SWDnovel Chapter 120 Machines have no heart, but humans have evil intentions.
Chapter 120 Machines have no heart, but humans have evil intentions.
The ending theme of episode nine had just finished playing, and viewers in front of their screens were still deeply immersed in Urashima Taro's belated repentance.
Countless people, with tissues in hand and red eyes, were typing words like "depressing" and "tearful" in the comments section.
However, Gu Nan clearly didn't intend to give the audience much breathing room.
After all, it's a two-episode back-to-back broadcast.
In addition, the "conscientious" one-hour episode length makes many people seem to forget the passage of time.
The title of episode ten slammed onto the screen—
The Man Who Was Imitation
"Holy crap? There's more?"
Old Tang's hand trembled as he was about to light a cigarette. Tears still clung to his face, but his expression instantly shifted from sorrow to astonishment. "Has that old scoundrel Gu gone mad? Is he going to completely drain our brains tonight? We just finished crying over episode nine, and now episode ten is here?"
This headline doesn't sound like something a friendly person would do!
Am I the only one still thinking about Urashima Taro...? Okay, let's watch the new episode!
The title, "The Man Who Was Imitation," sounds a bit like cyberpunk, doesn't it?
As the main feature began, the visuals did not continue the beautiful mythological style of the previous episode, but instead transitioned directly to a deep and dark seabed.
Buried under the silt, several huge pieces of metal debris lay there quietly. Although they were rusted, their unique shapes instantly sent chills down the spines of seasoned tokusatsu fans.
The narrator's steady voice rang out:
"Thirty years ago, the Pedan aliens invaded Earth, bringing with them the space robot King Joe. A fierce battle broke out between the two sides. In the end, King Joe was defeated by Seven and the Ultra Guard in Kobe Port, and its wreckage sank to the bottom of the sea."
The moment this background information was released, the live stream chat exploded.
"King Joe Bridge! It's King Joe Bridge!"
Old Tang was so excited he almost jumped for joy. "Brothers! This is Seven's old rival! The tough guy who used to utterly dominate Seven, the one you had to use a special bomb to take down!"
In Lao Tang's memory, this was a classic enemy battle in Seven.
[This brings back so many memories! This is a super robot that can split and combine!]
[Gu Nan is really going all out with the nostalgia! There was the Showa era monster before, and now there's the King Joe critique!]
To be fair, while Light Chaser Animation uses an older monster design, the level of detail in the suits is far superior to anything from the Showa era!
However, the plot did not develop in the direction of the "hot-blooded revenge battle" that the audience expected. Instead, it was filled with a strong sense of political thriller.
The scene then shifts to the headquarters of the Earth Defense Force.
Staff Officer He Zhi, with a gloomy face and sharp eyes, was standing in front of the huge floor-to-ceiling window.
The "Friendship Project" is still underway.
Ironically, the Friendship Project's next step involves salvaging the wreckage of King Joe, restoring and remodeling it into the Earth Defense Force's ultimate weapon—the Power King.
[Staff Officer He Zhi... well, how should I put it? Although he's radical, his starting point is genuinely for the sake of the Earth.]
But using the invaders' weapons to defend the Earth is itself a double-edged sword, isn't it?
Can humans really master the technology of the Pedan aliens?
[When someone sets this kind of flag, something bad usually follows.]
The person he collaborated with was Jin Sanfeng, the chairman of Xinjianan Heavy Industry.
This is a typical profit-driven businessman.
The camera vividly portrays Jin Sanfeng's snobbish nature. Downstairs, facing small business owners pleading with him to honor their contracts, Jin Sanfeng coldly refuses, even going so far as to bankrupt them and cause their employees to lose their jobs in order to drive down the acquisition price.
"Chairman Jin, please keep your promise and buy that batch of goods! Otherwise, my factory will go bankrupt, and my workers will lose their jobs!"
The small business owner knelt on the ground, tears streaming down his face.
However, Jin Sanfeng, sitting in his luxury car, didn't even glance at him, coldly discussing lower prices and higher profits.
That so-called "contract" was nothing but a piece of waste paper in the face of his immense wealth.
"That businessman is too unscrupulous."
Old Tang frowned. "But this plot development feels like another problem is brewing within the defense force."
Just as Lao Tang had predicted, Jin Sanfeng's cold-blooded act was witnessed by his own daughter, Chunxiang.
Chunxiang's eyes revealed not love for her father, but deep disgust.
Just then, a strange earthquake struck the city.
The ground cracked open, and several blue stone pillars emitting a faint green light emerged from the soil, covered with mysterious ancient characters.
In the chaos, Chun-hyang picked up a broken piece of bluestone, and this unintentional act set the stage for the bizarre story of this episode.
