---o---
Light Curtain Commentary
Although they already knew the outcome, the audience outside the screen couldn't help but break into a cold sweat after seeing Zero lose.
Zero was currently the strongest fighter on the side of good. If anything were to happen to him, then both Earth and the Land of Light might be completely wiped from the universe.
[Galaxy Baseballer]: "What happened? Wasn't Zero doing fine just now? How did he suddenly get knocked back to his base form?"
Aboard the train, Stelle watched the defeated Zero with confusion. With the Path of Destruction stacked on top of the Aegis of Palagye, hadn't he been completely overwhelming the Little Golden Man?
[Detective Conan]: "The Little Golden Man said he couldn't maintain that form for long, but Zero's Color Timer wasn't blinking. What's going on?"
[Himeko of the Astral Express]: "Zero has been using the Aegis of Palagye for a while now. Clearly, the problem lies with the Destruction form."
[Dan Heng]: "Is it possible that Nanook is interfering? He seems to have a particular fondness for destroying this universe."
[March 7th]: "Wow, how can that Aeon of Destruction be so evil! He's in a different universe and he's still thinking about causing trouble!"
[Herta]: "The Aeon of Destruction? Nanook? He is powerful, but do you think it's possible for him to cross the cosmic chasm that even the Amber King and Aha cannot traverse in the slightest? It's impressive enough that he can exert any influence at all."
[March 7th]: "Then what's the reason? Ms. Herta?"
[Herta]: "How should I know? Who do you want me to ask, Nous?"
[March 7th]: "...So there are things even a genius doesn't know..."
[Father of Ultra]: "I believe it is because of Zero himself. Destruction… the word does not suit him. In other words, this Path called Destruction… is not a good fit for him."
---o---
Light Curtain Footage
In the footage, Tartarus advanced step by step. Zero had been knocked back to his base form, and Cosmos's chest timer was still blinking. Both of them had lost their ability to fight.
During the clash between Zero and Tartarus, splashes of golden and blue energy had flown everywhere, riddling the space created by the Little Golden Man with holes.
Under these circumstances, Tartarus spoke. "Good, it's a good thing I didn't choose to run in the end. Otherwise, all my efforts up until now would have been for nothing."
As he gathered power in his hands, Tartarus continued to speak to the two of them.
According to his personality, he normally would have fled the moment he saw Zero's new form. But thankfully, he hadn't been able to let go of the information about the Sacred Light.
"That's right, golden guy. If you had actually run, I would have looked down on you."
As Zero spoke, he casually glanced towards the crumbling edge of the golden space.
In the distance, the figures of the Swarm dancing through the starry sky were already clearly visible.
However, for the current Zero, that was unimportant. Besides him and Cosmos, there were other Ultramen on Earth who could fight.
Hearing his words, Tartarus was taken aback. As if sensing something, he immediately looked behind him. "Absolute Defense!!"
BOOM!!!
The number one kick in the universe, the Leo Kick, slammed heavily into Tartarus's barrier. It then effortlessly shattered the defense and sent Tartarus flying out of this dimension, tumbling onto the rocky surface nearby.
"Ultraman Leo?"
The warrior from Planet L77 who stood by Ultraman King's side. Among the many Ultra Brothers, Leo's strength and reputation were renowned throughout the universe.
"You're finally here! Now it's time to settle the score, Tartarus!" Zero climbed to his feet and stood alongside Leo.
The master and apprentice duo stood together, facing the Tartarus who was now picking himself up from the ground.
At this point, the golden space Tartarus had constructed had completely vanished. The four of them were now fighting in the vacuum of space.
And all around them… were the pheromones left by the endless Swarm. A sickly-sweet scent lingered, attempting to seep into their bodies through skin contact.
"Again? Are all Ultramen just a bunch of cowards who only know how to sneak attack from behind?"
Zero saving Cosmos was a sneak attack. Leo kicking him was also a sneak attack. Being ambushed twice in a row was enough to anger even someone with Tartarus's personality.
The Leo Kick was powerful, but it shouldn't have been able to break his defensive barrier. If it weren't for the element of surprise, how could Leo have possibly breached his defense?
