noveltune Chapter 144 Magic, Girls, and Miracle-like God-level Special Effects
Chapter 144 Magic, Girls, and Miracle-like God-level Special Effects
Time flows by like water.
It was 8 p.m. on Friday night, and the city was shrouded in darkness.
On the television sets of countless families, or on the computer screens of young people, that familiar logo of the giant of light appears on time.
Episode 18 - "The Girl Who Summoned Demons".
Without a thrilling opening battle, this episode immediately slaps the word "weird" in the face to the audience.
In the scene, the night is deep, and a couple is sitting in a car on a secluded street, whispering sweet nothings to each other.
However, just as the two were about to take things further, the car suddenly shook violently.
Immediately afterwards, an invisible, enormous force inexplicably dragged the car backward.
No matter how hard the driver applies the brakes, the tires screeching and sparking as they rub against the ground are all in vain.
Finally, with a piercing scream, the person and the car melted into the cold wall and disappeared without a trace.
Holy crap! What a start?!
[This episode's bizarre opening was truly terrifying; I'm definitely going to be traumatized!]
[Isn't this Ultraman? How did it turn into "The Ring"?]
If another Sadako crawls out, I'll eat the TV right now!
Even Lao Tang, who was live streaming, was startled by the eerie opening and almost spilled his soda on the keyboard.
"Brothers, that old scoundrel Gu is really going all out. Last week he made an alien ghost ship, and this week he's throwing in a supernatural event? If kids see this, they probably won't be able to sleep tonight."
The plot unfolds rapidly.
With a surge in missing persons cases, TPC Super Victory Team has intervened in the investigation.
The scene then shifts to the heart of the incident—St. Nan Girls' High School.
In handling this part of the plot, Gu Nan did not completely follow the slightly exaggerated acting style of tokusatsu dramas, but instead added a touch of suspense drama quality.
Shin Asuka and Miyako enter the school as investigators.
Unlike Miyako's competence and sharpness, Shin Asuka, this "straight man," entered the girls' dormitory with such a flustered yet feigned calm demeanor that the previous terrifying atmosphere instantly dissipated.
[I knew Asuka was just there to be funny!]
Girls' high schools? They seem to be rare in China now.
[Liang is so cool! This uniform is absolutely stunning!]
However, the ease is only superficial.
As the investigation deepened, the camera focused on the principal's office.
The seemingly kind-looking principal had his desk filled with all sorts of strangely shaped terracotta figurines and masks, as well as an ancient book that exuded an ominous aura.
In a dark corner of the school, a girl named "Rika" (original artwork by Rika) is leading several girls with empty eyes to draw a bright red pentagram magic circle on the ground.
"I want them...to all disappear."
Pear's venomous voice, combined with the flickering lights, sent chills down the spines of the audience.
The plot quickly revealed the reason—bullying.
Pear Fruit is timid and has long suffered bullying from several "big sisters".
In her quest for revenge and for the sake of so-called "power," she heeded the whispers of a demon named "Bischmer" and began using the life energy of the living as sacrifices.
While bullying is despicable, summoning demons is just too extreme...
But when people are desperate, they will grasp at any straw, even if it's the hand of the devil.
Debate about the core plot began to emerge in the comments section.
Night fell again.
Outside the office at this moment, Pear Fruit is about to begin the ceremony again tonight.
Because of Liang's gaze, she had just felt threatened.
Anyone who stands in her way must be eliminated!
Therefore, Rika chose Asuka and Ryo as the targets of tonight's ceremony.
On the way back to base that night, Ryo told Asuka everything he had seen that day and about his concerns.
The displayed spellbooks and a series of dark magic props, these seemingly inconspicuous objects, all shroud the school in mystery.
But Asuka said that Liang was overthinking it, though he soon paid the price for his words.
With the activation of the magic circle on Pear's side, Asuka's side began to experience the same situation as the previous missing persons cases.
The car started reversing for no apparent reason!
At that moment, a monster, barely visible, appeared in the car's rearview mirror.
Fortunately, Asuka's superb driving skills allowed the car to change direction at the crucial moment.
Then he aimed his weapon at the monster in front of him and managed to temporarily repel it.
With the monster's disappearance, the ritual on Pear's side was forced to stop.
【Wait a minute? Why would this woman use such underhanded tactics on members of the GUTS team who have no grudge against her?】
Good grief, this isn't just any ordinary female classmate! We have to strike hard!
[This is outrageous! They attack people who come to investigate; these women are all freaks.]
……
Later, in order to expand her power, Rika brought another girl named Yuki.
Pear, along with her bewitched companions, tricked the "big sister" who usually bullied her into going to the old school building to prepare for the final ceremony.
However, to the four girls' surprise, Asuka and Ryo did not leave the school.
