Ch: 165-170
Chapter 165 Chapter 165
Wang Haoyu's reprimand made Fuwa Isamu instinctively raise his key to block.
The key actually canceled out all the overwhelming firepower.
"Impossible! This is absolutely impossible!"
"No one can withstand the firepower!"
"Correction—no one can contend with the Dodo's power!"
After all, this power was based on Fuwa Isamu's own combat data.
In fact, as early as when he delivered the Rider belt, Wang Haoyu had already laid a contingency plan.
There is no existence in the World that cannot be replicated.
The moment the genuine article is born, the counterfeit is already like a shadow.
Sometimes imitations can even surpass the originals.
The Dodo's ability to endlessly replicate model 090 is precisely based on this principle.
And through special training and actual combat, Wang Haoyu allowed Fuwa Isamu to continuously break through his limits—
Every day, he was getting stronger.
"The Humagear's obsession is here, are you sure you can defeat it?"
Wang Haoyu coldly glanced at the Dodo.
"Fuwa Isamu, attack!"
Fuwa Isamu was only facing a phantom of the Dodo.
At the same time, the figure of Dodo Magia appeared on the other side.
Wang Haoyu stepped forward to meet it.
"Shining Hopper"
"Authority Activated"
A more dazzling golden light burst forth from the sky.
Wang Haoyu rotated the Progrise Key.
A giant golden grasshopper suddenly appeared in front of him.
"Armed Start"
"Program Enhance"
"Radiant Bloom"
"Aerial Assault"
"Shining Hopper"
"Dawn Breaks, Night Disperses"
Dodo Magia's expression was calm.
"You can't even defeat my clone, yet you want to challenge the original? Come on, let me teach you to recognize the gap!"
Dodo Magia's armor was fiery red.
Accompanying its attack, a scorching red barrage of flames rushed directly towards Wang Haoyu.
Wang Haoyu swiftly dodged, instantly moving behind it.
Countless afterimages of Wang Haoyu instantly appeared around Dodo Magia.
All images suddenly froze.
Just as Dodo Magia hesitated, the frozen phantoms suddenly launched an attack.
The dense barrage of consecutive hits made it difficult to parry.
Under continuous heavy damage, Dodo Magia's armor was on the verge of collapse.
"System Repair"
It quickly rotated the Metsuboujinrai Forceriser Key—
Those clones were merely fragments of the key aggregated.
Wang Haoyu had long anticipated Dodo Magia's self-repair ability.
This was precisely why he hadn't directly launched a strong attack.
Dodo Magia, suspended in mid-air, roared:
"Annihilate!"
A crimson rain of bullets poured down onto the ground.
But it underestimated Wang Haoyu's swiftness.
"Million Radiance Impact"
Wang Haoyu soared into the air, level with his enemy.
His left leg, like a flash of lightning, kicked the opponent's core.
"Boom—"
Dodo Magia shattered into pieces with an explosion.
The Metsuboujinrai Key fell to the ground.
Wang Haoyu deliberately slowed his movements—he knew that when his arch-nemesis fell, the true opponent would finally appear.
Due to opposing stances, Dodo Magia completely broke ties with the Thunder Organization.
The Metsuboujinrai Progrise Key carried by Dodo Magia contained destructive power, and the Thunder Organization would never stand idly by.
An Agent codenamed "Sting Dystopia" appeared, instantly knocking down Fuwa Isamu and Yaiba Yua, who had come to provide support.
"You planned all of this?" Fuwa Isamu asked through gritted teeth.
"Of course, the Zero-One System within Hiden Group Chairman Wang Haoyu has become a threat. Farewell."
The mysterious person in purple armor turned to leave, but Wang Haoyu signaled Fuwa Isamu not to pursue.
"Why let him go?" Yaiba Yua keenly sensed something was amiss.
"I already tampered with the key in his hand; it's scrap metal now." Wang Haoyu was confident. At this moment, the satellite launched by Zaia was still suspended high in the sky, and the mystery remained unsolved.
"There are more urgent matters now." The three of them disengaged from combat.
In the secret laboratory, Izu was guarding the unconscious Waz Holmes.
"What happened to him?" Fuwa Isamu was full of questions. Wang Haoyu didn't explain—in the Humagear's settings, if the radio wave power was depleted beyond the safe limit, it would lead to complete destruction.
"Is there still hope?" Izu's voice trembled.
Yaiba Yua lightly patted her shoulder: "Trust in Mr. Wang Haoyu's abilities."
To revive a Humagear that had lost its radio wave power was nothing short of a miracle, but Wang Haoyu decided to take the risk.
"Activate Rider Radio Wave Power."
"Too dangerous!" Izu exclaimed, "This will deplete your energy reserves!"
The radio wave power transmitted by the satellite and the energy generated within Wang Haoyubelonged to different systems.
"Charging started... completed."
Three minutes later, Waz Holmes's eye lights flickered back on: "I'm... what?"
**
In his chip, the scene from earlier was still clear—he hadn't expected to be reborn at this moment.
Waz Holmes was overjoyed.
"The 090 data is perfectly intact, and the radio wave energy is abundant, it's simply too perfect."
"Congratulations, brother, you're finally back."
A look of pure joy appeared on Izu's face.
Her affection for this older brother was growing stronger—especially at the brink of death, he was willing to risk his life for her, a bond that had long surpassed the usual connection between robots.
"With Waz Holmes's return, Izu can also resume normal work."
Wang Haoyu spoke Izu's thoughts aloud.
Everyone, having been busy all day, was a little tired. In the evening, Wang Haoyu arranged for everyone to rest quickly, while he returned to the Base to continuously monitor the movements of the Zaia satellite.
Six hours had passed since the satellite launch, but Zaia had shown no reaction—the calmer it was, the more abnormal it seemed.
"Zaia... what exactly are they planning?"
With this question, Wang Haoyu gradually fell into a deep sleep.
The next day, in the Base.
Selena, Fuwa Isamu, Hiden Isamu, Izu, and Waz Holmes stood behind Wang Haoyu, looking at his fluid operations with surprise.
"Good heavens! Is Mr. Wang Haoyu's brain made of chips?" Fuwa Isamu blurted out.
Such rapid reaction speed was simply illogical!
"So that's it."
Wang Haoyu suddenly showed a look of realization.
No wonder they couldn't find any trace of Zaia—they were infiltrating space in batches!
"Zaia has already sent people into space!" Selena was the first to realize.
"What?!"
"What?!"
Three exclamations burst out simultaneously.
Launching satellites was already a violation, but now an even more serious situation had been discovered—Zaia had even secretly dispatched personnel into space! What exactly was their purpose?
"Immediately contact A.M.S. Leader."
"Understood."
Wang Haoyu was certain that this leader was unaware of this matter. But it was too late to stop it now, and he didn't intend to act rashly either.
"Mr. Wang Haoyu, it's been a while! After receiving your intelligence, we immediately launched an investigation and indeed found clues—Zaia is clearly harboring ill intentions!"
On the other end of the communication, the A.M.S. Leader's tone was indignant.
Recently, Zaia had not only launched satellites but also repeatedly made shocking moves.
Catherine's investigation results showed that the Zaia Group was collecting Progrise Keys on a large scale, and the number had reached an astonishing level.
The Progrise Keys held by Wang Haoyu's team were also possessed by Tengen Gai.
Wang Haoyu closed his eyes slightly, lost in thought.
He knew Tengen Gai was by no means a collector.
Few people in this World truly understood the purpose of Progrise Keys.
Tengen Gai was one of them.
Could it be for... a terrifying guess suddenly flashed through Wang Haoyu's mind.
He must be planning the Thouser Project!
So that's it, no wonder they secretly launched satellites; all the clues could be connected.
Implementing the Thouser Project was not easy.
