As a weirdo, I like being a Kamen Rider

Lin Chen stepped forward and gently placed the glowing apple in Kota's outstretched palm. The warm touch spread up his fingertips, like holding a beating heart, or the weight of the entire world.

Koutai was slightly lost in thought.

He looked down at the shimmering light in his palm, the golden-red patterns shimmering dreamlike in the sunlight. In a daze, he seemed to hear Yuya's laughter, the familiar dance music in the dance troupe's warehouse, and the rustling of withered leaves in the depths of the Helheim Forest.

He wanted to look up and ask something more, but found—

The cheers and the people in the stands had vanished without me noticing.

A white figure appeared on the awards stage without warning.

Before Kouta could even open his mouth, the figure was already in front of him. Pure white armor and platinum hair shimmered softly in the still air—it was the Man of the Beginning. He raised his hand, his fingertips touching Kouta's forehead.

In an instant, countless images flooded into his mind. The erosion of Helheim Forest, the truth about the Golden Fruit, the conspiracy of the Light Gold, the destruction of Fimsims, and... that rewritten future. Time seemed to lose its meaning at this moment, as if only a moment had passed, yet as if a long century had gone by.

When Kouta opened his eyes again, his demeanor was completely different. Those eyes, once burning with innocent fervor, now held a depth of wisdom and understanding that transcended time. He looked at the Man of the Beginning before him, his voice so soft it was as if he were afraid of disturbing something:

"So that's how it is... Was everything predetermined? I didn't expect to fail again this time."

“This isn’t a failure,” the Man of Beginning said, a gentle smile in his emerald eyes. “There’s still time… fifty years. Lin Chensang has bought us fifty years, so we can still be with our families.”

Kouta remained silent for a moment, then looked down at the still warm golden fruit in his palm, a relieved smile slowly appearing on his lips.

“Is that so…” he said softly, “Perhaps, this is a good ending.”

He raised his head, looked directly into the face that was exactly like his own, yet seemed separated by a thousand miles, and nodded solemnly:

"Then... the future is in your hands."

The Man of Beginning laughed. His smile was gentle, as if he had finally unloaded some long-held burden. His form began to disintegrate, transforming into countless pure white light particles that spun and danced in the still air before finally merging into Kouta Kuzuha's body.

The light dissipated.

The cheers in the stadium hadn't returned, but the world began to flow again. Kouta stood on the podium, slowly raising his head, his gaze falling on the figure standing beside him.

Lin Chen looked at him, a slight smile playing on his lips: "It seems you've already understood everything."

Kouta Kuzuha nodded. He didn't speak, but simply gripped the golden fruit in his palm, his eyes firm and calm.

"Good that you understand. You only have fifty years. By then, Helheim will once again encroach upon the world... and then you will need to take it with you and leave."

"Now then—enjoy the victory."

As soon as the words were spoken, the world was filled with sound again.

The cheers of 100,000 people surged back like a tidal wave, confetti and streamers flew everywhere, and the sunlight illuminated the entire stadium. The members of the Gaim team rushed up from all directions. Jonouchi was the first to hook his arm around Kouta's neck, Hatsuse laughed and pushed him from behind, and then countless hands tossed him high into the air.

"Kouta! We are the champions!"

"The Golden Fruit! We got it!"

"Long live the captain!"

His body rose and fell through the air, the sky above him blindingly blue. Kota wanted to laugh, but a warm, bittersweet feeling welled up in his throat. He shouted, "Put me down!" but his voice was swallowed by cheers.

It wasn't until the third time he was tossed up that the crowd, amidst his almost pleading cries, laughed and gently placed him back on the ground.

He staggered, and before he could regain his balance, a familiar figure had already walked up to him.

High dance.

She still held a cheerleading pom-pom in her hand, and a Team Gaim logo sticker was on her cheek. Sunlight fell into her clear eyes, making them look like they were filled with tiny pieces of gold. She tilted her head back and softly called out:

"Kōta".

Kouta Kazuha looked at her and suddenly froze.

Those eyes no longer held the simple joy of victory.

"dance……"

Kota opened his mouth, but could only utter a single syllable before he could no longer speak.

Gao Siwu smiled. She reached out and gently grasped the hand that held the golden fruit, their fingers intertwined. The warm touch from her palm felt like a silent vow.

"Yes," she replied softly. "I'm here."

......

night.

The colorful rays of the sunset continued to fall silently, filtering through the floor-to-ceiling windows on the top floor of the World Tree Foundation building and casting dreamlike spots of light on the floor. Wu Daogui pushed open the door to Zhanji Lingma's office; the cold white operating lights were still on, illuminating the room as if it were daytime.

Sengoku Ryoma slumped over his desk, his eyes behind his glasses closed, his breathing steady and deep. Sid slumped on the sofa, still clutching the cherry energy lock seed in his hand. Minato Yoko leaned back in her swivel chair, her tablet slid to her knees.

All three fell into a deep sleep. Or rather, they were pulled into a dream by some force.

Takato walked slowly to Ryoma's side, his gaze falling on the Genesis Driver on the table. The silver-white device gleamed coldly in the sunset light; it was the "evolution" that Ryoma had pursued throughout his life.

He reached out, his fingertips touching the cool surface of the driver, and paused for a moment.

Then, slowly retract.

He let out a soft sigh, as if bidding a final farewell to this once like-minded subordinate. He turned and left, gently closing the door behind him, sealing everything away in silence.

……

Helheim Forest.

A rainbow of light pierced through the thick mycelium and clouds, gently scattering across the ruins of Fimsim. Emerald lay before the throne of Whiteia, its deep green exoskeleton riddled with cracks, its emerald compound eyes dull and lifeless, and a force pierced its chest, its energy slowly draining away.

