As a weirdo, I like being a Kamen Rider

The specially made bullet hurtled through the air. Lin Chen pushed off with his feet, and the extreme burst of his agility made his figure a faint shadow. In the instant he barely dodged the bullet, he flipped his wrist, and his tiger claw struck the nearest man in black with fierce force.

Caught off guard, the man was grazed on the arm by the claw blade, his specially made suit was ripped open with a large gash, the flesh turned inside out, and blood gushed out instantly. He staggered back several steps.

Seeing this, the other five immediately adjusted their formation, and the bullets were so dense that they blocked all angles of evasion. Lin Chen curled up, and the silver-black scales on his shoulders and back withstood two bullets. The crisp sound of metal colliding rang out, leaving only shallow white marks on the scales, but it still made his blood surge.

Those guns seemed to have some kind of restraint on the power of the Orphnoch. Every time he was hit, he felt a sharp pain. If this continued, he would eventually be defeated because he was outnumbered.

The only way to survive is to break out.

A deep tiger roar escaped from Lin Chen's throat. The sound was not overwhelming, but it carried the unique intimidation of a high-level species, causing the man in black to hesitate slightly.

In that split second, he leaped off the wall, his tiger claws slashing at the gap in the encirclement. A man in black reacted, raising his gun to aim at his back. The bullet grazed his side, sending a burning pain through him, but Lin Chen didn't dare to stop. Using the momentum, he smashed through the fence, seemingly about to escape the abandoned warehouse.

But just then, Kurosawa made a move.

The figure in the white suit moved with uncanny speed, a black energy whip appearing in his hand at some unknown time, its tip crackling with purple electricity. He lashed it out from mid-air and slammed it hard into Lin Chen's back.

With a loud "bang," lightning exploded, and Lin Chen trembled. The silver-black scales on his body instantly dimmed, his claws retracted slightly, and a numbing sensation spread throughout his body along his spine. The Orphnoch power within him receded rapidly like a tide.

He crashed heavily to the ground, his tiger ears disappearing, leaving only aches and numbness all over his body, and he almost lost the strength to lift his hand. Kurosawa slowly walked up to him, his energy whip pressed against his neck, purple lightning crackling, and with just a little force, he could slit his throat.

"A wild tiger-type Orphnoch, indeed a high-level species." Kurosawa's lips curled into a playful smile as he glanced at the values ​​on the detector. "To have such strength in its initial form, it would be a pity to kill it."

He coldly said into the walkie-talkie, "Target subdued, take him back."

Cold metal handcuffs fastened to Lin Chen's wrists. The specially made alloy material seemed capable of suppressing the primal power of the Orphnoch. The moment they touched his skin, the last vestige of power within Lin Chen was firmly locked away. He was dragged and shoved into a black van. The instant the door closed, the last ray of sunlight was cut off, and the darkness inside the van engulfed him like a tide. Only the coldness on his wrists reminded him that he was now a prisoner.

The van drove smoothly, and Lin Chen leaned back in his seat, his mind hazy but he dared not relax for a moment.

He could hear the conversation between Kurosawa and his subordinates in the front row. "High-level tiger-type species," "explosive combat power in the initial form," and "extremely valuable for training"—these words were like shackles, tightly binding him.

He didn't know what awaited him, but he knew that a lifespan of sixteen years was short. If he were kept as an experimental subject, he would probably never have the chance to find the King of Orphnoch, let alone extend his life or find his way home.

The car drove over a smooth paved road, then over a section of gravel road, the bumps becoming increasingly noticeable. Lin Chen was bound to the center of the back seat, with a man in black sitting on either side of him, his arms pressed tightly against his shoulders, as if afraid he might suddenly attack. The specially made alloy handcuffs clung to his skin like blocks of ice.

He tilted his head slightly and looked out through the crack in the car window. The morning mist had long since dissipated, and the sunlight was blindingly white. The trees on both sides of the road rushed past, gradually being replaced by tall walls. The walls were covered with fine barbed wire, and surveillance cameras could be vaguely seen standing around the corners. A sense of oppression and sternness permeated the air.

The car eventually stopped in front of a huge iron gate.

The iron gate slowly slid open to both sides, revealing a spacious school grounds. Several well-maintained teaching buildings stood in the distance, complete with a playground and basketball courts. If it weren't for the faint scent of Orphnoch in the air, Lin Chen would almost have thought he had been sent to an ordinary full-time high school.

But this is not an ordinary place.

He could clearly sense several strong, unusual fluctuations hidden deep within the campus, four of which were particularly concentrated, carrying an arrogant and oppressive air, like beast kings occupying their territory, coldly watching the intruders.

"get off."

