Chapter 160: Agul Appears

Although Yue Longze had seen through the secret of this metallic lifeform, his heart remained heavy.

Since the metallic lifeform was currently mimicking his posture, his own Zeperium Ray would be ineffective against it.

On the other hand, the Leo Kick—which was not an energy-based attack—failed to deal any fatal damage to it.

The situation was looking grim!

"Things are getting a bit tricky..."

Yue Longze paused for a moment, then gritted his teeth and charged forward once again.

The abilities of this metallic lifeform were extremely troublesome, and for the moment, he could not think of any countermeasure.

"Screech—!"

The metallic lifeform's right hand transformed into a long sword. It slowly stepped forward, a human-like, wicked smirk suddenly curling the corners of its mouth.

"Want to test your swordsmanship against mine?"

In an instant, Yue Longze condensed an energy light sword of his own once more. Light shimmered and flowed as blade clashed against blade!

The metallic clang of the clashing weapons echoed ceaselessly across the desolate desert, sending sand flying. As time ticked away, the color timer on Yue Longze's chest began to flash and wail!

"Oh no!"

Back aboard the Peace Carry, Gamu was overcome with intense anxiety. "At this rate... Mr. Nagano is going to lose!"

Gamu had quietly returned to the back seat of the Peace Carry without anyone noticing anything unusual.

"Prepare to provide support to the giant."

Seeing that the black giant was clearly beginning to show signs of defeat, Commander Tsutsumi issued a decisive order. Lightning Team Leader Kajio acknowledged the command and promptly led the Lightning Team in launching an attack.

"Swish!"

"Zzzt!"

Missiles bloomed like fireworks, striking the troublesome metallic lifeform dead-on. However, an attack of this magnitude could not inflict any fatal damage.

Even so, it bought Yue Longze a brief moment to catch his breath.

"Hoo..."

Yue Longze dismissed the light sword in his right hand, his chest heaving slightly. "Am I really going to be defeated?"

"Bang!"

The metallic lifeform's counterattack arrived right on cue.

Danger!

A sense of weakness was already beginning to wash over Yue Longze's body, and his combat prowess was rapidly declining.

"Am I going to lose?"

Recalling Zero's resolute figure back in the space-time of the Land of Light—how Zero had ensured he could smoothly enter the space-time tunnel—a surge of fiery blood rushed through Yue Longze's chest, and he clenched his fists tightly.

No... I cannot fall here.

There has to be a way... a way to defeat this unknown metallic lifeform.

Yet, the weakness in his body grew stronger by the second.

"I refuse to fall here!"

With an angry roar, Yue Longze unleashed the Cosmic Fist style and charged forward once again.

He was pushing himself much too hard!

Compared to the metallic lifeform, which possessed no concept of physical fatigue, Yue Longze's stamina was steadily draining away.

"Hah!"

After exchanging barely a dozen blows, Yue Longze was sent flying backward once more.

His legs began to tremble. Struggling to support his weight, he dropped to one knee and panted heavily.

Radiating an aura of chilling cold, the metallic lifeform closed in step by step.

"Damn it..."

Clenching his fists, energy surged faintly around Yue Longze's chest.

No matter what, he had to try!

"Swish!"

Dark Zeperium Ray!

The beam, crackling with destructive particles, caught the metallic lifeform in a surprise attack.

Wisps of white smoke began to rise from the pitch-black body amidst crackling sparks.

The cold, metallic physique collapsed to the ground.

Yue Longze's milky-white eyes stared intently at the fallen metallic lifeform, a shred of hope lingering in his heart.

"We won!"

The XIG members erupted in excitement, exchanging triumphant glances filled with the joy of victory. Gamu clenched his fists as well; he desperately hoped this attack would succeed, but his rationality as a scientist told him that a metallic lifeform would not die so easily.

And the facts proved him right.

Just as before, the fallen metallic lifeform abruptly stood back up with a booming crash, instantly shattering the joy of the XIG members.

Its aura remained unchanged, its pitch-black body reflecting a dazzling white light.

...

"Blinking red! Blinking red!"

His color timer had entered the final, frantic wailing phase, and Yue Longze knew that defeat was now inevitable.

"The monsters of the Gaia space-time... are truly formidable..."

Yue Longze sighed with untimely sentiment.

"Hah!"

With a flash of light, a gleaming black spear materialized once again in the metallic lifeform's right hand.

The dark, metallic right arm raised high as the spear swung in a wide arc.

The metallic lifeform prepared to hurl the spear, aiming to skewer Yue Longze!

And at this moment, Yue Longze truly had almost no strength left in his body...

"Forget it..."

Yue Longze prepared to voluntarily dissolve his transformation to evade the blow. Although this would expose his true identity, compared to his own life... it was a worthy trade.

"Whoosh!"

A streak of blue light suddenly flashed past from behind him, tearing through the air and striking the triumphant metallic lifeform dead-on.

"Boom!"

This time, the metallic lifeform erupted in a massive explosion, reducing it to countless fragments.

Yue Longze immediately turned his head to look, only to see another giant standing there, gazing at him calmly with milky-white eyes.

The eyes carried a slightly eerie undertone...

Blue-dominated patterns, accented with touches of black, emanated a faint oceanic aura that offered a refreshing breeze amidst the scorching heat of the Sahara Desert.

Agul!

"That is... the third giant!"

In the XIG Aerial Base, Counselor Chiba exclaimed in shock as he stared at the blue giant on the screen. Even Commander Ishimuro, usually composed and calm, experienced a flicker in his eyes.

...

"Hiroya Fujimiya... I never expected you to be the one to save me..."

A weakened Yue Longze muttered under his breath, then nodded gratefully toward Agul. He shifted his gaze back to the site of the metallic lifeform's explosion, sensing whether any of his own power lingered within the remains.

Pondering for a moment, Yue Longze shook his head slightly, then mustered the last of his strength to take flight, his figure gradually fading away beneath the blazing sun.

Agul gazed quietly in the direction Yue Longze had departed, his eyes flickering before he, too, vanished like a gust of wind across the endless expanse of the Sahara Desert.

Gamu was left in utter shock. Just how many Ultramen were there?

Plagued by questions, Gamu boarded the Peace Carry and returned to the XIG Aerial Base.

...

Meanwhile, in a residential district in Tokyo City.

A staggering figure abruptly appeared within a desolate living room. Exhausted, Yue Longze collapsed onto the sofa like a toppled utility pole and closed his heavy eyes.

Yue Longze slept a deep, heavy sleep.

When he finally opened his eyes again, three bald men were already standing in the living room.

...

"Hey!"

Yue Longze called out.

"Boss!"

The blonde-haired punk reacted first, scurrying over to curry favor.

"Boss, why do you always love sleeping on the sofa..."

The red-haired punk walked over, holding a freshly poured glass of fruit juice for Yue Longze.

Yue Longze immediately shot the red-haired punk a fierce glare. "Is that any of your business to worry about?!"

The red-haired punk shrunk his neck, feeling a chill run down his spine.

Disregarding the red-haired punk, Yue Longze patted his empty stomach...

"Green-hair!"

"Ah, coming!"

"Go cook me a bowl of noodles right now!"

"Yes, sir!"