Jun craned his neck upward, studying the towering silver figure that had emerged from light itself. He'd encountered Nexus in visions within the ancient ruins, but witnessing the Ultra in physical reality carried entirely different weight—the presence was overwhelming, magnificent, humbling.
"Nexus," Jun whispered, raising his hand as if to touch that radiant power.
Even from his human perspective, he could sense the subtle differences between this manifestation and his own transformations. Each host brought unique resonance to the shared light, like instruments playing the same celestial melody in different keys.
The giant moved with careful curiosity—flexing massive fingers, shifting weight from foot to foot, turning his head to survey this new perspective on the world. Ren's consciousness was clearly adapting to the vast body, learning to navigate limbs that could level buildings with careless motion.
Jun smiled with understanding recognition. His own first transformation had carried identical wonder and disorientation, though circumstances had denied him luxury of peaceful adjustment. An space beast's immediate attack had forced him into combat before he'd fully grasped what he'd become.
But this moment offered something precious—Jun finally had a true comrade. While Daigo had fought alongside him admirably, his friend would eventually return to his own world and responsibilities. Ren was different. With him here, Jun might actually manage periods of rest between battles. More importantly, he'd gained someone who truly understood the burden and glory of bearing Nexus's light.
Silver radiance flared again, and Ren Senjyu stood where the giant had been, his young face bright with wonder and excitement.
"Teacher Jun, was that the power of light?" His voice carried childlike awe mixed with deeper comprehension.
"Yes, but power always demands responsibility," Jun replied gently, his tone carrying the weight of hard-earned wisdom. "This light means you must protect our world's peace, stand against forces that would destroy innocent lives. Ren, are you prepared to accept such responsibility?"
"Responsibility... protection..." Ren repeated the words slowly, as if tasting their meaning.
Then his expression hardened with resolve that seemed far older than his seventeen years. "Teacher Jun, I'm ready to accept this burden—even if it costs me everything."
"Excellent!" Jun's approval rang sincere and warm. Without the Gate of All Worlds opening new possibilities, he might have spent eternity viewing Nexus's power as punishment rather than salvation. Seeing Ren embrace the calling with clear eyes filled him with profound relief.
Since Mr. Jun and the light have chosen me, Ren thought silently, I should use my remaining time meaningfully rather than waste away in obscurity.
Jun had no way of knowing the deeper currents of his protégé's thoughts—the genetic countdown that made every moment precious, the determination to shine brilliantly in whatever time remained.
"Ren, congratulations!" Gustave and Daigo approached with broad smiles and extended hands.
"Thank you both. Since Teacher Jun is chosen by the light, I assume you two are also—"
"Yes." Daigo withdrew his Spark Lens without hesitation, golden radiance briefly surrounding him as Tiga manifested at human scale before returning to normal. "His name is Tiga."
"Tiga," Ren repeated with reverent wonder. "And you, Teacher Gustave?"
"Ha! I'm different from the others," Gustave replied with characteristic pride. "I wasn't chosen by light, but I have my own gifts."
His form dissolved into crackling electricity, becoming a living avatar of thunder and lightning that danced before them in roughly human shape.
"Incredible!" Ren's eyes widened with genuine admiration. "So cool!"
"Merci for the compliment," Gustave preened, his electrical form flickering with satisfaction. Being praised by Nexus's host—or perhaps by proxy, the legendary Noa himself—inflated his ego considerably.
"Teacher Jun, here—" Ren extended the Evoltruster toward its original owner.
"Keep it?" Jun asked with confusion.
"After transforming, we established a unique connection," Ren explained earnestly. "I can sense that focusing my will and calling out will bring him to me, even without carrying the device."
The young man spoke truth. The bond between host and Ultra transcended physical objects, creating spiritual links that no distance could sever.
"Then I'll hold it for safekeeping. When space beasts appear, you can summon the power directly." Jun accepted the device with understanding. "But Ren, there's something crucial you must know about this world..."
Jun launched into comprehensive warnings about TLT—their ruthless methods, the Memory Police, their willingness to sacrifice innocent lives as space beast bait, the organization's paranoid hostility toward any power they couldn't control.
"Thank you for the warning, Teacher Jun," Ren said with a formal bow that carried genuine gratitude.
Jun couldn't know that his newest ally had intimate familiarity with TLT already—as an escapee from their Prometheus Project, Ren understood the organization's callousness better than most.
As they prepared to depart the moonlit clearing, Tu Shanyan's voice drifted from the shadows where she and Camearra had observed the entire proceeding.
"I'm so jealous of Ren," she sighed wistfully. "I want to become Ultraman too."
"You're already a fox demon," Camearra pointed out with amused confusion. "Why this sudden desire for different power?"
"With Ultraman strength, I could catch that insufferable Gustave and give him the beating he deserves," Tu Shanyan declared through gritted teeth.
"Perhaps the light will choose you someday," Camearra replied with gentle humor, patting the fox spirit's shoulder before following the main group.
"Wait—Sister Camearra!" Tu Shanyan called suddenly. "Could you lend me your power? You're an Ultraman too, right?"
During their afternoon together, Camearra had demonstrated her ability to manifest at giant scale, revealing her true nature to her curious companion.
"Are you certain about that?" Camearra's tone carried dangerous amusement.
"Er... actually, never mind," Tu Shanyan backpedaled hastily, remembering the crushing aura of darkness that had accompanied the demonstration. Such overwhelming force might shatter her sanity rather than grant wished-for strength.
"Silly child," Camearra laughed, tapping Tu Shanyan's forehead with one finger. The fox spirit's impulsive honesty was refreshingly entertaining.
"Sister Camearra," Tu Shanyan continued as they walked, "you embody darkness while Daigo represents light. Why are you together? Aren't light and darkness supposed to be eternal enemies?"
"Who taught you such simplistic thinking?" Camearra's voice carried patient wisdom. "Light and darkness are merely expressions of power—what matters is the heart guiding that strength."
She gazed upward at stars scattered across the night sky. "The story of Daigo and myself began thirty million years ago..."
As they descended the mountain path, Camearra shared the epic tale—ancient civilizations, cosmic wars, betrayal and redemption, love transcending impossible odds and geological time spans.
After delivering Ren to his modest apartment, the group offered to let him stay in Jun's spacious house. The building had ample rooms, after all, and companionship might ease the burdens ahead.
But Ren politely declined. "I want to maintain my independence, make my life meaningful on my own terms."
Jun respected the decision while emphasizing that help remained available whenever needed.
When they finally reached home, they encountered Camearra and Tu Shanyan returning simultaneously—though Tu Shanyan's eyes were suspiciously red-rimmed, as if she'd been crying.
"Camearra, what happened to Tu Shanyan?" Daigo asked with concern, using the nickname they'd collectively adopted for their fox-eared friend.
"Hmph!" Tu Shanyan glared at him with sudden venom before stomping toward her room.
"Did I... do something wrong?" Daigo scratched his head in bewilderment.
Camearra merely smiled with knowing amusement. Tu Shanyan possessed the emotional volatility typical of fox spirits—Camearra's tragic love story had moved her to tears throughout their entire journey home.
Now, seeing the object of that tale standing before her in mundane human form, the romantic in her couldn't help viewing Daigo as the "heartless scoundrel" who'd abandoned his devoted lover thirty million years earlier.
The fact that circumstances had been infinitely more complex than simple abandonment mattered little to Tu Shanyan's dramatized interpretation of events. For now, Tiga—regardless of his current identity as the gentle Daigo—would receive the cold shoulder treatment until her emotional storm passed.