Chapter 309: 305. Storming Dr. Caiqi

Hanami piloted the Szack ship toward the Star Star Zaiyin, during which Kai and Gagula practiced with spoken incantations and Hanami's sword.

Inside the cabin, their shadows interwove under the light.

Sharp blades and sharp eyes clashed fiercely, intensely.

Gagula firmly pinned Kai, driving him into a corner with his blade.

"Conflict arises from emotion—hatred, or the desire to protect others."

"But in battle, emotion only becomes an obstacle."

Gagula said this, trying to make Kai understand his life experience.

Qi Ming, watching from the side, suddenly spoke:

"No, emotion isn't merely harmful."

"Under intense emotional surges, spurred by people's support, Ultramen unleash power several times greater than usual—to defeat terrifying enemies, to answer people's prayers."

This is what is known as 【Heart-Driven Surge】; the most famous examples are 【Guardian Dyga】 in Dyga and 【Native Zeta】 at the end of Zeta.

Gagula froze: "Is that possible?"

It sounded unscientific, illogical.

Is this the world of Ultramen?

Kai looked wistful: "Really? Have you ever experienced this, Senior?"

Qi Ming: "No. I've only heard of it—I've never achieved it myself."

His battles always maintained near-cold rationality; even in the most desperate situations, he only calculated optimal solutions and planned escape routes.

He had lost his composure twice: once when Bogaju threatened to blow up Earth—and then Gorgos arrived to save the day.

The other time was when he learned Hui Mei had nearly been killed—then he brutally beat up Gulumu transformed into Dark Mefilas.

After venting, he regained calmness and refocused on the gains and losses of every move.

To make Qi Ming fight with fiery passion and surging emotion—that was too hard. He was mostly unshaken.

"If you want to become a true Ultraman, you must never ignore the power of emotion," Qi Ming said.

Kai nodded thoughtfully, and Gagula, realizing his approach couldn't fully align with "Ultraman," fell silent and continued training with Kai without another word.

At that moment, Gyoen quietly peeked out, her eyes fixed on Gagula's masterful swordplay.

Kai also noticed Gagula's subdued mood after his "mistake":

"I still have much to learn from Senior Qi Ming and Gagula."

"Without proper technique, even the power emotion gives me won't be enough to protect everyone. I want to be the best everywhere."

This restored Gagula's smile: "Of course. You've got plenty to learn from me—so much you'll want to cry."

Then Gagula kicked Kai away, ending the sparring session.

"Incredible…" Gyoen murmured. To her, it was flawless swordsmanship.

"You're strong," Kai said after being defeated—not with disappointment, but with genuine praise.

"Obviously," Gagula couldn't help smiling. He felt Kai meant it sincerely.

Qi Ming noticed Gyoen peeking and called Kai and Gagula over, quietly pointing out their flaws and possible improvements from the fight.

Both were amazed—every word Qi Ming spoke hit the mark.

Kai: "Senior Qi Ming, are you also skilled in swordsmanship? Then teach me and Gagula too." He wanted to spar with Qi Ming.

Qi Ming: "No. My swordsmanship is average. The techniques I've learned aren't necessarily stronger than Gagula's 'Snake Heart Style.'"

"I'm just faster in reaction—that's why I always make optimal choices in battle."

We're about to storm Dr. Caiqi's stronghold. To ensure victory in one strike, I must conserve my strength.

Gagula nodded in agreement, recognizing this as the sharp instinct forged through countless battles—and became even more convinced Qi Ming was a veteran Ultraman.

He wanted to ask Qi Ming: "Do you think I have the qualification to become an Ultraman?" and "What is a true Ultraman like?" But he never voiced it.

After training ended, Qi Ming and Kai went to rest. Gagula, the last to leave, was stopped by Gyoen.

Gyoen looked eager: "Your swordsmanship is incredible. What style is it?"

After Gagula said "Snake Heart Style," Gyoen grew even more excited: "I never imagined I'd see the sword technique I've dreamed of! Such superb skill fills me with admiration."

Her praise didn't please Gagula as Kai's had. He remained cold: "It's merely a technique to take lives. Don't ever admire it."