Moreover, the Progrise Keys in Tengen Gai's hands were just replicas.
This plan could not be completed with mere replicas.
Tengen Gai was too naive after all.
"Zaia has already sent people into action, you A.M.S. should be prepared to respond."
Wang Haoyu reminded.
Upon hearing the words "people already in action," the A.M.S. person in charge immediately stood up.
"The Zaia Group is simply too audacious!"
They dared to act without prior declaration.
"If there's new information, I'll have Selena contact you."
"Understood, Mr. Wang Haoyu."
The A.M.S. person in charge felt deeply fortunate to be working with Wang Haoyu.
If not for Wang Haoyu, they might not have even noticed until Zaia had completed their mission.
A.M.S., known as the "strongest in power," had repeatedly suffered setbacks in front of Wang Haoyu.
After the call, the A.M.S. person in charge immediately began to reorganize and deploy.
"If we don't strengthen our team building, A.M.S. will collapse. Look at how much information he gathered with just a little attention, while you, with high salaries, are ineffective. If we can't take down Zaia this time, everyone resign!"
The A.M.S. person in charge, who rarely got angry, was truly enraged this time.
A sudden incident occurred, yet they were completely unaware. It would be fine if they weren't in this industry, but unfortunately... Wang Haoyu led his team back to the company.
They began to research the movements of the Thunder Organization.
Currently, the organization's Jin and Ikazuchi have been eliminated.
Remaining are Horobi and Naki, still lurking.
These two are elusive, always able to locate problematic Humagears at the first opportunity.
"What preventive measures do you think should be taken?"
Wang Haoyu handed this question to Yaiba Yua and Fuwa Isamu to answer.
---
Improving one's abilities is not only achieved through battle; there can be gains at this moment as well.
"I believe we must find Horobi and Naki as soon as possible to avoid further complications," Yaiba Yuastated her opinion.
"But I believe the current priority is to deal with the Zaia problem." Fuwa Isamu's view was completely different from Yaiba Yua's.
Both matters were urgent, yet neither could be resolved immediately.
"How about this, you both act according to your respective plans, and contact me anytime if needed." Since there was a difference of opinion, it was better to proceed separately. There was no right or wrong in the choice itself; different stances naturally led to different conclusions.
"Understood, mission accomplished." Fuwa Isamu responded solemnly.
"Waz Holmes, you are now tasked with a crucial mission—infiltrate the Zaia satellite's flight cabin." Wang Haoyu assigned him a new mission.
"You're not trying to get rid of me, are you?" Waz Holmes lowered his head, not daring to look directly, worried that he was becoming a burden.
"Quite the opposite, this mission is indispensable for you; you are the most suitable candidate." Among the current personnel, Waz Holmes was indeed the optimal choice.
"I didn't expect to be so important... I'm so honored!" He excitedly gesticulated.
Wang Haoyu's designated target location was the Zaia satellite launch Base. After evaluation, only Waz Holmes met the conditions for execution. After briefly explaining the mission details, he immediately set off.
"Everyone, await good news!" Waz Holmes confidently bid farewell.
Once this matter was arranged, Wang Haoyu refocused on the previous topic:
"Let's continue our discussion—why can the Thunder Organization always pinpoint Humagears that awaken self-awareness at the first opportunity?"
Chapter 166 – Chapter 166
The Humagear program anomaly stems from a system bug triggered by Self-Awareness, giving the Thunder Organization an opening. Yet how they pinpoint targets has remained a mystery—just as Wang Haoyu suspected.
---
(
"There's almost certainly a Thunder Station mole inside Hiden; we just haven't caught them."
Hiden Intelligence spans the globe—wherever there's AI, it's there. The scope is simply too vast.
Right now Wang Haoyu's headquarters and every subsidiary run identical hardware stacks. If someone tampers with the system, the odds—no, the probability—are sky-high.
"If that's true, we're in trouble…" Fuwa Isamu's face darkened… Thunder Station Base.
"Finally hit the target quota."
Rows of machines and progrise keys lined up before her.
"Time to set him loose and gather more keys!" The current stock is nowhere near enough for the plan… Wang Haoyu is still analyzing the intel the board received.
Izu steps in to report: "The board meeting will begin shortly; please attend at once, Chairman."
Facing the directors is unavoidable. The moment their profits dip, they leap about like clowns; once the storm passes, they wilt like frost-bitten eggplants.
The instant Wang Haoyu sets foot in the chamber, accusations fly.
"This month's public outcry has gravely damaged the Group's image!"
"How does the President intend to take responsibility?"
"You do have a plan to restore our reputation, right?"
Wang Haoyu's fingers drum the table; Izu speaks: "Once we secure the Dodo Extinction Key, we can expose Thunder Station's conspiracy and clear the company's name."
In fact, the key is already in Wang Haoyu's hands. To avoid alerting the enemy, he keeps it strictly confidential, letting Thunder Station believe their fake is genuine.
"I will protect the company," Wang Haoyu says calmly.
A director jumps up: "No, no—"
Before he can finish, two Humagears burst through the doors:
"Mr. President, you'd better resign."
Wang Haoyu keeps his head down, working through documents, ignoring the commotion at the door.
Several directors whisper among themselves.
"Who are those two?"
Data streams flicker across Izu's pupils.
"Satellite ZAIA administrators—the Astronaut Brothers Humagears, codenames Thunder and Fog Shadow."
Thunder suddenly points at Fuwa Isamu: "You requisitioned a bike without authorization this morning."
"I did," Fuwa replies, hands in pockets. "Which company rule bans employees from using vehicles?"
Per policy, Hiden staff are indeed entitled to company transport.
Fog Shadow's mechanical pupils narrow to slits: "We ended up retrieving the vehicle—don't create pointless extra work." Though his expression never changes, the cold electronic voice grates.
Fuwa frowns. Emergencies grant exemptions, but he doesn't want further trouble.
"Got it. I'll be more careful next time."
"Good that you understand." Thunder turns to leave, only to be yanked back by Fog Shadow.
"Understand what!" Fog Shadow's synthesized voice jumps an octave. "People close to the Presidentget special privileges?"
A director cuts in: "He's right! We can't overlook this!"
A metal hand seizes the director's tie; Fog Shadow's speaker crackles: "Who gave you the right to butt in? Can't the President discipline his staff—or maybe…" the mechanical head swivels 180°, "…you directors aren't doing your part to advise him?"
The director's teeth chatter: "S-sorry!"
Fuwa's eyes go wide.
So when AI loses its temper,
it's ten times scarier than any human.
He'd assumed Humagears were just cold machines—unless, like those that awaken, they couldn't show emotion at all.
Izu adds: "Space Wolf Mang is a veteran employee of the company; through long experience he's developed a strict mentoring style for newcomers."
Within Hiden Group, Humagears have their own hierarchy—no different from any other staff.
Wang Haoyu, however, rather likes these astronaut models. System scans show their software is dated, yet their hardware is intact and capable of self-updating.
"Now you'll experience firsthand how tough space work is—keep up with our demo." Space Wolf Mangsuddenly grabs Fuwa Isamu—designation 090.
"That urgent?" Fuwa is mildly surprised. He recalls Wang Haoyu already rocketed Waz Holmes into orbit; the envy he felt earlier has now evaporated.
The Astronaut Brothers' abrupt intervention derails the board meeting; everyone is shifted to the Space Business Development Center.
Inside the Base, Rockets stand in forests and satellites crowd the view. Most striking is the titanium-alloy arc-dome—its precision finish both receives satellite signals and pinpoints orbital faults.
When satellites relay high-difficulty fault codes, it's time for the Space Wolf Raiden brothers to deploy. The facility also stores every variety of Hiden Intelligence space hardware.
