Chapter 107: The Shadow of Hubris
Daigo didn't speak and hadn't told his friends about the talking bird or the two who helped him reach the Giants. Now, as he looked at another giant, he was sure it was them.
Everyone thought Tiga was some giant superhero or alien, but he knew that the unnamed Ultraman was actually human.
'It must be them, right?'
Daigo thought of the mysterious two people and one bird; their enigmatic presence lingered in his memories.
Since the pyramid incident, he had never seen them again, as if they had vanished into the ether itself.
"We'll fly around the unknown Ultraman and see if we can establish contact."
Seiichi Munakata issued the combat order, his voice carrying the steady authority of a seasoned commander.
"Understood."
"Understood."
Two GUTS Wing fighters, one to the left and one to the right, circled the Ultraman that Masaki Keigo had transformed into, continuously sending inquiry messages through their advanced communication systems.
"So annoying."
Masaki Keigo saw GUTS Wing No. 1 circling him and, annoyed by their persistent surveillance, waved his hand with dismissive irritation, releasing an energy light ball that crackled through the air like a miniature star.
"Oh Shit!!."
Rena, piloting GUTS Wing No. 1, quickly manoeuvred the fighter for a vertical evasion, her hands flying across the controls as she dodged the incoming energy light ball by mere meters.
After escaping the danger, a look of lingering fear appeared on her face, cold sweat beading on her forehead as the reality of how close death had come settled in.
If it had been hit, GUTS Wing No. 1 would have exploded into pieces on the spot, taking her life in an instant of searing destruction.
"Rena, what's going on with you guys? Why did that Ultraman attack GUTS Wing No. 1?" Munakata asked over the team's communication, concern evident in his usually controlled voice.
"I don't know either," Rena replied, her voice still shaky from the near-death experience, "GUTS Wing No. 1 only sent an inquiry to him and didn't make any aggressive moves."
"Should we retreat first?" Horii suggested, his tactical mind already calculating escape routes, "This Ultraman might not like us very much."
"No, Kumamoto City is nearby. What if he goes to destroy the city later? Keep your distance and prepare for battle."
"Understood."
"Understood."
Inside the underground laboratory of Cytech Corporation, deep beneath the earth's surface, where sunlight had never touched, numerous projection screens floated in the air like ethereal windows into another realm.
The screens displayed a multitude of data and rune codes, cascading streams of information that would have overwhelmed lesser minds with their complexity.
Many researchers walked back and forth, extremely busy, their movements precise and purposeful as they monitored every aspect of their groundbreaking experiment.
They constantly monitored Masaki Keigo's various physical data, recording and analysing any abnormal values with the dedication of actual scientists pushing the boundaries of human knowledge.
Seeing him attack GUTS, the Emperor's consciousness reached across the distance through psychic communion, his transhuman intellect focusing like a precision instrument upon his transformed servant. Using the mind-voice that had commanded Legions across the galaxy, he questioned this unprovoked aggression against the Earth's defence forces.
"Masaki Keigo, why did you attack GUTS?"
"My Lord, those guys are very annoying. We have already mastered the method of transforming into a Giant of Light. We will lead the evolution of humanity. But GUTS is like flies, buzzing non-stop."
"I'm so annoyed by them; these guys should just get lost and not hinder our work."
Masaki Keigo's mind voice was somewhat agitated; his thoughts were turbulent with barely contained frustration and growing irritation.
"The darkness in his heart has been magnified." Raven tilted his head, his obsidian eyes gleaming with cosmic understanding. "Light and darkness are inherently one. If one is not firm enough, the evil thoughts within will be magnified, leading to degeneration and becoming a Dark Giant."
"Masaki Keigo has been a genius since childhood, possessing an arrogance that ordinary people cannot comprehend. After transforming into Ultraman, this arrogance has magnified even more."
"GUTS's continuous inquiries made him feel provoked, which is why he subconsciously launched an attack."
The Emperor's noble features darkened with concern as he comprehended the dire implications of his servant's psychological deterioration. With the infinite patience of one who had guided humanity through its darkest epochs, he projected his will through the psychic link to anchor Masaki Keigo's faltering rationality.
Control yourself, Masaki! Remember why you sought the power of the Giants. You are meant to lead humanity's evolution, so don't let the darkness inside you take over. Stay rational.
