The storm had cleared. In the center of the battlefield, a pillar of blue-white light shimmered.
From it, a dazzling figure slowly stepped forth—the Ascended Form of BAI-X.
Armor gleamed with icy highlights; blue energy pulsed in his chest, a symbol of his Ascension Power.
Jiang Zhengyi stared at himself, eyes wide with awe.
"Whoa… so cool! OK! Let's do this!"
Opposite him, Ma Zhengzheng's expression was grim, his voice hoarse:
"Today… I will defeat you once and for all!"
Before the words finished, his body convulsed violently.
Black mist wrapped around him, his armor dissolving into viscous dark matter.
Moments later, a monstrous figure roared, standing atop the battlefield.
"What—!" Ma Zhengjin stumbled back, shocked.
Ascended BAI-X raised his sword with unwavering resolve:
"The fate of humanity… I will protect!"
He slammed a foot down—the ground shattered—and he dashed forward, a streak of blue light.
The monster, Ma Zhengzheng transformed, blocked with a reverse swing, sending a fist crashing into BAI-X's chestplate. Sparks flew.
"Whoa—that punch is solid!" Zhengyi exclaimed.
"Shatter his chest!" Gu Xing's voice came through comms.
"OK!"
Zhengyi rotated the Ancient Keys in his driver.
"Reddy! GO!"
Blue flames erupted as Ascended BAI-X delivered a soaring kick, striking the monster squarely in the chest.
Ma Zhengzheng roared—but immediately began absorbing the energy.
"What!?"
"He's absorbing your Ascended Power!" Gu Xing shouted urgently.
"He wants to steal your evolution energy!"
Zhengyi's eyes widened. As he prepared to retreat, Ma Zhengjin drew his own driver—belt flashing.
"Transform!"
"Stop!" Gu Xing yelled, but the driver had already activated:
"POLICE! YOU ARE POLICE MAN! SAVED EVERYONE! THANKS!"
"Reddy! Police Arms!"
Police Rider leapt into the battlefield. A shockwave-punch hit the monster's chest, shattering the device embedded there.
"BOOM—!!"
The explosion swept across the battlefield, sending all three flying.
Ma Zhengjin gritted his teeth and charged, yanking the monster's driver away.
Another explosion erupted. Flames and smoke filled the air.
Ma Zhengzheng fell to his knees; the black mist around him dissipated, revealing his human form.
"All… all gone…" he muttered quietly.
Ma Zhengjin deactivated, panting, and stepped forward, holding back his anger.
"Stop obsessing! Your sister is dead—that's an unchangeable fact!"
"We have to live in the present, not the past!"
His hoarse voice struck Ma Zhengzheng like a hammer.
"Look at what you've done… how many lives have you ruined just to revive her?"
Ma Zhengzheng stared blankly at the ruins he created.
After a moment, his eyes dimmed.
"Yes… how many lives have I harmed… without even realizing it?"
Zhengyi approached, carrying the unconscious Yao Yu'en, followed by humanized Gu Xing.
He frowned: "What's happening to him?"
Gu Xing sighed:
"The monster transformation drained his body completely. His flesh… is collapsing."
Zhengyi watched Ma Zhengzheng's body dissolve into particles, drifting away in the wind.
"But… how are you human?"
Gu Xing smiled, looking toward the sky:
"Because… your Ascension energy just now allowed me to manifest."
"Oh~ I see." Zhengyi scratched his head sheepishly.
Meanwhile: Strange Base
In a distant, dark corridor, low roars echoed.
A mysterious figure stood in half-shadow.
"UTAKEH! MALABUNTEH! KURUKURUKAHKEH!"
(Monster language: Boss, the human has been defeated!)
Strange Man did not turn, voice deep as iron:
"Expected."
Another monster cried out:
KUTAKATAKULA NABUTEHTEH!
(Monster language: And BAI-X has ascended!)
"What—?" Strange Man spun, eyes cold as steel.
"It seems… we need to accelerate our plans."
Darkness swallowed the base once more. Only the red warning lights flickered—
A new conspiracy had already begun.