The dust hadn't settled yet.

Kaito's heart pounded as he watched the towering figure of light clash against the Kaiju. The air crackled with energy as the battle raged on, and the ground trembled with each heavy blow exchanged. He could barely process what was happening-an Ultraman, here? After so many decades?

Naomi, still on the ground but quickly regaining her composure, glanced between Kaito and the battle. The disbelief in her eyes flickered for a moment, but it was quickly replaced by hardened resolve. Whoever-or whatever-this giant warrior was, they had to help.

She tapped the comms in her ear, speaking quickly and clearly. "This is Commander Hayashi. Unknown giant fighting the Kaiju-backup needed immediately. We're engaging to provide support."

She stood up, wiping the dirt off her uniform, and looked at Kaito. "We don't know what that thing is or where it came from, but we're not just going to sit here and watch it fight alone. We need to distract the Kaiju and give it some kind of advantage."

Kaito, still reeling from the sight of the giant, shook his head. "But... how do we know it's friendly? What if-?"

"We don't have time for that," Naomi cut him off, her voice sharp. "Right now, it's fighting the Kaiju. That's all that matters. We need to buy it time."

She glanced around, scanning the landscape for anything that could help. "We'll aim for the Kaiju's weak spots. Focus fire on the joints, try to immobilize it. We need to give that giant an opening."

Kaito hesitated for a moment but then nodded, gripping his gun tighter. "Alright. Let's do this."

Attack exchanged, the sky growls while the ground trembles as Hikari tries their best to gain an advantage. But their action remains fruitless, as their punches couldn't even budge the Kaiju much. With a blink of an eye, the Kaiju swings its arms towards Hikari, causing them to falls and rolls on the ground. Their feet hits one of the empty building, crushing it to the ground immediately.

As Hikari gets up on its knees. They bring their right arm to their left waist, then with a loud roar, they swings their arm back up, forming a golden blade, made of the Ultra light. Hikari charges straight towards the Kaiju, slashing with all of their might. It seems to be working, as the Kaiju reacts in pain, stumbling back after each attack.

The ground shakes each time Hikari and the Kaiju moves. Kaito and Naomi has positioned themselves nearby, aiming to shoot at the Kaiju. "Wait for my signal..." Naomis says to the comm, instructing Kaito to hold their fire.

Once the dust clear, both of the giant can now be seen slightly clearer than before. Naomi clicks on her comm and yells. "Fire!"

Kaito and Naomi quickly switched to offensive mode, raising their weapons and firing in unison. The explosive rounds tore through the air, each bullet detonating on impact with the Kaiju's thick hide. The repeated blasts staggered the creature, creating an opening for Hikari.

Seizing the moment, Hikari raised his arm, charging the energy in his brace. A brilliant blue light began to pulse and hum, building up with raw power. With precision and focus, Hikari unleashed the Specium Ray, the beam slicing through the battlefield and striking the Kaiju directly in the chest.

The force of the blast sent the Kaiju reeling, its massive body lifted off its feet by the impact. A deafening roar escaped its maw as the beam tore through its armored scales, exposing raw, bleeding flesh beneath. The Kaiju struggled to rise, visibly weakened, its once-impenetrable defenses now shattered.

As quickly as the Kaiju’s wound had appeared, it began to heal, the torn flesh mending itself in moments. The creature floated back to its feet, letting out a mocking roar toward Hikari. With clenched fists, Hikari readied for another attack, but the Kaiju's attention had already shifted.

Its eyes glowed a menacing red, the temperature around them rising rapidly. In the blink of an eye, the Kaiju unleashed a devastating beam toward Kaito and Naomi. The blast struck before anyone could react, sending both of them flying, thrown violently across the ground.

The attack was too fast for Hikari to intervene, even if they’d tried. Dazed, Kaito groaned and looked toward Naomi, seeing her unconscious form beside him. Panic surged through him as he crawled to her, shaking her shoulders urgently.

"Commander! Commander, wake up!" Kaito shouted, his voice trembling. But Naomi remained still, unmoving.

Kaito’s gaze snapped upward. The Kaiju was closing in on them, its massive steps shaking the ground. Just as it seemed all hope was lost, Hikari stepped between the Kaiju and the fallen pair, charging forward. With all their strength, they tackled the Kaiju at the waist, but the monster barely budged. Hikari strained against the Kaiju's immense power, struggling to push it back.

