The Shadow Temple

As Satoshi and Kiyomi arrive on Planet Keroth, they encounter Atama and Lyvona. Kiyomi is both surprised and thrilled to meet her new companion, Lyvona. Throughout the journey, she chatters nonstop with Satoshi, who, despite his best efforts, nearly surrenders to her relentless enthusiasm.

As the spaceship touches down, Atama steps forward to welcome them. Meanwhile, Lyvona clings to him timidly, like a child seeking refuge behind a protective father, wary of the unfamiliar visitors.

"Is she nice? Is she cute? Wait—Is she cuter than me?! Do you think Seko will like her?! What if she takes advantage and—k-k-kisses him?!!"

Satoshi lets out a long sigh. But before he can even attempt to respond, Kiyomi is already rambling again.

"We're here?! She is cute! Maybe Seko will—"

"Shut up!!!"

Without a second thought, Satoshi clamps a hand over her mouth and unceremoniously throws her out of the spaceship.

The front glass shatters, and Kiyomi lands with a loud thud. She sits up, rubbing her now slightly swollen head, her cheeks puffed in a pout.

"Hmph... You didn't have to do that."

Atama exhales a quiet sigh, a knowing smile playing on his lips, while Lyvona watches in awe. Her eyes gleam with fascination as Atama finally speaks.

"How was the journey?" he asks, his tone carrying an air of omniscience—perhaps because he already knew the answer.

Satoshi, maintaining his usual stoic demeanor, retrieves his book on Justice, flipping it open as he responds without so much as a glance. His tone remains firm, unwavering.

"It was fine. Here's your Orb."

With that, he hands over the Red Orb to Atama.

Atama secures the Orb within his suit, which immediately begins analyzing its properties. But just as the scan initiates, his suit emits a familiar, urgent alert.

"High-speed object approaching. Distance: 400 km—"

Before Atama can even finish the warning, a blur streaks past them. The sheer force sends a sharp gust through the area. The speedster.

In that split second, his hands are coated in pico-bots—Atama's own technology.

All four heroes freeze, their expressions shifting from shock to realization. Atama, however, is more intrigued than alarmed. He observes the speedster's movement, his tone shifting to something calculated, and analytical.

"You managed to detect and evade multiple pico-bots… MTFL already, huh?" His eyes narrow slightly. "That would place you at least in Low-Tier A Rank, I assume."

"MTFL? you must be underestimating me, quite dumb for the smartest guy in the creation, perhaps.. just of this century of 25 years past 2000."- The speedster talks in a cocky tone, A smirk tugs at his lips, confidence radiating from his sharp, narrowed eyes—he knows he's untouchable. With arms crossed mid-stride, he barely acknowledges the world around him, because to him, nothing else can keep up.

"You could have said a quarter of a decade."-Satoshi remarks.

"You truly are full of yourself."-Kiyomi mutters, her expression flat and unamused.

Atama readies himself for the challenge, a smirk forming—not of arrogance, but of pure battle spirit. His eyes burn with determination as he suits up, armor seamlessly covering every vital and non-vital point on his body.

"I take special pleasure in humbling cocky bastards like you," he says, his voice edged with exhilaration. "That's exactly why I see myself as my own greatest rival."

Without hesitation, he lunges. In a flash, his strike connects—his fist slamming into the speedster.

"Did he do it?" Satoshi asks, his voice carrying both hope and skepticism.

"Way to go, Atama!" Kiyomi cheers, excitement lighting up her face.

Atama, however, remains still, his gaze locked onto the speedster with a neutral expression. "I knew it."

The moment those words leave his lips, a sharp pain pierces his oblique muscles. The speedster's attack lands before Atama can react, forcing a gasp of pain from him. A smirk plays on the speedster's face as Kiyomi's excitement shifts to shock, concern overtaking her expression. Satoshi immediately moves in for backup.

"B-but... the guy is still standing there!" Kiyomi stammers in confusion.

With a casual flick, the speedster hurls Satoshi away like a ragdoll before turning back to Atama. His tone is effortless, almost amused.

"Oh? You mean that?" He gestures toward his still-standing form in the distance. "Just a copy—vibrations and all that. I made sure it followed every law of physics and reality." His smirk widens. "Even if I landed the attack I wanted, how did you figure it out, Atamatsu Kyorin?"

Atama, always one step ahead, had discreetly released pico-bots onto the speedster, slowly seizing control. His suit shifts and adapts, repairing his wounds with advanced medical tech. Rising to his feet, he speaks in a firm, commanding tone.

"He's mine. Stay out of this." His gaze flicks to his team. "Take Lyvona to Planet Kiro—that's where Seko is."

Without hesitation, the team begins their retreat, guiding Lyvona away.

Seiya, unfazed, rolls his shoulders, bones cracking as he vibrates at high speed—nullifying the pico-bots attempting to control him. His glowing greyish-silver eyes settle on Atama, this time serious.

"Once I'm done with you, I'll wipe out your pathetic, slow little team." His words carry an air of finality.

Atama doesn't respond—he simply raises his arm, charging his lasers. In a flash, he launches forward, a precision strike aimed at the speedster. Seiya counters, his movement a blur of purple light.

The battlefield ignites as the two forces collide.

End Of Chapter