Chapter 461

"Has Sagura left?" Kousaka Mai stepped out from the side of the main hall, habitually kneeling beside Natsume and lightly leaning against his shoulder.

Has Xiangle left? Gaosiwu walked out from the side of the main hall, habitually kneeling beside Jiang Xia, lightly leaning against his shoulder.

"Well, it seems he won't force Kazuya Kuroto to keep fighting this time, since he's found a better alternative." Natsume played with the Genesis Core in his hand, "As long as Sagura doesn't give the Golden Fruit fragments back to Kazuya Kuroto, he won't have to sacrifice his humanity by using the Extreme Form."

Hmm, it looks like this time he won't force Geyehuangtai to keep fighting, because he now has a better option. Jiang Xia played with the Genesis Core in his hand, "As long as Xiangle doesn't hand the Golden Fruit fragments over to Geyehuangtai again, he won't abandon his human identity by using the Extreme Form."

"Even if Kuroto uses the Extreme Lockseed, I'm sure you can handle it." Kousaka Mai gazed at Natsume, speaking firmly.

Even if Huangtai uses the Extreme Lockseed, I believe you definitely have a way. Gaosiwu looked at Jiang Xia, speaking firmly.

"Of course, the Golden Fruit fragments won't stop me." Natsume's eyes flashed with confidence.

Of course, the Golden Fruit fragments can't stop me. Jiang Xia's eyes glowed slightly, full of confidence.

"Yeah, you're awesome." After saying that, Kousaka Mai stood up and cleared everything off the small table.

Yes yes yes, you're the best. After saying that, Gaosiwu stood up and put away everything on the small table.

Just then, a clear chime came from Natsume's pocket; he pulled out his phone, the black screen slowly lit up, revealing a few unread messages.

At that moment, a clear bell sound suddenly came from Jiang Xia's pocket; he took out his phone from his pocket, the black screen slowly lit up, and the lit screen showed several unread messages.

"Huh? Who's messaging me now? A friend from the Kamen Rider Gaim team?" Kousaka Mai leaned in curiously.

Huh? Who's sending me a message now, a friend from the Armored Rider team? Gaosiwu curiously moved closer.

Eden also has cell phone reception; there's a spot here that links to the outside world.

In Eden, there is also mobile phone signal; in some place here, the space with the outside world outside is connected.

"Of course it's you; she's asking what I'm up to." Natsume opened the message—topping the list was Kousaka Mai. "Besides, Kazuya Kuroto hasn't been home for days; he wants me to help find him."

Of course it's you, she asked what I'm doing now. Jiang Xia opened the message; the top message was Gaosiwu's, "Also, Geyehuangtai hasn't come home for several days, hoping I can help find him."

"Kuroto?" Kousaka Mai frowned, wondering if the future had changed so drastically.

Huangtai? Gaosiwu doubted, "Has the future changed this much?"

"Yeah, but he's safe; Snake just ran into him."

Hmm, but he's safe now; the snake just met him.

Natsume tapped a few keys, replied, then stood up, slipped off his fruit‑white robe, hung it on a nearby rack, exposing his bare chest: "While I have the chance, I need to take care of a few things—I'll leave watching the place to you."

Jiang Xia tapped the keyboard a few times, replied to the message, then stood up, took off his fruit-white robe, hung the clothes on a nearby rack, revealing his bare chest: "Taking this opportunity, I need to handle some things; the housekeeping duties are left to you."

"Sure." Kousaka Mai nodded.

Okay. Gaosiwu nodded.

The Sengoku Driver clicked onto his waist, and Natsume sprang up, disappearing into the forest.

The Warring States Driver automatically fastened on his waist; Jiang Xia suddenly leapt up and merged into the forest.

In Kousaka Mai's red eyes, a white patterned substance covered his muscular upper body; emerald‑green armor fell from the sky, encasing Natsume, and the melon‑like armor burst with powerful energy.

In Gaosiwu's crimson pupils, a white patterned bare body covered his muscular upper torso; emerald-green armor descended from the heavens, enveloping Jiang Xia, that melon-like armor releasing powerful energy waves.

The white knight surged skyward, becoming a streak of light that flashed across the heavens with unstoppable force, heading straight toward the World Tree headquarters.

The White Knight's figure shot up into the sky, turning into a streaming light that streaked across midair, carrying an overwhelming momentum forward; at the end of that direction lay the headquarters of World Tree.

Transform!

Transform!

