It was night once again. Touka was on the attack.
This time, she planned to cause destruction in Yggdrasill's warehouse. She just happened to encounter Yoko passing by and immediately launched an assault on her.
After a brief exchange, Yoko was knocked to the ground. She quickly took out a Lockseed and transformed. However, she was still suppressed by Touka, who had transformed into Idunn.
"A new Armored Rider?" Yoko managed to vaguely see Idunn's appearance in the darkness.
Soon, as the alarm began to sound, Touka didn't plan to linger. She slashed Yoko with her sword and then summoned a crack, into which she disappeared.
Afterward, Takatora urgently summoned Ryoma.
"What is it, Takatora?" Ryoma asked him.
"We've confirmed the identity of the attacker. It's an Armored Rider we don't yet have control over," Takatora told him.
"Well, that's certainly surprising," Ryoma said, having become accustomed to such strange events.
"You must know something."
"If that Rider isn't one of the Beat Riders, then was it done by someone from within Yggdrasill?" Takatora Kureshima guessed. "It would be necessary to acquire a Sengoku Driver first, so that's the most logical assumption."
Ryoma spoke with absolute certainty.
"And? Are there any other characteristics?"
"According to Yoko, the attacker can control the Cracks and travel freely to and from Helheim Forest without the need for a Lockseed-powered motorcycle," Takatora explained.
"Controlling Cracks?" Upon hearing this, Ryoma's eyes immediately narrowed.
"That's the Apple Lockseed's ability, isn't it?" But that Apple Lockseed should be in Raven's hands right now.
"Apple Lockseed?" Takatora was confused, as this was the first time he had heard of the Apple Lockseed having this ability.
"So, that means Raven made a move?" Takatora's expression instantly darkened.
But he quickly shook his head and said, "I've heard that the attacker appears to be female, and the Rider she transforms into is unfamiliar to Yoko."
"That is strange. There should only be one of that Apple Lockseed," Ryoma stroked his chin, lost in thought. Could Raven have given the Lockseed to someone else?
Perhaps this is a good opportunity to retrieve some data, he thought to himself.
Ryoma suddenly said to Takatora, "Since that attacker has already targeted Sid and Yoko, the next target will either be you or me. In that case, why don't we set a trap?"
Takatora nodded in agreement.
That night, Ryoma walked alone down a dimly lit path. Takatora was hiding nearby.
Sure enough, a spatial Crack suddenly opened in the distance. A red armored Rider figure descended from it and immediately launched an attack on Ryoma.
However, the latter was well-prepared. His Driver and Lockseed were already secured on his belt, and he completed his transformation in an instant.
"Energy Lemon!"
The transformed Ryoma declared with excitement, "As expected, it's the Apple Lockseed!"
"But you're not Raven. Tell me, who exactly are you?"
Touka was alarmed. Her opponent had clearly been prepared, and her sneak attack had failed. Thus, she intended to defeat him in a head-on confrontation.
The power of the Apple Lockseed was indeed formidable, and with Touka's physical issues now resolved, she easily suppressed Ryoma, despite him using his hidden strength.
Seeing this, Takatora quickly transformed into Zangetsu Shin and rushed to assist. He slashed Touka from behind.
Clang!
Zangetsu Shin's power was considered the absolute peak among the Genesis Drivers, second only to Ryoma, who had specially tweaked his own Driver's data.
Now facing the combined efforts of the two, Touka began to falter. In the beginning, she could rely on the Apple Armor's defensive power to withstand the blows, but after taking continuous damage and several direct hits from Zangetsu, she lost her footing.
Furthermore, Ryoma stopped concealing his strength. At the risk of exposing himself, he maxed out his offensive output to a terrifying degree, all to gather data from Touka.
As a result, even Touka with the Apple Lockseed was beaten until she had no power to retaliate. She immediately summoned a Crack and dove into it.
"We're chasing her! She's gravely injured and shouldn't be able to escape far!" Ryoma Sengoku was not about to miss this golden opportunity to collect data on the Apple Lockseed.
He quickly took out his Lock Vehicle and immediately crossed into the Helheim Forest. Takatora followed suit.
In the Helheim Forest.
"Damn it…" Touka leaned against a tree, clutching her shoulder. She appeared to be very badly wounded. Luckily, her constitution was no longer that of an ordinary human, or she would have already collapsed.
"I won't be able to face Raven-san now." Touka looked at the wound and blood on her shoulder.
She had miscalculated this time, not expecting her opponents to deliberately lure her out.
"I have to get out of here quickly."
After only a brief rest, Touka was determined to return. But just as she stood up, a red figure walked toward her from the distance.
It was Demushu, one of the Over Lords of this forest.
"Another one of those damned monkeys." Seeing a human, Demushu became furious. Last time, Raven had humiliated him, and if it hadn't been for Redyue secretly helping him, he would have died. Now, he was looking for revenge.
"An Inves?" Touka stared at Demushu in shock. It can talk!
But this was no time for contemplation, and she decisively transformed.
"You look similar to that guy last time. You really are working together!" Seeing the Apple Armor, Demushu grew even angrier. He immediately charged forward with his sword, relentlessly hacking away.
Touka was unable to fight back and was ultimately forced out of her transformation.
This scene was witnessed by Ryoma and Takatora, who had pursued her.
"It's her?"
When Takatora clearly saw Touka's face, his heart sank. He never expected this new attacker to be the maid who served his own father.