Ultraman: It turns out this is the easy mode.

Daigo lay hunched over his desk, his unfinished homework spread out in front of him, but his thoughts had already drifted far away, uncontrollably returning to that recurring dream—giants of light and darkness, an overwhelming darkness, and that inexplicable sense of oppression that made him frown.

"If only I could have some good dreams," he muttered to himself, picking up a TPC brochure from the table. The cover featured Cui Ming, known as "Storm One," standing beside a Bali Yas armored vehicle, his gaze resolute, his aura seemingly still sharp and fierce as if he had just returned from the battlefield.

Daigo had to admit that Storm One was truly formidable. It had been reported on television before that a gigantic monster had intruded into the city's outskirts. While the TPC team was still devising a battle plan, Choi Myung had already charged in in his Storm One. His intense artillery fire, combined with his agile tactics, not only prevented the monster from gaining an advantage, but actually scared the ferocious beast away!

"That's amazing." Daigo stared at the photo in the brochure, his eyes filled with longing. Although he was just an ordinary college student, he also longed to have such power, to protect those around him in times of crisis, and to become a hero like Choi Myung, someone who could give people peace of mind.

But what Daigo didn't know was that the "Storm One" he was so looking forward to wasn't charging into battle, but was busy making weapons for his "wife" Camilla in the base's private workshop.

The workshop was filled with various metal parts and weapon blueprints. Cui Ming, wearing goggles and holding a welding torch, was giving a final polish to an exquisitely crafted energy dagger. The dagger's hilt was engraved with dark gold patterns, designed in Camilla's preferred style. The blade was made of a rare cosmic metal, not only incredibly sharp but also infused with dark energy, unleashing a corrosive attack.

"Camilla should like it once it's finished," Cui Ming thought to himself as he polished the weapon. He knew that although Camilla was a formidable fighter, she had always lacked a suitable melee weapon. This time, he had specially sourced rare metals from the cosmic black market and spent several days designing the blueprints, all to give her a surprise.

However, looking at the weapon in front of him, Cui Ming couldn't help but recall what had happened before—the weapon he designed had almost given Director Sawai and Staff Officer Yoshioka a heart attack.

Cui Ming put down the welding torch and casually picked up a yellowed photograph from the table. In the photo, he was standing on the training ground, carrying a Magma spinal sword. Staff Officer Yoshioka next to him was pale-faced, while Director Sawai held his forehead, his expression complicated. Seeing this photo, he couldn't help but laugh out loud. The scene of demonstrating the weapon years ago vividly reappeared before his eyes.

The Magma Spinal Cord Sword, even its name exudes a chilling aura. The blade is forged from the vertebrae of Magma aliens, its surface covered in dark purple patterns that subtly gleam with a cold light. The blade is so sharp it can easily cleave through a meter-thick alloy steel plate. When Cui Ming first displayed this sword at TPC headquarters, the moment it was drawn from its sheath, the chilling aura emanating from it, seemingly from an alien species, caused the surrounding temperature to drop several degrees. Director Sawai instinctively took a step back, and Staff Officer Yoshioka stared wide-eyed, his throat bobbing, unable to utter a word for a long time.

Not to mention the meteor hammer. The hammer body was modified from the head of the Snowman Super Beast, its surface inlaid with sharp bone spikes. The chain connecting the hammerhead was made from the monster's tendons, extremely tough, easily withstanding tens of thousands of tons of pulling force. The first time Cui Ming used this meteor hammer in training, one strike created a ten-meter-diameter crater in the alloy floor of the training ground, and the flying debris nearly injured nearby team members.

It was from that moment that Yoshioka fully realized one thing: compared to Choi Myung, he was a complete dove. Like last time dealing with that dinosaur monster, while Yoshioka was still considering how to formulate a "minimum damage" battle plan, Choi Myung had already charged in in his Balias, unleashing full firepower, and ultimately blasting the monster into a bloody pulp. At that moment, looking at the battlefield, Yoshioka silently thought, "Compared to Choi Myung, my caution isn't just prudence, it's downright 'soft'."

Cui Ming put away the photo, picked up the energy dagger again, and continued sharpening it. He knew his weapon was indeed frightening, but in this perilous universe, only a sufficiently powerful deterrent could protect the Earth and those around him. As for Staff Officer Yoshioka's "dovish" views, he could understand them; after all, everyone has different combat philosophies. But for him, practicality and effectiveness were the most important attributes of a weapon.

Meanwhile, at TPC headquarters, Yoshioka was looking at the data on Choi Myeong's weapons on the table, shaking his head helplessly. Every time he saw this data, he would recall the fear of being dominated by the Magma Spinal Sword and the Meteor Hammer, and he would realize more clearly that he and Choi Myeong, one pursuing "minimum damage" and the other believing in "absolute power," were ultimately on different paths—however, it was precisely this difference that allowed them to complement and help each other in dealing with crises and protect the Earth.

In fact, Sawai had long seen through Cui Ming's situation. This young man always appeared fearless, always charging ahead when facing monsters, and the weapons he designed were all ruthless enough to "defeat the enemy with one blow." But only those who truly understood him knew that this "ruthlessness" was built upon countless injuries.

Sawai still remembers that day. Cui Ming had just finished a fierce battle and was piloting the damaged Balius back to base alone. He was covered in the monster's dark green flesh and blood, emitting a pungent, fishy stench. Several unhealed wounds marred his face, the blood and grime making him look particularly wretched. Because the flesh and blood were stuck to his clothes and difficult to clean, Cui Ming had to take off his clothes in the base's makeshift shower room to wash himself.

It was at that moment that Sawai and Yoshioka, who had come to report on their work, happened to pass by. Through the half-open door, they could clearly see Cui Ming's back—it was covered with dense scars, some long, narrow marks from the claws of monsters, some irregular marks from energy attacks, and several deep wounds that exposed bone. Even though they had healed, the scars were still gruesome and terrifying, as if telling the story of every brush with death in the past.

At that moment, the entire corridor fell silent. Sawai and Yoshioka stood there, looking at the battered body, their hearts filled with mixed emotions. They suddenly realized that every time Cui Ming rushed to the front, every time he used the most "extreme" methods to deal with monsters, it was simply to end the battle faster and reduce casualties—he shouldered all the danger himself, and etched the pain into his own flesh and blood.

From then on, Sawai never questioned Choi Myeong's actions again. He understood Choi Myeong's "extreme" approach, and even felt that this "extreme" was Choi Myeong's deepest protection of the Earth. And to be honest, Sawai truly believed that no one could say anything about Choi Myeong.

After all, when someone risks their life and health to protect this planet, who among the Earthlings, enjoying peace and safety, has the right to criticize their methods? Who has the right to judge their right or wrong? (End of Chapter)