Seeing Xia Yan's hesitant, uncertain expression and his lack of response, Dan Moroboshi thought he still didn't believe.
So, he pulled down the zipper of his MAC team uniform and took out a newspaper from an inner pocket.
Clatter. A burnt, red pair of glasses fell out along with it. Dan Moroboshi's expression didn't change. He casually hooked the Ultra Eye up from the ground with his iron crutch.
As an Ultraman, even if he couldn't transform, keeping his transformation device close to his body was perfectly reasonable.
However, what puzzled Xia Yan was: logically, shouldn't a man with a lame leg have difficulty moving? So why did Dan Moroboshi's movements look so smooth?
Could this guy be faking it...
The newspaper Dan Moroboshi handed over pulled Xia Yan's wandering thoughts back.
Currently, newspapers across Tokyo were selling like crazy. The appearance of a new Ultraman warrior, who, together with Leo, destroyed the twin monsters and Magma Seijin.
Public discussion would likely continue for a while. Dan Moroboshi had bought a copy on his way here, mainly because this content was something he had secretly leaked.
Otherwise, even though Leo had only fought once, his fame spread rapidly, which definitely required舆论 support.
People needed a hero. Heroes were necessary.
Xia Yan took the newspaper and looked down. The first thing he saw was the bold, enlarged black font and a photo of himself transformed into his giant Ultraman form.
なに!? The Descendant of the Original Ultraman is the Salty Egg Superman!?
?
Seeing just the headline on the newspaper, Xia Yan's entire face instantly resembled the "old man looking at phone" meme.
He turned to Dan Moroboshi beside him, his expression bewildered: "What's with this title!? Who came up with that name!?"
"Uh..." Dan Moroboshi looked slightly embarrassed. He hadn't known Xia Yan's transformed name, so he hadn't provided one.
Who would have thought the newspaper would come up with such a name?
Quickly putting on a stern face to change the subject, he spoke with an air of seriousness: "That's not important. Look, these are photos taken by satellite at the time!"
"Your entire face is almost identical to the original Ultraman's. If the body stripes were changed to red, it would be exactly the same."
With that, he suddenly grabbed Xia Yan's shoulders with both hands, letting his crutch fall to the floor, his face full of excitement: "I really am your Uncle Seven!"
Xia Yan's face darkened. What do you mean, 'the title isn't important'!?
Damn, if they can name me 'Salty Egg Superman' today, will it be 'Giant Mountain Super Power' tomorrow?
However, prompted by Dan Moroboshi, Xia Yan realized his transformed appearance did indeed resemble the original Ultaman quite a lot.
Frowning slightly, he sensed something was off, a bad premonition rising in his heart.
That earlier dream... Zoffy, Ribut.
In comparison, lacking a color timer, he was actually more similar to Ribut.
And right after his first transformation, the Shin Ultraman version of Zoffy appeared in his dream. It was all so coincidental.
But when coincidences reached this level, Xia Yan couldn't help but suspect that dream held deeper meaning.
The only thing he couldn't figure out was that, apart from before age five, his memories showed nothing abnormal about his body—it was just like an ordinary person's.
And memories before five were already fuzzy, a common phenomenon for everyone.
It couldn't be from back then, could it...
Seeing Xia Yan momentarily dazed, Dan Moroboshi thought he was finally about to accept the 'truth'.
In his excitement, the hands gripping Xia Yan's shoulders squeezed a bit too hard.
The pain in his shoulders made Xia Yan暂时 set aside his thoughts. Regardless, he was still himself.
Whether Ribut or Shin Ultraman Zoffy, as long as he was strong enough, he had nothing to fear. "Captain." After a moment's thought, Xia Yan prepared his explanation. Looking at Dan Moroboshi's intensely focused gaze, he put on a somewhat odd expression, his tone slightly哭笑不得:
"Is it possible... that I am the original Ultraman from a parallel universe?"
Dan Moroboshi's smile instantly froze.
The excited expression slowly faded from his face, and his hands gripping Xia Yan's shoulders involuntarily loosened.
Thinking of something, his heart gave a lurch, but he made one last attempt at denial:
"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"
He had already sent the Ultra Sign! And the news was spreading on Earth to boost morale!
If this turned out to be fake, how would the original Ultraman react when he arrived?
Dan Moroboshi hardly dared to imagine.
Xia Yan tactfully continued driving the point home: "Actually, I just arrived on this Earth. There are no traces of my life here, no identity records either."
"But you and Gen are friends..." Dan Moroboshi's face was full of shock, eyes wide. Could the information I found be false?!
"Oh, that. I discovered Magma Seijin and the twin monsters. Thinking my strength wasn't enough, I went to Minami Gymnasium to call and contact you all."
"The identity I told Hiko and the others earlier was just an excuse I thought of to get close quickly."
"Yeah, Captain." Gen, who had been standing by, chimed in: "To help cover for Xia Yan-san, I told Hiko and the others I've known Xia Yan-san since childhood."
Dan Moroboshi staggered, looking at Xia Yan and Gen with deep痛心疾首.
Damn it, why didn't you say so earlier, why didn't you say so earlier!
Seeing this, Gen quickly stepped forward to support him. Noticing Dan Moroboshi's gradually paling face, he asked worriedly:
"Captain, are you alright?"
Dan Moroboshi turned to look at Gen's face, feeling an impulse to slap him.
Alright? Things are utterly messed up!
In the end, he didn't deliver the Ultraman slap. Dan Moroboshi put on a stern face, his expression serious, as if the earlier乌龙 had never happened.
His gaze严厉 as he looked at Gen, he reprimanded: "Have you perfected your techniques yet?! What are you doing standing around here!"
Then, his eyes shifted to Xia Yan: "And you! How will you get stronger without training!"
Gen gave an "Oh" and turned to leave. Seeing Dan Moroboshi was in a bad state, Xia Yan decided not to provoke him further.
But just as the two reached the doorframe, a stern voice came from behind:
"Remember! No one is to speak of what happened today!"
Dan Moroboshi had already picked up his crutch. His gaze fixed on the two looking back, his voice low: "Otherwise..."
Whoosh!
A sharp sound cut through the air. A hole suddenly appeared in the floor!
Gen looked at Dan Moroboshi's iron crutch, then at the hole it had punctured.
Remembering how his own neck had once been pressed by it, a chill ran down his spine. He immediately put on a serious face:
"We saw absolutely nothing today!"
With that, he grabbed Xia Yan's arm and hastily made his escape.
Too dangerous! So the Captain's crutch is this terrifying!
Watching the two leave, Dan Moroboshi's stern expression gradually fell, then kept shifting.
Now the Ultra Sign had been sent and couldn't be recalled. Newspapers were spreading the news everywhere. Things had gone this far.
Gritting his teeth, Dan Moroboshi made a decision in his heart that went against brotherly camaraderie. After all, they hadn't spared him from their pranks back in the day.
Brother Original, you'll have to bear this black mark.
Xia Yan holds resentment towards you. Now he only acknowledges you as a brother. I, your comrade, have done my best to help.
Meanwhile, in space, the Ultra Sign sent by Dan Moroboshi was about to reach the Land of Light...