As a weirdo, I like being a Kamen Rider

He gazed at the distant, shattered city engulfed in flames of war: "The power of the Bataan Empire is far greater than you Heisei Knights imagine. Showa Knights fought them for years, and no one knows the terror of that force better than us. In a direct confrontation, we have no chance of winning."

It had already been forever nailed to the realm of the dead by the efforts of generations of Showa knights!

He turned around, his gaze piercing: "And your Heisei Knights' attachment to the dead, your obsession with the departed, is like an invisible chisel, forcefully carving a rift between the realms of life and death. It was along these rifts that Bataan climbed back from the underworld to the mortal realm."

"As for why we don't join forces with you Heisei Knights?" Murasame Ryo sneered, "That's absolutely impossible. What you see as a sorrowful longing, we see as the source of calamity."

He raised his hand and pressed it to his chest. "That's why I became the Dark Ambassador, climbing step by step to where I am now. There's only one purpose: to find the core of the Mega Reverse and destroy it when it activates."

But Bataan is too well hidden. Even I, as a nominal cadre, have only been circling on the periphery. I haven't been able to touch the actual device itself yet.

Lin Chen didn't think much of Murasame Ryo's undercover plan, but he keenly caught a certain word in his words: "Wait... you said 'lingering feelings'?"

"Yes."

"Can mere lingering affection create a passage connecting the world of the dead and the world of the living?" Lin Chen's voice was filled with undisguised skepticism. "If lingering affection truly had such power, this world would have been submerged by the torrent of the dead long ago."

How many people mourn the dead every day? Don't you Showa Knights have anyone who wants to be resurrected?

Murasame Ryo fell silent, and when he spoke again, his voice was heavier: "Hmph, if it's just nostalgia, of course it's impossible!"

But a strange power resides within you Heisei Riders, a power that can imbue 'wishes' with incredible strength. This power has even given birth to Fifteen, the Dark Rider.

He spoke slowly and deliberately, emphasizing each word: "As long as you Heisei Knights exist, even if you manage to destroy Bataan this time, a second or third Bataan will be born from your desires and obsessions."

This is the real reason we cannot join forces with you. We need to eradicate not only Bataan, but also the potential within you to breed endless disaster.

"So that's how it is! We were wondering why this world was so strange, but we couldn't find the reason. It's truly a mysterious force!" Two figures suddenly appeared not far from Lin Chen and Murasame Ryo.

Chapter 242 Heisei VS Showa

Two figures slowly emerged from the shadows of the tall building.

Walking in front was a somewhat androgynous young man with a hair clip, wearing a dark green vest and a white shirt. He held a blank book with a brown cover in his hand, and had that familiar faint smile on his lips. It was Philip.

The man, half a step behind, wore a well-tailored white suit, with the collar of his black shirt slightly open, and his gaze beneath the wide-brimmed hat was calm and unwavering.

Unlike the "half-baked" guy in this world who would kick the trash can, this Shotaro Satoh walks with a composure that comes from years of experience.

"Hey, Lin Chen, we meet again." Philip raised his hand and casually waved at Lin Chen.

Lin Chen smiled slightly: "It's you guys... Shotaro and Philip."

“This request is really troublesome!” Shotaro adjusted his hat, his gaze sweeping over the ZX belt around Murasame Ryo’s waist before returning to Lin Chen. “Decade said that the world is as messy as a tangled ball of yarn, and he wants us to help him find the loose end.”

We investigated for a long time; fragments of one world after another piled up here as if drawn by a magnet, but we still couldn't find what that 'magnet' was.

Philip closed the book in his hands: "Until just now, when this gentleman mentioned 'wishes' and 'longing'—we finally locked onto the key words. The power of the Heisei Riders to transform longing into reality is a manifestation of the collective unconscious."

"Of course, this isn't just the wish of the Heisei Riders; there's a more mysterious force binding them together." After saying this, Philip's gaze turned directly to a certain direction, where the battle between the Heisei and Showa Riders was unfolding.

The leaden clouds hung low, and the wind whipped up sand and gravel across the open space of the central square.

At opposite ends of the open space, fourteen figures faced each other, the air seemed to be kneaded by an invisible giant hand, and the wind howled in waves.

Hongo Takeshi's voice still echoed in the open space: "Your obsession with the dead is the anchor point that tears the rift between the two worlds in Bataan. Only by severing this attachment can we protect the present world."

Kouta Kazuha held the Ootengu in his hand, his brows furrowed beneath his armor. Behind him, Tsukasa Kadoya leaned casually against his card-shaped sword.

Beside Kamen Rider 1, the Showa Riders are poised to strike.

“Obsession is not a sin.” Kouta Kazuha raised his head, his voice clear yet firm. “Wanting to protect the people who are important to you, wanting to see them again, is never wrong.”

Previously, he had developed a dislike for fighting due to the death of Black RX, but the subsequent deaths of one knight after another, coupled with Hiiragi's abduction, made him realize that he could no longer escape. Kaito Kamen was right; this was the real battle.

