Chapter 11 Kajio: Are My Teammates Sabotaging Me?

Perception abilities—each Adapted One possesses a unique superpower that allows them to pinpoint the exact location of alien beasts. On Gaia Earth, knowing where monsters appear is naturally within the realm of possibility.

Qiao Zhe was still pondering whether the transformation device in his hand belonged to the Radiance of the Lord of the Sky, when suddenly, an image flashed directly into his mind. In a desert, where yellow sand billowed endlessly, the Lightning Team's fighter jets were engaged in a dogfight with a mass of liquid gray metal!

"This is... the metal life-form Apatite?"

Seeing this, Qiao Zhe immediately understood what was happening, his gaze falling to the transformation device on his wrist. The red Y-shaped energy core flickered softly, pulsing like a heartbeat.

After a brief consideration, he headed toward a nearby public restroom. Since he possessed the radiance of this earth, he ought to do something. It was the perfect time to try out the Lord of the Sky.

The radiance in his hand was neither Gaia's nor Agul's. That left only the Sky Light mentioned in the abandoned TV plans. Though this was reality and surely different, he hadn't expected Gaia Earth to truly have it.

Really, how many fragments of Earth’s radiance exist?

Meanwhile, in the desert, the Peace was soaring overhead, while the Lightning Team’s three fighters pursued the metal life-form. Among them, Kaji’s piloting skills stood out—he was the ace, rarely ever crashing. Kitada and Okawara, on the other hand, were like an alternative Shinjo and Daigo. The Lightning Team’s error rate was largely inflated by this duo infamous for crashing.

Of course, fighting monsters was extremely dangerous, and crashes were inevitable. Okawara’s fighter nearly collided head-on with the metal life-form!

“Ah—danger!”

With a startled cry, Okawara yanked the flight stick, barely scraping past the metal life-form!

Through the transparent canopy, its liquid body was visible.

“Raa!!”

A sound like an elephant’s trumpeting echoed, a faint electromagnetic wave radiating out, disrupting the fighter’s targeting system.

“Lightning Two, Lightning Three, hold your attack—delay!”

Kaji, the squad leader, warned his two teammates, then reported to Director Tsuji on the Peace, “I’m picking up weak electromagnetic transmissions from the target!”

“Understood.” On the Peace, Tsuji nodded toward My Dream behind him. “My Dream, can you analyze it?”

The moment the transmission arrived, My Dream was already dissecting the data on the computer. Eyes locked on the screen, he replied, “Yes, I’ll try!”

The electromagnetic wave was converted into a video signal, but instability rendered it little more than snowy static, with only vague outlines discernible.

Meanwhile, the chase between the Lightning Team and the metal life-form was becoming increasingly intense. Any further delay could put their side at a disadvantage.

Kaji gave the order: “Attack!”

The three fighters looped and twisted in the sky, all taking aim at the metal life-form.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Several thermal missiles streaked toward Apatite, exploding in brilliant flames on impact! Yet, as the missiles struck, Apatite’s liquid body instantly transformed into metal, then plummeted to the desert below.

Boom!

The spot where Apatite fell erupted in a flash of fire across the sand. It seemed as though the thermal missiles had finished it off, but in truth Apatite was lurking beneath the desert’s surface.

With the desert as cover, the Lightning Team couldn’t make sense of the situation and halted their attack.

Inside XIG’s airborne base, Qiao Ji and Atsuko, witnessing the scene, believed the enemy had been destroyed. They couldn’t help but clap in celebration.

“We got it!”

“Yes!”

Even Staff Officer Chiba pumped his fist, face alight with excitement. “Excellent! Excellent!”

It was as if they were ready to pop open the champagne at halftime.

Only Shishi remained calm, asking with concern, “How’s the situation?”

But as soon as his words fell, crisis struck!

From the spot where Apatite crashed, a metal spear shot out at lightning speed—an abrupt ambush! Okawara was hit, nearly sacrificing himself heroically.

“Ugh—Lightning Three hit!”

The metal spear launched by Apatite pierced straight through the fighter’s wing! Human technology seemed like nothing but paper to it—the hole in the wing spat sparks and black smoke.

“Bail out quickly!” Director Tsuji’s urgent voice rang out over the comms.

Okawara pressed the ejection switch in haste. Luckily, despite severe damage, the fighter didn’t malfunction at this crucial moment.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t even have soup left—he wasn’t Daigo, after all.

Like a shell fired from a cannon, the cockpit carried Okawara straight into the sky.

Lightning Three, now uncontrollable, veered down and smashed into the desert in a fiery explosion.

A mass of liquid metal surged from the sand, converging into one!

“Raa!!”

With a trumpeting roar like an elephant, the metal liquid transformed into a giant armored being! On its forehead gleamed a yellow cyclopean eye, its chest bore a blue energy timer, mimicking Gaia’s design.

“Damn it!” Kitada, seeing his comrade’s fighter destroyed, immediately yanked his controls!

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Several thermal missiles roared toward Apatite, but only managed to send sparks flying from its body.

Clearly, the damage was negligible.

Attacked, Apatite raised its iron arm, morphing it into a sword and thrusting!

Crack!

Lightning Two’s wing erupted in black smoke, clearly about to crash.

“Ugh! Lightning Two hit! I’m bailing out!”

For the second time, Kitada uttered words similar to Okawara’s, not even waiting for Director Tsuji to speak—he abandoned ship without hesitation.

You could sense his eagerness.

There was no choice; had he waited any longer, he’d have been buried along with the wreckage.

The cockpit shot Kitada skyward, while Lightning Two followed Lightning Three’s fate, crashing into the desert in flames.

Now only Lightning One was left, struggling on.

With two fighters down in quick succession, My Dream glanced sideways, a helpless expression on his face.

Although losses were unavoidable in monster battles, the rate of crashes seemed far too quick.

Just then, the computer’s video analysis finally cleared. My Dream stared at the image of Gaia, his expression stunned.

“So that’s how it is! I understand now!”

“This creature must have received information about Ultraman from somewhere in the universe, which is why it came to Earth!”

Thus, this enemy appeared because of Gaia.

Thinking of this, My Dream looked at Director Tsuji ahead, discreetly unbuckling his seatbelt.

Just as he was preparing to head to the Peace’s lower hatch—

A thunderous roar echoed across the sky!