Upon hearing the news, Natsumi decided to go to the hospital to visit Officer Yashiro. Raven accompanied her.
The city hospital was already overcrowded with victims, overflowing with people who had inhaled the black mist and fallen into a coma.
Entering the main hall, Raven and Natsumi saw a helpless Yusuke Onodera standing there, seemingly having lost all fighting spirit.
"What's the situation?" Tsukasa Kadoya rushed in from outside. Several injuries were still visible on his face.
"She's badly injured, and she also inhaled some of the black gas," Yusuke said.
"She might even turn into a Gurongi," Tsukasa said, his brow furrowed. "The Gurongi race is naturally aggressive. If all humans turn into Gurongi, the world is over."
"Why did this happen? Didn't you already stop their game?" Yusuke grabbed Tsukasa's collar, demanding angrily. "What's going on now?"
"He wasn't supposed to awaken," Tsukasa said calmly, removing Yusuke's hand. He then glanced at Raven and continued, "But everything he said came true. For unknown reasons, the Ultimate Darkness has revived."
"It's just like when our world was attacked. The phenomena of destruction have appeared."
"Your world? What does that mean?" Yusuke asked, confused.
"We are from other worlds." At this point, Tsukasa felt there was nothing left to hide.
"We're here to save the world..." Natsumi added.
Just then, more and more injured people entered the hospital, victims of the proliferating Gurongi attacks, or those who had fallen unconscious after inhaling the black mist.
"If this continues, everyone will turn into Gurongi. I can't fight anymore..." Yusuke Onodera had completely lost his will to fight.
"That guy is already here." Raven looked up in a certain direction. He could sense the presence of the Gurongi King there.
Tsukasa remained silent for a long time, then finally made up his mind and walked outside.
"Tsukasa, you might turn into a Gurongi too!" Natsumi cried out in worry.
"I'm not from this world. Maybe I was the same kind of being as the Gurongi all along," Tsukasa replied. He then walked out, intending to fight the Gurongi King to the death.
"Raven-san..." Seeing Tsukasa about to face the Gurongi King alone, Natsumi looked to Raven for help, instinctively grabbing his hand. She seemed to be placing all her hope in him.
"Wait here. I'll be right back."
Raven savored the soft touch of her hand. Natsumi, meanwhile, felt a shock run through her, as if she had been electrocuted. Her face flushed, and she thought, How can I be thinking such things at a time like this?
After letting go of her hand, Raven left the hospital. However, he didn't intend to immediately go and support Tsukasa. Instead, he planned to follow the tradition of Kamen Rider Garren's Tachibana-senpai and observe for a while. After all, watching Decade struggle was an entertaining sight, and he could witness one of the most famous scenes: the root of all evil, the Death Question.
Thus, among the Riders, only Yusuke Onodera remained in the hospital, indifferent to the hordes of Gurongi outside. Previously, he had only fought to protect Officer Yashiro's smile, lacking a grand ideal of protecting the smiles of all humanity.
Once Officer Yashiro's intensive care room opened for visitors, Yusuke walked in.
On the other side, Tsukasa Kadoya crashed his motorcycle through a group of Gurongi on the street. He then transformed into Decade, ready to face the Gurongi King, N-Gamio-Zeda, who stood atop a building.
But once again, Decade was no match for him, getting punched off the rooftop.
This scene was witnessed by Raven, who arrived soon after and secretly observed. Honestly, despite Decade's impressive setup, he suffered just as many losses as other Riders. The main difference was that most of his losses happened when facing monsters, not during Rider conflicts. In other words, he was an expert in Rider civil war but struggled against monsters.
Falling to the ground, Decade was surrounded by dozens of charging Gurongi. He swung his Ride Booker wildly, but facing the overwhelming numerical advantage of the Gurongi army, he was fighting a losing battle. He was eventually beaten until his transformation broke.
"Damn it, am I really going to die in this world?"
"Don't be ridiculous!"
Even in his human form, Tsukasa Kadoya did not give up.
Just then, the roar of a motorcycle echoed in the distance. Yusuke Onodera had arrived. After being guided by the now stabilized Officer Yashiro, he had finally overcome his confusion and decided to fight with all his might.
Unfortunately, his moment of glory was short-lived. Kuuga, which Yusuke had transformed into, was instantly reverted to his human form by a shockwave from the floating Gurongi King. He was now on the ground, a comrade in misfortune with Tsukasa.
The difference in power level was simply too great. For two Riders who didn't even have their Final Forms to face an enemy stronger than a TV series' Final Boss, there was no way to win without the ultimate Rider faith boost.
"Do you see? Humans who seek power and long for war will inevitably become Gurongi," N-Gamio-Zeda declared to them.
"That's not true! The reason he fights is to end war!" Tsukasa struggled to his feet.
"What?"
"Even if he must fall into darkness, he wants someone else to smile. I firmly believe that. If this guy wants to protect the smiles of humans, then I'll protect his smile."
Tsukasa pointed at Yusuke, regaining his usual confidence. "You know, this guy has a surprisingly nice smile."
"Here it comes," Raven, observing in secret, looked forward to the moment. The authentic Death Question was about to unfold before him.
"Who exactly are you?" N-Gamio-Zeda was utterly confused by Tsukasa's bombastic remarks.
Despite his injured and defeated appearance, Tsukasa exuded an invincible spirit. He pulled the Decade Card from his card holder.
He replied to the Gurongi King: "I'm just a passing-through Kamen Rider."
"Remember that!"
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