Chapter 373: 369 No More Brainwashing! The War God Kills Kui! (Combined Chapter)

At a thousand meters altitude, the Balsibup larva still clutched Shōhei as it raced through the wind—having already circled half of Japan.

Shōhei, having received no rescue for so long, was in dire straits; the howling gale sliced his face like knives.

His limbs had long gone numb with cold, only the searing pain at his waist reminding him he was still alive.

The Queen of the Sun did not appear as he had expected, leaving his face frozen in a hollow, soulless daze.

Dr. Saisai, standing atop the high-rise, also shifted from anticipation to stunned stillness.

According to local news reports, the Queen of the Sun—who could transform into a War God—was right on this planet, so why hadn't she shown up to rescue him?

Had Kui provided false intelligence?

"Forget it, dragging him around anymore is too stupid. Recall the team. Change plans." Dr. Saisai slumped his shoulders.

The next instant, the Balsibup under his command released its grip—Shōhei plummeted instantly from a thousand meters down.

Useless trash, discarded without a second thought.

"Ah!" Shōhei screamed as he fell freely—then, at the critical moment, Aizen Makoto transformed into Gu'Gu Eba Sa and caught him.

"Mission complete. Do as you wish." After landing, Aizen Makoto casually tossed Shōhei onto the ground and took flight, leaving.

Shōhei's cheek pressed against the cold ground, motionless for a long while.

The Queen of the Sun's prolonged absence in his hour of need dealt him a crushing blow.

Was it destined that, the moment their connection was severed, they would become strangers forever?

This thought pierced his heart like a knife—he could not convince himself to let go, still unwilling to abandon hope.

…………………………

The next day, beneath the Tree of Life.

Qi Ming gazed up at the blooming Tree of Life: "It's been blooming for so long, yet still no fruit."

He remembered clearly: in the original plot, the Tree of Life bore fruit within half an hour of blooming.

Yet a full day had passed, and not a single change had occurred.

It seemed that even the Tree of Life—the "Cosmic Ancestral Root"—could not function properly on this "Earth Stage," unable to absorb sufficient nourishment.

"Qi Ming, the defensive deployment is complete," said Nishijō Nagi through the PDI communicator.

This morning, at Qi Ming's instruction, TPC's press officer announced on television that the Tree of Life's spreading roots were continuously destroying surrounding infrastructure, severing the city's lifelines, and that it must be destroyed.

Then Qi Ming had Nishijō Nagi bring in twenty tanks, pretending they were about to bombard the Tree of Life.

This was to lure out Dr. Saisai and Kui—they had been lured out exactly this way in the original plot.

"They're here," said Kō Kai beside Qi Ming, sensing something and looking up—several scattered Balsibup descended from afar, arriving near the Tree of Life.

Five adult Balsibup, thirteen larval Balsibup—these were the last cards Dr. Saisai and Kui had left.

They stood before the raised gun barrels of the tanks, surrounding the Tree of Life to protect it.

"Finally arrived," Qi Ming nodded as the targets appeared exactly as in the original plot.

In his view, resolving trouble by faithfully following the original plot without deviation was a kind of happiness.

Gagura nudged Kō Kai with his elbow: "Without the Tree of Life's fruit to cure the puppet poison, don't get poisoned later."

Kō Kai stared at the Orb Saint Sword and nodded.

Qi Ming said: "Don't rush. First, enjoy their performance. Deputy Commander, open fire!"

"Alright, fire!" At Nishijō Nagi's command, the twenty tanks unleashed volleys at the Balsibup surrounding the Tree of Life.

"Boom!" "Boom!" "Boom!" The Balsibup were instantly engulfed in flames; the adults were blasted into sparks, their bodies trembling violently, and several larvae dropped dead immediately.

Gagura: "Passively taking punishment? Why aren't they fighting back?"

Qi Ming: "It's a self-sacrifice tactic."

From a distant high-rise, Dr. Saisai watched the Balsibup falling one after another, his face twisted in anguish:

"I'm sorry—you're in so much pain, blame me all you want!"

"But this is a great sacrifice for the creation of a new world!"

The next instant, Kui descended from the sky, standing beside the Balsibup, enduring the tank fire alongside them.

"There he is," Gagura and Kō Kai's gazes sharpened instantly. Qi Ming felt deep satisfaction at the rising battle aura emanating from them.

