Chapter 13: The Truth Unveiled — Where It Began
"It's late. Where are you going?"War Rabbit's voice echoed in the dim café, freezing the boss mid-step as he reached for the door.
"…Part-time job." The boss offered his usual gentle smile. "You're not seriously doubting me, are you?"
"Nabeshima regained his memory… and told me everything."
The smile cracked. Slightly.
"You're Stalk, aren't you? Shi Dōn Soichi—the former astronaut."
"…Maybe Nabeshima's lying," the boss replied coolly, voice perfectly even.
"That's what I thought too. That's why I fought Stalk today."War Rabbit's gaze sharpened. "He always knew my attacks—until I used the Octopus-Light form. He was completely unprepared."
The boss blinked. Subtle, but not subtle enough.
"I asked Misora to purify the final Full Bottle… without telling me. Just to be sure."War Rabbit took a step forward, his voice rising."Now—answer me! ARE YOU STALK?!"
Silence. For a long, heavy moment, the café was still.
Then, the boss turned around slowly. His lips curled into a sly, fox-like smile…And he bolted for the door.
"HEY!!" War Rabbit was dumbfounded for half a second—then sprinted after him.
Through quiet streets and glowing vending machines, the dramatic chase unfolded to the beat of imaginary BGM: "I'll Make You Hehe Hey."
After two blocks—
"Time out!" the boss gasped, dropping to the ground, "I'm too old for this!"
War Rabbit collapsed beside him, panting. "Then why'd you run?!"
"I've got a plan. A really important one!" the boss said, folding his hands in a mock plea. "So... can I go?"
"ABSOLUTELY NOT!"
"Didn't think so," he chuckled. "Anyway—you've still got two Full Bottles to recover."
"…You ran all the way here just for that?"
"Better to settle it where no one interrupts."
The boss stood, pulled out a familiar item, and inserted it into his belt.
[Cobra!]"Blood!"[MistMatch!][Co-Cobra! Cobra!]"FIRE!"
Blood Stalk emerged in a blaze of smoke and crimson fireworks. Even War Rabbit had to admit:"Damn… why do his transformations always look better than mine?"
"Yup, it's me. Blood Stalk. Or maybe this voice rings a bell?" he added, switching back to his natural tone.
War Rabbit growled and slammed two Full Bottles into his belt.
[Octopus! Light!][Best Match!][Are you ready?]"Build Up!"[Lightning Technician! Octopus-Light!]"YEAH~!"
And once again, the so-called "Stalk-Killer Armor" lived up to its name.
War Rabbit unleashed a combo of blinding flashes and constricting tentacles, sending Stalk crashing and sputtering with theatrical overacting.
"Stupid octopus! I hate octopuses!" Stalk howled.
As a final move, he activated Pandora's Box, releasing a burst of disruptive energy that blasted War Rabbit back and forced him out of his transformation.
"That'll do it," Stalk said, brushing himself off and picking up the two popped-out Full Bottles.
With a cheeky wave, he grinned. "Ciao~"
(Editor's Note: "Ciao" — Evolto's signature phrase. It means both hello and goodbye. Versatile villainy at its finest.)
Back at Nascita
"Stalk is the boss?!" Sawa looked shaken.
From her face, it was unclear whether she truly hadn't known, or was just pretending not to.
"You're not telling Misora?" Ryuga asked, arms crossed.
"Not yet." War Rabbit's voice was somber. "She wouldn't take it well."
He turned to Sawa. "I need you to dig deep. Background, movements—anything on the boss."
Then to Ryuga, he handed over a bottle containing shimmering residual energy."This is what I collected during our last battle with Stalk. I'm going to make a power-up from it."
"What he stole yesterday… it was a fake," he added. "He'll come back to steal the real one. We need to move."
They rushed to the underground lab. War Rabbit threw open the equipment set.
"You help me find the best Full Bottle combo to resonate with Pandora's Box!"
He patted Ryuga's shoulder and turned to flee. "I'll, uh, prep from the back."
Ryuga grabbed him by the collar. "Why are you running?!"
"Safety precaution?"
"Nope." Ryuga yanked him back and randomly grabbed two Tutan Bottles from the desk."Here, this will do!"
War Rabbit stared at the glowing test chamber, dazed.Who am I? Where am I? Why does everything always explode?!
Ryuga smirked. "You were gonna make the Bubble Bottle, weren't you? Don't think I didn't notice. Every major upgrade you make always starts with these two."
Even distracted, War Rabbit's tool-god instincts kicked in. Before long, he unconsciously developed the Tutan Bubble Bottle—a legendary upgrade prop that looked powerful enough to rival a boss…
…though it might only deal 0.5% damage, if you're being realistic.
Final Battle Location: Where It All Began
Stalk sent a message: Bring the real Full Bottle to their first meeting place—for a final duel.
War Rabbit agreed.
No one knew how many Full Bottles were hidden inside his long coat. But it was probably all of them.
Rain poured like a monsoon. The skies themselves seemed to mourn the inevitable clash.
War Rabbit and Ryuga arrived at the alley where, one year ago, a broken man was picked up by a mysterious stranger.
There, already waiting, stood the boss. At his feet: Pandora's Box.
"So nostalgic," the boss said, his voice oddly sincere. "Hard to believe it's been a whole year."
War Rabbit's face was unreadable.
"You tricked me. You tricked Ryuga. You tricked Misora."His voice trembled with both rage and grief."Were all those moments… fake?"
"Not all." The boss's smile softened—just a little."Sometimes, I genuinely teared up. I felt guilty for deceiving you."
"Don't play with me!!" War Rabbit threw his umbrella aside and transformed.
Across from him, the boss dropped his as well and became Blood Stalk.
The air itself split with their motion as they clashed—transforming alleys into abandoned factories through sheer narrative force. Sparks flew. Debris fell.
Back at the alley, Ryuga stared into the rain."…They're gone."
He considered chasing after them, then sighed. "Nah. Not worth changing clothes for."
He looked toward the sky, muttering,This is where it began. And now… it's where it ends.
From that day forward, it would no longer be Soichi and Sento.
It would be Evolto vs. Kamen Rider Build—the alien who sought to destroy the world, and the man who would do anything to protect it.