Chapter 393

Meanwhile, in the Victori Sanctum.

The Victori had discovered that the Defense Force was using unmanned drilling machines to extract Victori ore, and were now discussing countermeasures.

"Perhaps the people on the surface don't know that Victori ore is our lifeline—go and negotiate with them."

"But what if they harbor ill intent? What then?"

At that moment, the Nongmarte people, who had just suffered a crushing defeat in Antarctica, returned once more.

They denounced humanity for extending its demonic claws toward the Victori Sanctum, hoping to form an alliance to eradicate humanity from Earth.

"Humanity is inherently cruel and aggressive—they once invaded us Nongmarte, and now they seek to invade Victori!"

In response, Queen Qishara lost her patience and issued a forceful order to expel all the Nongmarte.

After the meeting, 【Xiang】 couldn't help asking: "Your Majesty, what exactly happened in the past?"

He didn't want to fight with unanswered questions.

Queen Qishara pondered for a moment, then took him before the Sacred Beast 【Xie Xie Padun】: "Xie Xie Padun also lived through those events."

She began to recount the truth.

Thousands of years ago, the glorious and powerful Nongmarte, seeking to crush a potential threat in its cradle, launched a massive massacre against the nascent human civilization, aiming to exterminate humanity.

The result was a dimensional strike by righteous forces, leaving them severely weakened.

This matched exactly the history presented by Renlong.

After hearing this, 【Xiang】 widened his eyes.

So the Nongmarte were the ones who started the war? Then their defeat was entirely deserved!

And yet they still brazenly claimed to be victims, twisting facts and blaming humanity for its cruelty—wasn't this the thief crying "Stop thief!"?

【Xiang】: "I understand—the Nongmarte got what they deserved. But why didn't we help humanity back then?"

Queen Qishara: "..."

How could she delicately tell this child that the Victori Sanctum had been embroiled in a civil war at the time?

She could only skillfully shift the topic, asking 【Xiang】 how to stop humanity from further mining Victori ore.

【Xiang】 thought for a moment: "Last time, Ultraman Ultraman Gaiya said if we had problems, we could find him. Since not all humans are the same, I'll go see what he has to say."

………………………………

Meanwhile, at the Tear Altar where Renlong resided, Qi Ming and the other two had learned the truth, and their expressions varied.

Zhuxingtuan marveled at humanity's arduous journey, saying they had overcome countless perils over millennia to build today's glorious civilization—truly remarkable.

He also felt disgust toward the Nongmarte for distorting facts and playing the victim.

Hikari fell into thought: "Perhaps in their eyes, their mistake wasn't starting the war—it was losing it."

They didn't oppose war—they only opposed losing it.

The more Qi Ming thought, the darker his expression became.

The village near the Diga Pyramid—that's the one from Ultraman Tiga's "The Ancient Giant Awakens," isn't it?

He remembered clearly: the village chief was an ancestor of Director Sawai, and the witch was an ancestor of Captain Kusaka.

The ancestors of Deputy Commander Sōhō and Officer Horiishi were mostly there too!

If the Nongmarte hadn't carried out the massacre, the TPC Qi Ming met might have been led by Director Sawai himself!

If Director Sawai had been in charge, the TPC directorship would never have gone to Tsuchibashi—his abilities were nowhere near Sawai's.

Maybe even without Sawai, Director Takaoka, equally hawkish, could have handled him alone.

Truly, good people die young, while evil thrives for millennia!

"The more I think, the more it hurts! Renlong, tell me the Nongmarte's stronghold—I'll send Victory Feiyan One to blow them all to smithereens!"

As soon as Qi Ming finished speaking, Renlong's main dragon head turned toward another door in the Tear Altar.

One minute later, over a dozen figures entered—these were the last surviving Nongmarte on Earth!

"You!" Seeing Qi Ming, the Nongmarte were stunned.

Having just been rebuffed at the Victori Sanctum, they had come here seeking Renlong's aid—only to run into Qi Ming.

Qi Ming spoke softly: "You came here to twist the truth before Renlong, just as you did before? Too late."

"I've shown Renlong the evidence of your collusion with aliens to destroy Earth's environment. I've also learned the truth from Renlong."

