Chapter Six: The Father of Ultra
In the Land of Light, there is a structure more striking than all others: a tower built entirely of crystal. Even if an Ultraman were to stand upon the ground and gaze upward, the summit would remain elusive, lost amid the heights. At its very peak, fierce flames burn—fires that even Ultramen fear. This is the edifice most revered among their kind, the very heart of power in the Land of Light, the dwelling place of the King of Ultra—this is the Ultra Tower! It was erected to commemorate the Ultramen who fell in the cosmic war, and within its halls is sealed the nation’s most sacred treasure—the Ultra Bell.
Kain gazed up in awe, reverence filling his heart as he stepped inside. Within, the King awaited him.
The interior was wholly composed of crystal, light brimming and saturating the space, and a pure, untainted power circled around Kain’s entire being.
“Kain, you have come,” the King of Ultra said, seated there with a long scroll of light unfurled beside him, its radiance filling the hall. Within this luminous scroll was inscribed the entire history of light, three hundred thousand years recorded without omission—every revolution, every war, every evolution in the Land of Light captured within its length.
The King handed the scroll to a silver-clad Ultraman nearby, instructing, “Let this fierce war be added to the annals of light.”
Then he beckoned to Kain, “Come with me!”
They moved to a corner of the hall, and all others withdrew, leaving the two alone. Through the crystalline walls, they looked out upon the Land of Light—blue-clad Ultramen had already begun rebuilding the damaged structures, the Silver Crusaders were engaged in rescuing survivors, and the universal Ultra Water technique was being used to douse the flames that still consumed some buildings.
“The Land of Light has endured an immeasurable history. Prometheus brought us fire; the foolish schemes of the Baltans led to the super-evolution of our people. As Ultramen, we possess abilities far beyond those of most races in the cosmos.”
His tone shifted as he continued, “But with such power comes responsibility.”
Kain nodded respectfully. “Yes, Ultramen should uphold the peace of the universe—the greater the power, the greater the responsibility.”
The King of Ultra smiled, motioning for him to sit. “That is why we must continue to fight, to strive ceaselessly to eradicate the evil monsters that threaten us.”
Kain thought back to the brutal battle they had just endured, to the heavy toll it had exacted on his people, and he spoke with sorrow, “You are right, my king. They have brought us too much pain. Such wicked creatures must be destroyed.”
He paused, then ventured hesitantly, “But how are these monsters born? Forgive me, my king, for my impertinence, but I am greatly puzzled… And during the war, I noticed that some monsters, clearly defeated in the past, still lingered…”
The King shook his head—not in displeasure, but with a look of appreciation for Kain’s keen observation. He saw in Kain the makings of a great leader.
“Monsters are endless…” the King said.
Kain was startled, almost crying out, “My king…”
The King raised his hand gently, bidding him be calm. “Do not be surprised. This is knowledge a leader of the Land of Light must possess.”
He continued slowly, “Do you know where the mightiest darkness in the universe resides?”
Kain hesitated. The King’s earlier words—that this was knowledge for the leaders of the Land of Light—had left him uneasy. Hearing the question, he shook his head.
“In the heart,” said the King, touching his chest. “Every being has a soul, and the darkest power lies within. Not all hearts are pure. This darkness is elusive, for the soul is the most mysterious, wondrous thing in the universe. Even the purest beings may give rise to evil thoughts, and thus, the blackest darkness is born.”
Kain nodded, half-understanding, uncertain how to respond.
The King smiled. “In time, you will understand. And do you know what emerges when such darkness takes root within a soul—what becomes the most powerful manifestation of its kind?”
He paused, then answered his own question. “It is us.”
Kain rose abruptly, unable to find words for the emotions that gripped him.
The King waved him down. “You need only know this. It is my warning to you: as a leader of the Land of Light, you must never allow darkness to grow within your soul. Our power is too great. If the Land of Light were to fall into darkness, it would bring calamity not only to this universe.”
