Footsteps echoed outside the headquarters hall. Moments later, Captain Megumi entered with Yuzhou at her side.
Daigo's eyes widened the instant he saw him. It's him—the mysterious man from Huaxia who saved me! The one who even knew I was Tiga Ultraman…
"Daigo, hello. We meet again," Yuzhou said with a calm smile.
"You… hello, Yuzhou." Daigo awkwardly raised a hand in greeting, still caught off guard.
Introductions followed swiftly. Through Daigo and Rena, Yuzhou was formally introduced to Munakata, Shinjo, Hori, and Noris. He had known their names in his own world, but seeing them alive before him left a strange sense of wonder.
Munakata was the first to raise the pressing question. "Captain, forgive me, but… what kind of consultant is he meant to be? Yuzhou looks rather young. Usually, advisors are scholars with vast experience."
"Commander, allow me," Yuzhou said smoothly, stepping forward before Megumi could answer.
"I am here as a consultant on Ultraman and monsters."
The hall fell into stunned silence.
Ultraman and monsters? GUTS members exchanged disbelieving looks. Who could possibly know more than their own organisation?
Munakata frowned. "Then, Advisor Yuzhou, how much do you know about Tiga Ultraman?"
Yuzhou's tone was measured, as though giving a lecture. "Tiga has three forms. The standard Composite Type, marked by red, purple, and silver patterns. The Power Type, in silver and red, greatly increases strength but sacrifices speed. And the Sky Type, in silver and purple, boosts flight and agility but lowers raw power. Some call it the Agile Type."
The team froze. These weren't wild guesses—these were accurate classifications, far clearer than their own vague terminology.
Daigo, however, stiffened. He even knows this much…
But Yuzhou wasn't finished. "Each form has its own primary light attack. The Composite Type wields the Zeperion Beam, a white ray of light. The Power Type uses the Delasium Light Stream. And the Sky Type fires the Lampaul Light Bullet."
Daigo's shock deepened. He had deliberately kept this knowledge from GUTS to avoid over-analysis. Yet here was Yuzhou, rattling it off in front of everyone. Just how much does he know about me?
"Uh—alright, Yuzhou-kun, we believe you," Daigo cut in hastily, forcing a laugh. "No need to go into more detail."
Yuzhou smirked inwardly at Daigo's flustered face. He had half a mind to reveal that Tiga sealed away his wife and brothers thirty million years ago—but decided to let Daigo keep his secrets. For now.
Munakata cleared his throat. "What you've said matches much of what only GUTS knows. We've never named Tiga's abilities with such precision… but your knowledge does confirm your expertise."
Satisfied with the acknowledgement, Yuzhou went further. "Actually, I don't just know about Tiga. I know of other Ultramen as well."
"WHAT?!"
Everyone nearly leapt out of their seats.
Daigo's voice cracked. "You mean… the other two stone statues that were destroyed by monsters?"
It was the only explanation he could imagine—there had been three statues in the pyramid after all.
Yuzhou shook his finger. "No. I'm talking about the Ultramen of the M78 Nebula, in a place called the Land of Light."
"Na-ni?!"
Shock rippled through the team again. An entire alien realm inhabited by Ultramen? It was too much to take in at once.
Daigo muttered to himself, stunned. "So… there really is a world out there where more Ultramen live…"
He had always thought himself utterly alone. Even though Yuzhou's claim sounded incredible, the weight of it gnawed at him.
Seeing their astonishment, Yuzhou continued, almost enjoying himself.
"The Land of Light is led by the Ultra King. Two other great figures are the Father of Ultra and the Mother of Ultra. Together, they oversee the Ultramen of M78. They even have an Intergalactic Defence Force, commanded by… ah, Zoffy."
He listed them off as if reciting from a textbook: "Its members include the First Ultraman, Jack, Ace, Seven, and Taro. Taro also serves as chief instructor of the Land of Light—and is the biological son of the Father and Mother of Ultra."
The GUTS members gaped in silence.
A defence force? A functioning civilisation? Ultramen having children? Their worldview was being torn apart and rebuilt before their very eyes.
Yuzhou thought privately: At first, I wasn't sure if this world had an M78 Nebula. But then I remembered—there was that one episode where Daigo met the First Ultraman in the past. If the First exists here, then so must the Land of Light.
Perhaps Earth's super-ancient warriors had reduced the need for M78's protection. That could explain why Ultramen never came here openly.
So… because this Earth had its own Ultramen in the ancient past, the Land of Light chose not to intervene?
The thought lingered as Yuzhou finished.
By the time his "lecture" ended, night had fallen. Yuzhou retired to his new room, mulling over the future.
If the vortex doesn't send me back until the final battle with Gatanozoa, then I have to make sure that ending goes right. But what if things change? What if Tiga isn't just petrified—but destroyed outright? Then what? Two Tigas alone can't defeat Gatanozoa… I'll need to ensure we reach the Shining form, no matter what.
He tapped his temple, deep in thought, until sleep claimed him.
Meanwhile, in the hall, the rest of GUTS was furiously recording his every word. Their worldview had expanded tenfold.
And Daigo… Daigo decided he needed to have a private talk with Yuzhou soon. There were things about Tiga, and about other Ultramen, he desperately wanted to know.
One thing was certain: Captain Megumi's decision to recruit Yuzhou was paying off more than anyone could have imagined.