind had collapsed into oblivion.
In the cold, empty hallway, Serena clutched Blaze's lifeless form, her anguished scream of heartbreak echoing into the void:
"I LOVE YOU, BLAZE!! PLEASE WAKE UP!!"
Her cries mingled with the haunting silence, a desperate plea in a place where even hope had crumbled.
As the final echoes of her scream faded, Flame emerged from the throng of spectators near the front. His youthful face, usually alight with fervor, was now etched with profound grief. He stepped forward, tears streaming down his cheeks, and whispered with a trembling voice:
"Blaze… please, don't leave us. You are our beacon... please come back."
Even amidst the collective despair, Flame's plea cut through the silence—a raw, desperate hope that somehow, against all odds, their fallen champion might yet rise again.
CTS TIME: RE250.08.28 – 2:00 PM
LOCATION: SERENA'S ROOM – DIAMOND SPACEHUB
The room was dimly lit, the soft glow of ExoHorizon's artificial sunset casting warm hues across the walls. The atmosphere outside was still electric—fireworks bursting in celebration, the cheers of thousands echoing through the city.
But inside Serena's quarters, all that existed was a fragile silence.
Blaze lay on the bed, his body heavy with exhaustion. His muscles ached from battle, but what hurt the most wasn't his body—it was the weight of his heart. His fingers twitched against the bedsheet, his mind still replaying the moment Venom Devolos shattered. He could still hear the cracks, still feel the emptiness in his palm where his sword used to be.
Next to him, Serena sat in quiet vigilance, her hand resting gently on his chest. She had been watching over him ever since she carried him here, refusing to leave his side even for a moment. He was breathing—that was all that mattered.
The automatic door slid open with a soft hiss.
Dante, Jasper, Rose, Bolt, and Talon stepped inside. Their faces were weary, their hearts still heavy from the events of the day.
Jasper was the first to speak. "Is he awake?"
Serena shook her head. "Not yet."
Bolt moved closer to the bed, gripping Blaze's hand tightly. "Wake up, Blaze! Please wake up!" His voice trembled with desperation.
Rose, standing just behind him, looked down with tear-filled eyes. "He… didn't lose, right? He didn't lose…"
Dante clenched his fists. "His sword broke. That's worse than losing."
Jasper exhaled sharply, rubbing his face. "Damn it… Blaze should have won. He should be holding that trophy right now."
Serena didn't respond. She only ran her fingers through Blaze's hair, feeling the faint rise and fall of his chest. The battle was over, but a new fight had begun—the fight to bring him back.
The Award Ceremony Begins
From the window, the distant voice of the commentator rang through the air.
"AND NOW, LET US HONOR OUR NEW CHAMPION—TENEBRIS THRON!!"
The arena erupted in cheers. Fireworks exploded in the sky, celebrating a victory that felt hollow.
Bolt trembled with frustration. "That should be Blaze up there!"
Dante exhaled through clenched teeth. "It's over now, Bolt. There's nothing we can do."
Serena barely heard them. Her focus remained on Blaze, her fingers gently tracing the bruises on his knuckles.
"Come back to me, Blaze…"
And then—he stirred.
A faint groan escaped his lips. His fingers twitched.
Serena gasped, her heart racing. "Blaze…?"
Blaze Wakes Up
His eyelids fluttered, his vision still hazy as the world came back into focus. The first thing he saw was Serena's face—her crimson eyes filled with relief, her lips trembling as if she had been holding back tears for hours.
His throat felt dry. He barely recognized his own voice. "Where… am I?"
Serena cupped his face, her warmth grounding him. "You're here. With me."
His mind was still sluggish, his body refusing to move. But then—the memories flooded in.
The battle. The final clash. The moment his sword shattered.
Blaze sucked in a sharp breath, his fingers instinctively reaching for something that was no longer there. His hands found only air. His voice cracked.
"…I lost. Devolos broke."
The words felt like knives on his tongue.
Serena gripped him tighter. "You didn't lose."
Blaze's breath shuddered. "Then why does it feel like I did?"
No one had an answer.
Jasper exhaled deeply. He could see it—Blaze needed time. And there was only one person in this room who could give it to him.
