The video began to play.
The screen lit up with a sharp, ear-splitting roar.
A colossal monster appeared, bellowing as it lumbered toward a distant city.
At that moment, words appeared above the beast:
[Super-Beast: Baxim]
The spectators froze.
Super-Beast?
What's that supposed to mean?
Before they could make sense of it, two fighter jets streaked across the screen, diving into combat against Baxim. They circled it, firing volleys in an effort to divert the monster from reaching the city.
It was an obvious choice if such a massive creature entered an urban area, the devastation and casualties would be unimaginable.
But the creature's sheer power stunned the audience, many of whom were seeing a Super-Beast for the first time.
Barely seconds after the fighters engaged, Baxim moved with startling speed, swiping its massive claws and crippling one jet's wing.
"Yuko Minami!!!"
The camera cut to the cockpit of the second jet. The pilot, seeing his teammate in danger, shouted her name in alarm.
And then he did something no one expected.
He bailed out.
Abandoning his own fighter, the man parachuted through the sky, racing toward Yuko Minami.
The audience held their breath as the two reached for one another midair. Their hands touched.
And then
A brilliant radiance burst forth, dazzling the sky!
Their voices rang out in unison:
"Ultra Fusion!!!"
The light converged, reshaping itself into a towering, humanoid figure.
When the brilliance finally faded, the true form revealed itself before the countless shocked eyes watching.
Ultraman Ace had arrived!
The Ultraman Ginga Universe
"So that's Ultraman Ace?"
Hikaru Raido stared at the video, memories of his Spark Doll surfacing in his mind.
Beside him, Arisa Sugita gasped.
"That's Ace? But… wait, why are there two humans merging into one Ultraman?"
Her astonishment was genuine. This was her first time realizing that even Ultramen could be born from human hosts.
At her words, Hikaru and Sho exchanged a quick glance.
"Who knows," Hikaru replied lightly. "Maybe Ace is just… a special case."
The others nodded thoughtfully at his reasoning, but Hikaru felt a wave of relief wash over him. He then glanced once more at Sho.
Both of their gazes returned to the glowing scroll's projection.
But their expressions were uneasy, conflicted.
The Merciful Ultraman Ace?
Even though they didn't personally know Ace, tales of the Ultra Brothers' deeds were well-known throughout the universe.
And one thing was clear: Ace didn't exactly have a reputation for mercy.
The video pressed on.
Ace had barely landed, not even finished striking a battle pose, before Baxim roared and launched its assault.
From its snout spewed black smoke, followed by missiles firing straight from its nostrils!
Many first-time viewers of the Super-Beasts were dumbstruck.
Seriously!? This thing can shoot missiles from its nose!?
But Ace reacted instantly, flipping and twisting with remarkable agility, dodging every projectile.
Baxim screeched furiously, frustrated that its barrage had failed.
Ace wasted no time. He leapt high into the air, spun a full seven-hundred and twenty degrees, and came crashing down with a devastating kick to Baxim's torso.
The beast was hurled backward, smashing violently into the ground.
Yet Ace didn't let up.
Before Baxim could recover, Ace lunged, pinning it down and hammering blow after blow into its chest with punishing fists.
The audience could feel the raw brutality in each strike.
Baxim struggled fiercely beneath him, but its resistance meant little against Ace's unrelenting assault.
At this pace, the fight looked like it would end quickly Ace clearly had the upper hand.
But battles never go as expected.
And suddenly, everything changed.
In what seemed like a reckless decision, Ace seized Baxim and hauled it upright, as if preparing to continue the attack.
He had forgotten one crucial fact.
Baxim was a bird-type Super-Beast.
Pinning it down had negated its advantages. But once it was back on its feet
The momentum of the fight shifted.
In a single vicious movement, Baxim swung its talons, its monstrous strength hurling Ace aside.
Caught off guard, Ace crashed hard, scrambled back to his feet, and charged again.
But this time, Baxim spun around, baring the deadly spikes on its back.
If Ace rushed in now, he would be impaled without question.
Realizing the danger, Ace instinctively stopped in his tracks.
And that hesitation was exactly what Baxim wanted.
Its massive tail whipped out, sweeping Ace's legs from under him.
The Ultra fell heavily to the ground.
Baxim bellowed triumphantly and began its advance, looming over the fallen Ace.
The battle's tide
had turned completely.