I want to become a Kamen Rider

Just when Hiiragi Tina thought she was going to die in a plane crash caused by the vicious minister who was overloading passengers, the flight of "Golem" miraculously slowed down, its speed dropped sharply, and the suffocating feeling of being pushed back and the strong winds instantly diminished by more than half.

"Huh...huh..."

Tina Hiiragi, still shaken, gasped for breath and cautiously opened one eye.

Sakuta Azusagawa relaxed, loosened his grip on Fan Kang's right arm, moved his stiff fingers, and straightened up again.

The vision suddenly opens up.

Below, an endless, breathtakingly blue ocean stretches out, its surface bathed in sunlight that dances like scattered gold.

At the horizon, an island, like a deep emerald, is nestled within the landscape. Steep cliffs embrace it on three sides, where waves crash and shatter into white foam. At its center lies a dense, verdant forest, and at its highest point, a uniquely styled and peculiarly shaped cluster of buildings can be faintly seen, resembling the spine of a colossal beast, silently overlooking the sea. The strong winds high above have softened, carrying the salty dampness of the ocean and the fresh scent of vegetation.

The "Golem" hovered steadily above the island, like a giant beast that had sheathed its claws.

"This is Azure Island, and the Knights Council is held here."

Fan Kang glanced at the two still-shaken "passengers" and gave a brief introduction.

From the air, the island appears serene and magnificent, a stark contrast to the thrilling flight we had just witnessed.

Tina Hiiragi asked excitedly:

"So, Minister, this is where we're going to conduct our special training?"

Even Sakuta Azusagawa was somewhat excited.

"A classic scene, senior."

Although he felt a little reluctant, Fan Kang still offered a word of advice to avoid raising their expectations too high.

"Well, the training later will probably be a little different from what you're imagining."

Chapter 49 The Legendary Knight [5/5]

At the highest point of Azure Island, an ancient building, seemingly born of the mountain rocks, stands atop a cliff. The sea breeze howls through the rough stone pillars and archways, bringing a chilling atmosphere.

The massive stone platform serves as the building's open-air martial arts arena. The weathered stone surface is grayish-white, with moss creeping along its edges. Waves constantly crash against the cliff beneath one's feet. Standing here, one can be accompanied by the sound of the waves striking the rocks, practicing martial arts and honing one's skills.

In the center of the stone platform, Fan Kang delivered a welcoming speech. The early summer sun still held some heat even before dusk, and the chirping of cicadas drifted from the island's dense forest, adding to the oppressive heat. He glanced around at the four "students" before him, his voice not loud, but clearly drowning out the wind and the cicadas' chirping:

"Today, in this early summer season of cicadas chirping, we gather here to discuss the improvement of our skills, hone our abilities, and refine our techniques, all in order to help more people..."

Don't ask him why he's rambling on about this nonsense; sometimes life needs a little ritual. He's already being very kind by not giving those inhuman leaders I've seen in my past life who spout long, rambling opening remarks that make the audience sleepy.

"Let's give a warm round of applause to welcome our two new cadets from the Blue Island Knights Training Class, Tina Hiiragi and Sakuta Azusagawa!"

popping.

The applause rang out, but it carried a somewhat lonely tone, with only one person clapping throughout the entire venue.

Hiiragi Tina carefully observed her surroundings, but there wasn't much to observe. Besides herself, the club president, and Azusagawa Sakuta, there were only two "senior" people present.

The blue-haired, busty girl, supposedly named Kawasaki Saki, remained unmoved, while the cool-looking, long-haired girl with straight black hair, who was more likely to do so, applauded enthusiastically.

"Master is right! Master's explanation is excellent!"

Tina Hiiragi didn't know if the captain on stage felt awkward, but she certainly felt awkward for him.

Sakuta Azusagawa, who was standing with her in the audience, glanced at her discreetly and whispered:

"So that's the 'bento girl' you were talking about... no, Mizutani Migen-senpai?"

"Yes, she is the minister's top disciple and is suspected of plotting to overthrow him."

Sakuta Azusagawa's lips twitched, and he quickly changed the subject. He shouldn't listen to what he shouldn't hear or ask what he shouldn't ask. No matter how shabby the scene was or how ridiculous the name of the Blue Island Knights Training Camp was, he had personally witnessed Kuuga destroy an entire Shocker base with a single punch when Kuuga came to save him.

What's even more outrageous is that this enormous building and the martial arts arena were supposedly completed single-handedly by the man standing on the stone platform in a single day.

"It seems like the senior doesn't have much influence; there are only four people in this knight training class."

"I heard that the other contract knights are quite lazy, and the minister has to shoulder the burden all by himself. Also, it seems that not all the people in the training class have come."

"Although it's like an after-school tutoring center, at least the senior didn't charge us for tutoring or venue fees. It seems that Kamen Rider really is... a pure volunteer."

"Cough cough."

Fan Kang coughed lightly, interrupting the two men's blatant whispering.

Tina Hiiragi and Sakuta Azusagawa immediately straightened up as if a switch had been flipped, their hands pressed tightly against their trouser seams, standing ramrod straight with their eyes fixed straight ahead.

