Check out more than 45+ chapters right now! 🔥
👉 patreon.com/cw/Mr_UmU
https://www.patreon.com/Mr_UmU
__________________
Chapter 113: The Emperor's Departure
With that final strike, Evil God Gatanothor was destroyed.
The darkness that had lingered since the dawn of civilisation finally dissipated. Its threat to humanity was extinguished forever. The great battle in the heavens reached its conclusion with Gatanothor's death.
One by one, the three dark giants fell in defeat.
Camearra, Darramb, and Hudra reverted to their human forms. They were immediately arrested and imprisoned. The Zoga swarm was systematically purged. With their dark master dead, their morale was utterly shattered. They turned and fled in panic.
Masaki Keigo and his team pursued them relentlessly. They eliminated every last monster to prevent future threats.
A crisis capable of ending the world had been resolved.
The Emperor's divine form had been witnessed by countless souls worldwide during the battle. Faith in the Emperor took root among the people. It rapidly grew into Earth's dominant religion.
The three major established faiths had once wielded enormous influence. Now they hastily modified their doctrines to align with the Emperor's teachings. They had little choice in the matter.
The Emperor's displays of power during the battle against Gatanothor had shaken even the most devout religious leaders. That immense golden sun blazing in the sky. The worldwide celebrations. Miracles manifest everywhere. Who wouldn't be overwhelmed by such divine spectacle?
A living, true God stood before them. Not the distant deities their leaders had never truly believed existed. There was no comparison. If they failed to adapt, their followers would abandon them overnight.
The destruction of Gatanothor allowed the Victory Team and humanity's far-sighted leaders to breathe a sigh of relief. The dark ruler who had brought down the super-ancient civilisation was gone. They believed that humanity's trials had finally come to an end.
But their relief was premature. Giant plants soon sprouted across the Earth's surface.
The Gijera flowers. The same blossoms that had doomed the Ultra-ancient civilisation.
The pollen they released could transport people into euphoric dream worlds. The lost humans had abandoned the protection of the Giants of Light. Witnessing humanity's choice, the Giants of Light had sealed away their physical forms.
They transformed into pure light and departed from Earth. This abandonment led to the super-ancient civilisation's destruction at Gatanothor's hands.
After experiencing terror at Gatanothor's emergence and elation at the Emperor's salvation, people's minds were exhausted by the emotional turmoil that had consumed them. Upon contact with the Gijera pollen, they quickly succumbed to blissful dreams.
In these visions, they could do anything they desired. They could indulge without consequence, free from judgment or punishment. Even Masaki Keigo, Wu Yue, and others bearing the Thought Steel Seal found Gijera's influence difficult to resist.
In their dreams, they followed the Emperor in conquering the universe. They built a magnificent Human Empire together. The Emperor's gaze was always upon them, treating them as his chosen representatives.
What happiness. What glory.
The Gijera's emergence plunged all of humanity into this false paradise.
Cytech Corporation Laboratory
"This organism functions as corruption," the Emperor observed. His consciousness analysed the Gijera's properties with methodical precision.
"It offers false promises and hollow pleasures to those who succumb to its influence. Those who become dependent believe they have discovered true happiness. They remain unaware of the terrible price such indulgence demands."
"It's actually pretty good stuff," Raven said. He took a deep breath and munched on French fries, trembling slightly with excitement.
"Only problem is you build tolerance fast. Started with just a whiff of pollen, now I need a whole bottle. Give it another week and it'll probably stop working entirely."
"Pleasure leads to degradation," Valdo observed. He shook his head at Raven's behaviour.
"The universe has no up or down," Raven shot back. "How can there be degradation?"
"You always have such twisted logic." Valdo turned away from Raven to address the Emperor. "My Lord, should we destroy the Gijera?"
"No," the Emperor replied. His tone was measured and deliberate.
"While Gijera's pollen can create dependency via manufactured dreams, its core components have the potential to enhance human neural pathways, supporting sustained cognitive activity. Prolonged exposure might even accelerate the next stage of human evolution."
"So what's the plan?" Raven asked curiously.
