"Hehehehehehe…"
High above the skies of Planet Dais, the towering Kyrieloid God stared down at Yu Zhou, releasing a sinister, mocking laugh.
"Giant of Light."
Hearing the creature speak those words, Yu Zhou was not surprised. No doubt this being had known of the Ultras since the Ancient Civilization. After all, the Kyrieloid had long harboured ambitions toward Earth.
Back then, however, the planet was rife with powerful forces and turmoil, and even the Kyrieloid Gods did not dare to make a direct move.
"Hehehehehehe…" Yu Zhou sneered back, deliberately mimicking the god's tone. "Kyrieloid God, is it?"
"Oh?" The monster tilted its head, surprised. "You still dare act arrogant? Your energy is nearly spent—you should be begging for your life."
Clearly, the Kyrieloid God thought Yu Zhou's weakening Colour Timer meant he would soon collapse. But to its surprise, Yu Zhou showed no hint of fear.
"Do you think you're really a god?" Yu Zhou scoffed.
He had already faced terrors like Gatanozoa and Belial. Compared to them, one so-called god was nothing. Even if this enemy's power rivalled Gatanozoa's, Yu Zhou was not about to cower.
"Worst case, I burn one of my trump cards—Shining power, or even the dark power within me—and end this thing."
The Kyrieloid God's eyes gleamed with cruel light. "I am a god. Submit to me, and you may yet live. Resist…"
With a snap of its claws, it fired a massive purple energy sphere into a tall building below. The structure exploded instantly, crumbling to ash and rubble.
"This will be your fate."
"Enough talk." Yu Zhou's body shifted into Sky Type, his fists surging with stored Power Type energy. With a roar, he charged straight at the towering god.
It was the first time in his life anyone had dared to threaten him like this.
"Hmph! Then die!"
The Kyrieloid God remained calm, waiting as Yu Zhou closed in. When he struck, the god's enormous claw swung to meet him.
Fist and claw collided. The stored strength of Yu Zhou's Power Type form erupted, his momentum forcing the giant deity to stagger back slightly in midair.
"Oh? You still have such strength?"
The Kyrieloid God hadn't expected this. It had thought this "Giant of Light" already spent.
Yu Zhou quickly retreated, not daring to stay close—one hit from those claws would be devastating. Yet his energy reserves were dangerously low. Even his Zeperion Beam or Delacium Ray would be little more than sparks at this point.
Still, he had to fight.
"Then die for real."
The god vanished in a blur and reappeared behind Yu Zhou, raking its claw down his back. Pain ripped through him as sparks burst across his body, sending him crashing to the ground.
"Senpai!!!"
On the surface, Shin Asuka screamed in horror as he saw Yu Zhou fall. Instinctively, he tried to draw out his Reflasher (Flash Sword) to transform back into Dyna. But nothing happened—his energy had been completely drained.
Yu Zhou hit the ground hard, dust and smoke billowing around him.
"Ti… Tiga!"
"Stand up, Tiga!"
"You can't give in!"
"Fight! You must fight!"
"Don't lose to him!"
The people of Dais cried out desperately. Tiga—the Giant of Light—was their only hope. If he fell here, the god before them would doom their world.
"…As if I don't want to win…" Yu Zhou muttered bitterly as he forced himself to rise. Every shout from the people reached his ears, fuelling his will.
He staggered back to his feet, chest heaving. Across from him, the Kyrieloid God descended slowly, raising a claw and curling it in a taunt.
Yu Zhou steadied himself. Anger was useless. He switched into Multi Type, balancing speed and power. If brute strength wouldn't work, then only versatility could keep him alive.
The god's seventy-meter frame radiated sheer oppression. But Yu Zhou had fought worse. He remembered the berserk Zegun that had grown into a world-spanning tree, only to be felled by himself and Daigo.
"If only Daigo and the others were here…"
But this was not Earth or Mars—there would be no reinforcements. He stood alone.
"Do you still wish to fight?" the god growled, summoning a storm of purple energy orbs. They shot toward Yu Zhou in relentless waves.
Yu Zhou threw up an Ultra Barrier, catching the barrage. For a moment it held, but the sheer number of blasts soon shattered it.
He leapt skyward to dodge, but the orbs twisted midair and pursued him like homing missiles.
"What the hell?!" Yu Zhou cursed aloud.
No matter how he weaved, they followed. With the glowing storm closing in, Yu Zhou suddenly flipped directions—straight at the Kyrieloid God.
The deity opened its claws, ready to snatch him. But just as Yu Zhou closed in—
He dissolved into human form, vanishing from the god's grasp.
"What?!"
Before it could react, the purple orbs slammed directly into its body, exploding in a storm of sparks and smoke.
On the ground, Asuka blinked in shock. "Where's… Senpai?!"
In the ships above, and among the people of Dais below, confusion spread. In the middle of battle—Yu Zhou had simply disappeared.