"So this is the gateway to the Universe!" Fuwa can't hide his excitement—everything here is brand-new to him.
"Those space bikes are remotely piloted by Satellite ZAIA," Izu explains succinctly.
"Not just the bikes—every Humagear on Earth is regulated by Zaia satellite," Space Wolf Raiden says proudly, chin high; his partner adds, "We bear the noble mission of uniting the cosmos!"
Vacuum is lethal to humans, yet poses no problem for Humagears purpose-built for space. That's exactly why Hiden Group created the Space Brothers—to break the biological chains limiting humanity's reach for the stars.
Humankind was confined to a cramped living sphere, unable to push farther into the stars.
The mechanical life-forms, Humagears, had broken that limit. Their hardened titanium alloy bodies, once simply programmed, could carry out every kind of space operation flawlessly.
"Fuwa Isamu, fancy a sightseeing trip to space?" Wang Haoyu asked with a grin.
To Wang Haoyu the boundless cosmos felt as familiar as his own back garden. This realm might as well have been made for him; what others saw as deadly peril was the playground where he thrived.
"Mr. Wang Haoyu... would you come with us?" Fuwa Isamu felt, inexplicably, that as long as Wang Haoyu was around everything would be fine.
"Since we're going together, we won't need a Rocket." Wang Haoyu said it as if it were nothing.
The answer stunned everyone. No Rocket—so were they supposed to use a staggeringly expensive man-made spacecraft for a simple jaunt? Fuwa Isamu couldn't help pressing, "Then what are we taking?"
"A Warship," Wang Haoyu replied, the word detonating like Thunder.
Yaiba Yua and the Humagears all showed looks of disbelief. The three mechanical life-forms—Yua, Raiden and Mang—registered rare program fluctuations.
Modern science still couldn't solve the problem of launching a Warship; both energy systems and launch technology were World-class research bottlenecks. "President, you're not joking, right?" Raiden asked cautiously.
Wang Haoyu answered with action. He produced his progrise key: "Kamen Rider zero-one—WarshipMode."
At the command, a giant Warship snapped into hover above the ground. The key switched to "Pressure" mode, its gravity field whisking everyone aboard in the blink of an eye. The sophisticated equipment inside had Raiden and Mang, mechanical life-forms though they were, firing up their scanners in excitement.
Their terminal systems contained virtually every cutting-edge technology of the era.
To handle any contingency in space, the Hiden R&D Centre had issued the team top-tier gear.
But even these seasoned veterans had never dealt with a structure so massive.
They glanced left and right, eyes almost too full to take it in.
"Absolutely mind-blowing!"
"If I could work here, I'd definitely become the best astronaut ever."
"Hmph, I'm the better one!"
Wang Haoyu paid no attention to the bickering Humagears.
After all, they couldn't break the equipment.
As they chatted, the ship had already slipped into space.
The Universe stretched without end; humanity's existence was but a single grain in the vast sea.
A speck of dust... The Astronaut Brothers were supposed to guide Fuwa Isamu, yet in the end it was Wang Haoyu who led their tour of Sector 093.
An hour later the Transport Ship returned safely.
While everyone was still riding the high, an uninvited guest strode toward them.
"Nakanatsu Rin, isn't it rather improper for someone of your standing to appear here?"
Wang Haoyu narrowed his eyes. Nakanatsu Rin, a senior executive of Zaia—while Hiden Space Centreallowed outside visitors, bitter rivals were not on the guest list.
Although Zaia was in the same industry, its methods disgusted Wang Haoyu.
"You two must be the famous Astronaut Brothers—Space Wolf Raiden and Mang?" Nakanatsu Rin cut straight to the chase.
"We are. What do you want?" Space Wolf Mang's tone was hostile.
"I'm Nakanatsu Rin, Chief Secretary to Zaia Group's CEO. I've long heard of your outstanding abilities and came especially to seek your guidance."
Wang Haoyu saw through the charade. In this business, so-called "guidance" was just a cover for a fight to the death.
"Forget it," Space Wolf Raiden answered coldly. "We are intelligences manufactured by Hiden and serve Hiden alone. Since you're not part of Hiden, you have no right to ask anything of us."
The reply caught Nakanatsu Rin off guard. Intelligence had said the Astronaut Brothers had clashed with Hiden's Chairman; she had rushed over, only to find the bond still unbreakable.
"Don't worry—Zaia only wants you to answer a few questions, not to restrict your freedom."
Tengen Gai had ordered Nakanatsu Rin to bring the Astronaut Brothers back, no matter what.
"They've already refused—are you going to abduct them?"
Yaiba Yua couldn't stand it any longer.
She had long been dissatisfied with this pair of rivals.
Last time, if not for this woman, Hiden Group wouldn't have been subjected to an A.M.S. investigation.
Fortunately Wang Haoyu had arrived in time, or things would have turned ugly.
Nakanatsu Rin naturally sensed the hostility in her eyes.
"Surely... you're not going to start a fight on Hiden's own turf?"
"Think carefully about the consequences before you draw a weapon."
Wang Haoyu stared at the ground, calm and unperturbed.
Nakanatsu Rin knew she was no match for Wang Haoyu.
Snatching anyone from his hands was nigh impossible; if the matter reached A.M.S., it would bring trouble for Tengen Gai and Zaia.
"Since Chairman Wang Haoyu has spoken, I won't press the issue. Goodbye."
With that, Nakanatsu Rin turned and left.
"Something's off—Zaia's people are usually stubborn; why the sudden retreat..."
Fuwa Isamu scratched his head in puzzlement.
But the objective had been achieved, so he couldn't be bothered to dig deeper.
The Space Wolf brothers, Raiden and Mang, maintained Satellite ZAIA and knew its systems inside out.
"You call yourselves Satellite Experts? Then let me test you."
Wang Haoyu wanted to gauge their abilities.
"Can you detect a Humagear satellite that possesses Self-Awareness?"
Chapter 167 – Chapter 167
The answer was, of course, yes—because every byte of data was already in their hands.
"Naturally! Zea is the most advanced satellite system on the planet."
Space Wolf Raiden answered with pride.
The Hiden Group had every right to be confident.
No other company in the World could match the scale of its satellite network; even A.M.S. had to create a special ** section just for them.
Raiden's reply confirmed Wang Haoyu's suspicion: somewhere inside the Group a hidden Xun Lei ** existed.
"Don't tell me you're that **?"
Fuwa Isamu blurted out.
The careless remark instantly infuriated the veteran employee.
Space Wolf Raiden grabbed Fuwa by the collar.
"How dare you question my identity?"
Even the usually calm Space Wolf Mang darkened.
"Watch your tone."
Fuwa had already backed down once; now, yanked up in front of everyone, humiliation flared into rage—especially under Wang Haoyu's gaze.
"Listen up: A.M.S. was created to police Humagears like you. Say the word and I'll escort you to an interrogation room."
Though currently working for Wang Haoyu, Fuwa still held his A.M.S. post—a convenient cover he would otherwise have ditched.
The air reeked of **.
Yaiba Yua pressed her lips together, fingers twitching, yet found no opening to intervene.
"If you want to fight, take it outside." Wang Haoyu rapped the metal desk. "Don't damage the lab."
The warning cut the two opponents like a blade.
"Please remain rational," Izu's synthesized voice crackled.
"My brother's identity is beyond question," Space Wolf Mang declared.
If even the satellite-system chief were suspect, the entire Hiden Group would have shut down long ago; the problem clearly lay elsewhere—
An alarm suddenly tore through the corridor.
Inside weapon-free Hiden HQ, a gunshot could mean only one thing.
"MetsubouJinrai!"
The assailant juggling a pink key crushed a safety sign beneath his heel.
"I've come to collect your keys."
He casually tossed the crystal key, its arc a mocking taunt that reignited Fuwa's anger.
