Chapter 205: 201: After the Friendship Plan, the Gaze of the Ampela Star Man (Third Update)

After taking the photo "Real men never look back at explosions," Qi Ming pulled Director Airan Cheng into a squat outside for a long while.

He thought that if any remnants had survived, he'd go finish them off.

But none did. Nothing happened.

One super-weapon R1 could destroy a planet; thirty of them would leave not even a speck behind.

After the matter was settled, Qi Ming and Director Airan Cheng set off on their return journey.

On the way back, Qi Ming and Director Airan Cheng discussed: "Director Director Airan, when do you think this news will spread throughout the universe?"

Director Airan Cheng scratched his head: "I can't say for sure—I'm not a local. I've only been in this universe for a couple decades, mostly sticking to Earth."

Qi Ming: "!"

Just arrived in this universe?

Is Director Airan Cheng also from another universe, like me?

He admitted frankly: "I planned to write a legend of an Ultraman rising from nothing—so I chose a brand-new world."

"My world already has an invincible Ultraman Orb—I can't go steal my idol's spotlight, can I?"

So there's already an Ultraman Orb… does that mean…

Under Qi Ming's pressing questions, he learned that in his original universe, Director Airan Cheng had once been saved by Ultraman Orb, and thus vowed to become a true hero.

After obtaining Orb's Sword Crystal, he accidentally arrived in this world and used other kaiju crystals here to simulate Orb's four elements, becoming a high-fidelity Black Orb.

Qi Ming asked: "Can you go back?"

Director Airan Cheng: "A bit troublesome, but no problem."

His Director Airan Tech has an interdimensional shuttle.

Qi Ming thought for a moment and decided to come clean: "Actually, I'm from another universe too."

Director Airan Cheng: "!"

He hadn't expected Qi Ming was also a cross-dimensional reinforcement—turns out they shared so many "common interests"!

Qi Ming: "Something happened at home—I need to go back. Director Director Airan, can you help me return?"

Director Airan Cheng: "No problem. What's the spacetime coordinate of your original universe?"

Spacetime coordinate…

Again with the spacetime coordinate…

Qi Ming: "This… my arrival was unusual. I came 'passively.' So I don't know the coordinate of my original universe."

Director Airan Cheng curiously asked: "Passively? What do you mean?"

Qi Ming summarized his cross-dimensional journey, then added his battles since arriving—listening, Director Airan Cheng grew solemnly respectful.

"So all those Ultramen before were really just you, Qi Ming? Amazing! So cool!" Director Airan Cheng clapped: "And you, my friend, are a true hero."

He genuinely believed that after arriving here 'passively,' Qi Ming had fought this hard—this was moral greatness.

No wonder he possessed the light.

He changed tone: "But… without a coordinate, you really can't go back. Even buying a train ticket requires a destination—only then can the high-speed rail take you where you want to go."

Still, Director Airan Cheng knew how to comfort: he assured Qi Ming that as long as he never gave up, his wish would come true—classic Ultraman platitudes.

Qi Ming nodded: "Thanks. I'll take your words as good fortune."

…………………………

Soon, the news of the Arbiter Civilization's destruction spread and fermented across the universe.

Some races cheered.

"Are Earthlings really this brave? They wiped out those arrogant Arbiters—good riddance!"

"Those conceited bastards came to our world too, pretending to test us—finally got what they deserved!"

Clearly, the Arbiter Civilization behind the yellow-haired girl had a notorious reputation in the universe.

They often dropped boxes containing Gamoran on other planets to fish for enforcement targets—and had genuinely eradicated many civilizations.

So when they were all wiped out, most reacted with glee.

Some civilizations grew terrified upon learning Earth had struck back.

"Oh no, Earth's getting more extreme—before, they just shot down one ship from the 'Seeking New Worlds' civilization; now they're erasing entire civilizations? That's a huge leap!"

"Oh no, we've got setups on Earth—we need to pull them back fast, or we'll go down with them."

"Damn it, we've been laying groundwork on Earth for forty years—arrow drawn, must fire. For the Eternal Core, we have no choice but to fight!"

Some civilizations thought Earth had gone too far.

Though the Arbiter Civilization was unpopular, they hadn't yet launched large-scale destruction against Earth—yet you wiped out their entire species? That's overkill.

"This retaliation exceeds all bounds—it's not mutual brawling anymore, it's terrorism."

"Eradicating a high-level civilization is too extreme. The Cosmic Court Derasion will probably step in."

Abbadas of Standel Star countered: "If Earth had moved slower and let the Arbiters strike first, they'd be the ones destroyed."

Just like "launching a nuke is easy, intercepting one is hard," advanced interstellar warfare today is mostly "mutual annihilation."

If your planet-killer doesn't fire, then I'll fire mine.

That's why kaiju as biological weapons are so popular—when a kaiju lands on your planet, you can't just nuke your own territory.

Earth instantly became the center of the universe's attention.

Many races believed Earth had been invaded too often and had become a powder keg—best not to provoke it.

But some peculiar beings loved a challenge.

"Earth's that interesting? Then let's play the next 'Civilization Self-Destruction Game' there."

"Shhh!" A kaiju flew toward Earth.

It had massive, blade-like horns, fins like a shark's on its hands, prominent dorsal spines, and a tail resembling a shark's.

It was the ferocious cosmic shark Gaignun from the first episode of Ultraman Zeta—a ruthless entity who stormed the Land of Light to steal things.

The one who had just spoken was something dwelling inside it.

………………………… When Qi Ming returned to base, he met the Victory Team just as they'd returned from escorting Minin back to Karyu Islands.

Gamoran had reappeared in the city, Ginga had gone berserk—they had too much cleanup to do.