Annoyed, the Kaiju grabbed Hikari's arm and hurled the Ultraman aside effortlessly. Hikari crashed into the ground, rolling across the dust before slowly rising, weakened but not defeated. The Kaiju, now fully focused on its prey, began marching toward the staggering hero.

Kaito gritted his teeth in frustration. With Naomi still unconscious, he had no choice. Grabbing her rifle, he scrambled to his feet, eyes burning with determination. Without hesitation, Kaito charged toward the Kaiju, firing round after round at the creature’s chest. The bullets exploded on impact, but the Kaiju's freshly regenerated armor easily withstood the blasts.

The Kaiju's eyes glows once again. Forming a fiery gaze before they blast out their last cosmic energy towards Hikari. Damaging the Ultraman's chest. Hikari staggered, his towering form casting a long shadow over the battlefield. His luminous blue light, once radiant, flickered like a dying flame. Sparks flew from his body, and the energy that had once made him unstoppable was now leaking, fading with every second. The Kaiju roared in the distance, preparing for a final, devastating strike.

Kaito could barely stand, his body shaking from exhaustion, but he kept firing his weapon at the Kaiju, each shot seeming more futile than the last. His gaze shot up to Hikari, the giant Ultraman struggling to remain upright. Kaito knew—everyone could see—that Hikari couldn’t hold on much longer.

The sky darkened, and the air felt heavy with the impending threat. Hikari took a faltering step back, his body shimmering weakly. He looked down toward Kaito, and for a brief moment, their eyes seemed to meet—giant and human, connected across the battlefield.

A deep voice resonated in Kaito’s mind. It wasn’t a voice that spoke with words, but rather a feeling—a sense of ancient wisdom and purpose that echoed within him. "You... must continue... the light."

Kaito’s breath caught in his throat. He stumbled backward, confusion and shock washing over him. “What?" he whispered in disbelief, knowing somehow that the message came from the giant in front of him.

Hikari’s form pulsed with light, his energy dwindling, and yet his presence in Kaito’s mind grew stronger. The Kaiju screeched and charged forward, sensing its victory was near. Hikari, with the last of his strength, raised his arms in a defensive stance, but even he knew it wouldn’t be enough. His time was running out.

With a final effort, Hikari’s body glowed brighter, his enormous hands moving to his chest as his energy condensed into a single point. Kaito could feel the power gathering, the heat so intense it made the air around him tremble. Then, in a burst of light, Hikari clenched his fists and threw his arms wide. The light exploded outward, blinding in its brilliance.

Kaito instinctively covered his eyes, the intensity of Hikari’s glowing form almost unbearable. Hikari's eyes shone brighter than any light Kaito had ever seen, and in the next moment, everything shifted. Kaito felt his feet leave the ground as he was pulled into a strange, liminal space. He floated there, weightless, his surroundings a void of endless white.

His gaze lifted, and he saw Hikari’s towering form before him, though only the upper half remained visible. The Ultraman’s voice echoed through the void, deep and resonant.

"Human... there is an energy within you. You are not like the others I’ve seen… not an ordinary human."

Kaito’s eyes widened in disbelief. In all his years, never had he imagined an Ultraman speaking to him—let alone acknowledging him. His heart raced as the giant’s words sank in.

Hikari stretched his arms toward Kaito, and as he did, his form began to flake away, disintegrating into shimmering particles of light that floated toward Kaito’s chest.

"You must continue... You are the only one strong enough to endure my power... My light is fading... The fate of the universe now rests in your hands."

Hikari’s final words echoed, fading into the void as his entire form vanished, dissolving into the light that flew into Kaito’s chest. The moment the energy struck, Kaito gasped, clutching his chest as the sensation of burning power surged through him.

The light within him grew, brighter and brighter, until it seemed ready to burst. His body surged with energy, and the green, blue, and gold light exploded outward. Kaito felt himself rise into the air, his form expanding as the light engulfed him, growing larger and larger.

He looked down at his arms, then at his entire body in awe and confusion. His skin, his form—it was no longer his own. He had taken on the massive, gleaming form of the blue giant. Ultraman Hikari.

