WebNovels

I Forge Heroes of History

Litch_Mei
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Synopsis
The transmigator Shirahashi and Ohma Zi-O met by chance on a certain occasion. At Ohma Zi-O's request, Shirahashi began to re-enact Kamen Rider history in various worlds, saving and mending the Kamen Rider worlds. Time flew by, and Shirahashi completed his mission, becoming the second Ohma Zi-O. He used the freshly acquired, scorching hot power of Ohma to restore the worlds he had thrown into chaos. He then found a quiet place, ready to begin his recluse-like retirement. Next, he realized something seemed amiss. In each world, a certain... appeared.
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Chapter 1 - Saber

"Crunch, crunch..."

In the dimly lit room, the sharp sound of puffed junk food—a certain brand beloved by otaku—echoed crisply.

The room's owner, slouched deep into a beanbag chair, let a half-eaten bag of potato chips slip from his hand. His slender, pale fingers reached lazily for a Coca-Cola on the low table. Twisting the cap open, he took a long, satisfying swig.

"Ah—refreshing!!"

The black-haired, golden-eyed young man stretched with indulgent pleasure, then turned his gaze back to the computer screen. With a flick of the mouse, he closed the tab of a new anime—already four months past its release—and began hunting online for his next binge.

"This is the life I've always dreamed of! No more fixing the history of some Kamen Rider world piece by piece. Just days like this—snacking, slacking, living the dream. My ideal retirement!"

Indeed, as one might guess from this Chūni-flavored muttering, the spirited young man named Shirahashi was a Transmigrator.

Long ago—so long he could barely remember when—he had simply gone out to buy snacks. But in an act of "righteous bravery," he ended up getting 2D-ified by a truck.

Somewhere between worlds, in that narrow rift of existence, he encountered a shimmering golden figure shaped like a clock.

The Great Golden Watch told Shirahashi that the Kamen Rider Multiverse had fallen into chaos after a catastrophic disaster. To prevent total annihilation, it had burned away all of its remaining power, freezing the entire Multiverse in the instant before its destruction.

But the effort had drained it completely—leaving it powerless to repair what was broken.

Just as all hope seemed lost, a wandering human soul—Shirahashi's—drifted by.

Thus, the Great Golden Watch copied a portion of its Ohma Power and bestowed it upon him, asking for his help in restoring the Kamen Rider Multiverse.

Naturally, as a hot-blooded tokusatsu fan, Shirahashi thumped his chest and agreed without hesitation. From that moment on, he began self-directing and reenacting the entire course of Kamen Rider history—across each and every "2D" world.

Yes, you heard that right: self-directing and reenacting.

After all, Ohma Zi-O's power is, at its core, the Power of Kamen Rider history itself.

The old Demon King, his life force nearly spent, had granted Shirahashi full authority over Ohma Power.

However, since the original Kamen Rider Multiverse had been permanently frozen and sealed, Shirahashi couldn't draw any new historical Power from within it—resulting in a comically tragic paradox.

He had authority, yet almost no resources to use it.

An infinite loop of futility.

Shirahashi: "I want to repair the Kamen Rider worlds!"

Old Demon King: "Then use Ohma Power!"

Shirahashi: "But I can't replenish historical Power from the broken worlds!"

Old Demon King: "Then repair the worlds!"

Shirahashi: "..."

Old Demon King: "..."

The old and the young stared blankly at one another in perfect silence.

Eventually, Shirahashi—ever the sharp-minded youth forged in the information-overloaded, meme-filled age of the 21st century—came up with a solution.

If there was no history left… then he'd just make one himself.

He quickly realized that while his Ohma Power couldn't handle something as massive as repairing the entire Multiverse, it could still extract and manifest fragments of individual Kamen Rider powers.

From then on, Shirahashi began wandering through countless 2D worlds, searching for worthy candidates to inherit the power of Kamen Riders.

Sometimes he posed as a shadowy mastermind, other times he appeared as a passing side character—reenacting one Kamen Rider legend after another in his own absurd, self-directed way.

Finally, after who knew how many years, he had collected every one of his Kamen Rider stories. From that mosaic of histories, he amassed enough historical Power to fully ascend—becoming a complete Ohma Zi-O and assisting the old Demon King in restoring the original Kamen Rider Multiverse.

In gratitude, the old Demon King personally invited him into the Ohma Living Room, formally recognizing him as an equal Time Ruler. From that day on, the two became close companions.

Afterward, Shirahashi used his Ohma Power to restore all the 2D worlds he'd tampered with back to their original states. Then, without much ceremony, he found himself a normal, everyday world to settle down in—beginning his well-earned retirement.

And thus, we return to the present—where Shirahashi, the once-mythic Time Ruler, is now slouched in his cozy little home, peacefully binge-watching anime.

Lamenting his long-lost youth, Shirahashi—whose mindset had thoroughly entered the old man stage—suddenly noticed something odd on his computer screen.

His mouse should have been clicking on a certain harem anime, one universally praised on a very niche site. As the legendary Ohma Zi-O of two lifetimes, he'd intended to watch it purely to criticize the depraved, tasteless standards of modern anime viewers.

But instead, the website displayed a completely unfamiliar video player interface.

"...?"

"This damn site's getting bolder by the day. I'm a full member, and it's still throwing ads at me? What's next—installing some shady knockoff player behind my back?"

Just as Shirahashi prepared to unleash his righteous fury—ready to Henshin and personally blow up the site's headquarters—the image on the mysterious video player made him freeze in shock.

What he didn't yet know was that, across countless 2D worlds—including his own—this exact video player had appeared simultaneously on every device capable of displaying images.

And in worlds without technology, enormous screens materialized in the sky, visible to all.

Even those who were blind or deaf could still perceive the broadcast directly within their minds.

[A small wooden house stands in a breathtaking, vividly colored world. Iridescent bubbles drift through the air; the land is blanketed with lush green forests. Birds, butterflies, even wyverns and whales soar freely through the skies—a fairy-tale world come alive.]

Below the video, comments from all across the multiverse began flooding in:

Simple and Straightforward: "Huh? What's going on? Why did my Idol Academy livestream turn into this?"

Rhodes Island CEO: "???"

Jotaro Kujo: "???"

Hikki: "???"

Tuna: "Ah! I didn't save my game yet! What the hell is this!?"

Cutest in the World: "Kiana! You're unbelievable—playing on your phone during class! And I caught you red-handed!"

Your War Roar Can Trigger Twice: "Kids these days—how can they not focus on their studies?"

Iron Fist Unbeaten: "Yeah, exactly! Couldn't agree more!"

Ignoring the rapidly scrolling comment feed, Shirahashi's gaze remained locked on the video.

As a veteran tokusatsu fan, he instantly recognized the scene before him—this was without a doubt the Wonder World from Kamen Rider Saber.

Of course, if it had just been a normal broadcast of Kamen Rider Saber, Shirahashi wouldn't have felt tense at all.

In fact, he might've even clapped.

Ever since Shirahashi's transmigration after his first death, he'd discovered something that nearly broke him: aside from his original home world, not a single other world had anything even remotely connected to Tokusatsu.

