In the heart of the peaceful Ultra City, in the place that once witnessed Belial's landing, Obspera stood tall.
With a graceful yet determined motion, they removed the dark crimson cloak that wrapped around their body.
That cloak... Belial the Emperor's legacy, floated gently to the ground, as if honoring the soil once stepped upon by the father himself.
Without the cloak, Obspera's figure appeared slimmer and battle-ready. Yet, the aura of darkness surrounding them grew stronger, radiating an intimidating force.
Their sharp blue eyes gazed forward, challenging anyone who dared to stand in their way.
The Ultras watching from afar could feel an overwhelming tension.
They knew this was no ordinary battle.
It was a legacy of the past returning once more, carrying the same shadows of darkness that once threatened the Land of Light.
With a firm yet deliberate motion, Obspera summoned the Giga Battlenizer — the iconic weapon of Kaiser Belial, now theirs.
A violet-blue dark light flared to life.
With the Giga Battlenizer, Obspera unleashed Ultraman Ribut's signature technique that creates a blue energy web barrier; Strong Net-(ストロングネット, Sutorongu Netto).
Unlike Ribut's version, this barrier served a dual purpose; shield and prison. Isolating them from the outside world by merging the functions of Ribut Blocker.
The Ultras were taken aback.
Even Ultraman Ribut stepped forward, his eyes narrowing in disbelief.
Meanwhile, the duel within the dome of Strong Net had begun.
Zero, ever impatient when facing a challenge, took the initiative at once.
He unleashed Wide Zero Shoot-(ワイドゼロショット, Waido Zero Shotto)—a golden ray that tore through the air with cosmic explosions.
But Obspera simply tilted their body aside, dodging with the elegance of a deadly dance.
Zero muttered under his breath,
"You're really… not an ordinary opponent."
Not satisfied, Zero spun around.
With a swift motion, he detached both Sluggers from his head and merged them into a crescent-shaped sword that glowed blue, now mounted upon his Color Timer;
Zero Twin Sword (ゼロツインシュート, Zero Tsuin Shūto).
The light of the Plasma Spark flared as he launched into the air, his blade slicing through space with precision; a pure legacy and strength of the Ultra Warrior.
He flipped midair in an acrobatic motion and swung the energy blade toward Obspera.
Clang! The sound of light scraping against air resonated.
Yet… with just a tilt of the head, Obspera made the boomerang miss its mark, deflecting off the barrier surrounding them.
---
While Obspera used the Strong Net as both defense and battlefield during the duel with Zero, the observing Ultras, including Ribut... were left speechless.
"That's… my technique," Ribut whispered, his eyes locked on the energy field enclosing the two fighters.
Ultraman Taro stepped closer, looking at Ribut with a serious expression.
"Did you activate it?"
Ribut slowly shook his head.
"No… not me. But it's identical to mine."
Ultrawoman Grigio spoke up.
"Then… did itself activate Ribut-san's technique?"
The other Ultras exchanged uneasy glances, confusion and concern etched on their faces.
"How could he possibly use your signature technique?" asked Ultraman Ace.
"Is this Tartarus' doing again?" added Ultraman Zoffy, recalling the incident involving the Parallel Isotope Belial and Tregear.
Ribut's gaze sharpened as he watched Obspera.
"If he can access my technique, he might possess the ability to copy—or even steal—the data of other Ultras' techniques."
The tension among them intensified, realizing that Obspera was no ordinary opponent—perhaps one with access to powers and skills meant to belong only to the Ultras.
The New Generation Ultras—Ginga, Victory, X, Rosso, Blu, and Taiga—all felt the suffocating aura.
Taiga gripped his Taiga Spark tightly on his arm, sensing Tregear's essence mingling within Obspera's—and a shiver ran through his chest.
---
Inside the dome, Zero pressed his attack.
He leaped forward, using Ultra Zero Kick (ウルトラゼロキック, Urutora Zero Kikku)—a kick that left streaks of light across the air.
Yet Obspera merely stepped back half a stride—just enough for Zero to miss, landing several steps away in front of them.
Staring down at the panting Ultra, Obspera spoke in a calm tone,
"Zero… I only wished to understand you."
