Chapter 28: Don’t Hit It! (Part Three)

"Look at us—we are now presenting ourselves before the world in an entirely new form! This is it, this vast power! Let us wield it, let us rule this world!"
"Rule this world?"
"Yes! Though I hesitate to admit it, we now share the light of the giant. We have become giants together—so we should use that power together... to reign over this world!"
The radiance slowly faded from the giant’s body. After thirty million years, a giant had finally reappeared before mankind. He resembled Tiga to some extent, but the markings on his body were outlined in black and red, and the color timer on his chest glowed with an eerie blue light—matching the strange hue of his eyes.
"That’s not Tiga at all!" Lina shouted. Her warning reached Director Zei through the communicator. Zei immediately rose to his feet, and after watching for only a moment, sensed something was wrong. He quickly gave orders: "Evacuate the citizens of Kumamoto City at once!"
"Yes, sir!" The staff hurried off to begin the evacuation broadcast. No one knew what the giant would do, nor how many of the countless residents would be able to escape in time, but they had no choice but to try.
"Let’s face him!" Lina declared resolutely, piloting the Victory Swallow II straight toward the giant.
A vast, dark power gathered around the giant—a nearly tangible orb of violet energy. As the false Tiga spread his arms from his chest, the purple energy filled every inch of his form. The overwhelming sense of power was intoxicating for Tetsuya—a feeling of omnipotence, as if nothing in the world could stand against him; life and death were his to command, and he was a king.
The violet energy orb began to condense around the giant’s left fist. As he raised his head, he saw the approaching Victory Swallow II and, almost without thinking, fired a beam of violet energy straight at it.
"Impostor! I won’t let you get away with this!" Lina skillfully dodged the energy blast, while the weapons officer, Shinjo, pressed the button to fire the laser cannon.
"Boom!"
The giant spread his hands, and a violet energy shield formed before his chest. The laser cannon struck the shield and was reflected, blasting into several buildings in Kumamoto City.
Thick black smoke rose instantly into the sky. Only then did people begin to believe the TPC’s warning. All around, people screamed and cried, desperate to escape the city that was quickly becoming a living hell. Chaos reigned as the wails of the fleeing crowds echoed through the streets.
"Look... just look..."
"See those pitiful, insignificant humans... We are not like them. We were born to rule. We should savor this joy!"
The giant rampaged through the city. He might not have caused many casualties directly, but the collapsing buildings, raging fires, and trampling crowds sent the death toll climbing.
"Let disaster descend even more fiercely!"
The violet energy beams sprayed from the giant’s hands, piercing countless buildings within several kilometers. Flames burned everywhere. Some people died instantly, crushed by falling debris, consumed by fire, or trampled underfoot; others were obliterated by the energy beams, reduced to dust along with the buildings behind them.
"Behold my divine might—am I not like a god?"
"All must submit to my rule. I am your king!"
Thanks to the equipment from the Cedric Technology Company, the words spoken by Masaki Keigo through the giant’s mouth echoed throughout Kumamoto City.
Yet not far away, a beam of light appeared, and from within it emerged a monstrous, ferocious figure, slowly approaching the giant.
"Two enemies at once..." Shinjo said uncertainly. "Should we attack them both?"
He paused, then connected with Captain Megumi’s line: "There’s an Ultraman and a monster in Kumamoto City. The Ultraman is causing massive destruction. The monster hasn’t acted yet. Captain, your orders!"
"Don’t attack for now. Observe the situation first!"
"Understood!" Shinjo replied, then turned to Lina. "Captain says not to attack the monster yet."
Lina watched the monster in surprise. "Look, it’s heading toward the impostor Tiga!"
"Let’s destroy that creature! Let it witness our power!"
The giant lashed out with a kick, sending Gedie sprawling. But Gedie climbed back to his feet, as if trying to communicate something to the giant.
"Bang!"
A savage punch landed on Gedie’s neck, blood spurting from the wound. Gedie howled in pain but still refused to fight back, his yellow eyes staring at the giant, full of unspoken emotion.
"Thud!"
A sweep kick followed, and the giant dodged as Gedie’s powerful blows rained down. Suddenly, Gedie seized the giant’s leg and pressed a claw to the color timer on his chest, as if pleading.
"Damn it!" Masaki Keigo roared.
"What are you hesitating for? Kill it! Destroy anything that stands in our way!"
The giant gripped Gedie’s horn with his right hand and brought his arm down hard on Gedie’s head, but Gedie suddenly surged with strength and threw the giant to the ground.
"No one can stop us!"
The giant rose, grabbed Gedie, and slammed him down again. He spread his arms in a familiar pose, violet energy surging around his legs, power raging within him.
"Let me show you true strength!"
"Oooh... ooooh..."
Gedie struggled to his feet, raising his hands in fear and whimpering.
"Die!"
With Masaki Keigo’s wild laughter, the giant leapt high into the air and brought his foot down hard on Gedie’s leg. A flash of light, and Gedie’s massive body crashed to the earth.
Next, beams of purple energy fired relentlessly from the giant, slamming into Gedie’s chest and knocking him down just as he was about to rise again.
"Power! This is power!"
"Unlimited power!"
The giant destroyed everything around him, explosions and fire roaring. Not far away, the color timer on Gedie’s chest began to flash—his energy nearly spent.
"Oooh... ooooh..."
Though he knew the cost, Gedie dragged himself forward through the flames, softly biting the arm the giant had raised. Tears welled in his yellow beastly eyes—remorse for the giant’s corruption, sorrow for his own helplessness.
"It’s crying..." Lina watched Gedie with tear-reddened eyes, saddened. She had never imagined such a monster existed, and her heart ached for him.
"Get off!"
With a burst of strength, the giant threw Gedie aside, then leapt atop him, raining down blow after brutal blow on his head in a fit of rage.
Gedie struggled to lift an arm and push the giant off, sobbing as great tears fell to the ground. The color timer’s flashing signaled his fleeting life. His head was battered and bloody, his once gray skin now torn and raw.
"I’ll send you to your death!"
Energy began to coil around the giant’s hand, a terrible power ready to be unleashed. The evil beam was about to fire, its violet light already visible.
"Don’t hurt him!" Lina drove the Victory Swallow II forward desperately, her voice breaking as she shouted, "He’s crying—can’t you see? You monster!"
"Lina..." Shinjo called out from the back seat, watching in terror as Lina nearly crashed the Victory Swallow II into the giant. He was at a loss for words.
"Leave him alone!"