The two of them patrolled the area all night, which happened to save Yuki's senior, who was supposed to be devoured by the demon that night.
At the critical moment, Shin Asuka and Miya Ryo arrived.
Although the process was somewhat chaotic, the ceremony was ultimately interrupted.
Seeing that the magic array had failed once again, Riko immediately accused Yuki of not having enough hatred in her heart.
Meanwhile, back at base, Asuka reported the events of the past two days to the captain, and the GUTS team members gradually figured out the ins and outs of the matter: someone must be secretly summoning demons to commit evil deeds.
Liang stated her conclusion with unwavering conviction, believing that the principal's involvement with the demon's appearance was inextricably linked.
So the two of them turned back once again and returned to St. Nan's Girls' School.
However, the principal had already anticipated that these two would not give up so easily.
So he had one of the students distract Asuka, and then pushed him into the swimming pool.
Liang, on the other hand, went to the principal's office alone.
"You really were the mastermind!"
Faced with Liang's questioning, the principal waved his hand and pinned Liang against the wall.
"Please don't misunderstand. I was just accidentally unsealed and summoned to this world to help those poor girls fulfill their wishes."
"Shut up! You're only using them to get your prey."
However, the principal grinned maliciously, his eyes glowing red.
"Those idiots willingly let me use them. But the game is almost over, and I now have enough power."
Clearly, the real principal had long been possessed by a demon; he was none other than the great monster, Bishumel.
Meanwhile, Riko and the others planned to let Asuka sleep forever beneath the pool, but her actions were stopped by the kind-hearted Yuki.
"What can't we do if it brings happiness? What does it matter if all the people who get in our way disappear?"
"If you try to make what you hate disappear, who will be left in the end? In the end, won't you just be all alone?"
"If our happiness is built on the suffering of others, we will never attain true happiness."
Yuki's words were like thunder, harsh but they did strike a chord with the three girls.
……
At the same time, the principal sucked Liang into his body, and then materialized into the great monster Bishumel.
After absorbing enough energy, the monster began to wreak havoc on the campus.
It wasn't until they saw the demon appear that the girls realized that what they had summoned was not an angel.
Only the pear fruit remained obstinate.
"That's not true! Even if it's a demon, I will..."
At that moment, a slap landed directly on Pear's face.
"I'm so sorry, please wake up quickly and turn back into the old pear you used to be!"
This plot twist was absolutely brilliant.
[Great fan! It made me feel so good!]
This kind of woman won't wake up unless she's given a good beating!
That slap was so satisfying!
……
Meanwhile, the true mastermind behind it all—the extradimensional monster Bishumel—has completely torn off its disguise.
No longer needing a medium, it directly devoured the negative energy of the pear fruit, growing gigantic amidst a sea of purplish-black lightning, towering in the center of the city.
It was a monster that looked like a demon, covered in long hair like a robe, with curved horns on its head, hands like sharp claws, and exuding a nauseating evil aura.
[He's here! This is the boss of this episode!]
[This look has a bit of a medieval witch vibe, it's so intimidating!]
Battle is imminent.
A flash of bright light, and Ultraman Dyna appears!
Initially, Dyna responded with the most balanced and sparkly design.
"just!"
Dyna adopted a fighting stance and charged forward, unleashing a series of punches.
However, a strange scene happened.
Bishumel didn't dodge or evade. Just as Dyna's fist was about to hit it, its body rippled like water, and Dyna passed right through it, staggering and almost falling over.
[Physical immunity?]
How do I fight this? Is it a Ghost-type monster?
[666, this is a stealthy dog! Isn't that cunning?!]
Immediately afterward, Bishomer waved his hands, and a purple magic circle appeared in the air. Countless purple-black light projectiles rained down on Dyna like a storm.
Although Dyna managed to erect the Ultra Barrier, it quickly shattered under the intense magical attack. His massive body was blasted backward, and the color timer on his chest started flashing even before it had been fired much.
Wow, this monster's magic damage is insane!
[The shiny type has no magic resistance!]
Dyna, cornered, knelt on the ground.
Just as Bishumer was about to unleash his ultimate attack, engulfing Dyna along with the city.
Dyna crossed his hands in front of his forehead, and the crystals shone brightly.
Form shift – Miracle!
Its silvery-blue body shimmered in the moonlight, exuding a mysterious beauty.
The next three minutes became the most exciting, imaginative, and visually stunning battle in this episode, and arguably the entire history of Ultraman Dyna.
This is also the climax of Gu Nan's radical "modification" of the original version.
He referenced the battle between Zeta and the four-dimensional monster Bruton in the later Ultraman Zeta, elevating this "magical duel" to a whole new level.