The people on the ground shielded their eyes from the overwhelming brilliance as the reborn Ultraman Hikari stood tall once more, the flickering red light on his chest restored to a steady, radiant blue.

The Kaiju growled at the sight, baring its fangs before releasing a furious roar. But Kaito—now Ultraman Hikari—lowered himself into a graceful, balanced Aikido stance, his focus sharp as he sized up the creature before him.

The Kaiju charged at Hikari with full force, leaping in an attempt to tackle him to the ground. With swift precision, Hikari sidestepped, using the momentum of the Kaiju’s arm to redirect the beast's trajectory, sending it crashing into the ground beside him. Before the Kaiju could recover, Hikari jumped back, landing gracefully in his ready stance, prepared for the next attack.

Meanwhile, at the UDI base, the jets roared to life. Plasma engines ignited, as the pilots prepared to offer much-needed air support for Ultraman Hikari. Nearby, Hana remained on the battlefield, crouched beside the injured personnel. She worked quickly, her hands steady as she applied medical aid with supplies scavenged from the wreckage.

The jets streaked across the sky, plasma engines humming as they raced toward HQ to engage the aggressive, mysterious Kaiju. On the battlefield, the Kaiju slowed its relentless assault, reacting more cautiously, as if studying Hikari’s new, unfamiliar combat style—waiting for him to make the first move.

Deciding to test its theory, the Kaiju swung its massive bladed arm towards Hikari’s head. Hikari ducked smoothly beneath the strike, catching the Kaiju's wrist in one fluid motion. With a surge of strength, he yanked the beast closer, seized its shoulder, and in a seamless spinning motion, hurled the Kaiju off its feet. The creature soared through the air before slamming hard into the ground with a thunderous crash. Hikari’s movements were fluid and deliberate, his arms flowing smoothly before settling back into his Aikido stance, as if inviting the Kaiju to make the next move.

But the Kaiju wasn’t like the mindless monsters the UDI had record of. It began to move with a calculated caution, studying Hikari’s every move—moves that now made by Kaito.

The Kaiju advanced once more, but this time its movements were more deliberate. Its feet spread wide as it crouched low, digging into the ground for better leverage. The Kaiju swung its arm toward Hikari’s face again. Hikari attempted the same counter as before, reaching to grab its wrist, but this time the Kaiju was prepared. With its feet firmly planted in the ground, Hikari struggled to toss or even move the creature.

The Kaiju swung its left arm in a follow-up strike. Hikari quickly raised his elbow, deflecting the blow with a solid block that struck the Kaiju’s fist mid-swing. Seizing the moment, Hikari lifted one leg, pressing both palms into the Kaiju's stomach and shoving it back with a powerful push.

Above, one of the UDI pilots spoke urgently into his comms. "Message from Commander Hayashi: Target the Kaiju, not the blue Ultraman. I repeat, focus all fire on the Kaiju. Avoid hitting the blue Ultraman."

The jets spread out in formation, ascending high into the sky before diving swiftly toward the Kaiju. They fired their golden plasma shots, creating sparks as they struck the Kaiju’s chest and shoulders. Though the blasts didn’t seem to do much damage, they provided Hikari with the opening he needed. He launched his fist directly into the Kaiju’s chest, hitting with enough force to make the creature stumble backward. Moving with grace, Hikari flowed back into his Aikido stance, poised for the next attack.

A larger jet approached from above, firing a missile aimed directly at the Kaiju’s head. Sensing the threat, the Kaiju’s eyes glowed red as it unleashed a blast of energy, intercepting the missile and causing it to explode mid-air before reaching its target.

Hikari glanced toward the large jet, giving a brief nod of acknowledgment before turning his focus back to the Kaiju. He charged forward, bending his knees and stomping the ground with powerful intent. Closing the distance, he drove his elbow into the Kaiju’s stomach with a sharp strike, then followed up with a swift upward palm strike to its chin, sending the Kaiju reeling.

The impact forced the Kaiju further back, away from the HQ. It let out an enraged growl, swinging all four of its massive arms in a flurry of strikes. Hikari moved swiftly, deflecting each blow with precise forearm blocks and palm strikes, slapping away the attacks in rapid succession. Sensing an opportunity, Hikari performed a graceful back handspring, creating much-needed distance between himself and the beast.

