Chapter 121: Reencounter with Sass
Zoda’s appearance turned out to be nothing more than a temporary scare. Meanwhile, Yu Longze and Zero continued their relentless purge across the cosmos, slaying the mass-produced Dark Lops and the beasts driven into a frenzy by the corrupting influence of dark energy.
Yet Yu Longze harbored deep concerns. It was evident that both Zoda and the fallen god Kirielord had set their sights on him. Though he could not fathom the reason for this focus, Yu Longze understood all too well that his situation was perilous.
Despite the fortunate slaying of the mighty Kirielord, the cosmic crises had not abated; on the contrary, Yu Longze felt the dangers intensifying. His own strength, however, was stagnating—if not deteriorating.
His dark form’s attributes paled in comparison to the luminous form granted by the Plasma Fireworks Tower. Without that light form, Yu Longze’s combat prowess lagged behind Zero’s.
“Strength...” Yu Longze mused with a sense of helplessness. He knew his growth had been swift, yet now all he longed for was to reclaim that lost light.
...
“Hey, Little Zeze, stop spacing out all the time!” Zero noticed Yu Longze’s distraction and cast a disdainful glance at the freshly slain mass-produced Dark Lops at their feet.
“Don’t call me Little Zeze!” Yu Longze snapped, annoyance stirring him fully awake as he prepared to engage Zero in their usual bickering.
“Little Zeze, stick with me, the great Zero, and I’ll keep you safe and sound!” Zero said, trademark nose-scratching accompanying the icy gleam of his frost axe.
“Yeah, get lost.” Yu Longze replied with a sigh.
The clear target was himself—if Zoda truly struck, would Yu Longze have to rely on Zero’s protection? The thought brought a bitter chuckle.
He had come to the Land of Light’s timeline with the goal of killing Zoda, yet now...
He no longer knew who was the hunter and who was the prey.
...
“Enough of this. One step at a time. For now, I just have to keep getting stronger!” Yu Longze shook off his worries, ignoring the ever-arrogant Zero. With a flash, he soared forward like a bolt of lightning, pressing on in his hunt for enemies to eliminate.
Experience through battle, fighting to fight—that was a fine way to grow stronger.
...
Zero, still basking in his own ego, heard the rushing sound of Yu Longze’s takeoff. This time he reacted swiftly, cursing with a smile as he gave chase.
“Don’t worry, kid. No matter the difficulty, I, the great Zero, will have your back!” he thought, eyes fixed on the dark silhouette ahead.
“After all, I’m the one who dragged you into this mess...” Zero added silently, feeling a twinge of embarrassment over how that sounded, though it was just in his mind.
...
In the vast, mysterious expanse of the universe, another planet burned with fierce combat.
Three young Ultramen faced off against four mass-produced Dark Lops, fighting desperately. Blinding beams shot like arrows, the planet’s surface trembled, stones flying in all directions.
One of the warriors, bearing a head reminiscent of Hikari Ultraman but clad predominantly in red with silver accents, fought with reckless abandon—a battle style that disregarded his own safety.
“Inflict a thousand wounds on the enemy, suffer eight hundred yourself” was a perfect description for this valiant fighter.
...
Yu Longze and Zero flew side by side, stars flickering around them as their forms streaked like twin comets through the cosmos.
“Whoa, that kid is crazy,” Zero remarked, eyes fixed on the planet below.
Yu Longze was even more astonished. His heart swelled with both shock and pride.
That wildly fierce fighter was none other than Sas, the young warrior he had rescued upon returning to the Land of Light’s timeline.
Yu Longze vividly recalled how ordinary—and even somewhat timid—Sas had been back then.
Now, Sas was a completely different person, transformed in spirit and demeanor.
Yet despite the awe, both Yu Longze and Zero immediately recognized the dire situation. No matter how frenzied and fearless the battle, the gulf in strength was an insurmountable chasm.
Without hesitation, they accelerated toward Sas and his comrades. In this moment, their assistance was imperative.
...
With a swift slash of his ice axe gleaming with cold light, Zero cleaved a mass-produced Dark Lops in two.
Yu Longze, forgoing his energy sword, unleashed the cosmic martial art he had learned—or rather, secretly gleaned—from Mecha Leo.
Powerful and swift, his punches struck with overwhelming force. With a thunderous crash, Yu Longze dispatched another Dark Lops.
The remaining two fell just as swiftly.
Sas and his companions stood dumbfounded, staring at the Ultramen who had so decisively ended their foes.
“Senior... it’s you!” Sas exclaimed as Yu Longze’s agile movements finally came to a halt, revealing himself clearly.
“Sas,” Yu Longze greeted with a smile, stepping forward toward the greatly changed young warrior.
The other two young Ultramen remained wide-eyed.
They had seen Yu Longze during his first battle in the Land of Light timeline.
He had been formidable then, but nothing like this.
“Thank you both for your timely assistance!” the two warriors quickly recovered and expressed their sincere gratitude to Yu Longze and Zero.
The five Ultramen exchanged a brief but meaningful conversation.
Both Yu Longze and Zero, though young, wielded surprising power, earning the admiration and reverence of Sas and his comrades.
Zero, a legendary figure of the Land of Light and son of Seven Ultraman, was well known across the realm.
Yu Longze, a mysterious Ultraman of strange hue who had appeared briefly before vanishing, had left a deep impression on some warriors, though his fame paled in comparison to Zero’s.
Had the fierce battle with Kirielord been witnessed by more of the Land of Light’s warriors, Yu Longze’s status would surely have risen dramatically—perhaps even rivaling Zero’s.
Alas, that battle was only seen firsthand by a few high-ranking Ultrabrothers and some non-combatant personnel.
Still, as long as the Ultramen who fought tirelessly across the universe eventually returned to the Land of Light, they would hear tales of that terrifying and intense war from the mouths of those non-combatants.
Yu Longze’s rise as a prominent figure in the Land of Light was only a matter of time.