Kamen Rider Zi-O, Dimensional Descent

"Mr. Yan Ming...why did you come here...?"

"I discovered a battle taking place nearby when I went to investigate the location of the Skywing races, so I happened to come and take a look."

"And... what about Jibril?"

As Hughie asked this question, she kept looking around, scanning her surroundings.

However, they were unable to find any information about Jibril.

"You didn't... kill her, did you?"

"Perhaps, after I shoot down that Skywing creature, I won't be able to detect its presence anymore."

Perhaps they escaped, or perhaps their remains were never found.

It doesn't matter which possibility it is, because for Yan Ming and Woz, even if Jibril attacks a few more times, it won't be a problem.

"More than that, my Demon King... there is something that I am very concerned about."

Woz couldn't help but ask Yan Ming a question.

"If it's just dealing with an enemy of that level, I alone am enough... Why must you be the one to handle her? Do you want to personally demonstrate the majesty of your powerful strength?"

While Woz assumed that was the reason, Yan Ming looked at him rather strangely.

After a slight pause, Yan Ming continued.

"...Did you completely disregard the impact your attacks would have on the surrounding area?"

"Uh…"

"If such a powerful force were to strike, it would at least reduce everything within a radius of tens of kilometers to ashes, and the aftershocks would also affect human settlements beyond that area... Do you know that?"

Yan Ming's words left Woz stunned, his face filled with astonishment.

Yan Ming sighed softly. His intentions were good, but he hadn't considered the details enough.

However, Yan Ming did not believe that Woz intended to harm even the humans in this world.

"Before using such a large-scale attack next time, think carefully about the impact your power will have on the surrounding area."

"Yes... I understand. I'm very sorry, this time it was all my fault."

"Just remember that."

Woz immediately knelt down respectfully before Yan Ming and said that the matter was settled simply like that.

But in Schwie's eyes, everything became completely different.

'Mr. Woz... has he always been completely obedient to Mr. Yan Ming...?'

Shubi witnessed the entire battle between Woz and Jibril, so she knew exactly how strong Woz was.

However—judging from the current situation, he seems to dare not contradict any of Shi Lun Yan Ming's words...it's almost like the relationship between an ancient monarch and his loyal minister.

Does this mean... that Shi Lun Yan Ming, this man, is actually—

Does he possess even greater power than Woz, which would make him so obedient?

'Unpredictable.'

Using any data for calculations and research, Hughie could never conceive of the possible outcomes.

It's already unbelievable that Woz, as a human, could unleash power even more terrifying than that of a Skywing like Jibril, let alone... the fact that Yan Ming's strength is even greater than that.

If that's really the case—

So where exactly did these two monsters come from?!

"Shubi, is all the traffic control measures in place?"

"Ah...yes, it's already installed."

Hughie nodded. Those traffic controls were placed on this land to deflect some enormous force.

Yan Ming respects Hugh and Rick's plan, so he will not interfere with the efforts that humans have made for it, and the plan will continue as originally planned.

"As Rick said, the forest elves and goblins will soon unite and then launch an attack on the skywing race."

"Yes, the Forest Elves possess the 'Void Zero Blessing,' the Goblins possess the 'Marrow Burst,' and the Winged Race... the War God Alteshu's 'Divine Strike,' all of these combined—"

"Will it then reveal the power to bring the Star Cup to life?"

"…Yes."

Yan Ming and Woz were already very clear about Rick and Schwi's plan.

Let the goblins and forest elves unleash their strongest trump cards, and then let the strongest of the winged races... the God of War Artesius, unleash his absolute divine strike. By fusing these powers together, a force powerful enough to pierce through a planet can be generated.

The condition for winning the Star Cup is essentially to reduce all the gods in the world to a single one.

The surviving god will possess the power of all the other gods... However, all the gods in this world are born from the power of the planets.

This means that the combined power of all the gods is still less than the power of the planet itself.

In that case... there's no need to kill all the gods to make the Star Grail reappear.

"As long as the planet is pierced and the elven corridor inside the planet erupts with enormous planetary energy, then... the Star Cup will naturally appear because of this stronger power."

Hearing Hugh's explanation, Yan Ming and Woz remained silent, only nodding slightly.

"We already know the details of this plan. Now, is the final stage ready?"

“That’s true, but… according to Rick’s calculations, it would take about ten years to get the three parties into war—”

"No need. Just remember to tell him when you get back that these races will officially start a war soon, so you can rest assured."

"Huh...?"

Hugh blinked, looking puzzled, but Yan Ming didn't offer any further explanation.

