Escorted by the other Ultras, Yuzhou arrived before the towering Plasma Spark Tower.
At the gate stood a figure radiating overwhelming majesty—the Ultra King. His crimson eyes gleamed with wisdom, a crown-shaped headpiece glimmered under the light, and a silver cape billowed gently behind him. At his side stood the Father and Mother of Ultra, silent yet dignified.
"So this is the Ultra King…" Yuzhou murmured, feeling the oppressive authority pressing down upon him.
"Thank you, Tiga," the Ultra King said warmly, extending his hand.
"No need for thanks. As an Ultra warrior, standing up against injustice is only natural." Yuzhou clasped his hand firmly, his expression steady, conveniently leaving out the fact that he had once panicked inside.
After releasing the handshake, Yuzhou went straight to the point:
"Your Majesty, how can I regain my light?"
"Follow me." The Ultra King swept his cape in a graceful turn and strode into the tower.
Yuzhou hurried after him, with Dyna and the others following—after receiving a nod of approval from the Father of Ultra.
Inside, the restored Plasma Spark glowed brilliantly. Its radiance filled the chamber, washing over every Ultra present with pure energy.
"Stand before the Plasma Spark," the Ultra King instructed.
Yuzhou obeyed. He knew this relic well—he had carried it across countless battles, endured its burning power, and even forced its energy into his body once before.
"Try placing your hands near it," the Ultra King said calmly.
"…Excuse me?" Yuzhou blinked. "I've tried that already, remember? It nearly fried me alive!"
Truthfully, Yuzhou hadn't acted recklessly before. He had gambled on a reasoning: since Dyna clearly knew him in the "future," then his survival here must be guaranteed. That logic had given him the courage to absorb the Plasma Spark's energy.
But the Ultra King shook his head.
"You misunderstand. What you did back then wasn't failure—it was success."
"What?!" Yuzhou's eyes widened.
"You did not explode like Belial. Your timer turned green, proof that your body accepted the energy. You lost consciousness, yes, but the Plasma Spark had already reinforced you. Your body is now like an expanded vessel, capable of holding far more than before."
Yuzhou was stunned, then realization dawned.
"So… I didn't waste my effort after all. I just need to refill the vessel with light, and I'll recover my strength."
"Precisely," the Ultra King nodded.
"Then, I won't hold back!" Yuzhou stepped forward and raised his hands.
Taro frowned uneasily. Belial had once spoken in almost the same words before disaster struck.
The gathered Ultras held their breath as Yuzhou placed his hands upon the Plasma Spark itself.
"Wait—I didn't tell you to insert them!" the Ultra King cried out, alarmed.
But it was too late. Yuzhou plunged his hands deep into the core, just as he had done at the Monster Graveyard.
The chamber froze. To touch the Plasma Spark directly was unthinkable—the last who tried had been reduced to ash.
But Yuzhou wasn't destroyed.
Instead of searing pain, he felt a gentle warmth spreading through him. Energy poured into his body, flowing from his arms into his entire frame. Silver, purple, and crimson colors returned to his skin, washing away the black. His golden chest lines reignited with brilliance, and pure white light engulfed him.
When the glow receded, Yuzhou stood tall once more—Tiga in his full composite glory.
"You did it," the Ultra King said in awe. "You've reclaimed your light."
"I can feel it… power overflowing inside me!" Yuzhou pulled back his hands, clenched his fists, and threw a punch at the air, wind whistling with force.
"Not bad at all, senior!" Dyna grinned, genuinely relieved.
Around them, every Ultra brightened with joy. Their savior had returned to his true form.
Later, on the plaza outside the Tower, the Ultra King delivered a speech of gratitude. Rows upon rows of Ultras stood solemnly in attendance. Even Rei and his Dragon's Nest teammates were present—though sheltered under a protective barrier to prevent accidental "evolution" from exposure to the Plasma Spark's radiance.
Yuzhou chuckled inwardly; part of him wanted to see what would happen if humans did evolve under its light. But the Dragon's Nest crew stayed respectfully within the shield.
Nearby, Dyna reverted to his human form—Asuka Shin—and chatted with his comrades. Yuzhou followed, cancelling his own transformation. He still had questions.
"Senior Yuzhou!" Asuka's face lit up with joy upon seeing him.
Yuzhou, however, felt awkward. Asuka was clearly older than him in appearance, yet kept calling him "senior."
Unfazed, Asuka grabbed him in a warm hug.
"After all this time, you haven't changed at all, senior."
Yuzhou coughed and corrected gently:
"Asuka, I'm not the 'future senior' you know. I'm his earlier self. The one you met comes later."
"Earlier… self?" Asuka blinked, then nodded slowly. "So right now, you're the past version of the senior I knew?"
"Exactly." Yuzhou gave him a thumbs-up.
"Then tell me—didn't my future self ever warn you not to charge blindly into fights?" Yuzhou scolded with a half-smile. "You saw Belial and rushed him head-on! Brave, yes, but reckless. You nearly got yourself killed trying to avenge me."
"Not reckless," Asuka said firmly, smiling back. "My senior taught me: no matter how strong the enemy, we must face it without fear. That is what it means… to be an Ultraman!"
Yuzhou paused, then laughed softly.
"…Fair enough."