Gyoen earnestly said: "Teach me. I truly want to learn Snake Heart Style."

Gagula: "I refuse." He stepped around her and walked away.

Gyoen didn't give up: "Don't say it's because I'm a woman."

Gagula: "I have missions. No time to waste on other things."

To prove her talent to her future master, Gyoen quickly added: "I've already memorized some of your movements from watching you just now."

Gagula immediately warned: "Don't try it—you'll only hurt yourself."

Though his exterior was cold, he had softness within.

Gyoen insisted: "I want to become strong—to protect Queen Tenjo."

Gagula sneered: "Your queen doesn't want to fight. That's why she can speak such naive words—because others protect her."

Hearing her queen insulted, Gyoen stepped forward: "No. Queen Tenjo is not what you say."

Gagula dismissed her: "Is that so? What's it to me?"

He turned to leave, but Gyoen followed, quickly saying:

"Your heart is wounded. Hanami used to wear the same expression—when betrayed by someone she trusted."

"Was the one who betrayed you a woman? You're skilled and handsome—you must have been loved by many women."

Gagula laughed: "I was betrayed by someone I trusted—but not a woman."

Gyoen: "Then a friend? Kai? Or that domineering Qi Ming?"

Gagula shook his head: "Kai? He never even thought of betraying anyone—he's a classic fool."

"As for Qi Ming… though we've known each other briefly, I sense a strong righteousness in him."

"His decisiveness serves the greater good. You should trust his words."

"As for the one who betrayed me… it was myself."

With a faintly bitter smile, Gagula walked away as Gyoen stared in shock.

Betrayed himself? What did that mean?

It felt so heavy.

…………………………

After eight hours of travel, the Szack ship finally reached the outer orbit of the Star Star Zaiyin.

Countless meter-sized Balibushu larvae swarmed toward them, filling the sky—chilling to behold.

Hanami and Gyoen, forced onto this "pirate ship" and compelled to disobey Queen Tenjo's no-attack order, opened fire in defense, repelling larva after larva. They urgently needed to find Captain Senro and demand to know why he was betraying the queen.

"Solid firepower," Qi Ming appeared in the cockpit, fully rested and ready to fight at one hundred percent capacity.

Gyoen: "Of course—Dr. Professor Chaoying upgraded it for us."

Qi Ming: "Then be careful. There might be backdoors. One day, those cannons might turn and fire on what you're trying to protect."

Gyoen and Hanami fell silent. Was it really that extreme? Could the gentle Dr. Professor Chaoying be such a monstrous villain?

Kai, seeing the endless waves of Balibushu larvae charging, drew the Orb Sacred Sword: "I'll draw them away—you go save them!"

With a swing, he transformed into a fifty-meter-tall Orb, bathed in brilliant light.

Orb used his "invincibility window" to smash through a dozen larvae, then plunged toward the surface of Star Star Zaiyin.

The land was gloomy. In the distance stood Dr. Caiqi's fleet. On the mountainsides, countless Balibushu swarmed.

It was nearly as hellish as the Dark Domain.

A dozen Balibushu larvae spotted the intruder and charged down the mountains toward Orb with fury.

Orb unleashed a sweeping beam, wiping them all out—his proficiency with beams had improved dramatically.

Next, a fifty-meter Balibushu adult burst from the side, landed a hook punch, and sent Orb crashing to the ground.

"I told you—don't focus only ahead! Watch everything around you!" Gagula snapped.

He turned to Qi Ming, asking when he'd act.

Qi Ming glanced at his Ultraman Arbitrary Key, rotated the dial to reveal the shape of Dyga: "Not yet. Let Kai gather more enemies first."

Dyga at 30% could only last one and a half minutes under Earth's sunlight. On this dark, cold, evil planet, it might be even shorter.

Every second must be calculated precisely.

This made Gyoen and Hanami even more curious—what was this man capable of? It sounded like he could turn the tide.

Soon, a second fifty-meter Balibushu adult arrived. Orb was forced to fight two at once.

At close range, Kai's inexperience became obvious.

He quickly couldn't handle the twin assault, getting battered, rolling helplessly on the ground.