"Henshin!"
The MetsubouJinrai inserted the key into his belt; pink photons wrapped him instantly.
"Flight Mode."
He snapped the pink key into the buckle.
With a twist, energy surged, erupting in brilliant pink light.
"Power Up"
Purple-red lightning split the air; Fuwa dodged the blast at a safe distance.
「Perfect punching bag.」
All three produced their keys; Wang Haoyu transformed first.
Mechanical voices rang out in sequence:
"Shining Hopper"
"Dash"
Seeing the odds turn, the enemy's tentacles snared a nearby Humagear.
"Authorization" chimes echoed one after another.
Yellow light enveloped the trio—Wang Haoyu's energy field once again covering his allies.
Skill names overlapped amid ** sound:
"Shooting Upgrade"
"Radiant Flash"
"Cheetah Rush"
Wang Haoyu blink-stepped in front of the foe and smashed a fist into its chest.
The **-controlled Humagear sparked under the combined assault, the drill's results now on full display.
A mid-air spin-kick ended the fight, the enemy crashing into a shower of sparks.
「Not bad—try this!」
The pink armored warrior leapt; silver wings carved a blazing arc in the moonlight. The metal wings extended his reach and multiplied his speed several-fold.
Wang Haoyu's tactical HUD parsed the opponent's armor data while his photon blade flared again.
"Nice moves! I'll assimilate you all!" Standing beside the Space brothers, Izu was suddenly targeted by pink data tendrils. She back-flipped away, barely avoiding invasive code—should a Humagear of Hidenbe hacked, the consequences would be catastrophic.
Raiden shoved Mang aside and was pierced by the data tendrils instead. The legacy system clashed with the intrusion, electronic neurons erupting in sparks. To everyone's surprise, after a violent struggle he retained his original form.
"No intrusion detected," Izu's irises flickered with data. Raiden's earpiece flashed red-blue before he roared, "You think that's enough to hack me? Dream on!" He tore the data link from his back; high-voltage current burst into a canopy of light.
Leaning on a pillar, Wang Haoyu whistled. "Now you've stirred the hornet's nest." The Space brothers' combat strength had always been an enigma; with their tempers fully ignited, their true power might finally be seen.
Rapid footsteps echoed as Yaiba Yua and Fuwa Isamu arrived through the lingering e-fire. "What's the situation?" Yaiba frowned at the battlefield. Behind them, wreckage struck by a Rider beam dissolved into stardust.
The fight was in full swing—why had everything gone quiet?
The expressions on the Space brothers' faces were disturbingly calm.
"The best part is about to begin."
Wang Haoyu's lips curved slightly.
Under the impact, the ** Xun Lei member staggered back, slamming into the wall.
Sudden laughter exploded through the air:
"Hahahahaha—"
"Worthy of being the lone survivor of the Dawn ** incident."
Wang Haoyu narrowed his eyes; the long-buried title surfaced once more. The pursuit of ** had clearly been closed long ago.
Why do people still insist on digging it up?
Stranger still, they seem to possess inside information far beyond the official statement.
"The hatred churning in his eyes—could he also be..." Izu's speculation was chilling.
It wasn't impossible.
After all, the Dawn ** incident had never claimed only the publicly recognized victim.
Time blurs memory; even if the guess were true, there'd be no way to verify it.
"Let him go..."
He who tied the bell must untie it. Since he knows about **, let's turn him into bait—perhaps this time we can hook a bigger catch.
"Game over!"
The ** Xunlei operative sprang into the air and vanished in an instant.
Space Wolf Raiden walked up to his younger brother, concerned.
"You okay?"
"Big brother..."
Space Wolf Mang was still reeling from the shock. Though they'd deliberately let the man go, the word "survivor" on his lips was worth investigating.
"Come on, to the armory."
Wang Haoyu turned toward the corridor on the right.
As the group followed, Yaiba Yua suddenly asked,
"Are you really a survivor of the Dawn ** incident?"
"Problem with that?"
Space Wolf Raiden was the one who answered.
Twelve years ago, to manage the satellite about to launch, the cosmos-spanning Space Wolf Mang had been created—and he'd once taken pride in that role.
Then the Dawn ** incident struck without warning.
With the launch failure, towering flames devoured the entire town.
In the end only ruins remained.
The satellite's materials were radioactive and gravely hazardous to human health.
Dawn Town was therefore designated a ** zone, entry forbidden to all.
Only after later surveys confirmed the area safe was it reopened.
Yet Hiden Group did not abandon their plans.
The Group successfully launched the satellite "Zea" and once again appointed Space Wolf Raiden as its manager.
Wang Haoyu sat in the front row.
A giant projector hung from the armory-hall ceiling.
"Zea is already in orbit—so why is your old model still running?" Yaiba Yua looked up at the projected image.
The ceiling displayed Zea's real-time operational feed.
"My duty is to guide my little brother. He was developed after Zea's launch to speed his growth."
Space Wolf Mang objected.
He rose mechanically and gestured: "The Universe is vast—our brothers' teamwork is exactly what it needs."
Space Wolf Raiden shot back, "Silly kid, the future belongs to you newer models."
Every Humagear is born with a mission, and must exit once that mission is complete—an unbreakable rule.
That is an iron law that cannot be changed!
"One day you'll roam space alone." Raiden patted Mang's shoulder.
Fate has never been theirs to choose.
Fuwa Isamu, seated beside Wang Haoyu, was moved by the brothers' bond.
"Never expected such a hothead could show such warmth—just like real brothers!"
The remark happened to reach Raiden's audio sensors.
"Don't be naive; managing a satellite is indeed the job best suited to me."
Those were the very words Fuwa Isamu had used when questioning them.
Raiden, a Humagear who bears grudges, returned them verbatim.
"Isn't it? That job does suit you." Fuwa shrugged it off.
"Still doubting me?" Raiden seized Fuwa by the collar. "As a survivor of the Dawn disaster, you're the more suspicious one!"
Appreciating their brotherly bond didn't mean lowering his guard.
(
The impulse inside both of them flared anew.
"Please calm down."
"Calm down."
Yaiba Yua and Izu quickly pulled the two apart.
Just then, a familiar figure appeared in the doorway.
It was the man once most valued by the former president—
Wato Aruto!
"Why's everyone so riled up? I could hear the racket the moment I arrived—how about listening to my new joke?"
He tried to defuse the tension.
"Everyone, please lend me your ears!"
Having been at the rear of the hall moments earlier, he suddenly rushed to the front.
"The vast starry sky is boundless; here heaven and earth grant you freedom—behold!"
Aruto shouted himself hoarse.
The booming voice made Wang Haoyu's ears ache; he wondered where such explosive lung power came from in that small frame.
"Enough already; that joke is simply not funny." Yaiba Yua was blunt.
But Izu, a Humagear, saw it differently:
"This joke cleverly blends the cosmic alias 'outer space'; the design is rather..."
Before she could finish, Space Wolf Raiden's roar cut her off:
"Enough! Who wants to hear such a boring joke!"
Though Wang Haoyu didn't look at Raiden, he was thinking: both are Humagears, yet Izu only analyzes human speech mechanically, while Raiden actively continues the conversation—
a clear sign of awakened self-awareness.
"I understand how you feel; being doubted for no reason is infuriating. Why don't we cooperate and ferret out the ** Xunlei Station stronghold together?"
Space Wolf Raiden was the first to give ground. They both belong to Wato Intelligence and serve Chairman Wang Haoyu; since their goal is the same, further quarrel is pointless.
The urgent task is to clear their own names.
Izu attempted to link with Satellite Zea:
"Satellite Zea, what are you on guard against right now?"