Bishomer hovered in mid-air, his body surging with dark purple energy, and beams of twisted destructive light shot out one after another, heading straight for Dyna.
Dyna crossed his arms, and his energy transformed into a blazing beam of light to meet the attack. The two energies collided violently in mid-air, exploding into a shower of light debris.
Before the aftershocks of the light clash had even dissipated, a ghostly light flashed in Bischomel's eyes, and an invisible psychic force slammed towards Dyna.
Dyna swayed slightly, the crystal on his forehead glowing blue, and he also used his psychic power to resist it—the air seemed to be gripped by an invisible force, emitting a muffled hum, the ground between the two of them cracked open, and the rubble was suspended in the air by the pull of the psychic power, and then crushed into powder by the clash of the two forces.
The shockwaves from the energy collision continued to spread, blowing away the surrounding ruins and engulfing the entire battlefield in a raging energy turbulence.
Seeing Dyna struggling against him, Bishomer let out a strange laugh, drew circles with his hands, and a huge black hole was created beneath Dyna's feet, with a powerful suction force attempting to drag Dyna into another dimension.
However, Miracle Dyna merely glanced at it coldly and waved his right hand lightly.
"Lippolum Energy - Reversal!"
The originally pitch-black hole was instantly filled with blue light, and in turn, it sprayed a huge repulsive storm at Bishumel, blasting the monster directly into the air.
Holy crap! This is possible?!
[An eye for an eye!]
Before the audience could react, Bishoemel steadied itself in mid-air, roared, and its body split into four, becoming four entities that surrounded Dyna from the four directions of east, west, south, and north.
Four Bishumer simultaneously charged up, their dark purple destructive rays weaving into a net.
"A clone? This is troublesome!"
Old Tang stared intently at the screen.
But Dyna on screen did something that surprised everyone.
He actually put his hands on his hips and tilted his head arrogantly.
The next second, Dyna's figure blurred instantly.
One, two, three... ten!
In the blink of an eye, the entire night sky was filled with Dyna's figure!
Miracle Dyna completely surrounded the four Bishumer!
【? ? ? ? 】
[Starting with zero frames, isn't that sneaky?]
[666, a magical clash, huh!]
[That's like a shadow clone technique!]
Is this what they call a miracle? This is way too overpowered!
The four people were clearly stunned, not knowing where to point their beams.
Immediately afterwards, countless Dyna figures simultaneously raised their hands. Although only one of them was a physical entity, the sheer force of their attack was devastating.
All the clones merged into one, and Dyna's true form appeared above Bismarck's head, pressing down on the ball of light with one hand.
Bishumer attempted to escape using teleportation. Its figure disappeared on the left and reappeared on the right, where a silver-blue fist was already waiting for it.
It was completely stunned!
Predicting the future? Or is it spatial confinement?
boom!
Bishomer was completely disoriented.
It roared angrily, releasing countless red cursed ribbons that tried to entangle Dyna.
Dyna flashed, transforming into a streak of blue light, weaving through the gaps in the ribbons at such a speed that even his afterimage was barely visible.
Finally, Dyna stopped in mid-air and slowly opened his arms.
In his palm, a blue sphere of light, compressed to its limit, was spinning wildly, and the surrounding space was cracked with black lines due to the terrifying energy density.
That is a miraculous ultimate attack—the Lipolumium Beam.
It's almost over.
However, at this crucial moment, Bishumel cleverly used the innocent people he had absorbed into his body as a shield, forcing Dyna to stop his attack!
Dyna was stunned when he saw the human inside its body, as well as Miyako.
The tide of battle turned instantly, and Dyna was put on the defensive.
However, the key to victory did not come from Ultraman.
The pear, which had been misled, has now come to its senses and has shown extraordinary courage.
She joined forces with three other girls and used the knowledge taught to her by Bishumel—that is, to use mirrors as weapons against demons. The four girls then bravely inserted the mirror into the core of the magic circle in Bishumel's heart, which emitted an evil light.
The girls' attack precisely shattered the foundation of the demon's power.
As the magic circle collapsed, Bishumel also became weak, and Dyna immediately seized the opportunity.
Using the reversed version of the Lipolium Light Wave, he delivered the final blow to the magical beast that had lost its magic.
There was no explosion.
Because the space behind Bishomer collapsed directly.
A massive black hole vortex appeared out of nowhere. Before Bischomel could even scream, his body began to twist and stretch, and finally, like a painting being rolled into a paper shredder, he was completely swallowed by the black hole.
As the monster disappeared, the black hole quickly closed, and the night sky returned to calm, with only the bright moon silently illuminating the silver-blue giant suspended in the air.
"So cool...absolutely amazing..."
Old Tang, sitting in front of the screen, had his mouth agape enough to fit an egg.
