[Deactivating Sleep Mode...]
Sakura spoke calmly, but Ritsuka was still unconscious, his breathing soft and shallow.
In his sleep, he mumbled something strange—words that didn't seem to belong to him.
"I'm... th...e... des...troy...er... of... Lo...st...belt... worlds... I'm... De...ca...de..."
Sakura's mechanical voice grew urgent.
[Host... Wake up... That is not your identity.]
She tried to shake him gently—but it didn't work.
[Activating Emergency Wake-Up Protocol.]
With a tiny jolt of electricity, Sakura shocked his body.
"GAAAAHHHH!" Ritsuka screamed, sitting up with his hair spiked up like a startled cat. "DID YOU REALLY HAVE TO DO THAT?!"
[Host failed to respond to standard wake-up procedures.]
"You could've shaken me or something!" he groaned, rubbing his side.
[Already tried that. Unsuccessful.]
Ritsuka sighed and muttered, "I had... a dream..."
He looked down at his hands and noticed his face felt wet. Touching his cheek, he found—
"Tears?"
[Host, you are crying.]
Ritsuka blinked. "I saw him... Takeshi Hongo. In my dream... No, in something more real than a dream. I think it was his will."
He felt he saw something else but can't remember it, and it must have been the reason for him to cry.
He smiled faintly at the memory of the red scarf and that warm, mentoring smile.
Then a thought struck him.
"Wait—Sakura, why weren't you in the dream?"
[Host's mental and spiritual fortitude are still underdeveloped. I cannot accompany you into dreams unless your brain and soul become as strong as your body.]
"Tch... figures," Ritsuka muttered.
Suddenly, a scream echoed in the distance—sharp, filled with terror.
Ritsuka's body immediately tensed. He instinctively pinpointed the direction.
[4 km north-east. Heat signature identified. Source matches... Director Olga Marie.]
Ritsuka's eyes sharpened. "So she's still alive."
[New Mission Generated:
Objective: Rescue the target and eliminate hostiles.
Rewards: 300 Points, 3 Summoning Tickets.]
He grinned. "Say, Sakura, if I save up to 10 tickets, do I get like... a bonus one?"
[Negative. Accumulation does not grant bonuses.]
Ritsuka's hopeful look dropped flat. "huh... Too bad no pity but okay."
[Warning: Host's prana is still low. Using Rider form could drain you mid-battle.]
"Yeah, I'd rather not get killed due to a power outage," Ritsuka said, jogging toward the building exit.
[Alternative: Activate Cyclone Vehicle for rapid transport.]
"I mean... I have ridden Grandpa's old scooter for summer jobs," he smirked. "Let's do it. Show me the ride!"
A translucent screen blinked into view before him. Ritsuka stopped in his tracks and gasped.
"No way... It's a Honda?!"
[Vehicle Specifications:
Base Model (Untransformed): Honda CB250R
Transformed Combat Mode: Honda CB650R
Features:
• Transformation System
• Auto-Cruise Function
• Reinforced Armor Plating
• Rocket Boosters]
"Damn... it's so cool," he whispered, his fingers brushing the handlebars as he summoned it onto the road.
The Cyclone stood before him in its transformed form, sleek and powerful like something out of a dream.
Ritsuka hopped on. The engine hummed beneath him.
"This... This is so much better than Grandpa's scooter," he grinned. But then, he focused. "Alright, mission first."
He revved the engine and took off—but quickly realized he wasn't handling the bike as smoothly as he thought.
"Whoa—okay! Not the same as a scooter!" he shouted, swerving clumsily.
[Host, do you wish to download full riding data into your brain?]
"Yes! Please!"
A rush of data stormed into his mind. Instantly, his grip steadied, his posture shifted—and he leaned into the curves like a natural.
In the next second, he was flying down the road like a pro biker, a fierce wind slicing past his face.
Mission accepted.
---
Olga's scream echoed through the narrow alley, drawing a horde of skeletal soldiers straight toward her.
Panicked and gasping, she sprinted forward—only to stop right in front of Gudako, who stood waiting with a calm smile, cradling Fou in her arms.
