The former members of the original Victory Team — even now, long after the team's disbandment — each held positions of considerable importance.
However, Consultant Gondou quickly dismissed one person from suspicion: Yu Zhou.
After all, Tiga had already existed long before Yu Zhou ever joined the Victory Team.
As for why there were two Tigas appearing later, Gondou believed that must have been one of Tiga's unique abilities — the power to divide himself.
Captain Megumi and Rena were also ruled out. Based on the ancient Ultra giants found in R'lyeh, it was confirmed that even Ultramen had gender differences.
And it was clear: Tiga was male.
That left only Horii, Shinjou, Daigo, Yazumi, and Munakata.
Pulling up a set of mission records, Gondou noticed a strange pattern: Ultraman Tiga always appeared whenever a Victory Team member's plane had crashed.
Checking the repair logs, Gondou narrowed it down to two names —
Daigo and Shinjou.
"These two… it has to be one of them."
After a moment's thought, Gondou made up his mind.
He had, in fact, once set his sights on the ancient Ultra giants resting beneath R'lyeh — but the former director, Sawai, had already issued an official order.
R'lyeh was to be entrusted to the care of the ancient Ultra beings.
This was the result of direct negotiations between Sawai and the three ancient giants.
According to the agreement, TPC would send personnel to assist with reconstruction and help maintain order — but Camearra would remain the rightful ruler of R'lyeh.
TPC would, however, station representatives there to maintain discipline and governance. After all, with just Camearra, Darramb, and Hudra, managing the city would be a difficult task.
Most importantly, Camearra agreed that if Earth were ever in danger again, she would lend her power to help.
For her, such a small request was hardly worth refusing.
During the incident aboard the Artdessei, everyone presents had already learned the truth — Masaki Keigo was himself a being of light.
Because of that, Director Sawai pardoned him and reinstated him as a secret member of the Victory Team, under the highest level of classification.
Among those with that level of secrecy were also Daigo and Yu Zhou — though the classified documents revealed only that a Giant of Light existed among the team, not who it was.
Thus, even when Gondou stumbled upon the information by accident, he could not determine which member was Tiga's host.
Later, after the Victory Team disbanded and the Super Victory Team was formed, Masaki Keigo was reassigned to R'lyeh as TPC's highest representative there.
Being a Giant of Light himself, Sawai clearly had his reasons for sending Masaki.
With a target finally in mind, Gondou began to plan his next move.
The secret facility on Mars was ready — all it needed now was a genetic sample containing the gene of light.
Just as Gondou finished closing his files, a sudden voice echoed in his mind.
[Shin Asuka… he is Ultraman Dyna.]
Gondou froze. "...Monera!"
He recognized that voice instantly — it was the Monera alien he had just seen destroyed.
But no one else was there. Only a faint blue mist drifted from Gondou's forehead before fading into the air.
It was the Monera alien's final will — the last trace of its consciousness on Earth.
Sensing Gondou's fear of the Giants of Light and his thirst for power, it delivered this final message… to help fulfil its grudge.
When the voice disappeared, Gondou calmed himself and muttered,
"So… Shin Asuka is Ultraman Dyna."
His eyes widened slightly — shock mixed with satisfaction.
He didn't know why the Monera alien had chosen to tell him that, but he decided to trust the information.
After all, the enemy of my enemy is my friend.
Well… perhaps "temporary ally" was more accurate.
The Monera alien was still an enemy — one who was already dust in the wind.
But now that Gondou had a concrete target, things became much easier.
Going after Daigo or Shinjou would have been difficult given their positions.
But Shin Asuka, a young and reckless member of the Super Victory Team?
He would be much easier to approach.
Meanwhile, Yu Zhou's black form streaked across the sky, vanishing into the horizon.
Down below, the people who had witnessed Queen Monera's destruction at the hands of Dark Tiga finally broke down in tears.
Ambulance sirens echoed through the ruined city, racing between collapsed streets and broken buildings.
At the Crystal Palace, Camearra stood at the gates with a smile, waiting for Yu Zhou's return.
She had watched the entire battle through the live broadcast — that silver-and-black figure, overflowing with power, radiating a darkness both majestic and terrifying.
It was the return of the strongest dark giant from the ancient times.
In his room, Yu Zhou sat before his computer, replaying the footage.
He noticed something strange about himself in his Dark Tiga form — the colour timer on his chest had shifted slightly toward purple, though unlike when he had fought Belial, he hadn't lost control.
"...Is there some deeper meaning to this?" he wondered aloud, scratching his head.
His mind had indeed been disturbed a little by the hatred he had absorbed — but after the battle, he recovered quickly.
Clearly, there were still things about Tiga that he didn't yet understand.
Perhaps because of that lingering emotional burden, Yu Zhou decided to rest for a while inside the Crystal Palace, avoiding any missions.
Whenever boredom struck, he played one-swing-999 damage games with Charija.
Then, one morning, his phone buzzed — a message from Asuka.
"Senpai, I think someone's interested in me… what should I do? I'm so shy about it."
Yu Zhou blinked at the message and replied:
"Shy my foot. Who is it? Send me a picture."
"No photo," Asuka wrote, "but I do have a short video. Want to see it?"
Yu Zhou raised an eyebrow. "A video? That sounds… suspicious."
A video? This sounds a bit too spicy… are women nowadays really this bold?
A moment later, a file appeared in the chat:
'The Woman with Long Black Hair.mp4'
Yu Zhou cleared his throat, face solemn.
"As a man of integrity and moral standing… how could I possibly watch something indecent?"
He paused — then decisively tapped play.
The video began.
On screen appeared a woman with long, straight black hair, staring directly into the camera with a serious expression.
"Shin Asuka. We have something we'd like to show you. The automatic flight data has already been sent to you.
If you have the courage… come alone."
Her tone was calm, her face emotionless — and then the video cut to black.
Almost immediately, another message came from Asuka:
"Well, Senpai? Did you see it? She says she wants to show me something!
And she said I have to come alone!"
Yu Zhou just stared at the screen in silence.
"..."