Chapter 6: Six-Star Grant

After tapping four buttons four times each and turning the dial four clicks clockwise, the manual appeared on the dial.

The content left Qi Ming, always composed, frozen in shock.

The watch’s name is the [Ultraman Arbitrary Button], a device integrating multiple functions: user transformation, DNA extraction, and life energy conversion.

It classifies powerful lifeforms into four tiers: S, A, B, C.

When a lifeform dies, its life energy can be converted into a special energy called [Star Grant].

Alternatively, it can be analyzed and stored in the watch, allowing the user to later consume [Star Grant] to swell into immense energy for transformation.

C-tier is 1 point, B-tier is 3 points, A-tier is 6 points, S-tier is 10 points—conversion and consumption are identical.

The deceased Garula yielded 3 points of Star Grant, indicating it was classified as B-tier by the Arbitrary Button.

Due to residual life energy, the first analysis allows transformation without consuming [Star Grant], so Qi Ming could transform into Ultraman Tiga three days ago without cost.

Similarly, his next transformation into Ultraman Seven will also incur no cost.

The integration threshold is 60%, not the 100% Qi Ming originally assumed.

“Take Tiga as an example: 60% means a composite Tiga capable of freely switching three forms for three minutes. Then 70% must be the ‘Shining Chu Form’ seen against the second-generation Gilaoid, and 100% is Shining?”

Qi Ming turned the dial to the final page and saw the ultimate function.

“Consume ten points of Star Grant to initiate [Star Gathering]. The Ultraman Arbitrary Button will autonomously search infinite dimensions for powerful lifeforms, extract their DNA, with uncertain integration levels.”

In plain terms, it’s a gacha pull.

Using that “two-character mobile game” as an example, this scenario might occur:

“Whoa, I pulled a 15% one-shot Yefu—right now I’m just a white ball. Doesn’t matter; let the enemy unleash everything they’ve got. The harder they hit, the better.”

“Look, I pulled a 75% four-star Gaia—watch me transform into the Supreme and smash you all to pieces.”

“Wow, I pulled a 100% full-star Hyper Zetton—now I must immediately destroy every gasoline barrel on Earth.”

Yet, given that this [Ultraman Arbitrary Button] could breach dimensional walls, Qi Ming was certain it had brought him to this chaotic world.

Then where’s the return ticket? Do I need to pull a being with space-time abilities to teleport myself home?

Most intriguing was the final message left by the developer:

【I no longer need to create assassins. I wish to witness a hero who remains unwavering.】

【The Arbitrary Button won’t break, but use it gently—hard impacts trigger random mode.】

【Do what you believe is right, Morning Star.】

Qi Ming’s eyes flickered: “They even know my nickname. Are they an acquaintance? But sending me here without so much as a greeting is incredibly rude.”

…………………………

“This lazy bastard took three days off right after joining! Didn’t even show up for training or evaluation—does he plan to rot in his room? Has he no sense of discipline!”

In the Victory Team’s command room, Yamada complained, while Kishida nodded beside him in agreement.

Moroboshi wanted to discourage such divisive remarks: “Team Member Qi Ming has his own thoughts. I trust him—you should too.”

At that moment, the cold, detached Deputy Commander Nishijo spoke:

“Commander, your injuries are severe. You must not engage lightly going forward.”

“The replacement for the front line must be chosen carefully. Victory Team faces battlefields of blood and sacrifice—there’s no room for decorative ornaments.”

Moroboshi had intended to say, “Trust him—he’s a comrade you can safely entrust your back to,” but after a moment’s thought, he realized intuition wasn’t enough and changed his words to: “Let time give us the answer.”

As he finished speaking, the door opened and Team Member Megumi entered.

Her face still bore traces of astonishment: “I think I just saw the ‘just good-looking’ Team Member Qi Ming you mentioned—he’s running in the gym, and a crowd’s gathered around him.”

“Running?” Kishida sneered. “What kind of training is that? Trying to run faster in battle?”

“That’s not the point,” Megumi raised her voice. “The point is he’s not just handsome—he can disperse panicked crowds? Normal girls will freeze just looking at him.”

Yamada asked: “Including you?”

Megumi immediately denied: “Not me.”

Nishijo thought carefully and said: “This is indeed a problem.”

“I’ll go talk to him.” Moroboshi hobbled toward the gym, where Qi Ming had just finished his daily exercise.

Moroboshi asked: “How do you feel? Are you comfortable here?”

Qi Ming sighed: “I wanted to convince myself this was a dream—when I woke up, I’d be back where I started—but my body tells me everything is real.”

Moroboshi: “Changes?”

Qi Ming said: “This was my twenty-fifth lap, yet I’m not tired at all—my speed is much faster than before.”

Moroboshi was stunned: one lap in the gym was four hundred meters—twenty-five laps meant he’d just run ten kilometers!

Qi Ming explained he used to mimic a manga character: daily routines of one hundred pull-ups, one hundred push-ups, one hundred sit-ups, plus ten kilometers of running.

Unless something extraordinary happened, he stuck to it—exhausting, but satisfying upon completion.

Now, he felt no fatigue at all; he sensed boundless strength surging through his meridians.

He looked at the Arbitrary Button on his right wrist and recalled Kyoji’s words from [Ultraman Jack]: “Ultraman’s power is working in me.”

“This is good,” Moroboshi said cheerfully, telling Qi Ming it was time to join the flight training.

Qi Ming: “Flight training—piloting Hien One?”

He had flown a simple water rescue aircraft in Britain, but fighter jets were far more complex, requiring substantial time—he saw no need.

“Can’t we simplify the process: monster appears—I fly a fighter to intercept—the fighter gets shot down—I transform into Ultraman at the last moment—into one direct step?” Qi Ming planned to join ground forces, making transformation more convenient.

Moroboshi hesitated: “But other team members will think you’re avoiding duty—they’ll object.”

Qi Ming: “Their opinions don’t matter. If we truly want to preserve peace, we should focus our energy on more important things.”

He asked: “Commander, you’re injured and can’t transform—why not ask your brothers from the Land of Light to help?”

In [Ultraman Mebius], Taro replaced Mebius, who was “currently lacking power.”

In [Ultraman Taro], your six Ultraman brothers even had time to come to Earth for barbecue.

You’re crippled and can’t fight—can’t you just send a brother to relieve or assist you?

Moroboshi hesitated: “My comrades from home are fighting justice elsewhere. Besides, I came to Earth as a ‘planetary observer’—some of the things I do here are hard to explain to them.”

Are the other Ultraman brothers too busy? But in [Ultraman Taro], you all seemed awfully relaxed when you came to Earth for barbecue.

Still, Qi Ming understood—this world was full of demons and monsters; perhaps the Land of Light was equally occupied fighting cosmic threats.

Qi Ming had many questions ready to discuss with Moroboshi: where are your Capsule Monsters? Did they get flushed down the toilet with Toki Rabbit?

And our team has too many pests—should we clean house? How’s the assembly progress on the Tiga statue…

The next moment, alarms blared—a sudden incident occurred. All Victory Team members rushed to the command room.

(End of Chapter)