Yu Zhou felt his resistance to temptation growing weaker and weaker, especially after the dinner he had just eaten.
The soup he had earlier—though made with nourishing ingredients—shouldn't have been so overwhelmingly effective. The real culprit was the powdered fragments of that mysterious pill used as seasoning, which made the effect far stronger.
"Don't—don't come in!"
Yu Zhou shouted nervously toward the bathroom door, terrified that Camearra might barge in.
The door was locked, but Yu Zhou knew that if Camearra really wanted to get in, it would be child's play for her.
"Alright then."
To Yu Zhou's surprise, Camearra actually left without pressing further. She didn't say another word.
That left Yu Zhou completely puzzled. Usually, Camearra was always pulling some sort of trick, catching him off guard. But tonight, when he was at his most vulnerable, she just… walked away?
"Cool off, calm down…"
Since Camearra hadn't fanned the flames inside him, Yu Zhou decided to focus on cooling down quickly, just to avoid any unfortunate accidents.
Meanwhile, regarding the case of the Kokakucho, Yu Zhou and Daigo once again visited the TPC's Deep Mountain Base. Captain Hibiki had specifically asked Shin Asuka to contact them so that the Super Victory Team could gain a deeper understanding of the situation.
"Senpai, is the Kokakucho really that difficult to deal with?"
Asuka's face was pale as he greeted Yu Zhou and Daigo in the main hall.
"What's wrong, Asuka?" Yu Zhou asked, noticing his troubled expression. "Something on your mind?"
"Just now, we reviewed the battle between the Victory Team and the Kokakucho's monster, Gazort… and also Tiga's battle with Gazort."
Asuka spoke while pulling up video footage on the big screen.
The recording showed Ultraman Tiga locked in a ferocious fight with Gazort, the monster biting and clawing with brutal ferocity.
"Senpai, even Ultraman Tiga was bitten and injured during that fight." Asuka's voice carried real concern. "And now this new monster—Kokakucho—it looks even stronger than Gazort."
"But Gazort was still defeated in the end," Daigo reminded him.
After all, Daigo himself had defeated Gazort back then. Yes, the fight was tough, and yes, Gazort had faked its death before landing a nasty bite, but ultimately, Tiga had triumphed.
"Asuka, even if Tiga was injured, he still overcame the monster," Yu Zhou reassured him. He knew what Asuka was really thinking: If even Tiga struggled, what chance would I have?
The truth was, Gazort wasn't that powerful—it was just cunning.
"I understand, Senpai. I'll be careful."
After hearing both Yu Zhou and Daigo's words, Asuka's confidence seemed to recover a little.
"Careful? What are you even talking about, Asuka?" Ryō asked with a puzzled look.
"Careful with flying the jet, of course," Asuka laughed nervously, scratching his head.
"Never mind that," Daigo interjected. "Asuka, could you take us to see Mayumi? I heard she hasn't been herself lately."
"Alright."
Asuka led Yu Zhou and Daigo to Mayumi's office. Since being promoted to head nurse, she rarely saw patients directly anymore, except for high-ranking personnel.
"Mayumi, long time no see!"
Both Yu Zhou and Daigo greeted her warmly as she turned to face them.
Her expression was shadowed, tinged with melancholy. She still remembered well—aboard the Artdessei—discovering that Yu Zhou and Daigo were both Ultraman Tiga. To see them appear before her now was a shock.
"Yu Zhou, Daigo… it's really been a long time."
She forced a smile, trying to suppress the gloom inside her.
"It truly has been," Daigo said softly. "Even your brother… I haven't seen him in so long."
"On his interstellar voyages, he's at least fulfilling his dream," Mayumi said with a faint smile.
Her sadness eased a little. After all, though Takuma was gone, she still had her brother and her friends beside her. She had learned to accept it, though lately… she had dreamt of Takuma again, and that had unsettled her.
"Mayumi, I couldn't help but notice—you seemed worn out earlier. Has something happened?" Daigo asked gently.
"I had a dream." She sighed.
"A dream?"
That struck a chord with Daigo. Long ago, before the coming of darkness, he had dreams that foretold the future. Could Mayumi now be experiencing something similar?
"There's an old legend," Mayumi began. "It speaks of an ominous monster bird called Kokakucho. Seeing it is a sign that death is near."
"I dreamt of it. A bird with the face of a woman."
