"Emerium Slash!"
Keeping his distance from Fukude Kei's fusion monster, the Lightning Killer, Zero fired a sharp beam of green energy from the crystal on his forehead.
The monster didn't even bother to dodge. It stood its ground, letting the beam crash against its chest. In the instant of impact, the crimson plating across its torso glowed—and the entire beam was absorbed.
Zero's eyes widened. What—!
The monster's chest pulsed with a sinister light. In the next second, it tilted its head back and spat out the exact same beam it had just swallowed, launching Zero's own attack right back at him!
Caught off guard, Zero couldn't react in time. The beam slammed into his chest, sparks bursting across his armor before the shockwave hurled him to the ground.
Yu Zhou tensed, ready to rush to Zero's side. After all, Gomora and Red King had already been slowed and battered—he could spare the moment to help.
But before he could move, a new light streaked across the sky.
Geed came crashing down, feet-first, slamming a flying kick straight into the Lightning Killer's head.
The monster, blindsided, toppled hard.
BOOM! The pavement buckled beneath its massive frame. Debris blasted into the air, cars shook and flipped from the force of the impact.
"I'm here!" Geed declared, landing nimbly before turning to Yu Zhou and Zero. His voice carried the fire of determination. "This one's mine!"
With that, he sprinted toward the Lightning Killer without hesitation.
Zero blinked in surprise. "He… he just stole my opponent…"
It wasn't that Zero minded sharing a fight—but this fusion beast wasn't ordinary. It was a Belial Fusion Monster, born from Kei's twisted science. Its power wasn't something Geed should underestimate.
"Let him try," Yu Zhou said calmly, shaking his head. "He needs the experience."
Zero exhaled, then nodded. "In that case, let's finish off the other two first."
Together, they turned back toward Gomora and Red King.
Zero launched into the slowed-down Red King, fists blazing with relentless strikes. Meanwhile, Yu Zhou charged at Gomora, slipping behind the beast to seize its thick tail.
With a surge of strength in his Power Type form, he swung Gomora in a full circle, then slammed the monster into the ground with a thunderous crash.
Meanwhile, Geed engaged the Lightning Killer head-on. His first ambush had worked only because of surprise. Now that the monster was wary, Geed's Original Form struggled.
Their fists collided with explosive force, both combatants forced back a step.
The Lightning Killer roared, bringing its crackling claws down at Geed. He caught the blow with his forearms, forcing the massive hand aside. Leaping high, he retaliated with claw-like strikes aimed for its head.
But the monster lowered its stance at the last moment. Geed's hands slammed into the metallic spines running down its back.
"Gah—!" Pain shot through him. He staggered, clutching his palms.
The Lightning Killer wasted no time. Its claws surged with electricity before slamming into Geed.
ZZZZZT— arcs of lightning danced across his body. Geed's scream was swallowed in the crackle of high-voltage current. His entire frame shuddered before he was swatted aside, crashing to the ground.
"Geed!" Zero shoved Red King away and looked back in alarm. "Leave him to me—you handle the others!"
But Geed forced himself up, eyes burning with defiance. "No! I can't keep relying on my seniors every time!"
He clenched his fists. "I have to prove… I can protect this city too!"
Light gathered around his outstretched hand. Tiny motes of energy swirled, condensing into a radiant weapon.
"Geed Claw!"
In a blaze of scarlet brilliance, a dual-bladed short weapon formed in his grip—twin talons sharp enough to pierce the heavens.
Yu Zhou, who had just floored Gomora again, froze in astonishment. So he's awakened the Geed Claw already? In the original events, he only gained it after hearing Leito's words… But here, he awakened it on his own.
Yu Zhou's eyes hardened. No matter—the battle demanded focus. Crossing his arms before his Color Timer, he drew in power. Energy gathered from every direction, forming at his chest.
Delasium Light Stream!
The torrent of light surged forward, engulfing the battered Gomora. The monster roared once, then exploded in a fiery blast.
At the same time, Zero unleashed a charged beam, tearing through Red King. Another explosion painted the sky with flames.
"I will surpass the me I am today!" Geed roared.
The Geed Claw flared, unleashing a crimson projection of its blades. The strike drilled into the Lightning Killer's chest, detonating in a shower of fire—but the beast refused to fall.
Inside Geed, Riku summoned the power of two more Capsules—Hikari and Cosmos. Twin silhouettes merged into him, transforming his body.
Silver and blue light wrapped around him.
Ultraman Geed—Acro Smasher!
Zero's eyes widened in recognition. "That's… Hikari and Cosmos! So he's already using the Capsules I entrusted to him."
The Lightning Killer reeled in shock but quickly retaliated, spitting out a barrage of dark-red energy blades.
But in this new form, Geed's speed was unmatched. With the Geed Claw in hand, he dashed forward, slashing apart the projectiles before they could touch him.
Closing the distance in a blur, he cut into the monster with rapid strikes. Sparks burst across its armored hide.
Finally, Geed raised his weapon high. Energy burst forth, forming a glowing storm cloud above. From it rained countless green beams of light—like a downpour of divine lightning.
The deluge hammered into the Lightning Killer, each strike exploding in dazzling firework bursts. The beast convulsed violently, then erupted in a final, blinding explosion.
"Not bad," Zero said, giving Geed a rare thumbs-up. "You've improved."
Yu Zhou also raised a hand in approval, giving Geed a silent Ultraman salute.
But then his body shimmered, dissolving into motes of light.
The Lightning Killer was gone, which meant Kei would have reverted to human form. Yu Zhou couldn't waste this chance.
A column of light enveloped him, depositing him back on the ground. His chest insignia flickered as his disguise shifted—revealing the face of Daigo.
"…So that's Tiga-senpai."
Geed's gaze lingered on Daigo. He committed every detail of the man's appearance to memory. To him, this was the legendary Tiga—heroic as an Ultraman, and even as a human, undeniably cool.
Yu Zhou, unaware of Geed's awe, scanned the battlefield. His thoughts were sharp, his focus unshaken.
Fukude Kei… where did he go?
The prey had slipped from sight, but Yu Zhou wasn't about to let him escape for long.