Yuzare piloted the spacecraft back to the Moon, preparing to search for new land suitable for human survival.
Anmon, meanwhile, left behind a strand of his Origin Light drifting through the cosmos, then headed deeper into space to continue his exploration.
This left Yu Zhou, Achilles, and Herau hovering quietly above Earth.
Achilles and Herau asked Yu Zhou why he remained here. Yu Zhou gave only a brief answer:
He was waiting for someone.
One day passed.
Two days.
Three days…
No one knew how many days went by. The Earth's crust continued to move relentlessly, showing no sign of stopping.
Continental plates split apart and merged again, compressing and colliding, then tearing free and drifting away.
Yu Zhou noticed that beneath them, the land had already turned into a vast ocean. Upon that ocean floated a small island.
R'lyeh.
What surprised Yu Zhou, however, was that the Dark Temple—driven by the crustal upheaval—had broken through spatial constraints and now appeared above R'lyeh itself.
"The space containing the Dark Temple… perhaps it lies within Earth's interior,"
Yu Zhou thought briefly, then dismissed the matter.
Regardless, since the temple had shifted to R'lyeh and there was still time, returning to take a look posed no problem.
After all, Charija still had not arrived.
They flew down to R'lyeh and entered the temple.
Nothing unusual occurred.
Achilles and Herau followed closely, their movements cautious.
Although Yu Zhou had assured them there was no danger, the two still carried themselves as if ready to fight at any moment.
Soon, the three reached the interior of the temple.
There, the statues of Camearra, Hudra, and Darramb stood in grotesquely twisted poses.
When they had been petrified, all three were in the midst of attacking Yu Zhou, leaving their postures frozen in mid-assault.
Achilles and Herau were naturally shocked by the sight.
Yu Zhou explained the cause, the course of events, and the final outcome. Only then did the two understand.
"To seal away the one you love…"
Achilles shook his head with a sigh.
"That must have taken immense resolve."
The Dark Spark Lens appeared in Yu Zhou's hand and was then inserted into the pitch-black throne at the centre of the temple.
If, during the sealing process, dark energy leaked from Camearra and the others' statues, the Dark Spark Lens would absorb it—preventing the temple from being flooded with chaotic darkness.
With that done, Yu Zhou left R'lyeh.
Gazing at the endless ocean and the drifting fragments of land upon it, he seemed almost frozen in place.
Another week passed.
At last, a wormhole opened in the sky.
From it fell a fat man dressed in black formal wear, wearing a black top hat and holding a black umbrella.
With a loud thud and a cry of pain, the man—along with a suitcase—landed on a drifting continental fragment.
The suitcase emerged with him.
"Who goes there?"
Achilles and Herau reacted instantly, watching the fat man with vigilance.
Yu Zhou waved his hand, signalling that there was no need for concern.
"Charija. You're finally here."
Releasing his transformation, Yu Zhou turned into a beam of light and landed upon the floating landmass, speaking calmly.
Achilles and Herau followed suit, undo their transformations and reverting to human form.
In their hands appeared the transformation devices that allowed them to become Giants of Light.
This time, when Yu Zhou reverted, he returned to his own original appearance.
Achilles and Herau were startled to see that Tiga's appearance had changed entirely.
Yu Zhou explained the matter once more, leaving the two standing aside in stunned silence.
Ignoring their confusion, Charija finally spoke upon seeing Yu Zhou:
"So, the ultra-ancient civilization was wiped out just like that?!"
"My Dragon Hunter Restaurant is gone?!"
"My Sweet Flower-Brewed Chicken!"
Yu Zhou: "..."
"Alright," Yu Zhou said helplessly, shaking his head.
"If the ultra-ancient civilization didn't perish, where would the New Age come from? Let's go. It's time to return."
"…Fine."
With no better option, Charija accepted reality. He opened the suitcase and began adjusting its mechanisms.
"Achilles, Herau—come here. There's something I need to tell you."
While Charija worked, Yu Zhou called the two aside.
Still reeling from the revelation that Yu Zhou looked different, Achilles and Herau walked over in a daze, waiting for his explanation.
"My real name is Yu Zhou. I come from the future."
"You may still call me Tiga, if you wish. At this point, there is no difference between Tiga and myself."
Yu Zhou spoke slowly and clearly.
"The future?!"
Achilles and Herau were stunned.
"Yes—the future," Yu Zhou nodded.
"That is why I must return home now. Are you willing to come with me to the future?"
"If you are unwilling, I will not force you."
"To the future…"
Both fell into brief contemplation.
Before long, Achilles made his decision.
"I want to see the future—to see what Earth becomes!"
"I'll go as well," Herau said firmly.
"Not just to see the future. I once swore to follow you, Tiga."
As for how they addressed him—having grown used to calling him Tiga, neither bothered to change.
"Very well. Prepare to depart."
Yu Zhou nodded and looked toward Charija.
White rings of light spiralled outward, forming a wormhole roughly the height of a person upon the ground.
"It's ready—time to go!"
Charija called out.
Yu Zhou bringing two additional people along posed no issue. One person or three—it made little difference.
Yu Zhou led Achilles and Herau to the wormhole.
Like curious children, the two stared intently at the white spiralling gateway and reached out to touch it.
In an instant, they lost control and were sucked directly inside.
"…That's alright, isn't it?"
Yu Zhou paused, turning to Charija.
"No problem," Charija replied with a casual wave.
"The time and location are already set."
Then, with sudden seriousness, he declared:
"I'm departing now!"
The white wormhole surged with pulling force, drawing in Yu Zhou, Charija, and the suitcase together.
...
On Earth, the continental plates continued their relentless movement.
On the Moon, the survivors began their search for a new homeland.
Yuzare infused a fragment of her light-based consciousness into a time capsule and released it into space.
When Earth faced crisis once more, the capsule would awaken and warn the new humans, telling them how to respond.
This was the final gift the ultra-ancient humans left behind for Earth.