"I am not the same as the Gurongi," Steve said decisively, his tone laced with a hint of annoyance.
The Gurongi avatar did not argue. Instead, he simply looked at Steve and stated a fact with a calm, indifferent tone: "The power of Kuuga and the Gurongi share the exact same source."
Steve fell silent for a moment. As I suspected, he thought.
"Of course, tens of thousands of years ago, that Kuuga chose to stop the Gegel game and seal the Gurongi tribe," the avatar added, glancing at the pensive Steve. "And now, you are doing the same. Perhaps that is why the belt chose you."
"In that case, I will do exactly what the ancient Kuuga did—I will stop your killing games," Steve said, clenching his fists.
"As you wish," the avatar shrugged.
Steve turned and gave the avatar a long, searching look. "I will defeat every single Gurongi who participates in these games." He stared intensely at the avatar's face, trying to provoke a reaction.
The Gurongi avatar remained unresponsive. Realizing Steve was waiting for a reply, he simply let out a soft "Mm," acknowledging the statement.
"You have nothing to say to that?" Steve finally couldn't help but ask.
The avatar looked slightly surprised. "What should I say?"
Steve emphasized, "I said I am going to defeat every Gurongi participating in the game."
The avatar nodded. "And...?"
Steve's mouth twitched. "You don't have the slightest urge to stop me? If I defeat all the participants of your so-called Gegel, the game won't be able to continue, right?"
The avatar looked at Steve with a half-smile. "The current games are merely a selection process to find candidates for the final game. Even if you resolve all the Gegel participants, it won't hinder the final game from taking place. The only difference is whether Daguva's final opponent is you or some Gurongi who made it to the finals. Everything remains within the scope of the game; nothing truly changes. Kuuga himself is a part of the game. Why would I stop you?"
Steve went silent. After a long pause, he spat out: "I will never become a creature like those Gurongi who kill indiscriminately. And as for this 'Daguva' you speak of—if he is as cruel and bloodthirsty as the others, I will defeat him too."
The avatar curled his lip, his tone dismissive. "That is your business. My task is only to ensure the final game proceeds. I can tell you clearly: Daguva is far stronger than all other Gurongi combined. To face him, one must become his equal—the Ultimate Darkness."
"However, I am quite curious," the avatar added, eyeing Steve with interest. "I wonder if Kuuga can wield the power of the Ultimate Darkness in a way entirely different from Daguva."
Ultimate Darkness?!
The inscriptions in the ancient Kuuga ruins had mentioned this phrase many times. Steve couldn't ignore it.
With a slight stir in his heart, Steve asked, "What exactly is the Ultimate Darkness?"
"Who knows? Perhaps the extinction of the Rinto? Or perhaps the disappearance of all life on this planet into the void?"
Hearing the avatar discuss such a grave matter in such a casual tone, Steve felt a chill of horror. He took a deep breath. "I see. The Ultimate Darkness..."
After a moment of silence to steady his emotions, Steve spoke again. "By the way, we've talked this long, and I still don't know what to call you."
The Gurongi avatar smiled slightly. "In accordance with your Rinto customs, you may call me Omega."
After leaving the bookstore, Steve went straight to see the bedridden Agent Carter to fill the void of regret and guilt in his heart.
After a deep conversation with Peggy that cleared his internal conflict, Steve immediately felt that he could transform into Titan Form at any moment. Coincidentally, intelligence arrived reporting that the Squid Gurongi had reappeared.
Steve immediately rendezvoused with Kent and rushed to the area.
When they arrived, the Squid Gurongi was spitting explosive ink to slaughter the people nearby. Steve gritted his teeth and transformed into Kuuga Titan Form, racing forward on his motorcycle to block the Squid Gurongi's path.
Seeing Steve appear, the Squid Gurongi spoke with annoyance, "Kuuga, I let you keep your life last time, and yet you return to interfere with my game."
Steve gave a cold snort but didn't answer. The shield in his hand transformed into the Titan Sword, and he walked directly toward the enemy.
The Squid Gurongi angrily spat out explosive ink. Steve, however, did not dodge. He walked straight through the violent explosions of ink, closing the distance.
"How is this possible?" the Squid Gurongi stammered in shock.
Previously, Kuuga had to use that strange shield to block the explosions; now, he was withstanding the full force of the blasts with nothing but his own physical defense.
"Impossible! Even with the purple power... I don't believe you can ignore my explosions!" Refusing to believe it, the Squid Gurongi spat ink repeatedly.
However, the immense defensive power of Titan Form allowed Steve to completely ignore the high-heat explosions. With immense pressure, he approached the Squid Gurongi step by step.
Seeing his proudest ability fail completely, the Squid Gurongi panicked and instinctively took several steps back. Realizing he was likely no match for this form, he immediately tried to retreat. He spat ink around Steve to create a smokescreen, intending to leap into the nearby river.
However, Kent, who was busy evacuating civilians, was not about to let him escape. He unleashed a mid-air strike of combined wind and lightning energy, hitting the fleeing Gurongi and forcing his escape to a halt.
That split-second delay was all Steve needed.
Gripping the Titan Sword, Steve lunged. He burst through the fire and smoke of the ink explosions, reaching the Squid Gurongi and thrusting the sword deep into its body.
The Squid Gurongi gripped the Titan Sword with both hands, struggling to pull it out. But Steve used his superior strength to lift the Gurongi into the air with the blade. Sealing energy poured continuously into the wound.
Seeing the sealing runes manifest on the Gurongi's skin, Steve gave a powerful heave, flinging the Squid Gurongi out onto the surface of the river.
A violent explosion followed. The shockwave kicked up massive swells in the river, sending waves crashing against the banks and spraying water several meters into the air.