CTS TIME: RE250.05.26 – 10:20 PM (Hikarashi Village Local Time)
LOCATION: Homurakage's Office
Jasper and Ryuji arrived at the main gates of the Homurakage's grand office, the towering structure standing as a symbol of power and tradition in the Land of Blaze. The full moon bathed the village in soft silver light, casting long shadows across the stone pathway leading to the entrance.
Two ANBU guards stood firm at the gate, their masks reflecting the dim glow of the lanterns nearby. Their posture stiffened the moment they spotted Jasper.
They were still wary of the outsider swordsman.
One of the ANBU stepped forward, his deep voice carrying a hint of distrust.
"State your business."
Jasper barely raised an eyebrow.
"Relax, I'm just here to watch a tournament."
Ryuji quickly stepped in.
"He's gonna show us their sword-fighting matches! Trust me, Gramps will wanna see this!"
The ANBU didn't budge.
"Homurakage-sama is resting. Outsiders cannot enter so freely."
Jasper sighed, hands in his pockets, his usual cocky smirk forming.
"Man, you guys are stiff."
The ANBU glared.
But before they could respond—
"Let them in."
A voice boomed from above.
Jasper and Ryuji looked up.
From the balcony of the Homurakage's office, the old leader stood, his crimson robe flowing slightly in the night breeze. His golden eyes twinkled with curiosity.
"I want to see this 'Blading' for myself."
The ANBU hesitated for a moment, then stepped aside.
"Understood, Homurakage-sama."
Jasper shot them a mocking salute as he and Ryuji walked inside.
The Homurakage's office was surprisingly lively.
Inside, several shinobi had already gathered, sitting in a semi-circle around a grand wooden table.
Kenshiro was there, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. His sharp eyes briefly flicked toward Jasper, but he said nothing.
Sitting beside him, Kaizen Kurogami watched Jasper with thinly veiled irritation.
"Tch… outsiders," he muttered under his breath.
A few genin and chunin sat nearby, eager to see what kind of battles this so-called 'Blading' tournament had to offer.
Homurakage took his seat at the head of the room, his eyes filled with curiosity.
"Very well, swordsman. Show us your warriors."
Jasper smirked, tapping his wristwatch.
The room dimmed slightly as a holographic screen flickered to life in midair.
The live-streamed image of the Emerald Championship's Semi-Finals appeared before them.
The crowd inside the stadium roared in excitement as the tournament's announcer's voice boomed through the speakers.
The camera panned over the massive stadium, a colossal structure floating in the middle of space, surrounded by energy barriers that glowed with vibrant yellow light.
"WELCOME, EVERYONE, TO THE SEMI-FINALS OF THE EMERALD CHAMPIONSHIP!"
The commentator's voice was full of electrifying energy.
"TWO ELITE BLADERS STAND BEFORE US TODAY—THE WARRIORS WHO HAVE DOMINATED THE COMPETITION! BUT ONLY ONE WILL MOVE ON TO THE GRAND FINALS!"
The camera zoomed in.
On the left side of the barrier, standing tall with a composed expression, was a swordsman dressed in sleek silver battle armor.
His blade, Luminar, pulsed with a radiant white aura, shimmering like a celestial star.
DANTE NIGHTSHADE.
On the right side, rolling his shoulders casually, his muscles flexing, was a towering man with a wild grin. His purple energy cloak flickered wildly around him, his blade humming with raw power.
TALON DARKOS.
"DANTE NIGHTSHADE… VERSUS TALON DARKOS!"
The crowd exploded with cheers.
The shinobi inside the Homurakage's office watched in silent awe.
Even Kaizen, who had been skeptical before, found himself slightly intrigued.
"Begin the match!"
A loud BOOM echoed as the barrier sealed the two warriors inside.
"That barrier…" Kenshiro murmured, his eyes narrowing.
Homurakage, arms crossed, nodded.
"A high-level energy field… I can feel it even from here."
Jasper grinned.
"Yeah. That barrier can absorb the impact of a planetary explosion. Even a dying star wouldn't break it."
Several shinobi stiffened.
"A dying star?" one of the chunin whispered.
Kaizen scoffed.
"Tch… exaggerated nonsense."
Jasper simply smirked.
"Just watch."
The stadium fell silent as Dante and Talon took their stances.
Dante lifted Luminar, its white light intensifying.
Talon rolled his neck, flexing his grip around Vybron.
