Several years later, early in the morning, sunlight filtered through a thin layer of clouds and fell gently across the land. Saize lightly shook Zett, who was still fast asleep, and whispered, "Wake up, time for school." Zett rubbed his sleepy eyes, stretched, and quickly got up to wash and get ready. Once they were all set, the two of them walked together toward the academy.
Along the way, a gentle breeze caressed their faces, bringing a refreshing coolness. Saize and Zett chatted and laughed, sharing recent funny stories with each other. Just then, they reached the academy gates and happened to run into Taiga, who was also arriving for class.
Seeing each other, the three little companions were filled with excitement, their conversation flowing endlessly as laughter echoed through the air. However, just as they were walking along in high spirits, none of them noticed someone approaching from the opposite direction. Suddenly, with a muffled thud, Saize collided with that person.
Saize stood firmly in place without moving an inch, but the person coming the other way seemed to be struck by a tremendous force, toppling backward. As she fell, the books she was holding scattered in all directions, tumbling across the ground like a flock of fluttering butterflies.
Seeing this, Saize felt a jolt in his heart and hastily asked with concern, "Are you alright?" His voice carried a trace of anxiety and worry.
The person knocked to the ground slowly raised her head, murmuring softly, "I'm fine." Yet at that exact instant, Saize's gaze met hers, and he froze completely. The trance lasted only for a fraction of a second before he quickly snapped back to his senses, dropping down to help pick up the scattered books.
As it happened, because gigantic aliens frequently visited this academy to tour and study, most people here either maintained their human forms or were roughly human-sized. The girl who had been knocked down possessed hazy, misty eyes that resembled two dew-kissed, brilliant gems, emitting a captivating glow. Right then, even though surrounding passersby had already left, the two onlookers clearly saw that Saize was still staring in that direction, as if deeply enthralled by something.
Taiga and the others exchanged a knowing smile, secretly speculating: Could this guy have fallen for that girl at first sight? Unable to help himself, Zett chimed in with teasing amusement, "Well, well, what's this? Could it be you've taken a fancy to her?" Taiga joined in as well, his face full of playful banter.
"She's just a passerby. Let's go!" The two of them smiled at Saize's back, shaking their heads as they caught up.
"Don't run off, tell us if you like her," Zett said.
Saize's face flushed a deep crimson. He turned his head to glare at them and snapped, "Stop talking nonsense!" With that, he quickened his pace and walked ahead. Yet his heart refused to settle; the girl's figure kept flashing through his mind, especially those hazy eyes.
*Could I really have fallen for her at first sight?* Saize asked himself inwardly. He had never felt this way before; an unfamiliar yet wondrous emotion welled up inside him. He shook his head, trying to banish these thoughts from his mind.
Yet fate is always full of coincidences. When Saize walked into the classroom, he was astonished to find that very girl sitting in the desk right in front of him.
Zett and Taiga poked Saize in the ribs. "Isn't this the work of destiny? Go get to know her," Zett whispered mischievously.
"Class, pay attention and focus on the lesson! Stop letting your minds wander with nonsense all day!" the teacher said sternly from the podium. However, right at that moment, Zett did as he always did, slouching over his desk without a care in the world and sleeping soundly. On the other side, Taiga listened to the lecture with rapt attention, his eyes filled with a hunger for knowledge; Saize was equally focused, his pen constantly jotting down key points.
Suddenly, the teacher called out, "Saize, stand up and answer this question. Please explain the respective characteristics and weaknesses of these three Monsters: Zetton, Gomora, and Red King." Hearing his name called, Saize immediately stood up. Taking a deep breath, he began to answer methodically:
"First is Zetton. It possesses formidable defensive capabilities, rendering ordinary beam attacks virtually useless against it. Therefore, when facing Zetton, we must never blindly attack it with beams; instead, we must pay special attention to its devastating 1M-degree fireball. Once struck by this high-temperature fireball, the consequences are unimaginable."
Continuing smoothly, Saize said, "Next is Gomora. Its most terrifying feature is the ability to emit super oscillation waves. These super oscillation waves can not only strike from a distance, but also channel through the horn on its head into the target's body, triggering a violent explosion. Thus, if we encounter a Monster like Gomora, our primary task is to find a way to snap off its horn and weaken its offensive power. In addition, most Monsters similar to Gomora tend to rely on foot-based energy transmission for their attacks, which is another point we must watch out for."
