Arc II: “Universal Threat”
Chapter III: “Gang War”
Episode IV: “War”
[The next morning]
Sunlight cracked through a gray-washed horizon, peeling night from the sea.
“They’re here! They’re here!” a criminal shouted, voice cracking.
The criminals scrambled as the UFA and Cosmic Guard’s squadron of aircraft fanned in— downdraft, kicking sand and salt into the air.
“Stay calm! Hold your ground!” Rump barked.
Dammit… Master Ronin isn’t back yet, and Kyte and Frame are still out of commission!
“Don’t worry, Rump. I’m right here,” Frame said, he and Sheets striding out beneath the hull’s shadow.
“It’s about time— the authorities are right on top of us!”
“We’ll deal with them accordingly. Get everyone into position!”
[In the air above Wave Island]
“We’re here!” Zane yelled, visor flaring.
Officers and guardsmen rained from the sky, contrails hissing as they dropped through the cloud-break.
“C’mon— let’s go too! Let’s go save Akira!” Asuka shouted.
“Right!” Leo and the others soared downward with her.
[Hidden Heights]
“Do you feel that?” Akira asked, eyes narrowing.
“What?” Riella asked.
“There’s a disturbance… something big is about to break.”
Does his new wavelength widen what he can pick up on? Riella wondered.
“So, are we going?” she asked, already stuffing gear into her pack.
“Yeah…”
I feel like this isn’t the only thing going on, though… Akira thought.
[Wave Island]
The two factions collided— a large-scale battle ripping across the small island.
Criminals sprang snare-lines and false signals, trying to steal an edge on the trained officers and guardsmen.
“Let’s get in on this, too, Darc!” Rayon yelled as he dropped into the chaos.
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“Right!”
“Well, look what we have here. You two look a bit stronger than the rest of these fools,” Horse said, a guardsman dangling from his fist. “Maybe I can finally have some fun.”
“Put him down!” Rayon barked, rushing in.
Horse slipped aside; Rayon snatched the guardsman and laid him down.
“Don’t worry— you’re alright now.”
“Really?” Horse purred.
He lanced a beam through the guardsmen’s heart. The body folded; Horse chuckled, tongue wetting his lips.
“You—! Darc! Let’s do it now!”
“Already?”
“Yeah! Hey, you!” Rayon shouted as he pointed at Horse. “If you want a challenge so badly, then just wait right there— we’ll show you a great one!”
“Is that so? Alright, I’ll wait.”
“Okay, here goes…” Darc said, shaping a small aether dome around them.
Rayon poured his aether out, an array etching underfoot. They stood in its heart as the red glow climbed, as the wind began to hum.
“Duality Bond!” they cried in unison as the ritual sealed.
Their bodies slumped within the barrier as their souls spiraled upward — knitting into an ethereal body in the sky.
“Alright!” Daryon shouted.
“Spirit Bloom!” he roared, dropping like a comet.
“Wow, you weren’t wrong— that’s some impressive power you have there!”
The two blurred together, shockwaves shredding spray off the surf.
Strength and speed matched— neither could seize the lead.
[Elsewhere on the battlefield]
“Lian! Are you alright?!” Zane yelled.
He was already armored up in his Exo Suit, yet he was still getting worked.
Dammit— why is she so powerful!
“Yes, I-I’m fine,” Lian said, pushing to his feet.
“Ugh, you guys are boring. Can you point me to someone stronger I can fight against?” Bunbun yawned.
She’s just toying with us! Lian thought, teeth gritting.
“I’ll show you why I’m the guardian of this system! HAA!”
A cyan-blue aura flared off Lian— his power surging.
“W-what’s that!?” Zane gasped.
Lian blitzed Bunbun again, newfound power tearing the air—
—but it was nowhere near enough to close the gap. Bunbun walked them down.
A withered voice tolled in Lian’s mind.
“Lian! Focus your power! Our people chose you to lead the new age. This is your moment — lift your head and fight. Fight with our strength!”
His predecessor’s words reverberated through both bone and Flux.
Is that you…? Wait no— I need to focus.
