Kyouka POV
"Interesting. I didn't know you had a nickname," the woman said with amusement, gently rubbing the Unihorn's head after hearing me call out its name.
The Unihorn didn't flinch and simply remained still.
Murderous intent surged through my system, blotting out everything in my surroundings. Nothing remained except that woman and the GODDAMN UNIHORN she now rode. My grip on the katana tightened like a vise, my emotions spiraling far beyond my control.
No. I chose not to suppress it.
Because the day I had long awaited, the day I could finally claim the revenge I deserved, had come to me on its own. All the waiting, the training, the relentless searching had led to this moment.
"Your face sure is ugly right now," the woman mocked.
Raising my blade, I pointed it straight at the bastard riding that demon.
"Who are you?!" I shouted.
Clinging to the last threads of my sanity, I forced myself to really look at her. Her face was human, undeniably so, but everything else about her was not. Her body resembled a Shuuki, her arms sharp and unnatural, her golden eyes gleaming with something inhuman. She wore black tights and a coat, and strange carvings marked her chin.
Another humanoid Shuuki, just like what Yakumo had shown us.
But this one, this woman, was far more monstrous looking.
Hearing my question, she grinned and slowly licked her lips.
"Me? Let me think," she mused, tilting her head as if in genuine consideration. Then her eyes narrowed as she looked down on me, as though I were something beneath her.
"If I had to describe myself, I am a woman who stands against the Defense Force."
Reaching into her coat, she pulled something out. My eyes widened in bewilderment as she began eating something that defied all sense I had.
A Peach.
Then another. And another. She devoured multiple at once, her tongue and teeth tearing through them as if there were no consequences to consider.
"Chief," Yuko said, her voice cautious and laced with worry, "How is she able to eat that many?"
I let out a slow breath.
Trust me, Yuko. I'm just as confused as you are.
These humanoid Shuuki are starting to appear one after another without any warning. Common sense doesn't apply to them the way it does to us humans. Thinking otherwise is foolish.
Even so, watching her consume that many peaches so casually, like they were nothing more than a light snack, was something I had never seen before.
"We don't need to think about that right now."
"Okay."
My objective was clear. Kill the bastard she was riding.
Her presence was just an added obstacle, one I wouldn't hesitate to slice apart and tear to shreds like paper.
"You." I pointed at her without a hint of respect. "Are you one of the Thunder Gods?!"
To my surprise, she only looked at me like a confused child and gave a small shrug.
"Why do all the outsiders I meet assume I'm part of that group?" she sighed, almost annoyed. "This is already the second time I've had to answer this. No. So stop asking."
Great. Just how many parties of these humanoid Shuuki exist?
The thought lingered for only a second before I crushed it. No time to dwell on that. Kyouka, focus. That isn't your priority right now.
Tightening my grip, I leaned forward on Yuko's back. The moment she felt the shift in my weight, she understood. Her muscles tensed beneath me, coiling like a spring ready to release.
"Go," I muttered.
Yuko surged forward without hesitation, kicking up dust as she charged straight at them. The wind howled past my ears as I steadied myself, one hand gripping her while the other held my blade firm.
If she wanted a fight, then fine. I would meet her head-on.
At the last second, I pushed off Yuko's back and launched myself into the air. The ground fell away beneath me as I raised my katana high, the blade catching the light before I brought it down with everything I had like a divine retribution.
A strike meant to cleave through both rider and beast.
The humanoid Shuuki's lips curled into a wild grin. Her arms shifted, muscles bulging unnaturally as she raised a single hand to meet my attack.
Steel met flesh.
A sharp impact rang out, but instead of cutting through, my blade stopped. Her hand held it in place, unmoving, unyielding.
We froze there for a moment, suspended in that clash. My katana pressed against her palm, her golden eyes locked onto mine at close range.
"Wow," she chuckled, almost amused, "you're pretty strong for a human."
I gritted my teeth, forcing more strength into my arms, trying to push through her defense.
She's strong.
I was already using everything I had, and she was still holding me back like it was nothing.
"Chief, back out!" Himari's voice cut through the tension.
