Chapter Sixty: Absorbing the Energy of Darkness

Director Zewei gazed at the tea before him, lost in thought. After a long silence, he finally spoke.

“Don’t you feel that TPC has changed lately, Captain Ju Jian?”

“Changed?” Hui Ju Jian regarded Director Zewei with a thoughtful expression, her fair face clouded with gravity.

“The power of the giants is certainly not something humanity can control at this stage,” Director Zewei said, turning his neatly parted hair towards Hui Ju Jian with solemnity. “Yet some people are obsessed with this uncontrollable power!”

“Are you suggesting…?” Hui Ju Jian tightened her delicate fists, her pupils contracting.

“That’s right. I sensed something was wrong long ago. Announcing the research into the giants’ power was merely a bait, intended to lure out those who wish to seize it!”

Director Zewei once again crossed his legs, emanating the aura of someone in command.

“So, once they take the bait, your Victory Team must act!”

“I understand!” Hui Ju Jian finally grasped the director’s intentions, feeling a sense of relief. With his wise leadership, TPC would stand strong!

—————————

Elsewhere, Da Gu drove the Sherlock patrol car, personally escorting Mihoko and Longze Yue home. For Longze Yue and Mihoko, it had been an unpleasant yet strangely enjoyable afternoon.

Returning to his warm house, Longze Yue immediately indulged in a hot bath, soaking leisurely in the tub. The warmth enveloped his body, bringing a comfort so profound that it made him let out a few contented… moans…

“Zzz—” As he soaked, Longze Yue noticed the Dark Divine Rod emitting strange noises and flashing again.

“Damn! Camilla! Are you draining the Rod’s energy again!” Longze Yue exclaimed, recalling how his energy had diminished during his last transformation while tailing the man in black.

Just as he expected, Camilla’s graceful figure slowly appeared before him out of thin air.

“Holy… you really know how to pick your moments!” Longze Yue, naked in the bath, was startled by her sudden appearance, quickly covering himself with both hands.

“What goes around comes around!” Camilla crossed her slender arms over her chest, speaking in a haunting tone.

“I’ll pay! I’ll pay! Just please stop watching me bathe!” Longze Yue protested, his face innocent.

At his words, Camilla’s enchanting expression soured, her face darkening as she stared at him intently.

Longze Yue, bare and exposed, felt increasingly uncomfortable under her gaze.

…

“Forget it, I won’t argue with you!” After a pause, Camilla seemed unwilling to quarrel further.

“I only appeared to remind you—because I’ve drained the energy again, your transformation time on Earth will be limited to just one minute next time,” she said calmly, her beautiful eyes devoid of emotion.

“Only one minute…” Longze Yue wasn’t too concerned. The monsters in this timeline weren’t particularly strong, so with his current abilities, he could resolve most battles within a minute.

But when it came to the final boss, the evil god Gatangeer, even if he had an hour instead of a minute, his current strength would not suffice to defeat it.

Therefore, whether he had one or three minutes made little difference to him now.

“But, how can I restore the energy that’s been drained?” This was his greatest concern.

“It’ll recover slowly over time, or you can actively absorb dark energy,” Camilla informed him.

“In this timeline, there should also be another version of me, as well as Hitlera and Daram,” she continued.

Her alluring red lips curled into a sly smile, as if she were up to mischief.

“You mean… absorb their dark energy?” Longze Yue’s expression became subtly intrigued.

“Don’t you think that’s interesting?” Camilla teased, licking her ruby lips with a tongue as delicate as a flower, her seduction reaching its peak. The sight made Longze Yue, naked in the tub, feel a surge of… passionate heat in a certain part of his body.

“Forgive me…” Longze Yue silently recited.

“But…”

Before he could finish, Camilla cut him off.

“There’s nothing to worry about. You possess the power of the ancient giants—don’t you have any sense of adventure? If you absorb the dark energy from the versions of me and Hitlera in this timeline, the benefits for both of us are immense!” Camilla frowned slightly, dissatisfied with Longze Yue. She recalled how the Dark Tiga of the past had been so bold and courageous, unlike the hesitant man before her.

“Adventurous spirit…” Longze Yue was stunned, his gaze growing hazy as he looked at the scene before him.

Since becoming Ultraman, he’d never really taken the initiative. Even back in that other timeline, when Zero asked for his help, he’d hesitated at first.

Ultraman, Ancient Warrior…

Not only must one have the will to protect, but also the heart to adventure!

It seemed he had not yet acquired the true resolve of a giant…

The atmosphere grew heavy, silence lingering so long the bathwater began to cool.

“You’re right, Camilla. Perhaps I do lack a bit of adventurous spirit,” Longze Yue sighed, finally speaking, “Let’s set out at once!”

“That’s more like it!” Camilla’s stern countenance finally softened with a hint of joy, and she nodded before swiftly merging into the Dark Divine Rod beside the bathtub.

Longze Yue quickly dried himself and dressed. It was already evening, and before leaving, he greeted his grandmother, telling her he might not return tonight.

Grandmother nodded, encouraging him to do what he must. Her aged face wore a constant gentle smile, stirring Longze Yue’s feelings once again.

Lulue Island still lay submerged in the dark, mysterious depths of the Pacific Ocean. The statues of Camilla and her dark trio remained intact, sealed within a mountain cave on Lulue Island in this timeline.

Snowflakes drifted down, and in the snowy night, the snow had already risen to cover Longze Yue’s boots. In a deserted, remote place, he raised the Dark Divine Rod high, and a massive black-and-silver figure soared through the sky, breaking through the air with a thunderous sound.

From the moment he transformed, the core timer on Longze Yue’s chest began to flash alternately red and white.

The flashing red light from the start meant, as Camilla had said, he had only one minute of activity.

Longze Yue flew at full speed through the sky, thick clouds brushing past his face. Accompanied by the timer’s flashing and beeping, his determined gaze fixed on the Pacific Ocean.

His destination: Lulue Island, submerged beneath the Pacific.