The Light of Humanity

Before Guts Wing 2 had even reached Kashima Beach, Ligatron had already breached the defenses of the Energy Development Bureau and begun absorbing high-purity energy.

Guts Wing 1, its attacks as ineffective as a light massage, fired lasers that looked like a meteor shower, yet only managed to knock off a few fragments.

To the fifty-meter-tall Ligatron, it felt as refreshing as a free hot shower that scrubbed away dead skin, followed by a cold beer.

"It's useless, our attacks!" Shinjoh pressed the trigger mechanically, the lasers continuing to explode harmlessly against Ligatron's hide.

The only missiles capable of dealing effective damage had already been expended; now, only the laser cannons remained.

Under the splashing sparks, as if being cheered on, it began to absorb the high-purity energy even faster.

This sense of despair was shattered by a sudden incoming transmission.

"We have arrived at the Kashima coast. Commence attack immediately!"

Amidst Munakata's booming command, missiles extended from the belly of Guts Wing 2, and the laser cannons at the front immediately opened fire.

Powerful firepower poured onto Ligatron, the sheer force of the impact driving it back two steps.

Its single yellow eye atop its head glanced at Guts Wing 2. Whether it had absorbed enough energy or the human wills within its body were resisting, Ligatron prepared to flee, thick smoke venting from the holes in its back.

Guts Wing 2 fired missiles and beams frantically, yet it still failed to intercept Ligatron.

The massive steel body shot into the sky like a rocket and vanished into the horizon.

News of the monster's appearance spread rapidly through TPC headquarters, reaching even Zhou Hong, who was still in the training room.

Even as he sat at Grandma's place for the meal, he was still thinking about how to rescue those three humans who possessed such brilliant light.

"Ah Hong, your teammates are all here today, why are you still so gloomy?" Grandma looked at Zhou Hong, who was entertaining his teammates with a distracted air, feeling somewhat dissatisfied.

Grandma's gaze gestured frantically toward the woman sitting nearby.

Zhou Hong scratched his hair, "Just thinking about some things."

"I'm not great with words, but since we're all teammates, just treat this like your own home—eat and drink whatever you want."

He hadn't been this sullen even when he went out to hammer the Kyrieloid, and Uncle Li figured this guy must be pining for a woman.

He immediately shoved a few bottles of beer over, signaling for a drinking contest to get him to loosen up so he could get things done.

Then, Uncle Li collapsed and didn't move again.

The meal had been quite happy, but once it was over, everyone except Grandma and Zhou Hong was lying on the floor like corpses.

Half were exhausted, half were drunk.

With Grandma's help, he moved Yumimura to a room, then grabbed the sweaty men like piglets and stacked them in another room like a pile of arhats.

As soon as he returned to his own room, Zhou Hong entered the Ultra Heart.

"We are already clear on this matter," Joneus said, arms crossed, his tone steady. "But I am sorry, I do not possess such a technique."

Looking at Joneus's muscular frame, one could tell he was a combat-oriented type, so Zhou Hong hadn't expected much from him anyway.

His gaze shifted to the side, toward Nexus, who was said to be an incarnation of Noa.

He was met only with Nexus's slow shake of the head.

"I have several skills that can reduce an enemy to molecules and atoms, leaving not even a scrap behind, but I cannot convert human light—which is all that remains of them—back into human form."

"As for Ace, you know how he is."

He was very well-versed in tearing monsters limb from limb, but when it came to rescue operations...

In other words, under the tutelage of three brutes, I am destined to become a brute myself!

Nexus's tone shifted, "However, this universe is vast. The light of human will might, in some corner of the cosmos, transform into an Ultra Warrior."

"Furthermore, I do not believe that their transformation back into humans would necessarily be a happy outcome."

Regarding this heavy topic, Nexus held the deepest of memories.

The dark beings replicated from the light, the giants of human darkness, and the strike teams that attacked Ultra Warriors.

He was all too aware of the profound darkness hiding beneath the brilliant radiance of humanity.

He had crossed through hell, but not everyone could cross the abyss.

Jostar nodded with a sense of helplessness, "I think TPC has plenty of people who enjoy bullying their superiors."

This group had done more than a few things where policies were communicated but never actually executed.

Jostar's slightly lowered head snapped upward, "Then there is nothing left to hesitate about."

"Let Tiga and Jostar present a performance titled 'The Light of Humanity'."

Perhaps because of the anticipation, the sun appeared earlier than usual. As it rose to a certain height, a silver body wreathed in crimson flames plunged from space into the atmosphere.

The air boiled, and the sound of the atmosphere vibrating was enough to make most people start fleeing. Ligatron charged precisely toward the Tsurusaki Power Plant, though its landing point was slightly off.

Perhaps for it, a distance of a dozen kilometers was nothing more than a few strides.

This time, GUTS arrived with exceptional speed; after Ligatron destroyed a few high-voltage pylons, they had already reached its position.

And then, Guts Wing 1 began its legendary career.

Under the dim, overcast sky, the halos of light radiating from Tiga and Jostar were exceptionally brilliant.

"Jostar has actually appeared alongside Tiga?" Munakata muttered from inside Guts Wing 2, watching the two giants below.

Tiga also glanced at Jostar with slight surprise, but since Ligatron continued its advance, he gave Jostar an Ultra nod before charging toward the monster.

His clenched fist slammed heavily into Ligatron's body, but the resulting recoil forced him to take a step back, shaking his hand in pain.

If he were the only Ultra, he would have to be that Tiga who never gives up, lonely yet not alone, the one who never fails.

But with a partner by his side, those heavy punches suddenly felt a bit softer.

Jostar was not surprised by Tiga's performance; almost every Ultra Warrior reacted this way when facing a mechanical enemy for the first time.

The usual tactic was to wear them down with hand-to-hand combat and then decide the outcome with a beam attack.

When heavy fists collided with steel, they would realize that this path was simply a dead end.

Yet today, even if it was a dead end, he was determined to force his way through.

His diamond-shaped eyes shimmered with a more brilliant luster, and his towering frame arrived before Ligatron as if he had teleported.

Knowing full well it would have no effect, he let his heavy punches fall upon Ligatron like raindrops.

The pain transmitted back through his fists was the price of his resolve.

[Come, come! Light of humanity, show me a radiance even more brilliant than that of an Ultra Warrior.]