It had been 22 hours since Kiana was taken.
300 kilometers from Schicksal Headquarters — Helios Transport Vessel.
Aboard the ship were Sakura, Theresa, Himeko, Mei—and Kouga.Unlike the others, Kouga stood restrained, still untransformed, his body bound tightly by the chains of the Oath of Judas. Ever since Kiana's capture, his rage had been barely contained, simmering beneath the surface.
Himeko broke the tension."We're about to enter the HQ airspace."
She clicked her tongue in frustration."If we had the Hyperion, we would have got past these enemies."
Theresa crossed her arms."Stop complaining, Himeko. We can't deploy the Hyperion until we got that thing fixed."
Suddenly, multiple polyhedral constructs blinked into existence around Helios. A cold mechanical signal echoed across the bridge:
"Unauthorized access found. Purging targets."
Theresa snapped into action."They've found us out! Prepare enemy boarding action!"
In one swift motion, she released Kouga.
The moment the chains fell away, Kouga leapt from Helios. Midair, his body ignited in blazing light as he transformed into Kamen Rider OOO — Tajadol Combo. Flames wrapped around him like wings as he surged forward, tearing through the polyhedrons in a fiery rampage, each one obliterated in his path.
Himeko reported sharply,"A command ship is approaching."
Theresa clenched her teeth."Can we evade this?"
Before the thought could finish, Kouga slammed straight through the enemy command ship, punching a massive hole through its hull. He didn't stop—he looped back again and again, piercing it multiple times until the vessel finally ruptured and exploded into debris.
Theresa watched the destruction in stunned silence, one thought echoing in her mind:
Good thing someone like that is on our side.
Helios and Kouga continued their advance toward Schicksal Headquarters.
Theresa exhaled."We got rid of it."
Himeko scanned the area."Haven't been back for years. The HQ prepared quite a nice welcoming party for us."
Theresa frowned."How could they react so fast?"
Himeko tilted her head toward the console."Unidentified comm link trying to gain connection, Theresa."
The channel opened.
Otto's calm, condescending voice filled the bridge."How do you plan on using that toy of yours, Theresa? Be a good girl and go back. Everyone has their rebellion phase. I won't hold your immaturity against you."
Outside the ship, Kouga heard the voice through Helios' external comms. His eyes burned.
"OOOTTTOOOO...!"
The roar was so loud it reverberated through Helios itself.
Otto chuckled through the channel."Quite a beast you unleashed."
Theresa smiled thinly."You're as nice as I can remember, grandpa. However—"
Before Otto could respond, Helios' main cannon fired. A massive beam tore through the barrier surrounding Schicksal HQ, shattering it completely.
"—I've already made up my mind!" Theresa finished. "This time, I will not submit to you."
She cut the transmission.
"The main battery of Helios must cool off," Theresa ordered. "We can't fire again for a while. Evade satellite attack!"
Helios veered sharply as beams rained down, Kouga weaving through the fire alongside the ship, knocking aside threats before they could land a direct hit.
Then another alert blared.
Himeko shouted,"Theresa, we're getting Honkai readings at port side."
Theresa stiffened."What? This airspace should be covered by the Schicksal HQ defense network!"
She turned sharply."Kouga, do everything you can to wipe out the Honkai beasts surrounding Helios."
Kouga nodded once and shot back toward the ship, tearing through the incoming Honkai beasts with brutal efficiency.
But there were too many.
Several slipped through, slamming into Helios and overloading its defenses.
"Oh no!" Theresa shouted. "Our shields are falling! Helios' energy reserves are not enough to keep the shields up!"
Suddenly, a streak of crimson crashed onto Helios' surface.
A cluster of Honkai beasts was annihilated in a single strike.
Standing amid the wreckage was Himeko, clad in her Scarlet Fusion battlesuit, gripping a massive purple greatsword crackling with power.
She smirked confidently.
"Don't worry! It is time for the Far-East Division's ace to make her entrance."
With Kouga and Himeko holding the line, Helios continued to push through the hostile airspace, surrounded by swarming Honkai Beasts.
Theresa exclaimed from the bridge, "When did so many Honkai Beasts get here?"
Himeko, cleaving through a charging creature with her greatsword, replied, "I don't think we're the only uninvited guests here."
Theresa immediately issued orders. "Kouga, clear up the sky!" She then added, "I'll take the helm. Help clear up the deck, Himeko!"
Kouga nodded and launched back into the air, blasting apart every Honkai Beast that dared approach Helios from above.
On the deck, Himeko relentlessly cut down the monsters that slipped past Kouga's defenses and landed on the hull.
After several intense minutes, the number of Honkai Beasts finally began to thin. Kouga descended and landed beside Himeko as she muttered, "I guess that's it for now! Curses. The clouds are too thick for our optical devices."
Before either of them could relax, Theresa's voice crackled urgently over comms. "Watch out, Himeko, Kouga! I'm getting Honkai energy spikes around the transport ship!"
Suddenly, bolts of lightning rained down from the sky, slamming into the area around Helios. Kouga and Himeko leapt aside just in time as Himeko shouted, "Crap! What the hell is this?"
"Evade the lightning strikes!" Theresa warned.
Kouga shouted back, "You think we're just standing around out here?!"
Moments later, Theresa's voice returned, sharper than before. "Evasive action, Himeko! It's coming straight for us!"
With a thunderous crash, something massive descended from the storm clouds. A giant, heavily armored dragon-like Honkai Beast emerged—white and blue plating gleaming, glowing lines pulsing across its body as smoke poured from its maw.
The creature roared, shaking the air itself.
Kouga stared up at it and said, "You've got to be kidding me… that thing's a dragon."
The Honkai Beast lunged forward, slamming its massive claws toward Kouga and Himeko, but both dodged at the last moment.
Without hesitation, Kouga transformed into Kamen Rider Wizard. He raised his right hand and fitted the Miracle Wizard Ring, declaring, "If it wants a dragon fight… I'll give it one."
He activated the ring, and a vast magic circle formed in the sky. From it, Wizardragon burst forth, crashing headlong into the Honkai Beast.
The two dragons clashed in midair, spiraling upward. The Honkai Beast twisted the storm itself, summoning lightning to strike Wizardragon—but Wizardragon answered in kind, forming its own magic circles and hurling lightning back in retaliation.
Kouga leapt onto Wizardragon's back, gripping tight as the aerial battle escalated.
On the deck below, Himeko could only watch as the sky became a battlefield of dragons. Theresa's voice came through again. "Himeko! Anti-air systems of the Helios is back online! Give me the attack signal!"
Himeko grinned fiercely. "Hah. That's the best news for today."
She shouted upward, "Kouga, pull back! Helios anti-air cannons are online!"
Kouga nodded and pulled Wizardragon back just as Helios fired—a massive purple energy beam tearing through the sky and slamming into the Honkai Beast.
But instead of collapsing, the creature began to glow with an ominous purple light.
Himeko frowned. "What happened? Something's wrong with this dragon!"
"Careful!" Theresa warned. "Its Honkai level is still rising!"
With a furious roar, the dragon surged forward, now faster and stronger than before, slamming into Wizardragon with overwhelming force—yet still not enough to bring it down.
Himeko's eyes widened in realization. "Impossible… is it gaining power through these battles?"
The two dragons unleashed beams of energy at one another, their collision ripping shockwaves through the sky as explosions echoed across the battlefield.