Henshin!
The place where Shadow Moon stood was immediately engulfed in green light. When the light faded, there stood Shadow Moon's transformed form—Kamen Rider Shadow Moon!
As everyone knew, Kamen Riders received a close-up for their first transformation appearance; whether later transformations got one depended on the circumstances.
"You all, come at me together!"
After transforming, even Shadow Moon's voice carried a mechanical quality.
Martial Soul Avatar! ×6
The Shi Mo Shi Mo brothers transformed into Black Tortoise Turtles and immediately raised their shields in front of Shadow Moon.
Under normal circumstances, this would not happen in a match, because defensive Martial Souls had the vital duty of protecting their side's control-system and support-system Soul Masters.
However, Shadow Moon had made it clear that he intended to crush them head-on. With Tian Yuheng no longer standing at the front to contend with him, the Shi Mo and Shi Mo brothers had no choice but to take the lead.
The Shi Mo and Shi Mo brothers formed the front-line meat shield. Dugu Yan stood in the middle, preparing to poison Shadow Moon and teach him a lesson, while Ye Lingling remained at the rear, ready to heal her teammates at any moment.
Meanwhile, Osler and Yu Feng moved between the two flanks, prepared to harass Shadow Moon whenever possible.
"Since you aren't planning to make a move, then I'll go first!"
Seeing the six people opposite him holding to the stance of not moving unless the enemy moved first, Shadow Moon naturally struck first.
Clank! Clank!
Shadow Moon slowly stepped forward, and the sound of his strides sent immense pressure into the hearts of the six Heaven Dou Team members.
"We can't hesitate any longer. Shi Mo and Shi Mo, hold him back. Osler and Yu Feng, harass him. Go!"
Upon hearing the order, the group immediately sprang into action.
"Hey!"
Two yellow Soul Rings appeared around the Shi Mo Shi Mo brothers. Their Black Tortoise Turtle shields merged together, forming a massive pitch-black shield to block Shadow Moon.
Shadow Moon smiled as he looked at the enormous black shield before him, one so glossy it even reflected the sunlight.
"If this is all you have, it's no different from papier-mâché."
As soon as Shadow Moon finished speaking, he raised his fist.
Rider Fist!
A dazzling green light radiated from Shadow Moon's raised right fist.
"We can't let him throw that punch!"
Dugu Yan recognized the move Shadow Moon had used to defeat Tian Yuheng. Although she believed he could not defeat the Shi Mo Shi Mo brothers with a single punch, she still broke out in a cold sweat for them.
Osler and Yu Feng said nothing. After using their Martial Soul Avatars, both of them gained even greater speed.
The most important role of agility-type Soul Masters was to serve as assassins and support.
In battle, they waited for opportunities to attack the enemy's vulnerable support-system and control-system Soul Masters.
But there was only one opponent here: Shadow Moon, a pure attack-type Soul Master. Thus, their objective was not to face Shadow Moon head-on in a two-on-one fight, but to harass him and prevent him from attacking properly.
Though this was hardly an honorable method, it was a necessary measure in the face of such a vast gap in Soul Power and strength.
Osler and Yu Feng, one in the air and one on the ground, attacked from two different angles.
It was then that their formidable speed truly showed itself.
The two charged at Shadow Moon at top speed, intending to stop him from attacking the Shi Mo Shi Mo brothers.
Osler's Ghost Leopard possession granted him a powerful physique and nimble movements. Since Yu Feng had to secure air superiority, the task of making the first attack fell to Osler.
Sharp claws extended from Osler's hands. His target was Shadow Moon's hand, glowing with green light.
Just as Osler's claws were about to touch Shadow Moon—
"Boring!"
Shadow Moon's mechanical voice rang out.
"Not good!"
Osler had believed that no matter how strong his opponent was, he could not possibly surpass him in speed. He had intended to strike before Shadow Moon could react and teach him a lesson.
Yet what Osler had not expected was that Shadow Moon looked directly at him the instant he drew near.
"Then I'll deal with you first."
There was not a trace of emotion in Shadow Moon's voice.
Because Osler's Martial Soul was the Ghost Leopard, he ran on all fours after possessing it, making him extremely fast. When Shadow Moon looked toward him, Osler was crouched halfway to the ground.