"NOW, MASHU!" Gudako shouted with command.
From above, Mashu's voice responded, "Yes, Senpai!"
She leapt into action—literally—shoving a massive water tank from the rooftop.
With a thunderous crash, the tank exploded open, unleashing a powerful wave that swept down into the alley like a tidal flood, obliterating the skeleton soldiers in one go.
BOOM!
Bones flew in every direction. The wave subsided. Silence returned.
Olga collapsed to her knees, wheezing for breath.
Mashu landed beside them, shield in hand. Gudako gave her a proud pat.
"Well done, my cute kouhai," she smiled.
Fou hopped onto Gudako's shoulder with a cheerful kyu!
Olga, red-faced and furious, snapped, "What kind of workers use their boss as BAIT?! You monsters!"
Gudako smirked, brushing her hair aside.
"Boss, your scream was S-tier. Perfect bait. We needed a crowd."
"I want to slap you but I'm too exhausted," Olga growled, trembling.
"Life's a gacha, Director. 50/50 on survival—but today, our luck pulled SSR Mashu!"
Mashu nodded. "Senpai is right. She saved me by talking with me before the bomb blast. She is great."
Gudako tried to lift Olga up, but the Director groaned, "We need to contact Lev and Dr. Romani..."
That's when a chilling, venomous voice rang out:
"Ara ara~ Such cute little girls. I can't wait to hear your dying screams..."
A lone figure stood in the distance, weapon in hand—radiating a murderous aura.
It was Lancer Medusa—but corrupted. Twisted. Mad.
The very air grew heavy.
"She's... a corrupted Servant," Olga whispered, eyes wide. Instinctively, she clutched Gudako's hand in fear.
Gudako trembled too. "Tch... odds just dropped to 10/90."
Mashu stepped in front of them, shield raised. "I'll stop her!"
With a hiss, the corrupted Medusa lunged—lightning fast.
Her lance crashed into Mashu's shield with explosive force, catching her off guard and hurling her aside like a ragdoll.
"Mashu!" Gudako cried, but Olga grabbed her hand and dragged her back.
"What are you doing?!" Gudako shouted.
"We stay and we DIE!" Olga yelled.
Mashu slammed into a wall, gritting in pain. The corrupted Medusa laughed madly.
"Weakling. You're no Servant—just a fake. The weak die—"
VROOOAAAANG!
A deafening roar ripped through the alley. The wind howled like a beast.
Cyclone.
A motorcycle—sleek, transformed, glowing with power—blazed through the street like a comet.
Ritsuka was riding it.
His hair whipped in the wind, eyes sharp with resolve. His figure tore through the air as if defying physics.
He didn't slow down.
He accelerated.
The corrupted Medusa turned—just in time to get wrecked.
KWANG—!!
The Cyclone's front slammed straight into her with thunderous force. She was launched like a football—twisting through the air—and smashed into a thick tree trunk far away.
Silence.
Smoke and dust.
Ritsuka skidded the bike to a stop, exhaling.
"…Haa."
Gudako's eyes widened, staring in awe.
"Ritsuka…" she whispered.
"...."
Gudako stood still, eyes locked on the biker's back.
That moment—that cool moment—burned itself into her memory like a scene straight out of a dream.
The roar of the engine. The streak of light. The sheer force of that impact.
A lightspeed bike, perfectly maneuvered… and he looked amazing doing it.
Her golden eyes sparkled with pure awe.
Ritsuka stepped off the bike and turned toward them.
"I'm sorry I was late, Gudako," he said calmly, eyes focused on the distance. "But let me take care of this."
Mashu, still recovering, stood back up.
[Host, wind-based prana successfully absorbed. You have enough energy to proceed.]
Sakura's voice echoed in Ritsuka's mind.
"Good."
Ritsuka raised his right hand.
In that instant, wind began to spiral around him, forming glowing rings of energy. A mechanical engine sound clicked to life. The Cyclone Driver belt locked in place with a sharp clang.
"Henshin."
