A Silent Winter Snow Day

The story of Zhou Hong teaming up with GUTS members to fight a monster after work had spread through the base thanks to the loudspeaker.

During this time, Zhou Hong had experienced the full force of the loudspeaker.

"You bastard! What were you thinking? Why didn't you call us on Halloween night? We're teammates!" The booming voice shook dust off the ground.

Zhou Hong decisively shook his head, banishing that awful memory.

Sunlight slanted through the glass and warmed his backside. Zhou Hong got up at an unhurried pace to enjoy a rare day off.

The weather had grown colder. A heavy snowfall had come a few nights ago, and the thick white snow was still visible this morning, pushed to either side of the road and piled carelessly against the walls.

Worried Zhou Hong might upset his stomach, Grandma had set aside a meal in the warming cabinet. The increasingly cheerful Grandma had already gone out to bask in the sun.

Bathed in the slanting warmth of the sunlight, he finished his meal and cleaned the table until it was spotless. Then he stuck a note on the fridge that read, "Out on an errand. I'll be back for dinner," and headed for the motorcycle parked in the little courtyard.

Zhou Hong preferred motorcycles to cars. In his previous life, he'd been too afraid of looking cool as he flew off and ended up a heap on the ground, so he'd never had the nerve. Now, that was no longer a reason to hold him back.

After setting today's destination, Zhou Hong put on his helmet and started the motorcycle.

Everything in his field of vision rushed past: the bustling city, lush green woods, and pure white snowdrifts. Like a black ghost, he drifted away from the city and into the wilderness.

When static crackled through his communicator, Zhou Hong knew he'd reached today's destination.

There were many mysterious places in the world, the most famous being the Bermuda Triangle. The magnetic field here was much like that of the Bermuda Triangle—chaotic beyond compare.

This was Shishinohana Forest.

Beneath the dark visor, his gaze settled on the rainbow floating above the distant forest. Its colors ran backward, from purple at the top to red at the end.

"Looks like I'm in luck." With that, Zhou Hong twisted the throttle again. The motorcycle sped along the snow-covered road and plunged into the depths of Shishinohana Forest without braking.

After being transported through space many times with Obiko, Zhou Hong had grown very familiar with spatial travel. He knew for certain that he had entered the Space-Time Realm.

Zhou Hong stopped his motorcycle and removed its muffler. Japan had strict regulations on vehicle noise, so he had no choice but to go to the trouble.

The roar of the engine as he twisted the throttle shook snow and ice from the trees. The motorcycle raced along the road, its flashing taillight appearing at each bend in the forest.

Or perhaps it was a burly man carrying his motorcycle as he ran back to the road.

The Space-Time Realm had always been quiet, but today it was unusually noisy. The racket woke a monster that usually slept through the day. It rolled over and raised its enormous body upright.

Silver scales covered its towering frame, and its bulky muscles were divided by earth-brown ridges. Spikes ran down its back from its head to its tail.

Among the endless, motionless trees, it turned its body and immediately spotted the black ghost speeding along.

On this silent winter snow day, beneath the rainbow overhead and the blazing sun, a severely near-sighted silver-white monster met Zhou Hong.

Their gazes met, and it was love at first sight.

Silvagon set its little legs in motion, ignoring the trees in its way as it chased after Zhou Hong.

"Looks like today really is my lucky day." At first, Zhou Hong hadn't expected to find Silvagon. He'd only meant to come and scout the place out.

Finding the monster he'd set his sights on right away could only be fate.

With an especially swaggering gait, Silvagon smashed everything in its way as it pursued Zhou Hong, roaring all the while.

Trees sailed over Zhou Hong's head, and the powerful gusts made the motorcycle impossible to control, forcing him to stop.

"Compared to those frail monsters that can't take a hit, you're the one for me, Silvagon."

The red light of the Ultra Heart gradually enveloped the motorcycle. The dazzling radiance made Silvagon raise its little hands to shield its practically useless eyes.

When it lowered its hands, it saw a huge figure slowly approaching.

Silvagon had lorded it over the Space-Time Realm for a long time, but this was the first time it had encountered anyone taller than itself.

A crimson fist slammed into its head, cutting off its threatening roar.

The tremendous force toppled Silvagon to the side. Its little legs dug into the ground, and it only managed to steady itself after a moment.

That punch made Silvagon feel the threat of its opponent's strength. Mimicking Jostar's attack, it swung at him too.

But an arm longer than its own pressed against its body. Its little hands flailed, but only brushed against the cold air.

Its little legs trampled the ground, yet it couldn't close the distance between itself and Jostar.

Silvagon's brute strength let it drive Jostar through the forest, carving out a new path.

Their struggle also gave Jostar a clear measure of Silvagon's strength. It was weaker than his.

Unable to land a blow on the guy who kept shaking his head, Silvagon grew even angrier. It raised its little hands, gathered all its strength, and swung at the arm pressing against it.

Jostar, however, pulled his arm back faster. But Silvagon's bulky body pitched forward all at once.

Its powerful blow struck Jostar's chest, showering it with brilliant sparks. The force made the light in Jostar's diamond-shaped eyes shine even brighter.

This was a worthy opponent!

With Silvagon pressed close against him, Jostar ignored the spikes and wrapped his arms around it. Its back spikes dug into his powerful muscles, but Silvagon was the one who felt the sting.

The muscles on Jostar's body suddenly bulged like a balloon. He lifted Silvagon straight off the ground.

For the first time, Silvagon experienced the crushing weight of greater strength. The sensation of hanging in midair reminded it of when it was a little cub, carried around in its mother's mouth.

It couldn't help but struggle.

Its futile struggles only sparked showers of sparks. Using overwhelming strength, Jostar threw Silvagon hard through the air with a wrestling slam.

Snow and dirt blasted into the air along with the trees, sending echoes rippling in every direction.

As Jostar approached, Silvagon, lying on the ground, actually kicked its little legs and hugged its tail as it backed away in fear.

"Remember, I told you we'd meet on a silent winter snow day." I was getting ready to head out to see a comic convention when I scalded the top of my foot with boiling water.