"Eight years…"
Yu Zhou suddenly remembered—Ultraman Dyna appeared exactly eight years after the Final Holy War. Who knew what had happened during those years?
"Daigo, how have you been all this time?" Yu Zhou asked warmly. After so long apart, some catching up was only natural.
"I've been doing well," Daigo replied, setting down the watering can in his hand before inviting Yu Zhou inside.
"Yu Zhou!"
As soon as Yu Zhou stepped in, Rena spotted him and exclaimed in surprise.
"You really came back!"
Rena's joy was plain to see. After all, they were comrades from the old Victory Team—reunions like this were always heartfelt.
"Yes, Rena," Yu Zhou said with a smile. "I'm back."
"Come here, Hikari. Say hello to Uncle."
Rena beckoned, and a little girl stepped shyly into the room.
"Uncle…" she chirped, her voice clear and innocent.
"This is your daughter, Daigo, Rena?"
Yu Zhou crouched down, gently ruffling the girl's hair. Eight years had passed—Daigo and Rena's child was already big enough to run around on her own.
"Yes," Rena said, smiling alongside Daigo. "Her name is Hikari."
"Hikari…" Yu Zhou repeated softly. Though the name meant "light," its Japanese pronunciation was Hikari. Calling the little girl that directly felt a bit unusual, but it suited her somehow.
"By the way, Yu Zhou," Daigo asked as he poured a cup of tea, "why did you return now, of all times?"
"It's not like I had much say in the matter." Yu Zhou shrugged helplessly. The space vortexes were always random—the world and the timing were never his choice.
Old friends reunited, their conversation flowed easily.
From Daigo, Yu Zhou learned that the original Victory Team members had retired from frontline duty to pursue their own paths. The defense of Earth was now in the hands of Super Victory Team, commanded by Hibiki Gansuke, a passionate yet steady leader.
"And Captain Megumi?" Yu Zhou asked curiously.
"She's now a senior advisor at TPC headquarters," Daigo explained. "Her leadership skills were too valuable to waste."
Yu Zhou nodded. "That sounds exactly right for her."
"Horii is serving as an instructor at the West Asia TPC branch, training new recruits.
Yanase joined the development of the Neo-Universe Network, a system for deep-space detection.
Shinjoh took part in interstellar voyages—he's probably still far out in space right now.
Yazumi is on Jupiter, researching advanced computer sciences with a local doctor."
"And what about Masaki?" Yu Zhou asked after a pause.
"Masaki's stationed at R'lyeh, overseeing communications between the colony and Earth," Daigo said. "It was Director Sawai's suggestion before his retirement. Masaki himself was enthusiastic about it—he's always been fascinated by super-ancient civilizations."
Yu Zhou's eyes brightened. "And how's R'lyeh now? Back when I left, it was still under construction."
"I haven't been back myself," Daigo admitted, "but I've heard it's grown into something magnificent—a true marvel."
"That's worth seeing," Yu Zhou said, intrigued. "When I return to Earth, we should visit together."
"Agreed," Daigo nodded.
The two continued reminiscing until suddenly the ground trembled violently beneath them.
"An earthquake? On Mars?" Yu Zhou frowned in confusion.
Before he could say more, explosions erupted outside.
"Rena, take Hikari and hide. Yu Zhou and I will check it out!" Daigo ordered.
The two men rushed to a high window and looked out.
In the red-hued Martian landscape, a spider-like monster was wreaking havoc, spitting beams of energy that tore through the colony's structures. Alarms blared throughout the base.
"Warning! Monster attack on Mars Base! All personnel evacuate immediately! Proceed to escape shuttles!"
"Yu Zhou, let me handle this!"
Daigo pulled out his Spark Lens—the transformation device he hadn't used in eight long years.
"Not so fast, Daigo."
Yu Zhou stopped him, raising a hand.
"What do you mean?" Daigo frowned. With the base under attack, wasn't this the time for Tiga to reappear?
"We should leave this one for the rookie," Yu Zhou said knowingly. "This monster is meant to be Dyna's first battle. It wouldn't be right for you to finish it."
"The rookie?" Daigo's eyes widened. "You mean… the successor you told me about, back then?"
"That's right." Yu Zhou nodded. He was glad Daigo still remembered Asuka.
"But… will he come to Mars?" Daigo asked, still worried.
"He will. Look."
Yu Zhou pointed out the window.
Three fighter jets streaked across the sky, engaging the monster with fierce gunfire—Super Victory Team had arrived.
"So that rookie… he's part of Super Victory Team now?" Daigo realized. Back then, Yu Zhou had stood beside him as a Victory Team member. Now, a new generation was stepping up in the same way. Fate had come full circle.
The jets launched salvo after salvo, but the monster raised a subspace shield. Every shot was deflected harmlessly.
Then, one reckless pilot broke formation, diving straight at the monster while firing all weapons.
"That pilot is insane!" Daigo cried, watching the jet plunge toward danger.
Yu Zhou sighed. "That hot-headed one has to be our rookie."
Daigo groaned. "So it really is him…"
The reckless jet was struck by the monster's beam, spiraling down in smoke and flames until it crashed onto the Martian surface.
The beast lumbered toward the wreck, ready to crush the downed craft.
Yu Zhou didn't panic. His attention shifted upward—to the swarm of glowing orbs descending behind the monster.
The Spheres.
Entities that, in Dyna's finale, had sought to engulf all of Earth. And the spider monster—clearly one of their creations.
As the jets engaged the incoming Spheres, the monster loomed over the fallen craft.
Then, from the wreckage, a figure in a Super Victory Team uniform stumbled out, gun in hand. He raised it defiantly at the advancing beast.
The rookie had arrived.