Volume 40 - Return to Rinnagua

== Chapter 469 - Astro Field Trip (Pt. 2) ==
"Well...here we are again." Jack remarks, as they look on at the shack-covered desert surface of Rinnagua.
"I'm guessing you guys have been here before." Shunsuke replies. "What for?"
"Oh, it was for a field trip on Saint Patrick's Day." Candice explains. "Jack and Andromeda met a Qhaikra named Hask'Torba and a member of the Galactic Defense Force named Sanjuro Akibara. It was also where...where Kazuyuki acquired a lot of gold..."
"...I see." Shunsuke responds. "You guys really were through a lot before I came along."
"Not a lot a lot." Jack replies. "Reminds me of Indra. We all agree that he's probably with Atlas, right?"
They nod.
"Well, I'm glad you guys remember me!"
== Chapter 470 - Resurrected? ==
They whirl around to see Hask'Torba sitting on a barrel, wearing a black trenchcoat and outlaw's shirt, pants and boots, smiling at them as smug as before.
"You're alive?!" Jack shouts.
"Yep." Hask'Torba answers. "Got saved by a few of my pals, one of 'em knew their cybernetics, used to be in one of the Shazarak Crews."
"Huh." Andromeda responds.
"Well, it's nice to meet you, Hask." Shunsuke replies. "You mind showing me around here?"
"I think I'd rather show all of you around this place." Hask'Torba responds. "Plenty has changed since you all were last here, and I honestly never expected you to come back."
== Chapter 471 - How Things Have Changed ==
As they walked through the better-put-together shacks and huts, it became clear that civilization here had been improved. Water was cleaner, people were nicer, and less things that were for sell were illegal.
"Wow..." Kasper breathes.
"What happened, here?" Jack asks.
"I happened." Hask'Torba answers. "I got a hold of a big piece of jewelry, and was able to put myself in charge. So I kinda run this planet, now."
"Awesome!" Candice replies, as Andromeda looks around to make sure they weren't being followed. It didn't seem they were, but she was still cautious, as they continued to look around.
== Chapter 472 - Seashells ==
"Seashells!" A woman in a stand covered in seashells shouts. "Come get your seashells from Earth!"
"I feel like this is leading up to a joke." Hask'Torba remarks.
"She sells seashells on the seashore, The shells she sells are seashells, I'm sure, For if she sells seashells on the seashore, Then I'm sure she sells seashore shells." Candice declares.
"There it is." Hask'Torba replies, as Kasper chuckles a bit.
"...How the fuck did you say that?" Andromeda demands. "And where is the seashore?!"
"Well, this place we're at is by a dried up seashore." Hask'Torba explains.
"Of course it is..." Andromeda grumbles.
== Chapter 473 - End of Contract ==
"...I've been thinking." Jack says. "...Even if we've been kicked out of the military...shouldn't we still be trying to stop Karim?"
"They can probably handle it if they catch him." Shunsuke replies.
"Yeah...but they're probably infecting more and more of the galaxy as we speak." Jack responds. "We shouldn't just be sitting by and doing nothing."
"Well, this must be your lucky day." Hask'Torba states. "Because that guy over there might be this 'Karim' you're talking about."
They then see him pointing, and turn to see Karim standing on top of a stage, a number of people gathered around as they looked at the vial in his hand!
== Chapter 474 - Darkness Falls ==
"I'm glad to make acquaintance with all of you." Karim says. "This vial contains a tonic that can and will make you all...immortal. More than that, it will grant you regeneration, telepathy, regeneration and shapeshifting. I've taken some myself, and I can say that it's a done deal."
"Karim!" Jack shouts, as he, Andromeda, Candice, Kasper, Shunsuke and Hask'Torba rush to meet him.
"Hello, Jack." Karim says. "It feels like we've been meeting a lot lately. How was your discharge?" Jack points his gun at Karim, glaring at him.
"Put...the vial...down!" He shouts.
"Fine." Karim replies, tossing the vial behind himself!
