Douluo Dalu Kamen Rider Ohma Zio

The courtyard was still. Moonlight poured over the polished stone tiles, casting soft silver reflections onto the moss-lined walls. Not a whisper stirred in the air—only the distant rustle of leaves and the rhythmic chirping of crickets broke the quiet of midnight.

Li Wei stood beneath a towering tree, its branches stretched wide like protective arms. He wasn't tired. Not after the battles, the bonding, the adrenaline. Not after the moment where his soul had burned brighter than ever before. He had claimed his place, even if only in fragments.

He simply breathed, allowing the night to wash over him.

Then the world shifted.

A ripple passed through the air.

The sound of insect stopped.

The breeze died.

Moonlight dimmed—not from clouds, but as if the very sky was holding its breath. Li Wei's senses tensed. Instincts sharpened. He knew this feeling.

A presence—one that transcended even Zhao Wuji—settled upon the courtyard like the arrival of a silent god.

He turned slowly.

From the shadows of the garden wall, a figure emerged. Tall, broad-shouldered, cloaked in black robes that shimmered faintly like water reflecting golden scales. His hair was streaked with silver, yet his gaze burned with vitality.

"Grandfather," Li Wei said softly.

Crocodile Douluo did not answer at first. Instead, he raised a single hand, and the air shimmered once more. A dome of invisible energy descended soundlessly, forming a perfectly sealed space.

No sound could enter.

No gaze could pierce it.

Even within Shrek Academy, not even Flender or Zhao Wuji would notice.

"You reckless little brat," the old man finally growled.

Li Wei didn't flinch. He stood upright, meeting the weight of his grandfather's presence without retreat.

"You think because you've broken through Soul Ancestor, you can ignore danger? That spar with the Titan Giant Ape… Are you insane?"

"It wasn't a fight," Li Wei replied evenly. "It was a test. One I passed."

Crocodile Douluo's eyes narrowed. "You could have died. One wrong move—"

"But I didn't," Li Wei cut in, not harshly, but with quiet resolve. "And I wouldn't. Grandfather… I had to do it. Not just to prove myself to them—but to myself. I needed to know I wasn't just your protected heir. I needed to earn it."

Silence stretched between them.

The old man's face was stern, unreadable, but a flicker in his eyes betrayed him. When he spoke again, his tone had changed.

"I saw it. All of it."

Li Wei blinked.

"From the forest with the Meng family, to your time with the Shrek brats. Every clash. Every risk. Every choice. I was there. And I was ready to step in more than once."

"…But you didn't," Li Wei said, softer now.

Crocodile Douluo nodded.

"Because you stood on your own," he said. "You earned the respect of the Titan Giant Ape. You displayed judgment in battle. And… you used your soul skills not just to fight, but to lead. Even I wouldn't challenge that beast so directly. You did, without flinching."

He paused.

"I was furious. But I was proud."

Li Wei's breath caught in his throat.

The elder's eyes softened. "That courage… it befits our lineage. You're not just any spirit master. You're my grandson—and heir to a Super Douluo's legacy. One day, perhaps… beyond even that."

Li Wei looked away for a moment, heart thudding louder than before.

"Your fourth ability," Crocodile Douluo continued, his gaze keen once more, "the one you used—Final FormRide Activation."

Li Wei nodded.

"It does more than change form," the old man said slowly. "I saw it in that fight. It changes the one who receives it. The way that girls name Xiao Wu move when she change and it wasn't just stronger. She was more."

Li Wei smiled faintly. "The skill lets me convert Riders or allies into weapons or battle forms. But it does seem to... awaken something. I don't fully understand it yet."

"I do," his grandfather said. "It's not just power. It's belief. That skill… is you. You inspire change not with words, but by giving others the strength to break through."

A long pause passed between them.

Then Crocodile Douluo's tone turned more serious.

"The artifact you collected—take it out."

Li Wei's hand went to his dimensional ring. Slowly, he pulled out the familiar shape of the small round device—its face etched with silver grooves showing the picture of Rider half blue and half red, glowing faintly with unreadable energy.

The Ride Watch.

His fingers tightened around it.

Crocodile Douluo stepped forward, eyeing it carefully.

"This item is dense with spiritual energy," he murmured. "It doesn't feel like a normal spirit beast core or treasure. There's dimensional resonance… even time-based fluctuations."

Li Wei hesitated, then said, "It's called a Ride Watch."

His grandfather raised an eyebrow. "How do you know that?"

Li Wei paused for a beat. The lie slipped from his lips smoothly.

"One of the Veil Envoys said it… before disappearing. I just remembered."

Crocodile Douluo's eyes narrowed, studying him.

Li Wei kept his expression unreadable, but his heart beat faster. How long can I keep this up? he wondered. How long can I pretend I don't remember another life?

After a long moment, the elder nodded slowly.

"I see."

But there was something in his gaze—a flicker of suspicion, or perhaps curiosity—that didn't fade.

He stepped back.

"You should try meditating with it. It may unlock more than you expect."

Li Wei nodded. "I will."

Crocodile Douluo turned slightly, his cloak rustling.

Then he paused, and raised a hand once more.

A faint mark of light drifted through the air—shaped like a crocodile's eye. It settled gently on Li Wei's chest before vanishing.

"What was that?"

"A protective seal," the old man said. "It won't activate unless your life is in danger. It's the only thing I can do without drawing attention."

Li Wei lowered his head in respect. "Thank you."

The old man looked at him, his voice quiet now. "You may walk alone, Li Wei. You may hide your secrets, bear your burdens. But never forget… you are watched, protected… and loved."

He turned, melting into the night air like a phantom.

The barrier faded.

Sound returned. Crickets resumed their song. The breeze stirred the courtyard trees once more.

Li Wei stood in silence, the Ride Watch still in his hand.

His eyes, reflecting the moonlight, were firm with resolve.

"…I'll walk this path," he whispered. "No matter where it leads."