Arc I.5: “The Cosmic Guard”
Chapter I: “Restoration”
Episode IV: “Trouble in Troy”
[Gareth’s Dungeon]
“Are you…” Akira tilted his head slowly, “The only slave trader in this city?”
“W-well, I wouldn’t say I’m the only one, but I’m definitely the biggest! You won’t find better products at better prices anywhere else!”
“Is that so?”
The glare in Akira’s eyes was deadly.
“Then, if I take care of you, there’ll be a lot less slave trading around here.”
W-what’s this guy’s deal!? I thought he came here to buy some slaves!
Gareth looked over Akira’s shoulder and shouted, “Hey! What’re you guys waiting for? Get this guy!”
Suddenly, a gang of thugs sprang up from behind Akira.
Armed with various types of weapons, they tried to jump Akira with murderous intent.
Heh, that’ll teach this fool to mess with us.
The first thug gripped a long, curved cutlass and swung down on Akira.
A second thug held a silenced rifle, aiming straight for Akira’s head.
A third was equipped with steel-tipped gauntlets, rushing straightforward to crush Akira with all his might.
Akira stood firmly, not even moving an inch.
What’s he doing? He’s just standing there!
Gareth backed up, his back pressing against the end of the hall as sweat trickled down his face.
Instantly, all of the bandits staggered back, a flurry of strikes hitting them precisely.
Akira stepped forward, his gaze not veering off from Gareth.
“Dammit, those useless bastards!”
Gareth trembled; his hands pressed against the wall.
I’ll just have to get him to deal with it!
His hands fumbled around to get his remote.
Before Akira could stop him, a brutish thug confronted him, reinforced by a dozen more thugs.
Akira turned around, quickly assessing their numbers.
There were this many of them down here?
“I’ll make this quick,” Akira grunted as he crouched down.
His aether poured out, raising his yield a bit further.
Once again, a flurry of blows came, knocking out all the thugs and pushing the brute back.
The brute was able to block the attacks — although barely — by raising his arms and reinforcing them with aether.
Akira’s eyes sharpened.
Oh, he’s a bit tougher. I guess I’ll use a little more force.
At the same time, the brute grunted, shoving a syringe of red fluid into his legs. His muscles and veins bulged vigorously, and his yield shot up.
What was that? Akira wondered.
“Rah!” the brute tumbled forward, his wide swings coming haphazardly from both sides.
Whatever he took, he’s lost all control.
Akira planted his feet, crouched low with one fist forward, and one raised near his head.
The brute lunged in, ready to snatch Akira within his clutches.
With one smooth motion, Akira weaved past the brute’s wild swings, swooped in low beneath his guard— and with a single, piercing strike to the mental region, laid the brute out flat on his back.
Now then, Akira turned around to face Gareth.
I got it! Gareth laughed as he pushed a few buttons on the remote.
Red electricity flowed from the enslaved man’s collar as the chains blew off the iron bars, and the cell door flew open.
He ducked under the cell’s doorframe, stepping out into the hallway.
He was a tall man with wild, crimson red hair. His eyes were bright yellow-orange, and his teeth stuck out like fangs.
He wore tattered grey pants, with chain cuff links around his wrists and ankles. A dark grey, metallic collar sat tightly around his neck.
He’s powerful… sweat fell down Akira’s cheek as he looked at the man.
“Hah! Now you’re screwed! You picked a fight with the wrong set!” Gareth bellowed.
“Get em, Rygar!”
Rygar stepped forward, cracking his neck.
I still can’t sense any aether from him, but this presence… I shouldn’t underestimate him.
Akira stood up straight, his arms squared at his sides.
I’ll go all out for this one.
Rygar raised an arm, all his joints cracking as he braced himself to strike Akira.
Golden Energy Mode… Layer Ten!
A stack of ten yellow runes formed inside Akira’s meridians.
Rygar cocked his arm back, then, before Akira could even see it, he launched a pulverizing shockwave with his fist.
The force caused Akira to fly all the way down towards the entrance to the dungeon, rupturing the floor, ceiling, and surrounding areas.
All the enslaved onlookers squealed out in fear as the dungeon was exposed to the moonlight.
“Damn, even this isn’t enough?”
Akira stood up from the small crater he was in, blood trickling down his temple and his bruised lip.
“Then I guess I’ll have to turn up the heat a little bit more!”
Akira returned to his natural state, closing his eyes to focus his aether.
Rygar slowly leaned forward.
In a single lunge, he propelled himself down the long corridor and appeared in front of Akira.
He launched another punch so fast that the sound of it rippling through the air was comparable to a thunderstorm.
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
Akira opened his eyes, their white color reflecting Rygar’s image.
Inside his body, aether flowed out of his meridians and into his bloodstream, entering his muscles directly.
“Spirit Resonance.”
