Chapter 319: 315 Stealing the Life of an Ultraman (38k)

"Is it over… such a hasty ending."

Watching Holo Porozu slink back underground after the double warning, Aizumi Makoto couldn't help but smile.

It seemed that besides soothing and reforming, warning and overwhelming pressure could also calm this great evil wolf.

The Nomart survivors left with some regret, but not too disappointed.

After losing the Kiraielod gods as their patrons, they still hadn't abandoned their desire for revenge against humanity and reclaiming Earth, and were currently negotiating cooperation with "local external forces."

As Nomart people who had lived in the ocean for a long time, they were well-acquainted with the sea and planned to harness its power to create an Ultraman who would stand on Nomart's side!

Ultraman Gaiya favored humans—then find a way to make Agul favor Nomart.

The ocean covers seventy percent of Earth; therefore, Agul in his prime must be stronger than Ultraman Gaiya, and in the end, they would be the victors!

"I feel terrible…" Seruboro also stumbled away, deciding it was better not to act rashly.

This planet's situation was too complicated, too many unexpected events.

"Still, you've managed to keep your life," Aizumi Makoto thought, looking at the hole Holo Porozu had dug.

He believed that if Holo Porozu dared to continue its rampage, it would surely die.

Worst case, he could summon Captain Moroboshi to use Ultra Mind Control to pin it down for two or three seconds, then unleash his strongest finishing move to obliterate it.

What an intense combo.

"At last, I can clock out…" After confirming Holo Porozu had fled, Aizumi Makoto exhaled in relief.

The dragon's roar ceased; the dark clouds in the sky dispersed. Renryu and Nijinshin had departed, and he too prepared to return home.

But the next instant, sudden chaos erupted.

A massive figure appeared, entirely red, with large ears, a lantern in its left hand, and a spiked club in its right.

This was Dorobon, the monster thief from the penultimate episode of Ultraman Taro, "Stealing the Life of an Ultraman!"

A rope extended from its lantern, binding the fallen Victory Feiyan-2 tightly; with a violent jerk, both Nishijou Nagi and Kishida were stunned unconscious before they could react.

"What?! When did this guy show up?!" The sudden turn stunned everyone.

"Trying to take advantage?" Moroboshi believed Dorobon had waited until after Holo Porozu's rampage to strike the weakened remnants.

Aizumi Makoto immediately raised the Orb Sacred Sword, but Dorobon warned at once: "If you don't want them harmed, don't move."

He placed the spiked club atop the Victory Feiyan-2 cockpit—his threat was unmistakable.

He could crush Nishijou Nagi and Kishida at any moment.

"Using hostages as leverage? How despicable! What do you want? To invade Earth?" Black Ultraman dared not attack.

Ultramen could never ignore the lives of hostages.

Dorobon: "I have no interest in Earth. This little temple is too small for a great Buddha like me."

"The universe is growing more chaotic—wars flare everywhere. This is a perfect chance to rise to prominence."

"Would you like to join me in building something great?"

Aizumi Makoto flatly refused: "Doing evil isn't greatness. I won't help you!"

Dorobon: "Won't help? Then let's change the terms. Exchange life for life—give me the gem you value as much as your own life, let me strengthen myself, and I'll return them to you."

A gem valued as much as one's life…

Aizumi Makoto glanced at his chest—Dorobon meant the circular Color Timer on his chest.

In the original Taro episode, Dorobon had used the same hostage tactic, forcing Ultraman Jack to surrender his Color Timer in exchange for the captive.

"How did you even get to Earth? Why didn't Radar detect you?" Aizumi Makoto tried to buy time, hoping Moroboshi or Shikari could respond and resolve the crisis.

Dorobon: "Radar? I bought something excellent from a cosmic merchant—it completely hides my presence."

"Enough talk. In ten seconds, if you don't hand over your Color Timer, I'll kill them, then kill you and take your gem."

"You just finished a fierce battle—you're exhausted, aren't you?"

The tactic of buying time failed. Aizumi Makoto's mind churned with turmoil.

What should he do? What could he do? The Color Timer was as vital to an Ultraman as a heart—it was the primary source of energy.

Lose it, and he could no longer transform. Even if he could survive by de-transforming, he'd lose his eligibility to become an Ultraman again.

This was his lifeline!

But he couldn't abandon the hostages either—Ultramen could never stand by and let people die.

Could an Ultraman who abandoned lives still be called an Ultraman?

Who could tell him what to do now?

Oh right… Senior Red Kai!

Think hard—if Senior Red Kai faced this, what would he do?

After several seconds of hesitation, Aizumi Makoto spoke: "Fine. I'll give it to you."

Dorobon cackled: "Now that's what I call an Ultraman—truly noble! There are two inside—I'll return one to you first."

He pulled Kishida out and dropped him on the ground, then gestured for Aizumi Makoto to toss over the Color Timer.

He wouldn't even come close to retrieve it—Aizumi had hoped to strike when he came near, but now even that final chance was gone…

Aizumi Makoto sighed inwardly, then with trembling hands, painfully removed the Color Timer from his chest.

The instant he lost the Color Timer, Black Ultraman's body faded, his eyes dimmed, and he collapsed to one knee.

He lost all strength and ability in an instant.

"Good, good, good!" Dorobon, confirming his opponent was powerless, stepped forward swiftly, tore off Black Ultraman's Color Timer, and affixed it to his own chest.

Simultaneously, Black Ultraman's body collapsed completely, reduced to nothing but "a skin."

"So this is Ultraman power? Incredible!" He tossed aside the Victory Feiyan-2 containing Nishijou Nagi, reveling in his surge of strength.

