After learning that Daigo was coming to R'lyeh, Masaki immediately suggested they should all sit down for a meal together.
Yu Zhou naturally agreed. After all, Daigo had been stationed on Mars for so long—he rarely returned to Earth. It was a rare opportunity to meet.
Halfway along the road, Yu Zhou glanced back at Daigo. Though Daigo didn't look exhausted, Yu Zhou could tell he was forcing himself to endure.
With the growing number of times he transformed into Ultraman Tiga, Daigo's body had gradually strengthened—just like Yu Zhou's.
But compared to Yu Zhou's rapid rise in physical resilience, Daigo's growth was much more modest.
"Daigo, here. Take this."
Yu Zhou produced a small, finely-crafted bracelet and handed it over.
At that very moment, little Hikari suddenly piped up, turning toward Rena:
"Mom, does Uncle Yu Zhou like Dad too?"
Everyone froze.
"H-Hikari, what are you saying?" Rena stammered in surprise. She had never expected her normally obedient daughter to ask such a shocking question.
"I mean," Hikari continued innocently, "doesn't Uncle Yu Zhou like Dad? Because, Mom, you said once that if someone gives another person a bracelet or a ring, it means they like them!"
Yu Zhou: "…"
He wanted to refute that immediately, but to his own dismay, the kid's logic wasn't wrong. Who gives jewellery like that without a special meaning?
"Yu Zhou, this is…?" Daigo ignored his daughter's words. Instead, his eyes lingered on the bracelet, stunned for a moment.
"It's a spatial bracelet. I'm giving you one," Yu Zhou explained calmly.
He quickly described its uses—the ability to store items inside, freeing the wearer from burdens.
Yu Zhou had a large stock of such bracelets and rings. Giving one to Daigo hardly mattered; he could always acquire more from the terraformed star colonies.
Daigo had long been familiar with Yu Zhou's use of such tools, so he didn't refuse. He accepted it with a nod and slipped it onto his wrist. Following Yu Zhou's instructions, he moved his luggage into the storage space, leaving his hands completely free.
"This thing is amazing," Daigo sighed in relief, his body instantly lighter without the heavy bags weighing him down.
"Come on, we're almost there," Yu Zhou said with a smile.
Soon after, they saw Masaki up ahead, waving enthusiastically.
"Daigo! It's been ages!" Masaki greeted warmly.
Years ago, Masaki had once targeted Daigo in pursuit of studying the Giant of Light. But things had changed—Masaki had since been acknowledged by the Light itself and become a member of the Super Victory Team.
The hostility of the past was gone. Now, they were colleagues, even friends.
"It really has been a while, Masaki," Daigo replied with a gentle smile.
After exchanging greetings with Rena, Masaki's gaze fell on their child.
"So, this is Hikari, right?" he asked, crouching to eye level with the boy.
"Yes, Hikari," Daigo nodded. He and Rena had spent a long time carefully choosing the name.
"Wonderful…" Masaki murmured, a hint of envy in his voice. He and Daigo were of similar age, yet Daigo already had a child, while Masaki was still a lonely, single researcher.
"Masaki, you should find someone too," Yu Zhou teased. "I'm still waiting to see your kid get engaged to Daigo's."
Masaki gave a bitter laugh. "Finding a partner isn't that easy. I've been buried in my research on the artificial sun. There's been no time for… anything else."
Yu Zhou smirked. "Oh, come on—" But Masaki's gaze flickered briefly toward the Crystal Palace at the heart of R'lyeh, and he suddenly cut himself off.
Yu Zhou immediately scowled. "Don't 'come on' me. I know what you're thinking. You're imagining me and Camearra again, aren't you?"
Masaki looked away, pretending he hadn't heard.
The three of them enjoyed a meal together before Masaki dragged them to his lab.
There, the third-generation artificial sun was under construction. Though only half-complete, Masaki eagerly shared his concepts and improvements.
"You're seriously researching this?" Daigo was stunned.
When he had visited the Land of Light, he had learned of the Plasma Spark, the artificial sun that had allowed the Ultra race to evolve. The mere mention of it had left Masaki excited back then. Now, seeing him trying to replicate it wasn't much of a surprise.
