But Hanagata had no desire for his secret experiments to be disturbed. He immediately launched an attack using a Super Acceleration ability even stronger than Kitazaki's, attempting to drive off Murakami and Raven's group.
"Ugh!"
Takuma, who was accompanying them, immediately suffered the worst of it. Before anyone saw anything, Hanagata smashed him aside. Saeko reacted quickly, instantly transforming into her Amazon Orphnoch form and taking a defensive stance.
"It's President Hanagata!" Murakami quickly realized. No one else but their former president could possess that level of speed.
"Leave this place!" Hanagata issued a stern warning.
The next second, he struck down Saeko, too.
No one but Raven had seen the attacking figure's appearance from start to finish. Murakami was forced to transform for battle. He began condensing a powerful energy wave in his hands, firing it in all directions.
Rumble!
The entire underground laboratory shook. Hanagata's lightning-fast movements were briefly impeded, but the effect was gone almost immediately. He launched another attack at the group.
Seeing this, Raven instantly summoned the Orga Driver.
"Henshin!"
Activating the transformation almost instantly, Raven used the newly acquired Super Acceleration ability to clash with the Goat Orphnoch. In his raw human state, using Super Acceleration would risk his body's collapse. Thus, even when using this power, he had to be in a Rider form or use another Driver. He chose the Orga Driver for its incredible defense.
By compensating for Orga's average speed with Super Acceleration, he had become a nearly flawless, all-around fighter—practically unassailable.
Bang!
Boom!
While everyone else was completely bewildered, Raven had already fought several rounds with the Goat Orphnoch. With his all-around advantage, he was forcing Hanagata into a continuous retreat.
This stunned Hanagata. Why was the person in front of him so powerful? Had Murakami secretly developed a stronger Driver without his knowledge? One that could grant Super Acceleration without sacrificing defense? And was it even faster than his own?
Raven gave Hanagata no time to think. Moving with effortless speed, he simply and brutally shattered Hanagata's defense with three punches and two kicks. Kitazaki's Super Acceleration ability had clearly been further enhanced in Raven's hands.
Bang!
Takuma and Saeko, having no idea what was happening, only heard a tremendous crash in the distance, followed by a wall breaking apart. A figure tumbled out.
Raven appeared shortly after, addressing the defeated figure. "President Hanagata, do you want to continue fighting?"
"Who… who exactly are you?" Hanagata had basically lost the ability to fight, utterly defeated by Raven in the Super Acceleration he excelled at. He reverted from his Goat Orphnoch form to the middle-aged man wearing a headscarf.
"President Hanagata?" Takuma and Saeko were both surprised. They hadn't expected the former president to truly be lurking in the underground laboratory, just as Raven had said.
"President Hanagata, this gentleman, Raven-san, is the King you've been desperately searching for, the King of us Orphnoch," Murakami quickly interjected, wondering if Raven truly didn't know President Hanagata. If so, where did the Driver come from?
"What did you say?" Hanagata was shocked when he got up. "No, that's impossible! The King is the enemy of the Orphnoch! His awakening requires devouring massive numbers of Orphnoch! How can you all be unharmed?"
"You're not wrong, but my situation is special. I am the Orphnoch King, yet not entirely so," Raven said, canceling his transformation.
"What do you mean by that?" Hanagata asked, confused.
Raven didn't explain, but continued, "If I'm not mistaken, your life is fast approaching the end of the Orphnoch lifespan."
Hanagata offered a sorrowful smile. "That is the fate of us Orphnoch. Everyone will face this day eventually." His current body was practically one foot in the grave. Signs of turning to sand were already visible on his hand. He could last for a month, at most, before completely dissolving.
"Not necessarily." Raven still held Hanagata in high regard. After all, he was the only person who fully understood the manufacturing of the Drivers. He might be able to develop upgraded accessories for the Psyga and Orga Drivers.
"President Hanagata, thanks to the King, we have all escaped that fate," Murakami added.
"How is that possible…" Hanagata couldn't believe it. He had only been sequestered underground for a few dozen days, yet things had inexplicably changed so drastically? So many things he didn't know about had happened? He finally looked back at Raven.
This young man's power was absurdly strong. Only the Orphnoch King could possess such strength, he figured.
"President Hanagata, you'll understand soon enough whether you believe it or not." Raven slowly spread his arms.
A powerful light emanated from his body, completely illuminating the dim underground laboratory. Soon, after being bathed in this light, the Orphnoch cells in Hanagata's body, which had been in a state of collapse, suddenly stabilized… and began to be reborn!
"This… this is real?" Hanagata couldn't believe it. But with the event truly happening, he had no choice but to believe. He completely accepted Raven as their King.
"Alright," Raven said, looking at Hanagata.
"Thank you…" Hanagata was in tears, his emotions difficult to contain. He had always believed the Orphnoch King would bring a disaster of destruction, harming both humans and Orphnoch. Raven's actions had completely surpassed his expectations.
"President Hanagata, King, let's discuss this elsewhere," Murakami suggested to the two of them.
After calming down, Hanagata nodded.
And so, in a private restaurant reserved for high-level executives on one of the top floors of the Smart Brain building, Murakami arranged for the best chef to prepare a sumptuous meal. It was a celebration of this truly momentous day.
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