Lightyear

A cavern is a spherical formation that appears out of nowhere and engulfs everything in its path. Space and time within caverns are chaotically distorted. The Zero Cavity is a macrocavern with the ordinal number zero, also known as Limbo. It is a massive cavern that engulfed and destroyed much of the old capital, Eridu. It is the mother cavern of several macrocaverns around and within New Eridu. Exploring and stabilizing the Zero Cavity is a strategically important task for the New Eridu authorities. The six macrocaverns, also known as "primordial caverns," are typically the source of all subcaverns in New Eridu. They are enormous, feature complex terrain, and contain a wide range of aetherials, and are recommended for exploration only by experienced riders and proxies. Subcaverns are satellite caverns that result from the expansion of a primary cavern. They are smaller in size than the main caverns and have a lower concentration of ether. The Association of Cavern Explorers calls "Drifting Caverns" a special type of subcavern. These are multi-tiered caverns with anomalous etheric activity. A characteristic feature of such caverns is a very pronounced effect of spatial entropy: fractures can appear right underfoot.

Eridu, also known as the Old Capital, is a city that existed before the founding of New Eridu. Currently, much of it is destroyed by the Zero Cavity and separated from the city by the Chasm. Eleven years ago, a catastrophe occurred, now known as the "Fall of the Old Capital," during which the Zero Cavity engulfed and destroyed much of Eridu.

To halt the expansion of the Null Cavity, Eridu's leaders detonated fourteen shiyu pillars from southwest to northeast. The force of the explosion was sufficient to trigger a tectonic chain reaction, creating the Chasm, which serves as a buffer zone separating New Eris from the Null Cavity. The Chasm contains nothing that could serve as material for aetheric contamination, preventing further expansion of the Cavity.[1]

As a result of the fall of the old capital, many people were presumed dead or missing. All units of the Armed Forces, except for the Obsidian Division, were destroyed.[2] According to the official version, the main culprit for the fall of the old capital was Helios Academy's senior researcher, Carol Arna.[1] Belle and Weisz are confident of their mentor's innocence and claim that on the night of the disaster, Helios Academy was attacked by an unknown armed group accompanied by monsters, as well as a huge white hand, similar to the one Bringer summoned during his escape attempt.[3]

A Diamond Division soldier with the call sign "Gap" noted a group of suspicious religious adherents and suspected them of involvement in the disaster, but due to the difficult conditions of the cavern and limited information, his investigation yielded no results.

Piper Wheel - Driver and Mechanic Appearance: A short girl with voluminous blonde hair pulled back into a high bun with a yellow ribbon and green eyes. She wears a black crop top, shorts, orange gloves, and always has a pair of tin-shaped glasses hanging around her neck. She appears sleepy and slightly careless.

Relationship with Lightyear: "Mission Partners." Piper is the gang's truck driver and mechanic. She and Lightyear have a working, trusting relationship: she often helps him with missions and searches. It was Piper who transported the components for his glove. Their interaction is calm and businesslike: she doesn't interfere in his personal life, and he values ​​her as a reliable comrade.

───

Ultimately, for Lightyear, the Sons of Calidon isn't just a gang, but his new family, which he adores and protects. He's found it all: a father (Big Daddy), a boss (Caesar), a brother (Billy), a caring strategist (Lucy), a crazy partner (Bernice), and a loyal comrade (Piper). Each of them has contributed to his new life, and he repays them with boundless loyalty.

Lucy (Luciana de Montefio) - Strategist and Manager Appearance: A petite girl with blonde hair pulled back into a side ponytail and red eyes. She wears a black leather jacket, a crop top, black micro-shorts, and high-heeled boots. She also sports a distinctive Pickelhaube helmet.

Relationship with Lightyear: "Strict manager" and "executor." Lucy is the brains of the gang, responsible for external affairs and management. Lightyear, despite being the champion, acknowledges her authority in matters of organization, addressing her with a wry deference: "Understood, Your Highness." In their relationship, Lightyear is the enforcer, and Lucy is the strict controller. It's known that she can't beat him in combat, but apparently keeps trying. It was Lucy who paid for his combat gauntlet.

Burnice White - Mixologist Appearance: A girl with light-colored hair pulled back into two ponytails and orange (or red) eyes. She wears a black crop top, a black leather jacket with studs, a short skirt, and high heeled boots.

