Honkai: Star Rail — Kamen Rider!

The story of Kamen Rider Drive began with a global [Heavy Acceleration] event that engulfed the entire world.

That night, the entire Earth was shrouded by [Heavy Acceleration], a phenomenon later remembered as the [Global Freeze].

Yet, that had merely been ordinary [Heavy Acceleration], slowing down people's movements without freezing them entirely.

Later, the evolved Roidmudes could perform [Super-Heavy Acceleration]. And when four of them reached their [Over-Evolved] States, they could join together and unleash the true, absolute [Global Freeze].

That was the true freeze—where every action, object, and particle was utterly halted.

Only the conscious mind remained active; everything else was perfectly suspended in time.

Precisely because this power was so overwhelming, it required four [Over-Evolved] Roidmudes to achieve.

Yet now, Sora had managed this alone.

Of course, he wasn't truly alone—three others had assisted him.

After all, Kamen Rider Heart's transformation itself required the powers of three Roidmudes. Coupled with the idealistic power within Sora himself, their strength ascended further, enabling the activation of a [Global Freeze] that covered all of Zieltworth.

This wasn't mere [Super-Heavy Acceleration]. It was enough to stop every being on the planet entirely in their tracks.

Finally, even Nokiribi was affected.

Her incredible speed slowed, movement lagging as if played in slow motion.

"So, you aren't completely Void after all," Sora remarked as he witnessed the change in Nokiribi's movements.

Indeed, if she were truly consumed by the Void, his freeze would have no effect.

But absolute Void meant total assimilation by IX, the Aeon of Nihility. If that were the case, Nokiribi wouldn't even exist here.

Something within Nokiribi undeniably proved her existence, hence why Sora's power had affected her.

If I can affect you, Sora thought, then everything else can still be changed.

Golden light surged from his fist once again as he charged skyward towards Nokiribi.

In this frozen world, the utterly still air itself became stepping stones beneath his feet, carrying him swiftly upward.

Before Nokiribi could comprehend what was happening, the blazing golden-red figure had already appeared before her.

She instinctively tried to defend—but her movements were sluggish, delayed enough to prevent timely defense.

BOOM!

His punch landed fiercely against her armor. The force made her briefly relive the impact of a collision with a high-speed Charger Sting.

Suddenly, unfamiliar images flashed vividly before her eyes.

In them was an artificially created being—its consciousness emerging, attaining human intelligence, gaining human form—and then...

It endured humanity's cruelty.

The malice felt tangible, causing Nokiribi to shiver deeply. Pain etched itself into memory; the tormentor's shrill laughter mocked her like demons.

Instinctively, she tried to shield herself.

!!!

Suddenly, she realized she was plummeting swiftly downward!

And below her, the crimson-gold figure was already in pursuit, his fist blazing with golden brilliance, prepared for another blow!

"Damn it!"

Nokiribi immediately reacted, yet her movements remained slowed. Still, this time countless invisible hands seemed to guide her body into the correct defensive posture.

This time, she managed to block!

CRASH!

Sora's fist slammed fiercely against her crossed arms!

Yet even then, overwhelming impact reverberated painfully through her chest.

It was as if the scene from days earlier had reversed roles, with Nokiribi herself now sent flying.

Another vision flashed—this time not cruelty, but a man patiently explaining key points to familiar figures gathered around him.

When did this happen...?

Nokiribi's confusion was brief, awareness swiftly returning as she saw Sora already poised below, preparing another strike.

So fast!

Instantly, shadowy arms materialized protectively behind her, forming a tangible shield.

"Everyone..."

Gratitude barely had time to form before an overwhelming force struck from behind, sending her hurtling skyward once again.

What followed was a relentless series of blows.

Each time Nokiribi fell, before even touching ground, Sora—able to move normally—would strike again, sending her spinning upward.

Under a ceaseless rain of blows, Nokiribi flew back and forth through this frozen world.

Their struggle spanned from the fallen Zieltworth Tower into the bustling city center, leaving a suspended trail of shockwaves fixed midair by the Freeze.

They traversed streets, passing through bustling squares, eventually reaching the city outskirts.

Through this ceaseless barrage, countless visions swept through Nokiribi's mind.

The shadowy arms shielding her shattered repeatedly under golden light, yet endlessly reformed, tirelessly protecting her.

It continued until the sky darkened, rain droplets suspended midair catching Nokiribi's attention, finally snapping her fully back to awareness.

