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I entrusted Hernarak with guarding the Dark Heart, but I never expected him to mess up even such a small matter. Tsk, well, I'll give him another chance.
With these thoughts in mind, the Dark Shadow Mage rushed towards Earth, unaware of the cruel twist of fate that awaited him.
Chapter 495 Leo: Something's not right
As a monster known as the God of Time and Space Destroyer, Saigan's strength is undoubtedly formidable. Its relatively strong physical defense and power, as well as its ability to distort time and space as a time-space monster, make it a powerful force to be reckoned with.
Unfortunately, their opponents are Nexus and ESCG. Although the mechanics at the armory often complain that the selection criteria for ESCG members are likely based on their ability to crash planes rather than their overall strength, no one really thinks that ESCG is useless except for crashing planes.
Although the number of enemies was large, they did not threaten the Earth's homeland, and this was not subspace, so the power of the Komon was not suppressed in any way.
Previously, when fighting MK2, they were always trapped in the subspace, and their power was suppressed. However, after being forced to fight MK2 in a weakened state time and time again, everyone's strength has grown significantly. Now, Komon can overpower his predecessor from a month ago.
Thus, the Saigans witnessed what a numerical monster was. Nexus was extremely agile in both aerial and space combat, flying directly in front of a Saigan and delivering a punch that completely pierced through it.
The explosive punch technique learned from Ultraman Tiga is best suited for dealing with tough enemies when energy is scarce. The only problem is that this move requires a very high level of energy control, and one must be able to precisely control the output and release of energy.
But as always, after fighting MK2 so many times, everyone is now thoroughly familiar with energy control. Seeing this, Leo couldn't help but feel that his training plan and all his hard work had not been in vain.
Since there have been obvious results, and Saigang has appeared today, the daily MK2 refresh task can be postponed. Let's give them a break. As for Raymond... let's assign him a Pedanim Jeton today.
Actually, it wasn't that Daigo and the others didn't want to transform, but it wasn't convenient to crash in space. These fighter jets, which were taken directly from the armory, didn't have time to be equipped with the Pal control system developed by Gamu, so they could only make do with what they had.
Fortunately, no matter how strong the enemy's defenses were, they couldn't withstand the Zelda bombs and the laser cannons powered by the Max system. Everyone also got to experience what it felt like to fight in a fighter jet for the first time in a long time.
Watching Daigo skillfully dodge the red lightning released from Sai's claws with a sideways maneuver, and then reduce Sai to cosmic dust with a single Zildar missile, Leo couldn't help but gasp in amazement. The physical abilities of Ultraman's human form were truly impressive.
If Shinjo saw this, he'd probably be incredibly frustrated. Daigo didn't act like this when he was with GUTS. Even the technicians, Gamu and Fujimiya, showed considerable cooperation.
Captain Stringman, piloting EXJ, easily dodged the spacetime-distorting beam fired by Saigang, and a laser beam struck Saigang's core directly in the chest, effortlessly eliminating him.
As a veteran of the defense force, Captain Stringman deeply remembers the set of experience passed down for many years: cut off the horns, cut off the tail, gag the mouth, and hit the glowing parts hard, which are either weak points or special organs.
No matter what kind of monster it is, as long as there is something particularly prominent in your eyes, just focus on that part and attack it. The most eye-catching thing about Saigang's body is the blue crystal on his chest, which looks just like Ultraman's color timer.
Captain Gale also performed exceptionally well. After all, the fighter jets currently deployed by TPC are far superior to the Flying Swallow No. 1 in maneuverability and far superior to the Flying Swallow No. 2 in firepower. Sai Gang couldn't hit them or beat them, which made him furious.
"This is Carlo Base, Gale. Captain Stringman, it seems your piloting skills haven't deteriorated yet. Last time, Grandpa Ye Hu complained a lot about the fighter jets you guys damaged. I thought you had already entered your early retirement period."
Captain Gale and Captain Gento are old comrades-in-arms. A few years ago, the two of them, along with Captain Megumi of the Victory Team, Ishimuro of the Night Raid Team, and several other famous figures, were all members of the Storm Assault Team.
"Ahem, those are all rumors, don't believe them." Stringman was also a little embarrassed. How come even Gale on the moon knew about this? It seems that Grandpa Ye Hu really harbors a lot of resentment. But at least Gale doesn't know that he used the excuse of falling and getting seriously injured in the toilet.
"You two, chatting on the battlefield isn't a good thing. These enemies are spacetime monsters. Everyone be careful to avoid the spacetime rifts created by the enemy, deploy the subspace barrier, and watch out for that big guy."
Leo casually remarked that although the Lunar Defense Force was supposed to be the first line of defense against cosmic invasion, their combat experience was not particularly rich, and not everyone could hit Saigang's core as accurately as Chordman and Hayate.