Kain steadied himself, nodding earnestly. “I will remember.”
“You asked how monsters come into being…” The King stroked his beard, his ancient crimson gaze turning to some distant point, making Kain’s heart tremble.
“It is our doing,” he said.
“My king…” Kain felt his very spirit shudder.
“You know that when our people first discovered the Plasma Spark Tower and began our super-evolution, the Baltans invaded, and a terrible war began.”
Kain nodded, well aware of that history.
“In truth, all of this arose from the Baltans’ absurd plot. They tried to alter the Plasma Spark Tower to force our mutation or demise, yet this triggered our super-evolution instead,” the King recounted.
“But remember: when light is at its strongest, so is darkness. When the first ray of light was born in the universe, darkness was born alongside it.”
Kain’s heart skipped—a memory of the legends of Zagi and Noah, whispered among countless races, surfaced in his mind.
“We received the blessing of the Plasma Spark Tower and became Ultramen, for we yearned for light. But the tower does more than that—it amplifies both the light and darkness within the soul.”
The King looked at Kain. “As it enabled our super-evolution, it also influenced countless evil races across the cosmos, granting them their own evolution. The Plasma Spark Tower can even magnify resentment, anger, and hatred that exist in the universe.”
He added, “Just like Zagi.”
“Zagi’s true purpose in coming here was to seize the Plasma Spark Tower. Though I could not defeat him, under my protection, he could not find the tower either.”
“So, you see, the consequences we have wrought must be undone by our own hands.”
Kain nodded gravely, the weight of history pressing upon him, yet he did not flinch.
“Zagi made me realize that in the face of such foes, even we, the mighty Ultramen, are powerless to resist,” the King said, his deep gaze fixed on Kain. “We must seek a new path to further evolution, to reach the highest realm of the power of light, to draw near to that primordial radiance, or to the very heart of the soul.”
He patted Kain’s shoulder. “There is already a glimmer of hope—the fusion of Ultramen, searching for a purer, mightier light. I call this plan ‘Second Evolution.’ Also, the research on the ‘Gate’ is complete; it will allow us to muster the strength of nearly all Ultramen when needed. Both must continue without delay.”
“Kain, I am old now. You know it well—I am no longer the King Gold Ultraman, who once surpassed the White Clan in leadership, the Red in combat, and the Blue in endurance. I am now but an old Piku residing on the King’s Star. This center of power is no longer a place for me. I wish to dwell on the King’s Star, remembering my childhood friend Doran and my mentor Prometheus. I wonder how they fare now.”
The King smiled, rose, and looked at Kain. “You will become the new leader of the Land of Light. You will lead its warriors in the battle against evil. Kain, you possess a fatherly kindness that countless Ultramen lack. I grant you the title: Father of Ultra!”
“Remember my words, Kain—always keep the light in your heart. Use your power wisely. During your leadership, you must see ‘Second Evolution’ through to the end, and the deployment of the ‘Gate’ must not be delayed.”
As the King’s figure faded from the hall, his words lingered, echoing still:
“Kain, I entrust this to you!”
Explanations for this chapter:
1. The existence of the ‘Gate’ is something I found while researching. It is highly credible, since M78 is so far from Earth, yet in the show, Ultraman returns to the Land of Light in just two Earth days—a feat otherwise impossible. The only explanation is the ‘Gate.’
2. The idea that the Plasma Spark Tower triggers the mutation of monsters is also supported by source material, notably in “Ultraman STORY 0.” I have modified it slightly, making it a secret known only to the leaders of the Land of Light. The leader in “Ultraman STORY 0” is here portrayed as the King of Ultra.
3. Doran and Prometheus are figures from the pre-super-evolution history of the Land of Light. If interested, you may look them up.
4. The two ultimate forces of light and darkness—the primordial light and darkness, the light of hope and the darkness of evil—are my own interpretations: the former inspired by Noah, the latter by Glitter Tiga.