Chapter 81: Come Back, Tregear

As expected, one should never speak too soon.

“After your disappearance, issues arose during the trial run of the Nebula Particle Conversion System.”

During testing, Torekia used the battle data from Taro and Higashi Kotaro, and immediately simulated results so terrifying that words failed—‘world-destroying’ was no longer sufficient to describe them. Any competent warrior could, through the Nebula Particle Conversion System, unleash a level of power comparable to Captain Kain. The results were simply unbelievable.

Adhering to rigorous scientific standards, the other researchers on the project verified the findings through various methods, and the error margin was less than five percent.

The project team was ecstatic, and almost instantly, the miniaturization and mass production of the Nebula Particle Conversion System was scheduled.

Yet, when the first batch of equipment—twenty units in total—was issued to warriors for missions on other planets, testing its real-world combat effectiveness, the response was unexpectedly mediocre.

The results were far inferior to the simulated data.

If not for the multiple validations of the simulation, everyone would have suspected an error in the battle data provided by Taro.

The response from the Defense Squad was simple: once generated, the warriors’ battle data was compressed and encrypted, unmodifiable. Whatever the numbers were, that was what they remained.

By this time, Torekia had been missing for quite a while. After searching in vain, Taro returned to the Land of Light and heard the others doubting Torekia.

They suspected Torekia had tampered with the simulation device.

This suspicion lacked any foundation, for when the device was tested with data from other warriors, it indeed produced unremarkable results—not enough to blame the simulation device. Yet only Taro’s battle data could produce results nearly divine, and no one could explain why. They were nearly ready to dismantle the simulation device to examine its code.

Taro still remembered how Torekia had explained the equipment to him, saying it operated based on ‘bond.’ The tighter the bond, the greater the power it could unleash; conversely, if...

Taro immediately collected all remaining ‘Taiga Spark’ devices and planned to visit Earth to find Kotaro and personally verify the Taiga Spark, which symbolized their bond.

He wished to prove that Torekia’s design was flawless, and to confirm the strength of his bond with Higashi Kotaro.

Yet before he could set off, Zoffy stopped him and asked a simple question: How long has it been since you returned from Earth to the Land of Light?

Taro was stunned.

Then he realized his partner had passed away a millennium ago. Kotaro now lived only within the billions of battle data entries Taro had brought back from Earth.

“Bonds are fragile. Even without outside influence, time alone is enough to wear them away.”

Taro was overcome by profound sadness. Two strings connected to him had vanished without a trace—not with the dramatic rupture he had imagined, but with silent, unremarkable disappearance.

The planned verification ended before it began, and the researchers found nothing amiss with the device. However, the underperformance of the Taiga Spark was an undeniable fact.

Soon, mass production plans were shelved.

Shortly after, the project was frozen once more.

Torekia learned of these events through various channels, though by then he had lost interest. In fact, this outcome was entirely as he had expected. Bonds were far too fragile; a device built upon them was destined to fail.

Hosui continued his account: “Taro refused to give up. He insisted that the Taiga Spark was a powerful device, and the numbers you measured were accurate. The problem must lie in how the warriors used it.”

“He gifted the remaining Taiga Spark units to his son Taiga and a few of his companions, perhaps hoping they would, in his place, verify the device’s true potential.”

“But indeed, something seems to have changed.”

Hosui spoke as he opened a file.

“Kudo Yuki, after forming a ‘bond’ with Taiga, experienced enhancements in physical fitness and athletic ability.”

“His basic abilities now surpass ordinary people, and his body appears to be adapting to accommodate the extraordinary power.”

The display shifted, showing surveillance footage on the left and a summary of data from the scene investigation on the right.

“Telekinesis.”

The screen switched to Yuki retrieving objects from the company president’s safe remotely.

“And…”

The scene changed again. In the server room, Yuki was enveloped by black mist, then abruptly vanished.

Hosui glanced at Kirisaki.

“I did it,” Kirisaki admitted without hesitation.

“I separated a small shard of Grimud and placed it inside him, simply to prevent him from dying on the spot... Originally, that tiny fragment should have vanished or been metabolized by his body.”

“...I never imagined he could directly harness Grimud’s power.”

Hosui switched off the display and leaned back in his chair, his voice brimming with excitement and anticipation. “An unexpected development, isn’t it?”

Kirisaki remained silent, gazing at the screen, yet deep within his eyes the spark of curiosity burned, impossible to conceal.

“I intend to restart the Nebula Particle Project, focusing research around this unique case.”

A hand was extended toward Kirisaki, as if inviting him.

“Come back, Torekia. I need your power.”