Saigang's strength is mainly reflected in its light, which creates spacetime rifts. Once you are caught in one, you are basically banished forever. The situation in the alternate dimension is complex and chaotic, with countless smaller spaces, and even Leo can't find anyone there.
If this were on Earth, Saigang's destructive power would be considerable. At that point, not only would Daigo and the others be affected, but Leo would also transform into a Goldler alien. However, this is outer space, so there's no need to be so tense.
Conversely, if a useful monster like Saigang can be used as a pawn to attract attention, what exactly is the Dark Shadow Mage up to this time? It can't be as simple as just the Carlo base.
"Captain Gale, has anything strange been happening at your Carlo base lately?"
"Strange thing?" Captain Gale, who had just dodged Saigang's attack, didn't understand why Leo was asking these questions, but after thinking about it, he said, "It's just that we retrieved an alien's corpse today, but we rushed over before we had a chance to examine it."
Wow, that's really something. They can just pick up alien corpses like that. Leo thought to himself that he'd better go and have a good chat at Carlo's base later.
The small serpents were quickly wiped out; dozens were soon reduced to just over a dozen. Even the larger serpent in charge of controlling them was dumbfounded. "Wait, how did this happen? These are serpents, not wild chickens from the roadside!"
However, in the eyes of Leo and the others, this was nothing out of the ordinary. Saigang had no light absorption ability, no subspace barrier, and his physical defense was not as good as Auguma's. He also did not have high-speed regeneration ability. What was so difficult about him? Did he really think that we Earth had wasted the last ten years?
Giff, from the planet Nereru, was completely dumbfounded. Although he had some idea of the combat strength of Earthlings, he was still greatly shocked to see that the other side could so easily kill so many Saigans.
Komon watched Saigang fight, intending to summon Meta Domain to fight him to the death, but he didn't expect that Saigang's beam would shatter his still-developing Meta Domain.
The competition was quite smug. As the Dark Shadow Mage's prized subordinate, how could Meta Domain possibly contain it?
However, what the tournament organizers didn't expect was that if it were inside the Meta Realm, it would only need to deal with one Nexus, but outside, that might not be the case.
With a clear cry of a phoenix, a golden light flew from the direction of Earth, transforming into the form of Max. Max glanced at Daissang and then instantly grew to a size of 300 meters, taller than Daissang.
Now it was Grandmaster Gang's turn to be drenched in sweat. Even Magma alien Volugan, who was observing from the shadows, frowned, thinking that even with his strength in the Dark Armor, he probably wouldn't be able to defeat Max in this form in a short time.
However, this state would certainly consume a huge amount of energy. Volugan wasn't worried about any problems, but since Nix, the one Modiwus had mentioned, hadn't appeared yet, he had no choice but to postpone the plan for the time being.
The tournament has just ended, and it left quite decisively. After all, it's called the "Grand Tournament" and not the "Grand Tournament Sand." Max, Komon, and Leo, among others, are more than enough to give it a hard time.
However, Leo felt that this matter was not over yet. The appearance of Saigang in groups meant that the Dark Shadow Mage must have a conspiracy. But before Leo could figure it out, Max did not turn back into his human form and disappear like Nexus. Instead, he directly turned into human size. At the same time, a voice rang in Leo's mind.
【Hello, this is Leo, the vice-captain of ESCG. I would like to meet the Nereu aliens. Their companions helped me, and I wish to express my gratitude in person.】
Max's words silenced Leo. Wait, if Max had met the Nereu aliens, wouldn't that mean the Nereu aliens came from Max's previous universe, the surface universe protected by the Seton aliens?
But the problem is, where did this awakening moment come from in the surface universe?! And what happened to the Nereu aliens' home planet?
Something's not right, something's very wrong!
Chapter 496 The Dark Shadow Mage's Original Plan
The Nereiru aliens previously said that their planet had encountered an awakening moment. This claim came from the Gaines aliens they met during their wanderings. The Gaines aliens also said that the awakening moment was a universal law in their universe.
But the problem now is that the Nereids are from the universe Max previously lived in, which is the surface universe that the Setonians have been protecting!
Leo hasn't forgotten yet. Narimiya Kazunari had previously mentioned that he had communicated with Max, which was probably an instruction given by the King of Ultra. However, Max did not come to the real universe, but only observed from the surface universe.
However, this is actually quite normal. Who would have thought that there are at least four universes superimposed here: the surface universe, the real universe, the negative universe, and the dark deep universe that seals the ultimate darkness.
This is the first time that Ultraman has appeared before people in a form close to human size, but for Max, this must be a very important thing.
From the moment Max stepped into Delta Force, everyone's eyes were drawn to him, after all, this was the first time an Ultraman had appeared in front of people at such close range.
