He was going to die. And so was his sister.
Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced at her—she was still there, frozen in place.
“Stupid girl… why didn’t you run?”
He sighed inwardly.
Better one death than two.
The mutated crab couldn’t have cared less about the emotions between these two humans. To it, they were simply food.
It raised its claw casually and began to lumber toward the boy.
Meanwhile, at Bai Xuan’s home—
A streak of red light suddenly tore through the void and vanished from the room.
Bai Xuan gazed thoughtfully in the direction of Haicheng.
“I noticed you went out once before, after I came back from the Saint Lord’s world. But I never expected that after Kuuga, the second Kamen Rider would be you.”
“That does catch me by surprise.”
“After all, my design for you was different from the other transformation devices.”
“Could someone like him truly exist in the real world?”
He watched for a moment longer, then withdrew his gaze.
These transformation devices were, after all, gifts he had given to the world. If they found worthy masters, he would be genuinely pleased.
Back in Haicheng—
Just as the mutated crab raised its claw to strike down the boy, a crimson figure streaked down from the sky, scraping a shower of dazzling sparks across the crab’s shell.
The mutated crab let out a pained screech and staggered backward several steps.
“This is…”
The boy stared at the red, beetle-like creature—mechanical in design yet strangely organic—and his entire body trembled with excitement.
He knew it!
Of course he knew what this thing was.
The Kabuto Zecter from that mysterious website—the one tied to Kamen Rider Kabuto.
The first spiritual energy tide had awakened powers, but there had been no real crisis back then. Life had remained relatively peaceful.
He was still young, after all. A friend had recommended those shows to him, and he’d watched them all.
Among them, the one that captivated him most was Kabuto!
It wasn’t just the sleek design that appealed to his taste—it was the protagonist, Tendō Sōji, whom he admired endlessly.
He dreamed of becoming someone like Tendō Sōji.
Suddenly, he recalled rumors online—people claiming to have received Devil Fruits from the One Piece world, Imperial Arms from Akame ga Kill!, or even Clow Cards from Cardcaptor Sakura.
“Could all of that be real?”
“Does that mean… you chose me?”
His face flushed with excitement. If the Kabuto Zecter acknowledged him, not only would it resolve the immediate threat and give him the power to protect his sister—it would also be a validation. A sign that he too had the potential to become someone as strong as Tendō Sōji.
He reached out his right hand, hoping the Zecter would fly into his palm just like it did for Tendō in the show. And indeed, under his gaze, the Kabuto Zecter began heading straight for his hand.
But just as he was about to grasp it—
The Zecter veered left, circling away, and landed in the hand of a man he didn’t recognize.
“The chosen one—is me.”
At that moment, sunlight fell perfectly upon the stranger. The boy squinted against the glare, a pang of bitterness rising in his chest.
This feels like I’m the one being cast as Kagami Arata in this scenario…
Though his personality was nothing like Tendō’s—nor was it anything like Kagami’s either!
Boom!
Suddenly, the man blurred across the distance and kicked the mutated crab—which had crept up unnoticed—sending it flying.
“Now’s not the time to lose focus.”
Holding the Kabuto Zecter, the man said calmly to the boy.
“Who… who are you?” the boy asked.
“Grandmother said this: ‘The one who walks the path of heaven, the one who rules over all—'”
“‘—Tendō Sōji.'”
The man pointed one finger skyward, speaking with quiet composure.
Then, with a faint smile, he added:
“Just kidding.”
“Of course I’m not him. I’m just a mimic.”
“A mimic?” the boy asked, puzzled.
“My ability is rather unusual. I can copy a person’s appearance.”
“If that’s all it was, it wouldn’t be much different from a disguise technique. But unlike simple mimicry or makeup, my ‘Simulator’ ability has a unique trait.”
“It allows me to completely transform into another person.”
“Face, body, personality.”
“But I can only use it once.”
“I thought I’d never use it—until, out of curiosity, I changed my face to match Tendō Sōji from that tokusatsu show.”
“And then it came to me. But later, it left…”
The man gazed at the Kabuto Zecter in his hand, a complicated look on his face.
“Maybe it was because the Zecter’s true master is Tendō Sōji. Back then, I only shared his appearance.”
“But now… I don’t think I have a choice.”
If he fully transformed—face, body, and personality—into Tendō Sōji, even if his memories remained, would he still truly be himself?
But right now, he had no other option.
Over the past few days, he had witnessed too much death. Even if he wasn’t particularly compassionate, a deep sorrow had taken root in his heart.
A sorrow born of powerlessness.
Even if Haicheng was saved today, what about tomorrow?
Without power, he would eventually die—and so would the people.
So, shouldn’t he do something?
With his ability.
“Compared to someone like me… this world would be far worse off without him, don’t you think?”
“No—not just him. Them.”
From Kuuga to Zi-O, he’d watched every single season. Every protagonist was a true hero—the kind rarely seen in reality.
Protecting the world. Unafraid of death.
Compared to an ordinary man like him, they were the heroes this world truly needed, weren’t they?
“I’ve been selfish for over twenty years. I guess now I can finally do something for my country.”
The man smiled. Then, slowly, the boy watched as he began to transform—not just in appearance, but in presence.
His bearing, his musculature, his very face…
“What’s your name?” the boy suddenly asked.
“Me? You can call me—Chen Feng.”
The man paused at the question, then smiled.
And then the transformation was complete. His eyes shifted from warm to serene—calm, as though nothing in the world could disturb his composure.
“Grandmother said this: ‘All living beings in this world are equal.'”
“Humans can change themselves for the sake of others—not change the world for their own sake. Change yourself, and the world will change with you. That is the way of heaven.”
“Chen Feng will always be Chen Feng. Tendō will always be Tendō.”
“Right now, I am—Tendō Sōji!”
He raised his head, his gaze cold as he fixed his eyes on the mutated crab ahead—now wary, sensing his threat.
“He has been waiting for this moment.”
“And I was born precisely for this moment.”
The Kabuto Zecter in Chen Feng’s (Tendō Sōji’s) hand trembled with excitement. Yes—this was the feeling. This was the master it had been created to seek.
“HenShin!”
