For a moment, the battlefield fell into near silence. Every eye turned toward the lone figure standing before the Antimatter Legion.
His form, clad in deep violet, seemed to dissolve into the surrounding night. Yet even so, the silver crest on his helmet glinted brilliantly under the moonlight—like a beacon of hope descending onto this war-torn ground.
"Is that…?"
Robin stared down at the shadowed figure. Somehow, he felt familiar.
Could it be Sora?
She wasn't sure. The last time she saw him, his armor had been blue.
It hadn't even been that long—how could he have changed his suit's color completely in such a short time?
Confused and uncertain, Robin hesitated. But before she could reach any conclusion, the lull in the battle shattered—both sides stirred once more.
ROAR!!!
The Antimatter Legion bellowed, drawing their weapons with savage intent. Though lacking intelligence, they recognized provocation—and their bestial instincts flared in response.
But the violet figure didn't budge.
Facing down the horde head-on… Sora charged.
"You idiot, it's dangerous!" Ouja shouted in alarm.
She had been wondering who this mysterious fighter was—but the moment he sprinted directly into the Legion's path, her heart dropped.
He helped me. I can't just stand here and let him throw his life away!
Without a second thought, Ouja pushed through her injuries and sprinted after him, rifle at the ready.
But halfway there, her pace slowed… and then stopped completely.
What she saw left her stunned.
That violet silhouette moved like a phantom, crashing into the Legion's vanguard without hesitation.
They're… slow. Way too slow.
To Sora, these Voidrangers—so threatening before—were now sluggish, predictable.
One charged, arm blade flashing. Sora tilted his body just slightly, letting the blade pass harmlessly by.
It was like watching the world in slow motion. He could see each motion clearly: the arc of the blade, the break in balance.
To him, their bodies lit up with red dots like weak points in a boss fight.
He threw a punch.
Crack—crack—crack.
The anti-particle armor on the Voidranger shattered under his fist, and the creature was flung backward, crashing into its allies.
From the outside, it looked like Sora was effortlessly reading every move.
Each dodge was perfectly timed, and every counterstrike sent enemies flying—sometimes knocking down more as they crashed into the swarm behind them.
Ouja froze, unsure what to do.
Sora was cutting down enemies faster than any of their guns ever could.
And with so many civilians still evacuating, misfired shots could cause more harm than help.
So what could she do now—just stand here and watch?
"No way. I'm not letting him fight alone!"
If he was using his fists, then she would too!
If she could protect even a few more people doing that, then so be it!
"Raaaaagh!!"
With a war cry, Ouja charged forward—
—and was promptly pushed back by a hand on her head.
Sora's voice came sharp and focused: "Why are you rushing in? Get back and coordinate the retreat!"
He twisted around, dodging another blade swipe mid-sentence. "This attack won't be over quickly. Prioritize saving lives!"
Then he slammed his foot into another Voidranger, launching it away.
"Go!"
Without waiting for a reply, he turned and dove back into the heart of the enemy.
Ouja stood there, stunned, her hand pressed to her forehead.
That gesture… it was exactly like earlier.
When he first told her his name… he'd done the same thing.
"…It's Sora!"
Realization struck her like lightning. She felt a brief rush of excitement—but then remembered his words.
She turned to look at the wounded defenders behind her, many still struggling from the initial breach.
She clenched her jaw, gave Sora one last look, then turned and began rallying survivors for an organized evacuation.
Now that his back was clear, Sora cracked his knuckles as he faced the enemy horde.
"Now I can finally cut loose."
Earlier, with civilians still in the buildings, he hadn't dared go all out.
The ground was already fractured from the Legion's assault—any extra shockwaves could've caused a collapse.
So he'd been holding back.
But not anymore.
Sora slid the Joker Memory into the side slot on his belt and tapped it lightly.
[JOKER Maximum Drive]
"[Rider Punch]!"
He clenched his right fist. Violet lightning surged around it, gathering into a blinding glow.
From a distance, it looked like his fist had ignited with power.
"Haaah!"
With a battle cry, Sora drove his punch into the chest of the nearest Voidranger.
SHLUK!
The strike tore straight through, punching a hole clean through the monster's torso.
Even he was surprised by the power—but he didn't stop.
He stepped forward, vanishing into the swarm like a blur, and threw another punch.
More Voidrangers fell, each one marked by gaping chest wounds.
A normal person might've felt horror at such a sight.
But these were not people.
Voidrangers had no emotions, no fear, no pain.
They existed for a single purpose: to destroy anything that stood in their way.
And tonight, the ones bringing ruin were being ruined.
Sora's deep violet form darted through the battlefield, flashes of light sparking with each movement. Around him, Voidrangers crumbled like ash.
Then—he felt something.
He twisted, reached out—
—and caught it.
The weight tugged at his body, forcing him back a step.
But he held firm.
It was an arrow—one of the Trampler's.
Anti-particles still hissed from its tip, trying to dissolve his armor.
Sora gripped it tight… and snapped it in half.
He looked up, eyes locking onto the glowing point in the distance.
In the darkness, the Trampler stood—its body wreathed in burning energy.
"Heh… this'll be interesting."
Time to settle the score.
He tapped his belt, then leapt into the air.
[JOKER Maximum Drive]
Below, the Voidrangers looked around in confusion. Their target had vanished.
Where had he gone?
And then came his answer—
"[Rider Kick]!"
Purple lightning surged down his right leg as Sora dropped from the sky, straight toward the Trampler.