Qi Ming greeted them, and Nishi Jo stepped forward: "Qi Ming, what were you doing? We couldn't reach you."

Qi Ming joked: "Just bungee jumping from ten thousand meters—everyone else had parachutes, I had an Ultraman. Super fun."

Yamada: "Qi Ming, what are you talking about? Are you lucid? Speak up—did you neglect your duty?"

As soon as Qi Ming returned, a subordinate reported his return to Counselor He Zhi, who immediately came over.

He stepped in to defuse the situation: "I know exactly what Qi Ming was doing—he fought off hostile invaders and showed Earth's true spirit. Finally, he fell from ten thousand meters and was rescued by a newly appeared Ultraman."

Kishida: "Oh, of course—always pulling off something thrilling."

Qi Ming: "His name is Ultraman Dyna—he told me himself."

With Counselor He Zhi personally vouching, Nishi Jo and the others dropped their suspicions—Hui Mei finally relaxed in the crowd.

Then Counselor He Zhi invited Qi Ming into his office.

"I saw the footage—Dyna showed me everything. You fought well," He Zhi offered brief praise before getting to the point.

"Qi Ming, what exactly is this 'Ampela Star Man' you mentioned?" He Zhi had been replaying the memories Dyna had implanted in his mind.

He noticed that when Qi Ming said "Ampela Star Man," the yellow-haired girl—always so haughty—reacted strongly, avoiding the topic, as if terrified of being implicated.

Qi Ming gave a brief description: "A legendary ultra-powerful alien, known as the 'Dark Cosmic Emperor.'"

"He's the mastermind behind a series of events—the alien Apeman who invaded Earth was his subordinate."

He told Counselor He Zhi that because Earth was protected by the Ultramen, Ampela Star Man—the greatest enemy of the Ultramen race—would inevitably come.

He Zhi gritted his teeth: "Damn… if only we knew his location—we could wipe him out with R1."

Qi Ming said nothing. He thought R1 was great for clearing trash, but against an ultra-powerful entity like Ampela Star Man—who could extinguish the sun with sheer willpower—it likely wouldn't deliver a fatal blow.

He just hoped that when Ampela Star Man personally arrived with his army, his Any Key contained something capable of standing against him.

…………………………

Meanwhile, in a realm of darkness.

The news of Earth's destruction of the Arbiter Civilization reached Ampela Star Man.

"Earth—the planet cherished by the Ultramen—so capable, huh…"

He waved his hand lightly, and a colossal robot flew toward Earth.

It was his legion's machine: the Unbeatable Iron God Inpuliza—a being who once forced Ultraman Mebius and Ultraman Taro into a brutal battle.

…………………………

The next morning, Qi Ming woke up and checked the news as usual—his homepage showed Director Airan Cheng's press conference on Karyu Islands.

He claimed Gamoran appeared because their defenses were lax, allowing a malevolent alien to kidnap Minin and turn her into a biological weapon.

Summary: Minin was innocent; the aliens were to blame.

Then Director Airan Cheng leaked, through special channels, an edited video of the incident.

When people online saw the yellow-haired girl in the light sphere declaring Earth uncivilized and deserving of annihilation, outrage exploded.

"What kind of trash is this? Even a child hit back when beaten—why can't we retaliate?"

"Director Director Airan looked so righteous—no wonder he's a philanthropist."

"Qi Ming from the Victory Team was also terrifying—he didn't panic even during freefall. Is this the professionalism of Victory Team members?"

Yamada and Kishida, eating breakfast, saw these online comments and felt complicated.

Because of Qi Ming's outstanding performance, they, as fellow Victory Team members, got a free boost in public image.

Yamada: "I hope citizens stay rational—remember the human body has limits. Qi Ming is an anomaly; we're the norm."

Meanwhile, the staff at headquarters were stunned— who had filmed this video, and who had released it?

Could it be that Dyne Ultraman himself had posted it? He not only knew how to curse but also understood how to use the internet— are Ultramen really this down-to-earth now?

He Zhi consulted his own channels to investigate, but still could not trace the source.

He feared that pursuing it further might anger Ultraman, so the matter was quietly dropped.

But he felt it necessary to respond to public opinion, so he immediately arranged for a press officer to make a statement.

He spoke at length, but it could all be summed up in three sentences.

"Team member Qi Ming is unharmed—he was rescued at the critical moment by the newly appeared Dyne Ultraman."

"Yes, anyone bold enough to insult Earth in such a manner is no ordinary alien— we must strike hard!"

"We have already deployed the super-weapon R1; according to observations, these aliens' stronghold has been reduced to ashes!"

This announcement immediately drew widespread praise.

The neighboring Defense Force was deeply annoyed—they felt TPC had been stealing the spotlight lately.

How strange— wasn't the Defense Force once evenly matched with TPC, even secretly overshadowing them? When did they become so weak?

It seemed… the shift began when that new team member, Qi Ming, single-handedly wiped out a large group of Crowmen in an abandoned factory, then gave an interview?

Led by Officer Xitiao, the Defense Force decided they could no longer stand by.

Otherwise, the balance would be shattered, and they would be completely outshone.

Besides the Defense Force, another who gritted his teeth in secret was Shōgo Kōno.

The TPC team searching underground in Kumamoto for the statues was now drawing closer to his two statues.

If things continued like this, they would discover the statues within half a month.

No— if things continued like this, the statues would be taken from him.

Rather than sit idle and wait, he preferred to risk everything!

————————————

A nearly four-thousand-character chapter delivered!

Today's total update reached eight thousand characters—double the limit!

So everyone, please save your guaranteed monthly votes for me next month—I beg you.

(End of Chapter)