With the development of the Trial Tower underway, the number of laboratory explosions at the Science and Technology Bureau increased noticeably, especially in Arno's lab. The entire Science and Technology Bureau was in a state of chaos. Hikari had no choice but to apply for a temporary laboratory for Arno in the northern plains where the Trial Tower was being built.
With a deafening "boom," another mushroom cloud rose from the northern plains—once again, and yet again.
"Which time is this month?" asked an Ultra, turning to look at his companion upon seeing the rising mushroom cloud. At first, when they witnessed explosions near the plains, they feared an enemy invasion, but as time passed, they slowly grew accustomed to the sight.
Meanwhile, inside the Space Garrison headquarters, Zoffy heard the massive shockwave coming from the direction of the plains, causing his brow to twitch involuntarily.
***
"Max, you stay right there! Didn't you say this time absolutely nothing would blow up? Ah! Why did it explode anyway?!" Arno stared at Max, who was preparing to sneak away, his previously gentle gaze suddenly turning fierce and sharp.
"Why do things go completely smoothly when other Ultras come for testing, but problems always pop up the moment it's your turn? Max, do you and I have some kind of deep-seated grudge?!" Arno demanded, consumed with rage.
"Arno, I'm sorry... Next time, next time, next time I promise I'll never do it again!" Max looked with a guilty conscience at Arno, who had already fallen into a state of madness, his voice growing fainter and fainter.
"Max, how many times have you said 'next time'? Let me tell you, if there is a next time, I won't let you off as easily as this!" Arno roared through clenched teeth.
Yet right at that moment, a thunderous crash echoed out, and the plains, which had only just grown quiet, were once again engulfed by a violent explosion.
"If I don't blast you to smithereens, my name isn't Arno." Arno slapped the bracelet on his left wrist, a flash of white light cut through the air, and a cannon with a barrel the size of a head appeared in his hands.
"No, Arno, calm down, calm down!" Seeing Arno's movement, Max bolted in absolute terror.
"Max, trust me, I won't blast you to smithereens." Arno said gently to Max.
Max felt like crying; if you weren't chasing me with a cannon, I might actually believe you. The two Ultras engaged in a desperate game of tag, one fleeing while the other pursued relentlessly.
The two young Ultra kids, finished with classes, had sneaked into the Trial Tower to watch Arno and Roga work, arriving just in time to catch a live broadcast of Arno shelling Max.
"Brother Roga, how many times has Brother Max made Uncle Arno angry this month?" Taro asked curiously, looking at Roga, who was frantically calibrating equipment.
"Forty-five times. Don't disturb Brother Roga's work." Toraregia tugged at Taro, signaling him not to bother Roga.
"Oh!"
"Arno, the energy is unstable; there's a high probability it will explode again!" Roga shouted to Arno.
Arno hovered mid-air, blue light flickering across his feet as if connected to some mysterious power. Immediately afterward, he descended steadily onto a blue platform, stepping as though onto uncharted territory.
Arno waved his right hand lightly, striking the cannon barrel. In an instant, a dazzling flash of white light erupted, and the solid barrel transformed into a massive light screen.
Blue light spread outward from beneath Arno's feet like a rising tide. In the blink of an eye, countless blue platforms of the exact same size emerged, suspended in mid-air to form a magnificent and mysterious sight.
These platforms were arranged in an orderly fashion, resembling a grand airborne castle. Every platform glowed with a faint blue light, seemingly concealing endless secrets and possibilities. The entire space was enveloped in this sea of blue, evoking a dreamlike sensation.
Seeing Arno stop, Max halted a short distance away.
"Whoa! It looks just like the Ultra Arena." Taro exclaimed, looking at the scene before him.
"This was originally built to mimic the Ultra Arena. The primary purpose of the Trial Tower is to simulate various combat environments and monsters." Roga explained why the Trial Tower resembled the Ultra Arena.
Arno adjusted the data, summoned a virtual Telesdon, and said to Max, "Hit it with your beam again."
"Arno, are you sure?" Max asked timidly.
"Sure."
"Maxium Cannon." Max raised his hand, gathered energy, and fired his beam toward the virtual Telesdon.
Arno stared nervously at the energy data fluctuating on the light screen, constantly tweaking the numbers. "Roga, raise the Plasma Spark upper limit by eighty percent."
"Increase the virtual monster's energy output by ten percent."
Arno directed Roga down below to adjust the equipment.
"Hah!" Max unleashed his ultimate strike.
With a sharp click, Roga immediately erected a barrier to shield Taro and Toraregia behind him, while Arno, still suspended in mid-air, likewise threw up a barrier to protect himself. The anticipated explosion never came; instead, the virtual Telesdon fractured into specks of white light and dissipated.
"Look at that! Didn't I say it wouldn't blow up this time?" Max rubbed his head and said sheepishly.
"Arno, it worked! All the metrics are stable, and the energy output is steady. The Trial Tower is a success." Seeing that there was no explosion, Roga immediately checked the data on the light screen and looked excitedly toward Arno, who had just landed.
"Mm, close enough. Once the testing is finished, it can be put into service."
"Who wants to give it a try?" Arno cast a benign look at Roga, clearly signaling for him to step up.
"I..." Before Roga could finish refusing, Arno tossed him right onto the platform.
"Uncle Arno, can I try too?" Taro asked expectantly. He and Toraregia had watched the Trial Tower being built piece by piece and had long wanted to give it a go.
"Of course." Arno placed the two youngsters onto the simulation platform and set it to easy mode. Then, turning to Max, who was attempting to sneak away, he said with a "benevolent" smile, "Max, how many times have you blown me up over the past three years? Let's settle accounts now."
"No..." Max was grabbed and tossed straight onto the stage, and Arno immediately switched it to hell mode. Listening to Max's miserable shrieks, Arno finally felt satisfied.