Almekia Kingdom
64. Jasper - Brother

Bloody hell tournament has reached the quarter-finals now, only eight participants left to compete in this round. Fortunately for me, Zircon and Saphir, the three of us were lucky enough to win and go this far.

To be honest I am very anxious and not confident that I have to think about the match that will take place today. For how not, the opponent we will face is certainly stronger than previous opponents. The combat abilities of each participant were also definitely even greater.

Moreover, after seeing firsthand the match between the mysterious first Ruby representative in the previous round match. I don't know who he is, he's so terrible with all the speed and precision of his movements. How will Saphir be when he has to fight him later? I don't want to be unsettled by worrying about my girl. Worried about his safety.

While I myself must also fight Jade in my match later. Jade is very respected in this city. I don't know who Jade really is, which obviously she must be a really great person. Moreover, he got the same privilege with Simone the winner of last year's tournament. He can go straight into the last eight without a qualification fight.

Could his prowess and combat strength be even at the level of the champion? Just thinking about it makes me more tense, nervous and not confident.

"The first step will be decisive, Saphir. Your opponent is even able to subdue his enemy with just his first move." Zircon gave Saphir his input before the girl was called up for her first match.

"Yes yes I understand, Zirc. The point is I should be able to avoid the first attack and his suddenness right? and if I can withstand the first strike then it will be a little safe right?" Saphir said in a slightly annoyed tone.

I know she's scared and just as nervous as I am. And the inputs about the greatness of his enemy certainly will not help calm down, and even make his feelings even more down.

"It's not safe either. If it can get past the first attack there's still a second attack and a knock." Zircon corrects Saphir's wrong thinking. It is not to be careless just because it managed to avoid the first attack.

"Have nothing to think about anymore. Do your best. Stay safe" I added, advising. I just wanted to encourage her a little. Saphir nodded his smile very sweetly at me as his answer.

I led Saphir to the entrance of the hangar gear and I held her hands together as an encouragement before she entered the hangar gear.

"Good luck, do your best. And remember, the most important thing is your safety" I said.

"Ok, doain ya," Saphir looked calmer and cheerful in my spirit mode.

I returned to the waiting room and took a position next to Zircon who had been standing in the middle of the room while crossing both hands on his chest. He looked very seriously at the screen which still showed an empty match arena.

"I got a bad feeling" he said as soon as I got close to him.

"What a bad feeling?" Askaqua.

"Let's know, it feels like there's a very uncomfortable feeling in the chest. Well hopefully you and Saphir can get through this match without any serious injuries..." His speech came to a halt as the two gears that were about to compete entered the arena of the match.

"Welcome to the first game of the quarter-finals. In this first match will fight representatives of the first Miss Ruby in her blue gear. He's going up against Miss Saphir who's getting a white gear this time." The sound of the referee echoed introducing the two gears that had been in the arena.

"Are you both ready? Ready's? YOO!" The referee continued while firing a pistol marking the start of the first match in the quarter-finals.

Almost the same as the previous match, Ruby's first representative directly lunged in without wasting any time. Saphir took a few steps back to avoid the attack, but somehow his opponent's blue gear seemed to be faster.

The blue gear tackled Saphir's white gear leg so that it lost balance and for a moment floated, floating in the air for a while. Not wasting time, the blue gear immediately greeted him with a giggle right at the neck of Saphir's gear and pushed the gear piloted by Saphir it fell until it crashed and thumped very hard onto the arena floor.

I could feel everyone present including myself dumbfounded and speechless. With his mouth agape to see this very fast-paced fight.

Saphir's white gear was now lying helplessly on the arena floor with his enemy gear suffocating and overlapping over his body. The two gears were silent, silent, and motionless for a while, making me feel uneasy from worrying Saphir.

Is Saphir okay? Did he faint? Or maybe he was still a little dizzy and startled from the sudden and very loud shaking? As a result of the slamming of the gear he drove to the floor?

The gripping silence lasted for quite a while, for a few minutes. Even the atmosphere of the audience was also silent, they were busy guessing what was going on in the arena. Until then the referee did the countdown and stated that Saphir was no longer able to continue the match after the tenth count ended.

Cheers and claps of applause raged throughout the room and arena. Some admiration and swearing are also heard to indicate those who lose bet.

I could see a large screen in the middle of the room, the blue gear rising from above the white gear of Saphir then darting back to the hangar. But Saphir's gear remained petrified, lying on the arena floor.

'Saphir? You why? You're okay, right?'

Some officers stopped my steps right at the door, preventing me from entering. But they finally let me in after I begged a little.

"Please, I just want to know how things are going."

As soon as I entered the hangar I saw the white gear that was piloted by Saphir had landed on the hangar gear pad. I breathed a sigh of relief looking at her, thank God she seemed to be fine.

At least Saphir can still drive his gear back to the hangar. Then he is still conscious and his body is fine.

I could see the door of the gear open and the girl jumped slowly from her cockpid. He landed lightly onto the hangar floor. The girl remained standing there, with no intention of moving from her position.

Then he fell down and sat limp with his whole body trembling and blank look. The girl curled up hugging both her knees and leaned against her gear leg with great sadness.

'Why? What's wrong with you, Saphir?'

"Saphiro?..." My sap approached him with a pale face, terrified.

Saphir did not react to answer my grill and remained curled up with his trembling body. Immediately I approached and grabbed the trembling body, I hugged him tightly, tried to calm him down and gave him a little warmth and encouragement.

"It's okay, it's okay" I stroked her hair slowly as I continued to hold her in my arms. I could feel the girl starting to cry sobbing in my arms.

"He's my brother, Jez!" saphir said suddenly.

"Your brother? Who?" many confusions.

"My friend earlier, the first representative blue gear from Ruby. She's Diamond's sister" she said on the sidelines of her cries.

"What's? Whatchu mean?" I still can't digest Saphir's words.

"He's Brother Diamond! How could I possibly fight him?" continued after a little calm.

With still tears Saphir released my embrace from his body. "He hasn't even healed yet, Jez. Why is he here? Why would he force himself to enter this tournament?"

Saphir asked me the exact same thing in my head. How is Diamond here?

"Did you talk to him?" I asked to be aware that within a few minutes of silence the two gears were communicating. Sapphire is talking to her sister, Diamond.

"Yes, somehow my brother was able to break through and hack my gear computer, to make an internal connection to me, he appeared on my computer screen." Sapphir replied confirming all my suspicions beforehand.

"Silver explained about the current state of the palace that is chaotic because of our actions. Telling me how sad and devastated our fathers, mothers, elders, parents and all after our departure from the palace,"

"How tumultuous and stirring is the state of the palace after our escape. A massive search, hundreds of soldiers deployed to all corners of the kingdom to search for our whereabouts." Continue with a bitter tone and very sad on the sidelines of his cries.

Now I understand why Saphir looked so beaten and sad like that. After all, she was a soft-hearted girl who would never bear to see her loved ones grieving and suffering. He must be feeling very guilty.

Saphir also misses his family and home a lot. All the difficulties and pressures he faced during the escape further increased his desire to return to the palace. Back to her safe family.

I can't answer it, the same pain and guilt always haunts me. Moreover, all this happened because of me? All this madness just for my sake? Only for the sake of my ambition to unravel all the mysteries about the late King's father.

Without saying a word, I finally helped Saphir to stand up from his seat. I also led the body of my girl slowly out of the hangar gear and brought her back to the waiting room.

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