They traveled through time at the same time, but the villainous scientist

Chapter 261 The Will of Man

"Damn it, it happens at this time..."

Deputy Captain Zongfang gritted his teeth, his eyes instantly transforming from sorrow to sharp fighting spirit.

Everyone present was an elite member of the winning team, and they were well aware of their responsibilities.

Despite their deep sympathy and reluctance for the three astronauts, they would never waver.

Protecting more people is their mission.

"Team Member Horii, Dr. Masaki!"

"How is the weapon development progressing?"

Captain Megumi took a deep breath and then connected the laboratory's communication.

"It's complete! We'll name it the 'Phase Destruction Bomb'!"

Horii replied, transmitting the weapon information as he spoke.

"This missile contains special nanomaterials."

Upon impact, these nanomachines, like viruses, directly disrupt the stability of the phase transition structure at the molecular level.

Keigo Masaki added.

"According to my calculations, as long as it hits, we can defeat the monster by attacking with the Texas Cannon on the Flying Swallow II."

Horii nodded and offered a simpler, more understandable explanation.

"Immediately load the phase-destroying missiles onto the Flying Swallow-1!"

Captain Megumi nodded and then gave the order.

"understand!"

Munakata, Shinjo, Rena, and Daigo quickly donned their gear and rushed to the hangar.

……

Dark clouds covered the sky over the K-3 area.

The enormous monster, Ligadron, was taking heavy steps, approaching the base composed of countless silver-white energy storage tanks.

Just then, two yellow streaks of light pierced the sky.
"This is the Victory Team! Halt immediately!"

Deputy Captain Zongfang's voice was transmitted via electromagnetic waves.

Flying Swallow 1 and Flying Swallow 2, positioned to the left and right respectively, are poised to lock onto Ligadron.

But the monster seemed to ignore the warning and continued its relentless march toward the energy base.

“Horii, Dr. Masaki, your analysis is correct. It is completely unresponsive to our warnings and is driven entirely by instinct.”

Zongfang took a deep breath, which meant that the three astronauts inside the monster had completely lost contact.

"It's inevitable."

"At its core is a pure energy life form. The astronaut's consciousness can only have a slight influence when it is dormant. Once it enters an active state, it will be completely suppressed by the survival instinct."

Horii explained that, although he didn't want to admit it, the human mind was far too fragile in this situation.

"Then there's no need to hesitate!"

Zong Fang's eyes narrowed, and he issued the attack command.
"Daigo! Execute Operation A-7! Launch Phase Destruction Missiles!"

"Understood!" Daigo piloted the Flying Swallow No. 1, quickly gaining altitude, and aimed the nose at the massive back of Ligadron.

On the screen, a locked green box tightly encircles the target.

"I'm sorry, for the sake of so many people!"

Daigo gritted his teeth and pressed the button abruptly!

A uniquely shaped missile detached from its rack, trailing a pale blue plume of flame, and hurtled toward Ligadron like a precise javelin!

"boom!"

The missile hit its target precisely, and the explosion wasn't particularly intense; it was more like a ball of blue plasma exploding on the monster's back.

Countless invisible nanomachines instantly adhered to the indestructible armor.

Ligadron hesitated for a moment, seemingly confused, but then continued forward.

"Missile hit! Nanomachines begin invading!"

Horii's voice rang out in the command room, his eyes fixed on the data stream on the screen.
"Structural stability is starting to decrease! Five percent...ten percent...Success!"

"Now! Lina, Shinjo! Texas Cannon, full power!"

Zongfang seized the opportunity and immediately gave the order.

"Roger that!"

The massive cannons on either side of the Flying Swallow II's fuselage extended forward, and dazzling energy began to gather at the muzzles, emitting a heart-pounding hum. Golden arcs of electricity leaped wildly across the cannon barrels, distorting the surrounding air as the energy concentrated.

"Texas gun, fire!"

