Kamen Rider from the ancient times

Chapter 505 Interlude: Kadoyaji outside the small garden
"boom--"

The sudden gunshot snapped Shi out of his daze, and he almost instinctively ran towards the photography studio!
However, when he rushed to the door, he saw another version of himself placing the fallen Hai Dong tree on the ground. The expected event of being killed by the other side did not happen at all.

"Yo~"

Looking up, Tsukasa Kadoya smiled and asked, "Have you already broken free of your restraints?"

"You bastard—"

Once the taxi driver realized what was happening in the photography studio, he leaped over the large tree on the ground and rushed towards the other person, viciously grabbing the collar of the person who had the exact same face as him.

With a hint of barely perceptible tension and unease, Shi glared at the person in front of him, feigning bravado: "You... are 'me' from another world, right?"

"You could say that. I didn't expect you to be so quick to accept it. I thought you'd stay scared forever." Tsukasa Kadoya looked at him with interest.

The taxi driver, who had rushed to the photo studio in a panic as if fleeing from something, was terrified when he saw someone there who looked exactly like him.

Then he was knocked down by Tsukasa Kadoya with a single punch.

Anyway, this isn't the first or second time that Tsukasa Kadoya has done something like this—taking action against "himself."

Once you've had your fill of experience, you'll get more familiar with it. He simply packed up the taxi in this world and dumped it on the second floor of an abandoned photo studio before leisurely beginning to learn about the nature of this world.

This is another Kamen Rider world in another time and space.

They share almost the same history and people as Kamen Riders, but also have different experiences.

At least from the negative states exhibited by Shiro, Hikari Natsumi, and Kaito Daiki in this world, it is quite clear that they all have their own different, unbearable past experiences.

"Although I don't know why this photo studio turned out this way, in this time and space, only those who escape their own world can find the Light Photo Studio... Are you trying to find something here?"

Tsukasa Kadoya leaned lazily against the tripod and patted the camera shrouded in darkness beside him.

The taxi driver standing opposite him looked resistant.

He was already annoyed to be lectured by someone who looked just like him, but this guy's attitude was so arrogant, just like the disdainful look he had towards everyone when he first met Hai Dong Da Shu.

Therefore, Shi dislikes the big tree in the East Sea, and he also dislikes himself in this way.

"Mind your own business! Where did you come from, and what's your purpose in approaching us? And what about Xia Migan...?"

The man spoke impatiently, but then seemed to remember something and became somewhat hesitant.

The reason Shi ran to this place and became terrified after seeing the existence of another "self" was because he had discovered a secret about Hikari Natsumi beforehand.

Tsukasa Kadoya stroked his chin and said, "There are countless timelines in this world. Each different timeline is a different world. The Natsumikan who is with you now may be Natsumikan from another world."

"So it's from another world..."

Shi looked at him somewhat hesitantly and said, "We found Xia Hai, who is still alive at the Guangzhao Photo Studio..."

Swah——

Tsukasa Kadoya suddenly looked at him, and the two similar people stared at each other with different expressions at this moment.

Thanks to Hikari Natsumi and Kaito Daiki's unauthorized search for information about vampires this morning, Shishi was forced to go with them, and then he saw a report about Hikari Natsumi's suicide in the old newspapers in the library.

But at this moment, Hikari Natsumi was standing perfectly fine in front of him.

The taxi driver was terrified at that moment.

So he abandoned Hikari Natsumi and Kaito Daiki and came to Hikari Photo Studio. Only this place, which could allow him to leave the current world and gain the power of Decade, could give him a sense of security.

As a result, in this place, Shi unexpectedly encountered another version of himself.

That was double the shock!
What's even more terrifying is that this guy attacked him without hesitation!

"So you're also from another timeline..."

However, the taxi driver had gradually regained his senses and rationality, and he was now more concerned about what the "other self" was trying to achieve.

Coming into this world...

Is it to replace him?
Recalling how naturally this person had acted as his acquaintance with Mitsuka, Shi couldn't help but feel a little nervous.

"Do not worry."

Tsukasa Kadoya looked at him with a deep gaze: "My purpose in coming to this world has nothing to do with you. From now on, you just need to watch as an observer. Or rather... it has already begun."

After saying his last words, Tsukasa Kadoya had already turned his gaze away from him and looked towards the clear sky in the distance.

The taxi driver opposite seemed to sense something at that moment, and looked over in the direction of his gaze.

Then his eyes widened in astonishment.

The azure sky seemed to be shrouded in a black veil, as if the wind was howling before a heavy rain, carrying a cool yet oppressive feeling.

But that curtain of gauze was no ordinary dark cloud; it seemed to be a flowing water curtain, sweeping over everything.

"what is that?"

