Arc I.5: “The Cosmic Guard”
Chapter II: “Next Steps”
Episode III: “Unyielding”
Rolling over in his bed, Akira opened his eyes.
The wall next to him was made of a special type of double-layered reinforced glass.
Looking through it, he could see the vast starry backdrop…
So… this is space…
He hopped out of bed and then pressed his face against the corner of the window.
I can’t even see Earth anymore… we must have been flying for a while.
Akira turned around, hearing knocking on his door.
The door swung open, revealing Riella and her short stature behind it.
“C’mon, let’s go. Hurry up and get ready— your evaluation is about to start.
[An hour later]
The two of them walked around the hallways of the grand ship.
As they passed through the halls, random members of the guard stole looks at them, whispering about Akira.
He was known as the one who defeated Apocalypse, but hardly anyone could believe it was true.
Ignoring their glares, Akira asked: “So, what’s with this ‘evaluation’ business?”
“It’s exactly as it sounds. We’re going to test you.”
“Test me?”
“Yeah. Like your body and stuff.”
“What… does that even mean?”
Riella exhaled, “Look,” she slapped her hand against his chest, and they stopped walking.
“It’s nothing to panic over, dude. They’re just gonna analyze your composition and see how good you are with controlling aether. This is a standard procedure for those who want to be new recruits. You’re lucky you’re not being forced to go through our training to become a proper soldier!”
“Right…”
They continued walking until they reached a somewhat large room.
Man, this ship is huge… all these rooms and hallways are massive!
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And there are almost a hundred soldiers on this ship! If they all have cabin rooms like mine, then this thing really is bigger than it looks on the outside!
“This is the training hall. It’s made from a special type of material that can only be found in certain parts of the Universe. It’s reinforced with aether, so you don’t have to worry about destroying it.”
“I see…”
Akira looked around. He spotted a room on the opposite side of a glass window that was connected to the training hall.
“What’s that?” he pointed.
“Oh, that’s the analytics room. They’ll be evaluating you from inside there. This place is set up so that it can measure and record aether signatures and things of that nature.”
“Alright, sounds like fun!” Akira punched his fists together. “So, what do I have to do for this ‘evaluation’?”
Riella smirked, pointing her thumb up at herself.
“You’ll be going up against none other than me!”
[Apocalypse’s Castle]
The tears on Rikito’s face had crusted over, the skin under his eyes dry and worn.
The relentless spirits continued their torment, never letting up for an instant.
Kill me… were the only words Rikito could manage to process through the hundreds of voices calling out to him—
Then, his lips started to quiver.
He managed to whisper, “shut… up…”
He planted his hands on the floor, using all his might; every last ounce of strength remaining in his body to push himself upwards.
Out of nowhere… he finally snapped.
“SHUT UP!” He raged, his aether bursting out of him.
“RAHH!!”
His aether surged in a deep violet color as the spirits popped out of his body, circling him in a storm once again.
No… not this time… Rikito wearily thought as he staggered, stumbling from side to side.
The Spirits gathered up into a single massive blob, then charged headfirst towards Rikito.
But this time was different— Rikito caught the spirits with his bare hands, reinforced by his stifling aether.
I can feel them… their anguish, their thirst for revenge— all of it! This was your doing… wasn’t it, father?
He grunted and groaned as he squeezed his hands together, slowly condensing the spirits down into a small orb of ethereal energy.
“This is my body…” he panted, crushing the orb in his hand.
It shattered into countless pieces, dissipating into the air.
He fell forward but caught himself on one knee.
How’s that? He smirked.
You won’t beat me so… easily.
“I’ll never… lose… again!”
He passed out again, his face pressed against the black stone bricks.
[The training hall – The Cosmic Guard ship]
“You’re up against me, Akira!” Riella boasted.
“Oh yeah? Good seems like it’ll be a nice challenge.”
The workers in the analytics room gave them a thumbs up.
“Alright, we’re good to go.”
Riella walked to the opposite side of the room from Akira.
“I’m not gonna hold back, so why don’t you show everyone just what you’re capable of!”
Riella squatted, her fists clenched tightly. Her immense aether poured out of her body.
Woah, she’s no joke! Her aether is this dense… I suppose they don’t just hand out the title of captain to just anybody.
Her aura pounced, sending shockwaves throughout the room.
Inside the analytics room, there were a dozen screens and gauges all measuring her aether.
“All diagnostics are good, we may proceed,” An analyst said over the speaker.
Akira smirked, not breaking a sweat.
“That’s impressive, Riella,” he cracked his neck, “but if that’s your limit, then I guess this will be too easy.”
What’s up with him, Riella wondered.
He doesn’t seem surprised by my yield level.
She watched as he nonchalantly prepared himself, taking his time to stretch his arms and legs.
“Alright, that should be good,” He said, standing up straight with his hands on his hips.
Don’t tell me…
Akira unleashed his aether, his yield climbing uncontrollably.
In the side room, the analysts left their mouths agape as their meters shot through the roof.
“Fifty million…”
“Sixty million…”
“Seventy million…”
“He’s already stronger than most senior guards!”
“Hey, look! It’s still rising!”
“O-one hundred! He’s past one hundred million!”
He’s even stronger than me…? Riella shuddered.
“Two… no three… he’s… he’s still going!”
“HAAH!” Akira grunted as his white aura wrapped around his body.
His energy burned so brightly it seemed to dim the rest of the room, drawing every gaze towards him.
The force of his aether shook the entire ship, despite its massive size. The shockwaves almost knocked Riella over.
“Seven hundred… eight hundred…”
“Nine hundred!”
“No— It’s… It’s one billion!!”
So, this is the guy who defeated Apocalypse… Riella thought.
With sweat running down her cheek, she dropped her fists, admitting that she was outclassed.
“I give up,” she said, walking to the doors.
“Huh?” Akira watched her walk past him.
“What about the evaluation?”
“That’s a waste of time. Clearly, you’re the real deal. Besides,” she flicked her purple hair over her shoulder, “I’d rather not get my hair dirty this early in the morning.”
[Later that day]
Rumors quickly spread of Akira’s incredible yield level.
His control over aether shocked a lot of the guards who had dedicated their entire lives to honing their skills.
There was no one left who could talk ill of him.
As he walked down the halls, everyone stopped to look at him, their whispers flooding out.
But this time, their words were nothing but awe and admiration.
[Next Time on Lyte of Utopia]: “Cosmic Training”
[Yield Levels]:
Akira: 1b
- Suppressed: 1
Riella: 100m
- Suppressed: 5
Rikito: 200m
- Aether Resurgence: Blossom: 500m
- Pseudo Core Absorbed: 1b