At best, he could find a few shallow imitations—surface-level heroes in flashy suits, nothing more.

The realization had almost driven him insane. He couldn't even rewatch the classics for comfort.

His only solace was to dive into the Gaia Library, using its power to flip through his own archived memories just to relive those moments.

But now—watching the current broadcast of Kamen Rider Saber—Shirahashi felt no joy whatsoever.

The image on screen showed a small, flag-decked room. Though identical in layout to the one he remembered from the show, it radiated a subtle, ominous tension that only he could sense.

He'd seen this version of the room before—not in the original series, but in his own rewritten stories.

[Inside the small room, a middle-aged man with blue hair, dressed in a flamboyant pink suit and matching fedora, smiled lightly at the camera. Then, lowering his gaze, he focused on the thick, heavy book resting atop a small round table.

With white-gloved hands, he gracefully turned a page and spoke, his voice brimming with cheerful warmth.

"Everyone, let us begin today's reading~ My name is Tassel."]

As the mysterious book opened, countless scholars and intellectuals across different worlds widened their eyes in awe.

Even those who couldn't decipher the complex runes and diagrams within somehow felt its truth resonate in their souls—through sheer intuition and wisdom.

It was the truth of the world itself.

The ultimate pursuit that generations of magicians and scientists had chased for their entire lives.

While most worlds remained transfixed by the man named Tassel and the enigmatic book in his hands, one world reacted quite differently—a world Shirahashi immediately recognized as "Date A Live."

Inside the Itsuka household, a blue-haired girl sat watching the broadcast beside several beautiful Spirits. Their faces showed a mix of fascination and playful amusement.

"Shiori! That man looks just like you!"

A lively girl with waist-length black hair shouted, drawing a chorus of enthusiastic nods from the others.

"Simply a male darling!"

The beautiful Spirit Diva's eyes glittered with excitement. Though she'd never felt any attraction toward men, if it were a male version of her darling… well, she couldn't say she'd be entirely against it.

Itsuka Shiori gave a helpless little smile, scratching her chin as she turned her attention away from the noisy Spirits and back to the television.

A strange intuition gnawed at her—a faint, unshakable sense that this man was somehow deeply connected to her.

"Could he be… the father I've never met?" she murmured under her breath.

Meanwhile, in other corners of the same world, a few long-lived individuals were reacting with far greater shock.

Murasame Reine, usually expressionless and unreadable, stared at Tassel's face. For the first time in ages, emotion flickered across her eyes.

"This is… Shido?"

On the top floor of a certain office building in the lighthouse nation across the ocean, a white-haired middle-aged man known as Westcott let a thin smile curl his lips.

"To think someone could infiltrate every electronic device on the planet without leaving a trace… and that face—what an unexpected revelation."

His gaze sharpened.

"Itsuka Shido…? Impossible. He should've been dead for thirty years!"

Behind him, Ellen Mira Mathers—the world's strongest Wizard—stood still, her expression usually an unflinching mask of composure. But even she couldn't hide the ripple of emotion that crossed her features.

To her, what she was witnessing was nothing short of miraculous—something that defied every law of science and magic alike.

The dead, returning to life?

In the Holy Bible, such a miracle belonged only to the Son of God.

"Calm down, Ellen," Westcott said smoothly, his voice calm but eyes glinting with intrigue. "It's just a video. Nothing is proven yet. Let's keep watching."

His smile didn't fade for a moment. Even as he leaned back in his chair, his gaze never left the screen.

His instincts screamed that this "video" was anything but ordinary.

On the screen, Tassel's narration continued.

[Tassel slowly turned another page, that ever-gentle smile still gracing his lips.

"This came about rather suddenly," he said, "but I'd like to emphasize something very important: Books are the most powerful things in this world!

"Books contain knowledge we've never known, experiences we've never lived—and even…"

He paused briefly, his voice softening.

"A very long time ago, this place—our world itself—was created from an extraordinarily powerful book.

"Myths, stories, creatures, science, even the history of the world itself—all of it is recorded within that omniscient and omnipotent tome. One could say it is the single Truth of the world."

"And to protect that book, the Kenshi—those who wield the Seiken—took up arms, entrusted with the duty of preserving the world's balance."

"But at some point in history, villains who coveted the book's power appeared. The pages of that omniscient and omnipotent tome were scattered in a fierce battle. The war between the righteous and the wicked over those pages lasted for ages… and even now, it has not ended."

"The Kenshi have changed generation after generation. And someone, long forgotten, left behind a prophecy:

'When the world begins to tremble, the Dragon shall awaken Kaenken Rekka…'

'Ah—shoot!'"

Tassel suddenly let out a soft sound, as though remembering something. His dark-gold eyes shifted toward the colorful, otherworldly landscape outside his window.

"I suddenly have something urgent to attend to. Let's end today's reading here."

The book snapped shut.

As the camera angle changed, the scene transitioned to a vast chamber lined with countless bookshelves. In the center stood a massive diorama—a perfect miniature of a small town.]

Doll: "Indeed, quite the fine study."

Recycling Assassin: "From the start, this video's been hammering the 'book' theme over and over."

Dual Blades: "Yeah, and they mentioned Kenshi, too. Books and swordsmen? That's a weird combo."

Panna Cotta: "Knowledge is a weapon! (FirmlyBelieves.jpg)"

Emergency Food: "You guys adapt too fast! Nobody's wondering what the hell this even is?"

EMT: "Right? And that giant screen floating in the sky—how is no one freaking out about that?"

Shirogane's Stir-Fried Noodles Today: "Exactly! My TV's been broken for years, and now it suddenly turned on. It only plays this video, and even unplugging the power cord doesn't stop it!"

Evil King's True Eyes: "This must be the influence of the unseen boundary!"

Prinzessin der Verurteilung: "Nay! 'Tis surely a blessing from the midnight paradise!"

Evil King's True Eyes: "!? Excellent! Very cool!"

Unforgivable Millennium Eye: "…"

Yin-Yang Eyes: "…"

Hikki: "…"

Snake of Infinity: "Definitely Kalpas's doing."

Mask: "Mobius, I request you come back here, now!"

The image in the Video continued.

[At a wooden desk surrounded by bookshelves, a young woman with blue hair and a black fedora lay sprawled across the surface. Her eyes were tightly shut, her brows faintly furrowed. The oddly shaped red mini-book in her hand was glowing faintly.

On its cover was the image of a dragon breathing fire.

In the young woman's dream, her younger self and a silver-haired loli of similar age huddled close together, shielded by a red-haired girl standing protectively behind them.

The girl's long, flame-like hair was tied into twin tails with white ribbons. Her delicate face was filled with resolve. In her hand gleamed a magnificent one-handed sword, its guard shaped like a burning flame. Her fiery eyes were locked firmly on the enemy before her.

That opponent's body was wrapped in dark purple armor, its design reminiscent of a medieval knight. A blade-shaped horn jutted from the helmet, and eerie crimson light streamed from the narrow eye slits—along with the eyes of the dragon-head ornament bound to its right shoulder—emitting a chill that seemed to pierce the soul.

But what left the deepest impression on the dreamer was the black blade held by the armored figure—its form strikingly similar to the Seiken in the red-haired girl's hand.