"I shall seal it within a dimensional maze. There, it will serve as raw material for enhancement serums and as a trial for the chosen. Only those who can break free from the Gijera's illusions through pure willpower may wield Ultraman power. Periodically, those who have mastered such abilities will enter this realm to temper their resolve."
Through his research, the Emperor had discovered something important. Ultraman's power itself held no inherent hierarchy of strength. The combat effectiveness achieved through transformation correlated directly with the human host's willpower and determination.
Daigo had achieved the Shining Tiga form because his kindness was genuine. His protective instincts were unwavering. This allowed him to channel immense power and reach the ultimate transformation. Masaki Keigo and the others lacked this foundation. It prevented them from accessing such forms.
Properly testing their resolve could make them stronger, and this Gijera would serve as the perfect crucible.
As night fell, the Emperor enacted his plan. Reverting to his original form, he appeared before the Gijera flowers. Using only his will, he took control of the plants and created a special extra-dimensional space that only he could access. The Gijera then vanished into this pocket realm.
As the flowers disappeared, so did their pollen. The global haze lifted. Humanity awakened from its artificial paradise to face a harsh reality once more. Some, consumed by rage and withdrawal, directed their fury at the Emperor. They cursed him with vicious words.
Facing this torrent of hatred and blame, the Emperor remained perfectly calm. Under the gaze of the entire world, he made a simple announcement:
"I shall depart."
With those words, he vanished.
The announcement sent shockwaves worldwide. Many immediately thought their actions during the Gijera crisis had disappointed the Emperor, similar to old myths where God, disappointed in human ignorance, chooses to leave the earthly realm for his celestial domain.
Fearing the Emperor's loss, millions flocked from every direction to the Cytech Corporation building. The sheer number of people overwhelmed Kumamoto City's infrastructure, turning streets into vast, unpassable rivers of humanity that stretched to the horizon.
Those who had cursed the Emperor faced swift retaliation. They were stripped naked and bound to makeshift crosses. They were dragged to Kumamoto City, where endless crowds reviled them. Some brought firewood and gasoline, preparing to burn these blasphemers alive.
As the situation spiralled toward chaos, the Emperor appeared.
Before the crowds prepared to die for him and were willing to sacrifice all to support him, he once again manifested his divine form. Under the blazing golden sun, the people wept tears of joy. They showed their devotion in various ways; some bowed their heads in prayer, others cheered loudly, and many cried openly while kneeling or prostrating.
They begged the Emperor not to depart and prayed that he would stay forever.
"I have not abandoned you," the Emperor spoke. His voice carried across the vast assembly without need for amplification. The crowd instinctively fell silent.
"Throughout the vast cosmos, countless souls suffer in darkness. I shall go to them. I will bring light where shadows reign supreme. A fledgling must weather storms before it can soar freely through the skies. The same truth applies to you."
"Do not mourn my departure. Never surrender to despair because of my absence. Grow strong, for one day you shall fight beside me. You will bear my will against enemies beyond your current comprehension."
The Emperor withdrew. He left behind an eerie silence broken only when the first person began to weep. The crying spread like wildfire. Countless voices joined in grief. They understood this might be the last time they would hear his voice or witness his divine presence. He was leaving to save other worlds. None could say when he might return to theirs.
The crowds dispersed in sorrow. They could not force the Emperor to remain out of their own fear. They knew other suffering souls awaited his salvation. Those who had blasphemed against the Emperor received their sentences, lifetime labour to atone for their unforgivable insults.
That they weren't executed by the most terrible tortures imaginable was already an act of mercy.
The Emperor granted access to the dimensional maze containing the Gijera to Masaki Keigo and his team. Raven delivered a final speech to them:
"With sufficient willpower, an unyielding spirit, and tireless struggle, anyone can become light. It doesn't matter if they lack super-ancient warrior genes or weren't chosen by destiny. They can still transform and become Ultraman."
"The rest is up to you. Work hard and build this world into something worthy. One day, the Big Guy and I will return. I hope by then you'll have created a place where everyone can find happiness."
[End of Chapter]