Mei stood before Rita, dressed in a white-and-blue hoodie with black gloves, black thigh-highs, and black shoes. A white-and-blue scabbard was strapped behind her waist, ready for her katana.
Around her neck hung a violet-colored crystal necklace.
Mei: "I received the message you sent via the child."
The moment Mei, Sakura, and Tesla received the message through Ningyo, Mei had rushed to the biomedical park as quickly as she could.
Rita studied her carefully.
Despite her weakened condition, a faint smile appeared on her face.
Rita: "And it seems that Lady Luck is still on my side."
Rita: "The "help" has arrived."
Rita: "Did Dr. Tesla and Miss Yae come along?"
Mei remained cautious, her hand hovering near the hilt of her katana.
Mei: "We prepared for the worst once we received your message."
Her eyes narrowed.
Mei: "Give me a good reason to trust you."
Rita raised her hands slightly, making no sudden movements.
Rita: "Lying is unwise, especially when lives are in danger."
Rita: "Look around, Miss Raiden. There is no ambush. The serum weakened me and placed me at your mercy."
Rita: "This deal is as real as it can be. Help me find the antidote and I'll tell you where Miss Kaslana is."
To prove her words, Rita activated the projector built into her battlesuit.
A holographic recording appeared in the air.
The footage showed Rita fighting alongside Kiana.
Mei watched the recording in silence.
Her expression remained stern, but the evidence was enough to confirm that Rita and Kiana had indeed crossed paths.
Rita: "We're both in this city. We're on the same side."
Mei: "Hmph."
Rita gave a small smile.
Rita: "I'm pleased that we've reached an amicable agreement. I'm counting on you, Miss Raiden."
Before Mei could respond, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed through the facility.
THUD! THUD! THUD!
Zombies and armored mechs began pouring into the area from multiple entrances.
Mei immediately grasped the violet crystal necklace.
She closed her eyes for a brief moment.
Then she pushed her will into the crystal.
The necklace emitted a brilliant violet glow.
WHOOSH!
Five transparent warriors materialized around her, each formed from shimmering violet energy.
Dekamaster.
Kamen Rider Sasword — Rider Form.
Hyper Shinken Red.
Kamen Rider Saikou — X Sword Man.
Kamen Rider Tycoon — Bujin Sword.
The five warriors immediately moved.
Dekamaster charged forward, his sword cleaving through an incoming mech.
CLANG!
Sasword intercepted another enemy, his blade striking with blinding speed.
Hyper Shinken Red launched himself into the middle of the horde, cutting through several zombies in rapid succession.
Saikou X Sword Man spun through the battlefield like a golden whirlwind, while Tycoon Bujin Sword effortlessly dispatched the remaining machines.
Within moments, the entire group of enemies had been eliminated.
BAM!
The last mech crashed into the floor.
Silence returned to the laboratory.
The five transparent warriors dissolved into streams of violet particles.
The energy flowed back toward Mei's necklace and was absorbed into the crystal.
Meanwhile, Rita had finished searching through the computer system.
She turned toward Mei.
Mei: "I have done what you asked for. Time to live up to your end of the bargain."
Rita nodded.
Rita: "The World Serpent has a Honkai research facility located deep under this biomedical park."
Rita: "Miss Kaslana should be imprisoned there. I will send you the map and route…"
Before Rita could finish, a blade was drawn.
SHING!
The cold edge of Mei's katana pressed against Rita's neck, cutting her words short.
Rita glanced sideways at the blade.
She didn't resist.
Rita: "…And your reason for doing this?"
Mei's expression hardened.
Mei: "I need one more thing, Rita."
The blade remained firmly against Rita's neck.
Mei: "I want the eye. Gray Serpent's eye."
Rita remained silent for a moment.
Then she calmly answered.
Rita: "…As you wish."
Mei's gaze softened slightly.
Her thoughts turned toward Ningyo.
Mei: "This eye will set that child free."
Rita understood exactly who Mei was referring to.
But she also had her own objective to complete.
Rita: "A gentle reminder, Miss Raiden. For every moment you delay your rescue, you extend Miss Kaslana's sufferings."
Rita gave Mei a faint smile.
Rita: "I'm afraid I have to bid you farewell. Hopefully you will not press your blade against my neck next time."
Mei lowered her sword.
Without another word, she turned and left.
Rita watched the girl disappear into the corridor.
Once Mei was gone, Rita's expression became serious.
Rita: "I have secured the antidote."
She glanced toward the damaged facility around her.
Rita: "Time to investigate what they did to the EOS."
Mei sprinted through the corridors.
The moment she rounded a corner, several armed guards appeared ahead of her.
She didn't slow down.
Mei: "No time for these enemies. I have to find Kiana as soon as I can."
Her hand immediately went to the violet crystal necklace.
The crystal responded to her will.
Three violet transparent warriors appeared around her.
Super Gekired.
Kamen Rider Meteor.
Rio — Mythical Beast King.
The three warriors moved simultaneously.
BAM!
Super Gekired struck one guard across the room.
Meteor delivered a powerful blow to another, sending the guard crashing into the wall.
Rio charged forward and smashed a third guard off his feet.
Their helmets shattered from the force of the attacks, and all three guards were knocked unconscious.
The warriors dissolved into violet particles almost immediately afterward, returning to Mei's necklace.
Mei continued deeper into the facility.
She reached another secured section and tried the door.
It didn't move.
Mei examined the control panel.
Mei: "The door is locked. Could it be because of the fight?"
She looked down the corridor.
Mei: "Not this way… Guess I should keep looking."
She turned and continued searching.
The deeper she went, the more oppressive the atmosphere became.
Then—
RUMBLE…
Mei stopped.
The floor beneath her feet trembled.
Dust fell from the ceiling.
She looked down.
Mei: "It's coming from underground!"
Mei followed the vibrations until she reached another section of the facility.
There, hidden behind the corridors, she discovered an elevator.
The doors stood before her.
Mei examined the controls.
Her expression became focused.
Mei: "That elevator should take me to the underground lab."
The elevator doors opened with a metallic hiss.
Mei stepped inside.
The doors slowly closed behind her.
DING.
The elevator began its descent.