Ultraman: I am really just a human.

Chapter 409 Candidate 2

"Can't get in!"

World Tree Tower in Zeya City.

When the knights of this world arrived at the underground research institute, the passage connecting to the Heim Forest had already been sealed off, and it could not be reopened by any means.

Even though the dungeon wasn't over yet, they seemed to have been eliminated prematurely.

"The golden fruit is still in Heim Forest; we have already lost our qualification for the competition."

RX Minami Kotaro knew much more about this world than others, so he did not continue to try to open the passage.

The constant sense of threat did not disappear with the departure of Ark and the King of the Otherworld.

There are likely other organizers behind this battle.

"Is anyone still in Heim Forest?"

"It seems the hero hasn't come out, nor have those student knights."

"Where's Team 01?"

"They were just here a moment ago, probably went to collect points?" Sakurai Kagekazu looked around.

Now, it's not just Zeya City; the entire world is being invaded by the Heim Forest, with large numbers of aliens running rampant, who are all walking points to them.

Even without considering the battle for the Golden Fruit, this world itself is an excellent dungeon for earning points.

"Mr. Kondo, what are your plans for the future?" Minami Kotaro turned to Kondo Isami, who had been in a daze.

"what?"

Kondo Isami was preoccupied with being framed, and his reaction was a beat slow. He only responded after all the knights looked over, secretly wiping his sweat.

"My task is to re-establish the dungeon passage; I need to find the other rescue team members quickly."

……

Heim Forest

Kuzuha Kouta lay among the extensively damaged trees, his general's armor shattered, revealing his blood-stained back. Beside him stood the Melon Knight, panting heavily. As for Sengoku Ryoma and Kamen Rider Kaito, their whereabouts were unknown.

"Kurota-nii..."

The Melon Knight's hands trembled, and in a panic, he dropped the blade in his hand. His armor retracted, and he transformed into the pale-faced Mitsuzane Kureshima.

"Why?" Kouta's voice was weak, his breathing intermittent. "We were good friends before, and we'd only been fighting together for a short time... Where did things go wrong? Where did we go our separate ways...? Let's turn back, Minoru..."

"I'm sorry, Kota-nii."

Wu Daoguang fell to his knees with a thud, kowtowed several times, and picked up the blade again.

"Only your death can protect Sister Wu, so..."

"So what?"

Xia Chuan Xiewu entered the forest, a black apple bomb in his hand expanding and taking shape.

"I just made a promise with your dance sister about the future, a promise without a sad happy ending. Is this how you protect your dance sister?"

"What do you know?"

Wu Daoguang responded instinctively, but was suddenly shocked after seeing the evil weapon clearly.

After the deaths of Roshua and Redie, he was the only one who knew the terror of the evil martial arts.

"you……"

Wu Daoguang stepped back, watching as the Black Apple Bomb completely solidified. His pupils dilated, and he screamed in panic, turning and fleeing.

"what!"

"don't want!"

Kouta struggled to grab Natsukawa's legs.

"Don't kill him... Shi is also in a lot of pain. He's become like this because he's young and lacks guidance. He doesn't understand anything yet..."

"I really admire your ability to be a friend to this extent."

Xia Chuan watched Wu Daoguang's retreating figure and then withdrew the Black Apple Bomb.

If it weren't for the fact that Takashi Mai became the Daughter of Origin, he would have eliminated this guy just now.

Although he was just a minor character, minor characters are not necessarily incapable of causing trouble.

"Whatever, you're the one getting attacked anyway."

Natsukawa's gaze returned to Kouta Kuzuha.

Because of the Extreme Lock Seed evolved from the fragments of the Golden Fruit, Kouta Kuzunoha is gradually no longer human.

The wound on my back looks horrific but is not fatal and will heal quickly.

"Whoosh!"

Xia Chuan casually picked an exotic fruit and tossed it over.

"Eat it, it will help you recover from your injuries."

"What does this mean?" Kouta Kuzuha asked in a flustered voice, taking the exotic fruit and looking at Natsukawa. "Yuya, humans can't eat the fruit here. You were the one who..."

"Don't worry, you won't turn into a monster."

Xia Chuan released his mental energy and began to sense the situation in the forest.

"You should understand now that you can no longer eat normal food since using the Extreme Lock Seed, right? This is the price you pay."

"You mean... I've become a monster?"

Kouta Kuzuha lowered his head and closed his eyes, his breathing becoming somewhat erratic.

He definitely felt it.

I initially thought I had no appetite because of everyone's affairs, but now I still find the exotic fruit delicious, and my mouth starts watering just from the smell.

This isn't the kind of temptation we used to have; it's the feeling ordinary people have when faced with delicious food.

"What should I do now? Can I still fight as a human being?"

"Just stop causing me trouble. What matters isn't who you are, but what you care about."

Natsukawa glanced at Kouta Kuzuha, who hadn't quite made up his mind yet.

Evolving into a dominant force seems to be the ticket to the finals.

Therefore, it is not surprising that the knights in this world were eliminated early; this is what the turban-wearing man meant by "qualification."

