As time passed, the expression on Takai Geki's face slowly relaxed. Then Cirno emerged from his body. Unlike before, her face was twisted with anguish and struggle.
"Goodbye, my servant." As the words fell, Cirno turned into a blue mass of energy and sped away.
When night fell, Takai Geki woke up and looked around. "How did I fall asleep? Cirno, Cirno, where are you? Cirno!" Then Takai Geki remembered the voice he'd heard in his sleep.
"Goodbye, my servant." Did something happen to that girl? I hope she's all right!
Heart of Moving Forward (11) (Submitted by reader Yuan Yixinfei)
(Weather tip: What should you do if your child is nearsighted? Simple: give them a pair of Sharingan, and from then on, Mom won't have to worry about me being nearsighted!)
The sun climbed high, and its warm light shone over the earth. Shotaro was taking a walk down the street, as usual.
He passed a park. In the sunlight, children chased one another and played, their laughter filled with joy. Smiling faintly, Shotaro sat down on a park bench, stretched, and then narrowed his eyes.
"Big brother, big brother." Shotaro heard a child's voice in his sleep. As he slowly came to, he saw a little boy standing in front of him. Shotaro yawned, then asked the boy,
"Why aren't you playing with the others?"
"Big brother, my little sister's balloon got stuck in a tree. Could you help us get it back?" the boy replied miserably. Shotaro also noticed the boy's little sister nearby, gazing at the balloon.
"Ah, you've come to the right person. Making children smile is my mission." Shotaro removed the gentleman's hat from his head, brushed back his bangs with his right hand, then put his hat back on. He planted his right foot against the tree trunk and sprang upward, reaching out with his right hand to grab a branch. After freeing the balloon, he caught it with his left hand and leaped back to the ground.
"Thank you, big brother!" The siblings thanked Shotaro in unison after he handed them the balloon, then ran off to play.
"What a beautiful day. Well, I've had enough of slacking off. Time to look into the clue that junior gave me."
Shotaro then rode his purple-and-teal motorcycle out of the city.
"Judging by the clue, they should be somewhere in the suburbs. Hmm? Good grief, looks like I've got something to do."
As Shotaro rode along the road to the suburbs, he came upon a stretch of road where a string of accidents had occurred. Wrecked cars were piled up in the middle of the road, and a monster with antlers stood among them.
The monster had the skull of a wolf-like animal for a head. Crimson flames flickered as it swung its skull, and its decaying flesh hung from its body beneath patches of sparse fur. Blood dripped from its sharp limbs—the blood of the people lying on the ground. With each swipe of its claws, it sliced people's bodies to pieces.
"A vicious monster, huh? Philip, let's go."
Shotaro put on the Kamen Rider belt and took out a Gaia Memory.
"Joker"
"Transform!"
Far away at the base, Philip heard Shotaro's voice and took out a Gaia Memory. W's Transformation Belt appeared on Philip's body.
"Cyclone"
"Transform!"
After activating the Gaia Memory, Philip inserted it into the right slot of the belt and collapsed to the ground.
At the scene, Shotaro saw the green Gaia Memory appear on the belt and inserted the purple one into the left slot. Then he crossed his arms and pushed the belt apart.
"Cyclone Joker"
As the electronic transformation sound ended, a whirlwind formed around them. It wrapped around Shotaro, who had raised his hands slightly. As fragments fell into place, a warrior appeared: purple and black on the left, teal on the right, with a silver cape fluttering behind him. This was Kamen Rider W.
W leaped into the air and kicked the monster away. After landing, he pointed at it with one hand as Shotaro and Philip's voices rang out together.
"Now, let's count up your sins!"
Then he charged at the monster, wrapped in a whirlwind.
"Shotaro, this monster closely resembles the legendary evil god Ithaqua. They're fond of using wind and spread evil and chaos everywhere. This one is also very skilled in close combat, so be careful."
"Got it. I just don't know if this thing has the strength of a god."
W's right leg struck Ithaqua again and again, each kick accompanied by a swirling gale. A tornado formed around Ithaqua. With one more heavy kick, Ithaqua crashed into the mountainside. It got back up with an unintelligible roar and charged at W, raising its forelimbs to strike. W sprang up and vaulted over Ithaqua's head. Meanwhile, the teal half pulled out a red Gaia Memory.
"Heat Joker"
The teal half of W turned red, and flames wrapped around his fist. W swung it with tremendous force at Ithaqua. The flames erupted brightly when they struck its skull. Then W leaped into the sky and launched a flaming kick at Ithaqua. Ithaqua raised its head and rammed into W with its horns. With a BOOM, flames burst from Ithaqua's head, and one of its horns snapped off. Howling in pain, Ithaqua wildly swung its forelimbs, raining blows down on W.
