Kamen Rider Zi-O, Dimensional Descent

This is an incredibly dark research institute, and the researchers here all believe that what they are doing is a great contribution to Academy City, so they keep conducting various studies on children day and night.

Today, it seems to them that another big spender has arrived.

Is it difficult to get this kid to fit in?

"It's not difficult at all, sir. You just need to hand your child over to us."

The researcher, wearing glasses, looked at the man in front of him with a very fake smile and laughed.

"Generally speaking, no matter how untalented a child is, they can definitely play a maximum role in our research institute. For example, even if we can't develop their abilities, we can at least use them as experimental materials for powerful ability users!"

"I see... In short, they're using children as live targets? That's really a twisted sense of humor!"

"That's right, that's right~ So you're one of us too!"

You're absolutely right.

then--

Swartz sneered, looked at the researcher before him, and delivered his final declaration.

"What I enjoy most is turning all of you wicked people, both physically and mentally, into nourishment!"

"...Huh?"

Then, under the researcher's shocked gaze...

The little boy next to him suddenly transformed into an incredibly terrifying crimson monster.

"Ghost!"

"W-what?! What's going on?!?!"

The researcher's head was suddenly grabbed, and then his body instantly turned into a dried-up corpse before disappearing completely.

Both its body and soul have been completely absorbed by the alien Ghost as its energy source.

Of course, the efforts of just one researcher are simply not enough.

"Go ahead, and absorb everyone in this research institute, including the children, as your food!"

Ghost nodded and immediately walked into the room.

Before long, Swartz heard a series of incredibly noisy sounds coming from inside the research institute, including fighting, crying, and all sorts of screams.

He smiled with satisfaction, because it was all part of Swartz's well-planned scheme.

The reason he chose this research institute for people with special abilities as the place where the Ghost would absorb souls is because the children trapped here actually harbor the greatest resentment.

These children have witnessed the deaths of their companions and the process of being deceived within this research institute for many years, and have also experienced terrifying pasts that are unimaginable to ordinary people.

With these negative emotions amplified, the Ghost can absorb even more comprehensive power, making it even stronger.

"That's right, that's right, that's right... As long as you become strong enough, you can even defeat that Demon King in one fell swoop!"

Swartz was very pleased with himself and walked deeper into the research institute.

However, what even he didn't notice was...

Not far from the entrance of the research institute.

A chestnut-haired, expressionless girl wearing the Tokiwadai Academy uniform witnessed everything that happened.

------------------

"Then what should we do?"

Yan Ming and Kakine Teitoku bought two bottles of water from a vending machine by the roadside, took a few sips, and then began to discuss.

"You said you wanted to give that old geezer a good beating, but do you even know where he is?"

"Please don't worry about that."

Just as Kakine Teitoku was feeling somewhat worried about this matter, a slightly familiar voice came from behind him.

He had just turned his head when he saw a strange-looking guy holding a book standing behind him.

He was immediately startled.

"You rascal! When did you get behind me?!"

"Sorry, I've gotten used to doing this all the time."

Woz appeared as always in a startling manner. He smiled and apologized to Kakine Teitoku, then looked at Yan Ming.

"My Demon King, you seem to be searching for Swartz and the Other Ghost, don't you?"

Do you know where they are?

"No, I didn't know, but... someone else did know and wanted to tell you, so I brought her here."

"Her? Yan Ming looked in the direction Woz pointed and saw a girl walking towards him from the intersection."

A chestnut-haired girl wearing a headgear resembling night-vision goggles, dressed in Tokiwadai Academy's school uniform.

At first glance, she looked a lot like Misaka Mikoto, but Yan Ming immediately recognized the differences between the two and figured out her identity.

"...Misaka Sisters?"

"According to Misaka 17554's report, she saw the person you are looking for at this location in the 7th school district. Misaka is trying to tell you everything she knows."

Then, Misaka Mikoto took out her phone map and pointed out the corresponding location directly.

How did you find it?

“Through observation of that scene by number 17554, our entire Misaka Network will share the same memory,” Misaka further added.

That's quite an impressive ability... In some ways, it's even more powerful than Woz's intelligence network, isn't it?

However, saying that was rather hurtful. In any case, Yan Ming nodded, indicating that he understood.

Thank you.

"Wait, my Demon King...aren't you planning to take Geiz-kun with you to this battle?"

"No, this time I plan to solve it together with the person next to me."

