Chapter 456

Plaza, west stage.

Plaza paved with bluish-gray stone bricks has become the Armored Warrior Team's exclusive territory; it was once occupied by other dance troupes, but now and for a long time only the Armored Warrior Team may dance there, because opposite all the dance troupes stands an insurmountable high mountain.

However, the high mountain they desperately want to topple is now perched on the railing above the west stage, because the viewing effect here is best and they don't have to compete with the audience below for seats.

On the west stage, a street dance performance is underway, and the audience below is waving their cheer sticks in time with the music.

The dance music grows ever more lively, and the audience below begins to boil over.

This is a grand performance belonging to the Armored Warrior Team; although they have no uniform costume, everyone who takes the stage tacitly wears clothing with large areas of blue.

Although the Armored Warrior Team has no uniform street dance outfit, they likewise possess their own colors.

They dance to the rhythm, each movement full of vigorous strength; logically, such strength-filled movements are hard for girls to pull off, yet they perform them quite well, their petite bodies hiding astonishing power.

Jiang Xia, while appreciating the street dance with superhuman vision, tore open the envelope he had pinched in his right hand; upon opening it, he found a thick stack of banknotes of large denomination.

These are his wages paid by his boss; although his boss is penniless, he still handed over all the prize money he had earned.

Jiang Xia sighed; strictly speaking he didn't need it, but he accepted it anyway, because this money was happily taken from her pocket by Gao Siwu and handed to him personally.

Especially when she took it out, her face bore excitement and pride, eagerly handing over the winnings—how could you refuse her? At the performance's climax, the audience below shouted cheers.

"Armored Warrior! Armored Warrior!" cheers surged like an endless tide.

Jiang Xia put the money back into the envelope, then placed the envelope in his bosom; this performance was very successful, precisely because it was too successful, trouble would follow.

But someone seemed to treat the game as a real battle; if you didn't know better, you'd think they were about to step onto a battlefield of flying flesh and blood.

Although calling it a battlefield is an exaggeration, the fights over turf and rankings are dead serious.

Just like gangs fighting for turf, the other side gathered a few tough fighters, armed with knives and swords, ready to clash with the opposing leader to regain face.

When the music and fireworks ended completely, the originally boiling crowd was forcibly split from the center, like a blade cleaving a river and sea, mighty and full of confidence.

Those still immersed in the excited, surging wave were all stunned by this cold aura; the atmosphere instantly turned heavy and oppressive, as if a great stone pressed on the chest, making it hard to breathe.

"Hasn't my opponent shown up today? If he isn't here today, then today will be the day your Armored Warrior Team loses." A cold voice sounded from beneath the stage, silencing the entire plaza.

Everyone stared in surprise as three people slowly walked out from the middle of the road; their faces were familiar from TV, as they were the leaders of different dance troupes, and keen observers had noticed that the three originally opposing figures now stood together, simultaneously fixing their gazes on the Armored Warrior Team—this must have been an alliance.

Gao Siwu likewise noticed the trio's positioning, about to speak, but was cut off by a young, confident voice.

"Even if he isn't here, our Armored Warrior Team will still keep winning; you think you can defeat the Armored Warrior Team? That's not likely—Cheng Nainei Xiu Bao, Chu Lai Liang Er, and the Baron Team's Qu Wen Jiedou." Wu Dao Guangshi said, looking at the three people walking toward him.

The one who just spoke was Qu Wen Jiedou of the Baron Team, his icy, murderous tone, yet he feels no fear at all.

Gao Siwu stared in astonishment at Wu Dao Guangshi, like a harmless white rabbit suddenly leaping up to bite someone.

"Dance Sister, leave it to me; even without Zangetsu we can handle their challenge." Wu Dao Guangshi looked at the astonished Gao Siwu, his heart practically bursting with joy—finally he could say this to her face.

As these words left his mouth, his heart blossomed with hot-blooded fervor; simply put, no one would refuse to protect the girl they like when she falls into danger, like a divine soldier descending from heaven.

Just that person isn't here, and Hongtai Brother didn't come either; the Armored Warrior Team has only me, and best of all, the challengers have shown up at this moment—this is far better than the opportunity I originally wanted to show myself in front of Dance Sister.

Moreover, in such a setting where everyone can see, Zangetsu can do it, so Wu Dao Guangshi can too; based on this alone, he feels his power is truly fantastic.

At this moment he seemed to have found his own path, no longer the path arranged by his brother—study, rank first, then advance to enter the World Tree Group; he doesn't want that, he wants to stay in the Armored Warrior Team and protect everyone's smiles.

When Yuya Senior was around, he could only watch; when Hongtai Brother transformed into an Armored Warrior, he could only watch too—but now he has a chance to prove himself, he has gained power and no longer needs to hide behind them.

