Under Kureshima Takatora's sincere request, Ryuga decided not to tell him that he was secretly helping Mitsuzane acquire the Sengoku Driver. After all, if Takatora found out, he might beat him senseless.
"But why don't you train him yourself? As Director of the Yggdrasill Corporation, don't tell me you can't act independently? Especially when it comes to your own brother," Ryuga asked, still puzzled.
"It's precisely because he's my brother that I can't. If it were just a random civilian, it'd be different," Takatora replied seriously. "But Zawame's researchers, especially Ryoma Sengoku, will never allow Mitsuzane to get involved—not under my name."
He paused, then added with a grim expression, "And if I go to him personally, I'll be forced to explain the whole situation... about the Helheim Forest."
Ryuga frowned. "But Mitsuzane's still young. He has a right to know the world could end."
Takatora shook his head firmly. "No. It's enough for adults like us to shoulder that burden. He should have the chance to live without knowing the world might fall apart."
"Alright then," Ryuga agreed, nodding with rare admiration. "I respect your thinking."
Following the route Takatora had marked, Ryuga made his way from the underground parking lot into the base of the World Tree Tower. Since it was a stealth rescue, there was no need to go in guns blazing.
But just as he reached the entrance, someone unexpected—but not entirely surprising—was already waiting.
"Sagara?" Ryuga narrowed his eyes. "Waiting for me? What do you want?"
Sagara smirked. "Aren't you surprised to see me?"
"No. Someone told me who you are long ago," Ryuga said casually, stuffing his hands into his pockets. "Not your World Tree alias... your Helheim identity."
Sagara's expression stiffened. "Who told you that?"
"Who else? The Maiden of Fate herself," Ryuga replied, smirking. "So... since I'm the chosen one this time around, shouldn't you offer me a gift or two?"
"Tch..." Sagara scowled but tossed him two items with a huff. "Don't get cocky. Even if you get the Golden Fruit, you're not my boss!"
Ryuga caught the items and inspected them: a Genesis Core attachment and a Lemon Energy Lockseed.
The Energy Lockseeds were S-class devices—more powerful than standard A-class Lockseeds. Unlike regular ones that grew naturally from Helheim's fruit, S-class seeds were refined in secret by Ryoma Sengoku, meant exclusively for the more advanced Genesis Driver system.
The Genesis Core in his hand wasn't a full belt but a modular enhancement that could be attached to a Sengoku Driver to enable energy transformation using S-class Lockseeds.
"Guess Sagara can be generous after all," Ryuga muttered with a grin.
He continued through the facility unimpeded and arrived at the holding cells. Inside, both Mitsuzane and Kureshima Takatora's rival, Kumon Kaito, were being detained.
Sliding a key card into the reader—courtesy of Takatora—Ryuga opened the cell doors.
"Well, well... Kaito, what happened to your pride? You're looking pretty rough," Ryuga teased.
"Hmph!" Kaito turned away in embarrassment, cheeks red. "I didn't need your help."
"Mitchy," Ryuga turned to Mitsuzane. "Do you know where your Driver and Lockseeds are kept?"
"Yes, Brother Ryuga!" Mitsuzane responded quickly, eyes shining with gratitude. He then led them through the facility to recover their belongings.
There, among their Drivers and Lockseeds, was also a mass-produced Sengoku Driver prototype. Apparently, Ryoma had brought it to flaunt their superiority when capturing them. With no hesitation, Kaito snatched it up.
As the trio attempted to retrace their path out, alarms finally rang throughout the tower.
Ryuga sighed. "Really? I walked straight in earlier and nobody noticed. But now that I'm leaving with guests, now security kicks in?"
They pushed forward, encountering resistance only near the base of the World Tree—where a crack to Helheim was located. The shadowy mass-produced Inves tried to stop them, but they fought through to the exit.
Just as they reached the portal, two combatants arrived to stop them.
"You two go ahead—I'll hold them off," Ryuga said calmly, spotting their pursuers: Sid, wielding a red Genesis Driver, and Yoko Minato, Ryoma's secretary.
Kaito didn't argue. He nodded and jumped through the portal. Mitsuzane hesitated for a moment but quickly followed.
Sid sneered. "Oh? One against two? How brave."
"Oh, is that you, Sister Peach?" Ryuga ignored Sid entirely and smiled at Yoko. "Nice to meet you."
"'Sister Peach'? Are you talking about me?" Yoko glanced at the Peach Energy Lockseed in her hand, brow raised.
"How did you know I haven't used this one yet—at least not in front of you?" she asked.
"I don't know a lot of things," Ryuga shrugged, "but unfortunately for you, your secrets aren't on that list."
Sid growled. "You talk too much. Time to die!"
[Cherry Energy!]
"Henshin!"
[Lock On!]
[Soda! Cherry Energy Arms!]
Kamen Rider Sigurd—Cherry Energy Form!
Yoko followed immediately.
[Peach Energy!]
"Henshin!"
[Lock On!]
[Soda! Peach Energy Arms!]
Kamen Rider Marika—Peach Energy Form!
Unlike Sengoku Drivers which summoned unique weapons, the Genesis Driver granted both Riders a Sonic Arrow—a red energy bow used in both ranged and melee combat.
Ryuga smirked. "Sid, your form's so ugly I won't comment. But Sister Peach—your transformation pose is kind of... charming. Isn't that at odds with your usual no-nonsense demeanor? Or is it the contrast that's attractive?"
Yoko: "..."
"You little punk!" Sid shouted, enraged. He lunged with his Sonic Arrow but Ryuga easily dodged every swing with just slight shifts in posture—without even moving his feet.
"Do you have any moves worth my attention?" Ryuga finally looked at Sid, expression blank. "Even with the Genesis Driver, you can't touch a hair on my head. What use are you to World Tree?"
"You—!" Sid was now completely furious. Charging his Sonic Arrow, he prepared a full-power slash, planning to release it point-blank.
Ryuga sighed. "I guess it's time."
He pulled out his Sengoku Driver and inserted the Genesis Core that Sagara had given him.
"What?! That's a Genesis Core! How do you have that?" Yoko gasped.
"Take a wild guess," Ryuga replied, smirking as he took out the Orange Lockseed and Lemon Energy Lockseed.
[Orange! Lemon Energy!]
[Lock On!]
"Henshin!"
[Soiya! Mix! Orange Arms!]
[Ikebana On Stage!]
[Jimber Lemon! Ha-ha!]
Kamen Rider Gaim—Jimber Lemon Arms!
"Now this... this is my stage."
With a battle cry and a glint in his eyes, Ryuga stepped forward—ready to show them exactly why he was chosen.