"Impressive, Yu Zhou!"
Daichi and Gai both looked toward Yu Zhou, praising him for his actions.
After the compliment, the two rushed toward the other aliens still fighting Naomi and Shibukawa, who were clad in battle suits.
Daichi activated the X Flasher, emitting a powerful beam that knocked one alien to the ground. Shibukawa fired two backup shots at it, though they barely made a difference.
Gai focused on the other alien, landing a flurry of punches followed by a spinning kick that sent it sprawling. The alien writhed in pain before Shibukawa's final shots rendered it unconscious.
"That's enough!"
Amid the chaos, the woman in the purple-black dress spoke, her face calm and relaxed.
"Everyone here, whether beautiful or ordinary, I'll turn you all into gems!"
Her greasy smile returned as she scanned the group. Yu Zhou immediately recognized her: Murunau—the world's main villain, unforgettable in her imposing presence.
"Ma'am, I think you should turn yourself into a gem—that would suit you better," Yu Zhou said deadpan.
"You think I'm stupid? Turn myself… Wait, what did you just call me?!" Murunau's hair practically stood on end.
"Ma'am?" Yu Zhou asked innocently. "Do you expect me to say 'Your Highness Murunau' instead?"
"You… you…!" Murunau fumed, unable to respond coherently. "Say that again, I dare you!"
"Ma'am."
"You brat! Turn into a gem yourself!"
Murunau pulled out the Dark Ring, aiming to attack Yu Zhou—but a flash of steel cut through, and she crashed to the ground.
Everyone looked closely: Gagula had quietly snuck behind her and launched a surprise strike.
Murunau hit the floor, the Dark Ring slipping from her hands. Gagula quickly seized it.
"You betrayed me!" Murunau shouted, rising angrily.
The four aliens, knocked out earlier, seemed to sense her anger. They immediately recovered and regrouped, ready to fight again.
"The Dark Ring is finally in my hands… hahaha!" Gagula's twisted laugh echoed as he held the ring.
"Why the mocking laugh?" Naomi asked. "Weren't you supposed to destroy it?"
"You're naïve," Gagula replied calmly, then turned to Yu Zhou. "Now, do you understand who I am?"
"A good person," Yu Zhou said without hesitation. He knew that in the end, Gagula would discard the Dark Ring. Clearly, the ring would seek out the most evil heart—and Gagula's wasn't one.
"Hmph," Gagula snorted and walked out with the ring. No one could guess his thoughts.
"Move!" Hayami Shenta shouted, sprinting out first. Naomi and the others quickly followed.
Yu Zhou blinked. "???"
He couldn't understand their actions. They clearly had the advantage—why retreat now?
Soon, they had all left, leaving Yu Zhou alone with Murunau and the four aliens.
"Do my teammates have any sense?" Yu Zhou muttered, patting his head. He decided discretion was best and bolted.
"Ma'am, Giao resigns!" he called out, then ran.
"Brat! Chase him! Tear him apart first!" Murunau roared, sending the aliens after him.
Outside the villa, Yu Zhou searched for Naomi and Gai. In the distance, dust clouds rose along the road—it was their SSP vehicle, speeding away from the villa.
"…Why do I suddenly feel like swearing?" Yu Zhou muttered, gritting his teeth as he ran after the vehicle.
Inside the car:
"Wait… aren't we missing someone?" Naomi counted heads in the back seat.
"I thought the same," Shibukawa nodded.
"Ah! Yu Zhou—he hasn't come out yet!" Gai realized.
"How could we forget him?" Matsutoshi exclaimed, slamming the accelerator.
"Don't worry. Yu Zhou can handle himself," Daichi said calmly. The vehicle was already full, and he knew Yu Zhou's skills as Ultraman Tiga meant he could escape safely.
"Yeah. With his abilities, he'll definitely manage," Hayami Shenta agreed.
"Let's go! The monster is still destroying the city!" Matsutoshi urged, pressing the pedal further.
…
Watching the vehicle vanish into the distance, Yu Zhou finally slowed down.
"Let them get roughed up by the monster first, then."
The villa trembled behind him, lifting off and flying in the direction of the escaping car.
"Two kilometers to the monster… I'd be exhausted walking that," Yu Zhou muttered.
Then he smacked his forehead. "Damn it! I brought a car with me!"
He activated his spatial wrist device, selected the off-road vehicle he had stored before heading to the Ultra Galaxy Legend world, and it materialized on the road.
The engine roared as Yu Zhou sped after Naomi and the others.
…
Naomi, Gai, and the others had already reached the monster's destruction zone.
Under the monster's energy beams, the city was crumbling—and crystallizing.
"The entire city… it's turning into beautiful gems!" Hayami Shenta exclaimed, filming the scene.
"Beautiful? Hardly. Just tacky!" Naomi muttered, horrified by the monster's cruelty.
Gai and Daichi slipped away from the group, confronting the monster directly.
They exchanged a glance and charged together.
Daichi activated the X Flasher, fusing with X and transforming into Ultraman X in a blaze of data energy.
Gai summoned the Orb Ring and inserted the cards.
"Ultraman!" The First appeared on his left.
"Tiga!" The other card summoned Tiga on his right.
"Lend me your light!"
"Fusion Upgrade!"
"Ultraman Orb—Shining Fusion!"
In a burst of glowing energy, Shining Fusion Orb descended from the sky.
Alongside him, Ultraman X appeared, data currents swirling, ready to confront the monster.