"Huh?!"
Zero took out the broken Palaj Bracelet and handed it to Hikari.
Hikari examined it carefully before reaching a conclusion.
"Hmm, it isn't as badly damaged as it was when Belial broke it. I can try repairing it for you."
"What?" Zero was surprised, since this was a divine artifact Noa had given him.
But then he remembered that he had let Hikari study the Palaj Bracelet before.
As the director of the Land of Light's Science and Technology Bureau, Hikari was certainly someone he could trust.
If only he would beef up his lab's security sometime! This was already the second time Zero had come out to clean up the mess after something was stolen!
"Zero, isn't your security back home a little..." Shinji couldn't understand how such an important place could be robbed twice, with something crucial stolen each time.
Still, out of respect for an elder and a superior, Zero didn't voice his complaints to Hikari.
Hikari turned to Gendo Ikari. "I need somewhere without any unauthorized personnel to carry out the repairs. Can you find a place like that?"
Gendo Ikari would now do his best to accommodate the requests of the Ultramen from the Land of Light.
"I'll call Misato and have her arrange it. I'll ask her to come over now."
"I know where she is. We can go find her ourselves and save some time." Zero had just used a little Ultra Vision.
But his face was a little red now.
In the elevator, Misato and Kaji were...
"Mmm..."
The sound of the phone interrupted them.
Misato answered the call.
"Take that man and Shinji somewhere without any unauthorized personnel? I'll be right there. What? Get out of the elevator and wait where I am? All right."
"It looks like Shinji can't pilot an Eva anymore. That's a good thing for him, too..."
"Yes, and now that giant called Ultraman Zero is protecting him."
"Our future will change completely, too, thanks to these giants coming here."
Recalling what they had just done, Misato spoke to Kaji with some distaste.
"We're over. Can you stop doing things like this?"
"But your body is pretty honest." Kaji smiled as he helped Misato gather the documents scattered across the floor.
The elevator doors opened, and Misato picked up the documents and walked out without looking back.
She had just rounded a corner when she ran straight into Serizawa and Shinji, who were coming her way.
After what had happened in the Eva Hangar earlier, she wasn't surprised that they had reached her so quickly.
"Follow me."
Misato led Serizawa and Shinji to a secret laboratory. Few people besides her had an access card for it.
Gendo Ikari had also arranged for Ritsuko Akagi to come and observe, and Serizawa had agreed.
It wasn't as though she could learn how to do it just by watching.
As soon as she saw Serizawa, Ritsuko rushed up to him and began pleading for answers.
"Was the device you used in the Eva Hangar earlier meant to transfer life? How do you store and transfer life as, um... energy?"
"And how did that device restore Ms. Yui Ikari's physical body?"
"Where do you store the armor you were wearing earlier? How do you summon it?"
"Please, even just explaining the principles would help."
Ritsuko's earlier arrogance was completely gone, replaced by a thirst for a higher level of science.
"Is Ms. Ritsuko... really the same person as before?" Shinji could hardly believe that the woman before him was the same reserved person he had seen earlier.
Serizawa didn't answer her. First, these technologies were far too advanced for humanity. Second, to avoid disrupting the natural cycle of life and death across the universe, Life Solidifying Technology could not be taught to other civilizations.
"Please close the door properly. I'm going to begin."
Hikari took out a white box and tossed it onto the floor.
Misato and Ritsuko watched in astonishment as the box slowly grew until it nearly reached the ceiling.
Serizawa transformed back into Hikari and walked straight into the box with the Palaj Bracelet.
"This is a portable laboratory from the Land of Light. Normally, only senior personnel from the Universe Technology Bureau bring one along on field assignments. It's much bigger inside than it looks from here," Zero explained, appearing as a translucent projection.
"Ah!" Both women jumped, but quickly realized he was the giant who had fought earlier.
Ritsuko began pestering Zero instead.
"Mr. Zero, do you know the principles behind this life technology? Even the bare basics would do."
Even if Zero had known, he couldn't have told her. Besides, he didn't understand a thing about it.
"Don't ask me. I'm only 5,900 years old. When this technology came out over six thousand years ago, my dad hadn't even met my mom. And I'm not with the Universe Technology Bureau, so I don't know anything about how it works."