One red, one purple.

One protecting, one tyrannical.

One blazing like fire—one drowning in endless darkness.]

At the Itsuka household, the moment this scene appeared, the room erupted in chatter.

"An adult Kotori protecting a child Shiori—now that's something I never thought I'd see."

On the screen, a ten-year-old Shiori stood trembling while the high schooler Kotori shielded her, facing down the purple-armored figure. Shiori stared blankly at the scene, her mind blank from the dissonance between memory and vision.

Compared to Shiori's complicated feelings, however, her Spirit companions were purely delighted.

"Ohhh! Darling when she was little is just too cute!"

Izayoi Miku's eyes gleamed like stars. For her, this video was nothing short of a divine blessing. To witness so many different versions of Itsuka Shiori in one day—it was, without question, an incredible windfall.

"But darling, why didn't you invite me when you went to film a TV series? What a shame—Miku wanted to perform on stage with darling too~!"

"Yeah, yeah! How sneaky of you! Shiori, Kotori—you two are way too sly, running off to shoot a show without telling anyone!"

Yatogami Tohka puffed out her cheeks, glancing between the utterly baffled Itsuka Shiori and Itsuka Kotori, her expression brimming with envy.

"Kuku-ku~ My family member, Shiori! I never imagined you possessed such acting talent. Truly worthy of being part of the Yamai family!"

"Affirmative," Yuzuru added coolly. "Yuzuru also believes Shiori and Kotori are very photogenic."

"Yoshino thinks so too," came a soft, timid voice.

"Hoho~ Next time, you must bring Yoshinon along to play!" the rabbit puppet added in high spirits.

The Spirit-s all spoke at once, one after another, their excitement echoing through the room. The Itsuka sisters exchanged exasperated glances. Only they knew the truth—neither of them had ever participated in any TV filming.

"…Something's not right."

Kotori's demeanor shifted instantly as she changed to her black ribbon, signaling her commander mode. Her expression hardened as she pulled out her phone.

"Hello, it's me—Suzune. Have someone track down the source of this Video, immediately."

Leaving aside the actions unfolding in the"Date A Live"world, the Video continued to play.

[The young woman—identical in appearance to Itsuka Kotori—glanced back at the two girls behind her, determination flashing sharply in her eyes.

"Shiori, take your friend and get out of here… quickly!"

Before she could finish her sentence, the world itself shifted. The sky and earth distorted, and countless iridescent bubbles shimmered into existence. Reality began to overlap with a vivid, dreamlike world of dazzling color.

The smoke-filled heavens tore open, revealing a pitch-black void that exuded an overwhelming gravitational force. Trees, rocks, buildings—everything around them—were torn free from the ground and drawn toward the abyssal hole. Among them was the silver-haired little Loli who had been clinging tightly to young Shiori.

"Mio!!!"

"Shiori!!!"

At the very last moment, the young Shiori seized both a streetlamp anchored to the ground and the hand of the girl named Mio.

But how could a child's strength possibly resist such a monstrous pull? Mio's small body was already rising into the air, and Shiori, gripping her hand with all her might, felt her face burn crimson from the effort.

"Shiori! Damn it—stop it! Calibur!!!"

Itsuka Kotori clenched her teeth, swinging her sword with ferocious resolve. The fiery blade struck the armored figure known as Calibur, forcing her several steps back under the impact.

"..."

Calibur placed a hand against her chest, her crimson eyes narrowing in silence. Without a word, she slashed the air beside her with the ominous Ankokuken Kurayami, tearing open space itself, and vanished into the darkness beyond.

Kotori made to pursue but halted, her gaze flicking toward the two struggling children. She knew she could delay no longer.

"Hold on, Shiori! Remember this—once you transcend your awareness, you'll find hope waiting for you!"

With that, Itsuka Kotori charged straight toward the center of the anomaly, the Seiken in her hand blazing with fiery brilliance.

"Catch up—now!!"

Raising her sacred sword high, she poured her full strength into it, thrusting the blade through the anomaly's energy node.

A deafening explosion of power erupted, sweeping outward and shattering the fantastical elements of the world around them.

But it was already too late.

"Mio!!!"

The surge of energy brought both salvation and ruin—it became the final force that tore everything apart. The two small hands were wrenched free by the shockwave. Shiori could only watch helplessly as Mio was swallowed by the darkness of the Black Hole. Her vision dimmed, and consciousness slipped into silent oblivion…

"Waaahhhh!!!"

The young woman—now 25-year-old Itsuka Shiori—bolted upright from her sleep, gasping. She rubbed her aching temples, her eyes falling upon the small, faintly glowing red book clenched tightly in her hand.

"…That dream again?"

Her mind was a tangled haze. Though the details of the dream slipped away like mist, she knew instinctively it was the same vision that had haunted her for fifteen long years.

Fifteen years of lost memories—fifteen years of the same recurring dream.

She could no longer recall the events within it, but deep down, a gnawing sense of urgency refused to fade.

Itsuka Shiori slowly opened the small red book in her grasp. On its first page, a blazing Fire Dragon totem was etched deep into the paper.

"I must've forgotten something… something important—some promise I absolutely have to keep…"]

Omnipotent Man: "A Crimson Dragon? And that purple armored person is called Calibur, like the legendary sword? There are quite a few King Arthur elements in this Video."

Ahoge King: "Don't cue.jpg"

Handheld Tractor Enthusiast: "Wow, in our world, the Crimson Dragon is a symbol of royalty!"

Hekireki Issen Maniac: "All the young ladies are so fierce, tee hee."

Comrade of Justice (Expired): "King Arthur cannot be a girl!"

[Itsuka Shiori's contemplation did not last too long. She was quickly drawn by the sound of knocking and children's playful voices. It turned out a group of adorable children had come to Itsuka Shiori's bookstore.

Through Itsuka Shiori's interaction with the children, it is revealed that one of her identities is the manager of this bookstore named "Fantastic Bookstore · Itsuka." She has a profound love for literature, and the establishment houses a truly vast collection of books. Furthermore, she has personally perused an extensive variety, from children's picture books to ancient to modern classics, genuinely encompassing everything imaginable.

At the same time, Itsuka Shiori is also a person highly skilled at nurturing and guiding children. Under her patient, step-by-step mentorship, many naturally boisterous children have now developed a genuine interest in reading, often coming to the bookstore to eagerly entreat Itsuka Shiori to read aloud to them and share engaging stories.

Currently, she is vividly narrating the classic tale of "Alibaba and the Forty Thieves" to the children. Itsuka Shiori is exceptionally adept at capturing the children's attention and rhythm, quickly immersing them completely within the vibrant world of the story.]

Bookshelf Manager: "There are quite a few books even I haven't encountered. I truly wish to see literature from other worlds with my own eyes."

Doll: "Same here."

Kim Moku no Pain: "To actually own one's own bookstore, it's truly admirable!"

Lady Tahoan: "Indeed."

Miss Kyoko: "It seems everyone here loves books."

1001: "I never thought my stories would exist in other worlds too, it's still quite endearing."

Teio Step: "What? Other worlds?"

