Happy New Year

Although Jostar believed his attacks hadn't caused much destruction, the few people retreating on the ground certainly didn't think so.

Every time the violent crimson giant swung his heavy fists, he triggered sonic booms, and the gale stirred up by his massive blows swallowed everything like a tornado.

The terrain of the small hill had already been flattened into a level plain by the tempestuous winds.

With the hideous, twisted visage of a demon on his back resembling an Asura, his massive body stepped forward, each solid footfall causing tremors that rumbled like an earthquake.

With every step he took, a long, deep fissure would tear open in the earth, spreading endlessly toward the horizon.

"Spiderweb" would be an apt description, though one had to wonder what kind of spider spun a web so densely packed.

Fortunately, the crash site of GUTS Wing 1 was sufficiently remote, and the violent air currents capable of sweeping people into the sky did not reach that location.

Moreover, the battle was exceptionally ferocious, and Jostar was actually holding back his power to ensure it didn't spread in that direction.

Even so, the mere tremors of the earth were more than enough for the group to handle.

They stumbled into one another, barely able to maintain their balance by leaning against the trees.

As Ligatron moved further away, Jostar's offensive grew increasingly fierce.

His crimson fists seemed to burn, staining Ligatron's silver armor with a mesmerizing, fiery glow.

Heavy blows left shallow, almost invisible indentations on Ligatron, and its massive body was forced to retreat, gradually moving away from the Tsurusaki Power Plant.

The close-quarters grappling between Ligatron and Jostar meant Tiga could only opt to fire a few "scraping" beams from the side or behind.

The effect was negligible, but it was effective for interrupting the monster's rhythm.

Facing the giant blocking its path, Ligatron swung its sickle-like arms, attempting to strike or parry the heavy fists.

Yet, the sharp blades could not leave a single wound on Jostar, and the heat rays fired from its crossed arms left only faint white marks on his sturdy muscles.

It was as if two defensive tanks were entangled, swatting at each other with simple wooden sticks, dealing mandatory -1 damage.

This stalemate continued until the red light began to flash on Tiga's chest.

The red light warned Tiga that it was time to unleash his finisher, and he swept his arms outward in a balanced motion.

Jostar landed one final, heavy punch on Ligatron, using the impact to leap backward.

As if by telepathy, the moment he pulled back, the Zeperion Ray grazed Jostar's body and struck Ligatron.

The Zeperion Ray poured out continuously, scouring Ligatron's silver armor.

Based on past encounters with monsters, the beast should have exploded by now.

Tiga ceased the Zeperion Ray, but Ligatron suddenly sprang into action.

Crossing its sickle-arms, it fired a beam from the blades that crossed the distance before Tiga could react, sparks erupting violently against his chest.

Multi-Type Tiga lacked the defensive capabilities of Power Type, and the long-accumulated strike sent him flying backward to crash heavily onto the ground.

Tiga clutched his chest in pain, and just as he let out a soft groan of agony, the emerald timer on Jostar's chest also began to flash red.

Having narrowly escaped death and sprinted away from the aftermath of the battle, Shinjoh stood in the distance, watching with lingering fear.

Seeing Ligatron standing there like an invincible god of war, he lamented, "This won't work at all. Neither Jostar nor Tiga's attacks can penetrate its body."

"Even attacks like natural disasters can't break through its outer armor? What a terrifying monster," Munakata said, panting heavily with every word.

"Outer? Inner!"

Shinjoh suddenly realized something, and as if struck by an idea, he quickly contacted the Command Room.

"Command Room, transmit the photos and messages of the Jupita 3 astronauts' families to the computer on Jupita 3."

As Yazumi began to act, Ligatron, still entangled with Jostar, suddenly froze.

Immediately, sparks began to sputter from within its seemingly invulnerable silver armor, and the sophisticated machinery acted as if it had short-circuited.

Jostar slowly retreated, leaving the stage to the light of humanity.

As if he had already foreseen the future, Tiga leaped high into the air with his arms raised.

Ligatron stood dazed in place, and as Yazumi transmitted more information, Ligatron's behavior grew increasingly erratic.

"Yazumi, send the message through."

"Once more, survive as a human!"

"Seize the monster's energy, take its power, and use that energy to attack the monster—defeat it!"

Shinjoh's words were transmitted, word for word, to the astronauts of Jupita 3.

"Go for it!"

The encouraging voices carried the power to lift their spirits.

Ligatron's sickle-arms slammed together violently, and the erupting energy destroyed the internal structure of the limbs entirely, causing them to hang limp and useless.

The internal energy theft reached its climax.

Three rays of light, brighter than the stars, drifted up from the top of Ligatron—the radiance belonging solely to humanity.

In an instant, the lights vanished from sight, looking just like stars.

The heat and brightness radiating from the midday sun could not in the slightest dim the brilliance of those three stars.

Or rather, everything beyond those three stars seemed so dim by comparison.

With Ligatron reduced to a mere hollow shell, Jostar held his thick arms perpendicular to the ground, pure white electrical currents surging wildly between them.

The stream of light slammed into Ligatron, scattering particles of light in every direction, creating a scene that was strangely beautiful.

"This is a miracle," Munakata whispered.

"No, this belongs to the courage of humanity; they have reclaimed human dignity and valor."

Distance was no barrier; even if they were currently nowhere to be seen, Shinjoh could clearly feel their will.

"Come to think of it, where is Daigo?" Rena suddenly remembered someone.

"Daigo should have already..."

The forest had vanished, the hills had been leveled, and the earth was torn asunder; if Daigo could emerge alive from such destruction, then I would...

"Hey, everyone!"

Daigo's voice drifted in, faint and intermittent, yet his waving figure was clearly visible to the pilots.

Even Munakata, who always wore a stern expression, smiled slightly and patted Shinjoh on the shoulder.

"That kid Daigo has learned all your tricks, Shinjoh."

How could someone with Shinjoh's flight skills become an ace pilot? The answer was simple: everyone else in his class had hit "GG" during accidents.