Chapter 1300
This is called being prepared for a rainy day.
Megumi cursed under her breath, her voice filled with deep helplessness. While the Angels were troublesome, at least they were predictable, with fixed patterns and rules. But these monsters pouring in from other universes were all unknown variables, each potentially bringing unforeseen disasters.
"I wish Daigo could come."
Megumi sighed, her gaze involuntarily drifting to the gray sky outside the window. She remembered the young man who always wore a gentle smile, and how he transformed into light in despair. Ultraman Tiga, the being who protected Earth in their original world, possessed powers and a fighting style different from Jack's.
"After all, Daigo is Ultraman Tiga."
Her voice lowered, tinged with longing and anticipation. If Daigo were here, if Tiga's light could also illuminate this world, Cui Ming wouldn't be so lonely. Two Ultramen fighting side by side, taking turns to rest, would at least give that man, always covered in wounds, a moment to catch his breath.
But that's just wishful thinking.
Megumi withdrew her gaze, forcing herself to calm down. Daigo was still fighting in their own world, with his own mission and bonds. She couldn't always rely on others to share the burden, and Choi Myung wouldn't want to drag others into this chaos.
"Never mind." She sat up straight and looked at the screen again. "It's always been like this."
The clouds outside the window churned, as if foreshadowing the next storm. Megumi's fingers tapped lightly on the control panel, waiting for that familiar figure to return.
No matter how difficult it is, they will face it together.
Actually...
For Cui Ming
Living in the world of EVA is truly like taking a vacation.
The main issue is that the intensity of the battle wasn't really high.
Compared to the time I spent at EDF, this was truly as enjoyable as a picnic.
Cui Ming stood on the beach, the sea breeze ruffling his clothes. In the distance, a monster that had just emerged roared; it was a cosmic monster, drifting in from another dimension, enormous and menacing. But in Cui Ming's eyes, it was nothing more than yet another moving target.
There's no way around it. In the EDF world, before Cui Ming completely destroyed the Time Fleet, these guys were constantly rewinding time to annoy people.
Cui Ming's lips twitched as he recalled those days.
Back then, every battle was a nightmare—just when you'd blasted the enemy to smithereens, time would suddenly rewind, and everything would start over. The enemy would also bring back memories and tactical adjustments from the previous cycle. A single battle might be fought dozens of times, each time requiring readjustment, replanning, and renewed fighting. The mental strain was far more agonizing than physical exhaustion.
Moreover, these guys' troops are practically unlimited.
The Star Guides summoned reinforcements from various timelines and parallel universes, killing one wave after another, with no end in sight. Cui Ming often fought continuously for days and nights, relying on the EDF's energy towers to sustain himself when his energy was depleted, and using his willpower to push his body to its limits. At that time, the concept of "rest" did not exist; there was only "how long can I hold on" and "when will I die."
Now, dealing with monsters is all one-on-one, which is really too easy!
The monster before him finally burst from the water, its gaping maw lunging forward. Cui Ming didn't even bother to transform; he simply raised his hand, the Ultra Bracelet flashed, and a blade of light streaked past. The monster's head flew off, its massive body crashing down, splashing water everywhere.
Cui Ming took out his phone and glanced at the time; fifteen seconds had passed from start to finish. "I can make it back for dinner today," he muttered to himself. "Lindis said she wants barbecue."
He turned and left the beach, the monstrous carcass sinking behind him. The setting sun painted the sea golden, a scene as beautiful as a vacation photograph.
In EDF, this is called hell.
In EVA, this is called everyday life.
Cui Ming whistled and walked briskly home.
Why does Cui Ming try to avoid using Ultraman's power in the Ultraman world?
The concern is the risk of dependency.
People must rely on themselves.
This power is too immense, too convenient; it seems as if simply transforming can solve all problems. A fifty-meter-tall body, the strength of ten thousand tons, and beams of light capable of cutting through steel—once one becomes accustomed to this perspective of looking down upon all living beings, once one becomes addicted to this omnipotent thrill, one will slowly degenerate, slowly forgetting one's original self. Muscles will atrophy, skills will become rusty, willpower will weaken, and ultimately one will become a useless piece of trash without the power of light.
If you rely too much on this power, what if one day you can no longer use Ultraman's power?
The bracelet is damaged, the energy is depleted, the enemy possesses sealing abilities, or some unknown rule restricts—once this safety net is lost, how much real combat ability will be left for someone accustomed to flying and teleporting? At that point, facing the enemy, will one choose to flee in humiliation, or stand still and wait to die? Or worse, will one regret not having honed enough skills to cope with the crisis, and be forced to watch helplessly as someone important dies before one's eyes?
What will we do then?
These are real problems that must be faced, not unfounded worries, but unpredictable events that can occur at any time on the battlefield. In the EDF world, Cui Ming has seen too many soldiers become lambs to the slaughter once their supply lines are cut because they rely on equipment and technology. He will never allow himself to become one of them.
These are all things to be aware of.
Therefore, Choi Myung was always making sure that his combat experience was accurate.
With each attack, he forces himself to act as a human, only considering transformation when absolutely necessary. He needs to remember the taste of pain, the feeling of a bullet whizzing past, and the contraction and explosive power of his muscles with every punch, all while in his flesh and blood. He needs to keep every cell in his body alert, making his nerve responses instinctive, rather than relying on Ultraman's superhuman reflexes.
And physical exercise, etc.
No matter how busy he is, Cui Ming insists on physical training. Weighted running, combat skills, and weapons drills are even more intense than those of ordinary EDF soldiers. He wants to ensure that his body is always in peak condition, and that even without the aura of Ultraman, he is still the Cui Ming who can fight his way out of hellish battlefields.
Strength may be borrowed, but willpower and skill are one's own.
This is a truth that Cui Ming always keeps in mind. In this world full of unknowns, in this crazy era where monsters and apostles roam, he would rather suffer now than regret losing his power someday.
He wanted to use his human identity, human skills, and human will to harness that divinely bestowed power, rather than be controlled by it.
This is Cui Ming's fighting style. (End of Chapter)