A massive orange wrapped around Kazuya Kuroto; he faced the iron door, drew his black longsword and the big orange sphere, and swung both weapons at the iron bars.

A giant orange enveloped Geyehuangtai's body; he looked at the iron door ahead, drew the black long sword from his waist and the big orange, both hands simultaneously swinging the blade to slash at that iron cage.

The two blades flashed with bright sparks on the iron door; with a deafening crash, the black door toppled backward, cracking the pristine tile floor; Kazuya Kuroto slipped his blade back onto his shoulder and walked straight out.

The two long blades instantly burst out several bright sparks on the iron door; with a loud bang, the black door fell backward, smashing the clean tiled floor with several cracks; Geyehuangtai slipped the blade back onto his shoulder and walked straight out of the door.

"Heh, World Tree can't stop me." Kazuya Kuroto muttered.

Hmph, World Tree can't stop me. Geyehuangtai said.

Previously this iron door wouldn't budge, but with the Sengoku Driver he only needs two swings to fling it open.

This iron door couldn't be opened no matter what during this period, but now possessing the Warring States Driver, it only takes two blade swings to open the door.

"Woooo!" A wailing sound like a howling ghost filled the air; the white ceiling lights flashed red, and the automatic alarm blared through the entire building.

"Woooo!" The mournful sound sounded like a wailing ghost; the incandescent lights on the ceiling all turned into flashing red light, and the automatically triggered alarm echoed throughout the building.

"What's going on?" Kuga Takatora, who had just received the Genesis Driver, heard the alarm, grabbed a case, and sprinted to the security room.

What's going on? Wu Daoguhu, who had just received the Genesis Driver, heard the alarm, grabbed the box and rushed toward the security room.

"Chief, the inmate we had locked up just broke out."

Chief, the prisoner who was originally detained has suddenly run out.

In the World Tree security office, the security chief was drenched in sweat; the prison camera feed had a gap, and the inmate had smashed the door with brute force.

In World Tree's security room, the person in charge of security, sweating profusely, the prison's surveillance not only missed a segment, but the prisoner directly used violence to break the door.

"He's currently escaping toward the left side of Area B on the third floor."

He is currently fleeing toward the left side of Area B on the third floor.

The security chief quickly magnified the feed and showed it to Kuga Takatora, who had arrived.

The person in charge quickly enlarged the surveillance in front of him and showed it to Wu Daoguhu, who had rushed over.

"It's Kazuya Kuroto!" the chief frowned. "Why does he still have the Sengoku Driver?"

It's Geyehuangtai! the chief frowned, "Why does he still have the Warring States Driver on him?"

When they arrested him, they had taken away his belt and Lockseed, yet he somehow transformed into Kamen Rider Gaim again and burst out of his cell—could someone inside World Tree be aiding him?

When he was captured, they had already confiscated his belt and Lockseed, but now he has transformed into an Armored Rider again and rushed straight out of the cell; could someone inside World Tree be helping him?

But who is the mole? They'd originally planned to hold Kazuya Kuroto for a while then let him go, but now an insider has surfaced in World Tree, so they have no choice but to bring him back.

But who exactly is the insider? Although they originally planned to detain Geyehuangtai for a while then release him, now an insider has appeared inside World Tree; it seems they must capture Geyehuangtai no matter what.

"Alert all guards, stop Kazuya Kuroto." Kuga Takatora opened the case he'd brought, revealing S‑rank Melon Energy Lockseeds and the newly finished Genesis Driver.

Notify all guards, block Geyehuangtai. Wu Daoguhu opened the box he had brought; inside were S-rank Melon Energy Lockseeds and the newly completed Genesis Driver.

The guards wield mass‑produced Sengoku Drivers with low‑rank Lockseeds, while Kazuya Kuroto possesses the prototype used for testing, which is far stronger; these shadow troops can only stall him briefly, so he must intervene himself.

These guards use mass-produced Warring States Drivers, and their Lockseeds are low rank, while Geyehuangtai holds the initial test version, whose combat power is significantly stronger; these shadow guards can only buy a little time, so he still has to act personally.

"Stop him here."

Here, intercept him.

Several assailants armed with Pinecone Lockseeds morphed into black shadows and surged from all directions, brandishing spears as the lights flashed over them.

Several individuals using Pinecone Lockseeds transformed into shadows and rushed out from various places, holding spears, the light flashing on them intermittently.

They took positions on either side of the passageway, pointing their spears at the Kamen Rider in the middle, ready to charge at any moment.

They blocked both sides of the corridor, aiming their spears at the Armored Rider in the middle, ready to swarm forward at any moment.

