Captain Hayate was not only dashing but also the commanding officer of the TPC Lunar Base, Carro. But since the base had been destroyed, he could no longer remain at TPC Headquarters. He was reassigned to the Moon to oversee reconstruction.
Meanwhile, the group of twin alien brothers that Yu Zhou had knocked unconscious was completely dealt with by the Victory Team—rounded up and eliminated.
The team's view of Yu Zhou changed yet again. They realised that not only did he possess a vast trove of mysterious knowledge, but his combat ability as a human was also astonishing.
"I didn't expect Yu Zhou-kun to be so formidable even fighting in human form."
In the patrol car, Daigo glanced sideways while driving and offered his praise.
As usual, Captain Megumi had arranged for Yu Zhou to accompany Daigo on patrol. Yet Yu Zhou couldn't help but notice Lina's eyes on him lately—difficult to describe, tinged with subtle hostility.
"Daigo, when you transform into Tiga, don't you feel your physical condition improve?" Yu Zhou suddenly asked.
"Somewhat," Daigo admitted, nodding. "But nothing compared to you, Yu Zhou-kun. For me, it's just a slight enhancement."
Yu Zhou nodded in understanding. No wonder Daigo's combat strength feels rather limited.
He turned his gaze toward the car window. The streets outside bustled with people beneath warm, gentle sunlight.
Children gathered nearby, clutching a plush toy monster, animatedly debating something.
So this world also has Tsuburaya Productions, Yu Zhou mused, and Ultraman shows exist here as well. But the Ultramen that appeared here are different from those of my own world.
Once, Yu Zhou had asked Daigo why—if Ultraman already existed in TV dramas—nobody ever thought to connect Tiga with them.
Daigo explained that he had always loved Ultraman shows since childhood. Before "Tiga" was named, the Victory Team simply called him "the Giant."
It was Daigo who first uttered the name "Tiga." Perhaps it was linked to ancient ruins—after all, the region where the pyramid appeared was known as the Tiga region.
The Victory Team accepted the name. Daigo, influenced by his childhood shows, even added the title "Ultraman."
Thus, "Ultraman Tiga" was born.
Suddenly, a voice rang out from the group of children:
"Oh, what a cute little monster!"
Yu Zhou's eyes sharpened.
"Daigo, stop the car."
Daigo immediately pulled over. "What's wrong?" he asked, but Yu Zhou only gestured for silence.
Among the children crouched a pale-faced man in a tailcoat and top hat. With a flourish, he produced a flower from his hand, smiling as he tried to trade it for a child's toy monster.
"Shall we exchange this flower for your doll?"
"No, no!" the child refused, pointing instead. "Uncle, you can buy monsters over there—at Tsuburaya Productions!"
The man straightened, confirming the direction. "Over there?"
The child nodded eagerly.
The stranger then strutted away with comically exaggerated steps—but his pace was unnaturally fast, vanishing from sight within moments.
Yu Zhou's voice was steady:
"Daigo, follow him."
Though confused, Daigo trusted Yu Zhou's judgment.
Yu Zhou already knew who the man was.
The alien collector—Charliega.
A monster trafficker, forever seeking the beast Yanagaki. In the original events, he even travelled back to 1965, to Tsuburaya Productions itself, where he unearthed Yanagaki at Lake Ryūmori—the monster once defeated and discarded there by the very first Ultraman.
The First Ultraman…
Yu Zhou recalled the tale: the original Ultraman had been summoned by the "Ultra Star" crafted by director Eiji Tsuburaya himself—a symbol of their first bond of friendship.
Charliega moved swiftly. By the time Yu Zhou and Daigo arrived at Tsuburaya's studio, the alien had already gone inside.
Moments later, he emerged with a suitcase, crouching to adjust something inside.
Yu Zhou's eyes narrowed. A time machine.
A device capable of traversing time itself. If Yu Zhou could seize it, it might even allow him to witness the Ultra-Ancient Civilisation thirty million years ago.
White rings of light swirled up from the suitcase, coalescing into a shimmering wormhole.
"I'm off," Charliega announced before stepping into the vortex with his machine.
"What?!" Daigo gasped.
Yu Zhou, however, remained calm. "Daigo, let's go. We'll see for ourselves."
Daigo hesitated only a second before following Yu Zhou's lead.
Yu Zhou reached into the air where the wormhole had closed; it shimmered back into view. Nodding to Daigo, he stepped inside.
Daigo drew a deep breath and plunged in after him.
The wormhole was a boundless tunnel of glowing white light. In an instant, the two were spat out into the open air.
Yu Zhou landed gracefully. Daigo, less fortunate, hit the ground hard.
"Daigo, you all right?" Yu Zhou quickly helped him up.
"I'll live," Daigo muttered, brushing off dust. Seriously, who puts the exit of a wormhole in mid-air?!
Looking around, they realised they had arrived at a filming set. The building ahead was buzzing with noise.
The two exchanged a nod and slipped inside.
"Nagano!"
"Where's Nagano?"
"Nagano, hurry up!"
Inside, the crew was frantically searching for someone—the assistant cameraman responsible for the clapperboard.
Yu Zhou froze for a moment. Nagano? Isn't that the name of the actor who plays Daigo in my world? And doesn't he look exactly like Daigo himself? A cameo…
With a mischievous grin, Yu Zhou waved.
"Hey, Nagano's right here!"
Before Daigo could protest, the director rushed over, shoved the clapperboard into his hands, and barked, "Quickly, it's your turn! Let's get rolling!"
"Wait, I'm not—"
Daigo was utterly confused. I'm Daigo, not this Nagano person! What's Yu Zhou doing?!
But the crew seemed convinced.
Bewildered, Daigo found himself raising the clapperboard as instructed.
"Action!"
The cameraman called—but Daigo froze, clapperboard still held aloft.
Smack!
The assistant director rapped him on the head and dragged him aside.
Yu Zhou nearly burst out laughing.
"Hey, and who are you?" a staff member suddenly asked, noticing Yu Zhou.
"Oh, me? I'm Nagano's friend," Yu Zhou replied smoothly.
The man nodded and went back to work.
Soon after, the crew wrapped up the shot, satisfied.
But then an elderly man in a brown suit and glasses stepped forward, shaking his head.
"No, no, no. There's no sense of fear at all."
Yu Zhou's eyes lit up. This was none other than Eiji Tsuburaya himself.
The director addressed the cast:
"You're facing a monster—fifty meters tall. Imagine that sudden terror, that overwhelming presence. You must feel as if you are truly there."
Yu Zhou couldn't help but stare, fully aware of the legend standing before him.