Yu Zhou and Gai landed in a long corridor, surveying their surroundings. It was indeed a garden—or more precisely, it resembled a park.
"You alright?" Gai asked after touching down, still unaware of Yu Zhou's true identity or his combat abilities.
"I'm fine," Yu Zhou replied calmly, completely accustomed to landing after wormhole travel.
Suddenly, a powerful, lively tune blared from the nearby lawn. Both of them turned toward the sound.
"Hey, Gai! Long time no see! It's been thousands of years!"
On the lawn stood a red-armored alien, addressing Gai with a voice both familiar and cheerful. He performed warm-up exercises reminiscent of calisthenics, while a radio at his feet played the music.
"Is this guy carrying his own BGM?" Yu Zhou muttered, exasperated by the absurdity.
"It's you… Sadis," Gai said, frowning at the source of the voice.
"Yes!" Sadis stopped stretching and began a detailed self-introduction. "I am the surviving Gapia alien, Sadis! Though defeated, my body is now half-mechanical—but optimism and energy must be maintained!"
"You gave me hope!"
"'Gapia alien'?" Yu Zhou wasn't sure what Sadis meant at first, catching only fragments about some "gobble-alien."
"I am a Gapia alien!" Sadis shouted at Yu Zhou, clearly annoyed by the misunderstanding.
"'Gobble-alien'? Sure, why not," Yu Zhou muttered dryly.
"You… are you here to get revenge on me?" Sadis tried to speak further, but Gai interrupted.
"That's all in the past," Sadis said cheerfully. "What matters is living fully today… and taking you down!"
Suddenly, Sadis fired his built-in weapons at Gai—his half-mechanical body equipped with advanced firepower.
Yu Zhou recalled Sadis's history: a hot-blooded, optimistic alien whose combat spirit grew stronger the more he was injured. Once, during a fight with Gai, he had fallen into a volcanic pit, vanishing into lava. Now, thousands of years later, he had returned, even stronger than before.
Gai rolled to dodge Sadis's attacks while Yu Zhou pulled out his frying pan, bracing himself.
Gai unleashed yellow energy beams from his hands, striking back.
"So this is the difference between Ultramen and human hosts?" Yu Zhou muttered, impressed. Humans normally couldn't wield Ultraman powers. But Gai, having received the Orb's light, was now one with Ultraman Orb. Gai was Orb, and Orb was Gai.
Yu Zhou knew of several types of Ultraman hosts:
The classic Ultramen from the Land of Light, merging with humans.Humans like Daigo, who inherited the light's genetic factor and could transform into Ultraman forms.Gai's type: after receiving Orb's light, he became identical with Orb.Ultramen taking human form directly, common among Light of Light residents before plasma sparks.
Yu Zhou wasn't sure which category he belonged to, but he could rule out the first. Perhaps he was an entirely new type.
Thinking this, Yu Zhou fired his Victory Heppa Gun at Sadis.
Gai engaged Sadis in close combat. The more they fought, the more fired-up Sadis became.
After a brief clash, the two separated.
"Come on! Your power isn't all of it!" Sadis shouted, then activated Red Glare, growing to gigantic proportions. He fired artillery to force Gai into transforming.
Gai dodged and pulled out the Orb Ring.
"Taros-san!" Inserting Taro's card, a Taro projection appeared to his left.
"Mobius-san!" Inserting Mebius' card, Mebius appeared on his right.
"Ultraman Orb—Burning Flame Form!"
Merging the power of Taro and Mebius, Gai became Orb in Burning Flame Form, spiraling through the air before delivering a blazing kick to Sadis.
"Whoa… hot, hot, hot!" Sadis shrieked as flames erupted on his head, flailing his hands to extinguish the fire.
"Flame-headed Sadis?" Yu Zhou thought, recalling his eccentric nature.
The two clashed intensely. Sadis fired his built-in guns, which Orb dodged skillfully. Their fists and kicks met, but their agility prevented any real hits. Sadis's attacks tore through the park, but Orb's form made him almost untouchable.
Finally, Orb spotted a weak point and threw Sadis across the park.
"Stebeam Light!"
Orb unleashed a powerful beam infused with Taro and Mebius' energies. Sadis, unable to dodge, was hit directly, sending up a cloud of smoke.
Yu Zhou assumed the smoke didn't mean defeat—and he was right.
Emerging from the dust, Sadis yelled, "So hot… this feels amazing!"
"Hit me harder! Keep the passion flowing!"
Yu Zhou winced at Sadis's apparent masochistic streak.
Orb, seeing Sadis unharmed, shifted into Gale Form, powered by Zero and Jack.
With the Orb Head Spear in hand, he thrust at Sadis' head, sparks flying on impact.
"Ouch, ouch, ouch…"
"Bleeding?"
"Nope…" Sadis rubbed his head, forgetting he was half-mechanical, and swung his large sword at Orb. Orb blocked, but Sadis' relentless assaults soon overpowered him, knocking him to the ground.
Orb slowly rose. The color timer on his chest glowed red, and two ghostly figures appeared—Zero and Jack.
"Hey, you can still fight!"
"Keep going!"
Sadis, the battle-crazed alien, wanted a full-throttle fight—a truly thrilling, hot-blooded duel.
Yu Zhou reached for his Shining Stick, ready to transform.
Suddenly, a wormhole opened in the sky, and three aliens descended.
Among them was one Yu Zhou would never forget—his face like a geoduck clam, etched into Yu Zhou's memory for life.