"Riku, are you sure you can handle this?"
Zero frowned as he looked at Riku. The mechanical monster Galactron was no small opponent, and for Geed, facing it head-on was going to be a serious challenge.
"If I just rush in like this, there's no guarantee I can beat it," Zero added cautiously.
Riku nodded, glancing toward Yu Zhou. "I just watched Senior Tiga—Yu Zhou's battle. I think… I want to try something myself."
"Huh?" Yu Zhou blinked, stunned. My battle actually taught him something?
Was he suddenly… a teacher now?
Zero gave a firm nod. "Since that's the case, then you can go, Riku. Face Galactron yourself."
"Hold on, Riku, I've got some advice for you," Yu Zhou spoke up before he charged off.
"What kind of advice?" Riku asked, curiosity and excitement flickering in his eyes. After all, if Tiga himself was pointing something out, it had to be valuable experience.
Yu Zhou's tone was steady but direct. "Don't always use your primitive form to just take hits. Try other forms—it'll make the fight a lot easier."
He pointed out, "For example, try using the Seven and Leo Capsules together. That way you can become Burning Steel form. With that, your power and combat ability should at least hold your ground against Galactron."
"I understand!" Riku nodded firmly. Without hesitation, he pulled out the Fusion Riser.
Activating the Seven and Leo Capsules, two spectral figures appeared at his sides before fusing into him. A blaze of energy enveloped him, and in the next moment—
Geed Ultraman's Burning Steel Form stood tall before Galactron.
Yu Zhou and Zero exchanged a nod, then sprinted toward the direction Riku had indicated earlier.
"Come on then!"
Geed raised a hand, curling a finger toward Galactron in provocation. Even though Galactron was a mechanical monster, it still possessed a trace of independent will. Seeing Geed's taunt, it immediately raised an arm and fired two searing yellow beams.
Geed flipped and rolled aside, narrowly dodging.
BOOM! The beams struck the ground where he had stood, gouging out a massive crater.
"Too close!"
Riku wiped the sweat from his brow inside the armor. If that had landed, he would've been blown sky-high.
He rushed forward and drove a heavy punch straight into the red gem embedded in Galactron's chest.
Yu Zhou had just attacked that spot earlier, and Riku reasoned it had to be a weak point. Just like if an enemy struck his own color timer—it wouldn't be pretty.
BANG!
His fist slammed into the gem. Unlike before, however, this Galactron didn't go berserk—it only staggered back a few steps before recovering, swiping its claw viciously toward Geed.
The blow struck his shoulder, sending him tumbling to the ground.
And Galactron didn't relent—its massive foot came down in a brutal stomp.
Geed rolled frantically to the side, avoiding it by a hair. Scrambling up, he tore the head fin from his helmet, clutching it in one hand while summoning the Geed Claw in the other. With both weapons in hand, he charged at Galactron again.
Meanwhile, Yu Zhou and Zero reached the site of the earlier energy surge. Standing calmly there was none other than Fukuide Kei, watching the battle with cold amusement.
"Why aren't you running this time?" Zero sneered.
"I don't need to run, Ultraman Zero." Kei's smile twisted eerily as he turned his gaze toward Yu Zhou. "And you… I've been observing you for quite some time."
Yu Zhou's eyes narrowed.
"You're Daigo, aren't you?" Kei said mockingly.
Yu Zhou raised a brow, half-smirking. "Oh? My disguise as Daigo lasted this long, and you finally figured it out?"
Kei chuckled darkly. "Heh… Daigo. I just saw you transform into Tiga with my own eyes."
"Zero, enough of his nonsense. Let's just take him down." Yu Zhou wasn't interested in this game of words. He pulled out his trusty frying pan, of all things, and charged forward.
Zero clenched his fists and rushed in as well.
"Pan of Heaven, fall from above!"
Yu Zhou leapt high, gripping the frying pan in both hands, and swung down toward Kei's head.
But Kei wasn't about to be struck by something so absurd. A pulse of invisible energy burst outward from him, blasting Yu Zhou back mid-swing.
The pan slammed into the ground with a heavy crack, sending a jolt up Yu Zhou's arms and leaving them numb.
Zero too was forced back by the wave, unable to close the distance.
By the time the shockwave faded, Kei had vanished entirely from their sight.
On the battlefield, Geed circled Galactron, striking again and again with the Geed Claw and head fin. Sparks burst across the mechanical monster's frame—not massive damage, but at least something.
Then, the red crystal on Galactron's chest pulsed with energy. A powerful beam fired straight at him.
"Not good!"
Geed ducked low, the beam grazing across his back. Pain flared as sparks burst from the armor. The blast behind him shredded the landscape into rubble.
"Geed Ultraman—Acro Smash form!"
Silver and blue light flared, and Geed shifted into his nimble Acro Smash form, gripping the Geed Claw as he darted forward with lightning speed.
Slash! Slash! Slash!
His rapid attacks carved sparks from Galactron's body—but the damage still wasn't enough.
"Spread Shot! Diffusion Shower!"
Geed raised the Geed Claw high, firing a beam upward. It condensed into a glowing cloud over Galactron's head.
But before the attack could rain down, Galactron tilted its head back and blasted it apart with a crimson beam.
"What?!" Geed froze. It was only the second time he had ever used Diffusion Shower—and it was destroyed so easily?
Before he could recover, Galactron's mouth flared again, firing another beam that smashed directly into him.
BOOM!
An explosion engulfed him, sending Geed flying across the battlefield. His color timer flashed red, beeping frantically.
"Geed is in danger!"
Zero and Yu Zhou, having shaken off Kei's disappearance, turned back toward the fight.
Seeing Riku blasted away, Zero immediately reached for his Zero Sluggers. "I'll go help him!"
"Wait." Yu Zhou held up a hand.
Zero glanced at him, startled. "What are you saying? If we don't step in, Geed won't make it!"
Yu Zhou's eyes narrowed as he pointed skyward. "Zero… look up."
"Hm?"
Zero followed his finger—and froze.
From the heavens, a glowing yellow orb of light descended rapidly.
"What is that…?"
Even Geed, barely pushing himself up, turned to see it. His heart sank. If that's another monster, then I'm finished.
The orb crashed down, light dissipating to reveal—not a monster, but another Ultraman.
Silver and blue armor gleamed in the sunlight, a crest shining proudly on his chest.
Geed's eyes widened inside the armor. He knew this form from the Capsules—this was Ultraman Hikari!
"Hikari? Why is he here?" Zero muttered in shock.
Normally, Hikari was busy in the labs, immersed in research and technology. For him to suddenly appear on Earth… something big was about to change.
Yu Zhou, however, stared at the newcomer with a different thought entirely.
Hikari, huh? If he's here… maybe I can get myself some cheats.