Chapter 110 – The Underground Base
After Skull Gomora exploded, Geed slowly rose from the ground. A golden light soared into Geed's flashing colored timer.
"Looks like Riku managed to secure Leo's Ultra Capsule," Yu Zhou realized, seeing the golden light enter the timer.
With the Ultra Capsule in Riku's possession, Ellie would no longer be troubled. The Little Star had left her body, and her fire-breathing ability vanished along with it.
Geed paused for a moment after obtaining the capsule, then shot up into the sky, disappearing from everyone's sight.
A beam of light wrapped around Riku, returning him to his original position. Toba Laiha glanced at Yu Zhou as she noticed this.
Yu Zhou remained calm, showing no reaction.
At that moment, an alien in a tracksuit emerged from the ground and helped the exhausted Riku to his feet.
"Are you okay?" the alien asked, voice soft and childlike.
This alien was a Pegassa boy named Pega, who had lived with Riku ever since receiving his help during a difficult moment. He usually followed Riku quietly, staying hidden in his shadow.
Laiha, unaware of Pega's identity, immediately grabbed his arm to restrain him.
Pega was just a child, with no real combat ability. Startled, he was easily controlled by Laiha.
"No! He's my friend!"
Riku shouted as Laiha had acted impulsively again.
"This one never learns, huh?" Yu Zhou shook his head. Laiha had targeted him earlier and now acted rashly again.
"Was that Ultraman just now?" Laiha demanded, not letting go of Pega.
"Ultraman?" Riku froze, sweat forming on his forehead. Could she have seen him transform a second time?
"He flew over there," Riku pointed to the sky.
"You're lying! I saw you transform!" Laiha glared at him.
Yu Zhou stepped forward, motioning for Laiha to release Pega.
"You saw it too!"
Riku panicked even more. His identity had been revealed to two people now.
"Oh no, Riku! Your true identity's out!" Pega exclaimed once freed, rushing to his side.
"Yes," Yu Zhou nodded. "We saw everything."
"Thank you," Laiha said after a pause. "I won't tell anyone."
"But the light that flew into your body earlier… that was the Little Star, right?" Laiha continued, recalling the golden beam entering Geed after the battle.
"The Little Star?" Riku was confused—he had never heard the term before. But he did receive the light from Ellie; it was the Ultra Capsule.
"You didn't know?" Laiha asked.
Yu Zhou explained, "The Little Star separates from its host when they pray to an Ultra Warrior, transferring its energy to the Ultraman. That's what you just received."
"I see now!" Riku finally understood. The golden light had flown from Ellie to him because she was praying.
"Anyway, I have my own matters to attend to," Laiha said, shaking her head, preparing to leave.
Yu Zhou understood—after the monster's defeat, Fukude Kei would return to human form. This was Laiha's best chance to strike.
"Riku, I'll keep your identity a secret," Yu Zhou assured him. "I'll head off too."
"Wait!" Riku called out, wanting to exchange information. He had just become Ultraman Geed and had many questions. Both Yu Zhou and Laiha seemed knowledgeable.
Suddenly, an elevator shot up from the ground. Its doors opened, releasing a small, floating sphere.
"I will take you to the underground base. Please come aboard," said a synthesized female voice from the sphere.
"Belial's lab?" Yu Zhou mused. "Might as well check it out."
Laiha, astonished by the advanced technology, followed along.
Soon, Riku, Pega, Yu Zhou, and Laiha boarded the elevator and arrived at the underground base.
"Welcome back, Riku," the AI's voice greeted him from a yellow orb.
"I need to rest first… I'm exhausted," Riku said, collapsing onto a bed after battling Skull Gomora.
"Have a seat," Pega said, arranging two chairs for Yu Zhou and Laiha.
Yu Zhou nodded and sat, while Laiha carefully observed the underground base before sitting down.
The AI, named RE.M. by Riku, was highly advanced, capable of precise answers and analysis—but only with Riku's command. It lacked a physical form and couldn't perform independent analysis.
Yu Zhou didn't worry about revealing his identity as Tiga. Even if discovered, staying in hiding could offer strategic advantage against enemies like Belial.
On a screen, footage of the golden light leaving Ellie's body was playing.
"So this is the Little Star," Laiha murmured.
"RE.M., do you recognize this?" Pega asked the yellow orb.
"This information is restricted; it has been encrypted by the developers," RE.M. responded.
Riku sat up and examined the Leo Ultra Capsule.
"This is the new power I just acquired," he said. "Can I use it now?"
"No," RE.M. replied. "You must obtain a matching capsule to fuse both powers."
"Ah, so fusion can't be done arbitrarily."
Yu Zhou nodded, realizing random capsule fusion wasn't possible.
"Leo is skilled in combat and full of fighting spirit," Yu Zhou noted. "Once you obtain the matching capsule, you'll gain a new combat-oriented form."
"I see…" Riku considered the potential. A new form could compensate for his lack of combat experience.