The lake shimmered with fine glints of light. A breeze swept past, stirring ripples upon ripples; short grass grew thick along the shore, and birds occasionally skimmed the water. Lush vegetation surrounded it, brimming with vigorous life. A small mountain stood beside it, its summit verdant, embracing the area and leaving only a broad clearing at its foot connected to the lakeshore.
Yet Zhou Yang was in no mood to admire such scenery. At that moment, he felt an intense sense of déjà vu.
Like Vergil's food-stall chair, the revolving lantern of memories about to restart after dying before the black dragon's charged fire, and those heart-shattering chicken-pot fantasies before startup-it felt fantastical to the point of unreality.
It was the prelude where entering a boss room forced a cutscene to play, making you listen to a heap of baffling ideals or plans before the fight, until a disagreement finally brought out the health bar and the beating began.
"Holy crap, are we really going this big?"
Zhou Yang had already recognized the place. The reason for that familiarity welling up from within was-
"Isn't this Toei's fucking ancestral back mountain?"
And it was the version with an extra splashdown zone (safe zone), at that.
Presumably, a huge battle was coming next to get the bloodthirsty audience excited?
Surely the bloodthirsty viewers present were already grinning with excitement just thinking about it?
Ah, you ask why I'm not grinning? Because I'm the one who has to fight! (Sad.)
A familiar red figure came into view. Hyper Kabuto had appeared opposite him at some point-no, to be precise, he merely had the Hyper Zecter clipped to his waist and had not transformed into Hyper Kabuto.
[A certain Kabuto's passionate wall pin (big fat lie)]
He stood silently by the lake, gazing up at the vast sky and bathing in the warm, gentle sunlight. His striking silver-and-red armor shone brilliantly, reflecting the glittering light on the lake and radiating an indescribable sanctity and solemnity.
Damn it, he actually pulled off looking cool.
Zhou Yang pursed his lips, stepped off the Extender, and slowly approached.
His opponent had chosen this particular area, clearly coming prepared, which made the significance of this battle all the more momentous. Naturally, he brought every ounce of his focus to bear. This was the day that would truly test the fruits of his efforts.
He was no lump of mud that could never be plastered onto a wall. If he had a chance to grow stronger, he would fight for it too.
After all, men were creatures who would throw caution to the wind just to look cool.
"This is a trial."
He quoted something a certain pink-haired boss, who had died once again amid casual conversation and laughter, had once said.
Zhou Yang's voice grew firmer.
Human growth means overcoming your immature past!
Watching Zhou Yang approach slowly, Hyper Kabuto nodded, as though affirming his actions.
Suddenly, Hyper Kabuto opened by drawing his Kunai Gun and firing high-energy ion rounds at Zhou Yang.
Holy crap, still a zero-frame startup.
Zhou Yang's gaze sharpened. He shifted his body slightly aside, dodging the attack. The high-energy ion round skimmed his armor, struck the large tree behind him, and exploded outright.
That thick tree must have been hundreds of years old, yet it could only fall before the round.
Everything happened so naturally, as though it had happened countless times before.
Zhou Yang could not help clicking his tongue at the attack. At the same time, he planted his foot and shot toward Hyper Kabuto like an arrow loosed from its bow.
Three years of harsh training had brought together the strengths of a hundred Riders. There was more than one fighting style he had to learn; otherwise, he would not have spared even his dreaming hours.
He had long since honed the various Riders' combat techniques to proficiency and knew them like the back of his hand.
He drew his Kunai Gun in turn and fired at Hyper Kabuto, pulling the trigger and sending shots precisely toward him. But his opponent dodged as nimbly as he had-or rather, thanks to Rider Form's agility, even more nimbly.
Identical high-energy ion rounds blazed toward each other, but landing a hit was far from easy.
His opponent moved nimbly, like a phantom, bringing out the full agility and streamlined efficiency of Rider Form's armor.
Zhou Yang likewise dodged with extraordinary nimbleness, his heavy armor as natural and supple as part of his own body.
At that moment, the two resembled dance partners whirling gracefully, their guns aimed at each other, yet each evading the other.
The sight could not help reminding Zhou Yang of Chris and Arimos's "thoroughly satisfying" passionate gunfight in Resident Evil, which he had played before. It was practically a waltz.
Now that this ridiculous scene had befallen him, Zhou Yang could barely keep it together.
We learned from the same master-neither of us can break the other's moves!
Through round after round of continuous gunfire, Zhou Yang kept changing positions, nimbly evading every incoming attack.
Occasionally, a few shots grazed his armor. With his astonishing stats enhanced by the power of Ohma, coupled with Kabuto's Masked Form's formidable defenses, he could block them securely. Every hit on his armor sent a string of dazzling sparks bursting forth with sizzling sounds, yet none ever shook its defenses.
Of course, a certain petty Demon King returned every last one of them.
As the distance between them steadily closed, it was as though Dio had walked into Star Platinum's range.
[Cast Off]
A crisp mechanical voice sounded, followed immediately by heavy armor bursting outward like popcorn. The horn at his chin flipped up over his face, joining with the mask.
[Change Beetle]
His blue compound eyes flashed with dazzling azure light. Like a peerless powerhouse freed of his restraints, about to reveal his truly powerful, domineering side, he exuded an exceptional sense of pressure.
The two were already close enough. What followed would be close-quarters combat.
Clang-!
Blades and daggers met with a ringing hum, scattering exceptionally brilliant sparks. The metallic clash made one's body instinctively tense as it echoed continuously along the lakeshore.
Two similar figures wielded long gold-and-red daggers, slashing at each other and inflicting pain.
Two pairs of blue compound eyes reflected each other's figures. Neither their attacks nor their ferocity diminished in the slightest, yet neither could overcome the other.
Zhou Yang's expression was more serious than ever. Dark-golden light flickered around him, and as the battle heated up and the pressure mounted, he unconsciously drew upon the power of Ohma throughout his body.
The dark-golden radiance worked upon him without cease, allowing him to burst forth with astonishing speed. The previously even contest of strength shifted with Zhou Yang's eruption. Seizing an opening, he turned his wrist, redirecting the Kunai Sword thrust toward Hyper Kabuto and changing his stance to slash at him.
A shower of sparks instantly erupted from his opponent's armor. Hyper Kabuto staggered backward but quickly adjusted his body, rolling as he fell to dissipate the force and lessen the blow.
Zhou Yang gave him no chance to catch his breath. He pressed his advantage with fierce moves, his Kunai Sword fluttering like a butterfly. But Hyper Kabuto swiftly rose, immediately converting his Kunai Sword into a gun and firing a high-energy ion round.
Yet Zhou Yang had already seen it coming. He hurled his Kunai Sword, shattering the high-energy ion round head-on before striking the Kunai Gun in his opponent's hand, carrying it away and embedding itself in the distant ground.
At the same time, he closed in with a flying kick, while his opponent swung a fist to meet it.
Rider Kick!