"In short, from today onwards, in order to enhance your own strength, you will follow me to receive training on Azure Island every day after class."

"Isn't it going to be direct combat?"

Sakuta Azusagawa raised his hand to ask a question.

"Fighting directly against enemies with diverse and unpredictable abilities is very likely to result in death. According to statistics, more than 30% of contracted knights lose their lives because they recklessly start battles without sufficient awareness."

This is well-reasoned and seems sufficient to explain why there are so few "students" here.

Rather than letting unenlightened people lose their lives at will, the person in front of me is more willing to take on more responsibility.

"So, what does the training consist of?"

Sakuta Azusagawa asked another question, and Tina Hiiragi, who was standing next to him, chose to answer first.

"I know, I know! It must be that vicious and cruel minister driving one of those old jeeps, 'rumbling' as he chases us down! When we're exhausted and crying our eyes out, he'll stand on the roof of the car and yell at us: 'What kind of appearance do you have! What kind of eyes do you have! Can your little tears protect the earth?!'"

thump.

With a crisp thud, Fan Kang swung his hand and struck Hiiragi Tina squarely on the head:

"You've got the wrong channel. This isn't the Ultraman set; we're Kamen Rider."

"It hurts... but shouldn't all special training be like this?"

Fan Kang sighed and began to explain.

“In reality, there is generally no such thing as dramatic special training. Or rather, the kind of ‘special training’ you imagine is essentially just a targeted training method.”

He began to recount them with great familiarity, as if stating some common sense:

"Through spinning flying kick training, he honed his skills and balance; through waterfall slash training, he refined his concentration; through bare-handed blade catching training, he cultivated his insight and reaction speed; through jumping flying kick training—which is the jeep training that someone just mentioned on TV—he honed his courage and fearlessness in the face of immense pressure... These are just some of the special training programs that Ultraman Leo experienced in his early stages."

He glanced at the two who were listening in a daze: "So, spinning flying kick, catching a blade bare-handed, jumping flying kick, which one do you two think you can do right now?"

Tina Hiiragi and Sakuta Azusagawa exchanged a glance, both seeing the same answer in each other's eyes. They both obediently shook their heads, saying in unison:

"Not even one of them can do it."

"now it's right."

Fan Kang nodded.

"Leo's special training was based on the premise that he was an alien and already had a strong foundation in combat, and it involved targeted enhancement and willpower training. But you are neither aliens nor do you have a systematic foundation in combat. As ordinary humans, or even zero-based contestants who have just transitioned from ordinary high school students to Kamen Riders..."

Strictly speaking, neither Sakuta Azusagawa, who underwent partial modifications by Shocker, nor Tina Hiiragi, who was corrupted by the Alien Rider Driver, could be considered to have truly zero experience. However, in Fan Kang's eyes, they were no different from having zero experience.

"We should start from scratch, be down-to-earth, and build a strong foundation step by step. Don't think about shortcuts like 'special training' that can lead to instant success. There is no such thing as great power that comes out of thin air. Even if there is, it is often accompanied by huge costs and hidden dangers. So-called shortcuts are often the biggest detours."

After saying that, Fan Kang pulled out two plastic buckets and two... rather ordinary-looking books from somewhere and handed them to Tina Hiiragi and Sakuta Azusagawa.

"Take this. Go to that corner over there and squat in a horse stance."

He pointed to a spot on the edge of the stone platform where the sunlight could reach, "Fill the bucket with water and hold it level. When you get tired of squatting, read a book for a while. When you get tired of reading, continue squatting. Every day, squat for three hours first."

Tina Hiiragi took the book and glanced at the cover—"The Handbook of Individual Combat," just like Sakuta Azusagawa's. This book... looked like the kind of military book about basic skills that you could buy in an ordinary bookstore or used bookstore, a far cry from the "secret manual" of unparalleled skill that she had imagined.

"Three hours...and then?" Sakuta Azusagawa weighed the heavy bucket in his hand.

“After that, come to the training ground below,” Fan Kang pointed to a sandy area that was faintly visible below the stone platform, “and have half an hour of actual combat.”

I didn't say anything more, nor did I deliberately supervise.

Both Azusagawa Sakuta and Hiiragi Tina have witnessed the feeling of life slipping away before their eyes; the former almost died himself, and the latter almost died together with others.

There really are mechanical monsters and bio-warriors in the world who are equipped with various fighting theories and specialized techniques. He has fought them before, but the subtle point is that these kinds of enemies usually perform worse than monsters who only know one move or one type of fighting technique.

Fan Kang couldn't understand why. Perhaps the former's knowledge came from chips and data, while the latter's every move was gained from life-or-death battles. The latter knew why they had to fight, while the former simply accepted the conclusions drawn from programs and data.

The cicadas continued to sing, and the sunlight moved slowly across the stone platform.

Tina Hiiragi and Sakuta Azusagawa followed instructions and went to the corner. Gritting their teeth, they began to assume a less-than-perfect horse stance and struggled to lift the bucket full of water.

