This whole situation with the ruins had actually started with a plan born out of the minds of TPC's higher-ups.
The idea came from none other than Masaki Keigo.
In theory, since Masaki already had his own transformation device, the world shouldn't have lacked an Ultraman to defend it.
Yet, just like in the original storyline, Camearra's reappearance had been triggered when TPC sent an "investigation team" to the R'lyeh ruins.
That so-called survey inevitably led to the awakening of the Dark Giants.
The excuse TPC's brass gave was the same as before: "Since Tiga has disappeared, we must recover the power of the giants from the ruins."
But logically, with Masaki still capable of transforming, Earth should not have been defenseless at all.
"By the way," Yuzhou asked suddenly, "what happened to Masaki after that?"
"His identity, like Daigo's, was classified as top secret," Rena explained. "He also joined the GUTS team."
Yuzhou thought for a moment. "And in these two years… there haven't been any monster incidents, right?"
Rena shook her head with a faint smile. "No. Daigo and I have been on an extended vacation. Ever since the Dark Lord was defeated, the world has remained peaceful."
Just then, voices came echoing down the corridor.
"Yuzhou!"
"Advisor Yuzhou!"
"You're really back?!"
"It's been two years—we thought we'd never see you again!"
The GUTS team members came running, overjoyed, and threw their arms around him one after another.
"Hey, hey, easy—" Yuzhou laughed, though he hugged them all back warmly. To him, only a few months had passed. To them, it had been years.
After the greetings, Yuzhou asked, "Where's the captain?"
Everyone fell quiet. At last, Munakata spoke.
"She went with the survey team to the R'lyeh ruins… and hasn't been heard from since."
He hadn't wanted to say it—not to Daigo or Rena. Daigo had already fought more than enough battles, and he and Rena were supposed to be enjoying their honeymoon.
But with Yuzhou here, Munakata finally let it slip. Yuzhou knew more about the ruins than anyone… and Yuzhou was also a Tiga.
"And Masaki?" Yuzhou asked quickly. "Didn't he join the team? Where is he?"
"He went with the captain to the ruins as well," Munakata admitted, "and vanished just like her."
Yuzhou frowned. Alone, Masaki could never hope to defeat Camearra and her kind. He feared what might have already happened…
At that moment, Mayumi—Shinjoh's sister, and a TPC medical officer—emerged from the infirmary.
"Daigo has no external injuries," she reported calmly.
"Thank goodness," Shinjoh sighed in relief. "By the way, Yuzhou… two years, and you haven't changed at all."
Yuzhou chuckled. "Actually, for me it's only been a few months."
"What?!" Horii nearly jumped. "You mean you… traveled through time?"
"…You could say that." Yuzhou nodded.
Munakata then stepped forward. "Tomorrow, we'll launch a strike on the ruins. There are swarms of monsters inside—similar to Zoigar, but smaller."
He glanced at Rena. "Originally, we weren't going to involve Daigo. He's already fought enough. But now that you've returned, Yuzhou… our chances of bringing back the captain have risen."
"I understand," Yuzhou said firmly. If Daigo fought alone, Rena would only suffer. With Yuzhou here, the team would have more balance, more hope.
"And besides," he thought, "even without me, there's still Masaki…"
"Don't worry," Yuzhou told Rena gently. "Daigo is only unconscious. Camearra won't deal him a fatal blow."
Rena nodded, visibly calmer.
"By the way," Yamase suddenly added, "you're no longer just an advisor. The captain and Director Sawai made it official—you're now a full member of GUTS."
"…Wait, really?" Yuzhou blinked.
"Of course," Shinjoh laughed. "We all voted. It was unanimous."
"A GUTS member who can't fly a jet," Horii teased.
…
Word of Yuzhou's return spread quickly through TPC, even reaching Director Sawai, who came in person to greet him.
From him, Yuzhou learned that the ruins disaster was tied to a certain Project F—a dangerous initiative that once fueled the revival of Golza.
This time, however, it wasn't Masaki pulling strings. Instead, it was a radical officer named Gondo, the same man who, in Dyna's time, would later build the fake Dyna.
Yuzhou could only shake his head. "This guy's brain must hurt in all the wrong places."
…
The next morning, Yuzhou donned the crisp white GUTS uniform. Standing before the mirror, he adjusted his collar, feeling a surge of confidence.
"Not bad," he muttered. "This uniform's pretty damn cool."
With the Victory Hyper Gun strapped at his waist, he headed to check on Daigo.
Daigo was already awake, sitting up in bed with Rena at his side, cheeks tinged pink.
"Yuzhou!" Daigo greeted him, leaping up for a heartfelt embrace.
"Daigo! Long time no see!" Yuzhou grinned, patting his back.
After catching up on the two missing years, the topic inevitably turned to Camearra.
"Yuzhou… I just don't understand. If Camearra was Tiga's wife, why is she after me?" Daigo frowned.
Yuzhou smirked. "Because you're borrowing her husband's body, that's why."
"…Then why doesn't she go after you?" Daigo shot back.
"Because I was stuck in another world for the last two years," Yuzhou shrugged. "Not exactly convenient for her."
Then he pulled something from his coat—the black Dark Spark Lens. "Here. Camearra left this for you."
Daigo froze. "This… I remember seeing visions. If I use it, I'll become Dark Tiga… and I won't be myself anymore."
Yuzhou didn't argue. Instead, he reached into his jacket again and pulled out another device—the Spark Lens he'd brought from the X universe.
"Then take this one instead. I'll keep the dark one."
"But if you do that," Daigo protested, "you'll be forced to transform into Dark Tiga yourself—"
Yuzhou cut him off with a grin, pulling out yet another Spark Lens—his original.
"Relax. Look—" he held up both devices, one in each hand. "I've got another one."
Daigo: "…"
(End of Chapter)