My Lord, I don't understand why, but I feel like someone is whispering in my ear. Masaki Keigo's voice conveyed a sense of tiredness, clearly showing the mental strain from fighting his own corrupted mind. 'Many dark thoughts are suddenly filling my mind more often.'
The Emperor kept his psychic connection steady, using his consciousness as a stabilising light amid the chaos of corruption that threatened to devour his servant's soul. With the authority that once united Terra under the Imperial Truth, he aimed to guide Masaki Keigo away from the edge of eternal damnation.
"You must overcome those dark desires; only then can you truly control this power."
"Otherwise, you will become its slave, lost in your own desires. Do not disappoint me, Masaki Keigo."
"My Lord, I will do my best."
Masaki Keigo desperately wanted to control the constantly growing dark thoughts within him, fighting against the shadows that clawed at his sanity with increasing desperation.
But when he saw GUTS Wing No. -1 and GUTS Wing No. - 2 flying over again, their engines humming with mechanical persistence...
An inexplicable and indescribable anger surged in his heart, hot and violent like molten metal flowing through his veins.
'These damned bugs, I don't want to fight them. Why are they still coming after me?!'
He raised his hands and continuously released several light beams and energy clusters, each projectile crackling with destructive force as his rage found physical expression.
GUTS Wing No. -1 and GUTS Wing No. -2 made emergency evasions, their pilots pushing the aircraft to their absolute limits, but the relentless barrage of energy attacks still hit them.
The massive aircraft plummeted to the ground, emitting thick black smoke as its engines failed and systems sparked with electrical fires, metal screaming as it twisted under the impact.
At that moment, a shout rang out across the battlefield, and a milky white light erupted, illuminating the devastation below like the birth of a new star.
When the light dissipated, Ultraman Tiga appeared in all his heroic glory, his silver and red form radiating hope.
He released an energy shield, protecting the members of GUTS from the devastating crash with a barrier of pure light that shimmered like crystal.
"It's Tiga!" Horii shouted excitedly, relief flooding his voice as salvation appeared, "Tiga is here to save us!"
"We almost died." Tetsuo Shinjo also showed the relief of having survived a disaster, his hands still trembling from the adrenaline coursing through his system.
Tiga placed the GUTS members in a safe place, ensuring their protection with gentle care before turning to face the threat, then turned to face Masaki Keigo with the righteous determination of a true guardian.
"Unforgivable."
Daigo looked at the guy who had harmed his teammates, filled with immense anger that burned in his chest like a righteous flame.
Masaki Keigo assumed a fighting stance, a smile on his face, eagerly anticipating the upcoming duel with the excitement of one who had long awaited this moment of vindication.
Although he could now transform into Ultraman, Masaki Keigo still felt a bit unwilling, the bitter taste of perceived injustice poisoning his thoughts like venom.
He was a top scientist who had foreseen the coming of the dark apocalypse earlier than Daigo, his brilliant mind having predicted the future darkness through sheer intellectual prowess.
To fight against that dark apocalypse and save humanity, he delved into ancient ruins. He trained desperately, pushing himself beyond the limits of what was considered human in his quest for power.
But Daigo, a nobody with no real intention of achieving true peace, managed to obtain Tiga's power, while he couldn't; this fact gnawed at his pride like acid eating through steel.
He was clearly the more excellent one, with an intellect superior, absolute dedication, and undeniable worthiness, so why him?
The large screen in the Cytech Laboratory displayed the whole confrontation between the two Ultraman, capturing every detail for scientific analysis and strategic assessment.
After a short standoff, filled with crackling tension reminiscent of electricity, they both charged forward, and the fight broke out with the ferocity of titans colliding in ancient battle.
A technician moved through the sterile corridors of the research facility, his footsteps echoing in the large chamber's artificial environment. Respectfully, he bowed deeply before the Emperor's commanding figure, waiting for permission to speak.
"My Lord, do you need to undo Masaki Keigo's transformation?!"
The Emperor raised one gauntleted hand in a gesture of dismissal, his transhuman intellect already calculating the strategic value of the unfolding conflict with precision. "No hurry. Let us use this opportunity to collect some combat data on Ultraman."
"Understood." The technician nodded, displaying the careful demeanour of someone serving the architect of humanity's destiny, before returning to his duties without further inquiry.
