Moonlight team, are you awake?

As night deepened, the air was filled with the fragrance of flowers and the coolness of the night breeze. Myo and Mitsuko walked through the city for a long time, opening their hearts to each other like never before, sharing many stories from their pasts. They laughed heartily at times, sighed at others, and their pace slowed, as if time itself was passing gently in this night. They came to a quiet park; the benches were empty, only the streetlights casting a soft glow that illuminated their faces.

Mitsuko gently took my hand, and the two sat together on a bench, feeling the gentle breeze. She closed her eyes slightly, enjoying the tranquility of the moment. "Today was really great," she said softly and warmly, with a hint of weariness. "I've never felt so relaxed before. It's so good to be alive."

I dreamt I looked at her profile and felt a surge of contentment. He gently squeezed Mitsuko's hand and whispered, "Yes, being with you is truly wonderful."

Mitsuko opened her eyes and looked at him with a smile. "If every day could be like this, that would be wonderful. Although... I know that's impossible."

My dream's expression turned slightly serious, but he quickly gave a reassuring smile. "Why not? After we defeat the evil god, we can be together like this every day."

"That won't do." Mitsuko pressed her finger to his lips. "Are you trying to drive Jete and the others crazy?"

“Uh…” Just as I was about to say something, Mitsuko shook her head: “I’m, Jete has been with us for so long, she has given so much. For you, she really doesn’t want anything anymore. I have no reason or right to let her leave.”

Love is exclusive. If possible, Photon would also like to dream that I only have myself by my side, but... Jet has given too much.

Of all of Gamu's companions, Jete was the one who stayed the longest. She was by Gamu's side before Gamu evolved into V2. Later, Gamu grew stronger step by step, climbing higher and higher like climbing a ladder to heaven. One person after another came and went from his side, but Jete was always by his side, from V1 all the way to SSV.

If she asked, I might refuse Jete for her sake, but that would be too pitiful for Jete.

I was stunned. Mitsuko's words were like a gentle yet complex breeze, brushing against the deepest corner of his heart. He looked into Mitsuko's clear eyes, which held no trace of jealousy, only deep understanding and acceptance.

Photon smiled slightly, her fingers gently tracing his cheek. "My dream, you don't need to feel guilty or troubled. I know this is a choice you can't make. In your heart, everyone has sacrificed so much for you, and no one can be let down. I understand your responsibility, I understand your choice."

"I dream of mountains, and I am not the only hero." Her smile was gentle with a hint of bitterness, but even more so with unwavering determination.

The two sat close together on the bench, enjoying a rare moment of peace.

Half an hour later, I dreamt that I gently picked up the sleeping Guangzi from his arms. He didn't use teleportation, but just quietly held her and returned home without disturbing or attracting anyone's attention.

He gently placed the photon on the bed and covered her with a blanket.

He had done this many times before. Guangzi would often lie on the sofa watching TV and fall asleep while watching. I had to gently carry her back to her room.

Sometimes, even when he's asleep, Photon will suddenly hug his arm as if she's having a nightmare, and then gently let go a moment later.

Although I dream and photon are a giant of light and an alien, their relationship gradually becomes intertwined and unclear, just like that of ordinary people.

I can't pinpoint exactly when he started having feelings for Mitsuko. Maybe it was the day he picked her up, maybe it was when she sat down next to him wrapped in a towel after her shower, maybe it was when she lay down and fell asleep in front of him without any defenses, or maybe it was when he carried her back to his room and caught a whiff of the fragrance in her hair, or... maybe it was just some ordinary moment when the girl's smile touched his heart.

Mitsuko couldn't pinpoint exactly when she realized she couldn't live without Gamu. Maybe it was when he rescued her, maybe it was when he made a deal with the Yapool, allowing them to take Mitsuko away after his death, or perhaps it was just on an ordinary afternoon when Gamu, dressed in ordinary clothes, was chatting with her, and a certain moment stirred her heartstrings.

After settling Photon in, I dreamt I stepped out of the room and glanced up to see Jete curled up by the window.

Jete sat by the window, her knees drawn up to her chest, her long black hair swaying gently in the night breeze. Moonlight streamed through the window, bathing her in its glow, making her appear like a serene and solitary statue. She seemed to hear the footsteps of my dream, but she didn't turn around. She simply gazed silently at the night sky outside the window, as if the deep darkness held unspoken secrets within her heart.

I walked over quietly and stopped beside her, a complex mix of emotions welling up inside me. He gazed at Jete's slender back, a sense of guilt and unease washing over him.

From my perspective, Jete has done so much for him. To say nothing of anything else, she accompanied him through almost the entire Hell difficulty dungeon, which is something that not everyone can do.

