Ultraman grunts? Call me Space Policeman outside!

After a thrilling night of fighting, Shinji returned to his apartment intending to rest immediately, but seeing Misato Katsuragi preparing to eat instant noodles again, he sighed and headed towards the refrigerator.

"Miss Misato, don't always eat these things. They don't provide the nutrients your body needs at all," Shinji said as he rummaged through the refrigerator for ingredients.

Upon hearing this, Misato Katsuragi, who was holding a cup of instant noodles despite being the guardian, shrank back guiltily.

"OK......"

I'm supposed to be the guardian... but lately I feel like I'm the one being taken care of...

Shinji had already found the ingredients, put on an apron, and skillfully prepared to cook two dishes.

Misato Katsuragi leaned back in her chair and chugged a beer, trying to ease the awkwardness with alcohol.

His gaze wandered, then drifted towards the refrigerator.

Watching the refrigerator door slowly open by itself without anyone touching it.

Misato Katsuragi: "!!!"

"Ice...refrigerator!"

The supernatural phenomenon happened in her own home. She couldn't believe what was happening in front of her. Could it be that she had drunk too much beer after just two cans and was hallucinating?

Shinji, who was chopping vegetables, heard the sound and turned around to see Natsuki's phantom rummaging through the refrigerator for ingredients, while in his mind he told Natsuki to cook a couple more dishes.

Shinji Ikari: "Uh..."

He forced a smile and explained, "It's alright, Miss Misato, it's just that the refrigerator door wasn't closed properly."

"I'll cook a couple more dishes later."

......

After finishing his meal and washing the dishes, Shinji Ikari quickly washed up and returned to his room.

Lying in bed, staring at the familiar ceiling.

Suddenly, his gaze fell on a familiar object on the bedside table: a black retro Walkman with its worn-out earphones wrapped around it.

Come to think of it... I haven't used it for several days.

Shinji reached out, picked up the Walkman, and looked at it.

In the past, when he encountered things he didn't want to face, he would always put on headphones, listen to music on his Walkman, and isolate himself from the world.

This was something his father had given him years ago, and it has been a source of comfort for him all these years.

But now, it seems I don't need it anymore.

I will no longer run away from this world, but instead open my arms and embrace it.

And what caused all of this...

Shinji turned to look at Natsuki, who was sitting in a chair reading a history book.

His life was completely changed after meeting Mr. Natsuki.

“Mr. Natsuki, thank you,” Shinji said, his voice filled with gratitude.

Upon hearing his words, Xia Shu put down the book in her hand.

"Why are you suddenly thanking me?" he asked.

“Uh… well, it’s because of Mr. Natsuki’s help that I have the happy life I have now,” Shinji honestly replied. “If I hadn’t met Mr. Natsuki… I would be living a very painful life right now.”

Shinji had always believed that the world was cold and that it was impossible for people to understand each other.

But now, having personally experienced encouragement and support, his outlook on life has changed somewhat.

"Actually... you should be most grateful to someone other than me."

"But it's about making choices to protect others when disaster strikes," Xia Shu said earnestly, looking at him.

During his years with the Space Garrison, Natsuki would always try to help out any outstanding juniors he encountered; that's just the kind of person he is.

This has never changed, whether I was young or now.

“Mr. Natsuki... is indeed a gentle person.” Shinji said the same thing as his juniors in the Space Garrison after hearing this.

Natsuki smiled but did not answer.

At this moment, Shinji remembered his previous dream again.

"Speaking of which... was what I saw in my dream a memory of Natsuki-san from when he was young?" Shinji asked curiously.

Last time, because Natsuki had to train, he couldn't ask her right away.

"That one..." Because of their shared consciousness, Natsuki instantly realized which memory Shinji was referring to.

“That’s right. We had just finished a mission in a distant galaxy and returned to the Land of Light. We were developing a forbidden technique with Ace when Hikari encountered an accident while conducting an investigation.” Natsuki said as she recalled.

She continued, "In my dream, I saw Mr. Natsuki as someone full of confidence and drive."

"But I can also sense that Mr. Natsuki experiences a sadness when he talks about the past... Why is that?"

Upon hearing this question, Natsuki knew that this topic was unavoidable.

In a state of perfect harmony, both parties can perceive each other's emotions.

The boy wasn't intentionally prying into his past, but rather trying to comfort himself; however, his limited experience led to a slightly different way of expressing himself.