"Masaki Keigo is bound to lose. He's already exhausted mentally, and his transformation time is almost up. Should we help him?"
Raven sat casually on the Emperor's shoulder, munching on fries while observing the intense battle with detached curiosity, as if watching a robot fighting arena rather than a clash between titans.
Then let us assist him in extending the fight. This will allow us to gather more comprehensive data. The Emperor nodded, acknowledging the importance of prolonged observation to understand these alien transformation technologies.
"Helping comes at a price, big guy", Raven chuckled with amusement, the sound carrying undertones of mischief.
"Bring out the new flavour of fries we recently acquired." The Emperor ordered Valdor to present the new flavour fries he had been hiding from Raven for moments like these.
"As you command, My Lord." Soon, Valdor returned with a deliciously exquisite fried dish made by the Emperor himself, crafted to ensure each flavour is ideally suited for his Raven friends' taste.
After receiving his promised reward, Raven spread his wings and activated instant movement, vanishing into thin air through space and time. The suburban mountains of Kumamoto City provided the backdrop for this clash of giants, ancient peaks bearing witness to the battle.
The two Ultraman fought fiercely, their massive forms locked in combat that shook the earth itself and sent tremors through the surrounding landscape.
When Ultraman are active on Earth, their power depletes rapidly, and they can only sustain their forms for a brief period, with the limitations of their transformed state becoming more evident over time.
Earlier, Masaki Keigo had been testing his skills, which had drained his stamina and left him weak and vulnerable before this vital fight. As the two sides clashed again in their deadly dance, Masaki Keigo lost balance, stumbling and falling heavily to the ground.
His fall created shockwaves that rippled through the mountainside, carving a crater into the rocky terrain.
The timer on his chest flashed red, warning him of his rapidly depleting energy reserves and the impending forced transformation back to his human form.
"Tiga is going to win."
"Defeat this evil Ultraman."
Seeing this dramatic turn of events, the GUTS members cheered from their safe vantage point, hope flooding their voices.
The public, who were following the battle through live news broadcasts across the city, also showed expectant looks, their hopes pinned on the familiar hero who had saved them so many times before.
In their hearts, GUTS was good, and Tiga was also good, representing everything they believed in and fought to protect.
Therefore, the Ultraman on the other side was obviously evil, a twisted reflection of their beloved protector and guardian; he was an existence that had to be defeated, a threat to everything they held dear and sacred.
"Hehehe." Just as Daigo was about to deliver the final blow, a strange laughter echoed from nowhere, causing him to stop. He looked around but saw nothing.
Raven appeared suddenly from the air and landed smoothly on Masaki Keigo's shoulder. This unexpected entrance shocked Ultraman Tiga, who was Daigo, momentarily rendering him speechless.
"It really is you." Daigo communicated with Raven using mental waves.
"Daigo, it's been a long time. When are you going to offer up those two servings of fries and ketchup?"
"Unfortunately, I'm not here to reminisce with you this time. Big Guy needs to gather information on Ultraman's battles so you are not defeating little Masaki here so easily."
As Raven spoke casually, he injected power into Keigo's body through channels of energy that this world's science could not comprehend or measure.
This caused his flashing red light to turn back to white. Vitality surged within him as his transformed form resembled lightning moving through a conductor.
"What's going on?" Munakata, from a distance, widened his eyes when he saw this unexpected turn of events unfold before him. "How did that evil Ultraman's light return to normal?"
"Look at that evil Ultraman's shoulder." Horii's eyesight was sharper, and he immediately spotted Raven perched there.
"Although I'm unsure of their relationship, that Bird seems connected to Evil Ultraman's sudden regain of power. We can't let this happen, we need to help Ultraman, GUTS, attack!"
Munakata shouted over the communication channel. They were now facing one more, unknown threat, "Attack that Bird! Support Ultraman Tiga!"
"Understood."
"Understood."
The team members raised their laser guns, moving in formation and firing at the Raven standing on Masaki Keigo's shoulder with the accuracy of trained soldiers.
"It seems your teammates don't welcome me." Raven said, feigning sadness with theatrical flair that masked his deeper amusement at tiny ants shooting Nerf guns at him, "Then I'll be leaving."
"Why are you doing this?" Daigo asked, his voice tinged with confusion and increasing worry about the consequences.
