"Don't even think about it!"
Dark Lugiel saw Yu Zhou reaching for his Dark Spark Lance again and quickly reacted.
Black lightning coursed up Lugiel's arm and wrapped around the spear — then leapt across, crawling up Yu Zhou's arm as well.
But the expected scene of Yu Zhou being repelled didn't happen. Instead, Lugiel saw an unsettling expression on his face — as if he were enjoying it.
"The power of darkness… really is delicious," Yu Zhou grinned, his dark eyes glimmering. "Why don't you give me a little more?"
"What—?!"
Dark Lugiel froze in shock. The Dark Tiga before him was actually absorbing his power — using it as his own!
That was pure, unfiltered dark energy!
And yet, this guy could withstand it?!
Feeling Yu Zhou's grip tightening, Lugiel wrenched his weapon back with a violent tug, pulling the Dark Spark Lance free.
Yu Zhou sighed softly, clearly disappointed that he hadn't managed to seize it.
Before he could follow up, Belial suddenly dropped down from above, swinging his Ultimate Battler in a crushing blow.
Yu Zhou raised both arms above his head, crossing them just in time.
The Ultimate Battler came down hard, smashing against the point where his arms met.
The immense power forced Yu Zhou down onto one knee, cracks spreading through the ground beneath him like a spiderweb.
Taking advantage of the opening, Dark Lugiel swept his lance sideways — smashing Yu Zhou off his feet and sending him flying.
"Tiga!"
Camearra, who was beneath the Plasma Spark torch, was still restoring her energy. Seeing Yu Zhou being attacked by both Belial and Lugiel, she cried out anxiously.
"Tiga…"
Nearby, Daigo — finally regaining consciousness — looked up at the dark giant who had been thrown through the air. He wanted desperately to help.
He had already pieced together the situation somewhat.
The Dark Tiga fighting now… was clearly that same man from before.
Which meant that the Shining Tiga who had fought earlier… was also him.
And the woman who had brought him here — she looked oddly familiar. Perhaps he'd seen her before… on screen?
Whoever she was, Daigo knew the situation wasn't good. He wanted to help, but he had no energy. All he could do was continue absorbing the light particles radiating from the torch-like Plasma Spark nearby.
"May I ask… what should I call you?" he said finally, glancing toward her.
Camearra, focused on Yu Zhou's battle, could only keep restoring her energy for now. Hearing Daigo's voice beside her, she replied briefly, "Camearra."
The name hit Daigo like lightning.
Camearra?!
No way… the beautiful young woman before him — was that Camearra?!
Tiga's wife?!
But wait — in the TV shows, Camearra wasn't a young girl like this! She'd looked mature, sultry — like a dark queen.
This one looked almost innocent, but… there was a resemblance.
Maybe this is what she looked like when she was young, Daigo thought dazedly.
Yu Zhou slowly pushed himself up from the ground, brushing dust from his body.
In front of him stood Dark Lugiel with his Dark Spark Lance in hand, and Belial hefting his Ultimate Battler.
The swarm of monsters Belial had released was also closing in from all directions.
Yu Zhou knew all too well that, in his current state, there was no way he could handle this situation head-on.
He forced himself to stay calm, spreading both arms back before forming an "L" shape — and fired the Dark Zeperion Beam toward Belial and Lugiel.
The beam struck — but was blocked outright by Belial's Ultimate Battler.
Yu Zhou fired again, this time at the advancing monsters.
The blast tore through several of them, exploding a few into dust — reducing their numbers slightly.
But only slightly.
Yu Zhou knew he wasn't truly in a complete dark transformation yet — his energy reserves were running dangerously low.
The continued beam attacks were little more than the last struggles of an exhausted warrior.
Still, if he could at least take down a few more enemies, that was enough.
"With that kind of power," Lugiel sneered, pointing his lance at Yu Zhou, "you might as well just die obediently."
"Wait," Belial said, stopping him with one hand. "Let me ask him something first — then he can die."
Lugiel shrugged and nodded. It didn't matter who finished him off — as long as the result was the same.
Yu Zhou's breathing slowed. "So… I really can only use that power now, huh…"
He stared at the approaching Belial, then lowered his gaze as a black gem drifted out from his Colour Timer.
This gem — originally meant to contain the Light of Hope — had long ago absorbed the immense dark energy from Fukuide Kei.
When Fukuide Kei had carried this power, it had driven him to madness.
If Yu Zhou used it now…
"I don't have a choice," Yu Zhou muttered.
If he didn't, this battle would be over. He might as well surrender and flee like Belial from Geed's world.
"...That power!!!"
Belial's eyes widened as soon as he saw the black gem emerge from Yu Zhou's chest.
He could feel it — that overwhelming concentration of dark energy.
This was exactly the kind of power he had always longed for!
If he could obtain it — the destruction of the Land of Light would be within reach!
"You want it?" Yu Zhou chuckled darkly. "Too bad. It's not yours."
The dark energy sealed within the gem originally belonged to another timeline's Belial — but now, it belonged to Yu Zhou.
To the Dark Tiga standing before him.
With a single thought, the gem shattered into streams of black radiance that burst outward — then flooded back, surging into Yu Zhou's silver-and-black body.
Head, arms, legs, chest, abdomen, Colour Timer —
every inch of him was filled with a torrent of darkness.
The energy flooded his body relentlessly, strengthening him beyond measure.
But as the power poured in, his consciousness began to blur.
"Am I… losing myself again…?"
Before his mind faded completely, Yu Zhou glanced down at his Colour Timer — once blue, now glowing a deep, sinister purple.
He had seen this before — back at the Monster Graveyard.
"MY POWER!!!"
Belial's furious roar echoed across the battlefield.
That gem's energy had been his to claim — and this impudent human had just stolen it!
With that power, Belial could've become unstoppable. He wouldn't have needed any dark army or allies — not even to fear the Land of Light itself!
But now — this insect had consumed it before his very eyes!
Raging, Belial swung the Ultimate Battler down with all his strength, lightning crackling along its length.
A silver-and-black arm rose to meet the blow.
The two forces collided — the Ultimate Battler against Dark Tiga's arm — and the impact rang out like clashing steel, scattering showers of sparks into the night.