"If you're up for it, come on—I'll expose everything World Tree has done!"

If you have the ability, come on; I'll tell everyone what you, World Tree, have done!

Kazuya Kuroto seized his dual blades and slashed at the black shadows ahead, the big orange sphere tracing an orange‑yellow arc as it whipped around.

Geyehuangtai gripped his twin blades, slashing at the shadows ahead; the big orange trailed an orange-yellow blade light in the high-speed swing.

The black shadows flanking him also thrust their spears at the Kamen Rider; though each was weak, their numbers were many, and they charged forward, trying to overwhelm him—but they gravely underestimated his strength.

The shadows on both sides behind also simultaneously speared the Armored Rider; although they were weak, they were numerous, directly thrusting forward while bearing the Armored Rider's attacks, but they greatly underestimated the Armored Rider's combat power.

Before the spears could reach him, Kazuya Kuroto sprang upward, the shadows' lances striking empty air; in that moment he pulled the Lockseed from his Sengoku Driver, slipped it into the notch of his black sword, and jammed the tip of the big orange sphere into the sword's hilt.

Before the spears could strike the Armored Rider, Geyehuangtai exerted force with his legs and leapt up; the shadows' spears thrust into empty air, and at that very moment he removed the Lockseed from the Warring States Driver, placing it in the notch of the black long blade, directly inserting the tail of the big orange into the hilt of the black long blade.

With that one leap, the Kamen Rider's ultimate move was ready,

Just this single leap, the Armored Rider's ultimate move was already ready,

"One ten hundred thousand! Orange Charge!"

One ten hundred thousand! OrangeCharge!

Kazuya Kuroto leapt into the air, swinging his naginata; the blade traced a massive orange arc and came down vertically, slamming into the black shadows ahead.

Geyehuangtai leapt up, swinging his naginata in midair! The blade traced a huge orange arc in the air, chopping downward, directly blasting at the shadows in the passage ahead.

Blazing sparks flared on the black shadows' armor, and the tremendous force carved a breach in the corridor ahead.

Bright sparks suddenly erupted on the shadows' armor ahead; the powerful impact directly cut a gap in the passage before them.

The black shadows cried out, flung sideways into the walls, turning the once‑solid line of shadows into a wide gap.

The shadows screamed in agony, their bodies thrown to the sides, slamming into the corridor walls, turning the originally shadow-filled passage into a large breach.

Kazuya Kuroto seized the moment and burst through the opening; the world must learn what World Tree has done, and to protect Zeamu City he can't linger here.

Geyehuangtai also took the opportunity to rush out through the breach; the things World Tree has done need to be known by more people; to protect Zeya City, he cannot stay here.

As Kazuya Kuroto reached the road's end, a man in a plain black suit with a red belt stood blocking the path, his attire minimal and his presence icy.

And when Geyehuangtai reached the end of the road, a person wearing a pure black suit with a bright red waist belt stood blocking the end of the passage, his body devoid of anything extra, emanating a chilling aura.

In that moment, to Kazuya Kuroto the man before him merged with the white knight; there was no doubt this icy‑gazed figure was the one who had beaten him and locked him away.

In that instant, in Geyehuangtai's eyes, the man before him and that White Knight merged into one; without doubt, this cold-eyed guy was the one who defeated him that day and imprisoned him.

"White Knight, you're indeed part of World Tree." Kazuya Kuroto stared him down, "Why does World Tree treat us like guinea pigs? What's the story with those otherworldly beings?"

White Knight, as expected you're also a member of World Tree. Geyehuangtai stared fixedly at him, "Why exactly does World Tree treat us as lab rats, and what on earth are those foreign beings?"

"For humanity." Kuga Takatora replied.

For humanity. Wu Daoguhu said.

"What?"

What?

"World Tree exists to keep humanity safe." Kuga Takatora produced the newly developed Melon Lockseed, slotted it into the Genesis Belt—its base a clear blue, the dedicated Lockseed for the Genesis Driver.

World Tree exists so humanity can survive safely. Wu Daoguhu took out the newly developed Melon Lockseed, placed it into the Genesis waist belt; its base color is blue-transparent, exactly the dedicated Lockseed for the Genesis Driver.

"Melon Energy!"

MelonEnergy! (Melon Energy)

"Lock On! Soda! Melon Energy Arms!" The Melon Energy Lockseed formed over Kuga Takatora's head, completing his change.

