The Strange Cat from Fuuto

As the two forces, one red and one blue, clashed, Miku and Baiya were locked in a fierce battle, neither willing to yield.

"Crackling..."

The stone wall between the thrones was the first to succumb to the force, cracking in the aftershocks of their collision.

A fierce glint flashed in Miku's eyes, but when he saw Baiya's power enveloping and protecting Ichi from the aftershocks of their power, a complex emotion flickered in his eyes.

Miku then withdrew his power first, and Baiya, seeing this, did not continue to unleash his power, but instead restrained it as well.

"What exactly do you want, Bai Ya!"

"I only want you to obtain that power. This idea came to me the moment I saw you and during our conversation." Bai Ya placed his horse-slaying sword on the ground, a hint of weariness appearing in his eyes. He plopped down on the throne, his tone tinged with an indescribable exhaustion: "I've been in this position long enough. I'm tired, and I'm fed up!"

“Especially after she left, I feel that living is a burden to me!” Bai Ya walked over to his wife’s coffin and stroked the relief on it, his voice filled with nostalgia: “I made a mistake once, and I made a mistake a second time after she left.”

“But I don’t want to make the same mistake a third time!” Bai Ya turned to look at Miku with burning eyes. “You are the first person I’ve met who isn’t tempted by the Golden Fruit and can rationally view this power.”

"I think that someone like you might not repeat the mistakes I made. Especially after asking you what you thought through the snake's mouth, I'm even more certain!"

"You are the most suitable successor to my legacy!"

Sensing the determination in Bai Ya's words, Miku gave a wry smile and deactivated his transformation. "I really have no interest in the Golden Fruit, especially since it's just a quagmire for me!"

"But if you want to save your companion and that girl, this is your only option."

"After going around in circles, we've come full circle!"

Chapter 57: Welcome to the simple and honest city of Sawame!

"After going around in circles, I never expected to end up back where I started!"

The cat sighed and lowered its head. It really had no intention of getting involved in the battle for the Golden Fruit, nor did it have any desire to get its hands on it.

Wouldn't it be great if he could gain the power of the Heisei Riders through the Flaming Cross?

Getting involved in the battle for the fruits of victory is tantamount to driving oneself to the brink of destruction. Once involved, there will be no clear outcome unless it's a fight to the death.

Even though the TV series didn't show the cruel side, the struggle for power and authority has always been bloody since ancient times.

Not to mention, Miku had no intention of competing with Sha Cheng. He figured it was better to let Ao Jiao fight him to the death over the Golden Fruit.

Moreover, Miku has already shown his face to Sha Cheng a few times and done him a favor a few times.

But he never expected that Bai Ya would set a trap for him. His feelings for Sugar were very complicated; on one hand, he sympathized with her plight, and on the other hand, he couldn't help but develop feelings for her after spending time together.

But now this little girl has accepted the power of the Golden Fruit because of her own wishful thinking.

Even if it's only half, it's already a path of no return!

If it were for her own sake, Miku wouldn't care whether she lived or died, but it's a different story when it involves him.

"Alright, alright, alright, since you insist, I'll participate!"

Miku sighed again and lowered his head, but his mind was racing, trying to figure out the perfect way to break the deadlock.

But no matter how hard I try, I can't come up with a solution!

The cat, feeling agitated, flicked its tail, the movement producing a sharp, cracking sound like a whip striking the air.

Bai Ya quietly watched Miku without saying a word. Under his design, maintaining the status quo was already quite an achievement; if he said anything more, the cat would really go berserk.

"what!!!"

After a frantic roar, Miku vanished from the throne room. Baiya watched the cat's departing figure in silence for a moment before sighing, "Don't hate me, this is your fate."

"The moment you saw the golden fruit, it was all predetermined!"

......................

In Sawame City, a desolate and dilapidated city, it is difficult to find a single person.

As time passed, food and water supplies in the entire city were rapidly dwindling, not to mention medicine.

Nowadays, residents of Sawame are risking their lives for a single pack of anti-inflammatory drugs, and death is happening every day, every moment.

Sha Cheng brought Gao Siwu along with the intention of finding someone to inquire about the current situation, but as they went deeper into the area, their expressions became increasingly solemn.

"No wonder he didn't want to hurt anyone back then."

Silly Orange stood on the familiar yet unfamiliar street, talking to himself. Gao Siwu beside him looked panicked and clung tightly to Silly Orange's clothes.

Vines crisscrossed the ground, and fruit was everywhere. Even though the Inves had redefined their territories during this time, the risk of being attacked by the Inves still existed.

"Kouta, what should we do now?" Kosei, her small hands tightly gripping the orange shirt, whispered, "You said we should find someone to ask about the situation, but there's no one here right now."

