As a weirdo, I like being a Kamen Rider.

Lin Chen stood behind the tree trunk, his gaze fixed on the figure that was gradually disappearing into the distance in the forest—Ming Ri Meng, with her head down and shoulders slightly slumped, followed behind Hai Dong's big tree, walking step by step.

"Are you really going to treat him like this?" Lin Chen finally spoke, his voice low and tinged with confusion. "Tomorrow Dream admires you a lot. For him, Sound Strike Path is not just a practice, it's a belief."

Hibiki stood beside him, his hands still in his pockets, his face expressionless. He merely glanced at Lin Chen, shook his head slightly, and gestured with his eyes for him to stop talking.

"Some roads must be walked alone," Hibiki's voice was low and calm.

Lin Chen opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but ultimately swallowed his words. He didn't understand the bond between master and disciple in the Sound Strike Dao; since Xiang Gui had made his decision, he must have his reasons.

The two stood quietly behind the ancient tree until Asumu and Haidong's figures completely disappeared, then slowly turned around and left in another direction.

...

Tsukasa Kadoya, along with Natsumi Hikari and Yusuke Onodera, arrived at the area where the demons were appearing.

At that moment, the demons from the Demon Slayer faction and the Demon Blowing faction each dealt with a lynx demon.

"Looks like we're too late; someone else has already taken care of us," said Mitsuka Mitsuka.

Yusuke Onodera nodded: "These people are incredibly powerful, and their auras are very similar to Mr. Hibiki's. They must be the other schools of demons that Asumu mentioned."

Tsukasa Kadoya raised an eyebrow, his gaze sweeping across the entire area, and he quickly noticed that there was still one person who had slipped through the net.

"Perfect, there's one left."

Tsukasa Kadoya took a step forward, giving his opponent no chance to escape, and pulled out the Decade card with his left hand, attaching it to his waist driver.

"Kamen Ride! Decade!"

A high-pitched electronic sound echoed through the valley. Crimson armor instantly covered his entire body. Tsukasa Kadoya, holding the Card Box Sword, flashed and appeared behind the demonized monster.

Without any unnecessary movements, he slashed horizontally with two swords.

Repel the demon, then immediately use your ultimate attack.

"Bang?"

The lynx-like demon had no chance to resist and simply vanished.

Clean and neat.

This scene was witnessed by Ibuki, who turned his head to look.

When Ibuki's gaze fell upon the pink Oto-do master's robe on Kadoya Tsukasa, his eyes lit up, and an enthusiastic smile immediately spread across his face. He quickly stepped forward and bowed to Kadoya Tsukasa, saying, "Master! I never expected to meet a top figure in Oto-do here! I am Ibuki, head of the Ibuki-ryu school. May I ask your esteemed name, Master?"

Tsukasa Kadoya deactivated his transformation, waved his hand casually, and said, "No need to ask my name, I was just passing by."

"Passing by is no problem!" Ibuki laughed even more enthusiastically, grabbing Kadoya Tsukasa's arm. "Since the Grandmaster is here, why don't you come with me back to the Ibuki-ryu headquarters for a short while? Let us properly learn from the Grandmaster's insights!"

Before Tsukasa Kadoya could answer, the group of young and beautiful female disciples dressed in uniform behind Ibuki immediately swarmed around him, their eyes sparkling as they looked at him.

"Grandmaster, you're amazing!"

"Grandmaster, please come back with us! We'll make you some tea!"

"Grandmaster, please come this way!"

Amidst laughter and chatter, a group of beautiful young female disciples surrounded Tsukasa Kadoya, making a lively entrance towards the Ibuki faction's headquarters, much like stars surrounding the moon.

Surrounded by people, Tsukasa Kadoya feigned helplessness, but a slight smile crept onto his lips, clearly enjoying the treatment.

Yusuke Onodera stared enviously at Tsukasa Kadoya's retreating figure, muttering to himself, "I'm so envious...being surrounded by so many people..."

As soon as he finished speaking, he felt a cold gaze fall on him.

Onodera suddenly turned his head and saw Hikari Natsumi glaring at him, her cheeks slightly puffed out and her eyes showing obvious displeasure.

Yusuke Onodera swallowed the rest of his words instantly, lowered his head, stood obediently, and dared not utter another word.

On the other side, beside a clear stream.