When Commander Nanase Makoto heard that Ultraman Max was going to enter the space station to talk to the Nereu aliens, he was stunned for a moment, thinking that even the maintenance warehouse couldn't fit him in such a large space. Was he supposed to make Max lie down?
Fortunately, Max does shrink, but not in his human form. Whether it's for secrecy or something else doesn't matter anymore. Leo couldn't help but take a few more glances; he was now filled with confusion.
Captain Gale watched all this with great interest. He wasn't sure if it was just his imagination, but he felt that the ESCG people weren't curious at all about Max, who was the size of a normal human, and acted very calmly and naturally.
This calmness couldn't be faked; it was as if they were already very familiar with Ultraman himself. Considering the dangerous nature of ESCG's missions, which often involved fighting alongside Ultraman, it didn't seem out of place.
(These guys are being way too obvious. They're clearly familiar with Max, but they're pretending not to be interested... Sigh, thankfully no one else noticed.)
In Leo's eyes, Daigo and the others' behavior was actually a flaw. However, after sensing that no one suspected anything, he didn't need to activate his mental field, as that would likely be discovered by Max.
Jif didn't know why Max wanted to meet him, and he felt a little uneasy. After they met, Max asked, "Excuse me, do you know Kof?"
"..." Jifu was stunned for a moment, then seemed to realize something, and his tone changed from tense to calm, "He is... my son."
This calm was a compromise; Jifu had been mentally prepared ever since he personally sent his son on the road to find a new home.
"I met him on Earth in another universe, but unfortunately, he had sacrificed himself."
“Thanks to Kove, I am able to stand before you today. I’m sorry… he is a friend of humanity, and also my friend.” Max reached out his hand, and a basketball appeared in his palm.
[This is Kove's keepsake, the basketball he played with Qiu. Max, you said you would leave someday, didn't you? If there are still Kove's compatriots in the universe, please give this to them.]
"This was given to him by Kov's friend; it is also his keepsake."
Jiv reached out and took the basketball. It had signatures in Earth script and Neriju script on it: "Little Qiu & Kov commemorate the friendship between the two planets. He came here and will stay here forever, just to prove that the universe is not only filled with enemies."
"In this way, I have fulfilled my comrade's wish. Goodbye."
Max had also expended a lot of energy and couldn't stay for long. When he returned to the Land of Light, he asked other planetary observers to help him find any surviving Nereiru aliens. He never expected that fate would bring them together here.
Giff collected his son's belongings and bowed to Max in thanks according to the etiquette of the Nereus aliens. At least he knew that his son had not left alone in the universe, but had made friends on another Earth and died a meaningful death.
Watching Max transform into a beam of light and fly away, Leo was now certain that Neliru was definitely not destroyed during the so-called awakening moment. There was no such pattern in the surface universe; the problem lay with Neliru itself.
(Galatron, have you managed to contact Mr. Narimiya?)
Leo asked himself, and the Ultimate Fighting Device relayed the message. Galatron quickly replied: No, they couldn't contact Narumiya Kazuya at all; the surface universe was completely disconnected.
Transmitting information across the universe is too troublesome. Galatron only left more than a hundred Gloca Bishops in the surface universe to help Narumiya Kazuya, also to protect Earth there from major problems. The two sides generally do not contact each other proactively.
But now, Leo can't get in touch with Narumiya Kazunari. What exactly happened over there?
Just as Leo was filled with questions, the Dark Shadow Mage on the other side couldn't help but clench his fists, looking at the ancient ruins of the super-ancient city in front of him, almost cursing out loud.
"Hernarak! You piece of trash, where have you run off to with my Dark Heart!?"
What's going on? The Shadow Mage thought that Hernarak should have been hiding very well all along, in another dimension. Unless he did something stupid, he shouldn't have been discovered.
The task he entrusted to Hernarak was to guard the dark heart that he had transformed. Back then, the Dark Shadow Mage originally intended to use Camilla and others to create a Triga as his own body.
Although it is a replica created by combining Tiga with Triga from another world, it was made by the Red Ball and has great potential for growth.
The Dark Shadow Mage was indeed powerful, but not having a physical body was quite inconvenient. He originally intended to implant the Dark Heart into the body of the Triga he created after gaining control of it, and use it as his own body.
At that time, as long as he absorbs the powerful negative energy contained within the River of Oblivion, he will be able to completely master the Ultimate Dark Joy and thus take another step forward, even surpassing the level of Delacion and the King of Ultra.
This is not impossible. The Ultimate Darkness itself is already at a level that Delacion considers a threat, not to mention that the negative energy inside the River of Oblivion is the sum of all the ancient giants, and its immense energy is beyond description.
But now, not only is Triga nowhere to be found, but what about the heart I painstakingly obtained?! Helnarak, where are you?!