"Xiao Wu, let's look again!"

After patting Gao Siwu's hair, Sha Cheng led her in a certain direction and continued onward.

Little did Silly Orange know that a pair of eyes were fixed intently on the two of them.

After the two people walked away, the owner of the eyes also left.

"Waaaaah..."

A helpless cry suddenly rang out on the street. Upon hearing the cry, Sha Cheng's expression changed, and he hurriedly ran with Gao Siwu toward the source of the cry.

A disheveled little girl, dressed in tattered clothes, stood alone on the street, crying and shouting, her frail figure so helpless.

"Little sister!"

Silly Orange ran to the little girl's side and squatted down. He subconsciously reached out to the little girl, who looked at him with teary eyes and opened her arms for a hug.

"Big brother, I'm so scared!"

"It's okay, it's okay!" Silly Orange comforted the little girl, her eyes darting around. "Where's your mother?"

"Mommy?" The little girl, who had been calming down, burst into tears again upon hearing this.

Gao Siwu looked at Sha Cheng with disgust. This silly thing was just bringing up the very thing she didn't want to talk about!

If her mother were here, would she still be here alone?

The little girl nestled on Sha Cheng's shoulder, crying as she looked Gao Siwu up and down.

When she saw Gao Siwu turn her head to look elsewhere, she flicked her wrist slightly, and a small syringe was flung out, which she then used to stab Sha Cheng in the back.

"Forehead....."

Why do I feel a little dizzy?

Silly Orange suddenly felt a wave of dizziness wash over him, as if he had suddenly stood up after squatting for a long time. All he could see were white specks of light, and his brain was filled with an extremely uncomfortable dizziness.

"Kouta?!"

Seeing that Sha Cheng looked a little off, Gao Siwu went over to her. At that moment, a gust of wind flashed behind her head.

"Oh!"

Gao Siwu fell straight to the ground, blood flowing from the back of her head, down her neck, and onto the ground.

The little girl who had been crying earlier wiped her eyes and looked at the fallen Gao Siwu, saying with dissatisfaction, "You hit her so hard, what if you killed her? If she dies, her flesh won't be fresh!"

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing!"

The young man holding the baseball bat gave the little girl a thumbs-up, his lips curling up to reveal a set of bright white teeth.

"Take these two away quickly, the people at home are starving!"

The little girl pinched Silly Orange's arm and couldn't help but exclaim, "Wow, this guy's arm is really strong!"

"Suitable...."

After exchanging a glance, the two said in unison, "Pan-fried dumplings!"

After the young man and the little girl took the two silly orange cats away, the blue-haired, golden-spotted long-tailed cat watched the two leave through the shortcut, a playful glint in its eyes.

"Is food really that scarce now?"

"Or is it purely... a cannibalistic fetish?"

Miku muttered to himself as he disappeared down the street.

In a bar located in an air-raid shelter, after passing through a long, dimly lit corridor, you'll see a mahogany bar counter.

This bar, once a haven for the downtrodden, has now become a slaughterhouse.

Human slaughterhouse!

A gleaming white hook hangs from the ceiling, and the fireplace, which was originally meant to enhance the style, is now lit up, with red ribs hanging inside.

"What should we do with these two guys?"

The plump cook, wearing a dirty apron around her waist, held two gleaming butcher knives in her hands.

The little girl, sitting at the bar with a cigarette between her fingers, said, "Young man, hold on a minute, and take care of that girl first."

"But I think it's better to deal with this guy first!" After taking a Sengoku Driver out of Sha Cheng's body, the young man also took out a few Lockseeds.

"Knights are too dangerous to keep around!"

After looking at Silly Orange's appearance and then at the driver in the young man's hand, he said helplessly, "Let's deal with him first. I was hoping to have some fun with him!"

"Heh, you little hussy, you've fallen for someone again?" The plump cook sneered twice. "No wonder you're in this line of work."

"Think what you want."

The little girl shrugged noncommittally, picked up a cigarette, and took a puff.

"Then let's eat him first!" The fat cook's two butcher knives rubbed together, making a grating sound.

"Ugh..."

Silly Orange let out a low groan and opened his eyes, only to see the plump cook sharpening her knife at him.

"Where am I? What happened?" Still confused, Silly Orange watched as the knife got closer and closer. She tried to get up, but her body was too weak to muster any strength.

"Oh, you're awake!" the fat cook sneered. "It would have been better if you had been unconscious and slaughtered, but now you're going to suffer even more."

What do you want to do?

The silly orange boy, wriggling and shrinking back, tried to avoid the plump cook. The little girl jumped down from the bar, grabbed him, and smiled sweetly, saying, "Of course it's time to eat!"

"Have a meal?"