"That's right," Zero nodded. "As long as it's an Ultra Warrior, they can use an Ultra Capsule for Fusion Rise."
"Too bad I don't have a Fusion Riser," Yu Zhou sighed. Next time Hikari shows up, I've got to ask him for one.
"Honestly, Yu Zhou, you as Tiga are already strong enough," Zero said earnestly. "Back in the Monster Graveyard, you crushed Belial."
"I've told you already—I wasn't even conscious at the time. I don't even know how I did it." Yu Zhou shook his head, explaining once again.
Otherwise, Zero would insist on him fighting Belial one-on-one again.
They had already confirmed Belial's location earlier, back when they questioned Asakura Riku. Yu Zhou and Zero knew where to find him. But neither made a move yet—because Yu Zhou knew Belial could use Fusion Rise to transform into Ultimate Belial.
If they pushed him too far, and he transformed, both Yu Zhou and Zero could fall into a hopeless situation.
"We could at least scout him out first," Zero suggested, mainly wanting to know Belial's current state.
"Alright then. You pick a time, and we'll go together," Yu Zhou agreed.
The two made a pact, planning to head to the far edge of the galaxy where Belial lurked.
"Whoa!!"
Just then, a loud cry burst from the shop manager.
"What's wrong, Manager?" Yu Zhou hurried over.
"I… I, uh…"
The manager was completely flustered, unable to get the words out.
"What happened?" Yu Zhou frowned. Zero also came closer, curious.
"I—I can suddenly lift this heavy crate like it's nothing!"
The manager squatted, grabbed a huge box of goods, and hoisted it up with ease.
"What the…?" Yu Zhou blinked, baffled at the sudden display of strength.
"Not just that, look—I've even grown muscles!"
With a grunt, the manager pulled off his shirt—revealing a newly sculpted physique packed with muscle.
"What the—!"
Yu Zhou was dumbfounded. Just moments ago, the man had still been a pudgy uncle, but now he looked like a bodybuilder.
From flabby to ripped in seconds?!
"And look at this—I bet I can do even more." The manager strode outside toward his van parked by the store.
"Manager, what are you doing?" Yu Zhou asked, suspicious.
"Watch! I can lift this van like it's nothing!"
The man bent down, grabbed the underside, and raised the entire vehicle over his head.
"This is… abnormal," Zero said with a grave expression. "No ordinary Earthling could have such power."
"Exactly," Yu Zhou agreed. "Especially not this fatso of a manager."
"And not just strength—watch this!" the manager said gleefully. "I can make it float with my mind!"
He let go, and the van hovered in the air above him.
"Telekinesis?!" Laiha, who had just arrived, frowned at the sight.
"Manager, put it down. Now," she said firmly.
"O-okay…" Still confused, the manager set the van gently back on the ground with his powers.
Laiha walked up and suddenly grabbed his hand.
"Uh, Laiha?" The manager's face shifted from shock to joy. Could it be that Laiha has finally fallen for my charm?
"Your hand… it's burning hot."
She released him, her tone sharp.
"Hot?"
Yu Zhou and Zero's eyes widened immediately.
Superhuman strength, abnormal powers, a burning touch…
This was the sign of the Little Star!
But Yu Zhou's heart sank. In the original timeline, the manager never awakened a Little Star. And yet here it was—shining within him.
"If it's a Little Star… then a monster should be arriving soon," Laiha warned, eyes scanning the area.
"What star? What are you people talking about?"
The manager was still lost. He did know a little about powers, though—after all, his niece, Ai, had once had the ability to breathe fire. Her palms had been hot too.
So he figured he was just awakening a similar ability.
But Ai's power had vanished one day, merging into Geed Ultraman during a battle.
"Manager, this place is about to get dangerous," Yu Zhou said firmly. "Let's close the Galaxy Mart and leave."
"Huh?" He blinked, but Yu Zhou's serious look left no room for doubt. "O-okay, fine! Let's go!"
They quickly tidied up and shut the shop. But as the doors clanged shut—
BOOM!
A massive explosion shook the street. Concrete blocks rained down.
"It's here!" Laiha's face tightened as she saw a building collapse nearby.
"M-monster?!" The manager shrieked when the colossal figure emerged. "Don't tell me—it's going to smash my store again?!"
He still remembered vividly: his last Galaxy Mart had been destroyed right before his eyes by a monster.
Why—why did monsters always target his supermarkets?!
"Not this time!" he bellowed. "I have powers now! I'll defeat you myself!"
Yu Zhou's gaze darkened. He knew this monster.
Not from this world, but from another—the world of Ultraman X.
The Demonic Beast—Zaigorg (Segug)!
In that world, it had taken Yu Zhou, the Original Ultraman, and X together to bring it down.
And now, it appeared here, in Geed's world.
"That's right… in the original story, Fukuide Kei did have a Zaigorg capsule," Yu Zhou recalled grimly. "So he's unleashed it now…"
"Laiha! Take the manager and run!" Yu Zhou ordered.
"Got it." She grabbed the still-protesting man and dragged him away.
"Zero, I'll go first. If things get bad, then you join in."
Zero nodded. He didn't quite understand why Yu Zhou insisted, but he agreed.
Yu Zhou had a reason—his body had been strengthened by the Plasma Spark, and he had weapons at his disposal. Perhaps now he could face Zaigorg alone.
He had to test himself.
Raising the Spark Lens before him, Yu Zhou pressed the switch. With the sound of chimes and radiant waves of light, his body was enveloped.
In a blaze of brilliance—
He transformed into Ultraman Tiga.
BOOM!
The moment he appeared, Yu Zhou flipped in the air and drove both heels down on Zaigorg's head, forcing the beast to stagger and bow under the impact.
"It's Tiga!"
The manager, halfway to safety, stopped in his tracks. His eyes lit up as he saw Tiga clashing with the monster.
With Tiga here, his Galaxy Mart would surely be spared this time.
"Go, Tiga Ultraman!" he shouted at the top of his lungs.
"I'm your biggest fan!"
He cupped his hands around his mouth like a megaphone, yelling encouragement into the battlefield.
Yu Zhou, inside Tiga, faltered for a moment. The manager… is actually my diehard fan?