"No wonder… that's just like me!"
Yu Zhou hadn't expected that Asuka's reckless charge actually had something to do with him.
Turning to Rei and the members of the Panlong, he gave them a sincere apology. After all, from Asuka's words, when he transformed into Dark Tiga, he had lost all sense of friend and foe—and had nearly crushed them with a single punch.
Even if he had no awareness at the time, Yu Zhou still felt the need to apologize. A hero's image couldn't be left in tatters.
"It's fine. You weren't in control back then," Rei said with a warm smile, showing that he bore no grudge.
"Rei's right," the Panlong's captain nodded. "It wasn't your fault. And besides—we're all safe now, aren't we?"
Seeing they hadn't taken it to heart, Yu Zhou finally breathed easier.
Before long, the crew prepared to return from the Land of Light. Unlike the original story, it wasn't Asuka who escorted them back, but Mebius who took up the duty.
Yu Zhou frowned. "Wait… if this follows the usual pattern, doesn't that mean the plot is almost over?"
And if the plot ended, the spatial vortex would appear soon—and forcibly drag him away.
"Everyone, I just remembered something urgent. I'll step out first!" Yu Zhou quickly left the protective dome, raised his Spark Lens, and transformed into Tiga.
Switching into his Sky Type, he flew straight toward Hikari's laboratory.
"Asuka, what's going on?" Seeing Yu Zhou's urgency, Asuka transformed into Dyna and followed close behind.
"If we're late, it'll be too late!" Yu Zhou shouted mid-flight, anxious. "I haven't even collected my cheat yet!"
Soon, they arrived at Hikari's lab.
"Hikari!" Yu Zhou rushed in, finding the scientist hard at work.
"Oh, Tiga, you're here," Hikari turned, raising a hand in greeting.
"Is the weapon ready?" Yu Zhou pressed urgently, stepping up to the workbench.
"Take a look." Hikari pointed at a round crucible on the table. Inside, black-and-red materials were fusing. "The components are merging now. Soon I'll be able to shape them."
"Still not done?" Yu Zhou leaned closer. The molten glow was obvious.
"The materials include fragments of your broken sword… as well as pieces from the shattered Ultimate Battle Device," Hikari explained.
"The Ultimate Battle Device?!" Yu Zhou was stunned.
Hikari nodded. "Its core material is exceptionally durable. With those fragments, the weapon we forge will be far stronger."
"True enough," Yu Zhou admitted. "My Light Sword cracked it in just two or three strikes."
Just then, a cool draft swept through. Yu Zhou glanced up—part of the ceiling was still open. Several Ultras were repairing the damage caused earlier when Belial had blasted the building.
Pieces of crystal occasionally fell from above, clattering on the floor.
Yu Zhou's eyes lit up. These crystals…
"They must be worth a fortune!"
He quickly canceled his transformation, reverting to human form, and hurried to a crystal chunk half his height. Activating his dimensional bracelet, he stored it away with a shimmer of light.
"Uh…" Hikari blinked in confusion. "Why are you collecting garbage?"
"Garbage?" Yu Zhou shook his head firmly. "What you see as trash, I see as treasure! You have no idea how valuable this stuff is where I come from!"
He transformed back into Tiga with a grin.
Hikari could only shake his head helplessly. To the Ultras, those crystals were no more than construction rubble. He muttered under his breath, "Didn't think Tiga would have a hobby of collecting junk…"
If Yu Zhou had heard, he would've argued back furiously: Junk? Do you even know how much this would sell for on Earth?!
"Anyway, Hikari," Yu Zhou turned to the forging crucible. "How long until it's ready?"
"It's nearly done. It just needs shaping and sharpening. The fusion has gone well." Hikari glanced at the timer. "We can begin the next stage now."
"Perfect, then let's—whoa!"
Before he could finish, a massive spatial vortex tore open behind him, generating a violent suction.
"What's happening?!" Dyna and Hikari exclaimed, startled by the sudden distortion.
"It's over… I'm being pulled back to my world!" Yu Zhou's face darkened. His weapon wasn't ready, and now he was being dragged away by force.
The vortex was enormous—large enough to swallow an Ultra's body whole. If it dumped him back in his shabby rented apartment, the place might literally collapse.
"Too forceful!" Hikari cursed under his breath. Thinking quickly, he slammed the cooling switch. A surge of frost engulfed the crucible, instantly solidifying the molten blend into a disk.
With deft hands, he attached a handle, refashioning it into a makeshift bracelet, and tossed it to Yu Zhou.
"This is all I can do for now. Use it as it is—come back later and I'll reforge it properly."
Yu Zhou caught it, sighing. "Guess it can't be helped."
He slipped the bracelet on, canceled his Ultra form, and waved at the two. "Dyna, Hikari… farewell."
The vortex's pull grew irresistible. With one last glance, Yu Zhou let himself be drawn in.
"Goodbye, Tiga."
"Farewell, Senior Yu Zhou!"
The two Ultras waved, watching the vortex vanish. Silence filled the lab.
In his dingy rented room, a swirling rift tore open. Yu Zhou was spat out, landing on his bed with a thud.
Stretching out his sore limbs, he immediately pulled the massive crystal chunk from his bracelet.
"…It's a bit too big."
The half-man-sized crystal gleamed in the dim light. Yu Zhou frowned—it was hardly convenient to sell.
Just then, his phone buzzed. The caller ID: landlady.
"Figures." He answered, and sure enough—rent was due again.
After hanging up, he checked his balance: less than two hundred left. Rent, food, supplies—all demanded money. His head throbbed at the thought.
But then his gaze fell on the crystal, and his mood lifted.
"Luckily, I was smart enough to bring this back. Otherwise, I'd be starving soon."
With a small grin, Yu Zhou made a plan: tomorrow, weekend or not, he'd find a way to sell this crystal.