Relationship with Lightyear: "Partners in Chaos." Bernice is an incredibly sociable and energetic person, who can even linger for a drink when the Etarels appear. Lightyear, as a champion, often partners with her in the Caverns: her fiery support perfectly complements his fighting style. Their interactions are a constant, playful banter: she teases him, suggesting they "set fire" to enemies together. And if he needs to lull her into a false sense of security, Lightyear knows only one way: sparring with her all day long, wearing her down. Furthermore, it was Bernice who developed the special fuel for his gauntlet.

Billy the Kid - Predecessor Appearance: A tall (188 cm) cyborg with short white hair and yellow eyes. He wears an iconic red jacket with a wild boar emblem on the back.

Relationship with Lightyear: "Brothers" and "rivals." Lightyear is the second Red Scarf of the Sons of Calidon, and his predecessor was Billy. Lightyear jokingly refers to him as "brother" or "predecessor." They share a special bond and a "brotherly rivalry": Lightyear deeply respects Billy as a fighter and dreams of facing him at his full strength. Billy, in turn, is always ready to vouch for Lightyear.

Big Daddy - Founder Appearance: An imposing Tiren-boar with red skin, a white mane and beard, a leather biker jacket and dark glasses that hide his eyes.

Relationship with Lightyear: "Savior" and "father." Big Daddy is the one who bought Lightyear out of the underground fighting ring, paying off his enormous debts. He gave him not only a second chance but also the champion's seat, previously held by Billy. It was at his request that Lightyear's fighting gauntlet was created. For Lightyear, Big Daddy is a figure to whom he owes everything, and he is eternally grateful to him for saving him.

Caesar King - Leader Appearance: A girl with long ash-green hair and yellow eyes. She wears a black top, a short skirt, high boots, and a short black coat with fur trim. She has small black horns on her head.

Relationship with Lightyear: "Boss" and "trusted shield." Lightyear treats Caesar with genuine respect and always calls her "Boss." He is her most trusted protector and the main force in resolving disputes on the Bypass. If Caesar throws himself into the thick of the fight, Lightyear has her back. Their bond is built on trust: Caesar entrusts him with the most difficult tasks, and Lightyear reciprocates with unconditional loyalty, becoming her human shield and the gang's fist. It was also Caesar who tuned his combat gauntlet.

Lightyear's character is a complex blend of outward sternness, inner vulnerability, and deep loyalty. He's a classic "tough guy with a good heart," but his archetype is revealed through nuance. Exterior Facade: "Bad Boy" Cold and distant: Lightyear often comes across as an unfriendly cynic. He speaks briefly, with caustic irony, and tries to keep his distance. This armor is a defense against the repeated pain of loss. The Unwavering Fighter: In the ring or in combat, he is completely focused and ruthless. His title as champion obliges him to be the embodiment of strength, and he wears this mask with dignity. He doesn't take shortcuts and is accustomed to solving problems with sheer force. He dislikes pathos: He hates public speaking and becomes embarrassed when praised to his face. For him, doing the work is more important than talking about it. Inner World: Vulnerability and Guilt The burden of the past: The main driving force of his character is guilt over the death of his old unit. He considers himself responsible for their deaths, and this wound has not healed to this day. The army dog ​​tags around his neck are not decoration, but a constant reminder. Hidden Kindness: Behind the cynicism lies a very gentle and caring person. He's willing to help silently (make soup, protect in battle) without asking for thanks. He's wary of getting attached, but once he does, he becomes a fierce protector. His fear of blood isn't just a physical weakness, but a metaphor for his emotional trauma: he can't bear the sight of suffering because he's experienced too much pain himself. He hides it to avoid appearing weak, but this vulnerability makes him human. Sense of humor and self-irony Lightyear is not without a wit. He often makes sarcastic remarks, but unlike malicious sarcasm, this is more of a defense mechanism. He knows how to laugh at himself, especially his fear of blood or his image as a "tough champion." When someone catches him doing a kind deed, he can shrug it off sheepishly and come up with a lame excuse.

Always wears dark glasses: This isn't just a fashion statement. Lightyear suffers from hemophobia (fear of blood) and can faint at the sight of it. The glasses help him avoid this. They also hide an old eye injury he sustained in battle.

Quit smoking for lemon drops: Lightyear used to smoke, but his mercenary friends helped him kick the habit by offering him lemon drops instead of cigarettes. This demonstrates his ability to change under the influence of those close to him. Carries a Lighter: Despite quitting smoking, Lightyear still carries a flip-flop lighter. It's likely more of a ritual or a memory of the past than a necessity.

Wears dog tags: He's always seen wearing a stack of dog tags. These are a memento of his fallen mercenary comrades, whom he couldn't save.

