Chapter Thirty-Two: Dealing with the Aftermath

The civil war had ended, and what remained was the task of dealing with its aftermath.

Kane was therefore extremely busy. Perhaps amid all that busyness lay a measure of guilt toward Jack. At the same time, he had not yet decided how to deal with Martha. Though he had not killed Jack with his own hands, there was no real difference. Jack had died because of him.

What, then, was to be done about Martha?

He had not yet found an answer.

For now, however, the most important matter was to clear the Blue Tribe’s name. That was precisely why Jack had chosen to accept execution without resistance. He could not allow the Blue Tribe—already beset by countless misfortunes and regarded by the other Ultramen as synonymous with “the wretched”—to continue bearing the blame.

A young warrior had been transferred in to serve as Kane’s assistant.

He pushed open the door and entered. “Father of Ultra, please prepare to depart. The address concerning the aftermath of the civil war is about to begin.”

Kane nodded, though his gaze rested on the desk with a trace of sorrow. Threads of light flickered across its surface.

He sighed, rose, and pushed open the door.

As the immense doors swung outward, the light of the world poured in. Kane then realized that he stood within a realm filled entirely with radiance. Countless streams of intense light particles surged through the air, forming a strange and extraordinary space.

Kane did not panic. He was merely somewhat astonished.

Without saying much, he simply walked forward.

Within the brilliance, a figure stood in silence.

It was the King of Ultra.

“Your Majesty, you summoned me here. Is there something you wish to discuss?” Kane asked, maintaining the respect due to the King of Ultra. He was now the oldest surviving Ultraman in the Land of Light.

The ambitious old men of the White Tribe had long since been swept into the dusty pages of history by Jack.

The radiance faded, revealing a scorched and mottled ground. In the direction they faced, heat seemed to roll endlessly across the land. The wasteland stretched on without end, all desert and windblown stone.

Desolation and scorching heat made this place resemble a living hell.

This was Planet King.

Yet Planet King was nothing like the beautiful place suggested by its name. There were no lavish feasts, no towering palaces.

There was only desolation as far as the eye could see—sandstorms and barren rock, searing heat and bitter cold.

And an old man with graying hair.

“Kane, what do you see?” The King of Ultra raised a hand and pointed toward the endless wasteland as the howling sand swept past them.

Kane shook his head. “Only desolation.”

“Yes. Only desolation.” The King of Ultra nodded.

Kane then said, “Why do you insist on living on a planet like this? You should be in—”

The King of Ultra raised a hand and interrupted him.

“Tell me about the civil war.”

“It began when the elders of the White Tribe secretly directed their Elder Guard to control a counterfeit Battle Star and launch a surprise attack on the Warrior Command Headquarters’ vessel, which ignited the war. After communication failed, Jack learned through a warrior named Cupid who was behind it all. He then raided the White Tribe’s settlement, causing enormous casualties. The Elder Guard rushed back and, in retaliation, launched a surprise attack on the Blue Tribe’s settlement. Thus, the two tribes clashed.”

“I am deeply sorry. I led the forces of the Inter-Galactic Defense Force to capture the New Space Guard, but I never expected to be deceived by a false trail. By the time we returned to the Land of Light, the fighting between the Blue Tribe and the White Tribe was nearly over. Therefore, the third battle of the civil war was fought between the Inter-Galactic Defense Force and the New Space Guard.”

“We quelled the rebellion, but I did not do a good job.”

Kane lowered his head, his heart filled with remorse.

The King of Ultra placed a hand on Kane’s shoulder and patted it gently.

“An outstanding leader is one who continues to grow. I believe in you.”

“But I summoned you here because of a matter that is difficult to speak of.”

Kane was taken aback. “Your Majesty, please tell me.”

The King of Ultra pointed at the ground beneath their feet. “Do you know what this place once was?”

Kane shook his head in confusion.

“Before the Plasma Spark Tower was built, back in the age of the Land of Light, this was once a research institute.”

“At that time, a vast empire existed in the universe. This utterly evil power had endured for tens of thousands of years and was known as the Ancient Guar Empire.”

“As the Ancient Guar Empire expanded, its influence eventually reached our borders. Faced with such a mighty force, we chose to defend our homeland alongside Andru. But the Ancient Guar Empire was simply too powerful. We had no way to stand against it.”

“During that era, there was an exceptionally gifted nobleman who sought to create a new weapon capable of defeating Guar’s ruler. He ultimately succeeded. On an asteroid like this one, he created the Three Sacred Treasures and used them to defeat the Demon King Juda of the Ancient Guar Empire.”

“However, the tremendous energy released by the Three Sacred Treasures distorted space. That brilliant scientist of noble birth and his son, Doran, were unfortunately drawn into the flow of time and space. From that moment onward, they never appeared anywhere in the universe again.”

“Meanwhile, Doran’s close friend witnessed that history with his own eyes and passed the legend down from generation to generation.”

Kane seemed to understand. Realization dawned upon him.

“Your Majesty…”

The King of Ultra nodded, confirming his guess.

“I was Doran’s friend. And his father was also my revered teacher—Prometheus.”

“When I was young, I once saw that scene unfold before me. Later, I searched for them countless times, but I could never find the slightest trace.”

“I now understand the predicament facing the White Tribe, and I also know that those elders were the true masterminds behind everything.”

The King of Ultra changed the subject, returning to the civil war.

Kane’s heart sank. He seemed to have already guessed what the King of Ultra was about to say.

“But I hope you will handle this matter properly. Those old men are indeed beyond forgiveness, but the entire White Tribe should not be buried alongside them for the sake of their crimes.”

“I understand.”

The radiance faded, and once again Kane saw the crystal buildings before him, their surfaces reflecting a brilliant glow beneath the light.

Beside him, his assistant urged him on.

“Father of Ultra, are you all right?”

With a silent sigh, Father of Ultra walked out.

Perhaps it was unfair. But for the White Tribe—or, more precisely, for the Land of Light—this was still the best choice.

As for the method, he would perhaps need to consider it carefully.

Even so, he ought to be able to find a proper way to balance the hatred between the White Tribe and the Blue Tribe. That, in turn, would greatly aid the White Tribe’s integration into the Silver Tribe.

To be continued.