"Don't worry, we still have our heirloom sword. With that, what are a few Worms?" Tsurugi Kamishiro took out the family's antique sword, brimming with confidence.
The old butler gave a reluctant nod, but remained uneasy. He decided to consult Kagami about the matter.
On the other side, Kagami was shocked to learn that Tendo had used money to buy Tsurugi's Sasword Zecter. Without the Zecter, the Worm consciousness inside Tsurugi would emerge more easily.
Just then, Tendo called him out for a meeting.
"Why did you take the Sasword Zecter? He needs the Sasword Zecter!" Kagami challenged Tendou.
"I have decided. I will eliminate all Kamen Riders besides myself," Tendo replied calmly. "To do this, I must obtain all the Zecters."
"What are you saying?"
"Out of respect for our past relationship, I'll give you more time to consider. You can hand over the Gatack Zecter obediently, or I'll take it from you in battle. Choose." Tendo was aggressive, showing no intention of sparing Kagami.
"Are you truly going to do this?" Kagami said gravely.
"Commander Tendo, I've brought him." Just then, a staff officer wearing a short skirt and a beret, Renge Takatori, the deputy Mishima had specially assigned to Tendo after he joined ZECT, appeared.
Following her was Shun Kageyama.
Since learning that Tendo had rejoined ZECT as Kabuto and immediately became the regional commander, Kageyama was utterly distraught. He had no choice but to revert to his usual sycophantic attitude, attempting to placate Tendo with a look of utter deference.
"Did you need something?" Kageyama asked with a subservient smile, unaware of what awaited him.
"Hand over the TheBee Zecter immediately." Tendo had no intention of negotiating with Kageyama.
"What?" Hearing this, Kageyama instantly panicked. The TheBee Zecter automatically flew to him, and he grabbed it, revealing his Rider Bracelet.
"I absolutely won't give it to you!" Kageyama stated resolutely.
"Then I'll take it by force." Tendo didn't bother arguing. He immediately transformed.
"The TheBee Zecter is more important than my life!" Kageyama knew he couldn't beat Tendo, but he still wouldn't give up. His only remaining value was his identity as a TheBee user. If he lost even that, Mishima would likely kick him out of ZECT without mercy.
The battle was a foregone conclusion. Kageyama greatly underutilized TheBee's power and was completely suppressed throughout the fight, far less adept than the original user, So Yaguruma, who had once been able to compete with Tendo.
Kagami, seeing this, immediately moved to stop Tendo, transforming into Gatack and joining the fight. Kageyama, given a moment to breathe, seized the opportunity to bolt, running as far and fast as he could. Anything to get away from Tendo.
When he finally stopped to rest, he encountered a familiar figure. It was Rena Mamiya.
"You're in a mess, aren't you? Do you need my help?" Rena Mamiya asked Kageyama mockingly.
"Bastard! Who needs your help!" Kageyama cursed angrily.
But then Rena Mamiya immediately transformed into her Worm form, causing Kageyama to instantly back down.
"Please, I beg you," he said respectfully, bowing low. His expression changed faster than turning a page. This was Kageyama's consistent survival method, able to bend and submit whenever necessary.
At that moment, a man in a black leather coat watched the scene from a distance. He was So Yaguruma, who hadn't been seen for a long time. Since being hospitalized by Raven last time, he was abandoned by ZECT after his recovery due to losing his TheBee identity. He was utterly disgraced and seemed to have lost his faith, having witnessed a hell untouchable by normal people.
He was then chosen by the discarded KickHopper Zecter. The KickHopper Zecter was the earliest experimental Rider System developed by ZECT. It only had one form and lacked the Cast Off ability. It was ultimately abandoned without ever being put into practical use. Because the Zecter's AI possessed high-level artificial intelligence and self-awareness, it chose Yaguruma, who shared the same fate of being cast aside by ZECT.
"Kageyama, sooner or later, you will see the same hell I saw back then," Yaguruma muttered to himself before turning and walking away.
On the other side, Kabuto and Gatack continued their fight.
"Why do you have to get rid of the Kamen Riders?" Kagami tried to find out the reason.
"To protect Hiyori!"
"Kamen Riders exist to protect humanity..." Kagami retorted without thinking.
"The Riders and ZECT exist to defeat the Worms. As long as they exist, Hiyori won't be able to live a normal life, even if she returns," Tendo explained to him.
Hearing this, Kagami finally understood something.
"I'm the only Kamen Rider this world needs." Tendo uttered a classic quote typically belonging to a Secondary Rider. He then prepared to unleash his finisher.
"1, 2, 3!"
"RIDER KICK!"
Kagami, not to be outdone, instantly charged up his own finisher, preparing his own Rider Kick.
"URGH!"
With no path for retreat, the two kicked against each other in mid-air.
BOOM!
In the end, the battle concluded with the defeat of Gatack, whose battle will was wavering. Kagami fell to the ground powerlessly.
"What should I do..." He felt lost about his next move.
In truth, by all accounts, Kabuto shouldn't have been able to win a Rider Kick clash against Gatack. Tendo only overpowered Kagami in terms of technique, but a clash of raw power and defense wouldn't have been so easily won.
Having defeated Kagami, Tendo didn't immediately seize the Gatack Zecter. Just as he said earlier, he gave Kagami some time to consider. He then left.
His next target was the Drake Zecter. This time, acquiring the Zecter went smoothly, as the little girl accompanying Daisuke Kazama stole it and gave it to him.
The two met at a temple. After receiving the Zecter, Tendo told the girl to leave. He then turned to face the temple.
He saw Rena Mamiya, Kageyama, and a large group of Worms walking toward him. It seemed they were here for a confrontation.
"Perfect timing," Tendo said, completely unafraid, apparently intending to fight them all alone.
———————
Want to read ahead of schedule? Head over here ——— pa-tre-on.c-om/AlexandrusTL [remove the hyphen for normal access]