Akira caught Rygar’s punch with his palm, his calm, creamy-white aether tightly encompassing his body.
Rygar struggled, trying to get free, but Akira’s grip was relentless.
“Grr… RAHH!”
Red electricity poured out of his collar as his power surged even further.
“Woah, woah, woah!”
Akira backed up as Rygar’s outburst blew what was remaining of the dungeon’s entrance to smithereens.
I’ll have to increase my yield a bit further. It’s a bit problematic that I can’t tell exactly how strong he is.
“I’ll finish this in one move. Spirit Resonance, plus Golden Energy Mode Layer Twenty!”
A golden energy cloaked around Akira’s white aura, his yield soaring higher.
“Rah!” Rygar barked as he charged forward, his eyes glowing red.
Akira hovered in the air at the entrance, leaning his body low as if he were ready to take off like a rocket.
Then—
BAM!
“Draconic Fury!” Akira roared as he flashed past Rygar, his fist glowing red as it burned straight through his guard.
Rygar fell forward, completely unconscious.
Gareth approached the entrance, trying to see what had happened.
“W-what!? No way! Rygar… lost!?” he trembled back in fear.
Akira returned to his natural state as he descended to the ground. His glare struck daggers through Gareth’s soul.
Shit!
Gareth tried to turn and run, but with an effortless Aether-Skip, Akira slid around and rendered him unconscious with a blow to the gut.
“Now then,” Akira said, looking down the long corridor of the dungeon, “Let’s get you guys out of here.”
He snapped his finger, and a blip of aether flew up and down the corridor, destroying the locks on all the cells.
Slowly, the enslaved people climbed up from out of their cells, tears welling up in their eyes.
Some immediately ran away while others waved to thank Akira.
“Alright. I should take this guy to the UFA, then come meet with Asuka,” Akira said as he picked up Gareth.
Oh, I should probably take this guy too, he thought as he looked at Rygar. He would fit in great at the UFA.
Before he could go to pick him up, a man clad in golden armor descended before him, hovering in the air to maintain the high ground.
He pointed at Akira.
“I am the Supreme Guardian, Ren of Ron! Are you the one responsible for this destruction?!”
Akira took a look around at all the damage Rygar caused.
Outside the dungeon, cracks were running through the streets and the alleyway; some nearby buildings were almost ready to collapse.
“Oh… yeah, sorry about that,” Akira rubbed the back of his head.
Who is that he’s carrying? Ren thought as he looked behind Akira, seeing the empty cells amongst the ravaged property.
Is he a trader? I’ve never encountered one as powerful as he.
“Who are you… judging by your clothes… You don’t seem like you’re from around here. You’re from the UFA, aren’t you?”
Shit.
“Hehe, what’re you talking about?” Akira chuckled, his mouth quivering.
“I’m not entirely sure what you were up to here, but for now, I’ll restrain you and take you back to the watchtower.”
Damn, I don’t wanna get in another fight right now, Akira clenched his teeth.
Seems I’m a little bit rusty, using Spirit Resonance and Golden Energy Mode at the same time puts some strain on my muscles.
And to top it off, this guy doesn’t seem like a pushover either.
Akira put Gareth down, then tightened his gi.
“Hmph, well, it seems like I’m going to have to push myself tonight.”
His eyes sharpened.
“Spirit Resonance plus, Golden Energy Mode Layer Ten!”
“Oh?” Ren’s eyes widened.
So, he’s able to match me in strength.
“Alright then. I’ll play along.”
Ren closed his eyes, crossing his arms in front of him. Then, he swiftly thrust them down to his sides, a stifling aura emerging from his frame as he Focused his power.
He’s strong, but!
Akira Aether-Skipped, zipping behind Ren as he finished controlling his power.
“Dragon’s Barrage!” Akira yelled as he unleashed a wild flurry of strikes.
Ren dodged every blow with precision, outclassing Akira in terms of speed.
This won’t be easy.
Akira backed away, hovering in the air. He panted desperately as he wiped sweat from his chin.
“I’ll just have to push through it!”
He gripped his fist.
“Layer Twenty!”
His aura spiked up violently, his yield doubling in an instant.
Ren watched in awe.
He’s able to increase his power so much?!
“Not yet!” Akira grunted, “Layer… Thirty!!”
His muscles squeezed, pushing past their limits.
“Layer Forty!!!”
He’s still going!?
Ren put his arms up to block the shockwaves of Akira’s power.
“LAYER… FIFTY!!!”
Akira’s skin began to peel, revealing golden aether that poured out of his body.
Before he could stabilize his runes, his aura sputtered out— his body collapsing to the ground.
Ren’s mouth dropped open.
I’ve never seen a trader or a criminal that powerful…
He must really be from the UFA… luckily, it seems that he’s already sustained too much damage.
