Malebrandes — the place where a dark destiny was once written in blood and vengeance.
Long abandoned by the clamor of the dark legions, the ancient fortress once again echoed with footsteps.
Silent and isolated, every corner of it seemed wrapped in a crimson haze glowing faintly from its own energy core.
---
In the throne chamber sat a figure upon a throne of blackened iron.
They did not speak. They did not move.
Their gaze was fixed upon the long corridor dividing the fortress, as though replaying memories that had never truly faded.
TheKaiser Belial's Mantle-(ベリアルマント, Beriaru Manto) draped over their body with imposing grace, sweeping the floor as if absorbing the shadows along the walls.
In their hand stood the Giga Battlenizer — a symbol that left no doubt as to where they came from.
Those eyes... like Belial's, yet glowing blue like Geed's.
Calm, yet hiding a storm not yet unleashed.
That being was Obspera.
Their silence ended when heavy footsteps echoed through the hall.
They rose from the throne—the first step etched with restrained fury, the second imbued with the cold elegance shaped by Tregear.
With a single decisive motion, Obspera struck the Giga Battlenizer into the floor, creating a crack of raw energy, then traced a gesture to summon a portal—
—just as their father and mentor once did.
A swirling darkness opened before them, leading toward the very heart of the universe: The Land of Light-(光の国, Hikari no Kuni).
---
Emerging from the portal, they faced the dazzling green skies of Planet Ultra-(ウルトラの星, Urutora no Hoshi), *the world often called the Land of Light.
To most beings, this place was paradise.
To Obspera... it was a proving ground.
Hovering briefly, Obspera gazed at the planet wordlessly, before moving toward its satellite — the former prison of Belial: The Space Prison (宇宙牢獄, Uchū Rōgoku).
They floated slowly around the silent structure, not with hatred but with curiosity.
As if tracing the scars left by the same bloodline.
This satellite was no ordinary celestial body; once, it had been the Space Prison built to contain Ultraman Belial, after he attempted to seize the Plasma Spark-(プラズマスパーク, Purazuma Supāku), the central energy source of the Land of Light.
The prison had been designed by Ultraman King to restrain Belial's overwhelming power, and for thousands of years, it stood as a symbol of betrayal and ruin.
But after Belial's liberation by Alien Zarab, who wielded the Giga Battlenizer, and his subsequent assault on the Land of Light—the prison lost its purpose.
It became a silent satellite orbiting the planet, an eternal reminder of a fallen era.
Obspera stared at it sharply, recalling the dark history of their creator.
They showed no emotion, yet within that silence lay a profound understanding of the legacy they carried.
After a moment, Obspera continued their path. Descending toward the Land of Light with calm but unwavering resolve.
---
As they passed through the planet's atmosphere, a breathtaking vista unfolded: vast continents of crystal-green land floating in the void, circling the planet's core like cosmic rings.
Those crystalline continents reflected the radiance of the Plasma Spark, casting a mesmerizing glow amid the emptiness of space.
Known as orbital plates, these colossal floating lands maintained the equilibrium of a world sixty times larger than Earth.
Below, the planet's crystalline surface shimmered with emerald hues, home to more than three hundred cities scattered across its expanse.
The light of the Plasma Spark not only illuminated the world, it powered every life upon it: the Ultras.
But to Obspera, the sight was not of beauty... it was of history.
A symbol of power, legacy, and the burden of fate.
With eyes sharp and unwavering, Obspera descended through the atmosphere, drawing nearer to the planet's surface, ready to confront whatever awaited them within the Land of Light.
And then... they landed.
Softly, yet decisively. No explosion. No destruction.
But every eye that witnessed it trembled.
The black-and-red mantle fluttered; the markings on their body radiated an identity undeniable.
And those eyes... froze time itself.
The arrival of Obspera upon the Land of Light was no mere visit, it was the herald of a new chapter never invited.
Each step upon the sacred ground felt like a thorn piercing peace.
No chaos, no roar, yet every detail. The mantle, the weapon, the unblinking blue gaze was enough to send unease rippling through the hearts of the defenders of the universe.
Their purpose? Unknown.
No declaration, no threat.
Only a presence like a seed of darkness, waiting to bloom.
Though Obspera made no move to attack, the darkness swirling around them spoke louder than words.
---
Meanwhile, at the Ultra Space Port (ウルトラスペースポート, Urutora Supēsu Pōto); the core hub of defense and interstellar surveillance. Monitors across the hall displayed the same image:
Obspera, standing beneath the sacred glow of the planet.
Within the command center, Ultras of every generation gathered — Father and Mother of Ultra, the Tri Squad, the New Generation Heroes, Ultraman Ribut, Ultraman Regulos, and the Ultimate Force Zero.
All stood in silent vigilance, eyes fixed upon the screen.