Lin Chen and Xiang Gui each sat on a small stool, holding a simple fishing rod in their hands, with the hooks lowered into the water, quietly waiting for the fish to bite.

Lin Chen held the fishing rod, sitting upright, but he seemed somewhat absent-minded.

He was used to fighting, used to being constantly vigilant about the dangers around him, so sitting quietly fishing like this, doing nothing and thinking nothing, was completely foreign to him.

"I don't understand." Lin Chen finally broke the silence, turning to look at Hibiki. "We clearly came here to cultivate the Way of Sound Strike, so why are we fishing here? What does this have to do with becoming stronger?"

Hibiki continued to gaze at the water, his tone calm and distant: "Boy, you possess immense power, far surpassing the vast majority of demons in this world after your transformation."

He paused, then slowly turned his head, his gaze sharp as he looked at Lin Chen:

"But have you ever considered that great power must be wielded with an even greater heart?"

Lin Chen was slightly taken aback.

"Your strength is great, but your heart is too chaotic, too tense, too confused." The voice of the demon entered Lin Chen's ears clearly, word by word. "You are like a strong bow that has been forcibly drawn, always stretched to its limit. Once it encounters an unbearable impact, the bow will break."

"The practice of Sound Strike is actually not as complicated as you imagine."

Hibiki gently shook the fishing rod and continued:

"You have already achieved the ultimate physical training. Your physique, your reaction, and your endurance far surpass those of ordinary Sound Strike Dao disciples. Sound Strike Dao has no mysterious cultivation methods, no formulas that can make someone stronger overnight, and no secret techniques that can increase power out of thin air."

"The so-called inheritance is nothing more than the master passing on his beliefs to his apprentice, and the apprentice passing on those beliefs in turn. Generation after generation, guarding the heart of protection and the clear sound, that's enough."

Lin Chen's grip on the fishing rod tightened slightly, and a flash of understanding appeared in his eyes.

It turned out to be the case.

He had always thought that the Sound Strike Dao had some unique cultivation method that could allow the human body to reach its peak, but in the end, the most essential thing was actually the mind.

Refine your mind, calm your spirit, and find your own beliefs and direction.

This is what Hibiki really wanted to teach him.

"I understand." Lin Chen let out a long breath. "Thank you, Mr. Hibiki."

"Good to know." Hibiki turned his head back to look at the water. "Today, you don't have to do anything or think about anything. Just focus on fishing. Consider it... a day off for yourself."

Lin Chen nodded and said nothing more.

For the first time, he truly let down his guard and enjoyed this rare peace and tranquility.

This feeling is not bad.

The peaceful times did not last long.

A series of hurried and frantic footsteps broke the tranquility of the place.

"Hibiki Master"

Lin Chen and Xiang Gui turned to look.

Asuka ran over.

He grabbed Hibiki's arm, begging Hibiki to take him back into the Hibiki Stream. Looking at the boy in front of him, Hibiki's eyes softened almost imperceptibly.

But then, he hardened his heart, gently pushed away Tomorrow's hand, his tone firm and cold:

"I'm retiring. I'm no longer a demon. The Hibiki Faction ends with me."

"That's too casual!" Asumu exclaimed. "It was only after meeting you, Master Hibiki, that I started to wholeheartedly dedicate myself to something!"

Hibiki retorted that Asumu didn't need to be fully committed to being a ghost, and told Asumu to just enjoy life from now on.

Just then—

"roar--!!"

A furious roar rang out!

A demonic monster with sharp horns on its head stared at the three of them, its scarlet eyes radiating intense killing intent!

Hibiki reacted almost instinctively, his right hand instantly reaching for his waist, where his transformation tuning fork was hanging.

A cool sensation came over him. As long as he picked up the tuning fork and struck it, he could immediately transform into a demon and slay the demon in front of him.

But the moment his fingertips touched the tuning fork, his movements suddenly stopped.

It was as if she had thought of something, or perhaps she was resisting something.

Hibiki slowly released his grip and lowered his arm, showing no intention of transforming.

Lin Chen saw all of this without the slightest hesitation.

"Transform!"

The jet-black, gilded armor instantly covered his body, and a single scarlet eye gleamed with a chilling light.

Kamen Rider Orga has arrived!

Holding the Earth Emperor Sword, Lin Chen didn't waste any words. He took a step forward and charged straight up, slashing horizontally with his sword!

