Arc III: “Return of Darkness”
Chapter III: “Fading Darkness / Tales Untold”
Episode X: “Trip to the Bustling Trade Center! Titan!”
Akira reappeared using his Dragon Shift. At his sides, Akaza and Kazuma were next to him.
They reappeared inside a vast pressure-dome—its surface shimmering like glass over starlight—shielding the city from Titan’s frozen wind and low gravity.
Outside the dome, there was only a white wasteland and methane haze. Inside, there were warm air, neon signage, and aether-lamps humming like quiet instruments.
“This is Titan, one of Saturn’s Moons,” Akira said. “This is the main city of Methara, and it’s a really popular trade center. The Cosmic Guard used to keep a station here—back when their presence still meant something in Solaris.”
“Whoa…” Akaza and Kazuma said in unison.
They laid their eyes on the futuristic city before them, seeing numerous different species and aliens.
“Alright, now that we’re here, I can pinpoint Draig’s energy.”
Akira teleported them again.
This time, they reappeared in a smaller dome, one that only encapsulated a singular residential lot. There was a small house and an artificial yard around it.
“Hey! Anyone home?” Akira raised his voice to ask.
After a moment, someone responded.
“Akira?” A man stepped from behind the house—built like a veteran, posture relaxed, eyes sharp. Old scars cut across his arms like faded warnings.
“Hey, Draig! It’s been a while!”
“Hahaha, yeah, it has!”
The two of them shook hands. With curiosity, Draig tilted his body to look at the two boys standing behind Akira.
“Who are these guys? Have you taken on more students?”
“Oh, that’s right,” Akira moved to reveal his sons. “These are my two younger sons, Akaza and Kazuma. You’ve met Kyoto already.”
“Oh, I see! You and Asuka have been busy!”
“Heh-heh-heh,” Akira rubbed the back of his head.
After they finished introductions, Akira informed Draig of why they were there. He handed a wrapped blanket containing the Dark Heart to Draig and asked him to watch his sons for a couple of weeks.
“Well, alright, I’ve gotta run!” Akira said.
He said goodbye to his sons and Draig before teleporting back to Earth.
Akaza looked closely at Draig.
“Why are you covered in scars?” Akaza blurted.
Draig snorted. “Because I don’t win by being pretty.”
“Are you as strong as our dad?” Kazuma asked.
“Hmm. I’m not sure. The last time we met, I might have been able to give him a run for his money if I went all out… But now? I’m not so sure.”
Draig studied them for a second. “Alright. If Akira dropped you here, you’re not here to sightsee.”
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His gaze hardened—mentor mode. “I’ll show you what Kaelithian strength actually is… and what your body tries to stop you from doing. Your brain is polite,” Draig added. “It begs you to survive. True Kaelithians learn to argue with it.”
Akaza and Kazuma looked up at him closely, their eyes gleaming.
He pointed his thumb behind himself. “We still have time before Riella returns. Let’s go to the back so I can give you a demonstration.”
[UFA Training Facility]
“HAA—!”
Kyoto’s voice tore out of him as the Demon Form snapped into place, his aura thickening like pressure you could taste.
“Finally, let’s go!”
“It’s about time,” Reito teased as he halted his meditation.
“Shut up, you cheating bastard! I know you used some trick to learn how to use Divine aether, but I’m still gonna catch up.”
Kyoto looked towards their moms, who had just finished sparring. “Hey, Mom?”
“Hmm? Yeah, what’s up?” She said, wiping sweat off her forehead.
“How come you don’t use Utopic aether with your Spirit Resonance?”
“Oh… well, unlike your father, my Spirit Resonance isn’t stable enough for that.”
“You mean his Perfect Spirit Resonance?”
“Yeah, his aether control is so refined that he’s able to enhance it with a complex power like Utopic aether.”
“Wait, then how come Uncle Rikito can do it? He has that Demonic Spirit Resonance, right?”
“Those aren’t the standard type of Spirit Resonance,” Asuka said. “They’re Soul Resonance—a Kaelithian exception. Same family, different roots. Spirit Resonance is your body surviving. Soul Resonance is your spirit speaking back. Each one is unique to the individual. That’s why it looks personal,” she added. “Because it is.”
She paused for a moment, tapping her finger against her chin. “And well… your uncle is also a bit of an exception. When he learned how to do Demonic Spirit Resonance, it was based on feeling rather than understanding. He subconsciously uses the concept of Perfect Spirit Resonance—another type of Soul Resonance—as the base for his Demonic one, but I’m not sure if he realizes it. Although with all his abilities, there isn’t much of a point for someone like him to fully understand Perfect Spirit Resonance on its own.”
Kyoto frowned. “I see… then I guess making my own Utopic Spirit Resonance is out of the question. It would take too long to refine my aether control. But…”
Now, his lips formed a cheeky smile. If I can skip straight to adding divine aether, that might work! Divine aether is harder to control at first, but once it clicks, it’s more stable than Utopic aether.
