The revelation echoed across the three realms, shaking every audience member to their core.
Ebert's declaration of a "new world" was met not with awe, but with scorn. Murmurs spread like wildfire, their voices dripping with disdain.
"What new world? He makes it sound so noble!"
"Don't be fooled! His so-called paradise is nothing but slavery!"
"He wants to turn all humans into pawns—forcing them to kill each other like animals!"
"He's the most shameless villain I've ever seen!"
The voices blended into a storm of outrage, resonating in the air of all three worlds.
---
The Revelation of a Father
Elsewhere, the scene shifted. Reika, the quiet woman who had once ferried Manjo and Sayu across the waters to Kitatoshi, broke the silence with words that sent shivers down their spines.
"Really? Mr. Katsuragi's son… is actually a Sōki?"
Sayu's eyes widened in disbelief. "You… you know Mr. Katsuragi Shinobu?"
Reika nodded calmly. "Yes. He boarded my boat just a few days ago."
Manjo's expression froze. His heart skipped a beat as the realization crashed upon him like a tidal wave.
"Wait… you mean Battle Rabbit's father… is still alive?!"
The shock did not end there. The audiences of the three realms, hearing this revelation through the broadcast, reacted instantly. Faces paled. Eyes sharpened.
"What? Sento's father… alive?"
"No way, that's impossible!"
"All this time, I thought Katsuragi Shinobu was long dead!"
"Wasn't it said he committed suicide?!"
"This is… completely unexpected!"
---
Sento's Transformation
On the battlefield, Sento—Battle Rabbit—stood unshaken. Energy surged through his body as he transformed once again. His armor gleamed with determination.
Facing Ebert, the clash resumed with renewed ferocity. Steel rang against steel, sparks erupted like fireworks, and the roar of their powers shook the ground beneath them.
With every strike, Sento's conviction sharpened. Blow after blow landed until, finally, Ebert was sent crashing back, his body unraveling under the pressure.
"What is this feeling?" Ebert gasped, confusion flickering across his face. But then, a strange excitement overtook him. His lips curled into an unsettling smile.
"I see now… so that's how it is." His eyes gleamed with manic energy.
"Sento, you truly are magnificent! I never realized the measuring bottles carried such hidden potential."
He chuckled, almost giddy. "Your invention, Sento—it's beyond what I imagined. Next time… I will return for the Energy Bottles. Goodbye, for now."
The audiences across the three realms were left baffled. None understood what discovery could drive Ebert into such exhilaration, but they all knew one thing—anything that could delight him was bound to bring disaster.
---
The Flash Drive
After the battle, Manjo approached Sento, his voice grim.
"Your father is still alive."
But to Manjo's surprise, Sento did not appear overly shocked. His gaze softened, almost as if he had expected this.
"I already suspected it," he admitted quietly. "But… why would he fake his own death? Why hide the truth from his own family?"
Manjo shook his head. "Miss Reika doesn't know either. But she said your father left something behind. If someone who knows his son ever came asking, she was to give it to them."
Sayu carefully pulled out a small item—a USB flash drive.
"Your father left this… for you."
Sento plugged it in, and his breath caught. Lines of data filled the screen. It was detailed schematics, research files, and encrypted notes—the entire backbone of the Knight System.
---
Ebert's Emotions
Meanwhile, in another hidden location, Ebert displayed something unexpected—human emotions. His eyes flickered with anger, frustration, and even sadness.
A man in protective gear observed him carefully. "You're developing emotions… genuine ones."
Ebert's smile was cold. "Emotions? No… this is all just for fun. But enough games—it's time to advance my plan."
He paused, his gaze sharp. "Teacher Katsuragi."
The man in protective gear stiffened. Slowly, he removed his gas mask. The audiences gasped collectively, their jaws dropping.
"Wait—is that… Katsuragi Takumi?"
"It must be! His last name… Katsuragi!"
"If he weren't important, he wouldn't even appear on screen!"