My eyes flicked to the side. I spotted her positioning, her machine gun already aimed directly at us.
That was enough.
Without hesitation, I twisted my body and kicked off the Shuuki's arm, using the force to propel myself backward. At the same time, Yuko darted in beneath me with perfect timing. I landed against her back smoothly, gripping onto her as she leapt away from the line of fire.
"Take this, you freak!"
The roar of gunfire erupted instantly.
Himari didn't hold back. A relentless stream of bullets tore through the air, ripping straight toward the Unihorn and the humanoid Shuuki. The sheer volume of fire drowned out everything else, each shot pounding into the ground and their position without pause.
Yuko kept moving, carrying me further out of range while I watched over her shoulder.
Impacts exploded across the battlefield. Dirt and debris were thrown into the air, quickly forming a thick cloud of dust that swallowed the target whole.
"Keep it steady," I muttered, narrowing my eyes as I tried to track any movement.
The barrage continued for a few more seconds before finally dying down.
Silence followed, broken only by the faint settling of debris.
The dust cloud lingered, slowly dispersing in the air.
Yuko came to a stop, her stance low and ready, while I remained on her back, my grip tightening around my blade as I stared straight ahead.
We waited.
Seconds stretched longer than they should have.
"Did that get her?" Himari asked cautiously, her voice cutting through the uneasy quiet.
I didn't answer.
My eyes stayed locked on the fading dust, my instincts screaming that it wasn't over yet.
"Is that it? How disappointing."
I tensed, squaring my stance atop Yuko's back.
In the middle of the wreckage, long strands of hair unfurled from the woman, spreading outward like a living shield. They wrapped around her body in layers, forming a protective barrier before slowly retracting, returning to their original length as if nothing had happened.
Not a single scratch marked her.
"It would be rude not to return such a welcoming gift," the humanoid Shuuki said, licking her finger with a pleased expression.
Then her mouth opened.
Light began to gather within it, condensing into a blinding point as the air around her trembled. The energy grew rapidly, building with a sharp, ominous hum that made my skin crawl.
"Move!" I shouted, but it was already too late.
A beam of light erupted from her mouth, tearing through the battlefield in a straight line toward Himari.
Everything happened in a split second.
Himari's eyes widened, her instincts kicking in as she threw up a shield just in time. The beam slammed into it with overwhelming force, the impact sending a shockwave through the ground.
She managed to block it.
But only barely.
The sheer power behind the attack sent her flying backward. Her body was thrown across the ground, rolling violently before finally coming to a stop at a distance.
"Himari!" I shouted, panic flashing through me.
For a brief moment, my attention lingered on her fallen form.
Then I turned back.
My gaze locked onto the humanoid Shuuki, fury burning in my chest.
"You fucker!"
Now shrunken from the damage she had taken, Shushu was still able to move. Despite her reduced size, she rushed toward Himari, clearly intent on checking on her condition.
The woman only laughed at the anger written all over my face.
"Oh, I almost forgot," she said, snapping her fingers as if she had just remembered something trivial. "Have you seen my younger sister?"
She hugged herself, swaying slightly, a blissful smile spreading across her face as if she were lost in a pleasant memory.
"I only came here because I swear I sensed her presence," she continued fondly. "Back when we were little, she was so adorable and cute, always clinging to me whenever we were together."
Her smile widened, almost obsessively.
"She was such a cutie… so pretty. That's why I was always there to protect her whenever she got into trouble!"
I tightened my grip on my blade, ready to strike.
But just as I was about to move, I felt resistance beneath me. Yuko.
Her body had stiffened.
"Is something wrong?" I asked, glancing down at her.
Yuko quickly shook her head.
"No… don't mind me, Chief," she said, taking a slow breath as if trying to steady herself.
I frowned, confused by the sudden shift in her demeanor. Something about that woman's words had clearly affected her.
But this wasn't the time to dwell on it.
"My sister aside, you've got a fine Shuuki there," she said, eyes glinting as they swept over Yuko's slave form. "It would be a shame to see her stay with you."
