Golden lightning exploded across the fractured valley.
Not natural lightning.
Dark-golden currents burst violently from Daisuke, tearing through the ruined battlefield while electricity spread across the ground like glowing veins beneath shattered stone.
The air itself screamed.
Nobody could see him clearly anymore.
Only the storm.
Only the pressure.
Only the gigantic shape slowly rising inside the lightning.
Then—
something stepped forward.
Heavy.
Monstrous.
At first it looked completely dark.
A gigantic beast-like figure with rough black skin like burnt stone, massive clawed arms, and a huge hunched body built more like a monster than a human.
Not elegant.
Not armored.
Brutal.
Like a living beast born from destruction itself.
Then the energy inside it ignited.
golden lightning burst through the cracks spread across its body, glowing violently beneath the black surface like luminous energy trapped inside a monster's skeleton.
Its body lit up instantly.
Golden currents spread through its chest, shoulders, claws, and spine while lightning leaked endlessly from the glowing cracks across its dark body.
Without the energy—
it would've looked like a dead black creature.
But with it—
the monster became terrifying.
Radiant.
Alive.
Its eyes opened slowly inside the darkness covering its face.
Bright golden.
Burning like lightning itself.
The entire valley shook as the transformed Guardian fully emerged from the storm.
A gigantic dark beast covered in violent dark-golden electricity, glowing brighter every second as luminous energy pulsed beneath its body.
Not human anymore.
Not completely.
A true Guardian transformation.
The Kichatsu stopped.
For the first time since appearing—
it hesitated.
Even the smaller Westlings backed away slightly.
Instinct.
Fear.
Because the thing standing before them now—
felt like a monster too.
The Kichatsu roared violently.
Its gigantic armored body towered over the shattered valley while black markings pulsed beneath its flesh like burning veins.
Dark energy exploded outward from its body, distorting the air around it while cracks spread across the ruined battlefield beneath its feet.
This wasn't a normal Westling.
This was a Kichatsu.
A disaster-class monster.
One of the strongest evolution levels ever recorded.
A sudden burst of static echoed through the ruined valley.
"…t-this is Batch D requesting emergency reinforcement!"
A girl's voice.
Sharp.
Controlled.
But shaken.
Airi gripped the communicator tightly while staring toward the gigantic creature ahead of them.
"…confirmed Kichatsu-level Westling in western sector!"
"…repeat— confirmed Kichatsu!"
The transmission crackled violently as another shockwave exploded across the battlefield behind her.
"…all nearby teams respond immediately!"
Static flooded the signal.
Then—
the message spread.
---
Batch B
The damaged communicator suddenly lit up beside the ruined transmission point.
"…Kichatsu…?"
One member froze immediately.
Another slowly looked toward the western sector.
"…Batch D found something insane."
Without hesitation—
they started moving.
---
Batch E
The underground vibrations stopped for half a second as the transmission reached them.
Then one Guardian's expression changed instantly.
"…a Kichatsu?"
Silence.
Nobody questioned the order after that.
They immediately changed direction toward Batch D's sector.
---
Batch C
The ground beneath Ryo trembled violently.
Then the transmission reached them through bursts of static.
"…confirmed Kichatsu-level—"
The signal distorted.
But the word alone was enough.
Ryo stopped instantly.
"…Daisuke."
Ren's expression hardened immediately.
Even from this far away—
they could feel the pressure spreading through the ruins.
Something enormous had awakened.
And somewhere inside that storm—
Daisuke was fighting it alone.
---
Back in the valley—
the Kichatsu charged.
The battlefield exploded apart beneath its movement.
Massive claws tore through broken terrain while the creature crossed the valley unnaturally fast for something that large.
But Daisuke moved first.
Dark-golden lightning erupted violently.
The transformed Guardian disappeared for half a second—
then reappeared directly before the Kichatsu.
One massive claw collided against the monster's attack.
The impact detonated across the valley like thunder.
Shockwaves shattered nearby ruins instantly.
Lightning spread wildly across the ground.
Dust exploded upward.
But neither monster moved back.
The Kichatsu roared directly into Daisuke's face before attacking again with even greater force.
Faster.
Sharper.
More violent.
Daisuke blocked the strike again.
Golden electricity screamed outward from his body violently while the cracks beneath his feet spread deeper across the battlefield.
The Kichatsu pushed harder.
And Daisuke pushed back.
The valley trembled beneath both monsters.
Equal force.
Equal pressure.
Everyone watching froze.
Because this wasn't domination.
This wasn't survival anymore.
This was two monsters standing on the same level.
Then the Kichatsu smiled.
Not wildly.
Not mindlessly.
Like recognition.
For the first time—
the creature had found something capable of standing before it.
An equal.
The dark-golden Guardian lowered its stance.
Electricity exploded harder around its body.
The Kichatsu answered with a roar powerful enough to shake the cliffs surrounding the valley.
Then both monsters charged at the same time.
Golden lightning collided against black destruction.
The impact split the battlefield apart instantly.
And the war between them began.