"Now all we need is to locate where the Herrscher is," Theresa said firmly.
"Leave it to me." Kouga tapped his belt, Kallen still perched on his helmet like a tiny commander. In a shimmer of light, he summoned all of his support units—Candroids, Foodroids, and Plasmonsters—sending them scurrying and flying across the academy grounds to scout.
Theresa raised a brow, crossing her arms. "Y'know, sometimes I have to say, your powers are unfair."
Kouga only shrugged, as if it couldn't be helped.
Minutes passed as the two found a half-broken ledge on a nearby building to sit and wait, watching the scouts move across the grounds.
Kouga finally broke the silence. "Hold on… aren't Honkai eruptions only supposed to produce one Herrscher?"
"Normally," Theresa agreed, her sharp eyes scanning the campus below. The once-familiar grounds of Chiba Academy were now drowned in a faint violet mist of Honkai energy.
She continued, her tone more clinical now. "This isn't really a new Herrscher. More like… a pseudo one. The Science Department said that after observing the wavelength, it's slightly weaker than the Third Herrscher wave. They believe it's because of the absence of a Herrscher's control in Nagazora. The remaining massive amount of Honkai energy started to condense together."
Theresa clasped Judah tighter in her hands. "This Honkai energy is trying to give birth to a new Herrscher. However, the scientists confirmed it won't be enough to form a complete Herrscher Core. The process will be slow."
Kouga gave a curt nod. "So they want us to eliminate this one before she becomes a real threat. Got it."
Kallen, still sitting proudly on his helmet, nodded as well, her tiny hands folded in determination.
A faint mechanical buzz reached Kouga's ears. He turned just in time to see a familiar figure flitting through the air—a Foodroid, one of the Nuggegyroika. This one was the nugget-shaped scout, Nuggemede.
"Looks like they found her," Kouga muttered, eyes narrowing as the Foodroid projected a faint blue hologram. The image shimmered into a map of Chiba Academy's main building, lines marking a classroom on the third floor. At the center of the room was a pale girl, sitting silently amidst a nest of twisting green vines that had grown to cover desks, walls, even the ceiling.
"She's on the third floor, main building," Kouga explained quickly. "The pseudo-Herrscher's powers look plant-based… probably controlling vines. And judging by this," he gestured at the hologram, "she's the nexus point."
Theresa tightened her grip on Judah, her expression hard. "Then it's simple. We cut straight through and put her down before she can finish forming."
From atop Kouga's helmet, Kallen folded her tiny arms, her chibi form looking oddly serious. "So what's the plan? You two going to storm in there like a pair of brutes?"
"Nothing complicated," Theresa replied bluntly, already walking toward the ruined street that led to the academy gates. "We go in, we neutralize her, and we clean up whatever Honkai spawns she's made. The faster the better."
Kouga gave a sharp nod, calling the kamen rider's support robot back
The three of them—Theresa, Kouga, and Kallen perched firmly on his helmet—moved in unison, their pace quickening into a sprint as they closed in on Chiba Academy.
When Kouga and Kallen finally reached the source, they stepped into a classroom that looked much like the others. Desks were overturned, scattered across the floor. The bodies of students lay crumpled against the walls, their faces pale and motionless. But the most unsettling sight was the thick mass of vines spreading outward from the center of the room, as if the building itself was being swallowed whole.
At the heart of it all sat a lone student. Her long purple hair draped down to the middle of her back, and her white Chiba Academy uniform was torn and tattered, barely clinging together. She didn't even react to their presence. Instead, her dull green eyes were fixed on the chalkboard as if she were trapped in some private world.
"It seems she's not as sharp as Mei was," Kouga murmured, his voice low. He stepped aside, allowing Theresa to move forward.
With Oath of Judah strapped to her back, Theresa approached the girl cautiously, her eyes narrowing with sympathy rather than hostility. Her voice dropped to a whisper."Sorry to have kept you waiting… let me end your suffering."
Her tone grew heavier, tinged with sorrow."You must be in great pain. Your body's being eaten away by Honkai energy, and yet… a part of you is still conscious, isn't it?"
