Hero Saving the Beauty?!

Kido Shinji hurriedly followed into the Mirror World. Aside from stopping the fighting Kamen Riders, he was also worried about Kirishima Miho.

Having fought alongside her against Mirror Monsters several times, and having experienced many such battles himself, coupled with his decent combat talent, his perception had naturally improved significantly.

To be honest, Kirishima Miho's combat power was not high. Compared to the male Kamen Riders, she was more than a little lacking. This was partly because she was female, with an inherent gap in physical capabilities, and her young age, but it also had a lot to do with her Contract Beast, Blancwing.

Compared to Dragreder, Venosnaker, and other Contract Beasts, Blancwing's combat strength had a clear disparity. This was not only something he had noticed, but feedback from Dragreder had also proven this point.

The truth was just as Kido Shinji had anticipated. Kirishima Miho's attack was easily blocked by Takeshi Asakura, followed by a slash to her chest that knocked her back.

Just as he was about to press the advantage, Kido Shinji stepped in with his saber to block Takeshi Asakura's attack.

“As expected, fighting you is much more interesting.”

Kido Shinji said nothing, exerting force to push Takeshi Asakura back, shielding Kirishima Miho who had just scrambled to her feet.

Kirishima Miho looked at Kido Shinji's back. After a brief hesitation, she did not refuse his help. Having just exchanged a few blows, she clearly realized her strength was far inferior to Takeshi Asakura's. If so, seeking revenge would be extremely difficult. If Kido Shinji could help her, things would be much easier.

However, based on her days of contact with Kido Shinji...

Sure enough, in the subsequent clash, Kido Shinji only assisted in defense, with no intention of actively attacking Takeshi Asakura.

“What are you doing!”

Takeshi Asakura slashed in once more, only to be blocked by Kido Shinji. Takeshi Asakura was furious. What kind of fight was this?!

In his rage, Takeshi Asakura directly drew the cards to summon Venosnaker, Metalgelas, and EvilDiver. The three Contract Beasts took turns besieging Kido Shinji and Kirishima Miho.

“That's Tezuka's... How can this be?”

Takeshi Asakura had no intention of explaining that he still had blank contract cards. EvilDiver possessed decent strength; after killing Tezuka Miyuki, it had pursued him for a long time before he contracted it.

Tezuka Miyuki's Advent Deck had previously been burned by Akiyama Ren, and with the deck destroyed, the number of Kamen Riders had decreased by one. Kido Shinji knew this as well, but he hadn't expected EvilDiver to be contracted by Takeshi Asakura.

With the addition of another Contract Beast, Takeshi Asakura's power was now even more formidable.

“Final Vent!”

Drawing EvilDiver's Final Vent card, Takeshi Asakura unleashed his finishing move without hesitation.

“Guard Vent!”

“Guard Vent!”

EvilDiver flew in low, colliding with Kido Shinji and Kirishima Miho, who were holding up their shields.

A massive explosion rang out. Takeshi Asakura landed on the ground, while Kido Shinji and Kirishima Miho were blown back, crashing to the dirt before quickly scrambling up to remain on guard.

“Final Vent!”

Takeshi Asakura reached out as a spiked heavy armor appeared on his arm. Taking a step back, he stomped his feet onto Metalgelas's shoulders and lunged toward Kirishima Miho at high speed. He wanted to finish off this troublesome woman first.

Seeing that she wouldn't make it in time to defend, Kirishima Miho tilted her body and blocked with her short sword, intending to brace herself against the blow.

Kido Shinji's eyes nearly split open. He rushed forward, using his chest armor, which had the highest defense, to take the finishing blow.

The two flew backward, crashing heavily onto the ground.

“Shinji!”

Kirishima Miho hurriedly held the nearly unconscious Kido Shinji, calling out anxiously.

“Shinji, wake up!”

“Tch, boring.”