The chat group of interdimensional spectators lit up instantly:
Funina: "Whoa, could that really be Katsuragi Takumi—Battle Rabbit's grandfather?"
Walnut: "It looks like it. I didn't expect him to be working with Ebert!"
Firefly: "Does that mean he's a villain too?"
March Seven: "No way… there's no way Battle Rabbit's family would betray him… right?"
"But then… what will happen to Sento now?!"
---
Ebert's Sinister Plan
Ebert's voice carried authority as he declared, "Once we gather the remaining Lost Energy Bottles, the gateway to a new world will open!"
Shinobu Katsuragi frowned. "Why did you kill Shimizu?"
Ebert's expression remained calm, almost casual. "Because he was too talkative. He might have leaked vital information."
"You kept him alive before," Shinobu pressed.
"Yes," Ebert admitted with a faint smile. "He was useful—he could become a Lost Smasher. But now? He's worthless."
Shinobu's face darkened. "Without test subjects capable of becoming Lost Smashers, we are at a dead end."
Ebert waved away his concerns. "Then we'll use Kamen Riders as test subjects. Isn't that better? They already push themselves to the brink of their limits."
Shinobu hesitated. "It's true… they can reach the threshold required to become Lost Smashers. But the Genius Form—the Founder's form—cannot synchronize with the Lost Energy Bottles. There's no certainty it will succeed."
Ebert stepped closer, placing a hand on Shinobu's shoulder. His tone was almost mocking.
"Certainty is your job to provide, isn't it?"
Then his gaze turned toward Utsumi. His voice rose with excitement.
"Speed up the production of Lost Smashers. For this… I will unify this entire nation!"
---
Doubt and Conflict
Back with the others, Gris delivered the news with a heavy voice.
"Your father and Ebert… are colluding."
Sento's face hardened. His chest tightened.
"What did you say?"
Gris didn't flinch. "The worst-case scenario, Sento, is that your father may be the mastermind behind everything."
"That's impossible!" Sento's voice cracked with disbelief. His father, the man he once admired, the one he believed to be gone—how could he be the enemy?
"Then explain this!" Gris snapped. "Why won't your father see you? Why does he hide in the shadows?"
The tension mounted until Wan Zhang stepped between them.
"Enough! Arguing won't solve anything. First, we need to confirm whether he's truly alive—or if this is just another one of Ebert's tricks."
---
The Battle at the Eastern Capital
The broadcast resumed. The Western Capital's army had launched a sudden assault on the Eastern Capital Government Residence. Chaos erupted as explosions tore through the once-stable city center.
Sento and Steve rushed into the fray. Standing before them, calm and collected, was Ebert himself.
"You two came all the way here today," Ebert said with a faint smile. "How entertaining."
Sento's eyes burned with determination. "Stop pretending. Where is my father?!"
Ebert spread his hands innocently. "Your father? I don't know what you're talking about."
"Don't play dumb!" Sento's shout echoed across the battlefield. "You know where he is! Tell me!"
But before Ebert could answer, Steve cut in sharply.
"Right now, our priority is to protect Eastern Capital!"
Together, they transformed, their armor gleaming as they charged forward.
The clash was brutal. Sento fought with all his strength, but Ebert's power overwhelmed him. Steve, meanwhile, had already exhausted his energy and was forced to cancel his transformation.
Ebert's smile widened. "It's time for the real show."
He raised his hands, and in an instant, a massive vortex of darkness condensed in the sky. The space warped and twisted into a swirling black hole, sucking in everything around it.
"The Black Hole Ends!" Ebert's voice thundered.
"Goodbye!"
Steve's eyes widened in horror. "What… what is that thing?!"
The black hole grew larger and larger, spinning violently. Its abyssal center devoured everything in its path. Buildings crumbled into stone fragments, pulled upward and swallowed whole.
The official residence below was no exception. It disintegrated, vanishing into the terrifying void.
The sky was filled with chaos and despair, the black abyss consuming all hope.
patreon (Obito_uchiha)