Just like the Fimsims, the final battle also took place among the evolved beings.

However, among humans, only Kouta Kazuha has become the dominant force at present.

He is half of them, having relied on the power of evil martial arts. The other is Kaito Kumon, who is the only one who evolved directly by consuming a fruit through his own will.

Once he defeats Kuzuha Kouta and Kabuto Kaito, and gains Takashi Mai's approval, even the host, the turban-wearing man, cannot stop him from obtaining the Golden Fruit.

"Yuya, so you've already..."

With tears streaming down his face, Kuzuha Kōta swallowed the fruit in a few bites.

Even though I didn't want to admit it, I couldn't resist the comfortable feeling coming from my body.

From then on, like the other aliens, he only had these fruits left to eat.

"It's so delicious, waaaah... Did Yuya become like this because he ate the fruit? Actually, at first I also felt that Yuya was no longer the Yuya he used to be, but... if Yuya got the Gold-Gold Fruit, what would he become in the future?"

Xia Chuan remained silent and left the scene after sensing the presence of the man in the headscarf.

Strictly speaking, he hadn't considered the future of this world at all; everything he did was to clear the game.

The humans in this instance world are not currently within his scope of attention.

Just like those previous instances, he was merely a passerby, rarely checking back after completing the game.

……

"Hey, are you still going to put on a brave face?"

Along the forest riverbank, Lemon Knight strolled up to the struggling Kaito with his tattoos, observing and scrutinizing him with great interest.

"You're completely beyond saving. I might as well help you find relief. This isn't a simple pain that can be endured by willpower alone. You can only watch helplessly as your genes collapse and you turn into a plant..."

"It's just physical pain!"

The Demon King lost his footing and tumbled to the ground, clutching a foreign fruit tightly in his hand.

"If we're really going to die, then let's make it even more intense!"

"What are you going to do?" Lemon Knight's voice suddenly tightened.

If being directly exposed to the Heim Forest environment is considered a minor danger, and being corroded is a major danger, then consuming the fruit is no longer a dangerous matter.

"Idiot! Are you out of your mind?!"

"Hehehe, don't you really enjoy doing experiments? I should be considered an excellent experimental subject now, right?"

With a cold laugh, Quwen Jiedou devoured the fruit in one bite. The green light that had been floating near the wound quickly spread throughout his body, and finally, the buds on his chest burst forth, transforming him into a black and red body under the protection of the Heim Forest plants.

"ah--!"

"How could that be?"

The Lemon Knight was startled and retreated.

Unlike ordinary aliens, the Demon-Slaying Ring Fighter actually evolved directly into a Dominator Alien.

A black exoskeleton with red and yellow stripes, a pair of demonic horns, sharp elbow blades, and a powerful aura of killing intent ignited bursts of red and black flames.

Overlord, Baron.

"This guy..."

"So strong!"

He gripped the ring with his fist, his body trembling with excitement at the unparalleled power he felt in his body.

This is what he is looking for.

With this power, you can seize your own future!

"You actually retained your consciousness and became a ruler!" Lemon Knight roared incredulously, raising his sonic bow blade. "To surpass humanity without relying on my driver is intolerable! You monster!"

"Bang--!"

Xia Chuan flashed into the riverside jungle and just in time to see the Demon-Slaying Fighter, who had evolved into the Overlord Baron, unleash its power.

The Lemon Knight, a being comparable to an ordinary overlord alien, was utterly defeated and destroyed without any resistance. Even the Genesis Driver was blasted apart, with fragments flying everywhere.

Under Baron's manipulation, the surrounding vines lifted the disheveled Zhanji Lingma into the air like tentacles, finally pulling him up by the neck with one hand.

The candidates for the final battle are finally complete.

But given the current situation...

Xia Chuan pondered for a moment, looking at the dying Zhanji Lingma, but hesitated and did not make a move.

Sengoku Ryoma is indeed a talented person, but he's not worth saving.

Having such a person around is a potential problem.

"This is the power of Helheim! Its corruption of the world is actually a means to acquire even greater power!"

Baron unleashed a punch, the shockwave blasting Sengoku Ryoma apart, splattering blood mist everywhere. Wu Dao Guangshi, who had just fled to seek refuge, was drenched in the face.

"puff!"

"you……"

Wu Daoguang wiped his face blankly, unable to accept the sight of the blood and foam on the ground. He felt as if the whole world had become dark and his mind was completely blank.

"You killed him... What about Sister Wu? Only he knows where Sister Wu is..."

"I know it better than he does!"

Kaito with the Excalibur transforms back into a human body and glances coldly at the distraught Mitsujima Kureshima.

"Dance awaits me in the future. I will destroy this world to welcome Dance, and claim both Dance and the Golden Fruit for myself!"

As he spoke, Quwen Jiedou frowned and turned to Xia Chuan on the opposite bank of the river, defiantly stomping on the lemon energy lock seed.

"Anyone who stands in my way is doomed, no matter who they are!"

(End of this chapter)