The question read:
"Talk about your understanding of light and darkness."
That was the exam topic — a simple yet profound question asking the test takers to explain their views on light and darkness.
Normally, most people would write that they longed for the power of light and rejected the power of darkness.
After all, that kind of answer would easily win the favour of the Earth Defence Force, an organization dedicated to fighting against darkness.
But Yu Zhou didn't answer that way.
No one understood the meaning of light and darkness better than someone who possessed both.
Sometimes, light could be darkness; and sometimes, darkness could become light.
He wrote his answer on the screen:
"If one's dark power is strong, yet they use that darkness to do good, then that darkness itself becomes light.
Even if one's light power is weak, if their heart breeds evil, then using the light to commit foul deeds makes that light darkness."
That was his response.
Just like himself — though he wielded the power of darkness, he hadn't used it for evil.
At the very least, to protect the world he lived in, he used his dark power to defeat the invaders.
And then there was Masaki — once the Ultraman of light, Cain. Yet, when his heart was tainted by darkness, even that light brought forth corruption.
Light could be darkness, and darkness could be light.
"Not bad, not bad. That answer is truly refreshing."
A clear female voice suddenly came from behind him.
Yu Zhou turned around — it was Yuzare.
"Huh? It's you?!"
She had only been standing behind him, glancing at his written answers, not paying much attention to his face.
But once she saw who he was, her eyes widened in shock.
That man from last night — the "assassin"!
The silver-and-black giant — Tiga!
He was here, taking the Earth Defence Force's exam!
"Princess Yuzare, I've been waiting for you for quite a while," Yu Zhou said with a grin, showing his white teeth.
By the brook, beneath the great tree,
a gentle breeze brushed Yu Zhou's face, carrying with it the scent of grass and wildflowers.
Yuzare and her younger brother stood before him, waiting for him to speak.
"Sit," Yu Zhou said casually, leaning against the tree's roots.
Yuzare, maintaining her royal composure, remained standing.
Her brother, however, plopped down without hesitation.
"Tiga, so you really are the Giant of Light — Tiga!" Yuzare said, still astonished as she recalled his transformation the night before.
A man who looked as ordinary as herself could turn into a towering giant? It was unbelievable.
"Call me whatever you like," Yu Zhou replied indifferently. "I didn't come here to talk about that."
"Tiga," the young prince spoke up, his gaze filled with curiosity, "let me introduce myself. I am the king's third son — you may call me Cain."
"The third child of the king… Wait, what?" Yu Zhou blinked.
"What did you just say your name was?"
"My name is Cain," the prince said, puzzled by Yu Zhou's reaction. "Why? Is there something wrong with it?"
"N-no, nothing wrong…" Yu Zhou muttered, but his eyes studied the boy carefully.
Cain… Ultraman Cain — a Giant of Light from Tiga's own ancient era!
Could this young prince really be him?
Judging from his aura, he hadn't awakened his transformation power yet…
"Looking closely, he really does resemble Masaki a bit," Yu Zhou whispered, circling the boy.
"Masaki? Who's that?" Cain asked, confused. "And why do you say he looks like me?"
"No one. Just a friend of mine. My eyes must be playing tricks," Yu Zhou quickly waved it off.
"Then, Tiga," Yuzare said, changing the topic, "you said you had something to ask me. You can ask now."
Yu Zhou nodded, his expression turning serious.
"I want to know where the source of darkness is."
"The source of darkness?" Yuzare repeated, her expression calm. "And why do you seek it?"
"That's not something you need to worry about," Yu Zhou replied. "I won't do anything bad.
If I wanted to harm Earth, why would I have helped you destroy the Zoigers?"
"…You have a point."
Yuzare nodded slowly.
Though the power within Tiga radiated darkness, his actions had been to protect Earth and humankind.
In a way, his deeds mirrored the very philosophy he had written earlier —
even darkness, when used for good, could be light.
"I'll tell you," she said finally, "but first, answer me one question."
"Go ahead," Yu Zhou said, spreading his hands.
"Are you a Giant of Darkness, or a Giant of Light?"
Her tone was calm, but her eyes were steady.
Yu Zhou thought for a moment, then said firmly,
"By the power that dwells in me, I am a Giant of Darkness."
"I see."
A faint smile appeared on Yuzare's lips.
By power, he was of darkness — but by his actions, he was of light.
Power might be divided into light and dark,
but it was the heart that determined whether it was used for good or evil.
"Now," Yu Zhou said, "tell me — where is the source of darkness?"
"The source of darkness lies deep beneath the ocean," Yuzare replied.
"According to ancient records, long ago, the entire world was once ruled by darkness.
The King of Darkness controlled all life on Earth, making every being a servant of shadow.
No one escaped his rule.
"But even the King of Darkness eventually fell into slumber within his sacred temple and has not awakened since.
"So, my belief is — the true source of darkness is that still-sleeping King of Darkness."
Yu Zhou listened quietly, lost in thought.
The King of Darkness… he had heard of him before.
Gatanothor was one of his followers.
Zog was his vanguard.
Even the monstrous brother of Gatanothor, Ythogtha whom Yu Zhou had faced before, belonged to that same lineage.
The Kyrieloids, too, had traces of connection to the darkness.
"The King of Darkness… and the strongest of the Dark Giants — what is their connection?" Yu Zhou murmured.
If there were a King of Darkness and Dark Giants in the ancient age,
then perhaps there was a link between them.
In the final battle of the original history, Camearra — one of the Dark Giants — had merged with Gatanothor's lingering hatred, becoming the terrifying demon, Demonthor.
A Dark Giant who could fuse with the dark god himself…
Perhaps the connection between the two was far deeper than anyone knew.