Chapter 25: When Did You Lose Weight?
The scene shifted seamlessly, and familiar surroundings unfolded before Qiao Zhe’s eyes.
Right after, the AI’s prompt sounded.
[Detecting information...]
[Specium Ray mastered. You may choose advanced training or learn a new skill: Eight-Slice Light Wheel.]
“Huh? The Specium Ray can be advanced?” Qiao Zhe’s eyes lit up at the news.
But the Eight-Slice Light Wheel also made his heart itch with anticipation. Ace’s infamous dismemberment moves flashed through his mind—all those massage techniques worthy of a meat-processing plant director. Even the super beasts couldn’t help but praise them, not a single bad review. Especially the handheld Eight-Slice Light Wheel, or the Ultra Disk Blade, which cured Zoffy’s years-old ‘neck problems.’
After careful consideration, Qiao Zhe couldn’t bear to give up the Eight-Slice Light Wheel, so he decided to train in both.
“I want to learn both the advanced Specium Ray and the Eight-Slice Light Wheel!”
Only children make choices; adults want it all.
The AI stalled for a moment, but thanks to Noah’s modifications, it no longer acted like artificial stupidity.
[Training plan reset.]
[Simulation training objectives: Rainbow Specium Ray, Eight-Slice Light Wheel.]
[Rainbow Specium Ray principle: Enhanced ray, condenses most energy for compressed transformation, power several times greater than standard Specium Ray.]
[Eight-Slice Light Wheel principle: Gathers Specium energy in the right hand, compresses it, and forms a high-speed rotating circular saw blade.]
[Simulation begins, countdown 30...29...]
Still a thirty-second countdown, giving Qiao Zhe time to understand the skill’s principles.
“Rainbow Specium Ray? I think the original Ultraman used that.”
“So, to craft the Eight-Slice Light Wheel, I need to convert light energy into Specium energy.”
With his foundational knowledge, understanding these principles wasn’t difficult. There’s that proverb—one sentence for true teaching, ten thousand volumes for false. The old master held nothing back.
This special training field alone would be an overpowered learning tool for any other Ultraman.
As Qiao Zhe grasped everything, the countdown ended.
He noticed another figure in the training field—someone besides himself—and immediately focused.
Strictly speaking, it wasn’t a person, but an unfamiliar alien.
---
A slender body cloaked in jet black, eyes formed by curved blue lines, a transparent organ at the mouth that flickered with yellow light, gray metallic coils around the neck resembling a tie—the entire alien exuded an aura of gentlemanly elegance.
Mephilas, the alien appearing in the Shin Ultraman movie.
When Qiao Zhe had crossed over in his previous life, the Shin Ultraman movie hadn’t been released, so he felt unfamiliar. Plus, Mephilas’s physique differed from the Mephilas he knew, so he failed to recognize him at first.
If it were Zarab, with its flattened shell-like body and distinct chrysanthemum-shaped mouth, he’d spot the connection instantly.
“Hey.” Seeing the other make no move, Qiao Zhe called out, circling a few steps to observe him from the side. “Strange, you seem familiar, but I’ve never seen you before.”
He was certain the other was an alien, but the appearance felt both familiar and elusive.
Frankly, this alien looked kind of cool to Qiao Zhe.
Who are you, handsome?
From the side, he noticed a protruding metallic lump on the alien’s back.
Unable to place him, Qiao Zhe stopped and habitually tossed out trash talk.
“Well, weaklings’ names don’t matter—I’m not interested.”
“Come on, amuse me a little. Or have you already been scared stiff?”
He beckoned with one hand, the other nonchalantly picking at his ear, as if dismissing the opponent.
It looked like taunting, but was in fact a ploy to provoke the alien into revealing information.
Qiao Zhe kept up his vigilance, ready for any sudden attack.
But contrary to his expectations, the alien didn’t get angry.
“How arrogant, but...” Mephilas observed Qiao Zhe, “your tactics are far too immature.”
Qiao Zhe frowned slightly, dropping the act.
“A cerebral alien, and so gentlemanly—you remind me of someone, though the difference is vast.”
Since he’d been seen through, he abandoned the pretense, then couldn’t help but ask, “Mephilas, did you lose weight?”
“Thank you for the compliment,” Mephilas responded politely, denying it. “But my figure has always been excellent; I’ve never needed to lose weight.”
Mephilas and Mephilas—the names were nearly identical, and he didn’t notice anything amiss.
Having confirmed the identity, Qiao Zhe eyed him with disbelief. Mephilas was never slim.
Yet this Mephilas looked completely different from his kin.
Perhaps he was stronger, and at that thought, Qiao Zhe grew more cautious.
There’s a rule in the Ultra universe: ugly aliens may be weak, but the cool-looking ones are always strong.
Mephilas now surveyed his surroundings.
---
“An unknown, unfamiliar space. Somehow, I was pulled in here.”
“So, who are you?”
As he asked, Mephilas produced a Beta Device. “A sudden attack, and if you don’t explain, it won’t be good for either of us.”
Though a gentleman by nature, Mephilas was by no means lacking in temper.
Clearly, in his universe, Mephilas hadn’t yet discovered Earth, or he’d have recognized Qiao Zhe as human.
Feeling the alien’s hostility, Qiao Zhe thought, since a fight is inevitable, I might as well play along.
“Mephilas, would you bother explaining to someone about to die?”
He retorted, as the Blue Jewel transformation device appeared on his wrist.
“I understand,” Mephilas raised the Beta Device, his tone calm. “Ignorance—a phrase I dislike very much.”
Dragged into an unknown space, forced into battle with no intelligence on the opponent—Mephilas was in a foul mood.
“I dislike violence, but regrettably, negotiations have failed.”
With those words, Mephilas pressed the Beta Device. Red and white light erupted!
Whoosh—
The intense red and white glow stunned Qiao Zhe for a moment.
Wait—Mephilas can transform?
‘No, something’s wrong. This isn’t a transformation at all!’
Under Qiao Zhe’s gaze, Mephilas’s entire body enlarged!
‘Is he using energy to grow giant?’
The technique was similar to Ultraman’s, but he sensed it wasn’t powered by light energy.
In fact, in Shin Ultraman, advanced aliens possessed this technology.
Mephilas looked down at Qiao Zhe, his amplified senses probing for details.
He frowned inwardly: ‘Such feeble energy—I could defeat him with a casual blow.’
But in that instant, silver light burst forth, energy levels skyrocketing!
“What?! Impossible!” Mephilas was utterly shocked, disbelief written all over his face. “This makes no sense!”