The morning air at Shrek Academy was cool, the sky awash in the golden hues of a rising sun. Dew clung to the grass, and a thin mist curled near the training ground where students from both Shrek and Heaven Dou Imperial Academy stood gathered. Despite the natural serenity, an undercurrent of tension buzzed like an unsheathed blade.
The Emperor Team stood in a neat line, their uniforms crisp, their expressions uncertain. Yu Tianheng folded his arms, eyes narrowing at the young man across from him. Li Wei, clad in his usual green teal-white attire, adjusted the Diendriver holstered on his hip. The weight of seven gazes fell on him, yet his face remained unreadable.
"This is ridiculous," Dugu Yan muttered under her breath. "Even if he a Spirit King and there's only two-rank realm difference, do they think he able to fight all of us. How can this possibly be fair?"
"Indeed," Yu Tianheng added. "Qin Ming, are we really allowing this?"
The teacher in question stood nearby, arms behind his back. He looked at Flender, eyes laced with concern. "Principal Flender, are you sure this is wise? Even with control, one mistake could lead to serious injuries."
Flender responded calmly, a hand stroking his goatee. "Li Wei made the request himself. He's not reckless. We'll intervene if needed."
Li Wei spoke then, his voice even and resolute. "I need this. I want to measure the true gap between myself and a fully coordinated elite team. Don't worry. I won't go all out unless I have to."
Yu Feng, arms crossed and wings twitching faintly behind his back, snorted. "You might regret that."
A soft murmur rippled through the crowd as the combatants moved into position. The training field was cleared, the boundary marked with glowing lines of spirit power. Shrek students took their seats on the viewing stands, curiosity and nervous energy running rampant.
"This is insane," Oscar muttered, clutching a sausage nervously. "He's going to fight all seven of them alone."
Tang San said nothing, his eyes fixed on Li Wei, observing. Zhu Zhuqing, seated beside Xiao Wu, remained silent, her fingers curling around the edge of the bench.
At Flender's signal, the match began.
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Yu Feng took to the sky in an instant, the Wind Chime Bird giving him full command over aerial maneuvers. He zipped across the battlefield, emitting piercing sonic pulses meant to distract. Osler vanished into a blur of shadow, the Black Leopard spirit lending him terrifying speed as he darted toward Li Wei flank.
The Shi brothers moved as one, their earth-based martial spirits anchoring them in place as the frontline wall. Dugu Yan unleashed a creeping purple fog from her hands, poison mist coiling like snakes. Yu Tianheng raised his arm, lightning dancing across his fingers. Ye Lingling, positioned at the back, activated her Nine-Hearted Begonia, silently supporting the team.
Li Wei moved.
He sidestepped Osler strike with a pivot, narrowly avoiding a claw swipe. With fluid precision, he aimed the Diendriver and shoot toward the front after inserting a card into the side slot of Diendriver gun.
[KamenRide: Blade!]
A surge of blue light erupted, and a Kamen Rider materialized beside him, sword drawn. Blade parried Osler next strike, the clashing of metal ringing across the field. Li Wei fired at the mist creeping toward him, driving back Dugu Yan poison with bursts of spirit energy.
He wasn't retaliating yet. He was observing.
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[KamenRide: Kabuto!]
Another Rider appeared, red and silver, lightning-fast. Kabuto clashed with Yu Feng midair, halting the speedster momentum.
Li Wei moved through the chaos with fluid grace, countering Shi Mo forward assault while Blade blocked Yu Tianheng's thunderous strike. His footwork was sharp, eyes keen.
"He's holding them off," Tang San whispered. "But he's not trying to win yet. He reading them. Learning."
From a distance, Qin Ming frowned. "He's dissecting their tactics in real-time. That's not just power. That's battlefield intellect."
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Yu Tianheng gave a sharp command. "Form C! Focus pressure!"
The Shi brothers locked arms, creating a fortified front. Osler and Yu Feng launched coordinated speed feints, their paths intersecting to confuse tracking. Dugu Yan flooded the left side with dense fog. Lightning surged forward, guided by Yu Tianheng martial soul.
Still, Li Wei didn't panic.
He took a breath and changed the tide.
[AttackRide: Blast.]
A hail of energy bullets erupted from the Diendriver gun, forcing Osler and Yu Feng to retreat. He take the K-touch device from the side.
He press the K-touch device and the announcement call:
Mechanical voice sound:
[G4, Ryuga, Orga, Glaive, Kabuki, Caucasus, Arc, Skull! Final Kamen Ride: Diend!]
He wears the Diend Complete Kamen Rider Card on his helmet, embedded in the Diend Crown, and on his chest are 8 Kamen Ride Cards of the main antagonistic movie-exclusive Kamen Riders.
His aura exploded.
Golden circuit patterns lit up across his armor as the Diend Complete Form overtook him. With a swipe, three Riders appeared simultaneously: Kiva Emperor Form, Agito Flame Form, and Faiz Blaster.
"Break them."
Kiva unleashed a wave of crimson energy, scattering the Shi brothers defense. Agito flames purified the poison fog, nullifying Dugu Yan hold. Faiz targeted Osler with homing blasts, forcing the agility expert into evasive mode.
Yu Tianheng struck again, lightning like a dragon, but Li Wei caught it mid-cast with his own palm, deflecting the energy with a shockwave.
Dugu Yan stumbled back, sweat beading her brow.
"He's not just fast. He predicts us. Reads our every move."
Yu Feng circled above, trying to find an opening, but Kabuto was always there, intercepting him with maddening precision.
Ye Lingling was doing all she could, her spirit power spread thin. "I can't keep up with this constant healing... He's forcing our tempo, breaking our rhythm."
Qin Ming jaw clenched. "So this is what a genius with overwhelming spirit power looks like when he fights without restraints."
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Yu Tianheng launched his final assault, backed by Osler, Shi Mo, and Yu Feng. They all converged on Li Wei, a last-ditch combined strike. For the first time, Li Wei narrowed his eyes.
"Time for the finals." He utter after seeing that the emperor team no longer able to sustain their attack.
[Final Attack Ride: Diend!]
Nine rings of cards showing all the rider appear before Diend fires a green and black beam through them. A chorus of finishers exploded outward: Kabuto Clock Up Rider Kick, Kiva Darkness Moon Break, Agito Burning Rider Kick.
The field lit up with blasts of elemental fury.
When the dust settled, the Emperor Team was on one knee or worse, panting, bruised, but alive. Ye Lingling had kept them from falling unconscious.
Yu Tianheng, breathing hard, raised a hand. "We yield."
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Silence fell.
Li Wei deactivated his Diendriver, the glowing circuits fading. He exhaled deeply, sweat dotting his brow.
No one cheered. No one laughed. But respect was carved into every pair of eyes watching.
Yu Tianheng walked forward, extending a hand. "You win. That... was not humiliating. It was enlightening."
Li Wei shook his hand firmly. "You all fought well. Strong coordination. Strong hearts."
Dugu Yan gave him a sideways glance. "Grandfather always did say your spirit was troublesome. I see why."
Tang San sat quietly, a storm swirling behind his eyes. 'That's the strength I must surpass. I will.'
Flender clapped once, shattering the silence. "Lesson over. All of you — learn from this. This is the standard you're all chasing."
As students dispersed slowly, the sun rose higher, casting warm light over a field where pride had clashed, and growth had been earned.