ca-book Chapter 46 Little Angel Durban
Chapter 46 Little Angel Durban
Jinghai City, Chasing Light Studio.
At two o'clock in the morning, Gu Nan looked at the finished product on the screen.
This episode is episode 21 of "Ultraman Tiga" - "Durban Appears".
"Brother Nan, the data for this episode isn't expected to be too explosive."
Chen Bo rubbed his dark circles, "After all, we just had the big scenes of 'Heading to the Universe,' and the audience's appetites were really high. This episode... seems a bit like a 'skit.'"
Gu Nan exhaled a smoke ring, his eyes bright: "You don't understand. You get tired of seeing too many grand scenes. True masterpieces are those that reveal thunder in the mundane."
"Even a minor character like Durban can be the soul of tokusatsu (special effects)."
Twenty minutes later, the video was uploaded to Bilibili on time.
……
At 8 p.m. on Friday, thousands of viewers stayed up in front of their screens.
After the shock of the Atlas taking to the skies in the first two episodes, everyone thought that Gu Nan would continue to advance the main storyline.
The beginning is still a bit suspenseful.
"The demon god's electromagnetic waves are here again, with a magnetic field strength of 5 Oersted!"
The story begins with a tense atmosphere, accompanied by the alarm sounding in the GUTS command room.
The Victory team detected a strong earthquake in the Jinghai area.
Along with the earthquake came what Ye Rui called "demon electromagnetic waves".
It's clear that the Victory Team has been investigating this "Demon God Electromagnetic Wave" for some time now.
The figure of "5 Austers" is a very large number.
Oersted is the unit of magnetic field strength.
On the screen, the data representing the magnetic field strength increases rapidly, but then disappears immediately.
According to Ye Rui's analysis, this is exactly the same as the situation in other cities.
After pinpointing the location where the magnetic field disappeared, the Victory Team quickly set off for the scene.
As a result, the style of the film changed abruptly after the opening credits.
There was no grand cosmic battlefield, nor a cold, mechanical island.
The scene depicts a dilapidated circus.
Shinjo and Horii conducted their investigation here.
The troupe leader then took the opportunity to call out to the two of them:
"Hey handsome guy over there! Want to come watch the show?"
As a result, the two almost got into a fight over who should be called "handsome guy".
"It was clearly me!"
"Are you kidding me? I'm the handsome guy!"
Meanwhile, at the circus...
A group of performers dressed in cheap clown costumes are performing on a makeshift stage.
In the middle of the stage stood a ridiculously funny little monster.
It's not very big, only a little over a meter tall, with a big belly, a pair of big ears that look like they're sticking out, and an adorable look in its eyes.
Its name is Durban.
The screen was instantly filled with comments.
【Brother Nan, did you spend all the production budget?】
[The quality of this suit has deteriorated. This monster looks like a toy.]
[A circus? This is a new episode? That's quite a leap!]
[It's over, it's probably just a watered-down transition.]
Because each episode before Ultraman Tiga had a strong social reflection or grand narrative, this "family-friendly" opening disappointed many young viewers.
However, the plot in the video progresses very quickly.
The demon appeared at the place where the circus had previously performed!
The other-dimensional demon god, Enomina, has made her appearance.
This is true evil.
Its appearance is extremely bizarre, with a sinister smile on its face and horns on its shoulders that can emit high-heat purple electromagnetic waves.
It doesn't need physical destruction; it only needs to release "angry electromagnetic waves" to drive humanity to self-destruction.
An eerie purple mist descended upon the city.
That was the Demon God's electromagnetic wave!
The pupils of the people on the street, who were originally normal, all turned red the moment they came into contact with the radio waves.
Violent and insane.
Father and son turn against each other; passersby fight each other.
The entire city seemed to have instantly transformed into a giant gladiatorial arena.
This extreme sense of oppression instantly shattered the audience's previous perception that the plot was bland.
[Holy crap, who said this episode was a skit? Come out and face the consequences!]
The red eye effect is really weird.
[This is another one that directly exposes the dark side of human nature. Brother Nan, you really know how to disgust us.]