Yu Zhou added thoughtfully, "The Land of Light's artificial sun is called the Plasma Spark."
Masaki nodded. "I know."
"Then… I take it your research also involves plasma energy?" Yu Zhou asked.
"Yes," Masaki admitted. "Though it hasn't gotten me far."
Yu Zhou recalled, "Plasma energy can be absorbed from electricity. Like when that monster Kokakucho formed its plasma clouds by draining power from a power station. And in the original battle, Asuka's Miracle-type Dyna absorbed Kokakucho's lightning arcs, restoring his energy."
In other words, electricity could be transformed into plasma, and plasma into light, which an Ultraman could then absorb.
"So, Miracle Dyna basically has a built-in energy converter?" Yu Zhou mused, frowning. That would explain why Miracle Dyna displayed such extraordinary abilities.
Masaki nodded. "But it requires a tremendous source of electricity."
On R'lyeh, electricity came from three sources: tidal energy, wind turbines, and solar panels. Solar energy could be transformed into electricity, and electricity could be turned back into solar power—showing a clear link between the two.
Even Ultramen like Zero could draw directly from the sun, transforming into Shining Zero.
"Solar energy, electrical energy, plasma energy…" Masaki muttered. "If I study all three together, the progress might accelerate."
After a brief tour, Yu Zhou and Daigo excused themselves. Daigo and his family were to be housed in the Crystal Palace, and Yu Zhou led them there personally.
As they entered, they encountered a bizarre sight: a middle-aged man in a black cloak and formal suit, mopping the crystal floors.
"Uh… who's this?" Daigo blinked in confusion.
According to Yu Zhou, only Camearra, Hudra, and Darramb lived in the palace. But Daigo had already met Hudra and Darramb, and this stranger was clearly neither.
Most absurd of all—what kind of butler dressed like that while cleaning floors?
"This guy's name is… uh, Rashima. Camearra captured him to do hard labour," Yu Zhou said with a shrug.
The man paused, straightened up, and corrected sternly: "My name is Himala."
"Huh? Why do I remember it as Rashima?" Yu Zhou frowned.
"You must be mistaken. My name is Himala," the man insisted.
"Fine, fine—Rashima it is." Yu Zhou waved it off.
Himala: "…"
Was his name really that forgettable? And what kind of name was "Rashima" supposed to be?
Still, Himala dared not protest further. He had witnessed Yu Zhou's strength firsthand—when Yu Zhou sparred with Hudra and Darramb, neither of them stood a chance.
"Mr. Himala," Rena asked kindly, "are you working here as staff?"
"Ahem… yes. Lady Camearra invited me to serve as the palace butler," Himala declared with dignity, masking the truth that he had been forced into servitude.
"Butlers don't usually mop floors…" Daigo said sceptically, eyeing the mop.
"This is… my hobby," Himala replied gravely. "I enjoy cleaning. A day without mopping leaves me restless."
Rena whispered under her breath, "I didn't know people could have hobbies like that."
Himala heard it, but he swallowed his pride and silently walked off, mop in hand.
"Excuse me, I must continue my work."
Yu Zhou shook his head. "Camearra should've captured a few more aliens to help. Himala alone cleaning this whole palace? Even a beast of burden would collapse."
He made a note to suggest exactly that next time.
They continued deeper into the palace. Passing the gladiator arena, they saw two massive figures locked in battle—Hudra and Darramb, training fiercely.
"Are they fighting?" Daigo asked, surprised.
"They're sparring. This arena is built for combat training," Yu Zhou explained.
Daigo nodded, impressed. The two were clearly dedicated.
"Want to try it yourself, Daigo?" Yu Zhou teased.
Daigo waved his hands quickly. "No, thank you."
Just then, Hudra spotted them. "Yu Zhou! Come fight us—two against one!"
"Yeah! Today we're strong enough to beat you!" Darramb added, punching his fists together.
"Not today," Yu Zhou said, shaking his head. "I'm busy settling Daigo's family into their quarters."
Daigo smiled and waved. "It's been a while."
Hudra and Darramb returned his greeting before shouting back at Yu Zhou:
"Then come back after you're done!"
"No problem," Yu Zhou replied with a faint grin.