As he tried to rise and reposition, a Balibushu lunged forward, clamping its claws around his throat. Orb struggled in agony, unable to break free.

At that moment, another Balibushu dove from above, its puppet-poisoned tail stinger aimed at the immobilized Orb.

"Danger!" Gagula gasped.

The Szack ship's situation was dire too—more and more Balibushu larvae surrounded it.

Like suicide squads, the front-line larvae acted as shields for those behind, steadily closing the distance to the ship.

Once the distance reached zero, the Szack ship would be destroyed!

"What do we do!" Hanami panicked.

"Now," Qi Ming said, no longer waiting—he decisively slammed his palm onto the dial.

Silver-white light blazed through the cockpit, forcing the other three to shut their eyes.

A vast, sky-covering curtain of light surged forward, instantly killing countless larval Balixibs and clearing a wide, open safe zone.

"That was…" When Yu Yan and Rikka reopened their eyes and saw the crisis lifted, they were utterly bewildered.

"Look, Yu Yan—a new giant!" Rikka pointed at the monitor screen.

A giant composed of interwoven red, silver, and purple hues descended from the sky. He delivered a flying kick that sent the Balixib preparing to stab Orb with its poison needle flying, then unleashed a beam blade that shoved back the Balixib pinning Orb, allowing Orb to break free.

Ultraman Tiga, making a return!

"Is this Qi Ming's transformation? So he's an Ultraman warrior too!"

"So cool! His Ultraman form is amazing too!"

Both were instantly awed by Tiga's appearance, convinced that with two Ultraman warriors, victory was certain.

But Gagula, recalling how Qi Ming had barely been able to stand after his last transformation, remained cautious—Qi Ming's transformations seemed to drain him terribly, leaving him unable to fight for long.

"New enemy appearing." Another fifty-meter Balixib descended; the three Balixibs now eyed the two Ultramen with predatory intent.

"Numbers are uneven," Gagula felt unease.

Tiga and Orb exchanged a glance, then charged forward together.

Tiga decisively intercepted two Balixibs; facing the flanking attack, Qi Ming did not retreat—he advanced.

He sidestepped the first Balixib's poison stinger, countered with a precise palm strike to its joint, and as it lost balance, whipped his right leg like a whip, sending the second approaching Balixib flying hundreds of meters.

The entire sequence took less than three seconds. His fluid, effortless combat style stood in stark contrast to Orb's clumsy, frantic movements, leaving the three in the cockpit stunned.

The two Balixibs charged again, unwilling to yield—but Tiga's responses were flawless.

Every dodge was perfectly timed; every counterattack struck vital points. The two Balixibs were toyed with, their poison stingers and claws only tearing uselessly through the air.

At this moment, Qi Ming was performing at his true level—each movement carried the power to transform the mundane into the miraculous.

"Incredible," Yu Yan and Jiehua exclaimed in awe.

No wonder he had dared to speak so boldly before—he had this strength and skill as his foundation.

Having someone like this as an ally was truly a stroke of luck.

Gagula recalled Qi Ming's previous battle form and compared it to this—his sense of disillusionment was overwhelming—the gap was too vast.

"How about it, Kai? Got it?" Qi Ming spoke—this was clearly a training match.

Was this the calmness and confidence of the elder Ultraman warriors?

"I'm starting to understand, Senior!" 【Kai】, fighting the remaining Balixib one-on-one, nodded.

"So this is his true level… When he's in good condition, he can unleash this kind of power," Gagula muttered, humbled by Qi Ming's near-perfect defense.

He also felt reassured—with Qi Ming watching over him, 【Kai】 would be safe.

"Let's go. Following Senior Qi Ming's plan, they'll keep the enemies occupied while we head straight for Dr. Caiqi's base, rescue your captain, and eliminate the doctor."

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Despite a toothache, here's an eight-thousand-character update!

By the way, the author's thank-you video for reaching ten thousand subscribers is out!

It was posted personally by the author's own Bilibili account, username 【Immortal Radish】—just uploaded, check it out if you're interested.

On Douyin, it was posted by the official account—search for the novel's title to find it.

Request monthly votes, request triple likes!

(End of Chapter)