Chapter 21: Rescue
"Wash your hands first when you get home, and remember to rinse your mouth."
"Okay~"
Kara obediently went to do so.
The little girl seemed to be in a good mood on her first day out. It appeared that everything on Earth was new and interesting to her.
After returning, Orin Vale once again headed straight underground.
While he was out, his armor had been running a system update. He had tried to directly link the Hyperspace Bracelet's built-in system with the armor, allowing it to share some of the bracelet's functions.
For example, the Spatial Fluctuation Scan had previously helped him discover the entrance to the Rock of Eternity and the rift created when Kara's spaceship burst out of the Phantom Zone.
And then there was the Negative Phase Wave setting, which he had finally managed to get online after several days of tinkering.
This was also a new technique he had learned from the Land of Light Technology Bureau.
As mentioned before, in their own universe, the Ultraman Race was already a civilization at the cosmic pinnacle. Few fantasy franchises have a decades-long history like the Ultraman series, where the top-tier combatants all belong to the protagonists' side.
With such strength, it was natural for psychological issues to arise. Ever since the Land of Light produced a Belial and then a Tregear, the mental health and moral development of the Ultraman Race had become a major focus.
The Negative Phase Wave technology was born out of this need.
Simply put, it could detect any "Darkness" that was the opposite of "Light" according to the fundamental definition of the Ultraman Race. If an Ultraman was infected and posed a potential threat of corruption, they could be scanned immediately. Or if some ancient demon god, like a dominator of darkness, was about to awaken in some forgotten corner, it could also potentially be sensed.
With an even broader definition, it could even detect the darkness generated within a living being's heart if it reached a certain magnitude.
Its technical principle wasn't complex, but it was incredibly practical for Orin Vale's current situation. Eliminating Darkness was, in itself, a way of collecting Light, making it an auxiliary tool to help him scan for missions and grind experience.
"Armor energy at 94%."
"That's about right. Activate stealth. Pal, let's go out and test its effectiveness."
The red and silver mobile Ultraman armor finished materializing around him, and the indicator on its chest lit up with an azure glow. Igniting the thrusters at its feet, it soared into the sky on a plume of fire.
Negative Phase Wave Scan, activate!
The interface on the built-in display quickly changed, and an icon resembling a radar scan appeared in the lower-right corner. The main view in his field of vision then lit up, somewhat resembling an infrared detection interface, except the background was a warm hue. All detected Darkness would be conspicuously marked.
And at this moment, with the system activated, Orin Vale looked out and saw...
A dark cloud pressing down on the city.
An immense, oppressive patch, all of it Darkness.
Orin Vale: "..."
Did I open this thing the wrong way?
"Pal, is there a problem with this system?"
"The system is functioning completely normally."
"Yeah, I thought so," Orin Vale nodded.
What was I thinking? Of course, this is to be expected.
After all, this is Gotham.
Maple Street.
This was a dim room, filled with foul odors and debris, like a forgotten thorn bush.
The old wallpaper on the walls had been worn by time into yellowish cracks, like an old newspaper gnawed by the years. The messy quilt on the bed had long lost its original softness and comfort. The smell of smoke permeating the air and the piles of trash scattered on the floor seemed to tell the story of a failure.
Yes, a failure.
Nello Cabezas, that was the name of the man in the middle of the trash heap.
A half-eaten raspberry jam pie lay on the headboard, and spilled beer cans—more than one—were tossed on the yellow carpet.
He had drunk almost the entire case of beer, but the medicine bottle on the counter was still crammed full of pills. It was a prescription for antidepressants from a month ago, which he clearly had not been taking as directed, choosing beer as a substitute.
The cellphone was carelessly tossed aside, playing a recording from voicemail on speakerphone.
The voice of a young girl.
"...I'm so sorry, but we can't go on like this."
"I can't see a future if we continue like this. I have to plan for my future."
"You're a good person. We're just not a good fit."
"..."
"Fuck."
Nello angrily threw the cellphone. The innocent phone hit the wall and fell into the pile of debris, the voice cutting off abruptly.
He clutched his head in suffering, his ten fingers digging deep into his greasy, messy hair that hadn't been washed in days.
Not a good fit? What does that mean?
It's just because I have no money.
He had just lost his job and hadn't even covered last month's rent. He only had a few days left this month before the landlord would kick him out of the apartment.
And now this.
"How pitiful..."
A voice sounded from the darkness.
Nello jumped, looking around nervously.
"Who's there?"
The person didn't answer the question but continued with a cold laugh, "So weak, so pathetic. You've lost everything, unable to protect even that tiny bit of happiness you had..."
Nello clutched his head. "Stop it, stop talking!"
"But you still have a chance to turn it all around."
"I do?"
"Of course, because you've met me."
It was like the whispers of a demon, coaxing people to sign a contract of life and death.
"I can give you power, allowing you to obtain everything you deserve. The people who bullied you, you can pay them back a hundredfold. The people who trampled you underfoot, you can humiliate them to your heart's content!
You will become the king of this world, wielding unparalleled power, able to do as you please, to dominate everything!"
"I can... do as I please, dominate everything..."
Nello's breathing grew heavy, and his gaze became feverish, as if filled with anticipation for the future.
"That's right," the voice continued its seductive persuasion. "When that time comes, what difficulty would there be in making that girl change her mind and come back?"
"No."
Nello's presence gradually swelled. He held his head high, his expression turning arrogant, as if in his imagination he had already become the emperor reigning over the world.
"Once I'm that powerful, why would I still want her?"
The voice in the darkness choked for a moment, its train of thought interrupted.
Fortunately, it was an experienced salesman and quickly recovered.
"Haha, exactly. At that time, won't the beauties of the world be yours for the taking? What kind of woman couldn't you find?
So, are you ready to sign the contract with me?"
There was nothing to hesitate about. Nello felt he had nothing left to lose. He wanted power, even if it meant selling his soul.
But just in the instant before he could agree...
A beam of light penetrated the windowpane, shining into the filthy room.
It was alarmingly bright.
"Sorry if I'm interrupting."
The red and silver armor hovered outside the window.
The pupils of the figure in the shadows instantly shrank.
Although it was human-sized and had the appearance of armor, its classic red and silver color scheme, along with that powerful and highly recognizable fluctuation of Light...
"I'll need to see your Soul Trading License," a calm voice came from inside the armor.
Nello: "?"
The bewildered homeowner had no idea what was going on. He instinctively looked toward the shadowy figure beside him...
Huh? Where did the shadow go?
The moment the light pierced through, the shadow had transformed into a straight line of black mist, fleeing into the distance like an arrow.
As it fled, it shrieked in a voice only a demonic spirit could hear.
"Help, help, help! I've run into an Ultraman—"
(end of chapter)