"If you're coming, hurry up—I'll take your challenge." Wu Dao Guangshi showed no fear as he locked eyes with Qu Wen Jiedou, then slowly drew the War Extreme Driver from his bosom and fastened it around his waist.

He had already experienced it; it is indeed an extremely powerful Lock Seed, the black-market dealer didn't lie to him, so he is now full of confidence.

Cheng Nainei Xiu Bao and Chu Lai Liang Er exchanged a glance; they hadn't expected that besides them, the Armored Warrior Team also had someone who obtained a War Extreme Driver, and with this small-framed person, the Armored Warrior Team actually had three Armored Knights—but even with three, they wouldn't regard Wu Dao Guangshi as an opponent; the strongest and the Armored Warrior are both absent now, and this is the perfect time to beat a dog in the water.

Moreover, they must find a way to directly destroy Wu Dao Guangshi's waist belt in battle, so that his three Armored Knights cannot appear together in the Armored Warrior Team.

"I didn't expect you to also have a War Extreme Driver, but my opponent has never been you; since Zangetsu isn't here, I'll just play with you for a while." Qu Wen Jiedou looked at Wu Dao Guangshi with a smirk—this would be a good way to pass the time.

"I won't let you win."

Wu Dao Guangshi took out a purple Lock Seed resembling grapes, while Qu Wen Jiedou produced his own Banana Lock Seed, and both simultaneously inserted them into the War Extreme Driver.

"Transform!"

Giant Banana Armor and Grape Armor descended from midair, landing respectively on Qu Wen Jiedou's and Wu Dao Guangshi's heads, accompanied by a sound like bursting juice, and a new Armored Knight appeared on the west stage.

He wears a green base suit, with a huge grape-patterned armor on his chest, his compound eyes are purple, and unlike the Armored Warrior Team and Baron Team, his weapon is a relatively large-caliber gun, which is also their sole special long-range weapon.

Kamen Rider Ryugen, transformed from the Grape Lock Seed.

"Not bad, you seem a bit stronger than the Otherworlders summoned by Lock Seeds; let me test your combat power." Qu Wen Jiedou jumped onto the stage, tossing several unknown Lock Seeds into his hand; the space above instantly split, and three Otherworlders fell straight down.

A transparent arena instantly unfolded; the monster that dwells deep in the ten-thousand-year forest fell, its originally translucent color turning as hard as rock, and its nearly two-meter-tall sturdy build brought a pressure absent from the previous game.

"Have the Otherworlders been materialized?" Wu Dao Guangshi felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over him, incredulously staring at the monster before him.

"Exactly, this is one of the War Extreme Driver's abilities; with a little tinkering it can be used." Qu Wen Jiedou looked at Wu Dao Guangshi's terrified expression, holding his yellow short gun, leading the three materialized Otherworlders step by step toward Wu Dao Guangshi, his surging aura rising.

It seemed any disagreement would spark immediate combat; Wu Dao Guangshi instinctively stepped back under that momentum, but seeing the Armored Warrior Team members supporting him at the arena's edge, and Gao Siwu's worried gaze, he forced himself forward a step and raised his Grape Dragon Cannon.

Wu Dao Guangshi placed his finger on the trigger, feeling the gazes behind him; his body tensed like a bullet in the barrel, nerves taut, primed to fire—no matter how the Otherworlders materialize, he is sure to win.

Just as Qu Wen Jiedou stepped forward, the muzzle instantly burst with brilliant sparks.

Bang bang bang!

The Grape Dragon Lance's firing sound was like a single burst; in an instant, Wu Dao Guangshi aimed at each approaching enemy and delivered multiple consecutive hits.

The three materialized Otherworlders' bodies simultaneously erupted in sparks; the impact of the bullets striking their chests flung them wholly backward, and bluish-green blood slowly seared from their scorched wounds, obviously they had lost more than half their combat power.

Besides Qu Wen Jiedou, at the instant Wu Dao Guangshi's finger pressed the trigger, during the brief moment when bullets burst from the Grape Dragon Lance's muzzle, he swiftly swung his short gun and intercepted when it struck him.

The bullets bounced off his bright yellow armor, producing not a single spark.

All the bullets were blocked by his weapon, affecting none of his combat ability.

"Nice attack, but you're still a bit short." Qu Wen Jiedou said to the ready Wu Dao Guangshi, "After all, you're not Zangetsu—if you were, I think I'd already be seriously wounded."

The sound of a sharp weapon slicing the air suddenly grew urgent, that whooshing noise swooping down on Wu Dao Guangshi's ears.

Qu Wen Jiedou's speed is lightning; he realizes the best way to deal with a guy skilled at long-range shooting is to prevent him from firing—if he can control or deprive Wu Dao Guangshi of the ability to shoot, then he will win this battle.

He cannot waste too much time on Wu Dao Guangshi, for someone else is waiting for him afterward.

