I could feel my hope slipping away, the chances of victory dissolving into an endless void. Isadora and I were already at our limits; even my Tajadol Form had barely left a scratch on him.
The enemy before me sneered, his laughter echoing across the battlefield.
"Why don't you just surrender, OOO?" he mocked. "Perhaps I'll even spare you and make you my loyal servant."
I glared at him, teeth clenched.
"Over my dead body!" I roared. I would rather kiss a donkey's ass than bow to him.
The enemy leader threw his head back in cruel laughter as his army gathered behind him — Dopants, Yummies, Dustards, Shocker combatants, and countless others.
"Then meet your maker but before that, say hello to my little friends."
It truly felt like the end. Still… if I was going to die, I would rather fall fighting with honor than live as a coward in chains.
Suddenly, despite her bruises and battered state, Isadora grinned.
"Looks like it's time," she said softly. "The cavalry has arrived, Hideo."
I frowned. "What do you mean?"
Instead of answering, she closed her eyes, a calm smile spreading across her face as she raised her hand.
A portal appeared — right behind me.
From it stepped a lone figure in a black jacket, carrying a camera.
"Looks like you're having a rough time," a relaxed male voice chuckled. "Don't worry… I — no, we — are here to help you."
He placed a belt around his waist and drew a card from his holder.
Confused, I asked, "Who are you?"
He smiled at me, giving a playful wink.
"I'm just a passing through Kamen Rider. Remember that."
His expression sharpened instantly.
"Henshin!"
[𝕂𝕒𝕞𝕖𝕟 ℝ𝕚𝕕𝕖𝕣]
[𝔻𝔼ℂ𝔸𝔻𝔼!]
Gray projections spun violently around him before crashing into his body. Rectangular panels swirled in the air and locked onto his face as magenta light enveloped him.
So, he was a Kamen Rider too?.
Then more portals burst open around us, each releasing transformation calls.
[ℂ𝕪𝕔𝕝𝕠𝕟𝕖! 𝕁𝕠𝕜𝕖𝕣!]
[𝟛… 𝟚… 𝟙…]
[𝔹𝕖𝕤𝕥 𝕄𝕒𝕥𝕔𝕙!]
[𝔸𝔻𝕍𝔼ℕ𝕋]
[𝕎𝕒𝕜𝕖 𝕦𝕡!]
[𝕃𝔼𝕍𝔼𝕃 𝕌ℙ!]
[𝕋𝕦𝕣𝕟 𝕌𝕡!]
[𝕊𝕨𝕠𝕣𝕕 𝔽𝕠𝕣𝕞!]
[𝕊𝕥𝕒𝕟𝕕𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝔹𝕪]
[ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕟𝕘𝕖 𝔹𝕖𝕖𝕥𝕝𝕖]
[𝔽𝕃𝔸𝕄𝔼, ℙ𝕃𝔼𝔸𝕊𝔼!]
[𝕃𝕠𝕔𝕜 𝕆𝕟!]
[𝔻ℝ𝕀𝕍𝔼: 𝕋𝕐ℙ𝔼 𝕊ℙ𝔼𝔼𝔻!]
[𝕃𝔼𝕋'𝕊 𝔾𝕆! 𝔻𝔼𝔸𝔻 𝕊𝔼𝕋! 𝔾-𝔾-𝔾ℍ𝕆𝕊𝕋!]
One by one, Kamen Riders poured onto the battlefield with each clad in a unique suit, each radiating power and hope that cut through the despair.
"Ore, sanjou!" one of them declared boldly.
Another laughed, pointing upward. "Whoa… look at those numbers!"
"Well now," an older voice chimed in calmly. It came from a Kamen Rider whose design resembled a grasshopper, standing firm against the chaos. "The Shocker certainly brings back memories. But don't worry — I will prevail and defeat them!!!!"
There were a thousand things I wanted to say at that moment, my thoughts racing to catch up with what I was witnessing. Before I could speak, Isadora tapped my shoulder. In her hand was a yellow Core Medal.
"What is this?" I asked.
"Shocker Medal."
…They have these too?
"And one more thing," Isadora added, turning her attention to Den-O. "Give me your Medal."
"Huh? There's no way I have—" Den-O protested.
But Isadora only grinned. Her hand phased straight into his chest like a ghost passing through solid matter. A split second later, she yanked something out.
"Found it."
"The hell?!" Den-O yelped, staring in disbelief. "I have that?!"
Ignoring the utterly confused Kamen Rider, Isadora tossed another Medal toward me. I caught it instinctively, staring down at it in silence.
Holding both Medals in my hands, I realized that I had no idea what kind of Combo I was about to unleash.
"Well… what am I waiting for?" I muttered to myself as I slotted the Medals into my belt and scanned them.
[𝕋𝕒𝕜𝕒]
[𝕀𝕞𝕒𝕘𝕚𝕟𝕖]
[𝕊𝕙𝕠𝕔𝕜𝕖𝕣]
[𝕋𝕒-𝕄𝕒-𝕊𝕙𝕚𝕚! 𝕋𝕒-𝕄𝕒-𝕊𝕙𝕚𝕚! 𝕋𝕒-𝕄𝕒-𝕊𝕙𝕚𝕚! ℝ𝕀𝔻𝔼𝔼𝔼ℝ 𝕋𝔸𝕄𝔸𝕊ℍ𝕀𝕀!]
Light exploded around me as the new suit formed over my body. When the glow faded, I glanced down at myself. A strange horn emblazoned across my torso and gleaming gold armor covering my feet.
"Damn… this feels weird but not in a bad way," I murmured.
At that moment, a blue-and-red suited Rider stepped closer, studying my belt with clear curiosity.
"These Medals are fascinating," he said thoughtfully. Then, realizing his stare, he quickly straightened. "Ah — sorry, that was rude of me. My name is Sento Kiryu. Kamen Rider Build."
He extended his hand toward me. I grasped it firmly.
Before either of us could continue, W's voice cut in sharply.
"Love the introductions, but we've got bigger problems — the enemy head honcho got his eyes on us."
Right. The battle. In all the mess, I had almost forgotten.
Every Kamen Rider around us raised their weapons, their stances tightening, their auras blazing with intent. You could feel it, they were ready to tear through the battlefield.
Isadora grinned wildly, her excitement almost feral.
"Then… are you ready, gang?!"
A thunderous roar answered her.
"OHHHHHHH!!!"
"SHINZO SASAGEYO!!!"
"YOU BETTER MOVE YOUR ASS, YOU BASTARDS!!"
"EAT MY RIDER KICK!"
"BE HONORED — THE CHOSEN ONE OF THE HEAVEN WILL BRING YOUR DEMISE!"
In perfect unison, all of us charged forward toward the enemy army, the ground shaking beneath our feet.
I still had no idea what was really happening.
But I guess everything worked out on my end?