LockOn! Soda! MelonEnergyArms! The Lockseed composed of Melon Energy covered Wu Daoguhu's head, unfolding to complete the transformation.

Unlike the Sengoku Driver, the Genesis Driver's Zangetsu Shin features a more curved, upward‑pointing moon on its head, dark orange eyes, and matching orange armor on the right shoulder.

Unlike using the Warring States Driver, using the Genesis Driver to transform into Cutting Moon True, the crescent moon on the head becomes more curved and flips upward; the eye area turns dark orange, and there is armor of the same color on the right shoulder.

Meanwhile, his black sword and shield were swapped for a crimson bow‑blade—the Genesis Driver's built‑in sonic arrow.

At the same time, the original black long blade and shield were completely replaced by a scarlet bow-blade; this is the weapon built into the Genesis Driver, the sonic arrow.

"I'll make you tell me who helped you break out of that cell." Kuga Takatora said.

I will slowly extract from your mouth the person who helped you escape the cell. Wu Daoguhu said.

Kuga Takatora fired his sonic arrow straight; its blinding speed drove the sharp blade straight into Kazuya Kuroto's face before he could raise his big orange ball to block—this strike was faster and stronger than the last.

Wu Daoguhu straightly swung his sonic arrow; its transcendent speed let the sharp blade instantly lunge onto Geyehuangtai's face; he tried to swing his big orange to block, but it was already too late—this attack's speed and strength surpassed the previous one.

The edge of the sonic arrow's bow blade glowed faintly, slamming into Kazuya Kuroto's chest armor; the orange‑yellow plating erupted in a blaze, his body was ripped apart by the blade, sparks showering down like rain.

The edge of the sonic arrow's bow-blade emitted a faint blade light, heavily striking Geyehuangtai's chest armor; the orange-yellow armor burst with huge firelight, his body was directly cleaved apart by the blade, sparks dense as rain.

The impact hurled Kazuya Kuroto into the right‑hand wall of the hallway, shattering the tiles where the Kamen Rider hit; cracks spider‑webbed outward from the point of impact, and he collapsed to the floor.

Geyehuangtai was slammed hard by this tremendous impact against the right-side wall of the corridor; the wall tiles were shattered by the Armored Rider's impact, cracks spread like a spiderweb from the center outward, and he then collapsed directly.

The tip of the big orange ball rested on the ground; Kazuya Kuroto lay half‑fallen, chunks of debris scattering over him, yet he clung to it with one hand, using the ball to push himself up—his motions were labored, but he displayed an unbreakable will to keep fighting.

The tip of the big orange's blade supported the ground; Geyehuangtai half-collapsed on the ground, large chunks of debris falling onto him, but he clenched the big orange with one hand, using it to push himself up from the ground, the movement arduous yet embodying an unyielding refusal to give up.

"Huh?" Wu Dao Gu Hu looked at Ge Ye Hong Tai, who had been blown away and stood up again, his brows furrowing slightly beneath his faceplate.

This time he used greater strength than before when he knocked Ge Ye Hong Tai unconscious, yet now he could stand up again.

Has he gotten stronger?

"Damn World Tree, I won't fall here." Ge Ye Hong Tai gripped the Big Orange Pill with one hand, shook off the wall dust and stone from his body, and aimed the Big Orange Pill at Wu Dao Gu Hu again.

The clash of blades rang out again deep in the corridor.

Wu Dao Gu Hu and Ge Ye Hong Tai simultaneously swung their weapons, launching into combat; the Big Orange Pill and Sonic Bow collided at high speed, each impact bursting with sparks like a downpour, the sound stacking like hammering on iron.

Blinding sparks engulfed the surroundings, two different energies locked together tightly.

With each collision, Ge Ye Hong Tai stepped back one pace; even using his full strength, he could not block Wu Dao Gu Hu.

This was merely because Wu Dao Gu Hu only wanted to knock him out, not to injure him.

Then the entire floor suddenly trembled; the loose rubble on the ground jumped, accompanied by a deafening explosion as the shockwave passed, huge flames shot skyward, and cracks spread through the steel-reinforced concrete structure.

Countless alarms blared simultaneously inside the World Tree Group; not only the explosion, but the whole building shook, and the sprinkler system on the ceiling began spraying mist, with water droplets and gale winds howling through the corridor.

Wu Dao Gu Hu chopped Ge Ye Hong Tai away with a single strike, then quickly contacted the security system using the built-in communicator of his Genesis Driver.

