Meanwhile.
Somewhere in Shibuya.
A well-trained ant soldier unit was apprehending someone, and according to their investigation, that person was not ordinary.
Long ago, he had been killed and mimicked by a Worm.
And after that.
He had not chosen to lie low and recuperate.
The brutal nature of the Worms already dictated that he would not live a nine-to-five, salaryman-like life like an ordinary person.
That did not align with their setting.
Furthermore, in their eyes, humans were merely necessary food.
The real world was far more cruel than the fictional one.
The Worms' behavior was instinctual.
It was something they could not suppress, no matter what.
Like Kaburagi Kai, who used human beliefs and obsessions as a guide to completely suppress the worm's nature, such existences were ultimately few.
This ant soldier unit was not particularly large.
Upon closer observation, one would also notice that their uniforms differed slightly from those of ordinary ant soldier units.
Their black reinforced combat suits had a few golden lines.
They looked more spirited.
And that stripe.
Also symbolized their identity—
SHADOW!
Also known as the Phantom, or the Shadow Squad.
They were an elite unit directly under the jurisdiction of ZECT Headquarters.
Because the squad acted very cohesively.
And they had a captain who believed in 'perfect coordination' and was granted the status of a Rider by Headquarters.
The Shadow Squad had achieved remarkable results in their battles against Worms.
Therefore, they were highly valued by Headquarters!
Unlike the divisions, such as Tadokoro Shuichi's, which were only responsible for a certain area.
The saying 'the capable are more burdened' was fully embodied by them.
In short.
They were like bricks, moved wherever they were needed!
And now.
They were in Shibuya, tracking down a Worm.
Soon, they arrived outside a factory warehouse.
The fleeing 'person' turned around.
A strangely eerie smile appeared on his face.
He instantly shed his human skin.
And transformed into a larval form.
But behind him.
Many disgusting insects with emerald green skin immediately leaped out.
Undoubtedly, all were Worms.
Looking at their numbers.
There were about twenty or so.
This was quite a lot.
After all...
Most of the time, the appearance of Worms had a discernible pattern.
Most of them acted in squads.
The one most likely to molt was the squad leader.
The rest of the escort Worms were usually just a few scattered around.
This time, it was a large-scale deployment!
"Oh?"
Yaguruma Sou, seeing this, was suddenly stunned.
It seemed like a plot?
But...
With their 'perfect coordination,' there was nothing they couldn't handle.
Facing more than twenty Worms.
Although they were all larval forms not yet molted, for an ordinary unit, engaging them would be impossible. Even Tadokoro Shuichi's division, considered elite, often found themselves in a stalemate when fighting fewer than ten Worms, unable to eliminate them quickly.
This gave the Worms a chance to breathe.
After molting, the tide of battle would instantly turn.
Every member of this Shadow Squad was an elite chosen from a thousand.
As captain, Yaguruma Sou immediately began to issue commands.
His rather handsome face showed the youthful spirit and ambition.
Before his obsession manifested, he was still a powerhouse almost on par with Tendou Souji.
"All squads, pay attention. Squad A, switch to explosive rounds, concentrate fire, and eliminate the Worms one by one. Other squads, engage in crossfire and distract the remaining Worms." While giving orders, Yaguruma Sou assembled his ZECT pistol and began firing continuously at one of the Worms.
Under his precise command.
They almost instantly eliminated ten Worms.
Even though these were just larvae, the weakest existence within the Worm species, it was not an easy task for even well-trained ant soldier units to eliminate them.
Tadokoro Shuichi and his men found it very difficult to deal with even a single larva.
But even so.
They were considered excellent among the ant soldier units of the vast ZECT.
It could only be said...
There's no harm without comparison.
The Shadow Squad, led by Yaguruma Sou, became an elite unit of ZECT Headquarters for a reason; even without the power of THEBEE, their strength was considerable.
Of course, this was inseparable from having a good captain.