Jasper turned to the others. "Alright, let's go."
Bolt immediately protested. "No! I want to stay with Blaze!"
Rose wiped her tears. "Me too!"
Jasper sighed. "Not now. Serena's the only one who can help him right now."
Dante placed a hand on Bolt's shoulder. "We'll come back later."
Bolt clenched his fists. "Blaze, don't give up, okay?"
The door closed behind them.
Now, it was just Blaze and Serena.
Serena didn't hesitate—she lay down next to him, pulling him close. His body was still trembling, his fingers gripping the sheets like he was afraid of falling into an abyss.
He whispered, barely audible, "I can't win… but you're here. That's all that matters."
Serena pressed her forehead against his. "I told you… winning never mattered to me."
Blaze exhaled, his heartbeat finally slowing. "I'll work hard. I'll forge Devolos again. I'll evolve it. You'll see."
Serena smiled softly. "And I'll help you."
Blaze hesitated. He glanced at her, his face turning red. "Are you… okay? I mean, last night… it felt like hell."
Serena chuckled, her voice light for the first time in hours. "So now you're worried about that?"
Blaze groaned, covering his face. "I swear, I thought you were going to die after twelve rounds…"
Serena burst into laughter. "Blaze… do you remember what we are?"
Blaze sighed. "Yeah, yeah… we're bladers."
Serena smirked. "Exactly. So don't act like I'm some delicate princess."
Blaze grumbled. "I'm just saying… I'll never do that again."
Serena leaned in, whispering against his ear. "If you want… I'm ready."
Blaze turned red instantly. He covered his face. "Let's drop this conversation."
Serena laughed, admiring how he always cared so much.
After a moment, Serena reached for her sword, Infernum, handing it to Blaze.
Blaze studied the weapon, running his fingers over the hilt. "Your Infernum is cool… the design is perfect."
Serena watched him carefully. She had been thinking about something for days—and now, she finally had the courage to say it.
"Blaze… I want to tell you something."
Blaze placed Infernum beside him. "What is it?"
Serena took a deep breath. "Let's get married."
Blaze froze. His face turned bright red. "M-Marriage…? Wait, I need to think—"
Serena arched an eyebrow. "Still thinking?"
Blaze swallowed hard. "Okay… tell me the date. I'm ready."
Serena smiled. "I want to take you to my home planet. You'll meet my family."
Blaze exhaled, his heart finally feeling light. "That sounds perfect."
Serena tilted her head. "And what about your new sword?"
Blaze smirked. "I already decided on the name."
Serena leaned closer. "Tell me."
Blaze whispered, "Master Devolos."
Serena's smile widened. "That's… a powerful name."
Blaze closed his eyes, exhaling softly. "And with it… I'll stand by your side forever."
Serena pressed a soft kiss to his lips. "Then I'll be waiting for you, my husband."
For the first time in what felt like an eternity… Blaze smiled.
CTS TIME: RE250.08.28 – 2:30 PM
LOCATION: SERENA'S ROOM – DIAMOND SPACEHUB
The room was dim, bathed in the soft glow of ExoHorizon's artificial daylight filtering through the window. Outside, the remnants of the Grand Finals celebration still lingered—distant echoes of fireworks, faint cheers, and the occasional hum of passing spacecraft.
Inside, Blaze lay motionless on the bed, his body exhausted but his mind restless.
Serena curled up beside him, her slender fingers resting lightly on his chest, her breath steady and calm. She had fallen asleep watching over him, ensuring he didn't disappear again.
But Blaze couldn't sleep peacefully.
His mind raced.
"After this battle, I need to rest... but there's so much to do."
Thoughts flooded his head—Flame needed training. The kid wielded a legendary blade, and Blaze saw potential in him. He wanted to train with him after forging his new sword.
"Serena wants marriage… I never even thought about what a future like that would look like. Could I even have something like that?"
"And tomorrow… Flame's brother, Rash, is coming to take him. There's still so much left unfinished."
His eyes closed, his mind sinking deeper into his thoughts—until suddenly, the world around him collapsed.
Suffocating darkness. Thick like tar. Endless.