I’m not entirely sure that I would have won that fight.
Ren secured Akira, Rygar, and Gareth, as well as all the other thugs who were still unconscious.
He and his fellow guards, who arrived, took them back to the watchtower and locked them up in the jail cells.
[The next morning]
Asuka slowly rose from bed, her mouth opened wide, and her arms outstretched as she yawned.
She looked out her window, the sun smiling back at her in the bright blue sky.
[About an hour later]
I should’ve known Akira would have gone off on his own. Dammit, I wasn’t able to sense his aether because he’d been suppressing it since we got to Ron. No, maybe we should’ve gotten the same room…
“Is something bothering you, miss?” Bosch asked as he was leading her to meet with Jonas.
Asuka’s face flushed, her hands waving in front of her, “N-no, everything’s fine, why?”
“We’re here,” Bosch said, showing her into the guild hall.
“Ah, Asuka! I’m glad you could join me so early in the day,” Jonas said as he lay back on his sofa.
There was a large platter of delectable foods on the coffee table, drinks already poured for the two of them.
“It’s a shame Akira couldn’t make it,” he chuckled slyly.
“Right…” she said as she sat down.
“So, were you able to find the contraband?”
Jonas sighed, “Straight to business, huh. But I like that about you!”
He snapped his fingers, gesturing towards Bosch.
“Bring it.”
Bosch retrieved a covered dish, handing it to Jonas.
“Are you ready?” he leaned in, his grin widening, “Ta-da!” he dazzled as he removed the cover, revealing a blackish-gray metallic collar.
“Woah…” Asuka sat forward and ran her fingers against the sleek metal.
This is some serious tech!
She looked up at Jonas.
“Were you able to trace it?”
“Bosch, go ahead.”
“Yes, sir,” Bosch said as he stepped forward.
“This item you see before you is an advanced control collar that links the aether between the person wearing the collar and the one who placed it.
We currently aren’t sure about its limits, but it has proven to allow even the weakest of men to control powerful slaves without flaw.”
Woah… Jonas thought, so technically I could…
He glanced at Asuka.
No, no, that’s crazy, he waved his hand in denial.
Asuka gulped.
With sweat running down her cheeks, she decided to take a sip of her drink.
Bosch’s eyes tracked Asuka’s every move with unsettling precision.
“As to who is distributing, these collars…” Bosch continued slowly, keeping a careful eye on Asuka as she took a sip.
Dammit… Asuka staggered. Something doesn’t feel right.
She fell out of her seat, leaning forward as she clutched her abdomen.
“Hey, are you alright?!” Jonas jumped forward to try to help her.
Bosch leapt towards the coffee table, picking up the collar. Then he turned towards Asuka, lunging towards her neck.
“What are you do—”
Boom!
Bosch knocked Jonas into the wall, leaving him unconscious— blood trickling down from his head.
Now, she’s mine! Bosch thought as he lunged towards Asuka again.
Out of nowhere, Asuka gracefully danced around his clutches— kicking the collar out of his hands, then kicking his chin as she walked up his chest with a backflip.
W-what!?
Bosch stumbled backwards.
The poison didn’t work?!
Asuka’s aether hummed steadily as it released from her body.
[The watchtower basement]
Akira was lying in a dark cell, the cold stone floor sticking to his raw skin.
His wrists and ankles were shackled to the wall with heavy cast iron.
Dammit, to think I would burn out before I even got to fight him… If only I hadn’t let up on my training.
I’d be able to use Utopic Pressure and beat that guy easily.
Akira slouched into the wall, toiling away at his defeat.
Then, he suddenly sprang up.
What was that?! It felt like Asuka’s aether.
She’s going all out? Then she must be in danger!
“I’ve gotta get out of here…” Akira whispered.
[The guild hall]
Damn, this guy isn’t a pushover, Asuka thought as she wiped sweat off her forehead.
“Then it seems I won’t be able to hold back much longer,” she said as she gripped her fists tightly.
She released her full yield, the earth quaking as she shook the entire building.
The roof exploded, exposing the room to the cornfield-blue blanket of a sky.
This won’t be easy… Bosch thought as he took up his stance.
With both hands in the air, slightly open, he was ready to fight against her.
“Seems like you’re having some trouble, Bosch,” A man in a dark cloak said as he descended on the building.
“M-master!?” Bosch immediately turned to kneel.
“Please, forgive my incompetence. I was unable to deal with the pests myself.”
“Hmph, don’t fret. These UFA guys are a bit more than you can handle anyway,” The man smirked as he took off his hood.
His spiky green hair and red eyes were as unforgettable as they were unnerving.
I think I’ve seen this guy before in the UFA database. He’s wanted in several systems in Solaris!
Asuka crouched low, creamy white aether and orange sparks flying out of her.
Spirit Resonance!
