Honkai: Star Rail — Kamen Rider!

Whoosh...

A dark cloak slowly descended behind Hoshigaki Sora, causing Hotaru's eyes to widen in disbelief.

He stood before her in dark emerald armor, its helmet shaped vaguely like a tanuki. The crimson glow from its visor radiated a chilling intensity, almost as if Death itself stared through its eyes.

But most astonishing was the blade in his hand.

Though it appeared to be an ordinary sword, this very blade had just accomplished a feat that most beings in the universe would find impossible:

It had physically severed the arm of Titanironia, a being whose body rivaled that of an Aeon.

Titanironia's severed limb bore no blood, yet the cleanly cut edge clearly told the tale of the legend standing before her. However, she showed no expression—not pain, nor even surprise. She merely stood silently, observing the unexpected visitor who had just arrived.

[I had sensed a strange power approaching rapidly earlier. So it was you, after all?]

Titanironia's tone seemed unsurprised. Everything beneath the sky curtain had always been within her perception. Even with the barrier shattered by the recent explosion, detecting an abnormal presence was effortless for her.

Thus, this figure suddenly appearing midair was impossible to miss.

Moreover, the instant he arrived, his distinctive aura allowed her to quickly discern his identity.

[According to my clone's memories, she seems fond of calling you... "Hoshigaki Sora."]

Indeed, descending from hundreds of meters above, the one who appeared was none other than Hoshigaki Sora.

The armor he wore now, the Kamen Rider form entrusted to him by his senior, enabled him to stand against an incomplete god:

Kamen Rider Tycoon—Bujin Sword.

This was the ultimate form of Sakurai Keiwa, the secondary Rider of Kamen Rider Geats, affectionately nicknamed "Tanuki" by fans. Clad in dark emerald armor known as the "Jet-Black General," he boasted a legendary record—seven battles, six wins, one draw.

In the Reiwa Era, this was a brilliant achievement. After all, many predecessors had fared far worse—often losing, missing their finishing moves, or prematurely losing transformation at absurd speeds, even breaking the previous "invincible" record of fourteen seconds.

His performance stood out magnificently among them.

Most notably, Tycoon's ultimate form had defeated an incomplete god-like entity, MK9.

Now, facing another incomplete god—Titanironia—it was unquestionably the perfect power for this battle.

"Sora... Is it really... you?"

Hotaru's voice trembled slightly, staring at him in disbelief.

Though unsure how many days had passed since she'd frozen this space, seeing the fleeing ships above and the silent city below, she knew her unconsciousness must have lasted quite some time.

Shouldn't Sora be aboard those evacuating ships? Why... why was he here now?

"Yeah, it's me." Sora tilted his head slightly, and even through the helmet, Hotaru could sense his reassuring smile. "How are you holding up?"

"Aren't you supposed to be on those ships right now? Why are—"

But Hotaru's anxious questioning was cut short as Sora gently interrupted:

"Because you're still here." He turned, leaving Hotaru facing his broad back, a reliable wall shielding her from danger. "How could I leave you behind?"

"I promised I'd get you all out of here safely."

A promise like that—I'll never break it.

"You..." Hotaru opened her mouth, countless thoughts clamoring for release, yet unable to find the words.

"Don't worry. I'll definitely keep my promise." His voice remained calm, steady, determined. "We made an agreement, remember?"

I promised your people would freely shine throughout the galaxy again.

For that dream, not a single one of you will be left behind!

With that, Sora charged straight toward Titanironia, sword raised. Emerald-green brilliance surged along its edge, and for a moment, it appeared more like the scythe of a Reaper than a simple blade.

And the foe facing this scythe was the Larva of Propagation itself!

Titanironia made no move to evade, merely radiating a faint white glow. Instantly, the previously frozen grass and trees around them transformed, rising up into perfect copies of herself, nearly indistinguishable save for lacking her prestigious golden beetle-like patterns.

These clones shared Titanironia's consciousness and memories. As they charged forward, their arms hardened into armored limbs, reminiscent of insectoid carapaces.

Yet today, their enemy was the [Bujin Sword].

Swish—!

Sora's figure vanished like a phantom, instantly passing through the cluster of clones, his blade tracing countless emerald arcs through the air.

Each strike was accompanied by crisp, clean slicing sounds.

The charging clones paused briefly, then abruptly fell apart into bloody pieces, scattering across the earth. Limbs and blood splattered like paint, carried upward by the inverted rain.

The metallic tang of blood filled the air, yet who would believe these remnants had once been mere grass and wood, now transformed by power utterly defying conservation of energy?

However, it wasn't over yet.

As these shattered remains touched the ground, a miraculous horror unfolded: the earth itself seemed alive, absorbing them hungrily. The soil churned, new Titanironia clones emerging swiftly like shoots breaking through soil, quickly reforming into another formidable army.

"This speed...!" Hotaru gasped, staring blankly. From being sliced apart to rebirth, barely three seconds had passed. Such rapid regeneration far exceeded even the terrifying swarms she'd previously encountered.

And this entity was only a Larva of Propagation—not yet a true Aeon.

If Titanironia fully ascended, accompanied by Emanators, what unfathomable nightmare could unfold?

Hotaru had thought the insect swarms she'd faced before were horrifying enough. Now, she realized she'd severely underestimated Propagation's true potential.

Sora quickly grasped the same realization. These clones were nothing individually, but eliminating them only multiplied their numbers.

His solution became instantly clear:

"Since cutting down the branches fails, I'll sever the root!"

He activated the [Shift Brace] at his waist. Beneath his transparent blade, the tanuki emblem's eyes glowed fiercely scarlet. His visor flared crimson, highlighting every vulnerability before him.

With his sword resting casually on his shoulder, emerald energy surged along its blade.

The clones surged forward, sensing imminent danger, desperate to block him.

'[Bujin Sword Strike]!'

Sora slashed downward, a brilliant wave of emerald sword energy erupting forward.

This time, nothing could withstand his strike.

The clones fell like wheat to the autumn breeze, and amidst their falling bodies, a dark emerald blur shot forward—Sora himself, scarlet visor tracing a blazing trail through the air.

Approaching Titanironia, Sora's sword flashed directly toward her neck.

Titanironia's expression remained unchanged, yet she quickly reacted. Having already lost one arm to him, she swiftly raised her remaining intact hand, generating a barrier just in time.

Clang!

Sparks erupted, Sora's blade halted mere inches from her throat.

Under ordinary circumstances, Titanironia's hastily conjured barrier would have been nearly unbreakable.

Yet, refusing to withdraw, Sora pressed forward, his blade glowing fiercely.

Then, in an impossible moment, the blade began to cut steadily through Titanironia's protective barrier—slowly carving open a thin yet unmistakable gap.