Honkai: Star Rail — Kamen Rider!

Planet Camille, 4:04 PM.

"Hey, Anna. Your self-important little theory about this planet having no hope? Time's up."

Sora handed over the freshly signed terminal and the black credit card he'd been given as payment.

He didn't know how many credits it held, but surely enough to buy even a Stellaron Hunter—so it would be more than enough to purchase something greater:

Hope.

"Give me that bullet."

"Y-You…"

Anna stood frozen, completely baffled by Sora's choice.

"Come on, shopkeeper. Ever seen a store that keeps its customers waiting this long?"

Sora plopped down where he stood, placing his payment in front of her like a casual shopper.

"Don't tell me you didn't hear what I just said?"

Anna's voice grew strained. She was frustrated now.

Why won't he listen to me?

"I heard you just fine. It just has nothing to do with what I want to buy."

Sora leaned in.

Anna instinctively took a step back.

"I'm just trying to make a purchase here, boss. Surely you're not about to turn away a paying customer?"

"This is ridiculous. If you stay here, you'll—"

"Eh eh eh, let's not change the subject." Sora interrupted. "You still haven't handed over what I came to buy."

Anna lowered her head, her expression hidden in shadow.

"…Not for sale."

"Not for sale?" Sora grinned. "I don't recall this being your call to make."

"What, are you going to take it by force?"

Sora let out a quiet laugh. "Hardly. I'm just making a legitimate request."

"And frankly… in some ways, I might be more of a royal than you."

"You…?"

"That's right. Just what you're thinking."

He revealed the emblem glowing faintly on the back of his hand.

Anna knew that power. She'd once held it herself—it was a symbol of the royal line.

But how had Sora acquired it? And when?

She had no answer. But in some abstract, undeniable way, that mark made him more "royal" than she was.

"So, little Anna Bergalo… are you really going to defy someone who holds the power of your own royal bloodline?!"

A haunting melody—like a woman's song—seemed to echo faintly in the air, but Sora pushed it aside.

He wasn't chasing some empty symbol of hope. What he sought was real hope.

"You really want this?"

"Duh. Have I ever gone back on my word?"

Anna slowly took out a small box, but hesitated just before handing it over.

"…Why?"

She couldn't understand. Why would someone with no ties to their world—no stake in their fate—go this far?

Anyone else would've turned and run. It would've been the smart choice.

So why… why did she believe in him?

Anna looked at Sora, searching for the answer.

Maybe, deep down, she already knew it.

As for Sora, his reply was simple.

"Why? I'm still trying to figure that out myself."

He opened the box.

Inside lay a single silver bullet—quiet, weathered, still gleaming despite its age.

It closely resembled the one Anna wore, but bore the wear of time, as though it had borne witness to the rise and fall of a planet.

As Sora touched it, the bow-and-arrow symbol on the back of his hand glowed in unison with the bullet.

Its purpose, its power, and how to wield it all rushed into his mind.

This… was the hope he had been seeking.

The Final Bullet—Get Daze!

"Don't worry," Sora murmured. "I won't let a single bastard who made this planet cry walk away unscathed."

He gently ruffled Anna's hair.

There was only one enemy left now—

Zulo.

Of course, Sora had originally intended to face Zulo alone. But Anna made a swift decision of her own:

Everyone—except the children—would arm themselves.

If Sora had chosen to fight alongside this world until the end, then she would honor that choice to the very last.

With the Final Bullet in his possession, Sora gained a new perspective—literally.

At a glance, the planet still seemed unchanged. But to Sora's eyes, the entire atmosphere shimmered with a faint orange barrier.

The supposed "escape routes" were nothing but a ruse.

Anyone attempting to flee would crash into that unseen dome the moment they escaped the planet's gravity.

Sora could feel it—the pressure it exerted, specifically on Hunt-aligned power.

Even just perceiving it brought a sense of suppression.

That barrier didn't exist solely to trap the survivors.

It was also meant to block the Final Bullet.

Zulo wasn't taking chances. He'd built a net to snare the very weapon that once drove him to the brink of death.