"Heh… You're gonna regret stepping into this ring with me,Dante." Talon's voice was rough and confident.
Dante, ever composed, simply smirked.
"We'll see about that."
The referee raised his hand—
"THREE… TWO… ONE—"!
"BLADES UP!"
The instant the battle began, the entire stadium shook.
Talon vanished in a blur, his blade already swinging down—
Dante raised Luminar just in time, their weapons colliding in a massive shockwave that rippled through the barrier.
The shinobi inside the Homurakage's office gasped.
Kaizen's eyes widened slightly.
"They're fast…!"
Jasper chuckled.
"Told you."
The battle continued in a dazzling display of speed and power.
Talon's aggressive attacks were like a storm, his Vybron cutting through the air with sheer destructive force.
But Dante—calm, precise, unshaken—moved like a flowing river, countering every strike with pinpoint accuracy.
The shinobi couldn't look away.
Homurakage's lips curled into an amused smile.
"Fascinating."
As Jasper watched the battle unfold, he felt something inside him loosen.
For the first time since arriving in this village—since everything with Sienna—he felt truly at ease.
"She hates me now."
That thought should have hurt.
But it didn't.
Instead, it felt liberating.
"Now, I can just focus on what really matters—training, winning, and finding Blaze."
He smirked, relaxing into his seat.
"Sienna? She's just a friend. Nothing more."
Inside the Emerald Championship's colossal battle arena, the air was charged with raw power.
The massive yellow energy barrier flickered wildly, struggling to contain the overwhelming forces clashing within it.
Dante and Talon stood at opposite ends of the battlefield, breathing heavily, their auras pulsating like unstable stars.
The announcer's voice boomed across the stadium.
"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THIS IS WHAT WE CAME TO SEE—THE RAW, UNFILTERED POWER OF TWO WARRIORS !"
The entire crowd erupted, their voices shaking the stadium.
But inside the Homurakage's office, the shinobi watching the battle were completely silent.
They were stunned.
Even Kaizen, who had been skeptical about 'Blading,' found himself gripping the armrest of his chair.
"This… This isn't just swordsmanship," he muttered.
Homurakage nodded, his golden eyes gleaming with intrigue.
"No. This is something far beyond that."
Kenshiro, still standing with arms crossed, narrowed his eyes.
"They're manipulating raw energy like it's an extension of their bodies. Not even our most elite shinobi can do this with such precision."
Jasper smirked, completely relaxed.
"Yeah. And they haven't even gone all out yet."
Talon grinned viciously, his muscles tensing as he lifted Vybron in one hand.
"Heh… This has been fun, Nightshade."
Dante, ever composed, tightened his grip on Luminar, his silver eyes glowing with sheer determination.
"Likewise, Talon. But it's time to end this."
Talon chuckled.
"Couldn't agree more."
Their auras exploded.
White and purple energy clashed violently, rippling through the battlefield, causing massive cracks to spiderweb across the ground.
The announcer's voice shook with excitement.
"BOTH BLADERS ARE PREPARING THEIR FINAL ATTACKS! THIS IS IT!"
Dante's Luminar began shifting, its solid blade transforming—
Links of pure white energy chains unraveled from the sword, extending its range.
The sword was no longer just a blade—
It was a weapon of adaptability.
Kaizen's eyes widened slightly.
"What… His sword just changed form mid-battle?"
Jasper grinned.
"Yeah. Luminar is a composite sword—it can shift between solid and chain form at will. That's Dante's biggest advantage."
Kenshiro, watching intently, murmured.
"A weapon that can adjust to any situation… That's dangerous."
Homurakage's eyes gleamed.
"And Talon? What about him?"
Jasper leaned forward slightly.
"Oh, Talon's no slouch either."
As if on cue, Vybron erupted in purple flames, its blade elongating, surrounded by swirling draconic energy.
The sheer pressure from both warriors made the energy barrier flicker, the ground trembling under the weight of their power.
And then—
Dante raised Luminar, his voice echoing through the stadium.
"Shadow Eclipse!"
The entire battlefield was consumed in blinding white energy as Luminar's chains lashed out in multiple directions, forming a web of light.
At the same time—
Talon let out a wild battle cry, swinging Vybron with raw destructive force.
"ETERNAL WYRM SLASH!"
A colossal purple dragon surged from his blade, its roar shaking the very foundation of the stadium.
The attacks met at the center of the battlefield.
The impact was instantaneous.