"That's exactly it!" Asuka suddenly exclaimed. "I saw a monster like that during my mission—it looked just like what you're describing!"
"Kokakucho brings tragedy," Mayumi whispered, her eyes drifting toward a photograph on her desk. In it, she stood alongside Takuma—long since lost. "Just like before."
"Before?" Asuka asked, confused. He didn't know her past in detail.
But Mayumi fell silent. She didn't want to revisit those painful memories.
"Asuka, hush." Yu Zhou gave him a discreet tug.
"Mayumi, we understand your pain," Daigo said gently. "But you must remember—humanity isn't powerless. We can change fate. Tragedy doesn't have to repeat itself."
"And don't forget," Yu Zhou added, "Takuma's spirit saved you once before, didn't it? That means he's still with you, watching over you even now."
Yu Zhou's words gave him chills the moment they left his mouth. He even glanced nervously around the room, half-expecting Takuma's spirit to show up.
Daigo too cast a wary glance about. He had encountered spirits before—like when Luke and his daughter passed on.
"Yes. He's always been there. When I'm in danger, he's there to save me," Mayumi said softly, not afraid, but comforted.
Just then, Asuka's communicator buzzed.
"Asuka, return immediately!" Hibiki's voice came through. "An abnormal plasma cloud has appeared over Tokyo!"
"Plasma cloud?" Yu Zhou muttered. "That means Kokakucho is here."
"Shall we go?" Daigo asked.
"Of course."
After saying their farewells to Mayumi, Yu Zhou and Daigo left.
"Maybe this time… tragedy won't happen again," Mayumi murmured, watching them go. With two Tigas on the scene, surely there was hope.
Outside, Yu Zhou pulled out a compact flying device.
"What's this, Yu Zhou-kun?" Daigo asked as he stepped onto it hesitantly.
"A flying craft I bought off-world," Yu Zhou said, activating it. The machine lifted smoothly into the air.
Daigo stumbled at first but quickly steadied himself, his training as a Victory Team member kicking in.
"This is incredible!" Daigo exclaimed as they soared toward Tokyo.
"I'll give you one later," Yu Zhou said casually.
"Really?!" Daigo grinned broadly. "Which planet did you get this from? To think such advanced tech exists…"
"From the Terran Star—the planet where the ancient human civilization now lives," Yu Zhou replied.
"The Terran Star…" Daigo's eyes widened. "The same people we met on Dais? The ones you visited afterward?"
"That's right."
"No wonder," Daigo said, glancing at the craft again. "With thirty million years of history, their technology must be extraordinary."
The two talked as they flew, Yu Zhou explaining more about the Terran Star's science and culture. Soon, they arrived over Tokyo.
High above, the Super Victory Team's jets were already engaging Kokakucho.
The monster's form was ghastly: a humanoid body with wings, a bird's head with a grotesque secret—a human woman's face hidden inside its beak.
The jets fired lasers, but the beams passed through with little effect. Then, a blue energy projectile struck Kokakucho, disrupting its body with sparks of electricity.
In seconds, Kokakucho's form condensed into a glowing orb, floating helplessly in the sky.
"That must have been the Anti-Plasma Missile," Yu Zhou remarked.
"Anti-Plasma Missile?" Daigo echoed, puzzled.
"Yes. Kokakucho's body is made of plasma clusters. Normal weapons don't work—but anti-plasma rounds absorb its energy."
"I see…" Daigo nodded slowly. "Yu Zhou-kun, you really do know everything."
Yu Zhou scratched his head, embarrassed. He didn't know everything—he just knew how the story was supposed to go.
"But… is it really defeated so easily?" Daigo frowned. It seemed unreal—no monster was ever that easy to bring down.
"No." Yu Zhou's eyes narrowed at the dark cloud above. "There are more of them."
"What?!"
Daigo stiffened, instantly reminded of the swarm of Zoigers years ago—one monster defeated, only for an endless flock to appear.
"Should we warn the others?" he asked.
"I'll message Asuka."
Yu Zhou sent him a quick alert, then steered the craft toward the swirling plasma cloud.
"Are we going in?" Daigo asked, hand already reaching toward the Spark Lens hidden in his jacket.
"Yes. Be ready."
As they drew closer, an eerie shriek echoed. From the depths of the cloud, another Kokakucho burst forth—its bird's head twisted, its hidden woman's face glaring straight at them.