"Go on, try it."
Seeing Amui hesitate, Yu Zhou encouraged him.
If Amui was truly the chosen one, then he had to embrace it. After all, without a Giant of Light to protect the world five thousand years ago, there might not even be a future to speak of.
"Mm!"
With Yu Zhou, a Giant from the future, giving him such support, Amui clenched his fists and nodded firmly. He stepped into the open space.
The monster was already defeated, so now everyone just wanted to see if Amui truly was the successor of light.
Lifting the Bronze Sparklence high, Amui pressed the activation switch.
In a dazzling blaze of radiance, his figure expanded and transformed into a fifty-meter-tall Giant of Light, standing proudly among the mountains.
"He did it!"
The villagers burst into cheers.
If Amui really was the Giant of Light, then the village would no longer need to live in fear of being destroyed by monsters.
But Amui didn't stay transformed for long. It was only a test. Soon he dissolved back into human form, reappearing on the ground.
This time, however, his face carried no joy. Instead, there was a heavy expression, as though a new weight had settled on his shoulders.
"So, this is… the responsibility of the inheritor of light."
Amui murmured, recalling the sensation of standing as a giant.
"Amui, I believe in you!" Tsubasa said warmly, smiling at him.
Yu Zhou, meanwhile, hadn't forgotten the true purpose of his journey into the past. He turned to the group and asked:
"By the way, I heard that in this era, some people are able to wield special arts?"
"You must be referring to the Digul."
From the crowd, a man in black stepped forward and spoke.
"Digul?" Yu Zhou repeated, trying to recall. "Yes… I think that's the name."
The name sounded strikingly close to "Tiga." If memory served, there had indeed been a group in the original history known as the Digul, who could use strange techniques.
"We are the Digul!"
Two more men in black garments came forward and joined the first.
Yu Zhou's eyes lit up. "Ah, so it's really you three. An honour!" He quickly greeted them and then asked, "May I have your names?"
"I am Zibakuro."
"I am Kazahaya."
"And I am Tobitaka."
Yu Zhou: "…"
The names made his head spin. With a sigh, he pulled out a notebook and pen from his dimensional bracelet.
"Sorry, but could you repeat that slowly? I'd better write them down."
The three Digul exchanged looks, slightly embarrassed, but patiently repeated their names until Yu Zhou had carefully scribbled them in his notebook.
"Excellent. Now then, I wanted to ask—how can one learn to use your arts?" Yu Zhou asked, getting straight to the point.
"Yu Zhou, you already hold the power of a Giant of Light," Tobitaka replied. "Our abilities are insignificant compared to yours."
"Still, it never hurts to know more," Yu Zhou countered. "If I could use these techniques in human form, it would be a great help."
The three Digul stroked their chins in thought. Finally, Tobitaka said, "Our abilities require us to absorb light energy in specific places before we can practice them. But since you are already a Giant of Light, you might try channelling energy directly through our method of circulation. Perhaps you can use the arts that way."
Yu Zhou nodded. "Worth a try. Tobitaka, could you show me an example?"
"Of course."
Tobitaka stepped forward into the open space. Bringing his hands together in front of his chest, he slowly rotated them in a circle. A sphere of light gathered between his palms, and with a thrust, he released it.
Boom!
A nearby boulder shattered into fragments.
"Feel the energy in your body," Tobitaka explained. "Guide it into your arms, gather it into your hands, and then—"
Boom!
Before he could even finish speaking, another rock exploded in the distance.
Startled, Tobitaka spun around and saw Yu Zhou mimicking his exact movements, a bright light still glowing between his palms.
"Like this?" Yu Zhou asked calmly, and then flicked his hands again. A shining orb shot forward, blasting into the mountainside with a thunderous crack.
"…Y-Yes…"
Tobitaka was speechless.
Every Digul spent decades of training just to reach his level, able to produce a light sphere powerful enough to shatter stone.
But Yu Zhou—after a single demonstration—had already mastered it, and even produced a blast stronger than his own.
The three Digul could only look at each other with tears in their eyes. Comparing themselves to him was truly hopeless.
Yu Zhou, on the other hand, was delighted. So simple! Just one imitation and it worked.
Though he did pause mid-thought, frowning. Wait… what was his name again? Maka… Maba… Maca—
He quickly pulled out his notebook again and checked.
"Oh, right. Tobitaka!"
Satisfied, he put the notebook back into his bracelet.
At that moment, a woman in red robes approached.
Yu Zhou blinked. At first glance, she looked just like Captain Megumi.
"Uncle, let me introduce you," Tsubasa said quickly, worried Yu Zhou might blurt out the wrong name. "This is the sorceress Izare."
Introductions were made, and both Yu Zhou and Izare exchanged polite nods.
"The Giant's Pyramid must be repaired," Izare said solemnly, gazing toward the ruined mountain.
The golden pyramid, half-exposed, had nearly been destroyed by the monster's rampage. Fortunately, the statues within remained intact.
"Uncle Yu Zhou," Tsubasa spoke up. "In the future, aside from Tiga's stone statue, the other two were destroyed by ancient monsters Golza and Melba, right?"
"Yes." Yu Zhou's expression grew thoughtful as he stared at the two silent statues.
Perhaps… this time, I could take them away. That way, they wouldn't meet the same fate in the future.