Chapter 332: Capture of Himeya Jun, Qi Ming Returns to Earth

At this moment, Nexus seemed to have lost even the energy to transform into his youth form, and could only fight in his child form.

As Himeya Jun assumed a combat stance, 【Paskick】 suddenly swung its massive pincers, slamming hard into his chest.

"Crash!"

Sparks flew as Nexus was flung backward like a broken kite, crashing through three burning buildings.

Amid shattered stones and debris, he curled up in agony, the V-shaped Color Timer on his chest flickering erratically.

This was a sign that the host was dying.

He struggled to rise, but 【Paskick】 stomped down on his back, its claws sinking deep into Nexus's shoulder blades, producing a grating sound of twisted metal.

"Mr. Himeya, I'm here!" The next moment, Aizumi Makoto's voice rang out.

A giant monster bird with red-and-white feathers burst onto the battlefield, kicking 【Paskick】 aside with one claw.

This was — 【Guebasa】, the monster Aizumi Makoto had transformed from a Monster Crystal.

"Even if I can't become an Ultraman, I'm still a hero!" Aizumi Makoto shrieked like a madman.

【Paskick】 whipped its tail, the tip lashing like a long whip against Guebasa's body.

With a sharp "Snap!", Guebasa was spun through the air several times before crashing heavily to the ground.

After his Color Timer had been forcibly removed yesterday, Aizumi Makoto's vital energy had been drained completely; he was now in an equally dire state of weakness.

Together, they were no match for 【Paskick】.

【Paskick】 charged again, knocking both of them down, then prepared to open its abdominal maw and unleash a flame blast.

At the critical moment, two Jet Firebirds streaked in from afar.

Yamaguchi and Kishida piloted one; Nishijo Nagi and Moroboshi Dan piloted the other.

Moroboshi Dan pushed himself to the limit, unleashing Ultraman Psychic Force once more, forcing 【Paskick】's gaping mouth shut.

"Boom!" Destructive flames exploded inside its body; 【Paskick】 writhed in agony.

"Now… it's up to you…" Moroboshi Dan whispered weakly; now, even all three of him, Aizumi, and Himeya combined couldn't muster half a drop of blood.

"Whoosh!" The two Jet Firebirds shot through the smoke like arrows, carving decisive trajectories.

Yamaguchi and Kishida's fighter jets opened fire first; laser cannons erupted across 【Paskick】's carapace in a chain of sparks, followed closely by Nishijo Nagi's Jet Firebird.

Nexus and Guebasa also poured out their last reserves of strength, launching a coordinated charge.

The fierce battle lasted ten minutes; finally, both Jet Firebirds crashed, Guebasa and Nexus disintegrated, reverting to their human forms.

Himeya Jun and Aizumi Makoto collapsed between steel rebar and concrete, unable to move even a finger.

Aizumi Makoto's suit was soaked in blood, yet he still laughed maniacally; Himeya Jun's every faint breath carried flecks of blood.

But the enemy still lived — 【Paskick】, though battered and scarred, had not fallen.

Nexus had lost. The last Ultraman warrior on Earth had fallen, collapsing into the darkness before dawn.

"Roar!" 【Paskick】 was about to rage — then, a strangely shaped fighter jet suddenly appeared behind the monster.

"Chromium Chester!" Nishijo Nagi, supporting Moroboshi Dan as they stepped out of the crashed Jet Firebird, widened her eyes.

She would never mistake it — that was Night Raider's Chromium Chester, the very jet that had just deactivated its optical camouflage!

Weren't they only assigned to handle anomalies in the U. S.? How had they slipped into Japan without anyone noticing?

The next moment, a brilliant beam erupted from the fused Chromium Chester, striking 【Paskick】.

Rectangular Shockwave!

This blow became the final straw — its body stiffened, collapsed heavily, then exploded into fragments.

"The monster's destroyed. Were they here to help? Who invited them — the staff or Japan's cabinet?" Yamaguchi helped Kishida out.

Kishida: "But if they truly came to help, why didn't they join us from the start? Why wait until now?"

Nishijo Nagi also sensed something was off — the timing was too precise.

"No good…" She realized it instantly, handed Moroboshi Dan over to Yamaguchi, and rushed with Kishida toward the spot where Nexus and Guebasa had disintegrated.

She saw a team of personnel in bio-suits, well-trained and armed, surrounding Himeya Jun, guns pointed at him — yet seemingly unaware of Aizumi Makoto, lying unconscious on the other side of the rubble.

"So that's what you're after!" Nishijo Nagi pulled out the Victory Hyper Gun from her coat.

TLT had been waiting for the Ultraman warrior to weaken from battle, unable to resist — then they'd capture him!

