Volume One, Chapter Nine: The Amperaian

"Alien Emperor Ampelor."

Facing the legendary Emperor of Darkness, Tregear appeared unnaturally calm—so calm it seemed almost unsettling. Even the emperor, accustomed to centuries of reigning supreme, felt a flicker of surprise.

As the Emperor of Darkness, his mere presence—unleashed or not—carried the weight of countless millennia of absolute authority, enough to shatter the courage of most. Yet in Tregear’s eyes, there was not a hint of fear or awe. Instead, he caught a fleeting, well-concealed glimmer of disdain.

This Blue Ultraman actually looked down on the mighty Emperor of Darkness. Who in the universe would dare believe such a thing?

Though Tregear maintained a composed facade, he was not entirely without apprehension. His horizons were broad, but not so vast as to render him indifferent to all threats—especially when, at present, he was nothing more than a powerless Blue Ultraman.

"Impressive resolve," Ampelor remarked with a faint smile. "Blue one, tell me your name."

"Tregear," he replied truthfully.

"Tregear... a mind consumed by curiosity, perhaps," Ampelor mused softly, then let out a light laugh. "Did you defect from the Land of Light in pursuit of power?"

At this, the Four Heavenly Kings' gazes sharpened. Having served their emperor for tens of thousands of years, they understood his temperament well. This line of questioning was a clear sign: His Majesty intended to recruit this Ultraman.

Everyone knew that Ultramen who fled the Land of Light did so in search of strength. Take Belial, for example—even the great Ultraman King had to intervene, proving just how terrifying an Ultraman corrupted by darkness could become.

But Belial had only become so powerful after acquiring Reiblood’s power. Even their emperor had chosen to avoid confronting him directly at the time.

Yet this Ultraman before them was from the Blue Tribe! Renowned for their scientific prowess, the Blues were otherwise little more than cannon fodder on the battlefield. The Dark Universe had no shortage of researchers, nor of formidable warriors. Why, then, did His Majesty wish to win over this one?

The Four Kings were perplexed, and Tregear, too, found it a mystery.

Ultramen had always played a significant role in the history of the Land of Light.

The Emperor of Darkness, Ampelor, was regarded as the Ultramen’s greatest nemesis. For such a fearsome being to offer an olive branch to a mere Blue Ultraman—was it possible?

Despite his doubts, Tregear nodded and replied calmly, "I suppose so. Without power, I am nothing more than a dog awaiting slaughter."

In his previous life, he had been as weak and lost as he was now, unsure where to seek the truth. Like a child who had lost his way, he charged blindly ahead—suffering wounds, shedding tears, but never wavering in his pursuit of understanding.

It was precisely this unwavering desire that allowed his soul to resonate with Grimdo, the embodiment of truth, granting him passage to that boundless sea of unconsciousness.

The evil god-beast, Grimdo—there he had found the truth he sought, and there resided the vow he would pursue for the rest of his days.

Light and darkness, justice and evil—these were merely the whims of those who wielded great power. Yet they all forgot one thing.

They forgot—who had granted all of this in the first place?

Ampelor seemed quite satisfied with Tregear’s response. He nodded in agreement. "Indeed, those without power are but ants to be toyed with."

"So then, do you desire power?"

At these words, the Four Kings’ expressions changed dramatically. Grozam, in particular, was filled with regret.

He had thought to bring back an Ultraman to be transformed into a secret weapon against the Land of Light. Now, this Blue Ultraman had not only earned the emperor’s favor but was about to be granted the power of darkness itself.

Damn it, what a disaster!

Tregear lifted his gaze and answered without hesitation, "Of course I do."

He was simply too weak at present. With history itself shifting in subtle ways, who knew what dangers lay ahead? If he could obtain the power of darkness from Ampelor, then even if he couldn't match Taro, he would be strong enough to dominate most beings in the universe.

"Excellent!" Ampelor’s violet eyes shone, and his cloak billowed without wind. Raising his arm, he summoned a mass of pure darkness, swirling in his palm.

"Your Majesty, reconsider!"

All four of the Heavenly Kings fell to their knees at once, their voices urgent.

If Tregear were to receive only a sliver of power, they would not have cared, nor would they have tried to intervene. But that darkness—unmistakably, it was the emperor’s origin power!

As a cosmic-level being, even a single drop of Ampelor’s essence of darkness could elevate someone to the rank of a stellar-class powerhouse. Now, the emperor was condensing so much of it at once, clearly intent on making Tregear his right hand.

If this Ultraman became the emperor’s confidant, where would that leave the Four Kings?

They had to stop this! All four shared the same thought.

After all, none of them had ever been granted even a taste of the origin darkness.

And now, a newcomer was about to receive so much of it. How could they not be envious, jealous, and resentful?

But Ampelor ignored their pleas and pressed the orb of darkness straight into Tregear’s body.

Boom—

A violent shockwave blasted the Four Kings across the hall, sending them crashing into the far corners. Dazed, they struggled to look up, their pupils dilating and contracting until they froze in disbelief.

Darkness surged into him, and Tregear spread his arms wide, savoring the sensation as though embracing the power itself, completely at ease.

His energy soared instantly to stellar rank seven—an awe-inspiring leap.

Yet, despite now wielding the strength to surpass the Four Kings, Tregear showed no signs of excitement.

To him, this power was not insignificant, but compared to his peak, it was still worlds apart.

"Unyielding, neither arrogant nor servile, your emotions hidden—very good," Ampelor praised again, satisfaction evident in his expression. "I was not mistaken about you. In tens of thousands of years, you are the first to receive power from me without revealing your true nature."

Anyone else would have been unable to contain their excitement upon receiving such power. But Tregear’s eyes remained calm, as if nothing in the world could stir his heart.

It was precisely this composure that had convinced Ampelor to bestow upon him the origin of darkness.

Power fully assimilated, Tregear dropped to one knee. "Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty. I will devote myself wholly to assisting you in conquering the universe!"