Chapter 77: Both Light and Human

In the Ultraman world, having mastered dark power—which is extraordinarily strong and terrifying—normally, a dark powerhouse of this level would harbor ambitions to invade worlds and unify star systems; even slightly more, dominating the entire universe is not impossible.

A dark lifeform like Heian Diga of this level should be a top-tier existence in either the light or dark camp, above ten thousand, ruling a region; if belonging to the dark camp, it should even unify the whole universe… but Heian Diga does not follow the routine.

He neither intends to destroy the world nor to unify the globe.

From the records in the Ultra Ring, Tianliuhai's life is extremely monotonous, to the point of saying he's already living the life of a retiree ahead of time. Everywhere he thinks of doing less work, often saying that a job without slacking doesn't deserve a salary. This would hardly work for anyone else, but in front of Tianliuhai, this Heian Diga…

Compared to the surging dark energy on his body, slacking off at work is nothing—just child's play.

Not doing anything major is simply letting down the dark energy on his body.

Aisi is truly baffled.

Or is Heian Diga actually plotting something bigger? He needs to put on a kindly old man's act to get by? But Aisi never revealed the recording function of the Ultra Ring; his two human hosts had no idea the Ultra Ring even had this feature. This is also a small backup he left when he fell into slumber back then, allowing him to quickly and simply know what's happening now.

Even if his other upright and kind human host is bewitched by Tianliuhai's darkness, he can still know about it and not be deceived.

Aisi repeatedly watches the recordings in the Ultra Ring.

But no matter how he looks at it, he feels Tianliuhai has no ambition to dominate the world, nor desire to unify the light and dark realms; he merely wants a simple retired life, occasionally fishing, just being a fisherman.

Could it be that Tianliuhai really just wants to live such a simple life?

Aisi can't help but suspect.

But upon second thought, recalling how Tianliuhai deceived him into choosing him as a human host back then, Aisi feels Tianliuhai must be carrying out some tremendous plot, merely needing to conceal it for now.

Fortunately, he's better at hiding. Now that his consciousness has awakened, he remains silent; even seeing many of his companions, he says nothing.

After all, Heian Diga's power is too terrifying; if he casually reveals it, it's not good. With their current powers, they might not be able to oppose Heian Diga. If Heian Diga has some plot, they'd be doomed.

Even Zoffy and Zetton from the Planet of Light have lost; at this stage, who could defeat Heian Diga, Aisi can't see, or rather, there simply isn't any.

Aisi pondered, and suddenly another possibility popped into his mind.

What if… actually, back then Heian Diga Tianliuhai was simply saving people, luring monsters?

And then, by chance, he was selected by him to become his human host.

?

Aisi froze for a moment; when this possibility arose in his mind, he couldn't help but chuckle.

Is it possible?

It seems… it actually might be possible.

After all, combining the records in the Ultra Ring, this possibility indeed exists.

Aisi fell silent.

If that's really the case, then isn't he constantly wronging a good person?

But the surging dark energy on his person cannot be faked; one who can wield this energy and use it skillfully—how could his heart not be evil?

Unless he can convert his own dark power into light power, Aisi will still have to approach this question with suspicion.

But such heaven‑shaking terrifying dark power isn't something you can just switch.

Even with the Plasma Spark Tower in the Land of Light, hardly anyone can achieve this; let alone on Earth.

So, is Heian Diga good or bad?

Is he merely wanting to retire on this planet, or does he harbor greater schemes?

Aisi cannot let go of any possibility.

As an Ultraman Brother, he deeply believes that all under heaven are brothers; if Heian Diga truly had a repentant heart, then belief wouldn't be impossible. Only that dark power makes it hard for Aisi to believe.

Never mind.

We'll investigate further and report later.

Aisi decided to continue observing.

Moreover, this awakening was solely due to external stimulation, causing him to wake early.

Actually, his energy hasn't recovered much; if not for feeling the strong external energy fluctuations and his own rapid depletion, plus the inexplicably familiar yet eerie aura of Zoffy, Aisi would probably still be in slumber now, unlikely to have awakened.

Now there are many Ultramen from the Land of Light around; if he wanted to recover energy, he could ask them for help to speed it up, but with Tianliuhai present, Aisi doesn't dare act rashly.

Others are not clear about Tianliuhai's identity as Heian Diga.

But Aisi is very clear about it.

Furthermore, this time Heian Diga defended Earth and defeated the invading attackers. Although Aisi doesn't love humanity as much as Seabow does—loving to the extent of being able to destroy the Land of Light—

However, Heian Diga's conduct undoubtedly makes Aisi feel he can still keep observing.

