Yu Zhou nodded to the group, signaling that Gagula could be trusted—at least for now.
In the original storyline, it was Gagula who led Naomi and the others to Daichi Ozora and eventually found the captured Gai.
With Yu Zhou's silent approval, the group followed Gagula down the corridor.
Near the end of the hallway, they overheard a faint conversation from a room:
"Isn't shaved ice all the same flavor?"
"Really?"
"Really."
"Even strawberry and melon?"
"Yes, apparently they all taste the same!"
"..."
Peeking through the door, they saw two aliens standing guard, flanking the person they had been searching for: Daichi Ozora.
"That's the Daichi X was looking for!" Hayami Shenta whispered excitedly.
"You're the one they've been searching for, right?" Gagula asked with a toothy smile, lowering his head toward them.
Without warning, he stepped into the room. In a blur, three slashing strikes sent the two foolish-looking aliens sprawling to the floor, while the chains binding Daichi shattered.
Daichi, dazed, collapsed to the floor, gradually regaining consciousness. The group rushed in, supporting him.
"You okay?" Naomi asked, relief in her voice.
"I'm fine," Daichi replied, standing tall and looking at them. "And you are…?"
"Oh! Yu Zhou!" Daichi's eyes widened as he recognized him.
"Long time no see, Daichi," Yu Zhou waved.
"Long time no see?" Daichi looked puzzled. "But didn't we just defeat Saikouko together?"
"Yeah," Yu Zhou chuckled, realizing that only a short time had passed for Daichi. After defeating Saikouko, both Daichi and X had been transported here by a wormhole.
"Better get him out of here quickly!" Gagula interjected.
"Is he with you?" Daichi asked, turning to Gagula.
"Yes," Yu Zhou replied before Naomi could protest.
"Yu Zhou… don't be fooled by his actions! He's no good!" Naomi said.
"I know," Yu Zhou nodded. "Gagula at least led us to Daichi. Whatever his motives, right now he's doing something good."
"That actually makes sense…" Naomi murmured, pondering.
Gagula's expression shifted slightly at Yu Zhou's words, though his trademark mischievous grin soon returned. He retrieved the X Flasher from his pocket.
"It's responding," he said.
"Daichi! Are you okay?" X's voice called out urgently from the Flasher.
"X!" Daichi grabbed it, overjoyed.
"Go, they're coming!" Gagula said, handing over the Flasher before sprinting out.
The group chose to trust him and followed.
"So, Yu Zhou, you came here because of a wormhole too?" Daichi asked as they moved down the corridor.
"No," Yu Zhou shook his head. "Not the same wormhole you came through."
"The one I came through?" Daichi looked puzzled.
"I came through that world randomly," Yu Zhou explained. "The spatial vortex that took me away—you saw it too."
"Oh! So that vortex brought you here?" Daichi understood immediately.
"Yes," Yu Zhou confirmed. "And I didn't expect you to be here too."
"Ah, now I get it!" Daichi's eyes lit up. "So when you said 'long time no see,' it was because you spent more time in another world?"
"Smart," Yu Zhou said, giving him a thumbs-up.
As they talked, a shout echoed from down the hallway.
"Stop right there!"
"That's Gai!" the group realized, sprinting toward the voice.
They reached a room, peeking inside. Gai was bound to a chair with arcs of electricity. Sitting across from him was a woman in a purple-black dress, surrounded by servants in uniform.
Behind them, Galaxy Ultraman and Victory Ultraman had been turned into crystal. Between Gai and the woman, a virtual screen displayed horrifying scenes:
A giant mechanical monster rampaged through the city, buildings crumbling to smoke and rubble. Civilians screamed and fell, and the monster's beams began crystallizing the city itself.
"I'll turn you into a gem soon!" the woman sneered at Gai.
"This city is doomed if we don't act!" Matsutoshi shouted, panicked.
"Gai…" Naomi's worry was evident.
"X, we need to fuse now!" Daichi shouted to the Flasher.
"I can't," X's voice replied. "The dimension within this villa prevents fusion."
Yu Zhou considered this. If X couldn't act due to spatial distortion, perhaps he himself could succeed—but he planned to rely on manpower, holding off until Gai was freed.
"The Dark Ring in her hands is the source of her power," Gagula said, arms crossed. "Destroy it, and the threat ends."
Yu Zhou remained silent. In the original story, Gagula eventually discarded the Dark Ring, so his current goal likely remained acquiring it.
"We need to save Gai, quickly!" Hayami Shenta urged.
"Alright, Daichi, Yu Zhou, and I will rescue Gai. Gagula will go after the Dark Ring," X instructed from the Flasher.
"And what should we do?" Naomi asked.
"Draw their attention," Gagula replied, nodding toward the servants. "You're the best at it."
"Don't underestimate me, Team Witt!" Shibukawa protested.
"His attitude is infuriating!" Matsutoshi muttered.
Yu Zhou said nothing, leaping forward with his frying pan and Victory Heppa Gun. The rest of the group followed suit.
Daichi rushed to Gai, attempting to release the arcs, but was repelled. Placing the X Flasher in front of Gai, X emitted a beam that freed him completely.
As they prepared to fight, two aliens collapsed on the floor with a clang.