Just as Belial was about to unleash another blast from the Giga Battlenizer, a sudden voice thundered in his ear:
"Secret Technique—The Iron Lock!"
Before Belial could react, his throat was clamped tight by a silver-and-red arm.
"Tiga!"
It was none other than Yu Zhou—now enlarged once again into his Strong Type form of Ultraman Tiga—who had locked Belial's neck in place.
"Senior Tiga!" Dyna gasped in disbelief, his eyes widening. To see his predecessor appear at such a desperate moment—it was beyond anything he had expected.
Belial snarled, releasing Dyna to counter. His elbow struck hard into Tiga's side, while Yu Zhou retaliated with a crushing knee to Belial's waist. Both blows landed, sending the two giants sprawling apart. Yu Zhou hit the ground hard, rolling before struggling back up.
"Senior Tiga!" Dyna hurried over, catching Yu Zhou's arm. "Are you alright?"
Yu Zhou winced, forcing himself upright. "I'll live."
But then Dyna froze, staring at him in shock. "That voice… you're… Yu Zhou-senpai!"
Yu Zhou blinked, caught off guard. "You… know me?"
Dyna's tone was full of certainty, even excitement. "Of course I do! I'm Asuka—don't you remember?"
Yu Zhou's mind reeled. Asuka? The host of Dyna? But this was impossible. He had only ever crossed paths with Dyna in the world of Ultraman Mebius & The Ultra Brothers, not this timeline.
"Wait," Yu Zhou raised a hand, steadying him. "Maybe not now. But perhaps… I'll know you in the future."
Asuka—Dyna—hesitated, baffled. "The future…?"
"There's no time to explain," Yu Zhou said firmly. "We fight first. Questions later."
Belial's roar cut across their exchange:
"Kill every last one of them!"
The monster horde surged forward once more, crashing against the remaining Ultras. Belial's crimson eyes locked onto Yu Zhou, his voice dripping with venom.
"You again! You've ruined my plans too many times. When I'm finished, you'll beg for death!"
Dyna stepped protectively in front of Yu Zhou, fists clenched. "If you want to hurt my senior, you'll have to go through me first!"
Yu Zhou was momentarily moved. This kid… he's willing to die just to shield me…
But Belial's response was merciless. The Giga Battlenizer flared, unleashing a thunderous bolt of energy. The blast hurled both Dyna and Yu Zhou through the air, slamming them into the ground.
Dyna coughed, crawling weakly toward Yu Zhou. "S-Senior… are you… alright?"
Yu Zhou struggled as pain tore through him, his Color Timer flashing urgently. Around them, Belial struck down the remaining Ultras—Mebius, Seven, and the Original—leaving them broken on the battlefield. Then, step by deliberate step, he approached Yu Zhou.
Yu Zhou's chest heaved. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw it—the Plasma Spark, still jutting from the ground nearby. A mad idea ignited in his mind.
"Belial…" His voice was faint but defiant.
Belial sneered. "What's this? Your dying words?"
"You want me dead?" Yu Zhou's eyes blazed as he forced his battered body forward. "You'll have to wait thirty million years!"
With a sudden roll, he lunged for the Plasma Spark, his hand seizing its burning light.
"Impossible!" Belial's face twisted, but it was too late to stop him.
Agony exploded through Yu Zhou's body. It felt as though he had thrust his arms into molten lava, the heat and energy searing his flesh, making his Color Timer flash faster and faster. Still, with a roar, he tore free a blazing orb of light from the Plasma Spark—then slammed it into his own chest.
"AAAHHHHHHHH!"
His scream shook the entire Monster Graveyard. Every pair of eyes turned toward him in shock.
"Tiga… Yu Zhou…"
"He actually—!"
The Original, Seven, and Mebius were stunned. It wasn't about losing the Plasma Spark—it was that no Ultraman could withstand its raw energy. Attempting to absorb it could only mean death.
"Senior!" Dyna shouted, horrified.
Tiga's body convulsed as the Plasma Spark's violent power coursed through him. His forms shifted uncontrollably—Strong Type, Sky Type, Multi Type—his body cycling chaotically between them. Energy lashed outward, flinging even Belial back.
Belial's eyes widened. "Impossible! I touched that power once and it nearly destroyed me—yet he… he actually forced it into his body!"
Yu Zhou's Color Timer burned like fire, pain flooding every nerve. At last, the violent energy ebbed. His eyes dimmed, his body collapsing as consciousness fled. Only the Color Timer remained lit—restored to a steady green.
Belial exhaled in relief, then sneered. "Of course. There's no way anyone could withstand the Plasma Spark. Even he couldn't."
"Senior!" Dyna's voice cracked as he saw Yu Zhou fall, despair washing over him. In fury, he transformed into Strong Type and charged Belial head-on, unleashing a storm of punches.
Belial reeled under the onslaught, caught off guard. "You've lost your mind!" He blocked with the Giga Battlenizer. "He wasn't killed by me! It was his own arrogance—trying to contain that energy!"
"I don't care!" Dyna roared, his fists slamming into Belial's face. "It's still your fault!"
"Madman!" Belial cursed, retreating before blasting him away with another surge of lightning.
Then his gaze slid back to Yu Zhou's unconscious form. A cruel idea struck him.
"You've already done the hard part for me—drawing out the Plasma Spark's light."
Belial descended, seizing Yu Zhou by the shoulder. Pressing the Giga Battlenizer against Yu Zhou's chest, he began to siphon the energy directly from his Color Timer. Light was ripped away, drawn into the weapon—and into Belial's body.
"No…" Dyna reached out with a trembling hand, helpless.
The Original, Seven, and Mebius, pinned down by monsters, could only watch in despair as their comrade was drained.
"If Belial takes that power," Seven thought grimly, "then even if the others return… we may never stop him."
He raised his eyes to the void above, desperation in his voice.
"Hurry… someone, anyone—come!"