"Are you okay?"
Yu Zhou didn't answer Daigo's earlier question. Instead, he asked in English.
Daigo froze for a moment, then nodded. "So it really is you… I'm fine. I can still fight!"
Of course, only Yu Zhou would suddenly start speaking English in the middle of a battlefield.
Down on the ground, however, the refugees were utterly baffled.
"How are you?"
"I'm fine, thanks…"
"…"
Two Ultramen.
Having a conversation.
In English.
The crowd's worldview cracked. Weren't Ultramen supposed to speak Japanese? What was this, some kind of international co-production?
But there was no time to dwell on the absurdity. The two Tigas exchanged a nod, then shifted into their ready stances. Across from them, the Shellfish Alien and his two monsters braced themselves as well.
"Daigo," Yu Zhou muttered under his breath, eyes locked on the enemy, "I'll be honest, this is my first time as an Ultraman. I have no idea how to fight properly."
"Truthfully, this is also my first," Daigo admitted, though his aura was sharp and confident. "But in the memories of another world, I've fought many battles before."
Before they could say more, the Shellfish Alien snarled impatiently. "What are you two whispering about? Enough talk!" With a sweeping gesture, he charged forward with both monsters at his side.
"You clam-headed freak! I've had enough of you already!" Yu Zhou shouted, lunging straight at him.
The alien blinked. "What language is he even—"
His thought was cut off by a heavy fist smashing into his face. BANG!
The Shellfish Alien flew backward, tumbling across the ground.
Yu Zhou shook his fist with satisfaction. "Hah! Not bad. This guy once wiped out the entire Ultra Brothers in a movie, didn't he? And now I've sent him flying with one punch… Guess I'm not such a rookie after all."
Meanwhile, Daigo's Tiga had already engaged Golza. Hand strikes, flying kicks, grapples — the two giants locked in a fierce brawl.
As for Yu Zhou, he squared off with Melba. He knew he wasn't exactly a martial artist; he'd have to fight smart.
But Melba wasn't giving him the chance. The monster roared and lunged with a claw swipe.
Yu Zhou dodged with a quick sidestep, slipping behind it. Before Melba could react, Yu Zhou shot into the sky, disappearing from its sight.
The monster spun left and right, confused. Where had its opponent gone?
High above, Yu Zhou spread his arms, feeling the surge of light energy gather between his hands. He pulled his arms back, then thrust them forward. A dazzling white glow condensed into a destructive beam.
"Zepellion Ray!"
He had practiced this countless times as a kid, copying Ultraman moves in front of the TV. Now, for the first time, the real thing shot from his hands.
The beam struck Melba square in the chest. The monster stiffened, let out a shriek—then exploded in a fiery blast.
"…"
Daigo's Tiga stared.
The Shellfish Alien, climbing back to his feet, stared.
Who starts a fight with their finisher… and actually kills the monster on the spot?
Daigo thought back to his inherited memories — hardly ever had he landed a finishing blow without the Color Timer flashing red. Yet Yu Zhou had just erased a monster at full strength. Sometimes the gap between people really was unfair.
Yu Zhou himself looked down at his hands, a little stunned but grinning. "Guess it worked. Besides, we were outnumbered. Even the odds, right?"
Golza didn't last much longer either. After a fierce exchange, Daigo raised his arms and fired his own Zepellion Ray, blasting the monster into rubble.
Now, with two beasts down, both Tigas turned together and charged the Shellfish Alien.
"Not good… if I stay, I'll die here!" the alien panicked. With a kick, he launched himself into the air, trying to flee.
"You're not getting away!"
Both Ultramen's foreheads gleamed, their bodies shifting forms.
Daigo transformed into the purple Agility Type.
Yu Zhou transformed—into the red Power Type.
Daigo glanced at him mid-flight, speechless.
We're chasing someone through the sky. Why are you in Power Type?
But there was no time to argue. The chase was on.
Daigo caught up first, grabbing the alien's leg. They grappled in midair, neither gaining an advantage. Yu Zhou swooped in and wrapped his arms around the alien's neck from behind, locking him in a chokehold.
The Shellfish Alien thrashed desperately, but against Power-Type Tiga's strength, he was helpless.
"Nice work!" Daigo shouted, pulling back and firing a small energy beam that struck the alien's chest.
Yu Zhou kneed the alien's back, then spun him in midair and slammed him down toward the ground.
BOOM! The alien hit hard, the impact shaking the earth.
Yu Zhou blinked. "Wait… why do I feel so strong? I thought I was Agility Type…"
A quick glance at his red-and-silver body told the truth.
"…"
There was no time to dwell on the mistake. Both Tigas landed side by side, nodded at each other, then raised their hands to charge finishing moves.
Yu Zhou gathered light into a burning red sphere. "Delacium Light Stream!"
Daigo condensed azure orbs of energy. "Runboldt Light Bullet!"
The two attacks struck together, detonating against the Shellfish Alien. With a final scream, the invader burst apart, consumed by the blast.
The battle was over.