The City of Time and Space, Main Hall.
Masaki was in the middle of testing the new version of a miniature Plasma Spark, standing in transformation pose, when he suddenly felt the gate of the City of Time and Space open.
He froze.
"Daigo?"
Only a few on Earth possessed the authority to open that gate — Daigo, Yu Zhou, Camearra, and Asuka.
But Yu Zhou, Camearra, and Asuka had all been swallowed by the Sphere Black Hole.
Hudra and Darramb, meanwhile, had been living in the city ever since, never once leaving.
So, by process of elimination, it had to be Daigo.
But when a silver and black foot stepped into the hall, Masaki's eyes widened in shock.
"Dark Tiga…!"
His mind raced.
Is that Daigo fallen into darkness… or the original Tiga himself?
The first possibility seemed unlikely.
In this world, the only one capable of turning into Dark Tiga — Yu Zhou — had vanished from the universe entirely.
Which meant… this might actually be the true Tiga.
"Masaki. I'm back."
That familiar youthful voice made Masaki's heart skip.
He blinked in disbelief.
"Yu Zhou… you're alive?!"
His shout echoed through the chamber, filled with pure joy and relief.
If Yu Zhou had survived the Sphere Black Hole, it was nothing short of a miracle.
He opened his mouth to call for Hudra and Darramb, but then noticed — there were no other figures behind Yu Zhou.
No Camearra. No Asuka.
"Yu Zhou-kun, I have so many questions… but where are Camearra and Asuka?"
Yu Zhou's shoulders sank.
He sighed softly, then explained what had happened.
By the time Masaki heard the part about Camearra being shattered into light particles, his face froze in stunned disbelief.
"Did I hear that right?!"
Two urgent voices rang out from the hall's doorway.
Hudra and Darramb burst in, panting, calling out as they ran.
"Tiga?"
"No — Dark Tiga?!"
The two stopped dead in their tracks when they saw him.
They could feel that aura — that familiar darkness.
They had seen Yu Zhou's Dark Tiga form before, but never had it felt this similar to the Tiga they once knew.
Without wasting a moment, both began scanning the room, searching for Camearra's presence.
But of course… she wasn't there.
"Where's Lady Camearra?!"
"Why don't we see her?!"
Hudra's voice trembled as he shouted.
Darramb's piercing gaze fell on Yu Zhou, waiting for an answer.
"Camearra… she—"
Yu Zhou lowered his head, his voice faltering.
"What happened to her?"
"Answer us!"
Their desperation echoed through the hall.
"She was scattered… into light."
Yu Zhou finally exhaled the truth.
The two froze.
Though their faces betrayed little expression, the disbelief in their eyes was unmistakable.
"W… what did you just say?"
"You're lying…"
Hudra stumbled backward, nearly falling.
Darramb, trembling with rage, stormed forward and grabbed Yu Zhou by the collar.
"Say that again, clearly!"
"It was me," Yu Zhou said quietly. "Camearra died… because of me."
The moment he said it, a burning pain gripped his chest.
He could still see it — the look in her eyes, the wound through her chest, her name whispering on her lips as she dissolved into light.
All of it flooded back — piercing, unbearable.
Thud!
Darramb's fist crashed into Yu Zhou's face, sending him flying across the hall.
"You worthless fool!" Darramb roared.
"Why didn't you protect Lady Camearra?!"
He took another step forward, shaking with fury.
"You're not even Tiga!"
"Why did she have to die for someone like you?!"
"What are you worth to her?!"
Hudra clenched his fists tightly, wanting to strike as well — but forced himself to hold back.
Instead, he took a deep breath and asked coldly,
"Who did it?"
"Dark Lugiel," Yu Zhou answered after a pause. "But he's already dead."
He didn't defend himself.
He didn't retaliate.
Because everything Darramb said was true.
He was useless.
He couldn't protect the person he loved.
Couldn't even fulfil the one promise that mattered.
Why… why did the light choose me?
He clenched his fists, trembling.
If it weren't for that stupid Sparklence… if that little girl hadn't handed it to me… none of this would've happened!
Why me?
Why give me the power of Tiga?
I'm not the real Tiga — not the one Camearra loved!
Then why… why did I have to be the one by her side?
"Is there really no way to bring her back?" Masaki asked softly.
He didn't know what else to say. No one wanted things to end this way.
"She was completely dispersed into light particles," Hudra said, his voice heavy. "There's nothing left to restore."
Masaki frowned. "You said Yu Zhou isn't the original Tiga… Then, if the real Tiga were here — could he bring her back?"
Yu Zhou looked up, hope flickering faintly through the guilt in his eyes.
He wanted to know the answer too.
Hudra and Darramb exchanged glances.
They were the only two who had truly known the original Tiga — his power, his will, his heart.
Darramb let out a bitter laugh. "Tiga was far stronger than this one. Of course he could have saved Lady Camearra!"
Hudra nodded in agreement. "Yes… if it were the real Tiga, he could've done it."
But the truth was, the real Tiga had long vanished.
Ever since the ancient sealing, they had never found his trace again.
And even if they could… would that man — the one who had sealed them away — even want to save Camearra now?
"I'll find him," Yu Zhou said quietly, standing up. His expression was calm, but his eyes burned with purpose.
"I'll find Tiga."
"Find him? You?" Darramb barked out a harsh laugh.
"We searched for eons and found nothing — and you think you'll succeed?!"
He moved as if to hit Yu Zhou again, but Hudra stopped him with a hand on his shoulder.
"Let him go," Hudra said with a sigh. "If he wants to try, let him. We'll stay and keep researching the core."
He turned toward Masaki. "Masaki, please — help us. We need to finish the device that can rewrite everything."
Masaki nodded firmly. "All right."
He didn't know exactly what kind of power the City of Time and Space's core could produce —
but if there was even a sliver of hope in it, he was willing to try.