Kamen Rider Zi-O, Dimensional Descent

"No... I just found it in the ruins of some world. Rather, I naturally gained this power after finding it, but the specifics are still unclear..."

"Then how did you get to that world? And before that... what was your identity?"

"..."

Dian Si's expression clearly changed.

However, it wasn't the kind of expression one would give when someone asks a question; rather, it was as if... something unpleasant had come to mind.

Yan Ming could tell that it was best not to reveal this kind of question in front of everyone.

"I'll ask you more details later, so let's not talk about it now."

"…Thank you."

"Wait, my Demon King? Are you sure this is really okay?!"

Woz could understand what Yan Ming wanted to do; he planned to keep this man named Dian Si by their side.

"The other party's identity is completely unknown, and the reason why they obtained the knight's power is also very vague. If such a person were kept by our side—"

"He saved those children."

Yan Ming looked at Woz calmly, a stark contrast to the somewhat anxious Woz.

"And if he intends to do anything, I will crush him."

"...You really trust people that much?"

Kusaka Masato stood to the side and said in a sarcastic tone.

"What if this guy is faking it? Just deliberately creating an innocent and kind persona, waiting until he's fully integrated into the group before taking action... How would you take responsibility in that case?"

"He can't bring himself to do it."

"What…?"

"Because I will take care of him before that happens, so he won't have a chance to fight back."

Masato Kusaka was stunned by these words.

He was somewhat taken aback by Yan Ming's tone.

It was as if everything was under his control; whether it was letting the other party join his team or what the other party planned to do, the young man in front of him saw it all.

But he wasn't afraid of the possibility of things going wrong.

Because before that happens, he will definitely... beat the other person to a pulp.

It's like stating a given fact: for this man... he can do it easily... no, he can definitely do it.

He is willing to give others a chance to trust him, but if the other party fails to seize the opportunity, he will ruthlessly defeat them.

This approach treats everyone equally, but punishes anyone who dares to act against it...

In that instant, a certain title involuntarily came to mind for everyone.

king.

Only a true king would do such a thing—treat everyone equally. But if someone doesn't appreciate the opportunity he's given…then absolute judgment awaits him.

He seemed quite certain that he had the ability to easily defeat anyone.

No one can defeat themselves, and no one can surpass themselves—it's as if stating this fact.

Even though Yan Ming only said a few simple words, everyone couldn't help but have such thoughts in their hearts.

'...Excellent.'

Only Woz felt a sense of joy upon gazing at Yan Ming in this state.

'This is the aura of a true king. Everything should be decided by you. Yes, my Demon King, seize the right to speak in everyone's hearts!'

"Did you understand what I said?"

"...Tsk."

In the end, Masato Kusaka said nothing.

His initial dissatisfaction with Yan Ming was now completely dispelled.

"Then, then—"

Seeing that the atmosphere seemed a bit stiff, Lloyd and Joel quickly tried to smooth things over.

"In that case, let's head deeper into this forest together! It's far from the city and further from the battlefield between the Kamen Riders and the monsters!"

"That's fine too. This forest isn't short of wood. We can build enough wooden shelters for thirty-eight children with our own strength, so there shouldn't be any problem."

"Yay!! We can build houses now!"

Anya jumped up and down happily, and the oppressive atmosphere from before was relieved.

"Well then, sir, would you like to come with us?"

"Me...?"

The person being questioned was none other than Meikoin Gates.

Lloyd and Joel looked at him with smiles, which made Gates, who had been keeping a straight face the whole time, feel a little embarrassed.

"Uh... that's no problem. I'd be happy to go with you if it helps these children."

"Really?!"

"However, before that... I need to get some answers out of this guy first."

Gates immediately looked at Yan Ming.

"However, it would be too unpleasant to talk about this in front of the children... We will communicate in a unique way later."

"The unique way, is it...?"

--------------------------

And so, the group began their journey.

Lloyd, Joel, and Anya sat in the front of the truck, and the children later returned to the truck's cargo area.

Incidentally, in order to allow the children to breathe in the enclosed environment of the carriage for a long time, Yan Ming also specially opened two windows on the left and right sides of the carriage.

Kusaka Masato and Denji followed on either side of the truck using their own motorcycles, while Yan Ming, Woz, and Gates each used two Time Demons to follow behind.

Night was gradually falling.

Next, it was time for Gates and Yan Ming to have a private conversation.

In the lower right corner of the Time Demon's control panel, Gates's call interface appeared directly.

"...that way no one else can hear our conversation."