With a determined glance, Hikari raised his Knight Brace to his right palm, slashing his arm open to summon the blade. But to his shock, the sword he had seen earlier didn’t materialize. He stared at the brace, stunned

Seizing the moment of hesitation, the Kaiju unleashed a powerful blast, striking Hikari square in the chest and shoulders. The force sent him crashing onto his back. As Hikari lay there, the color timer on his chest began to blink urgently. Kaito had heard about this from the records on Ultramen, it meant they had less than a minute to finish the fight.

Hikari struggles, slowly getting back on his feet. On the ground, Naomi Hayashi’s eyes flutter open. She groans, holding her head, checking for any injuries. Her breath is heavy as she takes in the sight of dust and debris from the destroyed hangar. Her gaze shifts toward the battlefield, tension building.

Groaning, Naomi forces herself to her feet, wincing as she feels the burning pain in her injured left leg. Gritting her teeth, she quickly limps behind a piece of broken debris for cover. Clicking the comm in her ear, she speaks with urgency.

“This is Commander Hayashi. I’ve got a plan to push the Kaiju back. Squad Bird Eye, prepare for Formation Eagle. I need a heavy jet for missile attack while Bird Eye flanks the Kaiju from both sides!”

She waits as the ground trembles beneath her, Hikari keeping the Kaiju occupied in the distance. After a few tense moments, her comm crackles to life.

“Squad Bird Eye, affirmative. Commencing Formation Eagle.”

Naomi’s eyes shift to the sky, watching as a squadron of fighter jets assembles into an arrow formation. The group splits into two, soaring over the battlefield before diving down, plasma artillery blazing towards the Kaiju from both flanks.

Hikari, noticing the incoming fire, deftly performs a back handspring, avoiding the plasma barrage. The Kaiju growls in pain as the shots land on its sides and shoulders, its attention now diverted to the fighter jets. The creature's eyes glow red, preparing to unleash another devastating blast.

But before the Kaiju can fire, Hikari swiftly wraps his arm around its throat, pulling the creature over his back in a powerful throw. The Kaiju’s blast shoots into the sky as it crashes hard into the ground.

Enraged, the Kaiju quickly rises to its feet, swinging all four arms in a frenzied attack. Hikari catches one of its arms, twisting and spinning it, using the Kaiju’s momentum to toss it through the air. The Kaiju spins, landing heavily with a thud. Hikari moves fluidly, returning to his Aikido stance with precision and grace.

Naomi watches intently, nodding to herself before clicking her comm again. “Okay, now for the heavy strike! Squad Torpedo, prepare the missile!”

“Affirmative!” Squad Torpedo’s leader replies. The larger jet circles back toward the battlefield, the captain struggling to get a clear shot as the Kaiju thrashes and moves unpredictably.

Frustrated, the pilot scoffs and pulls the yoke, making an evasive maneuver to fly just beneath the Kaiju’s arm. Hikari seizes the moment, grabbing the Kaiju’s arm before it can strike the jet. He leaps back, once again forced to deflect the Kaiju’s wild, powerful swings.

Naomi’s comm buzzes as the Torpedo squad’s captain calls out. “Commander Hayashi, we can’t get a clear shot! If we fire now, we’ll risk hitting the headquarters. We need a clear target!”

Groaning in frustration, Naomi responds swiftly. “Understood. Squad Bird Eye, keep the pressure on the Kaiju! I’ll figure out a way to hold it down.”

Naomi's eyes dart frantically, scanning for something that could help. Her gaze locks onto a Javeline Cable truck parked nearby, typically used to prevent hijackers from stealing jets. With a sigh, she stretches her back and sprints toward the vehicle. Climbing in, she places her palm on the identifier scanner. Once her clearance is approved by the truck’s AI, she flicks a series of switches, bringing the engine roaring to life.

Breathing heavily, Naomi mutters under her breath, “You're one crazy lady, Hayashi..." With that, she presses down on the accelerator, steering the truck closer to the battlefield. She knows how difficult it’ll be to operate the Javeline system alone, but she doesn’t have a choice.

Through the thick cloud of dust, Naomi notices a figure rushing through the chaos. As the shape gets closer, it becomes clear—it’s Hana Sato, moving quickly between debris, searching for injured personnel. Naomi veers the truck toward her, bringing it to a stop just in time.

