Chapter 64: Battles Growing Ever More Frequent

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The blazing sun hung high in the sky. The heavens had turned a deep azure, and a vast, circular cloud hung motionless in a windless expanse, creating a scene of breathtaking grandeur. Jojo hovered at the center of this ring of clouds. After taking a moment to assess his condition, his body dissolved into a streak of light and vanished.

Once he had traveled a considerable distance, he reverted to human form, sensed my position through a connection, and teleported silently back to the EX. Kajio and Makoto Tsutsumi had been so focused on the battle earlier that they hadn’t noticed Jojo was missing from the EX.

“Lightning Team, regroup!” Makoto’s order came through the comm channel. Strictly speaking, only Lightning One had participated in this operation; Two and Three were still back on the Peace, never having had the chance to deploy.

I, piloting the EX, was mulling over how Jojo would make his return, when suddenly his voice sounded behind me: “You transform too slowly, you know.”

This time, as Jojo returned to the EX, he deliberately suppressed his energy to avoid any light display that might reveal his arrival. Nevertheless, his abrupt voice made me jump with fright. I spun around, startled, and found Jojo behind me, my face frozen in shock.

“You—” I began, then remembered the comm channel was still open. Holding my breath, I switched it off before speaking, “Could you not just appear out of nowhere like that? Please, don’t scare people.”

Even though I was a scientist, I had always kept a respectful distance from things I couldn’t understand—ghosts, spirits, that sort of thing. After the Gaan Q incident, the psychological scar had only deepened.

“For Gaia, you’re rather jumpy,” Jojo teased with a hint of amusement. “What’s there to be so afraid of?”

I pursed my lips at that. “Well, you’re not wrong,” I admitted, “but I’m still human. Unlike you, who’s not even human anymore.”

Jojo: “?”

Was that an insult?

I realized how my words sounded and hastily tried to correct myself, grinning awkwardly. “Uh, what I mean is, Jojo, you’re almost pure energy now.”

Desperate to change the subject, I asked, “By the way, how is it that you can absorb the energy from the Flame Mountain Machine and the Celestial Machine?”

We all drew upon Earth’s power, but Gaia didn’t seem to have that ability. I felt a twinge of complicated emotion.

Jojo saw no need to hide the truth. After a moment’s thought, he replied, “I think it’s an inherent trait of the Light of the Sky. Flame Mountain and Celestial just happen to be countered by me.”

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“After absorbing both machines, I’ve further developed the power of the sky—and I’ve gained two new forms.”

“What?” I turned to Jojo in shock. “You have new forms? Two of them?!”

With the AI PAL assisting with piloting, there was no fear of crashing.

Jojo, seeing my reaction, said regretfully, “Yes, but it’s a pity I haven’t encountered a worthy opponent yet, so I haven’t had the chance to use them.”

Not even in the training grounds of subspace had he met someone strong enough. Last night he’d run into Leo, but Leo was still a rookie—hardly someone he could go all out against.

Yet Jojo’s regretful tone dealt me a heavy blow.

I had the distinct feeling Jojo was showing off.

Mouth half open, I wanted to say something but held back. Suddenly, I understood how my peers must have felt facing me when we were children.

I looked at Jojo, took a deep breath to steady my emotions.

‘I’m not jealous, I’m not jealous. As Ultraman Gaia, it’s wrong to envy others!’

‘But I can’t help it. I’m so envious!’

The thought that Jojo had already obtained two brand-new forms made me blurt out, “Jojo, how exactly do you absorb the energy from the Flame Mountain and Celestial Machines?”

I had no intention of being left behind. I’d always been competitive with Fujimiya, and I certainly didn’t want to fall behind Jojo now.

Jojo, seeing the look on my face, immediately understood what I was thinking.

“As for absorbing energy, it feels instinctive when I do it. But if you want a scientific explanation…”

Under my expectant gaze, Jojo continued, “There are plenty of scientific principles for energy absorption, aren’t there? If you apply that knowledge to Gaia, wouldn’t you be able to absorb energy yourself?”

Instinct guided the Light of the Sky—he had no idea what the real principle was. He did, however, understand how Ultramen absorbed light to replenish their own energy, but that was unrelated to absorbing a monster’s power.

I was stunned for a moment, then my mind suddenly opened up.

“I get it!” My eyes shone with excitement as I recalled various theories.

Seeing I was about to launch into a scientific explanation, Jojo quickly changed the subject.

“All right, didn’t Fujimiya ask us to go to Prolong Kalamos? I think he’s figured out a way to deal with Crisis. Let’s report back to Ishimuro in the command room.”

The words I’d been about to say stuck in my throat, and I looked a bit crestfallen.

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Wait, I didn’t even get to say it!

The EX returned to the airborne base, and Jojo and I made our way to the command room. With the operation over, there was a clear sense of relief among the XIG members.

Ishimuro saw us arrive and glanced out at the azure sky. “When I first heard the Celestial was purifying the Earth, I thought you two would be against attacking it.”

“Eh? Why would you think that?” I asked, genuinely puzzled.

I wasn’t yet aware that Ishimuro now knew my true identity.

Ishimuro stepped to the window. “Because at the time, I imagined you’d understand the motivations behind creating that machine.”

“No matter the cost, restoring the environment is what’s best for the Earth.”

“That’s not wrong,” Jojo said, stepping to Ishimuro’s side, his voice carrying a deeper meaning. “But if that process means countless people must be sacrificed, it’s absolutely unacceptable.”

“I feel the same way!” I agreed wholeheartedly.

Ishimuro looked at the two of us, his gaze lingering on Jojo’s for a moment, as if a silent understanding passed between them.

Chiba watched the three of us, sipping the tea he’d just brewed. The operation had been a resounding success. Apart from that one building struck by debris at the start, the cities had been spared any damage.

Now he lounged in his chair, completely relaxed. With most of the work finished, Chiba thought he might actually get to enjoy a leisurely day.

He was just settling into that thought when Atsuko’s voice came through with a report.

“Commander, Daniel from the Alchemy Star has sent a communication.”

Daniel appeared on the main screen, his expression apologetic.

“Everyone at XIG, I’m sorry to bring bad news.”

“Crisis has betrayed humanity. It’s now become the Root of Ruin’s harbinger, and the entire world’s network is in danger!”

“From now on, you must take every precaution—if Crisis manages to break in, the consequences will be unimaginable!”

Chiba’s hand shook, nearly dropping his teacup. “What?!”

“What’s the situation?” Jojo stepped in front of the main screen, as if he’d already anticipated this. “With Fujimiya there, I assume you’ve still got Crisis under control for now, right?”