"I hope you won't ignore me too much, Gates."

"Stop talking nonsense. I can ignore you anyway. Besides, when I fought you before, your whole body turned into pages! Are you even human?"

"Please don't doubt my race... I, Woz, am a genuine, one hundred percent ordinary person, nothing more."

"Nobody would believe that!"

After the inevitable family feud with Wozniak, Gates turned his attention to Yan Ming.

"I'll give you a chance to explain. Go ahead and say it."

"So let's start from here... This person is Tokiwa Yanming, the new Demon King I have chosen. Although I wanted to continue serving the previous Demon King until now... for some unknown reason, there is no trace or clue of Tokiwa Sougo in any of the parallel worlds. Therefore, I had to find the new Demon King and work with him to find the whereabouts of the previous Demon King by using this book as a clue."

"No... I'm letting him speak, how dare you interrupt me!"

However, upon closer reflection, what Wozniacki said was indeed correct.

Gates knew very well the purpose of his coming to this world. It was because he suddenly couldn't find any trace of Sougo and Woz in his own world that he went to other worlds.

"Furthermore, the power of Zi-O was given to him by this book, and the reason why the Time Demon God was able to evolve into this state is also because of this book... By the way, your Time Demon God also gained the ability to travel through worlds because of the influence of this book, right?"

"That's right, but all my other watch faces are gone!"

"It's a minor problem~ because I've also lost my driver for transformation, but as long as I help my Demon Lord successfully complete the history of this book, our power will eventually return to its peak!"

"That's true... but do you understand what the consequences of doing this would be?"

"Hmm~ What are the consequences?"

"...Don't try that on me."

Gates' tone became completely serious and displeased.

"Completing the history of that book will grant you the power of the Kamen Riders, and then... you and I both know better than anyone the outcome when he gathers the power of all the Riders."

That was the hopeless future that Gates once tried to prevent.

"He has the potential to become Oma Zi-O."

“…It’s not a possibility, Gates.”

Woz pointed at the book with his finger and responded calmly.

"I will definitely become Oma Zi-O. I will not allow this to remain just a possibility... I will make it a reality."

"What a joke! Do you even know what you're saying?!"

The atmosphere became extremely intense.

Gates' tone was becoming increasingly difficult to control.

"Why are you reacting so strongly? You weren't bothered when the former Demon King was in that form, so why can't you react the same way with a different one?"

"That's only natural... because that's Sougo! It's the two of us and Tsukuyomi who have personally watched him grow up from the very beginning! Who do you think he is?!"

The man named Tokiwa Sougo, although he became Oma Zi-O in the past, did not meet the so-called worst and most evil ending of a demon king.

Gates was able to trust him because during the short time he spent with him, he, Wozniak, and another person named Tsukuyomi spent every day together, going through trials that are unimaginable to ordinary people, and eventually forging a bond that transcends time and space.

Gates can trust someone like Tokiwa Sougo.

"We're facing a guy we've never seen before, and you're telling me to lead him down the path of a demon king? How can you guarantee he won't become the worst and most evil demon king?!"

From Gates' perspective, everything becomes understandable.

After all, Yan Ming was just a person he had never met before. Suddenly, he was given the power of Zi-O and suddenly he was to become Oma Zi-O... No one could guarantee what kind of future he would have.

But Woz remained unmoved.

"Do you know how I managed to find this Demon King, Gates?"

"what?"

"It's guided by this book, a brand new record book called the Omaguchi Advent Calendar: KT."

"What's the use then?"

"You really are a bit slow on the uptake. The book records all the history of the concept of Zi-O."

Wozniak put it bluntly.

"In other words, to find out Tokiwa Sougo's current whereabouts, we must follow the guidance of this book to obtain the latest clues... Otherwise, do you have a better method?"

"this…"

"And please rest assured, the reason I chose to follow this king is because the book told me that he is a born demon king! He has the qualifications to inherit the history of demon kings, and he also has the future to become a king! So, this is an inevitable outcome."

Gates could say nothing more.

“I understand how you feel, Mr. Gates, but I also hope you can—trust me.”

“Since I did this, there must be a reason. I have considered all the possibilities… Of course, I don’t expect you to immediately say that you believe in the current Demon King.”

"But at least I hope you can give him a chance."

Through the screen, it could be seen that Gates seemed to have his eyes closed, deep in thought.

In the end, he could only sigh.

"...I'm truly impressed, you're making a very logical and persuasive argument..."

So what's your choice?

"I'll think about it."

Then, Gates's gaze sharpened.