Chapter 53: Does It Not Know That Earth Has Ultraman?

They made their way to a wide, empty field, where, following Qiao Zhe’s silent command, Star Platinum swung and flung Demonhead Oni Jirou aside. Oni Jirou landed with a heavy thud, finally freed from the relentless brain-rattling and staggering dizziness. After a brief stupor, his mind caught up with what he had just suffered, and his face contorted in fury as he roared, “Aaargh!! I, Demonhead Oni Jirou, have been subjected to such humiliation!”

Enraged beyond measure, he spat out a string of incantations, and his body erupted in a surge of violet energy. In the blink of an eye, Qiao Zhe could have interrupted him, but the other party had no time to react. Qiao Zhe’s gaze fell on the newly appeared Gaen Q.

It was a grotesque sight—like a shriveled, rotting inflatable doll. When Qiao Zhe and I Dream made their move, Stone Chamber had already ordered the crowd to evacuate, so there was no need to worry about bystanders in the area.

Transformed into Gaen Q, Oni Jirou’s ragged eyes stared at the ground. “You wretched onmyoji, how dare you sabotage my plan to rule the world! Die!” He unleashed a barrage of violet destructive blasts, bombarding Qiao Zhe’s position.

Qiao Zhe did not flinch; he didn’t even need to move himself. Star Platinum seized his shoulders, and in a flash, they vanished. An explosion rocked the earth, sending dirt and stones flying. So swift was Star Platinum’s movement that Gaen Q never caught what happened and thought Qiao Zhe had been obliterated.

“Ha ha ha!” Gaen Q let out a deep, maniacal laugh, now fully merged with Oni Jirou’s consciousness. “Ha ha ha! That’s what happens to those who defy me!”

In truth, Qiao Zhe, carried by Star Platinum, had already landed atop a distant rooftop, watching the gloating Gaen Q below. His face was expressionless, but inwardly he couldn’t help but sneer.

Did Oni Jirou never watch the news? Did he not know there were Ultramen on Earth? Three of them, at that. And still he dreamed of world domination—commendable courage, if nothing else.

Night deepened, cloaking the world in darkness. Qiao Zhe’s black attire blended seamlessly into the shadows. Overhead, the roar of fighter jets filled the sky.

Qiao Zhe looked up. The ever-diligent Lightning Squad had arrived first, Peacebringer following close behind. On the ground in the distance, I Dream and Shusaku had come out to assess the situation.

“That’s the Lightning Squad!” I Dream said, relief lighting his face as he reassured Shusaku, “Don’t worry, Shusaku—XIG will take down Oni Jirou!”

Even as he spoke, the three Lightning Squad fighters opened fire. Orange, bullet-shaped laser beams shot out in succession, but in its current psychic construct state, Gaen Q was immune to physical attack. The lasers passed through its body as if through mist. I Dream stared in disbelief. “They went right through! How can this be?!”

Gaen Q, unfazed by the assault, turned its gaze toward the three fighters and unleashed another volley of violet destructive blasts. Kaji and the others maneuvered their jets deftly, dodging the oncoming fire and avoiding immediate disaster.

I Dream quickly activated his communicator, hailing the command center in the airborne base. “Atsuko, can you scan Gaen Q’s current form?”

“Unable to detect anything!” Atsuko replied, running scan after scan, but finding nothing. “This monster has no physical attributes now. It’s like a ghost!”

“A ghost… born of sorcery?” I Dream recalled Qiao Zhe’s words. He glanced at Shusaku beside him; if physical attacks were useless, then it was up to him now.

As he began to edge away, Shusaku suddenly turned to him. “What are you doing? Trying to run away?”

“Uh… no.” I Dream froze, scrambling for an excuse. “I was thinking of trying another method.”

“It’s useless,” Shusaku said, shaking his head, his eyes still fixed on I Dream. “If only that man in black was here.”

His words struck I Dream like a spark. “That’s right! There’s still Qiao Zhe-san!”

He was about to switch communication channels when, suddenly, a live battlefield report blared across the comms.

“Lightning Three has been hit! We have a problem!”

I Dream looked up in alarm. Lightning Three was trailing black smoke.

“Eject! Now!” Di Cheng shouted urgently, seeing Dahe Yuan had not yet bailed out.

Dahe Yuan’s voice was tight with fear. “The ejection system’s malfunctioning!”

Lightning Three, billowing black smoke, hurtled toward a building.

“Lightning Three is out of control!” Dahe Yuan pulled frantically at the controls, but the jet wouldn’t respond. “Everyone, I might—”

“Dahe Yuan!” Kaji cried out, unable to accept what was happening.

Kitada’s face twisted with grief. “Dahe Yuan!!!”

Di Cheng’s eyes widened in horror as Lightning Three sped straight for the building. This scene was simultaneously broadcast to the XIG command room.

Stone Chamber and the others all blanched. Though they had long steeled themselves for the possibility of sacrifice, seeing it unfold before their eyes was still a bitter blow.

In that moment of crisis, a blazing, silvery-white light suddenly flared! By chance, the building Lightning Three was about to crash into was the very one where Qiao Zhe stood. It was as if Dahe Yuan’s jet had homed in on him.

Seriously, was this guy trying to run him over?

Qiao Zhe couldn’t help but suspect Dahe Yuan had discovered something, but he transformed anyway.

In a flash, the light condensed into the towering figure of the silver giant, who caught Lightning Three in his massive hands.

The brilliance so close blinded Dahe Yuan, but when his eyes adjusted, he realized he’d been saved.

Seeing JOJO Ultraman before him, Dahe Yuan’s face lit up in joy. “JOJO Ultraman!”

“Your piloting skills need some work,” JOJO said, looking down at him, then set Lightning Three gently atop the roof.

Dahe Yuan’s expression froze, his elation replaced by embarrassment.

Lightning Three’s comm system was fully functional, so the rest of XIG heard JOJO’s remark as well.

Kaji issued an immediate order. “Dahe Yuan! When we get back, your flight training doubles!”

“I’ll make sure he does,” Kitada agreed.

Dahe Yuan wore the mask of misery.

Why was it that surviving, such a joyous thing, and meeting JOJO Ultraman, an even greater delight—why did two happy events together make him feel so dejected?

JOJO’s timely intervention to save Dahe Yuan brought a collective sigh of relief from the XIG team.

But while human hearts rejoiced, Gaen Q—formerly Oni Jirou—was gripped by unprecedented dread.

Gazing at the newly appeared silver giant and feeling the overwhelming force he radiated, Gaen Q quailed under the glare of those lamp-like eyes. A single word—danger—flashed across his mind in bold.

As JOJO strode slowly forward, Gaen Q stumbled back in terror. “You! Who—what are you?! Stay away from me!”