As a weirdo, I like being a Kamen Rider

Lin Chen leaned against the tree trunk, watching the battle with great interest, but did not immediately make a move.

He could sense that this lizard-like Orphnoch was just an ordinary low-level species, and its strength was not particularly great.

Despite his clumsy movements, Takumi Onoue gradually gained the upper hand thanks to the advantages of the Faiz Armor.

Sure enough, not long after,

Takumi Onoue seized the lizard-type Orphnoch's weakness and, using the armor's strength, punched it hard in the chest.

"Oh!"

The lizard-like Orphnoch was forced to retreat repeatedly, its green scales shattering and black blood seeping from its wounds.

It let out a shrill roar, its body swayed, clearly severely injured and unable to resist, and lay convulsing on the ground.

Tail-up Takumi, panting heavily, walked step by step toward the lizard-shaped Orphnoch.

He raised his hand and ripped off the Faiz cursor from his waist, preparing to insert it into the instruction memory and unleash his ultimate move to finish off his opponent.

It's now!

Lin Chen's eyes turned cold, and he no longer hesitated.

The moment his figure flashed out from behind the tree, the Orpheus factor within his body surged wildly.

Silver-black scales quickly emerged from the sides of the neck and wrists, spreading along the skin to the whole body, making a soft rustling sound.

A sharp claw blade, about an inch long, flicked from his fingertip, gleaming with a chilling light.

Sharp tiger ears stood up from the top of its head, and its amber pupils instantly narrowed into thin slits.

An aura of bestial power belonging to a high-level Orphnoch instantly spread from his body, causing the surrounding vegetation to droop slightly.

In the blink of an eye, Lin Chen completed his transformation into the Tiger Orpheus form.

His figure was like a faint shadow, accompanied by a whistling wind, and he instantly rushed to the open space.

Just as Takumi Ogami inserted the instruction memory into the cursor, he heard a noise behind him and turned around abruptly.

Then he saw a silver and black figure rushing towards him.

The familiar tiger-shaped Orphnoch form made his heart skip a beat.

It was that high-level Orphnoch that I barely managed to escape from in the woods that night using my ultimate move!

He instinctively adopted Faiz's defensive stance, crossing his arms in front of his chest, his whole body tense.

The red photon blood vessels lit up instantly, ready to receive the attack.

But Lin Chen's target was not him.

Just as Lin Chen approached Onoue Takumi, he slightly shifted his body to the side, avoiding his defense.

The tiger's claw, carrying a fierce force, swept across like lightning and slammed hard onto the head of the lizard-like Orphnoch lying sprawled on the ground.

"Oh!"

A dull, loud bang rang out.

The lizard-shaped Orphnoch's head was instantly smashed, and black blood gushed out.

Its body twitched a few times, then quickly turned into sand, turning into a pile of black ashes, which were blown away by the night wind and disappeared without a trace.

[Ding! Defeat a common-level monster (lizard-type Orphnoch), gaining 10 evolution points.]

The system notification sound rang clearly in my mind.

Lin Chen retracted the tiger's claws and slowly turned around.

His amber vertical pupils were fixed on Faiz, without a trace of killing intent in his eyes, but rather a hint of feigned fear.

He is very clear.

Takumi Onoue was afraid of his tiger-type Orphnoch.

If we show the slightest hostility at this moment, it will inevitably trigger a direct conflict, not only exposing our strength but also disrupting our subsequent plans.

Only by feigning fear and making Onoue Takumi believe that he is only hunting Orphnoch and has no intention of being his enemy can he continue to hide his identity and pave the way for the subsequent interception.

Looking into Lin Chen's eyes, Onoue Takumi's tense nerves relaxed slightly.

He still didn't lower his guard, his hand gripping the cursor tightly, watching the tiger-shaped Orphnoch in front of him warily.

He couldn't figure it out.

Why is this high-level Orphnoch here again?

Why would it suddenly attack and kill this lizard-like Orphnoch?

Is it a coincidence?

Or was it premeditated?

Countless questions swirled in his mind.

The man and the monster faced off in the open space.

In the darkness, only their heavy breathing and the rustling of the wind through the leaves could be heard.

After a while.

Lin Chen slowly took a few steps back.

His amber-colored vertical pupils remained fixed on Faiz, tinged with a lingering sense of apprehension.

He then turned around, transforming into a faint shadow and quickly disappearing into the dense forest.

Only a faint, beastly pressure remained, slowly dissipating in the open space.

Only after Lin Chen's figure completely disappeared into the night did Onoue Takumi slowly lower his crossed arms and release his defensive stance.

He took a deep breath; his back was already soaked with cold sweat.

He looked down at the black bloodstain on the ground, then looked up in the direction where Lin Chen had disappeared, his eyes filled with doubt and confusion.

What exactly is the origin of this tiger-shaped Orphnoch?

Why would you let yourself off the hook?

And why would they hunt Orphnochs just like me?

