"The crackle of firecrackers marks the end of the year;
Spring breezes carry warmth into the wine.
A thousand homes greet the rising sun,
And all replace the old with the new."
February 6th, 1096 — just three days before the Lunar New Year in the Empire of Yan.
Though recent events had left deep scars—disasters so severe they rendered the entire lower district of Lungmen uninhabitable, claiming lives and displacing countless families—those very tragedies only drove the people harder to celebrate this New Year with joy and spectacle. As if laughter and noise could sweep away the lingering shadows.
The city was ablaze with color. Red lanterns lined the streets, and banners danced in the cold wind. People bustled through marketplaces, buying decorations, gifts, and food. Children and teens alike despaired as their parents dragged them along with that familiar phrase: "Come on, we're visiting someone."
Rhodes Island, temporarily stationed in Lungmen, was swept up in the same festive spirit. In the middle of the crowded shopping street, Amiya and Talulah strolled with Chen, who looked like she'd much rather be working than window-shopping. Behind them trailed Nian, smirking as she and Zhenzhe accompanied them, poking through trinkets only found this time of year.
"Talulah, look! This one's adorable! Is it a Feline? No, it looks fiercer… Maybe an Aslan?" Amiya's eyes lit up as she crouched beside a display outside a fabric shop. Red cloth dolls were arranged for New Year's sales, glowing warmly in the afternoon sun.
"That… yeah, that's an Aslan. Royal family from Victoria," Talulah replied, eyeing the lion plush Amiya held with an unreadable look.
A royal beastkin from one nation, made into a festive symbol in another. Talulah briefly wondered how the Aslan on Rhodes Island would feel if he saw this. Last time she saw him—during the assassination incident—he'd discovered his true lineage. She'd expected him to confront her afterward, but he hadn't. She hadn't asked about him either. Fewer complications meant fewer regrets.
She had just stabilized things with Ursus. The last thing she needed was Victoria knocking on her door again. Not that they didn't have reason; she'd already dragged them into her mess once and cost one of their dukes a useful count. Revenge was inevitable.
But that was for later. For now, it was time to enjoy the New Year.
Talulah's eyes drifted across the stall until they landed on a small plush dragon. She lit up and ran over to Chen.
"Chen, look at this one! Doesn't it look just like you? Except it's red—if it were blue, it'd be a perfect match!"
"…"
Amiya giggled, glancing between the dragon and Chen. "She's not wrong. It does look like you."
"Seriously? Where?" Chen sighed and took the plush from Talulah, squinting at it. The downturned mouth, the sharp eyes, the stern expression—it was uncanny. "Okay, fine, you two win. We all look like angry plushies."
"[○?｀Д??○]!!" Chen stared at it again, now visibly disturbed.
The plush, like the lion one from before, didn't wear a cheerful New Year's grin. Its features were oddly stern, even aggressive. The eyes were slanted and narrow, and the mouth drooped in a frown—whether by accident or design was unclear. But it was not a welcoming toy.
"Alright, alright," Talulah laughed. "Lighten up. We're all still alive after what happened with Mr. Li. It wasn't even your fault."
The mood dipped instantly. The holiday cheer shrank away as Chen's expression turned somber.
"Uh—maybe not the best time, Talulah," Amiya interjected gently. "Chen, she's right though. Li didn't blame you for what happened. It was rough, but it ended well, didn't it?"
Well? A good ending?
Chen gave Amiya a haunted look, the memory of being floored by the Blood Demon Lord in 14 seconds flashing in her mind. Talulah had insisted it was more than 14 seconds this time—an improvement—but getting knocked out by the same enemy twice was hardly comforting.
"Okay, okay. It's New Year's. No more depressing stuff. Chen, want the dragon? I'll buy it for you."
She clapped Chen on the back so hard it knocked the breath out of her.
"You maniac! You trying to kill me? And don't even pretend you've got money to spare. You blew everything on that city project of yours."
It was true. Talulah's wallet was always half-empty. Every coin she earned from Lungmen's originium trade got funneled straight into Canaan City to keep the infected residents alive. Without Rhodes Island's backing, she'd be broke.
