Chapter 168 I Want To Participate Too!

The Land of Light.

There was no such thing as day or night on this planet. The entire world was constantly bathed in the radiance of the Plasma Spark Tower.

The magnificent tower stood at the very heart of the city, shining with the brilliance of a miniature sun.

Grand buildings stretched across the landscape, while countless Ultramen flew back and forth overhead, moving through the sky like schools of fish swimming through an endless ocean.

Suddenly, space itself began to ripple.

A moment later, a massive crack tore open in the void, spilling a strange, otherworldly light into the surrounding area.

The disturbance immediately put the Inter Galactic Defense Force on high alert.

Zoffy, the current captain of the Defense Force, arrived near the dimensional rift alongside Ultraseven, Ultraman Jack, and several other Ultramen.

“What’s going on here?”

Ultraseven studied the crack with concern.

“Why would an unstable dimensional rift suddenly appear?”

“Could it have formed naturally?” asked Ultraman Taro, the biological son of Father of Ultra and Mother of Ultra.

Ultraman Hikari, a member of the Space Science Technology Bureau, shook his head.

“No. There’s an incredibly powerful force on the other side. Someone deliberately opened this passage.”

“Another enemy?”

Ultraman Leo clenched his fists.

“Man, we’ve really had one crisis after another lately.”

“Don’t tell me Belial’s coming back for another round,” Ultraman Mebius joked, showing a rare bit of humor.

Unfortunately, before anyone could even laugh…

A younger Ultraman Belial actually stepped out of the dimensional rift.

“What?!”

The surrounding Ultramen immediately assumed fighting stances, glaring at the unexpected visitor.

Taro slowly turned toward Mebius, looking utterly speechless.

Seriously? That guy and his big mouth.

And this isn’t even the first time!

Belial looked over the gathered Ultramen and immediately pulled out his Battlenizer, ready for a fight.

He had obtained it from Absolute Tartarus’s collection.

At the time, he’d also helped Ultraman Tregear retrieve the Tregear Eye.

The two had originally left the Absolutian homeworld together, but after getting into a few arguments, they’d eventually gone their separate ways.

Now, with both sides glaring at one another and a fight about to break out…

Two figures suddenly appeared between them.

Ultraman King and Father of Ultra had arrived, positioning themselves between the opposing sides to prevent a battle.

Then, Vane, currently transformed into Godzilla, emerged from the rift alongside the Emperor, Daigo, Gamu Takayama, Keigo Masaki, and several others in their Ultraman forms.

After tracking down Belial in that special timeline and using a combination of threats and tempting offers to convince him to join their group, Vane had gathered the Earth Defense Force and Ultramen from several other timelines.

Now, they had all come to the Land of Light to regroup.

Their objective was simple.

Completely crush the Absolutians.

“Master! Daigo! Neos!”

The moment Ultraman Teo spotted Vane, he excitedly flew over to Godzilla’s side.

“Master…?”

The members of the Inter Galactic Defense Force were dumbfounded.

Wait a minute!

That gigantic monster is Ultraman Teo’s master?!

What kind of ridiculous situation is this?!

“Well, things certainly seem lively around here.”

Vane glanced at the two groups preparing to tear each other apart, his voice lighthearted.

“But today’s really not the time for a fight.”

Ultraman Geed stepped forward and respectfully bowed toward Vane.

“Honored Traveler, may I ask why Belial is traveling with your group?”

Belial looked at Geed with a disdainful sneer.

“That’s none of your business.”

He might fear the Traveler’s overwhelming power, but that didn’t mean he would tolerate some younger Ultraman questioning him.

“None of our business?!”

Taro, who had remained silent until now, finally lost his patience.

He clenched his fists.

“You’re a public enemy of the Land of Light!”

“He’s not the same Belial we knew,” Father of Ultra interjected. “You can’t hold him responsible for things he hasn’t done.”

“But he’ll end up doing those things anyway! That’s simply who he is!”

Taro looked between his father and the other Ultramen.

“Everyone here knows exactly what Belial has done! And now we’re supposed to fight alongside him? That’s ridiculous!”

“Taro.”

Zoffy finally spoke.

“Belial has indeed committed many terrible crimes. But those crimes weren’t committed by the Belial standing in front of us.”

“He hasn’t been possessed by Alien Reiblood yet, nor has he committed those atrocities.”

“If we start treating people as criminals simply because they might commit a crime someday, then what does that make us?”

“Are we still the Inter Galactic Defense Force, sworn to protect peace?”

“Or have we become nothing more than an oppressive organization enforcing a dictatorship through violence?”

Vane glanced at Zoffy with newfound appreciation.

No wonder this guy managed to become captain of the Defense Force.

That’s some serious moral conviction right there.

If he remembered correctly, the captain of the Inter Galactic Defense Force was also a potential successor to the leadership of the Land of Light.

In other words, once Father of Ultra eventually kicked the bucket, Zoffy would become the next leader.

“But…” Taro protested, clearly unwilling to let the matter go.

“Enough.”

Ultraman King, who had been floating in the void above them, finally spoke.

His voice wasn’t particularly loud, yet it carried an authority that no one could ignore.

After silencing the dispute, he turned toward Vane.

“Is Belial currently serving under you?”

Vane casually waved his hand.

“Not exactly. I offered him a chance to participate in the Desire Grand Prix, a tournament where the winner can have any wish granted.”

“In exchange, I asked him to help me fight the Absolutians.”

“I want to participate too!”

Taro immediately spoke up.

He had already heard about the Desire Grand Prix from Zero.

According to the mysterious Traveler, whoever won the championship could make absolutely any wish.

Even becoming a God was supposedly possible.

Hearing Taro’s request, Vane couldn’t help smiling.

Well, would you look at that?

People are practically lining up to enter my tournament now.

And this time, it’s the crown prince of the Land of Light himself!

Naturally, Vane had absolutely no reason to refuse.

He pulled out an invitation to the Desire Grand Prix and handed it to Ultraman Taro.

“Since your desire to stop Belial is that strong, go ahead.”

“As long as you become the champion, whatever wish you make will come true.”

Belial: “…”

This guy really is recruiting people everywhere he goes!

“All right, everyone.”

Vane clapped his hands, drawing everyone’s attention back to him.

“We can deal with your grudges and the Desire Grand Prix later.”

“Right now, it’s time to confront the Absolutians.”

“Open the portal, Ultraman King. We might as well use this opportunity to settle the conflict between your two races once and for all.”

Ultraman King turned toward Father of Ultra.

“Gather every available warrior.”

“Understood.”

Father of Ultra nodded and issued a general mobilization order.

The very next moment, countless streaks of light shot into the sky.

One after another, Ultramen gathered in the void, forming an army of astonishing size.

“Move out!”

Ultraman King extended both arms and swept them through the air.

A gigantic dimensional rift appeared before the assembled army, opening a direct passage to the Absolutians’ homeworld.

“Try to keep casualties to a minimum.”

Father of Ultra took the lead, flying straight toward the dimensional rift.

The other Ultramen followed close behind.

Meanwhile, Vane summoned the Ultima Blade and Flawless Suit, placed them in his inventory, and flew toward the rift alongside the Emperor, Daigo, and the others.