I don't have much in mind on what I could share again about Ultraman Illum, so I'll do a redux of the pinned post. My main universe has a lot of stuff in it, but for my main guy, Ultraman Illum: Ultraman Illum comes from a universe very similar to the Showa/M78 universe from actual Ultraman media, with the only changes being that Planets like U-40 and O-50 are in the same universe/Nebula. Despite being here, Illum hasn't been able to become an Ultra Warrior yet, instead, he works as a Scout whose job is to investigate suspicious areas in the Universe and report/call in an actual Ultra Warrior if said suspicious activity is dangerous. Even though he had this position, Illum still desired a higher and higher rank so he could be famous and be like the Ultra Warriors he looked up to. This would all come to ahead when he fights a Barossa Alien. During the fight, the Barrosa would send out a Bullton that then transforms into a portal and throws Illum into a new universe. After a while of trying to get home (or find any Ultras in that new universe) he found the Earth. Having the background knowledge of Ultras protecting the Earth, Illum stuck around close by near the Moon or around Mars, until he saw the first Great Beast, Gomess, causing destruction in Chicago. Seeing the perfect opportunity to be seen as a hero, Illum decided to protect the planet as the titular, and aptly named, ๐จ๐น๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐บ๐ฎ๐ป ๐๐น๐น๐๐บ.
During the battle, Illum would notice a guy named Alex Lewis trying to protect a parent and their child but unfortunately perished during Gomess's rampage, and fuse with him in order to revive his body. Despite their rough first meeting, Alex would go along with Illum to take on Gomess a second time, which then also began their ally ship. Much later on, he manages to kill the God Beast/the strongest Great Beast known as Gaiarth in a brutal five rematch fight. Using all of his power, Illum shot himself completely through Gaiarths chest, exploding the beast completely.
After this, Illum continued life on Earth and his bond with Alex, as the two began to protect the planet against the occasional Space threat. After a one year time-skip, Illum found himself locked into combat with a Space Monster, with the monster managing to lead him and Alex far away from Earth and deeper into space. During a standstill, a beam would suddenly pierce through and blow up the Space Monster, with the source being a lone Giant of Light, Ultrawoman Cozen. After initial confusion over the fact Illum wasn't able to find a single Ultra in this new universe, Cozen would eagerly explain that she and her brother were the only two left and heavily recommended that Illum come with her. Although, due to the fact he and Alex were still bonded, the two agreed to first separate, and then Illum would go meet the only other Ultraman in the universe. Said Ultraman would be not only a much older person than Illum thought, but he would reveal the fate of their Land of Light. Thousands of years ago, a being crafted the Armors of Darkness, and used those pieces of pure hatred to cause the detonation of the entire planet, which then left Fallere and Cozen the only two surviving Ultras in the universe. Unfortunately, two pieces of the Armor of Darkness still remained, the Gauntlets of Darkness. Fallere would then go onto explain that with Illum's help, the three could penetrate through the oppressive barrier the Gauntlets had enveloped around itself and finally destroy themโ to which Illum agreed. Unfortunately unfortunately, the two actually con Illum into helping them gain the armor. Fallere would place both Gauntlets onto his fists, and when worn, they viciously transformed him into a Giant of Darkness dubbed "Tenebris". From there, he began to enact his planโ
The complete erasure of all life in the universe in order to achieve a truly conflict-free one, which came as a shock to Illum, and more importantly, Cozen. While she was in on the con, she believed that the two were only going to use the Gauntlets as a way to strike fear into everyone else and create a conflict free universe that way, to which Tenebris revealed he had fooled her years ago, and this was the true plan all along, before he'd strike his fist into her chest, knocking her out. After he placed her softly onto the ground, Tenebris created a portal to the first Solar System he'd use the Gauntlets to destroy, but, just before, he'd turn to Illum and urge him to find a way out the Universe, it wasn't his, he shouldn't be involved. Illums shock during this moment would turn from confusion, and ultimately into rage. He couldn't believe Fallere would do something like this and flew through his portal just after he left. There, he found Tenebris beginning to envelop the systems Sun with an oppressive barrier of Darkness, collapsing it into nothingness, which surely doomed the residents of the system. But, just before the process could be completed, Illum would slam into him from behind, breaking his concentration and causing the barrier to fall. Before Tenebris could collect his bearings, Illum continued to beat into him through the vacuum of space, and even as Tenebris summoned portals to different places in the universe. Eventually, the two would end up near Earth's moon. Growing tired of his interventions, Tenebris grabbed Illum and quickly flung him towards the planet, followed by slamming into him before he could catch himself mid-air. As Illum slowly climbed out of the massive crater he found himself in, he'd realize he wasn't just in any place on Earth, he was back in Chicago, the site of his first appearance, Alex's home. With a shaky, pained body, he fully climbed out of the barrier in Lake Michigan to confront Tenebris, who just questioned why he still fought. Ignoring his words, Illum tried over and over again to strike, just for Tenebris to dodge. Eventually, after having used the Ultraman Ultra Cube, an ability where he copies the fighting style of a select Ultra, Illum managed to connect a blow to Tenebris's body, followed by multiple more. After a final kick to the chest, Illum would bounce away and declare that he didn't care about anything Fallere said, that he'd protect this place, over and over again. Only for a single shot to fire through his chest.
He died. At the hands of Tenebris.
As the Darkness Lord looked over his corpse, he felt remorse for killing one he didn't have to, but justified it had to be done. For the absolute betterment of the universe. Eventually, Alex manages to catch up to where Illum laid, and through sobs, he asked why it had to end here. Although, this wasn't the end. As Illum is revived by Alex's wishes, and the two manage to power themselves into Ultraman Illum Illuminating from everyone on Earths wishes for him to win, and manage to drive Tenebris off Earth, following him into deeper and deeper space. With a calmer mind, Illum begged to find the truth behind Fallere's actions, but Tenebris stubbornly refused, until Illum used one of his new abilities to peer into Fallere's mind, and found just how long he had to endure the Universe's pain, to the amount any man would go crazy.
With newfound understanding, Illum manages to convince Fallere to end this journey of revenge towards the whole universe, to which he agrees. But, due to the Gauntlets of Darkness, and all the pain they inflict, Fallere would sacrifice himself to get rid of them forever, and asks Illum to do only two things: 1. Bring peace to the universe. And 2. Give Cozen the happiest life you can. After promising to do both, Fallere gave his life to destroy the Gauntlets of Darkness. After which, Illum returns to Earth only to soon depart for a return home, although promises to return every now and then. But, before he left, he explained everything to Cozen, and even though she was thankful he stopped her brother, she still couldn't look him in the eye, for the pain of losing the one who raised her was too great, and she would ask for Illum to leave, to which he complied. But, just like he promised, Illum returned to help the universe all he could. (Along with some help)
I've had my Ultraman stuff in my brain for a couple years now, so it has a lot of things attached to it, but this is the basic jist! I hope you enjoyed! Illum does go on to do more crazy things like befriending two Ultras from his home and making them help him out, fighting space pirates led by Cozen, getting a cape, fighting a being made from the Darkness armor, teaching two young Ultras, and becoming a father figure. Along with some other stuff! Hope you enjoyed, and this took a WHILE.