Chapter Nineteen: Bitter Struggle

In the boundless expanse of the universe, many regions were ravaged by dark energy, making certain monsters not only more violent but also strengthening their power. On one such planet, Yue Longze was engaged in fierce battle.

To quickly enhance his combat abilities, engaging in frequent real combat was undeniably one of the paths to greater strength. Fight to grow stronger through battle—this was the advice Zero had given him.

This planet was originally much like Earth, with abundant water, rich oxygen, and lush greenery. But now, more than a dozen terrifying monsters, infected by dark energy, were rampaging madly, destroying everything in their path and shrouding the entire world in a dreadful darkness.

A searing barrage of energy blasts rained down like a thousand arrows released at once. Yue Longze leaped swiftly, dodging the attacks; each landing shook the mountains and stones beneath his feet.

Unable to hit their target, the dozen or so grotesque, single-horned monsters aligned themselves in a row, their towering bodies stirring fierce winds as they charged in unison towards Yue Longze, causing the ground to tremble.

Yet, confronted with the onslaught, Yue Longze remained calm and unflustered.

“Come at me with all you’ve got!”

With that, Yue Longze soared high, extending one leg in midair.

This was the Leo Flying Kick—a skill Zero had taught him.

Again and again, he swept past the monsters from the sky, and with every encounter, his mastery of the Leo Flying Kick grew sharper and more refined.

...

An hour passed, and Yue Longze continued to hone his Leo Flying Kick against the relentless monsters.

After two hours, half the monsters had been slain by his still-unpolished technique.

Three hours later, only three monsters remained, collapsed on the ground, foaming at the mouth, utterly spent.

Yue Longze leaned his heavy body against a great mountain. Though he appeared exhausted, there was a glint of satisfaction in his eyes.

Defeating these minor monsters was nothing worth mentioning. What truly mattered was that Yue Longze had perfected the Leo Flying Kick.

Each time he unleashed it, flames of crimson fire blazed from his foot, and the sheer force was enough to make his enemies explode.

In other words, Yue Longze had gained a new finishing move—the Leo Flying Kick.

“I need more battles!”

After resting briefly on this planet shrouded in black mist, Yue Longze knew that only by accumulating real combat experience and comprehending techniques in battle could he further elevate his power.

———

On a planet like a vast desert, the scorching sun beat mercilessly upon the earth.

Here, the native inhabitants were being slaughtered without mercy.

A figure, demonic in stature and brimming with murderous intent, advanced step by step, each stride sending waves of terror through the fleeing natives.

Jet-black eyes glimmered with malice; a sinister scarlet light flickered on the left side of his chest. Muscles bulged along his arms, yet not grotesquely so, and barbed hooks sprouted from his wrists. His whole body was traced with golden lines—gold, once a symbol of radiance, now rendered hideous, evil, and terrifying on this malevolent form.

“Tiga! I will not rest until I have avenged my humiliation!”

His words seethed with fury, hatred, and murderous intent.

This was the third generation of the Kirieloid, who had received new power from the Kirieloid God. Seeking greater strength to defeat Yue Longze—the Dark Tiga he had become—he had sacrificed his very lifespan in exchange for might from the great Kirieloid God.

Having gained this formidable power, he vented his rage in a frenzy of slaughter upon this world.

Crimson blood stained the heavens.

“Ah—ah!” After dispatching the last native of the tribe, the third-generation Kirieloid howled into the sky, unleashing all the negativity festering within him.

...

At the same time, on another planet, Yue Longze suddenly sensed something and gazed toward a constellation in the southern sky, his brows furrowing.

“What a powerful aura of evil.”

Without hesitation, Yue Longze rose and flew toward the source of that malignant energy.

———

Following the trail of the overwhelming evil aura, Yue Longze found its origin.

What met his eyes was a field littered with corpses.

Shattered skulls still leaked brain matter, ruptured eyeballs oozed like mud, and severed limbs twitched and writhed on the blood-soaked earth.

The natives of this planet were almost indistinguishable from humans—flesh and blood, just like those on Earth.

He had seen the bodies of many monsters, and he had slain his share, but those were evil beasts, not people.

Staring at the carnage, Yue Longze felt a wave of discomfort.

“This is sheer lunacy!”

Righteous indignation burned within him.

A small, hand-thrown energy blade swept through the air, and in an instant, the heaps of bodies burst into roaring flames, crackling and hissing until nothing remained but drifting smoke.

A sudden whoosh.

“Who’s there!” Yue Longze spun around, but found nothing but desolate wasteland.

“Oh, have you forgotten me so soon?” A sharp, venomous voice rang out, laced with murderous intent.

“Second-generation Kirieloid?” Yue Longze recognized the voice.

A figure materialized abruptly before him, and Yue Longze stared intently at the powerful presence.

“To gain greater power, I paid a tremendous price!” The third-generation Kirieloid snarled, evil energy swirling around him, making the very air seem to boil.

“Did you kill all these people?” Yue Longze’s face was grim.

“So what if I did?” the third-generation Kirieloid replied indifferently.

“Unforgivable!” Yue Longze’s fury erupted, and a hand-thrown energy blade shot forth.

The third-generation Kirieloid did not dodge; the blast struck his chest but failed to leave a single mark.

“Such feeble attacks are pointless,” the Kirieloid remarked, brushing imaginary dust from his chest.

“You’ll pay for the lives of these innocents!”

With a roar, Yue Longze’s fist shone with black light, cleaving the air as he struck.

...

Upon the planet, atop the barren desert, two colossal figures clashed, their battle cries echoing across the wasteland.

Mountains were leveled by the shockwaves, the ground split asunder.

And this was with Yue Longze deliberately restraining himself.

The third-generation Kirieloid surpassed his former self in both strength and speed, leaving Yue Longze struggling to defend.

Moreover, the Kirieloid favored leg attacks; each blow made Yue Longze’s arms ache from blocking.

He had almost no chance to counterattack, forced into a relentless, desperate defense.

Even the rare opportunities for an offensive were easily evaded or neutralized by his foe.

Since becoming an Ultra Warrior, this was the most grueling battle Yue Longze had ever fought.