Hongo Takeshi didn't say anything more, but slowly raised his right hand.

Without further orders, the Showa faction moved first. Seven figures shot forward like arrows, whistling through the air; the Heisei Seven Riders met them at the same time, and the war between the two generations of knights erupted on this open ground.

Number 2 in the front row took the lead, twisting his waist with his right fist and sending it straight at Gaim's face.

Gaim parried the blow with a horizontal slash, the blade vibrating with a hum, his feet leaving two deep gashes on the concrete. Before he could absorb the force, V3 had already closed in from the side, his elbow striking Gaim's ribs.

Joker sidestepped V3's attack, slamming his fist into the opponent's shoulder armor with a dull thud.

Number 2 changed his move and punched Joker. Gaim immediately spun around to defend and used Daimonmaru to slash at Number 2's waist and abdomen, forcing him to step back and block.

The two men, positioned on the left and right, barely managed to withstand the first wave of attacks from the two Showa-era knights.

On the other side, the chain on the knight's right arm swept out with a whoosh, wrapping around Kiva's ankle.

Kiva leaped into the air, his Garuru Saber slashing horizontally across the chains, sparks flying from the blade.

BLACK used the cover to charge in from the front, his punches steady and tricky, each one aimed straight for the vital joints, forcing Kiva to parry with his knife.

The knight retrieved his chains, circled behind Kiva, and swung his mechanical fist straight at his back. Kiva spun around at the sound, deflecting the mechanical fist with his saber, but took a solid chop to the shoulder from BLACK, staggering back two steps.

"left!"

Decade's voice rang out. He parried the X-shaped slash with his card-wielding sword, flipped his wrist to switch the card-wielding mode to gun mode, and fired two shots at Amazon's feet.

Amazon roared and leaped aside, her claws grazing Wizard's mask. Wizard's ring flashed, and a half-foot-thick ridge of rock rose from the ground, barely blocking Amazon's attack. Amazon then swung her claws and smashed the rock, splattering Wizard with fragments.

Using the Eagle Alliance's leaping power, OOO leaped out, his tiger claws grabbing the back of the Knight's neck, freeing Kiva from danger.

Without turning his head, the knight wrapped the chain around OOO's wrist; OOO retracted his claws and changed his move, kicking the knight in the chest with a locust leg, sending him staggering back three steps. Just as he was about to pursue, X suddenly appeared from the side, delivering a straight kick to the waist and abdomen.

OOO twisted to avoid it, and with a backhand slash, three shallow marks appeared on X's armor.

The Showa Knights' teamwork was far more seamless than anticipated. The instant X entangled OOO, the Knight had already silently circled to the side, the chain moving silently towards OOO's ankle. By the time OOO realized it, it was too late; the chain tightened abruptly, pulling him off balance.

X seized the opportunity, slamming his shoulder into OOO's chest, followed by a powerful, swift kick that slammed into OOO's abdominal armor. OOO was sent flying, crashing heavily to the ground. He tried to get up, bracing himself on his arms, but the knight's mechanical fist was already upon him.

An explosion rang out, and OOO's figure instantly transformed into a Lockseed and vanished.

With OOO's departure, Kiva's pressure has increased dramatically.

BLACK's frontal punches continued unabated, while the Knight restrained him with chains from the side. V3 also broke free from the Joker's entanglement, his windmill knife grazing Kiva's wing. Seeing this, Faiz immediately withdrew, his photon sword slashing diagonally at V3's back, forcing V3 to turn and block.

“Go help him,” Faiz said, lunging forward at breakneck speed. His blade clashed with V3’s arm blade, sparks flying. Joker seized the opportunity to retreat to Kiva’s side, and the two of them, one on each side, faced BLACK and the Knight.

On the other side of the battlefield, Decade and Number 2 had already engaged in close combat. Number 2 parried with his fists, his powerful punches sending shivers down Decade's wrists.

Decade drew a card and swiped his belt, his figure splitting into two afterimages as he attacked from three sides simultaneously. Number 2 remained calm, his footwork shifting as he unleashed a flurry of punches. Two straight punches shattered the afterimages, and the third punch landed precisely on Decade's real shoulder armor.

Decade used the momentum to flip backward, and the Card Sword switched to gun mode again, closing in on the opponent's chest and pulling the trigger repeatedly. Number 2 raised his arm to block in front of his chest, the bullets only leaving white marks on the armor, but instead of retreating, he advanced with the force of the impact, kneeing Decade straight into the abdomen.

Decade grunted and slammed the back of his sword into Number 2's nape. Both of them staggered back half a step, their armor now bearing scratches.

Amazon continues to relentlessly pursue Wizard.

He attacked without any strategy, relying entirely on wild ferocity, using claws, elbows, and teeth in turn, relentlessly harassing the Wizard at close range. The Wizard was so stuck that he couldn't free his hands to cast spells, and could only rely on his shield and agility to dodge, already taking several blows to the shoulder and side.

