Chapter Thirty-Seven: Life Is Beautiful

PS. By the way... is the Soul-Devouring Potato still reading this? If you have time, join the group!

"Welcome to my world!"

Thump—thump—thump—

It was as if something was beating.

Thump—thump—

The sound came from all directions.

Xie Jing and the Ultraman warriors collectively stopped in their tracks, alertly scanning their surroundings.

"This place... heh heh... holds the corpses of ten thousand monsters... ten thousand bodies infused with potent energy..." Suddenly, Ultrapes erupted with an intense green light, and then its dusky abdomen stretched open like a gaping maw.

Thump, thump, thump! The sound echoed all around, like drums being struck in quick succession.

Xie Jing listened closely and realized the noise was coming from the fallen monster corpses.

"Quick, attack! It wants to absorb the monsters' energy!" The Father of Ultra also saw through Ultrapes's intention and dared not hesitate.

In an instant, dozens of energy beams surged toward Ultrapes, and those skilled in close combat seized the moment to leap forward.

But... it was futile.

No matter whether it was energy beams or physical attacks, as soon as they approached Ultrapes, they were repelled by a surge of green energy.

The surrounding sounds grew increasingly frantic, as if something was about to burst forth.

Spurt—

From the battered monster corpses, jets of blood erupted, and balls of energy in various colors and attributes broke through flesh, flying toward Ultrapes.

In the darkness, countless energy beams unleashed their formidable power, and tens of thousands of light spheres soared through the air, converging upon a single focal point.

With each absorbed orb, Ultrapes's aura grew stronger and its appearance changed further.

"It's no use! We can't stop it!" Facing this helpless situation once again, the Ultraman warriors halted their attacks, panting heavily.

Each warrior's energy was nearly depleted. Even Xie Jing, unable to replenish his light in this environment, was down to only twenty percent of his power.

Ultrapes's aura intensified, its body growing ever more grotesque and swollen.

One hundred meters, two hundred meters, three hundred meters...

A terrifying presence pressed in, and for the first time, Xie Jing felt fear.

This power was savage, and the air reeked with the scent of blood.

Previously, Ultrapes's form had been frail by Ultraman standards, but now every warrior gazed up at a colossal, terrifying beast five hundred meters tall.

What a dreadful, twisted monster it was!

Its entire body was covered with malformed monster heads, pairs of eyes blinking incessantly. Twelve elongated arms bristled with spikes and glowing green claws, wings on its back bore exposed bone and dangling tattered flesh.

This was certainly no easy foe!

Chaos radiated from its surroundings, and several energy-exhausted Ultraman instantly retreated, clutching their heads at its emergence.

Its voice pierced the space, sharp and shrill.

"Heh heh heh... Ultraman! Today, none of you will escape!"

"Warriors, a battle of honor awaits! Prepare for combat!" Even in the face of such terror, the Father of Ultra did not falter.

But Xie Jing could not stand by and watch his childhood idols fall into mortal peril.

"No! We can't defeat it now! Retreat at once!"

"Rehe Ultraman! You've already done well! But, you are not a warrior of the Land of Light; you do not understand us!" The Father of Ultra spoke gently, with no reproach in his tone for Xie Jing's earlier words.

"In the face of darkness, light must never retreat! To die in battle is the highest honor of the Land of Light!"

"Warriors! Attack!"

Whether their energy was depleted or nearly gone, not one Ultraman, nor the Father of Ultra himself, shrank back at this moment.

"Damn it, the first world throws this at me!" Xie Jing cursed under his breath, his body suddenly shining with dazzling light.

Why... why is everyone else’s novice world about flirting and fighting zombies, while mine... is battling a five-hundred-meter-tall cosmic super-monster?

Why?!

The shattered corpse of an Ultraman, battered and torn, flew past him, yet even in death, Xie Jing saw the clenched fist.

Why am I fighting in such a battle?!

An energy-exhausted Ultraman’s chest timer darkened, and he collapsed on the path toward Ultrapes.

It’s to complete the mission, right?

Yes... but not entirely.

From Xie Jing’s body, a surge of pure light rapidly expanded, blazing like a small sun in the darkness, captivating every eye.

Since obtaining the power of Ultraman, Xie Jing had never felt compelled to defeat monsters, because Diga was always there.

He always believed he was just an ordinary human, a human with great power, and deep down he only wanted to show off, to outdo others as in those wish-fulfillment stories.

So, he was content to stay idle, keeping watch in the little shop, wishing only to spend time with Kamiji Asahi.

The lucky mission was tied to his chance to return home, so he took action.

Yet, step by step, he found himself growing angry for those who died, excited to defeat monsters, and proud to have saved Earth once more.

The light grew ever brighter, forcing all eyes shut.

Xie Jing saw the warriors of the Land of Light, saw the cosmic dust, saw the fallen Seven and Max.

Likewise, in the face of certain death and with little hope of success, only to delay Ultrapes until the arrival of the Ultraman King, the Father of Ultra, supreme commander of the Land of Light, held fast to his unwavering faith.

Finally, he understood why Ultraman was beloved by children on Earth.

Upholding justice, appreciating beauty, never yielding...

These were the most precious qualities an Ultraman could possess!

The pure light shone upon every Ultraman, who quickly absorbed strands of energy, while Ultrapes screamed in agony, its body enveloped in black smoke, as though scorched by fire.

Xie Jing was not afraid of death, but having survived cancer, he understood the beauty of life.

Even the weakest life is precious. Ultraman is like a gardener, striving with all their might to protect each garden from destruction, so that the flowers of life may bloom.

In the next instant, the light contracted into Xie Jing’s body, transforming him into a resplendent giant.

Every ounce of light in his cells was squeezed out, leaving nothing behind!

Flames ignited upon his skin, scattering brilliant sparks.

Ultrapes instantly recovered, every eye fixed on Xie Jing, its voice dripping with hatred.

“You again! Die!”

Countless attacks erupted from all its eyes, converging upon Xie Jing.

"Since I am an Ultraman, I must not disgrace this identity."

Xie Jing smiled softly, his whole body radiating light.

In the next moment, he spun like a top amidst the barrage, weaving between attacks, until he suddenly reached Ultrapes, embracing its massive, grotesque form.

"Ultra Bomb!!!"