It's not enough to outright label Heian Diga as a bad person.

"Let's just keep settling."

Aisi thought a lot and finally let out a sigh.

Let's first restore his meager remaining energy; at this rate, his waking time won't be long before he automatically falls back into slumber.

Moreover, he must keep an eye on his other human host, the only normal one among the two.

Although Lingmuyu's everyday performance doesn't match Tianliuhai's, Aisi feels Lingmuyu has a promising future. Tianliuhai himself is Heian Diga, naturally performing well, while Lingmuyu possesses a loyal heart, endures hardship, and is enterprising—this is a rare excellent seedling.

With just a little cultivation, he could certainly become an excellent Ultraman human host.

Everyone has weak moments; moreover, Aisi feels Lingmuyu's foundation is not bad, and his progress in mastering Ultraman power is also swift.

So fast that Aisi even finds it a little surprising—he can actually keep up with the combat intensity against Zoffy and Zetton.

Pretty good.

How long has he been an Ultraman warrior, and he can already fight at this intensity?

If he didn't know Lingmuyu is an ordinary person, Aisi would suspect Lingmuyu is also some tremendous dark lifeform feigning weakness, tricking him into choosing him as a human host.

But how could that be possible?

How could there be such a coincidence in the world?

There's already a Heian Diga; how could his other human host also be a powerful dark lifeform?

This is unrealistic.

It's not right at all.

Aisi shook their head.

They cast that absurd idea aside.

Lingmuyu has such potential; it could be cultivated. Thus, even if Tianliuhai's intentions are not benign—if instead of wanting to protect Earth as it does now, it wishes to invade and seek greater ambitions—Lingmuyu could also transform alone into Aisi, using his power to contribute to humanity.

No one knows when they will notice the abnormality in the future, realizing that Tianliuhai is Dark Diga. Moreover, when those old brothers saw Zhuxing Tuan's leg broken by the Jeep, Aisi was completely stunned.

This is the method that Zhuxing Tuan originally used to train Leiou.

The effect is outstanding.

I never expected that one day this move could actually be used on Zhuxing Tuan.

Moreover, this move actually ended up breaking Zhuxing Tuan's leg.

Although it's due to the monster's influence, Aisi looking at it feels absurd.

What's more, Zhuxing Tuan plans to drag a few other old brothers together for Jeep training.

Although this effect is indeed good, isn't Zhuxing Tuan afraid that the others might also break their legs?

At least, when Aisi looks through the Ultra Ring, among the four old brothers, only Zhuxing Tuan's light is the most obvious; the others are not as obvious as Zhuxing Tuan, so when facing Jeep training, they may not be as effective as Zhuxing Tuan.

Aisi: Settle! Settle down hard!

……

……

On Earth, in a certain corner, sparse soil was pushed up by a bunch of fresh yellow flower buds, emitting the scent of freshly turned soil, and a tempting fragrance wafted out; just inhaling a mouthful makes one feel addicted, unable to extricate oneself.

This is the benevolent flower unique to Earth, Earth's pity and tenderness toward humanity.

When death descends, the flower that is the culprit behind the demise of the ancient civilization will bloom, releasing a fragrance that makes people become infatuated and intoxicated, letting each person immerse in a beautiful illusion, forget pain, and die while enjoying it.

This is the Qijiera flower.

The destructive shadow cast over the world by the ultimate celestial weapon Zhitun, the sorrow humanity produced awakened the dream flower buried underground. This flower was originally meant to bloom against the dark ruler Jiātángjié'è, but the Zhitun brought by Zuofei possesses the apocalyptic effect of Jiātángjié'è's awakening.

After a stimulation, the Qijiera flower bloomed.

The Qijiera flower spreads at an extremely fast speed; it only takes one night to bloom across the globe, allowing countless beings worldwide to immersively experience a beauty they have never known in reality.

It causes them to fall into it, unable to escape unless someone forcibly ends the Qijiera flower, rendering its pollen ineffective; otherwise, few could break free. The demise of the ancient super-civilization long ago was the same.

Earth lacks a giant that is both human and light. The ancient giants cannot make choices for humanity.

Humanity chose the Qijiera flower, so the ancient giants naturally had no need to remain on Earth and successively withdrew.

Now, a Qijiera flower has quietly sprouted.

A breeze blows, and the pollen travels with the wind across the ocean.

After passersby inhale it, the things they were supposed to do are instantly forgotten.

They feel it's unimportant.

They gather near where the Qijiera flower blooms, deeply inhaling its fragrance.