Her hair lifted like writhing snakes, her gaze turning more unhinged by the second.
"So why don't we split her up?" she threatened.
Without warning, she leapt off the Unihorn.
"Kidoumaru, go wild. Kill them."
The Unihorn's grin widened, maniacal, its eyes shining with battle lust. It nodded once and surged forward, charging straight at us.
"Brace for impact!" I shouted, twisting my body and dodging, but the woman was relentless. She was fast, closing the distance in seconds, her intent deadly.
Her eyes were fixed on Yuko.
"Bye-bye, Shuuki-chan," she said, a smile curving her lips as she lunged with her elongated hair. But she froze just short of Yuko, stopping face to face.
"You're not a Shuuki," she muttered, flabbergasted.
Seizing the opportunity, I swung my katana at her, aiming to punish her momentary hesitation. She twisted out of the way with unnerving speed, the blade slicing past her harmlessly.
The Unihorn followed immediately, throwing a powerful punch. I met it with my blade, parrying the strike, but when I tried to counterattack, it was like hitting a solid wall.
"It's armor is too damn hard!!" I spat, frustration sharp in my voice.
Before I could think further, Yuko leapt out from under me, her movements fluid, putting distance between.
I leapt off Yuko and launched myself at the woman, engaging her in a fierce brawl.
"Well, I just lost interest," she shrugged, effortlessly dodging my horizontal slash and follow-up kick. "Kidoumaru."
The Unihorn lunged toward me, jaws snapping as it tried to take my head clean off.
By a hair's breadth, I slipped past the attack, the rush of air grazing my skin.
She sprang upward, flipping gracefully onto the Unihorn's back and landing on both feet with practiced ease.
Without hesitation, she turned and fled, riding the Unihorn away from the scene.
"Don't you dare get away, UNIHORNNN!!!"
I won't let you escape now that you're here.
You will pay for the destruction and suffering you have caused my people and my village.
"YUKO, WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU?! WE'RE GIVING CHASE!!" I shouted, my voice cutting through the chaos.
Then I saw her, locked in battle against a considerable amount of Shuukis, holding them back as they closed in on Himari and Shushu. She kept glancing toward our vice chief, concern etched across her face.
I froze.
My unit was still in terrible condition.
And here I was, consumed by rage over that demon, forgetting the people who mattered most.
I stood there, disbelief sinking in.
Then I clenched my teeth and slammed my head against a nearby rock, shattering it on impact.
"I am a failure as a leader right now," I muttered bitterly.
Without another word, I turned and sprinted toward my team.
========
========
Returning to our dorm after that fight, I sank into a seat in the living room.
"What did Nei say, Yuko?" I asked as she set a tray of juice on the table.
Yuko smiled.
"She said those two will be fine by tomorrow."
Now I could rest without worrying about their condition.
Yuko sat across from me, staring at the ceiling with a distant look.
I had been suspicious since earlier, and I knew something was weighing on her mind.
"Yuko."
"Yes, Chief."
"Why were you acting like that earlier?"
"....."
I recalled her strange behavior during the fight.
"That woman we fought," she finally said, gathering her courage, "she reminds me of my older sister. Even her face feels the same."
"You mean your sister who was a mishap victim?"
She nodded.
"Yes."
Now I understood why she reacted that way when that humanoid bastard started going on about her younger sister.
"So her words made you think you might be the sister she was looking for?"
"Sorry if that made things worse. I will apologize for my behavior."
"No. I will not blame you for that."
She had already told me her goal was to find her sister, so it was only natural she would react like that when there was even a small chance.
"Judging by her appearance, she is no longer human," I said bluntly. "She resembles those humanoid Shuukis that appeared in the east."
Not the first, but one of the humanoid Shuukis that had begun revealing themselves.
She was also devouring those peaches like it was some kind of mukbang. No sane human would try to eat more than one. That was just asking for trouble.
"The Shuukis we have been dealing with are weak and predictable. They are easy to handle."
"But these new cases and species of Shuukis are a problem we cannot ignore."
"You are getting it," I said, snapping my fingers at Yuko.
