"So, by using this Forbidden Apple Lockseed, I can freely enter and exit Helheim?" Raven's eyes immediately lit up when he saw this.
As for the so-called side effect on ordinary people, was he an ordinary person? His physical body was virtually immortal, and he could count the beings in the entire Rider world who could truly harm him on one hand. Even if he were to die, he still had two lives left. Therefore, this side effect was practically zero for him.
"Then let's begin."
Raven opened the Apple Lockseed in his hand.
"Apple!"
Immediately, a zipper opened in the sky above his head, and a large red apple descended. He then placed the Apple Lockseed onto the Driver, closed the Lockseed, and pressed the fruit-knife-shaped switch on the side of the Driver.
"Lock On!"
Subsequently, the apple split open and transformed into a red-and-white armor that covered Raven. Finally, a Rider appeared, clad in armor resembling that of an ancient general, wielding an apple shield and a long sword. The sheer presence was overwhelming.
"This is indeed powerful; it's on a completely different level from those A-Class Lockseeds." Raven felt the immense power of the Forbidden Apple Lockseed.
He casually waved his hand, and a rift leading to Helheim appeared before him. He stepped right in.
....
Inside Helheim.
The moment he entered this strange, alluring space, Raven felt an insidious power constantly assaulting him from all directions. For an ordinary person without a Driver, the situation would be extremely dangerous. They would be unable to resist the temptation and corrosion of Helheim and would eat the fruits on the trees.
Interesting.
They would then be transformed into an Inves. Most people would thus become mindless Inves, slaves of Helheim. Only a select few could transcend humanity and evolve into Over Lords.
He hadn't been walking in this strange forest for long when an illusory figure began observing Raven from the shadows.
It was DJ Sagara, the personification of the will of the Helheim Forest itself.
"The Forbidden Apple? Someone is actually able to use this Lockseed."
"However, I can't see through this person's identity or origin."
DJ Sagara couldn't clearly see who the figure beneath the armor was. A mysterious power was interfering with him. He felt that things were about to become interesting. He was quite pleased that the development of events had exceeded his expectations. After all, as an observer who had lived for countless ages, what he valued most was whether the "game" had any fun or surprises.
The reason he later chose Kouta Kazuraba as a potential contender for the Golden Fruit was precisely because he found Kouta's saint-like ideals so intriguing and different from the countless, predictable winners of the past. Perhaps a new outcome would finally emerge.
Raven also sensed someone watching him. He immediately stopped and tilted his head slightly.
Seeing this, DJ Sagara quickly disappeared. He didn't want to directly contact Raven yet; he wanted to observe how the other man would interfere with the battle over the Golden Fruit.
"Is that the will of Helheim? It seems the moment I entered this space, the other party noticed my existence." Raven quickly figured it out.
"Never mind him. Let me see if I can run into an Over Lord in this forest."
Raven felt the power of the Apple Lockseed to control Helheim wasn't enough; he wanted to gain this ability himself by consuming an Over Lord. Since consuming the Orphnoch in the Faiz world, he had confirmed his path of evolution: to one day gather the power of the Kaijin from all Rider worlds.
"Which lucky little darling will I run into?" Raven casually wandered through the Helheim Forest, attempting a chance encounter with the Over Lords here.
While searching for Over Lords, he also picked many fruits, obtaining three A-Class Lockseeds (Melon, Durian, and Peach) and several B-Class Lockseeds.
"It seems the natives here are all timid. I haven't run into a single one of them." Raven wandered for a good while, only encountering a few low-level Inves that foolishly attacked him. He hadn't even run into a formidable A-Class Inves.
"Oh well, I guess it's time to head back."
Just as he was about to leave, he suddenly noticed a familiar figure in red-and-black robes nearby. The figure was wearing a Sengoku Driver and harvesting fruits from the trees.
"It's you again, the Proud Banana."
The "Proud Banana" naturally referred to Kaito Kumon. Raven couldn't help but be amused at the sight. Why did he keep running into this guy these past few days?
Just as Raven was wondering whether he should "say hello," Kaito noticed Raven.
"Who are you?"
Seeing the red-and-white Rider clad in apple armor appear, the Proud Banana became extremely wary. Raven's interference outside had caused him to lose several Lockseeds today, forcing him to re-enter this forest to find new ones.
He immediately transformed into Baron, ready to fight.
"The red-and-white Rider... Though you look a little different from Kouta's description, you must be working with the guy who attacked him." Kaito didn't flinch. Holding his Banana Spear, he walked toward Raven, having already designated him as an enemy.
"This guy..."
Raven found Kaito's belligerence amusing. He had appeared before this guy in three different identities. Was he going to beat him up every single time?
It looks like you're going to have to swallow this frustration today, whether you like it or not.
It was also a good chance to test the power of the Apple Lockseed. Facing Baron's attack, Raven showed no mercy, demonstrating the Apple Lockseed's power by wielding his shield in one hand and his sword in the other, slashing toward Baron.
It took only a few attacks during a brief exchange for Baron to be defeated, losing his armor and disarmed. His spear fell, and his transformation was undone.
"Is that your fighting style? It's pathetic." Raven walked up, retracting his sword into the shield. He stood over the Proud Banana, who was lying on the ground, spitting and closing his eyes, and spoke with contempt.
"Ugh..." The Proud Banana knew he was no match for this red-and-white Rider, but being humiliated like this was incredibly frustrating. His pride had been utterly trampled.
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