Prefers to keep a low profile: Despite his formidable title as champion, Lighter dislikes excessive attention. Public "showcases" are his sole responsibility as champion of the Sons of Calydon, not a personal desire. Shows care through actions: Behind the tough biker facade, he's a caring person. For example, he might make soup for a sick friend. This speaks to his habit of showing affection through actions, not words.

He is a charismatic young man with a difficult past, who holds the title of "Champion" and is known for his quick temper but generally good nature.

Past: From Mercenary Commander to Debtor Before becoming a biker, Lightyear was the commander of a mercenary squad. Along with three other fighters—Dane Driscoll, Nick Carmine, and Rathena Catherine—he founded his own company.

However, his story takes a tragic turn: his poor decision resulted in the deaths of his comrades, leaving Lightyear the only survivor. Overwhelmed by guilt, he took on a massive debt to support the families of the dead.

To pay off the debt, Lightyear was forced to participate in underground fights as a fighter. He described this time as living like a "zombie"—an endless series of fights and opponents. It was during this period that he met Bellum, who proclaimed him his rival after Lightyear ended his twenty-fight winning streak.

New Home: Sons of Calydon Lightyear's fate changed when he caught the eye of Big Daddy, then the leader of the Sons of Calidon. Seeing him as a valuable fighter who rarely lost, Big Daddy bought out his debts and accepted him into his gang.

Lightyear initially viewed the biker gang as just another "boxing show." But over time, he grew attached to its members and became genuinely committed to protecting his new friends so as not to lose any more of his loved ones.

Role and character in the gang In the Sons of Calydon, Lightyear holds the position of "Champion." Within the gang, the Champion is the strongest fighter, whose job it is to face the enemy gang's strongest opponent in one-on-one duels.

Lightyear has a striking biker appearance in the post-apocalyptic style, combining elements of clothing of the Sons of Calidon gang and the equipment of a professional fist fighter. Face and hairstyle Hair: Tousled, dark green (almost black) hair of medium length with thick bangs covering the forehead. Glasses: Sunglasses with light frames and dark lenses, hiding the eyes due to hemophobia. Clothing and style Jacket: Cropped black leather jacket with rivets, spikes on the shoulders and golden decorative elements. Scarf: A long bright red scarf around the neck, the ends of which hang freely behind the back, resembling a cloak. Trousers: Skinny jeans of dark blue or gray color with special protective patches on the knees. Belt: Wide leather belt with a massive gold buckle in the form of a boar - the symbol Factions. Weapons and equipment. Gloves: On the right hand, a massive mechanized golden glove-knuckles is worn to enhance punches. Shoes: High combat boots with metal shin guards to protect the legs in combat.

Lightyear is a champion of the Sons of Calydon and a former mercenary. Gang champions on the Bypass are required to fight the strongest fighters of their rivals, usually in duels. Their victories determine the morale and glory of their entire gang. "A champion may die, but not lose."

The red scarf is the distinctive mark of the champion of the Sons of Calydon. The enemy may not know Lightyear himself, but will immediately guess his title upon seeing that very scarf.

As far as is known, Lightyear prefers not to attract undue attention to his person, and only puts on "demonstration performances" when he is performing his duties as champion. Note: Lighter is the second Red Scarf of the Sons of Calydon. He jokingly refers to his predecessor as "brother." Lighter was once a mercenary commander. After a terrible incident, he disbanded his unit and got into huge debts: to pay them off, he had to fight in underground fights. There he was found by Pops, who paid a huge sum for Lightyear and gave him the position previously held by Billy. Origin and Fighting Past: Red Scarf: Before joining the Sons of Kalidon, Lightyear fought in the brutal underground arenas of the Outer Rim. Nickname: On the Bypass Road, he is respected for his fortitude, mastery of hand-to-hand combat, and signature style. Personality and Traits: Fear of Blood: Lightyear suffers from hemophobia - the sight of blood can cause him to faint, so he wears sunglasses to avoid seeing it. Philosophy: Despite his stern appearance, he has a noble character and is loyal to his gang.

“I acknowledge his invincibility, but not at all because I once lost to him!” — Luciana Auxis Teodoro de Montefio

"Superior forces on the Bypass Road can solve many problems. But not all."

• Dad

"Oh, that legendary red scarf! So bright it's almost eye-opening." — A fighter from the Bypass

"Even without the rapturous applause, he's still a true champion."

• Former mercenary

“You definitely don’t have enough strength to defeat me, but let’s at least do it without losing blood. Otherwise, it would be improper for the undefeated champion to faint at the sight of blood. Or is this your tactic?