Not all the Ultra-Ancient Humans dressed like Eri, with blue cloth robes and headscarves.
According to him, that kind of attire was only worn by those who had survived from thirty million years ago to the present day.
The massive spacecraft cut smoothly through the void. Despite its sheer bulk, its speed was astonishing, and in no time, it pierced the atmosphere of the so-called "Terra-like Star."
From the viewing window, Yu Zhou could clearly see the world below—verdant green stretching across vast lands, and endless oceans glowing blue under the sun.
The difference was obvious, though: unlike Earth, there were no fragmented tectonic plates here. Terra-like Star had only one colossal supercontinent, surrounded on all sides by a single, world-spanning ocean.
Only at the north and south poles could white be seen—the ice sheets formed where ocean water froze solid.
"This planet really does resemble Earth… even down to the polar ice caps," Dack remarked, peering through the window.
Dais Star, by contrast, was very different from either Earth or this Terra-like Star. There, both "sun" and "moon" orbited the planet, bathing the world evenly in light and warmth, leaving no room for frozen poles.
Their "sun" also didn't radiate such ferocious heat. If it had, Dais Star would never have birthed life in the first place.
"Later, you two should—" Eri began, but before he could finish, the ship jolted violently. Sirens wailed through the corridors.
"Warning! This vessel is under attack!"
Passengers erupted in panic.
Terra-like Star's technology was advanced, and their warships formidable, but this craft wasn't built for combat. It was a passenger liner, meant only to ferry people between the planet and its satellite station.
Who would've thought such a short transit would be ambushed?
"Stay calm."
Eri's expression tightened in surprise, but he quickly steadied himself. Slipping on an earpiece, he began issuing rapid reports.
The ship shuddered again as more blasts struck the hull. Yet thanks to its ultra-durable design, the liner held together, its shields absorbing the pressure.
Yu Zhou peered through the window. Not far off, a smaller warship was pelting them with fire.
"These invaders aren't too bright, are they?" Yu Zhou muttered dryly. "Attacking a civilian vessel carrying not just Terra-like humans, but dozens of alien travellers? If this turns into an interstellar incident, they're in for it."
Moments later, sleek, dazzling ships streaked upward from the planet's surface. Energy beams lanced out, striking the raider.
With a thunderous blast, the enemy craft exploded into ash.
"That's all it took?" Yu Zhou shook his head. "Pathetic. And they thought they could conquer someone else's world?"
"It's over," Eri confirmed, listening to updates through his earpiece. "The invaders were Manon aliens."
"...Manon?" Yu Zhou blinked. For a second he thought of something else. "Don't tell me even the programmers' guild has become an alien race."
Then it clicked. He'd heard this name before.
Yes—Manon aliens had appeared in Ultraman Tiga's original story, Episode 37. They'd even kidnapped Captain Megumi at one point… until Yu Zhou's arrival had derailed that plotline, and Daigo had simply crushed them outright.
"They love flowers," Eri explained. "Our exploration teams once visited Manon Star—it's covered in endless flower fields. But even there, we didn't find a substitute for Gijera extract."
"They must've taken notice of us back then… and now they've actually come to invade."
"They really overestimate themselves," Dack snorted. "If only Dais Star had this level of military power, we wouldn't have to worry about invaders at all. Whoever comes, we'd blast them down."
"By the way, with tech this advanced, don't you people have… I don't know, something special? Like a Plasma Spark?" Yu Zhou asked half-seriously.
"Plasma Spark?" Eri frowned, shaking his head. "Never heard of such a thing."
Yu Zhou sighed. A pity. If these survivors of thirty million years had studied the power of light, perhaps they might've created something like it.
The liner finally descended to Terra-like Star's station. Passengers heaved sighs of relief, convinced it had only been a scare.
Broadcasts confirmed: Manon aliens had attacked, but the threat was neutralized.
Among the alien passengers, outrage swelled. Many swore they'd take revenge on Manon Star once they returned to their homeworlds.
But before their anger cooled, another explosion thundered nearby. The ground shook.
"They weren't scouts after all… That was just the probe ship! The main fleet has arrived!"
Eri's face hardened. His timing couldn't have been worse—returning home only to find it under siege.
Outside, the skies swarmed with dark shapes. Manon ships buzzed like angry hornets, blasting indiscriminately at ground installations.
Terra-like warships roared into the fray, unleashing counterfire. The heavens lit up in bursts of flame as ships from both sides fell like meteors.
On the ground, alien travellers clenched fists and ground teeth, furious at the audacity of the invaders.
Boom after boom. More Manon ships fell—but then, from the wreckage, massive beams of violet light surged.
In midair, they coalesced into towering figures: gigantic Manon aliens.
"Seriously? You think you're the only ones who can grow big?" some alien spectators cursed, itching to join the fight themselves.
But just then, a burning wreck hurtled downward, trailing smoke and fire.
"Not good!"
"Look out!"
"We're done for!"
The crashing ship was on a direct collision course with the station. Panic erupted.
"Damn it!" Yu Zhou's eyes widened. He'd only wanted to watch the Ultra-Ancient Humans' fight—he hadn't expected the danger to come crashing down on him.
Then—
A blinding light burst forth, flooding the sky. Everyone shielded their eyes.
"What is this light?!"
"Is this… the afterlife?"
"Gods above!"
The brilliance was overwhelming, as if the world itself had split open. People thought they had already died.
But when the radiance cleared, a colossal figure stood tall before them—silver, purple, and crimson streaked across his body.
Gasps echoed everywhere.
"That's…" Eri's voice trembled. "A Giant of Light—Ultraman Tiga!!"
"A Giant of Light!"
The people of Terra-like Star—descendants of Ultra-Ancient Earthlings—had never seen one in person. Until now, such giants were only myths of history.
And yet, here he was, standing right before their eyes.
"Am I… witnessing history itself?"
Voices of awe rippled through the crowd. For them, this was no longer just a battle. It was the return of legend.