Chapter Seventy-Six: The Mad Dowager Duchess

Whether in private homes or on public televisions in open squares, almost every screen was broadcasting the same news.

On the screen, there was nothing but shattered ruins—a vast swath of Tokyo had been reduced to rubble! Striding through the devastation was a giant with a tri-colored body, his eyes cold and merciless, sweeping the ground with a powerful, destructive ray as he advanced!

“To survive, or to perish?”

The broadcast cut to the studio, where a beautiful woman, lightly made up, spoke gravely. “Tokyo is in crisis. The Victory Team’s attacks have failed!”

...

Watching all this, Mihoko at home could bear it no longer. She grabbed the remote and switched off the television in a flash, hurriedly putting on her clothes. Her heart full of worry, she was determined to go to Tokyo and find Ryuzawa!

“Aze... please, you must be safe!”

———

In the TPC’s high-level conference room, Tango lounged in the chief’s seat, one leg crossed casually over the other, while all the key TPC personnel sat below him.

Director Sawai... Chief Yoshigō... Captain Juju of the Victory Team... even Dr. Yatobi, inventor of the Megas Energy System, was present.

“State your terms,” Director Sawai said calmly, taking the initiative. As the highest-ranking leader, he showed no sign of panic.

“Terms?” Tango repeated, as if he’d just heard the world’s greatest joke. He threw back his head and laughed maniacally.

Suddenly, his expression turned cold. “What right do you have to negotiate? With a single thought, I can have the giant wipe this entire TPC ocean base off the map!”

He burst into crazed laughter once more.

The expressions of those present were complicated.

“Believe me, I’ll shoot you right here!” Chief Yoshigō barked, his temper flaring. He simply couldn’t accept that a mere human could control such a giant.

“Hmph. Captain Juju knows what happens if you kill me,” Tango retorted, placing his polished black shoes on the table. Under the meeting room’s lights, the shoes gleamed almost blindingly in everyone’s eyes.

And when Captain Juju explained the consequences of killing Tango, the room grew even more tense; everyone’s gaze shifted from Juju back to Tango.

“I know you don’t quite believe that I control the giant,” Tango said, pausing with an enigmatic smile. “So I’ll prove it to you fools!”

“The next target city—Nara!”

...

In Tokyo, the giant suddenly ceased his assault. Slowly, as if awakening from a stupor, he lifted his head, then, with a powerful leap, soared into the sky, setting his course for Nara!

Nara.

A demonic giant hovered above the city, his silver arms crossed in the classic pose—just like Jack Ultraman before unleashing his finishing move.

A hiss—then a crimson ray shot from the giant’s crossed wrists, slicing through the bustling city like a massive, merciless blade.

A thunderous explosion shook Nara. A skyscraper collapsed, and countless citizens perished in the sudden onslaught...

...

Inside the TPC’s high-level conference room.

“Tango! Stop this at once!” many shouted.

The moment news arrived that Nara was under attack, the faces in the room turned ashen with fear. At last, they believed Tango truly controlled the giant.

...

Has he left?

In a hospital in Tokyo, Ryuzawa stood by the window, watching the demonic figure vanish into the distant sky, and finally let out a sigh of relief.

“But what on earth is going on with Miyazawa...?” Ryuzawa frowned in confusion. Miyazawa had remained transformed, sprawled motionless on the ground like a corpse, yet the timer on his chest kept flashing, proving he was still alive.

“Why won’t he revert to human form?” Ryuzawa wondered, unable to fathom it. Little did he know, Miyazawa could no longer become human.

Tango’s machinations had fused Miyazawa’s life force entirely with the giant’s body. For someone like Miyazawa—who lacked the genetic light factor but still longed to become a giant—only this method would suffice.

From the moment he transformed, Miyazawa’s life force began to drain away, marking the start of a countdown to his demise.

He had gained the power of the giant at the cost of his life itself.

When his life force was finally spent, Miyazawa would dissolve into dust, scattered upon the wind.

Such was Miyazawa’s tragedy—and his just punishment.

He had become a giant because of Tango. He would die because of Tango.

Ryuzawa stood by the window, lost in thought for a long time. When he finally turned to leave, he discovered that Masaki—covered in wounds—had somehow appeared behind him.

“You’re awake.”

Ryuzawa forced a faint smile.

“Yes,” Masaki nodded. “For now, I can’t transform into Ultraman.”

Ryuzawa shook his head with a wry smile. “Neither can Daigo or I.”

“So... what do we do now?” Even the usually rebellious Masaki could only sigh helplessly. “On my way here, I saw the televisions were already reporting the giant attacking Nara!”

“When did you get so full of righteous fire?” Ryuzawa laughed, playfully punching Masaki in the chest. He’d noticed the change in Masaki for some time.

“Wherever that thing goes, at least we’ve got a fleeting moment to catch our breath!” Ryuzawa reached into his coat pocket, his fingers closing around the icy, dark Divine Light Rod.

He had no idea when he might recover his transformation ability. “Camilla, oh Camilla! Can you help me...?” he sighed inwardly.

“Daigo should be back at TPC. Let’s contact him first and figure out a plan together,” Ryuzawa suggested after a moment’s silence by the window.

“Alright,” Masaki agreed.

“But shouldn’t you change your clothes first...?” Ryuzawa eyed Masaki’s tattered outfit, smirking—especially at the large tear in the seat of his pants, through which a pair of Winnie-the-Pooh boxers was plainly visible.

Masaki shot Ryuzawa a glare but ultimately agreed to the suggestion.

Half of Tokyo had been reduced to ruins. The TPC’s relief teams had brought a massive supply of aid and were engaged in rapid disaster-response operations.

Ryuzawa and Masaki headed for the half of the city still standing, and after a long search, managed to find a store that was still daring to do business. There, they bought an expensive new set of clothes—including underwear.

Masaki declared, “I’ve got money to burn!”

He even offered to buy Ryuzawa a new outfit as well—his treat.

Ryuzawa shook his head, declining. He had no mind for shopping, worrying instead about his grandmother and Mihoko at home.

He feared that the giant, whose movements were so unpredictable, might descend upon their city and bring death in his wake.