Kouta clenched his fists, trying to summon every ounce of strength he had. His legs trembled under the weight of his body, and a bead of sweat trickled down his temple. “I won’t let you harm Saori,” he murmured in an almost inaudible tone.

The alien raised an eyebrow and let out a dark laugh. “Saori? I couldn’t care less about these Earthlings.” She extended a hand with her palm open toward the suspended bodies, and a violet, crackling sphere of energy began to form.

The energy sphere grew, its hum drowning out every other sound. Kouta’s knees buckled under the oppressive force, and he closed his eyes, bracing for the inevitable, but the attack never came.

A sudden gust of wind swept past him, and when he opened his eyes, the scene before him made his heart race. Between him and the gleaming alien figure stood Mr. Yüsei. His frail silhouette seemed fragile compared to the imposing alien, yet a palpable energy radiated from his body. His gaze was sharp, focused, and unwavering as he stared down the being before him.

“You dare interfere?” Her voice carried irritation. “Who are you, old man?”

Mr. Yüsei cracked his neck, his movements calm and deliberate. “Just an angry fan.”

He glanced at Kouta, his expression softening briefly. “Rest now, kid. I’ll handle this.”

Kouta tried to protest, but his body once again gave in to fear, leaving him nearly unconscious. As darkness crept into the edges of his vision, he could still make out a faint exchange of words.

“Handle this?” The opponent smirked sarcastically, her sharp claws glinting in the light of the energy sphere. “You must be delusional, Earthling. Do you even know who I am?”

“I don’t need to know your name to defeat you,” Yüsei replied, his voice calm but firm.

The smirk vanished, replaced by a look of pure malice. With a swift flick of her wrist, the energy sphere was hurled at Yüsei at great speed. In an instant, Yüsei raised his hand and swatted the attack aside as if it were nothing. The sphere flew far away, detonating harmlessly in a brief violet flash.

“Impressive,” the adversary admitted with a tone of disdain. “It seems you might actually be worth my time after all.”

She disappeared in a blur of speed, reappearing behind Yüsei with her clawed hand aimed at his back. But Yüsei’s movements were faster. He ducked to evade the strike and countered with a devastating uppercut that sent her flying through the air. The impact created a shockwave that rippled across the stadium-turned-battlefield, kicking up dust and debris.

For Yumi-Chan and everyone else present, it was nearly impossible to follow what was happening; the two combatants moved with a speed imperceptible to the naked eye. Since the alien’s arrival, any semblance of control had long been lost, and the brief calm had dissipated.

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The opponent steadied herself in mid-air, her expression now a mixture of shock and rage. “You dare lay a hand on me?” she hissed. With a roar, she unleashed a barrage of energy blasts, each more powerful than the last. The ground erupted in a series of explosions, and smoke blanketed the battlefield.

When the smoke cleared, Yüsei stood unharmed, shielding his grandson. He raised a finger and wagged it in a scolding motion. “Is that all you’ve got?”

The adversary growled, her frustration boiling over. She descended to the ground and lunged at him, her fists colliding in a flurry of rapid blows. Each impact sent shockwaves rippling through the stadium and the floating bodies. Yüsei’s movements were precise and calculated, while her attacks were fueled by sheer strength and aggression.

The fierce battle continued, both fighters moving too fast for untrained eyes to follow. Yüsei sidestepped a spinning kick and countered with a palm strike to her chest, sending her skidding backward. She gritted her teeth.

“You’re stronger than you look,” she admitted. “But you’re still far from being a match for me.”

“I can feel you’re holding back,” Yüsei said in a neutral tone. “Aren’t you?”

Her eyes widened briefly before narrowing. “Perhaps. But why waste all my power on a relic like you?”

“Because if you don’t,” Yüsei replied, cracking his knuckles, “you’re going to lose.”

Her expression twisted in fury, and her aura erupted around her. The once-violet energy now burned a deep crimson, and the ground beneath her feet cracked and crumbled under the weight of her power. “Very well. If you’re so eager to see my true power, I’ll grant you thirty seconds of it.”

She vanished again, reappearing before Yüsei with her fist aimed at his face. This time, the impact sent him flying through several structures in the stadium before coming to a stop. Kouta, struggling to stay conscious, watched in horror as the old man fought to get back up.

“Stay down, old fool,” the adversary mocked. “You’ve entertained me enough.”

But Yüsei simply dusted himself off and smiled. “You’ve got quite a punch. But if that’s all your true power, I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed.”

Her expression contorted in rage, and she let out an ear-splitting roar, her power reaching its peak. The air grew heavy, and even Kouta could feel the crushing force pressing down on him.

Yüsei raised his hand, a soft glow enveloping him. His frail body seemed to grow, his movements becoming more fluid and deliberate. For the first time, the opponent hesitated, sensing the shift in his stance.

“Let’s see if you can handle this,” Yüsei said, his voice calm but filled with resolve.

The battle resumed, each clash of their blows shaking the heavens. Her attacks were faster and stronger, but Yüsei matched her strike for strike, his experience and skill keeping him one step ahead. The tide of the battle seemed to turn in his favor, but deep down, Yüsei knew she was still holding back.

As the fight raged on, a moment of stillness came when Yüsei blocked a devastating strike and asked in an inquisitive tone: “You still haven’t told us your name.”

She smirked maliciously, her energy surging even higher. “If you survive the next attack, I’ll tell you. Consider it a consolation prize.”

Yüsei clenched his fists, his determination unwavering. “Then I’ll make sure you have to keep that promise.”

As the two warriors continued to test the limits of their strength, one thought lingered in Yüsei’s mind:

“Can I truly protect this boy from what’s to come?”