After considering it for a moment, Yan Ming said this to Woz.

After thinking for a moment, Woz took something else out of his pocket and handed it to him.

That's... Ghost's control dial.

“I specially brought this back from Geiz-kun. Considering that the next Rider we will be facing is Another Ghost, although you can be absolutely invincible with the power of Zi-O II, I brought this back for you just in case.”

"Thank you... I'll definitely need it."

After thanking Woz briefly, Yan Ming immediately grasped the watch face in his hand.

He then looked at Kakine Teitoku beside him.

What are you waiting for?

"Of course..."

Kakine Teitoku smiled coldly and then answered his question.

"Get ready to go and give that old bastard a good beating... you bastard."

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Volume 5 of A Certain Magical Index: Chapter 198 The Infinite Evolution of the Heretical Evil Spirit

The location is underground in the 7th school district of Academy City.

Yan Ming and Kakine Teitoku, using the information given to them by Misaka Mikoto, found the entrance to the research institute and discovered a downward elevator at the entrance.

The elevator doesn't have specific floor markings; it simply goes up and down. In other words, you can find Swartz's location once you reach the bottom floor.

The two stood inside the elevator and slowly descended straight down to the deepest part.

The dark environment was exceptionally quiet, with no other noise except for the sound of the elevator operating.

With the help of the dim light, the faces of the two people could be barely seen, and Yan Ming glanced slightly at Kakine Teitoku beside him.

"What kind of relationship do you have with that girl named Ringo?"

"what?"

Kakine Teitoku seemed slightly surprised that Yan Ming would ask him such a question at this time.

However, he quickly responded.

"To me, she is someone I need to protect, someone important whom I need to remember forever."

"I thought someone with your personality wouldn't admit to something like this so easily, but you're surprisingly frank."

"After all, the person is already dead, so it would be a bit unreasonable to keep quiet about it."

Although, that's what Kakine Teitoku said.

Yan Ming could clearly sense the complex emotions in his words; his inner self was not as carefree as he appeared.

"So, will you be able to bring yourself to do it? Your opponent is someone you used to need to protect who has become that person."

"Don't worry, I'm not that cowardly."

After they had said everything they wanted to say, they stopped talking.

The total time from the surface to the depths underground was only about one and a half minutes.

After the elevator landed smoothly, the two walked directly into the research institute, which was filled with pure white walls.

However… this pure white scenery did not last long.

As soon as they entered the gate, they saw that the walls were covered with cracks.

The specially treated protective walls were smashed to pieces, and cracks appeared everywhere on the floor and ceiling. Various electronic circuits embedded in the walls were also damaged, and the lights and various electronic devices were all flickering eerily.

The deeper you go into the research institute, the more the eeriness intensifies.

then.

When they arrived at the empty lobby of the research institute, this intense sense of eeriness was instantly amplified to its extreme.

For an instant.

Dark shadows kept flashing around in eerie ways.

"Playing tricks!"

Kakine Teitoku raised his hand, and a dazzling pure white light instantly burst forth from behind him.

After being exposed to that blinding light, the shadowy figure revealed its true form, raising its hands to block in front of it, and then using even greater force to completely neutralize the impact.

What appeared before the two was the monstrous Ghost.

However, its appearance at this moment is completely different from when it was first seen.

The white armor featured twisted, nerve-like black lines, forming a jacket-like hood that draped over the monster's silver-black skin.

Its entire body was covered with sharp spikes, and its horn, which should have shone with colorful light like a unicorn, was twisted like a withered branch.

Beneath the white hood, a terrifying face, like that of a bio-monster, was staring intently at them.

A white-green liquid flowed from the monster's mouth.

The air was filled with a very strange, foul odor.

Clearly, the power of the Otherworldly Ghost has been further enhanced... perhaps even to its absolute limit.

"Distinguished guest, you should be able to hear what I'm saying, right?"

It's Swartz's voice.

However, he himself is not here; instead, he uses the institute's broadcast system to speak, which tells us something.

"He should have already escaped; what's being played now is just a recording."

Both Yan Ming and Kakine Teitoku guessed this.

And that is indeed the case.

The voice on the radio was just a recording left behind by Swartz; he had already escaped long ago.

"Since you can hear this recording, it proves that you have arrived at this research institute, Shi Lun Yan Ming... Enjoy this great gift that I have carefully prepared for you."

As Swartz spoke, the alien Ghost in front of them cast an even more ferocious gaze upon the two of them.