"Jet," I said softly, my tone filled with concern, "won't you go and get some rest?"

Jete turned her head slightly, a faint light shining in her golden eyes. She smiled gently, her tone tender yet tinged with an undeniable weariness. "I just wanted to look at the stars tonight." She paused, her gaze returning to the night sky. "It's been a long time since I've quietly watched the stars like this."

I followed her gaze and saw a starry sky, brilliant and distant, its twinkling lights seemingly silently narrating the immeasurable passage of time and distance in the universe. His heart skipped a beat, and he couldn't help but ask, "What are you still worried about?"

Jete didn't answer immediately. She remained silent for a moment, as if weighing her emotions. Finally, she sighed softly, a complex emotion in her eyes. "I'm not worried about anything," her voice was low and deep, "I'm just... thinking about our next step. You know, our battle isn't over yet, and the next opponent... we don't know how to win."

There was an indescribable melancholy in her voice, but also a hint of determination. I was silent for a moment, then walked to Jete's side, gently placing my hand on her shoulder, trying to offer her some comfort and support. "Don't think too much. Haven't we always gotten through this? So many enemies seemed invincible, but in the end, we always won, didn't we? As long as we work together, there's no enemy that's impossible to defeat."

Jete looked up at him, a gentle smile appearing in her eyes. "Yes, we've always been together." Her voice carried a touch of nostalgia and affection, as if recalling the countless times they fought side by side. "But sometimes, I can't help but think... if we weren't giants of light, not warriors of the universe, but just ordinary people, how wonderful it would be if the world didn't have so many disasters, so many crises."

Upon hearing this, I was struck by a thought. "Actually, ordinary people also have their own troubles. Whether they are soldiers or ordinary people, everyone probably has some hurdles that are difficult to overcome..."

A complex emotion flickered in Jete's eyes. She lowered her head slightly, her long eyelashes casting an arc in the moonlight. "I know, I dream," she said softly, her voice tinged with weariness and relief. "So, I will continue to stay by your side, no matter what role I play..."

She looked up, a faint smile on her face. "But you must remember, you're not the only one who loves you."

My heart was suddenly struck. He wanted to say something, but in the end he just gently pulled her into his arms, feeling her warmth and vulnerability.

Jete didn't refuse the hug; she simply closed her eyes, letting her weariness ease in that moment.

"Let's go, let's rest for a while," Meng said softly. "We still have a lot to do tomorrow."

Jie nodded, slowly stepped back from his embrace, a faint smile on her face.

After arranging for Jeet to rest, I walked to the front door and looked back at this incredibly quiet home.

The next second, his figure transformed into Gaia's appearance and disappeared from the spot.

Defense Forces Base

The atmosphere at the defense base was somewhat relaxed due to the temporary tranquility, but beneath that calm lay a suppressed tension. Everyone knew that true peace was never so simple. Shinjo yawned, trying to stay awake, but the unusual quiet made it impossible for him to concentrate.

"It's been like this since noon, it's really strange," Shinjo complained again, leaning back in his chair and stretching wearily. His lips were drooping with weariness, and his eyes were hazy, as if this moment of relaxation was merely temporary self-comfort.

“You’re right, this kind of abnormal phenomenon is indeed unsettling.” Horii looked up, his face full of worry, his chubby fingers flying across the keyboard, trying to find any unusual energy fluctuations. “I have a feeling that there might be some huge conspiracy hidden behind this calm.”

Bored, Goroki held a pencil under his nose, trying to amuse himself with this little trick. "Maybe the final enemy is about to appear. This is the calm before the storm."

"Stop jinxing it!" Saijo Nagi snatched the pencil from under his nose. "Stop saying such unlucky things. Can't you think of something good? Like... the enemy has been completely wiped out?"

"Haha, if that's the case, we can finally rest easy!" The mountain team member laughed, his voice carrying a forced ease. But behind his smile lay an inescapable heaviness. He paused, his gaze fixed on the distance, his voice becoming low and solemn, "If that day really comes, I can go home to pay respects to my father and grandfather, and tell them that we have succeeded."

The Yamanaka members currently serving in the defense force are the third generation of Yamanaka members.

His grandfather, Ichiro Yamanaka, became a member of the fourth generation of the defense force in 1972. After fighting monsters for a year, he retired due to injuries. Later, his father also joined the defense force and became the second generation of Yamanaka members. He died heroically 20 years ago. He inherited the will of his father and grandfather and rejoined the defense force, becoming the third generation of Yamanaka members.

Families like his, where generations have dedicated themselves to the cause of the defense force, are commonplace in this era. Everyone risks their lives, just to see the dawn of victory.

