Ultraman: I am really just a human.

Chapter 693 Shadow Mage

"Who are you people?"

The shadow mage's shadow hovered over the harbor, accompanied by swirling dark clouds, and ghostly afterimages of monsters flew out from all around, enveloped in an evil aura.

Fujiwara no Saiji and his companions, who had just transformed from the seabed and taken to the air, only heard strange murmurs before their knight armors were covered by wailing ghostly phantoms as they looked up.

"What?"

As the team leader, Fujiwara Saiji attempted to activate Time Rise, but still could not escape the restraints.

The new Rider system makes leveling up much easier, but it's still not the same kind of Rider as Decade. It can hold its own against ordinary monsters, but when it encounters a monster of a certain level, the huge difference in strength immediately becomes apparent.

"This guy is S-rank!"

Not only Fujiwara no Saiji, but also Hojo Emu, Watari, and Onoue Takumi all looked utterly hopeless.

The range of enemies in the Ultraman world is far too exaggerated.

When C-class monsters were still boss-level, suddenly they were forced to face S-class monsters, these ultimate monsters that had evolved over countless millennia.

It's like a toddler suddenly fighting a boxer in his prime.

"Is that all?" The Shadow Mage's rough voice came from under his hood, seemingly unable to comprehend the arrival of the knights. His fingers clenched and he vanished without a trace, leaving only a ghostly phantom to continue exerting force.

"call!"

The four Fujiwara members barely struggled before being lifted into the air like chicks, and were swallowed up by the dark vortex in the horrified gazes of the TV crew, leaving behind screams of agony.

"What is that?"

"They were all sucked in..."

Rena Hayata, who was acting as a reporter on the scene, dropped her microphone with a clatter, staring in astonishment at the storm vortex that had devoured four knights and then vanished without a trace.

Judging from the reactions of those around her, she wasn't the only one who saw those ghostly monsters.

"Lina!"

Daigo, who had agreed with Imu to continue the investigation, arrived at the port and witnessed the final scene of the four knights being captured.

He knew Fujiwara and the others very well, especially Fujiwara Saiji, who became a monster egg hunter that gave many people a headache after the Gatanothor incident.

"What happened, Lina?" Daigo rushed over as the ship passed the dock.

"I don't know either, but..."

Lina swallowed hard, turning her gaze to the interior of the cabin through the broken window.

Amidst the swirling smoke, electric currents occasionally emanated, making the captain and his radio colleagues hesitant to approach. Only a few individuals took out their phones to take photos and videos.

I followed Daigo, slightly out of breath, and when the smoke cleared, my eyes widened suddenly.

A shirtless figure, crackling with lightning, crouched low in the ruins of the ship's cabin, as if the Terminator had just crossed time and space.

Her exposed figure was slightly overweight and not very aesthetically pleasing, but thankfully she was wearing shorts.

It's a bit ugly, but acceptable.

I don't know if she was really dizzy or faking it, but she looked like she had passed out.

"Ahem!" I dreamed hesitantly, breaking the silence, "I...I know him, he's Mr. Kondo from our world...Lipia used him as her human form."

"he?"

Daigo exclaimed in surprise, and was the first to react, flipping over and jumping onto the ship.

"Help! Save them!"

"Sizzle!"

The lightning gradually subsided.

As Natsukawa's consciousness descended into Kondo Isami's body, his eyes opened with a red glow, and a flash of light surrounded him as he automatically donned a black suit.

It's hard to say whether Kondo Isami was lucky or unlucky, but he was not captured by the Shadow Mage and became the only survivor in the Knights.

However, the others were not in any danger; they were simply trapped in a place that resembled another dimension.

"call!"

Xia Chuan sensed a dark space.

Along with the knights, four elderly people were also captured. They seemed to be the original Ultraman, Seven, Jack, and Ace Ultraman from this timeline... elderly human beings.

"Kondo..."

My eyes narrowed suddenly, and I was surprised to change my mind after only uttering a single word.

"No, Lipia... is that you, senpai?"

Xia Chuan took in the strange expressions of the radio crew around him, waved his hand, and jumped off the ship: "Let's find a place to talk alone."

It seems like he lost face, but that was Kondo Isami from earlier, and has nothing to do with him now.

"What's going on?" Seeing Natsukawa's sudden transformation, Lina was completely bewildered, her expression changing repeatedly. She could only turn her questioning gaze to Daigo.

"I'm not quite sure either," Daigo hurriedly followed Natsukawa and said, "I'll explain to you later. Don't report this yet."

"Can I just say I won't report it and then not report it?"

Hayata Rena looked completely bewildered.

Not only the uncle who fell into the cabin, but even Daigo felt something was strange.

It's like a different version.

Still confused, but I felt a lot more light in her eyes.

"Miss Lina," the radio staff member finally recovered from the shock, "was that... your fiancé?"

"Should we report this?"

"Will anyone believe this if it gets out?" Lina said forcefully. "I'll report it after I've found out the details."

……

The next day.

A Hawaiian-style restaurant.

Daigo and I both took leave to accompany Natsukawa on a trip around Yokohama.

After the mirage disappeared, the city returned to its usual calm and ordinary appearance.

There wasn't a trace of anything unusual about it.

"Where's Asuka?" Natsukawa asked suddenly after sitting down. "There shouldn't be just the two of you here, right?"

"Asuka... seems to be treating this world as the real world."

With a heavy heart, I explained the situation to Natsukawa: "The biggest problem is that we've lost our transformation ability. Senpai, can you still transform?"

"I only came into this world using Kondo Isami's body."

Xia Chuan closed his eyes slightly.

In one day, he had almost figured out the current situation of the Super 8 world.

Four elderly people who were living as ordinary people in Yokohama disappeared without a trace just before the mirage appeared.

This restaurant is currently run by Dan Moroboshi, Seven's human form.

"It was probably the night before last," the kitchen owner said quietly, wiping away tears as Daigo asked her, "that she suddenly said she had something to do and had to go out, and then she never came back..."

"Something's definitely wrong with this world."

I dreamt of taking out the sapphire cone transformation device, which had lost its luster.

"But what can we do now?"

"There must be a reason why this world brought you here."

Xia Chuan casually took a sip of juice.

"Look for the reasons within yourselves in this world, and perhaps you can regain your transformation ability."

"Us in this world?"

"Like a dream promise or something."

A bell rang in Xia Chuan's ears from somewhere, and he vaguely sensed the presence of the girl in red shoes and white dress once again.

Regardless of the Ultraman universe, the inability to transform is most likely due to a problem with one's mental state.

His situation is relatively simple.

Let's rescue the knights who serve as anchor points first.

Kondo Isami can also transform, but fighting a Super S-class enemy... would definitely cost Kondo Isami his life.

If nothing unexpected happens, the Shadow Mage will probably make a move against my Dreams next, allowing him to take advantage of the situation.

"A dream?" I suddenly remembered Fujimiya from this world, my eyes lit up, and I gripped the edge of the table. "I know! I know what I should do, and it's quite simple!"

(End of this chapter)