With Ryuga's guidance, Sento unearthed the Evol Driver—split into two pieces—hidden deep within the purification device.
"Didn't you build that purifier, War Rabbit?" Sayu asked curiously.
"Most of it, yes. But the core components were already here before I ever showed up." Sento frowned. "Now that I think about it… this must've been Katsuragi and Evolto's original lab."
"You mean… Katsuragi hid Evolto's most coveted weapon right under his nose?" Kazumi was stunned.
"Brutal," Ryuga chuckled. "If Evolto had found it earlier, we might not even be standing here."
As they spoke, Sento's phone rang again—for what felt like the hundredth time that day.
"It's Rogue?" Sento blinked. "What do you want?"
"I need your help," Gentoku said, his voice unusually subdued.
It turned out the so-called "Rogue," the once-proud son of East Capital, had become a slave to the Western regime. The price of becoming a Rider was steep—a control chip buried in his body that allowed the likes of Utsumi and President E to electrocute him at will.
But now, they'd crossed the line. They had arrested his father, Prime Minister Taizan Himuro, and locked him away like a bargaining chip.
Gentoku had snapped.
He'd assaulted the West's prison, stolen one of Utsumi's remotes, and attempted to escape with his father—but had failed. President E, ever cautious, had a second remote, and used it to paralyze Gentoku mid-escape.
Desperate, humiliated, and out of options, Gentoku turned to Sento—begging him to remove the chip and help stage a rescue from both inside and out.
The Pier Standoff
Exactly 24 hours later, Sento, Ryuga, Kazumi, and Sayu arrived at Dock A9, Evol Driver in hand. Across from them, flanked by mechanical defenders and HardSmash troops, stood President E—his target clearly being the Driver.
Behind him, Prime Minister Taizan Himuro, still alive—but heavily guarded.
It was like a back-alley gang standoff—two factions meeting at the edge of the underworld.
"You brought it?" President E stepped forward.
Sento raised the repaired Evol Driver into the air, wordlessly confirming.
"Excellent." E's eyes gleamed. "Hand it over."
"After you release the Prime Minister." Sento's voice was cold. "One-for-one."
"You're in no position to negotiate." E smiled darkly. "I can kill him right now. But you—can't destroy that Driver."
Before E could press his threat, Ryuga cut in.
"Don't bluff. That thing was found split in half by Katsuragi. If we can fix it once, we can do it again. You think we'd be dumb enough to deliver it intact without a backup plan?"
E grimaced. The truth stung. Since when did the "heroes" get so cunning?
And then, as if on cue, Rogue appeared from the shadows—leaping forward, he knocked aside two guards and grabbed his father, retreating quickly behind the War Rabbit's group.
"You want to die that badly?!" President E snarled and slammed his remote.
Nothing happened.
"Huh?!"
He pressed it again. And again.
Still—nothing.
"Looking for this?" Sento casually held up an identical remote. "Removed the chip's access hours ago. Honestly, I'm shocked you didn't see it coming."
"Tch—brilliant, as always." E sneered, tossing his own useless remote away. "Very well. Let's settle this like men."
"Prime Minister, run!" Sento ordered, tossing the Evol Driver to him. "Get out of here—fast!"
It was a dumb move—handing the most dangerous tool in the world to a non-combatant—but it was clearly scriptwriter logic at play again.
Sure enough, E shouted, "GET THEM!", and dozens of mechanical defenders poured out of the shadows.
Meanwhile, President E transformed into his monstrous Blood Stalk form and blasted through the roof in pursuit of the escaping Prime Minister.
Skyfall
Just as Prime Minister Himuro emerged from the warehouse, a shadow dropped from above.
"I'll be taking that back, if you don't mind," said President E coldly, landing in front of him.
"Get lost!" shouted Gentoku, who had chased after them. Phoenix Bottle in hand, he activated his Rider powers, wings spreading wide as he launched at President E.
"You again?!" E growled, fed up.
Rogue didn't hesitate. He slammed a fist into E's face—and this time, the blow landed hard. Blow after blow, he pounded him relentlessly.
[CrackUpFinish!]
The signature Crocodile Deathkick landed square on E's skull, blasting him out of his transformation and sending him tumbling across the ground like a ragdoll.
It was perhaps the only time Gentoku Himuro would ever get the better of Evolto.
But it wouldn't last.
"Everything… is for Namba Heavy Industries!" A new voice rang out.
From the shadows, Utsumi emerged, snatching the Evol Driver from the Prime Minister's weakened grip and hurling it to President E.
E caught it with both hands, laughing maniacally.
"Finally… finally it's mine again!"
He raised the belt high, triumphant. He pressed it to his waist—
[EvolDriver!]
—And the startup sound blared, announcing the return of one of the most dangerous Riders in history.
[Cobra! RiderSystem!]
From his coat, E drew two specialized bottles—Evol Cobra Full Bottles.
[Evolution!]
[Areyouready?]
With a theatrical pose, arms crossed and pushed forward slowly, President E bellowed:
"Transform!"
[Cobra! Cobra! Evol Cobra!]
[Fuhahahahahaha!]
Golden rings formed around his body, spinning faster and faster. Energy surged. The armor appeared—base red and blue, lined with golden motifs. Unlike Build's asymmetrical form, Evol's armor was perfectly symmetrical—balanced, yet deadly.
Kamen Rider Evol—Phase 1: Cobra Form!
Evol had returned.
Now fully transformed, Evol strode calmly toward Rogue.
"Let's start with you. A little warm-up."
Gentoku didn't hesitate. He threw another punch—but this time, Evol caught it without flinching.
"What?!"
Gentoku pulled back and struck again. This time, Evol didn't just absorb the blow—he blurred forward in a blink, sidestepping Rogue and striking his side with a lightning-quick jab.
Rogue staggered.
"Damn you…"
He charged again—but Evol was gone.
Reappearing behind him, Evol whispered, "Too slow."
And with that, Evol launched his assault.
His power—his speed—was overwhelming. Rogue was nothing more than a punching bag, toyed with like a kitten teasing a mouse.