If we ever truly achieve victory, then we will truly remember to tell our ancestors at the family altar.

Just as everyone was anticipating victory, Gaia suddenly appeared in the base.

"Gaia?!" Everyone was only briefly surprised before they got used to it, since Gaia's sudden appearance in the base was not unusual.

"Any missions?" Shinjo instantly perked up, jumping up from his chair and clapping his fists. "I'm ready!"

I looked around at them and then calmly said, "No monsters appeared this time, but there is something I need your help with."

"No monsters? That's strange." The mountain team members also stood up. "Just tell us what you need. Even if it's something we can't do, we'll create the conditions to do it!"

"I hope you can help me build a live streaming channel that reaches the whole world."

"Huh?" Everyone looked at each other in surprise. Was Gaia going to... broadcast live to the whole world?

This is not difficult for them, because as a global organization, the Defense Force has the ability to project information globally. Moreover, with the help of Crisis, computing power and server operation are not a problem at all. They can do it in just a few minutes.

But... why did Gaia broadcast live to the entire world? What was he planning to announce?

"I need to consult with Commander Yoshioka about this." Even Megumi Kijima couldn't make this decision on her own regarding the global dissemination of information. She quickly dialed Commander Yoshioka's number, and after listening to her description, he calmly replied, "Since it's Gaia's request, we should do our best to fulfill it. He won't harm us."

"Okay." Actually, Megumi had the same idea, but as the captain, she couldn't overstep her bounds.

With permission from above, the communication channel was quickly set up, and Gaia was placed in a special room with cameras pointed at him.

At the same time, everyone around the world using the internet received a notification from the defense forces.

To facilitate evacuation and information dissemination, the defense forces established this information dissemination function a long time ago. Its mechanism is similar to earthquake early warning in peacetime, and it will directly disseminate information to users when a major event occurs.

Everyone simultaneously saw the same message: [Defense Force Channel: Ultraman Gaia invites you to join the live stream]

A question mark appeared on everyone's forehead, and they subconsciously thought that their phones had been infected with some kind of virus.

However, upon closer inspection, it appears that the message was indeed sent from the Defense Forces channel.

"Holy crap???" After confirming the source of the message was genuine, everyone eagerly clicked into the live stream.

The defense forces have credibility; they wouldn't play those clickbait tricks. Could it be that they've really made contact with Gaia?

Everyone rushed into the live stream room, and as soon as they entered, they saw Gaia SSV standing in the center of the screen.

Holy crap, it really is Gaia!

"Quack! Gaia, we love you so much!"

"Waaaaah, it's actually the real thing! The Defense Force is awesome!"

"This is incredible! We can actually see Gaia in the live stream!"

I dreamt of staring at the big screen in front of me, which displayed the chat messages and the number of viewers. After seeing enough people flood into the live stream, I dreamt of waving at the screen, and the chat messages instantly went wild.

But then, my dream's next move made the comments section, and all the viewers, freeze in shock—

The light emanating from him slowly faded, and he transformed from the form of Gaia back into the form of Takayama Gamu.

"Hello everyone, I am Takayama Gaia, Ultraman...Gaia."

High mountains are my dreams, Superman... Jia Ya!

Chapter 288 Darkness Resurgence

My Dream's short sentence instantly silenced the live stream, leaving everyone in front of the screen stunned.

Gaia is the guardian deity of Earth, that much is certain, and not only Earthlings, but even extraterrestrials would have no doubt about it.

For a long time, people's trust in Gaia has been growing exponentially every day. Even in this world where monsters are constantly attacking us, the thought that Gaia is protecting us gives everyone a sense of security. As long as Gaia is there, even if we are killed by monsters, we will be saved.

If it weren't for the fact that since Sawai came to power he has consistently emphasized that there should be no ideological worship, and that the ideological education of the masses has been relatively effective, then a religion with Gaia as the supreme god would probably have already emerged.

The concept of God was created by people, essentially because of their fear of death and weakness. They imagined an immortal and powerful being to protect and manage everything.

However, Gaia truly fulfilled all of people's fantasies about gods, whether it was single-handedly pushing back a tsunami or resurrecting countless dead, this was undoubtedly a godlike power.

Therefore, everyone developed a sense of trust in Gaia like a child trusts their parents, believing that Ultraman is a god who will surely save humanity from suffering, that he will never fail, that he will be reborn even after death, and that victory is only natural for him.

But everything shattered when I dreamt of transforming back into my human form in front of everyone and revealing my true identity.

"?????"

"Ultraman...is human?"

"Kamen Rider has turned into a human?!"

"How could that be... So he was just a human who gained power?"