A sense of physiological resistance arose within him.

He disliked the appearance of such illogical things in the real world, no matter how flamboyant and confident he was in the "duplication" of his travels, how powerful he was when using Decade's power, or even when he uttered arrogant and cool lines that only appeared in his fantasies.

But Shi always regarded those travel experiences as a kind of playful paradise.

Those worlds were sanctuaries where he could escape from this real world, secret gardens captured in photographs, and tiny miniature gardens that would never harm him.

But if the "miniature garden" begins to connect with the real world, Shi will feel like everything is collapsing.

So when Shi first saw Hikari Natsumi and Kaito Daiki, whom he had met during his travels, appear in this world, he was extremely resistant, yet he couldn't get rid of them.

I still live with them now.

The small garden that allowed him to escape seems to be disappearing along with these changes.

"There's no escape."

As if sensing Tsukasa's thoughts, as his body unconsciously took half a step back, a lazy yet strangely firm voice came from the mouth of the one in front of him, Tsukasa.

Tsukasa Kadoya gazed at the black veil: "In a world beyond this world, there is a guy who is trying to control all the worlds in all timelines. After I discovered their actions, I have been tracking them all the way to this world. So, as someone who is in this world, there is no way you can escape."

"...They want to dominate the world?" the taxi driver asked, stopping in his tracks.

"Yes."

“But I have other worlds to go to.” Shi looked at the lone camera standing in the photography studio.

"No matter how many worlds you go to, this will always be your world, and that's a fact that can never be changed." Tsukasa Kadoya looked at him.

"..."

The man stared blankly and said nothing more.

Tsukasa Kadoya remained silent.

During the time he lost his memory, Tsukasa Kadoya was searching for a world that truly belonged to him, but in another version of himself in that world, he was constantly trying to escape his own world.

However, Tsukasa Kadoya had no intention of judging such matters.

Because different experiences shape different people, Kamen Riders born from different timelines will also be different. At this moment, he suddenly vaguely understood why Kawahara had always asked him this question again and again—

Is there only one Tsukasa Kadoya?

Previously, Tsukasa Kadoya had always confidently asserted his uniqueness.

He continued to do so after that.

There may be more than one Tsukasa Kadoya, but there is definitely only one Tsukasa Kadoya who will become an ally with that kind of guy!
……

In their brief exchange...

The black curtain of light had spread from the distance to the sky overhead, and the cool, damp breeze had completely dispelled the afternoon heat, but what followed was a palpable sense of unease and crisis.

Under the dark clouds that seemed to foreshadow an impending downpour, Shi heard the sudden screams of panic from the city.

The man in front of him walked out of the photo studio.

"What are you going to do?" Shi hesitated in the photography studio, looking at the camera that could travel to other worlds, and then at this world where a storm was brewing.

Tsukasa Kadoya turned his head and smiled, "Of course I'm going to save the world~ Oh right, Natsumi should still be in that apartment, right? I'm leaving her in your care."

Without waiting for him to react, Tsukasa Kadoya walked straight out of the narrow alley after saying this.

Only when the other person disappeared at the end of the road did Shi suddenly come to his senses, and he quickly looked in the direction of what he considered his "home" in this world.

"Natsumi——!"

……

……

The outside had become noisy at some point.

After cleaning up the dishes and tidying up the room, Hikari Natsumi was looking at the vampire-related books she had borrowed from the library that morning when she suddenly felt a chill creeping over her.

She got goosebumps all over her body, as if she had a premonition of something. Guang Xia Hai cautiously went to the window to look outside.

The monsters I once encountered in my travels have somehow filled the city streets: Gurongi, Mirror Monsters, Worms, Fang Blood Demons...

The hideous monster roared furiously and launched a rampage, accompanied by human screams.

Hikari Natsumi's eyes widened in horror. When she realized that a spider-like monster climbing on the opposite side was about to look at her, she quickly turned around and hid behind the wall.

She thought she heard a chilling rustling sound coming from outside.

Why does this happen?
The monsters from the Kamen Rider world have appeared in this world. Is it because they are similar to the "vampires" that have been attacking humans at night recently?

Guang Xiahai felt a fire burning inside her. Hearing the screams of people outside, her body involuntarily ran to the door. However, as she placed her hand on the doorknob, she remembered the young man's words before he left.

—Just stay here until I get back.

But now there are people outside who need her help.

Even though she has no power at all.

So, being so incompetent, all she could do was try her best in the end, wasn't that right?
Just as Guang Xia Hai's heart trembled, the door in front of her was suddenly pushed open by a force.

"Bang-"

As if seeing a monster outside baring its fangs and claws as it lunged at her, Hikari's eyes widened, but before she could scream, a figure burst in and pressed her shoulder, covering her mouth.

