Honkai: Star Rail — Kamen Rider!

I won't lose!

Flames engulfed the armor, igniting a fierce passion within the captain of the personal guard.

Staring at Hoshigaki Sora's strange armored form, she roared defiantly in her heart.

I absolutely will not lose!!

Every blow she delivered came with her full force. Her power and speed surged far beyond her usual limits. In her current state, she could effortlessly crush the version of herself who once served evil.

I'll smash that sinful version of myself—destroy the person who blindly aided atrocities for so long!

Now, I'll use this power to rescue my comrades!

"You bastard!!" she bellowed again, driving another punch at Sora.

However, she remained oblivious to the shifting environment around her. Her movements slowed dramatically within the mysterious field, appearing to Sora as if in slow motion.

Yet despite that deceleration, her attacks remained astonishingly swift.

"Is the speed enhancement of the Fyrefly Suit this strong?" Sora muttered in surprise.

After all, his [Heavy Acceleration Field] was powerful enough to slow even masters of time manipulation. With enough power, he could halt time itself.

Yet here, the captain was still moving—albeit slowly. Could every Fyrefly Suit achieve this speed?

No.

Sora quickly dismissed that thought. This speed must be unique to the one before him, bolstered by something extraordinary. If all Fyrefly Suits moved like this, he wouldn't have defeated the others so easily last night.

Moreover…

Sora stared intently at the dark crimson flames enveloping her. That particular shade of red brought back memories of the one person who had handed him his first crushing defeat…

"Is this power given to you by Nokiribi?"

He attempted to approach, but the captain reacted faster than he anticipated, instantly counterattacking toward his chest.

With no choice, Sora retreated slightly.

"It's clear you've survived countless battles," he acknowledged sincerely. Only someone well-seasoned would seize every slight opening to attack so effectively.

Yet, his words had the opposite effect, stinging like knives plunged straight into her heart.

Battles she'd once proudly boasted now served as bitter reminders of her shameful past.

"I fought to protect what I cherished—not to be manipulated by others!" she cried out bitterly.

Had Serus secretly mocked her devotion, laughing as she risked her life for someone who'd cruelly exploited her people?

What a fool I was! Even after everything he'd done, I still willingly fought for him…

Those unbearable emotions fueled her, drove her forward.

Now, all she wanted was redemption. To safeguard her people and to redirect every past wrong into future protection.

"Aaaaahhhhhh!!"

WHOOSH!!

The flames around her erupted violently, blazing hotter than ever before. To Sora, it felt as if Nokiribi herself stood before him once more.

Yet a disturbing premonition gripped him—particularly when he saw a horrifying, sanity-eroding crimson hand slowly forming atop the armor.

"Hey! Something's seriously wrong with your suit!"

Normal SAM armor wouldn't manifest such twisted dark-red flames, let alone something like this ghastly hand!

But the captain was utterly immersed in her own raging world.

"Don't mock me! I won't lose!"

Incredibly, she began accelerating within the [Heavy Acceleration Field], steadily returning toward normal speed. The burning sensation ignited inside her heart, incinerating every trace of humiliation and pain she'd endured.

She knew this power wasn't meant to be used recklessly, yet for the sake of her people, for her atonement…

"With this strength, I'll crush you!"

Crack! Crack! Crack!

Strange noises filled the air. Following the sound, Sora saw the Fyrefly Suit trembling violently.

"If you keep fighting like this, your armor will collapse completely!" he warned urgently.

But she only shouted back fiercely:

"Even if it costs me my life, I'll defeat you!"

Her speed kept climbing, rapidly approaching normal despite the overwhelming force around her.

"Another reckless idiot, ignoring warnings and burning themselves out…" Sora muttered, shaking his head in frustration.

She clearly hadn't heard a word he'd said. Against someone so lost in their own passion, there was only one effective solution.

Sora clenched his fist tightly, his armor glowing faintly with violet-gold radiance.

The captain charged him once again, and he, too, swung out with a determined punch.

I'll use my own two hands—to carve a new future for our people…!

...

!!!!

Her eyes snapped wide open, greeted by an unfamiliar ceiling above.

"What…?" Her head throbbed with lingering pain.

Her chest felt strangely heavy. She tugged at her clothing, revealing a vivid, swollen bruise shaped precisely like a fist imprinted across her chest.

Fragmented memories flashed before her eyes—

Charging forward furiously. A fist radiating purple-gold light…

"Captain, you're awake!" a sudden voice broke through her confusion.

Turning her head, she saw a girl whose features resembled her own, excitement clear in her eyes.

"You're… Xiyi?" She retrieved the girl's name from scattered fragments of her memory.

"Yes, ma'am! Independent Squad, identity code 9527—Xiyi reporting!"

