Asuka obediently came up from the water, put his clothes back on, and took the Reflasher (Shining Sword) from Yu Zhou's hands.
After swimming in the cold seawater, both his body and mind felt much more relaxed.
"Yu Zhou-senpai, what did you want to talk about?" Asuka asked curiously, tilting his head. "Don't tell me… another monster appeared?"
"Not this time," Yu Zhou replied, shaking his head. "Asuka, I want to see if you can lend me your power."
"Eh??" Asuka blinked, looking utterly confused. "Senpai, are you serious?"
"Mm." Yu Zhou nodded solemnly. Judging from Ultraman Zero's Strong Corona Mode and Luna Miracle Mode, it was clear that Dyna could share his power with others.
"In that case, senpai, you can try using it!"
Asuka cheerfully offered the Reflasher to him again.
Yu Zhou: "…"
"Asuka, that's not what I meant." Yu Zhou quickly clarified. "I don't mean for me to become Ultraman Dyna. What I mean is—you lend me Dyna's power."
"Ah? Senpai, how exactly do I… lend it?"
Asuka scratched his cheek in confusion.
He didn't mind, of course—if Yu Zhou-senpai wanted to borrow his power, he'd gladly share it.
"Well… I'm not entirely sure either," Yu Zhou admitted. "Let's just try it first."
"Alright, senpai!"
And so, on that quiet and empty beach, the two of them raised their transformation devices—and in a flash of light, they became Tiga and Dyna.
However, they did not enlarge to giant size. They remained at human height, glowing faintly under the sun.
"I'll try first," Yu Zhou said after transforming.
Since Dyna could transfer his form's energy to others, maybe Tiga could do the same—sharing his Power Type or Sky Type strength.
Besides, Yu Zhou already had some experience with energy transfer. Back in the Land of Light, Hikari, that tricky scientist, had once sweet-talked him into making Tiga capsules.
"Asuka, stand firm."
"I'm ready, senpai!"
The two stood facing each other. Yu Zhou placed his hand over his Colour Timer, feeling the energy within him stir.
Light surged through his body—most of it golden, radiant and warm. But mixed within were two other colours: red and purple.
It didn't take much to understand—red symbolized Tiga's Power Type, and purple his Sky Type agility.
Yu Zhou focused, drawing those two lights from within himself. They gathered in his palm, shimmering with energy.
A faint weakness spread through his body as the lights left him, but Yu Zhou smiled anyway. It was worth it.
He had successfully extracted a portion of both powers—the strength and the speed of Tiga.
This energy was like blood. Even if some was drawn out, it would eventually replenish itself.
"Asuka, receive this energy," Yu Zhou said firmly.
He extended his hand, sending the red-and-purple light into Asuka's Colour Timer.
"This… this is senpai's power!"
Asuka's eyes widened in awe as the energy surged through him. He could feel it—pure, powerful, and steady.
He had planned to lend his strength to Yu Zhou, but somehow, it was his senpai who gave first.
"Asuka, give it a try," Yu Zhou said after finishing the transfer.
It was his first time doing this; he wasn't sure whether it would work.
"Okay, senpai!"
Asuka nodded, focusing his energy.
Particles of light radiated from the crystal on his forehead, and in an instant, Dyna's entire body shifted colours—turning into a silver-and-purple form.
It was Tiga's Sky Type power.
As if his instincts took over, Asuka kicked off the ground and shot into the air.
"Senpai! This speed—it's incredible!"
Like a streak of wind, Asuka darted across the sky above the sea, moving faster and faster, leaving trails of violet light behind him.
"Looks like it worked," Yu Zhou said with a satisfied smile as he watched Asuka zoom through the air.
His first attempt at giving power—and it had succeeded beautifully.
After a few dazzling aerial loops, Asuka descended and landed lightly before Yu Zhou.
"Senpai, it worked!" he said, grinning ear to ear.
To test it further, Asuka aimed his hands at the sea and fired a beam of freezing light.
The beam exploded midair, spreading a mist of frost—and in the next second, a vast portion of the ocean surface froze solid.
It was Tiga's Sky Type technique—Freezing Beam.
"I can use senpai's special move now!" Asuka exclaimed, thrilled.
He had gained his mentor's power—and grown stronger because of it.
But then—
"Wait, Asuka! Look at your body!" Yu Zhou suddenly shouted, eyes widening.
"Huh?"
Asuka looked down.
The silver-purple of his body was fading—the purple draining away, the red and blue of his Shining Type returning in its place.
"Uh-oh…" Asuka muttered, blinking in confusion. "What's happening?"
Within moments, he had reverted completely to his normal Shining form.
Not wanting to give up, he tried transforming again, concentrating as hard as he could—yet no matter what he did, he couldn't summon the silver-purple form again.
"Is that energy… only temporary?" Yu Zhou murmured, rubbing his chin in thought.
Power Type and Strong Type were both silver and red, almost identical in appearance, so visual differences were subtle—but in function, they weren't the same.
Still, this disappearing power was strange.
"I think the energy you gave me is gone, senpai," Asuka admitted helplessly, lowering his hands.
"Seems like it," Yu Zhou nodded, frowning slightly. "Try it your way this time."
Truth be told, he wasn't sure why his energy had faded so quickly.
Perhaps the kind of transfer he used only allowed one-time use?
But when Dyna gave power to Zero, it didn't vanish.
Maybe if Asuka gave his power to Yu Zhou, it would work differently.
"Alright, senpai. I'll try!"
Asuka nodded earnestly, closing his eyes to focus.
It was his first time transferring energy to someone else, so he didn't really know how. Still, he had to try.
Instead of drawing from his Colour Timer, light began to radiate across his entire body—pure and brilliant.
He gathered it into his right hand… and thrust it forward toward Yu Zhou.
BOOM!
The moment the energy made contact, a violent explosion erupted.
Yu Zhou was sent flying backward, crashing hard onto the sand.
"Yu Zhou-senpai!!" Asuka panicked, cutting off the flow and running toward him. "Are you alright?!"
Yu Zhou sat up, one hand on his forehead, a wry smile on his face.
"I'm fine… I think."
So that was supposed to be an energy transfer? Because it sure felt more like an attack!
But well—no risk, no reward. Without taking a few hits, how could one hope to gain new power?
"Asuka," Yu Zhou said, standing up again despite the dizziness, "let's try that one more time."