Zero lifted his gaze, staring directly into Obspera's soft blue eyes—where Belial's shadow mingled with mystery.
"What do you mean?!" Zero barked.
Obspera didn't answer.
Instead, they swung the Giga Battlenizer, releasing a far more serious strike—Dark Energy Slash.
The wave of dark energy struck Zero violently, sending him crashing against the barrier and slamming to the ground.
Outside, the Ultras tensed.
Those who tried to rush forward were stopped by Father of Ultra, who spoke in a calm yet commanding tone,
"Hold your ground. We don't yet know who they are. Don't act recklessly."
Obspera walked toward the fallen Zero, their voice graceful yet authoritative,
"I believe… this duel is over."
With a flick of the Giga Battlenizer, the Strong Net dissipated, its light scattering into the Ultra sky.
---
As the barrier faded, the Ultras quickly gathered, alert and tense.
The field that imprisoned them was gone, but the air grew heavier with unease.
Obspera, who had just fought Zero, slowly approached him as he remained kneeling on the cracked ground.
Father of Ultra stepped forward, his eyes unwavering.
"Enough. No one takes another step without our consent."
Mother of Ultra stood beside him, radiating sharp serenity.
"We saw how you restrained yourself. Yet your power… and your demeanor, demand answers from us all."
From another side, the Ultimate Force Zero formed a defensive line before Zero.
Glen Fire stood at the front, studying the stranger with fierce curiosity.
"Hey! That's Ribut's Strong Net! How the hell did you use it?"
Mirror Knight's voice was calm yet firm,
"Your purpose… what do you seek here?"
Jean-Bot and Jean-Nine spoke in their synchronized mechanical tones,
"You raise more questions than answers."
"And we cannot simply ignore that."
Obspera said nothing, merely scanning each of them one by one—their gaze as sharp as Father of Ultra's own.
Their voice finally broke the silence—low, slightly hoarse, yet elegant—bearing a regal calm laced with arrogance,
"I only wished to see… the power of 'Ultraman Zero.' That is all."
Doubt flickered among the Ultras.
They could feel something different, something reminiscent of two names echoing deep within their minds—Belial and Tregear—but none dared to utter them.
Zero, now standing tall though still catching his breath, fixed his eyes on Obspera, searching for meaning behind the words.
Before he could move, Father of Ultra raised his hand—a silent command to stay still.
Silence enveloped the scene.
The glow of the towering buildings of the Land of Light seemed to dim momentarily, as if waiting for a decision from the guardians of peace who now encircled them.
And amid that vigilant circle, Obspera stood calmly, their deep blue eyes reflecting the city's fading light.
Slowly, they reached down for the cloak lying beside their feet.
Their movements were graceful, yet laced with cold precision—evoking the memory of two figures who once shook the heavens of the Ultra Realm: Belial and Tregear.
Facing away from the gathered Ultras surrounding Zero, Obspera bowed their head slightly, adjusting the heirloom cloak of their father—a silent shield, affirming the bloodline none could deny.
The tension was sliced by the first words Obspera finally spoke aloud.
Their tone was soft yet threaded with chilling dominance—a manner reminiscent of Tregear, but surrounded by Belial's undeniable darkness.
"Even if I didn't tell you… you already know who I am," they said plainly, their fingers gliding slowly across the cloak.
Their blue eyes caught the faint gleam of the Taiga Spark bound to their wrist—its red light dripping with an inevitable, mysterious aura.
Silence devoured every word.
Father and Mother of Ultra exchanged glances, struggling to grasp the truth unveiled before them.
Geed stared at Obspera, anxiety clouding his eyes as he recognized the cloak and Giga Battlenizer swinging in that mysterious Ultra's grasp—they were unmistakably his father's.
Zero, though weary from the fight, remained firm at the front line, his gaze locked on Obspera's.
Yet Obspera stood facing away from them all, defying the countless eyes fixed upon their back.
"My name… is Obspera. Only Obspera."
Their gaze was empty, yet filled with meaning.
The name "Obspera" echoed in their hearts—a name still shrouded in mystery, but now embodied before them.
And so, silence lingered—a tense pause, a bridge toward the truth that Obspera would soon reveal in the chapters to come.
________
*To be continued.