"Luna Joker"
As the voice rang out, W's red half turned yellow. He quickly kicked Ithaqua in the stomach. His raised right leg was as flexible as rubber, and it lashed out like a whip, sending Ithaqua flying. Then W reached out with his right hand, caught the airborne Ithaqua, and tossed it behind him. He then pulled a silver-white Gaia Memory from his left side.
"Luna Metal"
W's purple-and-black half turned silver-white, and a staff appeared behind him. W took up the metal staff and swung it at Ithaqua. The flexible staff turned into a long whip and lashed Ithaqua again and again. Ithaqua roared and unleashed a blast of air. W brought the staff around to block it, while the yellow half pulled out a teal Gaia Memory.
"Cyclone Metal"
The yellow half turned teal. W threw the metal staff at Ithaqua like a javelin. Wrapped in a whirlwind, it transformed into a teal arrow and shot toward Ithaqua. It moved too fast for Ithaqua to do anything but cross its arms to block. With a clash of metal, the staff flew back into W's hand, while Ithaqua's forelimbs fell to the ground. The teal half then pulled out a red Gaia Memory.
"Heat Metal"
The teal half turned red. W swung the burning staff, gathering power in front of him, then charged and slammed it into Ithaqua's stomach, sending it flying. Flames engulfed Ithaqua and greedily burned the little fur and rotting flesh still clinging to its body. With a roar, the flames went out. Ithaqua's back began to writhe, then burst open as a pair of fleshy wings grew from it. Ithaqua flew into the sky and tried to escape.
"Trying to run? Sorry, but it's time to finish this."
"Luna Trigger"
W's silver, white, and red body changed into yellow and blue. The metal staff in his right hand became a Trigger Magnum. He aimed at Ithaqua in the sky and fired yellow pellets that hit their mark.
"Cyclone Trigger"
The yellow half turned green. Whirlwinds gathered around the muzzle. After charging up, two supersonic bullets streaked toward Ithaqua's wings, trailing green light. The piercing bullets sliced through the wings like blades, sending Ithaqua plummeting to the ground.
"Heat Trigger"
The teal half turned red. W aimed the muzzle at Ithaqua and fired a massive fireball. It exploded against Ithaqua, leaving it completely unable to move.
"Cyclone Joker"
W returned to his purple-and-black and teal form and inserted the Joker Memory into the right slot of his belt.
"Joker Maximum Drive"
As the electronic voice sounded, a whirlwind gathered around W, and he slowly rose into the air. He slapped the Joker Memory on his right side, then kicked toward Ithaqua.
"Joker Extreme"
A golden light shone from the middle of W in midair. His purple-and-black half and teal half separated, then kicked toward Ithaqua one after the other, the first above and the second below. After landing, the two halves joined back together. Ithaqua vanished from the spot, reduced to dust by the finishing move.
After transforming back, Shotaro heard Philip's voice.
"Shotaro, I've read through the clue the junior gave us and the related materials in the library. If monsters that can turn people into Ithaqua make a big move, we'll be in trouble. Go tell the others to get ready. We may have to fight alongside our long-absent seniors."
"Got it." Realizing how serious the situation was, Shotaro got on his motorcycle and rode to the homes of the other Riders, who were living in seclusion.
Heart of Moving Forward (12) (Submitted by reader Yuan Yixinfei)
(Weather tip: Tips are such a hassle...)
At dawn, Takai Geki practiced controlling the elements in his yard. Fire elements swirled around him. As they gathered, flames of varying brightness appeared all around him. The flames circled toward the top of his head, collided, and merged into a fireball. It hovered over him, and when Geki touched it with his right hand, it blossomed like a flower, scattering into sparks and disappearing.
"Phew, I've more or less mastered the fire element. All that's left is the water element."
As he sensed the water element's presence, Geki couldn't help thinking of Cirno.
The monster I encountered last night was powerful. I wonder if Cirno is okay. I hope she's all right. Cirno's figure (in her little-girl form) appeared before his eyes, and concern surfaced on Takai Geki's face.
"Forget it. No point worrying about it now. The most important thing is to learn to control the water element. Once I've learned, I'll go look for her."
Takai Geki shook his head, clearing those thoughts away, then reached out to the water element. He inserted the Black Tortoise Card and released his mental energy, sensing the water element's presence and drawing it toward him. As more and more water elements gathered, a thin mist appeared around him. Geki reached out, and the mist around him thinned. At the same time, droplets of water appeared on his hand. As time passed, the molecules in the droplets gradually settled, and the water turned into ice grains.
Seeing the result, Takai Geki couldn't help smiling. Suddenly, a panicked feeling rose in his heart, while the water elements he sensed trembled continuously. A wave of sorrow passed through them, and the ice grains in Geki's hand shattered in the breeze and disappeared.