The man in black next to him shoved him roughly.

Lin Chen staggered to the ground, his legs still numb, and the spot on his back where the energy whip had struck him throbbed with pain. His scales had completely retracted under the suppression, leaving only a bluish-purple bruise. He glanced around; there was no school name at the school gate, only an inconspicuous metal sign with a line of English letters engraved on it—Smart Brain.

Kurosawa straightened his slightly disheveled white suit, put away the detector, walked up to him, and spoke in a calm but undeniable tone:

"Welcome to Smart Brain Academy. From today onwards, you are no longer a wandering Orphnoch, but a 'special recruit' here."

Lin Chen's Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and a fierce glint surged in his amber eyes: "What do you want to do to me?"

Chapter 6 Resistance

Lin Chen's Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and a fierce glint surged in his amber eyes: "What do you want to do to me?"

“It’s very simple.” Kurosawa chuckled. “Either you obey and become a member of the academy’s fighting force, and we will protect you, provide you with resources, and even help you slow down the desertification; or you will be treated as an out-of-control sample and completely turned to ash in the back mountain.”

He paused, deliberately emphasizing his words:

"Don't even think about resisting. In this academy, there is equipment specifically designed to suppress you Orphnochs, there are others stronger than you, and there are three ironclad rules that no one can break."

"First, it is forbidden to reveal one's true form in front of human students, and it is forbidden to kill without cause."

"Second, private fights are prohibited, as is challenging the authority of the college administrators."

"Third, all actions must be carried out according to orders, especially the mission to hunt down Kamen Rider Faiz, in which we must cooperate unconditionally."

Lin Chen's expression changed slightly.

Faiz... His current goal is also to find Faiz, which is related to his subsequent plans. The absence of Kikuchi Laundry proves that this is not the Kamen Rider Faiz world that he knows somewhat, but Kamen Rider is still the protagonist.

Kurosawa seemed to read his mind: "You don't need to answer now. You'll make your choice once you've seen the 'Lucky Four-Leaf Clover'."

After saying that, he whispered a few instructions into the walkie-talkie.

Not long after, four figures slowly emerged from the shadows of the teaching building.

The leading boy wore an academy uniform, had light-colored hair, and sharp, tiger-like eyes. He exuded a similar yet more flamboyant aura to Lin Chen—he was also a tiger-type Orphnoch. Behind him were three others, each with a distinct aura: one was sinister and venomous, one was as hard as armor, and one was as arrogant as a pincer. Their auras intertwined, forming an impenetrable net of oppression that directly enveloped Lin Chen.

This is the lucky four-leaf clover.

Lin Chen subconsciously tensed his body, the dormant Orpheus factor within him stirring slightly. Even though he was restrained by handcuffs, the wildness in his bones remained unyielding. Tiger ears on his head almost emerged, and the tips of his claws trembled slightly inside his sleeves.

Momose stopped and looked Lin Chen up and down, her gaze lingering for a moment on the handcuffs on his wrists before returning to his face, her tone filled with undisguised arrogance:

"The wild high-ranking tiger species that Kurosawa mentioned, is it you?"

Lin Chen did not answer, but simply stared back coldly.

This level, even slightly provocative gaze instantly enraged Orphnoch, the centipede inside the four-leaf clover. He stepped forward, a faint gray light emanating from his body, and venomous thorns appeared at his fingertips: "Your senior is asking you a question, don't you understand?"

"Step back," Momose said calmly.

Centipede Orphnoch reluctantly withdrew its hand, but still stared at Lin Chen with a sinister look, as if it were examining a toy that could be disassembled at any time.

Momose walked up to Lin Chen, unleashing her shared Tiger Power without reservation, attempting to completely crush this wild fellow in terms of aura: "Wild guy, I don't care how rampant you are outside, but here you have to abide by the rules. In this academy, human students are a disguise, the Orphnochs are the real deal. And the four of us are the rules here."

"Kurosawa should have told you, there are two paths. Obey, or die."

Lin Chen felt the pressure from the other party and sneered inwardly.

Although both are tiger-type, this Momose in front of him is more like a domesticated beast. He looks imposing, but lacks the ruthlessness honed by wild species on the brink of death. If there were no handcuffs or special attack weapons, he was confident that he could severely injure his opponent within ten moves in a one-on-one fight.

But now, he is at the mercy of others.

"What if I don't choose either?" Lin Chen asked slowly, his voice low and slightly hoarse.

The members of the Clover were all taken aback, clearly not expecting a prisoner to be so defiant.

Momose's smile gradually faded, and her eyes turned completely cold: "It seems that wild species really don't know what respect is."

He raised his hand in greeting.

