"Daigo, fall back!"
Yuzhou, in Tiga's form, flipped out of the rolling black mist. Daigo reacted instantly, soaring upward to break free of the choking darkness.
Seeing their chance, Ultraman Original and Cain circled behind Gatanothor, hoping its back might be less protected.
But the Dark Ruler wasn't so careless—its body swelled with shadows, wrapping itself entirely in the black haze, blocking any approach.
"Tch. A damn snail-turtle," Yuzhou muttered, annoyed. "Got that shell, and no matter how hard we hit, it won't crack."
Before he could try again, sharp cries echoed overhead. The four Ultramen looked up—Zog monsters swooped down in formation, spitting fireballs.
The first volley targeted Daigo in the sky. But Daigo had fought them before—he caught two flaming orbs barehanded, spun around, and hurled them back at Gatanothor.
Boom! Boom! Sparks burst against its armored carapace.
Not to be outdone, Yuzhou mirrored Daigo's move—catch, spin, throw. Two more explosions lit up the shell.
Meanwhile, Original and Cain braced together, raising their Ultra Barriers to block the raining fire.
Yuzhou considered wiping out the Zogs first, but a familiar sight cut in—the Victory Team's fighter jets streaked across the clouds. He recalled the original events: Hayate and Captain Megumi once brought down a Zog in mid-air. That job, he knew, was in capable hands.
The four giants regrouped, standing shoulder to shoulder before Gatanothor. The monster's mist receded, revealing blood-red eyes and a gaping maw roaring with bull-elephant cries.
"If only we could hit its underbelly—where the shell doesn't reach," Yuzhou thought aloud. His eyes lit up. "That's it."
He quickly relayed the plan. The others nodded firmly—its shell was too strong; the exposed underside was their best hope.
"Then… ready—"
"Go!"
Yuzhou charged first. The others followed, converging with explosive speed.
"Kick!"
Together, two Power-type Tigas, Original, and Cain struck upward in perfect sync, smashing their boots against Gatanothor.
RRRAAUGH! With a thunderous bellow, the monster's colossal body lifted into the air, forced upward by their combined might. Its vulnerable underbelly lay bare.
"Now!"
Yuzhou drove his fists into its abdomen, rapid-fire.
"Ora ora ora ora—!"
Daigo joined in, mimicking his partner.
"Muda muda muda muda—!"
Original and Cain followed suit, pounding the exposed flesh in unison.
The monster crashed back down, thrashing wildly. A surge of black mist erupted, swallowing the four Ultras whole.
Crackling! Sparks danced across their bodies. Entangled by writhing tentacles, they were dragged deeper into the darkness.
Yuzhou strained, but the mist drained his strength, making it impossible to tear free.
Daigo's and Cain's warning lights began to flash red, the urgent beeping echoing in Yuzhou's ears. His chest tightened.
"Daigo! Masaki! Are you two alright?"
Moments later, his own Color Timer began blinking.
"…Forget them, I need to worry about myself." He forced a wry laugh, but panic filled his eyes.
Only Original fought free, slicing a tentacle with his Eight-Pointed Light Wheel. He rushed forward to save the others—but the mist blasted him back, barring entry.
Yuzhou's red light flashed faster. Gritting his teeth, he crossed his arms over his chest and drew on every ounce of remaining strength.
"Disperse—for me!"
His Color Timer flared brilliantly. A wave of pure radiance burst outward, ripping through the black fog. Tentacles recoiled, burning away in the light.
It was his first time unleashing the Timer Flash. And it worked.
The three trapped Ultras staggered free. Yuzhou collapsed to one knee, half-submerged by rising seawater, exhausted.
"You okay?" Daigo and Masaki hurried over, concern written on their faces.
Original placed a hand on Yuzhou's shoulder, channeling energy into him. But even his own Color Timer dimmed to red.
"Thanks… Ultraman," Yuzhou whispered, breathing hard. His light was fading, but he had enough left for one last strike.
Across the battlefield, Gatanothor writhed as if scalded, its tentacles lashing in pain.
"This is it," Yuzhou growled. "We lift it again—then we hit it with everything we've got."
The others nodded. Together, they charged once more. Before Gatanothor could summon its mist, four giants slammed into its head, kicking it skyward. Its exposed belly shone like a target.
"Now!"
Yuzhou's hands snapped into an L-shape, firing the Zeperion Ray straight into its core.
Daigo unleashed the same. Cain launched his mirrored Zeperion variant in azure. Original bent forward, releasing his Spacium Beam.
Four lights converged into a roaring storm.
BOOOOM! The impact detonated across its underside, flames billowing, smoke blanketing the ruins of R'lyeh.
"Did… did they do it?" Captain Munakata muttered aboard the Artdessei, eyes locked on the haze.
"Ultraman won!" children cried in the underground shelter, cheering.
But as the smoke cleared, their hope shattered.
Gatanothor still stood, bellowing defiantly, tearing through the waves.
Yuzhou's shoulders sagged. "Even that… wasn't enough…"
Daigo clenched his fists, despair rising. "So this is the true ruler of darkness… no wonder."
Masaki shook his head in disbelief. "Four beams together, and it still lives?!"
Only Original looked skyward, silently weighing the unthinkable—whether it was time to call for help from the Land of Light itself.
The sound of Color Timers ticking red filled the battlefield.
The Ultras' energy was almost gone.