A thick golden beam of light, like a spear of the gods, tore through the sky and, with an aura of annihilation, slammed into Ligadron’s back, which had just been hit by the Phase Destruction Bullet!

"Boom——!!!"

This time, it was a deafening roar!

A golden beam of light pierced through Ligardron's body in an instant, emerging from its chest! A huge, charred hole appeared in its massive form. Countless metal fragments and unidentified organic matter scattered everywhere.

"Did it?"

Looking at the spectacular results, Xincheng could hardly believe it.

However, the next second, everyone's hearts sank.

Despite being so badly injured, Ligadron only staggered a few steps before regaining his balance.

At the massive wound on its body, countless bizarre tentacles and metallic structures were writhing and multiplying frantically, attempting to repair the fatal injury. Far from ceasing its activity, it seemed enraged, striding resolutely towards the energy storage base.

"How can... it still move like this?"

Lina's voice was filled with shock.

"The Texas Cannon has exhausted the main energy of the Flying Swallow II and cannot be fired again for a short period of time!"

Zongfang immediately realized the predicament they were in.

"Damn it! Leave it to me!"

Daigo pushed the control stick, piloting the Flying Swallow No. 1 down into the air, its onboard laser cannons firing continuously at Ligadron's legs in an attempt to stop its advance.

However, when the conventional weapons of the Flying Swallow-1 hit it, apart from a few insignificant sparks, they could not cause any effective damage.

Ligadron seemed annoyed by the buzzing "fly" in its ear. It suddenly stopped, and a red light flashed from the huge wound on its chest!
"Daigo, get out of the way!"

Zongfang roared.

A beam of light burst forth from the wound!

Daigo's reaction was already at its limit; he rolled sharply to the side, but the light still grazed the wing.

The fighter jets were shaking violently, and alarms were blaring.

"boom!"

With a loud bang, Feiyan-1, billowing black smoke, spiraled down toward the ground like a kite with a broken string!

"Dagu!"

In the command center and on the communications channels, horrified screams of his comrades rang out simultaneously. Inside the out-of-control cockpit, the world spun around them.

Daigo gritted his teeth, and at the critical moment when the fighter jet was about to crash into the ground, he unbuckled his seatbelt and, amidst the violent tumbling, took out the glowing Spark Lens from his pocket.

"It can't end here!"

He raised the magic light stick high!

A dazzling light shot into the sky, and just before the falling fighter jet exploded, a huge figure appeared on the ground, steadily catching the burning Flying Swallow No. 1 and gently placing it in a safe area some distance away.

Ultraman Tiga stands tall on the earth!
Without the slightest hesitation, Tiga exerted force with both legs and instantly rushed in front of Ligadron, delivering a powerful punch that slammed into the wound on the opponent's chest!

"Roar!"

Ligadron let out a painful roar, his massive body being forced back several steps by the punch.

Tiga pressed his advantage, unleashing a barrage of attacks—hand chops, flying kicks—onto Ligadron's wounds. Each strike widened the wounds, hindering their regeneration.

Tiga completely dominated the game, and in just a few rounds, he put Rigadron into a stunned state.

He leaped backward, creating distance, crossed his arms in front of his chest, preparing to gather energy and unleash the Zepelion Ray for the final blow.

However, just as the energy was about to be fully gathered, he suddenly saw phantoms of several astronauts, led by Dr. Jiang Qi, on the monster.

Daigo's movements involuntarily froze.

If he were to make his move here and use the Zepelion Ray to completely obliterate Ligadron into dust... would the souls of those three astronauts also be obliterated by his own hands?

This fatal hesitation lasted for less than a second.

But for Ligadron, it was enough.

It seized the opportunity!

From the massive, frantically regenerating wound, dozens of glowing energy tentacles suddenly emerged, like predatory pythons, instantly coiling around Tiga's body and firmly capturing him!
Tiga tried to break free, but these tentacles were incredibly tough and carried a strange energy that was constantly weakening his power.

Even more terrifying, tiny particles of light were continuously flowing into his body through these tentacles!

