Chapter 61: 59 The Amazing World, True Symbiosis (Please Follow!)

Qi Ming was also puzzled.

The cloud cluster where the Lightning People lived was descending toward the ground—was Gazort about to emerge?

But according to photos taken by Dr. Mizuno, who had returned alive, the Lightning People inside the cloud were still in their original, unmutated state.

“Captain, let’s go investigate together,” Qi Ming said.

He planned to charge straight into the cloud cluster, pairing with Sho Sei Dan, so they could transform easily if anything unexpected happened.

Sho Sei Dan: “Alright.”

“They’ve made up?” Watching the two depart, Emi mused.

Soon, Sho Sei Dan’s Flyer One approached the cloud cluster—the scene before them made Qi Ming even more confused.

In the original Ultraman Tiga series, the cloud where the mutated Gazort appeared was a sinister black mass.

But the massive cloud ahead was pure white, harmless in appearance.

Qi Ming: “With me here, there’s no need to fear—charge straight in.”

Sho Sei Dan: “Alright.”

After entering the cloud, nothing happened.

“They’re the Lightning People—they haven’t mutated,” Qi Ming, with his exceptional vision, saw through the cockpit window the floating lifeforms beneath the dark sky.

Sho Sei Dan nodded, about to speak—when suddenly, the radar failed.

Sho Sei Dan gasped: “Impossible—the radio waves are being absorbed!”

At the same time, communication between Flyer One and the Victory Team command center was severely disrupted, rendering dialogue impossible.

Radio waves being absorbed?

Qi Ming froze—then saw a image appear on Flyer One’s display.

The image showed… a top-down view of Flyer One flying through the cloud!

Qi Ming: “Captain, circle around.”

Sho Sei Dan obeyed—the image showed Flyer One spinning in place… this was live streaming!

Somewhere in the sky, a camera was broadcasting Flyer One’s every movement in real time.

“What’s above us!” Sho Sei Dan maneuvered Flyer One upward—but above them was only thick cloud.

Qi Ming fell into thought—he felt he’d seen this before…

“Something’s wrong—let’s get out of here,” Sho Sei Dan pulled Flyer One out of the cloud layer; soon, radar and communication returned to normal.

“Captain, Flyer One just went global!” Yamada’s voice crackled over the comms.

Qi Ming: “Global?”

Emi said that just moments ago, every television, internet-connected phone, and computer worldwide had been forcibly switched to the spinning image of Flyer One.

Kishida analyzed: “The cloud layer must have emitted powerful radio waves, picked up by communication satellites, then rebroadcast worldwide—so everyone everywhere saw this footage.”

“It’s him!” At those words, Qi Ming finally understood—he wanted to test his theory: “Captain, let’s go back!”

Sho Sei Dan didn’t understand, but obeyed.

Flyer One plunged back into the cloud, making a sudden return—the front lights illuminated the creature that could convert visible scenes into broadcast radio waves.

Green skin, three enormous circular eyes, its body bristling with sharp spines.

This was the radio monster [Piken] from episode 21 of Ultraman Jack, “Monster Channel”!

A cosmic monster living in the ionosphere, feeding on radio waves, capable of absorbing all radio waves within a one-kilometer radius.

But Piken was dwelling inside the cloud where the Lightning People lived…

Of course—in the original series, both lived in the ionosphere; in this merged world, their habits hadn’t changed, so they naturally became neighbors.

“Now I understand why the Lightning People didn’t mutate into Gazort—Piken sucked up all the harmful electromagnetic waves, so the Lightning People weren’t affected.” At that moment, Qi Ming marveled at the evolution of this “mixed bag” world, sensing a touch of divine craftsmanship.

This was true symbiosis!

Still, some mysteries remained unsolved.

In the original Ultraman Jack series, Piken was no benevolent creature—it once destroyed a large commercial airliner with its destructive eye beams, and used its camera eyes and antenna-like spines on its back to broadcast the plane’s destruction worldwide.

Yet now, Piken merely watched Flyer One silently, showing no sign of aggression.

“And why is the cloud descending toward the ground?”

“Is Piken heading for a city rich in radio waves to feast—and the Lightning People have no choice but to follow?”

“Why now, of all times?”

After a brief standoff, seeing Piken still made no move, Sho Sei Dan and Qi Ming withdrew from the cloud again.

Communication resumed—Kishida’s anxious voice came through: “Bad news—a strange monster has appeared in downtown Tokyo!”

The image arrived—Qi Ming recognized it at once: the Two-Tailed Monster.

It hatched now? Then Kudon must be appearing soon too.

Yamada: “Why is it coming out at night? Doesn’t this monster sleep?!”

Nami Nishijo: “The real problem is everyone’s in deep sleep—evacuation is nearly impossible. If this monster starts destroying things, casualties will be severe!”

Sho Sei Dan immediately said: “Nishijo, Kishida, Yamada—take Victory Flyer Two out. Qi Ming and I are heading there now.”

He cut the comms, then shouted to Qi Ming in the back: “Qi Ming, time is life—every second someone could be snatched from their sleep. Only you can save them!”

Qi Ming turned the Ultraman Selector dial: “Actually, Captain, if you didn’t call Nishijo ‘Deputy Captain,’ I could transform into Melba and fly over there instantly.”

Neither Kudon nor the Two-Tailed Monster had aerial capabilities—Qi Ming believed he could transform into Melba, free of transformation delay, and fire lasers from above to slowly wear them down.

But Nishijo was present—she’d inevitably attack every monster regardless of warnings… so the first free Melba transformation would have to wait.

“Kudon and the Two-Tailed Monster aren’t that strong—Tiga can handle them.”

Just as Qi Ming was about to tap the dial, Sho Sei Dan let out a soft sound of surprise: “The cloud’s following us.”

Qi Ming turned—behind them, the cloud carrying the Lightning People and Piken was right on their tail.

Sho Sei Dan: “It didn’t attack us during the standoff—why is it following us now?”

Qi Ming’s expression shifted slightly: “Maybe it’s not following us—maybe our paths just coincide.”

Is Piken heading for the Two-Tailed Monster too?

Though both monsters originated from Ultraman Jack, one lived in the sea, the other in the sky—they had zero interaction in the original series.

Qi Ming couldn’t fathom it—but unusual events always conceal danger; he had to take this seriously.

He turned the dial again—the silhouette of Gaia appeared on the screen.

“Gaia!” He cried out involuntarily, slamming the dial.

Instantly, a brilliant red light blazed, illuminating the pitch-black night sky.

Gaia in V1 form emerged, stretched his arms, and shot rapidly toward the Two-Tailed Monster’s location.

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(End of Chapter)