Only Eats a Bit of Sweets: "Emperor, have you seriously not noticed that this strange video player connects to all sorts of different worlds yet?"

Teio Step: "ovo"

⑨: "ovo"

Natsumiko: "ovo"

Tuna: "ovo"

Cutest in the World: "ovo"

Emergency Food: "ovo"

Carve 200: "ovo"

Watching the long string of "ovo" emojis, Mejiro McQueen from the Uma Musume world covered her face helplessly, inexplicably feeling that the average intelligence of the world had dropped.

[While Itsuka Shiori was happily chatting with the children, the bookstore welcomed another guest.

It was a young woman, estimated to be just under 1m6 in height. Beneath her slightly messy, light blue, subtly curly long hair was a cute, youthful face. Her overall impression was that of a fresh recruit to the workforce. If she were wearing a school uniform, no one would likely doubt her student identity.]

The appearance of this individual caused everyone in the Itsuka household of the "Date A Live" world to collectively turn their gaze towards Yoshino, who was sitting on the sofa.

The little Loli's appearance was almost carved from the same mold as the young woman in the Video; she was simply a grown-up version of Yoshino.

"After Shiori and Kotori, even Yoshino has appeared! Am I next?"

Yatogami Tohka became even more excited, while Yoshino, whom she had lifted, quietly watched her future self in the Video, her small eyes filled with anticipation and longing.

["Shiori~chan! What are you doing!"

A sweet voice, delightfully vibrant and energetic. Although Himekawa Yoshino's choice of words lacked a bit of formal politeness, it was surprisingly hard to dislike her.

"Shiori~chan! Quickly hand over next month's new novel chapter to me already!"

"Wait, wait, Yoshino-chan."

Itsuka Shiori closed the storybook she had finished reading, letting the children go play around for a while first. She then gently massaged her temple.

"I say, Yoshino-chan, aren't you my editor? Why do you always call me Shiorichan, Shiorichan, as if you've never called me Itsuka Sensei or anything?"

Truthfully, in Itsuka Shiori's heart, she secretly yearned for such respectful forms of address.

"Eh~ But Shiorichan is Shiorichan, right?"

Himekawa Yoshino looked at the bookshelf displaying the expired bestsellers. A few scattered copies of a novel titled "Lost Memory" lay quietly there, making her realize the astonishing sales volume that was almost visibly depleting the bookstore's inventory for that particular book.

"You're the author who wrote this current hottest bestseller "Lost Memory", and also the manager of this bookstore, Itsuka Shiori~chan!"

"Ah."

Hearing the compliment, Itsuka Shiori's lips curved into a slight, appreciative smile.

"Never mind. Being equally warm and friendly with everyone is also Yoshino-chan's strong point. Actually, there's no need to change."

Saying this, Itsuka Shiori sat back down at her desk and took a light sip of her coffee.

"Alright, alright! Quickly give me the manuscript already!"

"The deadline for the manuscript is tomorrow, isn't it? You're really quite proactive with your work."

"Hehe."

Himekawa Yoshino chuckled, as if she had thought of something delightful.

"I've made plans with my friends to go out tomorrow, so please, Shiori~chan, please give me the manuscript today."

"A promise, huh?"

Itsuka Shiori whispered softly, feeling that the coffee's flavor in her mouth had become even richer.

"Yes, a promise is indeed very important. For me, fulfilling promises is my life's principle. If it's for a promise, I can agree to give you the manuscript today!"

"Really!? Shiori~chan, you're the best! That's wonderful, have you perhaps already finished it? Then quickly give me the manuscript!"

"Cough, cough, I have indeed finished the contents of the new volume..."

Itsuka Shiori put down her coffee, grinning as she pointed to her head.

"But it's all in my head!"

Yoshino instantly collapsed into a kitten-like pout.

"Eh—— Then hurry up and commit it to paper!"

"Don't worry, don't worry, as long as it's a promise, I will definitely fulfill it."

Waving her hand with a smile, Itsuka Shiori drained the rest of her coffee, then stood up and took a tote bag from the coat rack, looking ready to head out.

"Oh? Where are you going, Shiori~chan?"

"Promises also need to be prioritized. I promised to deliver a birthday present to a child today. I'll start writing the manuscript immediately after I get back."

Adjusting the wide-brimmed hat on her head, Itsuka Shiori and Yoshino closed the store and left together. What they didn't notice, however, was that on a nearby street, a beautiful woman with long, dark hair was silently observing their retreating figures, holding a somewhat familiar-looking blue mini-book in her hand.]

"My future self is a novelist? And owns a bookstore?"

In the "Date A Live" world, Itsuka Shiori gazed thoughtfully at her TV counterpart, while the surrounding Spirits chattered excitedly.

"Not only a grown-up Yoshino-chan, but also a grown-up Tohka-chan!"

Izayoi Miku propped her chin with her index finger, her tone sounding a bit envious.

"But everyone's personality and reality aren't quite the same."

Itsuka Kotori, having switched to her commander mode, picked up the thread. "My personality is very resolute. Yoshino is clearly much livelier, and Shiori has an unimaginable devotion to the word 'promise'..."

"Agreed. This Yoshino's personality is rather similar to Yoshinon's, at least I can't imagine Yoshino not using honorifics with Shiori."

"Hmm..."

Yoshino's face flushed crimson from the comments. However, looking at her TV counterpart, a hint of envy surfaced in her heart. If only she could be as confident as her future self in the Video.

"Indeed."

The Spirits' words caught Itsuka Shiori's attention.

"How is it, Kotori? Have you found out the origin of this Video? Is it really something from another world, as the comments suggest?"

"The source is completely untraceable. This Video clearly uses technology far beyond our current level. Suzune thinks it's highly likely a product from another world. The records are presumably events occurring in what's called a Parallel World. At least, none of the characters who have appeared so far have any memory of filming this Video."

"A Parallel World, huh... A world without Spacequakes and Spirits. Yoshino also seems to be living her life well as an ordinary girl..."

Itsuka Shiori sighed softly.

"A novelist and a novel editor? That's wonderful, I also want to know what kind of profession my future self might pursue!"

Yatogami Tohka's face was filled with eager anticipation.

"Hmm, in the Video, Tohka is holding a book very similar to Shiori's. Could she, like Kotori, also be a Seiken wielder?"

"Query. Are there multiple Seiken?"

"Kuku-ku, you're still too naive, Yuzuru. Didn't Tassel at the beginning of the Video already say? That world has numerous Kenshi-s. If there are multiple Kenshi, then there must be multiple Seiken! How about that? This is Yamai wisdom!"

"Surprised. Yamai Kaguya actually possesses such remarkable analytical ability."

"Hey! Yuzuru, aren't you just calling me foolish?"

"Alright, alright, if you want to know, why not just keep watching?"

Shiori offered a wry smile, attempting to mediate. The scene in the Video also shifted.

[The scene changes.

In a dimly lit, European-style large chamber, three distinct, strangely dressed individuals were currently scattered in various corners of the room. They were bowed, engaged in their respective tasks, the entire space enveloped in an unsettling "calm."

Until one figure arrived, shattering this stillness.

