Chapter 137: If Only They Could Respawn
Kane Sarth was ecstatic.
A long time ago, the Kryptonians had stuffed it into the Phantom Zone. It didn't see the light of day again until many years after Krypton's destruction, when it escaped along with Fort Rozz. But even so, the criminals inside Fort Rozz considered it too dangerous. As a result, the miserable monster had never even seen the Sun until today.
And now, it was finally free!
It had almost forgotten the sweet taste of freedom—of being unrestrained and, most importantly, able to eat whatever it wanted!
It had been hungry for too long, desperate to fill its deep, bottomless stomach with fresh flesh and blood. This time, no matter what happened, it would never return to that cage!
Then, Kane Sarth's eyes locked onto a strange being in bizarre armor. Even through that thick metal shell, it couldn't hide the fiery, sun-like brilliance overflowing from his body.
Instinct told it that this person would definitely be a filling meal, and the taste would be five-star level!
So without a second thought, it opened its mouth wide, a single bite that seemed to want to devour the very world!
And then…
And then it was blasted apart.
When the azure light ray first poured into its mouth, it was still laughing inwardly.
*Heh, what is this thing? A toothpick?*
It was only when the energy continued to pour out unstoppably, its searingly high temperature scorching its mouth until it was unbearably hot, that Kane Sarth began to realize something was wrong.
*How can there be so much of it?*
*And isn't this a bit too fierce!?*
The giant beast's body began to convulse, struggling violently as a muffled gurgle escaped its throat.
But it was too late.
The terrifying, blinding light had already entered its body through its mouth. The scalding light churned violently, spreading rapidly throughout the giant beast's innards. Just before its body exploded, the giant beast almost shed tears of regret.
If it had known there was such a freak outside, it wouldn't have wanted this damned freedom.
*Mom, I want to go back to the Phantom Zone…*
Boom!
The Specium energy spread out, and Kane Sarth's body exploded. Its death was incredibly tragic.
From the neighboring Ultraman universe, Bemstar—who had died in a similar fashion, overstuffed to death by a Scientist—sent a congratulatory message from the Underworld.
In the control room, the assembled aliens had already fast-forwarded to pondering what to do with the devouring giant beast after the intruder was killed. They never expected this thing to be up for two seconds before it bit the dust, a light-speed death that left everyone in the room utterly dumbfounded.
What happened to devouring everything? What happened to extremely dangerous?
It's gone just like that?
Orin Vale lowered his arms, filaments of electric light still radiating from the back of his hands. As he slowly approached, the surrounding aliens couldn't help but lower their heads.
They felt as if they wished they could turn invisible on the spot to avoid his gaze.
"You really are always full of surprises."
The Old Wizard stroked his beard, floating down to his side.
It wasn't the first time he had seen the Spacium Ray, but he still couldn't help but complain to himself every time he saw it, thinking this kid was neither scientific nor magical.
The two walked up to the Kryptonian who had been left on the verge of death by the Kryptonite pulse.
The man's face was green, but he was still breathing, glaring at them furiously.
"Use your most vicious methods on me, but a glorious Kryptonian soldier will never—"
"Blah, blah, blah, I've heard it all before." Orin Vale made a hand gesture. "He's all yours."
A Truth Spell was cast, and the Kryptonian's expression instantly became as if he'd drunk fake liquor. His body twitched, as if a great internal struggle was raging in his mind.
"That's right, submit to the power of the Truth Spell." The Old Wizard continued to cast his magic. "You're hiding something. Speak your secret, follow the urge in your heart to confess. Don't resist, don't fight it…"
After droning on for a long while, the man's body trembled violently. He finally clutched his head and couldn't help but scream, "Ahhh!"
"I… I… I actually didn't pass the assessment back then. I shouldn't have been qualified for the operations squad. It was my dad who got me in through the backdoor…"
Everyone: "..."
So Kryptonians have a "backdoor" system too, huh?
"Anything else?"
"Also… also, the reason I work so hard is that I want to join General Astra's unit. Because the first moment I saw her, I fell hopelessly in love with her. Her beauty, her dashing style, her heroic bearing in battle…"
"Whoa," an alien operator nearby said, his face a mask of someone who'd just heard some juicy gossip. "Commander Noen will definitely strangle you if he finds out."
"Very good, it looks like it was a success."
The Old Wizard stepped aside, gesturing to Orin Vale.
"You can ask what you want to ask now."
***
Elsewhere in the Solar System, aboard the moving Fort Rozz stronghold.
Non stood by the window of the control tower with his hands clasped behind his back, gazing out at the vast, dark universe and the countless stars.
"I heard your right-hand man went to that place called Earth and has since disappeared without a trace?"
The voice, cold and powerful, came from a man in the ship cabin behind him.
Non grunted sullenly. "I have plenty of talented people under my command. I'm not lacking just one."
"Then I also heard your wife went to Earth and has yet to return. You don't lack for a wife either?"
Non's face immediately darkened.
He turned around, staring coldly at the speaker.
"What are you trying to say?"
"Nothing. Simply stating the facts," the man said calmly.
Non briefly clenched his fist, a red glow flashing in his eyes. But the change was fleeting, and he quickly regained his composure.
"If you are questioning my deployment, there's no need." Non said faintly, "I have conducted sufficient research on the physiological mechanisms of humans, and the system has made its final calibrations for their species.
"My men have all been dispatched for deployment. The ones leading them are all glorious and powerful Kryptonian soldiers who possess god-like power under the light of a Yellow Sun.
"And their subordinates are also elite warriors from different races within Fort Rozz, each possessing unique skills. Not to mention the dangerous giant beasts we have imprisoned in Fort Rozz.
"When the time is right, all it will take is for me to give the signal, a single call to arms. At that time, the great purge system will activate, the bases will launch surprise attacks from all sides, and it's estimated that we can completely occupy Earth in just one hour, and even take possession of human civilization!"
"Let's hope so," the man behind him said calmly. "But if your method doesn't work in the end, we'll have to do it my way."
"That goes without saying. But your concerns are unnecessary, I assure you."
Non said, then paused.
"...General Zod."
However, neither of these two last remaining great generals of Krypton knew.
Just as they were here plotting their grand strategy and envisioning their grand blueprint.
A certain dashing Ultraman who had just completed his harvest was contentedly setting off once more, locating and flying toward the next base.
He even secretly harbored a little hope that it would be even better if the monsters in the base would automatically respawn after being cleared.
(end of chapter)