Endless energy poured from Yuzhou's Color Timer, drawn greedily into Belial's Ultimate Battler.
Before long, the timer began flashing red again. Everyone could only watch in despair, waiting for death's final toll.
Moments later, Belial had drained every drop of energy. Yuzhou's Color Timer went dark, its glow extinguished.
"The energy of the Plasma Spark…" Belial reveled as power surged through him, his body thrumming with vigor. "I have it!"
"I, Belial, am now the universe's supreme Dark King!"
He threw back his head and laughed, then turned his furious gaze on the limp Yuzhou clutched in his grip. Consuming his energy wasn't enough — not after how often this insect had dared to enrage him. Belial's hatred demanded more.
Besides, he knew: if Yuzhou ever found light again, he could revive. That risk could not be allowed.
"Belial… don't be arrogant." Seven, half-dead, mustered his last strength to shout. "Darkness can never defeat the light!"
"Light?" Belial sneered. "Pathetic."
"You so-called warriors of light…" He thrust Yuzhou before him, his voice dripping with venom. "Watch as I strip that light away forever!"
He hurled Yuzhou to the ground, pressing the Ultimate Battler down on his chest. A stronger, more violent suction surged forth.
"What's he doing?!" Mebius raised his battered head, confusion battling fear.
"It's over… he's trying to rip Tiga's light away completely!" the Original Ultraman gasped.
Gold, red, and violet energy was torn from Yuzhou's body, pulled into Belial's device. His form shifted back to Multi-Type, colors draining away — crimson fading, golden stripes dissolving.
"Stop!!!" Dyna screamed, voice raw with despair.
"Let so-called light vanish forever!" Belial roared with laughter, madness in every note.
Where… is this?
Heaven? Hell?
Am I dead?
Yuzhou stood in a boundless void. Half was light, shining like paradise. The other half, darkness — oppressive as hell. He stood at the border where they met.
"What is this place?" he muttered, dazed, wandering in the twilight between.
Suddenly, in the lighted half, a black hole tore open. It devoured the brilliance in an instant, swallowing everything.
"What—what is that?!" Yuzhou tensed as the radiance vanished into its maw.
Then, just as abruptly, the black hole winked out, leaving only endless darkness. Shadows surged over him, flooding his body, his bones, his very soul.
Enshrouded, consumed, Yuzhou's consciousness was smothered into nothing.
"Next, all of you will die as well!" Belial tore his weapon free from Tiga's inert body and advanced on the others.
But after only a few steps, a silver-black hand clamped down on his shoulder. Belial froze.
Everyone's gaze snapped to the figure behind him.
"Se… Senior?!" Dyna's eyes widened, his exhaustion eclipsed by shock and joy.
"This is—!" Seven stiffened, recognition dawning. He recalled legends: in some universes, on some Earths, there had once been giants opposite to light. Giants of darkness.
"No… impossible!" Belial turned. His worldview cracked. An Ultraman without light should be dead. Yet the one behind him lived, towering and real.
Ivory-white eyes, a violet Color Timer, silver streaks across his chest — the truth was undeniable.
Dark Tiga had risen.
Belial gaped in disbelief. In that moment of shock, Dark Tiga seized him and hurled him like a ragdoll into a cliffside. The wall shattered under the impact, rubble raining down.
"Damn it!" Belial roared, dragging himself from the debris. He charged, Ultimate Battler raised, aiming for Tiga's head.
But Tiga caught the weapon one-handed, then slammed a vicious kick into Belial's stomach. Once again, Belial was sent crashing into the rock, the cliff collapsing around him.
"Impossible…" Belial spat dust, fury boiling. "This can't be happening!"
"Monsters, attack!" he bellowed.
The beast horde rushed Tiga. But before half could reach him, a sudden emerald beam lanced down from the skies, detonating them mid-charge.
Everyone looked up. Descending from the heavens came a young warrior with ear-like crests on his head.
"He's here…" Mebius whispered in relief.
It was Ultraman Zero — fresh from his training under Leo on Planet K76.
Zero landed beside Seven, helping his wounded father upright. Unlike in the original tale, Seven's light hadn't gone out completely thanks to Yuzhou's intervention.
"You finally made it," Seven said, pride in his weary smile.
"F-Father…" Zero's voice trembled. He had only just learned the truth from the King of Ultra — that Seven was his father. Emotions surged through him.
BOOM!
An explosion ripped through the battlefield, shattering the moment.
"What's going on?!" Zero turned, frowning. "Who's fighting Belial?"
They watched as Tiga raised his arms in an L-shape. A torrent of black-violet energy lanced across the battlefield, annihilating monsters in droves. None survived.
With the path clear, Dark Tiga charged Belial, fist slamming into him so hard that both Belial and his Ultimate Battler were smashed deep into the ground.
Gasping, Belial scrambled up and fired a bolt of blue lightning from his weapon.
Tiga answered with another black-violet beam. The two energies clashed, sparks flying as Tiga pressed forward step by step.
BOOM!
Belial's lightning collapsed, consumed by Tiga's dark power. The beam struck him squarely, blasting him into a crater.
Seven's expression was unreadable as he watched.
"That… that is the ancient giant of darkness. Tiga."
"Ancient?" Zero blinked. "Tiga? If he's darkness, then why is he fighting Belial?"
"No…" Seven shook his head gravely. "Just moments ago, he wasn't like this."
"Belial forced the light from him, trying to kill him. Instead… he awakened something worse."
Zero stared at the black warrior battling Belial. "So this accident turned him into… one of us?"
"Be cautious," Seven warned. "He may not be himself anymore."
Zero nodded grimly. "Understood." He leapt into the fray against the monsters.
Seven, watching the battlefield, whispered under his breath:
"To think… the darkness of the ancient age would return in this way."