Takeshi Asakura spat, drawing Venosnaker's Final Vent card once more. Since Kido Shinji had taken that blow, it was best to finish him off once and for all.

Seeing this, Kirishima Miho hastily summoned Blancwing.

“Advent!”

In the air, countless white feathers drifted down, obscuring Takeshi Asakura's vision.

Takeshi Asakura brushed away the white feathers before his eyes and charged out of the area, only to hear another “Advent!”

“Roar!”

Several consecutive fireballs rained down from the sky as Kido Shinji struggled to summon Dragreder.

Caught off guard, Takeshi Asakura was hit by the fireballs exploding around him, the massive impact blowing him away.

By the time he scrambled back up, Kido Shinji and Kirishima Miho were nowhere to be seen.

In a narrow alleyway.

Takeshi Asakura stepped out of the Mirror World and looked around. The alley was completely deserted.

Crash.

Kicking over a nearby trash can, Takeshi Asakura's face was extremely dark. He turned his head toward several young men who had heard the noise and were looking over from the other end of the alley. Grinning, he strode toward them.

Not long after, several young men lay groaning on the ground. Takeshi Asakura stood in their midst, looking up at the sky and letting out a long breath.

“Phew, much better.”

Just then, the sound of police sirens drifted from afar. Takeshi Asakura was startled at first, his eyes shifting instantly, but he quickly calmed down.

The sirens of police cars and ambulances were different. A police siren was short, with a frequency of two to three times per second, carrying a sense of pressure. An ambulance siren had long, drawn-out wails, about once per second, primarily conveying urgency and haste.

Takeshi Asakura had heard police sirens countless times. With a bit of distinction, he knew it wasn't a police car coming.

He immediately realized it might be because of Kido Shinji. Taking a Final Vent head-on, if he wasn't dead, he was definitely gravely injured. He had no intention of stealthily finishing off Kido Shinji. He wasn't frustrated right now, and even if he were, he didn't plan on assassination. It was still more meaningful to fight, especially to beat him to death in actual combat.

Just as Takeshi Asakura thought, Kido Shinji was severely injured. Although contracting with Dragreder gave him high base stats and defense, taking a Final Vent head-on was indeed too much to bear.

After escaping the Mirror World, Kirishima Miho supported him for a short distance before Kido Shinji could go no further, collapsing by the roadside.

Kirishima Miho was so anxious she was on the verge of tears. Fortunately, prompted by onlookers, she hurriedly called the hospital.

Soon, the ambulance arrived. Kido Shinji was loaded inside, and Kirishima Miho accompanied him to the hospital.

A bit later, Momoi Reiko rushed over. Kirishima Miho knew she was an investigative journalist; Kido Shinji had a loose tongue, so she could easily pry information from him.

“How could this happen? Injured by a monster?”

In the hospital room, Momoi Reiko pulled Kirishima Miho aside and asked in a low voice.

Kirishima Miho bit her lip, not knowing how to explain.

When Kido Shinji had rushed forward to shield her, her mind had gone completely blank.

Since entering the marriage fraud business, she had never believed in romantic feelings between men and women, which were merely tools for her schemes. In marriage fraud, the emphasis was on "fraud." As the swindler, she couldn't afford to fall in love.

Her interactions with Kido Shinji, though not aimed at swindling his money, were just a different form of deception—tricking him into helping her win the Rider War.

Yet, at that moment, she felt a trace of fear, a trace of apprehension, but also a trace of warmth and regret.

Of course, this was not yet enough to be called love, but her affection for him was real. If things continued to develop...

But both she and he were Kamen Riders, and this Rider War could only have one winner.

At this thought, Kirishima Miho's eyes dimmed considerably. Momoi Reiko, being a woman who had experienced much, could tell roughly what was going on with a single glance.

Kido Shinji and Kirishima Miho... Come to think of it, they weren't a bad match.

However, Kirishima Miho's next words instantly dispelled Momoi Reiko's stray thoughts.

“We ran into Takeshi Asakura...”