……
Through the demon's repeated appearances and pursuit of the circus, the GUTS team figured out the pattern.
It turns out, this demon came for Durban!
Through the research of Dr. Tango, the scientist from the Victory Team, the group determined Durban's characteristics and abilities.
However, the demon's influence was too great; how could the weak Durban possibly be its match?
However, at the critical moment when the demon god appeared once again.
Just when the Victory Team was at a loss, and even the Flying Swallow was shaking violently because the pilot's emotions were disturbed.
The little monster Durban, which the audience found "comical," moved.
It stood on the street, desperately shaking its "protruding ears".
A gentle, faint golden light emanated from it.
Wherever the light waves reached, the blood red in people's eyes quickly faded, and they regained their senses.
Durban is the nemesis of the demon god.
Or rather, it is a creature that represents "peace" and "tolerance".
The trend of comments on the bullet screen has started to change.
[Durban is so cute! It's saving people!]
So that's what its ears are for! I love it!
The demon's eyes were so fierce! It even grinned maliciously! Durban, run!
……
Gu Nan is extremely ingenious in his use of camera lenses.
He did not directly depict the terror of the demon god, but instead used Durban's "weakness" to highlight the severity of the crisis.
After the members of the Victory Team made contact with the circus and learned of Durban's contribution.
They also understood the bond between Durban and the circus.
Durban was just a lowly clerk in a circus.
It has no special moves, no armor, and even its running is shaky.
But it repeatedly charged to the front, using its meager strength to counteract the demon's wrath.
The demon discovered Durban hiding behind the ruins.
It decided to first eliminate this "pest" that could neutralize its energy.
A massive energy blast converged in the demon god's hand.
Its target was Little Durban, who was treating the wounded commander.
"Durban! Run!"
Viewers watching from outside the screen couldn't help but scream.
In the shot, Durban turns his head.
It glanced at the circus ringmaster behind it, who was already terrified, and then at the scattered and chaotic crowd in the distance.
It did not run away.
It simply stretched out its pitifully short arms and stood in front of the commander.
For the first time, a solemn expression appeared on its comical face.
"boom--!"
The energy blast hit.
The smoke dissipated.
Durban collapsed to the ground.
The gentle life force that once emanated from it was rapidly fading away.
The circus ringmaster held it, crying out in anguish.
At that moment, the cheerful background music completely disappeared.
Instead, there was an extreme silence.
The comments section paused for a few seconds.
Immediately following was a burst of tears, like a volcanic eruption.
[Nan Ge, you beast! Why did you kill Durban?!]
I seriously want to kill the director! Durban is so well-behaved!
It could have run away... It's just a little monster that can't even fight!
The courage of the weak is what touches people the most.
In the scene, Daigo is furious.
On the plane, Daigo displayed a resolute determination that showed no fear of death!
Similarly, Xincheng was also determined.
"If I short-circuit, then kill me! And if you get affected by it, I'll kill you too!"
Then, the two piloted their plane into the area affected by the electromagnetic waves, determined to fight Ai Nengmei to the death!
Su Zhe delivered the most brilliant eye acting in the entire series here.
Tiga, who later transformed after the plane crash, also embodies that emotion!
Even through Tiga's suit, the audience could almost feel the devastating rage just from the changes in his movements.
Finally, Daigo transformed.
Ultraman Tiga has arrived!
But this battle was exceptionally frustrating.
The Demon God Enomina's multi-beam attack is extremely fast, and it also possesses the suppressive skill of Demon God Electromagnetic Wave.
Just as Tiga was being suppressed by the demon god's purple light, the color timer began to flash.
At this moment, the injured Durban activated his abilities, releasing golden particles with all his might to counteract the purple mist!
Tiga switches to Red Power Type!
This time, he did not test the waters again.
He withstood the demon god's teleportation attack, anticipating, positioning, and grabbing!
He grabbed the demon by the neck and slammed it to the ground.
Then, he cleaved off the demon god's shoulder horns with two palm strikes!
The title of "Horn-Breaking Maniac" is well-deserved!
That was a pure outpouring of power.