He silently tightened his grip on the Faiz belt at his waist, the silver-black armor gleaming coldly in the night, and turned to walk out of the dense forest.

But after what happened that night, a layer of lingering wariness had been added to his heart.

Deep in the dense forest.

Lin Chen deactivated his tiger-type Orpheus form, and the silver-black scales slowly disappeared, transforming him back into a human.

He leaned against the tree trunk, a satisfied smile curving his lips.

Acquired 10 evolution points.

Chapter 18: Further Exploration, Continuing the Hijacking

The night was as dark as ink. Lin Chen, dressed in his usual black patrol uniform, walked slowly along the stone path around the teaching building, seemingly carrying out his night patrol as usual. However, his peripheral vision kept its eyes fixed on the main teaching building not far away—a full week had passed since his first exploration of the underground area.

During this week, he outwardly performed his duties diligently, following the patrol routes designated by Kurosawa every day, obeying the disciplinary team's orders without question, and even proactively reporting the fluctuations of the Orpheus factor in the patrol area to the sentries, completely dispelling any lingering suspicion Kurosawa had had when he accidentally wandered into the underground area last time. But deep down, his desire to explore the underground area never ceased.

Tonight was the time he had chosen to probe again. Taking advantage of the three-minute gap during the disciplinary team's shift change, Lin Chen slipped into the depths of the grove next to the teaching building, his figure blending into the heavy darkness. Following the route he had taken during his first infiltration, he quietly made his way towards the side door of the main teaching building, but as soon as he got close, his fingertips touched a cold, metallic texture—the wooden door, which had previously been only slightly ajar, was now fitted with a silver-gray electronic lock, its surface flashing a pale blue light, clearly requiring exclusive disciplinary team privileges to unlock.

Lin Chen's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. He didn't attempt anything rashly, but instead quickly circled around to other entrances to the main teaching building. However, both the fire escape at the back door and the side windows on the first floor were either sealed off by thick steel plates or fitted with similar electronic locks, leaving not a single gap. Undeterred, he quietly made his way to the stairwell leading to the underground area. Just as he approached the corner, two cold gazes locked onto him instantly. Two disciplinary guards in black combat uniforms stepped forward, their specially made batons held horizontally in front of them, their tone stern: "This is a restricted area, not a designated patrol route. Leave immediately."

“Team members,” Lin Chen immediately concealed his aura, adopted a respectful demeanor, and raised his hand to indicate that he meant no harm, “I noticed a faint fluctuation of Orphea factor around the teaching building during my patrol. I was worried that an out-of-control species might infiltrate, so I came to check for potential safety hazards. I did not intentionally trespass into the restricted area.”

The two sentries exchanged a glance, their eyes still wary, but they did not obstruct them further. They simply said coldly, "The underground area is not for you to search. Return to your original patrol route immediately and do not linger."

Knowing it wasn't the right time to force his way in, Lin Chen bowed in agreement and turned to leave, but stopped behind a nearby landscape stone, using the shadows as cover. He spread his mental energy to its maximum, quietly observing the area around the main teaching building—the number of sentries at the underground stairwell had increased from one to two, and the patrol frequency of the disciplinary team within a fifty-meter radius of the building had doubled, with a patrol team passing by every five minutes. What concerned him even more was that several Orpheus factor detectors were concealed on the walls of the entire main teaching building, their pale blue detection signals covering almost every corner of the building.

Such tight security was no accident. A flicker of certainty flashed in Lin Chen's amber eyes in the night. Kurosawa's elaborate security upgrade was precisely to prevent outsiders from approaching the underground area, which confirmed his suspicions: the Earth Emperor's Belt, or an equally important secret, must be hidden in the core of the underground area. Suppressing his urgency, he quietly withdrew from the area around the main teaching building and returned to his patrol route. His mind was already racing; next time he infiltrated, he would need a more meticulous plan, figuring out the access permissions for the electronic locks, the shift changes at the sentries, and the blind spots of the detectors.

This week's nights weren't just about exploring the underground area. Orphnochs were rare in the academy; in seven days, Lin Chen only sensed two unusual movements, and on both occasions, he followed the scent to Onoue Takumi.

On one occasion, he even encountered an elite-level Orphnoch. The boy's transformed Faiz still had a bit of awkwardness, but he was much more skilled than when they first met. Every time he fought with Orphnoch, he gave it his all, and every move was aimed at eliminating the threat. Lin Chen was also pleasantly surprised by Onoue Takumi's progress.

Lin Chen remained hidden in the shadows until Ooue Takumi and the Orphnoch were locked in a fierce battle, both severely injured and unable to fight back. Then, Lin Chen appeared in his Tiger Orphnoch form and delivered the final blow, ending the life of the elite Orphnoch.

He intercepted the enemy twice, cleanly and swiftly. After each kill, he immediately retreated, his agile figure flashing into the night, leaving even Onoue Takumi unable to track him. The system notification sounded precisely after each kill—[Ding! Killed an elite-level monster, gained 20 evolution points.]