"Be careful, don't lure them over!"

"scholar……"

The soft murmur of Guangxia Hai escaped through his fingers.

This was the second time Shi had seen Hikari Natsumi show him such a helpless yet dependent expression.

The first time they met was in a café in another world that was attacked by "dopant". Hikari Natsumi, who was being targeted by a monster, fell to the ground and their eyes met.

Just as he hesitated whether to reach out to the girl with the despair in her eyes, she uttered that word.

— "Decade"!
Then the Decade Driver appeared before Tsukasa's eyes. He put on the belt and became Kamen Rider Decade, who possessed great power!

The man took the girl's hand.

"Stay close to me, don't be clumsy, let's go to the photo studio first!"

"Hey?"

His consistently confident yet nonchalant tone gave Hikari a sense of security. Although Shi was a bit annoying when he spoke so confidently, it also meant that he had the power to solve everything!

Following behind Shi, Hikari Natsumi and Shi walked out of the apartment, carefully avoiding the monsters attacking people outside, and headed towards the dilapidated photo studio.

The man was very nervous the whole way.

Because he actually has no power at all right now.

Even if he wanted to solve the world's problems, he would first have to find a way to bring Decade's power out of that small "miniature garden".

That guy from another world said he was going to save the world, and Shi really didn't understand where that confidence came from.

But the next moment——

His gaze swept across the streets and landed on the expansive square, where the man stopped in his tracks.

"how…?"

Hikari, who was right next to him, was confused. She bumped into Shi's stiff back and cried out in pain. When she turned her head to look at him in confusion, her eyes were also filled with disbelief.

Although the young man in the brown trench coat was close at hand, another young man of the same appearance stood in front of the countless monster legions.

Time seemed to slow down incredibly at that moment.

As the mosaic-like light effects flickered, the familiar magenta armor gradually covered the figure.

Then, all by himself, full of vigor and confidence, he charged forward against the seemingly endless number of enemies!

—Kamen Rider Decade!

……

……

Wherever the black veil passed, countless strange figures emerged.

Spider monsters, bat monsters, mantis monsters... Bee woman, Dr. Death, Ambassador of Hell... Behind these familiar enemies, leading an even larger army of monsters, Shocker combatants in black bodysuits squeak and swarm towards all sides of the human city.

Prior to this, Tsukasa Kadoya had already sensed the presence of such a formidable Shocker army.

While touring the "world beyond the world," he encountered many timelines that were completely dominated by another Shocker organization. After skillfully infiltrating Shocker's headquarters, Tsukasa Kadoya also discovered acquaintances from another timeline.

—Narutaki.

As expected, no matter which world it is, the scheming Narutaki is always so annoying.

Tsukasa Kadoya has not yet revealed his presence.

After yet another "time-altering machine" was created, he disguised himself as a Shocker executive and came into contact with the machine.

Although they successfully entered the dark spacetime rift, they were quickly expelled due to Narutaki's panic after accidentally touching the machine. As a result, Tsukasa Kadoya, whose whereabouts were exposed, had to withdraw from the Shocker organization.

The bad news is: Narutaki discovered Decade.

The good news is that Narutaki did not discover the true origin of "Tsukasa Kadoya".

Thus, Tsukasa Kadoya followed in the footsteps of Shocker's army as they invaded different timelines, arriving in this world first.

Now he stood directly in front of the group of Shockers.

Dr. Death and Ambassador of Hell, who were leading the legion, stopped in their tracks upon seeing this enemy who had opposed the Shocker organization for countless worlds. They gave a wary yet somewhat fearless sneer.

The Shocker army spread out to both sides, opening a passage in the middle as if to welcome them. Then Colonel Zor, carrying a sword and shield and wearing full-body armor, walked out arrogantly!
The face that emerged from the armor and helmet was none other than Narutaki, a face that Tsukasa Kadoya knew all too well.

Narutaki, who was also familiar with the person who stood in front of the Shocker army, stopped, slowly opened his hands holding weapons, and glared at the young man opposite him with a sinister look.

"That damned Decade—"

He grinned maliciously and shouted, "I see you again, Tsukasa Kadoya! You still want to stop me in this world? As my opponent in a different world, it is your honor to die for Shocker's great journey!!"

Upon hearing this, Tsukasa Kadoya raised an eyebrow slightly, chuckled, took out the white Decade Driver and put it on his waist, then drew a card from the Rider Card Box.

The knight card, flipped between the fingers, was printed with a magenta knight emblem.

He curled his lips into a smile and said, "My journey will not end. But Narutaki, your journey will end here, because I will use my death to completely extinguish your grand illusions!"

"No need to thank me too much~"

……

(End of this chapter)