XIO naturally couldn't allow Seagorath to charge straight into their base. They calculated its path of emergence and set up an ambush in advance.
"Target locked! Seagorath's underground position confirmed—countdown, five seconds!"
Since Seagorath traveled through the earth, the only option was to force it to the surface. For that, XIO deployed a virtual Gomora, intending to drag the monster out with its Super Oscillation Wave.
"XIO really is something else," Yuzhou muttered, impressed as the holographic Gomora materialized into solid form. "If they can summon virtual kaiju like this, do they even need Ultramen? Just send out a monster army to dogpile the enemy, problem solved."
"Countdown, five seconds!"
"Five!"
"Four!"
"Three!"
"Two!"
"One!"
"Gomora—Super Oscillation Wave!"
At Daichi's command, the simulated Gomora drove its claws into the ground, arcs of blue electricity sparking from its mechanical joints. The oscillating energy pulsed deep underground, striking Seagorath right where it tunneled.
The ground trembled violently. A crimson-red fissure split the road, and with a guttural roar, Seagorath emerged, thrashing its limbs as it surfaced.
"Its hide is in a Bose–Einstein condensate state! Normal attacks won't work—aim for the eyes!" Daichi shouted, analyzing the data in real time.
So that was the weak point. Yuzhou filed it away immediately.
XIO's members sprang into action. Using virtual cards, they summoned King Joe's Destruction Cannon and Red King's Armor-Piercing Shells, while Daichi readied another round from Gomora's Super Oscillation Wave.
The combined attacks landed squarely on Seagorath, detonations booming as smoke engulfed its body. But when the haze cleared, the beast stood nearly unscathed.
Seagorath's defense was absurd. Those three strikes barely scratched it.
"Prepare the Energy Shield!" Daichi barked.
Another operator loaded the Eleking card. Twin streams of blue lightning lanced from the signal emitters, forming a massive shimmering barrier that snapped shut around Seagorath.
"This shield's been upgraded multiple times. Breaking it won't be easy!" the operator boasted proudly.
Yuzhou pinched the bridge of his nose. "Seriously? Why raise a death flag now? Do you want to die?"
And right on cue—Seagorath slammed both spiked arms against the shield. Cracks of energy splintered across its surface before the whole barrier shattered like glass.
The operator's eyes bulged. "N-No way…"
Yuzhou just gave him a flat, I told you so look.
Seagorath's back glowed ominously. Two massive spikes rose upright and launched like missiles straight at Gomora. The virtual monster couldn't withstand the blast—its body burst into blue fragments of crystal that scattered across the ground.
The projectiles didn't stop there. They streaked past, detonating against the earth in twin explosions that shook the battlefield.
When the dust cleared, two more roars echoed. Two additional monsters emerged—Golza and Antlar.
"So they still appeared after all," Yuzhou muttered. He had hoped crippling Seagorath's back earlier would prevent new monsters from spawning like in the original story, but fate seemed determined.
The pair wasted no time. They unleashed twin beams that obliterated the shield emitters, explosions lighting up the sky.
With the area already evacuated, no civilians were harmed, but the devastation was immense. XIO had no choice but to retreat and regroup.
"Daichi, look at the green stone!"
Asuna pointed. The emerald stone, which had been brought here under Professor Tsurugi's advice, now glowed with a strange light—something was stirring within.
"This stone… it can transform into the original Ultraman," Yuzhou said plainly, no longer hiding the truth.
"What?!" Daichi and Asuna both gasped.
"The First Ultraman?!"
Asuna stared at him, stunned. "Yuzhou-kun, how do you even know that?"
Daichi, however, wasn't shocked. Yuzhou was Tiga after all—of course he'd know.
Yuzhou placed a steady hand on Daichi's shoulder. "Get the X-Devizer over here. It might be possible to restore it soon."
"Got it." Daichi nodded firmly, full of trust.
"Then I'll take the field first."
Yuzhou lifted his gaze to the blood-red sunset, where three kaiju towered before him.
"Yuzhou-kun—good luck!" Daichi clenched his fist, cheering him on.
"Take the field?" Asuna blinked, baffled. Did he mean fight? How could a human—
Her thoughts screeched to a halt as Yuzhou drew a crystal-like rod from his chest. He raised it high and pressed down.
Blinding light engulfed the battlefield. When it cleared, a giant of silver, crimson, and violet stood tall against the three monsters.
"Y-Yuzhou-kun, he's… he's…" Asuna's voice cracked as she covered her mouth in disbelief. The realization crashed down on her.
Yuzhou was Ultraman Tiga.
But against three monsters—Seagorath, Golza, and Antlar—even Tiga's chances looked grim. He was waiting. Waiting for the emerald stone to awaken the First Ultraman, waiting for the X-Devizer to be repaired. Until then, he was on his own.
So this is how it feels to be on the receiving end of a gang fight, he thought wryly.
"Let's see if I can smash my way through!"
Tiga raised his arms to his forehead, then slashed them outward, transforming into Power Type—the red-and-silver form built for brute strength. Against Seagorath, this was his only chance.
The three kaiju charged. Golza lunged head-on, Seagorath swung its spiked arm like a mace, and Antlar barreled forward like a living tank.
Tiga planted his back foot, braced his stance, and met the onslaught head-on.
Antlar struck first. But Tiga caught its giant mandible in one hand and hurled the insect kaiju over his shoulder, slamming it away with its own momentum.
Golza was next, colliding with Tiga in a grapple. Muscles straining, Tiga held his ground and pushed back.
That left him open. Seagorath's mace-arm smashed into his side with a sickening thud. Tiga grunted, staggering but holding firm. The monster swung again.
Thinking fast, Tiga twisted, flinging Golza into Seagorath's path. The second strike crashed into Golza instead, dropping the kaiju with a pained roar.
"Beautiful!" Daichi cheered from below, Asuna beside him in awe.
Against three monsters, Tiga wasn't losing ground—he was fighting back.