Two men in black immediately stepped forward, grabbed Lin Chen's arms, and tried to drag him towards the back mountain. The area was densely wooded and filled with a foul atmosphere; it was the academy's secret location for dealing with out-of-control Orphnochs, and once dragged in, there was almost no chance of coming out alive.

Lin Chen exerted his strength instantly.

The suppressed Orpheus factor surged wildly within him, tearing at the wound on his back with excruciating pain, but he paid no heed. His muscles tensed abruptly, and the silver-black scales on his shoulders and back burst forth from the earth once more, gleaming with a cold luster in the sunlight. Tiger ears emerged from the ground, amber pupils narrowed to slits, and a suppressed tiger roar erupted from his chest.

At the same time, a desire arose to devour all the Orphnochs in front of him.

"Roar--"

It wasn't deafening, but it carried the unique soul-intimidating power of a high-level species.

The man in black nearby turned pale and froze instantly. Momose and the others also frowned slightly, feeling a primal and violent aura wash over them, far more ferocious than that of an ordinary Orphnoch.

"Hmm?" A hint of surprise flashed in Momose's eyes. "To be able to unleash such pressure while handcuffed... truly a rare individual among the high-ranking."

Lobster Orphnoch frowned and said, "Senior, we can't hold back. We have to suppress him directly, or something unexpected might happen."

Long Ophiono stepped forward directly, his heavy gauntlets already visible, ready to forcibly subdue him.

Lin Chen knew he couldn't linger in the fight; if the four opponents joined forces, coupled with their special attack weapons, he would have no chance of winning. He suddenly broke free from the restraints of the two men in black, his tiger claws sweeping out, the blades slicing through the air, aimed straight at Momose's face.

He's gambling.

They were betting that the other side wouldn't be willing to destroy a high-level combatant like that.

Momose's pupils contracted sharply, not expecting this wild tiger to dare attack him directly. He hastily raised his hand to block, his arm instantly covered in tiger-shaped scales.

"clang--"

The sound of metal clashing was jarring.

Momose was jolted back three steps, a shallow claw mark appearing on the scales of his arm, and his Orpheus energy surged within him. He stared at Lin Chen in astonishment, unable to believe that the other party still possessed such brute strength even when suppressed.

"Stop him!" Momose shouted.

The centipede Orphnoch immediately attacked, its venomous stinger, infused with paralyzing toxins, aimed at Lin Chen's side. Lin Chen dodged to the side, his claws colliding with the stinger's. The toxins seeped slightly through the impact, causing a tingling sensation on half of his body.

Just then, Kurosawa, who was not far away, raised his hand and a short gun appeared in his hand. The muzzle of the gun glowed with a ghostly blue light that was used to attack Orphnoch.

"Don't move." Kurosawa said calmly. "If you move again, I'll cripple your mobility and make you spend the rest of your life lying on the lab table."

Lin Chen paused.

He could feel the terrifying suppressive force emanating from that gun. If he were hit, his Orpheus factor would be completely disrupted, at best accelerating his sandification, and at worst directly causing him to lose his transformation ability.

The lucky four-leaf clover seized the opportunity to encircle them, with four forces exerting pressure simultaneously.

Lin Chen leaned against the wall and looked around.

With a four-leaf clover in front, Kurosawa and his special attack weapons behind, and several armed men in black all around, their escape route was completely blocked.

Momose approached slowly, her face once again displaying a smile of complete control: "Quite the wildness, quite the power. Unfortunately, you've chosen the wrong place. Now, I'll give you one last chance."

"Join us, follow orders, hunt down Faiz, and clean up the runaway species on campus. You can remain free and move around within the academy."

"Or, refuse."

Momose raised her hand and pointed to the depths of the back mountain: "That's where you'll be buried."

Lin Chen was panting heavily, cold sweat mixed with blood seeping from his back.

He knew he had no choice.

To resist meant instant annihilation. There was no chance to even struggle, let alone find the King of the Orphnochs, or a way to prolong life; returning home became an unattainable dream.

The light in his amber eyes flickered, his wildness gradually subsiding, but not completely extinguished, only sinking into the depths, like a lurking beast.

"I promise you," Lin Chen said slowly.

The tense atmosphere around them instantly relaxed.

Momose nodded in satisfaction: "Very good. Remember your choice, and don't try anything funny. In this academy, there is only one outcome for any betrayal."

He gestured to Kurosawa: "Remove his handcuffs and arrange temporary accommodation for him. He is not allowed to approach the restricted area behind the mountain; he is not allowed to enter or leave the human teaching area at will; and you must respond immediately when Faiz appears."

"As for the other rules, someone will tell you about them gradually."