"I've heard there are other Ultramen active on Earth. Good. After I adapt to this power, I'll return later—perhaps I'll find even greater gains." With that, Dorobon flew into the sky and left Earth.

Half a minute later, Black Ultraman's skin dissolved. Aizumi Makoto, pale-faced, stood where he had been—barely having escaped annihilation, since he wasn't the true Ultraman body.

But having the Color Timer ripped directly from his body left him as if every bone in his body had been extracted.

Ignoring his physical exhaustion and pain, he frantically pulled out the 【Orb Ring Neo】 from his pocket—the once-bright crystal was now dull and lifeless.

"This is bad. Until I get my Color Timer back, I can't transform again." Aizumi Makoto was deeply distressed.

After enduring countless hardships to become an Ultraman, he had now personally given away his right to transform.

He felt terrible. Terribly terrible.

……………………………………

When Nishijou Nagi awoke from unconsciousness, she saw Aizumi Makoto with a gloomy expression.

"Are you alright, Deputy Captain? Thank goodness—if you'd been hurt, I'd be in deep trouble." Aizumi Makoto's face brightened slightly upon seeing she was safe, then returned to gloom.

"What happened? Did that white wolf-like monster leave?" Nishijou Nagi rubbed her head.

Moroboshi explained the full sequence of events. Nishijou Nagi's face turned pale.

"Are you insane? Why didn't you just attack?!" She shouted at Aizumi Makoto, unable to accept it.

In her view, her own life meant far less than Aizumi Makoto's ability to transform into an Ultraman.

Had she been conscious, she would have chosen to end her own life so Aizumi Makoto could fight without restraint.

Aizumi Makoto tilted his head: "I once heard a profoundly philosophical saying: 'When you seek to become a hero, you've already lost the eligibility to be one.'"

"But couldn't it also be reversed? When I lost the power to become a hero, did I truly become one?"

"Deputy Captain Nishijou, such scenarios are common—Ultramen must sometimes sacrifice themselves to protect humanity."

"To give up your ability to transform for the sake of humanity… That's top-tier hero material! Absolutely impressive! Oh yeah! Now no one can deny I'm an Ultraman!"

"Enough, Deputy Captain Nishijou—don't look at me like that. If losing that means I'm no longer a hero, then I never deserved it in the first place—what a philosophical thing, hehehe."

But soon his tone shifted again, sinking back into gloom.

"Senior Red Kai… you saved me once. Now I've used my own strength to save others. If you could see me now, you'd be proud, wouldn't you?"

"Senior Red Kai… I miss you so much. I wish you could see me, could personally affirm me, could praise me yourself."

One moment he was exuberant, the next utterly despondent—he seemed borderline schizophrenic.

Nishijou Nagi stared, dumbfounded.

Moroboshi lowered his voice: "Losing the ability to transform must be painful. Let him have this moment."

He pulled Nishijou Nagi outside, giving Aizumi Makoto space alone.

"I remember Qi Ming said you might one day receive the light and become an Ultraman yourself."

"Rather than guilt or self-blame, I hope you remember this—truly understand the meaning of 'protection.'"

"Remember how Aizumi Makoto risked everything to save you. In the future, do the same for others. Understood?"

Nishijou Nagi nodded slowly: "I understand."

The next moment, her PDI communicator buzzed. She opened it and her face changed: "Another incident!"

The door behind her burst open. Aizumi Makoto emerged, twitching: "Is that thing back? Is it?"

"Quick, Captain Moroboshi! If you team up with Himeya Jun, you can capture him, right? You can get my Color Timer back, can't you?"

He'd pretended to be resigned, but he was deeply anxious.

Even the normally calm, emotionally restrained Nishijou Nagi was startled: "No… it's a Bio-Beast vibration wave. A Bio-Beast has appeared."

The attack power level had returned to the "Qi Ming era."

The Victory Feiyan-2, capable of firing the Super Texas Beam, had just been destroyed. Now only Himeya Jun could fight.

In other words—only Himeya Jun could fight now.

"Oh… I see. Alright." Aizumi Makoto slumped again, defeated, as if melting into liquid.

Moroboshi comforted him: "Don't worry, Aizumi. That monster said it would return soon. When it does, we'll be ready—defeat it, reclaim your Color Timer, and you'll transform again."

Aizumi Makoto scratched his head anxiously: "I'm afraid we won't be able to defeat it. With my Color Timer, it's probably become insanely strong."

What if Mr. Himeya fails? If Qi Ming were here, he would surely have a solution!

Hearing Director Airan Cheng mention Qi Ming's name, Nishijo Nagi felt a wave of nostalgia.

If Qi Ming were also on Earth, he would surely have found a way in that situation—Director Airan Cheng wouldn't have been forced to hand over the Color Timer just to save his life.

After Director Airan Cheng lost his transformation ability, Nexus is now the only Ultraman left on Earth.

For the time ahead, Himeya Jun will have to face alone all the crises on Earth, which are striking with increasing frequency.

This made Nishijo Nagi instinctively think of the sayings "a single tree cannot hold back the cold wind" and "one hand cannot clap."

Can it really be done?

Qi Ming, where are you? We need you here.

——————————————

After my potential was unlocked, it turned out to be terrifying—I wrote nearly four thousand characters in one hour!

Combined, I've already hit ten thousand characters today!

But will the quality suffer?

I've finished two chapters on the Earth storyline—one as setup, the other to tell all readers: my mental state is perfectly fine!

Just because I can simulate Amaterasu Queen's thoughts doesn't mean I've become Amaterasu Queen!

Now, let's cut the scene back to Garon.

There's another update today—keep writing!

After hitting ten thousand, keep hitting ten thousand!

(End of Chapter)