Didn't you see how lackluster and disgraceful the Shadow Squad's record became after Yaguruma Sou 'fell'?
Ten larval Worms were dealt with in the blink of an eye.
Half the enemies were eliminated.
The larva that was supposed to be the 'lure,' ambushing to catch this ant soldier unit in a net, was instantly bewildered.
What was going on?
These guys...
How were they different from the ones they had encountered before?
Their combat power was so... terrifyingly strong!
Clearly.
The combat power displayed by the Shadow Squad was indeed somewhat beyond expectations.
The Worm, thinking about this, felt increasingly uneasy and angry!
An inexplicable feeling surged within it.
Its body began to feel hot.
The thick cocoon covering its body began to shatter like a spiderweb, layer by layer.
Something seemed to be about to emerge from within.
This was a sign of molting into an adult!
And at this very moment.
It was not just one Worm undergoing this 'operation.'
Compared to the difficult original Worms.
Worm molting was easy.
Among a hundred Worms, about a dozen could molt.
This probability was clearly not low.
The original Worms, compared to them, were like one in ten thousand...
Of course.
It couldn't be denied that.
The power displayed by the original Worms after their difficult molting could indeed be described as terrifying.
Most Worms did not have many special abilities after molting.
Many could only use Clock Up.
Facing Kamen Riders, they might cause some impact, but they were ultimately classified as fodder.
Only cadres like Nogami Ryoji were among the more powerful ones.
"Captain, several Worms have started to molt!"
An ant soldier responsible for observing the Worms immediately reported the situation.
On the battlefield.
Know yourself and your enemy, and you will win a hundred battles!
Therefore.
It was very important to constantly be aware of the Worms' current situation.
"Concentrate fire on those about to molt first. Squad B, switch to flashbangs and smoke grenades, and be ready to support other squads in their retreat at any time!"
Yaguruma Sou continued to command methodically.
He never doubted his own strength.
Even if facing Kabuto now.
He was confident he could defeat him.
"Yes!"
Almost an immediate order.
Under Yaguruma Sou's command, the Shadow Squad members acted in an orderly fashion.
They all believed in perfect coordination.
As long as they were together.
They were the most powerful...
They could clear all obstacles in their path.
They were invincible!
They were victorious in every battle.
Of course.
While directing the battle.
Yaguruma Sou was not idle.
He was particularly concerned about the safety of his subordinates.
Therefore, he closely monitored the situation of the Worms about to molt.
At the same time, he revealed the Rider Brace equipped on his wrist.
That was the mark of being chosen by THEBEE!
Chen Ran felt he had very good luck.
From his rebirth to his college entrance examination, and then to time travel...
This period was not long.
But in this short time, he had experienced things that many people might not experience in a lifetime.
This journey was thrilling.
And today.
His luck was exceptionally good.
Not only had he made significant progress in evolution, but while walking, he had also encountered many characters from the story.
First, it was Kazami Daisuke, as Drake.
And now it was Yaguruma Sou of Shadow...
He first went to see the Shibuya ruins.
Then he left.
As he passed by a factory, he suddenly noticed traces of a battle.
The ZECT's Gatling gun fire was very fierce.
The sound of the bullets being fired was also very distinct.
Chen Ran had heard it before.
Therefore, he was not unfamiliar with it.
He knew that ZECT's ant soldier units were fighting against Worms, but he didn't know which unit it was.
So, Chen Ran decided to go and see.
As soon as he walked in, he saw the situation.
Chen Ran felt like he was witnessing a famous scene.
The Shadow Squad was engaging the Worms.
Just then, several Worms molted.
Chen Ran immediately took out his Rider Card and transformed.
"Kamen Ride Decade!"
A magenta Rider suddenly appeared.
"Attack Ride..."
"Illusion!"
At this moment.
Chen Ran used the Phantom Illusion technique.
While running with his sword,
Decade's figure suddenly split into three.
