Dusk slowly faded.
Under the night sky, the park was swallowed by thin mist.
Star Rider walked alone, surrounded by illusions that warped and shifted like broken reflections of reality.
"…Damn it."
Whispers echoed from every direction.
"GA LIN… GA LIN… GA LIN…"
His heart trembled.
Memories surged like a tidal wave.
— Memory · 2025 · School Track Meet —
Sunlight flooded the school stadium.
Spectators packed the stands, excitement buzzing through the air.
The referee cleared his throat.
"This year's 2025 mixed 2000-meter final is about to begin!
Last year's boys' 2500-meter champion—MANG GA LIN,
and the girls' 2300-meter champion—CHIN YI XIN,
will face each other head-on! Who will win?"
GA LIN and YI XIN stood at the starting line, eyes sharp with determination.
"Three! Two! One—GO!"
They burst forward like arrows released from a bow.
Suddenly—
A piece of filming equipment collapsed beside the track, blocking the lane.
GA LIN reacted instantly, leaping over it.
YI XIN didn't notice in time.
By the moment she realized—
Boom.
She crashed to the ground.
GA LIN spun around and sprinted back.
"Oi! Call a teacher!"
Her friends rushed over, helping YI XIN toward the infirmary.
— Infirmary —
After checking her injuries, the school doctor spoke gently.
"Nothing too serious—just abrasions and a mild ankle sprain.
But you shouldn't keep running competitively anymore."
YI XIN smiled faintly and looked at GA LIN.
"…Thanks."
GA LIN looked away.
"Tch."
— Memory Ends —
Star Rider's eyes hardened.
He rose to his feet and slashed through the encircling illusions, pulling the Driver lever and inserting the Leo Card into the Constellation Blade.
"LEO—LEO—LEO—LEO!"
Light cut through the illusions like blades.
Only one remained.
Star Rider locked eyes with Yi Xin's monster form.
The air froze.
"…Yi Xin."
He yanked the Driver lever again.
Light erupted across his body.
"RIDER READY!"
"I'm ready!"
Star Rider leapt skyward and descended like a meteor.
"LET'S FINISH THE DANGER!"
The Gemini Card blazed—
Its number shifted from 0 to X.
Darkness swallowed him.
— Consciousness World —
A pitch-black mental realm unfolded.
Thick vines bound a human figure tightly.
Heavy breathing echoed.
Star Rider tensed.
From the vines emerged a dark silhouette.
"Transform!
STARS UP!
DEEP EARTH DRAGON!"
Yi Xin's monster form wielded the Abyss Hammer, charging straight at him.
"W—wait!"
The hammer smashed Star Rider into the ground.
Each impact echoed endlessly through the vine-filled world.
Yi Xin's monster laughed coldly.
"As long as I destroy this world…
I can finally die."
Star Rider was struck again and again.
At last, his transformation collapsed.
GA LIN lay broken beside the vines, bloodied and exhausted.
He lifted his head—and froze.
"…Yi Xin?
Then who is that…?"
The Middle Rider dragged the hammer closer, step by step.
GA LIN grabbed the fallen sword and charged.
"AAAH—!"
The blade struck, forcing the enemy back.
"I… transform!"
Star Rider received the Pisces Card—X, gripping the Twinstream Spears.
"STARS UP!
PISCES!"
"TWINSTREAM SPEAR!"
He lunged forward, shouting—
"Give her back!"
One strike sent the Middle Rider flying.
Star Rider followed with a leaping kick—
BOOM!
The vines shattered.
Yi Xin's true form was revealed.
The consciousness world began to collapse.
Star Rider seized her hand and ran.
But—
Yi Xin weakly pulled away.
"I… don't want to go back."
Star Rider stopped.
"…Why?"
Tears welled in her eyes.
"I'm tired.
I'm tired of fighting, of killing, of endless battles.
Do you know how long it's been?
Seven years.
Seven years ago, I was just a kid—
and I had to carry the fate of the world!"
She trembled.
Star Rider pulled her into a tight embrace.
"Yes.
Maybe you were alone for seven years.
But now—
you have us."
Yi Xin broke down in tears.
Star Rider slowly解除变身.
GA LIN supported her gently.
"Come on.
Let's go back… and be yourself again."
She nodded.
They crossed the collapsing exit—
Back to reality.
GA LIN was expelled from the consciousness world, rolling to the edge of the park.
Bell Rider rushed over and caught him.
"Are you okay?!"
"…I'm fine… Yi Xin…"
GA LIN passed out.
"Oi! Oi! GA LIN!"
Bell Rider hurriedly called for help.
— Deep in the Park Woods —
A shadow smiled faintly.
"Come out."
The Star Deity spoke coldly.
"You used humans to incubate monsters."
The mysterious figure replied calmly.
"Human longing, desire, escape—
they are universal.
Unfortunate for us…
she met someone willing to die for her."
A soft chuckle.
The Star Saint frowned.
"As long as you don't forget our purpose."
The Star Deity sighed.
"Star Saint…
we created the Thirteenth Constellation
to erase humanity's obsession with the stars."
The Star Saint replied quietly.
"For the future, humans must pay a price.
So must we."
The Star Deity nodded.
"Enough.
Next… we defeat them."
From the darkness, a girl slowly stepped forward.
"…Come out, XIN YI."
The wind rose.
The Constellation Crisis was far from over.