(First Aired: August 28, 1966)
Screenplay by: Ryu Minamikawa and Tetsuo Kinjo
Directed by: Samaji Nonagase
A meteor crashes in the Middle East and planes begin to disappear over the region with the blame pinned on the space rock's possible magnetic properties. Science Patrol is informed by an American member named Jimnote that they will be sent out to investigate, since the Indian and Turkish Science Patrols have also become victims of the plane vanishings. Jim points to a map of the Middle East, explaining that the disappearances are near the supposed location of the mythic city of Barraj - something for the Science Patrol to keep in mind while there.
The Science Patrol (sans Fuji) and Jim head out on the Jet V-TOL, searching for the meteor. However, they encounter a mysterious beam of magnetic energy that threatens to pull down the V-TOL. Muramatsu engages in a highly risky maneuver to fly over the magnetic beam, which succeeds. The plane's workings are damaged by the proximity to the powerful magnetism though, and Science Patrol makes a rough emergency landing. Ide sustains some minor injuries, but otherwise, everyone is fine. So Ide is forced to stay in the Jet V-TOL to regain communications with Science Patrol HQ and fix the plane while Muramatsu, Hayata, Arashi, and Jim head out in search of the meteor.
Science Patrol eventually finds the meteor, but analysis of the space rock indicates it has no magnetic properties, meaning something else has been pulling planes from the sky - no doubt whatever had attacked the Jet V-TOL earlier. Meanwhile, Ide begins to hear something outside in the desert as he works on the plane's damages, but chooses to ignore it. Outside the downed V-TOL, an enormous object moves underneath the sand towards the V-TOL. It soon bursts from behind Ide, revealing itself to be Antlar, a monster resembling a bipedal stag beetle mixed with an ant lion. Ide flees the V-TOL and reaches Muramatsu and the rest, but they're all skeptical of his story. At the site, they find a colossal sandpit with the remains of the V-TOL inside. Antlar raises its ugly head from the pit, and Science Patrol blasts away at the monster. Antlar fires a beam of magnetic energy from its mandibles, snatching Science Patrol's ray guns right out from their hands and revealing to them what the magnetic beam's real source was. With no supplies, weapons, and communications, Science Patrols begins to march through the desert in search of civilization.
As they wander across the sands, Science Patrols finds a surprise - an ancient-looking city of Middle Eastern style. It is no doubt the kingdom of legendary Barraj, with biblical Mt. Ararat forming a backdrop. When the group enters the city, they find that the entire populace is elderly and speaks no modern Middle Eastern language. They are soon greeted by Chartham, the youthful princess of Barraj. To Science Patrol's surprise, Chartham speaks Japanese to them, explaining that she used her ESP abilities to learn the language from them. Chartham explains that all of Barraj had mind-reading abilities when the city was a prosperous site along the Silk Road many centuries ago. However, the city declined due to the presence of Antlar. Jim asks why Antlar has not destroyed Barraj yet, to which Chartham explains that their city is protected by their god Noah. Chartham takes them inside her palace to explain further. Inside, Science Patrol sees a statue of Ultraman holding a blue stone in his hand. Chartham explains that the blue stone, a gift from Noah, is what keeps Antlar out of Barraj. Science Patrol, meanwhile, realizes that Ultraman is a much more ancient figure than they had believed.
But, suddenly, Antlar returns! This time, the monster has entered Barraj without fear of the stone's power and is devastating everything in sight. As Science Patrol takes the populace to safety, one old woman, fed up with living under fear of Antlar for so long, runs towards the monster. However, a piece of rubble knocks her out. Hayata takes her unconscious body to a safe location where he transforms into Ultraman! Ultraman (or Noah, as the people of Barraj immediately recognize him as) proceeds to fight Antlar, but it proves to a real challenge as the Specium Ray is unable to harm Antlar. With Ultraman having trouble killing Antlar and his Colour Timer blinking rapidly, Chartham runs back to the palace and grabs the Blue Stone. She hands it to Muramatsu and instructs him to throw the stone at Antlar, and he does so. Antlar is showered in explosions and collapses dead. With that, Ultraman leaves once more, while Barraj's people kneel in prayer to him.
After the battle, Chartham thanks Science Patrol and Noah for defeating Antlar, but she remains unsure if Barraj will ever reach its glory days again. Science Patrol leaves the city afterwards, and Fuji arrives in a Jet V-TOL to pick them up and take them home.
Tropes:
- Bittersweet Ending: Although Antlar is defeated, the fate of Barraj is left on a skeptical note.