No matter how well the government did its ideological work, everything I had done before seemed too bizarre. In one month, I wiped out all the enemies, maintained a 100% win rate, and even resurrected and strengthened after dying in battle. While maintaining a perfect record, I also reduced human casualties to almost zero. Although people did not form a religion due to their level of education and mainstream ideology, deep down, everyone felt that Gaia must be an omnipotent god.

When everyone was shocked to discover that Gaia's true form was not a god, but a human being just like them, everyone was bewildered.

Everyone in front of the screen stared blankly at the live stream, as if unable to accept this sudden truth. Gaia—the guardian they regarded as a god-like being—was just an ordinary human. This realization instantly shattered their long-held faith and reliance, leaving them momentarily stunned.

"He...he's human too?" Many people in the live stream murmured, their eyes filled with shock and bewilderment. The fact that the omnipotent god they had always believed in actually had a flesh-and-blood body just like them was unbelievable.

Some shook their heads slightly in front of the screen, finding it hard to accept the reality of this shattered "myth." Others stared nervously at the figure in my dream, their hearts filled with complex and confused emotions. Almost everyone was asking themselves: If Gaia was just a human, could he really continue to protect us?

The comments started scrolling again, but the speed became slow and unpredictable.

"He is... a human? A human like us?"

"Is this true? I always thought he was a god..."

As everyone was caught in confusion and doubt, I calmly gazed at the screen, my eyes unwavering, filled instead with gentleness and determination. I took a deep breath and slowly spoke: "Yes, I am human, just like you, and part of this Earth. Perhaps you are confused or even disappointed by this fact, but I want to tell you—precisely because I am also human, I, like everyone else, yearn for peace, for tomorrow to continue, and like everyone else, I will fight everything for this goal."

His voice was gentle yet firm, like a soothing balm. Everyone listened quietly, their doubts gradually dissipating as he spoke.

“I am not a god,” I continued, my voice tinged with deep emotion. “I will fail, I will be afraid, I will be injured and bleed in battle, and I will even face death. But what drives me to get back up and get stronger is my human nature.”

Seeing the silence in the live stream, I Meng smiled. At that moment, he looked like a sunny and gentle ordinary boy, which made people feel that the distance between him had decreased a lot. Some people began to shed their idol filter and communicate with I Meng in a normal way.

"This is incredible... It's just like a fantasy story I read when I was a kid, where a boy gets the mission and power to save the world and then lives a legendary life... Haha."

"The person upstairs is absolutely right. This is the life of the protagonist."

"But being the protagonist in our world doesn't seem to be so easy, haha."

"If it were up to me, I'd have to think it over. Damn, just the thought of having to face those guys with a human heart makes me a little hesitant, haha."

"To be honest, even if I had Gaia's power, it would be unbelievable to beat those guys. I can't believe we've actually won so far."

"Sigh, when I was a kid, I loved watching those cartoons about saving the world. I remember watching 'Little Saviour' on TV every day back then."

The atmosphere in the live stream gradually warmed up, and people began to realize that it wasn't so bad that Gaia was human. If you think about it carefully, isn't it more remarkable to do those things as a human than as a god?

A middle-aged man, just off work, typed on his keyboard: "Haha, I used to love watching that too. Back then, I thought I was unique. Someone would suddenly appear and ask me to save the world. I had partners, special abilities, my mecha... But I slowly realized that I'm just an ordinary person... There are three painful things in life that you have to face: accepting your parents' mediocrity, accepting your own incompetence, and accepting your children's ordinariness... Haha."

"Waaah, upstairs, stop talking. When I was little, I also fantasized about this: in the middle of class, a beautiful girl would suddenly kick open the classroom door and tell me there was no time to explain, come and save the world with me. Then, under the watchful eyes of my classmates and teachers, I would board a giant mecha and fly far away, living a legendary life. But... sigh, I'm just an ordinary person. I don't have beautiful girls or mechas. All I have is the daily torment in reality."

"It's alright! When I was a kid, I wanted to be a hero who saves the world. Now that I'm grown up, I've been accepted into the defense force, so I guess I've fulfilled part of my dream!"

"I'm working hard on the exam too. It's so annoying that so many people have the same idea as me. You bunch of bastards made the scores too high!"

"Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha"

"Ah, that's one of the advantages of being old. When I took the exam for the National Defense Force, my score wasn't even this high."

The atmosphere in the live stream gradually eased amidst laughter and reflections. People chatted with each other, slowly releasing their youthful dreams and regrets from reality. Gaia's appearance and the revelation of my dream's identity were like an unexpected miracle, instantly transporting everyone back to that age of soaring imagination.