Volume One, Chapter 86: Saigon

"This has nothing to do with the contract." Yuki's attitude was firm, utterly disregarding the thoughts of his teammates. Without hesitation, he turned and rushed in the direction the man had left.

Soya Yu could only stare, nearly losing his temper on the spot. The kid actually dared to defy orders?

With clenched teeth, Soya Yu got into his car and drove off alone. If that brat wanted to throw his life away, let him. He was heading back.

Yuki ran for a while and quickly spotted the man from earlier. The man lay on the ground, apparently injured, his face pale as death. Beside him crouched a Babaarian, clutching the rice cooker and attempting to open it.

"Give that back!" Yuki shouted, charging forward.

But as a mere human, he was no match for a cosmic being. The Babaarian casually swung his arm, sending Yuki flying and crashing painfully to the ground.

"Such strength—how is he so powerful?"

After catching his breath, Yuki picked up an iron rod lying at his feet and launched himself at the Babaarian, grappling fiercely.

Just then, the rice cooker began to emit white steam. Within seconds, the steam thickened, and with a loud "bang," the lid burst open.

A childish cry echoed through the air.

Yuki froze, instinctively glancing at the rice cooker, where a baby monster sat inside, its eyes large and impossibly adorable.

The moment he saw the little monster, Yuki's pupils widened. Deep memories, long dormant in his mind, suddenly awakened. He recalled caring for a baby monster as a child—one that looked exactly like this.

As Yuki stood stunned, the Babaarian seized the opportunity, scooping up the monster baby and fleeing at full speed. His goal had always been this creature.

Yuki hurriedly sent a message to headquarters: "Track the blond alien's whereabouts!"

"Understood," came Rika's sweet voice through the communicator. "He's heading at incredible speed toward the construction site five hundred meters ahead."

"Got it." Yuki ended the call, helping the river spirit to follow.

Upon arrival, Yuki couldn't help but ask, "Is he planning to feed that little one to the monster?"

"No," the river spirit shook his head, explaining, "That species is on the brink of extinction due to excessive hunting. My job is to protect these creatures."

Protect the monsters?

How noble.

Yuki looked at the river spirit with newfound respect, though he remained cautious. The target was a cosmic being, and there could be others lurking nearby. If he really encountered one, he might not stand a chance.

"Yuki, behind you!"

A voice suddenly rang out. Yuki spun instinctively, pressing his electric rod to the chest of a figure clad in black.

Crackling—within moments, the black-clad figure collapsed limply to the ground.

Yuki sighed in relief, patting his head in confusion. That was the second time he'd heard that mysterious voice—it was truly strange.

The two pressed forward to the top floor. At the window, the Babaarian was gripping the monster baby, his face twisted in a wicked smile.

Seeing Yuki and the river spirit arrive, he turned, pressing a hook to the monster baby's throat and threatening, "Don't move."

The baby monster cried out in pain, eyes brimming with fear.

Just then, an explosion erupted on the distant ground. Amidst the flames, a massive monster descended from the sky.

"Showtime," the Babaarian sneered, leaping from the rooftop and transforming into a giant form.

"It's a monster!" Yuki was stunned on the spot.

With the sudden appearance of a monster, pedestrians on the street scattered in panic. Among them were good-hearted cosmic beings, but those with evil intent stood their ground, shouting excitedly.

"Haha, it's the Space-Time Destroyer Saigon! Earth is done for this time!"

The Space-Time Destroyer Saigon was renowned throughout the cosmos. It was said that upon reaching maturity, its power rivaled that of a star.

A star-level being—such an existence was on par with the Ultra Brothers.

If you don't know the Ultra Brothers, well, friend, you might as well find a meteor in space and bash yourself against it.

An excited cosmic being whipped out his phone to snap pictures.

As he took photos, he noticed a strikingly conspicuous human in the crowd. The man wore a black-and-white shirt, clutching a balloon, standing ramrod straight, his face devoid of expression.

"Hey, look at that human—so brave!" The cosmic being nudged his companion.

His companion glanced over, initially unable to see clearly. But when his gaze fixed on the human's face, his expression changed instantly. "Damn, that's Tregia!"

He hailed from the Dark Cosmos and had seen Tregia's human form before. He thought the villain was long gone, yet here he was.

"Tractor? Who's that?" The first cosmic being asked, confused by his companion's look of terror.

"The Evil God!" his companion stammered. "He's one of the Five Heavenly Kings—the Evil God!"

"Evil God..." The cosmic being was stunned.

He'd never heard of Tregia's name, but the title of Evil God was legendary for millennia. Yet rumor had it he'd perished alongside the Ampera aliens.

As he puzzled over it, he suddenly noticed the human's gaze fixed on him.

Summoning the courage of a newborn calf facing a tiger, he swallowed hard and stared back defiantly.

So what if he's an Evil God or a Heavenly King? The era of Ampera's rule over the universe was long over.

Now, it was Lord Garum's dynasty!

That's right—he was from the Plasma Galaxy, a Gatsi alien of little consequence.

At that moment, another monster soared through the air. She was essentially a giant version of the monster baby—anyone could tell she must be its mother.

"As expected, the mother is here," the river spirit said in despair.

He had tried to protect the baby monster precisely to prevent the mother from arriving, hoping they might find peace on another planet.

But now, a great battle was inevitable.

"Saigon, defeat her for me!" the Babaarian shouted in excitement. "The more spectacular the show, the higher the bidding!"

"What does that mean?" Yuki couldn't help but ask, disturbed by the madness.

"Sigh..." the river spirit replied, "Cosmic beings have a dark web. They place bets on battles there."

"What!" Yuki's worldview was shattered. Those people actually treated combat as entertainment!