"Wow! So this is space? It's beautiful!" Shinji gazed at the boundless galaxy before him, unable to hold back his awe.
They looked back at Earth in the Eva world.
"It's all right, Shinji. We'll be back soon."
"Okay. Let's go, big brother Zero."
After confirming the coordinates, Zero raised his sword-bearing right hand and fired a burst of energy ahead.
The space before them began to warp until it formed a portal enveloped in golden light.
Zero flew straight into it.
Before long, Zero emerged from the portal. They had arrived in Z's world.
The Earth of Z's world lay right before them.
Zero put on his cape.
The Paraghi Shield on his body turned back into particles of light, flew to his left wrist, and became a bracelet again.
"Let's do as Hikari said and use this thing sparingly."
They looked at the Earth before them. Its rotational axis and sea level were both normal.
"Now that's much easier on the eyes."
As he marveled at the sight, Zero suddenly sensed a very familiar energy fluctuation.
"There's no mistaking it! It's him!"
"That bastard just won't stay gone!"
Mere fragments could not produce such a powerful energy signature. The only explanation was a rampaging monster, and judging by the fluctuations, it was no weakling.
"Get ready for battle!" Without hesitation, Zero flew straight toward the source.
"Is it a really dangerous monster?"
Shinji had no idea what kind of enemy could make Zero so anxious.
"Just a little 'legacy' left by an old enemy who refuses to stay gone." Zero sounded agitated.
On Earth, beneath the setting sun, Z-Alpha Armor and Geed-Galaxy Rising were struggling against a Belial Fusion Beast.
A terrifying monster stood before them.
Its body was that of the space dinosaur Zetton, encased in the structures of King Joe, the robot built by the Pedan Aliens. The four red spikes protruding around its body represented Belial's power.
Belial Fusion Beast-Pedanium Zetton.
Their opponent had already switched between three forms. Unable to use his original form, even the more experienced Geed had fallen behind, while the already inexperienced Z could barely hold his own.
After taking a hit from its yellow beam, both Ultras fell to the ground, their chest timers flashing red.
Just as the situation became desperate, a familiar voice reached their ears.
"If you're going to call yourself my student..."
"Then show me some fighting spirit!"
Clad in his cape, Zero slammed into the ground, throwing up clouds of dust. Without hesitation, he raised his head and fired an Emerium Beam at Pedanium Zetton, driving it back for the moment.
Zero was controlling his own body now. He could currently trust Shinji to handle enemies like Angels, but he was still uneasy about leaving a Belial Fusion Beast to him.
Shinji watched everything through Zero's eyes.
Geed and Zero both stepped forward.
"Zero, you're back!" Geed had heard from Z that Zero had been sucked into another world.
"Master, you're safe!" Naturally, Z cared deeply about his master's safety.
Zero swept his cape aside and turned toward the two Ultras.
Zero raised two fingers. "You're twenty thousand years too early to worry about me."
"It's all thanks to Hikari. He repaired the Paraghi Shield for me, and I hurried over as soon as it was fixed."
"Looks like I got here just in time."
Geed smiled. Zero was a senior who had helped him many times before, and he would have to rely on him again this time.
"You really haven't changed. A hero doesn't need to arrive early, just at the right moment. Right, Zero?"
"You've become dependable too, Geed," Zero praised him. He had witnessed Geed's growth firsthand, after all.
"Master, what about me?" Z asked, jumping up. He desperately wanted his master's approval.
Rather than answer directly, Zero turned toward the monster.
"Then let me see just how much stronger you've become!"
"Right! I'll show you my ultra performance, Master!"
The three Ultras lined up beneath the setting sun, facing the Belial Fusion Beast, with Zero in the middle.
Before they began, Zero gave Shinji a reminder.
"Shinji, get ready to see a real battle!"
"Go get him!" Shinji was already fired up.
Zero whipped off his cape and charged at the Fusion Beast alongside Z and Geed.
The Fusion Beast began to change shape, transforming into Skull Gomora.
