Chapter 253: 249 The Ultrawarriors Try the Magical Conch

"Is this the magical conch!" Director Airan Cheng eagerly stepped forward to take the conch.

Nishijō Nagi: "Only someone with a 'pure heart' can hear the wondrous sound inside the conch—and use it to stop the 'ancient sea god.'"

Upon hearing this, Director Airan Cheng immediately pressed the conch to his ear: "Hey hey hey, there it is! Hey hey hey, gone again! What's going on!"

He fished out a hearing aid from somewhere, but the result didn't change—the sound remained faint and intermittent.

"Forget it. Maybe this thing's too old and the connection's faulty, so the sound comes and goes." After saying this, Director Airan Cheng shoved the conch straight into the "Meteorite Stone."

Yet nothing happened.

"Could I have put it in upside down?" Director Airan Cheng tried multiple times, but still got no result.

"Could it be that I, as a noble and righteous Ultrawarrior, don't have a 'pure heart'? That's ridiculous!" Director Airan Cheng, furious, wanted to smash the thing on the ground.

Beside him, Nishijō Nagi said coolly: "At least you can hear a little. I can't hear anything at all."

But Nishijō Nagi didn't care—she knew she had nothing to do with a 'pure heart.'

After learning the truth from Qi Ming, her mind was filled with nothing but finding the Alien Vivian, Lu Mu, and Dark Zagi—the one who killed her parents—and grinding their bones to dust!

Kill Kill Kill!

"This…" Director Airan Cheng fell silent, unsure whether to keep raging or to comfort Nishijō Nagi first.

"Why don't you try?" Director Airan Cheng handed the conch to Fujimiya, deciding to change the subject.

Fujimiya didn't refuse; he silently pressed the conch to his ear.

He tried using it to seek an answer—to find out if he was right.

He heard the sound—a wave-like rhythm.

But soon, his mind filled with the doubts of recent days.

Are humans beneficial or harmful to Earth? Should I really protect them? If things continue like this, will humans destroy Earth…

When these questions surfaced in his mind, the wave-like sound gradually faded away.

"I still don't understand. I don't know what to believe. I'm not worthy." Fujimiya handed the conch to Hoshiya Jun: "Your turn."

"I'll help you take the picture." Director Airan Cheng took over Hoshiya Jun's camera.

Hoshiya Jun took the conch and pressed it to his ear.

When the image and voice of "Sera" appeared in his mind, his hand began to tremble involuntarily.

The wave-like sound came and went—he failed, unable to let go of Sera's death.

"Try it?" Hoshiya Jun passed the conch to Heikali, who accepted it without hesitation—but the sound was equally intermittent.

This world's Heikali had never tangled with Dreamie or Shuara Yuan, nor had he been comforted by Mother of Ultra—he still hadn't escaped the shadow of Apber's destruction.

Director Airan Cheng had felt ashamed for not being deemed worthy, but watching the others fail, his gloom lifted, even turning to quiet delight.

Fujimiya failed. Hoshiya Jun failed. Heikali failed.

Great. So I'm not the only one who failed.

Seeing everyone's mood sink after trying the magical conch, Shōsei Dan took the conch and spoke to comfort them:

"The civilization that left the conch isn't necessarily 'absolutely right.' Failing their test doesn't mean you're an Buhege Ultrawarrior."

"As long as you punish evil, defend justice, and hold fast to your beliefs when facing darkness—that's…"

His words froze mid-sentence.

He heard it—the endless, steady sound of waves, neither loud nor faint.

He passed. He was recognized.

At that moment, Emi watched anxiously as the Ultraman Ultraman Gaiya, struck on the chest by the ancient sea god's hammer, was knocked over: "Qi Ming's team member seems about to collapse." Heikali: "He's clearly holding back."

The next instant, the Color Timer on Ultraman Gaiya's chest began to flash.

Time was running out.

Seeing this, Shōsei Dan, under everyone's gaze, placed the conch inside the Meteorite Stone.

"Captain Shōsei… are you…" Director Airan Cheng's eyes widened.

"Just luck," Shōsei Dan didn't know what to say to ease the awkwardness.

The next instant, the Meteorite Stone "swallowed" the conch.

"Shhh." The entire massive Meteorite Stone began to glow, emitting a soft, rainbow-like beam that struck the frenzied ancient sea god.

The ancient sea god shuddered slightly, then fell still—motionless.

It had reverted to an ordinary stone statue.

Heikali, holding the device, said: "Energy signature gone. The threat is neutralized."

…………………………

Meanwhile, inside the Dolphin.

"Good! The revived statue has been handled by the captain and the others."

"We need to work hard too—let's eliminate that anaerobic lifeform!"

Kishida and Yamana, en route to their destination, intermittently followed the events above via video.

Learning that the ancient sea god had ceased functioning and stopped destroying, they exhaled in relief and focused on maneuvering the submarine to locate the glowing anaerobic lifeform.

"Boom!" The next instant, a massive creature with crimson eyes burst from the seabed mud, crawling on all fours toward the Dolphin.

"Is this the anaerobic lifeform? It's huge!" Kishida said.

Yamana: "No matter how big, it's still flesh and blood. With proper handling, the Dolphin's equipment is enough to deal with it!"

But if handled poorly, it would be another story.

After several rounds of combat, though the Dolphin inflicted some damage with torpedoes, it was struck by a beam fired from the creature's head.

"This thing can fire underwater?!"

"Starboard hit! Unbalanced! We're done!"

Shōsei Dan, seeing this, frantically pulled out his PDI communicator: "Yamana! Kishida! Answer!"

But the communication was cut—conditions on the other end were dire.

"I'll go rescue them, but I'm not good at underwater combat. Someone else come with me." Qi Ming, inside Ultraman Gaiya, sent a telepathic message.

Fujimiya slowly pulled out the Blue Bracelet, while Hoshiya Jun said: "If you don't want to fight underwater, just change the environment."

Saying this, he pulled the Evolution Trust from his chest.

Nishijō Nagi's gaze sharpened—Qi Ming had once told her this light might one day pass to her, and she had been deeply troubled by it.

Because it meant she could gain Ultraman's power—and take revenge herself.

The next instant, Hoshiya Jun drew the Evolution Trust and, bathed in light, transformed into the youthful form of Ultraman Nexus.

Immediately, a ripple like water appeared—Nexus shifted into his youth form. He locked eyes with Ultraman Ultraman Gaiya, then both surged toward the seabed.

(End of Chapter)