Honkai: Star Rail — Kamen Rider!

Night had fallen.

Despite Zieltworth already plunged deep into the flames of war, the planetary cycle of day and night stubbornly persisted.

As darkness enveloped the city, the silvery glow of the artificial moon spilled gently down from above.

A figure with fiery red hair, clad in armored pauldrons and wielding a spear, darted swiftly between buildings.

Soon enough, he arrived at what had once been the most critical location on the planet—

Zieltworth's medical center, also the site of Serus's office.

"As expected."

Upon arrival, Argenti spoke almost without thinking.

He glanced back at the desolate city behind him. Nothing here had exceeded his predictions.

"He deliberately revealed Sora's location…but why?"

Argenti had encountered no resistance en route from the evacuation shelter. It was as if someone had specifically cleared this path, instructing everyone to withdraw.

Elsewhere, silver-armored Fyrefly Suits tirelessly patrolled the skies, endlessly vigilant for any trace of Serus's true location. Yet this route had been suspiciously left empty.

Either it was another carefully laid trap—or perhaps someone wanted Hoshigaki Sora rescued.

"But whatever the case, I must investigate."

Argenti tightened his grip on the spear. To preserve the brilliance of justice in the galaxy, he could not retreat. The Knights of Pure Beauty would never falter before ugliness and evil.

He strode into the building, expecting an intense battle, but found the medical center utterly deserted.

Once this had been the busiest location on the planet, bustling daily with those seeking treatment. Now it was hauntingly empty, silent enough to hear a pin drop.

He wasted no time, rapidly ascending until he reached the scene of the earlier confrontation.

Silver moonlight poured through a gaping hole in the corridor, illuminating sword scars gouged deep into walls that told of the ferocious struggle which had taken place.

Charred marks from fire attacks still stained the pristine white walls, while fissures at the corridor's end indicated a body had been thrown violently against it.

But Hoshigaki Sora, the beacon of justice Argenti sought, was nowhere to be seen.

Unbelieving, he searched every corner, yet found no trace.

There was only a simple medical capsule, which appeared to have been used after Nokiribi's devastating declaration.

Besides that, not even a scrap of fabric remained to indicate Sora's presence.

"Have I fallen into a trap?!"

Dread seized Argenti's heart. Although those at the evacuation shelter had some fighting strength, compared to him, their abilities were negligible. They had pleaded for him not to leave when he set out to find Sora.

If Sora wasn't here, could it mean the shelter had already been attacked by Nokiribi's forces?!

Alarmed, Argenti hurriedly turned back. Empowered by the strength of pure beauty, he surged into the sky, transforming into a streak of silver-white brilliance.

Meanwhile, not far away, a woman with silver-white hair interwoven with dark crimson quietly watched Argenti's departure.

A distinct scar, almost resembling a stitched wound, encircled her neck.

Seeing Argenti vanish into the distance, relief briefly softened her brow.

"It seems he managed to rescue him. Good. I'll wait a bit longer before sounding the alarm to force them to leave."

She raised her hand, summoning a transformation device resembling dark crimson cicada wings.

Flames erupted, and Nokiribi appeared.

"I'll drive you all out, find Serus, and then lead my people far from this galaxy."

To a place devoid of life. A place where no one could ever harm them again.

That alone would be enough.

---

Argenti streaked back to the evacuation point like a falling star, but upon arrival found no sign of invasion.

Instead, within the shelter, he discovered someone entirely unexpected.

"Serus, I demand compensation!"

"Me too! We came here for medical treatment, not to be dragged into your planet's petty civil war!"

Angry shouts echoed through the shelter. Most of those whose treatments had been abruptly halted unleashed their fury upon a small robot no taller than a child.

Argenti's gaze settled on the machine, noting it wasn't glowing with its usual calming blue.

"I understand your frustration," Serus's voice emanated calmly from the tiny robot, revealing his consciousness still posed no immediate threat. "It is deeply regrettable that you have all been dragged into our internal strife."

"I have already requested Species Containment from the Interastral Peace Corporation. I believe they'll be greatly interested in these species capable of propagation."

A note of regret crept into Serus's voice. "Unfortunately, my message cannot get through. They've seized control of all planetary defense systems."

He quickly clarified, "A high-energy magnetic field now surrounds our planet. Forget communications—even starships below Keystone-class can't pass through."

"Any ship attempting to force entry would be melted instantly."

The crowd erupted into an uproar.

According to the Interastral Peace Corporation's stone-based ranking system, Keystone-class starships were among the galaxy's most elite vessels. Such ships were rarely seen except transporting dignitaries.

Now Serus was essentially telling them the planet was sealed unless someone produced such an impossibly rare ship.

Coupled with the destruction promised in three days, this was a death sentence.

"What the hell do they mean by this? They order us to leave, then trap us under an energy field?"

Fury burned among the refugees. Nokiribi's words were outright mockery—trapped like beasts, ordered to flee without means of escape.

At that moment, a sudden change interrupted their rage.

Wooo—wooo—wooo!