He remembered clearly: in the original plot, everyone was brain-dead.

Back then, 【Kai】 believed Dr. Saisai's twisted logic: "Saisai once said that if problems can only be solved through brute force, then wisdom is unnecessary. He might be right."

Then, in the original plot, Yumemiru and Fujimiya both nodded in agreement.

Later, 【Kai】 stood before these Balsibup—open kidnappers of humans—and told humans: "They haven't attacked you. Why are you attacking them?" Watching this as a child, Qi Ming had a heart attack.

But now, Kō Kai and Gagura were far more reasonable.

Kō Kai watched Kui stagger backward under the artillery fire, moaning: "They're acting convincingly."

Gagura thought they could turn the tables—just annihilate these fakers with artillery right now.

Qi Ming: "They're not fools. If the Queen of the Sun doesn't fall for it, they'll adjust tactics."

A sharp, resolute voice came through the PDI communicator:

"Correct. I carry the blood of the imperial lineage."

"Erasing the Balsibup, my ancestral enemies, is my duty. I alone must deal with them."

The Queen of the Sun did not stand with Qi Ming's trio. Dressed casually, she stood with Captain Senra and Mikoto Tachibana, observing Kui and the Balsibup from another vantage point.

Watching the Balsibup army fall one after another under artillery fire, her eyes held none of the original plot's pity—only satisfaction.

The Queen of the Sun continued through the communicator: "So, what trick do they expect me to fall for?"

Qi Ming recalled the original plot's trajectory:

"Hmm… They want you to believe Kui shares your peaceful ideals, based on this passive, unresisting display."

"Then, eager to build a beautiful world with Kui, you'll transform and walk straight into their trap—get ambushed, stabbed again, and poisoned."

That was exactly how the original Queen of the Sun acted—completely ignoring the lesson learned on Gagon, still falling for the same trick.

The Queen of the Sun's expression turned wildly incredulous:

"What nonsense. He expects the same trick to work twice?"

"Does he think I'm an idiot? Does he think my brain is filled with gutter oil?"

Captain Senra beside her: "…."

The Queen of the Sun calmed herself, touching a nearby street sign: "It seems I must use action to shatter certain fools' delusions."

"Your Majesty!" A frantic voice came from behind her.

The Queen of the Sun turned in surprise and saw Shōhei, clutching his abdomen, stumbling toward her. She tilted her head: "You. The mad dog who lunged at me at the sea base. You're persistent, aren't you?"

Shōhei spoke urgently: "Your Majesty, I won't give up. I must awaken your original dream within your heart."

The Queen of the Sun glared at him: "What the hell are you talking about?"

Shōhei glanced at Kui, struggling in the artillery fire: "Can't you feel my pain? Can't you hear Kui's cries? Remember!"

The Queen of the Sun looked utterly exasperated: "Have I visited your mother so often that you've deluded yourself into thinking I owe you the same indulgence as a father?"

Look—this is the kind of soldier Qi Ming has trained.

Beside her, Mikoto Tachibana, hearing her sovereign utter such vulgar words, blushed and covered her face.

Shōhei was stunned, but forced himself to rally, growling low:

"We once shared Kui's heart—we felt its sorrow!"

"Didn't you once want to save it? Didn't you refuse to let anyone die in war?"

"Change back, Your Majesty! Remember your wish for peace. Return to your true self."

At these words, Captain Senra and the other two tensed, watching the Queen of the Sun.

She narrowed her eyes: "Peaceful wish… my true self."

Seeing this, Shōhei believed his heartfelt plea had worked—he beamed and reached out to take her hand again.

The Queen of the Sun also extended her hand toward him.

"Slap!" A sharp crack split the air.

She struck him hard—his body spun like a whipped top, then crashed to the ground like a discarded sack.

The three of Senra's team stared, stunned by this sudden turn.

The Queen of the Sun calmly brushed her hand, looking down at the pitiful Shōhei with clear revulsion:

"What an utterly senseless fool. I already know everything about the past from Senra and the others."

"The thought that a hopelessly stupid idiot once occupied my body makes me feel cursed."

"That thing couldn't even grasp basic logic, yet dared to preach about saving this and changing that—never asking what kind of waste it was!"

