Chapter Eighteen: Escape from the Starship

“Bang!”

Seven 21 slammed forcefully against the high-density metal door. The tremendous impact echoed with a dull thud, yet the door remained unmoved. Instead, the counterforce sent a numbness creeping through his entire arm.

“It’s useless,” Cupid sighed, watching Seven 21 and shrugged. “This place was built as an exact replica of the Battle Star, down to the very materials used.”

He paused briefly before continuing, “The Battle Star’s purpose was to imprison those monsters, so it was constructed with the hardest metal. Even we would be trapped here—we simply cannot break through.”

Seven 21 clenched his fist and struck the metal door again, a grimace of pain flashing across his face. “Are we just going to stand by and watch the war begin? Let those White Tribe scoundrels laugh in the end?”

Cupid fell silent for a moment, contemplating. The Blue Tribe was clearly pinned as the scapegoat. The entire Blue Tribe had likely enraged the Land of Light. If they couldn’t explain themselves in time, the Blue Tribe would be cast into the abyss, burdened with inciting civil strife within the Land of Light. That stain would never be erased; they would forever be pariahs.

“We must get out!” Seven 21 glared fiercely at the door imprisoning them, then looked at Cupid. “Together, with the Ice Axes—we have to chop through it!”

After a brief silence, Cupid nodded slightly. “Alright.”

At that moment, Ultramen of the Red and Blue Tribes joined forces for the first time. Locking eyes, as if moving in perfect synchrony, they raised their hands above their heads, briefly pausing there. Then, two razor-sharp ice axes, charged with intense energy, spun swiftly and struck at the metal door.

“Clang!”

A crisp metallic ring sounded, but the door did not budge. The axes rebounded sharply, flying back toward Cupid and Seven 21.

Taking a small step to the side, Cupid firmly caught the returning ice axe. The sheer recoil made his entire arm tremble.

He glanced at Seven 21, who also caught his axe firmly but staggered backward slightly.

“It’s no use. There’s no way to break out!”

Outside the door, White Tribe warriors had heard the loud noises and were approaching.

“Is what we’re doing really right?” one White Tribe warrior asked, doubt creeping into his voice.

“I don’t know,” another replied in a low tone.

“But the chieftain ordered this. We shouldn’t overthink it.”

A long sigh echoed down the corridor.

“Ah!”

Suddenly, Cupid gave Seven 21 a sharp look, then collapsed onto the ground. Grasping his own neck with his hands, he kicked violently outward, emitting agonizing, pained howls.

Seven 21 hesitated, then immediately understood. He flew to Cupid’s side, pressing his leg against Cupid’s abdomen and gripping his neck with both hands.

“What’s wrong!?”

The White Tribe warriors outside were startled by the harrowing cries and hurried to peer inside.

“Ugh, it hurts so much!”

Cupid shook one arm painfully in front of him, trembling violently, as if enduring unbearable torment.

Seven 21 had only been feigning the grip on Cupid’s throat, but seeing him like this, a dark thought suddenly sprang to mind.

What if he just killed him?

Remembering how Cupid had mocked him, a ruthless gleam flickered in Seven 21’s eyes as he tightened his hold.

Cupid’s struggle intensified, kicking his legs outward.

Suddenly, Seven 21’s grip loosened sharply.

If he took this chance to kill him, then what kind of warrior would he be?

A White Tribe warrior hurried to open the metal door and check inside, but another warrior suddenly grabbed him.

“What are you doing?”

The startled warrior looked back, but the one holding him said firmly, “He is our enemy. How can we show him mercy?”

“But they are Ultramen too!” the first protested, then quickly opened the door and rushed inside.

“Stop! What are you doing!?”

Urgently shouting, he tried to pull Seven 21 away, and another White Tribe warrior charged in to help.

“Bang!”

But Seven 21 suddenly turned and punched the newcomer hard in the chest, sending him crashing into a corner.

Before the second warrior could react, Cupid leapt forward and swept him into the corner with a powerful kick. Both lay sprawled on the ground.

They were veteran warriors, vastly more experienced than these White Tribe mercenaries. Besides, Seven 21 was armored, and Cupid had instantaneously activated the Decutaro Gear Armor.

Bursting out of the cell, Seven 21 searched for where Zoffy and the others were held, but Cupid grabbed his arm.

“The priority is to notify Father of Ultra! There are too many White Tribe Ultramen here. If we get trapped, there’s no escape.”

“Right!” Awakening to the urgency in Cupid’s words, Seven 21 no longer hesitated. The two warriors sprinted side by side down the corridor.

“Here, follow me!” Cupid led him swiftly into a corner, panting. “This place is entirely built according to the Battle Star’s blueprints, so it has the same layout. Follow me and you won’t get lost.”

“Who’s there!?”

Two White Tribe warriors heard the noise and rushed over, but just as they rounded the corner, two fists slammed hard into their heads, instantly knocking them unconscious.

“Hurry! Hurry!!!”

Cupid urgently called to Seven 21. They had reached the back corridor. Since Ultramen could freely fly through space, there were no bulkhead doors—just a way out.

Suddenly, the ship’s alarm blared loudly. Countless White Tribe warriors poured out, rushing toward them.

“Go!”

Cupid and Seven 21 spread their arms and sped toward the exit.

Ahead, the mysterious starry sky was finally visible!

To be continued.