They are completely immersed in joy and laughter; they have never felt life so happy before, as if they had returned to the carefree days of childhood with no worries.

How could there be such a wonderful flower scent… One must bring it home! Everyone immersed in it cannot help but think this thought.

And the dispersal and blooming of the Qijiera flower undoubtedly fulfilled their wish.

They soon found Qijiera flowers by the roadside; moreover, the flowers grew more and more, quickly occupying the surrounding area, and each person happily went home holding several Qijiera flowers.

After one night.

Qijiera flowers bloom everywhere, their pollen flying across the world, spreading to every corner of the globe.

After countless people inhaled the pollen, they all became immersed in a beautiful fantasy; even the TPC, touted as an elite human gathering place, was no exception—large numbers of staff were affected, causing the TPC to fall into paralysis for a time.

Dagu's face filled with surprise, looking at everyone immersed in the beautiful fantasy, he couldn't help but call out: "Xincheng team member, what are you doing? Lina team member, wake up, Ye Rui team member? Ye Rui team member…"

But no matter how Dagu called out, those TPC members who claimed to be elite showed no response, all immersed in fantasy.

How could this be?

Dagu felt puzzled.

"They've all been bewitched; it's the effect of the ancient strange flower." At that moment, Jingtianjinglong, who had been placed in Dagu's bedroom, appeared. He witnessed everyone inhaling the Qijiera flower's pollen; even as a soul, he could sense that the pollen has strong bewitching power.

He remembered that Youlan had told him that.

The fundamental cause of the demise in the ancient era lay in the Qijiera flower.

It caused the ancient humans to choose virtuality, abandon reality, ultimately making the warriors of light leave Earth, and they too headed toward destruction.

"Mr. Jingtianjinglong." Dagu exclaimed in surprise.

And feeling the Qijiera flower in bloom,

Youlan, left over from the ancient era, reappeared.

Her azure-hued body appeared mysterious and ancient; her gaze was compassionate: "Qijiera flower blooms, Dagu, you are both human and light."

"Youlan?" Dagu was taken aback.

He knew of Youlan's existence.

But isn't the other party an artificial intelligence?

How could Youlan and Jingtianjinglong appear one after another?

"What do you mean by saying these things?" Dagu immediately realized, feeling something was off.

"Dagu, we have already died, but you are different—you are a giant of light, also human, a part of civilization." Jingtianjinglong said: "The light can guarantee you are not bewitched, enabling you to make what you believe is the correct choice."

"What?" Dagu froze.

He looked at Jingtianjinglong, then at Youlan.

The two were staring at him, this representative who is both human and light.

After a moment, Dagu seemed to understand something and said, "When flowers bloom, is it because humans suffer too much, so they bloom?"

"Yes, this is Earth's merciful flower; when humanity faces an unstoppable disaster, the flower blooms, allowing people to die painlessly in a beautiful fantasy." Youlian said.

Dagu fell silent.

Unstoppable?

He thought of Zhidun and Zuofi.

He thought of the mysterious unknown giant that had appeared.

Now, how is their battle situation?

Is the flower blooming because of their influence?

Or perhaps, after them, a more terrifying enemy will soon arrive, and the flower, acknowledging that humanity cannot resist, therefore blooms.

Then, in that case, can he go resolve the Qijielahua flower?

Even if this time he resolves the Qijielahua flower's crisis, bringing humanity out of the fantasy.

But if ultimate darkness descends, will humanity still have to face a despairing death?

By then, the illusory Qijielahua flower will be gone... people can only painfully wail, dying in agony.

Dagu opened his mouth; even this is the merciful flower nurtured by Earth, he said, "What should I do?"

"The dead cannot interfere with the world of the living, Dagu—you are both light and human; what to do is your decision." Whether Jingtianjinglong or Youlian, they chose not to intervene.

The problem was entrusted to Dagu.

For a moment, Dagu only felt a heavy burden on his shoulders.

But soon, he thought of Tianliuhai and them.

No, wait, aren't there still Ultramen?

Thinking of this, Dagu immediately contacted Hibiya Mirai and others.

But the answer he received once again left Dagu silent.

In the group chat—

Hibiya Mirai: Dagu, this time it's humanity's choice; our Ultramen from the Kingdom of Light cannot interfere; we must respect humanity's will.

Lingmuyu: The Ultraman rings also show no response, they don't light up at all... it seems they don't allow us to transform.

At the Logistics Department.

Lingmuyu fiddled with the Ultraman ring.

Why is it failing now?

Transform, give me transformation!