This battle lasted only three minutes from beginning to end, but the amount of special effects, camera work, and the imagination of "magical attacks" were simply burning through the budget.
Is this really a tokusatsu drama? This is practically a top-notch visual effects blockbuster!
The battle ended, and the story returned to the ground.
Deprived of her demonic power, Pear fell amidst the ruins, weeping uncontrollably. She finally understood that the power she had sought was nothing but a mirage, and had nearly killed everyone in the process.
Shin Asuka and Miya Ryo stood behind her.
This time, there was no preaching.
Gong Liang simply walked over and draped his coat over the girl's shoulders.
"Everyone has a dark side, and that's not shameful."
Gong Liang's voice sounded especially gentle in the night breeze, "The important thing is whether you choose to be swallowed by darkness, or whether you yearn for the light even when you are in darkness."
Shin Asuka scratched his head and looked up at the night sky: "Actually, sometimes even if you don't know any magic, as long as you have the courage to face tomorrow, it's a miracle."
The camera zooms out and focuses on Pear's face, which, though streaked with tears, finally reveals a relieved smile.
The end credits song began to play.
The moment this episode of "The Girl Who Summons Demons" finished airing, the online discussion exploded.
The comment sections of major forums, Tieba, and Bilibili were instantly flooded with comments.
This time, the audience's reaction was no longer simple praise, but rather a kind of incoherent excitement.
"This episode is outrageous! Absolutely outrageous! I just want to ask Gu Nan, how much did the special effects for this episode cost? Are you guys not planning to finish the following episodes?"
"I was stunned, really. I used to think it was satisfying to punch a monster to pieces with a single punch, but after seeing the Miracle type today, I realized that the feeling of 'having your cake and eating it too' is even more satisfying!"
"Is this what superpower combat tactics are like? I love it!"
There were even tech gurus who posted dedicated threads analyzing this:
[Let's have a rational discussion about the power ceiling of Dyna's Miracle Form. Judging from tonight's performance—teleportation, clones, gravity control, spatial exile… this setup is practically bug-level. If Dyna had used this form from the start, would he have even needed to fight the previous monsters?]
Of course, many story enthusiasts also have a lot to say about the story itself.
"Actually, I think this episode is quite realistic. Rika is like many people in our lives who are driven into a corner, and that kind of despair is really hard to bear. Fortunately, this is Ultraman, and there is light to save her."
"Upstairs, even though there's no Ultraman in reality, we can still be our own light. Just like Liang said, don't let the darkness swallow you up."
"Am I the only one paying attention to that principal? He acted so well, that sinister and twisted feeling is definitely going to give me childhood nightmares."
The video by Kanpianwang was also updated immediately, with an extremely sensational title: "Dyna's strongest form established? A magical feast that burns through budget! In-depth analysis of the audiovisual language of episode 18."
In the video, the "King of Talking Movies" was so excited that his face turned red.
"Ladies and gentlemen! This episode was absolutely phenomenal! Not just because the fights were thrilling, but also because it expanded the possibilities of Ultraman's battles!"
"When we watched tokusatsu before, it was always just beam battles or hand-to-hand combat. But Gu Nan showed us today that Ultraman's battles can be magical, even surreal! That scene of him magically clashing with a monster will definitely become a legendary moment in tokusatsu history!"
"And did everyone notice? Although this episode is full of special effects, it doesn't overshadow the main story. The core of the story remains solid. The girl's fall and redemption, the devil's manipulation of people's hearts—these dramatic parts are not weak at all."
"Especially the last line from Asuka—'Courage is also a miracle.' It instantly brought the lofty divinity of Miracle Dyna back to earth, telling us that miracles don't just belong to Ultraman, but also to every human being who never gives up."
"I'd even dare to predict that after this episode airs, Miracle Dyna's popularity will skyrocket, possibly even surpassing that of the Sparkling type!"
In Lao Tang's live stream, gifts were flying everywhere.
"Guys, I'm off to buy a Dyna SHF! This Miracle model is so cool, I have to get it!"
"Although Gu Laozei was scary at first, the special effects in the later part were really well done. I give this a perfect score!"
"By the way, did the headmaster in this episode hint at something? Bishoemel said it was summoned by the darkness in humanity's hearts. Does this mean that as long as humanity harbors malice, monsters will never be eradicated?"
"Don't be so pessimistic upstairs. As long as there are idiots like Asuka, the light won't go out!"
In this parallel world, without the contrast of its predecessor, viewers have shown an astonishing level of tolerance and enthusiasm for this brand-new fighting style.
What might have been just a regular episode in the original version has been elevated to the level of a "masterpiece" thanks to Gu Nan's production philosophy of "not only restoring the plot, but also pushing the special effects to the extreme."