"Then what do you want?" Yuzuki lowered her head, her tone extremely meek. After all, she had acted impulsively and done something inappropriate.
"What do you think?" Raven left a faint handprint on her fitted skirt.
Yuzuki understood immediately. Does Raven actually feel the same way about her?
After leaving the restaurant, Tsurugi was completely heartbroken. Suddenly, due to his low emotional state, his Worm memories gained the upper hand. He began to remember many things.
"What is this memory...?" In the sudden burst of memories, Tsurugi saw another version of himself with his sister. Then, he watched as that other self killed his sister, and then viciously attacked his human self.
This memory... isn't this the perspective of the Scorpion Worm?
Tsurugi finally understood everything. He was the murderer who had killed his sister. Unable to accept this reality, Tsurugi returned to his home and confronted his butler, demanding to know if the old man had known this truth all along. The butler answered with silence.
Tsurugi's suspicions were confirmed. At that moment, he only wished to die. Furious, he swept the objects off the table and stormed out, intending to drown himself in the sea.
However, on the way, he encountered Reiji Nogi, who was leading the Worm army and battling Gatack. Nogi looked at the distraught Tsurugi.
"It seems you finally remembered." Reiji Nogi backhanded Gatack aside and spoke to Tsurugi.
"I... am a Worm," Tsurugi lowered his head, clenching his fists.
Kagami, watching from a distance, was deeply concerned. He hadn't expected Tsurugi to learn the cruel truth.
"Agh!" Tsurugi instantly transformed into Sasword and charged at Reiji Nogi, slashing wildly.
"It seems you are a weakling consumed by human memories. In that case, there is no need for you to continue existing." Reiji Nogi grew murderous, seeing Tsurugi still stubbornly lost in his emotions.
When Sasword executed his finisher, the Rider Slash, Nogi utilized his second form's replication and absorption ability, absorbing the Rider Slash's power and reflecting it back.
"Bang!" Sasword was immediately defeated and forced out of his transformation.
"Tsurugi!" Kagami rose and shouted.
Tsurugi stood up, throwing the Sasword Zecter to the ground. "Even as a Worm, I will stand at the top of all Worms." Tsurugi looked at Reiji Nogi with indifference.
He had fully accepted his identity. He instantly transformed into his Scorpion Worm form.
"Interesting," Reiji Nogi watched Tsurugi with amusement.
Tsurugi then turned and attacked Kagami, defeating the unwilling Gatack with just a few blows, sending him flying far away.
"Why, Tsurugi! Did you truly betray us?" Kagami struggled to his feet, unable to comprehend.
"Hahahaha..." Reiji Nogi laughed wildly, as if rejoicing at gaining a great general. Kagami was spared once more.
Nogi and his followers left, with Tsurugi following behind.
With Tsurugi's addition, the Worm army's power grew stronger and stronger. Nearly half the city was captured. Citizens who learned the situation through ZECT broadcasts were in a panic, afraid to go out and hiding in their homes. The streets became deserted.
Meanwhile, a dark tide surged within ZECT. Riku Kagami was directly dismissed by Negishi, and Masato Mishima took the top position.
Negishi's plan was now fully ready for implementation. They began distributing specialized necklaces to citizens door-to-door, claiming the necklaces would alert wearers if a Worm approached. Unknown to the citizens, the necklace had a vital secondary function: prolonged wear would convert humans into Native Worms. Negishi's goal was to convert all humans worldwide this way.
Meanwhile…
The number of Worms gathering had grown dramatically.Almost every Worm that had been infiltrating human society had joined the ranks.Their forces had become truly overwhelming.And they were drawing ever closer to ZECT Headquarters.
A decisive battle was on the verge of breaking out.
On the outside, Tendo and Kagami teamed up to clear out a large wave of the Worm foot soldiers. Raven watched the spectacle from a rooftop. ZECT was the Native Worm's nest, and he figured it was best to let the two factions fight it out before sweeping up the remaining mess.
"Damn it... did every single Worm show up?" Kagami looked shocked at the endless stream of Worms.
The one leading the Worms was the Scorpion Worm, Tsurugi Kamishiro. As for the core leader, Reiji Nogi, he chose to infiltrate ZECT Headquarters alone, intending to capture the enemy's leader and destroy ZECT from within.
He cut through the building effortlessly, reaching the highest floor. Negishi did not flee but waited calmly on his seat.
"Reiji Nogi, the leader of the Worm army," Negishi said calmly, looking at the figure who walked in.
"The end of you Native Worms is near," Reiji Nogi boasted, smiling triumphantly.
"That remains to be seen." Negishi shook his head.
"You're a larva who can't even molt. Where does your confidence come from?" Reiji Nogi looked at Negishi in confusion.
"Clap, clap..." Negishi clapped his hands.
A figure in a suit and glasses walked out from the side. It was Masato Mishima.
Reiji Nogi sensed a faint threat emanating from the figure. He became serious.
Mishima took off his glasses and placed them in his breast pocket. He instantly rushed at Nogi, launching an attack with blinding speed.
Reiji Nogi dodged in time and counter-attacked. The duel between the Strongest Worm and the Strongest Native Worm had begun.
However, Reiji Nogi was clearly too hasty. He transformed into his Worm form first.
"Mere human, you're insignificant." According to the ZECT intelligence he possessed, Mishima Masato was just a human. Even if he transformed into a Rider, he would be no match for Nogi.
"Human?"
"I have already transcended that." Mishima showed a fierce, twisted grin. Just as Reiji Nogi was about to attack, Mishima instantly transformed into his Cricket Native Worm form.
"NANI?!" Reiji Nogi was stunned. He hadn't expected Masato Mishima to transform into a Native Worm! And a rare, molted one at that!
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