Guts Wing 2 hadn't even reached Kashima Beach when Ligatron broke through the Energy Development Bureau's defenses and began absorbing high-purity energy.
Guts Wing 1's laser fire rained down like a meteor shower, but all it managed to knock off were a few scraps.
For the fifty-meter-tall Ligatron, it was like getting a free hot shower to scrub off dead skin, then washing it down with a beer. It felt great.
"Our attacks are useless." Shinjoh mechanically squeezed the trigger, and the lasers continued to explode harmlessly against Ligatron's body.
The missiles, the only weapons capable of inflicting real damage, had all been fired. Now they had nothing but the laser cannons.
Under the shower of sparks, it was as if they were cheering Ligatron on. It absorbed the high-purity energy even faster.
That despair was broken by a sudden radio transmission.
"We've reached Kashima Beach. We're attacking now!"
At Munakata's booming command, missiles emerged from Guts Wing 2's underside, and its forward laser cannons immediately opened fire.
The powerful barrage poured over Ligatron, and the force of the impact sent it stumbling back two steps.
The yellow cyclopean eye on its head glanced at Guts Wing 2. Whether it had absorbed enough energy or the human will inside its body was resisting, Ligatron prepared to flee. Smoke poured from the holes in its back.
Guts Wing 2 frantically launched missiles and beams, but still couldn't stop Ligatron.
The enormous steel body shot skyward like a rocket and vanished into the distance.
News of the monster's appearance quickly spread through TPC headquarters. Even Zhou Hong, who was still in the training room, heard about it.
Even as he sat eating at Grandma's place, he was still trying to figure out how he could save the three humans who shone with such brilliant light.
"Zhou Hong, all your teammates came over today. Why are you still so down in the dumps?" Grandma said, displeased as she watched him halfheartedly entertain his teammates.
Grandma kept giving him pointed looks toward the woman sitting nearby.
Zhou Hong scratched his head. "I got caught up thinking about something."
"I'm not much of a talker, but you're all teammates. Just make yourselves at home. Eat and drink as much as you like."
He hadn't been this gloomy even when he'd gone out to beat up the Kyrieloids. Uncle Li figured the guy was probably lovesick.
He promptly handed Zhou Hong several bottles of beer and challenged him to a drinking contest, urging him to drink more so he could get things done.
Then Uncle Li promptly passed out.
Everyone had been having a great time eating. But once the meal was over, everyone except Grandma and Zhou Hong was sprawled out cold.
Half of them were exhausted, and the other half were drunk.
With Grandma's help, he carried Yumimura to a room. Then, like a man hauling piglets, he piled the rest of the sweaty bunch on top of one another in another room.
As soon as he returned to his own room, Zhou Hong entered the Ultra Heart.
"We understand the situation," Joneus said gravely, arms folded across his chest. "But I'm sorry. I don't have a technique like that."
One look at Joneus's muscles told Zhou Hong he was the type to solve everything with force. He hadn't expected much from him.
His gaze shifted to Nexus, who was said to have become Noa.
Nexus slowly shook his head.
"I have a few techniques that can reduce an enemy to molecules and atoms, leaving not even a scrap behind. But I can't turn the light of humanity—the will of those who are all that remains—back into human beings."
"As for Ace, you know how he is."
He knew all about tearing monsters limb from limb and ripping them into a dozen pieces, but when it came to saving people...
So under the tutelage of three brawlers, I'm going to become a brawler too!
Nexus's tone shifted. "But this universe is vast. Perhaps somewhere out there, the light of human will could transform into an Ultra Warrior."
"And I don't believe it would make those three happy to become human again."
Nexus had the deepest memories of this painful subject.
The dark beings recreated from light, the giants born of humanity's darkness, and the teams that attacked the Ultra Warriors.
He knew all too well the profound darkness concealed beneath humanity's brilliant light.
He had crossed hell, but not everyone could cross the abyss.
Jostar nodded, looking rather helpless. "I imagine there are plenty at TPC who know how to defy those above them."
They had done it countless times: policies were handed down, only for people to refuse to carry them out.
Jostar's head had been slightly bowed, but he suddenly raised it. "Then there's nothing left to hesitate over."
"Let Tiga and Jostar put on a performance called 'The Light of Humanity.'"
Perhaps because they had been waiting, the sun appeared earlier than usual. Once it had risen to a certain height, a silver figure wreathed in crimson flames plunged from space into the atmosphere.
The air boiled, and the rumble of the shaking atmosphere sent most people fleeing. Ligatron raced straight toward Tsurusaki Power Plant, though its landing point was slightly off target.
A distance of several dozen kilometers was probably nothing more to it than a few strides.
This time, GUTS arrived exceptionally quickly. They had reached Ligatron's location by the time it had destroyed a few high-voltage power lines.
And so Guts Wing 1 began its legendary career.
Beneath the somewhat gloomy sky, the light radiating from Tiga and Jostar was especially brilliant.
"Jostar appeared alongside Tiga?" Munakata murmured from aboard Guts Wing 2, watching the two giants below.
Tiga also gave Jostar a brief, surprised glance. But Ligatron was still advancing, so he gave Jostar a little Ultra nod and charged toward it.
His tightly clenched fist slammed into Ligatron. The recoil forced him back a step, and he shook out his hand.
If he were on his own, he'd have to be Tiga—the one who never gave up, alone yet never alone, the one who would never lose.
But with a partner by his side, his punches became a little less forceful.
Jostar wasn't surprised by Tiga's performance. Almost every Ultra Warrior reacted this way the first time they faced a mechanical enemy.
They would weaken it with close combat, as usual, then settle the fight with a beam.
But when their fists collided with steel, they would realize that this approach simply wouldn't work.
But even if it wouldn't work today, he was still going to force his way through.
His diamond-shaped eyes shone even brighter. His towering body seemed to teleport right in front of Ligatron.
He knew it wouldn't do a thing, yet his fists still rained down on Ligatron.
The pain shooting through his fists was the resolve he had chosen.
[Come on, come on! Light of humanity, show them a brilliance even greater than that of the Ultra Warriors!]
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