Kamen Rider Zi-O, Dimensional Descent

She was a blonde girl with the same hair color as her, but her hair was styled in an updo, giving her an elegant, young lady-like appearance.

She was the girl who spoke to me that day, the one who so passionately wanted to turn others into magical girls.

I think... her name was Yuzuki Hana...!

"She pulled those two girls in, could it be... she's going to turn them into magical girls too?!"

"What did you say?"

Sakura Kyoko looked completely bewildered; she clearly couldn't understand what Tomoe Mami was saying.

Mami Tomoe's expression was tense at this point.

Because, if that's really the case, considering all the recent events, what if those two girls really did become magical girls—

Their future lives will likely be confined to the current state of public opinion.

"Kyoko, we have to stop her!"

"Wait... she turned into a magical girl? What's going on? Could that girl be the culprit behind all these magical girls popping up lately?"

"I don't know the details either, but anyway! We absolutely can't sit idly by, or we'll miss our chance!"

The two girls quickly ran into the alley, especially Mami Tomoe, who looked very excited.

And in a more distant, unseen place.

A certain man also witnessed all of this.

"I see."

His name is Shilun Yanming.

After watching Mami and the others run into the alley, Yan Ming thought for a moment and then figured out exactly what he would do next.

“Then it’s time to begin. I also believe in her; she will definitely regain her confidence.”

With that thought in mind, Yan Ming walked directly to a spot further forward...

Volume 9, The Demon King Appears: Chapter 418 Why Don't You Fight?

"Wait...wait a minute!"

The two girls immediately darted into the alley.

Turning into this alley, after walking a short distance along a narrow path, a much wider space comes into view.

Sakura Kyoko quickly followed and called out.

But Mami Tomoe, who was walking ahead, quickly raised her finger at her.

"Shh...!"

They gestured for each other to be quieter—Kyoko nodded quickly after understanding this, and the two girls looked ahead together.

"What's going on? What's going on...?"

Kyoko was naturally bewildered, but Mami Tomoe was even more certain of the situation before her.

Without a doubt... all three of them were people I knew.

Those two girls were the students I saw yesterday after school, and... the person standing next to them was the one named Yuzuki Hana.

"Their eyes looked strange."

"Eh...?"

Sakura Kyoko's words also caught Tomoe Mami's attention.

The two girls had robotic eyes and expressionless faces; they simply stood there motionless.

If you look closely, you'll notice that each of them has the same mark on their neck.

"That's the mark of a witch... it's called the Witch's Kiss!"

"Witch's Kiss? Is that what they wear on their necks?"

Mami Tomoe nodded and explained.

"I heard it from those magical girls: witches... can influence and control people who are affected by negative emotions, and such marks will appear on the necks of those who are controlled."

"I can't believe such a thing happened..."

If this were in the past, these two would have known this even without being told.

Regardless, judging from the current situation, both girls are under the control of the witch's kiss.

That's good.

Standing in front of them, Yuzuki spoke.

"That way I can help him more, create more magical girls... and it will definitely help his plans more, right?"

The two magical girls heard every word she uttered.

"...They actually pull this stunt?"

Kyoko Sakura watched this scene and couldn't help but curse.

"I was wondering why there were suddenly so many magical girls in the world; it turns out it's all been these kinds of guys causing trouble in the shadows all along..."

"She must have done this kind of thing quite a few times before, right? Turning innocent people into magical girls is even more annoying than those unscrupulous door-to-door salesmen!"

But Mami Tomoe fell silent.

Because all of this made her understand certain things.

'...If that's the case—'

Before, when Yuzuki stopped me, all the things she said to me... were lies.

Even the magical girl group that took her there might... have been transformed by her through horrific means.

How long has she been doing this, constantly ignoring other people's wishes and forcibly turning them into magical girls?

more importantly--

If these two girls were to become magical girls right now, they, who are still just students, would probably face the same fate as I did before.

Becoming magical girls would lead to rejection and skepticism from the world, which would then affect the entire school and even their future lives…

That's just who I am, that's just how I am... constantly being questioned and rejected by society.

If that happens, what will their lives and thoughts become?

If they were like me, with no one by their side, no one to understand them, and they were just struggling on their own... what would their fate be?

Mami Tomoe didn't dare to think about it anymore.

And similar things are probably happening all over the world right now, in every place.

"...Ugh!"

Her heart gradually warmed.

They watched as Yuzuki reached out and handed them something that looked like a black gemstone.

It seems that the next moment, these girls who catch the gems will directly transform into magical girls—ending their lives as ordinary people.

The thought of this... a burning rage surged rapidly from the depths of her heart—

"How can we allow you to continue doing this kind of thing... How can we let you continue to harm them!"

Bang-!

A violent golden storm erupted from Mami Tomoe's body.

"Wait...? Mami!"

Even Sakura Kyoko, who was standing to the side, was startled, but Tomoe Mami had already begun to act.

Completely disregarding everything, she instantly transformed into a magical girl.

In an instant, two golden ribbons flew out of her hands.

*Thud!* Then, the two Seeds of Lamentation were instantly flung away.

"...Huh?"

Both girls regained consciousness at this time.

Where am I...?

"Huh? Why are you here? Weren't we just shopping...?"

The unexpected situation seemed to startle Yuzuki Hana slightly, and then—

Another ribbon wrapped around her and slammed onto Jie Yuehua's wrist.

At that instant, a force came from the other end of the ribbon and acted directly on Yuzuki's entire arm.

boom--!

She was thrown into the air.

Without even having time to notice who was attacking it, it instantly flew towards the height of the second floor.

"...Tsk."

After realizing everything, Yuzuki's expression turned displeased.

Her body was enveloped in another burst of pink light, and in an instant, she used a hand chop to cut the ribbon wrapped around her wrist.

"W-what happened?!"

The two girls were completely unaware of what was happening.

And at this moment—

With heavy expressions, Mami Tomoe and Kyoko Sakura walked out from the side.

"Mami... classmate?"

"Why are we here... no, why are we here too?"

Seeing that her two female classmates were completely oblivious, Mami Tomoe's anger intensified.

"...Kyoko, I'm very sorry, but could you please take them to a safe place first?"

"Are you planning to fight her?"

After thinking for a moment, Sakura Kyoko nodded.

"I understand, but don't go too far..."

"I know what I'm doing."

The next second, Sakura Kyoko, who had also completed her transformation, darted directly to the two girls' side.

"Ladies, I'm so sorry!"

"Eh...Eh?!"

"When did they get here? Could this scene be... some kind of magical girl battle...?!"

Before they could react, Kyoko's figure flashed, and they vanished from the spot in an instant.

Yuzuki gazed in the direction they had left, then turned her gaze to Tomoe Mami.

"Oh dear, isn't this Asami-kun..."

"Stop pretending with me. I saw everything you did."

"What's wrong with this? Isn't this exactly what you wanted?"

Jie Yuehua said, word by word.

"When we met, didn't I tell you? We need to create more magical girls to protect world peace. So, our goal is to make more people become..."

"You really think I'm so easy to fool... Do you think that after everything that's happened, I can still trust your words?"

Her usual elegant and carefree demeanor was completely gone.

Mami Tomoe is now consumed by rage.

She glared at him angrily, and placed several flintlock pistols beside her.

"...Oh, I see. Your opinion has changed."