Chapter 97: One Punch Extinguishes Wind and Rain, No Gods Remain Across the Four Seas
Surge arcs of electricity surged from the belt to Steel Knight’s feet; he leapt high into the air, his right leg wrapped in blinding blue energy—the Deep King had just raised its head when that lethal blue light exploded into its vision!
“Boom—!!!”
A terrifying explosion lit up the entire sky; the shockwave shattered every window in nearby buildings, and dust shot skyward.
When the dust cleared, Steel Knight crouched low on the ground, while the Deep King lay sprawled on the earth.
Its body was covered in charred wounds; it struggled to rise, and for the first time, its gaze toward Steel Knight held gravity—even a trace of fear.
Too fast! This thing moves impossibly fast!
If its attack power weren’t weak, it would’ve been dead already; even now, if it took two more kicks like that one, it would die.
The Deep King touched its charred chest wound, its eyes shifting between suspicion and calculation.
On the other side, Steel Knight stood up; beneath his visor, his face wore an expression of exhaustion.
It survived a Knight Kick? Is the Deep King really this strong?
The battle fell into a delicate balance.
But then—
“Plink.”
In the crowd, someone felt a dampness on their forehead, looked up—and realized, without warning, the sky had filled with dark clouds.
“It’s raining.”
Someone whispered.
“Yes, it’s raining.”
“Come to think of it, rain scenes in Kamen Rider are legendary.”
“No one’s better than Tō—wait, it’s raining?!”
“If I remember right, the Deep King grows stronger in the rain, doesn’t it?”
Suddenly, a hesitant voice spoke—and those words doused everyone like ice water; they spun around to stare at the Deep King.
At that moment, the Deep King tilted its head upward, bathing in the rain, letting out a chilling laugh.
Its body swelled visibly; muscle fibers writhed like living things, and the charred wounds from the Knight Kick healed rapidly under the rain’s touch!
“Looks like—”
The Deep King twisted its thickened neck, its yellow eyes locking onto Kamen Rider Steel Knight, revealing a grotesque grin.
“The winner is me.”
“Whoosh—!”
Its figure vanished instantly!
Kamen Rider Steel Knight instinctively activated ClockUp, barely dodging the lethal strike—but to his shock, the Deep King didn’t pursue. Instead, it turned toward the crowd!
“No!”
Steel Knight’s compound eyes contracted sharply.
He instantly understood the Deep King’s plan: the rain had strengthened it, but because of him, it now realized humans weren’t all helpless.
And no one knew how long the rain would last. Now, it was stronger under the rain—but when the sun returned, it might still be defeated.
It abandoned its idea of conquering humanity—at least for now. So the lives of the surrounding humans meant nothing to it.
“Die!”
The Deep King roared as it charged into the crowd, its thick arm raised high—this blow, if it landed, would kill dozens!
Isn’t that guy a hero? If he’s a hero, let him try saving these people from your hands.
I want to see—will he save them faster, or will I kill them faster?
Steel Knight’s compound eyes contracted; ClockUp activated instantly as he rescued them; the Deep King paid no mind, and struck again.
So many humans here—even if it closed its eyes, it wouldn’t miss a single target.
Third strike. Fourth strike. Fifth strike.
The Deep King ravaged the crowd like a predator toying with prey, while Steel Knight fought desperately to intercept each blow—each ClockUp drained his strength, each rescue made his armor groan under unbearable strain.
By the twenty-seventh—
“Crack!”
The belt suddenly erupted in blinding electricity; ClockUp was forcibly shut down, and Steel Knight staggered to his knees, exiting Rider form.
Sweat mixed with rain dripped from his chin; his vision was already blurring.
“Heh.”
The Deep King halted its play, stepped before him, unsurprised by this outcome.
Isn’t this the price of being a hero?
To die saving your comrades—wouldn’t this guy die smiling?
Heh.
But it doesn’t matter. I’ll send all his companions to join him.
“Die.”
No words. No hesitation. The Deep King’s fist slammed down with a howling wind, determined to give this human—this threat—no chance to recover!
The “Unlicensed Rider” watched the fist draw near—and smiled.
He knew Zhong Lao was here. He didn’t need rescue; Zhong Lao would save them all. But as a hero, how could he do nothing when civilians were in danger?
Zhong Lao trusted him enough to hold back even in that moment—believing he could save them. No wonder he’s the one who received the Rock King Emperor’s template.
But now—he truly reached his limit.
“Boom!”
In the Unlicensed Rider’s blurred vision, the Deep King’s fist was caught mid-air by a slender hand. The impact sent a violent shockwave that blasted every loose stone around them into the air!
The Deep King’s pupils shrank violently; its expression grew heavier than ever. It stared at this human who had appeared without warning—completely undetected, its senses unable to perceive any aura from him at all!
If not for this human standing in its line of sight, it would’ve thought he didn’t exist.
“Who are you?!”
The Deep King’s voice trembled with intense unease.
Ye Xuan ignored its question. He simply reached out and helped the Unlicensed Rider to his feet.
“Well done.”
He nodded, his eyes filled with genuine admiration.
Ye Xuan respected every hero willing to fight for humanity, and honored every knight who fought for human freedom.
Though he himself would never choose such a path, that didn’t stop him from honoring those who held this belief.
“Leave the rest to me.”
Ye Xuan clapped the rider on the shoulder, turned toward the Deep King—and his gaze turned icy.
The Deep King instinctively stepped back half a pace.
This human is wrong!
“Strike first!”
The Deep King’s eyes flashed with murderous intent; its right arm swelled grotesquely, veins bulging like coiled dragons beneath its grayish skin, pouring every ounce of its power into this single punch!
“Boom—!!!”
The wind and rain ceased. Heaven and earth fell silent.
Hot blood erupted like a geyser in midair, then drifted down as a crimson rain.
In the stunned gazes of the crowd, the Deep King’s right arm was erased—along with half its chest, leaving a gaping hole.
Flesh and muscle scattered like sand. The Deep King struggled to turn its eyes toward its own hollowed chest, then slowly lifted its gaze to Ye Xuan.
What it saw were eyes so cold, so empty, they held no emotion at all.
The divine giant transmits light beneath the setting sun; the human knight defies fate in the downpour.
(End of Chapter)
End of Chapter