“Oh?” the ringleader said. “There’s something off about your aether. You’re stronger than you let on, aren’t you?”
Can he notice the difference with Spirit Resonance? Asuka clenched her teeth. As expected, this guy is a threat.
“No matter, I’ll just dispose of you quickly,” the ringleader raised up one hand as all its knuckles cracked.
I have to get this over with before Ren returns from patrolling other cities.
He pulled out a large silver syringe and stuck it straight into his neck.
As the red fluid flowed into his body, his veins pulsated irregularly, and his muscle mass grew extensively.
“POWER!” he yelled as he transformed into a brute.
Master… Bosch thought as he watched in amazement.
To think he would use a prototype drug without hesitation like that. Our opponent must be incredible.
Bosch glanced over at Asuka.
Asuka and the ringleader both Aether-Skipped, skating around the remains of the room as they ascended into the air.
They clashed equally, but Asuka had the upper hand.
As I would expect from a UFA warrior, the ringleader thought.
“But!”
He pulled out a gun from the back of his belt.
“Huh!?” Asuka staggered in hesitation.
He shot a laser aimed straight for her heart.
“Asuka!!” Akira swooped in, reinforcing his arm with as much aether as he could.
The laser burned straight through, but by moving his arm, he was able to redirect it.
“A-Akira!”
His arm! He got hurt because of me!
“D-don’t worry, I’ll heal you right away!”
“Wait,” Akira grimaced.
“These guys aren’t going to give us the chance for that.”
Bosch ascended into the air next to the ringleader.
The four of them entered a standoff.
“I’ll take the big one,” Akira said as sweat poured down him like the side of a cold drink.
“Are you sure? With your injury…”
And something seems off about him.
“I’m fine. Besides, you’re already at your limit. Just focus on dealing with Bosch so you can help me.”
Akira glared at Bosch.
Can’t believe this bastard is working with the traders… and what happened to Jonas?
Akira’s vision darted as he searched for him.
“Don’t you think you should be focusing on me!?” The ringleader shot several lasers with his gun.
“Tsk.”
Akira narrowly weaved through the lasers.
This guy just doesn’t let up.
Akira brought his hands to his sides, gathering his aether.
“Celestial Rend…” he whispered.
“I won’t let you!” The ringleader pulled out a rope net full of energy grenades, tossing them at Akira.
Dragon Flash!
Akira zipped around, avoiding the bombardment.
“Verse of Falling Stars! Star Destroyer!”
A yellow beam of light shot out from Akira’s hands, searing the ringleader’s gun out of his hand.
“Damn, that’s hot!”
Akira dashed in close, putting pressure on him with fisticuffs.
Despite only using one arm, he was able to overwhelm the ringleader.
At the same time, Bosch was being pushed back by Asuka’s blows.
This… won’t do. Bosch thought as he glanced over at Akira and the ringleader.
“Don’t take your eyes off me!” Asuka shouted.
“Impact Fist!”
Her punch erupted in a thunderous explosion, knocking Bosch back into the ruined guildhall.
As he stumbled up to his feet, he saw a metallic shimmer within his field of vision.
Is that?!
Asuka watched from above, a thin cloud of smoke covering the building.
What’s taking him so long? I know I didn’t hit him that hard. I held back a little.
Then, she saw a stream of smoke blast off from the cloud.
What!?
Asuka was slow to react, but she fired two blasts of aether at the moving smoke.
The hits connected, but it was only a chair that was destroyed.
Another stream of smoke appeared in the opposite direction, heading towards Akira.
Asuka flinched.
It was a fake?! What’s he after?
The color left her face when she noticed what was in his hand.
“A-Akira! Watch out!”
But it was too late.
Akira turned to look at her, but Bosch had already advanced on him, placing the collar on his neck before he could finish off the ringleader.
The ringleader huffed, covered in sweat: “g-good work, Bosch. Now,” his lips widened deviously, “how about you send him to go clean up the UFA.”
“Oh no…” Asuka whispered.
[Next Time on Lyte of Utopia]: “Akira vs. The UFA!”
[Yield Levels]:
Asuka: 5m
- Suppressed (Idle): 5
- SR: 500m (Physical)
- IF: x50
Akira: 1b
- Suppressed (Idle): 1
- Suppressed (vs Thugs): 100,000
- Suppressed (vs Brute): 150,000
- GEML10: 10b
- SR: 100b (Physical)
- SR + GEML10: 10b (1t) (Physical)
- SR + GEML20: 20b (2t) (Physical)
- Draconic Fury: x100
Jonas: 10
Bosch: 2m
- Suppressed: 15
Gareth: 50,000
Thugs: 5,000 – 20,000
Brute: 80,000
Ringleader: 50m
- Red Doping: 500m
Supreme Guardian Ren: 1t
- Focus: 10t
Rygar: 1t (Physical)