The clam and the snipe fight, the fisherman wins!

"Let me go! Let me go!" Himeya Jun struggled, but his strength was negligible after his brutal fight with the monster.

The next moment, the bio-suited personnel forcibly jammed an anesthetic needle into the vein in Himeya Jun's neck; the injection took effect, and he passed out instantly.

"Why is he lying here where the monster and Ultraman vanished? Who are these people…?" Kishida was bewildered.

Nishijo Nagi snapped: "No time to explain — come with me!"

But the next instant, a gale howled as the Chromium Chester descended slowly, its cannons aimed at Nishijo Nagi and Kishida.

"Senior Nishijo Nagi, don't do anything foolish," came the pilot's cold voice from the aircraft. "This valuable research specimen must be recovered. Have you considered the cost of taking advantage of someone in their weakest moment?"

The Chromium Chester pilot sneered: "Save the bluster. You know the Seer's ability — he told us you have no strength left to resist."

With the Chromium Chester's cannons trained on them, Nishijo Nagi could only watch helplessly as the bio-suited personnel carried Himeya Jun onto another aircraft.

"Should we take Moroboshi Dan too…?" one operative asked before leaving.

"Unnecessary. One live test subject is enough. If we touch Moroboshi Dan, his friends and family from his homeland might come to defend him — that would be troublesome," said TLT's Seer.

The next moment, several aircraft took off, carrying their captives toward the North American headquarters.

The Victory Team could only watch helplessly.

……………………………………

About half an hour later, the Szark spacecraft carrying Qi Ming's group descended upon Osaka, Japan.

At this moment, the rising sun broke the horizon, painting Osaka Bay gold and crimson.

The city slowly stirred from morning mist; high-rise glass walls reflected warm light, cranes at the port cast long shadows in the dawn, all serene as if in another world.

"This is Earth… the place where Senior Qi Ming grew up…?" 【Kai】 said.

Amaterasu Queen looked around: "Where is Shōhei…?"

Qi Ming gazed at the familiar surroundings, his heart filled with emotion.

He had finally returned to Earth — he wondered how those he knew were doing now.

He explained to 【Kai】: "I was born on another dimension's Earth, but the two Earths are nearly identical — perhaps that's why I'm willing to fight for this one."

As he spoke, he pulled a PDI communicator from his coat.

…………………………

Meanwhile, Counselors Kento and He Zhi learned of the recent events and exploded in fury.

"A man appeared where Nexus fell — does that mean humans can become Ultraman warriors?!"

"I just confirmed with the Defense Force and Cabinet — they never invited North American TLT to assist in combat."

"They invaded Japanese territory without permission, kidnapped our citizen — Tsuchibashi Yu was already dead, yet TLT dares treat Japan like their backyard!"

The two counselors were enraged beyond measure, their shouts rivaling jet engines.

Other team members also looked grim.

Emi's voice was low: "If Team Member Qi Ming had been here then, he wouldn't have let TLT act so brazenly."

Kishida reminded them: "They came with aircraft — they were prepared."

Yamaguchi thought for a moment: "If it were Qi Ming… he might just smash their aircraft with stones."

Though absurd, the mention of Qi Ming stirred deep emotion in Kento and He Zhi.

Qi Ming…

This guy had zero attachment to TPC's authority — he gave up power and vanished without a trace, as if he'd evaporated.

"Where is Team Member Qi Ming? Can no one contact him?" He Zhi's gaze swept over everyone.

Moroboshi Dan, pale-faced, coughed and avoided the topic: "He'll return soon — but right now, we must figure out how to rescue him."

He Zhi considered: "First, try diplomatic channels."

Moroboshi Dan: "What if they refuse diplomacy?"

Kento shook his head: "Then we must hold our ground and issue a strong condemnation."

Nishijo Nagi stood up: "If they can land in Japan without warning and snatch someone, can't we do the same to get him back?"

Kento thought this was absurd: "Now? They're probably already crossing into U. S. airspace."

"A human who can become an Ultraman — this test subject is too valuable. They'll mobilize national resources to protect and guard him tightly. Who can break in?"

The next moment, a burst of static crackled through the command room's speakers — a familiar voice echoed over the comms: "Hello? Hello? Anyone there? Can you hear me?"

At that voice, everyone in the command room froze, minds going blank.

That voice — was it Qi Ming?

The next moment, every single person moved in perfect unison — they lunged toward the microphone as if electrocuted.

Emi reacted most violently, trembling as she asked: "Are you… are you Team Member Qi Ming?"

She received an answer — Qi Ming's voice came again: "It's me. I'm back!"

(End of Chapter)