dkrc Chapter 137 A Beautiful Trap and a Dark Forest, the Adorable Hanejiro Makes His Appearance!
Chapter 137 A Beautiful Trap and a Dark Forest, the Adorable Hanejiro Makes His Appearance!
The eleventh episode of "Ultraman Dyna" has premiered.
This week, the trailer only showed a glimpse of a lush green planet and a seemingly harmless, mysterious creature.
On Friday night, countless viewers who had just finished get off work or school waited in front of their screens on time.
Old Tang also started his live stream early.
Since Dyna started broadcasting, his live stream has consistently been very popular, with viewers loving to see this middle-aged man's "genuine emotions".
"Guys, last week's episode gave me the creeps, and this week's preview looks like it's going to be an adventure episode?"
Old Tang took a sip of water to moisten his throat.
"Hopefully things will ease up a bit. That old scoundrel Gu always makes us nervous."
As the rousing opening theme ends, the main feature begins.
The title appears: "Mysterious Planet".
At the beginning of the story, the atmosphere in the command room of TPC headquarters is unusually lively.
A stunning set of photos was displayed on the big screen—an unknown planet had appeared near the distant orbit of Neptune.
Contrary to common sense, this planet is not a desolate desert, but is covered with vast green vegetation and even has clouds that move around like Earth's atmosphere.
"So beautiful..."
Viewers in front of their screens shared the same sentiment as Mai Kawakami in the drama.
"This is Melanie, discovered a month ago by the TPC reconnaissance satellite 'Next' (that is indeed the name)."
On the screen, a high-ranking officer in a staff uniform is explaining, "It is entering the solar system at an extremely high speed."
Upon hearing the name "Melani Star," the chat in the live stream started scrolling.
[Such a beautiful planet? Could this be our new home?]
[Would Old Gu be so kind? I don't believe it; there's definitely a trap here.]
[Don't resort to conspiracy theories. Tokusatsu dramas occasionally include educational and historical research elements, right? Maybe it's a place like Ultraman?]
Because its surface is covered with grasslands and lakes, the TPC has determined that it may be a potential target for human interstellar migration.
As viewers know, in Dyna's series, humanity is in a new era of venturing into space, and finding new habitable planets is naturally one of TPC's top priorities.
This asteroid might be very valuable to humanity, but conversely, it could also pose dangers...
In the scene, the members of Super GUTS are all captivated by the beautiful sight.
Especially Kawamai, who clasped her hands together, her eyes sparkling with longing: "It's just like something out of a fairy tale! Living there would be so wonderful!"
Zhong Dao, however, poured cold water on the idea, staring at the data: "Don't be silly. Although it looks like Earth, it's still uncharted territory until we confirm its atmospheric composition and gravitational environment. Besides, this planet appeared too suddenly, defying the normal laws of celestial motion."
Captain Hibiki made a decisive decision: "Since they're here, we can't let them get away. Super GUTS, move out! Target: Planet Melanie!"
"Roger!"
The Divine Eagle cut through the sky, traversing a long interstellar journey, and finally approached this mysterious "phantom planet".
As the spacecraft passed through the atmosphere, the sight that came into view made all the spectators hold their breath.
Towering green mountains, crystal-clear rivers, and vast forests that appear meticulously manicured.
Unlike the forest that was randomly chosen in the original work, this is a truly meticulously set "Shangri-La".
This place is quiet and peaceful, without any trace of industrial pollution; it's practically the legendary Garden of Eden.
Holy crap, this budget is burning through!
This set is absolutely amazing! It makes me want to travel there.
Something's not right; it's too quiet.
Old Tang stared at the screen, his brow furrowed slightly: "Brothers, don't you find it strange? Such a good environment, why is there no sign of any living organisms? Not even a bird."
Shin Asuka, Nakajima, Kariya, and Miyako formed an exploration team and landed on the ground in the Gamma.
The first thing to do is to detect the composition of the air here.
To everyone's surprise, the atmosphere here contains oxygen, and the concentration is similar to that on Earth.
This way, the team members didn't need to wear oxygen helmets to continue their operations, and everything seemed to be going very smoothly.