Two kills yielded a total of thirty evolution points, bringing the total to forty points including the Orpheus he had previously intercepted. Without hesitation, Lin Chen added all of them to his constitution attribute. The numbers on the pale blue system panel instantly refreshed, his constitution attribute jumping from 24/88 to 28/94. A warm current spread through his limbs and bones, significantly improving his physical strength, physical defense, and wound healing speed. His lifespan, including the cost of three Orpheus transformations, also rose to 29 years, the bright red number giving Lin Chen even more confidence.

Longevity has become an obsession for him, which is why he is always committed to improving his physical condition.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Takumi Onoue's heart was already filled with a deep sense of vigilance because of the tiger-shaped Orphnoch that suddenly appeared and then disappeared.

Twitchie had twice hunted Orphnochs within a week, only to be thwarted at the last minute—this was no coincidence. He clearly remembered that the Orphnoch was incredibly powerful, covered in silver-black scales. A single swipe of its claws was enough to easily shatter the skull of a low-ranking Orphnoch. Its movements were also incredibly swift; it appeared silently each time and retreated with unparalleled speed, making it impossible to track. What made him even more suspicious was that this Orphnoch's behavior completely contradicted the habits of its kind—it only killed Orphnochs, never attacking him, Faiz, even during their several close encounters, it never showed the slightest malice.

This apparent lack of malice only fueled Takumi Onoue's growing unease. In this academy controlled by the Orphnochs, nothing was ever left unpunished without a reason. The tiger-shaped Orphnoch's eerie movements and unfathomable strength were like a ticking time bomb planted within the school. Its current inaction towards humans didn't mean it would never attack; once it revealed its malice, its power would undoubtedly bring annihilation to the human students.

As the user of Faiz, Takumi Onoue feels a responsibility to protect those around him, especially Yuri Tomoda. However, he cannot express this protectiveness to anyone, including Yuri.

During the day, the campus remained peaceful, with students strolling in twos and threes along the tree-lined paths, chatting and laughing, completely unaware of the dangers lurking beneath the cover of night. Onoue Takumi, as usual, accompanied Yuri to the photography club for a photoshoot, though occasionally he seemed lost in thought, a barely perceptible seriousness lurking in his eyes.

"Takumi, what's wrong with you lately? You always seem distracted." Yuri Tomoda held her camera, looking at the boy beside her with a puzzled expression. "Last time you said you'd come with me to photograph the sycamore leaves, but you were always lost in thought. Is something bothering you?"

Ogami Takumi snapped out of his daze, immediately concealing the seriousness in his eyes, and gave a faint smile, shaking his head: "It's nothing, I've just been a little tired from classes lately and haven't been getting enough rest."

He could only use such an excuse to brush it off. The secret of transforming into Faiz, the truth about the Orphnochs on campus, and that strange tiger-shaped Orphnoch—these were all too dangerous. He didn't want Yuri to get involved; he just wanted her to live peacefully as an ordinary student, in this false peace.

Yuri looked at him, her eyes filled with doubt, but she didn't ask any more questions. She simply said softly, "Then you must rest well and not overwork yourself."

Onoue Takumi nodded, but his gaze inadvertently swept over Lin Chen, who was patrolling not far away. He only glanced at him briefly before looking away. Although he knew that this man could also use the transformation belt, he was a member of the school's disciplinary team.

Every night, when the academy falls completely silent, Takumi Onoue would carry a backpack containing the Faiz belt and head alone to the most secluded abandoned warehouse on campus. There were no surveillance cameras or informants there, making it the perfect place for him to practice. He would transform into Faiz again and again, practicing punches, kicks, blocks, and dodges, honing his fighting skills and trying to control the power of his photon blood more precisely, making the release of his special moves increasingly skillful.

The warehouse floor was covered with fist marks and footprints of varying depths, and the metallic clang of armor clashing against the walls echoed repeatedly in the night. Sweat soaked his clothes, and the weight of the armor made his shoulders ache, but he never stopped.

The daytime perfunctory work is to protect the safety of those around me, while the nighttime arduous training is to deal with unknown potential threats.

He wasn't fighting the tiger-shaped Orphnoch, nor was he trying to prove his strength; he was simply making thorough preparations. If the tiger-shaped Orphnoch were to suddenly reveal its malice and attack the humans on campus, he hoped he would be strong enough to stop it, protect Yuri, and protect his innocent classmates.

As night deepened, the clanging of metal still echoed in the abandoned warehouse, and the silver-red armor gleamed with a resolute light in the dim moonlight. Not far away, on the tree-lined path, Lin Chen continued his patrol, his fingertips tracing the five-cent coin inside his collar, a simmering calmness hidden in his eyes.

One human, one freak, one in the light, one in the shadows—both are silently gathering strength for the impending storm. Beneath the calm surface of Smart Brain Academy, undercurrents are already surging, waiting only for a trigger to erupt completely.