The morning sun had barely risen when Kouga stirred. Mei and Kiana were still sleeping peacefully—one on each side, their warmth pressing against him. Kouga had to grit his teeth to keep himself still. Two beautiful girls, asleep on me like this… focus, Kouga. Focus.
But peace never lasted.
From the corner of the room, the Battacandroid floated over, its mechanical wings buzzing. It projected a holographic screen in front of Kouga.
And there she was.
Kouga's eyes narrowed the moment he saw her face."…Bronya Zaychik."
One of the two people who had framed Ryoma. She was approaching this very building. Behind her marched a hulking mecha—Project Bunny—its massive shield gleaming on its right arm, a cannon mounted on its left.
Kouga's blood ran cold.
He shook Mei and Kiana awake immediately."Up! Both of you—now!"
"Eh? Senpai—what's—" Kiana blinked sleepily, only for her eyes to widen as Kouga's form was engulfed in a crimson glow.
Kamen Rider Wizard.
The ring clicked against the Wizardriver."TELEPORT, PLEASE!"
A magical circle flared beneath their feet, light swallowing them whole. In an instant, the three of them reappeared atop a building several blocks away.
Mei gasped, steadying herself. "I… I'm fine. But that—teleportation felt… so natural."
Kiana rubbed her eyes, bewildered. "Senpai—what the heck was that for?!"
Kouga exhaled, keeping his tone even. "Remember the two people who framed your father, Mei?"
Her eyes hardened. "…Yes."
The Battacandroid replayed the hologram. Bronya's silver hair glinted in the sun as she advanced, the giant mecha at her back.
"Well, one of them is here," Kouga continued. "Her name's Bronya. And she's after us."
Mei and Kiana stared at the projection. Kiana frowned. "But… why us?"
"Not us," Kouga corrected, his voice low. He glanced at Mei. "You. Specifically what's inside you."
Mei's breath caught, but before she could speak, Kouga flicked another ring."DEFEND, PLEASE!"
A shimmering barrier unfolded, wrapping around the entire rooftop. Mei and Kiana now stood inside a fortress of light.
Mei's voice wavered. "Kouga-kun… what are you going to do?"
Kouga cracked his knuckles, eyes locked toward Bronya's direction."…Clean up a mess."
Horror flickered in Mei's eyes. "You're not—" She swallowed. "…You're not going to—"
"I'm not going to kill her," Kouga cut in firmly. "I'll just make sure she can't touch us. Then we'll be free to move without her breathing down our necks."
Both girls visibly relaxed at that.
Kiana crossed her arms stubbornly. "Then I'm coming too—"
"No." Kouga's voice was sharp, but calm. "Stay with Mei. Protect her. I trust you with that. You can leave the barrier if you must, but for now—stay safe."
Before either girl could argue, Kouga detransform from kamen rider wizard. Red energy licked across his body as his form shifted.
GekiRed.
With a single leap, Kouga launched skyward, the sheer force of his takeoff blasting a shockwave across the rooftop. Mei and Kiana shielded their faces from the wind.
When they lowered their arms, Kouga was already gone—only the fading rumble of his jump remained.
Kiana's lips twisted into a pout."Tch… stupid senpai. Always running off alone."
A few minutes earlier…
Back in the building Kouga had whisked Kiana and Mei away from, a faint mechanical hum echoed.
Bronya Zaychik stepped through the shattered doorway, her boots making no sound against the dust-covered floor. Behind her, Project Bunny floated steadily, its shield and cannon gleaming faintly in the gloom.
She raised her hand, and a translucent blue interface unfolded before her. Lines of data flickered as her cybernetic systems scanned the room.
The bed sheets were ruffled, warmth still lingering. Scattered empty cans of food lay on the floor. A faint trace of residual energy pulsed like aftershocks in the air.
Bronya levitated forward, her face expressionless as her systems processed the data. After several seconds, she reached a conclusion.
"Contacting Matushka…"
Her voice was flat, almost robotic, as the comm-link established.
"Matushka, Bronya has detected residue of the Third Herrscher. Probability of the Herrscher having companions is… 99.9%."
Cocolia's voice crackled through, cool and commanding:
"Good. What is your position?"
Bronya's eyes flickered with digital light as more readings filled her HUD.
"The Bronya is inside an abandoned building. The Bronya has also detected an unknown energy signature residing here. Probability it belongs to the Herrscher's companion: 99.99%."
A pause. Then Cocolia's tone sharpened.
"An unknown energy… interesting. Good work, Bronya. Continue with the investigation. We must secure the Herrscher."
Bronya's reply was immediate, her tone unwavering.