She drew out one of Judah's chains. The great cross extended, its sides unfolding like wings as twelve golden spears emerged—six gleaming on each side. Grasping one, Theresa aimed it at the girl's heart."Let me release you."
But before she could thrust the weapon forward, the vines twitched. Kouga's instincts flared—danger.
"Theresa, move!"
His form shifted in a flash of heat, his armor burning red as he switched into Kamen Rider W: HeatMetal. Swinging his staff with precision, he pushed Theresa to the left just as the pseudo-Herrscher's vines lashed out like serpents.
The chains clattered as Theresa stumbled, catching herself but wincing as one vine grazed her side, leaving a shallow cut. Kouga, protected by his Rider armor, took the brunt of the strike unharmed.
They both landed a few steps back, tense and ready, as the classroom's quiet dread gave way to the sound of vines writhing and tearing through wood and tile.
The pseudo-Herrscher had finally stirred.
"Stupid people! I knew that you guys would come to eliminate me!" the pseudo-Herrscher snarled, her voice echoing unnaturally as she rose from the floor. Vines coiled around her body, lifting her into the air like a twisted throne.
Her dull green eyes burned now with malice as she shouted,"Why am I the one who is always being unfortunate? Mom always hated me, always scolded me even though I made a tiny mistake!"
Her arms spread wide, the vines snapping against the walls with sharp cracks."My classmates always alienated me, bullied me…" Her face twisted into a cruel smile. "However, those nasty guys are already dead. I have obtained the strength that surpasses everyone."
The vines pulsed violently with Honkai energy as she declared:"I am the chosen one!"
Theresa's eyes narrowed, her voice filled with grim certainty."Her inner heart has already been controlled by Honkai since the beginning!"
Beside her, Kouga braced himself, Kallen clinging tightly to his helmet as the three of them glared up at the girl who had fully surrendered to corruption.
"Go to hell!" the Herrscher screamed. Vines shot forward like arrows, tearing through desks and walls as they lunged at them.
Kouga shifted, his MetalShaft flashing as he spun it with expert precision, blocking and severing every vine that struck at him. Sparks flew as the corrupted plant matter shattered against his weapon.
Theresa planted her feet using Oath of Judah as a shield. The vines slammed into it again and again, the sound of the impacts like thunder shaking the ruined classroom.
Suddenly, Theresa stumbled forward, dropping to one knee. Her hand pressed against the shallow cut on her side—the one she had taken earlier when Kouga shoved her away from the vines.
Kallen cried out in alarm from atop Kouga's helmet."Miss Theresa, are you alright?"
Theresa grimaced, her face pale. "I think… there's poison on the vine."
Kouga's fists tightened around the MetalShaft. "Damn it! We need to escape from here quickly, and cure the poison!"
His eyes darted toward the shattered window at the far end of the classroom. Without hesitation, he grabbed Theresa by the front of her uniform and swung her up into his arms."Hang on, Kallen!" he barked before leaping straight through the broken frame.
The rush of wind roared around them as they plummeted out of the school. Kouga twisted in midair, landing heavily on his armored feet before straightening. Theresa's body went limp in his arms, her breathing shallow.
'We need to retreat first and cure Theresa.' Kouga thought grimly, his concern hidden behind the mask of his Rider form.
"This way!"
The sudden shout drew his attention. A short distance away, a tall woman stood framed against the ruins. Her long, cherry-pink hair fluttered in the breeze, her shrine maiden robes dusted with ash. A purple scarf trailed from her neck, and at her side rested a fox mask that glinted faintly in the light. The most striking feature, however, were the two soft rabbit-like ears rising from her head.
With no time to question, Kouga adjusted his grip on Theresa and followed.
They pushed through the wreckage and out of the corrupted school grounds. When they finally stopped, Kouga lowered his gaze to their mysterious rescuer, Theresa still lying unconscious in his arms.
"Thank you, miss…?" he asked carefully.
The woman gave a small bow, her eyes calm yet sorrowful."Sakura," she answered softly. "Yae Sakura."