Chapter 168 – Chapter 168
The connection request was denied. Satellite ZAIA's AI recognition system autonomously judges the source of the request. Even Izu, as a homologous data entity, can't connect, which means Satellite ZAIAhas activated its highest alert mode.
Meanwhile, mechanical prompts echoed through the secret laboratory.
"Instruction received from Satellite ZAIA. Commencing manufacture."
They returned to Dawn Town for one purpose: to unravel the mystery of **.
"Mang, any findings ahead?" Raiden's voice crackled through the headset.
The brothers had split up—Mang stayed at the satellite Base to provide support, while Raiden joined Wang Haoyu for field exploration.
"Data shows a lake-bottom tunnel at the end, turn left." Mang's voice carried electronic static.
Raiden shared the intel with the team at once. Wang Haoyu gave a slight nod, and the group headed for the tunnel.
Every step awakened memories sealed in Raiden's chip. The tragedy that befell the town twelve years ago was vivid; those irreplaceable data became his heaviest burden.
The stab of memory only strengthened his resolve—to stay with Hiden Group and finish the mission.
At that moment, inside Zaia Group's office, Tengen Gai was arranging pieces on a chessboard. The intel Chusho delivered made his fingers pause.
"They're still cooperating?" Lin slammed the documents on the desk. "This will ruin our plan!"
The projector displayed the combat data of the Cosmic Brothers. Even as older models, their battle-hardened modules were coveted by every corporation.
Tengen Gai rubbed a chess piece and sneered, "Why rush? The ark will usher in the myth of a new era."
"Myth?" Chusho frowned.
"The myth of Kamen Rider." The crystal piece refracted cold light between his fingers. Mentioning the two successfully mass-produced Rider belts at Hiden Intelligence filled his eyes with envy.
Zaia hadn't initially considered acquiring Hiden Intelligence; the company was too powerful.
Although its stock had kept falling due to recent assimilation incidents, it was still stronger than them.
Tengen Gai exhausted every argument to persuade those stubborn elders.
If the takeover succeeded, the two Kamen Rider belts would be his.
But Wang Haoyu didn't play along; instead, he turned the tables.
Tengen Gai's plan collapsed and he nearly lost his own position.
Public pressure plunged Zaia into an even bigger crisis, keeping him frantic lately.
At the end of his rope, he noticed Hiden's Cosmic Brothers—only for Wang Haoyu to beat him to them again!
Outmaneuvered by Wang Haoyu at every turn, Tengen Gai couldn't escape the predicament no matter what he tried!
...Wang Haoyu's group stepped into the tunnel.
Water droplets pattered from the ceiling, drifting in the wind.
Old exhaust fans turned slowly, letting out harsh creaks.
In the gloom, every echo sounded ghastly.
They hadn't gone far when wild laughter rang out ahead.
"Hahahahaha—"
It was none other than Kaiser Lydian—the Xunlei Station member Wang Haoyu had deliberately let go.
Selena's investigation showed this man was closely tied to the Dawn Town incident twelve years ago.
He joined the Thunder Organization precisely because of that.
"Hiding in Dawn Town, just as expected." Space Wolf Raiden showed a knowing look.
In truth, Wang Haoyu had long since confirmed this was only one of Thunder's temporary strongholds.
"How did you know we'd come?" Fuwa Isamu demanded.
"I'm here to greet a comrade—welcome back, our Raiden!"
Those words made Wang Haoyu's brows twitch.
Kamen Rider Ikazuchi?
He had clearly been utterly destroyed.
Unless the data could be copied.
But if Space Wolf Raiden, survivor of the Dawn Town disaster, had destroyed Kamen Rider Ikazuchiback then, who was the "Raiden" standing here now?
Fuwa Isamu pointed straight at Space Wolf Raiden and shouted, "See! I told you he's the mole!"
"I am absolutely not that person."
Space Wolf Raiden refuted without hesitation.
He had wanted to clear his name, yet Kaiser Lydian's words made self-proof even harder.
It left him deeply rattled.
"He devoted everything to raising his little brother—how could he be a traitor?" Yaiba Yua calmly pointed out.
Indeed, who would betray others after pouring heart and soul into nurturing family?
But nothing in this world is absolute.
Before the words faded, the indicator beside Raiden's ear flashed frantically.
His face contorted in agony.
"It's not me..."
"It really isn't..."
His hoarse shout quivered in the air.
Kaiser Lydian rose leisurely. "Because he has no idea he's being controlled."
"What do you mean?" Fuwa Isamu's brows knitted tightly.
"The program pilfers satellite data while he's unconscious. Compared with humans, Humagears are so much more useful."
The explanation made Wang Haoyu realize: Raiden wasn't a true Rider, but a puppet whose program had been tampered with.
"Dark Thunder played it beautifully—but ever heard the saying 'too clever by half'?"
Wang Haoyu's mockery made Kaiser Lydian's expression change instantly.
Seeing the topic cut short, Kaiser Lydian secretly exhaled in relief.
"Actually, I added a little surprise—become my big brother!"
He crouched down maniacally.
"Connecting to Dark Thunder terminal."
"Forced upgrade initiating."
Raiden's form began to distort, blue light bleeding into scarlet.
After the anguished howls subsided, his voice was utterly different:
"Insects..."
"All humans deserve to die."
Kaiser Lydian smilingly handed over the controller:
"Go, do as you please."
Stellar Wolf Raikage Annihilation Energy Converter
Wang Haoyu tapped the converter's activation button, and the device blared a mechanical sound:
"Dodo-Bird!"
The prompt tone confirmed Wang Haoyu's guess: these mechanical birds could self-replicate and auto-generate energy fragments. Only by collecting every fragment could the ultimate evolution code be activated.
Raiden triggered the armor-transformation sequence, sweeping the converter in a Z-pattern before snapping it into his belt. The buckle flashed a crimson warning light.
"Hyper Evolution!"
Red-and-blue halos wrapped Raiden, crackling arcs of high-voltage energy bursting around him. Six charging spheres orbited his body, feeding him boundless power.
"Armament complete!"
Scarlet armor plated Raiden in an instant. Wang Haoyu narrowed his eyes, studying the battlefield.
"Fuwa, get ready to fight!"
At the order, Fuwa swiftly drew his energy converter.
Just as Fuwa initiated his transformation, Raiden lunged. In the nick of time Wang Haoyu shoved Fuwaaside, sparing him a devastating blow.
"Armor on!"
"Shooting Boost!"
"Iron Fist Mode!"
Blue-white energy streams condensed into a halo above Fuwa's head; with a hiss of steam his reinforced armor finished deploying.
The two armored suits clashed, fists and feet sending sparks flying. At first they were evenly matched, but the buffed Raiden gradually gained the upper hand.
With the situation critical, Wang Haoyu activated a spare converter.
By now Raiden's mind was eroded by the mechanical-bird system, yet the comm channel still carried his comrades' calls.
"Captain! Stop!" an anxious voice shouted through the communicator.
But nothing could be undone. The two alloy suits collided, metal screeching as dazzling bolts erupted at every impact.
Once Wang Haoyu entered the fray, he and Fuwa Isamu easily suppressed Space Wolf Raiden.
The Wolf Raiden faltered, eyes blood-red in his frenzy. In one wild exchange Fuwa lost his grip and the progrise key flew—
—rolling to a stop right at Raiden's feet.
"Give it back!" Fuwa's roar was drowned by the shrill machine noise.
The key was already clenched in Raiden's fist and slotted into his belt.
Applause rang from the stairwell corner.
"Big brother's amazing!" Kaiser Lydian cupped his chin, smiling.
Dark-crimson light burst from Raiden's body.
Fuwa threw everything into "Blazing Tiger",
but the energy wave popped like foam the instant it touched Raiden.
"Million-Volt Dystopia!"
