12. Reckless Acts of Violence

Qi Ming, who had just sent the delusional Seven flying, stood in the center of the battlefield, surveying the four monsters surrounding him. His imposing presence gave the members of the Victory Team the strange impression that it was not he who was surrounded by the monsters, but rather that he had them completely encircled.

In the next moment, Qi Ming took the initiative to strike, launching a leaping high front kick at Sadra. The swift blow missed as Sadra dodged to its left front side, seizing the opportunity to strike Seven’s back with its massive pincers.

“Just as expected, he took the bait.” Qi Ming spun around and followed up with a whip-like punch, landing heavily on Sadra’s head and sending it flying backwards.

Nagi Saijo remarked, “Exploiting flaws, hiding moves within moves—Seven has never fought like this before…”

“Lightning Wind Kick!” Qi Ming unleashed a high sweeping kick, knocking the charging Taiton away.

Then, facing the delusional Seven, Qi Ming removed the ice axe from his headgear and stepped forward with a downward stab, determined to finish the fight before Sadra and Taiton could recover.

The delusional Seven dodged left with a flick, drawing his own ice axe for a horizontal slash and counter sweep.

Startled, Qi Ming bent low to avoid the strike, countering with a horizontal slash to the abdomen, delivering a heavy blow to the delusional Seven.

“Who is this guy? So clumsy just moments ago, but now so agile? Does he grow stronger when facing tougher opponents?” Emi Shiraki wondered, puzzled.

Kishida asked, “Should we send support to the second Seven? I think he’s on the side of justice.”

Nagi Saijo replied, “Wait a moment. Don’t jump to conclusions.”

Qi Ming was confused. Isn’t it obvious whose side he’s on now? Never mind, he hadn’t expected to rely on them to win anyway.

Wielding the ice axe, Qi Ming executed a three-hit combo against the delusional Seven: a horizontal throat slash, a reverse rib strike, and a finishing overhead stab—each strike lightning fast and leaving the opponent severely wounded.

At that moment, Sadra rose again, its right pincer shooting out like a hook, attempting a sneak attack to choke Seven.

Hearing the rushing sound behind him, Qi Ming spun without looking back, delivering a reverse vertical chop that severed Sadra’s right arm. Meanwhile, the two Victory Swallow One fighters suppressed Taiton with their firepower before it could react.

Yamamoto exclaimed, “What a formidable Seven!”

In the command room, Dan Hoshizora finally smiled after a long time. “He surpasses even me.”

But could an archaeologist really possess such combat skills? His reflexes were astonishingly fast.

The suspicious and cautious Nagi Saijo was even more perplexed. Seven’s fighting style had changed so much, resembling that of the tricolor giant who appeared at the pyramid.

---

The fleeing civilians felt a wave of relief, uncertain of the situation but sensing safety.

Several delinquent gang members wore expressions of surviving catastrophe. “Thank goodness! I knew we’d be fine!”

After knocking down three monsters in succession, Qi Ming glanced at the “Wu,” which lingered on the outskirts without attacking the fleeing crowd. It dared not advance, putting on a bluffing fierce stance while eyeing the fallen Xiaoxue and several smug gang members in the distance, seeming anxious.

“So that’s what’s going on…” Qi Ming understood.

The girl Xiaoxue and the monster “Wu” originated from Ultraman’s 30th episode, “Illusory Snow Mountain.”

Whenever Xiaoxue suffered persecution from villagers, the spirit of her deceased mother would manifest as “Wu,” appearing wrathful.

In the final instance, due to Ultraman’s intervention blocking “Wu,” isolated Xiaoxue froze to death in the snow, and “Wu” lost its reason for existence and vanished.

The five delinquents came from Ultraman Ace’s 44th episode, “Fierce Battle! Ace Vs. Seven Ultraman.”

They had deliberately left a boy named Naoto near death and cruelly humiliated Mamo, who came seeking justice. When they decided to cause trouble, the delusional Seven pursued them to divert the chaos eastward, only for Ultraman Ace to rescue them in the end.

Because of Ultraman’s interference, those who should have lived died, and those who should have died survived instead.

“I won’t stop you anymore. Go defend your child,” Seven signaled, stepping aside and gesturing “this way,” no longer hindering “Wu” and the delusional Seven.

Having gained intelligence from fighting Qi Ming, the delusional Seven now wielded psychokinesis, drawing the five delinquents toward him.

“Wu” let out a fierce roar and lunged at the five.

“Help! What’s going on? Isn’t Ultraman supposed to protect humans? Save me!” one screamed.

“We know we’re wrong, please spare us!” they begged.

Qi Ming remained unmoved, coldly watching the actions of “Wu” and the delusional Seven.

“What is he doing?” Dan Hoshizora’s smile froze in the command room. The shock left the four members of the Victory Team stunned.

Nagi Saijo was the first to react, firing lasers from the Victory Swallow at “Wu.”

Qi Ming raised a barrier, blocking the laser, unwilling to complicate matters further.

“Seven is actually condoning the monster’s rampage! Is he in league with it?” Yamamoto was stunned, and Nagi Saijo’s face turned pale.

With no external interference, the five delinquents fell into despair.

---

It became a massacre. The five delinquents endured torture and pain far beyond what Xiaoxue had suffered at their hands, their screams inhuman.

Qi Ming could now focus entirely on Sadra and Taiton.

He spread his arms, intending to absorb light energy through the chest armor to replenish his strength, only to find it ineffective.

Due to damage to the Ultra Glasses, his scan of Seven showed only 45%; apparently, the missing 15% resided here.

With no means of endurance, he had to finish this quickly.

Magnetic fog from Sadra thickened the air, lowering visibility and leaving Qi Ming with a bad feeling.

He gripped the ice axe and launched a reverse slash at Taiton, who immediately dodged backward, allowing Qi Ming to seize the moment and deliver a spinning back kick, sending it flying.

While Taiton lay incapacitated, Qi Ming concentrated energy in his brow and released the green “Emerim Ray” from the light beam projector, striking Taiton.

“Bang!” Taiton exploded violently, a small green glow absorbed into the upper right button of Qi Ming’s watch.

[Store/Transform].

Qi Ming had no regard for this powerless monster that couldn’t even breathe fire.

Choosing transformation, the main control interface changed.

Star Gift: 5.

Perception: 2/5.

Sure enough, just a lowly C-rank.

Suddenly, a foul wind rushed from behind.

Qi Ming assumed Sadra was sneaking an attack and immediately swung his axe backward, but struck nothing.

The space behind him was empty; Sadra’s figure was nowhere to be seen, and Qi Ming could sense no trace of its presence.

Had it fled back into the mountains?

Qi Ming looked toward the snow-covered mountains shrouded in fog. The glaciers and rocks, distorted by the mist, took on grotesque, terrifying shapes—monsters lurking in and out of sight, seemingly ready to pounce at any moment.

The cold wind swept by, carrying a low, eerie howl that seemed to blend with faint, ghostly sounds of chewing and swallowing.