So now the question was: how to get a clean shot?

...

Back at the encampment, the laziness of before was gone. Every adult moved with purpose.

Anna's command had mobilized them all.

There was confusion, yes—but they obeyed without complaint. They began learning the basics of combat.

And from that alone, everyone understood one thing:

Something big was coming.

So they trained with full focus.

All of them were waiting for the day their weapons would be put to use.

With every adult occupied, it fell to Sora and Robin to look after the children.

Fortunately, Sora quickly found a solution—

Fang and Xtreme.

The two Memory creatures were instantly surrounded by curious, excited kids trying to catch the flashy, dino-shaped mascots.

"I want to join too."

Robin's voice came unexpectedly. Sora turned, surprised.

"You? What for?"

"I want to learn," she said, eyes fixed on the training group nearby.

Sora followed her gaze—and he understood.

"I don't want to just watch anymore," Robin said, rising to her feet. "I want to help. I want to fight."

"Sora… I know it probably sounds unreasonable, but—"

"I get it. Go."

"Eh?"

Robin had expected resistance. She didn't expect him to agree so quickly.

"Don't worry. I've got things handled here."

Sora gave her a thumbs-up. "That's the mark of a true warrior. From now on, you're Robin the Brave."

"Oh, stop it." She smiled despite herself, the small wings at her neck fluttering in delight.

She stood, brushed herself off, and said, "Then I'm off."

"Give 'em hell. I'm rooting for you."

Robin turned and walked toward the training grounds.

Only after she left did Sora notice Xtreme tagging along behind her head, occasionally nudging the wings by her ears.

When did that guy even sneak off?

Sora frowned, puzzled.

Then—

"Sora-oniisan, stop him!!"

He turned around just in time to see a blur of silver racing toward him.

RIIIP!

With a satisfying shred of fabric, Fang tore off a massive chunk of his already battle-worn pants.

Sora felt the cold kiss of wind and grit against his skin, and a metaphorical hashtag appeared above his head.

Alert! Alert!

"Fang, you little—!"

And just like that, the children's game gained one more participant—a full-grown adult chasing after a mischievous dinosaur.

From afar, Anna stood watching, a rare smile forming on her lips.

Maybe… just maybe, this planet still has a chance.

...

Time did not wait.

It marched onward, uncaring, dragging everything behind it.

Stillness was a luxury that had no place here—not on this doomed world.

The earth rumbled.

The sky darkened, fading into dusk.

And all signs pointed to the same truth—

The day had come.

From the distant horizon, endless Voidwalkers surged forward like a tide of black.

A wave meant to swallow the last colors of the planet whole.

The children had already been evacuated to the safest shelters.

Only the final defenders remained.

"This is the battle to reclaim our world—this is the battle to restore Camille's glory!"

"We lost everything once. Whether we can take it back—that depends on today!"

"We won't fail. We can't fail! That off-world guest still stands with us. Even now, he fights beside us!"

Anna stood at the frontlines, clad in black and red, a fierce presence radiating from her.

"So fight—every last survivor!"

"For our world! For our home! For those who still believe in us!"

"Fight!"

"For a better tomorrow, to sing of our civilization, for…"

Her gaze fell on Sora.

"…for that unfading hope."

"Let those Antimatter bastards see the silver brilliance of Kaemomiar!"

"OHHHH!!!"

"ROOOAARRRR!!!"

The Doomsday Beast bellowed in unison, a deafening cry.

And Sora stood at the vanguard, facing the endless army alone.

The W Driver rested on his belt. Two Memories clicked into place—green and purple.

"Now then—time to tally up your sins, Antimatter Legion."

"[Cyclone]!"

"[Joker]!"

Fwwhhhhh—

A breeze swept over the dying world, lifting dust and cloaks.

It parted the oncoming black mist, allowing light to shine through.

And beyond the haze, the figure of their true enemy stood tall—

Zulo, Lord Ravager.

Sora looked up at him.

Zulo looked down at Sora.

And as Sora crowned himself with the brittle wreath of withered branches—

It began.

"[Henshin]!"