Honkai: Star Rail — Kamen Rider!

"The kids have all been moved into a higher-grade isolation chamber now..."

Sitting calmly in the palm of a Doomsday Beast, Sora spoke through the commlink to Anna. Their conversation centered on one thing—the children.

Anna's face had brightened considerably. There was even a flicker of hope shimmering in her eyes.

"They say the chamber's built to military-grade specs. Supposedly it can block out the power of the Aeons to some degree. If that's true... the children might escape the transformation."

Her voice gained strength, a rare spark of vitality returning to it.

If they could resist the Aeonic influence, then maybe—just maybe—they could survive in the outside world.

"Are you sure it's safe?" Sora asked again, concern clouding his voice.

"Of course it is, definitely..."

But before she could finish, a familiar face popped into the screen—Ouja.

"Sora! Sora! Sora! It really is you!"

Three rapid-fire exclamations—the classic Ouja greeting.

Sora couldn't help but smile at the sight.

"Who else would it be?"

"I found something really delicious in this ship's pantry! When you get back, we're eating it together, okay?"

She extended a heartfelt, if impulsive, invitation.

Sora winced a little. "Can you not raid someone else's ship like that?"

"Relax." The motherly woman beside her chuckled. "We brought that as family rations for our trip. Help yourselves—it's more than enough."

"You hear that? Quick, hurry back! I'm waiting!"

"Yeah, yeah. I'll be back."

The screen shifted one last time—cutting to the pristine, sealed chamber.

Inside, Robin played cheerfully with the children. But the moment Sora's projection appeared, one little head popped into view.

"Sora-oniichan!!"

"What's up?"

"We heard there are lots and lots of spaceships out there! Did our moms and dads come back?"

Sora froze.

"Anna-sama said they went into space to fight monsters. That's why they haven't come home yet."

"But now the sky is clear, and the ground's green again. Does that mean the monsters are gone?"

He exchanged a glance with Robin.

Their faces bore the same solemn, strained smile.

"Ah—yeah, that's right. But… there's one last monster we still have to beat. That's why they haven't come back just yet."

The child's hopeful look dimmed.

"Oh..."

But the disappointment didn't last. Maybe it was the long separation, or just a child's resilience—but his voice perked right back up.

"Then once it's all over, I want to introduce Mommy and Daddy to you and Robin-oneechan!"

"You two are really nice! Mommy says it's okay to play with kind people!"

Sora smiled, a warmth blooming quietly inside him.

"Is that so? Then I'll be looking forward to it."

"Mm-hmm! You have to come to my house when it's over, promise!"

With that, the call ended.

The smile faded slowly from Sora's face, replaced by a calm solemnity. Still seated in the palm of the beast, he looked down at the ravaged earth.

"...Destruction, huh."

A voice came from behind.

"They just sent me the biometric readouts."

Bu Yi stepped up beside him, gaze cool and analytical.

"That chamber can block out Aeonic influence—mostly. But it also means they can't leave it until it's over."

Sora didn't reply.

"But this isn't Nanook. If we cut off the source, they might still recover."

Bu Yi checked the time.

"Three minutes left."

The other two massive battleships had taken position beside the one Sora stood on. Different designs, but the same role.

Their main cannons were already primed—charging energy for a synchronized strike.

Positioned correctly, the three beams would combine into a single, world-piercing blast.

"I'm ready."

Sora stood.

The Doomsday Beast beneath him gently set him down on the deck.

He took in the ruined horizon one last time, then exhaled deeply.

[Two minutes remaining].

Across the planet, Rangers began a coordinated withdrawal.

The Starpiercer cannons reached 30% charge.

[One minute].

Most Rangers had retreated to a safe distance. The guns charged past 60%.

[Thirty seconds].

Dozens of ships formed a ring around the planet, ready to witness the final strike.

[Ten seconds...]

Sora affixed the Driver to his waist. Xtreme arrived, Fang bouncing along its back with barely contained excitement.

