Douluo Dalu Kamen Rider Ohma Zio

The stars stretched wide over Shrek Academy, silent sentinels watching from above. Night had fallen deep and cold, casting silver shadows upon the buildings and training grounds. The group had returned in silence, their hearts still weighed down by what had occurred in the depths of Star Dou Forest.

They said nothing as they split off one by one, retreating into their rooms, each step echoing with fatigue not of the body—but of the soul.

No one called out goodnight.

There was nothing left to say.

While this is happening, Flender right now awaken from the sleep after sensing a few presence around as the silence of the night broken by the step.

He knows that the eight student of his from the Shrek academy already coming back from the hunt in the Star Dou Forest.

Now adding one more, the student of Shrek might be increasing.

---

Li Wei Room

The door clicked shut behind him.

Li Wei stood there for a moment, staring at the walls of his private room. The lantern light was gentle, illuminating the sparse furniture: a bed, a desk, a shelf lined with a few books and spare Rider cards. His Diendriver sat on the desk, silent now, like a loyal companion exhausted from battle before he dismiss it all into ether.

He walked over and sat at the edge of the bed, his fingers resting on his lap.

The roar of the beast echoed in his mind again.

A pressure unlike anything before. Even in a world filled with spirit beasts and battle-hardened warriors, that thing had stood apart—something beyond comprehension.

It had looked at them… like a person might look at ants.

And yet—it had stopped.

Li Wei frowned, brows knitting together.

Why?

He could still feel the moment the pressure had surged. It wasn't when the group attacked. It was when Xiao Wu had been in danger.

He had seen it. The beast's focus. Its intent.

It reacted to her.

He reached for his Diendriver and slid a card out.

The surface gleamed faintly under the lantern light.

No alerts from the system. No new quests. No forced battles or strange hints. Just silence.

That bothered him more than anything.

He stood up and walked to the window. Outside, moonlight bathed the academy in a gentle silver hue.

"...What are you, really?" he whispered to the night. "And why do I feel like I've stepped into something far older than me?"

There was no answer.

Only silence, and the quiet rustle of wind across the trees.

Those shadow beasts weren't ordinary.

He recalled each summon—every Rider card burned more spirit power now than ever before. The balance between power and cost was shifting.

And then... the finalformrides.

Meng Yiran had wielded hers like a queen of destruction. Xiao Wu, dancing with divine grace under his power.

FinalFormRide works on people here. Even without the system guiding me... I'm growing.

He exhaled and leaned back, arms behind his head. The stars peeked through the window.

"I'll keep going," he whispered, voice steady, "no matter what."

---

Tang San Room

A single candle flickered on his desk, casting a soft glow across the parchment where he had been writing cultivation insights. But the ink had dried mid-sentence, the brush lying untouched for some time.

Tang San sat near the window, not moving, not speaking.

The moonlight poured in, falling on the silver-blue vines coiled around his fingers—Blue Silver Grass, trembling faintly as if sensing his unease.

"I couldn't protect her," he said quietly.

His voice was steady, but hollow.

In his mind, he could still see Xiao Wu collapsing. The moment he had thrown himself over her, not knowing if he could shield her. Not knowing if he'd live another second.

And then—the roar. That pressure. The beast could have destroyed them all with a single swipe.

But it hadn't.

His eyes narrowed slightly.

Was it hesitation? Pity? Recognition?

He clenched his fists.

"Whatever it was… I need to be stronger."

The vines tightened, wrapping around his arms like steel cords.

Strong enough to never hesitate again. Strong enough that no one I care about will ever be in danger.

---

Xiao Wu Room

She lay curled up on her bed, clutching a plush rabbit to her chest.

The room was warm, but her skin felt cold.

The ceiling above seemed too vast, too empty—like a sky without stars.

She had been so helpless.

Frozen beneath the gaze of that spirit beast. She couldn't move. Couldn't think. Only feel the overwhelming wave of… something. Not just power.

Fear.

Ancient, soul-chilling fear.

She'd grown up in Star Dou Forest. Spirit beasts were her world.

But that creature—was beyond them all. Its roar had stirred something deep inside her. Something that didn't feel like fear alone.

It had felt like… loss.

A tear rolled down her cheek.

She hugged the rabbit tighter.

"San-ge… I'm sorry." As she felt the fear but it then reduce as she remember about someone.

He knows... my secret. And I know his.

Her fingers curled into the sheets. That moment of shared truth had felt like a lifeline. For the first time, she didn't feel like she was running alone.

But when she thought about Tang San... the old promises they made... the way he left her side again and again for strength...

He said he would protect me.

The memory stung more than she expected. She tried to defend him, to excuse him, but the ache in her heart remained.

Then there's Li Wei. Fighting Er Ming like that... showing me things that break Tang San's theories like they're toys.

She turned over, pressing her cheek to the pillow. Can beasts and humans... really coexist?