Ultraman Trigger: Episode Z (2022) Plot Summary

Two years after Kengo merged into the Eternity Core as Ultraman Trigger to stabilize it, GUTS-Select and their new leader Ryuichi Tokioka deal with a new wave of Kaiju attacks before being assigned to investigate the Leyrah cult, a terrorist group seeking to restore the Ultra Ancient Civilization. The group learns from the cult’s captured leader, Leyrah Ibra, relays his message of the Eternity Core and Kengo’s impending doom to Yuna. Wanting to save them both require the help of Yuzare and the Ancient Sparklence, GUTS-Select agrees with the temporary alliance to enact a ritual to extract Kengo from the Eternity Core, with Kengo’s Hyper Keys scattered in the process. Following a brief celebration, Ibra escapes while using a Pagos to attack TPU headquarters as a diversion. The Kaiju is quickly defeated by Ultraman Z, revealing he and Haruki were on the tracking down the alien parasite Celebro after he escaped from STORAGE’s captivity. As Haruki and Z’s search led them to Kengo’s Earth, the group deduce that Celebro is hiding amongst the Leyrah cultists and decide to track the cult down while locating Trigger’s Hyper Keys.

During their hunt for the keys, Celebro and Ibra summons a Gazort before luring Haruki away after he gives Kengo the Multi Type key for Kengo, Trigger regaining the Sky Type and Power Type keys while joined by Z to destroy Deathdrago and Genegarg in a wrestling match. However, Haruki is revealed to have been possessed by Celebro, who reveals himself while turning Ultraman Z into Z Red Damage before seemingly killing off Tokioka while stealing the Hyper Keys. Ignis arrives at that moment to spirit GUTS-Select away from the cult. The group reassembles and confront Leyrah cultists as they prepare another ritual with their true leader revealed to be Tokioka, who reveals himself as Yuzare’s comrade Zabil. Zabil explains that he realized from witnessing Yuzare’s death that humans must become “light” to protect themselves, having orchestrated events in anticipation of the Giants of Darkness’ return to steal Trigger’s light while forming an alliance with Celebro by promising the parasite that it would resume its Civilization Self-Destruction Game. With Trigger’s Hyper Keys as conduits, Zabil sacrifices his followers to activate his Ancient Sparklence and transform into Evil Trigger, who proceeds to overpower Trigger Dark and GUTS-Select’s mechas with Z Red Damage.

After Akito reclaims his gear to become Trigger again while Tatsumi resumes command of GUTS-Select, Kengo helps Haruki expel Celebro with Z back to normal. Celebros retaliates by possessing Ibra and turning his host into Destrudos, helping Evil Trigger overpower the Ultramen. As GUTS-Select defend Kengo as their friend when Evil Trigger mocks him for not being a human, Yuna sacrifices Yuzare’s ring and the gateway tower to have the Eternity Core restore Trigger’s ability to become Glitter Trigger Eternity. After Destrudos is defeated by the Ultramen, Evil Trigger attempts to kill them after using his inner darkness to increase his size. But he is fatally wounded, reverting to Zabil as he dissolves with the gateway tower. Himari gives the recaptured Celebro to Haruki, who returns to his Earth while Ignis resumes his journey for treasure. The entire GUTS-Select later celebrates their victory, while Kengo decides to continue living as both human and Ultraman.

The film ends with a post-credit scene that reveals the new Ultraman, Decker.