Chapter 1: The Return of Dark Diga

Hey hey, senior, you're so lacking spirit first thing in the morning—give a smile~

Which good person has energy when they go to work?

On the far shore of the open sea, white pigeons and the waves that meet the horizon form a beautiful scenery; on the bustling street, a man and a woman are leisurely strolling, and a unique sea‑fishy smell mingles with the fragrance of the cherry trees planted by the roadside, permeating the air.

Tianliuhai, a veteran otaku who once battled the Tieba Emperor, fell asleep, closed and opened his eyes once, and found himself in the Ultraman world.

The crossing was fortunate, but unfortunately he became Dark Diga, wielding the Dark Spark Prism; the dark power inside his body ebbed and flowed, giving him the aura of a movie‑boss.

This once plunged Tianliuhai into deep thought.

In the Ultraman cosmology, what darkness represents— as an otaku, he knows this all too well.

He originally thought he was replacing Dagu's existence, becoming Ultraman Diga.

But when he discovered that Dagu was in the TPC organization, this theory was overturned.

In other words, besides Dagu as Ultraman Diga in this world, there is also him, this Dark Diga.

Then, when the final holy war comes, will Camilla seek out Dagu, or come after him?

Tianliuhai thought it over repeatedly, feeling that his whole body of dark power was too eye‑catching, and he also felt that his degree of darkness was perhaps not ordinarily strong.

After becoming an Ultraman, even if he were a dark giant, saying he wasn't excited would be a lie; in private, Tianliuhai also transformed many times, venturing into deep space to run tests.

In one experiment, he struck so hard that a spacetime rift appeared; he went in and took a look, seemingly encountering a powerful movie‑boss, fought it, then greedily sucked a large amount of dark energy from its lair, strengthening himself, and only then slipped away.

He vaguely recalled hearing before he left something like "Dormammu is dead," "a new dark lord has been born," "the dark dimension is about to fall," and similar remarks.

After returning, Tianliuhai also made a decision: to use as little dark power as possible, so as not to attract the attention of any Ultraman veteran.

After all, he constantly felt that this dark power of his was a bit excessively strong.

Don't let the Ultraman veterans treat him as a dark boss to farm dungeons in a party.

Having become Dark Diga, his lifespan had long since changed; Tianliuhai wanted to live a good life in the Ultraman world.

Anyway, since this is Dagu's home turf, even if the sky fell, Dagu would hold it up—what does he have to fear?

Dark Overlord Gatanjea?

Is my Shining Diga not strong enough?

Heh heh heh, you junior.

Shining Diga, unbeatable hope, the ace among aces.

As Dark Diga, Tianliuhai takes Shining Diga as his trump card. JPG

After some maneuvering, relying on the uniqueness of Ultraman superpowers, Tianliuhai joined the TPC Logistics Department, became its deputy chief, was looked upon favorably by the chief, and seemed to be the next in line to succeed.

As the saying goes, the most dangerous place is the safest place; although he is full of darkness, he doesn't use it, and with Dagu the Ultraman beside him, who could notice him?

Leave the monster‑battling to Dagu; he just needs to slack off and get by.

Beside him, the new recruit in the Logistics Department, Lingmuyu, is being led by him, this deputy chief.

Lingmuyu walked along humming, her snow‑white long legs stepping out from under a yellow dress, full of youthful vigor. I don't know why she's so energetic at work—perhaps I'm just getting old.

"Senior, hurry up a bit—if we're slow, the kids at the orphanage will go hungry." Lingmuyu urged.

"Got it, got it." Tianliuhai quickened his pace.

Originally they should have been working in the Logistics Department at this time, but the chief heard that the two of them were preparing to bring bread to the orphanage kids, waved his hand, and let them depart right away.

The bread provided for the orphanage was specially made by a bakery.

A very famous bakery that Lingmuyu often patronizes.

The bakery's owner couple, knowing Lingmuyu's kindness, immediately agreed, offering the bread for free so she could deliver it.

And Lingmuyu pulled Tianliuhai along.

Such a rare good chance to slack off—how could Tianliuhai refuse?

Keep up the speed.

It's just the right time to try the bakery's bread, which I've heard about for ages but never visited.

Soon they arrived at their destination.

The bakery owner had also early on readied a bread van for transport.

You can tell the owner couple really cares.

Lingmuyu poked her head out to sniff the bread fragrance filling the air, stuck out her tender tongue and licked it, saying, "It smells so good."

As a pile of bread was loaded into the van, Tianliuhai said, "We ought to thank the bakery owners properly—for providing all this bread for free, the kids are blessed."

"No, it's us who should thank you—you two taking time to deliver the bread." The bakery owner came out laughing, "Actually we two have had this idea for a long time, but we've been busy and never got around to it; the last time we heard that little Lingmuyu also had this idea, we asked her to help."

"Yes, Lingmuyu and you really are kind‑hearted." The owner's wife followed behind, also smiling and saying.

"Hehe, of course." Lingmuyu gave a thumbs‑up.

But when Tianliuhai saw the owner couple, he froze for a moment.

Beidou Xingsi and Nan Xizi?

???

Tianliuhai blinked.

His gaze fell on the rings on their fingers.

It looked like an ordinary ring, containing no light power at all.

But is that so?

In the Ultraman universe, did he see Showa‑era Ultraman veterans?

He couldn't have been drawn here by them, could he?

Tianliuhai didn't understand.

He also couldn't figure it out.

In the original work, although Showa‑era veterans do appear.

But, it seems like the dismemberment maniac Beidou Xingsi has never appeared before, right?

It can't be that Beidou Xingsi, like him, enjoys slacking off and secretly came to Earth to slack off.

Only after driving away for quite a distance.

Only then did he ask: "Is this bakery recently opened?"

Lingmuyu wore a strange expression: "No way, it's been around for a long time; I heard that back when the section chief was young, this bakery was already popular."

Oh?

Tianliuhai turned the steering wheel.

Could it just be a coincidence that they look alike?

But the bakery, Beidou Xingsi, and the bread they're transporting in their bread van...

Oh no, is this the Ultraman Diga TV universe or the Ultraman Ace TV universe?

Just as Tianliuhai was puzzling over it, a message broadcast from the bread van's radio brought him back to his senses.

"Breaking news from this station: two giant monsters have mysteriously appeared in the Tokyo k area, wreaking havoc in the city; please evacuate in an orderly manner..."

Immediately after, a piercing evacuation alarm sounded.

It was Gezora and Melba.

Tianliuhai looked through the car window and saw the two huge figures displayed on the city's big screen.

Dagu had been boiled into soup…… Dagu, is he going to turn into Ultraman?

(End of chapter)