"Is it Cirno? This is bad, she's in danger!" Realizing something was wrong, Takai Geki rushed out of his house, following the water element's guidance toward its source.
...............
"Hello, one original-flavor doughnut, please."
Haruto Soma walked happily down the road after buying a doughnut at a dessert shop.
"Original-flavor doughnuts really are the best."
Haruto took a bite of the doughnut, looking completely content. Just as he was about to finish it, he suddenly froze.
"The water element feels so sad. What's going on?"
He looked toward the source. The sky, which had been clear, was now covered in dark clouds, and fine snowflakes drifted down to the earth.
"Can't be helped. I'll put this away for now." Haruto put the doughnut back in the bag, then took out a ring and put it on his right hand. He held his hand in front of the sensor on his belt.
"Connect, please."
As the electronic voice rang out, a magic circle appeared beside Haruto. He reached into it, then pushed a motorcycle out. Afterward, Haruto rode toward the source.
At the source, the world around them had turned white, covered in ice and snow. Cirno stood in the middle of it all. But now, her once neatly arranged hair hung loose and disheveled. Her adorable blue eyes had become lifeless, with a faint glow shining in them. Her innocent smile had turned corpse-white and stiff, and the roars from her mouth conveyed her pain. The crystalline wings on her back, once like a dragonfly's, had grown enormous, their sharp, icy gleam piercing to the eye.
"What a terrifying presence. But I can't let you get near the city." Haruto arrived and put a magic ring with a palm symbol on his right hand, then held it in front of the sensor on his belt.
"Driver On, please."
As the voice rang out, the sensor turned into Wizard's belt. Haruto put a bright red ring on his left hand, switched the belt's palm sensor over, and held his left hand to it.
"Transform!"
"Flame, please."
"Hi, hi, hihihi~"
As Haruto raised his left hand, a magic circle appeared to his left and passed through him from left to right. When it vanished, Kamen Rider Wizard stood in his place.
"Come on! It's show time."
"Connect, please."
As the voice rang out, Wizard pulled the Wizard Sword Gun from a magic circle and fired silver bullets at Cirno. But she blocked them with a wall of ice raised in front of her. Seeing this, Wizard switched to sword mode, swung his robe behind him, and charged at Cirno.
"Ha! Ha! Ha!" Wizard closed in on Cirno and attacked her weak points with graceful steps. But whenever his blows broke pieces off her body, they were immediately repaired. Cirno swung her hand and knocked Wizard back. The blizzard overhead gathered around her, then her left arm became a gigantic hand of ice that swept toward Wizard. Wizard put a ring on his right hand, switched the belt's sensor to his right hand, and held it in front of the sensor.
"Defend, please."
A magic circle formed in front of him. Fire elements turned into a shield and blocked Cirno's giant fist, while the ice on her fist and the fire elements in the magic circle counteracted each other.
Wizard replaced the ring on his right hand with a new one and lowered his hand to the belt.
"Big, please."
Another magic circle appeared. Wizard thrust his right fist through it and struck Cirno hard. His right fist grew enormous as it passed through the magic circle, and the blow smashed Cirno into the wall, leaving her unable to move.
"Now, it's time for the finale."
Wizard took out a ring, put it on his finger, and held it in front of the sensor.
"Superb! Kick Strike!"
"Superb!"
Wizard spun around and thrust out his right leg. A magic circle appeared beneath his foot, and rising flames turned into a tornado that wrapped around his leg. With a flip, Wizard leaped into the air and kicked toward Cirno.
Heart of Moving Forward (13) (Submitted by reader Yuan Yixinfei)
"Stop!"
Takai Geki rushed over and saw Wizard use his finishing move. He quickly summoned the Beast Soul Driver.
"Manifest! Transform!"
"Armor Manifestation—Armament—White Tiger"
A flash of white light swept past, and Spirit's body, trailing afterimages, charged toward Wizard in midair.
"Ah!"
"Ow! That hurts!" The two of them hit the ground, groaning in pain. Wizard had been startled by Spirit's sudden collision.
"Wait, senior! She's my friend. You can't kill her!"
"Hmm? She's your friend?"
"Yes. An evil spirit from a monster interfered with her mind, and that's why she's like this. I'm the one who caused this, so I have to save her!"
Spirit made a pleading gesture as he finished speaking. Perhaps sensing Spirit's resolve, Wizard replied helplessly,
"If she's your ally, then you need to take her hand."
Wizard stood up and took out a blue ring, putting it on his left hand. He switched the belt's sensor over to his left hand.
"If she's your ally, then use this to help her!"
"Water, please."
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