This was not something we could take lightly. This problem could involve the entire nation.
And it was not the kind of news anyone would want to hear. Just another burden added to the growing headache Mato continued to give us despite all the resources it gave us.
Yuko let out a quiet, melancholic sigh.
"My sister or not, I will find the truth myself," she said, determination returning to her eyes.
"I hope you find your closure," I replied, standing up and patting her head.
As for me, I was beginning to see my own.
With the Unihorn's appearance, I had confirmation. I could still have my revenge.
Just wait, you demon.
I will find you.
And I will kill you.
========
========
Yamashiro Ren POV
Current Location: Germany
I sat on a comfortable sofa.
A sketch lay on the table in front of me, while the Prime Minister of Japan observed it with quiet interest.
I was here to report on the recent incident within Bell's jurisdiction. I held nothing back, including the emergence of the humanoid Shuuki and the information Yakumo had shared with me.
"For as long as Mato has existed, a Shuuki of this type has never appeared," the Prime Minister said with a faint smile. Her expression remained unreadable, even to me. "It seems times are about to change."
She lifted the sketch with both hands, studying it briefly before setting it back down.
"I have already issued orders for our forces to adjust their movements," I said, idly twisting the tip of my hair. "There is much we have yet to uncover about this problem. Extreme caution is necessary, so I have instructed my Chiefs accordingly."
"No complaints from me," she replied, resting her elbow on her knee and interlacing her fingers in front of her face, partially concealing her mouth. "As expected of you. You move quickly."
"Thank you," I said with a small smile, offering a polite bow.
Maintaining this role and fostering strong ties with those in power ensured stability within my term. With things progressing smoothly, my chances in the next election were only improving.
"About that outlier," she said, lifting the sketch of the man. "We cannot deny the extent of his contribution. Our forces did not suffer greater losses during the fiasco you reported because of him."
Right. The Kamen Rider.
I was not the only one watching him. Even the Prime Minister and several officials had taken an interest.
Because of that, we had not issued any formal order to arrest him. I had not informed the Chiefs either. My fingers tightened around a pencil I picked up, and with a sharp snap, it broke. I had been itching to hunt him down myself.
A pity that duty came first.
"Yes," I said. "His actions in that Mato mishap in Kofu, and now his protection of our soldiers against that humanoid Shuuki cannot be ignored."
The Prime Minister picked up a German coin and slowly rubbed her thumb across its surface, the faint metallic scrape filling the brief silence between us.
"That Kamen Rider… What is the true source of his power?" she asked, her gaze sharpening. "Even a man like him was able to obtain the strength to fight something like that. Imagine if a woman who consumed the peach could harness it too."
There it was.
Not curiosity. Not concern.
Greed.
It shimmered in her eyes like a quiet flame, controlled and refined, yet impossible to miss. The kind of hunger that did not simply want answers, but ownership. Power that could be harnessed, replicated, distributed… and ultimately controlled. She was not looking at a phenomenon. She was looking at an opportunity.
Entertaining someone like her was part of the job, though that did not mean I found any enjoyment in it.
"That remains something we will investigate, both in the immediate and long term," I replied, keeping my tone measured. "There are still too many unknown variables surrounding his abilities. Acting hastily could lead to bad results."
A subtle shift. Not a refusal, but not encouragement either.
"I see," she murmured, though the faint curl of her lips told me she had no intention of letting the matter rest.
"I look forward to your results, Commander Yamashiro," she added, her voice carrying that same quiet hunger.
My expression shifted, growing more serious.
"Forgive me if I am mistaken, but I have the feeling this is not the only matter you wish to discuss," I said with quiet confidence. "It seems you have something more to tell me."
Her lips curved into a more casual smile, almost like a child caught hiding a secret.
Rising from her seat, the Prime Minister retrieved a folder from the bag carried by her secretary. She opened it briefly to check its contents, then closed it and walked toward me.
Without saying a word, she gestured for me to take it.
I accepted the folder from her and glanced down, flipping it open.
…..
...
...…
Of everything I had anticipated, this was nowhere on my bingo list.