Lian closed his eyes as a great wave of energy welled up from the deep channels within him.
Is that? Zane wondered.
He watched Lian closely.
It must be— he’s finally into his true Elandarian potential!
Lian’s yield climbed even further.
What!? Bunbun flinched. How’d his yield jump like that? I'd better take the serum before it’s too late!
She yanked a red syringe and angled it towards her collar.
“Dazzling Flash Spiral!”
A lattice of energy beams ripped from Lian’s hands in a flash of light, spearing Bunbun’s chest before she could press the plunger.
Zane eyed the red liquid spattered across the sand.
“What is that?”
“I’m not sure… whatever it is, I’m sure it must be dangerous—”
Lian sagged, his aura guttering as he returned to his natural state.
“Are you alright?” Zane said, rushing over to him.
“Yes… I’m fine.”
“You should take a break. You’ve done more than enough.”
[In another battle…]
Rump squared up against three opponents: Leo, Malek, and Draig.
“Look at all the people he’s killed,” Leo said, jaw tight.
“Yeah, yeah, worry about that later. For now, let’s just make sure we don’t end up like them!” Draig yelled.
“Spirit Ascension!”
His aether flared, and he launched for Rump.
Rump caught his fist, snuffing the strike, and didn’t let go.
“Dammit, Ashen Flame!”
He blasted with his off hand; it fizzled against Rump’s frame.
“This one’s no joke,” Malek said.
“I still don’t like this plan…” Leo said.
“Sorry, you’ll have to deal. You’re our trump card, so you have to save your strength. Draig won’t fold that easily, and I can restore his stamina later. For now, we observe.”
“Right.”
Draig and Rump traded— knuckles cracking the air.
Rump stopped bothering to block and sped up his offense. Draig’s hits still did nothing; he shifted to defense — and still got driven back.
Dammit… looks like I won’t be able to do anything without my Dragon Drive after all.
“Here goes— New Dragon Drive!”
Draig’s fiery aura billowed, larger than ever before.
“HA!” He shouted, rushing Rump again.
“Foolish.”
Rump read it and slipped aside with a single step.
Then he drilled a fist into Draig’s gut; his form snapped, and Draig hit the ground.
“Draig!” Leo shouted.
“Dammit! Let’s go, Leo!”
“Right! Fourth Threshold: Dominion!”
His aura reddened; his muscles corded.
Malek closed his eyes to Focus his power.
Then he intoned, “Ten Heavenly Bodies, Seven High Mountains, Heavenly Spirit… Sun God Mode!”
The two of them dashed at Rump.
Malek led with his best art:
“One Vibrant Sun!”
“Not half bad,” Rump said. “B-Dial!”
A slicing disk carved straight through the orb.
“Damn!” Malek yelled.
“Dominion of Gravitas: Locus Seal: Gravity Blast!”
Leo fired at Rump, but this time he dodged the attack.
I sense something strange about that energy… Ah, yes. That must be the technique that Kyte warned me to watch out for.
“Argh… this will be hard if I can’t tag him! Looks like I’ll have to bring it out sooner than I thought,” Leo said.
[Next Time on Lyte of Utopia]: “War II”
[Yield Levels]:
UFA Officers: 100,000 – 20m
Cosmic Guardsmen: 10m – 100m
Criminals: 3m – 100m
Akira: 20t
- DP: 20qd
Riella: 500m
Rayon: 10t
Darc: 1t
Daryon: 2qd
- Spirit Bloom: 1qt
Horse: 5qt
Lian: 40b
- Peak Form: 2t
- Hidden Potential: 40qd (Natural State)
- PF + HP: 1qt
- Dazzling Flash Spiral: x100
Zane: 30b
- ES + OD: 300qd
Bunbun: 1qt
Leo: 10t
- T4: 100qd
- T4 + THB: 200qd
- Gravity Blast: x2
Malek: 8b
- F + SGM + SHM + THB + HS: 160qd
- One Vibrant Sun: x1000
Draig: 12t
- SA: 2.4qd
- SA + NDD: 240qd
- Ashen Flame: x500
Rump: 10qt
- B-Dial: x100