As Raiden spun the converter,
the whole space exploded into a blue-white power grid.
Wang Haoyu cancelled his transformation and dove toward Fuwa.
Drained, Fuwa was forced to regress,
and the scattered keys were picked off one by one by Raiden.
Yaiba Yua started to move,
but Wang Haoyu's gaze weighed a thousand jun.
From the shadows Kaiser Lydian hummed and tossed the last few keys:
"An offering for the ark~"
Keys arrayed in a rainbow arc at Raiden's waist.
Wang Haoyu watched,
a hunter eyeing a beast caught in a trap.
(Yaiba Yua shouted in fury.
At that moment Space Wolf Raiden's belt was packed with progrise keys.
Kaiser Lydian reveled in victory, blind to how easily the keys had been obtained. Those supposedly well-guarded keys now lay scattered like fallen leaves.
**Keys the Thunder Organization had failed to acquire in half a year were now gathered in seven short days. This was no show of strength—something else was afoot.
When Raiden slotted every key, the program auto-started. Alien energies surged within him, traits from different dimensions colliding. Digesting that power would take ages.
But Kaiser Lydian was ready. A pre-implanted new routine spun up, channeling the torrent into space to resonate with an orbital satellite. The satellite's surface split, and countless bio-forms rained onto Thunder Base.
Deep inside the Base, the last member stepped into the high-voltage chamber. Blue arcs danced across metal tips, etching a black key. "The ark has finally awakened!" His face twisted in rapture.
At the same time violent tremors rose from underground. Fuwa Isamu staggered, bracing against the wall: "What's happening?"
"We used Zea's power to give the ark new life!" Raiden's voice cut clearly through the quake.
Kaiser Lydian laughed aloud: "The chapter of humanity's doom is about to begin!"
"Nonsense!" Fuwa snarled, forcing himself upright. But Wang Haoyu's soft chuckle silenced the uproar; the green key in his palm glowed: "Did you ask for my opinion?"
"You won't succeed!" A crisp shout sliced the gloom. Yaiba Yua and Fuwa Isamu looked up to see Wang Haoyu slot the key; with a "Shining Hopper" jingle, emerald light blossomed like hope in the darkness.
Key War Chronicle
A golden ring passed overhead as Wang Haoyu pressed the key, energy transferring instantly. "Transform!" Mechanical armor flowed over him like liquid.
"Shining Grasshopper!" Before the call faded he was gone. Space Wolf Raiden's vision held only after-images as blows landed on both flanks. Kaiser Lydian frowned at the data screen: "Side-effects of multiple keys..."
Izu stepped from a data stream, a metal case glinting coldly in the moonlight. "Authorized destruction device delivered." Wang Haoyu tossed the silver unit to Fuwa, who smoothly caught it, keyed in, and blue light bled through his armor seams.
(
"Gigantic destruction device, initiate authorization!"
"System upgrading."
Chapter 169 – Chapter 169
The new weapon in Fuwa Isamu's hands had to be operated in tandem with Wang Haoyu.
To be precise, only by joining forces with Wang Haoyu could the full power of the Authorize Buster be unleashed.
Wang Haoyu slid his exclusive Rise Key into his own Authorize Buster and said grimly,
"Shift Buster, execute authorization!"
"System upgrading."
Their eyes met; together they pressed the trigger—
Boom!
A torrent of energy slammed into Space Wolf Raiden, the Key at his waist instantly shaken loose.
The Authorize Buster's drain was colossal; Fuwa Isamu collapsed, while Wang Haoyu still had strength to spare.
Izu sprinted for the Key at top speed, but Kaiser Lydian snatched it first.
Having watched the whole time, Kaiser Lydian narrowed his eyes. "An unexpected windfall."
"Brother!" As he helped Space Wolf Raiden up, a Xunlei Station operative named Qian slipped into view.
"Catch!" Qian tossed over a pitch-black, newly-forged Key.
The instant Kaiser Lydian toyed with the Key, Wang Haoyu's strike whistled in.
The Key hit the ground; Fuwa scooped it up. "A Wolf Key? Where did you get this?"
"Give it back!" Kaiser Lydian strode forward with a roar.
Fuwa clenched the Key and sneered, "The wolf belongs to me!"
Qian folded his arms in mockery. "Keep dreaming—that Key only answers to Xunlei Station's Master."
Wang Haoyu stood quietly, gaze locked on their exchange.
He was fishing for useful intel—people often let secrets slip without noticing.
Stubborn, Fuwa pressed the button on the black Rise Key. "I said it'll work, so it will!""
"Assault Activate!"
"After the Daybreak Incident, hatred kept me going. I thought that chapter was closed—yet your Thunder Organization is part of it!"
What Wang Haoyu had tried to soften now weighed on Fuwa like a boulder once he learned from Raiden that Xunlei Station had infiltrated Dawn Town.
Wang Haoyu sensed the shift in his emotions.
But only the man himself could dispel such obsession.
Hence Wang Haoyu had been pushing the Xunlei Station plan forward—
when they asked for Rise Keys, he handed them over without hesitation.
"Destroying Xunlei Station is the sole reason I exist!"
Under Fuwa's roar the black Key activated successfully.
"Power Up"
"Kamen Rider Transform"
"Fire Ready"
A blue biomech form charged at him.
"Assault Wolf!"
Mech shards whirled in and latched onto his body.
"Finish Time!"
When Fuwa completed his blue-armor transformation, Kaiser Lydian cried in shock,
"How could you transform?"
According to Xunlei Station personnel, only organization members could boot the ark system.
Space Wolf Raiden, now transformed into Dodo, told Kaiser Lydian, "Leave this to me."
This fight was, after all, an internal Xunlei Station showdown—
the Dodo Key had also rolled out of Xunlei Station's factory.
When the two titans clashed, the victor was clear; Fuwa's new power clearly outclassed the other.
Raiden gripped his longsword and slashed at Fuwa.
Fuwa didn't even flinch.
The blade struck him squarely yet left no scratch.
"Impossible!" Raiden staggered from the recoil; Fuwa countered and floored him.
Raiden erupted with energy to resist, but he couldn't suppress his foe.
This wolf-type Key's power was truly extraordinary!
Fuwa built up for a finishing blow.
The Raiden before him was no longer the big brother of old—just a puppet; only annihilation could free him.
Luckily, as long as a Humagear's data survived, restoration was possible—though some parts would be swapped out.
"Any last words?" Fuwa's finisher was primed.
"The match isn't over—show me what you've really got!"
Raiden morphed his weapon on the spot.
"Then taste true fury!"
Fuwa raised the Buster Wang Haoyu had given him, muzzle trained on his target.
[Key Authorized]
[Buster Booting]
[Utopia Terminate]
[Annihilation Execute]
Raiden summoned crimson lightning for a last-ditch strike, while golden brilliance burst from Fuwa.
The two forces collided, sending out a visible shock-ring—
"Incredible!" Yaiba Yua gasped.
With every pulse of pressure, surrounding trees snapped like twigs.
In less than three seconds the golden torrent devoured the red lightning.
[Annihilation Execute]
At the announcement, destructive energy pierced Raiden's body in an instant.
Resistance failed; the armor began disintegrating.
As shards rained down, a roar shook the battlefield:
"By the will of ark!!"
Blast-flames erupted from Raiden's entire frame.
His figure vanished utterly from the World.
That power was so overwhelming that the authority to wield it rested solely on the 0.1% of mech code Wang Haoyu had implanted.
It had nothing to do with Fuwa Isamu's rage.
Fuwa coughed up a mouthful of blood that splattered across the ground.
Yaiba Yua and Izu hurried to support him.
"Are you all right?"
The black Rise Key rolled to a stop in front of Fuwa, but he no longer had strength to pick it up.