Bai Ya slowly rose from his throne, his pure white armor gleaming with an almost sacred light in the rosy glow. He lowered his head, looking at the warrior who had followed him for countless years, his face beneath the hood expressionless, and simply raised his hand.

Several guards emerged from the shadows and silently stopped beside Emerald.

Bai Ya waved his hand.

The guards bent down, lifted Emerald's body, and walked deeper into the ruins. There lay the final resting place of the Fimsim people.

I thought you would keep him.

Lin Chen emerged from behind the broken stone pillar, his dark golden pupils gleaming faintly in the gloom. He watched the guards' departing figures, then looked at the solitary white figure beside the throne.

Bai Ya didn't turn around. He tilted his head back, his eyes beneath the hood reflecting the colorful sky that didn't belong to the Helheim Forest:

"The ultimate victor has been chosen. Fimsim... has a new future."

He paused, then slowly sat back on his throne, the white ribbons swaying gently in the rosy light.

"And in the future, there will be no need for someone with such an ambitious nature as him."

Chapter 289 The New World

In an abandoned town filled with dilapidated houses and abandoned buses, a group of Kamen Riders are fighting.

"Forget about becoming knights." The bull-headed knight slowly raised his fist, dark purple energy flowing along his knuckles. "That way, at least things won't get any worse."

Before he finished speaking, his figure shot forward. His target was very clear—he went straight for the weakest person.

"Sister!" The raccoon-headed knight was shocked and immediately stepped in front of the flower raccoon-headed knight, taking the punch from the bull-headed knight.

A dull thud echoed as the Tanuki Knight felt a tremendous force, sliding several meters backward before regaining his balance. Just one punch had left his arm numb.

"Things won't go as you wish!" the Tanuki Knight said through gritted teeth.

"Then don't wish for anything!" The Minotaur's voice was icy and chilling. "It is precisely because humans are always greedy and make wishes that they bring misfortune upon themselves!"

"I will save all the victims!" The tanuki charged forward again. "I will never back down from this wish!"

However, his punches and kicks were like scratching an itch through a boot, causing no effective damage; while every blow from the minotaur caused sparks to fly from his armor.

“You’re only creating more victims!” the Minotaur Knight said as he fought. “One day, all of this will have to end.”

After a few moves, the Tanuki Knight was kicked away by the Minotaur Knight and crashed heavily to the ground, unable to get up for a while.

After dealing with the Tanuki Knight, the Minotaur Knight approached the Flower Tanuki Knight again. He raised his right hand high, and a dark purple claw extended out. If this strike were to land, the Flower Tanuki Knight would likely be forced back into human form.

"stop!"

The Black Cat Knight charged forward fearlessly, shielding the Flower Fox Knight with his own body. The Minotaur Knight's claws slammed into the Black Cat Knight's back, sparks flying.

"Ugh—!" The Black Cat Knight let out a painful groan and staggered a few steps.

"Miss Neon!" The Flower Fox Knight quickly helped her up.

However, this attack still caused Black Cat Knight and Flower Fox Knight to revert to their transformed forms. The two collapsed to the ground, looking utterly disheveled.

The Minotaur Knight slowly walked up to the two men, bent down, and reached out to pull the ID Cores from their respective drives. The two cores glowed faintly in his hands.

“If you don’t become knights, at least your lives won’t be in danger.” The minotaur knight looked at the two men, his tone complex. “Besides that, what else do you want?”

His fingers began to tighten, and the ID core emitted a cracking sound as it struggled under the strain.

"No!" the Black Cat Knight cried out, struggling. "I still have... things I haven't finished..."

“Me too…!” the Flower Fox Knight chimed in. She hadn’t yet seen her brother’s wish come true, nor had she yet lived a peaceful life with him.

Upon hearing their words, the Minotaur Knight's grip on his fingers tightened slightly. He remained silent for a moment, seemingly hesitating about something. But in the end, he closed his eyes.

"—Don't be a knight anymore."

Click.

Two crisp cracking sounds rang out almost simultaneously. The Na-Go core of the Black Cat Knight and the Hakubi core of the Flower Fox Knight were completely crushed in the hands of the Minotaur Knight.

The moment the core shattered, two beams of light escaped from it. The bodies of the Black Cat Knight and the Flower Fox Knight began to turn transparent, transforming into countless particles of light that slowly dissipated.

"elder sister--!"

The raccoon knight, not far away, let out a heart-wrenching scream. He struggled to get up, but his body was too weak, and he could only watch helplessly as his sister turned into specks of light and disappeared before his eyes.

"Don't worry." The Minotaur Knight turned to the Tanuki Knight, his voice icy. "Soon, I'll send you to join them."

Behind the broken walls of the abandoned town, Lin Chen stood with his hands in his pockets on the roof of an overturned wrecked bus, taking in the entire farce from above—the Minotaur Knight crushed the core, the two girls turned into particles of light and dissipated, and the Tanuki Knight's heart-wrenching screams reached his ears.

Why not save them?

The evolutionary memory was slightly warm in his arms, and the cool voice of Earth consciousness resonated directly in his mind.

Lin Chen remained silent for a moment, his gaze still fixed on the raccoon knight kneeling on the ground below, trembling all over.

“Although I still don’t know exactly what’s going on,” he said calmly, “after watching for so long, I have a pretty good idea.”

He paused, a cold smile curving his lips.

"It's nothing more than a group of people driven by desire, fighting each other for their own wishes. Since they chose to step onto this stage and bet their lives on that tiny core, they should be prepared to lose and be shattered to pieces."