Kamen Rider Zi-O, Dimensional Descent

"As for Fourze's watch face... the original power holder valued the concept of 'bonds' the most, perhaps that's why..."

Bonds...?

Yan Ming stared at the three people present, recalling the strange change that had occurred at that moment…

That miraculous form created by the power of the three—was it the result of their bond?

"That's all for now. Let's head to the next world while it's still early!"

After Gates and Woz finished preparing, they left the apartment and went to a secluded place to summon the Time Demon.

Although using the Aurora Veil to move around is fine, the power of the Time Demon is definitely safer.

The next world... has already begun to await their arrival.

Is that really the case?

Volume 6, Puella Magi Madoka Magica: Chapter 231 - Back to the Original World?

This is an observatory within the city.

As always, the staff are using advanced computers to calculate the operational status and laws of various celestial bodies in the universe, while also continuously observing whether there are any asteroids that might collide with Earth.

"I heard that the meteor shower is coming soon."

"That's wonderful. I bet young couples will be thinking of making a wish when the meteor shower comes. I really hope I can experience such a beautiful scene when I'm young."

"Come on, you've always been romantic to your wife, haven't you? You've probably already experienced making wishes on meteor showers and all that!"

"No, no, I really didn't do that!"

Around midnight, some of the staff who were adjusting the astronomical telescopes started chatting because there was nothing left to do.

"Well then, let's take one last look at the sky, and then we can rest, shall we?"

"You've been working since six o'clock, it must have been tough... Let's have something to eat after you're done?"

"It's this late, there probably aren't any restaurants open. I'll just grab some ramen..."

One of the staff members was looking through a telescope at that moment.

Suddenly, I froze on the spot.

"...Hey, what's wrong?"

The other person, seeing his sudden stunned expression, immediately realized that something was wrong.

So they rushed over immediately.

"Don't tell me it's some kind of asteroid impact or something, I don't want to die so soon!"

"No...no! Look for yourself!"

The person hurriedly made way for the other staff member, who then sat down to observe the situation in the sky.

Then the other person also noticed the anomaly.

In the vast and boundless Milky Way—there is a brilliance that surpasses all celestial bodies.

"What, what is that?!"

Because of this astonishing phenomenon, the staff immediately went on high alert.

They turned on their computers one after another, while the two members in charge of the telescope busied themselves with various tasks. Just then—

They all saw it.

The radiance that shone so brightly in that position.

After about five seconds, it vanished instantly.

"Hey... I remember the location of that light was—"

"It's Andromeda, right?!"

"Why did it suddenly become so bright? And why did it suddenly... Wh-what?!"

"What's wrong? What happened this time?"

"The computer screen shows that... there are no longer any celestial bodies remaining in the original Andromeda constellation!"

"What did you say?!"

This means it's a very simple thing.

In the universe, the constellation Andromeda... has disappeared.

After a series of terrifying events, the staff fell into a silent period, unsure of what to do.

————————————————————————

With the opening of a dimensional tunnel, Yan Ming and the others were directly transported to a new world.

"This is the new world? Why does it feel like we're still in Academy City?"

"No, according to the coordinates, this is indeed the location of the new world we've arrived in, but it looks... just like the previous world, a modern world where modern technology is widespread?"

Skyscrapers, crowds on the streets—this is undoubtedly modern society.

But... why does it look so familiar?

Yan Ming and Gates secretly drove the Time Demon to a nearby location and hid it, then drove into the city.

"…Wait."

"What's wrong? Although it's supposed to be a new world that looks no different from modern society, what if it's actually a place like Academy City?"

Gates remained vigilant, always on guard against the possibility of something happening from time to time.

"Superpowered individuals and magicians are already troublesome enough. Hopefully, we won't encounter anyone even more troublesome this time. And most importantly, there's the issue of gathering intelligence. Ugh, that's the most serious problem..."

“Mr. Gates”.

"What's wrong now? Shouldn't we find a place to stay quickly?"

While Gates was still fretting over various things, he noticed that Yan Ming and Woz's expressions were a bit off.

The two of them... looked around as if they had suddenly realized something.

"No, Mr. Gates, I don't think we need to do what you're talking about anymore."

"…What?"

“I live here. This is Mitakihara, the city where I used to live.”