"You can forget about learning Life Solidifying Technology. But if you want to practice swordsmanship with him, I think he'd teach you." Zero put an immediate end to Ritsuko's hopes.
"There's something I've never asked you. How did you come to possess Shinji?" Misato asked the question that had been on her mind all along.
After Zero and Shinji explained it together...
Misato finally managed to understand.
"Um... whatever the case, thank you for saving Shinji, and all of us..."
"It was nothing. We Ultra Warriors would never stand by and watch a life slip away!"
"He's really got that teenage hero thing going on... Has he really lived for 5,900 years?" Misato found it a little hard to understand.
An hour later, the box's door opened, and Hikari stepped out holding the restored bracelet.
"I spent an entire month repairing it in there. I'm exhausted..."
"Sorry for all the trouble, Hikari!"
"You're welcome, but there are some precautions I need to tell you about." Hikari addressed Zero seriously.
"First, I couldn't repair it completely, so try not to use it to take hits."
"Second, given your current physical condition and the state of Paraji, you definitely can't safely use the shining power stored inside it. Don't use that power unless you have absolutely no other choice."
"Third, you'd better avoid using its bow mode, too. It might break."
"Traveling between universes and using Dyna's and Cosmos's powers are still possible. You don't need to worry about those two things."
"Traveling between universes! It can do something that amazing?!" Shinji was astonished.
Zero was a little disappointed, but he rallied and thanked Hikari anyway.
Then he remembered something urgent and asked Hikari for help.
"Hikari, I need to go see Z. It'll take two days at most. Could you help protect this planet while I'm gone?"
He had compared the flow of time with Z before, and time passed at roughly the same rate in both worlds.
Hikari looked a little troubled.
"You know, Zero, I'm only a scientist. I don't..."
"Oh, come on, Hikari. I can't agree with that."
"Your reputation as the Universe Grand Swordsman has spread through plenty of universes!"
"Who lifted a sixty-thousand-ton Bemstar with one hand back then? Even plenty of Red Tribe warriors couldn't do that."
"Who defeated Super Beast Aribunta after Victory had nearly lost to it?"
"And finally, what kind of scientist wears a full suit of armor when he goes out?" Zero teased Hikari about his habits with a smile.
"Please, Hikari, help me out. Then I won't have to worry so much while I'm away." Zero wore a mischievous grin.
"Please, Mr. Serizawa," Shinji added.
"All right, all right, all right! I'll stay, okay?" Unable to withstand their persistent pleading, Hikari had to agree.
"Thank you, Hikari!"
"I'll get ready. I'll say a few words to everyone, then set off."
After watching Zero leave, Hikari took something out and spoke with a hint of displeasure.
"That kid... I suppose I'll wait until you get back to give you this."
Shinji told everyone, one by one, that he would be going to another world with Zero to help other Ultra Warriors, and would return within two days at most.
With worry written all over her face, Yui Ikari told Shinji, "Make sure you stay safe, Shinji! Whatever happens, you have to protect yourself first." Her voice carried her deep love and concern for her son.
Kaji smiled at Shinji. "You could stay over there a few extra days and have some fun before coming back. Relax a little." His tone was easygoing, as though he wanted to keep Shinji from getting too nervous.
Rei Ayanami looked at Shinji expressionlessly and said softly, "Mm. Come back safely, big brother." Her words were brief, but the concern in them was unmistakable.
Asuka gave a haughty snort and said, "Hmph, it's not like I'll miss you! But you'd better be careful over there. Don't go getting yourself into trouble! If you don't come back, I'll never forgive you!" Despite her harsh words, Shinji and Zero could hear her concern.
Misato offered one last reminder. "Zero, I hope you'll keep Shinji safe. I'll arrange his leave from school. Just come back in one piece." She still had plenty of faith in Shinji and Zero.
After saying goodbye to everyone, Shinji transformed and flew into space.
It was Shinji's first time seeing the real universe with his own eyes.
Looking out at the boundless universe, Zero equipped the Paraghi Shield and spoke excitedly to Shinji.
"Shinji, get ready."
"Here we come, universe!"
Before you continue