Crime Syndicate

Ultraman huddled against the collapsed wall, his red Cloak held up to block the sunlight, revealing a sickly gray-green tinge to his exposed neck.

When Kara said, "Kryptonite is his weakness," his fingers, hidden under his Cloak, were quietly gripping the Kryptonite at his waist—his last trump card.

Kara witnessed all of this.

"You just said that Kryptonite is his weakness."

Ultraman stood up again, with fragments of Kryptonite still in his mouth. After absorbing some of the Kryptonite, he regained his superpowers, but they continued to weaken under the sun's radiation.

"So, is your weakness the same?"

Ultraman grinned maliciously as he pressed the remaining Kryptonite against Kara's breastplate, only to see a cold glint flash in the other's blue eyes.

He grabbed Ultraman's head in an instant, then twisted it hard and slammed him to the ground.

Boom--

The ground was smashed into a deep crater, and dust flew everywhere.

"It used to be, but it's not anymore."

How could Kino not have considered this weakness when creating the Nth Metal armor?

Kara placed her hand on Ultraman's head, and the black liquid continued to seep into his body.

"What are you doing? Stop! Stop!"

Ultraman's piercing screams echoed throughout the cemetery.

As the black liquid continued to be injected, Ultraman's body began to undergo strange changes.

In a flash of light, Ultraman's body gradually became illusory and eventually disappeared, replaced by Kino.

Kino slowly opened his eyes, looked at Kara in front of him, and gave her a shy smile.

"Hello, Cousin Kara, my name is Carl -Ayl now."

"Hello, Carl, my name is Kara -Aier."

Kara smiled too.

Just as Kino was about to take Kara away, a yellow lightning bolt appeared.

"That's outrageous! Ultraman, who are you fighting? This is... Ultimate Girl?"

Appearing here was a man wearing a red bodysuit and large round glasses; it was Johnny Quick.

On his shoulder sat a woman no bigger than his palm, Johnny Quick's girlfriend, Atomica.

However, when she saw Kara standing opposite Kino, her eyes widened in shock.

"How is that possible? Aren't you dead?"

And she killed him herself by drilling into his brain.

"Johnny Quick, Atomica, what do you want with me?"

After Kino took over Ultraman's position, in everyone's memory of Ultraman, he looked exactly like Kino.

"Huh? It's nothing, it's just that you suddenly left during the meeting, Owlman asked me to come and see what happened."

Johnny Quick looked at Kino, who was speaking in a gentle tone, in disbelief. He had expected to be met with a furious scolding from Ultraman.

"I sensed my cousin Kara's resurgence, so I came to greet her. This is Krypton welcoming ceremony."

Kino is talking nonsense.

"... Your planet's welcoming ceremony is truly unique."

However, Johnny Quick thought about the Ultraman's power to propel the moon, and looking at the ruined cemetery in front of him, he felt it was quite normal.

"But how did Ultimate Girl revive?"

The power to bring the dead back to life... Johnny Quick's greed flashed through his mind. Could that lead to immortality?

You are questioning me.

Kino simply stared at him calmly, but the unnatural murderous aura emanating from him sent a chill down Johnny Quick's spine.

Johnny Quick waved his hand hastily, forcing a smile that looked more like a grimace.

"No, I wouldn't dare! I'm just too curious. You know, we heroes are all particularly interested in the supernatural."

This guy hasn't changed at all; he's even more terrifying than before. He'd kill you just for asking a question.

Atomica was also trembling behind Johnny Quick's neck.

Actually, Johnny Quick had misunderstood. The murderous aura on Kino's body was just a result of the previous battle with the Anti-Monitor, and it hadn't completely dissipated yet.

Kino also absorbed the murderous aura within his body.

"Let's go, let's continue the meeting."

Kino led Kara to the meeting place to first see the Owlman of this world, who was also Batman's counterpart.

Johnny Quick breathed a sigh of relief and transformed into a bolt of lightning to give chase.

Along the way, Kino also gave Kara a briefing on the situation in this world.

"It's strange how this world is all about good people turning into bad people and bad people turning into good people."

Kara remarked with emotion.

"It's different. Good people can turn into bad people, but bad people don't necessarily become good. For example, you in this world are a good person."

As the two were talking, they arrived at the conference building, located in the Metropolis.

A large hole appeared in the wall on the top floor of the building, caused by the Ultraman's impact.

Kino entered the room through the large hole. Johnny Quick had already arrived and explained what had happened. The others looked at Kino and Kara behind him with various expressions.

Kino also glanced around at the members sitting there.

Batman = Owlman.

Wonder Woman = Superwoman.

Green Lantern = The Ring Wielder.

The Flash = Johnny Quick.

Aquaman = Sea King.

Firestorm = Deathstorm.

"Excuse me, I just went to pick up Kara. From now on, she officially joins the Syndicate."

Kino naturally walked to an empty seat and sat down.

"I don't think you have any objections."

It feels out of place.

This is how everyone felt; it's surprising that Ultraman would say sorry.

That's normal.

This domineering style of doing things is quite reasonable.

Kino didn't bother to pretend to be Ultraman; all he needed was the Ultraman identity to fool God. As for the group in front of him, even if they all attacked together, they wouldn't last a second in his eyes. They weren't worth the effort he put into pretending.

However, Owlman might be able to hold out for a few more seconds. After all, as Batman's counterpart, he should have some kind of protagonist's aura.

"No objections, it's just that we're adding a new person, I think everyone is fine with that."

His voice was high-pitched and stuttering, with a barely perceptible tremor at the end. After speaking, he hurriedly lowered his head, not daring to meet anyone's gaze.

Those Ring Wielder are timid, weak, greedy, and lack their own opinions. Generally, people who harbor negative emotions such as anxiety or fear will be chosen by the Power Ring.

The host is merely a puppet to be exploited for energy and to provide amusement.

Rather than saying that joining the Crime Syndicate is about Ring Wielder, it's more accurate to say that joining the Crime Syndicate is about being a ring.

So even if he joins Crime Syndicate and rules a city, many people still look down on him.

The Superwoman rested her elbows on the table, her scarlet fingernails slowly tapping the metal, producing a teeth-grinding "tap-tap" sound.

"A new member needs to offer some kind of pledge, right? Who knows if she'll be like some useless person who drags you down at crucial moments?"

She glanced sideways at the Ring Wielder, a mocking smile playing on her lips.

The Ring Wielder was struck dumb. He let out a few dry, whimpering laughs, but he didn't even have the courage to refute it.

Johnny Quick broke the awkward silence with a whistle.

"Superwoman is right, but we also have to give newcomers a chance."

His gaze swept over Ring Wielder, who was curled up in his chair, wishing he could bury his head in his chest.

"After all, some people couldn't even control their Power Ring when they first joined, and they almost blew up headquarters."

The Ring Wielder instantly turned bright red, his nails digging deeply into his palms.

He recalled that when he first obtained the Power Ring, he summoned a giant spider monster out of excessive fear, only to be crushed into a pulp by Ultraman and severely humiliated in front of everyone.

At this moment, memories flooded back, making it hard for him to breathe. He could only keep silently repeating to himself, "Don't pay attention to me, don't pay attention to me."

Kara frowned as she looked at the Ring Wielder. She knew Green Lantern too, but why was his counterpart so cowardly?