Yu Zhou had no idea that his future father-in-law, Keshiva, had already begun to closely observe him.
After landing on the sandy beach and storing his ship, Yu Zhou walked over to Camearra and Keshiva.
"Camearra, I'm home," he said, taking her hand as she reached it out to him.
Keshiva watched quietly for a moment, then sighed before addressing Yu Zhou:
"Tiga, where did you get your ship?"
"Ah?"
Yu Zhou was caught off guard by the question. He hadn't expected Keshiva to care about the origin of his ship. But then again—Keshiva was a prominent scientist, so seeing advanced technology would certainly pique his interest.
"My ship was a gift," Yu Zhou answered simply. He avoided specifying the time and place of purchase, since in truth it would not exist for many millennia yet.
"I see," Keshiva said with an awkward smile. He had hoped for a more concrete reply, but realized that until Yu Zhou truly became family, he wouldn't be given full access.
Keshiva cleared his throat. "Tiga… about you and Camearra…"
Yu Zhou's heart skipped a beat. He glanced at Camearra, who stood beside him with gentle shyness in her eyes.
Would Keshiva once again reject their closeness?
But to his surprise, Keshiva continued:
"Why don't we pick a date for the wedding?"
Yu Zhou froze. Wedding?
He stammered, "Um… Lord Keshiva, I need time to think…"
Honestly, he had not prepared for this.
Yet marrying Camearra was a part of the path that the Tiga of 30,000,000 years ago would walk.
Now that he was living through that history, perhaps this was meant to happen.
This journey in the Super-Ancient era was destined to weave him into that history.
He had come seeking the true Tiga to save Camearra—but now, he is that Tiga.
He had no other choice but to step fully into his role, to grow in power, and to become the mightiest Dark Warrior the age has ever known.
"You probably already understand this," he thought, remembering how in later ages, Camearra would often drift into wistful, faraway looks.
Maybe she had been waiting for this moment too.
"Father—please don't say that!" Camearra interjected, her face heating. She saw Yu Zhou's stunned expression and felt worry bubble in her chest.
But Keshiva raised a hand gently. "My daughter has grown. I can't control her forever. And Tiga… he's not a bad match. I will no longer oppose your path together."
"Father…" Camearra gasped, stunned by his sudden change of heart.
They hadn't even openly confessed yet—how had her father leapt so soon to "togetherness"?
"Then let's set a wedding date," Keshiva said with surprising ease.
"Father!" Camearra's face turned scarlet. The word wedding painted the air with dreams too soon.
Keshiva laughed softly, exhaling, "If you are willing, I will host the ceremony."
Before Camearra could protest, Yu Zhou gently touched her shoulder. "My homeland lies far beyond Orion. It wouldn't be practical to hold a grand ceremony there, so…"
Camearra's heart pounded so hard she could scarcely draw breath.
"So, Lord Keshiva, I leave it to you—choose the date," Yu Zhou continued.
Camearra froze in disbelief.
"He… he agreed?" she whispered.
"Did Tiga just agree?!" she thought, her heart soaring.
She had braced herself for rejection.
Her father's words had sounded preposterous.
Yet Tiga had—accepted.
Joy overwhelmed her. Her legs weakened, and she collapsed into Yu Zhou's arms.
"Tiga…" she murmured, voice soft and trembling as she buried her face in his chest. Her warmth and breath pressed against him, sending a blush across his ears.
"Camearra," Yu Zhou said gently, stroking her hair. The weight of happiness settled in his heart.
Keshiva, unable to bear watching any longer, turned away with a sigh.
His daughter—his beloved—now embraced another man before his eyes.
Still, if this union meant bringing them the Plasma Spark, if it helped him save the future… perhaps the sacrifice was worth it.
Later, Yuzare visited Yu Zhou to discuss findings about the Dark Domain.
Hearing there was a desert realm hidden inside an island, her mind jumped immediately to the possibility of a dimensional passage.
"I believe that stone gate is one such portal," Yu Zhou said, arms folded.
"You may be right," Yuzare nodded. "I've already ordered the Guard Corps to mobilize. We will fully explore the 'Island of Darkness.' Tiga, will you join us?"
"How could I refuse?" Yu Zhou replied.
He had planned to enter the Dark Domain anyway.
He still longed to see the King of Darkness lying at its core.
To grow stronger in darkness, to become the supreme warrior of the ancient era, he must step into that realm.
Remaining in R'lyeh would not suffice.
Unlike the Land of Light, this world offered no power fusion, no external enhancements.
As far as he knew, he was the sole giant in existence here.
Would others rise? Would giants emerge from Earth itself or descend from Orion like him?
Yuzare hinted she wished to borrow his Miniature Plasma Spark.
He declined gently.
Creating a Plasma Spark was no trivial matter.
Even in the Land of Light, that power had arisen by rare chance.
If he lent it prematurely—and something went wrong—the consequences could be catastrophic.
He would never risk destabilizing all future history.