A pale gold light filtered through the towering pines around the Shrek Academy's secret courtyard, illuminating motes of dust that swirled in the cool dawn air. The scent of damp earth and pine needles combined with the faint tang of spiritual energy, lending a sacred hush to the secluded clearing. Only the soft rustle of leaves and the distant call of a morning bird disturbed the stillness.
Li Wei stood at the center of the clearing, hands clasped behind his back. His teal-green Yangqing coat fluttered gently in the breeze. Beside him, Zhao Wuji—giant of a man, arms folded—watched silently, his black-and-gold robes rippling like armor. Before them, Team Two—Zhu Zhuqing, Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong, and Meng Yiran—arranged themselves in a loose semicircle.
Li Wei's calm voice cut through the quiet. "Today's trial is about breaking through pure defense. You face three Riders who rely solely on resilience, not offense. Zeronos Altair Form for counter-defense, Beast for endurance and healing, and Ixa in Save Mode for barrier suppression."
He extended his hand, drawing three cards from his belt pouch. He slotted them in rapid succession into the side slots of his Diendriver.
[KamenRide: Zeronos Altair Form!]
[KamenRide: Beast!]
[KamenRide: Ixa Save Mode!]
A pulse of spectral light burst outward, and three Riders materialized in the mist. Zeronos Altair stood tall, silver armor gleaming, sword at ease across his shoulder. Beast dark form shifted beneath his Chimera Mantle, energy crackling with each breath. Ixa's white-and-gold plating radiated calm as he ready in the defensive stance.
Li Wei gaze swept his team. "They don't seek to harm—they seek to endure. Your goal isn't to overpower them, but to find the cracks in their defenses. Coordinate. Observe. Adapt."
Xiao Wu bounced on her heels, bright-eyed. "Sounds challenging! Let's do it!"
Zhu Zhuqing folded her arms, amber eyes narrowed. "A true test of our tactics."
Ning Rongrong's pagoda glowed faintly at her side. "I'll shield you all."
Meng Yiran held her Serpent Cane casually, its blade gleaming. "I'll create openings."
Li Wei inclined his head once. "Begin."
The crow of a distant rooster melded with Li Wei words, and the three Riders sprang in unison. Zeronos advanced with measured steps, sword shimmering with anticipation. Beast roared as his Chimera Mantle flared, absorbing ambient spirit energy. Ixa Save Mode aura pulsed, forming a faint dome around him, flickering like starlight.
Xiao Wu brow furrowed. Their movement is effortless—no wasted energy. She steadied her breathing. "Let me test them first."
She activated her third ring, Teleportation. In an instant, she vanished. The clearing stilled—then Xiao Wu reappeared atop a boulder behind Zeronos, delivering a swift Waist Bow kick. Zeronos rotated with uncanny precision, his sword slicing a gust of wind that deflected her attack.
"Good," he murmured. He—his voice mechanical, calm. Zeronos took a single step forward, one footfall echoing like a drumbeat. Xiao Wu landed lightly, hair drifting in her wake.
But as she prepared a second strike, Ixa Save Mode aura flared. A pulse of divine energy surged outward, and Xiao Wu's Teleportation wavered—her form flickered, and she fell to one knee.
Ning Rongrong cried, "Xiao Wu!" and raced forward, raising her Treasure Earth Barrier shield. It blossomed in golden fractals, absorbing an Ixa burst. The ground trembled.
'I can't let her take all the hits', Zhu Zhuqing thought, launching her Hell Civet spirit. With her third ring, Phantom Civet Legion, ten shadowy clones formed behind Beast. Each clone attacked in disciplined formation—one group assailed Beast core, while others spread to flank Ixa and Zeronos.
Beast Chimera Mantle rippled, the closest clone struck his flank, but rather than vanish, Beast Mantle absorbed the blow and glowed brighter. The clone dissolved in a burst of healing light, draining away its shadow energy.
Meanwhile, Ixa Save Mode projected a silencing field while activating finisher but not using it. Each time a clone struck toward him, he deflect it and counter disrupting the clone form but leaving Ixa unscathed.
'Their defenses hold—strong as iron,' Xiao Wu thought, recovering her breath. She hopped forward, bolstered by Ning Rongrong Agility Amplification, her speed nearly doubling. 'Charm!' A flicker of pink light danced in her eyes. Ixa field flickered momentarily—but not for long.
Xiao Wu aimed another strike, but Beast pivoted, using his own accumulated energy to burst outward in Chimera Burst, driving Xiao Wu back across the grass. She rolled, coughs wrenching from her chest.
Li Wei terse voice cut through the chaos: "Teams, reassess. Raw offense fails against unyielding defense. Watch their patterns."
Zhu Zhuqing clenched her fists, feeling the sting of her clones failures. She eyes trail toward the earth beneath her feet, summoning fresh shadow. No more brute pressure. I need subtlety. She retreated behind a tree, letting Beast and Zeronos come to her.
Beast lumbered forward, sensing the darkness. Each step healed him. Zeronos advanced on Xiao Wu, sword humming. Ixa circled Ning Rongrong, aura poised to suppress another barrier.
