Arc II: “Universal Threat”
Chapter III: “Gang War”
Episode VI: “Rematch! Asuka vs. Sikira!”
“You should give up. You can’t win now,” Sikira purred.
“N-no… It’s not over. I’m not going to give up!” Asuka shouted, her aether flaring like heat off a kiln.
She strained, trying to force her output higher until—
—creamy-white Spirit Resonance burst forth, orange sparks stippling the air; Asuka’s hair lifted, and her eyes went white.
W-what? I thought I couldn’t use this anymore because of her technique…
Asuka tried pushing for Spirit Ascension.
Nothing. Does that mean I can’t reach Spirit Ascension at all?
“In that case,” Asuka smiled, “it’s definitely not over!”
She settled back into stance, boots grinding grit.
Okay, think… she baited out my strongest form to steal it— but she hasn’t tried to steal this one, too. Does that mean she can only steal one thing at a time? Let’s test it…
“Twin Crystal Blades!”
Twin arcs of aether screamed out, carving pale grooves through the air and shaving splinters off nearby stone.
She’s not dodging… and she can’t block these cleanly— she’s either going to invert them into negative aether, or—
Sikira raised her palms; the slashes folded into a black-violet whirl and vanished.
“Seems I was right. Your ‘Negative Force’ can only devour one target at a time.”
And to prove it…
“Ha!”
Asuka surged into Spirit Ascension— aura brightening to a blinding, glass-pure sheen as Aetherous harmonics sang around her.
“Just as I thought.”
“Knowing that won’t save you.”
“You sure? Because that means your kit has some flaws in it. For starters, I can do this—
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
I’ll increase my yield by releasing Dystopic aether into my meridians!
“Demonic Base Form!”
Her aura roughened, edges serrating the air; the ground peppered with pitted sparks. Her pupils took on violet streaks.
Sikira spat to her side, tightening her fists as she stepped forward.
“Not enough.”
Asuka blurred—
“Impact Fist!”
Her fist detonated on Sikira’s guard— a dull boom, dust rooster-tailing behind them.
“Tch—!” Sikira clutched her midriff, breath hitching.
“That borrowed power won’t carry you for long,” Asuka said, wiping a crimson smear from her lip.
When she stole my Spirit Ascension, some of my flow bled off— but none of my flow was taken when she inverted my art… Based on that, and the way her negative arts work… I’m sure that the missing energy is being used to feed her Negative Force. Which means it won’t last forever!
Asuka blurred in, air popping along her wake.
“So I just have to outlast you up close!”
“Ugh!”
Another clean shot— Sikira lagged behind Asuka’s broken-rhythm footwork; her dark aura thinned, guttering at the edges.
“Looks like your timer’s already ticking out…”
“Hmph.”
Sikira thrust out her palm; threads of light peeled off Asuka as her Spirit Ascension was snapped away.
“Not this time!” Asuka dropped back to Spirit Resonance— creamy-white aura still flaring and her eyes retaining their violet glow.
“Impact Fist!”
Another concussive hit; the ground spider-webbed beneath Sikira’s heels.
“Argh…” Sikira snarled. “Try stopping this— Negative Realm!”
Dark geometry flowered out from her feet; a pressure-sealed pocket tore open over the village.
Shit… I can’t crack this without Spirit Ascension— unless!
“Twin Crystal Blades!”
The twin cuts soared out, making their way to score the dark shell before the dome could seal.
“Negative Destroyer!”
A midnight-black beam devoured the arcs mid-flight, coiling their energy into darkness before redirecting towards Asuka.
Asuka Aether-Skipped under the beam, heat grazing her cheek.
Meanwhile, the dome of darkness solidified, sealing them in. A low ring of tinnitus skated the air; colors dulled, as if ink bled into the edges of the horizon.
So close… that almost worked. Sikira must know that too— that’s why she intercepted. But why didn’t she siphon it into her body like before? That art would feed her more than my Spirit Ascension aether.
“Aha.” Asuka’s eyes narrowed. “You haven’t run out of fuel for your Negative Force yet… Your technique lasts longer when you use the energy from transformations, doesn’t it? That’s why you didn’t try to siphon my art.”
“Shut up! Enough lectures— just fight me!”
“Oh, don’t worry— we will!”
[In front of the A.S.S. Gang’s spaceship]
Rikito mowed through the criminals outside the hull, then cut the villagers free; Cosmic Guards swept in to carry them to safety.
“Rikito!” Kyte’s voice rolled out from inside the craft.
He stepped out, steam curling off his battered skin.
“Hmph. Back for another humiliation? Don’t worry— I already wiped out all your friends; no witnesses this time.”
“They… are not my friends,” Kyte said, flat.
“Is that so. Well, I don’t care what they are to you. Tell me where Ronin is, or I’ll beat it out of you.”
“I wouldn’t tell you regardless— but don’t think I’ll go down as easily as I did last time!”
“Prove it— come!”
Rikito transformed into his Demon Spirit Resonance— a storm of ominous violet, hair and eyes darkening as cinders crackled from the aura.
“HURAHHRGH!” Kyte snapped into his Limit-Breaking Mythical Spirit Resonance, lime-gold light sheeting off him, pupils bleaching, collar rattling under the surge.
Damn... Kaelithian monster— his power is way higher than it was before!
They collided in a blur— every clash buckling air and shearing dunes; the Phantom’s panels shivered, consoles bursting into static as shockwaves tore through its guts.
“Come, let’s fight up here. We won’t have to restrict ourselves,” Kyte gestured as he flew up into the sky.
“Fine by me— I won’t have to worry about hurting Asuka with my power.”
Rikito streaked after him, vapor cones popping off his shoulders.
[High in the atmosphere – Hundreds of miles away from Wave Island]
“I never thought you would confront me on your own, Ronin,” a lone figure said, voice clear over the thin wind.
“Hmph.” Ronin’s eyes narrowed.
So, the Headmaster didn’t show up after all… he must be too old to dance with us.
“I just thought I’d deal with you first, Hikari— son of the Cosmic Guard’s Commander!”
[Next Time on Lyte of Utopia]: “Raging Battles! Hikari vs. Ronin!”
[Yield Levels]:
Sikira: 100b
- SR + RD + NF: (SA): 200t (20qd) (Physical)
- SR + RD + NF: (TCB): 400t (40qd) (Physical)
- Negative Realm (External): x10,000 (Counter / Domain)
- Negative Destroyer: x200 (Counter)
Asuka: 10t
- SR: 1qd (Physical)
- SR + DBF: 20t (2qd) (Physical)
- SA + DBF: 4qd
- Impact Fist: x100
- Twin Crystal Blades: x400
Rikito: 100t
- SR: (DeSR): 100qt
Kyte: 5t
- Aether Resurgence: (Surge): 5qd
- SR: (LBMSR): 5sx
Hikari: ???
- Suppressed: 1 septillion
Ronin: ???
- Suppressed: 1 septillion