"Да, Matushka."
The signal cut off.
Project Bunny whirred behind her, its optics scanning alongside her own. Bronya's eyes narrowed as she followed the residual traces.
Project Bunny's optics flared red. With a metallic clang, it thrust its massive shield forward—just in time to intercept an incoming strike. The impact rippled across the barrier like a stone dropped in water.
Bronya's eyes narrowed as Project Bunny swung its shield with mechanical force, hurling the attacker across the room. Dust exploded from the crash, but the figure rose almost instantly.
A man in a tight, skin-hugging combat suit, helmet shaped like a tiger's head. Kouga—now as GekiRed.
Her HUD scanned the readings, and the results flashed.
Unknown subject. Energy signature: match. Source of anomalous readings confirmed.
"Hostile intent recognized. Subject unknown," Bronya intoned flatly, her voice as mechanical as her partner. "Surrender the Third Herrscher and come with the Bronya quietly."
Kouga cracked his neck and tightened his stance."Yeah… how about, no."
Bronya's eye flickered once, then steadied."Negotiation failed. Recommended action: eliminate."
Project Bunny's cannon roared, sending a barrage of plasma fire. Kouga blurred, dodging each blast with predatory grace. Sparks scattered as he spun his GekiNunchaku, deflecting bolts like swatting flies.
Then the machine lunged, its lance-like cannon arm aiming to impale. Kouga caught it mid-thrust, muscles straining, ki flaring crimson around him.
With a roar, he crushed the weapon in his grip, shattering it into useless scrap. His leg ignited with fiery aura as he spun and delivered a kick that dented Project Bunny's shield inward, steel screeching under the force.
Bronya's HUD flared warnings—both armaments disabled. Her eyes flickered. Retreat protocol initiated.
But Kouga was already there, blocking her path. "Going somewhere?"
He blurred forward, fists glowing with ki, and unleashed a storm of blows. Each strike rattled the mech's frame until finally its head caved in with a thunderous crunch. Project Bunny slumped to the ground, sparks sputtering out.
Bronya fell with it, knees trembling. Yet even then, she staggered upright, pulling a combat knife from her belt.
"The Bronya… will fulfill her mission."
Her small frame launched forward, blade flashing. Kouga sighed, caught her wrist mid-swing, and with one swift motion disarmed her. The knife clattered to the ground. His other hand tapped her temple lightly—just enough force to drop her into unconsciousness.
He exhaled. "Guess I'll take that as your surrender."
Kouga slung the limp girl over his shoulder, dragging the ruined Project Bunny with his other hand. "We'll get some answers out of you later."
But then—
KRRRZZZHHH—BOOOOM!
A massive pillar of purple lightning erupted in the distance, splitting the night sky like a spear of wrath. It came from the direction he had left Kiana and Mei.
Kouga froze. His heart dropped. His thoughts turned into one sharp curse.
…Fuck.
After Kouga left to confront Bronya, the room grew quieter.
Kiana and Mei sat together inside the shimmering magic barrier Kouga had left behind. Around them, several small, mechanical support drones whirred and hovered, glowing with soft blue light.
Kiana grinned, reaching out to poke at one of the robots as it playfully bobbed in response."Kouga-senpai really has cute stuff, right, Mei-senpai?"
Mei's lips curved faintly, but her eyes lingered on the distance. "Yes… they are cute." Still, unease pulled at her voice.
Kiana leaned back, hands behind her head. "You saw how Kouga shredded through those zombies, Mei-senpai. He'll be fine." Her tone carried full faith—childlike, unwavering.
Mei smiled at Kiana's optimism, but her worry remained. She rose quietly and walked toward the barrier's edge. The glowing circle of runes pulsed in steady rhythm, humming with protective power. Safe, yes. They could even dispel it if they wanted. But something in Mei's chest ached. Part of her wanted to break through it, to run after Kouga.
Her eyes narrowed. A faint pink line began to crawl across the magic circle like a crack in glass.
And then—
'Well, isn't that an interesting thing…'
The voice echoed inside her skull. Cold, familiar. Mei froze.
She didn't need to look far. Her shadow stretched unnaturally, peeling itself from the ground. It rose upward, taking shape—her own form, but darker, shimmering with purple lightning.
The Herrscher's specter.
'Your little knight in golden armor has thrown himself into more danger than he realizes.'The shadow's eyes glowed like coals. 'Sooner or later, the Honkai will consume him. Turn him into a monster. Quite ironic, don't you think?'
Mei's breath caught. Her hands trembled. "N-no… that's not true. He looked fine. He—he is fine."
