"Watch out!"
Just as the three of them passed through the third floor and were heading toward the fourth, a sudden energy blast shot straight at them.
Yu Zhou reacted instantly, raising an Ultra Barrier that blocked the beam just in time.
"Good thing you're fast, Tiga!"
Inside Gaia's body, Gamu couldn't help but praise him.
Yu Zhou: "…"
"Well, thank you too, Gaia. I think you're faster than me," Yu Zhou replied after a pause, glancing toward Gaia.
"No way…"
Gamu was about to return the compliment when another light blast came flying toward them.
This time, Max raised his own barrier, blocking the second strike.
Only then did the three of them snap back to full alertness and turn toward the source of the attack.
"An Alien Empera!"
As an Ultra from the Land of Light, if Max couldn't recognize an Alien Empera, he might as well give up maintaining peace in the universe.
The Alien Empera — once the supreme ruler who led a vast monster army to invade the Land of Light.
That was in an ancient era. According to what Yu Zhou had read in the records, it was around that time that Belial began to stray down his dark path.
In fact, Belial's fall into darkness was connected — at least in part — to that invasion led by the Alien Empera.
Originally, the Alien Empera's homeworld wasn't even called "Empera Star."
That name, Empera, was one he took for himself.
Long ago, his home planet had suffered the same kind of catastrophe as the Land of Light — their sun was destroyed, and light itself vanished.
But unlike the Ultras, who built the Plasma Spark Tower to restore light, the Empera's homeworld remained shrouded in eternal darkness.
The Alien Empera survived — and transformed all the hatred and despair of his planet into immense dark power.
Because the loss of light had doomed his people, he grew to despise light more than anyone in the universe.
Wielding that power, he crowned himself the Emperor of Darkness, and using cruel, terrifying strength, conquered countless alien races, building the Empera Empire.
Hating all light, the Alien Empera swore to turn the entire universe into a realm of eternal night.
And so, he led his legions across galaxies, annihilating one star system after another — until his eyes finally turned toward the radiant Land of Light.
The war that followed was inevitable.
"It's fine. This one's just another puppet made by Etelgar," Yu Zhou said calmly, unbothered by the Empera Alien before them on the third floor.
After all, this guy was a fake — nothing to fear.
Having already dealt easily with Dark Zaki and Dark Mephisto, both Max and Gaia shared Yu Zhou's confidence.
This impostor wasn't worth their worry.
"I'll head up first. You two handle him!" Yu Zhou decided after a moment.
He didn't want to waste time here. After giving a brief command, he shot upward.
Max and Gaia nodded and immediately charged toward the Empera Alien to engage him.
Fourth Floor.
Yu Zhou moved at incredible speed, soaring toward the top level in an instant.
But a black-and-red giant standing there froze for a moment — then suddenly kicked off the ground, chasing after him.
"Hm?" Yu Zhou felt something strange. He glanced back over his shoulder… and his eyes widened.
"Belial!"
In midair, Yu Zhou accelerated toward the upper level, while behind him, the black-and-red Belial chased him relentlessly.
"Heheheheh… Don't run!"
Belial's beastlike laughter echoed through the air as he shouted after Yu Zhou.
"When I catch you, I'll make you wish for death!"
Hearing that, Yu Zhou's expression darkened — then he sped up even more.
"Then I definitely can't stop now!"
But suddenly, he hesitated.
Wait a minute.
This scene… felt oddly familiar.
And — wasn't Belial already restored to his original form? How was Etelgar's puppet still him?
Most importantly — why was he even running?
The Belial behind him had no Giga Battle Nizer, and he was just a puppet.
With Yu Zhou's current power, he could destroy him instantly.
"Sorry about this, Riku…" Yu Zhou muttered under his breath.
Then, just like before when he bound Etelgar, he turned sharply, extending both hands — releasing a surge of golden electrical arcs that wrapped around the oncoming Belial.
"Wha—!?"
Belial was caught completely off guard. His body froze, electricity locking his movements.
He plummeted helplessly toward the fourth floor.
The crystal on Yu Zhou's forehead shone brightly.
He drew both hands downward, his body shifting into the Composite Form — silver, purple, and red light flowing across his armour.
He pulled his arms back, spreading them wide — energy gathering between his chest and forearms, building up to an overwhelming brilliance.
Then, forming an "L"-shape with his hands, he unleashed his signature attack — the Zepelion Ray.
"No—!!"
Belial's roar was swallowed by the fiery explosion that followed.
Yu Zhou hovered silently above, watching the blaze fade.
"Rest in peace, old Belial," he said quietly, shaking his head. "One Belial is enough for any universe."
If Riku were here, Yu Zhou thought, he would've done the same.
Whoever dared to use Belial like this — they'd basically declared themselves Riku's mortal enemy!
As he thought that, Yu Zhou could almost hear a certain debt collector's voice echoing in his ears —
"Tiga-san, lend me your power!"
That guy still had Belial's card, didn't he?
He wondered if Geed would even approve of this.
After vaporizing Etelgar's puppet version of Belial, Yu Zhou flew up toward the top floor of the Time-Space Fortress.
Moments later, Max and Gaia also ascended from below.
"How was it, Tiga?" Max asked first. "Who was guarding the fourth floor?"
"Belial," Yu Zhou replied flatly.
"Belial?!" Max's eyes widened in shock. "I can't believe Etelgar even made a puppet of him!"
Max clenched his fists tightly, his eyes burning with frustration.
"I regret not fighting him myself! If I'd had the chance, I could've settled that old score!"
Yu Zhou scratched his head awkwardly.
He hadn't expected Max to hold such a grudge against Belial.
But, thinking about it — it made sense.
He was known as the fastest, strongest Ultraman… and yet, in Mega Monster Battle: Ultra Galaxy Legends, Belial had completely crushed him.
Anyone would take that personally.
"Didn't expect you three to actually make it this far."
A cold, distorted voice echoed from one corner of the top floor.
The three Ultras turned toward the sound — and saw him.
Standing in the shadows, smiling darkly, was Etelgar.