She hits a button, opening the passenger door, and shouts, “Sato! Get in!”

Hana wastes no time, scrambling into the truck. “Commander Hayashi! You're alive! Did you see anyone else that needs treatment?” she asks, her voice shaky.

Naomi, focused and stern, simply raises her hand to silence Hana. “You’re going to operate the Javeline shooter. We need to pin down that Kaiju. You've how to work the controls, right?”

Without waiting for an answer, Naomi drives the truck closer to the battle, dodging fallen debris. Hana, clearly panicked, presses her lips together. “I—I have, Commander... but I'm not very good at it,” she stammers, her nerves getting the better of her.

Naomi groans but doesn't take her eyes off the road. “Well, now’s your time to get good. Get in position, Sato. We’re holding that Kaiju down, and fast.”

She activates her comm again. “Squad Torpedo, get ready for another shot. Private Sato and I are going to pin down the Kaiju. Stand by for my signal.”

Naomi turns her stern gaze toward the nervous Sato. Sato grunts, her nerves clear, but she quickly nods and snaps a salute. “U-Understood, Commander!”

Without hesitation, she climbs into the backseat of the truck, taking her place at the Javeline gun controls, her hands trembling slightly as she prepares for orders.

"Preparing to hold the Kaiju. Squad Torpedo, make a turn and ready your shot," Naomi says into her comm, driving closer to the Kaiju.

In the backseat, Hana flicks several switches, her hands trembling as fear starts to creep in again. She takes a deep breath, only to feel Naomi’s hand on hers. Hana glances up, locking eyes with Naomi for a moment.

Naomi gives her a firm nod. Steadying herself, Hana grips the scope of the Javeline gun, readying for the shot. “Ready!” she calls out.

Naomi nods, stepping on the pedal to drive them into range.

Meanwhile, Ultraman Hikari lets out a groan, deflecting another of the Kaiju’s punches before thrusting his palm into its chest, shoving the beast back.

Naomi’s eyes narrow, waiting for Hana as anxiety threatens to take hold. But she quickly forces it down. She knows the stakes—there’s no room for hesitation now. She has to trust Hana.

Hana adjusts the scope, her breath shaky as she fights off her fear. She locks onto her target and exhales sharply. “Clear shot…”

“Squad Bird Eye, fall back. Squad Torpedo, prepare the missile. Hana, wait for my signal,” Naomi orders into her comm.

Squad Bird Eye makes their final dive, pelting the Kaiju’s shoulders and arms with plasma shots before pulling away, banking for another pass if needed. Squad Torpedo turns sharply, the large jet engaging its sonic booster to speed toward the Kaiju.

Naomi sees the path clearing. Her gaze never leaves the Kaiju as she counts down. “Okay, Sato… 3… 2… 1… Fire!”

Hana pulls the trigger, and the Javeline shoots forward, powered by the gun’s plasma booster. It rockets toward the Kaiju.

However, Hikari, unaware of their plan, almost disrupts the shot. He ducks beneath the Kaiju’s swing and lands a powerful punch to its chest, causing the beast to stumble back.

The Javeline strikes the Kaiju’s left forearm instead of its body.

Naomi shifts into reverse, stepping hard on the pedal as if trying to pull the Kaiju toward her. At first, the truck struggles, the wheels spinning with little effect. But then Naomi flicks a switch, causing the tires to shift into a shape with greater traction. The truck digs in, gaining more grip and managing to hold the Kaiju’s arm steady.

Hikari spots the truck and the cable tethering the Kaiju’s left arm. He then notices the jet approaching. Nodding to himself, Hikari grabs the Kaiju’s right arm, locking the beast in place as it thrashes and tries to pull free.

Inside the truck, Naomi clicks her comm, urgency in her voice. “Squad Torpedo! Do you have a clear shot?”

The squad leader's voice crackles back. “We need to get a little closer! Hold your position, Commander!”

Naomi groans, keeping her foot pressed to the pedal, her knuckles white on the steering wheel. Hikari holds the Kaiju, knowing time is running out before he’s forced to revert back to his human form.

In the backseat, Hana’s eyes dart between the switches. Her breath is shaky, but her mind stays focused. She flips a switch, sending a jolt of electricity through the cable. The Kaiju’s left arm jerks, momentarily paralyzed by the shock.

