Chapter 96: 92 Dialogue with Fujimiya, Hikari vs. Bajarug

The next instant, something stunned everyone at TPC.

Lagon, who had just chased after Hiyami No. 1 for hundreds of meters in anger, suddenly jolted—as if summoned by an invisible force—and turned back toward the offshore base.

“How could this happen!” the others cried in shock; this defied all logic.

Qi Ming thought of the TPC members still trapped inside the base, gritted his teeth, and spun the dial, preparing to transform into Melba.

“If I rush over and seize the atomic bomb, even Nagi Nishijo won’t dare attack me,” he thought.

Just as Qi Ming was about to act, a figure stepped into his line of sight.

Dressed in black, slender and tall, he stood on the shore gazing at Lagon, his handsome face twisted with mockery.

It was Fujimiya Hiroya!

He appeared before me now… of all times?

Qi Ming steadied himself, paused a moment, then walked toward him: “A wormhole appeared over Tokyo; Earth monsters are fighting the Destruction Bringers on the front lines. As the will of the ocean, won’t Agul help?”

The situation had erupted suddenly; he had no solid evidence ready, and it would be hard to convince the stubborn Fujimiya to change his mind.

So he didn’t expect Fujimiya—now fiercely hostile toward humans—to help at all. He just hoped Fujimiya wouldn’t take advantage of the chaos.

“You know about Agul?” Fujimiya stared at Qi Ming, his expression shifting slightly.

Qi Ming pulled back the sleeve covering the Arbitrary Key: “You’re not the only one special. This Earth gave me power too.”

Fujimiya fixed his gaze on the Arbitrary Key on Qi Ming’s wrist: “That red giant before—was it you?”

Qi Ming: “I call him Gaia Ultraman.”

Fujimiya: “Gaia… what’s your name?”

“Qi Ming.”

Fujimiya: “Qi Ming… from Shenzhou?”

He wasn’t surprised. His former “Alchemic Star” had been highly international, gathering geniuses from every nation on Earth—including prodigies from Shenzhou.

Fujimiya got to the point: “Qi Ming, simply defeating the enemy before you isn’t enough. You must use your power more effectively.”

Here it comes—now he’s going to lecture me with the same nonsense he used to pull on Iruma in Ultraman Gaia.

Qi Ming chuckled: “You don’t mean eliminating all of humanity to save the Earth, do you?”

Fujimiya’s gaze sharpened: “You know more than I thought.”

Qi Ming: “I know far more than you do—and you yourself can’t even firmly believe that conclusion. It’s wrong.”

Fujimiya fell silent for a moment, then spoke with rising emotion: “Humanity overexploits Earth’s resources, pollutes its environment, and constantly stains the planet with filth.”

“That’s why I received Agul!”

He looked at Lagon, swimming toward the TPC base with the atomic bomb on his back: “This is humanity’s own sin—and humanity must bear the consequences.”

“Ultramen are merely Earth’s guardians. We have no obligation to save such humans!”

Qi Ming responded clearly, rebutting point by point:

“First, the rocket carrying the atomic bomb fell into the sea because of the [Heavenly Realm] sent by the Destruction Bringers.”

“Second, the Defense Force shares some blame—but why should TPC bear it all? You don’t support collective punishment, do you?”

“Third, don’t let the Destruction Bringers mislead you into dragging me into your delusion. Next time, I’ll prove I’m right.”

Fujimiya glanced at the “TPC” insignia on Qi Ming’s Victory Team uniform and sneered: “Wake up, quickly.”

Neither could convince the other. Fujimiya finally turned and walked away.

For Qi Ming, getting rid of him for now was enough.

At that moment, Lagon, carrying the atomic bomb, had reached within a hundred meters of the base. Most personnel still inside turned pale with terror—the situation was critical.

With Fujimiya no longer a distraction, Qi Ming was about to transform into Melba—when the atomic bomb on Lagon’s back suddenly floated upward and flew toward the horizon.

“Captain Moroboshi is using Ultraman psychic power to move the atomic bomb!” Qi Ming realized at once.

The urgency forced Moroboshi to use psychic power that drained his lifespan.

“Shhh!” Just as everyone thought death was retreating, another monster—round and ball-like—soared from the sky and seized the atomic bomb as it flew away.

It was Kendoros—the plant monster from the original Ultraman Leo series, invading Earth from space!

“The Blade Grass is destroyed—without weapons, how dare it come? Doesn’t it fear being kicked like a ball?” Qi Ming gasped.

Both Lagon and Kendoros had come here—why, simultaneously?

The next moment, Qi Ming got his answer.

Purple light erupted skyward, revealing a familiar, monstrous silhouette before them.

Bajarug, appeared.

“So it’s this thing that summoned Lagon and Kendoros!”

Not just Qi Ming—everyone at TPC had witnessed Bajarug’s cruelty.

It had devoured monsters and humans before, brutally violent—a foe that must be destroyed.

Nagi Nishijo immediately redirected fire; the tip of Hiyami No. 1’s cannon blasted toward Bajarug—but the effect was negligible.

After their last battle on Oulongdao, it must have consumed more monsters or space beings on this planet rich in “biological” and “human” resources—it had grown stronger!

Bajarug had suffered from the Defense Force’s conventional weapons before; it knew it couldn’t digest atomic energy easily, so it temporarily ignored Kendoros holding the bomb and turned its target toward the sea ape Lagon.

“Swish!” Its tail shot out dozens of meters, locking tightly onto Lagon, pulling it closer to devour it and absorb more energy.

“Shhh!” At the same moment, a blue beam rose from the sea surface.

As the beam dissipated, a blue giant clad in armor appeared.

Qi Ming’s eyes widened: “Ultraman Hikari… no—this form is [Hunter Knight Sword]!”

Moroboshi, still trying to use Ultraman psychic power to wrest the atomic bomb from Kendoros, froze at the sight of Hikari’s form.

The next instant, Hikari raised his right hand, adorned with the Knight's aura, concentrated all his energy, crossed his arms into a cross shape, and fired a blue beam at the bound Lagon.

It was his ultimate attack: [Knight Beam]!

“Boom!” Struck by the Knight Beam, Lagon stiffened, then exploded into fragments—killed instantly.

His intended “meal” destroyed again, Bajarug turned murderous eyes toward Hikari.

Kida: “This blue giant can fire beams too—he must be an Ultraman too!”

Yamana: “Great! Looks like this Ultraman’s here to help us—we can rest easy now.”

Nagi Nishijo’s expression hardened: “No… is he insane?!”

Hikari gathered energy again—and fired the Knight Beam at Kendoros, still clutching the atomic bomb!

This was Hikari during his Hunter Knight Sword phase—obsessed with revenge against Bajarug, utterly indifferent to others’ lives!

If the beam struck Kendoros, the atomic bomb it held would surely detonate under such violent impact.

Whether Bajarug would die was uncertain—but the offshore base and everyone inside would be obliterated!

(End of Chapter)