"What? You saying you don't want me eating at your place, huh? Fine! I'll go crash at Rhodes Island. You think Amiya would let me starve? Or maybe I'll tell Auntie how you tried to kick me out!"
"Talulah, you brat!"
"Bleh!"
"Ahahaha…"
Amiya watched the two bicker, smiling—until something caught her attention.
The crowd up ahead had become chaotic. Screams broke through the hum of celebration.
"MONSTER!!"
A towering creature emerged—nearly three meters tall, clad in jagged, painted Originium armor. Its crimson eyes glowed beneath a helmet, and its massive fists struck the ground like a gorilla preparing to charge.
"Is that… an Originium mutant?" Amiya asked, drawing her blade.
"No… that's Fury. Isn't that the physical form of that brat Xi's proxy?" Nian's eyes widened as she stepped past them.
"And it's not alone," Zhenzhe said grimly.
Dozens of smaller creatures swarmed behind Fury—rodent-like beasts dyed red at the head, bulbous-headed things with stubby legs, black-scaled serpents. All under the monster's command, they poured into the street, attacking everyone in sight.
The holiday joy shattered into chaos.
"Fury, Little Burn, Chomp, and Dagger… Just what the hell is that brat up to this time?" Nian cursed in dialect, adrenaline flooding her veins.
"No time to wonder," Chen growled, drawing her weapon. "They're attacking civilians. We take them down."
"Right."
"Let's go."
With no hesitation, the three of them raised their belts.
"Ziku-Driver!"
"Zi-O!"
"Dragon!"
"Lung!"
"Henshin!"
"Rider Time!"
"Kamen Rider Zi-O (Dragon, Lung)!"
In a burst of transformation, they charged into the horde. Talulah went straight for Fury. Amiya swung her Time Limit Blade—one stroke cleaved a beast in half, dissolving it into a pool of ink.
"So weak?" she blinked, surprised.
After two more fell, she hesitated. The black liquid didn't move. No regeneration. No tricks. She took out a red Ridewatch.
"Balrog!"
Flames burst from the device, snapping into place.
"Kamen Rider Zi-O! Armor Time! Burst Blaze!"
Her silver armor ignited, overlaid with molten red plates glowing with heat.
"Balrog!"
"Let's try the Fire Demon Court's strength!"
She swept the blade in an arc. Fire roared forward like a dragon, vaporizing the black ink and the monsters with it.
On the other side, Chen sliced through another wave with crimson energy from her Time Dragon Blade.
"Oho, using fire already? My turn!"
Talulah dodged a massive fist and pulled out a silver Ridewatch adorned with a wolfish emblem.
"Cerberus!"
"Kamen Rider Dragon! Armor Time! Hell Guardians!"
Her armor flared red-violet, with gold detailing and blazing canine heads on her shoulders.
The Time Saber ignited. Infernal slashes rained down like a storm, cutting deep into Fury's armor. Steam hissed from its wounds—black ink spilled out instead of blood.
"They don't have bodies," Talulah whispered. "They're made of ink."
Fury roared and punched. But Talulah vanished. She reversed the Ridewatch into her saber.
"Cerberus! Finish Time! Giri Giri Slash!"
"Infernal Prison."
Blazing energy gathered. Amiya turned just in time to see Talulah draw her blade—the world turned white.
When the light faded, the monsters were gone. Only dried ink stains remained, seared into the stone and concrete.
"Incredible technique…" Amiya murmured.
She reached for her own Ridewatch—only to be interrupted by a giant bronze sword slamming down from the sky, blocking her.
A silver-haired figure stood atop the hilt, ancient violet eyes glowing with power.
"Heaven forges fire; the earth yields metal."
Flames even greater than Talulah's erupted, consuming the area in a fiery storm.
"…My dumb little sister sure knows how to cause a scene," Nian muttered.
When the fire faded, only puddles of ink remained.
"Nian?" Amiya asked in shock.
"Hey, Amiya. Bad news. Looks like this year's New Year celebration... just got canceled."