At this moment, Tartarus was angry. He cast aside his previous cautious demeanor. His entire body erupted in golden light, warding off the surrounding Swarm pheromones, as he charged proactively towards Zero and Leo.
Leo adopted a fighting stance and glanced at Zero beside him. "Zero, you haven't forgotten what I taught you, have you?"
Zero grinned. "Of course not. Who do you think I am?"
During their exchange, Tartarus's attack arrived. The two of them tacitly dodged to either side. The aftershock of Tartarus's golden energy easily shattered the massive rock formations behind them.
The moment he finished his attack, Zero suddenly charged forward with ferocious speed, rushing head-on towards Tartarus and tangling with him.
Meanwhile, Leo appeared behind Tartarus as if from nowhere, delivering a side kick with his right foot, relentlessly attacking Tartarus's lower body.
Their coordination was exquisite. All their combination moves were executed in an instant, making all the viewers outside the screen exclaim that they were truly master and apprentice.
However, before the audience could continue their praise, the tense situation once again had everyone on the edge of their seats. Countless nervous and expectant eyes were glued to the light curtain, not daring to blink for fear of missing a spectacular moment.
In the footage, people could clearly see every detail of Zero and Leo's joint battle. Even the flying sand and rolling stones around them were crystal clear, creating a dreamlike experience.
Their tacit coordination produced a result where one plus one was greater than two, completely pinning the Little Golden Man down.
Although Zero was only in his base form, without using the Aegis of Palagye or the power of the Path, it was precisely for this reason that his coordination with Leo appeared even more seamless, as if they were a single person.
Then, amidst the flying sand and rolling stones, Tartarus realized his predicament.
Zero grabbed Tartarus's arm and immediately used a grappling technique to immobilize his joints. In that same instant, Leo's roundhouse kick arrived. The flaming kick struck Tartarus's body, creating sparks and lightning.
BOOM~~
The pain in his body proved that after a prolonged, high-pressure battle, Tartarus's defenses had weakened considerably compared to when he was at his peak. Leo's last hit had broken through.
Leo and Zero's coordination completely exceeded Tartarus's expectations. His mind, which had lost its reason due to anger moments ago, had now regained its composure thanks to that blow.
However… it was now impossible for Tartarus to escape. Leo and Zero wouldn't give him the chance.
Fists, whip kicks—countless attacks rained down like a storm. Although Tartarus knew where the attacks were coming from, he was powerless to block them.
Or rather, the attacks he managed to block were all feints meant to distract him. The real blows always came from behind, or from places he simply couldn't defend against.
"Bzzzzzz—"
In the distance, the Swarm soaring through the cosmos was attracted by the trio's battle, their wings vibrating as they sped over from afar.
"The Swarm is coming?"
For the first time, Tartarus wasn't annoyed by the sound of the Swarm.
Taking advantage of the moment Zero and Leo were distracted by the approaching insects, Tartarus swiftly dodged their pincer attack and stood firm before them.
Then, he crossed his hands to concentrate energy and pushed his palms forward. A lightning-like beam of golden-yellow energy rushed out, engulfing everything around it.
"Absolute Destruction!!"
As the ultimate move was unleashed, the golden torrent surged forward, sending them flying. The surrounding rock pillars crumbled like tofu.
Seeing this, Zero and Leo exchanged a knowing glance. Zero quickly crouched in front of Leo, clasping his hands and raising them high.
Leo stood directly behind Zero, placing his hands over his apprentice's.
The Ultra Double Flasher. The original version of this move was a combination beam used by Leo and his younger brother, Astra, capable of stacking their powers and releasing them with a hundredfold increase.
When used in tandem with Zero, its power was in no way inferior to the original. In fact, because Zero's own energy was stronger, it unleashed an even greater force than the original version.
The Leo-Zero Ultra Double Flasher collided with the uncharged Absolute Destruction, erupting with immense energy and instantly annihilating everything in the vicinity.
Seeing this, Tartarus raised his hands. The red jewel on his gauntlet glowed, and a golden portal materialized. Without a moment's hesitation, he dived into it.