Chapter 497 Ambition
Regarding the energy replenishment needed by the Nereru aliens, it was ultimately the Nix forces that stepped in to assist; otherwise, it might have taken a considerable amount of time, and the situation at the Carlo base would have remained unresolved.
One after another, Galaoguma teleported out and began replenishing the Neriru aliens' spaceships with energy and various supplies, serving as a welcome gift for them as they settled in this universe.
After receiving their energy supplies, the Nereu aliens bid farewell to everyone, solemnly declaring that they would forever cherish their friendship with Earth before departing with the ancient remnants.
"If Earth ever needs us in the future, just say so. No matter what kind of enemy or difficulty we face, the Neriru aliens will not stand idly by!"
As he was leaving, Jifu gripped Nanase Makoto's hand tightly, his eyes filled with sincerity. Even though he had never set foot on that unknown planet and had only had this brief contact with humans for less than an hour, he was willing to consider them his friends.
After these events concluded, Leo and the others visited the Carlo base. Upon hearing that the vice-captain of ESCG was coming, the two Mejulang brothers felt their hearts skip a beat and almost died.
"Brother, what do we do? This is someone the Dark Shadow Mage specifically named to target. He's definitely not someone to be trifled with. What if our disguise is exposed..."
"No, how could that be? Have confidence in yourself, little brother." The silver-haired Mejulang alien patted his younger brother on the shoulder. They were currently disguised as An Yu, the vice-captain of the Carlo Base, and Kurata, the logistics manager.
"Our disguises are not only indistinguishable from the target's true form in appearance, but we also inherit their memories and knowledge, so there's no need to worry about them seeing through our disguise!"
Meizhulang was very confident in his abilities. He wasn't worried about being recognized, as the Meizhulang people were top-notch at infiltration and stealth.
While Captain Gale and his team were fighting Saigang, the Mejulang aliens had secretly used their clones to replace most of the people at the Carlo base, and the entire Carlo base was now under their control.
If it weren't for the inability to mimic these people's biological characteristics, such as blood and other essential elements, they would have simply eaten all the replaced targets without hesitation.
At this point, the Mejulang aliens really wanted to curse. Not only were these Earthlings incredibly strong, but they were also extremely cautious.
Anyone returning from space who has lost signal for more than an hour must undergo various checks and interrogations the moment they return to Earth or are discovered, in order to prevent them from being replaced by aliens, which could lead to the destruction of important facilities and the leakage of important intelligence.
We're saying you guys have this level of strength, is it really necessary to be this cautious? But it's precisely because of this level of vigilance that we need the Meizhulang alien brothers!
"Brother, this is a great opportunity! Just a little favor from the Dark Shadow Mage has given us such a powerful boost in strength."
"If we can complete the task assigned by the Dark Shadow Mage, just think how much benefit we brothers will receive then?"
With his older brother's promises of a bright future, the younger brother, a member of the Mezhulang alien race, quickly calmed down. Indeed, the brothers had received enhancements from the Dark Shadow Mage.
The individuals split off from them are not simply able to imitate and inherit the memories of the target; they can perfectly replicate the personality of the imitated object, and even inherit small habits such as leg shaking.
Even more so, they themselves won't realize that they are actually clones until their identities are directly exposed, and even the most advanced lie detectors won't be able to detect anything.
Moreover, each individual splits off on its own, so the two brothers can directly communicate with them via bioelectricity, read everything they see and hear, and control their actions.
It was with this in mind that Meizhulang, the older brother, suddenly had an idea and began to discuss it with his younger brother.
Brilliant, absolutely brilliant! Even Galatrom on the other end of the monitor couldn't help but applaud. The Mejulang aliens' disguise and infiltration techniques are truly effective; even the disguised individuals don't know they are aliens. It's something worth learning.
But it's alright, Galatrom knew, because she had recorded the entire process of the Mejulang aliens' infiltration using the monitoring system.
Honestly, it's hard to say what the Dark Shadow Mage's purpose is, but it's not too hard to guess what he wants to do. Infiltrating the Carlo base is definitely not enough; these guys want to infiltrate Earth and even the entire TPC headquarters.
Moreover, with so many people infiltrated, even if the list were sent to Leo, he probably wouldn't have time to read it all. But with Leo's abilities, seeing through these disguises wouldn't be a problem. It all depends on what these two guys are planning.
"Let's make some preparations." Galatron thought for a moment, stood up and stretched her back, and took the opportunity to show off her amazing figure to Ayako, who was still a child, making Ayako frown involuntarily.
(Damn it, does having a good figure make you so great? Don't underestimate a young girl just because she's poor. I'll be just as good in the future!)
Aya couldn't help but bite her lip, but Galatrom ignored her and looked at the thousands of individuals who looked exactly like her lying in the huge incubation chamber behind her.
"It's not really appropriate to leave it like this all the time. Let it out and move around a bit."