"Die!"
Shadow Moon casually threw out a roundhouse kick. Osler, who prided himself on his speed, could not even react before Shadow Moon's kick swept him off his feet.
Osler only felt as though his opponent had lightly struck him. Then his body was hit by an overwhelming force that sent him flying sideways.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Osler was swept away in the posture of a qualified secondary rider, rolling two and a half times across the ground before Qin Ming caught him. He immediately passed out.
"Osler!"
Dugu Yan, Ye Lingling, the Shi Mo Shi Mo brothers, and Yu Feng stared in utter shock.
If Shadow Moon's victory over Tian Yuheng had merely proven that he was overwhelmingly powerful in a direct confrontation, then instantly defeating Osler demonstrated his terrifying speed and reaction ability.
"You're next!"
Shadow Moon's words jolted the remaining five back to their senses. This was not the time to grieve. There was still a powerful enemy before them.
The time for Shadow Moon's charged punch had arrived. The muscles of his raised arm surged, driving his fist viciously into the shield formed by the Shi Mo Shi Mo brothers.
Boom!
A deafening sound rang out. The Shi Mo Shi Mo brothers felt an enormous force, as though several bulls had rammed into them simultaneously.
Their shield shattered the instant it came into contact with Shadow Moon's fist. The defense they had taken such pride in was completely crushed by Shadow Moon, just as Osler's speed had been crushed.
A huge cloud of dust erupted from the battlefield alongside the tremendous impact. Two figures also shot out from within—the Shi Mo Shi Mo brothers, sent flying by Shadow Moon's punch.
However, Qin Ming intercepted the brothers while they were still in the air.
Unable to see what was happening within the dust cloud, Dugu Yan, Ye Lingling, and Yu Feng did not dare act rashly.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The mechanical sound of footsteps was now a nightmare in the ears of the remaining three.
Yu Feng, the assassin flying in the sky, felt especially miserable, because Shadow Moon was staring straight at him.
Still, seeing that Shadow Moon lacked the ability to fly, Yu Feng comforted himself and quietly flapped his wings, rising several more feet.
Just when Yu Feng thought he was finally safe, Shadow Moon moved.
On the arena, Shadow Moon slightly bent his body. His green compound eyes made Yu Feng's scalp tingle as they fixed on him.
"No way..."
The moment Yu Feng saw Shadow Moon's movement, he understood what he intended to do.
Shadow Moon's bent legs suddenly straightened, and he shot toward Yu Feng like a cannonball.
Yu Feng frantically beat the wings on his back, but it was useless.
Yu Feng could only watch helplessly as Shadow Moon slowly approached him, gently brushed him with one hand, and then Yu Feng lost consciousness.
Dugu Yan could no longer remember how it had happened. She only knew that in an instant, only she and Ye Lingling remained.
Of course, Ye Lingling was undoubtedly the one suffering the most. Her teammates had been defeated one after another, yet her opponent had shown no interest at all in her, a support-system Soul Master. With her powerful healing ability, Ye Lingling had always been the first target in battle.
Now, Ye Lingling could only watch as her teammates were sent flying one after another. Even though she possessed such powerful healing abilities, they were instantly defeated without even getting a chance to be healed. At this moment, Ye Lingling fell into deep self-doubt.
Clank! Clank! Clank!
Shadow Moon's footsteps sounded unbearably harsh in the ears of Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling.
Yet neither Dugu Yan nor Ye Lingling dared to attack.
Geniuses, geniuses—they had always had everything go smoothly.
They were not afraid of losing, but facing an opponent against whom they had no ability to resist, watching helplessly as he picked them off one by one, was unbearably powerless.
Their previous swagger now seemed utterly ridiculous.
As Shadow Moon gradually approached, Ye Lingling and Dugu Yan could only make one last desperate attempt.
But when they saw Shadow Moon casually endure the poison Dugu Yan had painstakingly prepared without suffering any effect whatsoever, they lost all hope.
Shadow Moon's raised fist once again filled with dazzling light.
Just as Shadow Moon's punch was about to come down—
A pair of powerful hands tightly gripped Shadow Moon's wrist.
"You finally decided to show yourself."
Shadow Moon looked toward the owner of those hands. That head of dark green hair was impossible to miss.