"Fortunately, Lord Qi Ming completely erased 'that thing.' Otherwise, 'I' would never have had the chance to set things right. It's time the imperial bloodline fulfilled its true purpose!"

She outright rejected everything about the "original Queen of the Sun," cursing her more viciously and bitterly than Qi Ming himself.

Hearing these words, Shōhei's heart turned to ice.

His Queen of the Sun—she was truly gone.

This realization shattered the belief that had sustained him these days—he fainted again.

The casually dressed Queen of the Sun paid him no mind. She walked straight toward Kui, speaking over her shoulder:

"Whether someone should die in war is a profound question. But my simple values tell me: those who start wars and cause death must be held accountable!"

With that, the Queen of the Sun walked onto the battlefield.

……………………………………

Dr. Saisai watched his last remaining Balsibup army fall one after another—his heart bled.

What went wrong? Why hasn't the Queen of the Sun appeared? Looks like I'll have to retreat for now…

At that moment, his little robot Padir said, "Look quickly, my friend—the Queen of Amaterasu is coming! She couldn't possibly ignore Kuiin's cries; she's going to save it!"

Dr. Caiqi immediately fixed his gaze in the direction Padir pointed, seeing the Queen of Amaterasu walking steadily toward Kuiin, leaning on her cane.

"Vast spirit of the tree, mysterious source of life—awaken! Devour my flesh, drink my blood, merge with me!"

The next instant, light burst forth, and the divine warrior appeared once more, standing firm upon the battlefield.

"Cease fire immediately." Xi Xi Tiao Ning ordered from nearby, and the tanks fell silent.

In his state as the divine warrior, the Queen of Amaterasu clearly heard the words within Kuiin's lament.

"Help me, help me, please help me—I don't want my children to die anymore."

"When I meet you, the world will change. A beautiful new world is about to dawn."

The divine warrior listened, then walked toward Kuiin: "Very well."

The next instant, the divine warrior crouched down and pressed against Kuiin.

Seeing this, Dr. Caiqi rejoiced inwardly.

Success—the divine warrior has finally taken the bait.

Kuiin thought the same, its poisoned tail beginning to stir restlessly.

The next instant…

"Snap!" From the divine warrior's arm shot a short blade, piercing straight into Kuiin's chest—striking first.

Kuiin's body stiffened.

The Queen of Amaterasu within the divine warrior let out a hearty laugh:

"You don't want your children to die? Then why not think of how many innocent lives your children have taken?"

"The world will change? I kill you, and yes—the world will change. Without monsters like you, the world will be far better!"

By the end, the Queen of Amaterasu's voice turned venomous; she thrust hard, driving the blade deeper.

Kuiin let out a cry—this time not feigned. The divine warrior's strike had grievously wounded it.

"What? How is this possible!" Dr. Caiqi was stunned by this sudden turn.

This… this isn't right!

Wasn't the foolishly kind Queen of Amaterasu supposed to walk right into the trap? How could she turn out like this?!

Seeing his scheme exposed, Kuiin had no choice but to erupt—he lashed his tail spike toward the divine warrior.

The Queen of Amaterasu had anticipated this; she kicked the tail spike aside, then unleashed the Farihad Beam once more—striking Kuiin squarely and sending him flying a hundred meters away!

The Queen of Amaterasu laughed boldly: "What a fated confrontation! Evil cannot triumph over good. You, vile creature born of darkness, are destined to die at the hands of my radiant power!"

With that, the divine warrior lunged at Kuiin as he struggled to rise, punching him again and again, each blow eliciting agonized howls.

This was the divine warrior, fully charged with battle spirit!

Dr. Caiqi felt his mind completely overwhelmed—am I even awake?

You're telling me this is the Queen of Amaterasu transformed into the divine warrior?

Wasn't the Queen of Amaterasu supposed to be dense and clueless? Wasn't she supposed to be easily fooled by pretty words? Wasn't she supposed to be sensitive, fragile, and weak?

What is this "wildly exhilarated" behavior?!

On the battlefield, the divine warrior reached out—and the cane crafted by Shikari and Agamus appeared in her hand.

The tip of the cane transformed, sharpening into a blade. The Queen of Amaterasu raised her voice: "Use this—to cut off Kuiin's head!"

(End of Chapter)