== Chapter 475 - Desert Duel ==
Karim is quick to leap off of the stage he was on, taking out his gun to fire at the six, as they dodge and Jack leaps at Karim to swing a kick at him, Karim letting the kick connect but not being particularly affected by it. Shunsuke and Hask'Torba both throw punches at Karim, sending him back as he wipes some blood from his mouth and smiles darkly.
"This guy can't feel pain, can he?" Hask'Torba asks.
"Oh, I would love to feel pain again." Karim replies. "To be in a real fight!"
He fires again, Andromeda catching the bullets as Kasper blasts at Karim with the disintegration blaster, Karim dodging and kicking Kasper's pad to break it in half!
== Chapter 476 - Shattered Dreams ==
"KASPER!" Candice screams, as Kasper was briefly motionless, right as she tackled him out of the way of Karim's kick, Karim preparing to fire at the two before Jack stabs him in the wrist. Karim seemingly ignores it and keeps firing, Candice blocking the bullets as he then tosses Jack aside to pursue them.
"Hey, Style-Stealer!" Hask'Torba roars, as he kicks Karim to the ground.
"...Please, I'm centuries older than you." Karim retorts.
"Wait, wha--" Hask'Torba starts, before being thrown off and through another shack.
"That was interesting." Karim remarks, beginning to walk towards the shack.
== Chapter 477 - Damage Compounded ==
Shunsuke grabs Karim's arm and tries to pull him off his feet, but Karim resists and punches Shunsuke repeatedly in the gut, Shunsuke letting go and collapsing on one knee as Karim continues to walk towards the shack, right as Hask'Torba bursts out, now fully armored in scales, and slashes at Karim's face repeatedly.
"HOW DO YOU LIKE THAT?!" Hask'Torba roars, as Karim grabs him by the face, slams him to the ground, and stomps on his chest, cracking his scales as the Qhaikra roars in agony. Before Karim can shoot him in the eye, he is met by slashes from Andromeda, but manages to get out of the way before they can fully cut through.
== Chapter 478 - Wrath Unleashed ==
Andromeda, screaming in rage, keeps slashing at Karim, who keeps dodging as he ducks beneath a slash from Candice and throws a Huscil dagger at each. While they were distracted, he grabbed Candice by the neck and threw her into Andromeda, blocking a punch from Shunsuke and a punch from Jack with each of his forearms from behind before grabbing their arms, still not looking at them, and flinging them to the ground.
"Agh!" Shunsuke grunts.
"GRAH!" Jack howls.
"It'd be better if you just stay out of my way, kid." Karim says. "None of you are the challenge I'm looking for, not anymore, maybe not ever."
== Chapter 479 - Spikes and Scales ==
As Karim is walking towards the space elevator, a number of scales pierce his limbs to temporarily immobilize him. "Hmm?" Karim wonders, as he notices Hask'Torba standing back up.
"I'm not out of this yet, human!" Hask'Torba roars with a pained grin on his face.
"I'm rather far from being human by now, Qhaikra." Karim replies, taking a bomb out of a pocket and tossing it at Hask Torba, who catches it as it explodes.
"GAAAAH!!!!!" The Qhaikra screams, as Karim grabs him by the face again, slams him to the ground, and stabs him in the stomach with a metal pipe, before walking back to the Space Elevator, and leaving towards New Earth.
== Chapter 480 - Hope Fading ==
"...No matter what we do...we can't beat him..." Jack breathes. "...He's...a monster..."
"...We can't just...argh...let him win this easily..." Shunsuke groans. "We have...to find a way to stop him and Arthur!"
"...Maybe...there is no way..." Andromeda remarks. "...We might...have to accept that we've lost..."
"No!" Candice shouts. "We have to press on, no matter what! We can't just give into despair and let them win! We can't let them tear everyone's families apart! We have to do whatever it takes to stop them, and fight to our last breath!"
"I agree..." Kasper replies weakly. "...otherwise...all our dreams...will have been for nothing."
"...Then let's get back home as soon as we can." Jack responds, as they all look at the Space Elevator.