The lead Nongmarte stared at Qi Ming: "Now that you know the truth, aren't you ashamed?"

This righteous tone left Zhuxingtuan and Hikari speechless.

Ashamed?

Shouldn't it be you who feels shame—for the crimes you committed by starting the war, for distorting the facts now?

Why should humanity feel ashamed?

Even the two Ultras from the Land of Light believed humanity's retaliation was legitimate self-defense.

The Nongmarte spoke confidently:

"The conflict between humanity and the Nongmarte was originally an internal Earth matter. Survival of the fittest—that's the eternal natural law of Earth!"

"But you used alien power to break the balance, won the war through such means—you started it, so don't blame us for finishing it!"

Qi Ming: "?"

He suddenly recalled the words of the Nongmarte who had confronted him after his battle with Gaudeler: "Didn't Earthlings often bring in outside help during war?"

So "bringing in outside help" meant this?

The descendants of the Superancients, who disapproved of your brutality and chose to aid the Earthlings of that era, are now called "using alien power"?

Qi Ming: "The ancestors of those 'aliens' lived on Earth thirty million years ago—their roots are deeper than yours."

The Nongmarte looked disgusted: "But they abandoned Earth long ago! It was we Nongmarte who took up the duty of protecting Earth!"

Qi Ming no longer wished to argue.

Perhaps it was due to different races, different thought patterns, different values.

Perhaps after repeating lies so often, the Nongmarte had come to believe themselves the victims.

Even after starting the war and losing, they still spun elaborate justifications to preserve their legitimacy.

Amazing.

But this absurd logic did fit the Nongmarte's original character design.

In Ultraman Imaginary Saiwen, the Nongmarte believed humanity's expansion into the oceans was a threat, so they sent a child named 【Shinichi】 as their messenger to warn humanity.

Their warning method was absurd—the child approached Officer Annu during her vacation and said, "Stop exploring the ocean depths. Halt now, or disaster will strike. Please, I'm serious."

Then he ran off. Before Zhuxingtuan and Annu could analyze his words, two minutes later the Nongmarte destroyed the Sea Horse and the underwater base—giving no time for reaction.

If you knew Zhuxingtuan was Imaginary Saiwen, why not just approach him directly with evidence?

You used children as bait to assassinate soldiers, carried out terrorist attacks... forcing Imaginary Saiwen to fight the octopus monster.

In Ultraman Imaginary Saiwen OV, the Nongmarte's behavior became even more absurd.

They approached Imaginary Saiwen again, speaking in riddles: "The coffins being delivered to your base contain humanity's true face—go find out."

Their actions caused Imaginary Saiwen's identity to be exposed. When Commander He Zhi tried to kill Imaginary Saiwen while he couldn't transform, the Nongmarte did nothing. When Imaginary Saiwen escaped with his teammates' help to uncover the truth, the Nongmarte reappeared and said: "I thought you could uncover the secret, but I've decided to no longer rely on you."

Then they unleashed a monster to cause destruction...

What else could you call this but insanity?

Better not communicate with lunatics—lest they drag you down to their level and defeat you with their experience.

He took a deep breath, drew the Victory Hyper Gun: "Since reason won't work, let's talk in a way you'll understand better."

He pointed the gun at the lead Nongmarte.

The latter showed no fear, smug and unshaken: "Look where you are—you dare act recklessly before Renlong?"

Qi Ming said nothing, and pulled the trigger.

"Shhh!" A laser shot pierced the Nongmarte's skull.

"You..." His body slumped heavily into a pool of blood, life fading.

At this act, the other dozen Nongmarte were thrown into panic, instinctively retreating.

Blood stained the Tear Altar—he had dared to kill within Renlong's sacred ground, defying Renlong's dignity!

Yet when they turned to Renlong, they found not punishment, but a stern gaze fixed upon them.

What was happening?

The Nongmarte panicked.

Qi Ming, expressionless, fired again—another Nongmarte fell, terrified.

"No good! He wants to kill us all! Let's fight him! Zabanji, come save us!"

At the Nongmarte's desperate cries, the ground cracked open, revealing a colossal creature.