That guy must be somewhere enjoying the spectacle with malicious amusement—that's the confidence and arrogance of the strong; he cannot believe that, faced with challengers at the door, he would refrain from striking; anyone who has watched the street dance performance knows that, as long as it's an Otherworlder game, he will surely show up.

Facing the blade light of Kuuga Knight's chopping and slashing attack, Wu Dao Guangshi wanted to fire at close range, but he didn't have time to pull the trigger; at the moment he gripped it, Kuuga Knight's attack had already closed in, the banana spear slashed across at high speed, drawing a cross.

A horizontal chop and slash directly struck the grape dragon spear's chest armor, bursting out flying sparks, breaking the offensive; a vertical chop directly struck Wu Dao Guangshi's wrist holding the spear.

In those flying sparks, Wu Dao Guangshi felt only a pain in his wrist; the grape dragon spear, his sole weapon in hand, was cut off; he saw Baron's banana spear relentlessly striking his body, sparks bursting continuously.

Kuuga Knight's judgment was quite correct; Kamen Rider Baron and most knights were different—he had no built‑in black longsword, nor any melee weapon.

But instead, he possessed a long‑range attack capability that could overwhelm most knights; it is indeed a very powerful form, and if one knows how to use it, with the aid of speed and distance, it can change the battle situation in an instant.

Unfortunately, Kuuga Knight would not give him that opportunity.

He now specializes in close‑quarters combat.

In battle, a single fatal flaw is often enough to change the whole situation; now Wu Dao Guangshi has lost the thing that could inflict damage on him, and the scales of victory have tipped against him.

Kuuga Knight wielded the banana spear, bombarding Baron's body; the instant the grape dragon spear fell, he had exhausted all his attacks, and Wu Dao Guangshi's body, as if struck by a sudden storm, was completely enveloped in vivid yellow.

"Bang bang bang!"

Kamen Rider Baron flipped completely in midair; Kuuga Knight pressed the short blade of the Sengoku Driver, and the rhythmic sound effect blared; he half‑squatted, gripped his spear with both hands, and unleashed a full‑force strike straight upward—this was the final move, a banana phantom erupted violently from the spear, its sharpest part, following Kuuga Knight's blast, emitted a piercing sound in midair, forming a huge conical attack; that streak of yellow thrust straight at Wu Dao Guangshi hovering in midair.

Lost? I never imagined that even with the belt I couldn't protect them, protect Mai‑sister,

Having the same equipment yet powerless, he couldn't win, couldn't even inflict damage; he turned to look at Gao Si Wu, who felt no disappointment at his imminent defeat, only pure worry.

Seeing Gao Si Wu worrying for him, Wu Dao Guangshi already felt satisfied; he calmly closed his eyes, awaiting his defeat.

A howling gale surged forward; the huge banana thrust suddenly snapped; the next moment, with a 'pop', Kuuga Knight, who had victory in his grasp, was blasted away, slamming into the yellow‑transparent arena, which was forcibly dissolved in that shattering sound.

A white knight clad in aquamarine melon armor, wielding a black longsword, stood at the arena's center; Baron also fell from midair back to the ground; Wu Dao Guangshi lifted his head, gazing at the white knight blocking his path—he was like an impregnable wall, directly splitting the battlefield.

"Taking advantage of my absence to bully my little brother—isn't that a bit rude?" Jiang Xia said, looking at the already‑risen Kuuga Knight.

"Who's your little brother?!" Wu Dao Guangshi wiped his face, stumbled up from the ground, and of course he also retrieved his grape dragon spear and re‑aimed it at Kuuga Knight.

"You finally showed up, Zangetsu—if I'd known beating him up would summon you, we'd have gone up together long ago." Cheng Nai Nei Xiu Bao pushed up his glasses, and Chu Lai Liang Er walked onto the arena together, taking position behind Baron.

"Henshin!"

Two voices rang out simultaneously; the two people who had been watching from below also transformed into armored riders, one using an apple Lockseed, the other a pinecone Lockseed.

"You guys?" Wu Dao Guangshi stared at the two in surprise.

"That's right, we also got the Sengoku Driver, just like you." Cheng Nai Nei Xiu Bao pushed up his glasses, "I couldn't destroy the belt, but it doesn't matter; we can destroy it after beating them—three versus two, the advantage is mine."

"We've teamed up with Baron, after all, your Gaim Team has too many armored riders."

While Cheng Nai Nei Xiu Bao was speaking, he and Chu Lai Liang Er also took out the Lockseed that Kuuga Knight had given him; in an instant, the numerous Invess materialized, standing opposite the arena.

"Is this your plan? Not bad." Jiang Xia glanced at the Invess surrounding the arena and the three armored riders.

Indeed praiseworthy—not for their combat power or their unity, but for each of them using Lockseeds to control the Invess's behavior.

Because none of the Invess beasts they summoned had broken free of control. (End of chapter)