"Everything is for humanity." Raven effortlessly created a spatial rift, as if walking through a doorway, with reality bending to his will.
"Hold on, you have to tell me everything," Daigo shouted at Raven as he was about to enter the portal. Just when he thought he wouldn't get any answers again, Raven stopped.
'He stopped, maybe he's not so bad,' Diago thought, pondering whether he should have asked more politely, considering how this raven appears to enjoy theatrics.
Before spreading his wings and entering the dimensional portal, Raven remembered something he had almost forgotten to do.
"Wait, are you going to tell me now-" Daigo asked, his voice calmer and more polite, but Raven ignored him and fired a beam of light at his body, which entered Tiga's body as energy flowed smoothly between them.
This restored Tiga to his peak condition. This time, there was no doubt that Raven was genuinely helping him; he should have just asked politely earlier. Daigo, feeling his strength restored, looked at Raven attentively, waiting for him to explain everything.
"Fight well, both of you. We need more data, for HUMANITY!" After his dramatic display of power, Raven again opened a portal and disappeared into it.
Daigo in Tiga form looked at the empty air, clenched his fist in frustration and confusion at the stupid bird messing with him as if it were a game. "What the heck does that stupid bird want from me? Damn it, I'm such an idiot. What was I even expecting."
The GUTS members on the ground were also stunned by this turn of events. They looked at Evil Ultraman, then at Good Ultraman, finding it hard to understand what had just happened and why, and what that bird was.
Wasn't that Raven helping the evil Ultraman just moments before?
Why would he also help Ultraman Tiga recover his power? Is that bird playing double agent here?
While Tiga and his team were lost in thought, Masaki Keigo, having regained his strength, paused for a moment. He observed Tiga, who was not paying attention to him. After waiting until he was in a good position to strike, he suddenly launched his first move from down at Tiga's face: "SURPRISE ATTACK MOTHERFUCKER."
Tiga was hit directly in his chin, causing him to almost fall down. Meanwhile, Masaki kept attacking him, but Tiga quickly retaliated by fighting back against Masaki. "You coward", Tiga roared back at Masaki.
"Not my fault you got distracted in the fight, Idiot" In this battle, both sides used all their techniques, holding nothing back in their struggle to defeat each other.
Light-based skills emerged endlessly, each attack more devastating than the last, energy crackling between them in displays that lit up the darkening sky.
The battle unfolded across the mountainside, with two titans locked in combat, causing the earth to tremble as if struck by an earthquake. Each blow from their enormous bodies sent shockwaves through the air, and their beams of light carved trenches into the mountain terrain.
"You are a little Coward, I already defeated you to the ground", Daigo said, frustrated at this Evil counterpart of him.
Masaki got even angrier at this shameless bastard who ambushed him when he was at his weakest, "You did not beat anyone, Idiot. If you have guts, fight me properly now."
This was no mere test of strength; it was a collision of ideologies, of two different paths toward humanity's future.
"I already defeated you; I don't need to prove anything. Why don't you surrender now? I promise, I will spare you from another defeat," Daigo said, as they made distance between each other.
Masaki looked at him. This cocky bastard had just defe- ambushed him once, and now he thought he was some bigshot. Oh, he will teach him a lesson while everyone in the world watches.
"Oh, you want to spare me? How about you spare me your chit-chat, you backstabbing bastard."
"I am no-, Agga fine, I will beat you up again, you lying coward," Tiga finally gave up. He could not convince someone so deep in delusion; he had clearly defeated him before. So why was this idiot making it difficult for everyone?
"In your dreams, idiot"
"Coward"
"Idiot "
…
"And of course, it was also a battle of trash-talking; what was fighting if you did not beat your opponent at trash-talking?" Raven narrated to his friend, in the laboratory, while watching the whole fight.
Both Emperor and Valdor looked at him with blank expressions, showing no response to his exaggerated and bizarre account of a simple brute fight.
"What? Every superhero fight needs some trash-talking." Raven looked at his companion, who clearly didn't understand the power of beating someone in trash-talking.
But seeing both of them looking back at the fight, he just gave up; there was no point in explaining things to a brick wall.
__________________
Check out more than 30+ chapters right now! 🔥
👉 patreon.com/Mr UmU
https://www.patreon.com/Mr_UmU
__________________