Izu was close enough to grab it—
yet an order came from Wang Haoyu.
"Izu, leave it, withdraw immediately."
Although her hand was already out, she had to obey Wang Haoyu's command.
"Understood, Chairman Wang Haoyu."
Puzzled though she was, Izu complied.
After Wang Haoyu's group evacuated, Kaiser Lydian and the Xunlei Station members approached the black Progrise Key.
"Why can he control it?"
"This feeling… it's suffocating!"
Kaiser Lydian pressed a hand to his chest, pain written across his face.
"Such agony means you're on the verge of touching the technological singularity."
Pain breeds self-awareness, and that awareness is utterly unlike a Humagear's awakening… Back at the Base, Fuwa Isamu kept murmuring the same sentence over and over.
"I will raze Xunlei Station to the ground!"
"I will raze Xunlei Station to the ground!"
"I will raze Xunlei Station to the ground!"
Seeing him like this, Wang Haoyu couldn't bring him into Wato Intelligence; instead he settled him at the Base.
It was the first time Selena had seen Fuwa Isamu in such a frenzied state.
"What happened?"
She was stunned by Fuwa's condition—he looked as though he'd fallen into an abyss of obsession.
"It's… complicated." Yaiba Yua hesitated, words catching in her throat.
"You're here at the perfect moment, Mr. Wang Haoyu; we need to brief you on something critical."
Selena called up an encrypted video—received via the satellite terminal Wang had authorized; no other archive existed.
"Kaiser Lydian's actions… it's as though he's laying out a formation; his goal is anyone's guess."
Selena pointed to the eerily ritualistic layout on-screen.
They intend to bring ark back into the World.
Right now, Wang Haoyu has given them the perfect opening.
Kaiser Lydian was stacking broken stones into a small hill.
Beneath every rock lay a concealed Progrise Key.
The Xunlei Station member beside him asked in bewilderment, "What are you doing?"
"A sacrificial rite. Don't they look like grave mounds?"
Kaiser Lydian's smile never wavered.
"Never seen someone stay joyful every second, as if sorrow never touched them."
Only… Humagears could display such a trait.
No human could ever exhibit that level of performance.
"Could Kaiser Lydian be a Humagear?"
Yaiba Yua suddenly saw the light.
Yet his every word and gesture perfectly matched human behavior.
He was Worlds apart from any Humagear.
"Maybe he's a Humagear whose consciousness has awakened!"
That might explain why he calls Space Wolf Raiden 'big brother'.
At first Wang Haoyu had been puzzled by the term.
Now everything clicked into place.
"But why pile them into grave-mound shapes?"
Selena was still baffled.
After careful inspection Wang Haoyu realized:
This wasn't mourning the dead.
It was offering sacrifices to the Progrise Keys themselves.
Could it be… Kaiser Lydian sees these Keys as his kin?
The explanation made perfect sense.
The most urgent task now was dealing with Fuwa Isamu's abnormal state.
"His condition is critical—the belt's power keeps dwindling!"
Selena ran a full scan with her analyzer.
The results shocked everyone present.
Only Wang Haoyu remained unruffled.
But Fuwa was in agony.
His obsession with the wolf was about to cost him his life.
Exactly as the Xunlei Station member had said,
this Progrise Key suited only those with a specific constitution.
Wang Haoyu re-programmed the Key,
then re-inserted it into the belt.
Fuwa's trembling gradually subsided.
The crisis was over.
Yaiba Yua shouted in relief.
Thank heavens Wang Haoyu had been there to help.
"Fuwa Isamu, do you understand what you did wrong today?"
Wang Haoyu's tone was icy.
It was the first time since they'd met that Wang had spoken to him so harshly.
Honestly, Fuwa felt a chill inside. "Mr. Wang, I apologize for my words and actions today."
Fuwa bowed his head, his apology sincere.
But one sorry wouldn't make the matter vanish.
"Don't apologize to me—the one you truly owe an apology is yourself."
No one had expected those words from Wang Haoyu.
Apologize to himself… because Fuwa had never faced his own worth.
"All right—Fuwa Isamu, I'm sorry."
To everyone's surprise, he actually did as Wang asked.
The ridiculous scene drew laughter from the room.
Wang Haoyu led Yaiba Yua and Fuwa Isamu back to Wato Intelligence.
The moment they stepped into the office they found former president Shinnosuke waiting.
"Mr. Shinnosuke, what brings you here today?"
Out of courtesy Wang Haoyu used the polite form.
Shinnosuke looked troubled.
"Actually… I have a favor to ask, Wang Haoyu."
Since stepping down, Shinnosuke had rarely appeared in public.
Rather than vanishing, he'd deliberately cut back on social engagements.
After all, during his tenure he'd had to handle countless affairs every single day.
On top of that, frequent Humagear-related incidents had forced him to manage all PR personally.
Lately Wato Intelligence had been in constant turmoil, yet Shinnosuke hadn't intervened—so why show up now?
"Please speak plainly."
Wang Haoyu invited Shinnosuke to sit.
Izu brought in the coffee Shinnosuke loved most.
Nowadays Izu obeyed Wang Haoyu completely; to her, Shinnosuke was merely an ordinary visitor.
"Please enjoy."
With that, Izu left the room.
Shinnosuke began slowly: "Do you remember the person I asked you to look after?"
It was true—during the handover Shinnosuke had asked Wang to watch over Wato.
"Of course I remember."
Wang Haoyu not only remembered, he'd kept a constant eye on Wato's movements.
At the moment Wato was busy preparing for graduation.
Chapter 170 – Chapter 170
Wang Haoyu plans to place Wato in a post at Hiden Group, letting Shinnosuke rest easy.
"Today is the anniversary of Wato's parents' death. I don't know how to comfort him—I hope you can help."
Shinnosuke bared his heart to Wang Haoyu. When he spoke of Wato's parents, clear guilt surfaced on his face.
Wang Haoyu knew the reason: it was tied directly to the accident at Dawn Town. Wato's parents died at the hands of rampaging Humagears.
Yet Wato feels grateful to Humagears, for those very machines saved his life in the crisis. Unlike Fuwa Isamu, who swears to hate Humagears, Wato sees them rationally—the ones who took his parents were infected by malicious code.
"I'll go to him right now. Please don't worry."
After Wang Haoyu left with Izu, Shinnosuke watched his departing back, a little relieved.
The cemetery lies in an undeveloped suburb, the final resting place of hundreds of pioneers who contributed to artificial intelligence. Any developer who covets the land meets fierce opposition, so it has become an ideal haven for elite industry figures.
This trip Wang Haoyu brought not only Izu but also invited Space Wolf Mang. Since his elder brother left, the astronaut—though outwardly calm—has been visibly down, even losing his old enthusiasm for maintaining satellite Zea.
"Wato, why didn't you go to school today?"
Hearing Wang Haoyu's voice behind him, Wato turned. In his heart, Wang Haoyu has always been a respected senior.
"Brother Wang Haoyu, I didn't feel like going today."
Wang Haoyu offered no rebuke.
"You've always been sensible. Come meet a new friend—this is Space Wolf Mang, the astronaut in charge of maintaining satellite Zea."
Space Wolf Mang stepped forward and extended his hand.
"Hello, I'm Space Wolf Mang of the Space Brothers."
"Space Brothers?"
The name sounded only half-familiar to Wato.
"Yes, I have an older brother—Space Wolf Raiden—but..."
Space Wolf Mang's voice dropped.
"What happened?" Wato asked.
"He's gone."
Wato suddenly realized how alike their fates were.
"Today... is also the day my parents left me."
Three tombstones stood before Wato.
The third was engraved with "Humagear Father."
Space Wolf Mang froze.
"Wato, you have a Humagear in your family?"
He tried to establish a data link but failed repeatedly.