At Li Wei signal, Team Two regrouped. Meng Yiran voice was low but determined. "We can't just assault—they'll outlast us. We need to trap them."
Ning Rongrong nodded. "Barrier on Meng Yiran. Everyone else, draw them into that glade." She pointed to a small clearing ringed by gnarled roots.
The four moved as one. Ning Rongrong raised her barrier, creating a mobile shield around Meng Yiran. Xiao Wu zipped ahead, teleporting in arcs to draw Ixa attention. Zhu Zhuqing dashed behind Beast, drawing his charge away from the glade.
Beast roar split the air as he lumbered down the wrong path, charging through roots and knocking aside stones. His healing aura dissipated through the trees. Zeronos followed Xiao Wu phantom strikes, while Ixa closed in on Ning Rongrong's barrier.
Then, Meng Yiran struck. With her first ring Tongue Blade, she shot five mirrored Serpent Cane blades into the ground, weaving a pentagonal net between the roots. Each blade anchored in earth, forming an almost invisible trap.
Beast, still mid-charge, ran headlong into the net. The blades wrapped around his ankles, slowing him. Ixa slammed into the barrier, but Ning Rongrong pivoted, directing the push toward Beast trapped form.
Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu closed in, flanking the immobilized Rider. "Now," Ning Rongrong whispered, lowering the barrier just enough to let their attacks through.
Xiao Wu, Charm, blinded Ixa briefly, allowing a swift rabbit-kick to his side. Zhu Zhuqing Phantom Civet Legion clones swarmed, exploding on contact in shadow pulses that disoriented Zeronos.
Roar!
Beast roared in frustration, attempting to tear free, but each struggle further entangled him in the venomous net. Meng Yiran's Serpent Body activated, her skin slick and toxin-resistant as she calmly approached, cane ready.
Li Wei watched closely, brow raised. They're combining their abilities, controlling tempo rather than overwhelming. He nodded once, pleased.
Ixa, still suppressed, attempted to reassert his Save Mode aura—but Ning Rongrong's Agility Amplification let her leap forward and reinforce the barrier, squashing the divine pulse before it fully formed.
Xiao Wu teleported behind Ixa and struck with Waist Bow, her boot connecting with his lower plate. Ixa stumbled, his defense stance faltering.
Zhu Zhuqing streaked in and slashed at Zeronos knee guard, forcing him to swing around defensively. The silver Rider regained his stance—but Beast Chimera Mantle, already weakened by entrapment, flickered and dimmed to a dull glow.
Meng Yiran extended her cane, releasing Soulfang Venom. The webbed toxin spread over Beast Mantle, corroding its healing energy. Beast roars grew pained as his Mantle flickered, and he slumped forward.
With a final coordinated effort—Xiao Wu teleporting into Beast's side, Zhu Zhuqing delivering a Hell Hundred Claw strike, and Ning Rongrong amplifying their power—the fallen Rider dissolved into data light.
Ixa and Zeronos, seeing their ally break, exchanged a glance. Ixa attempted a retreat, but Ning Rongrong barrier reformed at his path, cutting him off. Zhu Zhuqing reappeared and blocked his exit, forcing him to stand and fight.
Zeronos raised his blade, eyes cold. "So this is your 'coordination'?" he asked, voice hollow. He advanced on Team Two—not to kill, but to test the final breach.
Xiao Wu sprinted forward, Teleportation weaving around his sword arcs. Each strike chipped at his stance. Ixa, cornered, tried to summon a last Save Mode pulse, but Ning Rongrong barrier held firm.
Meng Yiran stepped past Beast remains and swung her cane in a wide arc, catching Zeronos's blade and disarming him. The silver Rider looked down at his sword buried in earth, then bowed his head in acknowledgment.
In a final moment of unity, Team Two advanced together. Xiao Wu diverted his gaze with a feint, Zhu Zhuqing clones exploded at his feet, Ning Rongrong's barrier slammed his chest, Meng Yiran blade severed his armor plating. Zeronos dissolved into motes of light.
A hush fell over the clearing. The mist parted as sunlight broke through, bathing Team Two in warmth.
Li Wei exhaled, a proud smile curving his lips. "Well done. Today you proved steel can bend, not just break. You found the cracks and exploited them."
Zhao Wuji stepped forward, his massive frame silhouetted against the pines. He clapped slowly. "Not bad. You've learned more than most masters do in years."
Xiao Wu let out a triumphant laugh. "That was amazing!"
Ning Rongrong cheeks flushed with pride. "We did it... together."
Zhu Zhuqing rare smile was fierce. "No defense is invincible."
Meng Yiran eyes shone with excitement. "I never knew strategy could feel so… alive."
Li Wei looked at each of them, his heart swelling. "This is only the start. But remember: strength may win battles, but unity wins wars."
As the four friends caught their breath, the clearing seemed to pulse with possibility. The three Riders had vanished, leaving behind only the echo of their trials—and the unshakable resolve of those who had overcome them.
The morning of steel had forged a new layer of trust, and Team Two stood ready for whatever challenges lay ahead.