Volume One Chapter 1: Reincarnation

"What is this...?"

On the bustling streets of the Land of Light, Tregear stared at his hands in disbelief, as if he were trapped in the most absurd dream the world could conjure.

But I... I was clearly destroyed by Regulos...

What... is going on here...

His eyes clouded with confusion, but the weak energy within him and the vibrant flow of life before him all screamed the same truth—this was no dream.

He had truly returned to the past.

Returned... to the Land of Light!

A low chuckle escaped his lips, swelling into uncontrollable, sinister laughter—dark and unsettling—drawing curious glances from passing Ultramen. Tregear paid no heed to their wary eyes, his laughter growing more twisted, more maniacal.

"Tregear, why are you standing here giggling like an idiot?!"

A familiar voice suddenly cut through his delirium. Tregear turned and saw Taro descend from above.

The face, the voice, the aura—everything was achingly familiar.

"So it's you, Taro. Long time no see," Tregear replied, his head tilted, an odd tone lurking behind his ostensibly casual greeting.

Taro seemed oblivious to Tregear's strange demeanor. He stepped forward, pride ringing in his voice: "Tregear, did you know? I completed the mission of the Messenger of Light!"

"I'm now a fully qualified Ultra Warrior!" Taro's face shone with a broad smile, his words trembling with excitement.

It was only natural; to become a true Ultra Warrior was every Ultraman's greatest dream in the Land of Light.

Tregear was no exception... And with that title came the right to join the Intergalactic Defense Force.

To uphold righteousness, protect the universe, and wield power over the weak in the name of justice!

How ironic.

"Oh? Is that so?" Tregear's expression didn’t change, as if this was a trivial matter, hardly worth mentioning.

"Um..." Taro finally sensed something amiss and asked, puzzled, "What's wrong, Tregear? Aren't you happy for me?"

Was it his imagination, or had his old friend changed entirely during their time apart?

"Happy... Of course, I'm happy," Tregear chuckled softly, then suddenly soared into the sky above the Land of Light.

Taro blinked in surprise and hurried after him. "Where are you going? Wait for me!"

By now, he was almost certain that something was truly wrong with his friend.

After all, the Tregear he once knew would never wear such a shadowed, sinister smile.

Chasing Tregear beyond the borders of the Land of Light, Taro finally could not contain himself. "Tregear, what are you trying to do?!"

Tregear did not answer, only letting the corner of his mouth curl even higher.

What am I trying to do?

Of course, to leave the Land of Light!

He could not bear to stay here a moment longer.

Taro's face darkened, and he suddenly accelerated. In an instant, he flashed ahead and blocked Tregear’s path, demanding, "What is wrong with you?!"

Staring into Taro’s eyes, Tregear frowned slightly and murmured, "It seems Earth truly is a good place..."

Before undertaking the Messenger of Light mission, his speed had not matched Taro’s, but the gap was never so wide. But just now, Taro’s movement was at least ten times faster than before—he hadn’t even had time to react before being intercepted.

This could only mean Taro’s power now far outstripped his own.

The realization made Tregear grit his teeth.

No—he needed to reach Borges as soon as possible and regain Grimdo’s power.

In his previous life, he had perished at Regulos’s hand.

But he had also fully merged with Grimdo, sharing its memories.

He understood now that his miraculous rebirth—crossing the timeline of the Prime Universe as a soul—was entirely due to the sliver of chaos power from Grimdo, the little evil god.

But the miracle had already occurred, and he would not repeat his past mistakes.

This time, he would claim Grimdo’s true power!

"Get out of my way!" Tregear roared.

Taro was stunned by the outburst, seeing his closest friend actually attack him!

"Tregear... you!"

Yet Taro’s reflexes did not slow—he simply raised his hand and caught Tregear’s fist with ease.

But Tregear’s second punch landed squarely on his face.

A dull thud echoed as the blow struck, but Taro’s head merely tilted, unhurt.

"Damn it!" Tregear’s expression twisted in frustration. He realized that with his current blue-blooded form, he could not shake Taro at all.

So he spun around, seizing Taro’s moment of distraction, and shot off toward the outer reaches of the M78 Nebula.

Taro turned, staring blankly after his departing friend, his mind in chaos.

Was Tregear... really about to defect?!

For a long moment, Taro was at a loss for what to do.

"How... how could it come to this?" he muttered, then, snapping from his daze, hastily sent a message back to the Land of Light: "Something terrible has happened—Tregear has lost his mind!"

He did not mention defection, because he simply could not believe it.

May it be so...

——

Galaxy T-7.

A streak of blue light tore across the star-studded expanse, leaving a rift in the universe that stretched endlessly onward.

Within that blue light, Tregear clutched his arm, visibly wounded and in no small measure.

He had just escaped by the skin of his teeth from the Intergalactic Defense Force, cementing his crime of defection.

——

Land of Light, Intergalactic Defense Force Headquarters.

"Father, Tregear could not have defected—you must believe me!"

The atmosphere in the meeting room was heavy, but Taro’s voice was filled with passion.

"Ah..." Father of Ultra sighed deeply.

He too could not believe Tregear would betray the Land of Light, but the facts spoke for themselves, and he was powerless to change them.

"But why?" Zoffy muttered in confusion.

"No reason has been found, not a single sign," Seven shook his head. "From what I know, Tregear was working with Hikari to develop a powerful new device."

"Could it... be related?"

A heavy silence fell among the Ultras.

There had been defectors among the Ultras before, but every one of them had been seduced by power, without exception.

But Tregear was just a blue-blooded scientist—since birth, he had rarely even left his home. How could he possibly have been tempted by some strange power?

It was simply too bizarre.

"Tregear is not a traitor!" Taro’s tone was resolute. "I believe in him. He must have a reason for leaving the Land of Light!"

But despite his words, the others were less convinced.

There were just too many precedents.

The most notorious was Belial, who nearly destroyed the Land of Light itself.

Glancing at Taro, Father of Ultra finally gave his orders: "Find Tregear at all costs—alive or dead, bring him back!"

"Father!" Taro’s head snapped up, his eyes trembling with emotion.