It was an individual encased in dark purple full-body armor. The golden, serrated blade of Ankokuken Kurayami on its waist clearly identified its wearer as a Kenshi.

The newcomer was Calibur, one of the participants in that catastrophe 15 years prior.

"Oh, isn't this Calibur? May I inquire about the purpose of your visit?"

The first to react was a black-haired young man seated casually on a sofa. His gaze, which had been fixed on his left hand, subtly lifted. A pair of golden pupils, bearing a hint of a smile, locked onto Calibur.

At first glance, he appeared to be a remarkably friendly, handsome young man.]

"Thump!"

Shirahashi, in front of his computer, covered his face. This person was undoubtedly Storious, whom he had to personally portray due to the lack of suitable "actors."

At the time, he thought he had performed quite well. Well, in reality, he had performed quite well, but seeing it himself from a third-person perspective still brought a strong sense of self-consciousness.

However, as he was doubting himself, the comments suddenly surged.

Rhodes Island CEO: "Ah! Isn't that Doctor?"

Tuna: "Kanchō!? Mei, look, isn't this Kanchō?"

Z404: "Ah, isn't that Commander?"

Chaos Gudako: "Big brother? How is he on TV!?"

Because of You: "Commander!? Liv, this must be Commander!"

Glasses Frame: "Are all these you mentioned the same person?"

Devil Girl: "Kanchō, Doctor, Commander—is this person some high-ranking naval or military officer?"

Retired Mr. Zhong: "To speak with common reason, the few who spoke above are from different worlds. So, this gentleman should merely be a grown-up parallel world equivalent."

Snake of Infinity: "Such an individual exists in so many worlds? Does this person possess something unique?"

Salvation: "Mobius, I've seen this person. He's a member of Schicksal in the New Era."

Snake of Infinity: "Oh? Interesting. Can you bring him to Elysian? I want to study him."

Pure Love: "@Salvation, please do not expose my staff's information to dangerous individuals."

Snake of Infinity: "That's unfair. I'm not a bad person. Besides, would I be so heartless as to eliminate a potentially valuable specimen? How about this, let me just procure some skin and tissue samples first?"

Hekireki Issen Maniac: "Eek! So scary! People from other worlds are truly frightening!"

Iron Fist Unbeaten: "Hey! The reputation of people from other worlds is being tarnished!"

Snake of Infinity: "This is merely a small sacrifice for scientific advancement, don't worry, my methods are excellent, it won't be painful."

Ninja Snake: "I don't think there's a psychological issue here."

Kihara Divine Fist: "I think we can try to see if we can clone him in large quantities first."

Evolution House: "I'm also a bit interested. I'll go check if there's such a person in my world later."

Glasses Frame: "Hey hey! I keep feeling like a bunch of dangerous individuals have been attracted, hey!?"

Bat Master: "Really? I feel like our city has a whole bunch of people like this, quite common, actually."

Tuna: "Hey, Aunt Himeko! Quickly go hide Kanchō! These people are truly terrifying!"

Final Lesson: "Call me 'big sister'! You little brat. Speaking of which, I haven't seen that Kanchō fellow recently..."

The comments intensified into a heated discussion, while the Video still continued.

[Attracted by the black-haired young man's words, the other two individuals in the room—a handsome fair-haired man standing by the window and a white-haired woman voraciously eating at the dining table—both cast their gazes over.

Calibur also swept her gaze across the three individuals one by one.

The order was: the fair-haired man.

"Phantom Beast Woodman."

The white-haired woman.

"Animal Beast."

The black-haired young man.

"Story Storious."

Finally, Calibur turned her gaze to the center of the room, to a pitch-black bookshelf emanating an ominous aura. She walked forward and removed a black mini-book from the leftmost side.

"Roar~"

Watching Calibur's actions, all three individuals revealed expressions of profound significance.

"The time has come; a brand new world is about to commence."

Calibur walked up to Woodman and entrusted the book into his hands, causing a fleeting moment of twisted ecstasy to appear on Woodman's handsome face, while the previously eager Beast curled her lip in discontent.

"Then the first page shall be turned by me!"

Woodman composed his expression and, under the gaze of the three, vanished from the room.

Subsequently, Storious smiled and waved his hand.

The large Mona Lisa painting originally hanging on the wall rippled like water, beginning to project an image of a street scene.

It was an overhead view of a certain leisure park, specifically of a rooftop.

The vanished Woodman appeared there, and with a smile, opened the book in his hand.

A large stone flew out from the book, combining at an astonishing speed to form a towering Kaijin.

The Kaijin's height directly exceeded 2 meters. Its entire body was composed of hard rock and solidified muscle. A pair of colossal stone hands swayed on either side of its terrifying, bowl-shaped head, giving off an oppressive aura of raw violence and primal savagery.

Gazing at the newborn Golem Megid, Woodman's smile deepened.

He directly approached the Golem Megid, handing it a blank, empty mini-book.

"Then, let a new story be forged by you!"

"Roar!!!"

The Golem Megid let out a ferocious growl, turning its gaze towards the leisure park filled with numerous tourists.]

"In this world, I don't seem like a good person at all..."

In a high-rise building in America, an old man over fifty years old let out a bitter laugh.

Eliott · Baldwin · Woodman, one of the former strongest Wizards in the world, looked at his younger self on the screen. This man, who personally founded the Ratatoskr organization with the primary goal of protecting Spirits, suddenly remembered his old friend who had gone astray.

"So, in this world, what kind of person are you, Westcott?"

[As if by fate.

Itsuka Shiori and Yoshino's destination happened to be this very leisure park, where Itsuka Shiori had an appointment with the son of a pancake shop owner.

The innocent child adored the book Itsuka Shiori had chosen for him. Just as the three were playfully interacting, the Golem Megid on the distant rooftop opened the blank book in its hand.

A gigantic book of fantasy unfolded in the next instant, encompassing a vast area, including the park.

The book of fantasy began rapidly turning its pages. Under the astonished gaze of Itsuka Shiori, Yoshino, and others, the inside of the book and the outside of the book were divided into two completely distinct worlds. This continued until everything inside the book vanished from the sight of the pancake shop owners and a group of ordinary people, leaving behind only a rectangular area blocked by an indistinct Aurora screen on the opposite side.

In the distance, Yatogami Tohka, who was searching for them, was also startled by this sight.

"This is!?"

A flustered Yatogami Tohka haphazardly searched her body, then revealed an even more bewildered expression.

"Ah, where did my Book Gate go?"

On the other side, many people from within the book, including Itsuka Shiori, Yoshino, and the little boy, were teleported into a vibrant, colorful world.

Lush, rainforest-like vegetation covered the ground. Iridescent bubbles and various fantastical creatures soared in the sky.

Wonder World and the structures from the real world, brought inside, coexisted, presenting a scene with a very disharmonious sense of disjunction.

Some people displayed expressions of disbelief, while others were filled with terror.

Only Yoshino's eyes sparkled, and she immediately pulled out her phone to rapidly snap photos of these marvelous landscapes.

"Ohh! What is this? What is this? This is too beautiful! Shiori~chan, let's take a picture together later!"