“Just take the shot!” Naomi yells into her comm.

“Negative—”

“Take the freaking shot! I’ll take responsibility for whatever happens!” Naomi shouts, her tone urgent and firm.

There’s a pause on the other end, then the squad leader's voice comes through. “Affirmative. Taking the shot now…”

The missile emerges from the jet’s bottom ramp, tearing through the air as it speeds toward the Kaiju.

But at the last second, the Kaiju's fingers sprout deadly claws. It slashes through the cable, freeing itself, its eyes glowing a menacing red as it charges up a cosmo blast aimed at the incoming missile.

Hikari, sensing the imminent danger, moves fast. He steps between the Kaiju and the missile, shoving his palm beneath the Kaiju’s chin, forcing its blast to veer upward and into the sky.

The missile strikes, slamming into the Kaiju’s left shoulder. The impact is immense, breaking the sound barrier and sending a shockwave that rips through the battlefield. Naomi’s truck is flung backward, skidding miles away from the explosion.

Hikari grunts as the force sends both him and the Kaiju hurtling in opposite directions. They crash to the ground, rolling across the battlefield. The light on Hikari’s chest flickers once... then dies.

Moments later, Hikari vanishes, reverting back to Kaito, who lies on the shattered remains of the airstrip.

Kaito's vision blurs as he lies on the airstrip, the world around him drowned in a sharp, stinging white noise. His entire body feels like it’s being scorched, every nerve alive with searing pain. He tries to scream, but even the simple act of moving his jaw is agonizing, as though every cell in his body is burning. Moments later, the pain overwhelms him, and he slips into unconsciousness.

A couple of hours later, Kaito's eyes flutter open. The room around him is dimly lit, the only light coming from a soft, glowing lava lamp in the corner. He groans, realizing he's lying on a bed.

"Was it all a dream...?" he mutters, his voice hoarse.

He pushes himself to sit up, wincing as a sharp pain shoots through his left rib and shoulder.

"Oof—definitely not..." he whispers to himself.

His eyes wander to the bed beside him, where Hana Sato lies unconscious, a bandage wrapped around her head.

With a groan, Kaito forces himself to stand, but his right leg buckles slightly from the injury, throwing him off balance. He leans heavily on the wall for support, glancing down at his body. He's dressed in a plain white shirt and black pants. The room feels foreign and sterile.

He limps out of the room, the door sliding open automatically as he approaches. Using the wall to steady himself, Kaito shuffles down the corridor, the pain making every step a challenge. Suddenly, a hand grabs his side.

"Ouch, ouch! Careful, you moron!" Kaito snaps, looking up at the man holding him—a man who looks to be in his 30s, with a confident smirk on his face.

The man lets go, chuckling. "You shouldn’t be out of bed yet, Officer Matsuda. Your injury hasn’t healed properly."

Kaito leans back against the wall, catching his breath. "Sorry... I’m just confused. Where am I? What happened to the UDI base? And how do you know my name?"

The man pats Kaito on the good shoulder. "Glad to see your memory’s still intact. Name’s Taro Mori. No need to bother with ranks, just call me Mori."

Still unsteady, Kaito walks alongside Taro, leaning on the wall for support as they move down the corridor. Taro continues, his tone calm but informative.

"The squads managed to force that Kaiju to retreat, thanks to Commander Hayashi's quick thinking. Though, between you and me, she can be a bit impulsive at times," he says with a grin. "Still, it worked. The Kaiju retreated, and you're safe now. Same goes for Sato."

Kaito nods, his mind racing. Did they know he transformed into Ultraman Hikari? Taro, however, seemed oddly calm about everything.

"As for that Blue giant," Taro adds, "it vanished mid-battle. We don’t know where it went, but we’ve identified it. It’s Ultraman Hikari. He showed up on Earth briefly back in 2008 and caused some... trouble."

They come to a stop by a nearby window. Kaito glances outside, his eyes widening in shock. Beyond the glass is the vast, black emptiness of space, with stars scattered like diamonds across the void. The moon looms nearby, glowing faintly. Kaito stares, stunned, his breath catching in his throat.

Taro chuckles, glancing at the view before turning back to Kaito with a smirk. "Guess we forgot to mention that part. Welcome to the Nebula Sentinel..."