Boom!
Both fists slammed into each other's chests at the same time. Sparks exploded across their torsos as the two combatants were forced several steps backward, once again widening the distance between them.
"As expected… you're difficult to deal with," Tartarus said casually, brushing his thumb across his nose.
"What are you talking about?"
Joneus raised an arm and pointed directly at him, his voice sharp and commanding.
"Who exactly are you?!"
"I am an Ultimate Lifeform!"
"A warrior of the Absolutian race!"
"Absolute Tartarus!"
"Remember that well!"
As he spoke, Tartarus gathered golden energy in both hands and unleashed multiple spheres of crackling golden lightning toward Joneus.
"Come!"
Joneus responded without hesitation, releasing several pale-coloured energy orbs of his own.
Golden lightning arcs and pale light spheres collided midair, detonating in violent explosions.
Within the blazing firestorm, Tartarus opened a golden wormhole, clearly intending to retreat—
But before he could escape, a brilliant beam of light descended from the sky, slamming down directly between him and the wormhole.
"Tartarus—today, you're not getting away!"
From that radiant light emerged a figure.
It was Yuzhou, transformed into Shining Tiga.
"You again—Ultraman Tiga!"
Clenching his fist, Tartarus hurled a punch straight at Yuzhou.
Time and time again, this Ultraman had ruined his plans. The irritation was unmistakable.
Yuzhou showed no hesitation.
He stepped forward and met the blow head-on with his own fist.
Boom!
An invisible shockwave erupted from the point of impact, rippling violently in all directions.
Yuzhou did not move an inch.
Tartarus, however, was sent flying backward, flipping through the air before landing heavily on the ground.
"Damn you!"
Tartarus immediately opened another wormhole, preparing to flee once more—
But suddenly, a blazing flaming flying kick descended from the sky.
Crash!
A burning crater exploded open directly in front of him.
"Tartarus—let me take you on!"
The one who had delivered the kick was Ultraman Zero, arriving at last.
Because Yuzhou had stalled Tartarus in time, Zero had managed to reach the battlefield.
"Ultraman Zero…"
Tartarus glanced at Zero—then at Yuzhou and Joneus.
Without hesitation, he released a burst of golden lightning toward all three—
And at the same instant, opened another golden wormhole beside him and vanished.
"He escaped again…"
As the wormhole collapsed, Yuzhou could only sigh helplessly.
Had Tartarus maxed out his escape skills?
"Damn it—he's too fast!"
Zero punched the air in frustration.
"Zero, forget that for now," Yuzhou said as he approached him.
"Do you know where Planet Ebil is?"
"Or more importantly—Princess Yullian's current location?"
This Zero was not the Zero Yuzhou had brought back from the Saga timeline.
This was the Zero of this universe.
"Princess Yullian?"
Zero paused, thinking.
"Recently, Father of Ultra ordered me to search for allies and form an Ultra Alliance against Tartarus."
"So I don't know Princess Yullian's whereabouts."
"I see…"
Yuzhou frowned slightly.
"Then what about Planet Ebil?"
"Ebil is near Planet Ganon,"
Zero answered immediately.
"That place is completely desolate—no light at all. Why are you heading there, Tiga?"
"Princess Yullian is very likely to be targeted—possibly abducted—by Tartarus,"
Yuzhou said bluntly.
"What?!"
Zero reacted instantly.
"Then let's move—now!"
Having fought alongside Yuzhou many times, Zero trusted him completely.
But—
"Wait, Zero," Yuzhou stopped him after a moment's thought.
"I think we should return to the Land of Light first."
Yuzhou suddenly realized that Tartarus's plan was not moving quite that fast.
At this point in the timeline, Yullian had not yet been attacked.
Calling reinforcements first might be the smarter move.
Lie in wait.
Strike all at once.
Even Tartarus wouldn't be able to escape that.
"You just said Princess Yullian will be targeted—why delay?"
Zero asked, confused.
"She will be," Yuzhou replied calmly, "but not yet."
"I see…"
Zero nodded, then turned toward Joneus and stepped forward.
"This should be our first meeting," Zero said seriously.
"But the situation is urgent. I hope you'll lend us your strength."
"You are Zero," Joneus said as he looked at him.
"Hello. I'm Tiga—though you can call me Yuzhou,"
Yuzhou added, stepping forward and extending a hand.
"I am Joneus," Joneus replied, shaking Yuzhou's hand.
"Tartarus's true goal is to turn the Land of Light into the second kingdom of the Absolutians," Yuzhou said gravely.
"This will be a full-scale war."
"If you're willing to help, Joneus, we may be able to crush this conspiracy before it fully unfolds."
Yuzhou revealed Tartarus's ultimate objective—both to Joneus and to Zero.
"Tiga… how do you know all this?"
Zero asked, unable to hide his confusion.
"I've been following Tartarus through time and space,"
Yuzhou answered honestly.
"I've already stopped several of his schemes."
"For example—he tried to take Belial before his fall into darkness."
"And Tregear, before his corruption as well."
"I stopped both."
(He wisely chose not to mention certain other timelines.)
"Tartarus would go that far?!"
Zero was stunned.
They had already dealt with multiple enemies from parallel worlds.
He never imagined Tartarus intended to bring Belial and Tregear into the mix.
"But Tiga…"
Zero suddenly focused on something else entirely.
"You can travel through time too?"
"More or less," Yuzhou replied lightly.
"I know a bit."