"Ahahaha, always maintaining an optimistic and bright mindset is also one of Yoshino's strong points, isn't it?"

Seeing Yoshino's high spirits, Itsuka Shiori gave a helpless smile, then turned her attention to the little boy she was holding by the hand.

The little boy's face was filled with fear. Clearly, this sudden situation left him, at such a young age, at a complete loss.

Itsuka Shiori immediately knelt down to bring her eyes level with the little boy's, a gentle smile on her face.

"Don't worry, with me and Big Sister Yoshino here, I promise you, we will definitely return you safely to your mom and dad!"

"That's right, leave it to me and Shiori~chan!"

Itsuka Shiori's smile seemed to possess a reassuring magic. The little boy quickly calmed down somewhat, nodding vigorously at Itsuka Shiori.

Subsequently, the three reached the border area and discovered that the Aurora screens blocking their view had a physical presence; at least, with the strength of mere mortals, it was impossible to forcibly break through.

Just as the three were somewhat at a loss, a loud explosion reached everyone's ears.

Turning to look, they saw a Kaijin cloaked in rock, standing tall, frantically attacking the real-world structures. People fled in terror, scattering. Several ordinary individuals were accidentally struck by fragments of exploding rock, falling to the ground and groaning in pain.

Itsuka Shiori's pupils constricted. Unable to ignore the injured, she placed the little boy in a safe spot far away, then ran towards them with Yoshino.

"Yoshino-chan! I'll attract its attention, you take the opportunity to retreat with the injured to a safe position!"

"What!? Hey! Wait, Shiori~chan!"

Before Yoshino could respond, Shiori immediately put distance between them, picking up a rather large rock from the ground and vehemently throwing it at the Golem Megid.

"Thump!"

The rock connected. Although it felt no pain, the Golem Megid's attention was still drawn by the irritating little creature daring to disturb it.

"Hey! You, stop right now!"

Itsuka Shiori wanted to continue searching for suitable rocks, but the Golem Megid reacted faster. The stone hand on its left shoulder flew off, its fist slamming towards Itsuka Shiori.

Fortunately, Itsuka Shiori reacted quickly, narrowly dodging the attack with a roll, though looking somewhat disheveled.

The stone fist slammed directly into the building behind Itsuka Shiori, instantly punching a large hole in the wall, making Itsuka Shiori gulp.]

Headost: "So strong! This destructive power far exceeds that of ordinary demons. Miss Itsuka is just an untrained civilian, so what can she do?"

Recycling Assassin: "This young woman is too reckless, suddenly just charged in."

Barusu: "Where is that girl with the blue book from earlier? Help her out!"

Soybean Bread: "I wish I could! My other me, hurry up and come!"

[The Golem Megid launched several more attacks at Itsuka Shiori, who barely evaded them with her rather excellent reflexes, but the sheer wind pressure from the stone fist alone caused several bruises on Itsuka Shiori's body.

Seeing Itsuka Shiori, slippery like an eel, the Golem Megid seemed to lose patience. It opened its palm, and the formerly blank mini-book was now one-third dyed black.

Itsuka Shiori's pupils constricted. She noticed that book appeared similar to the red book she held.

"What is that book?"

The question slipped out.

The Golem Megid, upon hearing her, seemed to get a bragging impulse, perhaps because it hadn't spoken for a long time.

"This is a treasure called an Alter Ride Book! Through this, we can rewrite the world, making it our plaything!"

"...Using a book to rewrite the world?"

Itsuka Shiori unconsciously looked at the already tragically disfigured street, a surge of anger rising within her.

"You! You actually used a book to do something so outrageous!"

"Silence!"

The Golem Megid suddenly attacked, a pair of stone fists shooting out, their speed completely surpassing previous attacks.

"Dangerous!"

Just as Itsuka Shiori thought it was a critical moment, a petite blue figure suddenly lunged, tackling Itsuka Shiori and narrowly saving her from this crisis.

"Yoshino-chan? You didn't run?"

"What foolishness are you speaking? How could Yoshino abandon a friend and flee!"

Yoshino, who had successfully retreated with the injured, said to Itsuka Shiori. However, the Golem Megid had clearly lost all patience and had no intention of giving them a chance to chat.

"Our new world has no need for humans!"

Flipping open the Alter Ride Book in its hand, a beam of white light shot towards a pitcher plant-like flora nearby.

Before the two women's terrified eyes, that plant instantly grew madly to 10 meters high. A terrifying gravitational pull erupted from its predatory maw, instantly lifting the slightly lighter Yoshino into the air.

"Yoshino!"

Fortunately, Itsuka Shiori was quick-witted. She grabbed Yoshino's hand and a stone pillar nearby, saving Yoshino from the fate of being preyed upon by the plant.]

Gotham Botanist: "That book can instantly stimulate growth and transform plants!"

Heaven Ascension: "Not only that, if that Stone Man isn't lying, this is the result of 'improving' the world. What immense power!"

Soul Society Most Honest: "Rewriting the world, huh? Intriguing."

[The moment she grabbed Yoshino, a sense of déjà vu suddenly flashed through Itsuka Shiori's mind. It seemed that at some point, she had also grasped someone's hand in precisely the same way.

However, there was no more time for her to grasp this fleeting memory. The plant's suction force was beyond imagination. Itsuka Shiori felt as if her arms were about to be torn off.

In a flash, out of the corner of her eye, she saw the fire hydrant at her feet, which had been battered by the Golem Megid's earlier careless attack. It was now emitting a metallic "groan" due to the plant's powerful gravitational pull.

"I can only risk it! Hope it works!"

With resolve in her heart, Itsuka Shiori kicked out.

Under the shocked gazes of Yoshino and the Golem Megid, she directly kicked the overburdened fire hydrant, sending it flying.

A large quantity of underground water gushed out, then was swiftly sucked into the plant by gravity. Not long after, the "full" giant plant ceased its movements, and the two were saved.]

Kashiwagi Eri: "Holy crap! Although I know that fire hydrant wasn't sturdy, a girl kicking a fire hydrant until it explodes is too shocking!"

Conan Unicorn: "Isn't that perfectly normal?"

Tuna: "Isn't that perfectly normal?"

House of Everything Kagura: "Isn't that perfectly normal?"

Kashiwagi Eri: "..."

Hikki: "Are girls from other worlds all monsters too?"

Iron Fist Unbeaten: "Reputation of otherworlders damaged (2/1)"

[One wave subsided, another rose.

Seeing Itsuka Shiori and her companion successfully escape danger, the Golem Megid naturally wouldn't stand by like a third-rate villain.

Its stone fists once again gathered energy and shot out, only this time, two stone fists launched in two different directions.

Itsuka Shiori, who hadn't lowered her guard, pushed Yoshino away, once again risking life and limb to dodge the attack.

Only this time, the Golem Megid's mouth curved slightly. The other fist, flying towards the sky, directly smashed the skyscraper immediately above Itsuka Shiori.

Countless rubble rained down, completely burying Itsuka Shiori beneath it amidst Yoshino's astonished screams.]

"Click ——"

Seeing Itsuka Shiori buried under rubble in the Video, the Spirits in the Itsuka household almost all began to panic.

