Chapter 399: 394 Ye Fu and the Fastest and Strongest Max (Requesting Monthly Votes)

Four years ago, Qi Ming took advantage of a holiday and, driven by the idea that "within a limited life, one should experience as much wonder as possible," traveled to France.

But he had barely finished touring the Palace of Versailles when he was targeted.

A local "young lady" with powerful connections launched an intense pursuit of him.

Qi Ming casually brushed her off with "I have no interest in that," never expecting the "young lady" would refuse to give up.

From that day on, Qi Ming's holiday plans were severely disrupted.

He went to an aquarium and found only himself and the "young lady" as visitors; she shadowed him everywhere, forcing a two-person world.

After booking a hotel, he discovered the "young lady" was staying next door, saying he was welcome to visit her anytime.

At the Gallic Amusement Park, after getting off a roller coaster, the "young lady" said, "That was thrilling, let's make it even more thrilling," and moved in to kiss him—Qi Ming desperately dodged.

Too awful. Too suffocating.

How could he enjoy himself? His long-awaited trip had been ruined beyond recognition.

But she hadn't broken any laws—everything was just "coincidence."

Hui Mei: "Is it really that extreme…?"

Aizen Makoto: "Is she really that forward?"

Qi Ming: "At least more open than back home."

Aizen Makoto: "Is that woman ugly?"

Qi Ming thought for a moment: "About half as attractive as Hui Mei."

Aizen Makoto: "Then she's still decent."

Qi Ming made a disgusted face:

"What's decent about her? She's a mess—I don't want anything to do with a woman like that."

"Most importantly, I hate this feeling—she's using her power to force me to kneel."

He prepared to strike back.

That night, the "young lady" saw Qi Ming's door ajar—she assumed he had finally "surrendered," and joyfully pushed inside.

The next instant, a bucket of paint tipped over from above—it was the permanent body paint Qi Ming had bought that day at an art supply store, requiring a special solvent to remove.

Qi Ming, already waiting, filmed it with his phone: "Wow, it's a rainbow unicorn!"

As the "young lady" screamed and bolted out, Qi Ming slipped out the window and fled the hotel.

Under cover of night, he escaped surveillance, left France, and uploaded the video titled "Rainbow Socialite" to YouTube.

Since then, Qi Ming has never returned to France.

Shoxing Tuan mused: "So you've developed trauma, then?"

Qi Ming: "Trauma's an exaggeration—I just have a subconscious aversion to such frivolous behavior. But later, I had other thoughts."

Nishijo Nagi: "Other thoughts?"

Qi Ming: "Mainly responsibility—if I truly had a partner, I'd have to take on the duties of being a husband and a father."

"But I'm perfectly happy and comfortable alone—romance would only distract me from my path as a wanderer… Never mind, let's drop it."

Shoxing Tuan understood Qi Ming's meaning and nodded—he himself had delayed confessing to Annu for the same reason.

The topic returned to Karimira. Qi Ming said that if she were willing to become a comrade-in-arms against evil like Nishijo Nagi, he'd gladly accept—she still had B-rank potential.

But was Karimira that kind of person?

Her lust for him was utterly unhidden—she'd inevitably cross boundaries. Shoxing Tuan: "But she's clearly fond of you. Why not spend more time with her? Try appealing to her emotions, reason with her, and redirect her thinking?"

Qi Ming: "Impossible. Enough said. It's time for Star Gathering—who's up?"

Hui Mei raised her hand: "Me!"

Qi Ming: "Alright, Hui Mei, it's yours!"

As Hui Mei pressed the button, all four buttons of the Ultraman Selector simultaneously fired a green laser; the four beams converged into a glowing screen.

The screen displayed a scene.

On an open field, an Ultraman with a crimson body, orange-yellow eyes, and armored chest and shoulders fired a beam at a massive monster resembling a brown, withered tree, reducing it to fragments.

Qi Ming's eyes widened: "That's… Max, the fastest and strongest Ultraman! He's using his ultimate technique, 【Makushium Cannon】… Oh no."

The next instant, the shattered pieces of the monster reassembled; after a flash of purple light, its form changed—from quadrupedal to bipedal, more monstrous than before.

Qi Ming: "That's… Ye Fu. It evolved into its fourth form."

The Star Gathering scene was from Episode 15 of Ultraman Max, "The Miracle of the Third Planet."

The next moment, Ye Fu formed its hands into an L-shape and fired a beam of its own, blasting Max away.

Watching Max fall, Gagura asked: "Is this… really the fastest and strongest?"

Qi Ming: "No choice—he's up against an unbeatable foe. In direct combat, anyone would struggle. Remember Ye Fu? I told you about it."

Shoxing Tuan: "Ye Fu—the immortal, invincible lifeform that absorbs all attacks and evolves? You said it was a white ball."

Qi Ming: "Here, Ye Fu absorbed two or three attacks and evolved."

This is why Max, despite his immense power, constantly fights brutal battles—his enemies are terrifyingly strong.

The next moment, the Star Gathering camera locked onto the fallen Max, then the screen faded.

The dial spun, and Max's silhouette appeared on the Selector.

Ultraman Max.

Integration: 60%.

Rating: B-rank.

On this day, the Ultraman Selector gained access to Ultraman Max, transformable with three Star Gifts, with overall power just shy of A-rank.

Stunning strength and speed, the ultimate technique 【Makushium Cannon】 capable of annihilating enemies at the molecular level, and an absurdly long health bar!

The king of B-rank value!

"I recall Ultraman Max has a skill that lets him grow to three hundred meters—surely that state would be A-rank."

"Would the Max transformed via the Selector still be limited to one minute of activity?"

……………………………………

Meanwhile, in outer space.

A crimson figure appeared in Earth's orbit—it was Apeman, the one Qi Ming had previously driven off.

It had returned.

"The strongest Ultra Beast is about to be born. I'll use it to conquer this planet before the other Three Kings, and present it to His Majesty!"

Yet despite this, it decided to first assess the current level of Earth's Ultraman warriors before formulating a plan.

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Requesting monthly votes.

(End of Chapter)