---o---
Light Curtain Commentary
[Galaxy Baseballer]: "So this is our trio's passionate combination attack, huh? It's just too strong! What Ultimate Lifeform? Watch me absolutely wreck him!"
[Universal Loiterer Zero]: "Trio? Why do I only see two people? Oh, right, you're inside me."
[Cosmos Musashi]: "So… was I just a background character spectating the whole time?"
[Don't Want a Jeep]: "Mm, Tartarus first dealt with a King-Bug, then fought consecutively with Cosmos and Zero. This time, it does feel a bit like a victory without honor."
[Yukino Yukinoshita]: "I never expected Zero and Leo combined would be stronger than the Little Golden Man. Is this the power of the King of Combat?"
[Sakamoto]: "King of Combat? No, no, no. Leo is practically my father. Isn't it only natural for him to be this strong?"
[Utaha Kasumigaoka]: "What I'm curious about now is, if Leo combined his attack with his actual younger brother, Astra, would it be even more powerful?"
[Land of Light's Police Dog]: "I'm afraid you'll be disappointed. Zero's individual strength is greater than mine. Even if Nii-san and I have better synergy, it would be difficult to inflict any significant damage on Tartarus."
---o---
Light Curtain Footage
After Tartarus retreated, the distant Swarm had already arrived at the rocky platform where Zero and Leo were.
"Zero, don't get entangled with these guys! Bugs have appeared on Earth too. Prioritize dealing with the Swarm on Earth!"
The Swarm in space was endless. Leo, who already had a basic understanding of them, would not engage in such a thankless task.
With the Swarm's reproductive speed, the moment they finished killing this batch, dozens more would likely arrive.
"Understood." Zero spread his arms, and the Aegis of Palagye materialized on his body. Then, with a flash of blue light, he and Leo vanished from the spot.
It is worth noting that Leo did not rely on the Aegis of Palagye to return to Earth. Instead, he used the King's Mantle given to him by Ultraman King, which was why he was able to provide reinforcements so quickly.
After Zero and Leo disappeared, the footage shifted to Tartarus.
Kneeling on one knee, Tartarus was panting heavily. Although he hadn't sustained any fatal injuries, his mental fatigue and physical pain were clearly visible.
"I was a bit careless. If I had known there was a chance to obtain the Sacred Light on this trip, I should have brought more people."
The Little Golden Bull and the Little Golden Sword—both were top-tier warriors in the Kingdom. If they were here, the Sacred Light would have been his for the taking. But alas…
After a simple recovery, Tartarus's gaze turned to the depths of space.
The cosmos was painted in shades of crimson and dark green, a strange and bewitching beauty.
Seeing this, Tartarus mused, "It has already spread this far?"
In his haste, Tartarus hadn't set a specific destination for his spatial jump; he had simply teleported the maximum possible distance.
For the Swarm to have spread this far meant that nearly two-thirds of the universe had been corroded by them.
Aside from certain powerful civilizations capable of protecting themselves against the Swarm's might, not a single planet could escape their plunder.
Without the justice-dispensing Space Garrison, did the other cosmic powers simply choose to ignore the Swarm?
Just as Tartarus was pondering this, brilliant sparks began to bloom in the distant starry sky. Before he could think further, the colors of an entire star system seemed to ignite, fading away at a visible rate.
"That is…"
When nearly all civilizations had chosen to fend for themselves, who was still out there clearing away the Swarm?
Moreover, a power of this magnitude did not seem to belong to some weak civilization.
After the Swarm in an entire star system was dissipated, the whole system was instantly enveloped in an incomparably deep darkness.
Seeing this, Tartarus knew the identity of the other party.
"The Great Emperor of the Dark Universe, Empera, I see."
Author's Note: PS: A clarification. Star of Zoffy has only appeared in the manga; he is not part of the main canon. Therefore, his power level will not be based on the exaggerated strength from the manga. Also, his role won't be too significant, as Zoffy is also a fusion material for Ultraman Super Taro and Ultraman Mebius Infinity. He will mostly just make an appearance.