Chapter 104: A Substantial Increase in Strength
Once again, heavy footsteps echoed as Longze Yue’s expression grew even more solemn.
This time, his opponent was none other than the father of Ultraman Zero—Mechanical Seven Ultraman!
Facing such a seasoned warrior of the battlefield, the pressure on Longze Yue was immense.
Mechanical Seven’s attacks were fierce and relentless, striking first and fast.
At the very outset, a powerful ice axe assault was launched. As the swift ice axe hurtled toward him, Longze Yue abruptly swung his arm, and a slender, dark purple lightsaber reappeared in his grasp.
“Ha!”
“Ha!”
...
This was destined to be a grueling battle. Whether in hand-to-hand combat or energy-based skills, Seven Ultraman was exceptionally skilled.
In this strange subspace, amid the sweat pouring down, Longze Yue was growing stronger with every clash.
Especially his martial arts prowess was set for a significant breakthrough.
...
Meanwhile, on a rocky planet deep in the cosmos, a fierce battle raged.
Destructive beams of multicolored light exploded across the sky, the clash of cold weapons ringing deafeningly.
The gray surface of the planet was scarred with narrow, terrifying fissures, revealing the steaming, molten red lava beneath.
...
“Timer Beam!”
“Deusium Beam!”
Wielding a massive, elongated composite ice axe before his chest, thick beams of colorful light erupted from the timer on Zero’s chest like a volcanic eruption, colliding fiercely with the Deusium Beam unleashed by the formidable Belial before him.
“Boom!”
Zero’s Timer Beam fell slightly behind, but as a dazzling light flashed, his upper body was instantly sheathed in silver armor—the power granted by the Paladji Shield!
Swinging his sacred Ultimate Zero Sword in his right hand, he charged once more at the evil warrior Belial, who wielded the Ultimate Fighting Device.
Not far from this planet stood a dark Ultraman warrior who bore a striking resemblance to Ultraman Zero.
Zero-Style Dark Lops!
The four members of the Ultimate Zero Guard, aside from Zero himself—Mirror Knight, Crimson Flame, Steel Killer Janai, and Steel Warrior Jambert—were locked in fierce combat against him!
They were surrounded by a dazzling, shining field of mirrors, as if enclosed within a world of glass.
Within this mirror world, crafted by Mirror Knight, flames roared, terrifying missiles darted, light waves scattered, and energies surged turbulently.
At the center of this mirror realm stood Zero-Style Dark Lops, his cold gaze piercing. His usually expressionless face now bore a faint, mocking smile at the corner of his mouth.
It was a sneer of scorn.
Despite the overwhelming combined assault by the four members of the Ultimate Zero Guard, Zero-Style Dark Lops remained eerily calm, his power further enhanced, rendering him unafraid of such attacks.
Though appearing to stand silently at the heart of the mirror world, his internal energy was gathering—he was preparing to unleash his ultimate move.
Dimensional Shattered Mirror Cannon!
He intended to obliterate these troublesome foes with a single strike, blasting them into a pocket dimension from which they could never return.
Being trapped forever in such an alternate dimension would surely be a torment far worse than death!
——
Meanwhile, on planet K76, within the subspace created by the Ultraman King, Longze Yue had fallen countless times, yet each time struggled to his feet.
He fought continuously, growing stronger through battle, and battling to grow.
He felt as if he had spent at least a year, perhaps even longer, of Earth time trapped in this subspace.
...
After numerous failures, he had finally managed, by the grace of the Ghost Step technique taught by Jinglong, to narrowly defeat Mechanical Seven Ultraman.
Now, he faced off against Mechanical First Generation Ultraman.
From Mechanical Seven onward, Longze Yue had clearly felt that their skill far surpassed that of Mechanical Ace and Mechanical Jack Ultraman.
They were simply overwhelming, especially Mechanical Seven’s superb martial arts, which initially nearly crushed him utterly.
Longze Yue had believed that after rigorous training with Ultraman Zero, after many life-or-death battles with monsters across three different timelines, and mastering Jinglong Swordsmanship along with the special combat auxiliary step, Ghost Step, his strength would not lag far behind the Ultra Brothers.
He had never imagined that before the pinnacle of the Ultra Brothers, the gap would be so vast!
These seasoned veterans were rich in battle experience—each move practical and lethal, without any unnecessary flourish.
...
Weary, Longze Yue cast a glance toward a towering mechanical giant standing quietly in the distance like a lion poised to strike—Leo Ultraman!
Known as the Showa Era King of Combat! Even mightier than the original Seven Ultraman!
He knew his own battle might not even be truly beginning yet.
But this realization only ignited Longze Yue’s fighting spirit. Since defeating Mechanical Seven Ultraman, he had clearly felt a tremendous boost in his combat ability.
The fighting skills of Mechanical First Generation were somewhat superior to Seven’s. Now facing him, Longze Yue still felt considerable pressure.
Yet, pressure bred motivation!
...
Currently, Longze Yue’s hand-to-hand combat skills at best matched those of Mechanical Seven Ultraman, perhaps slightly weaker. In the duel with Mechanical First Generation Ultraman, he was once again plunged into a desperate struggle.
“Ha!”
Longze Yue launched a solid punch. Intentionally, he refrained from using his energy lightsaber, wanting to hone his pure fighting skills and the application of Ghost Step, and also to conserve energy, as the lightsaber’s formation was quite draining.
Time flowed like water. The hard granite of this subspace had been ruthlessly shattered into fragments or pulverized by the relentless battles between Longze Yue and the mechanical Ultra Brothers.
...
In Longze Yue’s perception, another year or more of Earth time had passed. Through these grueling battles with almost no rest, his strength had grown once again.
Now, he could barely hold his own against Mechanical First Generation Ultraman in a deadlock. Moreover, his ability to withstand blows had become remarkably resilient!
Longze Yue believed that with just a bit more effort, he would surely overcome the Mechanical First Generation Ultraman before him!
However...
A flicker of confusion flashed in Longze Yue’s sharp, milky white eyes. Nearly three years had passed since he began his martial training in this subspace. What was happening in the outside universe?
Could he still be of any help?
Shaking his head to dispel these troubling thoughts, Longze Yue resolved to obey the Ultraman King’s arrangements for the time being.
After all, the mysterious and mighty Ultraman King would not devise anything unreliable.
Casting aside these distracting worries, Longze Yue’s gaze hardened once more. He turned and charged forward, engaging Mechanical First Generation Ultraman in battle once again!