The specter tilted its head mockingly.
'Maybe he's just acting, keeping up a brave face so you won't worry.'
Its laugh was cruel, echoing like cracking thunder.
'But he will die. And I suspect it will be very soon.'
The barrier flickered as corruption spread like veins across its surface. Sparks rippled, blue fighting against violet.
Mei stumbled backward, horror widening her eyes. She wanted to reject the words, to push them away—but a sliver of fear rooted deep. What if it was true? What if she lost him?
She turned, gaze darting to the window. She could run. She could find him. She needed to—
But the specter's voice cut through again, sharp and merciless.
'Even so, then what? Do you truly believe you can reach him in time?'
Mei's lips parted. No answer came. Her heart pounded, but doubt curled tight inside.
The shadow smirked.
'Good. At last… you listen.'
It dissolved into sparks, flowing into her chest. Her body jolted as purple lightning danced across her skin. Pain and power collided in a single rush.
Her voice broke as the transformation consumed her again, eyes glowing, wings of crackling thunder unfurling behind her.
The Herrscher of Thunder stood where Mei had been.
Yet even as the storm roared within, a thought whispered in Mei's fading heart—
Gomenasai… Kouga-kun.
Back to the present.
Kouga—still in GekiRed form—rushed toward the pillar of violet lightning. He carried the unconscious Bronya in one arm and the battered remains of Project Bunny in the other.
The moment he arrived, his heart clenched. Kiana was locked in battle against the Herrscher of Thunder—against Mei. Sparks shredded the air as Kiana fired shot after shot, darting back only when Kouga's support drones pulled her away from a near miss.
Setting Bronya down, Kouga tossed Project Bunny aside to the drones and sprinted forward.
"Kouga-senpai! Finally—you're late!" Kiana shouted while dodging another crack of lightning.
Kouga transformed into Kamen Rider Stronger, electricity sparking around his frame. His voice cut through the chaos, sharp with confusion:"What happened? I was only gone for thirty minutes!"
Kiana shook her head, still firing. "Don't know, don't care! We just need to get Mei back!"
The Herrscher's head turned. Her eyes glowed like twin storms as her voice lashed out."So… the clown returns. It's time you paid for humiliating me!"
"Mei!" Kouga called back, but the Herrscher was already on him, fist glowing with lightning.
Kouga met her strike with his own. The collision sent a shockwave that rattled the ruined buildings around them.
She followed with another blow, slamming into his chest and forcing him back. She smirked, pressing in for the finish—but her strike passed straight through as his body dissolved into dust.
Before she could react, Stronger reformed above her, crashing down with a Rider Kick that blasted her through the floor below.
"Are you trying to kill her, you moron?!" Kiana yelled, aghast.
"That's not even enough to scratch her," Kouga muttered.
The Herrscher shot back into the air, angrier than ever, dust falling from her shoulders. Kouga extended his arms, channeling his electromagnetism. Every shard of metal in the area—street signs, pipes, steel beams—ripped free and hurtled toward her. She dodged, blasted, and struck them down, but the sheer numbers overwhelmed her.
Finally, the storm of metal wrapped around her like chains, pinning her in place.
"Damn it! Damn you! Damn your cursed power!" the Herrscher screamed, thrashing against her bonds.
Kouga's gaze hardened. Then an idea—a reckless, stupid idea—flashed across his mind.
"Kiana!" he called.
"Huh?" Kiana glanced at him, confused.
"I'm… sorry in advance for what I'm about to do."
Her brows furrowed. "Wait—what?!"
Kouga detransformed, armor vanishing in crackles of light. He stood there, vulnerable, just as the Herrscher shattered her bindings with a roar.
"Idiot!" Kiana lunged to protect him—but the drones grabbed her arms, holding her back.
The Herrscher charged, lightning crackling along her fist. Kouga sidestepped at the last second, seizing her wrist. He pulled her close, closing the distance until—
Their lips met.
The Herrscher's eyes widened in shock. For a moment, her entire body stiffened. She tried to pull away, tried to strike him with her free hand, but his grip was unyielding.
Then Kouga deepened it. A fierce, relentless kiss that drowned her rage and burned through her storm.
Her strength faltered. Her attacks slowed. And finally—her body went limp. She collapsed unconscious into his arms.
Kouga pulled back, gasping for breath. He barely had a second to recover before—
THWACK!
A furious Kiana's boot smashed into his ribs, sending him flying into a pile of rubble.
"YOU PERVERT! HENTAI! BASTARD!" she shrieked, cheeks red as lightning bolts of her own fury cracked in the air.
Kouga groaned, holding his side. "Ow… "