Chapter 17: Apologize to this great warrior

Above the heavenly canopy, that resolute posture failed to bring about a miracle.

Light and darkness, protection and destruction, at this moment formed the utmost opposition.

This scene caused all heavens and myriad worlds to instantly fall into a deathly silence.

Cybertron, Autobot Base.

Qingtian Zhu's massive frame emitted a faint metallic screech due to the extreme shock.

He looked at the giant that continued to battle despite its light being extinguished; in its blue optical lenses, data streams flickered wildly.

He spoke slowly, his low electronic voice filled with unprecedented reverence.

"I extend my deepest apologies to this great warrior for my previous hesitation and speculation."

After watching the heavenly curtain,

Qingtian Zhu felt a heartfelt reverence rise for Naikesisi.

This is a true warrior,

and he apologized for his original hesitation and speculation.

Beside him, Dahuang Feng echoed with a rapid electronic buzzing,

Those round optical lenses were filled with pure admiration and excitement.

The Divine Realm.

The silence was shattered by a piercing sneer.

Tang Shan plopped back onto the Divine Throne; the expression on his face, shattered from being slapped, was once again covered by an even more twisted arrogance.

He looked at the situation on the heavenly curtain, his anger growing.

Because Naikesisi's spirit and principles have severely diverged from his!

One could even say they are opposite!

"Stupid! Truly stupid to the extreme!"

He pointed at the trembling figure on the heavenly curtain, then loudly judged the frightened Fense Tuzi beside him, as if trying to drown out his earlier blunder with volume.

"This is simply a joke! For the sake of a mere handful of mortals, you've run yourself into this state of exhausted fuel—just a self‑moved clown!"

He abruptly rose to his feet, pacing in the Divine Palace with a didactic air, loudly proclaiming his "God King's wisdom."

"If it were me, the God King, I would have fled already! Keep the green hills, and you won't worry about lack of firewood—don't you know what a strategic retreat is?!"

"As for that city behind you? Destroy it if you want—what do the lives of a bunch of ants have to do with me? After the God King trains for a hundred thousand years and boosts his power, returning to crush that beast to ashes would be delightful!"

Fense Tuzi hurriedly trotted to keep up, fawningly agreeing: "Shan Ge is right—those mortals die if they die; how could they compare to your precious life, Shan Ge? Preserving strength is the way forward."

Tang Shan, hearing this flattery, finally showed a hint of satisfaction on his face; he contemptuously glanced at the heavenly curtain and declared:

"Just watch—this foolish protection is destined to be a tragedy."

"The God King predicts that this foolish Ultraman will meet no good end—in fact, he might die right away!"

"Even if he doesn't die, his future will still be a tragedy!"

……

Trisolaran Fleet Command Center.

An unprecedented silence enveloped the thoughts of every Trisolaran.

The Leader's thought form hovered silently, breaking the silence as he sent a calm thought wave to all his subordinates.

"Is there anything else you wish to say now?"

A scientist responsible for particle physics research had his thought wave surge so violently it nearly lost control.

"Unfathomable! According to our scan analysis, the giant's life energy has been completely extinguished!"

"His core has ceased operation! From any angle, he should already be dead!"

"Why……why can he still stand? This doesn't conform to any known physical law of our universe!"

The Leader's thought form gave a slight ripple, carrying an unprecedented, even sublime reverence.

"We were all wrong."

"This giant is a great warrior."

"To protect the countless lives far weaker than him behind him, he used his will to create a miracle that even physical laws cannot explain!"

The Leader's thought wave swept across the entire command center.

The Hawkish Elder who had previously declared Naikesisi an aggressor,

his thought form shuddered violently.

Then,

a thought wave brimming with shame and sincerity was transmitted to every compatriot present.

"I was wrong."

"Leader, I apologize to this great warrior for my previous foolishness and arrogance."

"I shouldn't have used our narrow Dark Forest Law to gauge such noble conduct…… I…… insulted a true warrior!"

This Hawkish Faction officer felt shame over his earlier series of statements.

Especially when he saw the light‑depleted Naikesisi still guarding the myriad lights behind him,

he paid this great warrior his highest respect!

This apology, within the Trisolaran Fleet, stirred a tremendous wave.

All who previously regarded Naikesisi as an aggressor,

the Trisolarans who harbored hostility toward him,

at this moment,

felt the same emotion surge in their thoughts.

Respect.

Heartfelt, purest respect.

This giant, despite wounds, fights on, rising again and again after being defeated.

Even after death, he continues to fulfill his duty of protection with his broken body.

This scene reminded them of themselves.

Isn't their massive fleet also meant to protect those compatriots far away on their homeworld?

Only to brave a desperate four‑light‑year distance, searching for a new home in the dark universe?

Likewise a desperate situation, likewise the protection of the weak.

They and Nexus, at this moment, produced the deepest empathy that transcends species and the universe.

And, a completely new understanding of Ultraman civilization!

From this moment on,

The Ultraman civilization has quietly changed their previous stereotypes in their hearts!

Just then, the dovish officer who had been kind to Nexus from the start sent out a new thought wave.

"The greatness of this Ultraman warrior is beyond doubt. But…"

"What is that giant beast? It stubbornly seeks to destroy that city… Could it be the true aggressor?"

A new question rose in the hearts of all Trisolarans.

……

M78 Nebula, Land of Light.

The headquarters of the Space Guard was shrouded in a heavy silence.

All Ultraman warriors silently watched the lonely, resolute figure on the sky.

Extinguish the lamps and fight again.

No one knows better than they the weight behind these four words.

It means burning one's own soul, squeezing out the final strength beyond life's limits, just to protect one more second.

That is the most tragic yet glorious stance of an Ultraman warrior.

Their hearts filled with indignation and an ineffable pride.

"Captain!"

Ace could no longer hold back; he stepped forward, the light of the Eight‑Part Ring flickering on his right hand, filled with violent killing intent: "We must go help him! I request to engage!"

"I'm going too!" Seven followed closely, his Ice Axe humming above his head, battle spirit soaring.

Taro urgently said: "Brothers, the situation is urgent—let's quickly slay the giant beast Gloom!"