There was a legend told throughout the universe.
270,000 years ago, a species remarkably similar to humans lived on a planet in the M78 Nebula.
When the sun of their star system died, they spent years researching a way to survive and built the Plasma Spark Tower.
The moment the tower activated, dazzling light shone upon them, granting them tremendous energy.
They evolved, gaining immense power.
From then on, their planet knew no darkness, only light. To put this power to good use, they founded the Space Garrison and began fighting across the cosmos to preserve peace and stability and protect precious lives.
Their home planet came to be known as the Land of Light.
And they gained a name that struck terror into every invader and destroyer of life-Ultraman!
At that moment, on Planet Abil...
The Ultra Warriors who had battled the Zetton Legion could only watch as Ultimate Life Form Tartarus took Princess Yullian of the Land of Light away.
Ultraman Taiga was furious.
"Everyone, we have to catch Tartarus and rescue Princess Yullian!"
He charged forward, only for Ultraman 80 to stop him and calmly say:
"Wait. You don't even know where the enemy is. How do you plan to chase him?"
Just as Taiga was about to argue, an enormous Ultra Sign appeared behind him, revealing a projection of Ultraman Hikari to the assembled warriors.
Hikari said, "Something terrible has happened! The Inter Galactic Research and Development Institute was attacked! The Z Risers and Ultra Medals we developed earlier have all been stolen by Ferocious Space Shark Genegarg!"
"One crisis after another. Who would've thought Devil Splinters would turn up again at a time like this? Misfortunes really never come alone."
Ultraman Zero, the Land of Light's current ace, sighed.
Nearby, Ultraman Zero's disciple, Ultraman Z, trembled with anger. "That guy is ultra-dangerous! I'll handle him. Wait for me to get back!"
With that, he left the other Ultramen behind and flew into space.
Zero stared speechlessly at the Riser Hikari had given him earlier.
"Unbelievable... He went after him without a Riser. He really is one-third of a half-baked rookie!"
"Go after Z. Leave recruiting members for the Ultra League to our Galaxy Rescue Force and the Tri-Squad. Don't worry about things here."
"Leave it to us," Taiga, Fuuma, and Titas promised. Their assurances put Zero at ease.
"Sorry for the trouble. That kid does call himself my disciple every day, after all."
"Please wait!"
Grigio Ultraman called out to Zero. "Grigio Healing!" She treated some of his injuries.
"Thanks, Grigio." With that, Zero flew into space to chase after Z. "Be careful out there!" the senior warriors called after him.
Zero opened a portal and joined Z in tracking Gegna Gag, who had stolen the Ultra Medals, through the spatial bubbles of the multiverse. After searching for a while, they finally spotted the fleeing shark.
"Found you!" Z took the lead and fired a beam at Gegna Gag. Rather than stay and fight, Gegna Gag plunged into the nearest universe.
"Don't run!" Z rushed in after him, with Zero close behind. That universe also contained an Earth, and Gegna Gag charged toward it, only for Z to intercept him and engage him in battle.
Gegna Gag rammed Z aside. Z circled behind him, grabbed his head, and brought a vicious Hand Blade chop down on his horn.
When the chop failed to damage it, Z pulled back and began charging his head cutters. "Z Head Cutter!" The gathered energy formed a barrage of light bullets that struck Gegna Gag, but only showers of sparks erupted.
Gegna Gag glowed red, and dozens of light bullets formed around his body before shooting toward Z. Z raised his arms to block, only to realize that the bullets had exploded before reaching him. Looking closer, he saw that his master, Zero, had already leaped in front of him, clad in a blue cape.
"It's too dangerous. Stay out of this!"
"Do you think I'm some half-baked rookie? I'm a member of the Space Garrison too, Master!"
As they spoke, Gegna Gag fired a purple beam at them, which both Ultramen swiftly dodged. Zero grumbled as he flew, "I don't remember ever taking you on as my disciple. If you ask me, you're only one-third of a half-baked rookie..."
"One-third?! That's an ultra-harsh blow," Z said miserably. Before he could finish, Gegna Gag opened his mouth and fired a meteor at them, which Zero blasted apart.
"Come on, show me what else you've got!"
Gegna Gag opened his mouth again and fired a purple orb of light at Zero.
Zero knocked it aside. "I told you, that won't work!" But the orb began taking solid form, and from within it emerged...
The Four-Dimensional Monster-Bullton!
"What the hell?!"
Before Zero could react, Bullton's gravitational pull caught him.
"Bullton?! Seriously?! No choice, then. Z, take these and get out of here!"
Zero threw the Z Riser in his hand to Z, along with the Ultra Medals of himself, Ultraseven, and Leo.
Unable to hold out any longer, Zero was dragged completely into the Other Dimension.
"Master!" Z cried out in anguish, but there was nothing he could do. Taking the Riser and Medals, he could only continue chasing Gegna Gag.
Within the warped space of Bullton's alternate dimension, Zero struggled desperately.
"Damn it! Even I can't take much more of this! I'll have to try that move and hope for the best!"
Golden light burst from Zero's body as he transformed into his Shining Form. "Shining Star Drive!"
Before long, Zero broke free of Bullton's alternate dimension.
He emerged gasping for breath, the timer on his chest blinking. He hurriedly absorbed some cosmic energy.
Then he noticed the Earth before him, but he could sense neither Z nor Gegna Gag.
"Damn it, what other world have I ended up in this time?" Zero checked his Paraghi Shield.
He discovered that the Paraji Shield had once again been badly damaged during his battle with Tartarus. With his body weakened from using his Shining Form, the shield was now completely unusable, and his earlier injuries had flared up again. For the time being, he was stuck in this universe...
"I really hope Z will be all right. There's still so much I haven't taught him... No use worrying. I'll rest up on this Earth's surface for a while and figure out what to do afterward..."
He transformed into a red sphere and flew toward Earth.
At that moment, neither Zero nor anyone on the planet could have imagined that this cruel world's fate was about to change completely, for this was the world of Neon Genesis Evangelion!
Author's note: (Anything in this book that conflicts with Tsuburaya's established lore is my own setting. Please go easy on me, dear readers.)
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