The storage space inside Yuzhou's bracelet was massive — fitting an entire truck wouldn't be a problem.
After stocking up on basic supplies, he hesitated, then went a step further: he bought an off-road vehicle, something reliable in case he needed it later.
Through some less-than-official channels, he also acquired a level-three helmet and bulletproof vest — the ultimate "turtle shell" defense from battle royale games.
In the days that followed, his routine hardly changed: binge Ultraman episodes, research related lore, and prepare himself.
Time slipped by quickly. On the eve of his next world-crossing, the little girl in the red dress appeared once more.
"I became Dark Tiga," Yuzhou said directly, without preamble.
"I know."
Her face didn't change.
"After I turned into Dark Tiga, I lost control," Yuzhou pressed. "I even wanted to strike at humans."
"I know."
Still no reaction.
Yuzhou frowned. "You've been telling me to save the world… so why aren't you worried that I might destroy it as Dark Tiga?"
The girl finally looked at him, eyes calm and deep.
"Darkness is also your power. Sending you across different worlds is meant to temper you. Light and darkness — both belong to you."
"My own… power?" Yuzhou muttered, thoughtful.
"Young man, work hard."
As always, she disappeared right after saying her piece, leaving Yuzhou speechless.
"…I wanted answers, not riddles."
The next morning, as the dimensional vortex began to stir, Yuzhou geared up. Helmet on, vest strapped tight, left hand gripping the Victory Hyper Gun, right hand holding… a frying pan.
Why a frying pan? Because it was practical. Cook with it, fend off blows with it, smack someone in the skull — it always worked. A true survival essential.
He even remembered Hikari's unfinished prototype weapon. Wasn't it also shaped like a frying pan?
The thought left him exasperated. Other Ultras wield swords of light, lances, or massive blades… and he'd be the one charging into battle with a frying pan? The mental image was unbearable.
Still, no more time to dwell. The vortex opened, and Yuzhou jumped in fully equipped.
"Daigo! Daigo!"
"Daigo, wake up!"
"Daigo!!!"
The moment Yuzhou landed, voices full of panic filled his ears.
He looked around — a warehouse, probably attached to a lab. Then he saw them: Rena, in casual clothes, shaking the unconscious body of Daigo, who was also out of uniform.
"Rena?" Yuzhou called cautiously.
She froze at the sound, then turned sharply, startled and wary. "Who are you?!"
No wonder. With a level-three helmet, vest, and all his gear, he looked nothing like himself.
"I'm—"
"You're Advisor Yuzhou?!" she interrupted, eyes darting to the frying pan and Hyper Gun in his hands.
"…Yeah, it's me."
Seeing no immediate threat, Yuzhou stowed the helmet, vest, pan, and gun back into the bracelet.
"How did you recognize me so fast?" he asked, curious.
Rena sighed. "Because no one else would carry a frying pan as a weapon."
Yuzhou was speechless. So that was his trademark now? A frying pan?
He turned to Daigo. "What's wrong with him?"
Rena hesitated, face clouded. "Yuzhou… do you know about Camearra?"
"Camearra?!" Yuzhou's eyes widened. That name said it all.
This wasn't three million years ago — no, this was the Final Odyssey era. The theater version of Tiga's last holy war. And since Rena clearly recognized him, it meant this was still the same Tiga world he had visited before, not some parallel version.
"I didn't expect… after just one world, I'd be back here again." He muttered, staring at Daigo.
"Yes, I know Camearra," he answered Rena seriously.
Her eyes dropped to Daigo's hand — clutched tightly around a pitch-black crystal rod. Her face went pale.
"That's… the Dark Spark Lens!"
Yuzhou's breath hitched.
Dark Tiga. He had worn that form himself before, back in the Ultra Galaxy world. Though weak at first, for some reason it had raged out of control there, even managing to clash with Belial. But once his mind cleared, the form's limits were obvious.
"This should be kept safe by me."
He took the Dark Spark Lens from Daigo, and Rena, after a pause, nodded. She trusted him — after all, he too was Tiga, even if from another world.
Yuzhou tucked the relic into his chest. Respectfully, he'd sought Rena's approval first. After all, she was Daigo's fiancée.
"As for Camearra," Yuzhou said, "I'll explain more later. Right now, we need to get Daigo treated."
Rena agreed, and together they carried him out to the medical wing.
Standing outside the infirmary, Rena's expression was heavy as she looked at Daigo lying unconscious on the bed.
"Yuzhou-kun… now you can tell me."
He nodded. "Camearra was Tiga's wife."
"What?!" Rena's eyes went wide, her whole body tensing. Camearra… Tiga's wife?
"But!" she shot back, voice trembling, "that was Tiga. What does that have to do with my Daigo?!"
She glared at Yuzhou suspiciously. "And you — aren't you also Tiga? Does that mean Camearra is your wife?"
Yuzhou: "…???"
He coughed awkwardly. "No, no. It's not like that. Camearra was the wife of the Tiga from three million years ago. Not me."
Rena exhaled, relieved. "I see…"
But she frowned again. "Then why is she targeting Daigo, and not you? You're Tiga as well, aren't you?"
"Maybe because I'm from another world," Yuzhou reasoned. "Besides, I only just got back. There's no way she'd even know to come for me."
"…True." She nodded slowly. Then her eyes softened. "It's been two years, Yuzhou-kun. I didn't think you'd return."
"Two years…" Yuzhou murmured. Right. The Final Odyssey events happened two years later.
And behind it all was the ambition of TPC's upper ranks — men who wanted to seize the Giants' power, and wield it as weapons against the unknown.