Night fell softly over Shrek Academy, casting the campus in a veil of silver moonlight. Crickets whispered in the bushes, and the lights from the dormitory windows glowed warmly in the cool dark. Yet for those who had returned from the Rift, rest was far away.
Li Wei stood atop the outer cliff path alone, hands clasped behind his back. Below, the lights of the academy shimmered like fireflies, serene and distant. But within him, thoughts coiled—about the Rift, the girls evolution, the truth he hadn't told Flender, and what lay ahead.
"You always think too hard when it's quiet."
The voice floated up from behind him—familiar, soft, and tinged with mischief.
Xiao Wu stepped beside him, arms folded behind her head as she leaned out slightly to catch the breeze.
"Could say the same about you," Li Wei replied without turning. "You're always out here when you're not sleeping."
Xiao Wu smiled faintly. "Guilty. I guess… I miss the Rift sometimes. Not the danger, but the silence. The clarity."
A pause. Her smile faded.
"It was easier to be honest there," she said.
Li Wei finally turned to look at her. Her rabbit ears twitched gently in the wind, and her eyes—usually dancing with laughter—were serious now. Vulnerable.
"Xiao Wu..."
"I love you," she said, not blinking. "Still do. I just wanted you to hear it again. Here. In this world."
Li Wei inhaled slowly. His chest tightened—not from discomfort, but the weight of all she carried in those words. The Rift hadn't just given them strength—it had reshaped their hearts.
"I know," he said at last. "And I care for you. Deeply."
"But?"
He shook his head. "No 'but.' Just... it's not something I want to rush. You're important to me. All of you are. I want to carry that with respect, not instinct."
Xiao Wu gaze softened. She stepped forward, wrapping her arms gently around him. He hesitated a moment, then returned the embrace.
"You're too serious," she whispered into his shoulder.
"And you're too reckless."
"That's why we fit."
They stood that way for a time until a voice called from below.
"Li Wei, get down here! We're starting!" It was Ning Rongrong.
Xiao Wu giggled. "Saved by the bell?"
"More like saved from being teased all night."
They descended together, shadows trailing behind them in harmony.
___________________
In the training arena below, the air pulsed with faint heat and flickering light. A controlled flame blazed at the center of the courtyard—courtesy of Ma Hongjun.
"Duel matches tonight!" Oscar announced, striking a gong he absolutely did not have permission to use. "One-on-one, two-on-two, or free-for-alls—take your pick!"
"Who even gave you permission for this?" Ning Rongrong asked, arms crossed but smiling.
"I'm the spirit of morale! I don't need permission," Oscar said proudly.
"He's not wrong," muttered Dai Mubai, stretching one shoulder. "A few bouts might do us all some good."
Zhu Zhuqing adjusted her gloves silently, but her eyes drifted toward Li Wei.
Meng Yiran grinned, cracking her knuckles. "About time I got to knock someone around."
Li Wei stepped forward, surveying the group. "Pairs. One veteran with one less experienced fighter. We rotate. That way, no one slacks off."
No one argued.
The first round: Dai Mubai and Xiao Wu versus Oscar and Meng Yiran.
It was chaos.
Xiao Wu movement dazzled, teleporting through feints and sweeping Oscar off his feet with a smirk. Meng Yiran met Dai Mubai strength with clean counters, their weapons of claw and serpent cane clashing with sparks.
By the end of five minutes, both teams were panting, flushed, and laughing.
"Next!" Xiao Wu cheered.
Second round: Li Wei and Ning Rongrong versus Ma Hongjun and Zhu Zhuqing.
"Try not to burn your own teammate," Zhu Zhuqing said flatly.
"Ha! That only happened twice," Ma Hongjun grumbled.
As they took their positions, Ning Rongrong whispered to Li Wei, "Don't go easy on them."
"I wasn't planning to."
The match began with a flare of light—Ma Hongjun phoenix flame lighting up the courtyard, while Zhu Zhuqing moved through the shadows like a ghost.
But Li Wei's presence changed the air. With a flash of soul power, he activated his Kamen Rider Diend armor. The blue armor snapped into place, glowing briefly beneath the moonlight.
[BuffRide: Faiz!]
His speed and reaction surged—unnaturally fast. Even Zhu Zhuqing eyes widened for half a second before smirking in delight.
She vanished.
Reappeared behind him with a kick.
Blocked.
She twisted midair, her foot striking toward his flank, but a golden shield flared—Ning Rongrong support had already anticipated the movement.
The crowd coo.
Flender watched from the shadows beyond the arena with Liu Erlong and Zhao Wuji. He sipped from a teacup, brow raised.
"They're blending like a seasoned squads."
"They're dangerous now," Liu Erlong added. "It's not just power—it's synchronicity. That Rift didn't just give them strength—it gave them unity."
Zhao Wuji nodded. "And that boy... he's like the thread pulling it all together."
Yu Xiaogang at the side only look on as his theory being debunked one by one. Even the child that he put most of his hope cannot outperform Li Wei. His hand below the table clutch into a fist.
_______________
As the duels ended, the students collapsed onto the courtyard stones, tired but glowing with life.
Zhu Zhuqing sat beside Li Wei under the stone archway, her expression unreadable.
"You held back."
He gave a small nod. "A little."
"You shouldn't," she said, eyes locking onto his. "Not with me."
Li Wei studied her for a moment, then said, "Alright. Next time, I won't."
A faint smile touched her lips. "Good."
She leaned her head against his shoulder. "You're my equal. You don't need to protect me."
"I know," he said quietly. "But sometimes... I want to."
They sat like that for a moment, content in silence.
From across the courtyard, Ning Rongrong watched them. Xiao Wu stepped up beside her.
"You okay?" Xiao Wu asked softly.
Ning Rongrong nodded, then leaned her head sideways onto Xiao Wu shoulder. "It's strange. I feel… my heart full and calm. Even when I know I'm not the only one who loves him."
Xiao Wu smiled. "Maybe that's what makes us stronger. We share him, but we're not rivals."
"We're partners."
In the distance, Meng Yiran threw a pebble at Oscar head. "You're snoring too loud!"
"Was not!" he yelped.
Laughter filled the night again.
For a while, under the moon and stars, the echoes of the Rift faded. The warmth of camaraderie, fire, and love was all that remained.
But not far beyond the walls, in the shadowed trees, a lone figure stood watching.
His face was hidden beneath a traveler's cloak, but the gleam in his eyes burned cold.
"They've grown," the figure muttered. "Faster than expected."
A dark wind stirred the leaves.
"And soon, the world will need to decide… who they truly belong to."