"Well, how do I know if you're telling the truth or lying? Besides, my salary requirements are very high…"
"But I want you to work for free. I don't plan on paying you a salary," Raven said as he walked, his tone utterly playful.
"How can you be like that? It seems you have no sincerity at all." Saeko's expression shifted, and she instinctively took a few steps back. She felt an extremely strong sense of oppression. If it had been Takuma, he would have already fled in panic.
But Saeko's mental fortitude was formidable.
"The fact that I'm not killing you is the greatest sincerity I can offer. What more do you want?" Raven quipped.
"Just fight already. Stop talking so much!" Saeko's voice was cold.
She was the first to attack Raven. Better to take the initiative than continue suffering this mental torment! Saeko's stance was unwavering: to completely abandon her human heart and stand with the Orphnochs. In the original series, she eventually obtained eternal life from the Orphnoch King, but the price was the complete surrender of her last human body, leaving her permanently in her Orphnoch form.
Raven, now transformed into Kaixa, responded to Saeko's assault with confident ease. Relying solely on punches and kicks, he utterly overwhelmed her, leaving her defenseless. This was the power of the Kaixa Gear. While the cost of using it was the highest among the three Rider Belts, it also granted incredibly powerful offensive capabilities.
"That guy is so strong…" Keitaro watched, completely dumbfounded. The Lobster Orphnoch who had effortlessly thrashed Takumi Inui (Faiz) was like a plaything in front of Raven.
Raven sighed softly. After kicking Saeko away, he half-crouched, removed the Mission Memory from the belt, and attached it to the device on his right ankle. It looked like he intended to use his Finishing Move and put an end to her.
It was a shame to see her perish. Although Saeko Kageyama belonged to the villainous faction, she had a certain charm. Her makeup was too seductive, but she was an attractive woman underneath it. Raven had never particularly disliked this character.
After a moment of faint regret, he leaped high into the air. Mid-flight, the pointer on his leg instantly locked onto Saeko Kageyama, transforming into a golden drill!
When Saeko picked herself up, the targeting made her body freeze, unable to move from the spot.
"Am I… going to die?"
In that instant, countless thoughts flashed through Saeko's mind.
Raven attacked without hesitation, launching his Rider Kick in the air, unleashing his ultimate technique: the Gold Smash!
Just as Raven's figure was about to connect with the kick, a blur of motion arrived at high speed and stopped directly in front of Saeko Kageyama.
The newcomer was Kitazaki, transformed into his Dragon Orphnoch form. Kitazaki's armor suddenly expanded, and he switched to his Demon (or Majin) form. Compared to the Dragon form's phenomenal speed, this form possessed exceptionally high strength and defense, and his physique expanded significantly.
Boom!
The power of Kitazaki's Demon form effortlessly blocked the Gold Smash. In the original series, he survived taking all three Rider Kicks—from Faiz, Kaixa, and Delta—simultaneously, demonstrating his immense strength.
Raven, still in the posture of the Rider Kick, was immediately sent flying by a punch from Kitazaki.
"Kitazaki, you've arrived." Saeko breathed a sigh of relief as the Gold Smash effect vanished.
"It really is interesting, isn't it? Miss Saeko, you were almost killed just now." Kitazaki spoke to the woman who had just cheated death with the casual attitude of a spectator enjoying a show.
"Thank you, Kitazaki." Saeko's expression was slightly awkward. Though she voiced her thanks, she knew deep down that Kitazaki's intervention was purely motivated by the prospect of fun and excitement.
Kitazaki grinned and walked toward Faiz nearby. "Hey, your belt looks fun. Why don't you hand it over to me?"
"You bastard! Don't underestimate me!"
Takumi Inui, already disgruntled, rushed forward, attempting to attack Kitazaki. Yet, in several attempts, he failed to even graze Kitazaki's body and was easily stomped to the ground. Even in his bulkier Demon form, Kitazaki's speed was still far superior to Faiz's.
"Too weak."
Kitazaki, with one foot on Takumi, crouched slightly and looked down at him, seemingly finding Takumi utterly boring.
Hiding in the car, Keitaro was thoroughly terrified. Where did such an incredibly powerful Orphnoch suddenly come from?
Just as Kitazaki prepared to strike the killing blow on Takumi, a voice rang out from a distance.
"Hey, your opponent is me."
Raven glared at Kitazaki, his face etched with displeasure. But deep down, a thrill of battle was ignited. It was the joy of a hunter finding worthy prey. After waiting so long, he finally had an opponent that could pressure him.
———————
Want to read ahead of schedule? Head over to my patreon ——— patreon(.)com/JuanFiction [remove the parentheses ( )]
There are over 100 advance chapters available for you!