Honkai: Star Rail — Kamen Rider!

The wailing cries silenced the tremors of the earth, if only for a moment.

Like the final cry of a dying world, it marked the end of a civilization on this planet.

But as that grief-laden sound echoed outward, the land itself began to change—wildly, uncontrollably.

The kind of change that defied logic. That challenged the very idea of what a planet could be.

Or perhaps—was this even a planet anymore?

Failing to stop the bullet's flight, the ground began to twist and writhe. The once-verdant plants turned blood-red, sinking into the earth as if merging with it.

Seen from afar, they resembled veins—throbbing and red.

The once-stony terrain melded with crimson vegetation, forming a single grotesque mass. Then—tremors.

A deep, sickening throb pulsed through the earth, triggering a quake that cracked the surface open.

And from the fissures—faces.

Like flesh. Like nerves. Like something alive.

The red tendrils of plant matter slithered across the planet's surface, twitching like arteries.

And the last remnants of this world's civilization—its ruins—began to vanish into the transformation.

Bit by bit.

All that remained standing amidst the chaos—

Was the banquet hall.

Inside, the ground still shook beneath their feet.

Sora knew—something was awakening deep below.

He placed himself in front of Anna, raising his firearm toward the unmoving Voidwalkers still standing in the hall.

They hadn't moved.

But their mere presence was a threat.

Robin clutched her phone tightly.

This wasn't how it was supposed to go.

She'd wanted to take a group photo. A memory.

Now… they stood surrounded by what used to be comrades.

Former guardians of this world—now twisted into Antimatter Legion foot soldiers. Silent. Waiting.

No attack. No motion.

Just... watching Sora.

He raised his weapon, finger tensing on the trigger—

Then hesitated.

He couldn't do it.

These were Camille's defenders. The ones who'd fought to the bitter end. They should have been honored, celebrated.

And yet, here they stood—polluted, corrupted, reduced to fearsome things the galaxy reviled.

Not by choice. Not through sin. But by something else entirely.

Then—

A voice from behind him.

"…Mr. Sora. Please—release them."

Anna's voice was quiet. Controlled.

"They're heroes of this world. They shouldn't have to remain like this."

"I ask you… as the one who remembers this civilization. Let them rest."

If these heroes continued to exist in the form of Antimatter soldiers, even if no one else knew, it would still tarnish their honor.

Anna couldn't let that happen.

She wanted them to be remembered not as monsters, but as protectors.

In memory. In story. In legacy.

Sora exhaled.

"…Request accepted."

And then he fired.

"[Trigger! Maximum Drive]!"

BANG—BANG—BANG—BANG—BANG!

Golden bullets erupted from the muzzle, arcing through the air to strike each Voidwalker one by one.

They never moved.

Never resisted.

They simply stood still—waiting.

Welcoming death.

In that moment, it felt like he could see them smiling.

See them—thanking him.

Not fighting. Not resisting.

Their final act of defiance… was to do nothing.

Ouja clenched her fists.

She didn't want this.

She remembered every single one of them.

Those memories felt like blades now, carving through her chest as each soldier vanished in golden light.

It hurt.

So much.

But pain—it would help her remember.

To forget them would be the true failure of a captain.

And she still had a duty to uphold.

Ouja took a deep breath, stepped forward, and shielded Robin with her body.

She was a guardian. She wouldn't falter now.

The last of the Voidwalkers faded, crumbling into radiant particles.

They were gone.

Only the living remained.

Robin turned toward Anna, who still stood silently, as if frozen.

There were no words.

Ouja, regaining composure, turned to Sora.

"…The supplies you were preparing—?"

"They're already on the ship. Just in case something like this happened."

Sora had spent a long time moving the children and cargo up to orbit. Alone.

"…So you knew this was coming?"

"When those salvos hit—they weren't just aimed at me."

Had it not been for the kids offering him those bitter berries, Sora might never have noticed.

But the moment he entered the Planetary Library and saw not a single book left—he knew something was wrong.

The Library was Camille's memory.

Its emptiness meant the planet was no longer recording anything.

The planet… had died.

And a dead planet meant—

Zulo's full resurrection.

He hadn't needed all the people to revive himself—just enough.

And the moment Robin and Anna summoned the Doomsday Beast to help Sora, the outcome was sealed.

If they hadn't helped, the end would've come even sooner.

"Feigning weakness to lure the enemy… a classic tactic."

The voice came from all around.

Zulo.

Fully reborn.

"To think you'd actually take the shot. I underestimated you."

His previous gambit—targeting their emotions—hadn't worked. They'd resisted.

"But it doesn't matter. You'll still die here today."

The planet shuddered.

Zulo, Planet-Class, initiated his assault.