Finally, Saize concluded, "As for Red King, while it possesses immense strength, its intelligence level is relatively low. This fellow is obsessed with dueling all sorts of creatures, but its movement speed is quite slow. So when encountering Red King, we can completely adopt a roundabout tactic, maintaining a certain distance while constantly wearing down its stamina through maneuvering, eventually finding an opportunity to defeat it."
After listening to Saize's brilliant answer, the teacher nodded with satisfaction and said with a smile, "Splendid, Saize. Please sit down. I hope the rest of the class can be just as attentive and think as actively as Saize." With that, a burst of warm applause filled the classroom.
The girl seated in front of Saize glanced back at him.
"Aijingliya!" With that name called out, the eyes of the entire class instantly converged on the girl. She stood up somewhat nervously, but when faced with the teacher's question regarding King Joe's various capabilities and precautions, she stammered for a long time without being able to utter a coherent response.
Seeing this, the teacher frowned slightly, a hint of dissatisfaction flashing in his eyes. But soon, he shifted his gaze away from Aijingliya, looked toward Taiga, and said, "Then, let Taiga answer."
Summoned by the teacher, Taiga stood up promptly. Taking a deep breath, he began to explain in an orderly fashion: "King Joe is a powerful war machine meticulously crafted by aliens, belonging to the mechanical category. This object is colossal and complex in structure; its body can flexibly split into multiple separate parts, with each section capable of independent combat. Moreover, King Joe has engaged in fierce clashes with our esteemed senior Seven on numerous occasions. It is worth mentioning that if one attempts to unleash long-range attack skills against it, there is a high probability it will skillfully dismantle itself to evade them. Therefore, when battling it, close-quarters combat is generally the more appropriate choice in most situations. However, because King Joe is forged entirely from hard steel, it lacks a sensitive pain perception system like humans have."
Taiga's response was well-structured and logically rigorous, earning him admiring glances from the surrounding classmates. Meanwhile, Aijingliya lowered her head with a flushed face, inwardly regretting that she had not prepared thoroughly enough...
Aijingliya slowly turned her head, her gaze landing on Saize, who was sitting quietly behind her. With her head bowed, she seemed lost in thought, making it impossible to guess what was on her mind.
At last, the end-of-class bell rang. Most people had already left, leaving only a handful still remaining in the classroom. Just then, Aijingliya, who had been sitting quietly in the corner, suddenly stood up. She lightly smoothed down the hem of her skirt and walked with graceful steps toward Saize. Zett, Taiga, and another companion, who had been keeping an eye on the situation over here, immediately noticed. Exchanging a tacit glance, Zett and Taiga took a small step back, leaving enough space for Aijingliya.
"Hello, Saize," Aijingliya stopped in front of Saize and said softly, her voice as crisp and pleasant as an oriole singing in the valley. Lifting her chin slightly, a trace of shyness and anticipation crossed her beautiful face: "I wanted to ask if you could tutor me in Monster knowledge? To be honest, I really don't understand this subject well, nor am I very familiar with it. But I don't want failing this course to drag down my grades... So, could I trouble you to help me?" By the end, Aijingliya's gaze grew all the more earnest.
*After all, I am merely an ordinary Blue Tribe member, completely lacking the formidable combat prowess possessed by the Silver or Red Tribes! I have no other choice but to pin all my hopes on scientific research.*
Saize raised his head, looking at Aijingliya with a flash of surprise in his eyes. He hadn't expected this classmate, whom he was meeting for the very first time, to proactively ask him for help.
"Of course," Saize replied with a smile. "I'd be more than happy to help you. However, I need to understand your current level of knowledge first so I can tutor you better."
Upon hearing this, Aijingliya's face broke into a delighted smile. "That's wonderful! Thank you, Saize. I will definitely study hard!"
Thus, the two of them began their study sessions and discussions regarding Monster knowledge. Saize patiently answered Aijingliya's questions, while Aijingliya listened attentively, occasionally offering her own insights.
In the process, Aijingliya discovered that Saize not only possessed an in-depth understanding of Monster knowledge, but was also able to apply it practically. Her admiration for Saize welled up naturally, and at the same time, she gained full confidence in her future studies.