……
The Ottoman Security Team quickly arrived at the scene.
Captain Bai Yong looked at the stone pillars with a solemn expression: "These are the legendary Rahakam Stones from the Mu Continent."
Mizuno quickly retrieved the information and explained, "Legend has it that if a dreamer sits quietly in front of the Rahakam Stone, they can eliminate fatigue and even regain special abilities. Simply put, it's a wishing stone that can materialize a person's 'thoughts' and 'wishes'."
[Wishing stone? Doesn't that sound a lot like a magic lamp?]
Don't believe fairy tales! In Seven, such wishes usually come at a price!
That's right, the wish you want to fulfill might appear in an even more terrifying way.
Sure enough, something terrifying happened that night.
Chunxiang looked at the blue stone she had picked up, her mind replaying her father's cold and ruthless appearance during the day, and a strong longing welled up in her heart—she wanted a father who was completely the opposite of her.
The blue stone sensed her brainwaves and emitted a bright green light.
On the screen, the special effects were extremely realistic and terrifying.
A human body suddenly "grew" out of the stone pillar!
The man had the exact same face as Jin Sanfeng, but he went straight to Jin Sanfeng's house and, under the cover of night, quietly completed the replacement.
The next day, at the Earth Defense Force's routine meeting.
Staff Officer He Zhi was passionately promoting his "King of Combat Power" plan: "We're going to mass-produce King Joe! Deploy it in every corner of the earth! That way, even the most formidable enemy won't faze us!"
When moderates voiced their opposition, arguing that it would cause panic among the citizens, Staff Officer He Zhi completely erupted.
He slammed his hand on the table, his face revealing undisguised anger.
The dialogue caused viewers in the live stream to experience a surge in blood pressure.
"What citizens! Citizens!"
"When did the Earth Defense Force degenerate to the point of becoming slaves to the citizens?!"
"If a powerful enemy emerges, and our current fighting strength is insufficient to resist, these very citizens will be the first to bring you down! Don't let them control you any longer!"
"The current defense forces only know how to please the citizens; they have absolutely no real skills!"
These words struck everyone's hearts like a heavy hammer.
Old Tang laughed in exasperation: "Good heavens, this staff officer has the word 'hawk' etched on his forehead! For the sake of so-called 'protection,' he doesn't even care about the person being protected?"
This is putting the cart before the horse! The dialogue is way too explicit!
[This isn't a defense force, this is a bunch of warlords!]
Although his words were harsh, from a certain perspective, resorting to any means to survive is also a kind of logic... Is this the profoundness of "Seven"?
Although Staff Officer He Zhi's views were extreme, they reflected reality to some extent. When disaster strikes, an army unable to protect the people will indeed be universally condemned.
However, just when Staff Officer He Zhi thought victory was assured, "Jin Sanfeng" suddenly turned against him.
"I've decided to change my plans."
Jin Sanfeng smiled, his tone gentle yet firm, "I want to transform King Joe into a perfect defensive robot, even a messenger of peace, not a weapon of slaughter."
Staff Officer He Zhi was dumbfounded.
He stormed into Jin Sanfeng's office, shouting, "Are you crazy? We need weapons! We need power! I absolutely will not allow you to ruin my plans!"
"I will absolutely not allow the Earth to face destruction."
He Zhi roared.
The fake, kind-hearted Jin Sanfeng simply said calmly, "There's no need to change anything; peace is the most important thing."
At this moment, Jin Sanfeng seemed like a completely different person.
He is no longer driven by profit, nor is he cold-blooded and ruthless.
He began to care about his employees, spend time with his family, and even agreed to his daughter Chunxiang's long-held wish to study abroad.
In his daughter Chunxiang's eyes, this "father" was perfect beyond belief.
But this perfection has an indescribable eeriness about it.
As the plot progresses, the Ultra Guard also notices something amiss.
Feng Sen astutely discovered the core of the problem—the stone.
In order to uncover the truth, Dan Moroboshi disguises himself as an ordinary citizen and travels through this city full of suspense.
He found Chun-hyang alone by the river, lost in thought.
This dialogue, though devoid of any violent actions, is full of philosophical implications.
"To be honest, I wanted to wish that my father was just dead," Chunxiang said, her head bowed, her voice as soft as the wind, "but I just couldn't bring myself to say it."
The group looked at her: "So what did you wish for?"
"I wish I had a dad who looks exactly like me, but has the complete opposite personality."
"If your wish comes true, will you feel satisfied?"
Chunxiang remained silent for a long time before shaking her head bitterly: "Half. The other half... I'm wondering, if Dad were really still alive, what would he be doing now?"
The hatred was real, and so was the love; the bond of blood made her torn.
