The sky had been perfectly clear—until, without warning, a vast expanse of black clouds surged out of nowhere. They spread in all directions, swallowing up the horizon. In moments, the world was plunged into darkness.
Black clouds pressing down on the city, as if the very air was about to collapse.
On the streets, people stopped and looked up. The clouds boiled like angry waves, streaked through with violent blue lightning.
"Is it… about to rain?"
"No way, the weather was fine just a minute ago."
"Then what's going on? Why did it suddenly turn so dark?"
"I don't know… the clouds just appeared all at once."
"Don't tell me… a monster?"
"Don't scare me like that!"
"…."
The crowd's murmurs rose, half in fear, half in denial. Yet beneath it all, a creeping dread was spreading—born of that unnatural, suffocating sky.
In a dim alley, slumped and battered, Fukude Kei lifted his head. His whole body ached, but what he felt now was something far sharper: a familiar aura. He looked up.
Above the city center, deep within the vortex of storm clouds, thunder and lightning converged. A swirling abyss opened in the sky.
From within that abyss, a figure descended—shrouded in black mist, clutching a massive iron staff. He landed with a thunderous crash, scattering dust and debris in all directions.
A low, beastlike roar shook the ground. The dust began to settle.
The figure's body was black and crimson. A violet color timer pulsed from his chest. His razor-sharp eyes glowed with a wicked, blood-red light.
Eyes the world knew all too well. Eyes that had filled the broadcasts during the Crisis Impact.
Belial's eyes.
"That's… Belial!"
Pega shrieked as he saw the live feed streaming across RE.M.'s monitor.
"Move out!"
Yu Zhou exchanged a glance with Laiha and Leito, then joined Riku in taking the elevator straight to Belial's landing site.
Riku wasted no time. He fused with the Ultra Capsule, ascended in light, and appeared before Belial in his Primitive form.
"Son," Belial said, rolling his shoulders, flexing his claws. His voice was like thunder as he reached toward Geed. "I've come for you. Come—return to your father."
"Belial…" Geed stared at him—this father he had known only through whispers and shadows. The emotions in his chest were tangled and heavy.
Before he could speak, flames streaked down from the heavens. Zero dropped from the sky like a blazing meteor, his boot igniting with fire as it crashed against Belial.
Boom!
Belial raised his Giga Battle Nizer in defense. Even so, the impact drove him back several steps before he steadied himself again.
Yu Zhou frowned slightly. Belial's weapon had been destroyed, its fragments reforged into his own Tiga-derived weapon, the Ultimate Aegis. And yet—here Belial stood, holding another one.
"Belial."
Zero landed beside Geed, eyes locked on their foe.
"Ultraman Zero," Belial sneered, sweeping his gaze around. "But where's Tiga? Shouldn't he have come as well?"
"I'm right here!"
The shout came from behind. Belial spun—just in time for Yu Zhou, transformed into Tiga's Power Type, to slam a mighty fist straight toward him.
Crash!
Belial blocked with the Giga Battle Nizer, skidding back several steps.
"Belial," Yu Zhou declared coldly, "my son—I've come to take you home. Come back to your father."
"Eh?" Geed's eyes widened. He turned to Zero, utterly bewildered. "Why is Yu Zhou calling himself Belial's father?"
"Uh… long story," Zero muttered. "Back when Tiga first faced him, he said Belial was pitiful for having no parents. So he… declared he'd be his father."
"…That actually happened?" Geed gave both Yu Zhou and Belial a baffled look. If Yu Zhou was Belial's father, didn't that make him Belial's grandson?
"Ti…ga!" Belial's snarl dripped with hatred. "I'll tear you limb from limb!"
"You defy your own father? What an unfilial child."
Yu Zhou shook his head in mock pity.
"Belial—take this!" Zero couldn't hold back anymore. He clenched his fists, aura flaring.
Belial glanced at him, then at Geed, irritation flashing in his eyes. "A touching family reunion… and you just have to interrupt!"
He raised the Giga Battle Nizer, unleashing a volley of violet energy bolts.
Zero spun in midair, kicking the blasts aside. Each one detonated violently against nearby buildings.
"Belial! You admit it then—you're my son!" Yu Zhou roared as he charged forward. "Now taste the power of a father's love!"
"Tiga, today you die!"
Belial swung the Giga Battle Nizer in a brutal arc.
"Just what is Yu Zhou's grudge against Belial?" Geed muttered. "Why does it feel like they're mortal enemies?"
"Because… they are," Zero said grimly. "Back at the Monster Graveyard, Tiga dealt Belial a crushing defeat. He's never let it go."
Yu Zhou's massive fists pummeled against Belial's weapon, every blow ringing with bone-shaking force.
Belial staggered under the storm of strikes, rolling away to regain distance. With a roar, he unleashed a blazing crimson energy slash. It struck Yu Zhou head-on—
—but when the smoke cleared, Yu Zhou still stood, unmoved.
Years ago, that attack would have crushed him. But now? With his enhanced Power Type, he had become more than just muscle—he was a living shield, a tank forged for both strength and defense.
"Not bad, Tiga," Belial admitted, pointing his weapon. "You've grown stronger since then." He fired another violet blast.
Yu Zhou caught it in his palm, twisted it into crimson light, and hurled it back. Belial swatted it away, demolishing a skyscraper.
"Have you forgotten how you were beaten last time?" Zero shouted, shifting into Ultimate form. With purple energy glowing around his fist, he dove at Belial, unleashing a flurry of devastating punches.
The blows exploded against Belial's chest, driving him back in an eruption of fire.
"Just borrowing power from a few rookies won't let you surpass me!" Belial snarled. He lunged at Zero, the Giga Battle Nizer whirling.
"Geed—let's go!" Yu Zhou shouted, transforming into Sky Type and darting into the fray.
"Right!"
Geed answered and joined the fight, slipping through Belial's guard to strike whenever he faltered against Zero.
Yu Zhou, now faster and lighter, weaved between them, his strikes carving into Belial from unexpected angles.
Three—no, four—Ultras clashed against the dark warrior.
The entire world held its breath. Belial's return was nothing less than an apocalypse. And now, only Tiga, Geed, and Zero stood between him and the destruction of all.
"Belial!" Zero roared, grappling with him. "I'll throw you into a black hole if I have to!"
"Belial!" Yu Zhou yelled, his kick slamming into Belial's side. "I'll save you with the warmth of a father's love!"