Arc I.5: “The Cosmic Guard”
Chapter III: “Crisis”
Episode V: “Return to Solaris”
[A couple of weeks later]
Akira walked down the halls of the ship, all eyes watching him.
“Hey, look! It’s that guy from the UFA!” someone whispered aggressively.
“Yeah, he’s the hero who beat Apocalypse!”
“I heard he’s the one who recently defeated Ember!”
“Woah, isn’t that the guy who Hikari brought down?”
“He got promoted to Captain in just three years!”
“He’s kind of… cute!”
Akira yawned, stretching his arms up and folding them behind his head.
“Look who’s popular,” Riella said, sprouting up next to him.
“Congrats on becoming a Captain, idiot.”
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“Oh, Riella,” He glanced at her.
“What’s up. You recovered yet?”
“I should be asking you that,” She playfully punched his arm. Akira chuckled, “Yeah, I’m good. So… do you know where we’re heading next? We left the Nova Parallax immediately after Ember got locked up.”
“Yeah, Captain Garren didn’t tell you?”
The two of them stopped walking in front of the mess hall. They turned to walk in; the large room was packed with soldiers.
“We’re finally going back to Solaris,” Riella tilted her head with a cheery grin. “Aren’t you happy?”
“Solaris…”
So, I’m finally going back to Earth?
[Early that morning]
“We’re going back to Solaris?” Riella questioned, standing at the Stellar Console with Garren.
“Yes, you’ve been assigned a new mission,” He answered.
“It seems that the illegal technology we found on Earth a few years ago has surfaced again. We have reason to believe… that it’s them. The A.S.S Gang!”
“The A.S.S Gang…” sweat rolled down Riella’s face.
The Alien Seekers and Steelers Gang! They’re notorious throughout the Universe for subjugating planets and turning their inhabitants into slaves! They sell the planets and their people off to the highest buyer so they can buy themselves gear from the black market! They’re no strangers to other types of thieveries either…
“This is bad! We should tell Akira!”
“No.”
“No…?”
“Let him rest. He’s done more than enough for us over these last three years, especially recently with the whole Ember fiasco. Akira is only a Bounty Hunter. He may have just been promoted to the rank of Captain, but that’s in name only. He isn’t an official member of the Cosmic Guard.”
“But—”
“We shouldn’t trouble him with our problems anymore. Let him return to Earth and rest.”
“But this is about Earth. That’s his home! He has a right to know!”
“No means no, Riella. We can handle this ourselves. You’re going to be deployed undercover. We’re working with the UFA to set up the guise of a tournament… the next Cosmic Aether Arts Tournament!”
“Cosmic Aether Arts… wasn’t that an ancient tradition?”
“Yes, it was once a renowned event that brought together people from all over the Universe to display their Arts and Crafts for honor and glory. After the Third Cosmic War, however, that tradition came to an end.”
“How will that help my mission?”
“If the A.S.S. Gang is really in possession of the illegal contraband, those drugs and collars, then they’ll be interested in trying to subjugate as many strong warriors as possible. The tournament will be the perfect bait.”
[Earth]
In the short three years that Akira was gone, several new powers have been fostered.
Whispers of new prodigies… shadows moving in the underworld… and forces even the UFA may not see coming.
Will Akira have what it takes to overcome his next set of challenges?
Find out…
[Next Time on Lyte of Utopia]: “A New Journey: Bounty Hunter!”
[Yield Levels]:
Akira: 2b
- Suppressed: 1
Riella: 500m
- Suppressed: 5
Garren: 105m
Cosmic Guards: 10-100m