Violent emotional fluctuations caused the previously sealed mental power of the Spirits to show signs of flowing back. The glass objects in the house cracked directly due to the agitated mental power and the instantaneous temperature difference.

Just as Itsuka Shiori and Itsuka Kotori were caught off guard, the next image in the Video made them reluctantly calm down.

[Beneath the rubble of the tall building, a faint red light began to emanate. The Golem Megid, which had intended to deliver the finishing blow to Yoshino, had its attention drawn by this dazzling red light.

"Roar ——"

A majestic Dragon Roar erupted from beneath the pile of rubble. In the air, a strong and powerful heartbeat seemed to resonate; it was the unmistakable sign of a legendary creature named "Dragon" awakening.

A second later, a crimson red dragon burst through the rubble and soared into the sky, disappearing into the heavens amidst everyone's astonished gazes.

Then, at the spot where the red dragon vanished, a burning sword with a fiery crest descended from the sky, plunging straight into the ground in front of an unharmed Itsuka Shiori.

"This, this is!"

The Golem Megid was astonished.

Even the four-person group secretly observing this scene from behind the scenes were somewhat agitated.

"...Kaenken Rekka."

Calibur looked at the Seiken in the image. Her low, hoarse tone revealed a hint of inexplicable emotion.

However, among the other three members of the group, only Storious, who sat on the sofa, seemed to notice Calibur's change. He showed an amused smile, lightly rubbing his index finger and thumb, then he spoke.

"When the world begins to shake, the dragon will awaken the Kaenken Rekka. All of this is like destiny, isn't it, Calibur."

Beast reacted to Storious's words. She slammed the table and stood up, glaring somewhat angrily at Calibur.

"Calibur! Didn't you say the Kaenken Rekka had completely disappeared? You lied to us!?"

Beneath Beast's messy white bangs, a pair of sharp, violet eyes stared at the purple-armored figure.

A robust, blue-striped white-furred Beast-Man began to faintly appear around her body.

However, just as this fiery woman was about to attack Calibur, Woodman reached out and stopped her.

"Stop, isn't this more interesting? If the game is too simple, it loses its meaning. If this woman can truly transform into the Honō no Kenshi, then I will personally eliminate her later."

"...Hmph, ah, the Honō no Kenshi is nothing special. The previous Honō no Kenshi also amounted to nothing in the end."

Beast's expression calmed. She sat back down, speared the entire steak on the table with her fork, and shoved it into her mouth. Her savage chewing and eating style resembled a ferocious beast.]

Summer River: "It's starting, it's starting, the villain's characteristic 'giving away' behavior has begun."

Dual Blades: "I understand, I understand. It's this kind of situation where victory is clearly within reach, but you absolutely have to send your underlings to train the protagonist."

Heaven Ascension: "Ahem, I think this should be called 'cautious evil'."

Spider Grandma: "Exactly, exactly. A dignified Demon King personally attacking a junior who can't even defeat the Elite Four—it would surely be mocked by his peers."

Satan Jakobu: "I think what the upstairs commenter said is very true. Giving away the Elite Four is a Demon King's perk; if you don't like it, don't play."

Sage's Pendant: "I find that very reasonable."

Cautious Yūsha: "I think what the Demon King above said is very true. I just encountered a Four Heavenly Kings that block people in the beginner's village; it looked very unstylish. Luckily, I'm cautious."

[Itsuka Shiori only felt her body burning hot. The red book tightly held in her hand radiated light as if resonating with her soul.

Instinctively, she opened the book in her hand. On the first page, the fire-breathing Dragon totem seemed to come alive, directly confronting Itsuka Shiori.

An ancient, deep voice began to echo through the space.

"Long ago, there was a divine dragon that acquired the power of destruction."

The voice resonated in the ears of everyone present. In Itsuka Shiori's dark golden pupils, blazing flames seemed to ignite.

She reached out.

The moment she touched the divine sword's hilt, the scorching heat made her slightly flinch.

Seeing this action, the Golem Megid sneered.

"Give up, ordinary humans cannot wield a Seiken! Hand over the Wonder Ride Book in your hand to me; it is a power that you weak humans are unworthy of!"

As everyone present fixed their attention on Itsuka Shiori, in a distant location, a book the size of a doorframe appeared out of thin air and opened up. Yatogami Tohka hurriedly rushed out of it.

Yatogami Tohka held a strange black device with a short sword etched with a flowing water pattern inserted into it. Just as she was about to attach it to her back, her gaze was completely captivated by what was before her.

It was a blazing figure.

Not burning in a physical sense, but as a fellow sword-wielder, she could feel it.

It was a flame of the heart that no one could extinguish.

Her combat preparations ceased. For some unknown reason, Yatogami Tohka instinctively felt that, at this very moment, for that girl, she should act this way.

"The power of books..."

Muttering the words from the Golem Megid's speech, Itsuka Shiori suddenly gripped the Seiken before her, and in the latter's shocked gaze, she raised her head and glared at her opponent.

The intense heat that had originally been on the Seiken seemed to have never existed. Itsuka Shiori only felt her entire body filled with warm power.

"You speak truly, books indeed hold power.

But! This power is meant to bring happiness to everyone!"

"You are merely human, yet you dare speak such arrogant words!"

The enraged Golem Megid no longer wished to waste words with its opponent. Its rocky fists shot out, their power the strongest it had been so far.

If a human body were to take such a blow, it would likely be shattered to pieces in an instant.

However!

"The books you speak of were painstakingly and continuously compiled by those 'mere humans'!"

Itsuka Shiori showed no fear. With the book in her left hand, the sword in her right, and her conviction in her heart, everything told her:

"Draw!"

"Strike!"

Metal clashed. The previously unstoppable rocky fists were simultaneously split in two by Itsuka Shiori's angry roar.

Then, to the Golem Megid's disbelief, the Seiken in her hand absorbed the flames of destruction brought about by the chaos around it. In a flash of light, it shrunk and transformed, almost in the next instant becoming something identical to the strange device in Yatogami Tohka's hand. The only difference was the crest engraved on the short sword within it: the crest of blazing fire.

"Seiken Swordriver!"

The name of the device, along with its method of use, appeared simultaneously in her mind. Itsuka Shiori knew everything was ready.

"This is the power of humanity, a sword to bring happiness to everyone, my sword!"

She snapped the Driver onto her waist. Black belts extended from both sides of the Driver, firmly securing it to Itsuka Shiori's waist.

"Even if you gain the Seiken's approval, humanity's demise is predetermined. It's nothing more than a pointless struggle!"

The Golem Megid once again flipped open the Alter Ride Book in its hand. Rocks from the surroundings flew towards it, rebuilding the stone fists it had just lost.

"That's not right!

The ending of the story, I will decide it!"

Facing her opponent's regeneration, Itsuka Shiori likewise opened the Wonder Ride Book in one hand.

"Brave Dragon!"

She placed the re-closed Wonder Ride Book into the rightmost slot of the Driver. A nimble standby sound chimed, bringing courage and hope.

"Rekka Battou!"

Drawing the Kaenken Rekka, Itsuka Shiori wielded the sword to draw a cross slash in the air. The graceful movement made the nearby Yoshino gasp in awe.

