"That's—!"
"It really is..."
"ULTRAMAN!"
Two Travelers descended to the battlefield's edge, held aloft by Ultra Psychic power alongside other Defense Force members. Their jaws hung open. Worldviews shattered.
I just said it couldn't be Ultraman. And you actually show up!?
Dozens of Defense Force soldiers tilted their heads back. Stared in disbelief at the fifty-meter figure in the sky. Compared to the Kaiju, he looked small.
But in that moment, something clicked. An instinctive certainty: the giant's appearance meant they were safe.
This baseless trust confused them.
"A crisis moment... a giant of light emerging from radiance."
"Never thought I'd actually witness this with my own eyes." The brown-haired Traveler gazed upward, expression complicated.
Who didn't idolize heroes of light as a kid?
Seeing an actual giant of light now—that childhood longing, buried in some forgotten corner of his heart, surged back to the surface.
"Ultraman... can't believe it. At a time like this, the one I want to rely on most... is Ultraman."
He watched Ultraman emerge unscathed from the massive Kaiju's attack. His fist clenched unconsciously. His jaw trembled.
When he'd seen the Eight-Section Light Wheel earlier, he'd convinced himself—convinced others—it couldn't be Ultraman.
Because he knew: if you hope for something too much, the disappointment when it doesn't happen? That taste is bitter.
"Think Ultraman can beat a Kaiju that big?"
"From what I remember, he usually fights things around his own size. That serpent looks like a final boss." The blonde Traveler, recovering from shock, noticed the size disparity.
"What are you even saying?" The brown-haired Traveler didn't hesitate. "How could Ultraman possibly lose?"
"Dude, your attitude just did a complete 180." The blonde stared. "Weren't you just talking about requesting arbitration measures?"
"Hmph. You don't get it."
"Adapting plans based on circumstances? Basic tactics." The brown-haired Traveler shrugged.
"Is this what being tsundere looks like?"
"Shut up!"
"Natsuki-san's going all out now."
Kaiju Kafka had taken down the bone dragon. Held its core in his hand. Turned back to see the giant in the sky. His eyes flickered.
During training, he'd gotten familiar with his own power. Even gained the upper hand at times. He'd thought maybe he could defeat Natsuki-san and graduate...
Then Natsuki-san transformed into this form. Taught him another harsh lesson.
Showed him he was still twenty thousand years away from matching an Ultra veteran.
"We finally get to see Natsuki-san fight at full power!?" Reno Ichikawa stared up at the transformed Natsuki, voice brimming with anticipation.
"That man's true strength..." Mina Ashiro gazed at the giant in the sky. Expectation filled her eyes.
In the earlier battle with Commander Shinomiya, Natsuki hadn't used his full power. They'd only glimpsed this form for a few seconds.
Now, finally, they'd see what he was truly capable of.
"We should clear the area. Let Natsuki-san fight without holding back." Reno suggested to the other two. Compared to the thick-headed Kafka, his thinking was sharper.
"Right!" Kaiju Kafka nodded. Gripped the bone dragon's core. They retreated toward the battlefield's far edge.
"Ultraman... Ultraman..."
"This world... actually has Ultraman in it."
Every head of Yamata-no-Orochi locked onto the red-and-silver figure—more than ten times smaller than itself. Never expected to encounter this kind of enemy here.
The Ultra Barrier dissipated. It saw clearly: those glowing eyes, that Color Timer crystal, that completely unfamiliar face.
"An unknown nobody. Just another grunt-level fighter."
"Even if you're an Ultraman, you can't stop me!"
Sure, there were powerful Ultramen out there. But this unremarkable-looking guy? Definitely not one of them.
His combat power? Probably capped at demolishing a few buildings.
Looking like that, he's probably the type who wrestles fifty-meter Kaiju on the ground. How strong could he be?
After it finished speaking, the giant in the sky just... stared. Those bright eyes revealed no emotion.
"SKREEEEOOOOAAAAR!"
Eight massive serpent heads roared. Sound became shockwave. Blasted toward the giant from eight directions.
Each head matched the giant's entire body size. The roar's oppressive force was overwhelming. The soundwave rolled beyond the battlefield. Defense Force members in the distance felt their ears ring.
The giant started spinning.
His body became a red pinwheel. Spinning in midair. Bizarre. Impossible to predict.
"Sound attacks don't work?"
"Then lightning it is!"
All eight serpent heads opened wide. Brilliant golden lightning gathered in seven mouths... The remaining head tilted skyward, fired a blue energy beam.
The blue beam dispersed in the air. Black clouds formed. Covered the sky. Plunged the area into darkness. Rain fell in massive drops—like bullets.
Lightning crackled through the storm clouds. In this thunder-and-rain battlefield, the hundred-meter serpent looked even more terrifying.
"SKREEEEOOOOAAAAR!"
Seven heads unleashed lightning toward the giant's position. Briefly illuminated the darkness.
But the spinning giant moved at speeds the eye couldn't track. Slammed into one of the serpent's heads.
WHAM!
The head recoiled. Knocked sideways. Its lightning struck another head. Hit its own body.
The giant had drilled between Yamata-no-Orochi's coils. All its attacks hit empty air.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Golden lightning swept across the wet ground. Ruins exploded. Left deep trenches. Everything in its path turned charred black.
One strike destroyed a third of the terrain.
This world's Kaiju weren't just for show. They had real combat capability. Setting aside defense, just looking at destructive power—they exceeded monsters like Gudon or Twin Tail.
But against an Ultraman with rich combat experience who'd already cleared the battlefield?
Still not enough.
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