As a weirdo, I like being a Kamen Rider

Guangshi had no time to dodge and immediately blocked with a horizontal cannon.

With a crisp crack, the immense brute force directly shattered his defensive stance. Long Xuan's knees sank, his right knee slamming into the asphalt and cracking the surface, pinning him to the spot.

Just as Shinku's attention was locked onto Ryugen, a streak of lemon-yellow lightning flashed past from the side and attacked.

With a firm grip on the sonic arrow, the Kaidou of the Excalibur used the blind spot to thrust forward at lightning speed, the tip of the arrow gleaming with sharp energy, aiming straight for Crimson's side.

Without even turning his head, Zhen Hong suddenly unleashed a blinding purple light from the curved corner of his left shoulder.

Crack!

A thick bolt of purple lightning shot out and struck Baron squarely in the chest.

Jie Dou let out a muffled groan, unable to withstand the explosive impact. His lemon-yellow armor instantly turned black and started smoking, and his body flew backward, crashing through a brick wall before being buried by the falling rubble.

"Stop fighting!"

Kuzuha Kouta's eyes darkened, and he charged forward quickly, wielding both the Ootengu and the Matchlock Spear. His crimson blade flashed as he unleashed a barrage of attacks, layer upon layer, aimed directly at the Crimson Face Gate.

Crimson finally turned her head, and the greatsword of Hughes blocked the attack.

The deafening clang of metal clashing echoed through the streets. Kota's arms went numb, his tiger's mouth instantly split open and bled, and the overwhelming force pressed down along the sword, causing his feet to slowly sink into the ground.

Is that all there is to it?

His cold, deep voice was devoid of any emotion; pure, overwhelming power was palpable.

He kicked out hard, striking Kamen Rider Gaim squarely in the abdomen. Kazuki's armor emitted a metallic creak as it succumbed to the strain, and Kota slid backward several meters, his shoe sole carving two deep furrows into the ground.

Before he could get up, purple lightning flashed again at his shoulder, and two bolts of lightning slammed down beside him. The shockwave from the explosion knocked Kota to the ground, and amidst the flying dust, he quickly pushed himself up.

The cracks in the sky writhed violently, and a large number of Heim vines poured down, covering the entire sky with eerie dark vines.

Chapter 276 Extreme Lock Seed

Just as Zhan Yue Zhen stood up, he was caught off guard when three flying vines tightly wrapped around his ankles, leaving him hanging upside down in mid-air.

The ground beneath Long Xuan's feet suddenly cracked open, and thick vines burst forth from the soil, instantly wrapping around his arms and waist, binding him firmly in place, unable to move.

Zhen Hong raised his palm, and a huge, dark purple fireball slowly condensed in his hand. The terrifying heat swept in all directions, distorting the air itself. He casually tossed it, and the fireball, trailing a sharp whistling sound, aimed directly at the trapped Long Xuan!

"Guangshi!" Guihu shouted sternly.

Wu Daoguang's pupils contracted sharply, and he twisted his body with all his might to dodge. The fireball grazed his shoulder armor and exploded with a bang, the surging flames instantly engulfing his figure. The blast wave sent him flying along with the vines, and when he landed, his armor was covered with charred marks.

Boom—

One side of the ruins exploded with a deafening roar, sending rubble flying. Kijutsu Keito broke free from the debris. He transformed into a sonic arrow, his pupils beneath his armor filled with defiant stubbornness.

"It's not over yet!"

Mid-air, Zanpakuto Shin broke free of the vines with a burst of power. Ryugen staggered to his feet, enduring excruciating pain as he set up the Grape Dragon Cannon. Kuzunoha Kouta's Fire Rope Orange Cannon was ready.

KACHIDOKI FULL BURST!

SONIC VOLT!

Grape Burst!

LEMON ENERGY SPARK!

The four colors of energy—red, green, purple, and yellow—surrounded each other from four corners and slammed into Crimson!

A massive explosion engulfed the entire block, flames soared into the sky, and the deafening roar shook the earth violently. The shockwave cleared away all debris within a hundred meters, shearing a layer of ground away, and billowing smoke obscured the sky.

