"Yu Zhou, you're here."
Zero saw the elevator open and Yu Zhou step out.
"Yeah," Yu Zhou nodded, walking over to stand beside Zero and Laiha. "What's the situation now?"
"Geed's really slow," Zero muttered, arms crossed as he looked at Riku still battling Skull Gomora. He shook his head.
"He's still young. Growth takes time," Yu Zhou said, watching Geed's clash with Skull Gomora.
"Growth is necessary, yes. But today we're here to end Fukude Kei." Zero's eyes sharpened. He pulled out the Zero Eye. "I'll handle the monster. Once it reverts to Kei, you two rush in and finish him!"
Zero placed the device to his face. Instantly, Riku Asakura was lifted by spiraling streams of silver, red, and blue light, wrapping around his body.
Moments later, Ultraman Zero appeared beside Geed.
"Zero?" Riku blinked, startled. "What are you doing here?"
"Mostly to test out a new power," Zero said with a grin, before slamming a fist into Skull Gomora.
Riku responded in kind, swinging his Steel Burning form's head fin like a blade, cutting across the monster's hide.
With a roar of pain, Skull Gomora toppled to the ground under their combined strike.
Zero didn't hesitate. He triggered four New Generation Capsules that Hikari had given him, fusing them together in a blinding wave of light.
When the brilliance cleared, a silver-and-purple form stood tall.
Ultraman Zero—Infinite Form!
Back when Yu Zhou had first seen this form in the original show, he thought it would be overdecorated—armored with gaudy crystals like a carnival costume.
But instead, Infinite Form was surprisingly sleek. Clean. Powerful without excess.
"I am Ultraman Zero—Infinite Form!"
With Zero's personality, of course he had to strike a pose and announce himself before fighting.
"Fourfold Head Fin!"
Light flared as the four fins on Zero's head detached, spinning in midair like gleaming blades. With a sharp sweep of his hand, he hurled them in a spiraling assault.
The head fins sliced across Skull Gomora as it staggered back to its feet, sparks bursting where they struck.
Geed planted his head fin into his leg port, then launched a whirling kick straight into the monster's chest.
CRASH!
Skull Gomora collapsed again, weaker than ever.
Truthfully, Riku could've handled this fight even in his Primitive form—Skull Gomora wasn't invincible. Now, with Geed in Steel Burning form and Zero going all out in Infinite Form, the monster didn't stand a chance.
"Let's end this."
Zero crossed his arms before his Color Timer, then slowly spread them wide as eight glowing spheres orbited his body, pulsing with raw energy.
"Eightfold Destruction Ray!"
The orbs unleashed rainbow beams that tore into Skull Gomora's exhausted frame.
No surprise—the monster exploded instantly, flames and smoke filling the battlefield.
"Killing a chicken with a butcher's cleaver," Yu Zhou muttered. Zero's showy overkill was almost comical.
After all, Geed's Primitive form alone could've beaten Skull Gomora. A single Wrecking Burst would've done the job. Infinite Form? That was like nuking a fly.
But as the fireball faded, everyone's eyes stayed fixed on the blast site.
Then—a dark crimson sphere of light descended, landing on the bridge connecting two ridges.
Yu Zhou and Laiha immediately ran toward it.
Zero and Geed dissolved into streaks of light, reappearing beside the glowing orb.
"Fukude Kei, this time you're not getting away!"
Zero stood at one end of the bridge. Riku blocked the other. Kei was trapped in the center.
"Hmph." Kei looked between them, expression calm as ever. Not a flicker of panic.
"Leave him to me!"
Laiha darted forward from behind Riku, blade flashing as she swung down at Kei.
Kei raised his staff, blocking the strike with ease.
"Die!"
Laiha spun, her sword whirling in a full arc before stabbing straight at his abdomen.
Kei twisted his staff, knocking the blade aside. The thrust missed its mark.
"You want to fight me? Then I'll gladly oblige."
Even surrounded, Kei's tone was steady, almost amused.
He snapped his staff outward. Laiha's sword was flung wide, forcing her back several steps.
"Haaah!"
Unfazed, Laiha pressed the attack—slashes raining down, her sword weaving like a flurry of blossoms in the wind, shadows of steel swirling like drifting snow.
Kei's staff met every strike. Whatever it was made of, it blocked each blow cleanly.
At the end of her flurry, Kei countered, smacking the sword from her hands.
Disarmed, Laiha staggered back, momentarily defenseless. Kei's eyes narrowed. He raised his staff to finish her.
Then—
CLANG!
A frying pan crashed down on his skull from above.
"Ugh!" Kei staggered, head ringing from the sudden blow.
"Yu Zhou, nice one!" Zero and Riku had been ready to jump in when Laiha faltered, but Yu Zhou's frying pan ambush earned immediate praise.
"Tch!" Kei thrust out a hand. A pulse of invisible energy erupted, blasting Yu Zhou and Laiha backward several steps.
Zero lunged, fists ready. Laiha snatched up her fallen sword and rejoined the fray.
The bridge was narrow. Three fighters crowded into its center, clashing fiercely. Yu Zhou held back, frying pan in hand, watching for another opening.
The battle raged until Laiha found her chance. She swung up and pressed her blade against Kei's throat.
All three froze.
"…Why?" Kei muttered, disbelief flickering in his eyes.
He'd always thought Laiha was just a human. Even with Zero's vessel assisting, he believed himself unassailable. And yet here she was—sword poised to end him.
Unthinkable.
"Because I fight with the resolve to win," Laiha said, voice trembling with emotion. "Because of my mistake, I lost my family. I couldn't protect them!"
"For six years I've lived in agony, in regret! Do you understand that feeling?"
She glared at him, tears welling, rage burning.
Yu Zhou tapped the frying pan in his palm, eyes never leaving Kei—ready in case the villain tried to escape.
Kei gave a faint, mocking smile. "…Pointless."
"You're right," Laiha whispered, eyes hardening. "That's the difference between you and me."
She raised her sword, ready to plunge it into his chest.
But just as she moved—her body froze. Her eyes went blank. The sword slowly lowered.
Yu Zhou's breath caught. "…The King of Ultra. He's interfering. He's stopping Laiha from killing Kei!"