Tajimi watched the battlefield feed from her command center, her lips curving into a faint, confident smile. "A mere greeting," she murmured, tapping a slender finger on the holo‐screen. "Soon they'll learn the true might of Beidu."
She crossed her legs and leaned back in her chair. At her side stood Xueqian—stoic, unflinching, and infuriatingly inscrutable. He gave a soft snort, as if in amusement.
Across the Three Realms, millions of viewers held their breath. Comments scrolled in a frenzy:
> "Damn, Xueqian has teamed up with Beidu's prime minister again!"
"What the hell is that guy up to?"
"This is bad news. He's always stirring trouble."
"I have a terrible feeling…"
—
On a battered rooftop overlooking the charred city, a young man sat cross‐legged, idly watching the live feed of "047" being pounded by the invading forces. He laughed, low and amused. "As I thought—ordinary Slammers only go so far in combat."
Beside him, a rugged veteran with a grizzled beard nodded. "They lack self‐awareness. Without it, they're just animated armor."
The young man glanced down at the crimson‐armored Slammer at his feet. "Hey, Xiao Chi—what's the plan?"
The Slammer's visor flared bright green as it unleashed a searing beam at the distant fortifications. Buildings shattered, and one by one they exploded into pillars of flame and smoke.
A hush fell over the audience. Even hardened soldiers watching from home shields were stunned. "That Slammer's power… it's on another level!"
On the rooftop, the young man shook his head at the armored figure. "Careful, or the boss will have my hide for this."
The Slammer coalesced into human form before him—a tall, lean youth with fire‐light dancing in his eyes. "Stop nagging," he grumbled. Then he shouted toward the horizon, "Boss, hurry up!"
—
From within the inferno rose a lone figure, cloaked in dark armor that flickered with embers. The world seemed to warp around him as he strode forward—one foot in reality, the other in myth. Guards fell before him as if struck by fate itself.
"A Kamen Rider," the crowds gasped. "His style… it's like Kuuga's!"
"The legend lives on!"
"I can't wait to see who he is!"
In the Extraordinary Chat Group, chatter spiked:
> Funina: "Wow! Another Rider has joined the fray!"
Kiana: "He looks incredible."
Walnut: "He must be the boss we heard about."
Down below, the armies of Beidu and Tōdō clashed in brutal mêlées. Infantry met infantry; mechas strafed one another with plasma volleys. The battlefield roared like a wounded beast.
Tajimi stood at the podium of a hastily convened press conference. Behind her, the assembled generals of Kitado bowed in solemn salute. "The Tōdō regime seeks Pandora's Box, aiming to unleash chaos upon our world. Today, we answer their ambitions with steel and courage! We stand as arbiters of justice—our hammers shall fall upon those who would rule by fear!"
Moments later, from thousands of kilometers away in Dongdu's capital, Baotu and his council watched live news feeds flicker across every screen. The anchor's voice trembled:
> "The Hokuto army has breached Dongdu's defenses, capturing zones A1 through A6, as well as the entire B and D districts. More than sixty percent of the city is under occupation. The Hokuto government refuses all negotiations—war now ravages every street. Casualties among civilians and soldiers run into the thousands."
Wanzhang's jaw tightened. "This is dire."
Sayu's voice quavered, "I never thought they'd actually go to war…"
A breathless soldier burst in through the steel doors. Wanzhang demanded, "Report!"
"Sir," the young commander stammered, "the King's Guard at Sector G1 has fallen. Sectors A7 and C4 are under heavy attack. We require immediate support!"
Before Wanzhang could answer, the council's comm‐tablet buzzed urgently:
> Breaking News: Dongdu Government to Deploy Kamen Riders as Military Weapons Against the Hokuto Invasion.
Battle Rabbit's eyes widened. "They can't be serious!"
Across the realms, viewers cheered and speculated:
> "Are Kamen Riders going to lead the charge?!"
"This is going to be amazing!"
Wanzhang rose from his seat and clasped Sayu's hand. "This may turn the tide. Send word to every Rider we can rally."
—
Meanwhile, War Rabbit and Manjo found themselves imprisoned in Gentoku's fortress. Chains bit into their wrists as they were dragged before General Gento. His dark eyes glinted with both curiosity and threat.
"How does it feel," Gento rumbled, "to witness this horror? Only days ago you fought alongside us. Now look—Dongdu is aflame, its people bleeding, and our slammers rampage without mercy."
Manjo spat defiance through clenched teeth. "We never asked for this!"
War Rabbit's shoulders sagged. "We're comrades… why should we see each other as enemies?"
Gento's lips curved in a mirthless smile. "Because this isn't about friendship. It is about Pandora's Box. Intelligence reports that Hokuto has crafted a secret weapon. Their aim: seize the Box and harness its power. Nothing—and no one—must stand in their way."
The two heroes exchanged a glance of anguish. Though they disliked the Tōdō government's arrogance, Dongdu was their home. They would not stand idle as their land was ravaged.
—
Back on the floating platform of the Beidu command center, Tajimi savored the sight of lines of Kamen Riders mobilizing below, their armor gleaming with resolve. She turned to Yutang, her chief strategist. "Tōdō's claim on Pandora's Box is but a pretext. They sought to monopolize its energy—six outer metal plates, each containing ten vessels of Ether. Only with all sixty can one unlock the Box's full potential."
Yutang inclined his head. "And Beidu holds the key to one plate."
With that, Tajimi spread her arms as if feeling the surge of battle itself. "Then let our unity be complete. Once we reclaim what is ours, I shall open Pandora's Box—if Xi consents. And with its power, Beidu and Tōdō will forge an alliance the world has never seen!"
In the skies above Dongdu, plumes of smoke curled into twilight as Kamen Riders—new and old—descended like avenging angels. Below them, the battered remains of cities called out for hope. Steel met steel, flame met flame, and in every heart there burned a single question: who would emerge victorious when the war for Pandora's Box—and the fate of the world—had truly begun?
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