"We're almost at the finish line! It's time to decide the winner!" Old Carter shouted as his horse galloped wildly beneath him.
A hoarse laugh echoed from Johnny's flaming skull — it was hard to tell anymore whether it came from Johnny himself or from Zarathos.
At the same time, bursts of scorching fire roared from the exhaust pipes of Johnny's Harley, as if answering Carter Slade's challenge.
Zedd crouched low on his bike for the final sprint. "First place is mine—Zedd Oleg-da!"
Carter's horse and Johnny's motorcycle both erupted in blazing flames, their speed suddenly soaring to a level no less than Zedd's Striker bike.
But Zedd still had a secret weapon.
"My ride's been modified by Professor Ryōma himself! Sakura Hurricane Mode—activate!" Zedd raised a thumb and pressed a forbidden button.
Boom!
The Striker bike instantly broke the sound barrier with a deafening sonic boom and shockwave, blasting past the finish line first.
After crossing, Zedd gradually slowed to a stop. From the invisible Time Mazine, Woz leapt out, cleared his throat, and shouted loudly:
"Rejoice! The king who inherits the power of all Riders, the ruler of time who knows both past and future! Now he has gained the strength of yet another legendary Rider, transforming into Kamen Rider Zi-O—Hibiki Armor! And he has claimed the crown of the Demon Racing Tournament!"
Johnny and Carter, having extinguished their flames and returned to normal, looked speechlessly at Woz. Carter could only smile wryly and shake his head before turning his horse around.
"Johnny, from here on out, it's up to you."
"You're not coming with us?" Johnny pointed toward the ruins of the small town ahead.
Carter gently patted his old partner's neck and said softly,
"I really am old. What you just saw — that was my last flame. Take it, Johnny."
With that, Old Carter hummed a western folk tune as he rode away, his figure slowly fading into the horizon… and out of this world.
"Johnny, stop staring. Two watchdogs are here to greet us." Zedd stretched his shoulders and walked slowly toward the town.
Johnny turned to see Wind Demon and Water Demon standing guard at the entrance, glaring at them with cold, sinister eyes.
"What's the plan?" Johnny asked as he pulled a chain and a sawed-off shotgun from his bike's case.
Zedd flexed his Hibiki armor, feeling his hands itch for action. After all, racing was only a hobby — exorcising demons was the main profession of Hibiki.
Zedd drew out two thick red-hot drumsticks and picked the one closest to him. "You go on ahead. Leave these two to us."
Johnny, thinking only of Roxanne, didn't argue and strode into the town.
Wind Demon and Water Demon didn't stop him; each took on their respective opponents.
Zedd tapped his drumsticks together and asked casually,
"So which ugly freak are you — Wind or Water?"
His taunt made the creature sneer viciously before its body turned into a torrent of water that shot toward Zedd.
"Hah~! Let's have a little fun!" Zedd swung his stick and lashed out at the oncoming stream.
Splash!
A huge spray drenched Zedd from head to toe, while Water Demon remained completely unharmed. The creature couldn't resist mocking him:
"Are you stupid? You think two little sticks can hurt water?"
The drumsticks alone couldn't hurt Water Demon — but drumsticks plus a drum, combined with Zedd's newly learned Taiko Master technique, could absolutely blow him apart.
At first, Zedd had wanted to toy with the creature a bit longer, but since Water Demon opened with mockery, it would've been rude not to respond in kind.
Switching to the Slash Rider watch, Zedd pulled out his electric guitar and swung it toward Water Demon's head. Blue arcs of lightning danced along the strings, making the demon flinch and flee in panic.
Water Demon shifted between human and liquid form, darting away desperately. "Damn it!"
"Eh? Why are you running? I thought pure water doesn't conduct electricity. Oh, right — but you're not pure, are you? You're filthy hell sewage! Out of print, da!" Zedd laughed, twirling his guitar like a blade of time.
Slash! Slash!
Bolts of lightning flashed with each swing, striking Water Demon's body. The current scattered each time it entered, but — this was a desert town ruin! There wasn't enough water here to dissipate the charge.
Water Demon's screams grew weaker as his body twitched and stiffened, overloaded with electricity until he couldn't even cry out.
Zedd seized the chance, raised his guitar high, and smashed it down on Water Demon's head — but he didn't stop there. He then thrust the guitar straight into the demon's trembling body.
"Red Hot Chili Peppers—'Can't Stop.' A funeral song, just for you."
As he spoke, Zedd's right hand went wild on the pick, his left hand sliding up and down the frets, pouring his soul into the music.
Water Demon's eyes rolled white, foam spilling from his mouth; his body convulsed uncontrollably in time with the rhythm.
As the song reached its finale, the built-up electric energy inside him detonated all at once.
Boom!
With a foul burnt smell, Water Demon collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
"Ah~ amateurs will always be amateurs. Guess I'm no musical genius after all." Zedd sighed, unimpressed with his own performance.
The power of Hibiki-type Riders is tied to their mastery of musical arts. The Slash watch only summoned the Aozumi Frog Ride Beast; as an outsider, Zedd lacked true technique and couldn't unleash its full power.
But that was fine — because he still had Taiko Master.
Switching back to the Hibiki watch, Zedd gave the fallen Water Demon one final slash, then charged toward Wind Demon.
"Woz! Don't let him get away — I'm gonna pound him flat!"
"Damn it! Hell no!"
Seeing his comrade fall, Wind Demon tried to flee, but Woz wasn't about to let him go. Whipping out his ninja scarf, he turned it into a braided rope that spun into a whirlwind, sucking Wind Demon into its center.
"No—! Let me out! Let me out!" the trapped demon screamed in panic.
"Well done, Woz!"
Zedd pressed the finisher button on his driver and hurled a sound drum into the cyclone. The drum grew larger, pinning the struggling Wind Demon and slamming him back to the ground.
Zedd walked forward slowly, spinning his drumsticks twice. Flames of purification ignited at their tips.
The moment Wind Demon saw that fire, he knew he was done for. He frantically pleaded,
"No—! Please, don't! I beg you!"
"You've lost all market value… Out of print, da!" Zedd raised his sticks high and struck the drum.
Boom-boom-cha! Boom-boom-cha! DUANG!
Empowered by the Taiko Master technique, this Hibiki finisher was far stronger than the previous Slash one.
Zedd lifted his sticks for the final strike. "The performance is over!"
Bang!
Wind Demon was no more.
-----------------------
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(End of Chapter)