The humans searching for new land split into two groups.
Each group was carried aboard one of two gigantic arks built by Keshiva.
In the boundless expanse of space, the two arks advanced slowly. No one knew when—or if—they would ever find a new land suitable for human survival.
Until one day.
As the two arks passed near a black hole, one of them was pulled in by its immense gravitational force. Only the other managed to escape.
With no alternative, the ark that escaped could only continue forward. Attempts to contact the ark swallowed by the black hole yielded no signal whatsoever.
As for the ark that had been consumed, its occupants initially believed they were doomed to perish in the depths of space.
Yet unexpectedly, it was not destruction that awaited them.
They were transported to another region of the universe.
After a long journey, this ark finally reached a star system with a sun.
"Orion… the M78 Nebula."
Only a handful of researchers aboard the ark knew the significance of this place.
Those who once understood the secrets of the Plasma Spark had mostly perished back on Earth.
"To think a solar system like this exists… Run scans immediately! Check for planets similar to Earth!"
The presence of a sun reignited hope among the survivors.
As expected, once the ark entered the system, they quickly discovered a blue planet.
Its environment was strikingly similar to Earth's.
"This is incredible—we've found new land!"
"But… the other ark has lost all contact."
Joy and sorrow intertwined.
Some celebrated the discovery of a new home, while others worried about the fate of those aboard the lost ark.
In the vast universe, finding a planet comparable to Earth was no small feat.
Above all else, it depended on luck.
And luck, it seemed, was on their side.
After settling on this planet, the ultra-ancient humans began to recover, rebuild, and develop.
Hundreds of years passed.
Thousands.
Tens of thousands.
The planet gradually became a second Earth.
Humanity lived in peace, and the population grew until it reached the planet's optimal capacity.
Then one day—
Disaster struck.
The star at the centre of this system was destroyed.
The humans living on the planet lost their light and fell into panic.
Several leaders—those who had used Gijera essence—gathered to discuss humanity's survival.
Eventually, someone proposed an idea:
To replicate the Plasma Spark that had once been created on Earth, and use it as an artificial sun.
Thus began a monumental engineering project.
The crystal materials required for the Plasma Spark existed near this star system. Although buried by tectonic activity, they could still be mined.
The planetary leadership issued an order to extract crystals from that crystal planet and use them to pave half of the new world.
Crystal mining and Plasma Spark research proceeded simultaneously.
During the excavation, remnants of a Plasma Spark once left behind on that planet were discovered.
However, having been buried underground for countless years due to crustal movement, it was already badly damaged.
The remains were brought back to the research facilities, where scientists of the new world studied and modified it based on the surviving structure.
When crystals finally covered the entire planet, the Plasma Spark once again stood within the Plasma Spark Tower.
The new world regained its light.
Yet although the Plasma Spark Tower radiated immense power, it did not immediately cause any qualitative transformation.
That changed when a group of extraterrestrials known as the Baltans set their sights on the Plasma Spark, attempting to steal its data.
During their interference, the Plasma Spark underwent a violent mutation.
Humans on the new world who possessed hearts of light evolved into gigantic forms.
Naturally, many others were unable to withstand such power and perished during the evolutionary process.
For the new world, this was both an opportunity—and a catastrophe.
After acquiring superhuman bodies, the people of the new world repelled the invading Baltans and began to deal with the aftermath.
They formally named the planet:
The Planet of Ultra.
And the sole nation upon it was called:
The Land of Light.
...
"We've arrived."
Landing steadily on the ground, Yu Zhou breathed in the salty sea air carried by the wind and slowly closed his eyes.
Achilles and Herau had also successfully arrived in the future—thirty million years later.
"This doesn't look very different,"
Herau scratched his head as he gazed at the endless sea.
"Of course not," Yu Zhou replied.
"This is just the coastline. Cities are another matter entirely."
Their arrival point was still R'lyeh.
With Achilles and Herau in tow, Yu Zhou and Charija walked inland across R'lyeh Island.
To be honest, after reconstruction, R'lyeh had largely retained the architectural style of the ultra-ancient era.
This led Achilles and Herau to believe for quite some time that they had not actually travelled through time and were still on their original Earth.
It was only after Yu Zhou took them to several major cities—where towering skyscrapers filled the skyline—that they finally accepted this was truly Earth's future.
Although similar structures had existed in ultra-ancient times, they had been few in number.
Most people then preferred castle-like designs reminiscent of medieval Europe.
After finishing the tour, Yu Zhou led Achilles and Herau beyond Earth, to the floating Space-Time City.
Hudra, Darramb, and Masaki were all there.
The moment they entered the Space-Time City, Masaki noticed Yu Zhou—his colours restored—and looked surprised.
"It's only been a few days," Masaki said.
"And you've already reverted from your dark form, Yu Zhou?"
From Masaki's perspective, Yu Zhou had only been gone for a few days. Charija had deliberately set their return point to just days later.
However, upon seeing Masaki, Achilles and Herau immediately stiffened.
They bent forward deeply, speaking with utmost respect.
"We pay our respects to Prince Cain!"
Both were still in transformed states, and upon seeing Masaki, they instinctively identified him as the prince of the ultra-ancient kingdom.
Masaki froze.
"Prince… Cain?"
He looked utterly confused.
"I'm the host of Ultraman Cain, yes—but I'm not any kind of prince."
He frowned in puzzlement.
"Wait," Masaki suddenly realized something.
"You said they're warriors from the ultra-ancient era… Don't tell me—"
"That's right," Yu Zhou replied calmly.
"I went back to the ultra-ancient era."