Arc II: “Universal Threat”
Chapter III: “Gang War”
Episode II: “The Matt Brothers”
Frame returned to the brig.
“What!? The prisoners are gone! …What happened?”
He clocked that Akira and Riella were missing— and Sheets was locked up in their place.
“Sheets, get up!”
“Huh?” Sheets finally stirred.
“Dammit— I leave you for a few minutes and this is what happens? Shit— Ronin is going to kill us for this!”
Frame turned off the laser gate and hauled Sheets up.
“Come on, we’ve got to go find those sneaky rats!”
Frame yanked Sheets upright, and the two set off to hunt the escapees.
“But… where search?” Sheets asked.
“Well, if I were a Kaelithian who hadn’t eaten in days, the first thing I would do is steal some food,” Frame said, tapping his chin; his boot ticked against the alloy floor.
[Kona Island]
“There’s someone you want us to meet?” Asuka asked the Headmaster.
“Yes… There’s someone here to visit you all from the Cosmic Guard. He should arrive by tomorrow.”
I wonder who it could be… for the Headmaster to come in person just to tell us himself…
Everyone was still recovering from the brawl with Kyte.
Rikito and Draig were already up and about, itching for another battle.
Zane worked the kinks out of his suit, panels sighing as they reseated.
Leo and Malek were resting in bed, and Darc and Rayon were reporting to the UFA again.
A UFA officer burst into the room—
“Headmaster! It’s confirmed! Our scouts have located the A.S.S. Gang’s ship in the Northeastern Region! The Cosmic Guard is ready to intercept them!”
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
“Hmph… already, eh. Alright, give the order. Prepare all officers to engage in combat with the A.S.S. Gang.”
“Yes, sir!” The officer sprinted out.
“What’s going on?” Asuka asked.
“Yes… I suppose it would be good for your friends to participate too. Make sure you tell them. The UFA and Cosmic Guard are going to fight the A.S.S. Gang. We end them here! Now, if you will please excuse me, I must inform our guest of the change in plans.”
[Thirty minutes ago]
“Come on, Akira— we have to go! You’ve had enough food!”
“Just wait! One more plate!” Akira said, trying to stuff his face.
“Well, well... what do we have here!” Frame said as he and Sheets stepped into the mess hall.
Dammit, we were too late!
“Huh, who’s that?” Akira asked.
“Ugh,” Riella groaned, slamming her knuckles into his skull, “they’re two of the strongest criminals in the A.S.S. Gang. And now they’ve found us before we could escape because of your gluttony!”
“The strongest? Really? Let’s go!” Akira celebrated.
“What? Why are you so happy? This is bad, very bad!”
“Why wouldn’t I be? If these guys are as strong as you say they are, then that’s the perfect challenge to test my new powers against!”
Riella sighed.
This is why I hate Kaelithians…
“So, you guys ready or what?” Akira asked them as he dropped his plate and stood up.
“You’re a confident one… most people shit their pants when they feel the gap in our yields…” Frame chuckled.
Which is strange, ‘cause I can’t sense any aether from this guy at all!
“Well, I’m not like most people,” Akira smirked. “Which one of you guys is going first? Or would you guys rather fight me both at the same time? The latter might be more entertaining, so let’s just go with that.”
“Why you— don’t underestimate us! We’re the Matt brothers! Go get him, Sheets, show him who we are!”
“Huh?”
“Argh… Sheets, that man is very bad, okay? He wants to steal all your candy! Now go get him!” he said, pointing his finger at Akira.
“What? Bad man want steal my candy? NEVERR!”
Sheets blew his yield wide open from the start.
Wow, sometimes I forget this guy is almost as strong as me when he actually gets serious!
“That’s more like it!” Akira said. “Now, me too— Perfect Spirit Resonance!”
His aura kicked up, heat rippling the air.
An impressive aura… but I still can’t tell how strong he is! Sheets better last long enough for me to see how this guy fights.
Akira brought his fists up, dropping into a wide stance— feet past shoulder width.
An unusual form… Frame thought. Not to mention that he’s Ronin’s interest— this guy isn’t some ordinary warrior.
Sheets ran at full speed towards Akira, but he stayed calm and held his ground. Before Sheets reached him, he vanished.
Frame’s gaze darted as he watched the scuffle.
Where’d he go!? He was so fast I didn’t even see it!
Akira reappeared above Sheets.
“Dragon Combination!”
He raked Sheets with a cascading combo— elbow, knee, palm—until his lights went out.
“That’s one down, one to go.”
Akira rolled his neck, standing over Sheets. He had a deadly look in his eye as he glared at Frame.
Shit… this guy is powerful.
“Ha! You might have beaten Sheets, but he’s a complete fool! I’ll show you true strength,” Frame boasted as aether roared off his body.
Wow… I don’t remember Akira being this strong! And he’s not even using that new form that he showed at the tournament! Riella thought, her eyes wide.
They squared up.
After a long standoff, Frame was the first to flinch. He jumped back into the air while firing three red-lanced blasts of aether.
Akira slipped past them, but the blasts arced back, tracking him. As Akira wove between them, Frame Aether-Skipped behind— hands already shaping his next strike.
“I have you now!”
Akira Aether-Skipped on the instant; the three blasts scissored into Frame.
“Argh, dammit!”
“What a shame… I thought you guys would be a challenge, but it seems I was wrong.”
“I’ll show you, you bastard!”
Frame produced a red syringe and jacked it into a wrist bracelet—a design uncomfortably close to Kyte’s collar.
After a few seconds, Frame’s eyes burned red; veins corded, muscles swelling as his power detonated.
What’s this? Akira wondered.
Frame rushed at Akira again, catching him off guard.
Woah— he’s faster this time.
Akira spun around the first strike, caught the second on his guard, then hammered Frame back.
Without a moment’s rest, Frame gathered aether into his hands as he slid across the room.
“HAAA!”
He hurled a red beam that shaved the ceiling, filling the mess hall with ozone.
“Is he insane? He’ll breach the hull!” Riella cried.
Celestial Rend: Verse of Stellar Fracture:
“Star… BREAKER!”
Akira’s beam swallowed Frame’s, punching daylight through the hull of the Phantom.
The cloaking failed— the ship flickered into view, hull rippling with waves of static.
“Come on, Riella!”
He yanked her in, scooped her by the waist, and rocketed out into the open sky.
[Next Time on Lyte of Utopia]: “Truth”
[Yield Levels]:
Frame: 13qt
- Doping: 130qt
- Red Blast: x2
- Red Beam: x10
Sheets: 1t
- Serious: 7qt
Asuka: 10t
Headmaster: 10m
UFA Officer: 5m
Akira: 20t
- DP: 20qd
- SR: (PSR) + DP: 20qt
- Star Breaker: x1000
Riella: 500m