"So it turns out Haruki and Z have truly become one."
After leaving the restroom, Yuzhou saw Juggler waiting outside.
"Yes," Yuzhou nodded. "Z can broaden Haruki's horizons, and Haruki, in turn, can bring out even greater strength in Z."
Inside the restroom, Haruki and Z were still talking.
Since it was quiet and secluded, there was no need to open a distorted subspace. Z simply stayed outside Haruki's body and began explaining how he had come to Earth.
Because this situation differed from the original timeline—where Z only fused with Haruki after being mortally wounded—Z could now communicate freely at any time.
Earlier, he had briefly explained the matter of the Ultra Medals. Now, he told Haruki everything in full.
"Overall… this whole story sounds really complicated," Haruki scratched his head.
The Land of Light, the Inter Galactic Defense Force, monsters going berserk because of Devil Fragments—Haruki had no concrete reference for any of it. He could only grasp the general idea.
"After all that, you more or less understand now, right?" Z asked.
"Yeah," Haruki nodded. "It's complicated, but I think I get it."
"That's why I'm in such a hurry to recover the scattered medals," Z sighed.
"Can I ask you something?"
Haruki suddenly spoke up. "Z… how old are you?"
"Huh?"
Z was confused by the sudden question.
"It's important," Haruki explained, looking slightly embarrassed.
"After all, we're one entity now."
"Well…"
Z thought for a moment. "About five thousand years old, I guess."
"You're way older than me!"
Haruki blurted out in shock—then immediately corrected himself.
"No—uh—sir, you're way older than me!"
He straightened his posture instinctively.
"I'm sorry for not using honorifics earlier!"
"Why did your tone suddenly change? This feels… Ultra-weird…"
"Stop, stop—"
Z was completely flustered.
"No, that won't do," Haruki said seriously.
"Z-san, please take care of me!"
He bowed deeply.
"Uh—your head is… too low… way too low…"
Z reached out awkwardly, at a loss.
Earth customs are really something else… he thought.
"Oh, right," Z suddenly remembered something.
"Actually, Tiga-senpai is much older than I am."
"Huh?"
Haruki froze. "Well… that makes sense. Tiga-senpai is your senior."
"Yes," Z nodded.
"I've heard that Tiga-senpai usually lives in another dimensional universe. Apparently… on the Earth of that universe, he already existed thirty million years ago."
"Another dimensional Earth?!"
Haruki gasped. "Thirty million years ago?!"
"Doesn't that mean Tiga-senpai is at least thirty million years old?!"
"Logically speaking, yes."
Z confirmed it.
"I didn't use honorifics with Tiga-senpai either!"
Haruki panicked. "That was rude!"
"But he looks so young!"
Haruki recalled Yuzhou's face. He didn't look anything like a being who had lived for thirty million years.
Meanwhile, Yuzhou had no idea the two were discussing his age.
He obtained a temporary ID from Juggler and left STORAGE.
That night, he checked into a luxury hotel. The next day, he exchanged a few valuable items for a large sum of money and bought himself a house.
No one knew how long he would stay in Z's world.
Basic comforts were non-negotiable. Yuzhou had always lived that way.
The days that followed were, frankly, dull.
Aside from watching Z fight minor kaiju, nothing much happened.
With Celebro eliminated early, potential trouble was drastically reduced.
Z's second monster encounter was Gomora.
Originally dormant, Gomora was being transported to a remote island as part of a STORAGE demonstration. Sevenger was even used in a public performance to impress high command—hoping to secure more funding.
Unfortunately, during transport, Gomora woke up due to pollen allergies.
"What an unlucky Gomora."
Standing atop a skyscraper, Yuzhou watched Z battle Gomora and shook his head.
The monster had been sleeping peacefully, never bothering humans.
But after waking and going berserk, it was destined for destruction.
Truly unlucky.
Z fought fiercely, but it was clear that Alpha Edge was struggling against Gomora.
Wrapped in light, Z transformed.
Beta Smash.
A silver-and-red form—somewhat reminiscent of Zearth… and a certain "Red Giant."
The medals of Ultraman, Taro, and Ace—all given by Yuzhou—powered this form.
Under Beta Smash's heavy blows, Gomora was forced back repeatedly.
Just as Z prepared to finish it—
"…Forget it. I'm bored anyway."
Yuzhou sighed.
"And adding a kaiju to the Giga Battlenizer doesn't sound bad either."
He pulled out a blue riser and pulled the trigger.
A gate of light opened.
Yuzhou stepped through.
An Ultra Card bearing his image appeared in his hand and was inserted into the riser.
"Yuzhou. Access granted."
"Reasonable Cosmos."
"Cheat-level Hikari."
"Overbearing Agul."
Three medals were inserted in rapid succession.
"Ultraman Cosmos!"
"Ultraman Hikari!"
"Ultraman Agul!"
With another pull of the trigger, Yuzhou transformed into Tiga—then merged with three streaks of blue light.
Ultraman Tiga — Ascended Form!
A silver-blue Tiga, medals embedded across his chest, appeared between Z and Gomora.
Z froze mid-attack.
"T-That is… Tiga-senpai?"
Haruki was completely stunned.
It was obvious—Tiga-senpai did not intend for Gomora to be killed.
"Z," Yuzhou turned and looked at Z's red form.
"Leave Gomora to me."