Arc I: “Apocalypse”
Chapter II: “Growth”
Episode I: “Retreat”
[Yield Levels]:
Akira: 25,000
- Aether Resurgence: Surge: 50,000
Rikito: 50,000
- Aether Resurgence: Surge: 60,000
Asuka: 15,000
[Inside Akira’s Mind]:
In the void, a voice echoed — layered, distant, and heavy with urgency.
“You are our last hope… our final chance.”
“Awaken the power within you, Akira!”
“Seek the Sage. He will guide you to the light within—”
“Akira! Akira! Wake up!”
[In Woodberry Village…]
It’s been a while since I’ve had such a strange dream… Akira thought as he groggily opened his eyes.
“He’s waking up!” Fevee nearly shouted with relief.
“Don’t yell in his ear,” Rackon said, his tone clipped — though his faintly softened gaze betrayed the relief beneath it.
“Go get the siblings. They’ll want to know.”
Fevee bolted outside. “Guys! Akira’s awake!”
“It’s about time,” Rikito muttered as he got up, trying to hide the subtle exhale of relief.
“You’re actually glad he’s awake, aren’t you?” Asuka teased with a mischievous grin.
“Shut up,” Rikito barked back, his ears turning slightly red.
The three of them gathered around Akira.
“So,” Rikito said, his arms crossed, “you’re finally awake.”
“How long… was I out?”
“Three days,” Rackon answered. “And we’ve been here in Woodberry for two.”
Akira’s eyes narrowed. “…Then we’ve wasted enough time.”
He turned to Rikito, his voice steady but cold.
“We need to get stronger. There’s no telling when they’ll come back. We start training— now.”
“Fine by me,” Rikito said flatly.
“I’m joining too,” Rackon added, tightening his guard armor.
[Three months later…]
[Yield Levels]:
Akira: 200,000
Rikito: 250,000
Rackon: 100,000
Asuka: 15,000
Fevee: 5
[Outside the house]
“Hey, Akira! Look at this.” Rackon approached, holding a strange photo-like device with a projection of a shadowy figure in a tattered cloak.
“What… is that?” Akira muttered, frowning at the flickering projection.
“Not sure,” Rackon said grimly.
This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.
“It’s no villager. It felt… wrong. Like it wasn’t even alive. Whatever it is, it’s dangerous. I’m reporting this to the elder and putting the village on lockdown.”
“Think it’s one of theirs?”
“Almost definitely,” Rackon said grimly. “If you’re up for it, I want you and Rikito to sweep the perimeter. See if there are more of these things.”
“Sure. Let’s go.”
[A few moments later…]
“Hey! Where are you two going? Can I come?” Asuka asked inquisitively.
“You should stay here, Asuka,” Rikito demanded.
“That’s not fair! Right, Akira?”
“Uh… maybe you should listen to your brother.” Akira was reluctant to get caught in their crossfire.
“Hmph! Fine. Have fun, I guess. I’ll just stay here.”
Rikito and Akira left the village in search of these “shadow men.” Rackon stayed behind in charge of defense.
[In the Forest]
“So,” Rikito said, scanning the tree line, “what exactly are we looking for?”
“Shadow men,” Akira replied.
Rikito gave him a side-eye. “You’re serious? Shadow men?”
“Look, whatever created that thing Rackon saw… it wasn’t human.”
“And probably tied to those generals,” Rikito said.
Before they could say more, an ominous chill washed over them.
“They found us,” Akira said.
His voice was flat, but his hand was already glowing with gathered aether.
“Bills. And Julie. But… I don’t sense Kai.” Rikito remarked.
“Doesn’t matter. Let me go first. I want to test my limits.”
“Fine,” Rikito said. “But the next one’s mine.”
Akira and Rikito sprinted through the forest until they emerged into a clearing.
“Hey there, Bills,” Akira called out. “And you too, Julie.”
Julie flinched. “T-they found us already?! Bills, do something!”
“Hrm,” Bills grunted, stepping forward with his usual wordless menace.
“So, you’re coming out at full power this time?” Akira said with a smirk. “Alright… then so will I.”
He blurred forward in a burst of Hyper Energy, unleashing a rapid-fire barrage of strikes. Bills took the hits without flinching.
Julie panicked. “Bills! MOVE!”
Akira sighed. “You’re even less fun than last time. Star… Des—”
Suddenly, Akira froze mid-charge.
“This power… what the hell is that?”
“That’s…” Rikito’s face darkened. “It’s coming from Woodberry.”
“Shit.” Akira clenched his fists. “Rikito—”
“Go. I’ve got this,” Rikito said, his aura flaring as he squared up to Bills.
“Right! I’m going back! Good luck!”
“Hmph, I won’t even need it.”
[In Woodberry Village…]
“Stop right there!” Rackon shouted, standing before the gates.
“Hmph.” The figure before him lowered his hood, revealing an angular face, sharp crimson eyes, and gray skin.
“Are you the strongest in this pitiful village? You can’t possibly be the vessel.”
The vessel? He’s after Akira. “You… are you one of the generals?”
“Oh, so you know of me?” the figure said with a smirk. “Yes. I am the Fifth General… Grimm.”
“Are you behind the shadow soldiers near this village?” It’s a good thing I told the village elder to evacuate the village beforehand.
“And if I am? What difference does it make? You can’t stop me.”