"So our work outside is finished, and we're ready to go back."

"…Um."

Yan Ming pressed the Decade's control dial, sending the Aurora Veil through the three people's bodies, allowing them to return to the human settlement.

Buzz—! A moment later, they appeared directly in the place where Rick and the other ghosts usually held their meetings.

"Shu...Shubi?!"

After seeing a curtain like mercury appear, Rick saw that Hughie and Yan Ming had entered the room together.

Now, the heavy weight that had been pressing on my heart finally settled down.

“I’m back, Rick…”

"You shouldn't be injured, right? You weren't attacked outside... right?!"

"Shubi... was indeed attacked outside, and it was... an attack by the Skywing."

Upon hearing the name "Skywing," Rick felt a moment of blankness, but he quickly regained his composure.

Since Hugh is still standing here, she must be alright.

He couldn't help but look at the other two humans in the room.

"So it really was you guys who saved Shubi?"

So it all seems true, whether it's the other side's ability to defeat the warships of the Skywing race and the Goblin race, or something else...

Are the people in front of us, who claim to be from another world, friend or foe? And why are they helping us? Is it really just for such a simple reason?

…No.

There's no need to think about those things anymore.

Most importantly, they protected their own wife, Hugh, when she was in danger.

Thinking about this, Rick suddenly felt a sense of enlightenment.

"...Thank you, thank you all."

Without hesitation, he bowed his head to thank the two of them, speaking words that truly came from the bottom of his heart.

Yan Ming didn't say anything more. He turned around, opened another aurora curtain, and left with Woz.

"Shubi...! Are you really alright?!"

“Rick…”

After the two left, Hughie and Rick hugged each other tightly.

Hugh said with a very subtle expression.

"Those two people, despite possessing immense strength, acted solely to protect me, Riku, and everyone else in humanity... Why? They gained absolutely nothing..."

Yes... why is that? Even Rick, who is also human, can't find the reason.

He shook his head. Although he couldn't understand all of this, he still understood the simplest thing.

"Don't worry, Shubi."

Rick spoke very seriously, saying things that he had never dared to say before, things that felt like a dream.

"We will definitely be able to have a peaceful life... definitely."

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

Yan Ming and Woz returned to the goblin warship.

"...Excuse my bluntness, my Demon King."

As soon as he got back, Woz finally said what he had been holding back.

"With your current strength, traversing a planet shouldn't be too difficult, right?"

"I know."

Not to mention Yan Ming, even Gates and Wozniak could do something similar.

However, Yan Ming still chose to adopt Rick and Shubi's plan, which involved going to great lengths to mobilize all the races in the world in order to complete the traversal of the planet.

what is this?

"Because I respect their effort and will, Wozniak."

"…What?"

"Don't you understand? They have paid a price that we can't even imagine in order to accomplish this."

From the birth of humankind to this moment, how much blood and tears has the entire human race… and even the opportunity to determine the fate of the entire world, paid for so far?

Rick must have mentioned at least ten names to him back then.

Looking back over the years, countless lives had to be lost just to gather intelligence, and so much hardship and suffering had to be endured before finally achieving a plan that could change everything.

Now, humans as powerful as gods, like Yan Ming and his companions, have descended upon us. They can easily change everything, even—the fate of the entire planet.

Of course, Yan Ming could completely ignore everyone's wishes, forcibly take out the thing called the Star Cup, and then directly hand it over to the humans of this world, so that they could become the world's omnipotent gods without paying anything in return.

But he would never do that.

because--

"The efforts of these people must not be wasted."

It is precisely because Yan Ming respects the blood and tears these people have shed that he can imagine what they have done, even though he has not witnessed it firsthand.

He would not let the intelligence and information gained from these deaths go to waste.

Therefore... even if it takes a lot of trouble to carry out this complicated plan, Yan Ming will still consider things from Rick's and the others' perspective.

“We can intervene in the affairs of this world, and we can do everything we can to help them complete their plans... but we absolutely cannot let them obtain the Star Grail without knowing anything about it.”

Now, as Yan Ming said these words, his expression was very serious.

Looking at Yan Ming like this, Woz really didn't know what to say.

“My Demon King…you are the Demon King who controls everything. You can completely ignore other people’s wishes and forcibly give them salvation as long as you want. This is what a Demon King should do. You don’t need to care about anyone’s wishes at all.”

“You’re right… I am indeed the Demon King.”

Yan Ming continued to look at Woz.

"Therefore, as the Demon King, I command you to do everything in your power to help them complete their plan."

"Hello, hello..."