"Damn... in this dim environment without 'light', there's no way to discover how the opponent attacks."
Natsuki lowered his stance, his gaze darting rapidly, guarding against sudden attacks.
The moment he finished speaking—
A glowing figure suddenly appeared behind him.
"Wha—!"
"BOOM!"
A flying kick from behind struck Natsuki's rear directly, sending him flying far before barely landing.
Sure, Natsuki's physical constitution was extraordinary, but it couldn't be abused like this!
"No respect for elders at all!?"
"Just who did Hikari import into this template!?"
Natsuki propped himself up from the ground, speaking through gritted teeth.
Who the hell was this?
Showing zero mercy?
That Babar Seven at least knew to exchange pleasantries first!
This is way too underhanded!
"You bastard... nothing but sneak attacks." Natsuki realized the opponent only attacked from his blind spots.
After getting up this time, the experienced Natsuki quickly found a solution.
He leaped into the air, maintained a hover, then started spinning, turning himself into a windmill.
Extremely fast, allowing him to observe all angles in the shortest time.
"Constantly sneak attacking isn't how a warrior of 'light' fights!"
The moment those words left his mouth—
"BOOM!"
Natsuki's figure flew out again!
But this time, he saw clearly!
"Cough..."
Natsuki rose from the ground once more, wiping his mouth, his gaze falling on the darkness ahead.
"No wonder there's no respect for elders... turns out it's an even older guy."
In that last strike, he'd seen the opponent's appearance clearly.
If he remembered correctly, that warrior's name was Tiga.
Not from the Land of Light, but an old-timer with a full thirty million years of age.
"Really fast." Natsuki's mind rapidly analyzed the opponent's attack patterns.
Soon—
He realized this guy's every attack came precisely at the instant his words finished.
Sound was the trigger for the opponent's attacks...
Then I just need to shut up.
Natsuki's lips curled slightly upward. He'd found the opponent's weakness.
As long as he didn't make a sound, the opponent wouldn't attack.
Too easy!
After realizing this, Natsuki even held his breath, not letting himself make the slightest sound while maintaining a defensive posture.
One second... two seconds... ten seconds...
Ha! Guessed right!
Over ten seconds passed with the opponent still not attacking.
Continuing this way, he could easily drag it out for eight hours!
Piece of cake!
If 'light' is only this level, it can't stump me!
"BOOM!"
"Cough aah...!" Natsuki's rear took another kick, flying out again. Mid-flight, his face was full of disbelief. "Impossible!"
One high flight, accompanied by an embarrassing landing.
Natsuki crashed to the ground, his head full of question marks.
What the hell, why!?
It's not based on sound!?
Can he actually read my thoughts!?
Even words in my mind can be trigger words??
What kind of bullshit is this!
What exactly is the opponent's trigger word?
Think fast, think fast...
Just as Natsuki's brain raced, seeking a breakthrough, Tiga's figure appeared again.
[Try to keep up with my speed]
The opponent seemed to spare words. After leaving those few words, his arms crossed at his forehead crystal, his body changed color to primarily purple—apparently a form specialized in speed.
Then he vanished again.
"I've got it!" Watching Tiga disappear again, Natsuki finally figured out the opponent's trigger word.
He'd heard that Tiga was the giant representing hope.
In other words... the so-called hope's 'light'!
"BOOM!"
"Cough aah!"
"I guessed right!"
Natsuki climbed up from the ground once more, this time with a confident expression.
As long as he didn't think about that trigger word, he'd be safe.
Hmph, we're all old-timers—don't underestimate my wisdom!
Natsuki forced himself not to think about that word, but the inertia of thought meant the more he tried not to think about something, the more counterproductive it became.
He knew this.
So he substituted other words, preferably antonyms. As long as the antonym kept circling in his mind, he could completely avoid thinking about that word!
The antonym was 'darkness'!
Now, my mind is full of 'darkness'!
'Darkness darkness darkness darkness...'
Natsuki chanted repeatedly in his mind.
Then—
He saw a pitch-black version of Tiga appear before him without warning.
Natsuki: "?"
"BOOM!"
"..."
Just destroy everything.
Hurry up.
I'm tired.
The next day, morning.
Albert arrived early at Natsuki's door.
Taking a deep breath, he tidied his appearance slightly.
The Breach at the Pacific Ocean floor had been destroyed, but he knew the real enemy hadn't been completely dealt with.
He already had some leads on one Traveler's identity. He was preparing to discuss subsequent plans with Natsuki.
Raising his hand to knock, he noticed the door seemed unlocked.
"Uh... Mr. Natsuki, it's me, Albert."
"If you don't mind, I'm coming in..." he said methodically.
But before he could push the door open, airflow from inside already swung it open.
Seeing the situation inside, he froze.
Natsuki, wearing a green floral shirt, was standing on the bed, hunched over, gripping two light wheels emitting white glow in his hands, bloodshot eyes radiating ferocity.
Angry airflow squeezed out between his teeth with each breath.
Those light wheels released considerable impact in the room. Though under psychic control, they still stirred up waves of force, thoroughly disheveling the room.
He stared fixedly ahead, as if some dangerous enemy lurked there.
Faintly, Albert could hear Natsuki seemingly murmuring repeated words.
"Light... darkness... light... darkness..."
After eight hellish hours, Natsuki's mental state had undergone some changes.
All he could think now was—
Damn it, Tiga!
Why so underhanded!
Seeming to notice a second person in the room, Natsuki instinctively whipped his head around.
Nearly making Albert jump.
Holy shit!
Is he going to silence witnesses!?
Are all Ultramen this mentally unstable now!?
His survival instinct kicked in. He quickly raised both hands while rapidly speaking: "N-Natsuki-san! I came to discuss intelligence with you!"
"The next enemy's identity—I already have leads!"
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