The smoke of battle slowly dissipated.

At the very center of the explosion, the dark purple figure remained standing still.

Crimson slowly lowered the greatsword she had been using to parry. Her exoskeleton armor was spotless, with only a little dust on the surface and not even a shallow scratch.

He lowered his gaze to the four knights who had fallen to the ground, their breaths disordered. A lazy purple arc of electricity flickered at the corner of his shoulder, and a contemptuous sneer rang out, unusually clear in the deathly silence of the battlefield.

"Powerless."

His cold voice was utterly indifferent, filled with a condescending air.

"So weak, yet you dare to oppose Fimsim?" He slashed at the four men with his backhand, and a crescent-shaped energy blade blasted them away.

From the shadows of the broken building on the other side of the street, Lin Chen watched the four people crushed below. The air around him distorted slightly, and a white-armored, blond-haired figure silently appeared.

"Why won't you let me take action?" Lin Chen asked coldly. "If I don't act now, your 'past' will be crushed."

The Man of Beginning gazed at Kouta Kuzuha, who was struggling amidst the ruins, his emerald green eyes devoid of any emotion: "It's not time yet."

"What do you mean?"

"Desperate situations breed transformation." The Man of Beginning's voice was soft. "The serpent has been waiting for this moment. When it is truly cornered, DJ Sagara will appear and hand over that forbidden power to him. And that is the most important thing."

Lin Chen narrowed his eyes: "I see. Extreme Armor, huh? That must be the power of the incomplete Golden Fruit that the snake obtained from Bai Ya."

“That’s right.” The Man of Beginning finally turned his head, his platinum hair swaying gently in the scorching wind. “So you must take it away before he uses it. Only then can you replace me and become the new ‘Man of Beginning’.”

Lin Chen was silent for a moment, then a cold smile appeared on his lips: "I understand!"

Shinku turned away, no longer looking at the four people lying on the ground. He raised his foot, the dark purple sole shattering the ground, and walked towards the terrified crowd fleeing in the distance. With each step, spiderweb-like cracks appeared on the asphalt.

"stop……"

Kouta Kuzuba, bracing himself against his Musou sword, struggled to his feet from the ruins. His crimson armor was covered in scorch marks and dents, and the flag was broken in half, drooping helplessly in the wind. He tried to take a step, but his knees buckled, and he nearly collapsed again.

Crimson ignored him, gathering a dark purple fireball in her palm and casually tossing it toward a building on the side of the street.

boom--!

The three-story building collapsed in the explosion, and smoke and fire engulfed half a block. Screams came from all directions.

“Damn it…” Kouta Kazuha gripped the hilt of his sword tightly. He turned to look behind him and saw Zangetsu Shin kneeling beside a deformed car, Ryugen’s armor emitting blue smoke, and Baron buried under bricks and stones, having just pushed aside a slab of stone.

The four of them joined forces and unleashed their deadly attacks, yet they couldn't even budge their opponent's body.

This gap... seems endless.

Kota Kuzuba gritted his teeth, his matchlock gun trembling in his hand. He wanted to rush forward, but his legs felt like lead. He wanted to protect the people behind him, but all that kept replaying in his mind was the image of Shinku walking unharmed out of the explosion.

what to do……

In the end how to do?

Just as Kouta Kuzuha stood frozen in place, unsure of what to do—

"Hey, buddy."

A flippant voice came from above.

Kouta Kuzuba suddenly looked up. DJ Sagara was sitting cross-legged on a broken lamppost, wearing headphones, his fingers lightly tapping his knees to some nonexistent beat. He tilted his head, a cryptic grin on his face, as if the burning ruins before him were merely a backdrop to some street party.

“You…” Kouta’s pupils contracted, and he gripped the Musou military sword in his hand tightly.

Sagara leaped down, landing lightly in front of him. He stretched out his hand, and in his palm lay a lock-type weapon he had never seen before. It was entirely gilded, with red, green, and purple gemstones inlaid on its surface, and the ancient inscription "LS-∞" engraved in the center. It exuded a kingly aura that surpassed all other weapons.

