"Secret Technique: Empty-Handed Blade Catch!"
With a swift motion, Yu Zhou knelt on one knee, clasped his hands, and stopped the sword coming down from the young girl.
She tried to pull the sword free but found that no matter how hard she tried, it wouldn't budge.
"Your strength… how can it be so great?!" the girl exclaimed in disbelief.
Yu Zhou looked small, but the sheer force in his grip was astonishing.
"Stop! Both of you, stop fighting!" Ellie shouted, seeing the stalemate.
The girl turned to Ellie. "Little one, did he do anything terrible to you?"
"Big sister, you've got it all wrong!" Ellie cried. "Big brother Yu Zhou just saved me!"
"There was an alien attacking us, but we managed to defeat it in the end!"
"What?!" The girl looked at Yu Zhou in shock. "He's not a bad person?"
"Yes, so stop fighting," Ellie added, relief evident on her small face.
"Ah… I'm sorry!"
The girl quickly lowered her sword and bowed apologetically to Yu Zhou, embarrassed.
Yu Zhou released the sword. It clattered to the ground.
"Honestly, you're grown up, yet so impulsive," Yu Zhou scolded. "Next time, check the situation before swinging a sword!"
"If I didn't have some skill, I'd probably be lying on the ground right now!"
"I'm sorry!" The girl bent even lower, unsure how else to apologize.
"Alright, that's enough. You can leave now." Yu Zhou waved her off.
Yu Zhou knew exactly who this sword-wielding girl was: Toba Laiha, the original heroine.
Laiha had once possessed a Little Star, but the villain Fukude Kei had targeted her, killing her parents and attempting to take her star.
Yu Zhou recalled that the Little Star she carried originally belonged to the Ultra King. Filled with hatred and trained in swordsmanship, Laiha sought revenge against Fukude Kei.
After witnessing Skull Gomora's appearance, Laiha suspected that a Little Star might still exist among the refugees.
She investigated the refugee shelter and learned about a young girl capable of fire magic.
Tracking her to the suburban warehouse, Laiha prepared to confront the child, hoping the Little Star would draw monsters again—and give her a chance to see the alien in human form. Then, she intended to strike.
"You still not leaving?" Yu Zhou asked, noticing Laiha lingering.
"Well… you said there was an alien attack?" Laiha asked, embarrassed.
"Yes, but we already took care of it," Yu Zhou nodded.
"This little girl… can she breathe fire?" Laiha continued.
"I know what you're thinking," Yu Zhou said, moving the unconscious store owner and family members to their beds.
"You know?" Laiha gasped.
"Mm," Yu Zhou nodded. "You mean the Little Star."
"You know about the Little Star?!" Laiha's eyes widened in surprise. "What else do you know?!"
"Anyone with a Little Star possesses extraordinary powers," Yu Zhou explained. "For example, Ellie's fire."
"So this little girl also has a Little Star!" Laiha muttered, staring at Ellie.
"Yes," Yu Zhou confirmed. "But its glow attracts aliens and monsters. They all covet the star's power."
"If I'm correct, you once had a Little Star too, right?" Yu Zhou asked. "But it's gone now."
"That's… right," Laiha said, lowering her head, recalling painful memories.
"Any other news?" Yu Zhou asked after a pause.
"Ah, that's all I know," Laiha replied.
Suddenly, the ground shook. The three dashed outside to see what had happened.
Boom! An explosion rang out. Looking toward the suburban town, they saw the same monster from yesterday.
"It's the same monster… the one from six years ago and yesterday!" Laiha gripped her sword, anger flashing across her face.
"Big brother, the monster's coming toward us!" Ellie shouted, panicked.
"We should leave. Your mom, uncle, and grandfather are still in the warehouse," Yu Zhou decided.
Skull Gomora was after Ellie's Little Star; if Yu Zhou took her away, the warehouse would remain safe.
As they prepared to leave, a young man in a denim jacket and orange T-shirt ran toward the warehouse.
"Ellie, your mom and the store owner—are they okay?" he asked.
"I'm Yu Zhou. I just became friends with the store owner recently," Yu Zhou introduced himself.
"I'm Laiha, just passing by," she added, seeing he seemed familiar with the girl.
"Oh, the store owner's friend," the young man smiled. "I'm Asakura Riku—you can call me Riku."
Yu Zhou smiled and nodded. This was Riku, the human form of Ultraman Geed and son of Belial.
"What about the store owner and others?" Riku asked.
Yu Zhou explained the alien attack incident.
"Thanks so much!" Riku expressed his gratitude. "If anything had happened to them, I'd be devastated."
"It's nothing," Yu Zhou said, waving off the thanks. "We should leave now; the monster is coming."
He pointed to the approaching monster.
"If only the giant from yesterday appeared again… he could defeat it." Yu Zhou sighed, glancing at Riku.
Riku finally asked, hesitantly, "What do you think about the giant from last night?"
"That giant…" Yu Zhou stroked his chin. "A righteous hero, a partner to humanity."
"I never expected you to think that!" Riku was surprised. "But don't you find its appearance frightening?"
"Hmm?" Yu Zhou looked at him seriously. "No matter how fierce it looks, it protects humanity. It's on the side of justice. Even if it looks terrifying, it isn't evil to humans."
Yu Zhou knew Riku worried people would fear Geed's form and doubted fusing again.
He offered encouragement instead, and Riku was nearly moved to tears.