Arc I: “Apocalypse”
Chapter I: “The Generals”
Episode VIII: “The Second General!?”
“Ha!” Julie blitzed forward, her strike exploding into Akira’s ribs and sending him skidding across the cracked training yard tiles.
“Damn…” Akira wiped blood from his mouth, rising slowly. I’d rather not fight on campus… but it looks like I don’t have a choice.
He exhaled sharply and flared his aether. “Full power!”
Julie smirked, bouncing lightly on her toes like she was toying with her prey.
“That’s it? Where’s that overwhelming strength you used to crush Felix? You can’t honestly expect to beat me with this!”
Akira exhaled through his nose, steadying his stance.
“You haven’t proven you’re worth my technique. There are… drawbacks to using it. So, I’ll warm up first.”
Julie tilted her head mockingly. “Don’t blame me if you die before you finish ‘warming up!’”
The two clashed in a blur, fists cracking like thunderclaps as they traded blows. For several minutes, neither gained ground.
[Several minutes later]
“Alright… no more holding back.” Akira’s aura flared violently, fracturing the tiles beneath his feet as heat shimmered around his body. “Hyper Energy Mode Layer Two!”
He dashed forward, his speed doubling. Now he could keep pace with her.
Julie grinned, blocking a kick. “That’s more like it!”
Julie caught Akira’s wrist mid-strike.
“Tch… you’re improving. Guess I’ll need a bit more.” Akira inhaled sharply.
“Hyper Energy Mode… Layer Three!”
Power exploded from him in a violent surge.
He pushed her back with effortless strikes, his blows landing heavier than before.
Julie skidded back, gritting her teeth.
“Ugh! Fine. Guess I’ll use the strength I stole from Felix!”
Her aura darkened, flecks of fiery crimson within the icy blue.
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Now Julie was back in the fight. Akira still had the edge, but they were starting to even out.
Even now… he’s still stronger? No wonder this guy beat Felix. It’s not surprising—he’s the Vessel.
Julie smiled, eyes glinting with cruel amusement. “Alright… enough holding back. I’ll show you something special.”
Her body erupted in freezing energy, a blizzard?like aura spreading as frost consumed the training ground tiles. “Frozen Demoness Julie!”
Her transformation finished—her hair deepened to a chilling blue, armor of glacial ice formed over her limbs, and her eyes glowed a haunting violet.
Akira narrowed his eyes. “Woah. Fine, then I’ll turn it up too. Hyper Energy Mode Layer Four!”
Their power shook the air, but even now, they were still evenly matched.
I can’t drag this out. My body’s going to give out.
“Here goes nothing… Hyper Energy Mode Layer Five!”
His energy spiked to its absolute limit, aura blazing like a miniature sun.
Julie grinned. “Impressive. Then I’ll use everything too.”
She tapped into the last reserves of Felix’s power, her demonic aura growing more violent.
Akira steadied his breath. I’ll end this in one go. I’ll use my improved Aether-Skip!
“Dragon Flash!” Akira vanished in a burst of light.
Julie blinked. “What—?!”
Akira vanished from her sight.
“Dragon’s Combination!”
Akira reappeared behind her, a whirlwind of strikes slamming into her guard and ribs. He pummeled her relentlessly, finishing with a dropkick so fierce it sent her rocketing skyward.
Akira zipped above her in an instant.
“Star Destroyer!”
The golden beam tore through her body, carving into the ground below as it blasted downwards.
Akira descended, gasping for breath.
“H-heh… heh… that’s not enough… to beat me.” Julie staggered to her feet, her demonic armor fractured but intact.
Damn. That was my last bit of Felix’s energy… Julie exhaled, frost steaming from her lips as she returned to her base form.
Akira frowned. “What? Giving up?”
“In your dreams.”
She thrust her right hand forward.
“Frost Prison!”
A massive ice-water structure surged around Akira, instantly encasing him in a jagged crystalline prison.
“W-what is this?!” Akira struggled, his fists slamming against the unyielding walls.
Julie smirked. “That’s my Frost Prison.”
Her voice was ice-cold as she said, “It’s tougher than you think. Good luck breaking out of that… Vessel.”
With a mocking wave, she bolted into the shadows.
“Dammit! Come back here!” Akira roared, firing off Star Destroyers in rapid succession, melting chunks of the prison.
[Moments later]
Julie tapped her communicator on her wrist as she sprinted through the campus outskirts. “Bills. Come in.”
“...Julie?” a deep voice slowly replied.
“I need you to rendezvous with me at these coordinates. Possession of the Vessel is at stake.”
[Back to Akira…]
“HAAA!”
The prison shattered with a final blast, shards of steam-slick ice raining around him.
“Finally…” Akira panted, collapsing to one knee.
The strain of his power-ups had torn through his muscles, leaving him trembling.
“Argh…”
He powered down, his energy flickering out.
Then darkness.
[Several hours later]
“Ugh…” Akira blinked awake, wincing. “Where… am I?”
“The infirmary.”
Akira turned his head. Hovering over him was a beautiful young girl with bright, confident eyes.
“You remember me, right? Asuka!” she said with a wide smile.
“Y-yeah… so you brought me here? Thanks.”
“No problem! I couldn’t just leave you lying out there, could I?”
“How long have I been here?”
“Oh, just a few hours. At least since I found you.”
A few hours? Damn. That means Julie got away. I need to report this to Master Kai immediately.
Akira tried to rise, but his body barely responded.
“Woah, woah, woah. You’re not ready to get up yet!” Asuka put a hand on his chest. “What could be so urgent?”
“The council meeting…”
“Oh, that?” Asuka shrugged with a grin.
“Yeah, you missed it. Don’t worry though— they let us all pass. Said it was one of the hardest Trials on record.”
“I have something important to add to the report.”
“Then tell me. I’ll report it for you.”
“No. This is something I have to do myself.”
“Hmph.” Asuka pouted. “After all the trouble I went through to take care of you, and you don’t even trust me. Fine. Have fun getting food on your own this late.”
She stomped toward the door. “I’m out!”
The door clicked shut, leaving Akira staring at the ceiling, fists clenched.
[Late that night]
Akira, still aching, pushed himself upright and limped toward the instructors’ dorms.
He reported everything about Julie and Apocalypse to a staff member, who quickly redirected him to the Council of Seven.
By the next morning, Akira had been summoned. A new mission awaited him.
[Next Time on Lyte of Utopia]: “‘I’m Working with Who!?’”
[Yield Levels]:
Akira: 20,000
- HEML2: 40,000
- HEML3: 60,000
- HEML4: 80,000
- HEML5: 100,000
- Strain: 4,000
- Star Destroyer: x1.5
- Dragon Flash: x1.5
Julie: 40,000
- Julie (Felix absorbed): 60,000
- Frozen Demoness Julie: 80,000
- Frozen Demoness (Felix absorbed): 120,000
- Frost Prison: x5
Asuka: 15,000