Arc II: “Universal Threat”
Chapter III: “Gang War”
Episode I: “Escape”
[Earlier that day — Aboard the Phantom]
“Sikira,” Frame said as he and Sheets stepped into the brig.
“We’re here to relieve you. Report to the armory for some… equipment.”
Sikira turned: Frame— tall and slim; Sheets— short, a bit chubby.
“Okay.”
She pushed off the wall and left the brig.
“Oh! Damn— I left my other sock in my quarters. Hey, Sheets…”
“Huh?” Sheets blinked.
“Keep an eye on these two, alright? I’ll be right back. No matter what, don’t open the cell!”
“Uh-huh.”
[A few minutes later]
“Oh no!” Riella yelled. “I think Akira might be dead! Sheets— You have to check and see if he’s breathing!”
“Huh?”
“Akira’s aether signature just vanished! You have to make sure he’s still alive!”
“Alive? W-why not alive?”
“Hurry! Before it’s too late!”
Sheets hovered over the control panel, squinting— then jabbed the unlock for Akira’s cell.
Yes! Riella thought, pumping her fist.
Sheets slipped into the cell.
Akira was lying on his side, back turned. Sheets eased forward— his hand reaching for Akira’s shoulder—
“Ha!”
Akira sprang up and cracked Sheets across the jaw.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
One punch— lights out.
“It worked!”
Akira bolted out and slid to the control panel.
“Nice! Now let me out of here!”
As Akira stabbed a few sequences across the keys, an error tone sounded a couple of times.
“There!”
Riella’s cell clicked open— and Sheets’ cell was locked shut.
“Alright, let’s get out of here before Ronin gets back!”
“Right!”
[A few hours ago]
Akira opened his eyes.
“Argh… where am I?”
“Akira!? Is that you!?” Riella’s voice pushed into Akira’s mind.
“Riella?” Akira said aloud.
Across the brig, Sikira glanced over— clocking that he awoke.
“We’re on the A.S.S. Gang’s ship! You had me worried; you’ve been unconscious for days!
I’m speaking to you telepathically, so all you have to do is think about what you want to say, and I’ll hear it.”
“Heh, really? That’s cool. Well, you don’t have to worry anymore. I’m back, and better than ever!”
“Great, but we’re still trapped here. Eventually, Ronin will collar us and force us to fight our friends!”
“Hm. I think I have a plan.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. While I was out, I was in the Utopic Plane— an astral realm where I can meet with the Spirit of Utopia.
While I was there, it taught me a new trick. And I think it can help us get out of here.”
Akira lay down on his side; a cheeky smile sprouting on his face.
[After Rikito vs. Kyte]
Lian and Asuka loaded everyone onto a hovercraft and banked toward Kona Island.
“Thank God that Zane has this Aeroglider!” Lian said. “Before he learned how to fly, he made this contraption from eclipsed steel.”
Lian pulled out a round device with a button forged into its center.
“This button acts as a beacon for the Aeroglider so it can find its user.”
Asuka frowned.
How are we going to beat them…?
Lian glanced at her, and a warm smile spread across his face.
“Hey, don’t worry. We will find a way to deal with this. But first, we need to regroup.”
“Yeah… I’m just worried about Akira…”
[This morning, in the brig]
“So, what is it… this new ability?”
“Divine aether.”
“Divine aether? What is that?”
“According to what the Spirit said, Divine aether is on a different wavelength than the Natural aether that mortals can sense. It resonates at a higher harmony with the Song of Aether… or something like that. My status as the God of Utopia made it easy for me to pick it up in a short time.”
“How is that going to help us?”
“Simple. Normal mortals aren’t able to read this wavelength of aether. So, if I can switch to it right now, I can fake my death. Then you’ll get someone to open my cell.”
“That’s… only going to work on someone really gullible.”
[After Frame left]
Wow, we couldn’t be luckier! Sheets is probably the most gullible person in existence! Riella thought.
[Now]
“So, where are we going first?” she asked.
“I’m starving—” Akira said as his stomach grumbled. “Let’s go steal some food.”
“I… don’t think that’s smart. The mess hall probably has the highest concentration of criminals.”
“So? That just makes it easier to find them. Besides, Ronin isn’t here yet— and even if he was, he wouldn’t beat me so easily.”
Riella rolled her eyes.
“Fine.”
They slipped through the eclipsed-steel corridors—recycled air biting the nose—and made for the mess hall.
[The sky above the destroyed island]
“I can’t believe you were actually defeated, Kyte,” Ronin said, carrying Kyte’s limp body over his shoulder.
“Ugh…”
His body was lined with bruises and energy burns.
“I suppose… I’ll have to use a stim on you.”
Ronin pulled out a syringe with neon-green fluid. He drove it into Kyte’s back and depressed the plunger.
Within moments, the flesh around Kyte’s wounds began to knit together.
It sure helps that he’s part Utopian…
“Now… let’s make our way back to my ship, shall we?”
[The mess hall]
Akira was tearing through plate after plate of food.
“I know we’re pressed for time, but do you have to stuff your face?” Riella said, her nose wrinkling as she scrunched her face.
“I haf do. Goo wever oh hen Honin ill coom ack!” Akira mumbled through a mouthful of food.
Riella turned to face the center of the mess hall— a mound of groaning criminals, easily ten feet high, was sprawled in the center.
He sure is strong… He beat these guys in a couple of seconds, and I couldn’t even see any of it! Me— a Captain in the Cosmic Guard!
“Akira.”
“Hm?”
“There’s something you should know.”
“What?” he said, swallowing a large bite of chicken.
“It’s… Sikira’s reason for betraying you. And about your brother.”
[Next Time on Lyte of Utopia]: “The Matt Brothers”
[Yield Levels]:
Sikira: 100b
Frame: ???
- Suppressed: 1qd
Sheets: ???
- Suppressed: 1t
Riella: 500m
- Suppressed: 5
Akira: 2b
- Suppressed: 1
- Aether Resurgence: Surge + Mental Training: 20t
- Divine Pressure: 20qd
Lian: 40b
Asuka: 10t
Ronin: ???
- Suppressed: 1qt
Kyte: 5t
- Weakened: 5
- Stimmed: 5m