Zett and Taiga stood not far away, watching quietly, identical expressions of maternal tenderness blooming across their faces. Time flew by like a white horse passing a crevice, and before they knew it, many springs and autumns had slipped away. Through long years of hard work and struggle, these four young people finally succeeded in gaining admission to the renowned Ultra High School.
Over the course of these long years, Saize had also weathered various storms and trials, making the acquaintance of that famously renowned Ultraman Zero. He had once witnessed Zero attempt to touch the mysterious and powerful Plasma Spark Tower, ultimately resulting in his ruthless banishment to the distant King Star for punishment.
"So, next, please tell me which major each of you plans to apply for," Aijingliya softly asked her three companions. Looking at Zett, who possessed a robust and sturdy physique radiating a strong sense of power, Aijingliya couldn't help suggesting, "Judging by Zett's current physical conditioning, he might be better suited to choosing martial arts as his primary focus."
"As for me..." Aijingliya paused to ponder before continuing, "I feel I lean more toward studying liberal arts."
Hearing this, Saize and Taiga exchanged a smile and replied in unison, "In that case, we've decided to major in both liberal arts and martial arts!" Their gazes were firm and filled with anticipation, as if they could already envision themselves shining brilliantly in different fields in the future.
Just as everyone was immersed in romanticized visions of the future, a harsh, urgent alarm suddenly echoed through the entire space! This sudden sound instantly shattered the peace and tranquility, pulling everyone's nerves taut.
"Oh no! Someone is invading the Land of Light!" someone cried out in panic.
Hearing this news, everyone fell into a state of tension and anxiety. They guessed among themselves who the intruder could possibly be and why they would choose this moment to attack the Land of Light.
Calculating by the timeline, the most likely culprit was that evil entity once imprisoned in the dungeon—Belial! Saize pondered silently, wondering to himself: *Could Belial really have broken out of his cage and come for revenge?*
Despite the doubts filling his heart, Saize did not hesitate at all. He closely followed the Ultraman warriors endowed with formidable combat capabilities, sprinting together toward the Square of Light.
When they arrived at the plaza, the scene before them shocked everyone to the core. A gigantic dark figure stood proudly in the center, gripping a figure tightly in its hand. Looking closely, it was actually Belial! And the one he was choking was none other than Taro!
The Ultra Brothers arrived swiftly at the scene, launching an unhesitating encirclement of Belial. Yet despite giving it their all, they still could not withstand the ferocious onslaught of Belial, who wielded the Gigバトルナイザー (Battlenizer). Before long, the Ultra Brothers were struck down one after another, and the surrounding auxiliary Ultraman guards who tried to assist did not escape the same fate, suffering severe injuries.
Like a ferocious beast, Belial rampaged all the way toward the Spark Tower. Every attack carried endless power and fury, as if he intended to completely demolish this tower symbolizing hope and light.
Yet facing such a formidable enemy, Taiga, Zett, and Aijingliya found themselves somewhat out of their depth. Though they tried desperately to stop Belial, they were ultimately injured by his terrifying skills and left unable to fight, forced to collapse onto the cold ground and watch helplessly as Belial edged closer and closer to the Spark Tower.
At that moment, a bone-chilling cold suddenly struck. This piercing chill, like a curse from the depths of the abyss, instantly frosted the surrounding air. Aijingliya flew forward without a moment's hesitation, attempting to use her own body to shield Saize from this fatal blow. Simultaneously, Zett and Taiga reacted swiftly, stepping in front of Saize without a second thought to form an indestructible line of defense.
In a flash, that biting cold wind swept past them like a razor-sharp blade. In a mere instant, the three figures in front were frozen by the extreme cold into three translucent ice sculptures, lifelike yet completely devoid of life.
Fortunately, however, protected by the life-and-death sacrifice of his three companions, Saize escaped that catastrophe. He stood frozen in place, his eyes filled with shock and grief. Tears poured uncontrollably from his eye sockets, streaming down his cheeks.
He slowly raised his head to look into the distance. In that direction, the towering Plasma Spark Tower was currently suffering the fierce erosion of the cold wave. Eerie lights flickered across the tower's body as if it were groaning in agony. As for Saize himself, due to this sudden upheaval, he was forced to assume human form to conserve energy.