"Well!"

Daigo felt an unprecedented sense of unease, as if his consciousness, his energy, and everything about him were being analyzed and devoured by this unknown life form.

"Oh no! Stop that monster!!"

Inside the GUTS command center, Horii stared at the energy analysis data being transmitted back to him on the screen and screamed in terror.

"This is...this is assimilation! It's exactly the same situation the astronauts of Gypsy 3 encountered! That unknown life form wants to devour Tiga as well, to make him a part of it!"

Everyone's hearts mentioned their throats!
Witnessing this scene, Masaki Keigo couldn't help but shake his head. Perhaps because of him, Daigo, who had missed a few trials, was not mature enough.

In this case……

Thinking this, Masaki Keigo reached for the transformation device in his arms.

But just as he was preparing to transform and teleport to the battlefield to personally resolve everything—

"Dr. Jiang Qi! Can you hear me?!"

Suddenly, a heart-wrenching scream came from the communication channel from the Xincheng team members!

"You are heroes of humanity! You are astronauts who sacrificed your lives to explore the universe! Not these monsters who only know how to destroy! Wake up! Think of your families! They are still on Earth waiting for you to come home!!"

The shout was like a thunderclap.

The Rigdron that was frantically devouring Tiga actually stopped.

"Yerui!"

"Immediately trace the sending address of that last email online!"

Send all the information, photos, and videos of the three astronauts' families! Quickly!

Captain Megumi keenly grasped this instantaneous change and immediately issued an order.

"understand!"

Ye Rui's fingers blurred across the keyboard.

With the support of the quantum computer provided by Keigo Masaki, TPC's network tracking capabilities are now vastly different from what they used to be.

Almost instantly, he locked onto the signal source...

"Found it! Data... being sent!"

The massive amount of data, transformed into invisible radio waves, transcended spatial barriers and was precisely injected into Ligadron's body.

On the screen, a video begins showing a boy playing on a swing in the yard; he is Dr. Jiang Qi's son.

Next, there was an elderly mother with white hair, stroking a young group photo; she was the mother of astronaut Shimura.

Then, there was a gentle woman praying to the stars; she was Koichi's wife...

Each scene depicted was one of their most cherished moments during their lives.

With the input of this data, Liga-Dron's actions came to a complete halt.

The energy tentacles that had been tightly binding Tiga loosened and dissipated one by one.

Its massive body trembled slightly, emitting a series of low and sorrowful cries.

Daigo's consciousness gradually returned to normal. In a daze, he seemed to see three semi-transparent figures standing silently deep within the monster's enormous body.

It was Dr. Jiang Qi and his team.

They gave him a relieved, apologetic smile.

Then, slowly and solemnly, she nodded to him.

Daigo understood that look in his eyes.

We would rather die as humans than live as monsters that destroy the Earth.

Please, Ultraman.

A profound sense of sorrow and respect welled up in Daigo's heart.

Ultraman Tiga slowly straightened up, without any further hesitation.

He raised his arms, crossed them in front of his chest, and gathered the light energy from his entire body.

The Zepelion Ray, with the determination to purify everything, shot out fiercely and accurately struck the core of Ligadron.

There was no violent explosion, no earth-shattering sound.

The massive body of Ligadron melted and disintegrated like ice and snow in the dazzling light, turning into countless specks of light that drifted away in the wind.

Where the monster vanished, three soft orbs of light slowly rose.

They circled once in the air, as if bidding a final farewell to the land they loved so dearly, before transforming into three shooting stars and soaring into the deep universe.

Perhaps, that is their true home.

The command center was completely silent.

Everyone watched this scene in silence, paying the highest tribute to the three true heroes.

Meanwhile, in the laboratory, Masaki Keigo lowered his hand, which was about to activate the transformation device, and was somewhat moved.

Then he turned and left...

When he reappeared, he was already on site and began directing the recovery operation targeting Ligadron's body tissue.

This was the armor he had ordered...

(End of this chapter)