WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Episode 3 of SSSS.Dynazenon, "What is a Traitor?," now streaming on Funimation.
In its third episode, SSSS. Dynazenon finally starts to flesh out its world. Gauma, the enigmatic lead character who introduces the gang to Dynazenon, is revealed to be thousands of years old. Not only that, but he also has historic ties to the series antagonist group known as the Kaiju Eugenicists. When pushed for the truth in the latest episode, he opens up to his team about his reason for fighting, which luckily only fortifies their bond, leading them to once again form Dynazenon.
At the start of the episode, the Kaiju Eugenicists show themselves to the Dynazenon pilot team for the very first time. The group and Gauma share a heated exchange, in which Gauma explains that the Eugenicists are Kaiju users just like him. In response, Onija, a member of the Eugenicists, calls Gauma a traitor. The exchange doesn’t turn into a brawl as the Eugenicists need a kaiju in order to stand a chance; instead, it serves as a warning.
After hearing Onija call Gauma a traitor, Yomogi becomes pensive about his relationship with him. Preying on this uncertainty, at the end of the school day, Juuga -- the presumptive leader of the Eugenicists -- approaches Yomogi. Juuga reveals he used to have a partnership with Gauma and looked up to him but that was 5,000 years ago. He also explains that Gauma and the Eugenicists died and were revived in the present day for unknown reasons.
The information only makes Yomogi even more cautious and apprehensive. He gets the team together to confront Gauma, only to find they have no interest in answering questions about his past. Gauma confirms the facts of the situation, but not his reason for betraying the Eugenicists. The dismissal is what finally causes his team discomfort, forcing them to question their collaboration. Notably, Gauma doesn’t confirm a desire to protect people and align himself with heroic cause.
Naturally, when the next kaiju appears, the team shows complete dysfunction in the fight. Yomogi continues to pressure Gauma about his motivation, and Gauma continues to deflect. However, Gauma also wants to form Dynazenon with their individual pieces of the mech, a task that requires their hearts and feelings to be connected. It is impossible to combine without resolving the conflict, and after a heartfelt plea, Gauma finally shares with his teammates. He wants to meet the woman who bestowed Dynazenon onto him. He believes he was given the power to fight kaiju in order to meet that person again in the present era.
The revelation sets the stage for the central conflict in the series. Alongside fighting kaiju who rampage through cities and spread destruction, the goal of the protagonist group will be to help Gauma find the woman who inspired him five millennia ago. This reveal opens up further questions: Who is this woman? How do her goals conflict with that of the Kaiju Eugenicists? And how exactly did she inspire Gauma?
Regardless, the team is prepared to help Gauma in his quest as their worries about his betrayal have subsided for the moment. They are able to form Dynazenon and once again defeat the Kaiju, as well as the Kaiju Eugenicists, showing that as long as they continue becoming closer, they will be unstoppable.
