Chapter Nine: One Against Two

As if sensing something, Tiga suddenly turned his head and saw Achilles transformed once again into a stone statue.

“Giant, watch out!” The crew of Victory Swallow No. 2 saw Golza suddenly charge at the giant and shouted in alarm.

It was as if Tiga heard their cries—he turned just as Golza crashed into him, flipping him over completely. Golza quickly pinned Tiga beneath his massive frame, pounding Tiga’s head with powerful, relentless blows. Tiga struggled, pushing against Golza’s fierce and monstrous face with all his might, while his other hand formed a fist, striking Golza’s chest repeatedly. Yet his blows seemed to have little effect.

Meanwhile, Melba seized the opportunity. Its sharp beak struck fiercely at Achilles’ stone body, breaking the statue at the shoulder, sending fragments flying. The tightly clenched arm fell from the giant’s form and was soon crushed beneath Melba’s talons.

Tiga watched this scene, his milk-white eyes blazing with fury. A silent roar seemed to resonate at a frequency no human could hear.

Golza let out a triumphant howl, pressing down on Tiga with ferocious strength, determined to hold him there.

Melba, delighted, called out and, flapping its wings, swept past Achilles’ neck, severing the statue’s head. The stony head tumbled to the ground, rolling toward Tiga.

That lifeless head faced Tiga directly. Tiga let out a voiceless cry, freed a hand, and drew it across his forehead. The crystal on his brow flashed red, and the purple portions of his body were swiftly overtaken by crimson, transforming him into a figure of alternating red and white.

Tiga—Power Type

Flight speed: Mach 3

Running speed: Mach 1

Swimming speed: Mach 1

Burrowing speed: Mach 1

Jumping power: 500 meters

Grip strength: 70,000 tons

Within the red hue surged explosive power. Tiga braced Golza with one hand, raised the other, and struck Golza’s horn with force.

A thunderous sound echoed as his heavy punch landed on Golza’s chest, knocking him onto his back.

Just then, Melba behind him let out a long cry. Its beastly eyes shot a red energy beam straight at Tiga.

Tiga crossed his arms before him, forming a circular barrier of light to defend against the attack.

“Ultra Barrier!”

Golza attacked from the side, but Tiga shook with one hand, dispersing Melba’s energy beam. With his other hand, he lashed out, striking Golza—it seemed almost as if Golza had run right into the blow himself.

The forceful punch sent Golza stumbling backward, nearly losing his footing. Tiga followed, sprinting a few steps, and slammed his shoulder into Golza’s front, pinning him helplessly. Then Tiga locked Golza’s waist in a crushing embrace, his arms tightening with tremendous strength, sinking deep into Golza’s flesh.

Golza wailed in agony under the brutal restraint.

Tiga released Golza briefly, then shifted his grip to Golza’s head, flipping him a full 360 degrees and slamming him hard into the ground.

Melba screeched, diving at Tiga, but when Tiga struck out, Melba’s enormous wings beat the air, lifting it high above, circling mockingly in the sky.

Tiga turned, and Golza, now weakened from repeated blows in Power Type form, had no will left to fight. The massive claws dug desperately into the earth, trying to escape underground.

Tiga would not allow these monsters to flee. He raced after Golza, reaching for his tail. Suddenly, Melba’s cry echoed overhead, its eyes flashing yellow beams that shot at Tiga’s back.

The attack staggered Tiga, and Golza seized the chance, vanishing into a crater before Tiga’s eyes.

Tiga spun around, crossed his hands at his brow, then lowered them. The crystal on his forehead gleamed, and his body rapidly shifted from red to blue-violet.

Tiga—Sky Type

Flight speed: Mach 7

Running speed: Mach 2

Swimming speed: Mach 1

Burrowing speed: Mach 1

Jumping power: 1,000 meters

Grip strength: 30,000 tons

He glanced up at Melba hovering in the air, then leapt, kicking Melba's head mid-air and sending the creature crashing down.

A massive thud shook the ground as Melba’s body smashed into the earth, raising clouds of dust. Meanwhile, Tiga, his energy indicator flashing red, slowly descended from the sky.

He turned abruptly, and in that instant, his arms crossed over his chest, then stretched out quickly to the sides and upward. Both hands gathered energy at his left waist; when he fully turned, he extended his right arm horizontally across his chest and unleashed a powerful Light Arrow at Melba, piercing through it.

“Lampart Light Bullet!”

The Lampart Light Bullet, swift and precise, lacked the destructive force of the Delashium Stream or Zeperion Ray, but its speed made it far more accurate.

In a flash, the Lampart Light Bullet struck Melba’s body, blue lightning arcing across its flesh, silencing Melba’s wailing cry. The next second, Melba’s body exploded, scattering chunks of flesh and blood across the forest.

Watching Melba’s demise, hearing the warning alarm grow ever more urgent in his chest, Tiga raised his head, stretched his arms, and soared skyward, his violet-blue form vanishing amid the layered clouds.

The Victory Team watched Tiga’s ascent until he disappeared completely, only then recovering from the spectacle.

“Daigu and Captain Gale...” Lina murmured sadly, her gaze drifting to the crash site, where black smoke still streamed toward the sky, the harsh aftermath of battle.

Just as Lina was lost in sorrow, Eguchi, who had been staring out the window, suddenly shouted in excitement, slapping Shinjo’s shoulder vigorously. “Look! That’s Daigu!”

The Victory Team turned quickly, and there on the riverbank, Daigu was waving his helmet at them.