"Sa, let's start the experiment!"
With that familiar line, War Rabbit casually pressed the Build Driver to his waist, then pulled out two Full Bottles—one red, one blue—and started shaking them up and down.
As the bottles rattled in his hands, countless physical formulas and mathematical equations began to materialize in the air around him like a glowing barrage, streaming forward in an arc.
Long Wo stared in stunned silence.
As someone who never passed math or physics, this sudden science-fueled spectacle was nothing short of a cosmic horror. Even the brainless Smash on the other side seemed momentarily dumbfounded—freezing in place to watch the transformation.
"This... must be that legendary 'transformation invincibility' effect," I muttered to myself like a narrator, feeling duty-bound to explain what the hell was happening.
[Rabbit! Tank!][Best Match!]
With a dramatic flourish, Battle Rabbit inserted the bottles into the Build Driver—crossing them, because why not? It's not about logic—it's about style.
He smirked at our stunned expressions, then slowly turned the crank handle on the side of the belt.
Now, in my defense, I was actually excited. This was my first time seeing a live transformation sequence. As for the Smash? Please. That thing doesn't even have a face, let alone emotions.
[Are you ready?]"Transform!"[The steel moon rises to strike! Rabbit-Tank! YEAH~!]
"The law of victory has been determined!"
Red and blue armor plates interlocked in sequence, spinning and slamming onto Sento's body. With a dramatic pose—one hand on his hip, the other pointing to the heavens—Kiryuu Sento, aka Kamen Rider Build, completed his transformation.
"…How many times did you have to practice that routine to get it right?" I blurted out.
"Ahem! That's not important!" he stammered. Why was my focus always so off?
Trying to shake off the awkwardness, he pulled out the Drill Crusher and charged at the Smash, landing a series of rapid slashes that made the creature stagger.
[Hedgehog!][Are you ready?]"Build Up!"
Switching the Rabbit Full Bottle for the Hedgehog one, the red armor on his right arm changed to a spiky white set.
With a vicious jab, he struck the Smash squarely on its backside.
Even I winced. "Oof… that's gotta hurt."
Had Smash been capable of speech, I'm sure it would've been calling his mother and swearing revenge.
While it reeled in pain, Sento switched back to Rabbit-Tank and suddenly… ran away?
I raised a brow but quickly caught on. He's just gaining distance for the finisher.
[Ready? Go!][Vortex Finish!][YEAH~!]
Sento stomped the ground—and somehow launched himself skyward on a pillar of earth. He soared into the air, curled into a spinning kick, and slammed into the Smash with surgical precision.
How did that pillar of dirt launch him?How did the ground not collapse?Where did the momentum come from?
I don't know. I don't care. It's a Kamen Rider world. Knight physics don't need to make sense.
"666, Old Iron!" I shouted in admiration, running up to give him a high-five as he absorbed the Smash essence into a blank Full Bottle.
"Oh right—I saw that guy in the lab too," I added, casually dropping the bait.
If I had no value, there's no way Sento would take me home. So I needed to make myself interesting.
"If what you're saying is true…" Sento's face darkened. "Then this poor soul must've been one of Faust's human test subjects."
"I'm not sure what experiment he was in. All I know is—if we don't leave now, we won't get to leave."
"What do you mean—?"
He turned around, only to find me already sitting on Machine Builder, my stolen motorcycle.
"I'm out. ZF's probably on their way. Didn't you see that body disappear?"
"Wait, WHAT?!"
Sento spun to where the Smash had been, only to find an empty spot. Realizing the implications, he jumped onto the bike behind me without another word.
We rode off—just before the government defenders arrived.
Some time later...
"Wait a second!" Sento suddenly shouted, releasing his transformation. "Why am I running?! You're the fugitive!"
I grinned. "Politeness, I guess? I didn't think you'd actually get on."
"This isn't a kindergarten bus! Let me off!"
"Too late. Doors are locked. You're already on the wanted list by association!"
"Damn it! You tricked me!!"
After we'd put enough distance behind us, I finally asked, "Hey, can you drive? I've got no idea where we're going."
Sento groaned. "Pull over. I'll drive."
His genius IQ may have been insulted beyond repair, but after realizing I might know something about the lab, he'd cooled off enough to take the lead again.
We swapped places. Truth was, I only knew the name of the hideout from the anime. The actual location? Never shown on screen.
As we cruised along, he asked, "Didn't the news say you just escaped? You don't exactly look like a fugitive in that getup."
"Oh, it's true. I escaped. Just... took a bath, bought new clothes, and had a haircut on the way out. Tong Physiological Hair Salon. Not bad, actually."
"…You took a spa break during a prison break?"
"What can I say? Jail is temporary. Style is forever."
Sento sighed. "I can't talk to you anymore."
"…Hey, that salon's name sounds familiar…" he suddenly muttered.
Of course it does. That's the barbershop the original author always uses when naming things.
"Oh yeah?" I played dumb. "What's your name, anyway?"
"Kiryuu Sento. But most people call me... War Rabbit."
"Although you probably saw my name on the news," I said, "let me reintroduce myself."
"My name is Long Wo—Wan Zhang Long Wo!"