After transforming, the two moved at tremendous speed. Following the route provided by Charija, they soon caught sight of a vast blue planet in the distance.
The planet lay within a star system similar to a solar system. Orbiting it was a natural satellite, and at a glance, the surface of that satellite was densely packed with towering structures. Countless spacecraft were docked across it, forming a spectacular scene.
"This… this is the new homeland of the Ultra-Ancient humans?"
Masaki stared at the planet ahead, utterly stunned.
"Yes," Yu Zhou nodded. "Their new world is called Earth-like Star. Unlike modern Earth, its oceans form a single unified sea, and its land consists of only one continent."
Yu Zhou knew this well—thirty million years ago, Earth itself had shared the same structure: one ocean, one continent.
"Let's go to the natural satellite first," Yu Zhou said, pointing toward the massive moon-like body.
"Alright," Masaki replied without hesitation.
From Masaki's perspective, Yu Zhou seemed extremely familiar with this place—as though he had visited before.
Yu Zhou explained that all visitors traveling to Earth-like Star were required to pass through the satellite first and take a planetary transit system down to the surface.
The two men and the dog transformed into three streaks of light and descended onto the satellite.
Unlike Yu Zhou's previous visit, the satellite was now enveloped in a special luminous barrier. Within it, oxygen circulated freely, allowing normal respiration.
Yu Zhou, Masaki, and Guardie landed in an unoccupied corner. Just as they were about to head toward the transit station, they realized an immediate problem.
They had no currency.
The spaceport bustled with activity. Humans dressed in strange attire passed by, alongside familiar alien races—and many Yu Zhou had never seen before.
"No money really does mean you can't take a single step," Yu Zhou said awkwardly.
The first time he had come to Earth-like Star, he had been personally escorted by a high-ranking official—a middle-aged man named Eri.
This time, however, there seemed to be no one to guide him.
"Stop."
Two uniformed men carrying weapons suddenly blocked their path, startling Guardie into barking loudly.
"May I ask what this is about?" Yu Zhou asked calmly.
He had weathered far worse situations. Two security officers did not faze him in the slightest.
"Please come with us," one of the men said.
"You as well," the other added. "Someone wishes to see you."
"Someone?" Masaki immediately grew alert, hesitating.
Yu Zhou, however, nodded without resistance.
With no other choice, Masaki followed. Guardie stayed close by their side.
The two officers escorted them onto a transit vehicle, which carried them down to Earth-like Star itself.
Yu Zhou appeared relaxed. Masaki, on the other hand, was visibly tense.
"Relax," Yu Zhou said casually. "Nothing's going to happen."
"Yu Zhou," Masaki whispered, "their identities are unclear. Why did you just go along with them?"
By all logic, this wasn't something Yu Zhou would normally do.
"To hitch a ride," Yu Zhou replied helplessly. "We don't have money for tickets."
Masaki fell silent.
He had no rebuttal.
Soon, the transit vehicle arrived at a station on Earth-like Star. The two men and Guardie disembarked.
"Should we run?" Masaki whispered. "We're already on the planet."
Before Yu Zhou could answer, a familiar figure appeared before them.
"Long time no see."
It was a middle-aged man wearing blue clothing resembling medical attire. He smiled warmly upon seeing Yu Zhou.
"It's you," Yu Zhou said. The man was none other than Eri, a senior figure of Earth-like Star—the same man who had guided Yu Zhou here before.
"This isn't the place to talk," Eri said. "Come with me."
A sleek, futuristic hover vehicle pulled up beside him.
After Eri boarded, he gestured for Yu Zhou, Masaki, and even Guardie to get in.
The vehicle operated autonomously. Inside were only the three of them—and the small dog.
The two-armed escorts did not follow.
"So," Eri said at last, "you truly are Tiga."
With a single sentence, he laid bare Yu Zhou's identity.
"It seems you've seen everything," Yu Zhou replied calmly.
Eri was a survivor from the Ultra-Ancient era, someone tasked with finding a new world for humanity. Anyone who had lived until now was far from ordinary.
"Yes," Eri nodded. "And the one beside you must be the inheritor of Prince Cain's combat body."
"Huh?" Masaki froze, then answered hesitantly, "I… suppose you could say that."
Learning that this man was an Ultra-Ancient human left Masaki deeply unsettled. From Eri's words, it was clear he knew far more than he appeared.
"The moment you entered this star system, we detected you," Eri said, gazing forward.
"To find both the inheritor of Tiga's combat body and the inheritor of Prince Cain's combat body—it's truly a stroke of fortune."
Yu Zhou's expression shifted slightly.
It was clear now. Eri had mistaken him for the successor to the Light of Tiga.
Unfortunately, that was not the case.
The one who inherited Tiga's Light… was Daigo.
"No," Yu Zhou said, leaning back against the soft seat. "You're mistaken."
"I am not the inheritor of the Light of Tiga."
"What?" Eri was stunned. "If you're not Tiga's successor, then how can you transform into Tiga?"
In that instant, Eri recalled how he had once used Charija's time machine to return to the past and obtain Gijera's essence.
He even remembered entertaining the foolish thought that a creature like Golza could evolve into light.
Yet in the end, the one who became light… was this young man.
"Because," Yu Zhou said slowly, "I am Tiga himself."
"What?!"
Eri's mind went completely blank.
"That's impossible," he shook his head vigorously. "I've seen Tiga's human form. It was nothing like you."
Yu Zhou's words had clearly shaken him to the core.
Tiga had returned to his homeland thirty million years ago.
How could he possibly be this young man standing before him?