Shadowy arms still extended protectively, though far slower than at first.

Yet, even weakened, they steadfastly guarded her.

Gradually, the flames surrounding Nokiribi lost their fury, replaced instead by hesitation and confusion.

Those dark-red flames embodied her past suffering—each spark a painful memory of hardship and abuse.

She'd resolved to fight darkness with darkness, to repay cruelty with cruelty.

Yet now, these visions showed clearly where that path led.

Malice filled this universe endlessly. Leaving this place was like stepping into the galaxy's grand hunting grounds.

"Is this... truly our only choice?" Nokiribi's voice trembled, her vulnerability finally revealed in battle.

Hearing this, even the shadowy hands protecting her briefly faltered.

Yet they swiftly strengthened again, continuing to shelter her.

This time, Sora held back his fist. He gazed quietly at the massive armor before him, sensing the fragile soul within.

Without further blows, Nokiribi gently descended, finally touching the ground.

Slowly, cautiously, Sora approached.

Instantly, countless shadowy fists erupted defensively around her, prepared to launch a fierce barrage against him.

Yet Sora calmly stepped forward, not striking—but instead extending an open palm without hostility.

"It doesn't have to be this way."

Nokiribi lifted her head towards him.

"I made a promise—that I would help your people find a meaningful life in this universe."

Seeing Sora's lack of aggression, the shadowy fists around Nokiribi became hesitant.

"This universe doesn't contain only cruelty," he said softly. "Kindness exists too."

Sora's gaze settled gently upon those protective hands around her. "Just like them."

Nokiribi stared at the hands shielding her, momentarily stunned.

"Didn't you yourself, amidst infinite malice, also find the kindness that allowed you to be born?"

Gradually, the shadowy arms dissipated, mirroring Nokiribi's shifting heart. Her twisted armor slowly unraveled, eventually condensing into a single dark-red cicada-shaped device.

"Even amidst absolute despair, kindness still bloomed. You've survived countless years because of it, and now..."

Sora chose this moment to deactivate his own transformation, releasing the [Global Freeze] covering the entire planet.

Whoooosh—!

Instantly, the suspended rain cascaded down heavily, soaking them both.

Standing vulnerably before her, in the most defenseless state, Sora silently signed:

"Can you trust me now?"

He chose sign language—not speech—to communicate, using the oldest, most sincere language that best expressed kindness.

In eras before Synesthesia Beacons, hostility toward those born mute had been ubiquitous, giving rise to sign language—a language of compassion.

It symbolized equality, acceptance, and willingness to communicate without prejudice.

Thus, despite universal Synesthesia coverage, Galactic Sign Language persisted widely, representing sincere goodwill.

Sora believed Nokiribi would fully grasp this gesture, as long as her concern was her people's future.

Nokiribi stared deeply at this man before her, mixed emotions flickering in her eyes.

They'd only met days ago, yet he inexplicably radiated an aura of profound sincerity that urged her to trust.

Perhaps—after countless years of ruin—someone genuinely wished to help them now?

Under Sora's gaze, Nokiribi's hair gradually lost its dark-red tint, returning to familiar silver-white.

The scar-like glow along her neck rose gently into her eyes, shifting to a gentle firefly-like hue.

Finally, she raised her hands to sign back:

"Then... are we still friends?"

Sora smiled warmly, responding confidently in sign language:

"Of course."

A gentle smile blossomed again across the girl's face. After a moment's hesitation, she placed her hand in his.

He pulled her to her feet amidst the heavy downpour.

"But," she said softly, "there's still one last thing I must do."

The cicada device reappeared in her hand—though this time, her hair remained silver-white.

Now she held this power purely as herself.

"I must eliminate Serus Zieltworth once and for all. I hope you won't stop me."

The man who'd cruelly experimented on and tortured their kind.

Hotaru intended to rain destruction upon him. This she had to do, no matter what—even if it meant clashing again with Sora.

"Ah, that goes without saying. I agree completely."

Eh?!

Hotaru stood dumbfounded, cicada device in hand, unable to believe what she'd just heard.

Did he just say… he agreed?!

"I said, I agree." Sora gently ruffled her hair.

Violet healing light flashed briefly, fully restoring her wounds.

"Against such senseless cruelty, I'll fight alongside you."

Now it was time to confront the source of all their pain:

The true culprit—

Serus Zieltworth!