Chapter 23: The Roar of the Blue Clan

Beneath the gaze of thousands of Ultramen of the Blue Tribe, Zeke remained as calm and composed as ever. Hearing Cupid’s words, he cast a gentle glance at him and said, “What if that were true? What if, for the sake of the Blue Tribe, we must stand opposed to the Land of Light?”

Zeke lifted his head slightly, his eyes sweeping over the numerous New Universe Defense Force warriors present, his tone chillingly resolute: “What if war is inevitable?”

Cupid noticed a flicker of unease in him. Even someone as reckless as Zeke found it hard to accept such a truth. If he was shaken, how much more so the thousands of New Universe Defense Force warriors and countless Blue Tribe Ultramen around, who exchanged uncertain looks, as if unable to grasp the reality at once. Yet, bound by Zeke’s authority, none dared to voice dissent.

With a slight wave of his hand, Zeke said, “I was deceiving you.”

A stunned silence fell over the thousands of warriors. Their emotions teetered on the edge of collapse, as if they had been lifted to the peak only to be gently set down again.

Even Cupid exhaled deeply, feeling relieved beneath the heavy pressure.

“But our return is not for reunion,” Zeke continued, scanning the warriors before him. With a tone meant to jolt their very souls, he declared, “It is still a call to battle!”

Then, without prolonging their anxiety, he unveiled the truth: “The current situation is that Cain leads a coalition of the Red and Silver Tribes, bent on exterminating us. Their reason? The injustice suffered by our Blue Tribe.”

“We may look down on the fools at the Warrior Command, but they were not slain by our hands. That much is clear to all of us here. Yet Cain, that idiot, refuses to listen to any of my explanations. He would rather believe those vile White Tribe scum than his own brother.”

Cupid’s gaze darkened with complexity as he looked at Zeke. The captain had contacted Cain Ultraman through an Ultra signature? No wonder his expression had been so grim and silent all along.

“We all know the ambitions of the White Tribe, but the Red and Silver Tribes refuse to heed our words. Why? Because we are Blue Tribe warriors—elite among the scum in their eyes.”

Had the Blue Tribe warriors tried to inform the others?

Naturally, yes. In truth, although relations between the Blue Tribe and the Red and Silver Tribes were strained, these were merely overall tensions.

On the journey to the Ultra Star, Zeke had already identified a few members of the New Universe Defense Force who had connections with the Red or Silver Tribes. Through their channels, he had attempted to explain the situation to those Ultramen, hoping they would relay it to the Father of Ultra.

But what they received was only absolute rejection and harsh insults.

The reasons were easy to understand: on one hand, preconceived bias; on the other, the contempt Red and Silver Tribe Ultramen held for the Blue Tribe. If you could communicate with ants and were on the verge of rage, would you listen to the ants’ plea of innocence?

Most likely, you would crush the ants without hesitation.

Weak and powerless, daring to stir such trouble, they deserved to be crushed; who would care to hear their defense?

Without strength, words are but empty echoes.

“As for the White Tribe, those freeloaders, they are met with boundless tolerance, without a shred of suspicion. They have forgotten—it is we who purge the dark races from the universe! It is us!!!”

“Who forced us down this path!?”

“Them!!!”

Zeke’s eyes blazed wildly as he swept his gaze over the thousands of Blue Tribe Ultramen of the New Universe Defense Force, sensing their rising fury. Suddenly, he raised his hand dramatically:

“They are the ones who forced us onto the path of war~!!!”

“Our goal is crystal clear: the scum of the White Tribe! We will trample down their lands!!! We will make them feel our wrath!”

“They may have ambitions, but they must never build those ambitions on crushing us beneath their feet!”

“This war is not forced upon you. All along, under my orders, you have already sacrificed too many lives.”

“Here and now, I thank you all.”

Zeke abruptly bowed. In the silent starship, only his voice echoed:

“This is a battle born of pure will—I have endured enough! The rise of a tribe cannot be achieved without bloodshed!”

“This bloodshed will not only be shed against our enemies. Within our own ranks, they must feel the fury of the Blue Tribe. They must live in fear!!!”

“If you do not wish to fight, I do not blame you. Please live on, carrying the hope of the Blue Tribe!”

“If you are willing to fight, stay aboard the starship; if not, you may leave. Below, our kin await our return.”

Silence.

Thousands of Blue Tribe Ultramen remained utterly still.

Some warriors cast their eyes toward the portholes, where countless Blue Tribe Ultramen waited eagerly, longing for the return of their loved ones.

Among them was Marie’s gaze.

Zeke paused, clenching his fist, trembling slightly. After briefly locking eyes with her, he turned his head away.

“Perhaps I, a Blue Tribe Ultraman, am unworthy of you.”

Some Blue Tribe warriors, unable to bear the longing in their kin’s eyes, quietly slipped away. First a few, scattered here and there, clearly under immense pressure, departing from the Battle Star.

Soon after, following their lead, more Blue Tribe Ultramen gradually left the Battle Star.

Within minutes, most had gone.

Zeke turned back to find over a hundred Blue Tribe Ultramen still standing firm aboard the Battle Star.

At his left side stood Cupid steadily.

Cupid was a rare powerful warrior of the Blue Tribe; aside from Zeke, he was the foremost. In these circumstances, he chose to stay.

All the Blue Tribe Ultramen present knew well that to stay was to court death.

Cupid, who ought to have left, was a warrior brimming with potential.

“Cupid, you should leave. After me, I hope you can shoulder the heavy responsibility of the Blue Tribe’s resurgence.”

Cupid waved his hand, replying, “Clan Leader Zeke, please don’t say that. I’m a carefree soul. Such a great responsibility as the Blue Tribe’s revival is beyond me. Please don’t entrust it to me.”

“If they truly have spirit, the Blue Tribe will one day rise again. If they cannot, then no matter the effort, they will continue to suffer under the oppression of the other three tribes.”

“The future belongs to the next generation. I just want to fight alongside you, to witness the power of the Blue Tribe’s greatest warrior!”

Zeke smiled inwardly, then shifted his gaze ahead, sweeping over the assembly.

He spoke firmly: “New Universe Defense Force, move out!”

“Target the gathering place of the White Tribe scum!!!”

(To be continued.)