Z began changing forms. The three Head Blades on his head became one again, broad swaths of his face and body turned red, and his chest muscles bulged.
Ultraman Z-Beta Smash.
Z rushed in with an elbow strike followed by a knife-hand chop, sending sparks flying. While Skull Gomora was staggered, he circled behind it, grabbed its head, and held it firmly in place, giving Zero room to attack.
Without further hesitation, Zero also used the power in his bracelet to change forms.
Zero's lower body turned fiery red.
-Strong Corona Form.
Flames ignited around Zero's right hand, and a fireball formed in his palm. He sharply raised his right hand and extended it straight forward.
"Garnet Buster Beam!"
A beam as scorching as lava shot toward Skull Gomora.
Z hauled the Fusion Beast's head up with all his might, making it take the full force of the attack.
Then he spun around to the Fusion Beast's front, charging power into his fist as flames began to engulf it.
"Zestium Rising Dragon Fist!"
His fist slammed into its head, and the shock wave launched the Fusion Beast high into the sky.
Geed raised his Riser, scanned three Medals, and charged into the sky.
The Riser in his hand flashed with dazzling light.
The monster in the sky transformed into Lightning Killer and fired light bullets at Geed. He dodged every one, and they struck the ground in a series of explosions, destroying large swaths of buildings.
Fortunately, this was an abandoned district. Otherwise, Geed would have had to worry about damage to the buildings.
"Ginga Shockwave!"
A blade of light glowing red and purple slashed into the Fusion Beast, triggering a massive explosion.
The Fusion Beast collapsed to the ground and returned to its Pedanium Zetton form.
Z switched back to Alpha Armor and drew his spear.
Seeing this, Zero changed forms again, his entire lower body turning blue.
-Luna Miracle.
Zero took out his bracelet and transformed it into a spear.
Master and student raised their spears and charged at Pedanium Zetton.
Their spears flashed with blue light as they slashed mercilessly at the Fusion Beast, sending showers of sparks flying. It howled in agony.
"Longbow Shot!"
"Revolium Smasher!"
After taking two more attacks, it could barely resist anymore.
Z pressed his advantage, raising his spear and firing a Z Ice Arrow that froze Pedanium Zetton solid.
Geed, Z, and Zero lined up once more.
"Time to finish it!"
Zero and Z had briefly argued over who should give the orders, but a few words from Geed put an end to that.
The three Ultras began charging their beams.
Zero swept his left hand across his chest.
Z traced a "Z" with his hands.
Geed roared, his eyes glowing as countless multicolored particles swirled around his body.
"Phoenix Burst!"
"Zestium Beam!"
"Zero Cluster Beam!"
The three Ultras positioned their arms in the standard cross and L shapes. A beam streaked with yellow, black, and red, a blue-white beam with an arrowhead tip, and an orange-yellow beam all shot toward Pedanium Zetton.
Boom!
The monster exploded violently. The shock wave demolished a vast stretch of buildings, and even the ground trembled slightly.
The three giants stood tall beneath the setting sun, their shadows stretching exceptionally long.
Bathed in the sunset, they looked especially beautiful.
"What do you think, Shinji? Now that's a real battle."
Shinji's jaw had dropped so far he could barely close it.
The sheer intensity of the battle had surpassed anything he could imagine.
Only one thought remained in his mind.
What do Angels even amount to compared to that?!
"Shuwatch!" "Ha!" "Hiyah!"
The three Ultras flew into the sky together.
On the ground, a handsome man with flowing hair watched the giants fly away.
"Not one of them makes life easy."
He was Hebikura, captain of STORAGE in this world's Earth Defense Force, but he also had a secret identity.
-Alien Barossa, Ultraman Orb's 'friend,' Jugglus Juggler.
As he sighed, he suddenly noticed a uniformed man limping past him.
"Hey, wait a second."
The man turned, pulled out a gun, and fired a light bullet that knocked him to the ground before quickly running away.
"Shinya Kaburagi?"
A wicked smile curled his lips. "Things are starting to get interesting."
Before you continue