The others slowly marched toward the Spark Tower, every step heavy and resolute. Climbing with difficulty, he finally reached the top of the tower. Unveiled before him was the very last glimmer of weak light guarded desperately by Taro. He knew very well that at this moment, all he could do was wait quietly, awaiting the arrival of those chosen by destiny. For he was deeply aware of his own powerlessness; the only thing he could do was hold his ground here and ensure that this final ray of dawn was successfully passed on to the person meant to receive it, just as the original script dictated.
Time flew by like a spinning shuttle. Before he knew it, countless days and nights had passed. Then one day, several figures quietly appeared atop the Spark Tower. Their identities were mysterious and unpredictable, hard to fathom. Yet when Seven's human host, Dan Moroboshi, saw the youth guarding that feeble ray of light, a strong wave of astonishment welled up in his heart. Although this youth was leaning against the Plasma Spark Tower guarding that last remaining gleam, judging by his age, he was nothing more than an ordinary Ultra middle school student.
Dan Moroboshi walked unsteadily, his body swaying as he slowly approached Saize. By this time, in order to better guard that last thread of light, Saize had already recovered his Ultraman form, but his condition was deeply troubling—the lights in his eyes had gone out, and the color timer on his chest no longer flashed. Rei and several others closely followed behind Dan Moroboshi, casting their gazes toward this Ultraman Saize as well. Their eyes brimmed with reverence and awe.
As the crowd drew closer, the previously dim chest timer and eye lights of Saize suddenly flared back to life! Seeing this, Dan Moroboshi felt a wave of joy swell in his heart. "Child, you've done wonderfully, truly amazing!" However, Saize could only communicate a few meager words at this moment: "Obtain this trace of faint light to restore my own energy... Belial... Monster Ranch... and the crucial Plasma Spark..." Though brief, the information contained within his words was immense.
With that, those eye and chest lights flickered like stars in the nighttime sky and instantly dimmed, as if swallowed by an endless darkness. Dan Moroboshi's eye sockets moistened, tears gushing like a breached dam to blur his vision. He tightly embraced Saize, feeling the other's faint breath, his heart heavy with reluctance and worry.
Immediately afterward, Dan Moroboshi cautiously extended his hands, attempting to pluck that elusive trace of light from the void. After some effort, they finally succeeded in extracting this mysterious radiance. At the same time, Dan Moroboshi and Asuka exchanged a knowing look, then joined hands and shouted in unison, "Transform!" In an instant, brilliant light erupted, and both of their bodies underwent astonishing transformations, turning into towering, mighty Ultraman warriors.
Yet just as everyone was immersed in joy, the unexpected happened. That strand of light that had been successfully extracted seemed guided by some formless power, flying straight toward Saize's body. In the blink of an eye, the light merged into Saize, and his tightly closed eyes slowly opened, regaining their vitality.
"Who are you?" Just waking up, Saize's mind was a chaos of white noise, his consciousness not yet fully clear. Those few words he had uttered just moments before were not from his own deliberate volition, but forced out by sheer willpower. Before his voice even faded, he felt everything go black, his body tilting forward involuntarily. At the critical moment, Seven reacted with lightning speed, quickly reaching out to steady him.
"Child, you've suffered..." Seven said softly, his eyes filled with concern. Saize gently shook his head, intending by this motion to clear his mind slightly, but the few people around him all mistook it as a sign that he was completely unharmed. Thus, everyone breathed a sigh of relief, joyful smiles blooming on their faces.
Normally speaking, Saize ought to have walked toward the end of his life amidst such a long and agonizing wait. Yet the Goddess of Fortune seemed to favor him: that miraculous infinite Blade of Survival had unexpectedly become the key to fending off his very first brush with death! Not to mention, the unique death-and-rebirth trait extracted from Mars served once more like a beacon of hope, saving his life yet again.
Throughout these years, Saize had steadfastly persisted in executing various missions to earn precious points, utilizing them to participate in thrilling lottery draws time and time again. Though most of the time he drew mundane and useless items, every now and then he could rely on defying odds and monstrous luck to harvest those coveted rare treasures.
Though Saize possessed boundless energy reserves to sustain him, the biting cold and boundless darkness surrounding him still made it difficult to mobilize the powerful strength within his body. Faced with such grueling obstacles, the group reached a consensus after careful deliberation: they would have Saize board the spaceship of Rei and his companions, rushing at full speed toward the mysterious Monster Ranch.