Honkai: Star Rail — Kamen Rider!

BOOM!!

A deafening explosion rang out, flames surging across the scorched earth.

Before the fire could even settle, a figure shot skyward from the blaze—piercing into the open air.

It was Sora. Another Doomsday Beast had just fallen to his hand.

But as he rose above the battlefield, he realized the fight wasn't over—not even close. Across the planet, thunderous detonations echoed on all sides.

Some Rangers rained firepower from ships overhead. Others had already switched to single-unit gear, tearing through enemies on the ground.

Every bullet they fired carried the Hunt's power—capable of piercing thick hide and driving straight into flesh.

It took relentless fire and coordinated tactics, but slowly, the enemy began to falter. Another victory for the Rangers.

And yet... no one celebrated.

They immediately moved on—leaping from battlefield to battlefield.

"At this rate, Zulo won't be able to generate any more Doomsday Beasts."

The pace of combat had grown too fast. With Sora's constant pressure, Zulo's responses were slowing exponentially.

New beasts still emerged, but their numbers were thinning. Their regeneration had lost its edge.

Even the crimson tendrils that used to ambush Sora from every angle were hardly seen now.

By feel alone, he could tell—Zulo's rate of regeneration had dropped to less than half of what it once was.

Maybe Zulo's starting to run out of gas...

And if that was true—then the end might be closer than they thought.

"The question is, once Zulo's gone... can we actually restore the planet? The civilization?"

For Sora, eliminating Zulo wasn't the ultimate goal.

What he wanted most was to bring back what was lost.

To give Anna—and the children—a place to return to.

Focus.

He exhaled sharply and shook off the thoughts.

First things first. We wipe out every threat still standing.

Just as he was about to dive back in, a small transport ship suddenly landed beside him.

"Yo, you're the rookie, right?"

Sora turned toward the voice—and saw a man in full Western cowboy garb, shark-like grin flashing beneath a wide-brimmed hat.

"...Boothill?"

He recognized him immediately.

After all, this Ranger was practically a legend.

Boothill blinked, then burst into loud, carefree laughter.

"Hahaha! So you've seen my wanted poster too, huh?"

Boothill—the wandering cybernetic cowboy.

A Galaxy Ranger infamous across the stars for his chaotic methods and dogged pursuit of justice.

No trick was off-limits if it meant striking down corruption. And yet, despite all that, he had never once crossed the Rangers' code.

His enemies? The Interastral Peace Corporation—the very organization responsible for wiping out his people.

He had disrupted more than a few of their operations—and they'd slapped a galaxy-wide bounty on his head for it.

So when Sora greeted him by name, Boothill just assumed he'd seen that bounty somewhere.

Sora didn't feel the need to explain. Instead, he asked, "So... what do you want with me?"

"Whoa, easy now, bro." Boothill chuckled, jumping off his small craft and slinging an arm around Sora's neck like they were old friends. "Now that you're one of us, just figured I should say hi. You ever run into trouble—especially with those Peace Corp bastards—you call me. I've got your back."

Sora offered an awkward smile. So he'd come all this way just to make friends?

But just as Boothill started rambling again, his comm beacon beeped.

He snapped to attention. "Oh, crap—I almost forgot! They sent me to get you. Strategy meeting. You're invited."

"...Me?"

"Yeah. Don't worry about this area—the others'll hold it down. We need you for the next phase."

Sora glanced toward the ongoing battlefield.

"Come on," Boothill urged. "We need a plan. That bastard Zulo isn't going down easy."

He wasn't wrong.

If they didn't come up with a clean way to end this, it'd become a war of attrition—and the body count would rise.

"...Got it."

Sora nodded, and followed Boothill.

They arrived at a massive warship—not far from the front lines.

Sora immediately recognized it.

This was the ship that had fired the first cannon when the campaign against Zulo began.

He could still picture the beam, slicing heaven and earth in two.

He trailed Boothill into the ship and down into a vast, open command hall.

Inside, strategists and officers had already gathered, exchanging intel, updating maps.

All eyes turned as the two of them entered.

Boothill waved a hand. "Come on, let me introduce you. This guy here's a Ranger from the Luofu Xianzhou—goes by 'Bu Yi.' Bit of a tactician."

Bu Yi stepped forward, nodding to Sora with sharp, perceptive eyes.

"You're right on time."

He immediately brought Sora over to the projection table.

"We've compiled all the data we've collected so far," he said, gesturing to a shifting holographic display of the battlefield.

Beams rained from ships. Blasts rippled through enemy lines. Rangers fired volley after volley...

And yet the results...

Minimal.

The land blackened, craters formed, but the damage healed almost instantly.

"Our weapons just aren't cutting it," Bu Yi muttered, annoyed. "If I'd known we'd be dealing with Zulo, I would've brought our experimental gear."

He sighed, then pulled up another projection—this one of Sora.

In the footage, Doomsday Beasts fell before him like nothing. His attacks carved massive impact craters, many of which still hadn't healed.

Some had barely recovered at all.

In other words, Sora's power was uniquely effective.

"Our working theory is this—Zulo has fought the Galaxy Rangers before. He's developed a resistance to the Hunt's energy signature."

"But not yours."

Sora nodded slowly. That tracked.

"And so," Bu Yi said, locking eyes with him, "you'll be the one to deliver the final blow."

Another map lit up, full of data overlays.

Heat readings, seismic patterns—energy concentrations too deep for the eye to see.

Right at the core of the planet, something was building.

Boothill scowled. "Son of a... he's gathering energy. Getting ready for a full-scale resurrection."

"Exactly," Bu Yi said. "But we're not giving him the chance."

He slammed a fist on the table.

"In twenty minutes, three Stellar Piercer-class warships will fire a synchronized strike. If our calculations are right, the blast will punch a hole straight to the planetary core."

"And Zulo won't sit still," Boothill added. "He'll do everything he can to stop it."

"That's why," Bu Yi said, turning back to Sora, "we need you to strike during the chaos—when he's at his weakest."

A final map rotated into place, highlighting precise energy convergence zones.

This was the moment.

"This operation is risky," Bu Yi admitted. "Incredibly so..."

He looked at Sora with a conflicted expression.

"But will you accept it?"

The Galaxy Rangers were known for their teamwork. They rarely operated solo—much like the Luofu's own strategy doctrines.

Sending Sora in alone... was not a decision Bu Yi made lightly.

But it was the fastest, most decisive solution.

So he'd brought Sora here. To ask.

But Sora already knew his answer.

The power within him pulsed—urging him forward.

Zulo might control the core. But he's weak now. And he's not alone down there.

Neither am I.

The fallen Rangers' will still lingered. If they struck now, together, they could win.

"I'll do it."

Bu Yi couldn't see his face beneath the helmet—but he could hear it in his voice.

The decision was made.

Bu Yi exhaled slowly.

"Understood. Then at T-minus twenty minutes—wait for your moment."

Sora nodded and stepped outside, waiting in silence.

[Countdown to orbital strike: 00:19:59]

[Power Refresh Cooldown: 00:45:14]