“Because things have changed.” Xia Shu slowly raised her head, looked at the moon outside the window, and sighed as she spoke.

Even if I could regain my strength now and get back on my feet... I still wouldn't be able to be completely the same as before.

With Hikari's help, Natsuki saw hope in regaining his strength and was willing to contribute to the war ahead, so he would now focus all his attention on the mission.

But the past is the past, and what has happened cannot be changed.

"Mr. Natsuki... did you encounter a setback because you met an invincible enemy?" Shinji sensed Natsuki's dejected mood and asked, but then felt that it might be inappropriate to say it that way.

She added, "I didn't mean to mock Mr. Natsuki, I just... wanted to understand Mr. Natsuki a little better."

"I...want to help you."

"Just like Mr. Natsuki helped me," the boy said firmly.

Upon hearing this, Xia Shu realized that she had not misjudged him after all.

He is a kind-hearted boy.

“Being defeated by a powerful enemy is hardly a setback,” Xia Shu said with mixed emotions. “For a qualified soldier, the only thing to think about after being defeated is to get back up.”

"I have suffered quite a few defeats over the years."

"What really disappointed me was not being recognized."

"Approval? Whose approval?" Shinji asked.

At this point, Xia Shu slowly closed his eyes, and the glass-like buildings of the Land of Light appeared in his mind. He was very familiar with everything there, and the most dazzling one was a spire that seemed exceptionally tall even from his perspective.

What I failed to gain was... the approval of the light.

In a past battle, he thought he could use the power of that light, but the final result was... he became what he is now.

Forcibly using power that does not belong to you will only lead to unfortunate results.

It was after that experience that he came to understand that fate exists in this world.

I am no longer fit to stand on the stage; the world ahead belongs to the young.

"Alright, it's getting late."

"Don't you have to get up early tomorrow to go with Ms. Misato to welcome EVA Unit-02 and its pilot?"

“If young people stay up late, it can lead to poor physical development.” With that, Natsuki waved her hand and drew the curtains, plunging the room into darkness, reminding Shinji that it was time to sleep.

Shinji still wanted to hear more about Mr. Natsuki's story, but it was already very late.

Good night, Mr. Natsuki.

After saying goodnight to each other, Shinji closed his eyes and fell into a deep sleep.

......

Time passed, I don't know how much.

In a blur, Shinji felt as if he had woken up again.

He felt himself running, running into the interior of a hollowed-out blue tower, where several figures that "he" felt were lying on the ground.

Inside the tower, at its center, is an extremely bright light.

Chapter 110 Belial

"Where...is this place?" Shinji felt a sense of familiarity, but more than that, a sense of strangeness, after entering the hollowed-out tower.

He quickly realized that he was seeing Mr. Natsuki's past memories in his dream again.

I feel a sense of familiarity because this is Mr. Natsuki's hometown.

He was in first-person perspective now, but soon he felt himself detach from the enormous body and revert to third-person perspective, seeing the giant who had come here.

That was Mr. Natsuki from the past, Lias, Ultraman Lias.

At the same time, the scene before him involuntarily flashed through his mind.

"The Land of Light." Shinji's figure floated in the vast space, looking around and recognizing that this was the Land of Light from Natsuki's memories. "And this is... inside the Plasma Spark Tower of the Land of Light."

Belial, a fallen giant, escapes from a space prison and returns to the Land of Light with the Ultimate Battle Device to seek revenge.

Belial was originally a powerful Ultra Warrior. After fusing with the soul of Reibrondo, the ultimate life form that once ruled the universe, his strength increased even further. He also possesses the Ultimate Battle Device, which can be called an ultimate weapon. This is completely different from the enemies that Lias once fought.

He crushed the Ultra Brothers all the way, and even the Father of Ultra, the captain of the Space Garrison, was defeated.

If nothing unexpected happens, Belial will steal the Plasma Spark Core, which provides energy to the entire Land of Light, plunging the planet into a cold, lifeless state.

"Finally... it fell into my hands."

A dark giant with a black and red body and ferocious eyes, holding a long club, came to the plasma spark core and said with a savage grin.

"Beria!"

Just as he was about to seize the Plasma Spark Core, an angry roar came from behind him.

Upon hearing the voice, Beria sneered and slowly turned around: "Another one coming to die."