Wind howled around him like a tempest. His body lit up in a swirl of green and black energy, engulfed by flickering circuits. As the sound of gears turning and metal forging echoed, his armor appeared—forming limb by limb, shoulder by shoulder—until the sleek, iconic helmet locked into place with a bright flash. A red scarf fluttered behind him like a hero out of legend.
He now stood as Kamen Rider 1.
Olga's mouth hung open. "What… in the world… is this?!"
Her mind scrambled for an explanation.
How can he transform like that without a magical signature?! There's no mana at all!
But before she could say more, she caught sight of Gudako—and froze.
Unlike herself, Gudako wasn't shocked. No, her expression was that of a girlfriend watching her boyfriend shine.
Mashu's stunned face finally gave Olga some small comfort. At least she wasn't the only confused one.
Crack—!
The shattered tree trunk collapsed as Corrupted Medusa rose to her feet, blade slicing through the air with a hiss.
"You'll die for that," she snarled.
Ritsuka tilted his head. "Sorry, hot lady, I've got a future to live for. Can't die today."
"Don't screw with me!" she roared, eyes glowing violet.
Her Mystic Eyes activated.
But—
[Absorbing hostile magical output... 27% charged.]
"W-What?! My eyes don't work on you?!" she shrieked.
"I'm just a bad match for you," Ritsuka said with a smile. His fist began to glow—a spectrum of rainbow-colored energy flowing through his arm.
She moved to strike, but he was already in the air.
"I won't hesitate anymore. I have the heart… of a Kamen Rider!"
He shouted
"RIDER PUNCH!!"
His fist collided with her stomach in a direct hit.
A blinding flash.
Corrupted Medusa let out a broken scream as her form destabilized—then exploded into shards of dark mist.
Silence.
Ritsuka lowered his fist. This time, his hands weren't shaking.
'Thanks Sensei ' Ritsuka remember the words of that Great Person.
Gudako and Olga rushed to his side.
He removed his helmet, letting the wind blow back his hair.
"Stop doing weird things one after another!" Olga yelled, catching her breath. "You're more mysterious than the concept of mystery itself! Who are you?! Why did you join my organization?!"
Ritsuka gave her a calm smile. "I'm just a normal recruit. I can't say my secrets… but I promise, I have no ill intentions toward Chaldea."
Gudako was practically sparkling. "You were so cool! And this suit—amazing!" she beamed, fixing his scarf with both hands. "There. Looks even cooler now."
Ritsuka smiled, he doesn't know what to say when Gudako looks at him with cute expression but he suddenly put his helmet back on. His voice deepened.
"Show yourself."
Mashu lifted her shield defensively.
A calm voice replied from above, "I suppose it's my mistake for eavesdropping on you."
A shadow dropped from the nearby rooftop.
"I'm a Caster-class Servant in this Holy Grail War," the man said, landing gracefully in front of them.
Olga and Gudako stepped back. Mashu and Ritsuka remained in front.
"They don't trust me. That's fair. But… you, you're different," the man said, pointing to Ritsuka. "You listened."
Ritsuka narrowed his eyes.
"You're not evil," he said. "I can feel it."
The man smirked. "Name's Cu Chulainn. Not corrupted like the one you just beat. I'm here to help."
[Scan complete. 100% truth. No hostile intent detected.]
Sakura confirmed in his head.
"Nice to meet you," Cu said, holding out a hand.
Ritsuka shook it firmly. "Nice to meet you too, Cu."
Suddenly, a BEEP—BEEP— echoed from Gudako's watch.
"Hello? Anyone?!" a voice called out.
Olga instantly snapped. "Project it!"
Gudako tapped the screen—and a holographic feed appeared.
Romani's face flickered into view.
"Finally! The connection's stabilized. Whoa—what the hell are you!?"
Ritsuka took off his helmet and smiled. "Hi, Doctor."
Romani's jaw dropped. "Fujimaru?! It's really you!"
"Mashu… Director… I'm glad you're all safe."
Olga stepped forward. "Romani, where's Professor Lev? What's going on in my Chaldea?!"
Romani's cheerful expression faded.
His face turned grim.
"…That's what I need to talk to you about."
To Be Continued...
---
Note: Too busy in College in past 2 days now I'm free and here the chapter.