The Genesis Driver and Extreme Driver possess an insurmountable power gap that cannot be bridged by a sudden burst; even if Ge Ye Hong Tai resisted for a while, he could not defeat Wu Dao Gu Hu wielding the Genesis Driver.

"What happened? Why is the building malfunctioning!" Wu Dao Gu Hu roared into the communicator.

"Director, a madman has suddenly appeared and is destroying the outer structures of the World Tree Building; he seems to be damaging the group's dedicated measurement system, the Survey System, and..." the security chief trailed off.

"And what? Speak quickly!" Wu Dao Gu Hu gritted his teeth; if the Survey System were destroyed, humanity would be doomed.

"Moreover, the armored Knight he transforms into looks exactly like you, Director." the security chief said cautiously.

"Haha, it's Jiang Xia! I knew it, I knew it!" Ge Ye Hong Tai burst out laughing upon hearing it; during his disappearance, his friends in the Armored Warrior Team would surely be searching for him, and although they hadn't known each other long, he knew Jiang Xia was definitely a good person.

Although he didn't know why Jiang Xia knew he was at World Tree, the situation had become very advantageous.

"Damn it! You have no idea what the Survey System means." Wu Dao Gu Hu yelled at the laughing Ge Ye Hong Tai.

Although nominally a measurement system, the Survey System is actually a large-scale lethal weapon; its form is a ring encircling the top of the World Tree Building, and activating it can instantly kill everyone in Zejia City.

This is also a condition for implementing the Ark Project; now the Extreme Driver has achieved mass production, and all that remains is to cleanse the population.

Originally, Wu Dao Gu Hu had no intention of using this in the short term, because Jiang Xia might have a way for humanity to safely consume the fruit; thus, as long as they figured out how to save humanity, the Survey System would not be employed.

But now, without having figured it out, the Survey System has already been destroyed—and by Jiang Xia himself.

If there is no way for humanity to safely eat the fruit, then the Ark Project becomes necessary.

"Hmm, maybe I really don't understand, but I only know one thing: that guy is a good person; he rescued A Wu from the rampaging invaders, he's a member of our Armored Warrior Team, so I know he certainly wouldn't do this for no reason." Ge Ye Hong Tai, though scolded, wasn't angry; instead he chose to trust Jiang Xia, to trust this person he'd only met a few times.

The only response to Ge Ye Hong Tai was Wu Dao Gu Hu's arrow; he drew his Sonic Bow, removed the melon energy from the waist belt of his Genesis Driver, and placed it in the bow's notch.

Powerful energy instantly converged; the bow's notch pointed at Ge Ye Hong Tai's waist, intending to directly destroy his Extreme Driver's waist unit, then deal with the Survey System's destruction.

At this moment, a cyan energy wave had already condensed on the Sonic Bow; just as Wu Dao Gu Hu prepared to act, a rich purple burst suddenly erupted behind Ge Ye Hong Tai.

And there was the familiar sound of energy erupting from the Extreme Driver.

"BudouSquash!"

A pale purple dragon surged forth from behind Ge Ye Hong Tai, its launch like a thunderbolt, roaring as it charged toward Wu Dao Gu Hu.

"MelonEnergy!"

Faced with the sudden attack, Wu Dao Gu Hu could only shift his target; the light arrow condensed in his Sonic Longbow aimed at the sudden purple swimming dragon and blasted forward.

"Boom!"

Two different energies violently collided in the narrow corridor; colorful energy ripples continually burst in the middle, the falling droplets instantly vaporized, filling the air with white mist.

But the Extreme Driver ultimately could not match the Genesis Driver; the purple dragon let out a wail, directly pierced by the light arrow fired from the Sonic Bow, and after its power was diminished, the remaining shockwave instantly exploded upon Ge Ye Hong Tai.

The Armored Warrior Armor finally reached its limit, disintegrating in the smoke, and the right-side fragment of Ge Ye Hong Tai's Extreme Driver at his waist was also blown away.

"Hong Tai Brother!" the Armored Knight who had launched the purple dragon attack caught the blown-away Ge Ye Hong Tai in his arms.

"A Shi!" Ge Ye Hong Tai recognized the voice; he looked in surprise at Wu Dao Guang Shi standing before him in Grape Armor, "You can transform too."

"Yeah, I came to rescue you; Jiang Xia discovered you were imprisoned by World Tree, so he went to delay those troops, leaving me to meet you."

"Great, A Shi! Let's charge out together." Ge Ye Hong Tai laughed and patted Wu Dao Guang Shi on the shoulder. (End of chapter)