Prelude to a Nightmare

Prelude to a Nightmare
Ultraman Z, episode 23
Information
Airdate	December 5, 2020
Directed by	Koichi Sakamoto
Written by	Kota Fukihara
Continuity
Previous	Individual Tomorrows
Next	The Game to Extinction

Prelude to a Nightmare is the twenty-third episode of Ultraman Z.

Synopsis

STORAGE has developed the 4th Special Airborne Armor, Ultroid Zero, based on analysis of Ultraman! Yoko is chosen as its pilot, but on the day of its launch test, monsters begin to rampage all over the place! In the face of a monster attack of unprecedented scale, STORAGE unveils their most powerful robot to show off its true strength!

Plot

A month after the D4 testing on urban area, director Kuriyama made it official in GAFJ's public announcement that SAAG replaced STORAGE to manage the SAA units. Despite concern about the D4 Ray's destructive properties, Ultroid Zero was showcased to ensure both the superweapon's usage and the fact that mankind has no longer need to rely on the Ultra's help. Former members of STORAGE can only watch in disgust as Kuriyama suddenly muttered Karekareta.

Now relegated to the job of a security guard, Haruki sees the clouds above him forming Sevenger, Windom and King Joe SC as he misses the days he spent as a STORAGE officer. While having a lunch alongside Yoko, Haruki learns that Hebikura was officially discharged from GAFJ. He also discover that Yoko's tendency for arm wrestling matches came from her father as a former GAFJ officer who taught her to marry someone who could best her in a fight. Up until now, no other men were able to defeat her. Before the two parted ways, Haruki tells her that he will be on guard during Yoko's test pilot of Ultroid Zero. Yuka discovers that the five monsters under GAFJ's supervision begin showing signs of irregularity in their movements, especially since everything are related to Ultroid Zero's experimentation, but her pleas fell on deaf ears.

On the testing day at Yugiri, citizens and mass media came to record Ultroid Zero. Yoko's activation of the SAA unit triggers the simultaneous awakening of Takkong and King Guesra from the Tsuruga Bay and Demaaga from Mount Kuzuha. Haruki/Z decided to leave for Tsuruga Bay, allowing Yoko/Ultroid Zero to deal with Demaaga. Unfortunately both of them were outnumbered and overpowered, as Pagos and Gomess even came to Demaaga's aid before the sea monsters entering the fray too, all united to destroy the mechanical Ultraman. The sea monsters decided to back off after they were defeated by Delta Rise Claw, but the subterranean monster trio were decimated by the D4 Ray when Yoko used it under Kuriyama's pressure. Although the beam output was controlled, but Ultroid Zero deactivated from the backlash and Yoko fainted as well. Mai Yuki, the head developer of the SAA-4 was the only person to cheer for this.

Z quickly extracted the unconscious Yoko from the cockpit, but Hebikura appears out of nowhere to expose his true identity as Juggler, much to Haruki's shock.

Haruki's Ultra-Navi

• Haruki's Ultra-navi! 'Kay! Today we're showing this!
• Z Riser: Red King.
• Z: Red King! A monster who boasts amazing might!
• Haruki: Red King was the one that made me realize that monsters are living beings, too. I'll never forget it again!
• Z: That's right. Let's protect peace for everyone together, Haruki!

Ultraman Z and Ultraman Zero Voice Drama

Recruitment Examinations ②

After being told by Mebius about an alternate way to pass the Inter Galactic Defense Force recruitment test, Z prepares to challenge someone for his final test. It turns out to be Ultraman Zero, who is also testing to see if Z is worthy of becoming his disciple.

Cast

• Haruki Natsukawa : Koshu Hirano
• Yoko Nakashima : Rima Matsuda
• Yuka Ohta : Hikari Kuroki
• Shota Hebikura : Takaya Aoyagi
• Director Kuriyama : Hisahiro Ogura

Guest Actors

• Mai Yuki : Maya Hayashi
• Newscaster: Sakura Miyajima
• Yoko's Father: Masataka Matsubara
• Reporter: Yue Mochinaga

Voice Actors

• Ultraman Z : Tasuku Hatanaka
• AI Voice : Katsumi Fukuhara
• Beliarok : Yuki Ono

Suit Actors

• Ultraman Z: Hideyoshi Iwata
• Ultroid Zero: Shinnosuke Ishikawa
• King Guesra: Yuto Nagachi
• Takkong: Shun Takahashi
• Demaaga: Kenji Kajikawa
• Gomess: Satoru Okabe
• Pagos: Hiroyuki Arai

Appearances

Ultras

• Ultraman Z

Kaiju

• Ultroid Zero
• King Guesra
• Takkong
• Demaaga
• Gomess
• Pagos

Trivia

• Melos and Aura were mentioned by Mebius in the voice drama.