Chapter Nineteen: The Descent of the Angel?

Three months had passed since Saki left, and Xie Jing had returned to his idle days. Akane Kamiji had been extremely busy lately; rumor had it that TPC's research on the Shirayuki had encountered new problems, requiring her department’s joint efforts to investigate.

Xie Jing spent his days waiting in the shop. Over these days, he felt an ever-present sense of alienation from this world, as if he were an outsider, watching the world’s progression from a detached vantage. Perhaps it was the consequence of knowing this world too intimately—he had lost all anticipation for the days ahead.

During this period, Diga had defeated many monsters. As in the storyline, each encounter came with surprises, yet in the end, all fell before a decisive finishing move. The Victory Team’s work had shifted from exterminating monsters to searching for them; after all, relying on their meager firepower, the entire Neon City might have become a playground for monsters.

Da Gu now contacted Xie Jing whenever he was free, asking for information on monsters, but never mentioning fighting or anything of the sort. Xie Jing was happy to help him; after all, in Diga Ultraman’s world, it was best to leave the battles to Diga.

Xie Jing preferred to be a carefree layabout, accompanying Akane Kamiji in the small shop at the Golden Seat.

Some people, after gaining power, believe themselves omnipotent and act recklessly. Xie Jing once thought that way, but after so many days, he had gradually changed his mind.

The true nature of this world—a tokusatsu show—was a secret he had only ever revealed to Da Gu. His original desire to make a splash in the Victory Team faded; though he still held a position and received a salary, he had not returned to the team.

Akane Kamiji was enough to occupy his thoughts for a lifetime; he wanted nothing else he could not let go.

...

On this day, sunlight streamed brightly outside, and the shop had few customers.

Leisurely, Xie Jing prepared a hotpot for himself, intending to cook and eat personally.

The wind chime at the door rang. Xie Jing looked up to see Akane Kamiji, dressed in her usual clothes, walking in step by step.

“Are you on break? Come, come! Try my cooking.”

Xie Jing was delighted. He took Akane Kamiji’s coat, led her by the hand to sit before the hotpot, smiling warmly. “Though it can’t compare to your skills, this base is my special secret recipe—you absolutely won’t find it anywhere else. Try it, it’s guaranteed first-class!”

He chattered on, expressing his care and concern for his girlfriend after several days apart.

Normally, Akane Kamiji would be overjoyed at times like these, encouraging Xie Jing with surprise, perhaps giving him an affectionate kiss.

But today, Akane Kamiji behaved strangely.

She gripped Xie Jing’s hand holding the chopsticks, her smile tinged with oddness.

“My dear, don’t do this again in the future. Let’s leave together. Someone will come for us, take us to a peaceful, beautiful place—no monsters, no strife.”

...

Her eyes shone with an inner light.

“That place is so wonderful! No work, no worries, everyone is happy! That’s where we truly belong, my dear. Come with me—let’s welcome the angels together.”

Xie Jing stared at her, confused, unable to see what was wrong, thinking perhaps her work had worn her out.

“Akane? You’re acting strange. Are you alright?!”

He reached out to touch Akane Kamiji’s forehead, checking for a fever.

“I’m fine.” Akane Kamiji seized his hand, gripping tightly.

“My dear, come with me, let’s welcome the angels, escape this foolish, ignorant, complicated society—let’s go to our Eden.”

“You’re really not acting normal!” Xie Jing’s gaze sharpened instantly. He moved his hand, breaking free from her grip, then took her hand again.

Light shone from his eyes, allowing him to see inside Akane Kamiji’s body with absolute clarity.

Sure enough, near her brain, a strange energy was coiled, influencing her.

“You dare touch my woman?” Xie Jing’s fury erupted.

Light flashed in his hand, and a flow of pure brilliance surged into Akane Kamiji’s body, transforming into a sharp sword and ruthlessly annihilating the sinister energy.

Under the most refined light attack, the energy was eradicated within three seconds. Then, the light converted into a gentle energy, constantly cleansing Akane Kamiji’s body.

Carefully, Xie Jing cradled the unconscious Akane Kamiji, placed her on a lounge chair, covered her with a thin blanket, and adjusted the air conditioning to the perfect temperature.

After such an event, he had no appetite for food. He took out his communicator and contacted the Victory Team.

Five minutes later, Xie Jing stood beneath the television mounted on the wall, gazing at the white ‘angel’ appearing onscreen.

A man showed up in the TV broadcast, his face sullen and unattractive.

A deep voice echoed, spreading into the ears of every Neon citizen watching television.

“The Final Judgment—this day has finally come!”

“If the true devil is not destroyed, humanity will face annihilation!”

“A door is about to open. Next, you must accept the angel’s judgment!”

The sky abruptly darkened, tinged with crimson. The shop’s sensor lights flickered on automatically. Xie Jing folded his arms, staring at the man onscreen.

...

The voice grew louder, and blood-red lightning flickered behind the man, heralding ominous signs.

“The devil... is Diga Ultraman!”

At his final words, the sound reverberated throughout Neon City.

In the next moment, chaos erupted across the city.

“Devil! Devil! Devil!”

Countless people raised angel dolls, cheering at the phantom in the sky, faces flushed with unhealthy redness.

Near the Golden Seat, pedestrians and shopkeepers poured out, heading in unison toward the ‘angel.’

“Devil! Devil! Devil!”

Many Ultraman merchandise shops were destroyed; frenzied crowds used axes, baseball bats, and even their bare hands to tear apart anything related to Diga, then set it all ablaze.

Xie Jing’s shop was also beset by crazed humans, but thanks to his barrier of light, anyone who entered within five meters of the shop instantly regained sanity, then collapsed unconscious.

He stepped out of the shop, closed the door, and looked up at the white figure floating far above in the sky.

“So you’re targeting Diga, fine. But why trouble me as well?”

He got in his car, spun the wheel, and sped toward the largest gathering of people.

Along the way, everywhere he looked people were obsessed, carrying angel dolls and white wings, their actions synchronized, eyes locked on the sky as if beholding some lofty idol.

A mass of dark clouds gathered overhead, purple lightning crackling all around, thunder rolling throughout Neon City.

The man appeared once more on the giant screens in the commercial district, still sullen, clearly not a benevolent figure.

“The angel has descended to welcome you... The gate is about to open!”

Below, the humans opened their mouths wide, arms outstretched in unison.

“Mmm—”