“Right now, you can’t possibly beat that guy.” Sagara tilted his head, the corner of his mouth curving into an even wider smile. “So… do you need power?”

Kouta Kuzuha stared at the golden lock, but did not immediately take it.

"What is the price?" he asked in a deep voice.

Sagara raised an eyebrow, seemingly surprised, yet also as if he had expected it. His smile faded, and his tone became serious:

"Brother, you're more clear-headed than I thought. That's right, there's no such thing as free power in this world."

He raised his hand, and the gilded lock slowly turned in the firelight.

"This is 'Extreme,' the deepest forbidden power of Helheim. Once you use it, your body will begin to be assimilated by that forest. In the end—"

Sagara paused, his emerald green eyes fixed on Kouta Kuzuha, and said, slowly and deliberately:

“You will become like those Overlords. No longer human, but a resident of Helheim, a part of the forest.”

Kuzuha Kouta's pupils suddenly contracted.

"To become...a monster like Shinku?"

“That’s one way to put it.” Sagara shrugged and tossed the Lockseed forward. The gilded Lockseed arced through the air, landing at Kuzunoha Kouta’s feet. It rolled twice on the charred asphalt before coming to a stop.

"Whether you accept it or not is up to you."

Sagara put his headphones back on and swayed gently to the beat. His figure began to become transparent. "But time is running out, bro."

Kota Kuzuha slowly squatted down and picked up the Lockseed.

The gilded surface felt warm to the touch in his palm, and the three-colored gems shimmered alluringly in the firelight. He looked down at it, then looked up into the distance—Crimson was raising the Huium Greatsword at the fleeing crowd, Zangetsu Shin struggled to get up but fell again, and Ryugen and Baron's armor lay dim and lifeless amidst the ruins.

Using it will protect everyone.

But if I use it... will I still be able to return to the dance troupe? Will I still be able to dance with Mai, Kaito, and Mitsumi?

He gripped the lock-seed tightly. Beneath the crimson armor of the Victory Strike, Kouta Kuzuha gritted his teeth and fell silent.

Just as Kouta Kazuha was holding the gilded lockstone, hesitating, Crimson's roar tore through the street once more. A giant fireball exploded a hundred meters away, and the shockwave, carrying rubble and shards of glass, swept across the area, causing the Katahiro armor to crackle and pop.

Kouta Kuzuha seemed oblivious, simply staring down at the lock-seed in his palm, which shimmered with the light of a three-colored gemstone.

The gilded surface was warm, as if it were pulsating slightly with life.

Remembering what DJ Sagara just said, "You'll become just like those Overlords."

They are not human, but inhabitants of Helheim.

"I..." Kouta Kazuha's throat tightened, his voice coming through the armor, hoarse and unlike his own. He wanted to protect everyone, but if the price of protection was losing everything as "Kouta Kazuha," then what would be left at the end of his protection?

The screams of citizens echoed in the distance, piercing his heart like thorns.

suddenly

Suddenly, a hand reached out from the side, precisely grabbed the gilded lock in his hand, and yanked it out sharply.

Kuzuha Kouta felt his palm suddenly empty, and he froze on the spot. He turned his head in astonishment and saw Lin Chen standing beside him, his dark trench coat fluttering in the scorching wind. He held the stolen Extreme Lock Seed up to his eyes and turned it slightly in the blazing firelight.

"Lin Chensang?!" Kuzuha Kouta exclaimed in surprise, "What are you doing? Give it back to me!"

Lin Chen glanced at him sideways, a smile curving his lips, and clenched his fingers together, taking the lock seed into his palm.

"Give it back to you?" His tone was flat, his gaze sweeping over the raging crimson in the distance. "You've been squatting here with it for ages, too afraid to use it. Are you just keeping it to watch that guy burn the whole city down?"

Kota Kuzuha was taken aback, opened his mouth, but couldn't find any words to refute it.