Tianliuhai watched as each Logistics Department member lost in fantasy; he simply sat calmly on a recliner, sipping a cappuccino; the Kingdom of Light does not interfere with civilization's development, only dealing with external invaders.

And the Qijielahua flower is a natural product of Earth; humanity chose the Qijielahua flower.

The people of the Kingdom of Light find it hard to interfere.

However, there are not a few native Ultras on Earth.

They are both light and human, and it's not just Dagu alone.

Moreover, Tianliuhai thought of a person.

In this situation, I don't know what Zhuxingtuan thinks.

……

……

At the Hawaii Restaurant.

Zhuxingtuan gazed at the crowd, each person holding a Qiejielahua flower, sinking into contemplation.

What's the situation?

You all have chosen to escape reality?

Then what about Earth?

And what about your human civilization itself?

Zhuxingtuan, in a half-awakened state, felt pressure.

The Kingdom of Light's rules in his mind prevented him from intervening, but deep down his love for humanity made him unable to stand by.

Watching each foolishly smiling person, Zhuxingtuan pondered for a long, long time.

After a long while.

His expression changed, becoming righteous and resolute.

Violating the Kingdom of Light's rules is not the first time.

Moreover, he is no longer an Ultraman now.

In a sense, he is also human!

He snatched the Qijielahua flower from someone's hand, slammed it to the ground, then repeatedly stomped on it with his cane until it turned into a muddy puddle.

"No, no! You idiot, what are you doing?"

"Why are you doing this?!"

"Give back my beauty, give back my dream!"

Without the Qiejielahua flower, people crawled on the ground, inhaling its fragrance, gathering the flower's fragments from the ground, taking big breaths, but to no effect.

This made him eye the seven-section flower flower in someone else's hand.

He frantically grabbed for it.

But such an ancient rare flower is not only an irreplaceable plant for him, but also a crucial treasure for others; they naturally won't allow their flower to be forcibly taken, each person running fast, fearing their seven-section flower flower will be snatched by the man.

In the end, everyone around who had a seven-section flower flower ran away.

Only the man remained there, wailing alone.

Without the seven-section flower flower, what meaning does such a life have?

He couldn't help but shed tears.

He thought of the harsh reality.

"What's with that expression and those tears of yours?"

"Can your tears possibly save the Earth?"

The All Stars Group looked at the degenerate man, feeling heartbroken.

He raised his crutch and hammered the man.

He kept roaring.

"As a human, how can you be so weak?"

"Must one immerse in fleeting beauty and then halt progress?"

Disaster won't stop because of this; such behavior will only hasten the arrival of calamity.

And the man, continually beaten by the All Stars Group, let out waves of wails.

But amidst the wailing, feeling this pain, the man gradually regained his senses.

"Yeah, what's the point of immersing in false beauty?"

"He is indeed a real man; he must be fierce!"

The man's gaze gradually shifted from dazed to resolute.

When he straightened his expression, what greeted him was still the All Stars Group's blow to the head.

A crutch struck his forehead.

Man: ……

……

And not all places are bewitched by the seven-section flower.

In the Holy Sacred Kingdom.

The blooming of the seven-section flower cannot in the slightest affect the followers of the Holy Sacred Kingdom.

They have faith in their hearts, their will extremely steadfast.

Their faith in the two Holy Spirits lets them resist the bewitchment of the seven-section flower.

They look at those fallen into the seven-section flower illusion and instead feel puzzled.

They sniffed the seven-section flower.

It indeed smells good.

But it's not to the point of obsession, right?

The followers of the Holy Sacred Kingdom sect feel puzzled.

"Strange, isn't this just an ordinary flower? How are they so severely affected?"

"It is the Holy Spirits' blessing that makes our minds extremely steadfast."

"That makes sense; how could a mere illusion affect us, who have faith in the Holy Spirits?"

"Holy Gate, the King of Light and the Ruler of Light are above; another day of blessing us."

Ignoring the influence of the Seven-joint flower, the followers of the Holy Sacred Kingdom continue living normally.

Every day they clock in at set times and places, offering their devout faith to the King of Light and the Ruler of Light.

And behind them, the Ancient One Zoga watched this scene and nodded in satisfaction.

As for the Seven-joint flower, they are naturally not unfamiliar with it.

After all, they are remnants left over from the ultra-ancient era.

However, does the Seven-joint flower still want to bewitch their followers?

They simply don't put the King of Light and the Ruler of Light in their eyes.

They really underestimated the followers of the Holy Sacred Kingdom.

The two Holy Spirits truly bestow blessings. JPG

……

(End of chapter)