This is the complexity of humanity, something machines can never comprehend.
This is the price...
What's fake will always be fake; no matter how perfect it is, it leaves you feeling empty inside.
This contradiction in human nature, sigh.
As the investigation deepened, the security team discovered that the bluestone was actually a kind of "ion controller" that could visualize human thoughts.
It is a manifestation of the Earth's own will and a mirror of human desires.
Finally, the conflict erupted in front of the Rahakham Stone.
Staff Officer He Zhi led his men to the stone pillar, where they ran right into the group and the clone Jin Sanfeng.
The truth has been fully revealed.
The clone calmly looked at He Zhi and uttered a sentence that sent chills down everyone's spines:
"The appearance of this stone pillar is a consensus among the people of the land. They called upon the stone to bring it to life."
"Because they no longer know what they are living for, and they always feel that the world is heading towards its end."
Staff Officer He Zhi clearly couldn't accept this charlatan-like theory. He roared, "Stop spouting those contemptuous things about humanity! I'm here to reclaim my War King!"
He was utterly enraged; he could not accept this philosophical judgment.
The clone looked at He Zhi with a hint of pity in his eyes: "Don't you understand? You are me, and I am you."
The next second, a terrifying scene unfolded.
The clone's face began to distort, and it instantly transformed into the appearance of Staff Officer He Zhi!
"I am you."
He Zhi smiled and said, "I am the desire deep within your heart."
The clone reflects He Zhi's deep-seated fear of power and desire for destruction.
He keeps talking about protecting the Earth, but subconsciously he believes in destructive forces.
Staff Officer He Zhi completely broke down. He looked at his other self as if he were looking at a monster.
"Nonsense! You're a monster! What are you trying to achieve by taking over the title of 'King of Combat Power'?!"
"You want to use the King of Power to kill all of humanity, don't you?!"
At that moment, Staff Officer He Zhi's inner fear, doubt, and extreme destructive desire were completely absorbed by the Rahaqam Stone.
Stones do not distinguish between good and evil; they are only responsible for fulfilling "wishes."
At that moment, Staff Officer He Zhi's strongest thoughts were about "destruction" and "war".
Qing Shi heard the strong, aggressive brainwaves deep within He Zhi's heart.
It doesn't need language; it only reads genuine desires.
Since you desire the strongest weapons of war, and since your heart is filled with the urge to destroy—then so be it.
And so, the stone that could grant wishes faithfully carried out the instruction.
Rumble—!
The underground warehouse of Xinjianan Heavy Industry collapsed instantly, and the huge roar of machinery echoed through the sky.
The golden robot that had been repaired and was supposed to protect the Earth—King Joe II—went completely berserk at this moment!
It was no longer under human control; it had become the "destructive" demon in Staff Officer He Zhi's subconscious.
[He Zhi's initial intention was not wrong; true strength lies in one's own power.]
Unfortunately, the idea was good, but the execution went wrong.
[By the way, this King Joe suit looks really high-quality! Is it because of the new leather case?]
Wow, this version of King Joe's body is made of metal! The texture is completely different, and there are so many detailed engravings!
On the screen, King Joe's massive form stands in the center of the city, its golden armor reflecting a cold light in the sunlight.
Without any unnecessary words, it focused its power into a destructive beam that instantly reduced a building to ruins.
The Ultra Guard's fighter jets roared in, but against King Joe's invincible defenses, all the missiles were like tickling him.
At the crucial moment, Feng Sen no longer hesitated and put on the Ultra Glasses.
"Jooo—!!!"
A red light shot into the sky, and Ultraman Seven appeared!
However, to the despair of all the viewers, it was a completely one-sided battle.
Thirty years have passed. Seven has become stronger, but King Joe, his old rival, remains the "Wait Wall" that inspires despair.
Seven crossed his arms over his forehead, and the deadly Emerium Beam shot out!
Sizzle—!
The light shone on King Joe's chest, but not a single spark flew, just like a drop of water falling into the ocean, without any reaction.
Holy crap! No damage?!
This is outrageous! Back then, they needed special bombs, but now even light can't penetrate their defenses?
Ah, so how can Seven defeat him now?
Seven refused to believe it and immediately made the most powerful L-shaped hand gesture—the cluster ray!
A golden torrent poured down, about to strike its target.
Just then, King Joe's body suddenly disintegrated into four independent aircraft, drawing strange arcs in the air, perfectly avoiding the cluster beam, and then quickly reassembled behind Seven.
boom!
King Joe's massive mechanical arm slammed into Seven's back.
Seven let out a painful groan as his massive body crashed heavily to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.
"That's incredible!"
Old Tang was dumbfounded. "They're being completely thrashed! Strength, defense, mobility—they're utterly outmatched!"