There are no tricks involved.
Only the rage of revenge for a friend.
Tiga interrupted Enemy's attempt to escape via teleportation.
Finally, Tiga gathered an unprecedented stream of Derashum light in his hands.
The demon goddess Enemy was reduced to ashes amidst screams.
……
The battle is over.
But in the ruins under the setting sun, as people gathered around the fallen Durban, no one celebrated victory.
The circus performers knelt on the ground.
"Durban...it's not coming back."
However, Dr. Tango of the Victory Team, seeing that Durban was already dead, wanted to take the body back for research.
"I want to take the body back for research..."
"Don't touch it!"
"Please let it be quiet for a while, okay?"
Seeing this, Dr. Tango had no choice but to leave, giving the circus some time.
Gu Nan used a long take that lasted thirty seconds for this scene.
There were no lines, only the commander's trembling hand stroking Durban's cold skin.
Just when the audience was about to break down in tears.
The commander suddenly felt Durban's fingers twitch.
Then, the protruding ears twitched again, Durban let out a burp, and slowly opened his eyes.
It turned out that it had exhausted its energy and entered a state of suspended animation.
The sense of loss from going from hell to heaven made all the viewers in front of the screen breathe a sigh of relief.
[Damn it! Gu Nan, I thank your whole family!]
These dramatic ups and downs are really thrilling!
[It's good that Durban is alive, it's good that it's alive.]
At the end of the video.
The circus has started its tour again.
On stage, Durban continued his comical dance.
Daigo and Rena sat in the audience, exchanging a smile.
The narration began slowly:
Even the weakest creature possesses the courage to sacrifice itself to protect others.
"Durban, you are a true hero."
……
The video has finished playing.
The data in the backend of the Light Chaser Studio was fluctuating wildly.
The number of views exceeded two million within twenty minutes, and the number of likes was ridiculously high.
"Sharp-tongued Old Tang" left a comment in the comment section immediately:
"I admit I misjudged it before. This episode isn't filler; it's the pinnacle of humanity in 'Ultraman Tiga.' It tells us that heroism isn't exclusive to any particular superpower. Even if you're just a little monster who can only dance, the moment you stand up to protect your home, you are light."
This rating was given the highest possible rating.
However, on the other side of Jinghai City.
Inside the office of the Celestial Master of Wonders.
Zhao Rui stared at the steadily rising data, his face so dark it was almost dripping with gloom.
"This kind of plot...this kind of theme..."
He muttered to himself.
The screenwriters under him only know how to write formulaic plots like "Ultraman fights monsters, monsters die, and Ultraman flies away".
They simply couldn't understand why this little monster, which even had a somewhat "childish" feel, could resonate with the entire internet.
"Mr. Zhao, the data for our newly filmed episode 10 of 'Superpower Overlord' is dismal."
The secretary reported nervously.
"Everyone's criticizing our storyline as mindless. They're saying we only know how to sell toys and have no sincerity whatsoever."
Zhao Rui suddenly smashed the coffee cup on the ground.
"Sincerity? Can sincerity put food on the table?"
But he knew in his heart that he was about to lose control of this new god named "Tiga".
He started to panic...
……
Meanwhile, a new topic quietly appeared on Bilibili's trending searches:
#If you were Durban, would you dare to stand up?#
Countless white-collar workers and students who didn't originally watch tokusatsu (special effects) films left comments below.
"I cried while watching it. I used to feel so insignificant, like I couldn't change anything. But after watching Ultraman Tiga today, I want to refuse that unreasonable overtime request tomorrow. I also want to protect my 'circus'."
"Ultraman Tiga, thank you for making me believe that ordinary people can also have moments of light."
In this world monopolized by unscrupulous capital and filled with works for children.
Gu Nan's fire finally touched the hearts of everyone.
Looking at the sincere comments on his phone, he knew that the first phase of the plan was completely completed.
It's not just about fame, and it's not just about money.
Most importantly, he successfully built a moat in this world called "tokusatsu aesthetics".
Now, in the eyes of the audience, those poorly made things by the Celestial Master are no different from garbage.