"What just happened?" Gates looked around, confused.
"Time was reversed. You were just killed," Tsukuyomi said calmly as she stepped out from the Starry Sky Gate.
"I died?!" Gates froze, dumbfounded.
"Well done, Your Majesty the Demon King!" Woz appeared soon after, completely unfazed by the reversal. He had long grown accustomed to time manipulation under the Devil King's rule. Recognizing the rewind, he had rushed to this location at once.
"This is the power of the King of All Devils!" he laughed with a kind of reverent ecstasy, like a pilgrim witnessing a miracle.
"Yes. This is the power of the watch that unites the past and future worlds." Sougo appeared again, walking toward them after the reversal had reset his position.
[Zi-O II!]
Sougo pressed the button on the second-tier King Ridewatch. The watch split in two—left and right—and he slotted both halves into his belt.
"Henshin!"
[Rider Time! Rider Time!]
[Kamen Rider Zi-O! Zi-O!]
[Zi-O II!]
Kamen Rider Zi-O—Second Tier Form—had returned.
This time, two massive transparent clock faces appeared behind Sougo, rotating left and right. Even the transformation sound echoed in two channels. His helmet now featured four clock hands instead of two. His eyes had double the lenses, and the chest emblem was duplicated. The armor had grown more imposing, exuding a refined, overwhelming presence.
Structurally, not much had changed. But everything about him now seemed doubled—elevated. More complete.
Objectively speaking, this form looked good. Far superior to some of the bizarre or ill-fitting armors seen before. Among all his forms, the overwhelming majesty of Ohma Zi-O and the impressive Ohma Form were already iconic. Even the slightly underwhelming Grand Zi-O had its respectable presence.
But the Third-Tier form Sougo created himself? It was hideous. He didn't use it—not because he lacked the power—but because he still had functioning aesthetic judgment. In contrast, Ohma Zi-O had a strange taste that matched his dark power.
And that difference… was the gap between the Young Devil King and the Old Devil King. In power. In wisdom. In taste.
Unfortunately, the Second Tier form was soon "sealed" by the screenwriters because of its overpowered nature. It had only been used to rewind time twice before being written out. Those who died outside of that were simply out of luck—Sougo never relied on this ability again.
"Celebrate! It is a birthday of destiny—the Celebration Monster returns once again!"
"He is the King above all Riders. One who transcends time and space, who sees both past and future!"
"Behold! He has transformed into Kamen Rider Zi-O Second Tier. A new history begins!"
A true servant knows when to hype. Woz's dogged loyalty never wavered. He immediately pulled out his book and started narrating dramatically. Honestly, the 25th Rider, Geiz Revive, could learn a thing or two about dedication.
"It's been a while since I've heard that," Sougo said with a smile, rubbing his hands together.
"Then Your Majesty, please fight to your heart's content!" Woz beamed, then respectfully stepped aside so as not to steal the spotlight.
"Alright!" Sougo shouted and charged toward the Another Ryuuga.
His movements had changed drastically. His fighting style was sharper, more precise—eerily reminiscent of Build's Hazard Form. Fierce. Calculated. Tactical. This approach had a name:
The Second Uncle Generation Style.
In this world, only the King of All Devils mastered it completely. But now, Sougo had begun to embody it as well.
This time, he didn't dodge or parry Another Ryuuga's wild strikes. He didn't need to. The attacks that once posed a threat were now insignificant. A single arm block nullified a machete swing. With one punch, he sent the monster flying backward.
His belt glowed as a new weapon appeared: the Strongest Limit Sword, exclusive to Zi-O II.
Compared to the Time Limit Sword, this one was sleeker—closer to a giant clock hand. While it couldn't switch between sword and spear modes, it carried a symbolic weight. If only the oversized Zi-O face near the hilt didn't ruin the aesthetics.
[Rider!]
[Rider Giri!]
Sougo gripped the Strongest Limit Sword, pressed the activation button on the hilt, and delivered a clean, powerful slash.
A glowing mirror appeared before Another Ryuuga, attempting to reflect the blow. But cracks instantly spread across its surface—then shattered completely as Sougo slashed again.
"His attack wasn't reflected!" Yuedu exclaimed.
"That's because the force exceeded the mirror's rebound limit," Tsukuyomi explained. "Also, as a second-tier Zi-O, he now carries partial power from the King of All Devils. He doesn't need specific Ridewatches to defeat Another Riders anymore."
Realizing its tricks were useless, Another Ryuuga launched an attack of its own. Blue flames formed in its palms and condensed into fireballs.
But Sougo's belt flashed again. One of the hour hands on his helmet rotated.
"I've already seen your next move!" Sougo spun his sword defensively. As the fireballs flew toward him, they were instantly dispersed by his rotating blade.
[Zi-O Saikyo!]
He gave the monster no time to regroup. Sougo flipped the faceplate on the Strongest Limit Sword from "Rider" to "Strongest," embedded it into the Time Limit Sword, and combined the two into one monstrous weapon—the Strongest Time Limit Sword.
[Finish Time!]
[King! Giri Giri Slash!]
"Let's end this!" Sougo raised the sword. A beam of golden light erupted from the blade, expanding and solidifying into a 40-meter-long energy sword—an EX Curry Stick, so to speak.
He swung it down with unstoppable force, slicing cleanly through Another Ryuuga.
The monster exploded into brilliant fireworks. Its Another Ridewatch was obliterated—no chance of revival.
However, the real damage was… elsewhere.
Between Sougo and the enemy lay tens of meters of destroyed marble flooring.
Sougo, still basking in victory, froze.
"Uh… how am I going to pay for that?"
"Friendly reminder," Tsukuyomi smirked as she floated away, leaving behind a stunned and speechless Sougo.
Eventually, Woz, Gates, and Tsukuyomi dragged him away before any officials arrived to demand reparations.
And so, the darkness in Sougo's heart—just after he proclaimed balance—showed itself again.
Sneaking away after causing massive public damage?
Of course.
Then again, when has any Rider ever paid for property damage?
They just walk away like nothing happened.
If this were Ryuga's hometown, the authorities—especially the terrifying City Guards—would've taught them a harsh lesson about "being responsible citizens."