His grin sharpened. If I can anchor a Resonance with Divine aether first… then I can build the rest on top. “Alright!” Kyoto cheered, then went back to training.
Reito smirked. It seems Kyoto has figured something out. Let me refocus… I need to master my new power!
[New Woodberry]
Akira stepped out of the shower with a towel around his shoulders.
“Ooh, that was good. It’s been a while since I’ve felt this nice!”
He walked to the fridge and grabbed a cold drink.
Hey, Helios. Can I ask you something?
“Hmm?”
Can you teach me about absorbing ambient aether?
“Ambient aether?” Helios’ voice rumbled inside Akira’s mind—warm, bright. “You already cheat with Photoreception.”
I’m still a bit new to that. I was mostly just doing it based on what Utopia was familiar with, but I think I still have some room for improvement. I want control, Akira thought. Not luck. And if possible, I’d like to be able to absorb other forms of ambient aether.
“Then listen,” Helios answered. “Ambient aether isn’t taken. It’s invited. I’ll teach you everything I know.”
[Titan – Draig’s House]
Draig’s Spirit Transcendence was already sealed-tight—white-blue light hugging his frame, hair pale as frost, aura thick and pressurized.
“Really, so you’ve seen this before?” he said.
“Yeah, big brother Kyoto can do it!” Kazuma said.
“I see—well, I’m sure you haven’t seen this one.”
Then he pushed.
The calm glow ruptured into flame—a violent, bright burn crawling up his arms and into his hair until his silhouette looked lit from within.
Spirit Overdrive.
Not bigger. Not louder. Just… dangerous.
“This is what happens when the limiter starts to crack,” Draig said. “Your body panics—and Kaelithians learn to aim that panic.”
“W-woah…” Akaza and Kazuma both said in shock.
“If you two want to surprise your parents and your brother, then this is the form you should be aiming for. But, even after this, there’s another level.”
Draig returned to his Natural State, his Flux stabilizing to normal levels.
“How do we do that!?” Akaza was eager to learn.
“You need to break your body’s limiters. Are the two of you already able to use Spirit Resonance?”
“Yep,” Kazuma said as the two of them transformed.
“That’s impressive at such a young age. To help you both reach higher levels, we’ll put your bodies under stress. Both of you come at me at once. The best way to get stronger is through combat,” Draig said, motioning for them to approach.
[A few hours later]
What’s all that noise? A woman thought to herself as she drove her hoverbike into the dome around Draig’s home. She walked around to the backyard.
“Oh, Riella. You’re home.” Draig said as he held off Akaza and Kazuma at the same time.
“Draig,” a woman’s voice cut in—calm but carrying authority. “Why is the backyard shaking?”
“Oh, you know. Just a bit of babysitting.”
“Babysitting!? Whose kids are these?” Those transformations… they’re definitely Kaelithians.
“You mean you didn’t know either? I guess we haven’t been to Earth in a while. Alright, that’s enough.” He knocked them both back.
All three of them powered down from Spirit Resonance and turned to look at the new woman they had yet to meet.
“These are Akira’s sons. Go on and introduce yourselves. This is Riella, my wife,” Draig said.
“O-oh, I’m Akaza.”
“And I’m Kazuma!” he said cheerfully.
“It’s nice to meet both of you.” Riella crouched down in front of them with a wide smile on her face. “Now that I’ve gotten a better look, you two really do look like your father. So, what’s with the visit? Where’s Akira?”
“Ah, that’s right.” Draig pulled out the blanket and opened it. “Akira wanted to ask you to take a look at this,” he said while holding the large hollow orb.
“W-what is that…?”
Riella’s fingers traced the orb’s surface—too smooth, too cold, like it was polished from the inside.
Her smile faded. “...This isn’t inert.” There’s something strange about it… “Let me contact one of my friends in the Guard. I’ll have them check our records about artifacts to see if anything comes up. For now, I’ll take a closer look myself.”
She took the orb from Draig.
“Yay!” Kazuma cheered.
As Riella went inside to analyze the Dark Heart, Draig and the boys continued training.
“You don’t push it,” Draig growled. “You rip it out. From the bottom of your soul—like your life depends on it. Like this—AHHHHHHH!”
Akaza and Kazuma squatted down and grunted. “AHHHHHHHHH!!”
Draig blinked. “Hmm. Yeah, I thought for sure that would work… Seems this will be harder than I remember.”
[Next Time on Lyte of Utopia]: “The Scout: Nami”
[Yield Levels]:
Akira: 6z
Draig: 5z
- Spirit Transcendence: 500 – 5z
- Spirit Overdrive: 10 – 6z
- Spirit Resonance: 5z (Physical: 100 – 5z)
Akaza: 300 – 4z
- SR: 300 – 4z (Physical: 30 – 5z)
Kazuma: 200 – 4z
- SR: 200 – 4z (Physical: 10 – 5z)
Riella: 4z
Kyoto: 900 – 4z
Reito: 5z
Asuka: 5z