“Damn you… I’ll defeat you here!” Rackon roared, charging at Grimm with his full might.
“Fool.” Grimm vanished.
Rackon spun, searching desperately for his opponent’s aether.
“Predictable,” Grimm whispered from behind him, placing a hand on his shoulder.
“If you’re going to challenge someone of my caliber… at least bring a plan.”
“—!”
With one swift motion, Grimm’s hand pierced through Rackon’s chest.
“Now you’ve gone and died for nothing. This is why I despise Earthlings. Such a foolish race.” He dropped Rackon’s body and vanished into the shadows.
Sensing that his aether was fading, Fevee came searching for Rackon.
“Rackon?!” Fevee screamed, sprinting to his side. “No… no, no, no… Brother!!”
Moments later, Akira arrived. “Fevee! Are you alright? What—” He stopped cold when he saw Rackon’s lifeless body.
“He’s… he’s dead,” Fevee choked out, trembling.
“…”
Akira slowly turned toward the cloaked figure lurking in the shadows.
“So, you must be the vessel,” Grimm said casually. “This saves me from the trouble of having to search for you. At least you look stronger than that other fool.”
“You…” Akira said, voice dripping with quiet fury. “Did you do this?”
“Indeed. I am Grimm. Fifth General of Apocalypse’s army.”
[The fight between Rikito and Bills]
Rikito was easily able to avoid Bills attacks and counter him with his own.
“Akira was right.” Rikito said confidently with a smirk, “You’re no longer a challenge. Huh—?”
Even though Bills was clearly in view in front of him, Rikito just barely managed to dodge an attack from behind him. When he turned around, five shadow soldiers were waiting to pounce.
“These must be the shadow men that Akira was referring to,” Rikito said, scanning his surroundings.
Hmm. I can’t sense any energy from them. “This could get tricky.”
A drop of cold sweat ran down his face.
Three of the shadow soldiers rushed towards Rikito from different directions. He blocked the first punch and kick that came at him, then dodged the third attack that came from above. Then he narrowly dodged the next
two follow-up attacks.
Before he could counter, the third shadow soldier made a move from behind. Rikito was barely able to dodge it.
“Hmph. Let’s try this… Dark Demolition Cannon!”
Rikito blasted two of the soldiers, destroying half of their corporeal bodies.
“How do you like that! …what!?”
The shadows began regenerating themselves from the darkness of the night.
“They can regenerate?”
Then the three soldiers pounced on Rikito again. He was able to dodge them by conducting a series of backflips and mid-air spins, launching aether blasts to damage the shadows.
Unfortunately, the other two soldiers had joined in the fight while the others regenerated, and Rikito was unable to counter them.
“D-dammit!”
After he was knocked back, Bills Aether-Skipped behind him and launched an earth-shattering punch into the ground. Rikito managed to dodge it by the skin of his teeth.
Shit… I don’t know how long I’ll be able to keep this up.
[Woodberry Village…]
“So… you are the one who did this, right?” veins pulsing in Akira’s temple.
“Yes, I did. What does it matter to you, vessel? Did you care for that poor-brained simian?”
Akira’s aura erupted, but his voice stayed eerily calm. “Then I’ll destroy you.”
Akira clenched his fists with a deep fury building inside him.
“Oh? You can raise your power? Good. Let’s see it.”
“Hyper Energy Mode… Layer Two.”
In a blink, Akira closed the gap, his strikes fast and deliberate. Grimm blocked every single one—with one finger.
“Is that all?” Grimm mocked.
Akira’s eyes narrowed. “Hyper Energy Mode… Layer Ten.”
His power flared violently, the air itself trembling. He darted around Grimm at blinding speed with his Aether-Skips, striking from every angle.
“There!”
Grimm quickly entered Demonic Base Form. His arm blurred, catching Akira’s fist.
“If you’re going to strike from my blind spot, child, don’t announce it first.”
Akira smirked. “You used more than one finger this time.”
Grimm didn’t reply.
Wow… Akira’s grown so much in such a short time. I hope he doesn’t get hurt… Fevee thought to herself with a worried expression, the skin under her eyes still raw.
“Star… Des… Troyer!” Akira roared, firing a massive golden beam.
Grimm raised a single hand, the golden beam colliding against his palm and vanishing in a hiss of energy. With a lazy flick of his wrist, the attack unraveled into nothingness.
“Child’s play,” Grimm said flatly.
“Enough. Let me show you true power.”
His aura exploded outward, twisting with shadow and blood-red energy.
“This… is Demon Form Level One.”
Akira gritted his teeth. “Then I’ll surpass my limits. Hyper Energy Mode… Layer Twenty!”
“Good,” Grimm said, smirking as his power climbed even higher. “But it won’t be enough.”
[Next Time on Lyte of Utopia]: “The Shadow Demon”
[Yield Levels]:
Akira: 200,000
- HEML2: 400,000
- HEML10: 2m
- HEML20: 4m
- Star Destroyer: x1.5
Rikito: 250,000
Asuka: 15,000
Fevee: 5
Rackon: 100,000
- Max Power: 200,000
Bills: 150,000
Julie: 40,000
Shadow Soldiers: 100,000 (x5)
Grimm: 1.2m
- DBF: 2.4m
- DFL1: 6m
Copyright ? 2023-2025 DNA Studios. All Rights Reserved.
“Lyte of Utopia” and related terms are trademarks of DNA Studios.