I really didn’t want to lead Ultra Star astray
Chapter 16 - The Cosmic Monster Bemstar

Chapter 16: The Cosmic Monster Bemstar

“Officer Seven!” Seven led Mu Yang to the Ultra Spaceport, the gateway for entering and leaving the Land of Light. As Seven approached, the Ultramans there saluted and cleared a path for him to pass quickly.

“We usually queue, but for urgent missions, we can request a fast lane. I’ve already applied for one,” Seven explained to Mu Yang.

Mu Yang nodded. He didn’t ask about privileges—strong warriors deserved some perks, and who knew if they were off to handle some critical task?

At the spaceport, a red energy sphere enveloped Mu Yang and Seven, then shot into the sky, speeding toward Earth at breakneck pace.

“So beautiful!” Mu Yang peered through the sphere, amazed. Miraculously, he felt no fear of heights—just awe at the stunning view.

It was his first time seeing such a breathtaking starscape. Living in a big city before, seeing stars was a rare treat.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it? You’ll have more chances to see it. We’re about to enter a space tunnel for faster-than-light travel!” Seven said with a smile. He now treated Mu Yang like a nephew and disciple, often sharing more with him.

“Got it!” Mu Yang nodded. The Land of Light was three million light-years from Earth. Even at light speed, it’d take three million years. Without superluminal travel, they’d be flying until who-knows-when.

“But if we keep traveling faster than light, could we reach other universes?” Mu Yang asked Seven.

He still longed for his home world. He was happy here, but it wasn’t home. He missed his parents and friends.

He’d heard faster-than-light travel could cross time, so what about universes?

“I don’t want to lie to you,” Seven sighed. “Ordinary faster-than-light travel is something we can do without worrying about energy. But crossing to other parallel universes? If they’re close, we can manage with our tech. The Land of Light has that capability. But there are near-infinite universes, and some are so far that even our technology can’t reach them. It depends on how far your universe is from ours.”

“Who knows!” Mu Yang opened his mouth, then said helplessly, “I believe I’ll get back eventually, but I’m afraid everything will be unrecognizable when I do.”

“Sigh.” Seven patted Mu Yang’s shoulder. Compared to Ultraman lifespans, human lives were fleeting. This was why he’d rejected Anu back then—not for lack of love, but because he couldn’t let her wait.

He had greater responsibilities to bear.

Seven looked at Mu Yang, wondering if he’d adjust. The worst fear was Mu Yang finding a way home only to discover his family gone.

How Mu Yang arrived here was a mystery. His presence was a boon for the Land of Light but a disaster for him. Not everyone could easily accept such a change.

…

Unbeknownst to Mu Yang and Seven, Earth was in chaos. A bird-like Pokémon—no, a bird-like monster—had descended: the cosmic monster Bemstar! It wreaked havoc, absorbing massive amounts of helium and nitrogen from its abdomen.

As Bemstar lifted a gas storage tank, intending to consume it, Hideki Go, aka Jack Ultraman, who’d been fighting alongside MAT to no avail, knew things were bad and transformed decisively.

Unfortunately, this Bemstar was far stronger than the usual kind. Earth, ever the magnet for powerful monsters, saw Jack quickly overwhelmed.

Bemstar nearly devoured Jack’s leg! Seeing Jack’s defeat, humanity on Earth fell into despair.

Sure, Bemstar didn’t eat people, but it consumed helium and nitrogen! If it absorbed all of Earth’s supply, they were done for.

Who could save Earth?

Jack was in a bind. His strength wasn’t weak among the Ultra Brothers, but his balanced abilities were countered by Bemstar. If only he had his Ultra Bracelet! It had malfunctioned before he came to Earth and was under repair at the Science Bureau. No idea how that was going.

He considered calling the Land of Light for help, but his brothers might not arrive in time. Regular Ultramans would just be fodder.

What to do? Jack’s gaze turned to the nearby star—the Sun! He’d borrow its power!

With the Sun’s strength, he could surely protect Earth and defeat Bemstar!

Just as Jack prepared to fly toward the Sun, something unusual happened on Earth…

Footnotes:

• • 人来疯(rén lái fēng): Literally “social whirlwind,” used earlier to describe Zero’s hyperactive behavior, but here it indirectly reflects Bemstar’s chaotic rampage, as the term can also imply someone or something causing a frenzy.

• • 乡秀树(xiāng xiùshù): Hideki Go, Jack Ultraman’s human host in the Ultraman Jack series, romanized here in Chinese pinyin. His name is retained asස

System: Chapter Sixteen: The Cosmic Monster Bemstar

Footnotes (continued):

• • 乡秀树(xiāng xiùshù): Hideki Go, Jack Ultraman’s human host in the Ultraman Jack series, romanized in Chinese pinyin. His name is retained as is, common in Ultraman-related translations.

• • 神奇宝贝(shénqí bǎobèi): Literally “magical treasure,” the Chinese name for Pokémon. Used here humorously to compare Bemstar’s bird-like appearance to a Pokémon, reflecting the novel’s playful tone.

• • 奥特航空港(àotè hángkōng gǎng): Literally “Ultra Spaceport,” a term specific to the Ultraman universe, referring to the facility used for interstellar travel in the Land of Light.