He seized the opportunity during Amazon's attack, lightly tapping the ground with his fingertips, and ice spread along the soles of her feet. Amazon slipped, her body swaying, but she used the momentum of her forward lean to crash into Wizard, her shoulder slamming into his chest.

Wizard was sent flying backward, his back slamming into a concrete pillar, which cracked with a sharp sound. He slid down the wall, but before he could catch his breath, Amazon was already pouncing on him again.

Hearing the commotion behind him, Faiz was about to rush back to help when V3's arm blade slashed horizontally. He ducked to dodge, the blade counter-attacking Faiz's wrist. V3 then retracted his arm and changed his move, striking Faiz in the back with his elbow.

The two engaged in close combat, exchanging punches and kicks, the dull thuds of clashing armor creating a continuous chorus. X delivered a straight kick to Faiz's side; Faiz dodged, but V3's fist was already at his face.

Facing attacks from three sides, Kiva charged in from the other side, and Garuru's saber forced X's offensive back.

“I’ll help you.” Kiva growled, turning to face V3, their claws clashing against each other. Faiz breathed a sigh of relief and was about to adjust his position when he caught a glimpse of Amazon’s claws already landing on Wizard’s head.

He rushed forward almost instinctively, shoving Wizard aside with his shoulder and taking the brunt of Amazon's claws. A burst of sparks exploded from his chest.

Faiz grunted and slashed horizontally with his blade, forcing Amazon to take two steps back.

"Thanks." Wizard steadied himself, the magic ring on his finger glowing faintly, and several icicles shot up from the ground, blocking Amazon's movement. Faiz held his blade in front of him, and the two of them, one on the left and one on the right, finally managed to stabilize the situation for the time being.

BLACK and the Knight teamed up to force Joker back, leaving Joker with nowhere to retreat against the decorative pillars of the plaza. The Knight used his chains to entangle the pillars, leaping into the air and delivering a powerful knee strike to Joker's face.

Joker raised his hand to block, and the concrete beneath his feet sank half an inch. At the same time, BLACK charged forward from the front, his knight's fist aimed straight for his heart. Joker dodged to the side, the fist grazing his mask, but before he could counterattack, the knight's chains were already wrapped around his wrist.

The chain yanked sharply, sending Joker staggering forward as Black's powerful kick struck him squarely in the stomach. Joker flew through the air, landing heavily on the ground and sliding a considerable distance. Another explosion rang out, and a second Lockseed appeared.

With Joker's defeat, the Heisei side has fallen into a complete disadvantage.

The knight immediately turned to support V3, and three figures entangled Kiva, using fist blades and chains in turn.

Kiva's demon form was fierce, but it couldn't withstand the combined efforts of the three, and was gradually forced to defend rather than attack.

Seeing this, Decade wanted to help, but before he could take a step, Number 2's fist blocked his way.

"Your opponent is me." Number 2's voice was deep, but his punches became even more ferocious. Decade gritted his teeth, his card-shaped swords flashing like a dense, impenetrable blade, and the two clashed once again.

Wizard's magic was almost depleted. Faiz was also exhausted, his punches were much weaker, and he was forced to retreat step by step by X.

...

The battle in the square grew increasingly fierce, and the knights retreated one by one.

Finally, the duel between Decade and #2 came to an end. The Card Box Sword was smashed away by #2's punch. The two simultaneously charged up and leaped into the air, their Rider Kicks, wrapped in light effects, colliding and sending dust flying everywhere.

As the smoke cleared, the two knelt on one knee, their positions now occupied by two Lockseeds.

The wind stopped.

Gaim stood in the center of the arena, holding the Ootengu. Opposite him, Number 1 slowly withdrew his fist.

In a chaotic seven-on-seven battle, only two knights remained, facing each other across the wrecked arena.

"What, aren't you going to stop it?" Murasame Ryo had already returned to Bataan Fortress to continue his undercover mission. Lin Chen and the W duo watched the battle, which was nearing its end.

To Shotaro's question, Lin Chen simply scoffed: "Why stop it? This kind of drama is rare. Tell me, Shotaro, what's going on in this world!"

"As expected of Lin Jun, you've already discovered the anomalies in this world!" Philip replied.

Chapter 243 The Truth of the World

"So, that's the truth of the matter?" Lin Chen withdrew his gaze and looked towards the center of the plaza. There, Showa's No. 1 and Heisei's Gaim were already exchanging blows, the sharp clang of metal clashing echoing among the ruins.

“That’s right.” Shotaro lowered the brim of his hat, his voice becoming somber.

Before the words were finished, a sickening roar came from the depths of the earth in the distance.

The ground was cracked like a spider web, and a tall, tower-shaped metal building pierced the earth and slowly rose up.

"Foolish Kamen Riders, take a look at this!"

President Bataan's voice, brimming with confidence, resounded throughout the world: "Million Flip Machines, start!"

Gaim, who was fighting Number One, paused, remembering Hiiragi who had been captured. He shook off Number One and turned to rush towards the tower.