"Don't bother—he's human," Wang Haoyu explained.
"But the stone says 'father'. How could a human...?"
"It's true," Wato answered softly.
Twelve years ago the tragedy took his parents. In his darkest hour this Humagear gave him warmth and love.
Even later it could not stay to watch him grow up.
But those days remain forever precious.
"Some of his parts are buried here. To me he was a real father."
A shimmer appeared in Wato's eyes.
Space Wolf Mang was more puzzled: "Scrapped Humagears should be recycled."
The air suddenly froze.
"President Shinnosuke specially designed that Humagear for me. They are my family!" Wato declared firmly.
Izu softly echoed: "Family?"
The word felt both foreign and familiar.
"Every Humagear that gives itself for humanity is my family."
Wang Haoyu thought of the Humagears serving humankind; apart from their bodies they were no different from people.
"So your big brother also..."
Space Wolf Raiden?
No—he's a traitor!
The program long ago branded Space Wolf Raiden a traitor forever, though Space Wolf Mang's heart resists the verdict.
"He and I are no longer brothers."
Only frost remained in Space Wolf Mang's eyes.
Wang Haoyu laid a hand on his shoulder.
"Don't think like that—you're being too cold."
The silent, aloof Space Wolf Mang before him was unrecognizable from the cheerful man of old, and Wang Haoyu hated to see the change.
"Damaged Humagears must be scrapped—those are the rules."
Space Wolf Mang would not yield.
"Rules? A moment ago you called yourselves Space Brothers—have you forgotten already?"
Wato retorted, stung.
Humagears must not become humanity's disposable tools.
Used when needed, discarded when unwanted.
Wato could not accept it, and neither could Wang Haoyu.
"Don't speak such heartless words."
Wang Haoyu's voice was low.
At that moment Izu thought of her own elder brother.
An image of Holmes surfaced in her data stream.
"Yes—an older brother is irreplaceable!"
The words lit up Wato's eyes.
He hadn't expected a Humagear to share his belief.
"Please give my family your regards!"
Wato invited sincerely.
"All right, I'll try."
It became an unexpected reward for Wang Haoyu bringing Izu along.
Izu knelt halfway before the grave, while behind Wato Space Wolf Mang's pupils suddenly shifted hue.
Deep in the chip, an image of Space Wolf Raiden emerged.
Warm fragments of memory flooded in.
Seeing this, Wang Haoyu smiled in satisfaction—his plan had worked.
Suddenly Izu sprang up: "Emergency alert! Zaia is making its move!"
To guard against Zaia's covert interference, Wang Haoyu had set up a satellite-monitoring system; any move by the other side would be streamed to Izu in real time.
Wang Haoyu immediately summoned Fuwa Isamu and Yaiba Yua to rush to Dawn Town.
Almost at the same moment, the supreme leader of A.M.S. sent a message.
"Mr. Wang Haoyu, A.M.S. will take part in this operation, but… our target is Xunlei Station; as for Zaia, you'll have to handle them yourself."
For now, the rift between A.M.S. and Zaia had not been made public.
Since they had promised Zaia time, they had to keep their word—otherwise Catherine's position inside Zaia would become untenable.
The A.M.S. contingent, led by Fuwa Isamu and Yaiba Yua, arrived on site.
After receiving the Base alert, Selena was racing over.
"All personnel, listen up! Absolutely no one from Xunlei Station crosses this line!"
"Right here, wipe them out completely!"
Fuwa Isamu and Yaiba Yua were positioned closer to Dawn Town.
Fuwa had always harbored fierce hostility toward Xunlei Station; now that A.M.S. had given him this chance, he intended to make it count.
(The instant Fuwa finished speaking, two Xunlei Station members on the rooftop looked down.)
"Hahaha, A.M.S.—let's see if you're up to the task!"
Kaiser Lydian laughed wildly, his mirth redoubled when he noticed Wang Haoyu's absence.
Wang Haoyu's absence meant the enemy had lost more than half their combat strength.
"Soon you'll be nothing but scrap metal!"
As Fuwa moved to activate the Wolf Progrisekey, Yaiba Yua stopped him.
"Want to repeat your last failure?"
He truly could not control that power.
His ability to become a Kamen Rider now depended entirely on Wang Haoyu's modification of the black Progrisekey, yet its full might remained beyond his reach.
And his opponents were two Xunlei Station members who had completely mastered their Progrisekeys.
"You'd best wait for Mr. Wang Haoyu to arrive."
With that, Yaiba Yua gripped her Progrisekey and prepared the satellite uplink.
"Don't order me around!"
Though his mouth was defiant, Fuwa heeded the advice—he could not create trouble for Wang Haoyu!
"I just don't want my comrades to become dead weight!"
The moment Yaiba Yua transformed, Kaiser Lydian and the other Xunlei Station member activated their keys.
"Venom!"
"Rush!"
"Authorize!"
"Power-up!"
"Stinging Scorpion!"
"Soaring Eagle!"
"Transform!"
"Transform!"
"Transform!"
A blinding flash erupted around the three combatants.
"Shooting upgrade!"
"Dashing Cheetah!"
By now Wang Haoyu had arrived with reinforcements.
"Fuwa Isamu, what are you waiting for!"
At Wang Haoyu's command, Fuwa's confidence soared.
A moment earlier he had worried whether he could control the situation; now, with Wang Haoyupresent, every doubt vanished.
He could finally fight without restraint!
"I swear I'll crush Xunlei Station to dust!"
Fuwa cranked the Progrisekey in his hand.
"Gale, charge!"
A roar shook the battlefield.
"Evolution boost"
"Kamen Rider"
"Kamen Rider"
"Transform!"
"Shooting upgrade!"
"Ready, sortie!"
"Silver Wolf Blast!"
Fuwa stood in familiar armor, yet Kaiser Lydian sensed something off—he couldn't put it into words.
"Forget it!"
Kaiser Lydian cast the doubt aside.
What he failed to detect was the very program Wang Haoyu had upgraded!
A fierce battle was about to erupt.
"Two on two—sounds fair!"
Kaiser Lydian clearly believed victory was in the bag.
"Last Stand!"
"Last Stand!"
"Lightning Slash!"
Though Fuwa and Yaiba Yua pressed together, they still couldn't keep up with Kaiser Lydian's speed.
Clearly the enemy had switched to a brand-new Progrisekey.
A.M.S. members opened fire on Kaiser Lydian one after another.
He suddenly unfurled his wings.
A single sweep deflected every incoming beam.
Laser fire rained down on the A.M.S. troops.
The high-energy bolts felled large numbers of them, leaving many gravely wounded.
Seeing this, Fuwa's eyes turned blood-red.
"Despicable coward!"
Wang Haoyu immediately ordered Izu to evacuate the wounded—radiation treatment was urgently needed.
"Izu, coordinate with Selena."
"Understood!"
"Roger!"
While the two of them moved the injured, Yaiba Yua on the other side began to falter.
The enemy attacked with lightning swiftness.
Even Yaiba Yua, with her cheetah biology, could barely parry.
A moment's misstep sent her tumbling.
That instant of vulnerability was seized by the enemy!
"Die!"
Purple lethal light gathered at the foe's muzzle.
If that shot landed, death was certain!
In the nick of time Wang Haoyu snatched the weapon away like lightning.
Such speed was simply inconceivable!
(
**
Wang Haoyu had appeared without warning; the enemy hadn't even sensed him approach!
Had Wang Haoyu wanted to strike just then, the consequences would have been unthinkable… He had taken the gun only to protect Yaiba Yua from harm.
After confirming her safety, Wang Haoyu casually tossed the purple weapon back to the opponent.
"Come, fight me!"
It was not a request—it was an order!
Wang Haoyu had already initiated his transformation.