"Henshin!"

"Brave Dragon! Rekka: Volume 1! When the brave dragon and Rekka, the Sword of Flames unite, a crimson blade shall pierce through all that is evil!"

A dragon cloaked in flames enveloped the Kenshi. The previously drawn cross slash flew back, embedding itself in the Kenshi's head, transforming into the Kenshi's eyes that pierce through evil, while simultaneously dispersing the excess flames.

The armored figure, with the dragon protecting its right shoulder, emerged from the flames. Its pure visual design bore a striking resemblance to the Calibur that had appeared earlier.

The four individuals secretly observing revealed different expressions as they watched Itsuka Shiori complete her Henshin.

Calibur murmured softly.

"This is... Saber."]

"Good, so cool!"

Before the TV, Itsuka Shiori's eyes sparkled. For a former chūnibyō, this Henshin was simply a dimensionality-shattering impact.

The comments section also began to buzz with enthusiastic discussion.

Dr. Lobster: "Holy crap! Mophead, I think this kind of Henshin Armor has potential! How about we figure out how to manufacture a few sets!"

Dr. Mophead: "Please stop with the baseless fantasies."

Kyokkou: "So cool..."

Witch of Crumbs: "This uses Magic, it's so cool!"

Imagine Breaker: "I'm burning up!"

Dual Blades: "I'm burning up!"

Barusu: "I'm burning up!"

Tengū City's Spirit King: "I'm burning up!"

Simple and Straightforward: "You, from Tengu City, is that the one in the Video?"

Chaos Gudako: "Am I the only one reacting to the word 'Saber'?"

Comrade of Justice: "You are not alone."

Uncle Necromancer: "It seems we are all comrades in arms."

[The battle between Saber and Golem Megid erupted almost the moment both completed their preparations.

Itsuka Shiori brandished the Kaenken Rekka in her hand. What she found unbelievable was that, despite her clear lack of prior sword experience, she now instinctively sensed how to wield the blade.

As if to respond to her fervent emotions, flames ignited on the Seiken's blade, drawing several crimson arcs in the air.

Blade and rock continuously clashed. Golem Megid was astonished to discover that its normally proud and hardened body was cracking piece by piece under the heated slashes.

Saber's armor provided Itsuka Shiori with a strength no less than Golem Megid's body, plus the Kaenken Rekka could easily shatter its form.

If close combat continued, Golem Megid realized its defeat was inevitable.

"If close range won't work, then long range it is!"

Using the force of a previous clash with Saber, Golem Megid immediately back-jumped to increase its distance from the opponent, its stone fists above its head poised.

Although its previous ranged attack had been cleaved by the opponent, with the Alter Ride Book, it could easily "reload" its ammunition, effectively at zero cost.

Thinking that an opponent who was merely a Kenshi would certainly not possess too many long-range attack methods, Golem Megid believed it could simply wear its opponent down.

Golem Megid thought it would be like this again...

The stone fists shot out.

Seeing this move, which it had grown tired of, Itsuka Shiori's mouth under her mask curved slightly.

"I was waiting for that move!"

She brought her sword horizontally across her chest. After taking two stone fists head-on, her body rapidly retreated.

At the same time, Itsuka Shiori used the shape of the stone fists to hook them onto her blade.

Then, using her right foot as an axis, she twisted her body with all her might, leveraging the inertia to spin around and hurl those stone fists back.

Golem Megid's full-force attack, coupled with Saber's full-force sword swing, resulted in an effect far greater than 1 plus 1 equaling 2. This caused the stone fists to break free from Golem Megid's control, catching it completely off guard and sending them all back to its own body.

The fierce impact caused Golem Megid's body to become utterly fragmented. It tumbled several times on the ground before stopping, eyes tightly shut, mouth agape, looking very much like a professional recipient of a beating.

"How can this be? The book, right! It must be the book's problem! You villain, quickly give me the Wonder Ride Book! That is something that should be used by us noble beings!"

The panting Golem Megid tried to stand up, only to find its left leg shattered.

"I already told you, this is a human's book, it is my power!"

"Damn you, Kenshi AAAAAAAAA!!"

Golem Megid once again pulled out an Alter Ride Book. This book was already half black, and this time, turning its pages brought about a dramatic alteration of the world.

The massive illusory book covering the area began to turn its pages along with Golem Megid's actions.

The city was ripped in half. Amidst the horrified gazes of the people within, the world instantly twisted into a barren desert of gaunt, strange rocks.

"ROAR AAAAAAA!!!"

The monster let out an ear-splitting roar. Rocks, imbued with its rage, began to attack the Kenshi before it.

In astonishment, Saber's footing was rapidly elevated, rushing skyward. Countless massive stones also shot out from the ground, vowing to pierce Saber to bloody shreds.]

Power user: "What kind of power is this?"

Talk no Jutsu: "This monster's true power is only so-so, but that little book is actually quite formidable. It can change the terrain so easily, and it looks like the user's consumption isn't significant."

Dr. Mophead: "This is still only a semi-finished product. I wonder what that book would be like if it were entirely black?"

I Know Everything: "However, this book should only have control over this specific area of space covered by the book, and probably needs to meet certain conditions. Otherwise, it wouldn't need to be so painstaking; if it were used directly from the start, Miss Itsuka would have no room to counterattack."

[Saber, sent flying into the sky, did not show any signs of panic. She directly reached out and tapped the "Brave Dragon" page on her Driver.

"Brave Dragon!"

"Since you use the power of books, then so will I!"

A crimson dragon roared, bursting forth from the book.

It swiftly circled Saber, shattering all incoming giant rocks, then descended with Saber, heading straight for the Golem Megid on the ground.

Dragon fangs and sword blade intertwined, exploding on Golem Megid's body, and actually directly reverting the surrounding scenery back to the city.

Rolling on the ground for another seven or eight meters, Golem Megid was furious beyond measure. This time, it directly unleashed all the power it could muster. The surrounding rocks were absorbed into its tower-like body, and the monster instantly transformed into a 15-meter-class Giant.

"It's useless! Everything has begun! No matter what you do, you cannot change anything!"

But looking at the gigantic body opposite, Saber, returning to the ground, calmly re-inserted the Kaenken Rekka into her Driver.

"I already told you, the ending of the story, I will decide it!"

Snapping the panel on the sword hilt, Itsuka Shiori cleanly drew the blade. Massive flames continuously spewed from the Seiken Fire Emblem.

"Hissatsu Dokuha! Rekka Battou! Brave Dragon!

One Volume Slash! Fire!"

Accompanied by a majestic roll call, Saber used a high-speed horizontal slash to cut the Giant in half crosswise. Then, transforming into a fiery meteor, she circled and flew around the Giant, unleashing numerous slashes upon its body.

The moment Saber landed, the Giant's life also reached its end, turning into the final smoke and ash of the space.

The instant Golem Megid's demise was confirmed, this peculiar space began to crumble and dissipate.

Itsuka Shiori, having de-transformed, was excitedly embraced by Yoshino who rushed to her.

Thus, Kamen Rider Saber's first battle drew to a close.]