As light bathed them, the two began to merge—until they solidified, resting in Sora's outstretched hand.

[Time's up].

"FIRE!!"

The Starpiercers discharged.

Three beams of blinding light erupted from the warships, like divine wrath incarnate.

They tore through the sky, coiling like three enraged dragons, and converged.

BOOM!

The combined blast roared like the voice of a dying star. The shockwave crushed air, vaporized moisture, scorched rock.

It carved a radiant wound across the planet, piercing straight to the core.

The earth convulsed.

Lava surged. Plates buckled. Entire landmasses folded inward to resist the blast.

But this wasn't just one cannon. It was three. All firing at once.

The planet screamed under the pressure. Crimson tendrils flailed across the sky, and even the clouds rippled—as if Zulo were cursing the heavens.

Sora ignored it all.

His moment had come.

"…One last time. Run with me."

"[Xtreme]!"

"[Fang]!"

"[Joker]!"

The Doomsday Beast dissolved into particles and was absorbed.

Losing his perch, Sora dropped from the sky—freefalling.

"[Henshin]!"

Fragments of armor spiraled around him, latching into place.

Kamen Rider W: Fang Joker GoldXtreme.

Golden light flared as he spread his wings—every ship on the perimeter tracking his descent.

Forged in war, his form could withstand this heat.

He dove down the cannon's blazing trail.

Right before he hit the earth, Bu Yi gave the order—

"Cease fire!"

The beam cut out—and Sora plunged into the smoking crater it left behind.

A golden meteor streaked into the abyss.

As he descended, lava hardened in his wake—cooled by the wind howling past his form.

And in that instant, Sora saw it.

The truth inside the planet.

Tendrils—burned to ash.

The embryo—a pulsing, meaty sac—lay unprotected, glowing with golden energy.

Aeonic energy.

Nanook's power, cocooning Zulo's core, birthing a new incarnation.

Then, from above—

A second golden light entered the womb.

Sora.

Gentle wings unfurled, now the harbinger of judgment.

The tendrils surged, screeching in defense.

"[Arm Saber]!"

Countless curved blades of Imaginary energy erupted, shredding the attackers.

"You dare?!"

Zulo's voice thundered in fury.

The embryo pulsed faster. Rebirth approached.

Tendrils congealed into familiar shapes:

Erasers. Destroyers. Trampler-class. Doomsday Beasts.

Every enemy Sora had faced was recreated, thrown into his path.

He pulled Fang's trigger once.

"[Shoulder Saber]!"

Spikes erupted from his armor.

He spun—cleaving every last enemy into ribbons.

"What makes you think I won't?!"

His roar echoed through Zulo's senses.

Because he had reached the core.

The embryo.

The final heartbeat.

Three clicks.

"[Fang! Maximum Drive]!"

For the planet. For the children.

Golden energy wrapped his left foot—Nanook's stolen power.

Silver-white light encased his right—Lan's hunt-forged justice.

Combined, they formed his final strike.

"[Rider Kick]!!"

"[W Fang Extreme]!"

He slammed both feet into the embryo.

Power poured in.

It shuddered violently.

"I was so close—so close!!"

Blup-blup—

Like boiling water, the core convulsed.

BOOM!!

The embryo exploded.

Golden ichor sprayed in all directions, splashing over Sora—absorbed instantly by Fang and the Doomsday memory.

"…Guess it's over now."

If Zulo was gone, the children could be free.

But before he could rise—

The planet began to burn.

Not shake.

Burn.

Golden fire erupted all around him. A terrible feeling sank deep into his bones.

He turned.

And saw something that froze him in place.

Pale silver hair. Ebony skin. Eyes like suns.

A humanoid form.

Broken, drifting arms. A massive wound gushing golden blood from its chest.

It wasn't real. A shadow—an echo.

But every feature…

All of it pointed to a single being.

"!!!"

Sora's mind screamed.

Every instinct shouted.

This... this was...

The figure looked his way.

Expressionless. Cold.

And his gaze pierced straight into Sora's soul.