But the staff officer felt a growing sense of unease. If that planet was truly habitable, why weren't there any other extraterrestrials living there?
Feiniao was the first to take off her oxygen mask and breathe in the air.
"The oxygen content is slightly higher than on Earth, and the gravity is just right; it's practically a perfect environment."
Zhong Dao stared at the monitoring equipment. Although the data was perfect, the doubt on his face grew deeper. "But... why is there no sign of life?"
I could clearly hear birds chirping, but I couldn't see any birds.
Moreover, there wasn't a single insect in this natural environment...
Just then, Shin Asuka seemed to notice something and pointed into the distance: "Hey! There's movement over there!"
The camera panned in the direction the bird was pointing, and the grass rustled.
Out of curiosity, Asuka insisted on following along to find out what was going on.
It wasn't until the two ventured deeper into the cave that they realized that everything there was not naturally formed.
It was a control room filled with various mechanical devices. The screens on the wall were still flashing unidentified data, and the wires on the floor were tangled and complicated, clearly indicating that it was man-made.
There was clearly a civilization that existed in the cave.
Just as everyone was filled with doubt, a small figure appeared.
A little creature that looked like a groundhog, but with big eyes and strange ears, poked its head out. It let out a soft, sweet cry: "Pa-m!"
Wow! So cute!
The moment this little creature named "Hanaijiro" appeared on screen, it instantly captured the hearts of countless female viewers and children.
What is this? Is it a mascot?
[I want it! Old rascal Gu, hurry up and release some merchandise!]
[This is so cute! It looks so harmless.]
The story continues, and the little guy doesn't seem afraid of people at all; on the contrary, he shows great affection for Shin Asuka.
The bird was amused by the little creature, and its earlier tension dissipated considerably.
However, this warmth did not last long.
The reason Hanaijiro lured the two here was actually to tell them everything about this planet.
Led by Hanaijiro, the group saw the giant monster sleeping beneath the base!
Meanwhile, outside, Kariya and Ryo also noticed something was wrong with the planet.
A giant spaceship wreckage suddenly appeared before them, and realizing the situation was dire, the two immediately returned to the Victory Eagle.
Inside the spaceship, the Zhongdao team members stared at these devices and, combining this with the strange phenomena they had witnessed on the planet, instantly understood.
"So the 'grasslands,' 'lakes,' and 'oxygen' on this planet were all fake! These mechanical devices were projecting illusions to lure alien civilizations like us to land. This isn't a habitable planet at all; it's a trap!"
No sooner had he finished speaking than the entire planet suddenly began to shake, communication between the team members and headquarters was instantly cut off, and the mechanical devices in the cave began to emit piercing alarms.
A huge hatch in the center of the control room slowly opened.
Immediately afterwards, a monster covered in red bio-armor and with cold eyes emerged—it was the guardian of this "trap planet," and also the bio-weapon "Mos'a" created by a certain extinct alien.
Looking at Mosjaja, Chung Dao said gravely, "It really is a biological weapon! The aliens who created it should have been wiped out long ago, but it's still carrying out its mission according to its program—to eliminate all 'outsiders' who land on this planet. We are its target now!"
As soon as Chung Dao finished speaking, the once sunny sky suddenly became distorted.
The blue sky and white clouds seemed like a faulty television screen, flickering a few times before suddenly turning completely black and displaying a stream of data.
Holy crap! A holographic projection?!
I knew it! There's no such thing as a free lunch!
[This plot twist came so fast! It was a travelogue one minute, and it instantly turned into a horror movie?]
"Retreat immediately!" Gong Liang shouted.
But it was too late.
As that beautiful disguise was exposed, "Melani" finally revealed its fangs.
The once lush green forest vanished instantly, replaced by cold, stark steel ruins.
Those so-called mountains are actually huge factory pipes; those rivers are coolant circulation channels.
This is no paradise; it's a desolate, massive cosmic fortress!
"Warning! High-energy reaction!"
Mos'ajia broke through the soil.