Sweat quickly soaked their foreheads and backs, their muscles trembled, and their arms ached unbearably. When they couldn't hold on any longer, they put down the bucket, picked up the book "Basic Individual Combat," and, under the scorching sun and amidst the muscle soreness, gritted their teeth and forced themselves to read through the dry theories and diagrams.

He would look at the water bucket for a while, catch his breath, and then grit his teeth and lift it up again... Time passed slowly and steadily amidst the monotony, the pain, the sweat, and the sound of turning pages.

Three hours felt like an eternity.

As the afterglow of the setting sun bathed the stone platform in a warm gold, Tina Hiiragi and Sakuta Azusagawa felt as if they had just been pulled out of the water, soaked to the bone and trembling in their legs. Driven almost purely by willpower, they moved to the designated training ground below the stone platform—a sandy training ground surrounded by massive stone walls.

I thought Fan Kang would disappear like before, or just watch from afar and direct them to fight each other.

However, when they dragged their tired bodies onto the sand, they were surprised to find that the figure was standing quietly in the center of the field, with his back to the setting sun, his shadow stretched very long.

Seeing Fan Kang standing there, Hiiragi Tina's heart skipped a beat, and a bad feeling popped into her head.

She asked cautiously, "Um... Minister, you don't mean you want us... to fight you, do you?"

“That’s right.” Fan Kang’s answer was crisp and clear.

"This..." Tina Hiiragi and Sakuta Azusagawa both gasped in shock, realizing they were making their own contribution to global warming.

"Could it be that you... don't transform?" Sakuta Azusagawa couldn't help but ask, clinging to a sliver of hope.

Fan Kang seemed to think for a moment, then nodded: "It's not impossible, but..." He changed the subject, "I don't want to go back with a minor injury for no reason. How about this, Wu Tina, lend me your Alien Rider Driver."

"Oh."

Tina Hiiragi paused for a moment, then took out the oddly shaped driver from her waist pouch and handed it over.

Before she could even warn him about the pain this would cause, Fan Kang fastened the belt around his waist.

The driver activated instantly, its cold metal components stretching and meshing, emitting a faint mechanical whirring. Dark purple energy surged from the driver's core like a living thing, rapidly spreading and covering his entire body, condensing and shaping—

The sickeningly loud creaking of twisted bones and bulging muscles still lingered, a testament to the alienation of life, inevitably accompanied by excruciating pain. It was precisely because Hiiragi Tina had truly experienced it that she was so shocked as she looked at the silent man standing there.

"Um, Minister, aren't you in pain?"

"got used to."

"..."

A few seconds later, a terrifying monster, nearly three meters tall, with a ferocious appearance, covered in thick black armor, with sharp bone spurs protruding from its joints, and exuding a strong ominous aura, stood in the center of the sand.

A terrifying sense of dread instantly filled the entire sandy area, and the air seemed to freeze.

The golden light of the setting sun shone on its jet-black carapace, reflecting a cold luster. It stood there silently, its massive body casting a huge shadow that completely enveloped Hiiragi Tina and Azusagawa Sakuta. An invisible pressure, like a tangible boulder, weighed them down, making it almost impossible for them to breathe. Their legs went weak, and the soreness from their previous horse stance seemed to be frozen by this extreme fear.

The minister, as I imagined him, would have been a monster, painted in the main colors of red and gold. But what I saw was... pitch black.

The suffocating feeling far surpassed that of the decisive weapons witnessed at the explosion site. Only by returning to memories and dreams, and trying to capture even a fraction of the aura of that earth-shattering behemoth, could it be compared to this.

Under the astonished gazes of Tina Hiiragi and Sakuta Azusagawa, the hand covered in hideous armor pulled out a card with a faint blue luster from somewhere—perhaps a slot at the waist, or perhaps from thin air.

The card refracted a strange halo in the sunlight. The minister, in his monster form, gently inserted the card into an inconspicuous slot on the side of the driver.

"Om-!"

The driver emitted a deep hum, and a bright blue light suddenly shone. The black alien armor covering the minister writhed, decomposed, and reformed as if it were alive.

The grotesque and distorted shape quickly faded away, replaced by smooth, sharp lines that exude a sense of technology and bio-materiality.

As the light faded, a completely new figure appeared on the stone platform. The main body armor was red and silver, with crimson eyepieces resembling insect compound eyes. The shoulder armor was thick and dark, and the chest was painted crimson, like a heart.

The suffocating feeling finally dissipated, and the monster's form was replaced by the hero's. Tina Hiiragi then asked a question:

"Minister...Minister, that's...?!"

"I specially went to the deep-sea repair base to 'get' it."

The legendary knight casually flexed his wrist, the joints of his armor making a crisp "click" sound. His scarlet compound eyes locked onto the two dumbfounded "students" before him, and an invisible, sharp aura belonging to a top warrior spread out.

The setting sun cast a warm orange glow over the entire sandy training ground, turning it into a golden hue.

The knight stood on the sandy sea, bow drawn, and asked:

"Are you ready? Combat training, let's begin."

Chapter 50, One Arrow, One Shot [1/6]