Chapter Three: Pure Light

Kane's gaze was grave beyond measure. He could not simply stand by and watch as the many Ultra Warriors fell, one after another, at Zagi's hands. After a brief moment of contemplation, he was the first to descend from the air. Pressing his fingers together, a sun-and-moon-shaped energy orb began to form at his fingertips, which he then hurled forcefully toward Zagi.

“Crescent Shot!”

The radiance of the sun-and-moon projectile struck Zagi’s black and crimson back. Zagi abruptly turned his head, but the attack seemed to do him no harm; it merely drew his attention for a fleeting moment.

With a sudden movement, Zagi shot toward Kane like a cannonball. Kane, without hesitation, spread his arms wide, then brought them together before his chest in the shape of an L. A surge of energy gathered at his forearm—Kane’s signature technique.

“Father Ray!”

A torrent of light burst forth from his elbow to his fingertips—a rainbow-hued beam, dazzling and beautiful, yet possessing terrifying destructive power.

Zagi sneered contemptuously, raising his right arm to shield himself from the blazing torrent, his body still hurtling toward Kane. Though his speed slowed, his advance was relentless.

“Let’s assist Captain Kane!”

Zoffy was first to react. He crossed his left arm over his chest and thrust his right hand forward—unleashing the “M87 Miracle Beam,” which merged into Kane’s Father Ray, making the torrent even more immense. Zoffy’s M87 Beam, the most powerful single ray among the Ultra Brothers, was in no way inferior to Kane’s Father Ray.

Then came Seven. A glow radiated from his right hand up to his elbow, and he launched a surge of white energy that joined the combined beams. This was Seven’s most devastating skill, the “Wide Shot!”

One after another, elite members of the Intergalactic Defense Force—Xiezer, Jack, Ace, and others—unleashed their most powerful individual rays. Led by these outstanding Ultra Warriors, more Ultras joined from the skies above the Land of Light, beams of energy converging from all directions, targeting a single foe.

Zagi.

The strongest beams of numerous Ultra Warriors converged upon Zagi. Even an ant, given enough numbers, can bite an elephant to death.

For once, Zagi grew cautious. Darting through the air, he did his utmost to evade the barrage.

“Boom!”

“Boom, boom!!”

Explosions erupted one after another across Zagi’s body. Even he struggled to withstand such a simultaneous onslaught.

“Zagi Reflection!”

A black-violet circular barrier unfurled before him, halting the Ultra Warriors’ rays. Yet even so, the tremendous force drove Zagi back until he crashed thunderously into the crystal tower.

“Whew! Is it over?” Seven’s heart brimmed with hope. If they had truly defeated this terrifying enemy, the remaining monsters would pose little threat.

Was Zagi defeated?

All the Ultra Warriors who had joined the attack hovered in the air, gazing expectantly at the place where Zagi had fallen. The energy indicators on their chests flickered with red light.

With a resounding crash, the crystal tower collapsed. Amid the hopeful stares of the Ultras, a voice rang out first.

“You… truly surprise me!”

With a deafening blast, shards of crystal exploded outward. That black-and-crimson figure, exuding an overwhelming aura, reappeared before the astonished Ultra Warriors.

“Ho…how could this be!?” Seven stared at Zagi in shock, his heart sinking into despair.

Kane, however, was not especially surprised. Having lived through the long river of time, he was well accustomed to the unbelievable.

“So this is the darkness born alongside the universe’s very first light?”

He knew in his heart that Zagi’s power was unparalleled among the Ultra Warriors. He might already have reached that legendary apex where light and darkness converge.

In this universe, perhaps only one could restrain him. Kane looked skyward.

The legendary Ultraman—the first light of the universe, the Savior of Light spoken of among many ancient races…

“Noah… where are you now!?”

“What I bring you will ultimately be… annihilation!” Zagi soared upward, his black-and-crimson form stirring a mighty storm. Suspended in the air, he swept his cold gaze across the Ultra Warriors, energy gathering at his elbows. With a bitter laugh, he intoned:

“Lightning Zagi!”

An endless dark beam condensed before his chest, darkness so dense it was almost tangible. All the Ultras felt its dreadful power, and fear filled their eyes.

Is there darkness in the Land of Light?

Yes!

Where light gathers at its strongest, so too does darkness reach its deepest!

Wielding boundless power of darkness, the beam’s hue deepened to a viscous purple-red. Then, like a tidal wave, the deadly ray swept forth!

“Retreat!”

The Ultra Warriors at the front dared not linger, fleeing rapidly. Though powerful, though each possessed formidable might, before the universe’s ultimate strength, they were as helpless as ordinary Earthlings. Even they could know fear and seek escape.

Yet the purple-red torrent of energy abruptly twisted the very space it traversed, warping visibly. In the next instant, the raging beam crossed a vast distance and struck the fleeing Ultras from behind!

Engulfed by the surge, the Ultra Warriors could not even cry out before they were swallowed whole.

Kane turned away, unable to witness such cruelty. He knew none could escape Zagi.

In a blink, the torrent bore down on Seven.

Seven trembled all over. He wanted to speak, but no words would come. He wanted to flee, but his Ultra Warrior pride forbade any act of cowardice.

He could only stare wide-eyed as the beam hurtled toward him.

“Ultramen, too, can fall—just as light itself may be consumed by darkness…”

At that instant, a pure light descended and shone brilliantly not far before him. Out of the radiance, a silver giant gradually took shape. This was a new Ultraman: his entire form silver save for the red energy core at his chest—a feature shared by traditional Ultras. His physique was sinewy, with black lines tracing his surface. Most remarkable were the upward-curving wings on his back, their tips rising like the halo behind a Buddha.

He radiated a dazzling, pure white light. The raging beam crashed upon him, but he withstood it all.

Seven stood as if entranced, staring at the silver giant before him, a tempest of emotion surging in his heart.

“What… what incredible power!”

Kane gazed upon the silver giant, his eyes filled with reverence, his heart shaken to its core.

“Noah!”

He recognized him at once by the wings on his back—the fabled Wings of Noah, which concealed ancient mysteries and could never be imitated by Dark Zagi. Legend held that with them, Noah could traverse the universe at will, even crossing the barriers between dimensions.

Noah turned his head and nodded gently to Kane. Extending his right arm, he released pure light ions—waves of gentle energy that swept over every Ultra who was exhausted or wounded. Miraculously, the red warning lights on their chests began to fill with color, their energy restored. Some found their injuries healing as well.

This was the “Noah Wave,” a mysterious light released from his hand that could discern illusion from reality, break bindings, dispel enchantments, and heal wounds.

“Noah!”

Zagi’s eyes burned with fury and hatred. The rivalry between Zagi and Noah had lasted countless millennia—it was a conflict written in fate.

And now, at last, these two destined adversaries faced each other!