Old Tang also began his analysis, "This planet itself is a giant bear trap! It disguises itself as a habitable environment to lure civilizations searching for homes in the universe to land, and then destroys them!"
Chung Dao's subsequent analysis confirmed Old Tang's guess.
"This is a biological weapon disguised as a planet... That little guy is probably the only survivor here, or rather, a pet left behind by the previous victims."
The brutal truth sent chills down the spines of the audience.
This is what Gu Nan wanted to express in this episode—the universe is not a fairy tale, but a dark forest. Behind every seemingly beautiful temptation, there may be a hunter's gun.
Battle is imminent.
Mos'a roared and unleashed a high-temperature fireball, instantly pushing the Gamma into a desperate situation.
But just then, the cave collapsed as the monster appeared, causing rubble and broken rocks to crash down.
The bird's body was pinned down and unable to move.
Beside him, the Flash Sword also fell to the ground, only a few steps away, yet it seemed as if there was an insurmountable distance between them.
Just as his consciousness was about to be swallowed up by the heavy sense of oppression, Hanaijiro appeared, flapping his wings.
It tilted its head to look at the bird, then glanced at the flash sword on the ground, and then used its little head to nudge the transformation device toward his hand, one step at a time.
Each bump seemed to require extraordinary effort, but this small body did not give up.
Finally, the edge of the flash sword touched the bird's fingertips.
He mustered his last bit of strength, his fingers curled, and he gripped that familiar outline tightly.
The next second, a dazzling light suddenly shone, instantly dispelling the darkness in the cave.
Amidst the billowing smoke, that familiar light shone.
Ultraman Dyna has arrived!
Wow! Hanaijiro has done a great job!
This little monster is so cute!
[This is a direct stomp on Gabishu from episode 7! She's so cute and kind!]
This monster looks really tough; it's wiped out several waves of visitors.
Someone commented in the live chat.
It is indeed very hard.
Dyna's punches and kicks struck Mos'a's carapace, sending sparks flying, but the monster remained motionless.
Instead, Mossajya whipped Dyna away with a tail swing, sending him flying hundreds of meters before he crashed heavily onto the rocks.
Its defense is too high! Ordinary attacks can't even break through its defenses!
Dyna stood up and switched to his red, strong form.
Are we going to use that again? Ultraman Violence!
[Strong YYDS, smash its head to pieces!]
However, this time the strong type suffered a setback.
Mos'ajia not only has high defense, but also astonishing strength.
It took a powerful punch head-on, then grabbed Dyna's neck with its backhand, the flames above its head poised to erupt.
Just at this critical moment, the little guy who had been hiding behind the rock—Hanetsujiro—rushed out.
"Pa-m!"
It has no offensive capabilities, but its eyes project images that show the blue glowing area above the monster's head.
Dyna paused for a moment, then understood what the little guy meant.
That's a weakness!
That's it!
Mos'a roared angrily and spewed flames again.
However, Dyna leaped high into the air, tumbling and gathering power.
Finally, a meteor kick!
"boom--!!!"
The blue crystal on Mos'a's head shattered.
With a deafening explosion, Mos'a's massive body turned to ashes.
The battle is over.
But the story doesn't end there.
With the monster's death, the self-destruct program of this "artificial planet" was also activated.
The entire fortress began to collapse. Dyna grabbed Hanaijiro from the ground and transformed into a beam of light, shooting towards the sky.
Back on the Condor, the crew watched as "Melani" gradually disintegrated in the explosion, their emotions remaining unsettled for a long time.
"If we're not careful, we humans might disappear into the dust of space, just like the civilization that created this spaceship, or like the previous victims."
Chung Dao said in a deep voice.
Gosuke Kibi nodded, his gaze deep: "The universe is vast, but also cruel. That's why we must strive even harder to become stronger and protect our home."
The atmosphere was somewhat somber because of the disappearance of the birds.
Suddenly, a communication screen switched in.
"Ouch, Koda! Can you please be a little more steady when you're ascending at such a rapid pace?!"
It's a bird!
He's alright!
"Oh, right! I wasn't the only one who was saved!"
But just then, Hanaijiro, who had been brought back to the spaceship, suddenly jumped onto the control panel and let out a cheerful shout: "Pa-m!"
