Starting with Firefly, Speedrunning the World — Part 41

Because this was the fall of an Aeon.

It began with a beam of light.

They fell, and the threat of annihilation loomed overhead. They had no choice but to cease their self-replication, scrambling to embrace one another, trying to trade their right to reproduce for a chance at survival.

They joined hands, more united than ever before—but their Path came to an abrupt end, and they moved toward true death.

Light Cone: The Fall of an Aeon!

[Shut Down!]

A Rider Kick! Empowered by the Destruction Light Cone!

Empowered by this Light Cone, Firefly's Rider Kick had risen to a terrifying level, becoming a force that could not be resisted by any means.

It was the wail of an Aeon, merciless destruction!

"This is impossible!!!"

"How could something so terrifying exist in this world? Impossible, absolutely impossible!"

The terrifying phantom that flashed behind Firefly sent chills down Niram's spine, cold sweat pouring down his back. He refused to believe that such a horrifying creature could exist in this world.

It was not as though he had never seen gods before.

Whether the gods of Norse mythology, the High Heaven Plain, or Greek mythology...

Even if he had not encountered them directly, he had seen them in reports concerning wanted Godslayer criminals. But they had never been anything like this.

Though terror gripped his heart, the instant Firefly's kick came down, he immediately activated Kamen Rider Gazer's strongest defensive mechanism.

Five control devices formed the strongest golden barrier, attempting to block the attack.

Yet the defensive barrier that had always been considered invincible shattered the very moment it came into contact with Firefly's kick.

As the threat of death closed in, Niram decisively vanished from the Creation Temple.

When Firefly's attack landed, even the Creation Temple showed signs of collapsing. At the same time, however, it triggered its protective mechanism.

The power of creation emerged, swiftly restoring the place to its former state and preventing its complete destruction.

"He actually got away."

Looking at the spot where Niram had vanished, Firefly felt a little regretful. He had actually managed to escape.

Then again, this was the Desire Grand Prix Operations headquarters, and they were inside the Creation Temple. The rules here also served Desire Grand Prix Operations, so there were plenty of ways for him to flee.

If it had been anywhere else, once he had been locked on, there would have been no escaping.

Though it was a pity, Firefly did not dwell on it.

The next time they met somewhere else, there would be no way he could escape again.

And sooner or later, his Driver would fall into her hands.

Turning toward the Statue of the Goddess of Creation, Firefly observed the state of the power of creation for a while before deciding not to remain any longer.

Without Niram's Driver, she could not do anything for the time being.

Nor did she intend to destroy the goddess statue before her...

"We will meet again, Mitsume!"

Leaving those words behind, Firefly vanished from the Creation Temple.

After Firefly had left, the Statue of the Goddess of Creation trembled slightly.

Upon returning home, Firefly immediately removed Kamen Rider GlareN's belt. Compared to her medical pod, "Molten Knight" Sam, and the Firefly Type-IV Strategic Assault Armor, Kamen Rider GlareN's stats were still far too lacking.

Still, it truly had many functions—especially its hacking capabilities. It could control five Kamen Riders to fight for her, and it could even remotely upgrade Buckles in bulk...

"That's about it."

This transformation into Kamen Rider Glare had only been for the sake of trying it out. She probably would not transform with it very often in the future.

Of course, even without transforming with it, there were still many functions she could use.

Or perhaps she could let someone else use it?

But that would have to wait until she obtained another Driver.

She wondered what Desire Grand Prix Operations would do next.

Firefly still hoped that those viewers and the biggest boss behind the Desire Grand Prix would enter the stage soon!

To completely destroy—or perhaps change—the Desire Grand Prix, she needed to come into contact with all of them.

Chapter 51: Kurama Neon's Decision

As sunlight filtered through the gaps in the curtains and fell in mottled patches across the soft sofa, the entire room was tinted with a faint golden hue.

A light fragrance of tea lingered in the air, making it feel as though one were in a tranquil and comfortable world.

A gentle breeze drifted in from outside the window, carrying a hint of coolness and freshness that made everything feel immensely pleasant.

Firefly sat quietly by the window, holding a book she liked and immersing herself in the world of words.

Beside her, a Bluetooth speaker played a soft piece of music, its melody gently flowing by her ears and bringing a sense of peace and relaxation.

Nearby, a Herta puppet was sweeping the floor.

Although having a puppet with basic artificial intelligence do such work was a bit of a waste, there were only two people in the house.

If Herta did not clean, was Firefly supposed to do it herself?

"Herta, make me a cup of coffee!"

Setting down her book, Firefly stretched lazily. Such a peaceful afternoon made her feel extremely comfortable and relaxed.

She was just a little sleepy, but she did not want to go to sleep. Although the world of dreams was wonderful, reality was even more worth looking forward to.

"Oh... coffee..."

Hearing Firefly's request, the Herta puppet put down the broom, turned around, and went to make her coffee!

However, there was no coffee machine or coffee beans in the house, only instant coffee.

But Firefly had a good habit: she was never picky about food and never complained.

Before long, Herta brought the brewed coffee over to Firefly and handed it to the girl before her.

"Thank you."

Even though it was only her own puppet, Firefly still thanked her before accepting the rich, fragrant coffee.

After Herta turned and left, Firefly began savoring the coffee's bitterness and mellow aroma.

The fragrance of coffee filled the air, creating a unique atmosphere. It let one temporarily forget the noise and pressure of life and quietly enjoy this time that belonged to oneself.

After an unknown amount of time had passed, footsteps sounded outside the door. Then the door opened, followed by a familiar voice.

"I'm back!"

Kurama Neon appeared in the doorway. After taking off her shoes, she rushed into the room impatiently. The instant she saw Firefly, she excitedly pounced on her.

"Firefly!"

Hugging Firefly, Kurama Neon's joy was impossible to hide.

After so many days, she had finally seen Firefly again. She had missed her terribly.

"Welcome back."

Firefly set down the book in her hands and greeted her with a smile.

Only after Kurama Neon had calmed down did Firefly continue, "Neon, how have things been at the Kurama Family these past few days?"

"Not good at all."

Hearing that, Kurama Neon thought about how things had been at home these past few days. Her mother had practically wanted to keep an eye on her twenty-four hours a day, never allowing her to leave her sight for even a moment.

For that reason, even though Kurama Neon had the Fox Mask Firefly had given her, it was difficult to find an opportunity to leave.

Her mother's behavior made her feel suffocated.

Still, she had not gained nothing these past few days. She had also investigated many things.

"That really must have been hard on you!"

Hearing the unhappiness in Kurama Neon's voice, Firefly reached out and patted her head to comfort her.

"You don't need to do that."

Feeling Firefly's head pat, Kurama Neon felt a little embarrassed.

After exchanging a few simple words, Kurama Neon sat beside Firefly. Looking at her, her attitude turned serious.

"Firefly."

"What is it, Neon?"

Firefly quietly waited for what she had to say.

"I've already investigated it thoroughly. The Desire Grand Prix really is a reality show for people from the future, not an organization that saves the world."

"And even our Kurama Family is involved in it."

At the mention of this, Kurama Neon's expression turned grave, with a hint of hesitation.

If she had not accidentally discovered during her time at home that her father actually knew about the Desire Grand Prix, she would never have known that the Kurama Family was involved as well.

Moreover, her father was a sponsor of the Desire Grand Prix.