A shrill siren shattered the eerie quiet. It was the evacuation warning Nokiribi had promised. But to those trapped below, it now sounded bitterly mocking.

Argenti stood to the side, intuition from Idrila, the Aeon of Beauty, whispering that things weren't as simple as they appeared.

Yet the alarm persisted, slicing relentlessly through the silence engulfing the planet.

---

Elsewhere, bathed in moonlight, Hoshigaki Sora walked through the deserted streets clad in black and crimson.

Silver beams lent him a mysterious air. A mechanical belt resembling a dashboard was wrapped around his waist, and on his left wrist glowed a distinctive bracer pulsing faint violet light.

This violet glow gradually transformed his clothing against his will—forced attire change, to put it bluntly.

The reason for this forced outfit swap was straightforward:

"Since you've inherited Heart-sama's power, you must also bear a suitable appearance."

Contrary to expectations, this clothing switch wasn't dictated by Heart, the one who'd given him power.

Instead, it was Roidmude 009—Medic—another mechanical lifeform who'd learned human love and desire.

Sora sighed inwardly.

He'd been so overwhelmed by Heart's power earlier, he'd forgotten his transformation still depended on two others. Before leaving, he'd received their gifts as well.

Medic had insisted on certain sartorial standards, but compensated by bestowing healing abilities.

Brain, Roidmude 003, had quietly vanished after imparting his gift—abilities that had let Sora penetrate Zieltworth's crippled networks to track his target.

The piercing evacuation siren abruptly tore Sora from his musings. He paused momentarily, then resumed his steady stride.

Soon after rounding a corner, he found his quarry unexpectedly caught in a conflict. He quickly concealed himself, commanding his belt's tendril to quietly disable nearby surveillance.

Ahead was the group he'd sought—the Independent Squad, currently clad in Zieltworth guard armor, locked in confrontation against SAM Units in their distinct Fyrefly Suits.

"What's gotten into you, senpai?" asked Xiyi, leading the squad.

"Nothing's gotten into us. We just learned some things Serus did," replied her senior calmly.

"But if patients inside aren't treated in time, people might die," Xiyi urged, worry evident in her voice.

"So what? We didn't cripple the city—that was Serus. We haven't touched this planet's power systems," her senior countered. "Stand aside. We're searching for Serus."

"I can't. Behind me are critical-care patients in treatment…"

Gritting her teeth, Xiyi refused the seniors she'd once idolized. "If you disturb them now, they might not survive."

The SAM Units exchanged glances, then responded coldly, "We'll minimize disturbances. We're only after Serus."

"Can you guarantee that?"

Silence fell, thickened swiftly by the incessant siren echoing across the planet.

"So, senpai, I can't let you in." Xiyi drew her weapon.

Her seniors, seeing her resolve, understood confrontation was inevitable.

"I'm growing sick of this planet's rules," her senior spat bitterly, removing her Fyrefly Suit helmet to reveal short-cropped hair and eyes glowing faintly crimson.

"But maybe that's the language you'll finally understand. Come, then!"

The two armored figures lunged into fierce combat.

Yet, observers soon gasped in surprise. Xiyi—who usually lost to her senior within a few exchanges—was now holding her ground firmly, matching strike for strike.

"When did her close-combat skills improve this much?"

Xiyi had always been strong but imperfect. Precisely these flaws had stalled her promotion. Now, somehow, her weaknesses seemed drastically improved, creating a deadlock with her experienced opponent.

Xiyi felt this most keenly. After training under Sora, her progress was unmistakable. Her senior's oppressive dominance was no longer suffocating. She was matching her evenly—

I might even win!

The thought came unbidden, thrilling and unexpected.

Suddenly, the tide shifted brutally.

Weapons clashed fiercely, energy sparking violently between them.

"You've improved, Xiyi—but not enough!"

With a surge of overwhelming force, her senior unleashed ruthless attacks. Pain radiated through Xiyi's body. Within moments, she sank to one knee, clutching aching wounds.

She'd never seen her senior fight like this—recklessly, relentlessly…

"This is the way passed to me by those who fought for our freedom," her senior spoke grimly, weapon pointed at Xiyi. "They died never tasting freedom. I won't let their wishes fade."

"What nonsense is this?" Xiyi shook her head desperately. Life or death wasn't her concern. She only wished to protect patients desperately needing care.

As she shook her head, she spotted a figure hiding nearby. Amidst the blaring alarm, beneath shadowed corners, stood Sora calmly observing events.

Joy surged through her upon seeing him. With his help, surely they could avert disaster.

Yet her seniors were poised to invade the critical-care wing. Desperation colored her voice as she called out urgently:

"Sora-senpai, what are you doing? Why are you just standing there watching?!"

Sora remained motionless, inwardly stunned.

The siren, the dark streets, tense confrontation—it all felt painfully familiar, like a set from some production.

Wait—am I playing OMO's role now?

Before he recovered fully, Xiyi's voice broke through, this time tinged with panic and betrayal:

"Sora-senpai…have you betrayed us too?!"

Betrayed, my ass!