"No need for such formality, I…" She began automatically before the painful memories surged back. She finished bitterly, "We no longer need that kind of etiquette."

Xiyi tilted her head curiously, unsure why the captain's expression turned so complicated. But seeing her awake, Xiyi quickly left to inform Hoshigaki Sora.

Meanwhile, the captain remained, piecing together the blurred fragments of her memory.

Chenyu's communication vanishing. Begging Nokiribi for the strength to protect her people. The man she encountered, and that fist glowing with purple-gold…

"All of this… what exactly happened…?" She couldn't fathom why she'd acted so recklessly. Surviving would clearly have allowed her to better protect her kind, yet she'd nearly burned herself up completely.

"Captain, you're awake."

Chenyu's familiar voice startled her. She raised her head, eyes widening in disbelief. Relief flooded her at seeing Chenyu safe. Thank goodness, she's alright.

After confirming Chenyu's safety, she finally relaxed. "I'm glad you're safe… but please, call me by my name from now on."

The title reminded her of past sins—something she never wanted to face again.

Chenyu nodded without protest, though she had something important to convey. The newly-awakened former captain listened closely, her eyes slowly widening in shock.

...

"Sora, let me introduce you. This is the former captain of this planet's personal guard: Yingzhu."

Hoshigaki Sora blinked, mildly startled at hearing such a familiar-sounding name on this strange planet. Nostalgia briefly washed over him. Realizing his distraction, he quickly coughed twice and greeted her politely:

"Nice to meet you. My name is Hoshigaki Sora."

"Chenyu's already explained the situation," Yingzhu began cautiously, observing Sora with complicated feelings.

She never would've imagined this man shared a similar intent with Nokiribi. What had happened to the universe? One moment they lived in blissful ignorance; the next, someone tore off the veil of lies, immediately followed by someone else offering a helping hand.

Everything had happened too quickly for her to grasp fully.

Yet, one crucial question remained.

"What do you intend for us?"

It was something she had to ask. She'd been betrayed, tricked into harming her own kind—something she never wanted to experience again.

She needed to know: why exactly had this man come to them?

"Whether you plan to use us as planetary guards, or even if you're aiming to make us galaxy pirates trailing after you…" She paused, eyes hardening. "What's your real motive in helping us?"

Why indeed?

It was both a difficult and an easy question. Sora could simply invent some lofty ideal and deceive them—at least until they discovered the truth. He could even build himself a devoted following among this inexperienced race, if he desired. With enough deception, they'd gladly lay their lives at his feet.

But that wasn't who Sora was.

"Your species isn't inherently good or evil. Up until now, you've been met only with malice." He met her eyes sincerely. "Now, my friends and I intend to embrace you with kindness and sincerity. That's all there is to it."

Such a simple reason sounded utterly unbelievable. Who would trust someone who offered aid purely out of goodwill, without demanding anything in return?

Yet someone present did believe. Chenyu, having felt his sincerity herself, nodded quietly, without hesitation.

"And as for what I want from you?" Sora smiled gently. "It's very simple. I don't intend to ask anything from you at all."

Eh?!

Everyone froze, stunned by his words, staring at him in disbelief.

"I truly believe in one thing: anything worthwhile must be forged with one's own hands." He spoke passionately. Just as Heart had carved out the path to evolution himself, Sora planned to do the same.

And that belief extended to the race standing before him, once shrouded in cruelty.

"Your future must be built by your own hands," he declared firmly. "I can offer you protection, a suitable home planet, and ensure no harm befalls you. But I won't interfere in your development or control your future. It must be shaped by yourselves—otherwise, it holds no meaning."

He struck his chest with his fist, the resounding echo resembling a steady heartbeat.

"My only goal is to free you from this planet that showed you nothing but cruelty. That's all there is to it!"

The reasoning sounded absurdly simple, almost laughable. Purely altruistic—offering nearly everything with almost nothing in return. Considering their unique nature, protecting them would likely draw unwanted attention from powerful factions across the galaxy. It was a thankless, risky task—one almost nobody else would accept.

Yet, strangely, those listening believed him.

They trusted this ridiculous reason wholeheartedly—as ridiculous as the explanation itself.

He's already willing to help us for this absurd reason…

Then we…

Chenyu and Yingzhu shared a glance, coming to a silent agreement:

Why not respond with equally absurd trust?

"But we can't promise that others will feel the same. This is just a choice we two have made," they emphasized carefully.

"It doesn't matter," Sora responded casually. He had no intention of forcing others to follow. Whether they chose to trust him or not, he would still do what he believed necessary.

"From the start, all I wanted was to correct something I couldn't stand seeing happen."

It was because he couldn't bear to witness cruelty that he'd reached out. It was for that same reason Heart had entrusted his power to Sora.

In that moment, their hearts aligned perfectly.

And that was all there was to it.