Chapter 16

"So you're saying that I had been attacked by an unknown alien on my way to Earth? And you had been tasked to find me along with the four elderly men that claimed themselves as Ultra Brothers. That's quite a story." Raito said, skeptical.

"It's true, sir. I'm not lying to you." Mirai told him earnestly. He bit his lower lips worriedly when he saw Raito still looked doubtful. His face lit with excitement when an idea struck him.

"Sir, I'm going to show you a proof that I'm really an Ultra Warrior. Watch."

Raito furrowed his brows. He opened his mouth to voice his confusion when there was a bright light that coated Mirai's right arm. Raito gasped in wonder when an item materialized out of the blue and adorned his arm.

"How did you…"

"Oh, sorry. I forgot to warn you about that." Mirai grinned sheepishly at Raito shocked exclamation. He flicked his arm a bit and let his transformation item disappeared. He waited for his mentor shock to abate before he continued.

"That's my transformation item. Every Ultra Warriors who have human hosts have it. You have it too. But sorry I don't know what yours were." Mirai's voice turned apologetic at the end of his sentence.

"I never showed you?" Raito frowned.

"You had split yourself with your human host a long time ago. You never talked about it anymore."

"Why?"

"I'm sorry. I didn't know." Mirai turned his head to the ground. Raito sighed heavily at the contrite expression of his supposed protégé.

"It's fine. Don't worry about it." He was taken aback when Mirai beamed happily at him. He looked in confusion before he shrugged off the peculiar attitude.

"What's going to happen now?"

Raito asked Mirai curiously. He opened his mouth to answer when a sudden earthquake rattled the ground that they stood. They stumbled to the ground from the impact but scrambled back hastily.

"What happened?" Raito asked while his eyes darted everywhere. Around them was chaos. Everyone were running to save themselves.

"There!" He whirled around and took a step back in surprise. Behind him was a menacing alien. He grimaced when a sudden spike of pain assaulted his mind as soon as he laid his eyes on him.

"I have a feeling that I should know you. But who are you?" He murmured while stared unblinking towards him. The alien was standing ramrod straight while glancing around him sharply.

"I know you are here, Taro!" Raito winced when a booming voice sounded in his head. He shook his head to clear his thought. "You can run but you can't hide!" The alien proclaimed smugly while cocking his blaster.

"Take cover!" Raito jerked backwards when Mirai yanked his arm to bring him to safety. Not too long after he moved, the very ground that he was standing just now exploded. The debris scattered everywhere from the impact of the alien's blaster.

"Come out, come out wherever you are." The alien cackled madly while firing his blaster without care. Raito winced when the shrapnel of the destroyed buildings rained down upon them.

"Dammit." He turned his gaze towards his young companion. He frowned in confusion when he saw Mirai's clenching his fists in anger. Without warning, Mirai strode forward.

"Hey! What the hell do you think you're doing?!" He hissed sharply towards the young man. The GUYS member halted his step and turned to face him.

"I'm going to prove to you." Mirai walked confidently towards the alien. The young ultra-in-disguised put his left hand in front of his body. With his right hand, he swiped his Mebius Brace. The transformation item glowed brightly when he did that. He raised his left hand highly in the sky and shouted, "Mebius!"

Raito widened his eyes in shocked at the being before him. It was huge. No, it was massive. It (he shook his head. Mebius. His name was Mebius) looked at him briefly before focusing his attention towards the foe in front of him.

"Ah. So you're this galaxy newest protector. Looks like the Land of Light are desperate and short of capable warriors if they let a kid like you to guard this planet." The alien scoffed haughtily while looking down at Mebius.

"Don't underestimate me!" Mebius charged forward with his raised fist to punch the smug alien. But to his shock, the alien managed to capture his fist easily.

"You're not the one that I had been searching, boy. I'm looking for another Ultra Warrior."

"What?" Mebius spoke with clenched teeth. He tried to push the alien with all of his might but the alien didn't even budge.

"I'm looking for Ultraman Taro."

In his shock, Mebius had loosened his hand. Taking the opportunity, the alien hurled Mebius away. He stood quickly and defensively in case the alien started attacking again.

"What business do you have with him?!" He shouted angrily. He watched the alien straight on the eyes and refrained from looking down and searching his Master's human form. He could felt it in his heart that this alien was dangerous and more cunning than what he used to fight.

"Let's just said that I want to settle a score with him." The alien smirked and conjured a club in his hand.

"I will never tell you! Over my dead body!" Mebius yelled furiously.

The alien narrowed his eyes to slits. "Very well." He gripped the club more tightly. "Then let it be known that today is the day the newest protector of this planet be slain by Miiraz, leader of Four Heavenly Guards of Alien Empera. Prepare to die!"

Without warning, Miiraz raised his club and rushed forward. Mebius bended his legs a bit and jumped to the side. He glanced towards the crater that had been formed when the club had smashed the ground. He narrowed his eyes and resolved to not get smashed by the weapon.

Meanwhile, Raito stood motionless at the ground. Somehow, he could heard what the two titans spoke to each other. He took a step back when they clashed. His mind screamed at him to find shelter but his heart urged him to come forward and helped the one that called himself Mebius. He clenched his fists to stop himself from trembling.

"Taro!" He whirled around when he heard that name had been spoken. From the distanced, he saw the four elders that claimed themselves as Ultra Warriors were approaching him rapidly. He turned his gaze back towards the battle while waiting for them to come to him.

"Who is that alien?" Goh asked with a frown.

"He said his name is Miiraz, leader of Four Heavenly Guards of Alien Empera." He told them.

"Why is he's here?"

"He said he wanted to settle some score with Ultraman Taro, whatever that mean." He shrugged. He missed the startled look that had been shared with the four warriors.

They turned to the side when they heard the sound of jet flying above. The jet let loose a few missiles that connected to the alien's torso. The aliens growled in anger and swatted it away. They gasped in shocked when it lose control and almost crashed to the ground if not for Mebius to catch it. It was a mistake on his part when he had been blasted for turning his back on the enemy.

"Mebius!" Dan shouted in alarmed when the youngest warrior fall to his knees in pain.

"Let's help him!" Hayata instructed them. They nodded and almost took a step forward before a voice stopped them.

"Wait, wait. What are you going to do?" Taro, or Raito right now asked them curiously.

"We're going to help him." Hokuto answered.

"I want to help too!" Raito said determinedly.

"No!" Hayata shook his head. Raito opened his mouth to protest but a raised hand from Hayata stopped him. "You don't have access to your power right now. You better hide somewhere safe."

"But…"

"Don't worry. Leave the rest to us, alright?" Goh smiled softly to him and patted his shoulder. They turned their back on him and marched forward bravely. He chewed his bottom lips worriedly at the sight of their retreating backs. He didn't knew why his heart felt constricted or why he was itching to join them. He knew they wanted him to hide but his legs seemed rooted to the spot. He clasped his hands in front of his chest and sent a quick prayer for their safety.

"Is it okay?" Hayata glanced at Dan. "To leave Taro like this. When he regained his memory, he will be very angry with us, you know?" Dan clarified. Hayata took a quick peek behind him. He saw Taro was looking at them with the most heartbroken expression he ever saw. He sighed.

"It's the only way." He steeled his heart and clenched his Beta Capsule. At the same time, Dan got his Ultra Eye out and Hokuto played with his rings. Goh had already crossed his hand to transform.

"Let's go." A bright light surrounded them.