A total of four figures marched side by side.
The clones, condensed and manifested from data, were clearly not mere illusions. Rather, the opposite was true; Decade's clones were all real, capable of engaging enemies.
And their combat power was not weak.
One sword, one Leo Rider, no problem!
Decade's speed was not slow.
Including his clones.
He instantly approached the position of the molted adult Worms.
In a flash, he eliminated two of them.
Then, one of the adult Worms entered Clock Up.
But Chen Ran once again performed his signature move.
He defeated the Worm without it entering ultra-high speed.
This involved some degree of subjective power.
But...
As a Kamen Rider, possessing subjective power, wasn't that normal?
However, clones were ultimately not operated by Chen Ran himself.
Their adaptability was not as strong as the main body.
After several consecutive Worms entered Clock Up, the clones had reached their limit and vanished into data without a trace.
"Surprisingly capable."
Chen Ran then took out the Saber Card.
"Kamen Ride Saber!"
Decade's body transformed into the armor of Saber.
I must say.
Among the ZECT Riders, Saber's appearance after activating his armor was truly handsome.
Even compared to Kabuto, it was a matter of taste.
"Attack Ride... Clock Up!"
He continued to insert skill cards into the magenta Decade Driver.
Decade in Saber form naturally entered the ultra-high speed domain.
Aside from the surrounding scenery changing as expected,
Everything else remained the same.
Between Decade and the adult Worms.
They were standing on the same starting line again.
They had the same skills.
So...
Whether or not they entered Clock Up.
It didn't really make much difference.
It was just that, in comparison.
There were fewer spectators during battles in Clock Up, and for the molted adult Worms, fighting within their natural ultra-high speed domain made their deaths slightly more dignified.
The battle in Clock Up, which seemed to last a long time, actually only lasted for a fleeting moment in the outside world.
Those outside were not sensitive to this.
But if they weren't in Clock Up.
Wouldn't being instantly killed be super awkward?
Indeed, that made sense.
Yaguruma Sou caught the flying THEBEE Zecter.
"Henshin..."
He transformed and activated his armor.
Clock Up.
A series of moves, very familiar with fighting molted adult Worms, were executed by Yaguruma Sou with seamless fluidity.
And his mood at the moment was not good.
He was fighting fine initially.
But then someone stole his kill.
And this guy's power seemed different from Kabuto, whom headquarters wanted him to apprehend.
After entering the same domain as the adult Worms and Decade.
THEBEE finally got a clear view of the purple Rider's battle.
He changed his form.
But from the magenta Driver, it was still evident that Chen Ran, even with Saber's armor, was still the same Decade.
Chen Ran's combat against the molted adult Worms was as smooth as flowing water.
The adult Worms moving at high speed were like clowns.
He was constantly controlling them.
With flashes of his sword.
The number of adult Worms had been reduced to the last one.
Yaguruma Sou was very surprised.
He knew that.
The combat power of adult Worms was not weak; he had a deep understanding of this from his own experience fighting them after transforming.
If he were facing larvae.
Then, even if there were a hundred of them, dealing with them would be no problem.
But adult Worms were different.
Their individual strength was comparable to that of a Kamen Rider.
If there were more than three of them...
Even if he transformed into THEBEE, he would find it extremely difficult.
Without a beginner's protection period, the probability of being defeated was extremely high.
But Decade...
He even defeated Clock Up adult Worms in his normal form.
To Yaguruma Sou, this was incredibly absurd, to the extreme.
Chen Ran glanced at THEBEE.
He knew Yaguruma Sou would transform.
Then he would get a new card.
Let's consider it... compensation for saving his life?
There were many molted Worms.
About ten adult Worms.
THEBEE alone might not be able to handle them.
After all, not everyone was as unreasonable as Tendou!
Taking a deep breath and meeting the gaze of Saber's dual compound eyes, Yaguruma Sou asked in a deep voice, "Who exactly... are you?"
......