Armored headgear, a prominent horn, a chest emblem bearing the Nongmarte clan's crest.

This was Zabanji, the sacred beast worshipped by the Nongmarte—their last remaining asset.

In the original series, Zabanji had crushed Ultraman Imaginary Saiwen's Mekurulas and Uyndams with overwhelming power.

Facing the ferocious Zabanji, Qi Ming spoke calmly: "Earlier, when monsters appeared outside, Renlong couldn't intervene. Now it's right here—deal with it."

Renlong understood. The dragon pearl on its main head glowed, psychic energy activated, immobilizing Zabanji.

"What? He can command Renlong!" The Nongmarte stared, utterly disbelief.

With their final trump card neutralized, they were desperate.

The Nongmarte scrambled to flee, but Qi Ming gave them no chance—he fired calmly, each laser eliminating one after another.

Nine, eight, seven, six... the remaining Nongmarte dwindled rapidly.

"Qi Ming..." Zhuxingtuan watched this scene, wanting to speak, when Hikari placed a hand on his shoulder.

"This is an internal conflict of Earth's civilization; we should not interfere," Hikari said. "Let humanity and Ma Ma Erte settle this themselves."

Qi Ming turned his back on them, raised his right hand holding the Ultraman Arbitrary Key, and spoke calmly:

"Earth gave me the Ultraman Gaiya Light, hoping I would stand against those evil invaders."

"So naturally, I am entitled to judge from Earth's standpoint: who benefits Earth, and who must be eliminated."

"Humanity has repeatedly resisted alien invaders to protect this home of ours."

"But Ma Ma Erte stabbed us in the back—they are utterly wicked and deserve summary execution."

At this point, he had killed the last one.

"Hahaha, hahaha, we knew it would come to this," the final Ma Ma Erte suddenly burst into mad laughter.

Qi Ming reloaded his weapon and asked, "What, did you also know that invaders and spies would meet such an end?"

The last Ma Ma Erte laughed:

"Yes, we Ma Ma Erte did launch this war—but what makes you humans any better?"

"If we hadn't struck first, and let humanity grow stronger than us, wouldn't you have wanted to wipe us out? This planet cannot sustain two civilized races!"

"Look at the Native Americans… countless examples, and now you, who seek to exterminate us—doesn't that prove it?"

He stopped running, pointed his blood-smeared finger at Qi Ming:

"We admit defeat—but don't get too cocky!"

"You won not because of some laughable justice, but simply because your strength outmatches ours!"

"But someone stronger than you will come someday, to deliver justice and end you—hahaha, I've already seen that day! Ha…!"

Qi Ming tilted his head. "According to your logic, since racial war has nothing to do with justice or evil, why are you so indignant now?"

At these words, the last Ma Ma Erte's face froze.

Qi Ming asked: "You're still applying double standards, aren't you? You attacking others is fate, but others attacking you is evil, right?"

"I…" The Ma Ma Erte's face turned fearful.

He realized he couldn't outargue this human. Damn it—could he not even utter a stirring final testament for the great Ma Ma Erte race?

"Bang!" The next moment, Qi Ming fired decisively—the laser pierced his brain.

He collapsed heavily.

The last Ma Ma Erte was dead.

This meant the complete extinction of the race.

Qi Ming set down his gun, gazed at the blood-slicked ground, his expression calm.

"It's finally over."

————————————————

Ma Ma Erte, who had dominated the first million words of this novel, officially exits the stage.

In truth, I am more satisfied with the plot arrangement during the Antarctic battle than with this ending.

Like in "Mobile Fortress Cannot Rise," everyone played their part.

Shan Zhong saw Ultraman's peril; Gagula escorted Agamus to reboot the system; Hui Mei used O-waves to draw in Angulas.

The crew of the Atides supported Agul, while Zhuxingtuan and Hikari reclaimed the Barak ship.

Each move linked seamlessly, culminating in a united effort to create the opening Qi Ming needed to finish it.

Fortunately, the Star-Given Points restrained power inflation; otherwise, many of these classic scenes would have been lost.

Finally, please vote for monthly tickets!

(End of Chapter)