The battle entered its most brutal phase.
King Joe straddled Seven, his steel fists pounding down one after another, each punch accompanied by a dull thud.
Seven's forehead indicator light began flashing wildly, and his red body was covered in dirt and wounds.
Staff Officer He Zhi slumped to the ground, staring blankly at the "masterpiece" that was destroying the city.
This is the power he has always dreamed of.
This is what he calls "protection".
How ironic.
We can't lose, Seven!
[This is too powerful! And this is after human modification; how terrifying would it be if it were controlled by the original Pedan aliens?]
The monster created by Staff Officer He Zhi did indeed possess the power to destroy the world, but unfortunately, it went out of control.
[Shinjo, if you're so capable, why didn't you show it in Ultraman Tiga?!]
The viewers in the live chat were on the edge of their seats.
Just when Seven was about to exhaust himself, the Ultra Guard finally found an opportunity.
Captain Bai Yong shouted, "Attack its old wounds! The scars left by the Layton R30 bomb thirty years ago!"
Through meticulous scanning, they discovered that although King Joe's chest had been repaired, tiny gaps still remained in the internal structure.
All firepower was concentrated on that point in that instant.
Boom boom boom!
The violent explosion finally brought King Joe's movements to a standstill for a moment.
Seven seized this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
He knew that the light was ineffective.
Then use the ice axe!
Seven took several steps back, creating distance, and at the same time, the ice axe on his forehead suddenly detached, heading straight for King Joe.
His goal was clear.
That old wound, which was once severely damaged and still shows fine cracks today.
The ice axe struck precisely, but only sparked a few fireballs on the metal shell, failing to break through the defenses.
Seven's eyes narrowed, and with a thought, the recalled ice axe spun in the air and slashed down again at the same spot!
"Clang! Clang!"
Two consecutive heavy blows caused the metal indentation at the old wound to deepen, but it still failed to penetrate.
King Joe's body remained motionless, as if mocking the futile attack.
The recalled ice axe hovered in front of Seven, its surface gleaming with intense light.
He concentrated all his strength into his mental power, locking onto the old wound. The ice axe even trembled slightly due to the energy overload.
"drink!"
With a low shout, Seven thrust his palm forward, and the ice axe, imbued with all his power, slammed into the old wound once more!
Ultra Impact Battle Strategy!
Clang—!!!
A piercingly loud metallic cracking sound echoed through the sky.
Time seemed to stand still at that moment.
The camera gave an extremely stunning close-up.
King Joe's seemingly indestructible body finally shattered under Seven's desperate attack, turning into countless scrap metal pieces scattered all over the ground.
but.
When the smoke cleared and Seven slowly stood up, the audience gasped.
Seven's iconic ice axe on his head had a corner broken off!
[It's...broken?]
[My God! The head boomerang shattered? How much impact must that have had?]
[Killing a thousand enemies but losing eight hundred of our own... This battle was won too tragically.]
As the sun set, Seven clutched his injured arm, glanced at the ruins of King Joe on the ground, and then slowly flew into the sky.
At that moment, there was no joy of victory, only a deep sense of exhaustion.
At the end of the story, the Rahaqam Stone lost its luster and turned back into an ordinary stone.
The gentle "Jin Sanfeng" disappeared, and the real Jin Sanfeng was rescued.
Perhaps it was because he had experienced this life-or-death ordeal that the real Jin Sanfeng, looking at his family surrounding him and at the devastated city, seemed to finally crack open in his heart, which had been blinded by money.
The family embraced each other. Although the father was still somewhat clumsy and had the habits of a businessman, he had at least begun to try to understand the meaning of "family affection".
From a distance, Tuan watched this scene, then silently turned and left.
The end credits song began to play.
Old Tang also slowly spoke, setting the tone for this episode.
"Machines have no heart, but if they are used by those with a heart, even the messengers of peace can become demons that destroy the world."
"This episode showcases the complexities of the human heart."
"What Staff Officer He Zhi wanted was power, what Jin Sanfeng wanted was profit, and what Chunxiang wanted was family. The Rahaqam Stone was not wrong; what was wrong was humanity's uncontrollable desires."
"The divine stone can reform evildoers, but it also allows hawks to realize their military ambitions. There is never absolute good or bad in this world, only cause and effect."
In the live stream, although there weren't as many tearful comments as in the previous episode, the depth of the discussion far exceeded that of the past.
Is this really a tokusatsu (special effects) drama? The depth of this script far surpasses that of many prime-time TV series!
[I truly felt the pain the moment Seven's dart shattered.]
[What's being imitated isn't just Jin Sanfeng, but also humanity's greedy mentality of wanting shortcuts and perfect substitutes.]