Kawamai, who had been feeling sad, immediately stopped crying and smiled, picking up the little guy: "Since it doesn't have a home anymore, then Super GUTS will be its home from now on! Let's call it 'Hanetsujiro'!"
"Huh? What kind of name is that? It's so casual!" Shin Asuka complained from the side.
"Mind your own business! How adorable!"
Watching the team members playfully bickering, the viewers in front of the screen finally breathed a sigh of relief. Although the universe is cruel, at least in this moment, warmth still exists.
Episode 11 concluded amidst laughter and joy.
However, although the series has ended, the online discussions have only just begun.
That evening, the well-known content creator, Kanpianwang, who had by then completely transformed into a "Dyna scholar," urgently released a long video.
The video's title is quite chilling: "A terrifying thought! Episode 11 of Dyna reveals the dark laws of the universe - the trap of civilization."
In the video, the "King of Talking Movies" is pushing up his glasses, his expression more serious than ever before.
"Brothers, if after watching this episode you only think Hanaijiro is cute, then you're being too naive. Gu Nan's episode is simply a resounding slap in the face to everyone who has illusions about the universe."
"First, let's review the setting of Melanie."
"This is a planet that 'fishes.' Why would it do that? In the show, the Chung Dao team mentioned a term—'biological weapon.' But who created it? And why create it?"
The King of Talking Movies said directly:
"Here I want to introduce two concepts, which are not explicitly stated in the show, but Gu Nan is clearly hinting at them through the plot."
"That's the most classic element of The Three-Body Problem: technological explosion and a chain of suspicion!"
"In this universe, the first need of civilization is survival. But the resources of the universe are finite."
"The masters of Melani, that civilization that has been destroyed or is now hidden, had a very simple logic in creating this trap—rather than waiting for an unknown civilization to grow stronger and threaten me, I'd rather set a trap and nip it in the bud."
"This is an extremely cold-blooded rationality. To that creator, any civilization that comes near is a potential enemy. They exploited the instinct of living beings to seek a 'paradise,' turning goodwill into murderous intent."
The video included a scene from the show where "heaven turns into hell".
"Look at this scene, how ironic. Humanity thought it had found a new home, but instead stepped into a slaughterhouse. This is actually telling us that in the dark forest of the universe, there is no such thing as love without a reason. If a stranger suddenly gives you a big gift, it is very likely that it is a bomb."
Kanpianwang took a sip of water and continued his analysis.
"In the world of Tiga and Dyna, TPC's technological development speed over the past decade has been astonishing, which is what is known as the 'technological explosion'."
"Humanity has gone from being confined to Earth to now being able to explore Neptune's orbit. This speed of development poses a huge threat to other civilizations in the universe."
"So, Sphia came. So, all sorts of aliens came. Even a passive trap like Melanie was triggered by humans."
"This is the price of civilization's expansion. From the moment we chose to set foot on the stars, we were destined to face this malice from the depths of darkness."
"but!"
The film critic suddenly changed his tone and became more impassioned, "Gu Nan did not let us despair."
"Because we have Dyna, we have Super GUTS. Even though the universe is full of suspicion and traps, beings like Hanejiro, and the cross-species trust between Asuka and Hanejiro, are still the shining light in this darkness."
"That's what makes 'Ultraman Dyna' so sophisticated. It doesn't shy away from the cruelty of the universe, but it celebrates the warmth that endures amidst that cruelty."
The video immediately went viral in the comments section of Bilibili.
[Holy crap, I thought I was going to watch a tokusatsu show, but the movie critic described it like something out of "The Three-Body Problem."]
[I broke out in a cold sweat after hearing that. It's true, if aliens really did come, they'd most likely not be friends, but Columbus.]
However, if we're talking about the technological level of the tokusatsu (special effects) zone, then wouldn't everyone in the universe be a bunch of country bumpkins?!
[Hanaijiro: I don't understand what you're talking about, but I'm just a cute pet!]
[So! Light Chaser Animation! Hurry up and release a Hanaijiro plush toy for me!]