After Yan Ming said those words, Gates looked at them with utter shock.

"...You guys, are you kidding me?!"

correct.

At first, they might not have noticed it, but Yan Ming and Woz quickly realized that this was a city called Mitakihara.

This is the world where Yan Ming was born and raised, the place where the two of them first met.

"You mean, after traveling through so many worlds, we've ended up back in the world this guy lives in, completely untouched?"

"No, the Time Demon God is guided by this book of mine, so it can't be wrong. This is the place that the book records as the destination."

As Woz spoke, he opened the Omaguchi Advent Calendar KT. Sure enough, the contents recorded in the book were similar to what he and Yan Ming had recorded when they left, only containing information about a part of this world.

A large portion of it was not recorded.

"In other words, this book leads us back here so that we can record everything that happens in this world again..."

When Woz said that, Yan Ming started thinking about other things.

Then he walked toward a nearby convenience store.

"Hey, where are you going?"

"It's nothing, just checking the situation first."

Upon entering one of the convenience stores, Yan Ming first grabbed a bottle of water, then skillfully took out a near-future coin that could only be used in this era.

He also confirmed the current time by asking the store clerk, and then confirmed the result based on the time he left.

"Is it about a day's difference...?"

Judging from the dates, their current time is approximately one day after Yan Ming and Woz left.

In other words, all the trials and tribulations they had endured in other worlds were only a single day in this world.

Perhaps time flows differently in other worlds, which is probably a result of the different speeds of time flow between worlds.

At least for Yan Ming, this outcome is good.

So, this time I've come to your hometown?

Gates and Wozniak stood outside. After Yan Ming came out of the convenience store, Gates looked directly at him.

"So what should we do next? Since you're going to, uh... record something from a book, I think you should know what to do next, right?"

"No, I'm not really sure."

"...Isn't this the world you've always lived in? Why don't you have any idea what we're supposed to do?"

"Because for my Demon King, this world was never anything too unusual, so he actually doesn't know what we should be doing here."

In short... does that mean we still need to continue gathering intelligence?

I thought I had finally arrived in a world where things could be a little easier, but it seems that's not the case at all.

"So, what should we do next...?"

"Let's arrange accommodation first."

As Yan Ming spoke, he had basically figured out how to reasonably arrange his accommodation.

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

By the afternoon, Suwa Aoi had finished a long day of classes.

This energetic girl, like other girls her age, had good grades but really didn't like going to school.

"Aoi-chan~ Do you want to go out and play together later?"

"Hmm... but I still have homework to do when I get home, ugh! But I really want to go out and play together! It's so agonizing..."

"Sigh~ Your homeroom teacher is really cruel, assigning so much homework?"

"Yeah, what can we do..."

Although reluctant, Suwa Aoi is a good child who listens to her teacher. After struggling for a while, she can only choose to go home and do her homework.

"Waaah, then I guess I'll just have to go home and find Brother Yanming, and get a good meal from him. That'll make him feel a little better!"

Although I don't know why, I didn't see Yan Ming all day yesterday. I went to his house but didn't see him, and I couldn't find him at school either. But whatever he was doing, he should be home today, right?

Back home, Kui Yu threw her schoolbag and other belongings into her room and then went straight to Yan Ming's room.

'...The door isn't locked?'

After checking, she found that the door was unlocked, so it seemed that Yan Ming must have already gone home.

She knocked lightly on the door, but... after waiting for a long time, Aoi Yu didn't hear any response.

"...Huh?"

Logically speaking, since the door is open, there should be...someone here, right?

Could it be a home invasion robbery?

Thinking this, Suwa Aoi felt a little scared. After all, she was just an ordinary high school girl, and she panicked when faced with this sudden situation.

"Hands, phone! We have to call the police!"

Wait, no! My phone was in my bag and then I tossed it into my room!

Aoi Yu hurriedly tried to turn around, but in doing so, she kicked the unlocked door open.

Then she saw it.

A young man dressed in black and red clothes, a man holding a book, and Shi Lun Yan Ming.

The three of them had a bunch of things that looked like plastic toys on the table and were talking about something.

"So what's the point of this broken watch?! Kamen Rider Cross-Z's power is nowhere near as good as my Revive Geiz!"