The next second, something astonishing happened.

"clang--!!"

A deafening roar, like the clash of metal, exploded!

The demonic monster didn't dodge or evade; instead, it raised one hand and forcefully grabbed the blade of the Earth Emperor Sword!

Lin Chen was somewhat taken aback. This demonic creature's aura wasn't strong, but it had thick skin and tough flesh.

After a brief moment of surprise, Lin Chen immediately reacted, clenched his left fist, gathered photon energy on it, and slammed the fist hard into the chest of the demonic monster!

"Bang!"

A powerful punch lands!

The demonic creature, in pain, let out a ferocious roar and was blasted away by a punch, crashing heavily onto the rocks by the stream, scattering pebbles everywhere.

It simply shook its head and stood up, surprisingly without suffering any fatal injuries!

Roar!

The demonic creature's eyes were extremely ferocious. Not daring to linger in the fight, it turned and ran wildly into the depths of the dense forest!

"Trying to run away?"

Lin Chen had no intention of giving the other party a chance to escape. He took a step forward and immediately gave chase!

Only Hibiki, Asumu, and Hikari Natsumi and Onodera Yusuke remained at the scene.

"Mr. Lin Chen has caught up!" Guang Xiahai looked into the depths of the dense forest with a worried expression.

Yusuke Onodera immediately clenched his fist and volunteered, "I'll go help! Natsumi-chan, you wait here!"

Hibiki stood silently in place, gazing in the direction Lin Chen had disappeared, his eyes filled with a complex and unfathomable expression.

Asumu asked why Hibiki hadn't transformed earlier. Hibiki didn't answer. Suddenly, another demon appeared and attacked the master and apprentice again. This time, Hibiki grabbed Asumu and ran. Onodera, who had just run halfway, also spotted the new demon and immediately turned back to chase after Hibiki and Asumu.

Because Guang Xiahai was too far away from the master and disciple, he was not targeted. Space distorted, and a figure slowly walked out in front of Guang Xiahai.

Wearing a light brown fisherman's hat, a beige casual trench coat, and black-rimmed glasses, he exuded a gloomy and dangerous aura.

Narutaki!

"Mr. Narutaki?!" Hikari Natsumi's expression changed drastically, and she subconsciously took a step back.

Narutaki spoke up: "Decade has arrived in the ninth world, and when his journey ends, the world will be destroyed."

Guang Xiahai's heart tightened: "How is this possible?"

"What I've heard is that if Kamen Rider Decade travels through nine worlds, the world will be saved!"

"You don't understand anything!" Narutaki interrupted her.

On one side were the words of the boy in white, and on the other was Narutaki's warning.

Who is the real one?

Will the warriors really destroy the world?

A profound sense of confusion overwhelmed her in an instant.

Just as Narutaki was about to continue bewitching Hikari Natsumi—

"call out--!!"

A dark golden photon energy bullet suddenly shot through the air!

Narutaki noticed it too and dodged it.

"Bang!"

The bullet struck the ground precisely at Narutaki's feet, scattering gravel and startling him!

Narutaki suddenly turned his head and looked in the direction from which the bullets had come.

On the open ground downstream of the stream, a tall, dark, gilded figure stood silently.

Kamen Rider Orga.

Lin Chen left but returned!

His scarlet single eye was fixed on Narutaki.

"Damn it... it's you, Lin Chen!" Minglong's face instantly turned extremely ugly.

Without a word, Lin Chen raised his right hand, pointed the Earth Emperor phone at Narutaki, and pulled the trigger with his fingertip!

"Bang bang bang bang bang——!!"

A barrage of photon energy bullets rained down on Narutaki!

"hateful!"

Minglong's expression changed drastically. He knew that if he stayed any longer, he would only be entangled with Lin Chen and would have no chance of winning.

He dared not linger for a moment, and with a sudden wave of his left hand, a pale blue dimensional barrier instantly unfolded behind him.

"Damn Lin Chen, we'll see!"

Leaving behind a harsh remark, Narutaki turned and disappeared into the dimensional barrier.

The next second, the dimensional barrier closed instantly, and it vanished without a trace.

All the energy bullets missed their mark, leaving only a series of dense bullet holes in the ground. Lin Chen could only lament his disappointment. That damned Narutaki—if it weren't for the presence of Hikari Natsumi, he would have definitely given Narutaki an Orga Stlash!