The clash between Yu Zhou and the three Zoiger appeared and ended in an instant, like lightning across the sky.
Three bursts of sparks exploded, and the Zoiger were thrown violently to the ground, their massive bodies crashing with earth-shaking force.
"So strong!"
Everyone's attention was fixed on the battle between the giant and the Zoiger. When they saw him defeat three Zoiger in a single strike, gasps of awe spread through the crowd.
The terrifying dark monster birds that had made everyone feel so helpless and invincible—were utterly crushed in one move.
Too powerful.
"Amazing!"
On the rooftop, the young prince's jaw nearly dropped as he watched the giant fell three Zoiger in one blow.
"But the energy surrounding him… it feels like the power of darkness."
Standing beside him, Yuzare's long silver hair danced in the night breeze as she looked upon the towering, silver-and-black giant.
"Then why… would darkness fight against darkness?"
The prince turned to her, puzzled.
"That," Yuzare said quietly, her gaze still locked on the giant figure, "is something only he can answer."
After Yu Zhou destroyed the three Zoiger, the rest turned their attention toward him. Their scarlet eyes locked onto the giant in the sky as they launched themselves toward him with deafening cries.
Floating above the battlefield, Yu Zhou raised his arms. Several orbs of dark energy formed around him, hovering like sentinels.
When the Zoiger entered their range, beams of light burst forth from the orbs, tearing through the sky.
Shrill cries echoed. Some Zoiger exploded midair under the relentless barrage, others plummeted to the ground wounded, only to be finished off by soldiers below.
A few managed to get close—shielded by the bodies of their kin—but Yu Zhou met them with his fists. Each strike crushed a Zoiger, leaving no trace of life.
"His dark power… it's unbelievably strong!"
Yuzare murmured in awe as she watched the battle unfold. She could not help but wonder—could Tiga truly remain rational beneath such overwhelming darkness?
At that moment, a deep, commanding voice spoke from behind her and the prince.
"Who is this giant?"
The two turned around. A tall, broad-shouldered man in a golden cloak stood behind them, his eyes sharp yet calm.
"Father," Yuzare bowed slightly, then lifted her gaze. "We only know he once helped Fuhuo City destroy Melba. His codename is Tiga."
The man before them was King Ord, ruler of this land—and their father.
Yuzare deliberately kept her answer vague. She revealed only what was publicly known, saying nothing of Yu Zhou himself.
The prince understood her intent immediately and stayed silent.
"An unknown origin, then," King Ord muttered, looking up at the massive figure battling in the sky.
Debris from the Zoiger rained down, but the king stood unfazed. He did not feel threatened—not with his daughter, the kingdom's strongest warrior, standing beside him.
"I heard an assassin entered your chambers earlier," Ord said casually, still watching the battle.
"Yes, Father," Yuzare replied softly. "The assassin escaped in the chaos."
"Escaped?" Ord's expression remained calm, but his eyes flicked down to his daughter. "Anyone who can flee from my daughter's grasp is no ordinary person. But… I heard there were two assassins."
"Father, the second figure in black was me…"
The young prince lowered his head, guilt written across his face.
"Cain? You?" Ord's brows rose. "Why would you be on the roof at that hour?"
As his father, Ord knew his son would never conspire with outsiders—but sneaking around in a cloak at night? That was perplexing.
"I just wanted to see how Sister Yuzare absorbs the light essence of the moon," the prince said, his tone small and embarrassed.
Every night, his sister would stand atop the castle, bathed in moonlight, drawing its energy to replenish her light power.
The prince thought that if he could learn how she did it, he might also gain command over the light.
So, he had donned a black cloak and crept to the rooftop—only to stumble upon another mysterious cloaked figure.
"Cain…" Ord sighed. "You're my third son, destined one day to inherit my throne. Your eldest sister is away, and Yuzare has been teaching you diligently. I hope you'll act with more wisdom from now on."
"Yes, Father," the prince said humbly, lowering his head.
Still… the power of light—it was so alluring.
To wield such strength—that had always been his dream.
High above, Yu Zhou knew nothing of the conversation below.
All he knew was to strike down every Zoiger he could.
Under his relentless assault, the swarm of dark birds dwindled to only a few survivors.
"Dark Zeperion Beam!"
Yu Zhou pulled his hands back, then extended them outward into an L-shape. Darkness gathered from every direction, swirling into his palms.
A brilliant purple-black beam shot forth, tearing through the sky.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Three Zoiger tried to resist, hurling fireballs toward him—but the dark beam swallowed them whole, detonating them in spectacular bursts.
The remaining two Zoiger, seeing their comrades obliterated, finally turned tail and fled into the distance. Within moments, they vanished beyond the horizon.
Yu Zhou didn't bother to chase them. Hovering in the air, he turned his gaze downward—toward the rooftop where Yuzare, the prince, and a golden-cloaked man stood.
"That must be their father," he thought, "the king of this continent."
Satisfied, Yu Zhou rose higher into the sky and flew off.
He would return later, once the chaos had settled, to speak privately with Princess Yuzare about the darkness—its nature, and its source.
Because deep down, Yu Zhou suspected the truth.
The original Dark Tiga… might be the very origin of all darkness itself.
The central capital lay in ruins. The Zoiger attack had left countless dead, and even part of the royal castle was destroyed. The entire continent was shaken.
Within the surviving grand hall, King Ord sat tall upon his throne, radiating power and dignity.
Below him, his ministers and generals stood straight and alert, awaiting orders.
From the side entrance, a young woman in a flowing white gown entered gracefully. Her beauty stole the breath of the hall—many young officers found themselves lost in her presence.
"Princess Yuzare," the herald announced, "please, take your seat."