Geed stared into Obspera's piercing blue eyes... as though seeing a reflection of a past resurrected.
Beside him, Zero, his gaze sharp with curiosity, struggled to read the meaning behind this sudden arrival.
The senior Ultra Brothers stood firm, pillars of composure amidst uncertainty.
Yet beneath that calm surface stirred a faint, inescapable anxiety.
They all waited;
for a signal, a word from Ken, the Father of Ultra, or from the visitor themself.
Geed stepped forward, his face clouded by tension, concern, and an unspoken curiosity.
His eyes traced every detail of Obspera's form, his mind torn between rejection and recognition... between hatred and understanding of the shadow of his father standing before him.
Zero, the battle-hardened and wise warrior, remained vigilant.
He stood tall, gaze locked on Obspera, unmoving.
He could feel it; the same aura he once faced when confronting Belial.
Yet beneath that, there lingered a subtle elegance, reminiscent of Tregear.
Zero did not rush to fight. He waited, carefully measuring the storm before him.
Nearby, Taiga gripped his Taiga Spark tightly.
Seeing the same device on Obspera's wrist sent a shock through him.
He remembered Tregear, the fallen friend of his father, Ultraman Taro... once the shadow haunting his own path to heroism.
The Taiga Spark trembled in his grasp, responding to the echo of its twin.
Something within it called out to understand the connection between Obspera and Tregear, and the mystery of the device now in Obspera's possession.
Ultraman Ribut observed keenly, his tone analytical.
"This presence... it reminds me of Tartarus's tactics," he murmured.
"But there's something different."
He recalled how Tartarus once exploited the doubts and resentments of Belial and Tregear, luring them into his Absolutian alliance with cunning manipulation and promises of power.
Ultraman Regulos, his stance firm and ready, narrowed his eyes.
"If this is part of Tartarus's scheme, we must prepare for the worst,"
he said, voice low but resolute.
The Ultra Brothers and Ultra League exchanged wary glances.
Fear and curiosity mingled in their expressions.
"We don't yet know his intentions," one of them spoke,
"but his arrival has already disturbed the balance of the Land of Light."
---
Amid confusion and unease, Obspera remained silent, their piercing eyes fixed upon the gathered Ultras.
They showed no hostility, yet their presence alone was enough to keep every warrior on guard.
The silence grew heavy, each breath felt like weight.
Zero looked as though he might step forward first... body leaning slightly, eyes never leaving Obspera.
But Father of Ultra, standing among them, raised his hand; a signal to hold.
"Steady, Zero. We don't yet know who they are," came the firm, calm voice of the Father.
Zero straightened, though his gaze did not waver.
Beside him, Geed clenched his fists... restraining the urge to speak.
Meanwhile, Taiga felt the vibration of his Taiga Spark intensify... an instinctive call he could no longer ignore.
Seeing the tension still taut, Father of Ultra gave a subtle nod to Zero.
Zero returned it, then stepped forward.
His stride was steady, slow but deliberate, the walk of a warrior who had faced darkness countless times before.
When he finally stopped a few steps before Obspera, the air itself seemed to freeze.
The Ultras behind him watched, motionless.
Zero stared straight into those blue eyes. Eyes that mirrored Belial's wrath but shimmered with something foreign, something... enigmatic.
Then, in a low, commanding voice, Zero spoke first:
"Who are you? And what do you want here?"
His tone held no aggression, only the certainty of one ready for any threat.
Obspera met his gaze, expressionless.
Their voice deep, graceful, and hauntingly familiar, a blend of Belial's gravity and Tregear's elegance... finally answered:
"Who are you?"
The simple question struck like a blade of still air.
Zero, known for his confidence and defiance, exhaled lightly, trying to ease the rising tension.
"I'm Zero. Ultraman Zero, son of Ultraseven, protector of the Land of Light.
I don't play with words. If you come in peace... speak."
"Zero... Ultraman Zero, son of Ultraseven."
Obspera repeated his name slowly, almost studying it.
They raised the Giga Battlenizer, not in aggression, but with solemn precision. A gesture echoing Belial's raw might yet tempered by Tregear's refined poise.
"Zero," Obspera said softly,
"I want to see the extent of your power. Let us duel... just you and me."
---
The personal challenge stunned the Ultras watching from afar.
Geed, who had sensed a strange familiarity from the start, took a step forward but was stopped by the Father of Ultra.
Taiga's Taiga Spark pulsed violently in his grasp, the tension reaching its peak.
Zero stared deeply at Obspera, trying to read the intent behind the challenge.
"If that's what you wish," he said,
"I'll grant it.
But first... tell me, what is your true purpose in coming here?"
Obspera lowered their head slightly, as if reflecting, before replying in a deep, resonant tone that carried both grace and conviction:
"My purpose... is to test the limits.
The limit of your power,
and the limit of my own destiny."
________
*To be continued.